FOREST AND STREAM 
A CARD TO MOOSE HUNTERS. 
New York. March 8. 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
As this Is the season wheu moose hunting is most successful, owing to 
the hard crust which covers the deep snow in the North Woods, and 
makes It an easy matter to overtake these great, ungainly animals, I wish 
to sny n few words to moose hunters. It must bo homo In mind that every 
full grown cow iuookc, when heavy, as they nro now, carries two calves, 
and therefore the cows should he spared at this season. The meat of 
the young cows Is of course much better eating tlian that of old bulls: 
hnl the linv protects moo so during tlielr breeding season, and It should 
be respected. Your correspondent "E ," January 28th, says that moose 
are more plenty in Maine than usual. If now all bunting and killing of 
cows, with their unborn calves, could bo stopped, there might again bo 
good moose hunting In Maine. 
As the Forest and Stream clrcalatcs among sportsmen "down Emit," 
I hope that these few lines mny prevent the invasion of many moose 
yards this Spring, uud 1 am sure that the banters will reap a rich reward 
next Full hunting moose on the lakes and rivers of Maine and New 
Brunswick. Joun Aveiit, Sec'y Blooming Grove Park. 
The Maine moose law is defective because it contains 
no appropriation for wardens, and the provisions for en- 
forcing it are feeble. — E d. 
CONCERNING BORES. 
Montreal, March 5, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream: — 
In your number of March 4th "E O. II ." complains that in my advice 
as to charges for 6hot guns, iu your paper of 28th January lost, I have 
made no mention of bores. Now, I can only suy that the boro has very 
little to do with the charge till yon get nnder 14. As to "E O H.'s" 
Statement that a 12 bore of a given weight recoils more than a 10 bore of 
same weight, it is directly contrary to my own experience of the past 
season, I shot last Fall with two central Arc breech loaders, one a 10, 
the other n 12 , each weighing one or two ounces over eight pounds. I 
must say that with the same weight of powder and lend the difference in 
recoil was imperceptible; if there wa9 any difference, tho 10 bore pushed 
a little harder of the two. "H." talks of a 10 bore, 6| lbs. weight, with 
a charge of four drachms. Should he shoot any such charges in so light 
a gun he will some day be a subject for a coroner's inquest. Ten boros 
are rnrely made lighter than eight pounds, and usually run from 8j 
to 10 pounds: 12 bores may bo made down to Of pounds, but are even 
then unserviceable. A 16 bore would be more suited to that weight. I 
must again repent, that the charge most suited to a gun deponds to n far 
greater extent on the weighftlian bore of said gun. I have shot for six- 
teen or seventeen years, and have used guns from about 22 gauge (old 
flint locks) up to No. 6, which latter used to throw three ounces of shot 
aud twelve drachms of powder (weighing about 28 lbs.). As soon as the 
weather turns mild a couple of my friends arc going to help me with a 
series of experiments to test the following gnus: 10 bore, 30 Inch barrel, 
S lbs — Geo. Gibbs; 12 bore, 30 Inch bnrre), 8* lbs -W. ,t C. Scott; 10 
bore. 30 Inch, 0 Ibo. -Parker. Nos. 1 nnd 2 are well known killers; No. 
3 is a now Parker that lias not been Area. We Intend also carefully 
testing With both paper and metal shells, and will use charges from 
three and a quarter up to Ave drachms of powder and one ounce to ono 
and a half ounces of shot. When we get through the trial I will send 
you a review of the performances of all three guns. I have written 
Messrs. Parker, asking them for early information concerning tho 
charges they consider best for their gun. For the low price the gun 
costs, I must say the Parker is fur better in value than anything of En- 
gli>li manufacture near the same price. If it inauuges to boat my pet, 
Gibbs, there will be lots of them wanted in Canada next Autumn. Our 
decoy shooting on tho ice Will soon open now, and should I have good 
sport I will drop yon a note. Yours, very trnly, Roval. 
ADIRONDACK SLAUGHTER. 
Fenton House, No. Four, Lewie county, N. Y. 
