804 
FOREST ^AND STREAM 
was an experienced man in the woods it was not 
thought for a moment that he would undertake to 
travel if he was uncertain of his directions. An engine 
was sent out along the track, and kept up a whistling 
all night at intervals. The next morning a party was 
out early looking for him, and when no trace was found 
word was sent to Kahspell, and in a day or two a large 
number of men were in the woods, and the search was 
kept up until the great depth of snow made it neces- 
sary to abandon all search until spring. 
"Following his disappearance, manj'^ theories were 
advanced to account for it. The one most generally 
accepted was that he had either accidentally shot him- 
self, or that he had met with an accident by falling- 
over a cliff, or into the water. Many believed, how- 
ever, that he had been shot by some careless hunter 
mistaking him for a deer, and that no report had been 
made. The discovery of the body, with no sign of 
accident upon it, ends all such ideas, and is a great re- 
lief to all his friends, and especially to the Drs. Hous- 
ton, who have felt that some vuijnst suspicion was 
directed toward them." 
One Bear. 
Under date of June 14, J. W. Schullz writes from St. 
Mary's Lake, Montana, that the Pulitzer party have got- 
ten one bear and expect to get two or three more. They 
had not visited their baits for some time, on account of a 
strong north wind. I get no word from Jack Monroe, 
who is out with Mr. Pinchot. 
Raising Quail. 
Mr. John J. Swoboda, well known in Chicago as a 
practicer of the art of strong-arm, writes : "I would 
like information on quail raising. Do you know of any 
book which contains this information? Anything you can 
tell me will be much appreciated." 
I don't know of anything which is devoted exclusively 
to this one topic, but perhaps something in the Forest 
AND Stream lists may be of service. Can any reader 
answer Mr. Swoboda specifically? 
Wild Turkeys Come High. 
There was a time soon after the opening of Oklahoma 
and adjoining districts of the Indian Nations when wild 
turkeys were a drug in the Chicago market. That such is 
no longer the case, and that, indeed, the wild turkey is 
practically out of the question on a market basis in these 
days, may be witnessed by the experience of a Qiicago 
lady, who last winter wanted to surprise her husband on 
his birthday, and who thought it would be a good thing 
to serve a "wild turkey on the table. Diligent inquiry in 
the market disclosed the fact that she could get one 
wild turkey at the tidy price of $27. As this turkey 
was not purchased, it may still be subject to pro- 
posals from those anxious to surprise a husband. I 
think the latter gentleman would most likely be sur- 
prised if he had to pay the bill. E. Hough. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
The Gun and the Geese* 
"Cap" wanted to kill a goose— a real Canada honker— 
as he lived in a locality where this noble bird was the 
largest game in the sportsman's list. He had dallied 
with all the smaller game and was acknowledged to be 
the best shot in town at the traps, either live birds or 
targets. He talked the matter over during the winter 
with his friends at sporting headquarters in one of the 
village stores, and finally, when March rolled around, he 
was quite readv to accept an invitation to accompany a 
friend, who is an "expert amateur" wildfowler, on a trip 
to Pelican Point. Years ago this had been a noted place 
for geese, and it was thought "Cap" might realize his 
dreams of slaying a goose. i_ <■ • j 
On their arrival at the beach they were met by friends 
from the life-saving stations, themselves old gunners, and 
one of them, noting the gun carried by "Cap," made sport 
of the 8-pound weapon as an instrument for acquiring 
possession of honkers. "Well, well, 'Cap!' You don t 
mean to say you expect to kill a goose Avith that pop- 
gun?" said one old bayman, whose early education on 
geese began with a gun weighing fully twenty-five pounds. 
"Why didn't ye bring an air rifle or a beanshooter he 
continued. "Cap," thinking of the many pigeons that had 
succumbed to the "popgun" when well on their way to the 
boundary line, laughed and said he only wanted a chance 
to show them what it could do. , , 1 
In due time "Cap" found himself in a comfortable 
blind of heaped-up seaweed and reeds, with a nice flock of 
decoys placed at his suggestion rather closer than the 
judgment of his companion would dictate. Geese in fair 
numbers were in the bay, but none would come near the 
point, and finally his companion left the blind, saying he 
would take a cruise around the marsh and try to get a 
duck from some pond hole. Left to himself, with the 
warm sun shining down in his face and no signs of the 
coveted game coming his way, he first grew drowsy and 
then . . , • ^i. 
