1875 , 
201 
McClain informed us that he had recently settled here; 
• was from Clarion, Iowa, and had named his place Iowa 
Ranch. He began building his house in February last, 
and with the aid of his father-in-law, Mr. AVilson, they 
had nearly completed it, besides taking care of their 
stock. The house was a remarkably cosy and well- 
built one-story structure, considering that neither of the 
men were carpenters nor painters, and novices at the 
art, Mr. C. said they were not tro ibled with neigh- 
bors, as the nearest house was about two miles distant, 
but that stock from near the mountains frequently came 
down and tramped up his spring so that he might be 
bothered for water. 
After giving the horses a rest and drink, we started 
down the gulch, and after driving some distance over a 
toituous bridle-path, we saw about one hundred Indian 
ponies feeding on the plains, and soon after came in 
full view of the camp, and could see the dusky senti- 
nels posted on the distant hills watching the stock, and 
■others mounted keeping them together. Upon arriving 
at the camp, we saw for the first time a genuine Indian 
outfit, and the impressions taken at a glance will always 
lie remembered There were si.xteen lodges scattered 
■over r.n area of three or four acres on a kind of a sand- 
bar in the bed of Dug Creek. Their lodges were of the 
•usual spiral form and made of slanting poles coming 
together at the top with canvas ornamented with various 
devices stretched over them. The entrance was low, but 
when inside the’e was ample room for a good-sized In- 
dian family and any quantity of robes and soft furs to 
lie on. The revolvers and rifles of the warriors lay 
around carelessly as if individual property was per- 
fectly safe and respected. Near eveiy lodge we no- 
ticed two large heaps of what appeared to be buSalo 
robes, but upon examination we invariably found one 
to be the entire traveling outfit of the lodge, consisting 
of saddles, pack saddles, saddle-bags, lariats, etc., and 
the other to be a pile of green buffalo hides and skins 
ready for tanning, and a supply of meat, etc., both care- 
fully covered with robes. The squaws were all busy 
and hard at work, dressing and tanning the robes; some 
were standing on the green hides on the ground, and 
with a sharp piece of steel an inch and a half wide lied 
to an elk antler in the shape of an adze, were cutting off 
the entire inside of the hide preparatory to .scraping it. 
Others had the hides stretched on poles and with a piece 
of steel or iron were scraping the inside so as to make 
a perfectly even surface. The next process was for 
squaws to rub and work every part of the hide with 
their hands until it was quite flexible, after which they 
are rubbed with the brains of the beast until they are 
perfecily soft and finished, tlie jiainting and ornament- 
ing b^ing the final operation. The whole of the work 
is performed by the squaws, and it appeared to require 
as much elbow grease as brains to make a good robe. 
The bucks or warriors lay around and lake things easy, 
with the exception of those detailed to herd and take 
care of the stock. After taking a view of the surround- 
ings, we saw a brilliant suit of pony trappings hanging 
on a bush that attracted our attention, and got the in- 
terpreter to ask the price for the gay pair of saddle- 
bags, etc , and the Indians soon gathered around as the 
bundle of trinkets were brought from the carriage 
and the next hour was busy trading for curiosities 
and relics, but not understanding the art of a trader, we 
made very slow progress, and were glad when the Alajor 
sent word that lunch was ready near the carriage. 
Here we had a good spread and you can rely upon it, 
the roast duck, pickled oj'stcrs, and sandwiches tasted 
good if we were almost within the boundary of an 
Indian camp. After lunch we returned to camp again 
and saw at a glance that the pro ence of the agent was 
respected and the larger of the pappoo.scs were dressed 
in their best buckskins leggius and with bows and 
arrows in their hand the boys gave us a fine exhibition 
of their skill, after which, we joined i.i a little pistol 
target shooting willi the braves, in which llie heavy 
heavy navy revolver of ihe Al.ijor outstripped the 
Smitli & AVesson pocket and came oil victorious, and 
the Indians were free to -say “pistol: Thompson shoot 
heap good.” I soon concluded my trading and the 
agent held his council with the braves and through the 
interpreter gave his commands which were pleasantly 
received and the interpreter said would be obeyed to the 
letter. After which we bade them adieu, and coming in 
by a dillerent route, we took one of the braves with us 
for a guide and arrived at Denver early in the evening. 
