—— 
Se = —_ 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
455 
JW Frost... ..22 22 23 24-91 WN Payson.....,.21 22 16 18—77 
Wm Fisher.. . 22 22 28 29-89 FW M Palmer....... 18 19 18 2i—76 
Lewi- Sammders....21 21 22 23-87 DM Smith ..,,..,,20 20 17 18—75 
AW Howland...... 22 21 21 21—87 AP WNeal........... 19 18 17 17—71 
BOSTON.—The attendance at the range at Walnut Hill was very 
large. During the day a strong northwest wind prevailed, and the 
bene was very dazzling. Among those present was George Harrison 
ot Minneapolis, Minn., who was on his first visit to the East, and ex- 
pressed himself as very much pleased with the shooting facilihes at 
the range. Below are the best records of the day: 
Creedmoor Practice Match. 
PON Pe gees ae ddddd5dddd 4) J © Darmody (mil.).2448444444—87 
TD Stewart. ee. ses 4344433564- 39 ST King......-..... 3444543442—87 
8. Dinkbam.... ...- A4dpdd4a4d4—_ 38° CP Chapman (mil.) 433444444236 
Creedmoor Prize Match. 
hf cia) ae ee Weel che tony 4 565 6 6b 5b 5 4-47 
Decimal] Match. 
(ops SG fas Oe ce (ie dinates SBR MS Bo To Ged it by 7—E8 
95674410 7 9 4 7-67 
Victory Match. 
UE CUCUST S12) ) 7) a a eave Pep acre Cre 884977 9 6 910-7 
Rest Match 
SSMU MLTR Soro g-5 sncksosed <1) Spa seddapS EE ts Peaster 8 8 9 9 8 9 9 9 8 10—87 
MMV LOR DEL se ty5, 5} ove peek eskids tale Sey 10 9 81010 6 7 8 8 9—85 
BG Warren...,..-. seabe eck eeet ow 478 9 9 71010 7 9—80 
H Newton,..,... nee teenie sexed chets 410 810 6 6 8 5 5 10-72 
George Harrison,.,.........,- AAS oy cat 28 110 4 3 7 4 6 5-49 
WAKEFIELD.—The Wakefield Sportsman’s Club held a prize shoot 
at the range on Salmon street. open to all comers. The first match, 
for a prize of $10, was won by George H, Towle, Second match, fora 
prize of $10, was won by Alexander Turnbull. The other events re- 
sulted as follows: 
1, Seven clay-birds—A. Smith first, C, 1. Goodale second, George H. 
Towle third. 
ras qe birds—Albert Smith first, C, I. Goodale second, §, S. White 
ird. 
3, Ten birds—Albert Smith first, Alexander Turnbull second, J. W. 
Babbitt third. 
reece birds—C, I. Goodale first, Albert Smith second, S, 8. While 
ird. 
5, Five birds—C I, Goodale first, A. Smith second, Alexander Turn- 
bull third. 
The Dutton gold badge was won by C, I, Goodale. 
SUPFOLE CLUEB,—The members of the Suffolk Spartsman’s Club 
met at their range at Powder Horn Hill. Fifteen sweeps were shot. 
FVollowing are the winners: First, Robinson first; second, George A; 
Libby, first; third, H. F. Libby, first; fourth, Hateh, first; fifth, R. 
Jones, first; sixth, Perry and Symmes divided first; seventh, Pratt, 
first; eighth, Goodnow and Dickey divided first, ninth, Pratt first; 
tenth, Dickey, first; eleventh, Dickey, first, twelfth, Draper, first; 
peas Dickey, first; fourteenth, Draper, first; fifteenth, Samp- 
son, first, 
THE TRAP. 
Correspondents who favor us with club scores are particularly re - 
guested to write on one side of the paper only. 
CLAY-PIGEON TOURNAMENT.—Editor Forest and Stream: In 
regard to hotel rates at New Orleans, we haye received the following 
additional item: ‘At the Deneshand Hotel prices are $3.50 per day, 
three meals and room: this is special price for our sportsmen only. 
