808 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
IApkh, 17, 1897. 
AS TO SOME OTHER DUCK EGGS. 
I. 
JV'owi the New York Swn. 
Mk. John Hknky Keene, of Baltimore, is writing his 
name among the benefactors of the country. For some 
time it has been the cause of just regret that the canvas- 
back duck, beloved of all good men and gods of good 
digestion, is vanishing gradually from its feeding grounds. 
The wild celery grows; the mouth waters; but the duck, 
oh, where is he? The time seems not distant when not 
even the banquets of kings and pontifls will know him 
any longer. Mr. Iveene believes that the depopulation of 
the Chesapeake is caused by the destruction of the eggs in 
the Canadian lakes, where the canvasbacks breed. Ac- 
cording to Mr. Keene thousands of barrels of eggs are sent 
from the breeding grounds to this country and to various 
parts of the United States. He proposes that a prohibitive 
duty be laid upon imported wild duck eggs. It seems 
that Mr. Iveene has talked with the Governor-General of 
Canada on the subject. 
ir. 
From the Richmond Dispatch, copied by the Washington Star. 
The Earl of Aberdeen, Governor-General of Canada, and 
Mr. John Henry Iveene, of Baltimore, have started a pro- 
tective movement that will doubtless meet with the 
approval of sportsmen and epicures generally, and ex-Pres. 
Cleveland in particular, the iatter's pronounced free trade 
notions to the contrary notwithstanding. The movement 
is for the protection of the canvasback duck, or, rather, for 
the protection of the eggs of the canvasback duck. 
For some years this most delicious of all the duck family 
has been growing scarcer and scarcer in its usual feeding 
grounds, and not a few especially favored places that once 
knew it to plenitude know it now no more. 
Mr. Keene, referring to the rapid disappearance of can- 
vasbacks from the waters of the Chesapeake and its tribu- 
taries, attributes it more to the destruction of the eggs 
along the shores of the Canadian lakes, which constitute 
one of their chief breeding grounds, than to any great 
slaughter of the ducks. In a conversation with the Earl 
of Aberdeen, Mr. Keene said he had been informed by 
persons who were posted on the subject that thousands of 
barrels of the^eggs were shipped during the Iaying_ season 
to different parts of Canada and across the border into the 
United States, and that the business was a profitable in- 
dustry, as no expense and but little capital were necessary 
to carry it on. The Earl, we are told, expressed great sur- 
prise at this information, and promised to do everything 
in his power to remedy the evil. Mr. Keene's idea is that 
a heavy duty — a duty amounting to an embargo — should 
be laid upon wild duck eggs imported into this country, 
and he is to furnish to the Earl certain data regarding the 
habits of wild ducks, the time of their arrival in Maryland 
and A''irginia waters, their food, etc., which will enable the 
Earl to cooperate intelligently with him. 
This is a matter of decided interest to the people of Vir- 
ginia ^ind Maryland living along the waters of the Chesa- 
peake and its tributaries; and that aside from the stand- 
point of the sportsman. In these waters canvasbacks were 
wont to winter in large numbers, owing to the abundance 
of their favorite food, wild celery, and were » source of de- 
cided revenue to many of the poorer class. It is conceded 
that the canvasback duck is a greater delicacy than any 
other waterfowl that frequents this section, and conse- 
quently it commands a higher price. If therefore the 
movement under consideration shall conduce to restocking 
our waters, so to speak, the results may prove quite an item 
from a monetary point of view. 
III. 
Letter from the Forest and Stbeam to Mr. liitene. 
We see in the New .York 8un a brief note of your prop- 
osition that a prohibitory duty be laid upon importing 
wild duck's eggs, because thousands of barrels of such eggs 
are sent to this country from the breeding grounds in this 
territory north of the United States. AVe have been seeking 
for some positive and reliable data and statistics relative to 
this industry. If you can supply us with such material for 
publication, we would be glad to use it for the benefit of 
the cause. 
IV. 
Mr. Keene to the Forest and Stream. 
I have yours of the 21st inst. "Positive and reliable 
data" relative to the shipping of wild duck eggs can be 
only obtained by employing an agent to visit the country 
where the eggs are laid, who could thus, and only thus, ob- 
tain the information. 
The Earl of Aberdeen, Governor-General of Canada, had 
no authentic information on the subject. 
You will see how difficult it must be to obtain. proof in. 
any other way than by a commissioner visiting the locali- 
ties in question. 
I met the Earl at Sir Julian Paunceforte's reception and 
ball, and we there discussed the question. 
I should think the dealers in eggs in New York ought to 
be well fitted to acquire full information upon the subject. 
