108 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 1. 1888. 



newly discovered evidence has been procured, and the evil 

 of which we complained has increased alarmingly upon us. 

 Not only were the food fishes of our seacoast abundant in 

 the early history of New England, but thev continued to be 

 so, wit h oue or two individual exceptions, down to about the 

 year 1845. There is no need to waste time to prove that. An 

 army of veteran fishermen, whose hairs are not whiter than 

 mine, could hie produced here who could overwhelm you 

 with the exploits of their boyhood days. About that tune 

 the pounds and weirs began to be set, and thousands and 

 tens of thousands of the best food fishes in the world were 

 taken in a night. The only capital required was just suffi- 

 cient to buy a few fathoms of line, a sinker or two, a brace of 

 hooks, and a few clams, to insure a hungry stomach and a 

 basket full of fish. The right to fish was free to all. To 

 thousands upon our seacoast it was not only the means of 

 living, it was life itself. Not only had they the right to 

 catch fisn, but the fish were there fed catch. And they were 

 fish too, Mr. Cb airman. None of your sprats and stickle- 

 backs. The striped bass, that royal fish, in weight from 

 quarter to half a hundred pounds, not surpassed by even the 

 lordly salmon; the sea-bass, most excellent of fish, whose 

 mouth, when opened, seemed large enough to take in your 

 hat; the luscious tautog, in length almost equal to my arm; 

 and the white and silvery scup, called the "Fair Maid" in 

 Virginia, the sweetest pan fish m the world, a morsel for the 

 gods. Not ambrosia is better food. But alas! now it is not 

 so. The destroyer has been there. The rivalry of the fisher- 

 men, the thirst for gain, the never-ending search for that 

 last dollar, are sweeping them away. 



The food fishes which it is alleged have become scarce, and 

 which are the subject of this inquiry, are the striped bass, 

 Labrax lincatw, (Boccus linewms Gill), sea bass, Centro- 

 pristis nigricans (V, alrariw Grill), tautog, or blackfish, 

 Tantoga amcricana (T. on Mis Gill), scup, Paqrus arnvrops 

 {St e n torn us argyrops Gill), and bluefish, Temnodon saltator 

 (Pnmqtom US salt.ci.tr Lv Gill). The striped bass is found from 

 Nova Scotia to Florida. Their movements' in the spring are 

 to the eastward. They appear about the 1st of May. They 

 are caught to some extent in traps in May, and later with 

 hook and line and shore seines. In the autumn they are go- 

 ing west by the same route they came. In July they weigh 

 from ten to forty pounds. One caught in the Rappahan- 

 nock River in February, 1867, weighed eighty pounds. One 

 taken by Mr. Josiah Katou, in 18B5, at No Man's Land, 

 weighed over seventy pounds. They feed upon shrimp, crabs, 

 lobsters, menhaden, eels and other fisb. Their place and 

 season of spawning, are somewhat undetermined. Some say 

 they spawn out south in the fall. They are shy, and not 

 caught to any extent in the traps, and when caught they 

 frequently escape. The pounds catch up large, quantities of 

 their food. Sea bass are caught from Cape Cod to Florida; 

 are taken about the 1st of May. They feed upon fish and 

 crabs. Parts of the. menhaden is largly used for bait. Are 

 supposed to spawn in the spring, and are taken both by the 

 hook and line and in the traps. Tautog are found from the 

 Bay of Fundy to South Carolina, Are taken from the 1st of 

 May to the middle of November. Weigh from one to twelve 

 and twenty pounds. They are believed to spawn in the 

 spring, and after spawning they seek their food among the 

 rocks. They feed upon crabs, mussels, barnacles, and lob- 

 sters. As to the scup and bluefish, I refer to the Report of 

 United States Commissioner, pp. 228, 235. 



