488 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Dec. 19, 1903. 
wing game just as the first bird had done. In a num- 
ber of places signs of the chicks were found, and their 
little tracks showed clearly in the white sand, which 
they had toddled through, but when October came only 
an old bird or so could be found in the woods where 
the little chicks had started life. No dead chicks were 
seen or could this be expected, but where there were 
youngsters in the spring there were few grown birds in 
the fall, and this tells a part of the story. It is not fair 
to assume that foxes and skunks caught most of them, 
although they probably accounted for a few, but foxes 
are not common enough in this section to do a great 
amount of damage. 
Another cause for the passing of the grouse is the 
great increase in the number of hunters in the woods. 
During the past few years many more men have taken 
to hunting than enjoyed their lei sure in this way in the 
old days. They kill a number of birds each year, even 
while they are learning to find themselves in the field, 
and whenever they flush a bird they are apt to shoot 
and scare it so that the next man will find it wild and 
discover that it will not lie for the dog, but will flush 
wild. A large number of partridges have been snared 
by the "boy on the farm" in this section in the past, and 
this lessens the number of grouse to a large extent. 
The sale of the ruffed grouse is now forbidden in this 
State, but while every effort has been made to have the 
law enforced, there are some men who sell birds still. 
Market hunting in this section has largely died out, 
however, so this oflfsets the number of hunters killing 
birds for their own use to a large extent. There is 
plenty oi food for the birds in the fields and woods, so 
that this can have no effect on the lessening number of 
the birds. In the Berkshire Hills, where there have 
alwaj's been many birds, the hunters report that their 
bags have fallen off fully 50 per cent, this year, and 
they lay the blame to the bad weather early in the sea- 
son and to the increasing number of hunters. 
Another reason which makes me firmly believe that 
the bad weather in the spring killed many chicks near 
this city, is the scarcity of quail. Last fall, when the 
•season closed, there were large numbers of quail left 
in the fields, and during the winter the farmers con- 
tinually reported seeing the birds. The winter was not 
a hard one, and when spring came everyone began to 
prophesy a great quail year. But when the season 
opened the quail did not seem to be around, and during 
the past week they have been just as scarce. The birds 
mated and hatched out their chicks in the spring, for 
many little families Avere seen, but the rain must have 
killed them, and it must have killed the young grouse 
as well, for both are delicate and both easily take cold 
and die. 
The story of the ruffed grouse in Maine seems to be 
more happy, and while the number may have decreased, 
no one seems to have noticed it greatly. The season 
opened there on Sept. 15, and while there may not have 
been good sport there since that time, there certainly 
were grouse enough to go around during the first week 
of the season in the Rangeley region. Even though I 
did not make it a point to hunt the birds there, I killed 
a number which were flushed from the trails in going 
through the woods, and the birds seemed very tame 
and flew slowly in comparison with the grouse of 
southern New England. They acted more like the 
blue grouse of the Big Horn Mountains, and were about 
as easy to kill. In Maine, of course, the hunter is sup- 
posed to shoot the bird's head off with his rifle, but as 
the grouse sits in the road or in a tree and waits for 
the slaughter, it is an easy thing for the expert. But 
in time they will get scarce in the big woods, just as 
they have "done with us, and legislation is the only 
thing which will prevent extermination. It saved our 
quail a few years ago, it should be tried with the ruffed 
grouse and the woodcock now. Cltck. 
Massachusetts Deer. 
Sandwich, Mass., Dec. 13.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
The rowing down of a deer in the waters of Mashpee 
Lake, the fierce struggle for mastery, the final capture 
and irnprisonment of the deer in an ice-house, constitute 
the principal features of an adventure credited to Harry 
Conant, of Mashpee by a news item in the Boston Globe 
of December 8. 
I do not think the writer of that item fully realized to 
what an extent he was exposing the illegal hunting of 
deer m this section, but I am very glad that it got into 
prmt, from the fact that it greatly strengthens the state- 
ments of Central and myself in Forest and Stream of 
November 28 to the effect that deer are being hunted and 
hounded in this section in direct defiance of the law. 
