Aug. 31, 1895. j 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



187 



of Cape Breton, curving around from its mouth at the 

 head of Mira Bay west and then south for thirty miles, 

 until it nearly meets the Atlantic again at Gabarus Bay 

 on the south shore. The Salmon and Gaspereau rivers, 

 both considerable streams, enter it at its head; and there 

 are numerous smaller affluents abounding in salmon and 

 trout during the season. The scenery of the Mira is wild 

 and picturesque. The shores are rolling and covered with 

 the somber fir and spruce forests of Cape Breton, and alter- 

 nately fall away and contract, so that at times the river is 

 a lake one, two or three miles wide, and again so narrow 

 that a good slinger could throw a pebble across. In the 

 wide portions are wooded points and many gemlike 

 islands. Although its banks are generally wild and forest 

 hung, as one reaches the upper portion the iheadows and 

 farms of Salmon River open before him a paradise of 

 plenty and fertility. 



The season for salmon and trout opens about May 1, 

 with the breaking up of the ice, and continues until Sep- 

 tember, although at its best in May and June. In the lat- 

 ter mouths both salmon and trout are taken in the main 

 stream, but as the season advances the salmon return to 

 the sea, and the trout seek the cooler water and spring 

 holes of the affluents. Up to a recent period the Mira 

 was famous for both salmon and trout, and tales of fabu- 

 lous catches are told. This summer the catch has not 

 been so good perhaps because of the multiplication of set 

 nets in the river, but even this summer sport was to be 

 had there. 



The Mira is but twelve miles from Sidney, over one of 

 the worst roads — truth compels me to say — I ever traveled 

 on, and the same distance from Louisbourg by a road 

 equally bad. The Sidney road crosses the Mira at 

 Burke's Ferry, where one may find comfortable accom- 

 modations. The railway about being opened by the Do- 

 minion Coal Company from Sidney to Louisbourg crosses 

 the Mira at its mouth, about eight miles below Burke's, 

 and will, I believe, have a station there. 



The Mira offers special attractions to the canoeist, as it 

 has neither falls nor rapids, and if one is indolently in- 

 clined he may float up with the tide at flood and return 

 on the ebb; or he can mount his canoe on a farm wagon 

 at Salmon River, and after a ride of twelve miles embark 

 on the head waters of the Great Bras d'Or Lake. 



Charles B. Todd. 



BOSTON AND MAINE. 



The Maine woods and waters are getting to be particu- 

 - larly popular with Harvard students. Quite a number 

 are spending the vacation season in the woods and on the 

 waters in that State. J. W. Edson, F. Y. Hall and L. A, 

 Brown, of Roxbury, and J. L. Valintine, of Dorchester, 

 are spending the month of August camping, canoeing and 

 fishing in the vicinity of Lakeville, Penobscot county. 

 Glowing reports are received thus far from the young 

 men, to a part of whom such sport is entirely new. 



Late reports from the Rangeleys say that Birch Lodge, 

 at the head of Lake Molechunkamunk, is to be opened 

 about the 1st of September, and that Bayard Thayer, the 

 owner, Col. John E. Thayer, his brother, and ex-Gov. 

 Russell will be there to try for trout, and to remain till 

 after the partridge season opens, Sept. 20. 



Bar Harbor visitors are enjoying deep-sea fishing trips. 

 Gen. J. M. Schofield arrived there last week and immedi- 

 ately Frank Jones, of Portsmouth fame, took him on a 

 fishing trip off Baker's Island in company with Secretary 

 Lamont, Chief Justice Fuller, L. A. Christy and W. H. 

 Lawrence. Report says that Gen. Schofield was high line, 

 and also secured the head of a very large cod, which was 

 squarely bitten off by a shark as the General was drawing 

 him in. Special. 



On Lake Winnipesaukee. 



