24 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[July SO, 1891. 



FROM THE ALASKA SEAL ISLANDS. 



WE are indebted to Dr. W. S. Hereford, returned 

 from a long service on St. Paul Island, Bering 

 Sea, for interesting notes on the animals and the natives 

 of that distant province of the United States. 



It has been stated that polar bears sometimes come 

 down on the ice to St. Paul, but the Doctor did not see 

 any during his protracted stay, and thinks they do not 

 occur now. The flesh of this bear is said to be palatable 

 unless the creature has recently been feeding on walrus, 

 or the decayed meat of whales. H.. W. Elliott has just 

 informed us that he really liked the polar bear steaks 

 which he ate on St. Matthew's Island in 1874, Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Elliott the last of this species seen on St. 

 Paul was shot at Bogaslow in 1848. 



Walrus Island, lying six miles east of St. Paul, is still 

 inhabited by walrus, but solely by males. 



The red fox is occasionally brought to the island by ice 

 and does not long escape the vigilance of the hunters. 

 The blue fox is very common. 



Among the winter birds are the common migratory 

 robin of the East, and the beautiful snow bunting (Plec- 

 trophenax nivalis). Cormorants, gulls and harlequm 

 ducks are present in ordinary winters, but in severely 

 cold weather none except the first remain. The chief 

 gull of the hunters is the great burgomaster. A small 

 wren occurs on St. George Island, but not on St. Paul. 

 Ducks are excessively abundant in the open water along 

 shore in spring, and vast numbers of them are shot. 



Cod and halibut are not common until in the fall when 

 sea lions are not numerous. The natives catch some very 

 large halibut on hooks; the small ones are greatly perse- 

 cuted and almost entirely destroyed by seals and sea lions. 

 Sculpins are always around in abundance. The people 

 catch them around the rocks, and especially at the boat 

 landings. They use a very short line and bait the hooks 

 with seal meat or any animal substance that is handy. 

 Among the sculpins there is a scaly species, called the 

 Tcah log' , which is very palatable. 



The natives have invented a new intoxicating drink 

 which they have, in a spirit of fun, styled sos'Jcie, Sos'Me 

 means a sucking bottle and fui-nishes a very appropriate 

 name for the new tipple. The beverage is made from 

 condensed milk with the addition of jellies, sweet crack- 

 ers, or some other materials containing sugar, and a fer- 

 ment. The stringent regulations preventing the sale of 

 coarse sugar in quantities sufficient for the moonshiner's 

 pui-pose, he resorts to all sorts of expedients to outwit his 

 white brethren and prolong his sprees. Sos'Me is the 

 latest and one of the most insinuating products of his 

 craft. 



The practice of medicine among these Aleuts has 

 brought to Dr. Hereford many surprises. He finds that 

 opiate* are nearly inert in their circulation and enormous 

 doses of castor oil can be taken with only slight effect. 

 A native will dispose of ten times as much Epsom salts 

 as a white man and be none the worse for the wear. So- 

 called dropsy and heart disease are very common after 

 prolonged tarrying at the quass bowl, the heart being 

 generally located almost anywhere in the trunk, but free 

 use of salts is always a specific in these forms of disease. 



The natives trap foxes in winter and hunt the sea lion 

 and hair seal; they also kill the birds mentioned in a 

 preceding paragraph. T. H. B. 



WHAT THE PORCUPINE EATS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Dr. Gibbs seems to be a close observer as well as a 

 scientist, and has evidently given the porcupine consid- 

 erable attention. If you will visit any old logging camp 

 in the upper Chippewa region a month after the men 

 have left, you will find abundant evidence that the por- 

 cupine has a strong relish for anything in the shape of 

 leather, salt or grease. I have seen one eating a piece of 

 pork; and all barrels, boxes, etc., having contained pork, 

 lard or the like are sui'e to be well gnawed. Land look- 

 ers have to be extremely careful or their pack straps and 

 shoes will be aten up. 



As to its numbers. Two years ago while camped near 

 the Flambeau River I saw six at one time, and on the 

 tote road there were at least twenty seen in going a mile. 

 Three of them at one time were scratching at the door 

 and window of the little shanty where I slept. This was 

 in the morning, and they seemed to be early risers, un- 

 like myself, and anathemas and even more substantial 

 missiles were of small account in inducing them to stop 

 their applications for admittance. 



The meat of a small-sized one is fairly palatable, but I 

 once had the same experience as did Dr. Gibbs in trying 

 to eat the flesh of an old patriarch which I had shot out 

 of the top of a pine tree, 



I seldom molest them; in fact, my principle is not to 

 hurt anything that leaves me alone unless I want its 

 meat. This rule of ethics may not be exactly logical, but 

 it is the best I have. Backwoocsman. 



