March 4, 1899.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
Those Alaska Reindeer. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Rev. Sheldon Jackson, who has been for several j'ears 
so indefatigable in his endeavors to introduce Lapland 
and Siberian reindeer into Alaska for food and draugiit 
purposes, now finds himself compelled to make the most 
strenuous efforts to save a remnant from wanton de- 
struction, not by the natives, but by hostile residents, who 
maintain that he has been spending public money lav- 
ishly on fool projects, which might have been put to 
m<;re practical uses for the benefit of the province. And 
he has written to prominent game conservators for a for- 
mulated code of laws to prevent their slaughter. We 
sent him a copy of the Hallock Code, and duly received 
an acknowledgment of rlic same; but we doubt if aiiy 
measures, however, .stringent, will prove one whit more 
eFfeclive toward the end desired than the like have been 
in preserving the buffalo of the Yellowstone Park, espe- 
cially as the popular prejudice is against the reverend 
promoter of econoniic industries and civilization in 
Alaska, whom the wild and woolly pioneers regard as a 
government pet and pie-cater. 
To say truth, we do not think ourselves that hi's latest 
reindeer venture was wise. We mean the importation of 
animals from Europe, and. the attempt to establish an 
overiand reindeer express froiit Dyea lo the Klondike 
mines. At all events, it was a signal failure. But that 
ought not to damn all that he has done for southeastern 
Alaska and the Avestern coast during the past twenty-odd 
years. Through his instrumentality, or example, no less 
than forty schools and missions have been established 
since the purchase, in addition to the Greco-Russian 
schools which already stood, while his industrial and 
technical school at Sitka has been a model for others 
throughout the States. The prejudice against him is un- 
accountable, but it is of long standing. In 1885 1 stood 
on the deck of the outgoing steamer, the Ancon, and 
saw Mr. Jackson prevented from taking passage for 
Washington on some technical pretext for detaining him, 
.notwithstanding the presence of the District Attorney 
and other officials who were on board. Mr. Jackson, be 
it known, is the United States Superintendent of Edu- 
cation for Alaska. But the residents in those days were 
lawless, and in these days scarcely less arbitrary. Only 
say "reindeer" to one of them, and it is at once the oc- 
casion for a sneer. However, everything done will 
doubtless appear in its proper light eventually, and the 
preacher's motives at least be vindicated. 
Charles Hallock. 
About Bears. 
C.A.LAIS, Me., Feb. 7. — Editor Forest and Stream: Mr. 
Arthur Erwan Brown, in Forest and Stream of Feb. 
4, had a picture and interesting paper about young 
bears. They are queer animals, and the ways of the 
wild female almost past finding out. There is an old 
expression of Pliny's, "licked into shape." Walsh ex- 
plains it as having arisen out of an early superstition that 
a bear's cub is born an amorphous mass, and is licked 
into shape by the dam. The ancients took it as a serious 
statement of natural truth, Pliny giving the following ac- 
count of the phenomenon: "Bears, when first born, are 
shapeless _ masses of white flesh, a little larger than 
mice, their claws alone being prominent. The mother 
then licks them gradually into proper shape." Shakes- 
peare, in Henry VI., Part iii., refers to this supersti- 
tion in the following lines: 
To disproportion me in every part, 
Like to a chaos or an unlicked whelp 
That carries no impression like the dam. 
Thereis interesting bear reading by Pallas, Pennant, God- 
man and Richardson, but not much about the very young 
bears. Here in Maine and New Brunswick our very 
cold weather with deep snows rarely fall before the 
last of November, and bears usually take to their dens 
about that time for hibernation. The male bear is 
easily satisfied with any kind of a hole, behind the root 
of an upturned tree, a hollow cliff, or in the end of an 
old hollow log. But not so with the female if she is 
parturient. She selects a very obscure place, and makes 
as the Indians say, "a soft feather bed of fir branches." 
