Jan. 5, 1893.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



8 



SOME BOSTON SUCCESSES. 



Boston, Jan. 1. — ^The season on Maine big game has 

 closed, and yet the ro]X)i'ts of the wonderful'sncc-ess (he 

 hunters have had continue to come in. The Dr. Bisliop 

 ChristiTias hunting party lias proved sometliing of a. suc- 

 cess, notsvitlistandrng the adverse crmdrt ions of most re- 

 markably cold weather and g. crusted suotv of anvAvhere 

 from lOiu. In 3ft. in depth. Tins suoav made still-hnut- 

 ing ratlier diiiicuh, and besides some of the party were 

 .somewhat frost-bitten. The mercury wa.s down as low as 

 80 below zero part of the time. Dr. Bisliop contracted a 

 very bad cold. One of the guides is reported to have 

 frozen one of liis feet; Mr. James Pirown froze bis chin 

 and Dr. Sanborn his cheeks and ears. But Dr. Bishop 

 wa.s up in a day or two and after the moose, one of which 

 lie follow-ed all one day, only to find that it was a cow. 

 ;u id he would not destroy it." A pool ^\•as ma.de up in the 

 party for the man wlio should succeed in liringing in the 

 first head of big game. Mr, N. C. Nash was the fortunate 

 person, the president of the Massachusetts Rifle Associa- 

 tion. Tie brought in the licad of a fine caribou on Mon- 

 day. Mr. Sanborn has shot a fine deer, weighing uearlv 

 20()lbs. Mr. James Bi-oavu has also killed anotliei- deer. 

 A numlier of caribou a.nd deer were started, l:iut tJie 

 weather was toi) liad i'or remaining long on the trail, and 

 the snow ^^^as crustt:d so Ixidly as to niake very diflicult 

 himting. Five moose have" been started by" different 

 memliers of the jjarty. but only two were fairly seen, and 

 these Avere both, cows, in fine condition. They were 

 allowed to escape. The party was to arrive in Boston on 

 Tuesday evening. 



Souie of the Waltham hunters have 

 liad remark alily good success in the 

 Maine woods the ]3ast season. Oliver 

 Cone, a noted lover of lirmting in that 

 town, Charles TIerrick and C. H. Bull 

 returned a weeh or more ago from a 



most successful deer himt in that State. 

 They Avent to Oldtown, a,ud then into 

 the Avilds beyond. Nine deei; Avere the 

 result of the hunt. One of tliese they 



used for food, and the eight they brought 

 out to Waltham, Tliere ^^-ere foiu' bucks 



and four docs. The carcasses of th(-' 



entire munl)er were exhibited in Mc- 



Clure's store Avindow, and attracted a 



good deal of attention. Mr. A. W. 



The napkins, who gave me the item, says 



it was the finest display of game CA-'er 



seen in Waltham. 

 Mr. H. E. Mudgett. of Auburn, Me.. 



has the credit of bringing the largest 



caribou to tliat town recently CA'er seen 



there. It excited a great de'al of curi- 

 osity when it Avas exhibited at Peables & 



Garcelon's store. Mr. Mudgett owns a 



fine cam]j at the Penobscot headAvaters, 



^Vliich he Adsits eA'ery season, and he has 



shot a. number of caribou there. He 



writes me that tliis one, killed near his 



camp, on Dec. 14. beats auAdhing he has 



6A-er seen in the line of caribou. Otliers 



he has kdled. sruiie Aveighing up to 



3501bs., one the same day, but this big- 

 one he declares must liaA'e \\'eighed fuUy 



fiOOlbs. at the time he was shot — a moii- 



ster for a. caribou. Mr. Mudgett, in the 



same letter, also extends a most kindly 



invitation to me to A isit his camp Avith 



him next .season; a remarkaldy good 



location for cariljoir. The camp is Avest 



of Mount Chase, on the shores of Shin 



Pond. Perliaps Mr. Mxidgett Avould 



kindly include some one or' two of the 



good readers of the Forest .^nd Stream 



in his invitation. To visit a cainp like 



that. Avilh su(di a successful and genial 



hmdf r as 5Ir. Miidgett, Avould be a treat 



worth a lifetime. 

