^6 
FOHEST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 9, 1897. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Breeding Grounds of the Black Duck. 
Chicago, IU., Dec. 26,— The Edmonton Bulletin, of Ed- 
monton, Alberta, quotes a recent article from Fobest 
AND Stbeajmc which was written by Mr. Thos. Johnson, of 
Winnipeg, in regard to the breeding place of the black 
duck, Mr. Johnson thinks he haa found this breeding 
ground at Lake St. Anne, west of Edmonton, and also at 
Lac La Biche, 160 miles north of Edmonton. This copy 
of the Bulletin having come into the possession of Mr. W, 
B, WeJls, of Chatham, Ont., the latter writes me interest- 
ingly as follows: 
*'I doubt very much that the black duck spoken of as 
breeding at Lake St, Anne and Lac La Biche are the 
black duck of this section and east of here. At Scugog 
Lake, about sixty miles east of Toronto, where a friend 
of Mr. Robinson has a small preserve, he says they kill 
black duck nearly altogether, only an occasional mallard. 
Down about the Ottawa River and on Lake Champlain 
the same, L am told. If this was the feeding ground of 
these ducks would they not be seen between here and 
there, that is all throughout Manitoba and the Western 
States, I am told that 100 miles west of the Detroit 
River they are very rare. When I was shooting with 
Mr. Star in Texas I saw none, and be said that he had 
only seen one that was shot there, Mr. Pike, an old 
member of the Big Point Club, who was down this year 
for a couple of days after an absence of ten years spent in 
dredging operations at the mouth of the Fraser River in 
British Columbia, said he had seen and shot lots of ap- 
parently the same duck, but LIr. Pike may have been 
mistaken. The habit of diving instead of flying which 
Johnson speaks of savors more of a diver, I have never 
seen him unable or unwilling to fly. My opinion is they 
breed in the small lakes and marshes of northern Ontario. 
Probably also in the extensive marshes about James Bay. 
On my way to and from Winnipeg by the C. P. I only 
saw one flock of ducks, and those were black ducks in a 
small lake west of Lake Nipising. You are continually 
passing lakes from that lake to Port Arthur, but it seems 
to be no place for wildfowl of any kind; no feed I sup- 
pose is the reason. 
"Our shooting season closed on the 15th, and I have 
been hard at it making up for lost time. I would like to 
have a trip South this winter, but don't know whether I 
can manage it. I suppose I should be satisfied after the 
good sport we have had this fall, but man is a hungry 
animal, always wanting more." 
Fun In the Sound Country. 
Mr. W. S. Phillips (El Comancho) has forsaken his late 
residence in OhicagO; which city he cordially hates, and 
has gone back to the Puget Sound country, where there is 
more fishing and hunting. He deliberately makes me feel 
badly by writing about the fun a fellow can have out 
there, near Latona, Wash : 
"If you would happen out here right now," he says, 
■'we*d go smelt fishing Injun fashion (with a stick) just to 
break the monotony. I saw about 17,000,000 (smelt, not 
Injuns) in one school to-day. 
■'Ruffed grouse shooting is good now and I've got a 
couple of good bags of the blue quail since I came home. 
They're a dandy for quick shooting, and are right in the 
second growth fir thickets, and you can burn lots of pow- 
der before you eat quail here. I see the 'Bob White' quail 
in the markets here this winter, but can't find exactly 
where they come from as yet. I think they are the result 
of a planting I made here several years ago. I'll know 
soon, I think. Deer are as thick as sheep, and a number 
have been killed. Steelhead salmon are plenty this year, 
and market fishermen are making money off of them. 
"Ddcks and geese are plentiful this year, owing to the 
flooded condition of the whole coast country. 
"I've just heard of where grayling are plentiful, not 
over sia^miles from my smoke house tool I won't do a 
thing to them next year, maybe 1 
"Wish you could get out here. I can't tell you about 
half of the good things that are running around loose up 
in the woods — not counting Injuns. Come out. I've 
room, beds, board, boats, guns, rods and the whole outfit 
except buckwheat cakes, which the same I would not 
mention only I'm afraid maybe Roll Organ might come 
out too, and I couldn't stand a buckwheat cake appatite 
such as he carries!" 
Rabbit Preserve. 
A friend of Forbst and Stream writes: "Joe Thorn, 
the boss bridge-builder of the ' Q," says that a company 
is now reclaiming about 5,000 acres of land along the Il- 
linois River, to be used as club grounds or game preserve. 
