
eee ee eee 
species differing from either that or the Michigan variety, 
as it is reported as attaining 5 Ibs. weight; or it may pos- 
sibly be the fish abounding in the upper waters of the Saug- 
enay, “‘the Winnemish.” ‘* NoTEs.” 
—Here is rather a novel fish story from a Canadian cor- 
respondent. By the way, do not the narratives of our Kan- 
nuck friends show that they are rather more advanced in the 
matter of ‘roughing it in the bush” than we of ‘‘the States” 
are? 
““T was living at Fredericton in the summer of ’59, 
and often strolling on the banks of the noble river on which 
that picturesque little town is situated, I observed large 
fish, that, on enquiry, turned out to be ‘sturgeon,’ leaping 
at intervals high out of the water. It was a common pas- 
time, I was told, on the part of the fish, to do this, and I 
became smitten with the insane idea, that, to capture one 
of these by harpooning him in some manner, I should be 
happy for the remainder of my natural life. After due re- 
flection, I resolved to make the attempt, aud I therefore 
consulted an Indian as to the pleasure of his society on the 
projected trip. Great preparations were made at least a 
week beforehand; an iron spear fitted to a pole, witha line 
attached, was got ready; torches of birch bark, some grub 
and a flask of eaw de vie, were stowed away in the canoe, 
and one beautiful summer afternoon, or rather evening, we 
embarked in our ‘birchen craft’ and began our journey. I 
must rest awile here to say I was not altogether ignorant of 
the management of one of these specimens of ‘Milicete’ 
naval architecture; in fact, I considered myself a most per- 
fect ‘Indian’ in paddling, poling up stream, standing up- 
right, and other accomplishments for which the Aboriginal 
is celebrated, and for which, it may be, Iam not. I say it 
may be, because I have heard remarks the reverse of flat- 
tering concerning my performances in this specimen of 
acrobatic absurdity, and there is perhaps a possibility 
that the persons who made them knew what they were 
talking about. 
Having stated this, I will proceed. We wended our way 
slowly and quietly along the shore until we reached ‘the 
Islands’ around which we hoped to meet our giant prey. 
On our arrival there, tea and tobacco, those staple articles 
of the grocer’s stock, were discussed, and, Wellington-like, 
we prayed for darkness. When night had cast her sable 
mantle round, (I am afraid, though, that’s not original; be- 
sides, I shall break down if I attempt being ‘flowery,’) we 
lighted our torches and proceeded to search the rapids. 
Hour after hour passed with no result; still, we persevered. 
Torch after torch we burnt, with no sturgeon in sight, and 
I had almost resolved to give up in despair, when beneath 
me, in a deep hole, I saw unmistakably a huge monster. 
‘Round with the canoe! give me another torch,’ I excitedly 
yelled at my companion, and quickly lighting it and plac- 
ing it in the bow, I poled back to the spot; and with a vig- 
orous thrust of might and main, I drove deeply into my 
victim the barbed spear. Alas! must I confess it? my stur- 
geon was nothing but a huge log sodden with water. Thus 
secured to the bottom, and tapering from one end to the 
other, it was really fish-like in appearance. Oh! how dis- 
appointed I was at the deception; besides, my spear was so 
firmly imbedded in the wooden imitation, I could not ex- 
tricate it. After pulling and tugging for some time, I got 
it away, but not before damaging the pole it was attached 
to—that I succeeded in ‘springing’ in the middle, rendering 
it most liable to break easily. We were drifting, five min- 
utes after this, with a very dim torch, down the ‘Grand 
Pass’ where the current runs at the rate of somewhere 
about six or seven miles an hour; I remained standing in the 
bow of the canoe with the damaged pole in my hand; we 
were going full speed, and were just on a rock when I, put- 
ting this article into the water quickly to push her head off 
and thus escape shipwreck, leaned too heavily upon it, and 
it broke in two. Over I went, upsetting the canoe and the 
Indian with it. Iyreached the shore, but he had unfortu- 
nately boots on, a present from some patron, and not the 
conventional ‘mocassin,’ and these became in someway en- 
tangled, so that both himself and his ‘bonny bark’ were in 
a fair way of drifting back to Fredericton, or rather part of 
the way, had I not rushed down the bank, or shore I think 
it was, and, getting well ahead of this precious raft and 
cargo, hauled them ashore. Such drowned rats we must 
have looked! such pitiable objects! We-.emptied the water 
out of the canoe, and (he having saved a paddle uncon- 
sciously, by keeping a convulsive grasp on it while in the 
water) set off in search of our missing articles. 
