160 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 24, 1894. 



The Quail and Hard Winters. 



Holland, Mich., Feb. 3.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I agree with Mr. Mershon, in your issue of Jan. 27, as to 

 the scarcity of quail before the last three-year close 

 season and to their abundance thereafter. Their scarcity 

 in '93 was, undoubtedly, due, at least in this section, to 

 the deep snows of our last severe winter. I found quail 

 just as plentiful Dec. 15, 1892, the last day of the season 

 that year, as on opening day. From Dec. 15 until the 

 second week in January I was afield without my gun, 

 but with my pointer, two or three times a week, and 

 found large numbers of bevies which had apparently not 

 been disturbed at all during the season. This shows that 

 over-shooting was not the cause of the depletion. 



Then came, the deep snows and I did not go afield 

 again until spring, but could not find a single bird, and I 

 hunted through good cover. This was also the experi- 

 ence of others interested in this grand game bird. I 

 have it on good authority that farmers found many dead 

 quail under logs, brush piles and corn shocks when the 

 snow left. Last fall ('93) I was out eight times, driving 

 out from one to eight miles, through country on which 

 bags of twenty or thirty used to be common, and flushed 

 just three bevies. I shot three birds for my collection of 

 game birds and stopped, as I do not consider it right to 

 kill game when it is so scarce. These three I have 

 mounted. 



As every one knows, quail feed almost exclusively on 

 the ground. If they would only take to the trees when 

 the snow is deep and feed on buds like the ruffed grouse, 

 they would easily survive any winter. I have found 

 quail in sumach trees feeding on the seeds, but these seeds 

 are so small and so few that I hardly think a bird could 

 get enough to keep it alive. We shall plant hemp seed 

 quite extensively in the spring, as it seems to be a good 

 feed, and grows to such a height and holds its seed so 

 long, that it would furnish a supply of food all winter. 



On account of the detrimental effect the severe winters 

 have, I do not believe in a close season] extending over a 

 term of years, but rather in a short open season each year. 



I am not very sanguine of having any fair quail shoot- 

 ing here this coming fall, for although the winter so far 

 has been very mild there are very few breeding birds left. 

 Many of the clubs near here have, or will get, birds from 

 the South to turn out in the spring. A. G. B. 



Pennsylvania Small Game. 



Auburn, Susq. Co., Pa.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 But little game was killed in this locality during the shoot- 

 ing season. Fairly good squirrel shooting was had during 

 early September, but they soon left for the oak and chest- 

 nut ridges along the river. Rabbits were never so few, 

 not plenty enough to give the beagles needed exercise. 

 The ten-cent individual with ferret and sack was abroad 

 in the land, and the beagle and gun were hot in it. 



The covers contained a goodly number of grouse, more 

 than for several years past, and they were abundantly able 

 to look out for themselves. Very few were killed. Most 

 of the shooting in this locality is done by tyros, who shoot 

 them while perched in trees. The last fall the birds were 

 too sharp to allow them such an advantage, seldom, tree- 

 ing. One piece of cover with which I am well acquainted 

 contained twenty birds. But three were killed. Other 

 cover is equally well stocked and with a favorable breeding 

 season there should be a good supply another fall. 



I located several coveys of quail, something unusual for 

 this locality. One contained twelve birds, of which but 

 two were killed. I found them on a buckwheat stubble, 

 Jan. 27, and none were missing. So far the winter has 

 been very favorable for game. No low temperatures, and 

 to-day we are getting our first snow storm. Several fine 

 deer were killed in the wilds of Wyoming and Sullivan 

 counties, and bear were numerous. 



Of foxes there is an abundance, and farmers have com- 

 plained bitterly of their depredations. In some neighbor- 

 hoods the turkey crop was an entire failure, and killed by 

 foxes. To dale very little driving has been done owing to 

 unfavorable weather conditions. New Years morning 

 several parties were out and all enjoyed good races. One 

 party with four dogs hunted some ridges along the middle 

 branch of the Meshoppen creek and started eight foxes, 

 two of which were killed and two more wounded aad run 

 to earth. With favorable weather, music will be 'heard 

 on the ridges in every direction. Bon Ami. 



Rhode Island's Defective Law. 



