82 
FOREST. AMD STREAM. 
[Jan. t?, 1903. 
Wishininnees were present, among these Col. Bill Haskell, 
sometime known as "Old Bill" Haskell. In the linotype 
composing room of the Tribune "Old Bill" managed for a 
time to stray away, and Mr. Montgomery as a joke hur- 
riedly wrote a little Lost and Found advertisement and 
handed it to one of the linotype men to set up. It read : 
"Lost— Old Bill Haskell. If found, notify at once Main 
447." The latter number is the city hall, where Col. 
Haskell is employed as high chief inspector of paints, 
varnish and paraffine. The composing room in some way 
got vvord to the city room, and the city room set up a 
touching notice in regard to Mr. Haskell's unexpected 
and mysterious disappearance, and it all went forward as 
part of the grist of the big monster, a great daily paper. 
Meantime the exploring party passed on down into the 
press room, and presently the morning run of the giant 
presses began. Mayor Harrison took from the press the 
first copy of the paper printed that morning. As it hap- 
pened, it was the advertising section, and on the first page 
thereof, in a prominent position, read the notice, "Lost — 
Old Bill Haskell." At that moment Old Bill was in a 
corner of the press room practicing the Wishtniiinee war 
whoop. When shown the notice in the newspaper he wad 
somewhat surprised, and disclaimed having been lost or 
misplaced. Since that time inquiries from different parts 
of the country have come in asking how the disappear- 
ance of Old Bill Haskell actually came about. This is 
how it happened. 
Turkeys in Arkansas. 
Mr. Ernest McGaffey, of this city, dropped in tlie 
other day and gave me further particulars regarding his 
recent hunt in Arkansas with some friends of Cairo, 111. 
The party went to Monette, Ark., thence inland by wagon 
about 26 miles, landing in a country which must have 
been a very fine one for mixed game. The party killed 
several deer, as reported, got three big wildcats, had a 
couple of bear chases and lots of other fun with the trail- 
ing dogs, could have killed any desired quantity of ducks 
and geese, and did kill five turkeys. Of the latter, four 
fell to Mr. McGaffey's gun, and as the manner in which 
they were secured seemed to be a little unusual, I give the 
facts. On one morning when one of the local guides was 
out calling turkeys for the benefit of another member of 
the party, Mr. McGafTey and his hunting companion heard 
an answer to the guide's call, and hurrying up ran into 
v.'hat proved to be the line of the approaching birds'. 
Presently they found themselves directly in the middle of 
a flock of these great birds, which rose almost at hand. 
Promptly Mr. McGaffey made a double, and they went 
to camp that morning feeling mighty well content, al- 
though they had rather cut off the line of flight of 
their friend and his guide. On the following morning 
Mr. McGaffey was out once more in the big woods and 
saw flying above the timber a large flock, 20 or 30 of 
these great birds. He says that they always started 
straight up and topped the timber before they started 
on their horizontal flight. These birds were so high they 
were quite out of range, but as he watched them he saw 
them presently drop and knew that they were alighting. 
Running as hurriedly as possible to the spot where he 
saw them drop, he was lucky enough to walk almost 
directly over one of them, which he killed promptly as 
it arose, using No. 000 shot in the second barrel. The 
first barrel of No. 6, fired into the bird at a distance of 
about 30 yards or so, did not seem to jar it in the least. 
A day or so after this lucky incident he walked up still 
another turkey and killed it also, thus getting four birds 
to his four opportunities, certainly a very good per- 
formance and under rather unusual circumstances. He 
says that if he had a bird dog when he marked the big 
flock scatter and alight, he could surely have killed a 
number of them, as they were lying as close as quails in 
tiie heavy briars which matted the undergrowth. Mr. 
McGaffey^ thinks this was about the best hunt of his 
life and hopes to return to that favored region at some 
later time. 
