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FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 16, 1885- 



THE ST. CLAIR NATIONAL PRESERVE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Early in May last a bill was introduced in the United 

 States Senate lor the purpose of setting aside the United 

 States unsurveyed, overflowed and marsh lands in Lake St. 

 Clair, in the State of Michigan, as a preserve in common for 

 the people of the United Stales. The world-wide celebrated 

 St. Clair Flats was fully included in the contemplated pre- 

 serve, a territory which has long been most suitable for its 

 fine shooting and. fishing, and as a great public resort in 

 summer. 



The heralding of the bill and its introduction attracted 

 much public attention. Previous attempts had been made 

 by influential private parties to acquire possession of this ter- 

 ritory, and very recently two bills had been introduced into 

 Congress for the purpose of securing private title to the same 

 on the score of claim of title to the land of a couple of con- 

 tiguous islands, which titles purported to have been founded 

 in the far back days of English rule. 



This St. Clair territory belongs to a class which frequently 

 borders the public waters of the nation in extensive tracts, 

 and is almost invariably a locality of great resort for 

 wildfowl and for those who shoot the same in season, 

 is sometimes fine for fish, and is much frequented by the 

 public. 



The most desirable part of this class of territory, all pri- 

 marily public domain, has now been largely acquired through 

 the easy friendship of Congress, by private parties to convert 

 into private shooting preserves, and while very valuable to 

 the parties acquiring, the effect will be to entail forever a 

 bar and loss to the public of privileges of which it ought 

 ever to be the possessor. 



Consider to what extent the borders of the public 

 waters throughout the nation are plotted with close private 

 shooting preserves formed from the class of territory 

 described. These often belt a shore for many leagues, "a 

 single one sometimes consisting of many thousands of acres, 

 and having miles of extent, all consisting of the choicest 

 shooting territory afforded by the whole country, and often 

 sold from the public domain for a trifling sum. And yet I 

 believe I am correct in stating that not one such preserve has 

 as yet been set aside for and privileged to the owners of the 

 great domain from which all have been furnished— the 

 public, the people. 



When the grasp of private acquisition was stretched out 

 after the St. Clair Flats, the relation and bearings of the 

 measure and the policy it represented were taken into ac- 

 count ; work was immediately instituted to counteract the 

 scheme and secure the territory as a preserve for the public, 

 with a determination to initiate a policy of like treatment 

 and disposal hereafter of this class of territory in the interest 

 of the public. The movement found the people almost 

 unanimously in its favor, and received from it efficient sup- 

 port, but much hard work and engineering has been required 

 to utilize this good will as a power, aud to make head 

 against influential opposition and arouse officials on a new 

 line of action. 



The bill to create the St. Clair preserve was introduced in 

 Congress in May last, but no action was taken upon it during 

 the session, the great political campaign sending everything 

 to the wall that could go. There was, however, much public 

 talk over the matter and much strong petition in its favor. 



It was deemed best to add to the bill some amend- 

 ments, and near to the last days of the session the amended 

 bill was introduced, and at the next session will be earnestly 

 pressed, with the expectation of success. It is in the hands 

 of a popular and able- Senator, the Hon. T. W. Palmer, of 

 this State, who believes in its equity, good policy and suc- 

 cess, and will do his part to justify this belief. 



The two bills which were introduced the same session, but 

 previous to the preserve bill, to give this overflowed territory 

 to private claimants on the ground that it was legitimately 

 an appurtenance to a couple of islands of which they claimed 

 the ownership, had able presentation before committee, and 

 strong influence, but nothing so far apparently veiy assur- 

 ing to their cause has turned up, nor is there much hope that 

 they will be successful further than recognition of title land 

 proper of the islands or a part thereof. And yet but for the 

 effort for the preserve, rolling over and showing up the 

 situation it is not unlikely these bills would have been voted 

 a success. 



The recent action of the U. S. Senate, Jan. 26, 1885, in the 

 case of territory formed by accretion from the water and 

 adjoining private land, an island in Saginaw Bay, holding 

 the same to be Government land and setting a price thereon, 

 would seem to be in the line of a fatal bar to the aforemen- 

 tioned claim. F. M. Wilcox. 

 Rochester, Mich., March 28, 1885. 



