Nov. 3, 1900,] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
SSI 
Fishing Out of Season. 
My memory of events of my youth does not go back 
so far as that of "Gran'ther Hill of Danvis," but I was 
once a boy of ten, at which age my taste for fishing was 
well developed, and in spring I was ever impatient for 
the arrival of the time when the condition of weather 
and water would justify a trip to the brook with a pos- 
sibility of catching a few trout. The only close season 
then known was when the streams were closed by ice. At 
all other times stream fishing was not debarred. 
In April of a certain year a warm wind from the 
south, accompanied hy heavy rain, cleared the adjacent 
brooks and larger streams of ice; a succession of days 
with clear skies and bright, warm sun laid bare the 
knolls and points of rocks in the hill pastures. Cooler 
weather soon followed with .sufficient frost to check the 
melting snow ; the streams and brooks soon cleared and 
resumed their ordinary stage. Sugar making season had 
arrived. One night an early morning snow fell to a depth 
of 10 or 12 inches, a light, feathery "sugar snow," and 
the sun shone out bright and warm, promising a perfect 
'"sap day." The older males of the family were off iar-e 
the sugar camp to put everything in order to secure the 
expected flow of sap. The boy's legs were too short to 
wade in the snow in the sugar orchard. He was left 
at home to do chores about the house. 
I was left alone ; the day was bright and wann ; the 
chores were done ; several hours nmst elapse before any 
active duties must be performed. I must meantime have 
occupation. What should I do during those ensuing 
hours? The thought struck to go a-fishing. Acting on 
the impulse, I resurrected the trout tackle of last season. 
It was all complete, but I had no bait — no angle dogs 
could be found at that season. I must have bait to catch 
at least one trout. With one in hand I knew how to 
utilize that fish for a further supply. Five or six half- 
decayed maple logs were lying in a field not far distant. 
I had seen grubs in logs of that character. With an 
axe I attacked one of those logs, and soon had an ample 
bait suppl}'. About this time m}' mother suspected I 
had something on hand of an unusual character, and asked 
for an explanation. I made known my proposed visit 
to the brook, which did not meet her approval. She 
said I could catch no fish, would get my feet and legs 
soaking wet, catch a cold and be sick, and had better come 
in the house and studj- my Sunday school lesson and let 
the fishing go until fishing season should arrive. I argued 
that getting wet had never resulted unfavorably, the Sun- 
day school literature could be consulted in the evening. I 
had everything ready and knew the trout would bite. 
Mother's hoy generally wins his contentioii. I carried my 
point. Wrapping the legs of my pants around their re- 
spective ankles, making fast with a string, that no snow 
should find lodgment between the bootleg and pants, rod 
in hand I struck out for the stream. The snow, moist and 
soft, ranging in depth from the knee to the waist, offered 
no discouraging impediment to locomotion. Speedily ar- 
riving at an open pool in a bend of the stream, I impaled 
a fat grub on my hook and cast it into the water. I was 
not long in su.spense. A bite followed, and then a 4-ounce 
trout was landed in the soft, clean snow. 
Encouraged by success, I visited other pools, until six 
fair-sized trout dangled from my forked stick. One other 
and the last pool remained. A platform of snow over- 
hung this pool, upon which I stepped to make a final cast. 
The platform gave way, the boy with his impedimenta 
dropped into water about 2 feet in depth. My! but that 
was a cool surprise. Scrambling out, I lost no time on 
a "home run," landing in the kitchen adrip, where my 
mother gave me a warm reception. 
I was stripped, "wrung out," put to bed. a dose of herb 
tea was prescribed, concocted and taken scalding hot, and 
then I was left to reflect until such a time as suited my 
mother to give me dry clothing — she did not hurry about 
it either. My apparel w^as finally forthcoming. I was 
permitted to dress and told to resume the chore business, 
and that angling would not be resinned until the season 
was fairly opened. My angling enthusiasm had sustained 
a severe, shock, but my six 4-ouncc trout in part com- 
pensated me for a snow water immersion. 
Septuagenarian. 
Fishing at Harvey Cedafs* 
AsBURy-PARK, N. J., Oct. T5.— To" show that fishing: 
on the south coast of the State is ol the best. I append 
the following just received from my friend L. P. Strecter, 
who is an ardent channel bass fisherman. The catch is 
for the week ending Oct. 4: L. Hulit. 
C. A. Atkiras, 7 channel bass; weight 39, 2514, 25, 22, 20, 
20 and 14 pounds; i striped bass, 4 pounds, and 39 king- 
fish. Dr. G. B. Herbert, 7 channel bass; weight 28, 25, 
22, 20, 20, 16 and 13 pounds: 3 striped bass; weight 6K. 
and 2^4 pounds; 1 bluefish of S pounds. L. P. 
