204 
FOREST AND STREAM 
§n»)e gag and §an. 
MAY IS A CLOSE MONTH FOR GAME. 
Game ns* Market.— With the exceptiou of n fow Eng 
lish snipe and plover from the West, which soli for $3 per 
dozen, and a few bunches of willcta and yellow legs, the 
market is bare of game, und must domain so until after 
July 4th. 
It may not be out of place here to allude to the mode 
adopted on the south side of Long Island for massacring 
ducks and geese during the Winter. Tire pot hunter, arm- 
ing himself with a lantern and reflector, creeps along the 
ice towards his bewildered prey until they are within reach 
of his cannon, and then slaughters them by the hundred. 
As there is a prohibitory law regarding the shooting of 
ducks between sundown and sunrise, we commend this 
matter to the attention of such sportsmen ns may bo disin. 
tercsted enough to see that, in their neighborhoods at least, 
the law is enforced. 
Game Laws of Tennessee,— The Legislature of Tennes- 
see has designated the close time for deer to be from March 
1st to September 1st; ‘‘pheasant., grouse, quail, partridge 
(sir), lurk, woodcock or snipe, from March 1st to September 
I5th; wild turkey, May 1st to September 15th; Insectivor- 
ous and song birds not to be killed at any time, or their 
eggs or nests destroyed. Fine for killing deer $10; turkey 
$5; other gamo birds $3.50; and the same for destroying 
song birds and their nests, or catching turkey or partridge 
in pens or ucts. Hunting on other persons' grounds is for- 
bidden, except permission of the owner is obtained. 
— According to the Rochester Denwcrat the country lying 
between the main line of the Erie Railway from Corning 
to RulTulo. and the Rochester branch from Corning to 
Avon, is literally alive with wild pigeons. Their roosting 
place is situated in a wild mountainous region west of 
Coopers, N. Y., a few miles this side of Corning, and em- 
braces a tract of land from seven to ten miles square, 
heavily timbered, and unbroken by clearings or highways', 
from which they issue at daylight and scatter over the 
country for miles in search of food, which consists princi- 
pally of acorns. The birds made their appearance near 
Coopers about three weeks ago, and have advanced further 
west daily until they now fly as far west as fcpringwater. 
During the presold week they will in all probability be 
found at all points along the Genesee Valley and scattered 
over the surrounding country, and there is a prospect that 
a considerable number of the birds will build llicir nests 
and breed in this county and those adjoining. Opposite 
the village of Campbells are three high hills; on the top of 
the centre a parly took up a position, and when the flight 
commenced, about 5:80 P. M., could not lond and fire fast 
enough to tuke the flocks as they came. The flight lasted 
an hour, the roaring of guns, the exhilarating excitement, 
and the lively running to and fro of a small army of boys 
picking up tliw dead birds, made the scene a most animat- 
ing one. From this elevated position is commanded a view 
of the country for ten or twelve miles in length and five 
or six in width, and for the entire distance immense flocks 
could be seen stretching out in long lines until lost in the 
distance. When nearing the “ roost," several flocks ar- 
riving simultaneously would sweep together into one im- 
mense flock and alight in the trees in a thick mass, seem- 
ingly covering an acre or more. 
Massachusetts, Salem , April 30, 1875.— Snipe shooting 
is good for nothing. From the 26th to 80th thirteen snipe 
shot at Newburyport. There is yet much frost, but if the 
weather comes right, if there is any shooting, it will come 
next week. Birds are in good condition, und lay well to 
dog. A record for five years shows better weather and 
earlier than this by two weeks. We need rain, as the 
grounds are very dr}’. Yours, Teal. 
Kansas— Independence, April 26, 1875.— Your excellent 
paper is as much of a slund-by to our sporting men “out 
West” as it can be East. At this point (fourteen miles 
north of the Indian Territory and 145 south of Lawrence), 
we do not have as much trap shooting as wc wish for, but 
make up for it in the excellent sport afforded us in our 
field shooting. All migratory game has been much laicr 
than usual this Spring on account of the cold weather 
hanging on so much longer than usual. Outlie 21st inst. 
