406 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
imv 23, 1897 
SHOOTING ON A WESTERN STREAM. 
Two years ago I spent a montli hunting in the northern 
part of Minnesota, in the vicinity of Ada, a name weU 
known to sportsmen yvho have hunted on the northern fields 
of this State. 
Several years ago this little town was noted for its duck 
shooting, owing to the numerous sloughs in close reach. In 
later years the Government has dug great ditches through 
this section, in order to carry off the superfluous water in 
the spring of the year ; and has in this way drained off also 
the best marshes. This in due time made the country lose 
its fame as a stopping place for the ducfe hunter; but every 
fall the little country-like hotels of Ada are filled withsports- 
men who come from all parts of the continent to hunt the 
prairie chickens still to be found very plentiful on the sur- 
rounding fields. 
A short way behind the little town flows a stream which 
iQ a place widens out into what is known as Long Lake. Its 
shores are marshy and thickly set with rushes, among which 
varieties of reed birds have their feeding grounds, and where 
occasionally a flock of ducks may be seen spotting its water. 
One day I decided not to go out in the morning, but to 
keep my dogs fresh for an afternoon's hunt. Toward noon, 
as I was sitting outside the hotel, a farmer friend of mine 
came up and said: "Well, Heard, you better go down the 
stream after dinner and bag a few ducks; I just saw three 
flocks light there in Long Lake, on my way to town." This 
was all I needed to start me off; and after dinner I shoul- 
dered my gun, whistled to my dogs, and started on my way 
toward the stream, feeling confident that if any birds had 
been seen to light there, 1 would be the first one to disturb 
them, as not a hunter had been along the shores for days. 
I continued, my way along the road until I reached a 
bridge, where a little stream winds away to the north 
and south, and here I stood a few moments, wondering 
which way to go. 
A light breeze was blowing from the south, and knowing 
this the most advisable way to endeavor to approach the 
"birds I started against the wind, making my way cautiously 
through the thick reeds, with my eyes closely tracing up the 
sunlit water in hope of catching sight of the flock. 
I had by this time wandered a good way from the town, 
and was making my way around a sharp bend in the stream, 
when my anxious eye fell on the first game. I dropped 
down in the rushes, out of sight, and took a peeping glance 
at the birds, which were about 75yds. ahead. 
It was a big flock of widgeons, and they looked exceedingly 
inviting for my first shot. I crawled along until I was 
within good range before I drew the hammers back for the 
first shot, which woke them up in lively style, and they then 
wheeled up directly over my head, uttering their loud call, 
scoke! scoTcel The second shot followed quickly, and then I 
watched the remainder in hopes of seeing them swing around 
and light in the stream again ; but it was all in vain, as they 
soon faded away in the distance. My dogs by this time had 
delivered up four birds, which formed a good starter, and 
encouraged me to go further on. At a distance of about two 
miles from where I found the first flock I discovered a bunch 
of teal, which 1 managed to creep on to in fine shape, and 
open up on them with both barrels; I did not stop to see 
wliat fell, but hurriedly put in more shells, and watched the 
flock until I saw them swing and start to come back. 1 was 
in good cover, and lay low well prepared for the second 
shot, watching them as they made their broad swing over 
the water, where some of their number had been dropped a 
moment before, and my gun rang out again as they passed 
me within good range. Then putting the dogs in to get the 
birds, I soon had the pleasure of adding five to my string, 
and my game pockets told that there was something in them, 
and nice fat ones they were, too. 
I walked several miles more down the stream, but failing 
to run on to anything, finally ordered the dogs out on the 
field to see if they could not strike a covey of chickens before 
sunset. 
They were anxious to run and soon were covering a large 
territory, being as anxious to locate some birds as 1 was to 
see them, and after spending about an hour in wide and 
eager ranging, they drew up on a wheat strip away on my 
left, and here stretched out with the hot scent that seems to 
paralyze every muscle in a bird dog's body. 
"When I reached them and ordered them on to flush I 
heard a flutter and a big bird started almost from under one 
dog's noae, and as it sailed away I drew my little gun on a 
line with it, and as the report rang out the bird doubled up 
and with a dull thud hit the ground, telling me that there 
was another ready for my pocket. 
