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^Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
tem in Forest and Stream. 
The Quail Season. 
la Coaaeclicut. 
New York, Oct, 4. — Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
sen out twice for a few hours' tramp after qtiail since 
pening day it; Connecticut) and have had all the en- 
insiasm taken out of me by seeing in the course of two 
alf-days more half -grown and quarter-grown and newly 
atched quail than I ever saw in a whole season before, 
he first morning the dogs stood two coveys; the first 
insisted of the parent birds and a dozen little ones, that 
3uld fly with great exertion, perhaps 20 yards ; the second 
insisted of the two old birds and eight or ten young ones, 
eeidedly not half-grown. On the morning of Oct. 3 the 
ogs found one splendidly grown covey of birds, as large 
nd vigorous as January birds generally are, another half- 
rown bevy, and, coming home, near the house, I flushed 
rst two old birds that hovered around and chirped, and, 
nally, by dint of careful searchitig in front of the dog's 
ose, found several downy little things t lat could not 
Ml over a few feet, and which took refuge fflBer the dog 
fhen I made the latter charge. 
It seems ridiculous and shameful to be quail-hunting 
nder these circumstances. What is the use of having 
ne lawfitl season open earlier than Nov. i? 
Charles D. Lanier. 
died away, and the spirits of the woods came forth from 
hiding, The call of a plover came out of the mea'd'ows 
in the east, a bunch of crows began to clamor, and I 
edged along toward the iake, half-expecting to find some 
black diicks feeding in the shallows. My eye fell on a 
partly eaten mushroom lying on a stump (do you think 
it would be safe to use the squirrels as guides to mush- 
rooms?) just as another gray leaped into a tree, over my 
head. I shot him, Jack pinched him, and he went on 
the string. 
Next the crows aforesaid sent a delegate to scold me, 
He was promptly folded up by a load of sixes, and then 
unfolded by Jack. 
Then we shifted o.ur base, going carelessly along, 
when thump! and a splendid squirrel hit the ground be- 
hind me. He and the pup started in earnest procession 
for the nearest hole. 
Further on a glimpse of another was had. \yhile 
waiting for him, that bunch of crows began to assail an 
old red-tail, whose defiant scream rang through the 
woods. In a few moments he perched on a dead limb 
about fifteen rods away. When I lired at him he mis- 
judged the direction, and whirled in a great curve over 
me. A lucky shot through the leaves brought him crash- 
ing to the ground. His stomach contained several skins 
of those large, green worms that feed on the leaves of the 
walnut and butternut. 
Securing his wings and tail, we went a mile back on the 
ridge to the corner, where, fifteen years ago, I killed my 
first gray. As luck would have it, I found another there, 
and put him on the string, noticing that the pleasure of 
getting this last one, compared with that of the first, had 
depreciated at least fifteen times. 
Then we came home, feeling quite satisfied and more 
resigned to another week of the trolley and the four 
walls. Benj. E. Birge. 
la Peaasfivaoia, 
Easton, Pa., Oct. :^.~Editor Forest and Stream: You, 
ditorial in reference to the late second broods of quail 
nd the different opening seasons in the different States 
s'as of special interest to me, as I had a chance to see an 
xample of this kind on Sept. 22. 
The fall-like weather tempted me to give my two setters 
^.m English and an Irish — a run, and so I went back into 
he country for a mile or two. As I was Avalking along 
he boundaries of a weed field I noticed that Bess, the 
irish setter, w^as "acting suspiciou.sly," and she soon 
wung to point. Her nerves were shortly sorely Rested by 
aving a quail go fltittering away with that "disabled 
'ing" motion that we all know so well. Hardly had it 
fotten any distance when its mate arose with a whirr 
md pas.sed in front of me. I theii went toward where 
>hc was still pointing, but as nothing was flushed, called 
ler off. Returning home the same wa}^ an half-hour later, 
he English setter, Rag, pointed in almost the same place, 
rind I w-alked up, but as nothing arose was on the point 
if going on, when I saw a little, brown streak making 
off through the grass. It was not long before I noticed 
three more hunting hiding places, and I managed to get 
iny hand over one. As I looked at it. not much larger 
than an overgrown bumble bee, covered with soft down, 
just the first sign of pin feathers showing where its future 
wings will be, the thought came to me that in a little over 
three weeks the protection of the law would be removed 
from it. Unable to fly by that tiine sufficiently well to 
offer any sport to any one, they wovild soon be all killed 
off by some one who hunted for the sake of killing. 
