330 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 15, 1890. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, 111., May 5.— In my letter of last week, and 

 I do not know but in earlier writings, I have spoken 

 of the duck season for Illinois as closing May 1. It 

 formerly did so, two weeks later than Indiana: but under 

 the present law closes April 15, the same date as that of 

 the Ind' ma law. I hardly dare profess being able to 

 keep track of the Illinois game law in all its phosphor- 

 escent gleams of wisdom, and it isn't always easy to de- 

 termine the date of a law by the way it is observed, but 

 April 15 is correct, I am credibly informed, and I see it 

 so printed. Shooters will please put back all the ducks 

 they have killed since then. 



May 9. — The shooting for the season is over, as well as 

 the season for shooting. There are a few scattered snipe 

 lingering in parts of the country, but their numbers do 

 not amount to anything. Henry Kleinman found about 

 a half dozen over on the Little Calumet marsh this week, 

 but they were about the last. I saw two snipe get up on 

 a wet meadow back of Blue Island Junction this morn- 

 ing as the railway train passed by. The snipe are pretty 

 much all mated before this. These birds seem to have 

 been scattered all over the State of Iowa this spring, and 

 were killed within the village limits in a number of the 

 smaller towns. Weather has lately been much drier in 

 that State, and it is probable the year will be an average 

 good one for prairie chickens. Iowa has had four years 

 of dry weather. It may be that this fact and the sup- 

 posed extinction of the prairie chicken in many sections 

 have had something to do witb the slight increase of the 

 bird in many localities where it has not been hunted or 

 seen for a long time. For instance, there are a few 

 coveys of chickens almost certain for this year on some 

 farms in Jasper county, near the center' of the State, 

 where no one has thought of going hunting for them for 

 eight or ten years at least. This was once a grand 

 chicken country, but the market shooters cleaned it out. 

 It is remarkable how a few birds will hang about the old 

 haunts, and how these, if left undisturbed, will multiply 

 into fail- numbers in a few years. 



The parts of Iowa that had the greatest overflow this 

 year had very good shooting, but the streams in the cen- 

 tral part of the State have for the most part not yet been 

 out of their banks. The ducks will breed on the Kanka- 

 kee and Little Calumet, in Indiana and Illinois, in un- 

 usualty large numbers. Henry Kleinman says that on 

 his snipe hunt he found the Little Calumet marsh fairly 

 full of ducks. Many of these will stay and not go further 

 north at all. The feed has been remarkably good. 



Grand Calumet Heights Club has raised $600 to invest 

 in duck feed, and quantities of feed, mostly corn, have 

 already been put in on the big river. It is said by a mem- 

 ber of that club that wild buckwheat would make a good 

 feed and would do well in that country. The members 

 of this club wished to procure some dozens of quail for 

 the purpose of stocking these grounds, which lie among 

 the sandhills on the lake shore near the foot of the lake. 

 It is very much a question whether the birds would re- 

 main there, but it would do no hurt to try. The small 

 yacht which was wrecked and came ashore on Grand 

 Calumet beach some weeks ago, will be purchased by the 

 club and rescued from the sand that is rapidly covering 

 her. She belonged to Chicago partieB. 



Mr. John Grey, of the Cumberland Club, is reviling his 

 bad luck at not finding any snipe on Cumberland Marsh 

 this spring. On his last hunt he only got three jacksuipe. 

 He says he left the marsh full of ducks, however. 



The uses of a good sporting journal are manifold. For 

 instance, soon after the appearance of the number hav- 

 ing the account of the little snipe hunt near Shelby, I 

 find at my desk a gentleman who wishes full instructions 

 on that country as a new shooting ground for himself. 

 As a result of these he has his boats, etc., sent down to 

 that neighborhood, and will henceforward shoot in that 

 neighborhood whenever he shoots at all. Results, the 

 purchase of a good many railway tickets, the payment of 

 boird at the hotel, the hiring of pushers, etc., for all of 

 which the newspapers ought to have, but perhaps never 

 will have, full credit. 



