OOT. 28, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



361 



The Forest and Stebatvi is put to press each tveek on Tues- 

 day. Correspondence intended for publication should reach 

 MS at the latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 



A TREED FOX. 



Back in the forties, "when I was a boy," in old Orange 

 county, famous for its golden butter, and paper money of 

 the same color, I was tramping home from the country 

 school over my two-mile route through the mud and 

 slush of a January thaw, when my meditations on the 

 problems in Dabol's Arithmetic were scattered to the 

 winds by the familiar voice of old Vick, announcing that 

 he had a fox up and going along the red ridge. 



As I had passed his master a "half-mile back busy cut- 

 ting his night wood, it was evident that the homid was 

 having a little hunt on his own hook. The prospect was 

 good for me to get a shot. 



The remainder of the route was made at a pace never 

 reached by a boy going after the cows. The "old gun," 

 with its 40in. barrel and record of scores of foxes slain 

 while it was in the hands of its former owner, a noted 

 fox hunter, had come into my possession after long nego- 

 tiations with his sjjendthrift heir, in exchange for my 

 hoarded wealth of $7, mostly in Spanish sixpences and 

 shillings. It now came down from the hooks over the 

 kitchen fireplace, and was loaded with powder poured 

 from the horn into the palm of the hand, a charge of No. 

 1 shot measured in the same way and well rammed down 

 with a liberal piece of the IncUpendent Republican 

 for wadding. A G. D. cap, pressed down on the nipple 

 while rushing for the familiar runway, completed my 

 preparation, and I was soon beside the big maple, panting 

 to avenge the untimely death of my mother's gray goose 

 and her five innocent goshngs. 



But the red-coated robber failed to put in an appearance. 

 When the dog came along it was plain to be seen that he 

 was running a back track. I called him off and turned 

 him back. He slowly retraced his steps but would not go 

 out of my sight. After following some half mile the dog 

 come to a steep side hill covered with heavy hard wood 

 timber where the snow was melted off. 



Here he lost the track and could not pick it up again. 

 About this time the owner of the hound appeared in the 

 neck of woods, and after taking the evidence in the case, 

 decided that as it was almost dark and as this was the 

 thu-d time he had lost this fox at this identical spot, we 

 might as weU go home. We had started to do so, when 

 chancing to look up, I saw sly reynard in bold relief 

 against the eveningsky, seated in the top of a straight black 

 oak, 40ft. from the ground, looking down at us with a 

 smile that was "childlike and bland." 



At the crack of the "old gun" he tumbled from his lofty 

 perch as gracefully as a gray squirrel; and we picked up a 

 fine dog fox in full fur, as dead as Julius Ceesar; whether 

 slain by the shot or the fall the intelhgent jury could not 

 decide. 



On examining the tree we found that the fox had en- 

 tered at a hole near the root and had come out at another 

 near the limb on which he was sitting. 



The owner of the hound claimed the pelt, and as I was 

 "only a boy" his claim was good. 



Much to my regret the market value (seventy-five cents) 

 did not go to swell my ammunition fund for the ensuing 

 campaign against the squirrels and pigeons. C. B. S. 



Elmiea, N. Y., 



"PODGERS" MORALIZES. 



San Francisco, Oct. IQ.— Editor Forest and Stream; 

 Not very long since I read a thrilling account how a 

 gusMng young thing of a girl, aspiring to be an Ama- 

 zonian sportswoman, shot a deer, and drawing her hunt- 

 ing knife cat its throat in the most approved professional 

 manner. The article made an impression on me from 

 the fact that it seemed a terribly cruel thing for a pre- 

 sumed tender-hearted young woman to do. 



I once witnessed the shooting of a deer and cutting its 

 throat, and I shall never forget the agonized, pitiful, re- 

 proachful expression of its large, lustrous eyes as, held 

 down by one knee of the hunter, the sharp blade entered 

 its throat. The eyes plainly said, "You are human beings 

 and I am a poor little wretched animal. You j»rate of 

 humanity. How can you do it?" I turned away. I 

 could not stand it. I felt as if I had participated in an 

 atrocious murder. The pitiful last look of that poor thing 

 haunted me for months, and although years ago I can see 

 it as distinctly as if it had happened j^esterday. It is 

 needless to say that from that hour to this I have never 

 pulled a trigger on a deer. 



