© 
—— 
- gustomer, 
248 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Ocr. 23, 1884, 
err eee ee er a ee 
overcome in wading tothe lagoons. The ‘no-Sunday-night- 
train” returning will only admit of limited hunting in this 
loeality. 
Reports from the “Jump,” below Fort Jackson, are very 
flattering. Large numbers of teal ducks and widgeon and 
sprigtail have already arrived there, The great protection 
the ducks have at the “Jump” is its inaceessibility for our 
Sunday hunters, which keeps them from patronizing it; it 
takes at least one day to get there and one to return. 
The jack snipe made their appearance here during the 
month of August, a few being killed in the rear of the city. 
Some scattering bags of fifteen to twenty haye already been 
made down the L. & N, railroad. As this bird is hatched in 
the far North, under the most favorable auspices, the ad- 
mirer of this kind of shooting can be sure of having a royal 
time with them this coming fall. 
Now that the Morgan Railroad is running double daily 
trains, and has made it possible for hunters to travel at a 
reasonable outlay of money, the quail and snipe that have 
heretolore rested in such comparative security along that 
road from Morgan City to Vermillion, will know what it is 
to be chased about by the average city hunter. 
The Mississippi Valley road runs through the best deer, 
turkey and bear country to be found anywhere in the United 
States, and lovers of large game can get all of this splendid 
sport they want. They will never return empty-handed if 
they place themseives in charge of the hunters after big 
game in the Yazoo Valley and swamp. 
Quail along the Big J road abound in the usual large 
quantities. Trapping having been prohibited in several of 
the Mississippi counties adjacent to the road, a dog and gun 
wili fall heir to the birds previously consigned to the trap. 
In regard to the annual field trials, it may be stated that 
Mr, Kemp, secretary of the Canton Gun Club, has written to 
this city that the several fields reserved for the trials to be 
tun in that place in December are literally filled with birds, 
and the field trial races to be given by the National American 
Kennel Club and the Southern States Sportsmen’s Associ- 
ation bid fair to eclipse anything of the kind ever given in 
this country, owing to the large number of entries made, in- 
cluding the finest dogs, old and young, that America can 
produce. The heats will be run off in quick time because of 
the great number of birds. 
From the limited information that can be obtained from 
the Southern Sportsmen’s Association, which organization 
includes some of the best sportsmen element in the city, it 
seems that they have bright prospects for the success of their 
field trials. The trials will be run when the others finish, 
and will secure all the good dogs of the National races, as 
well as those entered specially for the Southern Sportsmen’s 
event.— Wew Orleans Times-Democrat. 
GAME AT Tr AND SHYEN Ponps.—Eustis, Me., Oct. 17.— 
The fishing at this resort has been first-class all through 
the season from June to September, and one that has given 
perfect suecess and satislaction to all parties who have had 
couraye to push into this new country, and the results have 
carried encouragement to the indefatigable pioneer who has 
earried out the project of keeping a passable road through 
this forest despite the opposition of the storm king. 'The 
hunting season has now commenced, and it will some day 
be more widely known that this section abounds in big game, 
especially deer and caribou, Partridges are in abundance 
also, and can be shot in quantities to suit the desire of the 
A few hunting parties have already visited these 
camps, and not a man yet but has had shots at big game, 
Some hit, but more miss, One man had five shots at three 
deer, but only got one. But all are satisfied the game and 
guide are all right, but there was something the matter with 
the sights on theirrifles. Oh! who cannot sympathize with 
the man at the target match? A clean miss! Witness the 
look of astonishment and surprise on his face as he makes a 
ctitical examination of that rifle and the sights, ‘‘Some- 
body has been fooling with it, surely.” We all know how 
it is ourselyes. But it was a noble five-prong buck he shot 
at, and what will the “boys” say? Just give him one more 
such a chance and we will have venison for supper. I wish 
it understood by those desiring to hunt big game this fall 
that Mr. Smith is still at his post and ready to supply any 
needs that a party can demand, Supplies, camps, guides 
and cooks and everything will be satisfactory if the rifles 
shoot straight, for the game is there,—M. 
