308 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 5, 1891. 



'dtne §dg md ^ntf. 



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

 Price $2.50. Wing and Glass Ball Shooting ivith the 

 Rifle. By W. C. Bliss. PHce 50 cents. Rifle, Rod and 

 Qua in California. By T. «. Van Dyke. Price $1.50. 

 Shore Birds! Price 15 cents. Woodcraft. By "Ness- 

 miik.' Price SI. Trajectories of Hunting Rifles. Price 

 50 cents Wild Foiol Shooting; see advertisement. 



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

 tories and British Provinces are given in the Booli of the 

 Game Laios. 



WEAPONS FOR GAME. 



IConclutUd from page 270.} 



rHAVE succeeded in making a .45 express shoot solid 

 bullets of pure lead weighing 370,^s, quite as accur- 

 ately as the longer hollow bullets of the same weight by 

 using powder about as slow-burning as the Hazard FG 

 instead of the English No. 6 grain, reducing the charge 

 from 135grs. to llOgrs., and putting a thick lubricated 

 felt wad under the bullet in order to diminish the sud- 

 denness of the blow of the powder gas upon its base. The 

 grooves in this rifle had only one turn in 48m., and I 

 doubt if good shooting could be made with a much 

 quicker twist unless the lead were hardened or the quan- 

 tity of powder reduced. 



The two facts in Baker's observations upon rifles which 

 seem to me most worty of note are: 



1. He is not willing to sacrifice accuracy for the sake 

 of a very flat trajectory. He objects to even |dr. of 

 powder over the usual 6drs. charge, because the latter 

 "produces greater accuracy at long ranges." The pro- 

 portion of powder in his .577 rifle is only one-fourth the 

 weight of lead. This, with the No. 6 grain made for 

 rifles in England would give rather more than 1,600ft. a 

 second muzzle velocity, which would mean a trajectory 

 about 2in. high up to 100yds. and about lOin. up to 

 300yds. 



3. Baker's experience has not made him in love with 

 very small bores. Few living men have killed as much 

 large game, and he is known to be an excellent shot at 

 both running and standing objects. His hunting has 

 been chiefly in localities remote from civilization, where 

 the game would be approachable within comparatively 

 short ranges. For years together he has shot in order to 

 provide food for large numbers of camp followers, and 

 must therefore have had immense practice in stalking. 



With all this we do not find him stating, as I have 

 heard the advocates of small-bores say, that "a little 

 bullet is sufficient when put in the right place." 



For anything not larger than a fallow deer (which is 

 about the size of the Virginia deer) the least powerful 

 rifle recommended is a .40 with 85 to llOgrs. of powder. 

 For such game as the moose, wapiti, caribou and grizz'y 

 bear, the advice practically amounts to, "Use the most 

 powerful rifle you can handle with efficiency." And this 

 seems to be on the ground of humanity as much as of 

 safety to the hunter. When an animal struck properly 

 in the shoulder gallops lOOyds. before falling, the shoot- 

 ing is called "clumsy." '-Do not wound, but kill out- 

 right." 



While saying that men should be armed in propor- 

 tion to their strength, he himself prefers a .577 of laibs. 

 weight. Doubtless this is because he is, or at least was 

 when in his prime, far superior to ordinary hunters in 

 physical power. For men of average strength who may 

 desire to try the system advised by Baker of large gauges 

 and solid bullets of pure lead, I imagine there could not 

 well be better weapons than the American .50 95 or .60 

 110 repeaters, with bullets of about .SSOgrs. A .50-95 

 Winchester which I tried at lOOyds., with only the short 

 300-grain bullet, cari-ied very accurately, and although 

 only about bilbs. weight, the recoil did not seem more 

 than that of an ordinary shogun. Even with a 3U0-grain 

 solid bullet it might be found to have plenty of penetra- 

 tion, but I have read that it is not liked by American 

 hunters. 



