FOREST AND oTREAM. 
of the arm. But in that respect he was by no means 
like the old nurse— in fact, he babbled, as we shall see 
in the course of this narrative. He seemed to take more 
interest in the gun tlian in the matting to be made, for 
he examined it verj^ carefully, with repeated shakings 
of his wise old head, and finally said: "I'm surprised that 
this gun is in such a neglected condition. If your dead 
father could see it he would turn around in his grave. 
Dont' you know. boy. that this is the first gun 3^our own 
grandfather bought for his son (your own father) when he 
was a boy of your age? T was with the old man and your 
father the tirne he bought the gray horse; and the gun 
was bought the same day. Oh, if this gun could talk; 
but I remember that ever since the breechloaders came 
out your dad never used it much. This was forty-eight 
3'ears ago, my boy; forty-eight years." . His honest blue 
eyes had a sad look. Nevertheless, he proceeded to push 
the screw end of the ramrod down, and brought forth 
the wadding until he had both loads removed. "Now, 
boy, these loads may have been in the gun fi\c, or six 
years for all I know; but I am wondering how your 
father put a loaded gun away; it was not his custom to 
be so careless with weapons. Come to-morrow evening 
and get it." But by to-morrow evening half the little 
town knew; of the heavy charge found in B.'"s stutzen, for 
Eger had found occasion to talk about it to his chum, 
the one-legged harnessmaker next door, while imbibing 
their morning drink of birshwasser. 
The stutzen stayed in my possession until I left the 
country in i88a, then was left behind in my older brother's 
keeping. Since then I have had different guns, cheap 
ones and good ones, but none of them so dear to my 
memory as the old stutzen, although I love any and all 
shooting irons. C. F. B. 
Danbury, Conn. 
New Brunswick Notes. 
Two years ago, largely upon my advice, Mr. Fred 
Talcbtt, of Providence, came to New Brunswick for a 
moose hunt. Mr. Talcott was unsuccessful that time 
through mistaking the horns of a big bull in the tote 
road for an upturned root; but he returned in 1898 and 
bagged his game. This year, however, Mr. Talcott 
covered himself with glory, for he not only shot a very 
fine moose but called the animal himself. It does a 
man — especially a sick man, who is denied the camp- 
fire's cheering glow — good to receive a letter such as 
this from Mr. Talcott: 
"We went, my friend Mr. E. L. Johnson, of this city 
and myself, from Blackville, up the South Jtsrancn of the 
Renous. Our men were new at the work of guiding, and 
I relied upon my own calling. Monday night, the 25th 
ult, I was out alone on a small beaver meadow, and at 
about 5:15 heard an answer far away in a swamp. The 
old fellow came along, making at times a great smash- 
ing, and reached the edge of the clearing in about an 
hour after dark. From my position it was about looyds, 
across the open to the bushes, and there the bull showed 
a tendency to pause. Afraid to sound the horn at so 
short a range, I crawled into a small brook at hand 
and mussed up the water like a wading animal. That 
started my friend, and he came with a rush to within 
20yds. and stopped again. I could not make out his 
shape definitely, and waited about ten minutes, hoping he 
would turn sideways. He was a noisy old chap, and 
roared as I have never heard any other moose. My 
position was certainly a puzzling one. I paddled the 
water again; then dropped the horn and held the rifle 
ready, expecting him to appear on the bank above me, 
but instead of doing this he circled and crossed the brook 
to my side and gradually worked away, I went back 
to camp, reproaching myself for not taking the uncertain 
shot offered, instead of wainting for a sure thing. The 
next morning at daybreak Mr. Johnson and I were at the 
same place, and in half an hour I had called the moose 
back again, and we killed him. He had a twenty-point 
set of horns, measuring over 50in. wide in the main 
blades and 46in. across the front prongs, and 13ft. 3in. 
around the points. He stood 6ft. 7in. at the shoulder, 
so the boys claimed. I think they allowed that he walked 
on his toes. We succeeded in bringing out all the meat, 
as we had a team of horses near where he fell. I am 
glad to get such a head, and especially pleased to have 
called him myself. It has been one of the ambitions of 
my life to go out alone and call a moose. A pleasant 
part of the trip was the way the Blackville people treated 
us — not in so pretentious a way, but just as well as 
New York treated Dewey." 
