270 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Sept. 29, 1894 
DOVE SHOOTING IN KENTUCKY. 
Clarksville, Tenn.. Sept 10.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have just finished reading Mr. Hough's ex- 
perience at dove shooting in West Tennessee, and he de- 
scribes it as it actually is. A dove can get away faster 
with more shot in him than anything I ever looked at 
over a gun barrel, or else I can make more clean misses 
at him than at any other bird. I would like to see some 
of our game hogs go to a dove roost for one evening's 
shooting. I would like to see their downcast looks as 
they wearily wended their homeward way, and to listen 
to their many excuses for not killing more birds. I'll 
warrant they would blame the gun, the cartridges, or 
something else besides their poor marksmanship. 
Last week I had an invitation from Mr. Geo. Snadon, 
to go up to his Kentucky farm to a dove roost. So equipped 
with a good gun, plenty of shells loaded with nitro pow- 
der and No. 7 chilled shot, I took the train for Haydens- 
ville. George was at the depot to meet me, and we had 
a delightful drive over to his farm, passing through some 
of as fine wheat and tobacco country as the sun shines 
on. On the way over we picked up "Walton and Watkins 
North ington and Harry Borders. 
After dinner, preparations were made for the start, the 
roost being two miles distant. George and I took a buggy, 
the other boys going in a carriage drawn by mules. 
When we arrived at the roost not a dove was in sight 
and I was discouraged, but George reassured me by tell- 
ing me that they do not come in until late, which I found 
to be the case. We killed a few at the ponds and in the 
adjoining wheat fields until the sun began to near the 
western horizon; then we stationed ourselves along an 
osage orange hedge that was nearly a mile long. 
You should have been there then to see them come in ! 
They came in droves, in pairs and singly, and I never saw 
as many doves in my life. At times I think there were 
fifty in sight at once. Doves were in front of them , doves 
to the right of them, doves to the left of them, and doves 
behind them. It was a continual bang,- bang, bang. I 
had often heard of men shooting until their guns got so 
hot they couldn't hold them, but this was my first experi- 
ence of that kind. I had to take my handkerchief and 
hold it in my left hand my gun was so hot. The next 
time I go I will take a forehand protector. 
From sundown until dark we kept it up. The shooting 
was continuous as long as we could see. We lost a great 
many in the hedge, and as it grew dark the negro boys 
could not find them in the open field. When we stopped 
I had thirty-eight doves and two bull bats, and about 
seventy-five empty shells were lying around my feet. I 
thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day and I am 
going again. I would like so much, to have Mr. Hough 
with me. I think he is a good conscientious sportsman, 
and I enjoy his writings very much. My friend Snadon 
is a thorough Kentucky host, and does all in his power to 
entertain you. Slippery. 
A TRIP FOR BEACH BIRDS. 
Boston, Sept, 10. — We headed for Lieutenant Island 
Aug. 24 — which island is part of South Wellfleet and 
about seventeen miles from Provincetown — in quest of 
beetle-heads, doe-birds, turnstones, curlews, ox-eyes, 
peeps or plover of any kind. 
We reached the island about 4 P. M. , where we were 
cheered by the sight of our stove waiting to have pipe 
fitted to it before our appetites could be appeased. Claude 
shinned up to the roof to run the elbow through the hole, 
while Brann passed up stones to wedge it tight, Glennie 
dashed away to the beach after driftwood and I sprinted 
to the pump for water. 
On my way to the pump,, which was only fifteen min- 
utes' walk from our place, I was joined by a sociable bevy 
of mosquitoes, who gave me a warm welcome; and they 
made it lively for us during our stay. Night and day for 
two weeks they stood by us, and were full-grown and 
robust when we sailed away for home. I have often 
wondered as to what mosquitoes live upon before they 
espy man, poor man. We got supper very quickly, and 
left the cabin in charge of the ladies while we seized our 
trusty guns and went in quest of birds. 
We found an abundance of ring-necks and beach sand- 
pipers on our first trip, and later some bitterns. All of 
the beach birds were just enveloped in fat, which con- 
dition goes far to prove the healthfulness of sea air for 
birds as well as man. But we soon tired of gathering 
such small trash, and found ourselves yearning for some- 
'thing worthy of our metal. 
Claude had his yearning partly satisfied by stopping a 
. fine specimen of the barred owl that was chasing the dog. 
The breast of the bittern is used by some people here, and 
is pronounced very tender aud palatable. 