It is of course the proper thing to ridicule all such, as it 

 Avill be called, mawkish sentiment in a pei-son indulging 

 in any kind of sporting, and inconsistent to select one 

 kind of game for sentimental exception. Consistency is 

 not the sort of jewelry I am after. I am only thinking 

 about that cruel, hard-hearted female who could deliber- 

 ately stoop down and cut the throat of the poor wounded 

 or helpless animal. To have shot and killed the deer in 

 the legitimate way I could reconcile to the accepted order 

 of things. Why not stop there? Thus far she had in the 

 eyes of the average sportsman done a very creditable 

 thing. But what necessity of so uusexing herself— so de- 

 parting from any claim to femininity as to emulate the 

 butcher and procei d to cut its throat? I doubt if the ani- 

 mal was any better for it, and the woman was in my esti- 

 mation a great deal the worse. It was so unfeminine. 

 And so was the shooting, some will say. Granted, but 

 that throat-cutting act. Ugh! 



I should Uke to see the young woman. I should like to 

 gaze on her and get an idea of what manner of young 

 woman she was. 



On general principles I would not care to have any 

 personal differences with a young woman who carries a 

 knife and cuts deers' throats. She might, or may. some 

 day cut that of one in addressing whom in writing she 

 would omit an e and substitue an a. I can't help think- 

 ing the young person must be of that pecuhar breed and 

 kind that reporters alone discover who are always a little 

 "more so" — very remarkable, very stvmning and always 

 beautiful. The reporter's heroine is something tmheard 

 of elsewhere, and I am trying to make myself believe it 

 isvas all a hoax, and that no such "nervy" young female 



exists. I think the achievement came off "up country" 

 where things are always coming off of a most remarkable 

 character. "Up country" with us is equivalent to that 

 with you vague location of "out West." 



I observe that there is quite a falling off recently in 

 the bear stories. How is that? Is the repertoire exhaus- 

 ted, and are bears becoming scarce? We will have to go 

 back to that original first one, about the bad little boys 

 that jeered at Eliza for his loss of hair and requested him 

 to "go up, old bald head!" and the retribution that fol- 

 lowed for such unseemly conduct, as scripturally illus- 

 trated by a bear standing on his hind legs with a paw on 

 each boy's head. This speedy punishment as depicted in 

 our Sunday school book was impressively pointed out to 

 us boys as a warning, and a lesson for our guidance. It 

 was a subject to me of grave reflection then, and gave 

 me rather a poor opinion of two such foolish boys who 

 had not more sense than to so conveniently put them- 

 selves into the bear's reach. We youngstei-s discussed the 

 question, and the opinion was generally that if it had 

 been our own case we would have cut and run. Such 

 was the impression that original bear story made on me. 

 I have read a good many since that did not impress me 

 as much, not being on scriptural authority. 



We have two shooting clubs here, one called the Cor- 

 delia, the other the Teal, that have each imder lease a 

 large tract of marsh land adjoining. Hitherto they have 

 carried on their winter shooting in harmony, but have 

 now got by the ears. The Cordelias have leased the 

 gr-ound previously occupied by the Teals. The lease 

 having expired the Teals, seeking to obtain a renewal at a 

 lower price, made an offer that the owners of the marshes 

 declined. But the Cordelias offered it and obtained the 

 lease. This stirred up the Teal people and the war com- 

 menced. The Teals owned a small strip on which their 

 club house stands, that commands the entrance of the 

 only means the Cordelias had of reaching their grounds 

 by boats. Seeing this advantage the Teals promptly closed 

 the entrance and shut out the Cordelias and gave notice 

 that any one and every one who chose could shoot over 

 the marshes. This brought out the fighters in the Cor- 

 delia Club, who hired a lot of roughs to paddle around 

 from pond to pond wherever they saw any shooters and 

 bang away at any duck that came that way long before 

 he came within shooting distance. The consequence was 

 that there was no sport for the interlopers. And so the 

 fight goes on. The last phase of the conflict is the hiring 

 of a party of "toughs" by both clubs to stand off the shoot- 

 ers of each. The result is likely to be serious and may re- 

 sult in some one or more of the hired sluggers becoming 

 targets and getting peppered with duck shot, as there are 

 men on both sides who are very careless with guns and 

 are not over particular as to the size of the game. It is 

 still a peculiar phase and condition of things in this coun- 

 try that you can hire more men at less price to take ser- 

 vice that promises a scrimmage than for a legitimate ob- 



J'ect. They won't all fight, but some will, hence we who 

 lave no immediate interest in either club deprecate such 

 a condition of things between sportsmen. 



In the present instance the membership of both clubs 

 includes men of means and high social standing, and we 

 may quote from the old nursery lines: 



"Cbildren, your little hands were never made 

 To scratch out each others' eyes." 



PODGERS. 



