Oct. is, 1904.] 
FOREST AND STREAM 
323 
Bluebill. — (Scaup, two sizes.) Drake's head, neck and 
breast black; belly white; duck dark brown, white around 
bill ; wing mark white in both, and bill blue. 
Black Scoter. — Drake all black; bill orange and black, 
with hump. Duck grayish-brown; whitish about cheeks; 
bill black. 
Wood Duck. — Drake's head green and purple, with 
long crest, traversed with two white streaks. Duck, gray- 
brown ; eye in white patch ; white line around bill. In 
both, lines of triangular white spots on breast. 
Golden Eye (Whistler). — Drake has green-black head, 
with oval white spot under eye; legs, orange. Duck's 
head dark brown; whitish ring around neck. Both white 
below, and have part of wing white; eyes bright yellow. 
Ringneck. — Drake has black head and neck, with 
brownish collar; bill striped with pale blue. Duck's face 
and chin whitish; both very dark above and have a gray 
wing mark. 
Cinnamon Teal.- — Drake's head, neck and under parts 
clear chestnut. 
Ruddy. — Duck and drake similar ; bill very broad, espe- 
cially at end ; face light, with dark bar running back from 
bill ; plumage reddish brown above and barred below ; 
wings and tail brownish black. 
Blue- winged Teal. — Drake has white crescent in front 
of eye; duck speckled brown, with white throat. In both, 
front of wing sky-blue. 
Green-winged Teal. — Drake's head chestnut ; eye in 
green patch, like widgeon's; white bar before wing; duck 
streaky brown, wing mark green in both. 
Bufflehead (Butter-ball). ^ — Drake's head black, with 
large white triangle at the back, each side ; duck has a 
white spot behind and below the eye, and white wing 
mark. 
Mergansers. 
The mergansers are somewhat indiscriminately called 
sheldrakes by gunners, as the scoters are called coots. 
They may be recognized at a glance by their slender, 
cylindrical bills, hooked and toothed, quite unlike the 
broad, flat bill of a duck. All are more or less crested. 
The most conspicuous features of the males Are as follows ; 
American Merganser. — Head green-black* ftgek, 
breast and lower parts white, with salmon tint. 
Red-breasted Merganser. — Head like the American's; 
broad white collar, interrupted at the back ; breast 
brown, streaked with black ; at the front of the wing a 
patch of white feathers surrounded with black. 
Hooded Merganser.- — Head black, and with crest raised 
shows a large quarter-circle of white back of the eye. 
The female mergansers show brown or gray where the 
males are black, and they have a strong family re- 
semblance to each other. The hooded may be distin- 
guished by her smaller size and brown eyes and feet. The 
other two are considerably alike, but the American has 
the nostrils about half-way down the bill, while in the 
redbreast they are much nearer its base. Fowler. 
Ducks on Long Island* 
There are few sections of the country that furnish more 
attractions to the duck hunter than the Great South, Shin- 
necock and Peconic bays. It has been, however, for some 
few years past somewhat of a, problem for many duek 
hunters to solve just how to get good shooting On these 
bays, and at the same time surround themselves with 
safety and economy. At best, however, it costs something 
to shoot ducks anywhere; it is not a cheap game, and 
when one reckons the short distance one has to travel 
from New York to get to the shooting ground, with the 
saving of time and money in travel, Long Island naturally 
becomes attractive to the duck hunter. 
Safety and success in getting birds are largely due to 
the competency of the captain in whose hands one lands. 
The captain should not only be weather-wise, noting any 
change of, or rising of, wind, but have safe batteries, 
sharpies, and shooting boxes, be a good shot himself, and 
with it all be an honest man, giving full measure and only 
asking a suitable return. And this reminds me to say in 
behalf of these baymen, and for the benefit of those who 
think they have been, or may be, over-charged, that when 
one comes to reckon the cost of a full "outfit" for shoot- 
ing ducks on the Great South Bay, it takes, even at good 
prices, a long time for the owners^ of these rigs to realize 
a good percentage of profit on their investment, and some 
years of early and late labor to get their money back. 
It is not my purpose, however, to> deal with investments, 
but tell where and how good shooting may be had on 
Long Island, good treatment insured, and plenty of ducks 
obtained, providing always, of course, the weather condi- 
tions are good and the man back of the gun can shoot 
well. 