 One of tlic gieale~t niuose liunts of the 



^easorJ r>f seeujs to liave not )ret been 



rejjorted. Dr, C. F. RoAvell and D. L. 



Hall. Iwth of the town of Wilton. Me., 



seem to haA-e had an experience Avith 



the lordly moose of that State that is 



worth relating. They left tliat toAA-n 



Late in Noveniber,[for a, hurding ti'ip into 



the famous Spencer and Dead Rivei- 



region. Being thoroughly familiar a\ ith 



the Avoods and the nlethod of hunting 



lai'ge game, they took no guides, Di\ 



Rowell writes me tliat early in the trip 



they found signs of big moose — signs 



that are recognizable onry to tliose who 



are accustomf d to such hunting. lu a few da\'s they had 



the big fellows located. Then thcA' \\'aited for a suitable 



day for the hunt, instead of trying- to capture them under 



unfavorable circumstances, a proceeding that Avould have 



been very likely to haA^e i-esulted in a failure. A light 



snow soon came one niglit— just tlie day for the bruit. 



Dr. EoAvell av rites; • ^ We left camp early in the morning. 



and were soon on the tracks of two large bidl moose. We 



knew the nature of our game by the marks of their 



antlers on the trees. FolloAving on. to the leeward all the 



time, and as still as it is possible for a hunter to move in 



the Avoods, it Avas not long before Ave caught sight of an 



enornrous pair of antlers. These we saAv before we sa,Av 



the great bidl to Avhicli they belong, and 1 at first thought 

 that they Avere the roots of a great tree that had been 



upturned by the AA'iud. But "sh! sh! It moA'esI It is 



the great king of game! He had not seen us. and we 

 bent down to reconnoiter. We soon saAv the other Indl 

 about 25yds. ahead of the first one. Both were some 



r)Oyds. from us. It Avas time for action. We leveled our 



rifles, both aiming just back of the foreshotdders each 



hunter upon Ins oavu moose. With a pre<^-oncerted Avink 



.Eall ga\-e the signal and Ave both fired. We then rushed 



upon our game, flrmg second and third shots the best Ave 



could. We c|uic-k!y passed one moose in tlie throes of 



death. The other Avas making a trad of blood, but moA- 

 ing rapidly enough to give us some concern lest he should 



escape in a A\'ounded condition . But he only ran some 



sixty rods to a thicket that he apparently did not liave 

 tJie force to enter. As Ave approached he turned and 



faced us, evidently with the intention of charging upon 



shots to bring the grea t f eUow doAvn. Our game weighed, 

 when dressed, 7.50 and 7881bs. respectively. When alive 

 we estimated them to haA-e weighed 1,150 and 1.2001bs. 

 They st,ood IS hands and 19 hands ;]in. high. Both had 

 particularly flne antlers, and are claimed to be the finest 

 specimens ever taken in that region. But here tlie hunt 

 ended and the Avorlc began. It took us uine davs to get 

 the great fellows out to the settlement, vdth the help' of 

 four or five Canadians. The heads are being mounted by 

 Link Daniels, of Portland, in this State. We also .shot "a 

 fine bttck deer and a, fox, malcing a. pretty h[g bag of 

 game for a iia.rty (.if only two, Avith no guide; OA-enfor the 

 Dead Ri\-ej- region. Mr. Hall (iarried a Winchester rifle, 

 .32-40, and 1 a. Marlin ,S8-40." 



The above adds tw. ) more to the -already full account 

 of moose kdled in Maine during the open season of 1892. 

 The presf'uce of such game is remarkable, and speaks 

 volumes for what protection has done in that State. 

 The hunt is also a very remarkable one, and one that 

 shoAX's most careful planning, leading up to to a suc- 

 cess that the hunters can never forget. I do not know 

 the ojiinion of Dr. Howell and Mr. Hall, but I have 

 talked A\ ith a number of other successful moose htmt- 

 ers. and they all tell me that the enthusiasm and the 

 excitement is very great until the fatal shot has been 

 filed and the moijse lies prostrate. Then comes a re- 

 action, foUowed almost invariably by the Avish that it 

 had been a nice deer, or some sort of game that it 

 is not almost beyond the reach of human possibihty 

 to get out before it has spoiled. But manv gentlemen 

 of means, and ardent lovers of hunting, will frequently 



MARSH SHOOTING. 