On the third day we were greeted by the cheery whistle 
of Totanus melanoleucus or "winter yellow-legs." This 
bird decoys very readily, and we called down the flock 
and captured eight of them. At no time did we find 
them plentiful. Brann picked up a few ruddy plover but 
he got all there were. We were too early for the birds 
and the weather was too fine. We saw just one bunch of 
beetle-heads during our stay, but they passed over and 
left us hoping:, and our hopes were not realized. 
We had some excellent tautog fishing out near Billings- 
gate Light. Securing our supply of hermit crabs for bait, 
with a favorable wind we could reach the Light in about 
an hour. On our first trip we took two barrels of tautog, 
ranging from 4 to 151bs. each. And very lively sport we 
found it, especially when we hooked onto the 15-pounder. 
Our skipper took the bulk of the catch for the market, we 
simply keeping enough for our table. I noted a very 
human look about the teeth of this fish, some big fellows 
who had lost some of their front teeth closely resembling 
old people who had also dropped their incisors. I expect 
to hear from some injured old people pretty soon. 
In Forest and Stream of July 7 I expressed the wish 
that some lovers of shore shooting might join us in a trip 
to the Cape. But not until to-day, Sept. 11, have I heard 
from any lovers of the gun who would care to have 
joined us. Mr. J. M. Hartner, of Boston; Mr J. W. Bab- 
bitt, of Danvers, and Mr. George Poland, of Wakefield, 
have expressed a desire to be with us. But as we did not 
get their letters until Sept. 11, when our trip was over, I 
must express my regrets at not hearing from them sooner. 
We will be visiting the Cape again when the geese and 
and ducks are about, and if any of those who failed to con- 
nect with us on this trip would like to face the exhilarat- 
ing zephyrs that cavort about the Cape during the winter 
months we should be pleased to have them with us. We 
have a cottage large enough to contain a dozen with 
comfort. If any are desirous of getting particulars, and 
will promise not to be disappointed if they fail to get a 
trunk full of geese, they can get my address from Forest 
and Stream, or else write me as previously. 
On this trip, though we failed to secure any new speci- 
mens to add to our collections, still we had a royal good 
time. Between bathing in the surf, sailing and fishing, 
going after driftwood to replenish the fire, meekly taking 
buckets and lugging water and eating the pies that Virgie 
made, we had a jolly good time, and intend to repeat it 
next year. We had fresh eggs and new milk every day 
from the mainland, and life would have been as blissful 
as a dream were it not for that blood-thirsty, blood-suck- 
ing vampire who never cried quits — the infinitesimal mos- 
quito. 
Just about dusk, when night was drawing her mantle 
over the face of nature, one could stroll about among 
the hills and valleys, and be entertained by the varied 
voices of nature's wild childen. From the hills across the 
marshes came the short snappy bark of sly reynard, from 
the bogs and sloughs would float the harsh cry of the dis- 
turbed bittern ; at your feet amon g the beach plum roots, 
was the humble mole with his muffled squeal, while from 
overhead near the clouds came voices and. calls from 
feathered travelers, travelers whom we could not name, 
and not knowing always felt a sense of loss at our igno- 
rance, as their voices died away in the distance. 
Jay Pee. 
THE BIG GAME HUNTERS. 
On Friday of last week. Sept. 21, Gen. Nelson A. Miles 
left Chicago for a trip to New Mexico, where he will do 
some shooting. There are said to be plenty of bears 
where he goes, and as all the circumstances of his trip 
are exceptionally favorable for success, he is likely to 
make a killing. 
Mr. W. Austin Wadsworth, who is well known as the 
master of foxhounds of the Genesee Valley Hunt, of 
Geneseo, N. Y., returned East a short time ago, after a 
bunt on the borders of the National Park. His trip was 
successful, and Mr. Wadsworth killed all the game he 
needed. He was greatly pleased with his new rifle, carry- 
ing the old .45-70 cartridge, and says that the elk needed 
only a single bullet. 
A hunting party taken out by Schultz and Jackson into 
the main range of the Rocky Mountains found on the 
Bummit near the head of Badger Creek elk, deer and 
goats in fair numbers, and lots of bear signs. They Baw 
no sheep, however. Much of the weather while they 
were out was bad, with snow and rain, and this prevented 
their giving all their time to hunting. Most of their time 
was spent on the high plateau from which the streams 
flow east and west to the Columbia and Missouri rivers. 
There recently returned to Glenwood Springs, Col., 
after two months in the mountain, a large hunting party 
made up of New York men. Its members were Robert L. 
