854 
my course as many traps and sticks as I could .carry 
without increasing my weight too much, I distributed 
them around the holes. And now lively work com- 
menced. Taking a trap and stick in my hand, while 
under headway, I set the trap, slipped the willow stick 
through the ring of the chain, dropped it on the ice, 
placed the trap in the little cuddy where the rats huddled 
together, and passed on to the next, scarcely making a 
stop. This plan was a successful one. Frequently, be- 
fore I reached the next hole, a rat would be caught in the 
trap I had just left, and, diving into the water, would be 
brought up at the length of the chain by the stick sliding 
across the hole, and in this condition would soon drown 
himself. I now had as much business as I could attend 
to, taking out the game, re-setting my dozen traps, carry- 
ing the game to the land, etc. You may be sure I played 
back and forth in a lively manner. I, however, dis- 
covered that the ice became much weakened by passing 
over it several times. Consequently I was under the 
necesitsy of moving to new places occasionally, to avoid 
breaking through. In fact, I found were was only a 
small part of the marsh where the ice was sufficiently 
strong to hold me up at all ; and the weather, moderating 
after the middle of the day, weakened the ice so much 
that I fell through several times, getting my clothes wet 
and boots full of water; which &o much increased my 
weight that I was soon obliged to abandon the field alto- 
gether. I had, however, by this time secured a good 
pile of rats, and, on the whole, had had one of the most 
exciting day's sport I ever' enjoyed. 
*1 he weather now continued to moderate, and there 
were evident signs of the breaking up of winter, and the 
opening of spring. In two or three days from this time, 
wild ducks and geese began to gather about the marshes. 
I now began active preparations for a spring's campaign 
of trapping. During the winter two small trapping boats 
had been made, and a tent, camp kettles, and other "fix- 
ings" had been got in readiness; and on about the 
twentieth of February, in company with E., I set out. 
We launched our little crafts and commenced the cam- 
paign by scattering over the marsh one hundred and tea 
steel traps, with open jaws, ready for the fur-clad in- 
habitants. The weather being favorable and the water 
steady, we made havoc among the muskrats and minks ; 
and as this was a noted place for game, especially for 
musk rat, mink, and raccoon, we soon had competition in 
the business. In the course of three or four days three 
other trappers stopped in the same vicinity, and com- 
menced operations. But as they were strangers from a 
distance, we had decidedly the advantage, as we under- 
stood the ground, having previously pretty thoroughly 
reconnoitered the marshes in this section. The game 
being plenty, we found work enough to keep us busy, and 
for several succeeding days caught more rats than we 
could find time through the day to skin. 
However, our good success was of comparatively short 
duration. In the course of ten or fifteen days we found 
ourselves confronted by a pretty serious difficulty in the 
way of successful operations. As the previous summer 
had been remarkable for its long continuous rains and 
great flood, we now had the opposite state of things — 
continuous dry weather; and having had scarcely any 
rain the fall previous, nor snow during the winter, spring 
found the water in the rivers and marshes unusually low. 
As the weather continued fair, the March winds dried 
up the marshes so fast that we soon found it difficult to 
get around with our boats, and finally were obliged to 
leave them altogether and take to the rivers in order to 
continue our sport. We now found our chance for sport 
much reduced. The high water the previous spring and 
summer, overflowing the river banks for so long a time, 
either prevented the rats breeding, or drowned their 
young, so that we found the game rather scarce. We, 
however, ascended the Auxplaines River some twenty 
or thirty miles. Our way was to string our traps along 
the banks, three or four miles at a setting, and then re- 
turn to camp. The next day we would overhaul and re- 
set, if we found the game plenty enough to warrant it. 
If not, we would take up the traps and make another 
stretch, and so on. 
On returning several days subsequently to our old hunt- 
ing grounds, we found the muskrats had somewhat re- 
covered from the fright we had given them by our 
sudden and terrible onslaught, and had returned from the 
inaccessible parts of the marsh to which they had fled 
for refuge, and we made several more successful sets. 
The weather had now become mild, and the marshes 
literally swarmed with ducks and geese and other water 
fowl. Anyone not familiar with this section of country 
can have no idea of the numbers of water fowl that 
gather about these lakes and marshes in the spring and 
fall of the year. As we moved about in our little boats 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
among the tall reeds and flags of the marsh, our firearms 
were always at hand, ready to bring down a duck or a 
goose that happened to pass within reach. We fared 
sumptuously every day. Our daily bill of fare consisted 
of roast goose, roast duck, prairie chicken, plover, pike, 
bass, _ catfish, bullheads, etc., together with coffee, hard 
biscuit, butter, and occasionally a meal of duck and 
goose eggs* This was what we called high living ; and 
as we seldom found time for more than two meals a day, 
we were prepared to dispatch them with a relish that no 
one but a trapper can realize. 
