Oct. 8. 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



207 



for the protection of game or fisli; that the game and fish 

 wardens receive an annual salary to be paid them by the 

 State; that the deputy game and fish wardens receive aa 

 their compensa^ou one-half of the net proceeds of all fines 

 and penalties which shall be recovered through their instru- 

 BieDtality. 



"That it is the opinion of your committee that the greed 

 for large bags is destroying the aame of the country; that 

 while large bags are an exhibition of skill in }.he use of the 

 gun they are not sportsmanlike and bring sportsmanship to 

 the level of pot-hunting, and are in direct conflict with the 

 characteristics of a sportsman, the chief principle of which 

 should be the protection of game. Therefore we recommend 

 tbat each individual be limited to twenty-five birds, other 

 than ducks and snipe, a day, and that the limit for ducks 

 and snipe should be fifty a day." 



The committee recommends the formation of a national 

 sportsman's association for the protection of game and fish, 

 and that as a part of it there should be appointed a commit- 

 tee to prepare proper laws and press the passage of the same 

 by all honorable means. 



Gen. Smith explained that the report was not the unani- 

 mous expression of the committee. They had endeavored 

 to occupy high grounds upon those great economical and 

 moral questions, and if they had not met the expectations of 

 the convention they regretted the fact. He was aware that 

 the minority was composed of honorable, whole-souled 

 sportsmen, but they were men of strong assertion and could 

 not be swayed from their convictions. Mr. Hauworth, of 

 Quincy, then stated that he was one of the minority. The 

 committee had held a protracted meeting last night and had 

 finally agreed to a unanimous vote, although there was a 

 difference of opinion of six to three at its deliberations. The 

 point at issue was on spring shooting of wildfowl and snipe. 

 The sense of the convention had been that wildfowl shooting 

 should close on Feb. 1, but at last night's meeting of the 

 committee a compromise had been effected by the agreement 

 that on the date of the open season on geese, ducks and snipe 

 being extended to April 15, the minority would, make all of 

 the report unanimous. The compromise had, however, been 

 overruled at a subsequent meeting of the committee. It being 

 uoon when Mr. Hauworth closed his remarks, the conven- 

 tion adjourned in order to visit the Merchants' Exchange in 

 a body. 



Chairman Johnson rapped the meeting to order at 2: 30 

 'P. M., and at once called for the report of the committee on 

 game. It was asked by the chair whether a minority report 

 had been prepared in writing by the three members wlio 

 were in dissent with the majority. As this proved not be 

 \he case, Mr. Johnson decided that Mi'. Hauworth's verbal 

 expression, as detailed above, could not be accepted in 

 lieu of a document, and the committee's report was then 

 gone into in detail, the sense of the meeting being taken 

 cluase by clause seriatim. The close dates, as to deer, turkey, 

 grouse and quail passed as proposed, but a lively fight came 

 on when it was considei'ed whether the close season on ducks 

 and geese should extend from Feb. 1 to Sept. 1. 



Mr. Hauworth moved ttiat the dates be altered to from 

 April 15 to Sept. 1. Mr. James was not in favor of the 

 total abolition of spring shooting, but believed in preventing 

 the wholesale destruction of game not only in the spring but 

 in the fall. If that w^as done there would be good shooting 

 both in the spring and fall. Gen. Smith was of opinion 

 that the question at' issue was one for tlie naturalists to con- 

 sider, and that the sole object of the convention was the 

 protection of game birds during their time of reproduction. 

 When birds took theu- flight to the north, the process of 

 reproduction had begun, and it was wrong to shoot them in 

 the spring, since they violated the underlying principle of 

 the convention, which was lo protect and preserve game of 

 all kinds. Mr. Bailey declared that he was in favor of 

 shooting ducks in every latitude at any time, providing the 

 shooting was done in a sportsmanlike manner. Mr. Zantiss 

 Intimated that such a view was neither moral nor sportsman- 

 like, but Mr. Baily took issue at once with the idea that the 

 teds come north only to breed. "They come north," he 

 stated, "because of the temperature and not solely for breed- 

 ing purposes." This bold assertion tempted Mr. Zantiss to 

 ismile audibly, in which act he was joined by several other 

 tolembers of the convention, but Mr. Bailey stood his ground 

 manfully and maintained that he was right in stating that 

 the ducks go north for a summer vacation. Several amend- 

 ments were rejected, and the season for duck shooting left 

 as reported by the committee. 



