April 19, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
809 
L. R. White shot eighty-eight yellowlegs and a few plover 
a week .ago. 
Jacksnipe have not been abundant. I saw quite a num- 
ber to-day, however. Shot a few which were very thin, 
showing that they had just arrived. 
About ten years ago there were a few German carp, de- 
posited in the north end of Currituck Sound, and I am 
sorry to say are becoming very abundant. Some of them 
weigh 25 to 30 pounds each. I trust they will not destroy 
all our wild celery, as they seem to have done in the 
vicinity of Chicago. 
North Carolina shad and striped bass were a month 
later than usual this season — in fact, have not come in 
anything like the quantity which usually comes. Re- 
ferring to the article by the purser of a southern steamer 
concerning a sora found at sea, would say after heavy 
storms we often find them in large numbers, along with 
the king sora, washed up on the Currituck coast dead. 
They, of course, get blown off by the storm, and while 
they are fairly good swimmers, the breakers are too 
much for them. 
Both the Virginia sora and shorter bill rail nest at 
Currituck. I saw both kinds to-day. 
More Anon. 
Pheasants and Farmers. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I received a letter to-day from a friend in North Bloom- 
field, N. Y., in which he states that Livingston and sev- 
eralof the adjoining counties have been stocked with 
the Mongolian pheasants. That they are hardy, have 
multiplied rapidly and have driven the grouse completely 
from their old haunts, scarcely a grouse being found 
where previous to the coming of the pheasants there was 
fair shooting. That the pheasant nests in the wheat and 
oat fields, and forages openly upon the farmers' corn in 
the fall, and that every local sportsman with whom he is 
acquainted condemns their introduction and would be 
glad to see them exterminated. While I believe this 
gentleman is sincere in his view, I should like to hear 
from other sportsmen as to the habits of the bird, par- 
ticualrly in regard to any injury they are liable to do to 
the farmer. I had four of these birds in confinement 
for three moHths last spring. I offered them all kinds 
of grain to eat, but they would eat nothing but cracked 
corn, and very little of that; they would eat any and all 
kinds of insects and worms, clippings from the lawn, let- 
tuce, and would eat scd grass, roots and all. I think 
that during the summer they would feed largely on in- 
sects and worms, and in this way, perhaps, more than 
repay for what corn they eat in the fall and winter. I 
should like to hear from some one in Genesee county, as 
I understand this county has been stocked with pheasants 
for some years. W. H. Tallett. 
Watertown, N Y. 
Inquiry as to this question was made of Hon. W. Aus- 
tin Wadsworth, of Geneseo, N. Y., who originally intro- 
duced pheasants in the section referred to. Mr. Wads- 
worth's reply is given below: 
Geneseo, N. Y. ; April 10. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your correspondent is absolutely wrong in thinking that 
the pheasants drive out the grouse. The grouse are "gone 
from their old haunts," but they went when the big cold 
storage warehouses were erected in Rochester and Buffalo, 
and that was before the pheasants came, and it was to fill 
up the gap that I first brought pheasants in. The two 
birds work preferably in entirely different kinds of coun- 
try, the pheasants keeping as a rule along the river banks 
on what we called the "flats," which grouse do not. 
That they are gramnivorous is undeniable, but they surely 
destroy enough insects to pay for what little grain they 
eat, since most of the year they live on the seeds of weeds 
and grasses. 
I know quite a number of local sportsmen personally 
that do not want them exterminated, and I have no fear 
whatsoever of their increasing unduly, because the hen is 
a very bad mother and raises very few chicks, and be- 
cause they are so easily killed by poachers that I do not 
believe they can be kept at all except in private preserves, 
and hence deprecated their introduction by the State when 
on the Fish and Game Commission. 
W. A. Wadsworth. 
Everyone to His Taste. 
St. Augustine, April 5.— Editor Forest mid Stream: 
A week or two ago you republished part of one of Fred 
Mather's always-interesting Forest and Stream com- 
munications, and it carried me back to the days when I 
eagerly fumbled over its pages from beginning to end in 
the hope of finding a treat from Mather, Robinson or 
Podgers; but of all your departed stars, Fred Mather 
was my pet. 
He seemed to entertain no love for the big-game 
hunters; in which I heartily agree with him. Their com- 
munications are the ones I skip. 
