428 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
7 a 
(Duo. 25, 1884, 
ded upon the reading and experience of a good many years, 
namely, that as a guide to a thorough practical knuwledge 
of field sports in America, whether with horse or hound, or 
with gun, rod or rifle, a single volume—I had almost said a 
single number—of the ForEst AND StREAM is worth all the 
books that ever issued from the English press. 
L offer no comment upon the advice given by ‘“Aligius” 
as to the best methods of taking fish. I see, however, in 
my mind’s eye, old Izaak Walton seated upon a Florida 
sandbank, from which ‘‘Al Fresco” had charitably re- 
moved ihe sand spurs, and instructing that gentleman as to 
the best method or capturing a tarpon. 
I see that ‘‘Nessmuk” is bound for Florida this winter, I 
would like to meet him there, but this is not likely. Yea, 
verily; 1 would that I might once more dip my paddle in 
the waters of the broad St. John, I have not seen it in al- 
most twenty years. Would that 1 could once more inhale 
the fragrance of the magnolias while flying past the dazzling 
saudbanks and the glossy green of the water-oaks before an 
eyening breeze from the Atlantic, with the straining canvas 
white above and the rushing keel below. KELPin, 
BLACK DUCK SHOOTING. 
NE November day, with the keen wind blowing down 
the bay, and the sky as blue as a maiden’s eyes, our 
party of four duck shooters stood shivering on the deck of 
the good ship Breakwater, bound for Lewes, Del. Despite 
the cold we enjoyed the sail down to the Hook, and strange 
to say, alter going outside the vessel was as steady as a river 
steamboat. There was not a particle of motion, the north 
wind most effectually driving the big rollers down to the 
smallest ripples. The sunset was magnificent, and so we 
glided down past. Long Branch, Ocean Grove, and the tiny 
villages between—we could almost throw a line ashore, so 
close in were we. Hundreds of coots, old squaws and 
broadbills rose lazily before us; and I could have stopped a 
dozen or more easily enough as they flew northward, show- 
ing darkly against the crimson sky. I felt in my bones that 
their appearance was a sign of good luck. A sentiment in 
which all agreed, 
At 6 o’clock the next morning I awoke to find the ship 
alongside of her dock, at the queer little town of Lewes. 
The wind was howling like'a million of hungry wolves, and 
the bay was one mass of foam, Very little breakfast was 
indulged in, as the old Breakwater reared and pitched at her 
moorings like a ten-foot catboat, and the passengers were 
only too glad to pet ashore. We started at last. The cars 
as cold as an ice box, and all hands stamping and talking to 
keep warm. Such a poky old train it was, and Iso glad to 
arrive at Georgetown. We had several hours to await the 
next ‘‘express,” and wandered over the city, quaint and old 
fashioned to the last degree. I inspected the whipping post 
and failed to see anything remarkable about it, saye the im- 
mense bands or loops of iron which dangle from the sides, 
to hold the yictims’ wrists, I tried them on, and upon my 
soul, if the folks that are whipped in Georgetown fit those 
bands they must be a race of giants. I am six feet in my 
stockings and built on fair proportion, but the bands would 
haye gone to my elbows. The ground was stamped hard at 
the foot of the post, and the coart house looming sternly 
within twenty yards, gave a solemn aspect to the surround- 
ings, even to my not too viyid imagination. The time hung 
heavily until finally the express came puffing in, car after 
car, filled with sheep, boxes, and heayen only knows what, 
and down in the rear was our ‘‘Pullman.” Such backing 
and jolting, yelling and swearing I never heard, a dozen 
coal-black youngsters contributing to the generalrow. And 
what a start! Ithouglit the old car would surely go intoa 
thousand splinters. 1 listened until, for a wonder, I fell fast 
asleep; and awoke to greet the little town of Berlin, way 
down in the southeast corner of Maryland. Our good friend, 
Jim Powell, was on hand, and we bundled in among the 
furs for our long ride to the sea, and to hishome. He gaye 
us the usual news in regard to the birds. Yes. Some birds 
were trading. The bay very low. Weather a trifle too 
warm, Geese just beginning to show on the flats. 
