190 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 29, 1888. 



J$isJtcnltwe, 



Address all own mimic alions to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



Every person who it sufficiently interested ?'« the National 

 Park to do his share toward securing protection for it, is in- 

 vited to send for one of the Forest and Stream's petition 

 blanks. They are sent free. 



THE MENHADEN QUESTION. 



.Editor Forest and Stream: 



To practical disinterested men familiar with existing facts 

 the special pleading of Mr. D. T. Church and others on be- 

 half of their oily and mal-odorous interests will merely call 

 forth a smile that such transparent statements should be 

 produced as good argument to bolster up what is in truth a 

 public nuisance as well as a great and actual damage to our 

 coast fishing interests. Mr. Church states that "our observ- 

 ation leads us to the conclusion that there is not a single 

 food fish on our whole coast that depends on the menhaden 

 for their daily food," etc., etc. I quote the gentlemans liter- 

 ally, and assume no responsibility for the grammar involved. 

 Now, if he is correct iu the above statement, how happens 

 it that all the fishermen for bluefish, striped bass, cod, etc., 

 invariably use the menhadeufor bait, when they can procure 

 it? For many years I have habitually cruised and fished 

 along our coast, and have always found menhaden to be the 

 very best of bait. Mr. Church and his partners may or may 

 not believe it to be a fact, but the menhaden forms a very 

 large portion of the food consumed by codfish. I have re- 

 peatedly taken the latter off Block Island with menhaden, 

 entire and iiumutilated. in their gullets. If the practice of 

 pursuing menhaden with purse net steamers iuto the harbors 

 and close to shore does not drive the menhadeu away, will 

 Mr. Church be good enough to inform us why Long Island 

 Sound is always nearly deserted by these fish within a short 

 time of the coming of the menhaden steamers with their 

 nefarious work upon its waters? ALso, if, as he tells us, 

 bluefish do not eat the matured menhadeu, how will he ac- 

 count for the well known fact that menhadeu are often for 

 many days prevented from entering Peconic Bay simply by 

 the schools of bluefish lying in wait for them at its entrance? 

 The greatest damage done by the steamers, however, does 

 not lie in the quantity of menhaden actually taken by them, 

 but rather in the fact that by pursuiug their selfish calling 

 near the shove, these men drive the fish away from their ac- 

 customed spawning and feeding waters, by frightening them, 

 for they are among the shyest and most timid of fishes. 

 Therefore let all true fishermen protest, and continue to pro- 

 test against any steamer being permitted to use a net more 

 than 300 feet in length within two miles of the nearest land, 

 also against any pound net being placed with its inner end 

 closer than 300 feet from shore, or in water shoaler than 12 

 feet in depth, also against any pound nets being set any- 

 where except actually inside a harbor. The migration of all 

 food fishes along our coast should be absolutely unrestricted, 

 so far as fixed nets and fishing by purse net steamers are con- 

 cerned, otherwise the fish will leave us for safer waters, just 

 as the sea ducks have done as a result of the stupid selfish- 

 ness of those who chase them in steam launches and then 

 brag that they have crippled enough birds in an afternoon 

 to load their steamers with the wounded. 



Thomas Clapham. 



KosiiYN, March 10. 



HATCHING CODFISH. — At the U. S. station for hatch- 

 ing sea fishes on Ten Pound Island, off Cape Ann, there has 

 been very fair success in the hatching of codfish. About 

 200,000 have already beeu hatched and turned out, and the 

 jars contain many fertile eggs which will soon hatch. The 

 severe weather of the early winter killed all the first eggs 

 obtained, by reason of the low temperature of the water, 

 later on the storms stirred up the sediment at the bottom of 

 the water so that many eggs smothered, and it was only the 

 later eggs which hatched. The schooner Grampus is still 

 collecting eggs, but the season is nearly closed and the 

 schooner will then go to Havre de Grace to assist in the shad 

 work at that station. Next summer it is proposed to hatch 

 lobsters and halibut at Ten Pound Island. 



PROTECTION OF LOBSTERS AND SCALLOPS.-Iu 

 the Massachusetts Legislature the Senate bill for the better 

 protection of lobsters was refused a third reading by a vote 

 of 20 to 9, ten members being absent. In the Senate Mr. 

