492 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Deo. 8, 1894. 
COMBINATION ARMS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your paper for October 6, there is an article by 
"Cayuga" condemning the combination gun, chiefly on 
the ground that it is inferior to a shotgun for winged 
game shooting, or to a repeating rifle for large game. 
Most hunters of practical experience would admit the 
correctness of this opinion; and yet the fact remains that 
the combination gun, properly constructed, is more com- 
pletely adapted to certain kinds of work than either a 
repeating rifle or an ordinary shotgun. 
In places where both large and small game are found 
and where a hunter or explorer is shooting for food, or 
perhaps collecting animals for natural history purposes, 
it is not uncommon to meet with large game when only 
a shotgun is at hand, or vice versa; and even in countries 
where native gun bearers are employed, a good opportun- 
ity of shooting is often lost while one weapon is being 
exchanged for the other. Such instances have frequently 
occurred in my own personal experience. 
The threebarreled gun described by "Cayuga" seems 
to me to be an excellent weapon for use in districts where 
the .32-20-115 cartridge would be sufficently powerful. 
It would be well adapted for both large and small game, 
if the rifle barrel were .40 caliber and chambered for a 60 
or 70 grains straight shell, like those made for the Bal- 
lard, Maynard and Sharps rifles. Cartridges of this size, 
although now superseded to some extent by .45-calibers, 
were for many years found to be very deadly by hunters 
engaged in the pursuit of deer, wapiti, bear, and even 
bison. With reduced charges of powder and either round 
or short conical bullets they are very satisfactory for kill- 
ing large birds such as wild geese, cranes, etc., when 
these are too wary to be approached within the range of 
a shotgun. With minute charges of powder they are 
equally well adapted for supplying the pot with duck, 
grouse or rabbits, when it is undesirable to make much 
noise for fear of disturbing large game. 
A Maynard .40-60 rifle in my possession, loaded with 
48grs. of powder and a round bullet of 102grs., seated on 
a thick lubricated wad, carries with accuracy up to 
100yds. (At 60yds., fired from a rest, it put five successive 
bullets into lfin. wide by -Jin. deep.) With 5grs. of pow- 
der and a round ball it sboots well enough to bag a ruffed 
grouse or rabbit up to 40yds., and on account of the 
rapidity with which a round ball loses velocity, it is much 
safer to use about a farm than an ordinary .25 or .32 
small game rifle with its conical projectile. 
So small a charge gives, of course, a high trajectory 
when the powder is placed loose in the shell, as is gener- 
ally done; but this defect is to a great extent overcome by 
loading in the following manner: Fix the powder at the 
bottom of the shell with a stiff cloth lubricated wad (like 
those made by Eley for .40 express rifles), place another 
wad in the mouth of the shell, press the bullet down until 
rather less than half of it is above the rim, and fill in the 
angle evenly all round with some lubricant. Loaded in 
this way the curve of the bullet's flight is hardly percept- 
ible up to 40yds., and in off-hand shooting would be en- 
tirely unnoticed, while the velocity is so great that the 
lead is flattened on an iron target to the thinness of a 
quarter dollar. 
There seems no way of accounting for this velocity un- 
less on the supposition that the air between the two wads, 
being suddenly compressed by the explosion, acts on the 
principle of a boy's popgun, and drives the bullet well into 
the rifle grooves before the force of the powder comes into 
full play, 
Nitro powders do not act well in these small quantities. 
Five grains by measure of Schultze fail generally to drive 
the bullet up to the muzzle. 
"Cayuga" mentions that the cylinder barrel of hiB gun 
carries bullets well. The other barrel would do the same 
if choked on the "recess" or "tulip" system. Such barrels 
can be made very accurate with bullets up to 50 and often 
60yds., and although only 16-gauge, carrying large shot 
with sufficient closeness and force to kill ducks well at 
4oyds. with No. 5 shot and geese with BB. While it is 
admitted that a composite gun may be, on the whole, in- 
ferior to a good repeating rifle for large game alone, it 
yet has advantages peculiar to itself which may more 
than compensate. 
In the event, which frequently happens, of a deer at 
a gallop being missed with the first shot and stopping for 
a moment to locate the danger, there is a good chance of 
killing with a bullet from one or both of the smooth 
barrels; or an equally good chance of the animal disap- 
pearing among the bushes before a second shot can be 
fired from a repeater, through being startled by the noise 
of the lever working down and up. 
