MabcH 80, 1893.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



273 



On last Monday Mr. J. F. Barrel killed 100 ducks, mostly 

 ringbills, at English Lake, on the Kankakee. On the 

 same day Mr. Johnson, of the Waltonian Manufacturing 

 Co., of this city, with his friends Mr. H. Eossiter and Mr. 

 Wm. Cutler, bagged about 50 birds on the Kankakee 

 Marsh, near De Motte, Ind. Two parties have gone 

 down to Sandy Sollers's place, at Water Valley, near 

 Shelby, within the last three days and they should have 

 met shooting. I have also heard of another good bag, 40 

 birds, at Enghsh Lake. The largest bag of which I heard 

 at all wg^s made at Quinc3^ on the ]\fississippi Eiver, of 

 144 birds in a day to one gun. Several members of the 

 Hennepin Club, on the Illinois River, are now absent at 

 the club and some good shooting has been had there, or 

 near there, the past week. His royal highness, Grovemor 

 Altgeld, went down to Swan Lake Club to-day for a 

 brief go at the ducks. 



A Market-Shooter's Views. 



My friend Billy Griggs writes me from Browning, lU., 

 March 21, as foUows: "We haven't had many ducks here 

 on the IlHnois River tiiis spring, and I am glad of it. The 

 more I see and think about spring shooting the more I 

 don't want to do it. I am not going to kill any ducks for 

 the market this spring." 



I believe this is the first spring Billy ever didn't kill 

 ducks for the market siace he was big enough to wear 

 long boots. Is it not possible, gentlemen, that times may 

 have changed on this wildfowl question? 



Loose Prah-ie Soil. 

 I wish to carp a little about a story in the March Cen- 

 tury. The writer describes a "ranch ball," with Pike's 

 Peak for a background to the picture. The characters 

 get along all right with Pike's Peak in the night time, but 

 the author has one of them out plowing the next morning, 

 of course stQl in sight of the Peak, and his plow makes 

 ever such sti-aight, pretty furrows in the "loose prairie 

 soil." The Century often causes swift aches in a West- 

 erner's system when it tackles wild West topics. I wish 

 it would send out a commission to establish just how far 

 and since when the jirairies have run into the plains, and 

 whether a cold chisel would not be usef ul in turning the 

 loose soil of some of that plains and foothills country. 

 The writer of that article wrote from hearsay and not 

 from observation. He, or I would say, she, had never 

 tried to drive a tent pin in that loose prairie soil, or 

 lammed himself, or herself, vehemently thereon by reason 

 of a difference in behefs with a Colorado broncho. There 

 isn't a thing in Colorado that isn't looser than the soil. 



E. Hough. 



175 Monroe Street, Chicago. 



OREGON DUCKS. 



Portland, Ore., March 16. — Our spring shooting of 

 waterfowl closed yesterday. The boys have housed their 

 boats and decoys and laid away their guns. The shooting 

 has been the poorest for years, which can be accounted 

 for in various ways. 



A good joke was perpetrated to-day on my hunting 

 partner. Mr. J. Roberts Mead. He is one of our strongest 

 game protectionists, but circumstances came near making 

 him the victim of his own doctrines. He went down to 

 the Green Lake yesterday morning to round things up 

 and take a last look a.t his beloved lake for the season. Of 

 course he could not resist the temptation to give- his 

 friends, the canvas, a parting salute, and so before 10 

 o'clock in the morning there was a baker's dozen of the 

 russet-headed fellows hanging to his string. Here is 

 where the joke comes in. He failed to connect with the 

 morning boat up, and was forced to hang around down 

 there in the wilderness all day and stay another night in 

 the cabin alone. But his troubles did not end here. The 

 boys were lying in wait for him; and when he stepped 

 ashore this morning with his canvas, an officer tapped 

 him on the shoulder and called his attention to the fact 

 that he was an offender against the laws of the great State 

 of Oregon. Friends (?) here came to the rescue and the 

 offender's liberty was secured. Brother Mead is now 

 awaiting his tm-n. S. H. GREEi>ni:. 



"Johnny Get Your Gun." 



Did "I. C. J." kill the one quail and two woodcock fly- 

 ing at one shot? He does not say whether they were on 

 the ground or in the air; but anyhow he is entitled to the 

 chromo, and if he will come to Minneapolis he may take 

 my ha.t. 



I have never seen woodcock feeding or flying in flocks, 

 but then I have never hunted in Pennsylvania. Certainly 

 it would have been a rare treat to watch the fifteen feed- 

 ing, of which "I. C. J." speaks. I have never seen even 

 one feeding, and am told thej are the greediest feeders in 

 the world. To my fancy he is the most unique of the 

 feathered tribe, and ^vith his solitary habits and great 

 goggle eyes, and his beautifvil sombre markings the most 

 interesting. But I am not going to call him the "great 

 brown beauty." What a chestnut that is, and how tired 

 it makes me whenever 1 see it in print. J. I, C. 



