March 24, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



181 



not notice any diminution of that kind of sport by reason of the 

 law against it, and so intent were onr people in running hounds 

 that thev even invented the absurd theory that deer increased by 

 being killod before dogs as a lawn thickens under the knives of a 

 mower. 



Our game laws are too ideal, and if they are to be respected they 

 must be made more practical. To illustrate, we should pass a 

 law prohibiting the more flagrant violations of what all sports- 

 men would call a natural, common sense la w that people iu general 

 would approve and then keep that a permanent law and not at- 

 tempt to extend it until there was a public sentiment demanding 

 it. Such a law would be the making of the winter, spring and 

 summer months a close season for deer, and leave the hounding 

 question for the future except iu counties where the people ask 

 for its passage. 



The objection to it in this part of the Adirondack? is that it is 

 not respected, and men who violate the law themselves by hound- 

 ing deer in the fall have some delicacy or prudence restraining 

 them from prosecuting the crust fiend in the whiter and the pot- 

 hunter who supplies our hotels with game in the spring and 

 summer. 



Notwithstanding the fact that our game protector is an ehicieiit 

 mau, the violation of the game law has so rapidly increased under 

 the demoralization caused by the anti-hound ing bill that it is now 

 the rule, and not the exception, for many of our hotels to havo 

 venison for their guests during all the spring and summer, and I 

 noticed on the bill of fare for a dinner at one of our most pro 

 nent hotels, about the first of March, "haunch of roast veni 

 and partridge pic." It seems that a law should be passed making 

 it conclusive evideucc that, when a landlord placed unseasonable 

 game upon his bill of faro that he had the game in his possession, 

 and that such transparent subterfuges as "Adirondack mutton," 

 "Adirondack goat," ■'.-•potted whitelish," and "short-billed wood- 

 cock." should not be allowed as an evasiou. 



If the law was made generous euough so that nearly all of the 

 men who huut tor sport would respoct it, it would secure a strong 

 ally in these men against the present pernicious practice of kill- 

 ing deer during the" whole year. To those who believe it is wrong 

 to run deer with dogs, and I am inclined to that opinion myself, I 

 would seriously ask if it would not be better to let the hounding 

 rest until we are able to nearly suppress the greater evil, and the 

 evil upon whic \ we are all united in opposing, than to have the 

 two evils carried on by reason of the opposition caused by the 

 unpopularity "f the law prohibiting the lessor evil, it is notorious 

 that the hounding of doer was not only not stopped, but i 

 scarcely checked, in this section cf the Adicoud-icka, by the 1 

 prohibiting it, and hist fall the hounding was about as general 

 after the onon season expired as it was during its con'inuance. 

 To say the least of it, this is very demoralizing to the community 

 and must have a had effect, upon the respect paid to any game 

 law, however reasonable it may bo. 



The law restricting the number of deer killed by one man to 

 three was not respected, it is a. foolish law and should be repealed 

 because it is almost impossible to enforce it; for if a man was 

 charged with its violation iswoull b3 necessary to absolutely 

 prove the killing of four deer, and when ou3 has se?n tho trouble 

 attendant upon the proof of killing one d3er unlawfully he will 

 realize the almost impossibility of proving four against one man. 

 If any guide is askod how many d/ser hs killed last fall ho is sure 

 to smile and say three, at which all the bystanders laugh. This 

 is also demoralizing. 



The 1 iw restricting tlrs transportation of venison so3im retson- 

 abl 3 and ju^t an 1 cau be enforced, for venison in transportation is 

 likely to be seen, and shippers and express com.oa'ite3 do uo-; 

 desire to t ike the nicess.iry risks for violating this provision of 

 our gama laws. In tuis country the law was generally respected 

 last fall and, I think, did considerable good. 



Spring shooting sscm i to be an e . il ag ainst a natural, common- 

 sense law for the protection of g.vme, and I think a law prohibit- 

 ing the shooting of gam? bh\ls iu tho spring would bo generally 

 respected and could be reasonably enforced, and in this lawMaivh 

 and perhaps February should be included as nrohib ted months. 