If the composite gun be fitted with the double grip 
action, which although now old-fashioned, is surpassed 
by none for enduring hard wear, it can be reloaded in 
perfect silence, a quality which may sometimes be of 
much importance in thick brush when it is desirable to 
avoid scaring a timid animal or showing a dangerous 
wounded animal the exact position of the hunter. 
Badly wounded deer when followed up, are apt to hide 
until the hunter is close to them, and then rush from one 
bush to another, giving the chance of only a snap shot. 
In such cases they are more easily killed with buckshot 
from the composite gun than with a bullet from a re- 
peater. 
Although the 16-gauge barrels are inferior for ordinary 
wing shooting to a 12-gauge shotgun, yet with the aid of 
the rifle barrel game can sometimes be bagged at ranges 
where even a 10-gauge would be useless. For instance, I 
was once stalking a large kind of crane, called "coolen," 
in the Punjab, carrying a gun having a .45 rifle barrel 
loaded with a round bullet and 55grs. of powder, and a 
16 smooth barrel loaded with BB shot, which went closely 
enough to be almost certain of killing a bird of that kind 
at 50yds. When 90yds. distant the coolen became suspi- 
cious and prepared to fly, so I fired the rifle barrel before 
he had time to rise from the ground — and killed him. I 
may here remark that a round bullet of .45 bore, even 
when driven by 55grs. of powder, does not mangle a large 
bird, but punches a clean hole, causing rapid bleeding. 
Composite guns should be well balanced and as light as 
possible consistent with safety, in order that they may be 
handled quickly at winged game. Some are made in this 
country taking the .40-82 rifle cartridge and yet weighing 
only 7|lbs. , they do not recoil uncomfortably, being fitted 
with shotgun stocks more than 14in. long. 
With various gauges of rifle and shot barrels weapons 
of this kind have been used during the last forty years by 
hunters in South Africa in such quantities that they have 
acquired among English manufacturers the name of 
"Cape rifles," There could hardly be a greater proof than 
this of their usefulness to explorers or sportsmen natural- 
ists. When traveling in the American bush, whether by 
canoe or on foot, it is extremely inconvenient to carry 
two guns, and I am inclined to believe that the three- 
barreled weapons now made in the States will come more 
and more into use, and be particularly appreciated by men 
of business who seek by an annual outing to recruit their 
health and jaded energies, and whose chief enjoyment 
comes from luxuriating in the loveliness of nature while 
prepared, with only one gun to carry, for any kind of 
game that may present itself. J, J. Meyrick. 
Devonshire, England. 
THE MAINE DEER SEASON. 
One of the best deer hunts of the season has been m ade 
by Messrs. C. P. and F. H. Stevens, Both are interested 
in Camp Vive Vale, at the Narrows, Richardson Lake. 
By previous arrangement with J. A. French of Andover, 
they were met by him at Rumford Falls and taken to the 
South Arm. They had two guides, Charles Edgar Marston 
and George Thomas, both of Andover. There came a 
slight addition to the few inches of snow already on the 
ground. Before they had proceeded a half mile up the 
Lake Road they came upon the fresh tracks of a deer that 
had crossed the road. Soon the tracks became very 
numerous. They got into camp and got things nicely 
arranged. They killed four deer within twenty to eighty 
rods of the Lake Road. At night, after the day's hunt 
was over, the team met the hunters, either up or down 
the road, by previous agreement, and thus all long tramps 
were avoided. They had simply to go up the mountain on 
either side of the road till they came upon the game. 
The first day this did not take very long, but by the sec- 
ond day the tracks became so numerous that it was not 
easy to follow a special track. On the third day there 
came a crust which made deer still-hunting very difficult. 
But the hunters were not very sorry, for they had secured 
their law quota, three deer apiece. 
Both the Messrs. Stevens are students of hunting and 
fishing, and this hunting trip was full of interest to them. 
Mr. C. P. Stevens is greatly delighted with the quantity of 
game he found. He is of the opinion that the supply of 
deer in Maine is inexhaustible. He says that it will be 
impossible to thin them out by fair hunting, under the 
law, as it stands to-day. Mr. F. H. Stevens came upon 
the curious idea that a deer will follow in the footsteps of 
a man for a long distance. He came upon his own foot- 
steps of the previous day, where, since he had been along, 
a deer had followed, stepping very carefully in the foot- 
steps of the hunter. A fact he also noted was that where 
a deer was killed the day before and dragged down the 
mountain and toward the camp, the trail was one very 
likely to be followed by one or more deer. Evidently 
they came upon the trail in the night and followed it, 
sometimes for a mile or two. The Messrs. Stevens pro- 
nounce the hunting easier for deer than they had ever 
dreamed of, and the game more plenty. 