Geo. M , (as true a sportsman as ever lived), and myself 
concluded we would like some “snipe on toast," so gath- 
ering up our “ shooting irons" we were soon bowling over 
the prairie behind a good team, with Jerry at the linos 
and Beu and Rover, our pointers, at our feel. An hour’s 
sharp drive and at 12:30 we “stepped down and out" at 
Liberty Luke, our snipe ground. At 5 o’clock we were 
homeward bound with seventy-one snipe, ten plovers, and 
fifteen ducks (mostly mallard), safely slowed away in our 
wagon. Was not that a good four and a half hours’ shoot- 
ing? I think, Mr. Editor, we could show you or any of 
your r cadets, should we be favored with a visit in game 
season, such sport as they rarely witness. Our “chickens" 
are large and strong when the season opens (Aug. 1) and 
as plentiful as the most sanguine sportsman could wish. 
Ten miles into the Indian Territory gives us deer and 
turkey in abundunce. Come and see us. J. M. K. 
Missouri— St. Louu, April 20, 1875.— In the last few 
years I have frequently tome across new varieties of birds 
for this latitude, noted in the books as never leuving the 
seaboard. Of this number, the great marbled godwit 
seems to be steadily on the increase, so much so that I 
have seen them for sale for a week past, at the game stand 
r»f one of our markets, and on inquiry learned that they 
had been shot about the ponds opposite the city. The red 
necks have been quite plentiful this Spring in the lakes 
opposite here; also canvas bucks. This SpriDg has been 
very backward. This month has been decidedly cool, con- 
sequently keeping snipe with us longer than usual the 
10th generally being the height of the season, after which 
they rapidly migrate to their breeding grounds further 
north. L ntortunately for game preservation, many wood- 
cock were killed this Spring, undoubtedly by Sunday hunt- 
ers w ho do not discriminate sufficiently between birds in 
and out of season, lhey should know that woodcock nest 
very soon after their arrival, and are the first to hatch out 
their young. I took a two hours’ imrap last Saturday (24th) 
about the wet place* in the fields some five mile* oT«r in 
Illinois. I bagged twenty-three jack snipe ( S . Wihonii), 
losing two birds in thick weeds, recording but one miss. 
Birds very wild. Gun used M. L . No. 10 gauge (Wilinot 
maker), 3i drachms powder, 1$ ounces No. 8 shot. 
Pkrdrix. 
Mississippi— Corinth, April 27. 1875.— Weather cool and 
cloudy. Frosts on the 22d, 23d, and 24th, killed nearly 
ail the fruit and blasted vegetation of ull kinds; fortu- 
nately the wheat is not materially injured. 1 have not 
been out after the gobblers this spring on account of the 
bad weather. Two members of our club were out four 
days and only bagged one turkey; the mornings were so 
cold and cloudy that they would not “gobble." (’apt. I)., 
who kills them whether they gobble or not, and who can 
go where no other man can find a turkey and kill one, lias 
bagged four up to dale, all large, fine 'gobblers. He lias 
only fired five shots, but then the Captain is the champion 
shot and hunter of this county on anything from a bob 
white to a buck, and cays all the art of shooting is in 
knowing when to pull the trigger. For n few days— the 
first of the mouth— the air was balmy and the sky light, 
buLit was succeeded by heavy rains and cold winds, and 
we have bad no pleasant weather since. Plenty offish 
coming in from the Tennessee River and per rail from the 
Gulf- Guyon. 
—A pigeon match was shot on Thursday last at Dexter 
Park, Long Island, between Mr. J. I'. Robertson, of New 
York, and Mr. J. II. Cutwater, of Brooklyn, at thirty sin- 
gle birds at twenty one yards rise and eighty yards bound- 
ary; one aud one fourth ounce shot ; fora stake of $200; 
loser to pay for birds. 
SCOUR. 
Robertaon-t) lltoioiliioooiioiioilioioiioi 
—Killed, 11); nursed. 11. 
SmTlo -1 * 1 0 1 ' ° 1 ° I 1 1 ° 0 U ° 0 1 1 J J I I 0 1 0 1 10 1 
— Killed, 19, missed, 11 
Referee— Mr. D. Robertson. 
Time of Shooting— Two hours and ten minutes. 
—Mr. Jacob Gluho, of American Gun Engraving Com- 
pany, West Meriden, is about introducing a gyro, which 
for simplicity of arrangement and economy of price, will 
bo the best thing of the kind yet invented, 'and within the 
reach of every oue. 
San Francisco, Cal., April 2a. 1675. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In sending you the following score I feo! bound to inform von that 
with the exception of two names, the rest have never shot birds from a 
Irnp before The exceptions are Misglll and Stetson. 