Maine Sportsmen's Fish, and Game Association. 



Under this title an oi-ganization has been incoi-porated 

 by the Maine Legislature. The list of incorporators in- 

 cludes many representative men of the Sta te; twelve are 

 in the House and nine are in the present Senate; the Pres- 

 ident of one and the Speaker of the other are included; 

 two are on the Governor's staff and t^vo are of the Exec- 

 utive Council. Several of the others hold resijonsible 

 State, comity and city ofiBces as weU as in the courts. 



The ]5nrposes named in the charter are : ' 'Assisting in 

 the preservation of our forests and the prevention of 

 forest fires, in the protection of the fur, fish and game 

 of the State, in their propagation and in the en- 

 forcement of the fur, fish and game laws; in the 

 publishing and distributing of valuable information for 

 tlio benefit of all classes of our citizens, so that they will 

 become better qualified to judge ami understand their 

 rights and wrants, therehy aecLU'ing their sympathy and 

 confidence, for the purpose of aiding the State in the 

 enforce i lien t of tlie la\s-s ii'lating thereto. The associa- 

 tion ujay acfpiire real and piersoual pi-operty, occupy any 

 lands for tire use of the association, owned by the State, 

 by gift from or by lease, as the governor and council may 

 determiue; prosecute and defend suit-s at law, construct 



hatcheries for the propagation of both shore and inland 

 fish a,nd with the consent and under the supprvision of 

 the fish and game commissioners of the Stat^, construct 

 dams and fishways, screen outlets leading to large rivei-s 

 to prevent the sluicing of fish from waters that are being 

 stocked with fish, to provide suitable grounds, erect build- 

 ings for the use of the association, establish safe and per- 

 manent gun, rifle and revolvfjr ranges for the practice of 

 both military and sporting arms." 



The organiza,tion is due to the activity of Mr. J. A. Fair- 

 banks. Avho originated the scheme and has put it into 

 execution. 



Killing Maine -Cow Moose. 



Boston, March 2i.— Editor Forest and Stream: Being 

 very much interestpd in the protection of moose in Maine, 

 I wish through your paper to express my regret at the 

 change in the game laws in the State of Maine, which 

 will permit the killing of the cow moose during the open 

 season. It seems to me it is only a question of a short 

 time at best when the moose will be numbered among the 

 extinct animals in Jlaine, which will of course be hastened 

 by the action of the Maine Legislature. As one who has 

 hunted moose in Maine for a number of years, I am of the 

 belief that the number of moose killed will be greatly in- 

 creased by this change in the law, as it opens a clear field 

 for hide and meat hunters, already too large. 



Habry a. Pitman. 



"That Reminds Me." 

 A Cyclone with "Legs to It. 



Tacoma, Washington.— The common mule-eared deer 

 of our forests is a beautiful and graceful animal, and his 

 p)rofusion here gives us an opportunity to study him in all 

 his phases. One of his characteristics is unmense strength, 

 apparently out of proportion to his slender and exquisite 

 lines.^ To illustrate: Last fall a friend sent me a yearling 

 buck, and after I had expended about |15 for wire fencing, 

 and bad paid $10 more for damages to my neighboi-s' 

 shrubbery, awnings, vegetables, etc. , I determined upon 

 inflicting the lovely and docile creature upon some one 

 else. I selected my friend, E. S, G., a thorough lover of 

 animal life, and the proprietor of a very pretty park at 

 Lake Steilacoom, and sent him a carefully worded tele- 

 phone message advising him of my generous intentions, 

 and also instracting him to bring a wagon and a big dry 

 goods box with which to haul away his prize. 



My victim took the bait with the alacrity of a mountain 

 trout, and within two hours presented himself at the alley 

 gate equipped with every appUance for handling the 

 acquisition to his collection. 



Ben Harrison (that is the deer) nipped the succulent 

 verdm-e, and eyed askance the preparations for his enter- 

 tainment, and when Mr. G. announced that he was ready, 

 I led ,the gentle animal alongside of the box. Mr. G. 

 stooped deliberately and encircled the slender waist of 

 Mr. Ben Harrison, firmly and affectionately, and essayed 

 to hoist him over the side of the receptacle.' 



At this juncture something happened. It occurred so 

 suddenly that none of us could exactly tell how, but the 

 scene was shifted to the other side'of the alley, 40ft. away, 

 and the actors had changed places. A confused medley 

 of legs, horns, tail, plug hat, hnen duster, man with red 

 whiskers, and redder face, together with ashes, empty 

 cans and other bric-a-brac obscirred the vision for the 

 next five minutes so that the referee could not decide 

 irpon points and scores, but the spectators said that Benny 

 had the first round. 



