Dec. 23, 1898.1 



FOREST AMD STREAM. 



64S 



the way of furnishing. A new shelter has been erected 

 at Britain Steam Landing, and eight boats have been 

 added to the fleet. Fifty thousand young sea salmon 

 have lately been received and distributed. The club ex- 

 pects to receive sufficient aid from the Government t(i 

 build tlie remaining needed fishway upon the east branch 

 of the Musquash River, thus securing free ways for sea 

 salmon to and from the ocean. The membership of the 

 club is increasing rapidly, and larger and larger parties 

 are visiting the camp, and it is suggested that it may soon 

 be necessary to enlarge the main club house. A party 

 visited the preserve as early as May Vi this year, and an- 

 other very large party was there on the 27th. 



One season is scarcely done when the other begins. 

 Boston trouting parties are already forming for the spring 

 of 1894. A Boston party has just written Mr. O. A. Den- 

 nen, proprietor of the Kineo House, Moosehead Lake, to 

 engage one of his steamers for May 20, 1894. 



Mr. Walter S. Hill, of John P. Squire & Co., has a let- 

 ter from President C. A. Woodward, of the Ragged Island 

 Club, Currituck Sound, saying that game is remarkably 

 plenty there. The letter is written from Norfolk , the 

 home of the business firm of which Mr. Woodward is the 

 head. He urges upon Mr. Hill the importance of his 

 again accepting the hospitality of the club for a few days 

 of shooting. The readers of the Forest and Stbeaj\i will 

 remember the account of the splendid shoot Mr Hill had 

 with Mr. Woodward last year at the same place. Mr. 

 Hill will accept of the invitation if business can be made 

 to permit, and he will urge upon Mr. Wood ward the abso- 

 lute necessity of his accepting an invitation to try the 

 trout in Maine waters anottier season, somet'iing they 

 planned for last season, but were both hindered by cir- 

 cumstances that could not be controlled. 



A strenuous effort has been made this fall by the Maine 

 authorities to break up the practice of setting nets in Jack 

 Stream, which flows into Cobbosseecontee Lake, at the 

 southern extremety, between Winthrop and Monmouth. 

 This stream is the outlet of all the large Winthrop ponds, 

 their waters flowing into the Cobbosseecontee, and thence 

 to the Kennebec. The stream is the natm-al resort of vast 

 quantities of tr<>ut and other game and food fish, especi- 

 ally in the autumn, and poachers have been in the habit 

 of driving over from Lewiston and stretching a net clear 

 across Jack Stream, at one of the narrowest places, thus 

 capturing every fish going either up or down. They have 

 been very cautious in their movements, setting their net 

 by night only, and laying in camp in the daytime. Their 

 fish they have taken to Lewiston by wagon loads, and 

 sold them. Comjjlaints came to the ears of Sheriff 

 Berry, of Winthrop, recently, and he had reasons to 

 believe that the net was set. He drove down to the 

 stream by night and at daybreak he saw three 

 men hauling the net and taking out the fish. 

 Unfortunately he was on the other side of the stream, 

 with no means of getting over, but he identified the men 

 to the extent that he arrested subsequently Richard 

 Sa,bourin, Henry Lezotte and John Denison of Lewiston. 

 They were taken before Justice Woodward of Winthrop, 

 who discharged them. But they were afterward ar- 

 raigned in the Supreme Court at Augusta, and they have 

 been indicted by the Grand Jury. F. L. Noble, Esq., has 

 appeared for tliem and has succeeded in getting them 

 bound over to the April term of court. There is a great 

 deal of indignation against this fllegal fishing. Cobbossee- 

 contee Lake is one of the finest fish preserves in the State. 

 The Fish Commissioners have endeavored to keep it 

 stocked, while local fishermen have labored in the same 

 direction. Several of them have contributed money to 

 maintain a hatchery at Belgrade to supply Kennebec 

 ponds, and are taking much pains to improve them. 



Special. 



NIAGARA COUNTY DUCK SHOOTING. 



