March 6, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



off in a violent manner. I expostulated, at the same 

 reminding him that he gave permission on the previous 

 day, but ft was no go; so I told bim I would walk over 

 his grounds and perhaps something else if he annoyed 

 me any further and that I would go the nearest way I 

 knew off his grounds. 



On the following Monday I went down to Mr. Cole- 

 man's again and bad a lively time for a couple of hours, 

 but the weather became quite disagreeable, bail and rain 

 falling at intervals. We were compelled to return about 

 noon, and in passing through town to our boarding- 

 house I was hailed by a constable who had a warrant 

 for my arrest for trespassing on Sherral's grounds. 

 TheBe grounds had been posted some ten years ago, but 

 not a single notice could be seen anywhere, nor was it 

 fenced in in accordance with the statutes of North 

 Carolina. 



A new judge had been recently appointed and as yet 

 had not tried a case. When I appeared before him, he 

 was highly incensed against the complainant who he 

 said was under the impression that if imposed, a fine 

 would fail to him; but a lawyer soon disabused him of 

 this hallucination and he proposed that I should pay what- 

 ever costs had been so far incurred; and not desiring to 

 waste my time in useless litigation,- I paid $3 95 costs 

 and went on my way rejoicing that in all that com- 

 munity theie was not a single man who did not condemn 

 Sherial f<">r his contemptible action to me. 



" W. H. K." states that I was a resident of New Jersey, 

 but that ii another of his canards which is scarcely 

 worth correcting. The shooting in the middle of last 

 November was not half so good as your correspondent 

 leads us to believe at a more recent date. If there had 

 been less traps and snares set on Sherral's place it would 

 have been the best I met with on my Southern trip. 

 Daring my two weeks down there, two-thirds of the time 

 was spent indoors, owing to the unprecedented weather: 

 hail, rain and anow. Something new to the oldest inhabi- 

 tants of that locality. P. K. 

 Brooklyn, N. Y., March 1. 



[P. K. appears to be the person referred to by W. H. K. 

 as "one Shelly, a native oAhe North."] 



WOLVES IN THE ADIRONDACKS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



E'or the past six years I have during my outings visited 

 the West Canada Lakes in the Adirondacks. They lie 

 among the peaks of the Blue Ridge, a line of mountains 

 seen south of the Raquette; are over twenty miles from 

 the nearest settlement, and are about equi-distant from 

 the Raquette, Fulton Chain lakes and Piseco Lake region. 

 They are very seldom visited, and certainly from the 

 best evidence obtainable there is a pack of wolves which 

 have made their home in the vicinity for several years. 



Louie Seymour, a French Canadian guide, has made 

 his home winter and summer for the past six years on 

 the shores of the "Big West." He has frequently met 

 the pack, and has numerous stories to tell of their de- 

 struction of deer and other game; but what he seems to 

 care most about is the impossibility of his keeping a dog 

 but a little while, as the wolves kill them off. At first 

 he thought his dogs got lost by following; deer into other 

 territory, and then were taken in byguid.es finding them, 

 but now he has the best reason to believe that the five 

 dogs lost each year, 1888 and 1889, were killed by wolves. 



Mr. Robinson's Antoine reminds me so much of Louie 

 that in reading his interesting and life-like stories of 

 Vermont fishing I see French Louie always before me; 

 and if I only had Mr. R.'s wonderful gift of writing the 

 broken Canadian patois, I could entertain your readers 

 with some interesting stories of adventures of Louie's 

 •long winter's trapping in the lonesome wilds, which 

 helped to entertain us before the camp-fire every spring. 



Three years ago this winter, Louie returning alone on 

 snowshoes from his long line of traps — extending from 

 Trout Lake outlet around by Moose River Indian Clear- 

 ing to Silver Run, thence back by the Cobble's Stream to 

 East Lake — reached the lake just at dusk, and rounding 

 the point on a run so as to reach his shanty by dark, came 

 ■suddenly on a large buck just run down by the wolves. 

 They had cut bis throat and drank his blood when Louie's 

 yelling scared them away. He was only armed with a 

 club and bowie knife, and having no meat at his shanty 

 he succeeded in keeping them off till he cut out a hind- 

 quarter, then he made for his shanty, got his gun and 

 lantern and went back to kill the wolves. Though he 

 was gone but an hour, when he got back to the deer 

 nothing but well picked bones were left. Now, many 

 will say Louie and his dog would have eaten as many 

 deer during the winter as the wolves, but that is non- 

 sense. I have no doubt Louie has venison most of the 

 time during the winter, but one deer would last him two 

 weeks and a pack of wolves will average one or more per 

 day. And I think our legislative committee to codify 

 the game laws should put a sufficient bounty on wolves 

 to exterminate them inside of one year. 



