818 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 15, 1891, 



to be a vigorous attempt made in the coming session of the 

 General Assembly to curtail the privileges now enjoyed by 

 the Sound fishermen. From the breakwater at the mouth 

 of the Connecticut as far to the westward as Guilford the 

 shore is a perfect maze of great nets, which stretch their 

 capacious maws many hundreds of feet out into the Sound. 

 As the shad in running up the Sound always follow the 

 north shore, the consequence is that very few escape the 

 trap set for them, and where thousands only a few years 

 ago annually deposited their spawn in the shallows up near 

 the source of the river, now only a comparatively small 

 number succeed in getting as far as Saybrook bar. The 

 evil has become a very prominent one and, unless remedial 

 legislation is soon enacted and vigorously carried into 

 practice, the famous Connecticut shad, the delight of the 

 epicure, will be a memory only. The pound owners will 

 make a strong fight against any measures that tend to de- 

 fraet; from the profitableness of the monopoly they enjoy." 



It will be remembered that Br, Win. M. Hudson, of this 

 city, resigned from the Commission last spring. Dr. Hud- 

 son was a wide-awake Commissioner and thoroughly alive 

 to the wants of the inland fishermen, but the other two 

 granted certain "pound" owners the privilege of using fine 

 mesh nets in their "pounds." Dr. Hudson entered a strong 

 protest against granting such permits. He was out-voted 

 and then he resigned. The Doctor claimed these fine mesh 

 nets meant the destruction of many small shad. The other 

 Commissioners didn't think so. The Doctor was right. 



Hartford, Conn., Jan. 6. A. C. COLLTNS, 



WYOMING FISH CULTURE. 



THE report of Louis Miller, Esq., the State Fish Gomrnis 

 Sioner of Wyoming, for the year endiug Sept. 80, 1890, 

 shows a gratifying condition of affairs in that State. The 

 Commissioner reports a rapid development of public senti- 

 ment in favor of fishculture and protection, due to the fact 

 that many streams, which contained no trout, have by arti- 

 ficial means been fully stocked with brook trout and' other 

 fishes of the salmon family. There has been a great increase 

 of trout in the Laramie, North Platte, Green and Bear rivers. 



Associations for the protection and propagation of fish in 

 various parts of the State are increasing in number, and 

 t heir influence is constantly widening. The Laramie Sports- 

 men's Association has especially given aid and encourage- 

 ment to the Commissioner of Fisheries and heartily coope- 

 rated with him in distributing fish and in their protection. 

 Mr. Miller is fully in accord with the policy of the TJ. S. 

 Commissioner in the recent method of stocking trout 

 streams by introducing fish that are at least one year old. 

 He finds that good results are obtained much more speedily 

 and surely than by the old system of planting helpless fry." 



The number of eggs taken at the State hatchery from 

 Nov. 10, 1889, to Feb. 5, 1890, is pronounced by Col. McDon- 

 ald to have been exceeded by only one or two of the oldest 

 hatcheries in the Bnited States The yield was as follows: 

 820,000 eastern brook trout, 240,000 rainbow trout, 135,000 

 Colorado trout, 



This will serve to show that our eastern fontinatis is ad- 

 mirably adapted for many western streams. The State also 

 received from the U. S. Fish Commission 200,000 lake trout 

 eggs and 12,000 eggs of the rainbow trout. The total loss of 

 eggs during hatching and the period of sac absorption was 

 only about" 15 per cent. The distribution of young trout 

 amounted to about 1,000,000. 



Success has followed the efforts to stock some of the 

 Wyoming ponds with the black bass, and the fish is gradu- 

 ally growing in popular favor. Six hundred and seventy- 

 five small-mouthed bass were placed in a lake in Wyoming 

 county in 1889, and some of these were caught during the 

 past season which weighed l^lbs. Mr. Miller finds that the 

 rainbow trout is not so prolific as the brook trout, averaging 

 about one-third fewer rggs than the later. The rainbow has 

 made gratifying progress in Wyoming when planted in 

 streams of uniform temperature. Specimens have been 

 taken from the Big Laramie River during the past season 

 ranging in weight from }-£ to lj^lbs. Mr. Miller says that 

 the rainbow trout requires water as cold as that adapted to 

 the brook trout or colder. 



