328 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[April 25, 1903. 
I have hunted woodcock in nearly all the towns ad- 
joining Mancliester, and have been familiar with all 
the notable covers. therein. Of all. my preference was 
given to those west, including Goflfstown and Bedford, 
and I think they afforded the best results for num- 
bers, with one exception, "The Parsonage," in Au- 
burn. Whoever was familiar with such places as the 
"Old Saw Mill," "McDougalls," "Shirley Hill," 
"Orrs," "Spragues," "Roby Run," "The (ireeley 
Place,'' 'Tinker Run," "Nichols," "Plummers," 
"Worthleys," "Hadleys," "Witherspoons," "Voses" 
and "Dunlaps" will not feel his blood quicken as his 
memory reverts to days of pleasure and excitement 
unsurpassed by any others in his experience, when the 
days were not long enough, and fatigue unfelt until on 
our homeward journey. 
Yon will remember that at the time of which I write 
wing shooting was an accomplishment acquired by 
few; it was the day of single-barreled muzzleloaders 
and spaniel dogs. Breechloaders and highly trained 
pointers and setters were almost entirely unknown in 
this vicinity, when the popular method of capturing 
ruffed grouse was the employment of any yelping cur 
that would tree them, or the use of the deadly snare 
more fatal than the gun. Then there were no laws 
for the protection of game birds or songsters. Prev- 
ious to 1842 there were on our statute books laws only 
for the destruction of noxious animals and the restric- 
tion of the killing of certain fur-bearing animals. It 
was only as late as 1867 that a game law was passed re- 
stricting the shooting of woodcock between Feb. i and 
July I, and grouse to Sept. i. Previous to that time 
it was only an unwritten law with sportsmen that wood- 
cock should not be shot before the 4th of July, but I 
fear it was not strictly observed. 
My_ first knowledge of any person shooting wood- 
cock in this vicinity was of Joseph Marshall, who kept 
a book store and bindery at the corner of Elm and 
Stark streets. He hunted "The Parsonage" and shot 
over a spaniel dog. This was between 1845 and 1850. 
But my first initiation, about 1848 or 1850, dates from 
my acquaintance with George Barnes and Samuel 
Brooks, who were the earliest sportsmen and most 
persistent hunters of that day. Samuel Brooks was my 
"guide, counselor and friend" for more than fifty years, 
and to him I owe the little knowledge of woodcraft to 
which I attained. He was almost my sole companion 
through all the years of my active sport life and my 
valued and sincere friend to the day of his death. 
"Age could not wither nor custom stale" his love of 
sport,^nd he was as eager to take "a day off" until 
a short time before his death as when in the prime of 
life. It was to him I was indebted for the introduction 
to the then known covers, and with him made the dis- 
covery of many others. Our success was varied, but 
I imagine that the total result was not equaled by any 
other two persons at that tin^e. We both used muzzle- 
loading guns and continued their use to the last. We 
had the use of well-bred pointers and setters, famous 
in their day, and I presume some of you may remem- 
ber my Old Don, one of the noblest and most intelli- 
gent of noble dogs, with a Websterian head and an en- 
durance that hardly knew fatigue. 
The next person I recall was the late Col. Water- 
man Smith, about 1853, as strenuous as a sportsman 
as in other pursuits. I think he must have been about 
the first person here who used a breechloader and 
to have well-trained setter dogs. He was the first to 
control the exclusive use of any cover that I can re- 
member, and it caused dissatisfaction to those who 
were denied the privilege they had once enjoyed. This 
was "The Parsonage," in Auburn, one of the most 
famous covers in this vicinitv from time immemorial. 
It contains only a few acres, but it was marvelous the 
number of birds it yielded. I am not sure that it was 
a notable breeding ground, but for flight it was un- 
surpassed. I know that one day's shooting afforded 
twenty-eight birds, and large scores were frequent. I 
hear that it is deserted ground now "and none so 
poor as to do it reverence." 
About 1858 our now veteran sportsman. Col. Samuel 
Webber, entered the field, although he was no mere 
tyro in other fields with the use of the gun and rod. 
I think his ruling passion, however, was the use of the 
rod; indeed, in a letter from him at Charlestown, N. 
H., a few days since, he informed me he had nearly 
entered his eightieth year, and intended to try the 
trout in his vicinity when the season opened. I had 
many pleasant days' shooting with him and enjoyed 
his agreeable companionship. 
