Aug. 26, 1893.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



16B 



at a distance. But others are heard, weird and mysterious, 

 not to be explained by anything on the earth or above it. 

 Among them a sudden solemn boom like the vibration of 

 a big bell after the clapper has struck, but not continuous 

 like it. Voices and whisperings, perhaps the bay of a dog, 

 whether conveyed to the sensorium from without or 

 whether originating in the brain itself, 'tis hard at the 

 time to say. After what seemed a long time I heard 

 something different from all these. After a pause, again. 

 Looking at Jim, I saw from his uplifted hand and the 

 turn of his head that he, too, had heard. A moose had 

 answered. But we heard no more of it. After what 

 seemed an hour of suspense, Jim crept to me and whis- 

 pered that it was a little one, a "sneak," and advLsed no 

 more calling till morning. A "sneak" will come up 

 making no more noise than a cat, and the chances are 

 that he will see or smell you and be off, giving the hunter 

 no intimation of his presence. Nor in the deceitful shad- 

 ows of the moonlight is it at all easy to see him. In day- 

 light the hunter is not at this disadvantage. 



Creeping into a little shelter we had built under the lee 

 of a big rock we went to sleep. At early dawn we were 

 up and the first call was answered loud and full from the 

 ridge of greenwood. Jim's eager whisper, "He big fel- 

 low, he come," tingled in my ear. One more call and we 

 could hear his rush, his horns rattling against the 

 branches, as he forced his way through the thickets, and 

 at almost every step his hoarse answer shook the air. On 

 he came to his fate. He crossed the bog at the top of the 

 lake in full sight of us, a huge, ungainly creature, his 

 large antlers tossing backward and forward as he swung 

 his head, his mane erect, pride, strength and vigor dis- 

 played in every movement. Once in a while he would 

 stop, arch his back and hook savagely at some little bush 

 as if it were an antagonist, then, belching out his loud, 

 fierce cry, trot on. He came within less than a hundred 

 yards of where we were crouched behind a large rock, 

 stoppted and raised his head to give another defiant snort. 

 A shot from each of us blending almost into a single re- 

 port stretched him lifeless on the moss. His race had run. 



On reuniting with our party that evening we found to 

 our great joy that Dave had been equally successful, and 

 our friends had secured a handsome set of horns. 



I cannot say that I particularly care for calling. The 

 waiting for an answer, and the approach of the moose are 

 exciting enough, but it lacks tlie free swing, the fierce 

 imsh and keen rivalry of a snowshoe cliase, as well as 

 the endurance, skill in woodcraft and patience needed in 

 still-hunting or creeping. It seems a sneaking piece of 

 business, to allure a poor brute to its death by means of 

 the "tender passion" all for our sport — and it is a test of 

 skill on the part of the "caller" alone. G. T. B. 



Wbstport, Nova Scotia. 



THE BEHRING SEA DECISION. 



In the treaty between the United States and Great 

 Britain which provided for the arbitration of the points at 

 issue between the two Governments, these questions were 

 grouped in Article VI., which was as follows: 



In deciding the matters submitted to the arbitrators it is agreed that 

 the following five poins shall be submitted to them in order that their 

 award shall embrace a distinct decision upon each of said five points 

 to wit: ' 



1. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea now known as the Behring 

 Bea, and what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein did Russia 

 assert and exercise prior and up to the time of the cession of Alaslca to 

 the United States? 



2. How far were these claims of jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries 

 recognized and conceded by Great Britain? 



3. Was the body of water now known as the Behring Sea included in 

 the "Pacific Ocean" as used in the treaty of 1825 between Great Britain 

 and Russia, and what rights, if any, in the Behring Sea were held and 

 exclusively exei-cised by Russia after said treaty? 



4. Did not all the rights of Russia as to jurisdiction and as tn the seal 

 fisheries in Behring Sea east of the water boundary in the treaty be- 

 tween the United States and Russia of March .30, 1864, pass unimpaired 

 to the United States under that treaty ? 



5. Has the United States any right, and, if so, what right of protec- 

 tion or property in the fur seals frequenting the islands of the United 

 States in Behring Sea when such seals are found outside the ordinary 

 three-mile Umit? 