We had no light, and, finding our groping blindly in the 
dark was useless, we gave it up. The misery J experienced 
going home that night, few can imagine. I had lost my 
coat, I was wet to the skin, my spears were gone, my ‘com- 
forter,’in the flask that would have warmed my chilled 
blood, had, alas! vanished also. I had damaged the canoe, 
for which I would have to recompense the Indian, and for 
his clothes, and I had only the extreme consolation that I 
would be unmercifully ‘chaffed.’ 
It’s needless to say I have never since attempted to cap- 
ture a ‘sturgeon.’ I have never been fired with such a laud- 
able ambition from that hour; but I often laugh when I 
think of our ludicrous and unexpected bath in the ‘Grand 
Pass’ of the mighty St. John.” 
—Friday, December 14th, a sword-fish, four feet long, 
was caught in the St. John’s River near Jacksonville 
Florida. 
—Three codfish, weighing six pounds each, were caught 
in the St. John’s River near Palatka, last week, the first of 
the kind ever caught. in southern waters. The Herald says: 
‘“Capt. Vogel, of the steamer Dictator, pronounces them 
genuine codfish.” 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
315 

—From the Maine Farmer we take the following interest- 
ing item in regard to salmon breeding at Bucksport: 
“The remarkable success in hatching salmon attained by 
Mr. C. G. Atkins, last year, is well known, but it promises 
to be excelled by this year’s operations. Mr. Atkins has 
put in the pond connected with the hatching establishment 
about the same number (600) fish, and has taken out the 
same number (400) each year. He would have taken out 
more this year but for the premature cold and ice. Last 
year he obtained 1,500,000 eggs; this year he has taken 2,- 
300,000, but the breeding will probably be delayed by the 
early cooling, and the extremely low temperature of the 
water. He has 3,000 young California salmon that are do 
ing well. These are all he saved from the 50,000 sent, as 
by an oversight the eggs for Mr. A. were delayed so long in 
transit that most of them were spoiled.” 
Shot Gun and Rifle. 
GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER. 




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, Ortyx Virginianus.) 
Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus,) Pinnated Grouse, Cupidoria Cupido.) 
All kinds of Wild Fowl. 
Lb Sal Oe As, 
| Under the head of ‘Game, and Fisn in Season?’ we can only specefy wm 
general terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 
articularize we could do no less than publish 
T his 
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 
that were we to pth gd to op 
those entire sections that relate to the kinds of yame in question. 
woud require a great amount of our space. 
will only create confusion. | 
—_>—__. 
—A grand pigeon shooting sweepstakes, open to all com- 
ers, will take place at Fleetwood Park December 30th, for 
a purse of $1,000; ten per cent. entry; eight to fill; entries 
to close at Jesse Smith’s Astor House Billiard Room on De- 
cember 29th, at four P. M. To shoot at fifty single birds, 
each one and three quarters ounce of shot; otherwise, the 
shooting to be governed by the Rhode Island Sportsmen’s 
Club. Prizes—$400 to the first, $300 to the second, #200 
This, we 
hope will be a match where the best shooters will win. The 
shooters, and especially those coming from a distance, may 
rest assured that nothing will be left undone to make this 
the most successful affair of the kind every held in New 
York. Trains leave the Grand Central depot for the Park 
in ample time for. the shooting, which will commence at 
to the third, and the fourth to save his entrance. 
twelve o’clock precisely. 
—A Currituck, Virginia, sporting friend thus writes to 
us:—‘“‘Geese ever so many; duck not so plenty. Brant— 
hard to get them to stool on account of the scarcity of 
oung brant. A great many gentlemen gunners down here 
© ? 
principally from New York, Philadelphia, and Balti- 
more, The weather has been too soft and mild, and no 
end of fogs. Have the ducks all left you yet?” [No; a 
great many birds were seen on Monday, December 2ist, on 
the feeding grounds of South Oyster Bay, Merrick Bay, 
and West Hampton. 
southward of Montauk Point. |—Ep. 
