Oct. 30, 1891".] 
S47 
From all sides comes a demand for Ibe repeal of the law— 
the demand, voiced at the start by the Herald, is practically 
universal . 
"Let us have the law repealed, by all means, but that can- 
not come at the moment, and let us now have the law 
obeyed. There is unquestionably a good deal of illegal kill- 
ing going on. The Herald has a repoit that three dead does 
have been found in Mendon, shot by miscreants who did not 
dare to carry their carcasses out of the woods. No doubt 
does have been killed, and no doubt bucks are being killed 
illegally— by the use of salt and lights and the like. 
"It, would do a lot of good to have some of these law- 
breakers hauled up and severely punished. But if legal 
killing alone is considered, the facts setm to show that tbe 
number of deer in the woods has been greatly overestimated. 
The animals reported killed since tlie first rush upon 'cos- 
set.s' has been very small." 
MARYLAND GAME INTERESTS. 
.Stockton, Md., Oct. m.— Editor Forest and Stream: I 
have had little to say of game or shooting since the beach 
birds were here, but now that the honk of the wild goose is 
borne along with the northeast gale, I feel that perhaps 
others would like to know of the fine prospects for fall 
Shooting promised to us here. Shell ducks are already on 
the shoals in good numbers, and every day adds to the in- 
creasing bunches; this is at least two weeks earlier (hsn 
usual, and as .vet we have had no weather that could even be 
callfd cool. They are not much of a duck, although many 
here eat them, especially the colored po]mlatioD, but they fly 
swiftly, decoy nicely, and make very good shooting, "l 
have seen no brant yet, but a few geese'are dropping in. 
Never in all my life have I seen the quail in such numbers; 
they are everywhere— in every field, in the woods, and in 
the thickets. In a 60-acre field Joining my farm there are 
no less than five coveys— not divided bunches, but separate 
coveys of fifteen birds or more each, i am sorry to say that 
but bttle attention is paid here to game laws, and already 
quail are being shot by boys and irresponsible parties. 
These parties go, as they say, for f quirrels (by the way, theie 
is about one squirrel here for every five shooters), but shoot 
everything they can that Hies or runs; all are meat to them. 
Then again our quail season does not open until Nov. 15, but 
the rabbit law is out on Nov. 1. Every rabbit shooter seems 
privileged to shoot at all the quail he finds, while the rest of 
us must keep our dogs chained and stay at home or follow 
the example of the others and go rabbit shooting for quail. 
Why all our shooting does not commence on Nov. 1 Is a 
mystery not only to me, but to all our local sportsmen. It 
seems to me that often tnit very little judgment is used in 
framing game laws. Some say, be your own game warden. 
This is nonsense, fornof rmer is tooliwsh enough to inform 
on a neighbor and gain his enmity for all time ju'^t on ac- 
count of two or three quail. What we want here is a gocd 
warden, one who will do his duty and take an interest in tlie 
work. Woodcock are shot as soon as they come in the 
spring; ducks at any and all times, even the young black 
ducks are caught before they can fly, while quail and rab- 
bits are good game as soon as the corn is cut. A few con- 
yictions would break this up, for many of the gunners are 
law-abiding men. The damage is mostly done by the 
idle and careless, and by hoys. Then the others say, "IE 
these fellows are going to kill the birds, I might as well 
have my share." With all this, I know of but one, perhaps 
two, game hogs in the whole section. I saw in Fouest and 
Stream last August, a note from an old gunner who had 
shot with numbers of other men, who said that in all his 
time he never saw anyone ready to stop when the game was 
flying If he were here, he would find plenty who stop 
when they get enough for a meal or two. Very few here go 
ducking more than a few hours in the morning; they 
two or three pair of ducks, and are back to late breakfast and 
their work;- if you ask Ihem, they will simply tell you that 
they came home because they had all they wanted. It is the 
same witii quail and beach birds; those who live here rarely 
kill more tUan half-dozen or so of quail, or a dozen or two 
of beach birds. An hour or two of good shooting is all we 
ask, but then "there are others." By the way, we have an- 
other crop of game here, our oysters; they are the finest and 
fattest for years. O. D. Foulks. 
