Jan. 25, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
6 9 
the use of these and other birds protected by local laws. 
The effectiveness with which such cases can be dis- 
posed of under certain State laws is well illustrated by 
one instance in which, through the energy of the game 
warder; of Iowa, a conviction was secured and the fine 
paid within three weeks after the evidence had been for- 
warded from the Department. Convictions have been 
secured in a majority of the cases involving illegal ship- 
ments from Iowa and the penalty imposed in each of 
seven cases was a fine of $100 and costs, and in another 
imprisonment for thirty days. 
But the results of the enforcement of the law are not 
to be measured by the number of prosecutions or by the 
severity of the penalties imposed. Attention has been 
called to local laws which had long remained dead letters; 
the methods of shipping game and the devices resorted 
to in evading the regulations have been _ investigated, 
and information thus secured can be used in preventing 
similar violations; it has been shown that evidence of 
illegal shipments that will insure conviction can be ob- 
tained a thousand miles from the shipping point and 
months after the offense is committed; and, finally, it has 
been demonstrated that shippers are no longer safe as 
soon as their game has crossed a State boundary. 
Michigan Wolves and Deer. 
Calumet, Mich., Jan. 16. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
According to Louis King, of Baraga, there have been 
thirty or more wolf skins brought into L'Anse for the 
$15 bounty. Speaking of the proposed increase of the 
wolf bounty. Editor Newett, of the Ishpeming Iron Ore, 
says : 
"If the bounty is increased to $100, as one writer sug- 
gests, it would encourage a more active hunting of the 
animals, but with such a premium for the destruction 
there might be evil men who would engage in the business 
of raising the animals for their scalps, or they might be 
imported from other sections of the country. Beside, the 
taxpayers would consider this altogether too much. A 
bounty of $17 is liberal, as compared with many other 
counties, and ought to set the hunters and trappers after 
them. Wolf hunts have been suggested, but it would 
require far more men than could be secured to round up 
the animals in such an immense territory and so hard 
beating as we possess. 
"Then there is a man who wants to have venison placed 
on the market again. He probably does not go hunting, 
or had hard luck if he did. The prevention of the sale 
is one of the best things for the preservation of deer the 
State ever did. It is too good a part of the law to repeal. 
We know it is not lived up to as completely as is de- 
sired, but this is no fault of the law. It is a good pro- 
vision, and we hope it will be kept in force. 
"The man who wants only bucks killed and who de- 
sires a longer open season has also been heard from. We 
have no patience with him. The season is now abundant- 
ly long. It might be cut down five days with advantage. 
The hunter who stops to select the bucks from the does 
will be short of pot roasts. Put the. season at a time 
when the bucks are moving and when does are hiding in 
the swamps and it will do very well. But we do not want 
to see the season extended. 
"The gentleman who wishes to dispense with the high- 
powered guns has also made his protest. He wants 
lighter gun loads. The danger is not so much from kill- 
ing a man after the deer has been shot through as in 
shooting at men, mistaking them for deer. That is the 
real danger. No matter how fast a bullet travels, it can 
only go a short distance in the woods before it engages a 
tree that will hold it. The danger is not in the guns, but 
in the fool hunters who, through nervousness or excite- 
ment, shoot at noises, shadows and men, thinking they 
must be deer. The law, unfortunately, - does not look after 
• the manufacture of men, and fools still continue to be 
born and to go hunting. For the man who shoots an- 
other there should be a law and a severe one. If the 
fools kill one man they should at least be placed where 
they cannot repeat the offense." 
New Brunswick Guides. 
Front the Fredericton (N. B.) Herald, Jan. 15. 
The annual meeting of the New Brunswick Guides' As- 
sociation was held at the Barker House yesterday after- 
noon and evening. Adam Moore, President of the Asso- 
ciation, presided, and the others present were Henry 
Braithwaite and Secretary-Treasurer Slipp, of this city; 
Thomas Pringle, Arthur Pringle and John Sanson, of 
Stanley ; George E. Armstrong, of Perth Centre ; Charles 
Cremin. of Scotch Lake, and W. H. Allen, of Penniac. 
