56 LEWISES AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



land, but as he is largely used in this country for this purpose, and 

 daily growing in favor, it seems appropriate to so place him in a 

 work devoted to American dogs. The Chesapeake Bay dog was 

 before the war quite numerous on that celebrated shooting-ground. 

 The war, however, put an end, temporarily, to the wild fowling, 

 and the dogs were scattered, so that when the demand for their 

 services was revived but few pure specimens existed. These were, 

 however, carefully preserved, and, being in the hands of men who 

 appreciated their value, efforts have been made to bring the breed 

 up to its former strength. Prominent sportsmen of the West have 

 also taken them up, and there is every probability that they will not 

 again be allowed to run out, an end which would be just cause for 

 regret, as they are the only strictly American sporting-dogs we have. 

 The Chesapeake Bay dog is also known as the " Brown Winches- 

 ter" or " Red Chester," and is claimed to be descended from a cross 

 of "the English water-poodle and the Newfoundland." This is 

 the pedigree given by one of the best-known duck-shooters of the 

 bay, a man who has owned the breed for many years, and has been 

 largely instrumental in preserving it. The following is his descrip- 

 tion : " They are a low, heavy-set, densely-coated dog, of a dark 

 reddish-brown color on the back, shading lighter on the sides, and 

 running into a very light yellow or white on the belly and inside of 

 the legs ; the throat and breast are also frequently marked with white. 

 They are of other colors, but any change from the brown shows a 

 want of careful breeding." This dog possesses an extremely hardy 

 constitution and great strength in swimming, being frequently 

 known to " chase a crippled duck one and two miles." For tide- 

 water or any open shooting, where sight and not scent is required 

 for retrieving, he has no superior ; and as he has been accustomed 

 to follow by sight only, it is possible his scenting powers can be 

 developed by putting him to different work, or by some judicious 

 cross, which will supply this deficiency without impairing his excel- 

 lence in other respects. If keenness of nose can be given him in 

 any way, he will be as valuable to duck-shooters generally as the 

 setter or pointer is to those who hunt the uplands. 



