Oct. i8, 1902,] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
807 
lawyer, but I have felt that something tangible could be 
c'btained from Congressional action. I believe that it is in 
the province and power of Congress to enact such laws 
as are deemed necessary for the preservation of animals 
and birds which are threatened with extirpation. 
That similar action in this direction has been taken in 
the past is shown by the familiar example of the law for 
the better protect on of the mackerel which was obtained 
very largely through the efforts of our Massachusetts 
Association. 
As I before stated, I am not enough of a lawyer to say 
just how far Congress can go in a matter which seems 
off-hand to be something over which the several States 
should have jurisdiction, but it seems to me that if the 
interstate commerce law is and the mackerel law was 
constitutional, one enacted for the preservation of mi- 
gratory, not local, fcrie naturcv, something which belongs 
to all the people of the Union, regardless of State lines, 
might also be placed on the statutes. 
Now assuming that Congress has the power to enact 
such a law as I have named— i. e., one providing for an 
uniform close season of say three or five years on wood- 
cock and the wood duck — the question is in what man- 
ner can the matter best be placed before that body to 
secure favorable action. From the fact that it is some- 
thing quite out of the usual run of matters brought before 
Congress, it is necessary that it should be presented in a 
way that shall secure an instantaneous and intelligent 
hearing. 
The only practicable method available, so far as I can 
see, for securing this seems to be by the usual form of 
petition, but in order that this may have any weight it 
must be presented in the most forceful rnaniier possible. 
Now fortunately there are at once available a vast lium- 
ber of powerful agents who can fender good sefvige ill 
the work of memorialising Cotigfess. 
The U. S. Department of AgricUltUte Which has, 1 
think, agents and correspondents iti about all the Coh- 
gressional districts throughout the country, and which 
has already done a very great deal itl the way of scientific 
investigation, would, I am almost eertaill, eiitef illto this 
matter with enthUsi&sffi. Of course I caniiot vouch itit 
this, but i believe it to be true. If it did so, the assist- 
ance it Would be able to render would be very great, and 
it would, of course, be more far-reaching than would 
that of any other organization. 
The very large number of Auduboit, s©eieties, the vafi^ 
otts societies of natUfai histoi'y, the State and local, fish 
and game pl'otective associatiohs, the sportsmett's clubs, 
and last, but not least, the press, would make a powerful 
and effective army to enter into this campaign. 
Some one centrally located would be needed to attend 
to the necessary dorrespondeiipe with these various 
organizations, and to furHish thein with petition hlSiiks 
vniform in style, to be filled with tiaiiies aitd forwarded 
by each society to its respective member of Congress. 
If tills Work were done with even only a moiety of the 
thoroughness that should be bestowed upon it, there 
would be such an avalanche of petitions sCnt in that, I ven- 
ture to say, speedy and favorable action avouI4 be taken 
'n 'the Tfiatter, , ■ j . 
It 15 goliiethiHg ih which thgj-e i'^ iio politics, aiia it 
WoUiti not caU for much debate. In the U. S. Senate 
Slich men as Henry Cabot Lodg(i and George F. Hoar 
would, I have no doubt, advocate it, for they are both 
well informed in ornithological matters, and both of them 
have done good service in behalf of the birds. 
In carrying out this undertak ng, the principal expense 
that would have to be met would be for printmg petition 
forms and circulars and for statioUefy and postage. A 
vety few huHdrfed dollars wouUl he mply sufficient, and 
there ought to be ainoiig out many ilublie-spirited W*ealthy 
ttieti at least ohe W'ho would supply the liecessary fUrids. 
He Who has charge of the details of the work involved 
in correspondence and the distribution of circulars, blanks, 
etc., should be a man of experience, who should take the 
labor in hand con amore and leave no stone unturned 
that would in atly m</ aid hhii in aehieving success. 
I havi said that there are other birds in addition to the 
two species above named, that are rap dly approaching the 
danger line of extirpation. 
Of course we must fenleniber that the great arniy of 
sportsmen is annually receiving great numbers of re- 
cruits; that it is inereasing in a degree which is not gen- 
erally appreciated, while the breeding stock of game birds 
is gradually diminishing, so that in the natural course of 
events many species whicb are now comparatively plenti- 
ful will rapidly become more and more scarce as the ever- 
widening inroads are made in their numbers. Among 
these, some of the larger shore birds seem particularly 
marked for destruction. 
