May 19, 1887.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



371 



good fortune to sample. Mr. Low is now a Representa- 

 tive to the Minnesota State Congress f rom his district, 

 and did good work at the last session which passed the 

 law abolishing spring shooting. 



And now a word to any who contemplate going into 

 the Bear Lake countiy to hunt ducks and I am done. By 

 all means take with you a Bond boat: if not a Bond, then 

 soine kind of boat. Dogs are all right, as you will secure 

 many birds from the grass and rushes that would other- 

 wise become lost, but your dog will not save you a score 

 or more long tiresome tramps, as a boat will. Aside from 

 the hard work of tranrping in slough grass up to your 

 neck, you will not be able to get anywhere. For Minne- 

 sota water shooting I consider a boat indispensable. As 

 to goose shooting, I cannot recommend this immediate 

 section of the country as the best. There is scarcely 

 enough feed for them. There were, however, a good 

 many in the country while we were there, but, although 

 they* took their flights at daybreak and at 4 o'clock in the 

 afternoon, there seemed to be no particular feeding 

 grounds or lines of flight. 



Seven miles northeast of Bear Lakes are lakes Susan 

 and Maria, where excellent canvasback and redhead 

 shooting can be had. But Ave did not visit these lakes, so 

 I am unable to speak from experience. "We saw a good 

 bag that was shot there by Sycamore, 111., parties who 

 stopped a couple of days or so with Mr. Low. I have no 

 doubt, though, but there is good canvasback shooting 

 there, for I was told by Dr. Thompson, an old duck 

 hunter, and at that time proprietor of the railroad eating- 

 house at Tracy, Minn., that he had had excellent sport 

 among redhead and canvasback at Lake Susan. There 

 is an abundance of vallisneria (wild celery) in the lakes, 

 which, of course, accounts for the presence of the canvas- 

 back. C. F. C. 



Chicago, HI. 



BRANT SHOOTING AT MONOMOY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



It is now some years since a report of brant shooting at 

 Chatham, Mass , has been made, and feeling that some of 

 your readers might be interested to know how this work 

 had progressed, we will briefly sketch the season's sport. 



It must be understood that there are three clubs at 

 Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, but that for two years the 

 three have been united as one club, under the manage- 

 ment of the elder— the Monomoy Branting Club. Then 

 the members and invited friends are grouped into weekly 

 parties of seven or eight for each week, the first party 

 this year having entered the field o i the 24th of March. 

 The season was cold and backward, and all fowl— geese, 

 brant, eider-ducks, coots, etc. — were a little late in their 

 migrations. Several gaggles of geese (Anser canadensis) 

 passed this point as late as the 20th of April, March being 

 their usual migrating month. There is among these 

 weekly parties some little rivalry to see which shall get 

 the most buds, and this rivalry adds zest to the occasion. 

 During the latter part of March and the first part of April 

 the weather was very rough and cold, and the high tides 

 and wind destroyed the bars as fast as they could be 

 made, and so much extra labor was required on the other 

 bars that the north bar was not made and covered with 

 canvas till the season was far advanced, and the score for 

 the first two weeks ran quite small. Ordinarily there are 

 so few brant here as late as the 25 h of April as to render 

 pursuit unprofitable after that date, but this season they 

 were so backward that a party of six was made up for 

 April 27 to May 4. 



The score for the season was as follows : First week 23 

 brant, second week 6, third week 45, fourth week 171, 

 fifth week 55, sixth week G5; and 15 were killed by the 

 resident members before the weekly parties arrived, 

 making a grand total for the season of 880 brant. There 

 are during the season a good many other fowl killed, 

 such as geese, ducks, etc. , but only two of the former 

 came to bag, though there were an unusual number on 

 the ground. 



