106 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. Bf, 1800. 



THE MULE'S ROSARY. 



A FEW years ago. while my father and I were in 

 southern California, we made a journey from Santa 

 Barbara over to the Santa, Inez Valley to loot at some 

 quicksilver mines, in company with a gentleman who lived 

 in the city of our departure. " We had a horse to carry our 

 pack. Several days were passed very pleasantly on the 

 Santa Inez River, fishing, collecting fossils and examin- 

 ing the outcroppings. Trout were found in great abund- 

 ance. We met a party of white men one day who had a 

 clothesline full of trout hung up to dry, Tliey were 

 jerking venison at the same time 



On the riverside one day wo discovered in the sand 

 fresh tracks of a bear, and after going a little way below 

 we met a miner and told him what we had seen. He 

 did not appear to show much enthusiasm over the in- 

 formation we furnished and remarked that he hadn't lost 

 any grizzly that he was looking for. 



We pushed on down to a point at which the stage road 

 crosses the valley. Here father and our companion re- 

 turned to Santa Barbara. I hired a horse and took along 

 with me a Spaniard, who was bound in the same direc- 

 tion. My destination was the home of a friend who 

 owned a quicksilver mine on a little tributary of the 

 Santa Inez. 



We had traveled several miles up the stream, thinking 

 of no danger, when the Spaniard suddenly halted and, 

 pointing with his finger, told me to "look I" Directly in 

 the trail and about 200yds. ahead was a monstrous grizzly 

 seated on the body of a mule which he had killed and 

 having his forelegs ready for instant action. He ap- 

 peared to us as big as an eleplmnl. We were both armed, 

 but prudent and did not care to attack a bear of such pro- 

 portions, so we turned around and went down out of his 

 way, returned to the trail af fcer a long detour, and con- 

 tinued to the home of my friend, the mine owner. Here 

 we related out* experience and Learned that the unfortun- 

 ate mule belonged to a Spaniard who worked in the mine. 

 The owner of the property had advised the Spaniard to 

 put the mule in the corral and not let him run loose and 

 become the victi m of a grizzly, but the man's foresight 

 was not equal to his hindsight and he decided to pursue 

 his own course. He fortified the mule by lying around 

 his neck a string of beads with a crucifix attached: and 

 felt certain that these would protect him from bears and 

 other dangers. In order to allow the charms full play, 

 he hobbled the animal and then turned him out to graze. 

 The result, we know. 



While my friend and the Spaniard were getting their 

 guns and ammunition ready I went up to the mine, ex- 

 pecting to be back in time to go with them and see the 

 battle with bruin ; but I became interested in some hand- 

 some crystals and stayed so much longer than I intended 

 that when I returned they had gone. 1 followed them 

 on horseback, but arrived* on the scene too late for the 

 fray. When I neared the place I saw them coming back 

 with the skin of the bear lydng across their horse. The 

 fight had been short, sharp and decisive, and the con- 

 quering party had found in the stomach of the bear a 

 trophy— a string of beads and a crucifix. 



U. S. Fish Commission, Washington, I). C. S. F. Denton. 



A VIRGINIA DEER HUNT. 



WE started from Washiugton, I). C, to Virginia a 

 party of five and arrived at friend Spencer's the 

 next evening, all tired and hungry. He and his family 

 received us with true Virginia hospitality, and we soon 

 forgot the fatigue of the journey when called to supper. 

 What a supper! Those "griddle cakes!" Well, I can 

 almost fancy I am eating them now. After supper the 

 old hunters called to see us aud tell yarns of former 

 hunts. Then they gave us some instructions, and when 

 I told them that I had not killed my deer, and in fact 

 never saw a wild one, you could have heard their smiles. 

