874 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[NOV. 28, 1889. 



ROBINS ISLAND CLUB TRIALS. 



CTJTCHOGHE, L. I., Nov. 35.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 ODce again lias a year rolled by, and with the recurring 

 inonth of November comes the field trials of the Robins 

 Island Club. The. same faces come to the front each year, 

 for no club near New York is so strictly conservative as to 

 membership as this same club of Suffolk, county. Twenty- 

 five was the number of its charter members, and the consti- 

 tution was drafted so that that number should be the limit. 

 No effort yet made has been successful in obtaining an 

 amendment looking for a larger number. Thus the dog 

 lovers of the club come together year after year to test the 

 merits of their setters and pointers, each as against the 

 other. No one but a member is allowed to run his dog, and 

 if a member is absent, for any cause whatever, his dog can- 

 not be run, even if entered, unless some other member comes 

 to the front and takes charge of the absent man's dog in the 

 trials. No outside handling has ever been permitted, and 

 the idea of a professional handler going with a dog during 

 the trials would not be entertained for a moment. 



The start for the island on Wednesday morning, when 

 many of the members departed for the shooting grounds 

 froni New York and Brooklyn, was made in weather which 

 promised anything but success for these trials. At dawn it 

 was raining furiously, with the wind blowing hard from 

 the southward. As the morning wore on, however, the 

 clouds dispersed, and the sun shone out in brilliant fashion. 



The run to Cutchogue was made in the usual sleepy man- 

 ner of the Long Island Railroad; the heavy amount of 

 watered stock acts as a drag on everything, even the speed 

 of the trains. Arriving about midday at Cutchogue, seats 

 were taken in wagons, and the party was speedily trans- 

 ferred to New Suffolk over roads saturated with the frequent 

 rains of this most extraordinary season. Reaching New 

 Suffolk the club sloop, the Abbie and Mabel, moved to the 

 dock, with the huge mainsail napping in the wind. Men 

 and higgage were soon aboard, lines cast off, and with a 

 fair wind all were started for the enchanted land of Robins 

 Island. The new club house gleamed a mass of glowing 

 color in the rays of the sun, while the window panes gave 

 back the reflected tints in vivid red and orange. The dock 

 was soon reached and the yacht's nose run close to the land- 

 ing place. Cat-rigged, there was nothing to prevent the 

 yacht's stem hugging the wharf. All were placed speedily 

 on shore, and exclamations of delight, as they looked toward 

 the club house, escaped from the lips of all. Never did 

 Robins Island look so well. Under the intelligent adminis- 

 tration of Mr. Wellington, the club secretary, constant im- 

 provements have been going on. Not a trace of the old 

 buildings of ten years ago is to be seen. Not a vestige of 

 the conflagration of two years ago meets the eye. The old 

 cellars of the burned buildings have been filled up. The 

 mass of debris left from the fire has been buried, the surface 

 leveled off; and where last season was a chaotic mass of 

 dirt, lime and broken brick, is now a sward as rich in color 

 and strength as if a lawn of 50 years care and growth. 



Mr. Beach, the club's superintendent, deserves particular 

 mention for the order and cleanliness of both house and 

 lawns. It was the perfection of tidiness in each. Last year 

 the slopes around the building were in an unfinished state, 

 and the driving roads and foot paths simply marked out 

 with the plowing of the sod. Now all is changed. The 

 slopes from the bottom of the hillock upon which the house 

 stands, to its top, are sodded, and being well done, the 

 growth of grass has been wonderful. The paths have been 

 finished. Filled in as they are with the pebbles of the 

 beaches, their appearance is pleasing in the extreme. If the 

 outside was pleasant to look at, what shall I say of the in- 

 terior? The huge fireplace of the sitting-room glowed with 

 fiery embers as they dropped from the huge burning logs 

 upon the old-time andirons; and the agreeable warmth in 

 all the rooms was delightful after the cold sail across the 

 bay. 



Luncheon was soon served and thoroughly enjoyed. After 

 that an inspection of the kennels and the dogs. The canines 

 never looked so well as they do now. I saw no case of dis- 

 ease, and the animals showed good feed and care. How dif- 

 ferent from last season when distemper had run rampant, 

 and reduced many of the dogs to virtual skin and bone. 

 Now they were fat and lusty. The small herd of Jerseys 

 looked in good heart and in fine condition. For the first 

 time since the writer has known the island, the barn was 

 found full, to bursting doors, with hay and grain. As the 

 huge doors swung open a dozen gray squirrels scampered 

 in every direction along the beams and rafters. The cun- 

 ning fellows were perfectly at home, and enjoying them- 

 selves in feasting upon the sheaves of unthrashed grain. 