The long-billed or "sickle-bill" curlew is becommg a 
rare bird in the North, although in the Southern _ and 
Western States it is more abundant. It is one of the 
species which stOOl well and when several individuals are 
shot from a flock, the others, which are full of solicitude 
for their dead or wounded companions, hover in circles 
above them, until repeated discharges from the gun brmg 
them all to the ground. 
The Hudsonian, or "jack curlew," which was never 
plentiful, is becoming fewer in numbers every year. It 
comes freelv to the gunner's call, and is as sympathetic as 
is the "sicide-bill," returning to and hovering over its 
wounded mates until the last bird is shot. It seems to 
prefer the Pacific coast to the Atlantic in its migrations, 
and it traverses both continents in its long flight from 
the Arctic regions to Patagonia. 
The Eskimo curlew or "doe bird," which in former 
times was very abundant ,is like the other two species, 
rapidly diminishing in numbers. It stools well, and is so 
sympathetic it will return to the blinds again and again 
Hn its solicitude for its fallen companions. 
The northern .shore of Prince Edward Island used to 
te a famous locality for these birds and for plovers, that 
ibeing their first stopping place on their way south from 
Labrador, and in years gone by, I have had a number of 
very satisfactory days with them there. 
While not having special decoys out for them, my only 
idecoys set being for plover, I found that J could almost 
always whistle them down, and they always proved a wel- 
come' addition to the day's bag. I have frequently seen 
%\x or eight of these birds scattered through a large flock 
of golden or black breast plovers, keeping pace with 
'thein in their gvrations, their sometimes meandering, yet 
always rapid flight, and coming to the stools with them 
freely and without suspicion. I have not in recent years 
visited mj' former favorite hunting ground for them 
near Malpeque Cut, I am informed that the doe birds 
are growing more and more scarce. 
I mention these shore birds, not that I believe that 
any general law can be enacted that will save them, but 
becattse they are familiar examples of species which are 
very rapidly diminishing in numbers ; many others in 
the same category among the shore birds might be named 
as well as a number of species among the swimmers 
(NataCores), but for the present I will pass them by. 
If an attempt to secure legislation from Congress is 
made in relation to woodcock and the wood duck, and it 
meets with anythink like a satisfactory degree of success, 
further efforts may be deemed advisable to secure pro- 
tection for other species. Edward A. Samuels. 
Reminiscences of Early Oklahoma. 
The beginning of October, 1889, found my old partner, 
Ed S. (with whom I had hunted in central Nebraska the 
two previous seasons on my annua! vacations) and my- 
self in Omaha, busily making preparations for another 
hunt, this time in Oklahoma, but then recently thrown 
open fot settlement. Reaching Kansas City, we took the 
A. T. & S. F. — then the only railroad through the new 
Territorj'^, although the Rock Island was also preparing 
to build in that section — and shortly began to feel fairly 
en route. The train was crowded with every Conceivable 
type of humanity, of whom a description would be almost 
impossible, all bound for the new country. Business was 
brisk throughout the Territory and nearly every one 
seetttedto have money. Crossing the river, we rolled through 
thfe Chetokee Strip, and were then in Oklahoma proper, 
here showiilg ftonl the car window as a rolling prairie.' 
Passing Guthrie, a. prospetoUs looking place, a short dis- 
tance south, the appearance of the coUtttfy changed to the 
extent that, interspersed with the rollihg praifie, one saw 
numerous blackjack groves, and the further we pro- 
ceeded the ttiore numerous these became. Ten or fifteen 
miles before feachihg 0. K. City, I saw a flock of wild 
turkeys cross the railroad track after the train had passed, 
and at not infrequent intervals quail would whir up beside 
the train. This gave every promise of sport when we 
reached our hunting ground. 
In the\aftertioon we reached O. K. City, a place of 
about .4,dd<j population, constructed entirely of pitch pine 
buildings, with a feW tcltts, but bustling with humanity. 
Freight was piled everywhere afouud the railway station, 
constantly arriving faster than it could be hauled away. 
At this time a company of U. S. Regulars was stationed 
at thfe city, presumably to keep things quiet, for there 
was evfety chahce froffl the many irresponsible parties 
scattered throughout the country for a disturbance with- 
out much agitation ; but it can be said to the credit of the 
better element, that things in and about the town moved 
along very smoothly. One thing absolutely was pfo- 
tiibited — the sale of intoxicating liqttors of every descrip- 
tion, and slUooUi indeed was the party who managed to 
get a good driiiii.. This Jirohibitiou was necessary for 
various reasoils. The whole section was part of an In- 
dian reservation, sitbject to military rule, and not a part 
of any existing State or Territory J hundreds of Indians 
daily visited the town, and these considerations, with the 
generally irresponsible nature of many of the roving 
class temporarily at the place, all combined to make this 
a matter of necessity. The only beverage noticed was a 
drink brewed outside of the town and bottled, sold under 
the lianie of "Hop Tea Tonic" — tasting like warm, stale 
beer, but vefy fflild. Capacity to contain this was neces- 
sary to receive much inspiration. 
