SPORTING SKETCHES. 265 



the style of vehicle in general use with the carters of the period 

 a high two-wheeled trap on leather springs, a most comfortable 

 and convenient mode of travelling, more particularly for sports- 

 men. One fine afternoon in the month of May we proceeded to 

 the Blue Bonnet covers, a favorite feeding-ground for cock and 

 snipe, had a glorious afternoon's sport, bagged some twelve or 

 more couple of cock and as many brace of snipe. On our return 

 from the covers, close to the edge of the same, our three dogs 

 came to a deatl point. There they stood like statues, with ex- 

 tended tails, eyes glistening like diamonds, not a muscle moving, 

 only an orcasional trembling of the body, produced by intense 

 excitement. What a picture to a true sportsman ! After wait- 

 ing some time, we urged the dogs to go in and flush the bird, but 

 to no purpose. They having been taught otherwise, refused to 

 deviate from their teaching ; the poor brutes were in a perplex- 

 ing condition, knowing that to flush the bird meant the whip. 

 Contrary to the usual practice, and the evening advancing, I had 

 to go in front of the dogs and put the bird up, he laying close to 

 the noses of the dogs, they surrounding him. My friend Bell 

 took a shy at him, and over he went. Josh was a crack shot : 

 his pulling the trigger meant certain death. 



On examining the spot we found the nest and eggs of the poor 

 bird. Upon this discovery our remorse and regret can best be 

 imagined. We felt sorry at having bagged so many that after- 

 noon ; that was the last of our spring shooting. To this incident, 

 simple as it appears, are we indebted for the origin of " The Fish 

 and Game Protection Club " and amendments to the game laws 

 soon afferwards by the legislature. On our way to the city we 

 talked over the events of the day, and decided to call together a 

 few of our best sportsmen (accustomed to cock shooting) to meet 

 us at " Dolly's" the next day, to discuss the advisability of 

 adopting measures to form a Fish and Game Protection Club. 

 The meeting was held accordingly. The following highly re- 

 spected citizens and practical sportsmen with rod and gun at- 

 tended, namely, Joshua Bell, George Home, Augustus Heward, 

 Alexander Murray, Chas. J. Coursol, William Breckenridge and 

 H. W. King. After discussing sport and sporting matters, we 

 formed ourselves into a committee to canvass for members, and, 

 as soon as twenty-five or thirty names were obtained, to call a 

 meeting to organize and elect office-bearers. Soon after we 