Boston, Aug. 24.— Editor Forest and Stream: I have 

 just returned from a four weeks' sojourn at the cottage 

 of my friend, Wm. F. Seaver, of East Boston, at Spring 

 Haven, Lake Winnipesaukee. The two Mrs. S.'s 

 were with us, and to say that the time passed 

 all too quickly is to put it in the mildest possible way. 

 The weather was of the most delightful sort, the occa- 

 sional rains keeping the abundant foliage fresh and 

 green. My new cedar lapstreak, copper-fastened, built by 

 Davis, of East Boston, proved to be all that was expected 

 of her, and I passed many pleasant hours rowing and 

 fishing. I did considerable of the latter, but with indif- 

 ferent success, for the bass seemed to be following my 

 example, i. e., taking a vacation, and I was forced to coin- 

 cide with the remark of one of the natives living near by 

 that "The darned pesky critters won't bite unless they've 

 a mind to." I tried them with all sorts of lures, but the 

 biggest I brought to net was 21bs. The partridge shooting 

 will be good up in that section, as one couldn't go into the 

 woods and bushes in any direction without getting into 

 one or more flocks. As I don't use a gun I give this 

 pointer to any readers of your valuable paper who may 

 be looking for a place to try their skill any time after 

 Sept. 15. Spring Haven is reached by rail either by way 

 of Alton Bay or Lakeport. The bass fishing will no doubt 

 be better in September than it was in August. It cer- 

 tainly can't be much worse. I am going down to the 

 Cape this week and shall probably give the tautog a try. 



William B. Smart. 



Another Veteran Heard From. 



Columbus, O.— Editor Forest and Stream: The Leader 

 of this city recently reported the fishing luck of Mr. 

 Charles Hathaway, Sr., of this city, on Georgia Bay. 

 His score was one giant muscallonge, weight 411bs. , length 

 4ft. 6in. His second best muscallonge weighed 23ilbs. 

 On top of that he added on pike weighing 151bs., another 

 weighing 121bs. and a third weight 91bs. Ex-Mayor Blee 

 caught the other big fish that were left in the lake. His 

 best attempt in the muscallonge line was a beauty weigh- 

 ing 28f lbs. , and 4ft. 2in. in length. He caught a pike 

 weighing 12lbs., another weighing 91bs. and a third 

 weighing 6lbs. 



Mr. Hathaway got four fish, weighing respectively 18, 

 30, 41 and 21ilbs., which makes the weight of the four 

 fish come to 123^lbs, He had but six bites and saved four 

 out of the six fish. Mr. Hathaway is a man close on to 

 80 and spends most of his time fishing in Canada and 

 hunting geese and duck in North Dakota. If you can 

 beat this record for a man of his age please let me know. 



Alfred G, Hathaway. 



Round Mountain Lake. 



Eustis, Me., Aug. 17.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The camps at Round Mountain Lake are just far enough 

 from so-called civilization to make them an Eden for fish- 

 ing and hunting. Here a man may bring his family 

 during the summer and early autumn, for fishing in the 

 lake and its tributaries close at hand, as well as for per- 

 fect rest. The purest air that can be found to breathe is 

 here. All the restraint of hotel life is wanting, and one 

 can be comfortable and at ease in every respect. There 

 are good beds and tables, with neat cosy cabins. 



The fishing is fine; some phenomenal catches have been 

 made; large trout are being caught every day, rising to 

 flies in great numbers. 



The prospect for game this fall is very flattering and 

 we prophesy a busy season. Guides are already being en- 

 gaged and sportsmen are sending for accommodations for v 

 October and November. Not long since a bite moose 

 came in to the lake, swimming about in broad daylight, 

 while a boat was out not far from him with three per- 

 sons in it, giving the occupants a fine view of his royal 

 highness. Deer were never so abundant as now, quite a 

 number being seen daily near to camp, and partridge- 

 well, "The woods are full of them." J. 



Seining Small Mackerel. 



Boston, Aug. 23.— Let the dear public talk as much as 

 they will about the scarcity and high prices for mackerel. 