—A pigeon shoot of more than ordinary interest took 
place last week at Ditmar’s, Flatlands, L. I. The birds 
were of the very best, strong on the wing, and nearly all 
The shooting was excellent, and is the best 
driving birds. 
average made by the several gentlemen during the year :— 
PRACTICE MATCH, 21 YARDS RISE, 80 BOUNDARY. 
Shot at. Killed. Gun used. 
17 15 10-bore Purdy B. L. 
14 11 10-bore Greener B. L. 
15 14 10-bore Greener B. L. 
18 15 10-bore Dooley M. L. 
18 12 12-bore Richards M.L. 
15 11 12-bore Scott M. L. 

—The Buffalo Pigeon Shooting Tournament commenced 
on December 17th, and was in every way a great success. 
This shoot was open to all amateurs in the United States 
and Dominion of Canada. The first prize was $150; sec- 
ond prize, $125; third prize, $100; fourth prize, $75; fifth 
prize, $50; entrance fee, $15. The match was shot from H 
and T ground traps at fifteen single rises, twenty-one yards 
rise, and eighty yards boundary. There were forty-nine 
entries. The following is theresult of the day’s shooting :— 
Newell, Schultz, and Weighell each killed fourteen; Wil- 
mer, Bear, Marsh, and Lansing, thirteen: Green, Smith, 
Jones, Farrar, Miller, Clay, and Dorr, twelve; McElroy, 
eleven; Loff, Wheat, and George Smith, ten; Joll, Shef- 
field, Melvin, and Tyler, nine; Nash, eight; Richmond, 
seven. The pigeon shooting terminated on the 18th. The 
following are the names of the winners of prizes :—Robert 
Newell, of Buffalo, first prize, $150; E. P. Fish, of Buf- 
falo, second, $125; H. M. Olay, of Buffalo, third, $100; 
J. C. Haskell, of Boston, fourth, $75; George Smith, of 
Buffalo, fifth, $50. 
—A correspondent (L. S.) from Brooklyn, Wisconsin, 
states that Mr. Powers, with two other gentlemen, and 
guide, four guns, two spaniels, and two retrieving setters, 
killed in a four days’ hunt thirty-six quail, seventy-two 
wild ducks, various kinds, forty-six grouse, fifteen wild 
geese, and one black swan. 
—At Mount Airy, Virginia, some one hundred and fifty 
miles from Lynchburg, three college students, accompanied 
by two “‘whiffets,” with a Clumber retriever, killed last 
week thirteen rough grouse, three turkeys, seventeen quail, 
and one buck fawn. 
—At Lincoln, Illinois, Captain Tevan and a party of five, 
with two guides, and three brace of dogs, in five days made 
the following enormous bag:—Foureen woodcock, seven 
English snipe, 486 wild fowl of all kinds, twenty-seven 
geese, one brown cinnamon bear. We have to thank Cap- 
tain Tevan for a noble portion of the young bear. 
Ducks flying by the thousands to the 
a ee ee 
—Captain Bogardus, the American champion pigeon 
shooter, and Mr. F, Charleville, attracted at Oakland Park, 
New Orleans, on December 15th, a numerous assemblage 
of spectators, including nearly every notable patron of the 
sport of pigeon-popping. The day was too cold and the 
north wind too lively for a satisfactory display of the con- 
testants’ abilities, despite which, however, the shooting on 
one side, at least, was noteworthy. The terms of the 
match provided for the shooting at twenty-five single birds 
at thirty yards rise, which latter proviso, involving a greater 
than the customary distance, must be especially noted in 
estimating the merits of the performance. Mr. Bogardus 
shot out his opponent at the tenth bird. Annexed is the 
summary :— 
Bogardus—1, 1, 0, 1, We tele sal. Cheer? 
Charleville—1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0O—4. 