It is pleasing to give the further information that John 

 G illespie still continues to improve slowly in health, and 

 the boys hope to see him out all right for the State tour- 

 nament. _____ E. Hough. 



The New Yoke Association.— The last meeting of 

 the New York Association for the Protection of Game, 

 for this season, was held last Monday evening at Pinard's 

 in this city. A very important letter from Chief Game 

 Warden Drew was read announcing the fact that the net 

 fishermen who were defeated in the highest court of the 

 State, were about to take the case to the Supreme Court 

 of the United States. He stated that in order to meet this 

 unusual expense to fight this matter, he would be obliged 

 to ask the assistance of the various clubs and anglers gen- 

 erally. The Society for the Protection of Game voted $250 

 for this purpose and passed a resolution urging every 

 club in the State to help Mr. Drew in this matter. Mr. 

 Thos. N. Cuthbert, the "treasurer of the association, will 

 be glad to receive subscriptions. If the illegal netters 

 win this suit it will put an end to all endeavors to stop 

 unlawful netting. Messrs. E. S. Auchiucloss and Dean 

 Sage were elected members of the association. The Hon. 

 Robt. B. Roosevelt, president of the club, was elected to 

 act as one of the commission to codify the game laws 

 under the authority of the new law recently approved 

 by the Governor. 



The Nebraska Flight.— Edgar, Neb. , May 9.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream: Our hunters have been having plenty 

 of good shooting for some time. First came ducks and 

 geese in large numbers, and then about three weeks ago 

 the annual flight of the Eskimo curlew (Nnrnenius bore- 

 alis) commenced. The birds have been in great abund- 

 ance this season. At first they were poor, but later were 

 very fat and fine; they are leaving now. Edgar appears 

 to be m the center of a small piece of country in which 

 they light, and they do not appear to visit other parts of 

 the State. Snipe shooting has also been good.— H. 



New York Game Seasons.— Of the new laws enacted 

 Chap. 91 makes Sept. 1 to Jan. 1 the open season for 

 ruffed grouse and woodcock, and forbids shipping these 

 birds from the Forest Preserve, save when accompanied 

 by the owner. Chap. 54 relates to Cortland county and 

 makes stringent provision against killing game birds for 

 market. The open season for ruffed grouse and wood- 

 cock is made Sept. 1 to Jan. 1. 



An American in Africa.— London, April 29.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream: Our Mr. Rowland Ward thought you 

 woidd like to know that Mr. Aston Chanter, of New York, 

 has recently returned from a shooting expedition in East 

 Africa, including Mount Kilimnjaro and Masailand, 

 where he met with some excellent sport. All the trophies 

 are now in the hands of Mr. Rowland Ward, of Piccadilly, 

 London, for the purpose of mounting, and when finished 

 will be sent to New York. Mr, Chanler went right round 

 Mount Kilimnjaro. There have been large bags of game 

 had lately in these parts. — Rowland Ward & Co. 



W. R. Schaefer & SONS. — A reorganization of this 

 well-known and old-established gun house has just oc- 

 curred, caused by the withdrawal of Richard F. Schaefer. 

 The business will be continued as heretofore at the same 

 address, 61 Elm street, Boston, by W. R. Sehaefer and 

 J. F. R. Schaefer, under the old firm name of W. R. 

 Schaefer & So ns. 



NEW YORK GAME LEGISLATION. 



THE final adjournment of the New York Legislature took place 

 at noon on Friday, May 9. The bills relating to forestry and 

 game introduced during the session were disposed of as follows at 

 the hour of adjournment: 



NOT PASSED. 



Senator Sloan— To authorize the Forestry Commission to rent 

 to parties who wish to he iu the woods, five-acre lots for a period 

 not to exceed five years. This was to form a good police force for 

 the woods. 



Assemhlyman Husted— To establish a commission of the Adi- 

 rondack Park, consisting of five members, residents of the State, 

 to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. 

