FOREST AND STREAM. 
327 
muzzle for a distance of about Sin. It throws a heavy con- 
ical ball with accuracy up to a range of about ISOyds., and, 
having 5drs. of powder behind, the bullet, is a most formid- 
able weapon for big game. Mr. Bodkin states that when he 
fired at the big moose the animal at once charged him, but 
was brought down with the second barrel. As soon as the 
head arrives in Fredericton the fu'l particulars of measure- 
ment will be sent to Fobest AJfD Stream. A pair of moose 
antlers passed through Venceboro the other day measuring 
6'24^in. They came from the Restigouche region, but I 
could not learn the name of the owner. 
Your correspondent bad the pleasure to-day of gazing on 
'the profile of the moose that fooled him at Burpee Lake last 
week. When coming out of the woods, 1 told Harry Allen 
■of my experience with the animal. Mr. Allen and his hunt- 
ing partner, Ed Church, promptly repaired to the spot, and 
bagged the moose two days later. The head, which mea- 
isured 42Ln., would have been much wider, but one of the 
lantlers had been greatly worn at the exterior points while in 
the velvet, 
A hunting party consisting of George Jones, Cliff Price and 
Humphrey Davidson, returned last Tnursday from the Ca- 
naan Kiver. They brought out the carcass of a large bull 
moose, and also some sixty partridges. These birds are 
imuch less plentiful this year throughout the province than 
lusual, which is attributed to the cold and wet spring having 
iinterfered with the hatching industry. 
John Bruce, of Chicago, has C3ncluded his hunting trip to 
ithe Bathurst Lakes. He had one Indian guide, and was en- 
camped on the lakes twenty-four days. He shot a moose, a 
bear and three caribou. 
E. S, White and brother, of Boston, reached Fredericton 
Saturday, Oct. 15, after a three weeks' cruise on the Not'west. 
They had Arthur Pringle as guide, and brought out heads 
lof four caribou and one fine moose, latter measuring 53in., 
and all its twenty five points perfect. 
FrASTK H. ErSTEEN, 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Are Goats Good to Eat? 
Chtcago, 111., Oct. 16.— Mr, Ezra E. Howard, of Ef^gar, 
Neb., wiites me interestingly on the subject of the edibility 
of the flesh of the mountain goat. I confess that I never 
tried to eat goat meat on my trip after goats, excepting a 
taste or two which I took of raw goat. I did not like it that 
way, and as all the other men said it was not fit to eat, we 
passed verdict on it without a fair trial, although we were 
very hungry at the time. Mr. Howard has the following to 
say of his experiences with Western big game : 
•'1 have been much interested in reading your account of 
"Sheep and Snowshoes" and also of your trip after goats, as 
.'1 have hunted the goats some in British Columbia, and in 
!my opinion you made a big mistake when you did not try 
■eating the goat meat. 
"When I first hunted them I had heard the same stories 
;about the flesh being strong and ut fit to eat, but having tried 
.all kinds, including the billies and nannies, 1 have found the 
imeat good and sweet, with no bad taste, unless it has lain too 
'long after killing. 
"We packed a hindquarter down out of the mountains to 
ithe camp, where some of our party were who had not been 
tout with us, and had not eaten any goat meat, and it passed 
leadily for venison, and all enjoyed some good steaks of goat 
imeat. 1 think that like our party, at first, most people have 
taken it for granted that the meat of the goat was bad, any- 
way, and never gave the goat a chance to redeem himself. 
Of .course the goats that we killed were subjects of her 
Majesty the Queen, and may feed on a little different diet 
from a, plain goat of the Kepublic, but I think they are about 
the same. We found them in all from the water's edge up 
to above timber line, and had no trouble to get close to them 
by moving slowly ; they did not pay any attention to the 
sound of a gun unless they could see the flash, nor to a per- 
son moving unless he made a quick motion, when they were 
off like a flash. 
"One day when turning around the corner of a large rock 
near a water pool, I came upon an old billy quietly chewing 
his cud not over 80ft. distant, and be looked at me, but 
never moved until 1 shot him. Again, I passed within a few 
yards of a nannie and her kid on a rock, and they did not 
, seem to fear us, but remained there as long as we were in 
; sight. 
"A bunch of them will play like sheep when undisturbed, 
;aud I have watched them frequently from a distance, and 
( one could almost be sure that they were a band of common 
, sheep quietly feeding in some farmer's pasture 
"One trip we had a dog with us that would sometimes, in 
rspite of us, get after them, and they would show him a clean 
ipair of heels, and I think never stopped to show fight, and 
■ISO I am of the opinion that their fighting qualities that we 
ihave all heard so much about are a myth, as I have seen 
tthem under varying conditions, and singly and in bunches of 
(Eight or ten, and when feeding, playing, resting and travel- 
ing. 