Mr. J. A. French writes me that up to last week hunters 
and the people of Andover, Me. , had killed 19 deer, more 
than double any previous season of late years. I also learn 
from the Maine papers that since the season opened there 
have been taken out over the Phillips & Rangeley Rail- 
road 28 deer this season. This makes 47 deer known to 
have been taken in the Rangeley region. A gentleman 
interested in the subject, writes me that he has heard of 
fully 150 deer passing through Bangor over the Maine 
Central this season. Some 12 deer are also reported to 
have been taken down over the same road from the sec- 
tion above Skowhegan. Adding to these numbers an 
estimate of 200 deer said to have been killed and taken out 
by the waterways from the eastern part of the State, and 
we have a total of 400 deer killed and taken out of Maine 
by the regular routes of travel. Then if we double this 
number, in order to get at the number killed by citizens 
of the State, we shall have a total of about 800 deer killed 
already this season in Maine. I t is hardly possible that the 
estimate is large enough. Special. 
To Go to Sleep. 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. — It may be rather late in the sea- 
son to write about matters pertaining to camp life, but the 
suggestions that follow will apply equally to all that are 
afflicted with insomnia either on a bed of boughs in camp 
or on a bed of down at home. True, most campers need 
no other soporific than the previous tramp with rod or 
gun or a white ash breeze on the homestretch to enable 
them to enjoy the sweetest — if not the most dreamless — 
slumber, "tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." 
But there are those, both at home and in the woods, whom 
sleep avoids for weary hours, no matter how earnestly it 
may be sought. 
On first retiring, lie flat upon the back for a few min- 
utes; then with a slow inspiration fill the lungs to their 
full extent, and empty them entirely by slow expiration 
through the nostrtls. Let -this be repeated three times, 
with the body in repose and limbs straight. Turn upon 
the right side (if that is the side usually lain upon when 
sleeping), draw the left leg up till the heel touches the 
right knee, lay the right hand upon the left knee and the 
left hand upon the right elbow, and if the conscience is 
clear, sleep will soon do its work. Try it. J. H. D. 
Shooting at Far- A way Game. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
With all deference to so experienced a hunter as "Lew 
Wilmot," I must state my belief that there is a certainty, 
in a long series of shots, of causing much useless suffering 
by aiming at a deer's head beyond 50 or 60yds. 
If an outline of the head and brain cavity be drawn 
fife-size on cardboard and stuck up at 150 or even 100yds. 
it will be found on trial that unusually fine shots, aimed 
with the most accurate sporting rifles, are as likely to 
knock out an eye or break the jaw as to hit the brain, 
This is the case not merely when shooting off-hand but 
when resting the rifle in any way that is obtainable while 
hunting. 
A similar argument has been advanced in this country 
with reference to shooting at rabbits' heads with .22 rim- 
fire rifles, viz. , that the bullet either misses altogether or 
kills on the spot. Unfortunately it is about equally liable 
to break the jaw and allow a rabbit to escape into his 
burrow, probably dying of starvation. J. J. Meyrick, 
Menhaden Crews and Ducks. 
Asbuey Paek, N. J., Nov. 27.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: In answer to many complaints received from 
residents along our coast in relation to the slaughter of 
ducks by the crews of the menhaden steamers, County 
Warden James T. Edge and myself have visited the points 
where the offense has been committed and find just 
grounds for the complaint. At Elberon there is a great 
basin famous for its mussel beds, on which the birds feed; 
and there is where the complaints are the loudest. So 
persistently have the steamers followed this lawless 
course that the birds have left or have all been slaugh- 
tered. To determine which is difficult. Our informant 
assured us that at different times the boats would bear 
swiftly down upon a flock with a full head of steam and 
rake them while still sitting, and as they rose again pour 
in the murderous fire, and so keep it up for hours to- 
gether, marking the flock down and using the same tac- 
tics until the majority were bagged. The law is explicit 
in reference to this matter. The owners of the boats are 
well known and must stand responsible for the acts of 
their crews in violation of State laws. The question 
naturally arises, if the birds were marketed who received 
the benefit? 
Is it not time that the several coast States take these 
people in hand and say just how far they shall go in their 
plunderings. Their antagonism to the food fishing inter- 
ests is well known, their great destruction of lobster 
spawn an undisputed fact, And now, having turned 
their attention to the fowls of the air, we are hourly ex- 
pecting to hear their mandate, "Get off the earth!" 
