July 23, 1898.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
69 
Florida's Game Wealth. 
The foolish course pursued by the State of Florida in 
permitting the natural game resources to be destroyed 
without reason has been a subject of comment in these 
columns. An interesting personal experience illustra- 
tive of the changed conditions on the East Coast is re- 
lated by Dr. G. E. Hill, who, in a communication to 
the Indian River Advocate, contrasts an excursion in 
1890 and experiences in the same country in 1898. 
Eight years ago, he writes, my son and I came to 
see the Indian River. We boarded the steamer St. 
Sebastian, which was then in command of Capt. S. A. 
Bravo, on the second trip she had ever made on the 
river. This is what 'we saw on the trip: The Indian 
River in April is so covered with wild ducks that they 
would only part to let the boat pass. Through the Nar- 
rows, as the boat came to them, we saw thousands of fish, 
shark, sea bass, trout, cavalli, and occasionally a pom- 
pano skipping the water like a deer. On the banks of 
the river we saw alligators and coons. I stood on the 
bow of the boat for hours to see the fish, ducks and 
other birds. Pelicans by the hundreds, cranes, majors, 
herons and plumed birds. Oh! it was a grand sight! 
Four years ago I went down on a boat with a party 
of friends to Lake Worth; and I had nearly as pleasant a 
trip as before. 
Two years ago I went down on the same boat, but the 
scenery had changed ; the frost, gamester and fisherman 
had all been there. I returned home and with a party of 
people took a sail boat and made the trip to Jupiter. 
We went from there to Lake Worth on the old hand-car. 
I hired the mail boat that ran to Lantana to take me up 
the canal. I saw gators and all kinds of game. At 
Lantana my wife and I took a mule team and drove to 
Biscayne Bay. We saw game, gators, and a panther 
that was killed not over a mile from our camp that 
night. The fishing was great. We stayed at New 
River with the Indians a week. We had a fine trip; Lake 
Worth and West Lake Worth were on a boom. 
My son and I, with our wives and a party of friends, 
boarded the same steamer, St. Sebastian, at Indianola, 
about March 15, 1898. Capt. Joe Smith in command, 
and went to Lake Worth. We had a fine time; there 
were a good many people on the boat, and I could not 
help noticing how eager they were to see a poor little 
lone flock of ducks. Some had guns, some fishing poles 
in their baggage. As the boat neared Pelican Island we 
saw a few pelicans. We stood on the bow of the boat 
going through the Narrows, where I used to see thou- 
sands of fish jumping to get out of the way; and down 
near Jupiter, on the flats, where there were so many to 
be seen in the shallow water. Where are they now? 
In the far distance we saw the St. Augustine and 
watched her coming up, for we had nothing else to do. 
But what of her? That was not what we were looking 
for, we see steamboats by the hundreds in the North. 
It was a novelty for a while to go through the canal, 
but were soon tired. We had a good time at the 
hotels at Lake Worth. We went to Miami and saw a 
mammoth hotel and fine grounds that have been made 
in two years. What of them? We can see them in the 
North. We hired a launch, went up the river and caught 
one little lone mackerel. We saw Flagler, Plant and their 
party come from Nassau. What of that? We have seen 
them before. On our return home we saw on the 
boat two little deer and they took on two pelicans near 
the island. Where were they going? 
Instead of having pompano for the people on board to 
eat, they had some other fish. It used to be the pride of 
the boat to have pompano on the table every meal. 
Where are they? 
At Indianola, four years ago, I was invited to go 
with the cowboys to round up their cattle. What did I 
see? Seven deer the first day. Plenty of signs of bear, 
sandhill cranes by the dozen, white and blue spotted 
cranes, blue herons, plume birds, hundreds of gators, 
ducks and quail. It was a pleasing sight. The cattle 
were all over the island and in fine order. You all know 
the Merritt's Island beef brings more than any other 
in Florida, on account of their pasture, and the cattle 
can get plenty of water. Where did they get it? Out of 
the gator holes. They had the instinct to locate the 
water and locate themselves in it. 
