346 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



[Nov. 35, 1886. 



"Ala, I guess vre have chicken broth in the large dish," 

 -while the rest appeared to assent. But I broke in with: 



"Father, I'd like a little of my rabliit stew, if you 

 please." 



"What! jowr rabbit stew! Wliy, that's what it is; I 

 thought you didn't get anything." 

 "I didn't say so." 



"No, but jou didn't show ns any or tellxis. How much 

 did you pay for them, or did C. give them to you?" 



"No, su"; 1 shot every one of them myself, and there's 

 more yet hanging out dcors." 



"Well, well, I guess the boy'll make a hunter," was the 

 paternal encouragement. 



Supper over I AviUingly described my day's adventures 

 and then went to bed."" And oh, how I did sleep that 

 night. As I roUe;l under the coverings I was conscious 

 of being more tired and sleepy than ever I had been 

 before. Falling asleep, I suppose I seemed to again start 

 on the same rabbit hunt, going to the "bresh" every rab- 

 bit that I saw fell before my deadly gun. Rabbits were 

 tiei all over me and 1 was almost weighted down, but I 

 -walked bravely thi'ough the drifts. 



NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU HUNTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read in yoirr valuable newspaper of the 21st ult., 

 an article entitled "Caribou Stalking in Newfoundland, ' 

 over the signatiu-e of J. E. Collins, Toronto. From the 

 tenor of his experience in caribou Imnting, the ignorant 

 would almost imagine that Mr. Collms bad had good 

 sport, or what he would consider "fine fun potting the 

 caribou." It seems to me that Mr. Collius's account is 

 rather far fetched, caribou being so scarce in the peninsida 

 of Avaion, where Mr. Colhns had "such good sport,'" that 

 the Legislature have been obliged to pass a special bill 

 prohibiting the shooting of caribou on the peninsula for 

 some time, , » 



To me, as a sportsman, Mr. Collius's article is most 

 nauseous. When a man boasts that he and his one or two 

 companions have murdered tweuty-two caribou in two 

 days, and "did as manj" more to aeath on the marsh," he 

 has mistaken his voca,tion, and sm'ely ought to have been 

 a butcher. ]\Ioreover, at ihe time that Mr. Colling boasts 

 of his exploit, the time was in the spring, the stags had 

 no antlers, the hinds were heavy with favvn, and the meat 

 not worth eating, as the poor animals are half staiwed at 

 that season of the year. I have had as much caribou 

 stalking on the island of Newfoimdland as any one man, 

 and have crossed the country from sea to sea half a dozen 

 times on shooting excursions, and have shot over every 

 inch of the penuisula of Avaion. You will, therefore, I 

 am sure, allow me to say that I protest against 'Mx. Col- 

 lius's article. Any sportsman in quest of caribou shooting 

 on this island can do no better than read the following 

 charming books: "Sport, Travel and Adventaue," by 

 Captain W. R. Kennedy, of the Royal Navy, or "Chiplo- 

 guorgan,'* by General Dashwood, of the British Army. 



R. Langrishe-Mare. 



Ba^^uekman Hotjss, St. Johxs, Newfoundland, Isov., ISSis. 



A D I RO N D^C K GAM E. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The larger animals seem to be somewhat on the in- 

 crease in the Adnondack region, for within the past few 

 weeks a remarkably large number of bears have been 

 killed there and traces of panthers and wolves are not in- 

 frequently seen. G. M. Gifford killed a large black bear 

 near Houseman's mills the other day and only a day or 

 two previous one was shot north of that place. A bear 

 was killed near Belfort, Lewis county, recently by two 

 hunters from Croghan, and about the same time an old 

 bear and a cub were shot near Richter's Corners in the 

 same coimty and two others escaped. Albeit Griffin, oi 

 Fine, St. Lawrence county, the other day killed three 

 bears in one day and claims to have seen two more. Not 

 long since Jauies O. Waldo, of Northwestern Oneida 

 county, went out to look for squurels, taking his hound 

 wdth liim, thinkhig perhaps he might start a fox. He had 

 not been gone long w^hen the dog started a bear, and at 

 bruin came within close range Mr. Waldo fired both bar- 

 rels of his gun at him and succeeded in bringing him 

 down with BB £hot. The bear was a male, in good con- 

 dition and weighed 3071bs. This is the first bear thathaL 

 been Idlled in that neighborhood for many years. 



