Forest and Stream. 
A Weekly Journal of the Rod and Gun. 
Copyright, 10OS by Forest and SthbAM PublishiSg Go. 
rH.Ms.i4^, YE.K^ ^-octs.acopv.j new YORK, SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1903. \ No. 846 Broadway, New Yo«k. 
The Forest and Stream is the recognized medium of entertain- 
ment, instruction and information between American sportsmen. 
The editors invite communications on the subjects to which its 
pages are devoted. Anonymous communications will not be re- 
garded. While it is intended to give wide latitude in discussion 
of current topics, the editors are not responsible for the views of 
.correspondents. 
.Subscriptions may begin at any time. Terms: For single 
(C-opies, $4 per year, $2 for six months. For club rates and full 
t^ajiticiilar'; respecting subscriptions, see prospectus on page iii. 
the fm%i and Stream's Platform PlanK. 
T/te $ate fif game should he prohibiied at all seasons." 
NA*l<S DRIVEN IN 1903.— No. V. 
FLORIDA. 
.'Act rof ljune, 190a— S.ec. 2.— That no person or persons, firm or 
fCorpQralion, shall sell, jNxpose for sale, or have in his, her, their 
■or its rpo^session for sale ftt any time any wild deer, i^nison or 
(ileer ihide. 
;Scc. 3. —And .po p(fr3on or p^eiTSO.ns, firm, corporation, associa- 
ition or ,i:ciir\RWy ^hall sell, .expose <[o,r sale, or . have in his, her, 
.or .flheiir $)OsaessiQ?i .fqr sa\.e ii;i this §t3!l<e, .any wild turkey, quail 
<cz j3?artii-!.di.g(e.. 
THE TRAP, PRESENT AND FUTURE. 
TraE present extraordinary activity in the sport of tar- 
get ghooting at the traps throughout the United States 
hun a felicitous significance for its permanency and 
broader growth. It is a situation specially gratifying to 
two classes in a manner distinct from each other, namely, 
those who are interested in trapshooting as a matter of 
■sport, and those who are interested in it as a inatter of 
, business. On the one side are all the target shooters; 
( On the other side are all the manufacturers, while a third 
;iin<iVeterminate class, by no means small, may be said to be 
■„relE^%'d to both classes. 
Tljtt- general activity augurs well for this form of com- 
^pelitiQn, .as it pertains to the future. Therefore it must 
J possess 4|1 the essentials of a true and beneficent sport 
ifor the paijJic, else it would not evoke such general en- 
i.Uuisiasin„ or tSp firmly hold the constant interest and par- 
tidpaliioau of 5;ts ^fievotees. 
At a t^vsm, .inOi\v fSome months ago, when the daily press, 
the humane sofcie.^es, the Legislatures of some of the 
States, and a put iO,f the general public, were more or 
less hostile in thm attitude toward live bird shooting 
at the traps, there wem njany sportsmen who held the 
, opinion that such hostj'J-jty w'.oui^d have a harmful, deter- 
.rennit eiTect on trapshootiflg in g(ei\eral. While it may 
'bavVig done so in the localitiies wljete tl\e hostility was 
■ most active and forceful, it had n© iw^ttgnial ^eijfe^ct on the 
. general whole. 
It is doubtful whether target shooting fias .cy^J been .so 
rgeneral in the United States, considering tfj^ a.ctiy,ity of 
fllse ^Jubs of ihe small towns as well as those of tjjie great: 
cities, and the unusually great number of toufjianii^iit-^s 
held and to be held in every section. 
The trapshooting leagues and State associations luaye 
been particularly successful. The Pennsylvania State 
shoot, recently held, was a record breaker of its kind, and, 
indeed, ranked equal with the great national trapshoot- 
ing events. Of the leagues, the Western Pennsylvania 
Trap Shooters' League, the Mississippi Valley Trap 
Shooters' and Game Protective Association, the Michigan 
and Indiana and other State leagues and associations are 
examples of eminent success. They have afforded broad 
competition and stimulated activity and enthusiasm in 
great sections of territory. 
