Feb. 7, 1903.1 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
107 
New Hampshire Fish and Game. 
In their report for the year ending Dec. i, 1902, the 
New Hampshire Comraissioiiers of Fish and Game 
say: 
From reports received from all sections of the 
State, we think we can safely say the fishing and hunt- 
ing in New Hampshire has not been better in the last 
twenty years than in the past two seasons. 
The brook trout fishing has been especially fine. 
Partridge, wbodcock and quail have been very plenty. 
It has not been uncommon for two hunters, in the 
last two seasons, to bring in a string of from ten 
to fifteen -birds as the result of a day's hunt. 
Ten years ago the snaring was common in many 
parts of New Hampshire; to-day we seldom hear of a 
snare being set, although this fall we had the pleasure 
of breaking up one of the worst gangs of snarers in 
New Hampshire. One of the gang is serving a jail 
sentence, and the others are under suspended jail sen- 
tences during good behavior. These parties were send- 
ing their game to New York, where they were getting 
as high as $1.25 each for partridge. 
It is a fact beyond question that the law prohibiting 
■the sale of game is doing much to help your commis- 
isioners to enforce the laws. By stopping the sale of 
partridge, and the practice of snaring, by regulating 
the length of the open season, and with New Hamp- 
shire's increasing area of sprout land and forest, this 
noblest of game birds (which has no peer in the coun- 
try) will be spared indefinitely. 
As a rule we are opposed to changing the fish and 
game laws, but we are of the opinion that it would be 
far better to have the open season commence Oct. i 
on all kinds of game, rather than on Sept. 15, as it does 
at the present time. On Sept. 15 many of the par- 
tridge are not full grown, and some of the bevies of 
quail no larger than sparrows. 
Last winter the snow came so early that the par- 
tridge were driven to budding in November and De- 
cember. They are then slaughtered by parties who 
drive round the wood-roads between sunset and dark, 
killing the birds from forest trees where they can do 
no possible harm. 
If a law could be passed to prevent this killing of 
partridge while budding (we would say make the open 
season October, November and December), we would 
then have full grown birds that are able to take care 
of themseh'es, and when secured, of some account. 
Three years ago we liberated fifty dozen quail. They 
were turned- loose from the southern border, and as 
far north as Lake Winnipesaukee. It is impossible to 
reckon upon these birds living through some of our 
severe winters, but the last two winters have been 
remarkably favorable, and during the last fall excellent 
■quail shooting has been had in many parts of New 
Hampshire. 
We believe that for the amount of money expended 
in purchasing quail, no better results have been ob- 
tained fr'om the same sum of money. We would ad- 
vise that a sum be appropriated annually to stock 
our covers with quail. 
The woodcock is virtually protected only from the 
time when it reaches us in the spring until Sept. 15. 
Our hunters commence killing them then, and con- 
tinue until they start on their migration south. They 
are killed all the way on their flight south, and after 
they arrive there, all through the winter in many of 
the southern States. With the existing state of af- 
fairs, it is a question how long we will have this noble 
game bird with us. 
We think no one can question that your commis- 
sioners are doing all in their power to enforce the fish 
and game laws of New Hampshire. We should have 
fish and game detectives— three at least — who should 
be paid a living salary, to work with your commis- 
sioners. 
Massachusetts is paying to-day more for the support 
of her fish and game wardens than New Hampshire is 
expending for its commission and all work of its com- 
mission. 
We receive man}'- favors and kind words from the 
press all over the State — from the Manchester Union 
especially. We take the liberty to copy from its edi- 
torial columns of Oct. 13, 1902, the following: 
THE GAME LAWS. 
The Fish and Game Commissioners are doing what they can 
for the enforcement of the game laws, and should receive the 
support and assistance of all good citizens. It is Impracticable 
to frame any set of laws that will suit every one in all particulars. 
