14 8 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Seft, 17, 1885. 



HamtiIekless Guks.— Huntington, Tenn,, Sept. 8— Editor 

 Fortsf and Sil l <uii: I Lave read witli much satisfaction the 

 excellent article of '■Ah Pe." in Forest ant> Stream of 

 Sept. 3, on "The Choice of Guns." The writer is evidently 

 familiar with the proper make up of a good gun ; but like a 

 number of other writers be falls (as 1 conceive) into the error 

 of expressing a prefeicnce for low hammers "which are en- 

 tirely below the line of sight when at full cock." Now how 

 can the hummers Vie in line of sight when they are fixed to the 

 sides of the barrels, while the Ime of sight 'is directly along 

 the rib? And according to my observation, the ordinary 

 sized hammer, standing well up when at full cock, serves as 

 an excellent guide in catching a sight. I regard the low 

 hammers, that stand so far back wheiti at full cock, as incon- 

 venient and dangerous, as they are very liable to slip from 

 the thumb when being drawn back. In purchasing a gun a 

 short time ago I was forced to discard the make of o"ne or 

 two excellent firms on account of the low hammers, and I 

 finally selected the gun I did buy on account of the hammers 

 standing well up. No sportsman in this immediate section 

 of the country prefers a hammerless gun to the old style. I 

 would rather by half use a gun of precisely same quality 

 •with hammers than one without; and my judgment is that 

 in a few years the hammerless guns will pass out of common 

 use. ''Ah-Pe'" is right as to the caliber of guns. For "all 

 works" the 12-bore is the proper size; for ordinary small 

 game the 16 is large enough. On my own responsibility I 

 would say that choking is a fraud; and when the breech- 

 loaders are all made cylinder barrels and 33 to 38 inches in 

 length, the sportsmen of the country will be furnished with 

 guns worthy of their calling. — L. L. H. 



To Preserve Dead GK^iE.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 London, England, Aug. 30.— In your paper of the 13lh of 

 August ' 'W. L. P. " writes : ' 'If there is any w ay that is simple, 

 cheap, and convenient, for preserving game" for only a few 

 days during warm weather, I would itke to know what it 

 is." I can recommend the following method for venison: 

 Immediately after a joint is cut from a deer, dust it aU over 

 rather thicklj^ with flour, then at once cover it with a piece 

 of perfectly clean calico and sew this on tightly, taking care 

 to leave no part of the meat uncovered, nor the smallest hole 

 tkrough which an insect could penetrate. Hang the joint 

 to a branch round which the air circulates freely and it will 

 remain good for twenty days, even in hot we"ather. The 

 cloth and flour act by largely excluding the bacteria which 

 cause putrefaction. — J. J. M. 



Will Wild Rice Thrive in Mississippi?— Memphis, 

 Tenn., Aug. 31.— A planter in the Mississippi bottom wi.shes 

 to inquire about wild rice. Where can the seed be pro- 

 eui-ed? What is the proper season for sowing it, and the 

 modus operandi? If you or some of your readers will give 

 the desired information it will be kindl.y appreciated. My 

 friend has a large shallow lake on his plantation which he 

 thinks would be suitable for growing wild rice as an attrac- 

 tion for ducks and geese. Do you know of any efforts to 

 grow wild rice in the latitude of Mississippi? — Coahoima. 

 [The rice can be obtained from Mr. Gilchrist, as stated else- 

 w-here. It should be sown in early spring or late fall in 

 shallow water. We cannot tell how it would thrive in 

 Mississippi, but probably the experiment would be success- 

 ful.] 



Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 5. — The opening of the season 

 was observed by a great army of hunters. Game is reported 

 plentiful. Praiiie chickens are more numerous than for 

 years, but are being hunted too persistently now. AVe need 

 a law proMbiting the kilhng of them for five years. Young 

 tui-keys are plentiful, and six were killed within two miles 

 of town on the 2nd inst. Newspapers report the killing 

 of an elk near Pordyce, but I think it is a canard. I never 

 heard of elk in this country in its early days. The press of 

 the State is commenting universally on the good effects of 

 the game law this year, and we hope that the time has come 

 when we can have as good game and fish laws as any State, 

 — Castjal. 



Concerning a Yulpicide. — Conway, Va., Sept. 14. — 

 Editor Forest and Stream: "Skeptic" (Groveton, Tex.) states 

 in your issue of the 10th inst. that a man from Virginia told 

 him foxes sometimes climbed trees, and wishes to know if 

 "the fellow is lying." Pray let me inform "Skeptic" that 

 having been a fox hunter since large enough to ride, I state 

 that gray foxes frequently take trees when things get red 

 hot; reds, so far as 1 know of the matter, never do. Never- 

 theless i would say to "Skeptic" if the man of whom he 

 writes was born in Virginia, and shot at a fox, it is very 

 well to keep an eye upon him, for he will lie or do anything 

 else. — Richard Moncdrb Conway. 



