226 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 15, 1886. 



for years frequented the northern wilderness each season, 

 and with scarce an exception they fully approve of the law, 

 at the same time being cognizant of the fact that it has not 

 had a fair test. From my own observation and information 

 obtained from guides and sportsmen while they were en- 

 gaged in hunting deer in the counties of Herkimer and Ham- 

 ilton, I think it but fair to attribute much of the success of 

 the still-hunters during the past season — which we are asked 

 to believe was unprecedented and will exterminate the deer 

 faster than they can be bred, even witn the aid of such pow- 

 erful auxiliaries as jack lights and hounds— to the fact that 

 dogs were running in every direction duriDg the open season 

 at least. A single instance, the truth of which cannot be 

 disputed, illustrates this. A well-known still-hunter in 

 October last shot a deer, but had hardly dressed it when two 

 valuable dogs came baying on its trail. He secured both, 

 and they were soon subject to your orders. This is not an 

 exceptional case, as one of my special reports will show, and 

 for this reason we fear the fate of the deer of the Adiron- 

 dacks is foreshadowed by that of the buffalo of the "Western 

 plains. 



The. argument that outweighs all others in the minds of 

 many opponents of the present law for protecting deer may 

 be briefly stated thus: It helps the hunters who are endowed 

 with more money than skill in hunting, for they can, by a 

 lavish use of the former, secure the services of a half dozen 

 or more guides and a full pack of hounds, who will drive 

 the game to water, where, if needs be, they will hold it till 

 the valiant modern Nirnrod succeeds in killing it — with their 

 assistance perhaps at that. Is it to be wondered at then that 

 these persons should join with the pot-hunters in the cry 

 that went up in olden time: "Our craft is in danger to be 

 set at naught." 



With your permission I beg leave to offer a single sug- 

 gestion regarding the distribution of trout spawn for restock- 

 ing public' waters in the settled portion of the Slate. A pre- 

 requisite, to granting every application should be the existence 

 of an active protective association, some of whose members 

 reside in the neighborhood of the waters it is proposed to 

 restock. All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Feed P. Drew, 

 Special N. Y. S. Fish and Game Protector, 1 1th District. 



Washington Mills, N. Y. 



HUNTING AT ARMY POSTS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your letter of Jan. 9, 1886, making inquiries in regard to 

 game in this vicinity, also with what success the Government 

 Springfield shotguns are used in improving the company's 

 mess, has just been handed me by the commanding officer 

 with request to answer. Whitetail deer can be found within 

 five miles of the fort, but mule or blacktails are further off, 

 about forty miles. Last fall a black bear cub was killed on 

 the prairie within fifty yards of the guard house. Elk can 

 be found thirty miles away, and mountain sheep seventy or 

 eighty miles. Sharptail grouse, sage hens and blue quail are 

 abundant. I saw but one raffed grouse during the hunting 

 season last year. A species of jack rabbit, here called 

 "black-tail," are very plentiful; a short time ago they were 

 such a nuisance that the county paid a bounty for their ears. 

 Sixteen years ago some gentlemen of Boise City imported to 

 this county or valley a lot of eastern quait (Bob Whites) and 

 turned them loose, hoping for fine sport within ten years. 

 An act was passed by the Legislature protecting these birds, 

 but the pot-hunter has left but few. 



With regard to the shotguns, I consider them but little 

 better than nothing, and no one thinks of using them if they 

 can possibly get any other kind. But little game was killed 

 by the men of my company last year, but the previous year 

 at Fort Lapwai in this Territory they killed a good many 

 sharptail grouse and a few ducks. 



C. A. Demfsey, Capt. Second Infantry. 



Boise Barracks, Idaho, March 28. 



Onondaga Sportsmen's Club.— Syracuse, N". Y., April 

 7. — At the annual meeting of the Onondaga Sportsmen's 

 Club last evening Mr. Howlett was elected President; Z. C. 

