466 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 5, 1888. 



that the country around Bismarck is cloudy with the 

 smoke of guns, and our relatives, the ducks, both great 

 and small, are falling by the hundreds. My advice is 

 to remain where we are till it is too cold for all these 

 different guns to be sitting behind every weed, and in a 

 thousand pits." 



Thus it happened that we have had but little shooting 

 this fall compared with other falls. The geese usually 

 get here about the first of October and stay into November. 



The pass shooting in many of our sloughs was all any 

 one could wish, and many were the evenings in Septem- 

 ber that, while standing in rushes reaching higher than 

 my head, I have wished some of your many readers (all 

 good fellows) could be by my side. After shooting and 

 scoring a double drop, or go on, I would see other flocks 

 of mallards and teal flying swift of wing straight for my 

 new Parker. How a sportsman will tremble with excite- 

 ment, and hold his breath for fear the game will hear 

 him breathe. Often there would be eight or ten sports- 

 men in a line, and the strange part of it was that, the 

 slough being not more than 150yds. wide and two miles 

 long, the ducks would not change then course; but down 

 the full length of that slough they would come; and were 

 it not that the majority of sportsmen shoot about two to 

 five feet behind then bird, few would have been left for 

 the last man. As it was, we have sport which can be en- 

 joyed here but not described. I have had the pleasure 

 since writing my first letter for your paper of taking by 

 the hand many of the Eastern boys, who thanked me 

 most heartily for guiding them to the sportsman's para- 

 dise. 



As to large game, we have it by our side, as I have 

 told before. This week two friends of mine went up the 

 river, about twenty minutes' ride, and letting their hounds 

 loose in the brush in two minutes the most welcome 

 sound on earth was heard coming from the throats of 

 these two slow dogs. I can't tell how other hounds act, 

 but these walk, and my friend who shot one of the four 

 deer started told me he stood on a high log and could see 

 the deer for nearly a mile coming toward him. He said 

 they acted like rabbits; they would stand and wait till 

 the dogs would get within ten rods of them; then they 

 would skip off for 200yds., and just before stopping they 

 would jump off sideways, till they got within 50yds. of 

 him, when he killed one and the others took a circle and 

 went back the same way they had come. This experi- 

 ence can be repeated each day. I have just heard from 

 a friend who lives west of us a few hundred miles, who 

 says he has just returned from a six days' hunt with four- 

 teen deer, as many antelope, one mountain sheep, one 

 bear and other game. W. H. Williamson. 



M1SCOU. 



FREDERICTON, N. B.— Messrs. Allen, Babbitt, Seelye 

 and Gillmore visited Miscou about the first of Octo- 

 ber last, remaining there a fortnight, during which time 

 they got forty wild geese, besides a large number of 

 ducks of various kinds, of which no account was kept. 



Brant were just making then appearance on the island; 

 as the sportsmen were leaving these fowls were then 

 arriving m vast quantities. Plover, curlew and other 

 birds of a similar character were leaving at the time of 

 their arrival. They had been very plentiful during the 

 earlier part of the season and Dr. Orne Green, of Boston, 

 had some very good shooting on them as well as on black 

 and gray ducks the whole of the early part of the season, 

 that is to say for the whole month of September, which 

 is the best time for these birds. Geese were more abun- 

 dant than in former years, owing to the fact that this 

 autumn for the first time they had been protected in their 

 haunts by Charles "Wilson, a resident of the island, who 

 was assisted by his son. 



Thirteen flocks of geese were reared on the island this 

 year. Formerly geese bred there in large numbers. The 

 protection offered them this year will probably cause the 

 birds to again occupy the island as a breeding place. 

 Foxes, which were numerous on Miscou, have been de- 

 stroyed to a large extent. These animals have in former 

 years proved very destructive to the young geese. Geese 

 which breed on the coast of Labrador are said to select as 

 nesting places, dry spots in the midst of floating bogs, 

 where they are comparatively protected by the surround- 

 ing water from the attacks of many of their enemies; but 

 their nests on Miscou had no such protection and could be 

 reached by foxes, dogs and men. 



Many acres of geese, mingled with black and gray 

 ducks, were seen by these sportsmen on the feeding 

 grounds of north and south Mai Bay. "When the geese 

 were not disturbed at all on their feeding grounds they 

 rose in flocks of from five to thirty and made their way 

 into the little fresh- water lake, which is situated between 

 the two bays. When the weather was windy they flew 

 low, when it was calm many of them would fly too high 

 for the range of an ordinary fowling piece. The little 

 fresh-water lake is not more than half a mile from either 

 bay. 