The ponds at the State hatchery now contain 5,500 breeding- 

 brook trout, 1,000 of the rainbow, 500 of the native black- 

 spotted trout and 500 lake trout, besides 200 landlocked 

 salmon. In the season of 1888 14,000 trout, one and two years 

 old, were taken out of a single pond at the hatchery and 

 transferred to the Big Laramie River. From 1885 to 1890 the 

 product of the hatebery was nearly 2,000,000 fish, including 

 brook trout, lake trout, rainbow trout and whitefish. 



Mr. Miller recommends that the open season for trout end 

 Oct. 15, instead of Dec. 1, as the trout commence spawning 

 in November. He finds the protective law defied by a class 

 of men who either openly or secretly kill fish by seining, 

 dynamiting or trapping, and the apprehension and prosecu- 

 tion of these violators of the law is rendered extremely diffi- 

 cult for the want of cooperation on the part of respectable 

 citizens, who fear to have their names coupled with such 

 prosecution. For this reason the Commission hails with joy 

 the increase in the number of protective associations, whose 

 effective assistance has already accomplished great good. 



NEW YORK COMMISSION. 



AT the regular meeting of the Commission last Tuesday 

 Messrs. Blackford, Bowman, Burden and Huntington 

 were present, Mr. Joline being absent. It was resolved by 

 the vote of all present to remove Fred. P. Drew from office 

 as Protector of the Tenth District. Commissioner Bowman 

 reported that the committee of fishculturists in charge of 

 the proposed exhibit at the World's Fair had prepared a 

 memorial asking the National Government to build an 

 aquarium, which might be used for national and State ex- 

 hibits. President Blackford was empowered to sign this 

 memorial for the New York Commission. 



A communication was received from Frank J. Amsden of 

 Rochester relative to a memorial addressed to the Legisla- 

 ture asking the State, to undertake on a large scale the stock- 

 ing of Lake Ontario; and Clerk Doyie was directed to reply 

 chat the Commissioners heartily approve of the movement. 

 It was thought, however, that the first important step was 

 to secure uniformity of laws with Canada with respect to 

 the whitefish fishery of Lake Ontario. 



The New York Commission is now engaged in stocking 

 these waters so far as its means will permit. The Lake 

 Ontario output for this^season will be 9,000,000 whitefish (to 

 which the U. S Commission will add 4.000,000), 4,000,000 

 ciscoes and between 8,000,000 and 10,000,000 wall-eyed pike. 

 • 'A letter was read from the United States Commissioner of 

 fisheries promising the early delivery within this State of 

 fish eggs, as follows: 500,000 lake trout, 20,000 Loch Leven 

 trout'," 555,000 Von Behr trout, 5,000,000 whitefish, and 50,000 

 landlocked salmon. The whitefish will go to Lake Ontario, 

 the salmon to the Adirondacks and another hatchery, and 

 the rest of the consignment to Cold Spring. 



Commissioners Burden and Blackford were empowered to 

 contract for the new car for fish distribution. While the 

 funds available for the purpose are insufficient to provide a 

 fully-eq tripped car, it was deemed best to have the car ready 

 lor the spring distribution. 



STOCKING PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS —We are in- 

 formed by the Hon. H. C. Ford, president of the Pennsyl- 

 vania Fisti Commission, that a consignment of living fish 

 from Illinois was received recently and deposited in the 

 tipper Delaware, Schuylkill, Lehigh and Susquehanna 

 rivers. It included, about 1,50!) Jfisb. consisting of crappi.es, 

 yellow bass, rock bass, etc, 



All communications must reach us by Tuesday 

 of the week they are to be published; and should 

 be sent as much earlier as may be convenient. 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Jan. 18 to IT,— Third Annual Dog Show of the South Carolina 

 Poultry and Pet Stock Association, at Charleston, S. C. iSenj. 