A few State associations, on the other hand, appear to 
be lethargic or somnolent, although having abundance 
,of- good material wherewith to achieve success equally 
with the most successful. It is, however, a noticeable 
feature that, in all sections conspicuous by successful ef- 
;iort, the leaders are skillful, energetic and persistent 
-.rtorkers. Great deeds are not accoiuplished by indolent 
rneditation or inaction of the ofiicers. 
New trapshooters are engaging in the sport in great 
Tltimbers, and but few are retiring from it. 
Turning now to a consideration of the trade interests, 
it lias been a great season for each branch catering to 
trapshooting. ^lost of the target manufacturers have 
done a great season's business, and at least one of the 
largest has had record breaking sales. The great am- 
munition factories are taxed to their utmost manufac- 
turing capacity to meet the needs of the great army of 
trapshooters. The gun manufacturers, in many instances, 
are far behind their orders. Thus sport and business are 
both flourishing in a sound, broad manner. 
The success Of the great leagues, whether State or inter- 
state, should engage the earnest attention of trapshoot- 
ing promoters, as a feature to be specially encouraged 
and imitated in other sections. There are great areas 
contaning numerous gun clubs yet unorganized into 
leagues, and in this matter of organization and general 
impetus to competition, no body of men can accomplish 
more as educators than can the trade missionaries and 
professional shooters. 
THE PALM A. 
The announcement that the American rifle team will 
sail on Saturday of this week on the Cunard liner, 
Lucania, is very gratifying. The National Rifle Associa- 
tion, during several weeks past, has been devoting- its 
influence and energies to raise the required sum, $10,000, 
but considering the history, associations and international 
interest attached to the Palma Trophy, subscriptions have 
been both slow and, except in a few instances, meagre. 
The sum early this week was about $3,000 short of the 
amount needed to defray the expenses of the trip. How- 
ever, before the team sails, there is a hope that some, 
gentlemen who are patriotic and wealthy will come to 
the front with the required subscriptions. 
The team personnel is excellent. The members have 
practiced industriously, and in their practice have shown 
steady, consistent skill of a high order. Compared with 
the scores of prior teams, both American and British, the 
practice work of this American team is good warrant 
for a reasonable faith in their victory and the return of 
the Palma to America, where it remained undisturbed 
so many decades. The contest for it at Bisley will not 
be weak by any means. Word has been received from the 
N. R. A. of Great Britain that France, Switzerland, 
Australia, Austria and Canada will also contest with the 
holders for possession of the coveted trophy, so that the 
competition, thus broadened, is correspondingly more dif- 
ficult. Seven countries will thus be represented. 
Great interest attaches to the event in England. Many 
Americans, traveling abroad, will be present, and it is 
stated that the. King will honor the victors by presenting 
in person the trophy at the Mansion House, London. 
Undoubtedly it will be the greatest contest for the Palma 
which has ever taken place, and should the Ameri- 
can team fail to win it in this attempt, the difficulties in 
after years will be much more numerous and formidable, 
inasmuch as if it remains^in Europe -more interest: in it 
will be evoked, more teatns will contest-ifor itijnr conse- 
quence, and the greater the number. oLteains in a contest, 
jijljie greater.,, are the odds against anyro.n©:vteam'swSUGcess. 
fihe American "team is .fortunate^ in xhaving a 'captain 
{wiio. is a veteran, Mr. Leslie C.-fBruce,' 'aw fmY in all the 
(detaiii^ of tl,re competition at home arid .abr^l, he having 
ibeen a nxemb.er of the original team -which^rst made the 
Palnja Tfophy a itestimonial to the superiortSHlb of Ameri- 
can riflemen.. "■'■^^-^ " 
However, the more contestant^ an^d the keener the com- 
petition for it at the coming eontest, the gj-eater will be 
the honors and the glory of the victors. Qur best wishes 
go forth for the success of the American fftam, and with 
them our hopes for rejoicing later over their victory; but, 
in good wishes fair to all, may the best team win. 