This is not the first time that I have started quail, close 
to the open season, that could hardly "top the brush." 
Why could not the opening day be the same as for rab- 
bits, etc., Nov. I ? I am sure every sportsman who goes 
out for sport and not to kill alone, would welcome such 
a change. I. for one, think the season is both too long 
and too earlv. H. G. Miller. 
A Squirrel Day. 
Ovid, N. Y., Oct. i. — Editor Forest and Stream: Sev- 
eral things conspired to make me go squirrel hunting on 
Sept. 17 last. I had been shut within four walls for a 
week of hard work. Jack, the beagle, had been on his 
trolley for the same time, and he begged artistically for 
one more good hunt. Besides, it was the squirrel season. 
We are all affected, and hunters most greatly, by con- 
ditions which revive memories of fornter pleasures. Let 
a hunter pass in sight of a grove of oaks, with the gold_ 
of maples and yellow shagbarks intermingled. Even if 
he be silent, you may guess his thoughts. If he speaks, 
squirrels will' be the theme. That week a maple outside 
my window began to crimson, and some well-grown 
hickory nuts on a tree near by began to fall. It was 
enough. I had to go after squirrels again. 
You old-timers know just how I started. I woke with 
a jump at midnight; again at 2: once more at 3, and of 
course was sleeping soundly when the roar of that in- 
fernal alarm clock broke loose at half-past 4. Some 
coffee from the oil stove, a search for especially desired 
articles, which could not be found without opening every 
door and drawer, the release of Jack, who began whin- 
ing as soon as he heard me stirring — and we were off. 
Going down an old lane toward the lake, a rabbit 
started out of the weeds, and we had to wait for the 
breather which Jack insisted on taking. He drove the 
game through several gardens and corn patches, much 
to the anger of the house dogs, and presumably their 
owners. When everything was thoroughly awake in that 
imn^ediate neighborhood I collared the noise-maker and 
cfMupelled him to follow, under protest. 
It was still dark when I reached my favorite corner, 
but it was a warm morning, and the grays would be oitt 
early. Some writers believe— and I think Burroughs is 
more than half convinced — ^that squirrels are nocturnal. 
However it may be, I had not waited ten minutes, when 
the crash of a limb attracted attention. A movement on 
a liranch drew a shot, and a fine, gray dropped, while 
another went sailing through the tops, hardly discernible 
in the gloom. A hasty crack just as ho was poising for a 
long leap, and I had two. 
Next time we'll bring a sea:rchlight. thought I, while 
returning to the tree of No. I. There, high up on a dead 
branch, just visible, was "he third. 
Then a pipe of cont lent followed, while the echoes 
The Kashmir Shikari. 
I [ Fro7n the Asian. 
There are few men who have shot in Kashmir to whom 
the above does not recall recollections of one of the most 
plausible, pleasant-mannered "frauds" he has ever come 
across. The "new sahib," or, in other words, one on his 
first visit to the country, gaining his knowledge by more 
or less — generally the former — sad experience is the joy 
and delight of the Kashmir shikari, who looks on him as 
his lawful prey, a fit subject for all his tricks and petty 
villainies, though even- the old hand does not' always 
escape scot free, up to most dodges though he may be, for 
to lie and swindle .seem born and bred in the native of 
"the happy valley." 
The following is a sketch of what constantly happens: 
We read in Orders that "Leave of absence is granted to 
Lieut. New Sahib, Royal Buccaneers, from April 15 to 
July 15, to visit Kashmir." Our hero gets together his 
kit, and, full of keenness, rushes off at the earliest possible 
date he can persuade his Colonel to let him away. Being 
quite new to the business, he is full of tips from his 
friends, from the advantages of a khaki tent and steel 
cooking pots down to the delights of desiccated soups, 
and he has probably written to one of the many agents 
to provide him with a good shikari, with much emphasis 
on the good, also for a boat to be ordered to await his 
arrival. Two days in the train and a couple more, our 
sportsman, amid the clamoring crowd of shikaris, boat- 
men, coolies, et hoc genus oninc at Baramoola, where he 
is met by his shikari^ the obsequious Abdullah, all smiles 
md civility ; the boat, too, the servants and stores, all are 
ready. Could anything be- better? Casting off from 
Baramoola, ihey are towed along the river side. Mean- 
\vhile Abdullah' has been interviewed, has explained his 
plan of campaign against the bears and ibex, advised 
where to go to and how to get there, and foretold mar- 
velous sport in store, of the big heads he knows of, until 
bur sportsman begins to wonder if he has brought enoiigh 
cartridges, and how he shall bring back his many trophies. 
