Early Breeders, Origin of Indian 

 Runners 



CHAPTER I 



I think it was about 1904 or 1905 that the first important 

 literature concerning the Indian Runner Ducks was published in 

 this country. At about this time, good articles, dealing with the 

 wonderful qualities of this new breed were published in at least 

 three of our poultry periodicals. Soon, breeders, here and there, 

 began to try the Runners in a somewhat gingerly way, as though 

 rather expecting a gold brick. The great service which this early 

 literature did the breed was to call public attention strongly to it^ 

 through what then seemed the exorbitant claims made for these 

 birds as layers. 



After a few years, Mr. Irving Cook took up this breed, 

 advertising continuously and rather strikingly. As he began 

 the work when young and enthusiastic, and, later, gave his en- 

 tire strength to his Indian Runner business, the Runners soon 

 found themselves in the midst of a "boom." But even before 

 him several men who still breed the Runners were at work with 

 this breed. 



As soon as the breed began to attract keen attention, some 

 breeders who wished to improve it in every possible way began 

 to make inquiries as to its origin. One early American breeder 

 who made every effort to get the true history about this time re- 

 ports that even then "it seemed to be a matter of surmise. All 

 the writers' ideas on the subject seemed to be vague, and many 

 conflicting statements were made." Some of the causes for this 

 haziness and conflict of statement I have been able to run down. 



Much misconception arose through an accident. The first 

 two detailed descriptions of the breed which I noted in American 