Point shooting only is permissible here. The bay seemed 
at Jeast six miles wide to me, and Jim said the best shooting, 
of course, was across under the beach. He had a big sloop 
especially designed for gunners, with galley, etc. Of course 
we would live aboard, In no time Messrs, D, and O. gaye 
their consent, rather doubtfully at first, as the beds and 
good things to eal at Mrs. P.’s rather overtopped my des- 
cription of the fare aboard the Ark; but in short order we 
had the guns, decoys, live geese, provisions, etc., snugly in 
their places, and with a good breeze from the westward, 
Charley steered us out into the bay. A pleasant sail and we 
dropped anchor under the lee of au island, on the best 
ground, to quote our skipper, on the ‘‘Yeast side ob de 
yarth.” A grand good supper that night diversified with the 
most delicious oysters right out of the water alongside, and 
we turned in to dream of ducks innumerable. The hour of 
3 A. M. found a sleepy lot of fellows trying to eat more 
oysters and to swallow more coffee, ‘The daylight was 
“awfully wanting” when we pulled away from the old Ark. 
Not a dozen strokes did I make and she was swallowed up, 
mast and all. Charley, who seemed a veritable cat in the 
darkness, sang cheerily an old darkey song, and led the way 
with D, and O.; I followed as best I could. A wee bit of a 
breeze did not fill my soul with much joy at the prospect of 
killing many birds; but I could hear them going overhead, 
their sharp wings whistling whee. whee, whee, and the deep 
bass notes of the old drakes asthey jumped up ahead of us 
made the blood tingle in my veins, and 1 fairly ‘‘lifted” the 
boat in my excitement. 
| must haye rowed a mile when Charley sang out: ‘Go 
over to that point, you will find a good blind there, and put 
out your decoys to suit yourself.” In less than half an hour 
Doc and I were seated on the rubbers, and had everything 
ready for the first “‘blacky” that should come along, As the 
first streaks of light came over the water, my heart and eyes 
brightened likewise. Hush! from Doc. Mark east—whish! 
into the stool from over our heads, and still too dark to 
distinguish him. To save me I could not find him, §o0 
rising to my knees, he jumped and an ounce of chilled 5s 
sent bim sprawling. ‘Then a pair came whizzing by, just 
out of range; then a single one, who at the report of 
Doc’s Greener, turned more than a dozen flip-fiaps and 
finally spurted the water a half a mile out inthe bay. No 
time to go after him now! Mark east, here’s a big bunch 
coming. The leaders see the stooland swerve in. The tail 
birds do not like the looks of things, and sheer off. Only 
three set their wings, and I miss the first one beautifully, 
and just scratch the second well enough to make him quack 
and skip like a bullet for New Mexico; Docsettled the third 
one calmly. Now a dainty pair of greenwing teal settle 
among the stool, and the blood-thirsty disciple of the saw 
murders them in the water. <A single old sprigtail receives 
the contents of four imported barrels at about seventy-five 
yards, and merely cocks his eye at us in disdain; a moment 
later and I wheel and cut an old drake trying to steal by 
behind, us and Doc praises the little 12-bore. 
So the sport goes on, It would be tiresome to tell of every 
shot—indeed an impossibility—so many good ones, and how 
many poor ones go to make up the sum total of aday’s duck 
shooting; but lef them be good or bad, the enjoyment never 
lessens to the true simon-pure sportsman. That peaceful 
evening, as we smoked our after dinner pipes, the goodly 
pile gladdened our hearts, and we shot them over again, 
Great big lusty fellows, with the deep green beaksand glossy 
plumage. Whatasplendid bag, Looking over the respec- 
tive bags, I noticed that Mr. D. had secured several ‘‘dip- 
pers,” and i thought it strange that we did not even sce one 
the entire day. Iloveto stop them, especially when going 
with the wind. It is difficult work and requires nice judg- 
ment. Besides, they are as tough as hickory, and die game. 
