Jak. 10, igot.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
46 
North Carolina Wolves. 
Littleton^ N. C, Dec. lo. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
In several numbers of Forest and Stream recently there 
has been mention of wolves in eastern North Carolina. I 
have just returned from a quail shooting trip to that sec- 
tion, and at the same time a visit to my parents. Added 
to the pleasure of seeing them, I had fine sport on birds, 
which are plentiful, but find the thickest places for cover 
I ever saw when a covey is flushed. There are so many 
peanuts for food and stacks of shelter that snows can have 
but little effect upon them. Woodcock and turkeys are 
plentiful there, and rarely ever hunted. With a properly 
trained dog I think I could kill a turkey every day. 
Of particular interest to me was a captive she wolf 
which my brother, Mr. G. C. Picot, had kept chained for 
several months at his country store. During this time 
she passed through a period of oestruation. My brother 
made a great many ineffectual efforts to breed her to 
various kinds of dogs. In his efforts he was warmly sec- 
onded by her wolfship, who made every show of solicita- 
tion. Her actions were just like those of a female dog 
under like condition. But the only effect these advances 
had upon every dog was to make, from the end of his tail 
to the back of his head, "each particular hair to stand on 
end like quills upon the fretful porcupine." The first 
scent of the wolf caused the dog's tail to draw tightly 
between his legs, and there he kept it until he was re- 
moved to a distance, when he would sit on his haunches 
and say, "Boof ! boof, boof !" just as dogs do when they 
catch the smell and sight of the peregrinating Italian and 
his dancing bear. A very conceited bull terrier was 
offered, and his vanity received a crushing blow. His 
courage was no better than that of curs of low degree. 
He whined piteously to be removed from her presence. 
Really it was the smell of the wolf that so terrified the 
dogs. The Delaware Park superintendent, after scoffing- 
the idea of wolves being caught in North Carolina, bought 
one from Mr. Abbott at a good, stiff price, and has it on 
exhibition with other wild animals peculiar to North 
Carolina and Virginia. Delaware Park belongs to the 
Seaboard Air Line Road, is abovit forty-five miles from 
Portsmouth, Va., south, and is used as a picnic and pleas- 
ure ground for excursions. I could furnish you a kodak 
of the wolf if it would be of any interest to you or your 
readers. It will be a most difficult matter to exterminate 
these wolves, on account of the inaccessibility and large 
size of the forest in which they are hidden. 
L. J. Picot. 
The Fear of Wild Animals. 
MoRGANTOWN, W. Va. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
have always been impressed with the erroneous ideas of the 
great mass of people in regard to the danger of contact 
with wild animals of this country, at one time making 
mention of it in Forest and Stream, apd speaking par- 
ticularly of the fear of panthers. AH of the old-time 
hunters with whom I have talked had a mortal dread of 
them. 
I was much pleased with the editorial of a recent issue 
of Forest and Stream on that subject, since it expressed 
so exactly what my own experience and investigations 
have proven to be correct, and I was just writing a few 
lines to express my appreciation of that article, which was 
well worth preserving, when along came an article from 
S. E. Filkins, which called for some moderation of the 
editorial. 
I haven't a doubt about every word of Mr. Filkins' being 
true concerning the New York panther, since it is just 
in keeping with the "critter's" way of doing things. 
That they will follow a person for miles either in day- 
time or at night is a certainty, and no doubt that is what 
gives them a bad name. That they make suspicious 
demonstrations and "hair raising" noises is also true, but 
the only proof we can accept that they will actually at- 
tack a man is to learn of some known instance of the 
kind, and I have never yet known of such, and have never 
heard of it except in stories which originated in the mind 
of some writer, which are disgusting to all who are 
familiar with wild animal life. 
Two instances of adventure with these creatures came 
under my observation while living in the Rocky Moun- 
tains, which bear out my belief. My near neighbor, Cooke 
Rhea, a noted hunter, at one time wounded one and it 
went into a sort of cave under a large rock. Being a man 
who knew no fear, he went in after it. After being in 
some little time, objects began to be discernible in the 
dark, and he saw the panther but a few feet from him. 
He fired at its head and succeeded only in breaking its 
jaw. Rather than attack him even then, when wounded 
and crowded as far as it could go, it slunk back into the 
corner and was shot to death without showing sign of 
fight. 
Another one came to an outbuilding at Mountain Home 
Road Ranch, on the Medicine Bow Range, after some 
meat which was hanging there. It was discovered and 
attacked and killed with a pitchfork in the absence of a 
gun, and no one received a scratch. These are facts. 
An uncle of mine, an old-time hunter, went off on an 
extended hunt once to be gone over night. When quite 
a distance from home his dog came to him and he allowed 
him to follow. That night when his fire had burned low 
he was aroused by his dog jumping over him and chasing 
some animal. After it got some distance away it began its 
unearthly screaming, and then he knew it was a "painter." 
Of course, he believed until the day he died that his dog 
saved his life that night, while I firmly believe that had his 
dog not been along he would never have known there was 
a panther near him. With their size, wonderful strength 
and agility, they would certainly be the most dangerous of 
North American animals if they were inclined that way, 
and we would have a long list of people killed by them, for 
no man could live two minutes in combat with one. Who 
can tell of an instance of a man being attacked by one? 