 Cook offered a substitute for the House bill i-elating to tak- 

 ing scallops in the head waters of Buzzard's Bay. This latter 

 provides that the selectmen of the towns of Warehain and 

 Bourne may grant permits, in writing, to take scallops iu such 

 quantities, and at such timesj within one year, and by such 

 methods as may be expressed in the permits, but inhabitants 

 of said towns may take them for tise in their families be- 

 tween October 1 and April 1, not exceeding three bushels, 

 including shells, in any week, other inhabitants of the State 

 to have the same privilege if permits are obtained. 



FISH FOR PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS. — Hariisburg, 

 Pa., March 23. — The State Fishery Commission has ar- 

 ranged to stock the streams of Pennsylvania with rock and 

 grass bass, yellow perch, and pike from Lake Eric, where 

 they will be caught in seines and placed iu a Fish Commission 

 car for transportation to the several points in the State. It 

 is intended to place several hundred thousand sh&,d fry in 

 the several streams this spring. 



Every person who is sufficiently interested in the National 

 Park to do his share toward securing protection fur it, is in- 

 vited to send for one of the Forest and Stream's petition 

 blanks. They are sent free. 



F 1 XT U RES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



April 3 to 6.— Four tli Annual Dog Show of the New England 

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



April 17 to 20.— Fourth Annual Show of the New Haven Kennel 

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



A. K. R.-SPEC1AL NOTICE. 

 npHE AMERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration 

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

 published 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 unltsbs paid in advance. Yearly subscription 

 $1.50, Address "American Kennel Register," P. O. Box 3832, New 

 York. Number of entries already printed 6 104. 



TROY DOG SHOW. 



I^HE inaugural show of the Rensselaer Kennel Club in 

 . many respects was probably the most successful exhibi- 

 tion of the kind ever given in this country. Certainly no 

 such number of dogs has ever before been entered to com- 

 pete for a first prize of $3. Long before the time of closing 

 the entry books, the management discovered that the hall 

 engaged would be too small and that other quarters must be 

 secured. The Troy Bicycle Club's rink was finally chosen, 

 but here again there was not the necessary space to comfort- 

 ably bench all entries received, and a large number had to 

 be returned. The remarkable feature of the show, however, 

 was the attendance. I have been to dog shows in England, 

 Scotland, Ireland, Wales ; France, Belgium, Germany, 

 Canada and lastly in America, but have never before seen a 

 building packed as this was. Usually if one gets up in 

 fairly good time and goes to the show by nine or fen o'clock, 

 he can get around aud take notes on the dogs. This could 

 not be done at Troy. As to taking the dogs off the benches 

 to examine them, that was out of the question, aud I fancy 

 a number of your contemporaries will supply very queer 

 reports on this show, unless they adopt the poacher's plan 

 of missing the Chicago mail, which, aft er all, is a most con- 

 venient dodge. 



Some idea of the magnitude of the crowd can be gathered 

 from the fact that on Wednesday evening it was found to 

 be impossible to get the dogs into the judges' ring. 

 Tallman and other old show-goers said they never saw any- 

 thing like it. Rain and snow came down in torrents on 

 Wednesday, but did not seem to diminish the attendance; 

 in fact I believe the second was the best day of all for the 

 gate. In regard to the management, I can safely say that I 

 never saw a lot of men work harder, and none have ever 

 treated me with greater courtesy and genuine kindness. 

 The lip-neck -shoulder management, of which New York is 

 such a warm advocate, was not deemed the proper thing at 

 Troy, and Mr. Draper quickly installed himself into the 

 good graces of the exhibitors, and was warmly praised for 

 his untiring efforts in their behalf. 



"Billy" Tallman did the feeding, and every dog. from the 

 noble Monte Rosadown to the miserable little mongrel with 

 three legs, licked the platter clean and howled for more. 

 The Staten Island dogs, in particular, seemed to be in ecsta- 

 cies over the Blackstoue Food, and one went home a much 

 fatter dog than he came. Mr. Morris will kindly note. 



The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Fund will probably 

 be benefited by this show to the extent of over a thousand 

 dollars, and the Rensselaer Kennel Club will be strength- 

 ened and encouraged to give another exhibition; and before 

 they do give one, it will "be safe to predict that the Trojans 

 who have so generously contributed to the Monument Fund 

 will not forget man's best and truest friend when his turn 

 comes. 



MASTIFFS. 



The quality was on a footing with the same class at Phil- 

 adelphia, but the classification put champions and non- 

 champions together. Ilford Caution won handily from 

 Dictator, who is a rather good-looking son of The Prince. 

