Nov. 7, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



309 



owners in disdainful manner claim, closer, stronger, 

 further killine; shooters than other English guns and guns 

 made here. Were I the possessor of a Purdy or a Dougall 

 I would demonstrate the truth of that conclusion at your 

 ranges. W. H. M.^i 



ARREST OF JONATHAN DARLING. 



T> ANGOR, Me. , Nov. 4.— The officers say the arrest of 

 JD "Jock" Darling, the Lowell outlaw, whose arrest 

 for illegal hunting was reported in the Herald, is the 

 most important capture made for years. Well-laid plans 

 were made by Commissioner Stilwcll and Detective Wil- 

 liam McNamara, of Boston. They claim to have secured 

 enough evidence to prosecute to the full extent of the 

 law. The commissioners have heen aware for some time 

 past that Darling was chasing and killing deer by the use 

 of dogs, having learned through a number of parties who 

 had been at his camps that such was the fact. Recent 

 complaints about Darling's wholesale slaughter of deer 

 have also reached the commissioners from various parties, 

 so that they thought that the time had come to do some- 

 thing about it. 



About three weeks ago Commissioner Stilwell sent for 

 the detective to see what could be done. After consult- 

 ing with Mr. Stilwell he returned to Millbridge, and in 

 company with Fred Swanton of that place they set out 

 for Darling's camp at Nicatous Lake, which is'in town- 

 ship No. 40, Hancock county. Darling's camp is well 

 known to sportsmen. Darling has always been a vigor- 

 ous opposer of the game laws, and has written articles 

 for publication, and has also appeared at various sessions 

 of the Legislature in opposition to the laws for the pre- 

 servation of game which he claimed interfered with 

 the just rights of the native hunters, ruining their oc- 

 cupations. 



Darling's camp on Nicatous Lake is very difficult to 

 reach, and is a sort of stronghold for poachers. It is 50 

 miles from any railroad station, and to reach it one must 

 travel over a rough road. It can be approached only from 

 the foot of the lake, and the detective and his companion, 

 pretending to be sportsmen, were compelled to walk seven 

 miles over a road almost impassable. Then they had to 

 take a boat and row four miles. When there is no boat 

 in reach — and Darling always took care that there were 

 none that a warden might use in reaching his camp — one 

 is obliged to make his way for five miles through a perfect 

 jungle, an almost impossible thing to do without a guide. 

 These woods have always been guarded so that the inhab- 

 itants of the camp could be warned of the approach of 

 officers. McNamara and Swanton made their way to the 

 camp with much difficulty, and engaged quarters with 

 Darling. They also hired his guides and dogs to hunt 

 deer with, paying well for them. They remained five 

 days, and during that time collected all the evidence they 

 could to be used against Darling and his glides. 



They were out each day with the dogs, Jock putting 

 out the dogs twice each day for three days, the guides 

 doijjg the business the other two days. They killed four 

 deer, one each themselves, Darling one and a guide one. 

 They caTne upon Darling after the dog had run the deer 

 into the w T ater. just after lie had shot him. They heard 

 the report of the rifle, which was still smoking when they 

 came up, and the deer was still warm. McNamara says 

 they were obliged to kill the deer to accomplish the pur- 

 pose for which they went there. During the stay, Jock, 

 little suspecting their purpose there, unbosomed himself 

 to them, and told them that he. had been hunting deer 

 with dogs all the year round for eight years, and sent 

 large numbers of them to the markets. He said he should 

 continue to do so in the future. It is well known that 

 Darling has intimated that it would be very dangerous 

 for any warden to molest him. When McNamara and 

 Swanton had obtained all the evidence they wanted — 

 enough, they thought, to convict Darling on some twenty 

 or thirty cases — they left the camp and came to this 

 city. 



As the offense was committed in Hancock county, 

 they were obliged to go into that county to swear out 

 warrants against Darling and his guides. The warrants 

 were sworn out and assistants were obtained. On their 

 way to Darling's camp they met Darling in the town of 

 Lowell and immediately arrested him. "Jock" wanted 

 to go to his house to change his clothes and get his over- 

 coat, which the officer consented to, but said one of them 

 must go with him. But "Jock" insisted on going alone, 

 which the officers would not agree to, and he was accord- 

 ingly handcuffed, and Officer Davis volunteered to bring 

 the old man to this city, whi'e the others kept on to the 

 camj) in quest of the guides. Darling in some manner 

 sent a warning to the guides, so they disappeared before 

 the officers arrived. Darling had $770 with him when 

 arrested. Darling is charged with hunting deer with 

 dogs, keeping dogs for that purpose, and hunting and 

 destroying deer on Sunday. The penalty in each case 

 is not less than $20 or more than $100 fine. Darling has 

 been a hard customer to catch. He is quite well off, and 

 the case will be a hard-fought one. — Boston Herald, 

 Nov. 6, 



THE DELAWARE SITUATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Since I wrote you last week that the game law was a 

 dead letter in this section of the State. I see in the papers 

 that Detective Hutchens has arrested five prominent 

 citizens of Dover for rabbit hunting. I may have been 

 unjust to Mr. Hutchens, he appears to do what work he 

 can energetically, of course he cannot be all over the 

 State at one time. 