Now for my proof that wolves kill the dogs. A year 

 ago last fall (better not name the exact date as probably 

 it was after time for hounding) a guides' party was made 

 up at Lake Pleasant to hunt at Big West, to lay in their 

 winter supply of meat. Among them was Benage Paige, 

 an old guiue known to every one that ever was at Lake 

 Pleasant. He had old Music, his famous deerhound , with 

 him. Between Big West and South Lake is South Moun- 

 tain. Landing at the old "Chi Phi Camp," Benage, in 

 the swale back of camp, started Music on a fresh track. 

 Snow was fresh and some three inches deep. The track 

 swung right up the mountain through the open hard- 

 wood timber, which lay for nearly half a mile like a park, 

 giving full view of the dog, which worked so fast, giving 

 voice every few jumps, that Benage stood in admiration 

 watching him. As he disappeared in a cleft of the 

 mountain Benage started for his boat to await a chance 

 of deer taking a turn to the lake, but stopped at hearing 

 Music change his bay to a howl of pain. Tne day was as 

 8tdi as come fall days we can remember when sounds can 

 be heard miles away. Benage heard snarling and sharp 

 barks, and then saw • old Music with two wolves at his 

 flanks come into vi£w. Benage instantly yelled at the 

 top of his voice and fired his gun, which scared the wolves 

 away. The old dog came reeling down the mountain, 

 dyeing the tmow with his blood every jump. His 

 strength gave out before he reached his master, who was 

 hastening to him. Benage found him bitten through the 

 back of his neok, but the cruel wound that was death to 

 him was just baolr of the fore ehoulder, wh«re a chunk of 



meat as large as one's hand was torn out, laying the lungs 

 bare. He lived but an hour. The party lost three dogs 

 on the trip, and since that hunt no guide about those 

 lakes has any doubt of the cause of the death of Louie's 

 dogs. M. S. Northeup. 



.Johnstown, N. Y. Feb. 8. 



THE WEATHER AND THE GAME. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The winter has been phenomenal for its mildness, and 

 highly favorable to the game. Owing to the very wet 

 summer of '89 grouse were scarce in the fall in this local- 

 ity, but owing to their extreme wildness very few were 

 killed; and at the close of the shooting season the covers 

 contained at least the usual number of birds for that 

 date. Very few of their natural enemies have been 

 about, and there must certainly be a goodly number of 

 nesting birds this spring. I spent two days last Novem- 

 ber shooting in Windom township, Wyoming county, 

 where I found grouse quite plentiful. I visited the lo- 

 cality recently and ascertained that they nearly all pulled 

 through; and if good broods are reared the coming sum- 

 mer there must be grand shooting there another fall. 

 While there, Feb. 13, 1 took from a mill flume four yellow 

 perch, two of them much distended with eggs that were 

 nearly ripe. Feb. 5 a flock of wild geese, about twenty, 

 alighted on the ice near the center of Elk Lake— a beau- 

 tiful little sheet of water three miles north of this place— 

 and commenced dressing their feathers, and seemed con • 

 tentedly awaiting the breaking up of the ice. But "the 

 man with the gun" soon appeared, and they left, taking 

 a northeast course. Bluebirds made their appearance 

 here Feb. 18. Last spring none were seen until March 13. 



Auburn, Pa., Feb. 27. BON AMI. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



What a beautiful day. The air is musical with the 

 songs of the happy warblers?, while on the meadows is 

 heard the curious peep of the baby bullfrog, which we 

 never hear before the middle of April or May. A few 

 English snipe have been bagged and there is a big flight 

 of spring brant. While driving to-day 1 flushed a male 

 woodcock on the road in front of Mr. E. R. Wilbur's 

 place. He was very gentle and strutted around with his 

 tail feathers spread out, very much after the fashion of a 

 peacock. After feasting my eyes on him (as we very 

 seldom see this noble game bird here), I flushed him, but 

 he seemed possessed to stay in the road, where he would 

 ; be sure to meet death at the hand of some pot-hunter — 

 unless he had the protection of a Now York policeman. 

 After turning my horse around and flushing him three 

 times off the road, I finally had the satisfaction of seeing 

 him seek safety in the swamp on the premises of Mr. E. 

