Jan. 17, 1903.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
one of three guides they hired. They told us to get 
them some deer. We killed eleven deer tor them, and 
thy never saw one of them until we dragged them in." 
Now, I know of other instances where moose and other 
game were brought out which had been killed by 
proxy. 
As Mr. B., of Nashua, says. Put the outgoing sports- 
man from Maine under oath as to whether wliat he 
takes out is of his own killing. It will result in one 
of two things, either there will be a large falling off 
of the much advertised number of deer and other game 
going out via Bangor and other outlets of Maine, or 
there will be a number of false oaths. 
C. M. Stark. 
DnNBARTOw, N. H., Jan. 9. 
Notes on Game. 
Black Duck Shooting in Mid-Winter 
It is stated by one of my correspondents that a great 
many black, or dusky ducks, are being shot during their 
visits to open spots in the ice, with which most of the 
ponds are now covered, to secure drinking water, fresh 
water being indispensable to them. 
It is a great pity that these birds, which, having es- 
caped the gunners until now, cannot be spared, at least 
for breeding stock, for another year, if for no other 
reason. 
In fact, it is sheer wastefulness to kill them in winter, 
for they are poor in flesh, and, subsisting as they do at 
this season of the year, on small shell fish, mollusks 
and other marine animals, their flesh is strong-flavored 
and unfit for the table. 
It is true that a large number are sold in the markets, 
m winter, but the purchasers are certainly not among 
the epicures, and have never tasted the bird when it 
was in prime condition. 
The dusky duck is one of the so-called river ducks, 
and is one of the best-known of all our water fowl. 
It breeds in all the New England States, but is found 
more abundantly in the northern sections of them in 
the breeding season. The country around Lake Um- 
bagog, Maine, and the extensive range of meadows oni 
the Magalloway River, seem to be favorite nesting 
places for them. In the swamps and meadows around- 
Big Lake, the lower one of the Schoodic system, these 
birds formerly bred in great numbers, but they were 
forced to seek other nesting places by the numerous; 
large pickerel, which seized and devoured their young. 
They breed also in the meadows and swamps of Nova 
Scotia, where the writer has repeatedly seen families of 
them feeding in the near vicinity of farmhouses. While 
localities in or near meadows, near ponds and lakes are 
favorite nesting places, they often hatch their young in 
a swamp in which a small brook is the only water for 
miles around. Early in September the dusky duck 
gathers in flocks of fifteen or twenty. It now becomes 
one of the most shy and wary of birds. It remains with 
us through nearlj^ the whole year, and moves south- 
ward only in very severe winters. In the autumn, while 
it subsists on seeds and tender aquatic plants and roots, 
it is one of the best-flavored of all our water fowl, 
hardly being excelled by the mallards or by those epi- 
curean morsels, the teals; but later it has much of the 
fishy flavor of the sea ducks. 
Owing to the extreme wariness of these birds in the 
autumn, the experienced gunner seldom attempts to 
stalk them; but, knowing the localities most frequented 
by them — generally meadows in which streams or small 
ponds of water abound — builds a blind (or stand, as it 
is sometimes called) near the water, six or eight feet 
square and five or six high, of the limbs of pines or 
other dense foliaged trees, in wdiich he secretes himself 
at daybreak, armed with one or two heavy double- 
barreled guns, and provided with a number of tame 
decoy ducks, generally the progeny of wild ones of 
this species. 
One of these he anchors or moors out in the water 
half a gun shot from the blind. The decoy, soon be- 
coming lonesome, begins to call, when, if there are any 
wild ducks in the neighborhood, they answer the note 
and soon fly to join the caller. 
The sportsman, watching the approaching flock, holds: 
one of the other decoys ready to throAv, and as soon as 
the wild ones approach, he tosses up and toward the 
anchored duck the bird held in his hand, which is se- 
cured from fljn'ng ofif by a strong line fastened to its 
legs. The bird moored in the water, seeing her mate 
flying toward her, immediately redoubles her cries, 
when the wild ducks, after flying back and forth to 
reconnoitre, alight beside her. As soon as they alight 
they gather in a bunch away from the decoy, and it is 
then that the sportsman pours in his first shot; he 
again fires when the ducks are rising from the water, 
and is often able to get four shots at a flock before it 
escapes out of gun shot. It is, as a rule, only early in 
the morning and late in the afternoon that these ducks 
can be shot in this manner, and if they are much hunted 
they approach the stand with ^reat caution, 
Expensive Sport. 
