davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
30 UHTIES IN A
why Maine SIN Pays a bounty and Last
Year Raised II 20 81 "a Head.

Maine paid bountics on 1.6G2 seals and on
305 bears In 1895. In 1894 only 3s5 seals
and $50 bears were killed. The increase Of
seal killing is due to a 90 cent increase of the
bounty. making it 81. Tho bears have been
thinned out by excessive killing. Why there
should be a bounty on seals Is plain to those
who know that in a year a single seal con-
sumes some 1850 pounds Of fish, which would
make 8,Od6. 800 pounds saved by the killing
of the 1,662 seals in 1895. Most of the fish
eaten are coarse grained, such as are used In
batting lobster pots-sculpins, founders. tom
Gods. &c.-but not a few valuable fish. like
herring, salmon. and mackerel. are killed by
these animals. Much difficulty is experienced
by seal hunters in securing oil of the animals
killed. Many badly wounded ones escape.
and probably more than 1000 seals were
killed during 1895.
No one knows exactly why bounties are
paid on black bears. They are harmless AMI
mails. according, to competent observers.
feeding on beachnuts, wild fruits Of various
kinds, on carrion and roots of plants, seldom
of ever molestlng farmers In any way. Maine
pays IS and New York $40 a head for killing
these good-natured creatures.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
Danger In Wandering Shot.

In spite Of the utmost care on the part of
shooters. there are many fatal or manning ac-
cidents. What happens when no care Is ex-
ercised is a matter Of almost daily report for
newspapers. Bullets glance around corners
In a way that makes the woods always a place
Of danger. The eccentric courses of shot from
shotguns are seldom known. but certain 1t Is
that they sometimes leave the muzzles OF the
guns to fly almost at right angles to the direc-
ton OF the aim. An Englishman aimed at q
driver pheasant, high in the air. His host
was far out Of the ordinary range Of the gun,
as it was then aimed. One of the shot hit him
in the neck. The shot had left the gun at an
angle that took It five rods to one side of the
direction the rest OF the charge took. Like
accidents have been recorded, while many kills
OF game are told OF that are inexplicabie save
by the fact Of u wandering shot. So IL Is that
many OF the knowing sportsmen refuse to shoot
unless all persons are directly TO the right or
left Of them, lest IA stray puts out an eye.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

100 yards, and some Of the Others hit the val
ley. The dead animals were loaded on. the
OF an IL. 600. foot mountain, the hunters had
The rare good fortune for that region OF jump
Ing. seven Rtanaco. which ran too fast for the
mules the men rode. and struck "A gait across
the .panipa Encouraging to the hunters.
But leaplnR from my mule" says the
writer. and sighting my rifle at 400 yards, I
dropped n. bullet ahead Of them, and the
bunch OF dust scared them tot %standstill. I
then pumped the remaining hins bullets into
the herd, and two fell dead
A 1890 rifle would have been better for
such long.ranRo work. and n 40.S2 still bet
ter; but no matter, the. GuanHcos were killed.
One was 40 inches high at the shoulder and
weighed 100 pounds. dreseedj the other was
80 inches high and weighed 10 pounds dressed.
The total bag was two guanacos, seven "
cuna. seven brace " c%uli-cull. one brace
yuiviO, five ducks. three snipes. and no end
fun. The end uf the hunt was to the tunes OF
a banjo and a piano.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
BIRDS AND ECLIPSES,
wild Ducks that Didn't Fly on tho Might or
q Lunar Eclipse.

