Not. 3 1895.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



-wry fine sport, but I am sorry to say that large game 

 such as bears and deer is growing very scarce in these 

 swamps, and within the next two or three years I am 

 afraid it will all be gone. At the end of a most exciting 

 ehase after a bear Tuesday, Mr. Noel Money of New Jer- 

 sey killed liis first black bear. The weather is fine, and 

 our camp will not break before the middle of next week. 

 Hough is on the ground and I am pretty sure he will get 

 •his bear to-day. T. A. Divine. 



VERMONT FISH AND GAME LEAGUE. 



Introductory. 



The sixth annual meeting of the Vermont Fish and 

 Game League was held at the Van Ness House, Barling- 

 ton, Vt,, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 20. This meeting 

 .was the most successful in the league's history and must 

 have been very gratifying to the present President of the 

 league, J. W. Titcomb, of St. Johnsbury, who was the 

 promoter and foster father of the league itself. 



Organized on Nov. 24, 1890, with 112 charter members, 

 the league has done good work in obtaining legislative re- 

 forms in the fish and game laws of the State. The State 

 hatchery at St. Johnsbury, of which President Titcomb is 

 superintendent, is a direct result of the organization's 

 work, the charter members, prior to their regular organi- 

 zation as a body of fish and game preservers, having done 

 a great deal toward obtaining an appropriation for the 

 purpose of installing such a hatchery. 



The dissemination of information relating to the game 

 and fish laws by the league has been general throughout 

 the State, cloth posters imparting that information being 

 posted in every railroad station and every post office in 

 Vermont; the railroad authorities themselves have aided 

 the league in this, matter by assisting in the distribution 

 of the posters. 



In 1892 a new chapter of game laws was formulated by 

 the league, presented to the Legislature at Montpelier, and 

 became a law of the State. At the same session of the 

 Legislature an appropriation of $5,000 was secured for the 

 further equipment and maintenance of the State hatchery. 

 The league has also been very instrumental in bringing 

 violators of the fish and game laws to justice, and may be 

 said now to be more than ever in touch with the people 

 of Vermont on the subject of fish and game protection. 

 Vermonters in general have awakened to the importance 

 of stocking their lakes and rivers with fish, and their 

 mountains and valleys with furred and feathered, game. 

 They have realized the fact that a very large source of 

 revenue to the State is derived from those who are com- 

 monly termed "summer visitors:" and they have also 

 realized the fact that summer visitors need some attractions 

 to draw them into the State, and they feel that they can 

 best fill the bill by making the days spent by these visitors 

 on the lakes and rivers, and in the woods and swamps of 

 the Granite State, as attractive as possible by reason of a 

 good supply of fish in the one and of game in the other. 



The growth of the league in numbers, and the conse- 

 quent widening and strengthening of its sphere of action, 

 from Nov. 21, 1894, to Nov. 20, 1895, is best evidenced by 

 the figures given in the proceedings at the annual meeting: 

 The annual meeting in 1891 closed with the membership 

 of the league standing at 197; when the annual meeting 

 on Nov. 20, 1895, was adjourned, the secretary's books 

 showed that the league numbered on its roll 355 members, 

 an increase of 158 as a result of the twelve months' worje. 



The league has big work ahead of it, but under the. 

 leadership of President J. W. Titcomb, backed .as he is by 

 the members of the league who comprise the best element 

 in the State, the result of its labors in the future will far 

 transcend that in the past, beneficial as it has been. 



The Annual Meeting. 



"At 8 P. M. on Wednesday, Nov, 20, the sixth annual 

 meeting of the league was called to order by President 

 Nelson W. Fisk. The other officers present were: J. W. 

 Titcomb, Secretary, and A, W. Ferrin, Treasurer. There 

 was an excellent attendance of members,, considerable 

 interest being evinced in the proceedings by all present. 



The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting 

 was dispensed with, as the same had been printed and 

 placed in the hand of all members. 



