224 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Sept. io, 1904. 
ful examination of the cartridges submitted by the user,, 
such experiments as are made necessarily including a 
systematic analysis of the characteristics of the powder 
itself. 
When we look to the gun for further information, it 
generally happens that a fresh vista of doubtful possibili- 
ties is opened up. Burst guns frequently disclose slight 
defects of shape and workmanship which may or may not 
have assisted in bringing about the destruction. There 
are few rents in a gun barrel that do not disclose to the 
observer of an imaginative turn of mind slight evidences 
of flaws or other interruptions in the homogeneity of the 
metal. These must be duly balanced against the apparent 
past history of the weapon, the observer being thus in- 
formed as to the probability or otherwise of the weapon 
having stood the test of a course of hard practical service. 
The nature of the injury to the weapon must also be 
carefully considered. If the breech end of an apparently 
sound barrel is blown away, it must be assumed that a 
pressure existed which metal of ordinary tenacity could 
not be expected to withstand. The nature of Ihe burst 
gives some slight indication to those who have had ex- 
perience in such matters as to- whether an obstruction has 
been the cause of the high pressure. If an obstruction 
lies immediately in front of the chamber, say a 20-bore 
cartridge dropped by accident into a 12-bore barrel, then 
the effect is to increase the pressure in the chamber with- 
out evidence of special strain where the obstruction exists. 
On the other hand, if the obstruction lies a little more 
forward so as to be struck by the shot after it has been set 
in motion, the seat of greatest strain is removed from the 
chamber to that portion of the barrel where the obstruc- 
tion lies. The greater the distance between the breech 
and the obstruction the more powerful is the rending 
action that is exercised, so that obstructions existing near 
the muzzle blow the barrel into pieces. 
Another class of injury to which barrels are subject is 
the formation of rents or tears in the thinner forward 
parts of the tube. When these exist it is necessary to pay 
very careful attention to the thickness of the barrel walls 
and the concentricity of the exterior and the interior. An 
entirely different class of injury that is frequently en- 
countered, consists in strains on the action which cause 
an opening of the fastenings of the breech. These gener- 
ally arise from the use of violent cartridges working as 
often as not in combination with a gun of doubtful ante- 
cedents, the design and workmanship of which is not of 
the best. Barrels which are set too close together to allow 
proper space for the insertion of the extractor leg fre- 
quently break away along the obvious line of least resist- 
ance. Considering that many weapons which- give way in 
this manner have evidently received many years of con- 
stant wear, it is difficult to lay down with any precision 
just why the structure breaks down under the strain of 
ihe particular cartridge that causes the accident. In such 
instances, and, in fact, in many others, the burst seems 
to arise from accidental combination of a somewhat over- 
powerful cartridge and a gun which possesses an insuffi- 
cient margin of strength for present-day. commercial car- 
tridges. It may, therefore, fairly be said, in speaking of 
most gun accidents, that of many possible causes it is 
very difficult to pick out the probable one. In fact, the 
verdict of "found burst" seems very often to be the only 
logical conclusion to which a jury of experts can conic- 
Arms and Explosives. 
* * >:< The current number of Game Laius in Brief gives 
lows of all States and Provinces. Price 25 cents. 
Non-Residents in North Dakota. 
I believe that all non-resident hunters should be re- 
quired to pay the full fee of $25, and see no good reason 
why an exception should be made in favor of those who 
are the owners of . land in the State. A fraudulent use, 
I think, is frequently made of this latter clause, as it is 
an easy matter to temporarily transfer the title of land 
in order to evade the payment of $25 for a permit. It 
would only be fair in case all non-residents are charged 
the $25 fee if they were granted some privileges in re- 
gard to shipping game out of the State. It is almost 
impossible to prevent the shipping of some game, and 
it would be better if it were done openly, under the 
supervision of the game warden or his deputies, and 
with stringent regulations as to the unmber of birds or 
animals shipped. C. H. Stenshoel, 
Game Warden District No. 2. 
Big Game in the Canad an Northwest. 
Trappers who have hunted on the north fork of the 
Saskatchewan, and at the head of the Sumwapta, report 
bighorn sheep to be more plentiful than ever before in 
their remembrance. They brought many bear skins with 
their winter furs last spring. 
Mountain goats are numerous on the mountains south 
of Leanchoil in the Ice River district, and sheep have ap- 
peared on the lower summits. It seems to have been a 
good winter for big game in the mountains. 
Good reports about the game also come from Wilcox 
Pass, where larger numbers than usual of bighorn have 
wintered. Goats are reported to be plentiful about Glacier 
Lake. 
Fish Chat. 
BY EDWARD A. SAMUELS. 
Sport V i h the Black Sea Bass. 
One of my friends writes me he had been having ''a 
high old time among the sea bass near Atlantic City. Not 
hand-line fishing, thank you, but with rod and reel, and 
I find it as strong a fighter as I want to tackle, a five- 
pounder being all my bait-rod will stand." 
