98 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb, 1, 1886. 
NEW YORK GAME LAW. 
Editor Forest and Stream. 
All true sportsmen who read your papar— and I take it 
that there are but few who do not— will be interested in 
the report of the proceedings of the New York Associa- 
tion for the Protection of Fish and Game, the annual 
meeting of which was held recently at Syracuse; and 
while they will find in the proceedings much to com- 
mend and very little to condemn, they will, I think, find 
matter in some of the recommendations that could have 
been materially bettered. 
The proposals to amend the game law so as to prohibit 
hounding and jacking, and to wipe out the infamous 
Section 249, will undoubtedly receive, as they should, 
the unqualified indorsement of every sportsman and 
friend of game protection. 
The same may be said of the recommendations relative 
to spring shooting, the shortening of the snipe and shore 
bird season, and that relative to the pollution of streams. 
The correction of an obvious error in the game law, fix- 
ing the open season for meadow hens, and several other 
minor recommendations are all in the right line. I be- 
lieve, however, tbat a majority of sportsmen would pre- 
fer to have the date of opening of the deer season fixed at 
Sept. 15 instead of Sept. 1, as recommended, even if the 
time for closing was extended to Nov. JO. While we 
must admit that under favorable conditions a large num- 
ber of deer would be killed during the first ten days of 
November, we would still have the satisfaction of know- 
ing that they were in a majority of instances killed by 
sportsmen and in a sportsmanlike manner. 
I also beg to take exception to the proposed amendment 
to Section 74, fixing the date of opening of the woodcock 
and ruffed grouse season at Sept. 1. The open season for 
ruffed grouse, at all events, should not begin before Sept. 
15, for the reason that more half -fledged grouse are killed 
during the last two weeks of August and the first two 
weeks of September than there are shot of full-fledged 
grouse during the balance of the season. I know of an 
instance in central New York where eight partly fledged 
grouse were killed about Sept. 1 from two adjoining 
trees in a space of less than ten minutes. These grouse 
were driven into the trees by a cur dog that happened to 
be following the hunter, and sat there until they were 
killed. What a glorious day's sport these grouse would 
have furnished some sportsman a month or two later, 
and he would, unwillingly perhaps, have left some for 
seed at that. 
The recommendations relative to amending Sections 72 
and 73 I believe to be wholly bad and a retrograde move- 
ment of the first order. The open season for quail as 
fixed by the present law is quite long enough when the 
condition of the quail supply is taken into consideration, 
and the prohibiting of quail shooting until 1898 in some 
of the counties is the only practical means of restoring 
the quail to localities where it has become almost extinct 
by unfavorable climatic conditions and too close shoot- 
ing. It will not do to say that inasmuch as the season 
for other birds is longer the quail would be killed any- 
way, for this is true only in a limited sense. The sports- 
man will not kill them illegally on general principles, 
and in four cases out of five the pot-hunter will not for 
fear of the penalty, at least he will not hunt for them 
specially, even though he may kill a few occasionally 
when in pursuit of other game. That portion of the 
present game law should be left as it is, unless we amend 
so as to cut off the last two weeks of the season, when the 
quail often have quite enough to do looking out for 
number one, without being harried by hunters of the 
genus 7ioroo. M. Schenck. 
Troy, N. Y., Jan. 30. 
MAINE ASSOCIATION. 
At the annual meeting of the Maine Sportsmen's Fish 
and Game Association in Bangor, Secretary Farrington 
reported that the fishing interests of the State were in a 
prosperous condition, and that as a result Of protection 
and of the activity of the Commission the outlook for the 
next season was most promising. He recommended that 
the Legislature should appropriate separate funds for 
game protection and fishculture, and urged that the close 
time on beavers should be extended. 
The plan was discussed of exacting a license from 
sportsmen coming from outside of the State, but the 
proposition failed to receive the convention's approval. 
Officers for 1896 and committees were appointed as fol- 
lows: President, P. O. Vickery, Augusta; Vice-Presidents, 
A. M. Spear, Gardiner; C. A. Marston, Skowhegan; E. O. 
Burleigh, Augusta; W. P. Frye, Portland; A. R Nicker- 
son, |Boothbay Harbor; J. H. Kimball, Bath; F. H. Ap- 
pleton, Bangor; Secretary, E. G. Farrington, Augusta; 
Treasurer, W. S. Choate, Augusta ; Superintendent, J. A. 
