AS 2 8 
Duck Shooting on Great South Bay. 
During the week of the Grand American Handicap a 
party of gentlemen, headed by the veteran duck shooter 
Mr. Frank Lawrence, decided to take a trip to Great 
South Bay after ducks. As duck and brant had been 
reported plentiful arrangements were made for two days' 
shooting. The party consisted of Messrs. Thomas Mc- 
Cahill, of the Hotel Marlborough; William Monroe, of 
Brooklyn; Frank Lawrence and Isaac Ford, of New 
York. 
Arriving at the meeting place, which was to be tlie 
Flatbush Station, L, 1. R.R., Brooklyn, it was discovered 
that Messrs. Monroe and Ford had come without guns, 
Their excuse was they did not know much about duck 
shooting and cared more for the outing. 
At Babylon the party were met by Capt. Gus Smalling, 
who escorted them to his boat, the Bettie E.. which was 
all fixed up fo.r the occasion and was supplied with dou- 
ble battery and some 150 decoys. Sail was hoisted at 
once and they started east toward Fire Island Light. At 
Cedar. Island Flats a stop was made to look around over 
the grounds and pick out a suitable place, there being a 
great many things to consider, such as depth of water, 
feeding grounds, wind, tide, etc. It was finally decided 
to fix out on Kadney Shoal, several miles east of Fire 
Island Light. 
While the captain and mate were putting out the bat- 
tery and arranging the decoys a coin was tossed to see 
who would go out first. The lot fell to Messrs. Monroe 
and Ford, who at once took their places in the battery, 
and as both men weigh over 240 pounds each it was diffi- 
cult for them to keep close ; consequently the birds saw 
them first, as it were, and their shots were few. Their two 
hours being up, Messrs. Lawrence and McCahill got in. 
By that time the wind had died out and the birds stopped 
flying. ' Mr. McCahill got disgusted and signaled the 
captain to come out and get him; and as Mr. Ford re- 
fused to go out again Mr. Monroe got in with Mr. Law- 
rence. In aboitt half an hour from that time the wind 
commenced to blow and the ducks commenced to move; 
and at the end of two hours some twenty nice broabills 
had been shot and gathered. 
The next morning daylight found Mr. Lawrence and 
Mr. McCahill in the box with everjrthing favorable, and 
the result was that forty-four more were added to the 
bunch, which was now large enough for any party to feel- 
proud of; At II A. M., the weather looking threatening, 
a start for home was made, all being well pleased with 
the trip. B. C. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Jacksnipe. 
Chicago, 111., April 21. — The jacksnipe are up in hun- 
dreds and thousands over this part of the country. Tele- 
grams from Kouts, Ind., to-day, state that the birds are 
there in very great numbers. I have a telegram to-day 
from Johnnie Klehm, of Arlington Heights, that the birds 
are in there also, and this point is sixty miles north of the 
main grounds of Indiana and lower Illinois. From Lock- 
port comes word that the birds are in on the spring 
marshes. Elgin is not yet heard from, and it is thought 
that the season will close (next Wednesday) just about 
the time this more northern locality is beginning to get 
good. 
Last week Mr. O. Von Lengerke, who has become one 
of our most ardent snipe hunters, was out and got a bag 
of eighteen, his friend Mr. Harry High getting fourteen 
the same day. This was at Kouts. This week Mr. Ed- 
wards is down at the same place, and is having good 
sport. 
D^y before yesterday Mr. Jas. Harding, who lives at 
Forty-seventh street, this city, bagged thirteen nice jacks 
right near his home, actually within the city limits of 
Chicago. 
The sag country, southwest of here, was good for only 
two' days. Yesterday it gave but poor returns to those 
who went out there. 
At.Maksawba Club the birds are coming in to-day, and 
the ensuing week promises good sport there, probably as 
good as has been known for many seasons. The high 
water is general, and though this scatters the birds over a 
lot of country, it brings up more in numbers. 
Hon. Hempstead Washburne, ex-Mayor of Chicago, 
went yesterday to Coal City, on the Santa Fe. He says 
there is a nice, easy bit of marsh down there, where one 
does not go knee deep, and where he can get a decent 
bag none the less. Lorenzo is touted also as a good point 
on the Santa Fe. 
