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FOREST AND STREAM. 



fOcT. 13, 1887. 



MISSISSIPPI QUAIL. 



ABERDEEN, Miss., Oct. 3.— The open season for 

 quail in this county began on the first day of this 

 month. The -weather was very warm and dry, but not- 

 withstanding the writer, with a friend who has not missed 

 shooting on the first day of the season for many years, 

 was out for an hour or two on the afternoon of the first. 

 We were by no means successful; the dogs could not 

 hunt, the thickets were in full leaf, the birds exceedingly 

 wild, and some of the bevies found were too small to 

 shoot; however, we managed to bag sixteen birds and 

 each had a toothsome dish for Sunday morning's break- 

 fast. 



Quail are reported as unusually abundant, and most 

 assuredly the past spring and summer have been more 

 favorable for nesting and rearing the young than for 

 many seasons past. Our season opens at least a month 

 too early, and should not begin before Nov. 1. On return- 

 ing from a visit to my place in the prairies a week or two 

 ago I received additional proof of the fact that quail 

 sometimes rear two broods in one season, as I saw a covey 

 composed of birds fully grown and others which could 

 scarcely fly, there being but one pair of old birds with 

 them. 



We have had some fine sport shooting doves in the 

 wheat stubbles during the past summer. The best shoot- 

 ing was had on the first day of the season, when a party 

 of twelve made an average of thirty-two each. Dove 

 shooting is to me the most difficult I have ever tried; and, 

 if a man can kill one-half of his shots, taking every 

 reasonable chance, he is above the average. Will. 



SNARES VS. DOGS. 



SYRACUSE, N. Y., Oct. 7 .—Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Being a lover of dog and gun, and a hater of snares 

 and all illegal devices for taking game, I feel like raising 

 my voice against farmers who snare partridges (ruffed 

 grouse) for money. In the town of West Monroe, Oswego 

 county, northside of Oneida Lake, live men having a 

 few acres of ground too poor to raise white beans. By 

 the first of September they have built miles of brush 

 fences with a slip-noose set every few feet in the fence, 

 for the purpose of snaring partridges. 



To insure utter immunity from sportsmen, the super- 

 visors and other influential men of the town of West 

 Monroe have recently passed a law proMbiting all hunt- 

 ing with dogs for birds or rabbits. They know by ex- 

 perience that every sportsman who comes into the town 

 with a bird dog will take considerable pains to destroy all 

 the snares they may find. It certainly appears as if they 

 meant to guard against it. I saw thirty-seven snared 

 lartridges brought to Syracuse and offered for sale. Mr. 

 .". H. Mann refused to buy them; and later in the season, 

 being offered so many snared buds as to disgust him, he 

 gave up buying them entirely. Would there were more 

 like him in Syracuse. 



It is impossible for me to find words to express the con- 

 demnation I feel. I would like to hear from others on 

 this subject. G. Albert Knapp. 



t 



GAME REPORTS. 



EAST SAGINAW, Mich., Oct. 3— Woodcock shooting 

 has been fairly good this fall. The great opposi- 

 tion heretofore existing to making the close season ex- 

 tend, until September and do away with summer shoot- 

 ing, using as an argument that buds would leave here, 

 and there would be no woodcock shooting at all if it was 

 put off so late, has been largely done away with, as buds 

 seem to have been as plentiful in September as they 

 formerly have been in July. Very little ruffed grouse 

 shooting has yet been done on account of the leaves not 

 being off from the trees, but buds are reported plentiful. 

 Several good bags of jack-snipe have been reported. 

 They are evidently home birds, as the northern flight has 

 not yet begun. Duck shooting is "no good"; so many 

 railroads and sawmills along the Saginaw River have 

 about driven out these birds, and do what they can tow- 

 ard protection, the shooting never will be as good as it 

 used to be. Next Monday night a party consisting of E. 

 N. Briggs, Ferd. A. Ashley, Geo. Moores, Jack Morley 

 and myself leave for the Indian Territory, and will be 

 present at the annual round up at the Saginaw Cattle 

 Co.'s ranch. We shall take our dogs and guns along as 

 quail are reported to be there in abundance. Jack M, 

 also has heard that "Section 37" is to be found some- 

 where in the Territory.— W. B. Mershon. 



Williamsport, Pa., Oct. 3.— Our county papers pub- 

 lish that the deer season will open Oct. 1; are they right? 

 A party of our best citizens have started deer hunting 

 with dogs. This is a common practice in Lycoming 

 county, and unless stopped will result ill. We have 

 enough true sportsmen in our county to crush the prac- 

 tice out of existence. All that is lacking is a "starter." 

