FOREST AND STREAM. 



269 



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All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed not 



later them Monday in each icee.k. 



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HIGH WATER.. FOR THE WEEK. 





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— Oyster Bay harbor is to be the winter rendezvous of 

 quite a number of the yachts belonging to the New York 

 and Brooklyn clubs. 



New Orleans, November 29, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I will send you a little history of our club. The Orleans 

 Bowing Club was projected in June, 1873, to unite the 

 young men of the Cotton Press interest and their friends, 

 for the purpose of fostering good feeling, to encourage 

 boating, and to promote physical culture. The idea was 

 such a happy one that the club was organized the next 

 month, and in August we were established in our boat- 

 house, and had two practice boats in the water, built by 

 Mahoney, of Algeirs, and judges say that our native boat 

 builders' work is equal to that of any of the imported boats. 

 Our course is a very pretty one, on the broad bosom of the 

 Mississippi, up the river from our boat-house, of one 

 mile, one and a half, and two miles, so that we may have one, 

 two, three, or four mile races. We have had some friendly 

 trials among ourselves, and the time made was very fair, 

 upon which we shall endeavor to improve. In addition to 

 our practice boats, our worthy President has had construct- 

 ed for us a four-oared, outrigged gig, with sliding seats, 

 also by Mahoney, of which the boys are very proud, and 

 justly so, as I think she is a lively boat. We have now on 

 our roll ninety-three active members The officers are: — 

 Samuel Boyd, President; John P. Casey, Vice President; 

 'A. M. Summers, 2d Vice President; Patrick McGratli, Sec- 

 retary; W. Lynd, Treasurer; W. H. Manning, Lieutenant 

 and acting Captain. 



Boating has become very popular here of late. We have 

 now the St. John Rowing Club, the Pelican Rowing Club, 

 the Riverside Rowing Club, and the Orleans Rowing Club, 

 organized in the order named, and in our next amateur re- 

 gatta, in May or September, there will be a grand struggle 

 for the front. These are all the items of interest, and 

 I hope they will please you. "Trick." 



Buffalo, November 29, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : — 



The rowing season of 1873 has been altogether a remark- 

 able one. Buffalo has not been behind; three of our crews, 

 viz., the Banshees, Buffalos, and Eries taking part in the 

 Toronto regatta, which came off in June, the Banshees and 

 Buffalos entering in the first class race against som<* well 

 known oarsmen, amongst them the famous McKee crew, of 

 Pittsburg. The regatta was in every way a grand success, 

 five four-oared boats starting off at the report of a cannon, 

 the McKee crew taking the lead and winning the first prize, 

 viz. , $300 in gold, closely followed bjr the Buffalos, who 

 took the second prize. The first prize in the second class 

 race was easily taken by the Eries. 



Our home regatta came off on the 4th of July, and was 

 one of the most important features of the day. Thousands 

 gathered to witness the race, demonstrating the interest 

 the people of our city take in aquatic sports. The prizes 

 offered amounted to $880, of which $800 was for the four- 

 oared, and the remainder for the single scull race. For the 

 former ten crews entered, and five oarsmen in the latter. 

 The regatta took place on the Erie canal, and owing to the 

 narrowness of the space but two boats started at a time, 

 consequently the races were pulled on time. The first start 

 was made by the Banshees and Buffalos, the former pull- 

 ing the old tub used by them at the Toronto race, built by 

 Kingston & Bro., of Buffalo, and the Buffalos using a fine 

 paper boat, built by Waters & Son, of Troy, New York. 

 Their appearance showed good training, as they displayed 

 splendid muscular development. Both crews started off 

 nicely, pulling forty strokes to the minute. The Banshees 

 had pulled but a short distance when they got afoul of a 

 canal boat, and met with two other mishaps before com- 

 pleting the course, the Buffalos coming in ahead; time, 

 20m. 12 sec. ; Banshee's time, 20m. 21 sec. 



The next was between the Q. Q. Q.'s boat "Finale^" made 

 of Spanish cedar, and built by Elliott, of Greenpoint, New 

 York, and the Black Rock's boat "P. P. Pratt," built by 

 Waters & Son, of Troy. Both crews started off very well 

 with thirty-eight strokes to a minute. However, they were 

 not alongside of each other a great while, the Pratts pass- 

 ing their competitors and steadily increasing their advan- 

 tage until the race was won; time, 2(kn. 15 see.; the time 

 of the Q. Q. Q.'s being 21m. 22* sec. 



