46 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[AtTG. Vi,, V885. 



yourself. Leave all supevfliious clothing, such as hunting 

 coat or jacket, at the foot of the mountain, and make the 

 ascent in pantaloons and shirt, leaving yourself free at every 

 point. I have never felt an inconvenience from cold on the 

 summit, and have always slept comfortable, using the same 

 amount oT covering I generally use in my own house. A pair 

 of lace boots to come above the ankle, not too heavy in the 

 upper, but snfRcientiy stroilg in tlie sole to admit of being 

 "well nailed from heel to toe, shank included (square cut 

 nails), are the best wear for the feet. 



A good pair of glasses will be of great service and save 

 much trouble in making out the position of game and the 

 approaches to it. 



Bring with you the rifle you are best used to, no matter 

 if that particular arm has been reviled by a score of good 

 sportsmen. If it is successful in your hands bring it along, 

 take your own experience in this matter in preference to any 

 man's advice. If you have no choice, any one of the first- 

 class makes of rifles, single breechloader or repeater, and of 

 average caliber, the advertisements of which are from time 

 to time appearing in FoitEST ant> Stream, Avill, in the hands 

 of a cool hunter, be more than a match for all kinds of game 

 found on these mountains. Although a long shot may some- 

 times ofl'er itself, it will only be a matter of choice, as moat 

 of your chances will occur within one hundred yards; how- 

 ever, much will depend on your experience as a still-hunter. 



Myself and companion, with two Indians, have left this 

 place at 5 A. M., made the water portion of trip (15 miles) 

 in canoe, and reached the summit of Mount Yo the same 

 evening in time to camp. We were in light marching order, 

 though. I have never paid more than two dollars per day 

 for an Indian, and have hired them as low as seventy -live 

 cents. The price will depend entirely on the demand for 

 Indian labor at the time they are wanted. 1 have generally 

 found them trustwoi'tiiy, but they will impose on a stranger 

 if he lets them. Hotel charges here are one dollar per day. 



Goats are found on all the mountaips in this neighborhood 

 and probably very far north, as I have found them on the 

 watershed of the Arctic. The term "exclusive inhabitant 

 of the mountain peaks," can, scarcely, however, be applied 

 to them, as during the winter months they may be shot on 

 the borders of the streams which put into" Howe Sound and 

 the north arm of Burrard Inlet, and even in midsummer I 

 have known them to be taken at the verge of the salt watej-. 

 But there appears to be a good deal of mythical lore mixed 

 up with the reports concerning the mountain goat, and ap- 

 parently intelligent writers have with pen and pencil added 

 theh- mite in this respect — testimony which will scarcely be 

 supported by facts when the animal becomes better known. 

 For aside from that enthusiasm which fills the breast of the 

 natirralist when he stands for the first time before an animal 

 in its native wilds, the student of natural history will hardly 

 find in the habits or composition of this interesting animal 

 in it« reality material enough to form even the semblance of 

 that mythical one so often described in print. 



John Fannin. 



BuEHABD Inlet, British Coliunbia, June 9, 1885. 



SOME REMARKABLE SHOTS. 



Editor Forest and Biream: 



I will relate a very extraordinavy happening which oc- 

 curred to me on a particularly adventurons trouting expedi- 

 tion up the Paint River, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

 It was in June last that four of us, all jolly, ardent fishers 

 and himters, Will J^ioyes, Kat Olin, George Billman and the 

 writer, initiated their trip. A .44 caliber rifle was taken to 

 ward oJEf emergencies and to use in breaking the horns of 

 dilemmas. It was an old one that had been taken in pawn 

 from an Indian, and not much care was bestowed upon it. 

 Throwing it into one of our boats, the jostling attendant 

 ui)on a trip over a rough lumber road, in the primeval for- 

 ests, resulted in breaking off both the front and rear sights. 

