FOREST AND STREAM 
137 
TARGET CHANGES AT WIMBLEDON. 
S OME time ago we intimated that it was probable that 
the old forms of targets and marking at range shooting 
would be changed, and now by the late Wimbledon regula¬ 
tions just received we find that tbe former methods have 
been almost entirely revolutionised. 
It became quite manifest to the English rifle experts that 
the old plan, though admirable in its way, no longer gave 
those distinguishing marks of excellence which allowed 
finer rifle performances to be accurately distinguished. It 
may be said that the rifles themselves and the men.who 
used them have gone ahead of the targets and methods of 
marking. Rifle shooting, which was highly creditable 
A. D. 1860, in 1874 would scarcely elicit a passing com¬ 
ment. If in the use of the present breech loading system 
of fowling pieces, it has been remarked that “the guns 
have surpassed the birds,” in range shooting, the rifles have 
then advanced far beyond the targets. Such changes as 
have been made, we believe to have been necessary in Eng¬ 
land. At Wimbledon, ,when ties were constant, when 
carefully disputed matches had to be left over sometimes 
for days, and then fought over again, and then decided by 
a shot or two, delays and anxieties were innumerable. 
The new system of targets is scarcely more difficult to hit 
in some respects, but it certainly permits of greater nicety 
in marking, and discriminates in favour of the more skil¬ 
ful marksmen. “Ten years ago,” says the Volunteer 
Gazette, “ Captain MacGregor and Mr. Hemming urged the 
introduction of paper or canvas targets with concentric 
rings, and at last the rapid improvement in the shooting, 
and the insuperable difficulty which arose from the long 
strings of ties at Wimbledon, have forced upon the council 
of the National Rifle Association the abandonment almost 
altogether of the iron target, and the acceptance of the an¬ 
nular system.” 
To describe the changes, they are as follow :— 
AT 200 YARDS* No. 1. 
An Annular or Gircular Target. 
Bull’s eye (black), 
8 inches diameter 
Centre 
16 „ 
Inner 
28 „ 
Outer 
40 „ 
These measurementss from the centre of the target. 
AT 500 AND 600 YARDS. No. 2. 
An Annular Target. 
Bull’s eye (black), 22 inches diameter. 
Centre 88 ,, ,, 
Inner 54 ,, ,, 
Outer 70 ,, ,, 
These measurements from the centre of the target. 
AT 800, 900, AND 1,000 YARDS. No. 8. 
Combination of Annular and old Rectangular Form. 
Bull’s eye (black), 3 feet in diameter. 
Centre Concentric ring, 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. 
Inner, 6 feet square. 
Outer (remainder of target), 6 feet by 12 feet 
The marking is now increased by one new factor, the 
Inner , making four grades of merit. The scoring is as fol¬ 
lows :— 
Bull’s eye counts 4 
Centre ,, 3 
Inner ,, 2 
Outer ,, 1 
Though we feel certain that this change was imperative, 
we regret to think that it may be a source of confusion to 
us in the United States, as we cannot now be able to com¬ 
pare, save in an approximate way, our shooting at Creed- 
moor with that at Wimbledon. Granting that our progress 
in range shooting has been remarkable, it may be some 
time before the new Wimbledon regulation target may be 
of service at Creedmoor, our essays in the United States of 
hardly a year not having made us quite as proficient as 
they ate in England after fourteen years of constant prac¬ 
tice. What is certain r however, is that we shall have to 
adopt the new system ourselves sooner or later. In regard 
to the match with the Irish Eight, we suppose the target 
such as was in use prior to the late change will serve for 
the international match. Targets, like laws, are fortu¬ 
nately not inflexible, and must all yield in time, as arts, 
skill, or morals improve. 
To our Invalid Friends. —As we have been instru¬ 
mental in sending many of our friends to Georgia and 
Florida, where the soft and balmy climate may have 
brought back new vigor to life somewhat impaired by the 
rigors of our colder temperature, we would here beg them 
to tarry yet awhile and not come home too early. There 
can never be such a mistake made as to leave the south too 
soon. Persons with weak lungs, who have been benefitted 
by the change, are prone to forget in their longings for 
home how capricious is the climate north. To-day. April 
4tli, it snowed in the morning, and the chances are that it 
will snow again. May is but May in name, and budding 
flowers and vernal breezes are mere poetry, and not facts. 
