March 11, 1886. J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



129 



to be explained. With every separate rifle, and at each 

 range and change of bullet, the temperature of the atmos- 

 phere was taken on the dry and wet-bulb thermometers, also 

 the pressure on the barometer, and the direction and velocity 

 of the wind ; and the full details having been published iii 

 the pages of Forest asd Stream there are ample data to work 

 upon by any one disposed to investigate the subject. 



Another kind of irregularity, which may be detected on 

 glancing over the above table, is one which was observed at 

 the Putney trials and was remarked upon in the Field at the 

 time. Some of the bullets, instead of spinning evenly during 

 their flight, gyrated with a sort of corkscrew-like motion, 

 which carried them sometimes above and sometimes below 

 the true line of trajectory, besides moving now toward the 

 left and then toward the right side of the target. Vagaries 

 of this kind, on the part of one or two bullets, would sadly 

 interfere with the regularity of a series of shots, spoiling the 

 "string" by their divergence from the bullseye, and occa- 

 sionally disappearing from the target altogether. Occur- 

 rences of a similar character were comparatively frequent at 

 Creeduioor with some of the rifles, and, although they are 

 not always noticeable in the above table of trajectories, 

 owing to this being an average of five shots, some of which 

 may tend to counteract the effect of the others, still in cer- 

 tain case's they are quite obvious to the eye. In a trajectory 

 that is regular, the height of the bullet at three-quarters of 

 the full length of the range is always a little greater than it 

 was at the first quarter; and at the half distance it is higher 

 than at either of the other points. But, on referring to the 

 Whitney-Kennedy rifle, under the head of .500-bores, it will 

 be seen that, in the 100-yard range, some of the bullets dipped 

 between the first and second screen, and then rose to the 

 third. The extent of these variations is, of course, more 

 noticeable in the full records giving every shot than it is in 

 the average result. 



Space cannot be afforded here for entering into details 

 of the shooting of all the weapons, and I must confine my 

 remarks to the most salient features in the experiments. 



Of the .500 bores, the Bullard repeating rifle came out first, 

 as was wananted by its carrying a larger proportion of 

 powder than any rifle in the trial, except the English express 

 and the two American ruuzzleloaders. With the solid bullet 

 the powder ratio was 1 to 3 1, and with the hollow bullet 1 

 to 2.6; and, as has been pointed out before in the Field, the 

 hollow bullet has the higher trajectory, for the greater speed 

 of the light projectile at the beginning of the range and its 

 rapid loss of velocity toward the end both tend tornake the 

 curve higher in the center. The Winchester and the Whitney- 

 Kennedy repeaters used the same ammunition; and, with 

 cartridges taken from the same box, it might reasonably be 

 supposed that they would show very nearly equal results. 

 The Whitney-Kennedy, however, exhibited in a marked de- 

 gree the corkscrew gyration of bullets alluded to above, as is 

 demonstrated by the following record of the five successive 

 shots at the 100 -yard range with the solid bullet. The Win- 

 chester was irregular at 75 yards in the last two shots, but 

 there is a great contrast between the general results, as will 

 be seen by comparing the average of the three most regular 

 shots with the average of the whole five. 



Whitney-Kennedy. 



Round. Sovds. 50yds. 75yds. 



1 l.Oflin. 1 84m. 1 55in. 



2 1.80in. 1.84in. 2.78m. 



8 1.26in. — O.SSin. —1.71m. 



4 215in. 3.41m. 3.53m. 



5 l.lOin. — 0.33in. — O.Olin. 



Average.. 1.48m. l.lSin. 

 Av. (3 rds.) 1 68iu. 2.3tim. 



1.23in. 

 2.68m. 



Winchester. 

 25yds. 50yds. 



1.55m. 

 l.OOin. 

 1.78in. 

 1.66in. 

 1.86in. 



1.74in. 



1.73m. 



1.97iu. 

 8.56in. 

 2.1 lin. 

 1.98in. 

 2.38in. 



2.20in. 



2 22in. 