 Not disposed to be thus cheated of its use in this way, the 

 writer practiced at a mark with the sightless gun until he 

 was able to make a very fair score. Floating down stream 

 one day a duck was seen approaching, flying at a mediirm 

 height. The writer grasped the "blind" rifle, fired a ran- 

 dom shot, and imagine his astonishment and the open-eyed 

 astonishment of his comrades en voyage, as the fowl flutter- 

 ingly fell to the water's edge minus itvS head. The writer 

 had shot the head of: a flying duck with a sightless rifl(;, 

 therebj' accomplishing a most remarkable shot. 



C. L. OSBORN. 



Florence, Wis. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



There were some woodcock taken on the opening of the 

 season. I have heard of 27 birds taken by three different 

 parties. One friend recently .started a woodcock so near that 

 turning to get a shot he struck the bird with his gun, knocked 

 it to th'e ground and secured it. X. Y. Z, 



Salem, Mass., Aug. 10. 



STILL-HUNTING THE GRIZZLY. 



Editor Forest and Stream i 



I see that my article in your issue of the 9th of July, dis- 

 cussing Mr. Theodore Roosevelt of New York in the light of 

 a grizzly bear hunter has brought to the front several cham- 

 pions of that gentleman. 



I do not desire to occupy your valuable space in the easy 

 task of proving from his article in the June Century that Mr. 

 R. knows more about some other things than he does about 

 grizzly bears, but I simply want to say a few words in reply 

 to those gentlemen who have come so promptly to the front 

 in defense of the author of this grizzly bear article in the 

 Century magazine. 



I think I have had experience enough with the grizzly to 

 warrant me in saying, as I did in my other letter, that he is 

 as little afraid of man as any beast that roams the woods, 

 and just about as ferocious as any. All wild animals, how 

 ever, will instinctively cower and sulk away at sight of man, 

 unless provoked by excessive hunger or maddened by 

 wounds. 



Your correspondent from Long Branch appears to take it 

 very much to heart, because one whom he refers to as ''your 

 wild Western correspondent" should presume to criticise so 

 prominent a man as Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. 1 do not know 

 just how prominent Mr. R. is, but I do kuow that his article 

 in the June Century on "Still-Hunting the Grizzly" reads 

 more like fiction than a true report of a grizzly bear hunt. 

 I think 1 understood the article about as ever youe else did 

 who read it, I know that a perusal of the story will leave 

 the impression on the mind of the reader that the author 

 killed three bears, helped kill two others, wliile his compan- 

 ion killed one, as he says, "purely to his own gun," making 

 in all six — and withal a "little discrepancy," insomuch that 



he states elsewhere in the article that they killed, altogether, 

 five grizzUes on the hunt. If the author meant what he did 

 not say, and a careful analysis of his clumsy sentences by 

 our Long Branch friend discovers the true meaning, it is ail 

 right. 



But I shall drop this grizzly subject now and say no more 

 about it, not that I am afraid lest my neighbor, as "W. E. 

 B." says, might shy a bootjack at me and produce a subject 

 for the coroner's jury, but tor fear I may suffer injury from 

 another sort of Jack. F. A. M. 



Jackson, Mo., Aug. 3, 188.5. 



A NIGHT WITH A MOUNTAIN LION. 



PINING for the pure mountain air and moved by an 

 insatiable desire to bring down a noble buck, Fred 

 Sheldon and I put our heads together and concluded to take 

 a jaunt by which we could attain our desire. As we could 

 be absent from business but a few days, our objective point 

 was the/ Conejo Valley, thirty miles distant. Packing our 

 traps in k hghit wagon we set out about two o'clock one 

 pleasant afternoon this month, passing for about twenty 

 miles through the fertile Santa Clara Valley with its thous- 

 ands of acres of waving grain. 



Just before reaching the/ Guadalasca range our rifles were 

 used with good effect on the jack rabbits, which were numer- 

 ous. One poor fellow presented a ludicrous appearance in 

 vanishing with but one ear, the bullet cutting the other off 

 close lo the head. While going slowly up a long and steep 

 grade my attention was attracted to what I thought was a 

 young steer, as there were a few cattle grazing near on the 

 mountain side. I called Fred's attention to it, "Why of 

 course that's a deer, a big buck, too." We rode along for a 

 .short distance until we fomid a place to tie Logan, our horse, 

 out of sight. Taking our rifles, we went down the canon 

 between us and the ridge on which the deer was feeding. 

