The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-11-06
How to Camp and Hunt
frank Wicll)

Campfire: AS rule, hard woods
make good slow-burning fuel that
yields lasting Goals, and soft woods
make a quick. hot fire that is soon
spent. Best of all fire wood Is hick-
ory, green or dry For cooking
fire that will quickly burn to Goals,
without smoke, the bark of dead
hemlock hickory, pine or sugar ma
pie cannot be excelled.
To make fire burn we'll you must
have air. The fuel must not be
tumbled together; 1t must be built
systematically. so that air can draw
under II. and upward through it,
The best way to build a fire quickly
and one that is sure to keep on burn
ing as long as it is fed, is first to lay
two good sized sticks on the ground
as a foundation, then across them at
right angles lay course of dry twigs
or splinters not quite touching each
other: on those, at one side, place
your finder or paper. bark, or what
ever il may be; then ON top of this
put two other cross-sticks smaller
than the bed-stieks; over this "A cross
layer of larger twigs. and so on. grad
ually increasing the size of the sticks.
Such IA pile will roar within a few
minutes after IA match is touched to
it.
Don't build big fire and then ex-
poet to cook on it, Let il burn down
to hot Goals. which will give you
quite enough heat for every purpose
except boiling
Weather Indications: Bees will
not swarm just before storm. Fish
are liveler Just before Il rain. When
horses and cattle are restless. stretch
their necks and sniff the air, indica-
/ lions point to approaching stormy
conditions. Ants are very busy, gnats
/ bite. erickets lively. spiders come out
of their nests just before rain
storm. The low fight of crows indi-
Gates rain or storm. When swallows
fly high. fair weather. when low a
storm may be expected in twenty
four hours
THINGS TO TAKE ALONG
Hand axe. Should have handle
about seventeen inches long, with
blade the temper and edge of good
axe. The axe with sheath to weigh
about one pound and ten ounces
The common hatchets are unfit for use
in the woods
Sheath knife. Should be small
and light Blade about six inches
The best is none too good. One
fashioned out of file is excellent
Pocket knife: Regular jackknife,
one large blade and two small ones.
Large blade equal tas whiting hick-
DRY. One of the small blades to be
ground very thin ana kept clean for
use in any surgical Emergency
Compass: To have hinged cover
with illuminated dial for day or night
use Dial to be about one and three
quarter inches in diameter. Believe
in YOUR compass.
Watch: A cheap one for day and
night use. This can be rendered
waterproof in the following manner;
Take a piece of rubber dental gum
eight inches square. put the watch in
the center and bring the rubber to-
gether at the stem, tying the puckered
up rubber with bit of waxed string.
To see the time stretch the rubber
and the hands will show clearly For
chain, use a bit of rawhide string.
Whistle The United States Army
officers whistle is about the best.
Fasten to button hole with raw
hide string
Maps Topographic survey maps
showing roads, trails. cities. towns,
waterways, contours and mountains
Of almost any location in the United
States can be secured by writing to
the Director of L. S. Geological Sur
yey. Washington. d. c. Enclose ten
cents for each map of the section
that you wish. Maps should be
mounted on squares of muslin.
Match box There are many var
ieties ON the market Here is
homemade one that will answer every
purpose Secure a small fiat tobacco
box. fill with matches and bind the
edges of the box with a narrow strip
of surgical adhesive tape Use con
tents for emergencies only.
Matches: Waterproof and carry
loose in the pocket Waterproof as
follows: Dip the matches half
length in shellae varnish thinned with
alcohol to the right consistency Lay
matches separately on a piece Of news
paper to dry Matches so treated can
be left in water for IA long time with
out spelling.
Flashlight: Should be in every
kit. Get a Winchester fisher with
round edges; it will not wear holes
in the pocket Test battery before
starting
Eye glasses If YOU wear them
take an extra pair In snow time
when the sun is bright use dark
glasses or smear the face with char
coal TO prevent snow blindness
Field glasses. Should be of good
definition and wide field of view. prism
binoculars of moderate power about
six diameters. Opera glasses will
do very we'll for bird study.
Toilet article. Small piece of
soap that fathers freely in any water
two small towels. small piece OF
bright tin or polished steel for mirror
Wrap soap in oiled silk bag Tooth
brush and paste
Dunel Kit. Mill file six inches
long, small milestone. small twccz-
ers. twino, needle. thread. d few but
tons and a strip or 50 of buckskin.
A spool Of non-rnsting wire to be
strung between two trees in shady
spot close to the camp and high to
hang the supply Of ham. bacon and
/, L.