My friend "knows a good thing when he sees it." The 
biack sea bass, while not being as gamy as the striped 
bass, is a strong, stubborn fighter, its depth and thickness 
of body giving it great muscular power. It is true, its 
runs are not very long. I refer now to fishing for it 
with rod and reel, but it "sags down" with remarkable 
tenacity, coming to the surface only after a most dogged 
resistance, and it sometimes, though rarely, breaks water 
before it comes to the landing net. 
With bait-rod and fairly stout tackle, the angler ob- 
tains really a high degree of sport with this species, 
much more exciting" sport, in fact, than the average 
fisherman anticipates in making his maiden trial among 
them. 
Of course, I do not mean to imply that this bass ranks 
in gamy qualities with squeteague and one or two other 
marine species, counting out the incomparable striped 
bass entirely, but it furnishes a most enjoyable recreation 
to those who are taking their outing at the sea shore. 
Distribution of Sea Bass. 
This species ranges all along the Atlantic Coast from 
Delaware to Maine. It is, I think, rather rare south of the 
"Banks" off the Delaware Breakwater, and north of Cape 
Cod it is also far from abundant, although it has been 
taken on the Maine coast. 
If it ever reaches the shores of Nova Scotia, the fact 
seems to have escaped the notice of the hand-line fisher- 
men of that Province whom I have questioned concerning 
it. Along, the coast of New Jersey it is very abundant, 
and in Buzzard's Bay and Vineyard Sound it is quite 
numerous, the returns printed in the reports of the 
Massachusetts Commissioners on Fishing showing it to 
be an important catch in the weirs, pounds, etc. 
Tackle and Bait. 
In angling for sea bass, one needs to use a stout rod 
such as is employed in striped bass fishing. Of course, 
if one were certain that he would not hook a fish that 
weighed more than three or four pounds, a lighter rod 
would suffice ; but one never knows how large a fish may 
take his bait, and a ten-pounder on a six or eight-ounce 
rod at the end of ten or fifteen fathoms of line would 
give the angler all the work he desired to bring the fish 
to the surface, and to the landing net. As for bait, I 
have always found this fish to be far from fastidious ; it 
seems to be "always on the feed," and anything in the 
way of bait seems to go. A piece of herring, sheddar 
crab, or quahog, is usually employed, and I have found 
that a small crab, such as is used in tautog fishing, often 
proves a taking lure. Hooks should be strong and of 
pretty wide bend ; a bait of generous proportions is most 
desirable, for the mouth of this species is large, and its 
appetite seems to crave a large mouthful. When the 
hook strikes home, it holds securely, for the mouth of the 
bass is as tough as leather. 
Breeding Habits. 
Genio C. Scott, in speaking of these, says : "This fish, 
like many herbivorous fishes of the Orient, lays its eggs 
and they are vivified on the weeds and among the shells 
of the bottom. This process continues from May until 
August, and the shoals remain op the banks until mosj. 
of their annual progeny leave the shell, when they all re- 
sort to deeper water for the winter. A shoal of a pair 
of fish number probably five thousand, which attain the 
weight of half a pound and over; not more, because 
ground sharks and other marine carnivora thin their 
ranks when fingerlings." As a table fish, it is considered 
by many persons equal, if not superior, to the cod, and 
for a chowder it ranks second to no< other fish. 
Cid With Rod and Re«l. 
Now, I do not want to be set down as a pottering bait- 
fisherman, for I am not; but there are times when one 
has to seek recreation with bait-rod or go without angling 
entirely, fish of the higher classes being, unobtainable. I 
recently found myself in this situation and was forced 
to rely on the gamy pollock for sport, there being no 
other fish at hand worth angling for. 
On one occasion our boat was anchored over a sand- 
bar, or bank, over which the young flood tide was 
running like a mill race. The water over the bar was 
about six fathoms in depth, but the swift tide made the 
employment of a quite long line necessary. 
I was using bait on that day, and to keep my line 
below the surface was obliged to attach to it a sinker. 
I let my rod rest across my knees while I attended to a 
companion's line, and when I had finished my occupa- 
tion my rod was still permitted to remain quietly as 
before. At length I lifted it and began to draw up the 
line, when I felt an extremely heavy tug, and then the 
fish that had seized it darted away with the speed and 
strength of a bass. What species it was I could not 
determine, but that it was not a pollock, I was certain. 
After a persistent struggle, in which my fish made 
several quite sharp runs and attempted to range deep 
in the water, I brought my captive to the boat. It was 
a beautiful rock cod. If my brothers of the angle are 
so situated they cannot use thin fly rods, I advise them 
to rig their tackle for a bout with one of these fish. I 
"had never before taken one; and the pleasure I had in 
capturing my first beautiful prize was, therefore, doubly 
great. I do not offer it as a new acquisition, for, doubt- 
less, there are many who have taken it with rod and 
reel long before these lines are written, but I will say 
to all, that if they are in a locality where rock cod 
abound they will never regret it if they succeed in tak- 
ing a few large ones on tackle that is light enough to 
afford the fish a proper range and play. 