 A few words in your valuable columns may be all that is 

 required. Squirrels are very scarce this fall, but pheas- 

 ants are unusually plentiful. A fair day's sport can be 

 had with the game of our county.— Fair Play [The 

 deer season for Pennsylvania opened Oct. 1. Hunting 

 with dogs is forbidden. "Fair Play's" duty is to make 

 complaint to proper officials.] 



Portland, Ind., Oct. 5.— The quail shooting opens 

 here on the 15th hist., and the prospects for bagging the 

 toothsome Bob White have not been as favorable in many 

 vears. The long dry summer has been very propitious to 

 the young birds. The early or first broods are full grown 

 and the second brood will be nearly so when the season 

 comes in. A serious obstacle to the sportsman's pleasure 

 is a determination on the part of a great many farmers 

 to protect the birds, and the ominous sign "No hunting or 

 shooting allowed on these premises," confronts the 

 hunter at almost every turn.— D. S. W. 



Mappsburg Station, Ya., Oct. 10.— As anticipated in a 

 prevous article, I find the crop of quail to be quite abund- 

 ant. I came across a bevy to-day near the house. Rab- 

 bits (hares), squirrels and foxes were never more plenty. 

 My friend F. S. Smith has <just completed a beautiful 

 light-draft yacht, and is anticipating knocking brant and 

 black duck right and left this autumn and winter.— T. E. 



A Hint to the Long Island Protector. — Editor 

 Forest and Stream: I wish to call attention to the man- 

 ner in which the game laws have been violated for years 

 here in the vicinity of Flatbush with no apparent attempt 

 to prosecute the infringers or to enforce the law. What 

 little game there is is hunted the year round, and on Sun- 

 days there is one incessant booming of guns right within 

 hearing of the village church bel s. It does not require a 

 ten minutes' walk from the heart of the village any Sun- 

 day afternoon to find some city murderers crawling and 

 sneaking along the edges of groves with heavy muskets 

 or shotguns, looking for song birds sitting on the trees, to 

 blow them to pieces. Outside of the song birds there is 

 or would be sufficient game to warrant protection, and 

 an enforcement of the game laws. There are a few wood- 

 cock and rabbits, but they get shot off early in the sum- 

 mer. Some of the Flatbush sportsmen planted a number 

 of quail the past winter but they were shot off by out- 

 siders in the spring and early summer. The game laws 

 are enforced, or at least, more or less so, in the thinly 

 settled parts of the country. Surely, where so openly 

 and barefacedly violated for years in the very hearing of 

 the metropolis of the country, the law should be enforced 

 to a certain extent at least. The principle is just the 

 same as though the case referred to a North Woods deer 

 or a Maine moose.— Piotjs H. 



A New Hampshire Resort.— Haverhill, Mass., Oct. 3. 

 — Sportsmen in the vicinity of Boston who have only a 

 day or two to spare can find good fishing and shooting at 

 Gumwood Lake, situated at Kingston Plains, N. H. In- 

 formation can be had by writing to the proprietor of the 

 Kingston House, Kingston Plains, N. H. — Clingstone. 



NORTH CAROLINA GAME LAW. 



ROCKINGHAM, N. C, Oct. i —Below I give you the substance 

 of the game laws of this State. They are not applicable to 

 the counties of Johnston, Tyrrell, Dare, Onslow, Carteret, Jones, 

 Columbus, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Swain, Macon and Transyl- 

 vania. The law relating to deer does not embrace the counties 

 lying on and east of the Wilmington and "Wei don Railroad. No 

 deer can be killed in parts of Burke, McDowell and Mitchell 

 before Jan. 1, 1891. 

 The open season for birds is from Oct. 15 to April 1. 

 For deer begins Aug. IS and ends Feb. 15. 



No Bob White can be exported from the State. It is unlawful 

 to destroy their nests. No ducks, geese, brant, etc., can be killed 

 or sent off from Currituck county between March 10 and Nov. 10. 



The bird law includes robins, larks, doves and ruffed grouse. 

 The predatory birds, such as hawks, eagles, crows and owls, can 

 be killed at any time. 



The law protecting marsh hens, or clapper rail, applies only to 

 the county of New Hanover, and is open from Sept. 1 to April 1. 



Wells. 



\m and iiiter 



Addrem all communications to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



A STORY OF HORNED POUTS.— II. 