At 11 o'clock on the morning of Tttgsd'ay, A'tig. 15, Baron 

 de Courcel delivered to the representatives of the two 

 ' Governments tlie original copies of the decision signed by 

 .all the arbitrators. After a short preamble the decision 

 reads as follows: 



"We decide and determine as to the five points mentioned in Article 

 VI., as to which our award is to embrace a distinct decision upon 

 ■ each of them 



"As to the first of said five points, we. Baron de Courcel, John M. 

 Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John S. D. Thompson, Marquis Emilio Vis- 

 . contl-Veuosta, and Gregero W. W. Gram, being a majority of said 

 arbitrators, do decide as follows: 



"By the ukase of 1831 Russia claimed jurisdiction in the sea now 

 known as Behring Sea, to the extent of JOO Italian miles from the 

 coasts and islaads belonging to her, but in the course of the negotia- 

 tions which led to the conclusion of the treatv of 1834 with the United 

 States and the treaty of 183.5 with Great Britain, Russia admitted that 

 her jurisdiction in said sea should be restricted so as to reach a cannon 

 shot from shore. 



"It appears that from that time up to the time of the cession of 

 Alaska to the United States, Russia never asserted in fact or exercised 

 any exclusive jurisdiction in Behring Sea or any exclusive rights to 

 the seal fishei-ies therein, beyond the ordinary limit of territorial 

 \waters. 



"As to the second of the five points, we, Baron de Courcel, John M. 

 ^Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John S. D. Thompson, Marquis EmUio Vis- 

 •conti-Venosta, and Gregero W. W, Gram, being a majority of said 

 :arbitrators, decide and determine that Great Britain did not recognize 

 lor concede any claim upon the part of Russia to exclusive jurisdiction 

 as to the seal fisheries in Behring Sea outside the ordinary territorial 

 waters. 



"As to the thu-d point, as to so much thexeof as requu-es us to decide 

 whether the body of water now Iniown as Behring Sea was included in 

 the phrase 'Pacific Ocean' as used in the treaty of 1835 between Great 

 Britain and Russia, we unanimously decide to determine that the b6dy 

 of water now known as Behring Sea was included in the phi^ase 

 'Pacific Ocean as used in said treaty. 



"On the fourth pomt we decide and determme that all the rights of 

 Russia to jurisdiction and to the seal fisheries passed to the United 

 States, limited by the cession. 



"On the fifth pomt we, l^aron de Courcel, Lord Hannen, Sir John S. 

 D. Thompson, Marquis iJmilio Visconti-Venosta and Gregero W. W. 

 Gram, being the majoi ity of said arbitrators, decide and determine that 

 the United States have no right to the protection of or property in the 

 seals frequenting the islands of the LTnited States m Behring Sea 

 when the same are found outside the ordinary three-mile limit. 



"Aud whereas the aforesaid determination of the foregoing ques- 

 tions as to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States leaves the 

 subject in such a position that the concurrence of Great Britain is 

 necessary to the establisliment of regulations for the proper protec- 

 tion and preservation of fur seals habitually resorting to Behring 

 Sea, we, Baron de Courcel, Lord Hannen, Marquis Emiho Visconii- 

 Venosta and Gregero W. W, Gram, heiuK a majority of the arbitra- 

 tors, assent to the whole of the nine articles of the following regula- 

 tions as necessai-y outside of the jurisdiction limits of the respective 

 Governments, and that they should e:stend over the waters 'herem- 

 after mentioned : 



'lArticlel. The United States and Great Britain shall forbid their 

 citizens and subjects respectively to kill, capture or pursue at any 

 time or in any manner whatever the animals commonly called fur 

 seals wirJiin a zone of sixty miles around the Prybylofl Islands, inclu- 

 sive of the territorial waters, the miles being geographical miles, sixty 

 to a degree of latitude. 



• A^i"**?^,?' "^^^ Governments shall forbid their citizens or sub 

 jects to kill, capture, or pursue in any manner whatever during a sea- 

 son extending In pach year from May 1 to July 31, uiclusive, fur seals 

 on the high sea m that part of the Pacific Ocean, inclusive of Behring 

 Sea, situated north of the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude from 

 Greenwich until it strikes the water boundary described in Article 1 of 

 treaty of 1867 between the United States and Russia, following thatline 

 up the Behring Sea. 



