Dec. 6, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



389 



If you will permit a little free advertising in your read- 

 ing columns I will gladly give Messrs. Allcoek & Co. as 

 strong a recommendation of some of their leaders that I 

 possess, as that given by Uncle Reub. Wood's Sons; but 

 my leaders are not of the gut that I ref erred to in Forest 

 and Stream any more than are the leaders sent to Syra- 

 cuse. I am at a loss to understand how Messrs. Allcoek 

 & Co. can even seem to think that I am unfair, although 

 unintentionally so, as they presume, to the dealers in the 

 United States. If I do the dealers of this country an in- 

 justice inadvertently, for I would do it in no other way, 

 I'll warrant that the dealers will make it known p. d. q. 



Glens Fam.s, N. Y. A. N, CHENEY. 



ANGLING CONTESTS IN NEW ZEALAND. 



WE have the sixth report of the Otago Anglers' Asso- 

 ciation, as published in the Otago Times of Sept. 

 28, 1888. There are genuine angling contests held by the 

 Association, in which the weight of the fish taken deter- 

 mine the winners. The report says: "We held five 

 competition last season. The result was just the same 

 as in former seasons. The first contest was the only one 

 tnat brought out anything like a muster. The last two 

 competitions for the Association's gold medal were very 

 tame affairs, only two or three competing. The total 

 weight of fish caught at the competitions is again much 

 below the average of past seasons. The Association's gold 

 nieuai w as won by Mr. D. Roid, who caught six fish 

 weighing 171bs. 8oz. Mr. W. Aitken takes the silver 

 medal with three fish, 51bs. 14oz.; Mr. J. Ogg running 

 him very close with 51bs. 13oz. * * * * The com- 

 petitors caught this year at the various competitions a 

 total of 185 fish, weighing 921bs. 12oz. ; last 3 T ear's totals 

 were 157 fish, weighing 2l91bs.; and in 1885-86 season 268 

 fish, weighiug bOllbs. So you will see what a drop there 

 was last year. We will have to make an effort to get up 

 to something like old form again, or we will be classed 

 as only a second-rate fishing club." We infer that the 

 fish named are brown trout, as these are the only fish 

 named in the report of the different rivers. The Accli- 

 matisation Society has stocked the Shag with Loch Leven 

 trout and American brook trout, and these fish have also 

 been placed in the Waipahi, and other streams will be 

 stocked with them this year. 



The following is a list of the competitions for the sea- 

 son Of 1888-89? 



Two competitions for Association's gold medal and sil- 

 ver medal; one competition for handsome gold trophy, 

 value 10 guineas. The Association will give a silver 

 medal as a second prize. One competition for valuable 

 fly -rod; one competition for fly-rod, reel and flies. 



Dates of competitions and rivers they are to be fished 

 on; Otago Anglers' gold medal and C. Hale's silver medal , 

 first competition, Shag River only, Oct. 19; second com- 

 petition, Lee Stream, Wednesday in race week (on or 

 about Feb, 20); the John Anderson Medal Competition, 

 Waipahi River, Nov. 80; Mr. Wilkie's Rod Competition, 

 Shag River, Nov, 9; Junior Competition (competitors of 

 20 or under only, first, second and third prizes, entrance 

 fee 6d., Leith or Waitai, Nov. 80. 



Conditions for all competitions, except John Anderson 

 Medal Competition: Hours, 6 A. M. to 4 P. M.; any legal 

 bait; no coinpctitor-to fish on the river set apart for the 

 competition within twenty-four hours of the competition. 

 All competitors fishing on a stream are on no account to 

 pass another competitor, without his consent. The posi- 

 tion of competitors on a stream to be mutually arranged; 

 any competitor infringing these rules will be disqualified. 

 Entrance fee, Is. The member who obtains the highest 

 aggregate weight will receive the gold medal; the next 

 highest the silver medal. Note. — All previous winners of 

 the Association's gold medal will have 15 per cent.deducted 

 from their total weight. Condition for John Anderson 

 Medal Competition: Horns, from 7 A. M. to 5 P. M. ; any 

 legal bait. Entrance fee, Is. The ultimate winner will 

 be the competitor who wins the trophy twice. Competit- 

 ors must forward returns per first post after competition. 