Streeter, lo channel bass; weight 32, "27," 25, 25, 23, 23, 
22. 22, 21 and 20 pounds. 
Total number of pounds of channel bass: C. A, Atkins, 
7 channel bass, 1651-;^ pounds; Dr. G. B. Herbert. 7 chan- 
nel bass, 144 pounds; L. P. Strecter, 10 channel bass, 
240 pounds. 
The Smelt Fishing Season. 
Boston, ^Oct. 27. —Editor Forest and Stream: The 
smelt fishing season is drawing to a close. The Nan- 
tasket steamer does not run after Wednesday next, and 
with that means of getting to New Hull and Nantasket 
waters cut off, very few fishermen go down. The sport 
will continue some time longer in and around Dorchester 
and Quincy hays, as those points are easy of access by 
rail and electrics. I was down to Commodore Roberts' 
cottage on Peddock's Island for three days this week, and 
fhe weather was delightful, but the fishing was not up 
to the average, owing, no doubt, to the August-like 
weather. I was pleased to find Mr. Charles G. Gibson at 
his cottage, and with him big, jolly Jack Burke, one of 
Boston's "finest," who was on his vacation. Mr. Gibson 
is a thorough sportsman with both rod and gun. an.d he 
has a very comfortable and well-stocked cottage, where 
•he takes great clelight in entertaining his friends, JJ^ 
has long been on the Board of Government of the . Massa- 
chusetts Fish and Game Association, and with Commo- 
dore Roberts and the writer constituted the committee on 
the enforcement of the laws relating to fish for several 
years. Mr. George B. Appleton, of the sporting goods 
firm of Afpleton & Bassett, was Mr. Gibson's guest 
Wednesday night. He came down for the fishing, an.i 
Charley did his best, but owing to state of the tide in 
the afternoon and »the young gale the next morning,, 
George was obliged to return to the city empty handed. 
The Connnodore and I went out Thtirsday morning, 
earlv. getting our anchors down before sunrise, and we 
soon began to get fish. As the sttn rose higher the wind 
followed suit, btit we managed to keep our seats in the 
boat for abotit three hours, when we gave it up. But we 
got a fairly good catch and were satisfied. 
Wm. B. Smart, 
MentieJ* 
Nets in New York Waters. 
The Protective League of Salt Water Fishermen, whose 
headquarters are at No. 106 West Thirty-first street, this 
city, has, through President Theodore Biedinger, ad- 
dressed a communication to candidates for the State 
Legislature, asking them to declare their attitude as to the 
anti-netting bills proposed by the League. The new sec- 
tions which the League desires to have incorporated in. 
the law are as follows: 
Section 67. No person or persons, corporation or corporations,, 
shall willfully take with piirse or shirred nets in the manner in 
which menhaden are taken, any porgies, bluefish, wcakfish or any 
other kind of food fish in any of the tidewaters within the juris- 
diction of this State, including the waters of the Atlantic Ocean 
within three nautical miles of the coast line of this State, either 
on his or their own account and benefit or on account of the 
benefit of his or their employer or employers; provided that 
nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the taking of 
such food fish as may be useful for food for the men employed 
in the operations of such purse or shirred nets. 
Section 68. No person or persons, corporation or coi-porations» 
shall either on his or their own account and benefit or the ac- 
count and benefit of his or their employer or employers render 
for oil or convert into any kind of fertilizing material any foodl 
fish so unlawfully taken. 
Section 69. It shall be imlawful for any person or persons, 
corporation or corporations, to erect or to maintain any pound 
net or pound nets in any of the tidewaters within the jurisdiction 
of this State, including the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within 
three nautical miles of the coast line of this .State, the leader of 
which shall begjn at a point less than 1,000 feet from the shore 
at low water mark; said leader shall not have a mesh in size less 
than 5% inches, and the pocket of said pound net shall have a 
mesh not less than 3 inches. 
Section 70. All persons and corporations owning, leasing or 
controlling any pound nets shall raise the pockets thereof on 
Saturday before the hour of noon, weather permitting, and said 
pockets shall remain so raised as to render them incapable of 
retaining any fish until the hour of midnight between Sunday and 
Monday. 
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 
"That reminds me." 
A Florida Incidents 
Joe and I were spending the winter in Florida, making 
headquarters afKissimmee. One day we took our guns 
and hiring a pair of saddle horses, rode out on to the 
prairie which bounds the northwestern shores of Lake 
Tohopekaliga. We were very much amused by the gophers 
(a large species of land turtle), which were very numerous 
111 this locality. They would run up the road ahead of us 
as if to challenge us to a race, then suddenly disappear 
in a hole. After riding some four or five miles we 
found ourselves in an open country, which seemed to 
abound with rabbits and quail. The first shot was 
made by Joe, scoring two dead birds. Then I came in 
for a shot at a rabbit, scoring a miss, but the shot had 
flushed another covey of quail, and I regained my repu- 
tation by scoring three dead birds on a double shot. 