 We separated, Fred taking up a ravine to the left, while I 

 did the same on the right. T came up opposite the deer 

 first, and peering over the brush, caught sight of the deer's 

 head. Taking careful aim, T pulled the trigger and missed; 

 but Fred, getting a good shot at the running deer, brought 

 him down with a bullet in the region of the heart. He was 

 a large buck, with horn.s still in the velvet — four points. We 

 soon dressed him, and taking him to the wagon, proceeded 

 on to the ranch of W. H. Reilly, where the advent of fresh 

 venison was hailed with deliglit. Next morning we struck 

 out for a camping ground, refusing the generous offer of our 

 host to make his ranch our headquarters as long as we 

 Avished to stay. We desired to recuperate a little, and pre- 

 ferred sleeping in the open air under a tree, for it is seldom 

 necessary to take a tent along wliile camping in Southern 

 California. We drove about three miles below and camped 

 neai" a spring of beautiful, clear water. 



As a bear was reported to have been seen within a few 

 miles of our camp, Fred was Very anxious to strike out and 

 hunt him. In fact, he was about as anxious to meet a bear 

 as I was to avoid one. A camping experience, several j'ears 

 ago, in which I played second fiddle up a tree to a bear, had 

 convinced me tliat in the plan of creation the relations be- 

 tween that animal and myself were intended to be of a very 

 distant character. 



That evening we shouldered our rifles and started in the 

 direction of the foothills about a mile from camp. After 

 hunting for an hour without seeing much deer sign, we be- 

 gan to think our chances were rather slim, especially as the 

 fog came up from the ocean and at times obscured near ob- 

 jects. We went on further, however, and on coming in view 

 of a low ridge we saw what looked like a deer's head'through 

 the fog, yet it seemed much too large. On looking a second 

 time we saw something move beside it and discovered our 

 mistake. There were two deer and they wei'e watching us. 

 Being about two hundred yards away, we didn't care to risk 

 a sliot, so we played a trick on them. I sneaked back the 

 way we came, leaving Fred for them to watch. And they 

 watched him, too, and forgot all about me. I came up be- 

 hind them and got within about seventy-five yards. When 

 I fired it puzzled them, not knowing from what direction 

 the bullets came. Well, I fired .seven times, I'm ashamed to 

 say, before 1 disabled them. One was shot too far back and 

 was about to get away when I shot it through the heart — 

 accidentally. "^Phe other also shot too far back, 



, and disappeared over the hifl. A bullet from Fred's rifle 

 struck him slanting near the eye, but did not change 

 his course. After following the trail for nearly a quarter of 

 a mile 1 caught sight of him standing in the brush on the 

 side of the mountain, and by a long shot luckily dropped 

 him. We dressed this buck, which was a large one, but not 

 so large as he had looked to be through the fog, and with 

 but little trouble dragged him to the foot of the mountain. 

 The other deer was a medium sized spike buck. We set out 

 for camp a mile distant and hitching up Logan drove to the 

 spot where we had left the game, and loading them in the 

 wagon drove to camp two hours after we had first left it. 

 No one could have wished for an easier way to get deer than 

 we did those two. That night as we slept under an oak tree 

 we could hear the coyotes near at hand attracted by the smell 

 of fresh meat, and occasionally from afai- we would hear 

 their howls long drawn and blood-curdling so far as I was 

 concerned. The rascals seem to possess the power of throw- 

 ing their voices. One ventriloquistic coyote will thi-ow his 

 voice until it appears as if a dozen were in the neighborhood. 



