We returned ut dark with exactly one hundred Ash, the moat delicious 
of the perch family, aa I had proved to iu? the next morning at break- 
fast. 
I am cnrloua to know If this practice of throwing atones at fish to 
make them bite Is new to yoar readers, or whether I am merely an igno- 
ramus. The gentlemen hero say It la a usage handed down from their 
forefathers und only prevails In this neighborhood. They surmise that 
the white perch being originally a native of Balt water is used to heavy 
sorf and mistakes the splashing for a shoal of small bult-nah breaking 
wuter. Is this so ? I think I shall try a Gatling gun and a band of 
mnslo next summer. 
Another fact which may be of interest to trout breeders I will also 
give. A gentleman of this vicinity who has a One pond full of noble 
trout was surprised to And that they were disappearing rapidly. As ho 
had a high picket fence more than a rod from the stone embankment of 
the water ho was at a loss to uccouut for the Success of the poachers 
until he detected one of the thieves shooting his baited Hue lu among 
the trout with a bow atid arrow from between the pickets— almost eyery 
shot being rewarded by tho capture of o goodly Ash valued ut tl per 
pound. 
What next shall we hear of as a victim to the insatiate archers? 
U. D. J. 
BASS, AND BASS. 
Ovens Falls, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1ST8. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
In yoar Issue of Feb. 14 “ Greysteel" describes both the black and 
Oswego bass, In markings and gime qualities, and had It not been for 
the letter which follows I should have thought in the dark gamy fish 
he caught black bass, and In the light colored fish that soon tired he 
caught Oswego bass. 
In the letter of “T. W.," while the characteristics are the same, the 
form Of the Oswego bass Is given to the dusky game flsti, and the form 
of the black bass to the lighter colored Osh. Difference in water or food 
cannot make tuo change, for both llsh are caught in the same stream, 
and I fear that upon Investigation both sexes will be represented In the 
same co ored llsh, at least I have found It so. I have remarked, too, that 
the young of the black bass are lighter colored than when they attain a 
pound weight, or near that. I hope during the coming season that 
••Greysteel" and "T. W." lu pursuing their Investigations will look In 
the eyes of the Ash, of both kinds, when arst caught, for a small red dot, 
and if either give out a musky odor ; If so, which ? and If the carve at 
the end of the lateral line where the tall Joins Is .double or single, and 
in which Ash is the greatest change In coloring after death, l have 
never seen an Oswego bass with a red dot in his eye, nor with a double 
curve at the end of tho lateral line, nor known him to give out the 
musky odor of the black bass, or show the dark bars of the black bass, 
or change in color after death like the black bass, or Aght like the black 
bass. He will grow larger than the black bass, but he Is a non-combat- 
ant compared to his dusky relative. No 9oouer does the bass question 
seem all right than It Is found to be all wrong. Will not Uncle Seth 
stop forward 7 Why does not Mr. Wood advertise his new bass Ay If 
they are for sale? Glens Falls. 
THE SINKS OF FLORIDA. 
Qainsvlllk, Florida, Feb. 21, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Here In Florida we are having warm, growing weatner, although the 
season Is a little backward. Garden produce Is growing Auely, with 
uftny pea9 oo the table. Tlio colored people roport deer and turkey very 
plenty, four or Ave miles either side from railroad In this region (Span- 
ish Grant). * 
Yesterday I visited "The Sinks," about a mile and a half from town. 