Editor Forest and Stream:-- 
I read au article in your paper on deer slaughter in tho Adirondacks, 
and I desire to say a word in condemnation of this unsportsmanlike 
practice. I reside in the Adirondacks, and know whereof I speak, and I 
fully concur with "H. B. J.,” of North Adams, Mass., that not one- 
fifth of the deer that are killed are shot by sportsmen. In the vicinity of 
my residence, on the ponds nnd lakes of the Beaver River nnd its tribu- 
taries. nearly one hundred deer were killed last Fall, after all the sports- 
men hud left the woods, by trappers and hunters, but more by the old 
fogies that live near the wilderness and make some pretentions to fox 
hunting, and therefore keep hounds, and lute in the Fall, when the 
ground begins to freeze, so that deer run to water much more readily, 
they go in lnrge parties into the woods with their hounds, aud as it re- 
quires but little practice und skill to hunt in this way, they manage to 
slaughter u good many deer I know of one party that killed upwards 
of twenty deer last Fall. I hnve seen racks for drying and jerking veni- 
son forty feet long, made and used by those deer exterminators. In 
1871, aided by prominent sportsmen of the State, I procured the passage 
of a law by our Legislature prohibiting the drivinj of deer with dogs, 
and a heavy penalty for killing a doer in any of the waters of the State, 
driven in by dogs. But this law was perhaps too stringent, as it cut off 
the sportsmnnj as well as the others. Now, what we want is a law pro- 
hibiting hunting deer with dogs after a certain season; say the 15th of 
October. As there are but few deer killed by still hunting of late 
years, the passage of such a law, with ample provisions for its enforce- 
ment, would be the means of protecting tho deer from the wholesale 
slaughter late in the Full. I cull upon all trne sportsmen to use their in- 
fluence to secure tho passage by our present Legislature of the State, of 
such game laws as shall most effectually protect the most noble as well 
as valuable game of our great Adirondack wilderness. Unless some- 
thing Is done to protect the deer from the ravages of those who do not 
possess one quality of the sportsman, but whose only purpose Is to kill 
all they can, and in any way they can, the time is short when the sports- 
man, on his annual visit to the Adirondacks, will be cheered by the 
eight of these wary deuizens of the forest, or have his larder supplied 
with delicious venison. C. Fenton. 
COOT SHOOTING AT CAPE ANN. 
RockpuRT, Mass., February 25, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I have read with interest the various letters of correspondents con- 
cerning coot shooting at this place, and being a resident here, and hav- 
ing ougaged in that sport every season for tho last four years, I desire to 
pnt my finger into the controversy. 
Iam particularly amused with the pleasant letter of the “Doctor.” in 
your issue of the 13ik ln*t. Allow me to say I thiuk I know something 
of that crowd— "five men, three dories, seven guns— one coot aud one 
crow." I happened to anchor my dory close by Straltemoutb Island 
during the very time the "Doctor" and bis friends were enJoyiDg the 
hospitalities of its worthy li'.hl-keeper, and although tnesea was a little 
choppy, we hud very good sport, and if I remember ar'ght, I had the 
pleasure of seeing the “Doctor" and his parly duly armed and equipped, 
engaged in doing skirmish duty on the rocks, which duty chiefly con- 
sisted iu a due observance of our sport, and in expressions of regret 
that the weather would not permit them to come out. We are ulwnys 
anxious w hen our country friends visit us for coot shooting. They arc 
usually mortally afraid to engage in the sport, unless the sea is as 
arnooth o- a barn floor. We always do cousolc them by saving, "it is 
not a very good week for coots," or something to that effect. 
Vole "Capo Ann a failure!" Why, the truth Is, coots are not lo be 
91 
shot on Capo Ann. hot Just a llttlo way off its shores, aud If the Doctor 
and his friends had pursued their sport there, they would have dally 
brought In tholr spoil. wUh appetites which would have caused them to 
pronounce bnked coot and Cape Ann turkey the greatest dellcnclc* in 
the world. 
it Is a mistake to say that they anchor bow nnd stem at Cape Ann. 1 
agree with "A. U B ," of Boston, and say that I never saw a dory so 
anchored. We frequently anchor our decoys hend and tail, the head 
lino of tho decoys being made fn.t to tho klllook line of the dory ; thus 
they can ho drawn In near the dory, or payed out. ns occasion inny re- 
quire, and when n bird In shot wo have only to unfasten tho buoy lino 
And the dory Is elonr, nnd after securing our game return to, our busy, 
take It In, mid make fast. 
