FOREST AND STREAM. 
BOB 
kept me in doors, that I was not in the woods walking 
5 to 15 miles every day in dogged search, worrying 
with these indescribably wild and sensitive creatures. 
Nodiino- save that innate love iii the born naturalist 
and sportsmaii prompted and heid up irt.y arajis ta stand 
the test. 
Near one hundred plates spoiled, snapping under all 
ronditions of light or position — for the least shade 
or a haze over the sun — you get no picture. Yon hope, 
trust to luck. You develop and get — disappointment. 
That's what you get endeavoring to get a wild turkey 
ill stand up and look frleasaiit, Mter ^U, ra^ success 
Now, they must come very near, lest the images be 
too small to obtain the sufficient definition — say 10 to 
15 feet. Meantime, the camera rested upon an old 
log masked with leaves and debris. At length, how- 
ever, they came right along unsuspecting the fiend 
lurkmg behind that charred and blackened log, or the 
mask of brush heaped upon it, so intent were they 
gathering their evening repast. Such a sight would 
ihrill the most callous. 
The mob consisted of nine old bearded and spurred 
patriarchs, with wrinkled necks, black satin breasts 
and go'rgeous, brqnze plumage, reflecting an. htmdred 
Maine Guides, 
While snniGwhat slow in the matter, yet "better la^te 
llian never." Allow me lo congratulate you on your edi- 
torial entitled, "Maine Guides," in Forest and Stream, 
issue of Dec. 6. It describes present existing conditions 
among the Maine guides (as I found them) [o a dot. 
Tliere is a growing tendency among guides to strictly 
observe the law, and to encourage sportsmen to do so. 
On no one point does your argument state facts more 
truly than in respect to crowds of Western visitors 
flocking to the woods of Maine, who. deplete the "game 
WHEN THE SHUTTER -^NASPED. 
COME TO ATTENTrON. 
IS'- quite satisfactory. I have examples of the grandest 
old gobblers on this continent, varying in number from 
a single individual to bands of three to ten — all that 
Gould be crowded on to a 4x5 plate. 
How^ I did this is almost a marvel, eA-en to myself: 
having nothing to level, range or siglit by except the 
eye, and corners of the camera as guides, as tinders 
are out of the question, yet surely they are secured on 
the plates in every instance as faithfully as if operat- 
ing in a studio, as evidenced by the accompanying 
illustrations; but you will bear in mind, brother, it 
toolc me three months the first season and six months 
each of the next two seasons to accomplish it, and 
that, to-o, in unremitted daily work, in rain, storm, 
sleet, snow or hot, baking sun. 
My second year's efforts lay in the hammocks ad- 
jacent to the swamps of the Bigbee River mentioned, 
once historic hunting and battle grounds of the Creek, 
Seminbje and Choctaw Indians j the finest and richest 
evanescent colors in the bright sunlight. It w^is 
worth a thousand miles of carfare to have seen the 
sublime spectacle, and what a pity that only the black 
and white half-tones can be reproduced, leaving those 
matchless metallic reflections to waste in the desert 
air! When in twenty paces of my hiding they began 
to veer to one side, but a low note from my caller 
caused them to turn and drift within 19 or 20 feet, 
when the exposure was made. On the photo, "Even- 
ing Meal," only four of the old birds are secured on 
the 4x5 plate — and snapshot wOrk at that, for the 
least attempt at time, being unavailable on these sen- 
sitiA'-e and nervous creatures. The first click of the 
shutter all are gone. 
The metallic click of the camera or cocking of a 
gun has a significance alarming to all wild animals, 
but with the turkey, unless the cause is seen, fear is 
soon over and they will return and renew the feast 
ais if nothing happened, soimd alone seldom disturb- 
nnd fish resources" without giving in exchange an 
"equivalent" other than the Avages of a single guide to a 
crowd, which, of course, is not an "equivalent." I heard, 
the past fall, a great deal of complaint on this score. And 
the guides claim that these Western crowds kill more 
game than other sportsmen, for they are expert hunters. 