These are all excellent food fishes, and within a period of 

 less than forty years have been abundant in all the waters 

 along our shore. That these fishes had greatly decreased in 

 number and become smaller in size down to 1872, is now 

 conceded by all disinterested persons who have any know- 

 ledge on the subject. It was admitted by Captain Atwood, 

 in 1870. At the same time it was admitted in the report of 

 the Massachusetts Committee that scup, tautog. striped 

 bass and sea bass have within a few years diminished in 

 Buzzard's Bay. The Rhode Island Commissioners also 

 say that "everybody testified to the gradual diminution 

 of the number of fish entering the bay and river." The 

 Commissioner appointed by the Prrsident of the United 

 States, Professor Spencer F. Baird, especially to inquire into 

 the matter, says, "I have no hesitation in stating that the 

 fact of an alarming decrease of the shore fisheries has been 

 thoroughly established by my own investigations, as well as 

 the evidence of those whose testimony was taken on the sub- 

 ject." 



As late as 1872, Hon. Theodore Lyman, in his presentation 

 of the question as viewed by him from both sides, concedes 

 himself and claims that it is conceded that the fish here re- 

 ferred to have become scarce, and adds that if the "govern- 

 ment of the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have 

 and forecast they will see to it that such observations be 

 made as will determine the questions involved in the issue 

 between the poundmen and the hand line fishermen," (Re- 

 port of the Commissioners, 1871-2, p. xviti). Again, that 

 such fish have become scarce is notorious. Notoriety, as evi- 

 dence, is not, it is true, conclusive, but it carries immense 

 weight with it, and renders the fact stated more than pro- 

 bable. What everybody sees and believes through a series 

 of years, through daily observation and from intimate ac- 

 quittance, is more than likely to be true, especially if the 

 affirmative proposition is not denied, except by those whose 

 interest is to deny it. The people may be m error for a time 

 but in the long run they are right, and forty years is a long 

 time for them to be mistaken with regard to a matter in 

 which they are materiality interested and with which they 

 arc brought into daily contact. Then we have before us the 

 annual returns from the pounds, seines and nets, and we 

 find not only the fish were scarce in 1870, but that they have 

 continued to diminish to an alarming extent from that day 

 to this. Witnesses will be produced to establish this fact if 

 further evidence is needed. He will be a bold fisherman in- 

 deed who will dare, to come here before you and say that he 

 believes the fish here referred to are as abundant now as 

 formerly, or as they were in 1870. 



These things being so, the questions are, can this scarcity 

 be accounted for, and how? We think it can, and that it is 

 accounted for by over-fishing. We believe, and shall at- 

 tempt to show, that the use of pounds, weirs, traps, seines 

 and nets are the engines to which the present deplorable con- 

 dition of the fisheries is chiefly attributable, which having 

 shown, we shall ask that proper and timely legislation may 

 be had to limit or forbid their use. Other reasons for it will 

 also be assigned. The pounds, weirs and traps began to be 

 set about the year 1845. These constitute the stationary ap- 

 paratus for catching fish, and I shall us* 3 the words indis 

 criminately to signify such apparatus. Full descriptions of 

 these several devices are to be found, with illustrative draw- 

 ings, in Report, Massachusetts Commissioners 1872, p. 22, 

 and Report United States Commissioner, pp. 260, et seq. 



As to nets, all their forms are well known and there is no 

 doubt they have been in use from time immemorial. The 

 fishermen of the sea of Gallilee used and mended them more 

 than 1800 years ago, but, at the call of the Master, straight 

 way they left them and followed Him, and there is no evi 

 dence that any disciple of Christ has ever used one since 

 [TO BE CONTINUED.] 



r Mt fflmntl 



Dogs: Their Management and Treatment in Disease, By 

 Ashmont. Price $2. Kennel Bccord and Account Book. 

 Price $8. Training vs. Breaking. By S. T. Hammond. 

 Price $1. First Lessons in Dog fratninq, with Points of 

 all Breecls. Price 25 cents. 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Feb. 28 to March 3.— Show of Philadelphia Kennel Club. W. H. 

 Child. Sec. 



March 27 to 30.— Fourth Aunual Show of the New Haven Kennel 

 Club, New Haven, Conn. E. Sheffield Porter, Secretary. 



