r>EO. 13, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



in the afternoon to feed or dig in the sand among the 

 seaweed at low tide. 



I bade the Foster House and its inmates farewell with 

 sincere regret, and lonsr shall I remember the happy 

 days I passed there. Nor shall I soon forget that jolly 

 little "cabin by the sea,'' presided over for the time being 

 by Mr. Martin Van Buren Squires and his spouse, whose 

 pretty little grandchildren were a delight to behold. The 

 clambakes, with proper "belongings," were fit for an 

 emperor (if emperors ever ate clanis); and when to this 

 was added one of "Van's" fish stories, or a song with a 

 good rousing chorus, the charm was complete. 



But I have written much more than I intended ; it is 

 after midnight, and the fire ou the hearth is nearly out. 

 A cricket is chirping merrily; it is time to go to bed. 

 Therefore, I will close with a good-nieht, good friends, 

 era revoir, and hurrah for Shinnecock Bay. 



Washington, D. C. Louis BAGGER. 



THE WOODCOCK SUPPLY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In looking over the articles regarding the flight of 

 woodcock in the late numbers of Fouest and Stream, I 

 am convinced that the difference in opinion results from 

 a difference in the ground shot over. From my observa- 

 tion I am led to believe that the flight of woodcock was 

 as large this year as any one of the last five. Owing to 

 the cold season the birds began to move very early; about 

 Sept. 18 we had a large flight in this section, and the local 

 gunners, not expecting it, got left. In the issue of Sept. 

 21 "X. Y. Z." asks where his woodcock were; they had 

 previously started on their annual flight, and what he 

 saw was the. work of flight birds. In the number for 

 Nov. 15 Mr. E, II. Lathrop mentions his finding wood- 

 cock on very wet ground and none on high ground, and 

 asks if the habits of the bird are not changing. My 

 theory for this is that we had very cold weather; in fact, 

 a freeze on the flight, and the woodcock had to go to wet 

 ground. I always get the best shooting from Oct. 10 to 

 Nov. 10, and always find the birds in low, wet places — in 

 the alder runs and swamps. Brother hunter, when you 

 go looking for woodcock next season, if the weather is 

 cold and the ground slightly frozen, look for the birds in 

 the mud and water. Sandpiper. 

 Reading!, Mass., Dec. 4. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I wonder that it has not struck more of your corres- 

 pondents on the woodcock supply that the decrease in 

 their number is likely owing to the increase in late years 

 of guns and gunners. When I came to this town, some 

 twenty years ago, I might say that I was the only sports- 

 man in it; I certainly was the only man that owned a 

 doublebarreled gun. At the present time we have 

 upward of one hundred or more men in town who shoot 

 and carry guns. Then again, as the country becomes 

 more? settled it follows that more land is cleared and the 

 covt-rts become, one by one, chopped down and lost to the 

 sportsman forever. Twenty years ago and up to 1S79 my 

 dogs hare flushed for me 'of a short afternoon 40 or 50 

 woodcock. 1810 was the last season the birds were plen- 

 tiful here. I see by my record ou Aug. 15 I killed 24 

 birds from two o'clock in the afternoon until five, of that 

 year. Aug. 15, 1880, records only 6 birds; 1881, § birds, 

 and so on up to 1886, varying from 6 birds to 12. In 1887 

 there was an increase; the record shows Aug. 15, 19 wood- 

 cock, and for the season 105 woodcock. Up to 1879 the 

 record shows from 150 woodcock to 200 per season; 1880 

 up to 1886 from 50 to 70 woodcock per season. Aug, 15, 

 1SSS, 6 woodcock, and only 28 for the season. 



In 1879 the woodcock took their departure on Oct 23; 

 1880. Oct. 21; 1881, Oct, 10; 1882, Oct. 26; 1883, Oct. 23; 

 1884, Oct. 30; 1885, Oct. 12; 1886, Nov. 1; 1887, Oct. 25; 

 1888, Oct. 25. In 1887 there was a large flight of birds in 

 the middle of October, in 1888, the present year, no flight 

 at all. 



We will suppose that the covert is a large one, and one 

 hundred birds frequent this covert in the season, the 

 sportsmen and those that are not sportsmen come and 

 kill all but ten birds; these ten birds are lucky birds, 

 nothing happening to them, and they get back safely the 

 following year to the same covert. Five of these are 

 males and the other five are females, each of these 

 females lay four eggs, hatch them, and raise to maturity 

 two young birds (I have never seen more than four birds 

 in a clutch of woodcock, the two old birds and two young 

 birds). The covert will have now twenty birds instead of 

 the one hundred it had the year previous. I do not find 

 it a very difficult matter to arrive at the reason for the 

 decrease of our woodcock supply. Give them a two 

 years' rest and Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock will answer the 

 question themselves. H. B. N. 



