Feb. 28, 1889 j 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



109 



The Cumberland Marsh is crossed by one or two big 

 ditches intended as drains; but the State of Indiana does 

 not seem to have gained much by its efforts at the 

 reclamation of those lands. Through the effacing fingers 

 of time and marsh alluvium, the ditches have well nigh 

 fallen into an innocuous desuetude. The old "18-foot 

 ditch'" is altogether filled up. They are handy as boat- 

 ways, and aa such are duly appreciated, and they also 

 serve as a fishing ground for an idle day: for, although 

 only a foot or two deep at low water, they fairly swarm 

 with little pickerel, which the Cumbeland men delight 

 to slay. The pickerel are mostly such miserable, scrawny , 

 no-account things that I should think they would be 

 happier dead. They are not bad eating, liowever, and 

 once in a while a big one is taken. 



The marsh water of the ditches, though discolored to a 

 deep reddish brown by its passage over and through the 

 continuous vegetation , seems to be pure and not unhealth- 

 ful. There is no ague in the water or in the air, and a 

 more healthful country than this now is would be hard 

 to find. Indeed, the whole region of the Kankakee 

 swainps seems now to be relieved of all odium of ague or 

 malaria, and some physicians of Chicago have sent 

 patients down to the club houses of the Kankakee for a 

 six-months' visit, during which they have gained rapidly 

 in health and vigor. As a place for a "day off," and a 

 resting spot in the heated term, there is no more delight- 

 ful locality than the shaded yet breeze-swept point occu- 

 pied bp Cumberland Lodge: and that the members fully 

 recognize this fact is shown by the club register, which 

 on some midsummer dates holds long lists of gentlemen 

 and ladies who have thrown off the heat and burden and 

 come down here to have a good big romp. This dolce 

 far nienfe feature of the Chicago shooting clubs is a 

 marked one and a commendable one. The whole atmos- 

 phere here is one of absolute freedom from work or care, 

 and of complete surrender to tbe mercies of the day and 

 hour. 



The reception room of the Cumber lands is a large 

 double room, and serves also as gun room and locker 

 room, as is the case in most of the club houses. Every 

 thing is simple, plain and business-like in this apartment. 

 The parlors are nicely and the sleeping apartments neatly 

 furnished. The superintendent and his family live in 

 one part of the same building. The plan of the superin- 

 tendent's retention is that in force at the other river 

 clubs. He is paid a stated sum, paid for meals actually 

 had by a member or his family and guests, and is al- 

 lowed f urther the privilege of carrying on a farm. The 

 fresh country products of the farm are esteemed as 

 privileges by the city people who come down to the 

 lodge. 



There are plenty of pushers accessible at the Cumber- 

 land Club, all of whom are skillful, thoroughly posted 

 on the marsh and quite reliable as aid to the shooter. 

 Among the men who sometimes take a hand at this are 

 the Allbright brothers, three old bachelors who live to- 

 gether in a little house just at the turn the sandy road 

 makes up to the club house. These men are rather 

 lightly alluded to as the "Swamp Angels." I do not 

 like the allusion. It is probable that the lives, the in- 

 herited traits, the misfortune, perhaps, of these men 

 have left unkind traces on their mental vigor. They 

 may be odd, eccentric, even yet more worthy of the 

 significant touch upon the forehead, but they are yet 

 simple, kindly, honest and hospitable with what they 

 have. No more jeers should go their way, but only a 

 graver kindness. They have been the butt of other 

 writers and the subject of many an untimely jest by 

 thoughtless hunters and more than thoughtless neigh- 

 . bors. It is time for that to stop. It would be a great 

 deal better fun to see if their lives could not be better 

 understood and made more happy. 



The boats used by the Cumberlands are chiefly of the 

 Qreen Bay model, and they are well suited to marsh 

 work. They pole easily, draw light and sit strong on the 

 water. The main fault is that they have not rake enough 

 to ride down driftage well. The decoys and all other 

 appliances are admirable. The natural cover of the 

 mai'sh is suck that artificial blinds are not in much requi- 

 sition. I have in a previous article spoken of Mr. Geo. 

 T. Farmer's two dugouts. He doesn't use any other kind 

 of a boat, and skims around alone all over the marsh in 

 his tipsy -looking craft, not getting any wetter than any- 

 body else. Mr. Farmer is one of the most regular and 

 most successful shooters of the club. There has long been 

 great rivalry between him, Mr. C. D. Gammon and Mr. 

 W. V/. McFarland as to which should hold the palm as 

 most persistent and successful duck shooters, and when a 

 good season comes again it is very probable that they will 

 resume the contest, in which they will be joined by Mr. 

 Shepard. and a number of other successful if less fre- 

 quent visitors to the marsh. 