Skunks. " 
Our old time friend, Mr. W. J. Dixon, formerly of 
Cimarron, Kansas, now writes from Dodge City, that 
State, and asks would I please tell him where he can sell 
a large variorum edition of skunk hides which he has 
got together this fall. I don't see why all fur buyers do 
not regularly advertise in the columns of Forest and 
Stream. I have, however, given Mr. Dixon the ad- 
dresses of one or two parties who will probably take his 
skunk skins off his hands and set them forward in the 
process of their later reincarnation as Alaska sable, I 
wish Mr. Dixon would tell us his method of trapping 
tliese odoriferous birds, and how he handles them to pre- 
vent the usual odor. It would seem that the old valley of 
the Arkansas, always prolific in skunks, has not yet lost 
its reputation as a producer. 
Winter in the West. 
At this date the big western blizzard prevailing over 
Montana, the Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota has reached 
Chicago. The storm brings a cold wave and a little 
snow, although not so much as has fallen at points west 
of here. Thus far the weather cannot be said to have 
been very destructive to our quail, for although there 
has been a little rain and subsequent freezing, it is not 
thought that the food has been sealed away from the 
birds under an icy cover, as sometimes happens. This 
cold weatlier with dry snow is not so dangerous as wet 
and freezing weatlier. We have none too many quail in 
this part of the country this fall, and it is to be hoped 
that the elements will be kind to the surviving breeding 
stock; for if there should be a severe winter, we would 
face pretty nearly a quail famine next fall. 
Proposed Changes in Michigan Game Law. 
In a letter at hand dated Jan. 3, Mr. C. E. Brewster, 
chief deputy game and fish warden of Michigan, out- 
lines the policy of friends of protection in that State 
as it will be pursued in the Michigan Legislature this 
coming season. The bill, it will be seen, has received 
the indorsement of the united sentiment of the sports- 
men of Grand Rapids, a town which is full of thinkirtg 
and conservative sportsmen. Mr. Brewster writes in 
the following terms : 
"The new general game bill indorsed by the Con- 
solidated Sportsmen's Association of this city has just 
been completed by me and turned over to Senator D. E. 
Burns, of tlois city, who will introduce it and watch it 
through. There are some radical changes contem- 
plated, and every one of them, with a single exception, 
are along the line of practical protection, and an ad- 
vance step. 
"One of the changes, contemplated allows one deer 
to be transported out of this State by a non-resident 
killing- same in a lawful manner and at a lawful time, 
and provides for the shipment to be made under the 
direction and control of the game and fish warden de- 
partment. Under the present law non-residents are 
allowed to come here and hunt for deer upon the pay- 
ment of $25 for a non-resident license, residents paying 
75 cents. But they had no right to take out of the State 
any part of a deer. , 
"We now permit spring shooting of wild water fowl. 
The new bill eliminates it entirely. 
"The present law allows the killing of three deer; 
the new bill reduces the number to two. 
"The present law allows a person to kill an unlimited 
number of birds (game) during the open season; the 
new bill restricts the killing by any person to twenty- 
five birds (game birds, collectively) in any one day, or 
to have to exceed 100 in possession at any time. 
"The present law makes unlawful the sale of any pro- 
tected game at any time. The new bill permits the sale 
of male deer from Nov. 15 to 30. This, in my judg- 
ment, is a step backward, and looks bad coming from a 
sportsmen's association. (Note. — Many of the more 
prominent members of the club repudiate the sentiment, 
and declare for 'No sale of any protected game or game 
fishes.') 
"The new bill makes a uniform season for upland 
birds, water fowl and game generally, from Oct. I to 
Dec. 15. The old law allowed the killing of water fowl 
from Oct. I to Nov. 30, inclusive. Squirrels from Oct. 
15 to Nov. 30, and upland birds from Oct. 20 to 
Nov. 30. 
"The deer season remains as formerly, Nov. 8 to 
Nov. 30, both inclusive." 
E. Hough. 
Hartfokd iSuiLDiNG, Chicago, 111. 
Protection of Birds and Game. 
From the Annual Report of the Biological Survey, Department of 
Agriculture. 
During the year work under the Lacey Act has been 
continued along three main lines^ — (i) publication of 
information on game protection; (2) improvement of 
the inspection service connected with importation of 
foreign birds and animals; and (3) cooperative work in 
restricting interstate, shipment of game contrary to 
law. 
