bivalves and fish. Many of our readers are certainly 
aware that bass and weakfish were formerly caught along 
our shores In great abundance; whereas, except in a cer- 
tain locality at Spuyten Duyvil, where oyster beds lie in 
water too deep to be disturbed by raking or dredging, they 
are now scarcely ever seen on either side of Westchester 
county and Manhattan Island. We have now before us a 
letter from an old fisherman, whose reminiscences exteud 
back to the palmiest days of Pelham Bridge and McCombs 
Dam, deploring the disappearance of the striped bass from 
those favorite localities, and endeavoring in vain to account 
for it. He says: — 
“I have for years fished for striped bass in Hell Gate 
and vicinity, and have during late years noticed their 
gradual disappearance. A few seasons ago, with my 
knowledge of the ground and the habits of the flsh { I could 
go out and be certain of a good catch, but now things are 
changed. In the Spring of last year 1 thought from my 
landing a few there up to six pounders that better fish 
times had come again, but as the season bore on the fish 
gradually disappeared, so much so that in the Fall, when 
fish used to be abundant, I could not even get a "smell.” 
So far as my experience jias gone this season, and I have 
been out almost daily since April 15th, I have not had the 
good fortune to land a single striped bass, nor can I hear 
of ono being captured in this neighborhood. 
I would like your opinion on the above subject, as it is 
often discussed where "fishermen most do congregate." 
yomo attribute the absence of fish to the improvements 
now going on in the gate, others to the number of nets 
that are set for the fish as they wend their way to this lo- 
cality. Iu fact, every one has a reason of his own. But 
the complete disappearance of the striped bass this season 
is the most perplexing conundrum of the whole lot. I at- 
tribute it to the long and severe Winter. T. T. W.” 
FOREST AND STREAM . 
th us sighted , horizontal ly . ui m It at the exact centre of the targot.al ray one 
hundred yard* distance, and fire. There will be no point blank or^olut 
blank range in this caw. Why? Because the ball starting In Its course 
W m h . th0 " ,,e ° f BlKhtl 11 wl " not dee almve ha level to 
ait It, which, us will hereafter appear, l » a neccsrary condition In the 
premises. To the contrary, the ball will describe a downward curve of 
fl^d n T nc r , “' hl8 dUtanoe. The same Is true If the piece bo 
5c* thn »T ?? e , leV ? UOn ‘ T the8e “ mc Principle* apply to cannon. Rl- 
.1 1. wm S , Way , 8 ° 0t “ 1,,Uo 100 low - n,lJ the remedy In part 
to this will appear in ibe next cane. This Illustration has been intro- 
zssts&sr ■» ■'■»» •*» «« 
bl,lnk - - Let 1,8 “OW suppose the rear sight to be a 
r lc h^i 'f n r °“ lyonOQ S h no as lo cause the ball In It* flight to 
rnrw t h ‘ C h"* 1 “ lul cul lt; *" d aflur «»!• i" describe a 
" J* lh , e ^"" d - \ l , wl11 b,; 8Ccn <»<“ hi this case the trajectory of 
(he ball cuts the line of sight In but one point. At this point, then wo 
have a true point blank, und also a true point lilunk range. But lu prac- 
lice this point blank will be found near to the piece, say about llfty 
yurda distant; hence this la not the point blank, nor does it glvo the 
necessary range Involved In this question. They are more remote Hi- 
flea thus sighted are good for squirrels and other small game; they arc 
close shooters within about seventy yards, hot at about Mil yards they 
shoot loo low by fonr Inches. The next case will give a longer nnd bet- 
ter range, and furnish a solution of questions. 
