208 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
tMAECH 12, fSgS. 
the inside. It is very warm and is thick, but soft and 
pliable. The way to wear it is to put a pair of wool 
socks on first, then the German socles, then overshoes, 
rubbers or moccasins. Unless one had very large rubber 
boots he could hardly wear them over these socks. A 
more suitable sock for this purpose would be a heavy 
knit one. I once purchased the German socks of Mont- 
gomery Ward & Co., Chicago, but later learned that 
they were not carrying them, although they may be do- 
ing so now. I think M. F. Kennedy & Bros., of St. 
Paul, could supply them. They are more apt to be 
found in the Northern towns where the lumbermen out- 
fit, although not all "lumbermen's socks" are the real 
German socks to which I have earlier referred. 
Mr. J. H. Pierce, of Hebron, W. Va., called at. the 
Forest and Stream office to-day. He is on his way to 
Seattle, Wash., and expects to go thence to the gold 
country of the Klondike. May he have the best of luck. 
E. Hough. 
Making the Most of It. 
Nate and I had agreed one evening while watching the 
snowflakes come floating gently down to try for a jack 
rabbit the next morning. The jack rabbit is rather a 
scarce article in this vicinity, yet Nate had secured sev- 
eral already this winter and thought he knew a locality 
where more might be found. I was not greatly in want 
of a jack rabbit, but was glad of any excuse to try my 
new gun stock. The stock as sent out from the fac- 
tory had only a drop of about 2j/^in., which obliges a 
man of my height (6ft. 4in.) to draw his neck somewhat 
in the shape of a letter S to take aim along the barrel. 
Fearing I might acquire a permanent crook in my neck, 
to say nothing of the inconvenience of so straight a 
stock, I had made a stock to suit my own notions, as 
well as to fit my elongated neck. This stock has a 
very decided pistol grip and a drop at the heel of 4in. 
It was a lovely morning, just cold enough so the new- 
ly fallen snow lay on the ground without thawing. A 
drive of a couple of miles in Nate's cutter behind a good 
horse brought us where we expected to find jack rabbit 
signs. After hunting over cornfields and meadows for 
over an hour without so much as finding a jack track, 
we concluded to follow the editorial advice on the first 
page of Forest and Stream of Jan. 15, entitled "Making 
the Most of It." And so we drove about a mile further 
east, where we knew there were a goodly number of cot- 
tontails in a large weed patch of some five acres extent. 
Nate went through one side of the patch and I par- 
allel with him through the other side. The fun com- 
menced at once, and in an hour we had twenty-one rab- 
bits. As we did not want all the rabbits in the country 
we quit and drove to East Indian Creek, and we started 
up the stream. The first thing to attract attention was 
a wolf track, which we followed 200yds., when it turned 
toward the heavier timber. Knowing it was useless to 
follow the wolf track, we went on to the spring, about 
a quarter of a mile from the road, where we had tied the 
horse. 
This spring, known to all the old settlers as the 
Johnson's Grove spring, has been flowing steadily to 
the knowledge of the oldest settler for over .forty years. 
The water bubbles up from a slight depression in the 
creek bank, not more than 40ft. back from the creek. 
Ten years ago, while standing by the spring one sum- 
mer day, watching the bubbles float on the water a short 
distance and then burst, the question came up in ray 
mind as to what made the bubbles. When I put a lighted 
match to a floating bubble there was a miniature flash, 
such as would be made by a grain of gunpowder when 
ignited. The bubbles were evidently caused by escaping 
gas from the depths of the earth. The water standing 
in little puddles along the margin of the stream bore on 
its surface an oily coating. The spring still flows and 
bubbles, and even in the dead of winter the oil shows on 
the sitrface of the puddles. Who knows but some day 
this region may develop into a great gas field? There 
have been other good gas indications along this stream, 
and about eight miles south from the spring a number 
of years ago a man boring for water struck a flow of 
gas at a depth of about 70ft., which he utilized for sev- 
eral years for heating and cooking purposes. There has 
never been any prospecting done in this locality with 
a view of finding gas in large quantities, but that it does 
exist I am satisfied. 
On our return to the cutter we added four more rab- 
bits to the pile, making an even twenty-five. As fifteen 
of this number had fallen to my gun, I announced to 
Nate the fact that I had reached my limit. Nate not 
wishing to hunt more we started for home. My new gun 
stock seems to fit all o. k., as I killed fifteen raljbits, mis- 
sing only two. John C. Briggs. 
