FOREST AND STREAM 
11 
BOW AND STERN AT CAPE ANN. 
Hartford, Janaary 80, tSTY 
Editor Forest axd Stream:— 
I have read your valuable paper since Its start, and have been very 
much pleased with the many wonderful and true!?) adventurer of your 
correspondents with their big bags of grouse, ducks and “slob," but I 
never hove read anything where 1 was sufficiently acquainted to make 
any comments myself until several weeks ago, when I rend n letter 
headed "Cooting at Capo Ann.” Then, says I to myself, "Doctor, you 
have been cooting, and at Cape Ann, too; but beyond that your experi- 
ence don't agTee with the other party, not to any alarming extent,” and 
as that same letter has excited considerable controversy between the 
"north and south” shore men, I thought I would tell yon my experience 
at Capo Ann. Now I have been cooting at Cohaaset and vicinity. nearly 
every season for fifteen years, but a year ago last October some mis- 
guided people, led by a gray-headed old sinner from Chelsea, Muss., In- 
duced me to go toCape Ann, telling me wonderful stories or the quan- 
tity of birds we would get and the good time we would have there, and I 
went. One Monday afternoon we landed on Straitsmouth Island, with 
three boats and an unlimited number of decoys, guns, Ac., Intending to 
stop a week or ten days, if the birds Hew well. Some one of the party- 
had been down previously and engaged quarters for us with the light 
house keeper, who evidently expected to keep us on baked coots; but wo 
did not discover this for some time. Well, as I said before, wo lauded 
Monday and arranged our boats, decoys, and anchors for they anchor 
bow and stern at Cape Ann, and had loaded an unlimited number of 
shells, preparatory to an early start and grent slaughter the next morn- 
ing. But a severe storm came np In the night, which lasted until the 
Friday foil owing our landing. We got upearly, but concluded to wait a 
few hours until it should stop raining, and wc waited all that day und 
the next, and did nothing but wait, for it was so rough that even the 
much talked of dory would not live In the sea that was running between 
the island and the shore. Our landlord, who had evidently expected us 
to provide game enough to live on, wusin about the snme condition as 
"Col. Sellers,” when he gave that invitation to dinner, as regards pro- 
visions, and we lived on turkey (that Is to say, It was Cape Cod turkey 
from Newfoundland) and rain, uulil Friday morning, when It stopped 
raining long enough for us to get oil the Island and leave for home. The 
light keeper said it waa not a very good week for cools, anyway; but If 
we hod been there the week before, we could have killed hundreds every 
day We believed him, hut thought we would not stop until they came 
again, and we went home — live men, three dorys, seven guns, five days; 
total amount of game, one coot, one crow, nnd a splendid shot which 
one of the party made at a flock of decoys off the end of the Island; und 
1 feel certain that if we had had good weather, nnd could have been 
anchored how and stern, we would have had a big snpply to take away 
with us. However, we voted Cape Ann a failure that season, and have 
not been there since. No doubt there is good shooting there at times, 
but wc did not strike the correct time, and for cooting I think I should 
udvise anyone to go further nortli to the "Nubble” or Cape Small Point, 
and have the first of the shooting, if he wants to get much certain sport 
out of it, and I assure you it Is good sport when the birds are flying well, 
for they ure usually very tame or stupid and decoy easily. Doctor. 
SUMMER WOODCOCK. 
Rocky Dell, Cohasset, January 30, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In reply to "Sane/,,” I will say I do not agreo with him. We had bet- 
ter enforce the laws wo have than try to make new ones. What do the 
game laws, as they exist now, amount to In this or his State? Are not 
partridge, quail, and robins shot continually when t awisonf I go 
iu for a law that, when the offender is reported to selectmen of 
the town, they will he obliged by the State law to fine him. I will ven- 
ture to say that now not one in one thousand of the poor birds that are 
shot in close season are reported. As to woodcock, I would have it Au- 
gust 1st, but not later. They are large enough then, in average sea- 
sons, last year being nn exception. After September 1st we shore shoot- 
ers have no time for anything else but ducks; so onr land shooting must 
be done before that time. The following has been of great use to me for 
Summer woodcock shooting. It may bo a new Idea to some. Wo all 
have a favorite spot where we hunt these birds. What wc do is this: 
Hire the farmer who owns the land where we shoot to plow for a mile in 
length, one hundred feet wide on the first rising land from the meadow, 
following the direction of the stream. Plant this with com (in rows, 
not hills), as the deep furrows between the rows mnke the best boring 
ground, und the high corn keeps the ground dnmp. If there are any 
birds near, you will find them there. We pay the difference between 
what the farmer calls a good crop, and what he gets out of it, and ho 
keeps every one elso from shooting over it. S. K., Jn. 