■"They can climb, too, I want to tell you. Several of our 
party saw an old billy go up the steep face of a rock one day 
(and the rock was wet at that) where it hardly seemed possible 
that a squirrel could go, but he made it safely to the top, 
several hundred feet. 
"What 1 have written is, as near as I can figure it, differ- 
ent from what 1 have read about the white goat, but it is 
just as I have seen it. Though it may be different from the 
.observations of others, 1 am inclined to believe that some 
•writers have taken the 'traditions, of the elders' instead of 
'.their own expfrience, and if that is the case it will not be 
'ithe first story about wild animals that I have found to fall 
(down when out in the homes of these people of the forest 
and mountain. 
"The more that I hunt and go among wild game the more 
I like the platform of Forest and Stream, 'Prohibit the 
sale of game,' and add to it, 'prohibit the game hog.' Not 
saving it boaslingly, yet 1 do say that the last hunting trip I 
took to the far West in British Columbia I did not kill a 
single animal of any kind, as 1 had killed some of all the 
game that we saw, and so let the killing out to the men who 
had never killed any goats. 
"Business has kept me pretty close at home for several 
years, but I expect to take a trip next year, Providence per- 
mitting." 
The Duck Season. 
The duck season in this part of the West will draw to a 
close within the next two or three weeks. It has thus far 
been reported as an unusually good one, although the ex- 
tremely hot weather of thp last few days in tliis part of the 
country has not been strictly consistent with good wildfowl 
shooting. The Northern birds are not down in this part of 
the country yet to any extent, although in Minnesota and 
Dakota the migration has already begun. On the Kankatee 
country, where most of our snipe shooting is done, but few 
snipe are yet reported. A cold wave is now on hand, and 
there may be a heavy flight of snipe in almost any day 
now. 
The Big Came Season. 
The big game season in Wisconsin and Minnesota is now 
nearly at hand, and the local papers over the country are be- 
ginning to take up the mooted questions of resident and nor- 
resident licenses. State Warden EUarson, of Wisconsin, has 
sent to the County Clerk of each county a form of application 
for resident deer hunting license. Some resident hunters 
have thought they could take out licenses in several coun- 
ties, but Mr. EUarson appends to his form of application an 
aflidavit to the effect that the applicant has not and will not 
make application to any other County Clerk in the State of 
Wisconsin during the period governed by his application. 
Two coupons authorizing the transportation of two deer are 
attached to each license. The killing and handling of deer 
in Wisconsin will this fall be more carefully hedged about 
than ever before in the history of the State. 
Minnesota Moose. 
The opening of the close term in Minnesota will be an 
event of great importance to hundreds of hunters in the 
West and in the East. It is likely that Wisconsin will be 
passed over by many non-resident hunters who would be 
elad to kill a moose as well as to evade a license. The five 
days open season on moose in Minnesota will be a busy time. 
The woods dwellers of Upper Minnesota have not been so 
slow as to lose sight of the profitable occupation of guiding 
non-resident hunting parties. They have been sending out 
letters . to such sportsmen as they could reach, and have 
generally given it out that moose and caribou are more 
. abundant in Minnesota than ever were known before. This 
assertion is hardly accurate, although it is true that there 
are moose enough in Minnesota to certify its claim of being 
one of the greatest big game countries open to the sportsmen 
of the United States. 'The Duluth News-Tribune last month 
looked into this moose question, and in its comment depre- 
cates too great an enthusiasm over the moose supply, which 
it thinks has been much cut down by illegal shooting. It 
goes on to say : 
"The real facts are that owing to tie close there are prob- 
ably as many moose and other big game to be found as there 
were before the close went in effect if there had been no 
close on such game, it is probable that it would have been 
practically extinct now. All the same, the close has not 
been observed, either hy the Indians that overrun the coun- 
try, or by the white residents that are scattered through it, 
The only benefit that has been gained by the close of shoot- 
ing on moose and caribou consist in the fact that city sports- 
men have been deterred from hunting during the five years 
now at end. 
"Some of the oldest hunters believe that the close on big 
game in this State ought to have been extended indefinitely, 
and that more rigorous measures than have been inaugurated 
to prevent the annual slaughter by Indians and whites in the 
country inhabited by such game. To be sure, the season is 
only five days long, and each hunter may kill only one 
moose, but if every hunter arranging to go in the woods this 
autumn with the expressed intention of killing a moose, 
should be successful in his mission, there would be mighty 
few of the big fellows left to furnish sport for next year!" 