 What can be expected when they are caught and put in 

 quantities upon the market at retail for 10 cents per 

 dozen and of a length of less than 4in. : in fact, about the 

 size of Eastern smelt? To-day our market is full of them 

 as above, and they were caught in seines "on the Cape," 

 thus giving ocular proof that seining does not decrease 

 the quantity of fish food. By and by we shall see when 

 cool weather sets in striped bass of like immaturity and 

 quantities in the market. Long live netting! Down 

 with the lines! Score, results. Fred. 



Kibby and Camp Jack. 



Eustis, Me., Aug. 23. — I have just finished a ten days' 

 outing at Camp Kibby, which is situated nine miles from 

 Eustis, Me., and is owned by Otis R. Witham. This 

 camp consists of nine well furnished cabins and overlooks 

 Spectacle Lake on one hand and the Kibby stream on the 

 other. 



While here I have caught over 800 trout, both large 

 and small, all of which were returned to the water except 

 those which were used in camp. 



Large and small game must be very plenty in this sec- 

 tion, as I have seen nine deer, one beaver a,nd several 

 grouse. M. R. Scott. 



Texas Tarpon Fishing. 



Ropesville, Texas, Aug. 17. — I this day caught within 

 half an hour's time two tarpon measuring 6ft. and 5ft. 

 3in. Had ten strikes within an hour. 



W. C. Stockley. 



he fflmnel 



FIXTURES. 



BENCH SHOWS. 



Sept. 9 to 13.— Industrial Exhibition Association's annual bench 

 show, Toronto, Ont. C. A. Stone, Sec'y and Sup't. 



Sept. 10 to 13— Binghampton Industrial Exposition's fifth annual 

 bench sbow, Binghampton, N. Y. A. P. Fish, Sec'y. 



Sept. IV to 20.— Rhode Island State Fair Association's third annual 

 bench show, Narragansett Park, Providence, R. I. 



Sept. 17 to 30— Orange county Fair Bench Show, Newburgh, N. Y. 

 Robert Johnson, Sec'y. 



Sept. 17 to 20.— Montreal Kennel Association's show, Montreal, Can. 

 Geo. K. Lanigan, Hon Sec'y-Treas. 



Sept. 17 to 20.— Milwaukee Kennel and Pet Stock Association's first 

 annual bench show, Milwaukee, Wis. F. S. Morrison, Sec'y. 



Sept. 18 to 20 — Omaha Kennel Club's second annual show, Omaha, 

 Neb. E. L. Marston, Sec'y. 



Oct. 8 to 11.— Danbury, Conn.— Danbury Agricultural Society. G. L. 

 Rundle, Sec'y. 



1896. 



Feb 19 to 22.— Westminster Kennel Club's twentieth annual dog 

 show, Madison Square Garden, New York. James Mortimer, Supt. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Sept. 2.— Continental Field Trials Club's chicken trials at Morris, 

 Man. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 



Sept. 10.— Morris, Man.— Manitoba F. T. C. John WoottoD, Sec'y, 

 Manitou. 



Oct, 22.— Columbus, Wis.— Northwestern Beagle Club's third annual 

 trials. Louis Steffen, Sec'y, Milwaukee. 



Oct. 29.— Assonet Neck, Mass.— New EDgland Field Trial Club's 

 fourth annual trials. Arthur R. Sharp, Sec'y, Taunton, Mass. 



— . Morris, Man.— Northwestern Field Trials Club's Champion Stake. 

 Thos. Johnson, Sec'y, Winnipeg. 



Nov. 5.— Chatham, Ont.— International F. T. Club. W. B.Wei's, Sec'v. 



Nov. 5.— Oxford, Mass.— New England Beagle Club trials. W. S. 



Nov. 7.— Newton, N. C— U. S. Field Trial Club's Trials A. W. B. 

 Stafford, Sec'y, Trenton, Tenn. 



Nov. 11.— Hempstead, L. I.— National Beagle Club of America, fifth 

 annual trials. Geo. W. Rogers. Sec'y, 250 West Twenty-second street, 

 New York. 



