March 29. 1002.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
249 
as sacred the buffalo and certain berries which are im- 
portant to his welfare, so the people of the wild rice coun- 
try regarded this grain as sacred. 
The time of the harvesting was one of celebration and 
rejoicing to the Indians, and. mingled ; With these cele- 
brations were religious ceremonials of importance. One 
of these was a rice feast, at which the thanks of the 
people were offered to the Master of Life for the crop 
that He had given, and prayers made to Him to postpone 
the" storms until the harvest was at an end. Wild rice 
frequently appears in the legend and folk lore of these 
tribes, and the rice has been the food of the Indian gods. 
The importance of the wild rice to the Indians in the 
country in which it grows may be inferred from what 
has been satd before. Not only did it furnish them with 
most wholesome and nutritious food, but it also brought 
to them in the autumn great multitudes of wildfowl, which 
were in part their support at that season of the year. The 
failure of the crop was a tribal calamity.^ just as an abun- 
dance of the rice was an occasion for rejoicing. 
As has been said, the wild rice is a delicious and nu- 
tritious food, and it has been, and is. appreciated by the 
white people to whom it is accessible, as well as to the 
Indians. - Many tribes gather it and sell it to the whites 
and in the old" fur-trading days it was often purchased 
at the posts, where it was especially useful in fitting out 
with provisions parties going on long journeys through 
countries where the food supply was. uncertain. 
Mr. Jcnks gives some tables and figures indicating that 
a very considerable Indian population in the north coun- 
try subsisted on this plant, but it is impossible at this 
late dav to get a clear notion of how great this popula- 
tion was. "The causes which led to the use of wild 
rice for food are lost to history. Even tradition with 
her manv volumes written so full of interesting and 
valuable facts, gives no information on the subject, except 
that man's hunger caused him to eat the grain. * ; 
The Jesuit Fathers lived in Indian wigwams, subsisted 
on Indian food, and were among the- most keen observers 
and intelligent chroniclers of the entire life of the Indian. 
Religious, social and economic life received their very 
careful attention, yet not one Word appears to have been 
written either by them or contemporary chroniclers about 
the use of wild rice in this district. Its first mention is 
that of 1634, in connection with the Menommi Indians, 
who even then were called Wild Rice men by their Al- 
gonquian kinsmen. It therefore seems probable that 
in the Ontario district described above, the Indians did 
not use wild rice until scarcity of game, caused by the 
fur trade with the whites, drove them to it. The 
Menomini Indians, however, did depend upon it ex- 
tensively before such scarcity. What influence the scarcity 
of game had upon the use of wild rice by the other In- 
dians in the wild rice district it is impossible to say. ' 
Many Siouan Ind ; ans, and many Algonquians, used rice 
for a part of their subsistence while small game and even 
buffalo were still abundant. The Ojibwas were not forced 
to it by starvation, "but inasmuch as the rice fields where 
rice is harvested, are annually failing, but where it is 
not harvested, rice still grows luxuriantly, it is probable 
that in most of the wild rice districts the grain has been 
gathered only a few hundred years; say from three to 
five, in such quantities as are shown" on earlier pages. 
A chapter on the influence of wild rice on geographic 
nomenclature follows, and the work concludes with a 
bibliography, a list of correspondents, and an index. It 
is- excellently illustrated. 
Mink and Snake. 
Deer have been seen frequently in the vicinity of Fall 
River, Mass., this fall, and on last Saturday a full-grown 
doe was caught fast in some wire poultry netting on 
Spencer Borden's country place, Interlachen, which is 
only a mile from the center of the city. The doe was 
captured bv some farm hands, who kept her in captivity 
several days. A deer, probably the same one, was seen 
the day before by hare hunters less than a mile from the 
Borden place. 