LocKPORT, N. Y,, Nov. 29.— A New York gentleman, 

 visiting friends in Lockport this summer, was aflforded an 

 oppoitunity in company with a jolly party of local 

 anglers to try his skill on the black bass of Lake Ontario, 

 and the monstrous pike and pickerel of Tonawanda Creek. 

 Having fully demonstrated his prowess with the rod and 

 reel, he confessed to his hosts that tlie remarkably good 

 fishing afforded by Niagara county was (very fortunately 

 for the home brothers of the angle, and unfortunately for 

 the Gotham lovers of the sport), a fact unpublished in 

 New York. Otherwise, he said, "the beautiful shire 

 bounded on the west by the Niagara River where the 

 most exciting black baes fishing on the continent could 

 be had, by Lake Ontario on the north with its well 

 stocked tributarips, and Tonawanda Creek on the south, 

 the haunt of the great lake pike and pickerel, would be 

 overun by sportsmen from the metropolis." 



A few days ago the same enthusiast ran up to Lock- 

 port just to renew acqaintances and to talk over the fine 

 catches of black bass oft" Fort Niagara at the mouth of 

 the rapid river in which he was an appreciable and 

 appreciative factor. In a future number of Forest and 

 Stream perhaps the editor will permit me to tell his 

 readers what the reminiscent gentlemen had to talk 

 about. 



The hosts, Messrs. F. Howard and Arthur L. Leich, 

 were not content with recounting deeds which made the 

 blood of the true angler tingle at the mere relating. To 

 the astonishment of the New- Yorker they proposed a 

 duck hunting trip. Their guest said he would enjoy 

 nothing better, but could not take the time necessitated 

 by a trip to Canada. 



"Not at all necessary to carry the war into Africa," ex- 

 claimed the genial Art, "we have the feathered enemy 

 almost at our very doors. I call the teals and mallards 

 'enemies,' because they so often disturb my peace of mind 

 at the thought that they fly over the old tracks and 

 haunts in lines unbroken by my Parker. No, the birds 

 come to our shores free of duty from the Northland by 

 the trillions. 



Mr. Leich's graphic narration of the beauty of scenery 

 possessed by Olcott harbor and the Eighteen-Mile Creek, 

 and of its sister harbor, Wilson, into which flowed the 

 Tuscarora Creek, given a touch of life these bltak Novem- 

 ber days by long lines of ducks limned on the gray hori- 

 zon or dippine lower until they found a background in 

 the dark blue water of the lake, made their guest eager 

 for the fray. 



The New Yorker must have decided to go. Either that, 

 or his friends decided for him. At any rate, he made part 

 of the load of a two-seated wagon, well filled with the 

 hunters' paraphernalia, which started the next evening 

 for Olcott. The portable larder was not at all pretentious, 



for although all the ephemeral hotels were closed for the 

 season in the romantic village, the local hunters had un- 

 limited faith in Ed. Martin's hospitality. The guest felt 

 rebuked, when demurely asking, "Who's Ed. Martin?'' the 

 reply came, "My untraveled friend, you <lo not know Lake 

 Ontario; he is not the genius of a locality, but the friend 

 of all who ti'avel the Lakes." 



Along the famous Eighteen-Mile Creek the spirited 

 horses hurried the hunters, and after an hour's drive they 

 were landed at their destination. Ed was soon found, 

 and asked as to the prospect for ducks, that worthy re- 

 plied, "Mornings and evenings there's no prospect for 

 ducks— there's nothing but ducks in sight." 



The sportsmen were told that the high winds made 

 shooting out on the Lake impracticable, and were much 

 disappointpd thereat. Along the lake from Youngstown 

 to Thirty-Mile Light excellent sport is afforded the hunter 

 in the fall at a distance of a mile to two miles from shore. 