Now, as likely as not, the countries Mr. Abdullah pro- 
poses to visit in some way suit his little game; either the 
nullah is near his own or a friend's village, or for some 
reason or other it is to his advantage to go there. So 
decide beforehand where you mean to go, and stick to it. 
whatever obstructions may be thrown into • your way. 
Now comes No- i swindle. "Sahib, I have a chota shi- 
kari, also the sahib will require five or six (or rnore) 
naiikar coolies." Now, it is perhaps best for a novice to 
allow the imposition of a chota shikari, though he is 
really nothing more nor less than the valet and retainer 
of his highness Abdullah, does a lot of the work he would 
otherwise have to do, moreover, probably pays that worthy 
a portion of his wages in return for being employed. Two 
to four naukar coolies — i. e., men employed by the month 
— you will require, but Abdullah will try to swell the 
number to the utmost, as they again contribute to his 
ease and affluence. 
Lieut. New Sahib is probably liberal, so Abdullah "does 
himself well," also tacks on to his regular wages so much 
per month for his food, also for each of the understrap- 
pers; doubtless this is agreed to, but we trust our sahib 
himself with his own hands pays the men their wages and 
food allowance. 
■ Srinugger reached, Abdullah has a great innings. 
He introduces his friend, the skin-curer, of course — 
"quite the best in Kashmir ; the sahib will send his skins 
and horns to him for preservation." Now I may state 
at once that this worthy will attempt to charge his em- 
ployer the utmost he thinks will be put up with, for on 
every skin or head you send him he has to pay Mr. Ab- 
dullah something pretty handsome; moreover, later cn 
this naturally is an inducement to the last-named in- 
dividual to persuade his sahib to fire at small heads and 
half-grown bears, for they all count and represent so 
many rupees in his pocket. We merely give the skin- 
curer as an example; the same applies to the dealers in 
gun and rifle requisites, etc. As a novice, one expects to 
be bled, and would stand a good deal of it if one got sport 
in return, but, unfortunately, Abdullah is probably as 
great a fraud as regards sport as at everything else. He 
marches his sahib perhaps a week or ten days' march out 
of Srinugger, persuades him to camp in some nullah 
years ago shot out and now holding only a few small 
or very moderate hearls, and perhaps a stray bear or two. 
All KashftiMs are excellent walkers, and clamberiflg up 
a mile or two of steep hillside is no great hardship, so 
the sportsman is daily taken a long pull up to some lofty 
peak or ridge from which to "telescope" the country for 
game, which does not exist, or anyhow is scarce ; then , 
as soon as the sun gets hot it is remarked that the ibex 
are now hiding among the rocks for the day, and that 
the only thing is for the sahib to make hmiself cotn- 
fortable and wait till the afternoon, when the game will 
again be on the move. Meanwhile Abdullah will take 
the telescope, go a short distance away and watch; per- 
haps he may be able to find something. This means he 
gets out of sight, has a "square" feed, then lies on his 
back snoring till he thinks it is time to see how his master • 
is getting on, returns, saying he has seen nothing, but it 
is time to move. More hill climbing, then back to camp. 
New Sahib enters it in his diary as "a blank day." 