Fairbanks, Hallowell; Consulting Attorney , W. T. Haines, 
Waterville; Directors, P. O. Vickery, ex-offieio; E. M. 
Hersey, Bangor; J. F. Hill, Augusta; J. F, Sprague, Mon- 
son; J. H. Kimball, Bath; G. H. Fisher, Winterport; E. C. 
Farrington, Augusta; G. G. Gifford, Auburn; L. T. Carle- 
ton, Winthrop. 
Committee on Legislation: F. E. Timberlake, J. F. Hill, 
J. F. Sprague, L. T. Carleton, E. C. Farrington, A. M. 
Spear, 
Committee on Hatcheries: George G. Gifford, Auburn; 
E. M. Blanding, Bangor; E. E. Hastings, Fryeburg. 
Committee on Protection: L. T. Carleton, E. M. Her- 
sey, J. F. Sprague, G. H. Fisher, O. A. Dennen, Jonathan 
Darling. 
Committee on Exhibits in the State House: Messrs. S. 
L. Crosby, E. C. Farrington and C. T. Crosby. 
Committee on Law Enforcement: Messrs. L. T. Carle- 
ton, E. M. Hersey, O. A. Dennen, Jonathan Darling. 
Bull Moose do the Hunting. 
Our correspondent Prowler sends us this from the 
Fredericton, N. B., Gleaner, Jan. 8: Mr. Murray Glasier, 
of Lincoln, had a thrilling adventure Friday which he 
will remember for a long time. Several of his father's 
cattle had strayed away into the woods a day or two 
previous, and Murray was sent out yesterday to search for 
them. After traveling and hunting for an hour or more 
he espied what he took to be two cows browsing near a 
stream, and proceeded toward them. They turned out 
to be two large bull nionse, and as soon as they noticed 
Mr. Glasier approaching they turned to attack him, 
bounding toward him with great speed. The young man 
saw the very dangerous predicament he was in and real- 
ized there was no time to lose if he wished to save his 
life. He ran for and climbed up a tree 10yds. distant 
and just succeeded in reaching the lower limb when his 
infuriated assailants arrived at the bottom. They shook 
the tree furiously and seeing they could accomplish noth- 
ing this way they began a siege. They kept the boy 
treed until dark and he would not have escaped them 
had not his parents become alarmed and sent the hired 
man, Mr. Murdock, to search for him. When this 
gentleman discovered the difficulty he returned for rein- 
forcements in the shape of men and firearms. They put 
the maddened animals to flight and rescued the boy from 
his perilous position. His nerves were badly unstrung 
from the effects of the scare and it is not likely he will 
go cow hunting again. 
New York Game Seasons. 
Gloveesville, Jan. 23.— Editor Forest and Stream: A 
meeting of representative sportsmen of Fulton and Ham- 
ilton counties was held at Gloversville on the evening of 
Jan. 21 which was largely attended and at which, after 
considerable discussion of the present game laws pertain- 
ing to this and Hamilton counties, it was decided to sub- 
mit to the State Legislature the following changes, which, 
it was decided, would be of material benefit toward the 
protection of the game supply: 
1. That the close season on woodcock and ruffed grouse 
(commonly called partridge) should be from Dec. 31 to 
Aug. 16. 
2. That the close season on rabbits and hares should be 
from Jan. 31 to Nov. 1. 
3. That the close season on deer should be from Oct. 31 
to Sept. 10; and that the hounding season be from Sept. 
10 to Oct. 10 inclusive; that jacking or floating be prohib- 
ited. 
It was further decided to recommend to the Fish and 
Game Commission the advisability of appointing special 
protectors — as far as practicable — in each township, to co- 
operate with the regular game protectors of the counties. 
It was also decided to ask the Legislature to designate 
some special day, to be known as fox day, upon which a 
request be made that every sportsman in the State turn 
out and help exterminate foxes. 
It seemed to be the general impression that if the pres- 
ent law on deer was more vigorously enforced any change 
in the same would be unnecessary. Cayadtjtta. 
More Frost Pictures. 
