:^OHESt AND StRfiAM. 



[Sept. 22, 1892 



NOTES FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



Game Prospects in Pike County. 



Glen Eyee, Pa.— The open season on ruifed grouse 

 commenced Sept. 15 in Pike county, Pa., and considering 

 the dense foliage, heavy growth of scrub oak, and general 

 thick underbrush, very good bags have been made. 

 "What is now needed is a strong frost, followed by a heavy 

 rain, that would drop the leaves, and give one a fair open 

 sight shot, in place of hip and snap shooting now the only 

 possible method of success. The birds are now in h.eavy 

 swales and thick laurel swamps, almost impossible for 

 man to penetrate or dog to work. 



A good season is expected, and there are certainly far 

 more birds than for the last two years. 



Woodcock are fairlj^ abundant and are now showing 

 themselves on the edge of the meadows. The fall flight 

 about the middle of October is the best shooting period. 



Quail do not exist in quantities unless in the Delaware 

 valley. 



Deer sh.ow a large increase over the past five years. 



Bear also have been seen all summer and will prove 

 ample sport for those who care to indulge in this style of 

 game. 



The best route for sportsmen to take to reach the best 

 shooting ground is via the Brie R. R. to Port Jervis, 

 three hours from New York, and from there by stage, on 

 fine roads toMilford, Dingman's Ferry or Bushkill, where 

 very comfortable hotels may be found and in easy 

 distance f rom^ome of the best shooting in the State. Y, 



Nova Scotia Hnipe and Woodcock. 



Halifax, N. S., Sept. 9.— Our woodcock shooting 

 started here on Aug. 20, but 1 have not given them much 

 attention yet, putting in my spare time with the snipe and 

 picking up odd woodcock on the way. On the 20th a 

 friend and myself bagged brace of snipe and wood- 

 cock, and on 27th we brought back lOi brace of snipe and 

 woodcock. On Sept. 2 we knocked over 18i brace of 

 woodcock and snipe, also a pair of bittern that got in the 

 way; but these, with yellowlegs, mud snipe, etc., we 

 don't count as game and pay no a ttention to them, except 

 they come fooling about when the gun happens to be 

 loaded and pointed their way, I hear of some good bags 

 of woodcock being made by parties up on old ground of 

 mine, through Musquodobit— one bag of 40 brace, another 

 of 20 brace, but then that was with three and four guns, 

 and, after all, it is poor sport, as weather is very warm, 

 covers thick and birds poor, October and the fii'st part 

 of November are the best; then the birds are strong of 

 wing and are in fine condition. On Nov. 1, last year, my 

 friend Wallace and myself knocked over 13 woodcock, 1 

 snipe and 5 grouse, and they were worth getting. We are 

 off again to-morrow, and expect to make a fair bag; will 

 report later. H. Avsten, 



Squirrels in Northern New York. 



Glens Fallb, N. Y. — This appears to be a squirrel year 

 in northern New York, and gray squirrels are more plen- 

 tiful than at any time during the past ten years. One 

 man killed forty-seven gray and black squirrels just over 

 the line in Washington county in one afternoon last week. 

 Bags of fifteen to twenty-five are not uncommon. Deer 

 seem to be almost as thick as squirrels if one can believe 

 the reports, A friend who has just returned from Har- 

 risburgh, in Warren county, tells me that in one day 

 twelve deer were killed there, and ihe next day seven 

 more met the same fate. Remember that this is done 

 within fifty miles of Saratoga Springs, and then imagine 

 what the prospect for deer should be further away in 

 "the wilderness," A. N, C. 



Kansas Small Game. 



Ottawa, Kansas, Sept, 16,— The squirrel hunters have 

 been having fine success around here. Last week a party 

 of four went down the river from this -place for a couple 

 of days hunting. They stayed one night and part of two 

 days and brought back about seventy squirrels. Besides 

 this they killed one coon, four possums and five skunks, 

 and they didn't keep track of the watermelons they 

 bagged. Several parties have been out bunting prairie 

 chickens lately without much success, A bag of three 

 old ones is the largest I have heard of. F. B, 



New Hampshire Small Game. 