The treasurer's report showed a balance to the credit of 

 the association of $241.44. This balance was largely in- 

 creased during the evening by the payment of initiation f et s 

 and dues by new members, and by the payment of dues 

 by old members. The report showed an income for 

 1894-95 of a little over $800; with an. expenditure of some 

 $40 over and above receipts, the balance in the hands of 

 the treasurer on Nov, 21,. ! 94, being $281.07. Of the sum 

 expended by the league during the past twelve months, 

 $144.55 is credited to attorney's fees, the league having 

 found it necessary in several instances to employ its own 

 attorneys in order to carry cases before the court. 



Treasurer Ferrin also presented a report of a fund 

 known as the Leach fund, of which he is the treasurer. 

 This fund was created by voluntary contributions for the 

 purpose of importing and acclimatizing new varieties of 

 feathered game in the State. The report showed that 

 the fund had a balance to its credit of $135.83, the total 

 receipts having been $322.03. The expenditures were: 

 $5.50 for personal expenses of Mr. Leach, $50 for Mongo- 

 lian pheasants for the league's aviary, which is superin- 

 tended by Mr. Leach, and $30.70 for expressage on same. 



Before going into the election of new members, Gen. 

 W. W. Henry moved that the chair appoint a committee 

 on nomination for officers for the ensuing year. He 

 stated that it would take such a committee quite a long 

 while to do its work, and that it would be a. saving of 

 time if it got to work while the election of new members 

 was being proceeded with. The motion prevailed and the 

 president appointed as such committee: Gen. W. W, 

 Henry, chairman; L. Bart Cross, D. A. Bisbee, J. W. 

 McGeary, Capt. S. E. Burnham, F. A. Howland and C. 

 G. Williams. 



Before retiring General Henry addressed the president 

 as follows: "Mr. President, allow me one minute before 

 we retire to go into executive session on nominations. I 

 want to know whether you meant what you said to some 

 of us prior to this meeting— will you consent to act for an- 

 other year as president of this league?" 



To this the president replied: "I did mean just what I 



said when I asked several members of the league to look 

 out for a new president. We have many capable men in 

 our ranks and it is only fair that the honor should be 

 passed around. There are many, too, who have more 

 time to devote to this work than I have, and I find that 

 there is a lot of work that can be and should be done by 

 the president of this league. For that reason I much pre- 

 fer to have the committee name another person to fill my 

 place." The committee then retired. 



New Members. 

 . The secretary announced that he had 47 applications 

 for membership that had all been favorably reported upon 

 by the committee on membership. These 47 were turned 

 in 55 before the pi'oceedings closed, thus making the 

 total membership of the league 355 as against 197 one 

 year ago, 103 members having been elected at the special 

 meeting held at Montpelier on April 11 last, and at tbe 

 summer meeting held at the residence of President Fisk 

 —Isle La Motte— in July. The 55 new members were all 

 duly elected, the following being a list of their names: 



C. L. Woodbury, Dr. H. E. Colvin, F. C. Smith, G. E Terrill. (3. G. 

 Benedict, E. G. Tiittle, J. K. Lynde, E. A. Chittenden, P. G. Butterfield, 

 W. C. Isham, L. E. Woodhouse, W. H. Waters, Z. M. Mansur, J. H. 

 Seymour, a. VV. Landon, S. S. Leach, E. B. Taft, D. J, Foster, O. 

 Clough, F. W. Baldwin, H. C. Qleason, S. A. Andrews, G. L. LaFoua- 

 tain, A. A, Richardson, F. D. Hale, W. H. Stowell, Orrice Ballard, L. 

 F. Abbott, F. M. Barscow, M. G. Safford, E. M. Barlow, O. G. Austin, 

 E. R. Morse, J. H. Edson, Benjamin Cronyn, F. L. Fish, H. B. Salis- 

 bury, F. L. Hyde, C. L. Soule, G. E. Blair, C. H, Lane, B M. Lambkin, 



E. W. Shipman, A. G. Wittemore, H. E. Tutherly, E. J. Booth, Freder- 

 ick day. Prank Brown, Thomas Arbuckle, H. C. Tinkham, O. N.-Mos- 

 Iey, L, H. Bixby and E. S. Adsit. 