 The pigeon lofts" had in them a couple of hundred birds! 

 The poultry yard was full, while in the sty near by a lot of 

 porkers ate and grew fat. 



The old dog cooking house had been replaced by a new 

 one, replete with every convenience. A huge boiler inclosed 

 in brick with barrels of assorted food surrounding it occu- 

 pied the first floor. The men's house, formerly a dilapidated 

 shanty, had been so altered r did not know it. Thoroughly 

 repaired and renovated these quarters for the men were all 

 that could be asked or wished for. By this time it was ne- 

 cessary to dress for dinner, which at Robins Island is the 

 feature of the day. The cuisine of the club is excellent, its 

 wine cellar a capital one— who knows bettor how to live 

 than the sportsman? Lots of exercise makes the appetite 

 sharp and the taste keen, in possessing the wherewithal 

 to purchase, why should there be denial? There is none at 

 Robins Island. 



Thursday. 



This day was passed in examining the island. The land 

 was explored from north to south, from east to west. Quail 

 were put up in every part of the preserve. Not single birds, 

 but bevies, large in number, and with the quail luaty and 

 strong of wing. In size these birds reminded one of" those 

 found upon the island when the Eastern Field Trials Club 

 first selected it for the location of their trials and before 

 the importation of Southern birds. In fact no new supply 

 has been purchased for two years, and the quail now there 

 are native and "to the manor born." The most astounding 

 feature, however, was the vast horde of rabbits (hares) that 

 now infest the land. Some two years ago the members 

 wishing a little diversity in their shooting, introduced a 

 half dozen pairs of our familial- bunny. The idea was to 

 have coursing with a pack of beagles. The genii of the boy 

 in the Arabian tales has a counterpart at Robins Island. 

 Imported solely for pleasure, he has grown to a pest. Never 

 was shown greater proliticness than is seen here in the num- 

 ber bred. The plat- e is simply overrun with them. Onecannot 

 travel a yard without putting up a cotton tail. In such 

 swarms are they that the wheat fields are denuded of every 

 blade, and the ground is as bare of vegetation as a sum- 

 mer fallow. The kitchen garden was a paradise for 

 them. Watermelons as they ripened were denuded 

 of their outside covering. Where at night was the promise 

 of a melon, in themormng was a mass of red pulp and black 

 seeds. The outer rind had been eaten to the core. Not a 

 leaf showed above ground but what it was cut off as soon as 

 grown. As a consequence the order has been issued to kill 

 and kill again. Four hundred have been done to death since 

 Nov. 1, yet there appears no diminution in their Lumber 

 Swedeuborg-like, the club has raised a spirit which will not 

 down at their bidding. 



The acreage sown to grains of different kinds is greater 

 than ever before. The birds have feasted always. There 

 never has been a scarcity of food this year. At least a thou- 

 sand birds are now on the island , judging from the number of 

 bevies put up during the walk. Thev were found every- 

 where. A few were shot and found to be as fat as a Dela- 



ware ortolan. Singular to say, each bird's craw was found 

 half full of bay berries. In the olden times never a bird 

 would touch them. Their taste has changed, as have their 

 habits. Then not a bird was found save in the cover or in 

 the woods. Now we start them from the sedge grass of the 

 beaches, where a strong wind would cover them with the 

 spray of the waves rolling up the sands. One is always sure 

 of finding a bevy 'there. 



After dinner was thoroughly discussed and enjoyed, the 

 first business of the trials of the year was brought forward— 

 the making of entries. Unfortunately, disease had made 

 havoc with the dogs, and many members were deprived of 

 the pleasure of competing for the valuable prizes offered by 

 the club. The list is a light one, and seems lighter than it 

 is, because the animals do not run one as against the other. 

 Consequently there follows no series of heats, as at other 

 trials. 



JOOST (S. B. Duryea, Brooklyu), liver and white pointer 

 dog, 2yrs. (pedigree not given). 



Rheuma (W. M. Van Anden, Brooklyu, N Y,), red Irish 

 dog, 2yrs (Dietrich's Tip— Spooner's Grace). 



Gout (W. M. Van Anden, Brooklyn, N. Y.), red Irish dog, 

 7yrs. (Massey's Duke— Pratt's Daisy). 



GREY (William Stanley, Euglewood, N. j.), blue belton 

 setter dog. 3yrs. (uedigreeuot given). 



Bob (William Hester, Brooklyn, N. Y.), blue belton setter 

 dog, 9yrs. (Ray bell— dam not given). 



