Forest and Stream. 



A Weekly Journal of the Rod and Gun. 



Teems, 



H a Year. 10 Cts. a Copt. ( 

 Six Months, $2. f 



NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 2, 1888. 



S VOL. XXX.— No. 2. 



1 Nos. 39 & 40 Park Row, New York. 



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CONTENTS. 



Editorial. 



Professor Asa Gray. 

 Justice in Kennel Affairs. 

 Snap Shots. 



The Rock Climbers.— vr. 

 The Sportsman Tourist. 



Sam Lovel"s Camps.— vn. 



A Rainy Day. 

 Natural History. 

 ■ Chat About Snakes. 



The Howl of the Wolf. 



The Hardy Snipe. 



Winter Bird Notes. 

 Game Bag and Gun. 



The Call of the Moose. 



A Talk on the Game Laws. 



The Chicago Game Dealers. 



Shooting Notes. 



An Afternoon with the Quail. 



My Kit. 



The Michigan Association. 

 Massachusetts Association. 

 The Forestry Bill. 

 Albany Game Law Mill. 

 Sea and River Fishing. 

 Habits of Eels. 



The Angler and the Black 



Bass (poetry). 

 Winter Talk of Anglers. 

 Fishculture. 

 The Preservation of Fishes. 



Fishculture. 



U. S. Fish Commission Report. 



Massachusetts Commission. 

 The Kennel. 



Boston Show Mastiff Prizes. 



A. K. R. Numbers. 



Irish Setter Pedigrees. 



Objections to Rule No. 2. 



South Paris Dog Show. 



Kennel Management. 



Kennel Notes. 

 Rifle and Trap Shooting. 



Range and Gallery. 



Military Screw Sights. 



Creedmoor's Transfer. 



The Trap. 



The Country Club. 



The Atlantic Ammunition 

 Tournament. 



Essex— Easton Match. 

 Yachting. 



Winter Cruising. 



Yacht Design on the Delaware 



Triple Expansion Yacht En- 

 gines. 

 Canoeing. 



Sailing Canoes. 



Eastern Division Meet. 



The Chapoquit's Log. 



An Amateur's Experience. 

 Answers to Correspondents. 



PROFESSOR ASA GRAY. 



PROFESSOR ASA GRAY died at his home in Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., on Monday evening last. By his death 

 America has lost her citizen most eminent in that branch 

 of science which he had chosen to pursue, and the world 

 a scientific man who had but few peers in any branch of 

 investigation. 



Professor Gray was born in Paris, Oneida county, New 

 York, Nov. 18, 1810. He studied medicine at the Fair- 

 field Medical College, from which he graduated in 1830. 

 He never practiced his profession, however, but at once 

 devoted himself to the study of botany, under Dr. John 

 Torrey. In 1834 he was appointed Botanist to the United 

 States Exploring Expedition,but three years later resigned. 

 In 1842 he was elected Fisher Professor of Natural History 

 at Harvard, and held this position for more than thirty 

 years. In 1873 he retired from the active work of in- 

 struction, and since then has devoted himself wholly to 

 investigation and to the care of the herbarium at Harvard. 

 In 1874 he was chosen one of the Regents of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



Professor Gray's public writings were very numerous. 

 His "Elements of Botany" appeared in 1836, and was 

 followed by numerous other works, among which may 

 be mentioned "How Plants Grow," "How Plants Be- 

 have," "Lessons in Botany," "Structural and Systematic 

 Botany," and "Manual of Botany of the Northern United 

 States." Besides these he undertook with Dr. Torrey 

 "The Flora of North America," and wrote "The Genera of 

 Plants of the United States." In 1854 he began the first 

 volume of the ' 1 Botany of the United States Pacific Explor- 

 ing Expedition under Capt. Wilkes." Other papers of great 

 interest and importance are scattered through Govern- 

 ment reports, "Smithsonian Contributions" and scientific 

 journals. Dr. Gray was for many years an associate 

 editor of the American Journal of Sciences and Arts, and 

 also one of the associate editors of Johnson's Encyclo- 

 pedia. 



