poison drop baits. We always had one double shotgun in camp, besides the ever present Winchester or Marlin, fifty rounds of rifle ammunition was the most I ever took along. There

was no target shooting in those days, every shell meant meat, whether rifle or shotgun. A hundred shot shells was the extreme limit. A twoinch gill net was always somewhere in the outfit and some hooks and lines. The old timers could put a net under the ice in short order after they get started to work with axe and ice chisel. It is a neat trick to do this, if you don't believe it, try it some time and see. For a thirty or forty-yard net we used to cut usually five holes about as large as for ice fishing with bait, and have our gill net out in an hour, even if the ice was eighteen or twenty inches thick.

There was always plenty of thick salt pork and bacon, dry beans, prunes and apricots (a pillow-slip full), flour and corn meal, sugar and coffee, Peerless smoking tobacco and Spearhead plug plenty and sufficient. Potatoes and onions never froze in the old dug-out shack when kept in the back end. We usually figured on a chunk of fresh beef and pork along about Christmas from some ranchman when he butchered. Sometimes we helped him dress a steer or a couple of hogs, as we were acquainted with most of them. We lived high on lots of good grub in those good old days. I had never seen a sausage then; if I had I would not have known what to do with it. Right to-day I am healthier on good bacon than any meat I can eat, for my old grinders are good yet. The gill net was always a good investment, as we could sell or trade all our surplus fish to ranchmen. I call to mind once when we took three barrels full of frozen pike and pickerel to town and got a shilling a pound for them.

When trapping we didn't have so many fancy sets as they do nowadays, most of our sets we studied out ourselves; no trappers' guides and stinkum medicine, either, and we "brought home the bacon" just the same. For mink we made mink musk from their castors and it was good medicine. For muskrat use nothing; we set traps at their holes and feed beds. I was sitting still one day watching some black ducks to get a shot, beside a river, when I saw a mink working down river, nosing into every hole and driftpile. Finally he came to a half sunken driftlog. I expected to see him go over it, but no, he simply swam around it. This gave me a pointer for a good blind set in open water. Another time on this same river I was working up stream on foot, reading the sign as a light snow had fallen the night before, and it had cleared off fairly warm. I struck a mink track as it was going my way. I followed it up and found where Mr. Mink had turned sharp at right angles, burrowed through eighteen inches of snow that laid up against the wet clay river bank, brought out a torpid frog, carried it upon the bank where the wind had blown the snow off and buried it under a tussock of dried grass. Right here I learned much of a mink's keen scent and doped out one of the best baited mink sets I ever saw. This was not in extreme cold weather, but one of the first light snows of the season.

Once when going to some rabbit snares I noticed where a fox had been working around an old straw pile for mice. I also noticed that they left the timbered river bottom from some point of woods or brush jutting out onto the prairie to go to a straw pile, and same way where a point of land jutted out into a lake. Putting two and two together, I doped out a fox set for cold weather that no man, white or red can beat, and no stinkum medicine, either. I afterward found out that this same set was used

by the H. B. Company Indians, and was one of their best. I doped out another set for otter that made good under ice and water, when I found out they were very fond of wild duck eggs. In cold winter weather after everything was froze up tight we cut a narrow trench in the ice and staked one of our rivers clear across, leaving an opening at each end and in the middle. for a No. 2 Newhouse. In our other river we staked out from shore aways on each shore, as the river was wide and the current swift. These sets gave the best of results in mid winter, if any otter or mink were running and there usually was. One thing I learned early was that human scent is what warns all wild animals against their greatest enemy, man, and when they see unusual signs in connection with it, it is good-bye fur. Avoid both sign and scent if you can; but the scent is the worst, high authorities to the contrary notwithstanding.

The biggest dog mink I ever saw I caught in a cubby set properly made and located. When I came to sell it I got docked fierce because of some dark spots on the flesh side. Right there I got my lesson on early and late trapping. Well, its a long way to Tipperary; these were simply some of the old time practical hooks and crooks of the old time Red River man.