SHOOTING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK. 
iTUAfA, N. T , Oct. 23.— 0 '.t. I.'?, the opening day of the 
squirnl, hare and rabbit season, found a pretty numerous 
contingent of gunners afield, and had the weather conditions 
been more propitious, heavy scores would have been made 
in some directions. But summer heat— 84' in the shade- 
prevailed, the woods were veritable tinder boxes, and foot 
pressure upon a leaf caused a crackling that could be heard 
at an amazing distance. With such conditions in its favor, 
the squirrel supply did not suffer extensively. The bast 
score ma le upon that date, learned by the writer, consisted 
of ten squirrels to three guns. In the northern part of 
Tompkins and the southern part of Cayuga county, the 
f quirrel supply has been reported as unusually large. 
From all directions have come reports of a great deal of 
illegal squirrel shooting. This was the c.a?e prior to the 
opening day of '96, and it will prove the case next year, un- 
less more vigorous protective measures are instituted, or a 
change in tne date of opening occurs, This parlicular 
clause of the game law, so far as its practical enforcetnent 
applies to this sweep of central New York country, is a fail- 
ure of a most pronounced type, to put the case mildly. It 
promotes disrespect for law, arouses widespread contempt 
for whatever of dignity may be supposed to belong to it 
does this lack of enforcement. 
it is not easy to dwell upon this particular phase of game 
law legislation without thinking that this date of Oct. 15 has 
been and mu^t contiaue to be a mistake, as it is used upon 
the ,statnte books. Either may we consider this date a mis- 
lake, or Aug. 16 the date qf opening the woodcock and 
railed grouse season a mistake. The openiog of the grouse 
season now finds the birds scarcely two-thirds grown and 
quite incapable of furnishirg the sportsman a genuine meas- 
ure of sport, and Oct. 15 finds the squirrel supply illegally 
shot to pieces. Would not a modification of these two ex- 
tremes prove of greater benefit to the sportsmen in general? 
Making the opening date on woodcock, grouse, squirrels, 
hares and rabbits Sept. 15, for example, would confine the 
law-dfcfier to a r quare issue. He would have no excuse for 
going afield in quest of one thing while really in search of 
another ; or for going primarily for the purpose of shooting 
woodcock or grouse, and secondarily for the purpose of 
shooting squirrels or rabbits, as opportunity may present it- 
self. This uniform date for opening the season on the vari- 
ous varieties of game, its advocates it would seem justly 
ar^ue, may be nccepted as removitg the main incentive to 
tran.sgress the law. 
Certain it is that the New York State As.sociation for the 
Protection of Fish and Game, at its approaching convention, 
should give this matter of game seasons and their dates a 
careful consideration. 
The woodcock supply has been distinctly unsatisfactory so 
far. The long continued dry weather has resulted in causing 
the longbills to forsake their usual haunts, and all attempts 
to relocate them have been in the main unavailing. This is 
to be regretted, for, barring the rise of his majesty, the ruffed 
grouse, what is more inspiring than an October woodcock 
topping the alders with the glint of the sunshine caressing 
his plumage? 
Grouse in plenty abound in the various well-known covers. 
Taking Ithaca as a base of operations, good shooting may be 
bad upon these birds at West Danby, Newfield, Spencer 
Summit and Van Ettenville. A strip of cover something 
bke a mile from the latter hamlet, in the direction of Ithaca^ 
is fairly classed as a famous grouse and rabbit shelter. These 
places may be reached via the Lehigh Valley R. R. Going 
north on the Auburn division of the same system, one may 
profitably stop olf at Lake Ridge or at points further north. 
This lake country should afford some brisk grouse .shooting. 
