Dec. kfi 1S98.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
487 
outside of the trade, but in reality their aggregate is 
enormous. The wonder is that we have any game left at 
alK 
Here is another side-hunt, this time at Whitley, Ind., 
by members of the Maccabee's Society. Thirty members 
took part, and as usual the winning side ate supper at the 
expense of the other. 
The Petaluma Sportsmen's Club, of California, lately 
held a three-days' hunt, killing 821 bluejays and 51 hawks. 
These birds are destroyed on the supposition that the 
supply of quail will thus be increased. A trifle horrible, 
when' you come to think of it, this adjusting the balance 
of nature. The club offers a series of prizes for jays and 
hawks. 
Possibilities* 
T hear of still another white deer killed this season, 
this one by a fisherman named Anderson on one of the 
Les Cheneaux islands of Michigan. Still another Michi- 
gan hunter is reported to have killed a white wildcat this 
fall. I have heard of five albino deer which were killed 
this season in Wisconsin and Michigan. In view of the 
reckless shooting of certain hunters, a few instances of 
which have been chronicled, it would seem quite possible 
that this great increase of albinism is due to fright, and 
I should not be surprised if we would hear of more and 
more of it from year to year. 
A dispatch from Wenona, 111., states, that two wild deer 
have been killed in Illinois during the past week. One 
was killed by W. Broadus, near Varna, and the other by 
a man from Henry, on the. Illinois River. As the wild 
deer is supposed to have been extinct in Illinois for many 
years, this news may be called important if true. If it 
were true I should suppose it likely that the deer original- 
ly came from some such park as that of the Caton estate 
at Ottawa. , . , 
Persona!. 
Mr. VV. B. Leffingwell and Mr, George Thorne, of 
Montgomery Ward & Co,, of 'this city, have returned 
fromlheir Texas hunt in the best of health and spirits. 
They were the guests of Mr. F. P. Holland, of the Texas 
Farm and Ranch, of Dallas. Others of _ the party were 
Col. Hall, Texas agent of the Singer Sewing Machine 
Co. ; Mr. C. W. Marsh, of the Farm Implement News, of 
De Kalb, 111., and Col. I. L. Elwood, the barbed wire 
magnate of De Kalb. Mr. Holland took his party to the 
Gulf coast, going in via Rockport. There they took a 
couple of cabin yachts and sailed east to Matagorda Isl- 
and, opposite Port La Vaca. They lived on the boats, and 
did most of their shooting inland on the island, where 
they had magnificent sport, chiefly at fresh-water ponds 
formed by recent storms. They did not get much red- 
head or canvasback shooting, but had all the fun imagin- 
able at geese, marsh ducks, etc. Mr. Thorne told me that 
he could go out any morning and kill thirty or forty 
quail without a dog, putting up one bevy after another, 
and not following the singles. The party killed, during 
their week of shooting, 410 ducks, 141 geese, 20 curlew, 
109 quail, 2 white cranes, 2 deer and 1 wildcat, certainly 
a very fine bag. Col. Hall and Mr. Leffingwell each killed 
a deer, and Col. Hall killed the wildcat. The Chicago 
men say that they never had so delightful a trip and never 
saw a better game country. They report that the wild 
celery in the Hines Bay country is about all killed out. 
They tell me that the club house o'f the Tarpon Club, at 
Aransas Pass, is now completed. Appearances go to in- 
dicate that Rockport is going to become fashionable, and 
I think we can see its finish as a game country before 
long. 
Mr. A. R. Jewett, of Chicago, and his friends.' Messrs. 
M. S. Robinson and Charles Hathaway, of Cleveland, 
are the last parties to come_ in and. inquire about Rock- 
port, Texas, and I have sent them down to Johnnie Bhtd- 
worth. They ought to have a good time. 
Mr. W. H. Bartlett, of Chicago, leaves this week for 
his ranch, near Glendale, Arizona, from which he in- 
tends' to take a trip after mountain sheep this winter. 
It is sad to record the death of Mr. George Greene, 
agent of the Pennsylvania road at English Lake, Ind. 
The English Lake Gun Club, mostly made up of Chicago 
shooters, was a famous ducking ground in the palmy days 
of the Kankakee, and Mr. Greene was a familiar figure to 
many shooters of this city. 
Mr. F. S. Selous, of England, a somewhat noted big 
game killer, who has done much hunting in Africa, passed 
through Chicago this week on his way from Wyoming, 
where he has been killing elk. Mr. Selous is stated to 
have killed in elephants and over 3,000 antelope, to say 
nothing of proportional numbers of other large animals. It 
is his boast that he did not do this for sport, but. for the 
money there was in it. He is stated to have been killing 
elk in Wyoming on the same basis. E. Hough, 
1200 Boyce Building, Chicago, 111. 
Vermont Deer Record for J 898. 