 "Another greenhorn; we will have lots of fun with the 

 city chap." They then told me that when they put me 

 on a stand I could only shoot at a deer, turkey, fox or 

 bear, aud if I shot at anything else I would hav r e to pay 

 the penalty, and that if I got the deer fever and failed to 

 shoot, or shot and missed I was to have my shirt tail cut 

 off and treat the hunters. They also said the rules of all 

 hunts are that the party killing the deer had horns, skin 

 and first choice of meat: the drivers came next, and the 

 rest was divided equally among all in the chase. Well, 

 I was put on a stand in the woods with the last caution 

 to listen as well as look, as you could often hear a deer 

 coining before you could see it. I waited about two 

 hours, and began to think that if this is what you call 

 deer hunting it is the tamest shooting I ever had, when I 

 heard something move iu the thick brush, 



I was all attention, cocked both barrels of my 15-gauge 

 shotgun, which had 9 No, 1 buckshot in each barrel, and 

 tried to see what was coming. I hadn't long to wait, 

 when I saw something black moving. .1 thought of the 

 bear and said it wouldn't do to have any wounding here, 

 and was just going to shoot when I saw the head and ears 

 and found out in time that it was a big black hog. I 

 thought to myself that the old hunter would have had 

 the joke on me if I had shot. I waited a half hour longer 

 when I heard the welcome sound of the hounds, in full 

 music, coming my way. Looking in the dhection, I saw 

 what looked to be a streak of lightning shooting through 

 the woods. As this came nearer I saw what I thought to 

 be a calf; then it broke cover aud came in a little opening 

 in the trees, about 1,000yds. off, and I saw a. large buck, 

 horns and all, and now for the buck fever, I "thought. 

 I had on a canvas gunning suit the color of dead leaves, 

 and I dropped down in the tall broom sage grass, fearing 

 that the buck would not come near enough for me to get 

 a. shot. Fortunately for me another of the party was 

 above me on another stand, and had on a black suit of 

 clothes and kept moving, which attracted the deer's at- 

 tention and made him change his course, bearing him 

 nearer my stand. Reader, have you ever been there ? A 

 large 2001b. buck, jumping 12 to loft, at every leap, and 

 coming right to you, and the hounds in full cry. The 

 first deer too ! I let him come to within 40 strides, when 

 I jumped up. 



The buck saw me and raised its head, showing the 

 white breast. I fired my right barrel; he gave a jump 

 and I heard his heavy thump as he hit on the ground. I 

 broke my gun, put in a new cartridge, and went over the 

 deep gully which divided me from where the deer fell. 

 Judge of my disappointment when arriving where I saw 

 the buck on the ground to find no deer. Then I did feel | 

 mean. By this time the other hunters came up and 1 



asked me what I shot at. I told them a big buck. 

 "Where is it?" they said. "Don't kuow," I replied; "it 

 was on the grouud there just now. but where it is at 

 present I cannot say." "Back up to a stump; we are 

 going to cut off your coat tail for missing the deer." 

 "All right, pards," I said, "but give me one chance. I 

 know I hit that deer, and here is where it fell," showing 

 them the print in the soft ground, "and here are its tracks 

 where it ran oil'; let's follow them, and if you don't find 

 the deer I will give you the whole coat." We took up 

 the trail. Reader, think how I felt, a green one among 

 those old hunters, when in advance of the rest I saw 

 wha t at first, looked like a big stone, but on my near 

 approach proved to be my buck, dead, with five buckshot 

 in its breast! One of the old hunters came up to me and 

 took my hand and gave me a big ginger cake, saying, 

 "You will do: you take the cake." 



This was Wednesday. Friday they put me on the 

 same stand, and in less than an" hour' I heard the dogs, 

 and keeping still and not leaving my stand, which, by 

 the way, is unpardonable, I had the pleasure of seeing 

 approach within gunshot a large doe. As it came to a 

 wood road I fired and put seven shot in her neck, killing 

 her in fine style. Monday I was placed on the same 

 stand; was there for three hours, getting very tired, 

 when I heard the dogs, hid behind a tree, gun" cocked 

 and ready, when a large tleer came along. It was flying 

 —couldn't call it running- it hardly touched the ground. 

