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3 


^      ?.- 


'Pi*« 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF. CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 

MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


I 


Digitized  by  the  Interrjiet  Archive 

in  2007  with  fundilig  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/completeanglerhuOOhuttrich 


THE 

Complete  Angler 

AND 

HUNTSMAN 


BY 
THOMAS  HUBERT/ HUTTON 
AND     ^ 


STANLEY  BLAKE 


BERRY,  KENTUCKY 

1919 


Copyright,  1919,  , 

( 
By 

Thomas  Hubert  Hutton   and    Stanley  Blake. 

1 


H13 


INTRODUCTORY 


PART  ONE 

The  author  of  Part  One  of  this  book  was  born  and 
reared  among  the  hills  of  Old  Kentucky,  and  has  always 
been  a  close  student  of  nature — a  lover  of  the  outdoors, 
and,  above  all,  an  ardent  angler — a  true  disciple  of  *^Ike" 
Walton. 

Thomas  Hubert  Hutton  was  born  in  the  year  1892  at 
the  coimtry  town  of  Berr}^,  Coimty  of  Harrison,  State  of 
Kentucky,  where  he  still  resides. 

He  has  written  for  the  leading  outdoor  magazines  for 
many  years,  having  penned  over  500  magazine  articles  on 
various  subjects,  both  of  angling  and  hunting. 

For  several  years  he  was  associated  with  the  Blue 
Grass  Farm  Kennels,  of  which  Mr.  Stanley  Blake,  author 
of  Part  Two  of  this  book,  is  Manager,  and  enjoyed  always 
th^  most  pleasant  relations  with  that  gentleman.  Mr. 
Hutton,  at  the  time  this  book  was  published,  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Postmaster,  at  the  town  wherein  he  is  a  resident. 

While  his  principal  recreative  sport  is  angling  for  the 
battling  black  bass,  he  also  finds  time  occasionally  to  ac- 
company his  friends  on  a  hunt. 


wi31S901 


By    ("ourte-sy   U.    S.   Dtpartntent   of   the  Interior. 

CRATER    LAKE    AND    MT.    SCOTT   FROM   TRAIL. 


PREFACE. 


NATURE'S  CALL: 

There  is  instilled  within  each  one  of  us  a  persistent 
something  that  we  call  ^^ desire."  There  are  various 
things  to  be  desired — some  desire  one  thing,  some  another; 
some  have  many  and  numerous  desires;  while  others  may 
have  but  few.  It  is  a  safe  bet,  however,  that  all  of  us 
experience  one  desire  that  we  cannot  get  away  from — 
namely  the  desire  to  respond  to  nature's  persistent  call. 

This  call  cannot  be  evaded.  It  may  be  postponed,  but  it 
ever  keeps  on  tugging  at  our  heartstrings,  and  must  be  fi- 
nally answered.  For  a  time,  nature's  call  may  be  neglect- 
ed, forgotten  in  the  busy  struggle  along  life's  tempestuous 
way,  but  the  call  will  return  again  and  again,  and  must  be 
responded  to. 

There  is  a  something  within  each  of  us— a  desire — to 
commune  with  nature ;  no  matter  where  we  live,  or  what  our 
calling.  The  city-bred  man  especially  has  a  constant  yearn- 
ing to  get  out  and  away  from  all  the  noise  and  bustle  and 
strife  for  a  quiet  vacation-time  among  the  hills  and  along 
the  cool  streams,  there  to  try  his  skill  and  pit  his  knowl-. 
edge  and  resourcefulness  against  nature's  own,  while 
those  living  in  the  smaller  centers  of  population  and  in 
the  rural  districts  experience  and  answer  the  same  call. 
All  of  us  have  this  great  desire,  and  fortunate  indeed  is  the 
man  who  is  able  to  answer  the  call  promptly.  A  great  ar- 
my of  would-be  sportsmen,  however,  on  account  of  their 


THE  ANGLER  AND  HUNTSMAN 

business  ties  and  for  various  other  reasons,  cannot  explore 
the  wonders  of  nature  as  soon  as  they  would  like  to.  They 
are  none  the  less  sportsmen,  however,  and  keenly  ardent 
ones  at  that,  for  their  heart's  in  the  right  place  and  if  they 
had  their  way  about  things  their  longing  would  soon  be 
gratified,  but  ofttimes  obstacles  beset  one's  pathwa}^  and 
delay  the  realization  of  one's  fondest  hopes. 

To  this  great  army  of  sportsmen,  as  well  as  to  the  ini- 
tiated, we  have  faith  that  this  book  will  appeal;  that  it 
will  open  the  doors  which  bar  their  vision  of  nature's  sub- 
lime beauty;  that  it  will  in  a  small  measure,  at  least,  al- 
leviate the  suffering  of  those  who  would  and  cannot  an- 
swer th.e  call  at  the  present  time ;  and  we  hope — very  hum- 
bly hope — it  will  be  found  both  instructive  and  entertain- 
ing to  all. 

There  are  many  kinds  of  sport,  but  in  this  book  we 
have  to  do  but  with  two  classes,  the  angler  and  the  hunter. 


PART  ONE 


Angling. 


To  angle  successfully  is  a  fine  art.  It  requires  not 
only  skill,  but  a  great  amount  of  patience.  Without 
these  prime  requisites  you  are  doomed  to  failure.  Ang- 
ling comes  naturally  to  some  fishermen,  to  others  it  must 
be  taught,  and,  alas,  to  still  others  it  cannot  be  taught. 

So  to  be  a  successful  angler,  you  must  possess  skill 
and  patience.  The  student-fisherman  who  is  most  obser- 
vant is  by  far  most  apt  to  speedily  acquire  the  art.  Study 
nature.  Learn  the  habits  of  the  finny  tribe.  Find  out 
what  they  thrive  upon — what  insects  they  devour  in  cer- 
tain seasons  of  the  year,  and  imitate  these  insects  in  con- 
structing your  artificial  lures,  if  it  is  not  practicable  to 
use  natural  ones.  If  you  purchase  your  lures,  use  all  the 
judgment  you  possess  in  selecting  them. 

The  successful  hunter  knows  the  habits  of  the  animal 
he  is  striving  to  bring  to  bag,  and  so  must  the  successful 
fisherman  know  the  habits  of  the  particular  specie  of  fish 
he  is  angling  for. 

Xo  given  set  of  rules  may  be  set  down  for  the  guid- 
ance of  the  angler.  Conditions  vary  in  such  great  degree 
in  different  localities  as  to  make  given  rules  and  regula- 
tions seem  foolish.  We  must  adjust  ourselves  and  our 
tackle  to  conditions  as  we  find  them — this  is  the  method 
that  spells  success.  Hence,  in  this  book  the  author  shall 
not  aim  to  write  down  any  given  set  of  rules  in  the  art  of 
angling,  but  merely  to  write  of  conditions  as  he  has  found 
them  in  his  particular  field  of  action. 


8 


THE  ANGLER  AND  HUNTSMAN 


While  we  have  before  us  the  subject  of  anglmg,  per- 
haps it  would  not  be  amiss  to  offer  a  few  general  sugges- 
tions as  to  tackle. 

Tackle  is  a  most  important  item.  Poor  and  indiffer- 
ent tackle  means,  in  most  cases,  failure.  Of  course,  we, 
as  a  boy,  caught  our  full  share  of  fish  on  a  crooked  stick 
for  a  pole  and  a  bent  pin,  but  that  is  not  our  idea  of  art  in 


This  Photograph  by   Courtesy   the   Canadian   Pacific  Railway  Co. 

"FISHING    IN    BRITISH    COLUMBIA— A    SCENE    THAT    WILL    BRING    BACK 
FOND    RECOLLECTIONS   OF  OUR    BOYHOOD    DAYS. 

the  angling  game.  Most  of  that  was  pure  blind  luck,  or 
else  the  fish  were  awfully  hungry  in  those  days.  We  are 
fully  convinced  that  to  really  become  an  accomplished 
fisherman,  wise  to  all  the  tricks  of  the  finn}^  tribe,  one  must 
have  good,  dependable  tackle.  Now,  we  don't  mean  by 
this  that  one  should  have  extra  heavy  or  very  strong  line 
and  stout  reel.     No!  No!     Rather,  we  mean  ver}^  light 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  9 

tackle^  but  something  a  jot  better  than  the  crooked  pole 
and  the  bent  pin.  In  a  word,  tackle  of  light  but  good 
quality,  that  may  be  relied  upon  in  a  close  place.  We 
have  in  the  angling  world  advocates  of  both  light  and 
heavy  tackle.  Recognizing  the  respective  merits  of  both 
in  given  instances  and  under  varied  conditions,  we  prefer 
to  use  our  judgment  in  our  selection  of  tackle  to  meet 
these  conditions  as  we  find  them,  and  recommend  this 
course  to  fellow-fish ennen. 

The  weight  and  length  of  rod  is  largely  a  matter  of 
preference  of  the  individual.  However,  a  medium  weight 
and  a  medium  length  rod  will  be  found  suitable  for  nearly 
all  ordinary  occasions,  and,  therefore,  is  most  acceptable. 
The  two  extremes  are  necessary  in  some  cases,  but  as  a 
general  thing  the  medium  is  to  be  desired. 

The  author  uses  a  5  1-2  foot  rod,  made  of  selected  sp]it 
bamboo,  and  constructed  in  two  sections,  having  agate  top 
and  butt  guide,  between  which  it  has  high  German  Silver 
guides,  and  is  an  outfit  that  will  suit  the  average  fisher- 
man. Some  anglers,  who  hanker  more  for  convenience  in 
carrying  a  rod  than  for  service  to  be  obtained  from  it,  pre- 
fer a  three- jointed  affair.  Speaking  about  reels — the  reel 
should  be  of  good  quality,  an  Anti-Back-Lash  of  the  Heddon 
type,  a  Milam,  a  Meek,  or  Blue  Grass;  it  should  be  free 
running  and  quadruple  multiplying,  Avith  a  narrow  spool. 
The  reels  mentioned  are  fairly  high  in  price,  but  in  buying 
a  ]*eel,  remember  that  quality  counts  most  in  this  item  of 
tackle,  and  that  no  matter  how  magnificent  is  the  rod,  the 
guides,  the  line,  if  you  have  not  a  good,  free-running  de- 
pendable reel,  the  outfit  is  ^^null  and  void"  so  far  as  service 
is  to  be  obtained.  There  are  many  medium  and  low  priced 
reels  on  the  market,  some  few  of  which  possess  merit  com- 
mensurate with  their  reasonable  prices,  but  it  takes  real 
money  to  buy  a  quality  reel  that  will  last  long  and  be  a  joy 
to  your  heart. 

Then  comes  the  subject  of  fishing  lines.     The  writer 


10 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 


likes  a  braided  silk  line  fifty  yards  long,  for  bait  casting. 
Various  and  many  are  the  lures  to  be  found  on  the  market 
today,  and  there  is  a  lure  for  every  clime  and  for  every  oc- 
casion, for  all  seasons  and  all  places.  Such  being  the  case, 
the  angler  should  purchase  a  set  of  lures  that  are  adaptable 
to  local  conditions.  The  idea  is  to  study  the  particular  in- 
sect-life of  the  locality  in  which  the  angler  resides — see 
what  insects  are  common  along  the  rivers  and  lakes  in  that 


Courtesy   Canadian  Pacific  Railway   Co. 

FISHING   IN   ONTARIO. 


particular  region — and  then  buy  lures  as  nearly  in  conform- 
ity to  them  as  possible.  Imitate  nature.  By  observation 
along  the  waters  of  your  locality,  you  will,  no  doubt,  be  able 
to  see  what  insects  fly  above  the  water,  or  float  upon  its 
surface,  and  by  close  attention  you  will  be  able  to  note  what 
the  fish  leap  after  most  frequently.  Get  flies  that  are  as 
nearly  like  these  real  ones  as  you  can.  This  course  will 
bring  success  if  wisely  carried  out. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  11 

As  to  dry-fly  fishing,  while  it  has  been  an  art  long 
practiced  in  Evirope  it  is  a  sad  conjmentary  on  our  angling 
progress  when  we  say  that  until  recently  dry-fly  fishing 
in  this  country  had  not  found  popular  favor.  This  is  said 
to  have  been  due  to  the  fact  that  wet-fly  fishing  in  our  tur- 
bulent streams  had  met  with  so  much  success  that  new 
methods  and  new  tackle  were  not  needed  or  desired.  Tie 
your  dry-fly  in  exact  imitation  of  the  winged  insects. 

A  Day  With  The  Wily  Black  Bass: 

Memory  harks  back  to  a  day  in  early  springtime 
when  we  journeyed  forth  in  quest  of  the  sport  royal.  With 
well-filled  fly-book,  as  well  as  a  few  nice  live  minnows  in 
our  minnow-bucket,  we  stealthily  crept  to  the  old  mill-dam 
before  the  rising  sun  had  dared  shoAy  golden  rays  over  the 
eastern  hilltops. 

Oh,  how  bracing  was  the  early  morning  air  on  the  riv- 
er! Put  new  life  into  a  fellow.  Made  one's  blood  fairly 
tingle. 

Soon,  we  were  casting  right  and  left,  first  trying  the 
minnows.  After  thirty  minutes  casting  with  live  bait  with- 
out a  strike,  we  decided  to  get  out  our  brand-new  fly-book 
and  make  an  offering  of  choice  specimens  thereof  to  the  old 
wily  fighter  of  the  mill-pond.  Perhaps,  if  he  was  not  real- 
ly hungry,  he  would  strike  at  an  attractive  lure  through 
pure  viciousness,  for  which  he  is  noted  in  the  realm  of 
things  aquatic. 

Our  surmise  did  not  work  out,  at  least  not  at  first.  The 
old  stand-by,  *^Jock  Scott,"  utterly  failed  in  its  mission; 
*^Lord  Baltimore"  was  also  completely  ignored  by  the  sulk- 
ing bass.  We  then  tied  on  a  ''Royal  Coachman"  and 
awaited  anxiously  for  results.  Nothing  doing.  We  were 
dismaj^ed,  but  still  determined — so  we  tried  a  ''Grizzly 
King",  and,  casting  well  out,  let  it  light  gently  upon  the 
water  with  a  slight  jerk,  reeling  in  rather  hurriedly  and 


12  THE   ANGLEK   AND    HUNTSMAN 

impatiently,  (we  had  about  lost  all  the  patience  we  ever 
possessed),  but  it  was  just  then  we  got  a  strike,  a  strike 
that  indicated  to  us,  as  we  gripped  the  rod,  that  the  bass 
was  trying  (in  baseball  vernacular)  to  knock  a  '4iome- 
run."  It  was  a  regular  Hans  Wagner  strike!  Zip!  went 
the  line,  or  maybe  it  was  the  reel,  maybe  both — first  thing 
we  knew  Mr.  Bass  was  heading  for  midstream  and  he  was 
one  of  those  headstrong  fellows  that  are  not  so  easily  turn- 
ed. Presently,  however,  we  did  manage  to  start  him  on 
the  return  trip,  and  then  he  came  on  so  fast  it  was  a  perfect 
job  for  us  to  keep  him  from  getting  slack  line,  which  would 
have  been  fatal  and  would  have  assured  his  escape.  On 
he  came !  Wind  as  hard  as  we  could  he  did  manage  to  get 
a  little  slack — he  then  came  to  the  top  and  leaped  clear  of 
the  water,  shaking  with  all  his  might,  trying  to  dislodge  the 
hook.  With  a  sharp  jerk  we  took  up  the  slack  and  brought 
him  back  into  the  water,  reeling  like  mad.  Tlie  moment 
lie  slid  back  into  his  element,  he  took  another  spell,  this 
time  going  straight  to  bottom  and  there  sulking.  Xoth- 
ing  could  seem  to  dislodge  him.  Seemed  certain  he  had 
gone  under  a  rock  TO  STAY.  We  felt  our  hopes  sink. 
We  were  going  to  lose  our  prize-beauty.  Not  only  that, 
but  we'd  probably  lose  our  fly  and  a  good  leader,  not  to 
mention  our  temper. 

After  a  lapse  of  several  minutes,  that  seemed  to 
lengthen  into  weeks  of  anguish,  he  came  to  life  with  a  sud- 
deness  that  fairly  startled  us.  With  a  mighty  surg:e  he 
made  for  the  bank  on  which  we  stood,  and  again  we  be- 
came intensely  occupied  with  the  reel.  It  seemed  not  to 
work  nearly  fast  enough.     That  bass  was  sure  speedy. 

Approaching  the  bank,  he  must  have  spied  his  arch- 
enemy— man — for  he  gave  a  haughty  swish  of  his  tail  and 
was  gone  again — to  deep  water. 

We  struggled  again  to  turn  him  and  for  a  time  it  seem- 
ed imcertain  who  would  be  the  vanquished  and  victor.  At 
last,  we  brought  him  to  a  halt  and  after  a  painful  inter- 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  13 

val  his  halt  was  turned  into  a  retreat — once  more  he  came 
It o ward  land. 

But  he  came  leisurely.  No  slashing  and  slathering 
v/aters  were  kicked  up  by  terrific  swishes  of  his  tail.  Boys, 
he  was  tired  out.  He  had  fought  the  good  fight — and 
lost. 

Lures  for  The  Black  Bass: 

It  has  become  a  proven  fact  that  no  one  lure  or  set  of 
lures  can  be  depended  upon  to  catch  fish  at  any  time  in  all 
weathers.  Especially  is  this  true  of  the  wily  black  bass, 
which  is  a  fish-  of  moods.  At  certain  times  of  the 
day  a  particular  lure  will  prove  to  be  a  bass  getter,  and  at 
the  very  same  time  on  other  days  that  particular  lure  will 
be  of  no  avail;  on  certain  days  one  lure  will  appeal,  where- 
as on  other  days  that  lure  will  fail  to  attract.  In  cloudy 
weather  a  certain  lure  may  be  used  to  advantage,  whereas 
on  a  sunshiny  day  it  would  not  draw  fish.  So  again  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year  a  particular  lure  gets  bass,  be- 
ing no  good  at  other  times.  Hence,  it  is  but  a  short  step 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  bass  is  a  fish  of  moods.  Some 
days  the  black  bass  will  feed  right  under  your  lure,  while 
on  other  occasions  he  will  savagely  strike  at  anything  you 
have  to  offer.  We  come  to  the  conclusion,  after  giving  the 
matter  much  thought,  that  there  are  several  elements  that 
enter  into  the  problem.  They  are :  The  seasons,  weather, 
(which  controls  the  mood  of  the  bass);  the  time  of  day; 
and  the  lure.  This  accounts  for  having  good  luck  on*  a 
certain  day  with  a  certain  lure,  while  the  same  lure  the 
next  day  proves  entirely  inefficient. 

A  good  many  anglers  object  to  the  use  of  the  treble 
hooks  on  baits,  their  opinion  being  that  their  use  is  inhu- 
mane and  unsportsmanlike,  while  others  prefer  to  fish  with 
the  fly,  which  has  but  one  single  hook.  In  some  states  the 
law  prohibits  the  use  of  more  than  three  hooks  on  one  bait 
or  one  treble  hook. 


14  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

When  one  pauses  to  consider  the  cruelty  of  angling 
with  live  bait,  the  angler  will  then  look  with  some  degree 
of  disfavor  toward  the  method  of  casting  or  using  live  bait. 
On  the  other  hand,  live  bait  casting  has  charms  all  its  own, 
and  a  great  army  of  anglers  swear  by  their  live  bait. 

For  those,  however,  that  do  not  prefer  live  bait,  there 
is  to  be  found  on  the  market  lures  of  all  kinds. 

One  writer  remarks  that  the  best  thing  about  top  wa- 
iter lures,  especially  the  ones  modelled  after  the  minnows, 
is  that  they  will  not  sink.  If  the  angler  or  uninitiated  fish- 
erman gets  a  snarl  or  back  lash  he  may  take  his  own  time 
in  undoing  it  without  fear  of  his  bait  sinking  and  finding 
a  permanent  (perhaps)  resting  place  in  a  weed  bed  or 
among  deep  crevices  or  rocks.  These  lures  (undoubted- 
ly) that  are  classed  as  top  water  lures  save  the  angler 
^^gobs"  of  money  in  this  respect. 

With  sinking  baits  it  is  the  reverse.  They  are  adapt- 
ed to  deep  water  trolling,  but  are  cast  also. 

The  best  results  are  obtained  by  trolling  in  deep  wa- 
ter. Slow  trolling  allows  the  bait  a  chance  to  sink  deep 
besides  giving  the  bass  a  better  chance  to  strike  at  it. 

Another  favorite  bait  with  the  average  angler  is  the 
plug.  However,  it  is  condemned  by  many  men  because  of 
its  nine  hooks  (three  sets  of  trebles),  but  for  those  that 
are  after  results  (bother  the  method)  the  plug  is  right 
there  with  the  goods.     It  is  best  to  troll  it. 

Finally,  in  fishing  with  artificial  baits,  one  must  realize 
that  he  is  only  using  imitations  of  the  real  thing,  and 
accordingly  not  place  too  great  confidence  in  them,  as  their 
successful  use  depends  largely  on  season,  weather,  the 
mood  of  the  fish,  skill  of  the  angler,  and  the  waters  he  is 
fishing. 

Hints  on  Fly-Fishing  for  Trout: 

First,  secure  a  rod  that  '^fits"  you,  that  is,  one  that  you 
can  handle  conveniently,  either  steel  or  split  bamboo,  as 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  15 

you  prefer,  one  not  too  supple  and  with  plenty  of  power 
and  resiliency.  You  don't  have  to  have  the  highest-priced 
rod  on  the  market,  neither  is  it  advisable  to  buy  the  cheap- 
est. Buy  one  connnensurate  with  your  ability.  Of  course 
generally  the  higher  priced  rods  are  of  better  material  and, 
therefore,  last  longer  and  give  better  service.  It  pays  to 
buy  good  stuff,  w^hen  it  can  be  afforded.  Try  out  the  rod 
before  you  purchase  it;  see  if  you  like  it  in  every  particu- 
lar. 

Next  comes  the  reel.  The  same  doctrine  applies  to 
the  purchase  of  this  important  item  as  applies  to  the  rod. 
Get  as  good  quality  as  your  purse  permits.  A  cheap  one 
will  maybe  be  all  right  for  a  while  but  in  the  long  run  it  pays 
to  purchase  good  tackle. 

Then  comes  the  line,  which  should  be  silk,  of  sufficient 
weight  to  cast  well  in  the  wind  and  to  fit  the  rod,  one  that 
will  not  strain  the  rod  and  yet  not  so  light  that  it  will  fail 
to  get  the  action  out  of  the  rod  required.  For  a  rod  9  1-2 
feet  long,  weight  5  to  6  ounces,  size  E  line  is  commonly 
used. 

The  selection  of  the  leaders  is  of  next  importance.  For 
rough  streams  use  a  heavy  3-foot  leader,  but  on  calm,  shal- 
low streams  this  will  not  do.  A  fine  gut  is  an  important 
part  of  the  tackle,  and  the  leader  should  be  at  least  six  feet 
in  length  if  obtainable.  Fine  gut  is  sometimes  hard  to  ob- 
tain, but  should  be  used  w^henever  procurable. 

The  kind  of  fly  you  use,  w^hile  important,  is  not  nearly 
so  important  as  the  manner  of  fishing  it. 

Sometimes,  wiien  trout  are  real  hungry  they  will  take 
most  anything  in  the  lure  of  dry  flies,  but  at  other  times 
they  appear  to  sulk  and  will  bite  at  nothing,  while  some- 
times a  particularly  fascinating  lure  will  get  their  goat, 
and  at  stijl  other  times  a  dull  drabby  color  wdll  appeal  to 
their  taste.  They  seem  to  have  moods,  as  well  as  fixed 
liabits,  and  we  have  to  study  their  moods  as  well  as  their 
^ket  characteristics. 

I 


16  THE   AXGLER    AXD    HUXTSMAX 

Lastly,  when  you  get  a  rise,  don't  jerk  the  poor  fish's 
head  off;  a  simple  turn  of  the  wrist  is  sufficient,  if  you  are 
expe]?t  at  the  game.  You  must  learn  to  pull  gently  and 
at  the  same  time  firmly  and  quickly.  This  is  acknowledg- 
ed to  be  difficult  and  no  suggestions  that  I  can  think  of 
will  teach  you  how  to  do  it;  it's  an  art  that  has  to  be  ac- 
quired by  actual  practice. 

Fishing  Through  The  Ice: 

Perhaps  no  wintertime  sport  affords  any  more  plea- 
sure to  the  angling  brotherhood  than  the  sport  of  ice-fish- 
ing. 

An  ice  chisel  and  an  axe,  will  serve  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing a  hole  in  the  ice  through  which  to  fish. 

Winter  fishing  has  the  advantage  over  fishing  at  oth- 
er-seasons in  that  it  does  not  take  so  extensive  or  costly 
an  outfit.     Any  simple  rig-up  will  do. 

On  such  trips  it  is  well  to  take  along  a  coffee-pot,  or 
receptacle  in  which  soup  may  be  boiled,  for  there  is  noth- 
ing that  makes  an  outer  feel  better  and  enjoy  himself  more 
on  a  cold  winter  day  than  a  hot  cup  of  coffee  or  a  bowl  of 
hot  soup.  The  frying  pan  should  also  find  a  place  in  your 
outfit,  for  you  will  want  to  try  some  of  the  fish  you  will 
catch,  and  there  is  a  sense  of  enjoyment  in  partaking  of 
your  catch  ''right  on  the  spot"  that  is  not  found  elsewhere. 

This  is  a  time  of  year  when  nature  has  clothed  the 
landscape  all  about  you  with  the  snowy- whiteness  of  the 
beautiful  snow,  and  if  you  loved  to  wander  through  these 
favorite  haunts  in  the  glad  summertime  when  everything 
was  green  and  growing,  you  will  no  less  be  enthralled  now 
in  mid-winter  with  the  scene  of  beauty  as  it  unfolds  before 
you.  Strange  indeed,  but  true  it  is  that  tho'  most  all  liv- 
ing things  are  asleep  (some,  alas!  dead)  at  this  season,  there 
is  presented  to  view  a  scene  equally  if  not  more  beautiful 
than  that  presented  in  spring  and  summer  and  fall  when 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  17 

all  nature  is  dressed  in  gala  array  in  response  to  the  glad 
sunshine  and  growing  rains. 

I  have  in  mind  a  little  outing  spent  with  a  friend  one 
winter's  day  in  which  we  fished  for  pike  through  the  ice. 
Through  15  inches  of  solid  ice  we  hewed  a  hole.  The 
rougher  part  was  accomplished  with  the  axe,  but  as  soon  as 
the  axe  got  through  to  the  water  beneath,  I  took  the  chisel 
and  shaped  up  the  opening  as  best  I  could. 

Putting  on  a  minnow,  while  my  partner  cut  himself 
another  hole  not  far  distant,  I  lowered  it  about  ten  or  fif- 
teen feet  beneath  the  surface  and  held  it  there.  The  end 
of  my  line,  of  course,  was  tied  securely  to  a  stick,  but  in  all 
other  ways  it  was  nothing  more  than  a  hand-line,  and  real- 
ly a  hand-line  it  was  indeed. 

I  now  busied  myself  in  gathering  some  wood  for  a  fire, 
and  soon  had  a  cheerful  blaze  on  the  bank  nearby,  where  it 
would  be  convenient  to  go  and  w^arm  when  we  got  chilled. 
A  fire  is  an  important  item  in  ice-fishing,  for  usually  along 
lakes  the  wind  comes  in  pretty  brisk  and  cold.  Of  course, 
if  you  are  fishing  far  out  from  shore,  the  fire  may  be  built 
on  the  ice  at  a  respectable  distance  from  where  you  are 
fishing.  Some  claim  the  warmth  of  the  fire  goes  through 
to  the  water  below  and  draws  fish  to  that  neighborhood. 
These  preliminaries  over,  we  cut  other  holes  imtil  we  had 
six  or  eight  cut  and  lines  set. 

In  this  manner  we  caught  several  good-sized  pike. 
While  this  sort  of  fishing  does  not  give  one  the  opportuni- 
ty to  display  his  skill  to  any  great  degree  it  is,  at  least,  a 
form  of  winter  sport  that  helps  to  while  away  those  long 
winter  days  when  the  angler  feels  that  spring  w411  never 
arrive,  so  that  he  may  again  rig  up  his  favorite  rod  and 
reel  and  go  forth  to  battle  with  a  big  muskie,  a  trout,  a 
black  bass,  a  pike  or  whatever  species  opportunity  and  lo- 
cation presents. 

We  returned  home  that  night  feeling  greatly  invig- 
orated by  the  day's  outing  in  the  brisk  winter    air,    and 


18  THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

many  a  time  thereafter  we  repeated  the  operation,  which 
made  the  whole  year  a  fishing  season — a  condition  we  al- 
ways thought  should  be  evolved  some  Avay  or  other. 

If  live  bait  is  unobtainable,  we  suggest  using  red  flan- 
nel lures,  which  prove  verv  effective  for  most  species  of 
fish. 

No  doubt,  other  artificial  baits  and  lures  may  be  em- 
ployed with  good  success  in  ice-fishing,  such  as  the  dry  fly, 
the  fluted  spoon,  the  wet  fly,  and  other  fancy  artificial 
baits  and  lures. 


ISAAK  WALTON,  BELOVED  ANGLER  AND 
PHILOSOPHER. 

Isaak  Walton,  whose  memory  every  knight  of  the  rod 
and  reel  holds  dear,  was  born  at  Stafford,  County  Stafford, 
in  England,  in  August  1593.  At  the  tender  age  of  nine- 
teen summers  we  find  him  in  London  engaged  in  retail 
shop-keeping.  He  was  variously  called  a  '^linen-draper," 
^^sempster,"  and  ^* milliner."  This  business  appear?s  to 
have  prospered. 

However,  it  was  not  as  a  business  man  that  Walton 
holds  a  claim  to  immortality,  but  as  a  writer  of  carefully 
worded  literature  both  of  an  ecclesiastical  and  nature-lov- 
ing flavor.  Most  important,  as  to  the  latter,  was  his  book 
*^The  Compleat  Angler,"  which  he  wrote  after  his  retire- 
ment from  business  in  1643.  He  purchased  a  place  near 
his  ^^ native  heath"  in  the  vicinity  of  good  fishing.  Walton 
was  twice  married — once  in  1626  and  again  in  1646,  losing 
both  wives  by  death.  His  book,  to  which  possibly  he  owes 
the  major  portion  of  his  immortal  fame,  ^^The  Compleat 
Angler,"  was  published  in  1653.  Successive  editions  were 
put  out  in  1655, 1661, 1668  and  in  1676 — the  latter  being  the 
last  edition  put  out  during  the  lifetime  of  the  author. 

While  the  book  belies  its  name  of  being  really  ^^com- 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  19 

plete"  for  our  day  and  age,  it  was  probably  *  ^  complete "  for 
the  needs  of  the  troublous  times  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  in 
which  Walton  lived.  This  book  was  written  in  the  form 
of  a  dialogue  between  Piscator  and  Venator,  the  former 
representing  the  master  angler  and  philosopher,  the  latter 
his  apt  and  willing  scholar  or  pupil. 

In  order  to  convey  to  the  reader  the  full  measure  of 
Walton's  matchless  art  in  his  description  of  things  natural, 
it  is  best  that  we  include  excerpts  from  his  book,  "The 
Compleat  Angler,"  as  follows: 

Piscator — 0  sir,  doubt  not  that  angling  is  an  art;  is  it 
not  an  art  to  deceive  a  trout  with  an  artificial  fly?  A 
trout  that  is  more  sharp-sighted  than  any  hawk  you  have 
named,  and  more  watchful  and  timorous  than  your  high- 
mettled  merlin  is  bold;  and  yet  I  doubt  not  to  catch  a  brace 
or  two  tomorrow  for  a  friend's  breakfast.  Doubt  not, 
therefore,  sir.  but  that  angling  is  an  art,  and  an  art  worth 
your  learning.  The  question  is,  rather,  w^hether  you  be  cap-' 
able  of  learning  it?  For  angling  is  somewhat  like  poetry — 
men  are  to  be  born  so ;  I  mean,  with  inclinations  to  it,  though 
both  may  be  heightened  by  discourse  and  practice;  but  he 
tliat  hopes  to  be  a  good  angler  must  not  only  bring  an  in- 
quiring, searching,  observing  wit,  but  he  must  bring  a  large 
measure  of  hope  and  patience,  and  a  love  and  propensity  to 
the  art  itself;  but  having  once  got  and  practiced  it,  then 
doubt  not  but  angling  will  prove  to  be  so  pleasant  that  it 
will  prove  to  be  like  virtue,  a  reward  to  itself. 

Venator — Sir,  I  am  now  become  so  full  of  expectation, 
that  I  long  much  to  have  you  proceed,  and  in  the  order  you 
propose. 

Piscator — Then  first,  for  the  antiquity  of  angling,  of 
which  I  shall  not  say  much,  but  only  this:  some  say  it  is  as 
ancient  as  Deucalion's  flood;  others  that  Belus,  w^ho  w^as 
the  first  inventor  of  godly  and  virtuous  recreations,  was 
the  first  inventor  of  angling;  and  some  others  say — for 
former  times  have  had  their  disquisitions  about  the  an- 


20  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

tiquity  of  it — that  Setli,  one  of  the  sons  of  Adam,  taught 
it  to  his  sons,  and  that  by  them  it  was  derived  to  posterity; 
others  say  that  he  left  it  engraven  on  those  pillars  which 
he  erected,  and  trusted  to  preserve  the  knowledge  of  the 
mathematics,  music,  and  the  rest  of  that  precious  knowl- 
edge and  those  useful  arts,  which  by  God's  appointment 
or  allowance  and  his  noble  industry  were  therelay  preserv- 
ed from  perishing  in  Noah's  flood. 

These,  sir,  have  been  the  opinions  of  several  men  that 
have  possibly  endeavored  to  make  angling  more  ancient 
than  is  needful  or  may  well  be  warranted;  but  for  my  part, 
I  shall  content  myself  in  telling  you  that  angling  is  much 
more  ancient  than  the  Incarnation  of  our  Savior ;  for  in  the 
prophet  Amos,  mention  is  made  of  fish-hooks;  and  in  the 
book  of  Job,  which  was  long  before  the  days  of  Amos, — 
for  that  book  is  said  to  be  writ  by  Moses, — mention  is  made 
also  of  fish-hooks,  which  must  imply  anglers  in  those  times. 

But  my  worthy  friend,  as  I  would  rather  prove  myself 
a  gentleman  by  being  learned  and  humble,  valiant  and  in- 
offensive, virtuous  and  communicable,  than  by  any  fond 
ostentation  of  riches;  or,  wanting  those  virtues  myself, 
boast  that  these  were  in  my  ancestors  (and  yet  I  grant 
that  w^here  a  noble  and  ancient  descent  and  such  mer- 
it meet  in  any  man,  it  is  a  double  dignification  of  that  per- 
son) : — so  if  this  antiquity  of  angling,  which  for  my  part  I 
have  not  forced,  shall,  like  an  ancient  family,  be  either  an 
honor  or  an  ornament  to  this  virtuous  art  which  I  profess 
to  love  and  practice,  I  shall  be  the  gladder  that  I  made  an 
accidental  mention  of  the  antiquity  of  it,  of  which  I  shall 
say  no  more,  but  proceed  to  that  just  commendation  which 
I  think  it  deserves.  And  for  that,  I  shall  tell  you  that  in 
ancient  times  a  debate  hath  arisen,  and  it  remains  yet  un- 
resolved; whether  the  happiness  of  man  in  this  world  doth 
consist  more  in  contemplation  or  action? 

Concerning  which,  some  have  endeavored  to  maintain 
their  opinion  of  the  first,  by  saying  that  the  nearer  we 


THE  ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  21 

mortals  come  to  God  by  way  of  imitation,  the  more  happy 
we  are.  And  they  say  that  God  enjoys  himself  only  by  a 
contemplation  of  his  own  infiniteness,  eternity,  power, 
and  goodness,  and  the  like.  And  npon  this  ground,  many 
cloisteral  men  of  great  learning  and  devotion  prefer  con- 
templation before  action.  And  many  of  the  fathers  seem 
to  aDprove  this  opinion,  as  may  appear  in  their  commen- 
taries upon  the  words  of  our  Savior  to  Martha  (Luke  x. 
41,  42). 

And  on  the  contrary,  there  want  not  men  of  equal  au- 
thority and  credit,  that  prefer  action  to  be  the  more  excel- 
lent; as  namely,  experiments  in  physic,  and  the  application 
of  it,  both  for  the  ease  and  prolongation  of  man's  life;  by 
which  each  man  is  enabled  to  act  and  do  good  to  others, 
either  to  serve  his  country  or  do  good  to  particular  per- 
sons. And  they  say  also  that  action  is  doctrinal,  and 
teaches  both  art  and  virtue,  and  is  a  maintainer  of  human 
society,  and  for  these,  and  other  like  reasons,  to  be  pre- 
ferred before  contemplation. 

Concerning  which  two  opinions,  I  shall  forbear  to  add 
a  third  by  declaring  my  own;  and  rest  myself  contented  in 
telling  you,  my  very  worthy  friend,  that  both  these  meet 
together,  and  do  most  properly  belong  to  the  most  honest, 
ingenious,  quiet  and  harmless  art  of  angling. 

And  first  I  shall  tell  you  what  some  have  observed,  and 
I  have  found  it  to  be  a  real  truth — that  the  very  sitting  by 
the  river's  side  is  not  only  the  quietest  and  fittest  place 
for  contemplation,  but  will  invite  an  angler  to  it;  and  this 
seems  to  be  maintained  by  the  learned  Peter  Du  Moulin, 
who  in  his  discourse  of  the  fulfilling  of  prophecies,  ob- 
serves what  when  God  intended  to  reveal  any  future  events 
or  high  notions  to  his  prophets,  he  then  carried  them  eith- 
er to  the  deserts  or  the  seashore,  that  having  so  separated 
tliem  from  amidst  the  press  of  people  and  business,  and 
the  cares  of  the  world,  he  might  settle  their  mind  in  a  quiet 
repose,  and  there  make  them  fit  for  revelation. 


22  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

And  this  seems  also  to  be  intimated  by  the  Children  of 
Israel  (Psalm  cxxxvii.),  who  having  in  a  sad  condition 
banished  all  mirth  and  music  from  their  pensive  hearts, 
and  having  hung  up  their  then  mute  harps  upon  the  wilio\\  - 
trees  growing  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon,  sat  down  upon  these 
banks,  bemoaning  the  ruins  of  Sion,  and  contemplating 
their  own  sad  condition. 

And  an  ingenious  Spaniard  says  that  '^  rivers  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the  watery  element  were  made  for  wise  men 
to  contemplate,  and  fools  to  pass  by  without  considera- 
tion." And  though  I  will  not  rank  myself  in  the  number 
of  the  first,  yet  give  me  leave  to  free  myself  from  the  last, 
by  offering  to  you  a  short  contemplation,  first  of  rivers  and 
then  of  fish;  concerning  which  I  doubt  not  but  to  give  you 
many  observations  that  will  appear  very  considerable;  I 
am  sure  they  have  appeared  so  to  me,  and  made  many  an 
hour  to  pass  away  more  pleasantly,  as  I  have  sat  quietly  on 
a  flowery  bank  by  a  calm  river. 

Piscator — And  now  you  shall  see  me  try  my  skill  to 
catch  a  trout  and  at  my  next  walking,  either  this  evening 
or  tomorrow  morning,  I  will  give  you  direction  how  you 
yourself  shall  fish  for  him. 

Venator — Trust  me,  master,  I  see  now  it  is  a  harder 
matter  to  catch  a  trout  than  a  chub,  for  I  have  put  on  pa- 
tience and  followed  you  these  two  hours,  and  not  seen  a 
fish  stir,  neither  at  your  minnow  nor  your  worm. 

Piscator — ^Well,  scholar,  you  must  endure  worse  luck 
some  time,  or  you  will  never  make  a  good  angler.  But 
what  say  you  now?  There  is  a  trout  now,  and  a  good  one 
too,  if  I  can  but  hold  him,  and  two  or  three  turns  more  will 
tire  him.  Now  you  see  he  lies  still,  and  the  sleight  is  to 
land  him.  Reach  me  that  landing  net; — so,  sir,  now  he  is 
mine  own.  What  say  you  now?  is  not  this  worth  all  my 
labor  and  your  patience? 

Venator — On  my  word.  Master,  this  is  a  gallant  trout; 
what  shall  we  do  with  him? 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  23 

Piscator — Many,  e'en  eat  him  to  supper;  we'll  go  to 
my  hostess  from  whence  we  came;  she  told  me  as  I  was 
going  out  of  door,  that  my  brother  Peter,  a  good  angler  and 
a  cheerful  companion,  had  sent  word  that  he  would  lodge 
there  tonight,  and  bring  a  friend  with  him.  My  hostess 
has  two  beds,  and  I  know  you  and  I  may  have  the  best; 
we'll  rejoice  with  my  brother  Peter  and  his  friend,  tell 
tales  or  sing  ballads,  or  make  a  catch,  or  find  some  harmless 
sport  to  content  us  and  pass  away  a  little  time,  without  of- 
fense to  God  or  man. 

Venator — A  match,  good  master;  let's  go  to  that 
house;  for  the  linen  looks  white  and  smells  of  lavender, 
and  I  long  to  lie  in  a  pair  of  sheets  that  smells  so.  Let's 
be  going,  good  master,  for  I  am  hungry  again  with  fishing. 

Piscator — Nay,  stay  a  little,  good  scholar.  I  caught 
my  last  trout  with  a  worm;  now  I  will  put  on  a  minnow, 
and  try  a  quarter  of  an  hour  about  yonder  trees  for  anoth- 
er; and  so  walk  towards  our  lodging.  Look  you,  scholar, 
thereabout  we  shall  have  a  bite  presently  or  not  at  all. 
Have  with  you  sir !  o'  my  word  I  have  hold  of  him.  Oh,  it  is  a 
great  loggerheaded  chub;  come  hang  him  upon  that  wil- 
low twig,  and  let's  be  going.  But  turn  out  of  the  way  a 
little,  good  scholar,  towards  yonder  high  honeysuckle 
hedge;  there  we'll  sit  and  sing  whilst  this  shower  falls 
so  gently  upon  the  teeming  earth,  and  gives  yet  a  sweeter 
smell  to  the  lovely  flowers  that  adorn  these  verdant  mead- 
ows. 

Look,  under  that  broad  beech-tree  I  sat  down,  when  I 
was  last  this  way  a-fishing.  And  the  birds  in  the  adjoin- 
ing grove  seemed  to  have  a  friendly  contention  with  an 
echo,  whose  dead  voice  seemed  to  live  in  a  hollow  tree,  near 
to  the  brow  of  that  primrose  hill.  There  I  sat  viewing  the 
silver  streams  glide  silently  towards  their  centre,  the  tem- 
pestuous sea;  yet  sometimes  opposed  by  rugged  roots  and 
pebble-stones,  which  broke  their  waves  and  turned  them 
into  foam.     And  sometimes  I  beguiled  time  by  viewing  the 


24  THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

harmless  lambs;  some  leaping  securely  in  the  cool  shade, 
whilst  others  sported  themselves  in  the  cheerful  sun;  and 
saw  others  craving  comfort  from  the  swollen  udders  of 
their  bleating  dams.  As  I  thus  sat,  these  and  other  sights 
had  so  fully  possessed  my  soul  with  content,  that  I  thought 
as  the  poet  hath  happily  expressed^  it, 

*'I  was  for  that  time  lifted  above  earth. 

And  possessed  joys  not  promised  in  my  birth." 

As  I  left  this  place  and  entered  into  the  next  field,  a 
second  pleasure  entertained  me:  'twas  a  handsome  milk- 
maid, that  had  not  yet  attained  so  much  age  and  wisdom  as 
to  load  her  mind  with  any  fears  of  many  things  that  will 
never  be,  as  too  many  men  too  often  do ;  but  she  cast  away 
all  care,  and  sang  like  a  nightingale;  her  voice  was  good, 
and  the  ditty  fitted  for  it;  it  was  that  smooth  song  which 
was  made  by  Kit  Marlowe,  now  at  least  fifty  years  ago,  and 
the  milkmaid's  mother  sang  an  answer  to  it,  which  was 
made  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  his  younger  days. 

They  were  old-fashioned  poetry,  but  choicely  good;  I 
think  much  better  than  the  strong  lines  that  are  now  in 
fashion  in  this  critical  age.  Look  yonder!  on  my  word, 
yonder  they  both  be  a-milking  again.  I  will  give  her  the 
chub,  and  persuade  them  to  sing  those  two  songs  to  us. 

Grod  speed  you,  good  woman!  I  have  been  a-fishing, 
and  am  going  to  Bleak  Hall  to  my  bed;  and  having  caught 
more  fish  than  will  sup  myself  and  friend,  I  will  bestow 
this  upon  you  and  your  daughter,  for  I  use  to  sell  none. 

Milk  Woman — Marry,  God  requite  you  sir,  and  we'll 
eat  it  cheerfully;  and  if  you  come  this  way  a-fishing  two 
months  hence,  a  grace  of  God,  I'll  give  you  a  syllabub  of 
new  verjuice  in  a  new-made  haycock  for  it,  and  my  Maud- 
lin shall  sing  you  one  of  her  best  ballads;  for  she  and  I  both 
love  all  anglers,  they  be  such  honest,  civil,  quiet  men;  in 
the  mean  time  will  you  drink  a  draught  of  red  cow's  milk? 
You  shall  have  it  freelv. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  25 

Piscator — No,  I  thank  you;  but  I  pray,  do  us  a  cour- 
tesy that  shall  stand  you  and  your  daughter  in  nothing, 
and  yet  we  will  think  ourselves  still  something  in  your  debt; 
it  is  but  to  sing  us  a  song  that  was  sung  by  your  daughter 
when  I  last  passed  over  this  meadow,  about  eight  or  nine 
days  since. 

Milk  Woman — What  song  was  it,  I  pray?  Was  it 
*^Come  Shepherds,  deck  your  heads,"  or  ^^As  at  noon  Dul- 
cina  rested,"  or  ^^Phillida  flouts  me,"  or  ^^ Chevy  Chace." 
or  *' Johnny  Armstrong,"  or  ^^Troy  Town"? 

Piscator — No,  it  is  none  of  those ;  it  is  a  song  that  your 
daughter  sang  the  first  part,  and  vovi  sang  the  answer  to 
it. 

Milk  Woman — Oh,  I  know  it  now.  I  learned  the  first 
part  in  my  golden  age,  when  I  was  about  the  age  of  my  poor 
daughter;  and  the  latter  part,  which  indeed  fits  me  best 
now,  but  two  or  three  years  ago,  when  the  cares  of  the 
world  began  to  take  hold  of  me ;  but  you  shall,  God  willing, 
hear  them  both,  and  sung  as  well  as  we  can,  for  Ave  both 
love  anglers. 


Prom  even  these  brief  excerpts  of  Walton's  writings 
it  is  easily  seen  what  a  nobility  of  character  and  what  a 
gentle,  loving  spirit  he  possessed.  We  surmise  that  if  he 
w^as  half  as  artful  with  his  angling  rod  as  he  was  with  his 
pencil,  he  deserves  even  greater  fame  as  an  angler  than  he 
is  renowned  to  have  been. 


FISHING  REEL  LORE 


More  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  back,  viz:  in  the 
year  1839,  the  makers  of  the  ''Milam"  fishing  reel  recog- 
nized the  field  awaiting  to  be  occupied  by  a  reel  in  which 
material  and  construction  should  be  so  combined  as  to  pro- 


26  THE   AXGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

duce  an  instrument  absolutely  reliable  under  any  and  all 
conditions  of  use  and  abuse.  There  was  wanting  a  reel 
that  should  be  light  and  compact  in  form,  simple  but  pow- 
erful in  its  makeup  and  above  all,  one  not  easily  deranged 
by  the  constant  *^wear  and  tear"  inseparable  from  its  use. 
With  a  full  recognition  of  these  exacting  conditions  they 
started  in  to  make  the  reel  that  since  has  made  the  State 
of  Kentucky  famous.  In  all  the  years  that  have  passed 
by  since  1839  they  have  never  deviated  from  the  course 
originally  laid  down  for  its  production,  namely :  the  invar- 
iable use  of  the  best  obtainable  material  and  upon  such 
material  the  bestowTiient  of  every  resource  of  ingenuity  and 
painstaking  workmanship.  As  a  practical  endorsement 
of  this  policy  it  is  of  record  that  the  first  Milam  Reel, 
turned  out  by  them  in  the  year  1839,  is  still  in  perfect  work- 
ing order,  and  still  giving  a  good  account  of  itself  on  the 
bass  streams  of  that  state. 

The  following  letters  from  two  illustrious  personages, 
addressed  to  the  maker  of  this  reel,  attest  its  quality  and  a 
right  to  a  place  in  angling  history  equaled  by  no  other 
American  multiplying  and  click  fishing  reel : 

''Executive  Mansion,  Washington. 
''B.  C.  Milam,  Esq: 

''My  Dear  Sir: — I  have  received,  through  Messrs. 
Blackburn  and  Breckinridge,  the  beautiful  reel  which  you 
have  sent  to  me,  and  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  sincere 
thanks  for  the  same.  I  think  it  is  the  finest  piece  of 
work  in  that  line  I  have  ever  seen  and  the  sight  and  hand- 
ling of  it  makes  me  long  for  the  time  when  I  can  put  it  to 
use. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  it  will  be  the  means  of  affording 
me  much  pleasure,  and  I  hope  that  my  performances  may 
do  your  handiwork  no  discredit. 

Yours  verv  truly, 

GROVER  CLEVELAND. 

St.  Paul,  Minn. 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  27 

*'Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  note,  I  beg  to  say  that 
I  have  used  one  of  your  reels  for  18  years  and  it  is  yet  in  ex- 
cellent order.  The  make  and  fashion  of  your  work  is  quite 
unsurpassed. 

' '  Faithfully  vours, 
^^ JOSEPH  JEFFERSON." 

The  ^^ Milam"  is  a  combined  multipMng  and  click  reel, 
and  is  therefore  equally  available  for  fly  or  bait  fishing. 
It  multiplies  four-fold  and  so  light  is  the  friction  of  its  mov- 
ing parts  that  a  single  smart  stroke  of  the  handle  produces 
hundreds  of  revolutions  of  the  spool.  In  bait  casting  the 
reel  is  used  ^^ clear,"  i.  e.  without  either  alarm  or  rubber, 
and  with  a  little  practice,  the  bait  may  be  dropped  with  ease 
and  precision  on  any  desired  spot  within  50  or  60  yards. 
For  fly  fishing  it  is  customary  to  use  the  drag,  and  w^hen 
desired  (as  is  usually  the  case),  the  alarm  or  ^^ click,"  but 
any  of  these  features  can  be  utilized  singly,  or  all  of  them 
collectively  at  will.  Thus,  by  their  use,  the  reel  may  be 
transformed  progressively  into  a  multiplying,  click,  or  a 
free  running  reel  at  your  pleasure.  These  changes  are 
produced  by  sliding  disks  on  the  side  of  the  reel  and  do  not 
complicate  its  operation.  Pinions  and  pivots  are  of  tool 
steel  carefully  tempered  and  fitted  with  greatest  accuracy. 
No  castings  are  used  in  this  reel;  nothing  but  wrought  met- 
als. Plates,  caps,  handles,  etc.,  are  all  cut  from  hard-roll- 
ed sheet  metals.  The  reels  are  still  made  by  hand,  with  pains- 
taking care,  now,  as  always  since  the  industry  was  start- 
ed about  eighty  years  ago,  and  they  are  made  in  the  same 
jittle  Main  street  shop  in  the  city  of  Frankfort,  which 
IS  located  on  the  Kentucky  river,  near  the  Elkhorn  junc- 
tion, both  streams  long  noted  for  the  black  bass  found 
therein. 

Interesting  History: 

Judge  Shackelford  Miller,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  rendered 
an  opinion  in  the  suit  of  B.  C.  Milam  &  Son,  asking  for  an 


28  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

injunction  to  prevent  the  corporation,  ^^B.  F.  Meek  & 
Sons  (J.  H.  Sutcliffe  and  others),"  from  using  the  words 
'^Frankfort/'  ^^ Kentucky"  or  either  of  said  words  in  de- 
scribing a  fishing  reel,  and,  further,  that  the  defendant  be 
compelled  to  disclose  profits  and  that  plaintiffs  be  given 
judgment  for  all  profits  made  by  defendant  on  reels 
so  manufactured  and  sold.  Judge  Miller  granted  the  relief 
sought.  The  facts  as  brought  out  in  the  case  will  prove  of 
interest  to  fishermen,  as  they  show  a  concise  history  of  this 
famous  reel  and  give  credit  to  the  real  institutors  of  this 
commodity.  The  product  put  out  by  Meek  today  may  be 
all  that  is  claimed  for  it,  but  the  angler  must  bear  in  mind, 
after  reading  the  following  facts  brought  out  in  the  trial, 
that  Milam  and  not  Meek  invented  the  reel,  and  should  be 
given  credit  accordingly: 

The  evidence  shows  that  crude  reels  were  made  in 
Kentucky  before  1830  (investigation  has  shown  that  as 
early  as  1810  a  reel  was  made  in  Paris,  Ky.)  Mr.  Theo- 
dore Noel,  a  watchmaker,  made  a  reel  in  Frankfort  about 
1830.  B.  0.  Milam  was  an  apprentice  under  Mr.  Noel's 
brother.  Noel  quitting  the  business,  Milam  went  to  work 
with  Jonathan  Meek.  Not  liking  watchmaking,  he  (Mi- 
lam) took  up  the  reel  business  and  developed  the  multiply- 
ing reel  to  its  present  state  of  perfection.  He  has  devoted 
his  whole  life  to  it.  For  over  sixty  years  he  did  nothing 
else.  The  first  reels  he  produced  were  stamped:  **J.  F. 
&  B.  F.  Meek,"  then  ^'Meek  &  Milam"  then  ^^The  Frank- 
fort, Kentucky  Reel,  B.  C.  Milam  &  Son."  By  constant  ap- 
plication he  has  built  up  a  great  reputation  for  his  reel, 
built  it  under  different  names,  but  the  same  reel  all  the 
time.  At  last  he  was  forced  to  go  to  the  courts  to  ask 
protection  for  what  he  had  been  so  many  years  honestly 
acquiring,  and  the  courts  sustained  him. 

In  1835,  Jonathan  F.  Meek  moved  to  Frankfort  from 
Danville,  Ky.,  and  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business.  His 
youiUger  brother,  B.  F.  Meek,  and  B.  C.  Milam  went  to  work 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  29 

as  apprentices.  In  1839  he  and  his  brother  formed  a  part- 
nership under  the  firm  name  of  J.  F.  and  B.  F.  Meek,  B.  C. 
Milam  still  being  associated  with  them.  A  few  reels  were 
made  between  this  time  and  1848,  when  B.  C.  Milam  was 
taken  into  the  firm,  and  the  name  became  J.  F.  Meek  and 
Company,  B.  C.  Milam  being  the  company  and  doing  the 
work  on  the  reels  and  stamping  them  "J.  F.  &  B.  F.  Meek." 
as  before.  In  1852  this  firm  failed  and  Jonathan  F.  Meek 
moved  to  Louisville,  where  he  worked  until  his  death  at  his 
trade,  watchmaking,  for  Wm.  Kendrick. 

January  1, 1853,  B.  F.  Meek  and  B.  C.  Milam  formed  a 
new  firha  under  the  name  of  Meek  and  Milam,  to  continue 
the  business  of  jewelers  and  reel  making  at  the  old  stand 
on  Main  Street.  B.  F.  Meek  attended  entirely  to  watch- 
making and  jewelry  on  the  lower  floor  and  B.  C.  Milam  had 
entire  charge  of  and  did  all  the  reel  work  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  same  house.  The  partnership  agreement  was 
in  writing,  and  shows  that  upon  dissolution  Meek  was  to 
have  the  watchmaking  tools  and  Milam  was  to  own  the 
reel-making  outfit.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  in 
1885  by  mutual  agreement,  and,  according  to  contract. 
Meek  took  the  watchmaking  business  and  Milam  took 
the  reel  making,  both  remaining  in  the  old  stand 
on  Main  street,  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Meek  on  the  lower  floor 
and  Milam  on  the  upper  floor.  During  this  partnership 
Milam  stamped  the  reels  '^Meek  and  Milam"  and  after  the 
separation  he  continued  to  stamp  them  ^^Meek  and  Milam/' 
although  Meek  had  no  interest  in  the  reel  business,  and  so 
stamped  them  from  1853  until  about  1880,  twenty-seven 
years.  During  this  long  period  the  reel  kno^n  as  the 
''Meek  &  Milam"  reel,  and  made  exclusively  by  B.  C.  Mi- 
lam, had  become  famous,  not  only  throughout  the  United 
States,  but  was  known  to  the  anglers  of  Europe. 

In  1882  B.  F.  Meek  moved  to  Louisville  and  began  to 
make  a  reel. 

In/ 1898  B.  F.  Meek,  having  sold  out  to  J.  H.  Sutcliffe 


30  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

and  others,  who  formed  a  corporation  to  continue  the  man- 
ufacture of  reels,  returned  to  Frankfort,  where  he  lived  un- 
til his  death. 

.To  quote  Judge  Shackelford  Miller,  further: 

^'The  plaintiffs,  B.  C.  Milam  &  Son,  now  complain  that 
the  defendant  corporation,  ^B.  F.  Meek  &  Sons,'  with  the 
design  and  purpose  to  get  plaintiff's  trade  and  to  deceive 
the  public,  is  now  and  has  since  its  purchase  from  Ben  F. 
Meek  in  1898,  been  manufacturing  reels  in  Louisville 
which  it  puts  on  the  market  advertised  as  the  original 
'Frankfort,  Kentucky  Eeel,'  by  reason  whereof,  it  is  claim- 
ed, the  public  are  deceived  into  buying  defendant's  reels 
as  the  reels  of  the  plaintiff's  make. 

''No  one  of  the  Meeks  is  interested  in  or  employed  by 
the  defendant  corporation,  "B.  F.  Meek  &  Sons." 

"Prior  to  1882  the 'Meek  &  Milam  Reel,'  made  in 
Frankfort  by  B.  C.  Milam,  had  become  generally  known  in 
Kentucky  as  the  'Frankfort  Reel,'  and  outside  of  the  State 
as  the  'Kentucky  Reel,'  or  the  'Frankfort,  Kentucky 
Reel'  and  was  so  advertised  by  Milam  in  1882,  and  was  so 
stamped  by  him  in  1896.  The  descriptive  term  or  phrase, 
'Frankfort,  Kentucky,  Reel'  was  first  used  by  Milam, 
Furthermore,  B.  F.  Meek  was  never  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  fishing  reels  in  Frankfort  after  1855,  while  Mi- 
lam had  been  continuously  in  that  business  at  the  old 
stand,  318  Main  Street,  in  Frankfort,  from  1848  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years.  Under  this 
state  of  facts,  Avill  the  defendant  be  allowed  to  use  the  de- 
scriptive words,  'Frankfort,  Kentucky,'  in  describing  its 
reels  ? 

"The  plaintiff's  reels  have  become  famous  during  a 
period  of  nearly  fifty  years  of  exclusive  manufacture  at 
Frankfort,  Kentucky — in  fact,  they  became  so  popular  as 
to  be  generally  know^n  and  subsequently  advertised  as  the 
'Frankfort,  Kentucky  Reel!'  To  allow  the  defendant 
corporation  to  reap  the  benefit  of  the  plaintiff's  long  and 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  31 

honorable  course  in  business  by  indirectly  naming  or  call- 
ing its  reel,  made  in  Louisville,  as  the  ^Frankfort  Reel/ 
or  the  *  Frankfort,  Kentucky  Reel' — something  that  Ben 
F.  Meek,  its  assignor,  never  attempted  or  claimed 
— would  be  in  violation  of  the  broad  and  equitable  rule  of 
fair  trade  laid  down  in  the  many  authorities  above  cited. 

^^I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  plaintiffs  are  entitled  to 
the  relief  they  ask. 

^^SHACKELFORD  MILLER,  Judge." 

B.  C.  Milam's  son  (John  W.  Milam)  still  conducts  the 
business  at  the  old  stand  under  the  old  firm  name  (B.  C. 
Milam  &  Son),  he  having  been  taught  to  make  these  reels 
by  his  father,  beginning  his  life  work  in  the  old  shop  at 
318  Main  street  in  1877,  since  which  time  he  has  made 
enough  reels  to  become  a  veteran  himself  and  a  worthy 
successor  to  his  famous  father,  whose  name  had  for  so  long 
been  familiar  to  myriads  of  anglers  in  this  and  more  dis- 
tant lands. 

In  the  accompanying  illustrations,  which  are  repro- 
ductions from  photographs  made  in  the  old  shop  at  Frank- 
fort from  which  so  many  superb  reels  have  been  sent  out 
broadcast  to  anglers  everywhere,  it  will  be  noted  that  there 
is  a  marked  absence  of  machinery  and  what  is  used  is  of  the 
simplest  designs.  But  no  explanation  of  this  seems  neces- 
sary further  than  to  say  that  ^^ Milam"  reels  are  hand-made; 
hence  there  is  nothing  old-fashioned  or  any  obsolete  uten- 
sils in  the  factory,  which  makes  no  pretensions  of  turning 
out  reels  rapidly  and  in  large  numbers  by  machinery.  Just 
the  reverse  method  is  applied  and  each  reel  represents  so 
much  time,  care  and  skill  under  deft  fingers  trained  by  a 
lifetime  devoted  to  the  business,  as  well  as  watchful  eyes, 
that  one  who  has  been  fortunate  enough  to  w^itness  the  mak- 
ing of  a  reel  can  only  marvel  that  it  can  be  made  at  a  prof- 
it though  the  selling  price  is  high,  as  prices  are  reckoned 
today.    But  one  has  only  to  be  shown    a  reel  made  a  half 


32 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 


33 


century  ago  in  this  old  shop  and  still  in  perfect  working 
order  to  understand  that  neither  age  nor  usage  can  destroy 
these  superb  reels — the  products  of  the  Milams. 

In  the  first  illustration  will  be  seen  the  material  from 
which  Milam  reels  are  made — German  silver  sheet  and  rod 


made  for  this  concern  and  solid,  so  that  the  reels  are  alike 
all  the  way  through  and  neither  require  or  receive  any 
nickel  or  other  plating.  This  metal,  according  to  our 
friend,  Jno.  W.  Milam,  is  so  hard  that  a  sheet  of  it  would 


34  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

make  a  very  excellent  saw  if  teeth  were  cut  in  the  edge. 
All  parts  of  the  reel  are  either  cut  from  the  sheet  or  the  rod 
German  silver,  and  after  being  buffed  are  as  handsome  as 
the  finest  watch,  with  which  they  will  also  bear  compari- 
son for  adjustment.  Each  steel  part  that  goes  into  these 
reels,  when  it  reaches  that  stage,  is  carefully  tempered  and 
separately  in  the  manner  indicated  in  the  second  picture. 

No.  3  shows  the  next  step — the  manner  in  which  the 
steel  pivots  and  pinions  are  tested.  These  are  the  ends  on 
which  the  strain  comes  and  they  must  be  of  material  to* 
withstand  the  hard  blows  of  the  hammer  or  be  rejected. 

The  fourth  illustration  shows  the  manner  in  which  the 
reels  are  made  ready  for  assemblage.  After  all  the  parts  are 
gotten  out  six  complete  sets  are  selected  and  placed  in  read- 
iness for  that  part  of  the  work  which  so  few  men  can  do 
well,  assembling.  This  is  the  most  particular  part  of  reel 
making,  for  no  matter  how  excellent  the  individual  parts 
if  they  are  not  properly  adjusted  and  put  together  the 
reel  will  not  be  a  success.  Therefore  he  who  assembles  the 
reel  must  be  an  expert,  which  are  only  produced  by  long 
experience  and  careful  training. 

Illustration  No.  5  hardly  needs  comment.  It,  too, 
was  made  in  the  old  Milam  Shop.  The  reel  that  is  being 
examined  so  carefully  by  the  angler  is  one  that  had  been  in 
use  for  60  years  and  still  in  perfect  working  order.  Think 
of  it — sixty  years — longer  than  the  average  angler  lives, 
although,  if  any  human  being  is  entitled  to  long  life  it  is 
the  angler,  the  sport  being  conducive  to  longevity  beyond 
the  average  span  allotted  to  man. 

The  6th  illustration  shows  a  comer  in  the  office  of  B. 
C.  Milam  &  Son,  and  three  diplomas  given  with  medals  of 
first  awards  at  three  of  the  great  international  exhibi- 
tions. The  framed  diploma  at  the  left  was  awarded  the 
firm  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  Chicago,  1894. 
The  central  diploma  was  given  with  a  gold  medal  at  the 
International  Fisheries  Exposition  held  in  Bergen,  Nor- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  35 

way,  in  1898,  while  the  one  shown  on  the  right  is  the  diplo- 
ma won  at  the  Paris  Exposition  in  1900. 

I  know  from  experience  the  great  love  that  attaches 
the  angler  to  his  favorite  reel.  He  will  not  part  with  it 
for  anything,  so  great  is  his  attachment  to  it,  growing  as 
the  reel  does  in  favor  with  him  with  each  succeeding  year  of 
its  use.  Finally,  it  becomes  a  veritable  heirloom,  to  be  hand- 
ed down  to  the  next  generation  as  a  precious  gift,  to  be 
treasured  by  his  offspring  as  few^  things  earthly  may  be 
treasured.  If  the  reel  possesses  all  the  good  points  desired 
by  the  angler,  he  ceases  to  look  for  something  new  from 
time  to  time  that  will  be  better.  He  is  quite  satisfied.  The 
idea  that  other  reels  may  surpass  it  in  any  respect  is  to 
him  the  height  of  absurdity,  and  he  would  not  exchange  it 
for  a  new  and  higher  grade  reel  of  the  same  make,  lest  it 
should  be  found  lacking  in  some  important  respect.  Hence 
it  is  that  reels  should  be  built  up  to  the  Milam  standard, 
even  tho'  the  maker  forfeits  the  chance  for  a  second  sale 
to  the  same  customer  for  a  good  half  century.  A  reel  that 
is  clung  to  and  treasured  by  an  angler  for  fifty  years,  or 
even  for  half  that  time,  is  a  very  effective  advertisement  for 
the  factory  from  which  it  came;  the  missionary  work  that 
it  performs  is  worth  the  profits  from  a  dozen  sales,  and 
probably  brings  the  maker  thrice  that  many.  Even  if  com- 
mon honesty  did  not  dictate  the  use  of  the  very  best  avail- 
able material  and  the  most  perfect  workmanship,  this 
course  is  prompted  by  business  policy.  The  appearance  of 
goods  may  attract  customers,  but  it  takes  quality  to  hold 
them. 

The  ** Milam"  reel  itself  has  been  its  best  advertise- 
ment and  continues  so  today,  as  thousands  of  anglers  will 
aver.  If  the  Milam  people  used  the  same  effective  ad- 
vertising policy  as  do  their  competitors,  no  doubt  the 
*^ Milam  reel"  and  not  the  *'Meek  reel"  would  today  stand 
out  pre-eminently  in  this  line. 


36  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

Points  in  Choosing  a  Canoe: 

Over  haste  in  buying  a  boat  is  pretty  sure  to  bring  re- 
gret. The  prospective  purchaser  should  know  where  he  is 
going  and  what  he  is  going  to  carry.  Some  sportsmen,  who 
carefully  consider  every  other  detail  of  equipment,  seem 
to  figure  that  a  ^^ canoe  is  a  canoe,"  and  let  it  go  at  that. 

Mr.  L.  E.  Eubanks,  a  specialist  on  this  subject,  writing 
in  the  Sportsmen 's  Review,  says : 

^^The  birch  bark,  because  it  is  the  original  Indian 
craft,  is  commonly  regarded  as  the  best  canoe.  But  this  is 
not  true;  the  birch  has  many  excellent  qualities,  the  chief 
being  its  unequaled  ability  to  weather  a  gale ;  but  it  is  slow- 
er than  a  wooden  or  a  canvas  canoe.  A  new  birch  bark  is 
very  satisfactory,  but  as  it  is  used  it  gets  a  bit  loggy  from 
soaking,  and  springs  leaks  easily.  Also,  it  warps  and 
twists — you  seldom  see  a  straight  birch.  If  you  decide  to 
buy  one  of  these  canoes,  try  to  procure  one  that  an  Indian 
has  made  for  himself;  the  ordered  one  may  prove  a  disap- 
pointment, bark  full  of  tiny  holes,  and  sewed  with  inferior 
stuff  instead  of  jackpine  or  cedar  roots.  But  the  Indian- 
made  craft  will  always  be  too  high  at  bow  and  stem;  it  is 
fine  for  running  rapids,  but  a  poor  all  round  boat. 

^^The  wooden  canoe,  the  favorite  in  Canada,  is  smart 
in  appearance  and  satisfactory  for  most  ordinary  purposes, 
while  it  is  new.  Like  the  birch,  it  absorbs  water  and  be- 
comes frightfully  heavy  for  a  portage.  Of  the  two  woods 
generally  used,  cedar  and  basswood,  the  latter  is  the 
tougher,  but  it  more  than  loses  this  advantage  by  its  over- 
susceptibility  to  heat.  It  must  be  left  in  water  all  the  time; 
exposure  on  a  sunny  shore  will  open  it  up  and  unfit  it  for 
use.  The  typical  Canadian  wooden  canoe  is  built  without 
seats,  the  paddler  resting  hips  on  the  thwart,  but  the 
makers  wdll  put  in  a  seat  if  so  desired. 

**The  canvas  canoe  is  the  master  craft  in  the  paddle 
breed.     It  has  iho  grace  of  a  birch  without  the  weight,  the 


I 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  37 

smartness  of  a  wooden  canoe  without  the  latter 's  extreme 
rigidity.  The  canvas  canoe  is  a  thing  of  life,  pliant  yet 
strong,  buoyant,  yet  stable.  It  has  most  of  the  virtues  of 
the  other  two,  plus  distinctive  ones  of  its  own;  it  is  decided- 
ly faster,  being  of  the  general  model  of  the  birch  but  with  a 
smooth  surface  instead  of  rough  bark  to  glide  through  the 
water.  Secondly,  it  is  delightfully  light  for  portaging. 
Thirdly,  it  is  easily  and  dependably  mended  when  it  suf- 
fers a  tear.  It  will  cost  you  more  than  a  birch  bought  from 
an  Indian,  but  less  than  any  of  the  rib  canoes. 

'^Whatever  material  you  prefer,  there  are  other  con- 
siderations ;  you  would  not  attempt  to  carry  a  ton  in  a  lit- 
tle 13-foot  canoe  built  for  one  man  and  his  pack.  You 
would  require  for  this  a  freighter  weighing  four  times  as 
much  as  the  little  boat  and  some  twenty  feet  long.  Canoes 
weigh  all  the  way  from  50  pounds  and  less  to  200  pounds; 
and  sometimes  two  canoes  of  the  same  size  will  differ  sur- 
prisingly in  weight.  Between  these  extremes,  a  man 
can  get  nearly  anything  he  wants,  and  it  pays  to  insist  on 
suitability  of  your  boat  to  the  prospective  use.  For  three 
men  and  equipment  to  start  out  on  a  rough  lake  voyage  in 
a  14  or  even  a  15-foot  canoe  is  apt  to  end  in  disappointment, 
if  not  disaster.  Their  craft  ought  to  be  18  feet  long,  36  in- 
ches wide  and  13  inches  deep.  Two  men  could  use  a  17- 
foot  canoe  and  yet  have  good  capacity  by  selecting  one  with 
good  width  and  depth,  but  as  a  rule  three  men  require  a 
Jong  boat  for  satisfactory  paddling. 

f  '^^  Sixteen  feet  is  a  good  all-purpose  length  for  a  canoe. 
The  width  may  be  from  31  to  36  inches,  depending  on  the 
degree  of  stability  required  in  its  use;  the  corresponding 
depth  from  11  to  14  inches. 

I  ^^  Shape  is  another  vital  factor.  Even  the  uninitiated 
can  readily  understand  that  a  flat-bottomed  canoe  has  more 
stability  in  the  water.  And  it  is  equally  obvious  that, 
ordinarily,  it  would  be  slower.  What  the  ^^ will-be"  sea- 
man does  not  always  know  is  the  important  part  played  by 


38  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

the  load  in  this  comparison.  Even  some  men  of  experience 
use  a  round-bottomed  boat,  in  spite  of  their  intention  to 
load  heavily,  rather  than  sacrifice  speed.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  loading  up  a  flat  bottomed  canoe  brings  out  its  vir- 
tues— and  speed. 

^^You  can't  have  all  the  good  qualities  of  canoes  in  one 
boat,  and  it  requires  careful  consideration  to  determine  the 
best  combination — just  how  much  speed  you  want  to  sac- 
rifice for  stability  and  capacity,  just  how  much  style  for 
service,  etc.  The  best  river  canoe  will  not  be  as  good  on  a 
lake,  and  vice  versa.  But  if  you  are  headed  for  the  North, 
the  Hudson  Bay  country,  say,  you  must  have  an  all-round 
boat,  not  the  best  for  any  one  place,  but  able  to  navigate 
rivers  and  lakes,  fairly  easy  of  portage,  fairly  swift,  yet 
capacious  enough  for  several  months'  stores.  Such  an  all- 
purpose  canoe  must  not  be  too  long  nor  too  short,  we  will 
select  a  16-f ooter.  The  ends  must  be  high  enough  for  run- 
ning rapids,  so  the  current  does  not  grip  them;  yet  low 
enough  to  give  us  enough  'Svet  keel"  for  safety  on  wind- 
swept lakes.  (You'll  encounter  every  old  style  of  going  in 
the  North  Country.)  An  experienced  canoeman  on  this  trip 
usually  leans  a  bit  to  the  straight  keel,  depending  on  his 
skill  to  get  through  the  fast  water.  This  boat,  35  or  36 
inches  wide  and  14  inches  deep,  if  well  made,  will  weigh  70 
pounds  and  be  heavy  enough  on  some  of  the  long  portages, 
but  you  won't  dare  take  anything  much  lighter  for  such  a 
voyage. 