OREGON NOTES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Among our sportsmen the opinion prevails that Com- 

 missioner McDonald's recent brief visit will bring forth 

 an abundant harvest of good results affecting the fishing 

 interests of the Northwest. While from a business stand- 

 point his visit was only in the interest of the economic 

 species of fish, and ostensibly for the purpose of aiding us 

 in the solution of some important problems concerning 

 the same, the beneficent influences of his visit among all 

 classes interested in the subject, whether they be cannery- 

 men or sportsmen, are quite manifest. His presence 

 among us seems to have stimulated and encouraged 

 broader views, and possibly quickened our consciences a 

 httle. He was a very busy man while in Portland, but 

 foimd time to pay an official visit to the salmon hate'hery 

 up the Clackamas River, and also to meet our State officials 

 at Willamette Falls in consultation about the much needed 

 and much talked of fishway at that point. 



Our sportsmen had counted on entertaining him right 

 royally, and had planned a banquet. But he came so un- 

 expectedly, his stay was so brief, and so many things of a 

 business characted monopolized his time that we were 

 forced to forego all these pleasures and hope for a more 

 favorable opportimity in the future when we may be per- 

 mitted to manifest our appreciation of his conscientious 

 devotion to our cause. 



Many times heretofore, in the columns of Forest and 

 Stream, I have referred to the abundance of game and its 

 close proximity to our city. What other city of a hundred 

 thousand population in the whole world can boast so much 

 and such a variety of game within its corporate hmits? 

 Ruffed grouse, blue grouse, quail, Mongolian pheasants 

 and even deer have been kiUed right here in the city 

 within the last year. Snipe are quite abundant in season 

 along the south shore of Guild's Lake, which is entu-ely in 

 the city, and during the winter months great numbers of 

 ducks feed along the wharves in the business portion of 

 the town. A week ago Mr. J. Roberts Mead, the three 

 Murhard brothers and Mr. Crook within a hour's drive of 

 the city killed a magnificent buck and a fine doe. Expert 

 deer hunters estimated the weight of each at about loOlbs. 

 I have never seen finer or fatter deer, and the boys have 

 good reason to feel proud of their capture. The doe was 

 shot right ui the road leading from Portland to St. Helens. 

 The buck took to the water and swam across the Willa- 

 mette above the breakwater to Sauvie's Island, where the 

 boys followed him by boat and killed him. Saoi Douglass, 

 our taxidermist, prepared the buck's head, and it no\v 

 adorns the east wall of Mead's drawing room, and is a 

 beauty. Of course the elk, bear and cougar no longer roam 

 our streets. But reports from the outside districts show 

 them to be quite plentiful this fall. Indications point to 

 a wonderful flight of wild water fowl, and the boys are 

 correspondingly happy. 



When a good man dies.we proclaim his goo4 deedg and 



perpetuate his memory. We extol Ms virtues and 

 smother his faults under the silent sod. But then white 

 man claims, and generously concedes to himself, both in 

 life and death, superiority over other beings. Even the 

 Indian is less selfish, for his dog and his horse go with 

 him into the valley of death, and are given an equal 

 chance to reach the happy hunting grounds over on the 

 other side. 



A dog died in our town the other day— H. T. Hudson's 

 old Boss. He was just a plain, helpless, blind old dog. 

 Being only a dog, of courae, he had no soid, and so his 

 virtues and his faults died with him. But the history of 

 hi3 life would be the history of field spoi-ts in the North- 

 west for the past eighteen years. There are solemn 

 moments in every sportsman's life — moments when he 

 loiters in the present to dream of the past and contem- 

 plate the future. What sportsman has not looked down 

 into the honest eyes of his faithful dog and wished in his 

 heart that there was a dog heaven where the simple love 

 and devotion of such creatures might find eternal recom- 

 pense. But "Out of eternal silence does he come! Into 

 eternal silence does he go!" 



Like many another good dog. Boss laid no claim to pride 

 of ancestry. He was a sort of mongrel Irish setter with- 

 out a pedigree, but his energy (indicated by the extreme 

 age to which he attained) and other good qualities placed 

 him in the front ranks of Oregon's practical sporting dogs. 

 No one knew better than old Boss when the time arrived 

 for the hunting boat to sail, and he was always aboard 

 whether Hudson went hunting or stayed at home. If he 

 had no master, he would invoice the gang and select one 

 for the trip and stay right with him through thick and 

 thin; and he could stand more hardship than any other 

 dog I ever saw. He was the hero of many harrowing 

 tales and hair-breadth escapes too numerous to mention. 

 However, I would hke to relate one of his escapt s, which 

 may be taken as indicative of his energy and perseverance 

 under difficulties. Something Uke nine years ago Billy 

 Newman came down from the hurricane deck of the old 

 hunting boat Gold Dust one dark night, and, calling me 

 aside, confided to me the secret that old Boss was dead. 