There was coatsiderable discussion among the guides 
whom T happened to meet, in favor of increasing their 
charge for hire from $3 to, $5 per day; and of requiring 
not less than one guide to three sportsmen — in fact, of 
forming a guides' union. Good wages should be paid to 
guides the same as to other people,- but only in proportion 
to th? value of services rendered. Should their union 
materialize it would far better stand on the rock of game 
protection, than on the flimsy foundation of a minimum 
or maximum wage scale. Guides are very much the same 
a.s other people, some are worth in hire $5 per day, some 
$3 per day, and others come high at 30 cents. No, guides, 
leave out a fixed rite for your hire and stand on your 
THE EVENING MEAL. 
Iiundng lands the sun shines up'oh. E.veli laow many 
a noble f^(i lipa-:'0 forages in freiedom amid its prime- 
val luxuriance and splendid woodlands, fattening upon 
its plethora of beech, wts, acorns,, gum seed and other 
food. 
In those, tny own native haunts, I felt assured, the 
best specimens of the turkey tribe Avould be found, be- 
ing familiar with every habitat, hence the quest, which 
Ijegan in November, lasting into the following May. 
After much research a band of magnificent old 
males was located, their daily trend and haunts fig- 
ured out, the work of getting near enough to secure 
good plumage detail contemplated a place that ap- 
peared one of frequent resort was discovered, when 
they assembled to scratch up the dry Iea\'es in search 
of food. Here I resolved to Avatcii. stalk and call, 
but as yet had seen none of them, but their number 1 
and age was clearly indicated by tracks crossing old 
forest roads, in which manner a half dozen or more 
were estimated. One day, while lying in Avait. I saw 
them approaching, feeding slowly along as if time 
was of no consequence to them. 
ing them, but a sight of the human enemy Is all suffi- 
cient to clear the premises of their company for that 
day at least — no argument will stop them. 
In At ■ Sunrise" we have a splendid portrait, not 
only of the picturesque attitude of the subjects, but 
also of the yelloAV pine forest landscape as well. This 
Avas snapped as the sun had lifted aboA-e a nearby hill 
and shone in splendor over the surrounding wood- 
lands and the feeding birds, consisting of one old 
gobbler and two j-earlings that sport no beards as yet. 
The shade being on the Avrong side of the latter to 
get plumage definitions, the button was pressed just 
as the old bird raised his fine head to scan for danger, 
and Avhen the shutter clicked a loud put! put!! put!!! 
brought the others to attention — when all three — 
"caput et auribus erectus in swampo," made a sub- 
lime spectacle, and had another plate been available 
what a grand picture could have been secured, but 
their suspicions aroused, there was no time for specu- 
lation, and "exeunt onmes" Avas the finale. 
[The photograph of the crippled gobbler unfortunately 
proved to be unadapted to reproduction.] 
AT SUNRISE. 
own individuality! Do not allow the unworthy to "hold 
up the worthy!" A rule of' not less than one guide to 
three sportsmen, lioweA'er, should receiA'^e support and 
encouragement frotn all sportsmen worthy of the name. 
A minimum 'Wage of $5 per day for Maine guide hire, 
would drive thousands of annual visitors out of the 
Maine woods into the woods of New Brunswick. The 
difference betAveen the Maine and New Brunswick price 
for guide hire, would more than pay the shooting license 
of New Brunswick, and take one to fields which he skips 
now as a matter of economy. 
Skipping from one subject to another, I wish to in- 
dorse Mr. Jos. Shurter's argument when he says that 
"bullets fired from high-poAver rifles are sure to be 
stopped by natural obstructions before they have exceeded 
the range of black powder rifles." This, of course, applies 
to shooting deer in thick woods. To the doubting ones 
1 Avould s^y, just try it and be converted. I have ex- 
r'erimented, out of curiosity, where I knew it was per- 
fectly safe to do so, and am surprised to find hoAV quickly 
a bullet will "fetch up" against some "natural obstruc- 
tion," when fired in thick woods. William H. Avig, 