The .40-110 rifle of the Winchester Company has proba- 

 bly been tried by many hunters upon the ordinary small 

 deer, though I have not seen the results mentioned in any 

 American paper. For my own use I would prefer the 

 .40-82-360 on account of its superior accuracy, and can- 

 not understand why Baker likes the .40 express for ante- 

 lope shooting. A very good express of .40 or .45 gauge 

 will rarely put several successive bullets into less than a 

 10 or 12-inch circle ot 200yd8. The part of a black buck 

 antelope's chest which must be hit In order to insure kill- 

 ing quick is, as Baker states, not more than 4in. square. 

 I have killed numbers of those animals and know from 

 experience that it is often impossible to stalk nearer than 

 300yds., and they are frequently too wild to allow of 

 even that. If, therefore, an express rifle be used, many 

 antelope will inevitably escape with broken arms or 

 badly torn wounds at the edge of the chest, unless the 

 hunter make up his mind (as he ought) never to fire at 

 any animal which he judges to be more than lOOyds. dis- 

 tant. Even at this range, if the game be facing the 

 hunter, a shot which, with the .40-82-2(30 would be ac- 

 curate enough to hit in the center of the breast, would, 

 with the express rifle, sometimes let the animal escape 

 with the shoulder joint smashed in pieces. 



The hollow bullet is certainly advisable for this kind of 

 shooting, because it not only stops in the antelope's body 

 when it hits, but when it misses it if so knocked out of 

 shape on striking the grovmd that it is not liable to 

 ricochet to dangerous distances. With the hollow as 

 large and deep as in the factory-made bullets, although 

 they are hardened with one-tenth part of tin, they are 

 not satisfactory in their action unless hitting nicely 

 behind the shoulder or in the breast. If fired at game 

 running straight away they make a disgustingly torn 

 wound in the quarters and do not penetrate to the vital 

 organs. When express riflps were first used in India the 

 most absurd accounts were written in the newspapers of 

 their wonderful effects, by sportsmen who had given them 

 a limited trial. The bullets were stated to travel without 

 any perceptible curve up to 200yd3. ; to either penetrate 

 three feet into an animal's flesh or knock him three feet 

 backward; to either drop tigers on the spot or paralyze 

 them so that they could neither charge nor run away. 



I soon bought a single breechloading .45, carrying 110 



grains of powder with a 280-grain hollow bullet, and 

 tried it upon a couple of black buck, one at 120 and the 

 other at 130yds. Eich was killed in his tracks and I 

 thought the rifle perfect, except that shooting at a target 

 had shown it to be unreliable beyond ISOyds. Shortly 

 afterward I was sent on a seven weeks march in charge 

 of more than 60u army remount horses, with a corres- 

 ponding number of natives to lead them; and then I 

 accidentally discovered the want of penetrating power of 

 the hollow bullet. At one of the camping grounds 

 several of the mus&ulman grooms (called syces) came to 

 my tent and asked me to kill for their food "a wild bull" 

 which they had found in the neighborhood. I thought it 

 might be a bison or buffalo, so took the express rifle and 

 accompanied them to a field covered with a crop of a 

 leguminous plant called dhall, 5 or 6ft. high. .Some 

 animal completely hidden in it was making a kind of 

 grunting and moaning noise. So to obtain a better view 

 1 movmted a piece of ruined mud wall about oft. high 

 and watched, In a few minutes a bull nylghai raised 

 his bead above the dhall SOvds. distant and I instantly 

 fired at the root of his ear. He fell, apparently dead, but 

 when we went near he jumped up and galloped away. I 

 followed at a run and found him in a field of sugar cane 

 half a mile further on. As it was impossible to move 

 through these without alarming him, I walked round 

 the edge of the field and at last saw the lower part of his 

 neck through an opening in the canes 60yd8. distant. I 

 fired at the spine, when he ran a few yards into a thicker 

 part of the crop and stojiped. The blood could be heard 

 pouring upon the ground and in a few minutes he fell. I 

 then sent the mussulmans in to "hallal," or make him 

 lawful to eat, by cutting bis throat before life was 

 extinct. 



