Seipt. 19, 1896.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
227 
of the date of Aug. 29 to further answer the somewhat 
vague inquiry of Mr. R, E. Miller, of Elmira, N. Y., re- 
garding a Montana town where he can go for a few 
months' life on a ranch near deer and other game, will 
say that probably he can find the conditions he desires near 
almost any town in the State on the line of either the 
Northern Pacific or Great Northern railways. (When I 
say near I mean anywhere from ten to 100 miles.) If Mr. 
Miller is a sportsman of the true stamp — that is to say, one 
who does not go out with the studied intention of direct- 
ing his utmost endeavors toward the extermination of the 
entire game supply of the State — he would have no trouble 
in securing the necessary information concerning the most 
favorable hunting grounds from any local sportsman re- 
siding in any of our cities or towns. If he should come 
to Missoula I should certainly gladly be of such service to 
him as I might be able. 
"As you have inferred, the climatic conditions at Mis- 
soula or in the vicinity are more favorable than in the 
eastern portion of the State." 
Off for the Old Southwest. 
Mr. F. H. Lungren, an artist who has made a more 
than national reputation by his paintings of the types 
of Southwestern Indians, left Chicago yesterday evening 
for a trip of two months in Arizona, where he will make 
studies tor further work in his chosen field. A very 
charming field of interest it is too, that of the old South- 
west. 
Rifle Note. 
John Burke, of Englewood, this week was a spectator 
at the attempt of a Chicago policeman to shoot a wild 
Texas steer. The policeman had a rifle. Mr. Burke will 
not lose his leg. E. Hough. 
1206 BoTOE BciLDiNG, Chicago. 
THE GAME PRESERVE SYSTEM. 
This is what the Springfield Sepublioan has to say about 
game preserves in this country: 
"The preservation of game is a comparatively new and 
strange thing in America. A generation ago, when bison 
by the myriad spoured the great plains, and a short jour- 
ney from any part of the country would bring one to the 
haunt of bear or elk or moose, the notion would have 
seemed an excellent joke. Indeed, it was not far removed 
from the days when game' had to be cleared oil for the 
preservation of the human race. But times have changed 
since then. Our forests are fast going, and the wild 
things are vanishing with them. At the same time there 
has been springing up a great leisure class, with the means 
for expensive amusements and taste, largely acquired 
from our English cousins, for finding amusement in kill- 
ing animals. The natural sequel will be the establish- 
ment of great game preserves, surrotmded with high walls 
and guarded by keepers armed with guns, and crowded 
with such things as it is thought pleasant to kill. 
The reports of an enterprise of this sort in Berkshire 
\ are interesting. The wealthy New Yorkers who have 
bought up a good share of Mt. Washington for a game 
park— if that is really their object— could hardly have 
ohosen a better place. The town has dwindled till there 
are only some half a hundred voters within its bounda- 
ries, and the wild and desolate hills are all that could be 
asked for the habitat of any kind of game, from deer 
down. The men said to be connected with the under- 
taking have ample means for establishing a magnificent 
place, affording as good shooting as is to be found any- 
where in the world, and if the suggested plan is carried 
out and succeeds it is likely to be followed by others until 
the abandoned farms and desert places of the hill regions 
are brought under the control of the rich and devoted to 
purposes of amusement, as has been the case within recent 
limes in Scotland, The fancy of our millionaires is only 
beginning to turn in this direction, but there is every rea- 
son to suppose that the tendency will grow until Ameri- 
cans wih be familiarized witn the spectacle ot great 
hijgh-walled estates stretching for miles and cover- 
ing hill and valley— estates devoted to costly 
amusement, and on which no trespasser dare 
set his foot. It will be a strange and not alto- 
gether welcome sight in a democratic country, and will 
help to alienate still further the rich and the poor. There 
will be certain difiiculties in the way of managing such 
estates, for the fundamental principle of preserving is 
keeping other people from shooting, and this is difficult to 
manage in a country where game i;eeping has not from 
time immemorial ranked above agriculture. It is not 
Buch great while since EngUsh landlords were allowed 
to set spring guns and man traps to kill any trespasser. 
