

it, leaving a small aperture on the down hill side, where 
the chain was lying. I left, feeling conscious my work 
was well done, which was verified three moruings later, 
when I took my snow-shoe trail, now solid ice, and saw at 
a distance my game swinging in the breeze. He was 
caught by the same leg, half an inch above the stump,. 
which was fearfully swollen. He was a fine specimen, and 
measured four feet and two inches from tip to tip. 
C. L. WHITMAN. 
Weston, Vermont, January 12th, 1874. 
pees 
—In reply to several inquiries, we give the following di- 
rections for improvising traps at short notice. The plan is 
in vogue in the backwoods of Canada. Of course any 
trapper who intends to establish lines for the winter, will 
use Newhouse’s steel traps, or some more effectual devices 
than these given here, but these answer very well in emer- 
gencies. See ‘‘Jacobstaff’s” articles on trapping, already 
printed in Formst AND STREAM. 
For a marten trap, the stump of arotten tree, some 
four feet high, is generally selected, and the wood remov- 
ed for a depth of two feet, the bark alone being left so as to 
form ashell. Logs of wood are now built up against its 
front, the upper log being on a level with the surface of 
the solid portion. On this log, and in front of the recess, 
asmall upright three or four inches in length supports 
g, on the extremities of which several pieces of 
timber rest. The bait, consisting of a bit of salt fish or 
wing of a duck is fixed to a pointed stick projecting into 
the recess, one end underlying the upright, which will 
fail at the lightest pressure. The marten in his runs 
through the woods scents the bait, and endeavoring to 
reach it, squeezes through the open space between the two 
horizontal logs, the upright falls, bringing with it the upper 
log, which, pressed down by the balks resting in its extrem- 
ities, either kills the marten at once, or else keeps him 
lightly jammed till the next visit of the trapper. 
another log 
The otter traps are constructed on much the same prin-- 
ciple, save that whereas the marten trap is placed at random 
through the woods, the hunter must first ascertain where 
the otter isin the habit of rolling himself, (always near 
the bank of the river), and build his trap on that spot. No 
“bait is required. Two logs, four feet in height are then 
driven firmly into the grund about two feet apart, and 
connected at the top by a cross piece; logs are then placed 
against the uprights to a height of two feet, as in the marten 
traps, and asmall branch is next chosen, hooked at one 
end the hook passing over the cross piece at the top, while 
the lower end is carefully adjusted behind the upper log of 
ihe lower series. A cord attached to the hook keeps in 
suspense a horizontal log, on the extremities of which 
balks of timber rest. The otter in rubbing himself must 
press against the hooked upright, the bottom end, nicely 
balanced, tips up, "and the leverage being removed, the 
cross piece which the hook supports falls on the otter with 
the additional weight of the timber resting on its extiem 
ies. 


Rarional Pastimes. 
(es~ Will our University correspondents kindly send us their most recent 
catalogues. 

eee a 
—The first days skating of the season at Central Park oc- 
curred on Jan. 20th, for a few hours. On the 26th the Park 
lake presented a very gala appearance. There was skating 
at Prospect Park the same days, and also at the Capitoline 
lake and the Union pond. Owing to the sad accident which 
occurred at the little corner lot pond, on Seventh street 
and Sixth avenue, on Saturday last, by which. three young 
boys were drowned, the Police have prohibited boys from 
going on the same class of ponds, and very properly so 
too. 
—The Curlers were out in force at Prospect Park, on Jan. 
26th, on which day the Thistle and Caledonian clubs played 
a medal match together, which resulted in the latter club 
by the appended score : 
CALEDONIAN. THISTLE. 
Jas. Nicall (skip)........ 20 A. Robertson (skip)...... 22 
A. Kellogg, (skip)....... 25 J. Gallaway, (skip)...... 20 
Totalicmeceerec: 45 otals wrceecey 42 
This necessitates a third match, as the Thistles won the 
first. 
—The grand match, ‘‘ North »3. South,” for the Dal- 
rymple medal, took place at Central Park, on Jan, 27th, 
when the elubs of New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City, Pat- 
terson, Yonkers, &c., took part in the contest, the scene 
presented at the lakes bein 5 lively in the extreme. 
—Ice-boat sailing was indulged in both at Prospect Park 
and at the Capitoline Lake, on January 26th and 27th, the 
‘‘Lady of the Lake ” and the ‘‘Icicle” sailing together at 
the Park Lake, and the ‘‘Fly Away” at the Capitoline 
Lake. All three boats are to race for the Park Pennant 
the first day that the ice at the large lake completely covers 
its surface; it is not safe until then. An experiment was 
tried with the ‘‘ Lady of the Lake” to see how she would 
act in the water, and on her going off the ice she went to 
the bottom in lively style. 
—The Hudson River Ice Boat. Associations took to the 
rivers on Jan. 27th with their boats, the Hudson being fast 
frozen from Newburg to Troy. Some fast sailing was had, 
and if the cold weather continues, the annual regetta will 
take place this week, 
FOREST. AND STREAM. 
WJ f BUR ULRAivne 