The same two cowboys that invited me four years 
ago to go with them invited me again this year. They 
had, as they supposed, a few head of cattle left up there, 
and they had seen signs of a bear when they were up 
before. We were a party of four, with a pair of good 
hounds. Saddling the horses early, we rode hard until 
after the sun had begun to sink low in the west. Our 
horses and dogs had had no water since we left the set- 
tlement. Where we expected to find water in the gator 
holes the gators were gone and we found none. We 
saw many skeletons and at last found where a gator 
had once lived; so Mr. Nisbet said he would get off and 
try to find water, and we would camp there, but we could 
go up around the hammock and see if we could find a 
bear. We found neither bear nor cattle, and did not 
get back to camp until after dark. Water had been 
found by digging 6ft. Luckily we had carried a spade. 
The horses were saddled early next morning, and that 
day we saw a half-grown deer, but no bear, two small 
alligators, ten dead cows (I mean we saw their skele- 
tons), and in every case bv the old gator holes, where 
they once had gotten water ; they had looked and looked 
in vain for it until they perished. We saw twenty-five 
skeletons of gators in one place, ranging from 1 to 13ft. 
This is what we did not see: Ducks, sandhill cranes, 
or, in fact, birds of any kind, except now and then a 
blackbird or a king bird. I do not think I saw a 
dozen in all; -why? No w r ater. 
One thing that took me on this trip was to see about 
investing money in cattle. The cattle range on Mer- 
ritt's Island, the same as in other places in Florida, is 
spoiled, except for men who have means to put down 
artesian wells. Four years ago, men on the Indian River 
did not come to me to borrow money. How many have 
come to me this year? Too many. How glad T would 
be to help them all out, and how easy it could be done 
now. 
The freeze could not be helped, neither could the dry 
weather. But the people all over Florida, especially 
those along the Indian River or back from jt, can raj§e 
all the money they wish, pay it back and still have 
plenty of means. 
How? I will tell you. Wait a minute and listen, My 
son, our wives and I have been born in this world lov- 
ers of wild scenery and the love to hunt for it; We 
love all kinds of game, to have and pet them. We 
love horses and all kinds of animals, to see and care 
for them. It has cost us thousands of dollars, be- 
cause we were born so. We have been nearly all over 
the United States, from Maine to Mexico, and from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific, to see the country and the game 
in it. We have been on the Rocky Mountains, on the 
plains, have shot the buffalo and chased and shot the 
antelope; fished in the streams of the Kennedy and the 
famous trout streams of Telia, under the Pacific slope. 
My son last fall killed, no doubt, the largest moose that 
has ever been taken out of the State of Maine. Why did 
he go there? To shoot a moose. Why were they 
there? The laws protect them. You have but a short 
time to hunt, about six weeks, and then it is so cold 
no one can stand it any longer. There is a fine and 
six months in jail to kill a cow moose, and the same 
penalty for killing more than one male. 
In Newfoundland you have to pay a game warden or 
authorities one hundred dollars to kill a moose. 
I was invited last fall to go to North Carolina to 
shoot geese, swans and ducks. We drove from Virginia 
beach thirty miles, and every foot of that country was 
leased by clubs. The Swan Island Club costs $t,ooo 
to join and at that price they will take no more. No one 
can get in now. unless some member dies. Two hun- 
dred miles below that is the same kind of land, all leased 
only for hunting. 
The game law is the same all over the country. All 
lands of any account are leased by the property owners 
at a big price only for the privilege of hunting and 
fishing. The city people are. crazy to get away for an 
outing, and they are willing to join hunting or fishing 
clubs and will pay for it. 
If this river, if Florida was protected, this would 
be the most valuable land in the world. Why? Because 
we have the climate, the best in the world, and it comes 
at the right time. In the north in the winter the people 
must get out of it and they like to see these things; if they 
cannot get them they are satisfied just to see them. 
Protect your game and give them a rest for five years 
and as soon as that law is passed I can rent your land. 
You would have the use of it the same as now. I 
could form clubs in this country the same as others. 
You could borrow money and pay it from the rent. Sup- 
pose the same club would like you to see to it and keep 
them when they come down. 
The flock of ducks that I saw in Titusville eight years 
ago and what I saw going down the Indian River has 
caused me to spend over $iS,ooo on the banks of the In- 
dian River at Indianola. 