Living now in a city of four hundred thousand (mostly foreigners) and harking back to the old days, how it has all changed! "Presto" and what do I see on the canvas? I'll tell you: Early in the morning I see men, women and children pale and anaemic, underfed and half clothed; a small parcel of food wrapped in newspaper for their day's rations, going to a slave pen called a factory to grind out their lives for some big rich company, who know no God but the dollar, know no patriotism but interest and profit. When war comes, its "Let George do it" while we grab profit. Until then, hurry up, speed up and skin the last ounce of tallow out of them; coin the blood and muscles of little children and women into money.

When harking back to the old times and now seeing this with my own eyes, it seems as if 1 had stepped from heaven into Dante's "Inferno." I for one don't believe our good Lord put the iron, coal and oil in the earth, and intended it for a few men to exploit others with, for money, I believe He put those things there for all his children. He made this old machine we call the earth, it's His earth mind you; He left a good old book called the Bible with full and explicit directions in it for running the machine, also what to do ourselves. Among our instructions are commands written by Himself, telling us ex

actly and precisely what not to do. Instead of doing as the ten commandments direct us to do, we do as we please, and now note the results. Take a look over across the herring pond; take a look into our big cities; take a good square look at some of our law makers; then find your own answer. As for me, give me the old times, and the trappers dug-out, plenty of flour and pork inside, frozen rabbits, partridges and fish hanging outside. Peerless smoking and Spearhead plug, also the old brier root pipe and the soap box shelf over the fire place, then take your money grubbing cities and half starved wage slaves and go to blazes with them.

YOUR AVERAGE IS WHAT COUNTS-NOT THE PRICE YOU GET FOR ONE SKIN

RAW FURS WANTED

Telling the truth is a business in which there is verv little competition. It is true we are not paying more than furs are worth. It is true that we are paying FULL MARKET VALUE and appreciate your patronage. It is true unless you send us a shipment you may never know these statements are the truth.

Honesty is our policy, not high prices and low assortment. It is your average that counts, not the high price you get for one skin. Write for prices.

THE PERRYSVILLE FUR CO.

YOUR AVERAGE IS WHAT COUNTS-NOT THE PRICE YOU GET FOR ONE SKIN

AN OLD-TIME TURKEY SHOOT.

(Concluded from Page 59).

that many before we were allowed to shoot. Being only six of us, we could shoot much faster, as our turn came so much sooner than it would in a crowd of 25 or 30 shooters. Well, it was nip and tuck between us six; but I won out again, winning 19 turkeys and two others winning 18 apiece and the lowest of us six won 13. The promoter of the match lost over $50 on us six and it was a disaster to him all around. All the other settlers, with cheaper guns, seemed to lose all interest and did not buy many shots compared with other years. The promoter had to buy his turkeys in Chicago and have them shipped by boat to Muskegon, then freighted out with teams. He always had from 150 to 200 for each match. But when this shoot was over he had about 30 left. He was discouraged and never had another shooting match at this point. Van Buren was the boy that got the cream of the festivities, as most of the hunters made merry until morning. They patronized the barroom and they played cards and they shook dice until all were satisfied. Fires blazed high in the big fire places and the rooms were crowded. Some one usually played old-fashioned tunes on a fiddle. Others sang old-time songs and often all those present joined in the song and chorus until the building fairly shook. Al this took place in the early sixties. To-day not a single vestage remains of the old-time sport. The Indians moved from the vicinity to Cobmosie, Oceana County. The old-timers are nearly all dead and the tavern and its place m history on the old State road are nearly forOttawa County, Michigan.

gotten.

44 4

FROM A SINNER'S DIARY.

Mon.-Johann is gone. I never could think while he was here to wait for the blessing before diving in, but now things have to be passed to me two or three times before I'll even take 'em. Tues. A woman sent a pail of eggs by me to-day. Hubs lined the pathway to the grocery I jumped out of the cart and the eggs not being able to trump, followed suit. Two dozens and fourteen were scrambled. The drayman put a thumb-and-finger clamp on his nose and asked. "Have you had them in cold storage, or used them for nest eggs?" "Is there any freight fo pa," I answered.

Wed.--The Wee Ones grandma has been down. -a calico one, just like mine. She didn't take to me real quick. "Now in my young days"you could see pasted the whole length of her But after a few biggest apples had been dropped in her lap, and after a few "toothful" and-in-theevening-stay-not-thy-hand grins had flapped across the table and lit on her-well, she'd go hunt a knife and scrape her apple.