EAU CliAIRE, Wis. 



A Case of Rattlesnake Bite,— The Detroit Fj^ee 

 Press reports the cure of a case of massasauga bite at the 

 State military encampment: "Probably not more than 

 four minutes had elapsed since the accident, but the ex- 

 amination showed two tiny punctures, surrounded by a 

 circular elevation more than three inches in diameter. 

 This was quickly incised through the punctures and a 

 considerable quantity of a yellowish serum escaped. 

 Next a hypodermic syringe was introduced into the ad- 

 jacent parts and a 50 per cent, solution of carbolic acid 

 injected. Washing with ammonia water followed, and 

 the boy was placed on a cot. In a short time numbness 

 of the extremities and drowsiness supervened. This was 

 met by doses of whisky and aromatic spirits of ammonia. 

 At this writing, twenty-four hours after the accident, the 

 boy is out of danger. This case is of special value to the 

 medical department, as it demonstrates that prompt treat- 

 ment win neutralize the poisonous eifects of the rattle- 

 snake bite. This is probably the first opportunity ever 

 offered for intelligent and scientific application of reme- 

 dies immediately after the wound was inflicted, the com- 

 bination of oircnimstaaces being ordinarily impossible." 



A Homing Pigeon, whose number on bangle was T. H. 

 91 458, was killed by a cat in Roxbury, Mass., one day 

 last week; and our coirespondent "Reignolds," of Boston, 

 asks through this note for the owner. 



md §utf. 



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

 tories and British Provinces are given in the Booli of the 

 Oame Laws. 



SMALL BORES AND BIG BAGS. 



PORTLAND, Oregon.— Editor Forest and Stream: In 

 the issue of July 9 I find "Gun Gossip," by L. I. 

 Flower, How I wish I could meet and shake with him 

 on the question of 12-bores. Here in Portland we have 

 lots of old fogies who laugh at any one who carries a 

 "boy's" gun, as they caU a I'i-gauge shotgun. It may 

 seem strange, but these men that pack a young cannon of 

 lO-gauge never get any more ducks or other birds than 

 we of the "boy's"' grade do. I have killed canvasback 

 ducks and, in fact, all of the various species of the duck 

 family with a T^lb. 12-bore and have always thought that 

 for an all-round gun the 12 was the best made. I also 

 like his idea about the American hammerless gun. 



I have a friend who does not live more than a hundred 

 miles from here who still holds to the idea of a IGilbs. 

 lO-bore hammer gun, and he is a lighter man by Solbs. 

 than I am. One day we went down to the famous 

 Green Lake for a canvas shoot. We made a flne bag. 

 and had it not been for that enormous cannon of his I 

 should have enjoyed the trip very much; but the Judge 

 was so worn out from carrying his big gun that I had to 

 cai-ry all of the birds, my own gun and traps, and then 

 stop and wait for him to rest. 



Now, for Mr. Flower again. He says in his article that 

 he spent four nights out of each week for three seasons 

 on a famous fly way for ducks. Out here in Oregon and 

 Washington we would as soon think of killing a hen 

 mallard on her nest as to shoot ducks in the night. In 

 fact there is a law for the prevention of such cruelty in 

 this country, and I think there should be such a law in 

 every State in the Union. Night, as I understand duck 

 nature, is their protector while feeding, and a true sports- 

 man should at least recognize this fact. Sand Hill. 



WILD TURKEY HUNTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Persons visiting in the vicinity of the haunts of that 

 game usually have dogs trained to run and tree them, 

 and to bark, calling the attention of the hunter; and 

 while the attention of the turkey is directed to the dog, 

 the hunter stealthily approaches within rifle range. 



Such hunters usually have a call made from a bone of 

 the wing of the turkey, cut off at one end so as to expose 

 the hollow. Placing the open end of the hollow to the 

 lips so as not entirely to close the opening, and by a 

 jerky, sucking operation a very good call can be made. 

 Any small hollow cylinder, closed at one end, for example 

 a large goose quill, will operate as well. One of our party 

 was a very successful caller, using a fresh brier leaf; but 

 the party abandoned all calls for the one described by me 

 in Forest and Stream, excepting myself and one other, 

 who could call well with mouth and lips alone, which 

 many times was very convenient, especially so when the 

 finger was on the trigger of the gun ready for a snap 

 shot and I desired to call gently a few times more. 