75yds. 

 1.66in. 

 2.12in. 

 1.77m. 

 2.73in. 

 2.70m. 



2.211n. 



1.85ui. 



It will be seen by the minus marks ( — ) prefixed to two 

 shots of the Whitney-Kennedy, that, they dropped so much 

 after 25 yards that a horizontal line drawn from the muzzle 

 of the rifle to the target would actually have been higher 

 than these bullets were at mid-range; but they rose again 

 between 50 and 75 yards, and must have risen still higher 

 before they completed the 100 yards. Casting out the two 

 most irregular shots with both rifles, there is not a vast deal 

 of difference between the averages of the three remaining 

 rounds; but only one of the bullets from the Whitney- 

 Kennedy can be. said to have had a fairly even flight. It is 

 not easy to say what could be the cause of this difference in 

 performance with the same ammunition unless it were the 

 difference in the rifling. Both were 6-groove rifles, but the 

 Whitney-Kennedy had one turn in 30 inches, and the Win- 

 chester one turn in 60 inches, the rifling with the former 

 being also twice as deep as the latter. It is evident, there- 

 fore, that mere rapidity of spin does not secure accuracy of 

 flight. It is rather curious that the hollow bullets shot more 

 steadily than the solid ones in both rifles; but it will be ob- 

 served that the hollow were only 12 grains less in weight 

 than the solid, and consequently the latter would be rather 

 the shorter of the two, while experience seems to show that 

 these vagaries are of most frequent occurrence with bullets 

 which are very short in comparison with their caliber. 



Among the .450-bores, the Marlin magazine rifle performed 

 very erratically, and the report "says : "Do what might, 

 with a consumption of over 25 rounds, it was only possible 

 to get one shot through all the screens and on the target. 

 The weapon was several times cleaned, and particular 

 attention paid for any traces of leading in the barrel, but 

 none were detected ; yet the arm threw the bullets now high, 

 now low, in every and various directions." There was, 

 strictly speaking, no average with this rifle, for when, a 

 fortnight later, it was tried at a shorter range, only one shot 

 could be got upon the target; so that to one shot in each 

 range the record is confined. The Bullard repeater, with 

 the same weight of powder and bullet as the Marlin, gave 

 very steady shooting. The Marlin rifling had one turn in 

 20in., and the Bullard one turn in 30in. On the other .450 

 rifles it is not necessary to dwell, except the^Bland double 

 Express, which was the only rifle of this bore that shot both 

 solid and hollow bullets. Owing to a scanty supply of 

 ammunition, this-rifle was not tried so fully as it would have 

 been ; but four records from each barrel were obtained at the 

 200 yards range, and the separate average results stood as 

 follows- 



50yds. 



Right barrel average 4,94in. 



I Leff. barrel average 5.14 



General average 5.04 



This general average is the one entered in the above table 

 for the 200 yards.range; and for the shorter range, with both 

 solid and hollow bullets, only the right barrel was used. As 

 at Putney, there was some little irregularity of gyration ex- 

 hibited by this rifle, two of the bullets being higher at the 

 Jast screen than they were at the middle j but it was only to 

 ^ small .exterjl prje curious fact, ho/we^er, remains to be 



100yds. 150yds. 

 7.47in. 5.83in. 

 7.59 5.75 



stated. Five shots were fired from this rifle at 100 yards, the 

 barrel being wiped out after each round; and five other shots 

 were fired without cleaning. The trajectories were lower in 

 the uncleaned rifle, the average being as follows; 



25yds. 50vds. 75yds. 



Cleaned barrel (average) 1.25in. 1.46in. 1.30in. 



Uncleaned barrel (average) 1,17 1.33 1.28 



This result may possibly have been due to the lubrication 

 left in the uncleaned barrel lessening the friction of the bul- 

 let, which consequently started on its flight with a higher 

 velocity. 



