314 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



^portitjg ^ews from ^bi[oad. 



» 



QUESTIONS of human longevity are always most in- 

 teresting, and public curiosity in regard to this sub- 

 ject is rarely stated. If those who make a study of vital 

 statistics, carefully catalogue all professions in the interest 

 of science and of life assurances, determining that needle 

 sharpeners and white-lead manufacturers live the shortest 

 periods, while agriculturalists have the longer leases on 

 life, we should hardly think that they, the statistical people, 

 would readily declare that a horse-breaker's life offered any 

 very fair chances of a long existence. It is^ then worth 

 while to record the extreme duration of life vouchsafed to 

 one Daniel Callaghan, familiarly known as "Old Dan," 

 now residing at Clonmult, County Cork, Ireland, who first 

 drew the breath of life, (if the chronicler is to be believed), 

 in the year of our Lord 1763 at Ballyclough. The 

 London Field, who mentions the fact, says he entered life 

 as a kennel boy to Lord Lisle at fourteen, and then rode 

 steeplechases for some time afterwards. One wonders how 

 the boy could have even arrived at manhood's years,as rider 

 of an Irish steeplechase, according to the break-n-sck 

 practices of the Irish turf, eighty-five years ago. But Dan 

 stood it ali and was then huntsman for no less than seventy- 

 two years, serving under various masters, being a daring 

 and reckless rider, until tired of this somewhat tame profes- 

 sion, there being not risk enough about it, in his eighty -fifth 

 year, he took up horse-breaking as a recreation in his older 

 days, keeping at the work until he was ninety-nine. Think 

 of a man alive to-day who can tell about the Irish Rebellion 

 and the battle of Vinegar Hill, and who has ridden to 

 hounds eighty years, and trained horses when he was one 

 hundred, and who can to-day, when he is one hundred and 

 eleven years old, walk erect, and give information on mat- 

 ters that passed a century ago. Broken bones, he must 

 have had, and many of them, but he laughed at such slight 

 mishaps. Such a brave old man, and tough withal, should 

 not want, and a newer generation should care for him. Will 

 any one on this side of the Atlantic lend a helping hand to 

 this grand old huntsman, who rode to horse and hound in 

 Ireland long years before, perhaps, any one of our readers 

 in this new country was born? 



—Gallant Rob Roy! How we have all followed you, Mr. 

 Macgregor, and your brave little canoe, as she threaded 

 placid rivers or thrashed in the surging seas. We have to 

 thank you for having almost created a most delightful and 

 health-giving recreation. It behooved a good Anglo-Saxon 

 to take the canoe from the Indian, and to teach us all that 

 it was not the Chippewa or the Ogibbeway plying the 

 paddle on the Saskatchewan or the Winnipeg, or shooting 

 the rapids of the Chute a Jacquot or Slave Falls, who could 

 alone manage the daintiest of water crafts. • And now you 

 have been married, and the Royal Canoe Club, of which 

 you are the worthy Captain, have in recognition of your 

 services presented you with a silver claret jug and goblets, 

 executed in Flemish style and parcel, gilt, with the follow- 

 in"- inscription engraved thereon: "Presented to John 

 Macgregor, Esq., Captain of the Royal Canoe Club, on the 

 occasion of his marriage, by his friends in the Club, as a 

 mark of esteem, and in recognition of his efforts to improve 

 canoes, promote canoeing and unite canoeists, Dec, 1873." 

 Our own American Clubs send you kind greeting, Mr. Mac- 

 gregor, and would like to have filled your famous silver jug 

 with the rarest claret, and do wish you and yours all health 

 and happiness; and may the time come when other Mac- 

 aregors will paddle, too, their own canoes and write as 

 pleasantly as did their sire. 



There is one peculiar style of athletic amusement un- 

 known in the United States such as has just been largely 

 attended in London. With us, hand to hand contests with 

 sword and sabre, are almost unknown. We have, too, un- 

 fortunately but little knowledge of that queen of all weapons 

 t ho foil- even perhaps in old England the flueret is rather an 

 exotic. 1 What we principally refer to are those peculiar 

 English feats just accomplished before the London Athletic 

 Club with swords, such as Professor Waites' feat, (we 

 thought we had the monopoly of the Professor in the 

 United States), of cutting a sheep in twain with a vigorous 

 sword cut, and slicing an apple quite as nicely as would a 

 Yankee apple pairing machine, only that the forbidden 

 fruit in this instance is held gingerly in a friend's hands, 

 the Prof<»mi< ending by forging through bars of lead with 

 his blade as if they were boiled carrots, repeating old 

 Richard Oc&ur do Leons' performances. They had, too, at 

 this same Assault of Arms, the quarter-staff, when a Mr. 

