

Shot Gun and Rifle. 
GAME IN SEASON FOR NOVEMBER. 
a 
Moose, Alces Malchis.) Caribou, Tarandus Rangifer.) 
Elk or Wapiti, Cervus Canadensis.) Red Deer, Caricus Virginianus.) 
by =) Brown yn rath ares ae Black and hk 
i urkey, agris parvo. uail, yx Virginianus. 
Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa contedluar Pinnated Grouse, Cupidoria Cupido.) 
All kinds of Wild Fowl. 
Se eae 
Under the head of “Game, and Fisn in Season” we can only specyfy mn 
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 laws 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.] 
+> 
—On Saturday, November 22d, we paid a visit to Hemp- 
stead, L. I., and its vicinity, for the purpose of deriving 
some accurate information as to quail, &c. We stopped at 
Hewlett’s Hotel, an old comfortable house where every at- 
tention was shown us. We were told that quail cculd be 
found in the immediate neighborhood. Mr. Hewlett pro- 
posed to drive usout and verify his statement, and we were 
nothing loth, as the weather was lovely and it was the finest 
day for shooting we ever saw. About five miles from Hemp- 
stead, passing through excellent quail cover, is a tavern 
called the Sportsman House, kept by B. F. Sammis, at 
Smithville, a clean, small house, the landlord having every 
appliance for quail, snipe and duck shooting, such as boats, 
stools, &c. We saw a young setter tied up in the barn and 
proposed to see some of these bevies. Not three hundred 
yards from the house the young setter (Webster Stock,) 
pointed; we walked in and killed two quail, and following 
up the bevy killing another, after which, turning our steps 
towards a spring swamp, the dog came to a point, when up 
jumped an old cock, which was killed, also another about 
fifteen minntes afterwards. We were not ona shooting 
expedition, but only to ascertain the facts of the case, 
since, when inquiry is made in regard to game, the reply 
almost invariably is, ‘‘Oh, yes, plenty,” which really 
. means that the person has seen one bird or so a week or two 
before. There is, however, no doubt that in this section 
the quail shooting is fairly middling, with good cover, easy 
walking and the brush not above the middle of the body. 
—The Staten Island Shooting Association of Port Rich- 
mond, although less than five months old, now numbers 116 
members, including many prominent residents of the 
island. Their objeci is chiefly to prevent the destruction of 
game out of season, and at their instance several persons 
have alreacy been arrested and heavily fined. They also 
devote attention to the propagation of quail, grouse and 
small game. 
—Messrs. Polhemus and Mr. Harry Palmer, of Niblo’s, 
went to Chesapeake Bay last week, and shot a hundred brace 
of canvas back duck. Heavy work ! 
—R. Robinson and party, from Brooklyn, killed, in Ohio, 
over 400 quail in ten days’ shooting; three guns, two brace 
of setters. 
. —The shooting on the eastern shore of Virginia has not 
been so good last week, the weather having been stormy 
and the fowl shy and scattering. Many sportsmen have 
left the several islands. 
—No reports from Chincoteague, Hog, or Mockhorn 
Islands. 
—At Nott’s Island, Va., there were five swans killed last 
week, besides immense numbers of geese and black ducks. 
Brant are wary and hard to kill, as they refuse to notice the 
stools. The ‘‘calling” is by no means equal to that of the 
Currituck or Cobb’s [sland gunners. 
—Alpha Phillips, of Bergen Point, and party, left for 
Raynor’s at West Hampton, Long Island, on Friday; geese 
and duck said to be plentiful. Have not reported yet. 
Cor. Bennett is at Barnegat with his yacht Muskodeed 
and a party of sportsmen shooting geese and black ducks. 
Birds are plentiful. There are also two other parties there 
one of which killed on the main land sixty-two quail and 
two English snipe, to three guns. 
—A party of Brooklyn gentlemen killed last week in 
Pike Co., Penn., forty-one ruffed grouse to three guns, 
When they left the snow was eight inches on the level. 
They struck on the tracks of four deer, but failed to connect. 