He will also make reduction on the price if two or more sleep in one 
room, Mr. Deneshand told me that on this occasion he will furnish 
dinnerat any hour shooters may desire in case they should be late. 
This hotel is as fine a placeas there isin New Orleans, equal to the 
best; their restaurant can’t be excelled. They do not have Huropean 
plan, Cassidy, of the Cassidy Hotel, makes figures for us, viz., rooms 
$1 per day, meals fifty cents each. his is a good hotel and the price 
is very reasonable: the restaurant is passable; of course there are 
better. There are other hotels, but they are very highin price. The 
two mentioned are in a fine locality, but neither of them will secure 
rooms unless money is sent in advance. I would ask that all coming 
write mein plenty of time, because rooms will be very scarce, that 
is, there will be enough rooni, but the prices are exorbitant, and I do 
not wish that any brother sportsmen be imposed upon when they can 
be sayed from the imposition, also they should write how long they 
_ would remain. I willforward you prices of other places as soon as I 
get answers, as [have asked for special prices from all hotels and 
roomers.—A. CARDONA, JR., 165 Enterprise street, New Orleans, La,” 
The United States Cartridge Company, of Lowell, Mass., has donated 
2,000 Star brand paper shot shells to be awarded as special prizes at 
the second mternational clay-pigeon tournament at New Orleans. 
Any manufacturer of uns, ammunition or implements desiring to 
imitate this exainple, will please address the undersigned at once in 
order to obtain méntion in the programme for distribution on the 
grounds.—L. ©. P. Co., Cincinnati. 
BULLETS OR SHOT.—Roxbury, Mass., Dec. 22.—Editor Forest 
and Stream; In your issue of Dee, 4, you say several investigations 
have seemingly verified the claim that a bullet only is used by Buffalo 
Bill ia breaking glass balls while riding at full speed on horseback. 
My reasous for cere contrary are as follows: First, why does 
Mr. Cody use a 50-cal, Winchester rifie? The cartridge, if I remem- 
bered rightly, takes 95 grains powder; by reducing the charge of 
poses say one-half, there would be space left for quite a respecta- 
le amount of shot, Something in the shape of a bullet must be in- 
serted in the shell in order for the breech pin to place cartridge in the 
barrel. Second, why is not the 32, 38, or even 44-calibers preferred to 
8 50-cal,? Possibly there is no room for shot in the former. I 
neglected to state that the above cartridge (50-cal.) was picked up in 
front of the grand stand immediately after shots were fired. A friend 
also procured another, same caliber, Third, where do all the bullets 
go to which it ie claimed are used? Would we not hear of them, 
especially where there are houses in the immediate vicinity? The 
claim may be made that light charges are used. Still, why is a 50- 
eal. used? Judging by the report of the rifie I should think the bullet 
would go half a mile at least, Let us have the views of some of your 
many correspondents.—f, ¥'. Lewis, 
BOSTON GUN CLUB.—Clay-pigeon tournament, will be held at 
Wellington, Mass., Jan. 7 and 21. Shooting begins at 9 o'clock, Prizes: 
40, 30, 20 and 10 per cent. Ties on singles, 3 birds; on doubles, 1 pair, 
Matches and sweepstakes open to all. Nxtra prizes each day will be 
given for best averages, Noticeis also given to members that any 
member challenging for the Individual Challenge Match for the New 
England Trap Shooter’s Association medal, and winning same, shalJl 
receive $10 fram the above club. If a team of 5 of above club chal- 
lenge and win, they shall receive $25. Time table.—B. & M. depot, 
‘To Wellington, 8:00, 9:35, 11:00, 12:45, 1:45, 2:45. From Wellington, 
12:08, 1:28, 2:20, 3:48, 4:48, 5:58. For further particulars, address, D. 
