I Jan. 14, igo%\ 
I 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
81 
related the results obtained by a sportsman not twenty 
miles from Worcester, whose modesty prevents my men- 
lioiiing his name at this time. This gentleman was so 
well pleased with the success of his planting of three 
dozen last spring that a week ago he put out eighteen 
dozen. He called at the office yesterday and reported 
that each of the dozen or more lots he liberated is com- 
ing regularly to the feeding boxes, and they afe doing 
well, with the exception of one covey, which has been 
difcovered by the foxes, and he has found the feathers of 
dead birds and other evidence sufficient to prove con- 
clusively that Reynard is the guilty _party. Now he is in 
pursuit of information about trapping, and says he has 
offered $i as a bounty to the man or boy who will bring 
in a fox. 
Mr. Hill, of Altleboro, writes that some short-sighted 
gunners found where some of the birds he freed were in 
the fall and killed quite a number of them. Mr. Comer, 
of Comer's Commercial College, writes a long account pi 
his experiment with the birds, and expresses great satis- 
faction with the result. A few of those who have re- 
ported say they lost all trace of the birds in a few 
days after liberating tliem. Possibly^ they did not keep 
up the supply of food, or, if so, the birds may have been 
frightened away from the locality by foxes or other ene- 
mies. Mr. Louis Morse, of North Attleboro, raised quite 
a number from the eggs this year, and while he lias met 
with some disappointments, he has some of the birds yet, 
and is convinced that the rearing of quail in captivity^ is 
far from being an impossibility. Tlie State Association 
is on the point of sending out cards for posting, calling 
the attention of people to the necessity of feeding the 
birds. It is of the greatest importance to the lovers of 
quail shooting that what birds we now have be sys- 
tematically fed, and that the work of restocking be 
prosecuted with the utmost vigor. CENTRAL. 
BOSTO.I. 
A Sleeping Ducfc* 
While we have been much interested in sbrrle of the 
discussions that have recently tAkeh plate in your colunlns, 
'we have remained sileht, we had, in times gone by* 
our fling on the blaGk fox and the panther scream ques- 
tions; though we will say that we have seen more than 
one black duck asleep. And one time, when we saw at 
least a dozen asleep, we Caught a duCk in such a mantler 
that we believe no one Would aCuse us of being a pot- 
hunter, though the duCk was not flying at the time that 
•it was taken> One warm October afternoon we ap- 
proaclied the bank of the east branch of the Missisquoi 
,kiver and saw about one hundred yards above us a flock 
of black ducks asleep ; they were in ati eddy of Stillwater ; 
there was a bunch of cattails near us in the shallow water. 
We picked up among the driftwood a small piece of 
.board and a short stick, and quietly waded out among 
the cattails and stuck the stick down into the water with 
the piece of board on its top, making a tottlish one-legged 
iStooK We sat down on .it with care, and by bending 
down our head we were fairly well covered. We expected 
ft boat to come soon down the river which w'ould wake 
up the ducks and cause them to swim down by us, when 
we would rise up and give them a "right and left" — after 
they took wang, of course. The day was warm and the 
boat did not appear; we got in a slight doze, when — • 
splash! We have a dim recollection of seeing the fright- 
ened ducks flying away as we emptied the water out of 
our pockets, and tried to do the same out of our boots, 
which gave us, if anything, a wetter back. We were 
soon over at Goose Bay and in the canoe paddling for 
camp and a hot fire. Ugh ! It is a mystery how water 
can be so cold on such a warm afternoon. 
Stanstead. 
The D«ck Shooting Practice. 
'■Editor Fm-est and Stream: 
Your editorial on the duck swatting question makes me 
think of a story old man Bassford tells. 
l!i»o'ceiving a letter from Rev. Father Murphy to call on 
hini in connection with the plans for the building^ of a 
new church, and it being the fall of the year, and Father 
Murphy's parish being up country where there was some 
fine duck shooting, old man Bassford took his gun along. 
When Saturday night came around and the plans were all 
agreed upon and old man Bassford had had three or four 
aays of fine duck shooting, they spent a sociable Saturday 
night together at the parish residence, it being understood 
that Mr. Bassford would remain over Sunday and attend 
church and listen to Father Murphy's sermon. At the 
conclusion of the services, and before the congregation 
was dismissed. Father Murphy arose and delivered him- 
self about as fellows : 
"I would like to say to this congregation that we are 
about to form a timprance society, and I would desire that 
all interested would keep their sates and remain after the 
sarvices. Now I want it distinctly understood that the 
forming of this timprance society is not for the purpose 
of making war on the saloon-keepers, nor is it intended to 
prevent those wantin' a drink gettin' it when they want it, 
but it's for the good of iverybody." 