I havo to disagree with "8. K.. Jr.," of Cohasaot, In him dislike to a 
dory. We consider tho dory tho best and safest craft for sea shooting. 
Thorough sea and breakers of Minot's Ledge are not more celebrated In 
song and story than those of A very Rock, which Ilea not more than two 
gnu shots distance from StralUmouth Island, and both are equally ex- 
posed to tho son "8 K . Jr.," will ilml no lea at StralUmouth Point 
when he comes lu re, us I hope ho will next scasou. Wo lay securely iu 
our dory ant anchor in very rough weather, nnd hundreds can testify thin 
nt times when tho llfo-boata are brought into requisition, the dory i» a* 
frequently seen loading the way to tho scene of tho wreck ns following 
In their track. 
I sincerely advise tho “Doctor," and all who would essay the sport, 
not to mnko too elaborate preparation* for coot shooting. The nature of 
the sport does not often admit of it. Take your gun, decoys and amniu- 
niiion, nnd be on hand yourself. “Too many cooks spoil tho broth" is 
n true saying. A largo party, wUh ample preparations, may afford a 
good time generally, bat the result will usually show ns many crows as 
cools. Very respectfully, jj_ j,- 
JN* and §ii er ^ ishiiig . 
FISH IN SEASON IN MARCH. 
Snapper. 
Grouper. 
Rockllsh. 
SOUTHERN WATERS. 
Trout, (black bass). Sheepahcnd. 
Drum (two species). TullorAsh 
Kingllsh. Sea Boss. 
Fi8ii in Market.— W ith exception of the opening of the 
trout season aud an increased supply of cod nnd haddock, 
there is very little change to report iu the fish market. Trout 
are worth 50@$l 25 per pound, according to the locality 
from which they come. Cod and haddock 10c@12 cents. 
Savannah Sliud arc worth 40c. each; North Carolina do., 
50c. 50, according to size; Hudson River Striped Bnsai 
20c.@25c. per pound; Red-snapper, 20c. ; Wliiteflsh, 18c. • 
Salmon Trout, 20c.; California Salmou, 40c. ; Frozen Sal- 
mon, 40c. ; Halibut, 20c.; Long Island Smelts, 25c.; White 
Perch, 15c. ; Codfish Tongues, 15c. per pound. 
—The (routing season opened on Long Island last Mon- 
day, the loth ult., though the ponds didn’t open, and the 
streams, but partially released, flowed with a sullen gurgle 
under the little shelves of ice that clung to the river mar- 
gins along the water line. A large number of professionals 
go down annually as a religious duty— just as some per- 
sons sit up to watch the “ old year out and the new' year 
iu." These went on Saturday nnd assisted at the opening 
ceremony. Among them were faces that were familiar 
when the present generation were hoys; and when they met 
to exchange spiritual consolation on tho Sunday that hap- 
pily intervened, the scene was very affecting. Capt. George 
Gelston was one who wanted to go, but he could not And 
his rod. This was unfortunate, as the Captain is always 
present at openings, especially of oysters. The weather 
was unusually favorable for this season of the year, being 
warm and “ muggy," and when morning broke, the South 
Siders broke for the “Willows," while the Wuitoniuus took 
to tho outlet of Stump Pond. Those less favored, who had 
to depend upon the Creeks at South Oyster Buy, where 
Conk Vandewater used to exalt his horn, made for the out- 
let of Massepiqua, away down the road, but found that a 
negro boy had netted out the three trout that were iu there 
a half hour before daybreak, and went back to breakfast 
quite disgusted, vowing that the close season ought to be 
continued to 1st April. “ So say we all of us." 
