188 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


ashallow box, wide enough to hold them when laid side by 
side, and two or three inches longer than the longest. 
There is always some spare room in the house where this 
case could be laid along the surbase and not be in the way 
or seem unsightly. As regards tackle, all lines should be 
reeled off and stretched from one end of the garden to 
another on some bright and sunny morning, and left an 
hour in the air to dry. They should then be over-run 
lightly with a bit of woollen cloth or chamois to remove 
any taint of mildew, sand, sea salt, or other extraneous 
matter, and then be wound upon the reel not too tightly and 
put away with the reel nicely cleaned. If frayed portions 
are discovered they should be condemned, and the good parts 
kept for miscellaneous uses, which will be found frequent 
enough. With respect to leaders, flies, ground tackle, &c., it 
is admissible to defer immediate attention until some fine 
evening when a cheerful blaze and indoor comforts are 
heightened by the blustering weather without, and then 
with his stock spread out upon the sitting room table, one 
can summon the aid of the litt’e folks to assort the several 
varieties. What a wealth of curiosities will be opened to 
their wondering eyes! How many interested questions they 
will ask, and how mueéh impracticable knowledge of 
entomology they will acquire, keeping themselves awake 
till long past regulation hours for ‘‘little folks to go to 
bed!” As in the case of lines, all worn and imperfect flies, 
all frayed leaders, and half broken gut lengths, should be 
rejected as past service, for the great desideratum with a 
careful angler is to keep his gear in as perfect condition as 
possible, that at no time he may be aggravated through neg- 
ligence by an untoward loss. Bait boxes and creels should 
be thoroughly cleansed with warm soda water, and when 
dried it is well to sprinkle them with a little carbolic acid, 
or a wash of carbolic soap can be used. Never keep your 
fishing and shooting gear in the same drawer or chest. 
Have a place for every thing and keep every thing in its 
place, and when the spring time comes you will be happy 
and prepared for work. 
—We learn of a string of 18 speckled trout being taken 
in the Nepigon a week ago Tuesday, which weighed 57 
pounds, over three pounds average! They were captured 
for scientific purposes, and were on exhibition two days 
ago at Andrew Clerk’s, Maiden Lane. The largest weighed 
5¢ pounds. This string, for average, rather takes the rag 
off the Rangely samples, away down east in Maine. 
—Some lively specimens of California salmon, Salmo 
quinnet, are on exhibition at Andrew Clerk’s fish pond, 
Maiden Lane. They were hatched by Dr. Slack from eggs 
obtained by the Government. There is also at the same 
place a capital painting of trout by that clever artist, Wm. 
Holberton, which best critics say possesses unusual merit. 
—One of our friends wishes us to state thata ten pound 
salmon was caught in a shad net last summer at the State 
dam, near Troy. 
—We don’t intend to meddle with avery-body’s business, 
but wish merely to remark that Mr. M. T. Avery, of 
Chicago, burned or buried four hundred pounds of speckled 
trout that he caught and couldn’t use, while on a visit to 
the Nepigon river, Lake Superior, last August! We have 
this from authority which, unfortunately for Mr. A., is 
reliable. 
—A Maine correspondent writes from Piscataquis county: 
The railroad now building to Moosehead lake will bring that sheet of 
water, forty miles in length by five to twenty in width, within an hour’s 
ride of Piscataquis, a pleasant summer resort. 
The;Commissioners of Fisheries for Maine, aided by the Commission- 
ers of Massachusetts and Prof. Baird of the United States Commission, 
selected a beautiful lake within four miles of us for the artificial ponds 
and hatching houses which have been already completed near the mouth 
of some of the beautiful monntain streams that come tumbling along to 
form this lake, which is twelve miles in length by one to seven m width. 
Some thousands of-dollars are being invested here that the beautiful 
land-locked salmon may be largely increased in New England. These 
beauties are now caught in this sheet of waterin large numbers, weigh- 
ing from one to three pounds. There are also some of the flnest pickerel 
of the American coutinent, while a couple of miles only north, a small 
pond contains lake trout. . 
The speckled brook trout are trnly at home in northern Maine, one 
half to two pounds in weight. Many “strings” of ten to twenty in num- 
ber were brought to the hotels at Greenville, Moosehead Lake. from Wil- 
son’s pond, last summer. 
New Lisson, Ouro, October 20, 1873. 