There was a great variety of beautiful plumaged birds, 
with thousands of those little chattering paroquets which 
resemble a parrot in appearance, bttt are much smaller. 
It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and we had all the 
game we could conveniently carry, so we were resting 
our horses on the edge of the prairie under a large live 
oak, preparatory to the start for home, I had just 
ir(Ounted, and casting iny eye over the grass my attention 
was attracted by the tail of a small animal which seemed 
to be running away from us. I had never seen anything 
like it before, and did not know what it was, but I thought 
it the most beautiful little creature I had ever seen. I 
said nothing to my friend, but put spurs to my horse and 
started in pursuit. When I got within easy range I pulled 
up and fired, knocking the little fellow over, I was 
jubilant. T dismounted and ran up to it. Seeing that 
the animal was not yet dead, I placed the btitt of my gun 
on his neck and——. Well, I know what a skunk is now, 
and I never did like the suit I had on that day, so I just 
thre^v it away, and the gun seemed to kick so that I 
thought it best to sell it. My friend politely refrained 
from bursting his sides at my expense, but he seldom 
forgets to inquire if I have killed anv skitnks lately. 
W. M. W. 
The October "Woodcraft. 
The October number of the Game Laws in Brief antj Woodcraft 
Magazine contains the game and fi^sh laws of the United States 
and Canada. The Woodcraft part has this capital list of con- 
tents : 
By Rowland E. Robin- 
tents: 
GRAN'THER HILL'S PA'TRIDGE. 
son. 
IN THE FOREST. 
THE OLD CANOE. 
THE RESCUE OF MR. HUNDLEY. 
KELLUP'S ANNUAL. Bv Jefferson Scrlbb. 
DEACON THROPE'S PIGEONS. 
ANY LETTERS FOR ME? By H. P. Ufford 
.TEHOSSEE ISLAND. Bv Olive F. Gunby. 
FLORIDA INDIAN DEER HUNTERS 
AT CLOSE yUAKTKRS: The Hon. S., the flover and the Bull- 
A Nova Scotia Bear; The Panther's Scream; A Time with a 
Florida Alligator; The Owl's Swoop; The Dog Climbed 
THE DOG AND THE TURKEY. By Tohn Tames Audubon 
SENATOE VEST'S SUNDAY PIGEON SHOOT ^V'^"'^""^ . 
AUSTRALIAN ROUGI|rII)ERS, 5y R. 5oldreyoo<V^ 
Fixtures. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 7.— Hampton, Conn.— Connecticut Field Trials Club's field 
trials. J. E. Bassett, Sec'y, Box 603, New Haven, Conn. 
Nov. 7.—Jamesport, L. I., N. Y.— First annual field trials of the 
J'oiiiier Club of America. R. E. Westlake, Scc'y. 
Nov. 7-8.— Lake View, Mich.— Third annual held trials of tW 
Mich igan. Field Trials Association. E. Rice. Sec'y, Grand Rapids, 
Alich. 
Nov. 12.— Bicknell, Ind.— Third annual field trials of tke Ihr 
dependent Field Trials Club. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, 
J nd. 
Nov. 13.— Chatham. Ont.— Twelfth annual field trials of the In- 
ternational Field Trials Club. W. B. Wells, Hon. Sec'y. 
Nov. 13.— Harrisville, Pa.— Central Beagle Club's annual field 
trials. A. C. Paterson, Sec'y. 
No. 15-16.— Riley, Ind.— Second annual field trials of the Riley 
Field Trials Association. J. L. Graham, Sec'y. 
Nov. 16.— Newton, N. C— Eastern Field Trials Club's twenty- 
second annual field trials — Members' Stake. Nov. 19, Derby. 
Simon C. Bradley, Sec'y, Greenfield Hill, Conn. 
Nov. 20. — ^Robinson, 111. — Illinois Field Trials Association's sec- 
ond annual field trials. O. W. Ferguson, Sec'y, Mattoon, 111. 
Nov. 20.— Ruthven, Ontario, Can.— Second annual field trials of 
the North American Field Trials Club. F. E. Marcon, Jr., Sec'y, 
Windsor, Ontario, Can. 
_ Nov. 27.— Glasgow, Ky,— Kentucky Field Trials Club's annual 
field trials. F. W. SamixeL Sec'y, Louisville, Ky. 
Nov. 30.— Newton, N, C,— Continental Field Trials Club's sixth 
annual field trials— Members' Stake. Dec. 3, Derby. Theo. 
Sf'TEres. Sc'v. Grpenfield Hill. Conn. 
