468 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Dec 13, 1902. 
The Drum of the Grouse, 
New York, Dec. 6. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
interesting letter from Morgantown, W. Va., on "The 
Drumming of the Grouse," published in this week's 
issue of your valued paper, evokes in me the following 
pleasant recollection: 
While eating a hasty lunch on the shore of one of 
Maine's loveliest lakes last October, I heard a part- 
ridge drum in the tliick woods behind me. Having but 
recently entered the wilderness and not having yet in- 
dulged my first taste of ruffed grouse for the season, 
I quickly grabbed the gun and ran in the direction 
whence the sound was coming. Proceeding slowly and 
cautiously for 50 or 60 yards through the woods, I 
came to an old lumber road without having seen the 
bird, which by this time had ceased drumming. , 
Crossing the road, I soon perceived the cock stand- 
ing on a large fallen log, and as I was about to raise 
the gun to my shoulder, the tliought struck me that 
I might get the oportunity for which I had many times 
longed, of seeing a partridge drum. 
I was then about 60 or 70 feet from_ the log, and by 
carefully walking in a crouching position, I succeeded 
in approaching, totally unobserved by the bird, within 
25 or 30 feet from where he stood. 
There I anxiously waited for what seemed to me 
fully 20 minutes, and which in reality was, I suppose, 
iDut one quarter of that time, when all of a sudden, the 
bird, which during this period had kept motionless, 
raised his head and neck, ruflled his feathers, straight- 
ened up his body in the same fashion as a rooster 
does when about to crow, and began striking the tips 
and edges of his wings, behind his back, very slowly 
at first, and gradually more and more quickly, until 
the noise and the extremely rapid motion fairly dazzled 
me for an instant, when suddenly the operation 
stopped. 
The moral eflfect of this "virtuoso's" performance 
caused his life to be spared, and I withdrew to finish 
my interrupted repast, and incidentally stretch my 
cramped up legs, leaving him undisturbed. 
Your correspondent positively asserts that the noise 
is produced by the bird striking the wings against his 
body; I only saw his wings strike each other. 
However, it may be possible that "the many birds 
of his" acted differently from this "one of mine." 
J. Oswald Jimenis. 
A Settler's Close Call. 
The practice of pit lamp hunting, or jack-lighting 
for deer, though illegal, is indulged in to a great ex- 
tent by certain unprincipled poachers in this neighbor- 
hood. Although columns have been written in nearly 
every newspaper in the country, protesting against the 
evil practice, pointing, out its dangers to man and 
beast, and giving accounts of the many fatal accidents 
resulting from that practice, yet there are men who 
still sneak out with their lamps and deadly long range 
rifles, in defiance of law, and in utter and selfish dis- 
regard of their neighbors' and their neighobrs catties' 
lives, to shoot deer at night. ' Not so long ago a set- 
tler was arranging things about the stove, preparatory 
to retiring, he had turned around, and was about to 
step into the next room, when a bullet from some- 
where outside, pierced the window glass, glanced off 
the stove, and went out through the other side of the 
house. Had the man not moved just when he did, he 
must have been shot. Of course, an examination out 
of doors failed to reveal anything. Night prowlers of 
this sort are in habit like sneak thieves, and so soon 
as they had become aware of the effect of their shot, 
they promptly "doused the glim." The settler re- 
ferred to is saying very little, but it is extremely prob- 
able that there will be warm times in store for any- 
one he catches pit-lamping in that vicinity. Fool crim- 
inals of the jack-lighting class should, in addition to 
all the several penalties of the law, have their firearms 
taken from them and never allowed to again carry a 
gun. — Cumberland (B. C.) News. 
• Philadelphians in Vitginia.* 
Philadelphia, Nov. 29. — As I passed through the gates 
of the Pennsylvania station here to-day the inspiring sight 
met my gaze of six men with as many gun cases filing 
through a neighboring gate, and well laden with sufficient 
hand baggage to indicate that six places of business would 
know their respective manipulators no more for some 
tune to come. 
Later, as the train moved out for the South and an 
overwhelming desire to "hit the pipe" came over me, I 
moved to the smoking compartment and found six gun- 
ners located there discussing the game of hearts. They 
could not play because the porter said "it was against the 
rules." The party consisted of Messrs. F. T. Patten, 
known to his immediate party as "Pop," certainly an un- 
deserved nom de plume; N. B. Gaskill, as "Babe," (an ill- 
fitting sobriquet) ; W. A. Shreve, S. W. Beldon. G. W. 
