268 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fOcT. 38, 1886 



NOTES FROM THE NATIONAL PARK. 



NATIONAL PAEK, Oct.lS.—mitor Forest and Stream: 

 The Park lias closed for this yeai' with a record of 

 at least 8,000 visitors. There were no serious accidents 

 to any of tlie tourists, which is remarlrable considering 

 all the cii'cnmstances, the nature of the roads, means of 

 transportation and number of people carried: nor were 

 there any acts of lawlessness committed on the person 

 or property of any visitor to the Park. AU the hotels 

 were closed on the 10th, except the Cottage Hotel, at the 

 Mammoth Hot Springs. On the 23d Capt. Kingman will 

 stop all work on the roads in the Park. He has two 

 crews of about thirty men each on the road from Norris 

 to the Yellowstone Falls, and about thirty-six on the road 

 from Willow Park (past the Obsidian Cliffs) connecting 

 with the new road from Green Creek to Norris Hotel. 

 He has now as fine a road as there is in the West, where 

 before there was only a rough narrow way, part of it a 

 corduroy hemmed in by swamps, forests and cUfiCs danger- 

 ous to travel. The new road to the Falls and Grand Cafion 

 is nearly iinished. Leaving the Norris Hotel it follows the 

 valley of the Gibbon Eiver. About three miles out it 

 enters a very interesting canon, at the head of which is 

 the tinest cascade in the Park, if not in the whole West, 

 it has been named the Virginia Cascade. It has a fall of 

 about ninety-five feet, at an angle of 40\ At the top the 

 stream is about twelve feet wide, gradually increasing as 

 the water descends, until a,t the bottom the cascade is 

 about sixty-five feet across. The rocks forming the fall 

 are covered with a very dark green moss. The water 

 descends in a thin sti'eam -vvith a wave motion, 

 making a beautiful effect. Leaving the Cascade the 

 road soon passes through an open valley for lialf 

 a nnie, then crosses the divide to the Yellow- 

 stone River, reaching the Grand Canon near Lools:- 

 out Point, where the Yellowstone Park Association are 

 preparing to build a, hotel the coming vcinter. On the 

 10th inst, there was a fall of 17in. of snow. This has 

 hindered work on the roads, also making them very soft 

 so that they are being cut up by the heavy freight wagons 

 used in the Park. The snow di-ove the game from the 

 moimtains and high tablelands to the valleys and open 

 country, where they usually winter. The game is much 

 lower now than for several years past. It is gathering 

 in the open country west of the Mammoth Hot Springs, 

 VaUey of the East Fork, Specimen Ridge and Black Tail 

 country, where it must be protected. The country just 

 out of the Park is full of hmiters and trappers. One party 

 camped on Slough Creek ventured across the line and 

 were promptly arrested by the soldiers stationed at Soda 

 Butte, as they had some beaver and martin pelts in their 

 possession. They were taken to the headquarters at 

 Mammoth Hot Springs. As there is no law to punish 

 violations of the rules governing the Park, tliey Avere 

 escorted over the line. The friends of the Cinnabar and 

 Cooke City R. R. scheme seem to have a,bandoned the 

 idea of a raih-oad tlu-ough tlie Park and are concentrating 

 their efforts to have the government build a first-class 

 wagon road through that part of the Park where private 

 enterprise cannot do so. Two or three years ago Capt. 

 Kingman asked for an appropiiation to build the road. 

 The route would be up the Yellowstone to the East Fork, 

 following iip that stream to Soda Butte Creek and up its 

 valley to the northern line of the Park. The road would 

 open a very interesting coimtry to travel, would be part 

 of a system of roads required in the Park, and would let 

 the miners of Cooke have a means of transportuig their 

 supplies ia, and their ores out, about as cheaply as by 

 rail. The wagon road scheme should have the support of 

 all the members of Congress and Senators who have op- 

 posed the granting of railroad privileges in the Park. X, 



SAM'S INITIATION. 



