396 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 28, 1898, 



"Tha t reminds me." 



ONCE, when deer were more plentiful in New York 

 State than now, some persons were gathered at a 

 store or tavern in an out of the way place, when a deer 

 was observed to run across the road not far from them. 

 Instantly one of the men ran just to see the animal swim 

 the river, which was very narrow, and he arrived at the 

 brink just as the deer was attempting to climb the bank 

 on the opposite side. The man hurled a good-sized stone 

 and broke the deer's bindleg. The deer fell back into 

 the water and curiously enough struck out for the bank 

 on which the man stood. As he came to shore the man 

 seized him, and after a hard struggle killed the deer. 

 He then went to the tavern and told the men what be 

 had done. To their great surprise they beheld the dead 

 deer. "How on earth did you catch him?" they asked. 

 "Oh, I can outrun a deer tbe best day he ever saw."' 

 West Virginia. N. D. Elting. 



Your Camp-Fire Flickerings of April 14 "reminds me." 

 A fishing party of tenderfeet came across an old fisher- 

 man, who was placidly allowing a few million mosquitoes 

 to bleed him. One of the party offered him a dollar to 

 strip and let them bite. He accepted and lay face down, 

 tbe agreement being five minutes. As the fourth minute 

 passed, one of the party who carried a gun, took out the 

 iron ramrod and heating it in the fire, prodded the back 

 of the poor fisherman. He stood it a moment and then 

 howled, "Lordy, boys, I can stand the skeeters, but for 

 gracious sake, pull off that gaUiniper." 



This is a chestnut, but may be new to a few. I was 

 not there. Veritas, 

 Leavenworth, Kan sas. 



A short time ago a few of us were sitting around a 

 large open fire-place spinning yarns, when finally the 

 conversation drifted toward shooting. All but one of the 

 party had told their stories and had had them topped by 

 the 'next in turn; so by this time they were getting up 

 where they were hard to beat. This, however, did not 

 seem to worry the last, but not least, who lit a fresh cigar 

 and began as follows: 



"I never shall forget an experience I had in Colorado 

 in the fall of '84. We were expecting a bunch of cattle 

 up from Texas, so one of my men and myself started out 

 to meet them and look them over before they reached the 

 ranch. 



"There had been a good many birds in the country 

 that fall, so 1 took along the old shotgun, hoping that I 

 might get a crack at some of them. After we had gotten 

 out some distance, T told my man to go ahead and see if 

 he could sight the bunch, while I remained where I 

 was. 



"It was a very cold day in November, and as 1 was 

 rather chilly I staked my horse, and took the old gun on 

 my shoulder and started for a Avalk. 



"I had gone but a little distance when I saw a large 

 flock of ducks coming along over the prairie from the 

 north and right toward, me. They kept'on coming, set- 

 tling down all the time, until they finally lit out on the 

 bare ground about 200yds. from me. I saw that there 

 was something the matter with them, so I walked right 

 un to them and let go into the middle of the hunch. 

 Well, you ought to have seen the feathers fly; but feath- 

 ers were all that did fly, for when the smoke cleared 

 away T saw, to my surprise, the flock still sitting on the 

 ground . I repeated the operation several times with the 

 same result, when finally it struck me what was tbe 

 matter. You see, it was a cold day and they -had been 

 sitting in the water, and when they got up to fly their 

 wings froze and they were rendered helpless. Knowing 

 this, I started back to the house after more shells; but 

 when I returned the sun had come out and thawed their 

 wings out, so they flew away before I could get in 

 range." 



"I'll have a cigar,'" said one of the party. "So will I," 

 shouted all the rest; and the Colorado man paid for them, 

 too. J. M. M. 



WILD BOARS FOR THE ADIRONDACKS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Being thoroughly acquainted with this noble game, 

 their habits and mode of hunting them, I may note 

 something of interest to your readers. Our Adirondacks 

 no doubt would make a splendid home for this game, to 

 replace our fast-disappearing deer. There is no danger 

 of exterminating them after they once get a foothold in 

 our laurel thickets, but they cannot be just imported and 

 turned out to root for themselves. In hard winters, with 

 a heavy crust on the snow, no doubt a good many would 

 perish: but this is easily guarded againt in the following 

 manner: A location of a few hundred acres should be 

 chosen which contains running water, wild meadow land 

 and evergreen thickets. This can be found on almost any 

 pond outlet. The upland should be oak. This must be 

 fenced in very strongly, and is generally constructed out 

 of spruce poles, with the bars not over six inches apart. 

