&1Q 



FOH&ST AND STREAM. 



[April 8, 1886. 



A. C. A. MEMBERS AND A. C. A, MATTERS. 



IN an organization such as the American Canoe Association, in 

 wmch the members are scattered over a very large territory so 

 that a general meeting of a majority is impossible, it must be more 

 or less difficult to secure the views of all and to legislate in accord- 

 ance with them. True, a general meet of the Association is held at 

 the camp m August, but it is attended bv less than one-sixth of the 

 whole number of members. To remedy this disadvantage and to 

 give lull weight to every voice, two means are adopted; one, the 

 selection of the officers so as to give as complete a representation as 

 possible to each section, taking leading men who are well known in 

 their respective localities for the officers and members of the Execu- 

 tive Committee. The other and principal means of communication 

 between the Association and its individual members is through two 

 publications which are devoted especially to the sport and are recog- 

 nized by the A. C. A. as the official meiiumsfor the publication of its - 

 communications, the American Canoeist and the Forest and Stream 

 in every club cr society it is of vital importance tbat every mem- 

 ber shall be on an eqial footing, and have an equal voice in all deliber- 

 ations and voting. In the ease of yacht and canoe clubs this is easily 

 accomplished, as the members reside near the headquarters of the 

 club and can be promptly summoned to a meeting. In the case of 

 the A. U A. it is of course impossible to secure a majority of the mem- 

 bers at even the great yearly meeting, but it is not just that a man 

 should entirely lose his voice in the proceedings because he cannot 

 make a long journey to the meet. As a substitute for such personal 

 communication with the association, the members have a medium in 

 the Forest and Stream, coming to them every week with the official 

 records as well as the general news of the association, and open to 

 them for such comment and discussion as they may choose to make. 

 By this means every member may know long in advance of any pro- 

 posed action or change in the rules, and may express his objections 

 or approval to as large an audience as he would have were the sub- 

 ject under discussion at a meeting. The Forest and Stream is ready 

 as all times to publish any bona fide communication, whether signed 

 or unsigned, provided the name of the writer be sent to the editor 

 and reserving only the right to reject anything manifestly improper 

 or to condense letters of too great length. This gives every opportunity 

 for such a thorough and complete discussion as sho ild precete a 

 change m the rules or constitution, and the officers would gladly en- 

 courage such an expression of the general opinion as would aid them 

 m their work and relieve them of a portion of the responsibility. 



Our invitation to canoeists to use our columns for a free discussion 

 of A. C. A. matters has been extended for some time. How has the 

 scheme worked ? Since the Executive Committee meeting in Novem- 

 ber there has been a very important subject under consideration, 

 the offering of a trophy on the occasion of the coming visit of some 

 of the leadiDg English canoeists to our August meet The Executive 

 Committee resolved to offer such a trophy, to become the property 

 of the winner, and appointed a committee to raise the necessary 

 funds and to purchase the trophy. Since this resolution has been 

 passed the opinion has been widely expressed that the offering of a 

 valuable prize would not be in consonance with the aims of the 

 A. C. A. or with its rule in relation to prizes, and that the trophy 

 should be given as a challenge cup. to be raced for each year at "the 

 meet, or if won by our visitors, to be raced for abroad under similar 

 conditions. Certainly such a cup will effect the desired end better 

 than a prize given outright, but whether or no a change in the con- 

 ditions is desirable is not the question at issue just now. What we 

 wish to emphasize is the lack of int erest taken Toy canoeists in the 

 question, and the failure of all discussion. 



In our issue ot March 4, one side of the question was presented by 

 our correspondent "S." in a very able manner, but in the month that 

 has since elapsed it has failed to awaken any response, and canoeists 

 have exhioited a complete indifference to the matter. A short time 

 since we published a complaint concerning last year's races. The 

 programme was made out and published long in advance, and was a 

 legitimate subject for criticism by all interested, and any weak 

 points, on being revealed, would probably have been changed. No 

 comments were forthcoming at the time, however, though it now ap- 

 pears that serious obj°ctions were held by some canoeists to the races 

 laid out. The programme for 1886 will soon appear in our columns 

 aad ah opportunity will be given for fair and intelligent comment' 



This matter, with the trophy ana many others concern directly every 

 Soi^m- 1 ^ 4*sociation, and if any disapprove, it is their duty to 

 make public their objections. By this course only can the Executive 

 Committee be guided inits efforts to govern the Association fairly 

 and agreeably to all. Every member should feel that he has an im- 

 mediate interest m all measures presented to cr by the A. C A., and 

 that if he fails to record his objection at the appropriate time, he 

 must not complam or rebel when the proposal has become a law. 