 If March were not included the feeling in this section of the State 

 would be that it was unreasonable to allow the shooting of ducks 

 as thev cam? north a'l the way up until they touched us in April, 

 and then close, giving everybody a chnnte but ourselves, and 

 giving us no chance, for our lakes do not open until April. 



September has always been an open month fer partridges (ruffed 

 grouse) here, and since the birds are full grown at that time there 

 is no good reason why they should uot ba shot if shooting is 

 allowed at any time, and the proposal to make September a close 

 month for partridges would he unpopular here, and would not be 

 generally respected, and would lead to further demoralization of 

 the law. 



Woodcock have always been shot as early as the first of August, 

 and they are full grown at that time, and there does not seem to 

 be any reason why the time should be changed. 



There seems to be no reason why rabbits should not be shot in 

 October in the northern part of the State, and since rabbits are 

 not migratory there can be but l.ttle objection to have the close 

 season for them differ iu different localities. GfiOKGia Chahoon. 



Ausable Forks, N. Y,, March 15. 



THE IDEAL LOADER. 



A SNUG little box which one may slip into his coat pocket con- 

 tains the full set of instruments neces ary in decapping, re- 

 capping, ramming and clositip siiot shells, with* a powder and' shot 

 measure, the sportsman has all that is needed. This is the outfit 



"IDEAL" LOADER. 



that is made by the Ideal Manufacturing Company, of New Haven, 

 under the Barlow patents. The weight of the entire sot is only- 

 ten ounces, audits style may be judged from the cuts, showing the 

 loader with its devices for taking off the old and sea ting the new 



" IDEAL" HAND CLOSER. 



primer to the smooth cylinder for placing the wads snugly for the 

 charge and shot. The closer is simplicity itself, and there is no 

 necesssity for a table or other fixture from which to work it, so 

 that in boat or wagon even the closer may be worked, either on 

 paper or brass shells. The cost is slight and the large sale 

 reported indicates that they have found a popular approval. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Messrs. Lee & Shepard have a well deserved reputation for 



of the four well-known hymns, "Rock of Ages," "Abide with 

 Me," "My Faith Looks Up to The 3" and "Nearer mv God to Thee." 

 These are dainty little tracts printed on heavy paper, vellum 

 bound, tied with white ribbon and very fully illustrated. Price 

 85 cents each. Much more, imposing are four others, "Arise my 

 Soul," "See the Land," Kingsleys "Gladness of Easter" and "The 

 Message of the Bluebird." These are similar in character to the. 

 preceding, but much larger, are bound in heavy tinted stamped 

 paper tied with ribbon and are lettered in gold. The illustrations 

 are very numerous. 



it needs no special commeat, further than to sav it is one of the 

 most useful books that can be put into the hands of the young 

 writer who desires to write good English and to avoid the slovenly 

 style which is so common. Price, 50 cents. 



Col. Higgiii sou's "Hints on Writing and Speech Making" is an 

 unpretentious little handbook, but is a useful manual of literarv 

 composition, The first chapter, "A Letter to a Young Contributor," 

 is a reprint of some matter which appeared originally in the 

 Atlantic Monthly, and alttrward in the author's volume entitled 



Atlantic E3says," The seeoud, "Hints on Speech Makiu" " 

 appeared in Harvcr's Magazine in 1886, This little volume is sure 

 to do a good work, Prjce, 50 cents, 



"That reminds me." 

 206. 



SOME years ago there was an old pot-hunter in Nova 

 r Scotia, whoso custom it was to wait out over night 

 on the seashore for a shot at the ducks as they passed in 

 the morning. He used an old musket, which "he was in 

 the habit of loading almost to the muzzle. The recoil, as 

 may be imagined, was something terrific. He was always 

 accompanied on his excursions by a small boy. They lay 

 down on the beach and covered themselves with seaweed. 