A Frog's Provii def. 
In recent issues of Forest and Stream there have 
been a number of topics discussed which seem to have 
created more than a passing interest, and one of them, 
that relating to the frog's diet, has elicited from ob- 
servers a number of quite important facts. That the 
frog captures small birds which come to the shore of 
ponds, etc., to drink or bathe, there can be no doubt, 
but that it is also capable of catching small snakes, 
meadow mice, fishes and insects of all kinds and sizes 
is not generally known, even its own relatives are 
utilized to complete its menu. 
On more than one occasion have I seen a small 
snake caught and pouched by an old green veteran of 
the meadow pool, and once discovered a large frog 
with a striped snake partially coiled around its "head, 
the frog having two or three inches of the snake firmly 
held in its mouth. 
it was quite comical to see old Rana's efforts to 
uncoil the snake with its paws; in vain it pushed and 
pulled, the snake knew its business and attended to it. 
I never knew what the outcome was, for. as I incau- 
tiously drew near, the frog leaped into the water and 
swam away. That a frog should eat a snake is revers- 
ing the usual order of things with a vengeance, for 
if there is any enveloping to be, done the snake. gen- 
erally attends to that business, 
After all, the frog's existence is not "all pie." During 
its tadpole stage of life it is in constant peril from 
turtles, various fishes, crows, raccoons and a number 
of other animals; even the fish-loving mink does not 
turn up its nose at a nice, plump "pollywog," and it 
is a lucky wiggler that escapes all these foes. 
When its tail is absorbed and its legs appear, the little 
leaper has no end of enemies, and as it increases in 
size they seem to increase in size and voracity also, 
I dare say that every angler has seen two frogs leaping 
about, one in active pursuit of the other, the leader 
uttering comical little shrieks as he jumped away, and 
undoubtedly the thought came to his mind that the 
jumpers were merry little chaps and having a picnic 
all by themselves. 
Oh, no ! they were not playing "tag," neither were they 
engaged in that wildly hilarious game of "leap frog," 
nor that side-splitting jolly game of "follow my 
leader." No, it was quite a different kind of recreation 
they were indulging in; it was simply a strenuous ef- 
fort on the part of "the party of the first," or the 
leader, to escape being pouched, and an equally earnest 
attempt of "the party of the second part" to engulf 
the fugitive. 
Yes, a wart-backed, old green bullfrog is a great 
gourmandizer, and he will jump at anything in motion 
that is not too large to be swallowed. I have, more 
than once, seen a medium sized one capture one of 
those large yellow, swallow-tailed butterflies, with black 
and bronze spots on its wings, and "gulp it down with- 
out a gasp," as one of my old guides would say. Those 
butterflies often come to the edge of pools to drink; 
they spread five or six inches between wing tips, but 
their size has no terrors for the "monarch of the pool," 
quite the contrary rather. 
I once had a friend, there is a coolness between us 
now; he asked too much of me. He said to me one 
day, one lovely day in June: "There is a lot of big, 
fat bullfrogs in the pond yonder," pointing to a small, 
muddy pond on the edge of an adjacent swamp. "It 
would be great fun for you to take a pole and line, 
put a piece of red flannel on your hook, and bob it 
over them, you'd catch a lot, I'm sure; their hind legs, 
nicely fried, are simply an epicurean delight," he added 
by way of inducement. I replied that, "I have eaten 
them more than once, but as for fishing for them with 
a bait of red flannel, not much! it's too much of a 
drop from salmon angling to catching bullfrogs; I 
draw the line at pollock." 
The Size of a Frog's Appetite. 
The frog's capacity for enveloping his comrades and 
assimilating them was once shown by an incident 
which occurred under the observation of one of my 
acquaintances. He. had returned from the country 
with a lot of frogs, large and small, which he had ob- 
tained for one of the New York educational institu- 
tions. I have forgotten how many frogs there were, 
but they numbered over twenty I am quite certain. 
These he put into a large bird cage, the wires of which 
were close enough together to prevent even the smallest 
from escaping. On the third day he went to the cage to 
see how his captives were doing and found, greatly to 
his surprise, that all had disappeared with the excep- 
tion of two old "moss-backs," and they were eyeing 
each other askance apparently m doubt as to which 
would be the "last survivor of the whole ship's com- 
pany." as he expressed it. . 
As . an insect-catcher the frog is quite expert, even 
such quick-moving species as the dragon fly often fall- 
ing victims to. its dexterity. Fishes are also often 
captured, and good sized ones, too. a fingerling trout 
having been found in the stomach of a frog, which was 
not more than six inches in length. 
