^76 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
IApril 8, 1905. 
sion in regard to the possibility of running antelope 
down by mounted sportsmen. The stratagem usually 
employed is to surround a bunch of antelope by making 
a wide circle sufficiently large to avoid giving im- 
mediate alarm to . the herd. Several men begin the 
chase by riding toward them from several widely sepa- 
rated points and driving the herd in the direction of 
another group of hunters, who are concealed from sight 
in some depression of the ground. When the herd 
reach the point where the other hunters are con- 
cealed,_ they are pursued by men on fresh mounts. 
Sometimes the herd is scattered and some stray con- 
fused^ animal will try to rejoin the others, and in doing 
so will run straight in the direction of his comrades, 
quite regardless of the closeness of his pursuers. I 
saw one lone distracted animal trying to rejoin the 
herd come within sixty yards of a dismounted hunter, 
who tried to get a shot at it but was prevented by his 
horse straying in front of him and moving in such a 
way _that his aim was cut off until the antelope had 
considerably increased the distance, and then escaped 
the shots fired at it. I was then treated to one of those 
scenes when a cowboy at his very best is giving ex- 
pression to the state of his feelings. 
My time being limited, I was compelled to cut my 
antelope hunt short without having secured a suitable 
trophy, although I had plenty of hard riding and ex- 
citement. On the return trip, as the guide and myself 
sat by the camp-fire, a cowboy joined us who became 
quite companionable and gave us all the news after 
his mind had been sufficiently stimulated by several 
generous pulls at the flask. It appeared that a couple 
of days previously an attempt had been made one night 
to rob the bank at Meeker. Before the robbers could 
accomplish their purpose the citizens "got on" to what 
was taking place and quietly surrounded the building. 
When the men came out they were shot down and 
killed; the ends of justice were thereby satisfied with- 
out the proverbial ' law's delay." The cowboy then told 
me of another bank in which he was a depositor, which 
had been robbed not long before by one of its officers, 
who had gotten off with a considerable sum. I asked 
him what the liabilities were. The word staggered him. 
Although I recognized that he was a man of resources, 
yet I felt sure that I had "stumped him" and felt sorry 
for it. He stared vacantly at the fire a few moments 
and slowly shifted a quid from one side of his mouth 
to the other and sent a long, yellow stream into the 
center of the blaze, which I thought for a moment 
would extinguish it; at length _he_ replied in a leisurely 
way: "Wal, pardner, the liabilities are — if they catch 
him they will hang him." 
Two days afterward I took leave of my guide; I 
felt- as I clasped his great strong hand that the com- 
pression came as much from the heart as the muscles. 
I soon found myself again in civilized surroundings. 
A barber's skill, a warm bath and conventional attire, 
had already wrought a wonderful transformation. As 
I sat in a comfortable seat and looked out of the car 
window, observing the strange and beautiful scenery, 
so continually changing with the rapid rnovement of 
the train, every hour covering a greater distance than 
I could travel with a pack outfit in a day, I felt how 
much easier it was to take it all in this way; no fractious 
horse to control; free from the burning sun, which 
would often shoot down its rays upon one like the 
heat waves from a furnace, and while in the midst of 
this ordeal, the climate would sometimes suddenly 
change with the clouds gathering in the sky and a cold 
wave, perhaps accompanied by a snow storm, would fol- 
low. When I reflect upon my experience in after years, 
the scenery I observed so rapidly, and with no effort re- 
appears to my mind like a blurred photograph as com- 
pared to what I saw while traveling with the pack out- 
fit. The charm of natural scenery grows upon one 
by degrees; whoever thinks that the charm wanes when 
the novelty has worn off is not a true admirer of 
nature. 