Debate on the other clauses then followed. Mr. Holmes, 

 Michigan, was opposed to the date fixed for the close season 

 for woodcock. He thought the time should be changed 

 from July to Sept. 1, and offered an amendment to that 

 effect. "During July," he said, "the woodcock is a poor 

 weak bantling. The old birds have not recuperated from 

 the arduous labors of breeding, and are neither fit to eat nor 

 a proper target for sportsmen." Mr. Young emphatically 

 said that MrlTHolmes was evidently not familiar with wood- 

 cock, or he would know that the birds were grubbing before 

 the latter part of July or beginning of August. "I would 

 not give the snap of my finger for a woodcock after August," 

 said he, "because grubbing spoils his meat." The time was 

 Jeft as fixed by the committee. When the clause afi;ecting 

 rabbits was reached, a season of excitement ensued. The 

 rabbit did not seem to have many friends in the convention. 

 "Kill him all the time," shouted Mr. Geo. Bain, "he is not a 

 game bird." The clause on plover was can-ied as were those 

 on turtle doves, wild pigeon and squirrel. Judge Lanham 

 remarking with the water running out of his mouth that the 

 last named are the best eating at the last of June, when the 

 mulberries are ripe. 



The clause respecting the hounding of deer met with an 

 amendment offered by Mr. Terry, of St. Louis, to except 

 Arkansas, Louisiana, ]\Iississippi and Missouri from its pro- 

 ■vision. The gentleman thought a deer should never be 

 stalked or killed by fire-hunting. The animal should have 

 fair play in the shape of whatever warning is given to it by 

 the bay of a hound, and moreover those parts of the States 

 he referred to which harbor deer for most of the year are 

 swamp lands and thickets in which deer cannot be hunted 

 except with the aid of dogs. Mortimer Taylor, of St. Louis, 

 considered that it was only the lazy man who hunted deer 

 with hounds and not the sportsman. There was no sport in 

 standing behind a tree and letting drive at a poor big beast 

 as big as a donkey and headed to that point by hounds. Mr. 

 Tantis, of Arkansas, loved the music of the hounds and 

 looked on the man who sneaked alone through a wood, 

 stalked a deer and shot it .standing, as a murderer. Mr. 

 Taj'lor thought that Mr. Yantis was incorrect in one of his 

 illustrations, and on that gentleman differing with him, 

 feared that his (Mr. Yantis's) specimen hunters may occa- 

 sionally have suffered from buck fever. Prof, Holmes 



stated that the people of Michigan had arrived at the conclu- 

 sion that a still-hunter killed on the average five deer a day, 

 while the man with hounds killed only one in eight days. 

 Mr. McDonough drew attention to the fact that still-hunting 

 included baiting and sitting over a salt hole and shooting all 

 the deer that came along. The clause was struck from the 

 report on vote by twenty five to twenty-three. 



The section respecting song and insectivorous birds was 

 carried. That concerning their trapping was also carried, a 

 provision being added to the eftect that birds may be caught 

 for propagating purposes, and another, that birds may be 

 taken for scientiflc purposes by shooting. Tlie clause relat- 

 ing to giving protection to nesting birds was adopted, as was 

 that prohibiting capture of any birds at night. 



The clause restricting the caliber of guns to N"o. 10 was 

 carried. 



The clause recommending the blending of present fish and 

 future game commissions, appointment of wardens, et»., 

 came next. Mr. Fabnestock was of opinion tbat the salary 

 of the deputy wardens should be paid by States hke those of 

 the wardens. Mr. Bain thought that this would be the 

 business of the legislatures. Dr. Steedman considered that 

 fish and game commissioners also should be paid. They had 

 given services gratuitously for fifteen years, and the speaker 

 therefore had ample cause to suppose that the time had now 

 arrived when those officials should I'eccive compensation. 