Men, women and children, I beg you all to protect 
your game — fish, alligators, birds and every wild living 
thing that Florida supports. Put in men that will 
look the question squarely in the face; men who are not 
afraid to act; put in wardens who wrll work without pay, 
only the actual cost; put your wardens at such places 
that they will know what is going on. There is not a 
lover of hunting but what will help support this if they 
look at it right. If you do not act and act quick, Florida 
will be a thing of the past. 
I have deer, squirrels, otters, coons, gators and plenty 
of animals on my place. I have never shot even a 
deer in Florida, they will do for me just to look at and 
the pleasure of seeing others look at them, for they 
expect to see them when they come to Florida. You can 
count on me to help protect the game with both time and 
money. Who will see me and go me one better? 
The "Forest and Stream's n Platform Plank* 
State of Minnesota, Board of Game and Fish Com- 
missioners, St. Paul, Minn. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I appreciate the grand work Forest and -Stream is do- 
ing for the cause of game and fish protection. 
You certainly exert a great influence throughout the 
country, and we appreciate the help we receive from 
Forest and Stream here in Minnesota. We are doing 
what we can to stop the illegal traffic, and hope the dav 
will come when Forest and Stream's platform— to stop 
the sale of game — will be in operation in every State in 
the Union. 
I fully believe Minnesota will adopt it in the near 
future. We have some sterling men in Minnesota who 
are convinced of its efficacy, and as they are men of 
influence and good standing in their respective communi- • 
ties, the good seed they are sowing will certainly bear 
fruit. 1 ■' 
I wish to thank you again most heartily for your 
editorial in regard to the decision rendered by our Su- 
preme Court. Such articles encourage men who are 
trying to enforce the law, making them feel their efforts 
are appreciated. 
Sam F. Fullerton, Executive Agent. 
Norway Game Statistics. 
In Norway a careful account is kept of the big game 
killed. The average annual score for five years, 1889- 
1893, was 1,122 elk and 501 reindeer. In 1894 the scores 
were: 1,262 elk, 760 reindeer, 84 red deer. In 1895: 970 
elk. 865 reindeer, 146 red deer. In 1896: 991 elk, 942 
reindeer, 138 red deer. 
Said Jno. E. Gunckel one day recently when charged 
with possessing a fisherman's reputation for veracity, "I 
want to say one thing to you gentlemen ; I had an experi- 
ence in the Lucas county courts once which not one of 
you ever enjoyed nor probably ever will, either. I was 
subpoenaed as a witness in an important case, and upon 
being called to testify raised my right hand to be sworn, 
as is the custom. 'Never mind swearing, Mr. Gunckel,' 
said the presiding judge smilingly to the court clerk — 
•he's a fisherman and couldn't tell a lie!' My testimony 
virtually decided the case, too. Now if any gentleman 
present has that sort of a reputation, speak up, or forever 
hold your peace,"?— Tpjedo Bee, 
gdm^gin glickerings. 
"That reminds me." 
Eagletown and Cranetown. 
Havre de Grace, Md. — The newspapers in Uncle 
Sam's country are full to the top and boiling over with 
war, and, I have been led to hunt up some old war his- 
tories. I found one that I thought perhnps might be a. 
little interesting to the ihany readers of Forest and 
Stream. It records a very remarkahle war that took 
place in this country as far back as April, 1719. 
The combat was fought between two families 
of large birds, both well-known natives of this 
country. It appears that at that time there was 
a large track of heavy timber land located in the 
southern part of Harford county, Md., bordering 
on the Chesapeake Bay, the woods being divided about 
the center by a small creek. One side was occupied 
by the great American eagle family as a rendezvous, 
where they built their nests and raised their young 
families. This rendezvous has always during my re- 
collection gone by the name of Eagletown or Eagle 
Swamp; and during the nestling season it was dangerous 
for man or beast to trespass in Eagletown. 
The other half of the woods was occupied by a large 
family of blue cranes, for the same purpose; and to this 
day it goes by the name of Cranetown. Although both 
of these families of birds have always been considered 
great fighters, they lived as near neighbors in peace for 
T suppose hundreds of years. But for some cause this 
is not mentioned in the history. They fell out, and this 
brought about the most savage bird war I suppose ever 
fought in our North American continent. The war 
lasted many days, with great loss of life and many 
cripples on both sides; but the eagle army eventually 
were victorious and captured Cranetown, and drove what 
was left of the crane army to seek shelter in some other 
State. 