Local sentiment here is against the game law, and the 

 prevailing impression is that farmers have a perfect right 

 to snare end kill game upon their own farms at any time. 

 To remove this idea it is only necessary to make a few 

 arrests. No attempt has been made to enforce the law 

 in this vicinity during the three years I have lived here. 

 There would he no trouble to collect evidence, as the 

 violators are bold and defiant. Of three bevies of quail 

 within a rifle shot of my house two have been already 

 utterly exterminated, while the third consists of but three 

 forlorn birds. 



The Game Protective Association of Delaware is re- 

 sponsible for this state of affairs in neglecting the duties 

 it has taken upon itself. The apparent indifference of 

 the Association has a degenerating influence upon sports- 

 men, formerly law-abiding, now apathetic and soon to 

 join the rapidly growing ranks of the law violators. 



Miotobd, Del., Nov. 1. VICTOR M. Halpeman. 



CONNECTICUT GAME. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Game is more plenty in southern Connecticut than it 

 has been for years. Partridges (ruffed grouse) have been 

 on the increase for five years. Quail are quite abundant, 

 and woodcock, which have been very scarce for some 

 years, have appeared in good numbers for that rare bird. 

 One bag of fifteen was secured in one day's hunt by two 

 local gunners. In the last two weeks I have spent part 

 of three days in the field and have started woodcock on 

 every trip. My best bag was four woodcock, two part- 

 ridges, eight quail. 



Shooting does not begin here much until the leaves are 

 off thexmderbrush, as that is so dense it makes very diffi- 

 cult shooting, hut in the month of November I do not 

 think the shooting can be excelled by any place in the 

 State of Connecticut. Pot-hunters are an unknown 

 quantity. Snarers are a thing of the past. Our market 

 for game is poor now, as the two channels that absorbed 

 our game in the past are closed. The New Haven stage 

 line and the New York boats in the past have bought up 

 all the game. The stage line was abandoned five years 

 ago; and our Legislature has stopped the shipment of 

 game to New York. Five years ago every boy and some 

 meu had their fine of traps and snares'spread through 

 the woods in every direction; almost every thicket had 

 its snare-fence or dead-fall; and by the 1st of January 

 game was badly thinned out. Twenty birds were then 

 snared to one being shot, as our marksmen about here 

 are generally deficient in the art of wirg shooting. 



As the demand for game has fallen off. the birds are 

 on the increase every year. A good marksman with a 

 good dog can secure a decent bag almost any day. Be- 

 ing only three hours' ride from New York it is a surprise 

 to me that this part of southern Connecticut is not more 

 sought by New York sportsmen. I could guarantee them 

 a good time and game enough to satisfy anv decent 

 hunter. The country is rough and the cover rather 

 heavy, but under what other conditions can we find 

 plenty of game in so close proximity to civilization ? 



C. A. L. 



Winthrop, Conn.. Nov. L 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Under the caption of "The Adirondack Deer Law" in 

 your issue of the 31st ult. I find the following from the 

 pen af Mr. W. H. Holberton, which reads: "By the way, 

 I wonder if the Connecticut sportsmen know that hund- 

 reds of ruffed grou-e are being shipped to the New York 

 markets. They sell (?) them to the stewards of the steam- 

 boats and they turn them over to the new York agents." 

 As one of the "Connecticut sportsmen," I most respect- 

 fully ask for further information touching the above. 

 More particulars are needed, Mr. Holberton, either pub- 

 licly or privately. A. C. Collins. 



Hartford, Conn., Nov. i. 



AN AFTERNOON WITH THE QUAIL. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



On the 25th of October, having an afternoon "on my 

 hands," I loaded twenty shells with No. 8, and taking my 

 pointer pup Milo, reached the fields, about two miles 

 away, about half-past 2 o'clock; walked probably l.OOOvds. 

 across wheat stubble and pea patches; and at the end of 

 two hours had one sfcell left and sixteen as fine, plump, 

 full-grown birds as ever graced a sportsman's bag. I 

 don't think I ever enjoyed an afternoon's outing more 

 than I did this one. My pup more than fulfilled rnyexpec- 

 tations. He seemed to know by intuition just what to 

 do and when to do it. He found three coveys; and out 

 of the first covey I killed eight straight, two when they 

 first flu-hed, and six singles after marking them down in 

 a beautiful oat stubble. Leaving the remaining scattered 

 birds I then hied him on; and within 200yds. he pinned 

 another covey. The birds rose before I got quite to him, 

 but I gave them both barrels and scored one bird and a 

 miss. I followed them up, and secured two more singles. 