The position taken by sportsmen who shoot at tbe Mis- 

 cou preserve is at some point along that part of the shore 

 of the fresh-water lake which is most adjacent to the feed- 

 ing grounds. The situation of this point is determined, 

 for the time being, by the direction of the wind. Wilson, 

 who has long been a resident of the island, can tell to 

 within a few feet the spot where this point is, under any 

 wind. In order to conceal one's self from the geese, 

 which are leaving the feeding grounds for their resting 

 place on the lake, the sportsmen take their place behind 

 blinds about 4ft. high, dug down in the dry moss or made 

 of the scrubby spruce bushes which are found growing in 

 this dreary and barren country. Occasionally a tree an- 

 swers the ptu-pose of a place of concealment. When tbe 

 geese, winch are very waiy, arise, the sportsman must 

 remain perfectly motionless or move very slowly, quick 

 movements attracting then attention at once and 'at sur- 

 prising distances. The sportsman's clothes should be all 

 dark, a dirty brown being the best color. 



Brant shooting is done in a different manner. There is 

 a long point between Mai Bay and the waters of the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence. On this the sportsman takes his posi- 

 tion at daylight, concealing himself as well as possible 

 and here awaits the flight of the brant from then noctur- 

 nal feeding grounds at Mai Bay to their resting places on 

 the waters of the gulf. Unlike the wild goose, the brant 

 never visits the little fresh-water lake. The brant is 

 killed more easily than the goose. Wilson and another 

 man in one day's shooting at Miscou, using decoys, have 

 killed ninety-six geese and brant. Edward Jack. 



A MORNING WITH THE COOTS. 



ONE day during the early part of November, while 

 spending my vacation on the Jersey coast, not far 

 from the site of one of its most fashionable and exclusive 

 summer resorts, I chanced, for the want of something- 

 better to while away time, to drop into one of the life- 

 saving stations, where I was well acquainted with the 

 crew, and was always sure of a hearty welcome and 

 equally sine of hearing all the current news of shooting 

 or fishing. This day proved no exception to the rule. 

 The captain said, "How would you like to have a chance 

 at the coots? No. — [meaning the station below] are 

 having great fun and killing lots of them. Would you 

 like to go down and have a try, if I can arrange for a boat 

 for you?" "Would I? Well, you just try me," was my 

 answer; and visions of coots, single and in flocks, boats 

 and decoys, flashed before my mind's eye. Leaving the 

 station with the understanding that I would call in the 

 afternoon, I started for home and the enjoyment of load- 

 ing shells. 



The sun was getting low in the west when I stepped 

 once more within the station house door, and was greeted 

 with a chorus of voices, saying, "It's all right, you are to 

 go there to-morrow morning. Be here at 4, and we will 

 have a horse and wagon ready to take you down. Bring 

 lots of shells," was the parting injunction, an injunction 

 which I fully intended to heed. 



That evening, in spite of all the little details for the 

 success of the to-morrow, which I managed to crowd into 

 it, seemed to drag on leaden wheels. I was called next 

 morning at three. Ugh ! how I hated to get up out of 

 my warm and comfortable bed into the cold air of the 

 room. "Which way is the wind?" I asked, mentally 

 hoping the answer would be unfavorable. "West, sir, 

 and no surf." That settled it, and I had to get up. 

 Twenty minutes afterward saw me wrapped up, carrying 

 gun and shells, and hurrying in the clear moonlight. A 

 quarter of an hour's sharp walk and the station opened 

 its hospitable doors and disclosed the crew engaged in do- 

 ing justice to Howard's cooking. "Come L., sit down 

 and get something to eat, you should have been on your 

 way down the beach by this time," said the Captain. 

 Five minutes after the meal found me in the wagon with 

 one of the men, being driven rapidly down the shore to 

 our starting point, at the next station, where an hour 

 later we arrived. "Well, I suppose you fellows are all 

 ready," came the inquiry from our host. You take your 

 friend off this morning, the more boats the better, and I 

 think he will have better shooting alone in a boat than 

 if he went with another shooter. You will find your boat 

 there," pointing to a surf boat that lay a short distance 

 from us. "Go to the south'rd about a quarter of a mile 

 and anchor 300yds. from the shore," with which parting 

 directions we pushed the boat into the surf , went over 

 the bar, and in a few moments came to anchor and put 

 our stools overboard. As we settled back in our seats, 

 ready for the work of the day to commence, I took 

 occasion to look around me and note the prospects and 

 the preparations made in the other boats for the fun. 