Thero are tweuty or more of them, from twenty-Ave to one hundred 
and tweniy-Avo feet deep, and .from Afty to one hundred and Afty feet 
across at ihe top. They are very regular In shape ; in fact look like large 
bowls sunk In the earth. The wild oraogo grows In great profu- 
sion here, and In one of the sinks I noticed a tree loaded with fruit. Tho 
sinks are nearly all dry, one or two havmg nice clear water, At for drink- 
ing, which would make a Hplendld tank for keeping Ash alive. These 
are on the border of a large lake six miles wide by twelve miles long, 
abounding in Ash. Black bass, pike, two or three kinds of perch, roach, 
etc. Also countless numbers of ducks and blue peters, and some geese 
and crane. Twenty years ago the ground, now covered by this water, 
wa9 all under cultivation, cotton and corn, the water being conAned to 
a small stream, having an underground outlet which was by some means 
ohoked up, thereby forming tho now lake. It la a naiural curiosity and 
a great resort for the visitors ut this place. Tho laud around and in the 
sinks la owned by two ontorprlslng citizens of this place who have laid 
out the lands and Intend to put up a largo Intel, and on account of Its 
rare boating, Ashing and hunting facilities I predict for Up liberal pat- 
ronage. Ouas. O. Gladwin. 
&nstveqs to Correspondents. 
No Notice T n.Uen of Anonymous Communication*. 
W' - A number of anoaymons correspondents will understand why 
their queries are not answered, when they road the lines at the head of 
this column. 
C. R,, El Paso, 111.— Can you recommend a breech-loader for $16 
Ans. Yes, a very good gun. 
G. C. B„ Turner’s Falls, Mass.— Did Bogaidus In his match use the A, 
B or C Dlttmar powder ? Ans. The C. 
HuNTsn, Glen Centro.— Your communication wants your name in full. 
Wo never publish otherwise. 
J. B.— For an 8 pouud breech-loading gun, In glass ball shooting, use 
314 drs. powder, 11 * oz. shot. 
B. II. M., Franklin, Mass.— Where can I get a good stag hound? Ans. 
Of Dr. Charles Dlgges, Chestnut 8t., St. Louts. 
W. L. M., Philadelphia.— Give mo load fora 12 gaugoS pound B. L. 
Hemlugton ? Aus. 3)4 drs. powder, 1)4 oz. shot. 
Blunderbuss, Denver, Colorado.— 1. What Is tho woight of tho Iron 
Creedmoor targets ? 2. Who makes them ? Ans l. 40 lbs. to tho 
fool. 2. Dlmoud, 209 W 33d st., N. Y. 
W. D. U., Elgin, III.— Tlio .22 cal. Is a very close shooting arm. Sco 
the targets made as reported every week In the paper. A .92 would tear 
game. The .22 ought to make, lu good hands, 35 or 40 out of 60. Use 
then the .22. 
R- B. s., Boouovlllo, Miss.— Ilavo a Doxter Smith single barrel. I 
want to buy shells for the gun. l. Is the gan still manufactured ? 9. 
What shells shall I uso? Ans. 1. Makers are no longer In business. 2. 
Ueo extra paper shell 14 A, or a metallic shell 12 B. 
F • L. c., Cleveland , Ohio.— Precisely the sumo kind of double shell 
wus tried fully some t hree years ago, aud did not produce any marked 
results. You are likely to speud time and money uselessly. Would 
“ay, Don’t, Thoro Is no reason why It should present auy advantages 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
__ . — 1 UU — a IKJK Will l 8liu«rlcal 
^ J 1 “ d ba8e< p0lIlt aDa b,, “ aUke-would turn on Itself and 
E*? dre * tl0M - TUat 8lmUo 80 People use, of a bail and a 
boat. Is absurd, a boat goes through two mediums, a baU throngh one 
, , C .’ Jh 0 " Newca8tle --My pointer dog rcoetved a scratch on tho Aank 
which has left a scar. Now, what can I do to make tho hair grow so as 
to covtr up the defect? Aus. It Is not probable that the Uidr will grow 
again; friction with any simple stimulating lotion may promote growth 
xo a Umite<! extent. 
loii'irS’Zn A “' lta,l !!!“'~ Hllvc 11 ftlul 10 gauge, muzzle- 
loading gun. At a thirty Inch circle with 1 \ or., shot and 4 drs. powder 
I pat 374 shot with It. B. and 364 with L. IS at 40 yards. Dow does this 
compare with breech-loaders 7 Ans. Most favorably. You have made 
very good shooting. 