Between 1859 and 1864 one of our best known and 
successful sportsmen, George Bisco, was added to our 
number. Familiar with the use of the .gun from boy- 
hood, he was a good shot, a most persevering hunter, 
and almost always successful in making a good bag. 
He used muzzleloading guns at first and shot over 
spaniels and setters. With him was associated that 
splendid gentleman, William W. Colburn, a true lover 
of nature and a most genial and interesting companion. 
Together they followed shooting woodcock and grouse 
for several years, or until Mr. Colburn removed to 
Springfield, Mass. But Mr. Bisco, veteran^ as he is, 
has not yet given up the business. Later, with the ad- 
vent of breechloaders, well-bred pointers and setters, 
an increased number of skilled wing-shooters came 
upon the stage. 
Many of you can recall the time when shooting 
seemed contagious, when it was the fad to engage in 
trapshooting, and when the "woods seemed fuH"_ of 
amateur sportsmen. Of those who were active thirty 
or forty years ago, I recall the two Moores, Gilman 
and Ira; the two brothers, Goodwin, Bill and Harvey; 
Treat Potter, Charley Jackson, Sam James, Frank 
Bradbury, Dick Lynch and B. F. Clark. They fre- 
quently hunted together in numbers and were desig- 
nated as "The Regiment" by other sportsmen, but 
they were successful in making good bags, and enjoyed 
the' sport with a zest unequaled. Then there were the 
Dodge brothers, James and Ed; John Wadleigh, suc- 
cessful fisherman and grouse hunter; "Nick" Nichols 
and Hiram Young, although Young was more noted 
as a 'coon and squirrel hunter than for birds. He was 
one of the most inveterate hunters of his time. 
And later, our former mayor. William C. Clarke. 
who, to an inherited disposition for sport and sports- 
manship from his father, Col. John B. Clarke, acquired 
by practice the skill which made him the equal of any 
of his compeers. Although his exercise in the field 
has been restricted of late years by more important 
duties, he has furnished to a large circle of interested 
friends a weekly contribution of matters relating to 
sport and spoi ts'manship under the nom de plume of 
"Joe English," which has been their delight. 
I could perhaps entertain you with the citation of 
incidents anil accidents in the field, of rare shots and 
unaccountable failures, of quail shooting in Connecti- 
cut, prairie chicken in Iowa, or for that now somewhat 
rare but heuiitiful bird, the upland plover, but such re- 
lation wouKl be more appropriate to some occasion 
when we could swap stories. 
In conclusion, I have one suggestion to make, viz., 
that you endeaveor to cultivate friendly relations with 
the farmer upon whose premises you desire to shoot. 
In all my experience I was never refused such privilege 
by any one when approached civilly and with the as- 
surance tiiat walls and fences would not be recklessly 
destroyed or cattle annoyed, and often afterward our 
presence was welcomed and we were regarded as 
friends rather than trespassers. 
I am informed that woodcock and grouse have been 
more plentiful in this vicinity during the past year. 
Make close time on both the first of October, and then, 
perhaps, you may enjoy sport equally as good as that 
of fifty years ago. 
II CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Mysterious Disappearance. 
Chicago, 111., April 18.— It has been a case of mys- 
terious disappearance this week in regard to the jacksnipe. 
As reported last week, there was a pretty good flight of 
birds in all over this country about ten days ago. Then 
came a good moon, which so far from bringing in more 
birds to us, seems to have taken away the ones that we 
had. The most indefatigable hunters of this elusive arti- 
cle failed this week to secure any good bags of jacksnipe 
cither on the grounds below this city or anywhere within 
fifty miles to the north of ns. The Illinois River was 
out of its banks all through the middle part of this State, 
and there was really more water than was necessary. Yet 
there was abundance of good ground back on the edges of 
the bottoms, grounds just warm enough and dry enough 
now to offer good feeding places. On the best of these 
grounds no snipe could be found, and even searches in the 
corn fields and dry sloughs failed to bring any results. 
The birds simply had gone — just where nobody seems 
to know. This was the case around the better marshes 
fifty to seventy-five miles of Chicago. 
To-day Otto Muerchke, of Nippersink Bay, came down 
to Chicago and told some of the boys that there were 
some snipe in and around the Fox Lake grounds, and that 
he wanted someone to go up and help kill them. It is 
not known whether any considerable flight of birds is in 
or not on that part of the snipe region, but to the con- 
trary is the report of the Graham boys of Fox Lake, 
who are good hunters and know the best snipe bogs. 
