296 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



liitor. 4, 1886. 



A. C. A. EXECUTIVE COMMltTEE MEETINC. 



T() the Members of tl^e American Canoe Assdciation: 

 The Executive Committee of tlie American Canoe Association 



will meet on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, Nov. 113, at thetrilsey 



House. New York city. All are invited. 

 DESBKoaxo, Out., Oct. 26. F, S, Rathbun, Commodore. 



PADDLE AND CURRENT. 



PIH,ST PAPEK. 



TO tlie cruising canoeist the memory of his river trips give the 

 most pleasure of all iris varied experiences. Without violent 

 work the man who is uot a sailor tlu^re travels on\vard at a rate 

 tlxat should satisfy the most ambitious seaniaii, and lias enough 

 mild exercise to keep liis mind alert and active in receive impres- 

 sions from everything that comes within range of the senses. In 

 the rapids, dams and natural falls to be run he who delignts in ex- 

 citement can often be more than satisfied, i-lere the lover of 

 nature will tiud her iu greatest perfection. Here abounds animal 

 life, hei'e foliage is most exuberant, here exists that variety in the 

 water itself tliar is not found in lake or ocean, the traveler 

 always bciiig in proximity to the land, and j'ivers frequently 

 flowing through mountainous country, where the scenic oiVects 

 are the finest." Each moment discloses some hidden feature in tlie 

 landscape; sight and sound constantly contribute unexpected 

 charms. 



These attractions are more fully appreciated in a small river, 

 for then tlie v oyager is near to both banks. He is on a level ^^'ith 

 the ground, and not only has he the pei'spective view which the 



gen water aflords him, but, without the annoyances of walking 

 rougb tangled underbrush, he is enabled to see berf er than the 

 pedestrian the hidden recesses of the woods. Except in wild and 

 emote districts, large rivers are early explored; but small streams, 

 even in well settled regions, not being considered navigable or by 

 the practical worthy of exploration, arc generally overhung witn 

 mystery. Here then tbe canoeist ^vho is willing to submit to the 

 discomforts of wading and an occasional portage, has,, added to 

 tlie natural features found nowhere else, the eiijoyrasnt of being 

 a discoverer. 



The village of Hamilton, some thirty miles south of Utica, is on 

 the watersiied tha t separates the streams that find their way into 

 the Mohawk and thence into the Hudson from those that seek an 

 outlet to the ocean tlu'ough tlie rivers that empty into the Dclp- 

 Avai-e and Chesapeake bays. From a tiny lake on the outskirts 

 of the village issues an insignificant brook whicii, gailiering 

 strength from numerous small affluents, after ■n'inding southAvard 

 through New York over a bundred miles as the Chenango River, 

 mingles its flood with the Susquehanna at Bingham ton on the 

 Pennsylvania border and pours its waters into Chesapeake Bay. 



Formerly residing at Hamilton, the advantages oiVered by this 

 continuous watercourse for a long canoe trip every season 

 awakened my desires. Last summer, finding myself with the 

 time, a good canoe and a pleasant companion, the Chenango 

 recommended itself above all other rivers. Our canoe was a 16 by 

 30 Peterboro, of cedar, weighing only COlbs., but capable of <'oin- 

 fortably carrying two people with enough camp equipage to last 

 them an indetiuite time. We liad a light pyramid tent, besides 

 wool and rubber blankets, overcoats and rubber overcoats, pro- 

 visions, canned and otherwise, in fact all that w^as necessary for a 

 long voyage. By means of the rirbber goods we expected to keep 

 dry in any storm but a torrent. It was arranged that Will xvlof- 

 ris, my friend, was to occupy a bow seat, I was to take the stern, 

 while betweeen us in two meal sacks covered by rubber blankets 

 would be placed our outfit. It was our object to descend to Bing- 

 hamtou and take the cars some fifty miles to the Delaware, 

 descending tbat river as far as it suited our fancy. 



On the day appointed for our departure we were fa' orcd by 

 heavy rains. Late in the afternoon, the rain ceasing, we carried 

 the canoe to where the road crossed the brook. While 1 waited 

 for Iilorris to drrim up our friends, I smiled at tlie thought of our 

 floating in the \vater I saw before me. 