 In one corner of this inciosure a few acres are again 

 fenced in, followed by a triangle and a circle, the latter 

 constructed out of palisades and about ten feet high. A 

 narrow run of equal height, containing three trap com- 

 partments and a swinging gate, completes the arrange- 

 ment. This is an excellent device to sort out the surplus 

 every year to turnout m the wilder uess and still keep the 

 finest stock for breeding. By simply moving the swing- 

 ing gate a boar rushing from the trap is either turned 

 back into the park or given his freedom. An entire herd 

 of some 300 can be sorted without danger in a very 

 short time. The boars are decoyed with a line of corn 

 into the trap. It would also be well to feed the wild 

 stock outside the fencing in the beginning, as they have 

 not learned yet to depend eutirely upon their own for- 

 aging. 



They multiply very rapidly and. generally have four 

 young in the early spring. These with their long shaggy 

 hair, of a reddish color and white spotted like our fawns, 

 look very cute. They grow very rapidly, however, and 

 in the fall will average about fiOlbs., while a full grown 

 boar will weigh SOOlbs. 



The boars are counted royal game in Europe, and are 

 very wary and well able to take care of themselves. The 

 principal park where the Emperor and invited guests 

 delight to hunt is situated on the Deister Mountains in 

 the Province of Hanover, and here every winter some 

 two hundred fall to their rifles. Many people who have 

 never witnessed a hunt of this description, and very few 

 have, shrug their shoulders and call it no sport, but 

 simply a slaughter in a barn yard. How they would 

 change their opinion if taking part in a hunt. I do not 

 think that the Winchester folks make a rifle whose mag- 

 azine could contain bullets enough to enable such a 

 novice to hit a single boar. They are from 80 to 100yds. 

 off on a dead run, and dodging round among the timber. 

 A wounded boar is no mean foe. and when he comes for 

 you, mouth wide open, cracking his tusks together, it 

 takes a cool hand to down him, and excellent judgment 

 to impale him on a 6ft. spear. The Pike county wildcat 

 that jumped in my face while looking for the bait in my 

 bear trap did not scare me half so much as my first 

 wounded boar. I followed him into a brier thicket, and 

 not knowing much about their habits I overlooked him. 

 He had crouched down and half buried himself in an 

 old nest, and the color was so near that of the ground 

 that I did not notice him. When I got within 15ft. he 

 jumped for me, mouth wide open, foaming mad. He 

 came so suddenly that it took my breath away. It was 

 shoot or die, but the express bullet that struck him in the 

 eye was steered more by good luck than good aim, I can 

 assure you. 



They are generally satisfied with one rush and go on, 

 but if you shout at them they will come again ; the word 

 "HussuM' seems to throw them into a rage. Pain is un- 

 known to them. I have seen a full-grown boar pursued 

 by dogs, and going at top speed plunge headlong against 

 a wrought iron grating in a stone wall with a* force that 

 would "knockout" a rhinoceros, and go on just as if it 

 was an every-day occurrence. 



The dogs used for hunting them are a mixture of bull 

 and shepherd. They become very cunning, and will run 

 along an old boar until they get a chance to grab an ear, 

 at the same time jumping over the boar's back. This 

 prevents him from using his tusks. A second dog imme- 

 diately fastens on the other ear and jumps over, and the 

 boar's head is thus held as in a vise. The whole pack 

 now jumps in and the boar is dispatched with a knife 

 thrust through the heart. 



The meat, especially of the young, is considered a del- 

 icacy, and a boar park in this country would not only be 

 a great attraction but would soon be self-supporting. I 

 hope that President Townsend Cox and the Forestry 

 Commission will carry out their splendid idea, and I can 

 probably get him further information direct from the 

 Forestry Department of Prussia. 



There is also another article now on the way from Ger- 

 many, the latest invention of science, which will interest 

 our sportsmen very much, for if it is not game it is some- 

 thing safe to kill it with — the justly celebrated Walsrode 

 smokeless powder. Whippoorwill. 

 New York. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of the 14th Mr. Townsend Cox speaks of 

 introducing the wild boar of the Black Forest of Germany 

 (a designation that applies to the last century better than 

 to the present) into the Adirondacks. Don't do it ! 



The wild boar of Europe is a dangerous and devastating 

 animal. 