Cookstown, Ontario. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Having read with interest the articles on the woodcock 

 flight on your side of line, I give your readers what they 

 have been doing here. Owing to the wet season the birds 

 on the opening day, Aug. 15, were not on their usual 

 grounds, wet bottoms, but in the open grounds and 

 thickets near by. Birds were scarce until nearly October, 

 when they were fairly plenty. From the 20th until Nov. 1 

 some good bags were made, but after that date have 

 not heard of a bird being seen. C. B. 



London, Oat., Dec. 3. 



Denver, South Carolina.— Wing shooting in this sec- 

 tion is confined to small game such as partridges, doves, 

 larks, etc. In fact all game about here is small, part- 

 ridges, quail and rabbits being the game most hunted, 

 although squirrels and possums are tolerably plentiful in 

 some localities. Some fine packs of foxhounds used to 

 be kept for fox hunting, but they are gradually getting 

 scarcer as the foxes disappear. * Thanksgiving day was 

 generally kept by sportsmen in the field. Early in the 

 morning the bang bang of the shotgun, the deep baying 

 of the foxhound (after rabbits though), the finer voice of 

 the beagle, the yep yep of the mongrel cur and lice could 

 be heard on every side. One party of bird hunters bagged 

 fifty partridges that day.— Blue Ridge. 



Swansboro, N. C. — Our woods abound with deer, quail, 

 squirrels and other wild animals, while in our sounds and 

 river are found ducks and other wildfowl in abundance.— 

 C. B. F, 



AFTER BLACKTAIL IN MONTANA. 



OH, how cold it was, the moming Ed and I started 

 after blacktail deer. Even the recollection is chill- 

 ing; but we had been talking of and planning the trip for 

 nearly a month, and now at last the day had come. ' We 

 started from the ranch on the Upper Tongue on horse- 

 back, as we didn't propose to do any more walking than 

 was necessary. So Cayuse Billy and Kid Dun had been 

 driven up and stood at the rack saddled. Our costume 

 should have scared all the deer out of Custer county, but 

 it was warm and comfortable. Ed wore about three 

 shirts, a buckskin vest, heavy ulster and Dutch socks, and 

 carried a .45-70 Marlin. I wore heavy underclothing, a 

 buckskin hunting shirt, Indian leggings, overcoat, and 

 the inevitable felt boots with overshoes, while to secure 

 game or scare it, as the case might be, I had a Winches- 

 ter .40-82. We both used express bullets. After many 

 sarcastic inquiries from Nat as to how many and what 

 time he should send the wagons, and tearful entreaties 

 from Johnny Z. to spare the fawns, pulled our freight up 

 the Tongue, intending to go as far as Canon Creek and 

 make Dan Harris's winter shack our headquarters. 

 H Homme propose, Dieu dispose. We had hardly gotten 

 to Frank He man's when, meeting him, we were told that 

 he had seen a small bunch of blacktail deer on the 

 divide, between Bull and Cook creeks. Off we started, 

 and had hardly reached the top of the divide when Ed 

 spied the deer about half a mile directly in front of us, 

 and on looking through his field glass he declared they 

 were grazing our way. To turn around, withdraw to the 

 nearest "coolie" and there j)icket our horses, was the 

 work of a few minutes, and then carefully divesting our- 

 selves of the heavy ulsters, rifle in hand, we crept cau- 

 tiously forward to a point where, from behind some rocks, 

 we could watch the deer. By this time they had ap- 

 proached to about 300yds. or so, and seemed uneasy: and 

 as they did not seem to be coming any nearer, but rather 

 about to move off at right angles to their former direc- 

 tion, Ed whispered to me to try a shot. So, adjusting the 

 sight, I slowly raised the gun, resting it on the rock in 

 front. Just as I was about to pull the trigger a most 

 vicious kick from Ed nearly caused me to press it; lucky, 

 indeed, I did not, for here coming up the other side was 

 a buck and two does, not 50yde. away. The buck carried 

 the handsomest horns I ever saw. To swing the rifle 

 round, drop the sight and aim at his heart did not take 

 me long; and as I heard the rifle crack, he gave one 

 jump in the air, ran perhaps 20yds. and fell. The does 

 meanwhile, apparently stupefied at what had happened, 

 gazed around; but Ed let drive at the nearest and down 

 she went, while the other bounded down the hill, appar- 

 ently untouched by the bullets I sent after her. At any 

 rate, there was no blood on her trail. I of course ra,n up 

 to the buck I had killed, and plunging my knife as far 

 down his neck as I could, bled him in true hunter style. 