 All entries payable to Geo. M. Marshall, Hon. Sec, 64 

 Princes street, Dunedin. Annual subscription reduced to 

 5 shillings. 



New Trout Law in Vermont.— Watertown, "Vt., Nov. 

 29. — Editor Forest and Stream: Our State Legislature, 

 just adjourned, has taken action that will be hailed with 

 delight by every true sportsman, and welcomed by all 

 interested in protecting fish and game in our State. The 

 game laws are good, as far as they go, but in too many 

 places they are regarded as a dead letter. This has at 

 last been recognized and provisions made for the better 

 enforcement of the existing laws, and they have also 

 given us a new law providing that any person taking, 

 or having in possession, a trout under six inches in 

 length shall be liable to a fine of five dollars for each 

 trout so taken or which may be found in possession. This 

 measure has been greatly needed for some years past, as 

 the practice of putting back any fish taken has been next 

 to unknown, at least in this section, and the trout were 

 rapidly disappearing. If the new law is strictly enforced, 

 as a game warden assures me it will be, great good will 

 follow, as the trout will have some chance to regain their 

 old time numbers. It should be a matter of congratula- 

 tion both to our sportsmen and to others visiting our 

 State that this long-delayed action has at last been taken. 

 Better late than never.— Coachman. 



A SPAWNING FUNNEL. 



THE illustration shows the lines of what I use at the Cold 

 Spring Harbor station of the N. Y. Fish Commission 

 l or preventing damage to trout eggs when they are being 

 stripped from the fish. It is made of tin and has a three 

 quarter inch hole in the bottom, through which the eggs 

 and milt flowinto a pan below. In taking the eggs directly 

 in a pan a trout will often slip from the hand and pound 



and scatter the eggs, thereby causing both loss and injury, 

 but we find this device prevents this. The cjdinder is sixteen 

 inches in diameter, and the slope o£ the tunnel should not 

 be flatter than shown. At first the hole was made smaller 

 than now, but I found that the eggs which are only one- 

 sixth of an inch in diameter, would not flow through a half- 

 inch hole freely. I find it so useful that I think it worth 

 figuring and describing, for several fishculturists who have 

 seen it call it a good thing. By request I seut one to the U. 

 S. Fish Commission Exhibit at Cincinnati, and one is in the 

 National Museum, among the apparatus used in fishculture. 

 Any tinsmith can make one from the chawing. 



Fred Mather. 



Cold Spuing IT An bob, N. Y. 



Angling Talks. By George Dawson. Price 50 cents. Fly- 

 Rods and Fly-Tackle, By H. P. Wells. Price $2,50. Fly- 

 Fishing and Fly-Making for Trout. By J. H. Keene. 

 Price $1.50. American Angler's Book. By Thud. Norris. 

 Price $5.50. 



A DisrsG Cak Line to the Pacific Coast.— The completion of the all rail 

 line between Portland, Ore., and San Francisco gives the Pacific coast trav- 

 eler an opportunity to patronize the famous Dining Car and Yellowstone 

 Park Line, the Northern Pacific 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 of JUnnesota, and running through 

 the valleys of such trout streams as the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Hell Gate, 

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

 1,500 allies, as well as lying immediately contiguous to the finest hunting 

 grounds in the United States, viz., The Big Horn, Snowy Belt, Bitter Boot, 

 Coeur D'Alene and Cascade Mountains. Information in regard to this 

 region can be obtained by addressing Charles S. Fee, General Passenger 

 and Ticket Agent, N.B. R„ P. St. Paul. Minn— Adv. 



Keokuk, Iowa, March 12. 1S88. — J. F. BreitemteUi, Esq., Keokuk, 

 la-: Dear Sir: The bos. of IT. S. C. Co. paper shells that I received 

 from you last fall I tried, and found them to be all that you 

 claimed, and better than any shell I ever used, not one of them 

 missing Are. Yours truly, (Signed) T. J. JjOvrBiE.-A.dv. 



