Feb. 5, 1891.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



money, it is not the right thing to do. Have yon looked 

 at it in this way? Now, suppose you join the Fox River 

 Association, and instead of trying to kill all the fish you 

 can, try to save all you can. Suppose you use your in- 

 fluence to stop this winter fishing on the Fox Lake 

 system, which influence is worth more than anybody's. 

 Don't you think that the Fox River Association would 

 shake bands with you with all its heart? Don't you think 

 that the Fox River Association, and this paper, and the 

 friends of both, would gladly help you all they could, 

 and would not that help aid you financially each season 

 more than you can just now exactly measure? Make it a 

 plain matter of farmers and right, gentlemen, that is all 

 that is asked. Fobest and Stbeam would, I know, in- 

 finitely prefer to see the matter settled in that way. 

 Meantime, any one who is wronged or misrepresented by 

 this paper can have his day in court, and it would be a 

 pleasure to see any inaccuracy corrected. E. HotJGH, 



SUNAPEK Trout,— Cambridge, Jan. 50.— Editor Forest 

 and Stream: My attention is called to the fact that in 

 your journal, Nov. 27, 1890, I gave the date 1885 for the 

 first Dan Hole tiwt received here. This mistake arose 

 from placing the specimen with others from Sunapee, for 

 which the date is correct. Subsequent discovery of Mr. 

 Hayes's letter fixes the date as April 14, 1884, as printed 

 in Shooting and Fishing for .Jan. 1, and in the Report of 

 the Massachusetts Com'oiisainners for 1890. "Will you 

 kindly set the matter right;— 8. Garman. 



FISH DESTROYERS IN MINNESOTA. 



M INNESOTA has no game wardens, more's the pity. The 

 last Legislature appropriated $200 for a flsh warden on 

 Lake Superior. Capt. Jake Hector, the appointee, has done 

 sls well as any one could imder the circumstances. He ap- 

 pointed a deputy and pavs him $100 more than he gets him- 

 self, which I think is pretty libera) and shows he believes in 

 the office atid that it should be maintained. 



Considerinj? our resources, we made arecord of which we by 

 no means feel ashamed. Our planting of brook trout has 

 been particularly successful, and our trout fishing is good 

 wherever streams have been stocked. The streams and lakes 

 which the Commission has planted show unmistakable 

 results as to the benefit of such stocking, and the interest in 

 the work by the intelligent public is undonbtedly on the in 

 crease. Our State, as is to be seen by a glance at our map, 

 has thousands of lakes and streams scattered in almost 

 countless numbers. It is, indeed, most iKiuntifully provided 

 with lakes and streams of the purest water, aud nothing but 

 the wanton, extravagant and destructive modes and times of 

 taking flsh would render it necessary to introduce artificial 

 propagation. Thousands of summer visitors who come to 

 Minnesota for the seasou, slaughter usele.ssiy day after day 

 and week after week with relentless persistence, going from 

 lake to lake indefatigably bent on piscine murder, and to 

 simply be able to shamefully boast of enormously large 

 string's of fish taken within the shortest number of hours. 

 Our visitors, however, are not all of this kind. Many of them 

 take an intelligent interest in the matter, and are j-eally 

 beneficent and try to educate oar native fish killers, who out- 

 number the tourists and sojourners and out-rival them in 

 the desire to slaughter, but lack the appliances and leisui-e 

 to destroy. Thousauds of pounds of flsh ai-e yearly killed by 

 such people at spawning time in the spring, when running 

 up the narrow and shallow streams from the rivers or con- 

 necting lakes. I have been told that fish have been pitch- 

 forked out by the cart load for hog food, manure, and in 

 many cases '*just for fun, to see the durned things squirm." 



Such wanton waste and cruelty has its just and inevitable 

 results, and the only regret is that the innocent have to bear 

 the penalty equally with the guilty. When I get to think- 

 ing of it I almost 'wish old Pollio had an eel pond in this 

 vicinity. I think I could point out lots of people that even 

 Augustus would not object to having pushed in for eel food, 

 much less get mad and smash the balance of Mr. PoUio's 

 crockery. R. O. Sweeny, Sr. 

 Dui/iiTH, Minn. 



SAWDUST IN TROUT STREAMS. 



Editor Forest an d. Stream: 



As the season will soon be upon us when those of our 

 brother anglers who take delight and rest from business 

 care-s by enticing the spotted, beauties from the cold streams 

 in which they are found, a great many disciples of Izaak 

 Walton are inquiring where to go and shall we find trout, 

 or shall we find the streams where troiit used to abound 

 now depleted of fish and the waters filled with sawdust? 