AJIONG THE WILDFOWL.— XXI, 

 vvhai -lantalizing things a tellovr does see vrhen he's out -^vitho-at a guu 



Bat om- rifles were ready, though it took four more 



pay out a great deal of money and .spend much time for 

 the sake of a shot at a moose, and often they are. satis- 

 fied AAdth one. Special. 



OUT OF HIS RECKONING. 



A YOUNG sportsman of Sandwich, Mass.. BoAvme by 

 name, had an unexpected encounter on the beach a feAv 

 days since. He Ava.s looking for other game Avhen he 

 came upon a fine green turtle somewhat benumbed liy 

 the cold, but resolutely headed toAvard Buzzards Bay. 

 some six miles distant, across the narrowest part of Cape 

 Cod. The tm-tle Aveighed about loOlbs., and as his flap- 

 pers were unpierced there <;an be little dout't that he ran 

 out of his course Avhen southward bound, aftei- spending 

 his summer in the North Atlantic. Oreen turtle occa,"- 

 sionally range as far north as tlie Grand Banks arjd re- 

 tm-n south by Avay of the Labrador Current: but unless 

 they keep, well oft' shore. Cape Cod Bavisa cul de sac from 

 Avhich they can hardly escape. Can it be possible tha± 

 this Avaif of the southern seas hoped to burrow in the 

 northern sands to a depth that would enable Mm to 

 hibernate something after the custom of his resident 

 cousins in these higher latitude.s— the snappers and pond 

 turtles. I never heard of such an instance, but the 

 promptings of nature are Avonderful for the preservation 

 of her lost children. It is most likeh' that the poor fel- 

 low s naturally cold blood Avas chdled bevond further 

 endurance by the icy waters of JMassachusetts Ba.v and he 

 sought the shore as a last desperate refuge, It is' remark- 

 able that he survived the cold so long. I can testify, 

 however, that he was in good condition and made most 

 excellent soup. q. l. w. 



Shooting wild ducks in the fresh Avater marshes that 

 border the shores of many of our inland lakes is grand 

 .sport Avhen foAvd are abundant, and to the lover of nature 

 there is a peculiar charm in pursuing them in such looah- 

 ties that is lacking in many of their dcep-Avater resorts. 



Scattered irregularly about, in the mi^st of the lusty 

 groANdng mass of wdd rice, blue flag, and the Afarious 

 growths which floinish here, are calm, still pools of open 

 water, often frmged with patches of poml lilies of rare 

 beauty and size. The broad, raftlike leaves tempt many a 

 gorgeous dragon fly to alight and spread Ivis gauzy wings 

 in the warm, atttumn sunshine. Water spiders innumer- 

 able play at 'vhidc and seek" among the Idy pads, and 

 Ave may also discoA-er tlie gossamer spider in the act of 

 launchiiig his fairy Aveli of spun silk from the tip of a tall 

 rice stem. These modest little fellows Imve succes.sfuUy 

 solved the problem of aerial navigation, and the filmy 

 sails of their ghstening " Avhite scpiadron are spread to 

 the light air A\'hich breathes from the south, and sail in 

 the blue sky like tiny cloudlets. 



"Tis true Ave are after ducks, but the surroimdings al- 

 ways add a charm to the pursuit of game, and fortunate 

 is he who can observe and appreciate, even to a limited 

 extent, this teeming insect life, as he cautiously jjushes his 

 light boat through the marsli in searcli. of Avild fo^vl, 



Silently we glide along the lanes of open Avater, which 

 thread their devious paths among the reeds. What's 

 that ? A guarded rpiack ! quack ! from the margin of an 

 opening, whose still w^aters we see ghstening just ahead 

 betrays the presence of clucks. 



Now is the time for a tenderfoot to 

 have the duck ague," and even to an 

 old hand the experience is ever new, 

 ever thi-iUing. 



W^e have all along moved stealthily, no 

 careless crashing through the reeds, no 

 jar of paddle has disturbed the quiet. 