Kirgwoob, Boson, Sec’y B. G. GC, 
EASTERN SHOTS.—To-morrow at Worcester will be an important 
day as there is to be a shoot on the grounds of the Worcester Sports- 
man's Club, to which the shotgun men are directing their attention, 
for on that day there will be two interesting contests, one for the 
team badge, and one for the individual badge of the New England 
Trap Shooter's Association, In the former match there will be teams 
from the Worcester club and the Massachusetts Rifle Association and 
such other clubs as may challenge, and in the other contest Messrs. 
Perry and Holden of the Worcester club, Dickey of the M.R. A., 
Gerrish of the Exeter club, and Stack and Kirkwood of the Boston 
Gun Club will shoot against Mr. Eager, of Marlboro, the present 
holder of the badge. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
P. D., Havana, Schuyler county, N. Y.—1. Is there any law against 
fishing for pickerel aOR ER the ice with what we eall “tip ups’? ¥. 
Is it lawful te kill pickerel by striking the ice above them withanaxe? 
8. Why do you not vive weekly quotatious of the prices of furs and 
skins? 4. What will the back numbers of Forrsr anb Srream from 
May 15, 1888, to the first number in 1854 cost? Ans, 1. No, 2. Yes, 
there is no law in New York protecting pickerel. 8, We give occa- 
sional quotations. 4. Two dollars anda half. 
GRAEME, Tazewell CO. H,, Va.—December 81 shot a bird of the fol- 
lowing description, and as I never saw the like before, please tell me 
whatitis? I feel satisfied itis of petrel family. Itis about the size 
of the wild pigeon, and resembles it more in form than any bird of 
which I know, It is about 18 inches from {ip of beak to tip of tail, 1514 
inches from where wing joins body to tip of same, First three front 
feathers on wing white with black tips. the next four blueish 
or dove color with black tips, making in all seven black tipped. 
The first front feather black io quill, Tail, breast and under 
throat white and neck whitish. Top of back and butt of wings soft 
blueish or dove color. Head fluffy, and top of doye or blueish. Web- 
footed. three toes and 4 very small hind tor, Itsat high on water 
and floated gracefully and as light as a feather ball. fi was alone, 
and preceded 4 storm which sank the mercury in one night to 6° 
below zero, Ans. Your bird was not one of the petrels, but belonged 
to the Laride (gull family) and was probably Bonaparte’s ros pull 
(Larus philadelphia) or sometimes Chroticocephalus ‘philadelp ia, 
is, during migrations, abundant both on the coast and in the 
anterior. It breeds in the tar north. 
“a1 fe 
to catch and foul any lines nearit. Many 4 
make it more portable without lesseving its efficiency, the latest, and 
Hachting. 
A NEW FOLDING ANCHOR. 
i zee ordinary anchor isso much in the way. and of such an inconve- 
nient form to stow, that it is, when not iu actiial use, one of the 
reatest nuisances that yex the yachtsman. Hyen when stowed ana 
ashed it takes np much useful room in the bows, and is al ways ready 
Many plans have been devised ta 
one of the best of which is the one now described, the invention of 
Capt. H. C. Chester, U. 8. N.,a member of the United States Fish 
Commission, The shank of this anchor is perfectly straight, as shown 
in the cuts, and at the lower end are four Jugs, cast solid with the 
shank, to cach of which an arm is hinged, When in use the four 
arms are extended until each makes an angle of about 60 degrees 
Rotter wir 
isi 
Tht 
all 
| 
| 
Ms 
7 
with the shank, beyond which they cannot open. <A ring, sliding on 
the shank, is dropped down on the arms and held by a pin through 
the shank, thus locking the arms open. In this shape, it is claimed, 
the anchor is or superior to the ordinary styles in holding 
power, the 6lb. being equal to an 8lb. anchor of the ordinary 
pattern, and the. 16lb to a 25lb. of any other make, When not in use 
the ring is released and slid up. the arms folded in and the ring 
slipped down over their points, thus holding them together, as 
shown in the second figure. In this shape the anchor occupies 
hardly any rooni, and may be stowed along the bulwarks in 
a small yacht, alongside the house, or down below, while in 
@ canoe or rowboat, it can be laid almost anywhere, the smallest, or 
canoe size, made of brass, being about 1ft. long and 244im. diameter at 
the head when closed, and weighing but 234ibs, 
CUTTERS AND SHARPIES, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In issue No. 21 of your paper J note, among other editorial re- 
marks, headed ‘Signs of the Times,”’ the following: ‘'From Roslyn 
comes the news of another step on the part of the sharpie toward 
the despised cutter, 50ft. waterline, narrow beam, with 4 tons of lead,” 
only think of it, on ber keel, and drawing nearly 4ft. of water!” 