Our bear hunters and Indians all attest to the truth of 
the deep privacy of the female in denning, and it is 
not often that her den is found. It is a maxim with 
our bear hunters and woodsmen that no one has ever 
taken a she-bear with young, and it is said to be a fact 
that if disturbed she will always abort. Richardson, 
•quoting from Pennant, and Godman both attest to the 
deep privacy of the female, and to the saying of the Indians 
that the female bears went like the wild geese south 
in winter. It is said that the female bear is always 
very fat in the fall, while the male is wasted by the 
Septernber rut. It is said there is seen at times' over 
a bear's den a kind of sweat or vapor that will conduct 
a dog. or man to them. They are never entirely uncon- 
scious. If you poke them with a gun or stick they 
wijl^ growl, but relapse again into repose. 
The number of young is usually two, but often only 
one, very rarely three or four. The young cubs are 
queer helpless little things when first born, which is 
about New Year's day. They are not much larger 
than a full grown red squirrel, weigh from 8 to looz. 
a!.d measure from tip of nose to the end of hind toe 
about loin. They are covered by a fine close black hair 
upon the back and head, but bluish slate toward the 
belly and inside the limbs. The ears are naked, the 
eyes closed, the tongue exposed and jaws slightly open, 
no teeth, claws large, tail long for its size. After birth 
the cub receives but little food, and passes the three* or 
four months in semi-torpor, and grows but little until 
the parent emerges, and then quite fast. It is singular 
that so large an animal, that often weighs 40olbs., should 
o '.ve so small cubs. 
In this bear hibernation destroys maternal instinct. 
She will always leave her cub to freeze when driven 
/om her den; but in April or May keep away from 
her. That an anittial so highly organized as a beaf shotlld 
be able to retain not only its vitality, but its animal 
heat and its muscular strength for four months without 
any food whatever, is well attested, knowing as we do 
that in this time, if there be no supply there is no waste 
save perhaps animal heat. But when we consider the 
female, Ave find there is waste and no supply. The 
material for a second life and its growth must be taken 
from an accumulated fund. An atmosphere saved only 
by the animal heat of the mother from that without the 
den often down to zero and a torpid mother await tliis 
blind-born, feeble offspring. By some instinct it is led 
to the mamma, where, like certain marsupials, it re- 
tains a firm hold upon the nipple, and now a change 
comes over the still torpid parent in the increase of 
the lacteal glands to secrete milk; and a wonderful fact 
is that no food is taken by the parent during both 
operations. And how wonderful the polar bears, whose 
retreat must be doubled in length and severity by the 
arctic latitude and ice-formed den. 
I have found great trouble in getting specimens of 
very young bears. The hunters, always in a hurry to 
get their bear bounties, take them to the treasurer for 
the money, and he cuts off the nose from the skin of 
the old one and the whole head of the little ones. In 
my many winters in the South, and in California, where 
bears do not den, I have never been able from the 
hunters to find one, nor ever had seen one until it 
was old enough to follow the mother. 
Geo. a. BoAKiiMAN. 
More about Skunks. 
Pembroke, Feb. 17, — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
have read with interest the numerous articles wliich have 
recently appeared in your paper, relating to the skunk; 
how one learned professor was struck in the eye with a' 
well directed shot from "his battery," while in quest of 
scientific knowledge; how "Podgers" was compelled to 
seek safety in the house, and how a farm hand took such 
awful chances in removing a skunk from a milk house. 
Last autumn while we were trout fishing, two skunks 
took up lodgings under the veranda of the club house, and 
as they were a nuisance, we at once set about to devise 
some plan to get rid of them. Some one suggested put- 
ting the muzzle of a gun close up to them and blowing 
them to pieces before they had a chance to get back at 
us, but this was voted down as impracticable. Another 
suggested cutting a pole about 15ft. long and stout 
enough to raise a skunk and an ordinary steel mink trap 
from the ground. This was done ; and to the end of this 
pole we fastened the ring on the end of the ti'ap chain 
and gave the chain a couple of turns on the pole, baited 
the trap with scraps from the kitchen, set it, and soon had 
a skunk. The chain was then wound up by turning the 
pole till the trap was near enough to allow its being lifted 
from the ground conveniently. The slcunk was cautiously 
carried to the lake, care being taken that he should not 
touch anything, was plunged into the water, held there for 
about fifteen or twenty minutes, and when taken out 
was quite dead, without any odor whatever. The trap 
was again set, and in a few minutes we had the other. 