The brook could not have been more than .'ift. wide and Sin. deep, 

 and at the start we had to wade. The meadow grass was long and 

 wet, the bed of the brook was muddy and treacherous; the water 

 would barely float the canoe alone. Morris walked along the bank 

 and I waded, shoved and lifted the boat over shallows. It re- 

 quired strong faith to believe that this trickling rivulet would 

 become the broad, deep river we sabsequently found. Our friends 

 were either lacking in faith or overstocked \\itli hunior, for they 

 made the most of our ludicrous situation. "Arc you follows going 

 down all the way in that style?" "Morris, you will have to work 

 your passage with your feet," wei-e a few of the encouragements 

 we received. 



A short distance below the bridge the stream enters a swamp. 

 Here the current slackens and the water deepens. We now could 

 get aboard and it was well we could. Tliis swamp is covered with 

 pampas grass and extends across the valley. It is known to the 

 natives as the Prairie. In the swamp the bottom of the stream is 

 a soft, imponderable mud which has never been fathomed. Scat- 

 tered over the surface of the bog are a few- ponds, the water of 

 which is as clear and cold as any ever found, and tlie bottom ap- 

 parently of liard white sanrl. A pole thrast down penetrated tliis 

 bottom with scarcely more resistance than if it was water. The 

 entire swamp is known to be a hidden lake. That such is the case 

 can be pro\ ed by jumping on the sod that separates the ponds, 

 ■when the mass of floating roots heave like ocean billows. Nearly 

 a mile of this and we reacli the house of a filend, our objective 

 point for the night. Mr. Ely and his family entertained us well, 

 but when they were about to show us to our rooms we objected; beds 

 no doubt might be very good things, but we were campers and 

 must insist upon the barn. The next day, Sunday, was raining, 

 and a promise to take us and our canoes early Monday moi-ning 

 four miles down the river to where it was more navigable induced 

 us to remain there all day. 



Monday morning we were up before dawn, and at the end of 

 our ride and launching our boats at Barlville long before any 

 one was stirring. We now felt that our cruise had really 

 begun. Although only a small creek the stream, at this point 

 could without any serious absurdity be called a river. 

 The water was perfectly transparent and the bed of the stream 

 was covered witii long hair-like weeds, which in the current and 

 eddies moved and writhed in snake-like contortions. The water 

 being so clear and the creek so small we often unconsciously 

 imagined that we were floating in ice; while, tofurtlier strengthen 

 the idea, the weeds and rushes bendi ng beneath made us feel that we 

 were skimming over fields of wind-swept grain. We thought from 

 its purity that the water must have a spring origin, and we soon 

 found another eharacteiistic of spring water. Our first rift was 

 too shallow to float us. Upon jumpmg out w'e made a moment- 

 ous discovery. "Ice-water is warm compared with this," shouted 

 Morris. "I would rather not have to swim very far in such water." 

 After a few repetitions of this performance the warm sunshine 

 seemed very welcome. The canoe and the river both being in 

 miniature so harmonized that w'c seemed to be making a voyage 

 in fairyland. Ver>^ often our craft filled up the stream and wc 

 could touch both banks atonce. The turns in the river were mar- 

 velous. Some of them were at right angles to the farmer course 

 of the stream, and the only way they could he passed was by simul- 

 taneously sho\ing off from opposite banks at both bow and stern. 

 We would lio paddling along on a straight cour.so in still water, 

 when suddenly we had to turn sharply to right or left and would 

 find ourseh'es scudding down a ridiculous little rapid, at not, 

 however, such a ridictUons speed; for belt known the swiftness of 

 the current docs not altogether depend upon the volume of water 

 —a rift ."jft. broad may flow witli tne velocity of the Lachine rap- 

 ids. Another time, the swift current di-sdding, we would see be- 

 fore us a fleet of little green islands, apparently sailing Upstream. 

 Drifting down between these islands to the music of birds and the 

 harmonious gurgling and rippling of the surging current, we 

 would sweep along in the perfumed air under a continuous canopy 

 of drooping boughs that seemed to hang as fondly over the beau- 

 tiful water as some fair lady over her jewels. 



