'30 
FOREST 
STREAM. 
(Jan, 14, 1905. 
Northern Pennsylvania Game Notes. 
• 
Sayre, Pa., Jan, 2. — ^The game season which closed re- 
cently in this State left a goodly remnant of both feather 
and fur for restocking in the covers hereabouts. As 
stated in these columns some weeks ago, there was an 
average supply of ruffed grouse in some neighboring 
covers and something less than average in others ; but on 
the whole, local gunners are agreed that quite as many 
grouse were shot the past season as the season preceding 
furnished. 
In New York State covering the territory between 
Ithaca and Sayre, plenty of good grouse shooting was 
to be had despite the fact that a gentleman from Elmira 
intimated recently that my forecast as to the grouse sup- 
ply in the vicinity of Van Etten, Spencer, and West Danby 
and adjacent covers was erroneous. Trustworthy advices 
from Spencer and Van Etten report that shooting men 
acquainted with the country and with the requisite powers 
of endurance to forage over the declivitous "lay of land," 
were able to secure in a day's tramp satisfactory bags of 
the noble game. Personally I know of six grouse having 
been shot during a five hours' tramp in a rough reach of 
cover bordering Van Etten and Spencer. While this is 
not a large score, as some men count scores, it is suffi- 
ciently substantial to prove that the wily grouse has not 
entirely perished from the face of the earth in a section 
peculiarly adapted to its preservation. At West Danby 
and at Newfield, the latter village only six miles removed 
from Ithaca, were rare good points to secure some good 
grouse shooting, and at Newfield Station, a few days be- 
fore the closing of the New York grouse season, a party 
boarded a Lehigh Valley night train with the finest dis- 
play of grouse, bagged amid the Newfield hills, that was 
taken in to the University City during the past season. 
The season closed with a nice supply of birds in good con- 
dition to weather the winter, which up to this writing has 
been exceptionally favorable for the birds. 
Of woodcock there is but little to write. Some fine 
bags of flight birds were reported, but these were not 
plenty enough to warrant the belief that the birds are 
increasing in numbers. In connection with this subject 
of woodcock, it is worth while to note that Dr. Joseph 
Kalbfus, secretary of the State Board of Game Commis- 
sioners, in his annual report suggests what your corre- 
spondent has for some time and repeatedly in these 
columns favored, namely, the abolishment of summer 
shooting of woodcock. This would at least furnish some 
practical and worthy help toward conserving and increas- 
ing the woodcock supply. 
Gray squirrels were about up to the average in numbers 
the past season in most local sections at least. It is the 
consensus of opinion that the season on this game should 
open at least two weeks earlier than at present. 
Rabbits, like the poor, we have always with us, which 
is an encouraging prospect, after all, for without poor, 
simple little "bunny" most of us who like to get a day's 
fun without going to a far country would be in a sorry 
plight, indeed. It is really wonderful where the seemingly 
inexhaustible supply of these little spry-footed animals 
comes from. The slaughter over all the State has been 
enormous the past season, and yet there remains^ in most 
sections, at any rate, ample seed for next season's needs. 
With practically every man's hand raised against him dur- 
ing the open season— and who shall say that same hand is 
not raised against him during all the seasons in the "back 
country," where only the faint rumble of the game law's 
machinery is heard?— Bre'r Cottontail survives with the 
tenacity of a Salem witch tale, and promises, despite the 
wiles of the high priests of the shooting fraternity, to 
multiply and replenish the earth. For which cause, among 
many, we have reason to be happy in these first glad days 
of the new year. M. Chjll. 
Early Use of Colt's Revolvers. 