Let us hear of it. for nothing else can convince us. 
When I read the editorial referred to, I wished so much 
that all my Eastern friends could have read something 
of the kind before I returned from the West, as it might 
have saved me the annoyance of replying to many foolish 
questions such as "Did you ever have any fights with wild 
animals?" "Weren't you afraid to be in the woods 
alone?" etc. I do believe there is less of intelligence and 
knowledge among otherwise intelligent people on this sub- 
ject than any other that could Ipe mentioned. 
Emerson Carney. 
Elder Ducks on Toronto Bay. 
Toronto, Can. — Editor Forest and Stream: In your 
issue of Dec. 15 mention was made of an eider 
duck having been killed near Toledo on Lake Erie, evi- 
dently a rare visitor in that locality. While I can hardly 
say they are common near Toronto, there is generally one 
or two taken every year. This year, however, there has 
been an unusual number about the bay, fifteen or twenty 
having been killed in the harbor. 
The eider ducks that come this way seem to have less 
fear of man than the ordinary domestic fowl, conse- 
quently they afford an easy mark for the first man or 
boy with a shotgun that happens to see them, so that 
perhaps it is a good thing for the future of the species 
that so few of them visit the Great Lakes. 
Jno. Townson. 
The Starlingf in America. 
New York, Jan. 12. — Editor Forest and Stream: While 
discussing a proposal made by Didymus to introduce the 
English woodcock in America, Mr. Van Name, in your 
issue of this date, refers to the "European starling" and 
says that it "will probably prove to be a great pest." Will 
Mr. Van Name enlighten one who wishes to know what 
bad habits he considers the starling to possess? 
Edward Banks. 
Stray Blackbird. 
Barre, Vt. — I have noticed several times recently a 
blackbird among a flock of English sparrows. It flies, 
eats and lives as one of them. From size, color, etc., I 
should say it is what is called the cow bird, or cow black- 
bird. Is it not a singular incident that this bird should 
be wintering so far north? We now have 18 inches of 
snow, and are having about zero weather. 
B. a. Eastman. 
"Best I ever done was eighty-four with both berrils," 
the old chap modestly replied. 
"You jest said you had a single gun, pard." 
•'Wall, what if I did? Hain't any you fellers ever 
busted inter a mess er birds. You can't never kill half 
what yer ort ter, and 'most likedly only skin down a few 
scatterin ones on the aigcs. T found that out, and gut a 
good double barrel and had her -bored out, so I recken she 
spread her shot nigh 20 foot, and used to rip both on her 
berrils off to once. After follerin' them geese some time, 
I see they gut mighty uneasy, 'cept when that steer kept 
browsin', so I set to work and gut that steer to keep his 
head down, and when ther' wa'n't no feed at all the old 
cuss would slobber his mouth over the ground just like 
he was feedin', and as he drawed up to the geese I could 
hear him sort ur chuckle inside when he squared 'round 
fur me ter shoot. Wall, I jest laid out thousands er thetn 
geese, but arter awhile I hed to quit." 
"How's that, now, when you done so well?" was the 
next query, and I thought I detected a sly twinkle in the 
old man's eye as he replied : 
"Wall, I'll tell ye. 'Long towards spring one or them 
fellers from Vanco'ver came down with one or them 
smell dogs huntin' snipe, and I recken that ere steer seen 
that dog work, for one day arter rippin' in good rakin' 
fire, that cussed steer broke shot 'spite all I cud do and run 
in lo retrieve them geese and tramped me nigh ter death, 
an' I never could break him on it, and 'sides that, them 
Swinnowish geese grew so dog-gone cunnin' that when 
they seen a steer swoopin 'long with six legs a-workin' 
they riz up and lit out plum for Califony." 
Cazador, 
0^nie ^Hg md 0nn. 
— ^ — 
Proprietors of (hooting resorts will find it profitable to advertis* 
them in Fokut amd Stkxah. 
Notice. 
All communications intended for Forest and Stream should 
always be addressed to tire Forest and Stream Publishing^ Co., and 
not to any individual co'inected with the paper. 
— ^ — 
■ "That reminds me." 
Last Year's Calendar. 
Weather assorted. 
Snow storms imported, 
A gale that cavorted 
Through forest and stream. 
Then wonders of bloom, 
White orchards in June, 
A wealth of perfume, 
For forest and stream. 
Dust and humidity, 
Heat like torridity, 
A lack of frigidity, 
In forest and stream. 
Weather assorted, 
Game laws distorted. 
Fishing reported, 
In Forest and Stream. 
F. L. W. 
The Story of a Steer. 
During a recent trip on a small sternwheel Puget Sound 
steamer I chanced to drop into the smoking room for my 
after dinner smoke. The atmosphere was heavily laden 
and gave forth the diversified odors common to these 
boats. It was occupied by a picturesque crowd of swarthy 
lumbermen, picked up at the various lumber camps along 
the route, rough miners and prospectors from Alaska and 
Washington, sleepy moon-eyed Celestials en route for < 
Seattle. Siwash Indians from the salmon fisheries, here 
and there a drummer and traveling poker player, and a 
motley assembly in general. I have found by ex- 
perience that among such an assortment of human nature 
I would be liable to pick up something of interest, so I 
seated myself as near a window as possible and listened 
to the conversation. Ere long stories concerning the 
immense amount of game formerly found in the Puget 
Sound country became the topic of the conversation. 