It is probable, however, that the present laws for the protection 
of game come as near meeting the approval of the majority of the 
citizens of the State as is possible. At all events, they are laws, 
and should be enforced. It is obvious to every one who thinks 
at all, that unless New Hampshire people are willing to witness 
the utter extinction of many species once abundant, there must 
be protection, and the laws designed for such protection must be 
rigidly enforced. Effective firearms were never so cheap as now, 
and the extension of electric roads has made it easy for any one 
to take a considerable journey into the country and return the 
same day. Of course, one citizen has the same right as another, 
but it is obvious that without rigidly enforced laws there would 
soon be no game, and what is worse, there would be a great 
diminution of insect-eating birds, for many men and boys, when 
out with guns, feel little or no compunction at trying their skill 
on any living thing they see. It is necessary, therefore, if game 
and even song and insect-eating birds are to be preserved, that 
there should first be an intelligent public sentiment for their 
preservation, and next, that every law-abiding citizen should 
assist the Fish and Game Commissioners and their representa- 
tives in every possible way. It is not a pleasant duty to make 
complaints, but it is a duty nevertheless. 
By the advice of the present Governor and council, 
we have been able to perfect the station at Cole- 
brook, so that to-day we think we can safely say that 
this station has not a superior in New England as a 
State hatchery. 
From this station we shall largely supply the State 
with fingerling and yearling brook trout. Two mil- 
lion eggs can be handled at this station. With a station 
similar to this located at Lacotiia, or somewhere in that 
section, where we can grow our lake trout and saltnon 
to fingerlings or yearlings before they are planted, we 
can stock our lakes with far better success than we 
are having at the presetit time. 
Although the lake trout fishing is excellent, and the 
salmon fishing is improving, especially in Lake Winni- 
piseogee, yet we question if your commission will ever 
be able to steefc th^.sfi waters sn^Biciently well tij allow 
parties the privilege they have at the present time of 
killmg these fish for the market. As a commission we 
are thoroughly opposed to the sale of lake trout, brook 
trout, and salmon. Never in the history of New 
Hampshire have so many summer homes been built 
near our lakes and ponds as in the last two years, and 
many of the owners are attracted here by the fishing 
ni the waters near where they build. For this reason, 
if for no other, it is our duty to do all we can to keep 
these waters well stocked. At the present time most of 
our ponds are stocked with bass and pickerel As we 
do not propagate these fish, the only way to keep up 
the supply IS by regulating the open season. The bass 
and pickerel are able to care for themselves, and will 
increase if_ given a fair chance, but where a pond is 
covered with lines, as is done in ice-fishing for pick- 
erel, the pickerel have got to go, for if they are all 
caught in the wmter, they are not there to be caught 
in the summer. We think all ice-fishing should be 
stopped, except on the large lakes. 
The deer in New Hampshire are rapidly increasing, 
so much so that it is frequently suggested to us that 
an open season be made all over the State, allowing 
one buck deer to a person. We often have complaints 
ot damage done, by deer. We have investigated fre- 
quently, and have as yet been unable to find where any 
serious damage has been done. But if the State ex- 
pects to protect her deer, she should pay for damage 
done by them. With the abandoned farms all over 
JNew Jdampshire, and its rapidly increasing area of 
sprout land, southern New Hampshire would be an 
Idea deer country if it were not for the worthless dogs 
(Avith just enough hound in their make-up to make 
them sheep and deer dogs) which are allowed to run 
at large all through the close season, eating the eggs 
ot all game birds, running down and kitting" the young 
ot all kinds of our four-footed game, from the deer 
down to the rabbit. Many farmers in our State find 
It impossible to keep sheep to-day, owing to these 
worthless dogs. There should be some way to suppress 
this nuisance. 
During the last two years we have lost by resigna- 
tion and death two members of our board of commis- 
sioners._ Mr. F. L. Hughes resigned on account 
ot the increase of his business. He was a first-class 
commissioner, and is honored and respected by all 
who know him. 
In the death of Judge Shurtleflf, New Hampshire lost 
one ot the best fish and game commissioners that ever 
served her. With his knowledge of law (in fact, many 
ot our most important fish and game laws on our sta- 
tute books to-day were framed by him) and his ex- 
tended knoyvledge of the forests and streams of our 
btate, especially of northern New Hampshire, and with 
his vast acquaintance in every part of the State, he 
was an ideal man for a commissioner of fish and game 
He was not only thoroughly acquainted with the differ- 
ent varieties of fish which our waters contain, but knew 
every animal and bird that inhabits our forests He 
was an expert with the rifle and the shotgun, and we 
have j^et to see his superior with the rod. He was 
a lovable, whole-souled man. 