Editor Forest and Stream,': 
In a recent number of Mr. George Bird Grinnell's very- 
interesting series of contributions, "Trails of the Path- 
finders" ( Forest and Stream of December 10) , he says : 
"The party just setting out were well armed with Colt's 
repealing rides and revolvers," etc., and further on he 
quotes Gregg as saying "* * * percussion guns are 
preferable upon the prairies, particularly for those who 
understand their use." This was in 1839, and I think 
about fifteen years before the Colt's revolver came into 
use, when even the "percussion gun" was a novelty. It 
is my impression that the Colt's repeating rifle was also 
a novelty as late as about i860. If wrong about these 
impressions, I shall gladly "stand corracted. ' 
.Coahoma. 
This having been referred to Mr. Grinnell, he wrote as 
follows: ^ , ^ , 
New York, Dec. 29.— Editor Forest and Stream: 1 am 
glad to read Coahoma's criticism of the instalment of 
"Trails of the Pathfinders" printed in Forest and Stream 
of December 10, and to acknowledge a slight inaccuracy of 
language which is perhaps misleading. Jhe words "the 
party j ust setting out were well armed with Colt's repeat- 
ing rifles and revolvers" should read "the leaders of the 
party just setting out," etc. _ 
At the date mentioned the average Amencan, if scout 
or trapper, carried a "long rifle," while teamsters and 
others who traveled as a part of the wagon train, were 
provided with muskets, loaded with the traditional "buck 
and ball." , , , 
Gregg's precise language is: "My brother and myself 
were each provided with one of Colt's repeating rifles 
and a pair of pistols of the same make, so that we could, 
if necessary, carry thirty-six ready loaded shots apiece." 
This was careless writing on the part of Gregg, since the 
two men would seem to have had but eighteen shots 
apiece, or thirty-six in all. 
The repeating arms spoken of were then absolutely new. 
Colt's first patent for a revolver was dated February, 
1836. It had no number. The revolving rifles are said 
to have been manufactured in 1836. But there is some 
reason to believe that the revolver came into use much 
earlier in the southwest than elsewhere, and we believe 
there is a tradition that during the late '30s a company 
of Texas rangers was armed with these pistols — and pos- 
sibly also with the revolving rifles — which proved so 
effective as military weapons that the fame of the arm 
spread, and its popularity at once became great. 
It must be remembered that Gregg as a successful 
trader was a man of substance — one who could afford the 
best that was in the market ; and further, that no part of 
a man's equipment was more important than his firearms. 
A man would no more economize on his firearms or am- 
munition then, than- — twenty-five years later — a cowboy 
vould economize on his saddle. 
_ Gregg's book was published in 1844, and I have pre- 
cisely quoted his language. I submit the matter to Coa- 
homa for such modification of his impressions as the facts 
may call for. 
All this happened a long time ago, and our ideas and 
impressions about particular occurrences which took place 
before we were born are likely to be vague enough. I 
should be glad to have my own set right as to many points 
with regard to the time at which various improved arms 
came into use. George Bird Grinnell, 
Woodcock and Ducks. 
Prince Edward Island.— ZTt^iYor Forest and Stream: 
A friend sends me occasionally copies of Forest and 
Stream, and I find much interesting reading in them, as 
I have been much attached to the rod and gun since early 
boyhood, now over fifty years ago. We have quite a 
variety of game on our island Province, including wild 
goose, brant, black ducks, woodcock, English snipe, par- 
tridge, golden and many other varieties of plover. We 
have also the black bear, fox, mink, otter, muskrat, and 
hares in abundance. 
I like the woodcock shooting best, but the snipe and 
black duck make almost equally as good. In the late fall, 
on a calm morning after a white frost has fallen-, the 
sound of the woodcock's wings as he starts from the nose 
of your Gordon setter, makes pleasant music to the 
sportsman's ear. If one happens to strike the cover when 
they have collected for their flight south, which is gen- 
erally about the first of November or immediately after 
a sharp frost, it becomes a very exciting day's sport. I 
have flushed as many as fifty woodcock in a cover at this 
time or season of flight. A few years ago, in beating a 
cover -which was alive with woodcock (the most of which, 
I am sorry to say, made good their escape, as it was my 
off day, and I generally have one or more each season; 
the sportsman who only has an off day every few years 
may count himself lucky indeed), I only bagged about 
one bird to every seventh or eighth shot, and my brother, 
who was shooting with me, had equally poor luck. Wd 
went the next day to redeem lost prestige, but only flushed 
two birds on the whole cover, and one of these had been 
wounded the previous day; probably both were injured, 
or they may have been mates who decided to live or die 
together. We returned from that cover two disappointed 
sportsmen, but consoled ourselves with the idea that we 
were not in any way to blame for the failure to bag more 
game, but that we had been firing damaged cartridges. 
