our wny down thU sca»on, killing only two or three dozen qaall In fleo 
or id* days' homing, anil two or three woodcock, and a» many rabhlu, 
that could not get out of the way. I never un *o many traps and snare* 
In nil my life. In noine place* you would not go over a hundred yards 
without meeting from one to two dozen of every description, both for 
fur and feather There w ere the figure 4 trap and bos trap, a ud the 
snood*, made of fine brass wire or hair, or small cord; also a rquare pen 
of aranll laths, mado to trip when the game waa feeding beneath It, and 
the qunll trap, made of old fishing seine*, or something of that kind. 
Some of our friends kindly acted as guide* for us, or wo could have been 
driven away *o often that our sport would have been at an end, *o wc 
were told. The farmers very generally did not ollow stringers to shoot, 
but kept the game for their boy* to trap. We spent a Sabbath in this 
neighborhood, and the doutlnlo bclug invited to preach, ho did so, and In 
this way we became pretty well acquainted with the good people, and 
they allowed us privileges wo could not have enjoyed under other cir- 
cumstances. We told some of them wo could not do them much dam- 
age, to do our ben. us gsmo was scarce and wild, flying to Inaccessible 
places that abound down among the pines, after one or two altote. 
Wo anticipated much better sport at tho shore, but wero agaiu doomed 
to disappointment. The continued mild weather bad brought no flight 
of ducks from tho tnoro noithurn feeding grounds, only a few Inferior 
varieties. Wc persovenngly tried them for two days. The first day live 
guns only secured a dozen small species The next day wo went out 
more for the sail than with the expectation of doing anything w ith our 
decoys. Wo enjoyed a most delightful trip down the beautiful boy. and 
occaslonnlly knocked over a duck that seemed too lazy to get out of our 
way. Wc now concluded to try our luck after quail upon tho main land, 
but after onc-hulf dny'a experience gave It op In despair; not because 
we could not find any game— oh no, for It was abundant. The trouble 
was, we enme In coutact with Innumerable ownors of traps and 8nnre*. 
and they lmd n mortal hatred against strange sportsmen, nod wanted all 
the game for their boys to trap. 
Our gunner that we took along with ns n» guide was afraid of his 
neighbors, and frankly told us it would not do for him to be seen with 
us by any of them, We sprung several coveys of fine birds, and had 
some very pleasant sport; still we did not enjoy It to tho fullest degree, 
as we wore in constant fear of being driven away, and were told such nnd 
such n person would flue us, Ac. 
W.i did not get Into much trouble until Just as wo were winding up the 
afternoon's sport. It happened to be upon tho very farm of the proprie- 
tor of the house ut which wo were stopping, nnd whoso son was our 
guide. My dogs found two small coveys not far from the house, and we 
hnil half an hour of undisturbed and exceedingly line sport, congratula- 
ting ourselves upon our success, when down came a half dozen boys, 
crying anil shouting to drive us olF, saying wc had destroyed their traps 
and were killing their bird*. I was for going ahead, ns the game wu- in 
good cover, hut my companion thought It best to give It up and not do 
tho boys any further damage, which we finally concluded to do. The 
boys lmd gsthc/cd round oncof their fnvorlto imps, and wu wero quite cu- 
rious to see Its construction. It was made of old Ashing net*, some four 
or five feot square: the net supported by bows of wood, and an entrance 
lit either end, so contrived that It was easy for the quail to get In, but 
difficult for l hem to got out. Two birds had been taken that duv, anil 
something had killed them, and their netting was broken, which greatly 
inceii'ed the hoys, and they were unsparing In their abuse of us. We 
explained that we did not know of the existence of their traps, and 
would not kill any more of their birds, and got them puclllcd, with the 
assistance of our guide. Some 011 c thought the entrapped birds were 
killed nnd the not broken by cats. I was pretty well satisfied it was done 
l>y my old dog Stiucho, but did not say anything. Wc found that the 
boys mu le quite a considerable amount of money In this way, and en- 
tirely destroyed many heavy llocka of birds. Tala Is a "plain unvar- 
nished tale." 