At Babylon it is mostly all battery shooting. There 
are, however, Some places on the south side of the Great 
South Bay where some point shooting is done ; but at this 
particular place the best results are obtained from a bat- 
tery. From Babylon one can secure three different rigs, 
and I am informed that they are all reliable ones. Mr. 
Sherman Tweedy, the propietor of the Sherman House, 
will secure them for his guests who write him a few days 
in advance. 
At Bayshore there are three reliable rigs for battery 
shooting. One of the best on the whole bay belongs to 
Capt. Chas. Veltman, the owner and master of the sloop 
yacht Madaline, and when engaged himself he will secure 
the other for gunners who desire to go out from Bay- 
shore. Captain Veltman takes his gunners aboard his 
boat on their arrival in the village. The yacht has four 
comfortable sleeping berths, and contains a galley for 
cooking; and he sails to, and remains on, the shooting 
grounds during his guests' stay. In this way the shooter 
steps from the breakfast table to the battery, and is ready 
for the early flight of birds. For this the Captain charges 
$1© per day for the rig for one or more gunners, the 
gunners paying in addition for the food eaten. 
The next interesting point going east to secure good 
shooting is Bayport. From here rigs can be secured 
covering the bay west several miles, and to the east for 
as many more. Mr. Henry Stokes, the proprietor of the 
Bayport Hotel, has made arrangements with the two re- 
liable owners of rigs in Bayport, and with three more at 
Sayville (only a mile away) to accommodate his increas- 
ing number of guests for this fall's shooting, and by 
notifying Mr. Stokes a few days in advance, one is sure 
of good service both afloat and ashore. 
But a short mile and a half east of Bayport is Blue 
Point. Blue Point is small, indeed, on the map, but 
mighty in reputation. It is the home of the oyster and the 
residence of Capt. Billy Graham, the proprietor of "Ye 
Anchorage." This artist on canvas and bay alike needs 
no word of mine to say that he loves to take his guests 
duck hunting, and does so as often as he can. Capt 
Graham assures me that he is in shape to take care of his 
old friends this season, and is willing to make some new 
ones if they come along. 
Patchogue, while it has become one of the manufactur- 
ing and commercial centers of Long Island, its limitations 
are on land, and this once famous duck shooting resort 
for all time to come will afford the duck hunter a good 
base from which to indulge his taste of the day in the 
battery. One of the most enthusiastic duck hunters in 
Patchogue is Mr. Fred. C. Thurber, the proprietor of the 
Central Hotel. Mr. Thurber knows personally every cap- 
tain who takes gunners out, and can secure for his guests 
the ' choice of these rigs ; but, as in other places, Mr. 
Thurber should be written to in advance in order that he 
may secure the right men. 
Bellport, j ust east of Centre Moriches, has been a 
favorite shooting resort of a great many gunners for a 
number of years, but conditions there are such that the 
stranger is not apt to get so well cared .for on account of 
the limitations in the way of shooting rigs. The next 
best place for the average hunter to go after leaving 
Patchogue is Centre Moriches. Here can be found a 
number of excellent rigs that can be chartered by the 
public at any time through Mr. J. W. Rose, the proprietor 
pf the well-known Long Island Hotel. Mr. Rose is a 
hunter himself, and knows the Great South Bay 
from one end to the other, and takes great pleasure in 
sending sportsmen to the right points for shooting. It is 
a well known fact to a great many sportsmen that from 
Centre Moriches east for about six miles the Bay is owned 
by the Smith heirs under an old English grant, and this 
tract of bay has been leased to one man who uses it for 
his private shooting purposes; but lying east from Centre 
Moriches there is a splendid stretch of water connecting 
the Great South and Shinnecock bays, where both battery 
and point shooting may be had that is just as satisfactory 
as this west property. On these open grounds there were 
300 ducks killed this season on the opening day. Besides 
having at command these desirable waters, one has the 
comforts of an excellent hotel in addition. 
The second station east of Moriches is Eastport. Here 
the duck shooter can find not only good accommodations, 
but one or two excellent rigs. Near the station stands the 
Eastport Inn, and the proprietor, Mr. Westerhoff, is very 
foha of shooting, and often goes along with his guests. 
