428 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Nov. 19, 1904, 
A New Brunswick Hunt. 
The Province of New Brunswick, in the neighborhood 
of the Tobique River, was once noted as a favorite resort 
for ca'ribou, but for some reason this fickle, migratory 
animal has become somewhat scarce in that locality. The 
moose has become more abundant. Various reasons are 
given for the diminishing number of caribou and the in- 
creased number of moose, but I do not undertake to ex- 
plain the cause of the change. There are certainly quite 
a number of moose in the country, and if one is not too 
eager to shoot the first chance he gets, and will wait till 
he sees a good head, a hunt of several weeks ought to 
secure satisfactory results. The law allows "a sportsman 
only one moose, and that fact should make him careful 
about bagging anything which comes in sight. 
The trua sportsman should form a resolution to carry 
out a good trophy or nothing. It is pitiable to see what 
rubbish some people will lug out of the woods ; heads that 
are wanting in size and defective in fair proportions. The 
head of the moose lacks the grace and beauty of outline 
which characterize the elk, the only large animal of this 
continent which can compare in size, and so it must make 
up in massiveness what it lacks in otner respects. An 
elk's head is almost invariably beautiful and graceful 
whether large or small. In securing a trophy you can 
afford to be more independent of size in getting an elk 
head than in getting the head of a moose. 
The attractiveness of a moose head consists largely in 
its grotesqueness, and the size has quite as much to do 
with that as its shape. 
If you intend to hunt in New Brunswick, a great deal 
depends upon the kind of hunting you desire whether 
you go early or late in the season. In the early part of 
the season, say from the first of September to the 25th 
of October, tb^re is little or no snow, and it is ex- 
tremely difficult to get any large game at that time by 
stalking; the ground is covered with dry leaves and brit- 
tle wood which make considerable noise at every step. 
At that season you must depend largely upon canoe work 
and calling for moose, while caribou and deer are still 
more difficult to hunt during that time. 
The moose frequently come down to the water, of 
which they are very fond, and in which they bathe and 
wallow. The caribou are less apt to frequent such spots. 
Calling is a favorite method of bringing moose within 
range, but great care has to be exercised, for a single 
false note and your noble quarry, instead of accepting an 
invitation to a funeral, which he is to grace, will retire to 
a place of safety. 
When there are a few inches of snow on the ground, 
hunting becomes more attractive to the true sportsman. 
Instead of sitting in his canoe waiting for something to 
come within his range, he is vigorously exercising his 
muscles and his knowledge of woodcraft to secure a shot, 
and often his skill is put to a considerable trial in shoot- 
ing through thick timber. 
There is nothing more improving to health and condu- 
cive to happiness than strenuous exercise in the cold 
bracing air, with sport as an incentive. Whatever may 
be the outcome of your hunting, you are sure to take out 
of the woods with you an increased supply of vital energy 
and robustness which after all is very important. If your 
hunting should not furnish you with such tangible re- 
sults as you would like to see, console yourself with the 
reflection that a very wealthy man once offered "a million 
dollars for a new stomach," and perhaps you have 
secured an equivalent for a great deal less. 
Early in October of this year I joined my guide at_ the 
forks of the Tobique. We immediately started out in a 
canoe, into which I packed all my things, to pole up the 
Little Tobique. The water was pretty high, and this 
increased the difficulty of ascending a river which 
naturally contained a strong current, diversified by rocks 
and the debris of stray logs and woodland refuse. The 
sturdy skill of the guide was considerably taxed in spite 
of the small assistance rendered by me with the paddle, 
and yet I was of some assistance in forcing the canoe 
over'places where there was no. poling bottom. In about 
five hours we reached our destination and put up at the 
camp, which consisted of a very commodious log cabin, 
where we found the cook, who soon began to busy him- 
self in preparing the evening meal. The two succeeding 
mornings I got up before day, while the stars were still 
bright, and returned late in the morning, having as a re- 
ward for my pains a good appetite and plenty to satisfy 
it, when I could succeed in getting it down. The third 
morning both the guide and myself overslept, and with 
a blush of shame I encountered the glare of "Old Sol" 
as he fiercely drove his burning rays down upon our 
heads. : 
It seems that the same morning a lazy bull moose had 
been guilty of the same offense, and appeared at the bank 
of the river to take his belated bath just as our canoe, 
came dancing and twisting down the swift, turbid stream 
toward him. The big bull did not seem in the least con- 
cerned, although every moment we were rapidly drawing 
nearer. If he had been standing in the water, T believe he 
would have let us run into him had we been disposed to do 
so. With a quick movement of the paddle the guide 
turned the canoe so that I could secure an easy position 
to shoot, and then a sharp crack of the Mauser rifle, fol- 
lowed by the heavy swaying motion of the animal as he 
sank with a deep groan to pour out his life blood on the 
sand, closed the incident. . 
The head measured 52 inches and was . quite shapely. 