Case 8, two point blanks. — We will now elevate the rear sight a little 
more, and suy just enough so that when the piece is aimed true at the 
centre of the object the ball will strike it there, at 150 yards. This par- 
ticular distance is selected only because I wish hereafter to trace the 
curve of the ball in this case of elevation. Being well aimed, now tire 
What is the result? We sec this elevation of the rear sight cause 
the hull to go entirely above the line of sight in Its ascending curve (very 
email, 'tis true) nnd after reaching Its highest point, that it gradually 
falls to the line of sight, where it cuts it again at the very centre of 
Nn - - target. In other words, the curve of the bull cuU the line of sight in 
INO uouut the reasons assigned by our correspondent, es- lwo points, tho one ut about thirty yards from the piece, and the other at 
pecially the setting of fykes at Westchester Creek and th ® Ur e et - 150 yard8 off ™ 8 ^asc presents two point blanks, and two 
other creeks emptying into the Sound between New I ’ 011 ) 1 blank r “ nRCS ' Bu,> “•iaC«ac«, the llrst one Is near the piece and 
Rochelle and the Harlem River, do account in part for the 
disappearance of the bass; but the main cause is the de- ponding range is the true point blank range. This being well under- 
Struction of the oyster beds and shell fish, and iu this the 8tood ' I will now answer the Inquiry by giving definitions, 
severe Winter may have aided. Nevertheless we have ■ Fir8t_By P ointb l“ nk range is menu t the second point where the tra- 
’ I jeclory or curve of the ball In its flight intersects or cuts the line of 
eight. 
caught in the creeks above named, notwithstanding fykes 
and depredations, as many a? eighteen bass at a tide, in the 
Fall, which, however, is after the spawning time of 
oysters, and when fiddlers are "about.” We have little 
doubt that, were tho oysters replenished and allowed to 
recruit by natural propagation, wo should find the bass 
fishing as good at Hell Gate and the Harlem River in three 
years from now us it used to be iu the olden time. The 
remedy, legal and natural, cannot be applied too soon. 
The aid of many prominent citizens of Yonkers lias been 
enlisted in tho work, aud it will not be their fault if suc- 
cess and satisfaction do not follow. 
— Mr. Edward C. Edgar, of New Jersey, who has passed 
the last two years in the Adirondacks for the benefit of his 
health, died quite suddenly ut the Prospect House, Upper 
Saranac Lake, on the 19th of June. Mr. Edgur was a 
young gentleman of high moral worth, and extensively 
known among the visitors in the vicinity of Paul Smith’s, 
Bartlett’s, and Martin’s, and his death is deeply regretted. 
His camp was always a model of neatness, aud a most 
hearty welcome always extended to all who called. He 
was a true gentleman and sportsman in the entire meaning 
of the two words. He will be greatly missed from his 
large acquaintance. To his family we extend our warm 
sympathy iu their sore bereavement. 
— Game protective clubs having spare copies of their by- 
laws and constitution would assist the cause by sending 
them to us for distribution, as we are called upon almost 
daily to supply copies to parties desiring to perfect club 
organizations. 

POINT BLANK AND POINT BLANK 
RANGE EXPLAINED. 
T HE following communication on this subject is 
from the pen of a distinguished officer, late of the 
United States Army. It will be found to be an elaborate 
explanation of a question which has troubled many young 
riflemen, and probably not one in many thousands is now 
familiar with what the writer has endeavored so carefully 
to explain. We think he has succeeded in this, aud col- 
lected the poiuts together for the first time. Every sports- 
fnau should understand these terms, and yet he would have 
to go into conic sections for the facts unless thus explained 
to him : — 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
A correspondent In Forest and Stream, aud apparently a young 
practitioner, asks: "What Is meant by point blank and point blank 
raugc in rifle shooting?" These are very apt and important questions, I 
must confess; none more so. I purpose to answer them, using the 
plainest terms at my command. But to do so directly aud without ex- 
planations would, I fear, leave the reader quite in the dark. Besides, 
the very interest of this subject lies In the lurking facta connected with 
It. Hence I will llrst define certaiu terms relating thereto, then make the 
necessary explanations, and lastly give my answer. 
