28 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I Feb., 3, 1887, 



OPENING THE CHICKEN SEASON. 



IN this famed valley of the Northern Red, where the 

 earth lies spread out for miles on miles flatter than 

 the flattest pancake, where waving fields of ripening 

 wheat are interspersed with strips of meadow and grassy 

 slew, where the hum of the reaper startles the timorous 

 grouse, and the gayly -plumed mallard fans the morning 

 zephyr with lusty wings, the opening of the autumn season 

 is indeed a gala day with sportsmen. Excited gunners, 

 eager dogs and conveyances of every description begin to 

 swarm over the golden fields of bristling stubble long 

 before silver-footed Thetis rises from her coral-studded 

 ocean chamber to clinch the eastern sky, and ere the lark 

 leaves her nest to greet the smiling morn are heard the 

 whirr of wings and the booming of guns. The lawyer is 

 there to file his ever ready demurrer, the scribe to keep 

 the "cases," while the jolly medicine man conies prepared 

 to ''bind up the wounds of the afflicted," and when at 

 early noon we gather beneath the shade to revel in sand- 

 wiches, titled monarchs could not possess lighter hearts 

 nor better appetites. 



The pale crescent of the harvest moon peeped out now 

 and then from behind laggard clouds, and from the belfry 

 tower the deep-toned bell clanged the hour of midnight. 

 Aug. 14, 188—. Here and there the dim light of a dingy 

 lantern or the rattle of carriage wheels announced the 

 departure, country ward, of divers and sundry parties of 

 sportsmen, each intent on circumventing the "other fel- 

 ler" in the selection of shooting grounds within easv drive 



of the slumbering city. Squire M., Jake B., Billy P. and 

 the writer made up one of these parties. For days before- 

 hand the proposed "grand opening" had monopolized 

 conversation to the exclusion of everything else pretty 

 nearly; the best locality, all things considered; the proba- 

 ble condition of the weather, all were discussed; the lack 

 of greater diversity of opinion being largely due to the 

 fact that only four took part hi these preliminary exer- 

 cises. But the auspicious moment arrived at last, and as 

 we boarded the canopy-topped "Tinckin" behind a spank- 

 ing pah- of sorrels, a happier party of men and dogs it 

 would have been difficult to find. A couple of hours' 

 drive over a smooth country road, and we halt in close 

 proximity to an inviting slew where M. and B. alight, 

 while Billy and I restrain the impatient dogs, leaving the 

 ubiquitous Jehu to hold the even ribbons over the scarcely 

 less restive horses. Bangety— bang— bang! and a couple 

 of hooded mergansers fall to a neat double from the 

 "Square's" Baker, while Jake scores a teal with his right 

 and a clean miss with the left barrel of his "s— sk — sky- 

 scraping old S—S— Scott." The handsome William had 

 alighted with two powerful setters in leash— for the ex- 

 pressed purpose of stretching his "beanpoles," when, as the 

 sharp reports awoke a sleeping shikepoke hard by, and 

 the able-bodied descendants of Gordon and Llewellin be- 

 gan to sniff fun in the air, about six feet of humanity, 

 strangely commingled with dog meat and maledictions, 

 lay lacking and squirming amid the damp grass. To the 

 interested onlookers the scene was ludicrous in the ex- 

 treme, but no smile wreathed the coimtenance of the 

 genial William, as he slowly picked himself up and elim- 

 inated the grass and dog hairs from his comely person. 