The Live Oak's boat "Zephyr" and the Celtic's boat 

 "Tommy Walsh" were next called. From the start the 

 race was a foregone conclusion, the Celtics taking the lead 

 with thirty-eight strokes to a minute, pulling rapidly away 

 from their antagonists, who only pulled thirty-six, and 

 came in a considerable distance ahead; Celtic's time, 23m. ; 

 Live Oaks, 24m. 58 sec. This was doing well for a crew 

 that had never practiced but seven times previous to the 

 race, the oldest of the four being but nineteen years of age, 

 the crew that had practiced refusing to pull. 



Next came the Niagara River's boat "Bill Farmer" and 



the Erie's boat "Wm. Cosgrove," the former starting off 

 with thirty-five strokes to a minute, the Eries pulling thirty- 

 eight and easily winning the race, making the three miles 

 in 22m. and 15 sec. ; the Niagara's time being 23m. and 3 

 sec. 



The four-oared races were concluded by the second crew 

 of the Black Rowing Club, which, having no crew to row 

 against, rowed over the course alone in 23m. 21£ sec - 



The two mile single scull race was then called. The fol- 

 lowing were the entries: — "Tura," J. B. Green; "Vixen," 

 Wm. Hingston; "Maud," J. E. Gibbons; "Minnie." C. E. 

 Dunbar; "Ettie," John Dorr. The "Tura" and the "Vix- 

 en" opened the race. It was a one-sided affair, the "Tura" 

 coming in about half a mile ahead; time, 17m., against 

 20m. and 30 sec. made by the "Vixen." 



The last upon the list were the "Maud," "Minnie," and 

 "Ettie." The "Minnie" withdrew, leaving but two to 

 start. The "Ettie" came in first; time, 16m.; "Maud's 

 time, 18m. 45 sec. 



About two weeks after the 4th a single scull match was 

 rowed between Hingston, who considered that he was not 

 fairly beaten on the 4th, and Green, both u»ing the same 

 boats, pulled by them in the previous race. Hingston was 

 again beaten, worse than before. 



The Buffalos took a hand in the fall regatta of the River- 

 sides, of Rochester. This race was the cause of much ex- 

 citement in aquatic circles, as the Riversides were consid- 

 ered a "crack crew," and our Rochester neighbors being 

 sure they would defeat the Buffalos. It was rowed on the 

 Genesee River— distance two miles. The Riversides pulled 

 a fine shell built by Roahr. The Buffalos pulled the boat 

 used by them on the 4th, and won the race, coming in 

 about eight lengths ahead; time, 12m. 17f sec, the River- 

 sides being 17 sec. behind. 



The season closed with the much talked of four mile 

 race between the Black Rocks and Hibernia Rowing Clubs 

 for $200 a side. The Black Rock Club used their paper 

 shell "P. P. Pratt," and the Hibernias a cedar boat, "Wm. 

 Weston," built by Blakey, o'f Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

 This was a splendid contest, the Pratts getting away first, 

 but were soon overtaken by the Hibernias, who had things 

 their own way to the stake boat, but there met with an ac- 

 cident, from which they were unable to recover, and the 

 victory fell to the Black Rocks, who came in about two 

 boatdengths ahead; time, 26m. 36f sec.*; Hibernia's time, 

 26m. 44 sec. J. C. Sheeitan. 



P*f 00?£f ^d t]%{ 



— It is stated that the horse disease which was so preva- 

 lent last year has reappeared in this city, and that the car 

 and stage stables have together some ninety cases are so of 

 sickness. Some alarm has been felt thereat, which we be- 

 lieve is without foundation. On careful inquiry on our 

 part, we have been assured by a distinguished veterinary 

 surgeon that this alarm was groundless. It is true that in 

 some cases where horses were not perfectly cured of the 

 epizootic which attacked them this spring, that these horses 

 have succumbed from lung diseases. At the beginning of 

 the really cold weather, horses are prone to feel the sudden 

 climatic change, and it behooves all owners of these noble 

 animals, whether they be used for profit or pleasure, to be 

 more than careful with them. The car and stage horses 

 are more exposed to take cold than any others, and, as four 

 or five cases only are reported among other classes, we as-' 

 sume that the supposed disease in question is merely cold 

 resulting from standing too long after excessive labor and 

 perspiration. No fatal cases are reported. In England 

 some peculiar cases of horse disease, and of a fatal character 

 have occurred, the animals dying of suffocation in a few 

 hours. Fortunately the cases are quite isolated and no 

 serious consequences are anticipated. 