Providence, R. I., Feb. 16.— Editor Forest and Stream- 

 In your issue of Feb. 3 was a short piece signed "Tode," 

 telling of what the State Game Protective Association 

 were going to do. I was with a friend of mine the first 

 of the month coming down street, where we passed a 

 market m which were exposed dead gray squirrels and 

 rabbits. We went over to Mr. Andrews, the president of 

 the association, and called his attention to the same. He 

 looked at the laws and said he could do nothing, as the 

 law did not prohibit selling, -as it only said kill or 

 destroy. He was also asked about killing game in close 

 time, and according to his statement the game wardens 

 were afraid to make arrests for fear that their barns 

 would be burnt. Here is one of the few notices that 

 appear m the daily papers to show how the laws are 

 enforced: "Ed Moon and W. G. Greene, of Allen. ton - 

 recently passed a day shooting in Exeter, during which 

 they bagged 3 coons, 7 rabbits and 10 squirrels." 



rT1 . , , C. H. HORTON. 



[President Andrews is right about the law; it does not 

 forbid possession of hares and squirrels in close time. 

 The New York law has the same defect with respect to 

 hares, but this will be remedied by the present Legis- 



A Fox in Town. 



Newabk, N. J.— While sitting in our office at work I 

 was astonished to have one of the yardmen rush in with 

 the announcement that there, was a fox in the lumber 

 yard. The yard is in a busy portion of Newark on the 

 Passaic River. I went out, and stooping down and look- 

 ing under a pile of spruce timber I saw what was un- 

 doubtedly the head of a fox. Rushing back to the office 

 I hastily loaded a couple of "Club" shells; and hurriedly 

 cramming them into my breachloader, ran back. The fox 

 had shifted his position, but after a short hunt was started 

 and a well directed shot laid him low. He proved to be a 

 handsome red fox; and now adorns the desk at which I 

 write. How is that, a wild fox hunt in a city of 200 000 

 inhabitants Edgar Bailey. 1 



A Bit of Sport in Maryland. 



It was late in the afternoon of a bright January day 

 when, as my host and myself were talking in the rear of 

 his comfortable farm dwelling, our ears were saluted by 

 four shots fired in such rapid succession as to indicate the 

 discharge of two double guns. Other shots followed at 

 short intervals, and our fears for the safety of a covey of 

 quail known to be in vicinity of the many reports decided 

 us to investigate the cause of so much shooting. As the 

 season for quail was over, and we were anxious to catch 

 red-handed any one who might be violating the law. we 

 advanced cautiously through a piece of woods to find just 

 at its edge an outfit consisting of a darky, two squirrel 

 dogs, and a pot-metal gun with dislocated plunger. At 

 the base of a tree within a circle of less than fifteen feet 

 lay six dead squirrels, fine and fat, all killed by this son 

 of Ham from a single oak. In response to a question from 

 Mr. W. as to what had occasioned so much shooting, 

 Sambo replied: "Reckon I done right smart lot of it; 

 'spect I fired about seventeen times." 



"Is that all you had treed?" said W. quietly, as he 

 winked at me. 



"No, Mr. Charles, one done got away, and 'nudder 

 jumped de dogs." 



But even six squirrels out of one tree served to rouse 

 our sportsman's blood, so when the darky, doubtless with 

 an eye to future favors as well as to permission to gun in 

 Mr. Charles's woods, offered to show us some squirrels if 

 we would get our guns, we quickly closed with his offer. 

 Scarcely were we well in the woods before the barking of 

 the dogs called us to a tree where we found two fine grays, 

 one well in the top, the other lower down. My host, with 

 genuine Southern courtesy, insisted on my taking first 

 shot, which I did, easily killing the first one, but the 

 second proved a more difficult customer, and three shots 

 were necessary to bring him to bag. By the time we 

 were loaded and ready to proceed the darky announced 

 "he 'spect day got a couple treed down in the holler." 

 Such proved to be the case, and from that time the 

 fun was fast and hard on all the time. The sun had 

 already set, and the lengthening shadows proclaimed we 

 had not long to stay, but what time we did remain we 

 were "strictly in it." Notwithstanding that two badly 

 wounded squirrels managed to draw themselves into 

 hollow trees, and another fell dead in a nest, we had over 

 a dozen when we were compelled to desist on account of 

 darkness. Taking it all in all, we agreed in voting it the 

 liveliest half hour's sport with the squirrels that we have 

 had for many a day. Deacon H. 



Massachusetts Game. 



In their annual report the Commissioners of Fisheries 

 and Game say: "Ground game has been fairly plentiful 

 this year. It is scourged and decimated by increased 

 vermin. The low price of peltries decreases the number 

 of persons who trap for predatory animals, hence the 

 increase of creatures that are destructive both of the 

 game and the feathered product of the farms. For 

 several years we have with emphasis recommended the 

 payment of bounties for the destruction of these animals 

 and yearly the measures fail, as we believe, through 

 lack of appreciation both of the fact of the existence of 

 these animals in large numbers, and the damage and 

 mischief done by them. In the agricultural places of 

 the State, and even in proximity to our middle and west- 

 ern cities and large towns, and the towns and villages of 

 the Cape, these nocturnal marauders pursue their work 

 and increase their numbers with little disturbance or fear. 