As a matter of fact, there are no more wild boars at 

 large in Germany. A few herds are kept by crowned 

 heads and rich nobles in strongly- fenced preserves. There 

 is no sport hun ting these, for the half-tamed, grain-fed 

 beasts are driven up to well protected and usually elevattd 

 stands and shot down by the noble hunters, who have a 

 forester or two beside them to shoot dead the wounded 

 ones, and a couple of servants to load their guns. 



If set loose in the wilds of this country, the creatures 

 would prove vicious and extremely dangerous brutes to 

 hunt. They would multiply so fast that the damage they 

 would do to farmers would be enormous; and after a few 

 years it would be unsafe to enter the woods, for the boar 

 is no coward, but attacks without provocation; and, while 

 I never met a panther, I think I would rather face him 

 than an old boar or a sow with young. 



The conditions of this country, and the style of bunting 

 necessitated by these conditions, are so vastly different 

 from those of Europe, that I say again : Let the wdd boar 

 die out where it is, no tear need be shed over the last of 

 its race. We have undesirable foreigners enough already 

 in this blessed land of ours. Immigrant. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I notice Forest Commissioner Cox's inquiry about 

 adaptability of the wild boar to the Adirondacks. It 

 appears that the Commission is thinking of putting out 

 these savage creatures on the State lands there. My 

 notion is that the indigenous game of America is good 

 enough for Americans if only duly guarded by Americans. 

 For one I would be troubled in spirit to encounter wild 

 hogs in the North Woods. But what of it! If things go 

 as they are going there will be no jurisdiction left to 

 State officers. Whether or not we shall have Hartz 

 Mountain porkers there will depend altogether upon the 

 proprietors of the Adirondacks. By the time a wild boar 

 introduction scheme could be accomplished there will be 

 no public lands left in the Adirondacks to put them out 

 on. Henrv H. Hawthorne. 



ONE GROUSE. 



I SHOT one grou3e last fall, and it happened thus: I 

 wished to see if my spaniel pup had any nose and 

 walked out with him, taking my gun, on a wild, windy 

 day. The dog found no bird, but I heard one start from 

 the ground in heavy covert to the left of the road. I 

 did not see the grouse. I took the dog to the spot where 

 the bird had started and found that he had a nose, sure 

 enough, but couldn't tell where to look for the partridge. 

 I thought that I could and walked twenty rods up a hem- 

 lock ridge, when I saw him sitting on one of the top 

 limbs of a tall tree some forty yards off. I shot him 

 before he had time to take wing and went home, think- 

 ing that there are lots of fellows who hold up their hands 

 in holy horror at the idea of shooting a sitting grouse, I 

 who yet, with the chances that I had, could not have | 

 secured that bird. Kelpie. 

 Central Lake, Mich. 



THE KENTUCKY CONVENTION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The first State convention of anglers, hunters and 

 farmers, of Kentucky, ever held in the State convened 

 in Frankfort, Ky., on the 19fch inst. It was something of 

 an experiment, a trial, as it were, of the interest felt by 

 those classes as to the objects and purposes for which 

 such a convocation might be had. The call was made by 

 the Louisville Club as a member of the Staie Association 

 that now numbers between 1,200 and 1,300 members. 

 The Frankfort Club, an enthusiastic body of about 120 

 members, took charge of arrangements; and if the state- 

 ments of the public press, members of the Legislature, 

 and others constitute valuable testimony, the convention 

 and its attendant features proved a decided success. The 

 programme, barring the weather, was carried out in 

 every particular. 



Heavy rains had marred the picturesque beauty of the 

 famous Elkhorn Creek, swelling it beyond its banks and 

 lowering clouds hid the cheerful face of the sun, but this 

 did not prevent the special excursion train from the city, 

 after the morning session of the convention, from being 

 crowded to its utmost capacity with delegates, members 

 of the Legislature, State officials, and others. Arriving 

 at the Forks of Elkhorn, where the north and south 

 streams unite to form the main creek, and near the old 

 Macklin Dam, an old-fashioned Kentucky burgoo was 

 6erved in the ancient style— contemporaneous with which 

 trap shooting was indulged in by all who wished — traps, 

 targets and guns being furnished without charge by the 

 Frankfort Gun Club and others. 



Several adjacent stables of fine thoroughbred horse 

 stock were also exhibited for the entertainment of the 

 visitors. 



At night the regular session of the convention was held 

 in the city, State Senator Boord. of Scott county, being 

 made permanent chairman, and H. C, Murray, of Frank- 

 fort, Secretary. 