Long and closely associated with Darwin, Dr. Gray was 

 a thorough evolutionist, his own studies furnishing him 



with independent facts by which the conclusions of the 

 author of the "Origin of Species" were confirmed. In 

 fact a large part of botanical evidence used by Darwin in 

 this great work was furnished by Dr. Gray. The latter, 

 however, was unwilling to accept the theory of acciden- 

 tal variation, but insisted on a guiding mind which 

 should direct the operations of nature. To his mind 

 there was no irreconcilability between the evolution 

 theory and religion. 



The death of Professor Gray at the ripe age of 77 re- 

 moves not only one of the best trained and most accute 

 of the world's scientific men, but also one whose happy 

 style of conveying information made his science delight- 

 ful to all who were acquainted with his writings. He 

 was one of the few naturalists still living, to whom the 

 younger generation of workers in science always looked 

 up with reverence for their attainments and with love 

 for their sweet ness. 



JUSTICE IN KENNEL AFFAIRS. 

 T? VERY intelligent person interested in canine affairs 

 recognizes the need of a central governing body to 

 protect the interests of the thousands of dog breeders, 

 owners and exhibitors, who, as individuals, and without 

 organization, cannot secure all that they desire. This 

 need has long been apparent. The demand for such a 

 central body is to-day more urgent than ever. Nothing 

 of the sort exists now which has full public confidence. 



An association which sets out to control the kennel 

 interests of the country may be founded on one of two 

 platforms. 



In one case it may be largely guided by the personal 

 prejudices of those who happen to be in control, do what 

 will gratify their petty spites, and work for the advance- 

 ment of their selfish interests, taking small account of 

 that general welfare which should be its first concern. 



On the other hand, putting away unworthy motives, 

 forgetting private animosities, working for the greatest 

 good to the greatest number, and not scheming to push 

 any one man's dogs nor to fill any one man's pocket, it 

 may have an eye single to the true interests of dog owners 

 in general, and mete out equal justice to all. 



On which of these two platforms must an association 

 be established if it is to have the respect, the confidence 

 and the suppost of the public ? One way to answer this 

 question decisively is to try both methods, test them, and 

 see wiiich is the true one. One has been tried. The 

 American Kennel Club was established to be just such a 

 central controlling power as the times demanded. It has 

 failed because those who have been in power have not 

 comprehended that dog matters must be conducted on 

 the same principles of justice as obtain in other affairs. 

 With every opportunity to win respect, right wrongs, 

 watch over and care for the welfare of individuals, the club 

 has perversely thrown away its possibilities, proved untrue 

 to its duty, forfeited public respect, and disappointed 

 those who have tried to keep their faith in it. Repeat- 

 edly it has shown its inability to rise above mean and 

 selfish motives. It has demonstrated time and again 

 that considerations of simple justice to all have less 

 weight in its councils than the piques and schemes of 

 individuals. The natural consequence has followed. 

 Clubs like Boston and New Haven, whose members be- 

 lieve in the sound principle of justice to all, have been 

 forced to leave the A. K. C. The patience of owners, 

 breeders and exhibitors has become exhausted; and a 

 general feeling prevails that it is useless to hope for any- 

 thing in the American Kennel Club. 



The experiment of conducting a club founded on the 

 first platform has failed; but there still remains the 

 urgent need of a central governing body in kennel affairs. 

 Would it not be well to try what might be done with an 

 association whose one aim should be the greatest good of 

 kennel interests at large, and equal justice to all men — 

 rich or poor, prominent or obscure, members of "our 

 set" or outsiders; and to all clubs, big or little; and to all 

 dogs, irrespective of the affiliations- of their owners? 



The Albany game la w mill is grinding. There are 

 good, bad and indifferent amendments, to suit all tastes 

 and serve all interests. Mr. R. B. Roosevelt has invited 

 game clubs to discuss his bill and communicate to him 

 their views on it. The Utica Fish and Game Protective 

 Association has prepared and published a long criticism 

 of the several provisions of the bill^nd the paper winds 

 up with a request that the measure" be altered or with- 

 drawn. 