J. Von L., New York.— Will Ihle gentleman kindly Inform us, when 
the paragraph in regard to the Dachshunde Is found in the paper? Wo 
are afraid some typographical error baa been made. We simply advo- 
cate two classes for those dogs, if a mistake has beta made, we shall 
he glad to correct it. 
D. ondJ., St. Louis.— i. Two dog9 were Imported. One year after 
Unportatlons the bitch has pups. Are these pups native or Imported ? 
2. Where can the Complete American Trapper be had? Ans. i The 
puppies are native. 2. Published by J. Miller, 6J7 Broadway, N. Y We 
can furnish the book. 
BcfBo, Painted Post, N. Y.— My cocker spaulel has symptoms of 
c tortra. First noticed it six weeks ago ; have been giving nitre of sil- 
ver without apparent relief ; otherwise he is In good condition. Ago ten 
months. Ans. History Is InsuAlclent. Probably grain nux vomica 
three times a day might do good. Write us agulu more freely. 
W., Cincinnati, Ohio.— Where Is the nearestjgood Ashing water to 
this city, and what Ash are to be looked for? Ans. Excellent apoou 
trolllog for black bass at Newport. Good baas and red eye Ashing In the 
Licking Blver at Falmouth, and other points along the line of the K. c. 
R., In Pendleton county. Good bass Ashing at Stamford, Lincoln Co. 
Bankby, Summit, Troy.— My red Irish setter dog pnp, eight months 
owns afflicted with reddened eyes, moist and Blight discharge ; also dis- 
charge at the nose. Good appetite, etc. The dog lias plenty of exercise. 
Is this epizootic (If dogs ever have It), or Is It distemper, Arst stages? 
Ans. Yonr dog probably has distemper. Dogs ore subject to the epi- 
zootic. 
Henry fl TnoRr, Concord, N. H.— Where can I get, aud what Is the 
name of a book, giving pictures and descriptions of the foot-prints of 
animals; also, what will be the price? Ans. Hitchcock's “Ichnology" was 
published by the State of Massachusetts. It is now out of print, but 
can, perhaps, be obtained. Write to Leggatt Bros., 6 Beekmau st., and 
let them hunt yon & copy. 
A. R. D., Washington.— Have a muzzle-loading gun, weight 16 
poun 's, barrels 9>; pounds. Length of barrels thlrty-sLx Inches, diame- 
ter of barrel 13-16 of an Inch. I use six drachms of powder and two ozs. 
of shoot, l. Would It be safe to shoot a solid round ball ? 2 . What 
would the ball weigh ? Ans. 1. The gnu would stand the ball perfectly. 
2. Abont ten balls to the pound. 
G. n. E., New York.— l. The hair aronnd the eyes of my cocker 
spaniel ha9 fallen off and her coat also ; eyes do not seem to be acre. 
Tell me what would make her hair grow again. 2. Which do you think 
is the beat for general work, cooker spaniels or setters ? Ana. l. Keep 
her In good health and the hair will grow all right again. 2 . Could not 
auswer unless we were farther informed what want the dogs for. 
H. C. L., Allentown.— 1. Where Is the land agent’s oAlce of the N. P. 
R. It., and what 13 his name? 2. Where are the places of business of 
Henry, of Edinburgh, and of Rigby ? 8. Where is the place of business 
of Rogers & Son ? Ans. 1. J. B. Power, St. Paul, Minn. 2. A letter 
addressed to Rigby, Dublin, or to Henry, Edinburgh, rine mnnnfactur 
era, would reach them without fall. 3. Rogers A Sou is No. 6 Norfolk 
fit., Sheffield. 