Twelve Birds each; at yards rise, 80 yards bouudury. 
Score Tnlal 
M ur 111 *0 1111 till 11 ' 
M- Wright 11 1 -0 0 1 1 10 1 -0 0 7 
John Maeterson 0 111 *0 111 1010 8 
Wm Young, Sr 1 i 0 0 01010010 5 
W H. \oung, Jr ..1101 0 0 -0 »0 1 0 0 il , 
•J 08 - Brooks 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 II 
J P. McSweeney. — »0 0 1 1 »o 1 1 1 0 l i i h 
T ,e M°o-.- ' 011 1 1 1 I *<> I 1 1 10 
J- McGuire 0 0 11 1 0 I *0 1 II 0 1 l> 
J. Conlln 0 0 0 *0 *0 0 1 1 l l «o 0 4 
Birds marked with a « fell dead a few yards outside of bounds. 
Your* respectfully, J. P . McSwbenev. 
„ „ Philadelphia, May 3. 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
A shooting club has been organised here, and numed In honor or your 
paper, the Forest and Stream Shooting Club of Philadelphia. They have 
secured and furnished, not only a comfortable, but very Imndsoine room, 
at the comer of Front and Jefferson streets. Their Increasing roll of 
members and efficient otllcers bespeak a prosperous future for them 
Their find match was held at Woodbine Park, on Tuesday, 27lb uJt„ and 
ibe following is the score:— 
21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary. 
Name. Score. Total. 
« £ ur £? , “* 8 0 11110 111 8 
M . \\ . Birch 1 1 0 1 o 1 l i ] i 8 
W- Brierly 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 i g 
Dr. Spencer 110 1110 10 1 7 
A. Smythe* llOlOlnlli 7 
P ro '£ n „ 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 o o 
Charles Folke 0 1 1 0 1 1 l o 0 t ti 
VI m. Shorter 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 a 
*: Wedemaver 10 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 J 
Charles Brady 0001000100 2 
The following is a list of their officers: President, M. W. Birch, V. S.; 
Vice President, A. A. Capper: Secretary, A. Cummings; Assistant Sec- 
retary, Dr. Spencer; Treasurer. Dr Brown; Bourd of Directors. Mosers 
Cummings, Klehl, Smylbe, Shuster and Brady. 
During the second week of last October four or the members of this 
club— Messrs. Bitch. Camming#, Armstrong and Capper-wcre ui Cape 
May Court House, N. J. Making an early start, they put in a day's gun- 
king on Seven Mile Beach, und brought in over fifteen hundred birds 
The bag consisted of willot, marten, curlew, bull head plover, dotterel 
brown bills, and sundry other beach birds. For one day’s work for four 
this shows good gunu, good shooting and good luck. Yours, Sculls. 
[Forest and Stream makes its best bow iu acknowledge- 
ment of tko honor conferred, and wishes to offer thanks 
for the courtesies extended to its Philadelphia representa- 
tive.— E d.] 
CHOKE BORING. 
„ „ Shrewsbury, N. J., April 30, 1873. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
The great desideratum of gun makers seeoiB to have beou attained by 
this Invention, namely, close shooting, attended with ns good if not an 
improvemout in penetration. How fur this addition to former pattern Is 
desirable in guns for Hold shooting, time will tell, i will only venture 
the opinion that, with the present form of boring, nine-tombs of the bud 
shooting Is duo to the poor judgment of those handling and loading 
their guns. It is respecting the gun In Iu new form that I wish lo say a 
fow words, and in so saying hope that it may Induce others who know 
more than myself to give their views on tt.e subject. VVliat is known by 
"choke boring" is the contraction of the bore of the barrel at the 
tuuE/le. necessitating a comprea.ion of tlio load of shot in its passage 
through the barrel, which compression occurs at that portion of the bar- 
rel at which the highest rate of velocity is attained. The inference 
might follow from this that thero must he a greatly increased strain 
not only at the point of obstruction, but to the whole barrel, aud hence 
ft corresponding need of more metal In barrels to compensate ihe extra 
strain. With the advent of breech loaders the necessity of tlie exiru 
weight of Iron In the action had to be In a measure compensated by n 
reduction from other ports of the gun, in enter to make It light und 
hundy. The barrels of the gun offer tin* greatest opportunity for reduc- 
tion, and to such an extent has it been earned that the barrel, of many 
of the breech loaders, us now made, are mere shells. Aud yet ninety- 
Dlue out of a hundred persons would suppose there was plenty of metal 
n the barrel, of most guns, Judging from Its thickness, us shown at the 
breech aud muzzle, and never think that barrels are made to taper from 
tbe muzzle toward the breech, and there Is just where the deception i. 