 But noAv we must exercise the greatest 

 caution, we must steal up to this little 

 l iool with the silence of a thought. 



Where is the man who has felt the 

 keen excitement of such a moment that 

 will CA'er forget it? 



As Ave near the spot a basking pickerel 

 darts Avith a sudden rush from under the 

 lily pads. Such is our nervous tension 

 that it seems as though Ave had struck a 

 whale and a chill creeps down our spine. 

 Hush-sh-sh ! Here we are ! 

 NoAA' ! A few vigorous strokes, deep, 

 long, and strong, and our little craft like 

 a racer under tiie lash springs forAvaa'd 

 into the open. 



Whirr! Whirr! Whirr-r-rrr! Rights 

 left, all around us, the air seems alive 

 with ducks. 



To drop the paddle, seize the gim and 

 fire is the Avork of an instant. 



HoAv the echoes are flying in response 

 to the bang ! bang ! of our salute, AA^hile 

 clear and thrdling amidst the din there 

 comes to our ears a sounding splash ! 

 splash ! announcing the successful shots. 



This is not luck alone, no one may 

 lilunder through the marsh and kill 

 game. It is the quick ear, the, cautious 

 approach, the thorough know hoAv," 

 coupled with perfect accord of braiii, 

 eye and finger, that instinctively presses 

 the trigger at the right instant, that has 

 won tlie prize. My Avord for it. that 

 right and left, made so handsomely in 

 this lonelj^ mar.sh, Avill serve meniory 

 with an incident to quicken the heart- 

 beats for many a day to come. 



If we had decoys I should set them 

 out right here, for this is eAddently a 

 favorite spot with the ducks, as thoSe ' 

 numerous floating feathers. indicatiA-e of 

 a leisurely toilet, will testify, and in due 

 course, when satisfied that "all danger is 

 past, they w iU return by tAvos and threes, 

 affoxdrngfine sport. Not haAdng decoys, 

 om- best chance AviU be among the reeds 

 at the head of the marsh, where it nar- 

 rows out toAA'ard the lake. There Ave 

 shall be apt to see every cluck that comes 

 in, and, if fortmiate, by sundoAvn vve 

 AVill have added largely to our score. 



Here is the place ! You see Ave a-re 

 concealed from the eyes of any incoin- 

 ing birds, the sun is at our back, and 

 right before us is spread a. lovely picture, 

 in front, directly across the mar-sh (here about fortv 

 yards 111 Avidth). a heavfly timbered ridge runs down to 

 the lake shore, and in the full glow of changing foliaa-e 

 blushmg in the mellow sunhght Avhicli floods the scene' 

 the effect is mdescribable. High in au- the light gon- 

 dolas of the spiders are drifting, each bearing- its tiny 

 navigator, and while watching one little craft (that has 

 become entangled through carelessly taking a loAver com\se 

 over the reeds) a huge .shadow ghdes upon the Avater 

 before irs. 



We knoAv that something Avith feathers is near by and 

 [•coming to a ready" Ave Avait an instant, onlv to see an 

 unmense blue heron sail over, not ten yards away 



W^ell! He was surprised Avhen he caught sight of us. 

 It is augliable to see one ot these clumsy feUoAvs vsdien 

 startled. They seem to be all tangled up for a, moment, 

 head, legs and wmgs are going hke the sails of a wind- 

 mdl, as they make a ludicrous etfoit to get aAvay 



See that duck ! Bang ! Never touched him ' 



What ! By George, he's down ! well ! well ' 



Quick ! mark north three blacks ! 

 Great Cajsax ! " all there? Yes ! all cleaned out ' 



^^""""^ fte™oon, killing some, missing 

 others takmg no note of time as the golden hom-s sUp by 

 untd the hooting owls in the darkening woods on eithir 

 side the marsh teU us it is time to be moving out and on 

 our departure Ave can fancy their big broad wings are 

 hovermg over the scene in search of a possible cripnle 

 Avherewith to regale themselves. cxippie 



I wonder if they enjoy hunting as much as Ave do? 



B,^ nto.^, Lpng lsland, Y. ^"^'^^^ TOWKSEND. 