The committee on game was continued in office, but no 

 report was made by that committee, the chairman, N. P. 

 Leach, of Highgate, Vt., being absent. The secretary, 

 however, made a brief statement as to what had been 

 done in the matter of importing and propagating new 

 game birds in the State, mentioning the fact that Mr. 

 Leach had purchased a quantity of quail on his own re- 

 sponsibility, the committee not being a unit in favor of 

 turning down quail on account of the birds being unable 

 to withstand the rigors of the climate of Vermont. 



Hon. E. A. Brackett, of Winchester, Mass., who had 

 contributed a valuable article on "Breeding and Care of 

 Pheasants," was elected an honorary member of the 

 League. 



While the meeting was waiting to hear from the com- 

 mittee on nominations, the president requested the secre- 

 tary to read a letter from W. J. van Patten, Mayor of 

 Burlington, regretting his inability to attend the gather- 

 ing owing to his having to leave for New York on the 

 morning of the day of the meeting. In his communica- 

 tion the mayor said (inter alia): "1 am greatly interested 

 in the work of the league, and trust that your efforts will 

 be as fruitful in the future as they have been in the past." 

 The president announced also that he had received a let- 

 ter from Senator Edmunds, who regretted that he could 

 not be present; having left the letter at home, the presi- 

 dent said he was sorry that he could not read it to the 

 members present. Letters were also received from Hon. 

 Eedfieid Proctor, Gen. J. J, Estey, Hon. H. H. Powers, 

 Hon. E. J. Phelps, etc. 



New Officers. 



The committee on nominations then handed in the fol- 

 lowing slate for officers for the next twelve months: " 



President, J. W. Titcomb; Secretary, T. M. Deal; Treas- 

 urer, C. F. Low; Vice-Presidents: W. R. Peak. N. W. Fisk, 



F. D. Proctor, E. C. Smith, W. S. Webb, J. W. Brock and 

 Erastus Baldwin; Membership Committee: F. H. Wells, 

 C. H. Bradley and C. H. Heaton; Auditors: Olin Merrill, 

 C. W. West and A. W. Ferrin. 



Executive Committee: Addison county, D, A. Bisbee/ 

 Bristol; Bennington county, H. S. Bingham, Bennington; 

 Caledonia county, L. K. Hazen, St. Johnsbury; Chitten- 

 den county, B. J. Derby, Burlington; Essex county, 

 Nathan Hobson, Brighton; Franklin county, F," W. Bald- 

 win, St. Albans; Grand Isle county, E. S, Fleury, Isle La 

 Motte; Lamoille county, George M. Powers, Morrisville; 

 Orange county, H. E. Parker, Bradford; Orleans county, 

 F. C. Kinney, Greensboro; Rutland county, C. A. Gale, 

 Rutland; Washington county, C. C. Warren, Waterbury; 

 Windham county, F. W. Childs, Brattleboro; Windsor 

 county, F. S. Mackenzie, Woodstock. 



Committee on Legislation: Addison county, C. M. 

 Wilds, Middlebury; Bennington county, Wm. E. Hawks, 

 Bennington; Caledonia county, C. M. Libby, South Rye- 

 gate; Chittenden county, Wm. W. Henry, Burlington; 

 E3sex county, Z, M. Mansur, Brighton; Franklin county, 

 Horace Baxter, S wanton; Grand Isle county, Edwin 

 Adams, Grand Isle; Lamoille county, C. S. Page, Hyde 

 Park; Orange county, W. S. Curtis, Randolph; Orleans 

 county, L. D. Miles, Newport; Rutland county, F. H. 

 Chapman, Rutland; Washington county, George AtKins," 

 Montpelier; Windham county, F. J. Holman, Brattleboro; 

 Windsor county, Fred. Arnold, Bethel. 