Another half hour's drive and the "Square's" "pinter" 

 comes to a beautiful stand near the edge of a freshly gar- 

 dened wheatfield. The remaiiiing two dogs, which, since 

 the episode at the slew, had been kept in close confine- 

 ment by way of punishment, were now released and 

 backed the rigid pointer in fine style. The dexterity with 

 which P. got his "Ithaca" in shooting trim was sufficient 

 evidence that his ardor had not been dampened by his 

 recent fall, even if the grass was wet, and I had scarce 

 filled my pocket with shells and gotten well into line 

 when a "chicken" 'rose with a bur-r-r, only to tumble 

 headlong to his well-directed aim. Four more birds from 

 this bevy of eight, all told, in due time found their way 

 to our game pockets, while three, having run the gauntlet, 

 escaped. After beating the cover carefully without an 

 additional rise, we proceeded to find another covey. For 

 some reason, somewhat to our disappointment, chickens 

 did not prove so plentiful as we had hoped, which sug- 

 gested that sundry pot-hunting scapegraces, devoid of the 

 biding honor of sportsmen, had, probablv, carefully 

 "reconnoitered" this locality before our visit. " This hypo- 

 thesis was very much strengthened by the fact that when 

 after the most diligent hunting on the part of the faithful 

 and well-bred dogs, a stand was made and four guns were 

 thrown into position in anticipation of a big covey, alone- 

 some cock or an old hen would flush wild and make off 

 with much querulous sputtering, followed closely by half 

 a pound of No. 8 shot as eight barrels cheered on Ms or 

 her fast gathering speed. 



Ten o'clock found us drawing near to a chain of pond- 

 like slews, having only three ducks and thirteen chickens 

 m the ice-box, and a dazzling sun was beating down 

 upon us most unmercifully. As we drew near the first 

 pond the suffering dogs, disregarding all commands, 

 dashed through the heavy margin of grass and reeds, and 

 were soon paddling contentedly in the cooling waters 

 beyond, causing a couple of teal to take wing." One of 

 them the "Square" carefully stowed away in the capacious 

 game pocket of his shooting coat a few moments later 

 while the other gracefully tumbled to my right barrel.' 

 Sending the team to a neighboring farmhouse, where 

 branching shade trees and a cool-looking veranda ex- 

 tended a mute invitation for a delightsome nooning, we 

 proceeded to take in the slews by way of adding a trifle 

 of keenness to an already tolerably robust appetite. 

 Patiently and zealously we threaded the tangled slew 

 grass without a shot, until, wearied with the exercise, we 

 threw our tired limbs upon the soft meadow grass to 'rest 

 and hold a council of war. With what a charming sense 

 of solid comfort did we drink in the sweet perfume of the 

 flowering meadow. But oh! how Old Sol did pour down 

 his sizzling rays upon our already blistering necks. 

 "Mark south!" Sure enough, there go seven bouncing 

 mallards into a slew about half a mile from our resthv 

 place. Instantly every man is on his feet, the scorching- 

 rays of the sun forgotten, and with stealthy steps we 

 draw near to reconnoiter. Cautiously each in turn takes 

 a peek. There sit the mallards proudly floating upon the 

 glassy pond. As the slew is some 300yds. in length, the 

 "Square" and B. conclude to go round to the head of the 

 pond, leaving the now exultant William and myself to 

 "take 'em" as they come out. provided there are any left 

 to come out after being interviewed by our veteran com- 

 rades-in-arms. Impatiently we wait, hugging the tall 

 grass and semi-occasionally ta king a peep at the un*^. 



fche u 



pecting ducks paddling well up the pound. Presently 

 the helmet caps of the "Square" and his companion can 

 be seen approaching from the opposite direction. The 

 mallards begin to straighten up their long necks sus- 

 piciously, and a moment later bound into the air With 

 one magnificent sweep of powerful wings. Three of 

 them stop to the sharp reports of the two guns, while the 

 remaining four, badly "rattled" and flying widely apart, 

 come sweeping down the narrow pond directly for our 

 stand. Now, if ever, was the opportunity for Billy and 

 me to show the "Square" and Jake "just how it ought to 

 be done." On came the ducks, and with finger on trigger 

 we held our breath and waited. " Now's our time!" says 

 P., and with the simultaneous reports of our arms, a pair 

 of old drakes pitch into the grass; and as the remaining 

 brace climb higher toward the zenith a couple of ounces 

 of shot send the feathers flying skyward, while two in- 

 animate mallards bowl headlong into a neighboring corn- 

 patch. "Good boys!" comes from the further end of the 

 slew, and we feel that the compliment is merited. 



