4 76 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[July 2, 1891. 



THE BEAVER AND HIS SUNKEN WOOD. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Id a part of a series of articles on "Practical Trapping," 

 published in the Forust and Stream, April 2, Mr. R. V. 

 Griffin mentioned the fact that such of the beaver as in- 

 habit houses with sub-aqueoiis entrances, have a way of 

 laying in their winter supply of food- wood by first float- 

 ing it to, then sinking it in caches near and convenient 

 to their winter quarters; but he stated tht t no hint had 

 ever come to him as to how this was done. In your issue 

 of April 16 the writer ventured to say, upon the word 

 and observation of an old trapper popularly known as 

 Andy Reefer, that this is no mystery, at any rate to the 

 beaver, as they suck the air from the cells of the wood, 

 which then, tilling with water and giving the denser 

 material preponderance, will sink it. It will be observed 

 I was careful not to claim credit for original discovery of 

 any kind, for as much as I have been in the woods I have 

 never had the good fortune to observe this interesting 

 animal alive; but inasmuch as the matter has been 

 "scouted," 1 do claim now the credit of grasping the 

 probable and practical way of doing it — and this is not 

 much of a claim either, for it seems to me a matter that 

 ought to be sufficiently obvious to any one versed even a 

 '•little bit" in natural philosophy. 



But now comes one "Arefar" (in Forest and Stream, 

 June 11) mider the caption "How Was it Done?" and 

 treats the matter in such a flippant way that it would 

 not be worth noticing were it not admitted into the pages 

 of the sportsman's journal, that — with all its faults— I 

 love the best. If this gentleman, then, will follow these 

 instructions he will find how it is done: 



Cut a clean twig of some living growth of about the 

 same density as the wood required for beaver food — i-in. 

 in diameter and 3 or 4in. long will do for the experiment 

 — and having filled a basin, or better, a stone crock, with 

 water, submerge one end of the stick and suck with your 

 breath at the other until the air is drawn out; then before 

 letting it go put your mouth also under water so as to 

 submerge the whole of the stick, making it impossible 

 for the air you have drawn out to enter again. If the 

 wood you have experimented upon be of the same 

 general density as that the beaver uses for food wood 

 (for some woods will sink quite readily and others even 

 the beaver would hardly be able to '"down" in his way), 

 and if your power of suction has been sufficient it will 

 sink and stay sunk until you want to raise it again . 



Berlin, 



BOB WHITE IN SPRING. 



IN the early twilight the heavens show no evidence of 

 the late shower, but on earth the effects are seen in 

 a myriad of sparkles on leaf and blade; the sun has dis- 

 ax3peared from view some time before, but a crimson 

 reflection still shows on the distant clouds, promising us 

 fair weather on the morrow. 



Sitting on the vine-hidden porch of the old stone home- 

 stead house, we drink in the cool, purified air, and with 

 our eyes feast on the scene of refreshed nature as it lie> 

 before us in the verdant stretches of highland and 

 meadow, which reaches far away to the river and moun- 

 tain, the latter terminating the view. 



Presently, during a lull in the conversation, we are 

 pleasantly startled by the old familiar and well-rounded 

 whistle, hoh hob white, hob bob- white, and we think what 

 to us is or can be sweeter than this charming note. What 

 renewed interest the landscape before us at once takes on, 

 and what visions of a cozy, well-filled nest or a proud 

 quail-mother flit through om' brain ! 



To the sportsman, or even to the nature-lover, could 

 anything so fully complete the outdoor picture, as the 

 knowledge that the author of the clear, sweet call, pi'oof 

 positive of quail life, was included in the scene? 



The next thought comes with some anxiety as to 

 whether or not the birds are permanently located, 

 attached by family ties, and if so, where? W'^hether in 

 meadow, grain or grass field. We hope that by good 

 luck they have chosen either of the former, and that if 

 by an nnlucky chance they have nested in the grass, 

 trust that they and their numerous family may pass out 

 therefrom ere the keen knives and grinding hoofs ap 

 proach. 



And so may they be spared till the golden fall comes 

 round, when with wings outspread in a brave flight, ful- 

 filling their end in the regular way, they finally enter 

 the paradise of quail. Onyjutta. 



The Buffalo in Nebraska.— Chicago, June 15 — In 

 the dispatches I notice the following: "The people in 

 the vicinity of Blanche enjoyed a genuine buffalo hunt 

 last Monday, says the Imperial Republican. A buffalo 

 supposed to have escaped from Buffalo Bill's ranch at 

 North Platte strayed into that neighborhood and an ex- 

 citing chase began. After running a number of horses 

 down the animal was captured and held for a rewaid. 