 It seems that while we were steaming along at a good 

 rate Billy had accidentally or otherwise ran against Boss 

 (who was always under foot and not generally liked by the 

 crew) and knocked him overboard and into the wheel. I 

 distinctly remember how sad I felt until we reached Hud- 

 son's landing, five miles below, where we found Boss 

 patiently awaiting the arrival of the boat and ready for 

 business at the old stand. 



But as the years multiplied he became rheumatic, 

 almost blind, and toward the last entirely helpless. His 

 end came. Chloroform, administered by his lifelong 

 friend Jim Carraher, sent him peacefully and painlessly 

 to his eternal rest. So ended the life of one of Oregon's 

 best dogs; and I feel that even the great Forest and 

 Stream would not compromise its dignity in printing this 

 humble tribute to his memory from one who for many 

 years knew him well and loved him dearly. Poor old 

 Boss! Your life and your death only exemplify the 

 truth of the old stanza: 



"When lie is forsaken. 

 Withered and shaken, 

 What can an old dog do but die?" 



S. H. Greene. 



Portland, Ore., Oct. 13. 



GEORGIA ASSOCIATION 



A CONTENTION of sportsmen from various cities of 

 Georgia met in Atlanta, Oct. 17. Dr. McHatton of Macon 

 called the meeting to order and explained the object of 

 the assembling. He expressed his j^leasure at being pres- 

 ent and said he hoped to see an association formed which 

 would not only last always, but would be productive of 

 much good to all who became members of it. He de- 

 clared the object of the association would be the obtaining 

 of laws by which game would be protected and by which 

 the waters of the State would be protected from devasta- 

 tion by the trap and seine. Those present were: A L 

 Waldo, G.W. L. Powell, H. C. Brown, H, M,V. Jones, A. 

 A. Murphey, Atlanta; Dr. H. McHatton, Macon; J, H. 

 Allen, Hal Morrsion, Atlanta; Col.W. H. Luttrell, Waver- 

 ley Place; F. L. Rousseau, Manchester; G, M. Corput W 

 F. Moss, S. Z. Ruff, Alex W. Bealer, Atlanta; G. H. Plant, 

 Macon; H. H. Summerhour, Warsaw: M.W. Almand, At- 

 lanta; H. A. Andrews, Ohio; J. H. Nunnally, Litt Blood- 

 worth, Jr., Ernest Woodruff, Atlanta; R. F. Jones, Dan 

 Joseph, J. P. Turner, T.;M. Oliver, Columbus; F. H. Cook, 

 Clarkston; J. S. Doyle, Atlanta; F. M. Akers, Nickajack; 

 J. S, Baxter, Macon; R. B. Baxter, Sparta; B. H. H. Roan, 

 Atlanta; Geo. C. Price, J. H. Burr, Macon; E. F. Colzey', 

 J. H. Edwards, Columbus; W.Woods White, Atlanta; W.' 

 C. Edwards, Hamilton. 



Captain Harry Brown, of Atlanta, was elected perma- 

 nent president; Dr. McHatton, of Macon, vice-president, 

 and Mr. T. A. Brown, of Talbotton, secretary. It was 

 Captain Brown who has done so much to bring about the 

 organization, and the association could not have selected 

 a man who will give more time and attention to the work 

 and who will do it better than he. His election to the 

 position was only a just recognition of the work he has 

 done. 



The association was named "The Georgia State Sports- 

 men's Association." Messrs. T. W. Baxter, Mr. Hal Mor- 

 rison, Mr. J. H. Nunnally, Mx-. S, Z. Ruff and Mr. H. 

 McHatton were appointed a committee to draft a consti- 

 tution and by-laws. 



Mr. Hal Morrison moved that the president appoint a 

 vice-president in each county in the State, so that each 

 of the counties might be more deeply interested in the 

 matter. The motion went through. President Brown, 

 however, did not make the appointments, but will take 

 the matter under consideration and name the vice-pres- 

 idents as fast as he can secure the names of persons in 

 each county who will take an interest in the work. 



The greater part of the afternoon session was given up 

 to the discussion of the law which the legislature will be 

 asked to pass, giving equal protection in all counties 

 against the potters, but the paper could not be perfected, 

 and President Brown was instructed to appoint a com- 

 mittee to prepare the bill, covering the points which 

 he and the members of the committee may think 

 advisable. President Brown will appoint that committee 

 in a few days, and the committee will prepare such a law 

 as the sportsmen of the State will want. The association 

 will meet in Atlanta again next yearj 