During the year 287 permits were issued for the 
entry of about 200 manmaals. and so.ooo birds, an in- 
crease of lor permits and 43,000 birds, and a decrease 
of ISO mammals, compared with the transactions in 
1901. The figures" are, however, subject to revision,- as 
the number of birds actually imported is often less 
than that called for in the permit. There has been a 
decided increase in the number of birds entered at New 
York, while the number imported at San Francisco 
has decreased, particularly in the case of Australian 
species. This decrease is attributed to the long-con- 
tinued drought in Australia and the consequent diffi- 
culty in securing birds there. Among the most note- 
wor'tliy mammals imported may be mentioned a musk 
ox 'captured near the mouth of the Mackenzie River 
and entered at San Francisco. This specimen, the first 
musk, ox in captivity in the United States, is now in the 
collection of the New York Zoological Society. A 
number of North African ostriches, the first of this 
species of ostriches to be brought in for propagation, 
were imported for the ostrich farm at Pasadena, Cal. 
Importations may be divided into two general groups 
— game birds imported for propagation in captivity, 
and birds brouglit in to supply the trade in cage birds. 
Of these two classes, the latter greatly exceeds the 
former in numbers. The consignments of cage birds 
are often of considerable size, and to prevent any in- 
jurious species from entering unnoticed amid a large 
number of harmless ones, arrangements were made 
through the Secretary of the Treasury, in July, 1901, 
whereby all big consignments of cage birds arriving at 
New York, the main port of entry foi- birds, were sub- 
jected to examination by the inspectors of this depart- 
ment. Approximately, 200,000 birds, including about 
180,000 canaries, were entered at New York, most of 
which were inspected. The new duties thus created 
necessitated the appointment of an additional inspector 
at New York, making three in all now on duty at that 
port. 
On Jan. i, 1902, the inspection service was extended 
to the Territory of Hawaii and a special inspector ap- 
pointed for Honolulu. Owing to absence of cable com- 
munication with the islands this inspector has been 
authorized to issue permits subject to general instruc- 
tion.'^ from the department. In May, at the earnest re- 
quest of the Chamber of Commerce in Honolulu and 
of some of the sugar planters of Hawaii, an order was 
issued requiring permits for all reptiles imi)orted into 
the teritory and prohibiting the entry of poisonous 
species. 
Twelve foreign species of mammals and birds are now 
known to be acclimated in Flawaii, four of which — the 
mongoose, the English sparrow, the mina, and the Java 
ricebird {Miinia nisoria) — are injurious. In Porto Rico 
the mongoose is acclimated and also two species of Afri- 
can weaver birds, whose exact economic status is not 
yet known. A few specimens of the mongoose are still 
in captivity in the United States, but these are, as a 
rule, in public zoological gardens where their safe- 
keeping is assured. 
So far as known, no prohibited species have been 
brought into the United States during the year. Entry 
has been refused in the case of one mongoose at San 
Francisco and two fruit-eating bats and one kohlmeise 
at New York. The principal importers of foreign birds 
and animals have shown no disposition to attempt the 
importation of prohibited species and have uniforjnly 
complied with the requirements of the law. 
By an act of Congress, approved June 3, 1902, the 
prohibition against the entry of eggs of game birds 
which has existed since 1894, has been removed, and 
these eggs can now be imported, under regulations of 
this department, for propagation. The regulations 
nece.:sary to carry out the law were promptly promul- 
gated, and within a few weeks after the bill was signed 
the first importation of eggs arrived at New York. 
Inters late Commerce In Game. 
The provisions of the law regarding interstate com- 
merce in game have necessarily been carried out very 
largely through cooperation with State officers. Spe- 
cial rnention should be made of the services rendered; 
in this connection by the State game commissioner of 
Illinois and the State game wardens of Iowa, Michi- 
gan and West Virginia. Through the cordial coopera- 
tion of the attorney-general, the cases referred for ac- 
tion to the Department of Justice have been taken up 
as promptly as possible and many of them prosecuted 
to a successful termination. During the year 39 cases, 
involving the illegal shipment of about S,ooo birds, 
were reported to this department, as against 57 cases, 
involving the shipment of about 16,000 birds, during 
the preceding year. This decrease in nmnber of cases 
does not necessarily imply a more careful observance 
of the law, for it is probable that only a comparatively 
small number of violations are brought to the surface. 