Afterward at the dinner table Bassford remarked, "That 
was a queer temperance sermon you were giving us this 
morning." To this Father Murphy, with a twinkle in his 
eye, replied: "Wasn't that an illigant shtraddle?" 
Charles Cristadoro. 
[We do not see the application of this. We did not 
discuss the merits of the duck shooting question, nor 
ittempt to consider the pros and cons. We simply stated 
facts as to the preva.iling duck shooting practice.] 
California Sale and Bag Limit. 
San Francisco, Cal. — Much interest is now being 
laken in this State on the qnestion of prohibiting the sale 
of game. An effort in this direction will be made at 
he coming session of the Legislature. Should it be suc- 
:essful, we will be sure of an abundance of game in Cali- 
fornia for a great many years. There is also a growing 
lisposition to further limit the individual bag— a most 
kvise thing to do. Stirely two dozen birds of any kind 
::r fifty ircin per tiay arc enough for any man's rational 
The" Texas Duck Law. 
An Interesting Corf espondence. 
[copy.] ' 
New YokK, Dec. 31, 1904.— Mr. T. I. Anderson, General 
Passenger Agent Southern Pacific Railroad Company, 
Houston, Texas: My Dear Sir — I have just received, 
through the courtesy of Prof. H. P. Attwater, a copy of 
the resolutions of the Business Men's League, of Rock- 
port, Texas, the letter of Mr. Geo. P. Lupton, G. P. A., 
S. A. & A. P. Ry., and your reply to the latter. 
Personally and officially, in behalf of the National Asso- 
ciation of Audubon Societies, I beg to convey to you my 
thanks for your admirable and able letter. Your letter 
clearly states the reasons why the present excellent game 
law of Texas should not be repealed or altered, and it 
forcibly points out the inevitable results of such short- 
sighted action. The resolutions of the Business Men's 
League seem to be conceived in selfishness, as they de- 
mand for a restricted class a privilege that will entail 
loss on the balance of the citizens of Texas. The circular 
letter of Mr. Lupton is not in line with the policy of ad- 
vanced railroad management, as it suggests a sure method 
of game extermination, thereby removing a great attrac- 
tion from Texas, and as a result a diminished passenger 
traffic. Unwise laws in the past have permitted the un- 
limited slaughter of all kinds of game, principally for 
niarkets and cold storage, and as a consequence game 
birds and animals have been largely reduced in numbers. 
By conservative and wise legislation, such as the present 
law of Texas, which the Business Men's League seeks to 
modify, game will increase in your State, and will thus at- 
tract tourists within its borders, and a twofold benefit will 
be derived : first from the money distributed by the travel- 
ing^ sportsmen, and secondly, that many of them may be 
so impressed by scenery, healthfulness, and general pos- 
sibilities of the State that they will remain permanently, 
and thus add to the wealth and citizenship of the Com- 
monwealth. 
The National Association of Audubon Societies stands 
first, last, and all the time for the preservation of game 
of all kinds, and alsO' for the protection of the birds that 
Cannot be Considered game, but are the means provided 
by nature to check the ravages of insect life, of which the 
boll weevil may be cited as a striking example. 
Again thanking you for your correct and advanced 
stand in the mterest, not only of your corporation, but of 
your State, I am most sincerely and truly yours, 
(Signed) Wm. Dutcher, 
. President N. A. A. Societies. 
[copy.] 
The Galveston, Harrisburg/ and San Antonio Rail- 
way Company.— Houston, Texas, Dec. 27, 1904.— Mr. 
Geo. F, Lupton, G. P. A., S. A. & A. P. Ry., San An- 
tonio, Texas: Dear Sir^ — I beg to acknowledge receipt of 
your letter of the 19th inst. to General Passenger Agents, 
file 14335, giving copy of resolutions of the Business 
Men's League, of Rockport, Texas, in reference to the 
game law of Texas. 
I regret that I cannot agree with you in indorsing the 
resolutions passed by the Business Men's League of Rock- 
port, asT feel that the present law is equitable and just. 