TRUE it is that time flies. To mention Millbrae as a 

 ducking ground would now no doubt raise a derisive 

 smile on the face of the most youthful sportsman in San 

 Francisco. But it seems as yesterday in recalling the 

 events incidental to one of many trips to that once favor- 

 ite hrmting ground. It had always been om- custom to 

 reach our destination by land, but on tbis occasion Harry 

 thought we could do as weU witli less trouble by making 

 the trip by water in Ms little yacht, the Favorite, a yawl 

 rig keel boat of 32ft. over all. Many and pleasant were 

 tlie cruises we have had together in her, but hke many 

 another old friend she has passed away. Slie ended her 

 career in Pugct Sound, haviiig at last stubbed her toe on a 

 rock that proved stronger than her oak. I feel certain 

 that there were none in the San Francisco Bay that could 

 have done it, for she had tried about all of them and had 

 come off each tune with flying colors and generally with 

 most of her keel. 



We left the city one October afternoon with every sail 

 drawing, a flood tide and a pleasing prospect of reacliing 

 our destination before dark. Our crew consisted of Harry, 

 Sam, mv dog Bob and myself. Harry was .skipper and 

 cook, while I filled the position of crew, and Sam acted 

 as he always did in the capacity of "boss" while 

 awake, which was but little of the time. This 

 was the fii'st and last hunting trip we were 

 ever able to hiduce htm to accompany us on. 

 His argumentrs were unanswerable, for as he puts it, 

 "there is no sense in wading around in the mud aU day, 

 alternately roasting with the heat or shivering with the 

 cold, to get one poor duck that I can buy for a quarter in 

 town and that costs &ve dollars and lots of hard work the 

 way you get it. No sir, I'll stay home." But this time 

 we had him and were determined he should become an 

 enthusiastic convert to the wading process. 



We were gliding smoothly along, and reaching a stretch 

 opposite the gap, we caught a capful of wind' that laid 

 tlie little boat's lee rail under. This had the effect of 

 raisini-- Sam's spirits wonderfully, and he saluted us with 

 Ids whole stock of nautical phrases, which consisted of 

 "splicing the main brace." Soon, however, we lay be- 

 calmed off Hmiter's Point and not anotlier cat^s ])avv did 

 we see that day. The flood still holding, vve drifted slowly 

 onward, whistling and wishing for a wind. Dusk came 

 on and found Hal and the crew working the sweeps with 

 Sam on the house, giving important and general direc- 

 tions. We induced him to lend a hand in order to let the 

 captain metamorphose into the cook. As soon, however, 

 as supper was served Mr. Sam resigned his post at tlie 

 sweep to assume one better adapted to his tastes, calling at- 

 tention to the great distance traversed under his powerful 

 manijiulation. It was bright starUght when the table was 

 cleared and Sam perched himself on the house with a pipe 



and beguiled the hours with songs and sage suggestions 

 while the skipper and crew wielded the ash, forcing the 

 yacht slowly against the now ebbing tide. By 10 o'clock 

 we were off an abrupt promontory, which we took to be 

 San Bruno, and Sam, together with the crew to do the 

 rowing, entered the tender and turned toward the shore to 

 endeavor to locate, if possible, owe situation. The beauty 

 of that night is long co be remembered, the almost awful 

 quiet that reigned, broken only by the splash of the fall- 

 ing oars, leaving a stream of fire in om- wake. Never 

 before have I seen water so impregnated with phosphor- 

 escence as upon that occasion. We could see the yacht's 

 light a mile away and we seemed no nearer to shore than 

 when we started'! I was meditating on Samuel's last ob- 

 servation that 'it made a feUoAv feel rather shaky to think 

 there was only a thin piece of board between him and so 

 much waier," when there was a frighful snort and splash 

 just at my back that made my hat rise and momentary 

 paralysis "seize me, as the boat suddenly groimded on a 

 shell bank and a lai'ge sea lion went flopping into deeper 

 water. We were on the oyster bed off San Bruno and 

 still five miles from our longed-for marsh. On reaching 

 the yacht the practical Samuel, observing that "the 

 laborer was worthy of his rest," turned in and was seen 

 no more. Hal and I continued to sweep down until mid- 

 night, when, after arranging to be called when half the 

 remaimng distance was accomplished, the skijiper dived 

 below and left the ship in charge of the crew. Half an 

 hour before daylight the crew had the yacht anchored off 

 the grounds, and called the cook to get breakfast, while 

 everything was being made snug on deck. 



