April 14, 188?.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



249 



that you ever tasted in yoxir life," and at each meal, no 

 matter if you have been a member for years, you must 

 reiterate this assertion. If a duck is cooked, you must 

 say "it is the finest you ever tasted." And remember it 

 is considered outrageous to express an opinion that you 

 get anything as good at home as at the club table. The 

 longer time you take at your meal the more thoroughly 

 your sportsmanship is pronounced. In fact, the best shots 

 spend but little time at the shooting points, the sport be- 

 coming monotonous. 



As regards the best shooting places, I would recom- 

 mend that you stand in the road, just at a little bend, 

 beyond the house. A few oyster shells sprinkled there 

 make good footing in all weather. Here you do not dis- 

 turb other members of your club, and are likely to be 

 undisturbed yourself. It has many advantages; in case 

 of storm you are near the house for shelter. From this 

 point you have a fine view of Benjie's Cove, a sheet of 

 water to the east, used as a kind of preserve for ducks. 

 It becomes deeply interesting to the tired sportsman to 

 watch their movements. In fact, some of the oldest 

 veterans, men that are famous for great sporting deeds, 

 find much more pleasure in watching the ducks with a 

 field glass than in shooting them. And I would here say 

 to you, never go to a shooting point without a field glass 

 slung around your shoulders. In the blind you are ex- 

 pected to jump up every few minutes and scan the hori- 

 zon and waters with your glass. This is a certain evidence 

 of your being a true sportsman; indeed, your glass is 

 examined nearly as critically as your gun. At this 

 favorite shooting place, "the bend in the road," you are 

 within easy sound of the guns at Main Point and Per- 

 simmon Cove. If you are on the Bar, the report of your 

 gun might interfere with the sport of your brother mem- 

 bers at the Point; and if at Standing Cove, the same 

 trouble would be experienced by those at Persimmon, 

 and such a course would not be sportsmanlike; therefore 

 by all means stick to "the bend in the road," it will make 

 no difference to you as to the amount of ducks you will 

 secure. A few members in all sporting clubs always kill 

 nearly all the ducks, whether they shoot or not, and 

 when the time comes for return home the bag is divided 

 by constituted authority; your share is securely bagged 

 and tied up, and if you "find a few baldpates, blackheads 

 and cripples in your lot, you must never mention it, but 

 be content. 



If you occupy a blind with one of your fellow members 

 who is a veteran, be careful not to shoot your gun off 

 under any circumstances: if you do, you will lay your- 

 self open to the charge of shooting over or near yom- 

 friend's head, or of shooting too quickly or too late. You 

 had better not shoot at all. Yom friend will think that 

 he killed all the ducks, whether you shoot or not. The 

 most fun you will have will be to bend yourself in the 

 most uncomfortable position in the corner of the blind, 

 and remain there until he tells you to get up, which will 

 generally be when he has had his shot. One of the first 

 things to learn is to "keep down" in the blind. 



I advance these points to you, knowing their value 

 after an experience of a great many years. If you fol- 

 low them rigidly you will be considered a sportsman ; if 

 not — well, your friends will call you what they please, 

 but without them you will never attain to a finished duck 



Shot. VETERAN. 



IN A BOX. 



SOME thirty years since, when I was younger than I am 

 now, I left my home in western New York on a 

 voyage of discovery in what was then the far West; and 

 mindful of the stories I had heard of the plentifuhiess of 

 all kinds of game there, I took with me my niuzzleioading 

 doublebarrel, and for a companion my setter Dash. Both 

 were objects of affection and regard, and both had served 

 me well on many a day's sport. My friend, upon whose 

 invitation I undertook the trip, was engaged in building 

 a railroad from a point on the Mississippi River to Omaha, 

 I believe, and knowing my enthusiasm as a sportsman 

 had given me some graphic descriptions by letter of the 

 vast quantities of game to be found in the vicinity of his 

 labors, and although my trip was purely a business one, 

 I do not now believe I would have undertaken it but for 

 the incentive Iris description of the game afforded. And 

 I can truthfully say that he fell short of the facts rather 

 than overstating them. Ducks of every kind, geese, tur- 

 keys, chicken, quail, woodcock and deer abounded, and 

 for once I had all the shooting I wanted. The little ham- 

 let where my friend resided was situated on the Ohio River, 

 not very far from where it mingles with the Mississippi, 

 and was surrounded on the east, south and west by a 

 broad prairie, and the time being spring, every depression 

 in the ground was filled with water, often broadening 

 into quite large ponds, interspersed with smaller pools; 

 and all were fairly alive with the various species of wild 

 fowl. As these pools were without cover of any kind 

 about them, the grass being down at this season of the 

 year, it was extremely difficult to get within shot of the 

 immense flocks that haunted these resorts. 