North Carolina Deer Law.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Since reading your editorial commending the action of our 

 late Legislature with regard to the preservation of game in 

 not allowing the quail, etc., lobe slaughtered at all times and 

 seasons, 1 feel some hesitancy in bringing before your read 

 ere anything calculated to fesseu the respect which may be 

 felt for our lawmakers. Candor compels me to say, how- 

 ever, that not in all points did the Solons at Raleigh act 

 wisely in regard to our game interests. It is with grief and 

 a sense of shame that I have to chronicle the fact that the 

 protection of our deer has been withdrawn, and "all coun- 

 ties east of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad" are entirely 

 without a deer taw, giving all bounders and others full 

 license to kill as many deer as they choose, and at any sea- 

 son. This is the death knell of the few deer in this county, 

 and they are few indeed, but were gradually increasing 

 under protection from Feb. 15 until Aug. 15. Only last year 

 one party killed eleven "does with fawn" — spotted fawns— 

 during the close season, and would have killed more had 

 they not been threatened with the penalty of the law. They 

 had been fully warned of what they might expect if any 

 violation of the law occurred during the present season, and 

 would have been held in check, but the asininity of the late 

 Legislature has thrown down all barriers, and deer hunting 

 will soon be a thing of the past. The deer have only re- 

 turned to this section within the past four or five years, and 

 would with proper protection have increased to some appre- 

 ciable extent. But we have seen the last of any sport worth 

 mentioning, if the fawn slayers are to be allowed to hunt at 

 all seasons, and allow their hounds to roam the woods at 

 will during the spring and summer. We wished to have 

 time shortened to Jan. 1 instead of Feb. 15, and would be 

 glad to see the time on quail cut down to March 1 instead of 

 April 1, as now. But for a few sportsmen who realize the 

 good of game protection, the quail law would have been 

 repealed also. Would that more of our citizens would sub- 

 scribe to the Forest and Stream. — A. F. R. (Belvidere, 

 N. Or, April 6, 1885). 



In North Carolina Mountains.— The gray squirrel is 

 as plentiful as might be desired, turkeys are quite numerous 

 in some localities, partridges are abundant about the clear- 

 ings, and pheasants are found in every direction in the forest. 

 Those desirous of sport after deer and bear hie away to 

 Whiteside, Hogback, Balsam, Coevee, Nautohala, Block, and 

 Smoky mountains, where those animals are found in the 

 greatest plenty. The "natives" use the old-fashioned, whole 

 stock, long rifle, carrying from twenty-five to seventy-five 

 bullets to the pound, and they look "with derision upon a. 

 "scatter gun," one of which but few ever shot. An old 

 hunter, eighty years old, says: "I never shot anything but a 

 rifle in my life. I never had to shoot a bear twice, and 

 never missed a deer that was half way fair to me. I have 

 killed five deer in a day, with seven turkeys and three 'coons 

 to finish on. Turkeys were so numerous once that I would 

 not shoot one unless near home, because I could always get 

 one close by when I wanted it, and as to squirrels, 1 never 

 Doticed them. I shot a deer one day, with the rifle, hit it 

 on the side from me, made three holes in it, one of which 

 was where the bullet entered, the other two on the side next 

 to me. This is how it happened. The deer was licking the 

 side toward me, so my bullet entered the neck on the side 

 from me, went through and consequently came out on the 

 side next to me, and re-entered on the same side, making the 

 three holes. It dropped as dead as if lightning had struck 

 it." The old man shoots a rifle well to this day. This is 

 reached from Seneca City, S. O. on R, &D. R. R., Webster, 

 K C, on W. N. C. R. R\, thirty miles from each place.— 

 J. W. W. (Highlands, N. C, April 2). 



Plenty of Game.— Editor Forest and Stream: 1 fre- 

 quently notice in your columns the cry of "no game," and 

 where shall we go to enjoy the good old days of the past? I 

 think I can answer the questions fully and entirely in a satis- 

 factory way if quantity and variety are all that is desired. 

 It is quite distant from the East, however, as I shall have to 

 ask all those wishing fine sport to go with me to southwest- 

 ern Kansas, along the Arkansas River. I spent two months 

 there last fall, October and November. I am quite sure that 



Gogebic Club.— The annual meeting of the Gogebic 

 Forest aud Stream Club took place Saturday P. M., April 

 4, at Burke's Hotel, Chicago, 111. Telegrams of regret were 

 received from two absent members. The usual routine of 

 business was attended to, aud reports from special commit- 

 tees, secretary and treasurer were read. The latter was par- 

 ticularly interesting to all, as it was to a certain extent the 

 shadow of 1885. The shadow was quite distinct, and a royal 

 good time is expected this season. An election of officers 

 resulted in the re-election of H. E. Thayer, President; S. A. 

 Wolcott, Vice President; W. H. Morris, Treasurer, M. C. 

 Clancy was chosen secretary in place of Geo. H. Loomis, 

 who, owing to ill health, wished to be relieved of all cares. 

 In the evening an elegant repast was served by the Chicago 

 members of the club, to which all did ample justice but the 

 treasurer, who, owing to an attack of illness, was compelled 

 to withdraw. After a good cigar the clock warned us of 

 the fleeting hours, and with many hearty shakes of the hand 

 and the oft-repeated promise to be on hand when the day 

 comes for our departure for Gogebic's rock-bound shores, 

 we separated, each bound for his distant home.— Nimrod. 