 Mclnness, Jr., Secretary. 



Jan. 20 to 25. — First Annual Dog Show of the Louisiana Poultry 

 and Pet Stock Association, at New Orleans, La. A, E, Shaw, Sec- 

 retary, Box 1658. 



Jan. 20 to 25.— Dog Show of the Georgia Poultry and Pet Stock 

 Association, at Augusta. Ga. A. H. Vonderleith, Secretary. 



Jan. 21 to 20.— Dog Show of the Elmira Poultry and Pet Stock 

 Association, at Blmira, N. Y. Carl Hart, Secretary. 



Jan. 27 to 30.— Inaugural Dog Show of the South Carolina, Ken- 

 nel Association, at Greenville, S. C. F. F. Capers, Secretary, 



Feb. 24 to 27.— Fifteenth Annual Dog Show of the Westminster 

 Kennel Cluh, at New York. James Mortimer, Superintendent. 



March 3 to 6.— Second Ann ual Dog Show of the Maryland Kennel 

 Club, at Baltimore, Md. W. Stewart Diffenderffer, Secretary. 



March 10 to 13.— First Annual Dog Show of the Duquesna Kennel 

 Club, at Pittsburg, Pa. W. E. Littell, Secretary. 



March 16 to 19.— Inaugural Dog Show of the Washington City 

 Kennel Club, at Washington, D. C. 



March 24 to 27.— Second Annual Dog Show ot the Massachusetts 

 Kennel Cluh, Lynn, Mass. D. A. Williams, Secretary. 



March 31 to April 3.— Seventh Annual Dog Show of the New 

 England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. E. H. Moore. Srcretary. 



April 8 to 11.— Third Annual Dog Show of the Mascoutah Ken- 

 nel Cluh, at Chicago, 111. John L. Lincoln. Jr., Secretary. 



April 14 to 17.— Fourth Dog Show of the Cleveland Kennel Club, 

 at Cleveland, O. C. M. Munhall, Secretary. 



Sept. 1 to 4. — Dog Show of the Youngstown Kennel Club, at 

 Youngstown, O. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Jan. 19.— Eighth Annual Field Trials of the Pacific Kennel Club, 

 at Bakersfield, Cal, H. H. Briggs, Secretary. 



Feb. 2.— Third Annual Field Trials of the Southern Field Trials 

 Club. T. M. Brunby, Secretary. Marietta, Ga. 



COCKER SPANIELS OF 1 S90. 



Editor Forest and, Stream: 



QUESTIONS, BY CHAS. H. MASON. 



"Dr. J. S. Niven has recently 

 stated in these columns that 

 'one decision of many judges I 

 could never swallow, that was 

 putting Jerry in the first flight; 

 and the critics, even 'C. M 

 went wild over him.' As I do 

 not remember having said Jerry 

 wbs typical or first class, I must 

 ask Dr. Niven for proof in sup- 

 port of his statement."— Forest 

 a nd Stream, Dee. M. 



"It is, I believe, untrue that I 

 'repeatedly 1 said prise money 

 would he at Doc's mercy if the 

 dog were in good condition. 

 Therefore I call on Mr. F. H. F. 

 Mercer to produce evidence to 

 show that I 'repeatedly' said 

 anvthingof ths sorr."— Forest 

 and Stream, Dec. %o. 



ANSWERS, BY TWO SPANIEL MEN, 



Dr. Niven 's proof: 



o 



Mr. F. H. F. Mercei'S evidence: 

 "I think if, was in a report of one 

 of the spuing shows in '98 that I 

 observed the remark by Mr, 

 MaSOn on Doc. I have the paper 

 somewhere among hundreds of 

 others, and when I can find time 

 shall look it up. For the rest, 

 'hearsay' is all I have to go 

 upon." 