Over in the land about Mecklenburg, reached from this city 
by carriage or stage, is usually located a neat little array of 
grouse, as that enthusiastic and jubilant friend of tbe Forest 
AND Stream family. Dr. Sears, of Trumansbursr, N. Y., will 
tell you. Over on the Southern Centra] division of the Lehigh 
are Ilarford Mills, Richford and Peruville, inviting grouse 
centers. Then on the Coitlaud-Elmira line of the Lehigh 
comes Prookton, Freeville, Eist Homer (the home of the 
famed one armed wing shot, and a wonderfully prolific grouse 
section, one year with another), Truxton and several other 
stopping-off places, reaching well along up to picture? que 
Cazenovia, all of these localities being kindly regarded by 
the lovers of grouse shooting. 
No flight ot ducks yet, but Cayuga Lake is said to harbor 
a fine lot of these waterfowl. M. Chill. 
MAINE'S ABOUNDING GAME. 
I SEKD you clipping of the Bangor, Me., Whig and Courier 
of Oct. 15. No one will dispute for a moment that Maine 
is the greatest State in the Union for big game: 
Friday vras a great day for game, the record of arrivals here of 
deer aud caribou being double that of ary of the fall and equaling 
any day last year. ^ 
The moruing train from Oreenville brought seven deer and a cari- 
bou. The latter was killed in tbe region around Moosehead Lake by 
C. M. Oomstock, of Montville, Conn., and was the first caribou to be 
shot In this section of the Staie this year. W. L Corey and A N 
Merry, of Portland, each had two deer, aud W, 8. Quimby and F a' 
Jennison, of Boston, had two. There we^e tweuiy sis deer and a 
caribou on the noon trains which arrived here from Vanceboro and 
Hoiilton. Game Commissioner Uarletou came dosvn from a business 
trip up along the line, and left on the afternoon train for home 
From the B. & A. came G. E Sledman, of Oldtown with two deer* 
.1. K. Clifford, of Woodfords, two deer and a caribou; fiev B c' 
Wen t worth, of Skowhegan, two deer; W. H.Abbott, of Waterville' 
yoke, Mass , two; Messrs. E. VV. Anthony and W. B. StUlraan of Bo=-' 
ion, came from Katahdin Iron Works with two deer, ana M w" 
Davis, of Skowhegan. had one. Messrs, Geo. W. Kimball and 8 l' 
Hutcbins, of Union, X. H , had three deer that they had killed in the 
region around Patten. E. K. Koehler, of New York, had two deer 
which were shipped from Masardis. 
The evening train from Greenville, brqught thirty-one deer and 
one caribou, and the Houlton train fourteen deer. 
Another moose was killed by a B. & A. train on Thursday night be 
tween Masardis and St. Croix- This makes three moose which have 
been killed by the cars during the past ten days. 
On Monday thirty-three deer and a bear came to Bangor on the 
noon train from the Bargor & Arfstook Railroad. The forenoon 
trains brought a number of deer, and the whole .shipment for the day 
numbered about forty deer. A seizure of a box of partridges was 
made on the noon train from Bar Harbor. 
region arouna Ashland. A. C. Musselle, of New York, had two deer 
from Pal ten, and 6. A Dearborn, of Portland, had one from the sta- 
Anderson, of Hallowell, each had tvvo deer which were killed at 
Stacyville. 
B Puller, of Dorchester, had a deer from Stacyville; W^m Whitney 
of Milo, brought down one from Norcross, and D. Cram, of Newpo/t' 
had a deer from that station. ^ ' 
There were shipped from Schoodic two deer for P. A. Merriman of 
Boston ; two for \V. H. Partridge, of Wellesley, Mass., and two forH 
L Haddock, of Roxbury, Mass, Fred Castle and G. L Smith of New 
Y^ork, were here with three deer, wbich were killed at Katahdin Iron 
Works, C, E, Mayers, of Portland, had two deer, which were killed 
atNorcross. O. D. Severance, of Boston, and Victor Smith of New 
York, each had a deer killed in the region around Greenville. 
I received a letter yesterday from East Orland, Me., stating 
that some hunters had a hunt after a large bear at Grio-es 
Pond. They put six dogs on him. He whipped them all 
killed one of them and made his escape. Unfortunately 
the hunters never got a shot at him. W. 0. JBlaisdbll. 