Nov. 18.— Eastern F. T. Club, at Newton, N. C. W. A. Coster, 

 Sec*y, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 



Nov. 25.— Continental Field Trials Club's quail trials at Newton. 

 P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 



Dec. 2 to 4.— High Point, N. C— Irish Setter Club's trials. Geo. H. 

 Thompson, Sec'y. 



1896. 



Jan. 20.— Bakersfleld, Cal.— Pacific Coast Field Trial Club. J. M. 

 Kilgarif, Sec'y. 



Jan. 20.— West Point, Miss.— U. S. F. T. C. trials. W. B. Stafford, 

 Sec'y. 



Feb. 3.— West Point, Miss.— Southern F. T. C. seventh annual trials. 

 T. M. Brumby, Sec'y. 



COURSING. 



Sept. 24— Lisbon, N. -D.— Cheyenne Valley Coursing Club's meeting. 

 H. C. Waterhouse, Sec'y. 



Oct 1.— Aberdeen, S. D.— Aberdeen Coursing Club's meeting. J. H. 

 Davis, Sec'y. 



Oct. 8.— Huron, S. D.— American Waterloo Cup F. B. Coyne, Sec'y. 

 Oct. 23.— Goodland, Kan.— Altcar Coursing Club's meeting. T. W. 

 Bartels, Sec'y. 



Oct. 28 —Goodland, Kan.— Kenmore Coufsing Club's meeting. C. F. 

 Weber, Sec'y. 



Providence Show. 



ProyidejsX'E, R. I., Aug. 26.— Please remind intending 

 exhibitors that entries for the Providence Bench Show 

 close on Sept. 2. Everything points to a large entry, and 

 a pleasant reunion of exhibitors. .The R. I. State Fair 

 this year is on a larger and better scale than last year, 

 and nothing will be left undone by the management to 

 make the Bench Show a success. 



E. M. Oldham, Superintendent. 



NATURAL METHOD OF RETRIEVING. 



(From "Fetch and Carry," by B. Waters.') 



Although radically imperfect in itself and uncertain 

 in its application and results, the natural method, so 

 called, is an important factor in teaching retrieving by 

 either suasion or force. 



It is the method which is commonly first employed by 

 the amateur. It rarely, as a method, finds favor with the 

 professional trainers. 



This method is an important part of the method mis- 

 called the force system, since it is employed at nearly all 

 stages of it and is complementary to it. Being considered 

 a distinct method it will be so treated here. Yet the 

 term "natural method" is a misnomer. It more properly 

 should be termed the amusement method. It is mislead- 

 ing in its implication, since, as an art, there is very little 

 method in it. Nor is it correct to say that it is natural. 

 The term probably was adopted at a time when observa- 

 tion of what was natural and what was artificial wa.s im- 

 perfect, and it probably has since been used as a matter of 

 convenience. Indeed, the nomenclature of the dog and 

 gun is neither voluminous nor exact. 



Retrieving comes from education, be the same little or 

 much. It is no more natural for the dog to learn retriev- 

 ing than it is for him to learn anything else, nor is it more 

 natural for him to work for his master for nothing than 

 it is for the latter to work for some other man for noth- 

 ing. We may consider that the term, fixed as it is in the 

 nomenclature of dog training, has simply a technical 

 meaning, though accepted in its common meaning it is 

 misleading and confusing to the amateur, as it erroneously 

 implies a system which the dog follows by his intuitions 

 or hereditary proclivities. 



The beginner should divest himself of such precon- 

 ceived ideas of a natural system as conflict with sensible 

 teaching, and instead consider that the education of the 

 dog is the result of prolonged and diligent effort skillfully 

 applied. 



The natural method is not the best one. It is simple. 

 It requires but little skill in the manner commonly taught, 

 and it also requires comparatively but little thought or 

 knowledge in its application. It is not a system, though 

 it may be considered a part of a system. 