To the east the first rays of daylight were beghining to 

 show themselves and dye the ocean a dark purple, inter- 

 spersed with bars of light, that under the gentle west 

 wind looked like beaten copper. In the distance shone 

 the beacon of the Scotland Lightship, and further west 

 on the Navesink hills the Highland ligh ts were beginning 

 to pale in the coming day. Down in the northeast a 

 schooner could dimly be made out, standing with all sail 

 set toward Sandy Hook. To the south the water was 

 cold and leaden, while in shore it was breaking into 

 ripples, and the western horizon looked as if it had plenty 

 of wind in store and would shortly prove the fact to us. 

 Around us on all sides could be made out a dozen or more 

 boats riding at anchor, and to keen eyes each had its 

 string of decoys close aboard. While I was enjoying 

 the picture and watching the day break, half forgetting 

 the purpose for which I had come, I was startled by hear- 

 ing C. say, "Mark southeast." This dispelled all dream- 

 ing, and turning my eyes, I made out a single bird rapidly 

 approaching the nearest boat to the south of us. On he 

 came, his dusky wings seeming but barely to clear the 

 ripples, heading a little to the south of our neighbor. 

 Then, as if seeing the decoys for the first time, he swung 

 swiftly in toward them and prepared to pitch. A flash', 

 a dull boom of a heavily-loaded gun, a streak of white 

 water under him, and a cloud of smoke rising from the 

 innocent-looking fishing boat seemed to have convinced 

 him that he had made a mistake and a narrow escape, 

 and had better change his quarters, which he did in spite 

 of the second invitation sent after him. Straight in 

 shore the bird went, and in his haste and fright, miscal- 

 culating the danger distance from the in-shore boat, went 

 down with a rush and splash before a charge of No. 2 

 sent at him. 



"Look out, here comes one straight for you: and don't 

 you miss the first bird for anything." "Where is he? Oh, 

 I see him." Yes, there he came, swift and straight as an 

 arrow, for our stools. Stooping low. to be as much out of 

 sight as possible, I drew back the hammers of my little 

 Parker, determined to make 3£drs. of powder and an 

 ounce of No. 4 do all they could to stop this visitor. In 

 an instant he was over the furthest stool. Now steady, 

 was the mental command to my nerves, as the gun came 

 to shoulder, and eye ranged down the barrels showed 

 them to be about a foot ahead. Ah! now then. And 

 there was instantly a transformation scene, with a bunch 

 of feathers and a badly demoralized duck as the central 

 figure; a splash in the water and a sigh of relief from C, 

 whose "All right!" convinced me that thegun and myself 

 had done our work well this time, at least. 



During this little by-play of our own, the other boats 

 had not been idle, as dull, muffled reports from all direc- 

 tions proved, and that they were meeting .with more or 

 less success the moving and anchored boats plainly 

 showed. For an hour or so this continued. Then all of 

 the birds seeming to have found a resting place further 

 out at sea, where they were only occasionally disturbed 

 by passing vessels, and, as a consequence, not giving the 

 shooting that our neighbors seemed to think they should, 

 a general movement for the new resting place of the 

 ducks commenced. Our host called to us as he passed * ' to 

 come out shore," an invitation we hesitated about accept- 

 ing, as the wind had increased, and the gentle ripple of 

 the morning had given place to a decided sea, which cer- 

 tainly must be much larger off shore. However, after 

 talking the matter over, we decided to follow, and getting 

 in our decoys, commenced going out shore. Our delay 



had given the other boats a long start, and before we got 

 half way out they were among the birds, of which there 

 seemed to be thousands. Looking over my shoulder I 

 could see them flying in all directions, some scooting 

 close along the water, barely clearing the seas, others 

 high overhead, flying in a heedless fashion from one boat 

 to another, or hesitating a moment over a bunch of stools, 

 and paying for then curiosity by the loss of some of their 

 number. 



With the aid of the wind, now almost a gale, and our 

 rapidly plied oars, we were soon in a position to drop 

 anchor and place the stools. This done, we were prepared 

 for all callers, and had not long to wait. "There he 

 comes," C. remarked, and sure enough there he did come, 

 straight toward our stern, regardless of both stools and 

 boat, intent only upon getting to some quieter neighbor- 

 hood. Head on, a bad way to shoot a duck, I hear some old 

 shooter say? Yes, I grant you friend, but it was head on 

 or nothing; you cannot turn around with any degree of 

 comfort or safety in a surf boat with such a sea running. 

 Accepting the inevitable, as he closed on our sternmost 

 stool, the gun muzzle rested in a line with Ins breast, 

 then was raised until the head disappeared, the trigger 

 touched, and an ounce of No. 4 crushed him back, ragged 

 and limp, as dead a duck as ever interviewed a choke- 

 bore. 