E. did not seem to enter into the business with as 
much enthusiasm as myself, and having a family in the 
city, frequently found occasion to go home, and some- 
times stayed away two or three days. This made the 
work not quite so pleasant for me. as I enjoyed the sport 
much better when we were together. However, I got 
along very well; and the croaking of frogs, the peeping 
of lizards, quacking of ducks and geese, crowing of 
prairie chickens, the loud cries of the great sandhill 
cranes, and the almost incessant howling and yelping of 
prairie wolves, were all music to my ears. On the whole, 
I enjoyed the situation exceedingly. 
One day as I was pushing my little boat along through 
the tall reeds, I saw at a distance something unusual on 
the top of a muskrat house. As it was lying flat, almost 
hidden from view, I at first sight took it to be an otter, 
as we had killed one some time previous near the same 
place. As usual at the sight of game, my rifle Was. quick 
as thought brought to bear, and away sped^ the bullet, 
and over tumbled a large wild goose, making a great 
splashing as she fell into the water. On examination I 
found she had a nest of seven eggs, all fresh. The 
goose weighed fourteen pounds and a half. The same day 
I found another nest with several eggs, and took them to 
a farmer who was anxious to get them to hatch "at the 
halves." He placed the eggs under a hen; but a few 
days before they were ready to hatch, my ever-present 
enemy, the skunk, ate up the hen, eggs and all, to the 
great sorrow and indignation of the farmer. He said the 
young geese would have been worth five dollars a pair. 
The weather still continued dry, and as we did not find 
game very plenty in the rivers, we concluded to wind 
up the trapping business, after having spent about six 
weeks in steady employment. We now collected our 
furs, and found we had caught seven hundred muskrats, 
sixty minks, a number of raccoons, and one otter; for 
which we found a ready market at good prices. Thus 
ended my first and most interesting trapping campaign. 
Sit Walter Raleigh. 
New Glasgow, N. J., Dec. 17. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: In your issue of last week a correspondent 
wrote : 
"Long years ago," as far back as the days of Sir Walter Raleigh, 
that noble gentleman (if I remember correctly) came with a 
colony and settled upon Roanoke Island. There they found a 
race of friendly Indians, with whom they lived on amicable terms. 
After a bit, however, Sir Walter sailed away again, leaving about 
a hundred settlers and the friendly Indians, and promising soofl 
to return. But all things did not turn out as Sir Walter anti- 
cipated, and he was prevented from returning by . sortie slight 
inconvenience in the way of having his head chopped off 'or some 
other little difference of opinion between himself and the good 
Queen Bess. 
"Queen Bess" did not chop the head off Sir Walter 
Raleigh. The brutal deed was ordered by one of the 
Stuarts who succeeded her. Raleigh was long kept a 
prisoner, and during that time daily taught one of the 
King's sons, a very bright ladj who unfortunately died 
young, the science of navigation and war. The boy ex- 
claimed to an associate one day: "No man but my 
father would keep such a man as Sir Walter in a cage." 
It was done, and Sir Walter executed at the behest of 
Spain; and I can assure you that British subjects every- 
where rejoiced when your country kicked her off this 
continent forever. James A. Fraser. 
Codd's Curious Defenses. 
An interesting book might be written on the subject of 
"Curious Defenses." 
One excellent instance is supplied here in what was 
known as "Codd's Puzzle." Codd was defending a client 
accused of stealing a duck. He set up seven defenses: 
(1) The accused bought the duck and paid for it; (2) he 
found it; (3) it was given to him; (4) it flew into his 
garden; (5) it was put in his pocket while he slept; (6) 
and (7) are not recorded ; but an amicus curice suggested 
that there never was any duck at all. The accused was 
acquitted, not "because they choose any particular de- 
fense, but because they did not know which to choose, 
and so gave the prisoner the benefit of the doubt." — 
Spectator. 
IDbc. 31, 1904, 
Maryland Ducking: Watefs. 
Stockton, Md., Dec. 17, —Editor Forest and Stream: 
The wildfowl shooting at this , poiqt has been .somewhat 
disappointing this season. The Shooting on the early 
birds in November was very fair, but the weather has 
been extremely mild, the birds keeping further north. 
Lately we have had an extreme change in the shape of a 
blizzard, and the inland waters are all frozen, making 
it difficult t0 get out; however, the large bay is open, and 
the shoals are covered with myriads Of geese, brant, red- 
heads, broadbills, etc., and the outlook is very good. The 
redhead shooting is very fine here at times. We have 
enough geese to furnish shooting for half the United 
States, but the old fellows are very wary, and few are 
brought to bag. Mr. O. D. Foulks, who is the only one 
here who is taking, gUhners this year, has been booked 
up full all season, his people meeting with varying suc- 
cess. There has been very little weather suitable for 
battery work, but both his batteries are in constant de- 
mand. Among the prominent sportsmen visiting here this 
season are Messrs. Nelson, Cantrell. Woolman, Bailey, 
Laurent, Caie, Clarke, and Dr. Sherbourne Dougherty, 
of Philadelphia; Mr, Barker, of M.ilfotd, Dela ware ; 
Messrs. Anderson andStOut, of New York; Col. Ripley. 