The reply, although hard to give them, yet from general 

 as well as 'individual experience, would be: You will prob- 

 ably find a few trout and a great deal of sawdust. This, ac- 

 cording to sportsmen who have followed the brook fishing in 

 New Hampshire for years, is undoubtedly true. It was only 

 a few years ago that one could get good brook fishing, New 

 Hampshire has a great many large vdde streams with deep 

 pools, where could be caught a string of trout large enough 

 to satisfy the longines of any true fisherman; but what is 

 the fishing to-day!'' With but a few exceptions those now 

 caught are small fish. These trout when small are found at 

 the head of the small streams, which are the headwaters of 

 the larger streams, and which as they grow in size naturally 

 seek larger and deeper waters, and as they work down 

 toward the deeper holes in the largo streams what do they 

 find? Generally a sawmill emptying large quantities of 

 sawdust, which flows down stream, filling the water and de- 

 positing itself along the banks as it goes, until the shores 

 along the entire length of the stream are covered mth it. 



One stream I had brought to my notice last summer: on a 

 trouting trip to Ossipee I had planned to flsh Lovell's River 

 and its branches, there being about six miles of good water 

 for trout, bxit there was so much sawdust fl^oating down 

 from the sawmill at the head of the river that fishing with 

 any prospect of success was out of the cpiestiou. For several 

 miles you could see the saAvdust floating down as well as 

 piled up on the banks, in some places from a foot to three 

 feet deep, so that when wading the river you did not know 

 whether you would sink down a foot under the surface or 

 go over your Avaders. In Gulf and Colby brooks, which run 

 into the head of Lovell's River, by going up stream far 

 enough so as to be above the .sawmills, plenty of small trout 

 were found and no sawdust. 



In the Saco River, from Crawford Notch to Conway, there 

 used to be good fishing, also in Swift River, a branch of the 

 Saco, and which joins it at Conway Corner; this is a stream 

 which has from ten to fifteen mile.s of wide, deep water, with 

 plenty of large pools, out of which trout used to be taken, 

 bub now the same fishermen who have followed this stream 

 for years are satisfied if they catch a few fair-sized fish. 



Is' there no way by which the sawmiUs can be stopped from 

 emptying their sawdust into these streams? 



On referring to the fish laws of New Hampshire, I find no 

 clause which gives any definite information on this point, 

 but find the following law: "Poison and Explosives.— Sec. 

 10,. AJijf j>ersoa who shall tafee, catch) kill or <|6siijPoy any^sh I 



in any waters of this State, by the use of any poisonous, 

 deleterious or explosiA'e substance, shall be fined not more 

 than fifty dollars for each oflrence, or by imprisonment for 

 not more, than ninety days, or both." 



Now, does this law relate to this difficulty? Can the State 

 stop the mills from letting out their sawdust, which by so 

 doing spoils one of nature's greatest gifts, and instead com- 

 pel them to burn or otherwise destroy it? 



Our brother anglers would like to be Informed on this sub- 

 ject. In asking for information, 1 would state that at Ossi- 

 pee Lake, which is leased by a water power company, is a 

 sawmill which is not allowed to empty its sawdust into the 

 lake, but is obliged to store it on the shore and then burn it. 



Why should not mills that are on State waters be obliged 

 to dispose of their sa wdu.st in the same way as mills that are 

 on waters leased by private concerns? Osboejte. 



NEVADA FISHCULTURE.— The inaugural message of 

 Governor R. K. Colcord to the Legislature of the State of 

 Nevada, transmitted Jan. 19, contains the following favor- 

 able notice of the recent report of the Pish Commissioner: 

 "The report of Hon, Geo. T. Mills, as Fish Commissioner, 

 is full and complete. It is a most careful r^sum^ of his 

 work and contains many interesting facts and details. The 

 atl ention of your honorable body is particularly called to 

 the Commissiouers' statements relative to the depositing of 

 sawdust in the Truckee River. The best of results are being 

 obtained by Mr. Mills, and as an encouragement to the con- 

 scientious fostering of our fish interests I ask a judicious 

 reading of the report and such an appropriation as yoix in 

 your discernment may then deem suitable." 



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. 



Feb. 24 to Fifteen Mi .Annual Dog Show ot the Westtn.iusier 

 Kennel Olnb. at New A ort;. .James Mortimer, Superiniendent. 



