FOREST AND STREAM 
59 
PAPER AND BRASS SHELLS. 
Niwabk, N. J-. February, 1873. 
Editor Forest akj> Stream:— 
In your estimable paper a few weeks since an article appeared, l 
which the writer *uld "brn-a shells are a nuisance to load. * I must differ 
with him very materially on this point, n* I know that can on 
liras* shell sooner than a paper one. and wlthont wriukfing In tho least 
ns Is the case with a paper one. If you use wmls sutTlcieiitly large t 
properly nil the barrel of your gun; a* my experience has " 
KO 0 load in a 10 paper shell 1. all that it will bear without bulging, and 
thua preventing It from entering the chamber. W Ith a brn« shell I al 
most invariably us* an 8 Baldwin wad on my shot, and very often . H 
Bley on my powder, which cannot he done with tho paper . toll, for™ 
eons above stated. And now about the "uulsance to clem. ^ ^11. 
ore nickeled; but perhaps I may be a little mo re particular h » . s me 
others; «ml my shells nt tlgU.lynt the Inner end of Uie 
the taper commences, ami I cun come m at night, after a day * good 
shooting, with hands and pockets as clean as any oth , cr ‘ ‘° 
same amount of shooting; and I suppose it is simply from the fact hat 
my shell. lit perfectly tight at the taper .if tho chamber thus rrevet.ling 
any gas from escaping backward to soil the shells In the least. As to 
cleaning, which I take it has reference to the Inside of the shell, n piece 
of hard-twisted mnnllla rope, four or five inches long, that wilt enter tin 
shell by wrapping each end for an inch or loss, so as to leave enough of 
the ends to form n sort of a brash, le all that Is required to cleanse a 
bru»s shell of all dirt necessary; or. what Is perhups better, and not 
costly, n brush made of very stllf bristles, and soil by nearly all gun 
merchants for the purpose of cloaning tho chambers of ‘be gun while In 
tho field. 1 now have on hand u lot of shells that I loaded last Full with 
heavy shot, taking them in my trunk to Iowa and hack, and to day they 
arc arc as solid, apparently, as when first loaded. As lo the ‘ nuisance 
of carrying loaded brass shells," I can't really see where the difference 
comes in, ns the brass is but a mere trille heavier than the paper, and 
ns safe a* far as the danger of exploding Is concerned. As for the "nui- 
sance of being carried empty I have newer yet found it so. Another 
reason he gives why paper Is better than brass, and that Is. that ofton- 
II, nea the head of the brass shell is too thick for the gun to lock. In all 
iny experience 1 have never yet found them so. though I have used 
those of four different makers, and I have now on hand over a hundred 
made by two different parties, und from all appearances they will Inst 
me my life lime, although there is a shell now being made In our city 
which I think excels them all. Again he says, "the trouble of capping 
and uncapping brass shells Is so great us to try u man's temper and ver- 
bal morality.” Now I certainly think I can uncap ten a minute, as 
nenrly nil who sell breech loaders have for sale nn Instrument, not unlike 
a brad awl, which serves both as an unenpper and loader. And here, al- 
low ntc to say to the wilier of the article before referred to, that by mt 
nothing hit thcU out, but simply using a stiff brush of some kind, und 
then use a No. 8 Baldwin wad on his shot, If a 10 shell, I w ill venturo to 
Bay he can curry them any reasonable dlstuuce and length of time he 
Chooses without loosing a single pellet or his wads starting; nnd if his 
tups fit as they should do, both air and gas tight, no glue Is necessary 
in either case. And again, ho says he doubts if brass shells shoot any 
stronger than paper ones. For seventeen consecutive years, during tho 
months of October and Novomber. I have visited Iowa for the solo pur- 
pose of shooting and fishing, the past five using a No. 10 Greener breech 
loader, and for seven years past have honied witli nn old hunter, bom, 
he says, with a gun on bis ehoulder-and it would rcallv seem so to see 
him shoot-whom wo call ihorGonerul" and General he is, to all Intents 
and purposes. For the two first years with my Greener I used paper 
shells ontlrely, and so did he, he also having n Greener. The third year 
1 had a few brass shells with me, and he would occasionally try one, 
liking to hear the "splng" ns he termed It, ihot It gave, and us we very 
often while duck shooting stood side by side, I soon found If a Hock 
was coming a little high, he would ask for a brass shell, which very soon 
satisfied me that he knew what he was about; nnd now paper shells nre 
••nowhere" with him, saying, however, that -on a pinch" they would 
answer for snipe and quail. There Is certainly one great objection to 
paper shells, if you arc exposed to all weathers, as any article made of 
paper will very soon bo rendered useless by coming in contact with 
water or even dampness of any continuation. And here let ine stute n 
fact that 1 was an eye witness to, und part participator in ; Two years 
aince a friend of mine and myself were at Babylon, duck shooting, and 
my friend, on stepping from the hunt to the battery, accidentally dropped 
twenty of his brass shells overboard in six feet of water, where they re- 
mained from early morn till after dinner, when they were recovered. 