A. B. V., Maine.— 1. Please Inform me the shortest string on record 
at 10D yards off-hand7 2. Does a round rlAe barrel shoot more accurate 
than an octagon or half octagon? 3. What Is the size of the bull’s eye 
at tho 100 yd, range at 28t) Broadway ? 4. Is the Sharps mid-range 
rlAe as accurate as their long-range up to 600 yds.? /Vns. l. In 
match Mr. Joy made at Creedmoor tunnel 18 . 2. No difference. 3. Four 
iuclics. 4. Ye9. 
A. W. O., Boston.— Am going to Texas. Tell me which of the iwoguus 
to get for the shooting there— a breech-loading shot-gun, or a repeating 
rlAe? 2. Is the composition called Babbit good for making bullets, and 
If too hard or soft, what shaU I put with It to make It right ? Ans. I. 
If yon have but one gun, take a good weight of 10 bpre. 2. Babbit's 
metal Is too hard. Use, If you want a hardened ball, Ji lead S' tlu. 
Would not advise Babbit's inatal. 
A. H. F., Coatesvllle, Pa.— l. Can I get Dlttmar powder In Philadel- 
phia? 2. If not, where ? 3. Price per pound ? 4. Would It bo safe to 
mix 2*4 drs. Dlttmar and \ dr. black powder for charge of 7>i lb , No. 
7, breeoh-loadlng gun ? Gun was made by P. Wcbley A Son, England. 
Ans. 1. No agency In Philadelphia as yet, but will be short ly. 2. 
Nearest agency, Henry C. Squires, No. 1 Courtland at., New York. 3. 
Price per single canister $1, In larger quantities at lower Agares. 4. It 
Is perfectly safe to mix 2K drs. Dlttmar with X dr. black powder. 
Novice, Pottsvllle, Pa.— 1. Have a 10 gauge gun, 32 inch, 81* pounds, 
muzzle-loader. The barrels weigh 6Jlf pounds, heavy across ihe breech 
and are, I believe, what Is ca led wire twist. I have killed a deer with 
It as far as CO yards with buckshot, and pheasant os far as so yards with 
smaU shot. How shall I load It ? 9. Yesterday one of our sportsmen 
shota female fox, and In taking off the skin they found she was In 
whelp. Is he entitled to any premium for the four unborn whelps 7 
Ans. 3)4 drs. powder, 1J4 oz. shot. 2. Foxes In utcro would not count. 
II. P. S., New Brunswick.— My Newfoundland bitch pup, fonr months 
old, fed on table scraps, milk, bread and soup bones, cries In her sleep 
and Jerks her legs. Thought she had worms. Gave her arcca nut, but 
passed no worms. Has a large boll on her left shoulder. Have poulticed 
It for three days, but It docs not Improve. Mouth looks purple. Has 
had sores on her lip. Bad appetite. Have given her oil. Never been 
lively. What shall I do? Ans. She is probably constitutionally un- 
healthy. Feed on milk and mush only and glvo two grains quinine 
three times a day. 
Willis J. Powers, Tomah, Wla.— 1. Can you tell me where I can get 
s book instructing how to train or tame hawks? 2. In what manner 
can I catch old hawks allvo without hurting them ? Ans. 1. G. L. 
Freeman's “ Falconry ; Its Claims, History and Practice," and tho au- 
thorities referred to therein, will give you fullest information on this 
subject. The work was published In London In 1959. 2. A steel trap, 
with tho Jaws covered with cloth, and set on top of a post lu an open 
Aeld, would perhaps do, but we would advise you to got young birds 
from the neat and rear them. 
Youngster, Barren HUI.-I. What is termed a full choke-l>oro ? 
What is a modified bore T What Is a taper choke ? 2. What would you ( 
81 
call a good pattern at forty yards with a 17 gauge gun. two dm. of pow- 
der aud or. shot No. 87 Would 150 pages of the Forest and Striae 
be equal to the pads shot at the tTlalof chilled ahot 7 Ans. l. Fall 
choko la a rapid closing pf the mnzale, a modlfled one Is a gradual cloa- 
mg at aomo Inches from the muzzle, and a taper cylinder Is exactly 
w&at the worda Imply. 8. Wo cAn give no comparison between the 
aiiceta of (his paper and regular large!. 
ivih. 7. «wrjciowa, u. v.— i. is unviug no. 8 or 4 ahot 
. 11 muz *l«>-ioader, s dm. powder, Ijg oz. shot, through ■; in. 