 "Foxes, wildcats, skunks, weasels and other like vermin 

 are more plentiful than they were twenty years ago, not- 

 withstanding the increase of the population. Measures 

 for the abatement of these pests are necessary and we 

 renew again, earnestly, our recommendation of severel 

 preceding years that a law providing bounties be passed. 

 Such laws for the killing of destructive seals have been 

 in successful operation for several years in one or more 

 of the counties of the Commonwealth. 

 ^ ' 'The importation and successful acclimatization in other 

 States of several varieties of European grouse and pheas- 

 ants demonstrate the entire feasibility of stocking nearly, 

 if not all, New England with one or more varieties of 

 these birds. Private endeavor and enterprise in our own 

 State by public spirited and interested citizens have done 

 much toward replenishing our depleted covers with 

 native and foreign birds. The authorized expenditure by 

 the Commission of a small suki each year, especially in 

 co-operation with private effort, would be justifiable and 

 is advisable." 



Louisiana Snipe and Quail. 



Franklin, La. — Your correspondent met the other day 

 a thorough sportsman, Mr. Fred. A. Freres, of this place, 

 son of Sheriff A. G. Freres, who reports having had two 

 splendid days' shooting about Abbeville. Mr. Freres was 

 accompanied by Messrs. D. Berwick and G. Batterbee. 

 The combination bagged 34 snipe and quail, which I think 

 a very pretty hunt considering the days were warm and 

 sultry. They left this place for Abbeville Jan. 24 and 

 returned on the 26th. Mr. Freres is quite a lover of the 

 beagle and is now raising several which promise to be 

 very fine. 



I managed to get a whack at the woodcock last week. 

 Considering the bad weather, a cm- dog and bad shooting, 

 I figured I done pretty well for three hours' sport, bagging 

 14, and ducks are still plentiful about Spanish Lake. 



Mr. John Coon, of New Iberia, had a very pretty catch 

 of green trout (black bass) last Friday. Among them 

 were one of 51bs. 4oz. and one of 61bs. loz. 



A. Cardona, Jr. 



An Ohio Party in Texas. 



Velasco, Tex., Feb. 3.— Messrs. and Mesdames John 

 and W. L. Gardener, C. H. Stewart and W. W. Graham 

 of Norwalk, O., left Velasco for home yesterday after 

 spending their second hunting holiday of several weeks 

 on the prairies along this coast. They had very nearly as 

 good luck as they enjoyed last winter on quail, mallard 

 and pintail ducks, jacksnipe and prairie chickens. Drs. 

 McGregor of Houston and J. M. Nash of Brenham came 

 down last week end got eleven deer in four days. John 

 Weemsand Ed. Sweeney of Columbia, Tex., have returned 

 from their annual bear hunt in the wild peach brakes on 

 the San Bernard River, ten miles from Velasco. They 

 brought back three bears weighing over 4001bs. each. The 

 Ohio sportsmen promise to return in the summer for tar- 

 pon fishing at the mouth of the Brazos, R. M. C. 



Hunters' Luck. 



Bloomingdale, N. Y. — During the season we engaged 

 in several deer hunts, the guides putting the hounds out 

 at the base of the chain of mountains connecting with 

 Whiteface and watchers being stationed at the rapids at 

 different points along the Saranac River. The photo- 

 graph I send you was taken at the conclusion of one of 

 these expeditions in which we secured two large does, 

 one of the party having wounded a third, a fine buck 

 that escaped after he had presented himself long enough 

 for the gentleman to empty a full magazine from a Win- 

 chester at him. The sportsman in question has been 

 extremely unlucky, as your readers will also think after 

 reading the following incident: On one of our hunts my 

 friend and I took our positions several rods apart in order 

 to cover the runway that crossed a highway; we had not 

 waited long before the hound was heard in a tamarack 

 swamp not far distant. We first thought that some dog 

 had routed out a fox, but our theory as to this proved 

 untrue, for a farm hand plowing near by came running 

 up the road and said two deer had just crossed below our 

 station, and asked my companion to loan him his rifle, 

 as he thought he could head them off, for they were not 

 coming toward us. Alas! the rifle was loaned, and no 

 sooner had our Worthy intruder disappeared from view 

 than the deer walked out from the woods near by and 

 there stood not over five rods from the "would-be" 

 hunter, who, seeing that he was in a direct line between 

 me and the deer, slowly sank to the ground, doubtless in 

 utter despair. The two deer kept on advancing until 

 they were actually within two rods of our prostrate 

 sp vrtsman. Buck fever evidently had complete possession 

 of me, for I fired and missed as fine a shot as one could 

 wish for. After a few bounds they were soon lost to 

 view; our feelings at the conclusion of this episode can 

 be better imagined than described. J. T. G. 