Nevada, la. 
New York Game Law. 
PiROPOSED amendments to the game laws of the State 
of New York, recommended by the New York State 
Fish, Game and Forest League, at its annual meeting 
held at Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1897, which are respect- 
fully submitted to our Representatives in the State Leg- 
islature, and all others who are interested in game and 
fish protection, are: 
Sec. 34. A new section to give protectors a right of 
search, in case they have reasonable cause to believe 
that fish or game have been illegally taken, or held in 
possession out of season. Without this power they can- 
not untie a bag string. 
Sec. 41. To amend it to agree with Sec. 40, which 
permits the possession of venison up to Nov. 10, while 
Sec. 41 makes it illegal after Nov. i. Sec. 40 was amend- 
ed without changing Sec. 41. 
Sec. 49. Squirrels and Rabbits.— To shorten the open 
season (making it Sept. 15 to Dec. 31) for protection. 
Sec. 74. Grouse and Woodcock. — To make open sea- 
son from Sept. IS to Dec. 31, for protection. 
Sec. 79. To make the same open season for meadow- 
larks. By these amendments the open seasons of sec- 
tions 49, 74 and 79 are uniform. 
Sec. 110. Black Bass. — To make open season June 
15 to Oct. 31. Very few fish for bass after Nov. i, but 
the season is kept open. This enables the netters to 
,sell their bass through Nove^iber and December. Bass 
are growing scarcer, and artificial propagation is as yet 
a failure. By saving adult fish in the fall (November 
and December) we will have just so many more spawners 
in the spring. For twenty years only two things have 
been done to protect this noble fish: making the Sin. 
limit, which is good, and making the season to open 
June 15 instead of May 30, vdiich is also good, but this 
is better than all. 
Sec. III. To make the limit of bass gin. instead of 
8. In Canada and the St. Lawrence it is 10. Another 
good uiove for protection. 
Sees. 117, 118. To repeal the sections as to fishways 
and signboards. These sections are merely a surplus- 
age in the law. No attention is ever paid to them. They 
are valueless. They should be weeded out. 
Sec. 134. To make meshes of nets in Lake Ontario 
2in. bar instead of i^. Millions of 3'oung whitefish 
weighing only about J^lb. are now taken. By increas- 
ing the size of mesh they will weigh at least lib. The 
"babies" cannot then be taken. 
Sees. 149, 151. To repeal those parts permitting gen- 
eral licensed netting. It has proven a failure. 
Sec. 155. _ To establish a system of bounties for nets 
seized. It is a good idea. A few old nets may be turned 
in for the bounties, but the supply cannot last forever. 
It should pass as a measure of protection against illegal 
netting. The ^irotectors need its assistance. 
Sec. 234. To be amended so as to permit a verdict 
for only one penalty for the first offense. Throughout 
the State case after case has been lost by a jury bringing 
in a verdict of "no cause of action." The penalties are 
too heavy with a body execution behind them. It is 
believed that by giving this discretionary power many 
more favorable verdicts can be had and much more good 
be done. 
Sec. 249. To repeal it. It permits a cold storage man 
to keep and sell game the year round, in season or out 
of season, if he can only show it came from a place 300 
miles from the State line. This is very easy to do. 
We ask the careful consideration and support of the 
foregoing nrooosed arftendments by all our Representa- 
tives in the Legislature, since they have the unqualified 
indorsement of all true sportsmen, and all others who 
have any regard whatever for the protection of fish and 
gair.e. 
In submitting and recommending these proposed 
amendments it has been the particular aim of this Asso- 
ciation to eliminate all local provisions, to the end that 
the fisheries, game and forest law may be made more 
uniform, intelligible and comprehensive in its terms and 
of universal application throughout this State. 
We have diligently sought to properly and efficiently 
protect fish by commending the abolition of all spearing 
and netting in the inland waters. 
Above all we most earnestly recommend the absolute 
repeal of Sec. 249 of the fisheries, game and forest law, 
which is a blot upon and a blight to all game protective 
interests. 
We firmly believe that these recommendations of 
amendments are wise and wholesome, and that their 
adoption will secure just and proper protection to our 
fish and game, and we therefore urge you to give them 
your earnest and hearty support. 
