104 
FOREST AND STREAM 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 
Devoted to Field and Aquatic Spobth, Practical Natural Hiktoby, 
Fish Culture, tub Protection or Game, Preservation or Forest*, 
AND TUB iNOOLOATION IN M EN AND WOMEN OE-A HEALTHY INTEREST 
IN OUTDOOR RECREATION AND STUDY J 
PUBLISHED BY 
forest and &trean\ publishing gompaiw, 
AT 
I? CHATHAM STREET. (CITY HALL SQUARE) NEW YORE, 
[Pout OrnoB Box 2832.) 
Tenni, Flu Dollars a Year, Strictly Id Advance. 
A discount of twenty percent, allowed for Are copies and upwards. 
Ad'crilalng Hates. 
In regnlnr advertising columns, nonpareil typo. 12 lines to the Inch, 26 
Conte per line. Advertisements on outside page, 40 cents per line. Reading 
notices, 60 cents per line. Advertisements In dunblecolumn 26 per cent, 
extra. Where advertisements are Inserted over 1 month, a discount of 
10 per cent, will be made; over three months, 20 per cent; over six 
months, 30 per cent. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1875. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications whatever, whether relating to business or llternry 
Correspondence, must be addressed to Tub FonasT and Stream Pub- 
lisiiino Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted, 
All communlcotlonsintcnded for publication must be accompanied with 
eal name, as a guaranty of good faith. Names will not be published if 
objection be made. No anonymoas contributions will be regarded. 
Article* relating to any topic within the scope of tills paper are solicited. 
We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 
Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor ns with brief 
notos of their movements and transactions, as It Is the aim of this paper 
to become a medium of useful and reliable Information between gentle- 
men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they will 
find our columns a desirable medium for advertising announcements. 
The Publishers of FonnsT and Stream aim to merit and secure the 
patronage and countenance of that portion of the community whose re- 
fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 
le beautiful In Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 
Ihe legitimate sports of land and water to those base ubcs which always 
lend to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 
ment or business notice of an Immoral character will be received on any 
erms ; and nothing will bo admitted to any department of the paper thut 
may not bo road with propriety in the home circle. 
We cannot be responsible for the dorellctlon of tho mall service, If 
money remitted to us Is lost. 
Advertisements should be sent tn by 8atarday of each week, If possible. 
CIIARLE8 IIALLOCK, Editor. 
"WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 
C2T Our patrons are cautioned against sending bank notes 
to us by mail. Bend only drafts, checks, or Post Office Or- 
ders. 
SPARE THE BIRDS. 
T HE fact of the threatened extinction of fur bearing 
seals on our Pacific coast ltaving beeu brought before 
the notice of Congress, recalls to mind the probable exter- 
mination of gay plumaged birds through a similar source 
of demand; and while the adornment of our wives, sisters 
and daughters is a question which is likely to defcul the 
action of both legislators and philanthropists, it is sad to 
think of the wanton destruction which follows the inex- 
orable demands of fashion. In the case of the seals our 
sympathies are not so entirely aroused, as their skins form 
garments which protect the wearer from the cold; and 
moreover, wo never see them iu life, or in the character of 
household pets or familiar visitants, the harbingers of 
sunny skies, cheering with song and encouraging by indus- 
trious example. Who can read without almost shuddering 
of the fact that in London one house alone has received 
40,000 humming birds, and that in South America, from 
whence the most are imported, these gems of bird life are 
becoming almost exterminated to gratify the caprices of 
feminine vanity. 
Examination shows that the innocent and joyous hum- 
ming bird is by no means the only species that is pursued 
with like avidity for the same object. Every bird whose 
gift of glorious plumage makes him a mark for the adorn- 
ment of a lady’s hat, is eagerly sought for in the market, 
and the coming fashion of ornamenting dresses also, is in- 
creasing the demand and corresponding slaughter. Such 
birds as the pheasant, the gorgeous mallard, and even the 
little blue-winged teal, all of which are much sought after, 
arc protected by law during certain seasons, so that they 
may not only increase and multiply, hut their flesh can be 
used as food, and in most of our States the smaller birds 
which do not come under the head of game, are protected 
in a similar manner; hut in other countries, where they 
find tho warmth lucking with us, no such protection is 
giveu. 
