266 SPORTING SKETCHES. 



secured the requisite number of names, and a meeting was called 

 and held at "Dolly's," and the following office-bearers were 

 elected : 



A. Reward, president ; J. Breckenridge, viee-president : A. 

 Henderson, treasurer ; Alexander Murray, secretary. Committee, 

 Geo. Home, J. E. Malhiot and Joshua Bell. 



The first business transacted was the naming a committee to 

 draft a constitution and by laws and adopt measures for the 

 passing of Game Laws by the Legislature. To our exertions and 

 those of the sister club of the old city of Quebec (who was a few 

 years our senior) is the province indebted for amendments to the 

 game laws since that time. We had much to contend with dur- 

 ing this, our first year of existence, public opinion, especially in 

 the habitant country, being against us, the people believing we 

 were acting in our own interests, and for our gratification as 

 sportsmen, rather than for the benefit of the country generally. 

 Fortunately there is a different opinion existing to-day. As evi- 

 dence of this, from a beginning of twenty-five or thirty members, 

 we now number over three hundred, and are steadily increasing. 

 Our first annual club dinner was held in April, 1859, at John 

 Ore's hotel, then, known as the " war office," it being the head- 

 quarters for the old Tory or British party. Feeling ran high in 

 those days, and elections in our city were times of war ; axe- 

 handles were in great demand, being with our fists the only wea- 

 pons used. Pistols were seldom brought into requisition in our 

 party fights. The dinner above alluded to was presided over by 

 our first president, Augustus Heward, a host in himself, in the 

 cover, or at the festive board. Not more than twelve or fifteen 

 sat down ; they were all enthusiastic sports and crack shots, as 

 well as jolly good fellows, and although very temperate when on 

 the hunt (as is necessary to success), at the dinner table could do 

 ample justice to the fine old Madeira and champagne, which in 

 those good old days was cheap as compared to the present time. 

 Annual dinners have been held ever since, and the work of the 

 club goes steadily on, doing a grand work in preserving the fish 

 and game of the country, thus securing to the people of the pro- 

 vince a continuance of good and wholesome food at a low price. 



There is much yet to be done, the district being so large and 

 requiring so many inspectors to visit our lakes, rivers, streams, 

 marshes and forests during the close season, to see that our laws 

 are respected and anyone found violating the same prosecuted. 