 A faverite method in pursuing the waterfowl is something 

 Uke this: The ducks for any one given day seem to have 

 a fixed aerial route which they follow in flying back and 

 forward parallel with the shore. Sometimes these paths 

 are three-quarters of a mile out, and then again more 

 than two miles out, varying with the weather and the 

 more capricious birds. These routes are soon located by 

 the shooters. By placing their boats a short distance on 

 one side or the other of the invisible line excellent shots 

 are afforded as the ducks come sailing along. In this way 

 a party of four men in two boats last fall succeeded in 

 using up 528 shells in one day, securing nearly 200 ducks. 

 Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the sport 

 in this locality is the variety of game that comes to the 

 bags of the floating batteries on Lake Ontario. 



But to return to our friends. Consolation was con- 

 tained in Captain Martin's statement to the effect that the 

 storm made grand hunting up the creek. Thus reas- 

 sured, the two turned in for the night to dream of ducks 

 in marshalled flight. 



The morning, true to prophecy, proved windy. But in 

 the gray dawn the Lockportians and their friend could 

 see long lines and heavy V's of birds blowing inland on 

 the wings of the storm. They wanted no ride in the lake 

 so long as the game came inland. Soon the boats were 

 ready and they pushed up the creek. The stream at no 

 point is wider than 120yds., with high banks on either 

 side. In coming in and going back to the lake the ducks 

 very accommodatingly follow the creek's course. In the 

 majority of instances, moreover, the flight is low enough 

 to afford possible and, to the accurate shot, probable tar- 

 gets. So it was that the gentlemen found themselves in 

 a shooting alley, as it were, with flying targets almost 

 constantly before them. 



Not five minutes after pushing off along came an alter- 

 nated column of redheflfls, flying as if in great haste to 

 reach the feeding grounds further up. As they came op- 

 posite the boatman, a broadside from three polished 

 pieces saluteel the feathered tourists from the north. 

 They veered slightly away from the hunters just before 

 reaching them, or perhaps more than one of the flock 

 would have tumbled. As it was, a single shining crest 

 only came down into the water. This nrst trophy was 

 awarded to the metropolis unanimously. A quarter of a 

 mile up sti-eam a flock of teal were sighted feeding 

 around the wild rice and cat-tails. The boats were 

 pushed forward quietly but swiftly. The flocks rose hur- 

 riedly before the hunters were within range, all except 

 one tardy drake, who seemed bewildered for a moment. 

 This proved fatal. Truth to tell, however, both Lock- 

 portians surprised themselves by missing. They gener- 

 ously applauded when Mr. Drake was easily taken by 

 Metropolis as he came down on the back track below the 

 east bank to rejoin his rapidly disappearing comrades. 

 This time there was no award, but the visitor took the 

 bird by the divine right of conqu.eror. 



And so the sport continued as late as 10:30 A. M. 

 Again in the afternoon the sport reopened and the gun- 

 ners were kept busy. The specimens were not numer- 

 ous, running into the second score, but the range of vari- 

 eties quite wide. Besides redheads and teal several shel- 

 drakes and sleepyheads were bagged. Just about sun- 

 down Art made his comrades justifiably curious by bring- 

 ing down she tailender of a flock of mallards. Although 

 a half-sized gale was blowing on the lake, Capt. Martin 

 dogmatically asserted, "The mallards hev their powder 

 noses on to-day, and they're keepin' out on wide waters 

 in the teeth of the wind, restin' by spells on the rockin' 

 waves. No use goin' after 'em; we've no yacht in the 

 harbor that could be handled to any purpose for ducks to- 

 day." 



At 5 o'clock the hunters started for home, reaching the 

 city of Locks two hours later, tired, it is true, but with a 

 happy weariness. The day's sport had been uninterrupt- 

 edly line, and they felt well repaid for their trip in every 

 respect. 



After a hearty dinner Metropolis took up the New York 

 papers, which had left the presses at 4:30 A.M. and reachd 

 the State's remotest city twelve hours later, with a grati- 

 fied air. 