A bloodthirsty disposition seems to have taken pos- 
session of scores of men who are ready to go through any 
amount of hardship, week after week, hoping for a shot 
at a moose. If these men had even a touch of human 
feeling they would hesitate to fire at such a noble beast 
without a feeling of certainty that the shot would be 
fatal, but I doubt not that four-fifths of them, if they 
saw the animal standing with nothing but the paunch 
exposed, would, without a moment's hesitation, send a 
bullet through his entrails, knowing perfectly well that 
he would go beyond the possibility of their finding him. 
and then suffer an agonizing death. Mather said the 
pleasure of stopping a partridge in his wild career 
through the woods, or a woodcock as he sped on his 
whistling way through the bushes, would be far greater to 
him than putting a murderous bullet through a moose — 
in which I fully agree with him. 
If the result could be ascertained, I would not be afraid 
to bet a dollar against a doughnut that not one out of 
five of the moose that are shot at and wounded is secured 
by the hunter, or lives to multiply his kind. 
In reading of the big-game hunts in Africa, I wonder 
how a man can deliberately fire bullets into such a huge 
and noble beast as the elephant ; but there seems to be. 
with them, no more sentiment about the butchery than if 
thev were New Jersey Senators. Didymus. 
King Alfonso as a Sportsman* 
The correspondent in Madrid of the European edition 
of the Herald sends some details showing that King 
Alfonso XII. has a healthy love of sport. Nearly every 
Sunday King Alfonso attends shooting parties at 
Zarzuela, often accompanied by the Prince of the 
Asturias and the Duke of Calabria. He is always es- 
corted by his adjutants, Senor Loriga, lieutenant-colonel 
of artillery; Senor Castejon Elio, chief of staff, and Dr. 
Alabern, physician to the royal household. There is 
game of all kinds, especially rabbits, hares and small 
birds. At midday the King drives to the Orient Palace 
for dejeuner. 
Larger game is found in the mountains of the Granja, 
belonging to the Crown. There is a large number of 
wild boar and deer here, and a large shooting party will 
be organized to celebrate the accession of King Alfonso, 
to which all the special Ambassadors to the Spanish 
coronation will be invited. The Bourbons are all fond 
of shooting. 
King Alfonso XIII. also likes fencing, and will pre- 
side at a meeting which will be held at the Army Club, 
with the co-operation of Conte, who is already popular 
here; Kirchhoffer, Merignac, Mimiaque and Rue, all of 
whom wear the insignia of the Order of "Isabel la 
Catolica." 
The King has a fondness for the Casa de Campo, where 
he may often be seen riding his favorite horse, Chiquito, 
a thoroughbred from the stables of Aranjuez. 
His Majesty is also honorary president of the nautical 
clubs of Barcelona and San Sebastian. He always at- 
tends the regattas at the latter place. For these he has 
created a prize bearing his name. — New York Herald. 
Narrows Island Club Meeting. 
The annual meeting of the Narrows Island Gun Club 
was held on the evening of April 4, at the Hoffman House, 
New York city. The report of the treasurer showed the 
club to be in a very satisfactory condition financially. 
In his address to the members, the president, Mr. John 
Burling Lawrence, congratulated them on the success of 
the past year, and especially on the acquisition of very 
important additions to their marshes. 
The following officers were elected: John Burling 
Lawrence, President; Henry Sampson, Vice-President; 
William Trotter, Secretary and Treasurer; Executive 
Committee, in addition to the above, R. H. Robertson, 
T. S. Young, Jr., George Bird Grinnell. After the ad- 
journment of the meeting some hours were spent at 
supper, during which many ducks were killed and the per- 
formances of many good retrieving dogs gone over again. 
Camden Association* 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The Camden Fish and Game Protective Association has 
just been incorporated with the Secretary of State to pro- 
mote hunting and fishing and to stock the streams, lakes 
and ponds in the vicinity of Camden, Oneida county, N. Y. 
The new organization starts out with very encouraging 
prospects, and has an excellent charter membership. The 
directors are T. A. Farnsworth, A. H. Maloney, J. D. 
Van Dyke, C. O. Beiderman, R. A. Magee, W. I. Stod- 
dard and R. M. Rush. W. E. Wolcott. 