Dec. 10. — Paris, Mo. — Fourth annual field trials of the Missouri 
Field Trials Association. L. S. Eddins, Sec'y, Sedalia, Mo. 
1901. 
Jan. 14._— Greenville, Ala.— Fifth annual field trials of the Alabama 
Field Trials Club. John B. Rosenstihl, Sec'y. 
Jan. 21. — Benton County, Miss.— Tenth annual field trials of the 
Ilnited States Field Trials Club. W. B. Stafford, Sec'y, Trenton, 
Tenn. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
Nov. 13-17.— Vicksburg, Miss.— First annual bench show of the 
West Mississippi Agricultural, Mechanical and Live Stoclc Ex- 
position. John Dewhurst, Supt. 
Nov. 28-30. — Philadelphia, Pa.— Second annual bench show 6{ the 
Philadelphia Dog Show Association. M. A, Viti, Sec'y. 
Dec. MO. — Cincinnati, O.— Annual bench show of the Cincinnati 
Fox Terrier Club. J. C. Trohliger, Sec'y. 
1901. 
F'eb. 26-March 1.— Cleveland, O.— Cleveland Kennel Club's annual 
bench show. C. M. Munhall, Sec'y. * 
March 6-9.— Pittsburg. Pa.— Duquesne Kennel Club's annual 
bench show. F. S. Stedman, Sec'y. 
Training the Hunting Dog. 
• .■■will I.I 
By B.. Waters, Author of "Fetch and Carry: A Treatise 
on Retrieving," 
"Drop" or "Down Charge." 
Drop or Down Charge or Charge are terms commonly 
nsed to signify that the dag is to lie down, and so 
remain till ordered up. The manner of teaching obedi- 
ence to it is verj simple. A cord, four or five fee: long, 
is lied to the do.g's collar. The trainer holds the end 
of It in one hand while with the other he foKces flie clog 
to lie down, at the same time uttering the. command 
"Drop." A tap or two on the shoulder is given with a 
whip if he attempts to rise. After a time he is permitted 
to rise and the lesson is then repeated. 
After a few lessons he will understand the meaning of 
the order, but may be disinclined, to obey it. Under 
such circumstances the trainer holds the end of the cord 
in one hand, utters the order, at the same time hitting 
the dog sharply on the shoulder with the Avhip. He will 
soon drop, and punishment should then cease • instantly. 
If he rolls over on his back, a position which is entirely 
tmdesirable, a few light taps with the whip on his paws 
or chest will cause him to turn quickly over in the right 
position. This is kept up day after day till the pupil will 
drop promptly to the order. 
If the trainer desires to teach him to drop to signal, be 
raises his right hand in the air when he gives the order, 
so that the dog associates it with the command. If the 
Signal alone is used at any time and the dog disobeys 
it, obedience to it is taught in manner precisely the same 
as in teaching the oral order. 
When the order is given nothing less than instant 
obedience should be accepted. No nosing about seeking 
lor a good place in which to lie down, or evasions of 
any kind should be tolerated. The place where the dog 
stood at the time of the command should be the place 
wliere he should drop. 
.Sonie special lessons in the open field are necessary 
to make him reliably obedient therein. A strong wooden 
pi-i should be firmly driven into the ground, and tQ_ it 
the dog is tied, leaving him with twenty or thirty yards of 
tVi e cord. He is then made to drop close by the pin. 
Ti e trainer then walks away, and if the dog follows he 
is taken back lo place, forced to drop and properly 
ai'monished. If he attempts to bolt tire cord will check 
him. 
ff, however, he resolutely persists in) his attempts to 
belt, a spike collar may be put on him, and after he is 
snubbed by it once or twice, he will desist from his 
at!empts to escape. 
fie is taught to drop to shot by discharging a gun or 
pistol and forcing him to drop to the report precisely 
as if it were the word of command. A pistol with a light 
powder charge is most commonly used to teach him 
this branch. Great care should be exercised to avoid 
causing gunshyness, and no attempt should be made to 
teach dropping to shot till the dog is thoroughly without 
fear of the gun. However, the act of dropping to shot 
is of no special utility. 
Dropping to wing may be classed as another over- 
refinement. It has no special advantages, and has many 
distinct disadvantages. It is taught by making him drop 
to wing every time that a bird flushes within hearing or 
sight of him, and after a time by adding thereto some 
mild punishment if he is slow to understand or reluctant 
to obey. However, in this respect the amateur would 
best make haste slowly, very slowly, for he may by in- 
discreet punishment make the dog afraid of the" bird if 
its rise, is associated with too much pain. Herein lies 
the cause in many instances of the serious fatiH called 
"blinking." 
"Hold Up/' 
Hold up is the order copinionly ys.ed wk^ th? tm^x 