Whatever opinion one may entertain of the fore- 
going statement, it is very certain that the sportsman 
cannot gratify his favorite desire and consult his ease 
in all respects. A royal sportsman may afford the 
luxury of having a force of game keepers drive wild 
beasts within range of his rifle,' and imagine that he is 
enjoying the real thing. The average man has no 
such opportunity, and I believe has no reason to regret 
it. The best hunting sections of the country are re- 
mote from settlements, and are generally somewhat 
difficult of access. Game is by no means so plentiful 
now as it was when the country was being opened to 
civilizing influence by the introduction of railroads. It 
is no longer possible for a wealthy man, who likes 
sport without inconvenience and hardship, to have his 
parlor car side-tracked, and to make it a headquarters 
while enjoying the pastime. One is compelled to rough 
it to some extent to obtain success in hunting big 
game at the present time. But after all is that an 
objection? _ Does it not put a keen edge on the sports- 
man's desire? Those hunting incidents which have 
given me the greatest trouble and exercised my skill 
the most are the ones I recall with greatest pleasure. 
, E. F. R. 
Spoft in New Sotith Wales. 
New York, March 29.— Mr. H. E. Brock, Mr. I. Brock, 
of Lawrenny, Hamilton, Tasmania, and Mr. Edward C. 
Officer, of Kallara, New South Wales, were callers at the 
Winchester Repeating Arms Company, 312 Broadway, 
this week, and were shown over the various lines of 
sporting rifles made by them, with which they were very 
familiar, as they have used the guns made by the com- 
pany in their own hunting for many years. 
They are largely interested in sheep raising, Mr. Officer 
partly controlling a sheep run of over 1,000,000 acres in 
New South Wales. They are now on their return to 
Australia, after a trip around the world lasting over a 
year, and say they are more than delighted with what 
ithey have seen thus far in the United States, and will 
visit Niagara Falls, the Grand Caiion of the Colorado in 
Arizona, Los Angeles and other poin.ts in California, and 
sail for Sydney on the 27th of April. 
They are very enthusiastic sportsmen, and the Messrs. 
Brock told of the stocking of the streams of Tasmania 
with the rainbow trout of the far West, and reported that 
the fish are doing well there and bid fair to outrival the 
American fish in their new habitat. They have multiplied 
beyond expectations, and will furnish the finest sport for 
the present and future generations of Tasmanian devotees 
of fishing of any species they have had the pelasure of 
playing up to the present time. 
In sport with a shotgun the sportsmen of New South 
Wales will sometimes make a very mixed bag. Parrots 
are plentiful and difficult t© shoot, as they fly high and 
swift, and it is very hard to stalk them, and the best way 
is to remain under the trees where they have been, as 
sooner or later they will return. After bagging a few 
parrots, one can try for a wallaby, and may get a shot 
while looking for one at a dingo or wild dog, and then 
may run across a bear. Hares abound and are a pest in 
many places. The kangaroo-rat, wombat, opossum, flying 
fox, platy-pus and wild horses are also found in the 
mountain districts. 
In bird land the bronze wing pigeon, wonga-wonga, 
lowry, plover, magpie, cockatoo, kingfisher, gill bird and 
laughing jackass are seen and heard on every hand amid 
a scenic picture that once seen will never be forgotten. 
Legislation at Albany. 
Albani',' April 1.— The following game bills have just been intro- 
duced: ; 
Senator Raines' (Int. No. 796), relative to the marine fisheries 
btate. It takes their supervision from the Forest, Fish 
and Game Commission, and places it in the hands of the super- 
intendent of marine fisheries, who for the next four years shall 
be the present superintendent of shell fisheries. This official shall 
have his office in Manhattan or Brooklyn, and may appoint 
various assistants and protectors. His term of office is to be 
four years, and his compensation $5,000 a year and expenses. The 
proposed act contains extensive provisions for the protection of 
fish and shell fish. 
Assemblyman Knapp's (Int. No. 1365), providing a new section 
to be known as 47a, to provide that no transportation company 
or person shall transport into this State any fish caught in that 
part of Lake Champlam known as Missisquoi Bay, lying in the 
I rovmce of Quebec, on the Richelieu River, which is the outlet 
ot the lake, at any time. A violation of the act is made a mis- 
aemeanor. 