As a substitute for anise seed quail it is proposed to plant 
a stock of jack rabbiis. If any of the million (more or 
less) readers of Forest and Stream have a surplus of 
jack rabbits, would suggest that they correspond with 
Mr. E, P, Chapin, Galesburg, III., or J, O. Thorn, Beards- 
town, 111. When this first came to knowledge we imme- 
diately thought that the parties establishing the 'black- 
cat-rat' farm in Kansas might, in clearing their land, 
gather a few jacks, which they would desire to dispose 
of. Perhaps you yourself may know of some farm full 
of jack rabbits," 
Minnesota Deer Preserve. 
Writing to Mr. R, B. Organ, of this city, Mr. R. G, 
Brooks, of Minneapolis, speaks as below in regard to an 
opportunity which he thimks he sees for a deer p eserve 
up in Minnesota: 
"The locality in which we hunted this fall was about 
125 miles north of Minneapolis, in Aitkin county, this 
State. The particular location to which I am going to 
refer is situated twenty-five miles north of Aitkin, The 
general lay of the country in this part of the State is level, 
and a very great portion of it cranberry marsh or swamp 
— ^not reedy swamps, but full of moss which makes fine 
feeding ground for deer, but is too wet for a team or any 
kind of vehicle except when it is frozen. In the center 
of one very large swamp there is an island containing 
about 1,100 acres. This island is perhaps 4 or 5 ft. above 
the level of the marsh. Much of it has been covered with 
heavy pine, which some years ago was cut and taken off. 
At the present time it is covered with hard and soft 
maple, elm, bass wood and white birch. On the higher 
lands and avound the edges is fir and tamarack and bal- 
sam. There is plenty of grass on the island and a quan- 
tity of bass wood and elm sprouts, which makes the best 
winter feed for deer. There is situated on the north end 
of this island a beautiful spring, furnishing a stream of 
water 6 or Sin. through, which neither dries up in sum- 
mer or freezes up in winter. 
"In connection with this island there should be pur- 
chased enough land to make two miles square — four sec- 
tions. This would be something over 2,500 acres. This 
is one of the greatest deer centers to be found in Minne- 
sota, or in fact any other place. I think it is safe to say 
if we were to surround these four sections with a suitable 
fence we would at once have in our possession from 100 
to 150 deer. This is thirty-five miles from the railroad, 
but easy of access, being only about three miles from the 
main lumber road, used in taking supplies to the lumber 
camps. 
"There are no inhabitants to the ^frest of this island 
within thirty miles, and I think etill further to the east 
before you come to any settlement. The Willow River 
is situated about five miles to the east of this island. 
Moose River about five or six miles northwest. White 
Elk Lake is about seven miles west. The cost of this land, 
I think, will be between $4.50 and $5 per acre, . The cost 
of fencing this land will not be very expensive. The 
posts would have to be of iron, or at least should be, and 
one strip of heavy wire netting and a few strands of barb 
wire above, or possibly two strands of netting would be 
better. Aside from deer there are great quantities of 
grouse and pheasants on the land. 
"Now the question is this: Where can a suitable club 
be organized who would like to identify themselves with 
this reserve and have the money with which they would 
forward and foster the enterprise?" 
A Handy Hunting Wasron. 
Mr. F. F, Merrill, of Milwaukee, Wis., writes of a 
handy hunting wagon which he and his brother, Richard 
Merrill, had made for their hunting last fall. They tried 
it thoroughly in Dakota and are satisfied with their ac- 
quisition. Mr. Merrill sends also some game pictures 
showing bags made by means of this wagon, as well as 
the wagon itself, which seems a very tempting sort of 
vehicle. He adds: 
"After five weeks' trial th6 only thing we would add 
would be to put a handle with a stationary bale on back 
of front seat at each side of gun holders. We' generally 
got in and out on the move, but always with empty guns; 
the handles would make it somewhat easier to get in and 
out when wagon was in motion; it is very easy to drop 
out and lie flat on ground and get a shot at a goose, crane 
or hawk quickly, never stopping wagon; as the birds see 
wagon moving continuously, they are not nearly so apt to 
see man drop as if it was necessary to stop and get out. 