^^Not  all  canoeists  contemplate  a  long  rough  trip.  The 
sport  is  a  winner  in  all  its  forms,  and  the  man — or  woman 
— ^who  must  be  content  with  a  paddle  in  the  placid  park 
lake  will  have  a  lot  of  pleasure  at  that.  For  such  a  pur- 
pose we  select  a  rather  showy  canoe,  brilliant  coat  and  gun- 
wales, high,  gracefully  curved  ends,  Indian  style.  Need- 
ing no  capacity  for  supplies  and  no  particular  stability, 
we  can  have  a  narrow,  tapering  boat  that  will  cut  through 
the  water  with  great  speed.     Assuming  that  it  will  be  used 


40  THE  anglebr  and  huntsmax 

by  two  persons  most  of  the  time,  it  should  be  about  1(S 
feet  long.  A  width  of  31  inches,  a  depth  of  10  or  11  inches, 
and  a  rounded  bottom  will  make  the  craft  very  light  and 
easily  paddled. 

'^Canoes  are  alike  in  one  thing,  they  all  require  care. 
Bepair  even  a  slight  injury  promptly;  neglect  permits  it  to 
grow  worse,  and  you  can  not  tell  when  an  extra  strain  on 
the  craft  will  cause  an  apparently  trivial  weakness  to 
prove  serious.  In  the  case  of  canvas  canoes,  there  is  no 
excuse  for  neglect;  adequate  repair  outfits  are  procurable 
from  the  manufacturers,  and  the  work  is  very  simple. 
Quoting  an  authority  on  the  ^wounds'  of  canvas  canoes: 

"'  ^Melt  the  (canoe)  glue  until  it  is  about  the  consistency 
of  thick  paint.  Turn  back  the  edges  of  the  cut  and  paint 
the  glue  on  the  wood  about  an  inch  back  all  around  the  cut, 
then  lay  the  canvas  back  over  the  glue  and  iron  with  a  hot 
flat-iron.  If  the  edges  are  badly  frayed  or  far  apart,  and 
if  it  is  a  bad  tear,  paint  on  another  coat  of  glue  and  lay  over 
this  a  piece  of  canvas,  cotton  or  silk  about  an  inch  larger 
than  the  tear,  then  iron  again  with  a  hot  flat-iron.  After 
this  is  done  give  it  a  heavy  coat  of  shellac  and  paint  any  de- 
sired color.' 

^^But  if  a  canoe  is  to  be  much  left  in  the  sun,  marine 
glue  will  not  do  as  a  finish;  it  melts  too  readily.  All  consid- 
ered, white  lead  paste  is  the  best  thing.  Rub  this  well 
in  and  put  on  your  varnish,  and  the  wound  is  0.  K. 

*^  About  as  many  canoes  are  injured  in  the  housing  as 
in  use.  Leaving  a  delicate,  perhaps,  expensive  canoe  on  a 
boathouse  floor  among  scores  of  others,  to  be  kicked  and 
jammed  about  every  day,  or  turning  it  over  on  the  beach 
to  stay  indefinitely,  is  poor  business.  The  be^t  course  is 
to  elevate  it  into  the  roof  of  some  shed  or  parage.  Canvas 
bands  of  double  thickness  make  good  slings." 

As  pointed  out  in  the  practical  suggestions  given 
above,  i^,*?^?  very  wise  policy  when  selecting  a  canoe  to  se- 
lect one  tnat  meets  your  own  individual  requirements.  This 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  41 

is  governed  by  whether  you  desire  a  boat  for  an  extended 
water  trip,  or  merely  one  to  use  but  a  little  in  waters  near 
at  hand. 

There  is  on  the  market  anything  to  be  had  in  this  line 
from  a  birch  to  folding,  telescopic,  canvas  and  all  the  way  up 
to  steel,  not  to  mention  w^ood  and  the  more  modem  alu- 
minum. 

In  picking  a  canoe  for  a  long  trip  one  should  remem- 
ber there  is  not  only  the  canoe  to  wearily  drag  from  one 
portage  to  another,  but  the  ^'duffle"  must  go  as  well.    So, 


•THE   EVENRUDE   MOTOR." 


better  get  one  as  light  as  is  consistent  with  your  absolute 
requirements.  Some  anglers,  and  some  waterfowl  hunt- 
ers, hold  the  canoe  or  boat  of  some  shape  as  indispensable 
to  the  pursuit  of  the  fish  and  the  waterfowl,  respectively. 
Indeed  it  does  add  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  to  the  already  ex- 
iiilirating  sports  (I  mean  both  fishing  and  waterfowl  shoot- 
ing), and  canoeing  has  every  right  to  its  lofty  place  in  our 
literature  and  in  our  hearts. 

A  fairly  good  boat  can  be  purchased  for  about  $15,  a 
better  one  for  $25  and  an  extra  good  one  for  from  $25  to 
$50.  For  a  long  trip,  you  will  need  the  best  quality,  and,  in 
most  cases,  it  pays  to  buy  the  best  for  any  useJ  This  rule 
not  only  applies  to  canoes,  but  to  everything  ^^  It  takes 
money  to  obtain  quality,  and  quality  is  what  ^unts. 


42  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

The  Evinrude  Detachable  Motor  is  a  great  boon  to  the 
angler  and  the  hunter.  It  is  easily  adjusted,  is  portable, 
and  is  indispensable  to  the  outdoorsman  in  every  particu- 
lar. It  enjoys  a  fame  that  it  richly  deserves,  and  I  hearti- 
ly recommend  its  use  by  all  anglers  and  hunters. 

The  Fisherman  and  The  Outdoor  Motor: 

To  the  disciples  of  Izaak  Walton,  the  Evinrude  makes 
a  mighty  appeal.  The  long  trip  up  to  the  ^* holes"  where 
the  *^big  fellows"  lurk,  among  the  weeds  and  grasses,  is 
turned  into  an  enjoyable  ride,  and  what's  more,  you  can 
troll  all  the  way  if  you  like. 

When  the  wind  or  the  shadow^s  shift  and  the  lure  no 
longer  tempts,  give  the  fly-wheel  a  pull,  ^^mote"  over  to 
the  other  side  of  the  island,  or  across  the  lake,  and  try  your 
luck  at  another  spot.  Plow  right  through  the  weeds  or 
shallows,  if  you  want  to — the  Evinrude  is  built  for  it.  With 
the  '^cut-out"  closed,  there's  no  chance  of  scaring  the  fish, 
or  disturbing  your  fellow  fishermen. 

If  you  find  the  lake  ^'fished  out,"  the  water  roily  or  too 
high,  take  your  Evinrude — it's  portable,  you  know — and 
try  another  lake  or  stream.  Thousands  of  city  sportsmen 
ship  their  Evinrudes  to  the  Northern  woods  and  fish  the 
lakes  for  miles  around  the  camp. 

If  you  have  ever  pulled  at  the  oars  in  the  gray  dawn, 
before  the  warmth  of  Old  Sol  has  dispelled  the  damp  mists, 
or  with  darkness  coming  on,  labored  painfully  homeward, 
fighting  a  head  wind,  you  have  felt  the  need  of  an  Evinrude 
— the  motor  that  lengthens  the  day. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  VARIOUS  MEMBERS  OF  THE 
FINNY  TRIBE: 

The  Salmons  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  Mr.  John  J.  Brice,  United 
States  Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries,  and  others,  for 


THE  ANGLEE  AND   HUNTSMAN  43 

the  following  data  concerning  the  various  important  game 
fishes. 

On  the  Pacific  Coast  are  found  five  species  of  salmon 
belonging  to  the  genus  Oncorhynchus,  namely,  the  Chinook 
or  quinnat  salmon,  the  Red  or  Blue-back  salmon,  the 
Humpback  salmon,  the  Silver  salmon,  and  the  Dog  salmon. 
The  Pacific  salmon  differ  very  slightly  from  the  Atlantic 
salmon,  the  former  possessing  a  larger  number  of  rays  in 
the  anal  fin,  and  more  branchiostegals,  gillrakers,  and  py- 
loric coeca. 

The  Quinnat  Salmon: 

The  scientific  name  is  Oncorhynchus  tschawytscha,  be- 
ing commonly  called  by  several  other  names,  including 
Chinook  salmon,  king  salmon,  Columbia  salmon,  Sacramen- 
to salmon,  tyee  salmon,  and  saw-qui.  This  is  by  far  the 
most  important  of  all  the  salmons,  being  not  only  superior 
as  to  food  qualities,  but  attains  a  greater  size,  has  a  wider 
distribution,  and  thus  has  greater  commercial  value  than 
all  others.  In  size  there  is  no  other  salmon  in  all  the  world 
to  compare  with  it.  In  the  Yukon  River  of  Alaska  It 
reaches  a  weight  of  well  over  100  pounds,  and  in  the  Colum- 
bia River  it  sometimes  attains  a  growth  of  80  pounds.  To 
the  southward,  it  gets  smaller;  however,  in  the  Sacramento 
river  specimens  of  50  to  60  pounds  have  been  taken.  The 
average  weight  is  about  half  the  figures  cited  above.  It 
ranges  from  Monterey  Bay  to  the  Yukon,  as  far  as  experts 
have  been  able  to  determine. 

The  Blueback  Salmon: 

The  blueback  salmon  (Oncorhynchus  nerka)  is  called 
in  different  parts  of  its  range  as  blueback,  redfish,  red  sal- 
mon. Eraser  River  salmon,  and  sock  eye  or  saw-qui.  This 
fish  is  next  to  the  smallest  of  all  the  salmons,  the  maximum 
weight  being  about  fifteen  pounds,  the  average  5  pounds. 


44  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

In  many  lakes  it  weighs  only  a  half  pound  when  mature, 
and  is  known  as  the  little  redfish. 

The  Humpback  Salmon: 

This  salmon  (Oncorhynchus  gorbuscha)  is  the  smallest 
of  the  Pacific  salmons;  average  weight  being  only  5 
pounds,  rarely  weighing  as  much  as  10  pounds.  It  ranges 
from  San  Francisco  probably  as  far  north  as  the  Mackenzie 
River. 

The  Silver  Salmon: 

The  Silver  salmon  (Oncorhynchus  kisutch)  is  various- 
ly called  silver  salmon,  silversides,  skowitz,  kisutch,  hoopid 
salmon,  and  coho  salmon.  It  is  a  beautiful  fish,  having  a 
very  graceful  form  and  a  bright  silvery  skin. 

The  Dog  Salmon: 

This  is  the  least  valuable  of  the  Pacific  salmons,  al- 
though it  is  dried  by  the  natives  of  Alaska  for  winter  use. 
Its  average  weight  is  twelve  pounds,  the  maximum  being 
about  20  pounds.  The  range  of  this  fish  is  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, to  Kamchatka,  and  it  is  especiallv  abundant  in  Alas- 
ka. 

The  Steelhead: 

This  salmon  (Salmo  gairdneri)  is  also  known  as  Gaird- 
ner's  trout,  hardhead,  winter  salmon,  square-tailed  trout, 
and  salmon  trout.  In  general  appearance  and  size  it  re- 
sembles the  salmon  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  being  distinguish- 
ed from  other  Pacific  coast  salmon  by  its  square  tail  in  the 
spawning  season,  the  small  head,  round  snout,  compara- 
tively slender  form,  its  light-colored  flesh,  and  its  habit  of 
spawning  in  the  spring.  Its  average  weight  in  the  Colum- 
bia is  about  10  pounds,  but  it  sometimes  reaches  a  weight 
of  30  pounds. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  45 

Its  range  reaches  from  Santa  Barbara  on  the  southern 
coast  of  California  to  the  Alaskan  Peninsula,  and  possibly 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  it  is  found  in  practically  all  of  the 
streams  of  the  Pacific  Coast  States  which  empty  into  the 
ocean. 

SALMON  FISHING: 

If  you  hanker  after  thrills,  hie  yourself  to  the  salmon 
waters.  This  is  a  most  reckles  warrior,  is  the  salmon,  and 
sure  to  give  you  a  run  for  your  money. 

A  rod  of  14  feet  is  the  longest  you  should  get,  and  even 
an  eleven  foot  rod  will  be  found  long  enough  for  the  care- 
ful handler,  except  in  very  swift  water. 

In  the  matter  of  flies,  Jock  Scott,  Fairies,  or  Silver 
Doctor  are  three  good  patterns,  while  there  are  many  oth- 
ers perhaps  equally  as  good.  Black  Dose  and  Durham 
Ranger  are  also  excellent  flies  for  salmon  fishing. 

The  Atlantic  Salmon: 

This  fish  (Salmo  salar)  is  moderately  elongate  and  but 
slightly  compressed  in  shape;  the  greatest  depth  being 
about  one-fourth  the  total  length  minus  the  caudal  fin. 

Its  range,  originally,  in  America  seems  to  have  been 
from  Labrador  or  Hudson  Bay  on  the  north  to  the  vicinity 
of  New  York  on  the  south,  but  in  many  of  the  lakes  and  riv- 
ers which  they  entered,  the  species  has  been  well-nigh  ex- 
terminated by  civilized  man,  and  in  the  remaining  inland 
parts  of  its  range  its  numbers  are  apparently  greatly  de- 
creased. 

In  certain  lakes  of  Maine  and  northward  the  Atlantic 
Salmon  is  completely  landlocked,  and  has  somewhat  differ- 
ent habits  and  coloration,  but  no  distinct  specific  char- 
acteristics. 

The  angler  will  find  this  species  a  game  fighter  wortliy 
his  best  equipment  and  best  efforts.  Newfoundland  is 
said  to  be  the  best  salmon  fishing  region  extant  in  the  east. 


46  THE   ANGLEK   AND   HUNTSMAN 

The  Landlocked  Salmon: 

This  is  only  a  variation  of  the  seagoing  form,  and  is 
found  in  Sebago  Lake  and  numerous  localities  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  and  Canada.  In  our  country  it  is  known  as  Sal- 
mo  salar  sebago,  while  in  Canada  it  is  called  scientifically 
Salmo  salar  ouananiche. 

As  far  as  is  known  to  science,  landlocked  salmon  exist 
only  in  some  of  the  lakes  in  Sweden,  besides  the  lakes  of 
eastern  North  America. 

This  salmon  is  smaller  and  slenderer  than  the  anad- 
romous  salmon,  but  the  flesh  is  fat  and  rich  and  has  a  very 
delicate  flavor,  being  held  in  high  esteem  for  its  food  qual- 
ities. 

In  game  qualities  it  is,  for  its  size,  the  equal  of  any  of 
the  larger  salmon,  and  it  affords  keen  sport  to  the  fly  fish- 
erman. It  is  much  sought  after,  and  ranks  in  public  fa- 
vor among  the  foremost  of  fresh  water  species.  For 
thrilling  action  we  reconunend  the  landlocked  salmon,  and, 
no  matter  how  much  it  costs  you  to  take  a  trip  to  its  haunts, 
we  believe  you  will  be  well  repaid. 

The  Rainbow  Trout: 

Salmo  irideus,  or  rainbow  trout  has  been  the  subject 
of  many  a  fishing  narrative,  and  right  well  does  it  deserve 
the  honor  and  attention  it  has  received  at  the  hands  of  the 
sporting  public,  for  it  is  one  of  the  grandest  of  all  our 
fishes. 

Its  original  habitat  was  the  Pacific  Coast  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  being  especially  abundant  in  the  mountain 
streams  of  California.  It  is  now  distributed  in  its  various 
forms  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  Ichthyologists  have 
recognized  the  following  forms:  The  brook  trout,  the  Mc- 
Cloud  river  trout,  the  Kern  river  trout,  the  nashee  or  nis- 
suee  trout,  the  golden  trout.  In  the  wide  section  of  the 
West  in  which  the  fish  abounds  it  has  various  names  in  the 


48  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

different  localities,  such  as  ^^red  sides/'  ^'mountain  trout/' 
^^ brook  trout",  and  ^^ golden  trout",  also  ''rainbow  trout," 
while  in  the  states  east  of  the  Mississippi  River  it  is  gen- 
erally known  as  ''rainbow  trout"  or  "California  trout." 

The  Brook  Trout: 

Salvelinus  fontinalis,  or  brook  trout  is  counted  among 
the  most  beautiful,  active,  and  widely  distributed  of  the 
American  trouts,  preferring  clear,  cold,  rapid  streams,  and 
belongs  to  that  group  of  trout  known  as  charrs,  but  it  may 
be  distinguished  from  the  other  charrs  by  the  dark-brown 
or  black  marblings  on  the  back  and  the  general  absence  of 
spots  on  the  back. 

The  brook  trout  is  highly  esteemed  for  its  table  quali- 
ties, having  a  fine  flavor.  This  trout  is  a  dead  game  fel- 
low and  consequently  is  much  sought  after  by  the  follow- 
ers of  Ike  Walton.  It  has  a  voracious  appetite  and  takes 
advantage  of  every  opportunity  to  satisfy  it  except 
during  the  spawning  season,  at  which  time  it  will  partake 
of  no  food  at  all.  Being  strictly  a  carnivorous  fish,  its  food 
consists  of  Crustacea,  moUusca,  and  various  forms  of  in- 
sects and  worms,  but  when  pressed  for  hunger  it  will  un- 
hesitatingly devour  its  own  kind. 

The  Lake  Trout: 

Crist ivomer  namaycush,  or  lake  trout  is  the  largest  of 
the  trouts  and  is  classed  with  the  charrs.  This  species  is 
found  throughout  the  chain  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  in  the 
inland  lakes  of  northern  Xew  York,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Maine;  the  headwaters  of  Columbia  and  Eraser  Rivers, 
streams  of  Vancouver  Island,  and  even  waters  Avithin  the 
Arctic  Circle.  Excepting  the  whitefishes,  it  is  possibly 
the  most  numerous  food-fish  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  for- 
merly none  exceeded  it  in  weight  except  the  sturgeon.  Some 
fishermen  cite  instances  of  lake  trout  weighing  as  much  as 


THE  ANGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN  49 

125  pounds,  but  the  average  weight  will  run  probably  from 
20  to  30  pounds,  perhaps  less. 

The  Whitefish: 

Coregonus  clupeiformis,  or  whitefish,  is  essentially  a 
lake  fish,  existing  throughout  the  Great  Lakes  region,  and 
being  especially  abundant  in  lakes  Erie,  Huron,  Michigan, 
and  Superior,  while  the  eastern  limit  of  its  range  is  Lake 
Champlain,  and  it  is  found  in  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  possi- 
bly farther  west. 

THE  BLACK  BASSES,  CRAPPIES,  AND  ROCK  BASS: 

These  fishes  are  members  of  the  family  known  as 
**Centrarchidae,"  or  fresh-water  sunfishes,  namely,  the 
large-mouth  black  bass  (Micropterus  salmoides),  the 
small-mouthed  black  bass  (Micropterus  dolomieu),  the 
rock  bass  (Ambloplites  rupestris),  the  crappie  (Pomoxis 
annularis),  and  the  calico  bass  (Poxomis  sparoides). 

Many  fishermen  find  it  hard  to  distinguish  between 
the  large-mouth  black  bass  and  the  small-mouth  black 
bass.  The  most  reliable  way  to  tell  one  from  the  other  is  by 
the  number  of  rows  of  scales  on  the  cheeks.  The  colors  of 
each  species  vary  with  age  and  the  size  of  the  mouth  varies 
with  the  size  of  the  fish,  but  the  scales  are  constant  under 
all  conditions.     The  following  table  will  guide  you: 

Large-mouth. 

Ten  rows  of  scales  on  the  cheeks;  body  scales  large, 
about  68  in  the  lateral  line,  7  above  and  16  below  the  line. 

Small-mouth. 

About  17  rows  of  small  scales  on  the  cheeks;  body 
scales  small,  11-74-17. 

The  large-mouth  black  bass  is  variously  known  as 
Oswego  bass,  lake  bass,  green  bass,  yellow  bass,  moss  bass, 


50  THE   ANGLER    AXD    HUNTSMAN 

bayou  bass,  trout,  jumper,  chub,  and  welchman.  In  the 
North  it  is  called  black  bass  generally,  and  in  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  it  is  usually  designated  as  the  chub,  while  in 
Florida  and  the  southern  states  it  is  frequently  called  trout. 

The  small-mouth  black  bass  has  been  given  in  various 
regions  the  names:  broAvn  bass,  lake  bass,  hog  bass,  ninny 
bass,  black  perch  (used  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia, 
Tennessee,  and  North  Carolina)  trout  perch,  brown  trout, 
jumper,  mountain  trout,  and  other  names  of  purely  local 
use. 

Rock  bass  are  known  in  different  parts  of  their  range 
as  red-eye,  red-eye  perch,  goggle-eye. 

The  calico  bass  has  been  given  the  names  of  strawber- 
ry bass,  grass  bass,  bitter-head,  barfish,  lamplighter,  gog- 
gle-eye, goggle-eye  perch,  speckled  perch,  and  speckled 
trout,  while  the  crappie  is  known  in  its  native  waters  as 
crappie,  new  light,  campbellite,  sac-a-lait,  bachelor,  crop- 
pie,  cropet,  and  chinquapin  perch. 

Eock  bass  have  a  habit  of  settling  down  in  dense,  com- 
pact masses,  like  a  swarm  of  bees,  and  when  once  the  ang- 
ler gets  a  rock  bass  to  creel  he  can  count  on  there  being 
plenty  others  in  the  same  spot.  This  fish  Avill  pugnacious- 
ly strike  at  the  lure,  and  apparently  take  the  hook  on  that 
account  more  than  from  a  desire  for  food. 

The  calico  bass  is  also  a  fairly  game  fighter,  and  will 
give  the  angler  many  a  sportful  moment. 

In  Kentucky,  the  black  bass  has  acquired  a  common 
name  which  perhaps  suits  it  better  than  any  other  applied 
to  it,  namely  ^^ jumper."  Both  the  large-mouth  and  the 
small-mouth  are  famous  for  their  jumping  ability,  to  which 
every  angler  can  testify.  Especially  are  they  active  and 
have  an  inclination  to  show  their  jumping  ability  when 
they  have  temperate  or  cool  water  for  a  habitat.  In  warm- 
er water  they  are  a  bit  sluggish,  but  the  black  bass  of  the 
colder  northern  waters  puts  up  a  fight  worthy  of  the 
salmon. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  51 

Large-mouth  bass  have  been  known  to  weigh  as  high 
as  23  pounds.  Not  infrequently,  we  are  told,  they  are  tak- 
en from  the  San  Marcos  River,  Texas,  weighing  12  to  15 
pounds,  while  six  and  eight  pound  bass  in  the  southern 
tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  and  in  the  inland  lakes  of 
Florida  excite  no  surprise. 

The  small-mouth  only  attains  a  weight  of  5  or  6  pounds 
at  a  maximum,  2  1-2  pounds  perhaps  exceeding  the  average 
size. 

Rock  bass  usually  weigh  only  from  a  half  pound  to 
three-quarters  of  a  pound,  but  some  attain  one  pound,  and 
exceptions  to  the  rule  weigh  as  high  as  3  pounds. 

The  crappie  and  the  strawberry  bass  will,  generally, 
not  exceed  one  pound  in  weight,  but  some  have  been 
caught  that  weighed  as  much  as  three  pounds. 

MISCELLANEOUS  FRESH  WATER  FISHES: 

In  addition  to  the  fresh-water  and  anadromous  fishes 
described  in  the  foregoing  pages,  there  are  a  number  of 
others,  including  some  species  which  have  been  introduced 
into  this  country  from  Europe. 

Minor  Trouts  and  the  Grayling: 

Salmo  mykiss,  or  black-spotted  trout  is  somewhat 
similar  to  the  European  sea  trout  or  salmon  trout  (Salmo 
trutta)  and  in  various  parts  of  its  range  possesses  the  same 
half-migratory  habits.  This  species  is  widely  distributed, 
quite  abundant  and  varies  greatly  in  color  and  structure. 
Its  range  extends  from  Alaska  to  Mexico,  being  abundant 
in  the  streams  of  the  Coast  Range,  Sierra  Nevada,  and 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  also  in  some  of  the  lakes  in  the  same 
regions.  It  attains  a  weight  of  30  poimds,  with  an  average 
much  less. 

Then  there  is  the  Lake  Tahoe  or  Truckee  trout  (Salmo 
mykiss  henshawi) ;  the  Colorado  River  trout  (Salmon  mykiss 


52  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

pleuriticus),  and  the  yellow-fin  trout  (Salmo  mykiss  mac- 
donaldi),  all  of  which  are  handsome  game  fishes  of  great 
food  value. 

The  Scotch  lake  trout,  or  Loch  Leven  trout  (Salmo 
trutta  levenensis),  and  the  European  brown  trout  or  brook 
trout,  or  Von  Behr  trout  (Salmo  fario),  were  introduced 
into  this  country  a  few  years  ago  by  the  U.  S.  Fish  com- 
mission, and  they  have  since  become  widely  distributed  in 
this  country. 

European  sea  trout  in  small  numbers,  also  called  sal- 
mon trout  (Salmo  trutta),  have  been  introduced,  while  the 
species  called  the  Swiss  lake  trout,  European  charr,  or  sai- 
bling  (Salvelinus  alpinus),  has  been  propagated  on  a  small 
scale. 

The  Michigan  grayling  (Thymallus  ontariensis)  is  nat- 
urally found  in  some  of  the  streams  of  Michigan,  although 
it  is  caught  in  limited  numbers  from  other  waters.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  of  fresh-water  fishes,  and  is  a 
game  fighter  from  start  to  finish.  The  Montana  gray- 
ling (Thymallus  ontariensis  montanus)  inhabits  a  limited 
region  in  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri  river,  and  is  quite 
abundant  in  some  streams.  The  Artie  grayling  (Thymal- 
lus signifer)  ranges  from  the  Mackenzie  River  westward 
through  Alaska  and  northward  to  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

The  Muskellunge: 

''The  ''Muskie,"  as  this,  the  largest  member  of  the  pike 
family,  is  familiarly  called,  is  one  of  our  best  game  fish, 
ranking  right  up  in  the  front  rank  as  a  fighter,  and  there- 
fore is  a  great  favorite  with  the  average  angler.  It's 
scientific  name  is  ''Lucius  masquinongy. "  It  reaches  a 
maximum  weight  of  about  80  pounds,  but  the  average 
weight  is  something  like  25  or  30  pounds.  It  ranges  thru 
the  Great  Lakes,  Upper  Mississippi  Valley,  Ohio  Valley, 
and  lakes  in  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  New  York,  Ontario 
and  elsewhere. 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  53 

The  *^muskie"  is  provided  by  nature  with  a  formidable 
weapon  in  the  shape  of  a  very  large  month  and  strong 
teeth,  enabling  it  to  capture  with  comparative  ease  living 
fish,  which  forms  its  principal  diet.  In  order  to  effect 
their  capture,  it  lies  in  ambush  for  them  among  the  water- 
plants  that  carpet  the  lake  or  river  bed,  springing  sudden- 
ly upon  its  prey  with  lightning-like  quickness.  Prom  its 
A^ery  nature  it  is  a  hard  and  fast  striker,  hence  much 
sought  after  by  anglers. 

The  Yellow  Perch: 

This  fish  (Perca  flavescens),  besides  being  known  as 
yellow  perch,  is  called  ring  perch,  striped  perch  and  rac- 
coon perch.  It  is  very  strikingly  marked  and  is  one  of  the 
best  known  fresh-water  fishes  of  the  Atlantic  and  North 
Central  States.  It  is  classified  as  of  the  spiny-rayed  type 
and  by  some  scientists  is  given  first  place  among  fishes. 
Its  range  extends  from  Nova  Scotia  to  North  Carolina  in 
coastwise  waters,  throughout  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the 
Upper  Mississippi  Valley,  being  abundant  almost  wherever 
found.  It  bites  readily  at  the  baited  hook  and  is  caught 
in  large  quantities  by  anglers. 

The  Striped  Bass  and  the  White  Perch: 

'  This  fish,  sometimes  called  the  rockfish  (Eoccus  line- 
atus),  ranges  from  New  Brunswick  to  western  Florida,  and 
is  especially  abundant  from  New  York  to  North  Carolina. 
It  is  readily  caught  by  anglers  on  the  coast  and  in  the  bays, 
sounds,  and  streams. 

The  white  perch  (Morone  americana)  is  of  the 
same  family  as  the  striped  bass,  closely  resembling  it  in 
range,  habits,  etc.,  but  it  grows  much  smaller  than  the  lat- 
ter.   At  that,  it  is  one  of  our  choicest  pan  fishes. 

The  Sturgeons: 
We  have  half  a  dozen  species  of  sturgeon  in  the  waters 
of  the  United  States,  as  follows:     The  common  and  the 


54  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

short-nosed  sturgeons  (Acii3enser  sturio  and  A.  breviros- 
tris),  which  are  found  only  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  ascend- 
ing rivers  to  spawn;  the  white  sturgeon  and  green  stur- 
geon (A.  transmontanus  and  A.  medirostris)  are  found  on- 
ly in  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Coast;  the  lake  or  rock  stur- 
geon (A.  rubicundus)  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes,  Upper 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  other  northern  interior  waters,  and 
the  shovel-nose  sturgeon  or  white  sturgeon  (Scaphirhyn- 
chus  platyrhynchus)  is  found  in  the  Mississippi  and  va- 
rious other  streams  of  the  South  and  West. 

The  common  sturgeon  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  grows  as 
large  as  500  pounds,  or  over,  but  the  average  is  probably 
about  150  pounds.  The  lake  sturgeon  reaches  a  weight 
of  approximately  200  pounds,  but  the  average  is  only  60 
pounds.  The  Pacific  white  sturgeon  attains  a  weight  of 
848  pounds,  and  those  weighing  as  much  as  500  pounds 
were  not  scarce  a  few  years  ago  in  the  Columbia  river,  the 
average  being  150  pounds,  but  now  it  is  much  less. 

'  The  Flatfish,  or  Winter  Flounder: 

This  fish  is  known  scientifically  by  the  terrific  and 
lengthy  term  '^Pseudoplouronectes  americanus,"  and  the 
body  is  reguUirly  ellijoticaL  The  eyes  and  color  are  on  the 
right  side,  the  upper  side  of  the  head  being  covered  with 
imbricated  ctenoid  scales  similar  to  those  of  the  body, 
while  the  blind  side  of  the  head  is  nearly  naked.  Having 
a  small  mouth,  this  species  feeds  chiefly  on  small  shells, 
crabs,  and  other  bottom  animals.  It  is  found  on  sandy,  mud- 
dy, and  rocky  bottoms,  seeming  to  prefer  sheltered  coves 
and  bays.  This  fish  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  flounders  of 
the  Atlantic  coast,  and  is  especially  numerous  in  southern 
New  England  and  New  York.  Its  range  extends  as  far 
north  as  Labrador  and  as  far  south  as  the  Carolinas,  but  is 
not  plentiful  south  of  New  Jersey.  The  average  weight  is 
about  a  pound  and  one-half. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  55 

MISCELLANEOUS  MARINE  FISHES: 

Among  marine  fishes  are  several  wortliy  of  spe- 
cial mention,  sncli  as  the  tautog,  Spanish  mackerel,  pollock, 
and  haddock;  also  sea  herring,  scup,  sea  bass,  squeteague, 
cunner,  sheepshead,  and  several  flounders. 

The  Tautog: 

This  fish  (Tautoga  onitis)  is  a  strongly  marked  spe- 
cies and  belongs  to  a  family  (Labridae,  or  the  wrasses) 
characterized  in  part  by  one  doi'sal  fin,  thoracic  ventral 
fins,  double  nostrils,  thick  lips,  and  strong  teeth  in  the 
jaws.  The  eye  is  small  and  placed  high  on  the  side  of  the 
head.  This  fish  is  found  from  Maine  to  South  Carolina, 
being  most  abundant  in  the  waters  of  Massachusetts, 
Rhode  Island,  and  New  York.  Its  strong  and  sharp  teeth 
enable  it  to  consume  mollusks  and  crustaceans,  which  con- 
stitute its  chief  food,  and  it  also  eats  sand-dollars,  worms, 
and  other  animals.  It  bites  quite  readily  and  is  a  great  fa- 
vorite with  anglers.  Its  average  weight  ranges  from  2  to  3 
pounds,  however  tautog  weighing  6  to  15  pounds  are  by  no 
means  rare. 

The  Spanish  Mackerel: 

This  fish  (Scomberomorus  maculatus)  is  widely  dis- 
tributed, being  found  on  both  coasts  of  North  America. 
On  the  west  coast  it  does  not  enter  United  States  waters, 
but  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard  it  ranges  from  Texas  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  is  especially  abundant  in  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, among  the  Florida  Keys,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  on 
the  coast  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  States.  It  is  one  of  our 
most  important  food  fishes. 

Haddock,  Pollock  and  Other  Gadidae: 

These  are  important  food  fishes.  The  pollock  is  found 
from  New  Jersey  northward,  while  the    haddock    ranges 


56  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

from  Delaware  northward,  and  is,  or  has  been,  quite  nu- 
merous on  the  ^^ banks"  lying  off  the  New  England  shore. 
It  is  similar  to  the  cod  in  habits,  being  found  in  the  same 
places  and  at  the  same  time  as  the  latter.  There  is  a  fish 
called  the  tomcod  or  frostfish  (Microgadus  tomcod),  which 
has  been  extensively  propagated  by  the  New  York  Pish 
Commission.  It  is  a  small,  but  dandy  food  fish,  and  ranges 
from  New  York  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  It  is  especially  ex- 
cellent in  early  winter,  at  which  season  it  ascends  the 
streams  for  the  purpose  of  spawning.  It  seldom  exceeds  10 
or  12  inches  in  length. 

The  Gunner: 

This  fish  (Ctenolabrus  adspersus)  is  a  close  relation 
of  the  tautog,  but  on  account  of  its  small  size,  great  abun- 
dance, and  comparatively  little  commercial  value,  the  pro- 
pagation of  the  cunner  has  not  been  seriously  undertaken. 

The  Soup: 

This  is  a  rather  important  small  food  fish  found  along 
the  Atlantic  coast,  scientifically  called  ^^Stenotomus  chry- 
sops."  Its  range  extends  from  Cape  Ann  to  South  Caro- 
lina, being  most  abundant  in  New  England.  It  is  a  favor- 
ite with  some  anglers. 

The  Sea  Bass: 

The  sea  bass  (Centropristes  striatus)  is  another  im- 
portant food  fish,  found  from  Massachusetts  to  Florida, 
and  is  taken  in  large  numbers  especially  from  New  Jersey 
northward  with  both  lines  and  other  devices.  It  grows 
to  five  pounds  in  weight,  the  average  being,  however,  only 
1  or  1  and  1-2  pounds. 

The  Squeteague: 

The  Squeteague  or  weakfish  (Cynoscion  regalis)  is 
one  of  ttifi>,ii3iportant  food  fishes  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  57 

coasts,  ranging  northward  as  far  as  Cape  Cod.  It  varies 
greatly  in  size,  but  the  average  weight  is  under  5  pounds. 
The  weakfish,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  however,  has  been 
known  to  attain  a  weight  of  30  pounds. 

The  spotted  squeteague  or  ^^sea  trout"  (Cynoscion 
nebulosum)  is  also  a  valuable  food-fish,  and  ranges  from 
Chesapeake  Bay  southward,  being  taken  in  largest  num- 
bers in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Florida,  and  the  Gulf 
States.  It  reaches  a  maximum  weight  of  10  pounds,  the 
average  weight  being  about  2  pounds. 

The  Sheepshead: 

This  fish  (Archosargus  probatocephalus)  is  generally 
accounted  one  of  the  best  food-fishes  of  American  waters. 
It  has  a  deep  body,  of  a  grayish  color,  marked  by  9  trans- 
verse black  bands,  and  a  peculiarly  shaped  head,  with 
mouth  armed  with  prominent  incisor  teeth,  which  make  it 
easily  recognizable.  Its  range  extends  from  Cape  Cod  to 
Texas,  being  found  in  greater  abundance  from  Chesapeake 
Bay  southward.  It  reaches  a  weight  of  more  than  20 
pounds,  the  average  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  however,  being 
not  more  than  7  or  8  pounds,  and  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  it 
seldom  exceeds  3  pounds.  In  southern  waters  this  fish  is 
a  permanent  resident,  but  in  the  northern  portion  of  its 
range  it  is  found  only  during  spring,  summer  and  autumn. 

The  Sea  Herring: 

This  fish  is  scientifically  denominated  ^^Clupea  haren- 
gus,"  and  exists  in  great  abundance  on  both  shores  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  north  of  the  latitude  of  about  37  degrees 
north.  On  the  coast  of  North  America  it  is  not  regularly 
abundant  south  of  Cape  Cod,  but  is  occasionally  found  as 
far  south  as  Chesapeake  Bay.  In  numbers  this  species  is 
said  to  be  exceeded  by  no  other  fish.  It  is  also  found 
abundantly  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  but  is  there  ^^   own  as  a 


58  THE   AXGLER   AND   HUXTSMAX 

scientifically  different  species,  being  called  '^Clupea  pal- 
lasii." 

The  herring  thrives  upon  minute  invertebrates,  prin- 
cipally copepods,  larval  worms,  and  larval  mollusks.  It  is 
in  turn  eaten  in  great  numbers  by  its  enemies  the  cod,  the 
haddock,  sharks  and  many  other  fishes. 

The  Sand-Dab  and  Four-Spotted  Flounder: 

Besides  the  flatfish  or  winter  flounder,  two  other 
flounders  have  been  propagated  artificially,  namely,  the 
Sand-Dab  and  Pour-Spotted  Flounder. 

Tarpon,  or  Silver  King:  (Megalops  Thrissoides.) 

This  great  game  fish  is  common  on  the  gulf  coast.  It 
is  a  huge  creature  often  weighing  several  hundred  pounds, 
and  takes  a  great  amount  of  skill,  endurance,  and  patience 
to  land  one.  The  tarpon  angler  ofttimes  has  a  life-and- 
death  grapple  with  his  fish  lasting  over  a  period  of  many 
hours,  before  he  is  able  to  land  his  prize.  It  is  a  very 
thrilling  feature  of  deep-sea  angling,  and  nowadays  light 
tackle,  or  comparatively  light  tackle,  is  used  with  consider- 
able success.  Lightness  of  tackle  must  be  offset  by  one's 
skill.  Mullet  is  the  bait  commonly  used  for  this  class  of 
fishing. 

Blue  Fish:  (Pomatomus  Saltatrix.) 

This  fish  ranges  along  our  coast  from  Central  Brazil, 
Guianas,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  north  to  Nova  Scotia.  They 
are  generally  abundant  and  a  species  that  prey  upon  other 
fishes,  which  form  their  sole  diet. 

These  fish  are  usually  captured  by  trolling,  and  furnish 
excellent  sport. 

The  Pike:  (Esox  Lucius.) 

Every  angler  who  resides  within  their  range,  or  who 
has  journeyed  to  the  region  wherein  they  have  their  habi- 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  59 

tat,  will  agree  with  us  when  we  say  that  here  is  one  of 
America's  finest  game  fishes — a  good  fighter  and  a  thor- 
oughly game  denizen  of  our  inland  waters.  There  are  six 
or  probably  seven  species  of  this  genus.  Their  princi- 
pal range  is  throughout  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  North- 
west. This  fish  often  attains  a  size  of  from  eighteen  to 
twenty  pounds,  measuring  up  to  three  feet  in  length.  It 
is  one  of  the  gamest  and  most  vicious  fighters  that  ever 
tied  on  to  an  angler's  lure,  and  will  make  you  think  you've 
got  a  whale  hooked  instead  of  a  mere  inland  game  fish  be- 
fore you  have  finally  landed  him.  A  good  rod  to  use  for 
this  kind  of  fishing  is  a  rod  about  nine  feet  in  length  made 
of  choice  lancewood  or  bethabara,  and  it  is  well  to  use  a 
good  strong  (but  not  too  heavy)  line  that  can  stand  the 
strain.  The  amateur  will  need  heavier  tackle  for  all  fish- 
ing until  he  gets  to  be  a  thorough-going  angler,  at  which 
time  he  can  discard  his  heavy  outfit  and  use  regular  sports- 
man's light  weigiht  tackle. 

Wail-Eyed  Pike:  (Stizostedium  vitreum.) 

In  the  Northwest  these  fish  are  sometimes  called 
salmon,  which  is  not  a  correct  name.  They  readily  take 
the  lure  and  are  generally  found  in  rather  large  numbers 
within  their  range,  which  is  most  all  Northern  waters. 
They  are  especially  plentiful  in  the  lake  region  of  Northern 
Wisconsin. 

Pickerel:  (Esox  Genus.) 

This  is  one  of  the  members  of  the  genus  ^^Esox"  hav- 
ing several  species,  including  the  common  Eastern  Pick- 
eral,  or  Green  Pike,  the  Vulgate  Humpbacked  Pickerel,  of 
the  Western  States;  the  Banded  Pickerel  or  Trout  Pick- 
erel, of  the  Atlantic  streams;  and  the  Little  Pickerel,  or 
Western  Trout  Pickerel. 

The  pickerel  is  very  pugnacious  as  a  fighter  and  will 
put  up  a  stiff  resistence  for  several  long  moments. 


60  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

White  Perch:  (Roccus  Americanus.) 

White  perch  are  game  fighters  and  offer  great  sport 
to  anglers  throughout  their  range.  While  not  as  promi- 
nently mentioned  as  some  game  fishes,  they  are  an  impor- 
tant species,  and  deserve  greater  notice  from  the  angling 
public. 

Deep-Sea  Fishing: 

While  the  foregoing  list  of  fishes  includes  our  most  im- 
portant inland  game  fishes,  there  are  found  in  the  ocean's 
briny  deep  large  and  small  game  fish  beyond  the  power  of 
our  enumeration.  In  the  ocean  are  found  not  only  the  larg- 
est fish,  but  the  largest  of  all  living  creatures,  greatly 
larger  than  any  shore  animal  recorded  in  history,  and 
while  the  land  surface  of  this  old  mundane  sphere  has 
been  pretty  thoroughly  examined  from  pole  to  pole,  there 
are  depths  of  the  seas  yet  unexplored  and  monsters  of  the 
deep  yet  unrecorded  on  the  page  of  science. 

Man  feels  overawed  on  gazing  upon  for  the  first  time 
the  stupendous  elephant;  but  what  is  the  elephant  com- 
pared to  the  whale,  measuring  from  sixty  to  a  hundred 
feet  in  length,  and  correspondingly  thick?  This  animal, 
although  it  outwardly  resembles  a  fish,  is,  nevertheless, 
not  classed  as  such,  because  it  gives  birth  to  live  young 
ones,  whilst  fish  lay  eggs,  from  which  •  the  young  come 
forth  after  some  time.  Pish  breathe  under  the  water 
through  their  gills,  whilst  the  whale  has  real  honest-to- 
goodness  lungs,  and  so  must  from  time  to  time  come  to  the 
surface  to  breathe ;  if  it  did  not  it  would  suffocate  like  other 
animals  which  are  accustomed  to  live  in  the  open  air. 

Consider  the  mighty  tuna,  the  swordfish,  the  sailfish! 
Three  mighty  warriors  are  these,  and  many  a  sportsman 
will  tell  you  what  game  qualities  each  possesses.  Some  of 
the  most  thrilling  experiences  the  man  with  the  rod  and  reel 
ever  had  were  had  with  one  or  more  of  these  fishes.  Some- 
times the  battle  lasted  for  hours  with  the  issue  of  the  con- 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  61 

flict  uncertain  up  to  the  last  minute,  yes,  up  to  the  very- 
last  second  that  life  existed  in  the  member  of  the  finny 
tribe.  Noted  writers  have  described  deep-sea  fishing  in 
all  its  entrancing,  exhilarating  qualities.  Yet  the  subject 
has  only  been  lightly  touched.  Much  of  mystery  and  charm 
remains  to  be  learned  of  the  sea  and  its  denizens. 

It  has  been  proven  by  a  scientist  (to  whom  I  am  indebt- 
ed for  this  data,  Prof.  J.  B.  Martens,  of  St.  Nikolas,  Bel- 
gium) that  the  sea  is  more  densely  populated  than  the  land. 
Think  of  the  herring  and  codfish,  which  for  centuries  have 
been  caught  by  hundreds  of  millions  without  any  apparent 
decrease  in  their  numbers. 

The  farther  north  you  go  on  land  the  fewer  is  the 
number  of  living  beings  on  land  you  will  find;  the  faculty 
of  growth  seems  to  diminish,  the  plants  shrink,  and  gradu- 
ally animals  become  scarcer  and  scarcer.  Not  so  in  the 
sea,  which  is  full  of  life  always  and  everywhere,  and  in  lat- 
itudes where  the  soil,  frozen  nearly  the  whole  year  round, 
does  not  yield  any  harvest  to  man,  he  finds  ample  compen- 
sation for  this  in  the  fisheries,  for  the  water  which  washes 
these  northern  shores  contains  such  an  abundance  of  pro- 
visions that  it  can  never  be  exhausted. 

The  large  carnivorous  animals,  like  the  lion,  tiger,  &c., 
seldom  ever  live  in  herds ;  as  a  general  rule  only  a  couple  of 
them  occupy  the  same  given  extent  of  territory.  But  in  the 
sea  w^e  find  still  greater  carnivorous  animals  than  the  lion 
and  the  tiger;  among  these  are  the  various  kinds  of  dolphins, 
which,  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  must  be  classed  with 
the  w^hales,  because  they  also  have  lungs,  and  come  to  the 
surface  to  breathe.  Altho'  not  as  large  as  the  whale,  the 
dolphin  must  nevertheless  be  classed  among  the  larger  sea 
animals,  for  its  length  varies  from  eight  to  twenty  and  even 
as  highi  as  forty  feet.  In  olden  times  this  animal  was  con- 
sidered a  friend  to  man,  it  even  being  said  that  the  dolphins 
could  show  affection,  but  to  tell  the  truth,  its  only  love  is 
for  prey,  and  the  dolphins  are  really  nothing  less  than  bar- 


62  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

barous  gluttons,  which  make  great  havoc  among  the  in- 
habitants of  the  sea.  This  bloodthirsty  animal  does  not 
live  in  couples  like  the  carnivorous  land  animals,  but  are 
foimd  in  large  herds  or  schools.  Could  this  be  possible,  the 
scientist  asks,  if  those  animals  on  which  these  pirates  of 
the  sea  live  did  not  increase  in  extraordinarily  large 
numbers  ? 

The  whale  also  lives  on  live  animals.  It  can  well  be  imag- 
ined what  a  vast  quantity  of  sea  life  it  would  have  to  de- 
vour to  satiate  its  appetite. 

But,  passing  from  the  whales  and  dolphins  to  the  real 
fish,  we  find  that  they  also,  with  very  few  exceptions,  are 
carnivorous.  It  has  been  said  by  a  noted  scientist  that  the 
water  is  an  enormous  battle-field,  where  life  is  only  main- 
tained by  constant  slaughter.  It  is  easy  to  observe  the 
cruel  and  gluttonous  character  of  the  fish.  Put  some  of  the 
little  fish — say  sticklebacks,  in  a  large  glass  full  of  water. 
As  they  are  quite  lively  little  fellows,  they  will,  in  the  be- 
ginning, afford  more  pleasure  than  gold  fish,  which  please 
the  eye  by  their  beautiful  red  color,  but  which  are  so  slow 
in  their  movements  that  one  might  well  think  they  are 
pining  away  or  else  sick.  If  a  little  worm  unfortunately 
should  attract  the  attention  of  the  sticklebacks,  it  is  made 
the  object  of  very  violent  attacks,  and  is  soon  devoured. 

If  you  should  put  in  the  glass  small  fish,  just  a  few 
days  old,  and  not  any  larger  than  tiny  worms,  not  a  single 
one  of  them  will  escape  these  greedy  gluttons.  So  greedy 
are  they  after  flesh  that  if  properly  fed  they  can  be  easily 
trained.  As  soon  as  some  small  pieces  of  flesh  are  thrown 
into  the  water  they  will  approach  rapidly,  and  by  repeating 
this  experiment  four  or  five  times,  the}^  can  be  taught  to 
come  to  the  surface  as  soon  as  they  see  the  hand  stretched 
out  over  the  water.  This  spectacle,  however,  is  soon  fol- 
lowed by  another  pitiable  one.  The  sticklebacks,  confined 
within  the  narrow  confines  of  the  glass,  do  not  find  food 
enough,  and  thereupon  begin  to  attack  each  other,  and  soon 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  63 

a  desperate  civil  war  is  being  waged  in  the  glass.  The 
stronger  pursue  the  weaker,  and  although  they  are  not  able 
to  swallow  them  entire,  they  nevertheless  inflict  terrible 
wounds  on  them.  Soon  some  of  the  fish  may  be  seen  to  be 
hindered  in  their  movements,  having  had  their  tails  bitten 
off  entirely  or  in  part.  The  wound  soon  grows  worse,  and 
the  poor  little  animal  finally  ceases  to  live;  but  even  in  its 
death  agonies  it  is  assailed  by  its  cruel  enemies.  The  fish 
continue  this  war  until  only  two  are  left,  which  retire  each 
to  a  different  corner  of  the  glass,  like  fistic  champions  in  a 
boxing  arena,  and  here  they  sit  and  watch  each  other  with 
eyes  full  of  hatred  and  envy;  and  if  one  of  them  is  bold 
enough  to  enter  the  domain  of  his  antagonist  the  result  is 
a  combat  to  the  finish. 

Now,  if  this  is  the  way  the  little  sticklebacks  act,  what 
can  we  expect  from  the  greedy  pike,  which  scientists  call 
the  scourge  of  fresh  water,  or  the  dangerous  shark,  which 
reaches  the  size  of  the  large  dolphins  and  is  constantly 
roaming  the  seven  seas,  devouring  everything  that  comes 
its  way?  Woe  to  the  unfortunate  sailor  who  falls  over- 
board in  shark-infested  waters. 

If  we  consider  that  nearly  all  fish  are  carnivorous  and 
live  by  robbing  and  murdering,  Ave  must  confess  that  the 
population  of  the  sea  must  be  infinitely  larger  than  that  of 
the  land,  for  in  any  other  case  fish  would  not  find  food 
enough. 

'^If  such  is  the  case,"  the  close  reader  will  ask,  ^^why 
is  it  that  fish  are  still  so  plentiful?"  It  would  doubtless 
appear  to  many  that  if  these"  barbarous  methods  are  pur- 
sued, water  life  must  soon  die  out  and  become  extinct. 
*^How  can  any  race  of  animals  exist  when  such  a  continu- 
ous slaughter  is  transpiring?"  '^How  is  it  that  the  larg- 
er of  these  insatiable  animals  have  not  long  since  entirely 
destroyed  the  smaller  ones,  finally  to  die  themselves  of  star- 
vation, leaving  nothing  but  their  skeletons  in  the  waters 
of  the  ocean  which  has  by  that  time  become  a  howling  wild- 


64  THE   a:N^GLER  and   HUNTSMAN" 

erness?"  These  are  some  of  the  questions  the  observant 
person  will  ask,  and  these  questions  are  very  readily  an- 
swered. 

In  the  first  place,  those  animals  which  are  intended 
to  serve  as  a  prey  to  others  are  endowed  with  greater  fe- 
cundity; they  produce  more  young  ones  than  those  ani- 
mals which  live  on  them ;  nature  has  provided  this  balance ; 
so  the  carnivorous  animals  are  therefore  never  in  want  of 
food,  which  consists  of  weaker  animals,  and  still  the  races 
of  the  latter  do  not  die  out. 

It  will  readily  be  seen  how  life  in  the  water  does  not 
become  extinct,  in  spite  of  all  the  scenes  of  murderous  car- 
nage which  are  enacted,  if  we  remember  that,  as  a  general 
rule,  the  water  animals  increase  much  more  than  land  ani- 
mals. There  are  animals  destroyed  in  innumerable  quan- 
tities, both  by  their  natural  enemies  and  by  man.  Such 
are  the  herring  and  the  codfish  whose  numbers  do  not 
seem  to  have  materially  decreased  in  the  course  of  centu- 
ries. This  will  easily  be  understood  when  we  state  that  a 
single  herring  produces  60,000  eggs,  while  the  codfish  ma- 
tures as  many  as  2,000,000.  It  must  also  be  remembered 
that  the  young  fry  hatched  from  these  eggs  grows  up  with- 
out any  great  difficulty.  Young  fish  know  how  to  care 
for  themselves  the  moment  they  emerge  from  the  egg,  and 
father  and  mother  need  not  look  after  them.  The  work  of 
the  codfish  would  be  overwhelming  if,  like  the  birds,  it 
had  to  feed  its  innumerable  young. 

The  sea  is  not  only  rich  in  fish,  but  also  in  other  ani- 
mals. In  its  depths  live  all  sorts  of  strange  and  unre- 
corded monsters.  Science  has  barely  touched  the  subject. 
Many  revelations  remain  to  be  unfolded  by  future  genera- 
tions. 

Only  recently  scientists  were  confronted  with  a  baf- 
fling specimen  of  the  deep,  caught  by  Captain  Charles  H. 
Thompson  off  the  Florida  Keys.  Leading  scientists  say 
it  is  the  world's  largest  fish,  yet  some  say  it  is  only  a  mere 
baby  of  its  tribe. 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  65 

The  strange  monster  was  on  exhibition  recently  in  all 
the  leading  cities  approachable  by  the  yacht,  on  board 
which  the  monster  was  taken  from  place  to  place.  The 
following  is  the  newspaper  account  of  it  published  at  the 
time  it  was  being  shown  in  the  principal  lake,  river,  and 
coastal  cities: 

^^What  is  declared  by  scientists  to  be  the  largest  fish 
known  in  history  or  ever  captured  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  will  be  on  exhibition  in  this  city  on  board  the  yacht 
Tamiami.  It  is  so  big,  in  fact,  it  could  have  swallowed 
twenty  Jonahs  without  suffering  the  slightest  pangs  of  in- 
digestion. 

**0f  course  it  is  harmless  now,  but  before  it  suc- 
cumbed to  the  effects  of  five  harpoon  thrusts  and  151 
good-sized  bullets  in  a  battle  which  lasted  thirty-nine 
hours  its  animal  instincts  were  so  fierce  that  a  blackfish 
weighing  1,500  pounds,  an  octopus  weighing  400  pounds 
and  500  pounds  of  coral  only  served  it  as  an  appetizer  of 
the  mildest  sort. 

^*This  is  a  big  fish  story,  but  it  is  a  true  one,  and  is 
vouched  for  in  every  detail  by  the  highest  scientific  au- 
thorities. 

**The  strange  and  mysterious  monster,  which,  as 
stated  above,  will  be  on  exhibition  in  this  city,  on  board 
the  yacht  Tamiami,  anchored  at  river  front,  foot  of  Vinfe 
Street,  from  9  a.  m.  to  10:30  p.  m.,  is  45  feet  in  length  and 
measures  23  feet,  9  inches  in  circumference.  It  weighed 
when  captured  15  tons,  or  30,000  pounds,  and  its  liver 
alone  weighed  1,700  pounds. 

^*  Think  of  harpooning  such  a  monster  as  this  and  be- 
ing dragged  through  the  w^ater  at  express  train  speed  for 
hundreds  of  miles  over  the  ocean  for  two  days  and  nights 
before  the  game  was  up  and  the  capture  safely  landed. 
Think  of  catching  a  fish  with  a  mouth  big  enough  to  hold 
three  men  of  ordinary  size  and  of  such  strange  and  pe- 
culiar shape  that  men  of  science  stood  astounded.    Sounds 


66  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

like  a  Jonah  story,  doesn't  it?  And  for  all  one  knows  to 
the  contrary,  it  may  be  and  unquestionably  is  the  sequel 
to  that  story  in  the  Bible  that  for  ages  has  proved  the 
stumbling  block  of  men  of  science  and  made  ministers  of 
every  creed  use  their  wit  and  ingenuity  to  logically  ex- 
plain the  story  of  the  big  fish  that  swallowed  the  Hebrew 
prophet  some  thousands  of  years  ago." 

Captain  Thompson  Proves  Story: 

It  remains  for  Captain  Charles  H.  Thompson,  of  Mi- 
ami, Fla.,  to  end  the  controversy,  as  to  him  belongs  the 
credit  of  capturing  the  monster  that  could  have  swallowed 
Jonah  with  the  greatest  ease,  had  it  been  in  the  neighbor- 
hood when  the  prophet  fell  overboard  from  the  ship  that 
he  was  traveling  on. 

Nobody  is  better  known  in  the  w^orld  of  sports  than 
Captain  Thompson.  For  years  he  has  been  and  still  is  the 
favored  patron  of  the  Vanderbilts,  and  Whitneys  and 
other  millionaire  sportsmen  who  frequent  the  lower  east 
coast  and  who  invariably  engage  him  to  accompany  them 
on  their  trips  through  the  Everglades  and  through,  the 
magic  waters  of  the  Florida  Keys  after  big  game  fish,  for 
which  this  section  is  noted. 

Captain  Thompson  encountered  this  strange  fish 
while  cruising  off  the  lower  Florida  Keys  in  that  stretch 
of  water  that  for  more  than  a  century  was  the  scene  of 
countless  thrilling  adventures  and  romantic  exploits  alike 
of  Spanish  explorers  and  bloodthirsty  pirates. 

Long  the  home  of  romance  and  mystery,  it  seems  only 
natural  that  this  strangest  and  most  mysterious  of  mon- 
sters should  have  been  discovered  lurking  in  these  magical 
waters.  Capt.  Thompson  had  captured  many  a  wonderful 
inhabitant  of  these  teeming  waters,  ranging  all  the  way 
from  predatory  sharks  to  terrible  devil  fish,  but  nothing 
so  strange,  so  weird,  so  unaccountable  as  this  extraordinary 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  67 

creature,  this  puzzle  to  the  scientific  world,  which  has  be- 
come known  as  the  Deep  Sea  Mystery,  ever  came  out  of  the 
sea  before. 

With  the  first  announcement  in  the  papers  of  the  re- 
markable capture,  Captain  Thompson  was  flooded  with 
letters  and  telegrams  from  all  over  the  country  asking  for 
descriptions  and  particulars  of  the  wonder,  and  the  interest 
became  so  widespread  and  insistent  that  after  having  the 
unique  specimen  preserved  at  great  expense  by  Prof.  J.  S. 
Warmbeth,  who  was  recommended  by  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitution at  Washington,  he  decided  to  exhibit  the  wonder 
throughout  the  country,  and  this  he  did. 

He  had  a  large  sea-going  yacht  constructed,  the  entire 
lower  deck  being  especially  designed  to  accommodate  the 
monster  fish,  and  was  made  sufficiently  large  for  as  many 
as  500  spectators  to  view  the  fish  from  every  side.  This 
palatial  yacht  was  built  at  a  cost  of  over  $30,000. 

The  mouth  of  the  Deep  Sea  Mystery  is  an  enormous 
cavitv  30  inches  wide  and  54  inches  deep,  situated  right  at 
the  end  of  the  snout,  and  resembles  that  of  a  monstrous 
catfish  more  than  anything  else.  Inside  the  mouth  is  a 
tongue  40  inches  long,  and  gullet  large  enough  to  swallow 
a  giant  octopus  weighing  400  pounds.  It  has  numerous 
other  characteristics  of  the  true  fish,  which  it  undoubtedly 
is.  There  are  no  ribs  and  in  place  of  a  backbone  its  spinal 
colmnn  consisted  of  cartilaginous  vertebrae,  some  of  which 
were  13  1-2  inches  wide  and  showing  signs  of  ossification. 
This  was  proof  beyond  doubt  that  the  creature  was  still  un- 
developed— it  was  a  baby  of  its  tribe  in  fact. 

Naturalists  are  of  the  opinion  that  a  fuU  grown  speci- 
men would  be  two  and  one-half  times  as  large  as  the  baby 
captured  by  Capt.  Thompson,  and  that  had  this  animal  liv- 
ed out  its  allotted  time  it  would  have  attained  the  stupen- 
dous proportions  of  115  feet  in  length  and  20  or  25  feet 
broad. 

The  tail  of  this  creatur©  measures  ten  feet  from  tip  to 


68  THE   AXGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

tip;  the  pectoral  fin  is  five  feet  long,  and  three  feet  wide, 
while  the  dorsal  fin  is  three  feet  long  and  two  feet  nine 
inches  wide.  With  this  huge  muscular  tail  as  motive  pow- 
er the  creature  was  able  to  hurl  itself  through  the  waters 
for  hours  with  almost  the  speed  of  an  express  train,  and, 
dragging  Capt.  Thompson's  boat  behind  it,  not  even  the 
swiftest  motor  boat  could  have  kept  pace  with  it. 

In  appearance,  the  huge  monster  resembles  a  great 
fish,  but  scientists  are  dumbfounded  as  to  its  place  among 
the  species.  It  is  beyond  doubt  a  true  fish,  possessing  all 
the  well-known  characteristics  of  a  fish,  including  the  gills, 
which  are  four  feet  long  and  by  means  of  which  it  breathes. 
Yet  it  does  not  resemble  any  certain  species  recorded  by 
science. 

Here  are  some  of  the  facts  about  the  Deep  Sea  Monster: 
Measures  45  feet  in  length ;  weighs  15  tons,  or  nearly 
thirty  thousand  pounds;  its  liver  alone  weighed  1,700 
pounds,  or  more  than  ten  full-grown  men  put  together;  it 
is  twenty-three  feet  around  the  body,  and  its  tail  measures 
ten  feet  from  tip  to  tip ;  it  has  swallowed  an  octopus  weigh- 
ing 400  pounds,  a  blackfish  weighing  fifteen  hundred 
pounds,  and  five  hundred  pounds  of  coral  was  also  found 
in  its  stomach;  it  could  have  swallowed  twenty  Jonahs 
without  suffering  the  slightest  pangs  of  indigestion;  it 
smashed  a  boat  into  thousands  of  pieces  and  crushed  the 
rudder  and  propeller  of  a  thirty-one-ton  yacht  with  a  single 
swish  of  its  mighty  tail;  five  harpoon  thrusts  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  large  caliber  rifle  bullets  only  served  to  in- 
crease its  fury,  and  it  took  five  days  to  finally  kill  it;  the 
battle  lasted  thirty-nine  hours — two  days  and  a  night  in 
open  water,  with  the  monster  dragging  a  small  boat  at  ex- 
press train  speed  for  hundreds  of  miles;  scientific  authori- 
ties believe  that  the  creature  was  an  inhabitant  of  depths 
more  than  fifteen  hundred  feet  below  the  surface,  and  that 
it  was  blown  up  by  some  subterranean  or  volcanic  upheaval 
which  injured  its  diving  apparatus  so  that  it  was  unable  to 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  69 

return  to  its  native  depths;  its  hide  is  three  inches  thick, 
enabling-  it  to  withstand  the  most  enormous  water  pres- 
sure, a  pressure  ahnost  inconceivable  to  man;  its  eyes, 
which  were  small,  have  no  lids  and  were  never  closed,  indi- 
cating that  it  lived  at  a  depth  where  eyes  were  of  no  avail ; 
the  creature  is  not  classified  in  natural  history,  the  genus 
or  species  is  unknown,  and  it  is  not  only  the  most  remark- 
able zoological  specimen,  but  the  largest  specimen  of  the 
fish  tribe  known  in  history;  every  undertaking  establish- 
ment on  the  Florida  East  Coast  from  Jacksonville  to  Key 
West  gave  up  their  entire  supply  of  formaldehyde  to  pre- 
serve the  monster,  and  over  nineteen  barrels  were  used. 

This  is  the  greatest  deep-sea  fishing  story  in  existence, 
and  this  sport,  while  dangerous,  is  indulged  in  by  an  ever 
growing  army  of  ardent  fishermen,  who  like  to  match  their 
wits  and  energy  against  these  great  fishes  of  the  sea. 

Many  a  page  has  been  filled  by  the  daring  acts  of  the 
deep-sea  fisherman,  and  much  still  remains  to  be  written 
upon  the  subject.  Capt.  Thompson  has  contributed  one 
of  the  most  daring  feats  yet  recorded,  but  who  knows  but 
that  some  day,  sooner  or  later,  one  of  these  FULL-GROWN 
Deep  Sea  Mysteries  will  be  forced  to  the  surface  by  some 
mishap  and  that  some  sportsman  may  tie  on  to  him  as 
Capt.  Thompson  did.  Then  mil  the  world  be  astounded  as 
never  before. 

Tackle  makers  had  better  begin  preparing  for  that 
fateful  day,  and  bend  their  wits  to  devising  methods  of 
capture  and  tackle  that  will  hold  the  monsters  of  the  sea  yet 
imdiscovered. 

Scientists  had  always  claimed  that  the  depths  of  the 
sea  was  nothing  but  a  dark  desert,  without  inhabitants  or 
vegetation,  but  this  theory  has  since  been  exploded.  In 
those  days  they  only  reasoned  from  speculations,  to  engage 
in  which  they  need  not  leave  their  comfortable  studies,  but 
in  our  time  it  has  been  shown  how  deceptive  such  specula- 
tions may  be,  and  how  necessary  it  is  to  examine  nature 


70  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

herself,  and,  so  to  speak,  to  catch  her  in  the  very  act,  if  yon 
wish  to  learn  her  mysteries.  Because  we  know  that  the 
animals  of  the  upper  world  live  under  such  and  such  con- 
ditions, we  have  no  right  to  conclude  therefore  that  the 
depths  of  the  sea  remain  uninhabitable,  and  so  this  huge 
monster  recently  captured  will  cause  some  of  the  scientists 
to  re-shape  their  opinions  along  this  line. 

LAKE  AND  STREAM  FISHING: 

This  class  of  fishing  is  the  most  important  kind  of 
fishing  to  be  had  in  America  for  the  reason  that  the  great- 
er part  of  our  anglers  find  it  more  convenient  to  fish  in 
nearby  lakes  and  streams  than  to  visit  the  distant  sea. 

Of  course,  large  numbers  of  sportsmen  living  in  close 
proximity  to  the  ocean  may  indulge  in  the  luxury  and  pleas- 
ure of  sea-fishing,  but  the  great  mass  of  anglers  find  this 
inconvenient  and  in  some  cases  next  to  impossible.  There- 
fore, they  must  be  content  to  enjoy  the  equally  as  pleasur- 
able (if  slightly  less  exciting)  form  of  inland  game  fishing. 

The  inland  fisherman  is  blessed  with  a  variety  of  fish- 
ing in  America  quite  beyond  compare,  for  here  we  find  in 
our  lakes,  rivers,  and  streams  everything  desired  in  the 
way  of  game  fish.  Show  me  a  species  of  the  finny  tribe 
that  can  outfight  the  battling  black  bass,  the  mighty  sal- 
mon, the  lake  trout,  rainbow  trout,  brook  trout,  the  mighty 
^^muskie,"  and  our  other  inland  game  fish!  I  do  not  think 
the  inland  game  fish  of  any  other  country  can  offer  so 
much  fighting  ability  in  so  many  species  as  can  America. 
Then  there's  the  Great  Northern  Pike,  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  fighters  that  ever  tied  on  to  an  angler's  line! 

Indeed,  what  necessity  is  there  for  our  inland  anglers 
to  be  jealous  of  their  brethren  along  the  sea-coast?  None 
whatever.  If  there  is  any  jealousy  to  spare  on  either  side, 
we  think  it's  coming  quite  the  other  way,  maintaining  that 
the  sportsman  who  has  yet  to  land  his  first  pike,  his  first 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  71 

black  bass,  or  his  first  trout,  has  missed  a  great  deal  of 
the  joys  of  fishing.  These  are  joys  never  forgotten.  In 
his  old  age,  the  angler  will  recall  those  pleasant  memories, 
memories  that  never  die  while  life  remains.  The  writer 
can  recall  fishing  trip  after  fishing  trip  just  as  vividly  as 
tho'  it  happened  yesterday.  I  distinctly  remember  one 
outing  in  particular  that  I  shall  never  forget. 

Leisurely  we  paddled  the  small  boat  up  the  silently 
flowing  Licking  River,  nothing  intervening  to  mar  our 
pleasure  or  peace  of  mind  on  the  way. 

^'Gosh,  this  is  a  darned  sight  better 'n  pining  away  back 
there  in  town,  isn't  it?"  chimes  Doc. 

^^ Those  are  exactly  my  sentiments,  old  top,"  I  an- 
swered. 

So  we  paddled  on,  finally  reaching  the  mouth  of  Raven 
Creek,  fishing  waters  long  noted  in  local  history. 

With  a  few  deft  strokes  of  the  oars,  Doc  had  the  craft 
in  a  good  position  in  the  center  of  the  creek  where  it  emptied 
its  crystal  flow  into  the  broad  waters  of  the  Licking; 
then  we  fished  down  stream,  the  current  carrying  our 
floats,  or  corks,  swiftly  toward  the  river. 

This  is  the  season  when  artificial  bait  is  used  in  this 
region.  Earlier  it  would  have  been  useless  to  use  flies,  or 
spinners,  as  the  waters  that  flow  through  the  level  portion 
of  the  State  are  very  muddy  during  the  rainy  season. 
Nothing  less  than  live  minnows,  crawfish,  angleworms,  or 
'* devils"  would  attract  a  denizen  of  the  deep  during  that 
period. 

Now,  however,  late  in  summer,  the  rains  abated  and 
the  water  was  clear  as  that  of  a  mountain  torrent,  and  so 
flies  and  spinners  were  in  order. 

I  distinctly  remember  every  detail  of  the  trip.  It 
comes  back  to  me  as  a  vivid  dream,  only  more  real,  of 
course.  Doc  was  the  first  to  land  his  quarry.  It  was  a 
whopping  black  bass  of  the  species  **Micropterus  dolo- 
mieu,"  a  small-mouth.     Submarines  weren't  in  the  running 


72  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

at  all  in  comparison  with  that  bass.  It  sure  was  some 
sprinter.  Doc  finally  brought  it  to  creel,  however,  after  a 
lengthy  argnment  during  which  it  was  uncertain  who  would 
win  the  joint  debate. 

The  next  one  tied  on  to  my  line.  And  it  Avas  one  of 
those  felloAvs  with  a  head  full  of  fish  sense.  He  struck 
right  out  toward  the  boat,  accumulating  the  necessary  slack 
line,  then,  with  a  mighty  '^flop,  skip,  and  a  jump"  leaped 
clear  of  the  water  and  began  shaking  himself,  trying  to  all 
intent  and  purposes  to  shake  the  dratted  hook  out  of  his 
mouth,  but  I  saw  what  was  up  and  gathered  in  the  slack, 
forestalling  his  bold  attempt  to  escape.  The  effort  of  the 
fish,  the'  vain,  was  oft  repeated,  and  more  than  once  be- 
fore 1  finally  plunked  him  safe  aboard  boat  it  looked,  like 
he  had  things  ^^all  his  own  way  with  a  down-hill  pull." 
Gee!  but  it  was  a  plumb  beauty,  too.  Tipped  the  scales 
evenly  at  four  pounds^  one  ounce.  Some  fish  for  these 
waters,  and  every  inch  a  fighter. 

But  there  was  a  comic  role  to  be  played  that  eventful 
day,  and  as  fate  would  have  it.  Doc  was  the  ^^goat."  He 
had  been  watching  me  land  the  prize  with  a  jealousy  ill 
concealed,  and  when  finally  he  got  another  strike  he  bent 
all  his  energies  to  landing  the  fish  that  he  hoped  would 
outweigh  and  outdo  mine. 

He  grasped  the  rod  with  both  hands,  thumb  firmly  in 
place  against  the  reel,  all  ready  to  snag  Mr.  Fish. 

Whow- whizz!  wh-r-rrr!  sang  the  reel,  as  the  big  fish 
went  on  his  w^ay  liberty-bound.  Finally,  after  successive 
efforts.  Doc  turned  him  and  then  began  the  reeling  in  pro- 
cess, ever  watchful  lest  the  fish  should  suddenly  buck- 
jump,  or  create  slack  line  by  running  toward  the  boat. 

Wlien  the  specimen  was  finally  got  on  board  ship,  after 
much  effort  and  time,  what  do  you  reckon  it  proved  to  be  ? 

I  looked  at  Doc  and  Doc  looked  at  me.  I  was  giggling, 
he  was  frowning.  Boys,  he  had  caught  a  bloomin'  water- 
dog!    I  shall  never  forget  the  look  of  gloom  and  utter  dis- 


1  w 


74  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

gust  on  his  face.  Of  course,  this  was  my  queue  to  accord 
him  the  ^* horse-laugh,"  which  I  forthwith  did. 

But  I  had  yet  to  learn  the  truth  of  that  time-worn  adage 
that,  ^*he  who  laughs  last  laughs  best."  It  was  my  turn 
next  to  land  something,  which  I  was  most  certain  was  a 
member  of  the  finny  tribe  of  the  black  bass  species.  But 
it  was  not.  What  I  landed  was  a  dum-goozled  old  hard- 
shell turtle. 

This  was  Doc's  time  to  laugh,  and  he  laughed  so  hard 
tears  stood  out  on  his  cheeks.  It  was  me  that  was  the 
*'goat,"  after  all. 

Memories  of  outings  on  the  rivers  and  lakes  come  back 
to  each  of  us,  as  does  this  memory  of  that  fishing  trip  up 
the  Licking  River  with  my  friend  Doc.  Nothing  can 
erase  such  pleasures  from  the  human  memory.  They  will 
be  recalled,  perhaps,  in  days  of  stress  and  worry,  and  serve 
as  a  tonic,  mayhap,  to  many  an  old  man  that  has  commenced 
the  journey  down  the  western  slope  of  life.  He  will  find 
new  strength  to  buoy  him  up  in  his  declining  years  as  he 
remembers  the  glowing  days  of  his  youth  and  manhood, 
when  with  rod  and  reel  and  tackle-box  he  wended  his  way 
joyfully  down  by  the  old  mill-stream,  or-  to  the  meadow- 
brook,  or  beside  the  lake,  there  to  while  away  pleasant 
hours,  enticing  choice  specimens  of  the  cool  depths  there- 
from by  the  employment  of  his  angling  art. 