», .1 *' 800,1 p ' nct,lllla n t 9- What U tho number of shot lu 
■ i ", ' ? er *' nl No " - of ahot 9 3- *'an jou give me Holler A Sous' 
W r^n*?T h *t ,ll,0lr r * puuUon * «• Where cau I purchase W. 
neniMraUnif * «°*rp °“ ° l ’ 0 ^e'bore» 1 and prlco 7 Au«. 1. Very excellent 
, ,° 81VC **' ,n woul '> take half a page of close 
Agurea. We trust to give a aoon. 3. The address la Wcaman at,, Blr- 
Ingham. 4. Mr.Squlr ea, No, 1 Courtland st., New York. 
. ..... wauvuw vertical noiffiu mm 
horizontal distance that tho Bogardua uap throws a glim ball: I mean 
approximately, and. of course, when tho trap H new or in good work- 
tug order. 2 . Does • aptalu Bogardua use soft or chilled ahot for ball 
shooting? 3. Should tho ball bo hit as It rises, or Is It fair to hit It any 
time before it reaches the ground ? Ans. l. About 2i to oo foot as 
tlio spring Is regulated. 2. Soft shot, but only because lu shooting 
before an audience chilled ahot might rebound from the aorccn, If they 
struck a knot or any hard aubstance. 3. Depends on the skill ot tho 
shooter. The ball may bo broken any time before It grounds. 
Reader, Brooklyn.— i. Would It pay logo Into the orange business lu 
* lc elUier raising the fruit and selling It, or by buying ami Bell- 
ing the fruit ? if prontablo tu the former bualuess where would bo ihe 
beat place to go to and where could I procure a book on orange culture? 
2. Would near alghtedneu be an Impediment to becomlug a good shot ? 
Ans. l. We consider orange culture a good paying bnamesa. Tho north- 
ern and centrals parts of the State are tho beet. Should select some 
part of tho 8t. Julius River or other locality which has a good outlet 
You can obtalu books from Florida New Yorker. 34 Bark Itow, New York 
City. 2. Not at all. We have aeon an excellent shot who used glasses. 
G. A. S., WeatAeld.— I know a gentleman who has a guu 22 barrel, 
12 bore, 7 pounds, which ontahoots all our guns. Has good penetration 
and pattern at 45 yards. 1. Are guns of this length reliable? 2 . What 
Is the shortest gun you would advlso for general shooting ? a. My 
pointer pup has worms. Passed some \ loch long, Have given him 
sulphur. Would you advlso areca nut, as per "Gazetteer 7" Ana 1 . 
and 9. 22 1 , for a barrel la loo short. It Is guneraUy allowed by all prac- 
tical people that si Inches Is as short a barrel os wiu burn all the pew- 
der. Would not advlso using a gun shorter than this. Thirty Inches Is 
an approved length. It wlU bum powder of a heavy charge, lu a balance 
to the gnu and facilitates the aim. 3. Give the areca nut and follow 
the "Gazetteer." 
J. D. M., Saa Francisco, Cal.— At what range Is artillery effootlvo 2 
At about wllat distance does rlAe practice beglu in an aciual battle? 
How close dirt the old masket Are? Ans. Your term “practice" Ls 
hardly admissible lu speaking of actual warfare. Light ortlUery Is uow 
effective np to 2,500 yards, aud even ijp to 8,000. RlAe Are may begin at 
4oo yards, although Ihe picked men would commence at 1,000. As to 
effectiveness as far as to the killing aud maiming of tho men, It Is 
doubtfnl whether the old Napoleonic artillery did not affect heavy 
masses more than docs onr modern rlAed guns. The ordinary fighting 
raoge of the rlAe la qnlto equal, however, to the artillery of thirty years 
ago. We think the deviation allowed In the old musket at 100 yds., was 
3 ft. to the right or loft whon Ored from a fixed rest. 
