March 19, iSgS.j 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
22 7 
back nearly as fat as a goose. I have skinned a good 
i-nany, and never saw a poor one. 
I think that in the towns tiear here the goshawks ect 
nearly half of what the gunners leave, before spring; but 
still tlie fact remains that in old times the grouse held 
their own against all their wild enemies. It is the over- 
gunning which has so distnrbed nature's balance. The 
one great trouble is not altogether the number who gun, 
but their iislng dogs, If no one Would Use a dog, the 
grouse are so shy here that very few would be killed, 
and in time they would increase; but as it is, tlley Seem 
doomed soon to be surclv exterrfiinated in this vicinity. 
M. Hardy. 
Duck Shooting at Cttfi-itttcfc. 
CoiNjocK, Currituck County, ISI. C, March 10. — On 
Tuesday of this week, March 8, just as the sun came up 
out of the_ Atlantic, peeping through a gray mist, I 
looked up from my sink box and imniediately crouched 
down as low as possible, for there were eleven plump, 
fat, ruddy ducks heading exactly for my box. There were 
five reports, and six ducks lay dead on the water. I only 
had time to load one gun when another flock caine from 
the same direction, and two responded to the discharge 
of each load of No. Ss. It was a new way to hunt them, 
and I was so much pleased with the bag made I hasten 
to give it to all readers of the Forest anj? Stream, 
that they may profit by my experience. 
I simply place my sink box as near in the Hne_ of 
flight as possible, using no decoys at all. The wind 
was blowing from the east and the ducks flying north, 
so that almost every bunch gave me a side shot. It 
was fine sport, and our bag was a good one. The same 
day our neighbor, P. Ballance, who is perhaps the best 
shot in this section, killed 165, bagging lOO in one hour, 
having fired only 116 shots. 
The shooting at Currituck has been as good this sea- 
son as it has been any time during the past ten years, 
and game of all kinds is still abundant. Our season 
closes April i for ducks, geese and swan, but we have 
excellent bay bird shooting during April and May and 
again in Julj', August, September and October; in fact, 
we have good shooting at game in season eleven months 
in the year. I believe there is no other place on this 
continent where this is the case. CuRRiTUCic 
Game Destroyets Numerous. 
Dr. B. H. Warren, of the Pennsylvania Game Com- 
mission, in his annual report I^rings out one or two 
points which will surprise sportsmen and which will 
make clear to all why game birds have been decreasing 
so rapidly in some sections of the State. Dr. Warren 
shows that there are 42,000 foxes, 30,000 minks, 13,000 
Aveasels and 300 wildcats in the State, all of which are 
great game dcstroj^ers. — ComrnomveaUh. 
This all reads very smoothly in a report, but it does 
not cover the ground. How can Dr. Warren ex- 
plain the abundance of game birds of all kinds 
in Pennsylvania when, unhampered and in great 
numbers, wild animals roamed the forest wilds 
of this commonwealth? The insignificant ^ outfit 
of foxes, weasels and minks that yet remain are 
not the dangeraus enemies of game birds. It is the ruth- 
less slaughter by would-be sportsmen and the_ unrelent- 
ing warfare waged by the pot-hunter that is rapidly 
exterminating game birds in the Keystone State. — Me- 
cbanicshirg, Pa., Daily. 
Bears in the Catskills. 
Commenting on our recent remark that ^ "if a few 
years ago any one had predicted that the time would 
come in the Yellowstone Park when the bears would 
make a practice of coming up to the hotels to be fed, 
he would have been laughed at for a lunatic, yet at the 
present time this is seen daily during the season by 
crowds of astonished tourists." Mr. Charles Hallock 
writes: "When I was at the Catskills in 1894, Rush and 
I used to take the tenderfoots bear hunting out to the 
swill pile a mile back of the Kaaterskill Hotel. We never 
failed to find game; coons, too." 
Shooting at Chincoteague. 
Chincoteague, Va., March 12.— Geese are very plenty 
in Chincoteague Bay, with a good prospect of brant, 
shell duck and other species for the next two weeks, as 
these birds are now passing up from their Southern 
wintering grounds toward the North. T. G. Elliott. 
New York Game Law Bill. 
In the following paragraphs are noted the important amend- 
ments proposed in the Senate and Assembly to date this session: 
Sec 34. To empower any person to seize and destroy unlawtul 
nets; and to provide a bounty for their destruction. 
Sec. 40. To make open season for deer Oct. 1 to Oct. dl, in- 
clusive Sec. 41. To make season for possession Oct. 1 to JNov. 5. 