When skinned I found the first bullet in fragments at 

 the root of the ear, the base resting on the bone, which 

 was slightly cracked but not driven inward. The second 

 bullet had struck the spine without even fracturing any 

 part of the bone, but one piece of lead flying downward 

 had cut open the large blood vessels of the neck. 



There were numerous wounds on the skin, showing 

 that he had been driven out of a herd by another bull. 

 The nylghai, being as closely related to the ox as to the 

 antelope tribes, is not eaten by Hindoos, owing to reli- 

 gious prejudice. A full-grown bull is about 14 hands 

 high, witli large dense bones and a hide so thick that it 

 was formerly used by the natives for making shields. 



Devonshire, England. J. J. MeyEIOK. 



NORTH CAROLINA GAME REGIONS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Some time ago I made reference to the game regions 

 of North Carolina. This letter is written for those readers 

 of FoKEST AND Steeam who have requested fuller details. 



There is unusually good shooting this year in the terri- 

 tory. Birds are plenty, squirrel and coon are numerous, 

 and deer and bear are familiar sights to any visitor. 

 Sportsmen who have first-class dogs, and who can cope 

 with the discomforts which must necessarily confront 

 the northern visitor, unacquainted with the peculiarities 

 of the soil-tilling Carolinian, should visit the "Albemarle 

 section. 



Good shooting can be had within fifteen miles of Nox-- 

 folk, and there sport combined with comfort can be pro- 

 cured. Geese, duck and swan are plentiful in Linkhorn 

 and Lynnhaven bays. Deer and bear can be found in 

 the Dismal Swamxj, Partridges are plentiful along the 

 eighteen mile line of the Norfolk, Albemarle & Atlantic 

 R-dilroad, from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, A train leaves 

 Norfolk at 6 A. M., returning at 7 P. M. The sportsman 

 should leave the train at London Bridge or Oceana, and 

 walk to Vii'ginia Beach, a distance of only a few miles. 

 The country is open and a guide will not be needed. 

 Dinner can be procured at the Princess Anne Hotel at 

 any time of the year. 



If the sportsman cares to enter the Virginia desert im- 

 mediately north of Virginia Beach in quest of deer, bear, 

 wild cattle or hogs, a guide and cart can be procured at 

 Drinkwater's. The guide is an absolute necessity to a 

 stranger, the cart a luxury one cannot well do without. 

 The Dismal Swamp, too, with its plethora of wild game, 

 is within easy distance of Norfolk, Snowden. Indian 

 Creek and Hickory Ground, on the Norfolk & Southern 

 Railroad, can also be made in a day, and it is at those 

 places where the birds are found in larger coveys than at 

 any other points in the United States, 



SxDortsmen who wish to go further south and yet wish 

 conveniences impossible to procure in a private house 

 should go to the hotel at Ebz ibeth City, Hertford, the 

 Edenton, Avoca, Pantego, or Belle Haven (P. O, Belport), 

 All of these places are in North Carolina, and are on the 

 Norfolk & Southern Railroad, At Elizabeth City the 

 grounds are good for snipe, squin-el, deer, bear and fox. 

 At Edenton turkey are more plentiful than at any other 

 point, unless I except Avoca. Hertford afl'ords excellent 

 sport for the bird shooter. Belle Haven is noted for deer 

 and at Pantego one can find abundance of birds. Beech 

 Ridge, ten miles from Pantego, offers very attractive par- 

 ridge shooting. Guides can be obtained at all these 

 places, and good horses will be furnished at moderate 

 prices. At Pantego last week Sam Shavender, who ap- 

 pears to have been built after sketches by "Porte 

 Crayon," drove me eighty-two miles with the rain pour- 

 ing torrents in eleven hom-s, chansing horses but once. 