Now, ‘‘fair play is a jewel.” Therefore give us fair play, and per- 
mit me to say that the Roslyn sharpie has not caught the cutter in- 
fection. Further than this, let me add thatI have never, in“all my 
yachting experience, met any two gentlemen more absolutely 
opposed to the heavy displacement principle inherent to the cutter 
than the parties for whom lam building the Nonpareil sharpie you 
refer to. The cutter will sink like a plumb-bob if she be wounded 
between wind and water. She throws ‘‘the briny’’ all over herself 
and everybody else in a tumble to windward, and if she be 591éft. in 
length, as is the sharpie yacht you are trying to put into bad com- 
pany, she would draw say 10ft. of water. These gentlemen, my 
customers, want nothing of that kind, would not accept it as a gift. 
But they do want a sensible yacht, a light-draft keel boat, mind you. 
One that can neither capsize nor sink—not a mere racing machine, 
They have ordered a strong, safe, weatherly, dry yacht, and they are 
going to have a sharpie, not because she resembles a cutter, but be- 
cause she differs from that style of craft in everything. 
The sharpie in question is not an extremely narrow one. In fact, 
ker beam, as relative to her length, is the same that Lhave always 
recommended as being proper for these boats. She carries one ton 
more ballast than some other yachts of same length, which I have 
built, because her hullis somewhat deeper, in order to obtain ample 
head room without a high house, The extra weight is added chiefly 
to reduce her freeboard. THOMAS CLAPHAM. 
Rostyn, L, I., Dec. 23, 1884. 
[Mr. Clapham does not dispute our assertion that in this boat he is 
tending further from the original sharpie and nearer to the cutter, as 
the boat, already as narrow as a cutter (five beams), is made deeper 
in body, with more displacement, a draft of 5ft. (mstead of 4, as we 
printed), and alead keel, She may still bea sharpie, but is 1 marked 
departure from the sharpie of afew years since. We have heard it 
mentioned before that the cutters throw showers of spray, but haye 
yet to see it proved ihat they are as wet as the slovps when it comes 
to hammering into it. Mr. Claphain does not give the draftand beam 
of the sharpie, but we understand through one of the owners that the 
figures are 5 and 10ft. respectively. Oriva. a racing cutter, bas 9ft. 
Gin. draft. on G60ft. length; but a cruising cutter of the same length 
need not have over 6ft. 6in, to be superior in every way to the sharpie. 
lf Mr. Clapham had merely deslred to reduce the freeboard, the 
natural way would haye been to build the boat with less topside, and 
it certainly looks as if his object in adding weight had been to in- 
crease the displacement. ] 
RACING CUTTERS AS CRUISERS. 
4 [eens prospect of a contest for the Cup next season brings again to 
the fore the Herald’s ‘prominent’ but anonymous yachtsman, 
with some new and interesting information on the subject of racing 
yachts, as follows: 
“The modern Brilish racing craft are not yachts, for neither pleas- 
ure nor comfort can be had when sailing in them. Their owners do 
not live aboard of them, and they are sailed only by professionals 
from place to place where prizes are to be won. Our yachts, how- 
ever, whatever may be their model and design, are specially fitted 
for the pleasure and comfort of their owners. Yacht racing is an ex- 
pensive ppure for which there is no adequate return on this side of 
the Atlantic, let the yachtsmen win or !ose. Consequently neither 
our vessels in their model, design and rig, nor our crews have arrived 
at that degree of practical excellence which the British haye.” 