March 3 to 6.— Se.coBrt Anmial T)qs Show of the Maryland Kennel 

 Club, at Baltimore, Md, AW Stewart. DiffeiiderlTer, Secretiu-y. 



March 10 to 13. -First Annual Dor .'^hovv oC Uie Di.iqiie.siv:' Konnel 

 Club, at Pittsburg, Pa. W. E. Littell, SecretaT-y. 



March 16 to lit.— 'Inaugural Dog Show of the Wagliiugtou City 

 Kennel Club, at Wasliinii'ton, D. U. 



March 24 to Second Annual Dop; Show of the Massachusetts 

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



March .'Jl to April o.— Seventh Annual Doe Show of the New 

 F.ngland Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. E. H. Moore. Si cretary. 



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

 nel Club, at Chicago, III. John L, Lincoln, Jr., Secretary, 



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

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



Sept. 1 to 4.— Dog ShoAv ot the Yomigstown Kennel Club, at 

 YoungstiO\^^l, O. 



COCKER SPANIELS OF 1 S90. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read the controversy over the cocker in the late 

 issues of FoEEST AND STREAM with great interest. Having 

 been an exhibitor of spaniels at most of the principal shows 

 since 1883, I have caref ally watched the decisions of the 

 diiferent spaniel judges. My observations do not lead me 

 to the same opinion as "Gothamite." At the New Haven, 

 Conn., show in 18S5, Mr. James Watson judged spaniels, 

 and did it satisfactorily. Among the entries on that occa- 

 sion were such celebrities as champion Obo II., champion 

 Miss Obo II., champion Shina, champion .Juno W,, cham- 

 pion Sport, YoUng Obo, Obo,' .Jr., Dido W., Woodstock 

 Belle, besides others of lesser note. I don't think a class of 

 cockers of the same quality has been got together before or 

 since. I met Mr. Watson and Mr. Mason for the first time 

 at that show, and have frequently discussed cockers with 

 both gentlemen, and I know that the statement by "Gotha- 

 mite" that these men started the long and Ioav craze, as he 

 calls it, lacijs fact as a foundation. I fancy th at the best 

 informed breeders will agree with me that the craze, so- 

 called, originated in breeders importing cockers from Eng- 

 land, where the long and low notions prevailed, and these 

 importations havung more quality, as a general rule, than 

 the .spaniels then in America, were taken as the standard. 

 It is pretty well known that Mr. Mason considers Miss Obo 

 II. the best cocker spaniel in America (or did when she was 

 at her best). No one will claim that she can properly be 

 classed among the long and low division. In my opinion 

 there is no more competent and conscientious spaniel judge 

 in America than Mr. Mason, notwithstanding the state- 

 ments of "Gothamite" and any other writers to the con- 

 ti-aiy. I hope that this discussion will result in benefit to 

 the little cockers, and also hope that the classification for 

 cockers at the different shows this year will be better than 

 it has been. Surely the cockers are deserving of the same 

 attentions as fox-terriers. Andeew Laidlaav. 



WooDSTOOK, Ont„ Jan. 36. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"The end justifies the means," is a well-known tenet of 

 the .Jesuit faith. I am not a Jesuit, but I am a convert to 

 this belief of theirs to a certain extent. Therefore I set this 

 cocker pot a-boiling by writing the "Gothamite" letter. 



Mr. Mason is right in so far as the identity of the auony- 

 mous writer went, but he altogether misconstrued the 

 iROfu'e for my action, as the letter written by me to Mr. 

 Wade A'ery near the beginning of the warfare, goes to prove. 



Had it not been for my Hulton friend's advice I should 

 have explained the matter ere this; but he thought it best to 

 "blufE" it out a little longer to keep the pot at boiling 

 pitch, It has boiled over and it is now time to remove the 

 fid. 



The "nromioent fancier" need not trouble to bring up a 

 motion for my expulsion at the next meeting of the Spaniel 

 Club. His "energies" caTi be "reserved" for some future 

 occa-sion. I resigned as a member of the club about a 

 month ago. There is nothing to "investigate" before the 

 "tribunal." I alone am guilty of whateA'er has been done 

 by "Gothamite," and on my shoulders must rest the entire 

 blame. Not even to my good friend the editor, was the 

 revolutionary scheme confided, and until within one month 

 Mr. Wade was my only confidante. Later Messrs. W^atson, 

 Fellows and Wilmerding were enlightened. 



"Obo" insinuates that this Avas a mere advertising dodge 

 and that others were concerned in a disreputable scheme 

 with the writer. Not one living soul knew anything about 

 it, save myself. 