In making his presentation, the chairman of the com- 

 mittee. Gen, Henry, stated that the change in the treas- 

 urership was occasioned by a peoonal request from Mr. 

 A. W. Ferrin, who had stated to him that, owing to his 

 other business, he was unable to spare the time necessary 

 to be devoted to the affairs of the league. The slate was 

 adopted as presented. 



President-elect Titcomb, in thanking the members for 

 the honor done him, said that although the bulk of the 

 work of the league devolved upon the president, the sec- 

 retary and the treasurer, yet it was absolutely necessary 

 for every individual member to pitch in and work for the 

 interest of the league and of the State." With the stamp 

 of men that composed the membership of the league, 

 they would now, he added, be able to go to the Legisla- 

 ture with every hope of obtaining desired legislation. 



After the secretary had read a letter from Rowland E. 

 Robinson in regard to certain fish and proposed legisla- 

 tion in their behalf, Gen. Henry, on behalf of Dr. Cur- 

 tis, who was unable to speak on account of throat trouble, 

 offered the following resolution, which was adopted : 



Resolved, That the president and secretary be empowered to use • 

 such sums as they and the Commissioners in cooperation dsem neces- 

 sary, upon proper notice and recommendation of members of the 

 league and others, for the purpose of shadowing persons suspected 

 of violating the fish and game laws, to the end that evidence be more 

 surely obtained and conviction more certain. 



Before the meeting was adjourned President Nelson W. 

 Fisk said a few words of instruction to the members of 

 the legislative committee. He told them that they had 

 serious workr.before them, and that each member of that 

 committee should make up his mind to devote as much 

 t ime as possible during the session of the next Legislature 



to~the cause* "of^rleleaguey Tie"urge"d"upon them that each 

 member of the committee should go to Montpelier durlag 

 that session and spend all the time he . could in lurthgling 

 the best interests of the league and. of ■the' -State;.' ^Ver- 

 mont, he said, derived a very great deal of benefit from 

 the amount of money expended within her. borderartay 

 visitors to the State, and it was necessary, if suefcvisitejrs 

 were to be attracted to Vermont, that the State of Ver- 

 mont should herself, look after those things- which drew 

 men to the State — fish and game. H© expressed himself 

 as more than pleased with the results of the league's w&tk 

 so far and predicted a bright future for it. - : . * \tjt& 

 A vote of thanks was then tendered the<?fficers who/had 

 so ably looked after the interests of the league in the pjpt 

 year, and the meeting adjourned., - > 



The Banquet. 



The annual banquet of the league, which was held in 

 the dining room of the Van Ness House,- immediately 

 upon the adjournment of the above meeting, Was: very 

 largely attended. Covers had been laid for 150;, bufe.it 

 was found necessary to increase that number by ; thr«!'e 

 additional covers, the total number of members and their 

 friends amounting to £58, *«{ - I 



Those who were present from a distance were: . * 4 



Ex-Gov. C. S. Page, of Hyde Park; H. W. Bailey, of Newbury? 

 gressnian W. W. Grout and .J. W. Titcomb, of St. Johnsbury ;.RJ't/. 

 Hale, of Lunen burgh; Frank Howe, of Jericho; C. G. Austin, of High? 

 gate; Edwin Adams, of Adams; J. S. Colvin, of Rutland; .Gen. W. H, 

 Hilmore, of Fairlee; C G. William*, of Essex Junction; L. H. Lewis; 



\ C. F. Clough, of Waterbury ;'E-VP 



of Hyde Park; C. 0. Warren and I 



Bradley and Col. C. 0. Gilmore, of Swauton; . Col. A. A. Hall, F-..-G 

 Smith and T. M. Deal, of St. Albans; N. W. Fisk, of Isle La Mbtte,>; 0. 

 C Phillips, of St. Louis, Mo.; OUn Merrill, of Euosburgh Falls; P.'.E. 