There were, however, some unpleasant features; often the canoe 

 would stick in the shallows, many times we had to recklessly 

 jump overboard and freeze our feet. Then again, when running 

 down a rapid too fast to stop, we would discover some haK sub- 

 merged log. Such obstructions are always dangerous, but in a 

 stream no wider than ours it was sometimes almost impossible to 

 avoid them. Morris with a friend had formerly been over tliis 

 partof the riverinarowboat, and he noAV regaled me with their 

 experience. He said that they had struck a snag, and wth all 

 their baggage were left swimming in deep water. They held no 

 more than started again, when in making quickly a sharp turn 

 they once more came to grief. They persevered to the next village, 

 but in their wretched and destitute condition Avere glad, enough to 

 take the cars for home. Such a mishap, by losing our goods, would 

 have terminated our vovage. We were, therefore, very careful. 



Noon found us at Sher))onrne. The river flowed in on the right 

 hand side of the valley. The village lay to the left. A road led 

 from the right of the river to the town. A few feet below the 

 bridge was a sandy island, and here we landed for dinner. I pre- 

 pared the food while Morris went to an adjoining farmhouse for 

 supplies. He soon came back smiling. "1 saw an old lady at the 

 h.ouse and when she heard who we were and where we were going 

 she would not take a cent for the bread and milk. She also insisted 

 our liaving some cake." We did not calculate to eat in public, 



I 



but we had no sooner settled ourselves than wagons began to pass 

 over the bridge without intermis.sion. A farmer would drive along 

 in sleepy abstraction till about the middle of the bridge, when siid- 

 denly spying u,?, with a pull on the lines and a whoal to his horses, 

 would stop and a colloquy something like the fo)lo^\•iag would 

 ensue: "Nice boat you've got there." ''Ye.s. It's a very good boat 

 for our purposes." "Been flsMug?" "ilo."' "VN'liat are vou doing 

 with that boat then?" "(ioiiig to New ^'ork in it," "Pliewl You 

 don't say BO? Are yon doing it on a bet?" Tlie avera:.^e grander 

 seems incapatilc of grasping the idea of phy.-iical exereise for 

 pleasure. When he walks it must be behind a plow, wltcn he 

 goes boating it must be U> caLcti iish. .Such a conception of eii.io> - 

 nicnt probably g7'ov,-s out of his daily work beint;- 'almo:;L GjvrUi. 

 sively physical. The benevolent old lady that .Vlorris lunl .seen 

 eurae down to the bank, and after viewing our outfit wiinted u-- 

 to go again to her house arid get some butter. She supplied us 

 very liberally, but on tasting wc found the milk to be skimmed 

 and the butter unfit to eat. 



Late in the afternoon we reached Norwich and hauled up for 

 the night. The next morning we started along with a furious 

 northerly gale at oui- backs. This at times took u.s rilong faster 

 than was pleasant, for in descending a siiallow rai^id, since we 

 were momentarily exiiected to strike, it was desirable that t!ie 

 shock should be as light as possible; also, the v\ ind being dov.n 

 stream, flattened out the waves in the rirts, and these si.t,qis of 

 rooks, thus concealed, left us nothin.i^- by vviiich to direct our 

 course. We soon experienced that chief annoyance of siiiall 

 rivers — dams. We would not have so mueli objected to the ilams 

 that were in use, but the fact of tlie lU'rUiy discarded dams beiu'_- 

 left in the river to obstruct navigation soraly tried our patience. 

 LTpon comingtoone of these the inevitable experieuce was, first, to 

 paddle around to find the bast place for a portage; ilien succe-deil 

 wading on slippery rocks or wood, unloading tnu canoe, carrying 

 or shoving the boat over debris that cotilaincd sharp splices and 

 stones, finally balancing ourselves to load or.r eralt in a swift 

 current that every minute threatened to tear thi; boat out of our 

 grasp. 



jV iter many exhaust in.i repetitions of this procedure we came 

 to nesv dam that ii:ijl in Ihe middle a sluiceway just >.\ ide enough 

 to permit us to i.iass. Tlu; uioutb of this ^vas bcai'ded up, and 

 Lhcso boards mc fs..iumsn<'efl to remo'ic. Upon tliis the iiiillcr 

 came out of lbs milt like a sjiider our of a. corner of its web. lu 

 vigorous Englisli he remonstrated with us. Wo informed him 

 th.at \ve must relueiantly decliRO his invii,atiou to e.arr> around, 

 thttt bis dam \\ ;:s u!).strurl ing n.v ig.-, lioii, ;i rul then coniiiiu^-d; m 

 our destructive ccjurse, and ll:c .iuily miller ^-Ithdrcw, a sadder 

 and wiser man. About noon we reached Oxford , and tu'ter carry- 

 ing around the dnni we stopped for dinner atid : - i i n : : 1 1 i ' 

 admiring gaze of the mult i I ude. I'his ( iuie tin 

 our pots and kettles was invaded, and, not sail , , i' , : : 

 ing us, our would-be friends periormeil gymna-i > j ,■„£:•• • ■ ■ t-ar 

 cocoa pail and flourished their feet about our nn.ar ai\U bread. 