"Well," said he, "this is all like a fairy tale. I have 

 spent the day on a most romantic steamer, enjoyed the 

 invigorating breezes of the lake, and at the climax found 

 myself f-uiTOunded with as many aquatic birds as the 

 coasts of Labrador could afford. After a day of superior 

 pleasure, such as only a sportsman may know, I return 

 to find in my friend's house the New York papers of the 

 day at my service. All this within twelve hours' ride 

 of my home. Astonishing!" 



In a measure, old resielents of the country this year, 

 however, can sliare the New Yorkers' astonishment at the 

 plentifulness of wild ducks and geese. They seem to visit 

 this section this fall in countless numbers. Burt Green of 

 Lockport and Will Windsor, United States plumbm- at 

 Ft. Niagara, one day this week secured eleven large Cana- 

 dian geese in the Niagara River. A Wilson hotel keeper, 

 whose place is charmingly located on Wilson Harbor and 

 overlooking the mouth of the creek and Lake Ontario, 

 writes that on Monday morning of this week, rising at 

 daybreak, he went outdoors to attenri to his chores. He 

 looked out upon the stream and rubbed his eyes with 

 astonishment. He could not believe what his optics told 

 him. Th*^ water as far as he could see was covered with 

 ducks. That day he and a local attorney secured fifty- 

 seven plump birds. The lawyer employed no legal en- 

 tanglements with which to ensnare the game, either, but 

 he says he vLsed a very superior smokeless powder. No. 3 

 shot did the business. 



A_town of Wheatfield farmer sent word to a Lockport 



friend on Tuesday that the ducks were so thick on Tona- 

 wanda Creek his young boys were trying to knock tbem 

 down with poles as they flew back and forth to the lake. 

 Never within the memory of the present generation have 

 the different varieties of waterfowl been so plentiful in 

 Niagra county. This section is happily located anyhow 

 as relates to the miaratory game birds. 



In the Niagara River, the county's eastern boundary, 

 Lake Erie and Lake Ontario seem to come to a focus. 

 The great bulk of northern waterfowl in seeking a south- 

 ern home for the winter, spend at least a month along 

 the shores and creeks of these bodies of water. The wild 

 and almost tempestuous grandeur of the Falls, the rapids 

 and the cliff-bound rivers undoubtedly appeal to the un- 

 tamed natures of these wanderers from the North. It is 

 a touch of nature for which these swift-winged birds 

 whose flight simulates the speed of Niagara's falling 

 waters have an unmistakeable liking. Great eagles soar 

 above the whirlpool and mighty eddies, gulls skim along 

 the waves, and far out in the more plncid stretches a loon 

 or a grebe may be seen to rise, and again as he rises on the 

 crest of a wave. Pleasant indeed is this section in sum- 

 mer CO the tourist, delightful is it to the angler in June, 

 July or August, but to tlie fowler Niagara county is grand- 

 est in November. The noblest stanza Bryan t ever jienned 

 has been answered. He_, presents to a waterfowd this 

 query : 



"Whither midst falling dew, 

 While glow the heavens with the last steps of day. 



For through their rosy depths dost thou pursue 

 Thy solitary way?" 



Although not seeking a summer home, the bird doubt- 

 less is on his way "to scream among his fellows," for a 

 brief season in the paradise for eluck hunters is not for 

 ducks, on old Ontario's shores, the land of the Niagaras. 



M. H. 



Emotions Aroused by a lOin. Track. 



Dec. 13 — Editor Forest and Stream: I send you extracts from a 

 letter just received from a guide with \\ honi I have hunted in the 

 Rocbief, a irati who has been in at the death of a large number of 

 bears; and though a veteran at the game, he vividly describes a feel- 

 ing that I have often experienced, and one which I think is generally 

 shared at times by most hunters of dangerous game. It is a sort of 

 very-aDsious-for-a-fight feeling, but as Che time seems to draw very 

 close for the scrimmage, the feeling seems to take possession of one's 

 soul that you are getting very near your game at an unnecessarily 

 rapid pace. H. N. M. 



