FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 18, 1896. 
THE SPORTSMEN'S EXPOSITION. 
Judging from the manner in which applications for 
space have been coming in since diagrams were sent out 
last month space at the Second Atmual Sportsmen's Ex- 
position, to be held under the auspices of the Sportsmen's 
Association, at Madison Square Garden, March 16 to 21 
next, will be at a premium long before the doors of the 
Garden open. 
The Exposition of last May was largely in the nature of 
an experiment. No exhibitor had a very clear idea of 
just what lines his own exhibit would assume when com- 
pleted, and it is doubtful if any one of the thousands who 
visited the display during the week had formed the 
vaguest conception of what they beheld on passing 
through the Madison avenue entrance of the Garden. 
Notwithstanding the fact that it was a first exposition, 
however, and that few of its exhibitors, if any, had ever 
before engaged in a like enterprise, the exhibit offered 
exceedingly few points for criticism either from an 
artistic or mdritorious standpoint. The display of sports- 
men's goods and appliances was a revelation to the unin- 
itiated and a source of great pleasure and satisfaction to 
the experienced sportsman ; the spectacle was a grand one 
in its many and alluring representations of sport with the 
gun and rod; and the forty odd thousand people who 
looked upon the Exposition as the most altogether new 
and original, as well as one of the most attractive and 
interesting industrial and recreative exhibits they had 
ever inspected, gave the stamp of public approval to the 
First Sportsmen's Exposition inja most gratifying manner, 
both as to the standpoints of quality and numbers. 
Under such circumstances it is not surprising that ex- 
hibitors, many of whom had gone into the Exposition with 
no little degree of apprehension as to the outcome, should 
have been gratified to an extent that resulted in their 
making inquiries as to space for the second Exposition 
almost before the first was well under way. The date for 
the opening of the second Exposition is still more than 
two months distant, and not a manufacturer outside of 
New York city has been seen as yet by the Exposition 
committee. A majority of the spaces have already been 
taken, however, applications and requests for reservations 
in every instance having come in by mail and without 
solicitation other than the receipt of a diagram and the 
price list of spaces. Many of the more prominent exhibi- 
tors of last year, such as the Winchester Arms Co., Parker 
Brothers, Overman Wheel Co., A. G. Spalding & Brothers, 
Herman Boker & Co., Hazard Powder Co., Francis Ban- 
nerman and Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works, have 
taken increased or more prominently located spaces; while 
such houses as th^ Laflin & Rand Powder Co., United 
States Net & Twine Co,, H. H. Kiffe Co., Electric Boat 
Co., and others of equal importance in their respective 
lines, who were not in last year's exhibit, have taken lib- 
eral space for the exhibit of next March. 
The creation of an Exposition committee composed of 
Messrs. Dressel, Von Lengerke and Chasseaud, and which, 
together with Manager Sanger, will have entire charge of 
all details of arrangement and preparation for this year's 
exhibit, has been a step in the right direction. The mem- 
bers of the committee, working in perfect harmony with 
Manager Sanger, have quickly eliminated the faulty fea- 
tures of last year's show, and have provided substitutes 
which can scarcely fail to give additional attractiveness to 
the Exposition of '96. 
Last year the efforts of the Sportsmen's Association and 
of the Exposition management were centered in but one 
direction, that of filling the spaces in the Garden with a 
desirable and representative list of exhibitors, and of 
demonstrating beyond all question that an exhibition de- 
voted to the interest of sportsmen was wanted, and would 
be appreciated and supported. Having accomplished 
this, and feeling sure that the Exposition of "96 would 
take care of itself so far as its spaces and attendance by 
the public are concerned, the Exposition committee and 
the Sportsmen's Association are now making tremendously 
strong, but very quietly prosecuted effort, to give the 
second exhibit a value, from a trade standpoint, which 
the exhibit of last spring did not know to any consider- 
able extent. In other words, it is intendpd, if possible, to 
bring to the Second Annual Exposition, not only of the 
sportsmen of the country, but sporting goods dealers from 
all sections, to the end that closer relations may spring up 
as the result of personal contact between buyer and seller, 
and that points of mutual interest to manufacturer, 
jobber and dealer may, under the auspices of the Second 
Annual Exposition, be discussed with profit to all con- 
cerned. 
