FOREST AND STREAM. 



119 



The Retriever. — There are two species — the water and 

 . the land retriever. The water retriever is, or ought to be, a 

 MOss between the smaller kind of Newfoundland dog- 

 sometimes called the Labrador dog— and the setter. This 

 .dog is especially. useful to the sportsman when shooting 

 wild fowl, through creeks, bayons, &c, and saves him an 



i.e deal of trouble, and is by no means in the way. 

 qi p imagine .that this dog will scare wild fowl, 

 but hii< actions teach us just the contrary, as his careful 

 twining, natural hmtinqt, and color act as a decoy rather 

 than otherwise. A good water retriever is, however, sel- 

 dom to be met with, and should be taught when quite 

 young. Nothing answers this purpose better than shooting 

 divers or any young duck, then sending the retriever in the 

 water, and, after he has got his Jhrd, call him to you, take 

 the- bird gently out of his mouth, caress and pat him. In 

 three or four lessons, if the water be not too cold, you will 

 find there will be no necessity of even telling him to fetch, 

 as instinct and his natural fondness for the water will be 

 all that is necessary to make a thorough retriever of him. 

 The great drawback, however, is that he must be kept in 



!-T, constant practice, and should be carefully broken 

 fe'roni rats, which abound on the banks of rivers and lakes. 

 |'le' writer some time ago owned a famous retriever, and 

 •,v;i .-. shooting black duek on a lake in Ulster County. It 

 was impossible to approach this sheet of water nearer than 

 Ive yards, as the lake was surrounded by- a waving 

 morass. I had been shooting from early dawn with little 

 sueeess, whvn a largo iiock of black duck, headed by a 

 drake, came up on the wind, and killing five out of the 

 tiock, they struck the water about thirty yards from the 

 shore. The retriever, the instant he saw the ducks fall, 

 jumped in, scrambled through the morass, and swam up to 

 .the birds, taking hold of the drake, and was bringing the 

 bird ashore, when he found it was impossible for him to get 

 through the morass with this heavy bird. The dog evi- 

 dently became frightened, and began splashing and pawing 

 to gain a loot-hold. The writer now became uneasy lest lie 

 should lose his dog, -but the faithful brute never let go the 

 drake. Running back some distance to a fence, he procured 

 four poles, and pitching one as far as possible, by good for- 

 tune landed it just on the edge of the water; then laid 

 another down lengthwise, and another and another, until 

 he made a kind of plftuk road for the dog, who brought 

 ■eventually the ducks one by one over this wooden cause- 

 way. 



The Land Retriever, — The best cross for this purpose 

 is a seder, with a springer or cocker spaniel. If your setter 

 has never been taught to retrieve, a. more valua.ble dog than 

 the land retriever it is hardly possible to possess, especially 



■ shooting woodcock and English snipe in the fall of 

 the year. A gentleman wrote to us asking: " How am I to 

 teach my puppy to retrieve V" We answered him: "Have 

 patience," The most successful manner to teach a young 



-specially when teething, is to lay hold of a handker- 

 chief or towel, or a bunch of feathers tied to a cord, and 

 drag it towards him. A slight resistance aggravates him, 



makes him fond of possession, which he should be 

 allowed to have for a few seconds; this makes him proud 

 and pleased. He must be warned by a gentle pull at the 

 cord that he is not master yet of it, and this renews his de- 

 sire, Which ultimately becomes contirmed. After a few 

 lessons given with patience, you may take the retriever out 

 in the field, but not after game, as lie requires the same 

 lessons in the field as he does in the house. When the re- 

 triever will bring anything to you m the sJstipe of a bird, 

 rabbit, &c, you can then allow him to go at large, -keeping 

 him always at the heel of the shooter, and only allow him 

 to retrieve at the words " Seek, seek," if the birds are 

 wounded, or "Fetch it," if dead. The retriever should 

 always be made to bring the game to the foot, or even to the 

 hand of the shooter, and not lay it down at a distance, as he 

 sometimes lays it down on the wrong side of a fence. Never 

 teach a land retriever to fetch stones or sticks; if he does, 

 he will inevitably become hard-mouthed and irretrievably 

 ruined. 



Wow that ws are on the subject of retrieving, we might 

 bring to notice the head of the race of retrievers; we refer to 

 the large ami handsome animal, the Newfoundland. The 

 pure breed of this animal is very scarce, and is not of that 

 gigantic size which it is generally supposed to be, but, when 

 crossed with the mastiff, becomes a most formidable and 



ams animal when aroused. The stories of the faithful- 

 ness and attachment to mankind of this truly sagacious dog 

 are known to every man, woman and child throughout the 

 civilized world; but we will relate one anecdote that lately 

 occurred to a gentleman at Newport, R. I. Being fond of 

 readfci^, ^ lis gentleman took his accustomed book and sun 

 umbrella to the sea shore. On one occasion he was so 

 deeply buried in his book that he overstayed his time, and 

 beinV called to his senses by a glance at his watch, hastily 

 pocketed Iris book and made for home with his best speed. 