 Buffalo Jones's herd of eighty bison is now grazing on 

 land about two miles from McCook, and is attracting 

 hundreds of sightseers." Mr. Jones is engaged in some 

 irrigating ditch work in Nebraska, but it had not trans- 

 pired earlier that he had moved his herd up from Kansas. 

 E. Hough. 



FtTLTOUS Tree Duck in Missouri.— Under date of 

 June 20 Mr. Sparks wrote us that the true locality of the 

 fulvous tree duck referred to in our issue of June 18 was 

 New Madrid and not New Albany, as he informed us in 

 a previous letter. Mr. Sparks furnishes the following 

 additional information about the specimen: "This bird 

 was one of three that passed over a small overflow pond 

 a few miles south of the town of New Madrid, Mo., 

 where I was shooting. The other birds 'using' on the 

 pond at the time were mallards principally, with a 

 few pintails and bluewing teal. The most notable 

 feature about this bird when flying was its great length 

 of neck and unusual spread of wings." 



COLORS OF SCREECH OWLS. 



Editor Forefft and Stream: 



I am busily engaged in a study of the color phases of our screech 

 owls, and to reach anything like satislactory results will need a large 

 amount of material or notes from ornithologists in every section of 

 the country, and invite their hearty co-operation in assisting me with 

 The ■work in hand. No information is too meagre to be useless, and 

 all will be thankfully received and acknowledged. I append a set of 

 questions, the answers to which, together with any additional infor- 

 mation, may be addressed to me at the Smithsonian Institute. 



1. Give State, county and town where observations were mode. 



a. state numher of screech owls that have come under your notice. 

 4. Give number of specimens in the gray, red and iutermediate 

 phase. 



4. Give number of males and females represented in each phase. 



5. From your observations which phase is most common in your 

 section of the couniy. 



6. Have you made' any notes regarding breeding birds and young, 

 as to the character of the young when fostered by a gray female and 

 a red male; by a red female and gray male; by both parents either 

 red or gray; or by imion of intermediates inter se. or with either red 

 or gray phase? If so, please give fnU account. E. M. Hasbrotjck. ' 



Smithsonian Institute. VVashmgion, D. C. 



'^me l§Hg md 



The full texts of the game laws of all the States, Terri- 

 tories and British Provinces are given in the Boolt of the 

 Game Laws. 



THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION. 



IT may be said that every good citizen of the State of 

 New York has more or less of interest in the preserva- 

 tion of its fish, game and forest from ruthless destruction. 

 And it must be just as freely admitted that with no 

 power to stay the hands of ravagers, certain destruction 

 must result from their acts. Is it not, then, the duty of 

 good citizens to interfere, to adopt and put in operation 

 such means as shall preserve to the people that which 

 rightfully belongs not to the few but to the many? 



For many years the "New York State Association for 

 the Protection of Fish and Game" breasted much opposi- 

 tion in its efforts to carry out the purposes for which it 

 was organized, and succeeded in accomplishing work that 

 was excellent and lasting; but when it had in considerable 

 degree triumphed over prejudice which was mere vapor, 

 it seemed to tire of the work it had undertaken and 

 gradually deteriorated into an association for trap-shoot- 

 ing, so that of late years its influence for the main pur- 

 poses for which it was organized have not been much 

 felt in the Legislature or elsewhere. This fact is deeply 

 regretted everywhere, and the feeling is quite universal 

 that something should be done in the way of effecting 

 a State organization of influence and power, one which 

 will command the confidence of the public and be felt in 

 the Legislature. 



It is one thing to recognize the importance of such an 

 organization, another thing to perfect it. It needs to be 

 upon a br6ad basis and should include strong men among 

 its large membership. Not only must fish and game be 

 cared for, but our forests require protection from the in- 

 roads of speculators and pelt-seekers. Other and hardly 

 less important subjects need careful attention, and the 

 best thoughts of the best minds should be secured for the 

 consideration of all of the many questions which would 

 naturally come before them for dt termination. 



If it be generally admitted, as it must be, that a State 

 organization is essential to the welfare of the State, then 

 the question arises, How can it best be madt? Shall an 

 attempt be made to infuse new life into the old associa- 

 tion, or shall the Fur, Fin, Feather and Forest Associa- 

 tion of New York, or the New York Brt)therhood for 

 Natural Protection take its place? How can the most 

 effective elements be brought into cooperation in the 

 most effective manner? 