What is Good Shooting?— "Wells," in his last article 

 on "Shooters and Shooting," says that when a man says he 

 has killed thirty birds straight he stretches the truth," /. ,■., 

 lies. I do not know of any instance of the kind exactly, 

 but know that a young friend of mine, a farmer's soil, 

 killed twenty-three birds (quail) out of twenty five shots, all 

 on the wing, and the shooting was done with 'a common old 

 muzzleloading I). B. gun. This shooting was done in the 

 presence of two other young men, and all the parties are 

 now living and close at hand at this writing. His average 

 of one-half is good for a whole season, but may be badly 

 beaten many times during the season while out' for only a 

 day's shooting. For instance, I have killed eighteen birds 

 at eighteen shots: again, I have shot for an hour almost in 

 cessantly and killed— nothing.— A. F. R. (Belvidere $ C 

 April 6). __________ 



They are Wise.— While at my desk writing this noon, t 

 was called to the door by an urchin who urged me to ''bring 

 the gun," and on looking out I saw a covey of fifteeu quail 

 standing by the garden fence within gunshot. The said 

 urchin was much "put out" when 1 quietly remarked to 

 him thai the season was up and the birds must not be troubled 

 and went off muttering wishes for his "fire stick." It is 

 strange, but that covey of birds have been extremely shy and 

 wild all winter, although only shot at a couple of times, and 

 now that the law protects them they will be around our yards 

 every day.— A. F. R. (Belvidere, N. G, April 0). 



Narrows Island Club. — The annual meeting of the 

 Narrows Island Club was held on Monday last in this city. 

 The officers elected for the following year are as follows: 

 President, D. G. Elliott; Vice-President, J. A. Hewlett; 

 Secretary and Treasurer, J. B. Lawrence; Executive Com 

 mittee: B. Dominick, Henry Sampson, W. G. Dominick 

 and the officers above named. Dr. J. C. Barron was elected 

 to membership. 



Sportsmen's Association of the Cakomnas, --The 

 Sportsmen's Association of the Carolinas will hold its fourth 

 annual shoot at Charleston, 8. 0., May 18, 14 and 15. Our 

 programme will be out in a few days, and will he furnished 

 on application to me. — T. H. Gibbes, Secretary and Ti'eaa 

 urer (Columbia, S. C, April 10). 



Pennsylvania. — One of our sportsmen was out after 

 snipe on the 7th and bagged seven in less than an hour and u 

 half; another four, when he broke his ramrod and had to 

 leave the field. A few ducks are passing over.— Sub. (Falls 

 ington, Pa., April 8). 



On the Platte. — Have just returned from a goose hum 

 on the Platte, at Central City, Neb. Game plenty, find the 

 three-barrel led the score, as the rifle would reach them 

 nicely at from two to five hundred yards.— L. K. M. (Hast- 

 ings, Iowa). 



New Jersey.— Brant and geese are plentiful flite week at 

 Barnegat and Tuckerton bays. Few have been killed owing 

 to want of cover to hide boats. — Homo, 



NOTES FROM YELLOWSTONE PARK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A friend of mine who has lived all winter at the old game- 

 keeper's cabin at Soda Butte, came into the Hot Springs 

 about the middle of last month. He tells me that the main 

 herd of elk of that section have ranged all winter on the 

 divide between Calfee and Cache creeks. He thinks that 

 he has seen as many as two hundred head at a time there. 

 He also states that small herds of about twenty head are fre- 

 quently seen between Soda Butte and Cache Creeks. The 

 region where they have wintered is in the country that would 

 have been thrown open to the public had the amended Vest 

 bill passed. All these elk would then have been slaughtered. 



One of the Assistant Superintendents, who has been sta- 

 tioned at the Lower Firehole during the winter, came 

 Ihrough on snowshoes lately. He reports that there has 

 been no same at the Firehole since winter set in. excepting 

 three bison which passed through during the later part of 

 February going toward the Lake. 



Snow is going fast. I have caught several nice creels of 

 trout in the Gardiner River since the first of Februery. It 

 is amusing to see the trout taking the fly in midwinter, with 

 the snow falling at the time. The warm water flowing from 

 the Mammoth Hot Springs keeps the river open some dis- 

 tance down, and we can often see the trout jumping. 



Ichthus. 



LivmesTON, Mont., April 1. 



Fowl in Rhode Island.— Fowl and geese have made 

 their appearance here in their spring flight. Large flocks of 

 eider ducks and shelldrakes were flying yesterday, and the 

 indications are for a good flight of birds this spring. 1 

 killed two Wilson snipe, on Monday, but cannot learn of any 

 others being seen here; and this pair have probably been here 

 all winter, as they were very fat.— W. M. H. (Newport, R. 