 The term of office is five years. This bill was not passed because 

 Senator Sloan wished the Forest Commission to undertake the 

 work instead of a new commission. 



Assemblyman Nixon— To appoint a commission to examine the 

 Adirondack forests for the purpose of designating what lands, if 

 any, shall be taken for a State park, and making an appropria- 

 tion for the expenses of the same; to decide what is for the best 

 interests of the Slate; to locate the park and to serve without 

 pay. All State, county and town officials are to furnish whatever 

 information is wished. $26,000 appropriated for expeuses. 



IN THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS. 



Senator Sloan— To amend the act in relation to the collection of 

 taxes on the lands of non-residents so that within two years of 

 the sale the occupant must give notice to the Comptroller that he 

 is an occupant in order to hold his claim. t 



SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. 



Chapter 11. Senatoi Sloan— To amend the law of 1885 establish- 

 ing a Forestry Commission so as to secure payment of SI a day to 

 those who help extinguish forest tiros, and also to make the law 

 more explicit. 



Chapter 37. Senator Sloan— To authorize- the purchase of lands 

 located within such counties as include the forest preserve. The 

 Forest Commission may buy lands at not to exceed 81.80 per acre. 

 Lands may be appraised by not to exceed three appraisers, who 

 shall be paid not more than §5 a day each. 829,000 appropriated. 



Chapter 179. Senator Sloan— To amend Section 983 of the code 

 of civil procpdure, so as to provide that in an action where the 

 people of the State are a party to recover a penalty for trespass 

 upon the lands of the forest preserve the action mav be tried in a 

 county adjoining the county where the cause of action arose, or 

 in the county where the principal office of the State officer, State 

 Commission or Commissioner interested in the determination of 

 the action or in whose behalf the. ac tion was instituted is located. 



Chapter 8. Assemblyman Curtis— Amending the Forestry Com- 

 mission act so as to except the towns of Altona and Dannemora 

 in Clinton county from its provisions. 



A joint resolution was passed, iu line with Gov. Hill's message 

 on the Adirondack Park and the passage of Chapter 37, noted 

 above, in order to prepare the way for such a park. 



GAME LAWS, — NOT PASSED. 



Senator Coggeshall— To shorten the time of hounding to thirty 

 days. 



Senator Coggeshall— The general bird bill of last year relating 

 to woodcock and other game. 



Senator McCarren— To make the close season for email or part- 

 ridges from Jan. 15 to Nov. 16; and lor hare or rabbit from Jan. 15 

 to Nov. 15. 



Senator McCarren— To make the close season for quail, part- 

 ridge, hare or rabbit in Queens and Suffolk counties from. Jan. 15 

 to Nov. 15. 



Senator Sloan— Amending the Cayuga county Lake Ontario 

 fishing act of 1889 so that it will not be lawful to kill or catch any 



hullheadfi and pickerel taken contrary to the act. 



Senator Chase-To make the close season for woodcock Jan. 1 to 

 Sept. 1. 



Senator Emerson— To allow fishing for suckers, bullheads and 

 pickerel with nets and fykes and shooting and spearing the same 

 through Ihe ice and catching the same in any of the streams in 

 Warren count}', except Lakes George, Schroon and Long Pond. 



Senator Linson— To provide that no person, resident or non- 



wooocock, quail, nare or raDDit, squirrel, rutted grouse, com- 

 monly called partridge, snipe, plover, rail or wild duck, trout, 

 black bass, Oswego bass or German carp, for the purpose of sell- 

 ing or marketing the same, or for any fee, hire or reward, or for 

 the promise ot either of such, from another, for the catching, tak- 

 ing or killing any of Baid birds, fish or game, nor shall any per- 

 son, firm, company or corporation market, sell or have in posses- 

 sion for sale, or offer to sell or dispose of, in any manner directly 

 or indirectly, either in or out of caid counties, anv of the said 

 birds, hsh or game, caught, taken or killed with in the limits of 

 either of said counties. 