We have had in our waters for a year past, an extreme *‘modern 
British racing eraft,’’ of 40 tons, the Neen, whose owner went aboard 
of her a year ago last fall, and has lived aboard ¢yer since, until the 
closing of the season this year. He has eruised in her through the 
West Indies, up and down our coast in winter and summer, has made 
the rounds this season and sailed in all the races of his class but one, 
and has made the yacht his home forayear. Can any of the sloops 
show as good a record as cruisers, and yet we are told that neither 
Uiadrelnee nor comfort are possible in such craft. The other cutters 
ere have been used in much the same way, the owners living aboard 
the greatest part of the season. 
Abroad, where a season’s racing means twenty-five to thirty-five 
starts instead of five or six, as here, there is no time for cruising, and 
‘pleasure and comfort” in the shape of fine carpets and furniture, 
and a disproportionate amount of space allotted to stewards and cooks, 
must give way to the requirements of hard sailing; but once the rac- 
ing season over, it is no unusual thing for the yacht to be putin cruis- 
ing trim for a winter in the South. Again, after the racer has been 
surpassed in speed by a newer rival, with reduced spars she at once 
becomes a cruiser, such as are found in all Huropean waters from 
Norway to Turkey, 
Yacht racing is an expensive sport, but we have never heard before 
that there were not plenty of men among us possessed both of 
the wealth and spirit to race their boats for the sake of sport, and not 
as implied, for the sake of pecuniary gain; and who find an adequate 
return for their outlay in the honor of leading the fleet for a season. 
Mug-chasers may complain of the comparatively small money prizes 
offered by many of our clubs, but the true yachtman values much 
more highly the string of flags showing a season's battles fought and 
won. The “prominentyachtsman”™ has probably been misled by read- 
ing of sums of three to five thousand dollars won by English yachtsina 
season, but if he supposes that the owners aré anything in pocket 
financially after the expenses of a season’s hard ig are detrayed 
heis greatly mistaken. Racing large yachts isand always will be 
an expensive sport, and those, either here or abroad, who go into 1b 
as means of making money, had better inyestia some other form of 
marine property. We lately quoted a letter of Mr, Henry E. Bayly 
to the Field in regard to the cruising qualities of his 414ton Spanka— 
dillo. The questions of herroomand general accommodations has 
been disputed by a correspondent to whom Captain Bayy replies 
as follows. j 
“Her sides, nside and out, were as ronnd as an apple, was a phrase 
often to be met within the old nautical novels uf one’s youth, when 
describing some dreaded and blood-stained skimmer of the seas, and 
to one’s boyish fancy what wonderful ideas of speed and fearful 
beauty were conyeyed by ‘round as an apple’; but handsome is as 
handsome does, and where are the round-sided vessels of a like size 
that would have the ghost of a chance to windward with Olga or 
Currytush, wall-sided as they are, and the fresher the breeze and the 
bigger the lop, the poorer the show of the swelling ones. A. U., 
while fully admitting the power and speed of my perfect racing 
machine, as he terms her, is skeptical of her comfort for cruising. 
Of course, comfort is relative, and you cannot expect very much out 
of a small craft; but, dating my yachting experience as | do back te 
1845, the result derived is, that one of the yery first essentials to com- 
fort lies in the power of being able to stand erect and walk abent 
without the fear of bringing your head in yiolent contact with your 
deck beams a §overy inconsiderate moyement, My 316-tonner has 
5ft. Jin. head room, and though her cabin is merely a narrow passage 
barely 5ft, wide, still there is room enough for a sofa 7{t. long on the 
starboard side, with a flap table opposite at which three can comfort- 
ably dine; a rack for glasses and a netting for odds and ends over it, 
Above the sofa a cot 2i4ft. wide turns up, and another rather nar~ 
rower is fixed on the other side, in rear of the table and clear of the 
first; a w. ¢., pan and wash stand abaft the sofa. A friend and myself 
have forthe last three seasons lived ov board for three weeks at a 
streteh, and we have been decently comfortable and thoroughly dry, 
Atall times there is a forecastle 12ft, long, with a cot on one side, a 
locker on the other, and a cooking stoye aud boatswain locker in the 
forepeak, Such is my cruising racing machine below. Where could 
you have got such room iaa 5 or eyena 10-tonner of the real old type? 