— Mr. Robert Bonner has added to his stable a son of the 

 celebrated Flora Temple, sired by the trotting stallion 

 Mambrino. This four -year-old colt is a striking likeness of 

 his famous dam. His disposition is perfect. He can step 

 at a 2 :30 gait. 



— At Prospect Park, near Brooklyn, L. I., three races 

 took place on November 27th, and attracted a good deal of 

 interest among the local and general public. The first race 

 was a match of $200, between Grey Charley and Jersey 

 John, mile heats, best three in five in harness, catch weights, 

 owners to drive. Jersey John won. The second race was 

 for a sweepstake of $300, mile and repeat in harness, four 

 horses entered. Arnold's Francais won. Time — 3:18,3:11. 

 The third race was for a purse of $100, mile heats, best 

 three in five, five horses entered. L. S. Sammis' John, Jr. , 

 won in three straight heats. 



— At Fleetwood Park there were three races on Novem- 

 ber 27th, which created considerable interest among the 

 friends and owners of the horses engaged. The first race 

 was a match of $500, mile heats, best three in five under 

 saddle, between Tanner Boy and Joe Clark. Tanner won 

 after an exciting struggle in three straight heats. Time — 

 2 :424, 2 :36f , 2 :36^. The second race was a sweepstake of 

 $300, mile heats, best three in five in harness. There were 

 three horses started. J. Lyons' Skinner won. The third 

 race w T as for $300, mile heats, best three in five, for teams. 

 This was the most exciting race of the day. B. Wilson's 

 Willie Lane and mate won. 



— At Deerfoot Park there were three races on November 

 27th. The first race was a match for $500, mile heats, best 

 three in five, to wagons, between Eastern Boy and Plumber 

 Boy. Eastern Boy won the three last heats and race. The 

 second race was a match for $400, best three in five in har- 



ness, between North Star and Rufus. North Star won. 

 Ruf us was distanced in the fourth heat. The third race 

 was a match for $200, mile heats, best three in five in 

 harness, between Nellie and Captain George, to wagon. 

 The latter won the three last heats and match. 



—The stallion Wild American has trotted in 1 :65. His 

 mane measures 8| feet. 



— The following letter to ttie London Times from the 

 Earl of Coventry, a breeder and racer of thoroughbred 

 horses, will be found interesting to our gentlemen who 

 keep breeding and racing stables: — 



SHORT RAGES. 



To the Editor of the London Timer. — 



Sir — The short races which now-a-days prevail have a 

 far greater influence for evil, in my opinion, on the breed of 

 horses than the mischievous practice of running two-year- 

 olds early in the year. I brought forward a motion at a 

 recent meeting of the Jockey Club to the effect that there 

 should be no more races for three-year-olds and upwards of 

 shorter distance than one mile, but it was negatived by a 

 large majority. I have reason to believe that many mem- 

 bers of the Jockey Club agree with my views; but New 

 market is a difficult place to get at, and I venture to enter- 

 tain the hope that in future, measures of importance may 

 be discussed in London. 



The number of short races is increasing, for I rind that 

 in 1871, out of 1,253 races, 646 were under the distance of 

 a mile; in 1872, out of 1,260 races, 741 were under a mile. 