The big marshes are so wet this spring that one needs 
to know the game in order to get a good bag. After 
9 o'clock and thence on to ri A. M. hunt the wet marsh, 
so says a good snipe shot here. Then go to the dry marsh 
and warm meadows. 
Plover. 
The golden plover are not up yet in any considerable 
numbers. At Peru, Ind., this week, some 100 miles below 
here, I saw several flocks of these birds, but they do not 
seem to have worked so far up as this point as yet. The 
last week of May is held the best for this bird, and as it 
happ,e.ns, the last week of May is this year cut off from 
the permitted, things. Methinks this will break Italian 
Joe's heart, or mayhap his conscience. 
Robins. 
Some shooters shoot ducks, sonie shoot snipe and some 
shoot 'rpbins. ' If you were raised in Europe, and never 
dared own a gun, and if you came to this land of liberty 
to grow up with the country, you maybe might like to 
use your liberty by shooting anything you came across. 
Some shooters of this city feel that way about it, think- 
ing that freedom ouight to mean freedorh, or else the 
country should take down the sign. Mbrfsignor^" Angelo 
Shilotto and his compadre, Angelo Ghedotto, were out 
after birds this week, and shot anything they could, in- 
cluding several robins. They showed these to Deputy 
Ratto, who had them fined $60. They are said to have 
confided to friends their personal belief that this is not 
really a land of the free. 
^iseonsia Iaw Brokco* 
There are some citizens up in Wisconsin who also think 
FOREST I AND « STREAM. 
this is no longer, the land of the free. Wisconsin has 
abolished spring shooting, or passed a law prohibiting it; 
not exactly the same in point of results. Many violations 
are reported from Fox Lake, Wis., and two men there 
killed fifty-seven ducks on one day. The game wardens 
got around just too late. 
The Mauser in Peace and in Wit, 
Friend Hotchkiss, of the Fox Lake Representative, 
states that he killed three geese this year with his Mauser 
rifle, out of flocks which came too close to his eagle eye. 
The Mauser is great in peace and war. 
From VcfmoQt. 
Mr. N. P. Leach, of the Robin Hood Powder Com- 
pany, Swanton, Vt., is in town this week looking around. 
It is not Mr. Leach's first trip West. He has crossed the 
Rocldes fourteen times, and has shot as far north as the 
Saskatchewan, as far west as Vancouver Island. Mr. 
Leach is a shooter, an angler and a naturalist. He brings 
to mind his earlier statement as to the identity of the 
dusky mallard and the regular mallard of the West. Mr. 
Leach kept some dusky ducks or black mallards for 
many years. At the end of six years he saw the heads of 
his black ducks bagin to turn green, their backs to show 
lighter colors. They did this in the spring, growing dark 
again in the fall. In twelve years his black ducks had 
changed color completely and were full pluihaged mal- 
lards such as we see all over the West. He says the 
Kankakee marshes are about the western limit of the 
black duck, east' of which the black duck is seen almost 
exclusively. 
This is very curious information indeed. M^. Leach 
says it is simply another case of coloration, just as the 
black and silver gray foxes are really red foxes, and 
just as the black squirrel of the East is the gray squirrel 
of the West. He says that he notes that a black fox is 
always heavier than a red fox. A black moose is apt to 
be heavier than a light colored one. These things are mat- 
ters for reflection. Who can tell what makes one fish from 
a pool red in meat, another pale yellow ? The same can 
perhaps explain how food or climate can differentiate 
ducks into mallards and black ducks. 
The Minnesota Park at Washington. 
Col, Cooper is back from Washington, and I had a long 
talk with him to-day. It may be best to let him use his 
own words as to what he modestly thinks may have 
been accomplished by his visit to Washington. He speaks 
in highest terms of his assistants there, and says that 
Congressman Tawney, of Winona, Minn., deserves much 
praise for what he has done. The park matter was never 
in so good shape as it is this day. If the joint commis- 
sion is appointed, as it appears very likely may be the 
case, it is almost sure that the investigation will be 
honest, thorough and painstaking. That means that the 
timber thefts are stopped, and is tantamount to a declara- 
tion for the reserve. Col. Cooper, Mr. Tawney, Mrs. 
Williams — let these names be remembered. This is what 
Col. Cooper said to-day: 
'Yes, I have just come from Washington, where I was 
looking after matters connected with the proposed Minne- 
sota National Park, for the best part of three weeks. 