 Then I stood and looked at him as he lay there. I really 

 felt as if I had done something wrong; even in death he 

 was handsome. I could but feel glad that my bullet had 

 gore directly through his heart, and probably he did not 

 feel much pain. Then the task of skinning and cutting 

 up was begun, and I carefully took off his entire head for 

 a trophy. Ed meanwhile had finished his doe, which he 

 had shot through the backbone. So, lighting a cigar- 

 ette, I held a consultation as to our movements, and we 

 determined to pull out for home. We had plenty of 

 meat, and I didn't feel like shooting another deer, especi- 

 ally in mere wantonness. We led up the horses and 

 packed the meat on them and started back. Arriving at 

 the ranch about 4 P. M., the boys voted my antlers the 

 handsomest and most symmetrical they had ever seen, 

 and the expressions, "Well done, Tenderfoot," and "Bully 

 for you, Doc." were very common. 



Thus ended my first deer hunt in Montana, and when 

 time comes to me I will try and tell of others I had and 

 about a trip after elk in the Big Horns. E. H. W. 



COVERS NEAR NEW YORK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Gunning is not what it used to be along the New York 

 and Northern R. B. In fact, it is not what it was last 

 fall; last spring's blizzard having evidently killed off the 

 birds. There being so many gunners nowadays, too, I 

 don't think the birds will increase again so as to make 

 good shooting, unless, indeed, the law rigidly protects 

 them. 



Wednesday, Nov. 28, I went on the evening train to 

 Lake Mahopac, where I have always enjoyed good shoot- 

 ing previous to this fall. Thanksgiving"morn I started 

 out with two of the best hunters in that town, and in a 

 long day's hunt we saw only four partridges, getting two. 

 The next day we took a different direction. We killed a 

 rabbit in the morning, and our dogs not finding an y birds 

 we supposed that would be our bag for the day. In the 

 afternoon, while getting over a stonewall, we discovered 

 fresh quail tracks; we counted seven in all. Our dogs 

 followed them for half a mile before raising them. We 

 got five, two getting away. My friends said they were 

 the only covey of quail they know to be near the lake. 

 They were both disgusted at the scarcity of game, as 

 indeed were a number of sportsmen in that town with 

 whom I talked. Several of them said they would be 

 willing to put away their guns for three or four years if 

 the law would rigidly protect all game during that time. 

 If the native gunners are willing to aid the lawmakers, 

 there is no reason why this should not be done. 



Talking with the conductor of the train cn my way back 

 to the city he said it was surprising how few birds the 

 sportsmen brought home with them this fall. In seasons 

 past they nearly all had large bags, but this year they all 

 complain of the scarcity of birds, the same being said of 

 those who went far into Connecticut. B. L. L. 



Central Lake, Mich., Dec. 3. — Ruffed grouse have 

 been very numerous here the past season. Ducks rather 

 scarce. We have had but one tracking snow, which fell 

 about 3in. deep on the morning of Nov. 16. Only a very 

 few deer have been killed. — Kelpie. 



A Large Woodcock.— Captain William Bingham, of 

 Cold Spring Harbor, L. I., killed a woodcock on Friday, 

 of last week, which weighed ten ounces. 



Pine Hill, N. Y., Dec. 7.— Hunter Ennist shot a fine 

 silver-gray fox near this village a day or two ago. Foxes 

 of that species are rare in the Catskill Mountains, 



Black River Fish and Game Protective Associa- 

 tion.— Utica, N. Y,, Dec. 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 A meeting of sportsmen interested in the better protec- 

 tion of fish and game in Oneida and Herkimer counties, 

 and more especially in that portion of the North Woods 

 embracing the headwaters of Black River, was held in 

 the village of Holland Patent, Dec. 8, for the purpose of 

 organization. The attendance was good and the plans 

 of work proposed met the hearty approval of all. Simeon 

 R. Fuller, of Holland Patent, a gentleman who has 

 hunted and fished in the Adirondacks for forty-five 

 years, was made chairman, and W. E. Wolcott, city 

 editor of the Utica Herald, secretary. An organization 

 was formed, to be known as the Black River Fish and 

 Game Protective Association and the following officers 

 chosen: President, Simeon R. Fuller, Holland Patent; 

 Directors, E. A. Klock, Forestport; Friend Bristol, Rem- 

 sen; Wm. P. Dodge. Prospect; F. C. Wolcott, Trenton; 

 W. L. Fowler, Holland Patent; W. E. Wolcott, I. C. 

 Mcintosh, Utica. These officers will hold over until their 

 successors are chosen at the annual meeting, which occurs 

 on the second Thursday in January. The Board of 

 Directors has the power of appointing a vice-president, 

 secretary and treasurer. W. E. Wolcott was empowered 

 to act as secretary and treasurer until the annual meet- 

 ing. The president and board of directors were author- 

 ized to have the association incorporated. The associa- 

 tion adjourned to meet at the same place Thursday, Jan. 