In my turkey hunting I used one of my bird dogs. 

 They were so trained that, if I desired it, they would walk 

 a few steps in advance, keeping pace with me. They 

 took to hunting turkey as naturally as to quail and prairie 

 chickens. 



When the dog struck the trail of a gang of turkeys 

 he would thus slow- trail it, sometimes for miles, and 

 when the turkeys were in sight, in response to a wave of 

 my hand in the dii*ection of the game, would rush, with 

 all the speed he possessed, without giving tongue, among 

 the gang, scattering them in every direction, but not 

 chasing them. On such occasions they take to the wing. 

 Then taking a j)osition near where the turkeys were 

 flushed, in about fifteen minutes I would commence to 

 call, my dog in the meantime lying on the ground near 

 me as motionless as an inanimate object. 



Most hunters do, and I used t©, prepare a screen or 

 "blind" as we call it, so as to be out of sight of an ap- 

 proaching turkey. Such method compels the hunter to 

 assume a cramped, uncomfortable position, and when he 

 was trying to recover from it to obtain a shot, many times 

 the game would see the effort and leave before the hunter 

 could get a shot. 



In hunting deer and turkeys in the timber, I have my 

 clothing of such a hue that it will well blend with the 

 color of the surroundings. I adopted the practice of 

 seeking an open space where I could see well around 

 about, and sitting with my back against a large tree, I 

 would then call. I soon found I could call up turkeys in 

 that position as readily as in a blind, if I kept perfectly 

 motionless, not even moving my head. I finally adopted 

 the plan of taking a seat on a log where I could well see 

 round about, with my gun cocked and in a position to 

 quickly bring to the shoulder for a snap shot, being care- 

 ful that the motion of the calling band could not be seen 

 by the turkey. I have thus called old gobblers within 

 fifteen steps of me, and have had them stand and look at 

 me. But make the least motion and they will be away 

 unless you shoot quick. When they say quit quit, look 

 out, for they will quit very sudden. 



Judging from experience, I conclude that the sense of 

 smell is not one of the safeguards of the turkey, but sight 

 and hearing are. On one occasion when I was thus call- 

 ing, a turkey answered a few times in the distance in 

 front of me, but I heard nothing further from it although 

 I continued to call occasionally. 



I noticed that my dog, which was lying down partly 

 facing me, was looking very sharply behind me and oc- 

 casionally turning his eyes toward me, but without any 

 other motion. I turned my eyes so I could partly look 

 over my shoulder. There, standing stock still, not fifteen 

 steps away, was a large turkey looking at the dog. The 

 dog had been watching the turkey, and informed me of 

 the presence of it by casting his eyes at the turkey and 

 then at me. I recall to mind many similar instances. On 

 another occasion, when I was Bitting on a log calling, a 

 turkey answered, but I heard nothing further, excepting 



in a short time I heard a slight tread in the dry leaves 

 partly behind rae, and turning my eyes so I could look 

 partly ever my left shoulder, there stood an old gobbler, 

 not twenty steps away, looking at me. 



On another occasion, when, thus calling, the turkeys 

 came within twenty steps before stopping. I killed them 

 both with one barrel. In shooting tiu-keys with small 

 shot, shoot at the neck three or four inches below the 

 head, and you will have neck and head filled with shot. 



I have observed that when turkeys have not been dis- 

 turbed much they will answer the call freely until within 

 shot, but when they have been hunted much with the aid 

 of the call they will answer but a few times and then 

 approach stealthily, I remember two occasions when 

 calling without having flushed a flock, the flock without 

 answering came up within a few steps of me. 



Once two old gobblers put in an appearance after an- 

 swering a few times, and when within aboiit ninety steps 

 of me stopped and looked at me, but would approach no 

 nearer, and after looking at me a few moments com- 

 menced to move right and left, occasionally picking at 

 something on the earth and at the same time evidently 

 keeping an eye on me. Being satisfied they would come 

 no nearer I took the opportunity, when a large tree in- 

 tervened, to bring my gun to the shoulder, and when 

 they came into view kUled one with the rifle. 