Chaulestown, N, H., Sept. 18,— Fishing ofi'! Shoot- 

 ing on! Few birds yet, but great invasion of gray 

 squirrels, the fix-st for nine years. Caianot see now to 

 shoot myself in the thick foliage, but a young friend has 

 been out three times, getting 6, 10 and 6, respectively. 

 Two young men from Claremonc are reported to have 

 shot 30, weighing 4111bs,, on the slopes of Asciitney 

 Mountain, a week since, and I hear of numerous other 

 bags, Wnere do they all come fromV Who can answer? 



Von W. 



Big Game in the Hockies. 



A CORRESPONDENT living ou the flanks of the Rocky 

 Mountains wishes to take out a hunting party for big 

 game during the coming month of October. He states 

 that on the ground he is to visit he can guarantee shots 

 at elk, mountain sheep and white goats, The name of 

 our correspondent can be had by addressing Big Game, 

 this office. 



Squirrel Year in Missouri. 



Springfield, Mo,, Sept, 8,— Quail will be plentiful 

 notwithstanding the wet spring. Farmers report this to 

 be "squirrel year." A. E. H. 



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

 Price $2.50. Wing and Glass Ball Shootinc/ vntli the 

 Rifle. By W. C. Bliss. Price SO cents. Bifle, Bod and 

 Own in California. By T. Van Dyhe. Price Sl.oO. 

 Shore Birds'. Price 15 cents. Woodcraft. By "Xess- 

 muk.' Price $1. Trajectories of Hunting Rifle's. Price 

 SO cents Wild Fowl Shooting; see advertisement. 



THE DOLLY VARDEN TROUT. 



It has not escaped the notice of anglers that the trout 

 native to Eastern waters are, with only a few exceptions, 

 red-spotted, while the species native to the West and 

 Northwest are nearly all black-spotted. In the West the 

 black-spotted forms are numerous, and in the East there 

 is a goodly number of red-spotted species, of which the 

 common brook trout represents one group and the golden 

 trout of New England lakes typifies another. 



Dr, Jordan has explained in these columns that our 

 black -spotted trout are the analogues of the trout of 

 Europe while our red-spotted species are in the category 

 of charrs. The East has several charrs; the West has 

 only one, the Dolly Varden. This fine fish is a very near 

 relative of the Salbling or Ombre clievalier of European 

 waters, and of the golden trout, the sea trout of Labra- 

 dor, and the Floeberg charr of the extreme north part of 

 Arctic America, 



The DoUy Varden inhabits cold mountain streams of 

 California, Oregon and Washington, and extends north- 

 ward to the Arctic regions of Alaska and British Colum- 

 bia. It is known, also, from Kamtschatka, There is no 

 doubt that the species lives in the Mackenzie and tribu- 

 taries of the Saskatchewan. It has long been known as 

 the bull trout in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Prof. 

 Evermann was reliably informed by Montana fishermen 

 that this trout is common in most of the large tributaries 

 of the Golu'nbia in Montana, particularly in the Hell 

 Gate. Missoula, Pend d'Oieille, Flathead, Bitter Root, and 



The HAZATsn Poavdku Oo. has sent ub a novel paper. wpight, 

 in tJie form ol a small powder caalster. It is a perfect fac shnUc. 

 of the patent cani8iei-8 used by this company, bat is narmlesi, 

 being fllied witJti saud, instead of "Kentucky Rifle," as the label 

 would lead one to expect. It is an ingenious idea, well carried 

 out, and should prove a good advertisement for tbe company. 



or sport. It seldom takes the fly in that part of the 

 country, being a ground feeder. He says it is softer in 

 flesh than the other two species, and that it is much more 

 voracious, killing every fish near it when closely confined 

 as in aquaria. 



"Scarlet-Ibis" stated in Forest and Stream, June 11, 

 1892, that a California fly-fisherman complained that the 

 Dolly Varden will not rise to the fly, though it takes bait 

 very well, even the "barnyard hackle," generally known 

 as "wums." He was told, however, that it will occasion- 

 ally take a bright salmon fly. The few he caught were 

 captured by trolling with a mottled pearl bait. Incident- 

 ally "Scarlet-Ibis'' noted that the fish was spawning in 

 September. T. H, B, 



SAGE HENS AND CUT-THROAT TROUT. 



