Nov. 14, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



325 



of Capt. Travis's man, Capt. Andrews, and it is open to 

 all gunners by paying $2 per day per gun for shooting 

 • privilege, board and lodging $2 per day, boatman and 

 decoys $2 per day. 



On our last trip, in Mar.eh, 1880, we learned that some 

 gentlemen of Hartford, Conn., were negotiating for the 

 lease with a view of organizing a club, but it is our im- 

 pression that for years to come gunners will be received 

 on the conditions named. 



It is certainly a great fowl country, and for snipe it is 

 the writer's opinion that a better does not exist in 

 America if in the world. 



Even should the Travis estate fall into the hands of a 

 club, who would allow none but members gunning privi- 

 leges, there is as much fairly good shooting in adjacent 

 waters as would satisfy (or should satisfy) any reasonable 

 gunner who is not a member of the pot-hunting fraternity. 

 Worcestbh, Mass. Geo. McAleer. 



THE DARLING CASE. 



CALAIS, Me., Nov. 9.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The notice in your last issue from the Boston Herald 

 is not quite correct. The inclosed slip from the Times, 

 of this city, is more nearly correct. To Warden French 

 and Detective McNamara all the credit is due. Dirigo. 

 The Times report and comments are as follows : 

 "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. McNamara, accompanied by 

 Swanton, of Milbridge, made their way to the camp with 

 much difficulty and engaged quarters with Darling. 

 They hired his guides and dogs to hunt deer with, pay- 

 ing well for them. They remained five days. When Mc- 

 Namara 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. As the offense 

 was committeoT in Hancock county they were obliged to 

 go into that county to swear out warrants against Darling 

 and his guides. Accordingly they went to Bucksport, 

 where the warrants were obtained. Constable George 

 I Davis and Sheriff James Swanton, with a formidable 

 I party, set out for Nicatous Lake. On their way to Dar- 

 I ling's camp they met Darling in the town of Lowell and 

 immediately arrested him. 



"Darling was arraigned at Bucksport, Monday, before 

 a trial justice. The justice found Mr. Darling guilty and 

 fined him $40 for the deer which it was charged he killed 

 and $40 for each of the deer which the other parties 

 admitted that they killed. He was also fined $50 a day 

 for keeping dogs to hunt deer two days, the whole mak- 

 ing $260. On the question of costs there was some 

 argument. Mr. Voss suggested that the case of bringing 

 seven men from Milbridge to Nicatous Lake to arrest 

 Jock Darling be charged to the prisoner, to which Col. 

 Hutchinson objected, and said that any one officer could 

 have arrested Mr. Darling without a bit of difficulty. 

 The cost question finally went over for the counsel to 

 talk over and see if they couldn't decide upon something 

 satisfactory. The case was appealed and will come be- 

 fore the Supreme Court at Ellsworth on the 8th of April 

 next. Other cases stand against Darling. The officers 

 who went to Nicatous to arrest the guides found that 

 they had taken the alarm and fled. They will be cap- 

 tured later." 



"Game Warden French, of this city, never lets up when 

 he has once started out to make a case. He has been 

 after the notorious Jock Darling for three years, and two 

 years ago nearly captured him, when he made that 

 famous raid at Nicatous Lake. At that time Jock es- 

 caped, but French brought to grief a lot of sportsmen 

 who were found at Darling's camp, and mulcted them 

 heavily in Hancock county. French went to Nicatous 

 after Jock again last year, but the foxy poacher had been 

 warned in advance, and, although the warden lay in the 

 rain three days and nights without shelter, he was un- 

 able to secure his man. He could not enter the camp as 

 a detective, because his exploit in 1887 had made him 

 known to Darling and his guides. But French would not 

 be beaten, and schemed to accomplish his determined 

 purpose. W. N. McNamara, a Boston detective, whom 

 the papers of the State have been applauding, was em- 

 ployed in a Milbridge case which came before the October 

 term of the S. J. Court for this county. French met him 

 at Machias on Oct. 6, and, after a cautious interview, re- 

 vealed his scheme, and obtained McNamara's consent to 

 take a hand. French thoroughly posted the detective, 

 who was ignorant of woodcraft, and marked out in every 

 detail the plan of movement which has so successfully 

 resulted. French then sent McNamara to Bangor to con- 

 ifer with State Game Commissioner Hon. E. M. Stilwell, 

 who had been anxious so long to bring Darling to justice. 

 French also wrote the Commissioner, and received letters 

 in reply that were favorable to the project and highly 

 commendatory of the warden, with instructions to go 

 ahead. Promises of reward were also made if the scheme 

 should prove successful. 



