266 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 29, 188fe. 



I have not written letters the piist few weeks for the pur- 

 pose of a free ad. in the Fokect and Stream, fori have had 

 more work than I can do ah'ead^s and Avrile over a uom de 

 plime, and always have. My experience has been that a 

 tnuzzleloader will shoot clo.ser at short range than a hrcecli- 

 loader, cousequently it makes a belter squirrel rifle. There 

 is plenty of time to load. Regarding the Lyman rear sight, 

 I have no pecuniary interest in the manufacture or sale of 

 them, in any form wliatever, neither have I ever had the 

 pleasure of meeting Mr. Lyman, but what I have written 

 ha? been for the benefit of the reader, as my own shooting 

 has been very much improved by using it, especial] v in the 

 woods or in bad light. 



Why can we not have more mechanical notes regarding 

 the making and repairing of rifles and guns in the columns 

 of FoEEST AND Steeam. 1 think that the exchange of ideas 

 upon the subject would be a benefit to gunsmiths as well as 

 amateurs, for the days of "trade secrets" have passed. I for 

 one would be willing to contribute toward it, and although 

 I do not pretend to know it all have tried to Jearn all that I 

 could, about it during the past twenty years, and having one 

 of the best rifle makers in tlie United States for a teacher 

 yeai-s ago, perhaps 1 might suggest something that would be 

 of interest to some that are anxious for information upon the 

 subject. Ikow Eamrod. 



LOST IN THE MAINE WOODS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



This morning I met a friend whose face always brings to 

 my mind the good and hard times I had in the Maine woods. 

 The first thing he said was, ' 'Fred, there is a fine story about 

 you in the Fokest and Stream." 1 hunted my paper over 

 until I struck "Camps in the Wilderness," by "Kohog,"and 

 it was with pleasure I read the names of places I have not 

 seen for years. The guide's story about the 3'Oang chap 

 from Massachusetts is good, hut it would have made a more 

 interesting story if he had staid somewhere near the fact. 

 The guide was about fifteen years old, and the "pard" he 

 speaks of was a peddler who had strayed away up there, 

 seeking whom he might devour. It is also true, alas, I did 

 think I could make lots of money up there trapping, but 

 instead of being there only a week, as the story states,' I had 

 been there ever since September. We did not start late the 

 following day, but early one cold morning after Mrs. Flint 

 had kindly put up some lunch for us, and he forgets to say 

 bow he forgot his gun, leaving It standing in the snow 

 against a stiimp. Th~at day about sunset we struck solid ice, 

 a little below where you start in for Upper Metallic's 

 Pond. We made camp and ate ahnost all our lunch. 

 Although we had a roaring fire, the water in 

 a tin pail froze, though standing but a few feet from the 

 fire. Early next morning we broke camp, and after eating 

 the rest of our lunch, we hauled our boat on the ice, intend- 

 ing to shove it along till we came to open water, hut we had 

 not gone far when i broke through the ice. Then we pulled 

 for shore again, to our old camp, and built a big fire, at 

 which I was drying myself while the peddler was cruising 

 around to get the lay of the land. I remember we were all 

 very hungry by this time. I was just thinking and toasting 

 my sliins when I heard tlie peddler sing out, " Walter, bring 

 the rifle and ammunition!" W. B. grabbed my rifle and 

 powder and ball and ran oft", and pretty soon I heard my ritle 

 crack four times in quick succession. I soon heard' them 

 coining back, and when W. B. came in sight 1 saw to my 

 joy that he carried three plump partridges. We fried two 

 right off in my frying-pan. By this time it was nearly noon. 

 We held a council of war, and neither tlje peddler nor W.B. 

 knew how to get back to Spoff. Flint's camp; but finding 

 we were but a short distance from Metallic's Pond, I knew 

 we were all right; for I knew there was a spotted line from 

 there to Lincoln Pond, where I knew there was a boat hid- 

 den, and a camp, with possibly some grub in it. and another 

 spotted line from there clear through to Sunday Pond Camp. 