Dear iV.: I made a trip this fall with Mr. E. of Switzer- 

 land. We hunted in the Jackson Lake country. There 

 is a big grizzly bear in that country that makes a track of 

 about 7iin. in width. I have had an eye on him for sev- 

 eral years. This trip I thought to get him. It had been 

 snowing all night. We started early in the morning, and 

 founel the track about 8 o'clock, and followed up the 

 mountain, where we got close to our game. He had been 

 making his breakfast of pine nuts. 1 had already taken 

 three cartridges from pocket and put them between my 

 fingers, for 1 knew from the signs we were very close to 

 our game; and what a track! Did you ever notice when 

 one gets close to a big grizzly how much larger the track 

 is than it was a mile back, where you measured it? Well, 

 this fellow's track was lOin. wide and getting wider every 

 step, but at this stage of the game something happened, 

 of course it did, otherwise we would have got the bear- 

 provided, always, that the bear did not get us. Now 

 right here, my good friend, let me tell you — of course I 

 would not have anyone else know — that I was seriously 

 thinking of the latter case, for there was poor D. worse 

 than kiiled (I suppose you have heard all about it— an ac- 

 count of this brave fight was printed in FOREST AND 

 Stream last spring) and Jones, about the same time, was 

 completely knocked out by a single stroke. I wondered 

 if those bear made tracks like this one I was following. ' 

 Then the new double-barreled rifle, suppose that should 

 go back on us! That bear is just sure to be above us when 

 we see him, and if — and if — and if — 



When a man is seeking diligently for a thing, it is, at 

 least, fair to suppose that he wants to find it. But I 

 think there are times, especially when the track is very 

 large, that such a presumption would be very far from 

 the truth. 



But something happened ! A wolverine suddenly jumped 

 acro.'^s the track— stopped, of course, to look at us— bang! 

 went E.'s gun. Kicked? You bet I kicked. It would 

 not have looked well if I had not. We got the wolverine, 

 and as we already had a very fine bear's skin in camp, 

 Mr. E. was happv, and, of coui-se, I was resigned. * * * 

 ' E. W. R. 



Length of Barrels. 



Cazenovia, N. Y., Dec. 1^.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The writer was somewhat surprised at "Wanderer's" 

 article in your excellent paper. Questions may have 

 been settled, as he remarks, long ago in the minds of 

 those who have answered them, and given their answers 

 as they supposed correctly, and later investigations, and 

 more complete and exhaustive experiments prove them 

 far from correct. I once owned a 10-bore, 9ilbs gun that 

 had 24in. barrels, and whUe I have shot hundreds of others 

 with a weighed amouot of powder and a counted charge 

 of shot, I never saw its equal for regularity and evenness. 

 But I would not advise any one to use such a shcjrt one, as 

 the distance between the two sighting points is too short, 

 and with all due respect to Mr. Tenner, I would recom- 

 mend the 23in. tubes instead of the 26in. for the same 

 reason. We all ought to thank Mr. Tenner for his useful 

 and instructive articles. Will H. Cruttenden. 



Pennsylvania Game. 



MaNCY, Pa., Dec. 14. — Reports of successful hunters 

 reach us every day, from tiie Loyalsock, Little Pine, Big 

 Pine Creek and their tributaries. In the vicinity of 

 Barber's Mills one man killed three deer last week. Two 

 deer were killed about three miles i elow English Center, 

 on Little Pine Creek, during the first three days of fhis 

 week. Another was killed in Carson Run last week. 

 Since writing up that big flock of turkeys that were seen 

 opposite this place, we learn that a hunter near Nesbit 

 killed two at one discharge. Undoubtedly they were of 

 the same flock, as the killing was done some miles up the 

 river, on the Bald Eagle. Hunters say there is too much 

 crust for good easy work. Mr. James Lose, the ablest 

 angler of us all, continued to make fine catches of pike 

 (we guess they were pickerel though) up to the first of 

 this month. Last year he caught over 200 in October 

 and November, J. M. B, 