Supposing of course they woild not explode, but In order to test them 
they were dried off, and every one but ono exploded, and that without 
C vena "bang fire.” Where would your paper shells have been In this 
case, or a similar one? Thia fact alono, in my mind wus sufficient to test 
the relative merits of both. 
Here, Mr. Editor, I must stop, though I havo not noticed all his ob- 
jections, and my arguments are not written lu very forcible language; 
yet any one with ordinary perception, I think, may possibly get the gist 
of them and judge accordingly. Perhaps nt some future time I may 
give you another effusion-lf not on this subject, may bo on some other. 
Glasses. 
SHELLS . 
Subewsdiirt, February 23, 1873. 
Epitor Forest and Stream:— 
I have been much Interested in reading the enudid and able communi- 
cation from your correspondent ‘‘Herbert," upon shells and gnus, and 
am particularly struck with Ills experience in regard lo the expansion of 
a paper shell from moisture, rendenug his gun useless for the time. The 
liability to such accidents may not great, but the possibility exists, 
and the risk of having the present form of paper shells rendered worth- 
less, from becoming wet from the many mishaps sportsmen are liable to. 
I think Is sufficient to justify tho demand that they should be made 
waterproof, and I trust this doslrable feature will receive the attention 
of parties engaged in their manufacture I can indorse ‘•Herbert’s" re- 
marks in rogurd to the opportunity for improvement in the manufacture 
of tho Sturtcvaut brass shell, which I think, as now made. Is far from 
what it should be. Cueck Cord. 
The German Shooting Club of Savannah.— This as- 
sociation was regularly chartered about three yeurs since, 
and litis some two hundred and fifty members. Persons 
from any nation muy become members if their characters 
are good. This rule is strictly enforced. Four months 
since, a slock company, composed of nearly fifty member* 
of tho society, purchased the Greenwich Park, adjacent to 
the beautiful Bonuveulure Cemetery, about four miles from 
Savannah, and situaled upon St. Augustine Creek which 
flows from the Savannah River. 'Ihese grounds cun be 
reached by steuniers. taking the inland route to the coast 
towns of "Georgia, and North Eastern Floruit, also by a 
shell road from the city. The property contains seventy 
acres of lowland and thirty one acres of high ground, 
shaded by live oaks, magnolias, cedars, nnd pines btnee 
tl.elOlh of March, 1874, Mr. John H. Kelwig has had 
charge of the park, und under his superintendence the new 
buildings have been erected, grounds laid out >* : ‘r- 1 ,ie 
buildings now completed ure a dance hall, 00x120 feet, 
inside, with eighteen feet posts, with piazzas ten feet wide. 
A shooting gallery and shooting house 24x100 feet, with 
targets six hundred feel from the building. The "spread 
ca'?e target" is sevenly-flve feet above the ground, is carved 
out of wood; is four and a half feet high, with six feet 
spread of wings. The man who shoots away the last pwee 
of this wooden eagle is the "King" for the year. The 
keeper's lodge, 40x40 feet, with ample piazzas, and pretty 
gardens surrounding it, forms a pleasing picture among the 
moss festooned live oaks which are the glory of the park. 
Besides bath house, bar room building, and a fine ten-pin 
alley, there are stables, horse sheds and a small village of 
out buildings upon tho grounds. The Germans and their 
American friends gather in this pretty park upon the noble 
bluff ot the river with their wives and children to celebrate 
festal davs, and to Interchange the pleasant social courtesies 
of life away from the noise|und dust of their* city ssreots. 