April 3 to 6.— Fourth Annual Do«- Show of the New England 

 Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. .1. W. Newman, Secretary. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE. 

 'pHE AMERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration 

 of pedigrees, etc. (with prize fists of all shows and trials), is 

 published every month. Entries close on the 1st. Should be 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 stibseription 

 $1.50. Address "American Kennel Register," P. O. Box 2882, New 

 York. Number of entries already printed 5981. 



A Dining Car Line to the Pacific CoAsr.-The completion of the all rail 



".':!': J'.Vil;.. il l.'.r , i„,.i '-J;.!.; - 1 ." ! J..; i. ■_ . ... 



eleran oppomuw.y io patronise the famous Dining Car and ytellowstone 

 Park Liuc, the Northern P;i cine Railroad. The sportsman traveling in the 

 West, whether a lover of the rod or gun, naturally seeks this road, pene- 

 trating as it does the lake park region ot Minnesota, and running throutrh 

 the valleys of such trout streams as the Yellowstone. Gallatin, Hell Bate' 

 Clark's Pork, Spokane, Yakima and Green Rivers, for a distance of fully 

 J ,5i.iu miles, as well as lying immediately contiguous to the finest hunting 

 grounds in the touted Mutes, viz., The Big Horn, Snowy, Belt, Bitter Root, 

 ijueiir D Alegg and Cascade Mountains. Information in regard to this 

 region can be obtained by addressing Ohabuss S. Fek General Passengfc? 

 and Ticket Agent, N. P. R. R., St. Paul, mtm.-Adv. »»«"ser 



NEW YORK DOG SHOW. 



THE twelfth annual dog show of the Westminster Kennel 

 Club at Madison Square Garden last week was the best 

 that has yet been held. Over 1,100 dogs were entered, and 

 of this number over 1,000 were present; The management 

 of the show and the care taken of the dogs was all that 

 could be desired. Snratts' benching has come to stay, and 

 there is no doubt that it is far preferable to the old style. 

 There is one more improvement that this enterprising firm 

 should introduce, and that is to furnish a trained corps of 

 assistants whose duty it shall be to take care of the dogs and 

 to attend to bringing them into the judging ring. This we 

 presume is practicable, and it would certainly fill a long felt 

 want. The judgine this year dragged through two davs, and 

 some of the awards were not made until the third day. With 

 so many dogs to handle, espcially when the building is 

 crowded, something more than hap-hazard work is required 

 and assistants who thoroughly understand their work are 

 absolutely necessary. 



The. objection to benching dogs together that are entered 

 in different classes was never more forcibly shown than here, 

 and we were pleased to hear superintendent, stewards and 

 attendants condemn the system often in language more 

 forcible than elegant, and we have good reason to believe 

 that nothing of the kind will be allowed at future shows of 

 the club. The weather during the week was all that could 

 be desired, and the vast building was thronged each day 

 with a crowd of visitors, making it almost impossible for one 

 to examine the dogs in anything like consecutive order. 

 The liberal support of the public, of course, was very grati- 

 fying to the management, and several thousand dollars were 

 undoubtedly added to the treasury of the club. So well are 

 the club satisfied with the change of date for their show that 

 they request us to announce that they will hold their show 

 for 1889 during the corresponding week next February. The 

 judging was much the best that we have ever seen 'at New 

 York, and we sincerely hope that the club will be as fortunate 

 in their selections in the future as they were this year. 



MASTIFFS— (SIB. W. K. TAUNTCtN). 

