Sept. 27, 1888.J 



4 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



187 



kins county, woodcock are fairly abundant and quail are 

 scarce. Brown rabbits are easily found, except near the 

 large towns, and white rabbits are plentiful enough in 

 the swauips to make good sport with beagles. A few 

 ducks and turtle doves complete the list of feathered 

 game of the county. Coons, foxes, skunks, muskrats 

 and mink can be found in a'most any part of the county 

 by hunters who care to gather fur. 



Robt, T. Morris, M.D. 



New Yoke, .Sept. Sp, 



BEARS IN MAINE. 



IT is a curious feature in natural history that bears are 

 on the increase in Maine, esrjeeially in Franklin and 

 Oxford counties. It can hardly be claimed that this in- 

 crease is due to protection, as in the case of deer, where 

 the restraint of dog hunting and crusting by the hand of 

 the law is certainly the means through which a very 

 marked increase in numbers is apparent. But Ursa 

 major has grown in numbers in Maine in a very marked 

 degree. Time was when the mountains of Oxford and 

 Franklin counties were great living grounds for these 

 animals, but the advent of civilization more than fifty 

 years ago seemed to drive them nearly to extermination. 

 Thirty years ago, in the very neighborhoods where bears 

 have made sad havoc with the farmer's sheep this sum- 

 mer, such an animal was rarely known, except in name. 

 It is true, that in the early history of politics in Oxford 

 county certain stalwarts obtained the title of Oxford 

 Bears) a name given to them because they were the 

 hardy sons of a locality where bears had once been won- 

 derfully plenty. But civilization, accompanied by the 

 settlers steel trap and flintlock, had driven them almost 

 to extermination. Still, on occasion these animals were 

 seen even in those days. In conversation with a gentle- 

 man born in Oxford county, in that State, the other day, 

 he remarked that he well remembered the advent of a 

 bear some thirty years ago near the village of Pinhook. 

 Old bruin crossed the road only a few rods 

 from the post office. Ho was seen by a teamster 

 on his way to Bryant's Pond, a station on the 

 Grand Trunk Railroad, that had been but a short time 

 completed as far as Island Pond. His story created a 

 good deal of excitement, as soon as it was believed, 

 which was not till he had pointed out the tracks of the 

 beast to the villageis whom he had alarmed. The gen- 

 tleman himself — then a boy — says that he saw the tracks 

 though several days old, and that the place where the 

 bear crossed the road, was for a long time pointed out to 

 strangers as one of the wonders of the town. But this 

 year, strange to say, two bears have already been killed 

 in that section, which is really a part of North Wood- 

 stock. The killing of one the Forest and Stream has 

 already had an account of. The beast was shot by Char- 

 lie Bessee some time in May. But later in the season the 

 farmers began to find that the bears were not all dead 

 after all. Their sheep were begining to be killed by the 

 dozen. A Mi - . Felt lost a large number. The bears evi- 

 dently killed them for slaughter. In most cases, so the 

 story goes, the hindlegs only of the sheep were eaten off, 

 and it is claimed that in some cases the entire body of the 

 sheep was skinned, and the skin rolled up in a wad. I 

 cannot vouch for this part of the statement, but it comes 

 to me from authority undisputed, though received second 

 hand by my informant. But this report of bears in 

 plenty is only one of many. They are also being caught 

 in traps to an extent almost unknown before. Two have 

 been caught in the section of the state where the sheep 

 were killed. Special. 



DAYS WITH THE PARTRIDGES. 



LAST week I spent two or three days in Granville, 

 Mass. , just over the Connecticut border, in search of 

 that kingly bird and greatest of game birds, the ruffed 

 grouse. In response to your request for a few notes of 

 my trip, I send this. You will not expect figures of 

 rhetoric or descriptions of scenery, but facts and infor- 

 mation. I will be truthful at least, and (if I may borrow 

 a figure from Wendell Holmes) "cling to the fact as an 

 embryo marsupial clings to the teat." 