Philadelphia Notes.— Sept. 13. — The rail have not yet 

 arrived in very great numbers, although during the late 

 easterly winds a good tide came in and some very fine scores 

 were made. The shooting to-day must be good, as there is 

 plenty of water, but no word has come up from below. 

 Many went to Maurice River, N. J., to-day, and the pros- 

 pects of splendid sport is good. Some snipe have come and 

 are being killed. Some teal have been seen on the Delaware, 

 hut none or but very few have been shot. After the next 

 storm and afternoon run of high tide it will be the time to 

 expect excellent river shooting hereabouts. — Homo. 



Lehigh Valley, Pa.— During a late trip up the Lehigh 

 Valley I learned that the prospect for pheasant shooting this 

 autumn was very good. Not that the ruffed grouse were 

 very plentiful in this valley direct, but some miles over 

 the hills which border it. Woodcock have begun to drop 

 into the wet spots, but these birds are from the broods that 

 were hatched near by and have returned from their moulting 

 grounds. The fall "flight of more northern woodcock will 

 not reach the locahty referred to until a sharp frost of more 

 northern sections drives them southward to it. This flight 

 may be looked for in October. — Homo. 



The Forestry Commissioners.— Albany, Sept. 14.— 

 Gov. Hill to-day filled the vacancies in the Forestry Com- 

 mission by appointing Townsend Cox and Sherman W. 

 Knevals, of New York city, in the places of D. Willis James 

 and William Dowd, declined. Mr. Cox was at one time 

 Commissioner of Charities and Correction in New York city. 

 He is a broker and prominent Democrat. Mr. Knevals is of 

 the law firm of itnevals & Ransom, of which President 

 Arthur was a member. He is a Republican and a member 

 of the Union League Club, The appointees are to serve 

 witbout salary. 



RESUMINC4 White Shirts.— Perry, Wyoming County, N. 

 Y.— Editor Forest and Stream: The yellow and blue "came 

 down from the flagstaff to day. The boats are drawn into 

 the boat house for the last time. The long, lazy summer is 

 past. We must assume again "biled shirts" and conven- 

 tional manners. That the glimpses of woodland and sea- 

 shore may be with us during the winter, as they have been 

 during the "rainy days in camp," please change address of 

 my paper to Ann Arbor.— M. D. A. 



Mrs. LAUGHLm's Deer.— Judge H. D. Laughlin has re- 

 turned from the North in splendid health, and more than 

 satisfied with his sport. During his stay in Wisconsin the 

 judge ran up to the Brule and took some splendid trout. 

 Mrs. LaughUn proved herself a most capable sportswoman, 

 and shot three deer with a rifle at Island Camp.— 6'^. Louis 

 JRepxMican. 



Wn.D Rice.— Mr. Chas. Gilchrist, of Harwood, Ontario, 

 writes us that the wild rice crop is very heavy this year. 

 Ml-. John L. Cox, of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, reports that 

 the wild rice obtained from Mr. Gilchrist and sowed in the 

 vicinity of Bridgetown has grown well, and more is to be 

 planted in the same neighborhood. 



Massachusetts.— The Massachusetts Fish and Game Pro- 

 tective Association especially desires to obtain the names 

 and addresses of all societies organized for fish and game or 

 fish and game protective interests, in the State. It is hoped 

 that some member of every such association will send its 

 address to Henry J. Thayer, Secretary, 346 Washington 

 street, Boston. 



Game Laws op New York.— The Utica Fish and Game 

 Protective Association has published a sheet giving a synop- 

 sis of the laws of the State in good shape for posting up. It 

 can be had by sending postage to the Secretary, Mr. John 

 D. Collins, Utica. 



Glassville, Mo., Sept. 4. — A solitary pair of blue-winged 

 teal {Q. discors) were shot here this morning while passing- 

 south. They were the first ducks of the season, and were in 

 fine condition. Quail are very plenty here. — C. 



Texas.— Ednaville, Sept. 5.— Chicken shooting in this 

 vicinity is not very good. The wet spring prevented the 

 hatching, and we find but few young birds. — B. 



m md ^ivet fishing. 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publisti- 

 ing Co. 



SPANISH MACKEREL. 



T OVELIEST of all the tribes that swim 



The ocean's salty tides. 

 The Spanish mackerel sweeps the seas, 



And litre a meteor glides; 

 It speeds far off the harbor-bar, 



Where tides are cool and deep. 