THE NATIONAL FISHERY ASSOCIATION. 



THE annual meeting of this association will be held at 

 the United States Hotel, New York city, on Wednes- 

 day, Dec. 12, and from some letters which we have received 

 it is evident that the American Fisheries Society is supposed 

 by some to be identical with the one named above. There 

 is a vast difference between the two organizations which 

 may be briefly explained by saying that the American 

 Fisheries Society is largely composed of men interested in 

 fish culture who "meet to compare notes and methods, and 

 whose discussions arc more or less sci entific, and during -its 

 deliberations all attempts to introduce resolutions to in- 

 fluence legislation have either been voted down or ignored. 



With the other association the case is reversed, and legis- 

 lation is the only object aimed at, the president of the asso- 

 ciation, Mr. Fitz'J. Babson, having issued a call for the meet- 

 ing in which partisan politics appears very strongly. In 

 order to illustrate what the association desires to accom- 

 plish we print their synopsis of proposed legislation, which 

 is as follows: 



"A bill to re-establish the bounty system to the producing 

 fighing industries of the United States. 



"A bill to establish a uniform rate of duty on importa- 

 tions of foreign fish. 



A bill defining the products of the American fisheries en- 

 titled to free entry. 



"A bill defining the jurisdiction of the United States over 

 all the. waters of the United States, making then) the prop- 

 erty of the people of the United States for the purpose of 

 commerce, navigation and the fisheries. 



"A bill providing for the enlistment of rated able, seamen 

 in a naval reserve corps. 



"A bill deiining the commercial rights of all the citizens 

 of the United States under treaties with foreign nations, 

 denying the right of discrimination against any class of our 

 citizens and enforcing rctaliative measures. 



"A bill to declare a specific duty on all foreign fats and 

 grease, which under the commercial name of degrau is 

 entered as grease at a low ad valorem duty and nnder the 

 Mills bill is made entirely free. 



"A bill to establish a Department of Marine and Fisheries 

 to have the entire charge of the administration of all of the 

 merchant marine, coasting and fishery interests of the 

 United States, its entire navigation, and to be similar in 

 character and authority to departments maintained by every 

 maritime nation in the" world." 



Some of these measures are no doubt just and necessary, 

 while others are legitimate subjects for debate. The ques- 

 tions are all foreign to the subjects within the scope of this 

 journal, and therefore we are not disposed to criticise them, 

 and only print them in order to more clearly indicate the 

 differences between the two societies, whose names are so 

 similar as to create confusion in the minds of the casual 

 reader. 



TERRAPIN CULTURE. 



WE have two inquiries for information concerning the 

 culture of the diamond-back terrapin, one writer wish- 

 ing to know about their habits and the modes of capturing 

 them, and also about the land terrapin found in the South. 

 We will be pleased to have communications on this subject 

 and in meantime will say: There is no article of food which 

 varies in quality, and consequently in price, as the diamond- 

 back terrapin, Malacoclemmys pdlustris, the "hens" always 

 selling at the best prices. Those measuring six inches in 

 length of lower shell often bring from $18 to $50 per 

 dozen, while little "bulls" of four to five inches will often 

 sell at one dollar per dozen, or not at all. The best are an 

 expensive delicacy and the principal markets are Philadel- 

 phia, Baltimore and New York. Probably the best buyer 

 in the latter city is Mr. E. G. Blackford who, while he trusts 

 other men to buy fish for his market, handles every terrapin 

 that he buys and judges it individually. 



As for terrapin culture, we incline to believe it to be as 

 impracticable as frog culture, which was recently shown in 

 our columns to be a delusion bred of sensational journalism. 

 The terrapin season begins in October and lasts until May, 

 the first two or three months being the height of it, but 

 many are caught during the summer and penned up until 

 the season opens, thus giving rise to the reports of "terrapin 

 farms." These penned ones never bring the high prices and 

 can be distinguished at a glance by an expert by the scratched 

 appearance of the lower shell and the otiosities on the feet. 