 Moller, of Hoboken, N. J.; S. J. Davis, of Norwich; L. V. Smilie", jS'f 

 Cambridge; Dr. E, A. Smith, of Brandon; J. H. Edson, of Proctor; : X}, 

 E. Blair and J. J, Collamer, of Shelburne; N. Phelps and F: L. Hyde, 

 of Barre; J. N. George and A. A. Richardson, of Boston, Mass."; H. M, 

 Wires, M. ;L. Washington, J. F. Mead, W. S. Curtis and H. B. Sails* 

 bury, of Randolph ;.H S. Bingham, L. S. Norton, Cob E. D. Bennett' 

 and L. b . Abbott, nf Bennington; Dr. D. A. Bisbee and A. D. Evar.tSj, 

 of Bristol; F. A. Howland, W. A. Barrett, L. H. Bixby, O. C. Bancroft, 

 0. H. Ferrin, J. M. Boutwell, C. H. Heaton, C W. Ferrin, J. WJBrbck, 

 L, B. Cross, G. A. Peck and G, L Nichols, of Montpelier; D. H. LewiBi 

 S. A. Andrews, F. L. Fisl and J. G. Hindes, of Vergennes,; A. C.-. 

 Johnson, of MechanicsvUle, N. Y.; Orrice Ballard, of Georgia; Ge6."M. 

 Powers, of Morrisville. ' ■ -> 



Burlington herself turned out io great sliape, no less. than Tlgentfe-. 

 men.of that city being present at the banquet: Governor Ur.ban A. 

 Woodbury, General W, W. Henry, Captain H. E. Tutherly, Uf S/.A.; 

 Captain Smith S. Leach, U. S. Engineer Corp3; Judge'H. S. Peck, 

 Major C. L. Woodbury, G G. Benedict, of the Buriiugton ffi-eei Pre&(: 

 Joseph Auld, of the esurllngton Daily Press; A. Armagnac, of- the 

 Burlington Clipper; City Treasurer L. C. Grant, Rev. P. M. Snfrder,,, 

 Hon. D. J. Foster, Hobart J. Stanley, H. T. Taft, • W, 0\ Lane, F." A.- 

 Rousseau. J. W. OSullivan, F. L. Taft, Frederick Galy, W. C^Istam,' 

 Lawrence Bartley, W. B, McCarthy, E S. Adsit, E. B. Taft, J. R,Mc- 

 Mahon, F. H. Parker, W, F. Hendee, P. M.Barstow, F. E. Burgess, 

 John W. McGeary, F.'H, Wells, E. M. Barlow, A. C. S^pauiding, WV J. 

 Seward, H. R. Conger, A. W. Hill, Dr. H. C.'Tmkhaui; W. E. Greene;'; 

 Henry Wells, SV. J. Henderson, David Manson, F. A. Isham, L. S.j 

 Drew, W. P. Conger, Dr. J. H. Linsley, George W. Beckwifb,.EiJF., 

 Henderson, J G. Beilfose, ,T. B. Scully, W. L. Stone, J. HTflflries, W. 

 H.Lane, Jr., Thomas Arbuckle, C. M. Smith, H. S. We«d, Df. Hf E.- ; 

 Colvin, Dr. L M. Bingham, F. B. Boynton, J., E., Cook>, Dr: .Wm.(H.>- 

 Waters, E. J. Booth, W. V. Scully, J. A. Rustin, J. A. Haynes, Be.nja'gi%. 

 Cronyn,' A. H. St. Pierre, Wl-H. S.- Whitco'mb, Dr. A. P. Gttcnell, A". G. 

 Whlttemore, B. J. Derby and E. H. fchattuck." ."■■ ;* :' :' . ■' f_- ■? 