The presence at the show of a thousand leading dealers 
in sporting goods, brought there as delegates to a sports- 
men's convention, would unquestionably give the Exposi- 
tion a value to the exhibitor far greater than it had last 
year, and that too without detracting an iota from its 
value as an educator, and its interest to the general pub- 
lic. In this direction the Sportsmen's Association is 
working, and within a fortnight will be able to announce 
its perfected plans, and the measure of success that has 
attended its efforts, 
DESPERATE DAYS IN WISCONSIN. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In Forest and Stkea.m of Dec. 21 I have just read Mr, 
E. Hough's article headed "Dt-sperate Days in Wisconsin," 
in which he says that never in the history of Wisconsin 
have there been so many hunters from Ohio and Indiana — 
pot-hunters, oh yes! from Ohio and Indiana — pot-hunters 
because they came from outside the State. And they 
hunted illegally, certainly, because they came a good way 
to hunt. 
Well now, I know of several cases of illegal hunting in 
Wisconsin ; and it was not done by outsiders either. At 
Phillips this fall I was told by prominent men that they 
did not like the law against hunting with dogs, and that 
they did not care a copper for the law; they would hunt 
with dogs, and they would kill d er whenever they 
wanted mpat, season or no season. It was no secret that 
deer were hounded within two miles of Phillips by resi- 
dents only, and in October at that. 
At Wolivers, a noted hunting camp twelve miles from 
Phillips, some hunters from Chicago were placed on stands 
and deer driven to them by residents. Keep out non- 
residents. 
A camp of three hunters, residents again, camped three 
miles from our camp, killed five deer and sold them to a 
logging camp of Mr. Cramer, of Chippewa Falls, Wis. 
Eesidents| some more. The hunters told me that they 
would hunt until January, as they got a good price for 
their deer, viz., 6 cents per lb. These hunters were not 
pot-hunters. Certainly not, for they were residents of 
Wisconsin and had the right to the deer of the State. 
My partner and myself killed one deer apiece and were 
satisfied, if we did come from Ohio. Pot-hunters again. 
In regard to Michigan's law, I do not think it right to 
tax non-residents. It certainly is not in the spirit of the 
Constitution of the United States. I have hunted in Mich- 
igan for the last twenty-three years, off and on, and every 
deer killed by me has cost me $1 or more a pound; so you 
see that somebody gets the benefit of my money. I have 
given away plenty of venison, but never sold a single 
pound — in fact, never sold 1 cent's worth of any game in 
my life. Still, I must be a pot-hunter from Ohio. 
In Mr. Hough's summing up of results of accidents in 
Wisconsin, I fail to see where there were any accidents 
caused by Ohio or Indiana men. So you see there are 
some flighty hunters from some other States besides Ohio 
and Indiana. 
Twenty-five or thirty years ago there were a good many 
deer in the -western part of Ohio, and hunters came from 
outside of the State to hunt; and they were welcome, too, 
as long as they hunted in season; and if they killed a deer 
they took it outside of the State, too, for it certainly was 
their property if legally obtained. But alas! the deer are 
nearly all killed, and Ohio hunters will have to go to 
wilder places to hunt. 
As to northern Michigan and Wisconsin, it will be a 
good many years before the deer will be killed off if left 
alone in close season by residents. If tne game wardens 
of those two States will enforce the law against real pot- 
hunters there will be enough game in those Scates to last 
a good long time yet. If a man is a citizen of the United 
States and wants to hunt in any State of the United Scates 
in season, and kills game, it is unqupstionably his, and he 
should certainly be allowed to take it anywhere in the 
United States according t^ the Constitution. This State 
rights business cost this Government millions of dollars 
about thirty years ago. S > I think if a man hunts in sea- 
son he should not be legally restrained from hunting in 
any State of the Union. Pot-Hunter. 
MEGANTIC CLUB DINNER. 
A stranger who entered the Copley Square Hotel, in 
Boston, on Saturday evening, Jan. 11, could have fancied 
with no vivid stretch of imagination that he had strayed 
into Borne colossal Maine camp, luxurious perhaps in its 
appointments, -but still possessing many of the best fea- 
tures of camp life. The occasion which called forth this 
large assemblage of sportsmen and wonderful display of 
the fruits of rod and gun was the ninth annual dinner of 
tne Megantic Fish and Game Club. The decorations of 
the spacious dining rooms in the way of game, fish and 
sportsmen's accoutrements surpassed anything of the kind 
ever seen in this city, and reflects great credit on Mr. Ab- 
bott Frazer, to whom belongs a large part of the credit for 
the arrangement. Back of the table at which sat the pre- 
siding officer and the invited guests American flags were 
arranged in tasteful folds, at the top of which was placed 
a large eagle. Further decoration at this end of the hall 
cons sted of tiger and white bear skins, while in each 
corner was a magnificent painting of a salmon by 
Brackett. Around the rooms were deer, moose, elk, 
caribou and mountain sheep heads. In the arch at the 
center hung suspended a birch bark canoe and at another 
place on the walls snowshoes, fishing rods, moccasins, 
net staffs and various other paraphernalia of the sports- 
men's life were displayed. The tables actually groaned 
beneath the weight of choice viands, and during the 
progress of the dinner Henry's orchestra played many of 
the popular songs of the day, and a colored minstrel band 
sang plantation melodies with great effect. 