 Mr. Benjamin West, of Fulton Market, tried to rear them 

 and feed them in confinement but failed. His place of ex- 

 periment was on the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey, but he 

 thinks that terrapin may be raised by care and the expendi- 

 ture of considerable money, but as the terrapin is of slow 

 growth it is possible that ten years might elapse before the 

 first crop was marketed. Mr. West prefers, for his own eat- 

 ing, a "heifer" terrapin, which might be defined as a young 

 female whose plastron measures under six inches, but not 

 less than five and a half, because, as he says they are young, 



tender and delicate, and he quotes the old sportsman and 

 epicure, Col. Skinner, in support of his preference. 



In his experiments Mr. West inclosed a large pond and 

 marsh with a tight hoard fence thirty inches high, and pro- 

 cured eggs and hatched about five thousand young ones, but 

 they escaped. He thinks they climbed the fence with their 

 claws, which are very sharp "in the young, for he tracked 

 one to the fence and found its track on the other side and 

 followed it into his asparagus bed where it had burrowed. 

 Mr. West thinks the young do not go to the water at first 

 but remain in the sand. He believes that if terrapin culture 

 is ever made profitable it will be down in Virginia where- 

 hard-crabs are cheap, for if the adults are fed on fish they 

 taste fishy, but if crabs are the food the chelonian is m per- 

 fection. "He has fed them with cabbage leaves and other 

 vegetation. Our interview with Mr. West gave us the im- 

 pression expressed above, that perhaps terrapins maybe 

 raised, but the food, attendance and natural losses, not to 

 mention thieving crabbers, would leave the balance on the 

 wrong side of the ledger. 



We are promised some further information ou the subject 

 of "terrapin farming," and if there is such a thing as a 

 system of terrapin culture, that, is raising them from the 

 egg to maturity, we will find it out and publish the results. 

 To our correspondent who wants statistics of the catch and 

 the life-history of the marsh or diamond-backed terrapin, 

 we would say," consult the three volumes of "The Fisheries 

 and Fishery Industries," by G. Brown Coode and associates, 

 printed by direction of the U. S. Fish Commission, 1887. 

 These volumes may be obtained through a member of Con 

 gress, or can be bought of the Public Printer for a small 

 sum. 



FISH DISTRIBUTION IN NEW YORK. — The State 

 Fish Hatcheries, now five in number, are expected this year 

 to turn out a greatly increased supply of trout spawn. The 

 Fish Commissioners ask that all who may desire fry to stock 

 public waters, make application previous to the first of 

 February next, so that they can make allotment in time for 

 an early distribution. Applications may be made to the 

 Commissioners direct, at their office in the Potter Building 

 in New York, or to the superintendents of either of the 

 hatcheries. Blank forms of application will be furnished 

 to all applicants at the New York office. These blanks are 

 to be tilled out with necessary information in regard to the 

 number and kind of fry wanted; the location and character 

 of waters to be stocked, &e.,&c. The newspapers generally, 

 of the State, are requested to copy this notice as a matter of 

 interest to their readers.— E. P. Doyle, Clerk N. Y. Com. of 

 Fisheries. 



LANDLOCKED SALMON IN MAINE.— Mr. E. M. Stil- 

 well, of the Maine Fishery Commission, reports that (100,000 

 eggs of the. landlocked salmon are now in the. hatchery at 

 Sebago Lake and the fry will be planted in the lake next 

 spring. The fish in the lake arc very large, some having 

 been taken there that weighed as high as twenty-nine 

 pounds. 



UnmL 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Dec. 3 to 8.— Dog Show of the Northern Illinois Poultry and Pet 

 Stoek Association, at Rockford, 111. A. H. Currier, Secretary. 



.Tan. 1 to 4.— Fourth Dbg Show of the Meriden Poultry Associ- 

 ation. Joshua Shute, Secretary, No. 430 Pratt street, Meriden, 

 Conn. 