"The great problem was, and has been from the start, to 
get a common ground satisfactory to the Representatives 
of the State of Minnesota in the National Congress. The 
reason is that when any legislation is proposed affecting 
the property or interests of any one State, there is a 
comity existing which rather requires (in all cases where 
men might differ) that the consensus of opinion of the 
representation from such State should be in line with the 
proposed legislation. 
*T found none of the Representatives of Minnesota hos- 
tile to the creation of the proposed park, but rather con- 
cerned as to how it might affect their constituents, and 
also as to the wishes of the latter. 
"Hon. James W. Tawney, of Winona, Minn., one of 
the strong characters in the House, both in point of 
ability, influence and mental acquirements, had suggested 
during the Congressional expedition last fall that the 
proper evolution of the park idea would probably be the 
creation of a joint commission from the House and Sen- 
ate to look into the entire matter, and report to Congress. 
When I arrived in Washington Mr. Tawney was un- 
fortunately absent, at the bedside of his sick wife in 
Minnesota, but my acquaintance with the Members of 
Congress and the Senators from Minnesota was such that 
I could talk the matter over with them freely and fully, 
and it was all the more fortunate, because Minnesota hap- 
pens to be represented to-day in Congress by a class of 
men who, each in his own way, is a mighty fine specimen 
of statesmanship, and all that is implied therein, and who 
are recognized in both Senate and House as a very great 
credit to their great State. 
"It was owing wholly to the high character and ability 
of the two Senators and the seven Representatives frorn 
the State of Minnesota that it was possible to get them to 
either actively or tacitly agree to a joint resolution in the 
House and Senate appointing a joint commission to in- 
vestigate and report respecting this proposed park. You 
must understand that there are people in Minnesota, con- 
stituents and friends of their respective Representatives in 
Congress and Senators, who are rather opposed to the 
creation of this park, more from want of understanding 
the m.atter and its proper effect upon them and their in- 
terests than otherwise. The result of it all was that 
on April Ti Mr. Tawney in the House and Senator Davis 
in the Senate introduced the following joint resolution: 
Joint Resolution Cooccrniog' Certain Chippewa Indian 
Reservations in Minnesota. 
" 'Resolved by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States of America in Congress as- 
sembled. That a commission consisting of the Chairmen 
of this. Com.matt;ees on Indian Affairs and Public Lands 
of the Senate and House of Representatives and five 
members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President 
of the Senate, and five members of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, to be appointed by the Speaker, is hereby 
created to investigate tlie question whether it is practicable 
and desirable for the United States to create a national 
park upon and within the lands known as the reservations 
of the Mississippi Chippewas, Leech Lake, Winne- 
digoshish and Cass I^e Indians, in Minnesota, the said 
[April 28, 1900. 
lands comprising an area of about 830,063 acres, including 
Leech, Winnebigoshish, Cass and numerous smaller lakes, 
together with the Mississippi and other rivers and streams, 
comprising about one-fourth of the entire tract as water 
area, 
" 'Sec. 2. That said commission is authorized to 
employ experts in forestry and an Indian interpreter to aid 
in the work of inquiry and examination; also to employ 
a clerk and stenographer and such other clerical as- 
sistance as may be necessary, said experts, interpreter, 
clerks and stenographer to be paid such compensation as 
the said commission may deem just and reasonable. 
_ " 'For the purposes of the investigation said commis- 
sion is authorized to send for persons and papers, and, 
through the chairman of the commission or the chairman 
of any sub-committee thereof, to administer oaths and to 
examine witnesses and papers respecting all matters per- 
taining to the duties of said commission, and to sit during 
the recess of Congress; and said commission, or a sub- 
committee thereof, is authorized to visit said reservations 
for the purpose of making personal inspection thereof, 
and also to ascertain the disposition of the Indians thereon 
toward having said region converted into a national park. 
" 'The Secretary of the Interior shall detail from time 
to time such ofiicers and employees and cause such maps, 
charts and photographs of said region to be prepared 
and such information to be furnished for his Department 
as may be requested by said commission" in its investiga- 
tion. 
