428 The Dog Book 



show — ^with the exception of a very limited number of such shows as New 

 York and San Francisco, which command national support and are the 

 battle-grounds for the fanciers of the country east and west of the Rocky 

 Mountains — in the same category as the imported dog, and extending the 

 embargo to the limit classes, will fully answer the purpose sought to be 

 attained by barring imported dogs from our novice classes. We have said 

 more upon this subject than some perhaps may think warranted, but it had 

 to be taken into consideration some time or other, and no place can be more 

 appropriate that where it is shown that in smooth fox terriers there were 103 

 dogs at New York in 1888, as compared with but 49 in 1905. 



The next importations of importance were Dusky Trap, Rachel and 

 New Forest Ethel to Mr. Belmont's kennels and Raffle to the Messrs. Ruther- 

 furd's Warren Kennels. Rachel was by far the best of the Belmont three, 

 and Dusky Trap was a dog we never fancied, although he won prizes enough. 

 He was first in the challenge class at New York in 1890, when we thought 

 Raby Mixer should have beaten him. Trap was light in bone, lacked 

 substance, showed slackness of loin, and his feet were very poor. Mixer 

 on that occasion was at his very best and had improved quite a good deal. 

 Raffle was a far better dog, possessing bone and quality, and was a terrier 

 of class, size being about the only objection to urge against him. The long 

 looked for improvement in the puppy classes was very pronounced at this 

 show, and the get of Raffle were quite prominent, as were those of Blemton 

 Rubicon, a good dog bred by Mr. Belmont, though sired in England, being 

 by Result and out of imported Rachel, so not American bred. Mr. Fred 

 Hoey judged at New York in 1891 and put Raby Mixer over Dusky Trap 

 and Rubicon, the two he had placed first and second the year before. There 

 had been no importations of consequence for this show, and Raffle was again 

 first in open class. Though not at New York in 1891, Mr. Belmont showed 

 his home-bred Blemton Victor II. at various shows, taking three firsts. 

 This was a dog by Dusky Trap out of Verdict and had a deservedly success- 

 ful career, for he was the best American bred we had up to his day. At 

 New York in 1892 he beat Raffle in the challenge class, and took the special 

 for .the best fox terrier in the show, defeating Mr. Thayer's new purchase, 

 Starden's King, a large dog built on terrier lines that had made a name in 

 England and won the open class special at this show. 



For the next few years there was a falling ofF in importations, but 

 several good ones were brought over. Mr. Thayer's challenge-class winner 