These shooters came in from a hunt last Thursday, and 
only saw two snipe. The probabilities are, therefore, that 
the first flight of jacks has left us. The second flight -will 
probably come in about the 30th of this month, a few 
days after the close of the season. 
My friend, Mr. Von Lengerke, tells .me that in his 
shooting a couple of weeks ago he rarely found one 
snipe without putting up another. Yet he says that no 
eggs were found in any of the birds killed at that time. 
If the second flight of snipe be like the second flight of 
bluebills, made up mostly of male and unmated birds, 
then the damage of shooting on the second flight will h■^ 
less than that executed on the first, supposing that the 
first flight was made up of paired birds, which seems 
probably to be the case. 
Plover, 
The first of the plover flight will probably .get here 
just too late to connect with the legal season. A wise 
bird, the golden plover, to time his journey so that he 
reaches Illinois after April 25. I am not sufficiently well 
posted on the habits of the snipe and plover to know 
which really does the first nesting on the northern breed- 
ing grounds. The inference would be that the jacksiiipe 
is the earlier breeder. The plover, following along in a 
more leisurely fashion and striking the northern country 
v/hen the feed is more advanced, nearly always reaches 
us here in a better condition than the jacksnipe. In a lot 
of jacksnipe killed early in April there may be some 
very lean and some in very good condition. The plover 
are nearly all fairly fat when they reach this latitude. 
I do not know whether they would naturally breed so far 
to the south or not, but I have earlier reported the fact 
that John Watson, of this city, once found a jacksnipe 
nest, about the first of May, on the marshes of the 
Kankakee River. 
Radical Improvements in Game Laws. 
By air means the most important Western news of the 
past two weeks is the advice from Texas and from Illi- 
nois on the passage of new and successful game laws. 
The men of Texas are especially to be congratulated, for 
they won their victory unexpectedly and with a rush, in 
spite of a very determined opposition from the market 
hunting element and in spite of the animosity of a strong 
lobby hitherto supposed to be possessor of great influence 
in the legislative halls. I cannot but feel like congratulat- 
ing friend Guessaz, of the Texas Field, who took off his 
coat and went to work for the passage of this law. It is 
a bit of unwritten history that the latter gentleman, at 
the very critical hour when the Governor was hesitat- 
ing about affixing his signature to the bill, secured an 
interview with the Governor and made so strong a talk 
that the latter was glad to sign. I do not know whether 
the husky San Antonian threatened him with sudden 
death or otherwise or not, but the signature was given 
and the measure is a law. The men of Texas now exult 
in what is called "The best game law in the United 
States," whose good features are enumerated below: 
No more killing of does; 
No more killing of fawns; ^ _ . . . , 
No more killing for hides or antlers; 
No more enormous bags for the game hogs; 
No more hunting for the market; 
No more traffic in song and game birds; 
No more killing of over six bucks each year; 
No more killing of over twenty-five birds. 
When you stop to look at it, these are indeed good 
features in any game law. It is no wonder that the mar- 
ket shooters of the coast cried out against the severity 
of this new law. Good advices state that two men near 
Rockport within the past year killed between them 9,000 
ducks, the great majority of them redheads. All these 
birds were sold. The slaughter along the salt water bars 
and the fresh water lagoons of the coast country of 
'J exas has been something simply enormous. My frietid 
earlier above mentioned thinks that there are one hun- 
dred tnarket hunters between Port La Vaca and Corpus 
Christi, and that in a year would perhaps average 2,500 
birds to his gun. Figure on that for a while and realize 
that it is but . a part of the great southern wintering 
grounds, not including the organized slaughter grounds 
near Galveston, and you may begin to see where some of 
our wildfowl are going. Texas woke up suddenly, 
promptly, without even taking time to wipe her eyes. She 
woke up just in time. More power to her arm, and may 
she long live to be the ground of unstinted hospitality in 
all reasonable ways I There will be no more big slaughters 
at Lake Surprise, no more Gum Hollow "records," no 
more, let us hope, of a great many other scenes of a 
similar nature which have been all too frequent in the 
history of this magnificent and bountiful land of the 
Southwest. 