Rutland, V t ; Mr,, Fjaccus. Pittsburg. Pa..; Granville 
Leeds and Mt Wells, Rancocas, N. ).; Mr. Buzbv, Vin- 
centown, N. J.; Mr. Jones, Morristown, N, J. Gentle- 
men sportsman all, and I think a fair example of the 
class of men from which the ranks of the sportsmen of 
America are recruited. We read much about pot-hunting 
and would-be sportsmen, but our experience here has 
been more fortunate, and I can safely say. after years of 
experience, that the average sportsman is a good citizen, 
ah upright gentleman, and a representative American. 
Long may he live to enjoy the sport that is due him. 
W. H. Ocker. 
The Oka pi. 
Some interesting notes have recently been published in 
the geographical journals of Europe on the exploraiions 
of Dr. David in the Congo forests and on the western 
slope of the Ruwenzori Mountains. 
Dr. David appears to have been the first European to 
have had a good view of the okapi in life, and to have 
secured one with his own gun. Heretofore our only 
knowledge of this strange animal has been from speci- 
mens brought in by the natives ; but Dr. David saw it in 
life, and we have thus a clear description of its physical 
characters and general appearance. It is not strange, 
then. that, according to Dr. David, the specimens of the 
okapi_ which have been mounted in Belgium and Great 
Britain have been incorrectly set up. The effort, if we 
may judge from the illustration, appears to have been to 
make them as horse-like as possible, since the stripes 
suggest the zebra, or else to model them so as to look like 
antelope; 
According to Dr. David, the okapi, although it is a 
ruminant, resembles in its carriage and manner of walk 
a tapir, rather than art antelope, The stripes are much 
narrower than those of the zebra, and are almost all 
double, the black lying within the white. The back is 
reddish, the mane erect, and the ears very long. The 
animal stands as tall as a small horse, say four or five 
feet. Some specimens of both sexes bear horns, while 
others are entirely without them, and it is therefore sus- 
pected that there are two species. 
Tanawadeh Outing Club. 
The ninth annual meeting of the Tanawadeh Outing 
Club was held at their club house at Pelham Bay Park, 
New York, December 18. The following officers were 
elected for the year 1905 : President, J. Frank Case; 
Vice-President, F. James Reilly; Secretary, Harry V. 
Radford; Treasurer, Joseph B. Hanfr The club during 
the past two years covered by the able administration 
of the retiring president, Mr. F. James Reilly. has made 
the most rapid progress in its history; the most notable 
event being the erection of a substantial and commodious 
club house on the shore of the beautiful Pelham Bay. 
For nine years the members of this organization have 
encamped each summer in the Adirondacks or some other 
forested region, and in addition to the summer outings 
have engaged in numerous side trips exclusively for 
hunting and fishing. Besides the sports of the wilder- 
ness, the club also patronizes canoeing, yachting, snow- 
shoeing, trapshooting, rifle and pistol practice, and cross- 
country riding and walking. 
More Literature Desired. 
Mr. Mallory's complaint that our salt-water game fish 
do not receive a fair proportion of attention from writers 
on fish and fishing is, perhaps, well founded. Strong, 
vigorous and gamy as they are, they have, in a measure, 
failed to arouse the inspiration which is felt in follow- 
ing the meanderings of the beautiful trout stream^ 
through woodlands and meadows, or in casting the fly 
on the pools of the picturesque mountain rivers in quest 
of the princely salmon. " 'Tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis 
'tis true" our salt-water game fish have not received the 
degree of attention from writers they deserve, and ] 
hope that, in these "piping times of peace," when rods, 
reels and flies are packed away for the winter, our 
brothers of the angle will fill to overflowing the columns 
of this paper, and that the Captain will lead them off 
Fish Chat. 
BY EDWARD A. SAMUELS. 
Gamy Salt Water Fish. 
Forest and Stream for December 10 has just come to 
hand, and I find it, like all its predecessors, replete with 
all the good things that sportsmen delight in. In the 
communications, which are more than ordinarily interest- 
ing to me, is that from C. H. Mallory; brief as it is — 
much too brief, I am sorry to say — it contains in a con- 
densed form fruits of the Captain's experiences in salt- 
water fishing which would furnish a text for more than 
one elaborate article for the entertainment of his brother 
anglers. What a pity it is that Mr. Mallory's business 
responsibilities are so great that they prevent him from 
putting on paper stories of the thrilling encounters he 
has had with his prime favorite the striped bass or rock- 
fish. There is hardly another angler living who has fol- 
lowed that fish as long and perseveringly as has the Cap- 
tain, and no one could write more understanding^ and 
from actual experience than he can ; and the barracouda 
or barracuta ! If Mr. Mallory would furnish to the 
readers of Forest and Stream as entertaining an account 
of this splendid game fish as he gave me one afternoon 
last summer, I have no doubt there are many anglers 
who would "on with a new love," betake themselves to 
the tackle stores for a suitable outfit, pack their grips, 
and start for the regions where barracouta abound. And 
the kingfish also ; the Captain can tell us more of that in- 
domitable fighter than any other angler with whom I 
am acquainted, and I wish very much he would, with pen 
and ink, tell his fellow-sportsmen such stories as he can, 
for they would interest them one and all, 