We did not "find partridge very plenty, and the bevies 

 were not large. One bevy of thirteen was found in a 

 swamp on the third day, but on all other occasions they 

 numbered five or four, or even fewer. We found the 

 birds on all kinds of ground; on the high hills and in low 

 places; in the woods and iu the alders: in dense cover and 

 occasionally in the open on the edge of a wood. 



During two days' tramp we did not put up a single 

 woodcock, and not more than four cock were found on 

 the last day, which was spent in the low valley. 



I had my old dog Dash, who has spent nine autumns 

 with me in the woods and is almost human in his nature, 

 and my fine Llewellin bitch Star — a brace of splendid 

 dogs. It was their first fly for the season, but they did 

 well in every way, except that the bitch lacks endurance. 

 This fault I bring against the fine-bred Llewellins; they 

 lack stamina. My old dog is from a Lester — Doll sire and 

 a beautiful orange and white native bitch, and he has 

 every quality of a gentleman's hunting dog. 



We were also surprised at the apparent wildness of the 

 birds. They were young for the most part, not over two- 

 thirds grown, and it is not at all probable that they had 

 been hunted, and yet they seldom lay for the dog, but 

 would rise a dozen rods away and make for the deep 

 woods. 



The first bird fell to my gun. We were working a 

 piece of sprouts and ivies when I noticed old Dash take 

 on a statelier attitude. He grew tall, head up, nose 

 pushed out, and moved quietly ahead. I cried "Game, 

 look out." Then there was a burst from the bushes and 

 an old cock dashed into the woods, rising fifty paces 

 ahead. I followed Dash, who was on the trail of that 

 old cock, and my two friends walked into a small brood 

 that were in some ivies on the right. Two of them 

 climbed the hill to the right; four shots greeted them, 

 but they went on, and two went back up the run. High 

 up and moving like a meteor was one of these, when I 

 turned my 16-bore upon her, and keeping well ahead, 

 pulled. The grouse responded, and made the ground at 

 an angle of 45 degrees fully 60yds. away. Dash was 

 proud as he laid her at my feet, and seemed to say, 

 "Master, that is pretty good. Now for more." 



On the edge of a wood in a meadow among low black 

 berries we found a brood of four. Star did the honors on 

 this occasion. The birds had gone freely among the 

 berries, and the work of Star was to trail. She followed 



them out into the meadow and back again, moving too 

 eagerly but with an assurance that said, 'Tvogot'em; 

 come on." At last she stopped on edge of a clump of 

 bushes by the wood. 



"Quickly, now, here they are; John, get there." 

 Whirr! Bang, bang. All escaped. Some made straight 

 back for the wood. Two swinging along the edge, and 

 I fired; saw some feathers cut from the tail and on she 

 went. We followed them. John got his biid, but I 

 missed a second time. 



My companion the' third day was Mr. Wilcox, pro- 

 prietor of the hotel at Granville. Mr. Wilcox took me 

 over excellent ground, but the scarcity of the birds sur- 

 prised liim. We were drinking at a farmer's well when 

 the owner said, "If your dogs w'ld n't break down my 

 corn I'd tell you where was a couple of snipe," 



We quieted his fears, and he said, "Well, in that 

 piece back of the barn, but you can't hit 'em.' Soon the 

 dogs were in the corn, and in ten seconds a woodcock 

 was in the air. Two guns were emptied, but the beau- 

 tiful fellow went on swinging to the end of the piece. 

 I followed around. He had lit in the open, and I put 

 him up. The little gun followed him as he lifted over 

 an apple tree, and he fell at the foot of the tree. Dash 

 was called to retrieve, but he would not come. "Dash 

 is down on the other bird," I said. We moved back for 

 him; the bird was put up and missed; was found again, 

 and joined his companion in the bag. 