Thurs. Can you smell mothballs? The Wee One sent for a muff for littler sister and when the mailman slung it out to-day she said for me tc sneak it up to my house. I think by mistake they've sent a gallon of lousekiller.

Fri.-Had company. The stammering old lady said to her little grandchild: "D-haisy, do you want a d-holly for Christmas?" "A what " "A d-holly." (After a pause.) "A wha-a-a-at?" "A d-holly." "No, I guess not." Oysters for supper. No good. I believe they were patent ones. Each had a chunk of bootleg in. My cat sat waiting. not patiently but waiting for that tough chunk. When they didn't come fast enough he'd reach up and stab me. That wasn't very often. I can find tough places in oysters pretty fast.

Sat. Last night I played for a dance. I wore my noodle-colored mohair trimmed with robin

red breasts with a carrienation in my button hole. I went early to give a girl a lesson. She was too sick,-not to much so to miss the dance, but too frail to take a lesson. I stayed awhile and listened to her symptoms. You could not believe one so burly looking could be infested with so many. It seems she has night mare in the most violent form. All the broncos at Cheyenne Frontier Day can't perform like it. Only the mare, spurred like a sandburr and kicking like a hay tedder, is in the saddle, and the girl wearing the J. I. C. Then, at other times, when she's otherwise perfectly rational, she perspires just south of that till if she has on a light waist it all runs in together. Also, she's so timid that if she's left alone even in the day time she locks every door and breathes only with her intake. Not to speak of one-and-one-half ribs being ruptured in childhood, that pain every time she's Opposed.

Gosh! A boy who marries one of 'em is puting himself into a position where he's due for some jars, isn't he?-Equalled only by the ones e has in store for her.

The pianist sat in a chair of water where the now had blown in and melted. She complained all night. We forgot it by spells, but she didn't. The fiddler has been up north. He hunted ten ours a day-three for deer and seven for camp. The last duty of his comrades every night was o find him. Last night he was sick. He sat with is head under his wing, his merry laugh comletely muffled. A youngone blatted and the floor amager said, "Bawl one!" The fiddler is a ball layer and the entire congregation put in their undays at his games. He began to show signs f life. He flattened down in his chair, a heap f gunny sacks. He poped up, a devil-in-theox, and fell over the chair back, a boneless onder. He rocked from side to side, a pair of ouble-bow legs making a home run. He wallowed his tongue. When he recovered it he aid what the other side always says at any ecision of the umpire.

Sun. My side is so lame it hurts even to comain and I'm starving. There's chocolate cake nd canned strawberries, but that is not what i ant. I want cheese and cold boiled eggs, and other and little sister ate 'em all up. How they urrounded so many eggs I can't figure out. I iled a peck yesterday on purpose. But the dish ey were in, empty and solemn, eyes me four inutes without winking when I opened the cupard door. I've had to eat for my dinner what wanted for my supper,-bread and milk with ead crumbed in it. What I'll do then I don't now. I wish I could eat all the berries for spite. ut starvation is not what makes me sour. My O would hang the same if I had a stuffed tury. My own offences, and every body elses, e getting caked in me, I tell you. All my life a hen, whose nest is at the end of tiresome ssons and dances, with long, cold, rough, intry roads to be traveled from two till four clock a. m., when the snow cracks underfoot good deal like it does when it's cold. And then > market for the eggs! I have not found any urleaf clovers lately. I don't expect to. I on't want to. Every leaf would look like a pital letter to me,-L-I-A-R, the stem a! and e root a devil's broth. I'm going to hop in e lake when I think the ice will hold up. If y distracted head isn't under the turf inside of year it will be snow white. You see, my path coming to an end like where a quail has flown hen you're tracking him. I hope there'll be a izzard that will break up the revival. They're I saved every winter, or oftener, anyway. Next ne they get 'em right they better kill 'em.

Lynette Freemire.

Ship Me Prime Furs and I Can Always Please You

I Want Large Quantities of Prime Raw Furs of All Kinds To Fill Orders-

THEY LAUGH WHO WIN---WHY NOT YOU?

American and Canadian Raw Furs wanted at their full market value. Liberal assortment-Prompt returns. Shipments held separate on request. If my valuation is not satisfactory to you, your furs will be promptly returned with all charges paid. I charge no commission and pay all mail and express charges on Raw Furs and Ginseng.