"Article .3. During the period of time in the waters in which fur 

 sealing is allowed only sailing vessels shall be permitted to carry on or 

 take part m fur sealkig operations. They will, how^ever, be at liberty 

 to avail themselves of the use of such canoes or undecked boats pro- 

 pelled by paddles, oars or sails as are in common use as fishing 

 boats. ^ 



"-^rticlei. Each sailing vessel authorized to carry on fur sealmg 

 must be provided with a special hcense issued for the purpose by its 

 Government. Each vessel so employed shall be required to carry a 

 distinguishing flag prescribed by its Government. 



"Article 5. The masters of vessels engaged in fur sealing shall enter 

 accurately in an official log book the date and place of each operation, 

 the number and sex of the seals captured daily. These entries shall 

 be communicated by each of the two Governments to each other at the 

 end of each season, 



"Article 6. The use of nets, firearms or explosives is forbidden m 

 tur sealing. This restriction shall not apply to shotguns when such 

 are used in fishing outside of Behring Sea during the season when such 

 may lawfully be carried on. 



"Article 7. The two Governments shall take measures to control the 

 fitness of the men authorized to engage in sealing. These men shall 

 have been proved fit to handle with sufQcient skill the weapons by 

 means of which seal fishing is carried on. 



"Article 8. The preceding regulations shall not apply to Indians 

 dwelling on the coast of the territories of the United States or Great 

 Britain carrying on fur seahng in canoes or undecked boats not trans- 

 ported by or used in connection with other vessels and propelled 

 wholly by paddles, oars or sails, and manned by not more than five 

 persons, in the way hitherto practiced by the Indians, provided that 

 such Indians are not employed by other persons, and provided that 

 when so hunting in canoes or undecked boats the Indians shaU not 

 hunt for seals outside the territorial waters under contract to dehver 

 skins to anybody. 



"This exemption is not to be construed to affect the municipal law 

 of either country, nor shall it extend to the waters of Behring Sea or 

 the waters around the Aleutian Islands. 



"Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere with the employ- 

 ment of Indians as hunters or otherwise in connection with sealing 

 vessels as heretofore. 



"Article 9. The concurrent regulations hereby determined with a 

 view to the protection and preservation of the fur seals shall remain 

 in force until they have been wholly or in part abolished or modified 

 by a common agreement between the United States and Great Britain. 



"Said concurrent regulations shall be submitted every five years to 

 a new examination in order to enable both Governments to consider 

 whether, in the light of past experiences, there is occasion to make 

 any modification thereof." 



A special finding was made by the arbitrators on the 

 facts agreed upon by representatives of both governments 

 as to the seizures of vessels in the Behring Sea in 1887 and 

 1889, Further, the arbitrators after making certain other 

 suggestions to the two governments, recommend that 

 they come to an understanding to prohibit the killing of 

 seals on land or sea for a period of from one to three 

 years, and should enact regulations to carry out the find- 

 ings of the arbitrators. 



AMERICAN PROOF HOUSE. 



Proposed Gunpowder Test. 



Ecldtor Forest and Stream: 



In conformity with the request as expre.ssed by a large 

 number of American sportsmen, to establish the real and 

 relative merits of the various nitro powders on the market 

 in this country, I have concluded to arrange a public trial 

 during September next of the folloAving powders: Ameri- 

 can wood, S. S., Schultze, E. C, Sportsmen's Pet, Wals- 

 rode, Curtis & Harvey Diamond No. 4, Dupont's Eagle 

 ducking and Crystal grain, Laflin Rand's Oranee special 

 and Orange Lightning, American Powder Mills' Dead Shot. 

 The experiments will be carried out either in the vicinity 

 of New York or Chicago, and all interested parties will 

 have the opporbunity to witness the trial. 



The different powders will be tested for bursting strain, 

 velocity, penetration, pattern, recoil, fouling of gun bar- 

 rels, regularity of gas pressure, velocity, penetration and 

 pattern, susceptibility toward moisture and dry lieat, the 

 greater or lesser quantity of smoke developed. All po^v- 

 ders will be treated precisely alike and tested under simi- 

 lar conditions. For this purpose one shot will be fired at 

 the time from one kind of powder, the second from an- 

 other, and so on, and the .same gun and barrel— 12-bore — 

 will be used throughout the trial. The shells wall be used 

 as loaded by the manufacturers, or loaded according to 

 directions, btit tlie shot charge will be the same for all 

 powders, Hoz 



The result of the test when completed will be made 

 public in the columns of Forest and Stream. Time and 

 place will be announced hereafter. Parties having any 

 suggestions to make pertaining to the proposed trial will 

 please address Armin Tenner. 