The association should have a large and well scattered 

 membership, so that interest in it might be felt in all 

 parts of the State. It should be made attractive to 

 prominent men who are deeply interested in the subject, 

 so that its meetings and acis might attract pubUc atten- 

 tion and approval. Perhaps 1 can but express the out- 

 line of such an association as I have in mind, by placing 

 the suggeptions which I have to make under a series of 

 headings, as follows: • 



1. Let its active membership consist of the Forest Com- 

 missioners, the Game and Fish Commissioners, the Senate 

 and Assembly committees on game laws, its various 

 standing committees and delegates from all of the clubs 

 and associations in the State organized for the protection 

 of fish and game. There are other people who are so 

 much in sympathy with such work that they would 

 naturally be added to such membership. 



2. Conspicuous in its councils should be an advisory 

 committee to be appointed by the president each year, 

 whose position should be honorary. It should consist of 

 such number of men as the president might choose to 

 select, his choice, in the first instance, to be made from 

 among those whose days for pleasure on field and brook 

 have passed, but whose enthusiasm remains unabated, 

 and in the second instance, from men of mental worth, in 

 full sympathy w^ith the objects of the organization, and 

 whose attendance would not be likely to be otherwise - 

 secured. These should be selected in such number as the 

 president might desire. 



;3. The State officers and members of the Legislature 

 shouhJ be members of the association ex officio. They 

 might; not all attend the annual meetings, but such as 

 desired to do so should meet with a cordial welcome. 



4. There should be several standing committees — on 

 finance, legislation, care of the forests, game and fish 

 protection, business to come before the association, gen- 

 eral welfare, adjudication, and others which would sug- 

 gest themselves in the natural order of procedure. These 

 committees should hold semi-annual meetings, and be 

 active, as occasion might require, during the entire year. 



5. The committee on general welfare might properly be 

 composed of the Forest and Game Commissioners. They 

 occupy important positions before the public, and in the 

 discharge of then- respective duties they would feel the 

 support of an efficient association and would naturally 

 desire its prosperity. Their activity as members wouli 

 be demanded. 



6. Some plan would be perfected by which those whose 

 interests are in the preservation of the Adirondacka could 

 be brought into active cooperation, A "hotel associa- 

 tion" and a "guides' association" could be made to repre- 

 sent the Adirondack sentiment. 



7. A somewhat "vexed question" in the minds of some 

 would, no doubt, be as to when annual meetings should 

 be held and und^r what conditions. There are many 

 who would prefer them in June, with field exhibitions to 

 follow. There are others who would be glad to have 

 them held in Albany some time early in the session of 

 the Legislature, so that their power might be directly 

 felt by that body. 



8. But if it should be thought that as there could be no 

 field sports in January, attendance upon meetings would 

 be greatly leesenedj then it would he the duty of euok 



advisers to devise some plan under which the associa- 

 tion could meet and transact its business with delibera- 

 tion before the opening of the field sports. The business 

 of the association must be paramount to its pleasures if 

 it would not repeat the history of the present State Asso- 

 ciation. 



9. Full reports of every meeting should be printed in 

 pamphlet form for the use of members. If field sports 

 should be connected with tlie meetings, then a full record 

 of them should be kept, and a plan devised'for recording 

 the names of those attaining certain grades of excellence, 

 and the giving to all such a token of the association'^ 

 approval for their proficiency. 



10. Provision should be made for exhibitors of sports- 

 men's goods at the annual meetings. It would be pos- 

 sible to make some exhibitions attractive, useful and pop- 

 ular, 



IL The location of the president should not be re- 

 stricted to the place of meeting. The association should 

 be free to choose the best man for the place from any part 

 of the State and continue him in office at its pleasure. 

 The vice-president might properly be chosen from the 

 locality and act in the place of the president in making 

 local preparations for a convention. 



Now, while 1 have not wholly divorced a business 

 meeting of men intent upon doing good work for the 

 people from trap-shooting and fly-casting, I am in duty 

 bound to say that in my opinion there should be an asso- 

 ciation which will give proper support to game and forest 

 protection, even though, it must neglect field sports to do 

 so. 