 The clause was amended by the addition of commissioners 

 and deptuty warden.s to the wardens on the list of officials to 

 be paid by the different Slates and was then adopted. The 

 suggestion that a nation;)! association with sub committee to 

 pi'esa the passage of laws was adopted. 



Some debate took place on the restriction of the bags of 

 sportsmen to a certain number of lives a day, and it was 

 finally ruled that not more than twenty -five snipe, duck, 

 teal, quail or grouse .should be shot in a day by any hunter. 



A motion by Judge Lanham and George Bain that sports- 

 men be invited not to string or take home croppie or striped 

 bass of less than nine, black bass of less than eleven or jack 

 salmon of less than twelve inches in length was adopted 

 amid some kughter, though these are the lengths to which 

 the members of the Murdock Lake Ckib restrict themselves. 



The following motion was then put by Mr. Yantis, of 

 Arkansas, and adopted: "Wherea.s, it lias been i-epresented 

 to this convention tbat an indiscriminate slaughter of game 

 is constantly going on in the Indian Territory regardless of 

 seasons; and, whereas, there are no present means of pre- 

 venting the same save through the instrumentality of the 

 Indian authox'ities; therefore, it is resolved that clubs border- 

 ing on the said Territory, having for their object the pro- 

 tection of game, be requested to correspond with the Indian 

 authorities and make such arratigeuients as may be most 

 conducive to the protection of game in the Indian Terri- 

 tory." 



The following report of the committee appointed to draw 

 up a scheme for a national association was then called up. 

 It is reproduced in a condensed form: 



BEPOBT OF PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 



We, your committee, would rejiort that ia our opinion this couven- 

 tion should organize a national association for the protection of game 

 and flsh, and would submit the con.stitution herewith filed as suitable 

 for the organized laws of the same. Wo would further suggest that 

 the officers for the same be elected by this convention for the ensuing 

 year, and that when this convention adjourn that the records hereof 

 be placed in the custody of said a.s.sociaiion. 



1. Obiects. — Protection and increase of game and fish, and the 

 bringing about the enactment of uniform law.s by the general govern- 

 ment and those of States for those purposes. 



2. It to be named the National Association for the Protection of 

 Game and Fish. 



3. Clubs of the present or future founded on the same view as the 

 association to be eligible for membership. Fish and game commis- 

 sioners to be admitted to ex-offlcio membership without dues. 



i. The officers to be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and 

 treasurer,and for each State and Territory a vice-president and assist • 

 ant secretary. The president of each State association to be accepted 

 annually as a vice-preside -t, and its secretary as assistant secretary. 

 Officers" to meet anrually. 



u. The executive committee may accept or reject applications of 

 clubs for membership. 



6. The annual dues of clubs of twenty or more members to be $10; 

 of those of ten, |5. 



7. An annual meeting shall be held, one month's written notice of 

 the place of holding to be given by the secretary on order of the 

 president. 



8. Clubs of twenty membei-s are entitled to two delegates, of a less 



membership one 



9. The standing executive committee shall consist of the president, 

 all the vice presidents, secretary and treasurer and two persons to be 

 appointed by the president, five to constitute a quorum. The execu- 

 tive committee shall manage the ordinary affairs ot the Association, 

 reporting at annual meetings. 



10. There shall be a standing law committee of five persons, ap- 

 pointed by the president, and who shall consider all legal questions 

 affecting the association. 



11. The president's powers are defined m this section, and are of 

 the usual nature. In his absence the first vice-pr&eident shall exer- 

 cise his functions. The president shall appoint the secretary and 

 treasurer and take satisfactory bond for his guarantee. 



13. The secretary and treasurer who serves under bond, shall re- 

 side at the same place as the president and shall perform his duties 

 in the tisual w^ay. Ilis salary to oe fixed by the executive committee. 



13. Twenty-five members at an annual meeting shall constitute a 

 quorum. 



14. The executive committee has power to make by -laws. 



15. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing a month 

 before action can be taken. 