EpivTor ForREsT anp STREAM:— 
Noticing an artlele in your paper of October 9th in relation to fly fish- 
ing for black bass, signed ‘‘Kirby,,’ induced me to give my opinion in the 
matter. My experience is similar to that of ‘‘Kirby’s,” and Ihave con- 
cluded that black bass will not rise fora fly, no matter how carefully 
thrown or what fly is used. Ihave thrown into a school without dis- 
turbing them, and immediately gave them a minnow when the whole 
school would rush for it. In a conyersation with a friend of mine who is 
an old hand with the rod, he .says he has tried the fly and never saw a 
black bass rise toa fly. The bass fishing is good with us at present, al- 
though two pounds is the average weight. I succeeded in fooling 
thirty-eight the last two times I was out. Quail shootiug was never as 
good in this section as now, thanks to the game law, and the example of 
the better class of our hunters. While out on a business trip a day or 
two since with my friend Bob S., we took a couple of hours with the 
“rod and gun,” and returned with squirrels, quails, pheasants, plover, 
black bass and perch. If we had devoted the day to sport, no doubt we 
would have had something to write about, We have not commenced 
onr “‘sport’’ yet, but expect to bag a yew before Christmas. The Forest 
AND STREAM’ as many admirers in this section, and we hope for con- 
tinued prosperity in your undertaking. Yours, H. W. B. 
—The Tribune correspondent, who accompanied the 
Hayden Expedition, writes thus glowingly of the first trout 
found in Colorado: ‘In the Eagle river we find at last 
the trout, long promised and long sought in vain—ereat, 
splendid fellows, with red lines on gill and fins, averaging 
a pound apiece or near it, and rising to two pounds. We 
are ill-provisioned with tackle that will pull out those stil 
larger, all ready, too, to snap at the enticing bait. The 
day we turned to go up the mountain flank, four of the 
party stayed behind a few hours to fish, and came into 

camp at evening with a hundred pounds (deduct, if you 
choose, a quarter for the usual over-estimate of fishermen). 
The biggest of those caught the day before had been an in 
teresting entomological collector, a considerable variety of 
insects being found in his maw; but his predilection was 
grasshoppers, of which he contained nearly thirty undi- 
gested, beside apparently twice as many no longer distin- 
guishable as individuals. The value of trout as repressors 
of the plague of grasshoppers has perhaps not been proper- 
ly appreciated, we shall have them by and by protected by 
act of the Territorial Legislature. This afternoon we have 
about 50 pounds more. 
. Shot Gun and Rifle. 
GAME IN SEASON FOR NOVEMBER. 



Moose, Alces Malchis.) Caribou, Tarandus Rangifer.) 
Elk or Wapiti, Cervus Canadensis.) Red Deer, Caricus Virginianus.) 
Rabbits. common Brown and Grey.) Squirrels, Red Black and Gray.) 
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo.) Quail, Optyx Virginiuna.) 
Woodcock, Scolopaa: rusticola.) Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido.) 
Ruffled Grouse, Tetrao umbellus,) Pigeons, and all kindsof Wild Fowl, 
+> 


| Under the head of “Game, and Fisn m Season” we can only specyfy wm 
general terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 
that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no less than publish 
those entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in question. This 
would require a great amount of our space. In designating game we are 
guided by the iaws of nature, upon which all legislation is founded, and 
our readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws of their re- 
spective States for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist them 
will only create confusion. | 
pik ESweh is le, 
—We have made most thorough inquiry, through circu- 
lars sent all over the country, for vital statistics concerning 
the common red deer, and gather the gratifying informa 
tion that the country at large shows a decided increase in 
their number over the previous year. This is especially 
true of the Cumberland Range and of the Lower Raquette 
river, Adirondacks. In the vicinity of Winchester, Va., 
deer seem to be unusually numerous. If we could find fig- 
ures upon which to base a comparative estimate of the rel- 
ative loss and gain in other years, the statement would be 
valuable. As it is deer actually seem to be increasing, 
no doubt due to an observance of the close season and a 
general disposition to be sportsmanlike in the mode of cap- 
turing the animals. Justin Roe, of Patchogue, Long 
Island, informs us that fifteen deer were killed near Islip in 
one week. Old settlers did not suppose there were so many 
deer on the whole Island. From all indications the num- 
ber is very considerable, and the ‘sign” abundant. But 
isn’t it deplorable to slaughter these creatures by the whole- 
sale? If it were possible to forbid the killing of more than 
one deer at a time, whether to a single gun or to a party of 
half a dozen, it would be very proper to do so. To be able 
to claim a single Long Island trophy is something to be 
proud of, while it is most important to maintain a shooting 
presence so accessible to New York as this is. It is a most 
short-sighted folly to glut one’s self with venison for the mere 
sake of counting coups. We respectfully commend this 
matter to the attention of some gentlemen of the South Side 
Club, and give no offence in doing so, we hope. 