Breakfast ready and "the Boss" aroused by forcible 

 arguments, we were soon ready to forget om- past cares 

 in the excitement of the early flight. The sun came up 

 red and bright out of the waters in the east, but not a sal- 

 ute did he receive. The flight had not begun. It gi'ew 

 steadily warmer, and as no birds appeared, I suggested to 

 Sam, Avho accompanied me, that we walk them u]i, since 

 it was too still for them to fly. After fifteen minutes of 

 tramping I heard an exclamation from Sam, and tm-ning 

 around beheld that worthy flat on his back in the wet 

 weeds and mud, swearing he would not move another 

 stej), and he didn't, until on my return we started for the 

 boat. By noon we Avere rmder Avay with a stiff breeze on 

 the yacht's quarter and a bone in her mouth. In two 

 hours and a half we were in the Oakland Creek, half a 

 mile from her mooring, when the treacherous fall breeze 

 left us idly drifting. We decided to anchor the yacht 

 Avhere she was and talce to the small boat. The only land- 

 ing place practicable being the raQroad freight wharf, for 

 which we headed with the little boat loaded witliin an 

 inch of her guuAA'ales. Half way there we espied the big 

 ti-ansfer boat Thoroughfare coming up the creek, and we 

 had to beat her to the pfling or be swamped by her SAvell. 

 We did beat her by a fraction and chmbed 20ft. of the 

 jjiling AA-ith our guns, traps and dog. Hoav we did it I 

 don't know, but I am certain that the race with the 

 steamer was not the least excitmg part of an uneventful 

 trip. 



The tangible results of the expedition were not very en- 

 couraging, consisting of one ducK: that fell to Harry's gun, 

 (although Sam protests that it was a wounded one and 

 captm-ed with a club). It Avas a dismal f ailm-e in convert- 

 ing Sam into an enthusiastic sportsman. Upon separating 

 for our respective homes Sam confidently said to me, 

 "Oh yes, of course we had a good time, but the next time 

 , mimitigated fool trip you'll know 



you get me on such an 

 it." 



Los Angeles, California, 



PTJENTE, 



NOTES FROM CURRITUCK. 



C 'CURRITUCK, N, C, Oct. 20.— Editor Forest and 

 J Stream: Possibly some of your readers may be 

 interested in a few items from the slicoting gi-ounds on 

 Currituck Sound, which has from time immemorial been 

 the gi-eat feeding ground and Avinter quarters for many 

 of the choicest species of ou.t wildfowl. The sound proper 

 is a large sheet of w^ater, commencing at the Virginia line 

 and running southerly parallel Avith the North Carolina 

 coast for a distance of forty miles, varying in width from 

 six to eight miles. At the north and east extremities of 

 the sound, skirting the mainland and beach, are extensive 

 mai'shes covered with reeds and high grass, intersected 

 with countless ponds, creeks and leads, filled with Avater 

 from Gin. to 2ft. in depth. In these shaflow and sheltered 

 Avaters the ducks and geese find an abundance of food, 

 and for many j'-ears this has been the best place for Avild 

 duck shooting known on om- coast. 



For the past twenty -one years I have spent each winter 

 on these groimds, and have in that time become not only 

 familiar Avith the grounds, but have almost a ]iersonal 

 acquaintance with the fOAvl that flock there. The fol- 

 loAving game can be found herein greater or less qualities. 

 SAvan. geese, black ducks, Avidgeons, maliai-ds, creek ducks 

 or gadAvaUs, sprigtails, blue and green-A\inged teal, 

 gi-ay ducks and spoonbills. None of these dive for their 

 food but obtain it by reaching doA^m to the bottom and 

 pulling up the roots and yotmg gi-ass. In addition to 

 these Ave have the canvasback, the redhead and broad- 

 biU, these are diAdng fowl and frequent the more open 

 Avaters, and are known here as raft ducks. They ai-e shot 

 in gTeat numbers from batteries while others are shot 

 from blinds constracted in the marsh. Besides these are 

 otlier fowl of less accoimt like the crow duck, booby, 

 dipper, saAvbiU, coot and Avhistler. Tliese are salt-water 

 birds and are not found in great abundance here. 