Motion was made that the report be adopted entire, which 

 was done by a unanimous vote. 



The chair was directed by vote to appoint a committee of 

 five to draw up resolutions explaining the proceedings and 

 to publish the same to the UnitedtStates. 



John D. Johnson was elected President of the association 

 by acciamation. Enoch Moore, of Wilmington, Del., was 

 chosen Vice-President. Secretary, H. C. West, of St. Louis. 



It was decided that all clubs represented at the convention 

 shall become members of the association by paying the re- 

 quh'ed initiation fees. 



Mr. Hayden offered a resolution, which was adopted, 

 recommending that all States and Territories offer bounties 

 for the destruction of hawks that prey upon game. 



Mr. Jones, Fish Commissioner of Wisconsm, made a brief 

 speech of thanks to the local committee, remarking that the 

 proceedings of the convention would result in raising the 

 standard of American sport. 



After considerable discussion it was decided to hold the 

 next meeting of the association on the first Tuesday in June, 

 1886, at Chicago, at 6:45 P. M, The convention adjourned 

 ■s-me die. 



Thursday and Friday were devoted to trap-shooting at 

 the Cole Brilhante race course, and there was a banquet on 

 Thur.sday afternoon. 



Thkead-Wound Oabtrioges. — Will some reader of the 

 Forest and Stkbam who has tried the thread-wound, long- 

 ranged shot cartridges, give me their opinion of them in re- 

 gard to pattern and penetration. Also if considered good to 

 be used in a chokebore gun. — Nimrod. 



ADIRONDACK NOTES, 



Editor For ext. and renin- 



I have just returned from an extensive trip through the 

 Adirondaclf Lake region, commencing at the Porffe House, 

 extending through both Saranacs to Paul Smith, thence back 

 to Raquette and Blue Mountain Lake by way of the Tuppers, 

 and I have to say that I have scarcely passed a lake or pond 

 on which watchers for deer, or dogs to be taken out, or 

 actually running deer, or as in a few cases deer floating in 

 the water with a bullet hole through their heads, in short, 

 some positive evidence of the flagrant violation of the hound- 

 ing law could not be observed. Moreover, everybody freely 

 confesses that it is not meant to observe the law, and" that it 

 is the American way, to let everybody grab for what is left 

 of game and fish while it lasts. No one expects that it will 

 last long. My personal impression about it is that the ob- 

 stacles to the enforcement of such a law are insurmountable, 

 and that a law without the necessary force behind it is more 

 ruinous than no law at all, because it makes no end of hypo- 

 crites of those who disobey it. I should hail with delight 

 some remedy which could protect what is left of our game 

 and fish, and of our once magnificent woods too, for that 

 matter. But the modes prevailing in the government, the 

 hopeless rascahty of our professional politicians (a large por- 

 tion of whom, by the way, pretend to be sportsmen), and 

 chief of all, the indifference of the public regarding the sub- 

 ject, will frustrate every effort in that direction. 



From four weeks' life in the woods I may say that deer and 

 partridge seem to be fairly abundant in the more remote 

 parts of the forest. Raquette Lake is teeming with black 

 bass of a very small size, yielding a poor apology for .sport. 

 The hotels are mostly abominations as regards comfort or 

 fare, a hollow pretense to be shunned by those who know 

 how to camp out. The guides are fast becoming simple oars- 

 men, losing their former fame for woodcraft. The younger 

 ones hardly know how to handle an axe, sometimes have 

 great difficulty to find a well-trodden path, say nothing of a 

 blazed line, know nothing of cooking, and groan in a fashion 

 to inspire pity when there is a carry of more than a half 

 mile ahead. They are comparable to forest hacks who also 

 serve for hotel runners. 