That wild fowl observe natural phenomena
there can be no doubt. The latest addition to
the notes on this subject Is the effect of u nearly
total eclipse of the moon on wild fowl.
Abel Chapman writes to the London Field
that ION the afternoon of Feb. % four of us
set out for the evening fight Of ducks. We
were not aware Of the impending eclipse, but
hardly had we got comfortably laid down on our
backs in the mud, each man on an oilskin.
with an armful Of bent grass for a pillow. than
we became aware that an almost total eclipse
was in progress. The eclipse lasted some three
hours. and the moon was not fairly clear till
past 8 +. NJ. We lay shivering In the cold till
1T was fairly light again. and then were able
The previous night they had shown up in
force; but this night not a cartridge was
An eclipse of the sun has an extraordinary
effect on the noisy birds Of tropical regions,
gins to fade the BIRD cries hush.awa ay' in I,e dou Re.
can, be felt. The wishing wings Of a ferco
before the advancing mOnarCh-a sound that
adds heart beats even TO the civilized mans
weird cries and tom tom beats. Once the sun
+ ,b sle fors again = cr *. Of fiji, Joy is heard throGxh9rt
bright n hiti rays b Back. 'a and Y' the MONKEYS mST n %eis se1m fsI 1IS
fieTcely as I released from hateful captivity
tbis nbnnou m1 wv. n u,uer ~ WATER opserye
cannot be told If thirsty feathered wanderers
In desert, lands see mirages or not, but the
quickened. footsteps of the camel when one Of
natures ,false-speaking lures appears on the
Great sahara leads the naturalist to believe
that many a bird and animal dies a tortured
death where the breath of the wind is hot. in
the view Of one Of these false lakes. Before the
scientific researches Of the Government into
the Death Valley Of California were made.
most absurd tales were told, such as those OF
birds flying beyond the line and falling dead.
as II the very air were DOlbDnOus,' Some birds
did die. but not so quick q death nor go merci-
full a one.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
CATCHING TARroN WOW.
some mtg Fellows Reported 20 Have Heen
Taken on Puntn Rassr.

Taken on Puntn RsssH.
The FIRST report Of the tnrpon fishing season
Is from Punta Rassa, Fla. 20 the Forest and
stream. and says that w. l.. Boyle. a New
Yorker, who Is cruising In the yacht Tarpon.
killed the first one on Feb. "a. Since then
several Of the big fish have been taken.
IL took the tarpUn fishers a good while TO
learn how TO make tsrpon fishing n sport.
They use now half TO pound mullets. an eight.
foot rod Of substantial proportions, n very
large reel, with n long, powerful line. and u
peculiar hook on IL that has u yard or so OF
non.chewuble buckskin, wire or twisted cat
gut for the snood. 80 that the fish can't bite
itself free.
The hook and most Of the Fnood nre swal.
lowed. Before they knew how to fsh for tar.
pom, the anglers struck almost ms soon as the
line started Off, but now they whit q while. The
flsh's mouth Is too hard To be penetrated by
the hook, and striking alarmed the fish;
out. and swlms away and comes back salts
fed that Il is all right, and a q snlp : sslioys
ing for more. In three jifies the. sportsman
yanks up his rod and the fish is fast; Then
comes a Job that makes &c ones a.S arms scho' and
tackle" WIS up in the Adirondacks last sum:
among visitors to the Blue Mountain, Lake re.
gion. and, this guide was using 2 home made
gan Wnlcn was so mucn better. tnan ordinary
gaffs that the manufacturer began to talk
business instead of fishing. The gafr was made
ont OF old files. and had two hooks that
closed down on one another into the big fish,
hand. The gaff hooked into both sides of the
fish instead of into one, as the old style did.
The guide got n substantial price for his in.
vention, and the tarpon fisherman has found
a gaff especially adapted to his use.
The record boards OF tarpon fishing clubs
are kept by lacking n single scale of each fish
taken to a plank, with the date, catcher's
name, and weignt written below II. These
make interesting reading.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
A WOLF. Race for LIE.

An American Field correspondent, writing
from Edwardsville, H., reports the killing of
n wolf ahead Of q foxhound pack less than
three miles from that city, by a man armed
with a 22-calibre repeating rife, several bull
lets being fired before the vitals were reached.
The dogs had been heard trailing something.
supposedly IL red fox. for forty eight hours
about that region, and no one paid any atten-
ton to 1t. They at last brought the game to
bay, but wore afraid to tackle the ugly looking
creature, though the beast was dead tired and
covered with mud. Perhaps they were too
tired to fight.
An old sportsman said 1t was n gray timber
wolf, probably driven down from the Illinois
timber bottoms by hunters hounds, and had
been picked up later by the Edwardsville pack.
The skin will be preserved and mounted as a
rare curiosity for that place.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
DEHON'S BIG MACS OF DUcks
Killed s One Day and 45O tn. Next, 70
the disgust OF a Sportsme ems Paper.