Senator Fassett— To prohibit the killing in Chemung county of 

 any wild duck, quail, woodcock, snipe or partridge for markot or 

 sale. 



Senator Hawkins— To change from the first ten to the first five 

 days of October the time of hounding in the counties of Queens 

 and Suffolk. 



Assemblyman Hitt— To amend the laws relating to fish in the 

 tot. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario adjacent to Jefferson 

 county, so as to forbid all nets. 



Assemblyman Peck-To prohibit the hounding of deer in all 

 parts ot the State. 



Assemblyman Stevens— To prohibit the possession of speckled 

 trout, etc., taken by nets; the possession of nets is evidence of 

 guilt, v etoed by the Governor. 



Assemblyman Lane— A compromise hill hetween the fishermen 

 and the anglers ot Jefferson county bordering on Lake Ontario. 



Assemblyman Page— To forbid the taking of fish in the Hudson 

 River m any other way than by angling. 



Assemblyman Dempsey— To shorten the time of hounding deer 

 to 30 days, all. the month of September: to forbid hounding female 

 deer, and to forbid hounding without a permit. 



Assemhlyman Johnson— To provide thai nothing in the laws for 

 the prevention of cruelty to animals shall prohibit the coursing 

 of hares with greyhounds by sportsmen's clubs. 



Assemblyman Pierson— To cede the interest of the State in 

 lands under water to Smithtown, Suffolk county, but not to inter- 

 fere with the rights of owners of oyster beds. 



Assemblyman O'Connor— To constitute a commission to codify 

 the game laws, to consist of five members; the first is the chief 

 fish and game protector, the second a deputy attorney-general 

 selected by the attorney-general, the third a meinbi e of the Com- 

 missioners of Fisheries selected by Themselves, the fourth a mem- 

 ber of the New York State Association for the Protection of Fish 

 and Game, selected by themselves, and the fifth a member of the 

 New York City Association, selected in the same way 



Assemblyman Orawford-To allow deer to he hunted during 

 August, September and October, and with dogs between Sent 10 

 and Oct. 10. 



Assemblyman Treadway (from the Fish Commission)— To pro- 

 hibit the taking of shad in the Hudson River by net between sun- 

 set of Saturday to sunrise on Monday from March 15 to June 15. 



Assemblyman Tread way (from the Fish Commission)— To pro- 

 hibit the catching of salmon except from March 1 to Aug 15- and 

 even then none of less than 31bs. shall be caught. 



Assemblyman Treadway (from tue Fish Commission)— To pro- 

 tect shad and game fish in the Delaware River; to prohibit ; the 

 use of nets. 



Assemhlyman Bridges— To strike out from Section 8 of Ohapte* 

 534 of the Laws of 1879 the prohibition against the killing of hares 

 and rabbits. 



Assemblyman Lane— To exempt Bonaparte Lake, Lewis county, 

 from the general law forbidding fishing with nets for bullheads, 

 suckers and eels, in the months of November and December. 



Assemblyman Stevens— To provide that sign-boards to protect 

 private parks or waters must be placed not more than one-fourth 

 mile apart and at least two shall be r.laced on the boundaries of 

 any land or water used as a private park; and such property shall 

 he inclosed by an effective fence. 



Assemblyman Rose— To permit the hunting of deer in Sullivan 

 county with dogs during October and November, and at no other 

 time. 



Assemblyman Barton— To allow the catching of bass in Brant 

 Lake July 1 instead of Aug. 1, so as to make this lake uniform 

 with other lakes in that vicinity; vetoed by the Governor. 



Assemblyman Johnson— To provide that any person seizing any 

 pound, fyke or other nets, may deliver the same to the most con- 

 venient town clerk, who shall destroy the same and make affida- 

 vit of such destruction to the person making such delivery; the 

 latter shall then make a sworn statement as to the time and* place 

 of the seizure; and for his work he shall be entitled to a bounty 

 of $10. a 



Assemblyman Stevens— To amend the law of 1889 so as to allow 

 fishing for bullheads with nets in the outlet of Cayuga Lake he- 

 tween July 1 and May 15. 