The laws against poaching are still vindictive to a degree 
that would not be tolerated in this country, and the local 
police are taken from their proper work and turned into 
extra game keepers for the rich landlords. Yet with all 
this rigor it is difficult to preserve. The difficulty would 
be much less in many parts of this country, of course, 
because the population is less dense, and there is neither 
a class of trained and organized poachers nor a half- 
starved peasantry ready to wring a hare's neck at the risk 
of penal servitude. But both o£ these may come in time. 
It will be a good while before game preserving cuts any 
great figure in American life, but it will be surprising if 
vast areas are not ultimately devoted to this purpose." 
Vermont Game Birds. 
Sheldon, Vt., Sept. 11.— The crop of small game will 
be a prolific one in this section . of Vermont this season. 
Woodcock, duck and hare shooting opened on the Ist 
inst. Ruffed grouse shooting opens ou the 15 th of the 
present month. The nut and fruit crop is also an abxm- 
dant one, which means much to the gray squirrel hxmter. 
"Bob White's" merry whistle has beccHne a familiar 
sound, and we expect to soon have the Mongolian pheas- 
ant as another permanent game bird. 
Mr. N. P. Leach, of the committee on new game, will 
have Within another month a consignment from Sweden 
of forty capercailzie and black game to distribute in 
this State. Stanstead. 
His Age would have Protected him. 
I've been pretty busy, have had, however, three days 
afield, with miles of hard tramping, and a net result of 
one gray squirrel. Had I known (before firing at him) 
how old he was, my reverence for old age would have 
let him go scot free. O. H. Hampton. 
Chordeiles Yirginlanus. 
Fauquier County, Va., Sept. la.— 1 have just eaten 
two of them and feel better. Killed some eighteen yester- 
day evening; been in a highly litigated insurance case all 
day; failed to get my dinner, at whiob my wife had a pie 
made of the aiforesaid eighteen C. V, (a Virginia lawyer 
would say this meant Code of Virginia), and when to- 
night, before supper, I take up my last copy of Forest 
AND Stream and read the communication of Mr. Elting, 
1 can appreciate the accurate description therein con- 
tained, for I know whereof he speaks. At supper, tired 
and hungry, my wife placed before me a portion of that 
pie containing two "bull-bats," and I can assure you their 
bones were duly picked and enjoyed, notwithstanding, as 
you say, they are "the night hawk," "an insect eater" and 
"not properly a game bird." They may not be "properly 
a game bird," but when a fellow is "chained to business," 
can get off only for an hour or so in the evening, and 
then has only to walk some 500yds. from his home and 
try his hand at bull-bats, there is excitement and sport, 
and when they are flying low and seem to be as numer- 
ous as the gnats upon which they are feeding, it takes a 
good shot to be always able to bring down his bird. 
Yesterday evening there seemed to be no end to them; 
this evening not a bird. Mr. Elting does not exaggerate 
in saying that upon some evenings 1,000 shots are fired in 
an hour on the outskirts of a town, and when the character 
of the guns, from the hammerless to the old army musket, 
is considered, handled by the expert and by the boy eager 
but inexperienced, is it any wonder that not one in ten is 
killed? 
Some months ago I wrote you that an act had been 
passed by our Legislature prohibiting the killing of par- 
tridges or quail in this State for two years from the 27th 
of December, 1895. I am glad to learn that now the birds, 
thought to have been almost totally exterminated, are in- 
creasing, and I have seen and there have been reported 
to me many large coveys, so that if the law can be en- 
forced (but of this I am doubtful) we wUl in a few years 
again have fine shooting. 
Some weeks ago I enjoyed a few days' fine bass fishing 
in the Shenandoah and while in the river got one or two 
good pictures with my pocket kodak. When court is over 
and I can get a breathing spell I want to send you an ac- 
count of that trip, thinking it might interest some one 
"who was born that way." The other fellows need not 
read it. The right, of course, will be reserved to the For- 
est AND Stream to help fill the waste basket or the stove 
with that, as with this, if not fit for publication, without 
any hard thoughts from C. M. White. 
Plover on Texas Prairies. 
"We had hunted all the afternoon for plover and had 
driven to and fro over the prairie, which stretched flatly 
away to the horizon on aU sides, until our eyes were worn 
out and our brains seemed to reel with the monotony of 
the view, but we had not found any plover. 
So we gave it up and started home. 