 That cheered them up amazingly. WereachedLincoln Pond 

 late that afternoon, as hungry as wolves, and tired to boot 

 Having left my pack behind, to be able to show them 

 where the boat was, I now started back, while they worked 

 the boat over the ice to the open water. Well, after a while 

 we got over to tlje camp, and all we found was a bottle of 

 tar oil and a box of candles. 



Did W. B. tell your correspondent how we all, himself 

 included , tried to eat some of these candles? Woke up cold 

 and hungry next morning, cooked our remainiuH' partridge— 

 hardly a fair^nouthful ajuece— and .shoved ofl;, " It was cold 

 enough that morning, for the wind blew the water on our 

 hands and it froze on my mittens. We struck the shore at 

 last and started up hill, keeping oui- eves open for blazes on 

 the trees. We began to suffer in earnest by this tinx\ for 

 we were half frozen and faint with hunger and Walter was 

 crying like a good one, while the peddler was washing the 

 boy's hands with In-andy and I begging him not to carry on 

 so, telling him we would soon he all right. I acknowledge 

 leaning against a tree once and saying something about sit- 

 ting down, and remember hearing the peddler say something 

 about switches, but they were not needed, nor were their 

 feet either, as W. B. states with zeal worthy of a better 

 cause and twisting up of facts truly diabolical. Then the 

 idea of carrying my baggage. I remember distinctly how 

 heavy my eleven or twelve-pound rifle got about this time 

 80 1 left it standing by a tree. When we got to 

 the river we found a little raft. It was not bio' 

 enough to take us all over at once. 1 crossed 

 first, and ran to camp, telhng Spoff. to go down and help 

 them over, which he did by felling a tree across the river, 

 on which they crossed, and by the time the peddler and W. 

 B. got to camp there was a square meal on the table for 

 tlieni, and no cold nor warm venison about it, nor a bit of 

 venison about the house in fact. Having on only a pair of 

 moccasins 1 froze my feet badly, my left foot being nearly 

 black. 1 thawed them out in a tub of ice water. A day or 

 two later jSTahum Bennett came up from the settlement 

 through the woods to find us, the report having got out that 

 we had started days before, and our non appearance natur 

 ally made them think we were lost in the woods; and old 

 ^ahum Bennett, dear old soul, was the first to volunteer to 

 tmd us. John Danforth came up from the settlements, 

 and on tlie way to his camp called on us, and I followed his 

 tracks through the wooas for 16 mile.-5 (I was told it was) 

 arriving at an old lumber camp about sunset, where I camped 

 that night, making the settlement early next morning. 

 Quite a little difference in the two stories. 

 I have been in the West, for nearly three years and a half 

 have only been home some months, roughed it in the Rock- 

 ies and on the plains. I don't believe W. B„ "KohogV 

 guide, knows what a tenderfoot is. 



The Y<u:]v<i (Jhap erom Massachitsettb. 



GAME ABOUT SENECA FALLS. 



Editor Foretil and Stream: 



Winter ducks have made their appearance here and a fair 

 number have been brought to bag hy our local sportsmen. 

 Cayuga Bridge, at this end of the lake, has for many years 

 been a noted ducking ground and a favorite resort for wild- 

 fowl during spring and fall flights. Its former glory has, 

 however, largely departed during the last decade, as the in- 

 cessant fusillade kept up on the ducks from their arrival to 

 departure, and perhaps other causes have driven them to 

 wilder and more remote feeding grounds. Still through all 

 manner of both fair and unsportsmanlike devices, a large 

 number are killed every season. If more interest were man- 

 ifested by lovers of sport in this section, hunting and fisliiug 

 could be much improved. 



Two flourishing sportsman's clubs formerly existed here 

 and were prominent at all meets of the State Association, 

 numbering in their delegations some of the best shots in the 

 United States. The olden, spirit, however, seems to have 

 died out and the ranks are disbanded. The Phoenix Club, 

 like its ancient prototype, went out without a flicker, and 

 as yet no signs of a revivification. The Seneca Gun Club ex- 

 pired of inanition about a year since. The members of the 

 two defunct organizations, to a certain extent, keep up the 

 old traditions of "flood and field" within the cozy precincts 

 of Lawrence's "Cottage," where many of the trophies and 

 specimens of the old clubs adorn the walls. Mr. Lawrence 

 is an expert taxidermist as well as an enthusiastic naturalist, 

 and his place of business is a veritable museum of quaint 

 artillery, curiosities and specimens of natural history, form- 

 ing a very unique and interesting amateur collection. 