A very satisfactory report, covering the operations of 
the Association during the year, was submitted by the 
Secretary-Treasurer and adopted. The financial report 
showed a substantial balance on hand. 
The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted 
as follows: 
President — Major J. E. Sanson, Stanley. 
Vice-President — George E. Armstrong, Perth Centre. 
Secretary-Treasurer — A. R. Slipp, Fredericton. 
Executive — Henry Braithwaite, W. H. Allen, Charles 
Crefnins, with the President and Secretary. 
Membership Committee — Henry Braithwaite, Adam 
Moore. 
It was agreed to' have a delegation from the Associa- 
tion wait upon Surveyor General Dunn, and recommend 
that the game law be amended so as to have the open sea- 
son for big game commence on Sept. i, instead of the 
rSth, as at present. The members of the Association are 
firmly convinced that such a change would be in the in- 
terests of the Province, and they would not object to 
having the season shortened by cutting off the last two 
weeks in December, providing they are allowed the first 
fortnight in September. A strong argument in favor of 
the proposed change is that a great majority of American 
sportsmen prefer to do their hunting during the mild 
weather of September, and if they cannot make arrange- 
ments for that month they are not likely to come at all. 
Then again, the large colleges of the United States open 
on Oct. t, and the professors and students, among whom 
there are a great many sportsmen, scarcely have time as 
the law standi at present to have a ffiOQse hunt during 
their vacation period, It is felt that if the season opened 
on Sept. i, there would be an additional hunting party 
for every big-game guide in the Province. 
A set of by-laws for the governing of the Association, 
drafted by the secretary and treasurer, were submitted 
to the meeting and approved of. 
It was unanimously decided to hold a meeting at Perth 
Centre at a later date in the season, and endeavor to< in- 
terest the guides of the Tobique in the work of the 
Association. 
The question of issuing licenses to non-resident guides 
was discussed at some length, and the consensus of 
opinion seemed to be that steps should be taken by the 
government to prevent this class of people from pursuing 
their vocation in New Brunswick. It was very properly 
pointed out that the non-resident guide has no particular 
interest in preserving the game of our Province, and is 
not overly particular whether he commits a violation of 
the law or not. In addition to that the money he earns 
as a guide is not expended within the Province, and he 
confers no benefits upon the community. 
The New Brunswick Guides' Association was organized 
one year ago with the object of promoting the interests 
of those who make a business of guiding sportsmen to 
our forests in search of game, and it is felt by those con- 
nected with it, that the organization is more than accom- 
plishing its purpose. The only drawback is that a number 
of experienced guides in different parts of the Province 
have not as yet seen fit to identify themselves with the 
association, and thus encourage and assist a movement 
bound to prove of great benefit to them. The association 
has done considerable advertising during the past season, 
and has no doubt been instrumental in directing the at- 
tention of many sportsmen to the splendid game resources 
of this Province. The same policy will be pursued during 
the ensuing year, and the organization has a right to ex- 
pect the co-operation of all those likely to be benefited 
by its labors. A large membership is wanted to make 
the work more effective, and it is the duty of all guides 
to enroll themselves beneath the banner of the 
Association. 
New Hampshire Game. 
D u n barton, N. H., Jan. 15. — Years ago when a boy 
of ten years I owned my first gun. I can go to-day 
almost to the exact spot where I killed my first grouse. 
The bird was running along in front of me. I suppose 
I felt better over killing that grouse than of the hardest 
shot I have made since. 
In those days we never thought of shooting at a bird 
on the wing. One might get up right at our feet on open 
ground, and we watched to see if it would stop in a tree. 
We seldom missed entirely such shots as we took; yet 
we often failed to kill. As the years passed some of us 
found out that a grouse could be killed otherwise thae 
when sitting still. When I learned how to handle a 
setter, I began to hunt in a more systematic manner. 
Year after year hunting over practically the same ground, 
I killed hundreds of grouse and woodcock each season. 
No matter how many I killed, there seemed nearly as 
many left. Then it was realized that our birds had a 
market value, and the market shooter appeared. He 
got in his work so thoroughly that birds began to grow 
very much scarcer, and wilder. Various plans were sug- 
gested by those interested in preserving our birds; yet 
closing of the markets was not thought of. 