NEBRASKA GAmn.—Lincoln, Neb., Oct, 12.—Chicken 
shooting is practically over. The birds begin to flock and 
won't lie to the dog. Where found aloneor in the remnants 
of coyeys they rise out of range. In this immediate locality 
the sport after this game did not prove satisfactory. Quail 
are reported in unusual abundance but the cover virtually 
precludes the possibility of good bags. Three or four coyeys 
haye been seen here in the heart of the city. My next door 
neighbor came over after me a week or so ago to get me to 
go into his yard and massacre a covey of thirteen that were 
huddled wp in his back yard. I was out of town. Ducks 
haye becn unusually scarce. The scores on this fowl haye 
fallen away below the average of former years. One day 
last week, when the wind had gotten into the north the 
night before, the air was full of flocks flying southward, but 
very few tarried in the streams and ponds thereabouts. The 
largest bag I heard of was made by Mr, Hallett and myself, 
being one mallard, three sprigs, and fifteen bluewing teal, 
nineteen in all, Six of us are ready for our annual fall goose 
hunt on the Platte and are waiting to hear the bugle sound 
notifying us the geese are there in considerable numbers, A 
few flocks have already come down, and sandhill cranes are 
pretty thick. The weather is as warm and balmy almost as 
in the sunny South, to-day being absolutely charming, There 
must be a material change before we can expect to have 
many ducks and geese with us. The tens of thousands of 
acres.of corn is ripe and ready for them and they can soon 
fatten up when they come.—Burr H. Pouxk. 
Ragsits ABUNDANT.—Atlanta, Ill., Oct. 13.—The quail 
shooting promises to be exceptionally good, there being more 
flocks, and larger, than commonly, but our best shooting 
here is at the rabbits in the winter, when there is snow on. 
W. F. and M. F. and myself killed last winter in about two 
hours 119 rabbits, 84 quail and 1 fox-squirrel, The rab- 
bits seem to be getting thicker every year; | think on account 
of the hedge fences becoming more numerous. There is a 
company here who have banded together for the purpose of 
protecting the game in and out of season on their own lands. 
They have elected a secretary aud treasurer, whos duty it 1s 
10 prosecute any one infringing on any of their game rights, 
May the good work goon.—W, B. 8. 
Worcester, Oct, 18.—The members of the Worcester 
Sportsmen’s Club have arranged to have their annual hunt 
on Wednesday, Oct, 22, if pleasant that day, if not then 
the week following. The captains selected are O. A. Benoit 
and Alba Houghton, They have chosen all the members to 
one side or the other on 124, not including the captains. 
Among the number are Alderman John R. Thayer, Alder- 
man Oaleb Colvin, Hon. Charles B. Pratt, an ex-Mayor and 
Senator; Col. H, B. Stoddard, Dr, E, W. Sweet, Dr. Quimby, 
Dr. Charles H. Davis, Dr. J. Marcus Rice, Dr. W. H. Ray- 
menton, Dr, H, J. Simpson; Lawyers Webster Thayer, H. 
B. Veny, O. L. Taft and J. A. Titus; Col, T. 8. Johnson, 
Clerk of the Courts; Gen. A. B. R. Sprague, Sheriff; Rock- 
wood Hoar, Assistant District Attorney; William Cox, As- 
sistant Registrar of Probate; A. F’. Earle, Deputy Jailer; Col. 
James M. Drennon and David M, Earle, Deputy Sheriffs; 
Charles A. Allen, City Engineer; Charles E, Batchelder, 
Water Registrar; Lieut. Aaron 8. Taft, of the Light Infan- 
try; also, such shots as W. S. Perry, HE, 8. Knowles, A. S. 