To experiment with, 1 select the common and best practical sporting 
rifle with crotcn and bead sights, and sighted for 150 yards. 
First.— Whut is meant by the "line of sight" of a rifle? It Is tho 
straight line from the eye, passing through tho bot'om of the crotch 
sight, taking in the tip of the bead sight, and thence straight on, piercing 
the target at its very centre. Mark, it Is a straight line and pierces the 
centre of the target. 
Second.— The line of sight being understood, I ask what Is meant by 
the axis of the piece, or barrel? It is the straight line running from the 
muzzle to the breech, and along the centre of tho bore throughout. It 
corresponds to the centre of the hall when the piece is loaded, and Is the I _ y ^ BftlIard Esq who III One time priDtcd the Suf- 
"hne of lire.” Mark, the axis of the rifle und the lino of sight are both I * , . ■ , , , , , 
straight lines, and if purallol, it follows they would never cut each other folk Democrat, nt Babylon, L. I., is now editor of the Chi- 
tf produced. I cago Field. 
The above being well understood, we next proceed to make three ex- 
periments with our rifle, and under three different circumstances. These I COW in Peterborough, Cunada, lCCOUtly dropped a 
three trials cover all the cases that can arise in firing from a horla ontal 1 
position to that of near ninety degrees elevation, 
Second— By point blank Is meant the straight line (horizontal) 
or shortest distance from the piece to the second point blank ; (or In 
practice to the target whose centre is struck at this point.) Tile French 
and Americans use the same point blank, but Iu the British service It Is 
different. Their point blank distance is the distance at which the pro- 
jectile (ball) strikes the level ground on which the carriage siuuds, the 
axis of the piece being horizontal.” (Col. Scott’s Mil. Die,) 
Long ranges are generally made on die horizontal basis, and are so re- 
corded for use in works on practical gunnery. But the above two dtil- 
nltious hold good in elevated firing also. Such is Theory I Practice— 
Whilst in both theory and fact point blank is limited to u siDgle point, 
yet in practice it is allowed a wider scope. It Is here upplied to the 
whole builBeye or mark. If this be struck it is culled a point blank shot, 
and the straight line, the point blank range. Neither Is strictly correct! 
as the reader will now ho able to detect, unless the hall strikes the centre 
(or Us level for a range). In practice, point blank iu English and "point 
blanc" (or white point) in French correspond; they refer to the same 
thing— white spot, bullseye, target. Hence in practice the bntlseye 
means point blank, and the distance to it from the piece is the point 
blank range. Some understand this in practice, bat the beautiful the- 
ory on which it is based lies in general a hidden mystery. 
General Remarks— In all case* of actual point blank or centre shot 
firing, the axis of tho barrel must incline upwards in reference to the 
line of sight; they are Dot parallel. Heavy duck shot guns are generally 
made thick at the breech; this extra thickness, so far os it goes, amounts 
to uu elevated sight, hence in sighting these we generally have a point 
blank of long range, as lutended by the maker. 
The moment the new beginner with a rifle will discard tho false Idea 
which most have that "the rifle carries straight," that moment is he in 
a condition to begin to understand rifle shootiug. Many persons, and 
some of life-long experience, still cling to this false notion. The course 
of the ball must be, and always is, in a carved line; gravity is always 
pulling it down. This curve, however, is very small within a short dis- 
tance, but at long range it is astonishingly great. At one hundred yards 
point blank range the ball rises and fulls about four inches, whilst at 
one thousand yards, as at Creedmoor, it rises nnd falls about seventy 
feet. The shot may properly be called a plunging shot. The highest 
point of the curve generally is about two thirds of the range from the 
piece; hence, as at Creedmoor, tho bnll falls nhout seventy feet In lees 
than four hundred yards. In this case the 82-lnch barrel Is reported to 
have hud the rear sight elevated 1} inches. Hence it will be seen how 
much tho axis of the barrel most have inclined upwards; also how soon 
the ball cut the line of sight, and within about one yard of the muzzle. 