Write me asking for my Price List and tags, they are free. Regular shippers will be kept posted of any change in the market.

Nearby N. Y. State dealers having Three to Five Hundred Dollars' worth of Raw Furs to offer will make money to wire or write me to call and see them.

Yours for a square deal on every shipment,

G. H. MYERS

No. 3 Chapel Street

SHERBURNE, N. Y.

Reference-Sherburne Nat. Bank, of Sherburne, N. Y.

HONEST GRADING

THREE No. 1 SKUNK

Houses That Quote Above the Market Price Will Grade Your Furs Down to Value

Beautiful Postal Pictures

We have a set of twelve post-cards, engraved in colors, by famous artists. Several of the subjects are drawn under the direction of our manager, W. J. Burnett. (Subjects, Fur-Bearing Animals). Some are amusing, some very instructive, the rest are from original photographs of wild animal life, taken in our National Park by famous artists, for which we paid a big price for permission to reproduce in colors.

The subjects are "Mountain Sheep," "Elk," "Deer," "Antelope," and "Buffalo." One of them will be put in with each return for shipment (to us) or for purchase of trapper's supplies.

Ship us your Hides, Furs, etc. See our instructive adv. on Page 30, November issue, and Page 41 Prices of Traps and Trapper's Supplies, November issue. Yours truly,

NORTHWESTERN HIDE & FUR CO.,
Minneapolis, Minn.

P. S.-The awards promised in FUR NEWS on "Efficiency" (see October issue), will be given December 15, and names of Prize Winners will be published in FUR NEWS, January 1, 1917. On account of great pressure of work, we cannot award prizes until December 15.

See our "Ads" on Pages 30 and 41, November issue. See special instructions on shipping furs, Page 30. Note our remarks as to ability to pay best prices.

FUR FARMING FOR PROFIT

FUR FARMING FOR-PROFIT.

A Practical Book for those who wish to take up Fur Farming as a profitable occupation, or conduct it as a side line with other stock raising.

Fur Farming is not a get-rich-quick scheme, nor a "gold mine," but it will handsomely pay those who give it the necessary attention. Fur Farming will not only pay those who raise animals for the fur, but high prices can be realized by those who have live stock for sale.

Fur Farming for Profit is written from the knowledge of various breeders who have learned the business by actual experience. It is Complete, Correct and Authentic. 192 Pages, 60 Illustrations, Cloth Bound, Price 75c

Address all orders to

FUR NEWS,

71 W. 23rd St., NEW YORK

-Honest Grading, Satisfied Shippers, Quick Returns Every Time

REVOLVER SHELLS.

By Maurice H. Decker. VERY SHOOTER who has the time and ability to reload his own ammunition, should do so for the following three reasons: First, he can prepare the exact load just suited to the sort of work he intends to perform, whether game or target shooting; second, he can save considerable money by doing so and we can all use just a little more cash to advantage than we now have; and third, he can assert his independence and preserve his self-respect (both characteristics being prominently present in all outdoor people) by being in a position to use, or not to use, just as he likes, the factory ammunition which is handed to us to shoot in our rifles, or let alone. There is no sound reason why the rifleman should shoot expensive cartridges when engaged in target work, or in using full power loads for short range shooting when he can prepare his own brand of shells, making them of any powder he chooses and at very low cost, at that. Any careful shooter will find it easy to reload or load shells. A few tools and a little application and patience are all that are necessary and if he does considerable shooting at all, he will soon find that he is making good wages for the time spent in the loading operation.

The first step in reloading is to save and properly care for the empty fired shells. The old primer should be removed as soon after firing as possible and to wash out the powder residue from the inside of the shell. Hot water, with a little soda dissolved in it is excellent and accessible to all and the shells will dry from their own heat after they are removed from it. Before laying them away they may be primed with new primers and the end of the shell opened up a little to allow the bullet to enter without scraping or deforming itself or the walls of the case. After shells have been fired a number of times, or in the case of some of the extreme high power calibers but once, they will become expanded, or lengthened out of shape to such a degree that they will not fit the chamber of the weapon properly. In such cases they must be resized in a special die made for the purpose. This tool can be obtained from the same firm that manufacturers the regular tools and at a very moderate price.