We have been thirty years in this "bloody business," 

 and we must say we have never seen more brant than 

 during the present season. The proportion of young 

 brant fairly astonished us. More than, three-quarters of 

 the number killed during the last three weeks of the sea- 

 eon were young birds. Of the 71 brant hanging on the 

 north end of the club house on the first day of May— the 

 usual place for keeping them co.l — only 7 were old ones; 

 and of 11 killed in one day, there was not a single old 

 bird among them. Earlier in the season the proportion 

 of old ones would be greater. The difference in the 

 weight of the birds on the first of April and the first of 

 May is quite pronounced. The average weight at the 

 first date is scarcely 3 Jibs., while at the last date it is 

 nearly 41bs. The young buds especially have a "lean and 

 hungry look'' early in the season, but later nearly every 

 one is a fine fat fellow worthy the tooth of a gourmand. 

 All birds get fat very rapidly, we believe, when supplied 

 with abundance of suitable' food, and these birds must 

 have fallen into such luxuriant feeding ground before 

 their arrival here, though we confess we know not the 

 place. Although we have here fine feeding ground, the 

 buds do not seem to tarry a great while. They are com- 

 ing and going all the time, this year especially, even down 

 into May, though of course in d minished numbers. 



In the nature of things, since in spring time the birds 

 hug the shore, most of the brant that inhabit the east 

 coast of North America must pass in sight of Monomoy 

 and Chatham Bay, and to a person who never witnessed 

 it, the spectacle would create wonder and surprise. Al- 

 most the first question asked by a stranger is, "Where do 

 they all come from?" Let us suppose for a moment that 

 last year we had a million of brant pass this point. Then 

 let us further suppose that three-quarters of the brant 

 that pass this year are young, then we have of these 

 delicious little feathered migrants this season the magni- 

 ficent spectacle, the grand moving panorama of four 

 millions of brant. And this is thought by our resident 

 members and best judges not to be an overestimate. The 

 autumn of 1886, in the Arctic regions, where the birds 

 breed, must have been warm and favorable. When cold 

 weather sets in early, so as to make t oung ice by the 

 3d of September, there is no possible escape for the young 

 birds, and the mother must depart or perish with her off- 

 spring. Instinct is stronger than affection, and the 

 mourning matron wends her weary way to warmer 

 climes, but the disconsolate gunner sees no young brant 

 on Cape Cod the following spring. A fortnight more of 

 warm weather would have saved thousands of the callow 

 birds, and this fortnight was vouchsafed to them last fall. 



If the reader has had patience to follow us to this point, 

 we would in conclusion like to open our club journal and 

 read to him nearly verbatim the record of a single day's 

 shootmg: 



"April 19, 188?'. — The heavy snow storm of yesterday 

 was reduced by rain to three or four inches. During the 

 entire night the wind howled fearfully, heavy thunder 

 shook the earth, and the forked lightning made the night 

 only more hideous. The wind continued strong from N. 

 by E. till afternoon, when it swung more to westward 

 and slackened somewhat in severity. High tide 9:13 A. 

 M. and all the boys were out in good season, full of the 

 highest hopes for a big day's sport. Nor were they dis- 

 appointed. W. and T. occupied the South Box, G., D, and 

 R. the North, L. and S. the Mudhole, and V. his old haunt 

 the Hummock. Never was better day for branting. Never 

 were there mora brant here, and never did they beha ve 

 better nor give more shots. In all our thirty years' ex- 

 perience never before have we seen so much powder 

 burned in a single day. Three or four times did one and 

 another come in for more cartridges. The wind was so 

 strong it actually tore the water, and the poor birds could 

 neither stay in it nor out of it, and they seemed tired out 

 and seeking a place of safety and rest. Nearly all the 

 birds were shot on the wing. The water was so rough it 

 was no easy matter for them to light, nor were they all 

 in one large flock, but broken up into small 'pods' of two, 

 three or half a dozen, and these were decimated as they 

 approached the decoys. Not more than eight were 1? filed 

 and recovered from any one shot. They kept coming 

 along amid a continuous fusilade, now here, now there, 

 now everywhere. The South Box took in thirty-seven, 

 Mudhole thirty-six, North Bar twenty-six, and Hummock 

 six. When the wind blows fresh from the east many 

 dead birds are lost by being drifted oft' shore. Seven of 

 these were recovered to-day when the wind changed, 

 making the day's work foot up one hundred and twelve 

 brant. There was great rejoicing at the club house as 

 each party came in and dumped its heavy load down by 

 the front door. Cheers, huzzahs and tigers rent the air, 

 and the remainder of the day was absorbed in marvelous 

 stories and circumstances that favored or obstructed the 

 Sport of each individual." W. Hapoood. 



