88 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 186, 1885 



spoiling for a case, bought the fox of my uncle. Then the 

 other man brought; suit against the lawyer. A long and in- 

 teresting trial resulted, which lasted over a week, but the 

 lawyer still retained the fox. Whatever became of reynard 

 I do not know, but if my friend the lawyer sees this, possi- 

 bly lie will tell us. Another case: Two young men from my 

 native town were crossing Lake Champlain; they discovered 

 a fox and a dog in close pursuit just corning on to the ice 

 from the further shore, and making directly toward them. 

 They saw a fine race for over two miles across the lake. 

 Evidently the fox was very tired and the dog fresh, for the 

 dog overtook the fox about ten rods from the men. Unable 

 to escape the fox turned about and sat down very defiantly 

 facing the dog. The dog stopped arid did not dare to attack 

 the fox, neither did the fox dare turn tail and run. So they 

 sat and eyed each other until one of the men crept up and 

 slew the fox with a club. " 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



There is a great deal of floating ice in the Delaware River 

 and duck shooters who are fond of paddling upon the 

 fowl in white skiffs are having good sport below Port Penn. 

 The use of huge guns loaded with at least a quarter of a 

 pound of shot iu tbis sort of shooting savors very much of 

 pot-hunting, and approaches as near as possible to the illegal 

 Biau.gb.ter which was carried on by the night-shooters with 

 their swivel 2'uns near Havre de Grace a year or two ago. 

 A tlock of clucks can be approached with an ice-Screened 

 skiff manned by a good paddler, and the greater portion of 

 the buuch killed or crippled by a siugle discharge from a 

 big-gnu. 1 plead guilty of having once participated in this 

 Sort of sport and know whereof I speak, but nothing now 

 could tempt me to repeat my experience. At the present 

 time, the ducks in our bay are in poor condition, the marsh 

 feediug grounds and shoaler places being frozen up, the fowl 

 find it difficult to obtain a proper amount of sustenance. 

 When the marshes are open and food is abundant, which 

 will be the case next, month no doubt, good shooting can be 

 had over decoys placed upon the mud and in the pools, the 

 sportsman being hid in a box-blind sunk in the marsh, or 

 from a skiff hauled upon the marsh and well screened with 

 trash or dead reeds. The marshes next month will be taken 

 possession of by the sprigtails and baldpatcs, and many a 

 point can be selected where good sport can be had, but the 

 ice shooting which is being earned on now, to say the least, 

 is not what a rational sportsman should indulge in. All the 

 ducks I have examined which have come from down the 

 river are as poor as snakes. 



"Very many prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse are 

 being "offered for sale in our markets. Advantage being 

 taken of the cold weather, quantities of both species have 

 been shipped to this city in a frozen state. I overheard a 

 game dealer a few days since state that he had just filled an 

 order for twenty dozen quail, and that he could at any mo- 

 ment lay his hands on one hundred dozen. After all, this 

 winter has proven a disastrous one to the game of tbe Mid- 

 dle States. The earlier portion of the season was an open 

 one, and it was confidently expected it would continue so, 

 but January and February have been intensely cold, and 

 the snows that have fallen have crusted and continued in this 

 condition, so that food for both quail and grouse have been 

 difficult to obtain. 



I learn from the interior of our State that wild turkeys, 

 owing to the scarcity of food and the severity of the 

 weather, have been forced from the mountains, and approach 

 the settled sections so close, that many have been killed in 

 the poorest condition, unfit for the table. 



lam glad to learn that a number of gentlemen of this city 

 are individually wintering quail, which are to be liberated 

 in the spring. Virginia and Maryland birds having been 

 procured in preference to quail from more southern sections. 



Homo. 



Philadelphia, Feb, 33. 



MASSACHUSETTS GAME. 



r r\tJE Legislative Committee on Agriculture at Boston, Feb. 

 JL 17, considered various orders relative to amending the 

 game laws. Dr. Harvey, of Westboro, was the first witness. 

 He wanted the law changed in the interest of the farmers and 

 hunters, so as to prevent the hunting of woodcock in August, 

 since it is not a suitable month for limiting and would also 

 allow the partride to get better growth without being driven 

 off by the woodcock hunters in August. The woodcock do 

 not migrate until Octobei, so that there would be as many 

 to be had if the law is changed. The close season for wood- 

 cock and partridge would then coincide. Mr. Wm. Brew- 

 ster favored the change and thought it best to make all close 

 seasons correspond as nearly as possible. But few woodcock 

 breed here now; not one iu fifty to what used to thirty or 

 forty years ago. They have been killed off and driven away. 

 The laws now tend to their increase, but the proposed change 

 would be an im provement. The birds will have to be carefully 

 protected to regain their former numbers. Any legislation 

 tending to protect the breeding grounds of birds would be 

 beneficial. It might be well to have some parts of the State 

 where game could not be killed at any season of the year. 