They are able and enthusiastic sportsmen who make up 

 this club, and in the following list of members a reader 

 wili.recognize a number of names familiar to every gath- 

 ering, of shooters in and around this city: 

 LIST OF CUMBERLAND CLUB. 



C K. Herrick, President: Henry Stephens, Vice-Presi- 

 dent; W, L. Shepard, Secretary; Jobn Heiland, Treas- 

 urer; Geo. T. Farmer, John O. Blake and H. P. Thomp- 

 son, Board of Managers. Members — A. G. Spalding, W. 

 C. Scupham, F. P. Blair, G. M. Davis, M. J. Eich, Chas. 

 E. Felton, Geo. T. Farmer, Walter Mattocks, C. D. Gam- 

 mon, James Gandner, R. R. Street, John Heiland, J. M. 

 Hutchinson, Henrv Stephens, H. W. Loveday, W. N. 

 Lowe, E. W. Lee, W. W. McFarland, W. G. McComiick, 

 John F. Grav, George B. Kerr, Rev. Ed. A. Kelly, Frank 

 C. Roundy, A. M. Hofman, W. L. Shepard, W. P. Free- 

 man, F. B. Norcum, H. D. Nicholls. J. O. Pierson, Chas. 

 E, Rollins, John M. Smyth, Perry H. Smith, Jr., Jas. A. 

 Sexton. H. P. Thompson, E. W. Gillett, Samuel T.White, 

 L. P. Hansen, Geo. R. Grant, G. F. Harmeyer, Geo. Mc- 

 Coianell, F. 0. Griffin, W. L. Goggin, Geo. Hoffman, Jr., 

 H. G. Purinton, John O. Blake. E. Hough. 



No. 175 Monroe Stebet, Chicago. 



Minnesota, Mo,, Feb. 19. — A glorious open winter in 

 this part of the State. Prairie chickens wintering finely 

 with plenty of food.— C. P, 



Fobest and Stheam, Box 2,832, N. Y. city, has descriptive illus- 

 trated circulars of W. B. Lefliruweirs hook, "Wild Fowl Shoot- 

 ing," which will ho mailed free ou request. The book is pro- 

 nounced by "Xanit," "(jloan," "Dick Swiveller," "Sybillene" and 

 other competent, authorities to be the best treatise on the subject 

 extant. 



THE MAINE GAME LAWS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Of "Nor'east's" criticism in Forest and Stream of 

 Feb. 7 no one has any right to complain, least of all the 

 writer he takes to task. One of the chief uses of Forest 

 and Stream, and to many its greatest charm, is the free 

 interchange of views by its readers on subjects of inter- 

 est to all. That all should agree on any subject God 

 forbid. A dreary world would we have of' it if all minds 

 thought alike. Yet to glean good out of any discussion 

 it is the part of wisdom to check the inclination, to which 

 all of us are more or less prone, to question the sincerity 

 of the motives of those who differ from us, and to believe 

 all men wholly bad who do not subscribe to our favorite 

 tenets. 



"Nor'east" wastes considerable indignation over the 

 little tale of the moose killing out of season; and calls it 

 "unjust, misleading and necessarily untrue," and wonders 

 that the "editor of our paper would allow such state- 

 ments to be made through its columns." Nevertheless it 

 is true, every word of it. Why not? The man who fired 

 the shot was only one of several guilty ones. Were not 

 the guide who paddled the boat and the hotel man who 

 harbored the venison equally subject to penalty? As to 

 the procceedings taken by the wardens or Commissioners 

 nothing was said, but it does not follow that there were 

 none. The point illustrated by the anecdote was simply 

 the length guides and hotel men will go to protect visitors 

 who have illegally killed deer, not ' 'the tyranny of the 

 Commissioners," as "Nor'east" seems to have taken it. 

 Our worthy Commissioners have earned the respect and 

 deserve the support of all, and their best friends will not 

 imagine attack where nothing but praise is intended. If 

 a law is unwise, amend it, don't stand off and damn the 

 executive. 



Again "Nor'east" is positive that it is "impossible to 

 frame a law to allow a sportsman to carry home his bit 

 of venison and not allow the market hunter to market 

 his spoils to almost any extent." Why has the State 

 found, it impossible to prevent the shipment of trout to 

 market, while allowing the angler to take home his box 

 of fish with him? Then why cannot a similar regula- 

 tion be made for the benefit of a deer hunter? Look at 

 it generously, "Nor'east." You go to the woods and 

 can carry to your home the entire carcasses of three 

 deer, two caribou and one moose; aud at the same time 

 say to your companion from New Hampshire, "You 

 can leave your share of the spoils of the chase on the 

 ground to rot, or you can carry it out of the woods to 

 give to strangers, or you can even sell it to a Portland 

 game dealer; but not a shred of hide or hah, not an 

 ounce of flesh can you take to your home. The antlers 

 you would prize so much are legally yours of course, 

 you can have them mounted and hung any place you 

 wish within the State of Maine, and whenever you 

 want to see them we will let you come and look at 

 them." Your friend in astonishment asks, "Do you 

 mean to say that the State of Maine tells the stranger 

 that is within its gates, 'This article is your property, 

 lawfully acquired, and our laws will defend your pos- 

 session, even imprisoning him who attempts to de- 

 prive you of it, but when you leave the State this item 

 of property, absolutely yours, must be left behind." 