Assemblyman Cornell— To amend the law of 1888 regarding the 

 appointment of fish and game protectors so that the chief game 

 protector shall have his headquarters in the office of the Commis- 

 sioner of Fisheries in the city of New York. 



Assemblyman Nolan— To amend the general game act of 1879 so 

 as to add Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia and Green counties to 

 Oneida and Delaware counties, wherein woodcock cannot be 

 killed, sold, exposed for sale or had in possession between Jan. 1 

 and Sept. 1. 



Assemblyman DePeyster— To protect partridge, meadow lark, 

 snipe, plover, woodcock, quail, hare or rabbit, squirrel, rail or 

 wild duck, so that no person shall kill these birds or sell them 

 within the limits of Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Green, Columbia or 

 Delaware counties. 



Assemhlyman Rice— To provide that uo person or persons, either 

 resident or non-resident, of the counties of Dutchess, Orange, 

 Ulster, Greene, Oplumhia, Delaware, Sullivan, Schoharie or either 

 of them, shall take or kill in any manner, within the. limits of said 

 counties, or either of them, any woodcock, quail, hare or squirrel, 

 ruffed grouse (commonly called partridge), meadow lark, snipe, 

 plover, rail or wild duck, for the purpose of selling or marketing 

 the same, or for any fee, hire, or reward from another for the 

 taking or killing any of said birds or game for such other person; 

 nor shall any person, persons, company or corporation, market, 

 sell, or have in possession for sale, or offer to sell or dispose in any 

 manner, directly or indirectly, except than by absolute gift, either 

 in or out of said counties, any of the said mentioned birds or 

 game, taken or killed within the limits of said counties. 



Assemblyman Gardinier (similar to Senator Linson's abovf)— 

 Relating to the protection of game in certain counties. 



Assemhlyman Currier— To allow the supervisors of Erie county 

 to protect duck and fish in all the waters of the county except 

 that part of Niagara River controlled by the State. Vetoed by 

 the Governor. 



Assemblyme,n Pierson— To protect shell fisheries in the waters 

 ot the South Bay, in the county of Suffolk, and to repeal chapter 

 234 of the laws of 1870. 



Assemblyman Nolan— To make the close season for squirrels 

 from Feb. 1 to Sept. 1. 



Assemblyman Kurth— For the better protection of shellfish 

 upon their natural beds and the planting of oysters upon lands 

 under water within the jurisdiction of Kings county, and among 

 other provisions prohibits the gathering of oysters with dredges, 

 drag or rake by other than band power. 



Assemhlyman Guybord— To forbid the taking of lake shad by- 

 net from Lake Champlain north of Chimney Point. Essex county, 

 between March IS and June 15; each offense to be fined 850. 



Assemhlyman Johnson— To allow the catching of wall-eyed 

 pike in Oneida Lake at any season of the year. 



Assemblyman Crawford— To exempt from the anti-net fishing 

 laws a tract in Oswego county lying between the southerly part 

 of Little Sandy Or North Pond and its outlet in the town of Sandy 

 Creek. 



Assemhlyman Lane— To amend the Jefferson county act of 188t> 

 so as to prevent any kind of fishing except by book and line (not 

 including minnows for bait to sell and not to use) from Henderson 

 Bay or from the St. Lawrence River between Tibbitt's Point and 

 the St. Lawrence county line or from any inland waters of Jeffer- 

 son county. 



Assemblyman Gardinier— To strike Columbia county from the 

 prohibition relative to catching hlack bass between Jau. 1 and 

 July 1. 



Assemhlyman Johnson— To amend the fish and game protector 

 laws, so that the Court may, iu its discretion, change the place of 

 trial. 



Assemblyman Pierson— To make the open season lor deer from 

 Aug. 15 to Nov. 1, and to permit hounding from Sept. 1 to Oct. 10. 