 Ihen leaving them scattered in thick brush I struck 

 across a piece of stubble, and within less than 300yds. the 

 pup pointed another large covey. Out of this covey I 

 secured five, and left the birds beautifullv scattered 

 along a hedge about 15ft. wide— the pretties't place im- 

 aginable for shooting them had I been accompanied by 

 some one to take the opposite side while Milo and I 

 worked the windward. But having enough, and being 

 no hog, I called the pup, and was back home by half-past 

 five. The birds were fine large fellows and the coveys 

 very full. Don't think I exaggerate at all when I say 

 there must have been fully twenty- five birds left in the 

 three coveys. I did not hunt one-tenth of the field. 



I have broken quite a number of young dogs, but have 

 never had one to equal Milo in point of acute scent, care- 

 fulness and steadiness. During the whole afternoon's 

 hunting he flushed only one time, and that was done 

 while retrieving a dead bird. He became a little excited 

 and rushed after it, running over a brace of scattered 

 biros. He is such a romping, rollicking, mischievous 

 "rattle-brain" around the yard, I thought severe treat- 

 ment would be necessary in the field, but I am agreeably 

 surprised, and think he will develop into something to 

 be proud of. If I had hunted with a companion, and 

 with sufficient shells, I could have doubled my score 

 easily. A. F. R. 



Belvidehe, North Carolina. . 



Rhode Island Market Snarers.— Chepachefc, R. I.— 

 The laws here in this section are a dead letter. This 

 town, or rather village, is located on the Providence & 

 Springfield Railroad and is about twenty miles out of 

 Providence, right in the center of the best partridge 

 ground of this State. The hotel keeper informed me to- 

 day that 2,000 partridges had been sent into the city by 

 express this season. I doubted it until the stage driver 

 verified his statement, and also volunteered the informa- 

 tion that the ratio of birds snared to those shot is nineteen 

 to one. How is that for protection! The only man here 

 who apparently takes any interest is the hotel owner, 

 and ho dares not say a word for fear these game thieves 

 will close his bar room. There are only two good wing 

 shots in this village, but when the mill closes (at noon 

 Saturday) the pot-hunters come out by the dozen with 

 dogs and guns of every description, and for the remainder 

 of the day it is as much as your life is worth to venture 

 out, about one-third of them carrying rifles. There is 

 great need of a missionary here. — Cohannbt. 



Game in Virginia.— Washington. D. C, Nov. 1 — 

 Editor Forest and Stream: I have just returned from a 

 successful bunt in Virginia and believe you will be glad 

 to know that there is still an abundance of game in the 

 region over which 1 have traveled. The place of my 

 headquarters was Shankland. on Jackfon River. The 

 route from Washington is by Va. Midland and Chesapeake 

 & Ohio to Millboro, thence by stage to Warm Springs 

 and private conveyance to Shankland. The stage fare 

 from Millboro to Warm Springs is $3. Wild turkeys and 

 ruffed grouse were abundant all the week of my stay. 

 Quail were plentiful; gray squirrels and red squirrels 

 were as thick as hops. As I was about to leave Col. Beall 

 was coming in with a parly equipped for deer hunting. 

 They had a lot of hounds and a wagon well stored with 

 provisions. This will be about the first campingparty in 

 that section; they invited me to join them, and I was 

 only too sorry to have to decline on account of business. 

 It was snowing on Warm Soring Mountain when I ar- 

 rived. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that sports- 

 men will find a pretty near approach to paradise by w-ay 

 of non-euphonious Shankland.— J. S. Pollock. 



Game Along the Lower Susquehanna.— Port De- 

 posit, Md., Oct. 29.— Quail are more plentiful this fall 

 than they have been tor many years along the Columbia 

 & Port Deposit Railroad, and as for rabbits, there is no 

 limit to them. Peach Bottom and York Furnace are very 

 good points for guuning. Back of Fishing Creek, near 

 Liberty Square, there are a good many ruffed grouse or 

 pheasants. Gerritt, Smith flushed a number of them in 

 the woods on his place ten days ago. The river hills are 

 pretty well supplied with these birds. I have seen them 

 occasionally frightened up by trains. Ducks are abun- 

 dant on the flats at Havre de Grace, and the opening of 

 the season (Nov. 1) is awaited with much interest. A 

 gentleman living in Port Deposit told me that a double 

 sin I; box last season sometimes brought the enormous hire 

 of $150 per day, this including the services of an expert 

 gunner, and the whole bag of ducks. It seems in- 

 credible that any one should be willing to pay such ex- 

 orbitant rates, and yet my informant speaks from his 

 personal knowledge. — G. C. C. 