A single sprigtail and a few teal were the exceptions, All 
the rest were black dueks, and the finest, I ever saw, I made 
up my mind then that the latter would constitute the major- 
ity of the flight birds, and so thought of ‘‘live decoys” imme- 
diately, To my mind, a pair of well-trained domestic black 
ducks—mated, of course—are worth a hundred wooden or 
cork stools, and Charley soon procured a pair forme, They 
worked to a charm, though not trained, and I had only to 
hide the drake behind us in the sedge to make his wife 
quack her heart out at his absence. He was noways silent 
during the separation, and made Rome howl also. 1t issim- 
ply astonishing with what confidence a wary, much shot at 
old bird will then come in to stool. When shot at a good 
deal, black ducks soon learn to distinguish even the color of 
one’s decoys if you have out mallards and teal with your 
blacks, and you cannot get them to approach within a hund- 
red yards, although they desire to do so very much. But a 
single live decoy will disarm suspicion in an instant, I have 
often taken up my entire rig of floaters, and had splendid 
success over my poor little single bird. This manner of de- 
coying is not much practiced on Long Island, where I found 
it the only thing to do. I believe it is a favorite trick of the 
gunners on the St. Lawrence and lakes of the North, to not 
oniy use live decoys, but to train them so as to fly up and 
circle around the blind, and return to hand. ‘This I cannot 
vouch for, but the idea is a good one. How many times, my 
sporting friend, have you thrown up your cap or shook your 
boots over the edge of the blind, in the vain desire to attract 
the attention of the passing flock? -I well remember rolling 
over backward into a delightful pool of soft slush and ice, 
once trying the same game, and have fished my cap out of 
ice water many atime. lt seems to me the trick of the 
Northern gunners will bear investigation and practice. 
The next morning proyed warm as June, ‘There was not 
a ripple, and the glassy bosom of the great bay shimmered 
and sparkled like molten silver, reflecting the glorious banks 
of snow white clouds and the glitter and twinkle of the far- 
away sails, that seemed for hours to poise and float on a 
dreamy, golden haze. A stupid, exasperating morning to a 
gunner’s heart, if ever so beautiful, is it not? Away out in 
the center of the bay long, dark lines of birds were lazily 
floating and sunning themselves to their heart’s content, 
The decoys before us barely moved. Their gaudy colors and 
ill-shapen forms looked actually brazen in their deceit. The 
flies buzzed lazily around our lunch basket, and the leather 
coats and beavy rubber boots. became decidedly uncomfort- 
able. Lalmost gave up in despair. Toward noon Doc fell 
sound asleep; sweetly, nay; gently, the rich tones of his 
‘‘clarionette” rumbled over the quiet waters. It must have 
reached the ears of the bed of ducks above mentioned, and, 
whether through curiosity or a desire to investigate, or to 
become better acquainted with the bird producing such 
an infernal noise, they rose with many a quack and headed 
inshore. I silently cocked my Greener and bad the extreme 
satisfaction of killing a nice pair. You can imagine the 
change in the good Doctor’s position, to say nothing of the 
rude shock to his tender nerves; but when he saw the glossy 
beauties he forgave me heartily, and soon killed a fine bird, 
in fact not five minuter later. 
The day wore slowly on. Occasionally we had a long— 
terrible long—shot, but I hate to strain my pet gun; and at 
3 o’clock we could boast of but nine birds, A bitof a breeze 
from the north now kicked up alittle swash, and the decoys 
seemed to awaken to a sense of their duty and importance, 
In turning to speak to Doe my eyes caught the glint or re- 
flection of a body of large birds away tothe north, L watched 
them attentively; we both did, when, like an electric shock 
to our straining ears, came the inspiring honk-e-honke-e-honk 
of a flock of wild geese. Like madmen we changed the 
shells for BB’s and lower in the grass did we lide our ex- 
cited faces, On they came, as steady as soldiers! 1 counted 
fourteen, They were lazily flying not two feet from the 
surface and must come within range if they would but hold 
their course. As they swung in closerto our point, the old 
gander evidently smelling mischief, sheered off, which 
brought the taii end of the long string within goodrange. I 
yelled to Doc to take the last one and we Jet them have four 
barrels ‘‘to once.” Such a splashing and rumpus, one great 
fellow came down like a castaway windmill; another hard 
hit with stiffened wings sailed away outa few hundred yards 
and made the water fairly boil when he struck; another, also 
hard hit, with feathers streaming, fell somewhere in the 
direction of the Ark, never to be found, What a revolution 
in our feelings to be sure! If Jumbo himself had been our 
prey I doubt very much-if we could -have felt more elated. 