The Forest and Stream some years since came out 
with its now well-known plank, "Stop at all times and in 
all places the sale of game." When the above was first 
suggested I spoke to the oldest member of the Massa- 
chusetts Fish and Game Commission. This man was 
very emphatic in his opinion of a man who shot for the 
market. He said, "This plan of Forest and Stream's 
is just what we want, but I do not think either of us will 
live to see it generally in force." Nevertheless, we have. 
Massachusetts has it; New Hampshire, although late, 
has taken it up; last season was our first with the markets 
closed. Grouse in this section were unusually scarce. I 
have had men say to me that it was owing to closing of 
the markets. There, is little use in arguing with some 
people. The season following Bryan's first defeat for 
President was a failure for some crops in New England. 
Disappointed bolters said it was because Bryan was not 
elected. 
For some years we have had a very active and efficient 
Board of Fish and Game Commissioners; Wentworth 
could look after the lower part of the State, where he 
lives; Hugjies took care of the central, and Shurtleff in 
the north country. These men were well distributed; 
all were energetic, and there was never a complaint of 
their neglecting their work, the violators of the game 
laws, perhaps, excepted. There has been a change. 
Hughes is out. I know his successor, and he is a good 
fellow. He will do his best. That he will do better than 
the man he succeeds, I doubt. Hughes lives in the deer 
hunting region. There are trout ponds in that region 
which need looking after. A man living near such 
grounds can hear of violations more quickly, and get 
after the poachers earlier. 
Some years ago a few deer were turned loose in parts 
of this State where they had not been seen for more than 
a generation. The result has been better than any one 
could expect. To-day deer are seen often. A few days 
since I started out after a fox. There was some four 
inches of noisy snow, and it was snowing. With my dog 
I cruised over some miles of good fox ground, but for 
some reason the foxes had failed to leave signs of their 
wandering. Not a track could we find which the old 
hound thought worth following. While going along 
within sight of my house I heard something, and look- 
ing up saw a deer. This deer had just started, and was 
running slowly. It waved its flag as though saying, "I 
am not afraid; I am protected." A moment later deer 
No. 2 followed the first. The old dog saw them. He 
pricked up his ears and stood looking. He seemed to 
think, "I don't know what it is, but I know they are not 
foxes." He showed no indications of wanting to chase 
them, and he was wiser than some of his breed. As 
I write I think the two deer are within sight of my 
house. I hope they are, and that they will increase in 
numbers, One live deer in this section is worth ten 
dead, C. M, Stark. 
Game in Iowa. 
The game season closed Dec. 31, with the limit on 
quail. It was the best known for several years on birds — 
quail and grouse. May and June were wet and cold 
months, retarding incubation; July, August and Septem- 
ber were very dry and warm, giving the young things a 
good chance to grow A boat trip on the Des Moines 
River for a hundred miles the latter part of July, gave an 
idea there was to be a good crop of birds from the num- 
ber seen and heard along the banks, in woods, brush and 
field. With the coming of November and opening of the 
quail season, the first trip afield gave an agreeable sur- 
prise as to numbers. The State being thickly settled, birds 
have a hard struggle for existence, and are very wild, 
being hunted by every man or boy who has a gun, or 
can beg, borrow or steal one. It requires a dog to locate 
them, and a quick shot to catch them as they rise with a 
roar and be off like a hornet. 
Prairie chickens were more plentiful than usual. The 
last trip to the country, Dec. 30, discovered several 
flocks not far from this city; the wildest things ever seen; 
nobody could get within shot of them. Enough quail 
were seen to make a person think plenty were left to keep 
up the supply for next season. 
Fifty years ago, when the writer came a twelve-year-old 
boy to Iowa, he used to hunt quail with a long, single- 
barrel muzzleloader, so heavy that he had to rest it on a 
stump or forked sapling so as to get a shot. The birds 
were so abundant and tame then that they would not 
rise till shot at; firing into a covey on the ground would 
kill most of them with a pot-shot. A dog was not needed 
then to find the scattered birds; just whistle them up to- 
gether again in a few minutes and get the balance. Wild 
pigeons were plenty then, and many a pigeon pie was the 
result of the boy hunter's raid through the woods with 
that long gun. 