 Rogers and a Mr. Bently cracked each other's sconces mer- 

 rily and both heroes smiled as showers of blows like Nas- 

 myth's hammers— heavy enough to fell an ox— rattled on 



their devoted heads. „-,.,,«. i 



—The bicycle has a solid footing in England, though an 

 almost forgotten toy with us. The latest match was one 

 between John Keen, the champion bicycle rider, and Polly, 

 a pony for a race of twenty miles. The velocepede beat 

 the quadruped, Polly being so badly distanced at the six- 

 teenth mile as to give it up. 3 min. 25 sec. was about the 

 time of the best mile. * 



—The last stag pursued by Her Majesty's stag hounds 

 was caught in the midst of clothes-lines, where a family 

 wash was going on. Sound trumpets, yelp dogs, shout 

 huntsmen, and clap your hands, ladies and gentlemen, who 

 where present at the finale, and may some poet sing of the 

 noble stag who came to his death in a laundry, mayhap 

 drowned in the dirty suds. _ 



—If they are horse-eaters in Paris, through choice, not 



necessity, they probably have acquired a taste for strange 



ame . -We see in La Ohaase Bluztrie that they have a new 



kind of bird for sale in the markets, namely, pelicans, 

 which were killed at Crau d' Aries, and that two pelicans 

 brought 110 francs. Let some of our Florida friends pre- 

 pare instantly a consignment of pelicans to Chevet, the 

 famous Parisian purveyor of good things. Patte de Pelican 

 may be good, but like the man who eat crow, we^do not 

 hanker after it. 



* 



— The Louisiana Jockey Club held the third day of the 

 annual fall meeting on December 18th. The attendance 

 was large and the track in excellent condition. First race 

 — Handicap; two-mile dash. Six horses started, and the 

 race was won by Fred. Bonnabel, beating Port Leonard, 

 Meta H. , Donnybrook, Mary L. , and Vidal, in the same 

 order. Time — 3:43. Second race — three miles; all ages; 

 club purse, $800. Six horses started and the race was won 

 by Cape Race, beating Fannie M. , Tom Arken, Fred. Bon- 

 nabel, Wanderer, and Carrington, in the same order. Time 

 — 5:34|. Third race — selling race; all ages; mile heats; 

 purse $500. Edwin Adams won in two straight heats with 

 great ease. Time — 1 :47£. 



—The Louisiana Jockey Club held the last day of the fall 

 meeting on December 20th. The weather was clear and 

 cold, the track good, and the attendance fair. First race — 

 Hopfin Stakes for two-year olds; one mile; $25 entrance; 

 $700 added. Ten horses started, and the race was won by 

 Ballankeel, who took the lead at the start, and kept it 

 throughout. Bay Run was the favorite. Time — 1:46^. 

 Second race — Consolation Purse; $400; one mile; Falmouth 

 took the lead and kept it, winning by two lengths. West- 

 ern Star second, and I. O. U. third. Western Star was the 

 favorite. Time— 1 :44£. Third race— four-mile heats ; 

 Club Purse, $1,200. Silent Friend won in two straight 



heats. 



<#♦*- 



Shetland Ponies.— Mr. J. G. Casey, of Suisine City, 

 California, has but recently imported a fine head of thirty- 

 one Shetland ponies. He intends to stock a breeding es- 

 tablishment in California. These diminutive animals may 

 possibly come into practical use. They are docile, cun- 

 ning, and willing. In their native home they are employed 

 in many useful ways. The experiment we trust will prove 



a success. 



-*«+. _ 



The Persian Chase. — A correspondent of the London 

 Field writes as follows: — Having lately come across an ex- 

 cellent engraving of a Pesrian greyhound bred in England, 

 I venture to forward an interesting account which accom- 

 panied the engraving, which appeared in one of the old 

 sporting magazines, of the manner in which this animal 

 is employed and the esteem in which he is held by Persian 

 sportsmen. Most of the Persian nobles are exceedingly 

 fond of the chase, and keep a number of these animals at 

 a considerable expense, and the best and most favored of 

 these dogs have collars and housings covered with precious 

 stones and embroidery. These greyhounds are employed 

 in coursing hares in the plains, and chasfng the antelope. 