 He shows true character in head properties, has better loin 

 and quarters, and smaller ears than Caution. In size, bulk 

 of muzzle, volume of skull, wrinkle and carriage of ears the 

 Melrose dog is vastly superior, and is undoubtedly the better 

 dog. By the way, how is it that the report poacher once told 

 the readers of the Chicago Letter Press that Ilford Caution 

 was a duffer, a cripple, etc., when ho now has him down a 

 grand dog?' And how is it that Minting is the grandest 

 mastiff' iu the world, whereas only one short summer ago, 

 when the poacher was in England, Beaufort was the best 

 mastiff he had ever seen? You, Mr. Editor, should feel flat- 

 tered. All you have to do is to say that one of Barnum's 

 elephants is a typical mastiff and the Letter Press will copy. 

 Truly Darwin was a great man. Major, he, is defective, in 

 skull, muzzle and in ears, and is too light and leggy. Tim, 

 he. is also defective in skull and in muzzle, and in addition 

 is light in bone, sour in expression and full iu eyes. I with- 

 held third prize. In bitches, Duchess and Lady Beatrice, 

 that were fully described in your New l r ork report, were first 

 and second. Clara Belle, unnoticed, is a mongrel. I with- 

 held first in the puppy class, and gave second to Nero, a 

 plain-headed son of Ilford Cromwell. All he has to recom- 

 mend him is size, and size does not make a mastiff. I was 

 on the point of stating that he has a wolfish expression, but 

 as this old saying of mine has been copied by the Letter 

 Press, which never possessed an original idea, I will pass 

 him without further comment. 



ST. BERNARDS. 



Monte Rosa, who made his debut at New Bedford under 

 my judging, there winning first and special, again came to 

 the front and beat Mount Sion III. and Alvier very easily. 

 Alvier is well-known to your readers. Mount Sion III. beats 

 him in head, carriage of ears and in size, but is not his equal 

 in quarters, hocks, tail or in gait. If Tamtallon, vhc, were 

 as good behind as he is in front he would have been second. 

 He is better in head than Eiger, has more size, and was in 

 beautiful condition; but his weak second thighs, straight 

 hocks and slip-shod gait put him back. Rollo, shown in 

 this class, is a mastiff, and a third-rater at that, Notwith- 

 standing the fact that his owner "controls the Democratic 

 party in this section" I ordered him out of the ring. Lady 

 Flories scored a very easy win in the class for rough-coated 

 bitches, and is a fairly good specimen. Lack of bluntness 

 of muzzle, full eyes, a rather weak back and a coat showing 

 sligh t curliness are her defects. Vesta, a good-limbed puppy 

 belonging to Miss Whitney, was an easy second, and Nut- 

 meg, undersized, defective iu eyes (the left is of lighter color 

 than the right), somewhat sour in expression, and not very 

 good in coat, was third. Buffer, shown in this class, is a 

 dog, but of what breed I cannot say. Vesta, second in the 

 open class of bitches, won very easily in the puppy class. 

 Ben Bur and Valentino, second and third, are not first-class 

 either in head, body or in limbs. Fannie, he, is very de- 

 fective in head. Mr. Dunlap's four entries in this class 

 were absent. Hector, having recovered from the trouble 

 which caused him to be shown in such poor condition at 

 New York, was well shown on this occasion, aud beat Lodi 

 and the rest of the smooth-coated dogs, with many points to 

 spare. The Letter Press, I see, attributes his victory at 

 New York to "vigor." Instead of "vigor," please read com- 

 petency, force of character, and love of fair play. Cato. to 

 whom I gave third, has too much coat, is bad behind and 

 rather plain in head. Rigi, the small, but typical, was ab- 

 sent. Daphne won as easily in the bitch class as Hector in 

 his. She is coming into shape again and should be fit in 

 time for her Boston engagement. I need not again allude 

 to her few defects and many excellencies. Thisbe and Beat- 

 rix gave, me some trouble, and I finally placed them equal. 

 Thisbe is of better type than Beatrix, but undersized and 

 was shown in A r ery low condition. Beatrix is not her equal 

 either in head, expression, color or in markings, but has 

 more height, much more length, stronger loin, and was in 

 tip-top condition. Of the two I prefer Thisbe, but in her 

 present condition could not place her over Beatrix. Bernie, 

 vhc, shows quality, but is uudersized and defective in 

 muzzle and in stop. Katrina, the best of the smooth-coated 

 puppies, is not clean below the eyes, and her muzzle shows 

 coarseness. She is very young, and therefore it w r ould not 

 be safe to predict. Of the teu shown iu this class I fear not 

 one will develop high class form. 