"Gothamite's" proof: 



o 



"1 now summon 'Gothamite' 

 to prove to the readers of For- 

 est and Stream that 1 either 

 started or assisted iu starting 

 the 'long and iow ' craze jn 

 cocker spaniels.' 5 — Forest and , 

 Stream, Nov. $7. 



It is now in order for Messrs. Niven and Mercer to read and 

 carefully consider the opening statements from my letter in 

 your issue of Jam 1, to the effect that a person who wilfully 

 or otherwise makes a statement which he cannot substan- 

 tiate, and who upon being shown that he is in error, should 

 retract and apologize. 



In regard to Mr. Mercer's dogs .Johnnie and Drake, they 

 really have nothing whatever to do with the case under dis- 

 cussion, and were introduced merely as apart of my evi- 

 dence to show that, as "Gotharnite" and Mr. Mercer had had 

 but little experience with high class dogs, they were not 

 qualified to express a correct opinion about cockers. Neither 

 Mr. Mercer nor any other man can, by evidence, prove the 

 following statements untrue: 1. Severe criticisms in this 

 paper aud in "Our Prize Dogs" resulted in the withdrawal 

 of Johnnie and Drake from the show bench. 2. Jobuuie and 

 Drake have not ''been wiuniug prizes ever since" ''Our Prize 

 Dogs" was published. 3. Neither Johnnie nor Drake ever 

 was the size of a good dog. 4. Mr. Mercer never bred a good 

 dog. 5. Previous to 1890 Mr. Mercer never owned a good 

 dog, 6. Until recently (1889 or 1890) Mr. Mercer had never 

 seen a good Clumber spaniel, because there were no good 

 Clumbers to be seen. 



Mr. Mercer's statement that "probably Mr. Mason's next 

 move will be to claim credit for the importation of Boss 

 III.," etc., is easily answered. I claim just what belongs to 

 me and nothing more. As the credit of importing these 

 dogs belongs in a large measure to me, I claim most of it. 

 Had I stated, as a certain would-be judge and critic did 

 state, that Johnnie could easily beat the Crystal Palace 

 winners, then Boss III. and Bromine would, I have an idea, 

 never have been imported. They were brought over to beat 

 Mr. Mercer's dogs, and it was because Mr, Mercer placed 

 such implicit confidence iu my judgment that he kept his 

 dogs at home, instead of pitting them against" the new 

 comers. Over the nam, dc plmne of "Dog Whip" he praised 

 the judges (?) who knew no better than to praise his dogs, 

 and denounced the one that told him the truth. Yet while 

 this was being done he, by not exhibiting against the im- 

 ported dogs, tacitly admitted that the advice he had had 

 from Forest and Stream and "Our Prize Dogs" was sound. 

 His conduct in this as iu the cocker spaniel case is deserving 

 of the severest kind of censure, but in justice to the man I 

 must say that I have iu my possession conclusive proof (just 

 received) of his uprightness aud manliness in another. He 

 must, however, know that one right cannot justify two 

 wrongs. In your issue of Jan. 8 Mr. P. H. P. Mercer says: 



It grieves me sorely that Mr. Mason should he put to so great a 

 strain in the matter of keeping "Gothamite" and "Mercer" apart, 

 lie is not the first To make this remarkable discovery fr), but I. am 

 so used now to the accusation of being "Espan," "Peregrine," and 

 a host of other unidentified anonym et, that if it pleases him he 

 may continue in his belief. It gratifies him and it certainlv does 

 not'hurt me. Perhaps, though, ho had bpfter "guess again." 



To guard against, possible pitfalls he had best keep "Mercer," 

 "Dogwhip" and ■'Clumber," in his discussion, apart from "Goth- 

 amite," 



• Now I can quite fully understand why Mr. Mercer should 

 not wish to have his identity with "Gothamite" proven. 

