FOREST AND STREAM, 
1031 
CITY SPORTING DOGS, 
S TATISTICS show that there are upwards of 15,000 
dogs housed within the limits of the city of 
New York—there may be many more, there certainly are 
no less, Of this number, it is fair to presume that very 
many are sporting dogs, that is, pointers, setters, spaniels 
and hounds, The first two named breeds, however, are 
greatly in predominance; but although these claim our 
special attention, our observations will apply to the 
whole class. 
The owners of these dogs—the city sportsmen—either 
men of business, or men of leisure, are as a rule, both in 
theory and in practice, infinitely more exacting of their 
field companions than those who dwell on the wooded 
hill-side or prairie. 
Fresh from off the chain, without any preparatory ex¬ 
ercise comes Don, to stand the dust and joltings of many 
miles in a long railway journey, and expected at the end 
to last through his owner’s fortnight holiday. His mas¬ 
ter, wearied with hard work, or exhausted with ennui, 
becomes a boy again, all eager for the sport, and Don 
must be ready for a start long before the sun is fairly up; 
and so it goes on day after day, early and late, wet or 
dry; for his master must make the most of his time. 
Thus oftentimes, Don has to take the field when, as far as 
finding birds is concerned, he might as well be in the 
Dogstar, or resting in that happy hunting ground which 
Byron mourns that all dogs are denied. But though 
fagged, foot-sore, jaded, he is ever patient and will¬ 
ing to work as long as he can crawl. Should the sports¬ 
man tire out there is no rest for Don, as it is often his 
fate to be loaned for the day while his master lies up for 
repairs. The vacation ended, the dog is brought back to 
some stable or basement where he seldom sees the sun or 
basks in comfort in its rays. Even the fresh air of 
Heaven is denied him ; he scents only an atmosphere of 
smoke. Perhaps he is fortunate enough to be kennelled 
in some back-yard, say eighteen by twelve, damp from 
the everlasting shade of bricks and mortar ; yet on the 
top of all this, we hear the owner wonder why the 
dog did not work better, show a finer nose, and why he 
tired out so soon. 
At the end of a four-foot chain, and fed on that most 
unwholesome food, the leavings of a city-man's table, 
there Don stops until it is time for him to plunge into ice 
water “to look for snipe.” Then if the dog takes cold 
and dies the owner ceases to give himself up to astonish¬ 
ment, but devotes his spare moments in reflections of a 
personal character on the breeder who sold him the dog. 
This is no fancy sketch, but honest, downright truth. 
Should these words conjure up one doubt, go watch those 
who go “a-hunting.” Select the eve of a public holiday 
or the day before the “ law is up.” Standby the gate of 
one of our railroad ferries, and watch the files of “hunt¬ 
ers ” who pass in review. Tugging behind them, stiff¬ 
ened in every joint, come the strings of fattened Dons 
which are literally being led to the slaughter. Is it 
strange that oftentimes the sportsman’s bag is empty? 
Look at that mighty “hunter,” moving sideways like 
a crab, being on one hand weighed down with shot and 
the taut chain by which he leads his dog. He has a 
* 1 blue jees” feather in his hat, the trophy of his unwonted 
skill. His eyes are fixed, and like some ancient seer he al¬ 
ready sees bright visions of the morrow’s sport. While it is 
evident that it is his intention to visit New Jersey, the dog, 
a fine red setter, seems to prefer Long Island. Biped vs. 
Quadruped; a match, however, where the least num¬ 
ber of legs proves the winner, and Jersey gains the 
day. 
It is natural that the owners of good dogs should wish 
to have them under their own supervision. The fear 
that they may be ill treated, badly handled, or shot over, 
if they once get out of their sight, prevents many from 
wintering their dogs in the country. But we would re¬ 
mind these that there are a number of boarding kennels 
which are conducted by proprietors who are perfectly re¬ 
liable, and of all seasons in the year the wicter is the 
time when dogs require most exercise. The slippery and 
filthy condition of city streets often precludes the owner 
from exercising his dogs, even if his business hours per¬ 
mit. It is, therefore, the object of every sportsman to 
see that his dogs are fed on wholesome food, prepared 
especially for them, kenneled in a cleanly place, and 
given regular exercise at stated times. Any city man 
who can afford to own a sporting dog and pay the tax is 
either able to spare the time to exercise the dog himself, 
or to employ some poor fellow to do it for him. 
Unquestionably the expense of boarding a dog in the 
country is greater than the keep of a dog at home, even 
should he be properly fed and exercised as we recom¬ 
mend ; but on the other hand, should the animal be 
taken sick, as he is almost sure to be, unless special atten¬ 
tion is paid to him, the cost of his sickness will be very 
much heavier than if he was in the hands of an experi¬ 
enced and practical man whose business it is to oare for 
dogs. 
Let any one who doubts this try the feasibility of our 
plan, and we assure him that he will in many ways next 
season be more than rewarded for the expense and 
trouble. 
