The New Name- 
Montello,Wi8., April?. 
Editor Rod aud Gdn: 
The first number of “ Rod and Gcn is before me. I look up- 
on the paper and think of it as my old friend the “ American 
Sportsman/' under a nom de plume. Therefore I bid no farewell to 
the '■ Sportsman,” but merely hail it the more heartily under its 
new title, as a companion ever the same lu principle, under what- 
ever goise. This reasoning reconciles me to the change, and the 
suggestive title goes far toward making one feel for the new name a 
sentiment akin to that felt for the old. “Rod and Gun.” Donot 
all sportsmen feel a thrill at the mere mention of the tw’o imple- 
ments so dear to them, and with which are associated so many 
thoughts of recreation by flood and field! Truly the thought is a 
gratifying one, that the journal has a name worthy of its calling, 
and the devotees of rod and gun need fear no lack of co-operation 
in the paper which has so long been their friend. Ere I finish, I 
must say of ” Boone,” that his pen furnishes many of the most 
brilliant and useful sketches in the Rod and Gun. I notice in par- 
ticular, his remarks on ” Sporting Scenes,” and later his descrip- 
tion of ” A Blizzard’.' I admire the feeling which prompts him to 
give the scathing rebuke to pot hunters who trap quail and grouse 
when at best they obtain but a precarious existence through the 
winter’s snow and cold. Every true sportsman has at heart the 
same feeling in regard to game protection that “Boone ” so 
fitly expresses, and will all feel toward him the regard 
that a kindred spirit fosters. I tender you my warmest 
thanks friend ” Boone ” for the grand work you are doing, not only 
In this, but toward discouraging the use of intoxicating drinks on 
every bunting tour. The sharp bang of guns on the river are heard 
now frequently, presaging death to ducks, and the flocks of wild 
geese flying northward in triangular file remind me that i may yet 
have sport in unstinted measure. Would that either “Boone” 
“ Guido,” and “ Setter ’' might be with me another fall and learu 
what pleasure may be had in duck shooting. Fred. 
Sport near St- Louis- 
Sr. Louis, March 30. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
We have had some of the finest duck shooting on the lakes and 
swamps near St. Charles, that any of the oldest sportsmen have seen 
for years, especially in the grounds of the St. Charles Game Club. 
Just returned from a trip up there in which J. N. and myself had 
some fine shooting ; not so good, though, as it was the week before. 
While there we met H. Bnines, an old huntc*r, who killed 111 in one 
day’s shooting, on the 20th of ibis month ; and a few days before 
thatCapt. J. K. McDearman (the Secretary of the St. Charles Game 
Club), and C. Dryden in one day shot 75, and others of us killed 
20 and 30. Last week, though they commenced going north and 
for several days before we left, six or seven was a good day's hunt. 
Snipe have commenced coming in, and we are anticipating fine 
sport in a few days. We have found it very difilcult to keep our 
dogs of late ; every day’s paper has five or six advertisements for 
stolen dogs ; one man had a fine brace of cockers stolen, but after- 
ward recovered them and says he intends sending the thief to the 
Stale prison, and I sincerely hope he will do so ; it would, perhaps, 
intimidate others who are hooking dogs and shipping them to other 
cities to sell them. Fishing in most of the small lakes will be very 
poor, as most of them, being very low, w’ere frozen to the bottom, 
the banks being lined with dead ones washed oat, which created a 
terrible stench after we had a few w'arm days. One man whom we 
stayed with told me that he went to some of them and cut them out 
of the solid ice, and that a person could have gotten wagon loads of 
the most choice fish by cutting a hole that was not entirely frozen 
to the bottom, and selecting such as he wanted, as they crowded 
into it to get fresh air. Dock. 
How Uncle Jed Lost His Dog- 
TUPTONBOROUGH, N. H., April 10. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
My Uncle Jerry, or Jed, we used to call him for short, had a small 
yellow dog that he said be wouldn't take fifty dollars* for, he was 
“ sich a knowing critter,” and wherever Uncle Jed went there you 
were sure to see his yaller dog Prince following along behind or 
scudding off some distance in advance. Well, one day Uncle Jed 
said he thought he would go down around bis clovei field and put 
up a gap in the fence that had fallen down. It was a beautiful day 
in May, the birds were sending up their songs from every grove. 
