Feb. 4, 1S99-] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
88 
}mtie §ng md 
Proprietors of fishing and hunting resorts will find it profitable 
to advertise them in Fosest an-d Stream. 
Red-Letter Days. — ^I. 
In sporting life, as in your every experience, there is 
marked contrast between blank days and red-letter days. 
You earnestly desire the former to remain blank in your 
mind. You neither wish to' think or speak of them. 
Your greatest enemy cannot paint them any blacker than 
they really are. Not so red-letter days, They may not 
be the days on which you have had your best shoot or 
your biggest bag, but they are cleai'ly marked in memory 
dear, and remain with you so long as life lasts. ■ 
It is true, the ever present critic, whose task at times 
is easy, his labor light, may accuse you, when your rod 
has been put to the test, of telling fishy stories. 'He may 
assert, with confidence, that the 351b. salmon j^ou love 
to talk about — it's your pet story — really, when held up 
on the river bank in your patent scales, weighed but 25lbs. 
He threatens to turn on the gramophone in proof of this, 
giving with accuracy the story as you first told it. 
When you wish to decide a natural history qtiestion 
and state positively that you have seen a moose eat grass, 
he is equally positive that it mu.'^t have been an optical 
delusion — ^^vhat you saw must have occurred in the late 
evening; or your distance from the moose must have 
been great — you cannot produce a piece of the grass at 
denizen of the wilds far behind. The country became 
wild in the extreme — hill and dale, bits of heather on the 
high lands, with frequent ravines leading to morass or 
bog. I followed one of these ravines that led me to ideal 
snipe ground. Into this I boldly stepped, as if T owned 
the whole country. Here we are! with all that can be de- 
sired, on a perfect day for snipe shooting, Down wind 
I worked with steady pace, and here! yes, here! is snipe 
No. I. Up he gets, at no great distance, with his weird 
sounding note of alarm, and round he comes, as I ex- 
pected, to the wind. He is speedily cut down. No aim- 
ing above, aiming in front, or bringing round the gun, 
according to hints frequentl.v given as to how to kill 
snipe. (Practice, not theoi-y, is required.) Snipe No. x 
is simply cut down without aiming, with No. 12 bore, 
No. 8 shot, without the aid of choke-bore or smokeless 
powder, unknown in those days. With what satisfac- 
tion you gaze on the quarry, this unexpected treasure, as 
he lies on his back on the sedge grass, while you reload. 
Bnt off again: my eye is surely in! No. 2 snipe is soon 
found, and accomited for in a similar manner, followed 
by such sport, as the day wore on, as I had not before, 
and have not since, experienced. Suffice it to say, that 
long before the time of departure of the evening train 
J had exhausted my anmumition, having had happily 
but few misses, and I had more than filled my bag with 
fine specimens of the English snipe. 
I may add that day after day and week after week I 
kept the station mess supplied with snipe from a quarter 
unknown to my comrades, except to one favored friend, 
who shared my sport, my joys and sorrows, and who, like 
myself, in moments of reflection delights to hark back 
to these red-letter days with snipe in South Wales. 
MR. CHAS. F. SIORDAN S CARIBOU. 
a moment's notice; you cannot have your kodak always 
at your side; you cannot at all times give proof positive 
of the accuracy of your statements. 
_I_ doubt whether the enemy, if there be such, or the 
critic, will object, now that we have arrived at the close 
season, and some days must necessarily be blank, if an 
old sportsman digs somewhat deep to unearth a few rem- 
iniscences of what remaiff clearly cut in his mind as 
red-letter days with rod and gun, at both sides of the 
Atlantic. 
To begin with the gun, at t'other side of the pond. 
It is, alas, many years ago since, as a young sub of a 
marching regiment, found myself stationed during the 
shooting season in a somewhat remote town in South 
Wales. I had come from a land of sport, where hand 
end eye were kept in constant practice, and I flattered 
myself that I had acquired the knack in that best of 
sport — snipe shooting. 