We were always prepared for these sudden drops and 
got the drop on a number of unsuspecting birds, particu- 
larly hawks. Once guns are in position, no need to pay 
any attention to them; they cannot be marred and are 
held very secure; in a rain they can be put under our 
storm aprons, as in any wagon. Under each seat is a box 
with lid cover 5in. deep to hold rubber aprons, lunch, 
apples or any small packages; under these boxes are re- 
movable wire baskets to hold game, rubber boots, leggins, 
oilskin clothes or anything wished to be carried. We 
carry a canvas boat in chest or a sectional iron boat cross- 
wise of wagon between two seats by taking out foot-rest 
and lower stock-rest; everything except dashboard can 
easily be taken off, leaving a perfectly flat wagon-bed 
with a dashboard; We filled the dog cage with a variety 
of things. It has been full of dogs, live mallard decoys, 
dead geese, crane except their legs, which stuck out, dead 
ducks, shovels, spades and picks, grass suits, life preser- 
vers for sectional b?at8, etc. In digging pits on prairie 
or stubble we put all earth in dog cage and hauled it 
away to a plowing; in digging pits near plowing of 
course threw dirt on plowing. We had top and side cov- 
ers for dog cage and a piece of galvanized iron sheeting 
at back end way across, preventing any draft striking 
dogs from under back seat when driving; rear end needed 
no curtain. Shell boxes are just back of gun stocks on 
wagon bottom, and by keeping boxes unhooked it is easy 
to get shells and gun out in few seconds. All in all 
wagon is about right and the easiest riding rig we ever 
rode in, barring none." 
The Way they do in Maine. 
The story of shooting trips in Maine are curiously de- 
"void of sporting interest to Western readers, who, not 
being acquainted in that country, picture it as one where 
the game is marked and tagged out after the fashion of 
European preserves, I have commented on this before, 
comparing it with our deer country of Wisconsin, which 
seems much wilder, but which is gradually coming to 
have something of the same character. It seems that the 
Boston Transcript is of something the same mind as many 
Western men in regard to tke way they do in Maine, for 
I note that in a late issue it says, "The slaughter of moose 
and caribou in Maine is all tabulated in the newspapers 
nowadays. Figures are given with counting-room ac- 
curacy concerning the number of animals feilled, with the 
comparative increase of shooting for two years, and the 
amount of cash accruing to the thrifty State of Maine by 
the increased interest in shipments of game." 
The North and the South. 
A party of Northern deer hunters have been hunting 
deer in the South near Laredo, Texas, and a letter from 
a Southern shooter says that the five men of them in three 
weeks killed sixty deer. Yet it is asked of the Southern 
shooters that they receive the Northern sportsmen with 
open arms. If they would receive some of them with an 
open noose it would be better. 
The Bear Located. 
I have got my lost grizzly bear located again. The last 
time he was up in the Shawanto basin, 300 miles north of 
the jumping-off place in Montana and the British 
Provmces. This time he is on the Pecos River in New 
Mexico, in charge of a professional "varmint" hunter 
who has got him staked out for me. My friend 0, C, 
Guessaz, of San Antonio, Tex., writes me that he can 
assure me of all kinds of horrors if I will just come down 
there again, as he has a lot of things hid out. But I 
opine he is seeking to decoy me to the annual Midwinter 
shoot in which he and his friends Messrs. Steves and 
George conspire. This I would not mind attending — from 
afar off. In fact, I think I could enjoy a trap shoot if I 
were at the ranch of a varmint hunter, and the trap shoot 
were not too close. Why do people shoot at the trap any- 
how, when there are varmint hunters, and ranches, and 
air, and things? 
Speaking of the lost bear, I have just at hand stUI 
another letter, from a friend's friend, down at San Mar- 
cial. New Mexico, saying that at his ranch back in the 
mountains, in a place I wot of, there are divers and sun- 
dry large and corpulent bears waiting to be destroyed. 
Rabbits. 
Mr. H. N. Delano, of this city, asks for good rabbit 
ground near Chicago, and I have sent him to De Motte, 
Ind., just east of Shelby, where I once found very good 
sport with beagles. Mr, Delano thinks it feasible to scare 
rabbits out of holes by means of firecrackers. This I 
consider an anachronism, as firecrackers pertain to the 
Fourth of July, and a rabbit in a hole should be let alone, 
not to be ferreted or firecrackered. 
The Grayling Located. 
Mr. S, C. Bliss, of Wellston, Mich,, writes me to con- 
vince me that he has found the grayling which I lost last 
summer, and I offer his letter, albeit a bit out of season. 
I surely will get that fish next summer. 
"If you have never caught that grayling yet, you drop 
off here at Wellston some time in May next season, and 
if I do not take you where you can get some it will not 
cost you anything. They are not plenty, but I know 
where there are some to be had, and fine ones at that. I 
have caught them that weighed 3 to S^lbs, , and it is fine 
sport. They are much gamer than trout. 