A condensed resume of the annual report of the Fish 
and Game Commissioners of Maine, as published in the 
Boston Herald, shows that the year 1902 has witnessed 
greater activity in this department than in any year 
since its creation. "A careful canvass shows that 133,- 
885 persons came during the past year to spend an ex- 
tended vacation. Among these were 3,240 who hunted 
big game. From returns it is shown that $1,371,201 
were expended by the visitors for board alone, exclusive 
of what was paid for other expenses, so that a con- 
servative estimate places the amount expended annually 
at from $6,000,000 to $12,000,000. There are 1891 regis- 
tered guides, and the number of moose reported killed 
during the year was 461. The conclusion seems irre- 
sistible that at least 20,000 deer have been killed in the 
State during the year." 
Work for the Game Officers. 
As I chanced to pass a market game stall about the 
Riiddle of last December, I noticed a numtpr of Ibunches 
or ruffed grouse hanging up exposed for sale. Follow- 
ing my usual custom of handling a game bird when I 
have the opportunity, I examined some of the grouse 
and smoothed their feathers, for my old instinct as a 
taxidermist always crops out on such an occasion. To 
my surprise, there was not a shot mark on four-fifths 
of the birds, and I examined them all; but the marks of 
the deadly snare-noose were plainly apparent. It seemed 
to me that such a matter as this should be looked after 
by the game officials, for the law expressly provides 
by the game officials. E. A. Samuels. 
With Gun and Dogs. 
[From a Staff Correspondent.] 
Long before reaching Jacksonville, Fla., a stranger 
in a well-known land, in quest of climate and game and 
a bit of fishy diversion, I was "warned" to look out for 
Col. B. W. Sperry of this gateway city, inasmuch as 
his reputation as a walking, talking woodcraft and fish 
lore bureau of information of all of Florida and much 
of the South further north convinced that he would be 
just the man to put me right and keep me next. 
Upon calling upon him in his private office in the 
Duval Hotel, the first thing to gi'eet me was a gun cabinet 
well stocked in goodly assortments. Fish rods of yield- 
ing and unbending natures, and a book rack containing 
Forest and Stream back for the last thirty years, some 
of them bound and others that should be. Mr. Sperry was 
not in, but that for the time being didn't make any dif- 
ference. . I was in the South; this fact asstn-es one of a 
welcome in most cases, and then there were my old 
friends of a lifetime, so I took, off my hat and went to 
liousekeeping with a willingness to deposit my money 
there uncotmted without a receipt. 
It was here that the genial, gentle spirit of Mr. 
Clarence William Smith came into my life for a perma- 
nent engagement, indulging me with reminiscences of 
the pleasures of days afield. Mr. Smith told of hunting 
men and game long before and during the war with 
equal humanity; for he is a follower of Johnson and 
Shakespeare alike, an admirer of Robinson and other 
lovers of woodland echoes, and still a student and prac- 
titioner in the forest, and on the stream a past master, 
yet still the apprentice of gun and rodology— that hour is 
with me yet. 
With Mr. Sperry it was "How long can you staj' and 
how soon can we match natures akin in the field?" 
Notice was soon served that that office would be closed 
until forced circumstances would open it again; letters 
w;ith twelve cents postage were soon in the mail, and the 
aid of telegraphy was invoked to further a cause so de- 
sirable and intensely just. Grips were packed and good- 
byes said and we were off for Live Oak, eighty miles 
west of here on the Seaboard Air Line, both glad that it 
was an "air line." There should be no curves in a rail- 
road lamning into a" game country, for it takes too long to 
go around them ; coming back they should all be freight 
trains, they carry one away so much slower. At Live 
Oak we found adjoining rooms at our disposal at the 
Hotel Bon Air, and Mr. MacGregor awaiting our pleasure 
for the morning, with team, dogs, guns and himself. 