Utica, N. Y., April 14. 
The Hunter in Camp* 
James Barton Adams in Denver Post. . 
O ! the bountiful sense of freedom that sweeps through the hunter's 
breast 
When the tramp of the day is over and he dreamily lies at rest 
In the glow of the blazing camp-fire, that stabs at the robe of 
night, 
And points at the gathering shadows with ringers of cheery light. 
The smoke from his pipe curls upward in wrcathings of vaporish 
gray. , , , 
And chases the sparks from the pine knots that snap in defiant way 
As he lies in his well-worn blankets and lazily takes his ease 
Where only the stars can find him as they peep through the shel- 
tering trees. 
He dreams of the world out yonder, but never an envious thought 
Finds place in his brawny bosom; to him the great world is naught 
But a whirlpool of care and trouble, from whose ever-gathering ills 
He fled to his life of freedom and peace in the towering hills. 
He accepts no man as his master, he is king of his wild domain'. 
There is none to challenge his power, there is none to dispute his 
reign 
As he lists to the night's weird voices borne down on the whisper- 
ing breeze, 
Where only the stars can find him as they peep through the 
sheltering trees. 
Those voices to him are as music; the cry of the crag-perched owl, 
The spiteful squall of the wildcat, the dog-wolf's resounding howl, 
The voice of protest from the cougar from mouth of its cavernous 
den, 
As the smoke of his fire arises from his camp in the hidden glen. 
With never a thought of danger, he lies in his blanket bed, 
His coat of canvas the pillow supporting his drowsy head 
As he watches the white clouds drifting through limitless azure seas 
Where only the stars can find him as they peep through the shelter- 
ing trees. 
O! where is the life so peaceful, so free from the fangs of care? 
With never a thought of the morrow— no thought of the fruit it 
•may bear. 
His bedfellow but his rifle, a friend that he never knew 
To fail in the hour of danger— no animate friend more true. 
He studies the jewel beauties set high in the arching skies 
Till the finger of sleep soft touches the lids of his weary eyes, 
And sweet are the dreamland visions the eye of his slumber sees, 
Where only the stars can find him as they peep through the 
sheltering trees. 
All communications intended for FoaEST akd Strbax shonld 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and 
o.ot to any individual connected with tib* J*a»»> ._ 
Proprietors of fishinsr resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Fobzst and Stxxax. 
New England Fishing. 
Boston, April 12. — Some of the Massachusetts trout 
fishermen have had better luck than others, although the 
cold weather has continued to hold them back. Mr. J. 
E. Maynardier, of Boston, often mentioned as the "Dean 
of the Fishing Fraternity/' has made his sixteenth trip 
for trout on the opening day. He has missed only one 
year, in fact, for seventeen consecutive seasons. With 
Mr. H. Wade, of Boston, he visited Holloway Brook, in 
Taunton, on the first of April. To reach this brook the 
fishermen get on the Old Colony trains at Myrick's. 
The weather was cold and the water high, but they se- 
cured some good trout. For a man of over sixty, Mr. 
Maynardier is a wonderful fisherman, and an enthusiast. 
His love of fishing and of nature makes him a pro- 
nounced disciple of the gentle Izaak. Howard and 
Clarence Brandenburg fished a trout brook at Fairhaven 
Bay, on the Sudbury River, not far from Concord, on the 
opening day. The water was so high that the brook 
could scarcely be found, where it flowed through meadow 
land, but knowing the brook well, they were able to fol- 
low it. They got nineteen handsome trout. They se- 
cured a trout weighing three pounds in the same location 
last year, which they have mounted. 
Newfound Lake, New Hampshire, cleared of ice last 
Monday, about the earliest on record. A few salmon 
have been taken, but the weather has been too cold and 
blustering. Boston anglers, who intend trying those 
waters, have postponed their trips to warmer weather. 
One Lowell fisherman, who has fished Newfound Lake 
every spring for several years, could not resist the 
temptation, under the news that the ice was out, and was 
off early in the week. He tried the fishing for several 
days, or attempted to try it, but was twice nearly blown 
out of his boat and half frozen. He finally secured a 
couple of good salmon and went back to Lowell to wait 
for better weather. A few salmon are being taken at 
Lake Auburn, Me., but a letter says that the weather is. 
all too cold and blustering. G. Morse and Lem Baker 
were the fortunate fishermen Monday, securing two sal- 
mon to the credit of Mr. Baker, and one to Mr. Morse. 