N'EWFO UKBL A_X D S . 



Newfoundlands, always a poor lot at American shows, 

 were better than at Philadelphia, and New York Lass, who 

 is undersized, defective in head and light in flesh, wou from 



her larger, but badly coated opponents. Carlo, second prizes! 

 would have been first, but for his defective quarters an'ql 

 undershot jaw. Harry is bad behind. Bruno has a smallj 

 characterless head, poor coat and is dangerous, the latter a . 

 very bad quality in a dog of this breed. Keno has a bad! 

 head and ears. Rover is an undersized, plain-headed special 

 men. I would not notice the best of the lot iu a good classjl 

 but as Newfoundlands go in this county one has to be chari-1 

 table. 



COLLIES. 



The Chestnut Hill Kennels made a good entry in thesM 

 classes, but as their labels, etc., did not reach them in seaj 

 son the dogs were not shown. Clipper, who has changeoj 

 ownership, scored an easy win in Ihe dog class. Ponttj 

 andW. Scott are undersized, defective in head and ears! 

 and not first-class in coat. Robin Adair, like his narne-J 

 sake, is defective in coat and is not good in muzzle, ears on 

 in loin. Taff shows Gordon character. In bitches Ladjsl 

 Watson and Delia Glenlivat, youngsters by the defunow 

 Glenlivat, were first and second. Lady Watson is a bright! 

 sable, showing quality and having a good coat and fairheadj| 

 but her ears are not sufficiently erect. Delia Glenlivat iSl 

 better in head than Lady Watson, but her coat is too sofip 

 and her ears, like her sister's, are not sufficiently ereoM 

 Gracie, third prize, is a workmanlike bitcU. Her ears ar^ 

 well carried, but too large; muzzle too square, coat scanty.] 

 Collie Nicholds, c, is short in face and in coat and defective 

 in carriage of ears. A good headed bitch is Trojan CurlejfS 

 the first prize winner in the class for bitches with litter-gfl 

 Madge, third prize, in the class for puppies under 12 monttflS 

 is round in skull, short in coat and does not carry her ear® 

 in good shape. Ben Franklin, vhc. in the same class, shows-! 

 squareness in muzzle. Ned's fairly good head is spoiled byl 

 drop-ears. 



DEEEHOUNDS. 



Of the seven entries in this class Norval scored first arifl 

 in my opinion was far away the best. His one prominetiB 

 defect, and it is one that will always prevent him from win^ 

 ning in hot competition, is his hihdlegs; they are straight! 

 and light, especially about the second thighs, and his hockSB 

 are not right. In head, coat and forequarters he will doM 

 Garroc and Keildar are strong and useful second-class doga3 

 Garroc, being straighter in front and better in the quarteiH 

 than his kennel companion, beat him, but it was a closal 

 thing between them. Bras is round in skull and was out on 

 coat. Gov is much too small for a show dog, PontoM 

 under-sized and soft in coat. This was as good a class am 

 have seen when Mr. 'Thayer's dogs have not been in compjfl 

 titiou. 



GREYHOUNDS. 



There were twelve entries in this class, and I divided it I 

 tor dogs and bitches. Among the former Balkis, the greaB 

 quartered son of that sterling dog Cly to, was altogether tGfjJ 

 much for his opponents. He is the image of his sire andTnM 

 shown ability to go and stay*. He is not first-class before t mO 

 eyes ami is 'wider in front than 1 like, but he stands qffl 

 superb legs and feet, has as strong a back as I have evjH 

 seen, and behind the short ribs could not be improved. TonH 

 second prize, lacks character in head and is much beloywl 

 Balkis's form in legs, feet, back, spring of ribs, loin, thighjl 

 and gait, (iip lias a Roman nose and is very heavy 91 

 shoulders. Tom is defective in eyes and is not strong inj 

 back, loin or in quarters. Don is weak behind the shorn 

 ribs. Dennis is a leggy, tucked-up weed, a pretty dog, but* 

 not a greyhound. In bitches, Cassandra, a brindle anm| 

 white of good hard color won with consummate ease. She hsl 

 the bes1 head an, I neck of any greyhound on the shovgl 

 bench in this country, beautiful shoulders, legs a|3 

 straight as gun barrels, hone plenty, excellent fee«! 