His companion, who was now vigorously tramping the 
meadow and keeping a watchful eye on the open bay 
and the point he had left, finally saw seven geese swing 
in and set their wings for the decoys. He flattened him- 
self down, saw the geese light, and waited to hear the 
crack of the two heavy loads of nitro, meanwhile calling 
himself pet names for having left the blind. Minute after 
minute passed, and still nothing happened, and the geese 
finally were seen to rise and wing their way slowly up the 
bay. ' Hastening back to the blind, he asked, m rather 
vigorous language, what was wrong. With a somewhat 
hysterical laugh, "Cap" explained matters. "I was asleep, 
and I dreamed I heard geese a-honkin'. I woke up and 
poked my head over the top of the blind, and, by darn! 
there they were, right in among the stools. Well, ha ! ha ! 
first I looked at the geese and then at the gun, then at 
the geese and again at the gun, and each time I looked at 
the gun it seemed to get smaller and smaller and the 
geese, ha! ha! seemed to be getting larger and larger; 
so I thought it was no use to shoot. Pla ! ha !" 
On their return they were met by the old bayman. ' No 
luck, eh? Didn't I tell ye that gun was too small for 
such work?" said he. To this day if you wish to see a 
broad and rather sheepish grin illumine "Cap's" face, 
you have only to ask him what size gun he prefers for 
bagging geese. Ocean. 
Massachusetts Game* 
Boston, June 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: Ignor- 
ance of the law is never recognized in court as a valid 
excuse for its infraction. The kind-hearted Judge Pet- 
tengill, of Maiden, recently deceased, felt obliged to 
impose on Collins, who ignorantly shot a doe, the fine 
expressly provided by the statute, $100. The judge 
sympathized with the culprit to such an extent as to 
start a contribution for payment of the fine, and thus 
got him out of jail. Collins claimed that he was not 
a\yare that the killing was illegal, and yet he was not 
an illiterate man. The State Association had for many 
years sought to make such an occurrence impossible, 
by sending out copies of game and fish laws printed 
on cloth for posting in conspicuous places, postoffices, 
railroad stations, stores, factories, etc. These are sent 
out free of expense to all who apply to the secretary 
for them, and he has just received the posters for 1903, 
which he will be glad to send to all persons willing to 
take the trouble to see them put up. 
He has also had the bird laws printed in the Italian 
language. These will be particularly useful in the 
neighborhoods where Italian laborers are employed in 
work on railroads, highways, in factories, etc. Many 
of these men know no language but th«ir native tongue, 
and they are very destructive to bird life. In addition 
to the work done in informing the public by the asso- 
ciation, the commissioners have done a similar work 
for several years past. The newspapers have frequent- 
ly givei: timely notice of the dates when close time be- 
gins or ends. But in spite of all that has been done by 
associations, commissioners, game wardens and the 
press there are persons now and then found violating 
game laws through ignorance. Every sportsman, all 
lovers of birds and believers in protective laws, can do 
something for the cause by extending a knowledge of 
the laws. The pocket manual, or "abstracts" of the 
laws, is in course of preparation and will be ready for 
free distribution in a few davs. Central. 
Proprietors of fishing resorts will find it profitable to advertiic 
them in Forest and Sikeam. 
Vctmont Notes. 
Burlington, Vt., June 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Once more the residents of the Champlain Valley can 
fill their lungs with pure air, thanks to the late rains 
that have put out the fires all around and dispelled the 
pall of smoke that hung over them like a fog for the 
past month. Fires were on every hand, and the dam- 
age done to standing timber and to the sugar bushes 
that the Vermont farmer depends so much upon for 
his income, was enormous. 
