[March 20, 1885. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



169 



are the steel-head salmon (S. gairdneri), which will weigh 

 three pounds each. Of native trout they have thousands, both 

 in the ponds, the lakes, and the miles of trout streams owned 

 by this enterprising club. 



Although mainly an angling chib, there, is much attention 

 paid to other field "sports and the propagation of game birds 

 and animals. The fish are liberally fed, and it is believed that 

 the receipts balance the expenditures, a rare instance where 

 trout are confined. The catch of members is limited to a cer- 

 tain number each per day — fifteen, we believe — and no more 

 must be killed no matter how freely they rise. The member- 

 ship is limited to one hundred, and many applications are on 

 file for admittance when the next vacancy occurs. The prop- 

 erty has increased in value many fold since its purchase and 

 will continue to do so for some time. 



The success in trout culture is believed to be as great as that 

 of any establishment in America, public or private, and is an 

 instructive instance of what can be done with proper facilities 

 and care. 



FISHCULTTJRE AT THE FARMERS' CLUB.— The New 

 York Farmers' Club met at the Hotel Brunswick on the even- 

 ing of Thursday, March 19. Legrand B. Cannon presided, and 

 among the gentlemen present were Samuel Sloan, Francis R. 

 Rives, James S. Stillman, Smith Clift, F. Bronson. William 

 H. Dinsmore, Frederick A. Potts, Prof. Charles F. Chandler, 

 R, B. Roosevelt, Eugene G-. Blackford, John S. Barnes, Hugo 

 Fritsch. George B. Post, Gen. Horace Porter, Edwin Thorne, 

 George H, Brown, D. F. Appleton, and John D. Wing. The 

 theme for discussion was fisheulture and it had been an- 

 nounced that Prof. G. Brown Goode would address the meet- 

 ing on this subject. He was not present, however. Mr. Roose- 

 velt said that although great advances had been made in fish- 

 culture there was a great deal yet to learn. The benefits 

 alread y achieved have been as miraculous as the famous 

 draught of fishes. We could now plant fish with as firm a 

 confidence in assured results as though we planted corn. The 

 greatest successes had been made with shad and black bass, 

 but in the near future the experiments in crossing the Cali- 

 fornia trout with brook trout would also probably end in an 

 immense triumph. The German carp, though inferior from 

 an edible standpoint, could be cultivated m rural regions 

 whore otherwise the taste of fresh fish would be an unknown 

 luxury. Better a poor fish than none at all Mr. E. G. Black- 

 ford gave some very interesting statistics showing the exag- 

 geration in the calculations of early American writers on the 

 subject, quoting the tables of profits given by Ainsworth, 

 Norris, and Stone. The day for such figures had passed and 

 fisheulture is on a more stable basis. He showed young salmon 

 just hatched and eggs of the rainbow trout and whitefish 

 from the State hatchery at Cold Spring Hai'bor, Long Island. 

 He said the daily consumption of fresh fish in New York city 

 was 155,000 pounds. In spite of the fact that our population 

 had quadrupled, and that the market had been widened by 

 improved facihties of transportation, the supply of fish re- 

 mained the same as it was when our grandfathers bought shad 

 for five cents a pound. Nor was the price very much higher 

 now than then. Codfish had been sold recently for seventy- 

 five cents the 100 pounds, and bluefish at two cents a pound. 

 What was needed now to further iucrease the supply of shad 

 was the passage of a law making one day in the week at least 

 a close day for netting. Froin Saturday night to Monday 

 morning would be enough to give the fish a chance to get up 

 the North River to their spawning beds. Even now they 

 managed to get up the river as far as Albany in spite of the 

 nets that were spread out at every point to intercept them. 

 Mr. Cannon followed Mr. Blackford and stated that in his 

 opinion the money spent by the Legislature in supporting the 

 Fish Commission was the very best investment ever made by 

 the State. In the restoration of shad to the Hudson River the 

 State had been more than paid for all its expenditures, for the 

 fish was becoming extinct and are now more plenty than ever. 