The two muzzleloaders of .420 bore gave remarkable re- 

 sults, but, as previously stated, the proportion of powder wa9 

 higher than in any of the other rifles, and the trajectories 

 were correspondingly low ; but again evidence was given of 

 the corkscrew gyration, as will be seen by the following fig- 

 ures with Major Merrill's rifle: 

 Round. 



1 



25 Sards. 



50 Yards. 



75 Yards. 



.1.180in. 



1.873in. 



1.270in. 



1.889 



1.498 



1 205 



1.033 



1.399 



1.-119 



1.170 



1.051 



1.051 



.1.031 



1.310 



1.421 



1.130 



1.306 



1.273 



..1.121 



1 370 



1.238 



Average 



Do. (4 shots) . . . . 



It will be observed, on examination, that only one of the 

 five bullets flew with strict accuracy, although most of the 

 divergencies arc comparatively trifling. In the second round 

 the bullet at the third point is lower than at the first, instead 

 of being; higher ; in the next the bullet is highest at 75 yards; 

 in the fourth round the bullet is higher at 25 yards than at 

 the two next screens; and in the fifth round it is much lower 

 at 50 than at 75 yards. Omitting this last round makes a 

 marked change in the center and renders the proportion 

 more correct. These statements, however, are only given in 

 illustration of the previous recorded facts, and the observa- 

 tions are not intended to depreciate Major Merrill's rifle, 

 which is an admirable weapon of its kind; and I imagine the 

 defect must have been iu the bullets. Shortly before this 

 trajectory trial, Major Merrill, who is a staunch defender of 

 the merits of muzzleloaders, gave in Forest and Stream 

 lengthy details of the shooting powers of this rifle, accom- 

 panied by diagrams of the targets made with spherical balls 

 and charges of equal weight of powder and bullet (1 to 1). 

 The accuracy of the shooting was remarkable; and 

 Major Merrill challenged the world to produce 

 any breechloader that would equal this performance when 

 using powder and bullet in the ratio of 1 to 1. The chal- 

 lenge was not accepted, as may be readily supposed. It is 

 easy enough for muzzleloaders to use any proportion of pow- 

 der whatever; but breechloaders are not so accommodating, 

 and they are not usually chambered for such a ratio as 1 to 1. 

 With a lesser proportion of powder, however, quite as re- 

 markable shooting was made by breechloaders at the Putney 

 trials. Jeffries' .500-bore, with ten successive shots at 100 

 yards (five from the right and five from the left barrel), made 

 a string average of 1.004in. ; while Holland's single rifle of 

 .295-bore, with twenty successive shots, made at 50 yards an 

 average string of .395in., and with the same number of shots 

 at 75 yards made an average of .696in. But, to return to 

 the American muzzleloaders, Mr. Romer's rifle made splen- 

 did shooting at the 200 yards range, there not being an irreg- 

 ular shot in the whole series. These two rifles were each 

 tried only at one range; it had been intended to try Major 

 Merrill's at both distances, but, by an accident, a rifle be- 

 longing to his friend, Mr. Ronier, was brought for the second 

 test. 



With respect to the smaller bores, I must leave the records 

 to speak for themselves for the most part. It may be said, 

 however, that they generally shot with greater steadiness 

 than the larger bores— owing, in all probability, to the bul- 

 lets being longer in proportion to the caliber; and some of 

 the very best results were given by rifles of .400 and under. 

 The Bullard .300-bore was not shot at 100 yards, owing to 

 its action getting out of order. The so called "Hunter's 

 Pet" (.320-bore), was the lightest rifle in the trial, having a 

 skeleton stock and a barrel only 18in. long. It gave a great 

 deal of trouble in testing, as the shots flew so wildly that 

 about a score had to be fired before five could be got through 

 the screens on to the target at 200 yards; at 100 yards there 

 were similar divergencies, though fewer in number. Those 

 bullets that were got on the target showed satisfactory regu- 

 larity; the trajectory, however, was the highest of the whole 

 series, but, as the proportion of powder was only about one 

 to ten, the result is not very surprising. 



In conclusion, I can only congratulate your American 

 contemporary on having brought its self-imposed and most 

 troublesomet ask to so highly satisfactory an issue. T. 