—As to general habits of sportsmen in quest of game of any 
kind, they make the mistake of hunting too much. Moving 
about through the woods has the effect to scare the game 
away, and in consequence a man may often cover a large 
tract of good ground and see absolutely nothing. The less 
“hunting” the more game usually. A dozen squirrels can 
be shot from the same stand oftentimes, if one will only be 
content to remain quiet. In deer stalking, too, it is not 
necessary fora hunter to run the animal to earth as he 
would a fox. Let him but stand still as soon as he discov- 
ers the decr and perceives that he is discovered in turn, and 
the deer, if not much frightened, will not run far. After 
she breaixs cover she will make a few wild leaps and then 
stop and turn to ascertain the cause and character of the 
alarm, She will not run farif not followed, and will re- 
main in the vicinity until her curiosity is satisfied. There 
is a natural inquisitiveness about animals. They don’t be- 
come frightened as much through the sense of sight as 
through the senses of smell or hearing—particularly the 
first. The antelope of the plains is notoriously attracted by 
anything red, and the moose is especially distinguished for 
his curiosity. The moose is much more easily killed than 
the deer. Ifhe has your wind you may follow him till 
doomsday and save your powder. But if you remain 
quiet—perhaps it may be for hours—nevertheless the moose 
will not rest until he has made his detour and come around 
to satisfy his curiosity. Wehave known an old hunter on 
one occasion to follow a moose three times over his own trail, 
having stalked him so cautiously as merely to interrupt his 
occasional attempts to browse. His route was almost a 
circle. 
Naturalists are the most successful hunters, for in their 
search for information it becomes necessary to lie perdu 
for hours, in order to pursne their investigations of the hab- 
its of the animals and birds they study. That which is to 
be most guarded against is giving the animals your scent. 
Itis all important to hunt up wind. 
fhe first light snow of the season gives the hunter a great 
advantage over the game, and in the case of caribou one 
has only to dress in white clothes to approach to close 
range and ensure his success; and the same is true of grouse 
and rabbits, both of which are readily tracked. 
—Although the woodchuck can scarce be called game, 
yet the sportsman who is fond of rifle shooting can do the 
_ farmer a good service by knocking over these pests as they 
sit at the entrances of thei burrows. They are very fat at 
his season, for they are about to retire to the depths of 
ttheir holes, where they remain all winter; they are there- 
ing is elaborately and beautifully done. 
fore not bad eating, but the peculiar glands which lie un- 
der the fore legs must be carefully removed before cooking, 
else they impart a disagreeable, rank flavor to the flesh, 
which otherwise is -as dellicate as that of therabbit. The 
woodchuck is one among a few of ourmammals which hi- 
bernate. The long-tailed jumping mouse (Jaculus Hudson- 
uses) isthe smallest species that passes the winter in this 
way. C. J, Maynard, the naturalist, writes: ‘‘I have 
taken this little animal during the cold season from a nest 
which was buried in the ground to the depth of five or six 
feet. I found it perfectly dormant. Circulation was ap- 
parently suspended and the mouse did not seem to breathe, 
but when placed near a fire it recovered, becoming quite 
lively; then, when removed to a cold spot, it almost imme- 
diately returned to its previous condition. If again brought 
to the warmth the effect was as before, but the little crea- 
ture was uneasy and invariably sought some cold spot, 
where it crept beneath some article of clothiug and returned 
to its state of lethargy. 
The common striped squirrel also remains beneath the 
surface of the earth all winter, but I do not think they be- 
come dormant, or at least do not remain so for all that time, 
for they lay by a large supply of food in autumn, in antici- 
pation of the coming cold season. Bears are the largest 
animals which hibernate.” 