A WORD FOR THE WATERS OF THE TOOTH- 

 PICK STATE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Now that each season the waters of lake and river, from Maine to 

 Florida, are cleft by the sharp prows of the cruising canoes, and the 

 g ancmg paddles and miniature sails of the adventurous canoeists 

 gleam alike o'er the placid bosom of Superior and the turgid waters 

 of the - Daddy of Waters," it is strange that no one has cared to 

 bestow a thought upon the almost unknown streams of the "Tooth- 

 pic.i Mate, and their romantic scenery of mountain and lowland 

 along their respective courses. 



Occasionally a party of well-informed sportsmen will visit the 

 swamps of northeastern Arkansas for a few weeks spent in slaugh- 

 tering the game with which our forests teem, but as they generally 

 come and go m the bleakest season of the year, they see but little of 

 the beauties of nature that can be beheld at more favorable seasons 

 and m more desirable localities. 



It is an unaccountable but at the same time an indisputable fact 

 that, by the generality of the readiDg public, less is known of the 

 half settled regions of this State than of the furthest wilds of Idaho 

 or Arizona To them the name -'Arkansaw" conveys an indistinct 

 \1 e * °v, va ;St swamps, peopled only by mosquitoes, alligators, and 

 their blood-stained and scaly second cousin the desperado To this 

 class the sight ot our pine-clad hills and gentle slopes, slumbering 

 m calm serenity beneath the rays of an April sun, would be indeed a 

 revelation. Here amid our rank valley vegetation .and mossy moun- 

 tain sio.es the amateur bonatist might loiter for weeks, listing or 

 classifying to his heart's content; or the ardent naturalist bring down 

 the choicest specimens from the ever-present swarm of birds. Here 

 the mineralogist could seek— aye, and find-indications of gold, silver 

 and the baser metals, and the hammer of the geologist weary with 

 constant whacking on attractive boulders: and here the happy owner 

 of a Rushton or a Powell and Douglas can find hundreds, yes, thou- 

 sands, of miles of miles of creek and river that has never divided 

 b-fore the bow of a modern canoe or saturated the garments of him 

 whose glory is the reel and fly. 



♦i If olT? *? ^mpt t0 ?Peak at length on the various streams of 

 the State I should naturally place the Arkansas first on the list as 

 longest and largest of all, and inits upper course- between Uttle 

 Kock and Fort bmith— its narrow valley, bordered by a range of 

 mountains on either side, would afford many interesting views to the 

 romantic tourist; but still to the greater part of the traveling sight- 

 se mu s 1 l;J vouId Prove less attractive than many of the smaller streams 



The White, that rises in the Boston Mountains east of Favetteville! 

 sweeps grandly through the borders of Missouri, and then re-enters 

 Arkansas for a 600-mile run to the Mississippi, would no doubt offer 

 as great attractions as the rivers of 5Iaine. if the canoeists were only 

 aware of the tact Certainly few rivers east of the Rocky Mountains 

 traverse so rugged a region as the White proper and its tributary the 

 Buffalo, and few rivers, even in the swampy South, can show a wilder 

 stretch of overflow lands than the White from Batesville to its mouth. 



Classified as mountain streams we can append the Upper Washita, 

 with its gold-specked bars and bluffs rich in the purest of crystals 1 

 the little Cossatot. trickling down from the mountains of the same 

 name; the Little Missouri, the Little Saline and the three forks of 

 the larger stream of thatname; the Antome, Caddo, Mulberry, Little 

 Red, Petit Jean, Fourche le Fave and others; while the wilderness 

 of swamps border the lower waters of a few of those named, and the 

 entire length of the St. Francis, L'Aneuille, Cache, and various creeks 

 and bayous, all swarming with the finest of game fish, and most of 

 them entirely unknown outside of the State. Verily an enticing field 

 for exploration. Can some one tell me why it is thus neglected? 



Beebe, Ark. s . f>, Barnes. 



&nmv$r$ to §orrt8$ondmt$. 



tSf" No Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



Roury. —Please send address to this office. 



J. W.— We have no reports from there this season. 



E. H.— For wild rice, write to Valentine Bros., Janesville, Wis. 



T. M., Cleveland, O. -Write to Charle3 Harker, 63 Cortlandt street' 

 New 1c ork. 



