10(5 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[From our own Correspondent. ] 
NOTES BY THE WAYSIDE. 
I reached this place after a snow hound sojourn in the 
city of Grand Rapids, as it were from the frigid mountain 
top to the fertile valleys of the plain. Stopping at Kala- 
mazoo on the Grand Rapids and Indiuna Railroad, leading 
directly south, I found Winter strong and vigorous, even 
though “ lingering in the lap of Spring," and not until I 
reached the State line did I feel the hopeful promise 
of the vernal season with its buds and blossoms. 
Whatever sufferings I had undergone through a long and 
dreary Winter, I could forget it all in the early prospect of 
once again seeing the genial rays of the sun, pouring into 
the bosom of the earth its life-giving influence, lifting the 
mantle of ermine from her couch, and bidding nature arise 
from her slumber to meet Spring in its coming that the na- 
tions of the curth might rejoice thereat. 
Here the ground is thinly clad with snow and this is rap- 
idly passing away. A few days more and the frost will 
come out of the ground, and the whistle of the snipe will 
be heard in the wind to gladden the hearts of the sports- 
men. The horn of the hunter is already heard to summon 
the clan t j the field on the approach of the winged invad- 
ers from the north. 
The sports of the field nud stream are duly appreciated 
here, and many are the numbers devoted to its manly pas- 
time. A goodly number of lino dogs of unquestionable 
strain may be seen, iudieultug, in no small degree, the spir- 
it of sportmanship. 
An association of gentlemen has been formed culled the 
Kankakee Sportsman’s Club, consisting of S. Tam, Jumcs 
Harper, W. II. Chamberlain,.!. C. Eckart, G. Simons, D. 
R. McFeelv, and J. I*. Harper, for the purpose of extend- 
ing these pleasures, they having purchased a happy hunt- 
ing ground of seventy acres westward on the Fort Wayne 
and Chicago Railroad, some eighty miles, on the Kan- 
kakee River at Davis station, where they have erected a 
club house with all the appurteunnees thereto belonging. 
Near by is located a Pittsburgh club house, organized for 
the same object, where it is to be supposed many a sore and 
weary soul has sought relaxation from* the cares and per- 
plexities of a busy life to bud into health and vigor in the 
sylvan abodes of Kankakee. 
Iu the field and shade are found wild ducks in every va- 
riety, having plenty of wild rice nud celery to feed on, to- 
gether with geese, brunt, sand hill crane, which, by the by, 
is excellent eating, grouse, chicken, quail, snipe, wood- 
cock, and reed birds. Of the fish there are the bass, pike, 
pickerel, jack salmon, and musculougo. 
If this is not the happy hunting grounds of Mr. i.o, it is 
the one he wished for, with the exception of the presence 
of the pale faces, the banc of his life on earth, and his 
curse after, if human proclivities follow in train. 
The turf is by no means neglected. There arc always 
some moving spirits to agitate the mass. Here, as elsewhere, 
Mr. Silas Tam has been mainly instrumental, as I was 
credibly informed, in fitting up a trotting park which is 
said to be the finest half-mile track in this section of the 
country; and although in operation but one seasou, lms paid 
from the earnings 79 per cent, of the costs of construction. 
This is doing extraordinarily well, and speaks volumes for 
the enterprise of its management, as well as for the good 
taste of its patrons. 
Hark! I)o I hear a whistle? Yes, but not the voice of the 
jacksnipe nor the turtle. The train is coming. I must hie 
to Summer clime. Baukkii. 
Fort Wayne, Iml., March 11, 1875. 
THS INTERNATIONAL MATCH. 
*• aander'n News Letter*," of the 4th instant contains a re- 
port of the annual meeting of the Irish Rifle Association, at 
which was received and adopted the report of the above 
match, the substance of which was contained in Major 
Leech’s speech printed in our issue of Feb. 25th. Apropos 
of the coming match, a committee consisting of the Lord 
Mayor, the Earl of Kingston, Maurice Brooks, Esq., M. 1\, 
Sir. James Mackey, and twenty other gentlemen, were ap- 
pointed to make arrangements for the reception and enter- 
tainment of the American Rifle Team upon the occasion of 
their visit in June. Mr. Wulkinglon of the Ulster Rifle 
Association, said that if the American visitors went to 
Belfast when they came over, they would get as warm a 
reception as in any part of Irelund. Major Leech hoped 
that their American visitors would get as cordial reception 
there ns had been given the Irish team and their friends in 
America. The Lord Mayor said that he had received the 
utmost kindness and hospitality in America on the occasion 
of his visit there, and when the American team would he 
receiving invi'ijtions to North, West and South, he hoped 
the}' would allow the Lord Mayor of Dublin to show them 
some hospitality. 