Everyone who knows the habits of the deer, know.s' 
that they are not swimming a mile or more in the icy 
waters of Mashpee Lake at this season unless driven to it 
by dogs, and from the above it will be seen that they 
are not safe even when they have thrown the dogs off the 
tracK by taking to the water. 
Now, as to the legal aspect of this case. If the state- 
ments made in the Globe item are true, did not young 
Conant, deliberately and with malice aforethought, hunt, 
chase, capture, and imprison this deer in direct violation 
of Chap. 24s, Acts of Mass. Legislature of 1903? 
There is no claim made in the item that he did this to 
rescue the deer from the dogs ; no claim that the deer was 
exhausted and unable to take care of itself. Now, has 
not Conant left himself liable to the penalty imposed by 
the law? James M. McArdle. 
A Deer in Cambridge, 
Boston, Dec. 12.— Editor Forest and Stream: On 
Thursday last, between 7 and 8 o'clock A. M., a large doe 
was seen in the streets of the University City, much to 
the surprise of hundreds of people. After coursing 
through several streets, dodging teams and electrics, 
the deer found the entrance to the house numbered 456 
Massachusetts avenue, pushed in the door and bounded 
up the stairs, entering a chamber where a Mr. White was 
in bed. When this gentleman recovered from his surprise, 
he pushed the animal out into the hall, but it returned to 
the room, and he managed to force it into the closet and 
close the door. Among those who had been following 
t-he ^eer was Mr-. Wm, H. Watts of Brighton, who^ with 
the assistance of several others, threw her down and car- 
ried her to the furniture moving stori of Mr. R. N. 
Burns, and placed her in a box-stall in Mr, Burns' stable, 
where she remained until yesterday, when/Deputy "Tom" 
Burney took her to Wyoming and set her free in the 
vicinity of the Middlesex Fells. When Mr. Burns was 
told that under the law he was liable to a fine of $100, he 
was considerably disturbed, and sought the commissioners 
at the State House, and they decided that his action was 
in no way malicious, but rather a charity, and worthy of 
commendation. Probably no other wild deer ever came 
so near gaining admission to Harvard or Radcliffe. 
A letter addressed to President Reed from Mr. Oliver 
Gay, Crystal Lake Farm, Haverhill, reports that a deer 
has been feeding with his young cattle for a couple of 
months, and when recently, on account of snow, the cat- 
tle were driven into^ the barn, the deer followed them, 
and has been housed with them for some days. Having 
been told that he was violating the law, Mr. Gay wrote 
for information as to the proper course to be pursued. I 
learn to-day that Deputy Burney has been sent to liberate 
the deer. 
These occurrences might not seem strange in Maine or 
northern New Hampshire, but in this locality they excite 
a great deal of interest. Only a few days ago a deer was 
reported meandering the streets of Newburyport. 
Without question the increased number of deer in our 
State is very remarkable. It is very important that they 
go unmolested and every person who loves to see the 
beautiful creatures should feel a degree of responsibility 
for their preservation, so long as it is illegal to kill them. 
As a curiosity, the inclosed letter is hard to beat. 
(This is an exact copy of a letter received this week. 
Perhaps you would like to print it, leaving out the name 
of the sender:) 
"Hampden, Mass., Dec. 8, 1903. — Dear Sir Mr. James 
Russell Reed on the twentie first of november in the 
year of 1903 i was walking to the store and i though i 
heard something coming a long behind me and just as i 
turned a round to see what it was i was nock down bey 
a Big deer he Jumped over me and one of his leages 
strook on the back and lamed me up so i had to have a 
Dr. Ballard attended me i had two hard weaks of sicknes 
and i aint over it yet and i dont think i ever will thai re 
was a good maney persones saw the deer and they sed 
that he wasent verry fraid it cost me a good deal of ex- 
penses I expect to here from you some i shant sttel for 
nothing less thin one $1000 dollars for what i have ben 
hrough hoping to here from you in a weak yours trulie 
» 
Central. 
Our Christmas Number. 