 I have not included two-year-old races in this calculation, 

 which I believe to be a correct one. We all agree thai 

 soundness of wind and limb is the most important element 

 in the constitution of a horse. It is generally admitted 

 that roaring is an hereditary disease, and it is an equally 

 well-known fact that roarers can win over short courses; 

 therefore the Scurry Races, of which I complain, may be 

 regarded as a premium for unsound horses. Admiral Rous, 

 in a letter which he- published a short time ago in the 

 Times, says ' ' the breed of horses of which we are so proud 

 will eventually be beaten by the French," and states as his 

 reason for thinking so, " that Frenchmen reject roarers 

 and infirm leg-;." Can that be a matter of surprise, when 

 it is recollected that in France there are no races under a 

 mile, and in consequence no occupation for roarers and 

 cripples? I think it a great national misfortune that Lord 

 Rosebery's Committee abstained from considering the case 

 of race-horses, because the Turf is the fountain head whence 

 most breeders derive their supply in the shape of thorough- 

 bred stallions. At many of the horse shows I am in the 

 habit of seeing stallions that I know to be roarers, but they 

 have acquired — thanks to the short races — a reputation on 

 the Turf, and their services at the Stud are sought by breed- 

 ers. Lord Stradbroke, in his evidence before the Commit- 

 tee of the House of Lords, ascribes the deterioration in our 

 breed of horses to " the large sums of money which are to 

 be won by two-year-olds and three-year-olds in short races, 

 and consequently gentlemen have been breeding for speed, 

 and not for endurance." Mr. John Manning-ton and Mr. 

 W. M'Grane agree with him. 



There is plenty of evidence to show that the disease of 

 roaring has been more frequently met with of late years, 

 and we find that the number of short races is increasing. 

 Layers of odds and owners of bad horses are fond of short 

 races; th^ general racing public dislike them, and I believe 

 that if they were done away with altogether there would be 

 a very perceptible decrease in the number of roarers bred in 

 years to come. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



Croome, Nov. 5. Coventry. 



Horse Clipping. — There has been considerable discus- 

 susion among the practical horsemen, as \ o the benefit or 

 injury experienced by a horse from the process of clipping. 

 A reference to the authorities on this matter will show that 

 the horse in his native plains has always a short coat of 

 hair, and that the winds and rains, which cause him hereto 

 throw out an extra protection are not natural to him. If 

 the animal is left to follow his own impulses, even when 

 turned out in this country, he will be all the better for his 

 long coat, for while it has the great advantage of protecting 

 him from the cold, it is not wetted by sweat, because he 

 does not voluntarily gallop long and fast enough to produce 

 that secretion. This natural protection is therefore a de- 

 cided benefit to the horse when left in a state of nature — 

 but when man steps in and requires his use for such work 

 as will sweat him severely, a long coat is found to produce 

 great exhaustion* both during and after having been per- 

 forming hard work. Now during our cold -winters, so long 

 as the winter coat of the horse can he kept dry, he is pro- 

 tected by it — and the slow-going horse, or one only required 

 to perform easy work will be ail the better for it — but the 

 moment the pace is sufficiently accelerated to warm the 

 skin the sweat pours forth when at work, and after w r ork 

 is kept up by the matted mass of hair with which the horse 

 is covered. The clipped horse drys off quickly, and it is 

 asserted with a good show of reason, that a short, dry coat 

 of hair is better for the horse than a long, thick wet one. 

 The clipping no doubt removes the tendency to sweat; or 

 if the horse sweats when at work, the secretion ceases when 

 the exercise which produced it stops. Now while we main- 

 tain that in such cases clipping may be practiced without 

 injury, we still believe the indiscriminate clipping of horses 

 for the fancy or fashion of the thing, to be wholly unneces- 

 sary. At any rate if horses are clipped, their grooms must 

 remember that they need extra attention; a warm stable 

 and plenty of artificial covering; we speak now of fancy 

 horses not used as workers.— Maine Fcwmer. 



—When spring comes round, the croquet sets, which 

 may be had by subscribing to the Forest and Stream, 

 will come into use most opportunely. See advertisement of 

 prizes in to-day's issue. 



-«s.*<*~ _ 



A shopkeeper who recently took it into his head to have 

 a holiday, shut shop and wrote on the shutters : — 



All flesh is grass, and grass is hay; 

 We're here to-morrow, but we're gone to-dnj^ — fi,«hin°\ 

 . -&.,**- — __ 



—A Volcano has broken out in the Pinto Mountains, ten 

 miles from Eureka, Nevada. 



Nervous persons are not apt to receive a deal of sympathy, 

 except those who have suffered from a like disorder. 