Boston, Mass. 



NEW JERSEY GAME. 



NEW JERSEY experienced an unusually good Eng- 

 lish snipe season this spring. It began early, and 

 the last bird I heard of being killed was shot on Satur- 

 day last at East Newark. Several years ago Dr. Robinson, 

 of Newark, killed thirteen snipe one hot July day on the 

 Newark meadows. These birds, among some others, had 

 bred tliere. I feel convinced that if unmolested in their 

 spring flight snipe would, under certain conditions, breed 

 on the Newark meadows and at Pine Brook. At present 

 the shooters do not give them time to alight. 



The woodcock have had a set back in New Jersey, 

 owing to the cold rain and snowstorms in the middle of 

 April. Along the Wallkill, between Hauiburgh and Lib- 

 erty Corner, old birds have been found dead. The rise of 

 water in the northern counties is also said to have de- 

 stroyed many nests. Something always interferes with 

 the woodcock shooting in these days, and those who fol- 

 low it have a hard road to travel. 



A'ong with the apple blossoms came a big flight of 

 yellowlcgs and other bay snipe. On May 8 they were 

 very numerous along Little Egg Harbor and Barnegat 

 Bay, and the Sunday shooters enjoyed excellent luck. 

 On" the following day not a bird was to be seen. 



Mr. James L. Anthony, of this city, has, along with his 

 kennel partner, Mr. Charles Heath, established a game 

 preserve at Lynch's, Va. Mr. Anthony has put out some 

 English partridges there, and also about thirty birds of 

 the same kind at the Graphic Kennels at Netherwood, 

 N. J. • Snipe. 



MICHIGAN WARDEN SYSTEM. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have had some experience with the State game and 

 fish warden, and he seems to mean business. He informs 

 me that within the last two weeks nearly a hundred 

 arrests have been made. 



The deputy wardens for Antoine county are Jesse A. 

 Gary, of Central Lake; Alex Campbell, of Milton, and F. 

 W. Severance, of Jordan. They are all men who will 

 not be fooled with, and there is a growing feeling among 

 the population that it is no longer safe to violate the fish 

 and "game laws. 



Our protective association prepared the way for this 

 feeling and its influence has been salutary. 



I have good hopes to see our woods and waters re- 

 stocked within a reasonable time. Kelpie. 



Central Lake, Mich., May 9. 



Montreal. — The Fish and Game Club, of which Dr. 

 Brainerd is president and Mr. John Molson secretary- 

 treasurer, have just moved into new quarters at the cor- 

 ner of St. James and St. Peter streets. The rooms are 

 most elegantly fitted up and are probably the finest in 

 the city devoted to such a purpose, and to complete the 

 arrangements for the comfort of the members and their 

 guests, the services of Mr. Henri Beau have been secured 

 as caterer. The Fish and Game Club, which numbers 

 about 225 members, is in connection with the Fish and 

 Game Protection Association, membership in which is a 

 necessary qualification in those belonging to the social 

 organization. The officers of the Protection Association 

 are Mr. W. H. Rintoul, President: S. Cross, Vice-Presi- 

 dent, and John Nelson, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer. 



Another Victim.— This time in Florida. The Palatka 

 News, May 12, reports: The old joke of carrying unsuspect- 

 ing innocents into swamps on the pretense of catching 

 snipe, has been practiced so often that nearly everybody 

 is into the "sell," and it is a pretty hard matter to get a 

 victim. Some of the Palatka boys, however, have been 

 coaching a young man in town for several days, and last 

 night they took him out beyond the junction to initiate 

 him into the mysteries of snipe hunting. He was given 

 an old corn sack and a light and stationed as far into the 

 swamp as it was possible to go, where he was left while 

 his companions went off to drive the snipe. They returned 

 to the city in great glee over the success of their joke, 

 and the victim doubtless kept a silent vigil for the snipe 

 I that never came. 