 He regretted extremely that during the last two or three years 

 the Legislature had not been as liberally inclined in tins matter 

 as formerly, and he therefore would suggest that the "farm- 

 ers" unite in a memorial to that body, requesting them to 

 perennially hold up the hands of the Fish Commission in the 

 good work it -was doing. This motion was formally made and 

 carried, and Messrs. John Jay, Francis R. Rives, and Prof. 

 Charles F. Chandler were appointed a committee to frame a 

 fitting petition The exercises closed with a witty address by 

 Gen. Horace Porter. 



THE FISHCULTURISTS' ASSOCIATION.— The executive 

 committee met again at Mr. Blackford's, in Fulton Market, on 

 Monday, 23d inst, George Shepard Page in the chair. Letters 

 from Col. McDonald and Hon. Theo. Lyman were read. The 

 dates of meeting, May 5 and 6, were approved and the 7th was 

 added at the suggestion of Col. McDonald for an excursion to 

 the shad hatching grounds. The local committee at Washing- 

 ton was empowered to decide on all questions winch may arise 

 and to arrange for addresses and papers to be read. In. addi- 

 tion to the opening address of the president of the Association, 

 it was suggested that Prof. Baird be asked to deliver the ad- 

 dress on the evening of the first day, or, in case of his declin- 

 ing, that Prof. Goode be invited to deliver it. It was also 

 suggested that there be a reception at the National Museum 

 on the evening of the second day, and that Hon. L. Q. C. 

 Lamar, Secretary of the Interior, be invited to deliver an ad- 

 dress. 





Vht Mmml 



FIXTURES. 



BENCH SHOWS. 



April 7 to 10, 1885.— First Annual Dog Show N, E. Kennel Club, 

 Music Hall, Boston. J. A. Nickerson, Secretary, 159 A Tremont street. 



April 21, 23 and 23.— Annual Dog- Show of the St, Louis Gun Club. 

 W. A. Albright. Secretary, St. Louis, Mo. 



April 28. 29, 30 and May 1.— Ninth Annual Dog Show of the West- 

 minster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden.. Entries close April 

 14. James Mortimer. Superintendent. 48 Broad street, New York. 



May 5, 6. 7 and 8. 1885.— Second Annual Dog Show of the Cincin- 

 nati Sportsman's Club. Cincinnati, O. W. A. Coster, Superintendent. 



May 13, 14 and 15.— Third Annual Dog Show of the Toronto Dog 

 Show Association. W. S. JaeksoD, Secretary, Toronto. Ont. 



June 2, 3, 4 and 5.— First Annual Dog Show of the Illinois Kennel 

 Club, John H. Saylor, Secretary, 3.182 Archer avenue, Chicago, 111. 

 FIELD TRIALS. 



November.— Seventh Annual Field Trials of the Eastern Field 

 Trials Club, High Point, N. C- Entries for Derby close May 1. W. 

 A. Coster, Secretary, Flatbush, L. I. 



Dec. 7.— Seventh Annual Field Trials of the National Field Trials 

 Club, Grand Junction, Tenn. Entries for Derby close April 1. B. M. 

 Stephenson, La Grange, Tenn., Secretary. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE. 



rpHE AMERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration of 

 ■^ pedigrees, etc. (with prize lists of all shows and trials), is pub- 

 lished every month. Entries close on the 1st. Should he in early. 

 Entry blanks sent on receipt of stamped and addressed envelope. 

 Registration fee (50 cents) must accompany each entry. No entries 

 inserted unless paid in advance. Yearly subscription $1.50. Address 

 "American Kennel Register," P. O. Box 2832, New York. Number 

 of entries already printed 2300. 



THE NATIONAL DERBY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The executive committee of the National American Field 

 Trials Club, yielding to general request, have extended the 

 time for closing the entries for the Derby to May 1, owing to 

 the prevalence of distemper. B. M. Stephenson," Secretary, 



Memphis, Tenn., March 21.. 