This letter ai-Ay be too gloomy, but does certainly contain 

 an unshakable basis of fact, admitted by everybody who saw 

 the woods fifteen years ago. Of course I know ttiat we are 

 getting ahead in civihzation, and that we must pay for the 

 improvements, but the heart that saw the forests in their 

 primeval bea^ity aches, nevertheless, seeing this senseless 

 destruction, waste and ruin, going hand in hand with the' 

 appearance of the lumberman, guide, hotel man, and, worst 

 of all, the city sportsman, who, with money, might, and 

 main, slaughters the rest of the game, corrupts the guide, 

 burns the woods, and disfigures the face of the earth with his 

 gluttonous habits transferred to the woods, giving pabu- 

 lum to the excrescences called hotels. It is curioiis to see 

 how the woodsman hate,«! the city dwellers and vice versa. 

 Each thinks the other a rascal and fraud, and generally both 

 are right. But what is the use of crying woe? Let us be 

 glad that there still is a haunch of venison and a mess of fish 

 for those who know how to get them. Apres nous le deluge.^ 



New York, Oct. 3. 1885. MUSQXIASH. 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



UNFAVORABLE w^inds, low tides and raitiy weather 

 prevented good rail shooting during the p-Ast week. 

 There is no lack of birds, but they cannot be reached with- 

 out plenty of water. The reeds have been well beaten 

 down and~ pushing a skiff is very hard work. Nothing but 

 a storm tide will allow a boat to go freely over them. 



Teal are stdl reaching our waters in increased numbers, 

 and some good decoying just at daybreak was had during 

 the week, off the point of Raccoon Creek, on the New Jersey 

 side of the Delaware. After the sun is well up it is useless 

 to try to decoy longer, as tlie ducks appear to be on the move 

 only in the early morning. 



Snipe are becoming plentiful, comparatively speaking, 

 in fact, shooting for them hereabouts is always much better 

 in the autumn than in the spring, when they first arrive ; but 

 owing to the rail, reed birds and teal which attract the 

 sportsman's attention at this time, the snipe seem to be lost 

 sight of and are seldom regularly hunted, but merely killed 

 when they are found while in pursuit of the more numerous 

 birds. "Woodcock also are ofttimes found when one is rail 

 shooting, especially if the skiff can be pushed up to the 

 alder-fringed meadow bank. 



Quail are more plentiful in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, 

 Maryland and Delaware than last year and appear to have 

 bred well. It is reported from sonie counties that many of 

 the broods ai-e composed of small birds. I think such birds 

 are those of a second hatching, for Bob White has certainly 

 had a good nesting season thu.'; far. 



Ruffed grouse are fairly plentiful through the Lehigh 

 Valley, but the birds are still on the table lands, with plenty 

 of food to keep them there until cold weather and frost 

 drive them into the more sheltered ravines. Homo. 

 Philadelphia, Oct. 4. 



MOOSE IN MUSKOKA. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Two weeks ago, on my way into the Muskoka country on 

 my third annual tour, I had the pleasure of meeting at 

 Muskoka Wharf a fine two-year female moose. It was cap- 

 tured alive by an Indian hunter north of Rosseau, and was 

 being shipped to Toronto, where it had been purchased by 

 the directors of the zoological garden of that city. This 

 animal, although a little thin in flesh, was apparently in good 

 health, and seemed entirely indifferent to the curious crowd 

 that surrounded her box. A gentleman living at Graven- 

 hurst (one-half mile south of Muskoka Wharf) informed me 

 that he had in his yard a lively moose calf now about six 

 months old, which had already become quite tame. The 

 country north and east of the Muskoka lakes abounds in 

 moose, as the immediate territory does in Virginia deer. 



Is it not possible for some of our natural history and zoo- 

 logical societies and wealthy lovers of such game, who find 

 a more lasting enjoyment than that gained by looking at it 

 over a rifle barrel, to take steps looking to the permanent 

 preservation in parks of these magnificent animals? Are 

 they too destined to follow the buffalo into oblivion? 



Going in to Crane Lake we found that a couple of gentle- 

 men (Mr. Colin Campbell, of New York, and a friend) just 

 the week before had killed a large black bear near the land- 

 ing, and that another had just been caught alive in a log 

 trap. As for the Muskoka country, if I were a hunter as I 

 am a fisherman, I would never lay down my arms while the 

 open season lasted, never, never, never. Jay Bebe. 



Toledo, O., Oct. .3, 18S5. 