Art  it  is  indeed!  It  takes  pure,  unadulterated  art  to 
make  a  successful  fisherman,  whether  your  tackle  be  sim- 
ple in  construction,  or  magnificently  modern.  Here  is 
another  thought:  ^^It  is  not  clothes  that  make  the  man," 
.  so  neither  is  it  tackle  that  makes  the  angler.  It  is  his  art 
and  his  ability  to  apply  that  art  that  counts  most.  Good 
tackle,  of  course,  is  indispensable,  but  of  itself  it  avails 
nothing.  Placed  in  the  hands  of  one  not  accustomed  to 
the  ways  of  the  wily  trout,  the  mighty  salmon,  the  battling 
black  bass,  tackle  is  nil,  but  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  nat- 
ural-bom sportsman,  educated  to  the  ways  of  the  craft, 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  75 

good  tackle  avails  much — it  spells  success  in  the  angiiug 
game. 

The  Anti-Back  Lash  Reel: 

The  back-lash,  which  occurs  so  persistently  when  us- 
ing an  ordinary  reel,  has  done  more  to  discourage  the  sport 
of  bait  casting  than  even  that  oft  mooted  question:  '^Why 
don't  they  bite?"  After  the  beginner  has  wrestled  with  a 
good  old  fashioned  back-lash  for  a  dozen  minutes,  more  or 
less,  right  at  a  time  when  he  knows  his  bait  should  be  work- 
ing and  finally  does  get  it  untangled  only  to  have  it  occur 
again  on  the  next  cast,  it's  not  strange  that  he  becomes  dis- 
couraged. In  fact  there  is  not  a  bit  of  doubt  but  what  the 
back-lash  has  kept  many  promising  candidates  from  be- 
coming disciples  of  Isaak  Walton. 

Those  who  have  not  the  time,  nor  patience,  to  attain 
the  necessary  skill  required  to  manage  an  ordinary  reel 
will  find  an  easy  solution  for  the  problem  in  the  South  Bend 
Anti-Back-Lash  Reel. 

This  reel  obviates  entirely  the  necessity  of  thumbing 
the  spool  in  casting.  The  caster  has  only  to  learn  to 
throw  the  bait  properly;  the  carrying  out  of  the  line  and 
the  speed  of  the  spool  factors  are  taken  care  of  automati- 
cally by  the  reel  itself.  In  other  words,  the  reel  thumbs  it- 
self with  a  greater  precision  and  accuracy  than  can  be  done 
by  the  most  expert  seasoned  angler. 

Think  what  an  invention  of  this  kind  means!  It 
means  that  the  city  man,  who  longs  for  the  joys  and  thrills 
of  casting  for  big  fish,  does  not  have  to  cast  for  years  and 
years  to  learn  to  do  it  successfully.  It  means  that  any 
man,  woman  or  child  who  can  hold  a  fishing  rod  may  enjoy 
all  the  pleasures  experienced  by  the  seasoned  angler,  the 
very  moment  this  reel  is  made  part  of  the  equipment. 

Aside  from  furnishing  a  solution  for  the  beginner's 
greatest  problem,  this  reel  has  advantages  which  appeal 


76  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

to  the  skillful  angler — advantages  that  the  best  caster  that 
ever  ^^ thumbed"  a  spool  cannot  well  afford  to  overlook. 

The  use  of  the  reel  for  night  fishing  work  is  an  im- 
portant feature  for  the  angler  who,  though  he  may  be  ever 
*  so  expert,  is  handicapped  by  his  inability  to  see  the  bait 
for  the  South  Bend  Eeel  thumbs  itself  and  makes  night 
fishing  a  continuous  enjoyment. 

The  Anti-Back-Lash  feature  of  this  reel,  however,  is 
not  its  only  advantageous  factor,  nor  is  its  use  a  necessity. 
The  reel  is  made  so  that  the  Anti-Back-Lash  device  may, 
or  may  not  be  utilized.  Simply  turn  the  adjusting  screw 
a  half -turn  and  you  have  a  reel  of  the  ordinary  type,  an 
exceptionally  high  grade  one;  a  masterpiece  for  free-run- 
ning and  wearing  qualities  and  ease  of  operation;  equal  in 
every  way  to  any  high  grade  reel  on  the  market. 

Many  skillful  anglers,  owners  of  various  makes  of  high 
grade  reels,  prefer  to  use  their  South  Bend  Anti-Back-Lash 
reels  for  all  around  work  in  preference  to  others. — From 
•'Days  of  Real  Sport." 

THE  CASTING  ROD: 

In  successful  casting  the  rod  plays  a  very  important 
part,  as  is  learned  very  quickly  by  the  axigler  who  takes  up 
the  sport  with  the  intention  of  getting  all  there  is  to  be  had 
in  the  way  of  pleasure,  genuine  thrills,  invigorating  excite- 
ment, and  true  health-giving  recreation. 

Therefore,  extreme  care  should  be  exercised  in  select- 
ing the  type  of  rod  w^hieh  embodies  those  factors  which  will 
serve  one  best  in  his  pursuit  of  angling  pleasures. 

You  will  find  rods  constructed  of  various  materials,  in 
many  different  lengths,  weights  and  degrees  of  resiliency. 

As  mentioned  under  ^^The  Art  of  Casting,"  the  type 
of  rod,  its  weight,  whippiness  and  material  from  which  it 
is  constructed,  will  vary  with  the  class  of  work  that  the 
caster  wishes  to  do.     For  general  work,  however,  the  split 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  77 

bamboo  rod  of  a  length  about  the  same  as  the  caster's 
height,  will  prove  to  be  most  satisfactory  from  the  view 
points  of  action,  ease  of  casting,  accuracy  and  general 
adaptability  to  all  around  work,  and  in  the  long  run  prave 
to  be  the  most  serviceable  rod. 

A  properly  balanced  bamboo  rod  supplies  the  correct 
resiliency  or  whip,  which  is  so  necessary  to  the  easy,  skill- 
ful, graceful  cast,  better  than  any  other  material  yet  used 
for  making  rods  suitable  for  general  work. 

There  are  other  advantages  embodied  in  the  Heddon 
type  of  rod  which  makes  these  rods  most  desirable,  namely: 
the  patented  Locking  Reel  Band,  the  large  diameter  cork 
grip  in  the  peculiar  shape  that  permits  the  angler  to  grasp 
it  more  firmly,  the  short  butt  and  long  tip  features,  which 
insures  greater  resilient  action  so  necessary  to  good  cast- 
ing, and  the  modified  size  of  the  guides — these  are  all 
characteristic  features  which  make  these  rods,  grade  for 
grade,  superior  to  ordinary  bamboo  rods. 

If  you  want  a  rod  that  is  easy  to  work;  a  rod  that  is 
rigid,  responsive,  alive;  a  rod  that  will  supply  you  with 
power,  poise  and  delicacy,  with  an  action  that  is  graceful 
and  almost  effortless  in  its  work,  then  you  want  the  Hed- 
don type  because  it  will  fill  the  bill. 

The  South  Bend  Special  Rod  is  manufactured  by 
James  Heddon 's  Sons  and  we  are  glad  to  recommend  it  as 
a  rod  built  for  service,  long  and  dependable,  without  any 
frills  or  fancy  trappings  of  any  nature;  a  rod  that  will  give 
you  everything  that  can  be  had  as  far  as  good  work  is  con- 
cerned, without  the  style  and  pretty  decorations  that  us- 
ually go  with  more  expensive  creations. 

These  people  feature  this  rod  in  three  different  lengths 
and  in  two  different  weights  in  each  length.  The  one  is 
designed  for  casting  heavier  lures  such  as  minnows,  frogs, 
pork  rind,  etc.  This  is  the  Standard  type.  The  other, 
known  as  the  ^^ Special  Light,"  is  of  lighter  construction 


78  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

and  designed  especially  for  use  with  lighter  lures  such  as 
spinner  hooks,  Buck-tails,  flies  and  all  other  light  lures. 

The  beginner  will  make  no  mistake  in  selecting  this 
type  of  rod  because  it  is  a  rod  that  is  built  to  stand  the  wear 
and  tear  and  give  real,  genuine  service ;  a  rod  that  you  can 
trust  implicitly. — From  ^^Days  of  Real  Sport." 

Description  of  the  South  Bend  Anti-Back-Lash  Reel: 

The  reel  is  of  beautiful  yet  plain  design,  and  possesses 
a  simple  elegance  all  its  own.  The  working  parts  of  the 
Anti-Back-Lash  device  are  few  and  very  simple.  It  is  strong, 
well  made  and  designed  to  withstand  successfully  the  wear 
and  tear  of  long  and  continuous  bait  casting.  The  frame 
and  all  its  component  parts  are  made  of  8  per  cent  solid 
German  Silver;  very  light,  strong  and  rigid.  Dimensions: 
Capacity,  measured  by  standard  16  or  20  pound  test  silk 
line  is  100  yards;  Diameter  of  end  plates  2  inches;  length 
of  spool  1  7-8  inches;  diameter  of  spool  ends  1  1-2  inches. 
Bearings:  The  spool  and  gear  journals  are  of  high  grade 
tool  steel,  accurately  turned,  ground,  lapped  and  burnish- 
ed to  a  mirror-like  surface  and  run  in  phosphor  bronze. 
The  end  thrust  is  supported  by  adjustable  jeweled  ^^ spool 
journal"  caps  of  screw-off  pattern  with  spring  tension  grip. 
Gearing:  The  gear  consists  of  a  special  hunting  tooth 
train,  the  gear  of  which  is  made  of  solid  Tobin  bronze  and 
the  pinion  from  special  steel  which  produces  a  powerful, 
yet  absolutely  quiet,  smooth,  free-runnning  reel.  The  gear- 
ing is  quadruple  multiplying.  Crank  and  Click:  The 
crank  is  of  pleasing,  artistic  design;  correct  in  shape  and 
accurately  counterbalanced;  the  grip  is  white  Ivoroid. 
The  click  consists  of  a  pawl  and  rachet  made  of  hardened 
tool  steel;  it  is  operated  by  a  thumb  button  on  the  tail  plate 
and  actuated  by  a  phosphor  bronze  sprmg. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 


79 


Style  No.  1131A,  South  Bend  Anti-Back-Lash  Eeel. 
These  reels  may  be  had  now  at  $10.00  each. 

The  Famous  Bass-Oreno  Bait: 

The  body  of  this  bait  is  3  1-2  inches  long,  weighs  ap- 
proximately 5-8  ounce.  It  is  supplied  in  six  standard  high 
gi'ade  enamel  finishes — guaranteed  not  to  crack.  (Style 
No.  973EH.)     Bait  here  shown  has  a  red  head  and  white 

body. 


South  Bend  Midget  Surf-Oreno: 

This  bait  is  made  of  special  light  wood,  the  body  is  2 
3-4  inches  long.  It  weighs  approximately  1-2  ounce.  Sup- 
plied in  red  head,  white  body,  and  in  several  other  finishes. 
Style  No.  962RH. 


^ 


lb 


South  Bend  Babe-Oreno: 

The  body  of  this  bait  is  2  3-4  inches  long,  weighs  ap- 
proximately 1-2  ounce.    Equipped  with  one  belly  and  one 


80 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HCNTSMAN 


tail  No.  1  treble  hook.     Supplied  with  red    head,     white 
body,  as  well  as  in  other  colors.     Style  Ko.  972RH. 


South  Bend  Standard  Surf-Oreno; 


Made  of  special  light  wood,  body  is  3  3-4  inches  long. 
Supplied  in  many  standard  finishes  of  enamel.  Style  here 
shown  has  red  head  and  white  body.     Style  No.  963RH. 


The  South  Bend  Weedless  Spinner  Buck-Tail,  a  won- 
derful lure,  absolutely  weedless,  of  size  and  weight  easy  to 
cast.  A  remarkable  game-fish  getter  than  can  be  used  in 
the  thickest  of  weeds.  Complete  with  the  pork-rind  it 
has  an  irresistible  appearance  in  water.  Furnished  in  red, 
white,  natural  or  yellow.     Style  No.  565W. 

South  Bend  Weedless  Buck-tail  Spoon,  particularly 
suitable  for  casting  in  pursuit  of    those    vicious    fighting 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 


81 


small  mouth  bass  in  rivers  or  lakes.  Also  holds  the  record 
of  landing  some  big  muskies.  Hook  is  3-0  Sproat.  Used 
with  a  pork-rind,  it  makes  a  very  attractive  lure.  Furnish- 
ed in  red,  white,  natural  or  yellow.     Style  No.  1563AL. 


South  Bend  Weedless  Buck-tail  Bass  Spoon,  a  clean 
sportsmanlike  bait  of  just  the  right  size  and  weight  for 
casting  in  the  lily  pads,  docks,  etc.  With  pork-rind  at- 
tached it  makes  a  very  effective  combination.  Stvle  No. 
1545AL. 


Single  Hook  Minnow.     The    demand    for    minnows 
equipped  with  single  hooks,  instead  of  trebles,  has  been 


82  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

constantly;/  increasing.  This  is  probably  due  to  a  desire  to 
get  away  from  the  multiplicity  of  hooks  and  brought  about 
also,  by  the  requirements  of  laws  in  certain  States  which 
limit  the  number  of  hooks  that  may  be  used  by  the  angler. 
Cut  here  shown  is  Style  No.  904W-SD.  Several  of  the 
other  baits  these  people  put  out  are  made  with  the  single 
hooks,  as  here  shown,  in  various  finishes. 


South  Bend  Flies  are  furnished  tied  on  straight  eye 
ringed  Sproat  hooks,  not  snelled,  thus  permitting  attaching 
a  spoon  or  spinner.  Supplied  in  twelve  colors,  various  siz- 
ed hooks. 

Casting  For  Game  Fish: 

The  step  from  boyhood  fishing  days  to  that  perfec- 
tion in  angling  science  known  as  casting,  is  one  that  can  be 
measured  only  in  years.  Generally  it  stretches  over 
about  a  dozen.  It  may  vary  more  or  less  but  in  the  main 
the  boy  must  have  grown  into  a  full,  mature  manhood,  be- 
fore he  takes  up  casting  and  attempts  to  pit  his  prowess 
against  such  worthy  foes  as  the  Bass,  the  Muskie,  the  Trout 
and  others  of  the  gamy  tribe. 

With  a  free-running  reel,  a  light  silk  line,  a  light. 
flexible  rod  and  suitable  lures,  the  lad  who  at  one  time  was 
fully  satisfied  with  the  small  fry  finds  that  hooking  a  lively 
bass  is  an  entirely  different  sensation  and  that  he  has 
encountered  a  foe  worthy  of  all  the  prowess  his  advanced 
years  have  given  him. 

Just  imagine  a  mighty  black  bass  striking  your  lure 
at  the  end  of  a  well-made  line — imagine  him  going  down 
through  the  cool,  weedy  depths,  making  the  line  fairly  sing 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  83 

in  the  way  it  cuts  the  water — imagine  how  this  plunging, 
jerking,  spirited  fighter  makes  your  frail-looking,  slim, 
six-ounee  rod  bend  to  the  danger  point.  Ah!  no  wonder 
you  give  away  to  him,  fearing  to  attempt  to  hold  by  main 
force. 

Splash,  and  he  darts  to  the  surface  and  in  a  seeming 
frenzy  throws  himself  into  the  air  a  shining  silvery,  quiv- 
ering mass,  filled  with  fight  and  anger.  .  Splash !  again — 
and  he  dives  down  to  the  bottom;  you  feel  the  bum  of  the 
silk  line  as  it  slides  through  your  almost  trembling  fingci's. 

By  now  he  has  you  sweating;  you  start  to  get  up,  you 
sit  down,  you  are  on  the  anxious  seat  every  one  of  the  sec- 
onds which  seem  minutes. 

Now,  what  do  you  think?  Is  he  equal  to  your  skill, 
3^our  presence  of  mind,  your  craftiness  or  are  you  equal  to 
his  cimning,  his  quickness,  and  his  strength  ? 

Then  slowly,  oh,  so  slowly,  you  lead  him  to  the  boat. 
Your  hand  slips  into  the  water — you  disdain  to  use  a  net 
or  a  gaff  on  a  prize  like  this — and  then — 

Swish!  and  he  goes  again — not  conquered  yet,  you 
must  let  him  have  this  final  fling.  Again  you  slowly  bring 
him  to  the  boat  and  then — your  fingers  slip  down  into  his 
gills  or  jaws,  you  swing  him  into  the  boat.  He  is  yours 
then. 

That's  casting  for  game  fish — that's  why  men  look 
forward  to  every  holiday;  why  they  steal  away  from  their 
daily  work  as  often  as  possible  and  use  their  Sundays  as 
frequently  as  convenient  for  fishing  trips. 

That's  why  men  leave  luxurious  homes  and  rough  it 
— at  a  camp,  put  up  with  fares  far  inferior  to  what  they 
get  at  home,  leave  nice  soft  beds  and  sleep  even  in  a  barn, 
rise  at  daybreak,  when  at  home  to  rise  at  eight  would  be  a 
hardship,  row  a  boat  mile  after  mile  without  tiring  or  com- 
plaining— all  these  and  a  lot  more  trials  of  like  nature  will 
men  stand — 

And  for  why?    We  know  of  but  one  answer.    It's  for 


84  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  that  is  secured  in  fighting  the 
gamy,  battling  king  of  the  waters  on  his  home  ground  in  a 
good  square  way — that's  the  compensation. 

There  is  another  angle  from  which  we  may  view  this 
question — it's  the  health-building  factor  that  goes  with 
angling. 

Of  all  sports,  we  can't  think  of  a  single  one  that  pro- 
vides the  latitude  for  healthful  recreation  that  can  be  had 
in  the  practice  of  angling.  •  A  man  with  a  surplus  of  vigor 
and  energy  can  work  as  hard  as  he  likes  and  enjoy  himself 
accordingly,  while  his  anaemic  brother  can  take  the  sport  in 
lighter  degrees,  work  slower  and  get  suitable  recreation — 
both  equally  benefited  by  the  outdoor  exercise  obtained. 

To  be  a  caster,  you  must  go  out-of-doors.  You  must 
go  where  the  air  is  pure,  where  there  is  plenty  of  sunlight, 
breezes,  scenery,  trees,  shrubs,  etc.  You  get  close  to  na- 
ture, away  from  your  daily  environments ;  you  live  a  diif er- 
ent  life,  eat  different  food,  breathe  different  air — every 
thing  is  different  and  your  well-being  is  improved  in  con- 
sequence. 

This  probably  accounts  for  the  reason  that  many  of  us 
make  fishing  our  hobby  and,  truly,  it  is  a  hobby  with  many 
individuals. 

Nowadays,  a  hobby  is  a  necessity  with  a  business  man 
— it  provides  a  means  which  enables  him  to  forget  his  busi- 
ness, to  employ  his  mind  outside  of  business  hours  and  at 
the  same  time  it  is  an  excellent  avenue  of  amusement. 

Every  red-blooded  man  should  have  a  hobby.  He 
owes  it  to  himself,  to  his  family  and  to  his  country — because 
it  makes  him  a  better,  broader,  wiser  and  more  even-tem- 
pered man. 

Now,  what  could  be  a  more  commendable  hobby — one 
that  is  more  enjoyable,  more  entertaining  and  more  worthy 
the  effort  required  to  further  it  than  that  which  brings  you 
into  the  closest  possible  touch  with  nature;  in  touch  with 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  85 

her  streams,  her  rivers,  her  lakes,  her  shrubs,  trees,  bushes 
and  her  acquatic  peoples? 

Think  it  over — what  single  sport  offers  a  greater  op- 
portunity for  personal  action,  recreation,  pleasure,  health 
and  excitement;  what  other  sport  destroys  as  little  and  yet 
provides  so  much? 

The  originator  of  the  buck-tail  bait  was  an  ardent  fish- 
erman. So  ardent  in  fact,  that  his  business  never  grew  in 
proportion  to  the  genuine  merit  which  the  baits  possess. 
The  inventor  of  the  South  Bend  Anti-Back-Lash  Reel  still 
uses  the  grandmother's  funeral  excuse  very  frequently  in 
order  to  go  fishing. 

The  Origin  of  Artificial  Minnows  for  Casting: 

The  legend  has  it  that  many  years  ago,  after  a  lot  of 
hard  work  with  nothing  to  show  for  it,  a  disgusted  and  very 
much  disgruntled  fisherman  sat  in  his  boat  wrestling  with 
that  old  theorem,  namely :  ^ '  Why  don 't  they  bite  ? ' '  After 
divers  remarks  about  fish,  fishing  luck  and  everything 
connected  w;ith  the  fishing  sport,  he  punctuated  his  final 
decision  by  throwing  an  empty  cigarette  box  into  the  water 
with  no  little  show  of  temper.  As  the  box  lit  there  was  a 
slight  riffle  on  the  surface,  then  something  happened — 

It  looked  as  if  an  unseen  hand  liad  reached  out  of  the 
depths  and  punched  the  empty  box  a  vigorous  jab;  it  went 
into  the  air  some  four  feet.  The  angler  was  astonished. 
He  watched  the  colored  box  float  away,  suddenly  something 
rose  and  lunged  at  it  again.  This  time  he  saw  it  all.  It 
was  a  big,  black  bass  that  had  smashed  up  through  the  sur- 
face and  hit  the  vari-colored  box  with  such  vigor.  This 
gave  him  an  idea,  from  which  originated  the  use  of  artifi- 
cial minnows  as  a  bait  for  game  fish. 

This  incident  showed  that  a  quest  for  food  was  not  the 
onl3^  incentive  that  impelled  game  fish  to  bite;  but  the  lust 
for  play  or  fight  was  an  inherent  instinct  in  the  fish,  the 


86       ^  THE    AXGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN 

same  as  is  known  to  be  the  case  with  otlier  creatures  in  the 
animal  kingdom. 

From  this  simple  beginning  the  cigarette  box  soon  as- 
smned  a  beautiful,  graceful,  minnow-like  form  in  divers 
sizes,  colors,  shapes — all  designed  to  more  quickly  excite 
this  propensity  on  the  part  of  game  fish.  The  develop- 
ment, of  course,  was  gradual  and  many  years  passed  from 
the  time  the  first  crude  block  of  w^ood  covered  with  its 
coat  of  house  paint  with  the  hooks  suspended  in  any  way, 
to  the  real  work  of  art  evidenced  in  the  minnows  now  be- 
ing manufactured. 

The  Art  of  Casting: 

And,  when  we  say  art,  we  say  it  with  a  full  apprecia- 
tion of  what  the  term  implies.  Being  able  to  cast  a  lure, 
light  and  fluffy  as  the  Buck-Tail  Fly,  a  bait  heavy  and  un- 
wieldy as  is  the  case  with  most  forms  of  live  bait,  or  to  cast 
a  compact,  non-resisting  bait  such  as  an  artificial  minnow; 
to  cast  any  of  these  lures  against  the  wind,  with  the  wind,  or 
diagonally  into  the  wind  and  to  cast  30,  40,  80,  or  100  feet, 
and  to  do  all  this  with  a  precision  that  verges  nigh  on  to 
bulls-eye  accuracy,  is,  in  a  word,  art.  It  should  be  under- 
stood, however,  that  the  skill  of  the  expert  is  not  necessary 
for  ordinary  practical  fishing.  We  have  seen  beginners 
catch  nice  strings  of  fish  under  favorable  conditions,  but 
naturally  everyone  wants  to  get  out  of  the  ^^ beginners'* 
class  as  soon  as  possible. 

Therefore,  if  perchance,  one  may  have  had  trouble  at- 
taining the  proficiency  in  casting  that  he  thought  would  be 
his  after  a  few  trials,  the  caster  can  well  console  himself 
with  the  fact  that  casting  is,  in  truth,  an  art  and  the  at- 
tainment of  perfection  no  trifle.  We  believe  that  perfec- 
tion in  casting  can  be  summed  up  and  stated  in  the  use  of 
fourP's — 

Patience,  Practice,  Precision  and  Perseverance. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  87 

Endless  pages  have  been  written  on  what  to  do  aii.d  not 
to  do  in  bait  casting,  but  here  we  will  try  to  boil  it  down  to 
a  few  practical  hints  and  in  reading  these  remember  that 
perfection  in  casting  is  simply  a  matter  of  how  well  you  re- 
member and  how  intensely  you  apply  the  four  P's — Pa- 
tience, Practice,  Precision,  and  Perseverance. 

The  Creator  gave  you  a  wrist,  supple,  quick  and  active ; 
a  forearm,  with  its  power  to  grip  and  an  upper-arm,  with 
its  muscles  for  pushing  and  pulling.  The  wrist  and  fore- 
arm were  given  you  for  casting;  the  upper  arm  for  holding 
the  fish — remember  that,  always. 

Casting,  practically  speaking,  should  be  accomplished 
from  the  elbow  down ;  this  is  really  the  only  part  of  the  arm 
that  should  be  brought  into  play.  Many  authorities  even 
go  so  far  as  to  advocate  strapping  the  beginner's  upper-arm 
to  the  body  in  order  to  confine  all  the  action  to  the  fore-arm 
and  wrist. 

Casting  consists  of  five  distinct  operations — the  back- 
ward stroke,  the  forward  stroke,  a  short  period  of  waiting 
for  the  bait  to  carry  out,  shifting  the  rod  to  the  other  hand 
and,  finally,  retrieving. 

One's  success,  of  course,  depends  a  great  deal  on  the 
tackle — the  reel,  the  rod,  the  line  and  the  lure.  To  a  large 
extent  the  types  in  these  five  factors  vary  according  to  the 
style  of  work  the  caster  is  attempting  to  do. 

A  heavy  lure  can  be  worked  successfully  with  a  slow- 
acting,  heavy  rod  and  a  stiff -running  reel  with  heavy  line. 
On  the  other  hand  a  light  lure  necessitates  a  free-running 
reel,  a  light  line  and  a  quick-acting  rod — by  quick  acting  we 
mean  what  anglers  usually  term  *^whip"  or  resiliency.  All 
factors  dove-tail  in,  one  with  another,  so  that  the  caster 
must  adapt  his  tackle  to  fit  the  class  of  work  he  wants 

This  is  why  so  many  seasoned  anglers  always  carry 
two  complete  outfits  with  them  in  the  boat.  One  consists 
usually  of  a  rather  long,  light  rod  and  a  soft  braid  line  for 
casting  light  lures,  such  as  Buck-tails,  spinner  hooks,  flies 


88  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

and  pork  strips;  the  other  a  shorter,  heavier  rod  and  strong- 
er line  for  lieavier  baits  sucli  as  wooden  minnows,  frogs,  and 
surface  plugs. 

With  your  outfit  all  rigged  up  you  get  into  your  boat, 
then  seat  yourself  with  an  idea  of  being  just  as  comfortable 
as  you  can.  You  must  not  think  casting  is  hard  work,  so 
settle  yourself  as  if  jou  intended  to  take  it  easy  and  fully 
enjov  a  most  pleasant  recreation. 

Note  that  we  lay  stress  on  SITTING  DOWN;  in  cast- 
ing from  a  boat  a  caster  should  never  attempt  to  stand — it 
is,  above  all,  bad  form;  it  is  awkward;  itl  is  tiring  and  it  is 
dangerous  because  the  general  run  of  fishing  boats  were 
not  built  for  promenading.  Anyway,  there  is  no  excuse  for 
one's  standing  up;  so  sit  down  and  enjoy  yourself  more  for 
it. 

Now  you  are  ready  to  cast.  Wind  your  bait  up  to 
within  three  or  four  inches  from  the  tip  of  your  rod.  Be- 
ware of  winding  it  up  so  closely  that  the  metal  part  of  the 
bait  strikes  the  agate  tip — it  may  mean  a  broken  agate,  a 
cut  line  and  a  lost  fish. 

Aside  from  this  a  few  inches  of  line  between  the  tip 
and  the  lure  is  necessary  to  get  sufficient  whip  action  in 
the  end  of  the  rod  w^hen  making  a  back  stroke. 

Here  now  vou  should  exercise  caution  in  the  other  di- 
rection — do  not  leave  too  much  line  between  the  tip  and 
the  lure,  as  too  much  may  permit  of  your  bait  looping  the 
end  of  the  rOd.  Watch  this  and  it  may  save  you  the  em- 
barrassment of  throwing  your  rod  in  the  lake. 

Therefore,  reemmber  this — watch  it  always;  let  the 
question  of  winding  your  bait  with  caution  become  a  mat- 
ter of  ^^ second  nature"  with  you. 

Now,  ready  for  the  back  stroke,  let  us  say  that  the  only 
reason  nature  provided  you  with  a  shoulder  for  casting 
work  w^as  that  you  could  use  it  as  a  guide  for  the  path 
through  which  your  rod  must  travel  in  making  the  back 
stroke  correctly. 


THE   ANGLEK   AND    HUNTSMAN  89 

Go  straight  back  with  the  rod  over  the  shoulder,  the 
hand  at  tlie  shoulder,  elbow  down  close  to  the  body.  liCt 
this  be  your  ^^form"  at  all  times,  to  be  changed  only  when 
conditions  such  as  casting  under  over-hanging  limbs  and  the 
like  necessitates  variation. 

By  bringing  the  rod  back  over  the  shoulder  and  again 
forward  in  the  same  path  you  at  once  eliminate  all  uncer- 
tainty as  to  accuracy,  side-wise  or  laterally,  forgetting  of 
course,  for  the  time  being,  the  calculations  that  must  be 
made  for  wind,  etc.  Let  the  rod  go  straight  back  OA^er 
your  shoulder  and  then  bring  it  forward  with  both  wrist 
and  forearm  movement,  pointing  straight  toward,  but  a 
little  above,  the  spot  you  wish  to  hit;  your  bait  will  fly  just 
as  true  as  it  is  natural  for  you  to  point  straight. 

Now  analyze  this  action — you  will  see  that  during  both 
forward  and  backward  strokes  it  keeps  your  bait  in  a  per- 
pendicular plane  with  your  arms  and  rod  acting  as  a  sweep- 
ing radius.  This  is  your  casting  territory  and  by  staying 
in  it,  in  this  manner,  you  will  not  imperil  the  eyes,  ears, 
and  other  parts  of  your  companion's  anatomy.  You  can 
cast  to  either  side  of  the  boat  from  your  original  position; 
your  territorial  efficiency  is  nearly  double  that  which  it 
would  be  should  you  cast  in  any  manner,  other  than  over  the 
shoulder.  Therefore,  does  it  not  seem  best  to  learn  the  over- 
the-shoulder  swing?  We  are  of  the  opinion  that  this 
overhead  cast  is  easier  to  learn  first  than  the  side  cast  any- 
way. 

Try  to  make  your  movements  smooth  and  easy,  avoid 
jerkiness  and  straining.  Make  your  rod  do  the  throwing 
rather  than  your  arm,  and,  lastly,  don't  try  so  much  for  dis- 
tance, but  to  get  accuracy.  Distance  will  come  gradually 
without  any  effort  and  when  you  find  a  need  to  cast  far  you 
will  do  it  without  actually  giving  the  distance  a  thought. 

In  starting  the  back  stroke,  one's  thumb  should  be 
placed  firmly  on  the  spool  of  the  reel — you  must  hold  it  so 
that  your  bait  will  not  start  until  you  are  ready  it  should. 


90  THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

Bring  the  rod  back  as  described  above  with  a  quick  motion, 
hinging  at  the  elbow  and  bending  the  wrist  freely.  This 
back  stroke  should  be  made  with  just  enough  snap  to  cre- 
ate a  bend  or  '^whip"  in  the  rod  and  remember  the  greater 
part  of  the  motion  of  the  rod  is  secured  by  the  action  of  the 
wrist. 

The  forward  stroke  is  accomplished  bv  bringing  the 
hand  forward  through  the  same  arc  you  make  on  the  back 
stroke.  Most  of  the  action  should  be  accomplished  in  the 
wrist,  ^^ flip-like"  seems  to  describe  it  best.  The  thmnb  is 
then  released  from  the  spool  and  the  bait  is  started  out  to- 
ward the  spot  at  which  you  are  aiming.  The  fore-arm  is 
then  brought  forward  and  the  top  of  the  rod  held,  point 
fairly  well  up,  while  the  line  is  allowed  to  run  out  until  the 
bait  strikes  the  water  or  until  the  caster  stops  it  by 
thumbing  the  reel.  As  the  line  travels  out  and  '^settles" 
toward  the  surface  the  rod  tip  should  be  lowered  and  allow- 
ed to  follow  the  line.  It  is  well  to  turn  the  palm  of  the  hand 
down  a  little  at  the  finish  of  the  stroke  so  that  the  reel 
handle  grip  is  pointed  almost,  but  not  quite,  straight  up  in 
the  air.  This  permits  a  freer  action  of  the  wrist  and  also 
tends  to  make  the  line  run  more  freely  through  the  guides. 

Prom  the  instant  the  caster  releases  his  thumb  from 
The  reel  spool  at  the  beginning  of  the  forward  stroke,  he 
must  carefully  ^Hhumb"  his  line,  with  a  constantly 
changing  pressure.  This  is  done  so  as  to  regulate  the  speed 
at  which  the  bait  is  traveling.  If  this  is  not  done  properly 
the  reel,  due  to  the  excessive  impetus  caused  by  starting  the 
bait,  will  travel  faster  than  the  line  is  being  carried  out  and 
result  in  the  angler's  abomination,  the  back-lash.  This  in- 
struction applies  to  ordinary  reels.  With  the  South  Bend 
Anti-Back-Lash  Reel  the  'thumbing"  care  is  unnecessary 
as  the  reel  is  constructed  so  as  to  save  the  caster  this  atten- 
tion, and  for  this  reason  it  is  used  even  by  experts  for  night 
casting  when  the  largest  fish  are  often  caught. 

Some  time  between  the  starting  of  the  bait,  at  the  be- 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  91 

ginning  of  the  forward  stroke,  and  the  time  when  the  bait 
strikes  the  water,  the  caster  must  shift  the  rod  from  his 
casting  hand  to  the  other  hand,  ready  for  retrieving.  Now- 
let  this  sink  in  deeply:  The  caster  should  have  made  this 
shift  and  be  ready  to  have  the  bait  moving  back  toward  him 
the  very  instant  it  touches  the  water — ^here  lies  much  of  the 
secret  of  success,  the  secret  of  making  them  strike.  It  all 
hinges  on  one's  ability  to  make  the  bait  look  '4ive"  and 
full  of  action  the  very  instant  it  touches  the  water.  More 
strikes  are  ^'coaxed"  in  this  little  instant  of  correct  bait 
action  than  are  ever  created  by  yards  and  yards  of  the  most 
careful  reeling. 

In  retrieving,  hold  the  rod  in  the  hand  which  has  been 
idle  up  to  this  point — gripping  it  a  little  above  the  reel  with 
the  thumb  and  index  finger  on  the  line  so  it  can  be  ^^ spool- 
ed" evenly. 

As  the  barefoot  boy  was  inclined  to  jerk  vigorously  at 
the  slightest  indication  of  a  nibble,  so  the  caster  by  in- 
stinct, probably,  will  be  prompted  to  jerk  immediately  he 
feels  a  fish  strike.  However,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
striking  a  fish  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of  force  and  strength 
as  it  is  of  dexterity  and  quickness.  So  the  angler  must 
learn  to  respond  quickly  and  snappily  in  answer  to  the 
slightest  signal  that  his  quarry  is  ready  to  fight.  Care 
should  be  taken  in  this  respect  if  you  wish  to  ^^kill"  a  max- 
imum number  of  hits  and  still  keep  your  outfit  intact. 

All  these  factors  mentioned  may  seem  small  each  in 
itself,  but  remember  it  is  trifles  that  make  perfection  and 
perfection  is  no  trifle.  So,  be  patient,  practice;  be  precise 
and  persevere,  and  in  a  surprisingly  short  time  you  will 
be  known  as  belonging  in  the  expert  class  in  the  art  of  Bait 
Casting. 

Special  Baits  for  Muskellunge: 

^^King  of  the  waters,"  this  game  fish  is  called,  and 
rightly  does  he  deserve  this  honorary  nickname.  No  bet- 
ter fighter  ever  rose  to  the    angler's    lure.      He    rushes 


92  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

through  the  water  like  a  shadowy  streak  and  w^hen  he 
strikes! — Oh  boy!  Mr.  Muskie  goes  right  after  your  bait 
just  like  he  was  bent  upon  swallowing  not  only  the  lure, 
but  the  rod  and  reel  as  well  and  you  too  if  he  should  be  able 
to  drag  you  in.  And  he  certainly  tries  to  drag  one  in.  He 
fights  Avith  a  vengeance  every  inch  of  the  way  and  is  not 
your  fish  until  absolutely  in  the  boat,  and  even  then  he  may 
spring  a  surprise  on  you  and  get  away. 

The  writer  knows  of  no  better  Muskie  Trolling  ^lin- 
now  than  those  put  out  by  the  South  Bend  people,  which 
have  given  general  satisfaction  so  far  as  we  can  learn. 

Their  Muskie  Trolling  Min-Buck  is  also  a  well  made 
and  reliable  bait  for  trolling,  and  the  Buck-tail  spoons  are 
especially  adapted  for  trolling  purposes  in  the  larger  sizes, 
while  the  smaller  ones  may  be  used  for  casting.  They  are 
well-proportioned  and  designed  so  that  you  need  have  no 
fear  of  any  part  breaking  at  the  critical  moment.  This  re- 
assurance is  worth  a  good  deal  to  the  angler. 

There  are  other  more  or  less  dependable  lures  on  the 
market  for  Muskie  fishing  and  some  of  them  are  very 
good,  but  the  above  are  given  prominence  because  of  their 
known  reliability.  Lack  of  space  forbids  us  describing  all 
the  many  lures  on  the  market,  hence  we  have  endeavored 
to  describe  only  representative  baits  in  each  class  of  fish- 
ing. This  is  not  intended  to  detract  in  any  :way  from  the 
merits  the  other  baits  possess. 

Dependable  Lures: 

A  dandy  surface  bait,  the  proportions  of  the  body, 
weight,  trimmings,  etc.,  of  which  are  exactly  right,  is  the 
South  Bend  Surf-Oreno,  and  is  a  lure  that  has  met  with 
great  success  w^herever  used.  It  floats  at  all  times,  rides 
high  in  th^  water  and  the  commotion  and  churning  of  the 
water,  caused  by  the  revolving  spinners,  is  a  great  game- 
fish  attraction. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  93 

Another  South  Bend  product  is  their  splendid  Surface 
Minnows,  designed  especially  for  surface  work.  It  has 
proven  to  he  a  very  good  bait.  The  tail  treble  and  under- 
hung gang  meet  the  strike  in  a  very  effective  manner.  This 
feature,  and  the  attractive  colors  combine  to  make  a  very 
efficient  fish-getter. 

The  South  Bend  Weedless  Surface  Minnows  are  de- 
pendable to  bring  results,  as  well  as  are  their  other  designs 
of  weedless  baits. 

Probably  the  best  bait,  at  least  the  most  popular  bait, 
they  produce  is  the  famous  South  Bend  Bass-Oreno,  many 
anglers  claiming  it  is  the  greatest  fish-getter  ever  made. 
It  is  a  wobbler  type  of  bait  that  dives,  dashes,  darts  and 
wiggles,  in  the  same  manner  an  injured  fish  would  act.  It 
has  an  erratic  motion,  which  is  probably  the  reason  it  is  so 
successful.  It  is  unexcelled  for  Pike,  Muskie,  Bass  and 
Pickerel. 

Their  under-water  baits  are  equally  as  effective.  The 
Under- Water  Minnows  Three  Treble  being  a  perfect  min- 
now for  casting  or  trolling.  They  are  equipped  with  a 
spinner  in  both  front  and  rear.  Treble  hooks  are  attached 
with  countersunk  screw-eye.  The  trebles  are  removable 
by  simply  unscrewing  them.  Then  they  make  a  bait  call- 
ed Weedless  Under- Water  Minnows,  and  one  called  Under- 
Water  Minnows — Five  Treble,  which  also  deliver  the 
goods.  Their  combination  Minnow  with  buck  tail,  having 
one  treble  hook,  is  good  for  use  in  comparatively  weedy 
water.  It  is  an  excellent  river  bait.  The  buck-tail  masks 
the  hook. 

Then  in  the  matter  of  Buck-tail  and  Trout  Plies  these 
people  put  out  as  good  stuff  as  can  be  obtained  anywhere. 
Their  spinners,  Buck-tail  single  hooks,  etc,  etc.,  are  all  of 
the  very  best  workmanship  and  best  of  all  they  produce 
the  desired  results.  That  is  the  best  we  could  say  for  any- 
body's tackle. — ^From  Days  of  Real  Sport. 


94  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

CULTURE  OF  RAINBOW  TROUT  AND  BROOK 
TROUT  IN  PONDS: 

The  U.  S.  Departinent  of  Commerce,  Bureau  of  Fish- 
eries, has  furnished  us  the  following  data  in  regard  to  the 
culture  of  Rainbow  and  Brook  trout  in  ponds.  This  data 
w^as  prepared  by  Glen  C.  Leach,  Assistant  in  charge  of  Di- 
vision of  Fish  Culture,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Fisheries: 

'^The  information  herein  given  has  been  prepared  for 
the  use  of  persons  who  may  be  in  a  position  to  propagate 
trout  under  the  more  or  less  natural  conditions  existing  in 
farm  ponds  or  other  waters  of  a  somewhat  similar  charac- 
ter. To  this  has  been  added  a  chapter  on  intensive  pond 
culture  for  the  benefit  of  those  whose  operations  must  nec- 
essarily be  confined  to  a  limited  area. 

^^The  fact  is  recognized  that  individuals  engaged  in  the 
business  of  farming  or  stock  raising  have  not  the  necessary 
time  to  devote  to  intensive  fish  culture.  At  the  same  time 
there  are,  doubtless,  many  who  would  find  it  possible,  at 
trifling  expense,  to  convert  into  trout  ponds  land  areas 
which  -are  at  present  unproductive,  either  by  the  damming 
of  a  ravine  orl  the  diversion  of  water  from  some  neighbor- 
ing stream  into  a  suitable  inclosure. 

Water  Supply^ — Volume,  Quality  and  Temperature: 

^^The  first  and  most  important  requisite  in  such  an  un- 
dertaking is  the  water  supply.  It  should  be  derived  from 
springs  or  a  spring-fed  brook;  it  must  be  of  suitable  vol- 
ume and  temperature,  and  its  source  must  be  so  located 
that  a  constant  gravity  flow  into  the  proposed  pond  is  as- 
sured. Ponds  used  for  the  watering  of  farm  animals  should 
not  be  stocked  with  trout,  unless  the  stock  can  be  confined 
to  a  certain  portion  of  the  pond  by  a  fence,  preferably  near 
the  outlet,  as  successful  results  can  not  be  expected  where 
the  water  is  liable  to  become  roiled  or  contaminated.  How- 
ever, trout  ponds  can  safely  be  used  as  a,  source  of  supply 
for  ice.     The  best  results  may  be  expected  if  the  source  of 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  95 

water  is  a  spring  or  lake,  and  if  from  the  latter  the  water 
should  be  taken  from  below  the  surface  in  order  to  afford 
a  more  even  temperature  Alkali  water  and  water  from 
forests  showing  discoloration  and  traces  of  tannin  are  not 
suitable. 

^^The  flow  of  water  requisite  in  a  fishpond  will  vary 
with  the  nature  of  the  soil,  the  species  propagated,  and  the 
water  temperature.  Soils  containing  a  good  deal  of  sand 
will  lose  water  through  seepage,  making  it  essential  to  pro- 
vide for  a  larger  inflow  in  order  to  maintain  the  pond  level. 

*' Under  ordinary  conditions  the  rainbow  trout,  because 
of  its  ability  to  withstand  a  higher  temperature  and.a  more 
sluggish  water  circulation,  will  yield  better  results  in  ponds 
than  the  brook  trout.  The  brook  trout  thrives  best  in  a 
swift  current  fed  by  cold  springs,  and  attains  its  maximum 
excellence  in  streams.  However,  an  exception  is  found  in 
certain  lakes  in  Colorado,  where  the  introduced  brook 
trout  attains  its  largest  size.  Assuming  that  it  is  desired 
to  carry  1,000  yearling  trout  in  a  1-acre  pond  fed  from  a 
spring  or  brook,  a  flow  of  from  150  to  200  gallons  per  min- 
ute will  be  sufficient,  provided  the  temperature  of  the  wa- 
ter at  the  point  where  it  enters  the  pond  does  not  exceed 
60  degrees  F.  during  the  summer  months.  Trout  confin- 
ed in  small  streams  with  a  strong  flow  will  withstand  a 
temperature  of  70  degrees  without  harm. 

^*If  the  water  supplv  to  the  proposed  pond  is  from  a 
spring,  it  should  first  flow  into  a  reservoir  and  thence 
through  an  open  raceway  into  the  pond.  This  will  permit 
it  to  throw  off  injurious  gases  and  acquire  the  normal 
amount  of  oxygen.  Logs  placed  across  this  open  conduit 
at  frequent  intervals  will  provide  the  riffles  necessary  for 
varying  the  flow,  thus  approaching  natural  conditions.  The 
water  is  allowed  to  pass  over  them,  although  no  harm  will 
result  if  it  occasionally  flows  imderneatli.  Rocks  also  may 
be  used  to  accomplish  the  desired  end. 

If  a  stream  is  to  be  the  source  of  supply,  a  screen,  so 


96  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

constructed  that  it  can  not  be  washed  out  during  freshets, 
should  be  inserted  in  the  intake  to  keep  undesirable  fishes 
out  of  the  pond.  For  the  diversion  of  the  water  from  the 
stream  to  the  pond  it  will  be  found  necessary  in  many  cases 
to  construct  a  small  dam  which  should  be  located  from  10  to 
20  feet  downstream  from  the  point  of  intake.  It  should 
be  the  exact  height  required  to  accomplish  the  desired  ob- 
ject and  strong  enough  to  withstand  flood  waters.  Make  the 
intake  sufficiently  wide  and  deep  to  accommodate  the  flow 
to  the  pond,  and  for  its  protection  install  below  its  mouth 
a  slat  rack  placed  at  an  angle  of  approximately  60  de- 
grees and  facing  downstream.  In  this  position  the  water 
will  flow  past  the  outside  edge  and  return  to  the  rack,  caus- 
ing most  of  the  floating  debris  and  ice  to  pass  instead  of 
lodging  against  it. 

^^Por  the  interception  of  floating  particles  a  galvaniz- 
ed iron  screen  with  3  to  4  meshes  to  the  inch,  is  installed  on 
a  frame  set  from  18  to  24  inches  back  of  the  rack.  The  gate 
is  placed  12  to  18  inches  below  the  screen  and  is  used  to 
regulate  the  flow  of  water. 

Selection  of  The  Pond  Site: 

^^Care  should  be  taken  to  choose  a  location  that  will  be 
free  from  inundation  and  surface  drainage.  If  possible, 
sandy,  or  porous  soil  should  be  avoided;  but,  if  there  is  no 
alternative,  the  bottom  of  the  pond  may  be  covered  to  a 
depth  of  from  4  to  5  inches  with  clay,  which  should  be 
spread  evenly  over  the  bottom  with  a  garden  rake.  Water 
is  then  turned  on  and  the  clay  is  tamped  and  puddled  until 
it  is  impervious  to  water.  If  the  trout  are  to  be  held  under 
natural  conditions,  gravel  and  sand  should  be  placed  on  top 
of  the  clay  near  the  intake  and  around  the  shores  of  the 
pond  to  a  depth  of  18  to  36  inches  below  the  water  surface. 

'^If  the  pond  can  be  located  a  few  hundred  feet  below 
the  intake,  making  practicable  a  supply  ditch  several 
feet  wide  and  6  to  18  inches  deep,  a  most  excellent  spawning 


THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX  97 

place  for  the  fisli  may  be  provided  by  varying  the  depth 
of  the  conduit  at  frequent  intervals,  so  that  the  current  will 
form  eddies  and  ripples,  and  by  covering  the  bottom  to  a 
depth  of  several  inches  with  sand  and  gravel.  At  the  ap- 
proach of  the  spawning  season  the  fish  will  ascend  this 
passage  and  lay  their  eggs  among  the  hollows  formed,  and, 
as  they  prefer  swift  water  for  spawning,  no  harm  will  re- 
sult if  there  is  a  current  of  3  to  4  miles  an  hour.  A  race- 
way so  constructed  will  afford  a  better  control  of  the  fish 
and  prove  very  convenient  as  a  storage  place  when  it  is 
necessary  to  handle  them  or  to  clean  the  pond. 

''Ponds  are  usually  drawn  for  the  purpose  of  assorting 
or  reducing  the  stock,  cleaning,  removing  objectionable 
fishes,  and  for  the  elimination  of  surplus  vegetation.  They 
sliould  never  be  completely  drained  unless  the  fish  can  first 
]}e  transferred  to  some  suitable  reservoir  where  they  will 
iuive  an  abundant  supply  of  good  water. 

Construction  of  Pond: 

^'The  mode  of  procedure  in  building  a  trout  pond  will 
vary  with  the  physical  characteristics  of  the  site  and  the 
amount  of  money  to  be  expended  in  the  project.  A  trout 
pond  should  be  rather  broad  and  deep  at  one  end,  tapering 
toward  a  long  narrow  neck  at  the  supply,  with  the  view 
of  providing  for  a  decided  current  throughout  a  portion  of 
its  extent.  This  form  of  construction  will  apply  to  the  av- 
erage pond  made  by  placing  a  dam  across  a  small  ravine 
or  gully.  Its  size  will  of  course,  be  governed  in  the  major- 
ity of  instances  by  the  contour  of  the  site,  its  location  with 
reference  to  the  source  of  water  supply,  and  the  amount  oL' 
water  available.  It  should  be  no  larger  than  will  admit  of 
its  complete  control  in  drawing  off  the  water  and  handling 
the  fish.  The  size  under  most  conditions  will  probably  be 
between  1  and  2  acres.  On  the  other  hand,  it  should  not 
be  too  small.  A  pond  of  less  than  an  acre  in  area  is  apt  to 
become  overstocked  in  a  few  years,  especially  where  the 


98  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX 

larger  fish  are  not  removed,  and  the  resulting  shortage  of 
natural  food  will  necessitate  artificial  feeding,  an  impor- 
tant factor  for  consideration. 

''A  pond  may  be  located  in  a  ravine,  necessitating  only 
the  erection  of  a  dam.  If  the  ravine  is  subject  to  heavy 
freshets,  it  will  be  best  to  construct  the  dam  of  masonry  or 
heavy  timbers,  at  least  at  its  crest,  and  a  spillway  must  be 
provided  and  screened  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  fish. 
In  this  latter  particular  great  precaution  must  be  exercis- 
.ed,  because  if  the  screening  is  improperly  done  there  will 
be  great  danger  of  its  clogging  with  ice  and  debris  during 
flood  periods,  resulting  in  damage  to  the  pond. 

^' Ponds  that  are  wholly  or  partly  surrounded  by  trees 
are  desirable  in  many  respects.  If  possible,  the  ponds 
should  be  shaded  during  the  summer  months ;  but  this  does 
not  mean  that  they  must  be  entirely  void  of  sunlight,  as 
that  is  an  important  factor  in  the  production  of  small  aqua- 
tic animal  life.  If  surface  water  is  strongly  discolored  b}^ 
decayed  vegetation  or  contains  other  deleterious  matter,  it 
should  not  be  permitted  to  enter  the  pond.  Small  trenches 
cut  around  the  sides  of  the  pond  will  usually  be  found  val- 
uable in  carrying  surface  water  to  a  waste  ditch.  In  the 
fall  of  the  year  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  pond  free 
of  leaves  as  far  as  possible,  as  they  will  cause  considerabh- 
trouble  on  the  inlet  and  outlet  screens. 

^^  Ponds  should  be  so  constructed  that  the  overflow  may 
be  conducted  to  a  similar  pond  at  a  lower  level.  The  water 
may  be  used  over  a  number  of  times  by  giving  it  a  fall  of 
at  least"  12  inches,  so  that  it  will  become  aerated  before 
entering  another  pond. 

^^If  the  pond  is  slightly  lower  than  the  source  of  the 
water,  the  natural  surface  of  the  ground  may  form  the  bot- 
tom of  the  pond.  In  that  case  the  embankment  may  be  of 
earth,  but  in  order  to  provide  for  a  firm  foundation  an  exca- 
vation of  at  least  one  foot  lower  than  the  pond  bottom 
should  be  made  where  the  embankment  is  to  extend.     In  a 


THE   ANGLER    AND    HLNTSMAN  99 

region  where  muskrats  occur  it  is  advisable  to  place  wire 
screening  in  the  embankment,  extending  it  about  1  foot 
above  and  2  feet  below  the  water  level,  and  burying  it  in  a 
bank  to  a  depth  of  6  inches.  For  this  purpose  extra-heavy 
poultry  wire  or  close  mesh  stock-fence  wire  will  answer.  Ex- 
cavating is  not  to  be  recommended  if  the  earth  required  for 
the  embankment  can  be  otherwise  obtained. 

'^The  inside  slope  of  an  earth  embankment  should  be 
approximately  18  inches  horizontal  to  1  foot  vertical,  the 
exact  proportion  varying  somewhat  with  the  nature  of  the 
soil.  The  outside  slopes  may  be  1  to  1,  and  after  settling, 
they  should  be  sodded.  The  thickness  of  an  embankment 
at  the  water  level  should  never  be  less  than  the  depth  of 
the  water.  For  small  ponds  the  top  should  be  at  least  3 
feet  across,  and  not  less  than  6  feet  where  the  pond  is  large 
enough  to  admit  of  considerable  wave  action.  No  under- 
brush, logs,  or  other  materials  subject  to  decay  should  en- 
ter into  an  embankment,  but  imperishable  substances,  such 
as  rocks,  may  be  used.  The  filling  should  not  be  undertak- 
en in  sections,  but  should  progress  by  layers  over  the  full 
width  of  the  embankment.  If  acquatic  vegetation  cannot 
be  obtained  for  planting  near  the  water  edge,  that  portion 
may  be  rip-rapped  with  rocks  to  prevent  washing  by  waves. 

'^The  depth  of  the  pond  must  depend  on  the  climate. 
In  regions  where  little  or  no  frost  is  encountered,  a  water 
depth  of  5  feet  is  sufficient,  but  in  northern  latitudes  it 
should  be  from  10  to  12  feet.  The  outlet  may  be  of  lumber 
or  of  cement. 

^'If  spring  water  is  the  main  source  of  supply,  it  may 
freeze  sufficiently  to  harm  the  fish.  Under  this  condition 
ithe  deepest  part  of  the  pond  need  not  be  more  than  5  feet. 
If  the  pond  has  a  good  supply  of  water,  no  harm  wiU  re- 
sult from  surface  freezing  so  long  as  the  outlet  is  kept 
open.  The  extreme  depths  given  are  for  such  ponds  as 
have  a  very  limited  supply  and  are  apt  to  freeze  to  a  con- 
siderable depth. 


100  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUXTSMAX 

'^Tlie  outlet  is  a  three-sided  box  extending  into  the 
bank.  In  this  position  it  can  be  reached  easily  from  the 
shore  by  means  of  a  board  walk  laid  from  the  top  of  the 
bank  to  the  top  of  the  overflow  box.  The  size  of  the  box 
will  be  determined  by  the  floAv  of  water.  For  a  pond  dis- 
charging from  200  to  500  gallons  per  minute  it  should  be 
24  inches  square,  its  depth  being,  of  course,  conditional  on 
the  water  level  and  the  height  of  the  embankment.  The 
bottom  of  the  box  should  extend  to  the  deepest  part  of  the 
pond,  and  its  top  should  be  flush  with  the  top  of  the  em- 
bankment. At  the  bottom  a  terra-cotta  pipe  is  laid  with 
cement  joints  extending  through  the  earth  embankment, 
and  a  slotted  groove  or  frame  of  2-inch  material  is  fastened 
12  inches  from  the  rear  of  the  box  to  hold  the  dam  boards, 
the  latter  to  be  1  1-2  or  2  inch  lumber  from  6  to  8  inches 
Avide,  each  provided  with  two  holes  from  three-fourths  to 
one  inch  in  diameter  and  three-fourths  of  an  inch  deep  on 
one  side  to  facilitate  removal  by  inserting  therein  a  liook  or 
the  teeth  of  a  garden  rake. 

''Inserted  in  front  of  the  dam  boards  on  the  outer  edge 
of  the  box  is  a  screen  in  either  one  or  two  sections.  It  is 
made  to  work  up  and  down  in  a  groove,  and,  in  order  that  its 
lower  edge  may  closely  fit  the  bottom  of  the  box,  the  latter 
is  provided  with  a  floor,  and  sheet  piling  is  driven  down  in 
front  of  it  to  prevent  undermining.  In  front  of  the  drain 
box,  and  with  its  bottom  sloping  toward  it,  is  the  ''kettle" 
or  basin,  made  by  excavating  in  front  of  the  drain  box,  so 
that  in  drawing  down  the  pond  all  the  water  will  flow  to 
this  low  point.  The  upper  end  of  the  "kettle"  should  be 
a  foot  lower  than  the  bottom  of  the  pond  proper.  A  kettle 
for  a  1-acre  pond  should  be  about  75  feet  long  and  15  or  20 
feet  wide.  It  is  preferable  to  have  its  bottom  and  sides  of 
cement  or  lumber,  but  if  one  does  not  care  to  go  to  that  ex- 
pense the  unlined  pond  bottom  will  suffice. 

"If  natural  conditions  wdll  permit,  the  water  supply 
should  enter  the  pond  through  an  open  ditch  or  raceway, 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  101 

the  length  and  breadth  of  which  will  depend  upon  the  size 
of  the  pond,  the  amount  of  water  passing  through,  and  the 
lay  of  the  land.  For  a  pond  of  1  acre  it  may  be  from  75  to 
100  feet  long,  but  if  twice  as  long  no  harm  will  result,  as 
more  spawning  room  will  be  afforded.  Generally  speak- 
ing, the  raceway  for  such  a  pond  should  average  from  4  to 
5  feet  wide,  but  the  width  must  necessarily  be  governed  by 
the  flow  of  water  which  should  not  be  more  than  a  foot  deep 
throughout  its  length.  It  is  immaterial  whether  the  race- 
way is  straight  or  crooked,  but  it  should  have  a  gravel  bot- 
tom over  its  entire  length.  The  water  level  of  the  raceway 
and  that  of  the  pond  may  be  the  same  or  different.  If  the 
pond  level  happens  to  be  somewhat  lower,  a  small  dam 
should  be  inserted  in  the  raceway  at  the  point  where  it  dis- 
charges into  the  pond.  The  dam  may  be  a  plank  6  inches 
high,  which  will  insure  a  sufficient  water  depth  in  the  race- 
way so  that  fish  jumping  the  dam  will  not  be  frightened. 
The  point  where  the  water  falls  into  the  pond  should  be 
protected  by  stone,  to  prevent  washing,  and  there  should 
be  an  approach  from  the  pond  to  the  raceway  entrance,  so 
that  the  fish  may  ascend  and  jump  the  falls,  which  they 
will  readily  do  during  the  spawning  season.  The  height  of 
the  dam  should  be  so  regulated  that  the  fish  will  not  be  re- 
quired to  jump  more  than  7  inches  in  passing  from  the  pond 
to  the  raceway. 

^*  Commencing  at  the  intake,  the  floor  of  the  pond 
should  start  from  a  featheredge  and  incline  gently  toward 
the  kettle  in  such  a  way  that  one-fourth  of  the  bottom  area 
will  range  in  depth  from  almost  nothing  to  2  feet.  From 
here  the  slope  downward  to  the  outlet  must  be  gradual  and 
even,  abrupt  pockets  or  holes  being  avoided.  In  order  to 
facilitate  drainage  and  to  assist  in  collecting  the  fish  in  the 
kettle,  there  shoidd  radiate  from  it  to  all  parts  of  the  pond 
three  or  four  shallow  channels,  which,  for  a  1-acre  pond, 
should  be  from  8  to  10  inches  deep  and  from  12  to  16 
inches  wide. 


102  '   THE   ANGLER   AXD   HI  XTSMAX 

Aquatic  Vegetation: 

^^In  all  pond  fish-cultural  operations  aquatic  vegeta- 
tion is  a  prime  necessity.  Aside  from  its  extremely  im- 
portant function  of  purifying  the  water  by  taking  up  the 
carbonic  gas  liberated  by  decomposition  and  releasing  the 
oxygen  so  essential  to  all  living  organisms,  it  constitutes  a 
nursery  for  the  development  of  a  most  acceptable  and  nec- 
essary fish  food  in  the  form  of  minute  organisms,  both  ani- 
mals and  plants.  It  furnishes  the  young  fish  a  means  of 
escape  from  their  enemies,  shades  them  from  the  sun's  rays 
in  warm  weather,  and  the  binding  of  the  bottom  soil  by  its 
roots  tends  to  keep  the  water  clear.  Its  one  objec- 
tionable feature  is  that  if  allowed  to  grow  too  luxuriantly  it 
impedes  the  movements  of  the  fish  and  is  liable  to  smoth- 
er the  younger  and  weaker  individuals. 

''As  soon  as  the  pond  is  completed  and  before  the  fish 
are  introduced  therein,  it  will  be  advisable  to  start  in  it  a 
growth  of  some  of  the  finer-leaved  aquatic  plants  native 
to  the  neighboring  streams  and  lakes.  Plants  having 
small  foliage  are  preferable  to  those  with  large,  regular 
leaves,  because  they  offer  a  greater  surface  expanse  for 
the  exchange  of  gases.  On  account  of  their  tendency  to 
drive  out  other  forms  of  plant  life,  pond  lilies  are  not  rec- 
ommended for  fishponds.  Cat-tails,  grasses,  and  weeds 
generally  are  to  some  extent  beneficial,  but  it  is  very  es- 
sential that  they  be  prevented  from  spreading  over  the  en- 
tire pond. 

Desirable  Species  of  Aquatic  Plants  for  Fishponds: 

''Such  of  the  plants  herein  figured  or  mentioned  as  are 
indigenous  to  local  waters  may  advantageously  be  utilized 
by  the  trout  culturist,  but,  if  none  of  these  can  be  secured, 
such  other  native  forms  as  are  available  may  be  substituted. 
Most  forms  of  acquatic  vegetation  will  readily  grow  from 
cuttings.     Hence  the  plants  may  be  raked  or  pulled  from 


THE   AXGLEli   AXD    HUXTSMAX  103 

their  native  waters  and  merely  pressed  into  the  soft 
soil  in  the  shallow  sections  of  the  new  pond.  During 
the  planting  process  the  bottom  of  the  pond  should  be  cov- 
ered with  water  to  a  depth  of  6  inches.  Plants  may  be 
started  in  the  deep-water  sections  of  a  pond  by  attaching 
them  to  a  weight  and  sinking  them  at  the  desired  spot. 

^'In  many  parts  of  the  country  the  aquatic  vegetation 
in  a  pond  forms  such  a  dense  growth  in  the  summer  months 
that  the  removal  of  a  portion  of  it  once  or  twice  during  the 
season  becomes  imperative.  If  the  pond  is  drained  for 
this  purpose,  the  water  should  be  drawn  down  slowly  and 
the  vegetation  carefully  raked  into  piles  with  a  garden  rake 
as  it  appears  above  the  surface,  the  operator  wading  out  to 
it  in  rubber  boots.  In  the  event  that  the  pond  is  drawn 
late  in  the  fall  for  seining,  not  more  of  the  vegetation  should 
be  removed  than  is  absolutely  necessary  to  permit  the  work 
in  hand,  as  the  growth  serves  to  protect  the  fish  during  the 
winter  months. 

Stocking  the  Pond: 

^^When  handling  fish  for  stocking  a  pond,  no  time  is 
to  be  lost  in  making  the  transfer.  Immediately  on  re- 
ceipt of  the  consigmnent,  compare  the  water  temperature 
in  the  shipping  cans  with  that  of  the  pond,  and  if  there  is 
a  difference  of  as  much  as  five  degrees  proceed  gradually 
to  equalize  the  two,  by  pouring  water  from  the  pond  into 
the  cans,  being  careful  not  to  subject  the  fish  to  a  sudden 
change  in  temperature. 

*^  Unless  the  pond  is  several  acres  in  area  it  will  not  be 
necessary  to  scatter  the  fish  at  different  points,  as  they 
will  soon  scatter  throughout  its  extent.  When  the  intro- 
duced stock  consists  of,  say  10,000  small  fish  from  2  to  5 
inches  in  length,  they  should  be  able,  in  a  pond  an  acre  in 
area  and  properly  stocked  with  aquatic  vegetation,  to  find 
sufficient  natural  food  for  their  sustenance  until  they  have 
attained  the  j^earling  stage,  thus  obviating  artificial  feed- 
ing; but  the  natural  food  in  ponds  varies  so    greatly    that 


104  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

no  hard-and-fast  rule  can  govern  the  number  of  fish  it 
should  or  may  contain. 

'^ After  young  trout  are  placed  in  the  pond  not  much 
will  be  seen  of  them  until  the  warm  days  of  early  spring, 
when  they  will  be  observed  around  the  edges  and  near  the 
outlet. 

Feeding  The  Fish: 

^^If  the  natural  food  resources  of  the  pond  appear  to  be 
inadequate,  the  fish  may  be  artificially  fed,  once  a  day  be- 
ing sufficient  imder  ordinary  conditions.  The  food  may 
consist  of  almost  any  kind  of  fresh,  wholesome  meat,  mix- 
ed with  shorts  or  a  low  grade  flour.  At  the  Federal  trout 
hatcheries  in  this  country  livers  of  beef,  sheep,  or  hogs,  and 
also  the  lungs  of  these  animals,  are  used.  The  meat  is  run 
through  a  chopper  and  reduced  to  pieces  small  enough  for 
the  size  of  the  trout  to  be  fed,  being  cut  very  fine  and  all 
gristle  carefully  removed  when  intended  for  fish  not  over 
2  or  3  inches  long.  As  before  stated,  however,  trout  held 
in  suitable  x>onds  seldom  require  artificial  feeding  until 
they  have  attained  the  yearling  stage. 

^'A  favorite  mush  is  made  by  stirring  wheat  shorts  or 
middlings  in  boiling  water  until  it  thickens,  adding  about 
the  same  amount  of  salt  as  if  seasoning  for  table  use.  Just 
prior  to  feeding,  chopped  meat  is  stirred  into  the  cold  mush 
in  such  quantities  as  may  be  desired  up  to  four-fifths  of  the 
whole,  the  smaller  fish  requiring  a  larger  proportion  of  meat 
than  the  older  ones.  It  is  best  not  to  prepare  the  meat 
more  than  a  day  or  two  in  advance,  and  it  should  be  mixed 
with  the  mush  only  as  required  for  immediate  use.  The 
mush  should  always  be  fed  cold,  and,  as  it  keeps  w^ell  even 
in  warm  weather  in  a  cool  place,  enough  of  it  may  be  made 
at  one  time  to  last  for  several  days.  Xo  foul  or  putrid 
meat  or  moldy  mush  should  ever  be  used. 

''In  feeding,  an  attendant  throws  out  a  small  portion 
of  the  food,  preferably  near  the  pond  outlet,  and  as  he  walks 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  105 

along  the  banks  toward  the  other  end  of  the  pond  he  scat- 
ters the  food  with  his  hand  or  a  large  spoon,  strewing  it  ov- 
er as  wide  a  water  surface  as  he  can.  The  fish  soon  learn 
to  follow  him,  and  are  thus  prevented  from  rushing  togeth- 
er in  a  small  space  and  injuring  themselves. 

^^The  proper  amount  of  food  for  a  daily  ration  will  de- 
pend uj^on  the  size  of  the  fish  and  the  prevailing  water 
temperature.  A  lot  of  1,000  rainbow  trout  ranging  from  5 
to  6  inches  in  length,  in  a  water  temperature  of  about  50  to 
60  degrees  F.,  will  require  approximately  4  pounds  a  day, 
while  an  equal  number  of  8-inch  to  12-inch  fish,  under  the 
same  temperature  conditions,  shovild  have  about  12 
pounds.  As  the  fish  increase  in  size  the  food  supply  must 
be  increased  accordingly,  but  in  cold  weather  the  amount 
consumed  will  not  be  as  large  as  during  the  summer  months. 
The  feeding  should  be  done  in  the  late  afternoon,  so  that 
the  fish  will  acquire  the  habit  of  searching  for  natural  food 
in  the  pond  in  the  early  part  of  the  day. 

Pond  Capacity: 

'^On  account  of  the  diversity  of  local  conditions,  it  is 
very  difficult  to  estimate  with  any  certainty  how  many 
fish  a  pond  will  maintain.  The  general  statement  may  be 
made,  however,  that  a  1-acre  pond  having  a  flow  of  200 
gallons  of  water  per  minute  at  a  temperature  ranging  from 
50  to  60  degrees  F.,  should  carry  from  8,000  to  10,000  year- 
ling trout,  provided  it  is  well  stocked  with  aquatic  vegeta- 
tion and  the  fish  are  regularly  fed.  A  pond  of  this  capac- 
ity possessing  the  requisites  stated,  and  with  the  addition 
of  minnows  or  other  small  aquatic  animal  life,  should  sup- 
port 1,000  yearlings  without  the  aid  of  any  artificial  food. 

**Such  a  pond  should  support  25,000  fish  3  inches  long, 
and  would  rear  them  to  the  yearling  age,  although  10,000 
3-inch  fish  would  probably  produce  better  results  at  th(3 
end  of  a  year.  Stocking  a  pond  with  fish  is  similar  to 
stocking  a  pasture  with  stock,  and  the  same  care  must  be 


1G6  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

exercised  to  guard  against  depleting  the  natural  food. 
Where  there  is  a  shortage  in  the  food  supply,  the  larger 
trout  will  prey  upon  the  smaller  ones.  Owing  to  their 
cannibalistic  tendency,  exceptionally  large  fish  should  not 
be  allowed  to  remain  in  an  inclosure  with  those  of  the  av- 
erage size. 

Natural  Enemies: 

^'Pish  inhabiting  a  pond,  especially  the  smaller  ones,  are 
subject  to  the  depredations  of  numerous  enemies.  Many 
kinds  of  aquatic  birds  prey  upon  them,  and  eggs  and 
young  are  consumed  by  snakes  and  turtles.  Among  birds, 
kingfishers,  herons,  ducks,  and  fish  hawks  are  the  most 
persistent  poachers.  Muskrats  do  not  destroy  fish,  but 
make  burrows  in  the  pond  banks.  Galvanized-iron  wire 
screens  placed  in  the  pond  embankments  will  x^revent  the 
burrowing  of  muskrats.  They  may  be  caught  with  ordinary 
steel  traps. 

Spawning  of  Trout: 

^^  Under  ordinary  conditions  neither  the  rainbow 
trout  nor  the  brook  trout  will  mature  earlier  than  the 
third  year,  although  where  they  have  the  advantage  of  good 
ponds  and  an  adequate  and  suitable  food  supply  it  is  not 
exceptional  for  them  to  deposit  eggs  at  the  end  of  their 
second  year.  Experience  at  the  hatcheries  of  the  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  has  shown  that  from  15  to  25  per  cent  of  the 
female  trout  in  a  pond  may  be  expected  to  spawn  during 
their  second  year,  60  per  cent  in  the  third  year,  and  from 
85  to  90  per  cent,  during  each  year  thereafter  up  to  the 
seventh,  after  which  it  is  inadvisable  to  rely  upon  them  as 
a  source  of  egg  supply*  Eggs  of  the  best  quality  are  ob- 
tained from  fish  that  are  from  3  to  5  years  old. 

^^  Two-year  old  rainbow  trout  yield  from  500  to  800 
eggs;  at  3  vears  old  and  thereafter  the  average  is  from 
1,000  to  1,200  per  fish.  Brook  trout  yield  from  150  to  250 
eggs  at  1  year  old,  350  to  600  at  2  years  old,  and  the  older 


THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX  107 

fish  produce  from  500  to  2,500.  At  Manchester,  Iowa,  the 
eggs  hatch  in  from  30  to  35  days  in  a  water  temperature  of 
50  degrees  F.,  and  brook  trout  in  from  35  to  40  days  in  a 
temperature  of  50  degrees  F. 

.  ^^As  a  rule,  rainbows-trout  eggs  measure  from  225  to 
250  per  fluid  ounce,  being  considerably  larger  than  those 
of  the  brook  trout,  which  range  from  325  to  600  per  ounce. 

'^  Experience  has  shown  that  the  fish  hatched  from  a 
single  lot  of  eggs  frequently  show  such  a  wide  variation  in 
size  that  at  the  age  of  1  year  some  individuals  will  be  only 
four  inches  long  while  others  will  rvm  from  6  to  8  inches. 
This  seems  to  be  an  inherent  condition  and  is  not  easily 
overcome,  but  the  tendency  may  be  counteracted  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  by  sorting  the  fish  as  to  size  from  time  to  time 
and  giving  the  smaller  ones  extra  food  and  attention. 

^^The  spawning  period  of  the  rainbow  trout  is  affected 
by  geographical  location.  In  the  eastern  States  this  fish 
reproduces  between  early  November  and  January;  in  the 
middle  western  sections  of  the  United  States  its  spawning 
season  begins  late  in  December  and  lasts  for  about  three 
months;  while  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  and  farther 
west  it  spawns  during  a  period  of  about  six  weeks,  com- 
mencing in  April.  Under  natural  conditions  the  fish  make 
a  kind  of  nest  by  throwing  up  a  mound  of  gravel  in  the  bed 
of  the  stream  when  the  current  is  swift.  The  eggs  float 
into  the  gravel  mound  and  lie  in  its  crevices  until  hatched. 
The  fry  remain  concealed  in  the  gravel  about  a  month, 
until  the  yoke  sac  is  absorbed;  they  then  begin  to  swim  and 
search  for  food. 