 For this service he charged me Hut %o. 



There are but few farm houses I can recommend to any 

 visitor. The ordinary Carolinian farmer has a fear of 

 strangers, and to them, I dare say, he is not an over- 

 cordial host. The visitor is largely to blsme for this ap- 

 parent lack of hospitality, for he is usually very critical, 

 and at times unpleasantly sarcastic. Breakfast is seldom 

 served before 9 o'clock, and supper at an hour equally in- 

 convenient to the sportsman. The table is hardly up to 

 my idea of "what's what," though usually better supplied 

 than that of the average Northern farmer. Private 

 houses which rank closely with the hotels, and ones 

 which I can recommend any one to, are as follows : Station 

 agent Etheri=dge, Indian Creek; W. L. Northern, Hickory 

 Ground ; and Mi". D ^sier, North West, Virginia ; C. R. Van 

 de Car, Movocb; Milton Snowden, Snowden: Dr. Shaw, 

 Shawboro; M^ik Gregory, or J. W. Small, Okisko; and 

 James To we, Chapanoke, North Carolina. O" course fven 

 Northern sportsmen are well aware that at Currituck the 

 best points for wildfowl are controlled by clubs, but Mrs. 

 Nettie Midget, whose address is Coin jock, Va., controls 

 some very good ones, and she is the only party who can 

 accommodate sportsmen. 



There are a few marshes in North Carolina which are 

 for sale, but I would not advise anyone to purchase 

 until the game laws of the State are adjusted properly. 



For shooting wildfowl in Carolina waters a No. 13, 

 81b3., 30in., or a No. 11, 91bs., 86in. gun is the bear, the 

 heavier the weight in the breach the better. With proper 

 handling one can do all the execution which opportunity 

 may afford. For shooting turkey I belitve a nfle is the 

 only proper instrument to use, as well as in killing bear 

 and deer, though many use a shotgun loaded with buck- 

 shot. 



The shooting for birds commences Ndv. 15, though I 

 believe that January is a better month, from the fact 

 that at that time the cover stalks have been broken 

 down by the cattle which are turned into the fields about 

 Dec. 1. The birds are found within a few yards of under- 

 brush or else in the numerous ditch rows which cross the 

 fields. Pointers are of very little use. A large share of 

 the work is done in the ditches, which are full of briars, 

 creating labor fatal to the delicate-skinned pointer. The 

 birds rise singly, and a favorite form of ditch work is for 

 two hunters to follow the ditch from each side, dropping 

 the birds as they rise. 



The lovers of bear and deer hunting can find the best 

 sport on the Alligator River, This is unknown country 

 to most sportsmen, as one must be prepared to rougu it in 

 every sense of the word. The Alligator River can be 

 reached only on Tuesdays and Friuays. The sportsman 

 must leave Norfolk, via the Norfolk & Southern, at 

 9:45 A. M,, and at Elizabeth City take the steamer Lizzie 

 Burrus for Fairfield and Alligator River landings. On 

 application to Bill Basnight, East Lake, N. C, the sports- 

 man will be notified when to come, though I will say 

 January is the best month for bear, as at that time they 

 take to the gum trees, which are full of juicy berries. 

 Mill Tail and Whippin's creeks undoubtedly afford the 

 best opportunities for the bear hunter in the Alligator 

 River region. Deer may also be found there, though the 

 records made at Belle Haven this year compel me to re- 

 commend that place over all others. 



Most lands in North Carolina are posted, but this is 

 chiefly for the purpose of keeping off the negroes, who 

 with a gun in tueir hands are as dangerous as cans of 

 dynamite. Permission to shoot can be obtnined of any 

 owner by any gentlemen. Frank A. Heywood, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Mr. Heywood's article in your valuable paper relative 

 to game in North Carolina, stating I would give any in- 

 formation relative to Avoca, has caused a considerable 

 number of gentlemen to address me letters of inquiry. 