Prince felt as gay as a lark, and cut on ahead and came suddenly on 
a woodchuck ; the woodchuck cut for the wall and dove in. Prince 
was close behind, and the woodchuck turned to defend himself, and 
Prince and the woodchuck locked jaws. The dog would pull the 
woodchuck part way out of the wall, and then the woodchuck 
would in turn pull the dog’s bead into the wall. Uncle Jed began 
to get alarmed for Dog Prince, so he waited until the dog had pulled 
the woodchnek's head well out of the wall, w’hen he raised the axe 
and struck down on the back of the woodchuck; but the wood- 
chuck saw the movement and with a quick yank he brought the 
dog's head directly under the descending axe, and poor Prince was 
brained by his master, his best friend. Uncle Jed, in telling it over, 
said there was one consolation about it— Prince never knew out the 
woodchuck JdUed him, H . 
No Law In Maine- 
GABDI^'EB, Me., March 17. 
Editob Rod and Gdn: 
Can any of yonr readers inform me what is the close time for pick- 
erel in Maine ? They have been taking large numbers of them 
through the ice during the month of Fchruary and daring the pres- 
ent month. I was under the impression it was wrong to take pick- 
erel during February and March. The pickerel eight or ten years 
since were very plenty in the ponds in this vicinity, but are now 
very much thinned out and small. In fact very few take much in- 
terest in the game or fish laws, and shoot and fish when they please. 
The ponds and streams used to be full of trout, hut now few are 
taken. White perch are getting in all the ponds and helping to ei:- 
terminate the trout. There seems to have been one old veteran left 
at you will see by the enclosed item : “ Truly a remarkably heavy, 
ellowi^very seldom met with nowadays, ’ U. C. C. 
Camping on the “ East Branch.” 
Boston Highlands, Apr. 6. 
Editob Rod and Gcn: 
While reading your valuable and interesting paper, I noticed an 
account from “E K. P.” of a three weeks sojourn in northern Xew 
Hampshire, and was very glad to know that some one else besides 
myself had found pleasure in the “Old Granite State,” camping out. 
Perhaps it may be interesting to him if no one else, if I should give 
a short description of the region where I usually spend my summer 
vacation. For the past six years I have been in the habit of spend- 
ing a few weeks in the vicinity of the White Mountains, and for 
wholesomeiiess of air and fine scenery, that country cannot be sur- 
passed. Not wishing it to be understood that 1 stop at the hotels 
while there, I will tell of one trip (which is analogous to all the 
others) that I took in company with three young men from this city. 
As I have “gone over” the trip many times since, and enjoyed (in 
my mind) I think I can recall it again pretty correctly. We went 
as far as Plymouth, N. H., by rail, then by a most invigorating ride 
of twenty five miles, in a two horse wagon which brought us to 
“ Pollard's" in Lincoln, where we left our team and strapped on our 
packs, which consisted of a tent and all the necessary impedimenta 
for a two weeks trip up the “east branch” of the Pemegenasett 
river. This is really a beautiful s ream. running just at the base of 
some of the largest mountains of the White Mountain range, and 
receiving its supply from a number of ponds that lies amongst the 
mountains almost hidden from view by a dense wood. One in par- 
ticular seems more attractive then its mates, by being situated on 
thevciytopof a mountain, and which abounds in trout, some of 
which I am told are of very large size. 
We made our headquarters at about filteen miles from the nearest 
inhabitant (Pollard's) and from there, made short trips In all direc- 
tions, fishing and gunning. For the short time we ivcre there I 
never enjoyed better sport. There was not a meal eaten, but a 
good supply of trout graced onr board, and hardly ever but what 
we conld include grouse and squirrels, in some form. You can 
have no idea how ranch a person can get ont side of, after he has 
been tramping ten or twelve miles with a “ Parker ” on hie arm, 
unless you have “been there.” We saw deer tracks in large num- 
bers, bat was not fortunate enough to get a shot at a deer. Bears 
are also quite plentiful there, although we did not see one. we met 
a party who informed ns that they were obliged to burn their bed- 
ding to frighten one away from the camp, the previous night. As I 
noticed quite a numlier of enquirers in yonr paper last year about 
“how a tent shonld be made, and of what kind of wood should the 
poles be made,” and thinking there might be some one who are go- 
ing to camp out for the first time, the coming summer, I will des- 
cribe mine to you as I think it the one. It is an “A” tent made of 
diilling, is seven feet square on the ground and six feet high. The 
poles are made of cane, and are jointed, therefore can be easily car- 
ried or packed in a carriage. The tent and poles together weigh 
only twelve pounds, and will accommodate five persons. 