International law looking to the protection of the seals 
is now undor consideration, and wo hope soon to hear of 
similar action for the benefit of the birds. Naturalists 
should agitate the subject, or soon their occupations in the 
field, at least, may be gone, and future generations may 
yet gaze with equal astonishment upon the skc'.elonsof the 
minute humming bird and the gigantic moa. It is almost 
impossible to conceive of tho immense number of bright 
plumnged birds which are destroyed each year in the 
Bmzils alone, for their heads and feathers. The latter arc 
made lnio flowers and trimmings, while the poor little 
heads should suggest a blood stain to every woman wearing 
hat or cap so ornamented. 
The Baroness Burdett Coutts, celebrated alike for wealth 
nnd warm-heartedness, has addressed that depository of all 
British grievances, the London Timet, on the subject, nnd 
through its columns appeals to those who regulate the con- 
stantly varying fashions, to encourage the delicate designs 
of pattern in the ribbon trade, or the beautiful art work in 
artificial flowers, which affords bread to sp many toilers of 
both sexes; or any of those multiform devices in ornamen- 
tation, payment for which brings comfort to many a humble 
home, and to encourage which would be to scatter the 
means of enjoyment in directions to which it has long since 
censed to flow. 
The London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Animals, have, through Lord Cochrane, who has recently 
visited the South American Republics for the purpose of 
inaugurating a statue of his uncle, the great Admiral, sent a 
petition to the Empress of Brazil on behalf of her small 
and brilliant subjects, the birds, begging of her to secure 
for them a close season, that they may have some time in 
which at least to propagate, safe from the attacks of rap 
ncious traders. The annual income derived by that country 
from export duties, to say nothing of the employment 
afforded to thousands of persons in the preparation of 
bird skins and the manufacture of flowers from their 
feathers, will, we fear, militate against any immediate 
action, in spile of the fact that near prospect of absence of 
material will bring both income and occupations to an 
end. But the women of South America are experts with 
the needle, nnd their embroidery has a world wide reputa- 
tion. How much better for them to engage in the imita- 
tion of l he pretty c reatures ou silk, in colors which would 
almost rival tho life tints of the birds, and yet retnin a 
beauty and brilliancy, which in t/ieir case, are quickly 
dulled when the spirit has left the wonderful structure 
given them by the Creator for a body. 
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA— NO. 2. 
BEING NOTES OF A TOUIt OF EXPLORATION— BY OUR OWN 
COMMISSIONER. 
W E left Cedar Keys Tuesday evening on steamer 
Emilie, Captain Lefferts, and arrived at Manatee 
on Ihe morning of Wednesday the 10th. This vessel makes 
weekly trips between Cedar Keys, Manatee, Tampa, Punta 
Kassti, and Key West. Tourists and sporismen will find 
Ibis steamer an excellent and comfortable sea boat, and her 
commander an old and experienced sailor; one who is 
ever attentive to make his passengers confortable. In re- 
ferring to the able and obliging captain, we must not 
neglect mentioning the efficient, courteous, and gentle- 
manly purser. To those who wish to enjoy a balmy at- 
mosphere, an equable and salubrious climate, and a sea 
voyage over a calm ocean, we would say, take an excursion 
ticket on the Emilie from Cedar Keys to Key West and 
return. 
We are surprised that Mr. Clyde, owner of the Galves- 
ton line of steamships touching at Key West, and Mr. J. 