One can secure not only battery, but point shooting as 
well. Mr. Westerhoff dan secure for his guests both 
sharpies, shooting boxes and shooting batteries. At this 
point, in addition to the accommodations that can be had 
at the Eastport Inn, a short half mile from the station is 
the Bayside Hotel. Harrison Rogers is the proprietor, 
and has for a great many years looked after the interests 
of all the shooters that come his way. 
The next interesting point for the shooter to visit is 
East Quogue; and certainly no part of Long Island pos- 
sesses more interesting sport than can be found here, or 
a more fitting Way of indulging in it. At East Quogue 
one can secure the services direct of the well known 
hunters, Eugene Jackson, Harry Carter, and W. G. 
Hearne. In each instance these gunners take their guests 
to their own homes for living accommodations. All three 
of them own both sharpies and batteries and use many 
live decoys both of ducks and geese. East Quogue is now, 
and has been for a great many years, one of the most desir- 
able places to shoot on Long Island. Just beyond East 
Quogue one comes to Good Ground, and unquestionably 
the hunter can find most excellent shooting there. At 
Good Ground they have a great many pleasant advantages 
for the visitors, because it lies in between the Shinnecock 
and Peconic bays. There are many of the best of the 
marsh ducks that come into these bays early in the fall 
and remain until the bay freezes over, furnishing most 
excellent sport. In the way of accommodations one can 
have the choice of two places. Right by the station is the 
Columbia Hotel, of which Mr. Chas. E. Rogers is the 
proprietor as well as one of the best known duck hunters 
in that section of the country. Mr. Rogers not only 
owns his own rig, but has at his command a number of 
other very reliable ones. A mile from the station can be 
found the Canoe Place Inn. This inn is a very pleasant 
hostelry, indeed. Mr. Buchmuller, the proprietor, has in- 
troduced a very pleasant cafe service, from which he 
furnishes meals at all times day and night, and is in touch 
with all the bay men in that section of the country. In 
addition to the duck hunting to be had at Good Ground, 
there is good quail and rabbit shooting there. Mr. 
Rogers, of the Columbia Hotel, has a pair of very excel- 
lent dogs, and furnishes a good guide to take field hunters 
out for quail and rabbits; and he informs me that the 
shooting for this sort of game is very good indeed. 
There are, of course, other places along these bays 
where one can be taken out on the bay and possibly secure 
ducks, but a careful study of the situation from Good 
Ground to Babylon has convinced the writer that he has 
searched out and found the best places for the duck 
shooter to go to. In each and every one of the instances 
mentioned he knows positively that the visitor will secure 
good service, good living, and not be over-charged for 
the excellent service rendered him. As I have mentioned 
before, it is particularly desirable that the hunter, in 
making a visit to Long Island for the purpose of killing 
ducks, should write some days in advance, if possible, of 
his coming. In this way he will not be disappointed in 
finding the rig that he hoped to attain rented out to some- 
one else. A study of the conditions for good shooting this 
season reveals the fac A that not in some years has there 
been so many ducks come into these bays at this early 
date in October. An interesting feature connected with 
this early visitation of these migratory birds is that so 
far those killed have been in many cases young birds. 
The gunners say that this indicates a heavy flight during 
the season, showing conclusively that the breeding season 
wos a good one. T, E. Batten, 
Maine Deer. 
Boston, Oct. 8. — Editor Forest and Stream: Several 
Massachusetts sportsmen have already returned from New 
Brunswick with moose; among them Dr. Heber Bishop, 
of Boston, who was accompanied by Mr. C. K. Fox, of 
Haverhill, and my old friend, Jack Seward. The Doctor 
rarely fails of finding big game. Many have already gone 
into Maine, where the season opened the first of this 
month. Mrs. C. S. Jones, of Bangor, was the fortunate 
huntress who sent to the wardens the first report of kill- 
ins a deer since the opening of the season. Near Green- 
ville, at the foot of Moosehead Lake, she brought down a 
fine buck at a range of some 300 yards with a bullet 
through his heart. A party of five Boston hunters 
shipped seven deer through Bangor on the fifth, on which 
day the whole number checked at that point was 19. In 
Weld two deer were killed on the opening day, and in 
Kingfield three. As usual on the opening, and for 
some time previous, confident predictions of "the best 
hunting season ever known" are circulated broadcast, 
backed by the statement that never before were so many 
deer and moose seen in the woods of Maine. The Spenser 
Stream region and Moose River country have furnished 
a number of moose every year. Deer and bears are re- 
ported numerous in the Dead River country. Farmers 
about Flagstaff have been forced to devise deer-scares in 
order to keep them from their fields of growing crops. 
