92 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



|Feb. 21, 



dead fish, from such causes be produced in some single river 

 or stream in America. It cannot be done, hence full-grown 

 men should discard such transparent nonsense. Tfis closing 

 remarks are fully answered by the facts and figures given 

 above, 1 am prepared to figure on cither single rivers, whole 

 Provinces ot districts, on single or periods or years, and the 

 facts in all cases will be overwhelmingly against his con- 

 tentions. This is too important a matter to be settled either 

 one way or the other without conclusive facts; and if saw- 

 dust so kills fish as to deplete our streams, facts in the form 

 of dead and dying fish should be at baud in all directions, 

 and by hundreds and thousands on certain streams and at 

 certain 'seasons, but nothing: of the sort is ever seen, except 

 in the imagination of the disappointed sportsman. 



PlSCATOR. 



WISCONSIN FISH COMMISSION. 

 'FMLE twelfth report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of 

 J- the State of Wisconsin for the years 18S7 and 18S8 shows 

 a most gratifying condition of affairs as the result of intelli- 

 gent propagation and protection of valuable fishes. The 

 amount of money expended during the two years was about 

 *35,000, and the following tabular statement exhibits, in 

 part, what was accomplished therewith; 



DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES. 



1687. 1888. 



Brook trout 2.930,000 2,285.000 



Rainbow trout 1,345,000 1,590,000 



Wall-eyed pike 8,800,000 4,450,000 



Carp 17,865 25,437 



Whitensh 31,500,000 18,000,000 



The catch of fish, as officially reported by the wardens for 

 the years 1886, 1887 and 1888. was as follows: 



Pounds. Value. 



1886 4,924,149 $109,739.44 



1887 5.541.744 250,16S.88 



1888 8,780.780 270,595.06 



Increase of 1HS7 over 1886 $90,429.44 



Increase of 1 888 over 1887 20,42(1. is 



Total increase for two years §110,855.62 



Reference was made last week to the success and public 

 indorsement of the Commission's work, and we now quote 

 the best of the report; 



•'We submit this part of our report with the utmost assur- 

 ance that it Avill prove eminently satisfactory. To stock 

 our Great Lakes with food fishes and protect the young 

 fish planted, till they reach maturity, has been until the 

 past tew years a great question, and not wholly removed 

 from doubt as to its final success. In the light of modern 

 improvements, however, a more extended experience, md 

 with the fruits of the labor bestowed on the matter by Ui-> 

 boards of Fish Commissioners of the several States borderin- 

 on the lakes, together with the noble work being done'bv 

 the Dominion of Canada, we can unhesitatingly say that 

 the question has been stripped of the doubts anil misgivings 

 surrounding it. The most skeptical now admit its solution. 



"The fishermen who have had a life-time experience in the 

 business, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of the 

 various kinds of food fishes, their habits, food, spawning, 

 etc., were slow to believe that the stock could be increased 

 by the efforts of the Fish Commission or wardens. We are 

 pleased to report that all fishermen who have given the sub- 

 ject a moment's intelligent thought or watched the rapid 

 increase of food fishes in our lakes, are now unanimous in 

 the belief that the planting of fry. together with our present 

 law for their protection, is of great benefit to an important 

 industry. 