Sec. 42. To forbid killing does at any time. Sec. 44. To permit 
bounding during October. c 4- on n„^ 9n. f„ 
Sec 40 To make open season for deer Sept. 20 to Oct. 20, to 
forbid killing in the water; to limit a person to one deer m a 
•season. Sec. 41. To make season for sale of venison Sept. 20 
to Oct. 31; and to prohibit sale of venison killed within the 
States Sec. 44. To permit hounding from Sept. 20 to Oct. 20. 
':Sec. if). To limit transportation to one deer accompanied by 
owner. , . f ■ a nr 
Sec. 41. To make season for possession of venison Aug. 15 
to Nov. 20. . . , „ -u J . 
Sec. 48. To permit possession of moose., elk, caribou and ante- 
lope "for breeding purposes; also sale of the meat during season 
for possession of venison. , , . , , , 
Sec. 49. To remove protection from rabbits altogether; and 
to make' open season for black and gray squirrels Sept. 1 to 
Dec 15 
Sec. 51. A new section to forbid killing deer in Ulster, Greene, 
Delaware and Sullivan counties prior to 1902. 
Sec 58. A new section to make open season for hares and rab- 
bits Sept. 1 to March 15. ' ^ , u 
Sec. 71, To permit use of bough house for duck shooting on 
the ice. 
Sec. 72. To make open quail season Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Sec. 
73. Season for possession of quail Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. 
Sees. 74-76, 81. To make open season for woodcock and rufifed 
grouse Sept. 1 to Dec. 15; and forbidding taking by one person 
of more tlian thirty-six birds in a season. Possession allowed 
from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. Transportation forbidden between any 
points except that if accompanied by owner twelve may be car- 
ried at one time, or thirty-six in a year by one person. 
Sec. 70. To forbid for five yearfi-fiJcpeirt- ol wOodcoclk and ruffed 
grouse from Oswego county. 
Sec. 10!). To forbid export of brant from Osweg?0 county fdr 
five years. 
Sec. 75a. To make open sea.son for woodcock in CUnton, Essc.k 
and Warren counties Aug, 16 to Dec. 15. 
Sec. 78. To forbid wearing as article.s- al dress winga, feathers 
or plumage of wild birds. 
Sec. 108. To make open season for land-locked salmon in 
Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Putnam, Westches- 
ter and Richmond counties April 1 to June 30, inclusive. 
Sec. UO. To make open season for pickerel, pike, wall-eyed 
pike, April 10 to Jan. 31. 
Sec. 110. To make black bass open seas'on in Lake Geoga and 
Scliroon Lake Aug. 1 to Dec. 15. 
See, 114. To fix lawful .size of .salmon, land-locked salmon an.d 
lake txont at 15in. 
Sec. 182. To extend prohibition of netting within one mile of 
shore to waters of Lake Ontario in Jefferson GOtmty; also to re- 
move the penalty for violation of the section. 
Sec. 141. To permit fishing throngli the ice with hooks, lines, 
tip-ups or spears for pickerel, bullheads, catfish, eels, perch and 
sunfish in wafers inhabited bv black or Oswego bass. 
Sec. 142. To permit: "Pickerel, ptks, perch' and bullheads may 
be fished for through the ice with hooks and lines, tip-ups or bobs 
in Honeoye Lake, Canadicc Lake, Cone.sus Lake and Loon Lake 
m Steuben county." 
Sec. 143. To prohibit use of eel weirs and eel pots except as 
permitted by this section. 
Sec. 161. To forbid in Long Island waters killing wildfowl with 
any other than sliouldcr guns, or from any boat except propelled 
by hand. Sec. 162. To forbid use of floating devices in Long 
Island vvatcrs except in Long Island Sound, Great Soitth Bay 
west of .Smith's Point, Shinnecock and Peconic bays. 
Sec. 163. To make open season tor .snipe and shore birds on 
Long Island May 1 to Dec. 31. Sec. 164. To make close season 
tor rutted grouse and meadowlarks on Long Island Jan. 1 to Nov 
9 inclusive; woodcock Jan. 1 to July 31. Sec. 175. To" make 
close season for meadow hens on Long Island Dec. ]5 to Aug. 31 
hec 1/0 To forbid use of dogs in deer hunting on Long 
Island until 1902. 
Sec. 249, which permits sale of game the year around. To 
repeal it. 
ii,Iv^'''"i!''ri'''"^ P'^™''* ^^''^'"g^ muskallonge and billfish 
Ihiough the ice on Mondays and Tlnirsdavs only for five consecu- 
ll.L u T ^'T' ,Monday in January, Close season for black 
bof^r/Sd^^^!'5e?^to /^^f -uskallonge, except as herein- 
"That reminds me." ^ 
Another Snake Story. 