My trip do vn to Cape May county was much more pleasant, and I met 
with much bettor success. My friend and myself, including what was 
killed by our gunner, made the very respoclablc bag of forty quail and 
snipe in two duys. Tho weather was very pleasant and quail were quite 
plenty for that lime (Dec. 1st) of the season. It is impossible to kill any 
very great amount of gume there. I nevor taw so many Impassable 
green oriar swamps and such thickets of lauiel, holly and cedar, where 
it is utterly impossible for dog or guu to get at them. My observations 
here were, that there is much yet for the West Jersey organization 
to do, but nothing in comparison with East Jersey, where no organiza- 
tion exists. My friend who accompanied mo had quite a geoil deal of 
fun at my expense. lie resides in Philadelphia, anil was obliged to get 
himself a shooting license to hunt over In Jersey. He told me very 
grnvcly, although I was a Jerseyraun, I would be arrested at the ferry 
with my flue string of game. He enid It was necessary for some one to 
identify me, nnd that he did not Intend to know me or to hnvo anything 
to do with me when tho police approached, and that he wonld enjoy my 
embarrassment In walking up to the mayor's office to the greatest extent. 
I took it very coolly and prudently slipped my game into a hand bag I 
had with me, No one molested me. nnd I then had tho laugh upon him 
far having to pay five dollars to cross the river to shoot a few innocent 
birds in mnch abused Jersey, and hoped ho would some time get the 
worth of 'hismonoy. K- 
GUN BORING. 
New Yontc, February 17, ltf75. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
My first letter, dated in October nit. , seems to have called forth quite 
a storm of different opinions ns to the relative merits of the various 
styles of boring, "Under Grip's" letter being among the most conspicu- 
ous. The remark he makes that the controversy Is likely to occupy 
much lime and space Is the only one in which I fully concur; but as he 
has made me such a prominent mark for bis missile*, I feel constrained, 
by your permission, to take just "one more shot." He names a style of 
boring practiced by a gunninker in Boston, ami says he had shells made 
to lit this boring, from what I can tlnd making the plan virtually the 
same as the one I advocated. Does it make any difference If the shoul- 
der of the chamber is beveled nnd a shell mode to flt this bevel, or If tho 
shoulder is square and the shell likewise? or, id other words, if you cut 
an apple in two, won't the parts IU- together agnin,.whcther the cutis 
straight or diagonal? I guess so. "U. G." seems to -have the Idea that 
I suppose tho gas must escape baefovattts through the joint between 
shell and barrel, whereas every one knowsthe expansion of the shell pre- 
vents that. "U. G." says, moreover, that if I look at a number of giins of 
different makers, I will see long tapers and short, square shoulders and 
beveled, Ac. (mark the Italicized adjective). Of tills I have no doubt, ss 
each maker has a general principle on which he boros, making the nec 
easory deviations, (which are generally slight) os tho coso requires; there- 
fore different makers will have different stylos. Now let "U. G." exam- 
ine n number of guns of the same maker, and he will tie convinced 1 am 
right. He condemns himself right away; for In a sentence or so after he 
says his Boston man has a formula. Tolley boros his guns with a bev- 
eled shoulder and long taper; Scott a nearly square shoulder and' short 
taper I am speaking of the guns I have seen and examined— qnlte a 
large number. Tplley warrants hie guns, and all of Scott’s I have seen 
shot were good ones, all tried with paper shell*. I shonld think from 
the way “17. G." talks of Uie Boston guns that he is so newhat Interest- 
ed, nnd he may think the same of mr "crocking np" Scott's, bnt I con 
•Wire him that I am not, nor have I ever been, connected with any gun- 
maker, being ouly a "tyro'' (os "Herbert" says) of at least fifteeu years' 
experience (!• in guns and practical gunning. 
As Ihe shell question occupies a good deal of space now, I may as well 
“take o hack at it myself." All the metal shells I ever tried shoot 
alight ly better than paper ones. I suppose because they necessitated the 
use of larger wads, being larger in the bore, and these large wads make 
a lighter flt In the barrel after passing the end of the shell, producing 
more perfect combustion It being unnecessary to turn over ot crease 
them, tho short wad can start falrl? «** all sides. The reasons why paper 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
shells have hod so many enemies Is. that the shell* have been carelessly 
loaded, without aeclng Unit ihe wads were made to sit squarely on both 
powder and shot and ends Improperly created or tnroed over. In my 
last I made on objection to Ihe croascr, aud I will state my reasons It 
takes great care to make the crease of exactly the same depth ell round. 
Is almost Impossible to do It as it should be. and If It Is not done, the 
place w here the shot wad Is easiest moved will stnrt flrst . The powder wad, 
having less resistance to overcomo in that spot, will follow, nud the shot 
is forced up or down, or sideways, as the case may bo, by the escaping 
gnsut the muzzle of the gun. If any one doubt* (bit let him crease 
doeper on one side, or if ho uses metal shells, let him lake a little shellac 
varnish and run It round one side of tho abot wad. 