""We regard the opinion of fishermen, -who are the most in- 

 terested in this subject, as of great value. They not only had 

 to be converted to the idea of propagation, but their minds 

 had to be cleared of a strong prejudice against the Commis- 

 sion—a prejudice that had been engendered through unwise 

 and impractical legislation. They had the idea, too, that 

 the Commissioners were more especially interested in stock- 

 ing the streams and inland lakes with speckled trout than 

 they were in trying to increase the supply of food fishes of 

 great commercial value. We are glad to say this prejudict 

 has at last been wholly removed. The conversion is com- 

 plete. We should consider this evidence sufficient and 

 would willingly rest our case, did we not have other testi- 

 mony so near at hand. The tish merchants, who are as in- 

 telligent as any class of business men, are strong in the 

 belief that without the aid that has been extended to the 

 industry by our State, the business of taking fish would not 

 and could not be made to pay. Thoughtf ul and practical 

 people, who, by their close proximity to the fishing grounds 

 have had an opportunity to watch the results of the plant- 

 ing and protecting of young food fish, are loud in their 

 praise of the benefits arising from an intelligent treatment 

 of this industry, 



"The law of 1885 was the first really practical measure 

 adopted by our State. It was based upon practical ideas 

 and was well calculated to arrest the useless and reckless 

 destruction of the most valuable food fishes. And while 

 the legislature did not think it wise to go further that year, 

 it was a great stride in the right direction. It invited the 

 attention of fishermen and fish dealers to a great industry 

 that by their own acts was being rapidly and certainly 

 ruined. There was a general awakening along the whole 

 coast, and in obedience thereto a convention of fishermen 

 and dealers was called to meet at Fort Howard in the winter 

 of 1887, and the present law was the outcome. 



"Chapter 520 of the laws of 18s; re-enacts the most valua- 

 ble portions of the law of 1885, and adds to that the sug- 

 gestions of the fishermen's convention at Fort Howard. It 

 is a wise and practical measure, and has done a great work 

 toward restoring a much depleted industry. The most 

 valuable provisions in this law are those that require all ova 

 to be impregnated and planted by the fishermen; that pro- 

 tect young and immatured fish; that prevent the throwing 

 of offal in the water, and that require all fishermen who are 

 engaged in fishing as a business to make reports to the war- 

 den of their district as to the amount of fish caught, their 

 value, the number of nets and boats used, and the number 

 of men employed, together with such other information as 

 may be required from time to time. This last provision is 

 of great benefit, as it brings to the minds of those who are 

 called upon to legislate in its behalf the great value of the 

 industry, and points out the importance of providing for it 

 and properly guarding it. 



"We are pleased to say that, so far as our iuformatiou 

 extends, the law is obeyed by fishermen; they are largely 

 in favor of a strict adherence to its provisions, and are will- 

 ing to co-operate with the wardens in its enforcement. If ( 

 this is not true of all the districts, it is reasonable to assume 

 that the wardens can improve the local sentiment by more 

 frequent visits and a more thorough explanation of the ob- 

 jects and provisions of the law. 



"Our fishing interests were, previous to this law, fast 

 being narrowed to very small proportions. For many years 

 this great natural resource has been on the decline. Each 

 year, capital invested in the business yielded a smaller 

 return. Every inducement for profitable investment had 

 been removed. The business was looked upon as one that 

 in former years had been profitable, but its restoration to a 

 paying basis seemed hardly probable. We think the figures 

 contained in the present report justify the hope that this 

 great industry has not only been checked in its downward 

 course but that a healthy reaction has been brought about. 

 It is now in a fair way to restoration." 



One very interesting part of the report (referred to in an- 



other column) is the appreciation expressed by Wisconsin 

 railway managers of the work of the Commission and its 

 effect upon summer pleasure travel. 



The custom among land owners in some parts of the State 

 Of renting portions of creeks flowing through their premises 

 to individuals and sporting clubs from the cities has the 

 effect of monopolizing the food supply, and the Commis- 

 sioners mil refuse to furnish fry for stocking such streams. 



Wisconsin has the reputation of distributing more trout 

 than any other State, and the result is seen in the great in- 

 crease of summer visitors, who go there largely to enjoy 

 the fishing. 



A preliminary report on a peculiar disease affecting the 

 eyes of trout, by Prof. Edward A. Birge, of the State 

 University, is to be found in the appendix. "Two symp- 

 toms characterize the disease. First, an enlargement of the 

 eyes, finally resulting in blindness; secondly, the formation 

 of vesicles filled with gas on the skin of the head and 

 mouth." "The disease seemed to spread in the pond where 

 observed, and affected a considerable proportion of the 

 fishes. It did not spread to other ponds, nor did it cause 

 any considerable mortality, it seemed to increase in warm 

 weather and to decrease as winter came on. * * * It 

 was thought to be a bacterial disease, but very careful and 

 somewhat elaborate experiments have failed to find bacteria 

 of any kind in the case." 



The Commissioners very justly appeal to the Legislature 

 to make a stauding annual appropriation for the expenses 

 of their work, since its value is no longer doubtful. They 

 receive no compensation and yet have placed the State in 

 the front rank with regard to her fisheries. 