We give in more detail than the summary in our last 
. issue the record of the 130 deer killed in Vermont during 
the month of October, 1898, and reported by postmasters : 
Addison County. — Bristol 1, Leicester 1. Lincoln 3, 
1 1 an cock 1 — 6. 
Bennington County. — Woodford 3, Searsburg 1 — 4 
Caledonia County.— Walden 1, Lyndon 1 — 2. 
Chittenden County.— Huntington 1. 
Essex County. — Brunswick 1, Canaan 1, Brighton 2, 
Norton 1, Concord 2, Granby 2, Lewis r— 10, 
Franklin County- — S wanton 1. 
Lamoille County. — Eden 1, Belvidere 1 — 2, 
Orange County. — Orange 1. 
, Orleans County. — Westmore 3, Morgan 1 — 4. 
Rutland County. — Mt. Holly I, Chittenden 4, Shrews- 
bury 15, Pittsford 1, Mendon 5, Sherburne J, Walling- 
ford 1, Pittsfield 1— 35- 
Washington County. — Roxbury 1, Fayston 1 — 2. 
Windham County. — Dover 1, Windham 1, Somerset r, 
Stratton 1 — 4. 
Windsor County. — Baltimore 1, Ludlow 2, Hartford 1, 
Pomfret 1, Chester 2, Bridgewater 9, Plymouth 25, Bar- 
nard t, Stockbridge 2, Royalton 1, Woodstock 2, Reading 
7, Cavendish 2, Springfield 1, Rochester 1 — 58. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latesL by -Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
New York State League. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The annual meeting of the New York State Fish, Game 
and Forest League was held in the assembly room at the 
Yates Hotel, Syracuse, Thursday, Dec. 8. There was a 
large attendance, notwithstanding the fact that the great 
snowstorm which visited western New York the night 
previous, and blockaded the railroads, prevented the dele- 
gates from that part of the State from being present. 
The roll showed the following organizations to be 
represented by delegates : 
Niagara County Anglers' Association, of Lockport— George W. 
Weaver, Wm. J. Jackman, David Miller. 
Sundown Fishing Club, Poughkeepsie— Samuel A. Wood, Theo- 
dore A. Knapp. 
Honest Fishermen's Club, Seneca Falls— James E. Mcddcn, 
Ernest G. Gould, William J. Pollard. 
Black River Fish and Game Protective Association, Utica — 
W. E. Wolcott, John W. Hicks. 
New York Association for the Protection of Fish and Game, 
New York City—Robert B. Lawrence, G. O. Shields. 
St. Lawrence River Anglers' Association, Clayton. — A. C, Corn- 
wall, R. P. Grant, George IT. Strough, W. BE. Thompson. 
Honeoye Falls Anglers' Association, Honeoye Falls. — Aaron 
Mather. 
Fly Casters' Association, Canandaigua— C. B. Lapham, II. 
B. Whitney, F. A. Christian, A. C. Cappon, F. G. Hulse. 
Fish and Game Association of Mannsville -E. L. Stone, G. R. 
Huestead. 
Anglers' Association, of Onondaga County, Syracuse — C. H. 
Mowrv, D, H. Bruce, J. H. Forey, George B. Wood. Alternates: 
Eugene McCarthy, J. E. Benkhardt, M. J. French, M. H. Swartz. 
Spencer Sportsmen's Club, Lyons— E. T. Burnett, Henry Killick. 
New York Division of the League of American Sportsmen— G. 
O. Shields, A. E. Pond. 
The following clubs were received as new accessions to the 
League membership: Saratoga County Fish and Game Protective 
Association, Saratoga Springs; Fly Casters' Association, Canan- 
daigua; Mannsville Fish and Game Association, Mannsville; 
Newark Fishing Club, Newark; New York Division of the League 
of American Sportsmen. 
President W. S. Gavitt, of Lyons, in his annual ad- 
dress said in substance: "It is very gratifying to see so 
many delegates present, and in view of the storm of yes- 
terday, which has detained many from the western part 
of the State, it is rather remarkable that there should be 
such a good attendance. The condition of the associa- 
tion at this time is exceedingly gratifying. During the 
past year, in accordance with a resolution adopted at our 
last annual meeting, the New York State Fish, Game and 
Forest League has been incorporated, and its member- 
ship is larger now than it was in 1897. In view of the 
fact that in the meantime the separation from the trap- 
shooting feature has been consummated this state of af- 
fairs is very encouraging. Several hundred copies of the 
constitution and by-laws have been printed and dis- 
tributed. At a meeting of the trustees held in October a 
resolution was adopted urging each club belonging to 
the League, and the individual members, to push the work 
of increasing the membership. We have come to a point 
where our organization has been perfected in a good man- 
ner, and the rest depends on the efforts of the members. 