Up to the time of this writing the sportsmen who went 
in from Fredericton this fall have maintained their ex- 
traordinary' record. Not one as yet has com.e out with- 
out his complement of horns. The few cases of failure 
I have heard of have chiefly occurred in the Tobique 
country, which has been in places overcrowded. Oc- 
casionally one hears of a sportsman who declines to shoot 
unless he can secure a notable head. Such is the state- 
ment made of my friend. Carl Pickhardt, who hunted this 
year in the Trowsers Lake country. Mr. Pickhardt had 
three chances at moose, but none of them having re- 
markable heads he refrained from bloodshed. Mr. Pick- 
hardt took home, however, an unusually good caribou 
head. . ^ - . 
Mr. E. E. Adams and wife, of Rockville, Conn., passed 
through St. John on Monday after a most enjoyable trip 
in the Northern woods. Mr. Adams had a moose head 
of which he was justly proud. 
One of the best moose heads that has been taken for 
some years in the Gaspereaux country is the property of 
Mr. John W. Murray, who iives in that localitj'. This 
moose put up quite an exciting fight before he was 
brought down, and left Mr. Murray a trifle shy m the 
item of pants. His horns are very shapely, and have a 
width of sSin. 
Mr. W. T. Fowle, of Woburn, Mass., returned the 
other afternoon from his annual hunt in Braithwaite's 
- land. Mr. Fowle's immediate vicinity as he passed 
through Fredericton was adorned with the decorative 
features of a moose and a bear. 
Mr. E. S. Steinam and friend, of New York, are ex- 
pected out to-morrow from Grand John Lake. No re- 
cent word has been received of them, but at last accounts 
fhejf had hung up their full allowance of deer and caribou. 
Among successmul moose hunters on the Tobique in 
the region of Nictaux Lake are Thomas Martindale, of 
Philadelphia, and G. P. Cam.m_an and friend, of New 
York. These had as their quide "Uncle" Adam Moore, 
of Scotch Lake. 
J. H. Ross, of Chicago; E. P. Hetherington and J. 
S. Walker, of Minneapolis, formed a party which had an 
unique experience on the hunting grounds of Cain's 
f^iver. They were encamped at the mouth of Otter 
Brook. One morning they were awakened by a tre- 
mendous splashing in the river. Rushing out, they 
met almost face to face a large herd of caribou charging 
up the bank. At sight of the Western folks the caribou 
formed a circle, during which time Mr. Walker developed 
sufficient presence of mind to secure his rifle from the 
tent. With this he shot a very fine buck with antlers 
numbering thirty-three points. At the report of the 
rifle a renewed splashing was heard in the river, while 
the caribou hastily departed. Proceeding to the bank, 
Mr. Walker was fortunate enough to shoot, as the animal 
started up the opposite shore, a large black bear. Bruin 
had evidentlv stampeded the herd. 
Charles Frioroclan, of Boston, and Mr. C. S. Pierce, 
of Worcester, Mass., arrived to-day from Arthur 
Pringle's hunting grounds, on the Norwest. Each se- 
cured a specimen head both of moose and caribou. Mr. 
Pierce's caribou had thirty-three points, and his moose 
head measured 53in. Mr. J. S. Ehrich, of New York, also 
brought out a fine moose head. Dr. B. S.Thorne, of Have- 
lock, in a short trip to the Canaan, shot a moose and cari- 
bou. O. H. Humphrey, Jas. E. Cox and W.F.Dunphy, of 
Waltham, Mass., have gone into 'Grand John Lake for a 
caribou hunt. The party will return in about ten days 
if Shamrock beats Columbia. However, they may take 
to the woods. Frank H. Risteen. 
Fredericton, Oct. S. 
Massachusetts Game. 
Worcester, Mass., Sept. zg— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I inclose an interview with myself in Sunday's 
Telegram. It is correct except as to one point — the 
season which, because dry, has been favorable to par- 
tridge and quail, has not been good for keeping wood- 
cock here. The interview follows: 
A. B. F. Kinney. 
Mr. Kinney says he makes his statements as presi- 
dent of the Worcester County Game Protective Asso- 
ciation. This gives them added weight, and they will 
be subjects of serious comment among sportsmen. 
"At the opening of the bird season, Sept. 15." said 
Mr. Kinney, "I spent two days visiting different covers. 
I shot twenty-five years ago, and I shoot to-day. The 
covers I visited are around Sutton, and they are per- 
fectly familiar to me. In all I visited four towns and 
forty or more different covers. I drove around in a 
team, and was accompanied by John M. White, of 
Sutton. 