Twenty minutes later we were seated upon the shady 

 porch of the farmhouse, and the manner in which a 

 beautiful cold luncheon and a generous pitcher of rich, 

 creamy milk disappeared would have created a panic in 

 the average boaraing-house. The party then repaired to 

 a newly built granary, where tired limbs were stretched 

 upon clean, sweetly-smelling pine boards, and men and 

 dogs enjoyed an hour's refreshing sleep. 



The arrival of another hrmting "outfit" awoke us in 

 time to be the eye witnesses of an impromptu scrape be- 

 tween the dogs belonging to our party and those of the 

 newcomers. This trifling unpleasantness was, however, 

 nipped in the bud, and as the western heavens unmistak- 

 ably betokened a heavy thunder shower, we judged it 

 best to hitch up and jog homeward, stopping to levy 

 tribute upon any chance covey of birds the dogs might 

 locate. The first few miles of the way proved uneventf ul, 

 P. devoting his time to making valuable suggestions to 

 the driver, while the balance of us found temporary relief 

 from anxiety — as the muttering thunder grew momen- 

 tarily louder and the heavens darker — in bursts of laugh- 

 ter at the interesting fragmentary dialogues which ever 

 and anon took place between that worthy and Sweet 

 William. As the harsh roar of the gathering storm in- 

 creased in volume, the deep-chested, mettlesome steeds 

 settled to then- work and the long swinging trot had 

 already left the "longer half" of the turnpike behind, 

 when the necessity of forthwith seeking shelter forced 

 itself upon our attention as great, splashing chops of rain 

 rattled upon the buggy top and pitted the dusty roadwav 

 like so many bullets. "Just as I told you," apostrophize's 

 the querulous William, "here we are a mile and a half 

 from nowhere and a 'regular old he' cyclone upon us. 

 We ought to have stopped when I wanted to, back there 

 at the house by the creek." A hasty glance at the gloomy 

 situation more than half verified P.'s ominous forebodings. 

 Great masses of inky black clouds were rolling and tumb- 

 ling and vomiting forth forked lightning, while the gen- 

 eral roar of the fast approaching tornado was now and 

 then drowned in crashes of thunder so terrible that it 

 seemed as if the nervous horses would spring through 

 their harness. Bad as the situation certainly was, the 

 only thing left for us was to continue our already uncom- 

 fortable journey until we could make a farmhouse a lit- 

 tle more than a mile further on, where, from the 

 appearance of the outbuildings, we felt sure, 

 shelter for our horses could be obtained. On Ave 

 sped, quartering the now bursting tempest, the "Square" 

 drawing the ribbons, while chunks of mud very plenti- 

 fully bespattered everybody and torrents of rain and fre- 

 quent down-pourings of savagely biting hail increased the 

 discomfort of man and beast.' Ear-splitttng thunder 

 claps, dazzling lightning, flying sheaves of grain, yelp- 

 ing dogs, swaying buggy and well-nigh frantic horses 

 completed a picture, sublimely entrancing and long to be 

 remembered; but thanks to the strong and skillful arm of 

 "Square" M., the dilapidated "Timkin," with something of 

 the mud-scow-in-action appearance, finally rolled up under 

 the sheltering roof of a spacious shed. The dripping horses 

 were quickly nibbed down and blanketed and each of us 

 gazed into the mud-begrimed countenances of the others 

 with a feeling of temporary relief, while the drenched 

 and shivering dogs with drooping ears and tails hugged 

 dispiritedly between trembling limbs sought the grateful 

 comfort of a straw pile. 