UNITED STATES FIELD TRIALS CLUB. 



ANEW field trials club has just been organized under 

 this name, and starts out with brilliant prospects 

 for a successful career. It is not intended in any sense 

 as a rival to any of the existing clubs, but has been formed 

 by a number of wealthy gentlemen, who believe that 

 there is room for another association of this kind in 

 America. The membership of the club is to be limited to 

 thirty, and this number will include representatives from 

 Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Brook- 

 lyn, Providence and Boston. 



The grounds chosen comprise 8,000 acres of land south 

 of Annapolis, on the famous Eastern Shore of Maryland, 

 the property being now owned by Mr. Robert Garrett, of 

 Baltimore, who will turn it over to the club, of which he 

 is a member. The initiation fee will be $500, and the 

 annual dues $100. 



The club expects to hold a field trial this autumn, to 

 consist of a Derby and an All-Aged stakes. Entries for 

 the former will probably close Aug. 1, and for the All- 

 Aged Sept. 1. The trials will be run under a single judge, 

 and it is intended to try to obtain the services of Mr. John 

 Davidson, of Monroe, Michigan, to act in this capacity. 

 All the heats will be run to a finish, and there will be no 

 dividing of the stakes. Dogs that win must do so on their 

 merits. 



The grounds selected for the club are said to include 

 some of the best duckshooting points on the Chesapeake 

 Bay, and there are vast beds of the wild celery. The up- 

 land affords admirable quail shooting. An English game 

 keeper, who brought over a shipment of 3,000 English 

 pheasant eggs for Mr. Garrett, which he intended to hatch 

 out and turn loose on his place at Montebello. near Balti- 

 more, is now superintending the hatching of these eggs on 

 the club grounds, and the buds, if sucessfully reared, will 

 be turned out there. The eggs are being incubated by ban- 

 tam liens. 



Membership, energy and money are important factors 

 in the success of any club. The United States Field Trials 

 Club lias all these, and will undoubtedly be successful and 

 do a great deal of good. 



Massachusetts Snaking Bill. — A Boston paper re- 

 ports the discussion in the Massachusetts Senate last 

 week on the grouse snaring bill: "In place of an adverse 

 report, Mr. Wadlin, of Reading, moved a substitute bill 

 to allow the trapping and snaring of partridges, hares and 

 rabbits by landowners upon their own land between Oct. 

 1 and. Jan. 1. Mr. Young, of Wellfleet, opposed the bill, 

 because the game law has btely been passed and found 

 to be in the public interest. Mr. Wardwell, of Haverhill, 

 spoke on the same side, attacking the doctrine of private 

 ownership in game and criticising the law of criminal 

 trespass. Mr. Conant, of Acton, saying that he repre- 

 sented the farmers' sons, didn't believe in preserving the 

 game for hunters by prohibiting the farmers' boys from 

 trapping birds on their own lands. He ridiculed the idea 

 of exterminating partridge and quail, and presented a 

 unanimous vote of the town of Acton in favor of the bill. 

 The farmers were not going to stand the greediness of the 

 sportsmen any longer. Mr. Foss, of Rowley, followed 

 on the same side. Mr. Wadlin, of Reading, defended his 

 bill on the ground that the owner of land has a property 

 right to wild bees, fish and buds on his land, and that 

 snaring, as practiced by farmers' boys, does not exter- 

 minate game. After further debate, the bill was substi- 

 tuted almost unanimously, without amendment." 



NEW YORK GAME LAWS. 



THE Governor has signed Senator Weniple's hill providing for 

 a fish hatchery in ihe Adirondacks. 