Newcomb, A. H. Perry, M. D. Gilman, H. W. Eager, L. 
R. Hudson, George A. Sampson, A. B. F. Kenney. This 
year the club will go out of town (to Millbury) to supper. 
MassacHuseTts.—Salem, Oct. 18,—I hear little as yet 
of the quail, but quite a number of partridges have been 
bagged. In New Hampshire these latter birds are said to be 
plenty. I saw one that flew against a man’s breast and was 
caught alive by the gentleman. Two peregrine falcons, one 
hawk owl, one Richardson’s owl, and a snipe with white head 
and tail are among the rare and odd things recently taken in 
Massachusetts.. Speaking of odd incidents, a fellow sports- 
man told me that while laying for ducks once at night, an 
owl alighted on his head, causing mutual surprise. Some 
late grass birds and some Wilson’s snipe are shot. Mr. Good- 
dale, the Boston taxidermist, lately captured a fine 44-pound 
black bass on a 9-ounce rod, in Wakefield Pond. The fish 
was very game, Coots haye been numerous at Anisquam 
and at other places alongshore. Quite a fleet of yachts are 
hauled into winter quarters at the bridges between Salem 
ep Rod fishing for smelts is now in order.—X. 
CuimTon, Mass,, Oct. 17.—The members of the Clinton 
Sportsmen’s Club reported this morning after their annual 
hunt. To-night they draw sides by lot, to be followed by a 
supper. G. W. Goss, I’. EH. Bailey, W. H. Gibbs and G. L. 
Avery reported with 1,635 points; D. H. Hoyter and D. A. 
Rogers with 360 points; G. M. Livermore, W. H. Elwood, 
A, N. Smith and H. H. Lowe with 510 poimts; G. 8. Gibson 
and G. O, Fairbanks with 260 points; B, K. Gallup and A. 
E. Harriman with 240 points; G. A. Sampson and Bayard 
Thayer with 200 points; G. A. Gibbs and W. 8S. Nickerson 
each with 85 points; E. T. Cunningbam, 65 points; Charles 
Fraser, 5d points; Frank Goss, 50 points; E. C. Osgood and 
C. F. Tufts each with 25 points; A. A. Thissell, 20 points; 
F. E. Carr, 195 points; G. W. Truell, 190 points; A. G, Lar- 
kin, 125 points, and G. A. Brown, 110 points. 
CoLtorapo.—Mr, A. H, Kellogg, the genial proprietor of 
the Fifth Avenne Hotel of Leadville, has just returned from 
a fortnight’s hunt down the Hagle River, Hagle county. He 
reports game not so plentiful at Castle Rock, the usual 
rendezvous for camping in that region, but a great abund- 
ance of deer and elk near Gypsum. The party also encoun- 
tered many bears, and discovered three new beaver dams of 
amazing strength and regularity, equaling in engineering 
skill the highest art accomplished by man. ‘They were built 
across a gulch down which the water rushed in a volume at 
great speed,. Some of the trees cut down by the beavers 
measured fifty-six inches round. Trout weighing two 
pounds eacii were caught by the party in unlimited num- 
bers. The fish invariably refused to take the flyin the 
afternoon, but rose with eagerness laterin the day.—C, P. K. 
GrorciaA GAmE.—Newnan, Ga., Oct, 20.—Owing to the 
long continued drouth here there has been but little hunting 
indulged in. Eyerything seems parched, and it is more of a 
task than a pleasure to take a strollin quest of game. Game 
seems to be plentiful. A rural gentleman who was in town 
yesterday says that there will be plenty of birds for the fall 
shooting, ‘This will be good news to our sportsmen, and 
they will welcome the day when they can get a day off and 
pay their respects to the feathered beauties. *Possum hunt- 
ing of late has been indulged in toa great extent, mostly by 
the colored population, who seem to have very good luck, 
generally bringing in from three to five at a night’s hunting. 