treal. 
—A book on athletic sports, of three or four hundred 
pages, issoon to be published at McGill University, Can- 
ada. 
—The Mutual Base Ball Club (professional nine) have 
selected their nine for the coming season, which will com- 
prise the following well known players: Matthews, pitcher; 
D. Allison, catcher; Start, first base; Nelson, second base; 
Cary, short stop; Burdock, third base; Hatfield, left field; 
Remsen, centre field; and Higham, right field. 
BILLIARDS. 
—Maurice Daly, while in New Orleans, enjoyed himself 
exceedingly. He returns his sincere thanks to his kind 
host, Col. Merriam, and other numerous friends there, 
—Col. Merriam, proprietor of the Crescent Hall Billiard 
Rooms, is ornamenting his handsome club rooms with por- 
traits of the leading professional billiard players of America. 
—M. Ubassey has returned from Philadelphia, after giv- 
ing several successful exhibitions there. He has settled 
down to steady practice for -his match with Garnier next 
Friday, and may be found about every afternoon practis- 
ing with Maurice Daly, at the latter’s billiard rooms, Union 
Square. 
—R. E. Wilmarth, ex-champion of Massachusetts, is 
located at the Spingler House Billiard Rooms. Last week, 
at these rooms, Mr. W. E. W., an amateur, while playing 
pool pocketed the fifteen balls twice in succession. 
—John W. Bessunger has arrived in town from Chicago 
and is giving Garnier practice for his match with Ubassey. 
—Joseph Dion is expected in town this week from Mon- 
treal. 
—Edward Daniels, of Boston, is expected here this week, 
—Col. Merriam, of New Orleans, is inaugurating a tour- 
nament for the amateur championship of Louisiana; it will 
commence on March Ist. e 
—Much interest is manifested in the championship match 
to be played next Friday evening at Tammany Hall be- 
tween Messrs. Garnier and Ubassy. Garnier is the favorite. 
Both are playing well in practice. 
—The billiard match between Daly and Magzgioli, in New 
Orleans, resulted as follows: Game, 300 points up, Daly 
giving the odds of a discount; played on a 5xi0 Griffith 
table; time of game, 1 hour and 35 minutes. 
Points made—Daly, 292; Maggioli, 121. 
Largest runs—Daly, 18, 26, 37, 40; Maggioli, 13, 17, 24, 
25. 
Average—Daly, 10 2-29; Maggioli, 4 5-29, 
Won in twenty-nine innings. 
—The billiard match at New Orleans between Messrs. 
Daly and Miller, the latter receiving the odds of 100 points 
in 300 up, French carom game, resulted in Mr. Daly’s win- 
ning bya score of 300 points in nineteen innings, to Miller’s 
97. The play throughout, on Mr. Daly’s part, was remar. 
kable. 
Daly, 500 points; Miller, 97 points. 
Largest runs—Daly, 40, 51, 62, 67; Miller, 12, 13, 19, 27. 
Average—Daly, 15 15-19; Miller, 5 2-19. 
Brooxiyn, January 24th, 1874. 
Epiror ForEst AND STREAM:— 
Seeing in your is:ue of the 22d a report of the proceed- 
ings of the Convention of Amateur Base Ball Club repre- 
sentatives of December 17th last, in which reference is 
made to the new rule of ten men and ten innings, as also 
some comments on the advisability of limiting the delivery 
of the ball to a legitimate pitch or toss, and of prohibiting 
the present underhand throw in delivery, I thought it ad- 
visable to explain some facts in relation to the new rule of 
play, and especially in regard to underhand throwing, with 
a view of enlightening the minds of those of the amateur 
fraternity, who appear to be rather in a fog on the subject, 
judging from the comments of your correspondent, 
‘“Ohampion.” 
The experiment of ten men in the game was successfully 
tested in a series of prize g.mes played in Brooklyn ten 
years ago, at a time when the same opposition was made to 
my plan of the ‘‘fly game”—as it was then called—ag 
against my rule of ten men and ten innings now. A sin- 
gularity of this opposition is, that it comes chiefly from 
those who have never seen the game played, and whose 
objection is simply based on the old theory of ‘“‘the game 
suited my father, and it therefore suits me.” 
In reference to the effort to reintroduce the rule prohib- 
.iting any method of throwing the ball, your correspondent 
advocates the return to a rule which has for twelve years 
past been a dead letter law. Underhand throwing has 
practically been the rule of delivering the ball swiftly to 
the bat in base ball since the advent of Creighton, who was 
the first man to introduce it. Moreover, it is the only style 
of delivery which combines speed with command of ihe 
ball. Even if a square pitch was capable of being correctly 
and easily defined under the existing rules of punishing a 
wide delivery, no pitcher could deliver a ball by a square 
pitch with any degree of speed, and not pitch it wide 
every second or third ball; and if confined to an accurate 
delivery, and thereby forced to toss the ball to the bat, the 
result would be such facilities being offered the batsman 
for making home run hits as to deprive the game of all the 
opportunities offered for skillful fielding which it now pre- 
sents. Instead, therefore, of the rule of limiting the de- 
livery of the ball to a square pitch or toss affording chances 
for sharp fielding the very adverse would be the case, as 
the experience ot past yedrs fully proves. But the fact is 
the difference in the form of delivery in swift pitching and 
in a well disguised underhand throw is so difficult to de- 
tect, owing to the quickness of the movement, that con- 
stant disputes would occur from the diverse opinions of 
umpires; and even were they able to distinguish easily, 
and square pitching was made the rule, the result would 
mercly be a return to the tedious and boyish style of play, 
of home runs, large scores, and long, weary games in the 
place of such displays of fielding skill as that exhibited on 