Towanda, Fa., Nov. 3.— Friday morning, Nov. L was 

 the opening day on quail and rabbit in this State, and 

 long before daylight the boys were starting out for the 

 favorite hunting grounds. Some in the past month, look- 

 ing for grouse, had marked down a few coveys of quail, 

 and made direct for them. Bags as follows Snyder, 

 Sawtflle and Wilbur brought 4 grouse. 6 quail, 1 rabbit 

 and 1 woodcock. Their bag consisted' of the greatest 

 variety. Dimock, Decker, Turner and Dietrich brought 

 in 2 grouse, 13 quail and 4 rabbits, the largest bag. La 

 Plant, hunting alone, brought in 8 quail and 2 woodcock, 

 killing them in fifteen shots, a most excellent bag. Rit- 

 tenberg and Benjamin, 1 quail and 1 grouse, the smallest 

 bag, but not owing to poor shooting, as they are a« good 

 as we have them in this section, but failed to find or 

 locate their birds. During September and first part of 

 October very few woodcock were seen or killed, but lately 

 many covers that then failed to contain birds will very 

 often develop a small bag.— W. F. Dittrich. 



1 Robin Score.— Hornellsville, N. Y„ Nov. 11.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: There is a chance for some 

 missionary work around New York. Geo. W. LaRue 

 says in a Western sporting-paper that he killed forty-three 

 robins, one woodcock, one squirrel and seven clape. I 

 don't know what a clape is, may be a song or insectivor- 

 ous bird; if so, added to the forty-thre3 robins, the fine 

 would be just an even §500. Have you no game wardens 

 or game constables in New York or Tarrytown? If not 

 you had better get A. C. Collins, of Connecticut, or get 

 some of our club members, as we arrest and fine every 

 violator of the game laws, rich or poor.— J. Otis Fellows. 

 [•'Clape" is a name for the yellowhammer, which it is 

 forbidden to kill.] 



Schultze Powder.— Wilmington, N. O, Nov. 2.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: Permit me to ask that some 

 of your readers who have used Schultze powder give re- 

 sults through Forest and Stream.— Tar Heel. 



Ohio. — Cadiz, Oct. H8. — Rabbits and quail are very 

 plenty here this season, and there have been more gray 

 squirrels than for years, owing to the big crop of hickory 

 nuts and other mast. — S. C. G. 



CONNECTICUT WARDENS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I give a list of the county game and fish wardens appointed this 

 year: 



Z. R. Bobbins, Norwich, ior New London county. 



F. W. Wnitlock, Waterbury, for New Haven county. 



Theron J. Loveland, Bantam, tor Litchfleid county. 



George A. Reed, Chaplin, for Windham county. 



A. L. Kurau, Tolland, for Tolland county. 



J. W. Trantuin. Middletown, for Middlesex couuty. 



J. A. Wilson. Bridgeport, for Fairfield county. 



Abbott C. Collins, Hartford, for Hartford county. 



The above gentlemen were appointed by the county commis- 

 sioners under the following law passed at the last General As- 

 sembly, 18S«: "Chapter CXCL, Section 1. The county commis- 

 sioners of each county shall appoint one person to act in such 

 county as game warden, wno shall hold his office two years from 

 the date of his appointment, and sball have the same powers as 

 other officers to arrest for the violation of an v law relating to 

 game. Said game warden may deputize another person to assist 

 in detecting and arresting any person who may be violating any 

 law relating to game. * * * Section The game warden or his 

 deputy shall have free access at reasonable hours to search anv 

 refrigerator or other receptacle in any place w r here gray squirrel 

 ruffed grouse, commonly called partridge, woodcock, or quail are 

 bought, soid, or transported, for the purpose of examining into 

 any suspected violation of the game law." 



The appointment of game wardens prior to this year was by the 

 selectmen of each town, who were suoposed to appoint two or 

 more persons to act in their town as game wardens. Many select- 

 men would not appointgame wardens, and those that did— the ap- 

 pointed game wardens were never heard of in the way of arresting 

 persons violating the game laws. Under the old order of things 

 the game wardens could not search for illegal game, but by refer- 

 ring to Section 3 of the above-quoted law (which, by the way, is 

 the backbone of any game law) you will see that our hands' are 

 not. tied. 



The following gentlemen have baen appointed county fish 

 wardens: 



J. W. Trantum, Middletown, for Middlesex county. 

 Dr. Fred'li Farnswortn, New London, for New London county. 

 Theron J. Loveland, Bantam, for Litchfleid county, 

 J. F. Nettleton, Brauford, for New Haven county. 

 Abbott C. Collins, Hartford, for Hartford county. 

 To my knowledge no persons have been appointed county fish 

 wardens for Tolland, Windham and Fairfield counties. 