The prospects of our riflemen nre'thcrefore of the most 
flattering kind as far as entertainment is concerned. It only 
remains for the clerk of the weather to so modify or hasten 
his Spring opening as to permit of practice at Crecdmoor. 
Old Winter has lingered in the lap of Spring longer than 
decency and regard for the public comfort calls for. 
— The Amateur Rifle Club held a meeting on Wednesday 
of last week as a committee of the whole on ways and menns, 
apropos of the International Match. Subscriptions con- 
tinue to flow in. The dramatic performance at the Acade- 
my of Music is expected to net anywhere from $3,000 to 
to 15,000, which, with the amount now in hand, should 
surely sulllce for all expenses connected with the trip. The 
target question is to he fully discussed at the annual meet- 
ing of the club in April. 
—A subsequent meeting of the joint committee of both 
clubs was held on Friday, when Gen. Knox was appointed 
to til) the vaenney caused by the continued absence of Mr. 
J. G. Bennett, and the draft of a circular was prepared 
and adopted, to be issued to the public, announcing the 
entertainment on behMf of the American team, and fixing 
• he prices of proscenium boxes on that occasion at $100; 
balcony boxes, $50; artists’ boxes, $30, $20, and $10; re- 
served seats, $2 50, and general admission, $1. 
— The Separate Troops Cavalry Rifle Club held a meet- 
ing lust Monday night, and elected the following officers 
for the ensuing year: — Capt. Karl Klein, President; Major 
George Aery. Vice President; Charles A. Nagel, Secretary 
John P. P. Miinter, Treasurer; John Feltear, Commissary; 
Finance Committee, First Lieut. M. Ileldt, Second Lieut. 
Charles P. Kopf, and Private Adam Warner. 
— Mr. Conlin has kindly shown us a very handsome scarf 
pin made of oxydised silver and enamel by Ed. Johnson, 
of the Irish team, it being a faithful representation of the 
Rigby bullet, and presented by Mr. John Rigby to Mr. 
Conlin. This beautiful and appropriate little trophy is to 
be awarded to the gentleman doing the best average shoot- 
ing at the tournament now pending at Mr. Conlin’s gallery, 
and competition should be greatly stimulated by the pros- 
pect of its possession. 
Aut. — W o desire to call the attention of sportsmen who 
may visit the Academy of Design to a picture, by Mr. 
R. M. Shurllcff, entitled “The Still Hunter.” A panther 
crouched in the notch of a largo maple tree is watching 
with cut-like eagerness the approach of a doe, who, scenting 
an uuscen danger has halted, and with erected ears, seems 
to sniff the tainted air. Aside from the delicious freshness 
of the scene, the coloring of the hoary old tree and the 
bright rays which have struggled through the glade, and 
light up the masses of ferns and undergrowth iu which the 
doe is standing, the druwiug of the animals is so faithful, 
and the form and position of the puulhorso well expressed, 
that the situation is grasped at once and one fears for the 
safoty of the gentle doe. Another look, however, nnd we 
see that the alertness of the deer is equul to that of the 
fierce brute who crouches so low behind the protecting 
trunk. As an animal painter Mr. Shurllcff is destined to 
take high rank, uud as his Summer haunt is in the Adiron- 
ducks, the adjuncts for his pictures are found iit spots 
where Nature us yet unadorned liy man’s disfiguring baud 
holds to her own origiual loveliness. 
—The announceineut that Col. Heury T. Chapman, 
a well known connoisseur of Brooklyn, is ubout to dispose 
of his entire collection of pniutings, statuary, etc , has 
caused a flutter of sensutiou uiuougst the devotees of art, 
as he is known to possess a selection surpassed in rarity 
and beauty by few oil either side of the ocean. The col- 
lection includes studies from the bauds of Corot, Rousseau, 
Vibart, Isabey, Andreas Asclienbacb, Tamacois, Merle, 
and many others, besides gems from B. C. Koek-Koek. 
Schaus, A. F. Tail, etc. The sale will take place in 
April at the Leavitt Art Gallery. 
—The annual reception of the Twenty-Second Regiment 
takeB place Monday evening, April 5th. Governor Tilden 
and member* of his staff will be present. 
$'<w\c and $11 ti. 
GAME IN SEASON FOR MARCH. 
Snipe, Ducks and Wild Fowl. 