the occasion of the fourteen innings, swift underhand 
meee delivery game between the Philadelphia and At- 
lantic clubs, marked by a score of three to two only. 
Young amateurs of the present day forget that the New 
England game of base ball of twelve years ago prohibited 
any style of delivery except the swift overhand throw. 
With a square pitch the chances for skillful fielding are 
diminished one half, and as for batting, the veriest ‘‘-.uff- 
er” at the bat could punish such a detivery with ease, Such 
pitching may suit country village clubs, who go in for 
heavy batting and large scores, but for really skillful ball 
tossers the underhand throw delivery affords the only 
chance for masterly fielding and stragetic play, both on the 
field and at the bat. It has been therule for the past 
twelve years, despite the dead letter law which ‘“Cham- 
pion” desires to see replaced on the law book of the game, 
Respectfully yours, HENRY CHADWIOK. 
[‘‘Champion’s” letter of 26th instant is crowded out, but 
will appear in our next issue. ]—Ep. 
Kish Culture. 
—Our readers who are curious on these points, are here- 
with informed that the salmon of the Pacific coast, or 
rather of the Sacramento tributaries, are now spawning. 
This is the busy season of the Fish Culturists on the far 
western slope. 
—Thirty thousand salmon fry from the Sacramento river 


were last week placed in the streams watering the middle . 
portion of Suffolk county, Long Island. Thirty thousand 
have also been placed in the Uppei Potomac, and Opequan 
river, and Cedar Creek, Virginia. We published some 
time since from Livingston Stone, Esq., a full history of 
the capture and transportation of these fish from California 
to the hatching houses of Dr. Slack, at Bloomsbury, New 
Jersey- ; 
—The stock of salmon eggs at Bucksport, Maine, con- 
tinues in good condition and will soon be distributed. The 
total loss by death thus far is about three per cent. of the 
eggs originally taken, about 2,250,000 being now on hand. 
These all belong to the National Government and to the 
several States that have aided the enterprize: but it is the 
intention of Prof. Baird to supply spawn to private parties 
who may want it, at a low price, as announced in our ad- 
vertising columns. 
—Seth Green, the indefatigable fish culturist, desires us to 
publish the following card: 
, RocuesteEr, January 20, 1874, 
Epiror FoREsT AND STREAM :— 
I stand ready to answer any questions that may be asked me through 
the ForEsT AND STREAM, about fish, lakes or streams; but the real name 
must be signed by the writer. Yours, truly, Setu Green. 
Mr. Green renews his offer to furnish salmon, black bass, 
whitefish, perch, pike, etc., gratuitously, to all applicants 
within the State, in accordance with his circular already 
published in all the newspapers. 
Bucksport, Me., January 20, 1871. 
Epiror Forrst AND STREAM:— 
Your remarks in your issue of the 15th inst., on the prevalent mild 
weather and its influence on fish hatching and rearing, suggest two or 
three inquiries. 
ist. Has the temperature of the water used for hatching salmon and 
trout in the Middle States been raised by the recent mild weather? Fish 
breeders who take observations can answer. Here in Maine the tenden- 
cy 1s the reverse. A thaw in winter depresses the temperature, probably 
by bringing in a larger proportion of snow and ice water. The coldest 