'^Bearing  these  facts  in  mind,  the  trout  culturist  should 
imitate  natural  conditions  in  the  arrangement  of  his  pond, 
providing  a  raceway  with  a  swift  current  of  water  and  a 
gravel  bottom  and  allowing  the  fish  access  to  it,  so  that  they 
may  deposit  their  eggs  at  the  proper  time  of  the  year.  The 
inlet  to  the  raceway  should  be  at  least  4  feet  wide  and 
from  75  to  100  feet  long,  both  dimensions  to    be    increas- 


108  THE   AXGLER   AND    HIXTSMAX 

ed  over  those  specified  where  it  is  possible.  With  the  ap- 
proach of  the  spawning  season  the  removal  of  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  vegetation  in  the  raceway  shonld  be  effected. 

^^What  has  been  said  regarding  the  requirements  and 
care  of  the  rainbow  trout  will  apply  with  equal  force  to  the 
brook  trout,  except  that  the  latter  being  native  to  swift 
mountain  streams  of  the  north,  with  occasional  deep  pools, 
will  require  colder  water  and  a  more  rapid  current.  This 
species  grows  more  slowly  than  the  rainbow  trout  and 
does  not  attain  so  large  a  size.  It  spawns  in  fall,  the  sea- 
son usually  beginning  in  September  or  October  and  con- 
tinuing to  the  middle  of  December.  Under  ordinary  con- 
ditions the  rainbow  trout  will  be  found  to  give  greater  sat- 
isfaction, and  the  pond  culturist  who  contemplates  opera- 
tions on  a  small  scale  is  advised  to  select  that  species." 

Assignment  of  Fish  to  Applicants: 

The  Bureau  of  Fisheries  is  prepared  to  furnish  trout 
to  parties  who  may  desire  to  stock  public  or  private  wa- 
ters, and  blanks  upon  which  to  make  application  therefor 
will  be  sent  to  you  upon  request.  Delivery  of  the  trout 
will  be  made  by  the  government  free  of  charge  to  your 
nearest  station  as  soon  as  your  order  is  reached. 

Winter  Camping: 

The  foremost  consideration  in  planning  a  winter  camp- 
ing trip  is  the  selection  of  wearing  apparel  and  camp  neces- 
sities. 

In  buying  clothing  it  is  of  prime  importance  to  select 
something  not  so  much  for  its  attractiveness  as  for  its 
warmth-giving  qualities.  Apparel  that  will  successfully 
keep  off  the  chill  rigors  of  winter. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  recommend  any  particular  brand 
of  clothing.  There  are  many  good  kinds  of  winter  cloth- 
ing adaptable  for  camping.  The  climate  in  your  section, 
of  course,  will  dictate  the  weight  of  it. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  109 

To  be  warm,  however,  clothing  does  not  necessarily 
have  to  be  exceedingly  heavy.  The  lighter  (if  it  is  the 
right  kind  of  stuff),  the  better,  for  a  pound  or  so  off  the 
weight  of  it  makes  a  great  deal  of  difference  to  you  on  long 
hikes.  You  will  not  be  burdened  down,  which  is  a  vital 
point  in  a  close  place.  For  instance,  if  you  get  into  a  rum- 
pus with  a  wounded  bear,  or  moose,  if  your  clothing  does 
not  impede  your  movements  you  will  have  a  much  better 
chance  to  out-maneuver  the  animal,  and  so  light  clothing 
may  mean  in  such  instances  a  matter  of  life  and  death. 

But  here  is  where  the  best  of  quality  counts.  If  the 
apparel  is  light,  the  quality  must  offset  the  weight.  It 
must  be  stuff  that  will  withstand  the  elements  in  every 
sense.  To  this  end,  it  is  well  to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  all 
cotton  clothing.  Woolen  goods  of  medium  weight  is  de- 
sirable, supplemented  by  flannel  shirts  or  wool  shirts,  with 
turn-down  collars.  If  ^he  climate  is  especially  severe,  the 
sMrts  should  be  double-breasted,  or  double  all  over,  but 
for  a  medium  cold  climate  single  thickness  is  sufficient. 
Flannel  underclothing  is  essential  for  severe  climates.  Over 
this,  it  is  well  to  wear  a  medium  weight  w^oolen  sweater  or 
knitted  coat.  Buckskin  leggings,  and  moosehide  mocca- 
sins make  good  footwear;  especially  are  moccasins  desir- 
abk^  if  you  wish  to  still-hunt.  For  the  pastime  known  as 
still-hunting,  you  want  to  select  clothing  that  will  not  make 
noises  in  the  woods.  Duck  and  corduroy  are  of  a  texture 
that  make  these  noises  when  moving  about,  therefore  not 
practicable  for  this  purpose.  Clothing  of  soft  texture  is 
best,  then,  for  hunting  in  the  woods,  where  the  slightest 
sound  serves  notice  on  the  quarry  that  an  enemy  is  ap- 
proaching and  gives  the  creature  timely  warning  that 
makes  escape  easy,  much  to  the  dismay  and  chagrin  of  the 
trophy  and  meat  hunter. 

Good,  warm  woolen  socks,  or  stockings,  are  essential 
to  keep  the  feet  warm.  Keeping  the  extremities  warm  is  a 
most  vital  thins:.     If  the  moccasins  are  soft  and  thin,  it  is 


110  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

better  to  have  a  specialist  in  this  line  put  on  a  double  sole 
for  you.  This  will  add  to  their  warmth,  durability,  and 
water-proofness. 

A  soft  felt  hat,  or  cap  lined  inside  with  fur  and  having 
earflaps  is  good.  The  head  must  be  kept  warm  at  any 
cost. 

If  you  wear  a  felt  hat  in  preference  to  a  cap,  don't  for- 
get those  ears.  They  are  one  of  your  most  sensitive  or- 
gans and  if  injured  by  frost-bite  you  may  have  lasting 
cause  to  regret  your  carelessness.  They  may  be  protect- 
ed by  ear-muffs,  which,  though  a  little  old-fashioned,  are 
extremely  comfortable  in  severe  cold  weather  Personal- 
ly, we  prefer  the  hood-cap,  which  is  a  cap  with  attached  ear 
and  neck-flap,  coming  well  down  under  the  neck  and  un- 
der the  chin.  It  completely  protects  the  back  of  the  head, 
the  spine  at  the  base  of  the  brain,  the  ears,  etc.,  which  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  your  comfort  and  health. 

The  more  experienced  outdoorsmen  do  not  take  along 
an  overcoat,  as  it  is  likely  to  be  more  in  the  way  than  use- 
ful. Generally,  it  impedes  walking  and  free,  easy  move- 
ment, so  essential  to  hunting.  The  overcoat  is  quite  an  im- 
necessary  adjunct,  if  proper  attention  has  been  paid  to  the 
other  garments. 

Mittens  are  not  desirable  for  obvious  reasons.  A  fin- 
gered glove  is  absolutely  necessary.  A  glove  is  plenty  clum- 
sy at  its  best,  and  a  mitten  is  an  abomination  to  a  hunter. 

Snowshoes  come  next  and  are  indispensable  for  camp- 
ing in  the  northern  wilds  of  Alaska  and  Canada,  where  in 
winter  snow  covers  the  ground  the  entire  season  to  a  depth 
of  many  feet. 

A  sewing  kit,  containing  n'eedles,  thread,  etc.,  is  a  val- 
uable ally  to  have  along.  You  never  know  when  you're  go- 
ing to  rip  your  trousers,  on  snag  or  barb,  so  be  prepared. 

If  you  only  contemplate  a  short  trip,  say  a  week,  it  is 
not  necessary  to  take  along  a  shaving  outfit,  as  a  week's 
growth  of  whiskers  will  do  more  good  than  harm  in  protect- 


THE  Angler  and  huntsman  111 

ing  your  face  from  the  icy  blasts  apt  to  prevail  in  winter. 
For  more  open  hunting,  where  you  have  a  great  deal 
of  walking  to  do,  some  prefer  a  sportsman's  boot  or  shoe 
to  the  moccasin.  This  is  a  matter  Of  taste,  and  a  matter 
local  conditions  should  dictate. 

We  come  now  to  the  camp  outfit  proper.  First  in  im- 
portance, of  course,  comes  the  bed  on  which  during  the 
long  winter  nights  we  shall  rest  our  tired  and  weary 
''bones.'-  Comfort  and  warmth  are  the  essentials  that  go 
hand-in-hand.  If  Ave  attain  these  two  requisites,  we  have 
succeeded  in  obtaining  a  bed  admirably  suited  to  our 
needs.  On  the  market  in  large  outfitters'  stores,  may  be 
found  a  varied  selection  of  beds,  both  simple  and  combina- 
tion. The  combination  bed  constitutes  also  a  hammock, 
shelter  tent,  and  roll-up  pack,  in  which  may  be  carried  all 
the  nick-nacks  that  are  needed  on  the  trip.  In  this  way, 
carrying  them  does  not  take  up  extra  space. 

Of  course,  the  camp  mattress  must  be  waterproof.  It 
is  like  a  bag  without  ends,  in  which  may  be  stuffed  dry 
leaves,  twigs,  moss,  etc.,  making  an  ideal  bed.  It  has  side 
flaps,  made  of  heavy  material  that  will  resist  water,  the 
inside  lining  of  which  should  be  of  wool,  or  other  very 
warmth-giving  stuff.  If  properly  made,  this  forms  an 
ideal  covering,  equal  to  three  or  four  blankets.  Aided  by 
the  camp  fire,  with  this  outfit  the  camper  should  exper- 
ience none  of  the  cold  chills  of  winter.  The  fire  will  not 
only  keep  one  warm,  but  is  essential  in  frightening  aw^ay 
prowling  wolves  and  other  animals,  and  is  proof  against 
these  night  marauders,  for  fire  is  their  deadly  fear  and 
strikes  terror  to  their  hearts.  The  fiercest  animal  of  the 
jungle  will  not  venture  very  near  a  big  brisk  camp  fire.  They 
have  perhaps  had  this  fear  instilled  into  them  by  some 
terrible  experience  in  a  great  forest  fire ;  it  is  a  fear  that 
seems  even  to  have  been  handed  down  to  them  by  heredity, 
and  perhaps  is.  So  much  for  the  camp  fire.  Now  let  us 
get  back  to  a  discussion  of  camp  equipment. 


112  THE   xVXGLER   AND    HLXTSMAN 

If  you  have  facilities  for  taking  an  extensive  outfit, 
including  camp  cot,  camp  stove,  etc.,  of  course  the  roll- 
pack  combination  bed  would  not  suffice,  unless  you  prefer 
to  ^^ rough  it"  instead  of  trying  to  purchase  every  article  a 
luxurious  outing  would  demand.  I  am  offering  sugges- 
tions for  the  average  outer,  recognizing  that  the  average 
outer  is  not  a  millionaire.  However,  even  some  million- 
aires prefer  as  simple  outfits  as  possible,  which  do  not  en- 
tail the  worry  and  bother  a  lot  of  surplus  parapher- 
nalia causes.  Hence,  it  is  not  only  useless  to  de- 
scribe the  more  elaborate  things  that  may  be  taken 
on  a  winter  camping  trip,  but  it  is  unnecessary 
because  the  average  outer  does  not  wish  to  be  burdened 
down  with  the  manifold  ^'household  duties"  such  outfits 
incur.  Their  wives  (if  they  are  married  men)  have  per- 
haps given  them  an  inkling  of  the  manifold  domestic  duties 
to  be  performed  about  the  home,  and  they  have  no  further 
inclinations  along  this  line.  What  they  are  after  is  life 
as  near  the  primitive  as  possible  to  attain,  which  is  the 
word  '  S:;implicity  "  itself. 

^^The  greatest  care  must  be  used  in  picking  out  the  es- 
sentials, and  in  eliminating  the  non-essentials.  If  the 
camp  is  only  to  be  a  temporary  affair,  a  sort  of  w^igwam,  or 
tent,  and  the  camper  intends  moving  from  place  to  place, 
depending  upon  game  signs,  etc.,  then  it  is  inexpedient  to 
take  with  one  more  than  is  absolutely  and  positively  nec- 
essary. When  this  rule  is  disobeyed,  it  results  in  the  loss 
of  the  greater  part  of  the  surplus  luggage,  for  sooner  or 
later  the  camper  will  have  to  sacrifi(?e  a  part  of  a  too  bur- 
densome pack  on  some  long  portage  or  mou-utain  trail,  and 
a  little  foresight  will  save  him  dollars  as  well  as  lost  energy 
and  much  aggravation.  If  these  suggestions  are  carried 
out,  you  will  be  benefited. 

The  ^^Grub": 

The  word  ^^grub,"  as  here  applied,  is  probably  slang, 
as  it  reallv  means  '^to  dig,"  and  in  another  sense  means 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 


113 


**the  larva  of  an  insect,"  but  it  is  a  term  widely  used  and 
widely  understood  to  denote  food.  I  have  never  heard  how 
it  came  to  be  called  '^grub/'  but  believe  food  was  so  desig- 
nated by  some  wit  because  we  have  to  ''dig"  or  ''work" 
for  what  we  eat.  At  any  rate,  it  is  a  word  common  to  out- 
doorsmen,  and  hence  here  applied  in  its  slang  sense,  mean- 
ing food. 

As  far  as  possible  avoid  canned  goods  put  up  in  tin. 
If  it  is  a  reliable,  commonly  used  brand  it  is  perhaps  safe, 
but  the  best  canned  grub  is  put  up  in  glass  cans  or  glass  jars. 
Anything  put  up  in  glass  is  said  to  be  safe  from  contami- 
nation, which  is  not  true  of  tin  canned  goods  in  every  case. 
Most  anything  desired  can  be  obtained  in  glass  jars,  for 
instance,  choice  bacon,  dried  beef,  sliced  ham,  olives, 
pickles,  preserves  of  all  kinds,  milk,  etc.,  etc.  If  you  pitch 
camp  near  a  farm-house,  butter,  eggs,  milk,  etc.,  can  be 
readilv  obtained  fresh. 


INTRODUCTORY  TO  PART  TWO 


Stanley  Blake,  the  author  of  Part  Two  of  this  volume, 
was  bom  in  Ohio,  removing  to  Cincinnati  to  engage  in  a 
profession  when  but  a  young  man.  Since  his  early  youth 
he  has  been  a  hunter  of  note,  having  hunted  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States,  both  large  and  small  game  of  all  kinds. 
Always  very  fond  of  dogs,  it  was  natural  that  he  should 
own  and  breed  some  of  the  best  dogs  America  has  produced. 
In  his  early  career,  he  ow^ned  and  oj^erated  the  High- 
land Kennels,  at  Newport,  Kentucky,  later  removing  to 
Berry,  Kentucky,  where  he  now  operates  the  largest  hunt- 
ing-dog kennels  in  the  world,  shipping  more  dogs  than  all 
other  kennels  in  this  countrv  combined,  THE  BLUE 
GRASS  FARM  KENNELS,  OF  BERRY,  KY. 

He  served  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  has  widely 
traveled  in  our  island  possessions  and  Mexico.  He  has 
been  all  over  the  LTnited  States  and  knows  hunting  condi- 
tions, as  a  whole,  probably  better  than  any  other  American. 

He  takes  a  keen  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  outdoors,  and  aside  from  running  the  largest  kennels 
in  the  world,  engages  in  scientific  farming  and  stock-raising. 
Starting  in  business  on  practically  nothing,  he  has  made  a 
phenomenal  success. 


114 


PART    TWO 


BY    STANLEY    BLAKE 

THE  INVENTION  OF  ARMS  AND  AMMUNITION: 

History  tells  us  that  arms  and  ammunition  were  in- 
vented by  a  naked  savage  in  the  dim  ages  of  the  past.  The 
invention,  we  are  told,  was  made  quite  by  accident.  The 
naked  savage  was  out  hunting  one  day,  when  suddenly  he 
was  confronted  by  a  huge  wild  beast,  that,  looking  the  sav- 
age in  the  eye,  licked  its  great  chops  in  a  manner  denoting 
extreme  hunger,  and  started  to  attack  the  man.  What 
was  the  savage  to  do?  An  insurmountable  cliff  cut  off 
any  possible  avenue  of  escape.  He  must  face  the  beast. 
He  had  no  time  to  even  think  what  he  should  do.  Instinc- 
tively he  knew,  without  weapons  of  any  kind  whatsoever, 
that  the  beast  could  easily  overpower  and  make  a  meal  off 
of  him.  This  was  in  the  dim  ages  before  even  the  most 
primitive  weapons  were  in  use;  nothing  had  as  yet  been 
thought  of  for  defense  except  human  strength  unaided  by 
anything  else. 

Then,  as  now,  the  laAv  of  self-preservation  asserted  it- 
self, and  m  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  he  reached  down  and 
grasped  a  jagged  piece  of  stone  and  with  all  his  might  hurl- 
ed it  straight  at  the  beast's  head.  His  aim  was  true.  The 
great  force  with  which  the  savage  had  hurled  the  stone 
sent  it  crashing  against  the  animaPs  skull  with  a  noisy  im- 
pact that  sent  the  beast  to  his  knees  in  a  senseless  stupor, 
giving  the  naked  savage  a  chance  to  escape,  which  he  lost 
no  time  in  taking  advantage  of.     As  he  sped  on  his  way  to 

115 


116  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

liberty  he  paused  just  long  enough  to  congratulate  him- 
self upon  saving  his  own  life.  He  knew  he  had  done  this. 
But  he  had  done  something  else,  the  magnitude  and  impor- 
tance of  which  his  savage  brain  had  absolutelv  no  concep- 
tion. HE  HAD  INVENTED  ARMS  AND  ^  AMMUNI- 
TION! 

After  the  savage  had  escaped  an  untimely  death  by 
hurling  the  stone  with  mighty  force  at  the  brute-beast,  he 
straightway  went  to  the  head  tribesman  and  communicat- 
ed his  discovery.  No  doubt  the  chief  was  greatly  amazed 
cind  much  pleased  that  one  of  his  subjects  had  dared  face 
the  great  forest  animal  and  actually  knock  him  to  his 
knees  in  a  dazed  condition.  No  doubt  he  highly  commend- 
ed the  bravery  and  skill  of  the  naked  man.  Very  likely 
he  called  the  whole  tribe  together  and  publicly  acclaimed 
the  gallantry  of  this  daring  creature  who  had  so  success- 
fully dared  to  face  the  great  lord  of  the  wilderness,  mighty 
beast. 

Of  course,  once  man  had  really  begun  to  think,  after 
having  realized  by  chance. the  possibilities  of  defending 
oneself,  it  was  but  a  comparatively  short  time  until  he  had 
begun  to  devise  improvements  on  the  ancient  method  of 
heaving  a  stone  by  main  strength  of  the  body-muscles. 

Came  a  time  when  greater  force  was  desired.  A  way 
must  be  found  to  cast  a  stone  farther  and  Avith  greater  ve- 
locity. How  should  it  be  done?  That,  no  doubt,  was  the 
burning  question  of  the  day,  discussed  in  many  a  council 
of  w^ar  in  many  a  chieftain's  wigwam  as  they  were  planning 
to  swoop  down  upon  their  neighbors  in  a  war  of  conquest, 
or  a  war  engendered  by  natural  jealousy  and  hatred. 

One  day  a  great  invention  was  heralded  far  and  wide 
by  excited  couriers.  A  tribesman  had  invented  a  weapon 
whereby  a  stone  could  be  thrown  not  only  farther  and  with 
greater  force,  but  straighter  than  had  been  possible  be- 
fore. This  came  to  be  known  as  the  sling,  and  all  the  tribes- 
men soon  learned  to  be  expert  at  sling-throwing.     This 


THE   ANGLEK   AND    HUNTSMAN  117 

was  the  second  step  in  the  evolution  of  modern  firearms.  To 
this  day  slings  are  used  in  certain  countries,  and  are  in 
vogue  by  young  boys  here  in  our  own  country. 

The  third  great  step  was  the  invention  of  the  bow  and 
arrow,  and  the  early  settlers  of  America  know  what* a 
deadly  weapon  it  proved  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  blood- 
thirsty Indians  who  roamed  this  country  in  colonial  days. 

The  bow  and  arrow  made  man  lord  over  every  beast 
that  roamed  the  jungle  or  galloped  over  the  prairies.  As 
time  went  on  it  was  improved  until  it  could  be  depended 
upon  to  stop  the  most  savage  animal.  Not  only  w^as  it 
employed  against  dangerous  animals,  but  against  the 
members  of  other  tribes,  who  vied  with  each  other  to  see 
who  could  invent  the  most  deadly  and  fearful  weapon. 
This  spirit,  we  regret  to  add,  still  thrives,  as  recently 
shown  in  the  great  w^orld  war  where  every  means  was  em- 
ployed by  the  bloody  Huns  to  gain  their  ends — liquid  fire, 
poison  gas,  shrapnel,  big  guns  of  wonderful  range,  etc.,  be- 
ing freely  used  in  an  inhumane  and  unthought-of  barbarous 
fashion. 

The  mechanical  age  at  last  appeared  and  the  cross-bow 
was  evolved.  Every  student  of  history  knows  the  impor- 
tant role  the  cross-bow  has  played  on  down  through  the 
ages  in  many  a  bloody  strife  between  tribes  and  between 
nations. 

The  cross-bow  was  developed  until  it  had  the  appear- 
ance of  our  modern  gun.  This  weapon  was  perfected  in  the 
war  betAveen  China  and  Japan. 

It  was  by  accident  that  the  first  primitive  weapon  of 
defense  was  conceived,  and  so  it  was  by  accident  also  that 
another  powerful  agency  was  found — an  agenc}^  whose  po- 
tent qualities  man  little  knew  in  those  early  days. 

The  age  of  chemistry  Avas  at  hand.  Two  monks  con- 
ducted experiments  in  their  monastery  in  an  effort  to 
discover  a  mixture  suitable  for  use  to  make  fire,  which  was 
to  be  thrown  on  enemy  buildings,  composed  of  such  ma- 


118  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUXTSMAX 

terial  as  pitch,  sulphur,  resin,  saltpeter,  and  naptha.  From 
this  ^' Greek  fire"  was  evolved.  There  is  dispute  as  to  who 
first  invented  gunpowder,  some  claiming  it  was  the  Chi- 
nese, but  as  China  was  entirely  cut  off  and  remote  from  the 
balance  of  the  w^orld,  it  remained  for  the  other  countries 
to  solve  the  great  problem  for  themselves. 

One  of  the  monks,  Roger  Bacon  by  name,  was  labor- 
ing one  night  in  his  constant  endeavors  to  make  a  satis- 
factory ^^fire"  for  uses  stated  above,  and  on  this  particu- 
lar night  he  used  pure  instead  of  impure  saltpeter,  endeav- 
oring, we  can  suppose,  to  get  a  most  violent  and  longer 
burning  flame.  He  was  busy  at  his  work,  watching  the 
progress  of  the  experiments,  when  suddenly  a  terrific  ex- 
plosion rent  the  building.  He  narrowly  escaped  death. 
The  investigation  proved  that  pure  saltpeter  could  not  be 
used  in  the  mixture  for  the  purpose  of  making  ^^fire." 
Little  did  he  realize  that  he  had  really  discovered  gunpow- 
der. Thus  in  the  thirteenth  century  Roger  Bacon  gave 
to  the  world  that  potent  agency  of  destruction  now  famil- 
iarly known  throughout  the  civilized  world. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  writer  Bacon  died  not  knowing 
the  great  importance  of  his  discovery.  In  later  years,  a 
man  named  Schwartz  studied  Bacon's  works  and  carried 
on  dangerous  investigations  of  his  own,  and  he  was  the 
first  man  to  give  to  Euror^e  and  the  world  the  fruits  of 
the  discovery  of  gunpowder. 

Xeedless  to  say,  it  was  but  a  short  time  until  the  cross- 
bow and  gun-powder  had  been  so  improved  until  the 
matchlock  was  produced.  Successive  generations  saw  the 
flint-lock,  the  early  Persian  gun,  the  Scotch  wheel-lock, 
the  early  Swiss  pistols,  the  Dutch  wheel-lock  or  double- 
barreled  pistol,  the  wheel-lock  rifle,  and  various  other 
freaks  and  fancy  guns,  until  the  present  time  when  our 
modern  high-power  rifles,  our  perfect  shotguns  and  mod- 
ern implements  of  war  and  peace  have  attained  to  a  state  of 
perfection  never  dreamed  of  by  our  forefathers. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX  119 

The  sportsmen  of  this  day  can  thank  their  lucky  stars 
that  they  live  in  a  progressive  age  like  this,  in  peace,  se- 
curity, and  contentment,  and  by  the  same  token  they  can 
thank  high  Heaven  they  did  not  live  in  those  early  times 
when  ''life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness"  was  of- 
ten not  attainable — whyf  Because  the  weapons  of  that 
day  had  faults  that  were  more  than  likely  to  prove  the  undo- 
ing of  the  hunter  and  the  fighter  and  could  not,  therefore, 
be  fully  depended  upon  at  all  times  as  can  modern  arms  and 
ammunition  be  depended  upon  in  this  age. 

What  a  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  our  forefathers  who 
battled  against  great  odds  and  finally  overcame  them, 
bringing  civilization  to  the  New  World  with  all  its  conse- 
quent blessings. 

The  progress  of  nations  is  indeed  closely  linked  with 
the  improvement  and  efficiency  of  its  firearms. 

GUNS  AND  AMMUNITION: 

In  the  first  place,  the  author  desires  to  state  that  the 
following  article  does  not  pretend  to  set  itself  up  as  an  ab- 
solute authority  on  the  difficult  question  of  arms  and  am- 
munition for  hunting  different  varieties  of  game.  The 
choice  of  arms  and  ammunition,  like  taste  in  neckties,  is  a 
question  of  ''many  men,  many  minds."  We  only  wish  to 
point  out  the  more  commonly  accepted  standards  and  tastes 
in  both  arms  and  ammunition.  Even  this  constitutes  prob- 
lems that  the  individual  must  solve  for  himself  to  meet  his 
own  particular  needs  and  his  own  peculiar  desires.  Hence, 
our  remarks  on  the  subject  must  be  purely  general  in  char- 
acter. 

The  writer  has  consulted  several  experts  of  national 
reputation  in  regard  to  these  matters,  and  briefly  summa- 
rizes their  opinions  below,  withholding  their  names  at 
their  request. 

The  first  expert  consulted  has  this  to  say  on  the 
subject: 


120  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN 

^^ Taking  first  the  question  of  small  game;  in  recent 
years  the  use  of  small  gauges  such  as  the  16  and  20  has  been 
constantly  increasing,  and  under  certain  circumstances  they 
are  very  suitable  and  satisfactory.  However,  sportsmen 
throughout  the  world  have  pinned  their  faith  to  12  gauge 
Winchester  Repeating  Shotguns,  as  the  best  all-around 
game  guns  in  the  world,  as  they  are  suitable  not  only  for 
wild  fowl,  but  for  rabbits,  hares,  foxes,  and  all  small  game. 

'^The  question  of  suitable  loads  for  water  fowl  is  an 
open  one,  due  to  the  difference  in  the  size  of  the  game. 
They  range  from  the  little  blue  wing  teal,  which  is  slightly 
larger  than  a  quail,  up  to  the  big  sea  duck,  or  sea  coot, 
weighing  from  four  to  five  pounds,  and  protected  by  a 
thatch  of  feathers  about  an  inch  thick.  For  teal,  sports- 
men have  found  ordinar}^  number  8  shot  satisfactory.  This 
size  of  shot,  naturally,  would  have  very  little  effect  on  an 
armored  cruiser  of  the  coast  like  the  sea  coot.  The  goose, 
duck  and  such  large  birds  as  the  swan,  require  a  heavy 
charge  of  powder  and  large  shot.  For  quail  and  grouse  a 
medium  to  fairly  heavy  load  of  powder,  and  shot  sizes  six 
to  eight,  has  been  found  effective. 

'^The  wild  turkey  comes  in  a  class  by  himself.  In 
certain  sections  of  the  South,  BB  shot  is  used  so  universally 
for  this  bird  that  it  is  known  to  himter  and  storekeeper 
alike  as  *  turkey  shot.' 

^^It  would  be  better  to  eliminate  the  coon  and  opossum 
from  the  list  of  small  game  animals,  as  they  are  nocturnal, 
and  are  usually  killed  with  a  club  in  any  case.  The  skunk 
is  also  nocturnal,  and  for  other  and  ^strong'  reasons  it 
would  be  wisest  to  hunt  skunk  with  a  high-power,  long 
range  rifle. 

•^The  fox  is  also  a  special  case.  In  the  South  he  is 
hunted  on  horseback  with  dogs  during  certain  seasons,  the 
good,  old  institution  of  the  hunt  still  flourishing,  and  the 
English  sportsman's  horror  of  shooting  a  fox  being  a  very 
real  thing.     In  the  Xorth,  however,  the  fox  is  a  commer- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  121 

eial  fur-bearing  proposition  (when  he  isn't  a  chicken 
thief),  and  is  ruthlessly  hunted  and  trapped.  A  12  gauge 
gun  with  big  shot  and  a  heavy  load  of  powder  is  preferable 
w^hen  on  the  trail  of  Br'er  Fox,  as  his  vitality  is  great  and 
he  has  an  inconvenient  habit  of  crawling  into  a  hole  to  re- 
cover, if  his  Avound  is  not  absolutely  fatal. 

**The  Winchester  Model  95  is  a  famous  big  game  gun, 
having  been  used  by  such  eminent  hunters  as  the  late  Ex- 
President  Roosevelt,  with  a  success  that  is  known  to  the 
world.  Admiral  Peary  on  his  trip  to  the  North  Pole,  Sir 
Ernest  Shackleton  in  his  explorations  in  the  South,  depend- 
ed upon  the  Winchester  gun  to  kee23  their  outfits  supplied 
with  bear,  seal  and  walrus  meat  and  hides.  The  ammuni- 
tion used  by  the  Model  95  is  most  powerful,  especially  the 
.405  W.  C.  F.  and  the  .30  Government  M-06  cartridges, 
which  have  exceptional  range  and  remarkable  shocking 
effect. 

"A  light  weight  rifle  handling  very  powerful  cart- 
ridges is  the  Winchester  M-94.  This  gun  is  of  the  tubular 
magazine  type,  and  is  operated  by  a  finger  lever  under 
the  receiver.  It  is  quite  powerful  enough  for  such  game 
as  mountain  lion,  wild  cat  and  deer,  although  it  is  not  quite 
as  effective  at  long  range  as  the  M-95.  But  when  every 
ounce  counts,  as  in  difficult  and  wearying  journeys  and 
mountain  climbing,  the  M-94  has  given  great  satisfaction. 

^'However  good  an  arm  may  be  on  leaving  the  fac- 
tory, the  only  way  to  keep  it  in  working  condition  is  to 
clean  it  after  every  using.  Never  allow  your  gun  to  go 
over  night  without  being  cleaned.  If  you  take  care  of  it 
carefully  it  will  never  fail  you  in  one  of  those  crucial  mo- 
ments when  failure  may  mean  great  disappointment  or 
even  life  itself  to  the  hunter. 

''Some  men  never  clean  their  gims  properly  and  get 
away  with  it,  but  they  are  taking  a  big  chance  and  never 
have  the  satisfaction  of  being  absolutely  safe.  Especially 
is  this  true  in  the  matter  of  oiling.     You  may  neglect  some 


122  THE   AXGLER   AND   HUXTSMAX 

other  process  and  be  saved  by  your  rabbit's  foot,  but  forget 
to  oil  your  gun  and  sooner  or  later  you  will  be  thoroughly 
punished  for  your  neglect,  and  moreover  you  will  have  to 
buy  a  new  gun. 

^*  A  gun  is  apt  to  be  just  as  good  as  the  care  that  is  taken 
of  it;  the  Winchester  Company,  realizing  this,  have  special- 
ized on  a  line  of  metal  cleaning  and  preserving  prepara- 
tions especially  adapted  to  their  own  arms." 

Another  expert,  when  asked  for  his  opinions  concern- 
ing arms  and  ammunition  for  the  various  game  animals  and 
birds,  hud  this  to  say: 

'^The  best  gun  for  all  small  game  shooting  is  the  modern 
12  gauge  and  the  most  popular  models  are  the  autoloading 
and  pump  action.  For  shooting  quail,  grouse,  and  other 
upland  game  birds  a  gun  bored  modified  choke  is  the  most 
satisfactory.  For  shooting  ducks  and  geese,  and  also  for 
shooting  turkeys,  the  gun  should  be  bored  full  choke. 

^^For  shooting  rabbits,  including  the  varying  hare, 
likewise  for  shooting  various  kinds  of  vemiin,  such  as 
hawks,  the  modified  choke  bore  is  most  satisfactory.  For 
shooting  foxes,  a  full  choke  gun  should  be  used  and  shells 
loaded  with  No.  3  or  No.  2  buckshot.  No.  3  ^hot  is  the 
right  size  for  turkeys.  The  latter  load  is  also  satisfactory 
for  shooting  coons,  skunks,  'possums,  and  other  small  ani- 
mals, including  wild  cats. 

^^For  shooting  big  game,  the  Remington  autoloading 
rifle  is  a  favorite,  but  the  Remington  slide-action  model  is 
also  very  popular.  These  rifles  are  made  in  the  following 
calibers — .25  Remington,  .30  Remington,  .32  Remington, 
.35  Remington.  The  latter  cartridge  is  the  most  power- 
ful and  the  best  adapted  for  the  larger  game  animals  such 
as  Alaskan  brown  and  grizzly  bears  and  for  moose.  The  oth- 
er cartridges  are  popular  for  shooting  moose,  caribou,  deer, 
goats,  and  sheep,  depending  upon  the  individual  prefer- 
ence of  the  shooter.  We  find  the  .30  caliber  to  be  the  most 
popular  all  around  cartridge." 


THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  123 

iStill  another  expert  offers  the  following  information 
on  the  subject: 

''It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  lay  down  any  defi- 
nite rules  along  this  line  because  there  is  a  wide  difference 
in  opinion  among  sportsmen  and  what  one  man  considers 
just  the  proper  load  for  a  given  purpose,  other  shooters  re- 
gard as  by  no  means  the  best.  It  all  depends  upon  condi- 
tions and  individual  preference.  Of  course  the  12  gauge 
shotgun  is  still  more  largely  used  than  any  other,  although 
the  20  gauge,  28  gauge  and  .410  are  growing  rapidly  in 
popular  favor  for  shooting  small  birds  and  animals." 

The  Care  of  Firearms: 

Several  authorities  were  consulted  on  the  care  of  fire- 
arms, and  replied  as  follows : 

'^In  the  early  days  of  gun-making,  firearms  were  very 
crude  affairs.  The  barrels  were  smootlir  bore,  or  approxi- 
mately so,  because  in  those  days  gun  making  machinery 
was  also  very  crude  and  the  interiors  of  the  barrels  of  the 
guns  made  for  many  3T'ars  were  not  even  as  smooth  as  in  the 
poorest  and  cheapest  shotguns  made  today.  There  was  no 
way  of  looking  through  the  barrel,  for  there  was  no  open- 
ing at  the  breech,  except  a  small  passage  from  the  flash 
pan  w^iiere  the  priming  charge  was  placed.  These  guns 
were  inaccurate  as  compared  with  modern  firearms  and  it 
really  did  not  make  much  difference  whether  the  barrel 
was  carefully  cleaned  or  not  since  they  would  not  shoot 
straight  anyway. 

''Modern  firearms,  such  as  Eemington  IT  M  C  shot- 
guns and  rifles,  are  splendid  examples  of  present  day  me- 
chanical genius.  While  efficient  in  the  highest  degree, 
when  judged  as  pieces  of  machinery,  they  are  yet  extremely 
simple  in  construction. 

^'The  possession  of  a  Remington  gun  or  rifle  inspires 
its  owner  with  a  desire  to  keep  it  in  the  perfect  mechanical 


124  THE   AXGLER    AND    HUNTSMAN 

condition  in  which  he  received  it  from  the  factory.  Too 
many  men,  because  they  are  not  familiar  Avith  the  proper 
methods  of  cleaning  their  guns,  finally  discard  them  because 
of  rust  and  corrosion. 

'^ A  rifle  or  shotgun  will  last  the  shooter  a  lifetime  and 
always  give  as  good  results  as  when  first  used  if  it  be  a 
good  one  and  is  cared  for  properly. 

^^It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  clean  a  firearm  as  soon 
after  shooting  as  possible,  to  keep  it  in  perfect  condition. 
Aside  from  the  fact  that  the  sooner  you  clean  out  the  foul- 
ing the  less  time  it  has  to  act  on  the  steel  of  the  barrel,  it  is 
well  known  that  the  fouling,  after  any  considerable  length 
of  time,  becomes  sticky  and  hard  and  requires  more  work 
to  remove  than  if  the  cleaning  is  done  within,  say,  a  half- 
hour  after  the  last  shot  is  fired. 

^'Always  clean  the  barrel  from  the  breech;  if  cleaned 
from  the  muzzle  the  dirt  is  pushed  back  into  the  action,  and 
the  cleaning  rod  is  apt  to  wear  or  burr  the  muzzle  of  the 
barrel  and  spoil  its  accuracy.  Remington  U  M  C  firearms 
are  all  made  so  that  they  can  be  cleaned  from  the  V)reech. 

^ 'Never  use  emery  in  a  rifle  barrel.  It  will  destroy 
the  rifling,  enlarge  the  bore  and  ruin  its  accuracy. 

Shotgun  Barrels: 

''It  seems  as  though  the  tendency  of  any  rifle  or  shot- 
gun barrel  to  rust  and  corrode  depends  to  some  extent  upon 
the  breech  pressure  and  the  temperature  generated  by 
the  explosion  of  the  powder.  Shotgun  barrels,  owing  to 
the  comparatively  low  breech  pressures  which  they  produce, 
are  not  so  sensitive  to  rust  or  corrosion  as  rifle  or  revolver 
barrels.  Care  in  cleaning  however,  is  well  worth  while  for 
there  is  a  vast  difference  in  evenness  of  pattern  and  uni- 
form shooting  qualities  of  a  barrel  in  perfect  condition  and 
a  rusty  foul  one. 

"As  all  shotgun  barrels  will  lead  more  or  less,  depend- 
ing on  the  rapidity  with  which  they  are  shot  and  weather 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  125 

conditions,  we  strongly  recommend  the  use  of  a  soft  brass 
cleaner,  either  the  bristle  type,  or  the  woven  mre  type.  Do 
not  use  the  iron  wire  brushes  usually  furnished  with  jointed, 
wooden  cleaning  rods  as  the  continued  use  of  these  iron 
brushes  for  ordinary  cleaning  will  sj)oil  the  polished  sur- 
face of  the  bore.  Such  brushes  are  useful  only  for  cases 
of  severe  rust. 

''The  following  procedure  will  keep  your  barrel  in 
perfect  condition,  provided,  of  course,  it  was  not  rusty  be- 
fore you  started  shooting: 

''Scrub  the  barrel  thoroughly  with  a  brass  cleaner 
which  has  been  oiled  with  Rem  Oil.  Allow  it  to  stand  for 
a  few  minutes,  then  run  through  several  dry  cloth  patches 
and  finish  up  with  one  which  has  been  saturated  with 
Rem  Oil.  You  may  now  safely  lay  away  your  shotgun 
with  the  assurance  that  it  will  stay  in  perfect  condition 
unless  you  leave  it  where  it  is  exposed  to  moisture. 

.22  Caliber  Rifle  Barrels: 

"To  clean  .22  caliber  rifle  barrels  and  other  low  j)ower 
sizes,  scrub  with  a  soft  brass  bristle  brush  soaked  with  Rem 
Oil.  Follow  with  four  or  five  pieces  of  cloth,  every  other  one 
saturated  with  Rem  Oil.  Have  the  last  one  fit  a  bit  loos- 
er than  the  others,  and  have  as  much  Rem  Oil  on  it  as  pos- 
sible so  as  to  leave  a  good  coating  on  the  inside  of  the 
barrel.  Smokeless  powder  used  in  .22  caliber  rifles  is 
more  liable  to  cause  rust  than  less  smoke.  To  get  the  best 
results  when  smokeless  powder  is  used,  clean  immediately 
or  just  as  soon  as  possible  after  firing  the  last  shot. 

'Mf  the  rifle  barrel  becomes  leaded  and  a  brass  bristle 
brush  fails  to  remove  the  lead,  it  may  be  cleaned  by  running 
quicksilver  through  it.  The  lead  will  amalgamate  with 
the  quicksilver.  Plug  one  end  of  the  barrel  and  put  in 
the  quicksilver,  the  other  end  to  be  held  with  the  finger 
and  the  barrel  turned  end  to  end,  rolling  occasionally  so 
that  all  the  surface  will  be  reached  by  the  quicksilver.  Tf 


126  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUXTSMAX 

this  treatment  does  not  remove  the  leading,  the  barrel 
should  be  returned  to  our  factory  where  we  can  remove 
it,  unless  the  interior  of  the  barrel  is  too  badly  pitted  or 
rusted,  in  which  case  a  new  barrel  will  be  required. 

High  Power  Rifle  Barrels: 

^^  Procedure  for  high  power  rifle  barrels  using  metal 
jacketed  bullets  is  the  same  as  for  .22  caliber  rifle  l)arrels 
except  that  a  second  cleaning  one  day  later  is  necessary. 

'* Sometimes  parts  of  the  metal  jacket  of  the  bullet  will 
adhere  to  the  lands  or  grooves  of  the  high  power  rifle  bar- 
rel. This  condition  is  known  as  metal  fouling  and  if  pres- 
ent only  in  small  quantities  can  easily  be  removed  hy  a  vig- 
orous rubbing  with  a  cloth  patch  moistened  with  a  concen- 
trated solution  of  Ammonium  Hydrate. 

^^If  metal  fouling  is  present  the  patch  will  come  out 
a  deep  blue  color.  Patches  with  ammonia  on  th.em 
should  be  run  through  until  one  comes  out  practically  col- 
orless. The  ammonium  hydrate  treatment  will  remove 
light  deposits  of  metal,  but  when  the  fouling  is  very  heavy 
as  is  sometimes  the  case  when  the  barrel  has  been  shot 
a  number  of  times  in  rapid  succession,  we  have  found  the 
following  preparation  the  best  to  remove  it: 

Ammonium  Carbonate   200  grains 

Ammonium  Hydrate 6  ounces 

Ammonium  Persulphate   1  ounce 

Distilled  water   4  ounces 

^^The  method  of  applying  is  to  cork  up  the  breech  of 
the  rifle  and  fit  a  short  section  of  tubing  over  the  muzzle. 
The  solution  is  then  poured  in  until  it  fills  the  barrel  and 
part  of  the  rubber  tube  so  that  the  muzzle  will  be  com- 
pletely covered.  The  liquid  should  remain  for  thirty 
minutes  or  an  hour,  then  pour  out.  This  preparation  de- 
teriorates with  age  and  is  most  effective  when  fresh. 

^'Care  must  be  taken,  if  either  of  the  above  methods 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  127 

are  used,  to  thoroughly  clean  out  the  inside  of  the  barrel 
and  any  metal  part  which  has  been  wet  with  the  solutions, 
as  if  they  dry  on  the  steel,  they  are  liable  to  cause  rust. 
Be  careful  also  not  to  let  the  ammonium  hydrate  solution 
or  the  preparation  mentioned  above  touch  the  wooden 
stock  or  forearm  as  they  will  remove  the  finish.  The 
danger  from  metal  fouling  arises  from  the  fact  that  clean- 
ing oil  is  excluded  from  barrel  surfaces  covered  by  it  and 
rusting  is  very  apt  to  follow. 

Actions  and  Moving  Parts: 

''The  mechanism  of  all  firearms  should  be  cleaned  and 
lubricated  with  oil  and  a  thin  film  rubbed  on  the  outside 
metal  peirts  to  preserve  them  from  rust."  The  above  in- 
formation on  ^'how  to  take  care  of  firearms"  was  taken 
from  the  Remington  U  M  C  catalogue  and  incorporated 
here  on  account  of  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  suggestions, 
and  because  the  makers  of  guns  are  naturally  best  fitted 
to  know  just  how  they  should  be  taken  care  of. 

ORIGIN  OF  HUNTING  DOGS: 

Nothing  is  definitely  known  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
English  Setter,  but  there  is  also  a  lack  of  trustworthy  in- 
formation regarding  the  origin  of  all  the  other  old  breeds 
of  dogs. 

Some  writers  of  note  claim  that  the  English  Setter 
originated  in  a  Spaniel  ancestry.  To  prove  their  claims, 
they  quote  early  writers  on  the  subject,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing excerpts  will  show  the  foundation  on  which  their 
claims  are  based: 

The  author,  Stonehenge,  writing  on  the  subject  of 
''The  Dogs  of  the  British  Islands"  in  the  year  1867,  says: 

As  some  difference  of  opinion  appears  to  exist  with 
regard  to  Setters,  we  have  determined  thoroughly  to  sat- 
isfy ourselves  as  to  their  origin  and  best  form,  and  we 
have  called  all  the  best  authorities  to  our  assistance.    We 


128 


THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 


propose  to  place  the  result  of  our  labors  before  the  public, 
and  to  add  our  own  conclusions. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  sport  of  hawking  was  known 
and  practiced  by  the  ancient  Britons,  and  that  the  Roman 
was  totally  ignorant  of  the  science;  but  the  iuA^ader  at  once 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  system  might  be  improved, 
and  introduced  the  Land  Spaniel,  if  not  the  Water  Dog,  also, 
into  this  country. 

These  dogs  roused  the  game,  and  this  was  all  that  the 
hawker  required  of  them  in  those  early  days;  but  in  after 


•PERFECT    POINTERS. 


years,  as  we  shall  see,  dogs  were  required  to  j)oint,  or,  in  the 
language  of  the  quaint  old  writer,  ^'sodainely  stop  and  fall 
down  upon  their  bellies,' '^  and  liaving  so  done,  when  within 
two  or  three  yards,  '*then  shall  your  Setter  stick,  and  by  no 
persuasion  go  further  till  yourself  come  in  and  use  your 
pleasure." 


THE    AXGLKH    AND    HrXTS:MAX  129 

At  first,  then,  without  doubt,  the  Hpaiiiel  was  merely 
used  as  a  spriug'er  for  the  hawk,  which  was  subsequently 
neglected  for  the  net;  and  the  propensity  of  the  dog  to  pause 
])efore  making  liis  dash  at  game  was  cultivated  and  cher- 
ished, by  breeding  and  selection,  until,  at  last,  gratified  by 
observing  the  action  of  the  net,  he  yielded  his  natural  im- 
pulse of  springing  at  all,  and  set,  or  lay  down,  to  permit  the 
net  to  be  drawn  over  him.  After  this,  the  hawker  trained 
his  Spaniel  to  set;  then  he  cast  off  his  hawks,  Avhich  ascend- 
ed in  circles,  and  ^Svaited  on''  until  his  master  roused  the 
(juarry  from  its  concealment,  when  he  poimced  upon  it  like 
a  pistol  shot. 

When  used  either  with  hawks  or  for  the  net  (especially 
in  the  latter  case),  a  far  heavier  dog  answered  the  purx30se 
than  what  we  call  a  ^ ^ Highranging  Setter."  The  net  en- 
veloped a  whole  covey  in  its  meshes,  and  few  manors  would 
allow  of  many  coveys  being  taken  in  a  day;  whilst  the  dis- 
entangling the  birds,  and  securing  them,  allowed  time  for 
the  heavy  dog  to  rest  and  regain  his  wind. 

Richard  Surflet,  who  wrote  in  1(300,  gives  us  the  follow- 
ing information.  AVriting  of  the  Field  or  Land  Spaniel, ' '  of 
which  sith  before  no  author  hath  fully  intreated,"  he  de- 
scribes him  as  '^gentle,  loving,  and  courteous  to  man,  more 
than  any  other  sort  of  dog  whatsoever";  and  as  *' loving  to 
hunt  the  wing  of  any  bird,  especially  partridge,  pheasant, 
(iuails,  rails,  coots,  and  such  like."  He  tells  us  we  are  ''to 
choose  him  by  his  shape,  beauty,  metal,  and  cunning  hunt- 
ing; his  shape  being  discerned  in  the  good  composition  of  his 
body,  as  when  he  hath  a  round,  thick  head,  a  short  nose,  a 
long,  well-compast,  and  hairie  eare,  broad  and  syde  lips,  a 
cleere  red  eie,  a  thick  neck,  broad  breast,  short  and  well-knit 
joints,  round  feete,  strong  cleys  (high  dew-cley'd),  good 
round  ribs,  a  gaunt  bellie,  a  short,  ])road  backe,  a  thicke, 
bushie  and  long-haired  taile,  and  all  his  bodie  generally  long 
and  well-haired.  His  bjcautie  is  discerned  in  his  colour,  of 
which  the  motleys  or  piede  are  the  ])est;  whetlicM-  th(\v  be 


130  THE   AXGLER  AND    HUNTSMAN 

black-and-white,  recl-and- white,  or  liver-hued-and- white ; 
for,  to  be  all  of  one  colour,  as  all  white,  or  all  blacke,  or  all 
red,  or  all  liver-hued,  without  any  other  spot,  is  not  so 
comely  in  the  field,  although  the  dogs,  notwithstanding, 
may  be  of  excellent  cunning.  His  mettall  is  discerned 
in  his  free  and  untired  laboursome  ranging,  beating  a 
field  over  and  over,  and  not  leaving  a  furrow  untrod- 
den, or  one  unsearched,  where  any  haunt  is  likely  to 
be  hidden;  and  when  he  doth  it,  most  coragiously  and 
swiftly,  with  a  wanton  playing  taile,  and  a  busie  la- 
bouring nose,  neither  desisting  nor  showing  less  delight  in 
his  labour  at  night  than  he  did  in  the  morning  and  his 
cunning  hunting  is  discerned  by  his  casting  about  heedfully, 
and  running  into  the  wind  of  the  prey  he  seeketh;  by 
his  stillnesse  and  quietnesse  in  hunting,  without  babbling  or 
barking ;  but  Avhen  he  is  upon  an  assured  and  certain  haunt, 
by  the  manner  of  his  ranging,  and  when  he  compasseth  a 
whole  field  about  at  the  first,  and  after  lesneth  and  lesneth 
the  circumference,  till  he  have  trodden  every  path,  and 
brought  the  whole  circuit  to  one  point;  and  by  his  more  tem- 
perate and  leisurely  hunting,  when  he  comes  to  the  first 
scent  of  the  game,  sticking  upon  it,  and  pricking  it  out  by 
degrees ;  not  opening  or  questing  by  any  means,  but  whimp- 
ering and  whining  to  give  his  master  a  warning  of  what  he' 
scenteth,  and  to  prepare  himself  and  his  hawke  for  the 
pleasure  he  seeketh;  and  when  he  is  assured  of  his  game, 
then  to  quest  out  loudly  and  freely." 

After  describing  Spaniels  w^hich  ^^  delight  in  plains  or 
the  open  fields,"  and  others  more  adapted  for  covert,  he 
goes" on  to  say:  *^ There  is  another  sort  of  Land  Spannyels 
v/hich  are  called  Setters,  and  they  differ  nothing  from  the 
former,  but  in  instruction  and  obedience,  for  these  must 
neither  hunt,  range,  nor  retaine,  more  or  less,  than  as  the 
master  appointeth,  taking  the  whole  limit  of  whatsoever 
they  do  from  the  eie  or  hand  of  their  instructor.  They  rhust 
never  quest  at  any  time,  what  occasion  soever  may  happen. 


THE   ANGLEE   AND   HUNTSMAN  131 

but  as  being  dogs  without  voices,  so  they  must  hunt  close 
and  mute.  And  when  they  come  upon  the  haunt  of  that 
they  hunt,  they  shall  sodainely  stop  and  fall  down  upon 
their  bellies,  and  so  leisurely  creep  by  degrees  to  the  game 
till  they  come  within  two  or  three  yards  thereof,  or  so  neare 
that  they  can  not  press  nearer  without  danger  of  retriev- 
ing. Then  shall  your  Setter  stick,  and  by  no  persuasion  go 
further  till  yourself  come  in  and  use  your  pleasure.  Now 
the  dogs  which  are  to  be  made  for  this  pleasure  should  be 
the  most  principall,  best,  and  lustiest  Spannyel  you  can  get, 
both  of  good  scent  and  good  courage,  yet  young,  and  as  lit- 
tle as  may  be  made  acquainteed  with  much  hunting. ' ' 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Setter  is  a  Spaniel,  brought 
by  a  variety  of  crosses  (or  rather,  let  us  say,  of  careful  selec- 
Itions)  to  the  size  and  fonn  in  which  we  now  find  him.  He 
is  the  most  national  of  all  our  shooting  dogs,  and  certainly 
has  existed  for  four  centuries.  His  form  probably  has  im- 
proved. 

Stonehenge,  in  another  part  of  his  works,  says  that 
'*  About  the  year  1555,  a  duke  of  Northumberland  trained 
one  (he  was  writing  on  the  Sussex  Spaniel)  Ho  set  birds 
for  the  net;'  and  soon  afterward  the  Setter  was  produced, 
either  by  selection  or  by  crossing  the  Talbot  Hound  and 
Spaniel." 

Another  noted  writer  of  his  day  was  Laverack,  who, 
writing  on  ^^The  Setter,"  states: 

'*!  am  of  the  opinion  that  all  Setters  have  more  or  less 
originally  sprung  from  our  various  strains  of  Spaniels,  and 
I  believe  most  breeders  of  any  note  agree  that  the  Setter  is 
nothing  more  than  a  setting  Spaniel.  How  the  Setter  at- 
tained his  sufficiency  of  point  is  difficult  to  account  for, 
and  I  leave  that  question  to  wiser  heads  than  mine  to  deter- 
mine. The  Setter  is  said  and  acknowledged,  by  authorities 
of  long  standing,  to  be  of  greater  antiquity  than  the  Point- 
er. If  this  is  true,  and  1  believe  it  is,  the  Setter  can  not  at 
first  have  been  crossed  with  the  Pointer  to  render  him 
what  he  is." 


132  THE    AXGLER    AXD    HUXT8MAX 

If  such  men  as  Laverack  could  not  fathom  the  depths  of 
the  mystery  surrounding  the  origm  of  the  Setter  dog,  the 
reader  will  pardon  us  for  candidly  admitting  our  inability 
to  do  so.  Therefore,  let  us  leave  off  as  we  began — there  is 
nothing  definitely  known  as  to  the  origin  of  the  English 
Setter,  which  is  also  true  of  all  the  (^tlu^r  older  ])reeds  of 
dogs. 

We  could  quote  the  writings  of  early  authors  on  the 
possible  origin  of  all  the  other  old  breeds  of  hunting  dogs, 
but  this  would  be  imposing  upon  your  time  and  patience,  in- 
as  much  as  we  would  have  establislu^d  nothing  for  a  surety 
at  the  end,  so  we  will  allow  our  remarks  and  quotations  on 
the  English  Setter  to  answer  for  the  other  older  breeds  of 
hunting  dogs. 

Big  Game  Hunting: 

This  is  a  fascinating  subject — one  upon  which  we  like 
to  write — but  we  must  admit  there  is  intermingled  with  our 
feelings  a  sense  of  regret,  of.  sadness,  because  the  big  game 
of  the  United  States  is  really  and  truly  Avell-nigh  a  x^assing 
memory,  an  episode  in  the  evolution  of  our  progress  as  a  na- 
tion that  is  almost  dead  and  gone — forever. 

But  a  ray  of  sunshine  and  hope  gleams  thrcnigh  the  dark 
clouds  of  despair — for  there  is  Canada  and  Alaska  yet- -big 
game 's  last  retreat  in  North  America.  We  turn,  then,  hope- 
fully to  the  North,  to  the  great  virgin  forests  and  waste- 
places  as  yet  practically  untouched  and  untrod  by  man. 

When  our  forefathers  came  across  the  seas  to  this 
country  there  was  not  only  game  of  all  kinds  in  alnuidance, 
but  there  existed  an  actual  over-supi)ly.  Subsequentlv,  the 
different  colonies  (and  later  the  various  States)  found  it 
necessary  to  offer  bounties  for  the  pelts  of  the  different 
species  of  game  animals  that  proved  a  source  of  annoyance 
to  the  early  settlers  in  their  pursuit  of  life  and  liberty. 

With  the  steady  encroachments  of  civilization  on  our 
wild,  each  vear  they  have  become  less  plentiful  in  many 


THE    AXGLER    AND    HI  XTSMAX 


133 


States,  and  in  the  great  majority  have  been  utterly  extermi- 
nated. In  a  feAv  remaining  States  some  species  are  found 
in  limited  numbers. 

Wild  animals  of  the  larger  species  have  been  forced  to 
take  up  their  abode  in  retreats  tliat  man  has  not  yet  pene- 
trated to  any  marked  degree  because  these  regions  have 


Courtesy  Canarlian   Pacific  Railway   Co. 

"A   PARTY  OF  CANADIAN  DEER  HUNTERS. 


been  unsuited  to  man  from  a  climatic  standpoint,  being 
either  too  dry  or  too  cold.  Therefore,  Canada  and  Alaska 
by  reason  of  their  geographical  positions  are  the  logical 
modern  homes  for  game  that  has  been  driven  steadily  north- 
ward and  westward  by  man  with  his  potent  agency  of  de- 
struction— modern  firearms. 


134  THE    AXGLER    AXD    HUXTSMAX 

So  it  is  that  the  frigid  regions  of  the  North  offer  the 
last  haven  of  safety  for  our  big  game  animals.  The  climate 
in  years  past  has  proven  a  tolerably  safe  barrier  of  security 
for  them,  but  even  there  they  are  not  safe.  Hardy  sports- 
men and  natives  annually  take  a  heavy  toll  from  their  num- 
bers and  it  only  remains  a  mere  matter  of  time  until  they 
will  be  extinguished  if  the  strong  arm  of  the  law,  armed  with 
effective  conservation  legislation,  does  not  intervene  and 
stay  their  execution. 

We,  and  our  neighbor  to  the  North  of  us,  have  already 
enacted  some  very  humane  a:nd  essential  game  laws,  in  fact 
we  have  more  laws  than  we  have  game  left  to  protect,  and 
what  we  most  need  at  the  present  moment  is  not  more  game 
laws,  but  more  rigid  enforcement  of  those  already  on  our 
statute  books.  This  is  the  crying  need  of  the  hour.  I  say, 
down  with  the  game  hog  and  market  hunter,  and  all  hail 
to  the  true  sportsmen,  whom  these  j)rotective  measures, 
properly  enforced,  will  really  benefit,  as  is  apparent  on  the 
face  of  the  proposition.  We  claim  to  be  living  in  a  pro- 
gressive age.  Then,  let's  do  something  that  is  really  pro- 
gressive. Suppose  we  make  each  sportsman  a  committee  of 
one  to  see  that  no  game  hogs  and  pot  hunters  stay  around 
his  *^neck  of  the  woods"  unpunished  by  law.  ^'In  union 
there  is  strength,"  and  '^United  we  stand.  Divided  we  fall," 
are  two  good  mottoes  for  us  to  go  by,  for  if  all  we  sportsmen 
^'puU  together"  and  introduce  a  little  ^^team  work"  into  our 
efforts,  the  result  will  be  amazing  and  gratifying. 

As  the  situation  now^  stands,  the  sportsman  of  to-day 
needs  must  travel  afar  to  these  northern  or  western  abodes 
of  big  game  if  he  would  not  court  failure.  No  longer  is  it 
possible  for  those  living  in  a  thickly  populated  community 
to  go  out  and  bag  a  bear,  a  moose,  a  sheep,  a  caribou,  or  a 
deer,  as  in  days  of  old,  without  investing  a  young  fortune  in 
equipment  and  railroad  fare.  They  must  hie  away  to  some 
remote  spot  whence  the  larger  game  has  fled.  This  incon- 
venience and  expense  caused  the  modern  sportsman  is  di- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  135 

rectly  the  result  of  tHe  great  slaughter  encompassed  by  the 
damnable  and  unspeakable  game  hog  and  market  hunter. 
But  sooner  or  later  the  sportsman  will  not  even  be  able  to 
locate  the  game  he  desires  by  these  long  trips  taken  at  so 
much  time  and  expense,  for  the  game  hog  and  market  hunt- 
er are  right  on  the  Job  all  the  time,  slaughtering  and  trap- 
ping the  noble  wild  creatures  in  their  distant  haunts  and 
robbing  you  of  your  share  of  nature's  stores.  It  is  easily 
seen  what  condition  this  will  eventually  bring  about. 
It  doesn't  take  a  pessimist  to  see  the  end  of  the  beginning 
in  this  case.  The  hand-writing  appears  on  the  wall,  and  it 
spells  nothing  less  than  total  extinction  in  a  few  more  years, 
if  this  needless  and  cruel  slaughter  is  not  brought  to  a  halt. 
I  have  already  pointed  out  my  idea  of  how  to  effect  this  halt 
— not  by  enacting  more  game  laws,  but  by  rigidly  and  dili- 
gently enforcing  those  we  already  have  enacted.  That  is 
the  only  practical  solution  to  the  problem,  so  far  as  I  am 
able  to  see. 

As  to  the  bear,  some  folks  make  the  claim  he  does  not 
deserve  protection,  accusing  him  of  pilfering  the  farmer's 
pigsties,  and  placing  numberless  other  misdemeanors  at  his 
door. 

If  those  making  these  accusations  against  bruin  will 
but  take  the  trouble  to  thoroughly  investigate  each  instance 
of  this  kind,  they  will  find  that  it  is  not  the  bear  who  is  to 
blame  for  these  thefts  but  the  more  sly  and  cunning  thief, 
the  sneaking  mountain  lion.  The  latter  will  probably  effect 
the  slaughter,  devour  all  he  wants  of  the  kill,  which,  let  us 
presume  is  a  pig,  and  then  bruin  will  come  along,  get  a  scent 
of  fresh  meat,  go  and  finish  what  the  lion  left,  and  then  ]\Ir. 
Farmer  will  come  out  next  morning,  see  the  huge  bear 
tracks,  cuss  the  innocent  bear,  and  perhaps  organize  a  posse 
of  neighbors  to  help  find  and  kill  him  for  a  crime  for  which 
the  mountain  lion,  and  not  he,  is  responsible.  Every  stu- 
dent of  nature  knows  ia  bear  will  not  ordinarily  molest  anV 
animal,  with  the  exception  of  small  rodents  and  insects,  un- 


136  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

less  himself  attacked  first.  In  this  case  the  bear  puts  up  a 
pretty  stiff  fight  and  a  convincing  argument.  I  distinctly 
remember  one  bear,  in  particular,  that  came  near  getting  a 
close  friend  of  mine. 

It  was  in  British  Columbia.  My  pal  had  gone  there  to 
recuperate  his  health  and  rouse  his  drooping  spirits  in  the 
toxic  air  of  the  Canadian  Rockies,  and  he  did  not  let  an  op- 
portunity slip  to  accompany  anybody  on  a  big  game  hunt, 
as  there  were  sportsmen  from  everywhere  stopping  there  at 
the  big  mountain  hotel,  where  my  friend  was  staying. 

Now%  everybody  knows  these  Canadian  bears  are  dead 
game  fellows  and  very  ferocious  when  cornered  or  wounded. 
Any  experienced  sportsman  who  has  fought  a  bear  in  these 
northern  wilds  will  tell  you  that. 

Hunting  in  Canada  is  indeed  a  delight  to  the  outer. 
The  scenic  beauty  of  the  mountains  is  enthralling,  and  the 
natives  have  not  been  idle,  but  have  taken  stock  of  their 
boundless  scenic  wealth,  and  got  busy.  They  have  studied 
Swiss  methods  and  improved  upon  them;  they  put  business 
men  in  charge  of  affairs  and  gave  them  power  to  do  things 
in  a  big  way.  Having  railroad  prosperity  and  local  ])usi- 
ness  for  their  object,  they  planned  carefully  and  executed 
boldly.  Picking  out  the  Lake  Louise  region  as  their  point 
of  first  concentration,  they  began  the  establishment  of  its 
trademark.  They  began  advertising  extensively  and  thor- 
oughly. 

Result?  These  countries,  Switzerland  and  Canada, 
to-day  share  the  scenic  reputation  of  the  world.  It  has  been 
estimated  that  in  peace  times  the  Alps  draw  a  hundred  mil- 
lion of  American  dollars  a  year.  Abroad,  the  Canadian 
Rockies  are  supposed  to  furnish  the  only  scenic  beauty  in 
North  America  worth  looking  at,  and  until  quite  recently  it 
was  the  fixed  belief  of  most  Americans  that  they  excelled 
anything  in  the  United  States.  Thousands  of  citizens  of 
the  United  States  go  yearly  to  the  Canadian  Rockies  for  the 
particular  purpose  of  viewing  what  they  think  the  most 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  137 

stupendous  thing  in  the  way  of  scenery  in  the  Western  Hem- 
isphere. And  of  course  they  think  they  have  seen  it,  and 
naturally  they  come  home  and  spread  its  fame.  British 
colonies  are  active,  even  in  these  post-war  days  when  the 
world-at-large  has  not  yet  reached  a  definite  peace  footing. 
Quite  recently,  for  instance,  an  American  motion  picture 
bureau  received  a  gift  of  25,000  feet  of  film,  largely  scenic, 
from  South  Africa.  But  while  Canadian  mountain  scenery 
is  all  that  is  claimed  for  it,  we  want  to  pause  to  say  right 
here  that  it  is  not  any  more  beautiful  than  our  own  Rocky 
Mountain  scenery.  Even  the  Swiss  Alps  may  be  offset  by 
our  Glacier  National  Park  alone.  Point  for  point.  Glacier 
will  compete  and  usually  score  a  triumi^h.  There  are 
many  other  beautiful  national  parks  and  reserves  in  the 
United  States  and  in  Alaska,  but  I  will  not  follow  this  vem 
of  thought  further. 

I  started  out  to  tell  you  about  the  experience  with  the 
bear  my  friend  related  to  me,  and  so  here  goes.  He  had  no 
dogs  Avith  him,  neither  had  his  hunting  mate.  So  they  de- 
cided to  hunt  not  far  distant  from  each  other,  for  the  sake 
of  safety,  and  for  fear  of  my  friend,  who  was  unaccustomed 
to  these  game  fields,  getting  lost. 

They  had  scouted  around  for  perhaps  an  hour  among 
the  foothills,  but  could  discern  no  signs  of  game,  so  they 
decided  to  go  higher.  Two  hours  later  found  them  well  up 
among  the  smaller  trees,  and  presently  my  friend  Jolm 
discovered  a  bear  track  in  the  thin  layer  of  snow.  Unques- 
tionably the  easiest  and  best  way  to  hunt  bears  is  with  thor- 
oughly trained  hounds,  or  Airedale  terriors,  or  better  still — 
both.  Without  them,  it  is  an  excellent  idea  to  have  a  com- 
panion, for  you  never  know  what's  in  store  for  you,  as  this 
explanation  will  show.  Either  way  you  hunt  you  appar- 
ently have  the  bear  at  a  great  disadvantage.  One  of  the 
chief  i*(»asons  for  fearing  them  is  that  such  hugely  exag- 
gerated stories  are  sometimes  told  as  a  joke  and  circulated 
for  the  truth  about  them  that  some  hunters  hesitate  on  this 


138  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

account  to  hunt  these  fiercely  fighting  northern  bears ;  3^et 
those  who  have  phick  enough  to  go  after  them  once  usually 
welcome  the  second  opportunity,  and  this  same  rule  applies 
to  any  other  wild  animal.  There  are  some  few  hunters  who 
will  positively  refuse  to  risk  a  shot  at  anything  bigger  than 
a  titmouse,  or  where  there  is  the  least  element  of  danger 
from  the  animal's  defense  of  itself.  These  fellows  are  not 
real  sportsmen  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word.  They  are 
chicken-hearted,  and  they  do  not  get  out  of  the  hunt  the 
sport  that  they  should  get.  It  is  the  element  of  danger  and 
excitement  that  really  appeals  to  the  true  sportsman;  a 
fighting  chance  is  all  he  asks  on  a  ''give  and  take"  basis. 
Without  the  element  of  danger,  excitement  or  chance,  there 
can  be  no  real  sport  and  no  true  sportsman. 

In  half  an  hour  they  had  crept  up  on  Mr.  Bear,  who  re- 
mained quite  unaware  of  their  presence,  they  having  ap-. 
proached  him  up  wind.  The  hunters  decided  to  attack  him 
on  two  sides,  John  making  a  detour  to  the  opposite  side  of 
him.  The  bear  was  beginning  to  get  suspicious  by  this  time 
and  had  evidently  scented  John.  But  his  natural  powers  of 
smell  served  him  too  late.  Turning  away  from  the  direction 
in  which  the  man  scent  came  to  him,  he  started  down  wind, 
unconsciously  going  right  into  the  vicinity  of  another  man 
enemy,  John's  partner.  John  whistled  a  warning  signal 
to  the  other  fellow,  and  himself  followed  close  on  the  bear's 
heels.  The  cordon  was  slowly  being  drawn  tighter,  bruin 
was  surrounded,  escape  cut  off.  But  bruin  was  not  yet 
taken,  and  didn't  intend  to  be,  if  a  stiff  fight  would  accom- 
plish anything.  He  was  cornered,  and  a  cornered  bear  will 
fight,  and  nobody  but  silly  fools  would  blame  him  for  fight- 
ing. 

Presently,  a  rifle  shot  rang  out  on  the  crisp,  mountain 
air,  rapidly  followed  by  several  other  shots.  Both  rifles 
v/ere  speaking ;  sending  forth  their  challenge  to  the  lord  of 
the  wilderness. 

The  bear  was  not  long  in  answering  the  challenge. 


THE  a:^^gler  and  huntsman  139 

With  a  great  roar  of  anguish  caused  by  the  immense  pain 
the  bullet-wounds  produced,  the  huge  grizzly  bear  reared  up 
on  its  haunches,  snapping  and  biting  frantically  and 
viciously ;  then  he  charged  directly  at  John,  his  teeth  bared 
and  giving  forth  ugly  snarls  as  only  a  really  mad  bear  knows 
how.  Seeing  John's  imminent  danger,  his  pal  came  to  the 
rescue,  putting  in  a  good  shot  on  his  side,  but  still  the  bear 
proceeded  to  charge  John,  who  was  backing  uj)  degree  by 
degree,  fearing  to  turn  and  run,  lest  the  bear  would  follow 
suit  and  catch  him  before  he  could  reach  a  tree,  for  the  bear, 
tho'  clumsy  in  appearance,  is  really  very  agile  and  active, 
especially  when  riled  up,  as  was  this  fellow.  The  next  shot, 
however,  caused  the  bear  to  turn  on  John's  friend  and 
charge  him.  This,  of  course,  was  my  friend's  queue  to  go 
to  the  assistance  of  his  mate,  which  he  did  without  delay, 
opening  fire  from  his  side.  .  John 's  object  was  to  break  both 
shoulders  of  the  bear,  thus  rendering  him  comparatively 
harmless.  A  ball  aimed  at  the  head  is  seldom  effective,  un- 
less placed  just  behind  the  ear,  and  shots  through  the  ribs  or 
stomach  serve  only  to  make  him  intensely  savage  with  pain, 
and  a  bear  thus  wounded,  I  know,  is  all  every  writer  ever 
claimed  and  perhaps  then  some,  often  10  or  12  hits  being  re- 
quired to  finish  the  job,  unless  a  lucky  ball  be  planted  in  a 
vital  spot.  It  is  important  to  maintain  as  much  distance 
as  possible  between  one  and  the  bear  while  he  is  in  his  angry 
mood,  and  a  good  plan  is  to  keep  backing  steadily,  firing 
alternately  with  as  much  precision  as  you  can  possibly  sum- 
mon. Precision  in  aiming  is  a  vital  point,  neglecting  which 
you  run  great  risk  of  eventually  getting  badly  hurt  or  killed. 
Suddenly  the  bear  broke  into  a  run  and  turned  and 
came  at  John  on  a  dead  run,  thinking  apparently  to  put  an 
end  to  one  adversary  at  a  time  and  do  it  quickly.  John  was 
stampeded  with  fear.  He  said  afterward  he  lost  his  rea- 
soning power  by  the  suddenness  and  violence  of  the  attack. 
He  thought  he  was  a  goner.  He  broke  and  ran;  seemingly 
there  was  nothing  else  to  do,  tho'  he  had  always  known  this 


140  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUXTSMAX 

was  a  very  bad  idea.  The  bear  sure  was  camping  on  his 
trail,  and  the  first  law  of  nature  (that  of  self-preservation) 
told  him  if  he  would  preserve  a  whole  hide  and  a  healthy 
look  he  had  better  beat  it  for  the  tall  and  uncut,  and  that's 
exactly  what  he  did.  He  admitted  to  me  that  he  sure  broke 
all  speed  records  there  that  day,  and  opined  the  fact  there 
was  no  stop-watch  artist  there  to  time  him. 

But  just  when  he  was  beginning  to  think  it  was  only  a 
matter  of  seconds  for  him  before  the  bear  would  have  him  in 
his  powerful  and  death-dealing  embrace,  Fate  came  to  his 
]*escue.  He  suddenly  became  aware  of  the  fact  that  he  was 
no  longer  being  pursued.  Presently,  summoning  sufficient 
courage  to  glance  back  over  his  shoulder,  he  made  sure  of  it. 
The  great  bear  had  fallen  to  rise  no  more.  A  little  time  and 
loss  of  blood  proved  his  undoing. 

It  was  dark  when  they  got  back  to  their  hotel  with  the 
bear  skin,  and  the}^  were  good  and  tired,  tho'  supremely 
happy. 

SMALL  GAME  HUNTING: 

(Note:  Scientific  descriptions  of  the  various  game 
aimals,  birds,  and  waterfowl  were  written  from  data  fur- 
nished by  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.) 