The dogs then carried the trail off of the stubble into a 
hay meadow, where they placed another one, and I advanced 
to try my second shot. A bird soon started up, but the con- 
tents of the barrels failed to score, which caused the dogs to 
look around in disgust, but when they saw the sad expression 
on my face they took pity on me and worked on until they 
came to another stand. At the same time one bird started 
up in front of me another jumped up from behind, and as 
they both offered me excellent shots, 1 succeeded in making 
for once a neat double, which again set me on good terms 
with my dogs. After picking up my three birds I found 
that there were no more, and i then stood for several minutes 
gazing over the great fields at the setting sun, which was 
just burying itself in a bed of crimson clouds which formed 
the evening sunset. 
I had not until now noticed how far I had wandered from 
the town, but I saw that it was at least eight miles distant, 
and knew that the only way I could get safely back after 
night set in was to go back to the stream and follow the same 
tracks in which 1 had come. So I soon reached the bank and 
started on my homeward journey. 
I had almost given up hopes of another shot at ducks, but 
just at twilight I saw three outlined against the sky, and 
standing still for a few seconds I tried to find out whether 
they were coming or going, one minute thinking they were 
going and the next I was positive that they were coming; 
but after watching them a few minutes I discovered they 
were coming, and their quick flight soon told me to drop to 
my knee, as they were headed directly for me. As they 
drew nearer I distinguished them to be mallards, and I kept 
pn muttering to myself, "Here they come, here they come," 
and they looked larger and larger as they came on, until 
finally they made a dart over my head, letting out their 
familiar call, Sioack/ mack..' which rang loudly through the 
stiU night air. As I only had a minuie to decide, I drew a 
line ahead of one of the birds and let drive, the first shot 
proving to be a clean miss; but a quick whir! gave me a sec- 
ond shot, and the picked bird wavered, fried to keep up with 
the rest, but as it was pretty badly hurt it finalty had to give 
up, and came spinning down, falling among the thick reeds 
on the opposite bank of the stream. 
Oh, what a happy feeling went through me as my old dog 
delivered it up; it was one of the largest mallards I have ever 
seen, and a beautiful drake at that. 
The twilight soon gathered around me, and fixing my gun 
firmly on my shoulders I started for home, considering that 
my day's hunt was now surely over. After a long walk 
along the shore I at last reached the bridge from which I had 
started, and from there soon reached the hotel. 
My little string of three chickens and nine ducks looked 
mighty handsome after I had spread them out on the floor, 
and drew a number of admirers, who smoothed their feathers 
and congratulated me on my good luck. P. C. Heard. 
ROD AND GUN CLUB OF MASSACHU- 
SETTS. 
TiTE work of the first year of the club ' is outlined as fol- 
lows by Secretary Henry J. Thayer, of No. 53 State street 
(Room 948), Boston : 
During its first year, the Rod and Gun Club of Massachu- 
setts has gathered a membership of 100, giving a working 
capital of $1,000,000 (the annual subscription is $10). With 
that amount we have kept a warden in the field since Aug. 
20; paid his salary and traveling expenses, published and 
distributed 600 copies of the Massachusetts fish and game 
laws, paid the running expenses of the club, and on Jan. 1, 
'97, we had a balance in the bank of $441.02. 
Since Aug. 20 we have made two convictions for snaring 
partridges (probably the most difficult article in the game 
laws to enforce). The first case took two weeks, and the 
second over five weeks of hard time before we succeeded ; 
but it was time and money well invested. If we had had two 
wardens working together, instead of one, we could have 
finished both cases in ten days' time; and a warden was then 
urgently needed in other places. 
Before the law went off last fall, and since Jan. 1, our 
warden sent home about twenty gunners found in the field, 
and three persons found fishing with set lines. He has de- 
stroyed over 3,000 partridge snares (the secretary has about 
500 of them at his oflfic), and has compelled the abandon- 
ment of several thousand more. 
Connections through the eastern portion of the State have 
been established for early information regarding violations 
of the game and fish laws.and the Boston markets frequently 
visited. 
We have done more practical work in the forest and field 
since beginning our work than has any club at any time, and 
at a minimum expense. The policy of the club is that all 
money received shall be expended entirely for practical 
work ; no portion being spent for social features. Our pres- 
ent membership of 100 is ample for the permanent employ of 
one warden. By employing two or more at certain seasons 
much larger returns for our money and time can be obtained 
in effectual work, and we ask the help of every sportsman 
and fisherman who believes the fish and game laws should be 
better enforced. 
Our annual subscription is .|10. We believe there are 
many hundred of Massachusetts men who will cheerfully 
give that amount annually for actual work. Help us to do 
that work. Hbnby J. Thayek, Sec'y. 
Florida Snipe Flight. 
Inteblachen, Fla., May 15. — My notebook says that on 
April 5, 1895, I killed ten snipe, which closed the season. 