Width, unless combined with height, isa delusion. What is the use 
of haying a cabin even 20ft.- wide if one is obliged to grope about 
doubled up, as though in extremis from colic. 
Exmoursg, Dec. 8. “Henry H, Bayuy.” 
Capt. Bayly has struck the true standard of size for a boat in 
which one intends to live. Length and height are indispensable, a 
man must stand eréct, and must sleep at full length, or he cannot be 
comfortable for any length of time, These he can do in the narrow 
and deep boat, and he cannot do in the ayerage centerboard craft, 
uuless of large size, Given headroom, sleeping length, and room for- 
ward and aft for man, galley and stores, extra width is of no benefit, 
while it necessitates a form inferior in all sea-going qualities to the 
modern cutter. 
YACHTING IN CLEVELAND. 
ACHTING at this port has mot been very brisk for the last two or 
three years, owing to not having a good anchorage ground, 
The bay formed by the Government breakwater has been used the 
last year, but being incomplete on the east side, a blow from the 
northeast has full sweep across it and the boats are in danger of 
dragging their anchors. When it is complete I think we will have a 
fair harbor. Our club is in good condition, and quite a lively interest 
is taken by the younger members. There are a few new boats being 
built and will be out next season. and some of the old ones are being 
repaired and improved for fresh laurels. The Lyman Bros, are build- 
ing a deep centerboard sloop, and, judging from her lines and finish, 
she willbe very fine as weilas speedy. She is 34ft. din. L, W. L., 42fb. 
over all, 12ft. heam, 4ft. 6in. draftand will have about 6ft, head room 
in cabin, and, as her centerboard is cut off aft, will haye a very com- 
fortable one. She will have a 3-ton shoe as outside ballast and 4 tons 
inside; will have double head sails, which will be a new feature here, 
and [think wil! be used on a number of boats nextseason. She is 
very strongly built, of oak, and one of the best jobs turned out here. 
A smaller boat is being built somewhat after the plans given in the 
ForREST AND StrEAM from time to time. She will be 25ft. L. W. L., 
30ft. over all, 7ft, beam, 4f6. draft, flush deck, and most of her ballast 
in a shoe outside. The Lulu, one of the finest boats we have in our 
elub, and her record of the last year shows her one of the fastest on 
the lake, is undergoing extensive repairs and improvements under the 
supervision of her owner, which, no doubt, will put her in the front 
rank nextseason. Her centerboard has been cut off aft, which will 
give more room in cabin. The cockpit floor is being raised, so as to 
make it Ber Ataoe: and some outside ballast will be put on. She will 
also discard the old jib and have double head sails. There are several 
parties who talk of building new boats next season. So, judging 
from the interest taken at present, our club will havea good showing 
next season, DECKHAND. 
CLEVELAND, O., Dec. 22. 
A CRUISE IN THE FLYAWAY,. 
i\' Y Friend—so called because he never could remember any one’s 
name, and often, I believe, forgot his own—leaped on board the 
yacht Flyaway, on the eve of Nov. 5, just as we cast off the last line 
at Cooper’s Point for a month’s cruise. He struck the cabin top with 
the toe of a 1din. gum boot, and disappeared over the side with all his 
luggage. As he called every one his friend, of course he had many, 
and well he deserved them, for heisarealgood fellow. Fished him 
out and made sail, wind west, double reefed allaround. Morris W. 