Where to go for Moose. 
I am advised by those who should know, that Warroad, 
Minn., will be a good point to keep in mind for a moose trip 
next month. The town is at the mouth of the Warroad 
River, on Lake of the Woods. It can be reached by stage 
from Stephen, Minn., or by boat from Rat Portage, Ont. 
There are still a few moose left in the Roseau Swamp 
country on the line between Minnesota and Manitoba. East 
of there, and in fact over a great strip of country in upper- 
Minnesota, there is moose ground of greater or less excel- 
lence. Out of Grand Rapids, Minn., at no great distance 
there is good country, and a number of moose will no doubt 
be killed. All through the Itasca country the moose have 
been known to be fairly abundant this year. Near Kabbe- 
kona Camp two moose were killed — illegally, of course — this 
month by Indians. The Indians have, of course, killed 
moose all over Minnesota regardless of game laws, whenever 
they liked to do so. 
Where to go for Caribou. 
1 have a hot tip on caribou from a man who knows what 
he is talking about. He advises that one take boat by one of 
the Booth fishing steamers which ply along the north shore 
of Lake Superior, going into camp at Reservation River, 
hunting that country and the Pigeon River country. He 
would need a guide, of course, and w"ould have to camp out. 
I am very sorry, but I do not know just now of any caribou 
or moose country where one can go hunting with all the com- 
forts of home, 
Michigan Deer. 
At Alger, Mich., preparations are being made for a big lot 
of deer hunters from lower down in the State, and from out- 
side of the State. It is said that although contrary to law, 
the use of dogs is very common in that neighborhood. In- 
deed, it is common over a great part of the deer country in 
Wisconsin and Michigan, 
A Snorting Governor. 
Governor John R. Tanner, of Illinois, arrived home this 
week from a camping and outing trip at DeBeque, Colo., 
much pleased with a successful hunt. Several deer were 
killed by the party, among whom were Messrs. J, W. Gates, 
President of the lUinois Steel Co., I. L. Elwood and -John A. 
Drake. 
Fox Hunt Barred. 
One of the attractions proposed for the coming horse show 
at Chicago was a fox hunt, in which a live fox was to figure. 
The officers of the Illinois Humane Society have announced 
through their president, Mr. John G. Shortall, that no hunt 
after a live fox will be allowed to take place in the Coliseum. 
It is announced that if the gentlemen concerned in the horse 
show care to pursue an aniseed bag they may do so, but the 
line is drawn at a live fox. 
Lion Kittens. 
At Lincoln Park this week, three African lion kittens 
were born, all of which, at last accounts, were living and 
doing well. The mother, Nellie, is five years of age, and 
this is the second time she has been the mother of ti-iplets, 
the family in each case proving one of the attractions of the 
park. 
Ohio Quail. 
The Ironton Gun Club, of Ironton, O., offers |5for in- 
formation leading to conviction of any party for illegal 
shooting of game. Quail are reported abundant around 
Ironton, and there has been some sooner shooting, the season 
not being open until Nov. 10. Austin Miller, of Caldwell, 
O., was fined $35 for shooting two quail out of season, and 
was sent to jail for non-payment. 
Arkansas Club. 
ls\v. Joseph Irwin, of Little Rock, Ark., has the following 
news about a little club recently formed in his city. The 
preserve is on country where I have shot, and where M.t, 
Irwin always takes Harvey McMurchy when he goes to 
Little Rock. I can testify it is good mallard ground. He 
remarks regarding this: 
"The Prothro Hunting Club has been formed here at Lit- 
tle Rock. John M. Rose, President; J. W. Irwin, Vice- 
President ; Dr. J. H. Lenow, Secretary and Treasurer. Cap- 
ital stock, $2 500. We have leased the shooting on the 
Neimyer Marsh, part of which is 'Hough's Inferno.' It is 
now being rapidly fenced, and within ten days will be in- 
closed and posted. It is easy of access, being only four 
miles from town, and under proper protection will give our 
members fine mallard shooting next mouth, provided it rains 
before that time. Water is getting very scarce. Lakes were 
never lower than now. Quail and turkeys are reported plen- 
tiful, but are being killed at the water holes where they go 
to drink. Few deer have been killed so far this fall, it being 
too dry to hunt them. Forest fires are raging in many of the 
best grounds near us, which will drive them out." 
Canada Came. 
Mr. W. B. Wells, of Chatham, Ont., has a word about 
the game prospect of his neighborhood, where the Inter- 
national field trials are held each year: 
"Everything looks well for the trials; thirteen out of the 
fifteen entries to the Derby paid second forfeit and 1 think 
they will all start. The cup race will be interesting, I fancy. 