 The dogs Were within 40yds., and music, ho! the Boston 

 Ideals were left. The trees were so thick that I could 

 not get sight on neck or shoulder, so I had to hit it in the 

 flank. I saw it drop its hindquarters, but still running, 

 and I could not get in my second barrel before it was out 

 of sight, but running slower, showing me it was hit hard. 

 1 put the dogs on the track, and one of the drivers came 

 up on horseback, followed on a run, and soon came back 

 with the deer on his saddle, but not before the dogs bad 

 eaten a big hole OUt of the Hank. This was the last of 

 my deer hunt. I killed all the dner of the party but one 

 that was killed after I left, and did not lose my' shirt. 



Uncle Eok. 



Bear and Trout in New Mexico. —Denver, Col.— 

 In the fall of 1889 I ranged with that fine hunter and 

 sportsmen's guide, Capt. Ed Richmond, for a month, bear 

 shooting in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, 

 meeting the Captain at Chama, on the Denver & Rio 

 Grande R, R., Sept. 1. By his suggestion that the trout 

 fishing was fine on the Rio Brazos and bears plenty, we 

 decided to make our first camp on that river. The first 

 evening in camp we saw five bears feeding on berries, all 

 within 1,000yds. of camp. The Captain killed one fine 

 black bear. We found the trout fishing as represented. 

 The following day I took 401bs. of trout with flies in four 

 hours. We were four days at this camp, killing four 

 bears. We afterward camped in the Coneo Mountains, 

 on the Navajo and Blanco rivers, killing in all 26 bears, 5 

 deer and a great many grouse: and taking all the trout 

 we cared for. We had five varieties of bear, silver tip, 

 two varieties of cinnamon, and two of black. I would 

 advise sportsmen coming for bear shooting to try this 

 range. S. N. Morris, at Chama, New Mexico, would be a 

 reliable person to advise in regard to present bear shoot- 

 ing. — B. [It is hardly necessary to repeat what has been 

 so often stated, that there are only two species of bears 

 found within the limits of the United States, namely, the 

 grizzly (Ursus liorribilis) and the black, brown or cinna- 

 mon ( Urines americanus)]. 



South Carolina.— Bamberg, S. C. Feb. 18. — A few 

 additional points relative to this region may be of inter- 

 est. This town is located on the S. C. R. R. seventy miles 

 from Charleston and sixty from Augusta. For carrying 

 my dog in a light crate from Charleston here they charged 

 me $1.50, and another gentleman traveling a distance of 

 sixty miles they tried to charge $5 for two dogs. He re- 

 sisted so strongly that they made the charge more rea- 

 sonable, which charge he paid under protest. A white 

 man offered a dozen quail, which he had trapped, for 

 sale on the principal business streets of the town at sixty 

 cents for the lot, and found a ready buyer. Trapping 

 and the negroes are killing off all the game hereabouts. 

 Fish of all kinds found in the fresh waters south are 

 found in the Edystone River, two and a half miles from 

 town.— Bluerock. 



Ohio.— Dayton, Feb. 19. — Reports from all Sections be- 

 tween the Ohio River and the Great Lakes are that quail 

 have kept in fine condition, and are more plenty than 

 for years before at the close of winter. The law has been 

 respected, nesting will begin early, and there is every 

 reason to expect splendid shooting next fall if the Legis- 

 lature does not pass the proposed law forbidding quail 

 hunting until November, 1892. Snipe will come in early, 

 and wild ducks are already flying along the rivers, A 

 large flock of wild geese, flying high, passed over the city 

 to the north Saturday morning. The marshes in all this 

 section will be in grand condition for woodcock. Rabbits 

 abound, but the coon hunters and trap-shooters with in- 

 animate targets monopolize winter sports. — Buckeye. 