 R. Wilbur. Alfred A. Fraser. 



The Cedars, Oakland, L. I., Feb. 26. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The game in this section of Connecticut (southern part) 

 has had apparently the most favorable winter that it has 

 had for years. The ground has been bare all winter with 

 the exception of two light falls of snow, neither enough 

 for tracking rabbits. There was no bird shooting after 

 Jan. 1. Neither partridges nor quail were badly thinned 

 out, as a short trip in the woods about here will show. 

 The last day that I was in the field with setter was Christ- 

 mas, when I bagged four partridges, disabled my gun 

 and reached home at noon. 



I have been out a number of times since with my fox- 

 hound, and have seen birds on every trip. They were 

 mostly partridges, one or two in a place. The quai> do 

 not show in as large numbers as some winters, for it has 

 been so open that they stay in the swamp=, not being 

 driven out by hunger; but they are here in plenty and in 

 large bevies for this time of year. Rabbits are so plenty 

 as hardly to be called game, although hunted some with 

 dogs and ferrets (illegal). 



Pickerel fishing through the ice is excellent about here 

 when we have ice, but we have had none as yet. Our 

 weather has been one cold day, one warm day and a week 

 of rain and mud. C. A. L. 



Winsted, Conn. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



We have had a very open winter here. Lake Ontario 

 has been clear of ice all winter. Big Sandy Bay has not 

 been entirely frozen up as yet, Whistlers and sheldrake 

 have been here all winter. Saw the first appearance of 

 migratory birds last week, one robin and a few black 

 ducks. Shot three of the ducks. Geo. M. Wood. 



VVoodvilt.e, N. Y. Feb. 23. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



My occupations have been so confining the last fall 

 that my personal knowledge of the number of birds is 

 slight. I was able to get into the field but twice, and 

 then, although my dogs were in fine trim, made only 

 moderate bags; but the winter has been so mild and the 

 number of birds bagged so small, that I am sure we will 

 have good sport next fall if the hatching season proves 

 favorable. 



I learn from farmers that many coveys were untouched, 

 and now contain from ten to fifteen birds in fine con- 

 dition. 



More deer are reported in the mountains than have 

 been seen for years, and I trust that when the season 

 opens I may be able to report a pleasant hunt. The same 

 remarks as to the birds (quail) will apply equally to 

 pheasants (ruffed grouse). A few of these were bagged 

 within two miles of this town. T. M. S. 



Lexington, Va.. Feb. 22. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



There was a g od-sized flight of English snipe on our 

 meadows Dec. 26 and 27. There were snipe here Feb. 4 

 and 5, and on Friday, tne 28th, I again put up two while 

 exercising my dogs. An unusually large number of 

 mallards have spent the winter hereabouts. Feb. 15 1 

 found a woodcock, Feb. 17 saw the first bluebirds, and 

 on the 21st saw a bunch of seven robins. Woodcock 

 were reported to me as being here on Feb. 3, but I found 

 none tiil the I5ch. Spring Brook, 



I mowwbxqww, N. J. 



AN INCIDENT OF OLD TIMES. 



IT was before the Union Pacific Railroad was con- 

 sti ucted that a party of about sixty men, including 

 myself, from the States, bound for Montana, camped 

 that our teams might recuperate, they having traveled 

 many a long mile and day on short rations. The immi- 

 gration — pilgrimage, in Western mining vernacular— to 

 Montana that year by the Oregon trail was large. 



A few of us when near Ft. Laramie set about forming 

 a company from the pilgrims who dared venture by a, 

 cut off route west of the Bighorn Mountains by way of 

 an old trail made by bridges. The result of the effort 

 was this party camped on the Rosebud. The Indians 

 were very troublesome. The bones of many a poor pil- 

 grim, who had parted from his home and kindred to seek 

 a fortune, and who had a passion for hunting, were left 

 to bleach in the mountains. 



Bump and myself were the only hunters in the party, 

 or at least who had a passion for hunting strong enough 

 to risk their scalps to try it. We wanted meat, we needed 

 a hunt, and in the morning a party of twelve men well 

 mounted and armed set cut into the foothills in quest of 

 game. 



On a broad open tableland we espied an antelope 

 lying in the grass. Bump or myself would get it. Ten 

 pair of eyes would watch the one who tried his skill. We 

 disputed as to which one of us should make the exhibi- 

 tion. We cast lots. The lot fell to Bump, and he, by a 

 snail like crawling, came within range, and as the ani- 

 mal sprang up, killed it. 



We were not satisfied with the hunt, and against the 

 protestations of the rest of the party went alone further 

 into the foothills and mountains, keeping one eye out for 

 Indians and the other for game. 