BENCH SHOWS AT AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As the season is now approaching when agricultural societies 

 throughout the country will be arranging their prize lists 

 and making general preparation for the annual autumnal 

 fairs, I beg to call attention to the desirability of adding bench 

 shows of dogs and collie trials to the usual live stock exhibit. 



The Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society made a de- 



Earture froni the stereotyped programme at its annual State 

 lir last September when it added a dog show, and jumping 

 trials of hunters to its other attractions. The result was so 

 satisfactory to the managers that we have decided to make 

 them a part of the regular exhibit at future shows. 



Horses, cattle, sUeep, swine and poultry, with argricultural 

 machinery and products of the soil are legitimate to an agri- 

 cultural fair, and should properly have a prominent place, 

 but we must not forget that they only interest a minimum of 

 the visitors, that for every farmer who attends, there are a 

 dozen or more sightseer's who goto be amused; city people, 

 who know nothing (and care less) of the difference between a 

 thoroughbred horse and Clydesdale, a short horn and a Jersey, 

 a South Down and Cotswold, and so on to the end of the 

 chapter. It is this vast throng of the uninitiated, the curiosity 

 hunters we may call them, that makes a fair self-supporting, 

 the money they bring into the treasury enables the manage- 

 ment to meet the heavy outlay. 



Therefore we have to vary the entertainment to k6ep up 

 the interest and induce this class of visitors to attend. How 

 shall we doit? The modern idea is. to add the attraction of 

 trotting horses, and most well-appointed fair grounds have 

 half mile tracks, and hang up purses for the different classes 

 of trotters. 



This we know draws largely, but it is no longer a novelty. 



The writer attended an agricultural fair in Lancashire, Eng., 

 some years ago , where a trial of hunters at hurdles, and a 

 bench show of dogs were prominent features, and the crowds 

 they attracted was abundant proof of their value as a draw- 

 ing'card. 



Collie trials, where the show grounds a re of sufficient extent 

 to admit of them, are a pleasing addition to a fair, and will 

 be the means of extending a knowledge of the value of this 

 interesting race of dogs in its particular sphere. 



In this country the collie is mainly known as a fancy ani- 

 mal, valued for his beauty and companionable qualities. In 

 Great Britain the dog finds his true mission, and is a necessity 

 on every well-regulated sheep farin. And it is to be hoped 

 that our farmers, on a better acquaintance with his merits, 

 will substitute him as the farm dog in place of the present 

 worthless nondescript. 



I have selected the Forest and Stream in preference to 

 the agricultural press as the proper medium to make the above 

 suggestions to fan 1 managers, for the twofold reason that it is 

 the organ of the canine interest, and that it visits rural homes 

 throughout our country, whose occupants aro identified with 

 agriculture, this leading pursuit of our people. 



L. H. Twaddell. 



THE PITTSBURGH PIECE OF PAPER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was not very much surprised when looking through my 

 Forest and Stream of last week, to find the following letter 

 from the Westminster Kennel Club's kennel man and dog 

 show manager, James Mortimer: 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



As I see that Mr. Wade has thought proper to make a public apol- 

 ogy to Mr. Chas. H. Mason, I will contribute my version of the "scrap 

 of paper" business at the last Pittsburgh dog show: Mr. Lever, of 

 Philadelphia, exhibited two black and tan terriers. Vortigern and 

 Reveller, the latter dog having brought with him a crack reputation 

 from England. I thought Vortigern the better of tue two, and so 

 stated to Mr. Mason, at the same time asking him to look over the 

 pair, which he did, and agreeing with me. so expressed himself on the 

 piece of paper which was handed to me by Mr. Wade. The whole 

 affair was so trivial that I had forgotteu it, until it was recalled to my 

 memory by an article in a Western paper of Oct. 4, 1884. 



Jas. Mortimer. 