K. Roberts of the Southwest Florida Coast Line, do not 
arrange with Ihe Penn. R. R. Company, to issue excur- 
sion tickets, guod for the round trip. If this arrangement 
could be effected tourists could leave New York by steamer 
during the pleasant autumnal weather and lay over at Key 
West or intermediate points before reaching the grand ob- 
jective point of Florida— the city of Jacksonville. The re- 
turn trip to the North could be made by rail, thereby 
avoiding the unpleasant storms that prevail on the Atlantic 
coast during February aud March. This arrangement would 
enable invalids to enjoy the superior climate, and sports- 
men to participate in the unrivalled fishing and shooting of 
the Southwest coast at a reasonable outlay of time and 
money. To popularize the route, we are convinced that it 
would pay interested parlies to publish, for the benefit of 
tourists and sportsmen, a small guide descriptive of the 
route, climate, best points for fishing and shooting, where 
to obtain guides and boats, necessaries for outfits, etc. Wc 
have long maintained that the Southwest coast needs but to 
have its advantages known to be appreciated. 
We launched our future homo, the Spray, at Manatee, 
and for the benefit of others we shall describe the boat and 
outfit. Possessing a limited knowledge of the coast, we 
were convinced that a boat of an ordinary yacht model was 
not aduplcd to our wants, as she would draw too much 
water for the navigation of creeks, bayous and shallow 
rivers, and ground on the mud flats and oyster bars so ex- 
tensively distributed in all the bays of the coast. A flat 
bottomed or bateau modeled boat was not adapted to our 
wants, as she would prove unsuitable for outside work, and 
would not work well to windward. Before purchasing we 
examined a number of boats in New York and Philadel- 
phia, but failed to find what we required. Continuing our 
search, we visited Burlington, N. .1 , and found the Spray 
for sale, and she was purchased. Having traversed nearly 
three degrees of latitude, and two and three quarters of 
longitude in the Spray, we are in a position to form an 
opinion, and would unhesitatingly advise intending tourists 
to secure a boat of similar model, as wc found her in every 
way adapted to a boat journey on the southwest coast. 
Length of Spray 21 feet; beam 7 feet; cat rigged; center- 
board; form of bottom, midway between bateau and yacht ; 
deep scag forward; decked over forward 7 feet; moveable 
cabin 0ft. 0in. This form of hull supplies room for stow- 
age, light draught of water; rows well; is remarkably stiff; 
and dry and comfortable iu a sea way. 
Outfit, two pairs of oars; canvas awning to stretch over 
boom, and fasten to screw eyes in each quarter (thus pro- 
tecting after part of boat), anchor and cable, palm, needles 
and sail twine, lantern, lampwick, lard oil, five gallon 
water keg, bucket, broom, spade, axe, saw, screw driver, 
gimlet, hammer, oyster knife; compass, binocular glues, 
small stove, frying pan, coffee pot, tin stew pan, tin cups 
nnd plates, knives and forks, nails, screws, screw eyes, 
tinned lOoz. lacks, whetstone, matches in tin boxes, soap, 
towels, combs, hair and tooth brushes, pens, paper, ink, 
postnge stamps, envelopes, two feed chests, sugar in round 
wooden boxes with lids, pickles, cheese, pepper, salt, ten 
pounds best Java coffee in tin box, six cans condensed 
milk, forty-eight pounds best lard iu eight pound tin cans, 
ninety-four pounds best pilot bread, fifty pounds best 
breakfast bacon, two hams, two boxes red herrings, old 
boots, shoes, slippers, and clothes, blankets with quantum 
tuff, of old calico and newspapers, powder, shot, wads, 
caps, cartridges, gun cleaning apparatus, Colton’s and 
Drew’s maps of Florida, one Winchester and Remington 
rifle, one breech and two muzzle loading guns, hunting 
knives, fishing rods and tackle; three pounds arsenic in tip 
box; diarrheen mixture, lead and opium pills for dysentery, 
purgative pills, and adhesive and court plaster, in tin cans 
tobacco, pipes, one bolllc of brandy, nnd one of apple jack. 
Verily, a long list of plunder, but everything absolutely 
necessary for such an expedition. 