 While it is pleasant to commune with the sisortsmen of 

 other sections, said letters are absorbing much more 

 time than I have to spare, and as my business calls me 

 away frequently, causing much delay in rendering the 

 information asked for, I will with your permission place 

 where your many sporting friends will see what I am 

 writing to individual inquiry. 



First, Avoca is nineteen hours from New York city 

 and easily reached. Fare from Norfolk $2.70 instead of 

 S3. 70 as stated in article alluded to. Ac Avoca is the 

 House Dukinfield. Board $10 to $14 per week. 



As to game, you will find attached to the property ten 

 thousand acres of protected shooting lands, well stocked 

 with deer, turkeys, birds and squirrels, foxes, etc. Geese 

 and ducks aa-e about four houib' run below us, but easily 

 reached. The birds this year are in great abundance, 

 large pea flelds offering best of cover andfeeding ground. 

 Deer are plenty and easily found within 1-| miles to 4 

 miles. Turkeys are more plenty than for years, there 

 being great quantities of beech, hickory and oak nuts. 

 There were 28 seen in two flocks two days ago by parties 

 at work on my plantation. Squirrels are plenty and on 

 good dry grounds for hunting. Mr. Todd, an amateur, 

 killed two gobblers, one with each barrel, as they rose, 

 aggregating 431b8., last spring, 1890. 



In Salmona Creek, near the hotel, you have a nice 

 stream for boating. It is well filled with North Carolina 

 speckled perch and big-mouth bass, that are game tind 

 take live bait or fly. Tom Webb caught 841bs. aggre^rate 

 at two successive fishings, with common hook and line 

 and live bait, this season. W. R. Cajpbhaht. 



COONS IN "BANKS'S HOLLER." 



IN the southern part of "York State," fifteen or sixteen 

 miles above the Pennsylvania line, some twenty five 

 years ago, a group of about thirty houses, a blacksmith 

 shop, tavern and grocery store, situated at the intersec- 

 tion of two main roads, constituted the village of P 



V . The inhabitants were of that kindly class of people 



who considered themselves superior to none and equal to 

 all. Neighborly feeling prevailed, and old and young, 

 rich — if there were any — and poor, associated on the 

 same level. The grocery store on one corner and the 

 tavern on the other were the principal resorts of the men 

 folks, when their day's work was ended, for an h( ur or 

 two's social gossip before bedtime. Then the frequenters 

 dropped out by ones or twos for their several homes, for 

 bedtime was an early hour, and 9 o'clock usually saw the 

 proprietors putting up their shutters for closing, except 

 in the amusement season, when sleighing parlies and 

 protracted meetings were in vogue. Then the nights 

 were enlivened by the jingling of old-tashioned sleigh 

 bells and the good-natured hilarity of sleighing parties on 

 their way to some distant farmh^.use to spend the night 

 in dancing to the tune of "Money MuEk" or whatever the 

 fiddlers chose to give them by way of music, until hard 

 cider or mayhap a secreted bottle of something str nger 

 got the better of the leader or of both of the musicians, 

 when, if there were none in the party who could or 

 would take their places, it broke up and returned home 

 to a late breakfast and the duties of the day. 



When the protracted meeting season was on, which, 

 designedly or otherwise, usually came after dancing par- 

 ties began to lag, footsteps were turned toward the ( Id 

 red school house a little further up the road on the hill, 

 where, night after night, the circuit preachers, elders and 

 deacons held forth with all their might and eloquence to 

 re-enthuse the good people of the town and surrounding 

 country in the work for their spiritual and moral welfare, 

 and bring back to the fold such as had so far strayed 

 away as to be considered backsliders. Aside from the 

 good that was done, this made excuse for beaux and 

 sweethearts to meet of tener, and for them the season waa 

 too short. 



There were some oongemal character e in the oommun- 