Daisy (S. Fleet Speir, Brooklyn, N. Y.), liver and white 

 pointer bitch. 3yrs. (Don Douald— Nellie IT.). 



St. Elmo V. (S. Fleet Speir, Brooklyn, N.Y.), black, white 

 and tan English setter dog, oyrs. (St. Elmo IV.— Countess 

 Louise^. 



Berkeley II. (Alden S. Swan. Brooklyn, N. Y.), red 

 Irish setter dog, lOyrs. (Chief— Gussie). 



Jolly Rex (Henry D. Polhemus, Brooklyn, N. Y.), black, 

 white and tan setter dog, 2Vyrs, (Rex Gladstone— Little 

 Fraud). 



Belle (S. Fleet Speir, Brooklyn, N. Y.), blue belton setter 

 bitch, 3yrs. (Count Rapier— Dell). 



As soon as the entries closed, the names were placed in a 

 hat and drawn to run as follows. It will be recalled the 

 dogs are run in pairs simply to save time, as each animal's 

 work is judged according to the scale of points adopted by 

 the club in its running rules. While the work was going 

 on the ominous patter, patter of the rain was heard on the 

 outside as it beat against the windowpanes. The disgusted 

 looks of the sportsmen as they heard it, were laughable to 

 look at. In most lugubrious fashion did they start for bed- 

 rooms and sleep. 



Friday's Work. 

 The morning broke with a cloudy sky. At early dawn a 

 rosy streak struck through a. rift in the cloud banks. It 

 was but momentary, and the clouds closed up again, making 

 a solid, dull, leaden hue, gruesome in the extreme. Called 

 to an early breakfast, it was quickly disposed of, and as 

 soon as finished the men and dogs started for the work in 

 hand. 



BERKELEY II. AND ST. ELMO V, 



The first named, handled by member Channcey Marshall 

 in the absence of his owner, the last by Dr. Speir. Cast off 

 at the club house, they were hunted directly west to the 

 bluff where it overlooks the 100-acre tract of fiat salt mea- 

 dow. At the very verge the red dog struck scent and pulled 

 himself to a stiff poiut; this was backed by St. Elmo; the 

 bird rose wild; shot at and missed. A turn "to the left and 

 along the edge of the bluff southerly, Berkely again got the 

 birds, and was again backed by Sauk. Then followed a 

 beautiful piece of cauiue work. The birds alternately ran 

 and stopped, the dogs followed, fast or slow, as the occasion 

 required; the time of the roading was at least 20 minutes, 

 for the dogs were careful, and consequently slow. At the 

 end of the bluff where another yard's distance saw it run 

 down to the sand, both dogs stopped, Berkely pointing, 

 Sauk backing. The birds got up wild, as the handlers 

 came up, the Irish dog a little unsteady to wing, but as the 

 guns were fired be dropped at once to shot. Ordered to re- 

 trieve Berkely brought in the dead bird in capital fashion 

 and delivered it to Marshall. Sauk told to retrieve did so, 

 but very slowly and in bad form. Dogs ordered up at 0,30. 

 JOLLY REX AND BELLE. 



This brace, second in order of drawing, cast off ten min- 

 utes afterward, and hunted south toward the clay pit. 

 Belle showed the greater speed, Rex was more stylish in his 

 work. In quartering their ground they were about equal, 

 in the briers Rex by far the more courageous. Before the race 

 was over he was a mass of blood, where his head and neck 

 had been torn by the thorns of the blackberry canes. A t 

 Black Oak Point, where the scrub oak nearly touched the 

 waters of the bay, both dogs commenced roading. and after 

 a few rods located the birds simultaneously. Rex more 

 stylish on point than Belle, Birds put up," shot at and 

 missed. Dr. Speir hunted Belle, Polhemus hunted Rex, the 

 latter having purchased Rex only the night before simply 

 to run him in these trials. Belle dropped to shot. Hex t'o 

 command. After this a loug hunt followed down the east 

 side of the islaud. At the edge Belle roaded up a bird; she 

 was steady to wiug. A second time she roaded. but the 

 quail got up wild. She was slightly unsteady, but came 

 back bO Whistle. Rex followed suit in putting up a bird. 

 The doctor immediately put up two more, lired a nd missed. 

 Rex took a short chase after them, but .stopped to order. 

 Shortly after Rex got a good poiut, in front of which three 

 birds got up wild as hawks; Rex this time steady as a clock, 

 and dropping towing as they rose. These birds were ,4*1 

 lowed, and Belle g it a capital point where they had be"en 

 marked down; Rex refused to back; bird got up wild. 