Two more of Mr. A. B. Frost's artistic series of pictures 
of sport on land and water are now ready for distribution 
to the subscribers. Both treat of sport with the ducks, 
one being entitled "Ducks from a Blind," the other 
"Ducks from a Battery." They are treated in a most 
pleasing manner, and include all the features so dear to 
the duck shooter's heart — the expanse of water, the low- 
lying shore in the distance, the decoys reposing so real- 
istically on the water's surface, and the gunners so alert 
to pit their skill with the gun against the swift wing and 
cunning mind of the birds. It is unfortunate that there 
are a few matters of detail which might not win the 
highest approval of those who insist on undeviating fidel- 
ity, as for instance in "Ducks from a Blind," the duck 
shooter in a boat is in cover all too short and thin to con- 
ceal himself or his boat, and he is wearing a highly col- 
ored coat, which could be instantly discovered by the 
ducks when many gun-shots away. However, overlook- 
ing such matters of detail, there is much in the spirit of 
the scenes and the artistic execution which will appeal to 
the memory and to the anticipation of every shooter who 
has reminiscence of good days afield or afloat and hopes 
for them again. 
Adirondack Deer. 
Editor Forest and Stream; 
In your last issue I noticed an article regarding the 
df er of the Adirondacks by Mr. J. C. Allen, and while 
ac'm tting his assertion to be true in some respects, my ex- 
perience has led me to believe that hounding is one of the 
most destructive methods of hunting deer now in exist- 
ence. 
If deer are being killed off too rapidly (I for one cer- 
tainly think so) hounding should be prohibited; then, 
should this not remedy the evil, stop "jacking" also. 
Laws like these theoretically would do good, but in prac- 
tice would they not be like the laws that are to protect 
the Armenians? Good laws, but no enforcement. 
While deer driven to the water often take to other 
ponds than those occupied by the owners of the dogs, are 
there no hunters watching those ponds? Most decidedly 
so. There are mighty few ponds in the Adirondacks, no 
matter how small, that are not being watched 'most all 
the time during dogging, and deer once started rarely 
escape; at least, that is what has come under my observa- 
tion, and in pretty out-of-the-way localities, too. 
S. P. M. T. 
Balls in Choke-Bores. 
New York City, Jan. 24.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
Please give me your judgment in regard to shooting ball 
cartridges in a 12-bore choked. I have before now cut 
my cartridges and made some good shots at long dis- 
tances, but always thought I would injure my gun and 
stopped such work. If a ball cartridge can be used with- 
out injury to the choke it is a good thing, for one not 
knowing what game they will meet with can always 
carry some ball cartridges and feel that they have the 
proper load with them. I have seen these ball cartridges 
at Spalding's, and they claim they will not injure a choked 
gun. Henry C. West. 
Minnesota Game and Fish Commission. 
St. Paul, Minn. , Jan. 19.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
The recent decision of our Supreme Court, making it 
illegal' for any one person to hold two State offices at the 
same time, has caused the resignation of A. L. Ferris from 
our State Game and Fish Commission, Mr. Ferris being 
also a member of the Legislature. 
As an official compliment to the voluntary protective 
movement Governor Clough has appointed Mr, C. S. 
Benson, St, Cloud, and first vice-president of this Associ- 
ation, to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. 
Mr. Benson is thoroughly well known as a game pro- 
tectionist and an honorable gentleman throughout Minne- 
sota and his appointment gives general satisfaction. 
Wm. L, Tucker, Sec'y. 
Special Fares to the Sportsmen's Exposition. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The past week has seen the efforts of the Sportsmen's 
Association crowned with success in the direction which, 
unquestionably, means much to the coming exposition. 
This has been the securing of a concession from the Trunk 
Line Association, embracing all of the prominent roads 
centering at New York, of a one and one-third fare rate, 
to be enjoyed by all accredited delegates to the sports- 
men's convention to be held at Madison Square Garden 
during exposition week. By this provision accredited 
delegates will purchase their tickets from their homes to 
New York, and on having their credentials vised here by 
the Trunk Line agent, and by the assistant secretary of 
the Sportsmen's Association, they will be sold a return 
ticket for one-third the regular fare, which will give them 
the round trip for one and one-third of the regular rate. 