Huntng  methods  differ  in  many  localities,  for  instance, 
in  nearly  all  of  our  Northern  States  and  in  Caitada  the  fox 
is  hunted  with  a  pack  of  dogs,  and  the  hunters  are  each 
armed  with  shotguns  or  rifles,  the  method  being  to  shoot  the 
fox  at  the  first  opportunity,  while  in  the  Southern  States, 
notably  in  Kentucky,  the  foxhunters  let  the  fox  run  ahead 
of  the  hounds  as  long  as  he  is  able  to  ehide  capture,  and  do 
not  carry  any  firearms  whatever.  The  Southern  sportsmen 
hunt  mounted  on  spirited  horses,  while  the  Northern  folk  go 
forth  afoot. 

The  same  rule  applies  to  coon  hunting,  (except  it  is 
himted  afoot  universally).  In  the  South,  the  coonhunter 
fares  forth  at  night  with  his  lantern  and  perhaps  also  car- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  141 

ries  an  axe  with  wliieii  to  chop  down  the  tree  wherein  his 
rin£>tailed  Majesty  has  taken  refuge,  l)ut  he  does  not  need  a 
gun,  for  the  coon  is  never  shot.  The  usual  procedure  is  to 
get  the  coon  out  of  the  tree,  or  den,  and  let  the  dogs  and  the 
coon  fight  it  out  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  On 
such  occasions,  not  infrequently  the  coon  gets  the  best  of  the 
dogs  and  makes  good  his  escape.  It  is  a  method,  the  writer 
believes,  Avorthy  the  traditions  of  sportsmanship,  wherein 
the  hunter  gives  the  quarry  a  fighting  chance. 

As  to  quail  shooting,  duck  and  geese  shooting,  wild  tur- 
key hunting,  and  other  land  and  waterfowl  hunting,  the 
methods  all  o^'er  our  (*ountry  aj)pear  to  be  much  more 
similar. 

In  the  following  pages  we  shall  describe  hunting 
methods  a^  applied  to  all  sections  of  the  country  and  which, 
tlieri^fore,  may  be  of  benefit  to  sportsmen  in  every  part  of 
North  America. 

These  reflections  and  stories  are  the  result  of  a  lifetime 
spent  close  to  Nature's  Fount.  If  they  prove  an  inspira- 
tion to  brother  sportsmen  and  to  those  not  as  yet  fully  ini- 
tiated into  the  secrets  of  Nature's  realm,  they  will  abun- 
dantly have  achieved  the  author's  aim  in  writing  them 
doAMi.  He  can  hope  for  no  greater  reward  than  that  s(nne 
suggestion  offered  herein  may  helx)  a  fellow  craftsman. 

To  aid  another  is  really  the  creed  of  every  true  sports- 
man, and  if  we  have  failed  to  aid  you,  either  in  lightening 
your  Inirden  or  by  offering  timely  and  instructive  sugges- 
ti(>us,  we  lun'e  failed  in  our  mission. 

FOX  HUNTING: 

The  fox  hunter  is  held  by  many  to  be  the  most  demo- 
cratic of  all  outdoorsmen,  for  is  not  fox  hunting  the  most 
democratic  of  all  sports  ? 

When  fox  hunters  assemble  for  the  royal  chase,  all 
caste  and  social  distinction  is  thrown  aside,  and  each  man 
is  judged  by  his  f  ellow^s  solely  on  his  merits  as  a  sportsman. 


142 


THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 


Thus,  the  ^'fox  hunting  fraternity/'  as  they  like  best 
to  be  called,  is  in  reality  nothing  less  than  the  brotherhood 
of  universal  fellowship,  brought  about  by  the  democratic 
sport — fox  hunting. 

The  southern  x:>ortion  of  the  United  States  claims  credit 
for  introducing  this  grand  sport  into  America.     They  claim 


'CAREY."    No.    27028    B.    G.    S.    B.     (BY    TOBE-LADY).    THE    MOST    SEN- 
SATIONAL  WINNING   FOX   HOUND,    WINNING   EVERY   TIME 
ENTERED   IN  THREE   YEARS.    1916-17-18. 

that  for  a  long  time  it  was  strictly  a  southern  sport,  having 
been  introduced  into  this  country  from  England  about  the 
year  1650,  when  the  English  colonists  brought  foxhounds 
to  Virginia  and  Maryland. 

We  have  read  somewhere  that  in  England  a  pack  of 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  143 

foxhounds,  consisting  of  from  twenty-five  to  forty  pairs,  is 
maintained  either  by  the  neighborhood  or  else  by  rich  indi- 
viduals. In  this  country,  as  a  usual  thing,  each  hunter  owns 
his  own  pack  of  hounds. 

Before  the  Civil  War,  we  are  told,  fox  hunting  in  the 
South  was  much  more  popular  than  now,  but  this  is  not 
meant  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  royal  chase  is  not  still 
much  in  vogue,  for  there  are  many  more  hunters  now  than 
then,  due  to  the  increase  in  population,  as  well  as  to  the 
world  war,  which  has  learned  men  to  Jive  the  simple  outdoor 
life  and  returned  them  to  America,  from  which  they  sailed 
to  whip  the  Hun,  full-fledged,  unadulterated  Sportsmen. 
When  we  speak  of  the  popularity  of  the  chase  prior  to  the 
Civil  War,  therefore,  we  speak  merely  in  terms  of  com- 
parison. 

Prior  to  the  Civil  War,  the  hounds  in  use  were  the  old 
black  and  tan  descendants  of  the  ancient  Talbot  hounds, 
whose  pedigreed  record  may  be  traced  back  into  the  ages  for 
more  than  two  thousand  years.  These  hoimds  had  the  fa- 
cility to  trace  a  cold  trail  with  perfect  ease,  and,  possessing 
enormous  muzzles,  they  bellowed  forth  a  voluminous  cry 
when  in  pursuit  of  their  quarry.  Again,  they  had  very  re- 
markable endurance  and  staying  qualities,  two  requisites 
that  must  be  present  in  the  make-up  of  the  ideal  foxhound. 
These  dogs,  we  are  told,  were  accustomed  to  chases  of  great 
length  after  the  fleet  gray  fox,  a  fox  found  commonly 
throughout  the  Souith.  In  Maryland  the  English  foxhound 
was  crossed  with  the  Irish  stag  hound,  producing  hounds  of 
greater  speed  and  more  excellent  quality  than  those  used  up 
to  that  time.  This  cross  was  made  because  of  the  difficult 
conditions  in  that  State,  a  dog  being  desired  that  would 
make  a  catch  in  quicker  time  and  not  require  6  or  8  hours  as 
did  the  Talbot  descendants.  Thus  the  first  step  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  American  foxhound  took  place,  and  sub- 
sequent crosses  and  improvements  has  produced  the  great- 
est foxhound  the  world  has  ever  known. 


1-1:4  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

In  the  year  1738,  the  English  eohjnists  became  dissat- 
isfied with  the  common  gray  fox,  and  so  they  imported  the 
red  fox  from  the  mother  conntry — Enghmd,  Ulcerating  it 
along  the  shores  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  red  fox  has  a 
habit  of  making  great  circles  when  being  pursued,  while  the 
gray  fox  seeks  to  elude  capture  by  dodges  and  doubles. 

Many  sportsmen  have  taken  it  upon  themselves  to  im- 
prove the  breed  from  time  to  time,  hence  we  have  various 
strains  throughout  the  United  States,  but  all  are  directly 
traceable  to  the  hounds  brought  to  this  country  by  the  early 
settlers. 

To  enumerate  them,  the  July  dogs,  which  were  origi- 
nated in  Georgia,  is  a  very  popular  strain ; 

The  Birdsong  hounds  were  introduced  by  George  L.  F. 
Birdsong,  also  a  resident  of  Georgia,  who  w^as  a  noted  fox 
hunter  of  his  day; 

Col.  Hayden  C.  Trigg,  and  the  Walkers,  by  judicious 
(Tossing  and  careful  breeding,  gave  to  the  fox-hunting 
brotherhood  the  strains  of  fox  hounds  bearing  their  respec- 
tive names. 

To-day,  each  strain  of  the  American  foxhound  has  its 
ardent  admirers,  and  it  would  be  suicidal  for  me  to  attemjct 
to  state  which  strain  is  superior,  even  did  I  possess  that 
knowledge,  which  I  think  no  man  does  really  possess,  for  all 
have  their  merits  and  are  the  result  of  generations  of  pains- 
taking breeding,  and  none  of  them  appear  to  have  any  faults 
worth  mentioning,  no  more  than  any  hijecies  of  dog,  as  a 
w^hole,  is  faulty.  Of  course,  we  recognize  the  fact  that  there 
are  good,  bad,  and  indifferent  individuals  in  nearly  all 
breeds,  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  Airedale,  a  breed 
which  some  say  possess  uniform  qualit}^  and  merit.  We  will 
not  attempt  to  dispute  that  claim,  for  we  have  never  seen  a 
bad  Airedale  terrier. 

The  modern  American  foxhound  undeniably  possesses 
more  skill,  speed,  endurance,  staying  qualities,  and  individ- 
ual merit  than  any  other  strain  of  fox  hound  yet  produced- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HI  NTSMAN  145 

That  is  taking  in  quite  a  lot  of  territory,  but  it  is  quite  the 
truth.  To  these  pioneer  breeders  belongs  tlie  glory  and 
thanks  of  every  fox-hunting  enthusiast  for  all  time.  Let 
us  keep  fragrant  their  undying  memory,  for  they  have  done 
moie  for  the  uplift  of  the  sport  within  a  short  span  of  years 
than  all  their  forebears  accomplished  throughout  history. 


•THE   PERFECT  WALKER"   FOX  HOUNDS. 
DOLLY    AND   SHERMAN. 

Winners  of  the  Georgia  State  Meet  of  1918.     Now  the  property  of  T.  S.  Cobb,  bred 
and  sold   by   Blue   Grass   Farm   Kennels,   Berry.    Ky. 

The  Chase: 

The  chase  was  instituted  in  the  old  country,  where  even 
Royalty  was  wont  to  ride  to  the  baying  hounds  in  pursuit  of 
the  wily  fox.  It  was  essentially  a  sport  in  the  mother  coun- 
try in  which  the  well-to-do  classes  and  the  nobility  partici- 
pated. To  be  an  ardent  lover  of  the  chase — a  member  of  the 
fox-hunting  fraternity — was  to  tell  the  world  that  you  were 


146  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

a  man  of  honor  and  high  standing  among  men.  It  was  a 
sign  of  noble,  or  high  breeding.  Such  was  the  opinion  of 
the  chase  across  the  sea. 

But  in  democratic,  free  America,  when  the  chase  was 
instituted  by  the  early  colonists,  they  saw  to  it  that  no  racc^, 
no  creed,  and  no  caste  should  claim  superiority  over  their 
common  fellowman,  for  of  all  things  the  oppressed  emi- 
grants from  England  detested  it  was  these  things  they  hated 
most,  and  which  they  had  braved  the  stormy  deep  to  escape. 
So  it  was,  that  the  fox  hunting  sport  in  x\merica  got  a  demo- 
cratic start,  and  it  has  remained  such  on  down  to  this  time, 
we  are  indeed  thankful  to  say. 

Perhaps  the  uninitiated  would  like  for  me  to  describe 
a  typical  fox  hunt.  As  nothing  would  give  me  more  pleas- 
ure, being  an  ardent  lover  of  this  sport,  I  will  do  so.  Those 
already  members  of  the  craft  may  also  find  some  pleasure 
and  some  food  for  thought  in  the  brief  descpption  of  the 
chase  given  below : 

As  this  is  to  be  a  southern  chase,  the  assembled  fox 
hunters,  riding  their  favorite  mounts,  carry  no  weapons. 
Nothing  more  harmful  than  a  riding  whip  is  in  evidence. 

A  sudden  wind  from  the  North  the  previous  night 
brought  a  light  fall  of  snow,  for  snow  is  quite  common  in 
winter  in  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky.  Indeed,  quite 
frequently  during  the  winter  months  they  have  snows  there 
as  deep  as  three  feet,  but  more  frequently  the  snowfall  is 
much  ligliter  than  that,  probably  a  half-foot  being  the  cus- 
tomary depth. 

But  this  was  the  first  snow  of  the  season,  early  in  De- 
cember, and,  as  I  have  said  before,  it  was  a  light  snow. 
Still,  it  was  a  rather  moist  one,  as  most  snows  are  this  far 
South,  and  during  the  night  had  packed  down  well,^  so  that 
when  a  bright  day  dawned  Old  Sol  looked  down  upon  a 
world  covered  by  the  dazzling  white  sheen  precipitated  from 
the  clouds  at  the  Master's  bidding.  It  was  indeed  a  scene  of 
beauty!    Nature  had  fairly  outdone  herself  in  thus  setting 


thp:  angler  and  huntsman  147 

the  scene  for  one  of  the  greatest  fox  hunts  that  had  taken 
place  in  the  annals  of  local  history. 

The  Master  of  Hounds  quickly  called  the  sportsmen 
about  him  to  explain  to  them  what  was  expected  of  each,  for 
to  play  the  fox  hunting  game  as  it  should  be  played  they 
must  have  rules  and  regulations  to  go  by,  the  violation  of 
which  would  be  placed  against  the  record  of  the  hunter  or 
his  hounds,  depending  only  upon  whom  was  at  fault.  And 
thus  when  the  scores  of  the  different  dogs  were  totaled  up, 
demerits  should  be  credited  to  those  who,  unluckily,  had 
earned  them,  while  the  merits,  of  course,  were  placed  to  the 
credit  of  hounds  or  hunter  acting  within  the  prescribed  fra- 
ternal law. 


SHOOTING    ROCKET    No.    31006    B.   O.    S.    B.,    BY 
FRANK -ANNIE    VVAI.KER. 

And  so,  with  fox  hunting,  it  is  inucli  the  same  in  technic 
as  the  rules  laid  down  for  other  outdoor  games ;  for  instance, 
baseball,  which  has  what  they  call  *  Aground  rules."  Of 
course,  it  takes  a  radically  different  set  of  rules  for  fox 
hunting,  but  they  are  rules  just  the  same.  But  here  is  the 
greatest  difference.     In  baseball,  there  often  arises  con- 


148  THE   AXGLER    AXD    HUXTSMAX 

tentious  argument  with  the  umpires  over  the  rules,  and  fre- 
quently we  hear  of  an  umpire  being  run  off  the  field,  the 
playeis  of  one  side  or  the  other  having  rebelled  against  his 
decision  and  refused  to  abide  by  it.  Not  so  in  the  rules  of 
fox  hunting.  Rules  in  this  game  are  but  a  matter  of  form, 
for  all  obey  the  law — a  law  born  and  bred  in  the  natural  ])orn 
fox  hunter,  a  law  embodying  the  essence  of  true  sportsman- 
ship, without  which  there  could  be  no  democracy  for  man, 
and  without  that  there  could  l)e  no  government  for,  by,  and 
of  the  people.  Hence  this  spirit  of  sportsmanship  per- 
meates the  very  structure  of  our  great  Nation.  Without  it 
we  could  not  be  a  free  people.  A  King  or  a  Kaiser  would 
rule  over  us  and  we  would  be  but  mere  slaves. 

The  Master  of  Hounds  at  length  gave  the  signal  that 
opened  the  chase.  Each  hunter  unleashed  his  eager  dogs, 
and,  with  glad  cries,  that  rang  out  shrill  and  clear  on  the 
frosty  morning  air,  the  entire  pack  bounded  off  together  in 
search  of  the  spoor  of  the  fox. 

A  thirty  minutes  hunt  brought  the  desired  results, 
^' Bugle  Boy,"  announcing  in  a  bell-toned  voice  the  fact  that 
he  had  found  the  scent  or  spoor  of  the  fox.  Presently,  the 
balance  of  the  pack,  one  by  one,  took  up  the  trail  until  they 
had  all  found  it  and  were  mouthing  a  happy  chorus  all  to- 
gether as  they  disappeared  from  the  view  of  the  hunters  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill. 

Swift  horses  are  needed  for  this  w^ork,  and  swift  horses 
did  these  hunters  possess.  So,  with  whip  and  spur  gently 
applied,  soon  they  again  came  in  sight  of  the  chase  when 
they  reached  the  hilltop. 

^  The  Master  of  Hounds  reined  in  his  charger,  hastily 
took  from  his  satchel  that  was  strapped  over  one  shoulder 
his  field-glass,  quickly  adjusted  it  to  his  optics  and  scanned 
all  the  surrounding  country  from  his  point  of  A^antage,  try- 
ing to  locate  the  whereabouts  of  Br'er  Fox. 

He  watched  the  dogs  as  they  noisily  sped  across  the 
wide  vallev  toward  the  distant  hills,  and  he  surmised  that 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  149 

the  fox  was  very  wisely  leading  them  to  higher,  dryer 
ground.  It  was  an  old  head ;  a  fox  with  a  head  full  of  ca- 
pricious pranks  and  cute  tricks.  Looked  like  it  was  going 
to  be  a  hard  run,  and  he  thus  confided  his  view  to  his  fel- 
lows, who  by  this  time  had  all  drawn  rein  and  were  viewing 
the  chase  through  their  own  glasses.  Must  be  one  of  those 
old  reds,  they  all  concluded,  and,  replacing  field  glasses  in 
their  receptacles,  spur  and  whip  were  simultaneously  ap- 
plied and  wdth  a  ^^Giddap,"  shouted  in  unison,  the  eager 
party  of  hunters  were  again  on  their  way,  whither  they  knew 
or  cared  not,  nor  for  how  long  they  would  require  to  bring 
Mr.  Fox  to  bay  or  capture. 

The  frisky  Kentucky  saddle-horses  seemed  quite  as  ea- 
ger for  the  ciiase  as  did  either  the  hunters  or  the  dogs. 
Some  of  them  were  '^feeling  their  oats"  it  seemed,  for  they 
were  buck- jumping  and  doing  all  sorts  of  fancy  stunts,  but 
when  they  came  to  a  rail-fence,  which  is  the  usual  kind  of 
fence  encountered  in  the  Blue  Grass  State,  they  always 
liurdled  same  neatly  and  gracefully,  Avithout  touching  the 
top  rail  in  every  case,  no  matter  how  high,  and  when  sternly 
rebuked  by  the  rider  they  settled  down  like  a  bird-dog  on 
point,  only  kept  moving.  And  when  I  sa}^  moving,  it  is  the 
intention  to  suggest  speed,  for  these  horses  have  speed  to 
burn.  Fact  is,  as  not  a  few  of  my  readers,  I  trust,  already 
know,  the  Kentucky  saddle  horse  is  a  marvel  for  speed,  en- 
durance, and  staying  qualities,  just  like  the  foxhounds 
many  of  you  now^  own  and  take  pride  in  exhibiting  before 
your  friends  on  any  and  all  occasions  that  present  them.- 
selves. 

On  and  on  went  the  dogs,  giving  tongue  at  every  leap 
and  bound.  On  the  still,  cold  morning  air  rang  out  the 
long-drawn,  deep,  heavy  voice  of  old  ^'Sailor,"  that  old  bat- 
tle-scarred hound  that  had  proven  his  worth  many  a  time  in 
a  fight  to  the  finish  with  a  big  fox  at  the  end  of  a  day 's 
chase.  It  was  oft  the  anticipation  of  such  a  finish  with  old 
"^Sailor"  in  at  the  windup  of  the  chase  that  goaded  and  en- 


150  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAX 

eouraged  the  riders  on,  and  on,  and  still  on — over  weary 
miles,  after  Reynard  had  run  clear  out  of  the  country,  pit- 
ting his  endurance  against  that  of  the  dogs  and  the  hunters. 
In  such  cases,  the  sportsmen  knew  that  if  they  stayed  on  to 
the  finish  they  would  be  amply  rewarded  by  witnessing  the 
mighty  combat  between  the  wily  fox  and  Sailor.  So  this 
old  champion  of  the  chase  was  a  favorite  hero.  But  not  all 
the  honors  belonged  to  him,  for  there  was  the  strident,  shrill, 
high-pitched  voice  of  ^^Lady  Gay,''  than  which  there  was  no 
dog  with  more  fox  sense  or  with  four  fleeter  legs.  It  was 
her  we  distinctly  made  out,  and  others,  too,  could  easily  be 
recognized.  Old  ^'Tobe"  could  be  heard  mouthing  in  a 
squalling  voice;  ^^ Barney"  was  giving  vent  to  his  feelings 
by  quick,  short  howls ;  Old  ^^ Bally,"  was  tongueing  on  track 
with  a  voice  delightful  to  the  ear  of  the  fox-hunter,  and  al- 
together,— the  high  staccatos,  and  deep  heavy  bassos — the 
chorus  was  blended  into  perfect  harmony,  just  as  though  a 
musical  director  was  there  and  guiding  them,  so  harmonious 
and  beautiful  did  the  melody  sound  that  morning. 

Presently,  the  dogs  entered  the  hills  to  the  east,  and, 
galloping  swiftly  across  the  open  valley,  the  huntsmen  were 
soon  entering  the  hills  also. 

The  fox  w^as,  sure  enough,  leading  them  to  higher 
ground  .  Once  on  the  ridge,  he  began  playing  tricks  on  his 
pursuers  by  doubling  back  on  his  trail,  then  scampering  off 
in  a  new  direction.  But  those  veteran  dogs  were  not  to  be 
fooled.  Of  course,  for  a  little  while,  a  prank  would  bother 
them  somewhat,  but  soon  they'd  pick  up  the  scent  spoor 
again  and  continue  the  pursuit.  With  bur  glasses,  once  we 
had  gained  the  ridge,  the  direction  the  fox  was  heading  was 
discovered,  and  all  hands  knew  whither  he  was  traveling — 
lie  was  making  for  the  den,  the  location  of  which  every  mem- 
ber of  the  party  Svas  aware  of,  so,  in  order  to  keep  Reynard 
from  attaining  his  object,  the  Master  of  Hounds  commanded 
all  to  ride  immediately  to  the  den  and  there  await  the  fox's 
approach,  which  would  have  the  effect  of  keeping  him  going 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  151 

on  to  a  more  distant  refuge,  as  this  was  the  onh^  den  in  the 
vicinity,  thus  giving  the  eager  dogs  a  chance,  well  deserved, 
to  capture  their  wily  quarry  in  the  meantime  l^efore  he  could 
attain  a  second  haven  of  safety. 

We  were  assured  by  his  actions  now  that  he  was  about 
all  in,  as  otherwise  he  would  not  wish  to  take  to  earth,  but 
would  keep  on  running,  for  the  fox  usually  seems  to  en;ioy 
a  i-ace  equally  as  much  as  the  hunters  and  hounds,  if  not  too 
closely  pressed. 


•ASTR<JXOM»^K ••  No.   2831   B.  G.   S.   B..  By  FRANK-ANNIE 

WALKER,    IS   THE   SENSATIONAL    WINNING 

FOX   HOUND   OF    1916-17-18. 

In  twenty  minutes  the  baying  of  the  dogs  came  faintly 
to  us,  and  in  a  few  short  minutes  Reynai'd  was  seen  ap- 
proaching the  den  where  we  stood  guard  to  bar  his  entrance. 
His  tongue  was  hanging  out  and  he  was  casting  fearful, 
furtive  glances  behind  him.  The  dogs  were  indeed  giving 
him  a  run  for  his  money,  as  the  saying  goes.  Presently, 
lie  discovered  the  party  of  hunters,  and,  with  a  look  of  hate 
on  his  face,  he  veered  his  course  sharply  to  the  left  in  order 
to  avoid  them,  but  this  was.  a  fatal  step — Old  ^'Sailor" 
caught  him  as  he  turned  and  together  they  rolled  over  and 
over  on  the  ground,  the  momentum  at  which  both  were  go- 


152  THE   AXGLER    AXD    HUXTSMAX 

ing  causing  them  to  bowl  over;  the  fox  regained  his  feet, 
paused  for  one  breathless  moment,  then  rushed  headlong 
into  the  whole  pack,  facing  death  With  a  courage  unexcelled 
by  man  or  beast. 

Thus  ended  the  day's  sport,  each  hunter  lamenting  that 
a  fox  so  brave,  so  courageous,  so  fleet  as  this  old  red,  had 
but  one  life  to  live  for  the  enjo^nnent  of  the  fox  hunting 
fraternity. 

We  could  doubtless  record  man}"  and  varied  hunts,  and 
probably  another  writer  could  record  better  ones,  but  the  one 
given  above,  we  think,  embodies  the  typical  southern  fox 
hunt,  than  which  there  is  no  more  entrancing  and  soul-lift- 
ing sport  this  side  of  Eternity  and  High  Heaven. 

In  the  North,  they  have  fox  hunts  too,  and  they  are  in 
nearly  all  respects  just  like  those  had  in  the  South,  only  in 
the  North  the  hunters  very  frequently  take  along  a  gun  and 
shoot  the  fox  whenever  the  dogs  bring  him  within  range. 

The  Coon  Hound: 

The  coon  hound  is  not  a  recognized  breed,  but  should  be. 
Are  all  the  years  and  generations  of  i^atient  breeding 
by  coon  hound  enthusiasts  to  amount  to  nought?  We  sor- 
roAvfully  admit  the  truth — the  coon  hound  breeder's  efforts 
have,  so  far,  been  in  vain.  We  mean  in  vain,  so  far  as  glory 
and  honor  are  concerned;  in  vain,  if  these  veteran  coon 
hound  breeders  are  looking  for  mere  applause  and  nothing 
else.  But  happily,  they  are  not  looking  for  these  empty 
honors ;  they  did  not  start  out  to  establish  a  breed  of  dogs, 
but  to  adapt  already  existing  breeds  to  coon-chasing;  this 
they  have  gloriously  accomplished,  and  the  only  reward 
they  expected  or  asked  is  that  they  be  allowed  to  hunt  coons 
with  the  dogs  they  have  produced  after  years  of  toil  by  care- 
ful crossing  and  careful  handling. 

There  is  a  widespread  difference  of  opinion  among  dog 
men  as  to  the  origin  of  the  coon  hound,  some  maintaining 
oven  that  the  coon  hound  constitutes  a  distinct  breed,  while 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  158 

others  swear  by  the  great  horn  spoon  that  the  coon  hound  is 
nothing  more  than  a  fox  hound  trained  on  coons,  and  cite 
us  to  the  fact  that  it  was  the  fox  hound  (and  not  the  coon 
hound)  that  was  brought  over  to  this  country  from  across 
the  seas  to  chase  Br'er  Fox,  intimating  that  some  of  those 
brought  over  were  found  no  account  for  that  sly  animal  and 
just  naturally  were  used  for  coon  as  a  last  resort.  This  is 
probably  the  truth,  for  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  the  fox 
hound  was  introduced  into  this  country,  whereas  there  is  no 
record  of  the  coon  hound  ever  having  been  introduced. 
Therefore,  as  the  fox  hound  and  the  coon  hound  vary  but  lit- 
tle in  general  appearance  (the  fox  hound  only  possessing 
more  racey  and  graceful  lines),  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that 
the  coon  hound  as  constituted  to-day  is  nothing  more  or  less 
than  a  fox  hound,  trained  on  coon.  I  cannot  see  any  reason 
in  this  fact  why  coon  hound  fanciers  should  object,  as  the 
fox  hound  is  as  worthy  a  forbear  as  any  dog  on  earth  should 
wish  to  have. 

It  would  be  just  as  reasonable  to  say  that  the  rabbit 
hound  is  a  distinct  breed  of  dogs,  as  it  would  to  say  that  the 
coon  hound  is  a  distinct  breed  of  dogs.  In  the  opinion  of 
the  writer,  neither  would  be  stating  the  fact,  for  even  as  the 
rabbit  hound  comes  from  the  fox  hound  stock,  so  does  the 
coon  hound  come  from  the  fox  hound  stock,  and  we  defy  all 
dog  fanciers  and  others  to  show  us  our  mistake.  Of  course, 
in  a  certain  sense  the  coon  hound  is  a  distinct  breed,  for  it 
will  chase  nothing  but  coon,  even  as  the  thoroughly  trained 
]'abbit  dog  will  chase  nothing  but  rabbit.  Of  course  a  coon 
hound  may  chase  an  opossum,  but  this  little  nocturnal  fellow 
is  so  much  like  the  coon,  we  judge  the  scent  is  almost  iden- 
tical. Some  coon  hounds  will  chase  any  kind  of  varmint ; 
they  usually  call  these  varmint  dogs.  Others,  more  thor- 
oughly trained,  will  run  nothing  but  coon  or  opossum.  On 
the  other  hand,  a  fox  hound  will  sometimes  run  a  rabbit,  but 
a  thoroughly  trained  fox  hound  is  supposed  to  run  nothing 
but  a  fox. 


154  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX 

The  dog,  no  matter  what  his  breed  or  strain  may  chance 
to  be,  is  nothing  more  than  a  creature  of  environment,  as  are 
all  other  creatures,  whether  they  be  animal  or  human  beings. 
The  nature  of  the  country  in  which  they  live  and  the  nature 
of  the  food  they  must  necessarily  live  upon  dictate  their 
characteristics.  If  the  hound  lives  in  a  country  wherein 
rabbits  are  plentiful  and  there  is  an  absence  of  practically 
all  other  game  for  food,  the  hound  will  take  naturally  to 
running  rabbits ;  if  the  hound  lives  in  a  coimtry  inf  (\sted  by 


THE    PERFECT    COON   HOUND. 


foxes,  other  game  being  practically  absent,  that  hound  will 
certainly  chase  foxes ;  if  that  hound  lived  in  a  land  wherein 
only  coon  furnished  a  means  of  satisfying  his  hunger,  we  do 
not  doubt  that  he  would  run  coon.     This  is  environment. 

We  believe  that  if  a  setter  or  pointer  lived  in  a  land  un- 
inhabitated  by  birds  or  fowl  of  any  description,  that  dog 
would  eventually  take  to  stalking  or  chasing  the  particular 
kind  of  game  to  be  found  there,  whether  it  be  coon,  fox, 
squirrel,  rabbit  or  whatnot.     The  first  law  of  nature— the 


THE   ANGLEE   AND    HUNTSMAN         ^  155 

law  of  self-preservation — would  dictate  to  that  dog  the  idea 
that  if  he  would  sustain  life  he  must  satisfy  his  hunger  by 
chasing  or  stalking  whatever  game  he  could  find,  no  matter 
what  kind  of  game  it  chanced  to  be.  And  so  the  dog  is 
strictly  a  creature  of  environment,  as  is  every  other  living 
creature.  We  do  not  doubt  that  if  away  back  there  in  the 
ages  of  long  ago  the  setter  or  pointer  had  lived  in  a  country 
Vv^here  there  were  no  birds,  he  would  have  become  whatever 
kind  of  dog  the  game  in  the  region  compelled  him  to  be,  and 
we  think  it  is  just  a  matter  of  accident  that  the  hoiuid  will 
chase  the  fox,  that  the  setter  and  pointer  will  just  point  a 
covey  of  birds,  or  that  a  pit  bull  will  not  hunt  at  all,  but  just 
fight.  Why  is  it  that  the  pit  bull  will  not  hunf?  Simply 
because  he  has  never  had  occasion  to  hunt  game  for  food. 
Usually  he  is  the  pet — the  house  dog — or  watch-dog,,  and  his 
mission  (and  he  fulfills  it  well)  is  not  to  leave  the  yard,  but 
to  bar  the  api^roach  of  all  starngers  and  undesirables. 

COON  HUNTING: 

Gang  around,  boys !  For  here  is  a  sport  worthy  your 
attention.  The  scent  of  the  coon  is  identical  to  that  of  his 
big  b;L^other — the  bear — hence  a  good  coon  dog  works  well  on 
bear,  and  a  good  bear  dog,  likewise,  works  efficiently  on 
coon. 

The  coon  is  a  masterful  fisherman,  hence  he  is  usually 
found  living  in  close  proximity  to  streams. 

For  trailing  his  ring-tailed  majesty,  give  me  a  mixed 
pack,  part  still-trailers  (Airedale  terriers  preferred)  and 
some  good  old-fashioned  coon-hounds.  The  reason  I  sug- 
gest Airedales  to  run  with  hounds  is  because  they  are  great- 
er fighters,  while  the  hound  possesses  the  coldest  nose,  that 
is,  the  most  ability  to  track  a  cold  trail.  Together,  this 
sort  of  a  pack  is  invincible  and  will  put  any  old  coon  up  a 
tree  in  short  order. 

In  the  North,  most  hunters  hunt  the  coon  by  day  and 
with  a  shotgun,  with  which  the  raccoon  is  shot  from  the  tree 
the  minute  the  dogs  tree  it. 


156  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

In  the  South,  the  usual  practice  is  to  hunt  by  night,  with 
a  lantern  and  an  axe,  and,  of  covirse,  a  good  pack  of  dogs. 
The  lantern  is  used  to  ^^ shine"  the  coon's  eyes.  That  is,  at- 
tract his  attention,  and  when  he  turns  his  face  toward  the 
hunter  his  eyes  may  he  seen,  as  the}^  look  like  balls  of  fire 
after  dark.  Thus  one  is  able  to  find  out  if  the  coon  is  in  the 
tree,  already  indicated  by  the  dogs  barking  at  bay.  The  axe 
of  course,  is  used  to  hew  the  tree  down,  if  other  means  fail  to 
induce  the  coon  to  come  down  and  introduce  himself  to  the 
waiting  dogs. 

Sometimes  a  venturesome  hunter  deigns  to  climl)  the 
tree  wherein  his  majesty  sits.  Sometimes  the  hunter  suc- 
cessfully performs  the  job,  and  sometimes  the  coon  resents 
the  intrusion  into  his  leafy  domain,  and  a  battle  between 
man  and  mammal  follows,  in  which  the  man  usually  receives 
enough  scratches,  cuts  and  gashes  from  the  claws  and  teeth 
of  his  adversary  to  make  him  ever  after  respect  the  raccoon. 
If,  perchance,  the  man  succeeds  in  ejecting  the  ring-tailed 
*' monster"  to  the  ground,  the  waiting  dogs  will  find  to  their 
sorrow  that  they  have  something  in  the  nature  of  a  f  ight-to- 
the-f  inish  on  their  hands  not  altogether  to  be  desired.  Usu- 
ally, however,  the  dogs  are  present  in  such  overwhelming 
numbers  as  to  make  the  battle  unequal  and  unfair.  If  the 
coon  had  only  one  dop  to  whip,  we  will  not  venture  to  pre- 
dict the  outcome,  but  we  have  a  sneaking  notion  that  such  a 
dog  would  remember  ever  afterward  that  encounter,  provid- 
ing the  coon  was  a  full-grown  one  and  in  good  fighting  trim. 

RABBIT  HUNTING: 

The  little  bunch  of  animated  fur,  as  some  call  the  cot- 
tontail, or  ^^Sylvilagus  floridanus,"  is  one  of  our  most 
widely  distributed  and  most  important  small  game  mam- 
mals. Perhaps  every  American  is  familiar  with  this  form 
of  rabbit,  because  they  are  so  numerous  within  our  borders. 
If  not  familiar  with  this  form,  then  you  are  acquainted  with 
some  of  the  cottontairs  relatives,  since  in  one  species  or 


THE   AXGLER   AND    HITNTSMAN       '  157 

another  they  range  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coast 
and  from  the  southern  border  of  Canada  sonth  throngh  our 
counti'v  on  down  through  Central  and  South  America  to 
Argentina.  They  are  not  at  all  particular  about  the  kind  of 
country  they  inha])it,  being  found  in  all  sorts  of  localities 
and  in  the  different  climes. 

The  junior  hunter,  especially,  delights  to  go  out  and 
enjoy  a  rabbit  chase  with  his  favorite  dog,  be  it  hound,  non- 
deserii3t,  or  Airedale  terrier.  Or,  having  no  dog,  he  loves  to 
track  the  cottontail  in  the  snow,  which,  while  having  the  dis- 
advantage of  being  somewhat  tedious,  is  a  very  exhilarating 
foi*m  of  outdoor  exercise  and  sport.  I  don't  think,  how- 
ever, that  the  average  junior  is  half  so  anxious  for  the  exer- 
cise as  he  is  for  the  sport. 

The  ideal  hunting  dog  for  this  game  is  a  foxhound  trained 
on  rabbits,  thus  you  get  the  speed  necessary  to  bring  the  ral)- 
bit  around  to  you  (they  nearly  always  run  in  a  circle  when 
pursued  by  hounds)  and  within  gunrange,  and  not  only  do 
you  get  speed,  but  you  get  a  dog  with  a  head  full  of  sense,  up 
to  all  the  tricks,  hereditarily,  that  the  average  foxhound 
possesses. 

The  Airedale  terrier  may  be  trained  specially  for  this 
work  with  more  or  less  success,  but  for  me,  give  me  the. fox- 
hound trained  on  this  game,  for  best  results.  The  beagle 
hoimd  is  also  a  good  rabbit  dog. 

In  habits,  the  rabbit  family  is  mainly  nocturnal,  sleep- 
ing by  day  and  doing  most  of  their  traveling  by  night.  This 
characteristic  makes  it  essential  to  have  a  good  dog  to  hunt 
them  out  of  their  retreats  in  thickets,  tall  grasses,  and  brush 
in  which  they  make  ^^forms"  wherein  they  sleep. 

^^Br'er  Rabbit,"  is  one  of  our  game  animals  that  con- 
stitutes almost  an  institution  (in  a  sense),  because  of  the 
interest  and  place  they  have  in  our  folklore  and  literature. 

Wherever  shelter  is  absent  in  the  form  of  a  thin  growth 
of  vegetation  or  wherever  brushy  bushes  are  lacking,  the  cot- 
tontail usually  occupy  burrows  in  the  ground.    Sometimes 


158  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

they  utilize  deserted  badger  or  prairie-dog  dens,  but  fre- 
cjuently  they  dig  them  for  themselves  under  rocks  and  other 
objects.  Ofttimes  they  also  make  their  home  in  the  crevices 
of  rock  walls  and  rock  fences.  In  fact  upon  occasion  they 
will  make  their  nests  most  anywhere  a  likely  spot  may  be 
found.  They  have  to  do  this  to  maintain  preservation  of 
life,  which  is  the  first  law  of  all  nature.  Increased  culti- 
vation of  farm  lands  is  the  most  serious  stumbling-block  to 
their  rapid  increase,  and,  as  it  is,  they  seem  to  be  holding 
their  own  in  most  every  community,  and  in  quite  a  few  lo- 
calities they  have  even  become  so  numerous  as  to  be  termed  a 
imisance  by  a  certain  class  of  folks,  who,  while  well-meaning, 
are  not  exactly  nature-lovers. 

Granting  that  it  is  true  they  do  some  damage  to  growing 
gardens,  this  fact  does  not  justify  their  extcainination,  since 
their  meat  forms  one  of  the  important  meat  supplies 
whereby  the  human  family  subsist.  The  annual  kill  of  rab- 
bits mounts  up  in  value  into  thousands  of  dollars,  per- 
haps even  into  the  millions,  while  the  damage  they  do,  com- 
paratively speaking,  amounts  to  hardly  anything.  We  are 
for  the  rabbits,  first,  last  and  all  the  time. 

The  cottontail  forms  a  target  worthy  the  quick  eye  of 
the  trained  gunner,  as  it  bobs  up  and  down,  leap  by  leap,  and 
swift  as  a  fleeting  shadoAV.  One  must  be  ready  to  pull 
trigger  the  instant  Br'er  Rabbit  is  jumped  by  the  dogs,  or 
without  dogs,  as  some  hunters  hunt  them.  If  you  are  afraid 
of  shooting  the  dog  when  the  rabbit  is  first  jumped,  or  if  the 
rabbit  gets  up  too  far  ahead  and  not  within  gun-shot,  you 
will  be  free  to  take  your  time  and  await  the  time  when  the 
rabbit  circles,  as  he  assuredly  will. 

As  a  game  animal  the  cottontail  furnishes  some  of  the 
]nost  enjoyable  and  interesting  sport  to  be  had  by  American 
hunters.  The  zigzag,  headlong  rush  of  a  cottontail  for  the 
nearest  cover  is  replete  with  so  much  energetic  action  that  it 
excites  a  pleasant  thrill  in  the  onlooker,  and  even  the  '^pot- 
hunter'- must  experience  some  qualms  of  the  heart  in  kill- 
ing them. 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  159 

They  are  also  snared  and  trapped,  but  the  true  sports- 
man abhors  the  often  prolonged  suffering  of  the  anhnal 
kingdom  necessitated  by  their  use,  desiring  to  use  the  most 
humane  manner  of  dispatching  them  possible,  that  of  fire- 
arms. 

OTHER  SPECIES  OF  RABBITS  AND  HARES: 

Antelope  Jack  Rabbit  (Lepus  alleni) : 

This  jack  rabbit,  sometimes  called  the  Allen  jack  rab- 
bit, is  larger  Jthan  the  common  western  jack  rabbit,  and  has 
very  large  ears,  long,  slender  legs,  and  short  tail.  They  are 
found  in  limited  areas  on  the  southern  border  of  the  United 
States,  particularly  in  southwestern  New  Mexico,  and  in 
southwestern  Arizona.  The  rabbits  of  each  area,  however, 
differ  somewhat. 

California  Jack  Rabbit  (Lepus  calif ornicus) : 

This  species  is  one  of  the  best  known  species  among  the 
jack  rabbits  of  the  Western  States.  It  has  long  ears,  tipped 
with  black,  a  long,  thin  neck,  long  legs,  and  has  grayish  sides. 

The  Varying  Hares  (Lepus  americanus) : 

These  hares  are  better  known,  perhaps,  as  snowshoe  or 
white  rabbits.  They  become  white  in  winter  and  change  to 
dusky  or  brownish  in  summer.  Nature  indeed  sees  that 
they  are  clothed  in  harmony  with  their  surroundings,  thus 
making  them  invisible,  well-nigh,  both  in  the  snowy  winter 
season  and  in  the  early  sunnner  and  autumn. 

The  Arctic  Hare  (Lepus  arcticus) : 

This  species  is  about  the  size  of  the  large  jack  rabbits, 
liut  have  heavier  bodies,  with  much  shorter  ears,  and  short, 
sturdy  legs.  In  the  southern  part  of  their  range  they  have 
a  dull  iron  gray  color  in  summer,  but  in  the  northernmost 
part  of  their  range  their  coat  remains  white  throughout  the 
year. 


160  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAX 

The  Marsh  Eabbit  (Sylvilagus  palustris) : 

This  species  is  a  close  relation  to  the  cottontail,  but  is 
more  heavily  proportioned,  has  smaller  ears,  shorter  and 
more  slender  legs  and  feet,  and  shorter  tail.  The  marsh 
rabbit  and  swamp  rabbits  have  aqnatic  habits,  and  both  live 
mainly  in  swamps,  marshes,  and  along  streams. 

The  swamp  rabbit  is  a  larger  relative  of  the  marsh  ral)- 
bit  and  they  are  very  nnmerous  in  certain  wooded  coastal 
regions  of  the  South. 

SQUIRREL  SHOOTING: 

Sportsmen  have  found  this  is  an  art  that  requires  lots 
of  vigilance,  stealthy  movement  (where  movement  is  re- 
quired), and  a  super-abundance  of  patience. 

To  become  a  crack  squirrel  hunter,  one  must  haunt  the 
wooded  places  a  great  deal,  become  fully  acquainted  with 
and  accustomed  to  the  ways  of  the  forest  people;  he  must 
learn  to  walk  easily  on  the  dry  leaves;  learn  to  stalk  your 
game,  even  as  the  great  carnivores  stalk  their  prey ;  in  short 
you  must  become  a  thoroughly  trained  woodsman. 

Woodcraft  is  a  most  entertaining  and  interesting  sub- 
ject— an  entire  book  could  not  hope  to  cover  the  theme  ade- 
quately— and  it  is  a  craft  that  the  successful  hunter  ac- 
quires early  in  his  career.  Without  the  knowledge  of  wood- 
craft the  huntsman  confronts  failure.  We  can  think  of  no 
better  way  of  acquiring  this  art  than  by  friction — contact 
with  nature.  Go  into  the  great  forest,  study,  observe.  Our 
forebears  were  masters  at  the  art.  Why?  Because  a  liv- 
lihood  depended  upon  their  efforts  to  secure  game  for  food. 
But  now,  necessity  no  longer  urges  us  to  become  acquainted 
with  nature's  storehouse,  and  it  makes  us  none  the  better 
woodsmen.  We  are  too  prone  nowadays,  it  seems,  to  take 
other  people's  advice — follow  other  men's  directions — in- 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  161 

stead  of  delving  into  the  matter  for  ourselves  to  our  best  in- 
terests. 

Squirrel  hunting  was  engaged  in  by  our  forefathers, 
and  many  of  us  still  possess  the  old  squirrel  rifle  that  was 
the  crowning  climax  in  firearms  in  those  early  days.  Even 
as  I  Avrite  I  see  standing  in  the  corner  nearby  the  rifle  my 
folks  used,  and  tho'  it  has  no  notches  carved  on  it  for  *'dead 
Indians,''  I'm  quite  sure  if  it  could  talk  it  could  relate  some 
interesting  and  thrilling  tales. 

Some  hunters  use  a  twenty-two  rifle  for  this  work,  but 
the  majority  prefer  the  shotgun. 

It  takes  a  quick  eye  and  a  quick  trigger  finger  to  get 
one  of  these  ^'streaks  of  greased  lightning,"  as  some  call 
them.  They  are  great  jumpers,  and  if  the  hunter  is  not 
careful,  they  will  leap  to  the  ground,  or  from  tree  to  tree 
and  make  good  their  escape. 

Still  others  hunt  squirrels  with  a  dog  and  gun.  Local 
conditions  vary  in  different  sections  of  the  country  in  this, 
as  in  all  other  sports,  therefore  we  must  use  our  own  judg- 
ment in  these  matters  and  adjust  oui^selves  to  these  condi- 
tions as  we  find  them. 

Not  a  few  sportsmen  prefer  to  hunt  without  dogs,  as 
this  method  gives  them  an  opportunity  to  stalk  the  game 
themselves,  which  they  enjoy  doing,  while  others  would 
rather  use  dogs  for  the  mere  joy  of  seeing  them  perform, 
and  no  doubt  there  is  still  another  class  who  think  better 
results  may  be  obtained  by  using  one  or  more  dogs. 

Whether  the  hunter  walks  great  distances  through  the 
big  woods,  or  sits  nearby  a  big,  towering  tree,  waiting  the 
appearance  of  Mr.  Squirrel,  who  he  has  good  reason  to  sus- 
pect inhabits  said  tree,  the  sport  is  one  that  should  commend 
itself  to  a  larger  percentage  of  our  sportsmen,  inasmuch  as 
it  offers  splendid  returns  both  in  physical  exercise  and  en- 
joyment, as  well  as  a  deeper  knowledge  in  that  all-absorbing 
subject — woodcraft. 


162  THE   AXGLEE   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

The  Red  Squirrel  (Sciurus  hudsonicus) : 

This  little  gent  is  best  known  to  those  who  have  visited 
the  great  w^oodland  country  of  Canada  and  northeastern 
United  States,  and  who  have  listened  to  their  rollicking, 
(often  impudent),  chatter.  This  fellow  is  also  known  as 
the  pine  squirrel  and  chickaree,  its  chief  characteristic  be- 
ing its  lack  of  shyness,  which  is  present  in  all  other  species 
of  the  squirrel  family. 

It  builds  nests  of  twigs,  leaves,  etc.,  lined  inside  with 
fibrous  bark  and  other  velvety  material. 

Red  squirrels  do  not  hibernate,  but  are  busy  the  entire 
3^ear,  excepting  in  the*  coldest  weather.  They  provide  for 
the  cold  dreary  days,  however,  by  laying  in  ample  stores  of 
nuts  and  cones,  haAdng  been  known  to  put  away  as  many  as 
ten  bushels  in  one  heap.  Beechnuts  also  form  one  of  their 
articles  of  diet. 

The  worst  trait  the  red  squirrel  possesses  is  his  thoi*- 
oughly  proven  habit  of  devouring  the  eggs  and  young  of 
small  birds.  During  the  breeding  season  he  spends  much 
time  in  nest  hunting  and  no  one  can  calculate  the  harm  he 
does. 

The  Douglas  Squirrel  (Sciurus  douglasi) : 

This  squirrel  is  said  to  come  from  the  same  stock  as  the 
common  red  squirrel,  which  we  have  already  described.  Like 
the  red  squirrel,  it  likes  best  to  reside  amid  the  grat  coni- 
ferous forests,  and  it  is  found  from  the  Cascades  and  Sierra 
Nevada  to  the  Pacific,  and  from  British  Columbia  south  to 
the  San  Pedro  Martir  Mountains  of  Lower  California. 

In  nearly  all  ways  they  are  like  the  red  squirrel. 

The  Gray  Squirrel  (Sciurus  carolinensis) : 

This  fellow^  is  so  well  known  to  nearly  all  sportsmen  as 
to  hardly  need  an  introduction  or  description,  nevertheless, 
we  don't  want  to  slight  him,  as  he  is  well  worthy  our  atten- 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  163 

tion,  being  one  of  the  best  game  mammals  that  roams  the 
forest.' 

This  is  a  North  American  species,  having  no  near  rela- 
tion in  the  Old  World;  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  the  mountains 
of  the  Southwest,  and  also  in  Mexico  there  are  other  squir- 
rels with  the  same  gray-colored  bodies,  but  really  are  not 
closely  related  to  this  species. 

Their  barking  and  chattering  noise  and  their  graceful 
antics  among  the  trees  lend  animation  and  color  to  our 
woodlands. 

Most  if  not  all  States  have  a  closed  season  on  squirrel, 
their  numbers  having  been  so  reduced  as  to  make  them  no 
longer  a  menace. 

Gray  and  Fox  squirrels  (the  latter  of  the  species  Sciu- 
rus  niger)  were  favorite  targets  for  our  forefathers,  and 
these  mammals  have  much  in  common  with  our  folklore  and 
literature.  Records  show  the  shooting  ability  of  these  pio- 
neer marksmen,  among  them  Daniel  Boone,  to  ^^bark"  a 
squirrel,  which  meant  so  to  cut  the  bark  of  the  branch  on 
which  the  squirrel  sat  as  to  precipitate  it  to  the  ground  stun- 
ned without  hitting  the  animal. 

The  gray  squirrel  is  noted  for  its  grace  of  movement, 
being  able  to  move  along  the  ground  by  curving  leaps  and 
bounds,  and  run  through  the  tree-tops,  leaping  from  branch 
to  branch  with  an  ease  and  assuredness  beautiful  to  behold. 

Rusty  Fox  Squirrel  (Sciurus  niger  rufiventer) : 

Three  species  of  tree  squirrels  are  found  in  the  varied 
forests  of  eastern  North  America. 

In  hunting  fox  squirrels  it  is  imperative  to  have  along  a 
dog,  as  otherwise  they  will  discover  your  presence  and  run 
away  before  you  can  get  within  range,  while  a  good  dog  will 
put  them  up  a  tree  and  hold  them  there  imtil  you  approach. 

The  right  thing  to  do  would  be  to  abolish  squirrel  hunt- 
ing for  a  term  of  years  and  give  them  time  to  replenish  their 
niunbers. 


164  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

Other  species  are  the  Abert  Squirrel  (Sciurus  aberti) ; 
the  Kaibab  Squirrel  (Seiurus  kaibabensis),  Flying  Squirrel, 
(Glaucomys  volans),  etc. 

QUAIL  SHOOTING: 

Perhaps  quail  shooting  constitutes  our  most  popular 
form  of  sport,  for  the  quail  certainly  is  one  of  our  best  game 
birds,  and  its  wide  i*ange  makes  it  a  favorite  with  a  large 
part  of  our  population. 

On  account  of  their  interesting  habits  and  marvelous 
diversity  of  form  and  color,  the  quails  of  the  "EJnited  States 
are  a  very  attractive  group  of  game  birds.  They  are  all 
very  handsome,  but  the  most  striking  and  beautiful  species 
live  on  the  Pacific  Coast  and  in  the  Southwest. 

Within  Columbia's  gates  we  find  seven  species,  only 
one  of  which  is  found  in  the  eastern  States,  the  remaining 
species  being  wideh^  scattered  from  Texas  to  California  and 
Oregon.  Their  range  was,  and  is  yet,  continuous  along  the 
entire  southern  border  of  the  country  from  ocean  to  ocean; 
but  there  is  an  irregular  belt  along  the  northern  border  and 
a  large  area  in  the  interior,  comprising  the  Great  Plains, 
the  northern  three-fourths  of  the  Great  Basin,  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  in  which  they  appear  to  have  been  orig- 
inally wanting. 

The  quail's  cheerful  habits,  their  beauty^  and  their  val- 
ue as  food,  has  made  them  welcome,  generally,  on  the  farms 
throughout  the  country,  but  their  real  value  to  agriculture 
is  not  even  yet  fully  appreciated.  The  Bob  White  species, 
especially,  deserves  some  recognition  for  the  great  work 
they  do  annually  in  the  interest  of  the  farmer,  as  they  de- 
stroy injurious  insects  and  feed  on  injurious  weeds  to  a 
great  extent. 

This  latter  species — the  Bob  White — is  the  greatest 
game  bird  of  all  seven  varieties.  This  is  the  only  quail  in- 
digenous to  the  eastern  United  States,  where  it  ranges  from 


THE   AXGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  165 

southern  New  England  to  Florida  and  Texas;  but  owing  to 
climatic  influences  the  birds  of  Florida  and  Texas  differ 
enough  to  be  distinguished  as  geographic  races.  However, 
the  Bob  White,  w^ierever  it  occurs  has  the  same  call  and  va- 
ries but  little  as  to  habits.  A  closely  related  bird,  the  mask- 
ed Bob  White,  inhabited  southern  Arizona  until  a  few  years 
ago.  Owing  to  dry  seasons  and  the  overstocking  of- its  home 
with  cattle,  this  bird  is  now  supposed  to  be  extinct  within 
our  confines;  but  some  probably  exist  in  parts  of  Sonora, 
Mexico. 

The  Bob  White,  although  a  very  handsome  bird  indeed, 
is  the  plainest  looker  of  the  quail  family,  excepting  the 
''cotton  top''  or  scaled  quail  of  the  deserts  of  southern  Tex- 
as and  Arizona,  the  latter  being  a  slaty  bluish  color  on  its 
upper  parts,  w^hich  are  ornamented  with  large  scale-like 
markings  and  has  a  whitish  crest. 

The  most  bizarre  and  curious  of  all  is  the  Meams  quail 
of  the  high  broken  plains  and  mountain  slopes  of  southwes- 
tern Texas,  southern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona.  It  has  a 
short,  round  body,  like  a  little  guinea  hen,  and  this  superfi- 
cial likeness  is  heightened  by  brilliant  round  white  spots  or- 
namenting the  dark  sides.  This  bird  is  the  gentlest  of  all 
the  quails  and  is  said  to  be  so  unsuspicious  that  when  it  en- 
counters one  it  often  walks  unconcernedly  about  or  stands 
looking  curiously  at  the  newcomer,  at  which  times  it  is  not 
infrequently  killed  with  a  stick  or  stone,  a  characteristic 
which,  among  the  people  where  it  is  found,  has  earned  for 
it  the  name  of  ''Fool  Quail." 

Out  in  the  southwestern  desert  is  also  found  the  Gambel 
Quail,  ranging  throughout  the  brushy  foothills  and  the  val- 
leys along  watercourses.  This  is  a  beautiful  member  of  the 
quail  family,  its  head  being  handsomely  marked  and  adorn- 
ed with  a  jet  black  recurving  crest,  the  flanks  being  bright 
chestnut  in  color,  brilliantly  streaked  with  white.  This 
quail  forms  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  conspicuous  varie- 
ties of  desert  life  and  is  numerous  wherever  it  can  find  suffi- 


166  TH]^   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

cient  food  and  water.  Its  presence  contributes  a  touch  of 
color  and  animation  to  the  dreary  monotony  of  many  a  lone- 
ly desert  ranch. 

The  California  valley  quail  belongs  entirely  to  the  Pa- 
cific Coast,  and  this  is  said  to  be  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
smaller  gallinacous  birds  of  the  entire  world.  In  appear- 
ance it  resembles  the  Gambel  quail  slightly,  especially  in  its 
recurving  black  crest,  and  general  appearance,  but  exceeds 
that  bird  in  the  richness  of  its  colors  and  markings. 

Then  there's  the  California  mountain  quail,  which  is  the 
largest  and  one  of  the  handsomest  of  this  group,  inhabiting 
the  wooded  mountains  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  In  appearance 
it  bears  a  superficial  resemblance  to  the  red-legged  part- 
ridge of  Europe,  and  like  the  Mearns  quail,  its  haunts  are 
usually  more  remote  from  cultivated  lands  than  are  those  of 
the  other  species. 

The  health  and  pleasure  derived  from  the  pursuit  of 
quail  has  resulted  in  the  investment  of  millions  of  dollars, 
both  in  hunting  equipment  and  in  the  establishment  of  quail 
preserves  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

And  so,  it  is  with  real  pleasure  that  we  write  of  the  quail 
family  and  quail  shooting,  for  no  other  class  of  hunting  out- 
ranks this  sport. 

When  a  covey  of  quail  is  flushed,  they  rise  from  the 
earth  with  an  explosion  so  sudden  and  startling  as  to  shock 
one  unaccustomed  to  hunting  them  and  even  the  old- 
timers  experience  some  of  the  sudden  thrill. 

Let  us  go  afield!  The  crisp  November  air  and  the 
morning  sun  combines  in  exhilarating  effect  upon  the  soul 
of  the  outer.  The  dogs  are  straining  eagerly  at  leash  for  the 
sport  ahead.  They  know  quite  well  what  is  in  store  for 
them — a  day's  hunt  — and  thus  they  impatiently  tug  and 
pull  at  their  leads  to  get  there. 

At  length,  we  reach  the  hunting  grounds,  which  for 
miles  in  every  direction  consists  of  stubble-field  and  vmcut 
clover,  favorite  Bob  White  haunts. 


THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN  167 

We  adjust  our  guns,  the  dogs  are  loosed,  and  everything 
is  made  ready  to  begin  the  hvmt. 

The  four  dogs  are  experts— two  of  them  being  pointers 
and  two  setters.  They  have  hunted  these  fields  before — 
last  season — hence  we  term  them  old  veterans,  which  they 
are  indeed,  not  only  because  of  much  service,  but  because  of 
their  tried  and  proven  ability  as  bird  dogs.  We  can  depend 
upon  their  efforts  to  produce  results,  if  there  are  any  birds 
in  the  stubble-fields  or  clover-fields  hereabout  at  all. 

They  are  slow^  and  cautious  workers,  which  are  to  be 
preferred  by  most  hunters  to  the  swuft  and  harum-scarum 
sort  that  are  liable  to  burst  right  into  a  covey  of  quail  head- 
long and  flush  them  all  before  the  sportsmen  can  get  within 
shooting  distance.  It  is  a  strange  commentary,  ho^vever, 
that  not  a  few  hunters  like  just  such  dogs.  Generally  ner- 
vous men  are  these,  who  have  not  the  patience  to  hunt  slow- 
ly behind  slow  and  painstaking  dogs. 

Presently,  the  dogs  make  a  stand.  Blake's  Sportzell, 
a  setter  of  noble  breeding,  is  on  point — as  steady  and  true 
as  Gibralter's  Rock — Topsy,  a  pointer  of  high  standing,  is 
backing.  It  is  a  picture  fit  for  a  king  to  gaze  upon.  We 
sigh  for  our  kodak,  unfortunately  left  behind.  It  is  ever 
thus — just  at  the  precise  moment  when  the  dogs  are  pulling 
off  a  stand  that  would  look  well  in  a  frame  hung  on  the  wall 
of  one's  den,  the  camera  was  left  at  home.     Cruel  fate! 

My  partner  slowly  approaches  the  dogs,  commanding, 
^^Steacly!''  This  command  was  onh^  a  matter  of  form;  no 
command  of  any  kind  was  needed,  for  these  dogs  were 
thoroughly  trained  and  knew  their  business  quite  as  well  as 
anybody. 

At  the  opportune  moment,  after  we  had  taken  up  ad- 
vantageous positions  for  shooting,  the  birds  were  flushed, 
and,  exploding  like  a  trench  mortar,  or  a  Russian  bomb, 
they  left  the  earth  for  parts  unknoAvn. 

Bang!  bang!  bang!  spoke  our  repeating  shotguns,  and 
six  of  the  flock  fell  to  rise  no  more. 


168  THE   AXGLEE   AND    HUNTSMAN 

Sportzell  and  Beaiity  broke  into  a  race  to  get  the  birds, 
which  the}^  retrieved  tenderly  and  eagerly.  Thus  we 
brought  down  our  first  birds  of  the  season. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  covey  had  been  seen  to 
scatter,  and  we  knew  it  would  be  of  no  avail  to  try  to  follow 
them.  Birds  of  a  scattered  bevy  are  hard  to  find.  Good 
authorities  say  that  when  they  alight  after  they  have  been 
frightened,  they  remain  quiet  and  compress  their  feathers  to 
the  body,  which  results  in  withholding  the  scent,  and  so  it  is 
wise  before  attempting  to  hunt  them  to  give  the  covey  time 
to  reassemble  and  get  over  their  fright,  so  they  won't  lay  so 
close  to  earth  and  withhold  scent. 

Volumes  have  been  written  about  birds,  but  the  Bob 
White  member  of  the  bird  family  cannot  receive  too  much 
attention.  He  is  a  Avorthy  subject.  I  would  that  I  were 
able  to  adequately  portray  the  kindly  feelings  I  have  in 
writing  to  the  credit  and  glory  of  the  Bob  White,  the  king  of 
his  race,  and  who  is,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  the  best  bird 
that  flies.  He  has  brought  more  rest  and  recreation  to  the 
tired  business  man,  more  new  life  and  vim  to  impatient  and 
nervous  humanity,  than  any  other  single  agency  of  nature, 
and  that  is  saying  a  great  deal  indeed,  for  Nature  abounds 
in  game  worthy  our  attention  and  appreciation,  to  say  the 
least. 

CALL  NOTES  OF  THE  QUAIL: 

The  nuptial  call  note  in  the  field  of  the  cockbird  is  an  in- 
fallible guide  to  its  identity,  but  this  familiar  challenge, 
which  sounds  to  the  sportsman  like  ^^Bob  White,"  ^^ Bob- 
Bob-White,"  and  to  the  farmer  like  '^more  wet,"  or  ^^no 
more  wet,"  is  by  no  means  the  only  note  of  the  species  dur- 
ing the  breeding  season. 

The  observer  will  probably  hear  the  cock  whistling 
*^Bob  AVhite!"  and  as  he  still  calls,  approaches  the  nest. 
When  within  perhaps  fifty  yards  of  his  mate  he  utters  the 
rally  note,  so  thrilling  to  the  sportsman's  ear,  ^^ka-loi-kee," 


THE   ANGLEK   AND    HUNTSMAN  169 

whicbi  the  lien  often  answers  with  a  single  clear  whistle. 
Then  perhaps  follows  a  series  of  queer  responsive  caterwau- 
lings,  more  unbirdlike  than  those  of  the  yellow-breastecl 
chat,  suggesting  the  call  of  a  cat  to  its  kittens,  or  the  scold- 
ing of  a  caged  gray  squirrel,  or,  again,  the  alarm  notes  of  a 
mother  grouse  blended  with  the  strident  call  like  that  of  a 
guinea  hen.  Sometimes,  as  a  finale,  comes  loud  rasping 
noises,  not  unlike  the  effort  of  a  poor  broken-voiced  Avhip- 
poorwill.  Their  favorite  calling  stations  seem  to  be  rail 
fences  at  a  height  of  from  five  to  ten  feet,  and  the  limbs  of 
trees  along  fence  rows.  They  have  been  known  to  whistle 
from  trees,  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  After  the 
breeding  season  the  quail  quits  using  this  characteristic 
call.  At  other  times  the  hen  will  answer  thusly:  ^^Whoil- 
kee,"  but  this  note  is  usually  only  used  when  a  bevy  has 
been  scattered,  and  is  sounded,  generally,  in  the  late  after- 
noon as  a  get-together-for-the-night  signal. 

We  cannot  refrain,  before  closing  this  chapter  describ- 
ing the  quail  family  and  quail  shooting,  to  implore  better 
care  of  our  fast-declining  quail  supply,  and  particularly  the 
Bob  White  supply.  In  many  places  they  are  suffering  ruth- 
less extermination  by  law-breakers,  and  also  by  reason  of 
severe  winter  weather. 

The  least  the  sportsmen  of  America  should  do  is  to  hale 
these  ^^ poachers"  before  a  Court,  and  as  to  the  weather,  why 
not  put  out  a  little  grain  for  the  starving  birds  to  eat  after 
heavy  sleets  and  snows?  It  would  be  not  only  humane,  but 
for  the  good  of  the  sport. 

OTHER  GAME  BIRDS: 

Woodcock  Shooting: 

This  f oim  of  sport  has  hitherto  been  a  favorite  with  a 
great  many  gunners,  for  be  it  known  among  all  men  that 
^^Philohela  minor"  is  a  game  target  that,  in  their  fast  and 
erratic  flight,  requires  a  quick  eye  and  a  clear  head. 


170  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

They  breed  throughout  the  eastern  part  of  the  United 
States,  as  well  as  in  the  neighboring  Canadian  Provinces, 
and  spend  the  winter  principally  in  the  southeast  of  this 
country.  This  upland  game  bird  is  nocturnal  in  habit, 
feeding  at  night  in  swamps,  along  small  streams,  and  ponds, 
where  the  long  bill  they  possess  comes  in  handy  in  their 
search  for  food. 

Of  late  years,  their  numbers  have  rapidly  decreased, 
necessitating  strict  conservation  laws.  It  would  indeed  be 
a  pity  to  see  them  utterly  extermmated,  as  they  are  a  game 
bird  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  sportsmen. 

Wilson  Snipe: 

The  Wilson  Snipe  is  found  over  nearly  the  whole  of 
North  America,  and,  being  a  dweller  of  thickets  and 
marshes,  its  pursuit  readily  appeals  to  the  true  sportsman, 
and  so  sudden,  rapid,  and  irregular  is  its  flight  that  it  re- 
quires the  highest  skill  of  the  marksman  to  bring  one  down. 

Upland  Plover: 

This  is  another  of  our  fine  game  birds.  Its  scientific 
designation  is  '^Bartramia  longicauda."  Like  the  wood- 
cock, the  plover  is  another  of  our  best  game  birds  that  within 
recent  years  have  had  their  numbers  dangerously  depleted, 
largely  due  to  spring  shooting.  The  protective  measures 
and  closed  seasons  came  too  late,  it  is  feared,  to  save  them 
from  total  extinction. 

King  Rail  (Rallus  elegans) : 

These  birds  inhabit  fresh-water  marshes,  generally 
speaking,  throughout  the  eastern  part  of  North  America. 
In  habits,  they  are  very  timid,  keeping  well  under  cover  in 
the  tall  grasses  of  the  marsh,  doing  most  of  their  feeding 
by  night. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  171 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  flush  them  without  the 
aid  of  a  dog,  which,  therefore,  is  an  asset  in  their  pursuit 
the  hunter  cainiot  afford  to  be  without. 

Once  flushed,  the  rail  family  are  dead  easy  targets,  be- 
ing very  slow  of  wing,  and  able  to  fly  only  a  short  distance. 
The  worst  shot  in  the  world  should  have  no  trouble  in  get- 
ting his  share  of  them. 

There  are  several  kinds  of  lesser  rails,  including  Clap- 
per Rails,  California  Clapper  Rails,  Carolina  Rails,  Vir- 
ginia Rails,  Yellow^  Rails  and  Black  Rails. 

Ruffed  Grouse:  (Bonasa  umbellus  umbellus). 

This  splendid  game  bird  is  classed  by  a  great  many 
sportsmen  as  America's  most  popular  game  target  that 
flies.  The  family  embraces  several  strains,  but  the  ruffed 
grouse  is  the  recognized  leader  of  them  all.  They  are  found 
in  wooded  country,  usually,  and  it  requires  a  quick  eye  and 
a  steady  nerve  to  bring  them  down,  as  they  rise  with  a  thun- 
derous roar  and  rush  that  often  ''gets  the  goat"  of  the  nov- 
ice. These  birds  are  found  throughout  the  northern  half 
of  the  United  States  and  in  the  southern  half  of  Canada,  in 
wooded  cover. 

Who  has  not  heard  Mr.  Grouse  drumming  on  a  log  in 
springtime,  which  is  a  sure  sign  the  warm  days  of  spring  are 
with  us  once  again  ?  This  remarkable  bird  is  beloved  of  all 
sportsmen,  and  we  regret  to  see  their  numbers  decimated  as 
they  have  doubtless  been  in  recent  years.  It  is  a  game  bird 
that  adds  a  touch  of  spirited  life  to  many  a  lonely  glade 
and  glen. 

In  hunting  grouse  a  good  dog — Setter  or  Pointer — is  in- 
dispensable. A  careful,  slow-working,  steady  dog,  staunch 
on  point,  is  required. 

Prairie  Chicken,  ''Tympanuchus  americanus^': 

Prairie  chickens  lie  well  to  the  dog,  and  are  usually 
found  in  open,  easily  traveled  country.     It  is  useless  to  try 


.172  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

to  hunt  them  without  having  along  one  or  more  good,  thor- 
oughly trained  dogs,  either  Setter  or  Pointer.  While  there 
is  a  deal  of  sport  in  their  pursuit  and  capture,  they  are  not 
as  difficult  to  wing  as  the  ruffled  grouse. 

Sage  Hen,  (Centrocerus  urophasianus) : 

This  is  the  largest  member  of  the  American  ^grouse, 
weighing  as  high  as  eight  pounds,  and  is  found  in  the  west- 
ern portion  of  North  America.  They  inhabit  the  Great  Ba- 
sin and  arid  planes  of  the  region  wherein  found.  Their  name 
itself  suggests  the  nature  of  their  cover — the  sage  brush. 
They  not  only  use  this  sage  as  cover,  but  feed  upon  its  leaves, 
which  lends  to  their  flesh  a  disagreeable  taste.  Owing  to 
the  fact  that  they  are  easy  marks,  on  account  of  their  large 
size,  for  the  gunner,  they  are  becoming  scarcer  and  scarcer, 
and  are  retreating  to  places  not  yet  habited  by  man,  whom 
they  try  to  shun. 

Wild  Turkey  (Meleagris  gallopavo  silvestris) : 

The  wild  turkey  is  not  only  the  largest  American  game 
bird,  but  it  is  a  bird  that  claims  attention  from  a  great  army 
of  sportsmen.  In  by-gone  days  wild  turkey  hunting  was 
one  of  the  chief  pursuits  afield  engaged  in  by  a  large  num- 
ber of  hunters,  but  now^,  owing  to  its  size,  which  made  it  a 
comparatively  easy  mark  for  the  gunner,  its  numbers  have 
been  greatly  decimated. 

The  method  usually  employed  in  their  capture  consists 
in  trailing  or  calling  them.  They  have  keen  optics,  and  are 
fleet  both  on  land  and  in  the  air. 

If  not  molested  by  man  for  a  few  .years,  and  if  their 
natural  cover  was  not  usurped  by  agriculture  entirely,  they 
would  probably  again  become  a  common  and  profitable 
game  bird. 

The  turkey  has  many  champions  who  assert  that  it 
should  replace  the  eagle  as  our  national  bird.  Truly  it  has 
all  the  virtues  and  none  of  the  vices  that  the  terrible  eagle 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  173 

does  possess,  and  there  is,  therefore,  not  a  little  sound  com- 
mon sense  in  this  argument. 

At  Thanksgiving  dinner  the  repast  would  hardly  be 
complete  without  the  big  roasted  turkey  occupying  the  cen- 
ter of  the  table,  and  drawing  to  its  delicious  carcass  the  con- 
centrated attention  of  all  eyes.  While  the  domesticated 
cousin  of  the  wild  tvirkey  is  delicious,  it  has  not  the  gamey 
taste  that  distinguishes  all  wild  fowl. 

DUCK  AND  GOOSE  SHOOTING : 

This  sport  is  a  favorite  with  a  large  and  ever-increas- 
ing number  of  American  hunters.  In  the  art  of  duck  and 
goose  shooting  patience  is  as  much  a  virtue  as  it  is  to  the 
angler,  for  it  takes  great  patience  indeed  to  lie  and  wait 
for  returning  ducks  or  geese  in  a  blind  on  a  cold,  raw  day. 
But  there  is  pleasure  to  be  had  in  this  sport  more  than  off- 
setting any  minor  inconveniences,  say  duck  and  goose 
enthusiasts. 

The  lakes,  rivers,  streams,  ponds  and  marshes  of 
America  offer  water-fowl  a  veritable  paradise  for  a  home, 
and  they  seemingly  realize  the  excellent  quality  of  the  food 
and  the  cover  our  wild  celery  and  wild  rice  marshes  afford 
them,  for  they  continue  annually  to  visit  our  shores  in  great 
numbers. 

Wild  waterfowl  are  distributed  practically  all  over 
the  entire  world,  and  from  time  immemorial  ducks  and 
geese  have  been  held  in  high  esteem  by  mankind,  everywhere 
being  eagerly  sought  after  for  sport  and  for  food. 

Their  food  value  needs  no  mention.  They  are  noted 
for  the  fine  flavor  and  richness  of  their  flesh — most  species 
— and  are  an  article  of  diet  to  grace  a  king's  table.  Neither 
does  their  beauty  need  emphasis,  other  than  the  opportunity 
to  look  admiringly  upon  them  as  they  soar  majestically  in 
great  flocks  toward  or  from  their  breeding  grounds,  or  to 
and  from  their  feeding  places.  They  lend  a  charm  of  life 
and  animation  to  the  otherwise  desolate  ponds  and  lakes, 


174  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

and  they  doubtless  are  of  great  value  to  agriculture,  as  most 
seed-eating  birds  are.  But  great  though  all  the  other  rea- 
sons for  desiring  their  presence  may  be,  there  is  the  crown- 
ing reason  in  the  fact  that  tired  and  worn-out  humanity 
can,  by  the  exhilarating  sport  they  afford,  alleviate,  or  at 
least  offset  some  of  the  nervous  strain  to  which  tlie  average 
business  man  of  this  age  is  subject. 