The "Shooting Festivals" are on the lfllh, 20lh, nnd -1st 
of April of this year, and again in July, during one day 
and night. The Eagle Shooting King gives a ball on the 
last night of the April festival, which is the grand event or 
tho season. .... • 
The grounds arc open for pic nics nnd similar gatherings 
during the Summer season. A railroad froW|tho city will soon 
be completed, which will bring passengers near to the 
shooting park. We hope to lie able to again visit Savan- 
nah, and during the "Shooting Festivals" of April next, 
when we may lie able to describe to your readers, tho many 
and curious sports of those days. * 
Jm and §ii cr 
FISH IN SEASON IN MARCH. 
Snapper. 
Groiijier. 
Uockllsh. 
SOUTHERN WATKlta. 
Trout (black bn»s). 
Drain (two spec leu). 
Kingllsb. 
ShOOpstlOOll. 
Tallorflsh. 
Son Boss. 
Fisii in Maukict.— Fish continue very scarce, and if it 
were not for the improved facilities for refrigerating and 
transporting them from distant points, there would be a 
fish famine litis week in New York. There can be seen 
now in Fulton Market, at Blackford’s, shad from the Si. 
Johu’8 River, Florida; shad from the Ogcechce River, and 
shad from Neusc River, N. C., some of them weighing flvo 
pounds each; red snapper from Fernandinn, Florida, 20 
cents; grouper from the same place, 20 cents; sea bnss from 
Charleston, 20 cents; blackfish from Rhode Island, 15 cents; 
Long Island smelts, (the most delicious of any of tho 
various kinds,) are commencing to come in in small 
quantities at 25 ceuts; shad sell for 50 cents to $1.50 each, 
according to size anil quality; halibut 20 cents; cod nnd 
haddock very scarce ft*. 12 cents; turbot from Newfound- 
land, 20 cents; salmon trout from north of Canada, 20 
cents; pickerel from Lake Ontario, 20 cents; bass from 
New Jersey coast 25 cents; lobsters, none in market, as the 
ice has carried away all the pots, nnd it will be some time 
before the fishermen can replace them; Spanish mackerel 
50 cents; fresh mackerel 20 cents; flounders 15 cents 
frozen salmon 45 cents; California salmon brought across 
the continent by Mr. A. Booth, of Chicago, tho same gen- 
tleman who brought over the first that ever caine to this 
market, is now being received. Mr. Booth deserves much 
credit for his enterprise in this direction. 
—Our Massachusetts friends report smelt fishing ns con- 
tinuing good, and smelts as running large in size. One 
gentleman caught in Weymouth River through I he ice, 
witli hook and line, (seining or netting is not allowed in 
Mass.,) thirty-one, which together weighed nine pounds. 
One pair caught together at the same haul weighed eight 
ounces each. 
—Herring arc very plenty at Perry and Eastport. Mo., 
and many men are employed catching them and soiling 
them on board vessels there loading with them. It is esti- 
mated that about $75,000 will be paid for herring this 
Winter in Eastport and vicinity. A good business in her- 
ring is also being done at St. Andrews, the bay being full 
of herring. 
_ Quite a quantity of frozen tautog were found on tho 
south shore at Little Compton. U I., a few d «y» 
They were in excellent condition for the table, and were 
ltieltlv prized by the fortunate tinders. It is supposed that 
they came into shoal water in search of food, and were 
chilled by the unusually severe cold. Nothtng like it has 
occurred in that neighborhood since tlm cold Winter of 
1857 when immense quantities of tautog and other bottom 
fish met a similar fate and drifted on shore m such aunt.- 
lilies as to be secured by the cartload for manure, and the 
keeper of the ligh'.boat at the Hen and Chickens reported 
the sea as being literally covered with them. It wus said 
that for two or three years thereafter there was an unusual 
scarcity of bottom fish. 
FISHING AT PRESQUE ISLE. 
Eiiie, Pa., February 13, 1873. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Our harbor affords glorious Halting In Summer. Prerquo Ialo, which 
forms it being full of little lakes or ponds. In winch tho l»»li ■pawn. 