The reports of the wardens bear unanimous testimony to 

 the complaints of fishermen about the admitting of Cana- 

 dian fresh fish free of duty, the result being to lower the 

 price paid to the fishermen, while the consumer reaps no 

 benefit at all. 



F I XT URBS. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Fel>. 86 to March 1. 18b9— Second Annual Show of the Renssalaer 

 Kennel Club, Troy, N. Y. Alba M. Ide. Secretary. 



March 5 to 8, IKS').— Second Annual Dog Show of the Albany 

 Kennel Club, at Albany. N. Y. Geo. B. Gallup, Secretary. 



March 12 to 15, 1889.— Second Annual Show of the Fort Schuvler 

 Kennel Club Ctica, N. Y. J?,uies W. Durilop, President. 



March 2G to 89, 1889.— First Annual Doe; Show of the Massachu- 

 setts Kennel Club, at Lynr, Mass. D. A. Williams, Secretary. 



Ma rch lit to 28, 1889.— Firsi Annual Show of the Rochester Kennel 

 Club, at Rochester, N. Y. Hum* Yates, Secretary. 



Apr il 2 to 5, 1889.— Annual Show of the New England Kennel 

 Club, Boston, Mass. J. W. Newman, Secretary, No. 6 Hamilton 

 Place. 



April 9 to 12.— First Dog Show of the Worcester Kennel Club, at 



Kennel Club, at Piiilaclelpma, Pa. Francis S. Brown, SS&itetaifr. 



May 22 to 25.— Pacific Kennel Club Show, San Francisco, CaL 

 FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov. 4.— Third Annual Field Trials of the Indiana Kennel Club. 

 P. T. Madison, Secretary, Indianapolis, Ind. 



Nov. 18.— Eleventh Annual Field Trials of the Eastern Field 

 Trials Club, at High Point, N. C. W. A. Coster, Secretary, Sara- 

 toga Springs, N. Y. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE. 



yHE AMERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration 

 -*- of pedigrees, etc. (with prize lists 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 subscription 

 $1.50. Address "American Kennel Register," P. O. Box 2433, New 

 York. Number of entries already printed 6923, 



INTELLIGENCE OF THE BEAGLE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I read with pleasure the articles in Forest and Stream 

 about the intelligence of man's truest frieud, the dog. 

 Allow me to add my mite attesting the high order of intel- 

 ligence of the sportive little beagle. 



Mr. W. J. Hembree, Denver, S. C, who has been my life- 

 long friend and hunting compauiou, has a beagle bitch Nell 

 (Thorn, A.K.R. (5777— Venus) and a half-breed bitch Muse 



( Venus) that are exceptionally good rabbit killers, 



but are exactly opposites in the disposition of game when 

 caught. When Nell catches a rabbit she almost invariably 

 starts with it to Mr. H., and if not intercepted seldom fails 

 to deliver it to him with evident pride and satisfaction. On 

 the other hand, when Muse catches one, she tries to evade 

 the observation of Nell and carries the rabbit to some quiet 

 spot and buries it. 



Mr. H. has ''caught on" to this trick and has taught Nell 

 to hunt for the buried rabbits. One very cold windy day 

 last week Mr. H. felt satisfied that Muse had caught a rab- 

 bit, and so told Nell to "go fetch 'em," which she began to 

 do in a businesslike way— by going to Muse and smelling of 

 her, apparently to be sure a rabbit had been caught. Satis- 

 fied of this she raised her bristles and started on the back 

 track of Muse, closely followed by Mr. H. with Muse at his 

 heels looking very dejected and cross. On they w*ent across 

 the railroad, through a swamp and then through a very 

 thick patch of pines and brush, finally coming' out in a 

 clearing. Here Nell was somewhat bothered to keep the 

 trail, owing to the high dry wiud and the lapse of time since 

 the trail was made. After a few circles she got right again 

 and led off across a piece of cultivated land, going in the 

 direction of a piece of timbered land lying just across a 

 public road. 



On nearing the road Muse began to show signs of uneasi- 

 ness, and finally ran in ahead of Nell as if to turn her from 

 her purpose. Being ordered back she reluctantly gave up 

 all opposition, and allowed Nell to have her way undis- 

 turbed. 