Hunting had been forbidden for some time
on n farm near Abbeyille, La, and in consc-
quence the ducks for miles around flew there.
and were in immense focks on tho several
small lakes. One day the owner. Emile De
hon, went out with a gun and got 800 of tho
birds. and, according to tho report, got 40
with thrc@ shots. Next day he got 400. using
a l~2-gauge gun both days. x %well-known
sports mems paper calls this "nlalic!ous shoot
capital punishment Il not possible"
Conservative sportsmen estimate that De-
hon did not 9rerstep his share of birds. Here
opportunities, hut who chose to kill his game
In two days instead Of two weeks like an ordi.
nary sportsman. Had nohOn 80 wished he
could have killed thousands by iudicious shoot
ing during the fall. II Mr.. Dehun will spend
two days shooting during the year. killing 800
or 900 ducks, then allowing the birds 10 rest
for the rest OF the time, he will be doing u SER
vice far greater than the man who calls him q
game annihilator," yet kills two or six thou.
sand ducks n year.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
Col. Raum aad the sphinx.


Col. George r, Raum ~ san Francisco, who
mas twice previously visited Egypt, has now On
ms Lhird visit embarked on a most interesting
work Of excavation at the sphinx and Pyramid,
ut uhlIell, having first obtained the permission
OF me hoEernIne,t. The Colonel commenced
nperstlopsR Few days ago and has nearly 100
men aud boys at work.
Col lnum has cleared away the sand from
me hase ot the sphinx 10 a considerable depth,
iie has also cleared ont the hole In the top Ot
me head to q depth ~ seven feet. the Cruss
measurements Of the hole being about ~ feet
long 10y sta feet broad, Tho hole passes through
inc cap or tho sphinx for about six feet, aLd tho
remaining one foot ~ drilled through the solid
rock out 81 which the rest ~ the lead IL cut.
~ me back 0f the SphinX II shaft has been
lnlhl, ana the sand which tllrH II has urrU
.ln bnltnnl %: the shaft twn passages have been
ihuhl running Ia n uurthwe- and suulhWrsJ
ulrsrllon respectively.
lLls Was 10 far "a the works rad been carried
on lhe day We visited them, ana We TOOK for
NArd 10 some Interesting dis, Oyer.es Through
tue dislnteTeIted lab0rs OF Col. llaum, EhO V
DeArlng the whole OF the EXPENSE
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

Startling Work or n Tnxidermist who Did
Not Care for Nature.


When a maker of fashionable goods starts
In natural history some amazing combinations
arc tho inevitable result. A few nights ago
there was o handsome young woman In be-
coming attire in q bridge car at about IL rs
o'clock. Around her neck was a mink skin
boa. got up in a caricature of the living ami
NAL. The fur was q rich brown, the feet were
fairly natural. and the tail perfect. The body
had been stretched a little too much for sym
metry, but up to the ears the representation
was near enough to the natural form to satisfy
IA amateur ,taxldermist. But the head was
a fox head In miniature. Minks have puro
black eyes which are very prominent. The
eyes on this boa were also conspicuous. II they
were meant as a display Of wealth. they were
a success. for they. were white diamonds. Jew.
oilers display such boas frequently in their
windows. From the naturalist's viewpoint
a pair of black shoe buttons would have been
very much better.
The heads of boas seem TO have been made
from the same pattern, whether the fur was
from a fox, mink. cat, muskrat, marten. wea-
sci. or skunk Isabel. 1t would be a relief to
see a boa by some expert taxidermist with a
view for naturalness as well as tastefulness.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
WED PIGEONS NOT An GONE.
Occasional FIocks Reported In tho East as
Well as In the Far West.

Wild pigeons are stiIl seen In small numbers
In various localities. Two hundred and over
were seen on March l at Merchandising, o.,
and on March 4 n flock Of several thousand
wero seen travelling south over the same place.
They are still found In limited numbers In
the Indian Territory and throughout the ada.
cont States. An occasional bunch Is reported
from Pennsylvania and western New York.
Were they as numerous now as formerly, steps
10 kill them of would have to be taken. Flocks
Of millions have been seen. Each pigeon re-
quired nearly q pint OF food a day, or five bush.
els q year, aud n hundred million Of them would
require five hundred million bushels OF food a
year. This Ia In accordance with estimates
made, by Audubon and othor nRturalists. There
would not lie enough wood nuts 10 feed them,
good by to crops. The sportsman mourns, but
the far ner has good reason 10 rejoice.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

On Thursday morning at 1O;lO O'Clock q
white gull was seen up the East River coming
down at a comfortable speed with the tide from
toward Harlem, just as the bird was fly ing un-
der the big bridge "A wagon load Of snow was
dumped on the north driveway, and several
men. began to shovel the stuff of the bridge.
The bird suddenly found itself in the most sur
prising snow storm II had ever seen. A lump
the size OF a big mans fist landed on its back, a
chunk hit its wings, and tho bird flew wildly,
like a pigeon lodging n hawk. When II got out
from under the bridge out OF reach of the snow,
the gait IL took toward staten Island would have
shamed a DereHrine falcon.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
The Fiddler Crab In Winter Quarters.