The above suggestion is worth following. It forms a 
bond of sympathy and creates a sort of compromise be- 
tween the sportsman and the farmer, besides securing bet- 
ter sport. — E d. 
GAME PROTECTION IN CANADA 
cletyosa Journal of valuablo Information on all subject* thnt would 
come under their notice, and oue ever ready to do all in Uu power to fur- 
ther tho objects of such an organisation. c. A. r. 

GROUSE ON STATEN ISLAND. 
Statkx Island Suootino Associations I 
Port Ricdmond, Fcbrua-iy. 1875. f 
EmTon Forest and Stream:— 
The Staten Island Shooting Association have just received from Mr. 
Andrew Brink, living In the northern part of the Stale, fourteen grouse, 
(Boiiiua urnbtllm,) and eleven large hares, which will be turned out In 
tho Island sometime during March, It is doubtful If the former will ro- 
in mi with us. though we have some large tracts of Umber, and In many 
places very dense. Some years back they woro hero In largo numbers 
and many of the old rvsidonts tell of the happy times they have had iu 
pursuit of them. I can remember lu luy time of having seen them In 
the vicinity of Watch Hogue, but they are now extinct. Should wo bo 
successful iu having these birds stay on the Island, wo shall have at least 
fifty of them sent u» from Pennsylvania. Wc shall put out about 100 
quail, which aru now on their way from Virginia, a gift of one of the 
truest sportsmen, Capt. Peter Van Name. 
We trust the New York Society for (lie Protccllon of Game and Fish 
will succeed lu having their bill passed, making it unlawful to shoot any 
kind of snipe and plover during their Spring flight It will save the 
woodcock with us, ns there Is not a man coming from tho city hut that 
will kill them when afler English enlpo, ( OaUinayo viUtoni,) should they 
lie In their path Mortimer. 
P. S.— Dr. Talbot, who received such praise in tho Herald a short time 
ago, and who will mukc it warm for some of the crack shots at pigeons, 
has been elected an nctivo member in the S. I. Shooting Association. 
M. 
THE FOX GUN. 
Wkkuam, Mass., February 8, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The Horn In a recent number of Forest and Stream regarding the 
"Fox" gun, has provoked so many lottora of enquiry that I venture to 
answer them through your columns. 
The gun, as stated In your answer, Is a "side action," ns dl stlngulshed 
from tho common tip-up or breakdown action, swinging upon an Imag- 
inary centra by an Ingenious piece of mechanism. As my object is not 
to praise the gun above any other, or oven to compare it, I will not draw 
any comparisons, but merely state thnt tho objects sought In u breech 
loader— symmetry, simplicity of construction, strength of mechanism, 
rapidity and ease of loading— soem to be combined in the Fox gun. Not 
the least consideration is tho ease with which It can bo taken apart nnd 
cleaned. There arc no pins, hinges, or bolts to be lost or disarranged; 
hut by pushing in tho cjccior and a pressure of the fingers of the left 
hand, the barrels are detached from the stock at once, It Is opened by u 
pressure of the thumb of the right hand and n half turn of the wrist of 
the left, throwing the breech In such a position that the shells are In- 
serted into the chambers with more facility that In tho tip-up. The 
balance of the gun In loading is preserved, requiring no awkward balan- 
cing to keep it in place. 
But few of these guns are In the market, the company on gaged In their 
manufacture having chosen to nwait tho verdict of the sporting public, 
before turning out any considerable number. Tlmt ‘verdict has been fa- 
vorable; letters from all parts speak lu high term* of tho gun. One 
from a member of one of our United States exploring expedition*, who 
had shot his Fox gun over 1,500 times with tho most satisfactory result*, 
praises it highly. My experience with ono in your expedition to Flor- 
ida last Winter, was every way satisfactory. It ha* been pronounced by 
experts tiie strongest and least liable to wear of any brcecli loader exam- 
ined by them, For tho Information of the many sportsmen who have 
sent orders for the gun, I would statu that the limited number manufac- 
tured i» exhausted, but that a supply will he furnished, probably, in time 
for next seuson's shooting. 