—Havre de Grace, on the Susquehanna, is crowded with 
sportsmen killing canvas backs. Two gentlemen from 
Baltimore killed on Monday last forty-seven canvas backs, 
eight broad bills and seven black ducks. 
» —A white deer, weighing 160 pounds, was lately shot in 
Centre County, Pa. 
—Did our readers ever see a woodcockjj‘‘boring »” We 
have, and this is how’ he did it: Once on atime we sur- 
prised one of these gentry at his matutinal occupation, and so 
intent was he that he never noticed our presence. We had 
always supposed that he thrust his long bill into the moist 
earth and drew out his grub, snipe fashion, and swallowed 
it; but no, he pegged away vigorously at the ground, 
something as woodpeckers hammer, digging deeper and 
deeper, until he actually stood on his head to reach the 
greatest depth. Then when he had one hole bored he be- 
gan another, and so continued until he had made nine, as 
we ascertained by counting afterwards. But never a worm 
or grub did he draw forth from subterranean sources. He 
had been merely preparing his little stratagem, setting his 
traps, so to speak, and when all was ready he laid down on 
his stomach, with his bill flat to the ground, and com- 
menced beating the perforated earth violently with his 
wings. Presently a little worm or a grub or other insect 
came to the surface, and peering above the edge of one of 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
the holes was incontinently sucked into the long protrud- 
ing bill. Directly afterwards ared well scoured angleworm 
was victimized—we could see it distinctly as it passed into 
the bill—and possibly others would have followed had not 
our stupid dunderhead of asetter worked up on the scent 
and flushed the bird. 
—We are much gratified to receive from such good au- 
thority as the writer the following information of the fav- 
orite ducking grounds to which our sportsmen resort for 
winter shooting. They include the Susquehanna flats, 
(Havre de Grace,) Spesutic Narrows, Bush river, Gunpow- 
der river, and Currituck Sound: 
New Yor«, November 15, 1873. 
Epitor Forest anp, Srream:— 
Seeing an article in your valuable journal from the Ger- 
mantown Telegraph relative to wild fowl onthe upper waters 
of the Chesapeake Bay, and knowing that the article would 
lead some of your numerous readers astray, I pen you a few 
I have shot for several years on the headwaters of 
the Chesapeake Bay, also on Bush river, where I ieased a 
lines. 
shore for two seasons. 
The shooting at Havre de Grace is monopolized by fifteen 
or twenty parties who shoot altogether for market, and the 
tri-weekly shooting is applied to them only and not to par- 
ties who shoot from points. There is no point shooting on 
the Susquehanna flats; all box boating or sink boats. These 
parties own a sloop, small boat and 300 decoys; each craft 
is licensed, and quite a revenue is collected, for what pur- 
pose Iam not aware. The first day’s shooting this season 
they killed thirty-five hundred ducks, canvas backs, red 
heads, and broad tails, (black heads.) I have had capital 
sport at this place. I had 800 decoys and craft, but found 
that the hard labor connected ‘with this kind of shooting 
was too severe for one who shot for sport only. 
The ‘‘Narrows,” which begin about six miles south of 
Havre de Grace, sometimes afford good shooting from the 
shore, either side; but not until after a severe storm do the 
ducks leave the flats and resort to these contracted waters, 
to afford sport enough to pay to leave New York, and 
then the stranger would find trouble in shooting if he was 
not accompanied by some one known to the land owners. 
The shooting on Bush river is from point only. The 
only shore that I know of for rent is the one owned by Mr. 
8. Sutton, P. O. address, Perrymansville, Hartford county, 
Md. This shore is a good one; the shooting is red-head prin- 
cipally. This shore is opposite the celebrated Leggoes’ Point, 
the extension of Gunpowder Neck, and is one of finest the 
rough weather points on the Gunpowder. Carrol’s Island, 
and in fact all the points on the Gunpowder, are rented for 
fabulous prices. 
Currituck Sound, North Carolina, is where I wish the 
general reader to make up his mind that for the finest kind 
of wild fowl shootmg it cannot be equalled in the United 
The variety includes all the wild fowl, embracing 
English snipe in goodly numbers 
Quail on the mainland 
abundant; no blue noses cr stiff limbs when shooting at Cur- 
States. 
the largest, the swan. 
during December and January. 
rituck; no ice, no snow. 