On Tuesday the anglers returned to the city, but didu’t 
bring any trout. All the trout in town that were visible 
were on the slubs of Eugene Blackford and Middleton & 
Carman, at the market. These had come by express train 
during the two or three days previous, all the way from 
Canada and from tlienrtiflcial trout works of the fish breed- 
ers. There were splendid specimens from Sam. Olcott, of 
Wolcottville, Ct. ; from B. B. Porter, of Oakland, New 
Jersey; J. Fearon Mann, of Lewiston, Pa. ; II. H. Thomas, 
of Randolph, N. Y., and from the Cold Spring works of 
Livingston Stone, at Charlestown, N. H. These latter 
were long snouted fish, which we took occasion to com- 
pare with other trout of equal sizes and weight, and found 
that their heads were one fourth the length of their bodies, 
aud measured three and a quarter inches to two and a half 
of the ether varieties. There were trout of almost every 
hue and shade, some of them alive and swimming in tanks 
and others that had been alive, but would swim no more, 
On the whole the display was very fine. We acknowledge 
the gift from Mr. Blackford of several pounds of these 
delicate fish, embracing all varieties, the long headed fel- 
lows included. We have felt an increase of brain power 
ever since we ate of them. 
—We have been much interested in examining an assort- 
ment of flies of the Mullaly pattern, the peculiarity of 
which is, that the bend and barb of the hook arc concealed 
between the wings, thereby closely imitating the natural 
fly, and rendering the deception more perfect. Trout are 
always suspicious of “points," and the oldest trout now 
living never saw a natural fly with a barb to its tail. Of 
course this invention or improvement, does not apply to 
hackles and palmers and other wingless flies, but we 
think it a good one as far as it goes, and we hope soon to 
test its quality and efficacy upon the wary old fontinuJs 
Mullaly, the inventor, now of the N. Y. Board t>r 
Assessors, seems to have a most versatile genius for new 
contnvauees. Some time ago ho invented a huge itiner- 
ant steam warming pan for melting tho snow from the 
streets aa fa9t ns It fnlU. thereby keeping them open to 
traffic ; if he could only operate ono of these machines in 
connection will, hi* fishing apparatus, nnd open up tho 
frozen ponds and streams to the impatient anglers who re- 
gard the ides of March with melancholy, he would confer 
a favor upon tho fraternity which they would never ccuso 
to remember. 
i; T . , i I™'?; ? f Mftncl,cslor - Vermont, lms adapted 
a click to bis beautiful now reel, which makes it about as 
perfect an Instrument as nnglor could ask for. This reel 
possesses several advantage* that do not belong to reels of 
tho old pattern. 
Shad fishing is becoming an important branch of in- 
dustry nl Pnlulkn, Fla. From twelve to fifteen hundred 
white shad are shipped weekly to Savannah and Charleston. 
Tho receipts of salmon at tho London markets thus far 
this seasou, are less than one-half those of last year. 
— We call attention to the advertisement tills week, of 
a valuable salmon river for sale, near Quebec. An op- 
portunity of this kind is seldom offered. 
—The Sacramento Union says that salmon trout are ns. 
cending Tomescal creek from the hay to spawn. They can’t 
jump up the dam at the Humboldt Park House ut tcnirs- 
cal, and hence hill an easy prey to men ami hoys who go f„ r 
them at that point. During the last month dim has been 
caught weighing seven and a half pounds, one four and a 
half, nnd a dozen weighing all tho way from one to three 
pouuds. Why don’t the Fish Commissioners erect a fish 
way? 
Fishing Matters.— The number of fishing arrivals for 
the week ending March 11 th was forty-one— twenty. mm 
from Georges, twelvo from Grand Banks and eight from 
New Brunswick. Tho Qeorgosnion have landed about 
800,000 pounds codfish and 85,000 pounds halibut. Tin- 
bankers have brought in good fares, an aggregate of (loo . 
000 pounds halibut, which have been sold for $10 and 
per cwt. for best, quality. 
Schooner Carl Scltuiz, Capt. Neil S. McPheo, which ar- 
rived from Georges on Friday last, brought in tlm largest 
fare over landed at this port, but her stock was not as largo 
as lms been made by some of tho fleet iu former years on 
a less quantity of fish, owing to a falling off in the priee. 
She brought in 0,170 fish in number, which weighed off 
107,200 pounds, also 8,800 pounds of halibut, lo r gross 
slock amounting to $2,580. Cook’s share. #143 05; high 
line, $130 25; average share of crow, $105 01. 