In winter. when the surface OF the ground in
which it is accustomed To burrow may become
frozen or covered with Ice. the fiddler crab
bores deep into the mud or sand and stays I'M
til spring. The black CT mud fiddler fairly
riddles the meadow banks along the salt
creeks: It bores in. usually horizontally. and
II may be US far as six or eight feet from the
at various angles until 1t gets below the level
of the tide. which rises and falls. through the
loose mud, In the fiddler crabs burrow. There
are myriads of the black iiddlers, and they so
hoEeycomb tho bank that sometimes under the
added weight of Ice gathered upon the top Of
it the bank breaks down.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
Oddly CoIored SauIrrela.

Some oddly colored squirrels are said to
have been taken near Belleville, Ont. A black
s%qLirrel with numerous white spots. was killed
by Hull Austin, and another man got a fox
colored black squirrel. The queerest two were
black squirrels. one with u red tail and the
other with II big white spot on the breast and
one on the back.
a cream-colored black squirrel and q snow
white" one, both rufous brown on the under
parts, were killed.
such groups of odd animals are often noted
In. certain neiIhbOrhoOds. In some places freak
robins will be seen every year; in another, IL is
oddly COlOrra uuall.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
Tho U.s OF DssoY DusL..

Some weeks ago a man wrote 10 the Forest
and Strfdm saying that a man who would call
a moose Is no sportsman. Now another man
says that the objeCtOr To moose calling had q
level head, and added that a mar who used
duck decoys was Just as bad. He said that
the use OF decuys was 4 rank ,.heartless swind,
hog OF the contemplating ducks, requiring
no particular skill on the part OF the shooter,
as the guides put out the dscOys properly and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
Florida wildcats,

Two sportsmen are reported 10 have killed
six wildcats during one weeks shooting near
Jacksonville, Fla, recently, while quail hunt
ing. Probably some OF tho cats were young
ones, as old Wildcats usually do not allow
themselves to be killed At tho rate OF one a
old Tom wildcat Is AZ wise as Il fox or an old
blaCk coon.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

prepared everything from blind 10 lunch. The
his0reet aud StTslm has a department called the
Camp Fire chickering's" into which II puts
stories and suggestions untrue 10 human
nature, and 80 beyond all belief or reason. That
Is where the decoy kicker found his letter.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

sweetheart, The sharks may DO taken in a
variety Of other ways. Rifles, spears, lar.
poems, lnssocs (snnrcs), or hshhOuks n foot
long. And they are taken often in nets. but
not because the METER wants to take them, as
they tear and tangle the nets for rods.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
3 Ounce. or Streaming ror saulrr,l.-

Tho commissioner Of Walla WallR county,
Wash, have distributed 2,lOO ounces Of
strychnino In the hopes OF killing OIL most nf
the squirrels In that region, where there is a
plague Of them. a like plague was reported
from Oregon recently, where a local organiza.
ton offered a reward for the killing Of these
TOO numerous squirrels.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
Work on the Elevator.

The machine for the preparing of con-
crete to be used In the foundation of the
Grand Trunk elvator has arrived, and
the work Of making and putting in the
concrete will begin today. The contrac-
tors who have the work of putting In
army of men working like beavers, &C.
complish a great deal if the course of
twenty -four hours. A large number of
people spend hours every day in watch
ing the work and indeed it is scene
such as it is seldom seen in this city.
A schooner load of cement was brought
here yesterday for the TO undation.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
Aid for the Fishermen.

Captain Allen in the Coastwise Mis-
sionary service reports very bad weather
of late which has not only hindsred his
work. but hindsred the fishermen. There
has not been for long time 30 unfavor-
able season as this year. He says there
oan't help being good deal of suffering
the coming winter, and he wants to pro-
vide for it. He knows of ten families in
paticular that must suffer unless aid is
rendered. There is call for second hand
clothing for wear, and bedding, not 80
much for show, as service. No matter
if defuced and worn. Warmth and COM
fort are the special virtue In this direc-
ton. F. Southworth. pastor Of the
Bethel will receive or call for anything
in this line 108 Newbury street.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
News Along the Wharves.