Game in Market.— T ito variety continues limited nnd 
pi ices for most descriptions are unchanged since our last 
report. A few English snipe have beeu received from the 
neighborhood of Long Branch, and sell for $5. per dozen. 
Refrigerated snipe $3 75. Wild pigeons from Ohio are 
very plentiful at $2@2 50 per dozen; squabs $4 50@$G; 
canvas backs $ 2 <j 52 50; red-beads, $1 25; mallards, $1 25; 
black ducks, 50c@75; widgeon, 50(<i)75 ceuts; wild geese, 
$1 50 each; brant, $1 50 per pair; wild turkey, 25 cents per 
pound; plover, $4 50 per dozen; bay snipe, 75c@$l 00; 
Canada bunting, $1. ; rabbits, 75 cents; bares, 75 cents. 
Snipe. — The first snipe shot in this vicintv this Spring 
were killed near Long Branch the early part of this week. 
—The warm weather of last week brought some snipe 
to the viciuity of Philadelphia, and one gun secured three 
of the new comers. 
— At Fairfield and Upper Sandusky in Ohio, wild pigeons 
have appeared in immense numbers and quantities are find- 
ing their way to this market. 
— An association of sportsmen has been formed at 
Jamaica, Long Island, for the protection of game and en- 
forcement of the same. 
Unfortunate Shooting Accident.— At a friendly 
pigeou match held lately on the grounds of Mr. James 
Bryce, at Madison, N. J., one of the contestants, Mr. Hop- 
kins, was seriously injured and nearly lost his baud by the 
bursting of the left barrel of his gun, a muzzle loader. 
One of the pieces struck the unfortunate gentlmen in the 
face, and his fingers were severely - lacerated, as the explo- 
sion occurred at the breech of the guu, 
Long Island— Good Ground, March 22, 1875.— Inlet re- 
mains good and the birds are gelling quite plenty A few 
Winter geese have passed here; a good many geese iu the 
hay ; we expect to have good goose shooting in u few days 
as it is time for them from the South. 
Nf.w Jersey.— Kinsey's Ashley House, Barney at Inlet 
March 18.— Joel Ridgwuy killed sixteen brunt, nine geese 
and four ducks last Friday ; on Monday five geese, two ducks- 
and on Tuesday eleven brant, two ducks, all from a sand 
box on the bar near the Clam Island. On Wednesday Mr, 
Alexander Hazard, of Philadelphia, killed three geese, foul- 
ducks; seven gunners on Wall Sedge Point, names un- 
known, killed fourteen geese; Joel Ridgway killed four- 
teen brant. 
Maryland. — Muirkirk Furnace, March, 10. — The snipe 
arc just coming, I shot one this nfiernoon; 1 saw about a 
dozen but they were very wild; expect to have some good 
shooting next week. C. E. C. 
— Wild pigeons arc now roosting near Deer Park, Muryj 
land. 
Wisconsin. — Montcllo. — The severe weather and terrific 
snow storms in this State, combiucd with the trap- 
ping of lawless scalawags, have produced a scarcity in the 
numbers of quail and grouse from which they will not soon 
recover. These game birds, being driven from their cov- 
erts by the deep snow and intense cold, sought a refuge 
around the farm yards, and in too many instances, met 
with fearful slaughter at the hands of the farmer. It in- 
deed seems strange that any man will wantonly destroy! ho 
birds which come to him for protection and food in a half 
starved condition, when they are worthless for food and 
arc on the eve of the breeding season. Fred. 
Blooming Grove Park. — The following gentlemen were 
elected Directors of the Blooming Grove Park Association 
at its annual election held March lOili, at the Club grounds 
in Pike county, Pennsylvania:— Edward R. Wilbur, Geo. 
II Glcnncy, Sanders D. Bruce, D. M. Smith, G. C. Scott, 
Dudley Field, Charles Hullock, Joseph Dove, George S. 
Greene, Jr., Fayette S. Giles, and Thomas N. Rooker. 
Permits for trout and bass fishing, also grouse shooting 
and deer hunting at tlie park can be obtained by applica- 
tion to Sanders S. Bruce, President, 37 Park Row ; John 
Avery, Secretary, Room 21, City Hall, N. Y. 
—A sportsman’s club lias been organized in Pi Itsburgh 
under the title of the Eight Ward Hunting and Fishing 
Club. Forty members signed the roll; the following ol- 
ficcrs were elected:— Alexander Mcllwain, President; John 
Know-land, Vice President; J. A. lienolds, Secretary; Wil- 
liam Shore, Treasurer; Executive Committee, George W. 