Some shooters prefer to buy the empty primed shells for very high power rifles and then reload them but once, thus doing away with the operation of resizing. This is a fairly profitable practice, for if the shooter even buys everythingbullet, powder, primers and shells from the factory, he can make good wages loading them up

regular power, but very easy on his rifle barrel, as is the case when the Ideal Gas-Check projectiles are used. Such shells as the .30-32, 32-40 and the pistol and revolver shells will stand from ten to twenty charges before they have to be resized, so one can see that for these ordinary sizes just the regular tool will be sufficient, for at the end of this time the shooter can afford to throw away the shells. For such high power sizes as the 30 Govt., .33, .22 H. P., etc., however, the shooter should write to the tool makers and ask them just what sort of an outfit he will need to turn out efficient, economical work.

After the shooter has a sufficient quantity of primed, clean shells of correct size upon hand, the next step is the casting of the bullets. Right here let me say that if one is shooting a high power rifle and will not use more than 1,000 rounds of home made ammunition in a season he will find himself money and time ahead if he buys the bullets ready made from the Marlin Firearms Co., who make the complete line of Ideal tools. The bullets come all lubricated and sized, two operations that cause the shooter more trouble than all the other work of reloading put together. They are packed neatly in boxes of fifty and if of the Gas-Check variety, have the gas-checks affixed all ready for the shell. Such high power bullets as these checks are made of a special mixture of three metals and the shooter usually has to send for this to the factory as it takes experience to smelt these and blend them evenly, so he will be much better off to buy the bullets first hand. For ordinary lead bullets, however, any one can do good work in casting them. All he needs is a mould, a good hot fire in the cook stove and the set of three extremely useful little casting implements known as the Ideal melting pot, Ideal dipper and stove ring or cover. The pot holds just the proper quantity of metal to keep an even temperature and the cover fits any size cook stove hole and lets the pot down close to the fire. The dipper fits up to the mould nicely and is the only. contrivance one could use that insures full even bullets with a minimum of trouble. A little patience will be necessary when the shooter first starts to cast bullets with a new mould. Such must be well broken in before a full smooth bullet will come and the only way in to stick to it until the proper results are obtained. Also any mould, old or new, must be brought up to the proper temperature to get smooth, well formed bullets and the correct way to do this is to heat it up by continual casting. Never put the mould into the moulten lead to heat it up. Special directions that are very easy to follow go with these casting tools and the shooter should be careful to read them completely thru and remem

ber the points on pouring the lead from dipper to mould and separating the two. A small percentage of tin is usually used in lead bullets, about one part to forty of lead is right for the average bullets. However in writing to the tool makers for directions in regard to the extent of the outfit of tools necessary the shooter should specify just what cartridges he expects to load and they will gladly instruct him in regard to the proper temper of bullets, proper size of primers, brand and quantity of powder to use, etc. If the metal solders fast to the nozzle of the dipper touch it with a piece of tallow or beeswax. If the bullet sticks fast to the mould open the latter wide and tap lightly on the lower bottom with a small stick of wood. Never attempt to pry a bullet from the mould, as this will surely dent or deform the edge and each succeeding bullet will stick worse than ever. Have a pail of cold water to dip the handles of the mould in when they get hot and have a piece of soft thick cloth to drop the bullets on.

One of the best mixtures for lubricating bullets is cylinder oil and paraffine, two things within the reach of all. The proper proportion of each can be determined by starting with a very little paraffine and increasing the quantity until the mixture when cold will be hard enough not to wipe off the bullets and soft enough not to crack and fall off. I set the bullets on end in rows and then pour in the melted lubricant until the top groove is covered. The pan is then set away until hard and the bullets cut out by slipping over the end of each a shell of a slightly larger caliber, with the head cut off. Thus each succeeding bullet pushes out the other. The bullets are then forced thru the sizing hole of the reloading tool, which sizes the lead to the correct diameter and cuts off and packs the lubricant into the grooves. If, however, one expects to load quanities of several calibers he should by all means obtain one of the Ideal Lubricators and Sizers which with one movement lubricates and sizes the bullet without touching it with the fingers and affixes the Gas-Check, if any is used Lubricant for this handy tool comes in sticks and the shooter finds it altogether unnecessary to get greasy or mussed up in handling the bullets or

grease.