M. A F.-The 8-pound 13 bore will probably suit you, and we would 

 advise the hammerless. 



J. V. W., New Haven.— We cannot direct you with certainty. See 

 answer to another correspondent on same subject. 



L. Niagara Falls.— The 1 -inventor" of the invisible duck boat is 

 .Lew Casady, of South Bend, Ind. The principle is very ancient. 



Tourist.— You will probably find Minnesota the better region. We 

 believe that both the States pay bounty on wolves; we do not know 

 how much. Try a .39-caliber. 



T. C, Troy, N. Y.-The vicinity of Salisbury or High Point, N. C, 

 wall give you good quail shooting in season, with some o'her game 

 also. The quail season in Virginia is from Nov. 1 to Feb. 1. 



Jay Bebb.— Are there any changes in the plumage or other mark- 

 ings ot the male ruffed grouse with the approach of the breeding 

 season m the spring? Ans. None that can be relied on so far as we 

 are aware. 



« A V^ ' $ elI i ngt R?- Kp.-l. Are the poison fangs of the rattlesnake 

 fixed m the jaw like the tusk of the dog or cat? 2. Did the migra- 

 tory quail importation amount to anything? Ans. 1, No. 2. We have 

 no information that any of the birds survived. 



V U V> A Lyme, Conn —We reprint cn another page the paper by Mr. 

 D. W. Cross on wild celery. We cannot advise you where to apply 

 tor the seed. If some one would make it his business to supply this 

 plant to those who wish to cultivate it he would find patronage. 



W P M., Baltimore.— 1. Will you be kind enough to tell me whether 

 an Irish setter must have a dark nose, or is a light-colored nose 

 .J.?^^ 2 - If T l be wood Mr. Wells calls "dagame" in his book 

 •Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle" can be bought in New York? Ans. 1. 

 The nose ought to be dark. 2 We do not think it can be found here, 

 but an inquiry at the tackle shops might discover it. 



F. W., Providence —Can you tell me where in Connecticut or Mas- 

 sachusetts I can find English snipe shooting this month, and whom 

 to apply to for board and particulars in the vicinity ? How is mouth 

 of the Housatonic River for sniping? Ans. The best snipe grounds 

 m Connecticut ate on the Connecticut River, near Essex and Lyme. 

 A few birds are sometimes to be found on the meadows at the mouth 

 of the Housatonic, but they are not to be depended on to furnish 

 sport. 



„ R- H v West- Torrington, Conn.— Please describe the following arti- 

 ficial flies? Ans. Cow dung— Bo ly of yellow mohair whipped with 

 yellow silk, and wings of grayish blue, either mallard or land-rail. 

 Crreen drake— Body of hog's down or light bear's hair mixed with 

 yellow mohair, whipped with pale floss silk and a strip of peacock 

 herl for the head; wings of the rayed feathers of mallard, dyed yel- 

 low; hackle from bittern's neck, and tail from the long hairs of the 

 sable or ferret. Queen of the water— Body of yellow mohair, feet 

 and hackle of brown, wings of gray, mallard feathers. 



Accidents will happen, whether you like to think so or not; and 

 it you do not wish to run in debt while disabled, or have your family 

 suffer if you die, insure in the Travelers, of Hartford. Conn.— Adv. 



HUMPHREYS' 

 ^Homeopathic Veterinary 

 Specifics for 



| HORSES, CATTLE, 'SHEEP* 

 DOGS, HOGS, POULTRY. 



fTJsed by U. S. Goyernm't. 

 Chart on Rollers, 



and Book Sent Free« 

 Humphreys' Med. Co., 109 Fulton St., H. Y. 



FISHING RODj 



Brother angler, do you want to know where to 

 purchase a fine hand made fishing rod. with numer- 

 ous improvements not found in any other rod man- 

 ufactured, and at a lower price than a machine rod 

 can he purchased? Send for price list containing 

 hints in selecting a rod. 



EDWAKD SMITH, 



Pittsford. Rutland Co., Vt. 



The Open Shot Regulator. 



WINANS & WOODEN, 

 97 West Kinney St., Newark, N. J. 

 Send Postal for Circular. 



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We have just finished and put on the market a new caliber round rod, 10 feet long, and weighing with the solid 

 reel seat only 7 ounces. This rod has stood the most severe tests, and found capable of killing the largest black 

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ABBEY <fc IMBRIE, 



18 Vesey Street (Fourth door from Astor House), New York City. 



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