On another occasion, just at night, the dog struck the 

 trail of a gang while on their way from their feeding 

 ground to their roost. Following rapidly until I could 

 hear their gobbling I tried to halt them by the call, but 

 could not succeed. It being so near night I knew it 

 would be of no use to flush them, for by the time I could 

 call them it would be so dark I could not see to shoot, so 

 I imitated the call of a stray young turkey several times 

 rapidly, and before I had time, or rather thought, to be 

 on the alert back came the old mother turkey like a 

 streak, almost running against me. She was so alarmed 

 that she flew into a tall cypress and I killed her with the 

 rifle. If in the same territory deer were as plenty as tm'- 

 key the hunter could kill more deer than turkey, 



I recall to mind many amusing incidents connected 

 with hunting turkey. In the Southwest the term "hurri- 

 cane" is applied to certain conditions of timberland. In 

 many places heavy timber has been prostrated by fierce 

 winds, and the earth covered with a dense growth of 

 second growth small trees, vines, etc., which together 

 with the fallen timber, makes the "hurricane" almost im- 

 penetrable. I was hunting deer once in such cover, and 

 when at the northeast corner of the hurricane, T took the 

 call to see if I could obtain an answer from the htu'ricane. 

 Soon I received an answer from the southeast corner and 

 one from the west end. The hurricane was of five or six 

 acres in extent. I continued to call, the turkeys would 

 answer but would not come. Thinking the answers were 

 from some of our party, I made a false call, and it was 

 answered by a false call from the southeast, but the 

 answer from the west end continued regular. Soon one 

 of our party who had been calling at the southeast corner 

 came up, and we started for camp, the west end of the 

 hurricane being in the line to camp. On arriving at the 

 west end we found a native calling with a turkey hone. 

 He said to us, "the hurricane is full of ttu'key." He had 

 heard us calling. We did not enlighten him, but left him 

 still calling. 



The gun I hunt deer and turkey with is a double-bar- 

 reled breechloader, one barrel .40-70 rifle, the other 13- 

 gauge shot, made to order fifteen years or more ago by 

 D. M. Lefever, of Syracuse, N, Y. I have a pair of shot 

 barrels for same stock. 



In 1853 I had a like gun made to order, excepting that 

 it was a muzzleloader, made by Billinghurst, Rochester, 

 N. Y., which I used until I obtained the one made by 

 Lefever. 



I presume that Lefever thinks that now after fifteen or 

 more years of experience he can make a better shooting 

 gun, but I doubt if he or any other person can do it. For 

 many years I used an ordinary peep sight, broad disc, 

 hinged at the post so I could turn the disc down quickly 

 and use the crotch sight if desired. For the last few 

 years I have used entirely the Lyman rear sight. The 

 party that I now hunt deer with use the Lyman sight on 

 their Winchesters. 



A person who has never used a well-trained bird dog 

 in hunting turkey cannot realize the pleasure and ease in 

 thus hunting. Many times a turkey, when fatally 

 wounded, will be able to hide in the brush, and then 

 your dog comes into play as a retriever. 



In some settlements turkeys will frequent cornfields 

 after the corn has matured. Then your dog comes in 

 play. Skirting along the field, having the wind of it, 

 your dog will soon tell you whether game is in the field. 

 Take a position where your judgment tells you the tur- 

 key will leave the field, and give your dog the signal, and 

 he will rush through the field flushing the game and you 

 can take it on the wing. 



In some portions of the country where turkeys are 

 found there are glades in the timber grown up to tall 

 grass, and the grass sometimes is infested with grasshop- 

 pers. After the dew is off turkeys will be found in the 

 glades after grasshoppers. 



A turkey will not sit before the dog, but will skulk 

 away. Your dog will trail the game as fast as you walk 

 with a quick step, and when he flushes the game you 

 take it on the wing. A double shotgun is the arm for 

 the two latter occasions. 



My last dog was a more than ordinarily intelligent set- 

 ter; seemed intuitively to understand what I wanted. 

 Poor old, affectionate Hector, tmsty in the open and 

 covert, and watchful at home; you served me faithfully 

 fourteen or fifteen years; you were the embodiment of 

 fidelity. There ought to be a dog heaven for such as you. 



H. L. 



A Colorado Bear.— Berthoud, Col,, July 20.— Bob 

 Lang returned a few days ago from a trip to the west of 

 Estes Park, where he killed a flne black-tailed buck and 

 a large cinnamon bear. The bear was a large one. He 

 sold the hide to a Loveland man for |22. Bob said his 

 ball hit the bear in the end of the nose, passing through 

 his head and into the body, killing it dead on the spot. 

 Bears are reported quite numerous in the foothills just 

 now, coming down out of the higher mountains to eat 

 berries. — A. A, K. 



Mr. M. R. Hobart has joined the hoTise of Von Len- 

 gerke & Detmold, and will henceforth take an active in« 

 terest in the gun trade. Mr. Hobart has long been known 

 to IJew Jersey shooters aa an entbu9ia8tio gun man, 



