Jan. 26, igoi.J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
71 
Mcgrantic CIttb Dinner. 
Boston, Jan. 21. — The annual dinner of the Megantie 
Fish and Game Association is to be held at Hotel Bruns- 
wick next Saturday evening. Preparations are being com- 
pleted on a more elaborate scale than ever, and that is 
^ying a good deal to those acquainted with the dinners 
of the Association. Premier Parent, of Quebec, is to be 
an .honored guest. Other distinguished gentlemen who 
iaa\-e promised to be there will include Lieut.-Gov. 
Woodruff, of New York; Capt. J. W. Collins, chair- 
man of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Commission; 
Chaplain Crawford, U, S. N.; J. Russell Reed, President 
of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Associa- 
tion; Leroy T. Carleton, chairman of, the Maine Fish 
and Game Commission, and Speaker Myers, of the Massa- 
chusetts House of Representatives. These gentlemen may 
be regarded as the leaders in fish and game protection, 
both in New England and Canada, and their presence at 
the dinner will add the best of influence to the annual 
social gathering of what has become the leading fish and 
game association of this part of the country, both in point 
of numbers and the character of the merchants, business 
sind professional men that constitute it. Several of the 
club members, notably Dr. Heber Bishop and Dr. George 
A. McAleer, will tell of experiences in the forests and 
along the trout and salmon waters. 
A gentleman just out from the Maine lumber woods 
tells of 18 or 20 inches of snow that fell late in November, 
with little or none following till a few days ago, when 
the volume of winter covering was increased to 2^*^ or 
feet. During all this time he says that the deer have 
roved around easily and kept in good condition. He has 
been surprised to note how closely they have kept to the 
lumbering operations in many sections. The lumbermen 
say tlnat they visit their works everj^ night, nibbling for 
spears of hay, and particularly for salt. His idea is that 
the lumbermen are not troubling these deer ; that the feel- 
ing in regard to close time is much better than formerly. 
Still, he says that the wardens are visiting the lumber 
regions, making unexpected calls at the camps, where thev 
will ask for a peep into the larder, and will look well to the 
waste heaps where refuse food is thrown. 
Special. 
Have You Voted? 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At the winter meeting of the New York State Fish, 
Game antl Forest League, a resolution was passed unani- 
mously that a bill be introduced at Albany prohibiting 
the spring shooting of wildfowl, and that the Law Com- 
mittee of the League be instructed to go to Albany and 
■urge the passage of the bill. There is no question that' 
'the members of this committee will do all in their power 
and work hard for the passage of his bill, but what does 
a ."Senator or Assemblyman from Oswego, Onondaga or 
•ariy other county care for a member of a law committee 
from Canandaigua county? He doesn't vote in his coun- 
ty, and CA^ery pot-hunter, hotel keeper and person in his 
count}'- who is likely to lose a dollar has written him, op- 
posing the bill, and every one of these fellows has a vote, 
'and it is votes that Mr. Senator and Mr. Assemblyman 
need in their business. But just so soon as you can con- 
vince him that you have more votes in his particular 
county than the other fellows havej just so soon will you 
get his active support, arid not before. Write liim to- 
day. Ask your friends to write him. Get in every vote 
'you can this winter; get more than the other fellow and 
• you are sure to win. Don't be afraid to use the local 
iiewspaper; present your argument in a clear, forcible 
■manner; convince the public that you are right and the 
Mother fellow Avrong, and when you ask them to sign a 
•petition you will find them willing to help you. We can 
stop' spring shooting of wildfowl in this State. We can 
stop the sale of game in this State. But you'll have to 
I vote, and vote often. 
The polls are now open. Vote. 
W. H. Tallett, President J. C. S. A. 
Watertown, N. Y. 
The Boston Game Market* 
■ Boston, Dec. 18.— No particular fish and game meas- 
ures are yet proposed in the Massachusetts Legislature, but 
.It is well known that the marketmen are chafing under 
the quail and grouse prohibitory law, passed last winter, 
and the friends of fish and game protection are keeping 
close- watch. The Lacey bill is giving the marketmen a 
' good deal of trouble in this city. It is certain that hardly 
' more- than one-tenth of the usual flood of game is being 
I'received here, and the Lacey act is believed to be the cause 
of the lack of supply. The receivers of game complain of 
'^eizufes of quail and grouse en route here, and I notice 
that the Forest and Stream has records of game stopped 
'at Chicago and other points that was started for Boston, 
■Very little Maine venison is coming here this winter so 
far, but I have seen one or two lots of saddles that have 
come through since the close season in that State began. 