New York is a general headquarters for information, and 
your reporter could work the subject up to advantage by 
starting an inquiry among your dealers. 
The information I have is not legal competent evidence. 
But there is not a candy nor confectioner's shop that has 
not eggs colored, known not to be domestic, and the trade 
is enormous. I found the same kind of eggs in London, 
Paris and other shops of Europe. When I asked, "Where 
did you get them?" they reijlied; "They are wild duck eggs 
from North America." 
The subject is one that is worthy of careful investigation 
and nothing can be done either by your own Government 
or by the Canadian until steps are taken in a businesslike 
way to thoroughly investigate the question by a commis- 
sion. If your sportsmen will take the initiative our Secre- 
tary of State would doubtlessly lend all the aid of the 
Government to the discovery of the facts, and make a 
special report to Congress and get some legislation on the 
subject. Nothing more than is now known will be known 
unless gentlemen of leisure and means, who take an inter- 
est in the question of the cause of the disappearance from 
the Chesapeake, Southern and Eastern waters of all wild 
ducks, will ever enable us to discover positive, "reliable 
data and statistics" upon this highly important public in- 
quiry respecting a great food and commerce question 
which is involved in the obscure question of the foreign egg 
traffic and industry. 
I have scarce a moment for outside duties, but I shall 
cheerfully do the little I may to throw any light upon this 
important subject. 
V. 
FoEEST ANU Sthbam to Mr. Keene. 
We thank you for your favor of the 22d with regard to 
the destruction of wild duck eggs in the North. Some 
months ago it was reported that great quantities of duck 
eggs were taken in Alaska and the northwestern Canadian 
territory to be shipped to this country for the manufacture 
of albumin. We investigated the question somewhat 
thoroughly at the time and were imable to discover the 
existence of any such traffic We are therefore particu- 
larly interested in this subject, and would be glad to co- 
operate with you in any way looking toward a determina- 
tion of the facts with reference to the importation of those 
eggs into this country for confectionery and other pur- 
poses. 
VI. , 
Mr. Keene to Fohest and Stream. 
Yours received. The way to elicit information is to 
agitate the question and keep on. There are plenty who 
know, and if you would publish such letters as I wrote yon 
public inquiry would be awakened, stimulated, and nucleus 
be formed which would take deep hold upon public atten- 
tion, and then the revolution would commence. 
VII. 
Js tJiere anything in it? 
We have made extended inquiry among egg dealers and 
confectioners in New York, and can find not the slightest 
trace of wild duck eggs brought into this market for candy 
store purposes or any other. The colored eggs in confec- 
tioners' shops here are hen's eggs, paper eggs, silk eggs and 
sugar eggs; and some of them at Easter are large enough 
to contain within the shell a full-grown, full-fledged can- 
vasback duck. 
Are there any known facts to warrant an opinion that 
the depopulation of the Chesapeake is caused by the de- 
struction of the eggs in the Canadian lakes, where the 
canvasbacks breed? 
THEY ADOPT THE PLANK. 
FOBEST AND STREAM PLATFORM Pl,ANK~The Sale Of gaUHB shOUU be 
forbidden at all seasons. 
North DxjNBABTON, N. H., April 8. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: At the recent third annual meetmg of the Hills- 
borough County Game and Protective Association, 1 as a 
guest spoke of the bentfits of prohibiting the sale of game. 
Hon. William C. Clarke, Mayor of Manchester, and a 
thorough sportsman, said that I had, through the columns of 
Sport, shown clearly that we needed such a huv, and that in 
his opinion it was bound to come. The motion was made 
and passed that the AsEociation adopt the platform of 
FOBEST AND StKEAM. 
The Hillsborough Association is young, " but so far has 
been active, and it is evident fully intends to be of practical 
benefit to the fish and game of New Hampshire. 1 inclose 
under separate cover a copy of the Manchester Mirror and 
Farmer, containing an account of the meeting. 
' The Mirror and Farmer report nans: The third annual 
meeting of the Hillsborough County Game and Protective 
Association was held at the City Hall Tuesday morning, and 
was followed by a banquet and smoke talk at the New City 
Hotel in the afternoon. The meeting was one of the largest 
and most interesting yet held and brought together sports- 
men from many parts of the country. Matters pertaining 
to the preservation of fish and game were earnestly dis- 
cussed, and especially the subject of closed brooks and the 
proposition to pass laws aimed at pot and game hunters. 