Imagine my disgust on being told that no shooting was 
to be had for 1 ove in this abode of Taffy, and unless you 
had a well-filled purse and lots of money, you could not 
;get a permit to shoot pheasants in the few preserved 
:Spots in the neighborhood. This I could neither afford 
not appreciate, and besides, being a lover of the long- 
Ml, I was bound to leave no stone unturned to find even 
that historic one little pet jacksnipe which, when you 
have shot, after many a try puts an end to the sport of 
the place. 
liaucated professionally in the making and reading of 
maps, I procured an excellent ordnance survey contour 
map of the county (Pembrokeshire), and this I eagerly 
scanned, finding that the distant part of the county 
abounded in swamp and morass. 
How speedily was the well-tested gun produced, and 
soon an early morning train conveyed me to a small sta- 
tion in the midst of the bit of country I had selected from 
my map scrutiny as likely to hold my favorite snipe — 
common or full English snipe. Here I was dumped on 
an unattractive spot; no swell dog cart, with a high-step- 
ping thoroughbred and a neat groom wearing a cockade 
met me; no country squire to ask me to lunch; no 
keeper of game, with hat in hand, to welcome me, and re- 
ceive the inevitable tip on my departure. A country 
bumpkin or two seemed to have a mortgage on the rail- 
way station and its surroundings. This gentleman put 
the straight question: "Master, what be you a looking 
for?" An evasive answer from me: "Oh, a mere matter 
■of seeking fresh air," settled his mind, and enabled him to 
return to his remunerative occupation — loafing. 
Soon I decided how best, down wind, to work the 
country; no pointer, setter or spaniel is here required— 
only the knowledge of the country and how to work it. 
Soon I had left the railway station and the inquisitive 
It may be necessary to state that the geographical posi- 
tion of our happy hunting grounds — the wilds of Mac- 
loclog — remains unchanged. Time, however, with its 
over-civilization, has done much to spoil sport in this 
region. But even now, having secured a permit from 
the squire, and duly tipped the keeper, a fair bag can be 
secured. Mtc Mac. 
Fredericton, N. B. ' 
Adirondack Guides' Association. 
Saranac Lake, N. Y., Jan. 26. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The sixth annual convention of Adirondack 
Guides and Foresters was held in this village on Wednes- 
day evening, Jan. 25, 1899, at the opera house. 
About 400 persons were present, including women and 
children, and guides from nearly every section of the 
Adirondack wilderness were in attendance. Among the 
associate members are over 100 sportsmen, patrons of 
the guides, representing many of the largest cities and 
towns of the United States. The speakers included the 
Rev. H. Ward Denys, of New York, the Rev. H. D. 
Corkran, Prof. J. E. Weld, while others of the asso- 
ciate members made brief addresses. 
In the absence of the president. Attorney J. C. Little 
acted as chairman of the meeting. The association fa- 
vored thirty days of hoiinding, and preferred the month 
of October as the best time for hounding to be allowed. 
The following resolution was passed : 
Whereas. There is a vast number of violations of the 
fish and game laws throughout the Adirondack's each 
year, the knowledge of which almost invariably comes to 
some member of this association, but does not, appar- 
ently, reach the proper authorities; and 
Whereas, It is not practical for the members of this 
association to report such depredations unless clothed 
with the proper authority, and in the pursuance of duty; 
and 
Whereas, The Adirondack Guides' Association num- 
bers among its members some of the best guides in the 
State, each of whom is bound by oath to obey the game 
laws of the State, and who are, by reason of their long 
experience and intimate knowledge of the forests, better 
qualified than any others, to serve as game wardens; and 
Whereas, The forests need to be patrolled frequently 
during much of the year, and especially during the fish- 
ing and hunting seasons, to prevent constant infringe- 
ments of the fish and game laws; therefore 
Resolved, That it is the sense of this association, and 
we do hereby petition the Legislature to enact a law 
appropriating a sum of money sufficient to engage a 
number of men, to. be appointed from the membership of 
the Adirondack Guides' Ass«ciation, at a nominal sal- 
arjf, to act as game wardens, and patrol certains sections 
of the Adirondacks throughout the year for the purpose 
of preventing, as much as possible, depredations of the 
fish and game laws, and bringing offenders of the same 
to justice. (As a witness to any charge made by a game 
warden is necessary, two men should be appointed in 
each section.) 