 L, April 4). 



should satisfy the most exacting. It is a very common thin u 

 to bag thirty to fifty chickens in a day's hunt. The ducks 

 are usually secured by waiting at the ponds, numerous near 

 the river, and about 5 o'clock they come in. From this un- 

 til dark you can have all the sport you may wish. Geese 

 can be gotten by lying in the deep grass skirting tne river or 

 from blinds. They are not wild, but easily secured. I 

 think, perhaps, there is less hunting in that section than al- 

 most any other in this country, The sportsmen all use 10- 

 bore guns in that country, and smiled at my 12-gauge. I 

 was perfectly satisfied with my success, however, and be- 

 lieve I made fully as long shots as any one with a 10-bore 

 gun. To give you an idea of the ahundance of game : A 

 party of four went south from Newton (a town 300 miles 

 west of Kansas City, on the A. T. & S. F. Railroad), near the 

 Indian Territory, and in four days secured 90 dozen quail, 

 17 antelope and 300 chickens. To any one wishing fuller in- 

 formation concerning this paradise, I shall cheerfully answer 

 all correspondence. — M. M. M. (Girard Manor, Pa,, March 

 31). 



New Hampshire.— Colebrook, N. H., April 10.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream: Last year sportsmen had reason to com- 

 plain of the lack of accommodations in this State. I send a 

 statement of the prospect for increased facilities for the com- 

 ing summer in some of the charming resorts north of the 

 G. T. R, R. The Magalloway aud Dead Diamond stream 

 routes will have a new stock of fine model canvas canoes 

 made and owned by Amasa Ward of this village. Second 

 Connecticut Lake and "Uncle Tom Chester" will surprise 

 the old timers by introducing a new house on the bluff near 

 the old cabin. Mart Novse and Diamond ponds arc allied 

 in the minds of visiting 'sportsmen; capacity enlarged one 

 half over last year's accommodations. To reach the various 

 resorts named from North Stratford on the G. T. R. R,, there 

 is now an opposition line of stages to wake up sleepy drivers 

 en route to Colebrook, from which point the routes separate. 

 To get to Magalloway via Dixville Notch, apply to propri- 

 etor of Parsons House for livery, except Saturdays, via stage. 

 To the Diamond Ponds livery only. To Second Connecti- 

 cut Lake via stage, Tuesdays," Thursdays aud Saturdays; 135 

 miles to Connecticut Lake, from which point conveyance by 

 a line of buckboards. Apply to H. Shoppee, at Lake 

 House. — Ned Norton. 



TARPON KILLED WITH ROD AND REEL. 



THE angling event of the season is the killing of a tarpon, 

 Megalo-ps thrissoides, by Mr. W. H. Wood, of New York 

 city, with a rod and reel. " It has so long been doubted by 

 expert Florida fishermen that this could be done that future 

 almanac makers will be justified in placing among their 

 "notable events," opposite the 2oth of March, "First tarpon 

 taken with rod and reel, 1885." 



In our last issue our correspondent "Wing," writing from 

 Jacksonville, gave an account of the capture of a tarpon by 

 Mr. Wood, the weight of which was much understated. On 

 Saturday last we saw a monster tarpon with a hook in its 

 mouth hanging above one of the stands of Mr. E. G. Black- 

 ford in Fulton Market, and on inquiry we were directed to 

 Mr. Albert Ferguson, of Conroy's fishing tackle house, 65 

 Fuitou street. From Mr. Ferguson we learned that the 

 implements of capture were a bamboo rod, 5 feet in length, 

 of the pattern used by anglers for striped bass at the North, 

 a bass reel holding 1,200 feet of 21 -thread linen line and a 

 knobbed No. 10-0 O'Shaughnessy hook. 



Mr. Wood is an experienced striped-bass angler who has 

 probably caught more bass of great size than any one in the 

 country, and having read in Forest and Stream of the 

 great strength and endurance of the silvery-sided streak of 

 tfghtning called a tarpon, or tarpum in Florida, decided to 

 try his mettle. Old Florid ian anglers smiled and thought 

 that such attempts only benefitted the rod makers and 

 prophesied disaster to a rod of less than seven feet and so 

 fine a line Mr. Wood paid no attention to this but laid in 

 his bait He lost ten good fish by the cutting of the line, 

 and then put on several feet of "safety-chain," a strong brass 

 chain with flat links, and made the last link into a swivel 

 which revolved around the knobbed hook. He Cut a bail 

 from a mullet, in the same manner that the bass anglers cut 

 menhaden, and bound it with the flesh side out, with a fine 

 copper wire. He went out in a catboat with his two boys 

 and towed a very light dingey astern. He sat on the catboat 

 and after getting his boat well out uncoiled about twenty 

 feet of line and laid it on the deck, and also laid the rod on 

 deck, holding the line in his hand. Experience with this 

 tender-mouthed fish had taught him that it was very 