50 Broadway, Room 103, New York. 



The Opening of the Rail Season. 



MiLFORD, Conn., Aug, 21. — Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The rail season in Connecticut opened to-day, and I vis- 

 ited the meadows to see how the birds Avere both as to 

 condition and numbers. 



The tide served early in the morning. A northeast 

 storm was in progress, with wind and rain. Four boats 

 went up the river. There seemed to be a number of 

 native birds, but the tides are poor now, the moon being 

 in Apogee, and it was impossible to "get anywhere." The 

 scores were 21, 15, 13, 8. I saw a flock of 10 black ducks, 

 one wood duck, one loon and an albino blackbir'l. The 

 grass is heading out, but very little is ripe. The birds are 

 in good condition, and a good many reed bu-ds are about. 



MORT. 



Mississippi Quail. 



Fernwood, Pike County, Miss , Aug. 10.— The quail 

 crop in this section will be the largest known for years, 

 and with the shooting privilege of over 10,000 acres I 

 think I can give my dogs sufficient experience to make 

 bu-d dogs out of them; and if any of our narthern breth- 

 ren (of the right stiipe) come my way I'll make an effort 

 to give them a quad hunt, if they will just leave a few 

 for seed. , Mc. 



A New Florida Liine. 



The Richmond & Danville K. R. in connection with the Florida Cen- 

 tral and Peninsula R. R. announces a through train and sleeping car 

 service between New York. Washington, Savannah, Jacksonville, St. 

 Augustine, Tampa and all points in Florida, to take effect about Oct. 

 15. This extension of the Richmond X- Danville's service has been 

 made possible by the completion of the Florida Central <i Peuuisula 

 new line between Jacksonville and Savannah, wliich will be open for 

 traflic about Oct. 1 and the "South Bound" between Savannah and 

 Columbia, S. C., where connections will be made with the Richmond & 

 Danville. The new fine promises the shortest route, quickest schedules 

 and best service New York, Savannah, and all points in Florida. For 

 rates, time cards, etc., address the General Passenger Agent, Wash- 

 ington, D. C, or ilex. S, Thweatt. E. P. A., 3-39 B'way, New Yor^.— Adv. ' 



Visitors to our Exhibit in the Angling- Pavilion at 

 the World's hair should not fail to examine the 

 stock of "f-orest and Stream" books which will 

 be shown by the attendant 



GAME QUALITIES OF OUANANICHE. 



Syracuse, N. Y., Aug. 16.— With astonishment and 

 genuine regret I have just read the article in your issue 

 of .June 29, entitled "Lake St. John Ouananiche," from 

 the pen of Mr. R. C. Dowry. I cannot let such an unfair 

 article pass without a reply, and should have answered at 

 an earlier date, bttt that I have just returned from a 

 month's outing at Lake St. John, and only saw the 

 article within a few days. 



For five years past, and with an experience of from 

 four to five weeks each year in catching ouananiche. I 

 can truthfully pronounce it, with the exception of the 

 salmon, to be the gamiest fish I have yet found. This 

 fish, named by the Montagnais Indians, the habitans of 

 Lake St. John, the ouananiche, from ouanan (salmon), 

 and iehe (the diminutive)— the little salmon— is properly 

 named, since who better than they know its derivation 

 and nature? 



In the past, the salmon went from the sea far up the 

 Sagtienay to Lake St. John to spawn. Some convulsion 

 of natiire occurred and raised an impossible barrier at 

 Chicoutimi, a sheer fall of 60 or 70ft. Thus the salmon 

 imprisoned above became landlocked, and in the inter- 

 vening years they have deteriorated only in size. They 

 have every mark of their progenitor, and have kept the 

 figbtmg qualities intact. Added to this is the fact that 

 they are generally caught in rapid flowing or eddying 

 water: thus one has to contend with the water as weU as 

 the fish, making a strong combination for a 7oz. rod. 



In his criticism, Mr. Lowry says that the fish is yellow. 

 In this I must differ with him. When first caught, the 

 color in every instance is a shade of peacock blue, which 

 in a few moments changes to the natural salmon gray. 