One of the ponds, or as the dwellers there called them, 

 sloughs, I particularly remember, and I have reason to. 

 It was very large — in fact the largest one in the vicinity 

 — and in its center was an island on which, as well as in 

 the water about it, thousands of ducks w T er<? always to be 

 seen. But their caution had always prevented my getting 

 within shot, for at any advances I made toward acquaint- 

 ance they would rise with an indescribable roar and much 

 quacking and splashing. If I had a boat, I thought, I 

 could row across to the island and pull the long fallen 

 grass over it, and perhaps after a time they would come 

 back and afford me the chance I longed for. But alas, 

 there was not only no boat, but there was within five 

 miles nothing that would even float. Repeatedly I went 

 there and watched them through a pocket glass and cal- 

 culated mentally, what would be the result if I could 

 once got within range of the thousands of heads I saw; 

 and every time I figured on it I became the more anxious, 

 because every time I increased the estimate of killed, 

 when both barrels of my good stub-and-twist should bel- 

 low at them. Indeed I pondered on how to do it when I 

 ought to have slept, and no matter how good the day's 

 sport might be, I always felt it might have been infinitely 

 better if I could have managed to once snugly hide my- 

 self on that island. 



Walking one rainy day through the village, I got a 

 bright idea from seeing in front of a store a large dry- 

 goods box, which I believed I could turn into an ark, 

 enough of an ark at least to carry me across the water to 

 the island. I bought it and carefully stuffed the cracks 



with cotton; and hired a man with a wagon to haul it to 

 the pond, five miles distant. I provided myself with two 

 pushing poles, to be used as a motive power, and took 

 along an unusual supply of ammunition, which, I rea- 

 soned, should be as a just proportion to the number of 

 birds I had seen there— the birds being plenty the am- 

 munition ought to be abundant, and it was; and I believe 

 my ship drew considerably more water on that account. 



The man who transported my "yacht" to its "native 

 element" assisted me in launching her, and I was greatly 

 encouraged to find that she was staunch and did not leak. 

 The man handed me my gun and I went aboard. Then he 

 handed me the poles to navigate with, and to my surprise 

 the "boat" did not tip, but kept an even keel. My spunk, 

 which had been depressed by a remark the man made to 

 the effect that "he'd bet on my getting a good day's 

 'ducking,' " rose, and leaning my gun in one corner of the 

 "yacht," I took a pole and shoved off. The craft stuck a 

 little in the mud, and when she lost her grip on that, she 

 started too enthusiastically and recklessly, and I sat down 

 on the bottom very hard. She then began the most sick- 

 ening series of evolutions and dippings I ever experienced, 

 and had not the man rushed into the water and curbed 

 her infernal desire to dance, I would have been dumped 

 into the pond. I believe that pine box had got the notion 

 that it was a schooner by the way it cavorted. However, 

 he held it afloat till 1 ascertained where the center of 

 gravity was, and using great skill and caution as a navi- 

 gator and acrobat, I succeeded in crossing in safety. Step- 

 ping out of my ship I had the pleasure of sinking up to 

 my knees in the black oozy mud, but after much effort I 

 drew the box ashore, settled it firmly in the mud and 

 drew up the long fallen grass around' it and over it, and 

 stowed myself in it to wait the arrival of the ducks. 



The man, with the two dollars in his pocket, the reward 

 with a promise of which I had induced him to transport 

 myself and box to the pond, had gone back to the village. 

 I was alone, and curling down out of the piercing March 

 wind I waited patiently. Two hours, four hours, and not 

 a duck put in an appearance. Occasionally overhead I 

 coidd see a flock knowingly cocking their heads and 

 looking squarely down at me in the box, and then wing- 

 ing their way to some other feeding place. At last the 

 declining sun and waning light convinced me that it was 

 a failure, and that I must once more face the. difficulty of 

 floating my craft back over the forty or fifty rods of 

 water. Stiff and lame from the confinement, I crawled 

 out and attempted to shove the box back into the water. 

 Great Csesar ! I might as well have attempted to move 

 the Goddess of Liberty from Bedloe's Island. The more I 

 tried to push it free the further my lower extremities 

 went into the mud, but the box moved not. My weight 

 for many hours had settled it firmly into the black mud; 

 and tear at it and strain as I would, I coidd not stir it. I 

 looked at it and wondered if it was the same infernal pine 

 box which only a few hours before had assumed the airs 

 and rolled and cavorted like a wild ass. 



Well, it could not be moved, and without its aid I could 

 not get across to the shore; so there was nothing to do but 

 to get back into it out of the wind and wait the course of 

 events. I knew that some one would probably come 

 looking me up if I did not return home; and so I quietly 

 waited, possessing my soul with all the patience I could 

 muster — but the patience crop that year was a small one, 

 and I am afraid I used some rather strong language. 