I need scarcely say that Mr. Mortimer's "version of the 

 scrap of paper business" is very shaky. How little foundation 

 it has I will show. If, as Mr. Mortimer says, the whole affair 

 was so trivial that he had "forgotten it," 1 fail to understand 

 why he now tries to gloss it over in such tricky style. 



Many of your readers are doubtless aware that during the 

 last twelve months my reputation has been assailed time after 

 time by a disreputable character in charge of a public paper. 

 The cause of all the silly cant that has appeared is also well 

 known — i. e,, my refusing to sell my convictions, the Wash- 

 ington report, the Meteor-Vanity business, the seven queries, 

 the patronage of a kemiel club, etc. The slip of paper story 

 was spun out to a yarn of fraud, and it was retailed out as 

 having been an attempt to influence a decision in favor of one 

 of my dogs. The poor fellow who has fought liimself out in 

 trying to "kill Mason," Mr. Davidson and Mr. Watson, now 

 finds himself beset with foes on every side. The little influ- 

 ence he once had over a certain clique no longer exists, and he 

 is now compelled to bury his head in the sand and mud he has 

 been throwing at others. Yes, sir, the skipper (?) has gone be- 

 low, and it won't be the fault of honest people if he ever comes 

 up again. May the salt water cleanse him. 



It was put forward that I tried to influence a judge's 

 decision. That looked bad. Mr. Mortimer denied the charge, 

 and denied it promptly; but why did he not say what was on 

 the slip of paper, and especially when he knew that 

 the columns of the sportsman's independent (?) journal 

 were closed to my defense? Now it's my turn. Mr. White 

 asks why you don't defend me in your editorial columns. 

 Many thanks to Mr. White, but I can defend myself, and that's 

 why the columns of the independent (?) journal were closed 

 to me. Do you see it now? En avant! If Mr. Mortimer's 

 "version," translation or "construction" of the slip of paper 

 business as now printed is correct, why did he not give it at a 

 time when by doing so he could have cleared me of the cow- 

 ardly slander without detriment to his own reputation? He 

 dodged behind the statement that the sportsman's independ- 

 ent (?) journal was mistaken, and never said another word un- 

 til "Porcupine" called on me to explain the case in the Sport- 

 ing Life, and I replied that I would, when he immediately 

 rushes his "version" into three papers. Why this anxiety after 

 so many months of silence? Is it because "the whole affair 

 was so trivial," or because he had "forgotten it," or is it a bit 

 more "Owleglass stratagem?" If Mr. Mortimer had "forgotten 

 it," why does he now undertake to present the readers of three 

 papers with his "version" of something he knows nothing 

 about? Pardonnez moi, Mr. Editor, but some queer things 

 come to light in these columns, and by your courtesy I will 

 place my facts by the side of Mr. Mortimer's "version," and 

 may his friend the Poolseller help him out of the difficulty, 

 "The whole affair was so trivial" that Mr, Mortimer had "for- 

 gotten it," and just so important that I remember it well. 



Mr. James Watson was invited to judge the non-sporting 

 dogs at the Pittsburgh show two years ago. Press of business 

 (not of the sort that keeps a Chicago editor at home) prevented 

 him accepting, and Mr. Kirk was appointed in his stead. The 

 night before the show Mr. Kirk telegraphed his inability to 

 attend, Sevex-al names were suggested to fill the vacancy, 

 and as a dernier resort, Mr. Mortimer (who had previously 

 conf erred several favors on Mr. Lincoln, the superintendent of 

 that show) was communicated with and accepted. Mr, Lin- 

 coln made known to me the fix they were in, and asked me if 

 I objected to Mr. Mortimer's appointment. I told him that 

 under the circumstances I did not, but said it was hard lines 

 having one's dogs judged by a man who had had no experience 

 at home or abroad, either as breeder, owner or exhibitor of 

 good dogs. Mr. Lincoln replied: "He knows a bit about bull- 

 dogs and bull-terriers, and has been around to the shows and 



knows most of the winning dogs, so he can't get far wrong. f ' 

 I told Mr. Lincoln that was not dealing fairly by the public, 

 to which he replied : "We are in a fix and must make the best 

 of it." 