But the chase was nearly over, for Nell, shortly after 

 crossing the road and entering the woods, made a short 

 circle or two and went up to au old log and scratched away 

 some leaves and brought the rabbit forth, much to the dis- 

 comfiture of Muse. 



It should be stated, in justice to Nell, that being heavy in 

 whelp she was uot in the race that ended in the catching of 

 the rabbit, and kuew nothing whatever about the rabbit 

 being caught until told to get it. Over a half mile of ground 

 was gone over from where the start was made to where the 

 rabbit was found. She has frequently performed feats 

 similar to this. 



I have a little beagle puppy (Dan— Weasel) whelped Oct. 

 17, 1888, that is very intelligent for his age. When this 

 little fellow gets thirsty and there is no water handy he has 

 been known to go to where the water bucket is aud looking 

 up at it bark with as much judgment and precision as an 

 old veteran coon dog would when he knows there is a coon 

 above him. This the pup keeps up till some one gives him 

 water, when he drinks his fill and evidences his gratitude 

 by wagging his tail and other unmistakable signs of pleas- 

 ure. This little fellow never had any training to enable 

 him to tell where the water bucket was kept, and must have 

 learned by observation or the sense of smell,' which in either 

 case is unusual in a ptm of his age. Blue Ridge. 



Denver, S. C. 



NEW ENGLAND FOX HUNTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream. 



I most heartily concur with "Tallyho" as to shooting 

 foxes before the hounds. His position, as taken in your 

 paper of Feb. 7, is absolutely impregnable. To kill a fox in 

 any way when before the hounds is butchery, not hunting. 

 Ot course, there is an exception to this if foxes become over- 

 plentiful and must bo thinned out; but even then, if they 

 are vigorously chased for a few* weeks, they will conclude 

 the neighborhood unhealthy aud emigrate. Increasing 

 years and failure of bodily vigor have caused me to give up 

 fox hunting for some years past; but I can honestly say that 

 m the many years in which I did follow the sport, I never 

 assisted in the killing of a fox, and I never knew a true fox 

 hunter who did not look down on it as foul play. The 

 reasons for this are uot necessary; "Tallyho" has given them 

 m stronger words than I can. "Bulger. 



Fatette County, Pa. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have hunted foxes for the last ten vears aud have shot 

 and dug out from eight to twelve each winter, and have 

 owned a good many hounds, but have never owned nor seen 

 one that could catch our red Wiscousin foxes, and I doubt it 

 very much if "Tallyho" owns one that can do it. I am of 

 the opinion that our Northern fox can run faster than the 

 foxes in the South. The fox hunting in this part of the 

 country is entirely on snow, and it is not so easy to get a 

 shot at Mr. Fox as it is made to seem by "Tallyho." Foxes 

 must be remarkably plenty in Massachusetts when it is pos- 

 sible for seven to be killed in one day I hope that "Tallyho" 

 can sell me some young hounds or refer me to some one that 

 can guarantee dogs to catch our red fox. 



Let us hear from the owners of those very fast packs. I 

 very much desire to get such dogs as "Tallyho" mentions, 

 if it is so very much more sport to hunt with that kind of 

 dogs. e. G. B. 



Scott, Wiscon sin. 



THE AMERICAN COURSING CLUB'S MEET. 



APIS1IAPA, Col., Feb. 6. — Editor Forest and Stream: If 

 not too late I should like to make a few remarks uoon 

 the last meet of the American Coursing Club in Kansas! I 

 did not see your report until a short time ago (when one of 

 the best friends the sport has in America kindly sent me a 

 copy), or perhaps you would have heard from me at au 

 earlier date. Before going any farther I should like it to be 

 understood that I give place to no man as a true friend of 



all parts of the States; in fact I have no doubt that inclosed 

 coursing near the large cities will be one of the most popu- 

 lar sports iu America, and that very shortly. No sport 

 when properly conducted and when understood takes such 

 a hold of true lovers of field sports as greyhound corn-sing. 

 There is no lover of sport in America who is not under obli- 

 gation to the American Coursing Club. Those gentlemen 

 took hold and have stuck to it. They were called all kinds 

 of names and laughed at; but they st'cod their ground, and 

 have now got a meeting that they may justly be proud of. 

 and many thousands of people journey' great distances to 

 see the sport. 