Expensive Deer Meat. — Herkimer, N. Y., Feb 21.— 

 A few weeks ago District Attorney I. R. Devendorf, of 

 Herkimer county, began suit iu the Supreme Court 

 against Dr. Baled i, Dr. Vandenburg and Edward Will- 

 ard, of Saratoga county, for violating Section 1 of the 

 game laws. The offense was killing fawn in Hamilton 

 county last fall, and two penalties are prescribed. The 

 case was set down for trial at the April term of Court. 

 A settlement, however, was made yesterday by the de- 

 fendants' paying District Attorney Devendorf one pen- 

 alty and costs, total $143.92. The gentlemen from Sara- 

 toga consider that Hamilton county deer are expensive. 



A Worthy Trophy. — We have received from Mr. C. 

 L, Stratton, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a large photo- 

 graph of the very handsome elk head he took home with 

 him from the Rocky Mountains, as related in our issue of 

 March 7 last. It is a trophy of which any one might 

 well be proud. 



Snipe, — Reports are coming in stating that English snipe 

 have been seen on the meadows near New Durham, N. J. 

 One man flushed a large number during the month of 

 January, and they have been coming and going all 

 winter. — W. II. 



The Newburgh (N. Y.) Fish and Game Protective 

 Association has been formed, with these officers: Pres- 

 ident, Gardner Van Nostrand; Vice-President. Harry C. 

 Higginson; Secretary and Treasurer, James G. Graham, 

 Jr. : Counsel. Cornelius L. Waring; Executive Commit- 

 tee, Dr. Willett Kidd, Homer S. Ramsdell.of Newburgh; 

 William Patton, of Little Britain: John Brewster, "of 

 < 'oldeuham, 



THE NEW YORK DEER LAW. 



Kdi.lnr Forest and Stream: 



In issue of Feb. IB a communication signed "Osceola, 1 ' from 

 northern New York, states that at a special'meeting of the Lewis 

 County Sportsman's Association, held at Lowville, a resolution 

 was adopted indorsing the Crawford bill that has been or is to be 

 presented to the Legislature, which will lengthen the season for 

 killing deer from the 1st of August to the 15th, and shorten it for 

 hounding from fifty to thirty-four days. Shortening the hound- 

 ing is m the right direction, but better abolish it altogether. 

 They also say, that as deer will be killed in August, and even 

 earlier any way (they evidently seem conscious that it is not ex- 

 actly the right thing to do), they unanimously resolve that the 

 easiest and best way out of the difficulty is to legalize the killing. 

 By all means let this bill, if introduced, pass, thai. New York may 

 enjoy the enviable distinciion of being the only State in the 

 Northern States that would make it legal to shoot wet does in 

 August, leaving their fawns to starve. I suppose this amend- 

 ment will be entitled "An act for the further protection and 

 preservation" of our deer. Why not add "for the protection of 

 those who would be law breakers any way." As men will be 

 tbieves and steal, don't protect property, but legalize theft that 

 thieves may become honest men. A Veteran. 



HOLLAND PATEJTT. 



Twelve million one hundred and twenty-one thousand one 

 hundred twenty dollars paid to policy holders— such was the feast 

 provided by the New York Life. Insurance Company for its patrons 

 in I8S'J. Over rive millions of it went to the heirs of men who 

 died, and probably no money came to them with so little 

 trouble on their part, as these life insurance claims. Probably few 

 investment s made by the deceased gave such good returns as their 

 life policies. The New York Life has been in business forty-five 

 years, and has many old policies on its books, yet the average re- 

 turn on policies maturing by death is something over two and a 

 half dollars for one. This is equal lo H par cent, par annum upon 

 money invested in equal annual installments during a period of 

 twenty years. The Tontiue Policies of this company, which are 

 now maturing, show good investment results to the living, in 

 addition to the insurance protection during a term of ye.irs. "The 

 full statement, printed in another column, will repay careful 

 perusal.— Adv. 



en ntfd Jjfn'ff fishing. 