Jan. 15 to 19, 1880. — Seventh Annual Dor Show of the Southern 

 Massachusetts Poultry Association, at New Bedford, Mass. F. 

 W. Dean, Secretary. 



January, last week.— Western Pennsylvania Poultry Society's 

 Fourteenth Annual Show, Pittsburgh, Pa. C. B. Blbcn, See'y. 



Feb. 4 to 7, 1889.— First Annual Bog Show of the Columbus 

 Fanciers' Club at Columbus O. Titos. K. Sparrow, Secretary. 



Feb. 7 to 12.— First Annual Show of the Hudson River Poultry, 

 Dec: and Pet Stock Association, at, Ncwhurgh, NY. J.H.Dreven- 

 itedt. Secretary. Washington ville, N. Y. 



Feb. 12 to If), 188!).— Fifth Dog Show of the New .Jersey Kennel 

 Club, at Jersey City, N. J. Ceo. L. Wilms, Secretary, 143 Monti- 

 cello avenue. Jersey City, N. J. 



Feb. 19 i.o 22, im— Thirteenth Annual Show of the Westminster 

 Kennel Club. New York. James Mortimer. Superintendent. 



Fer.. 26 to March 1, 1889.— Second Annual Show of the Kenssalaer 

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



March 5 to 8, 1889.— 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 Schuyler 

 Kennel Club, Uttca. N. Y. James W. Dunlop, President. 



March 19 to 22, 1889.— First Annual Dog Show of the Maryland 

 Kennel Club, at Baltimore, Mr!. W. S. Diffenderffer, Secretary. 



March 3fi to 39, 1889.— First Annual Dog Show of the Massachu- 

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



April 2 to 5, 1889.— First Annual Show of the Rochester Kennel 

 Club, at Rochester, N. Y. Harry Yates. Secretary. 



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

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

 Plaoe. 



April 9 to 12, 1889.— First Animal Dog Show of the Masooutah 

 Kennel Club, at Chicago. 111. John L. Lincoln, Jr., Secretary. 



April 10 to 19, 1889.— The Seventh Dog Show of the Philadelphia 

 Kennel Club, at Philadelphia. Pa. Wm. C. Child. Secretary. 



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

 FIELD TRIALS. 



Dec. 10. — Second Annual Field Trials ol the American Field 

 Trials Club, at West Point, Miss. C. W. Paris, Secretary, Cincin- 

 nati. O. 



Jan. 14, 1889.— Sixth Annual Field Trials of the Pacific Coast 

 Field Trial Club, at Bakers field, Cal. N. P. Sheldon, Secretary, 

 320 Sansome street San Francisco, Cal. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE, 

 rrVHE 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. 0. Box 2832, New 

 York. Number of entries already printed Q'S'fG* 



COLLIE CLUB STAKES FOR 1889. 



THE Executive Committee of the Collie Club has decided 

 upon the following distribution of the stakes for 1889: 

 The Futurity and Produce Stakes at New York. 

 The Collie Sweepstakes and Stud Dog Stakes at Philadel- 

 phia. 



The Collie Club Trophy, for the best American-bred collie 

 belonging to a member of the club, at Boston. 



The President's Cup, for the best collie without regard to 

 br°eding, belonging to a member of the clnb, at Baltimore. 



There is every indication of a grand show of collies next 

 season. J. D. Shotwell, Sec'y. 



THAT MITCHELL LETTER. — Editor Forest and 

 Stream: Ere the final disappearance of the man who told 

 us he bought a letter he believed to be stolen, I would like 

 to remind your readers that James L. Anthony, who con- 

 cocted this transparency, has failed to respond to my chal- 

 lenge to publish the name of the person he says sol d the letter, 

 acting as my agent. Shall I tell your readers why? It was 

 because no one would have believed him. I knew it would 

 stop his further letter writing, and now he slinks into the 

 oblivion he deserves, and let us hope we never shall look 

 upon his like again.— James "WAtsojt. 