Wood Pow^der.— When the advertisement of the Ameri- 

 can Wood Powder Company was brought to us by Mr. 

 Elliott Smith, the president of the company, we accepted it 

 upon that gentleman's representations respecting the mode 

 of manufacture and the safety of the product; and, further, 

 with the express stipulation on our part that the advertise- 

 ment should remain in the Forest and Stream only pro- 

 vided that Prof. Henry Morton, President of Stevens Insti- 

 tute, to whom we would submit samples of the powder, 

 should report upon it corroborating the representations of 

 the manufacturers. We at once sent some of the powder to 

 President Morton for analysis. His report was expected 

 immediately, was delayed, asked for from time to time, and 

 has never been received. Considering the time that has 

 elapsed, we can hardly be expected to hold the matter longer 

 in abeyance, and it can be taken as no injustice to the manu- 

 facturers to refuse a further publication "of their advertise- 

 ment until we secure from Prof. Morton a report which 

 would warrant its insertion. 



Mississippi.— Aberdeen, Feb. 27.— The quail season has 

 pretty well closed, although the law in this county allows 

 them to be shot until March 15. The birds have stood the 

 cold well and we have a fair number to carry over to the next 

 season. If the spring proves dry we will have a fine stock 

 for the next shooting season. Some snipe have come in and 

 a few small bags have been made; but our best shooting 

 occurs in March. During the severe weather in January a 

 great many duckswere in the river, principally mallards, and 

 several large bags were made. This was an unusual occur- 

 rence for this locality, as ducks have been very scarce for 

 several years past, — Will. ' - 



The "Political Science Quarterly," a reveiw devoted to history, 

 economics and jurisprudence. wiU oe published by Ginn & Co., of 

 this oity, Lhe subscription price being $3 per rear. The magazine 

 Will be edited by the {"acuity of Political Science of Columbia. College 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co. 



ADIRONDACK FISHES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



My note in your issue of Feb. 11 has already brought a 

 valuable contribution to my work on the fishes of the Adir- 

 ondacks. I could not find a specimen of the little miller's 

 thumb, Uranidea gracilis, and inserted a description on the 

 authority of Dr. C. Hart Merriam. A few days ago a pint 

 fruit jar filled with them came to me from Malone, Franklin 

 county, N. Y., and suspected that they came from Mr. A. 

 R. Fuller, of Meacham Lake, to whom I wrote and received 

 the following very valuable contribution regarding their 

 habits: 



Meacham Lake, N. Y., March 1. 



Friend Mather: 



I write to-day because I can write and may not be able to 

 write a word for a week. When I sent "my thumbs" I could 

 not write, but I thought you would know where they came 

 from. I hope the package reached you safely and that you 

 were able to identify the fish. I dicl not find as large ones 

 as I have seen, but did get larger ones than we generally see 

 in the brooks. I have no doubt they can be found in nearly 

 every pond and stream in the Adirondacks: but they are so 

 very insignificant that nine out of ten persons would never 

 notice them. The little light brown or spotted ones look 

 something like a sculpin; we find them in great numbers in 

 this lake and in all the streams about here. The larger dark 

 ones with red mane and tail I have never seen in any other 

 water but the little brook from which I took the lot. I have 

 seen them there at all seasons of the year. I wish I could 

 sit down with you for an hour or two and go over your re- 

 port. I find several things which I think I "can help you to 

 describe better. 