No more were seen. Also, on March 25, 1896, lkill3d nine- 
teen snipe, and had two shells left. Starting for "dry land 
1 flushed two or three wild, which, as usual, rose high and 
were making a circle before pitching, when I saw 
a wisp of eight appear in the sky, and while I was 
watching them a wisp of eleven appeared. They circled 
once or twice, joined company, circled again, and' pitched 
not 100yds. from me in the edge of some mud. 1 
was in the grass, and while walking toward them they ran 
to the right, so I only got a shot at one — killed, far at that. 
I was unable to get back to them till April 3d. They 
were there, and some more, too. In three hours I killed 
thirty-five, and had all the birds and wading I wanted. 
Ten or twelve birds were killed on some burned sow grass. 
There was almost no cover and no water — just a spongy 
black mould between the blackened bristles o£ burned grass. 
The birds were rather wild, but the air was bracing. The 
captain seemed to feel pretty young and seemed to have a 
good eye that day. In two days not a snipe was to be seen. 
This year the last snipe was killed March 13. On March 
16 they were all gone. But they apparently traveled slowly, 
for they did not reach your high latitudes early. It was very 
hot in March, more like April, and cold in April, like 
March. The snipe must have wished themselves back. 
Captain. 
Texas Birds. 
Petty, Texas, May 3, — Springtime is here in earnest, and 
with it come the dynamiter on weekly visits to the sloughs 
along Red River, and to Bois d'Arc Creek. Buffalo and bull 
heads (or cats) are killed almost by the wagonload. 
Wild ducks and geese were not so plentiful on the ponds 
here as in former years. The flights of these birds grow less 
every year. Five years ago during the winter months, the 
quack of ducks, or the honk of the wild goose could be 
heard at almost any hour during the day; but during the last 
winter I observed very few geese and ducks. The few re- 
maining quail that escaped the deadly net, are mating off 
to begin their labors to replenish the supply; but with the 
devices of destruction now plied upon them, it will be a mir- 
acle if they succeed this year in rearing enough to make 
moderate shooting next winter. A good many yellow-legged 
plover stopped here on their way to the North, but the flight 
has now about passed. F. E Whitemoee^ 
Chinese Pheasants in New Mexico. 
Silver City, N. M. — George H. Bell has six very pretty 
little Chinese pheasant chickens recently hatched. He also 
has several hens setting, and expects to raise fifty pheasant 
chickens this season. They will be turned loose, when old 
enough, to stick the Territory with this beautiful and deli- 
cious game bird. The sportsmen of the Territory are under 
great obligations to Mr. Bell for his efforts to stock the coun- 
try with these birds. 
The San Francisco parties who contracted with Mr. Bell 
to furnish a number of Chinese pheasants for the propagation 
of the species in the Territory were unable to obtain the 
birds in Oregon as expected. They sent to Japan for the 
birds. Mr. Bell received a letter last week stating that the 
pheasants were expected to arrive on first steamer, and 
■would be forwarded to Silver City upon arrival. 
H. B. H. 
EXTENSION OF THE NATIONAL PARK. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Toward the close of the 1895-6 session of the Wyoming 
Legislature a memorial was passed praying Congress to set 
aside, for the purpose of a "public park," a part of the terr'i- 
tory south of and adjoining the National Park, The lan- 
guage of the memorial, in part, is as follows: 
"That the region embraced between Townships 42 and 47 
north, and Ranges 113 and 116 west, of the sixth principal 
meridian, contains the most noble and inspiring mountain 
scenery to be found on this continent. It is the Switzerland 
of America, in which the Matterhorn finds a worthy coun- 
terpart in the Grand Teton, whose majestic and inaccessible 
heights are reflected in the clear depth*, and whose rugged 
grandeur is in marvelous contrast to the placid beauty of the 
mountain lakes which lie at its base. 
"In immediate proximity to the National Park, its attrac- 
tions are of a wholly different character. Together they 
form a panorama which, in its beauty and diversity of 
attractions, is without a couoterpart. The Grand Teton is 
the culmination of this region, the fitting and appropriate 
landmark of this national pleasure ground." 
It ie further urged that this region is a great game pre- 
serve and "the winter feeding ground of the^game that finds 
a summer home in the Yellowstone Park," and, further, that 
this winter home ought to be protected. 