 As the speed of the latter is greater than that of the grey- 

 hound, the Persians train hawks for the assistance of the 

 dogs in this kind of chase. The hawks, when young, are 

 fed upon the head of a stuffed antelope, and thus taught 

 to fly at that part of the animal. When the antelope is dis- 

 covered the hawk is cast off, which, fastening its talons in 

 the animal's head impedes its progress, and thus enables 

 the greyhounds to overtake it. The chase, however, in 

 which the Persians chiefly delight, and for which these 

 greyhounds are most highly valued, is that of the "ghoo- 

 khur," or wild ass. 'This animal, which generally fre- 

 quents the mountainous districts, is extremely shy, and of 

 great endurance, and is considered by the Persians as one 

 of the swiftest of all quadrupeds. These qualities, and 

 the nature of the ground over which it is usually chased, 

 render the capture of the wild ass very uncertain, and its 

 pursuit extremely hazardous to the sportsman. When the 

 Persians go out to hunt the wild ass, relays of greyhounds 

 are placed at various distances in the surrounding country, 

 in such directions as are likely to be traversed by the 

 object of pursuit, so that when one relay is tired there is 

 another ready to continue the chase; such, however, is the 

 speed and endurance of the ghoo-khur, that it is seldom 

 run down by the greyhounds, its death being generally 

 achieved by the rifle of some lucky horseman. The Per- 

 sians evince great skill and courage in this arduous sport, 

 riding up and down precipitous hills, over stony paths, and 

 across ravines and mountain streams which might well 

 daunt our boldest turf skimming Meltonians. The Per- 

 sians and their neighbors, the Arabs, are pretty well known 

 to be excellent horsemen, and we are certainly indebted to 

 the breed of horses they ride for certain improvements in 

 our own; but I do not think our own breed of greyhounds 

 would derive any benefit by an introduction of the Persian 

 blood, as, although somewhat symmetrical in form, they 

 appear to be too loose in structure for English coursing. 

 Several specimens have been imported into this country, 

 and one was exhibited at the last Crystal Palace Show, but 

 I do not think the breed will be thoroughly established 



here. 



♦♦*. 



The Foot of a Horse. — The human hand has often been 

 taken to illustrate Divine wisdom — and very well. But 

 have you ever examined your horse's hoof? It is hardly 

 less curious in its way. Its parts are somewhat more com- 

 plicated, yet thei design is simple and obvious. The hoof 

 is not, as it appears to the careless eye, a mere lump of in- 

 sensible bone, fastened to the leg by a joint. It is made up 

 of a series of thin layei s, or leaves of horn, about 500 in 

 number, and nicely fitted to each other, and forming a lin- 

 ing to the foot itself. Then there are as many more layers, 

 belonging to what is called the "coffin bone," and fitted in- 

 to this. These are elastic. Take a quire of paper and insert 

 the leaves one by one into those of another quire, and you 

 will get some idea of the arrangement of the several layers. 

 Now, the weight of tho horse rests on as many elastic 

 springs as there are layers in his four feet— about 4000; and 

 all this is contrived, not only for the convenience of his 

 own body but for whatever burdens may be laid on him.— 

 Cofonan'a Rural World* 



U& %tid Mivet 



FISH IN SEASON IN DECEMBER 



Porapano. 

 Snapper. 

 Grouper . 

 Rockfish. 



SOUTHERN "WATBRS. 



Trout, (Black Bass.) 

 Drum, (two species.) 

 Kingflsh . 

 Striped Bass, Rockfish. 



Sheepsaead 

 Tailorflsh ' 

 Sea Bus. 



—Rather late in the season, but nevertheless welcome, 

 comes to us a score made at weak- fishing in Princess Bay 

 last August. The writer is one of those whose business 

 will not admit of long vacations or excursions to Canada or 

 the West, and he wishes our readers to know what can be 

 done in the way of fishing within an hour and a half of New 

 York He says:— 



" I left my business at 3 o'clock, went to Fulton Market 

 and bought a half-dozen shedders, hurried up and caught 

 the Staten Island 4 o'clock boat, bought tickets for Hugue- 

 not, and arriving there rushed down to the beach and pulled 

 a half mile out to the fishing ground, and then tied up to a 

 stake. When I looked at my watch, it was about 6 o'clock. 