The future of the association will be just what the mem- 
bers make it. A number of clubs have written me that 
they will join the League when it gets strong enough so 
that it can control matters, but w ewant the help of all 
the clubs and want it now. The market influence is very 
strong, often working against us, and it is only by com- 
bined efforts on our part that it can be overcome. Last 
winter we made several recommendations to the Legisla- 
ture concerning the game laws which were carried 
through. Among them was the repeal of Section 249, and 
the officers of the association did all in their power, 
and the influence of the clubs and members was exerted 
to bring it about. We may feel highly gratified at what 
was accomplished in the last Legislature. The success of 
the future work of the association depends largely upon 
the efforts which are made to increase its membership. It 
is believed to be wise not to recommend many changes in 
the game laws this year. During the meeting to-day the 
five-minute rule will prevail, and no one will be allowed 
to speak over that time without the consent of the con- 
vention. 
Cornelius W. Smith, of Syracuse, chairman of the 
legislative and law committee, then presented his report. 
He said that according to all indications and signs of the 
times the game laws were in the best condition that they 
had been in twenty years. This is evidenced by the few 
changes that have been recommended this year. Four 
years ago we had over forty amendments proposed ; last 
year the committee had twenty, whereas this year only 
four have thus far been suggested. We have eliminated 
several things from the game laws. One was the elimina- 
tion from Section 141 of that clause which permitted the 
spearing of certain fish at all times in Oneida Lake and 
Oneida River. That is now out of the law, and I don't 
know where spearing is now permitted. Section 34, which 
provides for a bounty on nets, was enacted, but the Legis- 
lature doubled the figures which we recommended in a 
large number of cases. The result is that probably $25,- 
000 has been paid by county treasurers or is owing on 
certificates for the destruction of nets during the past 
year. On account of the expense there has been a hue and 
cry all over the State. There is no question but what the 
bounties are too high, although the law is good in general 
effect. The committee suggests that the bounties be re- 
duced. It is believed that the closed season for wildfowl 
should extend from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1. The wildfowl 
are scarcer in central New York this year than they 
have ever been before. On Oneida Lake, which is one of 
the best waters for ducks, there has been no shooting this 
fall. People who spend a great deal of time there say that 
where they have usually got twenty birds they can now con- 
sider themselves lucky if they get two or three. The law 
committee recommends that the closed season for bass 
begin Nov. 15 and end June 15. This would shut off the 
market during the six weeks between Nov. rs and Jan, 
r, and we believe it would be a good thing. Last year, 
when a change was made in the law protecting squirrels, 
which had previously been included in a section with rab- 
bits, the protection was removed from the latter. The 
committee has received a. recommendation that there be a 
closed season for rabbits. 
A. C. Cornwall, of Alexandria Bay, treasurer of the 
League, reported as follows: Receipts, including the bal- 
ance on hand last year, $206.29; paid bills amounting to 
$116.11; balance on hand, $90.18. The report was ac- 
cepted, 
At the meeting held' in December, 1897, a resolution 
was adopted to retain as members all clubs that, then be- 
longed to the old association. The books of the treasurer 
contain the names of the following organizations, be- 
sides those previously mentioned as being represented at 
the meeting: 
Syracuse Gun Club, Onondaga County Sportsmen's Associu' 
tion, Onondaga Gun Club, Auburn Gun Club, Canandaigua Rod 
and Gun Club, Central New York Fish and Game Club, Seneca 
Falls; Conesus Lake Fish and Game Protective Association, 
Rochester; Franklin County Fish and Game Protective Asso- 
ciation, Malone; Genesee Valley Protective and Propagating Fish 
and Game Association, Rochester; Steuben County Fish ami 
Game Association, Bath ; Erie County Fish and Game Protective 
Association, Buffalo; Oswego and Jefferson County Fish and 
Game Protective Association, Lacona; Long Island Gun Club, 
New York; Naples Fish and Game Protective Association, 
Naples; New Utrecht Rod and Gun Club, Brooklyn; Rochester 
Rod and Gun Club; Chemung County Fish and Game Protective 
Association, Wellsburg; De Ruyter Sportsmen's Association, Pe 
Ruyter; Dunkirk Fish and Game Protective Association, Dunkirk. 
A committee consisting of Messrs. Lawrence, Cornwall 
and Grant was appointed to draw up a resolution regard- 
ing the clubs which were members of the old association. 