 This is clearly not equitable. Is it even lawful? The 

 power to regulate commerce between the States is 

 by the Constitution reserved to the Federal Government, 

 and it is sound law that a State has no more right to in- 

 terdict commerce in one species of property than another. 

 You may prevent the felling of timber or the killing of 

 deer if you choose, but make either lawful and you can- 

 not prevent him who legally acquires ownership from 

 carrying his property where he wishes. I propose to take 

 my moose to New Hampshire, and if you attempt to pre- 

 vent me, I shall appeal to the protection of the Federal 

 Courts." If the possibility of this question being brought 

 to an issue is recognized, and intelligent provision made 

 for meeting it, we may find that thereby we have pre- 

 vented the doors being thrown wide open to the market 

 hunter. 



"Nor'east," while giving a qualified approval to the 

 shooting license system, urges that the section of the 

 Constitution providing for "the right of the people to 

 keep and bear arms," would render such a law invalid. 

 This is an error. Several of the States have such laws, 

 New Jersey is an instance, Maryland in a degree another, 

 and the courts have upheld their constitutionality. 

 Again, the laws against concealed deadly weapons, 

 almost universal, have been held to be constitutional as 

 being mere police regulations, and within the province 

 of States and cities to control. 



'iNor'east" is very positive that the fawns are not all 

 weaned by September even, and individual instances 

 may give color to this view. At times healthy mothers 

 will continue nursing after a child is able to walk alone. 

 The real point is whether the fawn is able to care for 

 itself by August, for it may continue to suck far into the 

 winter, and certainly follows the doe for a full year or 

 even two. On this point Caton, in "The Antelope and 

 Deer of America," gives us little exact information. He 

 tel Is us that deer in confinement breed ' 'later and later each 

 succeeding year" (p. 804). That "the fawns are weaned 

 by the time they are four months old" (p. 308). The rut- 

 ting, however, begins in September (p. 307), and nursing 

 is, of course, over before that. This is by no means uniform, 

 however, as, in referring particularly to the moose, he 

 says, "The rutting season with the old animals com- 

 mences in September, and the fawns are dropped in May. 

 With young animals this season is later with both sexes. 

 In general, it may be said to commence at the time the 

 antlers of the males are divested of their velvet, and this 

 remark is equally applicable to all of this great family of 

 ruminants, though, as I have shown elsewhere, they are 

 capable of procreation at any other season of the year, 

 and when opportunities are wanting at the proper season 

 they at least sometimes breed at other times of the 

 year" (p. 280). As to the proper season for beginning 

 the chase, he says, "The proper season for hunt- 

 ing the moose is at the commencement of the rut, say in 

 September, when his antlers have perfected their growth, 

 the velvet has been rubbed off, and they have become 

 finely polished against the trees. Then it is that he is in 

 the best condition and the venison is the choicest" (p. 280). 

 When the bull moose "finds himself accepted by an 

 agreeable partner they retire to a deep, secluded thicket 

 on low marshy ground, where they spend their honey- 

 moon of three or four weeks, * * * the male at least 



scarcely taking food" (p. 278). "During this connubial 

 period the male moose becomes emaciated, and at its 

 termination retires to still deeper seclusion, where, with 

 returned appetite, he tries to recruit his flesh and strength 

 wherewith to meet the rigors of winter; but if he is an 

 old buck he but partially succeeds in this, and if the 

 hunter has to depend on his flesh to supply his camp he 

 needs sharp teeth and a good appetite to make it tender 

 and delicious" (p. 2S0). This is the condition of the moose 

 in October, a condition analogous to a spent salmon or 

 kelt, and yet "Nor'east" declares this to be the proper 

 season to kill him in, and would not even give the title of 

 sportsman to him who would hunt in September. If 

 deer and moose to any great extent nurse their young in 

 August it would be a valid reason for making that month 

 a close season, but that they sometimes nurse in December 

 even would not affect the question. Surely many of 

 your readers can give us valuable information, gleaned 

 from practical experience, on so important a point. 