 There must be much more protection or game will be ex- 

 terminated. It would be well if the various States had har- 

 monious legislation on this subject. Mr. Brewster is presi- 

 dent of lhe~Nuttall Club of Cambridge. The great breeding 

 grounds now of the woodcock and other migratory birds are 

 in Nova Scotia. 



President Samuels of the Massachusetts Fish and Game 

 Association said it had prepared a bill which met its views 

 and, he thought, protected the interests of all parties. He 

 called on ex-President Fottler of the association, who sub- 

 mitted the bill, which is subslantlauy the same as that re- 

 ported by the Committee on Agriculture last year. He said 

 the identical bill reported last year would be fully satisfac- 

 tory. The proposed bill, however, does not close the present 

 open season for quail, partridge and woodcock. The section 

 relating to the dealers does not make any change from the 

 present law, although the association think some chauge 

 should be made. No change is made in the section relating 

 to the payment for game brought in from other States. The 

 open season for black duck, wood duck and teal is left as at 

 present, closing April 1. The section of last year's bill pro- 

 hibited the bunting of wild duck or wild geese on their 

 feeding or roosting grounds in the inland waters. The asso- 

 ciation does not want to change the present law, but to 

 strengthen it, especially in regard to the partridge. The law 

 in regard to that bird is to apply "whenever" it is taken as 

 well as "wherever." Representative Davis of Tisbury said 

 his district wanted the close season for black duck from 

 March 15 to Oct. 15. Mr. Fottler said the association would 

 be glad to have all the protection possible. The present law 



does not exempt from protection the shore birds, although 

 pretending to. 



After Mr. Fottler had read the proposed bill it was opened 

 for discussion. Mr. J. M. Brown, of Taunton, thought there 

 should be some time iu November when deer could be taken. 

 Hon. F. A. Nye, of Falmouth, who has deer on his own 

 farm, urged that they should be protected, even more strin- 

 gently than at present. He objected to hunting deer with 

 dogs as cruel and inhuman. They are often driven into the 

 water and drowned. The law is not enforced because there 

 is no one to enforce it. There is illegal huntiuff, but a law 

 prevents the great crowds coming clown from New York and 

 Boston. He was satisfied with the law as it is. The deer 

 are. not plenty now and should be given more time for in- 

 crease. Ex-representative Gifford, of Falmouth, urged that 

 these large tracts of wood in Barnstable and Plymouth 

 counties be kepi as a deer park. The preseut close law has 

 been in force since 1883, and the deer are now increasing 

 and have become somewhat plenty. He would have more 

 stringent legislation, and have the Fish Commissioners act as 

 Game Commissioners, and prosecute violations of the law to 

 the bitter end. 



Major S. B. Phinney of Barnstable opposed making the 

 law less stringent. Mr. Lowell of Barnstable thought the 

 deer should be protected as a fancy animal. The Cape 

 people and their summer visitors have as much right to 

 have their wishes protected as well as those of the sportsmen. 

 The penalty against trespassing amounts to nothing. Mr. 

 B. C. Cahoou of Falmouth said that to-day tbe deer are hunted 

 more than during the years when there was an open season. 

 Then they hunted during the open season only ; now they 

 hunt right through. If November was an open month it 

 would be better for the deer. The present law is not en- 

 forced. He would have November an open month and 

 allow hunting with dogs. He knew no reason why the deer 

 should be preserved, as they are rarely seen unless by hun- 

 ters. Mr. Sheveliu, a Selectman from Sandwich, wanted 

 the open season, if there was one, to include September, so 

 that the people there could hunt as well as strangers. Mr. 

 Abbe of Bourne agreed with Mr. Cahoou. The hearing 

 was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 



MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION. 



THE Michigan Sportsmen's Association met at the Su- 

 preme Court rooms, at Lansing, Mich., on the evening 

 of Feb. 17, 1885. Delegates were present from the Central 

 City Sportsman's Club of Jackson, Lake St. Clair Shooting 

 and Fishing Club, Kent County Sportsman/a Club, Kala- 

 mazoo County Game and Fish Protection Association, and 

 Battle Creek Sportsman's Club. There were also several 

 individual members present, not representing organized asso- 

 ciations. Owing to the fact that the meeting had been twice 

 adjourned, and because of the blockade of the railroads by 

 the severe weather, the attendance was much smaller than 

 was anticipated. Those present were, however, enthusiastic 

 and diligent, in business. 