 Shunning the shoals that skirt the shore. 



Where the swift blueflsh leap. 



The tenants of the brook and lake 



In glories ne'er compare 

 With these gay rovers of the main, 



Painted with colorings rare. 

 Pompano bright with yellow gold, 



Strip'd bass of snowy sheen, 

 The drumftsh blazing with its red, 



Bonito splash'd with blue and green, 

 No rivals have in inland stream, 

 No peers with such bright gleam. 



Symmetric with its rounded form, 



Model of speed and grace, 

 No fairer seafish skims the wave 



Or swifter darts in race. 

 Its sides are azure as the skies, , 



Beneath melt tender blues. 

 While golden spots of virgin gold 



The shapely forms suffuse. 



It is a nomad of the deep, 



A pilgrim, migratory host, 

 In Mediterranean tides first seen, 



Now known on every coast. 

 Off Carolina's reefs they sweep, 



Oil Barnegat's sand bar; 

 In Sound and Gulf of Northern shore, 



They gather fast and far; 

 And yachtsmen o'er the billows blue 

 Their plunging multitudes pursue. 



When sounds the gong of grand hotel, 



And spread is sumptuous board 

 Bich mth the spoils of sea and land, 



"Where wit and wine profuse are pour'd, 

 W^here smokes the lordly, crisp sirloin, 



Brown haunch of venison too. 

 The canvasback of Chesapeake, 



Salmon from surges blue, 

 The gourmand finds no daintier dish 

 Than this delicious mackerel fish. 

 Green port, L. I.^ Isaac McLellan, 



CATFISH TAKE THE FLY. 



Editoi' Forest and Stream: 



I notice "Ah Look" expresses surprise that he should 

 catch a catfish on the fly. I had a similar experience a year 

 or so ago. I was fishing a lake in Connecticut for bass, and 

 one evening as it grew dusk, I noticed hundreds of small 

 fish rising in all directions. I noticed they were feeding on a 

 vast swarm of a whitish fly, which was falling into the 

 water in every direction. As they did not seem to be perch, 

 I became curious to find out what they were. I had no flies 

 with me, so I took a bit of skin from the bell}^ of a perch, 

 scraped the scales ofl:, and wound it around a small snelled 

 hook, to form a body; another bit made some wings, and 

 the whole was tied at the head, and made quite a fly. I 

 had a fly-rod, and putting this fly on my leader commenced 

 casting, when I saw a rise. I soon caught, to my great 

 surprise, a small catfish about eight inches long. I caught 

 several, and then having satisfied my curiosity, 1 stopped, 

 but I could have taken any number. Since then, I have 



noticed them surface feeding on flies quite frequently in this 

 lake, though I never have in any other. 



The bass fishing has been very poor during the latter part 

 of the summer in Berkshire county, owing to the great 

 amount of rain having made the lakes extremely roily from 

 surface water. During the early part of the summer, in 

 July, it was phenomenally good, and some wonderful strings 

 were reported. 



I had some great sport fly-fishing then, though getting 

 none above three pounds in weight. They are small-mouths 

 in all the lakes around here, and fighters to the last gasp. I 

 found the most taking cast was a grizzly king stretcher and 

 red ibis dropper. One old veteran we took, of three pounds, 

 got into a weed bed, in spite of all efforts, and on rowing to 

 the spot where he was lying (he could not be budged by a 

 steady strain) he was lifted to the top by the line, and came 

 into the net with a great bunch of weeds hanging from his 

 mouth. lie had been clinging to these, and even kept hold 

 of them in the boat for a moment after he was on the bottom, 

 till he began to gasp. It was the most bulldog-hke proced- 

 ure T ever saw in a fish. "Percyval. 



New Marlboro, Mass., Sept. 11, 1885. 



HOW I LOST A BIG FISH. 



MOOSEHEAD LAKE, as most people know, is situated 

 in the State of Maine, and there are few better places 

 at which to pass the summer in that or any other State. Tf 

 I were to consult the peace of mind of my fellow creatures, 

 I should warn them not to go there for the reasons following: 

 After a visit they will inevitably long to go back again, 

 whether they can manage it or not; they wifl weary their 

 acquaintances with the assertion of its superiority over the 

 Adirondacks, or any other summer resort on this continent, 

 and feel disconten'ted at the idea that any person whose 

 opinion is -worth considering should think of going elsewhere 

 for a vacation. No, you are quite wrong; I have no interest 

 in the hotel at Mount Kineo— no such luck. I am, however, 

 free to confess that 1 am feeling as mad as a March hare that 

 the condition of my health and purse excludes aU hope of 

 throwing a fly on Moosehead Lake for this year at least. 