Clark and son Winfield, Robert White, Will West, my Friend aud 
writer made up the crew. Shook out reefs at the ‘Shoe;” while 
casting off clew plat, White, who was temporary helmsman, jibed 
the boat, throwing me up over the boom and across the lift. Came 
to at Chester, and were under way again at daylight, wind blowing 
hard 8. W., heavy sea. Split jib and came to off Brandywine Light, 
A strange vessel sailed around us all night. Sometimes she had four 
masts, and again none at all, was overus and under us, wasred, 
black and white alternately, and sometimes intensely ‘‘blew,” My 
Friend watched her through my night glass, and pronounced it a 
phantom ship, The sun rose clear, bringing the wind with it from 
N. W.; repaired jib and bentiton the stay as we went. Off Ship, 
Jobn had to board the skiffs and swing the yaw] to the dayits; flood 
tide had made, anda short tumble of asea got up. Our yacht had 
been behaving herself like a lady, but just here a heayy sea struck 
her under her port quarter, and she took a sheer for theiron pile, and 
was not checked until it partially becalmed her mainsail. 
Ran down to Egg Island, jibed over and set full jib at ten minutes to 
1P.M. We fairly flew from here to Morris River. Beating mto the 
river the northwester gaye one mighty puff before going ont, as you 
know it frequently does. Thirteen tons of ballast was not a pound to 
much, for the lee side of her house was nearly all the time under 
water, But she just stuck her nose down into it and went about her 
business, The harbor was full of yachts and working vessels, and to 
beat through them against wind and tide was no trifling matter, 
especially under so much head sail, double-reefed mainsail, whole 
jib. My friend who had been rolled out of his berth a dozen times. 
during the day, and had seen all kinds of ships floating in the air, 
managed to get his head above deck, and asked how soon he would 
be drowned. 
The Flyaway is 40ft. long, 12ft, beam, draft 7ft.,in keel, built iron 
Boston for outside work, Is non-capsizeable as I know, and a more 
Weatherly boat in rough water I never handled. We met several par- 
ties here, allot whom complained of the scarcity of birds. Stayed 
on the river three days; crossed the bay to Mispillior; no shooting 
worth while mentioning. Left for the ‘‘Hammocks,”? to Mahon’s 
ditch, the hogpen, crosscut, etc., poor shooting, Concluded to cross 
the bay again to our old favorite resort, Back Creel, and do better, 
By this time the days had gotten mixed up in a medly of the past. 
We must have had two or three Sundays in the week, I think so, 
because on Suudays we did not shoot, making it a day of feasting 
and lay off. Yet my Friend insists that we have lost four Sundays, 
One day the wind dropped down southeast and showed signs of a 
storm, and for the first time during the trip we had splendid shcot- 
ing; the birds came in rapidly, and as night shut ion the sport became 
Serv Seon E. No one seemed tu heed the darkness and the approach- 
ing storm. 
Clark had already downed fifteen black duck before the sun went 
down, but the hght had now become very uncertain. He had placed 
a single decoy in the pond he was usmg to accustom him to cover 
quick in the dark. During a lullin the flight of ducks, hé had be- 
come careless and had forgotten about the decoy. Looking up sud- 
denly he saw it, took quick aim and fired. Nothing moved, but 
going to the other side of the pond he picked up five ducks, besides 
the remains of his unfortunate decoy, The ducks had stooled while 
filling his pipe, and must have been close together, just beyond and 
in range of the decoy, My friend had killed a wonutled mallard, that 
had crawled out of the grass into the pond. We heard his joyful 
shouts half a mileaway, Went to him, begged him to be quiet, and 
at last modestly suggested that he was nob acting quite up to the 
standard of a sportsmen and great duck hunter, 
Soon after the storm came down on us in great fury. It was yery 
dark; so much so we could seareely find our skiffs, besides the tide 
was rapidly covering the marsh. Fortunately we ran into.a salt hay 
bungalo and made fast toit, Crawledin through the window, The 
shanty offered some little protection from the storm, although threat- 
ening every minute to topple over or be washed away, It was cer- 
tainly a bad night, and unless the wind shifted, our position was 