Addresses were made by Attorney General Hendriok, 

 Col. G. W. Craddock, Major J. Fry Lawrence, Eev. J. 

 McC. Blayney and others. 



Among other business, a committee was appointed 

 looking toward the formation of a permanent State organ- 

 ization and annual meetings, the objects being to promote 

 fellowship and keep alive mutual interest in the protec- 

 tion, preservation and restoration of fish and game. This 

 committee consists of Samuel R. Smith (of the old King- 

 fisher Club) as chairman, W. J. Hendrick (Attorney Gen- 

 eral), Thos. H. Hines (ex Judge Court of Appeals), B. C. 

 Milan (maker of the famous Milan reel) and J. Fry L^w- 

 rence (Pres. Ky. Fish and Game Club). All were present 

 and consented to act. 



A committee was also constituted to petition the State 

 Legislature for the passage of the fish bill now pending 

 in the Senate. It has already passed the Lower House. 

 It is believed the bill will get the requisite constitutional 

 majority in the Senate as soon as a full attendance of 

 members can be bad. 



Quite a number of farmers attended tbe convention 

 and expressed a belief that the securing of good fish and 

 game laws, with the trespass features proposed, would 

 bring sportsmen and farmers together in mutual alliance 

 and for mutual benefit. 



The drafting of a suitable game bill was committed 

 to the Louisville and Frankford clubs. 



A committee was also appointed looking to a State en 

 campment this fall to hunt and fish. Frankfort. 



" SYNDICATING THE ADIRONDACKS." 



Editor of Forest and Stream, : 



In response to my communication to you last week in 

 reference to Dr. Webb's railroad, and land purchases, 

 and the general absorption of large tracts of land in tbe 

 Adirondacks by wealthy men and syndicats, a friend 

 writes me : 



" It seems a pitv that tb^re is practically no way of preventing 

 tbe takinu. of such large areas by men like Dr. Webb fnr exclusive 

 control. I have thought that one remed> might, be t'omvi in a 

 law declaring the waters in tbe Adirondack region public- this 

 including lakes and streams to hiyh water mark. But I suppose 

 it would be absolutely hopeless to undertake tbe tfcuricg >>i an 

 enactment to sucb purpa-e. However, to me it seems that it 

 wuld effectually thwart universal grabbing by individuals and 

 clubs." 



This would be a practical suggestion if the Legislature 

 had any regard for the rights of the people at large in 

 the Adirondacks. A few wealthy men are able to mon- 

 opolize the grand forest by procuring such legislation as 

 they may desire in the same spirit once manifested by a 

 many-times-a- millionaire man who exclaimed '-The people 

 be = -," when hi3 attention was called to his encroach- 

 ments upon the rights of others. It is impossible to 

 procure the enactment of wholesome laws for the pro- 

 tection of the forest as it is for the protection of fish and 

 game. The sportsmen of the State assembled in conven- 

 tion last winter, and with unanimous voice asked the 

 passage of the "Gould bill," which was exceedingly 

 liberal in its provisions. Has that bill passed the Legis- 

 lature ? No. That bill disappeared from public view a 

 long time ago, under the many "amendments" wbich 

 were fastened all over it, in obedience to the demands of 

 dealers in game and fish, the wealthy gentry and a few 

 pot-hunters and fishermen. True sportsmen can get no 

 recognition from the Lsgialature. Is it not time for 

 clubs, associations and conventions of sportsmen to assert 

 their rights? and asserting maintain them? Shall they 

 not see to it that Members of Assembly throughout the 

 State, and particularly in the "uiral deestricks." be made 

 aware of the fact that sportsmen have rights which even 

 a Senator and Member of Assembly are bound to respect ? 

 Thorough organization is what ib needed. A good begin- 

 ning was made last winter, and that effort should be 

 continued. It will gather strength as the enow-ball 

 gathers snow by rolling it, until it becomes so large that 

 it can be seen of all men. 



The State Association in June will do well to set an 

 example for minor organizations throughout the State to 

 follow. With firm and united action, the Legislature 

 can be made to enact some laws for the people and give 

 less welcome to the schemes of men whose selfishness is 

 their chief est characteristic. D. H. B. 



The Platte.— E Igar, Neb., April 21.— Mr. Vaudeveer. 

 from an adjoining town, was up on the Platte and in one 

 day made a bag of thirty-two geese, six ducks, one gull 

 and one hawk. We look for fiae snipe and doebird 

 shooting in a few days though the weather is still cold 

 and raw. — E. H. 