In answer to our many queries during the day, wc 
learned that our friend Mai, Thompson, must be the 
TlSlil lb thj right placd, Tin ImJlftPe rqspnct him' 
highly as their white chief, and implicit'y obi y his com 
mauds, and as an under-chief said to us, “Thompson, 
heap good, no heap lie, heap good to Indian.” Also, 
they do not want any trouble with the white man, but 
do get outrageously imposed upon. As we said before, 
they never kill any animals or birds except for food or 
use in some way, and never wantonly' destroy any game. 
W. F. P. 
RESTO(’KI\G Oril STIIEARS. 
The efforts of the New York Commi.ssioners to re- 
stock with edible fish our depopulated rivers have been 
incessant and deserve public thanks. AVith admirable 
forethought, and in the face of great opposition, there 
were distributed last year 4:3 boxes of salmon trout eggs, 
five bo.xes of whitefish, three boxes of brook-trout, 
besides 181,000 salmon, 1,030,300 salmon trout, 527,000 
whitefish, 240,000 California salmon, and 2,170 bass and 
perch. Thirty-six thousands y'oung eels were deposited 
in Bufialo Creek with a view to their introduction into 
Lake Erie. 
These figures alone would speak for themselves to 
prove the untiring energy and perseverance with which 
our commissioners have labored. But we have in the 
abundance and cheapness of shad this season, of which 
5,000,000 were placed in the Hudson river last yeay, a 
still more forcible proof of the practicability of replen- 
ishing our lakes and rivers, thereby supplying the mar 
ket with fresh, w'holesome food hitherto beyond the 
means of the poorer classes. Such a result is highly 
encouraging both to the promoters of the scheme and 
the public, who desire during these months of the year 
.a diet less stimulating but equally important with that 
supplied by our meat markets. And now that art and 
science have labored so successfully' to promote the de- 
velopment of our natural resources in the way of pisci- 
culture, it is to be hoped that our attention will be 
turned yet further to the rearing of game in our woods 
and forests. Save at certain seasons, and in the case of 
a few' wild fowl, all game is usually both scarce and 
dear. Brought from great distances, the stock in our 
market is alway's extremely limited, and available only 
for those who can afford the luxury'. Yet there seems 
to be no reason why the wooded shores of the Hudson, 
and of our numerous streams throughout the State, 
should not become, as they' were a century ago, re- 
peopled with their natural denizens. The vast trackless 
waste embraced in the region of the Adirondacks 
might, with care and patience, be made to yield a thou- 
sand fold their actual supply of food. AATth the wise 
limitations imposed upon sportsmen, which have gone 
far to favor the splendid results desired by the commis- 
sioners, there is .scarcely a doubt that in a few years 
game would become as plentifid in our State as it is 
to-day in the far West. 
Reduction in the prices of this invaluable article of 
consumption would necessarily follow; the compara 
lively expensive animal food upon which the laboring 
population depends at present for sustenance would be 
partially replaced by the proper wealth of our forests 
and streams, and the salutary' effect upon health and 
power of endurance required in the summer months — 
when excessive animal food is more or less deleterious 
to the system — would be a marked feature of the 
practical benefits to be derived from this plan. 
IIoR.vcE Gueelf.y once wrote: If I were to estimate 
the average absolute loss to the farmers of this country 
from insects at .^100,000, 000 per annum, I should doubt- 
less be far below the mark. I have no doubt that our 
best allies in this inglorious warfaic are the biriLs. 
They would .serve us if we did not destroy them. The 
boy who robs a bird’s nest is robbing the farmer of a 
part of his crops. The farmer might as well consent 
that any strolling rullian should shoot his horses or 
cattle as his birds. 
'1 HE monthly nueling of Ihe Canadian Fish and 
txame Proteitive ISociely has been In hl. 'Ihe secielary 
read letters from the Alinister of Marine and Fisheries, 
thanking the society' for the ^uggestlon of having speci- 
mens of the Canadian Fauna examined and classified 
by some one officially apiioiutcd. A discussion took 
place on the policy of giving further protection to the 
fur-bearing animals, -Mr. Merriam giving much intciest- 
ing information upon this and kindred subjects. The 
general feeling seemed to be, that if the end of the close 
season were fixed at Oct. 15 instead of Nov. 1, and the 
taws wore vigorously enforced, the fur bearing animals 
would rapidly lncri}e«e In number. 
