AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



141 



CANINE ESTABLISHMENTS. 



The two largest establishments of this kind, not sporting 

 ones, are in the hands of two persons, who might be the 

 least expected to have them. The first is her Royal High- 

 ness the Duchess of York, who has a most numerous nur- 

 sery of Dogs of the smaller species, of every age, and nearly 

 of every country. Not having the happiness to enjoy any 

 other nursery, they occupy many of her best apartments, 

 and are carefully accommodated with cushions to rest their 

 wearied limbs, when they incline to repose; and it requires 

 some dexterity, on entering her Highness's apartments, to 

 steer your way so scientifically, as not to tread on any of 

 these sleeping beauties. 



Though some cynical philosophers might call this pur- 

 suit a mode of getting through life dog-cheap, yet it affords 

 some useful purposes. In the first place, it is at least, an in- 

 nocent mode of passing time; and secondl)', it has afforded 

 many opportunities for the painter, of exercising his talent, 

 and having his skill rewarded by the munificence of her 

 Royal Highness, who has almost found constant employ- 

 ment for the genius of an Animal painter, Mr. Chalon, in 

 painting these favourites. 



We are not sure, we might not add another artist to the 

 account, we mean theUndertaker, as we understand, many 

 of the more favoured animals have been buried in the park 

 at Oatlands, with all due ceremony and decorum, realizing 

 the Elysium of Virgil — 



cadem sequitur tellure repostos 



Cora canum. 



The next Lady, who exhibits this remarkable attach- 

 ment to the canine race, is the beautiful and amiable Vis- 

 countess Castlereagh, who has the same excuse to plead, as 

 her Royal Highness of York — not having a nursery of her 

 own, to engage her attention, or employ her time. Her 

 Academy of Dogs, if we may be allowed the exjores- 

 sion, is on a far diSerent scale from those of the Duchess 

 of York, hers being as diminutive as those of Lady Castle- 

 reagh are grand and magnificent. Whether the diplomatic 

 interests of her Lord, may have favoured her wishes, is 

 uncertain; but she possesses dogs of different countries, 

 wherever size and beauty are to be found. Whoever may 

 have the good fortune to meet this accomplished lady, in 

 her walks around her seat at North Carey, in Kent, will 

 always find her surrounded and defended by a most pow- 

 erful and magnificent party of dogs, looking "most terrible 

 things," but seeming most perfectly obedient to her voice. 

 Amongst her collection, we believe, she has Russian, 

 Turkish, and Spanish dogs. 



The following whimsical anecdote is mentioned, as hav- 

 ing oecured to her Ladyship, as she was taking one of her 

 Nn 



accustomed walks, with her canine guard: a man who was 

 walking on the road came up, and taking ofi" his hat, said — 

 "I suppose as how. Ma'am, you be a dog-fancier, or may- 

 hap you exhibit with these here animals at different pleaces, 

 as may be agreeable; if so be, as it may be suitable, I should 

 be glad to join company, having a few dancing dogs of 

 my own." 



Her ladyship laughed, but with her accustomed grace 

 and good-humour, informed the man — " She was not in 

 that line of business." Scott. 



WHITE FISH OF THE LAKES. 



The White Fish is taken by both whites and Indians with 

 a scoop-net, which is fastened to a pole about ten feet long. 

 It is hardly possible for me to describe the skill with which 

 the Indians take these fish. But I will try. Two of them 

 go out in a bark canoe, that you could take in your hand 

 like a basket, and in the midst of the rapids, or rather just 

 below where they pitch and foam most. One sits near the 

 stern, and paddles: the other stands in the bow, and with 

 the dexterity of a wire-dancer, balances "this egg-shell," 

 that you or I would be certain to turn over in our attempts 

 to keep steady. When a fish is seen through the water, 

 which is clear as crystal, the place is indicated by the man 

 with the net, when, by a dexterous and quick motion of the 

 paddle, by the Indian holding it, he shoots the canoe to the 

 spot; or within reach of it, when the net is thrown over the 

 fish, and it is scooped up, and thrown into the canoe — mean- 

 while the eye of the person in the stern is kept steadily 

 fixed upon the breakers, and the eddy, and whirl, and fury, 

 of the current; and the little frail bark is made to dance 

 among them, lightsome as a cork; or is shot away into a 

 smoother place, or kept stationary by the motion of that 

 single paddle, as circumstances may require it. It is not 

 possible to look at these fishermen Indians, and Canada 

 French, and even boys and girls, flying about over these 

 rapids, and reaching out this pole with a net to it, without 

 a sensation of terror. Yetithasscarcely ever happened that 

 any of them are lost; and I believe never, unless when 

 they have been drunk. 



This fish being, in the universal estimation, the finest 

 that swims, and resembles our shad, except its head, which 

 is smaller and more pointed. Their weight varies from 

 four to ten, and sometimes fourteen pounds. The meat is 

 as white as the breast of a partridge; and the bones are less 

 numerous and larger than in our shad. I never tasted any 

 thing of the fish kind, not even excepting my Oneida 

 trout, to equal it. It is said they do not retain this cha- 

 racter after being salted; in this respect our shad and sal- 

 mon have the preference. 