The bag that night looked grand, not so much in quantity, 
but in quality. 
We wasted the following day. The weather grew warmer 
and warmer; so on returning that night we prepared to 
leave early in the morning. Another summers day, With 
the boom well over to port and the jib poled out to catch 
eyery breath, we drifted for hours, But despite the sunny 
weather, a jolly crew made the tedious hours ily by. 
One good joke on the Doctor will bear repeating; doubly 
so, ag 1 remember the night on board of the old sloop, when 
the villain deliberately placed his mouth close to my ear and 
squeaked like a rat or mouse. In my horror I struck out 
like Sullivan, fully expecting to smash the horrid thing, 
and bruising my poor band badly for the trouble. A roar 
went up from the other culprits, fairly raising the roof, and 
they joked me almost continuously afterward, Now, while 
we were drifting, I was busily engaged trying to invent a 
handy sort of “hobble” for the tame duck decoys, on which 
Doc and the rest of the crew gave no end of sage advice. 
Charley, seeing our distress, offered to help us out, if some 
one would steer. Up jumped the festive M. D. and took 
the tiller, Nota particle of breeze filled the sails and the 
work was easy enough, so easy, in fact, that I gave nota 
tiene to the possible chances of an upset or anything 
else. 
We were all kneeling down trying our best to bold the 
flapping duck, and to rig him in the right fashion, when 
clear above the din rose Doc's cheery voice. ‘Whoa! haw! 
Where the tarnation [blue fire] are ye. goin’! whoa, haw, 
hold on! By gum, there she goes!” Slam-bank-rippy-ter- 
-slim-slam-bang-blunk-ker-swash, came with rattling of tiller 
blocks and swishing of sheets, and the jangle of tin ware. 
We scared mortals rushed on deck, falling over each other 
in panic-stricken haste, to find that the celebrated M.D. 
had jibed our noble craft (mind you, not a particle of breeze 
at the time), and with tiller stock in hand and profound 
amazement depicted upon every feature, stood looking 
blankly around upon the disaster he had occasioned. Evyery 
decoy was swept overboard, also the ducks just cleaned for 
dinner, also the entire seryice of tin, no end of buckets, and 
last but not least, our portable chimney piece, without which 
the stove could not be made to do its work. If ever I yelled 
I did that sunny day. It was good as a play to see Doc’s 
face, What a time we had retrieving things, but alas, the 
tin things were gone forever. ‘‘Whoa!l Haw!’ lingered 
sweetly, even in the still calm air. It lingers yet in my 
memory and always will. Wedubbed him the ‘Ellsworth 
of the Bay,” and always addressed him as skipper after- 
ward, The shooting did not improve during the remainder 
of our stay, and the jolly party of four were soon at home 
again. J. Asad. 
THE MAINE GAME LAWS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
To call the attention of the proper authorities to a most 
serious defect in the enforcement of the Maine game laws, 
rather than to discuss when the open season should begin, is 
the purpose of this communication, 
But while upon the subject, a word or two in reference to 
the Jatter point may not be amiss, 
Not one among the many and able correspondents who in 
your columns have opposed opening the season on Sept. 1 
instead of Oct. 1, have questioned that such change would 
benefit those dependent on that wilderness for their liveli- 
hood, at least temporarily; nor can 1 see how this can well be 
doubted. Of course all would rejoice in, and must desire 
the increased welfare of these most deserving people, unless 
the sacrifice of greater and more important interests be 
necessarily involved. Jt seems to me the wishes and profit 
of these people alone, should govern in this matter. Still it 
may well be that they are ignorant of their real interests; 
and in the hope of immediate profit, lose sight of the future, 
as did the couple who killed the goose that laid the golden 
eggs. Such cases are not unknown. No duty nor obligation 
of a legislator is more important than to foresee the future, 
and to resist the clamor of those who call for legislation to 
their own real detriment. 