 Still, with all this enthusiasm for that noble lake, I have to 

 asi?|ociate with my fond recollections of it one great disap- 

 pointment, one great longing unsatisfied, one realization of 

 the old saying, "there's many a slip, etc.," one prize lost as 

 the hand was stretched to grasp it; in a word, the loss of a 

 big fish and the consequent untimely quenching of an incipi- 

 ent fish story. Worst of all, I did "not even see the fish in 

 question, so that I cannot make my boast of his grand pro- 

 portions; but as I have never heard of any trout having been 

 caught in Moosehead weighing over 5} pounds, I modestly 

 put him down at that figure, reserving, however, the option 

 of considering him a "laker" of unusual size, and unreason- 

 able reluctance to come to the landing net. 



A few years ago I had the good fortune to visit Moosehead 

 for the first time, going there mainly for fishing, but with 

 eyes wide open to its beauties. After a day or two spent in 

 fishing (not very successfully) in the North Bay, under the 

 shadow of Mount Kineo, my guide proposed that we should 

 go and camp for a few days at the mouth of the Socotean 

 River, a few miles further up the lake. Next morning, ac- 

 cordingly, we set off after breakfast by the small steamer 

 that runs from Kineo to the head of the lake— canoe, tent, 

 bedding, provisions, tackle, and last but not least, the Indian 

 guide. I have always admired Cooper's "Leatherstocking" 

 tales, and the gentlemanlike and exceedingly satisfactory 

 Indians he treats of, and therefore was gla'd to have an 

 opportunity of living for a few days in intimate communion 

 with this swarthy son of the forest, to observe the modifi- 

 cations of character produced by the changed conditions 

 under which the Indian now exists. The costume had 

 ciianged considerably among other things. The chivalrous 

 scalping tuft was not distinguishable among the numerous 

 locks covered by— must it be said— an old felt hat. The eye 

 may, at a much earlier period, have been quick and unerring, 

 hut a little observation showed me that the landing net 

 could be handled to a better advantage by myself than by 

 the ancient warrior, my companion. During the first re- 

 corded race for the championship of Lake George, so beau- 

 tifully reported in "The liast of the Mohicans," "Hawkeye" 

 comphmenled "IJncas" on his judgment in choosing- a canoe. 

 I found that I could not follow that great example with the 

 Sachem under my command. Younger men in better built 

 canoes used to go past us as if we were at anchor, if one 

 may use such a figure of speech about a canoe. On the 

 present occasion, however, we were being conveyed, canoe 

 and all, by a steamer, and were getting along fairly. At 

 the mouth of the Socotean the steamer stopped and the canoe 

 was got into the water. The various items of our pluader 

 having been put on board, 1 carefully descendtid and took my 

 place on the miniature chair in the bow. The chief calmly 

 dropped into the stern and plied his paddle slowly toward 

 the strand. The spot was not quite untenanted; on the con- 

 trary a substantial camp of boards was visible above a land- 

 ing place, near which a guide or two were lounging. The 

 party in temporary occupation was absent, with the excep- 

 tion of one gentleman who seemed to be enjoying a day off 

 in earnest and dehghtful communion with a pipe. Having 

 left our tent and other fixings at the landing place, the chief 

 suggested that we should go and try for a trout for dinner at 

 the mouth of the river. I didn't see any mouth; in fact 

 there was no very decided appearance of a river. We as- 

 sociate with our ideas of a river, especially a trout or salmon 

 river, living water fretting down the rapids and whirUng 

 slowly round the pools; but here it was a lagoon, a canal, an 

 arm of the lake with no life apparent in it. The damming 

 of the lake had done something similar for the river, which, 

 instead of coming, as it must once have done, joyously and 

 noisily foaming into the quiet waters of the lake, made its 

 entree in the most unassuming manner possible, the mouth 

 being indicated only by a double row of lilypads some four 

 or five feet wide, with a space of clear black water between 

 them, where a most satisfactory cast might be made. There 

 was room enough for half a dozen canoes to have fair fish- 

 ing without anj^ confusion of interests. The Sagamore cau- 

 tiously approached the lilypads from the right quarter and 

 shoved the bow of the canoe among them, holding on by a 

 stake to keep the position. Here I cannot describe my cast, 

 except that the hand or upper fly was a brown hackle, the 

 other I have forgotten, but that one I have better cause to 

 recollect, and I may mention that it is not now in my fly- 

 book, for reasons that will appear hereafter. 



I set to work and got two or three fish that on the Never- 

 sink or the BeaverkiU would have been the pride of the 

 basket, about three quarters of a pound each. Then I got a 

 larger fish, a little over a pound. I was doing very -well I 

 thought. Luck seemed to be in my favor. The chief had 