Ill a few days we were comfortably installed in a two- 
room house on one of the main streets of the town, having 
bought enough to comfortably fix it up — at least from the 
point of view of two young fellows. The front room 
Was used as a sleeping and sitting room, and the rear 
room in which to cook, eat and take care of the game, of 
which we afterward obtained plenty. 
The first two weeks we familiarized ourselves as fully 
as possible with the surrounding country, and found that 
immediately adjacent to the town game was scarce and 
confined to a few coveys of quail. About this time my 
dog was shipped to me from New York State, and he 
certainly merits a short description, for he proved to be a 
grand animal after his training in this country. He was a 
young Llewellyn setter sired by Gun Gladstone and 
Morning Star, of about 55 pounds weight, good disposi- 
tion, dashing style and grand staying qualities ; he was in- 
dispensable for the character of sport we found. About 
the same time I purchased a horse, wagon and harness 
for $87.50, and although the outfit was rather plain in 
appearance, it was perfect for the business. The horse 
was a gray, with a weary expression, and when at rest it 
would invariably lean against the thills of the wagon, 
but was the best animal to ford a strcant I ever drove. 
The deeper the water, the steadier it attended to its busi- 
ness, and as this fording was of daily occurrence — for 
tliere were no bridges in the country— this trait of the 
animal became indelibly fixed on my mind. 
We had made a few trips and were having but fair 
shooting — about twenty-five quail each or so a day — 
when we became acquainted with a young man by the 
name of Hank Mc , who lived outside the town a few 
m.iles. He proved to be one of the best fellows I ever 
knew, and invaluable on account of his thorough knowl- 
edge of the country as far east as Shawneetown, and even 
beyond. His acquaintance with the Indians at the Potto- 
watamie and Kickapoo reservations was considerable, and 
to him we were indebted for the best quail shooting that 
ever fell to the lot of any individual. One day when 
calling on us, Hank made the remark, "How would you 
fellows like a good quail hunt. I mean, go where quail 
are so plenty that when we find a covey, we'll only give 
them one whirl, then go on and locate another?" This 
was a most enticing prospect, so it was accepted on the 
spot. "Well, drive out to my dug-otit this afternoon and 
I'll meet you, and to-morrow morning we'll start out and 
have a hunt on the reservation. Bring plenty of shells 
and some grub ; I have a tent and cooking outfit." We 
were on time, but our friend showed up about midnight. 
The following day we started as agreed, and as many 
subsequent trips were but a repetitiou of this, it might 
prove of interest to go into some detail. The Pottowa- 
tamie reservation adjoining part of the original Oklahoma 
strip on the east, was similar in respect to the strip, a roll- 
ing prairie dotted with black oak groves and well watered 
by numerous small creeks flowing into the North Fork of 
the Canadian River. Along the river and creek bottoms 
an abundance of black walnut and cottonwood, with, in 
many places, a very heavy undergrowth at times inter- 
twined with a running vine, having many thorns and 
called, in local parlance, "green brier." These bottoms 
were a great resort for deer and quail, and but a few- 
years previous, wild turkey were abundant. Of the latter 
few were left, btit were still common twenty to twenty- 
five miles from the town. The quail ran to this cover 
at night, and spread out among the blackjack groves and 
en the edges of the prairie during the day to feed. Fol- 
lowing one of the numerous trails and letting the dogs 
range, it was not long after entering the reservation be- 
fore Hank's dog^ — a black pointer bitch, staunch as a 
rock — gave us a point, and we were soon into a covey; 
and this was repeated time and again during the day. 
The shooting, outside of that done by Hank, was in- 
different for the first few days, then we steadied down, 
and but few birds got away. 
Constant shooting at quail five days a week for six 
weeks will give any man a chance to become a good quail 
shot, and we improved on our opportunity. The setter 
as yet was not reliable on a point, so we used him mainly 
for locating the dead birds, and not once during the entire 
trip did he stand false. Later on he became very good, 
and at the end of the six weeks was as good a dog every 
way as one could ask for. This young dog was so full 
of ginger, that it was necessary every morning to give 
him at least a ten-mile run to work off his wire edge, 
and after a hard day's hunt, when we were glad to He 
around the camp-fire, he was still ready to go on. As 
for the black pointer bitch, she was unequalled. Abso- 
lutely true and staunch on point, many times have I seen 
her strike the trail of a covey that had crossed the road, 
follow that trail for a quarter to a half a mile, and come 
to a point. I do not claim that she was the only dog, but 
she certainly was as near perfect as dogs often become. 