The  flesh  of  wild  fowl  constituted  an  important  item  of 
diet  in  the  larder  of  the  aborigines  of  this  country,  who,  by 
means  of  the  bow  and  arrow  we  have  already  described,  and 
also  by  the  use  of  numerous  other  devices,  nets  and  traps, 
succeeded  in  obtaining  them  in  considerable  numbers,  es- 
pecially when  they  were  young  and  unable  to  elude  capture 
by  flight.  The  Eskimo  and  northern  Indians,  in  fact,  would 
fare  badly  but  for  the  great  numbers  of  waterfowl  that  visit 
their  country  annually  to  breed,  and  their  eggs  are  also 
sought  by  the  natives  with  avidity.  The  first  settlers  also 
found  waterfowl  a  necessary  addition  to  their  larders,  and, 
insofar  as  game  was  concerned,  the  fowling  piece  early  be- 
came a  more  important  part  of  the  settler's  equipment  than 
his  rifle. 

However,  neither  the  natives  or  the  settlers  appreciably 
reduced  the  numbers  of  ducks  and  geese  that  at  given  per- 
iods covered  the  lakes,  ponds,  rivers  and  marshes  of  this  fa- 
vored land.  The  fact  is,  it  was  not  until  the  perfection  of 
that  potent  engine  of  destruction,  the  breech-loading  shot- 
gun, that  waterfowl  began  to  decrease  at  an  alarming  rate. 
This  was  due,  not  alone  to  the  breech-loader,  but  to  the  ever 
increasing  population  with  a  consequent  increase  both  in 
number  of  sportsmen  and  market  gunners. 

So  rapidly  are  some  species  decreasing  in  certain  States 
that  the  supply  is  already  threatened,  and  stringent  laws 
have  been  found  necessary.  The  migratory  bird  law,  a 
wideh^  discussed  and  often  criticised  measure,  has  already 
proven  its  worth,  and  within  a  few  years,  with  the  abolish- 
ment of  spring  shooting,  the  suppl}^  of  ducks  and  geese  will 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  175 

again  be  replenished.  It  seems  that  the  wood  duck,  one  of 
the  handsomest  of  our  native  birds,  and  one  whose  breeding 
range  lies  almost  entirely  within  our  own  borders,  is  the 
species  that  has  suffered  most.  In  some  sections,  in  fact,  in 
not  a  few  sections,  it  has  been  entirely  extemiinated.  It  is 
a  question  whether  the  wood  duck  will  ever  again  be 
plentiful. 

Other  species,  however,  since  the  enactment  of  the 
spring  shooting  law,  are  showing  an  increase,  and  in  due 
time,  let  us  hope,  once  more  the  sun  may  be  darkened  by  the 
flights  of  ducks  and  geese  as  they  joyfully  wing  their  way 
through  space,  as  in  days  of  yore. 

The  successful  duck  and  goose  hunter  must  possess  the 
instinct  of  stealth.  Silent  movement,  where  movement  is 
required,  is  an  art  much. needed  to  acquire  skill  both  in  hunt- 
ing and  in  fishing.  Not  only  silence,  however,  is  required 
in  the  matter  of  hunting  w^aterfowl,  but  one  must  have  the 
proper  talent  to  camouflage  one's  movements  and  conceal 
one 's  presence  from  the  duck  or  the  goose  that  is  ever  watch- 
ful for  his  mortal  enemy — man.  They  have  the  eye  of  an 
eagle  and  will  surely  spot  you,  if  you  are  not  dressed  in  har- 
mon}^  with  your  surroundings.  If  your  surroundings  are 
brown,  such  as  dead  horseweeds,  or  dead  vegetation  of  any 
sort,  then  assuredly  you  should  have  on  a  brown  or  tan  out- 
fit. Pay  strict  attention  to  every  detail,  such  as  your  neck- 
tie, if  you  wear  one  on  your  hunting  trips,  or  your  hat. 
Don 't  make  the  mistake  of  wearing  a  gaudy  neck-piece  or  a 
loud  cap  or  hat.  The  waterfowl  will  certainly  spy  you  out, 
and  won't  land  near  where  you  are.  How  often  have  you 
been  waiting  for  ducks  or  geese,  and  when  a  flock  would  ap- 
pear they'd  circle  over  you,  and  then,  after  the  leader  gave 
a  warning  ''Honk,  Honk,  Honk!"  they  would  again  spread 
wide  their  wings  and  soar  away  to  parts  unknown,  much  to 
}our  discomfiture  and  angry  regret?  The  reason  was,  of 
course,  that  you  were  discovered,  due,  probably,  to  some 
showy  garment  on  your  person. 


176  '  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

There  are  64  species  and  sub-species  of  ducks,  geese,  and 
swans  which  are  found  in  North  America  north  of  Mexico, 
24  breeds  of  this  number  occurring  in  the  United  States. 
The  species  commonly  recognized  as  most  important  to  us 
are  the  wood  duck,  mallard,  black  duck,  teal,  canvasback, 
redhead,  and  Canada  goose,  feeveral  of  these  breed  only 
in  our  Northern  States;  but  the  cinnamon  teal  and  ruddy 
duck  nest  as  far  south  as  southern  California,  and  the  wood 
duck  breeds  nearly  anywhere  in  the  United  States  in  which 
it  receives  any  measure  of  protection,  and  the  great  bulk  of 
this  species  winters  within  our  boundaries. 

As  we  write,  recollections  of  bygone  days  come  flitting 
back  to  us,  of  happy  excursions  to  the  marshes  and  ponds 
after  the  elusive  mallard,  and  many  and  pleasant  memories 
dance  before  our  vision,  of  how  we  hid  in  a  fodder-shock,  or 
among  the  tall  dead  grasses  and  weeds  that  had  grown  rank 
in  the  fertile  marshes. 

Ducking  is  practiced  by  different  methods  in  various 
parts  of  the  country.  The  commonest  method  being  ' '  point 
shooting"  and  this  is  the  way  they  do  it  in  the  great  Middle 
A¥est,  a  region  in  which  mallards,  pintails,  teal  and  wid- 
geon are  plentiful  along  the  numerous  watercourses,  and  on 
the  lakes,  ponds  and  marshes.  In  some  of  the  southern 
States  a  floating  blind  is  used,  consisting  usually  of  an  open 
box,  fitted  with  brush  camouflage  so  as  to  screen  the  guimer 
from  view.  While  *^out  west"  they  like  to  ^^pass  hunt," 
that  is,  the  gunner  takes  up  a  position  between  two  marshes, 
and  tries  his  luck  as  the  fowls  fly  from  one  feeding  place  to 
another,  and  along  the  coast  where  the  red  heads,  broad  bills 
and  a  few  canvasbacks  are  found,  the  hunter  prefers  what 
is  known  as  *^the  battery"  in  places  where  this  device  is  per- 
mitted by  law.  This  consists  of  what  is  called  commonly  a 
"coffin  box"  that  has  a  platform  extending  around  it  to 
ward  off  the  waves.  When  weighted  properly  it  is  sub- 
merged just  so  as  to  keep  it  a  trifle  above  water  and  insure 
it  against  capsizing  and  makes  it  practically  invisible  a  few 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  177 

yards  away;  the  gunner  is  compelled,  however,  to  lay  flat, 
which  is  necessary  to  effectively  hide  his  presence  from  the 
ducks.  Decoys  are  usually  anchored  nearby,  which  attracts 
real  ducks  to  the  vicinity  and  within  gunshot. 

But  to  get  back  to  ''point  shooting,"  as  practiced  in  the 
Middle  West,  the  hunter  generally  puts  out  25  or  30  decoys 
near  a  spot  where  ducks  are  in  the  habit  of  passing,  draws 
his  canoe  or  boat  into  the  reeds  and  awaits  the  approach  of 
the  next  flock. 

One  of  the  most  essential  items  in  duck  hunting  is  in 
the  matter  of  warm  wearing  apparel;  something  not  only 
warm  but  waterproof  is  desirable. 

In  the  matter  of  guns  for  this  purpose,  give  me  a  12 
gauge  choke  bored  double-barrel  gun,  which  is  the  generally 
accepted  gun  for  duck  hunting. 

As  to  shells,  these  should  be  loaded  with  SVl  drams  of 
pow^der  and  l^/l  ounces  of  No.  4  shot. 

Some  hunters  prefer  the  old  ten  gauge,  because  it  makes 
a  better  pattern  with  large  shot,  up  to  about  size  BB,  but  it 
has  nothing  on  the  12  gauge  for  range  and  in  addition  is 
heavy  to  carry  and  handle  properly. 

In  picking  up  a  duck  or  goose  from  the  water,  pick  it 
up  by  the  head,  as  this  will  cause  the  water  to  run  right  off; 
if  you  pick  it  up  by  the  feet,  that  method  fluffs  the  f eathei\s 
and  the  waterfowl  becomes  water-soaked  and  heavy  to  carry. 

The  ducks  and  geese  are  a  very  interesting  family,  and 
a  whole  book  could  w^ell  be  written  on  that  subject.  I  wish 
we  had  space  to  deal  more  at  length  herein  on  duck  and  goose 
shooting,  but.it  is  impracticable  and  also  unnecessary,  for 
those  who  have  hunted  waterfowl  full  well  know  how  and 
where  and  when  to  hunt,  and  those  who  haven't  yet  indulged 
in  this  thrilling  sport  must  do  so  before  they  possibly  appre- 
ciate an  article  on  this  subject. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  members  of  the  goose  family 
is  the  Canada  goose,  scientifically  known  as  Branta  cana- 
densis.    Its  Slimmer  home,  principally,  is  the  interior  of 


178  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

Canada,  from  Saskateliewan  and  Alberta  north  to  the  limit 
of  trees.  Eastward  it  breeds  in  the  interior  of  Ungava  and 
casually  as  far  north  as  Okak  and  Ungava  Bay.  It  also 
breeds  quite  connnonl}^  in  Newfoundland,  and  is  fairly  com- 
mon on  the  islands  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  then 
west  through  Quebec  and  northern  Ontario  to  the  south  end 
of  James  Bay. 

In  the  interior,  the  breeding  range  extends  somewhat 
farther  south. 

The  principal  winter  home  is  the  southern  half  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  it  is 
not  rare  in  the  eastern  United  States  from  Florida  to  Mary- 
land, occasionally  to  Massachusetts,  and  is  recorded  during 
the  winter  in  Maine,  Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  and  even  in  New- 
foundland. Its  normal  winter  range  in  the  interior  extends 
as  far  as  southern  Indiana  and  southern  Illinois,  but  a  few 
specimens  have  also  been  noted  in  Ohio,  southern  Ontario, 
southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  southern 
Colorado,  and  southern  Utah,  according  to  government  in- 
vestigators. The  winter  home  also  includes  all  of  the  Pa- 
cific coast  region  as  far  north  as  British  Columbia. 

WINTER  RANGE  OF  DUCKS: 

American  Merganser: 

'^Merganser  americanus,"  as  this  duck  is  called  by 
scientists,  ranges  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  South 
Carolina,  rarely  to  Georgia  and  Florida,  and  in  mild  winters 
it  occurs  as  far  north  as  Prince  Edward  Island,  while  in  the 
interior  it  winters  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  southern  On- 
tario, Lake  Michigan,  Kansas,  northern  Colorado,  Idaho, 
British  Columbia,  and  rarely  to  Unalaska  Island  and  the 
Pribilof  Islands.  In  winter  it  reaches  northern  Mexico  and 
northern  Lower  California,  and  also  occurs  occasionally 
in  the  Bermudas. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  179 

Red-breasted  Merganser: 

This  duck,  '*  Merganser  serrator,"  has  been  known  to 
reach  to  the  vicinity  of  Havana,  Cuba,  but  rarely  does  it  go 
south  of  the  eastern  United  States.  It  is  not  a  rare  visitor 
in  winter  to  Florida  and  along  the  gulf  coast  to  Texas,  but 
it  is  quite  rare  in  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  is  common 
throughout  the  whole  of  California  and  south  to  Lower  Cali- 
fornia. In  winter  it  is  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far 
as  Maine,  and  remains  around  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
until  the  bays  freeze  up.  It  is  said  also  not  to  be  uncommon 
even  in  Greenland  during  the  winter.  In  the  interior  it 
braves  the. winter  weather  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  north  to 
Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  and  Utah ;  north  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast  to  southern  British  Columbia,  and  is  also  a  casual 
visitor  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  the  Bermudas. 

Hooded  Merganser: 

^^Lophod^^tes  cucullatus"  is  the  Hooded  Merganser's 
official  title.  This  duck  remains  during  the  winter  as  far 
north  as  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  Lake  Michigan,  Ne- 
braska, Colorado,  Utah,  and  southern  British  Columbia. 
In  the  central  districts  and  Gulf  States  it  is  more  plentiful 
than  elsewhere,  while  a  few  migrate  to  Cuba,  Central  Mex- 
ico, and  southern  Lower  California. 

Mallard: 

The  mallard,  *^Anas  boschas,"  is  a  fresh- water  duck, 
and  in  general  it  winters  as  far  north  as  open  water  can  be 
found.  The  greater  number,  however,  spend  the  winter  in 
the  southern  half  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  during  past 
years  this  region  was  the  source  of  a  large  part  of  the  market 
supply.  The  numbers  killed  were  almost  incredible.  I 
have  heard  of  instances  where  a  single  gTinner  killed  and 
sold  as  many  as  8,000  mallards.     Fortunately  market  shoot- 


180  THE   A^TGLER   AND    HFNTSMAX 

ing  is  now  forbidden  and  this  deplorable  slaughter  has 
ceased,  or  has  been  materially  lessened. 

The  mallard  winters  casually  in  eastern  Massachusetts 
and  central  New  York,  accidentally  in  Nova  Scotia,  and 
regularly  from  Virginia  to  northern  Florida.  It  is  less 
common  in  Central  Florida,  and  has  been  recorded  in  the 
Bermudas,  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Jamaica,  Grenada,  Carriacou, 
Panama,  and  Costa  Eica.  Most  of  these  localities  have  had 
but  one  or  two  records  each,  showing  that  the  mallard  is  only 
a  straggler  to  the  southeast  of  the  United  States.  It  has 
never  been  known,  or  at  least,  is  not  recorded  from  Central 
America  from  Costa  Rica  to  Mexico.  The  species  is  a  com- 
mon winter  resident  of  northern  Mexico  and  ranges  south 
to  Jalapa,  the  valle}^  of  Mexico,  Colima,  and  southern  end  of 
Lower  California. 

The  northern  winter  limit  of  the  mallard  in  the  interior 
is  in  Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  southern  Wisconsin,  Nebraska, 
AVyoming,  and  central  Montana.  It  is  also  a  common  win- 
ter resident  along  the  whole  Pacific  coast  as  far  north  as  the 
Aleutian  Islands. 

Black  Duck: 

The  group  of  ''Anas  obscura"  or  ''black  and  dusky" 
ducks  comprises  several  species  Avhich  resemble  each  other 
closely  and  which  have  only  in  late  years  been  distinguish- 
ed intelligently.  The  black  duck  is  the.  common  breeding 
duck  of  New  England  and  northern  New  York. 

This  species  spends  the  winter  rarely  in  the  West  In- 
dies, Bermudas,  in  central  Florida  and  also  in  Alabama. 
From  Georgia  northward  it  is  more  common,  and  from 
North  Carolina  to  New  Jersey  it  is  one  of  the  most  numerous 
winter  ducks.  Both  the  Fpecies  "A.  obscura"  and  "A. 
rubripes"  are  common  at  this  season  in  the  vicinity  of  Long 
Island  and  on  the  shores  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts, 
but  the  latter  appear  to  winter  to  a  greater  degree  in  Massa- 
chusetts than  the  former.     West  of  the  mountains  there  is 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  181 

an  uncertainty  as  to  which  form  predominates  during  win- 
ter. **A.  obscura"  is  a  pretty  common  winter  resident  in 
Louisiana,  while  ^*A.  rubripes"  reaches  Arkansas,  and  one 
form  or  the  other  ranges  in  winter  as  far  north  as  southern 
Ohio,  southern  Indiana,  and  southern  Illinois. 

Florida  Duck: 

^^Anas  fulvigula,"  or  Florida  duck,  is  a  non-migratory 
species,  breeding  commonly  in  the  southern  half  of  Flor- 
ida, and  less  commonly  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State. 
It  appears  to  be  absent  entirely  from  northeastern  Florida, 
but  occurs  along  the  northwestern  coast. 

Mottled  Duck: 

This  bird,  ^^Anas  fulvigula  maculosa/'  is  a  resident  of 
Texas  and  southern  Louisiana.  In  the  State  of  the  ^^Lone 
Star"  it  occurs  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  north- 
ward and  west  to  about  the  central  part  of  the  State.  It  is 
also  accidental  in  Kansas.  -— 

Abert  Duck:    . 

This  species  is  known  only  from  the  type  specimen 
taken  at  Mazatlan,  Mexico,  designated  **Anas  aberti." 

Diaz  Black  Duck: 

This  duck,  ''Anas  diazi,"  is  a  form  of  /'black  duck"  re- 
sembling very  much  "Anas  fulvigula."  It  is  non-migra- 
tory and  occurs  in  central  Mexico. 

Gadwell: 

The  principal  winter  home  of  the  gadwell,  "Chaulel- 
asmus  streperus,"  is  in  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley,  es- 


182  THE  ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

pecially  in  Texas,  Louisiana,  and  Arkansas.  Infrequently 
it  winters  as  far  noi^tli  as  Illinois,  and  is  more  common  to 
the  eastward  in  North  Carolina  and  Florida.  The  winter 
range  extends  to  the  southern  end  of  Lower  California,  to 
Mazatlan,  and  the  City  of  Mexico.  In  the  northern  part  of 
Mexico  this  species  is  common  throughout  the  winter,  and 
birds  have  been  found  paired  in  May,  the  late  date  being  an 
indication  that  they  intended  to  remain  there  and  breed.  Its 
winter  range  extends  commonly  to  Utah  and  Oregon ;  seldom 
to  Washington  and  British  Columbia. 

European  Widgeon: 

This  species  ^^Mareca  penelope"  is  a  member  of  the  Old 
World  family  of  ducks,  but  it  occurs  as  a  straggler  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  in  Florida,  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Massachusetts, 
Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland,  and  in  Greenland,  while  in  the 
interior  it  has  been  discovered  in  Illinois,  Indiana,  Michi- 
gan, Ohio,  Wisconsin,  and  Nebraska,  and  even  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast  in  California,  British  Columbia,  and  Alaska,  but 
it  is  not  known  to  breed  anywhere  in  the  Western  Hem- 
isphere. 

Baldpate,  or  American  Widgeon: 

^^Mareca  americana"  is  common  on  the  Chesapeake 
during  the  winter,  but  is  rare  directl}^  northward  at  all 
times  of  the  year,  and,  therefore,  it  is  evident  that  the  mi- 
gration is  from  the  northwest.  This  species  is  quite  com- 
mon in  wintertime  in  the  Carolinas,  less  common  in  Florida 
and  Cuba,  and  rare  in  the  Bermudas,  the  Bahamas,  Jamaica, 
Porto  Eico,  St.  Thomas  and  Trinidad.  Its  winter  home  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley  extends  as  far  north  as  Illinois,  and 
in  the  west  to  New^  Mexico,  Arizona,  probably  Utah,  and  to 
southern  British  Columbia.  It  is  most  common,  very  likely, 
along  the  Pacific  coast  during  the  winter. 


THE  ANGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN  183 

European  Teal: 

^^Nettion  crecca,"  or  European  Teal,  is  a  species  that  is 
widely  distributed  in  the  Old  World,  and  is  accidental  in 
the  Western  Hemisphere.  It  has  been  recorded  in  Green- 
land, Labrador,  Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Con- 
necticut, Long  Island,  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
California,  and  Alaska. 

Green- winged  Teal: 

This  duck,  ^^Nettion  carolinense,"  is  common  south  of 
the  United  States  in  Mexico,  at  least  as  far  as  Jalapa,  the 
City  of  Mexico,  Michoacan,  and  Jalisco.  It  is  also  common 
in  the  Bahamas,  but  is  rare  in  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  Hondur- 
as. This  species  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  ducks  through- 
out the  southwestern  United  States  during  winter.  It  is  very 
hardy,  and  in  general  remains  as  far  north  as  open  water 
may  be  found.  It  winters  in  w^estem  Montana,  up  to  cen- 
tral Utah,  southern  Nebraska,  southern  Iowa,  central  Illi- 
nois, central  Indiana,  western  New  York,  and  Rhode  Is- 
land. Its 'principal  winter  home,  however,  lies  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  south  of  latitude  37  degrees. 

Blue- winged  Teal: 

*^Querquedula  discors,"  or  Blue-wdnged  Teal,  migrate 
over  a  vast  territory,  and  are  found  throughout  northern 
South  America,  south  to  Brazil,  Ecuador,  Peru,  and  Chile, 
during  winter.  In  Central  America  they  are  plentiful,  as 
well  as  in  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies,  and  they  are  equal- 
ly common  during  the  winter  in  the  Gulf  States  and  north 
as  far  as  North  Carolina.  They  do  not  range  much  north 
of  the  Gulf  States  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  though  a  few 
scatter  widely  as  far  as  southern  Indiana,  and  southern  Il- 
linois; while  a  few^  winter  in  Arizona,  California  and  north 
to  southern  British  Columbia.     This  species  is  not    com- 


184  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

mon,  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word,  much  north  of  North 
Carolina,  though  it  is  not  rare  on  Chesapeake  Bay  and  \Yin- 
ters  as  far  north,  even,  as  Delaware.  It  is  not  a  hardy 
species,  and  therefore,  few^  individuals  remain  where  there 
is  cold  Aveather  and  ice. 

Cinnamon  Teal: 

This  species,  ^^Querquedula  cyanoptera,"  does  not  re- 
tire but  slightly  south  of  its  breeding  range  for  the  winter. 
It  is  found  at  this  season  as  far  north  as  Brownsville, 
Texas,  central  New  Mexico,  southern  Arizona,  and  around 
Tulare  Lake,  California.  South  of  Mexico  the  only  record 
is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Costa  Eica. 

Shoveler: 

A  few  ^^  Spatula  clypeata,"  or  shovelers,  pass  south  in 
winter  to  Columbia,  South  America,  Panama,  Costa  Rica, 
and  through  the  West  Indies.  This  species  is  accounted 
rare  in  Florida,  and  seems  not  to  have  been  noted  in  the 
Bahamas. 

The  Carolinas  are  the  only  states  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
where  they  are  common,  but  it  is  not  rare  in  Maryland,  and 
there  are  a  few  winter  records  for  New  Jersey;  however, 
tHie  greater  part  of  this  species  winters  in  the  southern  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  north  rarely  to  southern  Illinois,  and  as  far 
south  as  central  Guatemala,  through  Mexico.  Many  hun- 
dred thousands  are  reputed  to  winter  near  Lake  Chapala, 
Jalisco.  During  Avinter  this  duck  is  also  found  in  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  the  AA^hole  of  California,  and  a  few  are 
found  as  far  north  as  southern  British  Columbia.  Great 
numbers  AAdnter  in  the  Haw^aiian  Islands.  During  the  flight 
between  their  Avinter  and  summer  home  they  pass  through 
the  northeastern -United  States,  frequently  through  Penn- 
sylvania and  New^  York,  and  formerly  it  Avas  not  rare  in 
Massachusetts;  however,  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  only  in- 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  185 

dividuals  of  a  small  number  have  been  recorded  for  the 
whole  of  New  England. 

Pintail: 

^'Dafila  acuta,"  or  Pintail,  are  quite  common  on  the 
coast  of  North  Carolina,  and  as  far  south  as  Florida,  while 
many  spend  the  winter  in  Cuba,  a  few  pass  on  to  Jamaica, 
and  individuals  have  been  recorded  in  Porto  Rico.  This 
species  is  known  as  one  of  the  common  winter  ducks  that 
are  found  from  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica,  and  a  few  winter  as 
far  north  as  Pennsylvania  and  New^  Jersey.  Only  a  few 
winter  in  the  Mississippi  Valle}^  north  of  southern  Illinois, 
and  from  there  the  winter  home  extends  through  Texas, 
New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  on  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where  it 
is  abundant  at  this  season  as  far  north  as  British  Columbia. 
The  species  also  is  known  to  winter  in  southern  Ohio,  and 
southern  Indiana,  also  in  southern  Wisconsin. 

Wood  Duck: 

This  duck  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of  American  wat- 
erfowl, though  greatly  diminished  in  numbers  from  its  for- 
mer abundance,  and  is  scientifically  called  ^^Aix  sponsa." 
It  migrates  north  tolerably  early,  after  spending  the  win- 
ter in  North  Carolina,  occasionally  in  Mar}  land  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  the  interior  as  far  north  as  southern  In- 
diana, southern  Illinois  and  Kansas. 

Redhead: 

^^Aythya  americana,"  or  redheads,  have  their  winter 
home  not  far  from  Texas,  along  the  Gulf  and  Atlantic 
coasts,  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  a  few  winter  near  Long 
Island,  Cape  Cod  and  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie;  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  noi-th  to  Illinois  and  Kansas,  and  in  the  west 
to  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  sometimes  Utah,  Nevada,  and 
southern  British  Columbia,  almost  as  far  north  as  it  breeds. 


186  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN 

Canvasback: 

^^Aythya  vallisneria, "  or  canvasback  have  for  a  sum- 
mer home  an  area  which  begins  over  a  thousand  miles  west 
of  Chesapeake  Bay,  which,  until  recently,  was  also  a  favor- 
ite winter  home  for  this  species.  The  line  of  the  Great 
Lakes  appears  to  be  the  general  route  traversed  in  this 
southeastward  migration,  and  a  few  ducks  stop  for  the  win- 
ter as  far  north  as  Lake  Erie  and  western  New  York.  The 
large  flocks  that  hitherto  covered  Chesapeake  Bay  are  no 
more;  however,  a  few  winter  on  the  coast  of  the  Carolinas. 

The  winter  range  extends  from  the  Valley  of  Mexico 
north  to  southern  Illinois,  Colorado,  Nevada,  and  southern 
British  Columbia. 

Broadbill:    Scaup  Duck:    Blackhead:    Bluebill: 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  game  birds  of  the  At- 
lantic coast  region  from  Massachusetts  to  Chesapeake  Bay, 
being  probably  more  common  here  during  the  winter  than 
it  is  in  any  other  part  of  its  range,  while  most  of  the  lesser 
scaups  winter  south  of  that  district,  being  most  common 
from  North  Carolina  to  Florida. 

The  greater  scaup  also  ranges  nearly  to  the  southwes- 
tern boundary  of  the  United  States  in  southern  Texas, 
southern  New  Mexico,  central  Arizona,  and  to  the  vicinity 
of  San  Diego,  California,  while  a  few  winter  in  southern 
Colorado,  southern  Utah,  and  more  commonly  in  Nevada, 
and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  north  to  the  Aleutian  Islands.  It 
also  winters  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley  north  as  far 
as  southern  Wisconsin,  but  is  hardly  more  than  a  straggler 
in  winter  north  of  the  Ohio  river.  Its  scientific  designa- 
tion is  ' '  Ay thya  marila. ' ' 

Ring-necked  Duck: 

The  principal  winter  home  of  this  duck,  *^  Ay  thya  col- 
laris,"  is  the  Gulf  Coast,  from  Florida  to  Texas,  and  it  is 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  187 

locally  the  most  abundant  duck  at  this  season  in  this  region. 
It  is  also  a  common  winter  resident  of  the  Bahamas,  of  Cu- 
ba, sometimes  Jamaica,  while  on  the  mainland  it  is  a  rare 
visitant  to  California  and  Lower  California,  but  is  common 
in  Mexico  and  ranges  all  the  way  to  central  Guatemala.  Its 
northward  range  extends  to  the  Carolinas  and  on  to  Mary- 
land and  New  Jersey,  however  being  rare  in  the  latter  two 
States;  thence  it  ranges  westward  to  southern  Illinois, 
northern  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  north  on  the  Pacific  coast 
to  southern  British  Columbia. 

American  Golden-eye. 

The  American  golden-eye  is  accounted  one  of  the  hard- 
iest of  ducks,  its  northern  distribution  in  winter  being  gov- 
erned only  by  the  presence  of  open  water,  a  necessity  to 
nearly  all  species  of  the  duck  family.  Its  scientific  name  is 
^'Clangula  clangula  americana."  It  is  somewhat  common 
on  Lakes  Michigan,  Erie,  and  Ontario,  and  during  mild  op- 
en winters  it  has  been  known  to  remain  north  to  Prince  Ed- 
ward Island.  All  winter  it  is  quite  common  along  the  New 
England  coast,  continuing  to  be  common  all  the  way  down 
the  coast  to  North  Carolina,  but  gets  less  common  south  of 
that  State.  In  the  interior  it  remains  during  the  winter 
north  as  far  as  Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Utah,  while  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast  it  is  found  at  this  time  north  as  far  as  the  Aleu- 
tian Islands. 

Barrow  Golden-eye: 

The  great  majority  of  the  breeding  birds  of  eastern 
Canada  stay  through  the  winter  around  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  however,  a  few  straggle  southward,  being  record- 
ed in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  New  York, 
and  Virginia.  Scientifically  it  is  known  as  ''Clangula  is- 
landica." 


188  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

Buffle-head: 

^^Cliaritonetta  albeola,"  or  Buffle-head,  does  not  range 
in  winter,  generally  speaking,  south  of  southeastern  or  east- 
em  United  States.  To  the  westward  a  few  enter  Mexico 
to  the  Valley  of  Mexico  and  Lower  California  to  San  Quen- 
tin.  This  duck  is  a  common  winter  resident  of  the  southern 
half  of  the  United  States,  north  to  Massachusetts;  Lakes 
Ontaria,  Michigan,  and  Huron;  Utah,  Idaho,  British  Colum- 
bia, Unalaska  Island,  and  the  Near  Islands. 

Old  Squaw: 

These  birds  are  common  south  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  and 
as  far  south  as  the  North  Carolina  coast  region  are  not  rare. 
In  mild  winters  they  have  been  known  to  winter  in  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  while  some  stay  in  southern  Greenland. 
They  are  an  abundant  winter  resident  on  the  Great  Lakes; 
on  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  Aleutian  Islands  southward, 
being  quite  common  to  the  coast  of  Washington  and  not  rare 
to  northern  California.  Its  scientific  designation  is 
^'Harelda  hy  emails." 

Harlequin  Duck: 

During  the  winter  season,  the  harlequin,  or  ^4iistrion- 
icus  histrionicus, "  is  not  rare  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  is  less  common  south  to  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  accidental  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey.  It  is  a 
frequent  winter  resident  on  Lake  Michigan,  winters  in  Col- 
orado, which  is  the  southern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  but 
at  several  thousand  feet  lower  altitude.  It  is  abundant  in 
the  Aleutians  and  the  Pribilof  Islands,  west  to  the  Near  Is- 
lands, the  Commander  Islands,  and  sometimes  as  far  as  Ja- 
pan. 

Labrador  Duck: 

*  ^  Camptolaimus  labradorius,"  is  an  extinct  species, 
which  within  the  last  centurv  nested  from  Labrador  north- 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  189 

ward,  and  during  Avinter  it  visited  the  coast  of  New  Eng- 
land; as  far  south  also  as  Long  Island  and  New  Jersey. 

Steller  Eider: 

'^Polysticta  stelleri,"  winters  abundantly  on  the  Near 
Islands  and  as  far  north  as  Unalaska,  the  Shumagins,  and 
the  Kenai  Peninsula. 

Spectacled  Eider: 

Winter  records  are  few  for  this  species,  ^'Arctonetta 
fischeri,"  but  it  is  probable  that  the  Aleutian  chain  consti- 
tutes the  main  winter  residence. 

Northern  Eider: 

'^Somateria  mollissima  borealis,"  or  northern  eider, 
ranges  in  winter  from  southern  Greenland  and  northern 
Hudson  Bay  south  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  as  Massa- 
chusetts.   

American  Eider: 

''Somateria  dresseri,"  or  American  Eider,  winters  as 
far  north  as  Newfoundland;  is  common  in  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  and  not  uncommon  as  far  south  as  the  coast  of 
Massachusetts,  while  in  the  interior  it  occurs  on  the  Great 
Lakes  and  neighboring  regions. 

Pacific  Eider: 

^^Somateria  y-nigra,"  or  Pacific  eider,  appears  to 
spend  the  winter,  generally  speaking  in  the  yicinity  of  the 
Aleutians. 

King  Eider: 

This  duck  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  winters  as 
far  north  as  open  water  may  be  found,  at  least  north  to 
southern  Greenland,  being  common  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 


190  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

rence;  the  species  lias  also  been  noted  occasionally  in  the  in- 
terior on  Lakes  Ca^aiga,  Oneida,  Ontario,  Michigan,  and 
Erie.  The  Pacific  members  of  this  species  winter  freely  in 
the  Aleutians;  south  to  the  Shumagin  and  Kadiak  islands. 
Scientifically  it  is  called  ^^Somateria  spectabilis.'' 

American  Scoter: 

^^Oidemia  americana,'^'  is  the  scientific  term  by  which 
this  duck  is  called,  and  it  remains  in  winter  around  New- 
foundland, except  when  driven  away  by  drift  ice.  South- 
ward it  is  not  rare  to  Long  Island  Sound  and  the  coast  of 
New  Jersey.  Inland,  it  is  not  uncommon  on  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  has  been  recorded  at  various  places  in  neighbor- 
ing states.  The  Pacific  birds  winter  from  the  Aleutian  Is- 
lands south  to  Santa  Barbara  Islands,  California,  and  also 
west  to  Japan  on  the  Asiatic  side. 

White- winged  Scoter: 

^^Oidemia  deglandi"  range  in  winter  through  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  south  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  South 
Carolina,  while  in  the  interior  it  ranges  south  regularly  and 
commonly  to  the  Great  Lakes,  and  less  commonly  in  adjoin- 
ing small  bodies  of  water  in  the  neighboring  states.  On  the 
Pacific  coast  it  winters  from  Unalaska  Island  to  San  Quen- 
tin  Bay,  Lower  California. 

Surf  Scoter: 

^^Oidemia  perspicillata, "  or  Surf  Scoter  stays  during 
the  winter  aroimd  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  until  forced 
away  by  ice,  and  passes  the  balance  of  the  Avinter  from  about 
the  Bay  of  Fundy  south  to  Florida.  It  is  exceedingly  abun- 
dant from  Massachusetts  to  New  Jersey,  and  still  common 
to  Nor  til  Carolina.  On  the  Pacific  coast  it  extends  from 
the  Aleutians  south  to  San  Quentin  Bay,  Lower  California. 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  191 

Buddy  Duck: 

^'Erismatura  jamaieensis,"  or  Ruddy  Duck,  has  a  wide 
winter  range,  some  retiring  in  winter  to  the  southern  part  of 
the  range,  to  southern  Lower  California,  Tepic,  Valley  of 
Mexico,  Oaxaca,  and  Central  Guatemala,  while  others  re- 
main as  far  north  as  southern  British  Columbia.  It  is  also 
found  in  winter  in  Southern  Illinois,  Pennsylvania,  the 
coast  of  Massachusetts,  and  even  to  Maine.  Also  from  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  to  Florida  it  is  quite  a  common  winter 
resident,  though  rapidly  being  diminished  in  numbers. 

Mallards  Best  for  Wild  Duck  Farms: 

Raising  mallard  ducks  is  an  industry  that  should  par- 
ticularly appeal  to  the  average  sportsman,  an  industry  cal- 
culated to  supplement  the  decreasing  natural  supply  of 
game. 

The  ease  with  which  the  mallard  can  be  bred  makes  it 
the  best  species  for  wild  duck  farming,  and  its  beauty,  popu- 
larity, hardiness,  adaptability  and  fecundity  fit  it  as  no 
other  duck  is  fitted  to  become  the  game  duck  of  the  future. 

When  it  is  realized  that  only  one-tenth  of  the  food  of 
the  mallard  is  derived  from  the  animal  kingdom  and  about 
nine-tenths  from  the  vegetable,  it  will  be  seen  how  easy  the 
problem  of  propagating  these  ducks  would  be.  They  feed 
mostly  on  aquatic  plants,  such  as  the  sedges,  water  grass, 
smartweeds,  pondweeds,  duckweeds,  coontail  and  other 
semi-aquatic  plants.  A  government  expert  recently  found 
in  the  stomach  of  one  mallard  102,400  seeds  of  primrose  wil- 
low. It  is  also  known  that  they  feed  on  water  beetles,  bugs, 
and  dragonflies. 

If  you  own  ponds,  lakes,  or  can  improve  such  bodies  of 
water,  it  would  be  possible  to  breed  and  raise  mallards  in  a 
semi-domesticated  state  at  little  cost. 

For  the  sportsmen  who  desire  to  engage  in  this  worthy 
enterprise,  the  writer  has  compiled  information  relative  to 


192  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

suitable  aquatic  plants  for  the  attraction  of  waterfowl  from 
trustworthy  sources. 

Information  concerning  the  propagation  of  valuable 
wild-duck  foods  is  constantly  requested  by  State  game  com- 
missions, game  protective  associations,  and  sportsmen's 
clubs,  and  also  by  individuals  interested  in  the  protection 
and  propogation  of  waterfowl.  The  IT.  S.  Biological  Sur- 
vey has  endeavored  to  meet  the  demand  by  issuing  this  in- 
formation in  bulletin  form,  under  the  direction  of  W.  L.  Mc- 
Atee,  Assistant  Biologist,  to  w^hom  I  am  indebted  for  this 
data.  The  widest  dissemination  of  this  knowledge  among 
the  American  people  is  in  line  with  the  policy  of  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture. 

Wild  Rice  and  its  Value  as  Duck  Food: 

Wild  rice  (Zizania  palustris  and  Z.  aquatica)  in  all 
stages  of  its  growth  is  eaten  by  one  or  another  of  North 
American  ducks  and  geese,  and  practically  all  of  them  feed 
on  its  ripened  grain.  It  is  the  staple  fall  food  of  many 
ducks  in  the  numberless  rice  marshes  of  the  eastern  United 
States.  The  seeds  are  obtained  mainly  from  the  bottom  in 
shallow  water,  w^here  they  have  fallen  into  a  bed  of  soft  muck 
to  await  germination.  This  is  often  so  delayed  that  grain 
may  sprout  at  any  time  up  to  at  least  18  months  after  ripen- 
ing. This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  young  shoots  and  ger- 
minating seeds  of  wild  rice  are  found  in  ducks'  stomachs  at 
nearly  all  seasons.  The  shoots  are  devoured  by  many  spe- 
cies, the  flowers  have  been  found  in  the  wood  duck's  stom- 
ach, and  the  stems  and  leaves  of  the  mature  plants  are  eaten 
by  geese. 

The  government  expert  says  that  of  the  food  of  209  mal- 
lards examined,  more  than  17%  was  wild  rice,  12%  of  that 
of  51  black  ducks,  and  more  than  11  %c  of  that  of  75  w^ood 
ducks.  The  Canada  goose,  snow  goose,  pintail,  widgeon, 
lesser  and  greater  scaups  or  bluebills,  canvas  back,  redhead, 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  193 

green-winged.and  blue-winged  teal,  buffle-head,  and  ruddy 
duck  are  also  known  to  feed  considerably  upon  this  plant. 

Description  of  Wild  Rice: 

Wild  rice  is  a  tall,  round-stenmied  grass  with  long,  flat, 
pointed  leaves.  The  stem,  which  may  be  as  much  as  2 
inches  in  diameter,  is  hollow,  but  is  furnished  with  trans- 
verse partitions  between  as  w^ell  as  at  the  joints.  These  par- 
titions may  be  seen  when  the  stem  is  cut  lengthwise.  The 
base  of  the  stem  is  in  the  form  of  a  stout  hook,  and  from  it 
arise  the  numerous  fibrous  roots  which  serve  mainly  to  an- 
chor the  plant  to  the  bottom.  The  flowers  of  wild  rice  usu- 
ally appear  during  the  latter  part  of  July,  but  may  be  found 
as  late  as  November.  The  appearance  of  the  flower  head  is 
very  characteristic;  the  lower  branches  which  bear  the 
staminate  or  male  flowers,  are  widely  separated  and  stand 
out  from  the  stem,  while  the  upper  branches  of  pistillate 
flowers  are  erect  and  more  compactly  grouped.  The  grain  of 
wild  rice  is  from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in 
length,  slender,  of  uniform  diameter,  and  with  rounded  or 
pointed  ends.  A  low^  rib  runs  along  the  whole  length  of  one 
side  and  a  shallow  groove  along  the  other.  The  husk  of 
the  seed  has  six  longitudinal  grooves  and  a  long,  pointed 
beak,  the  whole  being  an  inch  and  a  half  or  sometimes  even 
more  in  length.  The  appearance  of  the  flow^er  head  or  of 
the  grain  distinguishes  wild  rice  from  all  other  aquatic  grass 
in  its  range. 

Distribution  of  Wild  Rice : 

Natural  growths  of  wild  rice  occur  from  the  northern 
end  of  Lake  Winnipeg  eastward  along  the  northern  shores 
of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River  to  New 
Brunswick;  from  the  central  Dakotas,  western  Nebraskk, 
and  eastern  Texas  to  the  Atlantic  coast;  and  as  far  soiitli 
along  that  coast  as  central  Florida.     The  plant  is  somewhAt 


194  THE   ANGLER   AND    HLT^TSMAN 

local  and  of  course  is  confined  to  the  lowlands,  the  center  of 
its  abundance  being  in  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota. 

Propagation  of  Wild  Rice: 

Although  wild  rice  does  not  grow  naturally  in  every 
suitable  place  within  its  range,  in  most  cases  it  can  be  made 
to  do  so,  says  the  bulletin,  by  transplanting.  Formerly 
wild  rice  was  often  transplanted  by  various  tribes  of  In- 
dians, and  investigations  by  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry 
have  shown  that  with  proper  treatment  of  the  seed  the  plant 
may  be  propagated  in  any  favorable  waters  in  this  country. 
It  has  also  been  successfully  grown  in  European  countries. 
However,  experimenters  should  be  prepared  for  occasional 
failure,  for  the  plant  sometimes  refuses  to  grow  in  localities 
which  appear  to  have  every  requisite  for  its  successful  prop- 
agation. The  usual  cause  of  failure  has  been  improper 
treatment  of  the  seed  between  time  of  harvesting  and  time 
of  sowing,  resulting  in  loss  of  vitality.  When  growing  nat- 
urally, the  ripe  seeds  fall  directl}^  into  the  water,  where  they 
sink,  and,  being  equipped  with  barbed  beaks,  penetrate 
deeper  into  the  muck  surrounding  the  roots  of  the  parent 
plant.  There  they  lie  through  the  winter.  They  may 
germinate  in  spring,  or  they  may  lie  practically  dormant 
through  still  another  cold  season.  The  seeds  therefore  re- 
main wet  until  ready  to  sprout ;  they  are  exposed  to  currents 
of  water ;  are  not  in  close  contact  with  each  other,  and  are  not 
subjected  to  very  high  temperatures.  As  in  everything  else, 
to  succeed,  one  must  imitate  nature's  methods.  To  keep 
large  quantities  of  the  seed  in  close  contact  often  causes  fer- 
mentation, but  this  may  be  prevented  by  cold  storage. 

So  far  as  propagation  depends  on  the  preservation  of 
the  vitality  of  the  seed,  the  methods  so  carefully  worked  out 
by  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  insure  success.  Several 
seed  firms  handle  wild  rice  properly  and  will  deliver  it 
either  in  spring  or  fall  as  desired.     Notable  among  these  is 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  195 

Clyde  B.  Terrell,  of  Oshkosh,  A\^isconsiii,  who  has  done  a 
great  deal  for  the  scientific  propagation  of  wild  rice  and 
wild  celery.  It  is  a  pity  that  more  sportsmen  do  not  engage 
in  this  field,  as  nothing  is  more  beneficial  for  the  increase 
of  wild  water  fowl,  now  so  greatly  decimated  for  lack  of  at- 
tention and  protection  in  years  passed  by. 

Where  to  Plant  Wild  Rice: 

Wild  rice  thrives  best  on  a  mud  bottom,  though  it  has 
been  known  to  grow  in  sand.  This  may  be  underlain  by 
various  soils,  but  there  shovild  be  a  layer  of  mud  from  at 
least  2  to  4  inches  deep,  preferably  even  deeper.  Wild  rice 
usually  does  not  do  well  where  there  is  much  current  or 
change  in  the  level  of  the  water,  although  it  grows  abund- 
antly on  tide  flath'.  It  i:^  not  adapted  to  entirelv  stagnant 
water. 

From  4  inches  to  6  feet  of  water  are  about  the  limits  of 
its  usual  occurrence,  and  it  does  best  in  from  1  to  3  feet.  In 
shallow  water  it  may  be  killed  by  heat  in  summer,  so  it  is 
best,  in  southern  localities  especially,  to  sow  the  seed  in  not 
less  than  2  feet  of  water. 

How  to  Plant  Wild  Rice: 

The  least  possible  time  should  intervene  between  re- 
moval from  cold  storage  and  sowing.  Broadcast  sowing  an- 
swers every  purpose,  and  seed  should  be  sown  thickly,  as, 
when  near  together  the  plants  support  each  other,  the  root 
anchorage  is  protected,  and  a  good  stand  is  more  likely  to  re- 
sult than  if  the  seed  is  more  widely  scattered. 

When  to  Plant  Wild  Rice: 

The  most  desirable  time  for  sowing  is  usually  said  io 
be  in  the  fall,  but  it  has  been  proven  that  spring  sowing  will 
bring  a  full  crop,  and  for  several  reasons  spring  sowing  is 


196  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

usually  advisable.  Where  seed  has  been  sown  in  fall,  the 
bottom  may  freeze  and  the  seed  will  ])e  carried  off  with  the 
ice  floes  of  spring.  Ducks  and  other  water-fowl,  as  well  as 
some  fishes,  eat  the  seed,  and  the  less  it  is  exposed  to  their 
depredations  the  better.  Seed  is  likely  also  to  be  buried  by 
deposits  of  mud,  or  swept  away  by  currents,  especially  in 
freshets.  These  dangers  may  be  avoided  by  sowing  late 
enough  in  spring  to  avoid  the  worst  spring  floods,  but  in 
time  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  first  good  growing  weather ; 
that  is,  when  the  temperature  of  the  water  approaches  60 
degrees  F. 

Wild  Celery  and  its  Value  as  Duck  Food: 

When  we  think  of  wild  celery,  we  also  think  of  the  can- 
vas-back duck,  for  the  two  are  closely  associated  in  the  an- 
nals of  American  sport.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the 
canvas-back  is  very  fond  of  the  subterranean  propagating 
buds  of  this  plant,  yet  the  assertion  that  the  flavor  of  the 
canvas-back  is  sviperior  to  that  of  any  other  duck  and  that 
this  depends  on  a  diet  of  wild  celery  is  not  proven,  according 
to  Mr.  McAtee,  to  say  the  least. 

The  scaups,  or  bluebills,  and  the  redhead  are  also  very 
fond  of  wild  celery,  and  are  fully  as  capable  of  getting  the 
delicious  buds  as  is  the  canvas-back.  Several  other  species 
get  more  or  less  of  this  food.  Mr.  McAtee  finds  that  even 
tlie  scoters  on  a  Wisconsin  lake  in  fall  lived  almost  exclu- 
sively on  it  for  the  time.  All  parts  of  the  plant  are  eaten  by 
ducks,  but  the  tender  winter  buds  and  rootstocks  are  most 
relished.  Wild  celery  buds  can  usually  be  obtained  only  by 
the  diving  ducks,  such  as  the  bluebill,  red  head,  canvas- 
back,  and  scoters.  The  nondiving  species,  like  the  mallard, 
black  duck,  baldpate,  and  the  geese,  get  an  occasional  bud, 
but  they  more  frequently  feed  upon  the  leaves.  Wild  fowl 
not  thus  far  specifically  mentioned  which  also  feed  upon 
wild  celery  include  the  wood  duck,  pintail,  ruddy  duck,  buf- 


THE   ANGLER  AXD    HUNTSMAN  197 

fle-head,  whistler,  green-winged  teal,  greater  and  lesser 
scaups  or  bliiebills,  white-winged  and  surf  scoters,  and 
whistling  swan. 

Description  of  Wild  Celery  Plant: 

Wild  celery  is  a  wholly  submerged  plant  with  long, 
flexible,  ribbonlike  leayes  of  light  translucent  green  and  of 
13ractically  uniform  width  (anywhere  from  I/4  to  %  inches; 
from  root  to  tip.  Of  course  the  leayes  are  narrowed  near 
the  tip  and  may  be  somewhat  serrate  or  wayy-margined 
there,  but  they  are  neyer  expanded  and  the  yenation  is  pecu- 
liar, according  to  McAfee.  A  leaf  held  up  to  the  light  dis- 
plays numerous  fine  straight  parallel  yeins  running  the 
Avhole  length.  There  are,  besides,  one  median  and  two  lat- 
( ral  prominent  yeins  connected  at  interyals  by  irregular 
cross  yeinlets.  Wild  celery  (Vallisneria  spiralis)  may  be 
distinguished  from  eel  grass  (Zostera  marina),  AA^iich  liyes 
in  brackish  or  salt  water,  by  the  fact  that  its  leayes  grow  in 
bundles  from  the  rootstocks,  while  thosei  of  eelgrass  arise 
singly  and  alternate  on  opposite  sides  of  the  stem.  The 
k^ayes  of  wild  celery  generally  are  more  than  a  fourth  of  an 
inch  wide,  while  those  of  eelgrass  are  about  that  width  or 
narrower.  Pipewort  (Eriocaulon),  a  fresh-water  plant, 
frequently  haying  ribbonlike  leayes,  may  be  recognized  by 
the  reticulation  of  the  entire  leaf  into  small  cells  by  yeins  of 
nearly  uniform  size. 

In  certain  stages  some  of  the  arrowheads  (Sagittaria) 
are  difficult  to  distinguish  from  wild  celery,  though  they 
usually  haye  the  end  of  the  leaf  expanded  into  a  proper  leaf 
blade  or  else  quite  pointed,  neither  of  which  characteristics 
will  be  found  in  Vallisneria.  Inyestigation  of  the  subtej- 
ranean  organs  will  decide  the  matter,  howeyer. 

'The  flowers  of  wild  celery  are  usually  to  be  seen  in 
July  and  are  peculiar  in  appearance.  The  staminate 
flowers,  at  first  attached  at  the  base  of  the  plants,  later  float 


198  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

on  the  surface  of  the  water  and  fertilize  the  pistillate 
flower.  The  latter  is  attached  to  a  long,  slender,  round 
stem,  which  contracts  into  a  spiral,  drawing  the  flower 
under  the  water  after  fertilization.  This  spiral  stem, 
bearing  the  flower  or  pod,  distinguishes  wild  celery  from 
the  other  plants  mentioned.  The  seed  pod  into  which  the 
pollenized  flower  develops  is  straight  or  curved,  a  little 
slenderer  than  a  common  lead  pencil,  and  from  3  to  6  inches 
in  length;  it  contains,  embedded  in  a  clear  jelly,  small  dark 
seeds,  in  number  about  50  to  the  inch.  Mr.  McAtee  states 
no  such  pod  is  borne  by  any  other  fresh-water  plant. 

Distribution  of  Wild  Celery: 

AVild  celery  is  found  naturally  from  central  Minnesota 
through  the  Great  Lake  region  to  northern  Xova  Scotia,  and 
from  eastern  Kansas  and  eastern  Texas  east  to  the  Atlantic 
coast.  Like  wild  rice  it  is  more  or  less  local  in  distribution, 
and  consequently  may  be  absent  from  large  areas  within 
its  general  range. 

Propagation  of  Wild  Celery: 

Wild  celery  is  comparatively  easy  to  transplant.  It 
can  be  propagated  both  by  seeds  and  by  winter  ])uds,  and 
the  plant  itself  may  be  taken  up  and  set  out  at  almost  any 
time.  Floating  fragments  of  the  plant  with  a  little  of  the 
rootstock  attached,  picked  up  in  midsummer  by  Mr.  McAtee, 
rooted  and  grew^  successfully.  He  states  the  prime  requi- 
sites in  propagating  celery  are  the  same  as  in  the  case  of 
rice ;  the  buds,  plants,  or  seeds  must  not  be  allowed  to  dry 
or  to  ferment  between  gathering  and  planting.  The  seed 
pods  ripen  from  September  to  November  and  fall  to  the 
bottom.  They  are  best  collected  (by  net  or  rake)  on  days 
when  the  water  is  least  ruffled  during  the  latter  part  of  Oc- 
tober and  early  November.  The  winter  buds  may  be  col- 
lected at  the  same  season,    before  the  leaves  have    disap- 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  199 

peared,  by  following  the  latter  down  and  digging  up  the 
rootstocks  and  buds ;  or  the  young  plants  may  be  taken  up 
in  spring  just  as  they  sprout.  They  should  be  kept  moist 
and  cool  until  wanted  for  planting.  It,  as  well  as  wild  rice 
seed,  may  be  stored  in  partly  filled  burlap  bags,  among 
which  blocks  of  ice  are  placed  and  the  whole  covered  with 
sawdust  and  kept  wet.  In  cold  climates  seed  may  some- 
times be  perfectly  preserved  by  keeping  the  seed  in  water 
which  is  changed  daily,  and  kept  out  of  doors  during  the 
winter,  except  when  frozen,  germinating  very  satisfactorily. 
This  also  applies  equally  to  wild  rice. 

Where  to  Plant  Wild  Celery: 

Wild  celery,  Mr.  McAtee  found,  grows  best  on  muddy 
bottoms  in  from  3I/2  to  6I/2  feet  of  fresh  water,  though  it  will 
grow  also  in  sand  and  in  both  deeper  and  shallow^er  water. 
A  sluggish  current  suits  it  better  than  either  stagnant  or 
rapid  water. 

How  to  Plant  Wild  Celery: 

For  sowing,  the  pods  should  be  broken  up  (in  water) 
into  pieces  about  I/2  inch  in  length,  which  can  be  sown  broad- 
cast— not  too  thickly,  as  the  plants  spread  rapidly  by  root- 
stocks  and  will  soon  make  a  dense  growth.  The  winter  buds 
or  pieces  of  roots  with  tufts  of  leaves  must  be  weighted  to 
hold  them  to  the  bottom  and  enable  them  to  take  root.  This 
may  be  accomplished  by  loosely  threading  several  plants 
together  and  tying  stones  to  them,  or  ])y  embedding  them  in 
balls  of  clay.  The  broken  seed  pods  also  may  be  put  into 
clay  and  dropped  into  the  water. 

When  to  Plant  Wild  Celery: 

If  not  likely  to  be  covered  by  mud,  the  best  time  to  sow 
the  seed  pods  is  in  the  fall.  Winter  buds  collected  in  fall 
should  be  kept  in  cold  storage,  and  these,  as  well  as  young 
plants  gathered  in  the  spring,  should  be  set  out  in  May  or 
June. 


200  THE   AXGLER   AXD   HUNTSMAN 

As  wild  rice  and  wild  celery  constitute  the  principal 
aquatic  plants  suitable  for  the  attraction  of  wild  waterfowl, 
we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  take  up  the  consideration  of  the 
less  important  ones. 

THE  AIREDALE  TERRIER: 

Although  not  imported  into  this  country  from  Eng- 
land until  about  the  years  1897-98,  the  Airedale  terrier  has 
become  immensely  popular  in  the  New  World  in  this  short 
span  of  years.  This  is  attributed  to  the  fact  that  this  dog, 
because  of  his  keen  scenting  powers,  gameness,  and  general 
hardihood,  is  much  esteemed  by  all  men  who  rejoice  in  a 
good,  strong,  sensible  and  faithful  companion,  whether  it  be 
within  the  confined  quarters  of  a  city  life  or  in  the  more 
open  and  workaday  surroundings  of  the  forest  and  river. 
Strictly  speaking,  the  Airedale  is  a  waterside  dog.  He 
takes  his  name  from  the  valley  or  dale  of  the  river  Aire  in 
Yorkshire,  England;  and  it  was  in  the  early  ^^ seventies" 
that  he  was  recognized  as  a  distinct  and  separate  breed  on 
the  British  benches.  It  was  in  the  ^^ eighties"  that  the  first 
of  these  dogs  were  imported  for  exhibition  purposes ;  they 
were  placed  in  the  miscellaneous  classes  at  shows.  Today 
they  are  peculiarly  representative  in  the  United  States  and 
C'anada.  Indeed,  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  America 
now^  possesses  as  good  Airedales,  perhaps  as  a  body,  better 
than  are  owned  anyr^diere  else  in  the  world.  The  foresight, 
acumen,  inclination  and  liberality  of  certain  owners  on  this 
continent,  who  have  in  their  kennels  only  the  best  dogs  and 
bitches  of  the  breed  they  could  obtain  anywhere,  are  the 
things  that  have  aided  the  ascendency  of  the  Airedale  to  his 
present  state  of  popularity. 

The  Airedale  terrier,  like  many  other  useful  domestic 
animals,  was  originated  from  two,  three  or  more  breeds. 
The  foresight  of  fanciers  of  fifty  or  more  years  ago  was 
responsible  for  what  we  have  today  in  the  make  and  shape 
of  the  beautiful  black  or  blue  grizzle  and  tan  Airedale  of  the 


THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  201 

mpment.     The  finesse  of  the  intelligent  breeder  is  seen 
in  every  limb  and  muscle  of  the  dog's  body;  his  high  breed- 
ing and  faultless  outline,  combined  with  his  apparent  utility, 
is  patent  to  any  man  or  woman  who  cares  to  take  in  his  gen- 
eral appearance  and  reason  out  the  whys  and  the  where- 
fores of  his  existence.     From  the  old-fashioned  rough  Scot- 
tish terrier,  or  maybe  the  rough  black  and  tan  kennel  ter- 
rier of  other  days,  crossed  with  the  hardbitten  bull  and  ter- 
rier, we  are  said  to  have  obtained  the  first  progeny  that  was 
the  one  root  of  the  now  deservedly  popular  Airedale.     But 
our  workingmen  friends,  fond  of  a  bit  of  hunting  on  the 
small  river  and  brook  sides  of  the  dale  of  the  Aire,  wanted  a 
dog  with  more  nose — one  that  could  wind  a  rat  or  a  moor 
lien  across  the  stream,  or  pick  up  the  drag  of  a  chance  otter 
whose  presence  they  might  discover  through  the  track  of  his 
peculiar  hind-toeless  ^^seal"  on  some  silted  sand  or  landing 
place  on  the  side  or  middle  of  a  creek.     This  trail,  perhaps 
already  six  and  thirty  hours  old,  the  Scottish  fighting-dog 
cross  would  fail  to  recognize,  and,  naturally,  the  lone  hunt- 
ing fellow  would  cast  about  for  some  dog  possessed  of  suffi- 
ciently acute  olfactory  organs  to  be  able  to  recognize  this 
scent  and  carry  it  on  to  where  the  otter  was  surveying  the 
liver  from  a  point  of  vantage  in  the  fork  of  an  old  willow 
tree,  on  the  bank,  safe  below  in  his  hole,  the  opening  of 
which  he  would  dive  to  reach,  or  the  snug  surroundings  of  an 
oozier  bed,  hassocks  of  moorgrass  or  the  dry  and  warm  bed 
on  top  of  a  hedge  or  bank.     In  a  jiffy  our  sportsman  knew 
he  must  have  something  else  in  his  already  cross-bred  dog; 
his  mind  at  once  went  out  to  the  Otter  hound  or  Welsh 
hound,  for  well  he  knew  that  both  of  these  had  a  rightful 
reputation  for  wonderful  noses,  handed  down  to  them  m 
turn  from  the  mighty  old  Talbot  hound,  the  Adam  of  all,  or 
nearly  all,  hounds  and  dogs  that  depend  upon  their  scenting 
powers  to  provide  their  masters  with  the  sports  of  the  chase 
and  the  benefits  of  the  well-filled  larder.    Again,  the  Otter 
and  Welsh  hounds  were  rough  and  wiry  in  coat;  they  were 


202  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

good  water  dogs,  and  their  constitution  was  such  that  they 
could  withstand  all  weathers  and  the  wear  and  tear  of  work 
in  a  foreign  element  that  is  particularly  trying  to  humans  and 
nearly  all  quadrupeds.  Out,  then,  of  the  rough  terrier,  bull 
terrier  and  hound  cross  there  arose  the  dog  that  we  know 
today  as  the  Airedale  terrier ;  and  a  better  creature  does  not 
stand  on  four  legs,  when  we  consider  him  from  the  points  of 
elegance,  unison  of  build,  thoroughness  in  dash  and  inten- 
sity of  purpose;  in  the  contour  of  his  breedy  appearance, 
and  his  known  adaptability  to  all  climates  and  under  any 
and  all  conditions  where  he  is  called  upon  to  act  as  a  real 
companion  to  man.  This  is,  assuredly,  a  great  character, 
but  no  phrase  or  set  of  phrases  can  be  found  that  adequately 
describes  this  great  strain  of  the  canine  family.  The  Aire- 
dale is  in  a  class  all  to  himself  and  deservedly  so.  Today  the 
Airedale  enjoys  wide  popularity.  He  is  everywhere.  I 
have  seen  him  at  the  hardest  of  the  most  devilish  work,  midst 
the  extremely  severe  winters  of  ice-clad  Canada  and  the  swel- 
tering forests  and  bush  looking  out  onto  the  Indian  Ocean 
and  the  blue  waters  of  the  South  Pacific.  For  the  large 
carnivore,  he  is  in  considerable  use  in  this  country,  espe- 
cially in  the  regions  of  the  Great  Divide — the  backbone  of 
the  continent,  the  mighty  and  always  alluring  Rockies.  As 
a  tracker  of  wounded  deer  he  is  at  your  service,  while  it 
doesn't  take  you  long  to  make  him  an  ideal  coon  dog.  Kats 
in  his  mouth  are  as  strawberries  in  yours,  while  as  a  duck 
dog  he  will  retrieve  with  the  best  of  them.  He  is,  indeed, 
something  more  than  the  poor  Sunday-hunting  workingman, 
operative  or  mill  hand,  watersider  or  ^^manufacturer" 
dreamed  he  was.  For  the  local  Aire  dog  has  become  a 
world-wide  celebrity,  used  by  the  human  being  of  ability  for 
almost  everything ;  hunting  large  and  small  game ;  as  a 
trained  policeman's  dog;  the  pick  of  all  dogs  for  army  am- 
bulance service.  The  Airedale  is  truly  a  jack  of  all  the 
dog  trades.  The  many  thousands  that  watched  the  public 
work  of  the  New  York  City  police  dogs  at  Madison  Square 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN^  203 

Garden,  New  York,  in  February,  1908,  were  satisfied  that 
the  most  satisfactory  performance  given  was  by  an  Aire- 
dale, although  there  were  several  of  another  breed  (Belgian 
sheep  dogs)  that  had  been  trained  abroad.  The  muzzled 
Airedale  rushing  in  between  the  supposed  felon's  legs,  soon 
had  him  on  the  ground  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  representa- 
tive of  law  and  order. 

With  all  the  go-aheadness  and  sprightliness  of  the  Aire- 
dale, it  cannot  be  said  he  is  quarrelsome.  The  hound  blood 
that  is  within  him  appears  to  have  wiped  out,  for  the  nonce, 
the  sheer  wickednss  of  the  bull  and  terrier.  We  know  that 
a  hound  will  rather  run  than  fight,  any  day.  Alone  he  is  a 
bit  of  a  cow^ard ;  in  a  pack  he  becomes  brave  as  a  villain  in  a 
mob.  It  is  the  other  way  with  a  bull  and  terrier.  And  so 
it  was  with  the  old  cut-eared  Scotch  dog,  another  such  with 
the  arguments  of  his  teeth.  But  the  Airedale  is,  broadly 
speaking,  all  right,  until  he  is  set  on  to  his  own  kind  or  any- 
thing else  that  breathes.  With  the  rising  of  his  hackles 
something's  going  to  suffer,  even  if  he  dies  in  the  battle. 
And  that  must  be  the  reason  for  the  universal  popularity  of 
the  dog  now  under  notice. 

There  has  been  a  steady  upward  value  in  Airedales 
ever  since  1890.  A  fancy  price  to  put  on  a  dog,  a  champion, 
at  a  show  in  England,  at  that  time  would  have  been  a  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling  (about  $500).  He  could  probably 
have  been  obtained  at  half  that  figure,  or  less.  A  good  or- 
dinary dog  would  have  cost  about  $50,  and  this  dog  could 
have  won  with  the  leading  champions  of  the  day  out  of  his 
way.  Now,  matters  have  changed,  and  $1,000  has  been  paid 
for  dogs  now  in  America. 

The  Airedale  is  essentially  a  general  purpose,  aird  can 
be  taught  to  do  anything  a  dog  can  learn.  As  a  hunter  he 
has  no  superior,  and  his  wonderful  popularity  in  the  West 
is  due  to  his  aid  to  the  huntsman  of  big  game,  being  possessed 
of  a  marvelous  nose,  a  powerful  physique,  and  the  agility  of 
a  cat,  which,  coupled  with  the  grit  equal  to  a  pit  Bull  dog, 


204  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAN 

without  the  quarrelsome  disposition,  has  won  him  friends 
innumerable  in  every  clime.  The  Airedale  takes  to  water 
like  a  muskrat,  having  been  crossed  in  his  early  ancestry 
with  the  Otter  hound,  and  being  used  in  England  to  hunt 
the  streams  as  well  as  the  thickets.  As  a  duck  dog  he  is  con- 
sidered superior  to  the  Chesapeake  or  Spaniel.  His  coat 
dries  quickly,  being  wiry  and  not  shaggy.  As  a  watch  dog 
and  companion  for  children  he  is  unexcelled,  guards  the 
home  faithfully,  is  affectionate,  kind  and  very  intelligent, 
but  is  not  everybody's  dog  and  does  not  fall  in  love  with 
Tom,  Dick  and  Harry  just  because  they  pat  him  on  the  head. 

TheAiredales,  when  born,  are  black  and  grow  lighter 
as  they  grow  older. 

The  head  is  long  with  a  flat  skull,  not  too  broad  l)etween 
the  ears,  and  narrowing  slightly  to  the  eyes,  free  from  wrin- 
kle; stop  hardly  visible,  and  their  cheeks  are  free  from  full- 
ness. The  jaw  is  deep  and  powerful;  well  filled  up  under 
the  eyes,  lips  tight;  ear  ^^V"  shaped,  with  a  side  carriage, 
small  but  not  out  of  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  dog;  the 
nose  black,  the  eyes  small,  dark  in  color  and  full  of  terrier 
expression. 

The  teeth  are  strong  and  level. 

The  neck  should  be  of  moderate  length  and  thickness, 
gradually  widening  towards  the  shoulders  and  free  from 
throatiness. 

The  shoulders  should  be  long  and  sloping  well  into  the 
back,  shoulder  blades  flat. 

Chest  is  deep  but  not  broad;  back  short,  strong  and 
straight. 

The  hips  are  well  sprung. 

Hind-quarters  should  be  strong  and  muscular,  with  no 
droop ;  hocks  well  let  down. 

The  tail  is  docked  and  set  on  high  and  carried  gaily, 
but  not  curled  over  back. 

The  legs  must  be  perfectly  straight,  with  plenty  of  bone. 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  205 

The  feet  should  be  small  and  round,  with  a  good  depth 
of  pad. 

The  coat  should  be*  hard  and  wiry,  and  not  so  long  as  to 
appear  i*agged,  lying  straight  and  close,  covering  the  dog 
well  all  over  the  body  and  legs. 

The  color  of  the  Airedale  is  as  follows :  The  head  and 
ears,  with  the  exception  of  dark  shadings  on  each  side  of  the 
skull,  should  be  tan,  the  ears  being  of  a  darker  shade  than 
the  rest,  the  legs  up  to  the  thighs  and  elbows  being  also  tan, 
the  body  black  or  dark  grizzle. 

Size  of  the  Airedale  should  be — dogs,  40  to  45  lbs., 
bitches,  slightly  less. 

(Note:  The  following  news  items  were  taken  from 
Ledger  &  Blade,  of  Chicago.) 

Dogs  of  St.  Bernard: 

All  but  a  pitiful  half-dozen  of  the  famous  St.  Bernard 
dogs  kept  by  the  monks  of  that  ancient  monastery  in  the 
Alps  w^ere  killed  during  the  world  war^  according  to  a  re- 
port from  Paris.  Meat  shortage  was  the  stated  cause  of 
this  blind  act. 

The  St.  Bernard  pass  is  of  historical  interest,  as  it  con- 
nects the  valleys  of  the  Rhone  and  the  Dora  Baltes.  It  was 
traversed  by  Roman  legions  many  centuries  ago,  and  in  me- 
diaeval times  this  pass  served  the  armies  of  conquerors  and 
the  bands  of  mercenaries.  Napoleon  crossed  the  Alps  at 
this  point  in  1800. 

The  great  monastery  was  bviilt  in  the  middle  of  the  16th 
century.  It  was  maintained  for  the  relief  of  travelers  who 
were  surj^rised  and  overtaken  by  snow-storms  while  cross- 
ing the  Alps.  The  St.  Bernard  dogs  were  used  to  find  the 
frozen  victims  of  the  storms  in  the  snowdrifts.  They  were 
especially  trained  for  this  work  of  relief  and  carried  first 
aid  to  the  injured  in  a  little  basket  attached  to  their  collars. 
These  dogs  rescued  thousands  of  human  beings,  many  of 


206  THE   ANGLEE   AND    HUNTSMAN 

whom  were  of  historic  prominence.  And  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  this  famous  monastery  the  dogs  had  to  be 
slaughtered  for  apparent  lack  of  food. 

At  less  critical  times  a  report  of  this  sort  would  create 
widespread  indignation,  but  at  the  present  time  the  human 
race  is  thinking  so  much  of  its  own  dilemma  that  it  has  no 
symapthy  to  spare  for  dog  heroes  living  more  than  8,100  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  sea. 

Trees  From  Which  Many  Medicines  Are  Made: 

Any  physician  will  tell  you  that  the  most  useful  and 
most  used  stimulant  to  the  heart  and  for  the  nervous  system 
is  ^^  Strychnia. "  This  is  an  alkaloid  found  originally  in  the 
seed  of  the  strychnos  nux- vomica,  the  poison-nut  tree,  found 
in  India,  Burma,  and  Siam,  and  growing  also  in  Cochin 
China  and  Australia.  It  is  of  moderate  size  and  has  a  fruit 
the  size  of  a  small  orange,  with  a  hard  shell  and  a  bitter  pulp 
enclosing  one  to  five  seeds,  less  than  one  inch  in  diameter 
and  one-fourth  inch  thick  and  shaped  like  disks.  It  is  the 
bitterest  substance  known,  and  when  one  has  heart  failure, 
or  nervous  exhaustion,  or  is  run  down  or  needs  a  tonic,  some 
doctor  is  sure  to  give  him  the  alkaloid  from  one  of  these 
X>eculiar  Indian  trees. 

Textbooks  on  medicine  frequently  refer  to  '*  emergency 
heart  stimulants,"  meaning  by  this  drugs  used  by  hypoder- 
mic injection  to  produce  prompt  stimulation  of  a  weakened 
heart.  Some  of  the  most  valuable  heart  stimulants  require 
a  good  deal  of  time  after  being  taken  to  produce  their  ef- 
fects, hence  the  need  of  emergency  heart  stimulants. 
Strychnine,  we  know,  is  a  splendid  emergency  heart  stim- 
ulant. 

A  tree  which  has  various  species  throughout  the  world 
and  is  of  some  medical  interest,  is  the  acacia.  The  acacia 
Senegal  is  the  type  of  tree  which  furnishes  gum  acacia,  or 
gum  arable.  While  acacia  is  not  possessed  of  any  marked 
curative  properties  of  itself,  it  is  a  constituent  of  many  im- 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HINTSMAN  207 

portant  preparations  in  pharmacy,  as,  for  instance,  in  the 
making  of  emulsions,  where  its  heavy  mucilaginous  quali- 
ties make  it  a  valuable  vehicle  for  oily  and  resinous  sub- 
stances. It  is  also  widely  used  in  the  preparation  of  pills 
and  troches. 

Gum  catechu,  a  substance  containing  tannic  acid  and 
used  in  dyeing,  which  was  at  one  time  extensively  used  as  a 
remedy  in  colitis  and  dysentery,  comes  from  the  acacia 
catechu  and  acacia  sumnis,  both  native  to  India. 

The  Holy  Land — A  Paradise  For  Birds: 

Swarms  of  European  birds  visit  Palestine  in  winter, 
and  many  breed  there.  The  cranes,  for  instance,  pass 
through  in  winter  and  in  spring  the  voice  of  the  turtle-dove 
is  commonly  heard. 

The  Holy  Land  is  appropriately  a  stronghold  of  the 
pigeon  family;  turtle-doves  are  found,  the  wood-pigeon 
comes  in  myriads  in  winter,  and  the  common  pigeon,  the  true 
Scriptural  dove,  is  still  abundant,  both  wild  and  tame, 
throughout  the  country.  Contrasted  to  these  is  found  the 
crow  tribe  of  several  species,  and  birds  of  prey  from  the 
great  griffon  vultui'e,  the  ^^ eagle"  of  Scripture,  to  the  spar- 
row-hawk. 

In  the  deep  tropical  Jordan  valley  we  find  a  sort  of 
aviary  of  real  tropical  birds,  which  found  there  a  refuge 
from  the  last  glacial  epoch — the  lovely  little  sunbird,  or 
^^ Jericho  humming-bird,"  the  land-feeding  white-breasted 
kingfisher,  and  a  species  of  gregarious  thrush. 

On  the  coast  is  found  the  great  Indian  fishing  owl,  and 
among  the  rocks  of  Marsaba  the  monks  have  half-tamed  the 
orange-winged  blackbird,  which  is  really  a  starling  of  Afri- 
can type,  as  much  out  of  his  latitude  as  the  hyrax.  One  of 
the  birds  peculiar  to  Palestine  is  the  pretty  little  pigmy  ]Mo- 
abite  sparrow,  which  lives  in  the  reed-beds  and  is  one  of  the 
rarest  birds  in  the  world. 