About midnight I was awakened from a doze by voices 

 hallooing from the shore, and I knew that my friends were 

 there; but my release from that wretched box came not 

 until one of them rode back to the village and got a team 

 and brought lumber enough to construct a raft, when at 

 length, cramped and benumbed, I was restored to liberty 

 just as the morning sun lit up the darii prairie. I am 

 willing to risk something on the belief that that box is 

 there yet. 



I killed loads of ducks after that, but I can assure you, 

 kind reader, I never again attempted a flank movement 

 by trying a drygoods box avk. Chester. 



New York. 



DEER IN DEEP SNOW. 



THE most Americanized town in the Province of New 

 Brunswick is Woodstock. It is situated on the St. 

 John River, twelve miles from the town of Houlton Mer, 

 and at the mouth of the Meduxnakio River, which latter 

 flows through both of these border towns. In the year 

 1847, Woodstock was the center of a large lumbering- 

 district, where, during the summer months, the choppers 

 or axe-men spent, in riotous living, their winter earn- 

 ings. Scenes of drunkenness and riot were of frequent 

 occurrence, and a company of British soldiers was here 

 stationed to give occasional support to the civil authori- 

 ties. 



Among the officers stationed here were many really 

 fine fellows, ever ready to join with our citizens in fun 

 or fray. I often visited Wickham's quarters while sta- 

 tioned in Woodstock. He was a man of agreeable man- 

 ner, i temperate habits, a good physique and lover of 

 music — he blew a cornet. Anxious to see something of 

 the wild woods of America, and hearing of a place where 

 deer might be found, we set off one bright morning fully 

 equipped for the O'Dormell settlement. Arriving at one 

 pf the most remote houses, the horse hobbled and our- 

 selves regaled with Dougherty's fresh eggs and hot barley 

 cake, we mounted our snowshoes and, carrying on our 

 backs of food and camp equipage from 40 to BOlbs. each, 

 entered the woods. Our guide and escort was a young 

 lad, D.'s son, and his dog. 



Descending from the high land to a stream, the 

 Pocamon shine, the bound of the wolf on its snowy level 

 surface, showed plainly where poor puss met her fate, 

 and the fragments — hair only — the fierceness of the 

 onslaught. Pursuing our course down the stream until 

 near nightfall, we prepared to camp. Using our snow- 

 shoes for shovels, we dug a hole 5ft. square by 4ft. deep. 

 As I chopped into logs the nearest birch tree, W. twitched 

 them with his comf orter,and tumbled theni into our nest for 

 the night's fuel. Our couch lined with evergreen fir and 

 blankets, and generous slices of bread and bacon disposed 

 of, we sip a hot infusion of the fragrent herb, and discuss 

 the merits of winter camp life in New Brunswick. 



It was a clear, cold, windy night in March, and the 

 branches of a projecting tree our only covering. From 

 our slumbers — not the soundest — we were frequently 

 aroused by the howling of the wolves, whose curiosity, we 

 thought, might give practice to our revolvers. While 

 the stars were yet twinkling, our fire, which had pene- 

 trated the swamp a foot or more below our level, was re- 



kindled, another attack made, upon the edibles, and we 

 were ready for the tramp. 



A little further down the stream we observed, on a 

 mounta in side, a growth of birch and other browse sup- 

 plying trees, and proceded to ascend. Snowshoeing on a 

 steep hillside, while a hot sun is shining upon it, causing 

 the snow to load and melt upon your snowshoes, is a test 

 of the patience and physical endurance of the hunter. 



This was our experience for a short time, when heart 

 and load were lightened by a discovery — we had struck a 

 deer yard. Observing from the most recent marks of 

 the animal its direction, we thi-ow off all incumbrance 

 and start in pursuit. 



Following the yelp of our small terrier is the bound of 

 a fine buck. After an exciting chase, the beautiful crea- 

 ture takes from a firm footing its final leap into the deep 

 soft snow, where it lies helpless and powerless. As we 

 stood around the poor cajMive, its dark lustrous eyes 

 spoke to me what I cannot forget nor will I attempt to 

 write. The extra garments peeled off during the chase 

 being collected, and a double load for myself — now light- 

 ly borne — we turned our steps toward the clearing. W. 

 led off, adopting a convenient method of carrying the 

 buck, belly around the neck, with fore and hind legs in 

 front and held by either hand. 



From its "neck the blood dropped into his pocket, from 

 which a handkerchief was occasionally taken to wipe his 

 perspiring face. Before night we arrived safely at the 

 cabin. W., .who had been leading, entered first. Ashe 

 opened the door a prolonged Irish howl from Mrs. 