Quail were so abundant at times that we only worked a 
covey up, getting point after point from the dogs, and the 
birds that escaped we gave no further attention, but 
tiunted a new covey. Some days we located as many as 
forty coveys, and the abundance of quail we found seems 
almost beyond belief in these days of game scarcity. The 
coveys were of all sizes, from a dozen to forty and fifty 
birds. But Avhy should it have been different ? They were 
very rarely hunted, the Indians practically never molest- 
ing them; the whole country adapted to their wants and 
food and shelter plenty. Of deer we saw numbers at 
times, but too far away for a shotgun, and we did not 
care for any. True, we had buckshot shells, but outside 
01 the fact that we would he ready in case of suddenly 
running on to one, we never attempted to hunt any. I 
do not recall a day of the six weeks that we failed to see 
at least one deer, and one morning, as we were preparing 
our breakfast, having camped within the edge of the 
timber along the bottom, seven deer broke cover, ran 
across the rolling prairie and disappeared in a blackjack 
grove. 
Our usual routine of hunting was very nearly this: 
Starting from town early Monday morning with grub 
and plenty of loaded shells, we drove to Hank's cabin, he 
joined us with his team hitched to an ordinary farm wagon 
containing tent and the few necessary adjuncts. Headmg 
for the reservation, we soon ptit out the dogs, and then 
it was but a short time until we got a chance at a covey. 
Along the reser\ation edges, quail were but moderately 
plentiftd, and then the nature of the country to some ex- 
tent governed the abundance. Hunting throughout the 
day, nightfall invariably found us along some creek bot- 
tom where we always camped, An ordinary day's hunt 
generally ran about thirty-five to fifty quail per man. 
When on the reservation we never camped in the same 
spot two nights running, but in the language of our 
friend, always "kept moving." Our never-changing diet 
was quail, salt pork, pickles, Dutch oven biscuits, now and 
then some potatoes and coffee. From this, night and 
morning, we never varied. At noon, crackers and apples, 
of which we had plenty. Our hunt ended Friday night, 
which found us again in town, and then for a two days' 
rest. On otir trips we many times met with individuals of 
the Pottowatamie and Kickapoo tribes, most of them 
riding horses, but now and then one afoot. They were 
found in manv moods— some, friends of Hank, would 
meet him with' a smiling, "How?" others were surly and 
resentedl our being on the reservation, but all alike ab- 
solutely protested against our attempting to kill any deer, 
claiming these as their own ; the quail they cared nothing 
atiout— in fact, at times we were followed by individuals 
^vho apparently were delighted to see the dogs work, and 
applauded every sttccessful shot. One individual T shall 
never forget. We met him one morning; he vyas in an 
ugly frame of miiul, and was armed with an ancient-look- 
ing old musket. On meeting he signed us to stop, then 
was determined to order us off. Even Hank's persuasive 
manner had no effect. This Indian followed its two miles 
watching us hunt, and then we began to see evidences of a 
softened mood. Climbing into the wagon, he helped him- 
self to crackers, and then begged a chew of tobacco from 
Hank. From this on he was friendly, and during the after- 
iwon proposed that we lend him one of the guns to take 
a shot at a quail. Ed's gun, a notorious kicker, was 
handed out, and I gave him a dozen shells loaded with 
4y^ drams of FFF Hazard powder. These were so strong 
I rarely shot them. Away he went, and soon after I heard 
a shot and a yell. Later, this was repeated several times, 
and in the course of an hour he returned, handed me the 
gun, stood motionless, then vigorously rubbing his 
shoulder, said, "D ^n gun kick like h 1." We had 
to laugh, and finally he smiled, too. Toward night this 
acquaintance ended as abruptly as it began. Hank's ex- 
planation of the Indian's persistence in following us was 
that he did not propose that we should shoot any deer. 
These quail hunts were replete with many incidents. 
One night while camped on a small creek in the Kickapoo 
reservation, and fully thirty miles southeast of town, we 
had just finished eating our supper when four nien abrupt- 
ly entered our camp, all wearing masks, ctonsisting of a 
strip of cloth with eyeholes across their faces. This party 
looked us over, and when the cigars were passed around. 