A single boisterous day, with its cold harsh winds, which 
chill to the very marrow, is fatal to those suffering from 
pulmonic diseases. If a decided improvement is felt in 
health by the sojourn south, allow Nature to continue the 
cure. It is time enough in June, not before, to return 
home, and the most experienced physicians declare that 
their patients should never think of putting their foot in 
the north before the 10th of June. We give this note of 
warning, as we are informed that cars and steamers are 
crowded with passengers coming from Savannah and 
Charleston, and because we are distressed to notice fre¬ 
quent sad terminations to lives which might have been 
spared or much prolonged if those in delicate health had 
only remained a month or so longer in the south. It seems 
to us madness to forego all hopes of recovery, of life itself, 
to brave a terribly trying climate on account of a childish 
impatience which cannot wait until a perfect cure is ef¬ 
fected. 
The Sharpe Rifle Manufacturing Company 
and the International Rifle Match. — It gives 
us great pleasure to produce the letter from the 
Secretary of the Sharpe Rifle Manufacturing Company to 
the President of the Amateur Rifle Club of this city, in 
which it may be seen that a handsome contrtbution has 
been made towards defraying the expenses of the coming 
International Rifle Match. We feel very sure that, before 
long, we shall present other cases of equal liberality. 
Office of Sharpe Rifle Manf’g Co., | 
Hartford, Conn., April 2, 1874. f 
Col. G. W. Wingate, President Amateur Rifle Club, New Yoi'k: 
Dear Sir— We notice with pleasure the avidity with which the chal¬ 
lenge of the Irish Eight, or Champion Irish Team, was accepted by the 
Amateur Rifle Club of New York. Although long range rifle shooting 
in this country is of comparatively recent date, and your opponents have 
had years of experience, the great improvement made by members of 
the Amateur Rifle Ciub, at Creedmoor last summer, satisfies us that the 
famous Irish team, with their Rigby rifles, will find no mean opponents, 
and that our historic reputation as riflemen will not be dimmed. I think 
we can say without egotism that there are no rifles superior, and but few 
equal to those of American manufacturers, from whom almost all great 
improvements mfine arms have emanated. It is needless to add that we 
feel great interest, but no fear of the result, and will cheerfully do what 
we can towards your success, as an earnest of which we have to request 
that you will make a sight draft uoon this Company at your own conven¬ 
ience, for two hundred and fifty dollars, and accept the amount as a con¬ 
tribution towards the necessary expenses of the match. Very respect¬ 
fully, yours, &c. S. H. Green, Secretary. 
A Proper Remembrance. —Last week, in Congress, 
amid the din of debate between inflationists and contract- 
ionists, Mr. Cragin, of New Hampshire, presented a memo¬ 
rial, signed by the survivors of the Polaris Expedition, ask¬ 
ing in consideration of the very terrible hardships they had 
gone through that the modest sum of $1,000 should be 
allowed each of them, and in their petition they beg that 
the Esquimaux Hannah and Joe shall be equally remember¬ 
ed. We feel certain that the Naval Board, to whom the 
matter is referred, will remunerate all these gallent men. 
At the same time, Mr. Sherman, in behalf of Mrs. Hall, the 
widow of the brave Captain Hall, who commanded this 
Arctic Expedition, prayed that the Naval Committee should 
allow Mrs. Hall a pension. The Senator spoke well and. 
kindly when he said: “that he knew of no case which ap¬ 
pealed more directly to the sympathy of the country, as the 
sudden death of Captain Hall had left his wife and children 
in a destitute condition.” We believe it would be a crying 
shame, reflecting on all of us, if Mrs. Hall was left in want, 
and the pension she asks for should hardly be looked upon 
as a petition, but rather as a just claim on the nation at 
large. 