To modify this law in accordance with these resolutions, 
it would .seem to me a step backward, and it would not 
be long before we would have to call on the State Legisla- 
ture to pass another law prohibiting the slaughtering of 
game by the wholesale. Any bonafide hunter should be 
satisfied with the present law, which enables him to go 
out and slaugbler twenty-five ducks a day, which number 
should last an ordinary family a week, and anyone not 
satisfied with this law, it would seem to me, are going out 
purely for the purpose of slaughtering game and shipping 
for other purposes than for which the present law con- 
templates. We advertise Texas now as a great place for 
sportsmen, where they can find game and fish, and unless 
\vc protect this game in some way, we will soon have to 
withdraw our advertising matter and notify sporting men 
that they had better seek a more prolific hunting and 
fishing ground. Yoiu's very truly, 
(Signed) T. J. Anderson, G. P. A. 
[copy.] 
San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 21, 1904. — General Passenger 
Agents, Texas Lines: Gentlemen — Knowing that each 
general passenger agent is interested in tourist and ex- 
cursion business, I beg to call your attention to the Texas 
game laws as they now exist, which prohibit the shipping 
of game out of the State, or to points within the State, 
except when accompanied by the party who killed it, and 
then only in very small quantities. 
At a ineeting of the Business Men's League of Rock- 
port, the following resolutions were adopted : 
"Whereas, It has come to the notice of the Business 
Men's League that under the present game law permitting 
the killing of twenty-five wild ducks, geese, brant or other 
water fowls by any person in one day, that many have 
availed themselves of this right and have killed said num- 
ber, or limit, day after day; that, owing to the restriction 
of the law, they are not permitted to take with them, nor 
ship to their homes, more than twenty-five fowls so killed; 
that in consequence many thousands of these fowls so 
killed are allowed to go to waste, as no disposition can be 
made of them. This being, in our opinion, a feature of 
the law that should be changed, and which is inconsistent, 
unreasonable, and unfair to our citizens, if is, upon mo- 
tion, unanimously resolved by the Business Men's League 
of the city of Rockport, that our State Senators and 
Representatives be urgently requested to take such steps 
as may seem expedient so as to amend the present game 
law as follows : 
"First— That any person killing twenty-five or less wild 
ducks, geese or brant, shall be permitted, upon his filing 
an affidavit that he ha& Aot killed nor offered for shipment, 
more than the limit, etc., as prescribed by the present law, 
to offer same for shipment to his home, or other point 
within the State of Texas, and that he shall be relieved 
from accompanying said shipment. 
"Second — That any person who shall for several days 
prefer to hold his wildfowl as above described, and who 
shall niake affidayit that he has not exceedeid the limit as 
prescribed by law, and that he has not purchased any of 
the wildfowl so offered for shipment, and that he will ac- 
company the same, shall be permitted to_ take same to his 
home, or other place desired, whether within the State of 
Texas or elsewhere, as he may desire, and all railway 
and express companies are authorized to receive and 
transport such shipments to destination as directed, when 
accompanied with the affidavit as above set out." 
We heartily indorse the action of the Rockport busi- 
ness men, and would respectfully request that you interest 
yourselves in this measure, in order that we may have the 
law so amended that it will carry out the ideas as sug- 
gested by the Rockport Business League. 
I would be very glad to have replies sent to me, and if 
you are in favor of the measure, kindly intimate it, and 
we will have the bill drafted and presented through you 
to your Representative, so that it may be passed by the 
next session of our Legislature. 
Please advise if I may use your name in sending out, 
through you, a joint circular letter to the different Texas 
Representatives embodying the above ideas. I would 
thank you to give this matter prompt attention. Yours 
truly, (Signed) Geo. P. Lupton. 
[copy.] 
Houston, Texas, Dec. 31. — Mr, Geo. F. Lupton, A. G. 
P. A., S. A. &■ A. P. Ry: Dear Sir — I beg to acknowl- 
edge receipt of your letter of the 2gth, No. 14335. Have 
read your circular carefully, noted particularly and under- 
stand it thoroughly. 