The morning session was called to order by President Bea- 
som at 11 o'clock, and the report of the secretary and treas- 
urer was read by that efficient ofl&cial, George P. Kimball, 
of Nashua. The report of the treasurer showed the Associa- 
tion to be in a good financial condition. The secretary re- 
ported: "During the year three siiccessful prosecutions have 
been accomplished upon evidence furnished officers of the 
Association. Several complaints during the year have been 
investigated, but the evidence in each case being insufficient 
to convict no arrests were made. The accurate evidence is 
very important in order to secure a conviction, and rumor 
does not constitute evidence, nor can it be depended upon to 
secure conviction. A large amoupt of print ed matter was 
sent to every member of the Association at the commence- 
ment of the year, consisting of large cloth posters and small 
paper folders with a synopsis of the fish and game laws. 
We also forwarded some to every postmaster in the country, 
with the reqnest to post them in a conspicuous place, and in 
most cases we think the request has been complied with. 
The work must he kept up in good earnest, and we shall cer- 
tainly see excellent results in due time." 
The nominating committee reported that the oflicers for 
the last year had performed their duties so ably that the 
committee could not better the list. They therefore present- 
ed the same list as before, with the exception that the name 
of E. W. Clark, of Nashua, was substituted in the execn- 
tive committee in the place of Hon. Nathaniel Wentworth, 
of Hudson Center, who did not wish to serve on account of 
being connected with the Msh and Game Commission. The 
following officers were therefore unanimously elected: 
President, W. H. Beasom, of Nashua; ice-Presidents, 
Edward P. Morrill, of Manchester; Dr. H. S. Hutchinson, of 
Milford; Secretary and Treasurer, George P. Kimball, of 
Nashua. Executive Committee— the president, vice-presi- 
dents and secretary, also Daniel Cragin, H. W. Hopkins and 
A. Beard, of Wilton; E. W. Clark, of Nashua; C. J. Darrah, 
F. H. Thurston, Col. Arthur E. Clarke, of Manchester. 
The meeting was then opened for discussion, and Alayor 
Clarke was called upon by the president. Mr. Clarke said 
that Mr. C. M. Stark had recently called attention to the 
necessity for a law against market-hunters and pot-huuters. 
Mayor Clarke said that this law must come sooner or later 
in New Hampshire, or else our fish and game would be ex- 
terminated. A man who went out for a day's spore gener- 
ally found that the market-hunter and pot-hunter, who 
made it a business, had been ahead of him. Mr. Stark told 
the Mayor recently that he knew of one man alone who had 
killed 300 partridges in the last year. The Mayor spoke of 
Bear Brook, one of the best natural trout'brooks in the State, 
which had been closed for three years and would be opened 
this June, tie said that there were two pot-hunters named 
Foote, who, in his opinion, would get nine-tenths of the trout 
that came out of that brook. He said closing a brook for 
two or three years simply advertised it when it was opened. 
President Beasom said he thought Mayor Clarke's sugges- 
tion was along the line that the sportsmen of the country 
were fast coming to see would be necessary before long. He 
also spoke about the amount of fry put out in this country, 
and said that Hillsborough called for less fry than any other 
coxmty in the State. He said tnat sportsmen ought to exert 
themselves to see that more fry were distributed each season, 
and that this would be much more efifeetive than closing of 
brooks. 
0. M. Stark, of Dunbarton, formerly the champion wing 
shot, said he thought that the birds were shot on too close 
each season and that not enough were left to breed. He 
thought that if there was any way of identifying game, a lot 
of Maine and New Hampshire game would be found in the 
Boston markets, although the dealers generally claim that 
it comes from the West. He spoke of the reported fact that 
four men in Texas in one day shoot 1,200 ducks, which would 
have gone a good way, he said, in furnishing sport for the 
whole of New Hampshire. He thought it was in the true 
interests of all to protect our game from the pot-hunters, and 
said that the principal opposition to such a law would come 
from the dealers themselves, 
.Judge E. E. Parker, of Nashua, said that regarding closed 
brooks, his ideas were about the same as Mayor Clarke's. 
The year after they were opened everyone would fish there 
and get big strings, and the next year no one could get a 
bite, as the brooks had been entirely fished out. Judge 
Parker said that he had found many people outside of the 
large cities who did not understand the real object of this 
Association, and thought that it was simply to meet once a 
year and have a big feed. He thought that the members 
ought to take particular interest in disseminating the true 
objects of the society, and the actual work that it has done. 
