Tay. 1, 1885.] 
blind built right in the path, rifle in hand, intently gazing 
through the narrow opening in front, Posting myself 
behind « large tree at one side, determined to see it out, I 
watched him for three long hours, during which lime he 
hardly moved; and getting weary myself, I fell aslecp, sit- 
ting us I was, my head resting on the tree, dreaming of 
deerand turkey, ambushes and a thousand other wild things, 
when a hand was laid on my shoulder and the query, ‘‘You 
here?” aroused me from my slumbers. AsI had found his 
lair, mutual explanations followed, which were these: He 
had determined to kill some of the turkeys I had found in 
the cornfield, but they were wary and had eluded him every 
time. He finally set to baiting them, selecting a straight 
_ piece of the hog path that led to the field. He had strewn 
corn for one hundred yards along the path, built his blind, 
and had been watching it for the past week, all to no pur- 
pose, The bait was regularly eaten and replaced, turkey 
tracks and signs plenty, but not a shot could he get; they 
were too wide awake for him, and he was in the dumps over 
his bad luck. I proposed a partnership with him, which he 
readily agreed to. 
“No fine shots about that!” I think I hear some impatient 
reader exclaim, and down goes the paper with a thump, 
Patience, my dear friend, and you will hear of two of the 
most remarkable shots ever fired. Fact! The Forest anp 
STREAM Wants the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but 
the truth in this ‘‘Wonderful Shot” business, and I propose 
fo give it. 
After holding a council of war, it was settled that I was 
to devote a few days to watching the movements of the tur- 
keys, and no shot was to be fired until they were located 
and their habits accurately marked. Procuring a lunch, I 
selected a couyenient tree, in whose branches I held watch 
and ward for the next three days. On the evening of the 
second day my eyes were gladdened with the pleasant sight 
of seventeen full-grown, sleek, fat turkeys strewn in a 
straight line along the patch, picking np the corn. How my 
fingers twitched to single out that large gobbler and bag him; 
but I had promised, and so I forebore. The second day, 
about the same hour in the evening, they were on time 
again; they were permitted to pass unmolested both times, 
and the bait renewed. Now was our time, and the third 
evening found Col. F. and myself lodged behind the blind, 
our two rifles so arranged as to sweep the path, confidently 
valeulating to bag every bird. We had not long to wait, 
when cluck, cluck, clack announced the approach of the 
birds. Wewere both perfectly cool, our nerves calm, our 
eyes clear, and both rifies carefully loaded. I was to take 
the first bird, calculating to bore through at least half of 
them, while the Colonel was to take them about the center 
and take in the balance, I was prone on my face, my rifle 
resting on a chink, the Colonel resting on one knee, his gun 
in a fork. Both took deliberate aim, I never was more 
deliberate in my life, the nearest bird less than twenty feet 
distant. At the word ‘‘ready,” the birds raised their heads, 
and were still as mice, when ‘‘fire!” both guns belched forth 
at the same instant, and we kept still until the smoke lifted: 
and what a sight! We looked at cach other in speechless 
amazement; not a bird was to be seen; we had both missed. 
I consider these the most wonderful shots I know of, and 
cannot account for them to this day. CAPE Rock. 
CAPE GIRARQEAU, Mo. 
a 
Editar Forest and Stream: 
One of your ‘‘Remarkable Shots’ reminds me of the fol- 
lowing circumstance: My brother and I were in our boat, 
behind a lind, when I heard a pair of greater yellowleg 
plover going by, and getting up on my knees, I began to try 
and whistle them in near enough to get a shot at them. 
They began to circle around, and when they started 
straight toward us, | brought my gun up, and just as I was 
intending to pull on one of them | saw, off to the right and 
just within the circle of vision, a large bunch of what I at 
first thought were lesser yellowlegs, that were possibly at- 
tracted by the whistling. I turned to give them a reception, 
and saw they were blue-winged teal, and just in the act of 
lighting among our live decoys. When | turned they saw 
me move, and of course wheeled all in a bunch to leave, 
making a beautiful chance, as they were within twenty-five 
yards. Wegave them four barrels, and killed none—not 
even a feather, Saw Brun. 
Lennox, Ontario, 
Hditor Forest and Stream: 
When a lad, I made a shot with a rifle at a woodchuck, 
sitting at the mouth of his hole, and on picking up my game 
was surprised to see another ‘chuck lying just behind him, 
both having been bagged by the same bullet. A friend, 
while aiming at a pigeos on a low tree, near a stream, saw a 
bittern rise from the reeds, and holding his arm till both 
were in line, let go, and got them both, (Gem ikss 
Derrrort, Dec, 15, 1884. 
