246 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[March 30, 1901. 
Spring Shooting. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
In my article in Forest aivtd Stream of Saturday. March 
9, I made the statement that in 1892 a law was passed 
making the close season March i to Sept. i, excepting 
Long Island, and that one year convinced the sportsmen 
of this county that ducks would breed here. Better black 
•duck, mallard, teal and wood duck shooting was had 
that fall than was ever had before or since. Not only 
this, but the fall ducks— broadbills. bluebills. redhead, 
whistler, etc — came earlier and staj^ed longer, etc. In 
looking over Forest and Stream of that year, 1893. I find 
in No. 25, Dec. 23, an article, entitled "Niagara County 
Duck Shooting," by M. H.. which shows that in the 
fall of the only year that the ducks were ever permitted 
to pass through our State unmolested by the spring 
butcher the sportsmen of Niagara county were also re- 
paid for their self-denial in the .spi'ing. 
Doubtless Long Island, Oswego. Erie and other counties 
were benefited to the same extent. It would be interest- 
ing at the present time to hear from the sportsmen of 
these counties in regard to the shooting in the fall of 
J893. I take the liberty to quote as follows : 
At 5 o'clock the hunters started for home, reaching the city of 
Locks two hours later, tired, it is true, but with a happy weariness. 
The day's sport had been uninterruptedly fine, and they felt well 
repaid for their trip in every respect. 
^f'-^ir a hearty dinner Metropolis took tip the New York p.ipers, 
which had left the presses at 4:30 A. M. and reached the Stale s 
remotest city twelve hours later, with a gratified air. 
"Well," said he, "this is all like a fairy tale. 1 have spent tlic 
day on a most romantic steamer, enjoyed the invigorating bvee.'.es 
of the lake, and at the climax found myself surrounded witii as 
many aquatic birds as the coasts of f_^abrador could afford, .\fter 
a day of superior pleasure sitch as only a sportsman may know, 1 
return to lind in my friend's house the iSTew York papers of the day 
at my service. All this within twelve houri?' ride of iny home. 
A.";tonishing!" 
In a measure, old residents of the country this year, however, 
can share the New Y'orker's astonishment at the plentifulness of 
wild ducks and geese. They seem to visit this section this _ fall in 
countless numbers. Burt Green, of Lockport, and Will VVijidsor, 
United States plumber at Fort Niagara, one day this week secured 
eleven large Canadian geese in Niagara Jiiver. ^ A VVilson hotel 
keeper, whose place is charmingly located on AA'ilson Harbor and 
overlooking the mouth of the creek and Lake Ontario, writes tiiat 
on Monday morning of this week, rising at daj-break, he went out- 
doors to attend to his chores. He looked out upon tlic stream and 
rubbed his eyes with astonishment, lie could not believe what his 
optics told him. The water as far as he could see was covered 
with ducks. That day he and a local attorney secured fifty-seven 
plump birds. The lawyer employed no legal entanglements with 
which to ensnare the game, either, but he says he used a very 
superior smokeless powder. No. 3 shot did the business. 
A Wheatfield farmer sent word to a Lockport friend on 
Tuesday that the ducks were so thick on Tonawanda Creek his 
young boys were trying to knock them down with poles as they 
flew back and forth to the lake. Never within the memory of 
the pi-esent generation have the different varieties of waterfowl 
been so plentiful in Niagara county. This section is happily lo- 
cated any how as relates to the migratory game birds. 
It's a kind of funny happening that in the only year 
that we ever stopped spring shooting in New York State 
Niagara and Jefferson should have had more ducks 
than the oldest inhabitant ever saw or dreamed of, and 
that Long Island, Oswego. Onondaga and the other coun- 
ties shouldn't have noticed anything unusual. If you 
want spring shooting stopped, get after your representa- 
tives. If you don't want it stopped, just drive what 
birds you don't kill up into Jefferson county. We want 
them, for we are going to stop spring shooting of wild- 
fowl in this county for three years, and I hope forever. 