" 'Said commission shall, on or before Jan. 15, anno 
Domini X901, make report to Congress, which report shall 
embrace the testimony and evidence taken in the course 
of the investigation, also the conclusions reached by said 
commission on the subject examined, and any recom- 
mendations said commission may see proper to make by 
bill or otherwise, with the view of securing such legisla- 
tion as shall be in the interest of the United States and 
said Indians. 
" 'Sec. 3. That any vacancy occurring in the member- 
ship of said commission, by resignation or otherwise, shall 
be filled by the presiding officer of the Senate or House, 
respectively, according as the vacancy occurs in the Senate 
or House representation on said commission. 
" 'Sec, 4. That the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, to pay the 
necessary expenses of said commission, such payments to 
be made on the certificate of the chairman of said com- 
mission.' 
"In each body the above was referred to the Com- 
mittee on Indian Affairs, In the House a sub-committee 
of five was apopinted to consider the joint resolution and 
report back to the general committee. The sub-com- 
mittee was composed as follows. Messrs. Lacey, of Iowa ; 
Curtis, of Kansas; Stewart, of Wisconsin; Stephens, of 
Texas, and Little, of Arkansas. 
"In the Senate the sub-committee was composed of 
Senators Quarles, of Wisconsin; McCumber, of North 
Dakota, and McLaurin, of South Carolina. 
"We hope for a report from the sub-committees to 
their respective general committees, and by the latter to 
Congress, recommending the passage of the joint resolu- 
tion as introduced, or with such modification as the two 
committees may think proper, and the passage of the joint 
resolution by the two Houses of Congress before the close 
of this session. 
"The proposition is so fair a one (viz., to create a 
tribunal of such high character and disinterestedness as 
this must necessarily be, charged with the duty of investi- 
gating and determining whether 'it is practical and desir- 
able for the United States to create a national park,' within 
the region in question), that whether one is for or against 
the creation of the park, it should make no difference, be- 
cause this tribunal is boimd to settle that question fairly 
and righteously in the interests of the United States and 
the people thereof and the State of Minnesota, and also 
of the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota. 
"In my opinion, the only difficulty in the way lies in the 
tremendous pressure of business upon the members of 
Congress at this present session. I have never seen a body 
of four or five hundred gentlemen interested in a busi- 
ness, who were so laborious, painstaking and worn out a 
lot of people as the Senators and Members of Congress of 
the United States at this present session. They give evi- 
dences of it, not only in their constant employment, as yoti 
see them at Washington, but also in the strained lines of 
their faces. They look more tired and worn out than any 
lot of men you will find in this awful square mile down 
here in the heart of Chicago. 
"By the way, if this joint commission is created, if the 
movement for the national park has no other beneficent 
^ect, it will certainly have this, to take a lot of these 
servants of the people (and they are servants in truth and 
in fact) up to northern Minnesota next summer and give 
them, while they are discharging their duties, a rest and 
recreation to which they and their associates in both 
houses of Congress are all justly entitled. 
"To make it short: When this movement was started 
last summer, the gentlemen interested in promoting it had 
every confidence m the fairness and ability of the Con- 
gress of the United States to do what would be just and 
right. As one of those parties, I must say that the con- 
fidence which I then had has since my experience of the 
last three weeks ripened into absolute assurance. 
"This statement is made upon the confident belief that 
the great body of anglers and hunters, lovers of nature, 
friends of the Indian and thoughtful citizens, who look 
into the future with grave apprehension at the slaughter 
of our forests, will each, in his own wav, let his Repre- 
sentative in Congress know his wishes." 
Mr. Lacey, of Iowa, chairman of the House suh-coirir 
mittee, is just the man who would have been most desired 
for that place. He is always at the front when matters 
of game and forest preservation are concerned, and he will 
go into this work with no lukewarm spirit and no under- 
done information. Mr. Curtis, of Kansas, is the author 
of a bill in this very conqection which has attracted ..some 
attention, and which has been earlier mentioned here 
The name of Mr. Stephens, of Texas, is not so familiar, 
nor is that of Mr. Little, of "Arkansas. Mr. Stewart, of 
Wisconsin, ought to have seen enough forest history about 
acre. That is about what the Indians are still getting 
There is every reason to hope for the success of the park 
movement. It has reached success to-day in a very large 
measure' The lumbering operations on those reserva- 
tions have been stopped. Now if the commission goes in 