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION. 
Hiditor Forest and Stream: 
A special meeting of the Michigan State Sportsman’s 
Association was held at Jackson on Dec. 9 and 10, 1884. 
The attendance was not large, but ‘‘business” was the motto. 
Mr. E. 8, Rogers, the secretary of the Association, haying 
tendered his resignation and the same having been accepted, 
the undersigned was elected in his stead, The meeting: was 
called to take action, in the name of the Association, as to 
amendments to the game and fish laws of the State, to be 
obtained from the coming (1885) session of the Legislature, 
and also to direct the efforts of the Association toward ob- 
taining the passage of a law appointing u game and fish 
warden fur the State. 
Dr. J, ©. Parker, one of our Fish Commissioners, Mr. C, 
_ W. Higby, of Jackson, and the subscriber, were appointed a 
committee to draft a bill for the appointment of the game 
and fish warden, and we now have the same in preparation. 
It was further resolved that the Association endeavor to 
have the present game and fish laws amended so as— 
1. To prevent the use of explosives, spearsand continuous 
nets in the waters of the State, 
%, To make possession of same or fish out of season prima 
Jacie evidence of a violation of the law in all cases. (lt isso 
now in some cases). 
3. To make the close season for deer from Dec. 15 to Oct. 
15 in both peninsulas; to make ‘‘shining” illegal; and to 
prevent the employment of special hunters by lumber camps. 
_ 4. To repeal the present law protecting English sparrows. 
The president was authorized to employ an agent to attend 
the session of the Legislature for the purpose of laboring 
_ With the members in favor of the passage of the acts recom. 
mended by the Association, and funds were appropriated for 
the purpuse of paying him. 
Resolutions of respect for the memory of Mr. A. H, 
Mershon, a prominent member of the Association, recently 
deceased, were adopted. The meeting then adjourned. 
The annual meeting of the Association will be held in 
January, 1885. Marx Norrts, Secretary. 
MAINE DEER LAW. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Recently kind fortune placed in my way several copies, in 
which was discussed the proposed change of the game law, 
allowing deer to be hunted from Sept. 1. The writer has 
studied the habits and characteristics of deer and caribou, 
and believes all fawns are dropped by May 20; and at three 
months will thrive without sustenance from the aam, The 
young of all herbivorous animals in a domestic state do well 
weaned at that age; and none I think can doubt that wild 
animals are hardiest. Does no doubt give suck longer than 
three months, but it does not follow that it is necessary to 
the existence of the young. It is true the young of deer, 
moose and caribou remain with the dam until about a year 
old, and doubtless their presence, through the maternal in- 
stinet, stimulates secretion of milk after weaning. Instances 
are known of does shot in October with milk in the udder, 
yet the dugs were filled with a waxy secretion indicating 
long cessation from suckling, It requires no little courage 
(‘‘gall” if you will) to state the foregoing in the face of edito- 
rials and other ably-written articles on the opposite side of the 
question, I can well understand and appreciate the laud- 
able motive, which, I think, prompts that course; for, with- 
out a conservative power to check, public opinion would ex- 
act too great license. Giye us the change, for game is plen- 
tiful, and as neither heat nor flies in September drive deer 
to water, they will be in no dauger of jack-shooters by night 
or ambush gunners by day. The change will not decimate 
the game perceptibly, but will add a spice to the enjoyment 
of legitimate sport, UmcuLcus, 
RELOADED SHELLS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I believe most makers of shells incline to caution the users 
of the same overmuch. 1 shoot a shotgun, and I shoot a 
-38-caliber rifle. 
To reload a paper shell, first I decap and recap. To ac- 
complish the former I use a dentist’s excavator, the point of 
which had been broken off, and which I afterward ground 
to a smooth blunt point. To decap I set the shell mouth up 
on @ countersunk block of lead, of the proper size, and set- 
ting the tool mentioned against the primer, a quick blow 
with a small hammer drives the primer out. 
To recap, I inyert the shell over a stick of pine wood, so 
shaped as to fit the bottom of the shell, and a single blow 
with the same hammer seats the primer. I use Wesson 
copper primers. As to reloaded rifle shells, the claim is 
made by all the manufacturers that no cast bullet can be as 
perfect as their bullets swedged by heavy machinery. I 
fully grant that no pure lead bullet can be cast perfect. Lead 
contracts on covling, and hence every man who has cast 
many bullets has also cast many defective ones, so defective 
that they were recast. As I cast my bullets very often, it 
became @ point with me to find a material that would either 
expand a little, or at least not contract on cooling. Tin and 
lead were fully as bad as lead, I recently thought of type 
metal. I went to a friend, proprietor of a paper, and asked 
him if he could sell me half a pound of broken stock. He 
replied: ‘‘No, but you can go to the hell box and get all you 
want free of charge.” I went to the ‘‘hell box.” saw one 
“devil,” a very small one, too, and came away with what I 
wanted. . 