At this time coon hunting is "the prevailing rage, as the 

 "ringtails" are unusually numerous and fat this fall, and 

 scarcely a week passes that two or more parties do not de- 

 vote a night to the fascinating pursuit of Davy Crockett's 

 friend. Lawrence usually heads the hunters, being equipped 

 with a number of well-trained hounds and all the requisite 

 paraphernalia for such expeditions. A dozen sportsmen 

 with as many hounds, axes, torches, etc., ad libitum, are a 

 familiar sight here, on an early moonlight evening, and 

 enough to "make Rome howl"— as well as the men who own 

 the cornfields and forests where the coons "do most con- 

 gregate." The largest number brought in so far, as the re- 

 sult of a single night's foray, was eight— headed by a noble 

 patriarch of 20 pounds, and tapering down to a plump 8 

 pound "kitten." Last night three were brought in, weigh- 

 ing respectively 19. 16 and 15 pounds. A large and ambitious 

 party of hunters are preparing for the warpath to night, 

 and sally forth determined to "clear out all the coons left in 

 the county. The invariable wind up of these expeditions is 

 a coon barbecue at the "Cottage," prepared by a sable son 

 of the sunny South in true Virginian style, to which appe- 

 tizing "layout" a free invitation is extended to all. 



A few quail are shot here every fall, but the demoralizing 

 efltects of an occasional cold winter keeps the number down 

 of this beautiful game bird. Rabbits are abundant and 

 promise good sport for the approaching season. The heavy 

 timber in this part of the Stale (one of the earliest settled 

 portions) is largely cut off and cleared, so that there is little 

 suitable cover for rufled grouse. Nuts of all kinds are 

 abundant this season, but squiirels are very scarce. The 

 longtails were quite plenty in 1884. but the severity of the 

 weather and heavy snows of last winter seem to have killed 

 them off or caused their migration. L. G. S. 



Seneca Falls, N. Y., Oct. 34. 



Hb Pah) His Fine.— Game Warden Allen of this city was 

 at the Maine Central depot one evening last week on the ar- 

 rival of the train from up-river, when he noticed the hides 

 and antlers of a moose and caribou in the baggage car on 

 route to Boston. From their dry appearance he was con- 

 vinced the animals to which they belonged -were killed prior 

 to Oct. 1, the beginning of the open season, and accordingly 

 he took possession. Going through the train he found a 

 gentleman who was apparently returning from a hunting- 

 expedition, and questioning him was told that the property 

 seized belonged to him, but the sportsman asserted that he 

 had killed no game during close time. Examining his diary 

 he stated to the officer that the moose in question was Icilled 

 Sunday, Oct. 4. He was then informed that Sunday was 

 close time the year around, and the gentleman, who is a 

 prominent resident of New York city, finding he was caught, 

 paid the fine for the moose, ainountiog to iilOO. Mr. Allen 

 said he was convinced that the caribou was killed in close 

 time, and that he should keep the hide and have the gentle- 

 man indicted so that he might be held to answer to the 

 charge whenever he came to Maine. Upon hearing this the 

 New Yorker inquired the name of the Fish and Game Com- 

 missioner and left on the train. Several days later Commis- 

 sioner Stillwell received a letter from the gentleman, ac- 

 knowledging that both animals were killed in close time and 

 inclosing thirty dollars to pay the fine on the caribou, he 

 having already paid that on the moose. He requested Mr. 