A motion was carried amending the by-laws so that 
the executive committee may be composed of guides of 
ten years' standing, instead of twenty years. 
The annual address from the honorary president, Hon. 
Verplanck Colvin, Albany, was then received, and was 
listened to with close attention, and warmly applauded. 
The address was as follows: 
"State OF New York. Office of State Land Survey. Albany. 
^, Y,. Jan. 28.-T0 tb^ Members of the Adirondack Guides' 
Association, Saranac Lake, N. Y.: Gentlemen— I have received 
your pohte invitation to the annual convention of the Adirondack 
Woodsmen, to be held on the 25th inst., and for a few davs had 
hoped that it might be possible for me to be present. 'These 
meetings are, however, held at a period which is for me a very 
busy season of the year, when many official duties require at- 
tention, so that I must avail myself of the kind alternative 
ottered by your secretary and send you in writing the remarks 
wtiich it would give me great pleasure to be present to address 
to you personally. 
"The year 1898 has stamped its figures like a symbol upon 
the pages of history as the beginning of a new epoch for our 
nation, and the deep vibrations of that momentous year are still 
"^^ hamlets of our Northern wilderness 
Before the snows had disacr^earcd from the Adirondack peaks 
or the ice from the Upper Lakes, our country was suddenly and 
imexpectedly involved in a «ar which reached east and west 
to tjie antipodes, and the intrigues of Spanish s*rategists threat- 
ened to involve our country in a war with Germany, France. 
Italy and Australia; in which event, our long and exposed coast 
lines, extending both on the Atlantic and Pacific, from Arctic 
ice to the region of tropical and semi-tropical vegetation, would 
have been open to numerous attacks by powerful enemies, and 
the destruction of cities and villages, and the ruin of trade and 
commerce, with all those horrors which follow a great and terrible 
war. 
"When your organization was formed, you asked rtie to act 
as your honorary president, to suggest to you from time to time 
such things as might be useful to the woodsmen of your section 
of the State, and advantageous for the interests of our forests- 
1 accepted your invitation on one condition: that in time of war 
you woodsmen and riflemen of northern New York would form 
a regiment for the national defense. This you gladly agreed to 
do, and at different times, since the organization of your society, 
on your behalf and on behalf of many of those who are interested 
in military life, I have presented to the Adjutant General and 
to the btatc authorities your request for military enrollment 
of such a number of your men as may be found qualified to 
iorm a detached company or companies of the National Guard. 
1 » /•^'^ urged the importance of this organization upon the 
late Adjutant General Porter, the guides at Saranac Lake having 
offered their services for the formation of a company of NationsU 
Guard. Gen. Porter talked very frankly and freely with me of the 
National Guard, and spoke highlv of the personnel of the men 
who would form such a company, but stated that the means 
at his disposal would not permit him to organize the same. I 
subsequently renewed this request at different times, but met 
with very little encouragement from the authorities. 
