AfKii 17, 18fi7.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
SOME ODD FIELD INCIDENTS. 
I. 
Speaking of quail reminds me of a hunt I had one day 
iast November with Mr M.. from Norfolk, Va., -who waa 
out here on business. Having heard him say he enjoyed 
quail shooting', I proposed a drive in the country with guns 
ynd doe, which he very willingly accepted. We had driven 
a few miles out when old Jack turned in to the left, went 
about 50yd8 from the road and pointed ia some broom grass 
and scattering pines. We got out, tied the horses and 
walked in. I tnld M. to shoot to the left and 1 would shoot 
to the right. Wiien the covey flushed Mr. M. banged away 
with one barrel, but did not have time to shoot again, as he 
had seen his bird fall and could not wait for the dog to 
retrieve ; so away he went and picked up his bird— not a 
quail, but a woodpecker, one of the small, dark kind, almost 
Itlack, Now, how did this happen? Was the woodpecker 
flying past just at the lime he fired, or did he flush with the 
quail? When M. held up that woodpecker I felt very much 
like laughing, but as he had one charge left in his gun I 
thought under the circumstances and from the expression on 
his face it might be best to defer the laugh until he had time 
to recover. 
We have had no cold to hurt the birds this winter, and the 
prospect is fine for next fall. A. 8, R. 
North Carolina. 
n. 
While hunting woodcock last September in what is called 
"the double ditches," a large swamp about two miles below 
Alexandria, Va., a rather strange thing occurred. 
It was rather early in the morning when my cousin and 
myself entered the swamp and separated, he going on one 
side with his English setter Major, and 1 the other with my 
two Gordon setters Shot and Quick. Before I had gone 
very far my dogs came to a stand by a little branch. On my 
coming up to them a woodcock flushed and went down the 
branch a little way, then turned into the swamp. Jubt as 
he made the turn 1 shot, and saw him pitch forward as if 
hit; but on bringing the dogs to the spot and hunting for it a 
good while I was about to give it up, when Quick threw his 
head into the air and came to a stand right ai the bottom of 
a dead tree. In the tree sapsuckers had bored a great many 
holes, and on looking up I was very much surprised to see 
the cock apparently clinging to the side of the dead tree just 
out of my reach; but on examination 1 found that his bill had 
run into one of the holes made by the sapsuckers and held 
him there. I called my cousin to look at it. but he would 
not believe that I did not put it there myself. I hope that 
one of your many readers may have had a similar experience 
and will tell about it, so as to set me straight with my 
cousin. C. H. 
Washinoton, D. 
WRITE TO YOUR SENATOR. 
WAsmKGTOx, D. C, April <!.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
Early in February iast a few enthusiastic sportsmen called an 
inlormal meeting to discuss the question of game and fish 
protection withiu the District of Columbia. They realized 
that something must be done to stop the handling and sale 
of game and fish within the District of Columbia during the 
close season 
It was decided to call a mass meeting, that tho<!e citizens 
interested in the subject might attend and organize an asso- 
ciation for tlie protection ot game and fish. The meeting 
was called and resulted in the organization of the District of 
Columbia Game and Fish Protective Association, which at ~ 
present is over BOO strong and growing in membership daily. 
The association, finding that the laws were unsatisfactory, 
appointed a special committee to draft two bills, one for the 
protection of fisii and one for the protection of game. 
iknate Bill 1487, introduced by Mr. Proctor, relative to 
the Potomac River and tributaries, protfcts black bass, 
crappie, striped bass, April 15 to June 1, and forbids sale of 
striped ba<!s or rookfish of less than lib. weight. 
Senate Bill 1488, introduced l)y Mr Proctor, makes close 
seasons as follows: Partridge, quail, Feb. 1 to Nov. 1; wood- 
cock, Jan. 15 to July 15: prairie chicken, pinnated grouse, 
Feb. 1 to Sept. 1; rabbit, Feb. 1 to Nov. 1; ?nipe, plover. 
May 1 to Sept. 1; wild duck, goose, brant, April 1 to Sept. 
1; rail, ortolan, reed bird, rice bird, Feb. 1 to Sept 1; deer 
tneat, venison, Jan 1 to Sept. 1. The possession and sale 
are forbidden in the close season; and "the fact that the said 
biyds, fowls or meats were killed or captured outside of the 
District of Columbia shall constitute no defense for such pos- 
session 
The foregoing bills have been introduced in both blanches 
of Congress, aod the Association hopes to have them enacted 
into laws iu a very short time. Wh. n they are the District 
of Columbia will cease to be a place where the pot-hunter can 
dispose of his game at any and all seasons. Most of the 
game that is sold here is killed in the West, to that the West- 
ern sportsmen should be particularly interested in the pass 
age of these bills. It is hoped that each and every sportsman 
that may chance to read these lines wf 1 use his influence 
.with his Senatois and Congressmen to aid in passiog the 
fort-going bills. Don't delay, but lend us your helpinjj nand 
■at once. J. D Akkold 
Michigan Deer and Liumber Camp. 