Referring to the third paragraph of your letter, I beg 
to call your attention to the point wherein ycu state that 
any person killing the legal number (twenty-five) of 
ducks, geese or brant shall be allowed to ship them to 
his home or other point within the State of Texas without 
being required to accompany the shipment. This is the 
point on which I beg to differ with you and those who 
passed the resolutions at Rockport; for just so soon as 
you allow a man to go out and kill twenty- five ducks a 
day and ship them to his home or any other point, just so 
soon that man is going to ship ducks for other purposes 
than for his own use or that of his friends ; but to make 
the matter plainer, he w'ill go out and slaughter game and 
ship same to dealers for profit. This is what I object to, 
and while I cannot expect all of the General Passenget- 
Agents to agree with me in my opinion on this proposi- 
tion, yet if this matter is passed on by a majority in favor 
of the resolutions, I shall do all in my power to secure all 
the outside influence possible to defeat the modification 
of this law one jot or tittle. T. J. Anderson, G. P. A. 
[copy.] 
San Antonio, Texas. Dec. 29, 1904. — Mr. T. J. Ander- 
son, G. P. A. S. P.: Dear Sir — I am sorry that you 
cannot see your way clear to agree with us. I hardly 
think that you have carefully read the proposed amend- 
ment, else you would see that we had not advocated any 
change in the laws whereby it would enable hunters to 
slaughter more game. 
Briefly told, the Rockport people propose to amend the 
laws so that any person killing the legal number (twenty- 
five) of ducks, geese or brant shall be allowed to ship 
them to his home, or other point within the State of 
Texas, without being required to accompany said ship- 
ment; all of this, of course, to be done only upon the 
party making an affidavit that he has not killed nor 
offered for shipment any more than the limit — twenty- 
five. 
We think this is a very good amendment, for the simple 
reason that a great many sportsmen have complained that 
they are perfectly satisfied to not kill over twenty-five 
ducks per day, but they would like to have the privilege 
of shipping them to their homes, or perhaps, in a few 
instances, to their northern friends, so that the northern 
sportsmen can be induced to visit our section of the 
country rather than northern and eastern hunting grounds. 
In plainer words, we do not favor any change in the 
law except as indicated in the resolutions. You might 
say that this privilege .would be abused and that people 
would ship them to other points in the State and outside 
of the State for sale. I do not agree with you on this 
point, simply because if a man did it he would easily be 
caught and severely dealt with according to law, and it 
w^ould not take very long to do it. We do not believe 
that any gentleman sportsman would abuse the privilege, 
and if the "scalawags" attempted to do it, they would soon 
receive the full legal penalty. Every thorough sportsman 
would see that the guilty party would be punished. I 
hope you caii see your way clear to indorse the move- 
ment. Geo. F. Lupton. 
Extracts from the new Texas game law, known as the bird law, 
July 1, 1903: 
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas: 
All the wild deer, wild antelope, wild Rocky Mountain sheep, wild 
turkeys, wild ducks, wild geese, wild grouse, wild prairie chickens 
(pinnated grouse), wild Mongolian or English pheasant, wild quail 
or partridges, wild doves, wild pigeons, wild plover, wild snipe, 
wild jacksnipe, and wild curlews, and all other wildfowl found 
within the borders of this State, shall be, and the same are, here- 
by declared to be the property of the public. 
Sec. 9. * * * It shall be unlawful for any person at any time 
to kill or destroy more than twenty-five of the birds or fowl 
mentioned in Section 1 of this act, in any one day. * * * 
Sec. 10. It shall be unlawful for any express company, railroad 
company or other common carrier, or the officers, agents, ser- 
vants, or employes of the same, to receive for the purpose of 
transportation, or to transport, carry, or take beyond the limits 
of this State, or within this State, except as hereinbefore provided, 
any wild animal, bird or water fowl mentioned in Section 1 of 
this act. * * * 
Sec. 11. * * * Nothing in this act shall be construed to pro- 
hibit the transportation and shipment of any of the game birds 
or wild fowls mentioned in Section 1 of this act, when lawfully 
taken or killed, from the place of shipment to the home of the 
person who killed the same; provided, the person who killed said 
game, birds or fowls shall accompany said game birds or fowls 
on the same train, or common carrier, from the point of shipfnent 
to said point of destination. 
Mr* Wm. A. Dotcher's Gwnments. 
One very important reason why the present excellent 
wildfowl law in Texas should not be repealed or altered 
in any way, may ht found in Bulletin No. 113, United 
States Department of Agriculture, "Irrigation of Rice in 
the United States." This bulletin is devoted largely to 
the rice growing induslfcy in Louisiana and Texas, in both 
of which States this important agricultural interest is the 
source of much profit and is rapidly expanding. In tl^e 