YES, I did promise to give you an account of that 

 supper, and I do not believe in flinching, but I tell 

 you, you ought to have been there to get anything like a 

 true picture of it. This supper was at Unele Bill's own 

 house. His wife was sent out of the kitchen, and his 

 "gals," as he called them, four buxom lassies, were also 

 given to understand that they were no part of this occas- 

 ion, it being for the boys only. "We soon had full control 

 of that old-fashioned Connecticut kitchen, with its big 

 fireplace, smooth oaken floor, and a family table capable 

 of seating ten or twelve. One end of this table was at all 

 times reserved for Uncle Bill, and I might add, it was 

 seldom spread except to its fullest extent, for his own 

 family numbered an even dozen. We all turned to and 

 helped to clean the pouts, aided by Uncle Bill's six boys, 

 ranging from five to twenty years. By the time the fire 

 was well going, Uncle Bill was in front of it with a grid- 

 dle, full of pouts spattering and spitting away in a man- 

 ner appetizing to us boys, who had been kept away from 

 the pantry all day. At length the order came "all take 

 seats," which was obeyed on the double quick. Uncle Bill 

 played the double part of cook and waiter, waddling back 

 and forth on about 2-minute trips from stove to table, and 

 expressing much anxiety as to our appetites. Our plates 

 were soon filled, and sooner emptied, and refilled and re- 

 emptied of as crisp a lot of pouts as ever tempted any 

 living man. The roaring laughter of Uncle Bill spiced 

 the occasion, as he halted over his beaten track and 

 pointed with pride to another full griddle of pouts. Being 

 a hungry crowd, it made it quite Lively for Uncle Bill to 

 keep our wants supplied, but at length not even his 

 urgent invitation could encourage us to eat more, and 

 then he himself sat down. 



"That old squire," he said, "knew full well he had no 

 case; he knew my arrest would not hold me, so he says, 

 'Bill T,, you can go, and I will see to it that you don't go 

 far;' and at it he went to make out a warrant. Well, it 

 makes me laugh. At the rate he wrote I calculated I had 

 time to cross the State line into good old Connecticut. I 

 plead my own case, and the squire let me go; and some 

 of those same men who carried away pouts enough for 

 half a dozen meals were there making a formal complaint, 

 and when the squire said, 'You can go,' I said to myself, 

 'Now, legs, do your duty,' and I made lively time to the 

 wagon and got under way at once and headed for old 

 Connecticut. We drove fast, and when we were near the 

 line that officer was in sight and gaining on us lively by 

 running his horse. The calculation was a 'leetle' close for 

 comfort, but we got there, and I had the pleasure of tell- 

 ing that fellow that I would settle with him for trying to 

 steal me: and, boys, we will do him yet; what say you?" 

 It was agreed "to do him." 



Then, ttirning from the table, Uncle Bill invited his 

 recruits to the open air of the yard, where the plan was 

 perfected for the capture of the officer in case he visited 

 the State. And this was the plan: We were each to act 

 as a special detective, and if either of us set eyes on him 

 we were to report to Uncle Bill, who was to have a war- 

 rant out for his arrest and manage the rest of the case. 



For weeks we kept on the lookout for that officer; and 

 the weeks lengthened into months, until one day 3ome 

 of our party saw the individual at the depot with his 

 team shipping grain. This was duly reported to Uncle 

 Bill, without the loss of a moment's time, followed up 

 and the warrant made out and placed in the hands of an 

 officer; with instructions "to levy on the individual and 

 team upon his return, at sight." The following day, 



upon his return, the service was made, and the enemy 

 was brought to bay. Then he sought the aid of friends 

 and was busy nearly all the afternoon, skipping about for 

 somebody to receipt for his team and become responsible 

 for his appearance before the judge on the day agreed 

 upon to answer to charges set forth in the voluminous 

 legal document "in the name of the people for imprison- 

 ing one Bill T., a citizen of Connecticut." (And I sup- 

 posed we were the people, at least our interest in the case 

 led us to believe we were an important factor among 

 them.) 



The day arrived for trial, and all hands were there 

 early, Uncle Bill with his counsel— the Hon. ex-Gov. 

 Cleveland and Squire Graves — whom he had secured to 

 look after his interests, all were promptly on hand at 

 court when the defendant with counsel arrived, and the 

 Judge being punctual, court was opened at once. The 

 first and probably the only case on the calendar was 

 Uncle Bill's, so the court at once proceeded. Uncle Bill 

 took the stand and gave a detailed account of the pursuit 

 and the capture, detailing his flight across the water and 

 the return, repeated several times; and the "persistent - 

 pursuit of the prisoner at the bar," to the great annoyance 

 of himself and his young friends, "some of whom are 

 present as witnesses in this case in behalf of the people." 