The first bullet I cast of pure type metal. It was so hard 
that the necker of the Winchester bullet mould broke the 
neck off down into the bullet. Isaw this would never do. 
1 took this hard bullet and melted it with five others, and I 
obtained what I wanted, an alloy that does not shrink from 
the mould, and that is hard enough, I then weighed ten 
ounces of pure lead, and two ounces of the broken type, and 
cast bullets. I found one difficulty that I could not over- 
come, viz., the bullets cast when the run was nearly ex- 
hausted were a little harder than those first cast. 
Another difficulty in reloading shells is, that one cannot 
place the ball so that it and the shell be concentric, and I 
claim that no reloading tool which is worked by pressing 
together levers can perfectly reload a shell. 
J had a gunsmith make me a set of reloading tools out of 
cast steel rods. The cartridge is set in a countersunk base, 
and I drive a hollow rod down to a shoulder with a mallet, 
The driven rod contains a die of the exact size of a Win- 
chester shell that fits my rifle. I have no trouble with 
swelled shells. I decap my rifle shells in the same manner 
as I decap shot shells. But I recap with the company’s tool 
for the purpose. 
I recently had a round bullet mould made, the bullets 
being just enough elongated so that they would not roll in 
more than one direction. I mean they would roll like eggs, 
not like billiard balls. 
T loaded shells with these bullets and fired them, using my 
gun as a single breechloader. I tried them simply greased, 
patched with new fine muslin, greased and patched with 
leather cut from an old kid glove forming the ontside of the 
patch ungreased, Iregret that I cannot send you targets, 
but if any difference was discernible if was in fayor of the 
muslin. I think a round ball preferable to 200 yards, while 
the same length of shell gives a greater ratio of powder to 
Jead. Special shells could be made to work through the 
magaziue, giving still more powder, as they would be longer. 
AMATEUR. 
SomerRsET, Pa., Dec. 13, 1884. - 
A New SHeiu,—The new brass paper-lined sbells, now 
manufactured by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, 
are said to comprise in many respects the advantages of both 
brass and paper shells. The objection most commonly 
urged against the brass shell is that it is too heavy and does 
not hold its wad fast, while the paper ones too often allow 
an escape of gas at the base, and if exposed to moisture get 
wet and swell, ¢ither sticking in the gun or failing to enter 
the chamber. By a happy combination of brass with paper 
it is claimed that all these objections are overcome. These 
new shells are gastight and have the shooting qualities of 
the old-fashioned brass shells, while they can be crimped 
like a paper shell and yet are perfectly waterproof, and will 
never swell or stick in the chamber. They are also very 
light in weight, and can be reloaded many times. 
Sea and River Sishing. 
TROUTING ON THE BIGOSH. 
THE JOURNEY. 
A TRAIN stood near the wharf where the steamer landed, 
and it was quite well filled when Jack and I got on 
board, He found a seat with an elderly lady, while I shared 
the cushion with a fat man who chewed tobacco and flooded 
the floor with the juice. Heseemed toenjoy it; they all do; 
but whether the taste of the weed or the delights of expec- 
toration pleased him most was impossible to tell. He seemed 
to be following some geographical thought, and was evi- 
dently forming a large sea with surrounding lakes, and then 
connecting them by rivers. I thought at first that he might 
be M. de Lesseps, and that I recognized the Mediterranean, 
the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, but the knowledge that a 
Frenchman has better manners than to spit in the presence 
of others dismissed the thought. I envied Jack his seat by 
an elderly lady, for she certainly would not offend in this 
way, and turned my head so as not to witness the disgusting 
exhibition. Good grief! The man on the other side of the 
car was spitting over the aisle toward me, and I went to the 
rear end of the car and sat on the wood box near the stove. 
Opposite sat a poor German with his wife and child. He 
did not spit, and therefore his company was enjoyable. 
Jack missed his companion, and came aft to know why a 
seat On an uncomfortable wood box was preferable on a 
warm day to one in the center of the car, and I told him 
that at White Oak Junction I proposed to haye some break- 
fast without being so thoroughly nauseated that it could not 
be retained. “Jack,” said I, “there are some forms of 
ignorance that are worse than crimes. I would prefer to 
share my seat with a respectable and self-respecting burglar 
to sitting with a man who did not know that he was offend- 
ing his better bred neighbors by hawking and spitting.” 