 Smith Smith, Vice-President; John Stedman, Secretary; 

 Harry Ayling, Treasurer ; George Palmer, Financial Secre- 

 tary; Wm. Prettie, James Montgomery and Daniel LeFever, 

 Executive Committee. There seemed a disposition on the 

 part of the old heads to make the younger members officers. 

 A. G. Courtney was chosen attorney of the club amid great 

 applause. G. W. Dakin moved a vote of thanks to Thomas 

 Kimber for his faithful performance of the duties of treas 

 urer for the ten years he has held that position. The motion 

 was carried with enthusiasm. The treasurer turned over 

 $894.77 to the new treasurer. F. M. Earns, Edward Hud- 

 son, Jr., and Charles Castle were elected members of the 

 club. It was voted that article 17 of the constitution shall 

 be rigidly enforced, and all delinquents in dues should be 

 blackboarded. Jefferson Hopkins, of Caughdenoy, asked 

 the club to give him a letter to Assemblyman Nutting, stating 

 that the members do not oppose the people of that vicinity 

 having eel weirs for catching eels in the Oneida River, not 

 interfering with game fish. It is understood that an effort 

 is to be made to have a law pass the Legislature forbidding- 

 eel weirs in that river. The club voted to give Mr. Hopkins 

 a letter to the effect desired. There is talk of holding a cele- 

 bration on the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of 

 the club, Sept. 29, 1886. 



" Wonderland, or Alaska and the Inland Passage." 

 By Lieut. Frederick Schwatka. With a description of the 

 country traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad, by 

 John Hyde. This is a beautifully illustrated pamphlet of 

 a hundred pages describing the scenic beauties, attractions 

 and resources of the Northwest. It relates to a portion of 

 the United States which is every year visited by larger and 

 larger numbers of tourists, and which would attract thous^ 

 ands more were it better known. Those who are thinking 

 of a trip to the Yellowstone Park, to the Pacific Coast, or 

 to Alaska should, before leaving home, provide themselves 

 with this work. It is sent free on application by Charles S. 

 Fee, Gen. Passenger Agt. , N. P. R. R,, St. Paul. Minn. 



The Boston Dumping Ground.— Chicago, III., April 6. 

 —Editor Forest and Stream: I desire through your widely 

 circulated paper to ask if the sportsmen of Massachusetts 

 will not at once set about having a law framed and passed 

 by their Legislature, making the close season for game to 

 begin the same as in most of our Western States, Jan. 1 of 

 each year, so as to prevent the trapping and killing of prairie 

 chickens, grouse, quail and deer in the West all winter. The 

 best way to stop this illegal killing and shipping out here is 

 to close the markets tor sale of game. — M. R. B. 



ABold Ruffed Grouse.— Cortlandt, N. Y.— Occasionally 

 a remarkable instance of boldness of the naturally timid 

 raffed grouse is related. Two wood choppers stated to me 

 that while they were felling a tree in the woods last winter 

 a partridge, which had from some cause been startled from 

 its hiding place in the cover adjoining, alighted in the tree 

 they were chopping down and remained there until the tree 

 commenced to fall. From observation and reports of others 

 more ruffed grouse were found in this section last season 

 than have been noticed for a number of yeais past. Evidently 

 the hunters have not caused the destruction of these game 

 birds to such an extent as the foxes, hawks and owls.— Mig. 



San Luis Obispo, Cab— We are about forming a sports- 

 men's club, as game and fish receive little or no protection in 

 this county. I have been agitating this for a year, as I have 

 seen the wanton destruction of game and fish in the 

 State of Colorado. Many are out every day murdering the 

 trout now, and as we have no organization, 1 am powerless. 

 Quail are now mating. There are but few out with guns, 

 but they, I fear, respect nothing.— C. 