In May, 1871, I met Louis Agassiz at his home in Cam- 

 bridge and we talked fish for three hours. He asked me 

 about this fish which I called miller's thumb; he had never 

 seen it in America, and he said no one knew much about its 

 habits, how or where they spawned or how long it took the 

 eggs to hatch. I told him I had seen the eggs quite often, 

 and when I got home I took several lots into the hatching 

 troughs and hatched them, and kept the little chaps about 

 ten days. They dig under a stone and fasten the eggs to the 

 under side in a pile bottom side up, or like a conical pile of 

 shot turned over, point down ; the cones vary from a quarter 

 to one inch in diameter at the base, and are about the same 

 distance from base to point. I put six or seven of the cones 

 into the boxes, and kept watch of them. It was fifty days 

 from the time I put them in until I saw the first fish, and 

 the little chaps kept their sack of grub three to five days; 

 they were about three-eighths of an inch long. The eggs 

 are about the size of No. 8 shot, the temperature of the water 

 was 45 to 47. I was somewhat surprised that it took so long 

 for the eggs of warm-weather spawners to hatch. You can 

 separate the eggs from the stone and they will still keep the 

 form of the cone; the pile is well stuck together. I once put 

 a large thumb into a pail to take to the house, and also 

 caught a newt like the one I put in the jar. In a fewminutes 

 on looking in the pail, I saw the thumb'had the newt by the 

 middle, and after a long struggle the newt went down my 

 thumb, and when the head came to the thumb's gill, the newt 

 slid out, and I sat down and laughed. I thought it about 

 the neatest escape I ever heard of, and I expected to see the 

 thumb try it over, but he did not. A, R. Fuller. 



The jar has not yet been opened, but seems to contain fifty 

 or sixty specimens from one and a half to six inches in length. 

 I think it possible that there is but one species in the jar, 

 although there are several found in the northeastern States. 

 Through the glass of the jar they appear to resemble XT, go- 

 bioides more than IT. gracilis. Concerning the breeding habits 

 of this fish I knew nothing, and think that Mr. Fuller's ex- 

 periment is the first that has been made in hatching them. 



Fred Mather. 



THE TROUT OF SUNAPEE LAKE 



C CONCERNING the notice of the "sun trout," or charr, 

 ) found in Sunapee Lake by Mr. Elliot B. Hodge, Fish 

 Commissioner of New Hampshire, which appeared in our 

 editorial columns of Jan. 14 and was further commented 

 upon by Mr. Samuel Webber in Forest and Stream of 

 Feb. 11, we are now enabled to lay before our readers the 

 decision regarding its species which has been arrived at by 

 Professor Baird and Dr. Bean. The following correspond- 

 ence, which we are permitted to publish, explains tne matter 

 in full: 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I send you with this Dr. Bean's last report on the Sunapee 

 Lake trout. In some respects I am surprised at the conclu- 

 sions he comes to. It seems strange to me that he finds no 

 cliff erence between these fish and the blueback trout of Maine, 

 as I believe I can show trout as many pounds in weight as 

 he can show me a Maine blueback in inches in length. 

 Again, the Maine trout seek the streams for the purpose of 

 spawning; the Sunapee trout do not, they are lake spawners. 

 I do not doubt that they belong to the Oquassa type, but that 

 they are identical with the blueback trout of Maine I do. 

 I have not time to write you more at present. You will 

 please return me all the papers at an early date. 



Yours very truly, 



E. B. Hodge. 



E. B. Hodge, Esq., Plymouth, N, JLi 



Dear Sir — I beg to inclose herewith a final report from 

 Dr. Bean in regard to the trout from Sunapee Lake, and 

 would suggest your having it published in Forest and 

 Stream. Yours truly, Spencer F. Baird. 



Washington, Feb. 17, 1886. 

 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Director U. S. National Museum: 



Sir— 1 beg leave to offer herewith a report upon some 

 trout of Sunapee Lake, New Hampshire, which were re- 

 ceived from Mr. E B. Hodge, the first and largest on Nov. 

 3, 1885. It is a male twenty-two inches long and weighed 

 six pounds. It is catalogue No. 37,357, Three additional 

 examples arrived on the 9th of January, 1886. These are 

 catalogue Nos. 37,408, 9 and 10. The first two being females 

 and the last a male. The smaller of the females is about 

 twelve inches long, 



I find that these trout are identical with the blue-back 

 trout of Oquassa, the Rangeleys, and other lakes of Maine. 

 The same species Also pecure in the to^nshio of Pepajonijes. 