M. J. A. 
A Card. 
West Hoboken, Apr. 8. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
Your last issue contains a communication signed “Old Smeedy” 
in which he makes a fierce attack upon both Gamekeepers and Tax- 
idormists of our township. The article is too personal to pass in 
silence; in fact he might as well givenamesin full, and being accused 
in your p-^per, I hope yon will e ncode me the right to defend 
myself in it also, and ventilate the matter a little. 
Our t«*wnship, in the first place, contains no woods, nor under- 
brush, yon would find it a difficult matter to cut a walking stick, and 
cons-equentiy no woodcock, but two well-known taxidermists of high 
stmding, and about twenty amateurs following the profession to 
their best ability. Our game-law concedes to any of t.iese the 
right to obtain a woodcock should they be inclined to do so, and 
very rarely if ever, the law is broken by them, as none I might say 
own “Blue Belton” to disturb them. It is therefore most ridicnlons 
to make such an outcry, especially by one, who is a weli-known 
trespasser of the general game law himself. Who is tl.e worst 
transgressor, the man who shoots a woodcock for a specimen, or the 
party w ho sneaks out Sundays, gun under coat, a genuine pot-hun- 
ter? Secauens woods in th • next township contains yearly about 
four broods of woodcock, and it is about these that the great out- 
cry is raised. They must be left alone till the 4th of July, (bully 
boy, the 4th on Sunday, just the cheese, everybody stays at homo 
except the pot-hunter.) Who worries them? Nobody exc pt the 
“Blue Belton,” wlio will cheer them in the bargain, shonld they not 
be fledged enough. In a few weeks dear editor, you can witness 
this process of worrj'ing to death any Sunday from day -light till 
dark. Dogs by the wholesale, stump-tails and long-tails, black-noses 
and blue-noses, drove after drove. 
Poor bird you are only getting located. Your eggs are cold, your 
downy young fill hungry setters bellies, but “all dat is hnotting” 
you are only getting located, and I think you too, “Old Smeedy.” 
Gamekeeper. 
Frank Forester. 
SoMEBSET, O., April 7. 
Editob Rod and Gun: 
“ Boone’s” well written article on the lamented Herbert, though 
perhaps a trifle too severe, only intensifies in my mind the desire to 
know more of the man whom I claim as the first great grand master 
of field sports in America. He was the Columbus who discovered, 
and piloted American yonth into the realm of manly sport. Now, 
what I would like, and what many others would like, is to see in 
the columns of The Rod and Gun a serie-s of artisles from some ol 
Frank Forester's friends who maybe still living, relalive to the 
man himself; his sayings and doings, his joys and Ills sorrows, his 
works and his ways, each and all would be interesting. Let Isaac 
McLellan, or Gen Sibley, or others of Ilerlicrt’s old companions 
step to the front. Now let me say a word of encouragement to The 
Rod and Gun. At last the true lover of field sports has found a pa- 
per which is not taken np with betting and billiards, horse racing, 
theatres and kindred topics ad nausaum. Long life to The Rod 
ANB Gun! 
Allow me to suggest to those gentlemen who have been popping 
at sparrows and snow-birds, this last few months, that a grand 
match at honey-bees and blue. bottle Hies is now in order. 
Old^Gunneb. 
New Name- 
Salem, M a@8., April 2. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
Wish you success with your new name, which I like much better 
than the old. 
A friend informed me of a rather unusual circumstance within a 
day or two; it was, that wirhin a short distance of his residence, 
two snipe had stayed all this hard w'intwr; he has started them in 
January himself, and the boys have repeatedly started them during 
the winter. They have lived at a spring which never freezes, and 
for some rods the water is so warm that even this winter the stream 
rnnning from it has been open. One day a boy very nearly caught 
one with a miuDow net. They must have kept in the water some 
nights to keep from freezing I should think. Do you not consider 
it an unusual thing for snipe, who are so sw ift of wing to do, when 
a few hours would have taken them south. Dry Land. 
Franklin, N. Y., April 5. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
Three cheers for the new name of onr paper! Eureka! I Bully 
for those letters protesting against any law prohibiting summer 
woodcock shooting That is loo big a pill for any sound sportsman 
to swallow, in this State, at least, and Mr. Editor, I know you are 
sound enough to know that more harm will be done in the end than 
good, by such a law. McK. 