While passing through an oak sprout lot, in search of 
partridge, and not far from an excellent trout brook in 
the southern section of Bristol county, Mass., one day 
last month, with dog at heel, the writer and dog, at 
nearly the same instant, heard an unusual rustling sound 
in the dry leaves about 50 feet ahead. Moving quietly as 
possible in the direction whence the sound came, and 
keeping the dog to heel, the writer approached within 25 
feet of a big black snake and mink fighting. The mink 
was getting all the better of the contest, having caught the 
snake by the head, and being so agile as to be able to 
keep its body from being crushed in the coils of the 
snake, though the latter succeeded in twisting around 
the mink several times. The queer contest was watched 
for nearly five minutes, when a charge of No. 9 shot 
sent at the heads of the combatants killed both. The 
mink was a fine specimen, and the snake was within an 
inch of being five feet in length. The mink had un- 
doubtedly attacked the snake for food. - 
The Hole in the Wall. 
Morgantown, W. Va. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The article in March 8 issue of Forest and Stream^ 
headed "The Hole," recalls a recent article in a Wyoming 
paper, which shows the great openings in the Rockies for 
interesting exploration for any one having the time, means 
and inclination. 
This article is as follows : "Tlie notorious 'Hole-in-the- 
Wall,' in former years a rendezvous for cattle 'rustlers/ 
murderers and train robbers, is now a thing of the past. 
The county commissioners have called for bids for blast- 
ing out a section of the high wall of red sandstone, 
through which a small stream now flows, and along which 
there is a narrow trail leading through the wall of rock 
to a fertile valley within. It is proposed to widen this 
trail, which was used by outlaws for many years, and 
which, guarded by a few men, made the Hole a veritable 
fortress, so that freight teams and ordinary vehicles can 
pass in and out of the Hole-in-the-Wall country. The 
Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company is now con- 
structing a line into .the Hole-in-the-Wall country, and 
soon several ranches there will be placed in communica- 
tion with the outside world." Fmerson Carney 
The Waterproof "Woodchuck* 
North wood, N. Y„ March 22. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Late in August last year, while the weather was 
still warm, the grass still green, the woodchuck, with his 
sides rolling with fat and his belly crammed full, went 
down into his burrow, curled up and went to sleep. 
In the middle of December there came a three-day 
rain that cleared off what snow there was and raised the 
West Canada Creek to a height, which it has not reached 
for years. It overflowed many woodchuck burrows with 
water from six inches to three or four feet. When the 
water began to fall it fell so slowly that one of four 
burrows observed was under water for perhaps five or 
six hours, while the three others were flooded for more 
than thirty-six hours. 
This spring on March 7, after several warm days, the 
woodchucks came out of these four holes and took a short 
run to stretch themselves, so to speak. Four others upon 
the hills came out that same day, too. It is curious that 
the eight woodchucks should come out the same day, all 
in the forenoon at that, but the astonishing fact is that 
the three animals lived under the water for more than 
thirty-six hours. m / 
C. Hart Merriam tells us many interesting things about 
the woodchuck in his "Mammals of the Adirondack Re- 
gion," but he does not. mention anything about the wood- 
chuck hibernating under water. 
. E. A. Spears. 
A Redhead Duck Marked "H". 
Havre de Grace, Md„ March 22. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I inclose metal band marked "H," found on the 
leg of a redhead shot on the flats yesterday. The redhead 
drew to the decoys out of a flock of canvasbacks. 
I send this band to you, thinking it may have been put 
on the bird by some one interested in ornothology, and 
Wotild look for a return through your paper. 
Chas. R. Flint. 
wm* B^s i§ m * 
Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Forest and Stream. 
Non-Resident Licenses. 
Springfield, Mass., March 20. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: You may think I am anxious to rush into print, 
but I assure you that I rarely do it, and would not ad- 
dress your paper again so soon were it not that I think 
the communication of Mr. J. A. C. Ruffner, of Greens- 
burg, Pa., printed in your issue of March 22, does my 
friend, John F. Haynes, of Great Pond, Me., an injus- 
tice, probably unintentional, but one which a careful 
reading of Mr. Hayne's letter in your issue of March 
might have helped Mr. Ruffner to avoid, it seems to me, 
I think Mr. Ruffner owes Mr. Haynes an apology, undei 
the circumstances, for I can assure Mr. Ruffner that Mr, 
Haynes is strongly opposed to the proposed taxation 
measure, as I think he states clearly in his letter, which 
Mr. Ruffner criticises. 