—The number of human lives said to have been de¬ 
stroyed by beasts of prey and snakes in India in 1870-71, 
according to the London Medical Record , was 2,225. The 
reward given for tiger killing during thht time amounted 
to £2,511, but.for snakes only £2 14s. was spent. In 1872 
the amount paid for snake killing only amounted in the 
presidency of Madras to 28s. 6d. Then in 1873 a serpenti- 
cidal zeal seized on the whole population, and for a million 
ana a quarter of snakes the handsome amount of £15,728 
was paid. The reward was given for all kinds of snakes, 
but repenting of their liberality the government now agrees 
to pay only for cobras, and offers about l^d. per cobra. It 
is affirmed that the natives cannot afford to raise cobras at 
this low figure. 
Hydrophobia Successfully Treated. —In our next 
issue we will publish a most interesting letter from Dr. H. 
C. Yarrow, of Washington, in regard to the cure of hydro¬ 
phobia, which terrible disease this distinguished physician 
has treated most successfully. A great deal of interest has 
been excited lately in the United States in regard to hydro¬ 
phobia, and information of the character such as Dr. Yar¬ 
row so kindly gives us will be fully appreciated. 
* - 
Brackett’s Salmon Pictures. —An English paper con¬ 
tains the following notice of these remarkable pictures, 
which were recently sold in London:— 
“There is now on exhibition at the Crystal Palace a 
series of paintings representing the capture of a salmon, 
the work of a distinguished American artist, Walter M. 
Brackett, of Boston, U. S., entitled, ‘The Rise,’ ‘The 
Leap,’ ‘The Last Struggle,’ and ‘Landed.’ In ‘The 
Rise,’ the salmon, under water, is seen arising or darting 
towards the fly on the surface. The fish evinces great 
eagerness, as if fearing that a trout or some other meaner 
fish would catch it. The fly is made of an argus phea¬ 
sant’s wing, brown hackle, and a tail from the top-knot of 
the golden pheasant. The salmon appears to be a gay one, 
scarcely out of grilsehood, but of “fresh run” and active. 
Its scintillant sheen is painted to the life, and the water 
and rocks representing the scene of the sport to be just 
above a rapid, is as well chosen as the treatment is most 
perfect. ‘ The Leap’ shows the hook fastened at the 
gristly corner cf the mouth—the best place to hook and 
save your fish. The salmon before you, with the sparkling 
water dropping from the fins, the action of the fish and 
position of the hook and tension of the gut-leader are per¬ 
fectly represented. It is the best salmon leap ever seen on 
canvas. In ‘ The Struggle,’Mr. Brackett has evinced the 
art of a master thoroughly acquainted with the subject, 
which he is as good an angler as a painter, if possible. 
The salmon is here represented in the act of his last deli¬ 
rious struggle and almost exhausted. The fish has evi¬ 
dently attempted to run the chute or rapid just below it, 
and has been checked by the angler; hence the last struggle 
for freedom. But the steady tension of the line, and that 
unforgiving fly have been too much for the gentle salmon; 
and notwithstanding his glitter and dress of burnished sil¬ 
ver, he is forced to submit to be hooked by a cruel gaffer, 
who lives by such cruelty. In ‘ Landed,’ the noble salmon 
lies gracefully upon the sward, with the awful gaff-liook 
and split bamboo rod beside him, a dead monarch clothed 
in a glittering coat of burnished steel.” 
ortirjg Jf nvs from J lbt[ortd . 
W E notice in the Land and Water a word of admoni¬ 
tion given apparently to London game dealers. 