The receivers are aware that they are liable, or at least 
that the game is liable to seizure under the Lacey act. But 
they hope that they will not be troubled. They may be 
"hoping in vain, however, and some of the express com- 
panies may be- asked to explain. 
Special. 
The Toothsome Muskrat. 
•■■ Bethlehem, Pa.— £di>or Forest and Stream: Inclosed 
•fi'nd a -newspaper clipping which rnay be of interest to 
your readers. I -had some muskrats prepared last fall for 
a"^ small company of friends; but none of the party can 
"say that -they are as palatable as- terrapin. None of my 
party 'knew what' they were eating, and- pronounced them 
good, and- were Under the impression that they were 
rabbits, although several remarked that the bones were 
too srna:il. M-. C. Luchenbach. 
The report from the Baltimore Sun says : A "musk- 
rat supper" is the latest gastronomic innovation at the 
University Club, famed for such wrinkles. 
Periodically an informal supper is held at the club, at 
which some op^ nr |T}ore culinary curiosities form \\\^ 
chief articles of diet, and last night the muskrat occupied 
the place of honor at such a supper. 
The lowly muskrat as an article of diet was suggested 
by Prof. Powhatan Clarke, but it was noted that some 
urgent business prevented his attendance at the banquet. 
Nevertheless, under the skillful manipulation of the club 
steward, John A. Biddlc, the muskrat was declared by 
those present to be a rnost toothsome delicacy, almost, if 
not quite, equal to Maryland's famous bird, the diamond- 
back terrapin, and much superior to the swifter, not to say 
more beautiful, rabbit. 
The festive board at last night's repast was ornamented 
with whole muskrats, enveloped in hard aspic jelly, with 
tail rampant, with fish in mouth and with tusk and 
whiskers in plain view. As a spur -to the appetite these 
were declared a success. 
Steward Biddle had the famous animal prepared in 
three stylcs^ — the Maryland or Eastern Shore style, in 
which he is stewed in his own gravy; and broiled whole, 
like a chicken, and in the New Jersey style, in which he 
is roasted whole. 
Some Weigfhts of Game. 
Quail in Warren county, N. J,, will average, when 
full grown, 654 to 7 ounces. On Dec. I killed three 
birds within two miles of Phillipsburg that weighed 20 
ounces, one cock tipping the scales at j]^ ounces. 
C. E. Vouch. 
Bayville, N. J, — Last season I weighed T02 quail. 
Their total weight was 7i8j4 ounces on postal scales. 
The smallest weighed ounces, the largest 8^ ounces 
(a hen). 
Taa'o cock woodcock weighed 7 ounces and 8^4 ounces. 
Of three grouse, two males weighed 24 and 28-}4 ounces, 
one female 22Y2 ounces. 
There are lots of birds left. L believe that every flock 
of quail that I know of has at least seven. birds in them, 
and a great many are full flocks of eighteem or twealy 
birds. Herb. 
An Experience. 
Some four years ago I had an Irish setter — the best re- 
triever but one I 'ever saw. I' was hunting quail and 
made a double out of a covey. Dash brought me one 
bird, then the other, both apparently dead as the old 
door nail Ave tell of. Put them in my coat and went on. 
Got another shot, let both barrels go and made a clean 
miss. Suddenly I heard the flutter of a quail, and with 
the flutter came a quail from my coat and flew straight 
away and before I could reload AA^as gone. I imagine I 
-svas a sight while the quail was flying off. I had told ray 
partner a few moments before I had five quail — then true. 
When I told him this true story — and I will take oath to 
its being such — he only laughed. That quail was prob- 
ably stunned, came to life, and, like the plucky little 
cuss he Avas, got out and away. Next! 