Senator Burr's (Int. No. 84-3), relative to duck shooting on Long 
Island, so as to permit the shooting of wildfowl on Long Island 
on lhursdays,_ Fridays and Saturdays, from March 1 to April 
lo, both inclusive. 
The Assembly Committee on Fish and Game has reported the 
lollowmg bills: 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1076), relative to fishing in 
Jamaica Bay and adjacent waters. 
_ Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1079), relative to the use of nets 
in Coney Island Creek. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1078), relative to the powers of 
game protectors. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1076), relative to grouse and 
woodcock not being sold. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1075), relative to penalties 
A Assembly has advanced to third reading these bills- 
Assemblyman Coutant's (Int. No. 1295), in relation to herring 
nets m the Hudson and Delaware rivers 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1077), relative to the close 
season on woodcock. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Int. No. 1074), relative to grouse and 
woodcock not being sold. 
_ Assemblyman Cunningham's (Int. No. 599), relative to spear- 
ing fish m Ulster county. 
Assemblyman Allen's (Int. No. 1206), relative to the close sea- 
son for trout m Cayuga county. 
The Assembly has passed these bills: 
Assemblyman Hapman's (Int. No. 1103), relative to fishing 
through the ice m Cross Lake, Cayuga county 
Assemblyman Bedell's (Int. No. 1181), limiting the number of 
woodcock grouse and quail that may be taken in Orange county 
Assemblyman Bedell's (Int. No. 1087), relative to selling wood- 
cock, grouse and quail in Orange county. 
Assemblyman Plank's (Int. No. 958), prohibiting the taking of 
pickerel, pike and muskallonge in the St. Lawrence River below 
the city of Ogdensburg from Jan. 1 to April 30, both inclusive 
and elsewhere in the river from Jan. 1 to June 9, both inclusive 
Mi«SME]SranRf(E 
In California Waters. 
Sacramento, Cal., March 23. — Farmers and fishermen 
in this great valley are much rejoiced at the charming 
invoice of spring weather being daily received from the 
fresh stores of Dame Nature. Already the fruit trees 
have cast their blossoms and started upon the serious 
business of growing berries, cherries, peaches, pears, figs 
and such; the busy bees are laying in stores of saccharine ; 
the little birds are busily engaged "totin' " straws, strings 
and fleece to out-of-the-way places ; flowers are pushing 
their gladsome faces forward from myriad lurking places ; 
the click-clack-clatter of the frolicsome lawn-mower is 
heard early and late; our small boy neighbor next door 
is nursing a sore thumb as the result of indulgence in 
early baseball ; and we — well we are putting in our spare 
time furbishing up our fly-rod, overhauling our reels and 
other light tackle in expectancy of a great time on April 
I. There are hundreds of "us" in this State, and "we" 
are promising "ourselves" the time of "our" lives. But 
many doubt if the waters will be in fit condition by the 
first, for this Pacific Coast has been visited by mighty 
rains during the past ten days. These rains have pre- 
vailed from as far north as Shasta Range to the southern- 
most limits of the State, inflicting no little damage on the 
roadbeds of the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe rail- 
roads. But this damage is more than offset by the 
promise of the great crops which these generous showers 
doubly guarantee. It was just the kind of a downpour 
the "man with the hoe" was praying for^ — a steady, misty, 
"drizzle-drozzle" that the hungry soil sucked up and is 
holding in trust for the grains and fruits that will later 
need it. The husbandmen and horticulturist having been 
served first and to his great liking, we anglers can afford 
to accept second service. But there is a "mighty heap" 
of preparation going on, and all sorts of excuses for ab- 
sence from business on the first are now being knocked 
together. The headwaters of the Sacramento— a turgid, 
roily river — afi:ord some of the best trout fishing in the 
State. There are scores of little streams making from the 
Sierra toward this great valley; they will present an ani- 
mated scene if the word comes down,^ "The water is just 
right." There is no dearth of fishing grounds if the 
waters are right and one can afford the time, for some- 
times it means a day's ride on the cars to arrive at one's 
destination. Up Shasta way— a matter of some 275 miles 
or better — I have valiant accounts of the great sport 
awaiting me.- 
A friend — and he knows the game, too — passed along 
Williams River in Siskiyou county last week; he reports 
plenty of big ones already in evidence. 