CoKCEKNiNG the n port made to Mr. W. B Mershon of 
•deer killed for lumber camps in the Upper Peninsula, of 
Michigan, State Game and Fish Warden Chase S Oiborn 
writes to Mr, Mershon; ''It concerns a matter that has been 
■common talk up in this country and was a common practice 
for years until the past two winters. We have convicted 
hunters and lumbermen in almost every county in the Upper 
Peninsula for this work and have practically broken it up. 
At least one of the towns mentioned in your memorandum 
as in Wisconsin, and, of course, we have no jurisdiction 
•there. However, lam glad to hav-e any information you 
may be able to transmit to me at any time, and if your 
representative knows or can learn of any specific violation I 
would be glad to have information of it." 
One great trouble in the present time though is. as Mt. 
Mershon has pointed out, that local or county game wardens 
are dependent upon the liberality of the Board of Super- 
visors for a salary, and the result is that they get nothing and 
'do nothing. 
Tellowstone Snow and Game. 
.'The deep snows of the Yellowstone Park this winter have 
been disastrous to the game. A Cinnabar correspondent 
writes that a man recently out from Yancey's reports a num- 
ber of calf elk found dead, and that the bulls are in poor 
condition. 
Belknap County League. 
Lacokia, N. H , April 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
The suliject of legitimate game and fish protection is receiv- 
ing a good deal of attention among sportsmen in New Hamp- 
shire at this time, which is very gratifying to all true sports- 
men. In this section of New Hampshire, which is essentially 
the lake section of the State, constant care and attention is 
required to see that the fish and game laws are observed, and 
the subject of an association composed of men who are in- 
terested in the protection and propagation of fish and game 
has long been advocated by reputable sportsmen in this 
vicinity. Accordingly, on the 6th mst., the Belknap County 
Fish and Game League was organized in this city. The ob- 
jects and puiposes for which the Association is organized aa 
stated in its constitution are as follows: 
1. The protection, propagation and increase of game and 
fish in the woods and waters of Belknap county, to the rea- 
sonable, legitimate and equal use and benefit of the commu- 
nity for food and support. 
2 The securing of the enactment of such laws as shall 
£eem best adapted to securing the rtsults for which the As- 
sociation was organized. 
3. The use of all consistent means to prevent violations of 
the laws of the State relating to fish and game within the 
limits of Belknap county, and the detection and punishment 
of the same. 
4. To furnish recreation for the members in trap-shooting, 
and further for the accomplishment of the object and pur- 
poses for which the Association is organized the members 
are pledged to observe the fish and game laws, to exert their 
best efforts to secure a like observation on the part of all 
others, and report to the officers of the Association any case 
of infringement which may come to their knowledge and 
cooperate with them in securing the detection and bringing 
to justice of the same. 
The Association starts off with a large and enthusiastic 
membership. s. S. Jewett, Sec'y. 
Western Himtiog Grounds. 
Phti,adelphia, A^tWI .—Editor Forest and Stream: About 
the 25th of this month I expect to start for Red Lodge, 
Mont., on the way to the Sunlight Mining district, where I 
shall remain until the last of November or December mining 
I extend a hearty invitation to any and all brother sportsmtn 
coming West on a tour through the Yellowstone Park, or on 
a flshing and hunting trip. I shall be glad to have them 
visit my camp, and spend as much time as they may desire 
gratis. Big game, elk, deer, bears and sheep are plentiful 
within a very short distance of camp, and I can guarantee 
them all the sport that an honest hunter may desire. I will 
cheerfully arrange with good guides, who have safe pack 
and saddle horses, at very moderate terms. Stopping with 
me will cost them nothing. They can make the Park in one 
day's ride from camp. 
Last year in my letters to Sammy, which were published 
in Forest AND Stream in May, 1 believe,-^I recommended 
the guide we had the previous October, Ed. E. Van Dyke. 
I wish to apologize to brother sportsmen, and Forest and 
Stream in particular, for having done so. Lately I have 
received letters asking if I recommend him. To all such my 
answer is: I will not. Having spent six months last year 
in and near by Rtd Lodge, t have had an insioht'into 
much that three weeks' hunting the previous year did not 
develop 
If any one of Forest and Stream's readers contemplate 
taking such a trip and will write me, 1 shall take pleasure in 
arranging a hunt for them with excellent men, who will guar- 
antee them shots at game or no pay, and who will taue the best 
of care of them. Any of the readers of Forest and Stream, 
with good credentials from same, I shall be glad to enter- 
tain and give them all the sport one could wish with rod and 
gratis. Wabash. 