Nathaniel Wektworth,. 
Charles B. Clarke, 
Merrill Shurtleff, 
Fish and Game Commissioners. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
The Quail Question in Texas. 
San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 24.— It has long been the 
cu.stom m the North, and, indeed the South, also, to 
believe that after all the rest of the world was ex- 
hausted, there would still be Texas. For years the 
men of the Lone Star State, accustomed to a world 
ot vast spaces and vast resources, have regarded it as 
certain that Texas would alwavs furnish abundance 
tor all, whether in lines of agriculture, industry or 
sport. It has so long been the custom to see millions 
of acres unoccupied, millions of cattle almost unowned, 
millions of birds apparently coming from sources in- 
exhaustible, that it has hardly occurred to the average 
man that there might perhaps be a limit even to the 
vast natural wealth of Texas. The old doctrine of this 
immense territory of the Southwest was that there 
was enough for all. If a thousand cattle died on the 
range it mattered little, and caused no concern. There 
were more cattle. Land was too cheap to be worth 
the holding. Men bought it at five cents an acre. 
There was enough for all. Northern shooters came 
down here and butchered the Texan game birds. It 
mattered little. There was enough for all. 
Within the last few years the inevitable change has 
begun to manifest itself. Cattle are worth money in 
Texas now, and they are cared for. Horses bring fifty 
or sixty dollars, where formerly they could be had for 
three or four dollars each. Land is steadily going up 
all over the State. Population is pouring in, recog- 
nizing the value of this enormous and little understood 
kingdom of the far Southwest. With these changes 
come those of personal interest to sportsmen. One 
now hears that ducks are not so abundant on the 
coast. He is asked to wait till the birds begin to go 
northward, or to come a little earlier in the fall next 
time, as the birds go southward. There are special 
days for shooting at the local marshes, excuses, expla- 
nations, reasons why the shooting is not just as good 
as it formerly was. One is told that the quail mi- 
grated, that the food is not quite right this season, 
etc. Indeed, most wonderful of all, one hears talk 
among these big hearted Texan shooters that, whereas, 
in the past they have thought there was enough for all 
manner of Northern shooters, now it may be better 
to be not quite so free with sweeping invitations and 
sweeping practices upon the part of those invited and 
arrived. There are murmurs that this is to be a good 
year for trapshooting in Texas, because the field shoot- 
ing is going to be so poor. In short, there arc at 
hand, one must admit with sorr.ow, the unmistakable 
signs that this grand empire of Texas, almost the last 
of the open and free realm of America, is at the door 
6'f change, that ahe is Jjrepaiing repeat ihn history 
of all the American West. Texas is learning to-day 
that there was not, after all, enough for all. 
And now comes a very interesting juncture of af- 
fairs, wherein the sportsman is not the prime mover, 
yet wherein he is much interested and may be much 
affected in spite of himself. The gerni and the gist 
of it all is a certain little m^odern insect pest known 
as the boll weevil, which seriously jeopardizes the wel- 
fare of the cotton planters pretty much all over the 
State. We have the potato beetle and the chinch bug 
in the North, and the boll weevil in the South. Also, 
in both sections, we have the great North American 
member of the Legislature. 
Hitherto in Texas the legislator has been of about 
average density and dullness in matters of game laws, 
not caring much for the game birds, and not believing 
that the supply could ever be exhausted. The game 
laws of Texas are not well made and not well en- 
forced, this being part of the old fallacy of enough 
for all, so dear to have, so hard to relinquish in the 
American mind. But this very ignorance on the part 
of Texas legislators in game laws and in natural his- 
tory — an ignorance fully shared by their brethren in the 
North — presents to-day a strange phenomenon which 
may amount to protection even more sweeping than 
sportsmen would care to see enforced. In brief, the 
Legislature of Texas, assured that the quail is a bird, 
and that birds eat boll weevils, is fairly upon the point 
of passing a law prohibiting the shooting of quail for 
a term of ten years. And in the opinion of many well- 
posted men of this State, they will just about pass it, 
too. Exit then the Northern market shooter, the 
Northern real sportsman and the Northern pseudo 
sportsman, not to mention the local sportsmen of 
Texas. Enter the day of trapshooting at targets, of 
useless field dogs, of a great many other things allied 
thereto. 