208  THE  ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN 

Eeptiles  are  abundant,  and  even  the  Nile  crocodile,  the 
leviathan  of  the  Bible,  lingered  long  enough  to  give  Tris- 
tram the  chance  of  obtaining  a  specimen  nearly  12  feet  long, 
while,  in  addition  to  the  African  cobra,  we  find  the  grass- 
snake  among  the  harmless  species,  and  the  wicked  little 
horned  viper  lies  in  wait,  as  in  olden  times,  to  bite  the  heels 
of  the  horses. 

As  for  the  fish,  they  are  as  abundant  and  varied  as  evei\ 
and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  Sea  of  Gralilee  is  still 
full  of  them,  and  that  the  commonest  kinds  are  of  an  African 
family,  an  interesting  illustration  of  the  scientific  interest 
which  unites  with  the  religious  to  make  Palestine  among 
the  most  interesting  of  all  countries. 

Six-Foot  Lizards  That  Furnish  Delicious  Steaks: 

Most  persons  are  averse  to  the  idea  of  eating  the  flesh 
of  a  reptile,  yet  when  we  eat  turtle  soup  or  terrapin  we  are 
doing  just  that.  Prof.  A.  M.  Reese,  of  the  University  of 
West  Virginia,  in  a  magazine  statement,  admits  that  no 
American  would  knowingly  eat  a  snake,  but  he  thinks  that 
lizards  are  among  our  possibilities,  and  he  especially  recom- 
mends some  of  the  larger  ones.  Alligators,  too,  he  says 
make  fine  eating,  and  but  for  silly  prejudices  would  make  a 
voluminous  contribution  to  the  supply  of  flesh  food.  He 
goes  on  to  say,  writing  in  the  Scientific  Monthly : 

^'Lizards  are  important  to  mankind  chiefly  as  insect 
destroyers,  but  a  f ew^  of  them  are  used  as  food  in  tropical  and 
semi-tropical  lands.  Of  these  the  giant  iguanas,  reaching  a 
length  of  six  feet  or  more,  are  the  most  important.  The 
flesh  of  these  lizards  is  said  to  be  of  a  delicious  flavor,  resem- 
bling chicken.  In  the  Bahamas  the  lizards  were  formerly 
one  of  the  most  important  articles  of  food ;  they  were  hunted 
with  dogs,  and  kept  in  captivity  until  wanted. 

*^The  eggs  of  the  larger  lizards  are  also  used  as  food  in 
some  countries. 


THE   AXGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  209 

'^Though  snakes  are  esteemed  as  food  in  many  lands, 
it  is  not  likely  they  will  ever  be  an  important  article  of  diet 
in  this  coimtry,  both  because  of  the  almost  universal  repug- 
nance with  which  they  are  regarded  and  because  of  the  com- 
parative scarcity  of  large  serpents  within  our  borders.  Our 
larger  black  snakes,  though  reaching  a  considerable  length, 
are  so  slender  that  the  amount  of  flesh  in  their  bodies  is  not 
great,  and  there  is  probably  not  one  person  in  ten  thousand 
who  would  knowingly  eat  a  snake. 

With  the  croeodilia  the  matter  of  size  cannot  be  raised 
as  an  objection,  since  the  largest  members  of  this  family 
may  reach  a  length  of  30  feet  and  a  weight  of  many  hun- 
dreds of  pounds.  Of  course,  neither  an  alligator  nor  a  croc- 
odile is  a  very  attractive  looking  animal,  but  when  skinned 
and  dismembered  the  body  looks  no  more  repulsive  than  any 
other  carcass  that  may  be  seen  in  any  butcher's  shop,  and 
the  flesh  is  as  white  and  attractive  looking  as  the  best  beef 
or  pork. 

' '  The  eggs  of  the  croeodilia,  which  are  usually  about  as 
large  as  those  of  a  goose,  are  often  eaten  by  the  natives  in 
the  tropics.  Never  having  eaten  an  alligator  eg^,  I  cannot 
speak  from  jjersonal  experience  of  its  flavor ;  but  it  has  al- 
ways seemed  strange  to  me  that  more  use  is  not  made  of  the 
flesh  of  the  alligator.  This  flesh  is  often  said  to  have  too 
strong  a  flavor  to  be  palatable ;  I  have  eaten  it,  and  it  had  no 
such  rank  taste,  but  was  decidedly  agreeable,  being  as  might 
be  expected  of  so  amphibious  an  animal,  somewhat  like  both 
fish  and  flesh,  3^et  not  exactly  either. 

^*  Perhaps  greater  care  should  be  taken  in  skinning  an 
animal  that  is  to  be  used  for  food  in  order  that  the  flesh  be 
not  tainted  with  the  musk.  It  may  be  a  lack  of  care  in  prep- 
aration that  has  given  rise  to  the  impression  that  alligator 
meat  is  too  strong  to  be  pleasant. 

^^Tn  many  parts  of  tropical  America  the  various  species 
of  crocodiles  and  caymans  are  said  to  be  very  abundant,  so 
that  if  a  means  could  be  devised  to  preserve  the  flesh  near 


210  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

the  place  where  the  animals  are  killed  a  large  supply  of 
meat  might  be  obtained. " 

Wild  Burro  Steak,  a  la  Shashlik: 

The  little  wild  burro  has  become  a  pest  in  certain  parts 
of  Arizona.  These  long-eared  brethren  are  not  exactly 
wild,  for  the  very  good  reason  that  they  do  not  possess 
enough  energy  and  spirit  to  be  inclined  that  way.  The 
mountain  valleys  of  not  only  Arizona,  but  of  New  Mexico 
and  northern  Mexico  are  overflowing  with  droves  of  bur- 
ros. They  infest  the  mining  camps  and  ranches  and  are 
pronounced  by  those  who  should  know  as  a  nuisance.  Hun- 
dreds of  them  are  annually  killed  for  their  hides  and  grease, 
and  for  the  sport  they  afford  in  running  them  or  stalking 
them. 

A  famous  Russian  traveler.  Dr.  C.  C.  Young,  who  has 
lived  in  the  southwest  for  some  few  years,  suggests  that  their 
meat  be  used  for  food.  Dr.  Young  states  he  has  eaten  the 
flesh  of  camels  and  various  breeds  of  sheep  and  that  these 
do  not  compare  favorably  with  burro  meat. 

^^So  far  as  the  meat  of  the  young  burro  is  concerned  T 
can  only  state  that  I  have  eaten  it  for  months  and  like  it, ' '  he 
said. 

^^A  fat  burro  about  1  year  old  furnishes  a  steak  that 
mil  satisfy  the  taste  of  the  most  fastidious,  especially  if  pre- 
pared in  ^shashlik'  fashion,  which  means  that  after  the 
steak  has  been  cut  into  short  pieces  and  properly  seasoned 
it  is  put  on  a  spear  and  placed  into  the  low  flame  of  burnins: 
saksaul  until  done. 

^^  Burro  shashlik  is  not  as  delicious  as  shashlik  made  of 
Karakul  mutton,  but  it  is  good  enough  for  anybody,  and  for 
that  reason  I  cannot  understand  why  there  exists  so  much 
aversion  to  burro  meat  in  this  southwestern  country,  es- 
pecially when  one  bears  in  mind  that  there  is  no  cleaner  do- 
mestic animal  in  existence  than  the  burro. 


THE   ANGLER    AND    HUNTSMAN  211 

^^  Smoked  burro  meat,  called  ^bastrama,'  is  very  nice 
and  is  eaten  raw  like  Westplialian  ham,  and  is  especially 
adapted  on  long  journeys  and  in  hard  countries. 

^^ Dried  burro  meat,  resembling  the  well  known  Mexican 
carne  seca,  is  not  bad,  providing  the  burro  is  killed  while 
yoimg,  otherwise  the  meat  is  very  tough,  but  free  from  the 
odor  of  an  old  goat." 

Jungle  Can  Furnish  Food: 

During  the  war  period  when  food  conservation  was  be- 
ing discussed  pro  and  con  as  to  ways  and  means,  Randolph 
L.  Summerfield,  of  Singapore,  who  has  lived  for  forty 
years  in  the  Malay  States,  arrived  at  Seattle  on  a  govern- 
ment mission,  and  made  the  statement  thaf  the  world's  live 
stock  market  has  been  decimated,  but  if  worst  comes  to  worst 
and  there's  a  real  meat  famine,  the  jungles  of  the  Malay 
States  can  supply  vast  quantities  of  meats  and  fats.  Our 
forests  are  full  of  monkeys  of  all  kinds.  Our  streams  teem 
with  crocodiles.  The  huge  anaconda  snake  is  numerous  and 
prolific.  Monkey  meat,  cooked  French  or  Spanish  style, 
billed  on  the  menu  as  veal,  would  make  an  epicure  yearn  for 
more.  There's  no  disagreeable  sentiment  about  killing  a 
crocodile  or  the  boa  constrictor.  Portions  of  the  ^croco's' 
tail  are  extraordinarily  good,  and  the  boa  constrictor  is  a 
culinary  favorite  in  India.  Fried  in  butter,  or  certain  oils, 
the  boa  constrictor  is  considered  a  delicacy." 

Risk  Lives  to  Catch  Fish: 

Lads  of  the  tender  age  of  nine  to  twelve  years  at  the  old 
Indian  settlement  of  La  Push,  nestling  behind  the  pinnacle 
rocks  that  rise  out  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  off  the  mouth  of 
the  Quilla37^ute  river  in  Washington,  nobly  did  their  share 
toward  winning  the  war  involving  nearly  all  the  w^orld. 
These  lads,  scantily  clad,  are  wont  to  dash  across  the  beach 
to  meet  the  incoming  tide,  wade  into  the  water  and  wait  for 


212  .  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

the  waves  to  break  with  fish.  As  the  combers  break  the 
lads  dash  into  the  boiling  surf  and  rake  the  ocean  for  fish. 
Frequently  the  waves  dash  over  the  boys'  heads,  but  they 
never  lose  their  footing  and  the  danger  of  the  work  does  not 
excite  more  than  passing  attention  from  the  old  women 
weaving  baskets. 

During  the  day  the  Indians  at  La  Push  village  average 
fully  a  ton  of  fish  caught  with  dip  nets.  The  older  men 
help  with  the  curing  when  their  day's  work  is  done,  but  it 
is  the  boys'  task  to  capture  the  fish. 

With  each  tide  thousands  of  smelt  are  driven  ashore. 
Each  lift  of  the  dip. nets  from  the  surf  generally  brings  a 
basketful  of  fish. 

There  are  now  250  men,  women  and  children  in  the  lit- 
tle settlement,  and  each  did  his  or  her  share  with  fishing, 
war  gardens  and  other  activities  to  help  win  the  war. 

HISTORY  OF  HUNTING  LICENSES: 

How  many  sportsmen,  I  wonder,  are  familiar  with  the 
early  history  and  development  of  the  hunting  license,  its 
objects  and  limitations?  There  are  some  sportsmen,  no 
doubt,  who  even  think  the  hunting  license  that  has  to  be  pur- 
chased before  they  are  allowed  to  hunt  is  unnecessary  and 
unjust ;  others,  perhaps,  think  licensing  game-hunting  is  O. 
K.,  but  they  are  of  the  opinion  the  hunting  license  is  a  mod- 
ern device,  and  so  to  set  all  these  gentlemen  right  in  their  va- 
rious opinions  and  beliefs,  let  us  briefly  consider  the  facts 
as  gleaned  from  trustworthy  sources. 

First,  it  is  a  fact  that  although  most  of  the  present  laws 
have  been  enacted  during  the  last  ten  or  twenty  years,  even 
a  hurried  review  of  the  subject  will  suffice  to  show  that  the 
system  originated  at  a  very  early  date  in  the  United  States, 
and  w^as  really  an  outgrowth  of  a  discriminating  attitude  to- 
ward nonresidents.  Hunting  licenses  were  required  in 
some  of  the  colonies,  particularly  Virginia,  more  than  two 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  213 

hundred  vears  ago,  though  their  object  was  a  little  different 
from  those  of  our  time.  I  quote  below  one  of  the  early 
statutes  entitled  ^*An  Act  for  a  Free  Trade  with  Indians," 
passed  in  Virginia  in  1691,  its  object  detailed  as  follows: 

*^And  for  the  future  prevention  of  such  mischiefs  as 
have  frequently  happened  at  huntings,  commonly  called 
fire  huntings  and  other  huntings  remote  from  the  planta- 
tions. Bee  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  and  it  is 
hereby  enacted,  That  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  shall 
hereafter  presume  to  goe  an  hunting  remote  from  the  Eng- 
lish plantations  without  first  having  obtained  the  lycense 
and  permission  of  their  Majesties  leiutenant  governour  or 
commander  in  chief  for  the  time  being  and  the  councell  of 
state  under  such  restrictions,  limitations  and  conditions  as 
at  the  time  of  giveing  such  permission  shall  be  by  them 
thought  fit  to  be  enjoyned  and  appointed." 

In  1719  nonresidents  in  New  Jersey  were  prohibited 
from  taking  oysters  or  putting  them  on  board  a  vessel  not 
wholly  owned  by  a  resident. 

North  Carolina  enacted  a  game  law  in  1745  providing 
that  all  persons  not  possessed  of  a  settled  habitation  in  that 
province  were  required  to  certify  that  they  had  planted  and 
tended  5,000  hills  of  corn  and  have  said  certificate  in  their 
possession  before  they  were  allowed  to  hunt  deer. 

Section  4  of  this  Act  reads  as  follows : 

'^That  every  person  who  shall  hunt  and  kill  deer  in  the 
King's  waste  within  this  Province,  and  who  is  not  possessed 
of  a  settled  habitation  in  the  same  shall  be  obliged  to  pro- 
duce a  certificate  when  required  of  his  having  planted  and 
tended  five  thousand  corn-hills,  at  five  feet  distance  each 
hill,  the  preceding  year,  or  season,  in  the  county  where  he 
shall  hunt,  under  the  hand  of  at  least  two  Justices  of  the 
Peace  of  the  said  count}"  and  the  hand  of  at  least  one  of 
the  churchwardens  of  the  Parish  where  such  person  planted 
and  tended  such  corn,  as  aforesaid." 


214  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

This  and  similar  laws  from  which  has  sprung  the  mod- 
ern hunting  license,  plainly  reveals  the  discrimination  in 
those  early  days  against  the  nonresident,  which  still  con- 
tinues as  important  sections  of  our  later  laws.  The  law 
quoted  above  w^as  amended  23  years  later  so  as  to  deny  per- 
sons the  privilege  of  hunting  deer  who  did  not  possess  a  free- 
hold of  100  acres  of  land  in  the  province,  or  who  had  not 
tended  10,000  corn-hills  during  the  previous  year.  If  these 
laws  had  progressed  in  the  same  direction  on  down  to  this 
day,  only  the  very  wealthy  would  now  be  able  to  enjoy  the 
pursuit  of  game  in  localities  wherein  they  were  nonresident. 

Virginia,  it  is  recorded,  in  the  year  1840  prohibited 
nonresidents  from  hunting  wild  fowl  on  beaches  and 
marshes  below  the  head  of  tide  water,  retaining  this  re- 
striction until  as  late  as  1903.  New  Jersey,  in  1846,  made 
nonresidents  punishable  by  a  fine  of  $15  and  forfeiture  of 
their  guns  to  the  informer  for  trespassing  with  a  gun,  while 
residents  guilty  of  the  same  offense  were  liable  merely  to 
a  fine  of  $5  and  costs,  or  less  than  a  third  of  the  penalty  im- 
posed on  nonresidents.  In  1854,  North  Carolina  passed 
the  bill  preventing  nonresidents  from  hunting  wild  fowl  in 
Currituck  county,  the  preamble  of  which  reads  as  f oUow^s : 

^^  Whereas,  large  numbers  of  wild  fowl  collect  during 
the  fall  and  winter,  in  the  waters  of  Currituck  county, 
which  are  a  source  of  great  profit  to  the  inhabitants  thereof; 
and  whereas,  persons  from  other  States,  not  residents  of 
this  State,  shoot  and  kill,  decoy  and  frighten  the  same,  to  the 
great  annoyance  and  detriment  of  the  citizens  of  our  own 
State:     Now  Be  it  enacted,  etc." 

Under  this  law  all  persons  who  did  not  reside  in  the 
State  for  at  least  one  year  w^ere  prohibited  from  hunting  or 
killing  wild  fowl  in  the  waters  of  the  county  above  men- 
tioned. Quite  recently  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia 
nonresidents  hunting  wild  fowl  in  certain  counties  were 
prohibited  from  shooting  from  sink  boxes  or  boats,  in  order 
that  this  privilege  might  be  reserved-  for  residents  alone. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  215 

In  1858  Georgia  passed  an  act  preventing  nonresidents 
from  hunting  or  fishing  within  the  limits  of  that  State,  in 
order,  as  stated,  to  prevent  strangers  and  others  from  hold- 
ing conversation  with  slaves. 

Delaware  in  1863,  following  the  example  of  Virginia, 
made  it  a  misdemeanor  for  the  nonresident  to  kill  wild 
ducks,  geese,  or  other  water-fowl  on  any  of  the  marshes  or 
waters  of  that  State,  the  penalty  for  so  doing  being  fixed 
at  $50  to  $100.  In  1866,  Florida  got  busy  and  prohibited 
nonresidents  from  camping  or  fire  hunting,  with  or  with- 
out dogs  or  guns,  in  the  counties  of  Taylor  and  LaFayette. 
In  1880  we  are  told  that  Maryland  prohibited  nonresidents 
of  the  five  counties  bordering  the  Patuzent  from  shooting 
snipe,  rail,  and  wild  fowl  on  the  waters  andmarshes  of  the 
river,  and  also  tabooed  the  use  of  sink  boxes  in  Queen  Anne 
county  by  others  than  residents  of  the  county.  Later  laws 
in  the  different  States  went  further,  but  space  does  not  per- 
mit the  enumeration  here  of  any  more  instances  of  discrimi- 
nation against  the  unhappy  nonresident. '  Sportsmen  of  to- 
day, even,  get  a  taste  of  it  when  they  go  to  some  distant  game 
field,  and  so  they  will  know  how  to  sympathize  to  some  ex- 
tent with  their  less  fortunate  Colonial  fathers. 

Mr.  T.  S.  Palmer,  who  has  studied  this  subject  exhaus- 
tively for  the  U.  S.  Government,  and  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  this  data  on  the  history  of  hunting  licenses,  tells  us  that 
the  local  license  had  its  rise  in  the  Eastern  States,  the  first 
law  containing  a  nonresident-license  provision  being  ap- 
parently that  passed  in  1873  in  New  Jersey,  under  the  title, 
'^An  act  to  incorporate  the  West  Jersey  Game  Protective 
Association."  Section  7  of  this  act  of  incorporation  last- 
ing for  fifteen  years  reads  as  follows : 

''That  if  any  person  or  persons  nonresidents  of  this 
State,  shall  kill,  destroy,  hunt,  or  take  any  doe^  buck,  fawn, 
partridge,  moor  fowl,  grouse,  quail,  or  woodcock,  at  any 
time  within  the  counties  of  Camden,  Gloucester,  Atlantic, 
Salem,  Cumberland  and  Cape  May  in  this  state  without  com- 


216  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

plying  with  the  bylaws  of  this  Game  Protective  Society  then 
the  person  or  persons  so  offending  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the 
sum  of  $50  each,  for  each  and  every  offense.,  .provided 
nothing  in  this  Act  shall  prevent  residents  of  this  state  from 
taking  game  or  fish,  subject  to  the  existing  laws  of  this 
state.'' 

The  membership  fee  being  $5  for  the  first  year  and  $2 
for  every  year  thereafter,  and  nonresidents  being  required 
to  procure  membership  certificates  before  hunting  in  the 
six  counties  above  named.  These  certificates  became  in 
effect  nonresident  hunting  licenses.  In  1878  a  broader  and 
general  act  was  passed,  applying  to  other  associations  of 
that  State.  Other  States  later  adopted  the  same  plan,  and 
thus  the  hunting  license  that  we  have  today,  though 
changed  from  time  to  time,  came  into  being. 

The  second  phase  of  licensing  the  hunter  is  called  the 
enactment  of  market-hunting  licenses,  the  effect  in  some 
of  the  southern  States  being  to  restrict  market  hunting  and 
to  prevent  export  of  game  from  the  State  for  commercial 
purposes,  which  brought  about  this  legislation.  This  is  the 
blow  that  was  needed  to  control  the  unlawful  activities  of 
the  market-hunter,  what  is  now  called  in  outdoor  parlance, 
'^the  pot-hunter".  Much  good  legislation  has  been  enacted 
with  a  view  to  counteracting  his  evil  practices,  but  he  is  still 
very  much  at  liberty  in  not  a  few  localities,  no  doubt. 

The  resident  hunting  license  had  its  origination  in 
the  system  of  special  licenses  as  developed  in  some  of  the 
counties  of  Maryland  in  the  early  seventies  and  eighties. 
Shooting  wild  fowl  from  sink  boxes,  sneak  boats,  or  in  some 
cases  from  blinds  was  prohibited  except  under  license,  and 
these  licenses,  the  record  says,  were  issued  only  to  residents. 
Hence  they  constitute  the  beginning  of  the  resident  hunt- 
ing license.  The  first  of  these  laws  was  passed  in  1872  for 
the  protection  of  wild  fowl  on  the  Susquelianna  Flats,  at  the 
head  of  Chesapeake  Bay.     Section  7  of  the  act  provides : 

'^No  owner,  master,  hirer,  borrower,  employee  of  any 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUXTSMAN  217 

owner,  or  other  person,  shall  use  or  employ  any  sink  box, 
or  sneak  boat  of  any  description  whatever,  for  the  purpose 
of  shooting  at  Avild  water-fowl  therefrom,  northward  of  the 
line  named  and  described  in  section  380 .  . .  without  first  ob- 
taining a  license  to  so  use  and  employ  the  same  as  is  herein- 
after provided." 

The  license  fee  for  a  sink  box  was  $20,  and  for  a  sneak 
boat  $5.  Section  11  of  the  same  act  requires  that  they  make 
oath  that  they  are  bona  fide  residents  of  the  State,  and  a  fine 
of  $50  to  $100  was  provided  for  violating  any  of  the  license 
provisions,  one-half  of  which  was  to  be  paid  to  the  informer 
and  one-half  to  the  school  commissioners  of  the  county. 

In  1876,  the  use  of  sink  boxes  in  the  waters  of  Anne 
Arundel  county  with  certain  exceptions,  or  on  Chesapeake 
Bay  within  the  limits  of  the  county,  was  restricted  to  li- 
censed residents  of  the  county,  these  costing  $30  each.  In 
1882  licenses  at  $2  each  (and  a  clerk's  fee  of  50  cents)  were 
required  for  the  use  of  ^^ booby  or  bush"  blinds  on  the  Mago- 
thy,  Severn,  and  South  rivers.  It  is  noticed,  however,  that 
the  issue  of  licenses  for  blinds  w^as  not  restricted  to  residents, 
and  that  the  owner  could  extend  to  any  person  the  privilege 
of  shooting  from  his  blind  during  the  open  season. 

In  1878  residents  of  Cecil  county  were  required  to  get 
licenses,  costing  $10,  to  use  sink  boxes  on  the  waters  of  the 
Elk  and  Bohemia  rivers;  and  in  1880  similar  $10  licenses 
had  to  be  obtained  in  Queen  Anne  county,  and  in  Cecil  and 
Kent  counties  for  the  use  of  sink  boxes  on  the  Sassafras 
river. 

In  Canada,  a  special  $5  license  came  into  use  in  the 
Province  of  Quebec  in  1887.  This  license  was  different 
from  ordinary  licenses  in  being  issued  only  for  killing  five 
deer  and  five  caribou  in  excess  of  the  limit  prescribed  by 
law.  The  system  of  general  resident  licenses  apparently 
originated  in  Michigan  in  1895  as  a  measure  to  restrict  the 
slaughter  of  deer,  but  was  being  advocated  in  Illinois  at 
about  the  same  time. 


218  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

THE  LAW-BREAKER: 

All  sportsmen  realize  the  great  benefits  that  accrue  to 
them  in  those  states  where  game  and  fish  laws  have  been 
properly  enforced,  because  all  true  sportsmen  believe  in  the 
principle  of  conservation  of  the  natural  resources  of  the 
country. 

The  various  states  having  game  and  fish  commissions 
appreciate  the  kindly  interest  shown  by  the  advocates  of 
conservation,  I  am  sure,  and  it  is  (or  should  be)  the  aim  of 
the  State  Commission  to  render  direct  and  personal  service 
to  every  hunter,  every  farmer,  every  angler,  every  lover  of 
wild  life,  and  to  inform  the  public  of  the  work  they  intend 
to  do  for  the  common  good. 

Sometimes  the  charge  is  made  that  the  Game  and  Fish 
Laws  were  designed  for  a  few  city  sportsmen.  It  is  ad- 
mitted that  about  90  per  centum  of  the  hunters'  licenses  are 
issued  to  persons  living  within  corporate  limits  of  cities  and 
towns  (in  States  where  a  landowner  is  permitted  to  hunt  on 
his  own  land  in  season  without  license) ,  and  improved  con- 
ditions will  add  much  to  his  pleasure,  but  the  real  benefit  is 
to  the  landowner  in  the  protection  he  is  getting  because  of 
fewer  numbers  of  trespassers  and  gangs  of  irresponsible 
and  careless  persons  that  formerly  trailed  across  his  farm 
in  season  and  out.  Under  old  conditions  in  most  States,  to 
protect  his  property,  it  was  necessary  to  personally  swear 
out  a  warrant  and  prosecute  for  trespass;  now  he  has  the 
added  service  of  a  Game  Warden  in  all,  or  nearly  all  States 
who  when  the  offender  is  hunting  without  license  or  out  of 
season,  will  relieve  him  of  a  disagreeable  job,  and  prosecute 
offenders  in  the  name  of  the  State,  which  is  one  good  and 
sufficient  reason  for  the  maintenance  of  a  State  Fish  and 
Game  Commission  and  Game  Warden  in  every  State  in  the 
Union. 

The  sport  of  pursuing  game  and  fish  is  delightful, 
every  sportsman  knows,  but  if  this  pleasure  was  eliminated, 
the  economic  value  of  our  game  and  fish  alone,  makes  it 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  219 

worth  our  while  to  surround  them  with  every  law  and  safe- 
guard necessary  for  their  protection  and  conservation.  In 
order  to  protect  them,  effective  laws  not  only  must  be  en- 
acted, but  ENFORCED  with  fairness  to  all  and  injustice  to 
none.  If  this  is  not  done  promptly  our  remaining  fish  and 
game  stands  face  to  face  with  utter  extermination;  our  game 
birds  may  suffer  the  same  fate  of  the  Carrier  Pigeon  and 
the  historic  Auk. 

It  is  the  aim  of  the  several  States,  or  should  be,  to  en- 
deavor to  increase  the  supply  of  game  and  fish  for  the  bene- 
fit and  enjoyment  of  our  home  people  who  can  not  take  long 
and  expensive  journeys  to  distant  game  fields  where  they 
are  abundant.  If  all  the  people  who  hunt  will  take  out  their 
license,  this  would  give  each  State  sufficient  funds  to  look 
after  the  protection  and  conservation  of  the  game  and  fish 
in  a  businesslike  way. 

Every  sportsman  will  agree  that  the  man  who  hvmts 
without  his  license,  or  who  hunts  out  of  season,  is  a  cheater 
and  is  robbing  you — each  brother —  who  are  complying  with 
the  law ;  he  should  be  made  to  obey  the  mandates  of  the  law. 
Statistics  show^  that  when  the  law  is  known  85  per  centum  of 
the  people  obey  it ;  of  the  other  15  per  centum,  10  per  centum 
will  behave  themselves  when  once  corrected;  the  other  5  per 
centum  must  be  continually  watched  and  made  to  realize  that 
the  strong  hand  of  the  law  will  punish  them  whenever 
l)ossible. 

It  is  recognized  by  State  officials  that  before  any  law 
can  be  properly  enforced  it  is  necessary  to  have  public 
opinion  in  favor  of  such  enforcement,  and  they  ask  for  your 
assistance  in  placing  clearly  before  the  public  the  justice 
ynd  reason  for  enforcing  the  Game  and  Fish  Laws.  They 
need  your  co-operation  and  the  value  of  your  influence. 

These  facts  are  put  before  the  angling  and  hunting  fra- 
ternity in  the  hope  that  they  wiU  call  your  attention  to  the 
fact  that  co-operation  is  a  necessity,  and  will  work  to  your 
own  individual  advancement. 


220  THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

Help  your  State  to  prove  to  the  people  the  value  and 
economic  reason  for  strict  enforcement  of  the  law.  The 
great  majority  of  these  laws  are  just  and  reasonable,  and 
much  more  liberal  than  is  really  consistent  with  absolutely 
effective  conservation  of  our  swiftly  diminishing  wild  life. 
Help  them  to  get  the  facts  before  the  people ;  uphold  the  law 
in  your  own  community ;  be  a  good  example  to  your  fellow- 
man  in  abiding  by  the  law  yourself,  and  be  jealous  of  its  vio- 
lation by  others. 

It  is  easy  to  criticize,  and  hard  to  perform.  Give  the 
designated  authorities  your  kindly  assistance  in  return  for 
the  great  good  they  are  rendering  the  cause  you,  as  well  as 
they,  have  deeply  at  heart. 

One  farmer,  who  was  either  aiming  to  be  exceedingly 
generous  or  else  very  sarcastic,  posted  a  notice  on  his  farm 
which  reads  as  follows : 

^^ Hunters,  Take  Notice :  Hunt  all  you  durn  please  and 
when  you  hear  the  horn  blow,  come  to  the  house  for  dinner. 
If  you  accidentally  kill  a  cow,  skin  her  and  hang  the  hide  in 
the  barn.  If  the  quail  are  scarce,  kill  a  chicken  or  two,  and 
if  you  can't  get  any  squirrels  kill  a  hog." 

Game  Refuges  and  Live  Stock: 

Forest  Examiner  Ward  Sheppard,  of  Bernalillo 
County,  New  Mexico,  writing  in  the  Breeders'  Gazette,  has 
this  to  say  on  the  subject — a  subject  of  most  timely  interest 
to  the  sportsman : 

^'A  step  of  great  importance  to  the  conservation  of  the 
remnant  of  wild  game  in  the  western  United  States  was 
taken  at  the  late  meetings  of  the  two  national  live  stock  asso- 
ciations at  Salt  Lake  City.  Resolutions  were  passed  ex- 
jjressing  the  interest  of  the  stockmen  in  this  problem,  and 
urging  upon  the  Government  the  creation  of  Federal  game 
refuges  within  the  National  Forests.  A  great  body  of  prac- 
tical men  who,  through  intimate  contact  with  the  question 
know  the  present  status  and  future  value  of  our  game  ani- 


THE   AXGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  221 

mals,  have  committed  themselves  to  the  game  refuge  idea 
as  the  means  of  saving  from  extinction  the  beasts  and  birds 
that  have  formed  so  picturesque  an  element  of  western 
American  life. 

'^Admitting  the  principle  of  game  refuges — a  step  that 
gives  hope  to  every  game  conservationist — the  stockmen 
have  qualified  their  endorsement  with  a  restriction  which, 
if  put  into  effect,  would  place  enormous  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  reaping  the  fruits  of  this  rational  method  of  game 
conservation  and  propagation.  They  wish  to  have  these 
refuges  restricted  to  areas  where  the  grazing  of  live  stock 
will  not  be  interfered  with  in  any  way.  Presumably  this 
means  areas  unsuitable  for  the  grazing  of  cattle  or  sheep. 
Briefly,  the  Federal  game  refuge  plan  provides  for  the  set- 
ting aside,  through  Act  of  Congress  and  Presidential  procla- 
mation, of  certain  areas  of  National  Forest  land  whereon 
hunting  would  be  forbidden.  These  areas,  so  far  from  being 
co-extensive  with  the  ISTational  Forests,  would  be  compara- 
tively small,  but  in  sufficient  numbers  to  form  reservoirs  of 
game  animals  which  could  breed  in  safety  from  molestation, 
and  which  would  overflow  into  the  surrounding  country. 
The  principle  is  analogous  to  the  principle  in  forestry,  of 
saving  seed-trees  from  the  axe  to  assure  a  future  crop  of 
trees,  or  to  the  principle  in  stockraising  of  preserving  an 
unimpaired  breeding  stock. 

^^The  stock  associations  apparently  desire  to  have  these 
breeding  grounds  restricted  to  regions  which,  by  the  rough- 
ness of  their  topography  or  the  nature  of  their  vegetation  or 
from  other  causes,  are  unsuitable  to  the  grazing  of  range 
stock.  This  restriction  is  apparently  based  upon  the  mis- 
taken assumption  that  stock  grazing  will  be  excluded  from 
the  refuges,  as  in  Yellowstone  Park  grazing  is  not  allowed. 
This  assumption  is  erroneous.  There  is  no  intention,  in 
any  responsible  quarter,  of  making  such  an  exclusion.  The 
game  refuge  plan  will  permit  a  relatively  small  number  of 
game  animals — particularly  deer — to  live  unhamied  either 
on  waste  land  or  on  ranges  chiefly  devoted  to  stock  grazing. 


222  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

That  wild  game  will  flourish  where  domestic  stock  can  not 
earn  a  living  is  well  known  to  anyone  conversant  with  wild 
life.  Nevertheless,  the  restriction  suggested  would,  if 
adopted,  seriously  interfere  with  the  game  refuge  plan;  and 
there  are  other  remedies  which  would  fully  protect  the  in- 
terests of  stockmen. 

^^Tlie  areas  of  western  mountain  range  unsuitable  to 
the  grazing  of  domestic  stock  are  comparatively  small  and 
scattered.  The  term  ^unsuitable'  is  in  itself  a  relative  one. 
Suitabilitj^  is  largely  controlled  by  the  factors  of  accessi- 
}»ility,  water  and  type  of  vegetation;  and  the  first  two  fac- 
tors are  frequently  subject  to  human  control.  Areas  which 
are  imsuitable  for  stock,  owing  to  difficulty  of  access  and 
lack  of  water,  and  which  may  nevertheless  be  adaptable  to 
the  propagation  of  wild  game,  are  frequently  made  acces- 
sible by  trails  and  bridges  and  usable  through  the  develop- 
ment of  watering  places. 

^'It  is  safe  to  say  that  most  wild  animals  do  not  inhabit 
the  most  rugged  and  inaccessible  regions  through  choice, 
but  from  necessity.  They  are  driven  thither  by  their  ene- 
mies— above  all,  by  their  arch-enemy  man.  Elk  and  deer 
once  were  abundant  in  the  plains  and  foothill  region  east 
of  the  Rockies.  Rough  topography  is  unquestionably  a 
strong  factor  in  the  protection  of  game  animals  from  ex- 
tinction; but  the  very  things  which  render  it  unfavorable 
for  stockraising — lack  of  water,  lack  of  feed,  difficulty  of 
travel-;— likewise  render  it  unfavorable  for  the  propagation 
of  game,  though  less  so  than  in  case  of  domestic  animals.  It 
then  follows  that  if  the  question  at  issue  is  the  preservation 
of  a  breeding  stock  of  game,  and  the  propagation  of  a  supply 
for  hunting,  favorable  conditions  must  be  afforded  for 
these  purposes.  If  the  stockmen  are  really  concerned  about 
game  conservation  the}^  must  apply  to  game  breeding  the 
same  line  of  reasoning  they  apply  to  stock  breeding,  allow- 
ing of  course  for  the  difference  in  habits  between  the  two 
classes  of  animals.  They  must  recognize  the  necessity  ot 
providing  the  three  essentials  of  feed,  water  and  practicable 


THE   ANGLER  AND   HUNTSMAN  223 

country.  Recognizing  this  necessity,  they  will  then  realize 
that  they  have  several  forms  of  protection  against  any  undue 
competition  for  range  by  wild  game.  The  most  important 
of  these  safeguards  are  (1)  difference  in  habits  between 
Avild  and  domestic  animals,  (2)  limitation  in  size  of  refuges, 
(3)  control  of  refuges  through  flexible  administrative  regu- 
lations analogous  to  the  grazing  regulations  of  the  United 
States  Forest  Service,  (4)  control  of  amoimt  of  game 
through  the  hunting  of  the  surplus  stock. 

^^It  is  well  known  that  such  animals  as  deer  and  moun- 
tain sheep  can  do  well  where  domestic  stock  can  not.  Of  the 
western  game  animals  it  can  safely  be  asserted  that  the  wild 
sheep  and  the  Rocky  Mountain  goat  will  never  compete 
with  live  stock,  since,  by  preference,  they  inhabit  the  most 
inhospitable  fastnesses.  The  elk,  it  must  be  admitted,  does 
compete  with  live  stock ;  but  the  elk  will  never  come  back. 
In  the  case  of  the  deer,  we  are  concerned  with  a  browsing 
animal  which  will  never  offer  any  serious  competition  with 
domestic  herds.  No  one  can  point  out  an  authentic  in- 
stance of  deer  hampering  the  live  stock  industry,  and  there 
are  no  conditions  in  the  West  under  which  they  can  conceiv- 
abh^  do  so.  As  for  turkey  and  other  game  birds,  the  ques- 
tion of  competition  does  not  enter  at  all ;  they  are  an  invalu- 
able by-product  which  in  no  wise  interferes  with  stockrais- 
ing.  The  difference  in  habits  must  be  taken  full  advantage 
of,  and  game  refuges  should  where  possible  be  limited  to 
the  areas  that  are  least  suitable  for  stock  grazing. 

^^A  cardinal  factor  of  a  successful  game  refuge  policy, 
however,  lies  in  geographical  location.  The  refuges  must  be 
in  sufficient  numbers  and  so  situated  as  to  assure  a  supply 
of  game  in  every  region  where  it  is  desirable.  There  may  (»r 
may  not  be  waste  range  unsuitable  for  stockraising.  Where 
there  is  no  waste  range  this  fact  should  not  bar  the  creation 
of  a  needed  refuge,  for  the  refuge  will  not  exclude  stock 
grazing  or  interfere  with  it.  In  some  cases  the  refuges  will 
embrace  lands  both  suitable  and  imsuitable  for  domestic 
animals,  but  in  any  event,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 


224  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

elk,  the  competition  between  game  and  live  stock  will  be 
negligible;  and  so  far  as  the  elk  is  concerned  there  is  little 
probability  that  any  attempt  will  be  made  to  bring  him 
back  in  large  numbers  on  the  National  Forests.  Like  the 
buffalo,  he  was  doomed  to  go  as  a  free-ranging  game  animal, 
and  henceforth  he  will  necessarily  be  localized. 

*^  Another  important  safeguard  to  stockraising  interests 
lies  in  the  limited  size  of  the  proposed  refuges.  None  of  the 
proponents  of  refuges  expects  or  desires  the  creation  of 
game  preserves  coextensive  with  the  National  Forests. 
Even  if  any  did  so  desire,  they  would  be  faced  by  insur- 
mountable obstables.  The  locking  up  of  resources  is  alien 
to  the  spirit  of  the  Forest  Service ;  all  it  insists  upon  is  the 
prudent  use  and  protection  which  will  assure  a  permanent 
supply  of  these  resources.  The  locking  up  of  game  re- 
sources in  particular  is  foreign  to  the  democratic  ideal  of 
American  sportsmanship,  which  would  never  tolerate  any- 
thing that  remotely  approached  the  European  system  of 
special  privileges  in  the  chase.  What  is  desired  is  a  com- 
paratively large  number  of  small  refugees  which  would  have 
to  be  located  geographically  as  to  assure  an  overflow  of 
game  to  the  surrounding  regions  adapted  to  it,  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  satisfy  the  legitimate  demands  of  sportsmen. 
In  the  location  of  these  refuges  there  is  no  reason  why  the 
stockmen  should  not  have  an  important  influence. 

^^Game  refuges  within  the  National  Forests  would  be 
under  the  administrative  jurisdiction  of  the  Secretary  of 
Agriculture,  as  are  the  forests  themselves.  The  National 
Forests  were  and  are  created  under  a  general  enabling  stat- 
ute by  Congress,  which  authorizes  the  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture to  promulgate  rules  and  regulations  for  their  gov- 
ernance. These  regulations  haA^e  the  force  of  law.  Ad- 
ministrative regulations  of  this  kind  are  the  most  flexible 
system  of  laws  yet  devised.  Everyone  is  acquainted  with 
the  enormous  difficulty  of  changing  statutory  laws;  it  is 
much  easier  to  secure  changes  in  administrative  regulations. 
Here  then  is  a  safeguard  whose  value  can  not  be  overesti- 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  225 

mated.  The  stockmen,  being  fundamentally  interested  in 
game,  can,  through  their  local  and  national  advisory  boards, 
secure  the  protection  of  their  vital  interests  in  helping  to 
shape  the  whole  policy  of  game  refuges. 

''The  interest  of  stockgrowers  in  wild  game  is  not  a 
mere  sentimental  one.  There  is  a  privately-owned  fenced 
range  in  Aew  JMexico  containing  one  of  the  largest  herds  of 
antelope  remaining  in  the  Southwest.  They  are  carefully 
protected,  and  their  presence  on  that  range  adds  materially 
to  the  selling  price  of  the  outfit.  Sportsmen  and  stockmen 
have  at  least  one  vital  interest  in  common:  the  extermina- 
tion of  predatory  animals,  which  prey  indiscriminately  on 
wild  game  and  domestic  stock.  In  New  Mexico  the  State 
game  protective  association,  with  a  membership  of  1,200 
sportsmen,  is  actively  engaged  in  the  campaign  against  pre- 
datory animals.  Wherever  there  is  any  gam.e  sportsmen 
and  stockmen  will  unite  in  a  relentless  warfare  against  these 
enemies  of  valuable  animals.  The  exclusion  of  hunting 
from  certain  areas  of  range  will  in  itself  be  a  benefit  to 
stock  interests. 

''Game  conservationists  do  not  wish  or  expect  to  have 
the  National  Forests  overnm  with  great  herds  of  wild  game. 
They  do  wish  and  hope  to  assure  its  preservation  and  to  give 
ci  reasonable  amount  of  wholesome  sport  to  the  average 
American  citizen.  Any  surplus  of  game  animals  is  easily  re- 
movable. The  killing  of  game  can  be  regulated  on  a  volume 
basis,  as  the  amount  of  stock  on  a  given  range  is  now  regu- 
lated on  a  volume  basis.  There  will  always  be  a  hundred 
guns  to  every  deer;  if  a  surplus  of  game  on  game  refuges 
should  ever  menace  the  live  stock  industry  (a  menace  now 
inconceivable)  the  remedy  would  lie  in  permitting  the  siir- 
l)lus  to  be  killed. 

"Any  man  interested  in  the  preservation  of  the  magnif- 
icent game  animals  of  our  western  mountains  will  admit 
that  the  present  protective  system  is  a  failure.  The  game 
is  going.  Much  of  it  is  near  the  vanishing  point.  Long- 
closed  seasons  are  difficult  to  obtain,  and  are  far  less  de- 


226  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX 

sirable  from  the  stockman's  viewpoint  than  game  refuges, 
for  the  reason  that  they  are  inflexible.  The  game  refuge  is 
the  last  hope.  Unless  it  comes,  America  will  be  a  gameless 
continent.  What  rider  of  the  range  is  willing,  for  the  sake 
of  a  paltry  mouthful  of  browse,  to  forego  the  thrill  of  seeing 
the  supple  form  of  a  white-tail  buck  vanish  into  the  fringing 
timber  of  a  mountain  park?  What  man  *  blooded  to  the 
open  and  the  sky,'  wishes  to  see  the  far-flung,  ample  moun- 
tain ranges  of  the  W^est  stripped  of  every  vestige  of  animal 
life  that  can  not  be  converted  into  dollars  and  cents  ?  The 
sportsman  of  the  West  calls  upon  the  stockgrowers  of  the 
West  to  dismiss  imaginary  fears,  and  to  say  the  word  that 
will  give  impetus  to  the  one  remaining  chance  of  preserving 
from  annihilation  the  wild  life  of  western  America. ' ' 

The  foregoing  presents  the  case  fairly  and  accvirately. 
The  stockgrowers,  the  farmers,  of  this  great  coimtry  have  it 
in  their  own  hands  to  materially  aid  in  conserving  the  fast 
fading  game  supply.  I  considered  this  such  an  excellent 
exposition  of  the  basic  facts  in  the  case  that  I  desired  to  have 
ever}^  reader  of  this  book  study  it,  hence  its  incorporation 
herein.  It  is  high  time  the  farmers  and  the  sportsmen  got 
together  and  worked  together  for  the  common  good. 

Things  To  Remember: 

The  sportsman  in  the  field  or  mountains  without  match- 
es can  start  his  campf ire  by  the  aid  of  his  shotgun.  It  has 
been  successfulh^  experimented  upon  and  is  both  simple  and 
feasible.  First,  make  preparations  to  start  your  fire  from 
the  flame  by  building  up  your  wood  ready  to  light,  standing 
kindlings  up  on  end  against  the  larger  sticks  wigwam  fash- 
don,  leaving  an  opening  at  the  bottom  for  the  tinder,  shred- 
ded bark,  dry  pine  slivers  or  any  dry  splinter  pounded  be- 
tween two  rocks,  any  of  which  make  good  tinder.  After  re- 
moving the  shot  from  the  cartridge,  sprinkle  the  most  of  the 
powder  on  the  tinder,  leaving  only  a  few  grains  in  the  shell. 

NOTE: — "We    are    indebted    to    the    Sportsman's    RevieAV    for    "Things    to    Remember." 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  227 

Then  tear  a  bit  of  dry  cotton  cloth  with  fluffy  edges  (a  bit 
of  lining  from  your  clothes  if  nothing  else  is  available),  fill 
this  loosely  into  your  emptied  cartridge.  Put  the  shell 
into  your  gun  and  fire  straight  into  the  air.  The  cloth  will 
drop  close  to  you  and  either  be  aflame,  or  at  least  smoulder- 
ing, so  that  you  can  easily  blow  it  into  a  blaze.  Drop  this 
quickly  into  your  tinder  and  your  fire  is  made. 

Accidents  from  the  handling  of  firearms,  much  are  they 
to  be  regretted,  are  bound  to  occur  so  long  as  there  remain 
so  many  careless  handlers  of  the  gun.  If  you  have  a  bo,y, 
make  him  a  present  of  a  gun  early  in  life,  but  instruct  him 
carefully  how  to  handle  it,  and  he  will  have  no  trouble  all 
through  life.  It's  just  a  matter  of  getting  started  out  right. 
One  of  the  highest  accomplishments  of  a  man's  life  is  to 
know  how  to  shoot  well,  and  this  is  another  argument  to  be- 
gin early. 

The  California  Fish  and  Game  Commission  tells  what 
to  do  with  a  deer : 

To  transport  a  deer  on  a  saddle  horse  throw  a  rope 
across  the  saddle,  pulling  a  loop  of  it  forward  through  each 
cinch  ring. 

Place  the  buck  across  the  saddle  and  put  the  head 
through  one  loop  and  the  haunches  through  the  other. 

Draw  the  ends  of  the  rope  tight,  make  a  loop  in  one, 
reeve  the  other  through  it  and  make  fast. 

To  skin  a  deer  head  for  mounting,  cut  the  skin  around 
the  neck  well  down  on  the  shoulder  and  breast. 

Then  cut  along  the  upper  side  of  the  neck  to  the  top  of 
the  head.     Thence  make  diagonal  cuts,  one  to  each  horn. 

Cut  off  the  ears  close  to  the  skull,  turn  them  inside  out, 
and  cut  away  the  meat,  leaidng  the  cartilage.  Skin  care- 
fully around  the,  eyes.  Cut  the  lips  close  to  tli(^  skull,  leav- 
ing them  attached  to  the  skin.  Split  them  tfom  tiie  inside 
and  fill  the  cut  with  salt. 

Ruh  plenty  of  salt  into  the  flesh-side  of  all  parts  of  the 
skin  and  let  it  dry  slowly  in  the  shade  or  roll  it  up  hair  side 
in  iind  ship  at  once  to  a  taxidermist. 


228  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

To  butcher  a  deer,  hang  it  up  by  the  hind  legs,  slit  the 
skin  along  the  middle  breast  and  belly  and  to  the  end  of 
the  tail;  then  along  the  inside  of  each  leg. 

Cut  off  the  feet  at  the  joints  and  peel  off  the  skin.  Cut 
through  the  wall  of  the  abdomen  without  piercing  the  in- 
testines; loosen  the  diax)hragm  at  the  back  and  sides;  cut 
away  the  lower  intestine  close  to  the  bone  and  empty  out 
the  entire  contents  of  the  carcass.  Split  the  breastbone  with 
a  hatchet. 

The  best  cuts  of  venison  are  the  saddle  and  haunch. 

To  make  jerked  venison  or  '^jerky"  use  lean  meat  cut 
into  strips  about  one-half  inch  wide.  Lay  these  side  by  side 
on  a  frame  made  of  slats  or  poles  supported  about  four  feet 
from  the  ground  and  keep  a  small  smoky  fire  going  under- 
neath until  the  meat  is  thoroughly  dry. 

Fresh  meat  should  be  hung  up  and  protected  from 
flies  by  cheesecloth. 

America  for  the  first  time  in  history  now  leads  the 
world  in  all  breeds  of  dogs.  This  was  brought  about  by  the 
world  war,  during  which  most  of  the  famous  kennels  of  Eu- 
rope were  practically  wiped  out  and  the  cream,  of  breeds 
scattered  broadcast .  As  a  result  lovers  of  the  different 
breeds  are  expected  to  come  to  this  country  in  quest  of  the 
fine  blood  Avhich  is  concentrated  here.  The  Shepherds 
(formerly  the  German  Sheepdog),  Belgians,  Airedales,  Fox 
Terriers  and  Brussels  Griffons  are  almost  a  rarity  abroad 
now.  At  the  beginning  of  hostilities  entire  kennels  of  these 
war  dogs  w^ere  turned  over  to  the  various  governments,  and 
few  are  left  to  be  returned  to  their  former  owners.  Many 
of  them  were  killed  in  action  and  others  died  from  various 
causes  in  the  trenches.  They  did  yeoman  work  for  human- 
ity. Hundreds  of  fanciers  will  now  endeavor  to  replenish 
their  kennels  and  America  is  the  only  country  which  will 
be  able  to  help  carry  out  their  plans.  A  golden  opportunity 
now  presents  itself  to  the  American  dog  fanciers. 

Carefully  extinguish  your  camp-fire  when  leaving.  To 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  229 

show  you  hoAv  disastrous  forest  fires  have  become  in  late 
years,  the  President  in  1918  had  to  authorize  a  loan  of  one 
million  dollars  to  the  Forest  Service  for  fire-fighting  ex- 
penses, to  meet  the  serious  emergency  conditions  in  the 
National  Forests  of  the  Northwest  and  the  Pacific  Coast 
States.  The  loan  was  made  from  the  special  defense  fund 
of  fifty  million  dollars  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Presi- 
dent by  Congress.  While  only  a  small  percentage  of  blame 
can  be  placed  at  the  door  of  the  outer,  it  behooves  each 
sportsman  to  carefully  extinguish  camp-fires.  If  we  would 
guard  the  wild  life  that  remains,  we  should  use  every  means 
to  prevent  forest  fires  at  our  disposal. 

The  hunter  has  indeed  arrived!  Each  returned  soldier 
is  intensely  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  sportsmanship  caused 
by  living  and  camping  out  as  did  our  primitive  fore- 
bears, and  the  brotherhood  of  man  is  now  more  fully 
apx^arent  than  ever  before. 

Fox-hunters  of  the  old  school  believe  that  a  fat  fox 
caught  in  the  fall  denotes  a  hard  winter. 

If  all  hunters  would  w^ear  red  coats  when  hunting,  this 
w^ould  doubtless  reduce  the  number  of  fatalities  greatly 
from  accidental  shooting. 

The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  suggests 
the  following  ways  of  more  largely  utilizing  the  deer  kill: 

'^Do  not  kill  a  spike  buck  or  doe  w^hen  you  can  obtain 
a  full-grown  buck. 

*^Do  not  kill  a  deer  when  weather  conditions  or  diffi- 
culties of  transportation  prevent  saving  the  meat. 

**Save  every  pound  of  meat. 

''Save  the  skin  and  the  head  also  if  the  antlers  are  in 
good  condition. 

''Do  not  shoot  deer  at  night,  or  in  the  water,  or  un- 
less you  can  cleai-ly  see  the  animal  aimed  at  is  a  full-grown 
buck.  Failure  to  observe  this  rule  usually  results  in  a  vio- 
lation of  the  game  laws,  and  often  in  the  loss  of  human  life." 


230  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

To  Soften  Boots  and  Shoes: 

Kerosene  is  good  to  soften  boots  or  shoes  that  liave 
been  hardened  by  water. 

To  Destroy  Cockroaches: 

Sprinkle  hellebore  on  the  camp  floor  at  night.  The 
cockroaches  will  eat  it  and  get  poisoned. 

To  Preserve  Soap: 

Cut  the  bars  of  soap  into  small  pieces,  which  will  ])e- 
come  hard  and  last  longer.     This  is  the  economical  way. 

To  Prevent  Lamp  Wicks  From  Smoking. 

Soak  the  wicks  in  x^inegar,  after  which  dry  them  thor- 
oughly. 

Insect  Stings  and  Bites: 

Hartshorn  should  be  applied  to  the  affected  part.  This 
will  stop  the  pain  and  prevent  further  swelling.  Oil  of  sas- 
safras is  also  good,  especially  for  bee  stings. 

To  keep  matches  dry,  cork  them  in  a  tight  bottle. 

You  can  easily  catch  frogs  with  a  hook  and  line  baited 
with  a  bit  of  red  flannel,  which  is  also  a  good  lure  for  fish 
in  certain  waters  at  given  times. 

Take  one  part  rosin,  two  parts  beeswax,  three  parts 
tallow,  if  3^ou  want  a  good  waterproof  oil  for  boots  and 
shoes. 

It  is  generally  understood  among  hunters  that  a  dis- 
tress signal  consists  of  three  shots  in  rapid  succession,  fol- 
lowed a  moment  later  by  another  shot. 

What  to  do  when  you  get  lost:  Don't  lose  your  head, 
but  sit  right  down  and  think.  Don't  w^ander  on  and  on, 
thinking  you'll  eventually  find  your  way  out;  usually  you 
won't;  you'll  only  get  farther  off  the  track.  Camp  right 
where  you  are  until  aid  can  reach  you,  or  you  can  take  time 
to  study  out  where  you  are  and  how  to  get  back  where  you 
started  from. 


THE   ANGLEE   AND    HUXT8MAX  231 

Use  This  Match-Box  to  Light  Your  Cigar  in  the  Strongest 

Wind: 

N^ow  comes  an  invention,  patented  by  George  Frank 
Waugh,  a  private  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  which  seems  to  solve 
the  difficulty  of  lighting  a  match  in  the  wind.  It  is  con- 
tained in  Popular  Science  Monthly,  as  follows:  The  de- 
vice is  simple.  A  small,  round  hole  is  made  near  one  end 
of  the  cover  of  an  ordinary  match-box.  Some  abrasive  ma- 
terial is  pasted  on  the  corresponding  end  of  the  tray  itself. 
In  order  to  light  your  cigar,  slide  open  the  cover  of  the  box 
until  the  hole  is  free,  insert  your  match  in  the  hole  and  strike 
it  on  the  abrasive  material  on  the  end  of  the  box.  The  re- 
leased end  of  the  cover  provides  a  small  walled-in  space,  in 
the  shelter  of  which  the  cigar  can  be  quickly  and  conven- 
iently lit. 

Sure  you  must  carry  your  hunting  license  with  you,  as 
this  has  been  the  law  for  years.  If  it  was  not  there  you 
might  go  back  home  and  get  a  permit  after  the  warden  had 
caught  you.  Practice  safety  first  by  always  toting  your 
license  along. 

The  Avif e  of  a  Methodist  minister  in  West  Virginia  has 
been  married  three  times.  Her  maiden  name  was  Partridge, 
her  fii-st  husband  was  named  Robins,  her  second  Sparrow, 
the  present  Quale.  There  are  now  two  young  robins,  one 
sparrow  and  three  little  quales  in  the  family. 

One  grandfather  was  a  Swan  and  another  a  Jay,  but 
he's  dead  now  and  a  bird  of  Paradise.  They  live  on  Hawk 
ave.,  Eagleville,  Canary  Island,  and  we'll  bet  the  fellow  we 
borrowed  this  item  from  is  a  Lyre  and  a  relative  of  the 
family. 

Backwoods  Lights: 

During  the  ^'lightless  nights"  enforced  during  the  late 
war,  even  city  folks  learned  to  use  backwoods  lights,  such 
as  blazing  tallow  dips,  fir  cones  and  pine  knots.  All  these 
appeared  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  during  the  war. 


232  THE   ANGLER   AND    HITXTSMAN 

In  the  Bustleton  district,  on  the  small  truck  farms,  blaz- 
ing pine  knots  took  the  place  of  coal  oil,  being  used  for  out- 
door purposes  also.  Fastened  to  the  tops  of  posts,  first 
made  firej^roof  by  being  covered  with  turf,  they  blazed 
away,  throwing  out  a  brilliant  light  (if  a  bit  fitful),  and 
filling  the  air  with  the  fragrance  of  burning  pitch. 

Incidentally,  it  was  discovered  that  the  smoke  and 
fumes  of  the  blazing  knots  proved  an  effective  mosquito  ex- 
terminator. At  least,  where  they  were  used  to  any  extent 
few  mosquitoes  lingered  'round  to  torment  one  in  the  early 
evening,  it  was  found. 

In  the  same  section  of  Pennsylvania  pine  or  fir  cones, 
first  dipped  in  a  solution  made  by  putting  fats  in  coal  oil  and 
turpentine,  were  also  found  good  for  outdoor  illumination. 
Those  who  have  tried  both  say  that  the  cone  does  not  last  as 
long,  although,  while  burning,  it  produces  a  brighter  and 
steadier  light. 

Quite  a  novel  use  is  being  made  of  pine  knot  illumina- 
tion by  canoeists,  and  this  is  an  item  that  may  interest  the 
]>rospective  outer,  who  does  not  care  to  burden  himself  down 
with  lanterns,  or  other  lighting  ap^Daratus. 

Putting  Away  The  Tackle: 

When  the  season  for  fishing  is  over,  anglers  who  pos- 
sess first-class  tackle  will  be  ready  to  store  it  away  for  the 
winter.  The  artificial  flies  will  be  gone  over  carefully  one 
by  one,  the  fly-book  sterilized  and  when  the  flies  are  placed 
therein  sprinkled  with  camphor  to  keep  out  moths  and  silver 
fish.  All  snooked  hooks  will  be  inspected,  placed  in  pack- 
ages, and  laid  with  tested  leaders  in  the  tackle-box.  The 
lines  will  be  carefully  gone  over,  dried,  perhaps  oiled,  and 
rewound  carefulh^  on  the  reels.  The  rods  also  will  be  given 
attention  and  either  sent  to  the  tackle  store  to  be  overhauled, 
straightened,  rewrapped  and  reshellaced,  or  this  will  be  done 
at  home  during  the  winter  months.  * 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  233 

How  to  Repair  Shot  Chargers: 

In  the  repairing  of  shot  chargers  of  a  gun,  the  usual 
method  is  to  remove  the  lever  and  put  the  stud  back  in  place. 
Wet  the  joint  inside  the  charger  with  soldering  acid.  After 
holding  it  with  the  stud  downwards,  apply  a  bit  of  soft  solder 
upon  the  joint,  holding  it  until  it  melts  over  an  alcohol 
lamp.  In  case  the  lever  spring  slips  out,  take  any  kind  of 
cartridge  primer  which  has  had  the  priming  removed  and 
put  inside  it  a  drop  of  soldering  acid  with  a  bit  of  solder. 
After  warming  it  up  till  the  solder  fuses,  and  after  it  has 
cooled  the  charger  should  be  wet  with  a  bit  of  the  acid  where 
the  spring's  bend  comes,  placing  the  primer  with  the  solder 
directly  in  contact  with  the  wet  place.  After  holding  over 
the  lamp  until  the  solder  is  melted,  replace  the  spring. 

Keep  Within  The  Law: 

When  the  sportsman  goes  hunting,  he  goes  with  the  in- 
tention of  keeping  within  the  law.  He  buys  a  license.  He 
knows  the  money  realized  from  the  sale  of  these  licenses  is 
used  by  his  State  Game  and  Fish  Department  to  protect 
game  and  fish.  He  understands  that  this  protection  is  his 
benefit,  as  it  increases  the  amount  of  game  and  fish  in  his 
State. 

Another  law  the  true  sportsman  always  obeys  when  out 
hunting  is  the  **bag  limit."  By  carefully  complying  with 
this  law  he  knows  he  is  co-operating  with  the  designated  au- 
thorities to  increase  the  game  and  fish. 

The  Case  Against  The  Crow: 

The  crow  is  generally  known  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
destroyers  of  bird  life  on  the  American  continent.  It  is  an 
arch-enemy  of  game  birds  and  crops.  The  Pennsylvania 
Game  Commission  has  estimated  that  each  crow  destroi^s 
more  wild  life  annually  than  any  fox,  weasel,  wildcat,  mink 
or  human  hunter. 


23-1  THE  axgli:r  and  huxtsmax 

During  the  first  several  weeks  of  their  life,  the  young  of 
game  birds  and  of  perching  birds  are  fed  on  animal  food, 
chiefly  in  the  form  of  insects,  and  each  will  consume  daily 
an  amount  equal  to  its  own  weight. 

A  young  crow  while  on  the  nest  will  consume  an  amount 
of  food  equal  to  three  or  four  times  its  o^\ll  weight,  and  only 
a  small  part  of  this  food  consists  of  insects.  Most  of  it  is 
made  up  of  eggs  or  the  young  of  other  birds  which,  if  left 
alive,  would  be  of  benefit  in  the  protection  of  crox)s. 

In  addition  to  the  harm  done  in  destroying  useful  birds, 
crows  spread  contagious  and  infective  disease. 

Crow  shooting  forms  a  fascinating  and  usefvil  sport, 
and  is  one  we  can  engage  in  without  the  danger  of  being 
called  a  ^'game  hog,"  for  the  more  of  them  we  kill,  the 
greater  our  service  to  other  game  life. 

What  can  be  accomplished  when  the  sport  is  properly 
organized  is  illustrated  by  the  activities  of  the  *^Crow  Shoot- 
ers and  Would-be  Crow  Shooters''  of  Canton,  South  Dakota. 
Each  year  they  hold  a  crow  hunt.  In  the  last  two  hunts  a 
total  of  158  shooters  participated  and  a  total  of  516  crows 
were  killed. 

The  Flight  of  Game  Birds: 

While  there  is  a  good  deal  of  variation  in  the  speed  ot 
flight  of  game  birds,  the  table  given  below  may  be  taken  as 
a  most  accurate  approximation  of  the  comparative  speed  at 
which  the  better  known  wild  birds  fly. 

The  crow  may  be  taken  as  an  example  of  the  slower  fly- 
ing birds,  which  travel  at  a  rate  of  35  to  55  feet  per  second, 
with  an  average  speed  of  45  miles  per  hour,  while  many 
species  of  hawks  attain  a  remarkable  speed,  some  going  as 
fast  as  200  feet  a  second. 


THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAX  235 

The  table  follows : 

Bird.  Feet  per 

second.  Average. 

Quail 65  to    85  75 

Euffed  Grouse   60  to     90  75 

Snipe 50  to     70  65 

Wood  Duck 70  to    90  80 

Canada   Geese 100  to  120  110 

Red  Head 110  to  130  120 

Canvas-back 130  to  160  145 

Mallard 55  to    90  75 

Teal 120  to  140  -  130 

It  may  be  said  that  if  ducks  are  frightened  they  can 
reach  maximum  speed  at  will,  and  this  sprinting  flight  is 
usually  what  the  gunner  has  to  make  allowance  for.  On 
the  other  hand,  many  wildfowl  are  jumped  and  killed  while 
hovering  over  decoys  and  moving  slowly,  and  birds  like 
snipe  and  quail  are  often  killed  before  they  have  attained 
full  speed.  Upland  birds  are  not  often  shot  while  passing 
the  gun  at  right  angles,  but  going  straight  away,  quartering 
or  twisting. 

Pigmy  People  Lazy,  But  Great  Hunters: 

High  up  on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Mariveles,  in  the  Phil- 
ippine Islands,  dwell  the  last  remnants  of  an  ancient  and 
mysterious  race — the  negritos,  or  'kittle  negroes." 

Scientists  differ  hopelessly  as  to  their  origin  and  his- 
tory, but  the  visitor  who  is  fortunate  enough  to  penetrate 
into  their  carefully  hidden  villages  finds  the  quaint  little 
people  extremely  interesting. 

Tho'  they  are  disinclined  to  work,  the  negrito  is  inde- 
fatigable in  the  chase,  and  will  hunt  all  day  without  any- 
thing to  eat  but  the  mango,  or  banana,  that  he  may  seize  as 
he  rushes  by.  If  the  dogs  are  scarce  for  any  reason,  women 


236  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAX 

are  pressed  into  service,  and  these  go  loping  through  the 
brush,  yelping  in  imitation  of  the  canines  for  whom  they 
are  substituted. 

Sometimes  a  beater  will  emerge  from  the  brush  carry- 
ing a  pig  he  has  encountered  and  killed  or,  more  important 
still,  bringing  news  of  the  sighting  of  a  python.  In  such  a 
case  the  whole  hunt  is  called  in  and  its  energies  directed  to 
the  capture  of  the  big  snake,  which,  when  killed,  is  carried 
in  triumphal  procession  to  the  village,  where  it  furnishes  a 
feast  for  all  who  can  be  gathered  for  the  festive  occasion. 

The  Calling  of  Ducks: 

No  matter  whether  one  shoots  ducks  over  decoys,  on  the 
pass,  jumping  or  wading,  the  call  is  very  essential.  Yet  of 
the  great  number  of  men  who  shoot,  comparatively  few  are 
able  to  call  well  or  with  judgment.  Xor  is  it  necessary  to 
cultivate  many  different  calls.  Two  or  three  are  quite 
enough. 

For  the  inland  water-f  oavI,  mallard,  widgeon,  teal,  gray- 
duck,  spoon-bill,  wood-duck,  black-dvick  and  all  non-diving 
ducks,  the  mallard  and  teal  call  is  sufficient.  In  fact,  the 
mallard  call  alone  is  usually  enough  for  the  attraction  of  all 
non-diving  ducks. 

For  diving  or  deep-water  ducks,  the  blue-bill  call  will 
answer,  although  if  one  has  also  at  command  the  purring  call 
of  the  redhead,  it  will  greatly  help  in  the  day's  sport.  In 
shooting  over  ordinary  waters  where  sport  is  to  be  had  at 
redheads,  blue-bills,  broad-bills,  whistlers,  butter-balls  and 
others  of  this  class,  most  of  the  ducks  will  respond  readily 
to  the  blue-bill  or  the  broad-bill  call.  Blue-bills  are  great 
callers,  and  on  calm  days  can  be  heard  hailing  every  passing 
flock.  Sometimes  the  blue-bill  calls  the  ker-r-r  once,  then 
twice  and  three  times,  and  occasionally  even  four  times. 
When  they  are  feeding  they  often  sound  a  contented  kind  of 
chuckle  which  is  similar  to  that  of  the  mud-hen  when  un- 
disturbed. 


THE  anglp:r  and  huntsman  237 

Sound  travels  a  long  way  in  a  still  marsh.  When  the 
call  is  loud  the  mallard,  black-duek  and  widgeon  deteet 
easily  the  fraud  in  calls;  therefore,  it  is  well  to  modulate 
the  voice  in  a  marsh.  Of ttimes  these  wary  birds,  after  com- 
ing into  a  marsh  in  response  to  your  call,  will  settle  among 
your  decoys;  or  they  might  alight  outside  of  gun-range  and 
study  the  decoys  to  satisfy  themselves  of  their  being  all 
right.  If  not  disturbed  they  will  then  slowly  move  toward 
the  decoys,  feeding  and  chuckling  as  they  swim. 

Do  not  call  too  loud  or  too  often. 

Call  to  attract  the  bird's  attention  to  decoys,  then  modu- 
late your  call.  In  a  marsh  remember  the  birds  can  detect 
the  imitation  much  more  readily  in  a  loud  than  in  a  muffled 
^'oice. 

For  deep-water  birds  call  louder,  or  else  give  a  low 
chuckle  that  they  can  just  hear. 

If  birds  start  to  circle  away,  a  few  low  calls  will  often 
bring  them  back. 

When  in  open  water,  the  birds  will  often  go  entirely 
around  you  to  discover  what  the  suspicious  bunch  of  weeds 
contains,  and  at  such  a  time  lie  low  and  do  not  try  to  keep 
them  in  sight  all  the  while.  Your  moving  will  scare  them 
away  quicker  than  anything  else.  Lie  low,  and  stay  low, 
and  if  the  birds  come  in  do  not  jmnp  up  if  you  happen  to  be 
on  shore.  Rest  just  high  enough  to  clear  your  blind  when 
you  shoot.  Be  assured  the  ducks'  eyes  are  on  the  shore  side, 
for  there  is  where  they  watch  for  danger,  and  any  movement 
sends  them  scattering. 

Are  Fish  Color-Blind? 

Ever  and  anon  this  question  bobs  up  somewhere  in 
print.  It  is,  has  been,  and  apparently  always  will  be,  a 
much  mooted  question  for  a  lot  of  fellows  who  do  not  stop 
a  moment  and  do  a  little  common-sense  thinking. 

All  anglers  know  that  a  trout  will  bite  at  a  certain  color 
fly  at  a  certain  season.     No  other  color  will  appeal  to  the 


238  THE   AXGLEK   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

trout  during  that  period.  To  our  mind  this  is  all  the  proof 
required  to  convince  even  a  candidate  for  the  feeble-minded 
institute  that  a  fish  can  and  does  distinguish  between  colors. 

Have  Fishes  Memory? 

Experts  in  fish  culture  and  piscatorial  experiments  are 
convinced  that  at  least  some  of  the  fishes  of  the  sea  are  en- 
dowed with  memory,  as  well  as  other  brain  faculties  that  are 
often  surprising. 

Capt.  John  Patton,  former  commander  of  a  whaling 
vessel,  upon  his  return  from  Alaska,  is  authority  for  the  in- 
formation that  the  most  astonishing  results  have  been  ob- 
tained, especially  as  regards  the  gray  perch,  which  lives 
principally  on  small  silvery  hued  sardine. 

He  took  some  of  these  and  colored  them  red,  and  they 
were  then  placed  in  the  tank  where  the  perch  was,  with  sev- 
eral silvery  sardines. 

Of  course,  the  normal  sardines  were  at  once  seized  and 
devoured,  but  it  was  not  until  hungry  that  the  perch  made  a 
tentative  meal  of  one  of  the  red  colored  victims.  On  recog- 
nizing the  sardine  flavor,  how^ever,  he  promptly  demolished 
the  remainder. 

Later  the  perch  devoured  the  sardines  irrespective  of 
color,  thus  showing  not  only  traces  of  a  memory,  but  also 
the  power  to  differentiate  color. 

Subsequently  sardines  colored  red  and  blue  were  placed 
in  the  tank  together  with  the  silver  ones.  The  same  scene 
Avas  repeated,  the  blue  sardines  not  being  attacked  until  the 
others  were  eaten  and  hunger  compelled  investigation  of 
the  newcomers. 

Where  Birds  Are  Actually  Used  as  Lamps: 

The  price  of  coal-oil  is  not  an  item  of  interest  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Island  of  St.  Kilda,  which  is  a  favorite 
haunt  of  that  animated  oil-can,  the  fulmar.  So  rich  is  this 
sea  bird  in  oil  that  the  natives  simply  pass  a  wick  through 


THE   ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  239 

its  body  and  use  it  as  a  lamp.  This  oil  is  also  one  of  the 
principal  articles  exported  from  the  island.  It  is  foinid 
in  the  birds'  stomachs,  is  amber-colored,  and  has  a  peculiar- 
ly nauseous  odor.  The  old  birds  are  said  to  feed  the  yoimg 
with  it,  and  when  they  are  caught  or  attacked  they  lighten 
themselves  by  disgorging  it. 

In  St.  Kilda  it  is  legal  to  kill  the  fulmars  only  during 
one  week  of  the  year ;  but  during  that  week  from  eighteen 
to  twenty  thousand  birds  are  slaughtered. 

The  mutton-bird  of  the  Antartic  also  carries  its  oil  in 
the  stomach  and  can  eject  this,  oil  through  the  nostrils  as  a 
means  of  defense  against  enemies.  Quantities  of  mutton- 
birds  are  slaughtered  every  year  for  their  oil  on  the  coasts 
of  Tasmania  and  New  ZeaJand.  In  its  composition  and 
properties  this  oil  resembles  ver}^  greatly  the  oil  of  the 
sperm-whale. 

Tackle  For  Tarpon: 

A  tarpon  pole  should  be  about  seven  feet  long  and  made 
of  carefully  selected  pieces  of  bamboo,  greenheart,  or  some- 
thing similar.  The  guides  should  be  very  smooth  and  all 
precaution  must  be  taken  to  prevent  the  wearing  of  the  line. 
The  reel  must  be  carefully  examined,  and  big  enough  to 
carry  six  hundred  feet  of  line.  A  reel  of  inferior  quality  is 
apt  to  jam  as  soon  as  subjected  to  a  great  strain,  and  no  one 
should  ever  try  to  economize  in  purchasing  this  part  of  the 
outfit.  Hooks,  too,  must  be  of  the  best  workmanship,  as 
the  mouth  of  th^  tarpon  consists  of  almost  solid  bone,  and  it 
takes  a  good  hook,  indeed,  to  find  lodgment  in  one's  mouth 
and  hold  fast.  For  trolling,  piano  wire  leaders  are  used, 
vdiich  seldom  break  under  the  heaviest  strain,  to  which 
should  be  attached  the  best  hooks  you  can  buy.  The  leaders 
should  be  six  feet  in  length. 