 Wbon tho old man saw the ducks coming, he would 

 point well on the leader and "let go." The destruction 

 was, as a rule, terrific; but the kick invariably knocked 

 him senseless. Then the small boy's work came in. He 

 would mop the old man's lace with wet seaweed until he 

 came to, when his first question always was, "How 

 many d' I git ?" M. 



hit mul Oliver 



Address all communications to tl\e Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



SPORT ON LAKE PEND D'OREILLE. 



HOPE, Idaho, is a pretty little hamlet situated on the 

 banks of Lake Vend d'Oreille,. in the heart of the 

 mountains. The Dining Car Department of the Northern 

 Pacific R. R. Co. have erected a fine hotel here, open for 

 tourists during the spring, summer and fall months. 

 Good boats are at the disposal of the guests, and good 

 guides are obtainable at reasonable rates. Game of all 

 kinds is plenty. Fishing is of the best except during the 

 month of July and part "of August. At all other times 

 the angler will have grand sport, that is, if he considers 

 a hard battle with an S or Idbs. char, or the quick, bold 

 fight of a. Bibs, mountain trout sport. If fishing does not 

 satisfy his ambition, the guides will take him to where 

 the deer are plenty, and if after tiring of this he yearns 

 for more worlds to conquer, the guide ;vill easily put him 

 cn the wake of the monarch of the mountains, a grizzly. 

 Besides deer ami bear there, are caribou and mountain 

 goats in small numbers, and of the many guests last sea- 

 son not one went away dissatisfied. The railroad com- 

 pany, it is said, intend issuing a ticket in connection with 

 the National Park tickets, so that those desiring to do so 

 can visit this lake at little expense above the Park trip. 



As the gentle Chinook breeze comes across the lake, 

 making sad havoc with our pyramids of snow, I am re- 

 minded that I will soon be seeking the deep pools and shady 

 nooks for piscatorial pleasures. Fishing will soon be at 

 its best in the lake, and already I am dreaming of many 

 battles with the lake trout and other species. Some fine 

 lake trout, or, as the natives call them, "char," are cap- 

 tured every season. Tho largest one I have caught 

 weighed 81 bs., but after about fifteen minutes sharp work, 

 and the fine on my reel still growing beautifully less, I 

 thought he must weigh about twenty. Mr. C. P/Frame, 

 of New Yo:.k, a true sportsman and one of the pleasantest 

 gentlemen I ever met, outdid me last summer, for among 

 a eateli of about fifty he had two weighing over 81bs. I 

 w/iilmgly -y ield to such % man, but oh how exasperating 

 to have some naked Indian with a long pole, a bait of 

 deer meet tied on to a hook to save the labor of rebaiting, 

 come in with a 12 or 151bs. laker, and with a sardonic grin 

 say "Hi-yu pish. White man allee samee Boston. No 

 good. Indian sabee pish?" 



Hunting has been of the best this winter. I have killed 

 twelve deer myself this winter, and as my time has been 

 so employed that an hour or two occasionally is all I could 

 give to sport, I think I have clone well. The hotel here 

 will be opened about the first of May, and thev anticipate 

 a large crowd of tourists next season, * F. T. A. 



Hope, Idaho. 



A GIANT CHUB. 



WE are accustomed to associate the fresh water chub 

 with the scenes of our childhood; an alder pole, pin 

 hook, cotton string, worm and a croaking, wriggling fish, 

 which, although seldom over Sin. long, in the halcyon days 

 gave satisfaction to our early attempts at angling. The 

 largest of the Eastern chubs, the fall fish, grows occa- 

 sionally to 18in. But it has been reserved for the West to 

 produce an allied species, a veritable monster, which 

 readies 5ft. 



Belonging to the family Cyprinidce, genus Ptyehochilus, 

 it was first found in the Sacramento River, where it is 

 known as the Sacramento pike, Ptyehochilus oregonensis. 

 Another species, found in the Colorado and its lower 

 tributaries, and called the Colorado pike {Ptyehochilus 

 lucius) is authentically stated to reach a length of 6ft. 