We did not hunt any the next morning, but cut the greater 

 part of the deer up into strips for drying. We hung the 

 strips on a rope in the sun, salting them and putting on 

 pepper to keep off the flies. To Eastern people unaccjuainted 

 with our Southern California climate, it will appear strange 

 that meat can be dried in the open air and not decay. We 

 can here dry any kind of meat by hanging it in the 9xm for 

 three or four days. We took some venison up to Rcilly s 

 and stayed the rest of the day. One of the boys at work on 

 the ranch, Lon Bonestel, a mischievous youngster of fifteen, 

 was continually irritating Joe Sing, the Chinese cook, with- 

 out cau,se, untU finally when he threw an aged egg at hira 

 the climax was reached. The Chinaman obtained another 

 ega- of the same kind, and, catching the boy, smeared it all 

 over his face, washing it thoroughly. When Lon turned to 

 us the expression on his face and the ludicrous spectacle he 

 presented would iiave made a horse laugh. We roared and 

 yelled with laughter, but Lon, witout a word, went to the 

 horse tiough and spent a full half hour in washing himself. 

 It is needless to say he never bothers the Chinaman any 

 more. I had always supposed Brete Harte's poker-playing 

 Chinaman was a myth, originating in his own fertile brain, 

 but Joe was Ah Sing's counterpart, only he didn't do as 

 well. After the boys had won a few dollars from him he 

 gave up in disgust, remarking, "Too muchee glufl (bluff). 

 No sabe." 



We were told at the ranch that a Cahfornia lion, presum- 

 al)ly the same one that had carried off a number of hogs last 

 year, had taken a seventy -five-pound hog the night before. 

 We decided to "lay" for him. We followed his trail about 

 half a mile when we lost it. The lion had carried the hog in 

 his mouth all the way, so we could only follow his tracks. 

 After searching for about an hour we came upon the remains 

 of the hog, which the beast had left after eating most of it. 

 Prevailing on Will not lo poison him, but to allow us to 

 shoot him, we built a small platform in an oak tree sixty 

 yards away, from which we could obtain a good view of the 

 spot where the remnant of the hog lay. About nine o'clock 

 we returned to the platform and waited, I think, about two 

 hours. Tlicu another hour. Still no lion. The moon began 

 to rise, and i thought it must be one o'clock. I began to get 

 sleepy. Our positions were somewhat cramped, and Fred 

 said he would take a little stroll in the moonlight to stretch 

 his legs. After cautioning him not to go far, I resumed my 

 position and soon began to doze. Suddenly I was awakened 

 by hearing a faint crackling in the bush* and the sound of 

 stealthy footsteps on the dry leaves. I was wide awake in 

 an instant. Every nerve seemed at its utmost tension. My 

 heart was thumping hke a pile-driver as I .strained 

 my eyes in the direction of the sound. Soon I saw a long, 

 lithe, dark form ghding through the brush, and now it came 

 into full view. My heart was in my throat, but taking aim 

 as carefully as possible, I pulled the trigger. I could not 

 see the effect because of the smoke, but I heard a fierce 

 growl that made me quake with fear as the lion tore around 

 the brush. I didn't come down immediately. To tell the 

 truth, I was too badly scared, but Fred, who' heard the shot, 

 came running up and put another bullet into the creature's 

 body. One more shot finished him. After waiting a few 

 minutes to be assured thsit he was dead, we cautiously ap- 

 proached with cocked rifles, but his glassy eyes determined 

 the question. We took him to camp, but we were both too 

 "nervous" to attempt to skin him until morning. I think 

 we were excusable, too, in taking a pull at the bottle of 

 snake bite medicine after the fray, 



We didn't sleep well that night, at least I didn't, for I" 

 kept dreaming about panthers and bears. I dreamed I was ■ 

 surrounded by them, all ready to devour me, when one huge 

 grizzly came and sat down on my chest, crushing me out of 

 existence. After ari.sing in the morning and demolishiug a 

 breakfast of fried venison, camp bread, potatoes and .strong 

 black coffee, we skinned the lion, which proved to be a 

 male, his measurement being six feet nine inches from tip of 

 nose to end of tail. 