 and moves in good style. More spring in ribs and af 

 little more power behind would improve her. I notice! 

 that the Chicago Letter Press, instead of saying a dodf 

 has good head and neck, puts it "a good look-out. "J 

 This, gentle reader, is not original. It is an old expression! 

 that Tom Sharpies (owner of Lauderdale and Bit of Fuffll 

 used to apply, aud of course, wheu the poacher saw it in thM 

 Stock-Keeper, he adopted it for the Letter Press and proudljfl 

 sent it forth as the offspring of his mighty imagination. I 

 Another poached expression is "clever shoulders?' Greafil 

 heaven ! Fancy a man w ho never attended a coursing ineeml 

 ing in his life and never saw a greyhound gallop, writing! 

 about "clever shoulders!" ( 'lever shoulders are sbouldejffl! 

 that do their work cleverly, and to ascertain that they ami 

 clever a man must see them in full motion, A clever grejBi 

 hound is one that is brilliant in turning, killing aud oiijH 

 generating; not a dog that after leading to his hare at a, I 

 terrific pace is unable to utilize the advantage thus gained. I 

 The man does not live that cau distinguish clever shonldqH 

 and clever dogs from the other sort unless be has seen then) I 

 at work. He cannot tell when he does see them unless he I 

 himself is "clever." Such being the case the readers of tlfll 

 Letter Press will once more be compelled to acknowledge I 

 that they have been befooled, and that the reporter, instead I 

 of parading his superficial knowledge, has actually been ex- 1 

 posing the most pitiable ignorance. "This is outside the pur- 

 port of my report, but unless somebody takes these ehapsii) I 

 hand there is no telling how much mischief they will ev^H 

 tually bring about. 



Second prize went to Black Bess. She, is defective in head, I 

 especially below the eyes, is short of bone and lacking in I 

 power behind the loin. The bitch with puppies is an iudif- 1 

 ferent specimen, wide, in front and coarse in head, so I with' I 

 held first prize. 



POINTERS. 



There were nineteen entries in the dog class, including I 

 Beaufort, who was of course not for competition. Thn»,l 

 grand dog, the best I have ever owned, and undoubtedly the I 

 best ever exhibited in this country will, next Tresday mora^T 

 ing, be handed over to Mr. Mitchell Harrison, of the Chest- 

 nut Hill Kennels. I never expect to own another like hiiaj 

 and I doubt if a better ever lived. Such a grand combina- 

 tion of strength, quality and true pointer character has seW 

 dom, if ever, been seen. Beaufort is a dog that the meresjl 

 tyro in pointer lore can judge and judge rightly. His supetiffl 

 head, wonderful chest, back and loin, free shoulder&£ 

 straight legs, great bone, excellent feet, muscular quartersj 

 well carried stern and perfect gait put him away ahead of 

 all opponents. Like most large dogs that are good in heaiH 

 and in lips he is throaty, and he has the same defect that c-IM 

 Wagg had, viz., throwing hocks out too far when he walks;*. 

 These are his only defects, and Englishmen as well as Amer- 

 icans have a nice task before them to breed another like 

 him. England has produced but one Wagg, let us see jffl 

 America can produce another Beaufort. Pedro, first priz«| 

 shows character in head, and has a strong well-knit framaH 

 but his high carried stern and wide front will always put 

 him back when he meets good company. I came ve« 

 near withholding second prize for want of merit. Cafl* 

 tor, who got the award, is very crooked in front and 

 his head is decidedly defective. Ino, equal third prize, is 

 much too leggy and light in limbs, and his muzzle lacJjp™ 

 squareness in profile; he is also wide in front and straigflH 

 behind. Frank, equal third prize, is much better in muzzle, 

 and has less width through the shoulders, but his coarse* 

 skull and stern and badly sprung ribs brought him down to 

 Ino's level, and I found myself unable to separate theifflB 

 Bang and Bang Grace were absent, the former probably suf- 

 fering from tie effects of a Philadelphia report, wherejM 

 it was stated that Jimmie was a better dog. Fancy a son t»» 

 old Bang and Luna not being able to beat Mr. PeshallJB 

 brown dog. In bitches. Snipe, rather plain in head, light in 

 bone and defective in loin, was first, and Nell, of the samp. 