DIRECTORY TO GAME AND FISH 
RESORTS. 
O UR directory promises to be as valuable to the 
American sportsman tourist as one of Cook’s fam¬ 
ous hand-books to European travellers. Responses to 
our call are coming in, and so soon as the public realizes 
what we are doing we anticipate a perfect deluge of in¬ 
formation. The first notice of the Forest and Stream 
Game and Fish Directory may have escaped the notice 
of some, and we accordingly repeat its essential points. 
Our knowledge of the abundance of game in very 
many sections of the country, gathered some years since 
by personal investigation and circular letters, we now 
wish to supplement by the latest and most authentic re¬ 
ports from our readers and correspondents. 
Scores of gentlemen sportsmen in our cities and towns 
annually seek hunting and fishing grounds where they 
may spend their limited vacation in the sports of the 
field. There are scores of others who would go in the 
same way, provided they knew where and when to go. 
It is primarily for such that we have undertaken to sup¬ 
ply a fund of information. We ask those who have 
knowledge of eligible game and fish resorts to put such 
knowledge on record at this office, where in turn it may 
be given either personally or by letter to those for whose 
benefit it is intended. 
An important part of our work is to answer the queries 
of correspondents about the game of one country and the 
fish of another. A sportsman sets out on a business 
trip to a distant State and straightway writes to know if 
he should take with him rifle, shot gun, or fishing tackle. 
Another living in Cincinnati is going to Western Texas 
for his health and wants to know in what part of that 
country he will find the best sport. And so on through 
a catalogue which ;never ends. To furnish intelligent 
and trustworthy answers to these constant inquiries do 
we solicit the cooperation of all. The particulars asked 
for may be put into postal-card space ; to give them is a 
slight thing ; to avail one’s self of them means a success¬ 
ful expedition for pleasure and health. 
For specific details of the reports consult the Game 
Bag and Gun column. 
Editorial Notes. —“ Piseco” calls his letter “ another 
howl from Alaska’s desert shore but the reader will 
agree with us that it is a good-natured and most agree¬ 
able sort of howl after all. Indeed, darkness, cold, un¬ 
varied diet and savage surroundings appear to have had 
little effect upon our correspondent’s happy spirits. We 
wonder how many of those who have read his charming 
letters know just how multitudinous and perplexing are 
the duties of their author away up in that out-of-the- 
world corner. Something of their unenviable nature 
maybe gathered from these extracts, which we clip from 
the Alaska Appeal 
Mr. Austin is teaching school, assisted by Rev. N. Mitropolsky, 
for the Russian language. Capt. Beardslee has assisted the enter¬ 
prise by engaging an interpreter, Mrs. Kashevaroff, to help Mr. 
Austin in teaching English to Rus sian children. Capt. Beardslee 
deserves the thanks of the community for the judicious manner 
in which he has used the discretionary powers conferred upon 
him of giving employment to the deserving. 
The commander and officers of the Jamestown, now in Sitka 
Harbor, deserve the highest praise for work of thoroughly sur¬ 
veying not only the vast harbor and bay, but also the mining dis¬ 
trict adjoining the town, to the great benefit of shipping, com¬ 
mercial and mining interests. Sitka has not been so fortunate 
since the stars and stripes first floated over the land. 
A man named Jack Williams shot and mortally wounded an in¬ 
dividual named Teddy the blacksmith, at Sitka. Williams was 
placed in irons on hoard of the Jamestown. Capt. Beardslee has 
asked for instructions from Washington. In the absence of all 
law to suBtain him, an officer commanding in Alaska naturally 
must use great caution, even in arresting a murderer. 
That means that “Piseco” must be school commis¬ 
sioner, civil engineer and sheriff; and then there are a 
score of other equally exacting offices, all of which, we 
should judge from the Appeal’s remarks, be is fillin g 
with credit and ability. 
Archery readers will review with interest Mr. Carver’s 
comments upon the past season. Next week we shall 
have "Antler’s" reminiscences of early days with the 
bow in the forests and among the Indians. 
Prof. Hind’s essay upon the spawning habits of salmon 
is an important contribution to the literature of the 
subject. 
Personal. —Six thousand miles apart, they meet in the 
Forest and Stream office. We have had the pleasure 
of a call and the acquaintance of Mr. John Harvey, M. I. 
N. A., of the well known John Harvey Shipbuilding Co., 
Wivenhoe, England, designer of the famous Miranda, 
Seabelle and Jullanttr, The fine performances of these 
vessels areas well known in America as in Europe. Mr. 
Harvey is now on a tour of pleasure and business com¬ 
bined, and has examined many of our best yachts. As 
might have been expected, he does not find much to ad¬ 
mire in their want of seagoing qualities, and is especially 
struck with the lack of accomodations below in such 
large schooners as Tidal Wave and Wanderer, as well as 
the poor disposition made of what there is. He informs 
us that Jullanar is an exceedingly dry boat and the ablest 
sea boat he has ever built. 