Spitting on the Shot for Luck.— Ferrisburgh, Vt., 

 April 7. — Editor Forest and Stream: If it is worth noting, 

 you may say in Forest and Stream that when "Awa'h- 

 soose" was a boy, it was a common custom with our gunners 

 to wet their shot with spittle, not for luck, but from the 

 idea that it made them carry closer. But we always used to 

 spit on our baits of worms for luck, and nothing eke. Some- 

 times it brought it. — Aw^ahsoose, 



xNarrows Island Club —The annual meeting of the 

 Narrows Island Club was held in this city on Monday, April 

 12. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. 

 D. G. Elliot; Vice-President, Mr. J. A. Howlett; Secretary 

 and Treasurer, Mr. C. T. Barny; members of the Governing 

 Committee in addition to the above, Messrs. H. Sampson, 

 W. G. Dominick and B. Dominick. 



New Jersev.— Smithburg, April 8.— Since my last re- 

 port 1 have been out looking after the birds, and find quail 

 in fair supply. Started one covey of about 18 or 20 birds. 

 Woodcock are quite plentiful now, but they seldom remain 

 here until the shooting season opens. — W. L. B. 



Texas.— Midland, March 31.— Plenty of prairie chicken 

 and curlew here, but their flesh is strong, owing to their 

 eating grass and weeds. I have seen but two antelope since 

 Jan. 1.— D. H. K. 



The Cuam rerlin Cartridge Loading Machine is on 

 exhibition at Messrs. Tatham <fc Bros.' establishment, No. 82 

 Beekman street, this city. It is worth going to see. 



m mid Jfitw fishing. 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co. 



ANGLING GUSH. 



IT may not be amiss thus early in the season to give some 

 angling impressions. In the first place, it is wonderful 

 to note how the interest in the rod and line has increased 

 during ten years even. It is also amusing to notice the way 

 different individuals are affected by the mania; for mania it 

 is with one whole class of anglers. Indeed, anglers may be 

 separated into three distinct classes — viz., the staid and true 

 anglers, the gushing anglers, and the selfish anglers The 

 true anglers have been in the profession for years. They go 

 to the lakes and streams annually, as regularly as the sun 

 rises, and if they fish from sunrise to sunset without a single 

 rise, they return to camp satisfied; they have spent another 

 day on the beloved waters; they have tried the trout, but 

 wait till to-morrow for success. Do black flies bite or mos- 

 quitoes trouble, it is all the same. The disposition is un- 

 ruffled and undemonstrative. They will take out some tar- 

 to-morrow and try the trout again. To this class success and 

 pleasure always come. It would almost seem as though the 

 big trout come to their hooks out of pure respect for a dis- 

 position as kind, as quiet, and as loyal as persevering. Such 

 are the true anglers. Dawson — only gone before us — was a 

 fitting type of this class. Chester A. Arthur' is another. 

 May heaven restore his strength for other campaigns in the 

 forests and on the waters ! There are many others in Boston, 

 in your own city, good Forest and Stream— scattered all 

 over the world ;'but their native modesty forbids a roll call in 

 public print. 



But for the gushers— What shall be said of them? They 

 feed upon gush until the season opens, and they are carried 

 away by gush. .Their flies "lightly kiss the surface, as 

 smooth as a maiden's cheek." Another dextrous cast, and 

 the tinsel-ornamented lure falls as lightly as a summer zephyr; 

 when the sheen opens, there is a mighty swirl of a really 

 pretty tail! The water boils and eddies as the pliant rod 

 bends and buckles, but the angler is as true and steadfast as 

 gush can make. The struggle lasts one mouth, if a mosquito 

 with a big bill does not happen along and send Gusher to 

 camp. A— what— "speckled beauty" is caught, just tipping 

 the scales at 5-10-1,000 pounds. Plain trout is not a name 

 good enough, and greeny always selects "speckled beauty," 

 because that name is new — to him — and not a bit silly. 