Well, we killed five deer on that trip and "jerked" most" 

 of the meat. AVe were gone ten days and found we had 

 gained in flesh somewhat, besides having the cobwebs cleaned 

 from our brains. It is my intention to take another trip tO' 

 the mountains before the season closes. 



San BcBNAVENTUlU, Cat. DE Moss EOWEKS. 



THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Prom the large number of letters our committee ha?je rtfi- 

 ceived, the indications are that we will have perhaps the 

 largest attendance of sportsmen in this city on Sept. 39, 

 from all parts of our country ever assembled on this contin- 

 ent. And as the general sentiment is for the organization 

 of a National Sportsmen's Association for the purpose of de- 

 vising means b}'^ which we can have more uniform game and 

 fish laws throughout our Union, and more efficient means by 

 which they can be enforced, the committee have decided to 

 recommend that it be national instead of as originally called. 

 And we therefore invite everj^ club throughout our land, 

 North, South, East and West, to send delegates. Will 

 you please notice our la.st circular herein inclosed in yonr 

 next issue, and oblige, 



H. C. Wbst, Chairman Committee. 



St. Lotjis, Mo., Aug. 8. 



The St. Louis BepuMiain of Aug. 5 has the following: 

 "Flattering promises of support and attendance at the coming 

 .sportsmen's convention, to be held in St. Louis on Sept. 29, 

 for the purpose of securing imiform game laws throughout 

 the country, continue to reach Capt. H. C. West, the chair- 

 man of the committee appointed to arrange the affair. The 

 scope of the gathering has now become much enlarged and 

 the convention will be thoroughly a national one. The 

 game dealers are seeking representation, which will be af- 

 forded them to the fullest extent, and as the action that will 

 follow the assembly of the convention will be both vigorous 

 and decisive it is sincerely to be hoped that gentlemen in 

 every interest connected in any way with the game and fish 

 que&lions of the day will appear and have their say before 

 this national caucus. Word comes from New York that 

 several of its dealers will be present, and it will be well if 

 they are joined by those of all the other great cities of the 

 Union. 



' Tt is particularly desired by the committee in charge that 

 officers of fish protjectiug clubs or associations will bear in 

 mind that the object of the convention is to watch fish pro- 

 tection as much as that of game. It is particularly requested ' 

 by all of those now officially occupied in securing a common 

 legislation in regard to game and fish laws that all news- 

 papers favorable to the project will lend a hand to the good 

 work by ventilating the fact that the convention will with- 

 out fail assemble in this city on Sept. 29. Reduced railroad,, 

 steamer and hotel rates are already arranged for, and all in- 

 formation on the subject of a visit to St. Louis for the meet- 

 ing can be obtained from Capt. H. C. West, 114 Pine street, 

 St. Louis, or from C. A. Bragg, Globe Shot Company. Phila- 

 delphia, to either of whom also should applications for pro- 

 grammes and circulars be addressed. 



' 'The views on game preservation expressed last week im 

 the Republican, appear to be very generally indorsed, the 

 common feeling being that the want of a knowledge of the 

 habits of game has led legislatures into numberless absurdi- 

 ties. Among these the setting back of the opening of the 

 Missouri grouse season to Oct. 15, appears to be one of the 

 Tuost ridiculous. When speakiug yesterday in regard lo thi's' 

 change, that sterling sportsman and thorough naturahst, ex- 

 Gov. Brockmeyer, remarked : 'The mere idea of such a law 

 for Missouri is nonsense. We now have but very few grouse 

 in the State, and if we continue such a law we are simply 

 discriminatiug against Missouri in favor of other States and! 

 Territories. If we could boast of a considerable head of grouse 

 in the State, or if we saw our way how to build up our present 

 paucity into a generous supply, the chain of reasoning on 

 the subject would be different, but at present the prospects 

 are that an increased agricultural aroa in Missouri will con- 

 stantly lessen its grouse population. Further west of us^ 

 and still more in the Southwest (the great grouse headquai-ters 

 of the dav) there are plenty of these birds, and they are going 