One of Baker's salmon weighed five pounds, and the 
other about two pounds, and Morse's two and a half 
pounds. Tuesday Mr. B. D. Stevens, of Aubiirn, caught 
a salmon of five pounds, and Mr. Elton Bailey secured 
five handsome trout. Still, two or three fish to a boat 
in a day is about all the record will sustain, while the 
experts declare that a few warm days will more than 
treble it. Bait can be secured, for there are minnows 
for sale, while the small boys are turning an honest penny 
digging worms for bait. 
It is calculated that the ice will soon go out of Moose- 
head. A dispatch of Thursday says that the stage has 
made its last trip over the ice to Kineo, since it is get- 
ting unsafe. It is always calculated that the breaking up 
will be in about ten days after the last trip of the stage. 
John Chadwick, the beloved landlord at the Upper 
Dam, Rangeley Lakes, who has been there for the past 
thirty years, was seen by a newspaper reporter the other 
day and asked: "When is the ice going out?" "Gorry!" 
he replied. "Dunno as I know. She'll have to melt 
first." „ , . . 
Boston, April 14.— The Maine fishing season is certain- 
ly opening most remarkably early. Grand Lake and the 
others of the Schoodic Chain have opened, nearly two 
weeks earlier than last year. They have opened too early 
for the noted Boston anglers who go there every season, ■ 
and they will generally stay in town till they are sure that 
the weather is warm. Green Lake, in Washington 
county, is open, and several good catches have been made. 
Tuesday six good salmon were taken there, and the next 
day four. H. C. Chapman, of Bangor, has taken the 
largest fish there of the season, so far, a salmon of 10 
pounds. Branch Pond, not far from Bangor, has also 
shown a good record. S. A. Maxfield and a friend 
brought from that pond the other day seven salmon, the 
string weighing 42 pounds, the largest fish two of 10 
pounds each. Phillips Lake has yielded several fine strings 
of trout. Four Boston fishermen have returned from 
Tunk Pond, in Hancock county, with a catch of salmon 
numbering twelve; the best string ever taken from that 
pond. The largest salmon weighed 13^ pounds. Fish 
and Game Commissioner H. O. Stanley loves to fish as 
well as any man in the world, and with C. B. Hazeltme 
and John Sanborn, of Belfast, usually fishes Swan Lake, 
near the city, every spring, soon after the ice goes out. 
Thev were 'on hand the other day and had excellent 
sport, getting several salmon up to 5 pounds weight, and 
one big trout. These gentlemen demonstrated several 
vears ago that there are fine large trout in Swan Lake, a 
beautiful sheet of water, but for many years supposed to 
contain only pickerel and perch. Each season they try 
for them and are usually rewarded with several beautiful 
fish. The big salmon pool at Bangor is not turning out 
many fish, by reason of the very high water, though some 
pretty good catches are expected as soon as the water sub- 
sides. A few salmon were taken at Sebago last week, al- 
though the weather was cold and blustering a good deal 
of the time. W. A. Darrah, of Portland, has taken two 
good ones. E. J. Cheney, J. P. Stevens, C. P. Stevens, 
C. S. Foss, Clinton Foss and J. H. Pierce, all of Port- 
land, were at that lake last week, with fair success. 
Messrs. Cheney and Foss caught six salmon that weighed 
45 pounds. L. B. Mason, of Casco, took three salmon 
from Kettle Cove Wednesday, one weighing g l / 4 pounds. 
At times the lake is alive with boats, fully 100 being out 
at a time, the total number of salmon taken, up to last 
reports was not over 160. The theory is that the water is 
still too cold for good fishing. Lake Cobbosseecontee, 
near Gardiner. Me., is clear of ice, and a few salmon have 
been taken. Local fishermen have taken salmon of 2^ 
and 3 pounds. Moosehead is not clear of ice at this 
writing, and the latest reports mention freezing weather, 
which will not help the clearing of the lake in the least. 
The Rangeleys are not yet clear, and for several nights 