This was to be our first night under a now tent, and we loolved 

 for a spot where Ave might not be disturbed and -as riie same tmie 

 be conveniently near a farmhouse whei-e milk coidd be had. Tin.- 

 advantages of e\'ei-y field were disrussod. 1' ciw would suit, and, 

 when we found one thai did, it was rejected upon the plea that we 

 had not gone far enough, if we s;>w any ^igly rapid aiiead we 

 alw^ays, before stopping, ^vished to get througfi. It makes one 

 nervous to hear the boiling and sphishing of a bad rift that he 

 must run the next day, and it is not a jileasaiit thing, just after 

 rising from warm blankets and a heai ty me.il to jump into the 

 cold w^aior to sai-e one's canoe. Tliese considerations kept us on 

 our Avay till dark, and thus brouglit us luischief . 'vYe came to the 

 remains of an old mill, which allowed the water to go tlirongh in 

 only one shoot. This was an aperin re. hut a few feet wide, below 

 in the middle of which could tie dirnly distinj^tLished tht outlines 

 of a snag lying transversely in t!ie current. We ex]jeoled by nard 

 paddling to avoid this, but the frightful force of Llie rush, concen- 

 trated as it was, wc had miscalculated. .Dospi te our utmost efforts 

 we spun up against the submerged part of the snep, \\ ere lifted 

 bodily out of the water over the portion of the ol/SLraction which 

 was above tlie surface, and landed on our beam ends on the other 

 side. By throwing our wei.i^hts to tlie opposite direction \s-e did 

 not capsize, and thanks to good workma.nsliip tbe boat sustained 

 no injury. 



We immediately landed, finding our enforced camping place to 

 be an immense clover field, far from any habitation. OncCerected, 

 our mansion of cloth was a complete success; it was tJiotigh so 

 diminutive, a mote in the air, a chip on the ocean, that we laughed 

 out right. Lying in my blankets the continuous nttin of insectB tlid 

 not serve to diminish the feeling of Crusoe-like isol.a f ion; on the 

 contrary, remembering that the din came from such minute and 

 insigniiicPvnt creatures, it reminded me but the more forcdily of 

 the absence of human companions. Hew helpless one feels under 

 the open sky— it is to a house-dweller Uke the feeling a snail or a 

 hermit crab must have when it is separated fr-om its shell. Close 

 after this thought comes the trust in that force, tliat, thousli the 

 possibilities of danger are so great, chooses to protect not only mc, 

 naAdng some powers, but also the vegetable and animal organisms 

 that are utterly powerless. Surely the space, the quiet ,ind the 

 accompanying sense of personal insignificance makes a man appre- 

 ciate more absolutely tbe reality of God than many sermons. The 

 man is withdrawn from the artitlcial life of human relations, 

 feeling himself, as truly as did the first man, a part of that nature 

 he sees and hears about him. 



The next morning as we progressed the river grew wider and 

 deeper, and the rapids, although not to be compared w illi some 

 v.-e subsequently encountered on the Delaware, Ijecame heavier 

 and naore exciting. As with most all things of decided charactei' 

 in external nature people unconsciousl,\' perstuiify in word or 

 thought, so wc got to look upon the rapiiis as itidividuals. This 

 one, deep and swift and strai.ght, with a few lively wr.ves, w.-'s a 

 strong, frank character, a square person to deal with; tsoother. 

 promising well at the lieginning, but soon breaking up i nto island-- 

 and troublesome reefs, was a promising individual with shallow 

 attainments, one where the careful investigator could soon strike 

 bottom. Again we had a rapid typif>-ing a still difierent man, a 

 rapid full of rocks, of boiling eddies, of sharp turns, a veritable 

 heavy -villain, a satanic personage that showtd his teeth on all 

 occasions. 



The swift water prevents a river trip ever being tedious. No 

 drowsiness here, no neglect to use every power of body and mind. 