 Another point was had a moment after, Dr. Speir walking 

 up to dogs started two half-grown rabbits. As they ran 

 both dogs ran after them, but came back to whistle. The 

 same thing happened a moment after, this second time, 

 however, the dogs were steady as a clock when the bunnies 

 jumped. Dogs taken up at 11 o'clock, and a quarter of an 

 hour afterward the next brace brought up and cast off. 

 JOOST AND GREY. 



Stanley hunted Grey, and Marshall the pointer Joost in the 

 absence of her owner, S. B. Duryea. Through the brier lot 

 southerly aloug the bluff, then a turn northerly back to 

 Black Oak Point. Nothing was found save hares, which 

 bounded out of the cover in every direction as the d< _ 

 quartered the ground. Grey the better dog in every respect; 

 Joost showing a lack of both work and education. Natur- 

 ally he is a good dog, but natural ability alone does not win 

 at field trials. While running, Grey found and brought to 

 his owner a quail which had evidently been shot the day be- 

 fore. The retrieve was made in good shape. Going on, a 

 half dozen birds jumped in front of Judge Plum mer. All 

 hands shot, but not a bird dropped. Grey unsteady to both 

 wing and shot, but steadied himself to order. Grey again 

 unsteady as a rabbit jumped out from under his nose. Joost 

 ran up a bird unconsciously, apparently not knowing the 

 work required of him. Stanley tried to shoot, but the safety 

 guard of his hammerless was down, and he could not pull a 

 trigger. Moving on, Grey l-outed out a half-grown hare, 

 and was at once off in a short spin after him, comiug back 

 to whistle; then Grey false-pointed, -j oost failing to back. 

 Both dogs capital rangers and good quarterers. Taken up 

 at 12:35. 



RHEUMA AND DAISY. 

 Van Anden handled the Irish dog, and Dr. Speir the 

 pointer Daisy. They were started at edge of woods on the 

 western side. Rheuma got up a bunny and bounced after 

 it. A turn to the bluff, west, and again Rheuma broke 



after a hare, running head down like a wolf on trail. 

 Called back, he worked at the edge of the bluff on the west 

 side. Here he took scent, and roading a few rods came to a 

 good staunch point. The birds got up wild before him . 

 Again he found the scent where the quail had been marked 

 down, and got in an excellent bit of work before he stopped 

 on the bird for good. The bird flushed itself, and Rheuma 

 indulged himself in a little canine racket, coming- back to 

 call. At this point Van Anden twisted a tendon in his left 

 leg, and was at once placed horn dr. COtnbcdt, He was trans- 

 ferred to the house in the club's ambulance. This put his 

 dogs out of the race. Member Stanley ran them, and did 

 well under the circumstances, but the Irish blood was ram 

 pant and did as it pleased. Babbit and quail were chased 

 with equal indifference. Daisy did nothing good, bad or in- 

 different. She acted as if she had never been hunted. Dogs 

 taken up at 1:05 P. M. , and a walk to the house for luncheon 

 was taken at once, The meal was soon disposed of. 



GOUT AND BOB. 

 Stauley hunted Gout for Van Anden, Chauncey Marshall 

 hunted Bob for his absent owner, William Nestor. With 

 all his hunting skill, he couldn't land Bob a winner. The 

 dog was too much for him. Leaving the club house at 2:37 

 a straight walk was had across the island to South Point, 

 stopping on the way to hunt out the big gully which runs 

 down to the east shore, cutting the high bluff "in two parts. 

 Nothing found in all its length. The point was reached at 

 3:15 and hunted out thoroughly. Not a bird, but lots of 

 hares Gout getting excited and unsteady. Then along 

 the whole south beach to the high bluff at its western end, 

 then a turn inland. Scarcely in when the dogs put up a 

 big bevy. Gout at once made a rush for the flying quail. 

 He was called in for punishment which he accepted as part 

 of the play. The west shore was hunted in northerly 

 direction. On the high rolling hills Gout found the 

 birds, and after some good roading located them. It was 

 a neat bit of dog work. Stanley walked up to shoot, 

 the birds got up with a roar, Gout couldn't stand the 

 racket, and away he rushed trying to catch them by the 

 tail. Instead of catching the birds, he caught the lash. 

 Did it cure him? Not a bit of it. He shook his hide to get 

 the hair straight, and then chased a rabbit like a beagle as 

 it jumped from cover in front of him. Bob pointed several 

 times, each point being backed by Gout. Nothing was 

 found, Bob simply thought, this man isn't my boss, see 

 how I'll fool him. He did it, too. A few moments after 

 this Gout again did some good work, roading the birds for 

 a long distance, and then making a good point. This was 

 the extent of his good behavior. As they were put up he 

 jumped for them, and put out his chauce of a win. Whistle 

 and call he paid no attention to, until he had his run out. 