Shooting promises to be of the best this fall. Par- 
tridges are numerous, and so far the season has been 
very favorable to their breeding. Deer _ are seen in 
this section frequently, and seem to be increasing in 
numbers. Recently a large buck came into the city, and 
after traversing several of the principal streets, nar- 
rowly escaped a collision with a trolley car, to the 
great wonderment of the passengers. Two small fawns 
with a doe were seen last week within two miles of the 
city limits. What Burlington people consider to be 
one of the city's chief attractions are the large number 
of gray squirrels that abound there. The city is abun- 
dantly supplied with trees, and in the residential sec- 
tion there are few trees that do not contain one or 
more grays for tenants. So tame are they that they 
will take food from the hand of the passerby. 
In 1902 the State Legislature enacted a bounty of 30 
cents on each hedgehog killed, as they were considered 
a serious menace to growing timber. Evidently a 
crusade against the "porky" has begun, for over 6,000 
bounties have been paid since the law was enacted. In 
some sections of the State they are found in abundance, 
and now the farmer's boy and the up-country trapper 
find the heretofore worthless animal a ready source of 
pin money. The State Auditor also reported that there 
have been killed within the State during the past year 
49 bears, 74 lynx and 5,015 foxes. The last few years 
has witnessed a change for the good in Vermont game 
conditions. Vermonter. 
Meadow Larks and Robins. 
Buffalo, N. Y., June 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
In Forest and Stream of June 6, Coahoma defends the 
Reverend Craig for shooting meadow larks on the ground 
that they are considered legitimate sport in the South, 
and in the June 20 number Hie-on says, in speaking of 
shooting, "that the time would be more profitably spent 
ill shooting robins and waxwings about the hills," etc. 
\i this the sentiment of Forest and Stream readers and 
sportsmen? I am glad I have received a different educa- 
tion from its valuable columns, and am sorry that in this 
late date that any degree whatever of sportsmanship 
should attach to the shooting of these birds. It seems like 
a crime against nature to kill a robin, at least — although 
it may be from the different point of view. We in 
the North have a deep-seated affection for them, and I 
had rather never use a gun again than to kill such harm- 
less birds — especially for the sake of practice and just to 
be killing something— for dead they are useless. 
DXXMONT. 
Wild Pigfeons Reported. 
Green Bay, Wis., June 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The other morning when coming in from a drive in the 
;xiuntry I saw a male wild pigeon. I made absolutely 
sure that there was no mistake, as I got within thirty-five 
or forty feet of the bird and noted him carefully, and 
when I got home I took a good look at a mounted wild 
pigeon again to assure myself, and I can take an oath 
that the bird was a genuine wild pigeon. 
I also was told by a friend, who is an old sportsman, 
that he saw three wild pigeons near this same place a few 
weeks ago, and a single bird directly across the bay at 
Oak Point. I reported seeing a flock of pigeons a few 
years ago and at that time several other parties reported 
them. I trust they will increase so we can see a few 
flecks again. A. G, Holmes. 
Canoe and Camp Life Along the 
Diilaware River ♦ 
XIII.— On the Hills at the "Water Gap.— Stones, Rocks 
and Mosses. 
"No human capacity ever saw the whole of ajthing; but we may 
see more and more of it the longer we !ook.^' — Ruskin. 
"Then, tired to watch the current play, 
He turned his weary eyes away 
To where the bank opposing showed 
Its huge square cliifs through shaggy wood. 
One, prominent above the rest, 
Reared to the sun its pale gxay breast. 
Around its broken summit grew 
The hazel rude and sable yew; 
A thousand varied lichens dyed 
Its waste and weather-beaten side; 
And round its rugged basis lay. 
By time and thunder rent away, 
Fragments that from its frontlet torn, 
Were mantled now by verdant thorn." 
—Scott. 