At 6 130 the next morning we were away, behind a good 
pair of horses and with three racily built pointers, all of 
one family, very much in love with each other; 
Hugo, the father, and Steve and Kid, the son and 
daughter. A short distance from town the kid's tail 
was doing such gamy stunts, indorsed by pop, and 
agreed to by the methodical Steve, that Mac told us to 
get out our guns. I am afraid my increasing respira- 
tion flushed that covey ahead of time, and for the 
time being saved some of their lives; not all, however, 
as Mr. Sperry's long experience in running a hotel 
had schooled him in self-control and made him master 
of himself on all occasions; and he laid some feathers 
in our nest. Very soon we were after the singles. 
Mac had marked them down with his whip; a point 
is secured, and I am placed in the van; I flush, only 
to find my safety and the bird safe. Then a kill by 
Mr. Sperry and a miss by me. and yet my gun made 
just as much noise as his. Before we scared out (by 
me) and killed out (by him) that cover, we walked 
into another. Then another covey was exercised, and 
some were found fit for broiling. At ten o'clock we 
returned to our carriage with nineteen birds, with 
Mr. Spen-jr and the dogs mostly to blame. Then we 
drive on, not in a road, but just on, on, anywhere, 
everywhere, the only inclosures being around a family 
pet, the razor back; the dago ranging the wood in 
quest of_ birds, wfi lazily reclining on the back seat of 
the carriage behind . our pipes, indulging in the differ- 
ence between recrimination and sucess, with me hand- 
ling the more difficult subject. 
This day was a series of incidents; some days only' 
have one. Many are barren, yet in a day that bubbles 
over with good things there is always one that sticks 
to the rim of the cup of sweet things, and this becomes 
different from those that slop over or stay behind. 
We had returned to the carriage on one occasion and 
deposited the birds in a basket under the seat and 
climbed in and were driving on when the question 
arose, "Where is Hugo.^" Steve and the kid were 
ranging easily along, but there was no pop. The 
horses were stopped, and by the side of Ihe left hind 
wheel patiently stood good Hugo with a dead quail 
in his mouth. Mr. Sperry had dropped one in the 
road while transferring them from his pocket to the 
basket (it wasn't I; one can't be careless with what 
they haven't got). Hugo couldn't tell us, so he just 
brought it along. The .man who kicks a dog kicks his 
better. 
We found plenty of birds and always had open 
shooting, and undisguised sportsmanship. Here the 
fellow that is wind-broken and gouty can rid himself 
of both complaints and go gunning. It's easy and 
healthy. The dogs and horses do all the work and 
the birds the sprinting. 
Mr. Sperry fits his reputation.. He is only too glad 
to direct sportsrnen where to go and find game and 
fish, and would circumstances permit, would always be 
one of the party, and each party would be the better 
for his presence and the bag fuller by the judicious 
care he takes of his gun. 
I had the pleasure of a lu^cheop with Capt. M^c- 
Donnell, the general passenger agent of the Seaboard 
Air Line here, and the total absorption of our gray 
matter on game and fish and where and when to find 
them, makes me forget what we had to eat. The cap- 
tain is always at his desk when he ought to be, _ and 
is ever ready to stay over hours talking to visiting 
sportsmen. 
At Lake City the game is very plentiful, and good 
accommodations can be had at the Hotel Blanche; 
and here, as in Live Oak, Mr. Chappell has all the 
prerequisites to entertain the shooter. It's a gamy- 
country. Deer, turkeys, quail and doves are plentiful. 
The natives are courteous; a Mr. Ross walked a mile 
to welcome us to his and his neighbor's plantation, 
telling us we were welcome, and that his neighbor- 
was all right, concluding with, "Sometimes a mean man 
gets among us, but, well, well, he don't stay long. 
You see it's easy moving here; everybody helps." 
T. £. Batten. 
J tcK'oNvn LE, Fla , Jan. 10. 
^ The Adirondack Deer. 
Albany, N._ Y., Jan. ro. — Editor Forest and Stream.: 
The Forest, Fish and Game Commission takes pleasure ini 
submitting some statistics relative to Adirondack deer,, 
which will answer several questions recently asked by 
your correspondents. We have just finished compiling 
the returns of the shipments made by the American and 
National express companies from various points in the 
Adirondack region, and fi.nd that the totals are as fol- 
lows, those of previous years being added for compari- 
son : 
l^'ear. Carcasses. Saddles. Heads. 