 Stillwell to inform Mr. Allen thet the fines were paid and 

 ask him not to instituo proceedings against 'him.— Ba/ujor 

 Industrial Jour ml, Oct. 23. And here is another: Bangor, 

 Oct. 24.— Game OQicer French visited Dobsis' club house 

 with a search wan-ant and found part of the hide of a moose 

 killed in close time. He arrested G. F. L. Ball, the club's 

 keeper, who has settled the case for $100 and costs. OflScer 

 French has warrants for two members of the club and two 

 guides who assisted them in violating the law. 



Philadelphlv Notes.— Oct. 25.— Quail are very sear cc 

 in our markets, and but few sportsmen have gone out 

 although the close season ended Oct. 15. This is a silent 

 confes,sion on the part of both amateur and professional gun- 

 ners that the opening is two weeks too early. 1 doubt if you 

 can hnd a single sportsman who would not sav that Nov 1 

 is the proper date for the beginning. Birds, 1 am told, are 

 more plentiful this year than last; and yet none that I can 

 hnd are on the game stands. The truth is while the leaves 

 are yet. so thick on the trees and the weather so pleasant the 

 quail Qo not come out to feed. "They do not have to," and 

 will remain indoors until a httle sharp weather drives them 

 out to hunt a breakfast. Ducks still arrive in our rivers 

 the number of stiff-tails that have come this year is beyond 

 anything for years. Twenty-five to thirty per boat are the 

 average returns each day below Chester. Woodcock seem 

 to he very scarce this autumn. Stop summer shooting and we 

 would have more of them. — Homo. 



bNARERs IN Connecticut.— Norwich, Conn., Oct. 24.— 

 Your note of the grouse snarers at Stafford some weeks ago 

 attracted my attention. It has been mv custom to go iip 

 there for a few days' shooting for several sea.sons past. I 

 have seen the remains of old snares but never found any set 

 until this season. I w^as hunting over a long rida-e, thickly 

 covered with white birch and sloping off to' a brook in the 

 valley. I had started a grouse down the slope and acro.'-s 

 the brook. I was following, and reaching the brook found 

 a grouse strung up by the neck in a snare, I bagged the bin! 

 and kicked up the snare. A short distance on I founti 

 another snare. Then I returned to the hrook and began a 

 careful search and in less than an eighth of a mile along that 

 brook I found seven or eight snares, one more grouse, and 

 the feathers and head of one that been eaten probablv by a 

 lox. 1 bagged two good birds and kicked the snares to 

 pieces. If I had not Ijeen looking for the snares I might 

 have hunted the whole slope without finding one-half of 

 them, for they were so built as to escape notice unless one 

 was looking for them. Reports from all quarters about here 

 say there is a good supply of birds. 1 have not heard of any 

 large bags, but most all manage to get some. A party of 

 six have just come in with 38 gray squirrels, 8 grouse 

 8 quail and 3 woodcock.— J. R. T. & ' 



The Line of Coot Shooters.— New York, Oct. 20,— If 

 any of your acquaintances want to shoot ducks "in line," tell 

 them to write to Geo. M. Averill, The Ark, Branford, Conn. 

 The cost of the trip to Branford is ridiculously small, as the 

 men with whom you come in contact are all honest and not 

 anxious to get wealthy. A line is formed almost every day 

 now, and gunners kill from ten to fifty ducks each daily. 

 The ducks which are killed are principally surf ducks, 

 white-winged scoters, black scoters and south southerliea. 

 Occasionally scaups, dusky ducks, sheldrakes, ruddy ducks, 

 etc., are killed, and a stray eider or goose will often make 

 the stem of your boat attractive , The surf ducks and scoters, 

 which go by the name of "coots." and the south southerlies 

 are delicious eating if they are skinned before being cooked 

 and have a layer of strips of salt pork pinned in the breast 

 with wooden toothpicks. Plenty of gravy and apple .sauce 

 are called for. As far as excitement goes, our country can 

 furnish nothing in the sporting line to exceed coot shooting. 

 —Mark West. 



Ontario Venison.— Niagara Falls, Ont., Get. 21.— 

 Yesterday morning ten or tw^elve deer were sent from Ilali- 

 barfcon, Ont., to Black Creek, Ont., consigned to J. II. Allen 

 and Charles Jenks. Special Constable J. R. Dowd, of Wel- 

 land, followed, and about 9 o'clock caught Jenks, who was 

 about starting off with a rowboat load of veni.son, and con- 

 fiscated the lot, and placed Jenks and Allen under arrest. 