Boston, Oct. 23. — Reports of deer slain in Maine are sim- 
ply enormous. If these reports are not exaggerated, the 
number is much greater than a year ago. Tfie g"reatest num- 
ber seems to be coming over the Bangor & Aroostook Rail- 
way, though the Maine Central is bringing a great many 
from the Rangeley and Dead River regions.' State of Maine 
hunters are more numerous than ever. Walter Sutton and 
Dr. Brackett, of Lewiston, have just returned from the 
vicinity of Mschias port, and up the famous Fletcher Brook 
where a one-armed game warden was shot by a deer doo'ger 
several years ago, and for which the latter is serving a'^iife 
sentence in State prison. The hunters got two deer there 
and two at Second Pond. M. T. Keefe, of Boston, is just 
out of the Moosehead woods with a big buck deer 'Sixteen 
deer have been killed by local sportsmen in the vicinity of 
Stratton since the opening of the season. On the Bvron 
farm, near Bragg Corner, two deer have been coming out all 
summer to feed, The.se have fallen to local hunters. II, 
W, Gheeley, of Winlrop, has taken his two deer near Green- 
ville. R, W. Moore, ot Boston, has taken two near Sher- 
man. A. Rose, of Boston, has taken his two deer near the 
Katahdin Iron Works. The last bidletin, at the Food Pair 
in the Mechanics Building, records 574 deer over the Bangor 
& Aroostook Rttilroad, with eight moose, nine caribou and 
nine bear up to Oct. 31 
Mr. Bessee, of Boston, has just returned from a deer hunt- 
ing trip to Bemis, Me. He was accompanied by his brother 
wno sfiot his deer. W. B. Shedd, of Boston, has recentlv 
returned from a very successful hunting trip in the vicinity 
Mr. C, H. Cook, of Boston, writes, me ill regard to the 
hunting trip of two young men, Fred Rydstrom and Harry 
E. Greenlaw, aged nineteen and twenty, young men in hia 
store. They went in to Lake Moluneus and were gone about 
ten days. They had no guide and were very successful, each 
getting two deer and several partridges. They were very 
much pleased with the place. Each brought home a good- 
sized buck as a souvenir. This hunting trip is all the more 
remarkable when it is considered that two boys from a dry 
goods store, without previous experience, were able to get so 
much large game. Verily, every hunting region in the world 
must soon begin to pale before the wilds of Maine. 
Special. 
THE MENDOTA CLUB CASE. 
Madtson, Wis,, Oct. m.—mitor Forest and Stream: In- 
closed herewith I send you clipping fram local paper relating 
to a test suit whicn the Mendota Club has commenced to 
determine their right, on lands controlled by them. These 
lands are located across Lake Mendota, one of the lakes on 
which Madison borders, and the club house and grounds aro 
six miles distant, I sliall be pleased to keep you further 
informed. Rout. M. Lamp. 
caribou. They are greatly charmed with Maine hunting. 
The report reads: 
Duck hunters who have been in the habit for some time 
past of running their boats into the bunches of grass aud 
weeds which abound in the vicinity of the point where the 
Yahara River glides into Lake Mendota, on the north side of 
the lake, will await with interest and apprehension the out- 
come of a suit instituted by the Mendota Club against Otto 
Anderson, .Jr.. and John Niebuhr, for trespass on the grounds 
(jf the c!ub. The case came up Saturday before Court Com- 
missioner C. E. Buell on an application for an injunction to 
restrain them from future offenses in tbis -line. On motion 
cf the defendants, the hearicg of the case was postponed 
until Monday, Oct. 25, and a temporary it junetion was 
issued restraining them from trespassing io the precincts of 
which control is claimed by the club, pending the decision of 
the suit. 
The Mendota Club owns and leases 700 or 800 acres ad- 
joining the outlet of the Yahara, and lying on both sides of 
the stream. R. E. Replinger is president of the club, J. M. 