Similar incidents might be repeated, but the experi- 

 enced bird hunter can fill out the picture. "Write me," 

 said Abou Ben Adam, "as one who loves his fellow men." 

 Let me also say, write me as one who loves the woods 

 and meadows, who loves his dog and gun, and who con- 

 fesses a singular sympathy with the fraternity of true 

 sportsmen. Grouse. 



Salem, Mass., Sept. 20. — Ipswich gunning the past 

 three weeks has been tame. More gunners than birds 

 at every place except Eagle Hill, where Mr. James Ward 

 and son, of Ipswich, have been doing some excellent 

 shooting I am told. There were some teal about Salem 

 last Sunday. I saw two winters and one female wood 

 duck at Indian River, West Newbury, recently, but not a 

 Wilson snipe, and only one has been shot to date. Rail 

 last Saturday were non est also. Salem parties have had 

 some fine plover shooting on the highlands of Cape Cod 

 recently. Within a week I have been through some fine 

 woodcock cover, getting but one bird, although I shot at 

 another on a pine sidohill. I f or.nd some alder swamps 

 filled and spattered in good shape, and the dog drew 

 around through the cover in a cautious manner without 

 a point. I then hunted through corn without a feather. 

 If some of your correspondents can tell us where the 

 birds were, you will oblige a number of your readers. — 

 X. Y. Z. 



"Autumn Anticipations."— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I am troubled with that complaint — have it bad — in fact 

 it has been growing worse ever since I read your article 

 with the above caption in the Forest and Stream of 

 Aug. 30. But the affection is not a new one to me; it 

 has taken possession of me annually for fully fifty years, 

 and I can truly join you m saying those years are full of 

 "happy memories !" The charm has never left me, and 

 so long as 1 can see and walk I feel it will not. The 

 opening season will find me once more among the hills 

 and valleys where my early days were passed, and though 

 my pleasure may be tinged with a sadness from missing 

 those who were wont in years gone by to share it with 

 me, still it will be the more tender and true from these 

 memories which are sacred. Who can say they are poor, 

 when even once a year they can revel in a charm that 

 fades not?— A. (Brooklvn, Sept. 22.) 



English Snipe.— Oakd ale, Long Island, Sept. 17.— I 

 bagged the first English snipe of the season to-day while 

 beating the meadows for kreakers. Bay snipe shooting 

 over decoys is about at an end for this season. A f e w of 

 the large-sized kreakers can be picked up by shooting 

 long distances, as they flush very wild, and talk and act 

 very much like an English snipe. A dozen are con- 

 sidered a good bag. There are yet a few straggling yelp- 

 ers and yellowlegs, but not enough to make shooting a 

 pleasure from a blind. I see every day a few golden 

 plover on the wing, but have not had the fortune to have 

 any decoy since the big flight of September 1. These 

 birds, no doubt, are stragglers from the big flight, hav- 

 ing stopped on the hills of Montauk and Orient to feed on 

 grasshoppers. — A. A. F. 



The Susquehanna River.— Towanda, Pa., Sept. 20.— 

 In a day's hunting trip by a party of sportsmen of this 

 place, on eleven miles of the Susquehanna River, neigh- 

 boring shores and islands, the following were sighted: 

 large flock of red-winged blackbirds, large flock of crow 

 blackbirds, 3 ducks, 3 rails, 1 plover, 2 English snipe, 1 

 crane, 1 eagle, 4 red squirrels and a number of blue 

 herons. Woodcock very scarce, not one put up, although 

 we had two good setters and hunted the ground carefully. 

 The following brought to bag: Five redwings, 5 crow 

 blackbirds, 1 duck, 1 rail, 3 red squirrels. Very few 

 black and gray squirrels in this neighborhood. Prospects 

 for ruffed grouse shooting are fair. — D. 



Puppies and Game Laws. — Thomaston, Conn., Sept. 