 All the species of this genus have a remarkably pike-like 

 appearance in outline, especially about the head. There 

 is a good drawing of the Sacramento species published in 

 the "Report of the U. S. Fisheries Commission," 1884, 

 plate 227. I believe the Colorado species has not been 

 figured. It is similar in appearance to the former, but 

 has a still more striking pike-like aspect. Its head would 

 appear at first glance to be that of its namesake, Esox 

 lucius, the Northern pike. It is a handsome species when 

 first taken, with sides like burnished silver. 



Like all Cyprinidce, they thrive in warm and muddy 

 water; their flesh being soft and bony and of little value 

 as a food fish. They readily take a bait; preferring 

 grubs, grasshoppers, salt pork, codfish, beef, in the order 

 named; fight hard for a short time, and suddenly give up. 

 The laiger ones usually wreck the tackle and escape, 

 leaving the astonished fisherman under the impression 

 that he has hooked some unknown marine monster. 



The writer has observed them on the upper Gila River, 

 Arizona, and having seemed a series ranging from four 

 inches up to two feet, offers the following description, 

 which it is thought will supply tho means of identifica- 

 tion: 



Ptyehochilus lucius Girard. — Body elongate, depth 

 usually almost 5; back not arched; head long, facies 

 pike-like; subcorneal; nearly straight, cranial depression 

 slight; 3i to 3* in length. Interorbital space broad. 

 Isthmus rather broad. Gula well developed in the adult. 

 Mouth large, terminal, oblique, not reaching eye. Upper 



jaw hardly longer than lower; mandible reaching beyond 

 orbit. Eye subcranial, about 13 in head ; varies greatly 

 with age; usually less than 11 in young. Lateral fine 

 complete; decurved anteriorily; nearly straight from ex- 

 tended pectorals. Color bright silvery; above darker, 

 with steel colored reflection. Fins bright colored; dorsal 

 and caudal darker. Caudal peduncle stout and sym- 

 metrical; width about l|in. in depth in smallest part; its 

 length (from posterior insertion of anal to middle of base 

 of caudal) a little greater than from base of caudal to 

 upper lobe. Caudal homocercal; its central ray about 

 equal to length of anal. Dorsal inserted in highest part, 

 posterior, slightly behind ventrals; when depressed, 

 about reaching to ancerior base of anal. Pectorals about 

 equal to height of dorsal. Phyrangeal bone greatly 

 elongated ; subarcuate, with one deep foramen inferiorily. 

 Teeth, phyrangeal, well separated; subaduncato toward 

 angle of bone; subcorneal, grinding surface absent or 

 obscure; 2, 4 — 5, 2. Brancliiostegals, 3. Gills, 4. Per- 

 itoneum silvery. Vertebras 45 — 46. Scales, 20, 84, 12. 

 Dorsal, 9. Ventrals, 9. Anal, 9. Pectorals, 16. Length 

 over 5ft. W. L. Carpenter, U. S. Army. 



Foht Thomas, Ariz., March 10. 



FLY-CASTING AT THE TOURNAMENT. 



BALTIMORE, March 17.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Will you kindly advise me what rules obtain in the 

 amateur class of fly-casters in tournament in May? I 

 would like to enter in a class simply as we cast on the 

 stre am. My friend Dresel, who took the first prize for 

 bait-casting at the tournament last year, advises me that 

 there are some changes in the manner of casting. If the 

 rides have been published iu the Foeest and Stream I 

 have overlooked them, and I Avill thank you to give me 

 reference thereto. Dresel says that under the new rales 

 we can cast from a "gathered line" run from the reel, that 

 is, we can pull our line out so much as we like, then cast 

 and let the line follow out through the guides. If this is 

 so it obviates the recovery of the line and it is not good 

 stream casting, but I think I can do as much of that kind 

 of casting as any man, and if it is the fact I will take it 

 in that form. At the same time I beg to say that no man 

 trout fishing thinks of lumbering his "tackle" with two 

 or three yards of line in bags under his rod. It may be 

 all right for casting for distance, but I don't think it is 

 good for the determination of skill in settling your flies, 

 and I am very sure it is not good for the success of the 

 angler where trout are shy. To be sure, it may do on the 

 lakes and large streams in the North, but it Voidd not 

 carry success in tho streams of Maryland and Virginia, 

 whore we have to employ all the skill known to anglers 

 to take the wary and wild brook trout. Baltimore. 