Leonard Hulit. 
How Jack Stout Met His Death. 
Newark, O. — Some of the readers of Forest and 
Stream may recall the killing of Jack Stout, a large 
black bear, the property of Mr. Elvy Smith, of Clay 
Lick, O. Jack was captured when a cub by James Smith, 
in the wilds of Wisconsin, and in company with his little 
sister Becky was brought to Ohio, where they were sold 
to H. Miller, of Rocky Fork. Becky was exchanged to a 
gang of Turks for a vicious cinnamon, which was after- 
ward sold to a local butcher for the Newark markets. Jack 
became the property of Elvy Smith, and was raised on 
his farm, where he became a great pet. He would roam 
over the fields at his own sweet will, but would always 
return home like a good boy. He was often given a 
bottle of cider, which he could handle with the greatest 
ease, and would drink from it as well as I could. But 
Jack's disposition soon changed. He became cross, and 
when a young lady called to see him he attacked her, 
biting her severely. At this Mr. Smith became about as 
cross as Jack, and a shooting match was arranged, and 
on this occasion Jack met his doom by a. 3S-40 Winchester 
in the hands of Fred. McQueen, a young lad of seventeen 
years. His overcoat brought $12. The rest of the day 
was spent in turkey shooting and at targets, in which 
Flint drove center off-hand at 100yds. Black Rifle. 
My Pigeon Shoot. 
It wasn't the shooting of the bluerock, dead, or the 
bluerock, living, over a trap, but of the lightning-like 
passenger bird that in my young days delighted the 
people of New York by giving us the finest exhibitions of 
their fecundity and gregariousness. Well, once during 
their plenteousness I went with a companion to shoot 
them. I had shot grouse, woodcock, quail, etc., for 
years, and wouldn't be caught skulking around to shoot 
them out of the trees. I stationed myself in a swale 
along which flock after flock rushed like rockets. I fired 
into a flock exactly overhead , expecting half a dozen at 
least to fall. But one bird came to the ground. I fired 
five times more at flocks passing over me, trying the 
experiment of letting them pass me a little before pulling 
trigger, but with no success. All I got was one bird. I 
gave up in utter disgust. Now, those birds did not seem 
to be above 30yds. high, and any novice could shoot into 
the flock as I did without fault of aim. My shot were 
about No. 6. Did I miscalculate the height of those birds, 
or what was the cause of my failure to score? My pot- 
hunting companion got six birds out of trees. Had I pre- 
science I would have pot-hunted that day. 
N. D. Elting. 
West Virginia Woodcock Law. 
Central City, W. Va. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
hunting season did not open here with great expectations, 
nor were sportsmen disappointed. Quail are not really 
plentiful, and the enthusiasm among wing shots seems 
not to be of average intensity. I have tried, for the first 
time, nitro powder, something approaching what I have 
long desired, viz. , less recoil (my gun is very light), less 
noise and less smoke. I have reason to believe that black 
powder for sporting will, in a decade or so, be a thing of 
the past, as themuzzleloader is destined, like the flintlock, 
to become a curiosity. 
The West Virginia woodcock law is the poorest kind of 
a one. This game is not plentiful here and the heat is too 
great to hunt it in summer. The law allows woodcock 
shooting from July 1 to Sept. 1, including the hottest 
months. So we see that when the weather becomes cool 
enough to make hunting pleasurable and healthful this 
bird cannot be shot. If the law was changed to read, 
from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15 there would be some sense in it. 
N. D. E. 
Barnegat Birds and Fish. 
Barnegat, N. J., Nov. 30. — Our gunners have been at 
loss this week, for the tide has been so low that there has 
been no chance, although the bay is full of ducks. Still 
some of the boys managed to drown their disappointment 
in coot shooting in the Inlet, some killing as high as 
thirty-nine, which they said beat staying home anyway; 
others went rabbit hunting, making good bags. By the 
way, you could still catch a bass at the Inlet if you had 
good bait. War. C. Inman. 
Making Shot-Balls. 
Marysvtlle, O. — Mr. L. O. Crane's statement in your 
issue of Nov. 10 tells how to make shot shoot like a ball. 
I tried the experiment at several distances, ranging from 
30 to 90yds. ; and with a cy finder bore shotgun I planted 
a charge of l^oz, of No. 8 shot with 3^-drs. powder into a 
solid green oak butt at a distance of 90yds. , and as Mr. 
Crane says, I think it would make "bad medicine" for 
a lion at that distance. H. S. 