Mr. Ruffner, speaking of Mr. Haynes, says, "He is a 
guide, of course, and I suppose would .want the law to 
exclude citizens of other States," Mr. Haynes said in 
his letter, which you printed on March 15, "I have dis- 
cussed this matter with a number of guides, and each of 
these would gladly pay a $10 license fee rather than have 
the sportsmen from outside the State assessed." It 
appears to me that this quoted sentence from Mr. 
Haynes' letter takes the ground from under Mr. Ruff- 
ner's feet, and makes it hard to understand the basis of 
his supposition, also quoted above. 
. I want to say further that I think Mr. Haynes takesjan 
unselfish position in this matter in that he advocates a 
measure which will tax himself and every other guide in 
the State of Maine $10 annually, in order to bring into 
the State's coffers an additional sum which may be used 
for protecting the game. To my mind, this shows that 
Mr. Haynes desires that the game in his State should 
be fully protected, and that he prefers to pay a tax rather 
than have it come from the pockets of his guests from 
outside the State. In fact, if I may say so, I think that 
Mr. Haynes' proposition regarding the license fee de- 
serves consideration, and to me it seems equitable that 
the guides of Maine, whom the visitors from outside the 
State benefit materially in a financial way, should con- 
tribute something toward the proper enforcement of the 
game laws and protection of the game. 
It may interest your readers to know that I received 
this week a call from Mr. H. W. Rowe, proprietor of the 
Maine Sportsman, printed at Bangor, Me., who assured 
me that he had the best of reasons for believing the 
movers in the proposed measure for taxing hunters who 
visit Maine would not be successful in their efforts. Mr. 
Rowe himself is strongly opposed to the measure. 
E. M. Wilkins. 
Bangor, Me. — Editor Forest and Stream: The man 
who wants much for nothing is the one who is forever 
whining because he is obliged to pay for what he gets. 
A few years ago such a thing as a license was not 
necessary, because the amount appropriated by the State 
was ample to protect the game interests, but to-day the 
case is entirely different; it has assumed such enormous 
proportions. In order to protect our game and patrol 
our borders, a sum of money must be raised, and surely 
no one should be more willing — nay even anxious — to 
contribute this sum than those who enjoy the benefits of 
the hunt. 
The preservation of our game is of vast importance 
and is far-reaching. There may be plenty for you and 
me, but if not protected, how will it be for those who 
follow us? The present drain cannot last forever. I 
speak advisedly. 
For thirty-one seasons I have spent the best part of 
my life in the Maine woods. It is useless to go into 
figures, as much is merely guess-work, but this I will 
say: For everv deer killed as accounted for many arp 
shot at, wounded, crawl away and die. Now, if no re- 
straint is placed upon this summer, fall, winter and 
spring slaughter, if there is insufficient protection, how 
will it be with us ten years hence? 
More deer were killed last year than ever before, you 
may say. True, there were more hunters and many 
killed "toots" that you could tuck under your arm. 
Now, my proposition is this: "Let those who dance 
pay the fiddler." Sooner or later, mark you, this thing 
must be met. More money, more wardens affording 
better protection, and as a natural consequence, a more 
than ever bountiful supply of game. Let there be a law 
favoring neither the resident nor the non-resident, black 
or white, rich or poor, that he who hunts in our beauti- 
ful forests and enjoys the privileges pertaining thereto, 
in order that the game may be better protected, shall 
annually pay to the State of Maine the sum of $5 for the 
protection of said game. This appears to me to be 
equitable, necessary and business like. 
This proposition is neither mercenary nor unreason- 
able. The sum is so small that he who can afford to 
hunt can afford to pay it. It is not mercenary, as per- 
sonally I have nothing to gain, only the welfare of those 
who come after me. 
As many of your readers can testify, it has been a 
source of far greater pleasure to me to see them success- 
ful, and help them in the hunt, than to thrust myself 
ahead and secure the game. My hunting days are about 
over, but there are others whose pleasures in this line are 
just beginning. 