 Just as lie had arrived at the house he found that he had 

 left his sun umbrella on the beach where he had been sit- 

 tings and as it was mounted very handsomely and a present 

 from .lis sou .\ ho is in China, he valued it extremely, and 

 would have sent his dog for it had not the animal chosen to 

 accompany a friend in a short walk. However, the dog 

 soon arrived: Ids master explained his loss to the animal 

 and beo-o-ed him to find the lost umbrella. Just as he com- 

 pleted ids instructions to the dog, dinner was announced, 

 and he was obliged to take his seat at the table. Soon after- 

 wards, a great uproar was heard in the hall; sounds of 



pushing, and scufiiing, and angry voices; presently the ser- 

 vants gave way, and in rushed the Newfoundland dog, 

 bearing in his month the missing umbrella. He would not 

 permit any hand but his master's to take it from his mouth, 

 and it was his resistance to the attempts of the servants to 

 ■take the umbrella from him that had led to the skirmish. 



The Marquis de 1'Aigle, at Francport, near Compiegne, 

 had a large kennel of fox hounds, and in consequence of 

 madness having showed itself among the hounds, he gave 

 orders to destroy the whole pack. A veterinary surgeon 

 was called in and administered strychnine to ninety. The 

 pecuniary loss the marquis suffered was nearly 20, 000 i'ranes. 



Fido in Paths. — All over Europe the love of dogs among 

 all sexes is remarkable, although they are made to-work in 

 Switzerland and some parts o'f Germany. Here in Paris 

 it is quite common to see a mother dragging her almost in- 

 fant child by the hand, weary and fretful, and carrying a 

 dogln her arms, which she will occasionally stop to kiss, 

 or dispose of so as to make it more comfortable. This trait 

 is peculiar to no one class, but all seem to have a strong af- 

 fection for the dog. To see a lady at her door or window 

 without a lap dog is almost a novelty, whilst many of them 

 carry in their arms or lead them by a ribbon in the streets. 

 The corners are posted -with hand-bills of hospitals for dog's, 

 where the best ihediCal attendance can be had, and dog- 

 medicines and dog soaps are placarded in all directions. 

 On the boulevards, at night, the dealers in dogs are con- 

 stantly perambulating with two or three pups in their arms, 

 and ladies will stop and bargain for them on the public 

 thoroughfare, They teach them all manner of tricks, and 

 they are valued according to the education they have re- 

 ceived and the intelligence they display. When they travel 

 they take a nurse with them to attend to the wants and com- 

 forts of the dog, and these nurses can be seen in the public 

 squares airing and exercising the dogs and leading them by 

 ribbons. Some idea of the extent of this dog mania may 

 be^judged from the fact that the dog tax paid into the City 

 Treasury last year was 420,000 francs, or nearly $100,000. 

 The men also have their dogs, but not to such a great ex- 

 tent as females. They are most beautiful little animals, as 

 white as snow, and are kept scrupulously clean, more care 

 being evidently bestowed on them in 'this respect than 

 many of the children receive from their mothers. 

 ^ 



Townsville, Granville Co., N. C. 

 The challenge of Messrs. Suit, Marshall & Cross to the 

 huntsmen of the United States, to run their fox-hounds 

 against any pack in this country or England, has been no- 

 ted lay me. 1 will wager any amount, not exceeding $100,- 

 000. that my fox-hounds are better hunters, and superior in 

 speed, power, and endurance to theirs, and 1 am ready to 

 run them any time between now and the first of .lanuary, 

 1874, at any place within one hundred miles of Washington 

 City. Should a match be made 1 will deposit the money, 

 or its equivalent, with the Merchants' and Planters' Bank, 

 Richmond, Va. 