Trout in A'iroinia. — The impression seems to have 
gone abroad that there are no trout (Snltno fontinalu) 
in A irgiuia, and this impression has prevented many a 
Northern sportsman from taking his summer holi- 
days at Ihe magnificent watering places with which 
the Old Dominion abounds. Now this is all a mistake. 
Commencing with a small stream called “ Difficult,” 
some eighteen or twenty miles above AVashington City, 
on the A’irginia side of the Potomac, and einptying into 
that river, trout are to be found in a majority of tbe 
streams draining both the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny 
all the way down to South Carolina. At the AVhite 
Sulphur, the Salt, the AA^arm, and other watering places 
in ihe Greenbriar region, the trout fishing is as gooa’ as 
any to be found this side of Maine. 
Amateur Prize Pigeon Shoot will be given under 
the auspices of the Amateur Shooting Club of Detroit, 
Alonday', 5th of July, l.st prize, silver water set, value 
$00. 2d, silver card receiver, $30. 3d, rosewood fish- 
ing rod, silver mounted, extra tip, $20. 4th, hunting 
coat, hat, and pocket flask, $18. 5th, keg dead shot 
powder, bag shot, and dog whip, $12. 6th, (for poorest 
score) set breech loading implements, $10. Entries can 
be made and prizes seen at the gun store of George B. 
Mather, No. 133 Jefferson Avenue. Ten birds each, 
class shooting; entry $5, birds included, professionals 
barred; wild birds. 
The Game and Inland Fishery Protection Society of 
Nova Scotia have sent us their annual report. The so- 
ciety have been able to do something, but not much. 
The Government is deplorably indifferent to the river 
fisheries, and the complaint of extermination is loud. 
The utility of these protection societies is beyond all 
question. There is imperative need to create public 
meetings, and we would urge renewed exertion and 
labor without ceasing. It may take lime, but constant 
dripping wears the rock. 

A Nation.xl Centennial Dog Show was suggested at 
the Cleveland Convention, under the auspices of the As- 
sociation. It was very proierly voted down- The objects 
of the National Sportsmen’s Association are clearly de- 
fined as legislative and deliberative. There is something 
in the idea, however. AA''e might still have our cen- 
tennial dog show. AVhat does “ ilohawk” say' about it? 
What part will the sportsmen take in the Centennial? 

Dr. Rowe, tbe new First A’'ice-Prfcsident of the N. A". 
State Association for the Preservation of Fish and 
Game, deserves the distinction. He is an industrious 
and popular member of the Convention. He is one of 
the editors of Turf, Field and Farm, and as an editor 
a writer, a shooter, a dog shower, a lady’s man and a 
sportsman he is a success. 
The AA''atertown Bench Show— In our list of 
awards at the New A'ork State Bench Show, we men- 
tioned that Air. A. C. AA’^addell of Newton, N. J., was 
the owner of the puppy Dan, which won the champion 
puppy' class, whereas Air. Henry Shipman of Brooklyn 
is the owner. Air. AA''addell was the breeder of the 
puppy', and that is how the mistake occurred. 
ALL SPORTSMEN are interested in the best hunt- 
ing grounds of the South-west. The line of the Alis- 
souri, Kansas and Texas Railroad aft irds untold fields 
of Game-Birds, Fish and animals. Send to General 
Passenger Agent, Sedalia, AIo., for free maps, illustra- 
tions and descriptions. Correspondence solicited. 
AA'.m. N. Byeks of the Rocky Mountain News, known 
aud trusted by all AVestern sporisinen, is roughing it in 
an excursion to the Aliddle Para. AVe have faith in all 
his bear stories. 
Goodridire. of Grafton, A’t., sends us three rods, one 
for lllack Bass, one for Shad, and a Fly rod. AVhen we 
go up to llo|yoke,'we shall look in on Chalmers and try 
the shad pole. For the others they are what they pre- 
tend to be. Call .at our office and sec them. 
Dogwhip's field trial Setter bitch Dart, whelped fif- 
teen inippies, viz., eight dogs and seven bitches. They 
are by Leicester, and are all black, white and tan, and 
blue belton in color. 
Hi'IGe.man’s Portable Folding Boat is just now in 
season. Light, convenient and durable. 
The article “English Gun Trials” in last issue wt s 
credited to “Recappcri” It should have ijeen credited 
to J. W, Lorg. 
V 