Our contemporary states “that to judge by the look of 
their shops during the last week, game dealers hardly seem 
aware of the risk they run in exposing for sale the various 
kinds of fowl named in the ‘ Wild Birds Preservation Act.’ ” 
The law seems to be peculiar in England in regard to selling 
birds out of season, there being no fine for the first offence, 
but the parties in default having to pay “costs,” which is 
pretty much about the same thing. Positive proof has to 
be furnished, says our authority, “ by the possessor of the 
prohibited fowl, that it has been imported into the United 
Kingdom from foreign parts.” As it is at present “close 
time” in France, Belgium and Holland, it seems then 
highly probable that English dealers are selling in opposi¬ 
tion to the law. Though in the United States we are, un¬ 
fortunately, quite far as yet from obeying the law of “close 
season” as thoroughly as we should desire, still it may be a 
satisfaction to our own New York Association for the Pro¬ 
tection of Game to know that the law in regard to the 
disposing of birds at illegal periods is, perhaps, more care¬ 
fully kept here than in London. We feel very certain that 
we express the opinion of the association when we state 
that their success in carrying out of the measures proposed 
by them is due, in a great measure, to the earnest help they 
have received from the game dealers themselves. Say 
what we may, we are certainly a law-abiding people—per¬ 
haps more so than our neighbors give us credit for. In¬ 
fractions of our game laws may be in part due to ignorance, 
but they occur more frequently from the wretched charac¬ 
ter of our legislation. What is wanted in the United States 
is laws protecting game, which shall be the same for wide 
areas of territory; that animals, birds and fish, being in 
similar geographical zones, shall have “ closed seasons” of 
exactly the same duration. Then Maine cannot send birds 
or fish to Boston, or New York, or Philadelphia out of 
season. The laws of the different States, now vague, even 
sometimes impossible to discover, hidden, as they are, in a 
vast mass of verbiage, require simplification, and the solu¬ 
tion offered by the Forest and Stream, from a great deal 
of study devoted to the subject, we believe to be not only 
feasible, but easy to carry out. As to foreign game coming 
here, it can never arrive in large quantity, save from the 
British provinces, and to. frame laws governing it would 
present no difficulty. 
—Baron Rothschild’s sale of racing horses, disposed of 
after their master’s demise, was a leading event last month 
in England. The sale was attended by many of the foreign 
commissioners, though the only purchase was made by 
Count Lehndorff, Master of the Horse to the Emperor of 
Germany. The great Tattersall disposed of them, who 
opened the sale with an eulogium of the departed Baron. 
The twenty horses sold realised 14,305 guineas, showing 
the enormous average of 7154 guineas each. The London 
Times says: “ Take the horses all together, they were prob¬ 
ably the best looking and soundest stud of horses ever 
offered for sale, and looked in good health and condition, 
reflecting great credit on their trainer, Haylioe, who had 
lived with the late Baron Rothschild for upwards of twenty 
years.” Marsworth fetched the highest price, 5,000 guineas, 
and goes to Germany, where, with the famous Blue Gown, 
he will help to improve the race of Prussian horses. 
—From the bulletin of the Societe d 1 Acdimatation, we 
have some very accurate data in regard to the use cf horse 
flesh in France. “In 1847,” says M. Decroix, the founder 
of the French horse eaters, “M. I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 
first commenced his labors, but it was only five years after 
his death that the first horse shop was opened in Paris, in 
1866. It has been developing ever since. In 1887, 2,152 
horses were consumed, but last year 8,971 animals were 
eaten, this latter number being made up with 1,092 asses 
and 51 mules. (The absence of mules in quantity is notable, 
though satisfactory as proving that mules do die soim- 
times.) On the 1st of January of this year, Paris rejoiced 
in 48 horse butchers, and outside of Paris there were five 
more shops. One curious question which naturally sug¬ 
gests itself, is, where do the horses come from ? M. 
Decroix enumerates them. The old horses, the lame ones, 
those who have injured themselves, those killed by acci¬ 
dent, and the blind, furnish the stock. Of course the con¬ 
dition of the horse is examined by a veterinary surgeon 
before he goes to the butcher. Do French people like 
horses ? It seems as if they did, for a M. Giraud, a sausage 
maker of repute, worked up into links last year no less 
than 500 horses ; of course price is an object, horse flesh 
being sold at from 70 to 80 centimes the pound, about 14 to 
16 cents, (which is dear enough, we think,) but then beef 
from cattle is worth twice as much. When this horse 
eating movement was commenced, an animal good to kill 
was worth 30 to 50 francs, to-day he is in demand at from 
130 to 150 francs. Repulsive as the idea of masticating 
horse flesh may be to the dainty ones, four millions of 
killograms of meat, worth four millions of francs saved to 
France, is worth thinking about. The author of this re¬ 
markable paper on the horse, “as a source of food,” de¬ 
scribes a dinner given by him to certain English and 
American guests, among them Dr. Bowditch, of Boston. 
The menu was as follows .—Horse soup, boiled horse, 
horse sausage, horse a la mode , horse tongue, potatoes fried 
in horse grease, roast horse, a salad dressed with horse oil, 