W. H. Tallett, Pres't J. C. S. A. 
Watertow??, March 18. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I wish to say that I was somewhat surprised to read in 
one of your late editorials that "Ontario has recently 
passed an act prohibiting spring shooting," and then again 
last week Mr. Hough, who ought also to be up in the 
game laws of Ontario, allows a correspondent to make 
the same statement without comment. If there is one 
thing we in Ontario are proud of, it is the fair treatment 
we give the migratory birds. We have had an act in 
force continuously for the last ten or twelve_ years pro- 
hibiting spring shooting of all migratory birds except 
geese and swans, and it should include these. We give 
Forest and Stream credit for advocating so ably the 
prohibition of shooting birds when they are mated and 
about to make their nests, for it is no credit to the 
Americans to allow their de.struction then, especially as all 
varieties of bird life are showing a marked decrease. It 
is true that Quebec allows spring shooting of some birds, 
but Quebec has always been slow to adopt improvements. 
However, now she has a Premier in the Hon. Mr. Parent 
who is thoroughly with us in this, and he will amend their 
law and prevent spring shooting. I wish as much could 
be said for New York and some other States- — wish they 
were so advanced as Quebec. 
Why, sir! the ducks themselves are beginning to take 
the matter into their own hands and will not only not 
stop to breed in such States, but thousands of them of 
their own instinct did not go south at all last fall, but 
stayed all winter on our open waters. .Such birds as 
canvasbacks, bluebills and redheads could be seen any 
day during the whole winter in tlie lake near Toronto. 
Of course any one who has hunted these birds will give 
them credit for knowing a thing or two, and no doubt 
they have reasoned that if they went south among a 
people who have no kindly feeling for them except when 
roasted, it was to their interest to stay where they are 
unmolested and treated decently. 
It is true that we have in Ontario a class of men who 
grumble against our law, which only allows wildfowl to 
be taken between Sept. i and Dec. 15 in each year. They 
say we are only protecting the birds for the Americans.- 
especially such birds as wood duck and teal, which go 
south in September, and are not protected at all by the 
Americans, but the law is inexorable, for we cons'der that 
these birds especially are fast becoming very scarce, and 
possibly should be protected for a term of years. Instead 
of doing this, however, our friends across the border 
shoot them during at least eight months of the year, for 
after they have killed all they can in their own neighbor- 
hood, it is quite the proper thing to do to take a trip to 
the birds' southern winter home and there continue the 
slaughter until the birds come north again, shot at all the 
way, until they reach the Canadian border, where the}' 
are safe tmtil Sept. i. As soon as the birds reach our 
southern border they begin to nest in all suitable places, 
and in the southern tier of counties along Lake Erie may 
be found breeding such birds as black duck, mallard, blue- 
winged teal, wood duck, bluebills, shovelers, etc. It may 
be safely said that all of these birds would breed in any 
of the States on the way north if they were allowed to 
do so. G. A. MacCallum. 
Maine Legislation* 
Boston. March 23. —The Maine September deer shoot- 
ing license law is no more. It will be remembered that 
the timljer land owners of that State bitterly assailed that 
law earlj' in the session of the Legislature just closed, both 
by petition and argument. They claimed that it sub- 
jected their lands to great danger from forest fires. They 
were much opposed to the letting loose of irresponsible 
persons in the guise of hunters, to roam unrestrained 
over their wild lands in the month of September, one of 
the worst months in the year for forest fires. Their argu- 
ments were met by the theory that hunters, in charge of 
registered gitides, were a source of protection against 
fires. But this did not satisfy them. The proposition to 
repeal the September law- came before the Committee on 
Fisheries and Game. That committee was equally divided 
— five' for the repeal and five against it. Hence two 
reports were made. The House on Tuesday voted to 
repeal by a very large majority. Just before the matter 
came to a final vote, Mr, Carleton. Chairman of the Fish 
and Game Commission, also a member of the House, got 
in the following amendipient to the liill to repeal the 
September law : 
.Section 2. It shall be unlawful for non-residents of 
the State to enter upon the wild lands of the State with 
intent to camp and kindle fires thereon, while engaged in 
hunting or fishing, without being in charge of a registered 
guide during the months of May, June, July, .'Vugust. Sep- 
tember. October and November; provided, that the proA'i- 
,sions of this section so far as entering ttpon the wild 
lands in this State with intent to camp and kindle fires 
thereon while engaged in hunting or fishing, stop at any 
hunting or fishing camp which is owned or under the 
control of any registered guide or registered camp owner. 
WhoeA'er shall catch or kill any deer, or enter upon the 
wild lands in this State with intent to camp and kindle 
fires thereon Avhile engaged in hunting or fishing, with- 
out being in charge of a registered guide during the 
montlis of May. June. July. Aitgust, September. October 
and November, in violation of the provisions herein con- 
tained, shall be fined forty dollars and co.sts of prosecution 
for each offense and be subject to imprisonment for thirty 
days. 