The same performance was gone through with the 
same result, so that in about three-quarters of an hour 
we had the two skunks dead and buried, without the 
slightest trace of any odor. 
I can confidently recommend this plan to any one an- 
noyed with these animals, but care must be taken to avoid 
all unnecessary noise, and that they are not touched or 
injured in any way, other than, of course, that caused by 
the trap, and also that they are left in the water till all 
the muscular contractions are over, as if not, these may 
cause a discharge of the scent. J. D. Deacon. 
That Smnaker Bear. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your issue of Feb. 18 you ask for further specific 
information regarding the variety of bear mentioned as 
the sinnaker bear in my letter about "OJd Bob Gerry of 
Hyde." I should have perhaps thought it of sufficient 
interest to zoologists, to mention in that sketch that there 
is a big black bear (much above the average weight of 
black bears), wdiich uses in the swamp and canebrakes 
of the coastwise States from the Dismal Swamp in Vir- 
ginia to the lowlands of Louisiana. Your Mr. Hough 
mentions it in one of his most interesting Bobo letters 
printed in Forest and Stre.vm last j^ear, confirming all 
that I have stated, and perhaps establishing as a scientific 
fact, under the modern scheme of differentiation, that there 
is a typical swamp bear, as stated, which carries a 
white spot on his breast as invariably as a skunk carries a 
white tip to his tail, or an ermine a black tip to his. I 
will quote what Mr. Hough says, though I cannot give 
the date of his letter. It is to the effect that "there is in 
Louisiana, Mississippi and sometimes in the southern 
Arkansas canebrakes and swamps a big, perfectly black 
bear. It is generally marked by a white horseshoe on 
its breast. This bear will w^eigh from 400 to 68olbs. The 
writer saw one weighed on an accurate set of scales, made 
for weighing bales of cotton, to be found at all steam- 
boat landings, which pulled down the beam at the 680 
notch. It was killed in the great Atchafalaya Swamp by 
an experienced hunter, who declared that this was not the 
ordinary bear, but of a different family." 
Charles ITallock. 
Flowers which. Bloom in the Spring^. 
Fayetteville, N. C, Feb. ig.—Editor Forest and 
Stream: I inclose you some fresh hyacinths grown out 
of doors, which have never had a house warming. You 
will observe that they look vigorous and hearty, notwith- 
standing they have endured the fifteen days of frigid 
weather here with a thermometer ranging from 30 to 12 
degrees for five days, and a subsequent burial in snbw^ 
i5in. deep. To-day the snow is gone, but the hyacinths 
are standing up straight. Can you explain why an arctic 
experience which would kill out-of-door plants in the 
Northern States have little effect on the same here? Be- 
fore this freeze we had japonicas, winter violets, orange 
jasmine, daffodils, etc., in bloom out of doors, following 
severe weather, and 6in. of snow on Jan. 26. If it kills 
oranges and vegetables in Florida, why not the garden 
flowers here? Charles Hallock. 
Flying: Squirrels, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I am surprised to find that I know a very little about 
another subject mentioned iii Forest and Stream — fly- 
ing squirrels. My predecessors in my present residence 
had not used several rooms in the house and m fires had 
been kept in some chimney flues. Hence, the flying squir- 
rels got to roosting in these flues and became great nuis- 
ances, coming down the flues into the rooms. We used 
to catch them on the plan of boys— clap a thick some- 
thing, a cap or some such thing, over them and pick them 
up, and I kept some in the common squirrel cage for 
quite a while. They got tame enough in a week to take 
a nut out of my hand. Finally, to cure the nuisance, I 
had wire gratings put on the tops of the chimneys. 