The best pleasures of the sportsman are not found in 
the actual catching and killing of fish, and shooting and 
killing game. The last few drops of wild, aboriginal 
Wood can never be taken from him by civilized life; but 
he will learn to joy, more and more, in camping and 
cnnoeing, as well as fishing and shooting. Few sports- 
men are now willing to be known as mere catchers of 
fish or killers of wild animals and birds. Their outdoor 
life is the real attraction. The time is near when the 
sporting publication will be quite as much an authoritj' 
on landscape and water views, foliage, clouds, mosses, 
birds and flowers, as it is on angling or hunting. Even 
now our foremost sportsmen, to whom we look as best 
exponents of sport, are the nature-lovers, the "rhapso- 
dists" who see and humbly confess that there is more in 
even a blade of grass than they can ever know, and who 
pity the "realism" that can only see a tree with the eye 
of the lumberman, and a rock merely from the standpoint 
of the stone-mason or quarry-owner. 
Doctor Johnson declared that nothing could be written 
■ about the sea except the tale of some fisherman whose 
"haul" had been disregarded, and that of his neighbor had 
been sold. Carlyle detested word-pictures. "Every puny 
\v hipster insists on drawing forth his pencil and painting 
you a scene." Yet Hamerton's "Landscape" and Ruskin's 
"Modern Painters" are more worthy of being prized than 
Walton's "Compleat Angler;" and the nature ballads and 
poems of Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley and Tennyson are 
3S precious as catalogues o^ animals. Practical "realism," 
and nature beauty quite as real, cannot be separated. The 
devotees of each will be ridiculous if they scoff at the 
other. 
This statement is forced on the "fools" that are so 
often laughed at as Christopher North was, by men who 
cannot really see or hear — who are mere shooters or 
fishermen, and not blessed with sight. I had rather see 
a sportsman watching the split back of the grub and the 
emergence and immediate flight of the dragon fly, than to 
witness the joy of some mere fisherman whose de- 
light comes solely from his new-found possession of a 
five-pound bass. 
These words do not apply to the critics who berate 
those false and blind pretenders to sight who call nature 
beautiful when they really cannot see. This whole sub- 
ject will clarify, for nature and sport have always been 
and will I'emain inseparable; and the world will continue 
to welcome any writer who tries, in a proper spirit, to tell 
of what nature has revealed to him. 
These thoughts come as I hesitate to write further about 
the Delaware and its fair landscapes here at the Gap. 
To the summer angler few scenes could be more at- 
tractive. Take the view from the porch of the Gap House 
or the Glenwood, stretching far over the island formed 
by the main stream and the Benekill, to the hills leagues 
away. It is superb. 
Another very fine view can be had from the 
Far-View House on the Jersey side. Its interest in- 
creases as we go down the path to the river, 
and over the spot where stamping on the grass 
brings hollow answers which show the existence there 
of a cave of unknown size, that an hour's work 
with a spade would open. And it is finer yet from the 
boat as we anchor a thousand feet above the ferry land- 
ing, and admire the colors of the lichens on that high, 
steep incline of rocks crowned with forest. 
All this is accessible without effort, and can be enjoyed 
by the invalid and dawdler as well as the camper and 
climber. 
But when, tired with the fishing, the angler and canoe- 
ist chooses to become a climber, and especially if he walks 
over the roughest places to look, he will find dozens of 
spots where not a half dozen people go during a summer. 
The hills at the Gap are not real mountains. Mount 
Minsi, on the Pennsylvania side, is only 1,400 feet high; 
yet the view down the valley, while different, is quite as 
attractive as the Grindelwald, Mt. Blanc, or our own 
Marshall Pass. Besides, it is near, and can be reached 
without the week-long, exhausting effort which, in the 
case of the amateur climber of the Matterhorn, will prob- 
ably put him in bed a couple of days, and make his 
muscles roar their sore protest for a week. 
Even the exertion of traversing the hill paths at the 
Gap is avoided by nearly all the summer "birds of 
passage." Yet the view of Eureka Creek, the shelf of 
reck known as Lover's Leap, the forest along Moss 
Ledge, and the features known as Caldeno Fall, Lake 
Lenape, Hunters' Spring, Moss Cascade, Diana's Bath 
and Council Rock, will richly repay careful study. And 
when, after a forenoon's effort, the climber reaches the 
summit, and sees the silent Delaware so far below that 
it seems a thing apart, he will be glad he has taken that 
hard walk. 