A huge bear was seen near Chateaugay Lake the other 

 day and was fired at by several persons but escaped un- 

 harmed. Many otliers have been seen near the outsku-t; 

 of the Wilderness of late. A panther was seen in the 

 town of Pinckney, Lewis county, last week, and it is noi 

 long since one was seen and heard near East Llacomb, St. 

 La«Tcnc3 county. It has been reported, on what appears 

 to be good authority, that the oue^last spoken of attackec. 

 a farmer bv the name of Henry who was in the woodt 

 searching for Ins cows. Mr. Hemy was badly scratched . 

 and it is said that he would probably have been killed 

 had not his dog attacked the panther ana continued tt; 

 fight the aniaial until his master got out of the woods. 

 The dog barely escaped with its life. One day last week 

 a panther was seen crossing a pasture near WorthyiUe, 

 Jefferson county. A large wolf was killed in the north- 

 ern part of Oneida county not long ago and a number 

 have been seen tliis fall in various parts of the Adiron- 

 dack Wilderness. Several well-known guides are arrang- 

 ing to make life a burden to the wolves and panthers tins 

 winter and will doubtlees succeed in thinning them out. 



Utica, N. Y., No^-^13^ PORTSA. 



On the Way.— On the train from Philadelphia, Pa., 

 Nov. 15, 3:50 A. M.— Om- party of four left Philadelphia 

 yesterday at 11:20 A. M. We are traveling westward 

 toward our old camp ground, where we hope to kill a 

 deer before a week has passed. In our car (the smoker) 

 four races are represented— Caucasian, American, Mon- 

 golian and African. Sportsmen largely predominate. 

 With the exception of our party they can-y shotguns and 

 heavy bags of loaded shells. Our party is armed with 

 rifles. In the baggage car just in fi-ont thei-e are fourteen 

 dogs, setters and" pointers. At Harrisbm-g there wae 

 such a large influx of gunners that it was found necessary 

 to add a special car to our ti-ain. We are now threading 

 om- way between low mountains and along the banks ol 

 the beautiful "Blue Juniata." It is bright moonlight and 

 the scenery is inspiring to one who is accustomed io 

 spend fifty-one weeks in each year in an office. Trains 

 from the westward pass us laden with snow. In a few 

 hours we will meet our guide at a railway station with 

 team to haul us and outfit ten miles into the moimtains. 

 — E. A. Leopold. 



A SIMPLE RIFLE REST. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In response to requests for diagram of my rifle rest, I 

 send the inclosed illustration and repeat description 

 given in your issue of Aug. 12 last: 



Although I have long since given the subject of rest 

 shooting some attention, I have not, until lately, had a 

 rest for testm^ rifles that suited me. Last year I deter- 

 mined to mgike one according to my own ideas, and it 

 proved so satisfactory that I intended* to send a cut and 

 description of it to the Forest and Stream before this, 

 but have procrastinated. 



This rest consists fii-st of a platform about 5ft. long by 

 3ft. wide placed lengthAvise with the target. This plat- 

 form is boarded up on three sides, viz. : on the right hand 

 side (facmg the target) and at both ends to the height of 



about 5ft. From the top of these sides a covering of 

 boards is so placed that when the sliooter stands on the 

 j>latform the right arm, the left arm and the left liand 

 rest on the covering, allowing the shooter to take same 

 position as when shooting off-hand. 



There is plenty of room in this box-like arrangement for 

 ammunition shelves, gun holders, etc. Almost any one 

 can improvise a rest of this kind at very little expense by 

 using a large box made of inch boards without a covering. 



Stand this box firmly on its side and cut away the top 

 boards to get the proper shape for an off-hand position. 



The dotted lines Indicate the recoil as shown in the very excellent Instan- 

 taneous photoprraph taken at the instant of firing. 