Gerry, son of ex-Com. Gerry of the New York Yacht Club; 
Dr. Russell Bellamy and Robert Oelrichs. They were 
accompanied by half a dozen men and had thirty-five or 
forty horses. Their trip included Big Fish Lake, Lost 
Lake and the elk country about Pagoda Peak in Routt 
county, as well as tributaries of Bear River. The trip was 
one of great interest, and included fishing, shotgun shoot- 
ing and big game shooting. Mr. Gerry had a camera 
with him, and is reported to have secured many very in- 
teresting photographs, some of which include living 
game. 
New London County Rod and Gun Club. 
THE County Rod and Gun Club of New London, Conn., 
was organized May 11, 1893, with the following officers 
and members: George Bindlose, President; Dr. E. L. R. 
Tbomson, Vice-President; Chas. H. Tate, Treasurer; 
Stephen M. Crocker, Secretary; Enoch A. Crandall, Chas. 
A. Chase, John J. Gannon, Willis A. Janes. James W. 
Keefe, H. A. Penrose, A. G. Treigar.Wm. T. Smith, Clay- 
ton H. Redfield and John Merwin. The membership is 
limited to twenty, and each member must subscribe to 
four shares of stock in the club at $10 per share. 
The club was formed for the purpose of protecting the 
game by enforcing the game laws, and to provide a place 
where the members of the club could go and enjoy them- 
selves hunting and fishing. The club has leased a large 
tract of land in the town of East Lynne, about eleven 
miles from New London, and have erected thereon a 
very comfortable club house, which is large enough to 
accommodate ten or more members, and it is surrounded 
for miles by good country for hunting and fishing. There 
is a lake near the club house that will be stocked with 
bass. This lake was once a favorite stopping place fox- 
ducks, and it is hoped by sowing wild rice near the shores 
to draw them there again in large numbers. The quail 
last year were rather scarce owing to the severe winter of 
the year before, but there were a few coveys left, and 
they were not shot into last year in order that they might 
have a chance to increase. Partridges were plentiful, 
and there will be more this fall. There is also good wood- 
cock shooting, and the members of the club are antici- 
pating good sport when the season opens. 
Dredd Ware. 
Toledo's Chief of Police. 
Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 20.— Editor Forest and Stream: In- 
closed please find clipping from the Toledo Daily Blade, 
of Sept. 19, which is self-explanatory. With such ex- 
amples being set before a gun ridden people is it any won- 
der that game is scarce? 
"Chief of Police Benjamin Raifcz returned to the city 
this morning, after a brief vacation hunting on the 
prairies. The chief left Toledo last Saturday in company 
with John Robinson, of the Lake Shore detective force, 
on a hunting expedition along the line of the Wabash. 
They went to a point in Illinois, about sixty miles east of 
St. Louis. They had splendid luck, securing a fine lot of 
prairie chickens and quail. The season for the latter is 
still closed in Illinois, but the chief shot a dozen for a sick 
friend in this city, easing his conscience That he broke the 
law in behalf of charity. The prairie chickens, a full bag 
of which the chief brought back with him, are plump and 
fat and' fine specimens. The chief looks brown and hearty 
after his few days' outing, and will take hold of the duties 
of the office with renewed zeal." 
Sportsmen Lost in Forest Fires. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
You will see from the inclosed clipping taken from the 
Hallock (Hilton county, Minn.) Enterprise, Sept. 14, 
that apprehensions of sportsmen having been caught in 
the terrible forest fires of Sept. 3 are not without founda- 
tion. It reads: "G. H. Tiffany, of St. Paul, while hunt- 
ing here last week received word that three of his 
intimate friends, connected with him in the St. Paul & 
Duluth Railway, had perished in the flames at Hinckley. 
He took the next train for St. Paul." 
Ex-Mayor C. D. O'Brien, of St. Paul, one of your oldest 
contributors, was on the ill-fated train which was con- 
sumed near Hinckley, after running the gauntlet of 
flames. A letter to the undersigned, just received from 
him, says that he and his son were both badly burned. 
They were en route from their permanent camp on the 
Wisconsin Brule. C Hallock. 
Game Reports. 
Keene, N. H., Sept. 15. — Gray squirrels are very plenti- 
ful in this vicinity this year. The two best strings yet 
reported are 16 and 11, the former being the bag of one 
man and the latter that of two boys. Last Wednesday 
saw a large "grayer" in an elm in the very center of tha 
city. Partridges and woodcock are also fairly abundant, 
but owing to the very warm weather so far this month 
there has been very little shooting, Monadnock. 