Moskinongc, pike, black bass. Ac., abound, it being a cootmon occur- 
rence fora ekUlful fisherman lo take forty or fifty bow, Onr greatest 
annoyance U the poachers, who seine the ponds In 1 rosQiie Isle, captur- 
ing Seat numbers of moakinongt , from « foot to eighteen Inches long_ 
The bay is uow covered with ice, aud Immense numbers of perch . and 
herring arc caught through holes cut In It. Lost week, a party fishing 
through the lee caught twenty-five or thirty black b.ss-sn unheard of 
thing here up to tbU lime. In May and June, a fish called blue pickerel 
Me caught In thousands with hand lines from a boot anchored over what 
are called the Banks. They run from fifteen to twenty Inches 
and arc very greedy, taking the bait almost a. soon as it strike, the 
water The pound net flsnermon hare been working here tw > season*, 
laS season thirteen pounds being set within four m le. of .be town. 
They do an Immense business, but arc ruining our fishing, I t'*r. 
T Prcaque Isle Is seven miles long, and varies In width ^mone hun- 
dred y ur ds to two mile-. Is filled with pood* from o.,e- lgbth to one-lulf 
robe long, and Is heavily limbered, there being a heavy fin. for cutting 
down Umber or bashes. The U. S. Government have control over It and 
guard the timber carefully. The only buildings on the Island sre the 
fleht bouses The ponds are filled with lilies, wild Me*. Ac., and there 
IS Urge cranberry marsh, s. on which grow all ihs other be rrle- which 
attroctgarae . If the pot hunters and gill net fishermen could be kept 
away, we would have one of the flues, sporting ground. In the country 
In the Soring and Fall duck, are plsnty. and snipe, plover, rabbit*. Ac 
1 b abundance. It would m.kt afins presorvv for • g.ullem*n. c£b. 
THE ENGLISH GRAYLING. 
New York, Fob., 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream 
1 wish to draw the attention of my brother expert, to tho habits of ilia 
grayling. 1 And, on perusal of your valuable paper, them 1* n diversity 
of opinion respecting this fish. 
In my early days, «ny some ten or twelve year, ago, I have caught a 
great number of them, ranging from three to eight pound, each, In the 
River Wye, England. Observe that tills river abounds with salmon and 
trout, t have seen trout feeding on their younger brethren, but they 
eschew the grayling. Whether it Is Bin grayling's big dorsal fin that 
anoys the trout, or whether lit » flavor Is unpleasant to them, 1 cannot My, 
but such I. tho fact, as I have frequently observed. 
From the conformation of the mouth of tho grayling, t presume he 
does not prey upon fish. 1 never siiccci'dod In taking one with minnow, 
live, dead or artificial, nor yet with salmon spawn, worms ut gentles. I 
have only tnken them with a very fine loader, and the .mafiosi sUod fiy, 
natural or artificial, (likewise a fine fiy rod or pole ) They arv a very 
•by fish, unlike the trout, which will dash nt the fiy thomomout It strike, 
tho water. The grayling will gently .tick the halt under the water, hardly 
making a ripple on the .urfnco. Yet they nre a very game Ibh when 
hooked, equal lo salmon or trout In their play, und not giving in without 
a airugglc . 
1 am satisfied If any gvntlnumn wishes lo propagate grayling, thnt by 
observing the following means strictly, they eon do so with c»»e Select 
a gocsl clear, gravelly bottom, free from mud and moderately swift cur- 
rent. ns pure In water supply a. It emanates from the spring. Trout will 
get along lit stream, where grayling will not exist, lienee, you will 
guard against Unnerlo*. or any nmnnfactorlo. that pollute the water. 
Observing tlieso condition, you havo your grayling and trout In tho 
same stream, mid tho trout In tho highest flavor from the purity of Ilia 
W Vhavo seen on hong Island numerous streams that nature has made 
for tho grayling, whore 1 nut certain lie would do well and thrive to a 
goodly .lie. N. Ptuonano. 