A sixty-two-year-old man ought to think about giving 
up all-day trips hunting, but as a man is only as old as 
he feels, it does him good to get out again with gun or 
rod, and will make him live longer for so doing. It 
makes a cold streak run up his spinal marrow to have a 
covey rise with a thundering roar and be off before he 
can draw quickly enough to make a good shot. Still, it is 
enjoyment. 
Rabbits are very plentiful also, and great numbers have 
been shot. The weather since New Year's Day has been 
very warm, with no snow. We are waiting now for a 
good tracking snow, so we can get after cottontails with a 
pack of beagles, to make the fields and woods ring with 
their musical yelps. There is no close season on rab- 
bits, but sports generally agree that after Feb. 1 they 
ought to be given a rest and get ready for next season's 
crop. Senex. 
Des Moines, Jan. 15. 
F*e Currituck 'Sound Notes. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
From the wildfowler's point of view, the present sea- 
son has been an exceptionally good one in certain re- 
spects. Ducks of all sorts have been very numerous, but 
on the other hand, the weather having for a good part 
of the time been mild and pleasant, fewer ducks have 
been killed than might have been expected from their 
abundance. At the same time many big bags have been 
made, and it is said that up to the present time the Swan 
Island Club have killed about 5,000 birds. 
The Currituck Club has had good shooting, and so 
has the Narrows Island Club. 
The marshes of Josephus Baum, long controlled by 
the Palmer's Island Club, have been leased, it is under- 
stood, to a Mr. Simpkins, of Boston, Mass., for a term 
of five years. These are well known to be excellent 
marshes, and when* properly protected yield admirable 
shooting. Of course, unless protected, no marshes are of 
an}*- value. 
For the past three weeks the shooting at Swan Island 
Club has been exceedingly good. The waters there being 
very shoal, they are frequented almost entirely by marsh 
ducks, and deep-water ducks are uncommon, A number 
of snow geese — commonly known as white brant — have 
been killed there lately. 
Further to the southward high tides have prevailed re- 
cently, with the result that the marsh ducks have largely 
deserted the waters and have pushed their way further 
north to the shoaler grounds, where they can feed better. 
In the Sound, from Church's Island south to Jew's 
Quarter, canvasbacks have been extremely abundant, yet 
comparatively few have been killed, owing to the bright, 
clear weather. From Jew's Quarter southward, there are 
large numbers of redheads, a species hardly found in the 
territory just referred to as abounding in canvasbacks. 
Just at present there is rather a lull in the gunning by 
the professional gunners, who use the bush blind and the 
battery. Prices for wildfowl are usually high up to the 
holidays, but fall immediately after that time, and thus 
the inducement to the market-gunners is lessened. More- 
over, the continual sailing and chasing up of all sorts of 
wildfowl has a tendency to drive the birds away, and in 
pleasant weather many of the fowl when disturbed now 
fly over the beach and out to sea, where they raft in 
considerable numbers, not returning to their feeding 
grounds until dark. Meantime the cripple hunters, and 
sailors generally, pass up and down the Sound killing 
bluepeters (American, coot) and picking up the odds and 
ends of cripples which they may find floating on the 
water. These, of course, they sell to the buyers along 
the shore, but the bluepeters they eat, for there is no 
market for them. 
In about a month now the law will permit the ringing 
of boobies — the local name for the ruddy duck, which 
within a few years has become a game bird of value, 
though formerly quite beneath the contempt of the gunner. 
It is really extraordinary how the increasing scarcity of 
the better sorts of wildfowl has brought to the front 
these smaller and less desirable birds. It is possible that 
a time may come when people will bloodthirstily pursue 
the swamp sparrow and the short-billed marsh wren 
through the reeds of the marsli. 
The shooting for this week— ending Jan. 18 — has been 
spoiled by a light freeze, which continued so long that 
the ducks were driven away. On Monday two members 
of the Narrows Island Cub killed sixty-fjye ducks and 