As it so frequently does after we have given up all hope, 
the luck changed. Standing in the middle of the road, 
with his slim neck high in the air looking at us, stood a 
plover. And when he flew, as of course he did, he led us 
to others. And when we flew, as of course we did (out of 
that buggy), we got him. 
And thereafter we found others. 
As we were using my gun and my friend objected to its 
kicking, he wouldn't shoot, so we (speaking editorially) 
had to do our endeavors. And nobly we did them — that 
is for us. 
We (still speaking editorially) had killed some seven 
birds in some eight shots, and were feeling very jubilant 
thereat, when our friend pointed out a small "bunch" of 
plover that were feeding just at the outside and to wirfd- 
ward of a small cottonfieid. We approached these birds 
with great dignity and the gun. 
The birds flew; the shot flew; two birds were annihi- 
lated, one with the right, one with the left. 
Our editorial dignity grew upon us, but we observed 
another bird flying toward us from the cottonfieid. We 
lost our dignity for the moment and hastily endeavored 
to get in another shell; our comrade objurgated us for 
our slowness; we got in the shell and we annihilated also 
that bird. 
For a second we breathed easier, and our dignity com- 
menced to return. 
But two more birds came and our dignity fled, while 
with trembling hands we inserted two more sheUs. These 
two also we slew, and as the last report died out a little 
"nigger" who was picking cotton in the field gave a wild 
whoop and came running to us, breathlessly ejaculating 
as he arrived, "Boss, how you kin shoot I" 
We complacently accepted this tribute to our greatness, 
and after picking up the slain drove along the same line 
of fence, looking for more. 
We found them; we approached; they retreated; we 
killed two as they rose, and by reason of our late experi- 
ence we inserted another shell so rapidly that we killed 
another out of the same flock as they left. 
We were almost stifled with our pride, but again they 
came. Two reports were heard, and two more plover 
were counted to us. Our pride annoyed us; we could not 
shout with joy and say "Boss, now you kin shoot," but 
we felt it and — must it be confessed — we thought it. 
Marion Warner, 
British Columbia Game Birds. 
Victoria, B. C, Sept. 1.— Blue grouse shooting started 
here on Aug. 15, Birds are plentiful, but it is very dry, 
we have had no rain to speak of for months; this makes 
it very hard work for man and dog, particularly the dog. 
Willow grouse and pheasants come in on Oct. 1. The 
English ring-necked pheasant is increasing fast; they are 
strong and hardy, and toward the end of the season the 
way they fly through the bush is wonderful, and a winged 
bird will run almost as fast as a dog. 
Victoria Rifleman. 
North Dakota Game and Licenses. 
Fargo, N. D., Sepc. 5.— In this county thus far 437 
licenses to hunt in North Dakota have been issued. We 
understand from refiable sources that the new game law 
is being weU. enforced. Wherever there is an efficient 
deputy game warden, in that locality very little illegal 
shooting has been done. 
As a rule game is fairly plentiful throughout the State, 
but good dogs and good shots are necessary to secure it. 
C. E. Robeins. 
An Old-Timer. 
Mr. F. M, Denny, of the Baltimore Gun Club, who takes 
a great intertst in all matters pertaining to shooting, has 
acquired two interesting articles connected with the past. 
One is a curiosity, being a double-barreled flint and steel 
gun. It was brought to Baltimore about 1793 by a Mr. 
Despaux, who died in 1820. Mr. Despaux came to Balti- 
more from San Domingo, and was a shipbuilder here for 
years. The gun was made in Marseilles, France. From 
an inscription upon it Vasseden Vignies is supposed to 
have made it. In gold letters sunk between the barrels 
and near the two locks appears the name "Canon Jordu," 
presumably the original owner. All the work is of the 
finest character. 
Mr. Denny found among his friends on the eastern 
shore a few days ago an old powder horn. All the work 
upon it was done with a knife. It is inscribed with the 
name of the owner, William E. Bartlett, who was the 
grandfather of Rev. William E. Bartlett, pastor of St. 
Ann's Catholic Church, The inscriptions, "Where 
Liberty Dwells There Is My Country" and "United States 
of America," and representations of a duck and a flag, are 
engraved on the horn. In all his connection with gun- 
ning Mr, Denny has seen but one other double-barreled 
flint and steel gun.— Baltimore Sun. 
More Rosy Reports from Maine. 