There should be a movable blocking for the left hand to 

 rest on, for it needs to be higher than the part which 

 hold the arms. It is desirable to have the rest made 

 high enough for the taUest person that is Hkely to use it, 

 and then regulate the height you requne by standing on 

 some plank blocking of the right thickness. Sand bags 

 can be used for the arms and hand to rest on, but I doubt 

 if there is any advantage in using them \viih tliis rest. 

 One object in having the rest boarded up on three sides 

 Is to protect the shooter from the wind, for it must be 

 understood that this is an outdoor rest. 



The trouble with most rifle rests is that they disturb the 

 natural position of the body, either by cramping some of 

 the muscles or by jiressing against the body in such a 

 manner as to allow the heart beats to affect the holding.^ 



My rest should properly be called an "off-band rest," 

 for while it gives, as nearly as possible, perfect steadiness, 

 it disturbs the off-hand position as Uttle as possible. 



There are so many riflemen who leaiu to shoot in bad 

 positions that this rest will not be comfortable to some. 

 Those who will appreciate it most are the riflemen who 

 shoot with the left hand well out on the barrel, the right 

 elbow elevated and the butt of the rifle agamst the 

 shoulder (not on the arm), or in other words those who 

 hold the rifle about the same way they hold a shotgun. 



MiDDLEFiELD, Conn. WILLIAM LYMAN. 



OHIO CONVENTION OF SPORTSMEN. 



COLUMBUS, 0., Nov. 12.— Editor Forest and Stream : 

 At an informal meeting of representative sportsmen 

 of Ohio, held at the Niel House, Nov. 9, it was resolved 

 that a State Convention of sportsmen be called on Jan. 

 13, 1887, for the pmrpose of i^orming a State Association 

 for the better protection of fish and game and for still fur- 

 ther perfecting of the laws. All shooting and fishing 

 clubs, either individually or collectively, and aU lovers of 

 the sport are earnestly and cordially invited to be present. 

 The convention will be held at the City Hall, in Colum- 

 bus, and will be called to order at 8 P. M. Reduced rail- 

 road and hotel rates will be obtained. 



Jolm A. Tm-ley, Portsmouth. 

 C. A. Barton, Portsmouth. 

 Heury Best, Dayton. 

 L. K. Buntain, Dayton. 

 Dr. W. Shcijard, Lolumhus. 

 C. H. Damsel, Columbus. 

 T. S. Tappan, Bellaire. 

 W. A. ijoibev, Bellaire. 

 Chas. Wendt Kenton. 



Dr. L. E. Russell, Springfield. 

 Hou. J.Stranahau,Chagrin i alls 

 Chas. Lane, Bellefontiiinc. 

 Mellville Brothers, ^andutlcy. 

 H. C. Culhertsou, Cincinnati. 

 W. B. Shaituc, Cincinnati. 

 Percy W. Lea^vitt, Akron. 

 H. E. Messerly, Greenville. 

 J. Jd. McElhinney, Rugbies. 



A local committee of arrangements was appointed con- 

 sisting of Chas. H. Damsel, Geo. L. Graham and Joseph 

 A. Webb. All communications should be addressed to 

 Geo. L. Graham, Secretary. 



GAME PRESERVING IN BRITAIN. 



v.— THE GAME OF THE MOORS. 



w 



Snipe. 



J E are fortunate enough to count four varieties of 

 ' snipe in these islands, but of these but two are 

 found in suincient quantities to afford us any sport. The 

 f om- species consist of the common snipe (Scoloj^ax gal- 

 linago), the jack snipe (S. gallinula), the great snipe {S. 

 major) and Sabine's snipe (S. sahint). One or two other 

 snipes have also on various occasions been observed in 

 Britain, but their occuiTcnce is purely accidental and we 

 cannot with any reason include them in this category. 

 The above four differ but very slightly in habits, and if those 

 of the common snipe be first aetailed, then it will only 

 be necessary to point out where the others differ from it 

 in appearance, habit and haunt. 



The common snipe, full snipe or heatherbleater, is very 

 generally distributed throughout the length and breadth 

 of this kingdom, its scarcity or plcntifulness in various 

 localities depending upon the character of the country. 