 At what point shall we begin the descent of this rift? Weliavc 

 made a mistake in striking in here; there is a shoal below on. this 

 side. Paddle across for the opposite shore. Sec that rock in the 

 middle of the river? It seems to be running up stream right for 

 us. Work with all your might. Quick! Quick! Shove (dl . Th.it 

 was a hairbreadth escape. We are not out of sight yet. There 

 is a reef all the way across. Jump before wc strikel Then suc- 

 ceeds wading over rough stones. The wading is not an inevitable 

 part of the programme, and when we can omit it we are liaunv. 



Just above the village of Oreene, where the river widens and the 

 current slackens, we catne across an old man trying to sail, ami, 

 as we had seen no one all day, attempted iu strike up a I'oaver- 

 satioE. He asked us a question wliicli wc answei-cd. ^^'e t'oen 

 spoke to him and he made no reiily. 1 shouted, Alorris shouird, 

 and we both yelled together, hut nothing could v. e t-ei fi-om t he 

 surly old fellow. He not o-ven turned his licad. \V c stoiiped in 

 trreene to buy supplies, and while waiting there our mysterious 

 acquaintance stopped and exijlained. He did not need to tell the 

 reason of his conduct, for when he came alongside and wo 

 screamed into his ear we could barely make Mm undei-stand. Our 

 judgment had been too severe, he was as dea f as a post. The three 

 days of north wind were now very perceptible in tlie temperature. 

 Soon chilled by the cutting wind and the wading, we detdded to 

 stop at the first opportunity and build a fire. Fortunately we 

 came to an old dam containing a large amount of timber, and on 

 the surface dry in most places. „ , , 



ITrom this we soon had a very fine fire, and put on our dinner to 

 cook. Waiting close at hand, wc were startled by a loud ex- 

 plosion. Another, much greater, throwing hot embers in a re- 

 gardless fashion and capsizing our dishes, aiiruptly reminded us 

 that though the timbers might be dry on top they were wet 

 beneath. This bombardment compelled us to o\ acuato and com- 

 plete our culinarv oper.ationfi by the aid of nn alcohol stove. 



That night we had ( lie ideal camp. In an oiieuing in a fringe of 

 trees thai lined the bank was a shallow gully, on the viohd- 

 covered field at the head of the depression we pitched our tent, 

 and in the hollow made an immense fire. A drift pil..' lay close 

 by, and we spared uo pains to raise the temperature. What an 

 institution a carnp-firo is. Writers in poet ry and pros.? have loade 

 much of the hearthstone, and nut without cause; a hnmaniKing 

 and domestic influence liangs rounn a clieerful lu e, We telt at 

 once as if that part of space lit by our b!-.zc vas home. 

 Pteolining in our tent, talking over the da.-, i- experier,. c ami 

 telling stories, watching I hevivid light gradtudl.v u'r., w h'Sh ;iih1 

 the grotesque flickering sliadows on the white wails become 

 darker, the ])opping of the tire scninded fainter, objects began to 

 mingle and we were fast falling asleep, when suddenly wild wail- 

 ing, veiling and roaring, like the breaking loo.se of the auinmls of 

 a menagerie or a carni\'al of fiends, rou.sed us. Our first impulse 

 was to grasp our revolvers, onr next to laugh heartily, for we now- 

 recognized the sweet refrain of the festive horse-liddle and tho 

 gentle raelodv of tin pans and horns. We suppo.sed that our hid- 

 ing place was discovered and the local band had come out to do us 

 homage. Howe^'er, the honor wslS not ours, the eercnaduig was 



across tho valley, fuUy half a mile away. Tho din ceased, and 

 then jursfc as \vo were again gently dozing, started up once more, 

 So It: ilternatod I'.-ir into tlie night, till liutilly from sheer exhaus- 

 tion i.ve siun iiiTi.d. 

 Our l.wi ,:\i:y un the Chen.ango m-js the onlr one in v.-lacli sr-encry 



in per.-ip..-ctivc wa-f worthv of r- ri-, . ; • , ' lu^ea 



heauiiful. 11:0 Nvater el Mt- tid 

 divci'siiied 1>7 wowd ; ii^-UU \ ,.ea 

 far off and low and L unc. Nov.. ■ ■ of 



Clieiuiugo Forks all this cliang-ed. Tli.- i\ er 



and insieufl of being low and cultlva' 



tiie vdlkge'lined'b- "■''■''^ ' 



v.^a-e numerous r 

 see no one. No ■■. 