Some object to the paper shell because, they snv, they stick after the 
discharge. I have used a good many of Eley's shell*, both brown and 
green, lhavo never tried the blue) In all kind* of weather without a stick 
ornmlssflre. I've bad them so wet on the outside that they looked 
like blotting paper; but they never missed or stuck. When they stick 
the extractor Is generally to be blamed more than the shell, snd when 
mlssflros occur the plungers will be found too short, or tho mainsprings 
too weak. However, my ouly objections to tho metal shell at present 
are, the room they take np, over one-quarter more than tlie paper ones, 
nud the dislike I have to carrying a lot of sleigh boll* about me wbeu I 
hunt Be It known I never waste my time reloading paper onoa The 
metal one? are not so difficult to clean, and I don’t intnd them on that 
score; but 1 think the very small gain In shooting 1* more than counter- 
balanced by theannoynnee of carrying this "sounding brass" homo again. 
I find the easiest and handiest way to carry paper shells In the field I* to 
put about an equal number In tho pocket* of your coat, use from Ihe 
right hand pocket*, and as tho supply gets low trun*fer some more from 
the left, Can "U. G." carry the Uoalon pattern metal shell* ns easily n* 
those are carried? No, he most have a belt or vest mado »o ho con carry 
them with the muzzles up. and then tho flunge on the bottom I* sure to 
catch In pulling the shell out; whereas, If you wish to use a holt or vc«t 
with pa|>er shells the flange Is Just the thing to give a good hold. If a 
coaplc of cents per shot are tin object, by nil tnenns nso metal shells, 
or if you go to an out-of the- way place to shoot, do likewise, providing 
you Intend to stay a long lime nnd are in danger of getting short of 
paper ones, for as yet tho country stores do not keep a very heavy stock 
of them. Side Lrvkii. 
A REVOLVING BREECH LOADER. 
SuAitopKvc, Minn , February 2, 1875. 
Editor KonzsT and Stream:— 
In looking over back number* of the Forest and Stream I occasion 
ally rend nrtlclcs on the panther, or catamount, which hns led mo to be- 
lieve that these nultniils are more numerous In the wild* of Northern 
New York than any othor portion of our country, unless we may except 
tho fastnesses of fair Florida, and that they are comparatively unknown 
In our Northwestern States, Nevertheless, wild cat* and lynx do 
ubound here, nnd sometimes they show a bold front, and might pass for 
something larger In the cat line than we tire supposed to be po-«v*«ed of, 
as the following from the Sioux City Journal sufficiently proves:— 
"Settlers living on the frontier* ore subjected to Indian mid* nnd other 
dangers, hut wu never before heard of one wildcat raiding a house and 
cleaning It out. Such, however, was the care about ten day* ago. A 
large wildcat entered a German’s house near Granger's Woods, about 
forty tulles up the Missouri ltlver from this city. The Intnnics of the 
cabin comprised six persons— the mother and live children. Tho father 
wu* a mile distant in the timber, chopping wood. Upon (he appearance 
of the animal ut the door, which was siauding ajar, the mother ami little 
oucs fled the house by another door, and ran to where the man whs at 
work, while u small dog nud the dome-tic pussy gavo the Intruder battle 
Upon the return of the German and Ills family, ihe beast had left nml 
token refuge in alree a few rods from the house. Tlx: old tide wits taken 
from it* corner, nnd by a dead shot, thu cat was brought to the ground 
with a bullet though Us brain The dog and the pussy were both found 
Inside of the house, w ith their entrails torn out mid rumored over tho 
floor, The cat was of a very large size and had been frequently seen In 
ihut section." 
In a rifle controversy n fewdays ago, In which the merits of breech and 
muzzle loaders were discussed, a "good one" was told pertaining to the 
flrst start-In of the breech loader, wlifch I'll Jnst add here before closing. 
Our old friend Nntliuu lived In Connecticut In thoso days, nnd had a 
chum up In Hartford, who I’ll dub here, for short, "the Squire," and ho 
was a great fancier of guns, especially new gun*. Now, the Squire bad 
lately purchased one of Colt's bran-new live-shooters, for which he 
planked down a cool $1&0 in coin (greenbacks dld’nt flourish In tho*e 
times), and ns Nnlhan had gone over there ho was Invited to be sure and 
come around on the morrow nnd see the great rifle "abate. " Not con 
sentlng, on the following morning called around, nnd In due time, with 
the happy and tickled 8qnlro, repaired to a neighboring orchard, and 
while the Squire loaded up— "Now for business," us he oxpreaaed It. 