Now, if all this could have happened under cover, with 

 the trout in a pool before an open w T indow, it would have 

 been better, and less tiresome, you know. The place should 

 also be heated with steam and well lighted with gas, and 

 there should be an admiring audience. Here is a sample of 

 what catches Gusher. It is from the Boston Sunday Herald: 



In the show window of a store on Washington street is a 

 prettily constructed tank, whose waters are inhabited by 

 about three dozen of the finest trout that ever gladdened the 

 eye of an angler. Over this miniature pond stood Manager 

 Soden yesterday evening. His eyes had a turnstile twinkle as 

 he gazed upon the "speckled beauties" gracefully moving 

 about in the limpid waters. Turning to an attache" of the 

 place, he said: 



"I wonder if they would like a fly ?" "You may try their 

 appetites," said the clerk, and in a few moments an improvised 

 rod and line, with a tempting bait attached, were placed in 

 the hands of the astute manager of the Boston Baseball Club. 

 With a graceful move of the right arm the fly was thrown in 

 true angler style, and it fell within an inch of the nose of a 

 queenly fish. But much to the surprise of the no-dead-head- 

 ticket -this-season manager, the piscatorial belle paid not the 

 slightest attention to the Delmonico lunch that had been so 

 generously offered her. With a jerky movement of her pretty 

 tail, she sailed disdainfully away to another part of the pond. 

 The buyer of franchises was evidently a trifle disappointed at 

 his first attempt to make an agreement with the water 



coquette, and again the arm was lifted and the fly sent to 

 another point on the trembling surface of the little lake. It 

 dropped as lightly as a baby's kiss immediately over the heads 

 of half a dozen finny Tum-Yums. each one of whom, as soon 

 as the tidbit struck the water, gave a gentle movement of the 

 tail, and departed for new quarters. The fifty cent admission 

 manager looked up with surprise at this second refusal to bite 

 at bis free lunch. At this time a large number of men and 

 boys had collected in front of the window, and were eagerly 

 watching the performance of the far-sighted director of the 

 Boston league team. Not realizing, in his eagerness to demon- 

 strate his skill as an angler, that he had so large an audience, 

 he hastily withdrew to the rear of the store, and remarked 

 that he was more successful in catching subsidiary coin than 

 hooking trout. 



What twaddle! The light of a fact or two is too plain. 

 The "improvised rod" was the tip of a lancewood pole. The 

 flies ( had both hooks broken off. The cast into the "little 

 lake" was about as much "in true angler style" as a lady's 

 smile is like a dump cart. The audience was the usual one 

 which throngs any show window or street fight. Such 

 literature disgiaces the profession. It might do for base 

 ball, but never for the true angler. The plain congratula- 

 tion of an angler of thirty years' every season at the Andros- 

 coggin Lakes, told the true story when he beseechingly 

 said: "I wouldn't worry the poor trout with that stick" — 

 the improvised rod of the base ball manager; then bowing 

 and shaking hands with Mr. Litchtield, he quietly said, "Let 

 me congratulate you on a good show of trout." 



The third class of anglers must not be omitted, but thev 

 too take more pride in their profession. To call them the 

 "meanest men on earth" might be too much of a compliment. 

 They fish for numbers, and count their trout as does the 

 butcher his meat— by the pound. The selfish anglers have 

 depleated our lakes and streams till we tremble for the 

 residue. In their greed they steal pounds of trout which 

 should go to make up the sport of their brother anglers. I 

 have a case in point. 



The selfish angler came from the Quaker City — that all 

 Quakers are not like him, is doubtless true. He arrived at 

 the Upper Dam early in the season. He hired a guide — only 

 for a day or two. It did not take long for him to find out, 

 through his guide, that by standing down on the pier of the 

 old apron and casting a line down the rushing torrent, baited 

 with a live minnow, trout might be caught about as fast as 

 the hook could be baited and returned. This was the spot 

 for him. He had found the Mecca of his dreams. With his 

 guide, he planted himself on the end of that pier— about 

 wide enough for two persons. The guide dipped up the live 

 bait and the Quaker City man slew trout. Did another 

 person attempt to drop a line? That person was quickly 

 reminded that the position was occupied, and that no gentle- 

 man would ever interfere with an angler's pre-empted posi- 

 tion. They kept that position till the next day at noon. 