The special committee appointed at the December meeting 

 to draft a bill for the appointment of a State game and fish 

 warden, and amendments to the game laws, made their re- 

 ports, with drafts of bills. These bills were discussed at 

 length and compared with like bills already before the Legis- 

 lature. A committee of one was appointed to present the 

 bills to the Legislature, with instructions to devote most of 

 his attention to the game warden bill, and if necessary, to 

 abandon all others. 



The president's address on the general objects of the asso- 

 ciation and the necessity for the appointment of a game 

 warden was then read and ordered printed for the purpose 

 of being laid before the Legislature, together with an address 

 to be prepared by the president and secretary. An article on 

 the nomenclature of the Michigan Liniicolae, by Dr. Morris 

 Gibbs, of Kalamazoo, was then read, followed by a paper 

 by Dr. J. C. Parker, of Grand Rapids, on Shooting vs. Fish- 

 ing. An interesting poem on Bob White by Mrs. H, S.Brown, 

 of Chicago, was then read by the president. 



The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: 



President, Dr. E. S. Holmes, of Grand Rapids. 



Secretary, Mark Norris, of the same place. 



Treasurer, N. A. Osgood, of Battle Creek. 



Director for three years, T. S. Cobb, of Kalamazoo; 

 Director for four years, E. C. Nichols, of Battle Creek. 



Kalamazoo was selected as the place of holding the next 

 annual meeting on the second Tuesday in February, 1886. 



The meeting then adjourned sine die. 



M. Norris, .Sec'y. 



Loading. — Colebrook, N. H.— I use a 10-bore, of no mat- 

 ter whose make, right barrel cylinder, left choke. The 

 buckshot chamber four in the choke, and the layers are 

 divided in tbe shell by thin wads; I use 5} drams of good 

 powder and la shot. For duck shooting at long distances, 

 the same powder and one ounce of No, 7 shot inclosed in 

 case, except in front, which remains open and even full of 

 shot, all held iu shell by wad, as in ordinary loading. For 

 case I use a No. 1, 14 paper shell, with brass cut away and 

 shell cut to hold one ounce, using the reinforced base only 

 to avoid danger. The appearance of case after you find it 

 50 yards away from you will be warning enough. I shoot 

 with this last to kill at 75 yards, and with successive shots 

 drew four chickens at 82 yards. — Ned Norton. 



Apropos op Camp Tins. — Near the top of each have a 

 small "strap" or flattened loop riveted, have a piece of round 

 steel about three inches long turned up at one end about an 

 inch and flattened so as to fit the loop, the other end cut with 

 a coarse wood thread sharp at the point; this screwed into 

 the end of any suitable stick forms a perfect handle for 

 moving tins about when on the fire, lifting covers when 

 cooking or kettles with hot bales. A. simple addition, but 

 having used them for some years wouldn't be without them. 

 The loops need not interfere with the tins nesting and the 

 weight is insignificant. — A. J. H. R. 



A Game Score.— A Jackson county, Mo., correspondent 

 reports the following as his score of of game killed 

 during the last three years: Rabbits (common cotton tail), 

 265; rabbit (mule or jack), 1; squirrel, 52; blackbird, 30; 

 chicken (or grouse), 1; crow, 4; dove, 117; duck, 49; lark, 

 18; plover, 15; pigeon, 33; quail, 161; robin, 8; snipe, 41; 

 turkey, 1; number of shots fired, 1,021; number of times 

 out, 33. This w T as without the assistance of a dog. I don't 

 believe there are two dogs in our town that are worth the 

 food they eat. 



The Ctjvier Club Reception of 1885 was a very plea- 

 sant affair. The Cincinnati Enquirer gives this history of 

 what has grown to be a very influential society: "A few 

 gentlemen fond of field sports gathered together in 1871 and 

 determined to form a sportsman's society, the object of 

 which was to elevate the tone of field sports and enforce the 

 game laws. Meetings at long intervals were of a desidtory 

 nature, but the membership increased. Subsequently the 

 idea of a sportsman's club was abandoned, and it was re- 

 solved to enlarge their scope so as to include game preserva- 

 tion. Out of this resolution sprang the Ohio State Society 

 for the Preservation of Game and Fish, for such was the 

 title adopted hy the new society. It began its errand weak 

 in numbers and poor in purse. To-day it owns the magni- 

 ficent club house No. 34 Longworth street, containing one 

 of the most valuable collections of ornithological and ichthy- 

 ological specimens west of New York. The subject of fish 

 and game preservation is one which is engaging the atten- 

 tion of many of the eminent naturalists and "most practical 

 philanthropists of the United States. In Europe it has long- 

 since been settled that the fish and game must be preserved 

 for food, and the governments there make the necessary laws 

 and enforce them rigidly. In this country it has been rather 

 customary to regard the fishculturists and game preservers 

 as public enemies instead of public benefactors, and to con- 

 sider all laws made in their interest as arbitrary oppressions. 