W. S. Gavitt, Pres. 
Ernest G. Gould, Sec'y. 
Caribou in Newfoundland* 
St. John's, Newfoundland, Feb. 20.— The following 
clipping from a Newfoundland paper will give the read- 
ers of Forest and Stream a pretty fair idea of how 
plentiful this noble animal is in the island, and how it is 
being sacrificed: 
"This time the Virginia Lake went up to White Bay 
after venison, and 600 carcases were brought on 
board. Never before have so many caribou been seen 
or heard of in that direction; by day they can be descried 
browsing like cattle on the hills, while one can go a 
mile in froin the sea, and cross herds of hundreds. The 
winter is evidently very severe in the interior, and these 
are driven to the coast in quest of food. From Con- 
naigre Bay to Fortune Bay herds of thousands have 
been seen, and only about eight or ten miles inside 
Burgeo whatever number are recjuired can be killed with 
ease. In the bottom of the bays they have come to the 
very winter-tilt doors, and one man is reported to have 
shot a large stag while it was looking in his door. Under 
such circumstances the people are not short of fresh 
meat, and the 600 carcasses brought here will make veni- 
son a cheap article for the next fortnight." 
The markets are blocked off with venison as a result, 
and it is quoted as low as 3 cents per pound. It is pro- 
hibited to kill deer after Feb. i till July 15, or from Oct. 
9 till Oct. 20_ in each year. The fishermen and poor 
settlers organize hunting parties, and not only secure 
venison enough for their own consumption, but also 
send large quantities to St. John's for sale. Notwith- 
standing the numbers slaughtered every year, there does 
not appear to be any great diminution in the herds. Of 
course such wholesale slaughter will soon have the ef- 
fect of exterminating the species. Sportsmen are al- 
lowed to kill and take three stags and two does, and as 
this latter class only hunt during the late summer and 
autumn months, and hunt then for "heads," they do not 
afifect the herds very much. These deer are all killed 
near the water line, so that the immense deer parks in 
the interior of the island fortunately remain untrodden. 
W. J. Carroll. 
Maine Deer m Boston Mafket, 
Boston, March 7, 1.898. — When your correspondent, 
Mr. Hardy, declares that Maine big game is wintering 
well, and attempts to convey the impression that little, 
if any, hunting of deer in the deep snows is going on, I 
am satisfied that he is talking about that of which he is 
not well informed. If he had been with me Thursday, on 
a trip through the Boston markets, I could have shown 
him the saddles of at least a dozen deer, freshly killed. 
Then he might have asked the marketmen where they 
came from. Did they come from Maine? He would 
have been answered, as I was, "We don't know where 
they came from." Then he might have believed such a 
statement, or have granted that they did not come from 
Maine. Earlier in the day he might have encountered 
a team with the same deer on board. He might have 
asked the teamster where he got them, and would have 
been answered: "Down 't th' wharf." Going to the 
wharf and making inquiries, he might be able to find that 
the deer came by coasting schooner. Why Mr. Hardy 
should wish it to appear that there is no illegal deer 
shooting going on in Maine, and especially in Washing- 
ton county, I am at a loss to understand. If the Com- 
missioners do not believe that the game is suffering 
from the poachers, why have they issued an appeal to 
the registered guides? Why have they started all their 
wardens off into the woods on snowshoes? 
If Mr. Hardy will conle to Boston, and marketmen 
will talk to him as they will talk to me, he will be con- 
vinced that at least fifty deer, illegally killed, have been 
received here during February and up to date in March. 
Had Mr. Hardy been here the other day I would have in- 
troduced him to a gentleman right from the Maine 
woods, where the snow is more than 5ft. deep on a level. 
Lumbering is going on there, and the gentleman would 
have told Mr. Hardy that the deer are badly stranded 
by the snow, and in the struggle for existence they fre- 
quently get down into the lumber road. Ahead of the 
men and teams they have run two or three times along 
the road nearly down to the settlement; then, jumping 
to one side in the snow, they have floundered for a few 
minutes, then given up and been approached by the 
men, who have left them a Avisp of hay. This they have 
most hungrily devoured. Special. 