Thorp secretary, others of the twenty members being Hon 
R. M. Bashford, A. B. Morris, E M. Fuller, M. C. Clarke, 
Jerome D Clarke, P. K Conover, A. A, Mayers, F, M. 
Wootton, A. G. Park. The club claims control not only of 
the solid ground included in the property it owns or leases, 
but also of the stream itself, for the distance its lands extend 
on either side, and of what is now a portion of the lake. Ii 
ig stated that the old shore line, before the erection of a dam 
at the Robbins it Baliz-ll mill, was what is now a bar some 
diilance from the border of the shore. After the erection of 
the dam the low ground inside this bar was flooded for some 
distance, but the plaintiffs, the club, claim that this fact in 
no way interferes with their rights, and that they control all 
the section inside the bar, and extending up the stream to 
within a short distance from the Brickson bridge, and east 
and west from the asylum grounds to the Six Mile Creek. 
Under decisions of the Wisconsin ourts, sustained by the 
United States supreme court, they also claim control of the 
stream itself, so far as hunting and tishing are concerned, 
the question of navigability of the stream cutting no figure 
80 far as these rights are conceruKd. 
The club keeps watchmen employed to keep trespassers off 
their property, but say they have treated them with consider- 
able leniency in the past. Members now say that they propose 
to enforce their rights. 
The complaint i'u the caiie alleges that the defendants and 
other parties have at various times since 1893 gone upon their 
premises to shoot ducks, and that during the months of 
September and October, 1896 (when the lake was very low), 
went upon the diy land on their property for the same pur^ 
pose; it is further alleged that oa Sunday, Oct. 10, they 
declared to the president and other olbcers of the club that 
it was their purpose and intention to go upon the said 
premises whenever they saw lit, and to engage in shooting 
and hunting thereon, notwithstanding the warnings and 
protests of the plaintiff. 
Virginia Game Grounds. 
Surry, Va., Oct. 18.— The open season for both deer and 
turkey is now at hand, and will remain open until '98 (see 
Game Lavs in Brief). The past spring and summer were 
very dry, and in consequence the turkeys were not killed out 
as ttiey are during the wet seasons, so large flocks of them 
are abundant this fall. Partridges are also very plentiful, 
and will be shot this season notwithstanding the law passed 
by our last Legislature. A test case of the Jaw was recently 
madp, and it was decided that persons owning or controlling 
lands had the right to .shoot durii.g the usual open season. 
An effort will also be made to shorten the open season, and 
repeal the present law. 
Several deer have been killed already this season, and from 
all reports there seems to be a plenty of them for all bands 
to shoot at. 
For the information of your readers (as I have read several 
letters of inquiry), I will give them an estimale of the cost of 
a trip to this section, and how to reach it. Board and sleep, 
ing accommodations can usually be had at some faTmer'.s 
house for from $1 50 to $3 per day; and let me as.-ure yo i 
that while you don't have all the comforts aud luxuries of u 
city home, the farmers do all they can to make you enjoy 
yourself while with them. They don't want any game hcgj 
or roughs, but gentlemen can always be accommodated. A 
guide will cost about .*{;1 per day when needed ; but as a gen- 
eral thing, the farmer will guide the sportsman and make no 
charge. The best route here, if you are in a hurry, is to take 
the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railway, which 
connects at Old Point Comfort every Tuesday, Thursday and 
Saturday with the Virginia Navigation Co.'s steamer Poca- 
hontas, at 9 o'clock A. M,, arriving here about 11:30 A M, 
Od your way up the river you cross Hampton Roads, made 
famous by the fight of the iWlonilor and Merrimac, and pass 
Newport News, the terminus of tUe C, & O, Railway, at:d 
where the great dry dock and ship-building plant is located 
, A. B. G. 
A New Hampshire Deer. 
Berlin, N. H , Oct. 21 —In Groveton, N. H,, Oct. 15, 
Mr. John Manning shot and killed a buck deer that weighed 
3101b3., and dressed SSOlbs. The antlers had a spread of 24ln 
T. L. W. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each weeJe on iuesdav 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
atest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