SNAP SHOTS. 

 TpLORLDA'S sunshine and Florida's balmy air are so 

 enticing that the inexperienced stranger, going 

 there from a colder climate, forgets his customary cau- 

 tion and thoughtlessly exposes himself amid disease- 

 breeding surroundings. Camp is pitched in malarial 

 coves, or on the border of a swamp or a hamak; and pre- 

 cautions against night air are thrown to the winds. The 

 malaria thus contracted is a curse so persistent that its 

 effects are suffered long after. We happen to know of 

 several individuals who are troubled with fever, a legacy 

 of their Florida camp life. 



The annual dinner of the Massachusetts Association for 

 the Protection of Fish and Game, in Boston last week, 

 was a most enjoyable affair. The number of those pres- 

 ent and the character of the assembly spoke volumes for 

 the standing of fish and game interests in that city. The 

 topic of special discussion was the law which permits the 

 snaring of grouse. This law was passed by the influence 

 of the game dealers, and of demagogues in league with 

 them, who harped on the rights of the farmer's boy. As 

 a matter of fact the farmer's boy does not benefit by the 

 law nearly so much as does the vagabond who snares as 

 a business; and it ought to be practicable to make this 

 truth clear to the Legislature. 



The example of the National Government in setting 

 apart certain territories of wild land as public parks for 

 the people, is one which may well be followed by the 

 several States. New York is by its forestry legislation 

 practically converting portions of the Adirondack and 

 Catskill regions into such parks; and none 'too early it 

 has rescued Niagara Falls with a similar design. The 

 Michigan Sportsmen's Association has undertaken the 

 praiseworthy task of inducing the Legislature of that 

 State to dedicate certain wild lands for the public benefit, 

 as a forestry preserve, a pleasure park for the people, 

 and a refuge for wild game. 



Chicago game dealers have expressed their intention of 

 observing the close season for sale of game. This is an 

 encouraging advance over the old style of doings in that 

 city when the dealers maintained an attitude of hostility 

 to the law and persistently violated it. The express 

 companies and the game dealers cannot be expected to 

 take the lead in reforms of this kind, but they may be 

 relied on for the most efficient service in effecting game 

 protection just as soon as they see that it is for then own 

 interests to take such a stand. Western game still finds 

 its way to Eastern markets, and tons of it are shipped to 

 Europe. 



The Michigan Sportsmen's Association had a business 

 convention at Detroit last week, and among the subjects 

 discussed was the destruction of song birds by milliner 

 agents. The delegates decided to petition the women of 

 Michigan for their aid in suppressing this evil. In such 

 a good work the Michigan Association deserves all suc- 

 cess. The Audubon Society, with its membership of 

 43,000, is doing efficient service in this special field, and 

 if all State sportsmen's associations would do their part 

 the reform would be accomplished. 



Commissioner E. B. Hodge is greatly pleased now that 

 the ichthyologists are inclined to accept his theory that 

 the much discussed trout of Sunapee Lake are to be 

 classed as a distinct species. At the Boston dinner of the 

 Massachusetts Association the other night Mr. Hodge 

 asserted that not only did New Hampshire stand well in 

 the enforcement of the game and fish laws, but she had 

 now come to the front with an entirely new game fish to 

 add to the angling resources of the land. 



The Columbus dog show fire makes this an opportune 

 time for some smart genius to start a wildcat dog life 

 insurance company. The only obstacle in the way of a 

 legitimate business enterprise of this nature is the ex- 

 treme difficulty of agreeing on the fair value of an ani- 

 mal. A dog not worth a thousand cents is valued by his 

 owner at a thousand dollars; and bench show catalogues 

 with their prohibitory prices put fabulous values on very 

 ordinary pieces of dog flesh. 



If the stones of the ceiling in the Senate Chamber, at 

 Albany, must drop, it is to be hoped that they will drop 

 on some one who has a game law amendment in his 

 pocket. 