% 
B. B., Washington, D. C.— 1. Huvo a dog twonty months old. Head 
stopped up with matter which gathers In his eyes. Been this way over 
since distemper when was foarteen months old. 2. Wlmt Is tho differ- 
ence between an Eoglish and an rrlah setter r Ans. 1. Tho dog needs 
plenty of fresh air and exercise. If appetite ls not good give two grams 
quinine three times a day for two or three weeks. The condition de 
scribed ls a frequent result of distemper. 2. Stonehenge tells U9 ilia 
for standing rough work the Irish la better than the English setter. In 
points there Is some similarity and divergence In others. Irish are 
more leggy. Color Is an Important point. Irish should be red, though 
there are good blacks and some with white. IrlsU are perhaps harder 
to break, and forget sooner, bat make up for It by dash, courage and en- 
durance. It ls difficult In the short space of questions and answers to 
give all details. 
W. H. Fui/roN, New Haven, Conn.— I seo In your papor of Jau. IT au 
account of a Bezoar stone, and having a stoue that auswers tho descrip- 
tion— with the exception that It came from a horse instead of a deer— 
I write to Inquire why It Is called a Persian medicine atone, and any 
other Information yon can give in regard to It. The atone I have 
answers as to the size and color of the one spoken of lu your paper. I 
have bad It cut Into, and And In the centre a coarse pebble about tho size 
of a hazel not, with tho coatlag formed regularly, as tho rings show. 
Ans. The Bezoar stone was formerly much prized for Its supposed uie- 
dlolnal virtues, ami as an antidote to poisons. That of the antciopu was 
especially valued. It la scarcely neceasary to state that IL la quite 
worthless as a medicine. The Bezoar ls simply a concretion— somo 
foreign snbstance, as a stone or piece of tooth, Is takeu Into the stomach, 
and about this as a nucleus, some salts of Umo crystallize In concentric 
layers. (Tnls question has been mislaid for several weeks, for which 
our correspondent will please accept oar apologies. j 
Gaspb.— T o sportsmen, Invalids, tourists and artists the beautiful, 
healthy and popular summer resort, Gaspc Basin, offers unsurpassed 
facilities for Ashing, shooting, boating, bathing aud driving. There Is 
no spot In tharfJnlf of St. Lawrence or on tho British American coast 
where the scenery ls so beautiful, and so much can be found fur asmal 
cost. We hear with pleasure that Mr. E. G. striker— so loog sad favor- 
ably known to the traveling public aa tho popular aud experienced 
steward and purser of the Gulf Port Steamer " Secret "—has leased tho 
“ Gulf House" at Gaspe Basin, which he has refnrnlshed and renovated, 
and made u comfortable home for I 1 I 9 friends and pairons; and wo have 
no doabt that, with his known courtesy and moderate charges, be will 
draw a full house. During the *ummer (he steamers leave Montreal aud 
Quebec weekly, and there Is coustant telogrophlc and poglal communi- 
cation with all points, and more frequent modes of arrival and departure 
by Intercolonial Railroad.— See advertisement. 
—The new recoil check, made of very flexible rubber, can be put on and 
takeu off a gun lu a moment. Prlco $2. Send for circular. 
C, L. lUTZMANN, 941 B’way.— L4d*. 
. — — - ■« ' , 
—A few gentlemen w lifting to Join a flrst-olaaa shooting and Ashing 
association can hear of a favorable opportunity by addressing Game, 
tbls office.— (*4<f 
—The Bible College, located at Binghamton, N. Y., which 
affords a free university course to the daughters of dizubled 
or deceased ministers, without regard to sect, le full to over- 
flowing. 
