264 SPORTING SKETCHES. 



prising the whole district from Sherbrooke to the south of Dor- 

 chester, extending as far west as Guy street, there being only 

 two or three houses in the whole tract in those days. The next 

 convenient snipe grounds was upon the grounds where the Bon- 

 aventure Station now stands, thence extending to the Tanneries. 

 Previous to the Lachine Railway being built, this was a regular 

 swamp or quagmire. Passing the Tanneries, we could always 

 depend upon getting good sport with cock and snipe on both 

 sides of the little river St. Pierre, all the way to Blue Bonnets, 

 and close to where the Lachine Canal now is, which latter was 

 only a ditch at that time. We frequently bagged a few black 

 duck and blue-winged teal along the creek or river St. Pierre. 

 Little attention was paid to duck shooting by us in those days. 

 Snipe and cock received all the time we could spare, they being 

 the game most worthy the attention of sportsmen. Other con- 

 venient covers were the district of country known as the " Bea- 

 ver Meadow" and " Sanganore,'' running from the head of Pap- 

 ineau road to the woods in rear of Longue Pointe village. Still 

 nearer home we could always be safe for a few brace of snipe, at 

 early morning, along the deep and muddy creek commencing at 

 Victoria Square, along Craig street, past the Champ de Mars to 

 Papineau road. I have many times shot ten or twelve brace of 

 snipe in this creek.of a morning before breakfast. Between the 

 two mountains, where Mount Royal Cemetery is now situated, 

 was where the first cock was usually killed in early spring, this 

 being before the present game law was in existence. The sports 

 of 1837 and following years used to vie with each other as to who 

 should have the honor of killing the first cock of the season, 

 which was then considered a great event. The bird was then ex- 

 hibited in " Dolly's" window, and always attracted much admi- 

 ration, and was considered worthy of a notice in the daily papers 

 of the country as a matter of interesting and important news. 

 This spot used to be visited at early morn by the Inte Jacob Hall, 

 Joshua Bell, myself and others, for weeks before the birds ar- 

 rived, in order to have the honor of killing the first cock of the 

 season. Such a practice at the present day would be considered 

 beneath the dignity of a true sportsman, alike destructive and 

 wicked. But to return to my subject, the origin of the Fish and 

 Game Protection Club. I, with my chum and friend, the late 

 Joshua Bell, one day drove in a caleche with our dogs; this was 