 For one thing, if he were to be identified as "Gothamite" it 

 would be shown that as Mercer he had said one thing and 

 as "Gothamite" something quite opposite. Now ot two 

 opposite statements, both cannot be true and the man who 

 makes them cannot in both cases then be telling the truth. 



The question before the house is this: Is F. H. P. Mercer 

 "Gothamite?" If F, II, P. Mercer is "Gothamite," or any 

 part of "Gothamite," then this discussion was started, not 

 with the pure and commendable object of improving the 

 cockers, but for the interested and selfish reasons named in 

 my reply to "Gothamite;" and it follows that Forest and 



Stream will not permit their columns to be used for anv 

 such purpose. I say that P. H. P. Mercer is "Gothamite." 

 The writings of the two contain abundant internal evidence 

 to prove it. 



If Mr. P. H. P. Mercer will deny that he is "Gothamite," 

 and will substantiate that denial by calling upon the editor 

 of Forest and Stream to confirm it, and the editor does 

 confirm it, I will give to the American Spaniel Club isoOO in 

 cash, to be by the club divided into prizes to be distributed 

 at the dog shows of 1891, for the encouragement and im- 

 provement of cocker spaniels. 



Meanwhile, until Mr. P. H. P. Mercer shall make such de- 

 nial and give such proof and until he shall retract or su b- 

 stantiate certain statements he has made, it is not worth my 

 while to reply to his communications. 



Writers who are genuinely interested in dogs do not work 

 to the concealment of a pseudonym to publish what they 

 dare not over their own names. Charles H, Mason. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am pleased to read your remark in "Dog Chat," in which 

 you cali a halt on the drift of the present controversy on the 

 "Cocker Spaniels of 1890" toward personalities. Sundry 

 gentlemen have made very free use of my name iu this mat- 

 ter, and, following the lead of Mr. C. H. Mason, leave the 

 topic under dispute entirely out of the question and strive' 

 to emulate one another in slighting remarks against myself. 

 As a public writer I cannot, and do not, resent this unwar- 

 ranted conduct on their part; but I would suggest that a far 

 better end would be served by their confining themselves to 

 a rational consideration of an interesting subject rather than 

 to that of so humble an individual as myself. Had they 

 taken different ground I should probably have satisfied them 

 as to the identity of "Gothamite;" I know who he is, but 

 now they must unearth him for themselves — if they can. 



There is not much to be said in answer to Messrs. Willey, 

 Nelles and Mason on the question of the cocker type. Our 

 views of what a cocker spaniel should be differ so entirely. 

 If Jersey, as Mr. Willey states, is the "most typical cocker 

 spaniel now being shown," heaven help the breed! Is he "a 

 well-built, graceful and active dog," showing strength with 

 out heaviness or clumsiness (vide A. S. C. Standard of 

 Points)? Is his body "short in the coupling"? Isheableto 

 more than waddle around? I trow not. I do not know 

 whether Mr. Willey is a practical sportsman, and is aware 

 of what is required of a spaniel afield. If he is a sportsman 

 and shoots over dogs of the Jersey type, he surely must hunt 

 over his own tennis lawn! Mr. Watson knows what is re- 

 quired of spaniels afield. He indorses the Veld a type. That 

 type can work. Mr. Willey states that be and Mr. Mason 

 are considered our best spaniel judges. Thus he loses one 

 of his hoped-for supporters. 



Messrs. Willey and Mason may persist in upholding such 

 a dog (cocker I cannot call him) as Jersey, but assuredly 

 they will find their mistake in due course. Last year Mr. 

 Mason judged spaniels at one show, Mr. Willey at none. 