"McNamara went to Nicatous. The papers of the State 

 have recorded his signal success. A brief account of bis 

 brilliant work, the arrest of Darling and the penalty he 

 received in court is published on the next page. Yet not 

 a word of praise for French has yet been published so far 

 as we have read. At the time arrangements were being 

 made all the letters that Mr. Stilwell wrote to French 

 were read in this city by a party who says that, while 

 the Commissioner merits chief credit for apprehending 

 the notorious poacher, he cannot fail to grant due credit 

 and reward to his efficient subordinate. French has 

 scored great achievements every year, and it would not 

 perhaps be detracting from his record to say that his 

 studied efforts for three seasons to capture Jock Darling 

 should be counted as his best work." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The story of the arrest of Jonathan Darling has created 

 a profound sensation among the dOg hunters, even in this 

 State. There are a number of Boston sportsmen who 

 have shot deer that Darling's dogs have driven to water. 

 Or at least they admit as much. But the feeling is one 

 of relief that such hunting is bkely to be stopped. Even 

 the very hunters who have done the shooting say that 

 obey want no more of it. The dogs, let loose in the 

 vicinity of one of those mountain lakes soon drive the 

 deer to water, and by time a man of any soul in him is 

 paddled up to the frightened creature, struggling for his 



life, he is thoroughly sick of the business, and would 

 thank the guide if he would make some mistake that 

 might allow the deer to escape. It is a fact that the day 

 of dogging deer is about done, and the Maine commis- 

 sioners are to be thanked for the reform, though rather 

 slow it has been. Darling's arrest may not prove to be 

 the last chapter in that "disagreeable history, for ho is 

 determined: he has money, and he will carry his cases to 

 the full decisions of the'law. Indeed, if beaten at last, 

 he may try the same business again, for he believes, or 

 appears to believe, that he has an inalienable right to 

 hunt deer, just the same as he had before the framing of 

 the statutes for deer protection. He declares that the 

 game laws are unconstitutional, and that he can con- 

 vince the courts that such is the case. The results will 

 be watched with a great deal of interest. Special. 

 Boston. Mass., Nov. 11. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The sage said, "Let me make the songs of a people and 

 I care not who makes their laws." If we are to judge 

 nations and individuals by the songs they sing, the poems 

 they write and the doggerel they perpetrate, why is not 

 this "rhyming jingle" pat just now? It was copied by 

 me last month from the original, which was tacked up in 

 Jock Darling's camp on Nicatous Lake. I am sin e I 

 don't know whether Darling evolved it or whether it was 

 the Avork of some guest; but it is at all events a genuine 

 specimen wild flower of poesy indigenous to Nicatous 

 soil; and it strikes me that it is quite as characteristic' in 

 its way as were the rhymes of Robin Hood. It runs 

 thus: 



NICATOUS LAKE. 



A round this lake the deer abound. 

 And trout in all the streams are found. 

 Come on, ye hunters, from afar. 

 Neal Dow, if here, could find a "bar," 

 Though long in Portland he has sought. 

 And yet he seeks, but. finds them not; 

 While hunters with but little skill 

 Find many a "bar" in Portland still. 

 And sailors wild, with faces brown, 

 Still "rush the growler" through the town, 

 Here Darling built his cabin stout, 

 And always leaves the latch string out. 

 Excepting when the wardens come 

 To guard the deer by swilling rum. 

 Whene'er he spies these sons of sin, 

 Bold Darling draws his latch string in. 

 Here, where the air is sweet and pure, 

 All pain and sickness find a cure; 

 Consumption dread is turned away, 

 Where grows the fir it cannot, stay; 

 Hay fever here no wind has blown, 

 Nor was the asthma ever known. 

 Old Brown-Sequard's elixir queer 

 Will never find a patient here. 

 And if at last you wish to die, 

 The promised joys of heaven to try. 

 You must employ a knife or rope- 

 Self-murder is your only hope. 

 For here no mortal dies, they say; 

 They just dry up and blow away. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, 111., Nov. 1. — The season just passing has 

 been unique in this locality, in that there has been 

 more upland shooting done around and about Chicago 

 than has been known for years. The opening of the 

 prairie chicken season has doubtless had most to do with 

 this, for many who went out after that bird found others 

 of our almost forgotten upland birds creeping back to 

 their old haunts. Not many of our shooters here know 

 or care much about plover shooting; yet a good number 

 of golden and upland plover have been bagged during the 

 fall. Of jacksnipe we have not had so many for years, 

 and although these can hardly be called an upland bird, 

 they have been abundant on every damp upland as well 

 as on the marsh. The snipe have gone on south now for 

 the most part. They and the unusually large numbers of 

 woodcock have given the shooters of our city an excep- 

 tional fall ; for they got in this year about six weeks 

 ahead of time. 