 Taken up at 4:30 and a move made for the club house. After 

 a clean up followed dinner. After dinner the judges, Messrs. 

 Jacob Pentz, A. F. Plummer and E. B. Converse retired to 

 make up the record of points to the credit of each animal 

 as made. After due consultation the result was announced 

 as given in the table below: 



Name of Dog. 



Berkley 



Belle 



Jolly Rex.... 

 St. hdino V. 



Grey 



Rheuma — 



Gout 



Joost 



Daisy 



Bob 



Merit Points. 



- - - Z- 2- r. c o s 

 c US' * 



8» X " 



3 % § 1 



15 



IT 

 Yi 

 15 

 20 



20! 3 



20 3 

 If) 0 



G 6 fl 



fl 5 

 6 6 



0 4 



6 6 



4 5 

 5 4 



4 0| 5 



10 0 3 0 3 



5 0 a 2 2 



4 10 



•i : o 



4 0 



4 0 



2 10 



0 



0 



3 



4 



3 K 



w 2 1 : 



f 



'Off 



.. 8 

 3 10 

 3 10 



Not having a chance to win a place, dog not tried for a re- 

 trieve 



Thus ended the eighth annual trial of the Robins Island 

 Club. Among the gentlemen present at the meeting were 

 Dr. S. Fleet Speir, President; H. D. Polhemus, Vic ' Presi- 

 dent: W. I. Wellington, Secretary-Treasurer; William 

 Stanley, Nels F. Carman, Col. S. Richards, Chauncey Mar- 

 shall, E. B. Convers, W. M. Van Anden. A. F. Plummer, 

 Shephard Homans and Jacob Pentz. Letters of regret were 

 received from Judge Pratt, Supreme Court, Brooklyu, S. B. 

 Duryea and William Hester. All these were detained in 

 the city by illness, more or less severe. Judge Pratt's letter 

 to Dr. Speir ran: 



Scvkjsmk COURT Chambkiw, Brooklyn, King* County, Nov. 22. 

 —Dear Doctor: I do not dare to start tor Robins Is) and this morn- 

 ing. I am too ailing to risk the changes of the weather at this 

 season. I regret more than I can express the enforced ftbsen.ee. 

 1 fear the other judges will not drop to your skill iu handling 

 dogs, and that you will get away with all the prizes. It is not a 

 fair thing for you to run against the other fellows without some 

 judge who knows of vour little tricks in hunting dogs. 1 repeat 

 1 never regretted anything so much as my not being able to be 

 with you. Give my regrets to Pentz and tell hi in to keep an eye 

 on you. Very truly yours, C. E. Pkatt. 



Judge Pratt's absence was especially regretted, for he has 

 acted as judge at the trials for many years past. P.ECON'lc. 



EASTERN FIELD TRIALS CLUB. 



THE regular annual meeting of the Eastern Field Trials 

 Club was held at High Point, N. G, on Saturday eve- 

 ning, Nov. 23. Only thirteen of the members were present, 

 two less than is required for a quorum, and the election of 

 officers was postponed until the regular meeting in January. 

 The meeting was a very important one nevertheless, aud 

 action was taken that will have a great influence upon the 

 future of the club. The corresponding Monday in Novem- 

 ber was decided upon as the date for the beginning of the 

 trials for 1890. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Duryea, 

 Lorillard, Breese, Coster and Cochran, was appointed to 

 select new grounds for future trials. It was also voted to 

 abandon the Pointer Stake next year, aud run but one All- 

 Aged Stake, open to setters and pointers. It was also voted 

 that it was the sense of the meeting that the spotting sys- 

 tem of judging should be adopted, aud Messvs. J. O. Donner, 

 H. B. Duryea and F. R, Hitchcock were appointed a com- 

 mittee to revise the rules to conform with this system. The 

 meeting then adjourned until the second Tuesday in Janu- 

 ary, at the office of Mr. Hitchcock, in New York. 



LOTT.— Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 20.— The prize bitch Lott, 

 winner of the §1,000 Lott— Grousedale slakes several years 

 ago, died here last week, She was owned by Herman Hul- 

 man of this city, and was valued at ¥=700. She was due to 

 whelp the latter part of this month.— H. 



CHICAGO, 111., Oct, 18.— Mr. L. F. Whitman, well known 

 among dog men in this vicinity, has been appointed Western 

 agent of tne A. K. C, in which capacity he will doubtless 

 act very acceptably.— E. H, 