 The class, taken as a whole, was better than last year, and 

 the English judge took much pains to arrive at correct de- 

 cisions, and got through his work in fairly satisfactory 

 manner. His one conspicuous and unaccountable blunder 

 was the awarding of champion prize to Homer, who is owned 

 by a prominent member of the American Mastiff Club. This 

 decision was wrong, and the owner of Homer has admitted 

 it was wrong. Ilford Caution was in great form; we have 

 never seen him looking better, or as well, and he should 

 have scored an easy victory, as Ilford Cromwell was not in 

 good trim. Caution's ponderous and well-formed skull, his 

 deep, wide, short and blunt muzzle (the best ever seen in 

 this country), and his great size, are more than a match for 

 Homer. The latter, a good little dog, is better than Caution 

 in ears, loin and in hindlegs, and is quite as good in feet and 

 in bone, but in all other points, excepting coat, the Melrose 

 dog is vastly superior, and should have won with many 

 points to spare. The hitch class also had three entries— Bal 

 Gal. The Lady Clare and Prussian Princess— and the he, at 

 Pittsburgh bitch, The Lady Clare, scored a very easy win. 

 She was sent into the ring in tip-top condition, and never 

 gave her opponents half a chance to beat her, Bal Gal, like 

 Ilford Cromwell, was not in first-rate condition, in fact all 

 Mr. Hull's entries were out of form. Her defective head 

 would never allow of her being placed over either of the 

 others, but she is a good-bodied, roomy bitch, and has plenty 

 of size. There were nineteen entries in the open dog class, 

 and Minting, who has developed a magnificent dog, was far 

 away ahead of all opposition. To-day he is one of the grand- 

 est dogs we have ever seen, and we doubt if there is one to 

 beat him. The competition for the $100 challenge cup for 

 best dog owned by a member of the American Mastiff Club, 

 was shorn of all interest owing to Minting's presence in the 

 ring. It was indeed a bloodless victory, for neither in mas- 

 siveness of body, beauty of outline, character or in quality, 

 could any of his opponents be compared with him. Moses, 

 that was second at Waver] y, occupied the same position 

 here, and had we been judge, would have been very closely 

 pressed by the vhc. Ilford Coroner. Moses is not first-class 

 in skull, and his muzzle should be shorter, deeper, wider 

 and blunter. Eyes a shade too light. Ears rati) er large. 

 Neck, back, chest, shoulders and loin strong and fairly well 

 formed. Hocks rather straight. Good stern. Feet not 

 quite right. Should have more bone. Moves well and is 

 good in coat and in color. Ilford Coroner should have more 

 volume of muzzle in proportion to the size of his skull. 

 Ears not what they should be. Body strong and stout. He 

 is a better dog than Regulus, placed third. The latter has 

 not improved on his puppy form, and has developed bad 

 temper and a sour expression. He has not grown to thesize 

 he promised. Pharaoh, unnoticed, was unaccountably over- 

 looked. Leaving Minting out of the question he was cer- 

 tainly one of the best in the class. If he was put back on 

 account of size how came Homer, who is very little larger, 

 to beat Ilford Caution? Ajax has a head that would not 

 disgrace a collie. Boss, vhc, got all he deserved. Size, 

 rather than character, is his strong point. Captain, he., has 

 long, weak muzzle; his best point is neat ears. Debonair, 

 while not in good condition, should have been higher tbau 

 he. Friar, vhc. was muchly overrated. He is a red dog 

 with big ears and a very houndy head. Pharaoh, Debonair, 

 Clement, Imperial Chancellor and Ilford Coroner should all 

 have been ahead of him. Clement, c, is a well-built dog, 

 defective in muzzle.and eyes, and smutty in color, but he is 

 much ahead of Friar in almost every point. Imperial Chan- 

 cellor has been an overrated dog. He has long, houndy 

 head, large ears, and is not good on legs. The mastiffs 

 shown at Birmingham must have been a sorry lot when he 

 took third prize. Busker has very poor head; it is much too 

 long, and shows neither voulme of skull nor muzzle. Olaf 



has very houndy head and bad ears. Harry is a queer-look- 1 

 mg animal to be entered in a stud book under the heading I 

 of "mastiffs " Constable, a fairly good brindle, owned by 1 

 the judge, was "not for competition" and "not for sale." I 

 Still he had to be registered, and it is believed that his name 1 

 m the "official " will largely contri bute to the mastiff interests 1 

 of this couutry. He is defective in muzzle and round in fore- I 

 head, but is much above average in body, legs and in feet. II e 1 

 will go back to England, but had he to remain with us it is 

 not probable that he would be overrated, as* old Cardinal ] 