This amendment went through with the bill to repeal 
the September law without dissension, and since the meas- 
ure has passed both branches of the Legislature 'it is a 
part of the statutes of the State. The reading of the 
amendment, as above, may not be entirely correct, though 
it is all the text I have at this writing, since there is 
some obscurity concerning the meaning of words "Pro- 
vided * * * stop at any hunting or fishing camp 
which is owned or under the control of a registered guide 
or canip owner." It is evidetit that the meaning of the 
amendment is that hunters and fishermen stopping at 
hunting camps, or the owners of such camps, are not 
subject to the fines or other penalties of the law. I have 
seen one of the Maine Fish and Gam - Commissioners to- 
day, and he says that it is not the intention of the law 
to interfere with camp owners or their guests, but to stop 
transient hunters and fishermen from entering upon the 
wild lands of the State without being accompanied by 
registered guides. Several Boston sportsmen that I have 
seen since the passage of the above bill are glad that the 
September license law is repealed, and they fully agree 
with the Commissioners that hunters and fishermen ought 
to be in charge of careful guides when entering upon 
the wild lands of Maine. 
Boston, March 25. — The Maine Legislature has posi- 
tively adjourned without date, and there is now no danger 
of further fish and game legislation in that State for two 
years. No license laws now exist there, the September 
license law having been repealed at the last moments of 
the session. The bill to make moose hunters take out a 
license costin.g $25 passed through a good deal of dis- 
cussion, the principal reason given for such a measure by 
its friends, being revenue. But it was assailed by the in- 
terests of the camp owners and guides, as Avell as hotel 
and railroad interests. It was amended but finally re- 
ferred to the next LegislatLu-e. The measure, referred 
from the preceding Legislature, to make all non-resident 
hunters going into Maine take out a license came up 
several times, but was finally indefinitely postponed. The 
resolve to establish a fish hatchery and nursery on a large 
scale at Moosehead Lake failed of a final passage, 
through a desire for great economy. The Fish and Gaitie 
Commissioners were shorn of none of their powers, al- 
though it was proposed early in the session to take away 
their power to prevent any and all hunting and fishing 
ini any part of the State, if they deem expedient. Neither 
were the Fish and Game Commissioners reqitired to pre- 
pare and forward to the Governor and Council an item- 
ized statement of all that the Commission has cost the 
State for a series of years, as was proposed early in the 
session by the enemies of the Commission. They got no 
extra appropriations, since the Legi.slature was "in for 
economy." 
The bill repealing the September law was finally passed 
in a form, as far as I am able to learn at this writing, that 
simply requires a non-resident to be accompanied by a 
registered guide when entering upon the wild lands of 
the State with intent to hunt, fish, camp and build fires. 
Speciai,. 
Scent to Attract Foxes. 
Wei.ls. Wyo. — In the issue for March 2 Mr. C. H. 
Ames asks about a scent for attracting foxes. In the 
spring take the musk sacs of muskrat. the same of skunk, 
and beaver castor ; put them in a tightly corked bottle and 
hang the botttle up in the sun until fall. When you want 
to catch a fox dip a twig into the mixture and stick it 
in the ground near the bait. If a fox gets wind of it 
half a m.ile away he will come to investigate, but if the 
trapper lives with other folks I advise him to change his 
clothes before going home. Wm. Wells. 
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 u practicable. 
New York's Forests. 
From the Poughkee^sie Eagles 
One of the recommendations of Governor Odell in his 
annual message was that a radical change should be made 
in the State control of forests, fish and game, abolishing 
the two present commissions and committing their duties 
to a single head. A measure embodying this change has 
just passed the Legislature, and in connection with it we 
cop}^ a letter from President Wadsworth, of the present 
Commission, to the Forest and Stream, which sets forth 
his views as to the policy that should be adopted. 
Undoubtedly, though it was put there for a praiseworthy 
purpose, the constitutional provision which holds the 
State forests in such a way that nothing can be done with 
them whatever has already become a serious obstacle to 
proper management, and will rapidly become still worse in 
its effects as time goes on. Mr. Wadsworth states that 
there are 5,974 separate lots of land owned by the State 
covered by this provision of the Constitution. Many of 
them are too small to be valuable for game, timber or 
water supply, but are surrounded by hotels and settle- 
ments, and valuable for lease, sale or exchange. The 
Commission, or Commissioner, whichever it may be in 
the future, should certainly have power to dispose of 
these isolated lots, and to provide for the rational care 
and culture of the big remaining tracts, including the 
clearing away of all dead and decaying timber, and the 
cutting and disposal of such mature and valuable trees as 
can be removed without injury. Before this can be done, 
liowever, there must be a constitutional amendment, which 
will require four years to get through and put in opera- 
tion. In our opinion, the Legislature ought to take the 
first steps toward such amendment without delay. 