There seems to be an unusual abundance of quail all 

 over the country this fall. Central and southern Illinois 

 has been full of them. From Missouri we have had con- 

 stant reports of plenty, and in Kansas I have had per- 

 sonal proof of large numbers, even so far west as the 

 edge of the high plains, where the crops failed this year. 

 In Indiana quail are fairly swarming in some localities; 

 yet friends who have correct advices say that there are 

 a few select spots in Ohio where the shooting at them is 

 even better still. 



Nov. -5.— Mr. Fred Donald has started with Mr. Eustis 

 and Dr. Williams, of the C. B. & Q. road, and Mr. Grif- 

 fith, of Omaha, on a four weeks trip into the newly- 

 opened and wonderful game country lying near the 

 young town of Alliance, in northwestern Nebraska. 

 These gentlemen go in a private "Q." car, admirably 

 equipped. They will shoot wildfowl, grouse and quail, 

 and perhaps get some antelope. The country they visit 

 is probably the best game district now in the West. The 

 chain of lakes there is the only resting place for the wild- 

 fowl flight in a tremendous distance either north or 

 south, and the flight there is said to be enormous. It is 

 to be hoped that the gentlemen will not reach their point 

 too late in the fall for the best sport. 



On a hunt lately we fell to talking about the duck sup- 

 ply. It was the opinion of my friends, all of whom had 

 hunted largely in Dakota and the Northwest, that our 

 scarcity of ducks here is mainly due to the fact that the 

 flight has moved further west. Mr. Donald had traveled 

 much in Manitoba, and was acquainted with the great 

 swamp in lower Manitoba, which stretches along the 

 Canadian Pacific for a hundred miles, nearly impene- 

 trable to footman or boatman. He said that no one 

 could form any idea of the countless thousands of ducks' 

 nests that great breeding ground held, and he thought 

 they could never be exterminated. I asked him about 

 the story of the Indians gathering and shipping the wild 

 ducks' eggs to the markets by the boatload. 



"That's all nonsense," said he, "I never heard of any 

 such thing till I saw it in the papers, and when I did I 

 laughed at it. You may call it substantially untrue. 

 You waflt to remember that they have game laws up in 

 Manitoba, and they enforce them, too, far better than we 

 do ours. There is a license on every alien gun, and they 

 watch white man and Indian botb much more closely 

 than we dream of doing. The egg gathering you de- 

 scribe would be impossible and it does not exist, at least 

 in any of the territory tributary to Winnipeg." 



Mr. W. W. McFarland is just back from a trip to 

 Northern Dakota and the edge of Manitoba, and reports 



a pleasant time at ducks, quail, grouse, partridge, jack- 

 rabbits, foxes and what not. On this trip McFarland 

 found himself on the edge of a vast tamarack swamp into 

 which he could see going countless numbers of ducks. 

 The Indians told him there were "heap ducks" in there, 

 but that no one could get into the swatnp. It must have 

 been a pretty tough swamp, or "Mc" would have got a 

 boat in somehow. This doubtless was one of the great 

 northern breeding grounds also, although I did not know 

 the wildfowl chose the tamarack country for such a 

 ground. 



Mr. Lee Hamline has gone to Council Grove, Kas., 

 after quail. It is very probable that be will have good 

 success. There in no more deadly way of shooting quail 

 than along the Kansas hedges. Every quail flies straight 

 down the hedge, and can be walked up without even 

 marking it down. It is the easiest quail shooting there is. 



Mr. Joseph Card has gone to Toledo, O., for a few days' 

 sport at the ducks on the great marsh near that place. 

 Mr. Card shoots with a club whose privileges are held in 

 such esteem that a membership is valued at $2,000. 



Nov. 7. — In a talk with Mr. Bogardus, of Garden City, 

 Kan., the latter informs me that hard times and light 

 crops have made trouble among the new settlers on the 

 high tablelands of southwestern Kansas, and very many 

 of the new homesteads taken in 1886 and after have been 

 abandoned. In consequence, the game has drifted back 

 again over much of that territory. Antelope have again 

 become abundant much further to the north of the Neu- 

 tral Strip than has been the case for years, and some are 

 seen not far from Garden City, near the Arkansas Eiver. 