The company engaged In the manufacture wore men of means, Identi- 
fied with other manufacturing and business Interests In Boston, who 
invested in this ns nn experiment, and now, having verified their convic- 
tions that a really good gun can ne prodneed nt a comparatively low- 
price, offer the machinery to parties who can give It (us they cannot) 
their exclusive attention. Probably before this Is printed It will hu dl*. 
posed of, and your advertising columns will notify sportsmen when tho 
demand can be supplied. p, a. Oder. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In your last number of Feb. 4, 1875, containing "My First Buffalo 
Hunt," I notice u small error which, if not corrected, might draw upon 
me some just criticism. This error will best bo corrected perhaps by 
following the text of my contribution; it is as follows: 
"You will then station me iu the heart of theChocluw und Chickasaw 
nations, at Pori Towson, upon the Klumccchy River, six miles from Red 
River, the dividing line of Texus, and ut presont the host place to hunt 
the buffalo." 
The buffulo has long sinen receded west from Fort Towson. In Western 
Texas, I desired to say, he may yet bo found, und not around Towson. 
Yours truly, OLD SCOUT 
Peterboho, Ontario, Canada, January 30, 1875. 
Editor Forest and stream:— 
On Wednesday evening last, the 27th inst., a very interesting meeting 
took place at the Huffman Honsc in this town, having for its object the 
formation of a Fish and Game Proteciive Society for and within the 
county of Petcrhoro. At eight o'clock a goodly number of gentlemen had 
assembled, and among those from a distance we noticed Major Boulton 
and Mr. Iriviu, of Lukefleld; James Golhorne, Esq., of Burleigh; and 
James Stewart, Esq., of Buckhorn. The meeting was opened by ap- 
pointing Mr. William Eaellund to the chair, who, in a lucid muniicr ex- 
plained the object in forming such a society, tho duties devolving upon 
Its members, and the benefits to he derived by the faithful discharge of 
those duties. He closed his remarks by calling on the gentlemen pres- 
ent to assist informing n fish and game protective club, so large in untn 
here and officered by meu so zealous in carrying out the low, that it 
might strike terror into the heurts of ail the poachers and pot hunters 
within fifty miles of the town of Peterhoro. A membership list wus 
opened and eagerly signed by all iu the room, afler which the election of 
officers took place as follows: President, John Ludguie, Esq ; Vice 
President, Major C. A. Boulton; Secretary and Treasurer, C. A. Poet, 
Esq. ; Counsel, E H. D. Hull, Esq.; Committee, Messrs. II. Calcutt. 
II. T. Strickland, E.J. Toker, G. B. Sproule, Win. Eastland, Juincs Stew- 
art, Buckhorn; James Golbome, Burleigh. 
Major Boulton asked if the propagation of fish in onr waters was ono 
of the objects of tho society, as ho thought great good would result by- 
taking this subject la hand. The other members gave the suggestion 
their hearty support, and thought pisciculture should form a part of the 
society's work. Mr. H. Calcutt 6ald that he had obtained from S. Wil- 
mot. Esq. of Newcastle, last Spring, a few thousand salmon fry and put 
them in Sloney Lake, with the view of stocking that aDd connecting 
lakes with that fine fish, and also to ascertain. If possible, whether it 
was necessary to its existence to havo access to the salt water. Perhaps 
onr friend Seth Green .could give us some valuable information on this 
point. 
After appointing a special committee to draft by-laws, Ac., thp presi- 
dent closed the meeting by expressing the wish that all woald endeavor 
to obtain as many members as possible. The next meeting will he held 
at the Hoffman House, on Wednesday evening, the 10th of February, 
when the report and draft of by-laws of the special committee will be 
submitted. Thanking you for so much apace in your excellent Journal, 
I am, respectfully, C. A. Post, Secretary. 
J*. S — Forest and Stream was recommended to members of the so- 
<§ e ‘ 1 ‘">‘1 jRii er fishing. 
FISH IN SEASON IN FEBRUARY. 
EOUTKKUN WATERS. 
Pompano. 
Snapper. 
Grouper. 
Rockfish. 
Trout (black ba»s). 
Drum (two species). 
Kiiigfisli. 
Striped Bass. 
Sliecpsbcad. 
Tullorflwh. 
Sen Buss. 