.li:.,-... of 



the buildings 



onlv iediciii 

 bad ex,)-; ; 

 atigo, ^vonl J . 

 found that 1 1,. 

 width was iiMi ^1 

 Tiie incr -a-i: d 

 the H r, , ,- 

 tlov • " ' 

 thr.' ■ 

 tra-i 



An:-., ^ L, ■: ;, : 



h.ouses came a i i 

 might get somcvl 

 announcemcat of 

 crossed the rl\-e! . 

 spires and roof: 

 stream, loomed i 

 the bird: - ■j\r.\ -u 

 puddi. 1 • 



with lary-i- i. 

 1 by wadiiur i 



I o\Y Chenango For]<t 



>: ^deeper oud swif 



v.ic 



tion. We could 

 persons were 

 ' ■'iineys; the 

 I lia. We 

 lie Choii- 

 ,nn. We 



' or. 

 nd 



1 r, er 

 ■be next 

 ■ ovular 



..M.euad3 



L ii lo iin- 

 i . widened, 

 tii.'tore long we 

 ,theiuevitabli3 

 ired; railways 

 :s, and then the 

 ng above- the 

 gathered along 

 :'-t ! -stood up to 

 ' p appear- 

 mnde us 

 1- to the 

 left the 



' : pas?; 



- I iioil of proti! 

 aur, . 1 d.^cidedly 



the ;i , .J ur friend Lr . 



water, aud aft.-- some Lr-.i u./ie -\ve found him 



Chenango, thciicxt stage of our cmiss; being made by rail. 



Ralph K. Wing. 



WATERY WANDFlUXftS .VTitCX't Wiii^TERV LOCHS.— 

 Ludor this appropii.no Mr. T. H. lioMing (Si-veni/. of the 



Royal G. C, tells a i.loas-- -n- :toj-v of a, cano,- cruise in Scotland, 

 made by a, party < eauoes. The wcaHn-r .-ei^rns to 



lia'.-e been i.iad e;r • ■ he. spirits of tho most enilur-iasiic 



canr,-,,-Jsl. ruin all ' ; 1 v. inds and rough v, atei's., bat in 



spile f>t a.li t : i , ;, ,; , .\- pinasaut one, to juc!g-e from the 



log. ^Ve e;,. , r i-v-ra.Ji sc' uery is soiueiiiiag to tie en- 



joyod, but • i,-r a dryer rUinais e\eii at e::pensi-, of the 



glorious vi ;.• ■ .Lt;oe. r.u rriages invented by Mr. Holding 



sev'oral ye:, .1:0 played a very important part in the necessary 

 land Li-aiisir. ,11. d mu.st be a veiy useful aftair. The book is pub- 

 lished b;,- :\I.:,.T](i:;rough & Co., lioudon. 



s:\[ti^ ■ 



Toroai ■ 



matter nr laei., 

 like the 1 

 or Kice 



Wtnte 

 -B<M, 



Toroii 

 and 1 



stated, t 



UK TORONTO C. C—Eaitnr Forest and 

 canoes at the meet you State that the 

 ■ irii oailt something like tho Pecowsio. As 

 ei , oid.\ one canoe in the club, tho Isabel, is built 

 s c. Tiio others are either the ordinary Peterboro 

 u did, or the good old-fashioned lapstrenk. I can 

 iding caiiir. R and nne tniddling, all lapstreak. This 

 I ■ - , ,. oats built with smooth skins. 



' \vns that "the Pe.o rls" of the 

 ,,i ijiid', , leiaiiid skins. We believe there are 

 o i i:iu'l can i.-s iu this club, and one of the two is, 

 oothskin uuune.] 



THE KXECUTIYE COMMITTEE MEETrNTG.— The executive 

 committee of the A. C. A. will hoM their meeting in New York on 

 Nov. 13, as stated in C'om. Rathbun'a notice. The meeting will be 

 an important one as tbe first under ihe new arrangement, and as 



a commodor,' .-m-.i -•<•• ry for the entire Association wiU bo 

 elected. some points in the Constitution to 

 heeonsideii for tlie division is not yet per- 

 feefed. The r, ■ im: ,: .s meet is also to lie decided upon, 

 the points proi>'..,~ed iMis tar being the cast end of Long Lslandand 

 Lake Champlaiu. Altogether the meeting proraisea to be the most 

 important yet hehh 



^mweiTj to ^orveB^omhni§. 