[The proposed rules for the coming tournament were 

 published in our issue of Jan. 13. In the issue of March 

 10 we gave the alterations and amendments as accepted, 

 and in the next number we published a note on the clause 

 allowing weigh! for metal reel plate3. The rules of the 

 first tournament required the line to be retrieved, but 

 this was rescinded in order to allow of the style of cast- 

 ing known as the "switch cast" or "water cast," in which 

 the line is reeled off into the water and is not retrieved. 

 This cast is useful when tree? or obstructions behind for- 

 bid retrieving. A contestant may therefore cast in either 

 manner.] 



LOAFING ON TIMBER CREEK. 



WE have many glowing accounts by able writers 

 week by week in Foeest and Stee.am, but to 

 many the expenses of an excursion such as therein de- 

 picted would be too great to allow them to participate in 

 the like, and doubtless there are many hundreds of busi- 

 ness men like myself, and clerks, etc. , in this city who, 

 in the spring and summer time, ppend their holidays, and 

 especially their sabbaths, cooped up in town when, by the 

 trifling outlay of at most $1, they could have what tc me 

 seems a glorious day in the country. 



There are many creeks quite near to Philadelphia 

 wherein white catfish, perch, etc., abound, and on the 

 principle that half a loaf is better than none, I have on 

 many a holiday taken the 8 A. M. train from Market 

 Street Ferry to Westville, N. J. (return trip ticket 35c), 

 and as Timber Creek rims close by the depot there, I can 

 be on the water by 8:45 A. M. 



There are now quite a number of boat houses there, 

 about twenty -two, I believe, and the shore of the creek 

 near these houses is very pretty. A boat can be hired at 

 Mr. Plum's hotel at a very low figure and bait easily ob- 

 tained. 



Timber Creek is a very picturesque sheet of water and 

 the further from its mouth that one gets the prettier it 

 appears. In nice summer days when all is quiet and still 

 around, I ask for no greater enjoyment than to pull the 

 boat in under the boughs of an old oak, and alternately 

 fish and watch the actions of the pretty little migratory 

 warblers which abound here. 



I have often, too, taken some friend or other along 

 with me and in almost every instance the same fascina- 

 tion for the place and its smroundings has been felt by 

 him. 



Here may be seen some urcliins up to their knees in 

 mud catching turtles, there ccine others Ihcnesting and 

 occasionally a rowboat with two or three occupants will 

 lazily drift by cn the tide, apparently with no other ob- 

 ject than to drink in the peace and quiet of the place, 

 whiff the delicious odors of flowers and vegetation and 

 listen to the notes of the thrush or robin. 



As I said before there are plenty of white catfish to be 

 caught, provided one understands how, for even these 

 ungamy fish require a little skill jn taking. 



Should any of your readers, when unable to afford 

 greater luxuries, determine to try Timber Creek, they will 

 not regret it; although their ostensible purpose may be 

 to catch fish and they may fail in this respect, yet f feel 

 assured that they will often repeat their visit and feel de- 

 lighted that they have at length found a way to ppend a 

 day's outing to a good advantage at a very nominal ex- 

 pense. A. W. B. 



Cold Ceeek.— Sandusky, O., March 16.— The Cold 

 Creek Sporting Club Company, who control the greater 

 portion of the trout stream at Castalia, this countv, held 

 its annual meeting at its club house to-day, the following 

 members being present: Messrs. W. S. Robinson, G. A. 

 Johnson, L. C. Carran, C. T. Hasbronck, W, E. McKeck- 

 nie, G. W, Baker, Joseph Ingersoll, Colonel Scoville, H. 