But, Avith aU the natm-al advantages that Currituck 

 possesses— its shoals and leads, its sheltered waters, its rich 

 and abundant food— it is becoming less frequented by 

 game, and must in a few years, at the present rate of 

 decluae, be compai-atively Avorthless as a shooting ground. 

 In the month of November, 1865, I visited Ciu-rilTick for 

 the first time. Then every creek and lead Avas filled Avith 

 ducks and geese. In the soimd and open waters were 

 acres of canvasbacks, redheads and broacfbills— the whole 

 soiaid literally swarmed Avith fowl. There were no bat- 

 teries or bush blinds thei'e, and very fcAv native gtmners 

 Avho sliot for market. Noav there are from fifty to sixty 

 batteries and bush blinds in countless numbers, Avith from 

 four to five hundred native gninners, who are not satisfied 

 with day shooting, but, when practicable, shoot all night. 

 This method is sure death to any shooting groimd, and 

 unless legislation steps in to prevent it, one of the richest 

 shooting grormds in this country wiU lie speedily de- 

 stx-oyed. Perhaps at some futm-e time I may give you 

 some other items cpnrtected with my experience here. 



William S. Fostek. 



THE SEASON'S LAST GROUSE. 



I STARTED for my last hunt of the season determined 

 to bag a wary cock grouse winch had succeeded in 

 getting away from me no less tlian six times. He was as 

 bad as Hammond's "One-Eyed Grouse of Maple Run." I 

 knew just where to find him, and I set out with my dog 

 Dick and two companions. As we approached the spot the 

 hair on the dog's neck rose up and he looked at me as 

 much as to say, T wiU do my part, see that you do yours: he 

 seemed to realize it Avas our last day's hrmt of the season. 

 When 100yds, off from some small oak the dog got wind 

 and Avent on cautiously to Avithin 20ft, of a "small oak 

 cover with dead leaves. Here he stood on point AAithnose 

 high in the air. I sent my two companions in to flush, one 

 on each side of the dog,' while I stood in tlie open about 

 Avhere the dog first got wind, for I knew the tricky old 

 bu-d well, and Avheu flushed he invariably Avent back 

 instead of ahead or either side. One of my companions 

 Avalked straight up to the dog, passed him; and went on 

 cautiously rmder the oak. Just as he reached it the bird 

 burst out of the tree about five feet from the ground. 

 Frank fired both barrels and made a clean miss," except- 

 ing that he cut a lot of brush good for brooms. The other 

 man "cut loose" Avith a clean miss, but his shot turned ' 

 the bh-d in my direction. I gave him the right and turned 

 him OA^er, but he quickly recovered and was making off 

 again when I cut in Avith the left, hitting him in tlie head, 

 and down he came. For the next five" minutes any one 

 passing would have thought a political meeting was in 

 progress. lie measured 22in. long and Aveighcd, llu-ee 

 hours after, 2-Ubs. I Avas proud of his captm-e and con- 

 sidered it a fitting ending of a glorious season. 



We found within one square mde one hundred grouse 

 on tliis same day, but sport was spoiled by our being 

 joined by the father of my companions, the most excitable 

 and pig-headed German I ever saw, Wlien the dog 

 pointed he w-ould gxasp his gun tightly in one liand and 

 rush in ahead of dog, flush the bird, and then go tearing 

 through the woods on a full run as if he exjiected to catch 

 it Avith his disengaged hand, never thinking to shoot, but 

 all the time yelling hke a madman and flushing bmls 

 right and left. I soon tu-ed of this and returned home 

 well satisfied Avith my da,y's sport, knowing that next sea- 

 son we would have an abimdauce of these beautiful birds. 



I owe Mr. S. T. Hammond many thanks for his little 

 book, "Training A's. Breaking." It is common sense all 

 through. My dog Avas made^ a present to me because lie 

 was no good and would not yield to the whip. I tried 

 "Training a's. Bi-eaking" on him with wonderfiil results. 