W. C. Jager. 
The Balling: of Shot. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Do you knoAv if a load of shot ever balls? I killed a 
quail, and all that was left of him Avas a leg and part of 
his breast; he was at least 20 yards away. . 
To-day L .shot another. He Avas in the woods, and 
was. I should judge, 30 yards off. I had a factory load 
of ,3 drams black powder and lYs ounces No. 8 shot. 
When I picked him up his back and head were missing, 
his body was completely riddled and the wad that had 
been next to the powder was driven into his stomach 
cavity. Herb. 
[Shot are sometimes balled by the concussion of a 
heavy powder charge, and sometimes are fused by the 
heat of the poAvder.] 
A Montana Hermit. 
The stir that is being made over the death of Cadet 
Booz, alleged to be from injuries received by hazing at 
West Point, revives interest in the case of John W. May- 
nard, a former cadet at that institution, Avho lived the 
life of a recluse in the Northwest for many years, and 
finally died in his lonely cabin near Great Falls, Mont. 
Maynard Avent by the name of Missouri Jess, and told 
nobody in the Northwest his real name or the story of 
his past life. He liA^ed by the sale of furs secured by 
trapping and trading with the Indians, Avith whom he Avas 
on terms of friendship. After his death a back room 
in the cabin in which he lived was opened. This room, 
which had been kept secret, was lighted by a large lamp 
Avhich hung from the ceiling. The furnishings were quite 
luxurious and showed taste and refinement. The walls 
were lined with shelves, on which rare volumes rested. 
There Averc works on art, literature and science. The 
presence of Avell-used Latin and Greek volumes indicated 
that the owner had been a scholar, and works of the 
leading learned authors of modern and ancient times 
showed that he had enjoyed, in his silent life, the com- 
pany of great men in the works that they had Avritten. 
In a box of letters were found several Avhich revealed the 
man's real name and the reason for his retirement from 
civili;;ation, 
'He had been a cadet at West Point, and had partici- 
pated in a hazing affair which resulted in the death of a 
fellow cadet. Maynard had been engaged to marry the 
sister of the dead boy. After the occurrence, she had 
broken off- the engagement, denouncing her lover as a 
murderer. Pie at once resigned from the army and Avent 
into the then unbroken Avilderness of Montana, to end 
his days in solitude. — Bufl^alo Express. 
)£ ■ JJ 
Take inventory of the good things in this issue St 
S of "Forest and Stream. Recall what a fund was % 
^ given last week. Count on what is to come next jj 
y iveek. Was there ever in all the world a more H 
abundant weekly store of sportsmen's reading? % 
— ^ — 
Notice. 
AH communications intended for Forest and Strkam shduld 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and 
not to any individual connected -with the paper. 
Proprietors of fishine resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Forest and Stream. 
The Log of a Bicycle Fishing: 
Trip. — 1. 
Throtigh the Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, 
Edited from the Diary of Mr. George N. Beall 
by the Commodore, F, R, Webb. 
Frostburg, Md., Nov. 18. — My Dear Commodore: 
I inclose herewith my little diary of my last summer's 
bicycle fishing trip to the Greenbrier, thinking that it 
may interest you. Read the same, and picture to 3rour- 
self the good time I had. I Avent from Frostburg, 
through Romney, Petersburg, etc., to Franklin; thence 
to Hightown, where I struck the old Parkersburg pike, 
thence to Travelers' Repose, Avhere I turned off up the 
river to Van Buren Arbogast's. I fished for trout in the 
Greenbrier, with a little bass fishing below the forks 
thrown in. Coming back I -went across the mountains 
to Sinnett's, on the Thorn, Avhere I had some trout fish- 
ing. Thence I crossed over the mountains to the South 
Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac — queer way 
they have of naming the rivers in these parts! — along 
down which I worked my way until I reached Romney 
and civilisation again. I Avas out thirty days — the last 
Aveek only being spent among relatives. The expenses 
tor the three weeks footed up the sum of $11.25. How's 
that for an inexpensive trip? The only feature of the 
trip that I did not like was the fact that I was entirely 
alone. A congenial companion would have wonderftdly 
improA'ed the trip. LeaA'ing that item out I can truly 
say that the trip Avas one of tlie most enjoyable ones I 
have e\'er taken. I find the bicycle to be entirely prac- 
ticable for such a trip, in all kinds of weather. An outfit 
for roughing it can easily be carried, and a moderate 
jog trot can be paced very comfortably. Next year, if 
we could arrange to take such another outing together, 
I know you would enjoy it. You could meet me at 
Hightown, or ata Franklin via Harrisonburg. The Avagon 
trip to the mountains isn't in it if only one could have 
two or three in the party. Very truly yours, 
George N. Beall. . 