Nathan prepared tho turget, which done, the Squire having got the gun 
ready, blazed away, and away went the nstonlshed Squire end over end ; 
but quickly regaining hm feet he bawled out: "Look out, there I Uncle 
Nat! the darn thing'* gone off, and busted, by crackoy !" A* tho barrel 
came off the stock nnd went end over end, Nathan, who wu* watching 
the performance, coolly replied: "Yes, I »cc It coining, but 1 rather 
guest. I can get out of the wny." 
This was a set-back on Colt, sure as you're horn, a* tho Squire Imme- 
diately went back on the breech loudiug system, und muny of his more 
Intimate friends nnd admirers were disposed to keep shy of them also. 
S. 8. 
Qiichtiiu] and foaling. 
All communications from Secretaries ami friends should bs mailed no 
later than Monday In each week. 
HIGH WATER. 
FOR THE 
WEEK. 
Vote. 
Boston. 
A Vie York 
Charleston. 
H. *1 
If. *. 
II. M, 
Mar. it 
1 66 
11 21 
.0 43 
Mur. 12 
2 42 
morn. 
i as 
8 3) 
l) 31 
morn 
Mar. 14 
4 3S 
i r. 
0 88 
5 49 
2 88 
1 III 
Mar. I>, 
li 63 
a 47. 
2 62 
Mur. |7 
8 11 
4 65 
4 11 
—The schooner yacht Tidal Wave, of Now York, Com- 
modore Voorliis, has visited since tho flrst December lust, 
Hamilton, Bermuda, St. Thomas, Santa Cruz, St. Kitts, 
Nelis, Mount Serratt, Guudaloupe, Doriiinica and Turks 
Island, and at last accounts the yacht was en route for St. 
Augusline rw Nassau, N. P. Why the example of Com- 
modore Voorhis and Mr. Grubb is not followed by the 
owners of some others of our large yachts we arc at a lost 
to conceive. With all the attractions of Florida and the 
genial Winter climate of the West Indies, why these mag- 
nificent vessels, large enough for Liverpool packets, should 
be kept for a little Summer bay sailing, is past our compre- 
hension. In every quarter of the globe an English yacht 
is to be met with, and the additions to science and geography 
made in this manner is by no means inconsiderable. Who 
‘etfer has not read Lord Duffer in's “Letters from High Lati- 
tudes,” has still » treat in store, not only from the descrip- 
tion of an intrepid yachtsman's ^adventures, but the genial 1 
75 
nnd interesting accounts of those almost terra incognitas, 
Spitsbergen and Jan Mayan. 
—The nu mbers of the New York Yacht Club held a 
special meeting nl their club rooms, Madison Avenue and 
Twenty-seventh street, last week to discuss tho proposed 
lunemlmcnu to Article 4 of hy-luws and artico 10 of consti- 
tution. The former waa designed to do away with the re- 
presentation of the owners of yachts by proxy, nnd was 
passed by a lnrgr majority. In the latter it was proposed 
that instead of tho names of candidates living posted at 
least ten days before being ballotlcd for, they should bo re- 
ferred to a committee appointed for the purpose, for their 
report. Tills amendment was approved by all present, 
and will be presented at the next general meeting of the 
club for approval. 
— The annual meeting of the Atlantic Yacht Club waa 
held at the Club looms in Brooklyn last Monday evening. 
There was a large attendance both of yachtsmen and mem- 
bers, and much Interest taken, as it was the election of 
officers for tho year and the present staff officers had tie 
clincl a re-election. The following officers were elected 
unanimously : — Mr. George A. Thayer, schooner Triton, 
Commodore; Mr. Latham Fish, schooner Agnes. Vice- 
Commodore; Mr. William Cooper, sloop Orion, Bear Com- 
modore; Mr. John B. Morgan, Uncording Secretary; S \\ . 
Knowles, Treasurer; II. II. Houins, Corresponding Secre- 
tary; M. Christopher T. Lipp't, Treasurer; ami the follow- 
ing mombera trustees:— George A. Thayer, Latham Fish. 
John II. Rhodes. J. R. Maxwell, S W. Knowles, Edward 
Arnold Committee on Membership — John B Morgan, 
Win. I’eot, Win. II. 11. Beebe; Regatta Committee:— J. L 
.Marccllus,ll. II Hogans, Christopher T. Lippll Tim Re- 
gatta was appointed for Tuesday, 23d of June, and $1,200 
appropriated for prizes and expenses. Tim courqp will be 
the same ns the past few years. 
Tim Club has in the last year gained largely in its roll of 
membership and in Its fleet of yachts, which now number 
upwnrdu of forty. 