 He is a wonder to all who see him hunt. I coidd write 

 pages upon his remarkable intelligence and peculiar traits. 

 No earthly power can make that dog charge. Mention 

 the Avord and down drop tail and head and the most "dog- 

 gonest" expression comes into his face you ever saw. and 

 it takes some time for him to recover his natural spirits; 

 but we understand each other Avell on all other points, 

 and get along well enough without the command charge. 

 Curiously enough he will come to charge of his oaa-ii accord 

 Avlien occasion requh-es it. The secret of his dislike to the 

 word is that it was the first lesson his former OAvner tried 

 to whip into him, and the rock on Avliich they split; neither 

 Avould yield, so they pai-ted. He is a tAvo-year-old red 

 Irish setter. W. N. 



NOTES FROM IDAHO. 



DETROIT, Mich., Oct. 33. Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Thinking a f cav game notes from Idaho might prove 

 acceptable, I send you extracts from a letter recently re- 

 ceived from that Territory, Avritton by an old timer, Avho, 

 though he has spent years in the mountain and amid 

 game of every description, is still an enthusiastic sports- 

 man. He Aviites: "About a Aveek since a pai-ty of eight, 

 my wife and self included, started for Trinity Lakes on a 

 camping trip for fun, fish and fur. We had about seven- 

 teen miles to ride, and made om- own trad. The route 

 lay directly tlirough the mountains, and the scenery 

 Avould have done yom- soul gnod to behold. I often 

 remarked to Frank that I wished, a'ou could have been 

 Avith us, you should see the La kes to appreciate them; and 

 I Avho have lived so near for these years regret that I have 

 denied myself the pleasui'c of a Aisit before. The first 

 day of our an-ival the trout took the hook greedily and 

 we feasted on them, with young gTOUse for a side dish — 

 the latter are fine and I enjoyed eating them almost as 

 well as shooting them AAith the new gun, Fi-ank's gift, 

 which is a 'dandy." We all developed enormous ap- 

 petites. Ida is becoming a great shot, she killed two grouse 

 one day. The Lake country is lull of game, more goats 

 than I 'ever dreamed of. Joe and I ran on to a l:)and_ of 

 ten at long range, and Joe having his rifle trietl expending 

 ail his ammunition, but only kiUed one and wounded an- 

 other. I had to load the 'scatter gun' with buckshot and 

 give the Avounded one lils quietus. One of the goats Avas 

 a female and had a Idd. The next day Frank ran on to 

 the motherless 1 jairn and took him in. It is too early in 

 the season for then- pelts to be at theii- best, as the hair is 

 short. We enjoyed our trip hugely and all want to repeat 

 the ex^ierinient, especially the girls. 



"Game is plenty this fall. H. just came in A\dth six 

 deer and reports that a band of elk Avere seen on 

 Cayuse Creek. There are also plenty of bears all round 

 us. F. has taken t^vo Wack bears into camp. Don't you 

 wish you were with liim tbis time? By the way, I must 

 tell you about how Ida shot a hawk which came prowling 

 around after her chickens. She spied him from the 

 kitchen window and catchmg up my shotgun shot from 

 the windoA\' and downed him. Our Idaho girls don't take 

 any back seat Avhon it comes to shooting, and I am afraid 

 the old man must look out for his laurels. However, it is 

 aU in the family she says, so I must re.st content. Grouse 

 are plenty near' us and Ida knoAvs my Avealviiess for young 

 grouse broiled, so this afternoon she walked up the 

 mormtain and killed one for my breakfast. Wish yoti 

 could share it with me.— W. H. McK." PRjURIB Dog. 



Tabpon Springs, Fla., Oct. 31.— The cool weather has 

 come. The northern tourists are flocking to our shores. 

 The season bids fair to be lively. Quail are fairly plenty; 

 deer and turkey are met with noAv and then. Fishing is 

 very good. The musquitoes have gone, and joy reigns in 

 the'heart of— Tarpon^ 



Seizure op Game. — Bingston, Ont., Oct 21. — A large 

 shipment of game en route to the United States waa 

 seized thifi moming, as game by Canadian law cannot 

 exported, 