Touching Mr. Charleville’s score, it may be mentioned 
that the majority of his birds were what is known as “tail 
birds,” and pigeon shooters will at once understand that 
they.are not to be hit every time. For the wind-up of the 
day’s sport, Captain Bogardus attempted the feat of killing 
twenty-five birds in four minutes, using four traps, with 
two birds in each. After the initial effort it was found 
that the traps worked badly, when the experiment was 
continued by shooting the birds thrown up by hand; but 
this plan did not work satisfactorily, and the project was 
deferred until Sunday, 21st instant; but from the evidence 
offered the pigeon shooters in attendance were unanimous 
in their opinions that Captain Bogardus can perform the 
feat. The next exhibition will occur at the same place on 
Sunday, 21st, when, in addition to his second attempt to 
kill fifty birds in eight minutes, Captain Bogardus will also 
shoot with Messrs. LeBreton and Charbonnet a match at 
double birds, twenty-five yards rise. Herewith, it will be 
in order to recite that Mr. Charbonnet will on that occasion 
undertake to perform a similar feat of killing fifty birds ia 
eight minutes, provided that the birds be furnished him, 
and pledging himself to.pay for the same if he fails to per- 
form the task. The début of the champion here has con- 
vinced our pigeon poppers that he is a “stunner,” and that 
no man in this section of the country can begin to equal 
him in point of skill.— New Orleans Times. 
—Good for the ladies of Terra Haute, for there is a true 
Diana among them, and perfectly authenticated. Of course 
she eschews the golden bow and silver arrow, at least for 
game, and takes to a breech loader. Think, then, of this 
wonderful woman going out one day this month and kill- 
ing forty-three pinnated grouse, and the next day, to keep 
her hand in, laying fifty-one more at her feet. It took 
two gentlemen to follow her, and pick up and carry her 
game. ‘‘Mr. Editor,” writes our informant, ‘that young 
woman never missed a bird. She disdained killing her 
birds at close quarters, but would allow them to have a fair 
flight before shooting them. It is not only her being a 
quick shot, and a certain one, which is remarkable, but the 
fact that she can carry a gun weighing eight pounds all 
day and not tire under it; and as for tramping it across the 
prairies—well, please in the future never bring up as an 
example in your excellent paper any of those English Ja- 
dies. They would have had to give up alongside of Miss 
——. Five mortal hours did I follow that fair sportswoman, 
crying ‘enough, enough,’ but she smiled, and was only anx- 
ious whether I could let her have a few more spare cart- 
ridges. Miss reads the Forrest and Srream, and 
whether it may be a compliment to the paper or to your- 
self, Mr. Editor, in a gustatory sense, she hunted just one 
half hour for you exclusively, and killed eight birds. I 

have added five more, which makes the baker’s dozen, 
which we both send with kind regards. 
“Sincerely, ASG 
[The birds are not yet at hand, but we expect them im- 
patiently. When they do come we shall have them served 
up with all due pomp and ceremony. Perhaps, like Sancho 
Panza’s uncles, who were famous wine tasters, we may be 
able to distinguish the birds killed by our Terra Haute 
Diana from the others, for they will be undoubtedly the 
sweeter. ]—Ep. 
—From our correspondent in Yates county, New York, 
we have received the following in regard to the game of 
that region:—‘‘The birds are the ruffed grouse, woodcock, 
quail, and wild ducks, and as to fur-bearing animals the 
mink, musk rat, red fox, grey squirrel, and grey rabbit are 
found. The forests are suffering from Over-cutting. Hotel 
accommodation of an excellent character can be found at 
Penn Yan. The sporting club of the county is called the 
Forrester Club of Yates county, of which Mr. John C., 
Shutz is President, and Mr. ©. Elmendorf the Secretary.” 
—A valued correspondent in Crow Wing county, Minne- 
sota, speaks of deer as being most plentiful in that region. 
Mentioning a mighty hunter, Sleeper by name, he says he 
killed ten, and that Kirk brought down five just for the fun 
of the thing. ‘The professionals,” continues our Crow 
Wing friend, ‘‘have piled up the deer all over the woods, 
and still there seems to be quite as many as ever. Venison 
in the carcass is a drug. Saddles are worth from six to 
seven cents a pound. I saw a man refuse to carry home a 
fine saddle the other day asa gift. It was ‘too heavy,’ he 
said, ‘and he had kind of sowred on venison.’ ” 
—A correspondent of the Halifax Reporter, writing from 
Marbie Mountain, Cape Breton, says a neighbor caught a 
moose calf the otherday. He was taken in the water while 
attempting to cross the harbor, and is consequently with- 
out hurt and is doing well. The correspondent writes this, 
fancying some one there may want to buy the calf and raise 
him as a pet, or something of that kind. 