There is no need to unearth all the blunders made by Mr. 

 Mortimer on that memorable occasion, but I never saw a man 

 try harder to give satisfaction or award prizes to tbe best 

 dogs. It was a conscientious endeavor on the part of a man 

 of limited experience to place the dogs correctly. The Pitts- 

 burgh show committee presented Mr. Mortimer with a gold- 

 mounted cane in memory of the event. I don't think they 

 gave it to him as an appreciation of his collie judging, seeing 

 that he gave Robin Adair first prize and left that good dog 

 Guido out in the cold. How much has that one decision cost 

 collie breeders in this country? "Billy" Graham was standing 

 next to me when the award was made, and I shall not soon 

 forget his remarks. By the time the judge got to the black 

 and tan terriers he fairly broke down, and asked me to judge 

 tha class for him a.nd send into the ring to him the names of 

 the best three dogs written in the order in which they should 

 be placed. I felt sorry for Mr. Mortimer, and at once com- 

 plied with Ids request, and intrusted the now notorious slip of 

 paper to Mr. Wade to convey to Mr. Mortimer. The contents 

 of the note were as follows: 



First prize — Vortigern. 



Second prize — Reveller. 



Vhc. — Kistemaun's dog. 



Mr. Mortimer read the note, then put it in his pocket and 

 proceeded to judge (?) the class. He examined the dogs very 

 carefully, looked very wise, kept people waiting about twenty 

 minutes for his decision (he didn't want to make a mistake 

 and was rewarded in the press by being told he was a caref td 

 judge), booked the numbers of three dogs, as per my note; ex- 



Elained to the exhibitors why he considered Vortigern the 

 est dog; went home to bed, dreamt he was a judge, got up 

 in the morning and has been a judge ever since. Mr. Morti- 

 mer winds up the farce by saying that I agreed with him. I 

 call it agreeing with myself. Mr. Mortimer's letter goes into 

 the lobby with the Bang Bang and Rule 12 letters, the Meteor- 

 Vanity and mastiff puppy cases, and will no doubt be indorsed 

 by the author of "The Missing Fishing Rod," "A Night in 

 Baltimore," "Tom Jerome's Gordon Setter Retrieving Grouse- 

 dale's Cup," "The Judges I Have Killed," "The Effigies I have 

 Set Up," and other charming souvenirs of a cUaste life. 



I never have had a wrong word with Mr. Mortimer in my 

 life, and am glad to see him appointed kennelman for the W. 

 K. C. and manager of their show, but I shall always blame 

 him for having done himself a great injustice and his brother 

 fanciers a still greater one, in accepting the judgeship at dog 

 shows where his tongue and the record prove him to have had 

 very little experience as an exhibitor, and none whatever as 

 a breeder or owner of good dogs. My having made known the 

 facts of the ease, cannot now do Mr. Mortimer great harm, as 

 the. influence that put him into the judges' ring and kept him 

 there no longer exists. Charles H. Mason, 



March 28, 18a p >.__ _ 



THE NEW HAVEN DOG SHOW. 



^pHE show which was held last week in the Second Regi- 

 x ment Armory, at New Haven, was noteworthy in many 

 respects. 



The number of entries has been exceeded, though only, we 

 believe, at New York, but in the excellence of its arrange- 

 ments and the smoothness with which matters moved, the 

 New Haven show has not been excelled. Four hundred and 

 ninety-three dogs were entered in the catalogue, but the club 

 refused nearly one hundred and fifty entries. 