The leading members of the Association, who are also ex- 
hibitors at the coming exposition, have heartily endorsed 
the project for a sportsmen's convention during exposition 
week, which in itself will be an educational feature of de- 
cided importance. Plans are on foot to make this con- 
vention one that will be memorable in the history of 
sport and sportsmen's displays. These plans will be an- 
nounced a little later. Meantime leading exhibitors will 
see to it that among those who receive credentials as dele- 
gates to the convention will be representatives of some of 
the oldest and most prominent out-of-town houses in the 
retail sporting goods trade. An opportunity for exhibit- 
ing manufacturers to meet their customers personally, and 
to cement the tie of good fellowship by a little personal 
attention upon so memorable a visit as the coming jour- 
ney to New York will prove to many of the delegates, will 
be improved to the utmost extent. 
A Maryland Quail Country. 
Stockton, Md,, Jan. 23.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
We have plenty of quail here now, notwithstanding the 
severe shooting of this last fall. Our season is not out 
until Feb. 1, but I know of no one doing any shooting, as 
all our local population are at work on their oysters in the 
bay. I am breaking a young dog, but seldom kill a bird, 
and then only to encourage the dog. I find plenty of 
small coveys of from three to eight birds; they are very 
wild and make long flights to heavy cover, or feed out 
only at the edge of the closest thickets. I think what 
are here will be well able to avoid the shot of any ordinary 
shooter. With a favorable season we will have as many 
birds and as good shooting as we did in the fall just 
passed. Plenty of geese here now, but ducks and brant 
will not be back before the middle of February, and after 
them will come the early flight of jacksnipe, 
O. D. Foulks. 
Cumberland Association. 
Cumberland, Md., Jan. 16, — At a meeting called by 
several of the sportsmen of this city last night there were 
present about twenty representatives, and the following 
organization was perfected: Mr. Harrison Swartzwelder 
was called to the chair and Zack Laney appointed secre- 
tary. The name was made "The Game Protective Asso- 
ciation of Cumberland." The following gentlemen, F. 
G. Luman, T. H. Hobbs and J. A. McKee, were appointed 
to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of purchasing birds 
for propagating. Also committee consisting of Messrs. 
Swartzwelder, P. J. Smith and Zack Laney, were 
appointed to draft a law to be submitted to Senator Sloan 
for the better protection of game in Alleghany county. 
New Hampshire Deer. 
Manchester, N. H,, Jan. 13.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Protection has done something for large game 
here. Two buck deer were seen within the limits of the 
city in one day last fall. Some three or four have been 
killed in Merrimac and Rockingham counties. They 
seem to be working down into this part of the State, 
where none have been seen for a great many years until 
lately. For the last three or four years some have been 
seen quite often. There ought to be protection in the 
southern part of New Hampshire for five or ten years. 
Long life to you I • J. Hodge. 
A Mississippi Deer Chase. 
A correspondent writes us under recent date as fol- 
lows: "Major Valentine Young, of Waverly, Miss. , unin- 
tentionally jumped a deer with his pack of red fox dogs 
the other day and had quite a race after it. It finally ran 
off up the river, and two young men out in the bottom 
shot it, but it escaped across the river. It is against the 
law to shoot deer in this county for five years, but the 
above shows how well game laws are observed. Major 
Young has about three fox races a week, and some of 
them are extra good ones." 
Shooting in China. 
New York.— Editor Forest and Stream: My friend, 
C. J. Ashley, of Shanghai, China (on your subscription 
list), writes me under date of Dec. 28, just received: "Just 
back from our annual shooting trip. Had fairly good 
weather and fine sport. Fifteen days shooting, four guns, 
Bagged twenty-five deer, thirty geese, about sixty duck 
and teal, a few hares and enough pheasants to reach a 
total of 1,000 head." They go up country in a boat pro- 
pelled by coolies. J. K, Draper, 
The Mill at Albany. 
Albany, N. Y,, Jan. 27. — [Special Correspondence For* 
est and Stream]: Assemblyman Alld's bill adds Chemung 
and Chenango to the counties in which rabbits may be 
bunted except from March 1 to Sept. 13. Senator Brum's 
bill adds Otsego county. Assemblyman Budd's bill makes 
it lawful to take frostfish and whitefish in Seneca Lake at 
any time with nets having meshes not less than 1-Jin. bar. 
Senator Malby's bill includes bitches in the prohibition of 
dogs hounding deer. m Mather. 
Game Laws in Brief. 
The Game Laws in Brief, current edition, sold everywhere, has 
new game and flsh laws for more than thirty of the States. It covers 
the entire country, is carefully prepared, and gives all that shooters 
and anglers require. See advertisement. 