R. Gr. Sneed. 



—Ax Epitaiui. — 'dienry ]?£****; born Dee. l(i. 1805; 



died . He was a great turkey hunter, and a tolerably 



good fiddler. He desired the above to be placed on this 

 slab. Peace be to his ashes*" 



Method of Feeding and Aekatixo the Bkiojitox 

 Aquakium. — By means of pipes the salt water is drawn 

 by pumps from the sea into reservoirs beneath the corri- 

 dors, and thence raised to the several tanks, as may be re- 

 quired. To elf ect these important supplies, steam-power is 

 employed; the engine being placed in the apartment not 

 ordinarily shown to visitors. Steam-power is also employed 

 to force fresh air into the tanks sufficient for maintaining 

 the vital quality.of the water. We therefore in walking along 

 the front of tile" tank, observe streams of air-bubbles rising 

 through the water, and disappearing on the surface. As 

 the ocean needs no artificial aeration, one, at first sight, is 

 at a loss to understand why the salt water should be so 

 treated. The explanation involves a recollection of many 

 natural phenomena. The ocean is wholesomely agitated 

 by the winds; the wild tumultuous waves are so many in- 

 corporators of fresh air; so are showers of rain; arid so 

 likewise are the various currents which conflict and flow in 

 different directions; the very storms which sometimes oc- 

 casion the most appalling dis?sters, being wisely ordained 

 to prevent stagnation and secure a store of air tor the mul- 

 tifarious fishes which inhabit the deep. Certain tanks are 

 filled with fresh water, suitable for fishes from lakes and 

 rivers, and the aeration for them is similarly conducted. 

 Much skill is shown in regulating the admission of light 

 from above, according to the natural requirements of. 

 the animals. Care is also taken to add such constituents 

 as may be demanded for food or shell-building, a,s for. ex- 

 ample, shells of oysters, crawfish, and lobsters. The sea 

 being in most part charged with the seeds and germs of 

 marine plants, a crop of them is certain to spring up. The 

 growth of such plants in aquaria is managed by an adjust- 

 ment of the light,_ for while a brilliant glare of sunshine 

 would be destructive of certain forms of marine vegeta- 

 tion, too little light would be injuriously prolific, and im- 

 pair the healthy existence of the animals. We mention 

 all this, to show what a variety of considerations, some of 

 them of a costly nature, have to be kept in view in main- 

 taining a properly constituted public aquarium. — Cham- 

 bers' Journal. 



^>»» 



Difference ix Weights. — Does a sportsman's full bag 

 or basket ever feel heavy?- For the sensation of the strap 

 over the shoulder is, doubtless, very different from what 

 it would have been if, instead of beautiful trout, one has 

 a twelve pound cannon shot in the basket. Indeed, 

 this notion of weight, though absolute and positive, as 

 marked by the scales of material philosophers, has got a 

 variable force and signification, when sentiment lends vigor 

 to the muscles. For what sportsman, helping to carry 

 home a fine buck, or what loving husband, taking a sick 

 wife up stairs in his arms, or what young fellow, on whose 

 back fortune had, for the moment, buckled a laughing lass 

 of a hundred and forty pounds, to be carried over a slough, 

 would feel the weight the same as if the burden were a bag 

 of grain or a sack of salt ? — The Lawrences, 



A Modern Turkish Story.— Once, in Samarkand, there 

 was a tailor, who stole ten yards of cloth from a customer, 

 and in default of returning it, was condemned by the 

 Juagito lose his right hand. Just as, in the saddest mood, 

 he was placing his bared wrist on the executioner's block, 

 there passed by a charitable person, who obtained his par- 

 don. The tailor returned joyfully to his shop, swearing to 

 sin no more. Next morning, as he sat at his work sur- 

 rounded by some friends, the benefactor passed. "Ah," 

 said he, "how does that right hand of yours get along? all 

 right I hope? By the Prophet, you ought to be obliged to 

 me." The tailor muttered a few words of thanks, but 

 thought to himself how disagreeable it was on the part of 

 the philanthropist to mention the facts bearing on his par- 

 ticular case, ■ especially before so many witnesses. The 

 next day the game thing occurred, and the day afterwards. 

 At 'last if became such an annoyance that at last the unfor- 

 tunate tailor, one day in desperation, baring his arm, with 

 his other hand presented' a knife to the philanthropic man, 

 exclaiming, "Here, now for Cod's sake cut off my band, 

 for once, and have done with it, I would prefer that a 

 thousand times, rather than to have you always talking of 

 how you saved it," Moral: When you have performed a 

 good action, (-ease talking about it. — Translated 'from Tour 

 du Monde. 



How Clubs are Started in England. — A new club, as 

 often as not, is originally evolved from the moral con- 

 sciousness of a gentleman about town who lias nothing to 

 do — say a half-pay officer — half-pay officers without private 

 fortunes are capable of anything. He finds a solicitor who 

 knows somebody who has a site, or, it may be, a ready 

 house built, An architect is probably required, and he is 

 sure to turn up punctually. A wine merchant is certain 

 not to be far off; and an upholsterer, you may sure is faith- 

 fully to the fore. All these people use their connection to 

 get a nueieus of members; you may be sure that they all 

 get something more than their professional emoluments, 

 and the club commences its career with a cheerful debt; 