Bears are reported very numerous in this region, as they 
are also about Kennebago and in Washington county. 
Mr. Allan Montgomery, of Boston, made his first trip to 
that region this fall. In the Basswood Ridge, a few miles 
from Calais, he came upon a bear which he shot. While 
dressing it he looked up and saw two more coming to- 
ward him. _ He shot both, making a record as a bear 
hunter, having killed three within an hour. 
Captain Collins tells me he has issued a dozen orders 
prohibiting sawdust pollution of streams this year — 
making about 125 such orders since his appointment on 
the Commission five years ago. 
Mr. Charles H. Cutler, a special officer of Dracut, re- 
monstrated with two young Greeks for shooting robins. 
He informed them that he was an officer, and exhibited 
his badge, but they continued to shoot, and he seized one 
of the guns. This angered the . second man, who fired a 
charge of bird shot into the officer's body and legs, and 
then ran away. Mr. Cutler is reported dangerously in- 
jured, and was removed to the Lowell Hospital. George 
Legugos has been arrested, and four robins were found 
in his pockets._ He is believed to be one of the culprits, 
and the other is known to the police. These ignorant and 
lawless aliens are doing much to hasten the day when a 
gun license may become a necessity, however objection- 
able it may be; there are, of course, many objections to 
it. It would be unpopular, I think, with the farmers, and 
would cause many of them to post their land and keep 
the gunners off. 
The case of Fred. Parsons, fined $70 for having short 
lobsters in September, came up again in Salem, October 
4, and the fine was re-imposed. When his counsel tried 
to have the fine reduced, Warden W. W. Nixon urged 
upon the court that if changed at all it should be in- 
creased, as he had been previously fined in the Superior 
Court. 
For shooting six robins on the shores of Wenham Lake, 
Frank Morale was fined $60 this week in the Salem court. 
Central. 
Notes From the Game Fields. 
California Public Sentiment. 
San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 29. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: There has been a large increase in the number 
of quail in this State since the non-sale law went into 
effect. In fact, most all game shows an increase, except, 
possibly, ducks. We hope at the coming session of the 
Legislature to have the bag limit reduced from 50 to 25, 
and, if possible, prohibit the sale. 
Deer have been more plentiful this year than for several 
years past. We are beginning to reap the benefits of the 
non-sale of deer hides, which has had the effect of putting 
the hide-hunter out of business ; consequently there is no 
premium on a deer hide, and the animal is killed only for 
food and sport. 
Public sentiment in this State has changed very ma- 
terially for the better in the past three years. Convic- 
tions are obtained in the remote sections of the State for 
violations of either fish or game laws. The people 
seem to have become awakened to the necessity for the 
restrictions that are placed upon the taking of fish and 
game, and we are supported in a more encouraging way 
by bringing in convictions in jury trials. It is not many 
years ago since a jury trial was equivalent to an acquittal. 
This condition has been entirely reversed. The result is 
that defendants seldom stand trial but plead guilty and 
pay the fine, seeming to consider it is the cheaper way. 
Chas. A. Vogelsang, 
Chief Deputy Cal. Fish Commission. 
Maine. 
Walpole, Me., Oct. 2. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have seen deer tracks in plenty. Partridges suffered 
here as elsewhere from the severe snows of last winter 
with thick crusts. Woodcock are not here yet; I have 
started a few; another week or two at most will see the 
last of the flight. E. H. F. 
Pennsylvania. 
Sayre, Pa., Oct. 8. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
game reports agree that the crop of squirrels is pretty 
near, if not quite, up to the standard of recent former 
years. Ruffed grouse in the old-time covers are plentiful, 
and full of the spirit that tries the endurance of even the 
strenuous sportsman. On some of the local high lands, 
and up the Chemung River Valley, some nice bevies of 
quail may be started at any time. What may develop in 
respect to the woodcock only the flight of these fascinat- 
ing migrants will disclose. In the old secluded retreats, 
during July, when the law provides for the shooting of 
the immature and developing longbills, some nice broods 
were discovered, but these birds, or what were left of 