Birds ai-e more plentiful than last year, I think. The 
weather has been very dry, but it looks like rain. Ducks 
are coming in, and I saw several wisps of from twelve to 
twenty snipe the other day; but unfortunately our snine 
grounds are mostly dry. The water has gone down in Lake 
St, Clair over a foot in the last three weeks." 
Pelicans In Wisconsin. 
Mr, John E. Dafter, of Marinette, Wis., tells me about the 
recent killing in his vicinity 'of a pair of pelicans, a bird 
very rare in this latitude, though I have known of their 
being killed in Minnesota and DaKota. The pelican is not a 
pretty bird, nor does its countenance indicate any very great 
amount of intellect. Probably these birds wandered off into 
this far northern country because they got lost or forgot 
what they wanted to do. Mr. Dafter thus describes the in- 
cident : 
"A week ago Saturday two of our younger sportsmen 
(Curtis Merryman and Ralph Yan Clare) were loafing along 
the shore of Green Bay with their guns, about two miles 
south of this city. They were out after ducks, and while 
keeping their eyes peeled for some sure shot they took to be 
a flock of eight wild geese drop into the water about half a 
mile from shore. Securing a boat they started out, but after 
going some distance found that the birds were further away 
than they supposed, and returning gc t a sailboat and started 
again. Getting to windward of the flock they let the boat 
drift, and coming within range fired four barrels of No. 6 
shot just as the birds rose. Two fell and the others flew by 
the boys, and to their astonishment they saw they were a 
species they had never seen. On picking up their game 
tney found they had secured two very fine specimens of peli- 
cans. The birds were exactly alike, pure white, tipped with 
black, a narrow Y-shaped yellowish line about a ^in. wide 
extending across their back from wing to wing. Tne spread 
of their wings was 8ft. 4in. The boys are very jubilant over 
their prizes, and one of them has been mounted and placed 
in the high school museum. 1 have noticed in your paper 
of pelicans having been killed in this State before, but as 
far as I know none have ever been seen in this vicinity be- 
fore," 
Base Calumny. 
By the way, hearing from Mr. Wells, who is a Canadian, 
reminds me of a base calumny upon his people which was 
recently perpetrated by Frank Butler, manager of Annie 
Oakley, who told me this when he was out here this summer 
with the Wild West. I am sure Frank will swear to it, and 
I leave it to Mr. Wells to refute and punish the refuted. Of 
course, in her rapid shooting during her exhibition work, 
Miss Oakley's guns occasionally get out of order and need 
attention by a good gunsmith. On one occasion, 1 think it 
was in Toronto, Mr. Butler took the guns to a gunsmith to 
get some repairing done to them, but he was told that it 
would be impossible for the gunsmith to do it just yet, as he 
"had three pairs of shoes to mend first!" At another town 
he came near having a bad time of it, for the gunsmith got 
the guns to pieces, but could not get them back together 
again. The time for the afternoon performance drew alarm- 
ingly near, and the workman sweated — not nearly so much 
as Mr. Butler did— and it was nearly 3 o'clock when he at 
last got the arms put together so they could be fired. He 
said he didn't want to do any more work on them, because 
he didn't think they were scientifically constructed. But 
yet a worse trouble occurred, in still another Canadian 
town (according to Mr. Butler). He took a gun, of course a 
hammerless, such as Miss Oakley uses altogether, to the 
local gun repairer, who looked it over carefully, and at last 
remarked: ■• Where's the hammers, have you lost them?" 
This is only hearsay, and I do not vouch for it, but is a good 
story, and if there is going to be any international complica- 
tions over it, I submit it should be referred to Mr, Wells and 
Mr. Butler. 
The Sale of Game. 
The following postal card message was sent to a gentle- 
man of tbis city by a resident of Pontiac, 111., at which 
place, as I stated earlier in these columns, our friend. Col. 
C. E. Felton, of Chicago, planned to make his fall hunt, 
with the puipose of laying in his winter supply of meat: 
"Oct. 6.— Friend P.: You wanted me to write and let 
you know when Col. C, E. Felton came to Pontiac to shoot 
chickens. He was here Monday, Oct. 4, and went out 
chicken shooting with Mr. Stroud and Mr. Morris. They 
were out all day and only got two chickens and one quail, 
I was out the day before they were and killed twenty-one 
chickens and twelve quail. Col, Felton did not kill a bird. 
Mr. Stroud got aU." 
Ool. Fehon has never been disposed to come out flat-footed 