 The venison was sold for what it would bring, and the men 

 will be tried under the act prohibiting deer from beinu- 

 shipped out of the country. 



One Way Ow.— Editor ForcM and Stream : As one way 

 out of the difQculty I propose that we deter to the feel!ng,s 

 of all the many men of many minds who read the Forest 

 AND Stream, and call the bird by the alphabetically-com- 

 pounded appellation, Colonbobwhitepartridgequail. It is 

 awkward to pronounce, but there is thi.s advantage, if we 

 can once fasten the name no bird can ever get away with it, 

 and we can then kill at every shot. — Orioue. 



Connecticut Grousr Snarek.s.— Hartford. Conn., Oct, 

 82.— The Litchfield County Market, 5G1 Main street, had 300 

 partridges on sale this morning. This is the .season for these 

 fine birds. But the thousands of snares in (!onncetieut and 

 Western Massachusetts are evidently thinning them out. 

 This market has probably sold over a thousand partridges 

 this season. 



Cleveland Fire-Hunting Duck.s.— Cleveland, Oct. 23. 

 —Some people here are getting ducks without going far or 

 using guns. During heavy winds here a few ducks are 

 blown with the gale, and at night fly into the electric light 

 masts and guys and are killed." I siippose they are attracted 

 by the bright light. — W. R. W. 



Game in Water — London, Eng. — In my letter about 

 preserving game, which appeared in your paper of Sept, 10, 

 there is a rather important ini.yprint, caused, perhaps, by the 

 indi-stinctness of my handwriting. I stated that the venison 

 would remain fresh in hot weather for "several days" — not 

 "several months." — J. J. M. 



A Load op Wildfowl.— Casselton. Dak., Oct. 19.— t 

 send you photo of game killed on a two-days' hunt by three 

 sportsmen of this place; total number, 108 geese and brant 

 and five cranes. That's the kind of hunting we have in 

 Dakota. — H. P. Ufpord. 



Guns at Auction. — There will be a great sale of guns, 

 new and secoud-hund, in this city next Fridays and Saturday, 

 See the notice of same in advertising columns. 



"That reminds me." 



OLD MAJOR R. bragged very much about his shooting, 

 but no one ever saw him kill a bird on the wing, 

 although he would occasionally go out by himself when the 

 snow was on the ground and bring in a very good bag of 

 Bob Whites. He always said he shot them' allying, "and 

 never missed a shot. But the general impression among the 

 re.st of us was that the Major hoofed them, as we termed it, 

 i. e., shot them on the ground. At last we got the Major to 

 take a hunt with us. One Christmas morning found Dr. S., 

 the Major and myself with dogs and guns on the way to 

 Wheat's Valley. The birds were plentiful, and during the 

 day the Doctor and 1 bagged forty odd, but the Major made 

 never a shot during the whole day. "Well, Major," ex- 

 claimed the Doctor, "why did you not shoot at some of the 

 birds to-day? Y''ou had a number of fine chances." "Well, 

 you see. Doc, at this time of the season I always pick out 

 the cocks when I shoot and leave the hens for breeding pur- 

 poses. You may not believe it. Doc, but every blasted bird 

 I have got sight on to-day was a hen. and I could not shoot 

 a hen quail so late in the season when quail are so scarce." 



Catamount op the Peaks op Otter. 



Nevt Jersey.- The open season for quail and grouse in 

 New Jersey opens usually on Nov. 1. But Nov. 1 this 

 year being Sunday, the shooting will not begin until Monday, 



Education for the Indians. — Washington, Oct. 16 — 

 Editor Foi'est and Stream: 1 was exceedingly glad to read 

 your article in the last Forest and Stream on "Teachers 

 for the Indians." Having seen a good deal of the Indians 

 and studied their condition at their own homes, so to speak, 

 T indorse every word you say.— Jerome Burnett, 