There seems to be a gratifying unanimity of sentiment 
among readers and advertisers as to the Christmas number 
of Forest and Stream. This is pleasant to editor and 
publisher alike, for their highest ambition is that readers 
and advertisers should receive from the publication of 
Forest and Stream as much pleasure and profit as pos- 
sible. 
The text and illustrations in the body of that issue may 
speak for themselves, and about them we need say little, 
but a word may fitly be spoken concerning the many and 
beautiful advertisements which appeared in it, and which 
for attractiveness of illustration and interest of matter 
were almost, if not quite, as attractive as those pages de- 
voted more exclusively to the entertainment and edifica- 
tion of the readers. Among the advertisements appearing 
in large space in the Christmas number of Forest and 
Stream are found those of many firms which have been 
in business almost since modern sportsmanship began. 
Such firms have seen a variety of ups and downs in the 
history of sport in this country, and in the trade in guns, 
ammunition, fishing tackle and yachts, and have witnessed 
the rise and fall of many so-called sportsman's journals. 
Many of these firms have been printing advertisements 
in the Forest and Stream from the very first days of 
their establishment in the trade, and there are a few 
Vv'hose advertisements have appeared in the Forest and 
Stream in every issue that has appeared from its begin- 
ning, away back more than thirty years ago. 
Such long business association comes after a time to 
mean more to advertiser and publisher than a mere mat- 
ter of dollars and cents. These firms have long been our 
friends, as we are theirs, and we have come to regard it 
as quite as important that they should prosper as it is that 
we should prosper. 
The Christmas Forest and Stream made its appear- 
ance well in advance of Christmas Day in order that the 
information which it contained might be as useful as pos- 
sible to readers and advertisers alike. 
The Forest and Stream has no stronger wish than 
that the Christmas season may be happy for both. 
Chicago, 111., Dec. 4. — Editor Forest and Stream-: I have been 
spending the evening with your very attractive issue of Forest 
AND Stream of Dec. 5, and particularly interesting is the article 
on the Labrador duck. Ruthven Deane. 
Beaver Brook Farm, Milford, Conn.. Dec. S.—Ediio-r Forest 
and Stream: Your Christmas number of Forest and Stream is 
superb, and I congratulate you on if. M. G. 
New York, Dec. 3.— Editor Forest and Stream: Permit me to 
congratulate you upon the beauty of the Christmas number of 
Forest and Stream. It is the best number, I think, that has 
ever come off your presses. Wm. Dutcher. 
New York, Dec. 5.— Editor Famsi md Stream: Permit me to 
congratulate you on the great success of the holiday edition of 
Forest and Stream, which I had an opportunity to examine 
carefully at my home last evening. 
It is perhaps p^rdonabl^ ip §n ^dvcrtisipg; man to mor? 
interested in the advertising pages than in the regular te.xt; but 
I think that so handsome, effective and numerous are the business 
announcements in this number, that they will run a close race 
with the text in the attention of even the lay readers. 
My congratulation and compliments on this. 
Wm. H. Johns (of George Batten & Co.). 
Batavia, N. Y., Dec. 5.— Editor Forest and Stream: Your 
Christmas number has reached us, and I must compliment you 
upon it as being the finest edition of any sportsman's paper I 
have ever seen. F. M. Farvvell, 
Sec. and Treas. Baker Gun & Forging Co. 
Chicopee Falls, Mass., Dec. 5.— Editor Forest and Stream; We 
wish to express our hearty congratulations on the appearance and 
general effectiveness of your Christmas number. This special 
number of your publication reflects great credit on your entep 
prise, and is a beautiful piece of work. 
Our full page advertisement makes a most striking and hand- 
some appearance, and we trust that this publicity may prove a 
profitable investment. Kindly send us six more of your Christ- 
mas number. J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. 
WORC ester, Mass., Dec. 5. — Editor Forest and Stream: Will you 
kindly give space to an old reader (one who has followed the 
publication from infancy to manhood), who wishes to express his 
heartfelt satisfaction over your present Christmas number. It is 
a jewel. 
■ I did not recognize it on my favorite news stand, and inquired 
if they had not received the Christmas Forest and Stream. The 
reply was the presentation of the current number. It is beauti- 
ful; and I warm to it as I would to a first offspring, if that could 
even be vouchsafed to me. It is redolent with all that is good 
and true in clean sportsmanship. w. jg. 