I Avas just about to answer a professional call and stood 

 with gloves on and medicine case in hand, a glossy Dun- 

 lap sm-moimting my head, a little knot of violets upon 

 the lapel of my new overcoat. 



As the issue of the combat became doubtful I grew in- 

 tensely interested, and when Mr. G. lay flat upon h^s back 

 in the ash heap and Ben's feet, with the speed of lightning 

 and the precision of a paper knife, cut long strips in his 

 clothing, until a Calabrian beggar would have declined to 

 appear in such coat, vest or trousers, I got excited and 

 rushed into the ring. I was nearly knocked out in the 

 first round, a battered hat, a split glove, anri a cut ten 

 inches long through trousf^rs, drawers and integument 

 testifying to the athletic qualities of the thoroughly 

 frightened deer. I went back at him, though, and this 

 time sparring cautiously for an opening. I at last pounced 

 down into the ashes among the smothered expletives and 

 scintillating hoofs and succeeded in gTabbing both hind- 

 legs. 



After this, with the assistance of a rope, a small boy 

 and two ladies, we secured the gentle ruminant and boxed 

 him in due form. 



The episode lasted fifteen minutes and cost us $40 each 

 for clothing and a week's conanement to the house. 

 Hereafter commend me to the gentle and persuasive 

 allurements of a 40-inch buzz saw, but never again to the 

 illusive nether extremities of a mule-eared deer. 



J. A. Beebe, M.D. 



Wild Life in the Far West. 



We anticipate for Mr. CiriDnell's -'BlacWoot Lodge Tales" a sale 

 quite as Irarge as that reaohed by his "Pawnee Hero Stories." That 

 the book has pleased tlie critics is eertam. This is an extract from the 

 Boston Trwmcript: For the stories themseh-es, tai^en down fcoin the 

 lips of old warriors and braves, altered in phrasing only u-here trans- 

 position was necessary to obtain sense, they are fascinating in l lieir 

 honesty of narration, in the scenes of awful horror tbey conjiu-f up 

 the weu'dly poetic turn they often take, and in the cheerful n.atter- 

 of-facb way in which some incredible piece of bravery id disposed of 

 so different from our emotional vauntiag of tamer deeds. 



Pullman Car Roiite Chicago to Detroit and 

 Mt. Clemens. 



TiiAT-N.s leave cOtfarhovn tjiati n; Chic igo. dailv. via CliicaKo and 

 (,iand Irnnk K.niuav 1 ii n.lroit and d u!\ t m ei)t Saturd,i\ s Mt 



Clemens, at 11:2.-, A.M. nw\ P. M.. urriviug in Detroit 9-25 P M end 

 J' V ^1 he l,rr , L IS in, t iml ,1, jint Pullm ui bullet sleepiuff 



m.ji iiuis r ■.eiriii siiiJd.v..\ , riiLs the only route bv vvhichMt. Clemens 

 i:^ iMLljf.i the v.e.st without, iLing oiiiinbus transfer in Detroit, 



lol-.rjts u: tui ther uiloruiatiou apply to E. H. Hughes. G. W. P. 



■ it, Chicago, 111 , or J. A, Robbins, 



. 1. t-i y, liB s. ("'lark stn 



Ticket Agent, Dearborn btatton.— 



T7ie Fish Laws of the United States and Canada, in the 

 "Gam,e Laivs in Brief," 25 cents. In the "Boolt of the 

 '■ Game Laws" {full text), 50 cents. 



BAIT-CASTING FOR BASS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of March 16 "Eurus" expresses the inten- 

 tion of following my advice and giving bait-casting a 

 thorough trial on the first opportunity. "I feel that 

 "Burns" and I are coming to an understanding after all 

 and that in time we can be veiy good friends, and to this 

 end I will meet him half way and drop all pseudonyms or 

 nom de 2Jlumes and will ask him to do the same. "A 

 Bait-Caster" is hardly as pretty a pseudonym as "Eurus" 

 I will admit. 



Now to the point. He says that I take it for granted 

 he does not understand bait-casting and that in this I am 

 wrong, as he has taken a number of bass in this manner 

 and has attained some decree of proficiency in it, but that 

 he rarely practices it on the lake he mentioned, because 

 he foimd it inefl'ectual. 



I took it for granted that he did not understand bait- 

 casting, because I have never yet found a man who, when 

 he had, conquered it, would willingly go back to trolling, 

 no matter how ineffectual it might prove or on what 

 water he foxmd himself. No, my friend, you have never 

 mastered bait-casting. You think you have, no doubt. 

 I thought so for many years and am just beginning to 

 imderstand that I did not. It is an art not easily ac- 

 quired, not easy to become proficient in. You may be 

 able by main strength to place your frog, say 60 to 70ft. 

 away from your boat, but can you drop it gently in a 

 hole in the weeds, say 4ft. square and 100 to 125ft. away? 