Canvasbacks in Central New York. 
Sayre, Pa., March 4. — Robins, bluebirds, song spar- 
rows and numerous other varieties of migratory bird 
life have returned. I hear bluebirds reported as return- 
ing in larger numbers than usual, an item of information 
especially pleasant to contemplate. The scarcity of blue- 
birds has been remarked for several years, and it is to 
be hoped that Forest and Stream contributors will make 
particidar note of the presence of these inspiring migrants 
and report accordingly. 
Great ntimbers of wildfowl have been moving north- 
ward over the central New York lake country during the 
past fortnight. The presence of canvasback ducks upon 
Cayuga Lake during the past fall and winter has been 
the subject of lively discussion among sportsmen gener- 
ally. In some instances canvasbacks were found to out- 
number any other variety oti Cayuga Lake waters, a fact 
all the more remarkable when it is remembered that for 
a number of years canvasbacks were practically unheard 
of as pausing even briefly upon these waters. 
If spring shooting could be abolkshed for a term of 
years, or. better .still, permanently, a good proportion of 
the old-time wildfowl shooting might be in due tinje 
restored. 
Meantime the sportsman may put aside his breechloader 
for the fly-rod and otherwise prepare to face the un- 
relaxing business cares which must shortly prove the 
white man's burden. M. Chill. 
Ducks on Long Island. 
East Quogue, L. I., March 23. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Never in years as at the present time have so 
many ducks been in this bay. I have at present eleven 
geese hanging under my piazza, and they weigh on an 
average of 12 pounds each. And as for the black ducks, I 
never knew them to be in better condition. They are as 
fat as can be. 
I certainly would like to have writers like Mr. W\ H. 
Tallett give proof of the statements they make in regard 
to the poor lean ducks. There are things that men who 
write such pieces to the Forest and Stream do not know 
what they are writing about. They have no knowledge of 
the condition of ducks or they have a theory to advance, 
and so eager are they to advance that theory that they are 
willing to jump at a conclusion. Never are ducks in 
better condition than they are in the spring, and I can 
prove my statements at any time. 
E. A. Jackson. 
Deer in Orange County, New York. 
It was reported on Sunday that a deer had been killed 
by a West Shore train on Saturday near the New Wind- 
sor brickyards. The report could not be verified. Rail- 
road men said, however, that there had been a deer for 
some time in the vicinit}^ of the brickyards. One day 
last week it swam from the trestle of Hedges' brickyard 
to Plum Point. There are quite a number of wild deer in 
Orange county now. and any person who kills one is 
sure of a good deal of troitble. The open season is 
from Sept. i to Nov. 15. The penalty for killing a deer 
is $100. 
A week or two ago dogs dragged down a deer on the 
farm of J. G. Holbert between Sugar Loaf and Wickham 
Pond. The curs were driven off and the deer was taken 
to Mr. Holbert" s barn, where it died of its injuries. 
Game Protector Kidd was informed and has learned the 
names of the owners of the dogs. — Newburgh Journal, 
March 18. 
Dr. Franklin used to observe that, of all the amuse- 
ments which the ingenuity of man had ever devised for 
the purpose of recreation, none required the exercise of 
most patient attention so much as angling — a remark 
which he frequently illustrated by the following: 
"About 6 o'clock one fine morning in the summer," 
said the doctor, "I set out from Philadelphia, on a visit 
to a friend, at the distance of fifteen _ mile s,_ and, passing 
a brook where a gentleman was angling, I inquired if he 
had caught anything. 'No, sir,' said he; 'I have not been 
here long — only two hours.' I wished him a good morn- 
ing, and pursued my journey. On my return in the even- 
ing I found him fixed to the identical spot where I had 
left him, and again inquired if he had had any sport. 
'Very good, sir,' says he. 'Caught a great many fish?' 
'None at all.' 'Had a great many bites, though, I sup- 
pose?' 'Not one.' was the answer, 'but I had a most 
glorious nibble!"* 