1900 1,020 89 95 
190T 1,062 103 121 
1902 1,364 113 193 
lliese figures show an increase which, taken with the 
common report, amply authenticated, that there are more 
deer than ever in the woods, would seem to be a sufficient 
argument in favor of the protection which this State pro- 
vides for the Adirondack deer. Taken with the fact that 
a very large number of the shipments reported weighed 
Over 200 pounds dressed, the figures also indicate that the 
contention of this department is correct that the Adiron- 
dack deer properly protected will develop in size and 
weight to equal fully and even to surpass those of the 
same species in any other locality in North America. We 
have one record of a deer shot by William Coulter of 
Johnsburgh which weighed 415 pounds. For the infor- 
mation of your correspondents, it may also be stated that 
wc figure that at least four deer are killed and eaten in the 
woods for every one shipped out 
John D. Whish, 
Secretary. 
Bigf Guns in Vifg-inia. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I inclose a clipping from the Daily Press of Newport 
News, Va., which the public ought to read. It seems 
to me that this is a more wanton destruction of wild 
game than ^ the account of the slaughter of the blue 
peter in Princess Anne county, as given in Forest and 
Stream Dec. 13. 
Richmond, Va., Jan. 2.— Small cannons are reported in use this 
season by duck hunters in the marshes of the lower James and 
Potomac rivers. These guns are about nine feet long, and are 
used both in blinds and pivoted on the bows of small boats. 
Some idea, of the destructiveness of the implements of death 
may be gained from the statement to-day that a prominent tug- 
boat captain, who made duck shooting a business, managed to 
kill 225 birds in one shot. So great is the roar of the cannons 
that the myriads of ducks are frightened away after each dis- 
charge, so that only two or three such shots can be made during 
the week. 
Many of these duck hunters have large marshes of their own, 
some of which are 5,000 acres in extent. No one is allowed to 
trespass,^ it is said, so there is little danger of the law taking 
ei'fect. These marshes are carefully baited the year round with 
tons of corn and feed to attract the water fowl, so when the game 
season opens they are feeding in countless numbers. 
It is said in the markets that only through this method of 
wholesale killing can the cities be supplied with game. While 
each shot from the cannon may kill ten to seventy-five pairs of 
ducks, ther'e is scarcely any perceptible decrease in tlie number 
of birds. Some say the loss during a whole season is not over 
] per cent, of the entire flock. 
The ducks killed" in the Virginia waters are said to be the fattest 
and best flavored on the IVorthern markets. They are eaten 
mostly in the large hotels and restaurants. 
It doesn't seem possible that such conditions could exist 
in any State without the law coming to the rescue. There 
must be a law in Virginia covering such cases, I should 
suppose. J. R. S, 
Houndingf vs. Still-Huntingf in Ontatio. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
As usual, after the close of the open season for deer 
in Ontario, the regular annual agitation has commenced 
for alteration in open season and prohibiting the use of 
hounds. Previous to the passage of the Ontario Game 
Prohibition Act of 1892 the Government appointed the 
Ontario Game Commission, the members of which ar- 
ranged for the holding of meetings in nearly every avail- 
able portion of the Province, for the purpose of securing 
evidence from sportsmen and hunters regarding the 
proper open and close season for all species of game 
in Ontario. In accordance with the evidence so procured, 
the present game laws were enacted by the Legislatui-e. 
That these laws have been productive of much good in 
the matter of game protection no one will deny who has 
given the subject any consideration. Many young and 
inexperienced hunters on their return from the woods, 
from the innermost recess of their verdant understanding, 
want the game laws altered to suit their personal 
opinions. We have the periodical outcry from a few still- 
hunters who want hounding prohibited. Others want the 
open season to be the last half of November, instead of 
the first half, as at present Those clamoring for these 
changes evidently have not considered the impossibility 
of the Government changing the open season with every 
change of weather. The past month of November was 
the warmest November since 1848, and it may be fifty 
years more before we have another November with a 
similar temperature. 
Were the hounding of deer prohibited in Ontario go 
per cent. x)f the hunters would never see a deer during the 
fifteen days' opeo season. Then, we must take into 00^-, 