Perhaps, eventually, a herd of ibex is come across, .prob- 
ably a host of females with perhaps two or three bucks of 
about • 30-inch horns among them, though Abdullah de- 
clares them many inches larger. The sahib is only too 
ready to believe him, besides, being sick of never firing his 
rifle day after day, so they do a stalk, which Abdullah, 
probably knowing the ground well, is equal to; the herd is 
safely approached, and one or more are killed, for New 
Sahib is a good shot. Great jubilation, and much fulsome 
flattery from Abdullah — never has he seen a finer shot, 
never such a good man among the precipices. The 
sahib, too, is pleased, even though the tape does record 
the horns much smaller than he expected; it is his first 
ibex ; Abdullah prefers measuring with his hands, or even 
if he handles the tape that head will be many inches 
longer than it really is. Much "buck" that evening over 
the camp-fire, and Abdullah cunningly seizes the oppor- 
tunity when his employer is in the best of humors to 
skillfully lead up to how extremely cold the nights are, 
how much he feels it, having only one blanket, at the 
same time letting drop casually what excellent ones are 
made in the neighboring village. Our sportsman has had 
dinner, is warm and comfortable, thinks of his own 
ample pile of bedding, and at once tells the wily one to get 
a blanket and he will pay for it. N. B. — This is a very 
old "plant;" doubtless Abdullah has any number of 
blankets in his village thus adroitly "drawn" from his 
different masters, and though by no means deficient, he 
purposely has not brought with him more than he actu- 
ally requires; blankets, clothes, turbans, there is abso- 
lutely no limit to his requests if he sees his way to get- 
ting them; endless are the "little ways" of the Kashmir 
shikari, many of them miserably mean dodges to extract 
goods or money. 
Our readers may think we are overstating the case, 
but we can assure them such is not so, and those who 
have personal experience of the genus will recognize 
Abdullah as very typical of the ordinary shikari. Of 
course, there are a few good men, some excellent as re- 
gards sport, marvelous cragsmen, first-rate stalkers, and 
thorough good sportsmen, but these are few and far be- 
tween; moreover, they are usually employed by the same 
man, or his friends, year after year, and the ordinary 
visitor falls into the clutches of the so-called Kashmir 
shikari. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Great Teal Season* 
Chicago, 111,, Oct. S- — It seems to be without question 
the greatest fall for teal we have had in this latitude (or 
the past ten years. Everybody has been getting teal, and 
lots of them, almost every place where there is any water. 
The flight has been abnormally large and is only now 
just beginning to scatter and disappear to the soutliward. 
The first bluebills and redheads came in at Fox Lake the 
middle of this week, and the teal are now beginning to 
be scarce in that vicinity. 
From the Point Mouille Club, of Lake Erie, there 
come this week repoits of the heaviest teal shooting 
known in that famous shooting country for the past 
seven years. Bags of 100 teal to the gun could have 
been made by those who cared to make them. It would 
seem likely that the St. Clair clubs and the Toledo 
marshes have also been much favored this week by the 
blue-winged gentry. 
Tolleston Club, whose^grounds are just over the Indi- 
ana line, has had all sorts of shooting in the last few 
days on teal, and the legal limit of 25 birds a day has been 
an easy thing; as has, indeed,- been the case at many of 
the better points "along the Kankal<ee. 
The old Chillicothe marsh, lower down in Illinois, has 
turned out good shooting this week on teal, and there 
should be good stories from the Hennepin Club, also, not 
to mention Duck Island and other clubs along the Illi- 
nois River. 
Mayor Harrison and his boon companion, ex-Mayor 
Hempstead Washburne, left last night for Swan Lake 
Club, where they expect to meet the teal in good num- 
bers. Another party were to start out on Friday; but they 
probably started on Friday so they would have a good 
excuse if they did not bring back any birds. Mr. Wash- 
burne, by the way, is keeping his new Goose Lake Club 
very quiet. He says he does not know whether he has a 
club or not yet. The preserve is nearly within gun shot 
of the City Hall, and the grounds are at least a quarter 
of a mile across. Mr. Washburne got a telegram from 
the club keeper this week which read, "lOD ducks on the 
lake." That's a good many. 
Off for the Northwest. 
The Saginaw crowd left Saginaw, Mich., this morning 
and the private car is due here at 6 o'clock this evening. 
It will start west from Chicago at 6:15, if all goes well, 
headed for some point in Dakota not yet determined. 
The members of the party are as follows: Messrs. E, M. 
Briegs. Geo. E. Morley. G D. Seib, C. L. Ring, Farn- 
ham Lyon, W. S. Humphrey, T. A. Harvey, San ford 
Keeler, W. B. Mershon. Mr. Briggs comes from Cali- 
fornia and will join the party at Chicago for his annual 
trip. Mr, Seib comes from. New York and will meet 
the party here. Otie may well suppose that there is going 
to be a big time pulled off out in Dakota next week. 
Later — The Saginaw crowd pulled out in full numbers, 
as above, and^in fine fettle. They go to Pleasant Lake, 