 Game has been ruthlessly and wantonly slaughtered without 

 forbearance in any season; the fish have been taken in in- 

 credible quantities, in all periods of gestation and immatu- 

 rity, until the fields, the forests and the waters have become 

 nearly depopulated. The Cuvier Club has exercised a salu- 

 tary influence in this regard. It has maintained the prin- 

 ciple that the indiscriminate destruction of game and fish is 

 an inexcusable waste of human food, and besides an evil and 

 a crime fraught with many serious consequences. It has 

 molded public opinion to the proper form of belief. In our 

 own vicinity it has enforced the laws, and by persons in 

 authority in several sister States. Again, an attempt to 

 abolish the law by which the present Fish Commissioners of 

 the State of Ohio were created was defeated by the club, 

 and in lieu thereof an act was passed giving them a fund to 

 enable them to carry on their work. Had the Fish Com- 

 missioners been abolished it would have been a reproach to 

 the State. The Cuvier Club in the next place, by insisting 

 upon a due regard for the rights of the land-owner, and a 

 just observance of all property rights, has convinced the 

 owners of the soil that the difference between a legitimate 

 sportsman and a pot-hunter is a substantial difference; and 

 far beyond the limit of its own circle it has taught the 

 maxim that to pursue or capture game by any but legitimate 

 means is wholly disgraceful. But the club has not stopped 

 at this. It has united in the movement, not alone to pro- 

 cure needed legislation, but to procure co-operative legisla- 

 tion, securing laws having uniform operation throughout 

 the country within given isothermal lines." 



New York.— Obi. — We have more rabbits here to the 

 acre than we can shake a stick at, and can count the snares 

 by the dozen. Grouse are very scarce. One may tramp 

 through the woods for half a day and not see a bird. Quail 

 are all gone the way of the buffalo, we never hear of any in 

 this part of Allegany county.— Obi. 



Issaquena. — In an excellent article written by "Steele's 

 Bayou," and published in your paper last year, he mentions 

 Issaquena as meaning "Queen of the Deer." I know that it 

 sounds well, but in the Choctaw language usa means deer 

 and qwna a path or walk. — Issaquena. 



Indiana. — Fairland, Feb. 16. — It is snowing hard this 

 morning, mercury standing at zero at 7 o'clock. A good 

 many quail left over, but they are having a hard time of it. 

 Snow not deep, but giving the hawks a good chance to prey 

 on them.— C. W. W. 



Im and Oliver 



BLACK BASS TALK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I sympathize with "E. F." in his desire to gain informa- 

 tion in regard to fly-fishing for black bass; and, as out of 

 comparisons of experience may come enlightment, I am 

 willing to "chip in" a littlefor the benefit of the "pot,"hopiug 

 to get out of it at least as much and as good as 1 give. I am 

 not an expert angler, theoretically or practically; still, I 

 have dropped a fly, after a fashion, in a good many and 

 widely separated waters, and have had at times pretty fair 

 luck. 



As with trout, so I find with bass, that rules and lures 

 which are all right in one place or at one time are not good 

 for much in or at another. Fish, of a given variety, are 

 like people of the same nation. They are all the same, 

 scientifically, and in a general way; but their tastes and 

 habits vary greatly, according to locality and the circum- 

 stances by which they are surrounded. At least that is the 

 way it seems to me; and I have come to the conclusion that 

 the only way to find out wherein and to what extent these 

 differences exist is by actual experiment and close observa- 

 tion. I have never found a royal road to success in angling, 

 any more than in other pursuits where tact, industry and 

 patience are requisites. 



As with trout, also, so I have found in the long run, and 

 in the greatest number of instances, the scarlet ibis, or a red 

 fly of some sort, the most reliable stand-by for bass, yet at 

 times I have made good catches with other colors, when 

 that particular hue was of no account whatever. The best 

 single afternoon's sport 1 ever had with bass was one day 

 when I had tried in vain nearly every kind of fly in my book, 

 and half in despair and half in a spirit of bravado, concluded 

 to put on a white and an orange colored hackle, both of 

 pretty good size. With these tw® flies alone, I took fifty- 

 two bass, varying in weight from half a pound to over three 

 pounds, and at sundown lost a bigger one than any I had 

 landed, owing to the amount of sawing the snell had 

 suit'ered during the exercises. Still, as I say, I have generally 

 found a fly of red or other gay colors best as a rule, and, so 

 far as my experience goes, they should be considerably 

 larger than those generally used for trout. 



Ordinarily, I have found the. best bass fishing ground to 

 be over and among rocks, or along the edge of a line of 

 water grass or reeds, near shore, where the "bronze beauties" 

 are pretty sure to lie in wait for minnows or other passing 

 food, A fly well located in these neighborhoods is pretty 