 Own up now, do you honestly know just where your frog 

 will drop when you mal-e your cast? I have been bait- 

 casting for about nine years and I confess I have not 

 mastered the ins and outs of it yet. Every once and 

 awhfle I will find that my bait has fallen short of the 

 mark about 30 to 40ft. and that my fine is a mass of 

 tangle on my reel. I go at it carefully and always find 

 that there is a kind of slip noose and indescribable slip 

 noose that cannot be explained in words. The line has 

 formed itself into two links resembling the finks of a log 

 chain, and it woidd puzzle a Yankee lawyer to know how 

 to imdo it, to say nothing of how it got there. 



This noose is the result of allowing the reel to overrun — 

 not placing the thumb upon it at the right time. When 

 the bait first flies from the end of the pole it draws with it 

 the line and gives impetus to the red. If the reel works 

 freely, as it must to cast effectually, it will continue to re- 

 volve some little time after gravity overcomes the impetus 

 of the bait, and it not being able to throw off the line, the 

 line naturally cUngs to the reel and is rewound in the con- 

 trary direction: The act of placing the thumb upon the 

 reel, or rather upon the line wound on the reel, is techni- 

 cally known as "thumbing," and the thumbing at the 

 right time is the most necessary part of bait-casting. 



This little eccentricity that the reel possesses when bait- 

 casting is very discouraging to the novice, and causes him 

 more often to go back to trolling than the particular water 

 in which he finds himself. It is not necessary that there 

 should be a great|abundance of reeds or aquatic vegetation 

 in order to make a body of water good casting ground. I 

 used to think so but have changed my mind in late years. 

 True, my favorite grounds are thickly covered with a mass ' 

 of weeds and reeds, but some of the best casting ground I 

 have ever seen was in lakes where there was very httle 

 vegetation and the bottoms were sandy and pebbly. The 

 only reason why I visit these lakes in preference to the 

 ones last mentioned is their proximity to the city and the 

 ease with which I may get at them. 



Take for example Powers Lake, "Wis., on the C. & N. 

 W. Eailway. This is a lake say two miles long by three- 

 quarters wide, with pebbly shore and rocky bottom. The 

 water is very deep and cold and there is no inlet, the lake 

 being fed by springs at the bottom. I say they are at the 

 bottom becatrse the coolness of the water indicates that it 

 is fed by springs, and no springs are to be found . on the 

 shore. There are three bays running inland from the 

 lake, one at the extreme east and the other two at the 

 west end, and at the entrance to these bavs are bars 

 covered slightly with rushes. These are the "only places 

 on the lake in which there are any rushes, and yet there 

 is— or was— as fine bait-casting ground on this lake as any 

 I ever visited. I visited this lake for six successive sea- 

 sons, and rarely cast on these bars that I did not get bass 

 sometimes in large and sometimes in small quantities. I 

 invariably cast from a boat, as the water was too deep to 

 wade, and kept in the open water at say 100ft. from the 

 margin of the reeds, and cast close up to then- edge. 



Silver Lake, Wis., on the Wisconsin Central, also affords 

 exceUent gjrounds for the bait-cast,er, but on the other 

 hand it is an extremely weedy lake and abounds in 

 rushes. Here I prefer to wade close in to shore, casting 

 in front of me as I walk. The water is so shallow and 

 the bays so numerous that one can cover much more 

 ground in a given time wading than he can in a boat. I 

 find that I can strike as many bass in 2ft. of water, if not 

 more, than I can in 6 to 8ft. If the fish are not disturbed 

 by numerous boats you wni usually find them in on shore, 

 in from 18in. to 2ft. of water looking for minnows. You 

 cannot successfuUy manipulate a boat in such shallow 

 water without disturbing the fish. 



I do not accuse "Eurus" or any other man of unsports- 

 manfike conduct because he prefers to troll rather than to 

 cast, neither have I ever claimed that troUing is less 

 scientific. It is simply a matter of taste. I advised him 

 to try bait-casting because his description of the lake 

 where he fished and the abundance of game convinced 

 me that he might enjoy himself immensely were he to 

 turn his talents to bait-casting. I can myself take keen 

 satisfaction in the -very act of casting regardless of 

 whether I get strikes or not. 



"Eurus" has so far given me not the slightest clue as to 

 what vicinity he resides in and I should indeed be glad to 

 know and also would be glad to hear what and where his 

 "pet" lake is. When the "Chicago" lakes are all fished 

 out we may have to go some distance for sport, and I am 

 preparing myself for this day in advance. Should "Eurus" 

 visit Chicago during the World's Fair, he should not fail 

 to "take in" the bait-casting and fly-casting contests that 

 wiU take place there. Henry G. Abbott, 



Chicago, March 18. 