A cocker spaniel is supposed to be an eminently active and 

 lively little dog for his inches, able to work from sun to sun 

 without experiencing distress. Can Messrs. Willey and 

 Mason say that Jersey is fitted for tbis? Can Jersey work 

 in bad marsh land or through "second growth" timber? He 

 cannot and they know it. Should Jersey be the correct type, 

 then indeed I plead guilty to knowing nothing whatever of 

 cocker spaniels, 



Mr. Willey appears to forget entirely that I am entitled to 

 my opinion on cocker spaniels as well as on any other ques- 

 tion, even though I may be altogether ignorant of the sub 

 ject. It is a right with which he is endowed, to exercise or 

 not as he wills. Hence 1 must stigmatize Mr. Wuley's un- 

 sought "advice" as to my procedure in the future as ati un- 

 warranted piece of impertinence. He would do service to 

 the fraternity in showing, if he can, in what way Jersey is 

 entitled to be called a "most typical cocker." 



I do not uphold Doc as a "sample" of what a working 

 cocker should be, and Mr. Willey may ascertain this by re- 

 ferring to my first letter on this question. I think him the 

 sort of'dog to breed workers from, being cobby, with strong 

 back and loin aud well set up. Had he been reared with a 

 view to utilization in the field I am convinced he would have 

 been able to work a bit in medium country, having had 

 ocular proof that he can run quite fast and jump as well 

 when he bestirs himself. 



Where on earth is the use of all these personalities ? They 

 prevent men whose views would, be invaluable from present 

 ing them in the public press. Many do not like being called 

 "sneaks," "cowards," "liars," etc., etc. At first it irritates, 

 but soon the attacked one learns to value such darts accord- 

 ing to their source. This done, most of them glint harm- 

 lessly against his head. P. H. P. Merger. 



Ottawa, Canada. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Oh my! but ain't the spaniel men having a, good time? 

 Something has dropped among these usually peacable and 

 quiet men, and it seems to have come down" with both feet." 

 What's it all about, any way? Let us see. 



First in comes Brer "Gothamite," and he says, says he. 

 that the two "sons," Br'er Mason and Br'er Watson, started 

 the fashion for the oblong-solong spaniel. Then Br'er 

 Mason he says Br'er "Gothamite" he don't tell the truth, 

 and he. piles "into Br'er Mercer and tells all he knows about 

 dogs he don't like, and something about other people he 

 don't like. 



Then Br'er Mercer comes out and says he don't care a darn 

 for Br'er Mason; that his dogs are the best in the world, and 

 he knows it, and he tells us all about them, and gives us 

 their names all over again for the hundredth time, and 

 finally winds up with his book, 



Br'er Fellows, he can't keep still (he never could), and so 

 he sings his little song (the old, old song), and Br'er Nelles 

 and Br'er Willey each tell us that their dogs are the best. 

 What are we going to do about it. if we believe all we hear? 

 If the two or three remaining spaniel men will come out and 

 say something, "sassy" too, then we will have a circus, it, 

 is hard to understand now what the discussion is all about, 

 any way. 



If personalities aud recriminations were left out entirely 

 the meat could be got at. Then we could hark back to the 

 original theme, which has been buried out of sight, and 

 perhaps learn something. Yours for peace, Sly Dog. 



Editor Forest and Strea m: 



In addition to my remarks of last week (which were too 

 late for publication) regarding the ownership of Doc, I 

 would like to say that it is a pity this controversy has taken 

 the turn that it has, when a free aud extensive interchange 

 of views of breeders, old and young, throughout the coun- 

 try, might eventually have resulted in eliciting so much 

 valuable information in connection with our favorite breed 

 of dogs, which all would have appreciated. Personalities 

 should be eliminated strictly from a discussion of this na- 

 ture, and a calm and non-combative series of communica- 

 tions on the cocker would be widely read and productive of 

 much good to one and all. 



Let us have peace. A. Clinton WiLMERorao. 



New York. 



Eaitor Forest and St/ream: 



it is always refreshing to read one of Mr. C. H. Mason's 

 letters, more especially when he is giving somebody a slight 

 roasting, and more especially still when you are not the per- 

 sonroasted. His letter in your issue of the 1st iust. called 

 my attention to aletter signed by "Gothamite" in your issn« 