"Indianland and Wonderland" 
tells about some of the most interesting Indians in thi Northwest, 
about the Yellowstone Park and other beautiful spots in the Nonh- 
west also. Send me 6 cants in stamps for it. Chas. S Fee, General 
Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, St. Paul, Minn.— Adv. 
ANGLING NOTES. 
Architecture of Some Angling Articles. 
If the experienced angler ever reads the angling articles 
that it is quite the fashion now to print in the daily news- 
papers, he must be amused at some of them because 
of their peculiar construction. I do not refer to those 
which are supposed to give the personal experience of 
somebody or another in making a remarkable catch of 
fish, but the more pretentious articles, often illustrated 
with cheap cuts, supposed to he written to instruct the 
reader about the habits, habitat and characteristics of 
some particular fish, with description of the tackle for 
and manner of using it to catch the fish in question. In 
places the workmanship is as smooth as if it were adapted 
from a guide book, or taken bodily from a standard text 
book on the subject; then a bad joint will appear where 
some old and disused ichthyological description is spliced 
to the common name of the fish, or there may be gaps 
poorly bridged, as if the guide book had failed at a critical 
point, making the whole article a piece of patchwork, 
with some of the seams badly stitched. At this moment 
I have on my desk three articles of this description from 
three of the leading New York morning newspapers. 
One is written to instruct the novice in black bass fishing 
with the fly, and it is well written, as all these articles 
rule, but the writer shows the 'prentice hand in 
his use of terms as well as in the soundness of his advice. 
For instance, he advises for fly fishing a soft^finished 
braided silk line "left unprotected," meaning an undressed 
line. For the rod, he says, "eyelets will be much better 
than raised guides." Why not fasten the fly to the leader 
with a hook and eye? The reel should have, not terra 
cotta or red brick, but "German silver trimmings." There 
is no choice giv^n in case one wishes "trimmings" of 
Honiton lace or Hamburg edging, for they must be German 
silver. A rule worth observing is given thus: "Let all 
the tackle be light from tip to fly, and let that have all 
possible weight." Further it is soberly stated by the 
writer that the discussion as to whether the smoke-colored, 
pink or white strainless leaders are best leads to no de- 
cision." "* 
Another article in another paper is about the lake trout, 
and it begins by saying, "If the lake trout could be fished 
for with light tackle and light rod as salmon are, the title 
of salmon as king of the game fishes would fade at once; 
but the Mackinac trout, like the salmon trout of the New 
York lakes, is not built for fine tackle." Then follows a 
lot of other rot. As the lake trout has been fished for, 
and caught, too, for more than twenty-five years to my 
personal knowledge, with finer tackle than is ever used 
for salmon, the observation is not of much value. 
The third article concerns the ouananiche of Canada, 
and it reads as if it were a cousin, once removed, or that 
it had married into the family of a book recently pub- 
lished by Forest and Stream. The family resemblance 
is so striking that I rather expected to see the book men- 
tioned as the parent of the article. 
In one place where the seam has ripped, the article 
says: "When fresh-run the fish is silvery like the sal- 
mon." As it is a salmon, pure and simple, this is not 
strange, but I am still guessing where the salmon run 
from, as previously the article had stated that the fish 
found its home in Lake St. John. Pardon my haste — it 
says also that this fish is "equally at home in mid air or 
in the depths," so it may be fresh-run from mid-air or the 
depths. I have said enough to give an idea of how these 
articles appear when constructed, and I think I have dis- 
covered how they are built, from sub-cellar to ridge-pole. 
The last number of the London Fishing Gazette has an 
article by W. Carter Platts, in which he relates that the 
editor of the Daily Grinder was sitting in his office and 
sent for an associate or department editor of the same 
paper. When he appeared the following conversation 
took place: 
"Purvis, I believe you have no practical knowledge of 
fishing?" 
"Couldn't tell a fisherman's 'paternoster' from a 'curse'." 
"Have we nobody on the staff who ever goes fishing?" 
"Not a soul. But what on earth are you driving at?" 
"I want some angling copy — a few good readable 
specials. Must have them. The public taste has taken a 
turn that way of late. The British public, speaking gen- 
erally, does not care a hang about actual fishing, but the 
B. P. has at present got a decided hankering after some 
Other fool's account t of his pursuit of salmon or. tro.'.fc 