 17. — I saw a letter last week in which the writer said 

 that a puppy of his. in a trainer's hands in Meriden, 

 Conn., had had fourteen woodcock and three partridges 

 shot over it this season. Are there any game wardens in 

 Meriden? — Game Warden. 



Cohasset, Mass. — The cooting is just beginning here, 

 and the old black ones are coming along in large bunches. 

 The gunners, however, are getting very few, as the birds 

 are wild. Still, in a little while the young gray coot will 

 begin to arrive, and then the fun will commence. — Ten- 

 Bore. 



Late Quail.— Oakdale, L. I., Sept. 24.— Inclosed please 

 find sample of small game bird. I found nest to-day; 

 had nine eggs in; four were hatched out and rest of eggs 

 cold, and nest abandoned, probably on account of this 

 dead bird being in it,— Alfred A. Fraser. 



Dillingers vtlle , Pa., Sept. 14.— On Saturday last we 

 were visited by a large flight of golden plover, the first 

 large flight that has visited us for a number of years, — 

 L. W. M. 



Dover, Del., Sept. 24. — Plover and snipe shooting in 

 this section very poor. An excellent outlook for part- 

 ridges, ducks, rabbits and squirrels. Numerous coveys 

 of partridges that remained untouched last season. In 

 some localities squirrels are doing considerable damage 

 to corn in the fields. Duck shooting mostly confined to 

 sprigs and black ducks. Food for'game plentiful and 

 varied. Fox hunters will have plenty of sport, as the 

 little reds are everywhere. Raccoons and opossums are 

 plentiful enough to afford some good solid fun. — Del A. 

 Ware. 



Westchester County.— Plcasantville, N. Y., Sept. 19. 

 —Woodcock shooting in this county has been very poor 

 so far this season, but there is no end to the quail here 

 this fall. The blizzard seems to have been a benefit 

 instead of a damage. In passing over a farm of about 

 140 acres I put to flight five flocks of those swift-winged 

 little fellows, all about two thirds grown, — J. O. 



THE CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I inclose clipnrng from the Globe of Sept. 23: "The fact that the 

 Connecticut Farmers end Sportsmen's Association for the Pro- 

 tection of Game and Fish has made it s first successful prosecution 

 will he good news to all who wish to see the game laws enforced. 

 The difficulty in obtaining convicting evidence against game law 

 violators is very great, and therefore the successful prosecution 

 of "Coll" Barnard, of North Bloomfield. yesterday, is a fact worth 

 general attention. Complete evidence againt "Barnard could not 

 he obtained, owiug to the absence of several witnesses, but e ough 

 was secured to convict him on two counts and fine him $87.36. D. 

 A. Markliam appeared for the club. Two other counts on which 

 Barnard was arrested were not pressed yesterday., but will be 

 acted on iu case the association thinks best to further push the 

 matter. Detective Fielding worked up the case and did it well, 

 securing all the evidence necessary. Barnard snared over 1,000 

 pariridges last year, according to his own statement. He had 

 been snaring this year and hunting previous to the time the law 

 goes off. 



I also clip from the Colchester Advocate the following: "Farm- 

 ers of Westchester Urged to Unite in Enforcing Trespass Laws.— 

 Farmers of Westchester and vici nity. greeting: As our city lriends 

 ('d are so much afraid that Ave studl not observe i he game laws 

 properly, let us one and all post notices on our farms and enforce 

 the trespass law— J. L. Carrier, Westchester, Conn,, Sept. 10, 

 1888." 



Tue Globe says: "We have learned that Mr. Carrier is the station 

 agent at Westchester, and for a number of years past has bought 

 most of the game that was snared and shot in his town. We 

 therefore easily see why Mr. Carrier is so grieved over the situ- 

 ation and thinks the present, Slaws unjust. Mr. Carrier's 

 pocket is struck by the law which does not allow him to sell 

 snared birds or seud birds out of the State. We uever yet saw a 

 case of pure unselfishness, and Mr. Carrier illustrates tbe tact 

 admirably." 