For a full hour we are glad to look forth upon the ter- 

 rible tempest of whose fury we had lately been the 

 sport, and when, at last, "the clouds roll by, Jennie," 

 another start is made, notwithstanding that the rain still 

 descends, though in somewhat less blinding sheets. A 

 mile on our way a chicken is spied upon the sheltered 

 side of a shock of wheat, while three elongated necks 

 stretch up from the dripping stubble to view the strange 

 caravan. This sight is too much for the "Square," who 

 draws rein with tne remark, "We came after chickens 

 you know," and forthwith prepares to "limber-up" his 

 Baker. P. and I follow suit, and in exactly two minutes 

 by the watch four more chickens are tossed into the 

 buggy and the ca valcade moves on to close the chapter 

 of our first outing, without mishap or further incident. 



m, „ ^ i A - B - GrUTTILL. 



Fabcjo, Dak. 



Nebraska Notes.— Salem, Neb., Jan. 25.— We have 

 had a, very open winter, with but one snow to amount to 

 anything. The few quail that wore left after last winter's 

 blizzards did well last summer; if we have no such weather 

 this winter we will have some to shoot next season. 

 1 rame chickens are doing well and seem to be as plenti- 

 ful as last season. The "city chap from town" is exter- 

 minating our prairie chickens. He pays no attention to 

 the law, but goes out with dog and gun in July and 

 August and wipes out whole broods before they are strong 

 enough to get out of the way. Robins, blackbirds and 

 meadow larks are here yet, and act as though they intend 

 to stay with us through the rest of the winter. Last night 

 1 heard a flock of geese going north.— J. F. L. 



The Maine Deer Law.— Editor Forest and Stream- 

 No action has yet been taken on the petition before the 

 Maine Legislature to permit the hounding of deer in that 

 State, though it is pretty certain that it never can get 

 beyond the committee. But the true inwardness of the 

 movement is none the less apparent. The way the Forest 

 and Stream handled the matter last week editorially was 

 simply grand, and such a strong argument is bound to be 

 felt, even in the State House at Augusta.— Special. 



SUCCESS WITH WILD CELERY. 



SYRACUSE, N. Y., Jan. 28.— Editor Forest and 

 St7*eani: Some three years since I wrote you making 

 inquiry about wild celery, where to obtain the seed or 

 bulbs preparatory to sowing or setting the same. In re- 

 sponse I received a short note announcing that you were 

 not sufficiently posted in regard to the matter to* give me 

 directions, or to post me upon the same. You, however, 

 did send me a copy of your paper published Jan. 5, 1882, 

 in which was an article on the subject, written by Mr. D. 

 W. Cross, of Cleveland, Ohio. It was stated to me in 

 your letter that this was the best article you had seen 

 written upon the subject, and advised me to write to Mr. 

 Cross, when I would most likely find out all he knew 

 upon the subject, and get such instructions as he might 

 be able to give in the matter. 



I had for a nmnber of years shot in the fall, at the pond 

 north of this city known as Wood's Pond, or Big Sandy 

 Creek Pond, on the bank of Ontario Lake, Jefferson 

 county, and near Big Sandy Creek. I have always felt 

 considerable interest in this pond. There is and has been 

 for years there a heavy growth of wild rice, which proves 

 attractive to ducks in the fall, especially of the more com- 

 mon class. There was no wild celery at this place. The 

 result was that clucks calling for this kind of feed fre- 

 quented this pond only in limited numbers, say redheads, 

 canvasbacks, etc. I was, of course, much interested in 

 regard to the growing of celery at this place. I wanted, 

 if possible, to make this pond attractive for all kinds of 

 ducks. I conversed with many who knew the ground 

 well (perhaps better than I did)" I was discouraged. It 

 was said the ground was not adapted to its growth. Suf- 

 fice it to say I wrote to Mr. Cross (who, by the way, 

 proved to be very much of a gentleman as well as a sports- 

 man). He knew, if not all, much about wild celery. He 

 gave me many new ideas regarding its reproduction, and 

 proffered to me much advice. I made an order through 

 a friend of mine, for seeds and bulbs, and through his 

 advice and by his directions sowed the seed and planted 

 the bulbs at various points on the pond known as Big 

 Sandy Pond. 