Fish in Market — Fish have been very scarce during 
the past week, iu fact an almost total suspension of Hit- 
catch has been the result of the intense cold and floating 
ice. Cod, haddock, pollock and torsk from Maine and 
Massachusetts iu limited quantities are selling at 8 cents 
per pound. The above varieties, with the herring from 
Newfoundland, we ure informed by Mr. Blackford, consti- 
tute the fish food for the poorer classes during the next 
forty days of fasting. A few specimens of the larger bass 
are coming in from the upper Hudson and selling at 2fc 
Turbot from Newfoundland are worth the suine. Red 
snappers from Florida ditto ; grouper from the same place 
20c.; Ogcecliec River, (Geo.) shad plenty at (JOc. ; Neuse 
River, (N. C.) shud at 75 cents to $1.50 each; splendid 
fellows, some of them weighing 5 pounds each. Smelts 
scarce at 20 cents; bluefisli, 15 cents; salmcn trout, 20 
cents; whitefish, 18 cents; fresh mackerel, 20 cents each; 
Spanish mackerel, 40 cents; salmon, 45 cents; Pickerel, 
20 cents per pound; large king fish from Key West, 15 
cents. 
—A fishing crew on the south side of Long Islnnd took 
4,000 pounds of codfish one duy this week. 
— A correspondent at Twin Lakes, Salisbury, Ct., writes 
February 3d : — 
‘‘Pickerel fishing is the great sport in this region during 
the Winter months. It is not unusual for strlug* of twenty 
or thirty ‘picks’ to bo taken of a morning. Two small 
oovs living near by have caught quite 200 pounds of pick- 
erel and perch. It is estimated that many sleigh loads have 
been sleighed off the smaller lake by the rural ‘sportsmen* 
during the present season, and the wonder is that there are 
any fish loft to catch; but the Immense breeding and feed- 
ing ground of weeds and rushes give tho pickerel and perch 
a chance for their lives. The fish are mostly small, seldom 
over a pound in weight, nnd our anglers sigh in vain for 
the old days when a five pounder would grace his table 
whenever ho dropped them a line of invitation. Tho 
larger 1 ike (W mishitting) lms not been flslnd much ns yet; 
nut yesterday— February 2d— a stranger took home twoniv- 
seven fine pickerel in return for u morning’s fishing, and an- 
other parly took from the same hole about half as many in 
t he afternoon of tho same day. All sorts of ‘lilts' are used 
trom tho three cross sticks to tho single lath and weighted 
wire down to tho primitive twig laid over tho hole, on 
winch is hitched the lino und Hag to drop when a bite on- 
curs. But tho tilt I Imt luiscs the Hag In night is pro 
f erred by experts, and many more lines can be seen, too 
with that contrivance." 
—The business outlook for Gloucester, at present writ- 
ing, is of quite an encouraging nature. In the leading 
branch, thnt of the fisheries, tho old slock of codfish is 
rapidly moving off, and at present idnicatious will ho en- 
tirely out of the market ere the new catch is ready f..r 
shipment; conseuuontly that portion of the fleet now about 
starting, nnd the larger part which will follow In the course 
of a week or two, have uvery prospect of a quick demand 
for their catch. Several bankers sailed yesterday, and next 
week some forty sail of Georgesmen will be off. There is 
no lack of ball, and somo good fares may he expected 
about a fortnight lioucc. 
Tho bankors havo come along more freely the past week, 
averaging light fares of halibut. The whole number of 
vessels arriving lias been nineteen— four fares from the 
Western Banks, seven from La Havre Bank, two from 
Georges, and six herring fares from Newfoundland. Ti e 
total amount of halibut brought in was 74,000 pounds, cod- 
fish, 200,000 pounds. Halibut have been in good demand, 
and selling for from $18 to $13 per cwt. Codfish have 
sold at $2 per cwt. The vessels all report very rough 
weather . — On pe Ann Advertiser, Feb. tit' 1 .. 
—Ouv corrospandent, "B. Hackle," sends tho following 
score; — 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Mr. Fulls, the Cblnoso mandarin, who wu *o successful ln*t Winter In 
fly fishing iu the St. Joint's River. Florida, send* me the following score, 
taken with fly, in the vicinity of Enterprise, Fla., last month: 
January 7th, -ill Southern linss, i)3 pounds 
January nth, 3S " 42 pound* 
■January :3th, 49 " 01 pound*. 
January Nth, 15 " V2 pound* 
January tilth, 48 " 57 pound* 
January I8lh. 35 " 08 pounds. 
January 2m h, 50 " '31 pound*. 
January 23d, 25 " onu 0 ‘bream," 58 pound* 
Total, eight days, 35G fish, 4094 pounds 
THE COMING BLACK BASS ROD. 