For an hour or more the shooting continued, bringing 

 us our share of birds, and at the same time a fair share of 

 misses, some of which brought with them the unqualified 

 and plainly expressed disapproval of C. Then, the wind 

 having increased, and the sea making shooting almost 

 impossible, we boated our decoys and commenced our 

 journey shoreward, which interesting point was at least 

 two miles away in the teeth of the wind. An hour's hard 

 work at the oars, sometimes only holding our own against 

 the fierce flaws, which ever and anon, as if to show their 

 power, would drive the spray clean over the boat; and 

 again, as the force of the flaw passed, gaining a few 

 yards, we finally reached the Bar. Here taking advan- 

 tage of the first opportunity that the surf offered, we 

 ran throught it, and once more had Jersey soil under our 

 feet. 



Hauling our boat up, we counted our victims, and 

 found that twenty-four of them lay on the stern locker. 

 Placing them in our wagon and thanking our host for his 

 kindness, we were soon on the road home, thus closing a 

 day of pleasure and excitement for C. and ruyself , if not 

 for the coots. H. G. L. 



New Yobk. 



FIELD, MARSH AND SCRUB. 



AS the season for shooting partridges and quail is about 

 over, I thought I would have one more good day's 

 sport, so yesterday morning I shouldered my gun and 

 started for the woods. Accompanied by my spaniel dog 

 I set out for Spring Brook, and on reaching the stream 

 Bruce soon flushed a covey of partridges, which took 

 to some oak grubs a little way off. I followed them up 

 and soon had two in my game coat pocket. I followed 

 on down stream and got two more within ten minutes. I 

 then turned back and followed up stream for some dis- 

 tance without finding any more birds, until I came to a 

 large marsh, with here and there quite large thickets 

 of willow and thorn bushes. In these places Brace 

 flushed several birds, but they were so wild I could 

 not bag any. I crossed over a couple of fields and came 

 to another brook about the same size as Spring Brook and 

 started down stream. On my way down I shot three 

 gray squirrels and five partridges, making nine birds and 

 three squirrels the fruit of my day's hunt, which I thought 

 was a day long to be remembered. If I could shoot birds 

 on the wing as some men can I could have brought to bag 

 more partridges than two strong men could carry, for I 

 honestly think I saw between 150 and 200 partridges. If 

 the winter continues mild as it is here now I think we 

 shall have plenty of sport with the birds next season. 

 All that I killed were very plump and fat. C. D. P. 

 Lowell, Mich. 



In this section and at this season of the year, night 

 sports are favorite pastimes with many. Muskrat, rac- 

 coon and opossum bunts predominate. The muskrat 

 hunter, seated in a canoe, with a lantern and a large 

 tin or nickeled reflector fastened securely in the bow, 

 paddles silently along the margin of the creeks and 

 streams, and is armed with a shotgun or rifle, with the 

 aid of which he kills the startled creatures as they come 

 forward to inspect the occurrence of the light. By this 

 means large quantities may be bagged in sections where 

 they are numerous. The raccoon and opossum hunts are 

 much more exciting. Recently a party of six, equipped 

 with guns and axes and accompanied by seven good clogs, 

 started on one of these hunts at 9 P. M., and after wad- 

 ing through streams and marshes, cutting their way 

 through thickets of undergrowth, and stalking over acres 

 of plowed ground and woodland, returned in the early 

 hours of the morning, having captured but two raccoons 

 and one opossum. Del. A. Ware. 



Dover, Delaware. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



Although somewhat prostrated by the scathing rebuke 

 received at the hands of the Breeder and Sportsman for 

 my temerity in having dared to address to Forest and 

 Stream the inquiry, supplemented by a modest expres- 

 ion of my own and published in your columns of the 3d 

 ult., regarding the wildfowl of the vicinity adjacent to 

 San Fraucisco as compared with the fowl of other por- 

 tions of the coast, and although a trifle uncertain yet 

 about the knees, I am still able to hold a pen, and with 

 your permission would like to offer a few words in 

 acknowledgment. 



The "pity" the Breeder and Sportsman so gratuitously 

 and lavishly dispenses is not what I was inquiring for at 

 all, but such a method of charity is not altogether orig- 

 inal, I have known it distributed unsolicited — and almost 

 as gracefully — before. 



The Breeder and Sportsman dilating painfully upon 

 the singularity that one could be so silly as the querist 

 quoted, goes on to say that "he must know that the 

 merest moiety of birds marketed is brought from the salt 

 marshes near Alvarado, Alameda, or anywhere else where 

 marshes are salt," a statement I should readily believe 

 from the number of guns in weekly array as against that 

 of fowl. 



Here, at the very outset, the Breeder and Sportsman 

 has made a most over-liberal draft upon even its stock of 