In your letter to me you desired me to write and inform 

 you of my success in the undertaking. Last fall, late in 

 October, I went there again. I found the wild celery 

 seed sown had taken fully and well. The bulbs also had 

 proved effective and had come up in great abundance. 

 But few parties residing there knew what it was. Ex- 

 amination showed, that in the short time since it was 

 sown and planted it had come up in great profusion and 

 that even now the plant has become quite abundant. It 

 has taken root where I really had but slight hopes of its 

 coming and is now proving to be quite abundant. Instead 

 of the ground being unadapted for it, the reverse is true, 

 and it grows splendidly. I find it grows well on the 

 marsh ground when the water is less than a foot deep. I 

 find it grows well on hard ground, shallow water, or on 

 same ground, water u to 8ft. deep. In fact I find no diffi- 

 culty in producing it anywhere about this marsh. I call 

 it a grand success. There is no doubt but what the in- 

 habitants will be perfectly satisfied in three years from 

 now that they have all the wild celery on their grounds 

 they want. At the present time it has become quite 

 abundant and there is no doubt about its success. 

 Poperly sown or planted, I have no doubt that it can be 

 raised on most any marsh about the countrv. The seed 

 is easy to get, and it is not hard to get the bulbs. A little 

 care exercised in sowing and planting is about all re- 

 quired. S. E. Kingsley. 



THE MICHIGAN CONVENTION. 



THE twelfth annual meeting of the Michigan Sports- 

 men's Association assembled at the Pioneer Rooms 

 in the capitol at Lansing, Tuesday evening, Jan. 18. 

 Delegates were present from the Bay County Sportsmen's 

 Club, of Bay City; Kent County Sportsmen's Club and 

 the Pottawatomie Club, of Grand Rapids: Kalamazoo 

 Game and Fish Protective Association, of Kalamazoo; 

 Battle Creek and St. Joseph County Field and Sporting 

 Club, of White Pigeon. A number of individual meim 

 hers were also present, and a number of the members of 

 the Legislature were present during the various discussions 

 and some of them took part. 



After the usual routine business of opening, the Associa- 

 tion invited members of the Legislature and all others in- 

 terested in the subject under discussion to attend and 

 participate and then adjourned until the following morn- 

 ing. 



On reassembling in the morning, Mr. H. H. Briggs, of 

 the California State Sportsmen's Association, who was 

 present as a visitor, kindly favored us with a description 

 of the work done and the results accomplished by the 

 California Association. 



Resolutions of respect to the memory of Messrs. A, H. 

 Mershon and A. J. Holt, deceased, members of the Asso- 

 ciation, were read, adopted and ordered spread upon the 

 records. 



The Association then listened to the address of the 

 President, which was a resume of the work of the Asso- 

 ciation for the past twelve years with a statement of its 

 results as they appear on the Michigan statute book, and 

 an earnest appeal for the appointment of game wardens. 



The Committee on Law made a report recommending 

 that the Association use its best efforts to induce the Legis- 

 lature to pass laws. 



1. Providing for game wardens. 



2. Prohibiting spring shooting, 



3. Making possession of game out of season prima facie 

 evidence of illegal killing. 



4. Amending the criminal trespass law so as to require 

 owners of lands to post the same before they could prose- 

 cute a trespasser criminally. 



Considerable discussion arose in regard to the details of 

 the report, the manner of appointing wardens, their power 

 duties and compensation, spring shooting, etc. At the 

 close of the discussion it was unanimously resolved that 

 the Association earnestly request the Legislature to enact 

 laws upon the subjects recommended by the committee 

 and particularly that it enact the game warden bill in- 

 troduced by A. L. Lakey, a member of the Association 

 After recess for dinner the Association listened to the 

 reports of the committee on enforcement and publication 

 winch were short. The publication of the next volume 

 of the Association's proceedings was left in the hands of 

 the chrectors with power to act. 



The annual reports of the officers were then read and 

 approved. The next annual meeting was ordered held at 