 from the same kennel, was at home. In the bitch class I 

 Mayflower, a good-sized daughter of old Beau and Cambrian 1 

 Princess, just managed to^vin. She is toolongiuforefa.ee I 

 and lacking in depth of same, and, like her sire, is a bit ' 

 stilty behind. Her skull should be larger for her inches, and I 

 she puts her forefeet down very gingerly, with toes turning | 

 inward and el bows outward. Body long, strong and roomy, I 

 Chest excellent. She shows strong resemblance to her sire, 

 although not nearly so short in muzzle as he, Daphne, '1 

 small in skull and shallow in muzzle, must have been closely I 

 pressed for second place by Duchess, third prize. The latter, 

 while very heavy in ears, has better head than Daphne, and 

 we think should have taken her place. Daphne is light in 

 bone and defective in feet. Duchess is well kuown. "ilford I 

 Constance, c, is small in skull and defective in foreface. 

 Idaha, unnoticed, while defective in muzzle, should have 

 had not less than he, and Hebe should also have been 

 noticed. Lady Beatrice, vhc, is too long in muzzle; it ?s 

 however, a blunt muzzle, Her head markings are not good, 

 she has too much dewlap, and is crooked in forelegs and 

 rather light in bone. Boss Lady Clare was all out of condi- 

 tion; she, however, is not a good one, her head being very 

 defective. Only six puppies were shown in the two classes, 

 and, as usual, Ilford Caution's get were to the fore. 



ST. BERNARDS— (MISS A. H. WHITNEY). 

 The class was almost exactly the same as last vear both 

 in quality and quantity, and the judging, as was expected, 

 very much better; in fact, with the exception of one rather 

 peculiar award. Miss Whitney got through her work in a 

 most satisfactory manner, and* there was none of the "kick- 

 ing" which was such a prominent feature of last vear's 

 show. We are pleased to see that the W. K. C, acting upon 

 the advice we have always given, has at last been compelled, 

 to select competent judges. The experiment has been so 

 highly satisfactory this year that it is to be hoped it will be 

 continued at future shows. Otho and Duke of Leeds were 

 the only rough-coated champions in competition, and Duke 

 of Leeds won, as he should have done last year. Otho beats 

 him in front and beats him handsomely, but behind the 

 short ribs Mr. Hearn's dog is far more truly formed and 

 decidedly stronger. The decision gave satisfaction to every- 

 body—it is a just one. Rhona, who was first in the correal 

 ponding class for bitches last year had upon this occasion tt 

 make way for Miranda. The Melrose representative was in 

 good condition this time, and was, we think, fairly entitled ' 

 to the award. Lady Athol was also placed over Rhona. and 

 between these two it is a very close thing. Rbona's under- 

 shot muzzle and lack of size were probably the turning ' 

 points in favor of Lady Athol. All three were shown iu i 

 condition such as the owners may feel proud of. WithoulB 

 being first-class they are useful looking bitches. Barry II. J 

 repeated his victory of a year ago in the open class for dogs;.! 

 He was fully described in our report and it only remains for j 

 us to say that he was in splendid condition and entitled to A 

 the prize. He will have had his day by the time he gets into 

 the champion class, as he is not up to' the form of Otho and«| 

 Duke of Leeds. Bosco II. , who is well known to every show » 

 goer, made a good second. Mrs. McGregor's fairly good dog 

 has been unlucky in meeting dogs that were just, and only?! 

 just, able to beat him. He may yet win his way to the. 