Mr. J. C. TJhler, S. F. Y. C., from SanHTrancisco, like¬ 
wise favored us with a call, and reports yachting mat¬ 
ters on the Pacific as being livelier than ever, and the S. 
F. Y. C. in a strong condition socially and financially. 
Walnut Hill Again.— The Boston Range has added, 
if possible, new glory to itself in the performance of last 
Saturday, where a perfect score of ten bull’s-eyes were 
made and a veoord of fifteen consecutive bull’s-eyes 
was the leading one of a fine list of scores. The 
secret of the success of Walnut Hill is that the men 
shooting there love the sport, and their enthusiasm is 
contagious, It is the one place where the hackneyed phrase 
of a “generous rivalry’’ finds a practical exemplifica¬ 
tion. No one hears much of the prizes shot for at this 
range, and on the range itself it is rather “ Who is first ?” 
than the query often heard on other ranges, “What has 
he got?” While this spirit exists and the leisure is 
found to enable its working out on the range, there will 
be no doubt that the best will be heard, and only the 
best, in connection with that range. Creedmoor has a 
vast deal of perfunctory practice, and makes only a dull 
show therewith. 
SUNLESS ALASKA. 
Sitka, Dec. 15 fh, 1879. 
EARS ago it seems to me, but my diary shows but 
eight months, I met on “ the avenue,” as 1 was 
hurrying to the depot to catch the “Limited Express,” 
an old friend whom rumor said was as authority on 
Alaska. “Where are you going in such a hurry ? ” says 
he. “Sitka,” says I. “The devil,” says he. “Yes,” 
says I; “my sentiments exactly! But tell me all you 
can about it, in just one minute.” “ Well, then, if you 
are a sportsman, it’s a Paradise; if you ain’t, it ain’t.” 
And, with “ Good-bye, old man,” I hurried along, for, 
although only an amateur, I thought that I bad at last 
some little chance for Paradise. Well, I’ve been here 
six months and over, and either I am most emphatically 
not a sportsman, or people’s ideas about Paradise are 
very diverse. 
Except for the three glorious days among the ptarmi¬ 
gan, I havn’t shot enough game here to pay for bringing 
my guns. I’ve tramped on an average a mile each for all 
the snipe and plover that I've bagged, and probably two 
dozen ducks will cover my season’s work, and some 
of them were fishy enough to make one forever fore¬ 
swear duck eating. Early in October we got a few teal 
and mallard, but they had hardly begun to gather, when 
there came a “ cold wave,” and all of the teal and most 
of the mallard left for warmer climes, and they have not 
returned. I have shot two grouse early in fall, and that, 
except for my ptarmigan, fills the account. 
When we arrived we heard such tales ! We could in 
fall see in the creeks “solid beds” of salmon, and the 
grouse and ducks and geese would be so plentiful in 
fall that shooting them would cease to be a pleasure. 
Well, fall came, and winter is on us, and now it is in 
March that we are to revel in game. I am afraid that 
the inventors of the tales about Alaska shooting, built 
their stories on the model used by my wife’s cousin 
“Ike,” who, when a small boy, was a bright and saucy 
one, and would swear. Ike and I were frog hunting. Ike 
suddenly shouted : “ Come here, quick; there’s more 
than a million frogs in this pond !” I turned back with a 
flush of anticipation, hut was not so sanguine as Ike. 
“ Haven’t you got that a little steep, Ike—that million?” 
“Well, I wouldn’t say there was a million, but there is a 
thousand.” “Down a little lower, if you please, Ike.” 
“Well, there’s a hundred, any how.” By this time we 
had reached the pond. “Where’s your frogs, Ike?” I 
asked, as I peered over the alders. “There’s a dozen of 
’em, wait a minute.” But waiting did not reveal them ; 
and Ike answered my rebuking look with, “ Well, I heard 
one jump in, any how, and by his splash he was a rip¬ 
per, I tell you.” 
And so it has been with our shooting. I’ve given it up ; 
my shot gun clad in flannel—no need to grease it here, for 
our guns never rust—has stood for weeks untouched. 
And, except for an occasional shot with my rifle at some 
gull or shag or diver that plays around astern, I should 
about forget how to shoot. 
Some of the younger, more persevering, and more 
ardent sportsmen than I am, go out now and then, en¬ 
cased in rubber; but when they do return with a bird of 
any kind (they have stopped bringing hcunej the crows 
and sparrows, with which when they were beginners 
they filled their bags), they are immediately suspected of 
having “ met an Indian” and bought the bird, for the In¬ 
dians do still get some game. They bring no grouse nor 
ptarmigan—none for nearly two months—no teal, but a 
few ma ll ard, some butter-balls, widgeon, wooi? duck 
aud no end of venison. There are lots of deer to be had, 
if one could go for them; but when venison takes the 
place of beef, at six cents per pound, it ceases to be 
game. 
We care as little to go ourselves, to kill and pack in 
carcasses, lots of which can be seen lying around on each 