In speaking about off days, I remember on another 
occasion when shooting black duck (or I should say firing 
at them), I had my decoys nicely set waiting for the 
falling tide, when the ducks congregated to feed. I had 
not long to wait until the birds began pouring in and I 
began pouring out. After firing away for several hours 
I counted up my bag and had seven black ducks. I almost 
felt disgraced for life, as a party v/ho had heard of my 
correct shooting hitherto was faithfully recording every 
shot. Fie placed it down as forty shots, and I think he 
was well within the mark. What was particularly mystify- 
ing about it all was that bunches of feathers would come 
with almost every shot. Conditions were somewhat 
against me on this occasion, as the wind was off, and be- 
ing late in the season the birds were fat and strong and 
well feathered. I have always had an idea that I was 
firing damaged powder. I had loaded the shells myself, 
and was probably imposed on by the party who sold me 
the powder. But clear of this, there are occasional days 
in which nearly every shot seems to go home. I generally 
began the day by missing a few good chances ; then a few 
rapid shots discharged without proper care, and unless 
one has the good fortune to make a very fine shot or 
two, the bag for that day is assuredly going to be small. 
But enough about off days. 
I was somewhat amused by some writers asking if 
ducks commit suicide. I do not think that anyone who 
owns a good retriever dog would think of asking such a 
question. I have shot hundreds of ducks and always felt 
sure of my bird if it was not able to take the wing again. 
I remember on one occasion stopping thirteen black ducks 
at one double discharge. At least half of them were 
wounded, and my dog retrieved twelve of them at the 
time, and - 1 believe got the other one later on. I have 
watched their actions very closely, sometimes following 
in a boat; I have seen them go under water and make 
rapidly for the nearest cover, creep under the weeds and 
gain the shrubbery, and generally safety, unless I was 
in possession of a good retriever. 
A few years ago I shot a duck in a small pond which 
was surrounded by marsh and low bushes. The duck went 
under water and I watched the bare edges of the pond 
for his appearance, but he managed to gain the cover 
without being noticed. I had a young dog with me, and ; 
this was to be his first lesson. I let him loose and thought . 
he had got the scent, but after wriggling around in the ; 
low scrubbery for some time, he made oft' across the , 
barren. I felt like calling him in and cuffing him. I be- ■ 
iieve I did call him a fool. However, as he seemed much., 
interested in his work, I let him go on, and, much to my i 
surprise, he located the wounded bird. After that I never; 
called a dog off the scent too hastily. It was certainly j 
surprising to see the distance that duck covered in less : 
than fifteen minutes. If anyone still has the idea thai ^ 
ducks commit suicide, let him get a good duck dog, and 
I think I am safe in saying that he will have a good 1 
account of all his missing birds.^ Robert Jenkins. 
In Massachusetts. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At the meeting of the Massachusetts Fish and Game ■ 
Protective Association, with delegates from sportsmen's • 
clubs of the State, December -29, a resolution drawn by ' 
E. Harold Baynes and presented by I. O. Converse, ask- 
ing President Roosevelt to take action for the preserva- ' 
tion of the buffalo of the United States was unanimously 
adopted. It was as follows : 
"Resolved, That the Massachusetts Fish and Game 
Protective Association most heartily indorses the 
movement now on foot to save the buffalo from extinc- 
tion by having the United States Government purchase 
and maintain on suitable ranges in different parts of the 
country a number of small herds of pure bred animals, 
of this species until they have increased to such an extentt 
that there is no immediate danger of their passing." 