My neighbor, a bricklayer, was capping out one of my 
chimneys, and on turning round from getting a trowel oi 
mortar, saw a squirrel perched on the chimney, which 
swooped down to a tree near by; in a few minutes the 
same thing occurred again, which John thought was very 
remarkable; but when about half a dozen succeeded each 
other in this spookish performance, he certainly thought 
he must have "snakes in his boots." and I don't know 
but that he might think so yet, had he not seen one rascal 
stick his nose over the inner edge of the chimney. 
. W. Waoe. 
Weig:hts of Quail. 
Ernestville, Pasco County. Fla.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: In answer to Didyraus, I generally weigh my 
game, and scale my fish (no pun intended), and find that 
a quail of 50Z. is small; sJ^oz. is about the average, 6oz 
large, Oy20z. extra large. I consider quail about 2oz 
heavier than doves, although last week I shot two doves 
thcit weighed Soz. each. 
Some years ago I shot in California and Oregon a few 
mountain quail very much larger— the exact weight I for- 
get. The quail in the valleys there are no larger than in 
Florida. 
It's all right about the man shooting from the hip- 
he has a blunderbus, and his extreme range is 6yds 1 
dont shoot with that man. Thos. B. Dobell 
tHnj^ §Hg md 
Proprietors of fishing and hunting resorts will find it profitable 
to advertise them in Forest and Strkam. 
York'^'^*' 2-15.— National Sportsmen's Association Exposition, New 
The "Brief's" Picttires. 
The mustratioMs m the current edition of Game Laws in Brief, 
Mr. Charles Hallock says, well represent America's wilderness 
sports. The Br.ef gives all the laws of the United States and 
Canada for the practical guidance of anglers and shooters. As 
an auth.rity,. ,t has a long record of unassailed and unassailable 
accuracy. Forest and Stream Pub. Co. sends it postpaid for 25 
cents, or your dealer will supply you. 
Shootmg: from the Hip, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
ntibl/'tln interest the articles recently' 
published in your paper in regard to shooting from the 
hip, and am surprised that the merits of shooting in 
r^.lT'T^'' ''^T •'^^^ l'"le known or appre- 
?hnf 1'n ''^ ^'"^v," °^ ^ °f P^^s°"s who have 
shot in this ^vay with very great success, and they have 
alway. claimed that they very rarely missed their birds. 
Mr. Jackson Van Wyck, of Fishkill, who died some 
years ago, was for very many years before his death re- 
garded by those who knew him as the finest shot in this 
county and to say that he very rarely failed to kill his 
bird is to speak entirely within bounds. During his whole 
ife he invariably shot from the hip, and he always claimed 
thf shouldci ^ "'"''^ accurately in this way than from 
On one occasion many years ago I was with him when 
we flushed a partridge in thick cover, neither of us saw 
the bird but he guided by the sound only, raised his gun 
to his hip, fired and killed the bird, and in two or 
three moments it was brought in by the dog. 
On expressing my surprise, he assured 'me that this 
wa,s a very common occurrence, and I have been assured 
by thase who have had the pleasure of hunting with him 
that this was true. 
Some years ago a young gentleman, living in this city 
and then about fifteen or sixteen vears of age, was spend- 
ing his vacation at RockAvell's, at Lucerne, in the Adiron- 
clacks, and on one occasion while there was permitted to 
jom m a contest for a prize to be awarded at the most 
successful shot at glass balls, and to the surprise of every 
one, he shot exclusively from the hip, never missed a 
ball, and carried oS the prize. On two or three other 
occasions while there he was almost equal Iv successful 
very rarely missing a ball. ' ^ ' 
During his visit there he very frequently accompanied 
one ot the guides who was shooting game for the table 
and he very rarely missed either partridge or wood- 
coek. 
There are probably many readers of your paper who 
will remember this occurrence, but I refrain from giv- 
ing this gentleman's name, as I have not asked his per- 
mission to do so. . ■ ^ 
What makes this last instance more remarkable is the 
tact that this person was very near-sighted, and was al 
ways obliged to wear glasses. 
These are two instances upon which I can speak posi- 
tively, but they certainly bear out the contention of Jacob- 
staff m his interesting article in your issue of this week. 
J. S. Van Clekf. 
POUGHKEEPSIE, Feb. '2b. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reacb iis at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicably, 
