The sun., 1893-03-12
GAME AND FISH NOTES.
PROPHETS THE COMING SEASON FOR
HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN.

0eseruetion the Hard Winter Has wrourht
Upoe Birds md Fishes-wNd SWIM In
Orceou-Mierntionr or the Gro-benk-
1Hisnesotns Cnreics-ly Drafted Game
Lews-North taroiinn's wild Fowl
Maine's Proposed Tax on Alien SPORTS
neA-FIshinr of Lake ChnmpInin- Tinker
Ing OF Mnsrachu.etts's Game Lnw.-The
Seasons Fishing Prospect. In Maine-
Trout Spawning in New Hork-white-
bait, American and Eurii-h-Nernda Fish
Commissioner.' Good worh-Scx Among
Ffsh-faciHc Salmon breeding In France
siuices Versus Ladders In Fishways.
The destruction wrought the quail in north
srn latitudes during the recent sovore winter
has been unprecedented. reports from re-
liable correspondents in all OF the Middle and
western States are unanimous as to this fact.
Even in the southern counties Of Maryland.
whore early In tho season quail were quito
plentiful. bevies Of from twelve to sixteen have
been found frozen. Some Of the farmers have
had the humanity to focd tho birds; but in
sther instances advantage has been taken OF
their benumbed condition to kill them while
resting upon the ground. The condition OF
affairs In Vlrginin may be illustrated by
an appeal OF Mr.. Polk Miller. Prcsl-
dent Of tho Virginia Field sports Asso-
citation. urging protection for the starv-
ing and freezing quail in that State He
advertised to the effect that II the
farmers OF Virginia would catch. house. and
feed quail during the severe weather. and
turn them loose in the spring. he would pay
them at the rate OF twenty-five cents per pair
up to thousand pairs. He also agreed to fur
nish trash wheat to merchants and railroad
station agents who would feed the bevies near
their promises. There were many responses
to this appeal. but the lack OF means prevented
Mr. Polk from effectinR all that he desired in
the direction OF keeping alive the perishing
birds. Reports from Ohio are OF tho same
gloomy character: Many observers note that
since the inception Of the extreme cold
weather not a quail has been seen alive whore
great number. however. have been found
msns tie a@a Ravo been
lea Sy The ia1%eTs IT. this Stn,e Of s9vea
ba, survived the winter. ,Th. margin for loss
sas sSse ssEK %sa 81 th.ls ts
we'll nigh e1termineted them. In Pennsyl;;
wore Quite dqnH e Is
the ssS cold Meshsr The
s5 ssiha5ptsI: Sl,s xhe took ,%dVspssse 2, III ia
this Kind comes from Iowa. where farmer
you'd feed %. q dish in lhH lis pre- prssense Ss
put IN an appearSnce and iai Killed the iS entire
6Svy: Reports similar to tho above come from
than the fact that over 10000 quail have al
the
state has that the
thA diff1Cultiaa OF NnfOrcinU Ruch
ment render 1t impracticahe.
hss Sss % n aiw tSe @ su
est wsathsIt bns this season has eSLdenty
thirty Of these birds which were fed by a
I'll have aed WIFE 's tho Coming pSs'Ss Of tSe ss rss
heavy show he COMMENCED to provide them
which they were not accustomed or from
other causes. the entire flock perished. one
bird alter another.
The proverbial salt on the tails OF birds has
been supplemented in Oregon by snow. A
story comes from that distant section that the
MonRolian pheasants. there numerous. have
been extensively captured alive. owing to an
accumulation Of snow on their tails which pre-
vented their taking wing. This yarn must be
accepted with q wide allowance. Oregon Is
very far of. and story there. with small
foundation In fact. may acquire considera-
BILE embellishments on Its way to the East.
asT ut hs Sr
possesses the peculiarly Of carrying minia- |
fe wsS p0sR At II IS
that the fact has never been recorded. Possi-
ply thts oregon story has been invented to
State. who have been exceedingly active dur
the pnst season ip killing the pheasants. The
by an accumulation of snow on their tails will |
be more than made good through their phe- |
nomenal fecundity.
Mr.. Thomas G. Farrell. In recent commu-
nlcntion to tho american Field. gives an ac-
count Of great wild swan resort upon Sea-
vie's Island. near the mouth OF tho Willamette
River In Oregon. Upon the farm OF Mr.. Will |
liam Morgan on the island Is a lake OF about
forty acres in extent. This sheet OF water is
well stocked with the wapato. or Indian po-
tato. a fayorite food with swans. Upon the
approach Of cold weather those birds. to the
number OF thousands. visit tho lake. and re-
main until the wapntoes are exhausted. When
there is q moon the swans feed at night; but
when 1t is dark they seek food during the day.
1t is on the latter occasions only that they are
hunted. Mr.. Morgan has the good sense not
70 molest the birds but one, day in tho week.
he s never r permits II M shooting Ct night: Wien he
side q tho lake. This, Gushcs tho swans. |
grsater pcrioS has ssei I"t over him him. betors ore
he opens. fire.. This does not materially |
i,ight.n the birds. md they soon return to
their feeding grounds. huring the months OF
and January the like II literally !ii!cd with
evans nor would they leave it then except |
through the exhaustion OF the food. Now and |
again the birds are shot over decoys. tpon |
one occasion forty wore Kill led 10y /. inGle gum
ner in this way. Although this lake is only |
twenty miles from Portland. Or. and notwlih- |
etnndna the importnntles of gunners, Mr., |
Morgan has the good sense to protect tho |
swans from predatory raids. For this reason
every recurring autumn finds his preservethe !
haunt OF this. our most interesting wild fowl. |
Should he allow indiscriminate shooting. one |
season would he uliicicnt to render his lake |
a. barren as hundreds Of other sheets OF |
water where such precautions as his have
been omitted.
Mr. William Brewster OF Cambridge, Mass.
has been interested in making inquiries re-
garding tho migration OF the pino crosbeaks
which early In the winter made their appear
l. -