Some Truth in This. 
Much of the violation of the game and fish laws may be 
traced to organizations which are ostensibly strict observers 
of the laws, but in reality are not. There is a phase of the 
business which is not unlike the attitude of many parents in 
relation to coasting. They will cuss policemen if they do 
not compel boys to refrain from making toboggan slides of 
the walks to the peril of life and limb of pedestrians, and 
think an example should be made of every offender — unless 
it should happen to be one of their own boys. lu that case 
it is different. It was only our Willie, you know, who is a 
much nicer boy than any other Willie and in whose case it is 
a proper thing to make an exception. He can be depended 
upon to violate the ordinance with discretion, eo let him 
slide and look after the other Willies. There is ah element 
of inconsistent logic like that in many organizations for the 
protection of game and fish which makes them inefficient 
and often causes them to do more harm than good. They 
either are not careful enout^h in the admission of members 
or are too lenient with the Willies of their own club family 
who drop into violations of the laws. The Willies, or plain 
Bills of the interior, are not slow to take note of these incon- 
tislencies. If they have be,en made honorary members of a 
town club and semi-official deputies to watch the streams it 
has stocked, and see that no grouse or other game is unsea- 
sonably killed or shot at in the aojacent underbrush, it does 
not increase their ardojr in the work to find club members 
violating the laws, either on Sundays or other days, or to 
have the club smooth the matter over when they report such 
violations. On the contrary, the disgusted.rural deputy jg 
likely to secure some ammunition or bait and proceed to do 
some business \ams,Q\f .—Pittsburg {Pa.) Commercial Qimtte. 
Wildfowl Shooting in City of liiondon, 1740. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
1 find the following curious bit in Tlie York Oourant, Jan. 
;8, 1740: "Yesterday great numbers of London Gunners as- 
sembled at the several Stairs leading to the Thames to shoot 
Gulls, Ducks and Road Geese, which appeared in great 
Plenty ; and many of them were killed, though none could be 
brought off, the Frost not yet having prevented theCm-renoy 
of the Tide. Dogs were of no use to the bringing them off. 
the Edges of the Ice on which the Birds settled bemg too 
weak for the Dogs to get up by." 
.Query.— What were the "Road Geese" and what is the 
significance of the term? F. 0. Browne. 
Wildfowl in Boston Harbor. 
The Massachusetts wildfowl law respecting use of boats 
reads: 
Whoever pursues any wildfowl with or by aid of a boat propelled 
by steam or Ijy naphtha, or by aid of a boat or vessel propelled by 
any naechanical means other than sails, oars or paddles, shall be pun- 
ished. 
A special law, approved March 19, 1897, reads: 
Whoever, within the limits of that portion of Boston Harbor lying 
westerly and southwesterly of a line running from Deer Island to 
Point Allerton, including the waters of Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay 
Weymouth Bay and Hineham Bay, shoots at, kills or pursues any 
wildfowl from or by the aid or use of any boat or floating device pro- 
pelled by any mechanical means, shall be punishable by a fine of $40 
for each offense. 
Our interpretation of the new local law, read in the light 
of the general law quoted ahove, is that on the waters named 
the usd of sailboats is prohibited. 
Michigan's Proposed Five-Tears Close Time. 
East Saginaw, Mich. , April 8 —Bills are before the Mich - 
igan Legislature, I understand, to prohibit the use of pointers 
and setters, or any kind of dogs, in hunting, and to make a 
closed season for quail and partridges for five years. Both 
are nonsensical measures. Quail and partridges were never 
so plentiful around Saginaw, in my knowledge, as they were 
last fall. Stopping all market hunting, enforcing the law 
locally and a short shooting season have preserved the par- 
tridges, and add to this the favorable winter, and we have 
the cause for quail being so numerous. I believe these birds 
have wintered well, and if our game laws are generally en- 
forced and observed, the game supply of this State will in 
crease. w. B. Mershon. 
Forestry Commission Recommendations. 
As ALREADY Stated, the detailed and formal report of the Forestry 
Commission will not be ready for submission to the Secretary of the 
Interior for some weeks yet, but it is likely to be made early next 
month. Meantime fi^'e members of the Commission have united in 
a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, which we print below, which 
gives in general terms the substance of the report to be made. This 
letter will be read with great interest by all persons in the arid West 
and especially by all miners: ~ ' 
"The legislation relating to reserved forest lands of the public 
domain which the Commission of the National Academy will recom- 
mend in its iinal report, now in course of preparation, provides for 
the following: 
"First, that authority be given to the Secretary of War to make de- 
tails of troops at the request of the Secretary of the Interior to pro- 
tect temporarily and until a forest service is organized the property 
of the Government in the forest reservations from fire and trespass 
and to enforce such rules and regulations as he may make for their 
care. 