We will place ourselves on one of the steamers of the 
We arrive at Nor- 
folk six o’clock Sunday evening, and stop at the ‘“‘Ameri- 
Monday morn- 
ing, 6:30 o’clock we board the little steamer Cygnet, and 
Old Dominion line, Saturday preferred. 
can.” I give particulars to insure comfort. 
after avery monotonous trip, reach Poplar Branch at 6 P. 
M. Here we take row or sail boat, and cross over to the 
Boston Club House, owned by D. C. Lindsay, who has 
opened his house for the reception of sportsmen from the 
North. These marshes join those of the old Currituck 
Club. Now my dear reader, afew words as to your ontfit 
Your ordinary field clothes will answer 
You will want 
will not be amiss. 
in clear weather; let them be marsh color. 
rubber boots, high ones; rubber overcoat, marsh color. 
Your heavy ten guage breech loader, and powder. Shot 
can be purchased at Poplar Branch. Don’t forget to take 
some Ohbejoyful, as that purchased at Currituck is not war- 
ranted for medicinal purposes. You will want your light 
breech loader for quail and snipe, as you can vary the sport 
by taking the field and looking out for the bay birds that 
There are 
a great many fish, chub by name, but most assuredly the 
are constantly to be seen around the marshes. 
black bass of the South. Thad Norris says these fish, that 
is the inhabitants of these waters are the grystes salmoides, 
and will take the fly. 
The board at Mr. Lindsay’s is five dollars per day; that 
includes man, decoys, skiff, and marshes. Post office ad- 
dress, care of Capt. Cain, Steamer Cygnet, Norfolk, Va. 
Mr. Lindsay has a large stand of wild geese decoys. 
Yours, fraternally, G. H. Wi. 
—Why have wet feet when you go duck shooting, when 
you can make an excellent, preparation to prevent it? Take 
a quarter of a pound of beef and "nutton uet, a tea spoon 
full of lard, half pint of neatsfoot oil, one ounce of bees- 
wax, half an ounce of Burgundy pitch, and a half ounce of 
turpentine. Melt up the suet, the lard, the pitch and the 
beeswax in a pot, stir in the oil, and when off the fire, and 
cooling alittle, put in the turpentine. If you want to be 
elegant add a half box of blacking to give it a color. Warm 
the compound and paint the boots, upper and soles. It 
makes a boot quite water tight, and salt water cannot 
faze it. 
—It is a mooted question among sportsmen whether a 
muzzle-loading gun can be altered to a serviceable breech- 
loader. The numerous advantages of breech-loaders are 
obvious to all, and many a man who has a pair of superior 
and well-tried barrels, is tempted to endeavor to combine 
their excellencies with the improvements of the more 
251 
modern arm. With what chances of success this can be 
accomplished is shown by one trial at least, as attested by 
the letter herewith appended, from a gentleman of no limit- 
ed experience :— 
Epiror Forest anp STrREam:— 
From every number of your paper I gain hints and ideas 
that are welcome and valuable, and I shall venture at times 
to send in return the results of experiments, and personal 
experience, successful or the reverse, that others may per- 
chance profit thereby. - 
I have purchased at the price of a good plain gun some 
experience in altering guns, and if any of your readers con- 
template the changing of some well tried muzzle-loading 
gun to a breech-loader, let me give the advice of London 
Punch to people contemplating marriage—‘‘ Don’t.” 
I placed a fine gun, Moore & Sons’ make, in the hands of 
a mechanic who guaranteed a successful alteration, and all 
that could be done to effect the change was done with a fair 
amount of ingenious skill, and I have in my gun-case acun 
that works well, has an easily managed action, shoots well, 
but Iam afraid to use it. The weakness is the result of 
boring out the breech for the shell. 
The first step in converting barrels is to cut off the breech 
as far as the breech pin entered; and then the barrels are 
bored out for three inches to receive the pasteboard car- 
tridge. 