Sch. Andrew Leighton, Capt. Olsen, which arrived from 
the Grand Banks on Monday, weighed off 75,000 pounds of 
halibut and 7,000 pounds codfish, her stock amounting lo 
$4,177. Crew shared $105, oooU’h share $ 100 , Time ab- 
sent five weeks. This is the largest fare and stock of the 
season thus far. 
A large fleet of Georgesmen have been detained In port 
nearly a fortnight in consequence of the protracted spell or 
easterly weather. Yesterday, there was a change of wind 
and the vessels were enabled to get out once more. Wlmt 
with the ice embargo last month, and the detention by 
storms and bead winds this month, the fleet are having 
quite a hard lime of it, and the stock of Georges cod 
brought in thus far is less than half ils large us that of last 
season up to tills time. 
Sell. Edward Grover, Capt. Wheeler, arrived from tho 
Grand Banks on Wednesday tyltli 45,000 pounds halibut, 
having made the tylp in three weeks, a remarkably short 
time considering tho rough weather, Last year tlm 
schooner Lizzie K. Clark, Capt. Morris, made a trip in 
seventeen days, and brought iu 85.HIU pounds halibut, and 
Stocked $1,070— the shortest Grand Bank trip on record.— 
Cape Ann Advert iter. 
CATCH I «nG YOUNG SALMON, OR GRILSE, 
IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY. 
EiMTon Forest and Stream:— 
In addition to lorn cod Ashing here, I have now to add tho capture or 
salmon In our hoy. This Is taking plocu atlho Long Wlmrf at Oakland, 
across tho harbor, and also ut that of Alameda, a short distance to tho 
southwest of Ooklund. Anglers cro»s on the Contra! i’uciflc Company's 
ferryboat, which land* them at the wharf, or Inking the cars on It con- 
veys them to Alameda, which Is almnt one mile from Its wharf thorn. 
Those flsh being found In our bay Is a v< ry remarkable circumstance, ns 
I cannot And from the "oldest Inhabitant" that It li/i* ever happened be- 
fore. except now and then, when one or two havo boon taken while an- 
gling for smelts. I have never taken one In this way, but last Hummer 
I did Capture two brook trout. This new foaturu In our bay Ashing Is 
attributed to the good effects of close seasons. These young salmon, 
fresh run from the sen, are caught by hook und lino with any small fishes, 
or pieces of llsii, or masse! worms for halt. During the past four weeks 
the catch at thow two wharves has increased so much (lint this has now 
become a special branch of fishing here, the number taken dally with 
rods averaging from sixty to eighty, weighing from ono to five pound* 
each. This saceoss has caused considerable comment among unglors, 
or wonld-bo anglers, some of whom have asserted that they ora a now 
species of salmon hitherto unknown on this const. Others claim that If, 
Is a species of salmon trout. But all this Is merely (he effect of igno- 
rance in the multitude, who hardly know with any degree of real science 
one flsh from another. It Is undoubtedly a tree young salmon, and ex- 
actly the same flsh my young nephew and myself took In the Biiienul 
Creek, m ar Pcscadero, about sixty miles from here down the coa>t; nnd 
nobody there evor questioned for a moment but that (le y were young 
fresh run salmon. Their whole appearance showed tills Incontestably. 
These salmon now with us are tho natural result of the laws which, dur- 
ing 1873 and 1874, have prevented catching salmon between the 1st of 
July and November of those years. It I* claimed that In consequence 
of the close seasons established during July, August, September and 
October, many additional millions of salmon have run np tho Sacra- 
mento and Its tributaries, and their yoong, bnvlng spent their flrst sea- 
son at sea. have now rctorned to the bays and rivers 
I hope tho Fish Commissioner* of ibis Sta’e will give the matter their 
attention, and If the circumstances Jnalify It, make further arrange- 
ments with the 17. S. Fish Commissioner who collect* tho salmon egg* 
on tho McCloud River to repeat his action of last year, by hatching oat 
aritflclally aud returning to the river a large number of young salmon. 
Homo mean# should also be found to prevent catching young -alinon In 
the bay with seines, which Is now being done by persons who have 
caught and are still catching other varieties of flsh. 
The fly baa been used for thooo flah at the above wharvea, but with 