"I make this statement from observations of twenty- 
five years. Where there is one partridge to-day, there 
were twenty-five partridges fifteen, twenty or twenty- 
five years ago. 
"T went into the same covers I did then. There 
should be partridges there if anywhere. It it not the 
fault of the covers being thinned out. As a matter of 
fact, the covers are thicker than ever. Some that were 
cut off are up in sprouts. It is clearly not because tim- 
ber has been cut off. Nowhere else in the State are 
there thicker and better covers than in central Massa- 
chusetts. 
"Now. what is the cause of the scarcity of birds? 
"The answer is easy. Where there was one good 
brush shot twenty-five years ago, there are now twenty 
or twenty-five; where there was one good bird dog in 
Worcester twenty-five years ago, there are now twenty 
or twenty-five, and while there was one breechloader 
twenty-five years ago, there were many more muzzle- 
loaders. 
"There are three causes then— better brush shooters, 
better firearms and better bird dogs. Naturally, there 
are more of all. 
"The better brush shooters have been developed from 
work at the traps and a healthy love of outdoor sport. 
"There is another factor to be considered in the shoot- 
ers out after birds now. That is the man who hunts for 
market purposes. He is out to kill without limit. It 
is a business. There is none of the sport before him 
as he seeks birds. . 
"This must all be remedied or in a few years the 
partridge will be wiped out. The question is how it 
shall be done. 
"I believe steps should be taken to prevent this ex- 
termination, either by limiting the number of birds to 
be shot in a day and the season, or by shortening the 
season, or by both. 
"The number of birds allowed to be shot in a season 
could be placed at a figure to be decided on. The 
season should at least be cut down to six or perhaps 
four weeks. It could begin say Oct. r, and last until 
the middle of November. 
"We have got to do it. not only to increase birds 
but if we are to save what are already here. 
"You will still find the man in the brush hunting 
who maintains there are as many birds as twenty or 
twenty-five years ago. It is not so. My observations, 
as the result of twenty-five years' hunting allow me to 
form an intelligent judgment. 
"What few flocks found are large, tut they are not 
numerous. 
"Market hunting must be stopped, and the season 
shortened. Otherwise it will be a question of only a 
few years before the partridges are cleaned out. I am 
talking of birds within a radius of fifteen miles of 
Worcester. 
"Worcester sportsmen are kicking at the close season 
law on Sunday, but it has been in force for a long 
time in other States. In Connecticut no one is allowed 
to shoot over five birds in a day, or thirty-five in a sea- 
son, and the law is not off until the middle of October. 
"In regard to the number of birds, it is different with 
quail; although the same season tliat has been beneficial 
to partridges this vear has been detrimental to them, 
there seems to be' plenty. Worcester County Game 
Protective Association has liberated birds from year to 
year and added to the. number by putting out 7So this 
season. It looks as if there would be reasonably good 
shooting when the quail season opens on Oct.^ 15? 
"The woodcock season is on, but few birds have 
been shot. This was because woodcock cleared out to 
a wetter place. Most of the woodcock shooting this 
year will be at flight birds. Take Paxton as a northern 
point, and the southern part of Worcester county is the 
best shooting place tor flight birds in New England 
This flight of woodcock will last only a few days, as long 
as the weatlier is favorable. The start also depends on 
the weather. 
"Worcester County Game Protective Association has 
decided not to release any more English pheasants this 
year on account of sportsmicn, shooting some of those 
already put out. There have been seventy-five young 
birds and twenty-five old ones set free. The young 
thrived and did well. The trouble is they have taken 
to covers with young partridges. This accounts for 
their getting shot. It is almost impossible to tell a 
young pheasant and partridge apart as their rise from 
a cover. All pheasants shot have been killed innocently, 
and in each case the sportsman has come to me and 
told about it; 
"It is in- view of the fact that they are taking to 
these covers with young partridges, that the Associa- 
tion has decided to withhold the 100 pheasans scheduled 
to be put out before Nov. i, and they will not be set 
free until spring. They can then mate and bring, up 
broods, and nine-tenths will be located before the bird 
shooting season opens in the fall, and we will know 
where they are." 
Boston and Maine. 