After shells and bullets are prepared and m tip-top shape next comes the operation of measur ing and loading in the powder. The little scoop that comes with the tool is O. K. for all black powders, but when the high power, dense smokeless stuff is used one must employ finer accuracy and use the Ideal powder measure. A scoop such as is used with the black is impossible for smokeless powders for the weight and density of the different brands vary and to be safe the charges must be weighed or measured out to a fine degree of accuracy. A few grains of black powder one way or the other would make no difference as far as safety is concerned, but, of course, to get even, accurate results the charging must be regular and uniform; but if one were to load in a few too many grains of some of the most powerful smokeless brands, he would very likely have a wrecked gun or constitution upon his hands. However this is not intended to frighten any prospective recruits to the reloading ranks, but is merely meant as a timely warning to know what one is about, in other words, be sure you are right and then go ahead. After the powder is measured and placed in the shell the bullet is entered into the end by hand, the whole outfit placed in the tool and a good firm pressure seats the bullet the proper length or depth and crimps it securely into place. If the bullet does

Smokeless powder generates a greater pressure which less recoil than black because of the nature of its burning or igniting. Black powder explodes when the spark from the primer reaches it all at once, so to speak, and delivers its force in one blow to the bullet. Smokeless powder burns evenly and more slowly and pushes the bullet out into the barrel of the gun with a uniform acceleration of pressure. That is, it keeps on generating gas and pressure and pushes on the projectile until it is almost ready to leave the muzzle. Thus the backward kick or recoil is spread over a greater amount of time and the shooter feels it less.

R. W. K., Cal.-Would it be possible to hit a target say the size of a deer with any make or caliber of rifle at a distance of 1,000 yards? And if same has been done please name rifle, also man who did it?

I believe it would be possible to do this stunt, although I have never heard of game being shot at this range with success. The New Springfield military rifle has made hits at 1,000 yards in target work when conditions were good and the necessary range finding and preliminary work has been done. A short time ago there was quite a discussion in the sportsman's papers about the probability of hitting antelopes at 1,500 yards, which one writer claimed had been accomplished with frequency by a gentleman of his acquaintBut I hardly believe this to be possible. 44 4

ance.

A NEW GUN FOR THE TRAPPER. In a recent issue of Fur News the good editor of the Gun Department expounded to us some facts and theories concerning the .44 caliber shotgun. I intend to add a little to what he said. My work, being employed as a field naturalist in a scientific museum, necessitates the use of a small-caliber gun, so I have had a little experience with the different patterns and makes.

The first gun of this type that I used was a single-barrel .44 caliber H. & R. It gave good service, but in some respects was far from perfect. I used it mostly for small birds, etc., with an occasional shot at game, such as ducks, rabbits, herons, etc. It would gather in all these if the range was short. But as the range was not always short I began to look about for a more powerful arm. Finding none, I had the chamber of the H. & R. bored out to shoot the .45-70 Marlin shell, loaded with coarse shot.

For a

P. W. Talbott & Sons

ESTABLISHED 1881

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

*

SPECIALISTS

in

Northeastern and Canadian

RAW FURS

Collectors and Dealers Should Get Our Prices

WRITE US-IT PAYS

*

REFERENCES: Any Bank or Mercantile Agency

single-barrel gun this was nearly perfect; but I soon found that a double-barrel was to be preferred, for by using a .32 caliber auxiliary chamber and a heavily loaded .45 shell, I was able to cope with all game from humming birds to large hawks, herons, etc.

There are a number of these guns on the market. In double barrels there are the Harrington & Richardson and the American, both good. well-made guns, the former being the preferable of the two.

Of single-barrel guns there is a greater variety. The Stevens Company makes three or four

ot slide into place with a medium pressure ther there is too much powder in the shell, its outh has not been properly opened up, the ullet has not been sized or the sides of the shell re covered with powder corrosion. The fault ust be located at once, for severe pressure will oil the shell and in some cases result in dangeris pressure.

44 4

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Address All Gun and Ammunition Queries to Maurice H. Decker, La Porte, Indiana.)

D. L. K., Mich.-Why does smokeless powder a rifle kick less than black powder?