The Boston Exposition* 
Everybody is talking about the big Sportsmen's Show 
to be given by the New England Association in the Me- 
chanics building in Boston, March 14 to 26, which, 
with its six acres of floor space and its elegant appoint- 
ments, is undoubtedly the finest and best equipped show 
building in the country. Daily accessions to the game 
park are being reported, many magnificent specimens of 
moose, elk, deer and caribou coming from Maine and 
New Brunswick, while the game of the famous Corbin 
preserve at Newport, N. H., have been placed at the 
disposal of the Association by their generous and public- 
spirited owners. From Canada, New Brunswick, Nova 
Scotia and Newfoundland come reports of elaborate exr 
hibits demonstrating the fish and game resources of those 
countries, including many superb specimens of the 
larger game animals and several fine mounted collec- 
tions. 
The artificial lake occupies the Center of Grand Hall, 
and will contain 220,000 gallons of water. Its shores 
slope gently from the level of the floor, and are fringed 
with moss, rocks and shrubbery, thus enhancing its 
realistic effect. On this lake various aquatic contests 
will occuf, including expert canoeing by thoroughbred 
Indians, tiigs-of-war, swimming, diving, upset races, 
etc., each day's programme being varied and interesting. 
The lake will also serve for the demonstration of 
launches, ducking boats, kayaks and other craft of in- 
terest to sportsmen, and here also the art of life-saving 
will be illustrated by expert swimmers and divers. 
The entire area of the stage in Grand Hall has been 
metamorphosed into an Indian camp, scenic and real- 
istic beyond anything hitherto attempted, where Indian 
braves, squaws and pappooses, all wearing the primitive 
garments of savage life, will be found engaged in making 
snares, traps, weapons and canoes, and otherwise en- 
gaged in daily toil and occupation. Log cabins, tents 
and shelters will greet the visitor at frequent intervals, 
all practically equipped and occupied by guides and 
hunters; and echoing through the building will be heard 
game calls of all kinds by skilled huntsmen, spetially 
engaged for this purpose. 
Game birds from all sections of the country will also 
be seen to the best advantage, many of the species being 
practically unknown east of the Mississippi, and will be 
shown for the first time at any public exhibition in this 
city. These will include mallard, black, sprig-tail and 
canvasback ducks, and wood duck, the most elegantly 
plumaged game bird in America; American blue-wing 
and American and European green-wing teal; brant, 
snow, blue snow, white-pointed and Canada geese; Vir- 
ginia (Bob White) and California mountain and valley 
quail; prairie chicken, ruffed grouse, and a fine collec- 
tion of pheasants— Chinese, Japanese, Wallachian, golden, 
English, ring-neck, white, silver, and manv rarer kinds, 
including the tragopans. 
_ An event of interest to sportsmen was the recent ar- 
rival of a lot of live mountain quail, which made the 
journey across the continent, and are in excellent condi- 
tion. This collection of birds will be viewed with great 
interest by New England sportsmen, most of whom will 
see this species of quail for the first time at the Sports- 
men's Show. 
An extensive exhibit of live game fish will be made 
with the co-operation of the United States Commission- 
ers at Washington, who are sending a large number of 
mammoth glass tanks in which a great variety of the 
finest game fish of the country will be exhibited. There 
will also be a thoroughly equipped fish hatchery, which 
will prove .of the greatest interest to students of fish life, 
not less than to the great army of anglers. Many of the 
specimens of live fish will be of noble size, and will in- 
clude landlocked salmon, lake and brook trout, rainbow 
trout and large and small-mouth black bass. 
The rifle and revolver competitions bid fair to prove 
of great interest, a number of prominent organizations 
and individuals having already entered. Among the 
crack teams who will compete will be one from the 
Brooklyn Revolver Club, another from the Massachu- 
setts Rifle Association, and still another from the Smith ^ 
& Wesson Revolver Club, of Springfield. Mass., who 
will represent America in the international tournament 
at Bisley next summer. The trophies for these competi- 
tions are very rich and elegant, being of sterling silver, 
with buckhorn handles, and mounted on ebony bases! 
Mr. F. B. Crowninshield, whose skill in handling the 
revolver is so widely known, is personally in charge of 
these competitions. 
An art gallery, devoted exclusively to exhibits of ama-" 
teur photography incidental to sportsmanship, bids fair 
to prove a most deliffhtful feature, and is under the di- 
rection of Mr. Joseph Prince Loud, president of the 
Boston Camera Club. 