Sayre, Pa., Dec. 5.— Editor Forest and Stream: Abler pens than 
mine, in more felicitous phrase, will write in expressing their 
appreciation of the rarely beautiful Christmas number of Forest 
AND Stream, sent upon its world-wide travels last week; but as 
an humble contributor to the dear old paper for the past dozen 
years, I desire to thank you for this wonderfully handsome and 
altogether delightful Christmas issue. Considered from every 
point of view, it is a work of art, and nothing quite so fine arid 
fascinating has previously been published by a journal devoted 
to the interests of sportsmanship. It is a unique example of 
literary attainments, photographic skill, artistic finesse, typographical 
perfection, and vivid illustration of a multitude of things ever dear 
to the sportsman's heart. Long live Forest and Stream! 
And merry Christmas, in good truth, to its editors! 
M. Chill. 
— • — 
All communications intended for Fjrest and Stream should 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., 
New Ycrk, and not to any individual connected with the paper. 
The Game Laws in Brief. 
is the standard authority of fish and game laws of the United 
Sxates and Canada. It tells everything and gives it correctly 
See in advertising pages list of some of the dealers who handle 
the Brief. 
Decrease in the Si^e of Game Fishes. 
BY EDWARD A. SAMUELS. 
"When I was a boy, things were quite different," 
said an old gentleman to me as we were comparing 
notes one day. ''Yes, the winters were much more 
severe, the cold being much more intense. Why, bless 
your soul, I have seen the trunks of big oaks and 
chestnuts split open their whole length by the frost; 
the snowfall was vastly greater than it is now. Yes, 
we always had from two to four feet of snow all winter 
and it filled the roads even with the fence tops; break- 
ing out the roads in those days was no boys' play, I 
can tell you, and as for fish and game, I could always 
get all the partridges (ruffed grouse) I wanted in two 
or three hours, and ducks and shore birds were almost 
too plentiful. I've seen the time when I could bag 
500 or 6oo golden and black breast plover in a day on 
Nantucket. Ah, those good old days are gone, never 
to return." 
Of course, I assented to all he said, and added, jok- 
ingly, "Yes, and the average size of game fish has de- 
creased, too." 
After we had parted, my thoughts turned to fish and 
fishing, and the idea that the size of certain fish had 
decreased grew on me to such an extent that I sat 
down and made a lot of mental notes, which convinced 
me that my jesting remark to my friend was far from 
being a joke, and I believe that my brother anglers 
will in a greater or less degree coincide with me in my 
opinion. Now, I have handled the rod almost fifty 
years (not so many years as my old friend had, for he 
is a hale and hearty octogenarian, and can yet cast as 
good a fly, and can cut down his bird a-wing as well 
as the next comer), and I have killed my share of most 
varieties of our game fish, and ought to be able to 
judge fairly well in relation to this matter, but if I am 
in error I shall be glad to be set right. 
First of all, there is no doubt in my mind that the 
Atlantic salmon averages considerably smaller in size 
than it did thirty years ago, and this conviction conies 
upon me from an experience on most of the Canadian 
streams. The Fort Medway, in Nova Scotia, used to 
furnish, thirty or more years ago, most excellent fish- 
ing, and salmon of I2 to 15 pounds' weight were far 
from uncommon, and an i8-pounder was not rare. I 
have not fished that river for a number of years, but I 
noticed that the size of the fish had lessened when I 
was last there, and am informed that a lo-pound fish 
is now seldom killed, and 6 to 8-pound fish are the 
rule, and not over-abundant at that. 
Of course, this decrease is attributable in a measure 
to overfishing, but I believe that the Micmac Indians 
have done more than their share in reducing the sal- 
mon in size and numbers along the coast to the north- 
ward. The Gold, East, Ingram and Indian rivers, 
which, thirty years ago were good salmon streams, giv- 
ing the angler 10, 12 and occasioi^ally IS or 18-pound 
lish) sr? "QW almost 4?plet^d, § tq g-pgynd fish fe^in^ 