 Assemblyman Moore has just introduced a bill somewhat simi- 

 lar to the bill of last year amending Sue ion 442 of the peual code 

 (relating to the use of steam dredges weighing over SOlbs. in taking 

 oysters) bv providing that nothing in tne section conlained shad 

 be construed to forbid the owners of any legally planted beds of 

 o v.\ ters from using steam power or heavier dredges on such legally 

 planted beds. ♦ 



The Assembly has passed Hamilton's amendment to the general 

 game laws relative to tishmg and hunting grounds where special 

 privileges have been granted. 



On Friday, in the Senate, Mr. Coggeshall read a communication 

 from Forest Commissioner Townsend Cox, stating that charges 

 had been made on the floor of the Senate against the Forest Com- 

 mission, of which, he is president, and requested an immediate in- 

 vestigation. Mr. Coggeshall, upon this request, attempted to have 

 a committee of three Senators appointed to investigate the mat- 

 ter. Mr. Sloan thought such an inquiry might be expensive, and 

 as some explanation might be made at once by tne Senator who 

 made the charges, he moved that the resolution be reierred to the 

 Finance Committee, which was done after considerable debate, 

 during which Mr. Pitts declared that the resolution was offered 

 to enable some one to spend the summer in the Adirondacks. Mr. 

 Coggeshall replied that he did not need to take to the woods what- 

 ever others may do. Mr. Pitts replied that seven-tenths of these 

 investigations are merely means of furnishing Senators with sum- 

 mer vacations. 



The Assembly lias passed Reeves's appropriation ot ^,oOO for a 

 patrol steamer in the harbor of New York city to enforce the law 

 against garbage; also Hadley's appropriation for the Adirondack 

 Survey increased from $15,00Q to $30,000; also Seuator Murphy's 

 bill, authorizing the having in possession trout and other lish 

 caught outside of the State at seasons when fish caught within tne 

 State are not allowed; also the following bill (No. 1,440) intro- 

 duced by Assemblyman Emery: 



Sec. 1, No person shall set or take any fish by any device known 

 as pound-net, trap-net, set-net or gill-net in any of the waters of 

 Lake Erie within jurisdiction of the State of New York, opposite 

 to and adjoining the shores of the county of Er'e in such State, or 

 engage in procuring or preparing for market auy such fish or any 

 part thereof, or exposing any fish taken in such nets as aforesaid 



Sec. 2". Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of 

 this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction 

 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five months 

 or by a fine of $50 or bv both such fine and imprisonment. One- 

 half of all tines recovered by the provisions of this act shall be 

 paid over by the court receiving the same to the complainant, 

 and the balance after deducting his fees and fees of officers mak- 

 ing the arrest to the county treasurer, and it shall be the duty of 

 every sheriff, deputv sheriff and of every constable and of every 

 game constable to arrest whereon found within this State with- 

 out warrant anv person whom they shall find violating any of the 

 provisions of this act and immediately to bring such offender be- 

 fore the nearest magistrate having jurisdiction of the offense for 

 examination and for trial. 



Sec 3. This act shall take effect immediately. 



The Assembly has passed Erwin's amendment to the song bird 

 act of 1886, making it a misdemeanor to feed or shelter sparrows; 

 also, making it la wful to kill crows, hen hawks, owls and black- 

 birds. The bill was opposed by many members, who regarded the 

 Pi-o vision as relating to sparrows as most extraordinary legisla- 

 tion; but it passed. . • _ 



There was considerable of a fight m rhe Assembly over Cogge- 

 shall's fi-inch trout bill, some of the members wishing to reduce 

 the length to 5in. Passed with $10 fine clause omitted. 



The Senate Finance Committee reported Hall's amendment to 

 the Forest Commission act and it was ordered to a third reading. 

 The same committee also reported Reeves's general oyster bill 

 (the same which was worked over by the Assembly Game Com- 

 mittee) so mutilated that Reeves will not allow it to pass in its 

 present form. He declares that in this shape it i s w r orse than use- 

 less. It has again been taken back by the committee. 