Black (I was told that "W." stogd for the real Washing- 
ton), and P. F. H, Blakeley. They were bound for Vir- 
ginia, duck shooting. I can only add that if they could 
overcome duck scruples as easily as "coon" scruples, they 
must have come home laden. T. E. B. 
Forest Protection* 
From the President's Message. 
Few subjects of more importance have been taken 
up by the Congress in recent years than the inaugura- 
tion of the system of nationally aided irrigation for the 
arid regions of the far West. A good beginning there- 
in has been made. Now that this policy of national 
irrigation has been adopted, the need of thorough and 
scientific forest protection will grow more rapidly 
than ever throughout the public-land States. 
Legislation should be provided for the protection of 
the .game, and the wil'1 creatures generally, on the 
forest reserves. The senseless slaughter of game, which 
can by judicious protection be permanently preserved 
Ml our national reserves for the people %s 9 wbolfs, 
should be stopped at once. It is, for instance, a serious 
count against our national good sense to permit the 
present practice of butchering off such a stately and 
beautiful creature as the elk for its antlers or tusks. 
Stinningf a Deer* 
This is about as it came to me: "The sun Mvas dip- 
ping rapidly toward the horizon when out from the cover 
of the timber, well down the lake, walked a splendid 
buck, to a point where the lilypads grew. My guide, a 
full-blooded Chippewa, first saw the animal and called 
my attention to it. Looking at the sun, he pointed to the 
canoe and whispered, 'Gun.' I mechanically and quickly 
obeyed, but as the canoe was pushed through the reeds it 
was pointed straight away from the sun and toward the 
deer. I was at a loss to know the meaning of such a 
course. The canoe was driven along through open water 
nearer and nearer to the deer. The wind was from the 
deer, which the Indian well knew before he made the 
start. Repeatedly the deer raised his head and looked our 
way, but only to resume his feeding. Although we were 
less than a hundred yards from him, he saw nothing. Our 
backs were to the sun. Nearer and nearer we glided along 
through the rippling water, and yet the deer continued to 
attentively look up and feed on. 
"As we closed in upon him the guide whispered, 'No 
shoot yet,' and nearer yet we caine, our backs straight 
against the sun, and when we were not fifty feet away, the 
guide having thoroughly demonstrated his wonderful (to 
me) experiment, said, 'Shoot now,' and as he held the 
canoe I planted a ball between the eyes of the staring 
buck, and he was mine." 
Charles Cristadoro. 
List of Game Protectors of New York State. 
T. \A'aiTen Pond, Capitol, Albany, Chief Protector. 
John E. Leavitt, Johnstown, Fulton county, Assistant Chief 
Protector. 
Manister C. Worts, Oswego, Oswego county. Assistant Chief 
Protector. 
Ball, J. Edward, Old Forge, Herkimer county. 
Barnes, Charles T., Olmsteadville, Essex county. 
Beede, Fletcher S., Keene "\'alley, Essex county. 
Benson, Neil J., Neversink, Sullivan county. 
Buckley, James W., Niagara Falls, Niagara county. 
Burhans, Edward, Brown Station, Ulster county.. 
Carter. Thomas, Bridge street, Buffalo, Erie county. 
Conklin, De Witt C, Olean, Cattaraugus county. 
Courtney, Frank E., Wells, Hamilton county. 
Donnelly, Thomas H., Perry, Wyoming county. 
Dorlin, E. A., Freeport, Nassau cotinty. 
DoVille, Claude, Sodus Point, Wayne county. 
Farlev, John, Khinecliff, Dutchess county. 
Fournia. Frank O., Albany, Albany county. 
Gaylord, Harvey N., Turin, Lewis county,^ 
Grennon, Joseph P., Raquette Lake, Hamilton county. 
Hawn, Spencer, Cicero, Onondaga county. 
Hazen, Edward A., Hammond, St. Lawrence county. 
Holmes, James, Apalachm, Tioga county. 
Kidd, Willett, Newburgh, Orange county. 
Kinsman, Emery, Natural Bridge, Lewis county. 
Klock, Charles A., Fairfield, Herkimer county. 
Lake, George E., I?ath, Steuben County. 
Lamphere, James H., Weedsport, Cayuga county. 
Mattison, Samuel G., Altmar, Oswego county. 
McCullum, Byron H., Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence county. 
McKinnon, Daniel H., Masonville, Delaware county. 
Nichols, jRobert B., Indian Lake, Hamilton county. 
Northrup, Joseph, Alexandria Bay, Jefferson county. 