It readily suggests itself to the beginner from the nat- 

 ural inclination and practice of puppies to carry objects 

 in play, and from their fondness for a playmate; never- 

 theless, the puppy is intent on amusing himself. It is 

 beneficial to him, however, since nearly all his play is a 

 close imitation of pursuit, capture, battle and escape — 

 incidents common in wild life and necessary to his exist- 

 ence. 



The faults of the system will be briefly enumerated. 

 In its practical application, when the dog is being taught, 

 the system is entirely dependent upon the dog's fondness 

 for play or amusement, combined in a lesser degree with 

 his desire to gain his master's approbation, all of which 

 are uncertain and variable factors. The desire for play is 

 variable in one dog as compared with another, and from 

 ime to time it is variable in the same dog. 

 g^Such dogs as refuse to play, or ones which take no 

 pleasure in gaining their master's praises, are outside of 

 the application of this system. 



As frolic and praise are the groundwork of each lesson, 

 the dog seldom treats retrieving in a sober, business-like 

 way before he reaches maturity. When he becomes 

 sober and serious from age he often retains as part of his 

 education many frivolous ways and faults which became 

 habitual in conjunction with the lessons. 



The manner in which the dog is pleased to perform the 

 act of retrieving is almost entirely out of the trainer's 

 control. In respect to details, if the dog does them well 

 or ill, he does them as best pleases himself. Having the 

 idea that the lesson is a frolic, it is natural that he should 

 conduct himself accordingly — thus the natural or amuse- 

 ment method of retrieving shows in its results all the 

 faults engendered by play. The finished manner and 

 obedience of the correctly trained retriever are rarely 

 established. Hard mouths are a very common result of 

 the system. 



The natural retriever sooner or later finds the work irk- 

 some or disagreeable, whereupon he performs in a slovenly 

 manner, is more or less disobedient, or perhaps refuses to 

 retrieve under any circumstances. This at first commonly 

 occurs at a juncture when the dog is overworked and 

 weary, or when there is obnoxious cover or heavy footing, 

 as in briers or in mud, or he may be feeling rebellious 

 after punishment for some fault, when he has, in whole 

 or in part, lost his interest in field work. 



As the dog's own willingness to participate was the 

 peculiarity of his nature through which the trainer grad- 

 ually decoyed him into retrieving, it is quite as natural 

 that he should refuse to work when it ceased to be either 

 pleasurable or profitable to him. As to work or not to 

 work rested with himself, according to his own inclin- 

 ation, he could refuse to work quite as readily as he could 

 accept. 



So much for the faults of the system. The peculiar- 

 ities of dog nature will now be touched, as they relate to 

 the subject. 



Nearly all puppies have a passionate fondness for frolick- 

 ing. They will, by hours together, play with their mas- 

 ter, with children or with each other. In the absence of 

 a playmate, the puppy's irrepressible fondness for play, a 

 trait implanted by nature for his best mental and physical 

 development, stimulates him to find ways and means 

 for its gratification. He takes an old shoe or other ob- 

 ject to his liking, and carries or throws it about till he is 

 wearied. At play, his joy and enthusiasm are without 

 bounds. He goes through the forms of fierce, mimic 

 battle, of chasing and being chased, of hostile surprise 

 and bold defiance. All the fun may end by a brave on- 

 slaught and complete destruction of the old shoe. The 

 frolic rarely ends before weariness supervenes. In due 

 order, sleep and rest follow, whereafter the fun is boister- 

 ously and vigorously resumed. Thus he goes through the 

 necessary development in' the manner ordained by 

 nature's laws. Therefrom he acquires activity, strength, 

 a sharp judgment and a healthful development of body 

 and mind. 



In short, the play develops the puppy for the serious 

 part of dog life, regardless of education or fine pedigree. 

 On this trait, thia fondness for play, the trainer must base 

 all his educational efforts, supplemented by praise and 

 rewards for such acts as are well done, and disapproval 

 of such acts as are faulty. The dog's desire for approba- 

 tion can be greatly developed by judicious praise and 

 approval. 