Besides  the  nuts  used  in  confectionery,  the  Indian 
cashew  tree  yields  an  insect-repelling  gum,  a  juice  that 
makes  indelible  ink  and  three  kinds  of  oil,  one  edible,  tlie 
others  used  to  tan  fishing  nets  and  preserve  wood. 


240  THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN 

In  Tasmania  all  snakes  are  venomous,  though  only  five 
are  really  deadly,  and  these  are  rarely  encountered. 

The  Australian  continent  is  abundantly  supplied  with 
lizards,  there  being  three  hundred  and  ninety  species  re- 
corded, and  they  may  be  seen  not  only  in  woods  and  prairies 
and  deserts,  in  the  water,  among  rocks  and  in  trees,  but  also 
in  the  less  frequented  city  streets. 

The  smallest  known  bird  is  a  Central  American  hum- 
ming bird  that  is  about  the  size  of  a  bluebottle  fly. 

The  bill  pouch  of  the  pelican  will  hold  from  three  to 
eight  pounds  of  fish. 

Overcooked  fish  is  dry  and  tasteless,  while  undercooked 
fish  is  not  safe. 

The  deepest  place  in  the  ocean  yet  found  is  off  Min- 
danao, Philippine  Islands — 32,088  feet. 

The  most  primitive  mammals,  the  monotremes,  are  con- 
fined to  Australia.  There  is  the  platypus,  a  strange  beast 
which  lays  eggs  like  a  turtle,  has  horny  pads  for  teeth  and  a 
bill  like  the  duck ;  its  front  feet  are  webbed  and  both  back 
and  front  feet  have  claws.    , 

A  good  remedy  for  insect  bites  is  to  rub  the  skin  with 
a  little  vinegar  and  water.  Scented  verbena  leaves  are  said 
to  have  the  same  effect. 

Don't  kill  snakes  unless  you  know  that  they  are  poison- 
ous. They  keep  down  the  rodents  so  injurious  to  agricul- 
ture. 

Goat's  milk  is  much  purer  than  cow's  milk  because  the 
goat  is  immune  to  most  of  the  infectious  diseases  that  the 
cow  is  subject  to. 

RECIPES  FOR  CAMP  COOKING: 

Venison: 

The  hunter  should  be  familiar  with  the  different  parts 
of  the  deer  and  should  know  what  each  portion  is  best  suited 
for.  The  shoulder  is  used  for  roasting.  The  fore-loin  mny 
be  used  for  roasts  and  steaks ;  the  haunch  or  loin  for  roasts 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  241 

steaks,  and  stews.  Cut  the  ribs  close  and  use  for  soup. 
This  part  is  also  good  smoked.  The  breast  may  be  baked 
or  stewed.  The  scrag  or  neck  for  soup.  The  ideal  deer  for 
meat  is  the  flesh  of  a  female  about  four  years  old.  Buck 
venison  is  also  excellent,  but  either  male  or  female  deer  re- 
quires skill  in  dressing  for  preservation. 

Broiled  Venison  Steak: 

Venison  steaks  are  best  when  broiled  over  a  clear  fire, 
and  they  should  be  turned  often.  When  done,  season  with 
salt  and  pepper  to  taste,  pour  over  two  tablespoonfuls  of 
currant  jelly  melted  with  butter,  if  handy,  and  serve  hot. 
Excellent  steaks  may  be  cut  from  the  loin. 

Venison  Hashed: 

Cut  into  small  pieces,  or  slices,  and  i)lace  the  trimmings 
and  bones  in  a  saucepan  with  just  sufficient  water  to  cover 
them.  Stew  thus  for  one  hour.  Then  strain  the  liquid 
into  a  stewpan,  add  some  small  pieces  of  butter,  rolled  in 
flour,  and  the  gravy  left  from  the  venison  from  the  pre- 
vious meal.  Acid  the  meat,  keeping  it  over  the  fire  just  a 
time  sufficient  to  warm  thoroughly,  but  not  allowing  it  to 
come  to  a  boil  again. 

Fried  Venison  Steak: 

Cut  a  breast  of  venison  into  steaks.  Take  a  fourth  of 
a  pound  of  butter  and  let  it  get  hot  in  a  pan.  Rub  the 
steaks  with  a  mixture  of  a  little  salt  and  pepper ;  dip  them 
in  flour,  or  if  this  is  not  handy,  rolled  crackers  or  bread 
crumbs  will  do,  and  fry  to  a  rich  brown.  Take  the  meat  up. 
Place  a  heaping  teaspoonful  of  flour  in  the  butter  in  the 
pan  and  stir  well  until  it  browns,  being  careful  not  to  burn 
it.  Add  a  cup  of  boiling  water  with  some  currant  jelly  dis- 
solved into  it  if  obtainable.  Stir  a  little  while  and  then 
strain  it  over  the  meat  and  serve  at  once. 


242      ■  THE   ANGLEE   AXD    HTXTSMAX 

Rabbit  Fricassee: 

Brown  some  butter  in  a  hot  iron  skillet.  Then  fry  the 
hare,  previously  cut  up,  brown  on  both  sides.  Then  cover 
the  meat  with  hot  water  and  stew  until  it  is  thoroughly 
tender,  seasoning  it  to  suit  taste.  When  steAving  is  finished, 
let  the  meat  again  fry  brown. 

To  Roast  or  Bake  Geese  or  Ducks: 

Wash  in  soda  water,  wipe  dry.  Stuff  with  a  highly- 
seasoned  dressing,  using  more  onion  than  is  commonly  used 
for  turkey  or  chicken,  also  a  little  sage.  Dredge  the  fowl 
v/ith  salt,  pepper  and  flour.  Put  a  little  water  in  the  pan 
and  baste  often.  Bake  until  tender,  allowing  twenty  or 
twenty-five  minutes  to  the  pound.     Serve  with  sauce. 

To  Broil  Squabs,  Pigeons,  Partridges: 

Here  are  two  good  ways,  either  of  which  may  be  used 
with  success: 

Wash  in  soda  water,  wipe  dry  and  put  in  a  baking  pan 
heated  very  hot.  Put  the  skin  side  down  and  press  it  flat 
on  the  back  inside  of  a  hot  oven.  Cook  about  fifteen  min- 
utes, turn  the  bird  and  cook  until  a  nice  brown.  This 
usually  requires  thirty  minutes.  When  done,  season  with 
salt  and  pepper  and  pour  melted  butter  over  it.  Serve  with 
pastry  crullers.  You  can  broil  the  bird  on  top  of  the  stove 
on  a  hot  griddle,  or  on  a  wire  broiler  over  hot  coals. 

Another  way:  Split  bird  down  the  back.  Sprinkle 
with  pepper  and  salt,  dredge  with  flour  and  put  in  a  piece 
of  breakfast  bacon  under  each  wdng  and  leg.  Put  three  or 
four  pieces  of  bacon  in  the  broiler,  or  in  tlie  pan,  and  lay  bird 
on  it.  Broil  in  the  oven  or  over  coals.  If  in  the  oven,  baste 
vnth  drippings  from  the  bacon,  and  if  there  is  not  enough, 
use  a  little  butter  and  w^ater  mixed. 

(Note:  These  are  all  tested  recipes  furnished  by 
brother  sportsmen.) 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  243 

To  Fry  Fish,  Game,  Etc: 

Clean  well,  season,  drop  in  hot  fat  and  fry  brown.  Be 
sure  the  fat  is  hot,  as  this  sears  the  outside,  or  surface,  and 
retains  the  juices  and  game  flavor.  If  fried  in  cold  fat,  this 
fries  all  the  juice  out  and  flavor  as  well,  and  makes  the  meat 
tough.  Salt  the  meat  after  it  is  placed  in  the  pan,  when  al- 
most done. 

Camp  Coffee: 

To  each  cup  of  water  put  in  one  tablespoon  of  ground 
coffee,  then  add  one  for  good  measure.  Put  on  in  cold 
water  and  place  on  embers  to  boil.  Just  allow  it  to  boil  up 
once  and  remove  pot  from  fire.  Use  just  a  little  water, 
about  one-fourth  cup,  to  settle  grounds,  and  serve  steaming 
hot. 

Camp  Tea: 

Allow  one  teaspoonful  to  each  person,  and  one  for  good 
measure.  Pour  over  fresh  boiling  water  and  set  aside  for 
few  minutes  to  steep,  then  serve.  ^ 

Fish: 

To  fry  fish,  dredge  the  pieces  with  flour  or  cornmeal, 
have  ready  hot  lard  or  drippings  sufficient  to  cover  tlie 
pieces.  When  brown  on  one  side,  turn  over  in  the  fat  and 
brown  other,  remove  from  frying  pan,  and  serve  with  to- 
mato sauce. 

To  Fry  Pan  Fish: 

Select  small  fish.  When  they  are  fried  quite  brown 
ready  to  turn  place  cover  over  them,  drain  off  fat,  invert  pan 
and  they  will  be  left  unbroken  on  the  plate.  Put  hot  fat 
back  in  pan,  place  fish  in  pan  as  before  and  fry  on  other 
side.     Drain  and  slip  them  on  a  warm  platter  and  serve  hot. 

Fried  Eels: 

Clean  eels  well,  cut  in  small  pieces,  wash  and  wipe  them 
dry,  roll  in  wheat  flour,  and  fry  as  directed  for  fish,  in  hot 


244  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

lard  or  other  lard  substitute.    '  They  should  be  cooked  thor- 
oughly done. 

Fried  Halibut: 

Fry  a  few  thin  slices  of  salt  pork  in  an  iron  frying  pan  : 
then  take  up.  but  keep  warm  until  the  halibut  is  fried. 
Wash  and  dry  the  sliced  halibut,  season  with  salt  and  pep- 
per, dredge  with  flour,  and  place  the  strips  in  the  hot  porlc 
drippings  and  fry  brown  on  both  sides ;  then  serve  the  fish 
and  the  pork  together. 

Fried  Brook  Trout: 

Clean,  wash  and  dry  the  fish,  split  them  to  the  tail,  sea- 
son with  salt  and  pepper,  and  roll  in  flour.  Lard  or  the  fat 
of  fried  salt  pork  may  be  used  to  fry  them  with.  If  lard  is 
used,  add  a  piece  of  butter  to  prevent  sticking,  and  which 
also  aids  in  browning  them  properly.  Have  your  fat  very 
hot;  quick  frying  is  essential.  Serve  hot.  Usually  fried 
with  heads  on. 

Fried  Smelts: 

Fry  with  heads  on,  same  as  brook  trout. 

Fried  Frogs: 

This  is  the  usual  way  to  prepare  frogs.  The  hind  legs 
and  quarters  are  all  that  is  used.  Clean  well,  season,  and 
fry  in  egg-batter,  or  if  eggs  are  not  available  frv  them  in 
fat. 

Baked  Pickerel: 

Clean  and  wipe  the  fish  carefully,  place  it  in  the  pan 
Avith  just  sufficient  hot  water  to  prevent  scorching.  Bake 
slowly,  basting  frequently  with  butter  and  water.  When 
done,  stir  in  two  large  spoons  of  melted  butter,  and  season 
lo  taste. 

Fresh  Salmon  Fried: 

The  slices  should  be  cut  about  three-fourths  inch  thick. 
Dredge  with  flour,  or  dip  in  egg  and  roll  in  cracker  crumbs. 


THE   AXGLEK   AND    HUNTSMAN  245 

Fry  until  a  light  brown.  Tliis  method  will  answer  for  all 
large  fish  that  has  to  be  exit  into  steaks.  Season  to  taste 
with  salt  and  pepper. 

Boiled  Bass: 

Thoroughly  clean  and  place  in  a  pan  with  enough  water 
to  cover ;  add  two  tablespoonf uls  of  salt ;  place  pan  over  fire 
and  allow  it  to  boil  about  five  minutes.  Test,  and  if  found 
done,  take  up  and  serve  with  tomato  or  some  other  sauce 
easily  carried  to  camp  with  you. 

Boiled  Fresh  Cod: 

8ew  up  the  portion  of  fish  to  be  cooked  in  a  thin  cloth, 
or  if  this  is  impracticable  tie  it  up  as  best  you  can.  Boil  in 
salted  water,  allowing  the  water  to  be  boiling  when  the  fish 
is  put  in  the  pot;  boil  for  about  fifteen  minutes  to  each 
pound.  Unwrap  and  serve  with  any  sauce  you  like  or  have 
Avith  you. 

Game  Soup: 

Take  two  grouse  or  two  partridges ;  three  medium- 
sized  onions ;  one  can  of  dried  beef ;  some  fried  bread ;  pep- 
per and  salt  and  celei;y  salt ;  three  quarts  of  water. 

Prepare  and  cut  uj)  the  game,  also  cut  the  onions  into 
small  pieces,  place  in  soup  pot,  add  the  beef,  pour  on  the 
water,  heat  slowly  and  cook  gently  two  hours. 

Fry  some  bread  in  butter  and  serve  with  the  soup. 

If  the  grouse  or  partridge  is  not  at  hand,  a  couple  of 
rabbits  will  make  a  good  substitute. 

Squirrel  Soup: 

Prepare  the  squirrel  for  soup;  add  one  teaspoc^ful 
salt ;  one  gallon  water ;  cover  the  soup  pot  close,  place  on  back 
of  camp  oven  to  boil  gently;  add  corn  and  other  vegetables 
if  obtainable.  When  meat  has  boiled  tender,  strain  soup; 
then   return   soup  to   oven   and   boil   gently   15   minutes. 


246  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUXTSMAX 

Thicken  with  flour  and  flavor  with  celery  salt ;  serve  with 
toasted  bread. 

Green  Turtle  Soup: 

One  turtle,  seasoned  with  onions,  juice  of  one  lemon, 
four  quarts  of  water. 

After  removing  entrails,  cut  meat  into  small  pieces,  add 
water  and  stew  slowly  until  meat  is  tender,  then  add  onions, 
pepper  and  salt,  stew  very  slowly  and  do  not  let  it  cease  boil- 
ing during  this  time.  Add  additional  water,  if  necessary; 
thicken  with  brown  flour,  simmer  a  few  minutes  longer. 
]  f  there  are  eggs  in  the  turtle  cook  separately,  throw  them 
in  the  soup  when  done  before  taking  up  soup. 

Roast  Goose: 

A  wild  goose  something  less  than  one  year  old  is  best 
^nd  the  fatter  the  better.  Stuff  with  bread  crumbs  and  a 
goodly  portion  of  butter,  or  salt  ]3ork  if  no  butter  is  obtain- 
able.    Bake  two  hours  or  longer. 

Roast  Wild  Duck: 

It  is  better,  if  the  weather  is  cold,  to  keep  a  wild  duck  a 
few  days  before  cooking.  Before  roasting,  they  should  be 
parboiled,  which  will  remove  the  fishy  taste,  that  most  ducks 
have.  Place  an  onion  inside  the  boiling  duck.  Carrot  is 
good  if  you  prefer.  Season  to  taste  with  salt  and  pep]3er. 
Roast  young  ducks  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  minutes, 
grown  ducks  an  hour  or  longer.     Baste  frequently. 

Canvas-Back  Duck: 

This  bird  requires  no  seasoning,  having  a  perfect  fla- 
vor of  its  own.  It  feeds  largely  on  wild  celery,  which  ac- 
counts for  its  good  flavor.  Roast  quickly  over  a  hot  fire. 
Dress  the  duck  in  the  customary  way  by  plucking,  singeing, 
and  drawing,  then  wdpe  with  a  wet  towel  or  cloth,  after 
which  place  in  a  pan,  put  in  oven  and  roast,  basting  often. 
Roast  for  about  thirty  minutes.  Most  sportsmen  prefer  it 
a  little  rare.    Serve  hot. 


THE  ANGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN  247 

Roast  Pigeons: 

Pigeons  should  be  roasted  same  day  killed,  as  they 
otherwise  lose  their  flavor.  They  may  be  roasted  in  the 
usual  manner.  Generally  it  requires  from  twenty  to  thirty 
minutes '  time. 

•  Woodcock  Roasted: 

Pluck  feathers,  skin  head  and  neck  of  bird,  and  when 
prepared  place  in  pan,  baste  with  butter,  dredge  with  flour, 
and  roast  from  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes  over  a  hot  fire. 

Roasted  Snipe: 

Prepare  and  roast  same  as  woodcock,  only  not  quite 
as  long. 

Reed  Birds: 

Prepare  carefully,  salt  and  dredge  with  flour,  and  roast 
over  a  quick  fire  about  fifteen  minutes.  Serve  on  toast,  and 
season  to  taste. 

Roast  Quail: 

Steam  them  until  they  are  quite  tender,  dredge  with 
flour,  and  dip  well  in  butter,  season  with  pepper  and  salt 
and  roast  about  fifteen  minutes.  Roast  Partridge,  Roast 
Pheasants,  and  Roast  Grouse  prepared  same  as  Roast  Quail. 

Fried  Rabbit: 

Thoroughly  clean,  wash,  and  place  in  boiling  water ;  al- 
low it  to  boil  ten  minutes,  then  drain,  and  when  cooled  cut 
up,  dip  in  egg  and  bread  crumbs,  season  with  salt  and  pep- 
per, and  fry  in  butter  or  lard.  Fry  to  a  rich  brown  on  both 
sides.  To  make  rabbit  gravy,  add  a  spoonful  of  flour  and 
a  cup  of  milk  (canned  if  none  other  is  obtainable) ,  and  allow 
to  boil  once. 

Squirrel  Fried: 

Cook  this  same  as  you  cook  fried  rabbit.  They  may  be 
also  broiled  or  stewed. 


248  THE   AXGLER   AND    HrXTSMAX 

HINTS  TO  SPORTSMEN: 

To  Keep  Meat  Away  From  Flies: 

Tie  up  in  sacks  of  muslin,  after  previously  wrappin,sj 
in  paper.  Hang  it  up  in  a  cool,  dry  place,  out  of  reach  of 
carniverous  animals.  The  muslin  allows  the  air  to  enter 
and  it  is  really  better  not  to  use  paper,  if  the  sack  can  be 
padded  with  straw,  or  something,  so  that  the  flies  cannot 
reach  through. 

To  Rid  the  Camp  of  Insects  and  Vermin: 

Take  two  pounds  of  alum  and  dissolve  in  three-fourths 
gallon  of  water.  In  order  to  thoroughly  dissolve  the  alum 
allow  it  to  stand  over  night.  Apply  with  a  brush,  or  rag, 
while  boiling  hot  to  cracks,  holes,  or  wherever  the  insects 
and  vermin  are  located.     This  is  usually  quite  effective. 

To  Make  Tough  Meat  Tender: 

Tough  meat  may  be  made  tender  by  laying  it  for  a  few 
moments  in  strong  vinegar  water. 

To  Keep  Ants  Away  From  the  Sugar  Box: 

A  heavy  chalk  mark  laid  all  around  the  sugar  box  is 
said  to  be  a  safeguard  against  ants,  as  they  will  not  cross 
the  mark. 

To  Keep  Out  Mosquitoes : 

Leave  a  bottle  of  the  oil  of  pennyroyal  uncorked  in  your 
tent,  or  camp  hut,  at  night,  which  is  effective  in  keeping  out 
mosquitoes. 

To  Keep  Knives  From  Rusting: 

Steel  knives  not  in  constant  use  may  be  prevented  from 
rusting  if  dipped  in  a  strong  solution  of  soda,  made  of  one 
part  water  to  four  of  soda.  Then  wipe  dry,  roll  in  flannc^l, 
and  keep  in  a  dry  place. 


THE   AXGLEK   AXD    KrXTs:\rAX  249 

.    Never  Boil  Tea: 

It  dissolves  from  the  tea  tannin,  which  is  not  beneficial 
to  the  digestion. 

How  to  Make  Tea: 

Let  the  water  boil  hard.  Take  one  teaspoonful  of  tea 
for  each  cup  to  be  made,  and  add  the  boiling  water.  Let  the 
water  stand  upon  the  tea  leaves  for  five  minutes,  then  serve. 
Tea  should  be  made  in  an  earthen  pot,  which  has  previously 
been  warmed  by  having  hot  w^ater  put  into  it  before  the  tea 
is  made.  If  you  do  not  prefer  the  tea  rather  strong,  let  it 
only  steep  three  or  four  minutes. 

How  to  Make  Baking  Powder  Biscuits: 

2  cups  flour ;  2  tablespoons  lard ; 

1  teaspoon  salt ;  1  cup  sweet  milk ; 

2  teaspoons  baking  powder; 
(Use  water  if  you  have  no  milk) . 

Sift  flour  into  a  pan  and  with  a  large  spoon  measure 
two  cups,  putting  the  flour  into  the  cups  gently,  and  not 
mashing  it  down.  Put  the  flour  that  is  measured  back  in 
the  sifter  and  add  to  it  two  teaspoons  of  baking  powder  and 
one  teaspoon  of  salt.  Sift  it  all  into  the  crock  or  a  large 
bowl  and  add  two  tablespoons  of  lard.  Rub  the  lard  into 
the  flour  ("  Crisco  "  is  a  good  substitute  if  you  have  no  lard) . 
Rub  lard  into  the  flour,  using  tips  of  fingers,  or  a  spoon, 
until  this  is  well  mixed.  Add  the  cup  of  sweet  milk  (or 
water)  slowly,  working  the  dough  all  the  time  with  the  fin- 
gers or  spoon  until  it  is  as  soft  as  it  can  be  handled.  Take 
the  dough  out  of  the  crock  and  place  it  on  a  board  sprinkled 
with  flour.  Work  it  with  the  hand  just  a  little,  then  roll  it 
out  with  a  rolling  pin  to  about  one  inch  thick.  (The  empty 
olive  bottle  makes  an  ideal  rolling  pin).  Cut  with  a  small 
biscuit  cutter,  which  may  be  the  baking  powder  can,  and  put 
in  a  shallow  pan.  Bake  in  a  hot  oven  for  about  fifteen  min- 
utes until  thoroughly  done. 


250  THE   AXGLER   AND    HUXTSMAX 

How  to  Make  Soda  Biscuits: 

2  cups  flour  1  cup  buttermilk 

%  teaspoon  soda  2  tablespoons  lard 

1  teaspoon  salt 

Sift  some  flour  into  a  pan,  and  with  a  large  spoon  meas- 
ure two  cups,  putting  the  flour  into  cup  gently,  and  not 
mashing  down.  Put  the  flour  that  is  measured  back  into 
the  sifter  and  add  to  it  one  teaspoon  of  salt  and  one-half  tea- 
spoon of  soda.  Rub  the  lard  into  the  flour  using  tips  of 
fingers,  until  it  is  mixed  well.  Add  the  cup  of  buttermilk 
slowly,  working  the  dough  all  the  time  with  the  tips  of  the 
fingers,  until  it  is  soft  as  can  be  handled.  Take  the  dough 
out  of  the  crock  and  put  on  a  board  sprinkled  with  flour, 
working  it  with  the  hands  or  kneading  it  just  a  little,  then 
roll  it  out  with  the  rolling  pin  to  about  one  inch  thickness. 
Cut  with  a  small  biscuit  cutter  and  put  in  a  shallow  pan. 
Bake  in  a  hot  oven  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  (This  recipe 
was  taken  from  U.  S.  Extension  Circular  No.  35). 

Magic  Yeast  Bread: 

1/-^  cake  magic  yeast  I/2  teaspoon  sugar 

1  tea  cup  warm  water  1/4  teaspoon  salt 

2  medium  size  potatoes 

Thoroughly  cook  and  mash  very  fine  the  two  potatoes 
in  water  in  which  the}^  were  cooked,  add  salt  and  sugar,  add 
flour  enough  to  make  thick  batter,  then  dissolve  yeast  (i/^ 
cake  in  warm  water)  and  place  the  bowl  in  which  the  batter 
is  mixed  in  another  bowl  of  warm  water  and  let  stand  for 
ten  to  fifteen  minutes;  allow  to  rise,  twenty-four  hours  be- 
ing usually  required  in  cold  weather.  (This  recipe  was 
taken  from  U.  S.   Extension  Circular  .No.  35). 

Dandelion  or  Beet  Greens: 

Remove  the  roots,  pick  over  the  leaves,  throwing  away 
all  the  wilted  ones  and  wash  several  times  to  get  clean. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  251 

Cook  in  boiling  salted  water,  Avith  not  quite  half  as  much 
water  as  greens.  Cook  one  hour,  drain,  and  add  a  little  but- 
ter and  salt.  Eaten  with  hard  boiled  eggs  and  vinegar  they 
are  good.  (This  recipe  was  taken  from  U.  S.  Extension 
Circular  No.  35). 

Boiled  Hominy: 

Wash  one  cup  of  white  hominy  and  after  draining, 
place  in  a  saucepan  down  in  a  big  kettle  over  the  fire.  Add 
one  teaspoonf ul  salt  and  one  quart  boiling  water.  Keep  it 
boiling  till  tender  but  do  not  boil  hard.  (U.  S.  Extension 
Circular  No.  35). 

Boiled  Onions: 

Peel  off  the  entire  outer  skin.  Put  them  in  a  saucepan 
and  pour  boiling  water  over  them.  Put  as  much  as  for  boil- 
ing potatoes  (enough  to  cover  them)  and  let  them  boil  until 
soft  when  stuck  with  a  fork,  which  takes  about  one  hour. 
Drain  off  the  water  and  add  a  little  salt  and  pepper  and  a 
very  little  butter.     (U.  S.  Extension  Circular  No.  35). 

Beans: 

Wash  the  beans  and  cook  in  boiling  water  about  an 
hour  or  an  hour  and  a  half,  putting  in  a  little  salt  the  last 
half  of  the  time  they  are  on  the  stove.  Have  just  enough 
water  to  keep  them  from  sticking  to  the  pan,  but  not  enough 
to  have  to  drain  off  the  water,  after  they  are  cooked.  Serve 
adding  more  salt  if  necessarv.  (U.  S.  Extension  Circular 
No.  35). 

How  to  Fry  Ham: 

Cut  the  slices  about  half  an  inch  thick,  or  to  suit  your 
fancy.  Cut  off  rind,  and  place  in  the  frying  pan  which  has 
been  previously  heated.  (It  should  be  an  iron  frying  pan) . 
Fry  the  ham  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes,  according  to  heat 
of  fire.  Do  not  allow  to  become  too  done ;  it  is  better  cooked 
well  done,  but  what  I  mean  is  that  the  fat  should  not  be  al- 
lowed to  fry  all  out.    It  is  much  better  ''juicy.'' 


252  THE   AXGLEE   AND    HUXTSMAN 

Bouillon  Cubes: 

Bouillon  can  be  purchased  anywhere  in  cubes,  and  this 
is  a  hand}^^  article  of  diet  to  have  along,  for  nothing  is  more 
beneficial  than  a  cup  of  steaming  hot  bouillon  on  a  cold  raw 
winter's  day.  The  following  varieties  of  canned  soups  are 
also  recommended  to  the  camper: 

Vegetable  soup,  split  pea  soup,  navy  bean  soup,  mock 
turtle  soup,  black  bean  soup,  cream  of  corn,  beef  bouillon, 
mulligatawny  soup,  beef  soup,  oxtail  soup,  tomato  soup,  to- 
mato bouillon,  tomato  rice  with  curry,  cream  of  tomato,  con- 
somme, beef  stew,  and  chicken  soup. 

These  soups  are  already  prepared  in  cans,  boiling  water 
being  all  that  it  is  necessary  to  add  to  complete  them.  Truly 
a  nice  innovation  for  the  outdoorsman.  They  may  be  ob- 
tained at  any  grocery  store. 

The  First  Aid  Kit: 

Every  camper  should  take  with  him  on  his  trip  a  medi- 
cal kit,  containing  such  necessary  drugs  and  medicines  as 
thought  necessary,  as  well  as  solutions  with  which  to  wash 
the  throat  and  mouth,  a  disinfecting  solution,  etc.,  the  con- 
tents of  the  kit  having  been  recommended  to  you  by  your 
physician  or  druggist. 

Cuts: 

Any  camper  is  liable  to  receive  cuts,  and  something 
nuist  be  taken  along  as  a  first  aid  treatment.  The  follow- 
ing, taken  from  ^^ Health  and  Sanitation,"  by  Dr.  W.  L. 
Heizer,  who  is  Executive  Secretary  of  the  Kentucky  Board 
of  Tuberculosis  Commissioners,  in  collaboration  with  Mrs. 
V.  O.  Gilbert,  is  considered  authoritative  medical  advice  on 
the  subjects  ^^cuts,"  ^ ^punctures,"  *^ bruises,"  '^ bites  of  ani- 
mals," '* stings  of  insects,"  *^ foreign  bodies  in  the  eye," 
^' snake  bites,"  ^^ breaks  and  dislocations  of  bones." 

^^This  is  one  of  the  most  common  accidents  to  those  who 
are  careless  in  the  handling  of  knives,  etc.     The  cut  may  be 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  253 

SO  serious  as  to  require  the  attention  of  a  physician.  This 
will  be  indicated  by  a  cut  long  enough  to  gape  open,  deep 
enough  to  cut  a  blood  vessel,  which  would  be  indicated  by 
a  free  flow  of  blood.  If  the  cut  is  upon  the  face,  the  atten- 
tion of  the  physician  should  at  once  be  directed  to  it  in  order 
that  an  unbecoming  scar  may  not  result.  If  there  is  a  con- 
tinuous flow  of  blood  in  considerable  quantities,  either  in  a 
continual  stream  or  in  squirts,  a  tightly  folded  handkerchief 
pressed  over  the  site  of  bleeding  will  usually  stop  the  flow 
of  blood  in  five  minutes.  If  the  flow  of  blood  is  continuous, 
in  an  even  stream,  the  bleeding  is  mostly  from  a  vein,  and  a 
handkerchief  folded  lengthwise  and  tied  firmly  around  the 
bleeding  member  on  the  side  of  the  wound  farthest  from 
the  heart,  will  easily  control  the  bleeding.  If  the  bleeding 
comes  in  spurts,  an  artery  has  been  cut  and  such  a  handker- 
chief should  be  tied  around  the  member  on  the  side  nearest 
the  heart.  The  handkerchief  may  be  tied  loosely,  and  then 
a  small  stick  run  through  it  and  twisted  or  turned  around 
until  the  handkerchief  becomes  tight  enough  to  stop  the 
flow  of  blood.  A  physician  or  surgeon  should  then  be  called 
to  dress  the  wound  properly  and  to  prevent  further 
bleeding. 

^^For  small  cuts,  the  treatment  is  very  simple — clean 
water  and  a  clean  piece  of  cloth,  or  absorbent  cotton,  should 
be  used  to  wash  the  dirt  from  around  the  wound.  The 
ODerator's  hand  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  before  at- 
tempting this.  A  bit  of  absorbent  cotton  wrapped  around 
a  toothpick  and  dipped  in  tincture  of  iodine  ( wliich  should 
be  kept  on  hand  for  such  purposes)  should  be  thoroughly 
rubbed  over  the  cut  and  into  its  depths.  A  small  piece  of 
clean  gauze,  or  linen,  a  little  longer  than  the  cut  and  about 
half  as  wide  as  long  may  be  placed  across  the  cut.  A  stri]> 
of  adhesive  plaster,  which  should  be  kept  (in  camp)  for  such 
emergencies,  might  be  placed  across  the  cut  over  the  gauze, 
care  being  used  to  pinch  the  edges  of  the  cut  together,  and 
the  adhesive  plaster  then  placed  so  that  the  edges  of  the  cut 
will  not  gape  open,  but  be  brought  closely  together,  as  they 


254  THE   AXGLEE   AXD    HUNTSMAX 

ought  to  heal  without  a  scar.  Unless  there  is  an  accumula- 
tion of  pus,  or  a  free  discharge,  or  an  angry  looking  swell- 
ing shown  b}^  redness  and  inflammation  and  pain,  this  dress- 
ing ought  to  remain  on  three  or  four  days  until  the  cut  is 
healed." 

Punctures: 

^^This  is  a  common  condition,  especially  among  children 
who  go  barefoot.  The  offending  agent  is  usually  a  nail, 
and  oftentimes  it  is  about  a  barn-lot,  which  makes  accidents 
more  serious  because  of  the  danger  of  tetanus,  or  lockjaw, 
following.  (Note:  While  this  advice  was  written  evi- 
dently for  children,  it  is  equally  applicable  in  its  essentials 
to  the  older  ones,  to  the  outdoorsman).  Lockjaw  germs,  or 
seed,  grow  only  in  deep  wounds  to  which  the  air  cannot  enter. 
For  this  reason  it  is  necessary  to  give  a  special  kind  of  treat- 
ment to  these  deep  punctures,  or  penetrating  wounds.  It 
is  probably  best,  when  convenient,  to  go  to  a  competent  phy- 
sician, who  might  find  it  necessary  to  enlarge  the  mouth  of 
the  wound.  At  any  rate,  such  wounds  should  be  thoroughly 
cleansed  and  disinfected.  A  simple  method  of  doing  this 
IS  by  the  use  of  a  bit  of  absorbent  cotton  wrapped  around 
the  end  of  a  toothpick,  saturating  it  with  pure  tincture  of 
iodine,  and  then  inserting  it  boldly  down  to  the  very  bottom 
of  the  wound  and  allowing  it  to  remain  there  two  or  three 
minutes.  It  is  better  to  repeat  this  in  order  that  the  iodine 
may  be  certain  to  reach  the  bottom  of  the  wound.  If  the 
wound  be  very  deep,  and  a  physician  cannot  be  secured,  it 
is  probably  best  to  make  a  little  wdck  of  gauze  or  linen  satu- 
rated with  tincture  of  iodine,  and  after  having  used  the 
iodine  as  above  described,  this  wick  should  be  left  in  the 
wound  for  a  day  or  two  and  should  reach  about  half  way  to 
the  bottom  of  the  wound." 

Bruises: 

^^  These  may  result  in  various  ways,  either  by  falls,  or 
being  struck  with  a  club  or  some  other  blunt  instrument,  or 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  255 

by  the  falling  of  objects  upon  one.  There  is  sometimes  con- 
siderable swelling  and  pain,  and  the  bruised  portion  may 
turn  dark.  If  severe,  the  child  should  be  kept  at  rest,  and 
cold  or  hot  compresses  may  be  used  over  the  site  of  the 
bruise.  This  may  be  done  by  wringing  out  of  as  cold  or  as 
hot  water  as  can  be  borne,  folded  bath  towels  or  flannels, 
and  having  them  placed  for  five  or  ten  minutes  over  this 
bruise,  and  repeated  often  enough  to  relieve  the  pain.  The 
hot  and  cold  compresses  can  both  be  used  alternately.  If  the 
skin  is  broken,  the  wound  should  be  painted  over  thoroughly 
with  tincture  of  iodine  to  kill  any  germs  of  blood  poison." 

Bites  of  Animals: 

^^This  is  a  condition  that  is  causing  health  officials  a 
great  deal  of  worry  on. account  of  the  increasing  number  of 
cases  of  hydrophobia  from  the  bite  of  ^mad  dogs'  or  other 
animals.  Many  times  the  pet  of  the  household  has  been 
found  to  become  suddenly  vicious  and  his  manner  changed ; 
he  has  a  disposition  to  run  away  from  home,  or  by  his  ac- 
tions, is  shown  to  be  peculiar.  For  this  reason,  the  bite  of 
an  animal  should  be  regarded  with  suspicion,  and  the  dog, 
or  whatever  animal  causes  the  wound,  should  be  confined 
for  two  or  three  weeks,  feeding  and  watering  it  carefully,  in 
order  to  see  whether  or  not  it  really  had  hydrophobia.  If 
so,  the  victim  should  be  given  the  Pasteur  treatment  imme- 
diately. This  treatment  is  furnished  free  by  the  State 
Board  of  Health,  and  requires  twenty-one  dsijs  to  adminis- 
ter. The  only  expense  necessary  is  the  payment  of  the 
patient's  board  while  the  treatment  is  being  given  (in  most 
States).  Under  favorable  conditions,  the  treatment  may 
be  administered  by  the  physician  at  home,  provided  fresh 
anti-toxin  can  be  secured.  When  bitten,  the  wound  should 
be  thoroughly  washed  and  mopped  with  tincture  of  iodine, 
as  in  the  case  of  cuts ;  or  if  the  wound  is  deep,  it  had  best  be 
taken  to  a  physician  for  it  to  be  cauterized." 


256  THE   AXGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAIN" 

Stings  of  Insects: 

^^This  is  a  painful,  though  not  serious  condition,  and  the 
pain  may  usually  be  relieved  by  the  application  of  cold  com- 
presses placed  over  the  site  of  the  sting.  The  swelling  usu- 
ally disappears  in  a  day  or  two  and  usually  no  harm  results. 
The  pain  of  the  sting  is  caused  by  the  acid  of  the  poison  of 
the  insect,  and  it  is  a  favorite  household  remedy  to  make  a 
little  poultice  of  common  cooking  soda  and  apply  over  the 
site  of  the  sting,  or  to  wet  a  bit  of  cotton  with  ammonia 
water  in  an  effort  to  neutralize  the  acidity." 

Foreign  Bodies  in  the  Eye: 

^^This  causes  a  great  deal  of  pain  and  such  an  offending 
body  should  be  removed  at  once  if  possible.  Do  not  permit 
the  patient  to  rub  the  eye,  as  this  rasps  the  surface  of  the  eye 
and  may  cause  serious  damage.  If  the  body  has  not  im- 
bedded itself  in  the  lining  of  the  eyelid  or  eyeball,  frequently 
the  tears  will  wash  it  out  if  the  eyelashes  are  caught  be- 
tween the  thumb  and  finger,  and  the  eyelid  held  away  from 
the  eyeball  for  a  few  minutes. 

^*If  this  does  not  succeed,  a  bit  of  absorbent  cotton, 
wrapped  about  a  toothpick  and  soaked  in  warm  salt  water, 
made  by  adding  a  teaspoonful  of  salt  to  a  pint  of  water,  may 
be  used  to  brush  lightly  over  the  lid  or  the  eyeball,  and  if 
the  offending  body  can  be  seen,  it  may  be  entangled  in  the 
cotton  and  removed.  This  is  especially  true  of  cinders  iind 
particles  of  dust. 

*^  Frequently  the  offending  body  can  be  seen  if  the 
upper  eyelid  is  turned  backwards  over  a  small  lead  pencil. 
This  can  be  done  by  grasping  the  eyelashes  between  the 
thumb  and  finger  of  one  hand,  placing  the  point  of  the  pencil 
over  the  upper  eyelid  behind  the  thumb  or  finger,  and 
pointing  in  a  downward  direction  gently  with  the  pencil 
while  pulling  and  lifting  the  edge  of  the  lid  forward  and  up- 
ward. The  lid  will  be  found  to  turn  out,  and  if  the  offending 
particle  is  in  reach  it  may  be  brushed"  off  with  cotton 
wrapped  on  the  toothpick." 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  257 

Snake  Bites: 

''Contrary  to  the  general  belief,  the  spreading  head 
A^iper  is  not  a  poisonous  snake.  The  poisons  from  poisonous 
reptiles  kill  the  victim  by  getting  into  the  blood  stream;  con- 
sequently, the  very  first  thing  to  do  is  to  shut  off  the  blood 
in  the  part  of  the  body  that  has  been  bitten,  from  the  rest 
of  the  bod}^  This  can  be  done,  if  the  bite  is  upon  an  arm  or 
a  leg,  by  tying  a  handkerchief  loosely  around  the  member 
between  the  wound  and  the  heaii:  and  putting  a  stick  under 
the  bandage,  turning  or  twisting  it  until  it  is  tight  enough 
to  stop  the  flow  of  blood  in  that  part  of  the  body.  This 
procedure,  if  done  early,  will  probably  save  the  life  of  the 
individual.,  The  next  thing  to  do  is  to  enlarge  the  openings 
of  the  wound  where  the  fangs  of  the  reptile  entered  by 
means  of  a  thoroughly  clean  knife  blade.  This  is  done  for 
the  purpose  of  permitting  the  poison  to  find  its  way  out  of 
the  flesh.  If  there  are  no  cuts  or  wounds  upon  the  mouth  of 
a  healthy  individual,  the  wound  may  be  sucked  vigorously 
in  an  effort  to  draw  out  the  poison.  A  toothpick  wrapped 
with  cotton  and  soaked  with  pure  carbolic  acid  may  be  in- 
serted freely  into  the  wound.  The  best  thing  to  use,  if  it  is 
available,  is  a  strong  solution  of  permanganate  of  potash. 
This  is  made  by  taking  the  crystals  of  potash  and  dissolving 
a  teaspoonful  into  a  half  glass  of  Avater.  This  solution  should 
be  used  freely  in  the  woimd  repeatedly,  ^nd  if  one  lives  in 
a  district  exposed  to  such  reptiles,  it  is  well  to  have  this 
remedy  in  the  house  (or  camp)  for  such  purpose.  A  com- 
petent physician  should  be  called,  of  course,  who  will  assist 
in  the  further  treatment  of  the  patient,  and  by  gradually 
admitting  the  blood  from  the  part  bitten  to  the  rest  of  the 
body,  the  patient  can  be  made  to  resist  the  poison  that  may 
not  have  been  removed  or  rendered  harmless.  The  wound, 
after  this,  should  be  treated  according  to  the  directions  given 
for  cuts,  or  it  should  be  treated  according  to  the  directions  of 
the  attending  physician. 

^^It  is  a  common  error  that  has  been  responsible  for 


258  THE   ANGLER   AXD    HVXTSMAX 

much  harm,  that  whiskey  or  alchohol  in  large  quantities  is 
the  best  thing  to  use  for  snake  bites ;  and  many  times  the 
patient  has  been  found  to  be  in  a  drunken  condition — much 
worse  as  a  result  of  the  alcohol  than  could  have  been  as  a 
result  of  the  snake  bite." 

Breaks  and  Dislocations  of  Bones: 

'^  These  are  serious  accidents,  and  call  for  the  attention 
of  a  physician.  Until  the  doctor  arrives,  the  patient  should 
be  kept  entirely  at  rest.  The  broken  limb  should  be  gently 
straightened,  if  possible,  in  order  to  relieve  the  pain  and  ten- 
sion upon  the  blood  vessels ;  and  in  case  of  either  a  disloca- 
tion or  a  break  cold  or  hot  compresses  can  be  used  over  the 
injur}"  to  reduce  the  inflammation  or  pain.  The  physician, 
upon  arriving,  will  reduce  the  dislocation,  that  is,  the  bones 
will  be  put  back  together  in  proper  position,  and  his  direc- 
tions as  to  rest  and  other  management  should  be  carefully 
followed. 

*^In  the  case  of  fracture,  ov  the  breaking  of  a  bone,  it 
may  be  necessary  to  apply  some  sort  of  splint,  either  of  wood 
or  plaster  of  Paris,  or  some  sort  of  an  extension  device  so 
that  there  will  be  a  constant  pull  upon  the  bone,  especiall}^  if 
it  be  a  long  one,  in  order  that  it  may  not  become  shortened 
while  healing.  The  directions  of  the  physician  or  surgeon 
should  be  followed  carefully,  and  should  not  be  changed  un- 
less there  is  a  plain  indication  that  something  is  seriously 
wrong,  in  which  case,  the  physician  should  again  be  called 
for  advice  and  new  instructions. 

*^If  a  splint  has  been  applied,  and  it  slips  down  out  of 
place,  or  is  causing  serious  damage  to  the  skin,  or  too  much 
suffering  after  twenty-four  hours,  the  physician  should  be 
notified  at  once  so  that  the  trouble  may  be  corrected." 

What  the  First  Aid  Kit  Should  Contain: 

Every  sportsman  doubtless  prefers  a  special  kind  of  an- 
tidote or  remedy  for  a  given  accident  or  illness,  hence  it 
would  be  impracticable  to  give  a  list  of  medicines  for  the 
first  aid  kit  that  would  please  everybody. 


THE   ANGLER   AXD    HUNTSMAN  259 

Perhaps  a  few  general  suggestions  will  suffice : 

Liver  pills  for  a  torpid  liver;  (not  many  sportsmen 
have  a  bad  liver). 

Pepper  and  ginger  in  hot  water  for  cramps  and  chilis; 

Quinine  tablets  for  fevers,  aided  by  a  laxative,  if 
needed;     Quinine  also  for  colds; 

•    Antiseptic  solution  for  mouth- wash,  sore-throat,  and 
disinfectant ; 

Cold  cream  for  chapped  face  and  hands; 

Iodine  for  cuts,  stings,  etc.; 

A  quantity  of  sanitary  gauze  and  absorbent  cotton ; 

Ammonia,  camphor,  valuable  for  mosquito  bites; 

Carbolic  acid  solution; 

And  other  articles  to  be  suggested  by  your  physician. 

iMany  remedies  can  be  made  from  common  things  that 
are  included  generall.y  in  the  camp  outfit.    For  instance: 

Sore  throat  is  often  cured  by  using  a  piece  of  pork  or 
bacon  tied  around  neck  by  a  dry  sock  or  stocking ; 

Burns  will  be  relieved  by  the  application  of  common 
baking  soda,  fat  or  oil ; 

Scalds  may  also  be  relieved  with  common  baking  soda 
applied  on  a  w^et  rag ; 

Toothache  can  frequently  be  stopped  with  warm  vine- 
gar and  salt  by  holding  in  the  mouth ; 

For  poisoning,  warm  water  often  acts  as  an  emetic  if 
mustard  and  salt  are  put  in  it.  Tobacco  will  cause  vomiting 
if  swallowed,  providing  you  have  no  better  remedy. 

Poultices  may  be  made  from  potato,  rice,  flaxseed, 
onion,  mustard,  bread,  etc. 

The  Manifold  Value  of  Common  Salt: 

Salt  placed  on  the  fingers  when  cleaning  game  birds 
and  animals,  as  well  as  fish,  will  prevent  slipping. 

Salt  dashed  on  a  coal  fire  when  broiling  steak  will  pre- 
vent blazing  from  the  dripping  fat. 

Salt  thrown  into  a  coal  fire  which  has  burned  low  will 
revive  it. 


260  THE   AXGLER   AND   HUNTSMAN 

Salt  thrown  on  bnrning  fat  will  stop  the  smoke  and 
odor. 

All  vegetables  that  grow  above  ground  should  be  cooked 
in  salted  water,  while  those  that  grow  under  ground  must 
be  cooked  in  fresh  water. 

Either  sugar  or  salt  will  preserve  meat,  as  either  ab- 
sorbs the  moisture  in  it,  which  prevents  decomposition. 

For  stings  and  bites  of  insects,  apply  dampened  salt. 
Bind  it  tightly  over  the  affected  part.  It  will  usually  bring 
relief  and  a  cure  quickly. 

Salt,  dissolved  in  alchohol,  is  good  to  remove  grease 
spots  on  clothing. 

A  pinch  of  salt  added  to  each  gallon  of  drinking  water 
boiled  for  drinking  use,  will  relieve  that  flat  taste  common 
to  boiled  water. 

A  tiny  pinch  of  salt  added  to  the  coffee  before  the  boil- 
ing water  is  poured  in  will  add  to  the  delicious  flavor  aiid 
aroma. 

Various  Uses  of  the  Lemon: 

Lemon  juice  put  in  milk  and  allowed  to  curdle,  which 
is  then  bound  upon  the  parts  of  the  body  swollen  with  rheu- 
matism will  ofttimes  bring  relief  and  reduce  swelling. 

Lemon  juice  applied  to  insect  bites  allays  the  irritation. 

A  dash  of  lemon  juice  in  water  makes  a  cleansing  tooth 
lotion  that  will  remove  the  tartar  and  sweeten  the  breath. 

Two  or  three  slices  of  lemon  added  to  a  cup  of  strong 
tea  usually  cures  a  nervous  headache. 

Half  a  lemon  dipped  in  salt  is  good  to  clean  articles  of 
copper  and  brass. 

A  few  drops  of  lemon  juice  added  to  scrambled  eggs 
while  they  are  cooking  improves  them  wonderfully. 

A  teaspoonful  of  lemon  juice  added  to  a  quart  of  water 
will  make  rice  whiter  and  keep  the  grains  separated  when 
boiled. 

Lemon  juice  and  sugar  will  relieve  a  tickling  sensation 
in  the  throat  and  an  irritating  cough. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  261 

Lemon  juice  in  black  coffee,unsweetened,  will  cure  sick 
headache. 

Strong,  unsweetened  lemonade,  taken  before  break- 
fast, will  cure  a  sick  headache. 

Lemon  juice  applied  on  soft  cloth  to  a  corn  for  several 
nights  can  then  be  pared  off. 

Lemon  juice  applied  to  a  wound  on  a  cloth  over  night 
is  good  to  stop  bleeding. 

Gargle  a  severe  sore  throat  with  strong  solution  of 
lemon  juice  and  water. 

A  little  lemon  juice  added  to  the  shampoo  aids  in  cut- 
ting the  oil  on  excessively  greasy  hair. 

Hot  lemonade  is  invaluable  in  colds  and  influenza. 

Lemon  juice  and  salt  will  remove  iron  rust. 

Kerosene: 

Kerosene  is  not  only  good  to  remove  dirt,  fresh  paint, 
rust,  etc.,  but  is  fine  used  as  a  disinfectant  and  insect  ex- 
terminator, which  often  bother  the  camper.  Ants,  cock- 
roaches, bed  bugs,  etc.,  leave  ^^for  parts  unknown"  when 
kerosene  is  applied  in  appropriate  places. 

Uses  of  Vinegar: 

When  cooking  a  tough  fowl  or  other  meat,  if  you  will 
place  one  tablespoonful  of  vinegar  in  the  water,  it  will  save 
from  one  to  two  hours'  boiling. 

Vinegar  and  meal,  used  on  hands  when  chapped  by  cold 
weather  will  be  softened  by  their  use. 

Vinegar  added  to  stewed  prunes  while  they  are  stewing 
improves  their  flavor. 

Vinegar,  one  teaspoonful,  added  to  boiling  whitefish 
improves  the  flavor  of  them  wonderfully. 

A  vinegar  stew,  made  of  honey  and  vinegar,  is  fine  for 
a  severe  cold. 


262  THE   ANGLEE   AXD    HUNTSMAN 

GOOD  POINTS:' 

Food  from  the  Forest: 

^* Guard  against  waste  of  wild  meat"  should  be  the  slo- 
gan of  every  hunter.  All  edible  portions  of  the  animal 
killed  should  be  utilized. 

Do  not  let  wild  game  be  an  added  luxury;  let  it  take  the 
place  of  your  market  meat.  No  more  game  than  can  be 
eaten  should  be  killed.  Do  not  let  your  desire  to  tell  a  big 
story  when  you  reach  home  lead  you  to  shoot  everything  in 
sight.  Good  sportsmen  will  observe  these  conservation  sug- 
gestions in  addition  to  the  game  laws. 

Point  Duck  Shooting: 

Point  shooting  is  the  favorite  method  of  the  duck  gun- 
ner. The  decoys  float  in  the  water  a  short  gunshot  from  the 
blind,  and  the  ducks  flying  by  see  the  decoys  and  come  in  to 
them.  This  kind  of  shooting  is  done  on  various  waters  all 
over  the  country,  conditions  varying  in  different  localities. 
On  the  shores  of  some  northern  lakes  and  broad  rivers  the 
blind  is  built  of  stones  laid  up  in  the  form  of  a  wall,  or  in 
winter,  of  blocks  of  ice.  In  the  marshes  of  the  South  At- 
lantic ducking  grounds,  stems  of  cane  form  the  blind,  or 
branches  of  trees  or  bushes  are  used. 

Dynamiting  the  Pothunter: 

The  newspapers  of  the  country  have  almost  everywhere 
been  a  powerful  force  in  crystalizing  the  sentiment  of  the 
X»rotection  by  proper  laws  of  fish  and  game  as  important 
resources  of  the  commonwealth. 

A  New  Jersey  editor,  a  thorough  sportsman,  says  Wild 
Life,  recently  received  from  a  reader  who  desired  to  take 
a  fish  by  questionable  means  a  letter  that  contained  this 
request : 

** Please  advise  me  how  to  dvnamite  a  stream." 


'Note:      Good  Points  were  taken  from  Mosby's  Missouri  Message. 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HUNTSMAN  263 

The  newspaper  man  sent  the  following  advice : 
''Four  sticks  of  dynamite  are  sufficient.     Tie  them  se- 
curely around  your  neck,  attach  fuse,  light  it  and  run  as 
fast  as  you  can  away  from  the  water  to  avoid  injuring  the 
other  snakes  and  reptiles." 

Camp  Hints: 

Going  very  light,  most  campers  carry  soap ;  yet  it  seems 
that  for  one  reason  or  another,  it  is  rarely  if  ever  mentioned. 
There  is  a  word  to  be  said  about  it,  however. 

White  soap  is  easy  to  be  seen  at  night  and,  as  most  of 
the  white  soaps  float,  they  are  to  be  preferred  to  other  kinds 
for  camp  use.  Often  the  cake  of  soap  is  thrown  into  the 
canoe,  where  it  runs  riot  at  large,  gumming  up  everything 
in  sight.  The  added  drops  of  water  from  a  passing  shower 
produce  slippery  footing  and  assorted  expletives. 

The  celluloid  or  hard  rubber  soap  box  is  not  suited  to 
campers,  not  only  because  it  has  to  be  handled  like  an  egg, 
but  because  it  is  always  larger  than  the  soap.  The  metal 
box,  though  less  easily  smashed,  is  made  to  fit  special  toilet 
soaps,  which  is  a  great  disadvantage. 

A  soap  bag  is  easily  made  from  a  piece  of  canvas  of 
suitable  lengih  and  sides  sewed  up,  after  which  this  small 
bag,  or  envelope,  was  turned  right  side  out.  A  metal  sus- 
pender button  was  sewed  on  the  front  and  a  button  hole 
made  in  the  flap. 

In  use  this  soap  container  has  proved  its  worth  over 
and  over  again.  It  will  take  the  largest  size  cake  of  soap 
and  is  never  larger  than  the  soap  happens  to  be.  Its  cost 
is  but  a  few  cents  and  you  can  sit  on  it  and  walk  on  it  with 
pleasure.  When  you  have  used  the  soap  you  place  it  on 
the  flap  of  the  bag,  not  on  the  sand,  and,  after  rinsing,  it  is 
not  necessary  to  touch  the  soap.  Just  pick  up  the  bag  by 
the  flap  and  the  button,  dump  in  the  soap  and  throw  the 
bag  anywhere  among  your  duffle.  Again,  should  the  soap 
bag  be  forgotten  and  left  out  in  the  rain  all  night,  there  will 
be  some  soap  left  and  no  mess  of  it  over  the  ground.    . 


264  THE   AXGLER    AND    HUNTSMAX 

As  wild  cats  are  known  to  be  great  game  destroyers,  it 
is  permissible  to  publish  the  following  suggestion  for  their 
capture  by  trapping : 

A  Pen  for  Wild  Cats: 

The  wild  cat  is  a  shy,  slinking  night  prowler,  found 
alike  in  hilly  regions  and  thick  swamps.  It  has  no  great 
degree  of  cunning,  but  can  not  be  attracted  to  a  trap  from 
much  of  a  distance,  for  the  reason  that  it  does  not  have  a 
very  keen  nose.  Scents  help  considerably  in  bringing  tliis 
animal  to  the  trap. 

A  wild  cat  has  little  appetite  for  decayed  meat,  so  the 
meat  must  be  fresh.  Rabbits  and  partridges  are  good.  It 
is  best  to  build  a  pen  by  driving  stakes  into  the  ground,  with 
an  opening  for  the  animal  to  enter.  Set  the  trap  in  this 
opening  and  cover  lightly  with  suitable  material.  Then 
hang  the  bait  inside.  A  few  evergreen  boughs  thrown  over 
the  pen  will  keep  the  snow  out  and  make  it  look  more  hid- 
den. Rabbits  and  squirrels  are  often  a  great  bother  to  this 
set,  by  getting  into  the  trap.  It  will  help  to  keep  the  rab- 
bits out  if  some  dead  brush  is  dropped  in  front  of  the  pen. 
They  do  not  like  to  jump  through  dead  brush.  A  little 
springy  stick  under  the  pan  of  the  trap  will  often  prevent 
small  animals  from  snapping,  and  so  keep  it  ready  for  the 
heavier  game  when  it  comes  along. 

At  butchering  time  a  wild  cat  or  two  may  be  caught  if 
the  offal  is  taken  to  a  likely  place  in  the  woods,  and  traps 
are  set  around  it.  The  writer  took  three  one  winter  in  traps 
set  around  a  dead  horse. 

When  small  game  is  plentiful,  wild  cats  do  not  take 
bait  very  well.  A  set  that  may  be  used  then,  is  prepared  by 
making  a  long,  narrow  pen,  or  passage,  that  the  animal  can 
walk  through,  and  hanging  a  piece  of  red  cloth  in  it,  with 
some  scent  on  the  cloth. 

Along  the  edges  of  lakes,  when  they  are  frozen  over,  is 
a  good  place  to  set  traps  for  wild  cats.  Here,  or  any  place 
for  that  matter,  it  helps  to  hang  a  rabbit  skin  from  a  string 


THE   ANGLER   AND    HX'NTSMAN  265 

near  the  trap.     On  the  ice,  the  animal  may  travel  too  far  out 
to  scent  the  bait,,  and  its  eyes  are  always  keener  than  its  nose. 

THE  CARE  OF  DOGS: 

Do  not  allow  other  dogs  or  strangers  to  disturb  the  fe- 
male until  the  puppies  are  at  least  three  weeks  old.  Never 
feed  grown  dogs  and  puppies  together ;  start  to  feed  puppies 
at  three  week's  old,  buttermilk  twice  a  day,  morning  and 
evening;  this  will  clean  their  stomachs  of  worms.  Leave 
the  mother  with  them  until  they  are  at  least  five  weeks  old; 
then,  for  her  own  health,  as  well  as  for  the  health  of  the 
puppies,  allow  her  to  stay  with  them  one  hour  a  day  for  one 
more  week,  then  feed  twice  a  day,  buttermilk  or  beef  broth 
with  bread  crumbs  (corn  bread  is  best),  little  strips  of  raw 
lean  meat  is  good  twice  a  week,  but  very  little  until  they  are 
past  four  months  old,  at  which  time  they  will  get  their  sec- 
ond teeth  and  can  masticate  more  substantial  food  and  will 
grow  strong.  Avoid  sweet  stuff,  fresh  milk  or  meat,  as  it 
has  a  tendency  to  produce  worms. 

Be  sure  to  see  that  your  kennels  are  well  ventilated; 
if  possible,  have  rimning  water,  at  any  rate  a  goodly  supply 
of  fresh  water  at  all  times.  Disinfect  thoroughly  at  least 
once  a  week.  If  nature  does  not  provide  it,  have  a  good  a]*- 
tificial  shade  and  a  perfectly  dry  kennel  in  damp  and  cool 
weather.  Feed  grown  dogs  not  more  than  once  a  day,  corn- 
bread  and  table-scraps  as  a  mixed  diet.  Best  of  all,  corn 
meal  and  middlings  with  well  cooked  meat  and  soup,  baked 
to  a  pone  or  mush.  Dogs  will  eat  this  substance  readily  and 
it  keeps  them  in  perfect  health.  Exercise  or  work  on  game, 
if  possible,  at  least  once  a  day.  To  prevent  fleas,  and  for 
mange  and  for  all  forms  of  skin  diseases,  use  one  part  creo- 
line  to  100  parts  of  water,  and  dip  dog,  head  and  all.  For 
cankered  ear,  saturated  solution  of  boracic  acid.  Massage 
or  rub  thoroughly.  For  distemper,  allow  the  dog  his  liberty 
and  give  him  all  the  raw  eggs  and  fresh  milk  he  will  eat. 
Give  him  a  good  dose  of  castor  oil  about  twice  a  week. 


i 


I 


1 


The  Red  Ranger 


The  Red  Ranger,  published  at  Rush 
ville,  Mo.,  by  L.  F.  Gingery 

in  the  interests  of  hounds  and  hunting  is  the 


The  Red  Ranger,  Rushville,  Mo. 

U.  5.  A. 


P  111   Llie  lllLtriCfMtt  Ul  IIUUIIUS  clllll   IILIIILIII^   IS    LlltT  p 

^  only  periodical  in  America  which  fearlessly  | 

I  and  indej)endently  stands  xxp  at  all  times  for  | 

the  dog.    EA^ery  dog  lover  should  lend  his  or  I 

her  influence  to  The  Red  Ranger  by  sub-  f 

f  scribing  to  this  fearless  champion  of  the  dog  f 

I  for  the  great  good  that  this  magazine  is  ac-  | 

I  complishing.     The  Red  Ranger,  published  | 

I  monthly,  sells  at  $1.00  per  year.    The  Red  | 

I  Ranger  Publishing  Co.  also  X3ublishes  an-  | 

I  nually  the  American  Foxhound  Breeders'  | 

i  Stud  Book,  in  which  are  recorded  thousands 


i 


f  of   the   prominent    American    foxhounds.       ^ 

Price  of  recording  foxhounds,  $1.00.    Price     | 


I  of  Stud  Books,  $2.00  each  volume.  I 

I  .  I 

i  Address  blU  communications  to  4 


:         .      1 

I  i 


MOSBY'S  Missouri  MESSAGE 


o 

CO 


Q) 


^ 


The  most  widely  quoted  journal  in  Missouri,  and 
the  favorite  of  the  Missouri  home.  The  only  Missouri 
weekly  carrying  a  regular  department  for  sportsmen 
and  lovers  of  the  great  out-doors. 

A  Missouri  city  is  now  the  leading  fur  market  of 
the  world,  and  Missouri  is  one  of  the  leading  game 
States  of  the  Union.  The  advertiser  who  would  reach 
the  Missouri  sportsman  at  home  must  do  so  through 
the  columns  of  MOSBY'S  MISSOURI  MESSAGE. 

Advertising  rate,  lo  cents  per  agate  line.  Sub- 
scription price,  $2.00  per  year. 


THE   MESSAGE   PUBLISHING  CO. 

615  Central  Trust  Building  Jefferson  City,  Mo. 


Co 
Co 

o 

c 


i 


Have  you  seen  it? 

We  mean  the  current  number  of  Spo)  ts  Afield. 
It's  the  best  bargain  in  the  way  of  Sportsman 


^  three  big  numbers;  stamps  will  do, 

I    Sports  Afield  Publishing  Co. 

i     542  So.  Dearborn  St.,  Chicago,  Ills. 


I  Literature  that  ever  blew  in  out  of  the  West.  | 

I  PubHshed  monthly,  in  Chicago,  the  Metrop-  I 

I  olis  of  the  World,  this  fine,  virile  Western  I 

f  magazine  grows  more  forceful  with  passing  | 

I  time.     Each  number  bulges  with  the  latest  | 

I  news  from  the  Big  Game  Fields.     Besides,  I 

p  .  ,  ...  P 

i  it's    chock    full    of  interesting  articles  about  | 

P  ...  .  .  I 

I  Hunting,  Fishmg,  Camping,  Trapping,  House-  p 

boating,  the  activities  of  the  Boy  Scouts,  and  p 

other  things  with  the  tang  of  the  West  in  | 

every  line.     Twelve  handsome  numbers  for 

only  $2.00 


AS  A  STARTER— Why  not  send  SO  cents  for     i 


AIREDALE  PUPS 


From 
Morning  View- 
Farm  Kennels 
are  the  win- 
ning- type  and 
forrect  color 
— our  big  Free 
Catalog  gives 
many  views 
of  our  win- 
ners. 

Below    is    pic- 
ture   of 

GREAT  SCOTT 


From 
Morning  View 
Farm  Kennels 
Krow  into  use- 
ful dogs — be- 
cause their 
parents  are 
the  working 
kind  as  well 
as  excellent 
Bench  speci- 
mens. 

My  Airedales 
are  trained 
trailers  and 
?ame  fighters. 


THE  MORNING  VIEW 
FARM  KENNELS 

Box  321   Havelock,  Nebr. 


Produce  some  of  the 
best  Airedales  in 
Z  America — because  we 
make  it  an  exclusive 
business  and  know 
our  business. 

Our  entire  farm  is  de- 
voted to  the  raising  of 
better  Airedale  dogs — 


"TINTERN    DESIRE'S" 

Greatest   living   son — Write    for 
descriptive    circular. 


MY    AIREDALES 

Bring  Home  the  Rabbits — Send 
for  illustrated  circular. 


our  entire  time  also  is 

devoted  to  producing 

the  zi'orking  Airedale 

as  well  as  Winners  at 

Bench  Shoivs — Write 
for  our  complete  illustrated  catalog — giving  many  views  of  Airedales  on 
our  farm — Not  a  backyard  city  raised  Airedale,  but  one  raised  on  a  farm 
in  open  air — whose  parents  are  hunters  and  dogs  who  have  achieved 
honors  in  the  show  rings  as  well  as  doing  credit  to  their  name  as  trailers 
and  game  fighters — Lowest  Priced  Airedales  in  America — quality  con- 
sidered. 


SEND  FOR  OUR  FREE  PRICE  LIST — many  photon  of  Airedales  and  Hat  of  many 
satisfied  customers. 

Mention  "THE  COMPLETE  ANGLER  AND  HUNTSMAN" 


'The  Blue  Grass 

Stock  Farms  of  Berry,  Ky.— 

the  largest  breeders  and  shippers  of  all 
breeds  of  thoroughbred  live-stock  in  the 
world,  offer  for  sale  thoroughbred  and 
registered  hogs,  sheep,  cattle,  horses, 
mules  and  jacks,  shipped  for  approval, 
fully  guaranteed,  money  refunded  if 
we  fail  to  please.  Send  ten  cents  in 
stamps  or  coin  for  fifty-page,  highly 
illustrated,  instructive,  and  interesting 
catalogue." 

STANLEY  BLAKE,  Prcs.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


■■'■ iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiriii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiHiii iiiii iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimi 


Blue   Grass  parms 
por  Sale 

Do  }ou  want  a  home  in  the  famous  lilue  Grass 
Rej^ion  of  Kentucky — the  heart  of  the  world — where 
the  winters  are  mild,  the  average  temperature  being  58 
degrees  ? 

No  matter  whether  you  have  in  mind  tobacco- 
raising,  stock-farming,  a  game  preserve,  or  want  to 
establish  a  country  estate,  or  gun  club,  we  can  furnish 
what  you  desire  at  very  reasonable  prices. 

We  have  farms  of  various  sizes  available  and  suit- 
able for  the  above  purpose.  VVe  should  be  glad  to 
show  prospective  purchasers  over  these  farms  any 
time  you  visit  us.  The  latch-string  always  hangs  out. 
We'll  make  you  welcome  in  true  Southern  style. 

Game  is  plentiful.  Licking  River  affords  fine 
fishing. 

This  is  the  ideal  country  for  the  hunter  and  the 
angler — a   Sportsman's   paradise. 

Address : 

Blue  Grass  ^eal  Estate  Co. 

Berry,  P^entucky 

STANLEY  BLAKE.  President  THOMAS  HUBERT  HUTTON.  Sales  Mp. 


tiMiiiiiMiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiMiiiiiMiMiiiiiiiiMiuMMiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiniitiii tiiiiii iiitiiit iiiiiiiiiiriiiitiiiiiiiiiiiriiiiii 


THE  MICHIGAN 
SPORTSMAN 

The  Livest,'Most  Readable  and  Fascinating  Magazine 
for   the   Sportsman    Published   in   the  Middle  West 


Filled  with  outdoor  stories  from  the  real  "old-timers"  of  the  north  woods — the 
fellows  who  have  been  there.  A  real,  live,  entertaining,  profusely  illustrated 
outdoor  monthly  magazine  dealing  with  the  great  outdoors  everywhere,  and  in 
particular  with  Michigan  and  its  1,600  miles  of  Great  Lake  shore  line,  5,000 
inland  lakes  and  summer  resorts,  ten  million  acres  of  hunting  woods,  and  its 
endless   number  of  fishing  and  boating  streams. 

The  Michigan  Sportsman  covers  the  State  thoroughly.  It  is  a  magazine  for  every 
man,  woman  and  child.  Short  stories  of  actual  experience  in  hunting  and  fishing 
feature   every    issue.      It   advocates    the   propagation    and    contervation    of   all    wild 

animal  life.  An  Audubon  Department,  Trap  Shooting  and  Game  Warden  De- 
partment   are    permanent    features    of    the    publication.      The    Query    Department 

takes  particular  interest  in  answering  questions  on  fishing,  hunting,  trappings,  etc., 
directed  to  it.      Send  in  any  question  puzzling  you. 

The  present  subscription  price  of  The  Michigan  Sportsman  is  $1.50  a  year.  If  you 
care  to  take  advantage  of  this,  do  so  immediately  by  using  the  blank  at  the  bot- 
tom of  this  page  and  secure  the  next  twelve  Issues  regularly.  If  you  are  interested 
in  sports,  you  should  be  interested  in  The  Michigan  Sportsman.  Why  not  get  to- 
gether?    Use  the  coupon  today. 


THE  MICHIGAN  SPORTSMAN, 

707   Empire   Building, 
Detroit,  Michigan. 

Gentlemen : — 

Herewith    is    S f of    my    subscription    to    The    Michigan    Sportsman 

for  one  year  beginning  witli issue. 

Name      

Address    

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THE     ONLY     ALL-ANGLING     MAGAZINE 

Covers  every  phase  of  angling.  Contains  well-written,  beautifully  illustrated  stories  by  and  for  anglers;  how 
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where" and  who  know  how  to  write;  daring  original  and  timely  opinions  on  all  matters  piscatorial;  amateur 
tackle  making;  fly,  bait  and  surf  tournament.  Salt  water  angling  is  generously  treated  and  angling  humor  is  de- 
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Twelve  big  numbers  .each  year,  filled  up  with  close-to- 
nature  reading:.  The  best  coon  and  fox  hunting  stories 
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59  E.  MAIN  ST.. 


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COLIMBIS,  OHIO 


GAME    BREEDING    a  New  and  Profitable  Industry 

The  breeding  of  Game  and  Game  Fish  is  profitable  and  interesting.  The 
Game  Breeders'  Magazine  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  those  engaged  in  this 
new  American  Industry.  It  contains  practical  articles  written  by  breeders  and 
notes  from   The  Game  Farms   and   Preserves. 

Many   people   now   make   an    excellent  living   breeding   Game   and   Fish. 

Many  sportsmen  now  have  excellent  Shooting  under  the  new  laws,  encouruK- 
ing  Game  breeding. 

Subscription   price   $1.00  per  year.      Sample  copies  Ten  Cents. 


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150  Nassau  Street, 


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273 


When,  Where  and  How  to  Go 
and  What  to  Find — 
That  is  the  Problem 


Yes,  sir,  it's  Your  problem,  too. 

And  it  took  us  years  to  get  this  "dope"  together  for  YOU. 

Real  information,  gathered  by  real  Outdoorsmen. 

The    "good    places"   in    Minnesota,    Wisconsin,    Michigan,    Illinois 

and  Indiana — the  "worth  while"  streams  and  lakes. 

Game  and  Fish  Laws,  too,  and  lots  of  good,  sound,  practical  hints 

for  real  sportsmen. 

That's  what  you  will  find  in  the 


160  pages,  illustrated,  bound  in  handsome  green  cloth  cover  stamped 

in  Gold 

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4610  Ravenswood  Ave.  Dpt.  K  Chicago,  IJl. 


274 


"Is  Your  Thoroughbred  Stock 
R^stered?  IfNot,WhyNotr 

The  get  produced  from  registered  stock 
is  always  marketable  at  about  twice  the 
prices  of  fattened  stock  for  slaughter- 
ing purposes. 


1 

.ip"^^^'' 

'  .'^^^^m^"  ■ 

■    ^m^l.,.^ 

k^.saE| 

Register  your  stock  with  the 

BLUE   GRASS  BREEDERS^ 
NATIONAL  GAZETTE 

Fee  $1.00,  including  certified  pedi- 
gree for  three  generations  and  registra- 
tion certificate.     $1.00  additional  for 
fourth  generation. 

BLUE  GRASS  BREEDERS'  NATIONAL  GAZETTE 

STANLEY  BLAKE,  Keeper 


275 


Pedigrees  and  Registrations 


i 


"ASTRONOMER,*  No.  28,321  B.  G.  S.  B. 

By  Frank— Annie  Walker,  is  the  Sensational  Winning  Fox  Hound  of  1917-'18 

Astronomer  winner  at  the  Fifth  Annual  Lynn  F.  H.  A.  Meet 


All  dogs  offered  for  sale  are  Registered  or  Pedi- 
greed Specimens,  eligible  for  Registration.  Registra- 
tion fee  is  one  ( i )  dollar,  including  Certified  Pedigree 
for  Three  Generations.  If  Fourth  Generation  is  de- 
sired one  ( I )  dollar  additional  is  required.  Any  dog 
having  a  Pedigree  for  Three  Generations  is  eligible 
to  Register,  with  the  necessary  Certificates  for  such. 
We  can  furnish  you  with  the  best  Blood  to  be  found, 
as  every  dog  we  breed  is  well  intermingled  with  Field 
Trial  and  Bench  Show  Winning  Blood  predominating. 
We   guarantee   Blood   lines   unexcelled. 


I 


I  STANLEY  BLAKE,  Manager 

^  Blue  Grass  Farm  Kennels         Also  Keeper  Blue  Grass  Stud  Book 

i  BERRY,  KENTUCKY 


Book  on  Dog  Diseases  and 
How  to  Feed 


Mailed  FREE  on 
Application  to 


H.  CLAY  GLOVER,  V.  S. 


118  W.  31st  Street 
New  York 


The  Magazine 
of    The    West 


Every  issue  is  cram  full  of  the  thing*  which  interest 
every  true  sportsman — stories  of  delightful  fishing, 
hunting  and  camping  trips,  splendid  photographs, 
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