 Entrance fees and subscriptions of course come in, but 

 these are found insufficient for the purpose. Then there is 

 a whip round; then a hundred or two of rather mixed mem- 

 bers are taken in without entrance fee, then there is an- 

 other whip; then more touting for additional members, and 

 so the game goes on. Somelinies a club tides over its 

 troubles and becomes safely established, but the majority 

 of new speculations of the kind go to the wall after a year 

 or two. There are a set of men going about — of sufficient 

 ostensible position to bear description in a list of names — 

 who belong, 1 really believe, to every new club that 

 starts. — AM the Yoar Round, 



[We shall mde&oor in this department to impart and hope to revive 

 sucJt information as may be of s<_ relet to amateur and professional sports- 

 men. We Will cheerfully a.itx/r, r ail reasonable questions that fall within 

 lite scope of t/e/s paper, designating localities for good hunting, fish- 

 da/, and trapping, and giving advice and instructions as to outfits', im- 

 plements, routes, distances, seasons, expenses, remedies, traits, species, 

 governing rules, etc. Ml branches of the sportsman's craft will receive 

 attention. Anon/pnous communications not noticed.'] 



Oarsman.— Nine boat clubs on the Harlem river, foot of 133d street. 



Gloax.— 1. Whitehall county. 2. Clinton county. 8. Number ten 

 bore. 



Infra Dig.— Tfle best thing to harden the soles of your pointer's feet 

 is to sleep them occasionally in rock salt and water. 



German, Philadelphia. --Have known a Brant to be killed at fully 

 seventy yards with a muzzle loader. 



Rat— Sewing machine oil, very good for barrel, but we use the bes« 

 watchmaker's oil for gun-locks, and never any thing else. 



R. A.— We could recommend Hart, of Northport, L. I. He is a good 

 trainer, and handles the dogs himself. 



Amas, American Jockey Club.— Ford ham rides 8 St. 10 lbs., (122 lbs.) 

 When he follows the hounds he will weigh up to 140 pounds. 



L. S .—Taxidermists hse tow for stuffing; bran would make your smal 

 specimen look puffy and unnatural. 



Governor, MorriBtOwn, X. J— Perhaps the difficulty with your gun is 

 that it is too •short in the stock for you. E.H.Madison, of Brooklyn, 

 will lengthen it for yon. 



Quarl.— Your shooting is good, but would not pass muster with the 

 Association, because the minimum,, pull on the trigger must be six 

 pounds. 



Mns. H. — The cat-bird can be made quite a pet. We have known 

 them to be lame, and to show a wonderful degree of sagacity. Audubon 

 declares it to be a sweet singer. 



, George, Brooklyn.— The St. Louis United Eleven ' lost only two 

 matches during their extensive trip North. We think as cricketers they 

 promise to be a very strong eleven. Ten of them are Englishmen. 



S. H.— A male and female mink would be worth $50. They maybe 

 caught in a box trap. They become quite tame. They are positively 

 bred for profit in the United Slates and Canada. 



Lambert.— Relations between length of wing and rapidity of flight in 

 birds have been studied. Birds remarkable for rapid or long-sustained 

 flight have large wings. There is a difference between sustained flight 

 and rapidity of flight. Would like to hear more from you. 



G. A. M., Rochester.— Commence teaching your dog in a room just as 

 soon as he shows any sense or instinct. Regular work in the field may 

 commence as early as seven months. Be patient, but let him know you 

 are his master. 



Lantor, Madison, Wisconsin.— The London gunmaker you name we 

 do not know. His guns do not come to this market. From the price, we 

 do not think they would suit you. Second hands may be good; they are 

 of ten quite serviceable. They are browned and burnished to so. as to 

 look like new guns. 



Quandary.— Books vary as to the distance the sounds you want to know 

 about travel. A musket on a still day may be heard three miles quite 

 distinctly, but the human voice with the wind blowing may be heard as 

 far. On the contrary, with a wind adverse and blowing only moder- 

 ately, a musket cannot be heard above 800 yards. Atmospheric condi- 

 tions govern. 



L. F., Flemington, N. J.- Your favor has been overlooked. Hops 

 you will excuse. At Porter's Lake, Pike county. Pennsylvania, there is 

 some deer shooting, and fair bass and pickerel fishing— about the same 

 as you describe in your letter. Tolerably well wooded. You should go 

 earlier than July for trout, which are abundant in some parts of the 

 Bushkill. Black squirrels abundant only in Michigan; grey squirrels in 

 northern Pennsylvania. See previous numbers of this paper for locali- 

 ties, as well as for numerous hunting districts, within "a day's journey" 

 of your town. No law restricting squirrel hunting. Culexifuge and 

 ordinary preparations of little protection against flies and mosquitoes. 

 Use tar and sweet oil— one part to four. There is nothing bette-; 

 cleaner. 