— At a meeting of the Wllliainshurgh Yacht Club the 
following officer* were elected to serve during tho ensuing 
year:— Commodore, A. Barker; Vice Commodore, A. Conk- 
lin; President, T. W. Reeves; Secretaries, Charles 10. Lyelku 
ana William A. Bnrdcll; Treasurer, Henry Miller, and 
Measurer, Andrew J. Brush. 
Nkw Yachts at South Boston.— D uring tlm Winter 
months the boat builders around the yachting rendezvous 
at City Point, have not been laying mi their oars, Messrs. 
Hutchins & Pryor have built a new boat liou-u on Ward’s 
wharf, and have turned out a centre hoard Newport boat 
after the model of I ho Mabel. She i- 1U feet il inches on 
the water line, and 23 feci over all. U. K. Pettenglll, Esq., 
tho owner of the Water Wltuli, has purchased her. 
Pierce Bro's. have also built a boat of the same mould as 
tlie Mabel, which t hey built. Sim was built to order 
for C. A Hastings Esti. Also a 10 feet centre board, New- 
port, for J. M. Haskell, Esq, They also have in hand a 
twenty-five feel sloop, centre-hoard, modeled lifter the 
Belie, building for F. II. Peabody, Esq 
The Lawlvy's have built a 10 feel centre-board. Newport, 
for W. II. Gibbs, Esg , to be called the Idyl, ami are build- 
ing auothcrof the same size, to order for M J. ICiley, Esq., 
who is going to sell liis Queen Mali. They have also built 
ami delivered two others of same size and stylo, for tho 
Honeycomb Bro'H., of Sulcm. On their wharf 1* a twenty- 
seven feet life boat, built for the Humana Society, nml is 
now awaiting the arrival of air tanks which are coining 
from Europe. 
Tlie sloop Wanderer, belonging to Charles Russ, Esq. is 
in their shop, undergoing improvements in tlie shape of a 
now centre-hoard, after original designs. It i* to drop fore, 
ns well as nft, thus giving more surface of honrd under 
water. They are also to make a new hollow ma«t for 
Commodore Dennis' Fanny. It is to lie lighter than oncof 
tho same character used last season. 
E. Harris is building at liissliopa limit same size and style 
of the Mabel, for sale. The Mabel, so often nllmlcd to 
above, is the property of Commodore Roberta of the South 
Boston Yacht Club, ami was built by Pierce Bro's. lost 
Winter. It is not surprising Hint yaculmen and builders 
should endeavor to duplicate her model, us her record Inst 
season was unrivaled, (see Foiikbt anii Stream, October 
23d 1874). Her owner may well feci proud of Iter. With 
so many twin sisters in the field, all points of build and rig 
being equal, yachlsfn“nship will alone win tho ruco 
Bkvkhi.y Yacht CLUii.— The officers for 1875 arc :— Com- 
modore, William C. Loring; Vice Commodore, Walter 
Burges; Secretary and Treasurer, Waller Lloyd Jeffries; 
Measurer, Henry W. Lamb; Regatta Committee, Charles 
II. Williams. Edward B. Russell, VV. D. Ilodgcs, Waller 
Burgess, Walter Lloyd Jeffries. 
— At Keyport, N. J., Mr. F. W. J. Hurst is building a 
cutter-yacht, which will be completed in lime to take part 
in the June regatta of the New York Club. She is 30 feet 
keel, 55 feet 6 incites on deck, 10 feet 6 inches beam, aud 
5 feet depth of hold. 
— Mr. William II. Langley, of the New York Yacht 
Club, will have his schooner yacht Comet thoroughly 
overhauled early In the season. It is said ho intends Id en- 
ter into another race with the Magic, for the schooner chal- 
lenge cup of the club. 
— The sloop Sadie, Rear Commodore Davidson, B. Y. 
C., will be thoroughly overhauled at Grocnport, Long 
Island, and pul in readiness for the season. 
— Mr. Willoughby, of Saratoga, is having n sloop yacht 
built by Alonzo Smith, at Islip, Long Island. She is 50 
feet in length, on deck, ami will bo named the Windward 
and enrolled in the New York fleet. 
— The sloop North Star, Mr. Alexander Taylor, Jr., 
New York Yacht Club, is to he overhauled and refitted for 
tlie coming season. 
—The schooner Ariel, Commodore Swan, 8. Y. C. is 
now undergoing alterations at Northport, Long Island. 
The vessel I* being lengthened, und other changes are be- 
ing made that are expected to materially increase her 
speed. 
— A sloop yacht, about fifty feet in length, which will be 
named tlie Mad Cap, is now being built for Mr. James It. 
Busk, of Staten Island, by Albertson Brothers of Phila- 
delphia, and will be added to the fleet of the New York 
Yacht Club. 