Piersall, Samuel, Camden, Oneida county. 
Potter, Frank M., Chautauqua, Chautauqua county. 
Reed, '\\'allace L., Canandaigua, Ontario county. 
Reynolds, Ernest H., Colton, .St. Lawrence county. 
Scott, Newton- A., Greenfield Center, Saratoga county. 
Selkirk, George, Duane, Franklin Cotinty. 
Shedden, James F., Mooers, Clinton county. 
Somerville, Robert, Sodom, Warren County. 
Smith, George B., Horseheads, Chemung County. 
Vosburgh, Isaiah, Saranac Lake, Franklin county. 
Warren, R. E., Hampton, Washington county. 
Weir, John W., Dannemora, Clinton countj'. 
Wellman, Amos D., 608 Haywood avenue, Rochester, Monroe 
countjf. 
Williams, Albert P., Mansville, Jefferson county. 
Winslow, Alvin, Stony Creek, Warren county. 
OYSTER PROTECTORS. 
Edgar Hicks, \\'est New Brighton, Richmond countj'. 
John E. Overton, Port Jefferson, Suflfolk county. 
John Ferguson, Patchogue, Suffolk county (Asst.). 
Chfistmas Books* 
The problem of Christmas gifts is one to which 
much thought is given each year, and the decision of 
the weighty question as to what shall be given is put 
off in many cases until the last moment, and the work 
of selection and purchase done in a hurry and amid 
much confusion, so that often the gift arrives after the 
eventful day has passed; to the great disappointment 
of the donor. 
Among the convenient and useful gifts for Christmas 
none take higher place than good books, and for the 
readers of Forest and Strea.m and their friends, those 
published by the Forest and Stream Publishing Co. 
are peculiarly attractive. Such books should be or- 
dered well in advance, so that they may be shipped 
before the rush of postoffice matter clogs the Christ- 
mas mails, and to each reader who may wish to inake 
a selection the Forest and Streaiti Publishing Co. will 
gladly forward a free catalogue of its publications. 
Among the books especially attractive to the big 
game hunter are "Camera Shots at Big Game," "Camp 
Fires of the Everglades," "American Big Game Hunt- 
ing," "Hunting in Many Lands," and "Trail and Camp 
Fire." The man who uses the shotgun will be pleased 
by a copy of the "American Duck Shooting," "Field, Cover 
and Trap Shooting," Elliott's "Game Birds," or "Hitting 
vs. Missing," or by any one of the dog books by the 
great authorities, Messrs. B. Waters and S. T. Ham- 
mond. 
For yachtsmen there are "Small Yachts," "Steam 
Yachts," "Yacht Architecture" and various books on 
canoe building, handling and cruising. "Fly Rod and 
Camera," "Fly Fishing and Fly-Making for Trout," 
and Dr. Henshall's "Black Bass" books appeal strong- 
ly to the angler; while there are miscellaneous books 
by R. E. Robinson, Mather, Mrs. Churchill, Grinnell 
and others, full of interest, and of useful information. 
"I hear you had a gun stokn the other day?" 
"Yes, and if the thief returns it, I'll giv? k'stt^ t|ie con- 
tents and no qtiestiofts aske4" 
mid ^iv^r ^stiing. 
— ^ — 
Proprietors of fishing resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them Jn Fokest and Strkam. 
A Series of New Salmon Flies. 
Of all the branches of sport I have had the privilege of 
enjoying in the wide world— yacht racing, shooting in 
India, hunting, deer stalking, game shooting, dry-fly trout- 
iiig, and many other forms — there is nothing to my mind 
so grand and so evergreen as salmon fishing with the fly, 
and yet there is no sport in which the fitial connection 
between man and success is less certainly understood or 
commonly accepted than is the sparking point in salmon 
fishing — the fly, or the vanity of man, an unsettled brain, 
or a high faculty of fiction ; anyway, an admission that 
human science has not finally penetrated the mysterious 
nature of the salmon. It is even said that salmon them- 
selves can be educated to hook on, but, if so, it must take 
time, and no sportsman cares to kill a very brown fish. 