Let us not be short-sighted in this matter. You can- 
not for long run a fire with open draughts without fuel. 
Who is to replenish it? 
If each one of us, resident and non-resident, chips in 
$5 annually, the total amount so gained will be amply 
sufficient to hire wardens enough to protect our forests 
from fire and game from annihilation. 
The State, we are informed, will not advance this 
money. We must. 
Shoulder to shoulder, resident and non-resident alike, 
we must take an interest in this matter. If we do not, 
ten years from to-day, mark the result! 
J. A. Thompson. 
West Lebanon, N. H., March 10. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have been much interested this winter in 
reading the many letters, both for and against, non- 
resident license. It seems to me there is a great deal 
that can be said on both sides. I believe that those who 
enjoy the sport of shooting should help to pay the ex- 
pense of taking care of and protecting the game, but I 
do not think it should all or nearly all come on the non- 
resident. One might as well put up the bars with the 
notice "Keep off" as to put into force a "non-resident 
license" of $25. We of New Hampshire want the out- 
siders to come and enjoy the sport with us and leave 
some of their money here, the more the better. But to 
have good shooting, we must see that the game is prop- 
erly protected and cared for, and to that end we need a 
certain amount of funds, more, in fact, than is furnished 
by the State at present. The question is how to get 
it* without making it a seeming hardship to any one? 
Now, it strikes me, that if we are to have a tax, why 
not tax the guns, both of the residents and non-residents, 
who come into the State to shoot, say, for instance, tax 
the residents 50 cents and the non-residents one or even 
two dollars, which would not prevent any one from 
coming who loved the sport and could take a vacation? 
This would give a sufficient fund to properly protect 
and reproduce our fish and game. 
The residents should be obliged to take out a license 
the same as they do for their dogs, and the non-residents 
get theirs by applying to the Fish and Game Commis- 
sion. John Goold. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Heavy Flight Still in Mississippi Valley. 
Chicago, III., March 20. — The weather has served the 
wild fowl a very scurvy trick these past ten days. As 
chronicled last week, spring came on with a rush and the 
ducks as well as human beings concluded that winter was 
over. They started north in a compact body, embracing 
greater numbers than have been seen in the Mississippi 
valley for a double decade. This heavy flight rested upon 
Illinois, Indiana and lower Wisconsin for five days of 
last week. The birds foraged what food they could find 
and dropped into such open water as they could discover. 
At the middle of last week Fox Lake, Illinois, was still 
covered with ice, yet it was the stopping place of perhaps 
the biggest body of wild fowl ever seen there. A raft 
of birds nearly a mile in extent, so closely packed that 
they resembled a vast mud flat, filled the eastern side of 
the main Fox Lake nearly from Lippincott's place to the 
mouth of the inlet of Lake Petite. How many thousands 
there were no one could tell. They did not work at all, 
only a few birds rising, flying for a few yards and then 
dropping down into the big raft. 
A number of shooters went from Chicago to Fox Lake 
at the close of last week, and they went just in time to 
catch the severe storm which struck this country Satur- 
day and Sunday last, a storm which brought a ther- 
mometer dropping so fast that all the open waters of 
this vicinity closed up again promptly. By Monday 
morning last the channel of the river through Nipersink 
Bay was closed up again, and the-ducks of the Fox Lake 
district had not even so much water as was available 
earlier in the week. All day Sunday and late into Sunday 
night a tremendous flight of wild fowl passed the Fox 
Lake country, flying about 400 yards high and going 
south. AH the waters of upper Illinois and lower Wis- 
consin were vacated by that flight, and the shooters who 
expected to profit from the heavy flight went home sadly 
disappointed. 
This sent very many of the wild fowl south again as 
far as the lower Illinois River waters, to afford the shoot- 
ers of that region another innings. It need not be said 
that the latter were ready and_ willing to take advantage 
of it. Swan Lake and Hennepin clubs had good shooting 
from this renewed flight which dropped in from the 
north. I hear that one shooter, Mr. W. W. McFarland. 
nf. Hennepin Club, killed. 4f> birds one day this week and 