CoL. Samuel Webber anii Mrs. Webber, of Charlestowri, 
N. II., have recently celebrated their golden wedding; and 
the item of social news has appropriate place here because, 
as Von W., Col. Webber is one of the veteran contribu- 
tors to Forest and Stream. Born in 1823, and a sports- 
man from his j'outh up, he was in the early days a reader 
of the Spirit of the Times, the "Old Spirit," as the 
veterans refer to it, and when some forty years later the 
Forest .\nd Stream came to take its place as the repre- 
sentative of the interests of the field sportsman 'and the 
angler. Col. Webber naturally found his way into its 
columns, where his prose and verse have afforded instruc- 
tion, amusement and philosophy. Of the Von W. of to- 
day it is written in the local paper's report of the anni- 
^'ersary: "Physically, Colonel Webber is still an impos- 
ing figure, tall and erect, his step is firm and he bears the 
silver crown of his nearly eighty years with gracious, 
kindly dignity, an inheritance both of gentle blood and of 
that older school which marked the gentlemen of his 
youth. Mentally he is in his prime, and he is still a stu- 
dent, keeping abreast of current events and their applica- 
tion to the future with the refined wisdom of a long life 
of study and observation." 
And now that we are gossiping of men who are old in 
years but young in heart, we may note that George B. 
Eaton, the Jacobstaff of Forest and Stream, on Wednes- 
day of this week celebrated his seventy-first birthday. 
Granville Hills, of Hudson, N. Y,, died on Friday, 
June 5, aged sg. Mr. Hills was assistant cashier and pay- 
ing teller of the Farmers' National Bank, an institution 
with which he had been associated for many years. Fie 
was widely known and is as widely mourned. To many a 
reader of Forest and Stream the intelligence of his pass- 
ing away will bring a deep sense of personal loss. His 
was a nature essentially frank and sunny; he had a 
cheeriness which was contagious; it was wholesome to 
be in contact with him. In more than an ordinary degree 
he was thoughtful and considerate of others, concerned 
for their good, and active in every movement for the 
social betterment; he was "the most generous of men," 
says one who knew him at home and in the field for 
twenty years, Mr. Hills was an enthusiastic sportsman 
and a great lover of dogs; some of the best English and 
Irish setters in the State were of his breeding. He was 
deeply interested in game protection; he not' only pro- 
fessed but practiced a high code of sportsmanship; he 
carried his conscience into the field with him. A reader 
of this journal from the first number, he was an occa- 
sional and ever welcome contributor to its columns; his 
stories of experiences in the home fields or in the Majnp 
woods were alike pleasing, because in them was reflected 
the attractive charm of his personality. 
■5 
The Protective League of Salt Water Fishermen, 
whose aim is the protection of the local fishing waters 
about New York city, may accomplish much, but can- 
not hope to restore the fishing to what it was in the good 
old days. The story of Hudson's discovery of the harbor 
in T609, as related in "Purchas his Pilgrimmes," records 
as one incident of the eventful day: "Then our boats 
went on Land with our Net to Fish and caught ten great 
Mullets of a foote and a halfe long a piece, and a Ray 
as great as four men could hale into the ship." 
That illustration of Delaware River algae was engraved 
directly from the original specimen, without the inter- 
vention of photographic print; and it thus represents the 
original with very close fidelity. An old angler to whom 
the picture was shown, commented : "I have seen sea 
algae, but I never knew there were such beautiful things 
in fresh waters." There must be many others to whom 
it will come as a revelation of the unseen world which 
lies about us in our outings. 
Men may come and men may go, likewise game pro- 
tectors, but the netting in Onondaga Lake goes on for- 
ever. A member of the Anglers' Association of Onon- 
daga wjt'lji headquarters at Syracuse, reports that the local 
protector destroye.d .dufing the montl;i of May illicit nets 
to the value of $220'; !>ut like diligence during thi§ cuf- 
rent month of June may be counted on to yield a like 
return. 
The forest fires of Canada, New England and New 
York have been appalling in their extent and the com- 
pleteness of the ruin wrought. The woods have been 
destroyed, the game and fish killed ; and what is worst of 
all, the forest floor consumed. It is the annihilation of a 
natural condition of things which has been centuries in 
the making, and which only centuries can restore. 
It 
In his chapter of "Canoe and Camp Life Along the 
Delaware River" this week, Mr. L. F. Brown gives an 
extremely interesting record of observations of the female 
v.'^hippoorwill as the one which sounds the nocturnal cry; 
and we cordially second his invitation to others, who may 
have had opportunities of observation, to contribute their 
information on the subject. 