 He set forth the great danger liable to himself "by long 

 exposure in the water," which, although a solemn fact, 

 created occasional smiles from the crowd in court, especi- 

 ally when he recounted his trips and those of the officer 

 in pursuit. He next dilated upon his being deprived of 

 his liberty, "that liberty so dear to every citizen, and so 

 much appreciated by myself, through the persecution of 

 the prisoner at the bar" (particular accent being placed 

 upon "the prisoner at the bar," each time repeated). His 

 testimony Deing in, the defense cross-questioned Uncle 

 Bill at great length, and to each question Uncle Bill de- 

 tailed the act of "seeking the water for safety," and the 

 necessity of so doing "to protect his person from unlaw- 

 ful seizure," until the court and all within hearing were 

 fully acquainted with the minutest detail of the arrest, 

 and fully comprehended the great wrong done to a citizen 

 of their own commonwealth. Uncle Bill being excused 

 from the stand the boys were, each in turn, called to take 

 the stand, and eacU in his own simple way gave his ac- 

 count of what he saw, all agreeing as to main facts, but 

 differing in their description and classification as to the 

 particular class of aquatics Uncle Bill's system of propul- 

 sion belonged; some called it "wallowing through," others 

 called it "floating," others called it "wading," while one 

 said he "swam in his effort to protect himself from the 

 assault of the prisoner at the bar," giving quite an imita- 

 tion of Uncle Bill describing the party who pursued him. 



It was a great trial, and when the defense were putting 

 in testimony Uncle Bill was prompting his lawyers; and 

 many of the witnesses had to acknowledge having eaten 

 of the fish caught by Uncle Bill and his little party, each 

 admission being accompanied with an "I thought so" 

 from Uncle Bill. 



At length the testimony was all in, and the court con- 

 chMed to hear the arguments, which were begun by 

 Uncle Bill's lawyer, Squire G., who. entertained the court 

 and spectators with his account of the great wrong per- 

 petrated upon the people of this commonwealth, "the 

 great danger inflicted upon a citizen whose avoirdupois 

 made it extremely hazardous to his life to be forced to 

 such extreme measures to protect himself from unlawful 

 seizure; a measure which was the studied plot of the 

 prisoner at the bar, that by it something awful to con- 

 template — death — might happen to the complainant, that 

 he, the prisoner at the bar, might be the beneficiary of 

 such a calamity, a calamity that would be shared by every 

 good citizen for miles around us; a calamity that would 

 cause a whole community to mourn over the loss of one 

 of her most respected members. May it please your 

 Honor, such high-handed outrage calls for the direst ex- 

 tent and severest penalty of the law, and the people 

 of the community, one and all, from the oldest to the 

 youngest, are clamoring among themselves at this great 

 outrage, and as to the fittest punishment for him, the 

 prisoner at the bar. Why, your Honor, is such interest 

 manifested? See the great number of good people present, 

 who have left their work and then homes to be present 

 at this trial, to witness the punishment of the prisoner at 

 the bar; people who have been born and raised neighbors 

 to the complainant, and who are here to testify (if need 

 be) to the many good deeds of this much wronged man; 

 to his sterling character, and the love they bear him; and 

 I might very properly add these sterling qualities of the 

 complainant were well known to the prisoner at the bar, 

 and would not justify him either morally or officially to 

 jeopardize so valued a member of our commonwealth. 

 Revenge of a jealous people, not law, was what actuated 

 this onslaught upon our worthy feUow citizen, the com- 

 plainant. Official dignity and official duty were set 

 aside, and the prisoner at the bar, unclothed with author- 

 ity, gave heed to the howls of a mob, who partook freely 

 of the fruits of the labor of the complainant, as sworn to 

 by themselves. We therefore ask of you, in the name of 

 the people, to pass such sentence upon the prisoner at the 

 bar as you in your own mind consider adequate to the 

 great injustice done my client, in accordance to the testi- 

 mony presented by and in behalf of the people." 



The defendant's counsel followed, after unloading a 

 bag of big books upon the table and brushing his hair 

 well back. "Yotu Honor, may it please the court, we 

 are called upon to present the case of the defendant, in 

 which we claim a great wrong had been done to the 

 people of Rhode Island, the laws of the State had been 

 grossly broken and set at defiance by a party of trespass- 

 ing people, led bv the complainant. During this trespass 

 the proper official was appealed to and his protection 

 asked by the people, and under the circumstances all had 

 been done by the defendant in his official capacity that 

 any man could do. He found the complainant openly 

 defying the law, and demanded his surrender. But he 

 did not obey. He did no surrender. Instead, he, to 

 evade the heavy hand of the law, took to the water in a 

 manner betraying a studied plot to escape in case he was 

 interfered with in his nefarious calling; for once in the 

 water he seemed as much at home as would a duck, and 

 he put on an amount of assurance satisfactory to his 

 aiders and abettors and among whom no doubt of suc- 

 cessful escape was expressed. This prudent officer, not 

 daring to bring on an encounter in the water, did the 

 next best thing in his power; he took to the dam. For 

 the purpose of better fixing the true state of affairs in the 

 mind of the court, let us suppose the defendant in pur- 