'%m, bring around the mare!" 
"Yes, boss; yes, sir." 
Sam was cook and butler for old Col. Barbor, as fat 
and jolly a banana planter 'as could be found in all Costa 
iMca. The colonel originally hailed from Florida, 
weighed 29o!bs., and was known among his friends as 
a good judge of Hquid refreslimcnts. 
The old mare was brought around to the front of the 
honse, where a substantial cement horse block had been 
built, for being so portly a man it was impossible for 
him to mount his horse from the ground. The mare 
was of somewhat the same proportions as the colonel, 
very rotund and a weight carrier. It was a rare thing 
for the colonel ever to piU her off a walk, consequently 
she was as fat as a butter ball. 
"Now, Sam, hold her head." 
And the colonel mounts and is off to inspect the plan- 
tation. 
The colonel, a bachelor, was afraid only of one thing 
on earth, and that was a snake, big or little alike. 
Perhaps an hour had elapsed when doAvn the road came 
the mare on a full gallop, the colonel dashing the spurs 
into her side at every jnmp. Sam had seen the- colonel 
coming, and he and the housekeeper had rushed out to 
see what was the matter. In the midst of a clatter of 
hoofs and a cloud of dust the colonel drew rein to the 
door, and ^ the first thing he said was, "Oh, Sam, I'm 
snake bit!" He was already pale, Jiis hat was gone, and 
he was trembling like a jelly. He was so weak that it 
took the united efforts of Sammy and the housekeeper to 
get him into the house. Then Sam broke down with 
grief. "Poor master is goin' to die," he wailed over 
and over again; and the housekeeper went into hysterics. 
"Sam! Oh, Sam! Give me some whisky— quick! 
Here are the keys." 
Sam took the keys and made a quick journey to the 
store room. The colonel kept two qualities of whisky, 
one for his especial use and one for the farm hands. 
Sam not knowing the difference between the two kegs 
drew out a tumbler full of the poorer quality of whisky 
and rushed back to the colonel, who took it at two 
gulps and called for more. Back to the store room 
rushed Sam to draw off more, not forgetting to take a 
nip himself. So they gave the old man enough whisky 
to have intoxicated three men. About this time word had 
reached one or two of the neighbors that the poor old 
colonel had been snake bitten, and two of the men had 
■ ridden up to see if they could be of any assistance. One 
gentleman had brought a bottle of fine old Scotch whisky 
with him, the better half of which he insisted upon the 
colonel's taking. The colonel was already half tight, 
and after the Scotchman was gone his condition may be 
imagined rather than described. 
Under this trCEitment it was not long before the colonel 
would allow the removal of his riding boot, and he was 
so happy; he did not seem to care whether he was snake 
bitten or not. The doctor had been sent for, but had not 
arrived; still it had seemed best to remove the boot. 
The colonel begged for one more drink of whisky, Vhich 
was given him. On the outside of the boot were found 
marks of the teeth of the snake; but examining his leg 
as closely as they could they could find no marks of any 
bite. The snake had bitten his boot, but the fangs had 
not penetrated to the flesh at all. It was nevertheless 
doubtless true that the colonel would have died of fright 
if he had not been given the whisky. As the case turned 
out it was a lucky thing the doctor had been sent for, 
for the colonel would undoubtedly have died from the 
effects of the bad whisky poured down his throat in such 
unlimited ciuantities; ^and it was all the doctor could do 
to bring him back to his original state of health. 
The colonel did not show himself for some d^iy^ after 
this experience, and to this day always leaves the room 
if any one starts to tell a snake story. 
Frederick S. Lyivean;. 
GosTA Rica, 
Fishing Up and Down the Potomac. 
Chub at Foar-Mile Ron. 
Twelve tnileS away by traili^ six as th& crow flies, 
nestled in the Virginia hills, is Carlyn Springs, now 
called Glen Carlyn, where the train drops you to a 
cinder path, alongside a pretty babbling brook, which 
ought to be a trout stream, but probably isn't. . 
Mr. Jesse Middleton, Avho has lived at its mouth for 
a dozen years, and fished some part of it nearly every 
day of the season, has had in recent years three con- 
signments of trout placed in the inviting watei's; one 
of California, one of brook, and one of rainbow; and 
till now none have been found afterward. Each season 
some one reports a new fish somewhere up the creek, 
hopes are revived, and each trip brings some disappoint- 
men so far as trout are concerned. Just now a report 
brings the welcome ncAvs that trout have been seen, 
and within a fortnight another effort will probably be 
made to verify the rumor. How fortunate for the angler 
that hope springs eternal, and all that. With us, in- 
deed, it is a hardy perennial. 