“This is necessary at limes,” said Jack, ‘‘and few or none 
can get along without it,” 
“Certainly, but there are some other things which are 
equally necessary that no one would think of doing in pub- 
lic or in the presence of others. This is peculiarly an Amer- 
ican vice, and some day a missionary will arise who will de- 
claim against it, If at the next election an anti-spitting can- 
didate isin the field he will have my vote, a drunken man 
is preferable to a spitting one.” i 
“Well,” said Jack, “this may be so, but how about the 
man who whistles in the car, the man who eats peanuts and 
gives lis neighbors the fragrance, the man who has decided 
opinions on politics, religion, temperance, or other questions 
and loudly vents them so thaf, all may be instructed in what 
he believes to be right, or the idiot who, on the eve of a 
presidential election, goes through the car gathering votes 
which be publishes as ‘straws’ if they favor his own side?” 
“Petty annoyances, Jack, mere annoyances that do not 
disgust. The men you name should be mildly thrown 
through the car window, if any humanitarian would volun- 
teer to do it, but the spitter should be tied hand and foot and 
placed under the wheels in front of the engine. That is the 
class of spitters, for there are classes, who don’t know any 
better, but those who know better should be let off by merely 
being thrown into the engine furnace.” 
“How do you tell who knows better than to defile a place 
where others sit or to disgust them by expectorating in their 
presence?” 
“Jack, my boy,” said I, ‘‘some one has said that ‘a hole is 
the accident of a day and excusable in any gentleman, but a 
patch shows an act of premeditated poverty,’ and verily IL 
say unto you that when you ride in an American street car 
and see a man spit where men walk and ladies’ dresses trail 
and then rub his foot in it to obliterate it, mark him, Jack, 
he knows better. Get out at the next corner after he does, 
to throw the police off the scent, and hurry around the 
block and kill him at the first opportunity, and if you are 
not hanged for it then a grateful people will rise up and call 
you blessed.” 
“Fiver killed many yourself?” asked he. 
“No, Jack, not one; the thought that the offender might 
be somebody’s darling, if not mine, hassaved many a man. 
We are apatient and long-suffering people, witness how the 
passengers in this car bear with that train-boy who insists 
on their buying preparations of plaster of Paris, which he 
calls lozenges. Here is Sandwich Junction, with twenty 
minutes for pie and four hours for indigestion afterward. 
We will get off and forage for a broiled chicken and cup of 
coftee. The latter is sure to be bad but warm, while the 
ehicken will no doubt be good though not gigantic, The 
railway sandwich has furnished the journalistic funny man 
with food for jokes in almost as great a degree as the goat, 
the plumber, the mother-in-law, and the stovepipe. Let’s 
leave it to him and take chicken or oysters. If Connecticut 
and Vermont is ‘the region of perpetual pie,’ then we may 
eall Indiana the land of unceasing hot biscuit, and the rail- 
way restaurant the oasis of perennial sandwich. Leave 
your satchel in your seat to secure it while we go.” 
To our surprise the chicken actually had flesh belween 
the skin and bone, the coffee was good, and by some mistake 
the strawberries were of some variety other than the sour 
Wilson’s seedlings so popular with market gardners, because 
of its bearing qualities and its hardness of flesh, which ad- 
mits of severe transportation. The conductor shouted ‘‘All 
aboard,” the bell rang; the whistle tooted, and away we 
went without 1 pang of indigestion because the proprietor of 
the restaurant was not in league with the doctors, 
Nothing of note occurred until we reached Smithtown, 
where we took a stage for Innovation, a distance of fourteen 
miles. Theso-called stage was a two-seated covered spring 
wagon and carried the mail, when there was any to carry. 
A lady already occupied the right hand of the back seat and 
Jack took a place beside her while 1 mounted with the driver. 
The latter had been at the station for two hours before, but 
before gathering wp the reins lit his pipe, utterly ignoring 
the question whether the lady immediately behind him en- 
joyed it as much as he. I, in a monient of Quixotic lunacy, 
turned and asked herif the smoke disagreed with her, 
thinking that it might convey a hint to the driver, and jr- 
abile dictu, she did not support me, Jack said afterward that 
she “went back” on me, whatever that may mean, but 
she said ‘‘not at all,” and the driver smoked on. This is en- 
tirely characteristic of the rural driver, who will refrain 
from smoking until he gets passengers behind him and then 
he enjoys his pipe or cigar. Why people submit to it is a 
mystery. 
The road soon entered a valley through which ran a riot - 
ous stream known as the west fork of the Dugong, a pretty 
brook, but containing only suckers and small cyprinoids. 