An article which I read some time since in the columns 

 of your valuable journal, from Doctor Thomas Tarton 

 ("Lone Fisherman''), in regard to sport in Snake River 

 section, Idaho, led me to open a correspondence with 

 him, which resulted in my paying him a visit. 



Our party, consisting of Jack, Howard and the Old 

 Man, arrived at Beaver Canon, Idaho, on the morning of 

 July 29 last, where we found that everything had been 

 arranged by the indefatigable Doctor for our trip and for 

 our comfort and pleasure. 



After a hearty breakfast at mine host Coulson's, we 

 donned our hunting clothes and were soon seated behind 

 the Doctor's fine team, "John and Bill," and whirled 

 away toward our first stopping place, Mrs. Bell's, some 

 twenty-five miles distant. Before reaching there, how- 

 ever, we let out the Doctor's setter Pat, and in a few 

 moments he was pointing. The Doctor's laconic remark, 



DOLLY VARDEN TROITT (Salvelinns muimn^. 



Big Blackfoot rivers, and in Swan and Flathead lakes. 

 The Bitter Root, near Missoula, is credited with individ- 

 uals weighing 12 to 14lbs. 



The McOloud River Indians call the Dolly Varden wye- 

 dar deek-it. The name Dolly Varden was applied to it at 

 Soda Springs, Cal., more than twenty years ago, as will 

 appear from Mr. Livingston Stone's notes in the U. S. Fish 

 Commission Report for 1872-73, page 207. The name 

 bull-trout is current for it also in California. Another 

 name applied to the species in Montana and Alaska is 

 salmon trout, while in California it is the brook trout. 

 The Russians call it goletz, and in Kamtschatka it is the 

 malma. 



In the northern portions of its range, where cold water 

 is found at the sea-level, the Dolly Varden enters the 

 ocean and becomes the object of a fishery of some im- 

 portance; this is especially the case in British Cohimbia 

 and Alaska, 



The Dolly Varden is a very large trout, its average size 

 increasing with its range northward. In Alaska it is not 

 uncommon to catch examples weighing 10 or 12lbs., and 

 equally large specimens are recorded from Montana. 

 When it is recalled that this is one of the liveliest of game 

 fishes in most localities it will be admitted that the West 

 is favored in its possession. 



This trout is migratory and passes much of its time in 

 the sea near the river mouths; it enters the rivers late in 

 the fall and descends in the spring. The young, however, 

 remain in the streams during the summer, thus differing 

 in habits from the adults. Mr. E. W. Nelson found the 

 Dolly Varden at Unalaska early in June and in the Yukon 

 River in the same month. The writer also has taken 

 them at Unalaska about the same time. In the Yukon 

 Mr. Nelsom observed them to be most abundant in the 

 fall just before and after the streams freeze over. 



There is some uncertainty about the date of the spawn- 

 ing season. J. B. Campbell, who was employed at the 

 McCloud River some years ago, fixes the time in Sep- 

 tember and until November. This is corroborated by 

 my own discovery of eggs, nearly matured, at Karluk, 

 Alaska, in August, The eggs are about one-half as 

 large as in the rainbow trout. 



Mr. Campbell says it is very hard to hold a Dolly Var- 

 den, the fish slipping out of one's hands almost like 

 an eel. 



In the fresh waters this trout feeds chiefly on salmon 

 eggs, and is justly regarded as very destructive to the 

 larger fish of its own family on this account. Around 

 the fish-cleaning houses at the canneries of Alaska greedy 

 hordes of Dolly Varden may be seen consuming the eggs 

 which are thrown overboard. Specimens taken at sea 

 sometimes have cajjelin in their stomachs. In fishing 

 for the Dolly Varden no other bait is more effective than 

 salmon eggs. 



Natives of northern Alaska make very pretty water- 

 proof clothing from the skins of this trout. 



There is, perhaps, no other trout in the West which is 

 so readily taken with the artificial fly. In the summer 

 of 1889 a party from the steamer Albatross caught several 

 hundred in one hour by this method of fishing. Living- 

 ston Stone has stated that it will also take live bait with 

 avidity. Mr. Nelson took specimens weighing lib. and 

 upward with a brown-hackle and found them game and 

 offering good sport on favorable days. 