Boston, Oct. 7. — Shore bird shooters in this vicinity 
and all along the .south and north shores are a good deal 
concerned over what they regard as a spasmodic attempt 
at enforcing the Sunday non-shooting laws. Last winter 
the Massachusetts Legislature passed a new law making 
every Sunday in the year a close time on game birds. 
The new law reads: 
Chapter 116, Acts of 1899. — Every Lord's day shall be 
close season. Whoever hunts or destroys birds or game 
of any kind on the Lord's day shall be liable to the 
penalties imposed for violation of the law during other 
. close seasons, and such penalties shall be in addition to 
those already imposed for violation of the laws relating to 
shooting upon the Lord's day. 
• Sportsmen have felt that no attempt would be made 
toward enforcing this law, and about the usual amount of 
Sunday gunning has been done. So far no arrests have , 
been made. But Chief Wade, of the District Police, has 
lately been called upon to enforce the law. Willingly, or 
otherwise, he sent a squad of officers, under the leadership 
of Capt. Proctor, last Sunday, to patrol the shores of 
Massachusetts Bay, in the police steamer Lexington. The 
boat sailed from 5 o'clock Sunday morning till dark, but 
either by reason of the weather, or because the gimners 
had had a warning, no arrests were made. The territory 
watched extended from Rockport on the north shore to 
Plymouth on the south shore, but only two suspicious 
cases were observed, and these were not arrested. It is 
understood that this patrol of the shore is to be kept up, 
and that later, when duck and coot shooting is on, the 
Sunday shooters, out in boats, will be in, danger. The 
partridge and quail gunners, some of them, say that they 
shall continue to shoot on Sunday, and that if the State 
wants to patrol the woods there is an opportunity; in 
which case it will be a trial of the best man, the gunner ■ 
or the officer of the law. To say the least, the gunners 
are much displeased at what they regard as a foolish 
attempt to bring them under laws long since obsolete. 
Moose seem to be Avorking down nearer the settled 
towns in Maine. Dr. Daintree, of Lewiston, has word 
from a farmer in Webster that a big moose has been down 
among his cattle. The same gentleman has a letter from 
his guide, in the Millinocket range, stating that he has 
come across twenty-two moose and 150 deer in that 
section this season. The doctor is a noted moose hunter 
. and will be among them as soon as the law permits, ac- 
companied by Mrs. Daintree. Another moose has been 
killed by a Maine railway train, other than the one killed 
by the Bangor & Aroostock, Sunday, Oct. i. This tinie 
the narrow gauge, fi-om Hiram Junction to Harrison, is 
guilty. Mr. Samuel Scribner, who was on the train at the 
time, says that the moose was inside the railway fences 
and trotting along when the train appeared. Then he 
kept running ahead of the train. Several times it was 
slowed down, in order not to kill the animal. At last the 
moose ran into a clump of bushes, and the engineer 
thought he had disappeared. All steam was put on, when 
suddenly the animal attempted to cross the track ahead of 
the engine. This time he was too near, and two of his 
/egs were broken. The trainmen decided to kill him. 
A Bangor special says that the provision men are 
much displeased with the new law concerning the selling 
of game in open season. That law provides that market- 
men shall have not more than three deer exposed for sale 
at any one time; that they shall keep a record, open to 
the inspection of wardens or the Commissioners, showing 
of whom the deer was purchased, at what time and other 1 
details;- that they shall sell only at retail and to local* 
customers, and for this privilege pay an annual license fee 
of $S. In addition to this, they cannot sell partridges at 
all. The report says that the Bangor marketmen have 
entered into an agreement not to sell deer at all. Hence 
Bangor will have to go without venison, which has here- 
tofore been very plenty in that city in open season, while, 
through evasion of the non-transportation law, Boston 
market is likely to be fully supplied. The report also sug- 
gests that the marketmen of other Maine cities are likely 
to join them, and not handle venison at all. Possibly this 
is one of the first steps upon the Forest and Stream's, 
platform Plank — "Stop the Sale of Game at all Seasons."| 
Oct. 9. — The smelt fishermen are at work and good suc- 
cess is reported all along the shore. Many dozens 
are being taken off Quincy, Hull and Nantasket. A psGrtyi 
of fishermen for smelt went down to Scituate Saturday 
evening; to return to-day. They had reports of the smelt 
biting well. Sunday evening I saw five smelt fisher- 
men at the Southern Union Station, with their rods and 
baskets, waiting to take the train for Quincy. It is a- 
■ curious fact that, although Chief Wade is patrolling thei 