Our numerous necessaries were stowed, and we visited a 
neighboring saw mill to secure spring mattresses. The 
proprietor sawed us four boards £ of an inch thick, and 
three pieces one inch thick and four inches wide. To ar- 
range our sleeping appartment at night, we placed the stove 
in t he cock pit; Ihe 1x4 pieces athwart ship, and the boards 
forward and aft. At night we anchored the Spray as far as 
possible from laud, placed the soft side of the boards up- 
permost; arranged our blankets; secured our awning, and 
slept as only men can sleep, when inhaling the balmy nnd 
iuvigorating atmosphere of Southwest Florida. 
Manatee is a pleasant village of several hundred inhabi- 
tants, situated ou Ihe Manatee River, eight miles from ils 
mouth. At this place, the tourist will find two or three 
boarding houses, where fair accommodations can be ob- 
tained for two dollars per day, or forty dollars per month. 
This place offers to the invalid a pleasant Winter climate, 
but to the sportsman few attractions. On Saturday, llte 
19tb, we hoisted sail aud bade ndiew to Manatee. Leaving 
the mouth of the river we took a westerly course for the 
striped buoy in Tampa Bay, and from buoy, a Southwest 
course to the tripod on Anna Maria Key, from a point near 
the tripod a Southeast course to Pal masota point, the en- 
trance to Sarasota Bay. Between these points the channel 
was filled with mullet, and hundreds of large sharks were 
levelling in the superabundant supply of delicious food. 
Entering Sarasota Bay, we were greeted with a South- 
easter with some sea, but the Spray worked admirably, 
and proved herself an excellent sea boat. Night approach- 
ing, we made a harbor under the lea of a long sand bar, 
and after cooking our supper we laid our weary limbs on 
our spring beds. At ten P. M. the wind hauled and we 
found our position an uncomfortable ooe, compelling us to 
hoist anchor and seek a better harbor. The nigbt being 
dark, I handled the lead, and stationed Harry at the helm. 
Witli the lead we kept in the channel and made tracks for 
the southern end of Sarasota Bay. At 11 P. M. we sighted 
two passes in the distance, one of which we had reason to 
believe would carry us to sea, and the other into little Sara- 
sota Bay. We objected to a night adventure on the gulf 
with an uncomfortable sea running, and as wc had been in- 
formed that the entrance into Little Sarasota Bay was 
blocked up with dangerous coon oyster reefs, except a nar- 
row boat channel, we deemed it best to seek an anchorage, 
and having found shelter from the waves under the lea of 
an extensive grassy flat, we came to an anchor. 
Next morning we took a survey of the surroundings, and 
found that we had anchored at the southern end of great 
Sarasota Bay. We noticed a house near the beach, made 
a landing, aud were gratified to find that the residents were 
from Brooklyn, N. Y., aud named Bennett. Being unac- 
quainted with the coast farther South, and aware of the 
fact that a trip of thirty-eight miles to sea was before us, 
we deemed it best to secure a pilot. Bennett, Jr., was ac- 
quainted with the coast, and offered to pilot ns, but could 
not leave until Bennett Sr. returned from Manatee with 
their boat. The elder Bennett returned on Mondaynight, 
and we arranged for an early start on Tuesday morning. 
Sailing about three miles across the bay, we entered Sara- 
sota pass, a channel of about 500 feet in width leading from 
the bay to the gulf. Approaching the entrance we dis- 
covered two channels, one leading direct to the gulf, but 
bounded on each side by extensive sand bars; the other a 
swamp channel turning short to the South, around the 
North point of Casey’s Key, and protected seaward by an 
extensive sand bar. We chose the latter, and soon found 
ourselves on the gulf with a fair wind. 
A reference to Drew’s and Colton’s maps will lead the in- 
tending tourist to believe that he will find five available 
passes between Little Sarasota, and Little Gasparilla 
inlets. But these maps are unreliable as far as the South’ 