 The belly is grayish w-hite, gray predominating, and I 

 have never seen one of any other color or shade. I have 

 compared the salmon and the ouananiche side by side, 

 point by point. The head in all its pouats is identical, 

 with no more resemblance to a trout than a salmon has; 

 the small solid fin anterior to the tail on the top. peculiar 

 to the salmon family, it has in a marked degree; the dorsal 

 fin in shape and textiu-e is the same; the scales, crosses — 

 not spots— tail, color, and general contour do not vary in 

 the slighest degree. The flesh is pink, varying from light 

 to dark in different fish, firm and tender, and properly 

 cooked, equal to salmon. 



Frequently, in the brou or foam, covering an eddy, 

 their dorsal fins can be seen as they circle about. Cast 

 immediately in front and the fly is quickly taken. But 

 for uniformly good fishing, the best success is obtained in 

 swift, running water at the foot of a rapid or faU. Shore 

 fishing is preferable, as a canoe seems to frighten them 

 away. The width of a ouananiche tad is larger in pro- 

 portion than any fish I have ever seen. Their strength is 

 wonderful, and I have frequently seen them ascend 

 rapids and jump falls impassable by any fish but a 

 salmon. 



It was my good f ortime last year to make some short 

 fishing trips from Lake St. John, with the late Dr. Lundy 

 of Philadelphia— a man who had fished all the waters of 

 our own continent, as well as the most noted of other 

 countries, an able writer on fishing and fores tiy. and a 

 recognized authority. He came to try the ouananiche 

 for a week and remained during the entire season. I wiU^ 

 quote his opinion of ouananiche, as expressed to me: 



"I have, in the seventy years of my life, fished the trout 

 and bass waters from Maine to Alaska. I have fished in 

 England and Scotland, and even caught fish in the River 

 Jordan; but I never met with, or believed there could be, 

 a fish with such fighting qualities as the ouananiche pos- 

 sesses. As long as my fife is spared, I shall never go 

 elsewhere or seek other fish." 



Here is the authority of an expert, and it cannot be 

 gainsaid. I have induced many friends, ardent fisher- 

 men, to try this fishing, and they did so, prepared to meet 

 with more or less disappointment, attributing my "'fish 

 stories" to over-erathusiasm. They returned fidly as en- 

 tliusiastic, and invariably remarked, "You did not say 

 half enough in favor of the ouananiche." If necessary, I 

 can refer, with permission, to any of the gentlemen. 



Of the many fishermen I have met, who have caught 

 this land locked .salt! ion at Lake St. John '(and the number 

 is large), I have yet to meet one who has not claimed that 

 it was a far gi-eater fighter than a trout or bass. There- 

 fore was ]Mr. Lowry's letter a great surprise to me, and I 

 could not take up the cudgels in defense quick enough. 

 All kinds of fish have their good and bad days, and 

 ouananiche are no exception; consequently, one day with 

 such an entirely new fish is not sufficient experience to 

 condemn them. 



A 6ft. heavy leader with two flies is in my experience 

 the proper thing. My best success is with a brown-hackle 

 or cow- dung for the trail fly. and a Jock-Scott or silver- 

 doctor for the dropper. The dropper should be placed at 

 the last knot on the leader next to the line, so that in 

 drawing the cast it will skip the water and constantly 

 swing a few inches above. The greater part of the catch 

 will be taken on this fly. In smooth, swift, running 

 water, the fish can be seen to strike, and it is easy to 

 strike him in return. But in seething, white water, the 

 first intimation is generally to see the fish jump from the 

 water in the vicinity of the flies, immediately followed 

 by a hard jerk. If this occurs when the rod is being 

 carried back finishing drawing the cast, there is rarely 

 time to give the fish the tip, and the quick hard jerk 

 breaks the rod, leader or hook, generally the latter. 

 Flies for ouananiche should always be tied on a No. 4 

 hook. Smaller than that wfll be easily broken, the break 

 always occuring on the strike. 



After July 1, the fishing in the Grand Discharge dimin- 

 ishes, as the fish are en route up the large rivers emptying 

 into Lake St. John, to the spawning beds 300 or 400 miles 

 north. This makes the best fishing in July and August 

 in the pools at the higher falls along the rivers, where the 

 fish congregate in their efforts to ascend. The fifth falls 

 of the Mistassini offers a beautiful camping place, and a 

 particularly fine pool for fishing. Located some forty 