As I surveyed the prostrate form of this" pride of the 
Canadian forest, I thought that it was no particular skill 
of mine which had brought it within easy reach and 
secured me a fine trophy. It seemed to me as though the 
original owner of the antlers had almost made me a 
present of them. We do not appreciate anything so much 
\f \% comes into our possession %qq easily. I would have 
been better pleased if his "royal nibs" had made the shot 
more difficult and had given me a chance to exercise my 
skill. He may have mistaken me for one of those sports- 
men who tremblingly pass the gun to the guide and ask 
him to shoot. 
During that time I saw another moose which I declined 
to shoot, because, as I informed a friend, I had all the 
law allowed, and for the further reason that "it had no 
head." When I informed my friend that the moose "had 
no head," he seemed somewhat incredulous, but after I 
explained that this was "an Irish bull," he seemed better 
satisfied. 
During the rest of my sojourn I had considerable 
amusement with my .22 automatic Winchester, which 
affords plenty of practice without making too much noise, 
in shooting at a mark, and is also useful for small game. 
The return trip home was diversified with the expe- 
rience so common of the transition from the rough camp 
life to your own fireside, when you sit in an easy chair 
and talk it all over with your friends. Sixty miles of 
paddling down the Tobique, ever impelled by its rapid 
though wayward current, which required the constant 
correction of your course, and interrupted the survey of 
the beautiful banks decorated by the virgin forest for 
miles, marked the first day's journey. The next day a 
ride in stuffy cars over a second-class railroad until you 
finally land in a Pullman coach and spin along at the 
rate of sixty miles an hour. Perhaps you pick up a chance 
acquaintance with one or two sportsmen who have just 
returned from a similar outing, and tell you of their 
mighty deeds which lose nothing by repetition; you 
shrink within your modest little self as you listen, for you 
know you -have accomplished nothing which will stand 
well in comparison. 
On my way back I met several sportsmen, one of whom 
related to me his exploits, which were very tame on first 
recital. We were sitting in the smoking apartment of the 
Pullman, when presently two other sportsmen came_ in 
and Ave got into conversation over our different hunting 
experiences. The two sportsmen who came in last related 
the wonderful feats which they had accomplished. After 
they had talked themselves out, my first acquaintance, 
much to my surprise, who had been so> modest in what he 
related, took a fresh start. I think a couple of good 
drinks, which stimulated his imagination and stirred his 
personal pride, had something to do with it. With an 
eloquence which truly surprised me he added the "veri- 
similitude of truth to otherwise bald and uninteresting 
statement of facts." It was evident that the newcomers 
were outclassed, for my modest friend was not only 
gifted of tongue, but he told his story last. I have dis- 
covered that there are more ways than one of establishing 
a reputation as a sportsman, and sometimes the "gift 
o' gab" is more important than skill in handling a rifle. 
E. F. R. 
New Jersey. 
In North Carolina. 
Raleigh, North Carolina. — The partridge hunting 
season has begun in almost all of North Carolina, and as 
predicted, there is a very good crop of birds, with a great 
many youngsters among them. Old hunters who devote 
themselves to prowling around the woods at night in 
search of the toothsome 'possum, declare that the young 
'possums have a lot more sense than the old ones, because 
they always climb the biggest trees they can find, whereas, 
nine times out of ten, the old 'possums climb the little 
tree. In fact, this peculiarity has come to be a by-word 
among hunters. Just so, it seems, the little partridges 
have learned how to alight in trees, and sit very close to 
the body of the tree. By doing this they look exactly 
like a knot on the limb, and can deceive the keenest eye, 
while of course a dog cuts no figure in such a case. The 
old birds are learning this habit of taking to trees, and 
I find that all the sportsmen are talking about it; not 
only so, but about the long flights the grown birds are 
making — three hundred yards, four hundred yards, five 
hundred yards, and even six hundred yards, at one burst. 
Time was when if the birds were flushed in an open field 
they would fan out, so to speak, and there was a picnic 
in picking them up one by one; but now they make a 
mad rush for the nearest woods or heavy shelter, and go 
clear out of sight in their flights. There will be more 
sportsmen in the State than ever befor« the season ends. 
Last year there were about a thousand registered sports- 
men, and no doubt some slipped in from Virginia and 
South Carolina who did not pay the $10 license tax to 
the Audubon Society. 
Speaking about 'possums, one of the funniest trials 
ever held here was one in which a negro boy with a little 
body, big appetite, and very fine taste, was before a magis- 
trate on the charge of having found, just before the 
season opened a lady 'possum with her dear little brood 
of about a dozen 'possumlets. He had no compunction, 
but killed mamma then and there, and took away the little 
ones in order to raise them. The game warden here 
prosecuted him, and he was convicted and sentenced. All 
the little 'possums died, and the loss of so much highly 
prized food naturally set the old hunters against the 
youngster. Nothing on earth is more prized than a 
'possum, and a wag once remarked that he would like to 
see the 'effect if one of them were taken _ into a negro 
church during a revival meeting. He intimated that it 
would break up their affair. The writer has been out 
twice after 'possums since the season opened, and has 
walked ten miles each time to no purpose; but yet there 
are plenty of 'possums. Barbecued, with hot sauce, baked 
sweet potatoes on the side, and hot corn bread cooked 
thin and well done, they beat any food which four-legged 
animals furnish. Why people up North have not caught 
op \o their goodness passes comprehension. 