"When the war with Spain broke out and the possibilities of 
an attack upon this country by great allied forces were con- 
•sidered, the importance and value of such organizations as your 
o7^,„^,t''''}'"!i "^'"'^diately apparent; and with the consent of many 
of your leaders made in writing, I again tendered your services 
as a corps of Minute Men and Riflemen, together with a tender 
fr. ^l^^'l^l °' °f ^^'l department who had signed an offir 
1898 and received from the Adjutant General the following reply 
Adjutant General's Office, A bany, N. Y Aoril 21 iSqI viZ, 
Verplanck Colvin Albany. ' N. Yr! Sir-Ym&" patriotfc T^d^ 
of services has been received and placed on file Should 
occasion arise it will be presented to the^ Governor for his actio^ 
?^e're^1?oVSe!=^':^^^^ ^'^^ enlisting'Vop^l^ 
dJ^;^'^d^s^{f^j'^^^irl?^.t^'aS^s? '^^l 
'^^^InolAer th.t v YJ^'/"^^ Tillinghast. Adjutant generah 
K» i!,.^ ? ^^^^ shonXd be m readiness in case a call should 
be made for your services, I sent out to the various vice-prS^ 
dents of your organization and others who had tendered th^^r 
wi^HnT.n'^i'-"^."v.^' «^°"™?nt papers for signatures by men 
willing to join the proposed regiment; and with but few ex- 
.y^Ti'L'T'^'^'^ ^ ready and favorable response, so that in a 
of m Li that one of the best and strongest bodiel 
Jf cl f 1^^ secured, and unquestionably the best body 
of sharpshooters and riflemen which the United States could offe/ 
nX%^f"'T"^.,'°<^°^'^ themselves in readiness to r^ond wheS 
Unrted States. State or the PresicTent of the 
■ t wisli that time and space permitted the transmittal of tVip 
earnest patriotic letters, and the'^tender of serv ices 7n this rej^ 
raent made to me by the men of northern New York. Evenr 
kS-^ ? fu^ '^V?,^,^'. II^"^ enlistments were to be 
limited to the most skilled marksmen, and men inured by hard- 
miHtary"servke ^ ^""^ '^''"'"^ ^"""P' ^""""^ ^"'^ '° 
regret to say that, though the services of this organization 
were repeatedly offered to the State authorities, their acceptance 
was given again and again deferred, until on June 6 I received 
^nv'^'f!, **:.'"Shest military authority in the State not to tike 
any fu.ther active steps in the matter of this organization until 
furthei notice. Previously I had received from the Governor 
M M k" assurance that m case any single volunteer regi- 
^^nsideration '**^«=^I"e'^» ^^^^ regiment should receive the first 
"But the enlistments which were made, both previously and 
subsc^queutly, were, restricted to the existing militia regiments 
and to enlistments m the regular army; and at no time, 1 am in- 
tormed, was any volunteer regiment permitted to be organized 
111 this btate such as you desire. 
,,.,"■1" "ne month the crisis of the war was practically passed, 
the Rlonous victories of our navy at Manila and Santiago, followed 
by the splendid victory at San Juan Hill, and thi surrender 
ot the city and province ot Santiago to our land forces, rendered 
a further increase of the military arm apparently unnecessary, for 
the war was undoubtedly at its close. 
-Since then 1 wish to say to you T have received a letter 
which says: 1 wish that I had had your regiment down along- 
side of me at Santiago," signed 'Theodore Roosevelt,' and 1 have 
since said to Governor Roosevelt that if you had been down 
there you would not on y have stood by him shoulder to shoulder 
in that desperate hght, but your sure rifles would have done great 
service for your country, and your axes would have cleared roads 
and built causeways and bridges for the troops and provision 
trams, and your strong arms and tender care would have saved 
many valuable lives, and have brought added glory to the Empire 
■ The lessons of this war are not void of importance to you 
woodsmen, as well as to the dwellers in the cities and country, 
and i think yop as citizens have a right to criticise the militarv 
system which, m times of national peril, makes it a privilege of 
a class to receive permission to defend the countrv^ and that 
those who are filled with patriotic fervor, and who are qualified 
by experience m camp life, and wonderfully skilled as mai-ksmen 
should receive the consideration due to them as an organization 
to which they are entitled, is a matter which deserves your seri- 
ous attention. inirther than this, as civilians, we have aH'of 
lis a rigit to ask whether in time of war military emolcvment 
IS to belong solely to those who by accident or circuriTitances 
happen at that time to be in the militia service of the Sta+e- for 
It IS not to be credited for a moment that other citizens are' not 
equally patriotic, equally brave, and as devoted to the interests 
ot ilieir country as any militia oflicer or private. 
"1 do not forgeJi nor do 1 wish to depreciate in the slightest 
degree, the value of military training for military service- but 
1 as a citizen of a republic, which is based upon its civil in'stitu- 
lions as the foundation of its freedom and safety, insist that no 
iiMhtary aristocracy shall be permitted, either now or in the tuture 
!o obtain an absolute control over the organization of troops 
lor uaUuiial defense. When specially qualified civilians desire to 
jiler their services to the State for military duty, the military 
code of this btate should be so amended as to provide for the 
