October, 1919 
FOREST A X D STREAM 
545 
open. They had been in the tall grass, 
and simply gave us the laugh and winged 
their way to other feeding grounds. 
Next, we separated, Doc and I follow- 
ing the river. We tramped quite a 
ways to what we call the Cross-Road 
ponds, and got back about dusk, with a 
total of eight ducks, thinking we had 
saved the day. Brushing the snow off 
a log, we sat down for awhile and tried 
to locate Ben and Clem. We could see 
a bunch of geese on the opposite bank, but 
it would have taken a “Big Bertha” to 
have ever reached them. Not being able 
to locate our companions we went to the 
cabin and stirred up the fire, wondering 
what was keeping them. After a while 
we wandered back to the lakes, and just 
as the sun was getting low, saw both 
of them flat on the ground, making a 
crawl for the geese. 
We watched them get closer and closer 
until we wondered if it would be pos- 
sible for them to make the stalk. I could 
see the bunch plainly, and soon the old 
sentinel on the watch says, “Honk-Honk.” 
But the old scouts had their eye on them 
and in a second were on their feet. We 
could see the smoke from their guns be- 
fore the sound reached us and, much 
to our satisfaction, saw them bring down 
the seventh goose, lay down their guns 
and shake hands like two long lost broth- 
ers. While this" performance was going 
on, one old boy that must have been play- 
ing possum, raised his wings and flew. 
Then the fun started. Both grabbed 
their guns and shot, but Mr. Goose just 
went all the higher and said good-bye. 
Then came the job of getting the six 
geese. Three dead and three wounded. 
Our boat leaked like a sieve. I didn’t 
take my gun, for fear the boat would 
sink, but I had a gallon bucket to bail 
with. 
I have read many a story of a moon- 
light night on the water, but this pre- 
sented a scene to me which I shall never 
forget. It is hard to describe the feel- 
ings of a sportsman, in a leaky boat, with 
a gallon bucket, looking for six geese on 
a lake of this size. The moon was full 
and seemed to throw a direct ray on the 
boat. I finally succeeded in landing five 
of them and, dipping water from the 
boat, paddled to shore. The trip lasted 
two days more and then we broke camp. 
Such trips as these will never be for- 
gotten by the true sportsman. We can 
sit by the fire, long after these trips are 
impossible, and bring back memories of 
the great wilderness, which is fast be- 
coming utilized, driving the larger game 
into a smaller space each year, until 
finally these trips will be just memories. 
J. L. Mudd, Missouri. 
A WOODLAND TRAGEDY 
To the Editor of Forest and Stream : 
T he deer family is usually considered 
to be mild and inoffensive. They 
have such a meek appearance, their ac- 
tions are so cautious and timid that one 
is readily led to believe that they are 
perfectly harmless. This, however, is 
not the case, as those w'ho have had tame 
deer under their care can testify; they 
not only fight savagely among themselves 
but have been known to kill their mates, 
even their own young, and in some in- 
stances their keepers. Such incidents 
have been noted with animals kept in 
large enclosures, but there is ample proof 
midst the deep recesses of the forest that 
all the deer tribe fight savagely among 
themselves. There, antlered monarchs 
meet and bloody encounters occur, un- 
seen, and unrecorded, save for a skull or 
skeleton, which is soon covered from 
view by the luxuriant shrubber5^ and 
leaves. The battles often prove fatal to 
one of the contestants and in some rare 
instances to both. 
During the mating season, all stags be- 
come murderous brutes, hardly partak- 
ing of any food, but rushing about just 
spoiling for a fight, occasionally meeting 
a rival stag which, if evenly matched 
with the challenger, gives battle at once. 
A fight ensues which few sportsmen have 
had the privilege to witness. The only 
record of these duels on which we can 
rely is what is known among hunters as 
the “Deadlock.” 
There are few deer that possess the 
rare construction of antlers, which, when 
crashed together in combat become inter- 
locked, and when such animals meet, a 
real tragedy develops; there is no sur- 
vival of the fittest, but both die a miser- 
able death. At times horns are found, 
worn deeply into each other, thus show- 
ing the creatures parried about for a 
considerable time before they succumbed. 
Being held together in such a manner, 
they can do no further fighting, but the 
struggle is continuous until starvation 
weakens one or the other. 
The stronger one may remain on his 
feet for a while, but after he has nib- 
bled what food or foliage there is with- 
in his limited reach, he, at last must 
lie down and meet the same fate as his 
adversary. 
Robert H. Rockwell, New York. 
WHERE TO GET MENHADEN BAIT 
To the Editor of Forest and Stream: 
T AM a subscriber to your valuable 
magazine and eagerly await its ap- 
pearance every month, as I always find 
something interesting in it. Could you 
tell me where I can procure mossbunker 
or menhaden bait? Do you know of 
anyone near New York who sells such 
bait? 
G. Yost, Connecticut. 
We know of no one who deals in men- 
haden except those who supply the deep 
water fishermen who grind them for 
chum when in quest of the bluefish and 
bonito. You could dotibtless make some 
arrangement with some market stallman 
in your local city if you give him, your 
order in advance. At this season of the 
year pound fisherman get menhaden at 
nearly every lift of the nets and no 
doubt would be glad to save some for 
your dealer. — [Editors.] 
LONG AND SHORT BARRELS 
AGAIN 
To the Editor of Forest and Stream: 
I NOTED the article in the June num- 
ber by W. A. B. on short barrel guns 
and also the article regarding the same. 
on page 480 of the September issue. W. 
A. B. is in accord with my own views, 
obtained from chronograph tests in a 
complete ballistic department. In a test 
several years ago with 28, 30 and 32-inch 
barrels, all from a well known maker, 
and all bored on the same plan (full 
choke) with a cartridge containing 3 
drams of smokeless powder and 114 oz. 
of chilled shot, I did not find any differ- 
ence in the results obtained with the 
28 or 30-inch barrels, ten shots from 
each. With the 32-inch barrel the chro- 
nograph gave a slightly reduced velocity. 
I have not the figures of that test at 
my command. In the near future I will 
be able to give you complete figures of 
a test I will make, with 28 and 30-inch 
barrels, both guns from the same maker 
and bored alike. I will make the test 
with the 3, 1%, 7% load, also with 3%, 
1%, 7-chilled shot, same powder, and 
give you the full data. 
F. I. Fenn, 111. 
(SEVERAL letters ARE HELD OVER) 
Bronze miniature modeled by R. H. Rockwell, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences 