An Association for New York City. 



New York, Feb. 12.— Editor Forest and Stream: Your 

 editorial in last week's issue, setting: fnfth the fact of the 

 great necessity for a live game protective organisation ih 

 this city, strikes the tight chord. Why of all the cities, 

 towns and villages in this va«t country with their local 

 ame protective clubs, should this great market and depot 

 e exempt (practically) as far as active organized and con- 

 certed protection is concerned? For seventeen years 1 

 have watched the gradual, but sure, disappearance of our 

 game birds, and have in a quiet way done my mite in 

 endeavoring to assist protection by printing the laws, 

 posting same in conspicuous places, and giving informa- 

 tion of the closed seasons through the local press in 

 various localities, but have reached the one conclusion 

 after long deliberation, and that is: The storage system 

 must go! Here within the past three weeks, having had 

 the Spaniel Club dinner to arrange for, no less than two 

 caterers out of the three that I visited offered me quail for 

 a February dinner, and intimated that they could give us 

 anything in spite of the season being closed. Now, It la 

 very patent to anybody that this is where the trouble 

 lies, and I think it would be well if your paper would 

 endeavor to enlist the interests of five New York sports- 

 men, and call a meeting for the proper organization of a 

 club with no axes to grind, and but the one aim in view, 

 viz., the protection of game, and you can rest assured 

 that there .will be a meeting, and good results will accrue 

 therefrom. A. ClintOxN Wilmerding, 



About Loading Nitros. 



Red Bank, N. J., Feb. 12.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I will answer the false impression which Mr. von Len- 

 gerke is trying to create in his attack on my instructions, 

 in telling American sportsmen in a plain, comprehensive 

 way how to avoid all possible danger with excessive 

 charges, by stating that the proof-house charge for 12 bore 

 guns, which any gun is required to withstand, is 40grs. 

 Walsrode, the recommended standard load 29grs., thus 

 leaving ample margin. 



I consider it my duty to acquaint sportsmen desiring our 

 powder in bulk, with its nature in plain, every-day Eng- 

 lish, and every one acquainted with the subject will up- 

 hold me in this, and knows that I have stated the case 

 correctly. 



The modern sportsman using nitros is not the 8-dram 

 fiend of years ago, and does not care the snap of his fingers 

 what overloads will do, as long as the recommended 

 standard loads are reliably safe and will do the work 

 required under any climatic conditions. O. Hesse. 



Up in Alaska. 



Sitka, Alaska, Jan. 21.— Having been a regular reader 

 of the Forest and Stream for over fifteen years, I find it 

 quite impossible to be without it now. There is very little 

 news to report now, as we are very much shut in with 

 the snow (waist deep), and at the present writing it is 

 snowing heavily, and the mercury very low. The ptarmi- 

 gan are very conspicuous by their absence this season in 

 and around Sitka, and it is difficult to account for their 

 scarcity. Large numbers were hatched last spring, but 

 they do not seem to have come out from the timber into 

 the lowland flats, as is their usual custom. Deer are very 

 plentif ul. The harlequin and mallard ducks are wintering 

 in fairly good numbers and I am daily looking for the ar- 

 rival of the eiders. Qv M. 



Four Bears in One Day With One Hand. 



Warren, Pa. — There is very little game around here 

 this winter. Partridges were usually very plenty, but 

 there seem to be very few this winter. I have heard of 

 but few deer being killed and to my knowledge there has 

 not been any in the Warren markets this winter. Bears, 

 however, seem to be very numerous, seven or eight having 

 been killed within from fifteen to sixteen miles of here. 

 One killed on Farnsworth Creek weighed over 3251bs. and 

 was sold for $75. A few weeks ago four were killed in 

 one day on Morrison's Run, by a man with one hand. 



W. Van O. 



Devil's Lake Goose Country. 



Last season I visited the goose country near Devil's 

 Lake, N, D., and had several days' good shooting among 

 geese, brant and ducks, no day getting big bags, but 



ilenty for camp use and a few left over to send to friends. 



Tot goose shooting Minnewaukan, N. D., will prove a rich 

 field for men who do not have to look too closely after 

 the dollars. l. 