The barrels not being intended to lose this amount of 
metal are left almost always so much reduced at the point 
where the explosive force is generated, as to found reason 
for such an amount of distrust as will usually prevent their 
being used with confidence when charges of any weicht 
are desirable. It will be noticed that the barrels of modern 
guns are enlarged rapidly toward the breech to afford the 
proper weight of metal after they are bored out. How far 
the use of carefully made steel shells will reinforce altered 
guns I cannot say, but would very much value the opinion 
of some of your readers who may have found one upon 
some experience. Le Werte 
—We were shown by a most skillful rifleman who, to 
expertness at Creedmoor, adds the peculiar talent of being 
able to bring down a buck when going a* full speed, and 
more than all that, is a clever gunsmith and 
nious experimentalist with cartridges and various 
projectiles—we were shown by this 
Creizhton a most simple and easy method of making an ex- 
plosive bullet. All you have to do is either to cast your 
bullet with a hollow cylinder in it, or if necessary to drill 
the bullet out. Then take a number 1 Smith and Wesson 
oartridge and slip it in, of course lead downwards, the 
square end of the copper case where the fulmi 
at the apex of your compound projectile. Don’t you see? 
It is no more difficult than that. Even if you have no bul- 
bet mould you can make the hole in your solid ball With a 
common drill, and slip in your No. 1 Smith and Wesson 
metallic cartridge. It need not be a nice fit, but only ticht 
enough not to slip out. Ourinformant told us of two shots 
made with his bullet this year. With one he struck a buck 
in the head. On examining the skull of the animal, who 
dropped as if struck by lightning, he found the whole bone 
case shattered. In the second instance he hit a deer in the 
neck, the vertebra was shattered, and the animal hardly 
moved any distance before he was stone dead. This home- 
made compound shell seems to us so perfectly simple that 
we would advise its use. Should any of our readers “try 
it on” please let us hear of it. Should they kill a grizzly, 
we would claim a tooth or a claw or two. : 
—In the N. Y. Herald of the 224 November, there isa 
challenge from a Mr. A. B. Leech, of the Irish Rifle Asso- 
ciation, stating that he will select from the members 
thereof, a tear which he proposes to match against a 
similar number of representative American shots, to shoot 
in the United States, in the autumn of 1874, on the follow- 
ing conditions: The targets and shooting to be accordin 
to the Wimbledon rules. Ranges, 800, 900, 1,000, ana 1,100 
yards. Rifle, any under ten pounds, and without telescopic 
sights or hair triggers. Postition, any without artificial 
rest. The American team to be composed exclusively of 
men born in the United States, and rifles to be used by 
them, to be of American manufacture. The Irish team to 
shoot with the Rigby rifle. The match to decide the cham- 
pionship of the world; the Irish team having carried off the 
Lord Elcho shield. Mr. Leech will require a sufticient de. 
posit, not as a wager, butas a guarantee that the match will 
be shot. Though this notice appeared in the Herald, the 
National Rifle Association have no cognisance of the same. 
Should Mr. Leech be desirous of shooting with the mem- 
bers of the National Rifle Association at Creedmoor, the 
method he should adopt would be to address the President, 
Colonel W. C. Church, or the Secretary, G. W. Wingate. 
—Last Friday a meeting of the Board of Directors of the 
N. R. A. was held at the New York Hotel, the financial 
condition of the Association was discussed, and the ways 
and means were arranged for the coming season at Creed- 
moor. . 
—A stag in the Macon Park (Ga.) recently attacked two 
boys—one white the other colored, throwing the colored 
boy over a fence twelve feet high, and running one horn 
through the fleshy portion of the left arm of the white boy. 
pe A ES a 
—‘‘Little Tommy didn’t disobey mamma, and goin a 
swimming, did he?” ‘*No, mamma; Jimmy Brown and 
the rest of the boys went in, but I remembered, and would 
not disobey you.” ‘And Tommy never tells lies, does 
he?” ‘‘No, mamma, or I couldn’t go to Heaven.” “Then 
how does Tommy happen to have on Jimmy Brown’s 
shirt ?” 
an inge- 
forms of 
rifle-and-shot-gun 
nate is, being 