Here we have the very inception of this Park extension 
''scheme." Wyoming spoke first, through her representa- 
tives, and at that time it was considered an expedient and 
patriotic move. Have the conditions changed so materially 
in two years as to justify the hysierical opposition now 
manifested in certain quarters to the segregalion of a small 
portion of our domain for a ' 'public park ? ' Within the 
last two years not a dozen actual settlers have located in the 
territory in question ; the conditions are precisely the same 
as when the aforementioned memorial was passed. The 
State and county revenue derived from the region under 
discussion would not pay postage on the political corre- 
spondence of a single member of our Legislature. And yet 
the attempt is being made to drag this question into local 
politics, thus affording certain narrow-gauged demagogues 
an opportunity to pose as champions of the ' 'common 
people." The cry has gone forth that the plutocratic East is 
making another fell move to rob the defenseless West. A 
plague upon such nonsense! 
Let us examine into the matter a".d test its merits. 
The only possible industries which can ever flourish in 
this contemplated addition to the National Park are logging 
and mining. There is no such thing as commercial lumber, 
and the timber can be used to advantage only as railroad ties. 
Is it good policy, or charity to the masses, to leave this region 
so that its mountains and foothills may in future be denuded 
by the voracious railroad contractor'? 
As to mining: the possibilities are limitless, the actualities 
insignificant. I would not debar the Americin prospector 
from a rood of the public domain, where his persevering in- 
dustrjr might develop a bonanza. It would be a simple mat- 
ter—easily arranged in detail— to provide for the creation of 
mining districts, where mineral has been, or may be found 
in paying quantities, giving the miners full liberty to operate 
their claims, subject only to necessary restrictions concern- 
ing destruction of timber and game. 
This would be an equitable arrangement, and would obviate 
all objections so far as bona fide miners are concerned. 
I have read with much interest a recent letter from Gov. 
Richards in Forest anb Stream, criticizing the recent 
Forest Reserve proclamation of Mr. Cleveland. The Gov- 
ernor goes over the whole ground in a thorough and dispas- 
sionate manner. While it is not my purpose to express an 
opinion as to the wisdom of the Forestry Commission's 
action, I mention this matter merely to contrast the merits of 
Forest Reserve and National Park— so far as each would 
affect us locally. 
The Teton forest reserve now embraces two-thirds of the 
territorv which it has been proposed to annex to the Yellow- 
stone Park. The status of the few residents embraced in 
this forest reserve is now anomalous and unsatisfactory in 
the extreme. They are without land titles, or the reasonable 
prospect of obtaining such titles, yet no provision is made to 
pay them for their claims and oust them; they are simply 
compelled to hold their ranches by occupancy and to be 
hedged in by galling restrictions. 
The authority of the State is prac'ically annulled by the 
proclamation, so the game ranging in this reserve is abso- 
lutely without protection— State or National. 
By annexing this territory to the Park, settlers can (and 
will be) compensated for their clai ms, the game will be pro- 
tected and every conceivable interest better subserved. 
Jackson's Hole is the only community which can be 
directly affected by this addition to the Park. 
I am a fixture here and have a family to care for. As a 
sane and sentient being I naturally favor what I conceive to 
be to my interest and to the benefit of the community in 
which I live. Bringing the Park line nearer to Jackson's 
Hole will unquestionably benefit us in many ways. A 
tourist route will be established through our community ; 
summer travel will greatly increase, and the distribution of 
funds will increase in like proportion. Game is a great 
feature here ; is it wiser to provide a refuge for this game 
that it may be preserved for our benefit — in common with all 
American citizens— or leave it to be soon and completely ex- 
terminated, rather than infringe ppon the sovereignty of 
Wyoming? 
1 will not discuss this question of the preservation of out- 
large game in a higher and more catholic spirit, but purposely 
confine myself to our local and selfish views and interests. 
E pery resident of the game region well knows the utter in- 
adequacy of State protection and the pitiful improbability of 
future appropriations for such purposes. The active and in- 
telligent efforts of a Governor who thoroughly comprehends 
and appreciates existing conditions have failed to impress 
our lawmakers with the necessity for effective legislation. 
Add this strip of territory to the Park, and Wyoming will 
still be large enough "for the minds and hearts of her legis- 
lators." 
Mr. W. L Simpson, a friend and neighbor of mine, has 
lately published a lett r denouncing the Park extension in 
unmeasured terms. Mr. S. is entitled to his opinions, and I 
would be the last to question his right to air those opinions 
upon any and all occasions— but when he assumes to reflect 
the views of this whole section, or even of a majority here— ^ 
he goes entirely beyond his province. 
A majority of the bona fide residents here will not oppose 
a move calculated to benefit this community, and which can 
in no way prove detrimental to our interests. 
I am aware that the shibboleth "monopoly" is being used 