In the very best of rifles the ball falls about six inches In 100 yards. This 
evil Of six inches too low for the centre of the target Is remedied, us 
seen In Case 3, by elevating the rear sight. Let us uow practically l nine 
tho curve of the ball in this case along tlie line of sight, and see the va- 
riation from a straight line, or centre shot. The ball, starting from about 
one inch below the line of sight at the muzzle, will shoot u little below 
the centre for about forty yards; at this distance, having arrived at its 
llrst point blank, It Will centre (any intercepted target): at about eighty 
yards it will shoot about three inches above the centre; at uboul 110 
yards it will shoot nearly six inches above it Here It commences to full, 
and at about 180yardslt will shoot nearly three Inches above it, and still 
falling It will again centre the target at the true point blank. Where tbo 
rifle Is sighted a little lower and for a shorter range, the variation of the 
hall from tho line of sight will be less of course. For nil kind* ef game, 
small and large, 1 prefer n point blank of not over 1 10 yards, and for 
small game alone a range of nbont eighty yards; then I am not linhitiiiilly 
shooting over it. In going on a tramp und for camping out nnd roughing 
It generally, as all real sportsmen who get ihe game have to, I rely solely 
as a certainty upon my common sights. I find from long experience 
upon tho prairies of the West, as well as elsewhere, that they are, after 
all said and done, the only reliable standbys, and that they give me more 
game than any other sights yet invented. As fixtures, however, to have 
along, I have always carried the globe sights. They sometimes. In open 
grounds, come lu good play. I always train my sights to suit myself 
after getting the rifle from the shop. They are never suitable for close 
shooting when purchased, at least I havo never found them so. I prefer 
a silver bead sight In front to all others. 
But I am reminded that I must close this communication, already too 
long, I fear. I purposed to write u short article only, and to answer the 
questions of the inquirer. I hope my answers will be satisfactory, aud 
that a rather mysterious subject will be understood. Herein will bo my 
reword. Yours, Old Scout. 
The American Team.— Dispatches from Ireland brine 
most daily reports of the movements and practice of the. 
American riflemen, which are watched with the 
. , are watched With the greatest 
interest On the 22 d they practiced ut Dollymount, and 
although the scores of that date are not given they were 
reported as being extremely satisfactory and n surprise to 
ie spectators. Iu the evening a promenade concert in their 
lienor took place at the Theatre Royal. The visitors — 
enthusiastically received upon entering the building, 
number of American airs played by the bund were 1 
applauded. 
ana it 
.... - - . loudly 
It is impossible for the team to accept more 
Ihuu a small proportion of the invitations sent to them 
On the 25th they practiced again at Dollymount. their 
scoring being remarkubly flue, the total points made being 
sixteen above tho victorious score of last year at Creed- 
moor . The following are the figures 
Fulton 
Dakin 
Qilderslecvc. 
...170, Coleman <•» 
101 Boding. . 
i6!) i Yuic ;;; 
1 otal; 950, out of a possible score of 1,080. 
The practice of the Irish loam was much inferior iu result. 
1 he members of the teams, accompanied by the Lord 
Mayor, attended a performance at the Royal Irish Academy 
or Music in the evening. The men were reported to be in 
fine spirits, and their calmness and skill has been remarked 
ami praised by the Dublin journals. Dispatches dated the 
2(iih slate that the scores made by the Irish team were 
much smaller, and that the impression was gaining ground 
that llte Americans would win. Another dispatch says 
that Col. Gildersleevo, Captain of the American Rifle Team, 
has received a letter from the Lloyds, of London, offering 
a fifty guinea cup to be contested for at. Wimbledon by the 
English, Irish, Scotch, and American eights at the lime of 
the Elcho Challenge Shield match. The Americans have 
signified their acceptance of the offer, and will compete for 
the cup in the match, The discipline aud harmony of the 
American Team is admirable. 