Some of your correspondents virtually assume that ihe 
addition of this one single month to the open season, would 
annihilate the game of the Maine wilderness. 
This is tip-top dialetics, but not well calculated to further 
the result we have in yiew, viz,: a sound answer to the ques- 
tion what should be done in the premises. Is not the prob- 
able effect of the change, the pith of the whole matter? If 
so, it should not be disposed of by mere assertion of opinion, 
but by careful, and dispassionate consideration of how much 
it will really add to the present death rate, and © comparison 
of that death rate with the present rate of increase. If the 
then death rate would exceed the rate of increase, the change 
should not be made, But I repeat this matter should be 
weighed in a judicial spirit, by the light of reason, and not 
of sentiment or prejudice. 
In a former letter [ gaye the reasons which lead me to 
believe that the change would but slightly increase the death 
rate, and by no means sufficiently to approximate to the 
present rate of increase; nor dol see how one who is pe7- 
sonally and practically acquainted with the region tn question 
at that season of the year, and with the forms of hunting 
then practicable, can arrive at any other conclusion. 
Tho proof of the pudding is however in the eating. The 
season has opened on Sept. 1 in New Hampshire for years, 
and I am recently informed by what I cannot but regard as 
the very best authority, that, notwithstanding, deer haye 
there constantly increased in number. 
But enough of this, which was not the purpose of this 
letter. 
To many of your readers, and to at least one of the Maine 
Game Commissioners, any statement made by the justly cele-. 
brated guide John S. Danforth, will have great weight. 
These know that in mental capacity and sound judgment, 
as wellas in moral rectitude, he stands second to no guide 
in that, or any other region; while his opportunities of ob- 
servation, passing as he does the whole year in the woods, 
are equaled by few. 
It is folly to exercise ourselves over a prospective worm 
hole in the side of a bucket, out of which half the bottom is 
already lost. John writes me, omitting personal matter, as 
follows, under date of Dec, 8, from Parmacheene Lake. 
“T claim that the people generally know nothing ahout 
the observance of the game and fish Jaws, except on the 
porder of the wilderness in winter, and a little more in sum- 
mer, All the game wardens can well do in summer is to 
watch the owners of camps and hotels, the yery persons 
whose interest is to keep the game on the increase, because 
they know when the game is gone their money will go with 
it. In the winter the lumbering companies are located in 
the very center of the fish and game, and each year their 
employees become more bold, and are unmolested, The 
largest part of the crews are made up of French Canadians, 
who can be hired at from $12 to $15 a month. These 
Frenchmen are all hardy meu, and instead of resting Sun- 
days, are either hunting or fishing, and during the long 
winters kill more game and fish than all the sportsmen who 
come here in summer put together. A sportsman will throw 
back the trout he cannot eat, but a ‘‘pea-souper” will not 
throw back the chub even, If the Legislature would puta 
stop to this crust-hunting and fishing through the ice, they 
could let sportsmen kill all they could after July 15 and 
the increase would be double what it is now.” 
Tt would be unjust to the writer of this letter, should any 
part of it be construed to imply the slightest imputation of 
dereliction on the part of the Maine Game Commissioners. 
He has so often spoken in praise of their work, that | know 
he would at once repudiate anything of the kind. 
Though foreign to the matter in hand, 1 may perhaps be 
excused if I quote another passage from the same letter, 
since it shows to some extent what kind of a life these men 
really lead, and how justly they are entitled to our symp3- 
thies in every proper case, | 