>"o Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



C, A. Haziet, N. J.— Tho law on quail and rabbits in your State 

 was o(T Nov. 1. 



B. B. D,, Suft olk, Va., whoso address has been mishiid, wiU oblige 

 by communicating -with us. 



R. N. S.— A non-resident 'a license will be necessary in Nova 

 Scotia 01' Ne^N' Brunswick, It may be had on application to the 

 Commissioner of Crown Lands. 



G. W. J., Tenant's Harbor, Me.— 1. Tho rifie ought to be safe, 3. 

 Pink curlews have been pur.sucd for years in Florida until they 

 .1 1 e new extremely rare. You -will Oud few terns. 



W. L. f^.— The New .Jersey prohibition of European iihcasant 

 shooting (for three years) does not have any reference to ruffed 

 grouse, v.'hich arc in season from Nov. 1 to Dec, 31. 



powder, ioz. No. 8 shot in second barrel. 



J. 



pages r 



poso th.. ., - -— „ _ - 



the best both; is Kenshall's "Book of the Black Bass.' ■ 



I (INSTANT liEADTDit, Ocrby, lud.— The "Travels in Boon Gali 

 Arrahbig-gec," as has Ix-cn exidained, arc from Mr. Goater'a man- 

 uscript diary, and not froru a iJi inted book, as you s-oem to Bni>- 

 pose. Thoy liavc ni-\ er liemt iiublished before. 



W. H. P.— A ci i 1 ,1, u S!:\e and Scotch terriers might 

 answ'er your purpi : i : nu liuve such an animal; a erosa 



between a Skye ten 1 i 1 < u ker spaniel miglit also answer in 

 a mongrel way. i bis is on ae supposition that you already have 

 such dogs; we do not recommend you to breed them. 



Jack S^arw.— While on a liunting excursion to Ipswich, Mass., 



in August last, a few birds w ere shot, which were, as near as I can 

 i-s1 imate frinii rncmorv, about tlie siae of ihe summer yellov.ieg, 

 liav'ng a giav back and light slate-color hreiist. We ware in- 

 formed bv an old hunter tluu, the birds were "blue plover," which 

 name I ail 1 uualda to lind in any work which I liave access, to. 

 f!an you or stime cf vaur rcadei"? adxise ino as to the name ? — Ans. 

 It is" possible tliat "the birds killed were purple tiaudpipers (,A, 

 riiarnima), but the description so vague that it is impossible to 

 say definitely. 



Meaxp.— There are some of yoiir readers who are aninons to go 

 shooting for small game, such .hb squirrels, partridges, quail, etc., 

 and who do not know the gronnil in this victruty. W^ill you not, 

 for their convenience!, indictite by some sort of sportsman's 

 directory, where, within a radius of from fifty to .seventy-five 

 rnilcs i-it New Yeu-k city, such sport inay be found? All?. Th© 

 St.! liens of 1 he i^lrie Uailroad in Sullivan, Rockland and Orange 

 counties, of ihe Long Ibland Railroad in Queens and Suffolk 

 counties, and some of the points reached by tho Ilarlem Railroad 

 afforii lair sport; as a rule, tho further from New lork the better. 



D. M. P., Vioksbnrg, Mise.—liioticethe advertisement of ".Johns' 

 Patent Automatic Sporting ShrapnoU Shell" continues in your 

 paper, but there seems to be no United Statee iigcnt. 1 will bo 

 greatly obliged if you will infonri me if tho above shells can be 

 used in a cholcohore. if they -will do What is siated of them in the 

 .■Mlvertiseincnt, and it t]a:-y can be procured in tho U. S.? vAnS. 

 \Ve do not think tli,-it the siiravuiell shells can be obtained in the 

 Lbiited Slates ai present, thon.cdi wehavexmderstood that arrange- 

 ments arc being made to establish an agency here. Wc have tried 

 those biiells at targets and obtained very good results at 100 and 

 125yds. from a cylinder gnn. Those shot froin .1 chokobore gan 

 did not seem to spread at all, but went like a solid ball. 



A DEnTfTTE Amount of InstjkanOE, lowest cash rates, plain 

 contract, ample security— such are the special advantages ofiered 

 by The Travelbbs, of Hartford, Conn.— ^idv. 