The exceedingly dry weather compels the ‘possums to seek 
the swamp for water, where the negro meets them with his 
dog and then the fun begins.—CuocktTaw, 
, 
CHARLES Orry. Iowa, Oct. 18.—The change of open season 
on chickens was but little observed in these parts, consequently 
those who waited for the lawful time had rather puor shoot- 
ing. Ducks have been here in large numbers and we look 
for good hunting this fall, Woodcock are increasing and if 
not followed too close will Le good sport soon. IJ am not 
able to learn that the quail and pheasant are very plenty, 
and as they have not been huuted to any great extent do not 
understand why they should not be as plenty as years past. 
—Waut E. Pree, 
Massacuusntis,—Lakeyille, Plymouth County, Mass.— 
Grouse seem to be scarce this fall, Where I found thirty or 
forty birds ina day last season, not more than ten or fifteen 
can be found at this time. There were a good many large 
broods in July, but for some reasun or other they have 
dwindled down to two and fiyeina brood. Quail are not 
showing up as well as expected earlier in the season, but 
foxes are more plentiful than have been known for a great 
many years.—E. 8. 
SPARROWS vs. Rep Brrps.—The editor of the Wilm- 
ington News complains: ‘The sparrows, which have become 
comparatively scarce in this city, are found in great flocks 
on the marshes along the rivers, and it is stated that they 
drive off the rail and reed birds, to the great disgust of the 
gunners.” It is certain that in the restaurants the sparrow 
has largely supplanted the reed bird (though the latter’s 
name still appears on the bill of fare), 
“Tan Amertcan Srortsman.”—Messrs. J. B. Lippin- 
cott & Co., have in press a revised edition of Dr. B, J. Lewis's 
“The American Sportsman.” Ohapters have been added by 
Arnold Burgess. ‘The price advertised in our last issue as 
$9.00, is, we learn, to be $2.50, 
TEXAS Quan AND GErESsE.—Henrietta, Oct. 11.—North 
Texas is alive with quait; 100 to 150 isa usual day’s bag, 
dogs just on the point allday Jong. This applies to Clay 
and Montague counties. I can hardly get my shells into my 
hammerless quick enough; had to take the safety out of it 
to save wearing my thumb off. Ducks haye made their ap- 
eae and I expect to kill geese on Red River next week. 
—ALMo. 
Waar Witt Become or THE MAn wHo KimuKp Ir?— 
At Vienna’s fish and game store on Front street, New West- 
minster, British Columbia, may be seen as rare a curiosity as 
Barnum’s whiie elephant, If is a white deer, a buck, weigh- 
ing 160 pounds, This animal is a uniform creamy white 
color, and is quite fat. It was shot on the Coquitlam River, 
and had with it at the time a companion of the same color. 
ATHENS, Pa., Oct, 15.—Squirrels have not been us plenti- 
ful this year as last, and but few have been killed, Rabbits 
are very numerous, and I expect some good sport with them — 
atter Nov. 1. Quails and partridges are reported plenty, 
but few have been brought in as yet.—Panrk. 
Wire CartrivgEs.—Lditor Forest and Stream: Will 
your correspondent “Backwoods,” of Beverly, W. Va., oblize 
many readers of Middle Massachusetts by giving us definite 
Tiespaiee as to his mode of making wire cartridges.—M. 
ASS. 
Monteomery, Ala,, Oct. 13,—Quail are plentiful but very 
small. Weather terribly hot. I send you a cartoon of A. 
Meddows, G. W. Tunstall and L. A. Tucker, too well known 
to you to make any comment,—C. E. W- 
Nortu Vernon, Ind., Oct. 12,—Fishing for black bass 
not good this fall on account of low water. Rains two weeks 
ago filled the streams, and prospect is now fair for sport for 
a Short time.—W, G, N, 
Sea and River Sishing. 