Dead River, Me, — Sportsmen and readers of Forest 
AND Stream will peruaps be pleased to learn that Maine 
is talking of beating her last year's big-game record, and 
I should not be the least surprised if she did. As I am a 
Maine guide, and have been through the woods and at 
the merry ponds more or less all summer, I have had a 
chance to see something of the big game myself, and I 
will truthfully say that I have seen more than double the 
game this summer I ever saw before. Thirty-seven deer 
were seen all at one time in the water while ■ crossing the 
pond. All kinds of game are more plenty than ever be- 
fore except caribou. 
Any sportsman visiting Maine this fall surely will have 
no trouble in getting what game the law allows him to 
take, and this is all due to the good enforcement of the 
game laws. Our wardens have and are doing their best 
to protect our game, and Maine will this fall get her re- 
ward for it. J.G.Harlow. 
Still-Huntingc in the Town of Schroon. 
Still-hunting, so called, but accompanied by the bay- 
ing of sleuth hounds, has been going on for some days in 
the town of Schroon, Several hunters have been engaged 
in the chase, as above noted, and fifteen deer have been 
killed, all ahead of oogsi, as we are informed by one who 
has been on the ground. Venison sold at Schroon Lake 
last week for 7 cents a pound. The latter part of the 
week a deer was taken to Schroon Lake and offered for 
sale, but did not find a purchaser at any price, showing 
that the market had been glutted. It is indeed too bad 
to know ttiat such lawlessness is being permitted within 
the borders of Essex county. The best men of Schroon 
are against such outrages, and public sentiment through- 
out Essex county does not uphold the breaking of law. 
Would it not be well for game protectors to be more alert? 
We verily believe it would. — ElizdbetMown (N, Y.) Post. 
Another "Egg Whopper. 
"The wooden nutmeg makers of Cjnneoticut have to 
yield the palm to the English egg collectors," said B. F. 
Martin, of San Francisco, at the Shoreham. "The islands 
along the Pacific coast are infested with thousands of 
gulls that build their nests and rear their young there. 
English egg men have begun to purchase these eggs in 
such quantities that gulleries are being established along 
the coast, and the exportation of gull eggs bids fair to 
almost equal the exportation of California fruit in value. 
There are millions of the eggs on the islands. The re- 
markable thing about it is that the gull eggs, as such, are 
not salable in England except to the dealers. Tney are 
the size and shape of some eggs that are rare and valuable, 
and the Englishmen palm them off on collectors as very 
rare specimens, coloring them, when necessary, to carry 
out the deception." — Washington Evening Star. 
In Colorado Mountains. 
Mr. H. S. Clark, paying teller of the L-ncoln National 
Bank, whose succbss with the rainbow was noted in these 
columns last season, left New York last Saturday in com- 
pany with Mr. H. H. Todd, his hunting companion, and 
Col. Royal E. Morse, for Dunkley, Routt county, Colo., 
just over the Continental Divide, They go for elk and 
bears, and reports from a local hunter and guide, who 
will meet and accompany them, are very promising for a 
successful hunt. They expect to be gone a month. 
They will go by stage fifty miles from civiliza- 
tion, and then by pack horse fifty miles further to 
their camp in the grouse region. As Mr. Clark has taken 
his camera, we may expect some views as well as some 
remarkable stories, of which you shall hear in due season. 
Jacobstaff. 
Washington Game. 
Okanogan County, Wash., Sept. 1.— This has been 
rather an unfavorable year for game in our corner of 
Uncle Sam's preserve; it was a very cold, wet and back- 
ward spring. The grouse did not do well, although there 
are in some parts of the county quite a lot of blue grouse. 
The sharp-tails do not seem to thrive on civilization. The 
ruffed have done better. As the northern half of the res- 
ervation was opened for prospectors this spring, it was 
soon flooded and the deer were either kiUed or run across 
the line into British Columbia, where they are afforded 
much better protection than on this side. But never 
mind, we will have some protection thrown around their 
old haunts after the game is exterminated. 
Quite a number of Canada geese hatched along the 
Oka,nogan this year. Lew Wilmot. 
Connecticut Quail. 
Quail have been heard and seen in this section more 
frequently during this summer than for many years; also 
partridges are quite plenty, and if we have the usual 
flights of woodcock the coming open season should be 
better than an average for many past years. A, 
Haddam, Conn. , Sept. 8. 