 When the Quaker man went to his meals at the camp, the 

 guide held the position; then the guide would go to dinner. 

 But the second day, when the guide went to dinner, the 

 assembled sportsmen could stand it no longer. They made 

 a rush for the position with bailed hooks; throwing their 

 lines over the Quaker's head. He frowned; but when two 

 other lines were hooked to his on which he was drawing in 

 a trout, he saw the point and quietly wound up his tackle. 

 He called his guide and together they proceeded to dress off 

 the catch. They had 350 trout. The largest weighed 4± 

 pounds and the* smallest probably not less than ] pound. 

 The fish were packed in a big box, and the next morning 

 the Quaker City man paid his guide and started for home 

 with his catch. Tt was before the 50-pound law of Maine, 

 or he would have been stopped. He was a true specimen of 

 the selfish angler. The question is, How much true sport 

 with the tly, later in the season, did he carry off, which 

 rightfully belonged to a hundred other anglers? Special. 



THE TROUT OF SUNAPEE LAKE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read the views of your different correspondents on 

 the identity of this fish and am very anxious to learn how 

 the vexed question will be settled. Mr. Hodge claims that 

 this fish has been in the lake for perhaps centuries, while Mr. 

 Quackenboss, Mr. Webber and Mr. Stone incline to think it 

 a recent importation of S. oquassa from Maine. I, being 

 merely a monad from Monadnock, have no theories to con- 

 firm nor to condemn, the facts will be entirely sufficient, if 

 they can be obtained. If all your correspondents can look 

 at it in this light and feel as Dr. Bean did when he said to 

 Mr. Hodge, after pronouncing the fish a fontinalis, "you 

 were right and I was wrong," then we may hope to see the 

 epiestiou settled. 



1 must confess to feeling a little doubt about the possi- 

 bility of a fish of small breed, whose ancestors never meas- 

 ured more than ten inches, reaching a weight of ten pounds 

 in new waters. This doubt is based on the fact that there 

 are certain limits assigned by nature to all forms of life 

 which, while they may be occasionally exceeded by individ- 

 uals, or even by many, under different conditions, are con- 

 stant even in the exceptions. For instance: The average 

 weight of a man is about 150 pounds, the world over, but in- 

 dividuals have been known which reached upwards of 400 

 (outside of dime-museum weight) and there are countries 

 where the average is 160 pounds or above, but none where 

 this average reaches 200 pounds, or one-third more than 

 the average for the whole world. Again: An individual ox 

 might weigh 2.500 pounds, or about three times the average 

 of his race, still we would doubt that one could weigh 240,- 

 000 pounds under any conditions. In this case it would be 

 forty times the average of his race, placing this average at 

 6,000 pounds. Now take a blue-backed trout which does 

 not average a quarter of a pound in his native waters, in fact 

 one rarely reaches that weight, and then imagine him to grow 

 ten pounds in some new lake because there was plenty of 

 food there! 



Food is a great factor, but it cannot make an elephant out 

 of a mouse because the material is not there, the ancestry is 

 not there, and ancestry is as important as food. 



The Thirsty Pelican. 



Monadncncrettonk, Ap. il 10. 



Bass Flies.— New York, April 9.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream : The flies mentioned by me were Post, and «1 uugle 

 St. Patrick— not Post Jungle. Your correspondent will 

 find these flies, with the exception of the Post, on the hand 

 colored plate of standard black bass and lake flies, pub- 

 lished by Messrs. Abbey & Imbrie of New York, and often 

 advertised in your paper. The Post has wings of wild 

 turkey, salmon colored body, black hackle, and tail of 

 scarlet ibis and yellow, mixed. The St. Patrick is also 

 known as the Alexandra.— W. Holbebton. 