The vote by which the above was adopted represents the; 
opinion not only of the association, but of the delegates 
present frorn^ numerous clubs from various sections of:' 
the State. The entire club membership represented by 
these delegates is several thousand. 
Fortunately we now have a man at the head of the 
Government to whom a case of this kind will appeal very 
strongly, and no one can doubt the President will do ai 
111 his power to save the -small remnant of the Americain 
bison from extinction. 
_ The date fixed for the annual dinner of the State Asso- 
ciation is February 16, and invitations have been ex- 
tended to the fish and game commissioners of the New 
England States and to the various public officials to. 
whom it has been customary to extend the courtesy of an 
invitation. 
^ Last month a new protective club was formed callee. 
"The Berkshire County Fish and Game Protective Asso- 
ciation," composed of prominent men in Adams, Pittsfield. 
Williamstown, Great Barrington, etc. The Secretary is 
iMr. J. M. Van Huyck, of Great Barrington. Judge San- 
born Tenney, of Williamstown, is one of the active men 
on the list of officers. The club is likely to exert a com- 
manding influence in favor of game interests. As your 
readers know, the Berkshire hills and mountains abound 
in game of many kinds, and the streams are noted for 
good trout fishing. 
I have just received a report that Thomas Suttle on 
Friday killed a lynx that weighed 90 pounds near 
"Balance Rock" in Lanesboro. Mr. Suttle's dog barely 
escaped with his life. The animal had been having a long 
Thanksgiving feast from the farmers' chickens, sheep and 
calves. 
The cards sent out by the association urging sportsmen 
Ic feed the quail are bringing many letters,' some of which 
speak of the outlook for quail next year as very gloomy. 
One writer says he knows of but two within five miles 
of his farm, whereas a year ago he is sure there were 
not less than 200 within one mile. Others write more 
encouragingly and tell of several coveys being provided 
with food. 
Ihe call for testimony from sportsmen on the question 
whether or not foxes destroy many quail and partridges 
has brought many replies wliich vary greatly in character. 
Many more letters are expected, and in cue t\mi^ --our 
correspondent will say mere about them. It is too early 
to make a summing up of the tesiimony, but many of the 
letters are "mighty interesting." 
I regret exceedingly to record a very sad accident which 
occurred to-day in Concord, Mass. By the premature 
discharge of a rifle in the hands of Samuel Hoar, the 17- 
year-old son of the late Samuel Hoar, and the grand- 
nephew of the late Senator Hoar, Clarence E. Jones, aged 
16 years, was fatally shot. When the accident occurred, 
the boys, who were bosom friends, were in a canoe on the 
Concord River, near the Minute Man bridge. They had 
been shooting muskrats. Young Hoar had just shot one. 
and while reloading, suddenly the gun went off, and Jones 
fell forward with a groan. Master Hoar paddled with all 
speed for the nearest boat house, and summoned a physi-. 
cian, but young Jones expired before his arrival, the ball, 
from a .32-40 rifle, having passed through the lad's head^. 
Clarence was the son of Mr. Reginald H. Jones, who is 
a member of the well-known banking firm of Blake 
Brothers, Boston. 
Numerous readers throughout the north and east will he 
pleased to learn more about the quail released last spring 
in our State. Should I give all the detads they would 
fill a page. Fifteen dozen were purchased by the town 
of Cohasset, and Mr. Souther, to whom they were sent, 
writes that the experiment was a "complete success." 
Mr. John Foster, of South Hanson, called at the office 
and gave an account of the six pairs which he bought. 
One pair, he says, hatched out eight, another nine, an- 
other twelve. The broods of two pairs got together and 
he counted a covey of fifteen as the result of the com- 
bination. This is certainly a wonderful showing, and, by 
the way, Mr. Foster is a man well known, not only in 
Hanson, but in all the neighboring towns. I have alreadv 