But to refer again to the reasoning of the original com- 

 munication. Deer are now killed in Maine in every 

 month from June to March. The killing in summer is by 

 visitors with the aid of guides. The killing late in the 

 winter is by market-hunters for gain, The guides take 

 their parties into the woods in June, July, August and 

 September, because otherwise they secure no profit from 

 the game to themselves, and by reason of this well-known 

 fact they wouldn't "dare to" take any active steps to pre- 

 vent crust-hunting by others. Our Commissioners and 

 wardens, able and energetic as they are, have been unable 

 to stop this illegal work. Now, if we give the guides a 

 chance to run something in August and September, it 

 will be to their interest to stop killing in June and July, 

 when the fawns are dependent upon the does, and also 

 put it in their power to stop the crust-hunter at his work. 

 "Nor'east" does not answer this by saying that "those 

 lawbreakers are not entitled to any consideration what- 

 ever," for this is not a plea for the guide, but on behalf 

 of the deer. Anthony Morce. 



BURSTING OF A RIFLE BARREL. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



An instance of the bursting of a rifle barrel came under 

 my observation recently, which presented some unique 

 features. Two boys were shooting at a target with the 

 rifle barrel of a three-barreled Baker gun. Af ter burst- 

 ing the rifle barrel they brought it to me to find an 

 explanation. The conditions were these: There were 

 three longitudinal rents or splits extending from the 

 point of the forearm about three inches toward the muz- 

 zle. The two "ribbons" thus formed between the rents 

 were bulged outward in the middle. A bullet was 

 jammed at their junction, three inches above the forearm. 

 The only explanation I could offer was that a bullet from 

 a previous discharge had lodged in the barrel. But they 

 felt sure that every bullet fired had gone to the target. 



After taking away the gun and ramming out thebullet 

 they brought it back and showed me that there were in 

 fact two bullets jammed together. One of the boys then 

 remembered that a cartridge had failed to fire, and after 

 some diversion of his attention from the matter he had 

 extracted the faulty cartridge, which was empty, but he 

 failed to note that it had not been regularly discharged. 

 He inserted a fresh cartridge and attempted to shoot, 

 which resulted in bursting the gun. 



My conjecture is that the defective cartridge had no 

 powder in it, and the fulminate in the cap had sent the 

 bullet far enough to lodge as an obstruction in the barrel. 

 The metal of the barrel was very thin and exhibited great 

 toughness of fiber, which was longitudinal and without 

 any cross fibres, as the rents were clean cut and parallel 

 to the axis of the bore. Coahoma. 



Amasa. and the Fisher. — Colebrook, N. H., Feb. 11. 

 — A vigorous winter is here at last with not more than 

 one foot of snow in this valley, and a prospect of game 

 wintering well. The first snow that came to stay wa9 

 Jan. 21. Ward came out from his camp on Dead 

 Diamond last week. He gives an account of trailing a 

 fisher that had carried a trap six miles after breaking 

 the chain. He found that the trail led under the trunk 

 of a large tree that was uprooted on the mountain side, 

 falling down hill, the earth clinging to the roots in a way 

 to form a cavity, the only entrance to which was by 

 crawling under the body of the tree. This is a thing an 

 old guide will not do until every other way to approach 

 a wildcat has been tried. A careful search revealed a 

 2in. opening through the roots, and hair could be seen 

 inside. The repeater was carefully aimed and dis- 

 charged. The hair remained in sight, and all was silent 

 inside and out after the echoes had exhausted their force 

 on the sides of tbose granite peaks. Amasa wanted that 

 fisher. After carefully setting his rifle against a tree he 

 went under that fallen tree headforemost, the light in 

 the little opening was not sufficient to enable him to out- 

 line the cat, and thinking of claws he began to grope 

 about for a stick to try the supposed dead animal. After 

 prodding it he came to the conclusion that it did wince a 

 little, but about that time a pile of sticks and leaves 

 broke through within a foot of his head and another head 

 with it! But the size was the surprising part in that 

 scene — as the visage opened, hooked ivories over an inch 

 in length were exposed to view. Ward says there was 

 only room for one to get out of that hole at one time. 

 He wanted to show his respect for strangers and so gave 

 the other chap all the room he could. "How many times 

 did you shoot, Amasa?" "I don't know," was the reply, 

 "but when the smoke cleared away a large bear lay in 

 full view."— Ned Norton. 



North Carolina Game Laws. — Efforts looking to the 

 more efficient protection of game in North Carolina are 

 being made this winter, though it is as yet uncertain 

 whether any needed reforms will be accomplished. Like 

 most of the Southern States, the laws of North Carolina 

 ai'e unintelligent, loosely drawn, and to a large extent 

 local. An attempt is being made to secure a codification 

 of these laws which will condense them, make th^rn uni- 

 form and provide for their enforcement. Among the 

 bills now before the Legislature is one entitled, "An act 

 to prevent the total annihilation of wildfowl in the State 

 of North Carolina," which, in view of the unprecedented 

 scarcity of fowl in the West and North during the past 

 shooting season, will have a special interest for gunners 

 all over the land. A special committee of the Legislature 

 was appointed last Tuesday to hear arguments on this 

 bill. 