After cigars were lighted the 250 or more gentlemen 
present settled back in their chairs prepared to listen to 
the flow of oratory which was assured by the presence of 
many well-known speakers. At the guests' table sat 
President A. W. Robinson, Lieut.-Gov. Roger Walcott, 
B. C. Clark, president of the Massachusetts Fish and Gam© 
Association; the Governor's private secretary, Col. H. A. 
Thomas; Hon. A. A, Strout, Henry 0. Stanley, Rev. E. 
C. Butler, Capt. T. J . Olys, of the Ancient and Honorable 
Artillery Company; Walter M. Brackett, the artist; An- 
drew S. March, president of the Eagle wood Fish and 
Game Club; D. J. Flanders, general manager of the Bos- 
ton & Maine R. R., and Hon. Jas. E. Martine and Wm. 
H. Brower, of Plainfield, N. J. Letters of regret were re- 
ceived from Ex-Gov. Wm. E Russell, Hon. JohnD. Long, 
Mayor Josiah Quincy and others. 
An interesting feature, just before the speaking began, 
was the bringing in of an immense pie (accompanied by 
torch bearers, etc.), which when uncovered exposed to 
view a beautiful little girl dressed as a pink fairy, who 
presented to the lieutenant-governor a handsome basket 
of flowers. Mr. Walcott made a neat speech of accept- 
ance and was cheered to the echo as the next governor of 
the commonwealth. 
The first regular speaker was the club president, A. W. 
Robinson, and it did not take him long to convince his 
hearers that the Megantic Club was a prosperous organiza- 
tion. His statement that the membership rolls were full 
gave joy to the members and brought sorrow to the out- 
siders. Many were also surprised to find that the club 
had under control 250 square miles of territory. Other 
facts which he brought out were that there are on the 
preserve twenty-three ponds and lakes, eight streams, 
eight bogs and about thirty public and many private 
camps. The fish hatchery at Big Island Pond has been 
very successful; 40,000 trout and 14,000 landlocked salmon 
have been hatched therefrom, and next year it is the in- 
tention to place a large number of trout in Long Island 
Pond. His statement of the club > xpenses was pretty 
good evidence of prosperity. In 18b7 the expenditures 
were $1,694 72, in 1895 over $15,000. 
Lieut.-Gov. Walcott followed Mr. Robinson, and was 
at his best. He considered it a privilege to attend this 
giant camp meeting, where he recognized an old friend in 
that loin of caribou on the menu card. At a former din- 
ner of the club he had heard of the death of an old horse 
on the preserve, and knowing the possibilities of cold 
storage, etc., could only conclude that he had found a 
former acquaintance. The next speakers in regular order 
were A, A. Strout, of Maine, who has just returned from 
a year's trip in Europe, and says there is no sporting 
country in the world like Maine; Messrs. B. C. Clark, Col. 
H. A. Thomas, Capt. T. J. Olys and Rev, E. C. Butler. 
The last speech brought the hour up to midnight and the 
president with a few remarks closed the festivities. The 
officers of the club are: President, Arthur W. R ibinson: 
Vice-Presidents, Walter C. Prescott and Nathan F. Tufts; 
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, L. Dana Chap- 
man; Clerk, Dr. George W. Way; Superintendent, Robert 
Phillips; Canadian Warden, William Boyle, Jr. ; Steward, 
Fred M. Viles. Hackle. 
IN CENTRAL NEW YORK. 
Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 4. — The ruffed grouse season, 
which closed Dec 31, proved in all respects unusually 
successful. Birds were to be found in plenty throughout 
the counties of central New York. In Tompkins county 
especially more birds were found and bagged than during 
any single season for several years past. The mild fall 
weather prolonged almost to the very last day of the open 
season, has constantly tempted sportsmen afield who 
ordinarily stop shooting about Dec. 1, if not sooner. Con- 
sequently more birds have been killed by this class of 
shooters, while the market-shooter has plied his trade 
with irrepressible energy from early morn till dewy eve. 
Nevertheless, as a result of our personal investigation, 
made during the closing days of December, I can vouch 
for a good supply of birds left over for next season. 