It does not seem to have occurred to the minds of 
the legislators of Texas that perhaps the quail does 
not eat very many, if indeed, any boll weevils. Per- 
haps the truth is that they do not. If you open the 
crop of a quail, as we have done lately, even in fields 
where they are burning the cotton stalks to destroy 
the weevil, you will not find anything distinguishable 
except the small black seeds of weeds upon which they 
feed. The quail will eat grain as large as corn, and 
wheat it dearly loves. It is a grain-feeder by all 
means, though occasionally it eats insects. It will 
make its living in Texas, even in case of a general 
prevalence of the boll weevils, in precisely that way 
which seems easiest to it. Hence, in all likelihood, it 
will continue to eat grains and seeds for the most part, 
even though the weevil disports itself most alluringly. 
This is the wrong time of year to test the weevil-eat- 
ing quality of the quail, but no one seems to have 
tested it at any season of the year. Hence the sports- 
men may perhaps have a snap judgment taken upon 
them by their Legislature. 
There is no use becoming unduly concerned over 
this matter before it is matter of fact, and not of sup- 
position, but just supposing this law should be passed, 
what would be the- result? Naturally, at first a great 
deal of violation of the law, combined with a great deal 
of outcry regarding it, possibly followed later by re- 
peal of the law. Incidentally, however, there would 
come also the first of that agitation which must fore- 
run any American recognition of the value of the wild 
game. We may come to believe in Texas, after a while, 
that the quail is a good thing to have; that it ought not 
to be exterminated, that there are not quail enough for 
all. That will be the beginning of the foundation of an 
intelligent game code in Texas, and an intelligent en- 
forcing of the laws. It will, in short, be education. 
Now, if education shall come in Texas, even largely, 
sweepingly, wastefuUy, after the vast Texas fashion, 
shall we indeed feel constrained to sit down and weep 
over this freak of the Legislature in regard to the quail 
and the cotton weevil? For one, though I love this 
State more each time I see it, I should, for one, be 
willing to put up my gun and not shoot at all for the 
term of years which might be designated, provided that 
thereby a great many others might be taught what I 
think I have, from he nature of an almost life-long em- 
ployment, learned to know, namely that in America 
there is no longer enough for all. It is humiliating, it 
is distasteful, but it is true. One can have small 
patience with men not big enough '•'^ see that it is 
true. 
Habits of Texas Qoail, 
As to Bob White in Texas, he is still in evidence, 
albeit in lessening numbers. The other day, in the 
neighborhood of a ranch located some miles down the 
lovely valley of the San Antonio River, a little party 
of us put up several bevies in the course of a morning 
walk across country, with no canine company except 
a young and unbroken dog. Our party was made up of 
Col. O. C. Guessaz, of this city, Mr. R. O. Heikes, of 
the U. M. C. missionary forces, Mr. R. N. Stites, of 
Chicago, and myself. The four guns, with no appre- 
ciable effort, picked up a couple of dozen quail, not to 
mention nine brace of fat doves in the period of a 
couple of hours or so. Then we went home again. It 
was a very lovely day, the air soft and warm, and I 
fancy nobody felt very murderous. The bevies were all 
full and the birds well-grown and more than able to 
take care of themselves. We all thought we distin- 
guished a distinct change in the habits of the quail 
in this part of the world. The Texas birds were al- 
ways greater runners than the Northern Bob Whites, 
but this time they seemed almost more like blue quail - 
than Bob Whites. The first bevy we put up ran across 
a forty-acre cotton fjield at a rate which fairly kept 
us on the trot, and which quite prevented any dog 
work at all. We kept on following after, seeing them 
all the time ahead, and hoping they would scatter and 
lie. They did drop out, one at a time, as they crossed 
the field, until at last, when we reached thick grass 
at the farther edge, we put up only half a dozen, 
though there were fully four times that number which 
started across the field. 
Cunning enough is Bob White; wherever you put 