"The stream is so full of trout that we saw them break 
dozens of times right in the public fords as we would 
drive into the water. Big ones, too; bigger than one can 
hope to land with light tackle." 
Then a little further over is Lake Klamath, two score 
miles from the railroad, and a half score of other lakes 
just as fine, the river Klamath, and still further away, but 
in the same general direction, the famous River Mc(3Ioud. 
He who decides on this "neck of the woods" will have 
his choice — mayhap — of salmon, salmon trout, Shasta 
trout, rainbows, Dolly Vardens and natives. 
The wonder to a new comer is that there should be any 
fishing in these waters at all, for although California 
game and fish laws are liberal to a fault, yet they are 
ruthlessly and flagrantly disregarded. Spearing is the 
favorite method of illicit capture here. "If I won't drink, 
make me drink," said a "convive" who had sworn off and 
was now willing to accept any old excuse to embrace 
the pranksome Manhattan. So the big fish that won't 
take the barb are made to take it at the hands of the 
unerring spearsman. 
"Why, the people along all these streams pay little re- 
gard to the law. When they want a salmon or a trout, 
they don't wait till he is ready to bite; no, sir. They get 
a line on him as he floats along the narrow and ofttimes 
shallow stream, poise their spear, take good aim, and — 
there's fish for dinner in season or out of season," said 
my above-mentioned friend. "Why, on this trip I saw a 
number of railroad section hands at their work with their 
spears lying alongside the tracks. Once in a while a 
man would walk to the water's edge, make a lunge, shake 
off a big fish, and a minute later return to work. Better 
still, they spear with torches at night. Just flash a torch 
over the surface of some big pool and the big fellows, 
full of curiosity, come up to see what all the commotion 
is about. Of course there is no sport about this sorj: pf 
thing, but it fills the larder. 
While I have soen this go on for years, yet there seem 
to be quite as many fish now as formerly. However, I 
asked a fisherman on the McCloud who had stopped 'to 
swap yarns with me, how the fishing was. 
" "Taint 's good 's it useter be,' he replied. 
" 'How's that ?' I asked. 'You seem to be pretty com- 
fortably loaded.' 
'Oh, I 'spect I got a couple o' hundred, first and last.' 
"'What! and you say the fishing is not as good as it 
used to be?' 
" 'No, it ain't, mister. Why, a few years back I could 
'a caught 300 or 400 in less time than it took me to take 
these.' " 
And the conversation took place almost three weeks be- 
fore the opening of the season. The wonder is that such 
vandal practices have not long since depleted the streams; 
but such is not the case, and those who abide the law 
later in the season will have all the fine sport they want. 
At the present session of the Legislature the following 
bill was passed, and it is hoped and believed that before 
he lays his pen down to-night Governor Pardee will 
approve it. There are several other important measures 
before His Excellency, and those who have the interest 
of true sport at heart hope he will give them his indorse- 
ment. Section 633 of the Penal Code, which is the most 
important measure to anglers, reads : 
"Every person who between the first day of November 
in any year and the first day of April of the year follow- 
ing buys, sells, takes, catches, kills or has in his posses- 
sion any variety of trout, except steelhead trout, or who 
between the first day of February and the first day of 
April, or between the tenth day of September and the six- 
teenth day of October of each year, buys, sells, takes, 
catches, kills or has in his possession any steelhead troutj 
or who between the first day of Novemoer and the first 
day of April of the year following takes, kills, or catches 
ariy steelhead trout above tide water; or who at any 
time takes, catches or kills any trout except with hook 
and line; or who at any time buys, sells, or offers for sale 
any trout of less than one pound in weight, or who at any 
time takes, catches, kills or has in his possession during 
any one calendar day more than fifty trout; or who at 
any time takes, catches, kills or has in his possession dur- 
ing any one calendar day trout other tlian steelhead Lrout, 