Some quite startling yarns were spun, and finally an old 
chap, unkempt and unshaven, and who had evidently occu- 
pied his clothes both day and night for a long period, fixed 
his glittering eye, like the Ancient Mariner, upon the 
crowd, and thus he spoke : 
" 'Pears to me you fellers hain't never seen no geese 
wuth speakin' on 'longside what I seen in this yer country 
'fore now. I come from Indiany 'long in '70, and pitched 
down on the Swinnowish Flats. Talk 'bout geese — a man 
them days had to jest yell ter hear hisself 'bove the tarnal 
honkin". Fust I hired out for $35 a month just to rustle 
them geese off the grain, for every fall they nigh eat 
up 'most all ther' crop. Had a rifle and ca'tridges throwed 
in and plenty grub, too. Wall, after follerin' this some 
weeks, I see ther' was big money killin of 'em, if I cud 
git plenty on 'em to one shot. I see they paid no 'tention 
to cattle browsin' 'round, so I got an ole steddy, long- 
legged steer and trained him up. I humped up under his 
belly and mighty soon got him trained so I could work 
right outer them geese after circlin' round fer a spell. I 
rigged up a big single gun holdin' nigh half-pound er 
shot, and fixed a sling fer ther' ole gun 'twixt the steer's 
front legs. When I gut nigh enuf I faced the steer bow 
on and let her rip inter 'em, and fust time I let her off she 
punched me back 'mong that steer's hind legs and mussed 
me up bad. I uster be in ther' navy onct, so I rigged 
a runnin' britchin' for that gun, and that took off ther' 
kick." 
"How many did ye ever git to one- shot, ole man?" 
queried a lumberman. 
Abolish the Game Markets. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your editorial anent the Forest and Stream 
Plank in the sportsman's platform, in your issue of the 
Sth inst., is encouraging reading for all advocates of this 
Plank. 
The widespread interest in game protection, reaching 
as it does to all sections of our country, has been fostered 
by the sportsmen's press. Game and fish butchers are 
being held ttp to public scorn, and other legitimate ways 
are adopted to crystallize public opinion on the subject of 
the protection and preservation of our game, fish and song 
birds. 
No greater proof is wanted of the power of the press 
than the immense work along this line and its result dur- 
ing the last decade. 
But the press cannot do it all. While much has been 
accomplished, much remains to be done. Even with 
present safeguards our game is doomed to extinction un- 
less the marketing of game is absolutely forbidden and the 
laws rigidly enforced. 
To this end sportsmen everywhere should organize and 
labor till this is accomplished. Organize, organize. 
Every State should contain a sportsmen's association 
with a large membership. More can be accomplished 
by organized 'effort in one year than can be done by 
desultory, intermittent, individual effort in ten. An asso- 
ciation of 2,000 members, united as one man for a pur- 
pose, is a great power. One of 10,000 becomes almost 
irresistible.. Therefore, organize. 
Every owner of a gun — and his name is legion — should 
at once unite with his State association, and if there is 
no State association, issue a call for the formation of one. 
Then rush the work all along the line till the closing of 
the game markets is an accomplished fact. , 
Now a word as to game markets. The statutes of 
Ohio read as follows, Sec. 6964: "Whoever shall at any 
time catch or kill any quail, etc., for the purpose of con- 
veying same beyond the limits of this State, or for sale in 
the markets of this State, or shall transport or have in 
possession with intent to procure the transportation be- 
yond the limits of this State, or for sale in the markets 
of this State, any quail, etc., shall be fined as provided in 
Sec. 6968." 
On the face of it this is a good law. It is fairly well 
enforced, and its enforcement has resulted in a moderate 
increase in the game of the State. 
But while the markets are unable to furnish game, its 
sale goes right along without fear of the law or its 
penalties. Scarcely a hotel of prominence in the State 
but has furnished its guests with quantities of game. 
Restaurants everywhere not only furnish their patrons 
with_ such game as ducks, squirrels, quail, grouse and 
rabbits, but sell them to any one who will pay the price. 
The law should be changed so as to include' hotels and 
restaurants. The object of the Ohio law is to prohibit 
the sale of game. It does not do so. It could be made to 
do so most effectually by adding a clause to Sec. 6964 
defining the term "market." 
Th ere is plenty of work cut out for our sportsmen, 
especially those living in Ohio, and it cannot be com- 
menced too soon. A new Legislature is to be elected this 
year, and we must see to it as far as we can that only 
those candidates are returned to the Legislature who are 
favorably inclined toward game protection and a pro- 
hibitory game market. 
Then abolish spring and summer shooting, confine the 
season to the glorious days of autumn and this genera- 
tion of sportsmen will not have lived in vain. 
Geo. F. Titus. 
Ohio. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