"MYSTERIOUS STOCKING OF PONDS." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I notice in a late issue, of Forest and Stream a ques- 

 tion and answer concerning the above matter. I have 

 during the past twenty years answered the q uestion many 

 times, giving the following incidents in corroboration: 



There is no mystery about the stocking of ponds hav- 

 ing no visible outlet or inlet, providing due patience is. 

 exercised in making investigations. About forty-five 

 years ago I was one day creeping through the bushes by 

 the side of a mill pond in Medina county, this State, iu 

 order to get a shot at a single duck up the pond. Sud- 

 denly I heard the peculiar swish of duck wings when 

 settling rapidly into water, and looking up saw live mal- 

 lards passing low over my head. They struck swiftly 

 into the water among some grass within 50yds. of me, 

 diving as they struck and at once coming to the surface 

 and swumming into open water toward me, and com- 

 menced running their hills over their leathers, particu- 

 larly on their backs. Laying my rifle upon the little bank 

 in front of my lading place, I drew out my small but 

 powerful pocket telescope and for ten or fifteen minutes 

 watched the operations of the ducks. They would run 

 their bills all over their feathers, and it was plain to see 

 that they were eating something. Occasionally one of 

 them would swim back into the grass and dive, come 

 quickly to the surface and out into clear water and com- 

 mence gliding the bill over the feathers again. After 

 watching them to my satisfaction, I returned my tele- 

 scope to my pocket, and securing a good rest upon the 

 bank with my rifle, quacked in imitation of a duck, wdien 

 the five mallards instantly "huddled,"' and as their heads 

 came well in line I fired, when two of them flew away, 

 leaving three of the little flock shot through the head and 

 flopping in the water. 



Passing a considerable distance around the dam and up 

 the other side of the pond, 1 waded into the shallow water 

 and secured the ducks. Their feathers were coated with 

 glutinous spawn of fishes, and this is what they were eat- 

 ing. Most of our pond fishes belong to the family Cyp- 

 rinidce, which spawn during the entire warm season, 

 casting their glutinous eggs upon grass and small aquatic 

 plants generally. As will be seen by the foregoing narra- 

 tive, ducks feed upon this spawn after attaching it to 

 their feathers. Of course more or less spawn remains 

 attached to their feathers when they leave the water for 

 other aquatic pastures. When striking into the next 

 body of water some of this spawn is detached, and, being 

 already impregnated, hatches where dropped. Ducks soon 

 find all new bodies of water, such as artificial reservoirs, 

 fish ponds, etc., and search them for food. In this way 

 any isolated, small body of water becomes stocked with 

 various kinds of fishes. 



Several years ago I had a fountain in front of my resi- 

 dence in New Jersey stocked with goldfish. One day I 

 discovered some very small specimens of young fry, and 

 a microscopic examination showed them to be the fry of 

 common pond minnows. How they came there was a 

 mystery to me, as the fountain was supplied by spring- 

 water, which first passed through the pipes of the house 

 and into the attic, and from there to the fountain. The 

 matter was not long a mystery. A few days later I had 

 been to the post office, and as I approached the house saw 

 a kingfisher perched upon the upper verandah. As I 

 came nearer it dived into the fountain among the gold 

 fish, but did not succeed in getting one. In all proba- 

 bility the kingfisher had within a few minutes been in 

 one of my fish ponds among the minnow spawn, some of 

 which had been previously transferred to the fountain by 

 the kingfisher and had hatched there. In central and 

 northern Minnesota there are hundreds of small ponds or 

 lakes, many of which have neither inlet nor outlet. They 

 are all stocked with fishes indigenous to the region. I 

 have herewith described the simple provision of nature 

 by which they have been stocked. Milton P. Peirce. 

 Columbus, Ohio. 



The Best Fishing Tackle in the World is to be found at the 

 salesroom ot Thos. J. Conroy, 65 Fulton street, N. Y. See adver- 

 tisement opposite first page of reading matter.— Adv. 