We could see by the general lay of the country ahead 

 of us, that just over a sharp ridge there must be good 

 ground for antelope or deer. Picketing our ponies at the 

 foot of the ridge, and festooning our hats with tufts of 

 long grass, we crawled to the top of the ridge, and care- 

 fully peering over, saw a large gang of antelope feeding, 

 out ot rifle range. While studying how we could staik 

 them, we espied an antelope lying just within long range. 

 It was warm sunshine, a day for insects to make the best 

 of their short life. Pushing the muzzle of my gun care- 

 fully over the crest of tne ridge and taking a careful aim, 

 I was in the act of pulling the trigger when a large fly 

 alighted on the barrel of the gun so as to obscure the 

 front sight. I dare not make much demonstration, but 

 gently rolling the gun so as to dislodge the fly, I again 

 took aim, and when just ready to pull trigger the fly re- 

 turned to his old position. This it repeated a half score 

 of times or more. How did you feel? say you. Had the 

 patience of Job, of course? Well, I am not accustomed 

 to use anything but plain, mild language, but I looked 

 around for Indians, and saw Bump just behind me, flat 

 on the ground, shaking like a man with the ague, with 

 one hand over his mouth, to keep from exploding into 

 uproarious laughter. He said I had been muttering bibli- 

 cal names and words, but they were not arranged in 

 orthodox order. I finally obtained a successful shot. 

 We went into camp that evening with two antelope on 

 our saddles, and found a great anxiety on account of our 

 prolonged absence. Some time I may narrate how I 

 killed the second of those two antelope. H. L. 



SUNDAY SHOOTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of Feb. 20, "T. M.," speaking of the Mas- 

 sachusetts law prohibiting Sunday shooting, says: "There 

 are plenty of young men like myself who have to work 

 all the week, and Lord's Day is the only day when we can 

 have a little recreation: we cannot enjoy field sports 

 like our richer brothers if this takes effect. And I think 

 plenty of ruffianism will grow out of it." 



With sincere sympathy, but with considerable diffi- 

 dence, I beg leave to suggest a remedy. First, then, the 

 proposition that dog and gun, costing say $100 (taking 

 out the close season), will only afford thirty-five qr forty 

 days (Sundays), and this, barring sickness, weather, acci- 

 dents, etc., wili hardly be questioned. 



Now instead, an outfit consisting of '"Ridgway's Birds," 

 Miss Merriam's "Birds Through an Opera Glass" and a 

 good field glass, at a total cost of say $'65, and used in the 

 study of birds m their several aspects of home life, migra- 

 tions, economic value, etc., will furnish as great an in- 

 centive to zeal and hard work, both in field and closet, 

 as will dog and gun; and the game secured will be as 

 superior as the intellectual is higher than the material. 



If unobjectionable recreation be the sole object, then 

 this plan has the further advantage of extending the open 

 season so as to embrace the entire year; and while the 

 woods and fields offer the best results, still it is not too 

 much to expect fair returns to reward morning and even- 

 ing observations in the heart of a great city. 



Again, the rich can lease large tracts for hunting and 

 fishing, and thus exclude "T. M." and the rest of us; but 

 under my plan the old pastures, the byways and hedges 

 are our most choice preserves and always alike open to 

 all. 



Lastly, my plan, instead of in any way tending to ruf- 

 fianism, tends directly and unerringly to produce a 

 healthy soul and mind in a healthy body. I might cite 

 Izaak Walton, Rev. Gilbert White, Henry D. Tnoreau, 

 John Burroughs and others in support of these views, but 

 will content myself with quoting a single remark of Sam 

 Lovel to Uncle Lisha: "1 gets lots o' things a-huntin' 't 

 I can't show ye nor tell ye 'baout, an' a feller that don't 

 don't get the best o' huntin' 'cordin' to my idee." 



M. E. H. 



Jefferson, Iowa. 



Ohio.— Dayton, Feb. 27. — Sportsmen here are generally 

 signing an appeal to the Governor and to the new State 

 Board of fish and Game Commissioners for appointment 

 uf Mr. Charles H. Kelso, of Kent, to be Chief Warden. 

 For a number of years the Commission has directed its 

 efforts to stocking tne creeks, rivers and laue with fish, 

 and now the shooters want a show. — Buckeye. 



Florence, Colo., Feb. 27.— Ducks are plenty on the 

 Arkansaw River now. Other game scarce. A few deer 

 and bears have been killed in the mountains near here 

 this winter. The winter has been very mild, but it ia 

 quite cold afc present.— T. R, 