Messrs. Wood, Thompson and Shields were appointed 
as. a nominating committee, after which a recess wa.-, 
taken for dinner. 
Promptly at 2 P. M. business was resumed. Mr. Law- 
rence, of the special committee on clubs, o tiered the fol- 
lowing resolution, which was adopted: 
Resolved, that the secretary correspond with represen- 
tatives of all associations which have been identified with 
the old State association, and request that if it be their 
desire to continue their connection with the present asso- 
ciation they should send to the said secretary the list of 
their officers and the number of their membership, to- 
gether with the dues for the ensuing year, and further, 
that the secretary be empowered to inform them that in 
the absence of any heretofore expressed intention on 
their part to continue their association with the new 
organization, all dues due and payable prior to Dec. 1, 
1898, are remitted. 
On motion of C. W. Smith, the privileges of the meet 
ing were extended to James Annin, Jr., of Caledonia, 
superintendent of State hatcheries; Mannister C. Worts, 
of Oswego, assistant chief game protector ; Protectors 
Hawn and Lamphere, and Special Protector Evcrson. 
The report of the legislative and law committee was 
then taken up. The first recommendation considered was 
an amendment to Section 110 of the game laws, making 
the bass fishing end Nov. 15. 
Mr. Mowry said there were some people who wanted 
the bass season extended, and in order to conciliate that 
element, and also that fishing might be legal on Thanks- 
giving Day, he thought the season should not close until 
Dec. 1. He accordingly moved as an amendment that 
the League recommend that the bass season close on the 
latter date. 
Protector Worts said that in Keuka and Seneca lakes 
some bass fishing was done as late as December. In the 
fall the fishing there is largely done in the night time. 
He thought it would be cutting the season off too soon 
to close it Nov. 15. 
Superintendent Annin said he had never seen the water 
yet where many bass could be caught in November. It 
seemed to him that the later the bass season was ex- 
tended the more chance it would give to the net fisher- 
men. 
Mr. Mowry said there were keepers of summer resorts 
or boarding houses who wanted bass fishing allowed un- 
til Jan. 1, but they would fall in line for Dec. 1 
R. P. Grant said that on the St. Lawrence River no 
effort was made to catch bass after Nov. 15. 
Chairman Smith stated that the law committee had 
not arrived at its recommendation without thoroughly 
considering the matter, and consulting with a representa- 
tive of the fish commission. 
Mr. Mowry's amendment that the season should end 
Dec. 1 was adopted. 
The recommendation of the law committee to the effect 
that Section 70 should be amended so as to make a closed 
season for wildfowl from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1 was un- 
animously agreed with. 
R. B. Lawrence said there should be a law on rabbits 
in order to prevent men from going out and shooting 
grouse and woodcock under the pretext of hunting rab- 
bits. He moved that the League recommend that there be 
an open season for rabbits extending from Sept. t to 
Dec. 15. Carried. 
Chairman Smith, of the law committee, in speaking on 
the proposed amendment to Section 34, said: It is well 
known that the bounty on nets is too bigh, and it is also 
well known that the. bounty must be high enough to make 
it an object for men to go after them. The committee 
recommends that the bounty for the destruction of illegal 
fish nets should be as follows : For each scap net, drop 
net and dip met, $1 ; for each gill net up to 100ft. in 
length, $2, and $1 for each additional 100ft. or part there- 
of ; for seines up to 100ft., $2, and $1 for each additional 
100ft. or part thereof; for each fyke net with hoops un- 
der 4ft. in diameter, $2, over 4ft., $3; for trap nets, $10, 
and pound nets, $15. 
Mr. Mowry said the law providing for a bounty on nets 
had resulted in the best fishing season known in twenty 
years. It is one of the best laws for the protection of 
fish that we have ever had. But the supervisors say we 
have exhausted the contingent fund to meet the require- 
ments of this law. The State will reimburse the counties, 
but the country supervisors don't understand it that way. 
It is probable the Legislature will be importuned by the 
supervisors to repeal the law, and we ought to be pre- 
pared to meet them. I suggest that we should cut the 
present bounties in two. The doors have been open for 
men to get $3 for nets that cost $1. 
The recommendation of the law committee was agreed 
with. i 
Mr. Shields suggested that the word "wild" should be 
stricken from the sections of the game laws regulating 
the killing, possession and sale of moose, deer and ante- 
lope. People having venison in possession out of season 
might say they bought the animal from a park. The 
committee reported in favor of the change, and it was 
sanctioned by the League. 
Mr. Shields offered the following resolution : Resolved. 
That the law committee be instructed to ask such an 
amendment to existing statutes as will prohibit the sale 
of ruffed grouse, quail and brook trout at all times. 