"Second, the establishment of a permanent forest bureau in the 
Department of the Interior, composed of trained officers, to adminis- 
ter, mainiain and improve the reserved forest lands. 
"Third, the appointment of a commission to institute as rapidly as 
possible, under the supervision of the director of the geological survey 
topograpical surveys of the reservations, and determine what propor- 
tions of them should i)e permanently reserved on account of their 
forest covering, and what portions should be reopened to entry and 
"Fourth, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue the 
necessary rules and regulations for the protection, growth and im- 
provement of the forests on the reservations, for the sale of timber, 
firewood and fencing from them to actual settlers in and adjacent to 
the reservations, and to owners of mines legally located therein for 
use in such mines; for granting permits to sawmill owners to enter 
the reservations for the purpose of manufacturing such lumber 
as may be sold to actual setilers in and adjacent to the re- 
servations, and to the owners of mines located therein; for al- 
lowing actual settlers who have no limoer on their own claims 
to take from the reservations firewood, posts, poles and fenc- 
ing material cecessar.v for their immediate personal use; for allowing 
the public to enter and cross the reservations; lor granting the coun- 
ty commissioners right of way for irrigating ditches, flumes and 
pipes, and for reservoir sites ; and for permitting the prospectors, 
under such rules and regulations as he may from time to time estab- 
lish To enter the reservation in search of valuable minerals. 
"The Commission will recommend that the reservations be opened 
to the location of mining claims under the general mineral laws, and 
that the owners of valid mining locations in the reservations made 
and held in good faith shall be permitted to fell and remove from their 
claims the timber growing on them for actual mining purposes in 
connection with the particular claim from which the timber is cut. 
It will also recommend that the owners of unperfected hona Me 
claims or patents of land included in the forest reservations be per- 
mitted to relinquish their claims to the Government, selecting in lieii 
tracts of vacant land open to settlement, but not exceeding in area 
the tracts covered by their claims or patents, and that the owners of 
such unperfected claims shall not be subjected to additional charges 
for entries or record, and that credit shall be allowed them for the 
time spent on the relinquished claims. The Commission will also 
recommend that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized to enter 
into negotiations with the land grant railroad companies for the pur- 
pose of cotjcliiding agreements by which these companies may relin- 
quish to the United Slates the title acquired by them to lands within 
tneir granted and indemnity limits when these lands lie within the 
boundaries of forest reservations, and may accept other unappro- 
priated lands in exchange for the even-numbered sections within 
their granted and indemnity limits not included in forest reserva- 
tions. 
"Signed;: C. 8. Sargent, Henry I^, Abbot% William H. Brewer, Ar- 
nold Hague, Gifl'ord Pinchot." . - i- f ^> 
New York Legislature.. 
(Correspondence of Forest and Stream.') 
Albaht, April 12.— A, Printed S,C96, Assemblyman Ives, genera^l 
amendments to the game law prohibiting hounding for five years, and 
m-'king the close season for deer Aug. Jo to Nov. 16, both inclusive. 
S. 1,149, Senator Malby, relating to the possession of venison. 
A. Printed l,ri>'i. Assemblyman Eldridge, relating to fishing in Cer- 
tain waters in Warren count.v. 
S. 776, Senator Mullin, making an appropriation to acquire lands 
in the St. Lawrence State Reservation. 
S. Printed 1,223. Assemblyman Hobble, amending the ^ame code 
relative to the right of protectors to make search or examination. 
The Assembly has ordered this bill to a third reading- 
S. aei. Senator Krum, providing for the publication of the game 
laws. " 
The Assembly has passed the folio ^ing bills: 
S. Printed ],%4, Senator Ellsworth's AdironOacfe lands bill. Signed 
by the Governor on the same day it was passed. Chapter 2S0. ' ' 
A. 485, Assemblyman Meyer, relating to salt-water striped bass. 
A. 1,180, Assemblyman Miles, for the prevention of forest flres. 
' " Mathbe. 
"Angling Talks/' 
We have a very few copies of George Dawson's "Angling Talks," a 
series of chapters of entertaining chat about men, fishermen, fish, 
fishing and fishing places. Cloth, 50 cents. Forest and Stream Pub- 
lishing Co. 
The Forest and Stream is piit to press each loeeJe on Xkesda 
Correspondence intended for publication sho%dd reach m at ih 
latest by Monday, and aa much earlier as practioable. 
A Stray Shinplaster * 
Comes to us once in a while for a copy 
of "Game Laws in, Brief;" but shin- 
plasters nowadays are scarcer than Moose 
In New York; and 25 cents in postage 
stamps will do just as well. ^ 