Some people are unkind enougb to say Mr. Carrier is the party 

 who wrote an article for the Fox est and STREAM signed "One of 

 the Farmers," and another signed "The Same Farmer." I respect- 

 fully ask Mr. Carrier to malec affidavit that he is not the party. 

 If he does I will have something to say on the subject. 



Abbott C. Coixins, President 

 Connecticut Association of Farmers and Sportsmen for the 

 Protection of Game and Fish. 

 Hartford, Conn. 24. 



m and Jf/iw fishing. 



MAINE FISHING. 



T)OSTON, Sept. 20.— The September fishing is good in 

 JL> the most of the Maine waters. Several reports have 

 come in from Moosehead and the}- all indicate good fly- 

 fishing. The Megantic Club is getting ready for its open- 

 ing trip, which will include a grand excursion of the 

 members and invited guests. The club has met with 

 some delay hi building club houses, etc., but things are 

 fast drawing into shape. The excursion will include a 

 large number of prominent Boston merchants and busi- 

 ness men. Some of them will throw the fly for the first 

 time, but the majority are old hands at the trade. The 

 fishing is reported good in the Rangeleys. A number of 

 prominent sportsmen have lately been* domiciled at the 

 Upper Dam, at Camp Bema, Indian Rock and at Student 

 Island. They generally report the fishing quite good. 

 A Mr. Brown, of North Bridgton, Maine, with his 

 nephew, Mr. F. S. Brown of that place, have recently 

 returned from a trip to Richardson Lake. They report 

 good sport. They caught below the dam three or four 

 trout of 8 and 41bs. weight, with an abundance of small 

 ones. A Philadelphia gentleman caught, the clay before 

 the Messrs. Brown came out, a 71b. trout. It was caught 

 with the fly; at least so the story goes. But the Union 

 Waterpower Company has been raising the gates for 

 sportsmen to fish this fall, and that brings the trout up 

 into the pools below the dam. The jigging of last year is 

 not yet forgotten, and true sportsmen do not hke the 

 sound of - the gates being raised. It gives the fishermen 

 an unnatural chance at the trout, which naturally, as the 

 spawning season approaches, seek the running water and 

 struggle to get up stream. 



It is said that some very remarkable trout were seen 

 under the mill at that point one mrrning last week, but 

 that none of them wei e taken, for the mill was soon 

 started and they were all driven out. Would it be safe 

 to trust a number of big trout in plain sight on the bot- 

 tom of that stream, with the ordinary number of those 

 who style themselves sportsmen there? The trout might 

 not be molested, but on the whole it were better that the 

 mill was started. Will the next session of the Maine 

 Legislature have anything to say about this rah ing of 

 gates for the accommodation of sportsmen with long 

 pocketbooks? 



Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Johnson, of Somerville, Mass., 

 are now at Camp Stewart, on Richardson Lake, for two 

 weeks. Mr. O. H. Smith, of Smith &Blanchard, Boston, 

 with Mrs. Smith, started for the same camp on Thursday, 

 the 20th. On the Monday following they were joined by 

 Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Freeman and Mr. and Mrs. W. K. 

 Moody; Mr. C. W. Cutting is cook for the party as usual. 

 His experience as a lumber camp cook has been consider- 

 able, and hi fact be has cooked for Camp Stewart parties 

 something like a dozen times, but this only brings to 

 mind tbe first time the idea was proposed to him to go to 

 the same camp and cook for a party with ladies in it. He 

 quietly sat down in a chair — it was in the grocery store 

 at Andover. "Do you suppose that I would go up there 

 and cook for wimin? Ha! ha! ha! Not much. I'll go 

 and hang myself if you want me to, but I can't make 

 bread for wimin. My hands in dough with wimin 

 around! No you don't!" But he did go — has been a 

 number of times — and now, somehow he likes to have 

 the ladies mentioned above in the party. Special. 