The illustration of the Dolly Varden trout is copied 

 from Fig. 1 , plate XXV. , Report on Fishcultural Stations 

 in Rocky Mountain Region and Gulf States, issued by 

 the Government Printing Oflice. 



Capt. Charles Bendire informed me that the bull trout, 

 as it is generally known in the Northwest, is not equal to 

 the eteelbead or the jred-throated trout either for eating 



"Chickens," tumbled me out of the wagon, anda moment 

 later scored my first sage hen: in fact the first I had ever 

 seen. From my imperfect knowledge of the characteristics 

 of this member of the grouse family, I expected to see a 

 bald-headed fowl, wise in its day and generation and 

 more than a match for a charge of No. 7 shot backed by 

 Sohultze powder and a correct aim, but this chicken— about 

 two- thirds grown — seemed lacking in the essential quality 

 of speed of wing, which is possessed by our ruffed grouse,, 

 and tumbled in a very much demoralized conditional the 

 crack of my little Scott gun. With the remark, "ThesB' 

 are too easy, Doctor." He replies, "Wait till September,, 

 when they are full grown and feathered and begin to. 

 pack, rising wild, you will need a chokebore and heavy, 

 charges with No. 4 shot to stop them." 



At this season of the year their education is somewhat^ 

 neglected and they are busy feeding and growing, but no. 

 doubt, later, the Doctor's assertion will be fully verified,, 

 and they will become sage both in knowledge and flavor. 



In less than two hours, we had bagged thirty-seven, all 

 we could use that day, and stopped shooting. Mrs. Bell 

 had a fine siipper awaiting us to which we did ample 

 justice, and after a smoke, were soon in bed to enjoy 

 such slumber as we had not had since a growing lad of 

 twelve. It was worth going many hundreds of miles, to 

 enjoy such sleep as we had that night. What caused it? 

 Certainly it was not the luxury of our surroundings, for 

 through the chinks of the logs you could see the stars 

 shining; no Axminster on tlie floor, and our room parti- 

 tioned by a cotton sheet. It was our tired brains, diverted 

 from the beaten track of close application to business, by 

 new thou.ghts, new scenes, new experiences, a complete 

 change, and with it came this sometimes unattainable 

 calm and dreamless sleep. 



The morning found us ou our way to the hospitable 

 ranch of Mr, G. E, Hopf on Snake River, and distant 

 about twenty-five miles. The saucy sage hens would 

 barely give us room to pass them on the road, which 

 they monopolized for dusting purposes. One, more bold 

 than the others, seemed to dispute the right of way, and 

 foolishly lost its life by being run over, the Doctor obstin- 

 ately refusing to turn out for its accommodation. Arriv- 

 ing at Mr. Hopf 's we were soon at home, and I cannot 

 say too much for the kind attention bestowed on our 

 party by Mrs. H, and her charming daughter's. 



Here in the morning we first strung up our rods, and 

 under the guidance of the Doctor, were soon fast to a cut 

 throat trout, In my judgment they are rightly named, 

 for aside from the distinguishing red slashes imder the 

 thi'oat, they seemed possessed of all the characteristics of 

 a veritable cut-throat, and take to fighting as naturally 

 as their namesake: they do not seem satisfied with a 

 short, hot round, but come up equally as ready and smil- 

 ing for several; in fact, fighting seems their forte, for it 

 is often a question whether you or the trout will give up 

 first, and many is the one that eventually, after a long, 

 hard struggle, twists the fly from his jaws and is victor. 

 No doubt the purity and coldness of the water has some- 

 thing to do with their staying qualities. 



Of the many trout streams 1 have whipped in the last 

 thirty years, none of them approach the North Fork of 

 Snake River in beauty of scenery or purity of water. The 

 clear, cold water springs from the rocks and starts from 

 its fountain head, a full-sized river, while hundreds of 

 clear, cold springs add to its volume ere it reaches the 

 junction of the South Fork, The water being so clear, il 

 requires a long free east to land your flies at a proper dis- 

 tance to prevent the observation by the fish of your 

 motions or movements. This makes it dilficult to the 

 amateur fly-caster, but to an experienced fisherman only^ 

 adds to the charm of fly-fisbing. This beautiful stream,' 