It is not my intention in the following remarks to med- 
dle in any way with the beautiful and vast collection of 
marine biology called "standard" salmon flies, nor to pull 
to pieces the pet local concoctions of the river gillies; iet 
them all be enjoyed by their slaves. My intention is to 
describe an exactly opposite plan, which I think will be 
appreciated and found quite effective by that large body 
of salmon fishers who fi.sh as guests, as short time renters, 
or as ticket holders; in short, migratory fishermen who 
cannot spare the time, the brain exhaustion, or often the 
money to fully follow out the scientific use of the 200 
pattern system. Long ago I kicked against that vast ac- 
cumulation, but, of course, I started a little one on ray 
owii. To any expert angler, whatever his own system of 
fishing may be, I, with all deference, would say, before 
j^ou decide pro or con, on the plant I am about to explain 
give it a level good trial ; tie the flies and go out in com- 
pany with another expert rod who will fairly work the 
scheme of scientific selections from the hundreds of pat- 
terns recommended from time to time, who will use one 
fl.y to rouse a fish and change to another to kill, or, per- 
haps, even stop and tie by the river a special fly to kill, 
while you merely shift once or so for size. 
The old standard patterns kill well even yet, and will do 
so, and there is no reliable evidence that great novelties 
have displaced them, but that they need not be slavishly 
copied in all detail is commonly proved. 
Without adhering to minute particulars of wing con- 
struction in Coloring, which nine times out of ten fish can- 
not possibly see, he being right under the fly (see Fig. 1, 
middle position), I -grouped the ordinary and the extra- 
ordinary patterns as to general color and their probable 
effect in water as they would be seen by the fish. In this 
way I finally arrived at four pretty distinct groups and 
one large indefinite lot. Then I set about to design a 
single fly to fairly command each group, viz., a dark 
heavy fly, mainly black, blue, and gold ; a dark wavy fl.y, 
mainly black and silver and scarlet; a bright showy red 
and gold stiff fly; a light blue and silver cinnamon; and, 
finally, a light fly, distinctly yellow, red, and black, a com- 
bination I had found successful on many occasions in 
bright sun and shallow or low water. Whether such re- 
duction of patterns is scientifically correct I care not ; 
I find my kills on various and very different rivers have 
not fallen oft". I rather think they have increased, but 
who can gauge salmon kills season by season? Nobody 
can. One residt I do know is the comfort of having few 
and definite weapons to use. 
There are about 300 different publi.shed patterns of sal- 
mon flies and quite another hundred local killers. Mr. 
Kelson's great book "The Salmon Fly," gives some 244 
distinct patterns. Major Treherne, in the Badminton 
Library, gives a careful selection of useful patterns, four- 
teen in number. 
Color, that is, in a general way, is no doubt important 
in certain colorings of the water caused by peat, road 
washing, and many other things, but in any river large 
enough to maintain such title the color of the water is sus- 
ceptible of considerable changes ; therefore so also as to 
the fly coloring to be used thereon. The surroundings of 
the pools on most rivers differ immensely — red cliffs and 
rocks here, green trees and slate colored rocks, and, on 
the same beat, some pools open, with gray shingle and 
green banks. The contention of some men goes as far as 
suggesting, even maintaining, that a river subject to all 
these changes of shore color and water mixture definitely 
demands one particular color in preference to others. Size 
is the main thing after general color has been decided for 
the particular circumstances. My box for a day's work, 
carried in breast pocket, holds sixty-four flies, that is, 
five patterns, four sizes of each, and three copies of each 
size- — ^i. e., sixty flies, with space for an occasional trial 
bogie, said to be the ne plus ultra. In my tackle case I 
often carry, but seldom use, several old hairy things and 
curios to w^ork off the fancies of gillies who may, on 
strange waters, mar your sport by not disclosing the 
catches if you do not pander to their fancy. But once you 
know the river ot beat go "pooh-bah," and stand by to 
have to give your own concoction as a pattern, to be un- 
earthed to some future fishing guest as the thing for the 
river. 
The salmon fly, as I have hinted, is to my mind rnerely a 
personal invention founded more or less on tradition and 
some success. The way to see the hollowness of the 
multifly system is to paint water-color drawings of as 
many marked patterns as your patience will permit and 
time allow. Draw them to one size, say one and three- 
quarter inches, hooks, each on a separate card, then place 
these on a clear table or the floor, shift about till you 
have grouped general leading color and tinsel in fleets. 
They will group as before described. Can you not get 
some five patterns of new conglomerations to cover the 
lot as far as fish are likely to know it? It has been my 
endeavor to rig up four flies to command these four 
groups, and to make them possibly simpler, less work to 
tie, less variety of material to carry about, and yet to have 
each a fly not too grossly different from the flies which 
salmon have always taken, and beyond these one bright 
yellow black "curio" for sulky fish in low water or in 
bright sun, I luive sqw several seasons of tjsing these 