 Dougherty startled us, the only distinguishable word be- 

 ing "murther!" On entering I immediately discovered 

 the cause of her alarm— his face was smeared with blood. 



The Dick Turpin effect was heightened by the ragged 

 appearance of his "Kossuth," through which I had that 

 morning fired two minie bullets before leaving the 

 camp. 



A reviver, not of the ardent, but of good tea, with 

 solids, for which we had a relish, fortified us for the home 

 stretch. 



With W. and our trophy on the upper side of the sleigh, 

 the road being slewy, I, of less avoirdupois, took the 

 lower and the reins; and after a merry moonlight ride 

 reached Woodstock without mishap. B. 



A MARYLAND TRIP. 



OUR party of four was on the way to the eastern shore 

 of Maryland in pursuit of geese and ducks. Reach- 

 ing Georgetown at 7 P. M., we were surprised to find the 

 depot and open grounds adjoining densely filled with 

 humanity of all colors and conditions. We were driven 

 to the Brick Hotel, R, A. Rosenbaum, proprietor; a de- 

 cided sportsman, by the way, who strongly urged us to 

 tarry some days with liim, as the season for quail would 

 open in a day or two. We sought an explanation of the 

 unusual crowd we met at the depot. Having been intro- 

 duced to Governor Stocklej', who Avas stopping at the 

 hotel, and with whom we spent a very pleasant evening; 

 he informed us that it was the continuance of an old- time 

 custom, still prevailing in that county and probably in no 

 other State in the Union. The occasion is known as "Re- 

 turn Day." It always occurs on Thursday after the elec- 

 tion of Tuesday. Before the days of telegraphs and rail- 

 roads, it must have been a wise and convenient method 

 of learning the results of the canvas; and so in love are 

 the country people with the custom that they still flock 

 to the county seat in multitudes — men, women, children 

 and babies, black, white and all the intervening shades — 

 and according to Mother Goose, "some in rags, some in 

 tags and some in velvet gowns;" in carriages, cars, carts, 

 horseback, muleback, "on foot and across lots," as the 

 girl went to get married. Quite like an old-time Fourth 

 of July, or "general training day" at the North, with the 

 accompanying cake and bar stands "so dear to the days 

 of our childhood." But from the noise, shouting and 

 crowing, which lasted till late in the night and was re- 

 sumed by one old cock in the morning, it was evident 

 that something stronger than "Adam's ale" had been im- 

 bibed by a portion of the crowd. 



In our sleeping room we found two beds. The frame 

 of one was of immense size (6ft. wide and 74ft. long) and 

 of ancient manufacture. It was a dark mahogany color 

 and estimated to weigh about a ton. A search in the 

 morning resulted in finding the doctor and his com- 

 panion scattered in various places among the bedding, 

 but sound in body and in good condition for breakfast. 



As we must wait till after noon before we could pro- 

 ceed further south, we decided to explore the quaint old 

 town, and one of the results was that the doctor was 

 tied to the "whipping post," and afterward put in the 

 ' stocks." But fortunately the Governor was at the 

 court-house, and on hearing the facts pardoned the 

 doctor and set him at liberty. Afterward we were paid 

 no little attention by the county officials, who took us 

 through their offices and permitted us to examine some 

 of the records of Colonial times, which were written in 

 a remarkably beautiful clear hand, and well preserved. 



The cars in due time brought us to Berlin, where we 

 found our old friend and former host, J. Z. Powell, wait- 

 ing for us. He soon had us, With our impedimenta, 

 snugly stowed in his two covered carriages and on the 

 way to his hospitable home at South Point, ten miles dis- 

 tant, where a cordial greeting and a warm supper made 

 us forget the tedium of our long journey, and longer 

 waiting. How we fared on the yacht, with Charlie for 

 captain and cook, where we sailed, what game we got, 

 what live decoys we lost, the stories told, and other in- 

 teresting features of the trip, I leave for the doctor to 

 relate, for ••the half has never been told." J. H. D. 

 Poughkespsie, March 28, 1887. 



Passaic County (N. J.) Fish and Game Protective 

 Association. — Officers for the present year: President, 

 Eugene Stevenson; Vice-President, Joseph Bustard; Sec- 

 retary and Treasurer, Chas, A. Shriner, Paterson, N. J.: 

 members of the board of directors in addition to the 

 above officers, Wm. M. Smith and Wm. B. Gouiiey. Tire 

 association is continually gaining in strength. 



Newport, R. I. , April 5.— We have had a very back- 

 ward spring here; snow lOin. deep on the 22d inst. Not- 

 withstanding all this cold a gentleman shot two killdeer 

 plover two weeks ago. As yet no snipe have arrived, 

 although the robins and bluebirds have been here a 

 month. The sea fowl have been flying very thick, but as 

 yet very few have been killed. — G. B. R, 