It was generally remarked by those who were present that 

 the show was the best that has yet heen held in this country, 

 and we have no hesitation in saying that it was the best that 

 we have ever attended. There appeared to be no one to give 

 orders or attend to matters, yet everything was done at the 

 right time and in the right way. In fact matters were so 

 admirably systematized that the show seemed to run itself, 

 and everything about its management gave evidence that ex- 

 ecutive ability of a high order had been brought to bear on 

 the exhibition. 



The hall was well adapted to its purposes, being roomy and 

 well ventilated. The comfort of the dogs was well looked 

 after. The attendance was good. 



Much of the credit for the excellence of the show is due to 

 Mr. J. B. Robertson, the manager, but Messrs. Porter, Osborn 

 and other members of the club were active and efficient, and 

 contributed largely to the success. 



A significant fact about the show was the heartiness with 

 which the exhibitors almost to a man indorsed the action of 

 the club. 



With a few exceptions the judging appeared to give great 

 satisfaction. This work was begun promptly at the opening 

 of the show, and for the first time in the history of American 

 dog show's, was completed the first day. The catalogue was 

 a model of neatness and accuracy, and so was very useful. 

 Copies with the awards printed opposite the names of win- 

 ners were on sale the second day of the show. 



In speaking of the animals exhibited, we have not described 

 at length those which are well known, as comments upon them 

 can be found in our reports of other shows. 



The exhibition opened on Wednesday of last week, and in 

 our last issue we were therefore able to publish only the 

 awards given up to 3 o'clock on the afternoon of that day. 



MASTIFFS— (MR. MASON). 



The display of mastiffs was the best that has yet been seen 

 in this country, and it is only at a few of the larger shows in 

 England that a better collection of these noble dogs can be 

 found. There were twenty-six entries, three of them being 

 absent. Hero II., looking fairly well, was alone in the cham- 

 pion dog class. Lorna Doone also had a walk-over in the bitch 

 class. She was not in first-rate condition. In the open dog 

 class Ilford Cromwell came out in capital form and had an 

 easy win. We said of him last year, "He is a grand dog, with 

 an Immense head, and is excellent in body, legs and feet. He 

 has but just arrived from England and was not in the best of 

 condition; should he fill out well he will take a lot of beating." 

 His faults are a very bad eye and too much length in muzzle. 

 He beat Hero II. for the special prize. Dr. Perry, who owns 

 them both, stated to the judge in our presence that his prefer- 

 ence was for Hero, and we fancied that he would agree with 

 him, as Hero is a son of old Salisbury ; but the brindle would 

 not be denied, and his excellent form and beautiful condition 

 fairly won him the race. Homer was placed second. He showed 

 up badly in the ring. Hector, vhc. and reserve, has not im- 

 proved since we saw him last. Agrippa, vhc, was well 

 shown. Hildebert, also vhc, has a good head, except that he 

 is a trifle dish-faced; he has good legs and feet, but is rather 

 short coupled. Laylass, he, we do not like; he is leggy, light 

 in bone and long" in face; he was shown in bad condition. 

 Dan, the winner at New York last year, was unnoticed; his 

 ugly disposition is sufficient to condemn him, to say nothing 

 of his long face, lack of markings and crippled condition. 



Rosalind, the winner in the bitch class, is a recent importa- 

 tion. She won the champion prize at the Crystal Palace last 

 July. She is a grand animal, of large size and plenty of bone, 

 her head is massive, and she has a very pleasing expression; 

 she lacks in wrinkle and is very throaty, which is her worst 

 fault. Prussian Princess, the winner of second, equal with 

 Hilda V,, is also a recent importation. She has a good head, 

 with nice black markings, and is a very nice bitch; her faults 

 are a heavy ear and hindlegs a little too straight and forelegs 

 not quite straight enough. Hilda V., equal second, is a big 

 lengthy bitch, with a fan skull and ear. She is just a bit 

 dish-faced and a little light in bone. She was well shown. 

 Queen II., vhc. and reserve, won second at the Breeders' show 

 last fall. She was looking well. Onyx, he, is a fair bitch, 