—The Germantown Telegraph says:— 
“We have the most remarkable rail-shooting to report 
that has ever occurred. It happened at Port-Penn on the 
Delaware, two weeks orso ago. A party of sportsmen 
from this city, with ten guns, bagged in two tides three 
thousand six hundred birds! The marsh was literally alive 
with them. They rose in flocks and were slaughtered by 
wholesale. One gentleman, not of this party, on the same 
day shot nine without moving his boat, running on the 
broken down reeds, and they could be seen on all sides as 
thick as blackberries.” 
—Robert Sixbury died on the 22d inst., at the house of 
his son, Isaac Sixbury, in the cown of Le Roy, Jefferson 
county, N. Y., at the age of 110 years and 7 months. Mr. 
Sixbury had acquired great reputation as a hunter on John 
Brown’s Tract in Northern New York, where he had slain 
over 2,200 deer. 
—Mr. Louis A. Leland, of St. Joseph’s county, Michigan, 
has just sent 150 wood ducks to Europe. These beautiful 
fowls are very abundant in that section, Mr. Leland having 
netted as many as 800 in a single season. 
—The Baltimore American, speaking of a collection of 
guns in a store in that city, says:—‘‘Two of these are 
unique affairs, brought home recently by our worthy citi- 
zen, Mr. T. H. Oliver, who spent twelve years traveling in 
all parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are of great 
length, and of the most antique construction. One of them 
has a barrel five feet long, made of the finest steel, curi- 
ously carved and inlaid with gold and platina. The inlay- 
The stock of this 
gun is of ebony, inlaid with silver, pearl, and ivory. The 
flint lock, of antique pattern, with springs and works all 
outside the plate, is finely inlaid with platina. The barrel 
and stock are bound with six silver bands, and all the 
mountings are silver or gold. The stock is affixed to a 
but plate of ivory, very handsomely inlaid. The bore of 
the gun is five-eighths of an inch. On its side is an ele- 
gantly written Arabic inscription that nobody has yet been 
able to decipher. The gun was made in Morocco, where 
there are twenty-five gun-makers, who, with the crudest 
implements, turn out guns that have great reputation in all 
Northern Africa. Such a gun as this one brought home by 
Mr. Oliver as a curiosity could not be had in this country 
for less than $1,000. The other of the two guns that he 
brought home was made in Algiers, has a similarly im- 
mensely long barrel, flint-lock inlaid with platina, an ivory 
and steel but-plate, and a stock inlaid with silver and 
coral. This gun is not so fine as the other, but is very 
curious.” 
—That popular and brilliant Canadian author J. M. 
Le Moine, tells us in his ‘‘ Maple Leaves” of shooting in 
Canada, writing thus pleasantly: 
‘‘ What clouds of sand pipers, curlew and plover, Sep- 
tember brings forth from their breeding places, in the bar- 
ren wilds of Labrador, the secluded lakes and solitary 
islands of the north, up to the frozen ocean! Look at that 
dense vapor hovering over that long sand bar, La Batture 
aux Alouettes, a breast of Tadousac. From afar, you might 
take it for a cloud of hail or rain; but wait a minute, until 
the sun’s rays light up the picture. Now, see the snowy 
breast of myriads of chubby little northern strangers, the 
ring plovers; look out for them as they settle by thousands, 
on the sand; now is your time. LEnfilade their serried 
ranks, fire low; bang! One shot suflices, you have one 
hundred victims; to fire again would only cause unneces- 
sary carnage. Father Poinf, lower down than Rimouski, 
during strong easterly winds, affords capital sport. Canada 
geese, Brent geese and ducks are perpetually hovering over 
the extreme end of the point: the fowler carefully con- 
cealed, pours a deadly volley into the flock, and his faith- 
ful Newfoundland dog springs into the surf and fetches out 
the dead and wounded birds. You can either continue to 
beat the shore or cross over with us to Seal Rocks, opposite 
the Traverse, a delightful small game preserve, so bounti- 
fully stocked with ducks, teal and plover, that a club of 
chasseurs of St. Jean Port Joly have leased it from govern- 
ment. A rare thing in Canada for natives to pay for the 
privilege to shoot game; it isso plentiful everywhere. We 
are now at Crane Island. Qwaditm mutata ab illé! Night 
shooting has effectually scared the ducks from their resting 
places. Of swans, Lord Dalhousie seems to have had the 
last. As to cranes, two only have been seen of late years. 
This wary stilted stranger, Gruem advenam, can only be an 
accidental visitor, as its range is considerably more to the 
west. How often have we seen its solitary figure looming 
up at low tide, far beyond the range of a gun? Where is 
d 
; 

—— 
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