There are plenty of bears in North Carolina, and these 
are both in the mountains and in the extreme eastern 
counties. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Pierce, of San Francisco, 
have come to North Carolina after them, and have started 
in hunting around Mount Mitchell, one of the wildest 
parts of the United States. In this region, and part way 
up the mountain, lives "Big Tom Wilson," who has with 
his rifle shot 150 bears, while his son has a good number 
to his credit, the son's wife also having shot several. 
This seems to be a very good season for large game in 
this State, and it will really pay sportsmen to visit the 
mountain and eastern counties after bear and ■ deer. 
Waynesville, in the mountain region, is a good point to 
start from; while Newberne, Morehead City, and Wil- 
mington are good points in the east. 
By reason of their courtesy to the son of the late Ed- 
mund S. Heath, of Newark, N.. J., the Messrs. Dortch, 
well known and delightful sportsmen of Goldsboro, N. C, 
have received bequests amounting to $11,000. This 
Dortch family is well known in this State, not only for 
being good shots but for breeding good dogs; in fact, 
typical Southern gentlemen sportsmen. Charles Heath, 
who was their personal friend, visited them each winter 
until he died. Until two years ago he hunted every 
season with them, but when he returned his health was 
poor. He came South in an endeavor to recuperate, and 
went to their home, where he was just the same as a 
member of their own family, a dear friend to them, and 
greatly liked by all the people. He died suddenly, and 
these gentlemen went with the remains to his New Jersey, 
home. His grateful father never forgot their loving kind- 
ness to' his son, in health and in sickness. 
Fred. A. Olds. 
Kinston, N. C, Nov. 11.— Quail shooting in this sec- 
tion is better this season than we have had in _ several 
years; in fact, all game known to this section is more 
plentiful than heretofore. A good many birds were left 
from last season to raise from, and we had a very favor- 
able spring and summer for their raising, it being very 
dry about the time they were hatched, and not too much ; 
rain at any time till the young birds could fly. People are 
also more particular about keeping their dogs shut up. 
Loose dogs do more damage two months in the spring of 
the year than all of the shooters do in the five months of 
shooting season. I. M. Tull. 
Tiger Nights in China. 
From the South China Weekly Post. 
There is no dearth of tiger stories in South China, 
but it does not often occur that a more interesting 
authentic yarn comes to hand than the tale of the hunt 
which has lately taken place at Yik Ma, a village not 
half an hour's ride from Pakhoi. 
Three weeks ago news was brought in that a pair 
of tigers had taken possession of the cover near the 
village, and during the evenings and nights paraded the 
street and held up the villagers, levying toll on pigs 
and dogs, and, it was said, children. 
Two of the foreign sportsmen immediately made 
Yik Ma their headquarters, and found the paddy-fields 
in the vicinity trodden by the beasts, and the inhabi- 
tants in a state of panic. - Previous to their arrival, a 
beat had been organized by the natives, the result be- 
ing simply that one was badly mauled and the tigers in 
status quo. 
At the time, July 25, the moon was nearly full, and 
the foreigners tried the easiest method of bagging the 
tigers, sitting over -a pig at night. They were _ en- 
sconsed in a tree for some hours, and found it a 
method necessitating more patience than the average 
man possesses. The tree was the abode of more ants 
than they had imagined were contained in the whole 
province. Mosquitoes were in myriads and very 
hungry to boot, smoking was strictly prohibited, and 
talking not tolerated; and after an hour, cramp as- 
sailed them in every limb. Moreover, piggy, more 
philosophic than the tiger slayers, went to sleep. One 
of our friends, who shall be called B. in this narrative, 
with more courage, perhaps, than discretion, came down 
and prodded him to a sense of his duty, till the welkin 
rang. B.' had just reached the foot of the tree, and 
it was very difficult to climb, when A. noticed, in the 
very poor light which the clouded moon afforded, a 
huge dark mass noiselessly detach itself from the cover 
—some forty yards away— and come swiftly toward the 
tree, piggy and B., who were all in his line. With a 
word of warning to B., who could not see the tiger, 
he fired several times after the first shot, more with 
the idea of frightening off the tiger from B. than of 
wounding him. Within three seconds or so tiger had 
' retired, with piggy, who, after the first squeal of terror, 
lapsed into silence, whether of fear or death it is im- 
possible to say. It was so dark at the moment that 
little could be seen; the beast was a grand old fellow, 
but his motions were so snaky, and the light so bad, 
that it is no wonder that he was missed.. A curious 
fact is that he deliberately seized and carried off the 
pig in the face of a rapid fire. 
The sportsmen went home sadly. On the next day, 
a beat of the surrounding cover was made, but no 
tiger was seen, the bushes were very dense, and the 
beaters terrified and lazy. It is next to impossible to 
make them keep line or go well into cover. The army 
presented a grotesque appearance, every weapon im- 
aginable being carried, even an executioner's sword 
and the dummy pikes and halberts usually seen in 
front of yamens; gongs and kerosene tins being beaten 
as an accompaniment to the deafening howls of the 
mob. . 
On returning to the rest-house the tiger was reported 