There is urgent need, however, of a readjustment of the 
grouse season in central New York at any rate. The 
season should not open until Sept. 15 or Oct. 1. Sept. 1 
finds the birds too small and floppy. With full-grown 
birds awaiting the sportsman on opening day we shouldn't 
hear so much of the remarkable scores made on that day 
by "record shooters." A great many shooting men in 
this section are also in favor of closing the season Dec. 1. 
Woodcock shooting was a failure, but comparatively 
few birds being shot. The splendid covers hereabouts, 
which usually afford fine shooting on these beautiful birds, 
were pretty regularly found tenantless. 
The long continued dry weather knocked the antici- 
pations of the lovers of rabbit hunting into a forlorn hope. 
The owners of beagles failed to find rabbits afoot in 
sufficient numbers to give their dogs needed exercise. I 
don't happen to remember a more unsatisfactory season 
for sport with the agile bunny. 
The rabbit season, it is unanimously agreed by all those 
with whom I have conversed, should be extended to Feb. 
1, and the use of ferrets should be rigidly discounte- 
nanced by the statutes. 
It is the hungry chap with the pink-eyed rodent in his 
inside pocket that is last exterminating the rabbit supply. 
The duck shooting on the inland waters and marshes 
of New York during the season of '95. so far as I have been 
able to discover, has not been up to the average. 
A few noteworthy scores, already reported in Forest 
and Stream, were made in the early part of November, 
but aside from these the shooting has been of a poor quality. 
Taking the season as a whole upon the game familiar to 
this section of the State it can scarcely be estimated aa 
a fairly good one. Indeed, if one were to exclude grouse 
shooting from the category, the season might be summed 
up as "flat, stale and unprofitable." "Stop the sale of 
game!" M. Chill, 
NEW HAMPSHIRE GAME LAWS. 
Editor Fwest and Stream: 
At the last session of the New Hampshire Legislature 
some changes were made in the game laws. Previously 
the season opened on ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels 
and rabbits Sept. 1. One of the changes was to make the 
opening on grouse and woodcock Sept. 15, leaving the 
opening on rabhits and squirrels the same as before. Such 
a change does not benefit the grouse and woodcock to the 
extent intended. It gives the impatient gunners an excuse 
for being out Sept. 1. Some of them might regard the 
law enough to shut their eyes when running across a 
brood of grouse. A good many of them would not. The 
opening on all such game as I have named should be uni- 
form. 
Again, another change in the law relating to deer. For 
a number of years efforts had been made to stop hound- 
ing, resulting in a compromise allowing dogs to be used 
a part of the season, and as usual in such cases, the result 
was neither one thing or the other. As the law now 
stands, dogging is prohibited altogether, and it should 
have been years ago. Not contented with making a law 
which is really of great benefit to the deer, the open sea- 
son on them had to be changed, making it from Sept. 15 
to Nov. 15. Now, with hounding prohibited and the sea- 
son closing Nov. 15, which is usually before we can expect 
the first snow, it practically means no deer hunting in 
many parts of the State. I know of some good deer 
grounds in New Hampshire, but I do not know of a place 
where deer are numerous enough to offer much chance of 
success when still hunting on bare ground. With a good 
tracking snow it is by no means as easy as is often repre- 
sented. What a howl would arise from the numerous 
camps in the State of Maine should the season be closed 
there Nov. 15! 
With the ever increasing army of sportsmen game in 
all parts of the country needs about all the protection it 
is likely to get; yet in making game laws it is well to re- 
member that it is much easier to make a law than to 
enforce it. 
A good deal is said about killing game simply for a 
record and leaving it to rot where killed; nearly all game 
wasted in this way is killed early in the season. The 
sportsman of to-day as a rule cares more for the head of 
a moose or caribou he kills than for the meat, and should 
he get a good specimen early in the season in some place 
far back in the wilderness, and if, as is often the case, he 
does not know how to skin and save the head, his only 
object will be to get it out before it becomes tainted, leav- 
ing the meat to take care of itself. Should the open 
season on large game be considered too long, as was evi- 
dently the case in New Hampshire, the opening should 
be made later instead of closing earlier, just as the weather 
is becoming cold. Cold weather is the time to kill large 
game, ana the time when it can be saved. 
A clause in the game laws of Nova Sootia struck me as 
very sensible; it reads about as follows: "The meat of 
such, game as moose or caribou must be brought out of 
the woods" within ten days of its being killed." Of course 
ten days from the time of killing in the early part of the 
season would give it time to spoil, but I noticed in my 
hunting trips to the Province that great pains were taken 
to get it out in good condition, One of the first question 