Mr. C, J. Jones lately received a check for $20,000, one- 

 third of the payment of $60,000 for an undivided one- 

 half interest in his herd of buffalo. The news comes to 

 me that the herd is to be moved to Ogden, Utah, by a 

 boom syndicate, and will be kept there for advertising 

 purposes only. It will not be divided or decreased, and 

 Mr. Jones will supervise it. Buffalo Jones has so far 

 shown that he knows what he is about, and it is hoped 

 that in this case there is to be no exception. 



Mr. E. C, Cook is just back from the club house on the 

 De Golyer marsh, with a good string of mallards. Nick 

 Sammons, the club keeper, declares that he has got all 

 the water and all the birds in that whole end of the Kan- 

 kakee country, which fact he attributes to a judicious 

 system of ditching. There are also a good many quail on 

 the club grounds this fall, and prairie chickens have in- 

 creased to noticeable numbers. These upland birds are 

 not molested. 



I don't know why it is that when one mentions Mr. 

 Cook's name, it seems natural also to mention that of Mr. 

 Ward, who is a member of the same club and a great 

 friend of the former gentleman. Mr. Ward has just gone 

 down to the club house. He was afraid to go when Mr. 

 Cook was there. Mr. Ward has had great trouble in 

 getting a retriever of just the size and shape he wanted, 

 and has made a great many experiments. On this occa- 

 sion Mr. Ward walked all the way down to the club 

 house, about forty miles, and led a cow, which he desired 

 to add to the family there. The party at the club house 

 discovered the procession winding down the lane, Mr. 

 Ward walking backward in a persuasive attitude most of 

 the time, and some one was heard to exclaim in tones of 

 high disgust, "Well, there comes Ward again, and I'll 

 be blamed if he ain't got another kind of retriever along. 

 Say, he makes me laugh!" It is perhaps best to add, how- 

 ever, that this is Mr. Cook's version of the story. 



Mr. Jenney, of the Jenney & Graham Gun Co., is back 

 from his sojourn in Canada, looking much better. 



Numbers of the boys are up to Fox Lake this week, and 

 there has been a desultory exodus for the lower marshes, 

 but for some reason the duck hunters are not so eager 

 this fall as usual. It is probably due to the good chance 

 they have had at the snipe and to the better sport of up- 

 land shooting which has been mentioned earlier. 



E. Hough. 



WILD TURKEYS IN NEW ENGLAND. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Not a number of your good journal but stirs me with 

 the desire to make comment on some statement or ask 

 questions of some member of the craft; but somehow I 

 cannot get time to act upon my impulse. Let me free 

 my mind now of a number of things which the last few 

 numbers of Forest and Stream: have suggested. 



The Eastern limit of the wild turkey in former times 

 has been discussed a good deal of late. In my boyhood I 

 used to hear much of then- former abundance in Massa- 

 chusetts, in the Connecticut Valley, about Mt. Holyoke 

 and Mt. Tom and on Mt. Toby; and I dimly remember a 

 story of the killing of the last gobbler that remained in 

 that region. Within a few years I have seen the state- 

 ment that a small flock of wild turkeys was thought to 

 exist in a wooded and thinly settled part of Connecticut. 

 I have either personally talked with or read the state- 

 ment of an old man who in his boyhood killed turkeys on 

 Mt. Toby. There cannot be the slightest doubt that this 

 noble game bird was once plentiful in that region, and it 

 would be strange, it seems to me, if it had not ranged far 

 to the east of there. I have read of turkey shooting in 

 Canada, but in just what part I cannot say. 



Was it not '"Nessmuk" who described in Forest and 

 Stream that wonderful sight of myriads of wild turkeys 

 feeding through the woods in Michigan once upon a 

 time? The fascinating picture has remained in my 

 mind, but I am not sure that it was "Nessmuk" who 

 painted it. 



To change the subject, I want to ask if any one knows 

 how far the smoke of forest fires will drift. During the 

 recent great forest fires in the far West, eastern Massa- 

 chusetts was swathed in a very hazy and smoky atmos- 

 phere. I thought, and still think, that this appearance 

 was due to the fires in Washington Territory and Mon- 

 tana. If reports from persons at intermediate stations 

 could be had, and dates could be compared, the results 

 would be of much interest. C. H. Ames. 



Worcester, Mass., Nov. 9.— The first flock of wood- 

 cock is nearly over, but the seekers for this kind of game 

 are still in the field. The reports of captures this week 

 include the following: On Wednesday, H. L. Hall and 

 J. L, Waters came in with a bag of 19 birds, and about 

 half were woodcock, and on Friday Mr. Hall came in 

 with 2 quail, 2 rabbits, 1 partridge and a mink; the latter 

 is the first this season. — E. 