THE TOURNAMENT, 
5 we go to press at noon on Wednesday we cannot give 
L theresults of the tournament this week, There has 
been some delay in perfecting the arrangements on account 
of the difficulty in getting the members of the committee 
together, which we hope will be overcome next year. If 
the weather is fayorable, everything points to a good meet- 
ing. . 
There is no doubt whatever of the good effect of these 
tournaments in educating the public in the beautiful art of 
fiy-casting, and in the correct manher in which to cast for 
the striped bass when its ‘‘swirl” is distant and it is desirable 
to land a menhaden bait where the fish last rose, The oppor- 
tunity to see experts cast their iremendous distances, not by 
muscle, but by skill alone, is of great value to the fly-fisher; 
while the barring of these experts from the amateur classes 
encourages ‘entries among skillful castersqwho do not expect 
to compete with the experts. 
Since our list of classes and prizes was published there has 
been another class restored which was crowded out by the 
new one for black bass minnow-casting, This is tlie Class 
D, single-handed fly-casting, expert. Rods not to exceed 54 
ounces. Scale usin class A. Open to all. The list of prizes 
will be found in the score book. This is an interesting class, 
and if the announcement had been made earlier, would be 
well filled. 
We have received the following: 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I notice in connection with prizes that I am to give at the 
coming tournament that the price of my reel js put at $16. 
This is not correct. It should be $10. The price named for 
Henshall rod is all right, and is just what we sell them at. 
Of course it is too late to make corrections. I have built up 
my business by honest dealing, and I don’t feel that it is 
right to bull prices even on give-aways. 
THos. H. Cxuuss. 
Post Mrits, Vt., Oct, 18. 
ANGLING FOR A MOCCASIN. 
Hiditor Forest and Stream: 
A rather remarkable instance of the voracity of a water 
snake came under my notice last August. Iwas standing 
on the ‘‘fan” of the dam crossing the James River, about 
fourteen miles below Lynchburg, Virginia, I having tried in 
vain all morning to induce the bass to bite, Iwas about to 
leave and try lower down the river, when I saw a large 
water moccasin put his head out of a hole in thestone work, 
about two or three inches aboye the water. Presently a dead 
minnow came over the fall and was washed into the eddy 
just below the snake’s hole. Like lightning he seized and 
devoured it. The snake was evidently ‘‘on the feed,” andI 
determined to try and catch him in a novel manner. 
Taking a minnow about an inch long and putting it on an 
ordinary bass’ hook, Lintended dropping it up stream and 
letting the current wash il down to tae snake; but happen- 
ing to let the minnow come within about six inches above 
the snake’s head, I was surprised to see him shoot out and 
grab it, tearing it off the hook, Next time I held it right in 
front of him and again he took off the minnow without get- 
ting hooked. AsTJI did not propose to furnish him with a 
free lunch, I took a smaller hook and buried it completely in 
the head of the minnow, and dropped it in front of his nose. 
He bit and I struck, but although I bent my rod nearly 
double and my brother banged his head with a long stick, I 
could not get more than five or six inches of him out of the 
hole. Suddenly the hook came out, and on examination I 
found a piece of the skin of the snake’s upper jaw had come 
with it.- Supposing, of course, that he would not bite again 
that day, we sat down and began eating our lunch, 
When we had finished, we thought we would take a part- 
ing ]ook just to assure ourselves of the exact Jocality of the 
hole in case we wanted to try snake fishing again, and our 
surprise may be imagined when we saw his ‘‘snakeship” in 
exactly the same position as when we first saw him. Once 
again baiting with minnow, I dropped it in front of him, 
but he had evidently had enough of minnows that came fly- 
ing down through the air in a manner entirely new to him, 
and would not touch it. However, on throwing it up stream 
and letting the current carry it in front of the hole, he took 
it. This time I hooked him firmly. He pulled and I pulled 
and wy brother whacked. All at once I felt him give, and 
increasing the strain, he came out with a run, but on exalil- 
— 