water we had last season was in April while the ground was thawing and 
ice melting in the ponds. After the thawing is completed of course the 
continuance of warm weather raises the temperature of the water, 
2d. What effect bas a freshet on spawn of salmon or trout deposited in 
the natural way? Ihave heard persons who knew much about the 
habits of salmon and something about breeding them, assert their be- 
lief that were it not for the action of freshets in tearing open the sal- 
mon ridds or nests, the young salmoh would never succeed in getting out 
from the heap of gravel that the careful mother throws over them. If 
the liberation of the embryo fish does not occur in this way, who can 
tell how it does occur? But perhaps our knowledge of the structure of 
the salmon’s ridd, and of the position of the eggs init, is too meagre to 
warrant us in attempting the proposed explanation. Who among your 
teaders has ever examined a ridd thoroughly, from end to end, 
from top to bottom, so that he knows just where the eggs were? If any 
one has made such observation he can confer a favor on naturalists by 
his discoveries. 
I see that ‘Fern Fly’s” criticisms on Professor Baird’s choice of 
streams for the deposit of salmon spawn have been well answered by 
several correspondents, but I will add my mite. Ihave written many 
letters of inquiry to parties living pear the Black and Oswegatchie rivers 
and the siatements thus far elicited tend to the conclusion that neither 
of them was ever largely frequented by salmon; white the testimony is 
abundant and conclusive that they were found in Salmon and Oswego 
rivers in great numbers. If anylof your readers will give me items of 
information abont salmon in any of the tributaries of Lake Ontario and 
the St. Lawrence, particularly the Black, Oswegatchie, Rackett and St. 
Regis rivers, they will place me under great obligations, 
Cuas. G. ATKINS, 
Late Fish Commissioner, 

Tue Lerpsic Fur Trape.—The report of the Leipsic 
Easter Fair of 1873 has been published. To this fair is 
brought the furs of the whole world. Furs are exported 
from the purchases made at this mart all over the globe 
again, thoagh no small quantity remains for consumption 
in Germany. At Leipsic last year, coming from Europe 
alone, 120,000 foxes, 200,000 polecats, 50,000 rock martens, 
20,000 pine martens, 20,000 badger skins, 6,500 otters, and 
125,000 black cats were sold. Of Russian and Siberian 
skins, 2,000,000 of squirrels found a ready market, with 
with 160,000 ermine and 8,000 Siberian ‘sables. Russia 
bought up, coming from North America, 1,800 sea otters 
and 80,000 beavers. Of bear skins, 6,000 of them went to 
make shakos, while 220,000 racoons were of slow sale. 
Skunk skins, some 950,000, were dull, and moved off slow- 
ly. Eight hundred silver foxes and 3,500 cross foxes were 
on hand. Of red foxes, 45,000 were on hand, which were 
taken up by Russian, Greek, and Gallician buyers. Of 
musk rats there were only 2,500,000, and prices were high 
owing to the possibility of a diminished supply from 
America. Otters, though, were in full quantity, to the to- 
tal of some 60,000. General prices were mostly lower for 
staple furs this last year, owing to the mildness of the 
winter in Europe. 
a TT ee 
—The contest for the Governor General’s cup, open to 
all skaters in the Dominion, comes off next month in Mon- 
‘ 