 champion class. Eiger, third prize, was in his right, 

 place. Last year he had to make way for a mongrel 

 but this time got his own. Like Bosco IT. he is a useful ■ ■ 

 second class dog. Jupiter of Clover Patch, vhc, and fully 

 described in our Newark report, has not fulfilled early ex— j 



Eectations. Monk, he, has not the head of a crack. Rene, 

 C, well kuown, deserved another letter; quality rather - 

 than size is his forte. Visp If. was well placed with the • 

 reserve card; we have already described him, Gener^nl 

 Butler, vhc, has poor head and expression, but fair size. 1 

 The Silver King was possibly entered to pack the catalogue; & 

 he is in England. The class was not a strong one. Ilfi| 

 bitches Lady Alice, the winner, must have been very closely 1 

 pressed. She is defective in head, markings and in tail, anal] 

 is not a very big one. We shall expect to see her throw good 5 

 puppies, and the youugsfcers will be iu clover if the owner 

 thinks each one as good looking as he believes Lady Alice 

 to be. Beda, second prize, is an undersized bitch, defective *! 

 in head properties, but good in color and in body and shown i 

 in beautiful condition. St. Bride, vhc. was certainly on®! 

 of the best in the class, and we thought should have made a 

 good fight for premier honors; she is" well known. Empress, , 

 third prize, always occupies about the same position. HtaH 

 markings and head are dead against her chances of success , 

 in any but ordinary company. Paleface, vhc, was rath^B 

 lucky in getting vhc; her head is very deficient in char- ' 

 acter, and she is not a big bitch. Millicent If., another j 

 well-known one, deserved her vhc. card. Englishmen 

 must send something better looking than Coretta if they-j 

 mean to win prizes in this country. The class was level but 1 

 not strong iu point of quality. 



The smooth-coated division found Don II., Apollo and' 

 Hector again in competition for the champion prize. No 

 fear was entertained by the onlookers that Miss Whitney ' 

 would repeat Mr. Mortimer's blunder of last year, when he 

 gave, the prize to Apollo over his far more typical son Hec- 

 tor. We said of the judging on that occasion: "Hector has 

 improved on his puppy form, and while not so large all 

 Apollo, he out-classed him in head, is better in loin ancfl 

 quite his equal in other respects; he should have won with ' 

 several points to spare. Apollo's houndy head does noM 

 improve with age, and heavy work in the stud has weakened 

 his loin and quarters. He does not transmit his houncU| 

 qualities and is still a valuable stud dog, but we fail to nn^ 

 derstand how a judge of the bench could place him first in 

 the company he met on this occasion." We do not write in 4 

 that way unless we feel certaiu we are right. It did not tak^ 

 Miss Whitney very long to indorse our opinion and it wasJ 

 quite evident to onlookers that the result was never in d oubt. 

 Lack of condition cannot be claimed in excuse for Apollo's- , 

 defeat; he was shown in superb condition, his coat shone 

 like fine satin and he carried a lot of flesh without being soft; 

 Hector on the contrary was not at his best and it was only atj 

 very short time before the show that his owner decided to senn 

 him. He has been suffering from a gathering in the throat 

 which commenced about the time of the New Bedford shtW-3 

 and is not yet thoroughly well. If he can beat Apol ! o undt rj 

 competent judgment, and when he is not in good cond tion, 

 what can he do when fit and well? Don II, begins to s iOW 

 age, and is not up to Hector's form in head, muzzle, or m 

 expression. The peerless Leila fairly beat Daphne in the 

 next class, but the latter is a bitch of far more than ordinary 

 merit. She was handicapped in having recently had pujvJ 

 pies. Since last shown iu this couutry she has been to Eng- 

 land on a visit to Plinlimmon, and her puppies by that dog 

 should be clinkers. Victor Joseph, fully described in oue| 

 last report of this show, was again a winner in a very poorj 

 class. While not a first-class specimen, he was away ahea(M 

 of all opponents, especially in size and in bone. Petrarch, 

 second prize, is only a third-rater, being very small and not. • 

 good in loin or in quarters. He has a ring tail. Head fairly' 

 good. Barry, third prize, has bad head and his legs are d@9 

 fective: not a show dog. We did not see Wotan. He is 3m 

 much better dog than Barry. The first and second prize 