"We used to get them in the Little Manistee, but only 
catch one now and then ; but in the Big Pine River, about 
thirteen miles up from my place, there is grayling. We 
catch more of them on a fly after May 15, as the river 
gets clear then. Mr, C. H. Harrison, W. P. Harrison, ex- 
Mayor Washburne and Mr, Valentine have been here 
and fished with me, but I did not know that grayling 
were in Pine River at that time." 
Good Ones. 
Mr, Milt. F. Lindsley, of the King's Smokeless powder, 
writes me from Cincinnati very pleasantly about various 
matters. He calls to mind that the King Powder Co. 
now have on their staff, or wQl have at Jan, 1, both Tom 
Keller and Jack Parker. These are two good ones, and 
with Mr. Lindsley will make a strong line of distributors." 
From the Far North. 
Mr. W, F, Ellis, of Winnipeg, Man., is in town this 
week, and goes hence to the East for a few days, return- 
ing later, Mr. Ellis is a noted hunter in his own land, 
and not unknown in this. He says he has killed a black 
bear weighing 6501bs. dressed, but has never killed a 
grizzly, and has not lost any. Of deer, moose and cari- 
bou he keeps no count, Mr. Ellis is accompanied by his 
brother, Mr. E. E Ellis, of Seattle, Wash, They are both 
tall and powerfully built men, and look as though they 
could do a turn at a day's walk. 
Trouble with Guests. 
I have all kinds of trouble with my guests here. Tom 
Divine has come back to Chicago again, and this morn- 
ing when I asked him what he would like for breakfast 
he said he would just have his regular morning meal — a 
piece of broiled bologna sausage and a raw turnip, I had 
great difficulty hustling around after the raw turnip. 
While upon these news matters I might add a bit which 
is just at hand from New York — a field which I have 
always held to be legitimately included under Chicago 
and the West, especially since both cities have taken up 
the habit of annexing territory. It seems that the Chief 
with Two Stomachs, whose residence is now in New 
York, has recently returned from his Southern wander- 
ings to that city, where he was the recipient of an ova- 
tion which included a banquet, or anyhow a square meal. 
Few who are not acquainted with the Chief are aware 
how serious a propoaicion this is. The card, as submitted 
to me, demanded oysters, frogs' legs, gumbo, calf's 
head deviled, fillet of beef and venison, with a few 
other things for such cases made and provided. The 
waiter, it seems, made a mistake about the venison and 
did not bring it, but served beef instead ; but the gracious- 
ness of the Chief's nature was apparent when he told his 
host that it was the best venison he had eaten for a long 
time. The Chief requested that no inkling of this should 
get to Chicago, but I feel constrained to speak of this, as it 
reminds me strongly of a little dinner the Chief and I 
once had, when we requested the attendant to bring us 
ham and eggs for dessert. I am told that ham and eggs 
is not, or are not, a proper article for dessert; but to this 
I am disposed to enter exception, for both the Chief and 
myself found them, or it, very good indeed. The super- 
ciliousness of average human nature is a most surprising 
thing. A great many people condemn off-hand ham and 
eggs for dessert, who never in their lives have tried it, 
or them, as dessert. Could anything be more unjust than 
that? 
The Canvasback Preserve. 
Additional advices from Lake Koshkonong, where the 
artesian well of canvasback eggs was discovered on the 
old Bingham homestead, state that Ira Bmgham is not 
content with finding a flow of canvasback eggs, but will 
take means of increasing the supply of the live birds. He 
contemplates establishing in his milk house, which we 
may call his hatchery, a system of flat irons, arranged in 
concentric circles,- under which the stream of eggs from 
the well is to be conducted. When the flat irons are 
heated by means of a simple device, it will be possible, as 
Mr. Bingham rightly calculates, to maintain a gentle and 
equable heat which will cause the eggs to hatch just as 
they would in an incubator, and the result will naturally 
be that, as they circulate through the milk house under 
the warm irons, they will finally pass out at the further 
end, and drop out into the waters of the lake, as it were, 
a stream of live young canvasbacks. This is the most in- 
genious scheme of game conserving that has ever come 
to my notice, and I recommend it to the attention of the 
National Gime, Bird and Fish Protective Association, 
which is well known to be interested in such matters. 
He who makes two canvasbacks grow where there waa 
but one before is a benefactor whose name should not be 
withheld from the merited praises of his fellow m&u. 
Southern Craw/fishlng. 
Mr, A. Ulrich, of Chicago, who once lived in New Or- 
leans, and is familiar with the matter of which he speaks, 
sends in the foUo'i^ing very interesting account of the 
way in which crawfish are taken by the men who fish for 
them there. He says: 