Take the diameter at Iho muzzle of the barrel with a pair of calipers and 
compare size of tho barrel with this measurement; where the .mullet 
portion of lbs bsrHl It the amount of metal at that part Is eS.il/Juthjed 
by a comparison with the size of the bore at the muzzle, supposing the 
barrel to be a true cylinder bore. I bolieve this system of barrel making 
la often carried to such on extreme ua to be dangerous; and yet that 
which seems to stand the test of use should be conclusive, but I would 
strongly urge that with tho great extra strain upon the barrel, conse- 
quent upon choko boring, there should be an Increase of metal In pro- 
portion. Check Cord. 
GAME PROTECTION IN CONNECTICUT. 
Norwalk, Conn., April, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream 
It I# a sad fact— although the game laws of Connecticut, If properly 
obeyed, would have prevented It -that most of the quail, partridge and 
woodcock that wore so abundant about Norwalk and adjacent towns are 
gradually but surely diminishing every year. Persecuted on all aides, 
out of season as well os In, followed up by boys, men, or any one able 
to carry or shoot a gun, snared aud trapped and shot for market by pot 
hunters — Is It any wonder! 
Rabbits arc hunted and killed from sheer wantouness, colled sport, at 
almost ony season. It Is done economically, too. No gun or ammuni- 
tion needed A mongrel of a dog with nose ond speed enongh to drive a 
rabbit iu a burrow, a ferret to drive it out, an old net ovet the entrance 
to "bngtho game." and the rabbit Is safe; a blow behind the oars and the 
poornolmal la dead, and in most cases left on the ground where he was 
secured. So tho hunt ie continued in tho same fair sportsmanlike man- 
ner, until tired out, or ten, or twelve, or Ilfteen rabbits have been left to 
rot or feed tho crows. In view of these facte, and In order to enforco 
such laws as are on the statute, a Game Association has been formed, 
constitution und by-laws adopted, and nil the necessary officers elected 
to curry out ire objects. Over two hundred persons signed Iho call for 
Hie llrst meeting, and wo tbluk at least oue hundred und fifty will be live, 
active member# and on the watch for law breakers. About twenty as- 
sistant vice presidents have been appointed In different districts to act 
ns ••specials" in the interest of the association. Only members of the 
association arn allowed the privilege of shooting over tho ground of 
other members. The grounds now llgure up well into two thousand 
acres, and maro wishing to join; so look out, pot hunters, shooters for 
science, Jtc., or you may get over the wrong fence! Yours, Uu 
■ - — 
SHOOTING ON NANTUCKET. 
Brooklyn, N. Y., April 18, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stiieam: — 
One morning Bob and myself started to go plover shooting on a place 
they call the Commons, about three miles from yivn, but not finding 
many birds wc concluded logo over to Hammock Pond and see if wo 
could cot some snipe or ducks. The poud Is about two ond a half miles 
long and from twenty yards to a quarter of a mile wide. Tho South Head 
of tbe pond comes right down to tho beach, aud In rough weather the 
waves wash over iulo tho pond. Wo happened to come just at the right 
lime. The shore of tho pond was covered with snipe, and pretty soon 
the barrels of our guns begun to get agreeably warm. We kept follow- 
ing the shore along, und pretty soon came to the South Head. The smno 
success attended us here as on tho other side, and our load began to cot 
heavy. As we upuroaclied a part of tho pond where tho shores were cov- 
ered with high rushes, I grew careless, not expecting lo And any birds 
there, when suddenly Bob caught me by tho shoulder and said: “Gel 
down, there are some ducks feeding!" I looked and #nw three block ducks 
swimming in tho water, and they didn't seem suspicion* that any one 
was around. So taking off our powder flasks and .hot pouches we tried 
to crawl up near enough lo get a shot, but something .cared them, and ■' 
they jumped up before we could Are. While we were standing there I 
thought I saw a duck about a hundred yards below us, but Bob said it 
was u clod of airt; still thinking It was a dock. I went down to see-. I 
had not been mistaken, for it Jumped up and flow across the poud. but 
taking a quiet aim I tired and It came down with a broken wing, but es- 
caped by fluttering into the rushes on the other side of the pond. Just 
us I was thinking of taking a boat logo after him I heard a loud "quack" 
down tho pond, and looking in that direction I saw a dnek comine right 
up the pond; so lying down l waited until he got opposite to me, and 
then jumped up and fired at him, and ho dropped into the pond. Now 
the thing was to get him. We had no dog with us, and there was no 
boat anywhere; so taking off my clothes I went In. It was tho colde.t 
swim I ever took, but I got the due*. Stranger. 