“Second me Motion 1” 
Boston. March 25. 
Editob Rod and Gun: 
I notice yonr W orcester correspondent “ Baldpate,” in your issue 
of Feb. 27, makes the very sensible snggestlon that our experiment- 
alists — “Long may they wave ” — use the regulation charge of shot 
adopied for 12 bore guns, “ Turf. Field and F rm ” gun trial of July, 
1873, viz., 1 1-8 oz. American Standard No. 7, containing by actual 
count about 312 pellets. Powder, of course, ad libitum, some guns 
requiring more than others. This, too, corresponds nearly to the 
charge used at several of the extensive trials made in England dar- 
ing tne past two years, the English No 6, the size generally adopted 
at those trials, containing in 1 1-8 oz. about 315 pellets according to 
Col. Hawker's schedules ; later autnorities, however, Capt. Lacy, 
for instance, making it about 304. In either case it approximateg 
more nearly to onr No. 7 than any other size, and the utility of using 
the latter size in our trials, is too obvious to require further com- 
ment, affording as it will the opportunity of comparison with care- 
fully prepared, and extensively published tables of results. I should 
like to hear from my Diother sportsmen in different sections, rela- 
tive to the effects of our severe winter on quail. In a private letter 
from .Mr. John Davidson of Monroe, Michigan, that capital sports- 
man mentions that they have suffered terribly in his State, and I 
fear such must be the case throughout the entire western country. 
"SCOLOPAX.” 
Welcome the Rod and Gun- 
Providence, R. I. April 5. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
Dear Sir: Right w'elcome is an old friend in whatsoever guise he 
comes to us. Though his garments may be old, even thread-bare^ 
he is still dear to us, and we extend the “ right band of fellow’ship.” 
We liked the “ old Sportsman” as he was; dressed in a garb which 
had become familiar, and in which he had been our guide and 
companion ou many a hunting and fishinu e.xcursion. And yet we 
must confess the new habiliments are pleasing to the eye, and a 
great Improvement, Long may he live to wear them. He is still 
the same old friend and we welcome him right heartily. The peti- 
tion in regard to snaring, of which I spoke in my last letter, has 
been accepted, and is now a law on our statute books. No one can 
now trap or snare except on his own land, and for his own consump- 
ption. A wise provision, and will do much toward preventing the 
extermination of the partridges. The w’orid (of R. I. at least) still 
moves. Our Game and Fish Association held their first annual 
meeting on Thursday evening, April 1. 
We now have nearly eighty members and, “ still they come. We 
hope to send delegates to the National Convention next June, 
My ammunition, i.e. news, is nearly exhausted, and I will stop 
shooting now, and load shells for another time. Deacon. 
Trapping- 
San Francisco, March 23. 
Editor Rod and Gun: 
Cannot the sportsmen of Kansas, Iowa, and other western States 
stop the wholesale trapping and exportation of prairie chickens out 
of season? Hundreds and hundreds of barrels of pinnated grouse, 
are shipped every winter and spring from Nevada and California, and 
every bird I have so fai examined, I found to have been trapped, as 
I could not find a shot mark on any one of them, and I have exam> 
ined on my almost daily visits to the markets hundreds of birds. 
And of the thousands of birds brought here, over one third are 
thrown away as spoiled. If this wholesale destruction is not 
stopped, in a few’ years the western sportsmen will count the Prai- 
rie hen amongst the birds of the past. J, P. 
Sport in Ark- 
Mbmphis, Tenn., April 3. 
Editor Rod and Gun : 
I learn your Mr. Parker is at Cincinnati. I hope he will not slight 
Memphis in his travels. Snipe shooting on the prairies in Arkansas 
is splendid now; some of our sportsmen arc over there every day 
and get so much shooting that they get tired and qnit. Two re- 
turned to-day with one hundred and sixty-six snipe which they had 
bagged in less than five hoars. D. B. 
Shells- 
St. Paul, Minn., April 10, 
Editor Rod and Gu.n: 
Your readers may not be aware of the fact that thepancr shel's 
for breech-loading shot guns may be made perfectly waterproof by 
immersing them for an instant in a preparation of orange shellac, 
one pound to tlie gallon of alcohol, after yon have done loading and 
crimping them. Shells so treated will resist not alone dampness 
from rainy weather shooting, bat will stand soaking in water. 
Should you consider the above of interest to your readers, please 
I give it to them and oblige. Cuas. A. Ziujceiulak.^ 