The great mortality among game bills was owing to the vetoes 

 by the Governor, in one of which he stated that the Commission 

 created by the new law of this year is compelled to make its re- 

 port in January next, until which time such legislation as was 

 proposed by the several vetoed h'lls could easily be deferred. 



IN THE GOVERNOR'S HAND8. 



Senator Cantor— To protect fish in the waters of Jamaica Bay, 

 iu Kings and Queens counties, by prohibiting the use of any seine, 

 purse net, drift net, fyke net or pound, or net or nets of any other 

 description; use of any other appliance for the catching of men- 

 haden or any other fish, except rod, hook and line. 



Assemblyman Townsend— To allow any five parties to incorpor- 

 ate as an ichthyological society. This bill reached the Governor 

 last year, but was not signed bvhim. 



Assemblyman Townsend.— To protect fish in the waters of 

 Jamaica Bay, Queens county, by providing that it shall not he 

 la wful by day or night to put, place, draw or in any manner use 

 any purse net, pound, weir or other device (except hook and line) 

 for the capture of menhaden or other fish. 



SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. 



Chapter 54. Assemblyman Peck— To protect the game in Cort- 

 land county, so as to prevent the killing of partridges and quail 

 lor sale in market; but these birds may be killed for the hunter's 

 own use. This is the only bill that became a law for any particu- 

 lar county in the State. 



Chaptei 90. Assemblyman Stevens— To prohibit the killing or 

 shipment of partridge, prairie chickens and woodcock, between 

 Jan. 1 and Sept. 1. 



Chapter 99. Senator Coggeshall and Assemblyman Gardinier— 

 To provide for a Commission to revise and codify the laws of this* 

 State for the protection and preservation of fish and shellfish,! 

 and of birds and quadrupeds, as follows: The Attorney-General 

 shall select from among his Deputy Attorney-Generals one mem 

 ber; the Commissioners of Fisheries shall select from among 

 their number . one; and the New York Society for the Protectio 

 of Game, shall select from their membership one; and the thre 

 persons so elected shall constitute the said commission. Eac 

 member of the Commission shall have $3 for each day's actual 

 and necessary expenses, 85,000 is appropriated. Under this law, 

 Richard U. Sherman has been appointed by the Commissioners op 

 Fisheries, E. G. Whi taker by ihe Attorney-General and R. Bj 

 Roosevelt by the Game Society. It is said that Assemblyman, 

 Stevens, of Frauklin county, will probably be clerk of the Com- 

 mission. 



Chapter 203. Assemblyman Lane— To amend the laws relating, 

 to dogs so that if a dog attacks a domestic nnirnal, peacefully' 

 traveling on any highway in charge of any person, notice may be 

 Bervednpon the owner to kill him. 



Chapter 245. Assemblyman Peck— To repeal the Mase dog law 

 of 1889, which increased the tax on dogs. 



Chapter 308. Senator Hawkins— To forbid the taking of oysters 

 in the night or between June 1 and Sept. 1, and also the use ol 

 dredges in South Ray, Suffolk county. 



A resolution, offered by Assemblyman Crawford, passed the; 

 Assembly, requesling the Attorney-General to furnish the As-; 

 senibly with his opinion on what constitutes the "waters of thig( 

 State," as mentioned in the various laws for protecting game and* 

 fish, as distinguished from waters belonging to individual associ- 

 ations, and especially as to the status of waters covering land 

 npon which taxes are paid, and «uether water can be taken for 

 public use without compensation to the owners. 



Antelope and Deer of America. By J. D. Caton. 

 Price $2.50. Wing and Glass Ball Shooting with the. 

 Rifle. By W. C. Bliss. Price 50 cents. Rifle, Rod ana 

 Chin in California. By T. S. Van Bylce. Price $l.5o: 

 Shore Birds. Price 15 cents. Woodcraft. By "iVess- 1 

 ■muk." Price $1. Trajectories of Hunting Rifles. Price 

 50 cents. Wild Fowl Shooting; see advertisement. 