With fair westerly breeze and a
pleasant morning the big feet which has
been lying at anchor in the lower harbor
waiting for clear weather, sailed yester-
day morning and by noon hardly a
vessel was to be seen at anchor in the
stream. Among others to sail were the
sohooners Henry Lippitt and the Made
lsine Cooney with geneal cargoes bound
for Demarars. These two vessels, both
fine specimens of American traders, will
probably race to the destination az they
are very nearly of a size and we'll
matched, the contest promises to he a
hotly contested one.
The barkenuine Jessie McGregor is in
the dry dock undergoing repairs and the
schooner Alicia B. Crosby is on the
marine railway.
The big ocean tug Wrestler, came in
here yesterday and towed out the coal
barge Hercules, bound south.
An unusual sight yesterday was that
of the big three-masted schooner, the
S. M. Bird, getting under way from the
end of Widgery's wharf. She sailed out
of the harbor with the westerly wind,
bound for Nova Scotia, light.
The steamer Hermann Reesing brought
3400 Holsters yes tsrday. This was the
only arrival, very few fish being brought
in.
The United States engineers COM
menced a survey of the harbor yesterday,
preparatory TO beg inning the dredging.
Mr.. Robert S snthoff. civil engineer, had
charge of the survey. Something like
$500, 900 is to DO expended in deepening
the harbor.
The crew of the schooner d. H. Rivers
was shipped yesterday and the vessel
will clear today for Buenos Ayres. She
will carry 900, 600 feet of lumber, one of
the largest cargoes ever taken out Of this
port.
The schooner White Foam, Capt. Rice
from Boston, is discharging cement at the
Maine Central.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
Cumberland Teachers Meet Today.

Cumberland Teachers Meet Today.
ssThe Cumberland County Teachers AS
ISOLATION will meet at Assembly Hall,
High School Building, today and tomor-
row. The programme will be as follows:
Friday, 900 q. m.-Opening. Appoint
ment Of Committees. Topic: s'Teaoh-
ing in the Ungraded Sohools-Difficulties
and Possibilities. Discussion opened
by Mr.. J.. A. Tuttle.
10. As a. m.-Topic: '"The Work of
the Schools from the Standpoint of the
Business Man, Discussion opened by
John E. Warren, Esq.
400 p. m.-Topic: Teaching Geog-
raphy." Discussion preceded by Miss
Harriet G. Baker primary, and Miss
Ada L. Davis (Gram mar grade).
400 p. m.-Address: 'Some Weak
Places in the Common Schools of
Maine. Hon. W. W. Stetson, State Su-
perintendent OF Schools.
7.30 p. m.-Address: .The Social Du-
ties of the Teacher" Rev. DR.. jenkins.
500 p. m.-Reoeption rendered to the
Association by Portland Teachers.
Saturday, 600 am Reports of COM
mittees. and election of officers. Topic
g Preparation for the High School.
Discussion opened by Mr.. Albro e.
Chase.
HOO a. m.-Address: ''Useful Psy-
chology," Mr.. A. B. Morrill,. Principal
State Normal Training School, New Ha-
ven, Conn.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
BRIEF JoTTlN0s.

There viii be meeting of the school
oommittee on Monday at 4.30.
There was only one candidate for
position of watchman at the post
Office
Two elks which were exhibit cd by
the Adriance (Michigan) Woven Wire
Fence Company at the Worlds fair, have
been shipped to add to the Menagerie at
Riverton Park, which now consists of
3 moose. two deer, five racoons and i've
squirrels.
The Unitarian Women's Alliance will
meet this afternoon at 8 o'clock.
The ladies Veteran Firsmen's league
will hold special business meeting in
Congress hall on Friday evening at 7.30
O'Clock.
There was NO opposition presented to
the harbor commissioners as to the
building of the temporary pile bridge
across Back Cove.
We have received from Loring. Short
& Harmon, Daniel Robinson's Maine
Farmers Almanac for 1897.
Seizures were made yesterday by the
deputy aheriffs at "a Centre, 80 India,
547. 431 and 1877 Commercial street, 346
and 422 Fore street, Pleasant, 81 York
and IS Washington sire cts.
There are ITO pupils In the evening
school.
The cIearings at the Portland clearing
house yesterday were 1854, 279, against
S1S7, 359 the same Gay last year.
Everybodys' Pianist Company has
been organized under the state law for
the sale and manufacture of pianos, with
$500, COO capital. of which $50 has been
paid in, and of which company Howard
Taylor of Portland is president.