Gilespic, Samuel Shore, Jr., William Moore, and John 
KnowJand. This club has some very good men in it who 
will enforce the game and fish laws of the Slate. 
SHOOTING NEAR NEWBERN, N. C. 
Newbebs, C., March, 1815. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Newbern Is easily reached from New York by rail or by water direct, 
or by water via Baltimore and Norfolk steamers. To go to the lake re- 
gion, hunters will take the curs at Newbern, on the Atlantic and North 
Carolina R. R.. for Havelock Station, only sixteen miles distant. Iu the 
vicinity of Havelock Station Is u heavily wooded country, vast pine up- 
lands, nnd swamps where gum, maple, and other trees grow In dense 
profusion, Five miles from the station Is Lake Ellis, a round Ink.- of 
ubout three miles in diameter, and nearly connected with it are four 
or five other sheets of water. Some of these lakes arc open water; oth- 
ers me grown up, like Luke Ellis, with grass, through which a punt cun 
be easily pu-hed. Lake Ellis was once a deep sheet of wuter. Years 
since, Its former owner thinking to make It into a nee plantation, dug a 
canal to drain it, sLx uilles long, to the head of Slocum’s Creek. I saw a 
large number of ducks in the grassy bottom of the lake, most ly mallards. 
Tlte dry swamp known as Loug Lake, to the south und west of the 
above chain of ponds, is an excellent place to hunt forbears, panthers 
and wild cuts. The pine ridges In that vicinity offer excellent deer 
hunting. As but few persons about Newbern hunt in these forests, 
there are but few guides to be bad; in fact the whole country will prove 
a new field for Northern sportsmen, who are anxious to “rough it" dur- 
ing tho Winter months, on ground nearer to the Northern States than 
Florida. Sailing down the Neuse River from Newbern. the yachtsman 
will puss several good shooting points, one of wliich-Slocum’s Creek, 
about eighteen miles from tho city— is u resort for various species of 
ducks. Back of Slocum's Creek a colored man shot twenty one deer 
during September and October. In those woods colored guides can lie 
bad for 75 cents to $1 per day, finding themselves iu provisions. Black 
ducks and Canada geese are found iu large numbers. 
Proceeding down the Neuse River, you can have tbe choice of shoot- 
ing iu Pamlico and Cove Sounds, at Harbor Island, Hunting Quarters, 
and various other points, twenty miles apart. There is no restriction us 
to fire hunting. There are no • -point*” held by private parties The 
hunting aud sbootlug grounds ashore and on the water are free to any 
one who may choose to visit North Carolina. At Newbern I doubt not 
that your excellent correspondent, Judge West, (always so attentive to 
strangers visiting the State) will cheerfully furnish your readers with 
such information os will be necessary to enuble them to get guides, 
procure boats, &c. t to explore this large field, which Is yet to bo worked 
up by Northern sportsmen. 
The following information I obtained at the city market: One hun- 
dred species of fish are caught and brought into Newbern during tbe 
different seasons of the year. One hundred tons of fish had been sold 
or shipped during eight weeks from the Newbern wharves, which were 
caught in the rivers nnd sounds adjacent to tbe city. On the Friday be- 
fore New Year’s day six shad, the first of tbe season, Imd been caught, 
and were sold In tbe market. How does this compare with the season 
farther North? Oysters of the finest sorts are sold at 80 cents to $1 per 
gallon, or for 40 cents to 70 cents per bushel. Venison, at retail, Is 
offered at 10 cents per pound. 
The steamer City of Dnllns, Mallory & Co., of 153 Maiden Lane, New 
York, lakes passengers out and back on an excursion ticket, with ample 
accommodations, meals, Ac., for per head. Hunters will avoid 
crowded quarters at the Newbern hotels, and will find good accommoda- 
tions at very reasonable charges. The broad Neuse River, iheVeut 
Pamlico and Cove Sounds, afford grund cruising gronnds for yachts at 
all seasons of the year. j. 
CONICAL BASE SHELLS AGAIN. 
RKDriELD, Iowa, March 0 . 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Mewl shells may be easily und effectually fitted with conical Uses of 
plaster Paris, mixed with einugh wulcr to form a thick p iste, or rather 
dough. Put sufficient of it iu the shell and mould it to the proper form 
" ith u stick having a conical end. The plaster will jar loose in some of 
the shells, but holds firmly in most. As to increased weight, It is a 
mere trific. In nsing such shells I find pattern and penetration about the 
same, but the recoil Is much lessened. Of co-: sc a cap expellcr shaped 
like the new base must be used, o. U. Ua^piq.v, 