What I wish to call attention to is the judging and the 

 undue length of some of their courses, and I hope they may 

 be able to overcome this in future. Not being able to at- 

 tend, of course I have only your report to guide me, and 

 must be governed accordingly. No doubt the judges gave 

 their decisions according to their honest opinions* but by 

 the rules of coursing thev were in many cases very unjust. 

 No one can help making mistakes I know, and I have seen 

 that best of all judges, Mr. Jas. Hedley, do it more than 

 once, yet for the good of the sport they 'ought to be men- 

 tioned, and guarded against in future if possible. Take 

 Miss Smart vs. Rich and Rare. Miss Smart scores ten 

 points, then they have a give and take course of four and a 

 half miles, the judge gets unsighted and calls it a no course. 

 According to the rules of coursing a no course is when the 

 judge thinks there was not plenty of work done to justify 

 him iu giving a verdict. Surely four and a half miles after 

 one dog had scored ten points before the other scored was 

 plenty to satisfy any one. Miss Smart most undoubtedly 

 won, and it was cruel to send her to the slips again. The 

 judge ought to have decided upon what he saw "up to the 

 dogs becoming unsighted. 



Miss Rose vs. Plymouth. Plymouth scored eight for one 

 and a half miles, placed Miss Rose who never scored, yet 

 got the course. How could she wiu if she never scored? 



Young Golddust and Little Lady Glendyne. Lady killed 

 after 130 yards. Now the Lady most undoubtedly won, and 

 it was hard luck for her to go in again, and be put out. 

 when she again led and did all the early Avork, and so placed 

 the other dog, after she had completely collared the hare 

 and played herself out. 



Those are in my opinion a few of the worst decisions that 

 were given; such ought by all means to be guarded against 

 in future by Messrs. Nash and Williams, or they will do 

 coursing great injury, unintentionally, of course, on their 

 part. I also suggest to the management that they plant 

 some of the ground to trees, coarse grass, sage, gorse or any 

 other cover, that the hares can escape to, and so prevent 

 those long and cruel courses that will spoil any good grey- 

 hound, I care not how game a dog he may be. On the plains 

 at Altcar, England, they have sluices aud long boxes that 

 the hares can make their escape to, and so prevent need- 

 lessly long and cruel courses. When a course becomes over 

 a mile in length it loses its fascination to true sportsmen, 

 and becomes cruel both to dogs and hare, who ought to save 

 her life if she can stand up before two greyhounds for that 

 distance. I hope that greyhound coursing may be intro- 

 duced to the public of New York, in fact brought to their 

 city before long in some of their parks. William Green. 



ANTI-DOG CRANKS IN MASSACHUSETTS. -Andover, 

 Mass., Feb. 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: The spite of a 

 few of the farmers of Essex county has again shown itself 

 in a meeting lately held for the purpose of discussing the 

 dog laws of the State (which, to say the least, are bad 

 enough now). These farmers want the tax raised from $2 

 and $5 to IS and -$10, with the conditions that all dog owners 

 shall be obliged to keep their dogs on their own grounds, 

 not to be let out on the roads or streets without a keeper, 

 also that any dog may be shot at sight if found off his own 

 premises. Now, this thing has been tried before by farmers 

 in the western part of the State, but, thanks to the friends 

 of the dog, the Massachusetts S, P. C. A. and the New Eng- 

 land Kennel Club, the law was not passed. It will not be 

 this time, either. The friends of the dog in Massachusetts 

 aud Essex county will attain arise and bring all the influence 

 possible to bear in favor of our best friend.' Let the lovers of 

 the noble animal in Massachusetts be up and ready to de- 

 fend their pets when the time comes. Our representatives 

 are not the kind of men to let the prejudice of a few farmers 

 run away with them.— Essex. 



COLUMBUS SHOW.— Pittsburg, Feb. 15.— Editor Forest 

 and Stream: In your Columbus report you forgot to say 

 that Keystone Kennels' rough St. Bernard dog Meinrad 

 took reserve or vkc; also in smooth bitches Keystone 

 Kennels' Lola took reserve, instead of Ala Kennels' Prin- 

 cess Louise. — A. Stucky 