The proportion of convictions, however, will probably 
be larger, for the cases of this year have lieen supported 
by much better evidence than those of 1901, and their 
prosecution is likely to prove much more effective. Of 
the cases arising this year, only two have been dropped 
for lack of sufficient evidence, and one is still 
awaiting action; the others have been referred, 23 to 
the Department of Justice, and 13 to State officers. 
Four of the State cases have already resulted in con- 
viction. Since the passage of the act 24 convictions 
have already been secured in cases passing through this 
department — 14 in the Federal courts and 10 in the 
State courts; and 30 or more cases are still pending in 
the Federal courts. 
New Hampshire Game Laws. 
Years ago there were game laws in this State; not 
much attention was paid them. In those days the 
woodcock season opened in July. Many a young 
grouse was killed by the woodcock hunters. Quite a 
number of grouse also during the entire winter. Things 
are very different now. Never were our game laws 
better enforced. Our fish and game commissioners 
are very active and energetic in following up the faint- 
est reports of illegal shooting. One such conviction 
has a wholesome effect on other would-be violators. 
For the past two seasons there has been no open mar- 
ket for the sale of grouse and woodcock. This closing 
of the markets must be of great benefit to the game. 
In this vicinity when there was an open market, oui 
coveys were hunted persistently by men who made 
shooting pay. To-day such men have given up to a 
great extent. They say they cannot afford the time. 
Our Legislature is now in session. Whether or no 
there will be any tinkering with the game laws re 
mains to be seen. I understand that there will be an 
effort to have an open season on deer in our lowei 
counties. It is only within a few j^ears that deer have 
appeared in this and similar localities. Ten years ago 
even the track of a deer was rarely seen. To-day. tlie 
deer are seen frequently. They are at home and are 
increasing. That old and often told story of the dam- 
age deer do to crops is being told. I think one coney 
rabbit or woodchuck will do more actual damage to any 
crop in this section than three deer. Another objection 
to the presence of deer here or their protection or in- 
crease, there are a number of "hound dogs" owned in 
this vicinity. They are kept to hunt foxes, 'coons and 
rabbits. The law says, Dogs must not chase deer. 
Some of these dogs do not regard the law, and their 
owners do not like the notices they receive from the 
game wardens. It is said that a dog which will chase 
a fox will also chase a deer. I know that some good 
fox dogs will not notice either a fresh deer track or 
even the sight of a deer. I also am quite sure that a 
dog which has once chased a deer will do so again, 
and that he cannot be broken so that he will stay 
broken any more than can a dog which has once 
chased or killed sheep. 
As for the deer in this section, they are increasing. 
I say protect them for some years to come. As foi 
their damaging crops, let the owners of said crops 
prove any such damage if they can. There may be no 
attempt made as to an open season on deer in the 
lower part of New Hampshire. Should there be, I 
predict that the damage to crops and demoralizing ol 
hound dogs will be mentioned. 
As to hunting licenses. New Hampshire will wait 
to see how it works in our neighboring State of Maine, 
Commissioner Carleton, of the latter State, has kept 
on hammering at his mt scheme until it looks as 
though he would get it. Try it and see how it works. 
Your correspondent from Nashua, N. H., gives his 
views and states some cold facts. It is some years 
since I made hunting trips to Maine. I spent a good 
deal of time and considerable money when hunting in 
Maine. In my day the guides were not registered. I 
do not believe that there has been very much moral 
reformation in the personnel of the avcra,ge Maine 
guide by being registered. They look after the dollar 
as they used to. If there are any hunting grounds where 
game is killed by proxy, Maine stands near the head. 
Years ago (before the days of the Bangor and Aroo- 
stook Railroad) I was on my way by stage from 
Mattawamkeag to Patten. We met an outgoing party 
of Massachusetts sportsmen. They had nine deer, f 
looked over the deer and the men, and said to niy 
stage driver, "I will bet that those men did not kill 
one of those deer." The driver said, "Just as like as 
not." Later I saw one of the guides employed by this 
party. I knew the guide well, and I asked him about 
it. He said, "Those men did not try to hunt; they 
stayed ip camp and played cards all the time. I wag 