Wc have received from Capt- J. M. Coventry, of Non 
vcllo, Camilla, specimens of a dozen different kind, of tiles, 
such a* are used oepocially for grayling In England. They 
nre; the blue dun, hare’s ear, yellow hare’s ear, silver dun, 
red tug, furnace red lag, yellow spinner, yellow dun, grey 
spider, red spinner, quill gnat, und yellow upright. They 
ure very diminutive, smaller than the smallest trout Hies 
used by most American anglers, and nre dressed In the 
most exquisite mnnnor. We have observed iliut English 
anglers almost invariably use very small 111**- 1 * in angling for 
trout. For salmon, on the contrary, very largo flies are re- 
quired In some streams. In England the grayling comes 
into season in September, nnd Is host in mid W Inter, if tho 
water can only bo found in good tingling order. Hie 
blacker on the back the better the season of the fish. Tho 
largest fish are taken by sinking and drawing with tho 
artificial grasshopper, which is made by simply winding 
green worsted round a piece of lead with ft book in centre 
nnd putting two pieces of split si raw on tho side fusioned 
with yellow silk. It is a very killing method 
Fishing Matters— ' The number of fishing arrivals for the 
week ending February 25th, was sevmitucn. eight from the 
Banks seven from Georges and two from New Brunswick. 
Tho total amount of halibut brought In was 220,000 pounds; 
codfish 375,000 pounds. Halibut have been sold from $8 
to $11 per cwt. for best quality. Most of tho fares have 
come out in rather poor condition In consequonco of the 
long homeward passage. Georges cod, round, tiro Helling 
for $2 per cwt. 
Schooner John S. Bresson, Capt. Greonleat, which arrh 
veil from the Grand Banks on Thursday last, weighed off 
50,000 pounds of halibut, and Blocked $3,073.50- -Ihc largest 
fare and slock of the season thus far. Crow shared $ 1 30. 1 1 
each. . , * . , * 
The Georges fleet which sailed In the early part of this 
month, are coining along with good fares. • '' 
Marion Grimes, Capt. Davis, arrived on I uewlny with DO 
000 pounds of cod, having been absent but nine dnys A 
large portion of Iter fare were sold to fresh I)h i dealt r» for 
immediate consumption, nt $2.02 per cwt. Tho arriva o 
the new catch is quite timely, ns 'he old stock of Georges 
fish arc all disposed of, and there arc but few Bank remain- 
ing in first hands. 
The crew of the fishing slriunor Belle and Hattie, .num- 
bering thirteen men, divided, at Portsmouth, over $1,000 
as the result of ono day’s lltdiing *ust week. 
Tito ico blockade is fust being broken up since the mild 
weather set In. Some forty sail were got out on Monday 
and Tuesday, and others will soon bo on liidr way. The 
focr is rolling tho ice in tho inner harbor, and all that is 
now needed is a northeaster to tako it out to sea.— Cup* 
Ann Ad tor liter, Feb. 26. 
jllitionul 
—The fifth annual convention of the Professional Bono 
Ball Association was held at the Athletic club rooms, 1 >"• 
ndrlphia, on Monday, March 1st. 'I be resectability of tho 
delegates, and the good feeling which prevailed, " :l ' * 
credit on that class of the fraternity. I he beat part of tin. 
day was occupied by the session of the Judiciary commit- 
tee which, by the way, should have been held a month 
earlier ut least. 'Hie cases acted on were those .n relation 
to the expulsion of Radeliffe, Stearns, and Boyd from heir 
respective clubs, and the legality of the con rue t* signed 
bv Miller. Force, ami McMullin. I bey decided that M 
Hadcllffe’s case, not having been brought before the com- 
Slice he should be re i ..Slated, and Atey n'so rcin-mted 
Stearns while Boyd, whose position was tho least censur- 
S£ was left out in the cold In the case of the con- 
tracts they sent Force buck to Chicago, and Mullin to 
was made to the latter a services by the Athh lics. I o 
the credit of the Hartford club, they rclmcd Miller from 
his contract, and permitted him to play in St. Louis, 
thereby restoring the entente cordiaU between the two 
clubs. y At the convention nt night, the clubs represented 
bv delegates were as follows:— Athletic, Charles Sporing; 
Atlantic, B. Van Delft, Boston, H. Wright; Chicago. W. 
Hulbcrt; Centennial. E H. Hayburst; Hartford. M. Bn k; 
ley; Mutual, A. V. Davidson; New Haven W. 8. Arnold. 
Philadelphia, G. ConCnnnon; Ib d Stockings. A. Blong, 
St. Louis, C. O. Bishop; Washington, A. F. Childs, Wes 
tern W. O. Trimble. . > 
The officer* elected And the COBMoUtoifl applied 