On, the evening of the 20th a grand banquet was given 
by the Fellows of Trinity College in honor of the Ameri- 
can Rifle Team. There were eevciity-Uve guests, including 
the American Team and llte party accompanying them. I)r. 
Humphrey Lloyd, the Lord Mayor of Dublin; the Mayor 
of York , Provost of the College; Right Hon. James White- 
side, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland; Mr. Wilson King, tho 
American Consul; Mr. Burrin/ton, ex-United Slutcs Vice 
Cousul, and Rev. Dr. Samuel Uaughton of Trinity Col- 
lege. The event was regarded as a mark of peculiar honor, 
it beiug tlie first banquet of a similar nuturo for twenty 3 o u s 
Ou Monday the Lord Mayor and Ludy Mayoress of Lou- 
don arrived iu Dublin to witness the match aud participate 
in tlie festivities. They attended a review of six thousand 
troops at Pltcenix Park, at which the American Team were 
present and enthusiastically received. Tlie weather, how- 
ever, was unfavorable. The team also practiced ut ’Dolly- 
mount, but did uot fire the full number of shots. The fol- 
lowing genllemcu were finally selected to compose the Irish 
team:— Dr. J. B. Hamiltou and Messrs. Pollock, John Me- 
Keunu, J. Iv. Milner, Wilson, and Edmund Johnson. They 
ull shoot with the Rigby rifle, while of the American Team 
Messrs. Fulton, Bodine, Dakin, and Coleman would use 
Remington’s, and Messrs. Gildersleeveattd Yale Sharps rifle. 
Eleven o’clock was the hour fixed for tho match, und it 
was ordered that absolute silence prevail during the match 
conversation not being permitted eveu uniong the shooters.' 
Neither team were to be allowed to know the number of 
points made by the other uutil the end of the firing ut each 
range. A large number of Americans had arrived at Dub- 
lin to witness the match, and the general impressions pre- 
vailed that the Americans would win. 
The Great Match— The Battle Fought and Won.— 
Thousands of hearts in this city beat high with anticipa- 
tion on Tuesday, as the cublu Hashes were anxiously await 
ed to bring the uews of victory or defeat in tlie greatest of 
International contests. From the earliest hour at which llte 
first reports could be expected, crowds surrounded the dif- 
ferent newspaper offices gazmg auxiously at the bulletin 
boards for tlie first tidings. At last they enme. The re- 
sult of the shooting at the first range of 8 UU jards was 
posted. Aiuericaus 337, Irish Team, 838, one point to the 
bad for our side. Hopes scarce expressed before were 
sank in gloom, for this distance wus looked upou os the 
strongest point for the Americans. Then came the next 
dispatch annouuciug the score at 000 yards, Irish, 292 
Americans, 327, or 34 points to the good for our side. And' 
finally the 1,000 yards score is received, showing the Am- 
ericans to have made 303 to their oppoueuls’ 299, giving 
them the victory by 38 points. The totals us compared 
with those made at Creedmoor are as follows:— 
calf that weighed 100 pouuds, 
1875. 
1874. 
DOLLYMOUNT. 
CREEDMOOR. 
800 Yards. 
800 Yards. 
Irish Team 
338 
817 
Americans 
887 
326 
Irish ahead 
1 Americans. . si 
900 Yards. 
900 Yard*. 
Irish Team 
293 
312 
Americans — 
337 
310 
Americans ahead 
31 Irish ahead.. 2 
1,000 Yard*. 
1,000 Yards 
Irish Team 
299 
SU2 
Americans 
303 
m 
Americans ahead 
4 Irish ahead 
4 
TOTALS. 
DOLLYMOUNT. 
CREEDMOOR, 
Irish Team . 
MU 
931 
Americans. 
067 
931 
American* ahead 
38 Anioiicaus. 
... 8 
On an extra sheet we present diagrams giving the iudi- 
vidual scores and a report of the match in detail, 