As for Illinois and her game law, we are in the same 
category with Texas, as proud as a boy with a new pair 
of red top boots. Full comment has been made on this 
measure at a previous date, and it is only necessary now 
to recapitulate by saying that we now have the best game 
law in Illinois that we ever had. Illinois and Texas can 
both stand flat-flooted on the Forest and Stream plank 
and shake hands, as they voice the common cry, now be- 
coming .general throughout the West: "Stop the sale 
of game." For nearly fifteen years I have been hollering 
with the voice of one in the wilderness, and doing what 
little can be done in the way of personal kicking on the 
immoderate slaughter of game birds. I never expected 
to see the sentiment change so rapidly in this matter as it 
has in the past year. VVhen the editor of Forest and 
Stream first swung out the banner with the strange de- 
vice of "Stop the sale of game," I doubt if he ever an- 
ticipated so early and so large a following. All this is a 
matter of very much comfort, indeed. We have not a 
tithe of the game in the West to-day which we had twelve 
or fifteen years ago, but we have very much better game 
laws and a very much better sentiment regarding their 
enforcement. Perhaps, after all, there is hope. At least, 
let us hope there is hope. 
E. Hough. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
Boone and Crockett Club Dinner. 
The Boone and Crockett Club gave a dinner at the 
University Club on Saturday, April 18, at which there 
were present about sixty members and invited guests. 
The president, Mr. W. Austin Wadsworth, occupied the 
chair. Among the guests were Mr. De Windt, the 
.Siberian traveler; Col. D. L. Brainard, the Arctic ex- 
plorer; Senator Elon R. Brown, of Jefferson county, 
N. Y., and Mr. John J. White, Jr. 
At the close of the dinner, the president called on Mr. 
Madison Grant, the secretary, for a brief report of 
what the club has done this year, since many of the mem.- 
bers and guests present did not attend the annual dinner 
in Washington, and perhaps had no clear idea of the 
club's present purposes. 
Mr. Grant gave an interesting talk, referring briefly 
to the club's work in the past with relation to the Yel- 
lowstone Park and the New York Zoological Park, and 
then spoke of the recently passed law protecting Alaska 
game, Avhich is working well. Up to within a year th" 
whole vast territory of Alaska was without protection of 
any kind. Its big game fauna includes two species of 
moose, four of caribou, two sheep, two goats, one deer 
and nine bear. These were being killed off in the usual 
wasteful American way by miners, meat hunters, skin 
luniters and. head hunters, who were destroying great 
numbers of game, largely for the purpose of exporting 
skins and heads to be sold to so-called sportsmen who 
were unable to secure these things for themselves. One 
of the great bears of Alaska, the largest carnivore in the 
world, is on the verge of extinction, and a species of cari- 
bou inhabiting the Kenai Peninsula is believed to be re- 
duced to thirty or forty individuals and must pass out of 
existence. The passage of the Alaska game protective 
bill, chiefly through the efforts of the Boone and Crockett 
Club, put an end to the wholesale killing, and has done 
great good, although one species of bear, one caribou and 
the walrus are probably doomed to speedy extinction. 
Incidentally the interesting work in investigating the 
fauna of Alaska done by Mr.. Andrew J. Stone for the 
American Museum of Natural History was referred to, 
and attention was called to the collection of Alaska ani- 
mals now on exhibition at the museum. 
The present work of the club is to strive for the carry- 
ing out of the game refuge idea and the passage of a 
bill on the lines of that introduced at the last session 
of Congress by Senator Perkins, of California. This bill 
authorized the President in his discretion to set aside in 
any forest reservation an area where no killing of game 
shall be permitted. In other words, to establish in one or 
all of the forest reserves, places like the Yellowstone 
National Park where game shall be free from molestation, 
and shall have an opportunity to live and breed undis- 
turbed. This is something that will unquestionably come, 
and the sooner it is done the better. In anticipation of 
such action, Mr. Alden Sampson, recently the Boone and 
Crockett Club's secretary, has just been appomted by the 
Secretary of Agriculture Game Reserve Expert, and is 
giving his time and his money to investigating this ques- 
tion in the western reserves. Mr. Sampson's work will 
probably include, as suggested by Dr. Merriam, Chief of 
the Biological Survey, not only all the matters bearing on 
the selection of sites, but — after certain game refuges have 
actually been established — the preparation of rules and 
regulations for their management. While under the De- 