Field sports must be made secondary if the good work 

 for humanity is to be done by one and the same organiza- 

 tion. Om- game protectors need moral as well as legal 

 support; our grand ; Adirondack region is going to swift 

 destruction because pubUc sentiment does not crystallize 

 itself and stop it. The Legislature is more or less indit- 

 ferent be cause there is little of political power exerted to 

 force it to action. Inaeed, politicians who care for naught 

 but politics play with the very interests which lovers of 

 nature should protect. If those in this State who love 

 nature, the field and the brook, will come together re- 

 solved upon combining their influence and determined to 

 have tlio rights of the people protected, they can com- 

 mand the action of Legislature, and f^ffect results which 

 all the people will applaud. We must have more and 

 better legislation or soon we shall have omselves to blame 

 for the loss of nature's gifts in mountain, stream and 

 field, aU gone to the till of avaricious speculators!, or to 

 the lieeping of men whose wealth gives them advantages 

 over the poor, which makes nature herself weep. 



I hope the readers of Forest and Stream will inter- 

 est themselves in this subject, and if th^■y find my outline 

 of a plan for relief from evils complainpd of either crude 

 or impracticable, that they will point out the faults and 

 suggest improvements. I am sure that no gentleman 

 better understands existing needs than the new president 

 of the present association, Mr, Horace White. It may be 

 that in accepting the presidency he did so with the ex- 

 pectation of restoring it to old-time usefulness. He ia 

 young, vigorous, capable and practical minded, and 

 withal full of determination, bo that if he should under- 

 take to bring the dead to life it is quite certain that a 

 miracle would be performed. Doubtless every one of the 

 readers of Forest and Steeam would read with rare 

 interest anything on this subject which he might contri- 

 bute. D. H. Bruce. 

 Syracuse, Ju ne 27. 



NEWS FROM THE YELLOWSTONE PARK. 



YELLOWSTONE NATJONAL PARK, June 23.- 

 Editor Forest and Stream: About six weeks ago 

 the Government scout and soldiers stationed at Suda 

 Butte arrested T. S. Vandyke, a hunter and trapper who 

 for years has been f urnit^hing Cooke City with game, he 

 was found asleep in his camp on Laman River — east fork 

 of the Yellowstone. In his camp was found two beaver 

 traps and other outfit. The party making the arrest re- 

 moved his arms, field glass and Kodak, With the 

 camera they took several shots at him while yet 

 asleep. He was taken into Ft. Yellowstone, where he 

 was held for 34 days and his property confiscated. He 

 says he is loser about $350 — for that is the sum at which 

 he values his horses and outfit. 



Captain Anderson, acting superintendent, will leave 

 nothing undone to prevent depredations in the Park, 

 In addition to his own troops, Captain Anderson has the 

 assistance of Captain Frank A. Edwards and his troop of 

 FirBtU S. Cavalry, who are stationed at the Lower Geyser 

 Basin for the summer. The roads and trails are cai efully 

 guarded and patroled by the scouts and soldiers; a sharp 

 watch for fires is maintained, although there has been 

 but little danger from this source since there has been so 

 much rain lately. Rain has fallen every day for the past 

 seven weeks, mostly in passing showers, but some days 

 the rain would last for hours. These storms are usually 

 snow on the higher levels of the Park. Occasionally the 

 snow would reach as low as the altitude of the Mammoth 

 Hot Springs— 6,000ft. The rain has been accompanied 

 with very low temperatures, frost and ice have formed 

 evei-y night at many of the hotels and camps. The cold 

 weather has kept down the insects and mosquitoes, gnats 

 and other pests have not been very troublesome. The 

 light snow fall of the past winter was not enough to af- 

 ford sufficient moisture for the country, but now that the 

 rains have fallen, we are having the best grass crop for 

 years, giving abundance of feed for the game during the 

 coming winter. Not only has the Park been benefited, 

 but the whole country has not seen such abundance of 

 grass for years past. 



The new forest reserve is practically an addition to the 

 National Park, making it one degree of latitude long and 

 one and a half wide, except a corner on the northeast 

 which was left off to avoid taking in any settlements or 

 mineral country adjacent to Cooke City. 



Within the new reserve three new mining camps have 

 been started. One on the divide between Clark's Fork 

 and Stinking Water. It is at the head of a stream called 

 Sunlight, where it heads up against the North b^ork of 

 Slinking Water. This is a silver quarry camp. V^y 

 little work was done on any of the mines last year, and 

 as they are still under snow the miners can do but little 

 prospecting. 



A placer camp has been started on a branch of Jones' 

 Fork of Stinking Water; this stream — the branch — heads 

 against the South Fork of Stinking Water and runs north, 

 joining Jones' Fork a few miles east of the Park boundary 