It will be something of a triumph to secure a trout 
from this stream. What a generous flow of "I told you 
so's" will follow. 
The bed of the brook Is rock; its waters clear, cold 
and clean; but when the little trout drop down from 
its shallow course for the winter they may get lost, or 
die in the muddy marsh at its mouth. 
But troitt are not an indispensable necessity for a 
pleasant day along its winding course and shady banks. 
It is in most seasons chock full of chub, or fall-fish, as 
tliey are mostljr called south. Those who have ever had 
a successful day with a fly among the chub, large, 
plenty and hungry, will never thereafter begrudge a kind 
word for the sport. 
We have made this trip, walking down to the mouth 
of the stream, whipping it all the way, a good many 
times, and made some good catches in the ripples and 
pools, and found each day pleasanter than the last. 
Before the train is out of sight we are fitting our rods, 
and commenting on the stage and state of the water 
and the probabilities of a good day. 
'To most anglers this would be considered very in- 
ferior sport, but one gets his day in the woods, with 
the sunshine and shadows, the singing water, and the 
birds, with all the fullness he would on a salmon river, 
and perhaps less interference with the thorough enjoy- 
ment of it all. 
But the fishing itself may be a delight. Canon Kings- 
ley, in his charming "Chalk Stream Studies," has apo- 
theosized the chub in such a glowing tribute, as an ob- 
ject of sport, as must convince any reader of its at- 
tractions. To quote him will shift the responsibiliti'es 
of championship to worthier shoulders. 
"Very good sport they give, in my opinion, in spite 
of the contempt in which they are commonly held, as 
chicken-hearted fish who show no fight. True! but their 
very cowardice makes them the more difficult to catch; 
for no fish must you keep more out of sight, and farther 
off. The veiy shadow of the line (not to mention that 
of the rod) sends them fljang to cover; and they rise 
so cautiously and quietly that they give excellent lessons 
in patience and nerve to a beginner. 
"If the fly is dragged along the surface, or jerked sud- 
denly from them, they flee from it in terror; and when 
they do, after due deliberation, take it in, their rise is 
so quiet that you can seldom tell whether your fish 
weighs J'alb. or 4541bs. * * * No fish, therefore, will 
better teach the beginner the good old lesson 'not to 
frighten a fish before you have tired him.' " 
He suggests the large palmers for flies, the larger 
and rougher the better, and the best of all — the imitation 
of the black beetle, called the 'undertaker' in the London 
shops. 
He admits, however, they are not fine eating, and 
gives a ridiculous description of a very fair imitation 
of a cooked chub — a sperm candle, wick and all, stuft'ed 
with needles and split bristles, and stewed in ditch 
water. 
Our experiences have not been exactly like his. We 
have found the chub, rather a sudden biter when he 
comes at all; impulsive rather than deliberative; but 
if he misses the fly by first intention, whether he be 
pricked or not, you may as well try the next pool. He 
is far more wary than either trout or bass, and like op- 
portunity, knocks but once at any man's door. 
With a fly, the swift water is to be preferred; always 
the foot of a fall, but many times upon a shallow riffle, 
with but a skim of water purling over the shingle, when 
every shiny pebble is plain, and apparently no possible 
shelter for a fish — a big one comes from somewhere 
and gathers in the fly as it touches the water; the 
broken surface which breaks his view of the angler may 
hide him too, but it seems impossible, and has always 
been one of the mysteries to us. 
And so we start on our tramp down the stream, and 
thereby do violence to the teachings of half the anglers 
who have written on the subject; they say you must 
fish up. The other half say down all right, 
"But there is one great error in fly-fishing as usually 
practiced, and as recommended to be practiced by books, 
and that is that the angler 'fishes down' stream, whereas 
he should 'fish up.' " 
Thus wrote W. C. Stewart in Pennell's Fishing Gossip 
in i866. 
In the American Angler's Guide, the first edition of 
which was issued in 184.5, and the author's name appear- 
ing for the first time in the fifth edition in 1876, John 
J. Brown refers to the controversy already old: "There 
is much diversity of opinion about the manner of fishing, 
whether up or down the stream; the great majority of 
anglers, both in Europe and this country, favor the latter, 
and very few the former." 
Kingslej' says: "The next mistake, natural enough to 
the laziness of fallen man, is that of fishing down stream 
and not up." 
Our Ned Buntline says: "Always, if possible, fish 
down strearn; it is easier. You can detect swirls, eddies, 