It was 6:30 in the morning AA'hen I wheeled out of 
Frostburg on my way to the mountains for my annual 
fish. My destination Avas Arbogast's, on the upper waters 
of the Greenbrier River in West Virginia, and my route 
lay through Romney and Petersburg to Franklin; thence 
to Hightown, Avhere I would reach the old Staunton 
Parkersburg pike, which I expected to follow OA'er the 
Alleghany Mountains for TraA^elers' Repose, a somewhat 
pretentious and very comfortable mountain hostelry- of 
the old school — now rapidly passing out of existence and 
seldom met 'with outside of these mountain regions^ 
nestling at the foot of the western slope of the great 
mot.nitain range, on the banks of the Greenbrier. Here 
my route led me oft the pike, and along a rudimentary, 
very rocky and sandy and generally more or less uri- 
rideabie two and a half miles of road to Arbogast's, where 
I expected to remain a Aveek fishing for trout, with a little 
bass fishing throAvn in on the side, in the broad river 
beloAv the junction of the two forks, some six or seA^en 
miles below x\rbogast's. 
I carried my personal plunder in a leather traveling 
case in the frau'ie of my machine, and a carrier on the 
handle bar, while a rod case strapped on the bar of my 
frame contained two rods. 
I had a beautiful morning-'s run, which carried me to 
the second crossin,g of Patterson's Creek, about ten miles 
above Frankfort. I forded the creek with my machine 
under my arm, after Avhich I mounted and hustled along 
lively for shelter from an impending thunder storm, which 
I soon found in the shape of a ■ wayside barn, where, 
curled up on the seat of an old bugfv, I enjoyed a re- 
freshing nap of half an hour, lulled by [he patter of the 
rain on the roof. 
The storm over, I was soon under Avay again. Sur- 
uTounting the brow of a hilt I let go all hold, and turned 
my machine wide open for a glorious coast doAvn a 
straight, hard, slaty hill, a straight-aAvay stretch of flat 
road at the bottom giving me assurance of a safe landing. 
It was undoubtedly a glorious coast, but with a most 
inglorious wind up at the bottom, for Avhen I reached 
the flat stretch it was like planting a foot m a new-laid 
huckleberry pie. Oh, hoAv the mud flcAv! while consterna- 
tion seized upon mv soul. DoAvn went the brake, 
thoughtlessly, in a frantic attempt to check my flight. 
My wheeL immediately '"sleAved" all over the road, and 
we went to pieces in a jifi^y. I picked myself ruefully out 
of the mud, to find myself plastered from head to foot, 
while my wheel escaped with a slightly sprung rim. 
.A-fter this little mi.shap I moved on more cautiously, 
and with frequent rests on account of the intense heat, 
and finally wheeled into Moorefield at 7:30 in the evening, 
after a day's run of fifty-eight miles. A streak of a 
thunder storm made very bad going of the last four miles, 
and iny come in was alinost a walk in, I had a good 
warrn greeting at the hotel-, -and a good warm supper 
made quite a new nian of me. 
I left Moorfield at '7 "30 next morning, aiid arrived at 
Franklin, forty-two miles distant, at S P. M. The ride 
through the gap to Petersburg was a royal one, as the 
road was in fine .shape and the mountain scenery both 
beautiful and imposing. The heat, ey.en In these high 
latitudes, was almost unbearable from Petefsburg on 
toward Franklin, and sandy stretches of road along the 
river bottoms made the wayside springs seem few and 
far between. I loitered lazih' along the road, hunting 
the shade as industriously as possible, until 6 o'clock, 
gftef Ayhich tijiie tlL(j re^iaainder of the day's milea^'e \y^5 