President Beasom said that perhaps some of the members 
themselves did not really understand what the Associ tion 
was d oin g. The membership was about 100, and was well kept 
up. The society circulates copies of the fish and game laws and 
also posters to go on trees and barns. This year the town of 
BrookUne has appointed wardens to stock the brooks and to 
put out twenty-five posters. One experience has been that the 
majority of people, if they know the law, do not go to work 
to deliberately violate it. A deer was killed recently on Sun- 
day, and within two days Mr. Wentworth and myself re- 
ceived notification from a half dozen people. They were as 
interested in the killing of the deer as if the man had come 
into their yard and killed a cow. The people of Hillsborough 
county don't want the deer killed, but ordinarily nothing 
would have been done about this. In this case, however, by 
reason of the posters, the people knew just who to send to, 
and within a week we had that hunter under arrest. 
E. W. Clark, of Nashua, made some remarks along the 
same line. Edward K. Robinson spoke in favor of restrict- 
ing the sale of game. Fred Whitemore, of Nashua, Charles 
Hodge, of this city, and others also made interesting re- 
marks. 
Colonel Noyes, of Nashua, made a motion that the Associa- 
tion adopt the platform of the Forest and Stream, and 
place itself on record as favoring a law preventing the sale 
of game. The motion was passed. 
VERMONT GAME. 
Sheldon, Vt., April 3. — Spring, spring — chilly, raw, 
cold, slushy, sloppy, neuralgia-producing spring — has come 
again, and we now between aches and chills look about to 
see if the past severe winter has left us game enough for 
seed. . , . 
Rnflled grouse are fairly abundant except ini;he itnmediate 
vicinity of the French settlements, where the pot-hunters are 
many and hunt seven days in the week without any respect 
for the close season. 
Squirrels there are none. ,In our rambles through the 
sugar bush and over the oak ridges we have not seen even a 
sign of a squirrel, gray, red or chipmunk. 
We hear favorable reports about quail during the winter. 
They were often seen "seed him ting" in the farmers' barn- 
yards. 
Foxes are here in their usual numbers, and are here to stay, 
as they are becoming more and more wary and wise each 
year. Our fox hunters report poor liick, for reynard avoids 
the old-time runways, and is full of new tricks to bother the 
hounds. In the early winter I bagged with Whirlwind and 
Drive five foxes, when the grippe came along and stopped 
our sport for the rest of the season. 
A few weeks ago a young man in a neighboring town was 
out partridge hunting (close season) and saw in the white 
birches a pheasant, whicb he promptly potted, and then ex- 
hibited it publicly on the sti-eets in the village. Among 
those who saw it were one or two prominent members of our 
lish'and game protective society, but no action was taken to 
punish the felloAV for this tiagrant violation of the game 
law. An outsider, however, reported the fact to the writer, 
who was then too ill to give it personal attention, referred 
the case to Fisn Commissioner Titcomb, and we are daily 
expecting to hear of an arrest and conviction. The penalty 
is $25 and costs. 
There are unfortunately some so-called fish and game pro- 
tectionists who shine at the league's banquets and social 
gatherings, but when it comes to doing actual work in 
enforcing the fish and game laws, or giving information 
against violators of the laws — oh, they couldn't enter- 
tain for a moment the idea of stooping to do such a low 
thing, and then, "you know," they might vvantto use these 
fellows' votes, etc. They are the ornamental tinsel of fish 
and game protection leagues — all glitter, but of little or no 
service. 
We are satisfied that the large majority of persons who 
visit our aviary to see the Mongolian pheasants would, if 
those birds were released, pot them at sight if they thought 
that they could do so undetected. We often hear remarks, 
"AVhen arc you going to let those birds out? I would like to 
have a crack at them, " Their whole desire so far as game is 
concerned is to kill. It matters not how rare or beautiful 
the animal or bird may be, their only interest in it is to shoot 
or club it to death. 
The older we get the more firm we are in the belief that 
the trait of true gatne protection is an inborn one. Where 
this is acquired through education it is not always to be re- 
lied on in the moment of temptation. 
A -friend who is an enthusiastic game protectionist is con- 
stantly striving to instil this virtue into the minds of those in 
his employ. One of his young men whom he believed to be 
a sound convert, and to be relied on to observe the game 
laws under any and all circumstances, was one day seen to 
leave his work in the field and run at full speed toward the 
house, when within hailing distance he shouted : "Get your 
gun, get your gun, some of Mr. 's birds are down by the 
stump fence and we can shoot the whole batch of them at 
one shot." Investigation showed a covey of quail huddled 
together under the fence. The young man didn't get the 
gun. 
Robins first arrived here this season March 31; bluebirds 
one week later, March 88; song sparrows and meadow larks, 
April 3. Stanstead. 
The- Fohest Anb Stream is put to press each week on lueai^ay, 
Corresndndence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