The Hartford Game Club, composed iu greet part of 
the officers and members of the Connecticut State Associa- 
l ;°. n » win hold its first annual meeting at Hartford on the 
third Wednesday of May instant. 
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATfON FOR PROTECTING GAME 
AND FISH. 
. New York, April 26, 1875. 
By vote of a majority of the Advisory Committee, a meeting will be 
held in New York City on the nineteenth of May. 18:5, at II o’clock, A 
M , at Cooper Institute, Room 24, or Geographical Society’s rooms, same 
building, to organize an ‘'International Association for Protecting Game 
and Fish," whose business It will be to select a competent Board of 
naturalists, fish culturlsts, game breoders, and sportsmen, who slinll be 
empowered to draft suitable laws and subrail them to Congress, or duly 
constituted Legislative bodios, for approval. Tho attendance uf all who 
have entered applications for membership Is earnoally desired. 
(Signed.) 
Clarion Rol,ort B ' Roosevo,t > President American Fish Culturists' As.o- 
Prof. E, D. Cope, Academy Natural Sciences, Philo. 
Dr J. L, Lo Conte, Zoological Society, Phlln. 
Dr. Elliott coues, U. 8. A.. Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D, c 
Hon. G, W. Clinton. Buffalo. N. Y. 
Hon. I. E. West. Newborn, North Carolina 
Jacob Wagner E#,i„ Wythcvillo. Virginia. 
elation" 11 E 0U ' E4q ’' 8ocrelar y Illinois State Fish CuIturtsU' Asso- 
Carlos Gove, E.-q., President Denver. Colorado, Shooting Club 
Chambers C. Davis, Esq.. Secretary Denver, Colorado. Shooting Club 
cica of l NovaEcotF^ q '' Pr08dcnt Gnme and (“land Fishery Prot. So- 
Hm. J. F. Crosby, Esq , Houston, Texas. 
Dr. Rawlings Young. Corutlli, Mississippi. 
Prof Theo. Gill. Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C. 
L. \\ . Lcdyurd, Esq., Cazenovia, N. Y. 
Bemnrd A, Hogpes, Esq., President Philadelphia Sportsmen's Club, 
1. B. Ferguson, E«q. , Commissioner of Fisheries, Man land 
W Vi;,9. or< ? mo, ,P sq " Superintendent State Fisheries, Mioilgan 
W. F. W hitcher. E*q„ Commissioner of Fisheries, Dominion or Canitdr 
Geo. A Boardmau, Esq., Calais. Maine. Luninii . 
Mannaseeh Smith, Esq,, Maine Sportsmen’s Association. 
2 W- w “Ikcr, Esq., President West Jersey Game Prol. Soc 
Si-lb Green, Esq., Superintendent State Fisheries, New York 
Maj. Geo. J. Aluen, New Smyrna, Florida. 
Hon. Chns. W. Hutchinson, Utica. Now York 
P n o’ ® s 3 " 80cre “7 Ol >tarto Game Prot. Sue., Canada. 
>\ II. Ilolnbird, E“i| , \ umjirnlso, I milium. 
II mu. John Bertram, Pctorboro, Canaria 
WHUam A. Newell. Esq.. President California Ace. Soc 
Samuel \V iltnoLEsq, , Superintendent FUhorloa, Newcastle Canada 
K A. Brackett, Esq., Commissioner of Fisheries, Massachusetts ‘ 
V .liter M. Brackett. Esq., Mass. Anglers Association ‘ 
Col. James Gordon, Pontotoc. Miss, 
H M. Ogden, E#q . San Francisco, Cal 
Capt. J. W. Coventry, Nouvclle, Canada. 
D J. Staples, Esq., Sun Francisco. 
D O. Joice. Esq. Sun Francisco. 
(Per order of the Committee,) 
_ Ch/i. Hali,ock, Secretary i 
Office ForBst AND SrnBAM, 17 Clnubam sircsi, N«w York. 