The banqueting hall had been elegan'tiy decorated .wiiii., 

 trophies of the chase, guns, rods, oar^sr^owshp^',"-. 

 by the members of the committee on arr'!\^n'g"ern.e'ntsi3JES 

 H. Wells, M. C. Berry, W. B. Mclvillip, B. J. B^byT"^. 

 E. Greene and J. C BelTrose. The general .effect., in^ t^'ftg 

 handsome dining room was a* charming one arid the scene " 

 was truly an animated one. The bill -of fare, which had 

 a good deal to do with the animation above referred ,tp, 

 was as follows: • ' ' ; topSS - 



- MENU. " ■ "'I ■';' • -'• * ^ 



" RA"W OYSTERS. '' " ' ' ^'"* 



Consomme Julidhne. "\ "'" -**•■*«; 



Queen Olives. ' Celery; DreSsed Lettuce.. *^ 



Baked Stuffed Lake Champlain Pike, Sauce au Juice. - . 



Boiled Fresh Saguenay Salmon, Egg Sauee^ 

 Saratoga Chips." • " ' 



Fillet of Beef . Larded, Mushroom Sauca. - I . _ ju,. ,*jf 

 Escalloped Oysters t\la Creme. , , . # 



Vermont Duck, Currant Jelly. .. .. 



Young Turkey, Cranberry Sauce. < „ ■ 



i Green Goose, Apple Sauce. 



Chicken Salad a, la Mayonnaise: : • 1 ' 



ROMAN PUNCH. 



Mashed Potatoes. 



Charlotte Russe. 



Assorted Cake. 

 Florida Oranges. : ' Grapes. 



Layer Raisins. 

 Cheese. 



aOPPKK. 



French Peas. Hubbard Igqiiasti'/'' 



Vanilla Icje Creamy 

 Rum Jelly. u 

 Fameuee Apples. ' 

 Mixed Nuts> 

 Crackers. ; ... 



. The toastmaster of the evening was George M. Powers *\ 

 of Morrisville, son-in-law of Governor Woodbury. ' Mwf 

 Powers is an ideal toastmaster, having a good comrain. I 

 of language, an infinite fund of wit and a power to draw ' 

 upon that fund at the proper moment. With a very 

 humorous short speech he introduced each speaker to bis " 

 audience. ' „ f 



Governor Woodbury, who is a new' member of 

 league, was the first to address the members and; 'thfif^l 

 friends. After referring to his two set speeches, b^ffi* 

 well known to his hearers, the Governor said: ."I 'see be- 1 -*- 

 fore me a body of enthusiastic business men who have.., 

 come together here to-day to further the best interest's of , 

 the State of Vermont. To an old man, such as myself,;"; 

 the preservation of fi3h and game is of no benefit, ejxpept? 1 

 in so far as it is for the decided benefit of the gehenil '' 

 public. I notice here this evening a body of men the equal 

 of any in Vermont, who are working together for wh : 

 firmly believe to be the best interests of our State. ' Ymf* 

 have great reason to congratulate yourselves ua t.u. s'u'<;-"*" 

 cess of this- meeting. 1 know that great good has been; 4 

 accomplished by the league in both good legislation amjp'' 

 action. I know of nothing that you could engage iti'"tl^Sft 

 would be more beneficial to the State of Vermont, arid I '* 

 predict that the success of the league in the futu're'wiir..; 

 be equal to that of the past." " : 



On taking his seat, Governor Woodbury was greeted, "f; 

 with loud applause. 1 " wb 



Toastmaster Powers next called upon the representatiM* 3 ^ 

 of Forest and Stream to get up and talk-, introducing 1 Mnf 

 under the tifele of a "dead-game sport— he looks like , 'tlp*4 

 The applause that greeted the rising of the man so tei'lecp^ 

 described proved one thing : that Vermonters appre^t 

 ciate both Forest and Stream and a "dead-game Sppr*?* 5 ^ 



The discourse of the "dead-game sport" was based upbtP^ 

 comparisons drawn between the work accomplished 'by * 

 the Vermont Fish and Game League and that Of "other "* 



- . i'l ij. 1 >* w,i'S 