Eagles are the ruling family of birds in this country, 
for they are great fighters; but at the same time my 
experience with the cranes teaches me that single-handed 
a blue crane can whip an eagle. A large blue crane 
measures over 5ft. from the tip of his toes to the tip of 
his long, sharp bill, which is his dangerous weapon ; and 
he fights at long range. I have known a wounded crane 
to whip three dogs; and I have known several valuable, 
dogs to lose an eye in trying to capture a wounded 
crane. The bird always strikes for the eye of any living 
creature that attacks it; and a crane has been known 
to drive its long, sharp bill through the side of a small 
boat. 
■ The history tells us that there were many eagles found 
on the battle ground with both eyes plucked out by the 
cranes. They can strike an object at a distance of 5ft., 
which makes them very dange-ous to capture when 
wounded. 
I must tell you a good joke that a man living near 
Cranetown played on his wife many years ago: This 
man was a farmer of the name of William Lester. He 
had a wife who took great delight in telling him about 
men and women who lived in the neighborhood who 
could never keep a secret; who if they heard anything 
would tell it all around the neighborhood. She had 
frequently said that, thank the Lord, she was not one of 
that kind. They had a neighbor named Nathan Crane; 
one day while out gunning Lester shot a large crane, and 
like many men who shoot many birds just for fun, which 
are of no use to them, he concluded that -he was sorry 
that he had killed the poor, harmless crane. But a 
thought struck him all at once that he would have some 
fun with his wife about the crane. So he took the crane 
and covered it up with leaves in a bunch of briers; and 
when he reached home he put his gun away and put on 
a sad countenance, and walked up and down the room. 
His wife soon noticed that there was something wrong 
and put her arm around his neck and said: "William, 
what in the world is the matter? What makes you look 
so distressed?" "Oh," he says, "Annie, I can't tell you. 
I have done something to-day that will ruin me." She 
says, "My Lord! William, what have you done?" "Oh," 
he says, "I can't tell you; for if it is found out I will be 
hanged," when she commenced to cry. "Well," he says, 
"Annie, if you will promise to keep it to yourself I will 
tell you all about it." This, of course, she promised to 
do. He then told her that while out gunning he met 
Mr. Crane, who owed him some money, and that he 
and Crane had fallen out, and that Crane had struck 
him and he had shot Crane and had hiddden his body in 
the woods, and intended to go early in the morning to 
bury him. Accordingly, in the morning bright and 
early he shouldered his spade and left home, and his 
wife watched him until out of sight. It was not long 
before one of the neighbors came over to borrow some- 
thing, and found Mrs. Lester crying. "Why," she says, 
"Mrs. Lester, what's the trouble? Have you lost any of 
your friends." "No," she says, "but my heart is fit to 
break with trouble." "Oh, my," she says, "Mrs. Lester, 
do tell me what's the trouble." "Not for the world 
could I tell you." But her neighbor worked on her to 
such an extent that she had finally to tell her, or burst 
with the secret; and so, after many promises from the 
visitor to say nothing to any one about it, she opened her 
heart and told her the whole circumstances. When the 
neighbor went home her husband soon saw from, the 
sad looks of his wife that she had heard some bad news, 
and commenced to question her to know why she looked 
so sad. "Oh," she says, "I can't tell you; I have heard 
some very bad news." "It must be awful," he says, "if 
you have promised not to tell anybody." But he insisted 
on her telling Him, and when she found that her husband 
was getting angry she told him that if he would promise 
to keep it to himself she would tell him the whole cir- 
cumstance. He promised most solemnly; but just as 
soon as he learned that Mr. Lester had shot Mr.. Crane 
he told his wife that such a thing as that should not be 
kept a secret. He saddled his horse and went to a 
justice of the peace and got out a warrant for the arrest 
of Mr. Lester. A constable was soon found, and they 
-u-restod Lester and dragged him to the woods and made 
him show thetn. where he ha4 concealed t f he body r 