 10, 1889, at 2 P. M. — FoRTSA. 



Death op Robert Trbiper— Albany, N. Y., Dec. 10. 

 —Editor Forest and Stream: Robert Trimper, proprietor 

 of the hotel at Kinderhook Lake, Niverville, Columbia 

 county, died at his residence on Sunday evening, Dec. 9. 

 "Uncle Bob's" place was a famous resort for anglers and 

 pigeon shooters, and by the latter he was held in such 

 high esteem that he was made an honorary member of 

 the Elm Grove Gun Club of this city. Mr. Trimper was 

 a kindly dispositioned old gentleman wb.6 will be sadly 

 missed, and his death sincerely mourned by the sports- 

 men who frequented his hotel" at the lake side. — H. B. 

 Derby. 



Arrest op Hunters in Indian Territory. — Topeka, 

 Kan., Dec. 8. — About two weeks ago twenty of the lead- 

 ing business men of Coldwater went clown into the Indian 

 Territory on a hunting expedition. Word has been re- 

 ceived here that the whole party has been captured near 

 Camp Supply, and are now awaiting transportation to 

 Wichita, where they will be held to answer the charge of 

 trespassing in the Indian Territory. S. H. Neisewhonger 

 of Avdla was one of the party, but managed to get away 

 from the guards in the night and walked home, a distance 

 of twenty-live miles. 



Bozeman, Montana, Dec. 2. — A great many inquiries 

 are being made as to the increase or decrease of large 

 game in Montana. In reply I beg to say through the col- 

 umns of Forest and Stream that since the s-ale of game 

 was prohibited by an act of the Legislature, two years 

 ago, large game has become so plentiful that I have suc- 

 ceeded in finding elk and deer for all my hunting parties 

 the first day out, and that under the present law and 

 with the National Park as a feeder, Montana can reason- 

 ably expect to have an abundance of game for years to 

 come. — Ira Dodge. 



"That reminds nie." 

 246. 



V\/ E have a worthy old scout named Jock McNaily, a 



» • true sportsman with rod and gun, a strict mem- 

 ber of the "auld Kirk" and always truthful and reliable 

 as what follows will show: 



He and his friend Geo. Morn were on the moor for a 

 day's grouse shooting. They had bad luck and only 

 secured three grouse between them. The following morn- 

 ing afriend met George with,"Well, what luck had Jock 

 and you yesterday?" 



"Oh, very fair; we killed six brace." And so they 

 parted. Half an hour later the friend met Jock and con- 

 gratulated him on his good luck, 



"Who telldye?" 



"Oh, George told me." 



"How many did he say we had?" 



"He said ye had six brace, and I think it capital sport 

 so late in the season." 



"I'm sorry to say that George has tell'd ye a lee and I 

 didna think 'he'd a dono it. We only had sax bairds." 



Hakbor Grace, Newfoundland. B. 



NEW CATALOGUES. 



Von Lengerke & Detmold, 8 Murray street, New York, have 

 just issued their catalogue for 18£9. It is a handsome and pro- 

 fusely illustrated volume of 97 pages, and when compared with 

 the one sent out hy them six years ago, furnishes an excellent 

 proof of the growth of their business. The cuts and descriptive 

 matter convev much valuable information to intending pur- 

 chasers of guns, fishing tackle, shooting suits, boots and shoes, 

 athletic, base ball and bicycling goods, and a host of other things. 

 A special feature is the addition of various rules for trap shoot- 

 ing, viz.: The Hurlin.'tiam, the National Gun Association, the 

 Old and New Long Island and the Jersey City Heights rules. In 

 view of the frequent demands for a compilation of these rules, 

 this will make their catalogue doubly valuable and worth pre- 

 serving. 



Thos. H. Chubb, the fishing rod manufacturer of Post Mills, Vt., 

 is also on deck with a new catalogue, the front cover of which 

 depicts himself seated in his commodious office, answering his 

 correspondence by means of dictation to a type-writer. Between 

 the covers anglers will find illustrations 'and price lists of all 

 kinds of angling paraphernalia, from rods, reels and flies, to rings, 

 keepers and stoppers. Sent free on receipt of stamp. 



State oe California, j 

 Adjutant General's Office, \ 

 Sacramento, Nov. 27, 1888. i 

 The United States CarlrUlm Co., Lowell, Mass.: 

 Gentlemen— It affords me pleasure to inform you that the fifty 



State. They gave perfect satisfaction, the powder was good, the 

 balls of uniform weight, and the shells strong and suitable for 

 reloading. The percentage made was higher than that made in 

 the preceding year. Our most experienced officers have in- 

 formed me that they were the best cartridges ever used here. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

 -Adv. (Signed) R. H. Orton, Adjutant General. 