 The favorite haunts consist primarily of marsh land in its 

 many various forms, nearest meadows, x>eat niires, the 

 banks of small streams and ditches, along the small water 

 courses intersecting fields, osier beds, and, in line, any 

 low-lying, watei-satmated ground. Occasionally they 

 are to be found upon ploughed land, and severe weather 

 wiU at times send them to all kinds of unlikely places. 

 When you consider this great variety of haimt, you will 

 readily see what a wide field of agi'eeable locality there 

 is in Britain for this game bird, winch, though much of a 

 kidney with the woodcock as far as migratory habits go, 

 appears to be less att'ected by the conditions apparently 

 so conducive to the latter's remaining and increasing with 

 us. Some seasons snipe are far more plentiful in Britain 

 than in others, and there have been occasions svhcn they 

 have been in almost excessive plentitude if such be pos- 

 sible of so delightful and enticing a game bu'd. 



The common snipe, which is monagamous, breeds with 

 us, the pairing being begun in February, usually a little 

 later, the chief mating of the birds occm-ring toward the 

 end of Mai-ch, The nest which is, as is usual with moor 

 fowl, a very rough and tumble affair, is usually placed 

 upon some small knoll of gi-ound sheltered bv a tuft of 

 sedge or heather, the site being invariably well chosen bo 

 as to run off any moisture, for, although frequenting 

 wet ground, our snipe loves to Ue dry and also possess a 

 similarly chai'acterized nest. The eggs are usually four 

 but occasionally five in number. 



Snipe move about a good deal, according to the atmos- 

 pheric conditions prevailing, \%'ind alone, but more so 

 wind and wet combined, tending to cause them to dis- 

 perse over large areas, while cold, sharp, calm weather 

 apparently has the opposite effect. They feed at various 

 times upon various places, but the food is always found 

 in rivers, bogs and wet gi-otmd, and consists of such worms 

 and insects as are found in the spongy soil and growth 

 of such places. Occasionally they will feed very largely 

 at night-time, particularly when rough, wet weather is 

 succeeded by a calm m'oonlight light. The common 

 snipe is what might be termed a semi-solitary bird. It 

 doeo not form into flocks, but great numbers will be 

 foimd in close proximity to one another, cech individual 

 or each couple of birds at the same time holding but Uttle 

 communication with the remainder of the wisp, as -we 

 term such quantities of tliis game bird. 



The jack snipe, or, as we familiarly term them, "little 

 jacks," although net quite so plentiful, as a iiile, as the 

 common snipe, is equally wiclely distributed over these 

 islands, but is only a winter visitant witli us. It is gen- 

 erally held to be of even more solitary nature than Scolo- 

 pax \'idgaris, but this is doubtful. Indeed, taking him 

 all round, I fancy rather the reverse is the case. I have 

 found more jacks in company than ever ordinary snipe, 

 and their assembUng in flocks at the time of ruigration 

 tends to show a seeming disposition upon their part to 

 hobnob together. _ , 



Curious little things they are, but despite then dimmu- 

 tiveness— they are the smallest bu-ds we shoot for sport in 

 Britain— they afford good fun, and I have many a time 

 enjoyed excellent sport among them on the Dartmoor 

 mires as they flutter about much like a butterfly in a 

 wind storm, as we say in the West. 



The solitary snipe, great snipe, double snipe, is an occa- 

 sional visitor to these shores in winter, and is what its 

 names imply — a big, sohtary snipe. It is rare among its 

 kind, and only met A\'ith by chance when we beat for 

 others of its race and other moor game. 



The same may be said of Sabine's snipe, sometimes 

 called the black snipe. This species is held by some to be 

 but a variety of the ordinary snipe, but I think it is a 

 distinct bud; but its rarity renders this difficult of de- 

 cision. Moorman. 



ESGLAIO). 



Game in Sullivan County. — Monticello, N. Y.,Not, 

 8.— Ruffed grouse and rabbit shooting is good here; 23 

 rabbits and 14 ruffed grouse were the best score made in a 

 day by one gun. Foxes are also very plenty.— C. F, 

 Kent. 