 In two hours thereafter I had caught with rod and real 

 sixty-one weak fish, weighing in the aggregate 111| lbs. 

 Now, how is this for two hours' fishing only one hour and 

 a half from New York? I know you will say: " Hurrah 

 for Princess Bay! next season." Rex. 



—Herewith we introduce another gentleman who wishes 

 to be heard on the Black Bass Fly Question: — 

 % Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 1873. 



Editor Forest and Stream: — 



As the Black Bass Fly Question seems thus far to be a re- 

 cord of experience in different localities, with good evidence 

 on both sides, I take the liberty of contributing from my 

 observation further proof in tin; affirmative, so far as the 

 finest fishing grounds in this vicinity have been examined. 



I confess I was not a little surprised at the negative 

 articles that first appeared in your journal, as my knowledge 

 of Ply Fishing and the Black Bass, were so inseparably 

 connected, that I should as soon thought of affirming that 

 snipe could not be killed on the wing as to say that Black 

 Blass could not be taken with the fly; and I have been on 

 the look out for a reasonable solution of this problem from 

 some of your many scientific correspondents, as it seems 

 hardly possible that the genuine Black Bass in waters sO 

 nearly alike could be endowed with such decidedly adverse 

 characteristics, and I trust the coming season may not pass 

 without a closer investigation of this peculiar trait as it now 

 stands recorded. 



Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, furnishes some good ground, 

 that in the vicinity of Garlic Island furnishing the largest 

 and best fish, which are readily taken with the fly, even at 

 times when the native bait (craw-fish or minnows), hardly 

 provokes a nibble, and at no time except perhaps wild rainy 

 days, does the fly seem to be neglected for other bait. 



The rapids of the lower Fox River, the outlet of this Lake, 

 also furnish some of the finest of sport. Kaukauna rapid 

 in particular, nearly a mile in extent, is a wild eddying part 

 of the stream, grand in its scenery and rich in ragged shel- 

 ving rocks and dark deep pools, that are well filled with 

 large, dark colored, rather slim, active fellows that are no 

 burlesque on western civilization ; and the Nimrod that can 

 preserve his light tackle in order, and retain his fish in some 

 of the headlong races he must make down the stream over 

 boulders and brambles with one of these fellows on the lead 

 for his favorite pool, must lose all thought of self and tho 

 consequence of a disordered appearance at the close of tho 

 race. 



This rapid in particular is more successfully fished with 

 the fly than all other kinds of bait, and it is not unusual to 

 secure a goodly number of nice large fellows with the fly 

 when not a single rise can be provoked with live bait: and 

 my experience in this locality has been so decidedly unex- 

 ceptional that I only think of providing myself with fly 

 hooks and light rod. 



One peculiarity is perhaps worth noticing, as I have thus 

 far been unable to designate any particular fly that seemed 

 the better, and have often changed decided colors to teat 

 their preference and have found no apparent difference. 



In conclusion, I beg to assure you of the hearty approval 

 and support I am certain must be extended your journal by 

 all lovers of true manhood, as it has given me great satisfac- 

 tion to notice the decidedly uncharacteristic style apparent 

 as compared with other so called sporting papers; and un- 

 less the "true ring" is a myth with us, there will come up 

 to you from the conscientious sportsmen of America a 

 hearty, generous support, that will continue so long as the 

 present high standard of truth, honor and excellence is 

 maintained in the conduct of the Forest and Stream. 



Mills. 



Of course we can do nothing less than make our best bow 

 to the foregoing hearty endorsement, and still labor to de- 

 serve it. If we were not too modest, we should fill our 

 paper each week with these encomiums. But then, what 

 sport would there be in that? 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I have read your interesting article upon the " Michigan 

 Grayling" in No. 17 of your interesting paper. I am con- 

 fident that this fish or Richardson's Thymallus Signifier, is 

 a habitant of one of the rivers emptying into the St. Law- 

 rence at Three Rivers, Canada, about midway between Mon- 

 treal and Quebec. It is known there under the local mis- 

 nomer of "Spearing," which fact has probably served to 

 prevent identification. The fish known at that place under 

 the above "alias" is most likely Richardson's, or another 