Editor Forest and Stream: - 
Tho black bass and his inodu of capture ho* boon altogether too much 
nogleetud, If not ontlroly Ignored, by most of our wrltur* upon the 
"gentle art." I regard tho black bas* ns ono of ourgauiest Unite*, nnd 
with suitable tackle the sport afforded by him is not surpassed hy tin- 
pursuit of any other member of the flnny tribe, excepting, possibly, the 
salmon Bat in ordur to re.illzo black bass llshlug In it* perfection, suit- 
able tackle must be employed, Fishing for brook trout with a bean pole 
for o rod and a worm for bait, I* not considered sport iu the Iran mean- 
ing of the term; neither Is It toflsh for black ban* under the snme condl- 
tlons— and this bring* me to tho subject of a black bass rod. 
Until within thepnst few years such primitive rods a* the cuno polo of 
the South, the aider or hemlock of tho Middle Slate*, or tho tamarack 
pole of the NorthwcHt wore, when well selected, light, und of true toper, 
equul to or superior to any tiling offered by the dealer*. Five years ago 
—nnd perhaps it I* tho surne in somo localities to-day— u person entering 
a tacklo shop In n Western town und Inquiring for lius* tackle would lie 
presented with a rod from fourteen to sixteen feet long, weighing from 
ono to two pounds; it bras* reel a* large us a paper cullur box. with a 
bundle like a coffee mill crank; a line like a chalk Hue, nnd n large un- 
gainly hook'witli u aide bend— and all till* formidable arruy of clumsy 
apparatus to do battle with such u thoroughbred and noble foe a* tho 
buns! Egad! the bona should bo pursued with weapons a* delicate iis 
are accorded to 111 * more favored cogoner, the brook trout! Oomblnu 
lion rod*, general rods, porch rods, chcao striped has* tackle, el hw genus 
omiie, have been , un n rule, manufactured for the Western market and 
i-old for black bans fl*liiiig. Those enthusiastic angler* who learned 
from experience tlmt there was a want not supplied lu bluck bass rods, 
as offered hy the Crude, and who possessed sufficient Ingenuity, con- 
structed their own rod* arid fished In their own wuy; und us these worthy 
souls were generally regnrdcd us authority In tla-lr respective localities 
on the subject of black bass fishing, und not without reason, their par 
licular style of rod was adopted iu tliclr particular locality us the “perfect 
ba*s rod," This will account for tho marked difference of opinion upon 
tills subject In different section* of tho country, a* evinced by the sev- 
eral articles herotofore appearing in Hie Foiikst and Stream. 
All sportsmen have their fiworlic hobbles and pet theories, nnd are 
more or less egotistical in explaining or expounding the same, from 
which imputation I cannot exempt myself, as the reader will, without 
doubt, soon discover. Having hod considerable experience in block buss 
fishing in tiie West nnd Northwest, and thinking that I might con tribute 
something on this topic, that would perhaps bo of some benefit to my 
brother anglers, or would at least furnish food for thought and set them 
thinking, le tho sole object of, and only excusu I offer for this communi- 
cation. 
While claiming no originality for my ideal rod— for f, loo, have nn al- 
most "perfect boss rod"— or for my Ideas upon the subject of block bass 
fishing, I have the satisfaction of knowing that the same idea* und opln 
Ions are shored by a largo number of our best Western sportsmen. Tile 
reader, therefore, may rest aseurred tb it I will recommend nothing not 
known to myself, or some brother angler, to have been proven by “strict 
trial and due examination" to be perfectly reliable in every respect. 
While a rod may vary somewhat, uccording to the mode Of fishing, 
there Is no good reason for such a wide diversity of opinion a* obt-lns on 
this question of bass rods, For Instance: Fishing from the hook of n 
sw ift nnd narrow stream, wndlog the bars of a wide river, or fishiDg from 
a boat on a quint lake, »eom In themselves apparently very different pro- 
cesses; but In reality they arc only slightly different meun* of securing 
the same end, viz: the capture of the black busa with a minnow for bait 
—for ray remarks apply only to bolt flahlng. And a properly construct- 
ed rod would answer In either place and fulfill either condition, uccom 
panlcd by a light, freely rendering reel— such as tho "Frankfort" reel, of 
which I shall have something to say ut another lime -together with a fine 
tront lino. An artistic fisherman, fishing for trout with the fly, would 
use hie fly rod In either place; from a boat, from the bank, or while 
wading the stream, he would use the same rod under any and every clr 
cumsUnce, wherever lie had room to make a cast. The bos* fisher will 
In time become a* consistent as the trout fisher, but it will only be when 