As my letter to Mr. Wade explains, the "Gothamite" 

 letter was written simply to provoke a controversy that 

 would draw the usually Sphinx-like spaniel men in, and 

 Avell has it succeeded, though besides hoisting cockers my 

 petard has blown up the man Avith the match! 



When before has such an array of spaniel men taken part 

 in a public controversy? Watson, Willey, Oldham and 

 other xisually silent ones! My point is gained — every one 

 seems ashamed to declare in support of the long and low 

 cocker spaniel. That letter was difficult to concoct, but it 

 has been as etEectlve as a ton of "blue pills," 

 I For the misstatement^ intmOrndttiJ made by me a^ 



"Gothamite" I apologize. Of those gentlemen whose feel- 

 ings I advisedly hurt, I crave forgiveness. They have given, 

 me harder knocks than any I dealt them, and I bear no ill 

 will for the "punishment" received. Good has been done to 

 the cocker spaniel cause by this turmoil, and to achieve 

 such an end 1 would gladly "take" far more. 



Now that your readers have been satisfied as to the 

 identity of "Gothamite," I trust we shall read something on 

 the "Cocker Spaniels of 1890." With added apologies for 

 the sins of "Gothamite," I sign myself.*)?/ propria persona, 



F. H. F. MerOBB. 



Ottawa, Canada, Jan. 31. 



[Mr. Mercer's letter to Mr. Wade, dated Jan. 1, has been, 

 forwarded to us, btxt as it contains nothing more than ap- 

 pears in the above letter, there is no use in publishing it.] 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was asked some time ago to take partin the spaniel war- 

 fare raging in your paper, but deferred, and now simply 

 write to express my sympathy for Mr. Mercer, who is un- 

 doubtedly the sinful "Gotnamite." Not that this gentle- 

 man has any claim upon my consideration, for I have a faint 

 recollection of his having attempted to make capital at rny 

 expense, but as he failed in this I harbor no ill-feeling. It 

 is rather in his having to contend against such ovei-power- 

 ing odds, and against such unmerciful critics, that I hold 

 tip my hand and call a halt. "Gotha.mite" has had more than 

 enough, he. has had too much for his own good, and the de- 

 sire to kick him because be is down is being indulged in a 

 trifle too freely. Mr. Mercer is certainly an enthusiastic 

 spaniel man, an interesting Avriter. and when he has paid 

 sufficient attention to the dift'erent varieties— other than 

 Clumbers— he may perhaps be able to Avrite a technical re- 

 port, or pose as a critic. Some of those Avho so strongly con- 

 demn the kind of scribbling "Gothamite" has indulged in, 

 have made as great errors in their OAvn reports and awai-ds. 

 One particular instance is in my mind where one of these 

 judges awarded the spaniel prizes in such a manner that 

 even I, who Avas only then a junior in the show ring, could 

 not help sa\nng that I got more than my due. This honest, 

 straightforward expression Avas met by a shower of uncom- 

 plimentary language, but I afterward demonstrated that 

 my modest opinion was right, and Avhen I think I have ac- 

 quired sufficient knowledge to speak with authority on 

 spaniels, I will try to tell my fellow members of the club 

 something to interest as well as enlighten them. I am not 

 cnntemplatin.g a book, oh, no! 



I like Mr. Willey's advice, and think Mr. Mercer will do 

 Avell to take it to himself. It is folly for a child to attempt 

 1;o teach his father, but there is no reason why the son should 

 not coinmence where the father left off. There is, for 

 instance, in Mr. Willey's kennel a cocker with a head which 

 ought to be the foi-rh and mould of the future cocker. Mr. 

 Willey has been years in reaching this and other points, just 

 as it took Mr. Biitdett, Dr. Spurgen and Dr. Boulton years to 

 make the Beverly strain of field spaniels. May we hope that 

 Mr. Willey's followers will not be novices of the "Gotham- 

 ite" order, who will take but as many months to undo the 

 work of years, as was the case Avith the Beverly breed. I^et 

 us praise what is worthy of it, condemn what should be 

 condemned, but let it be done more as the gardener acts with 

 plants he wishes to train and improve, and not as the wood- 

 man felling the tree. Conscientious, honest, and above 

 all experienced judges and reports, are as much needed as 

 the independent medium, to guide the novice as well as the 

 skilled breeder. EDWi>r H. MoKEls. 



"New York, ,Ian. SJJ. 



THE MARYLAND KENNEL CLUB SHOW. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The second annual bench show of the Maryland Kennel 

 Club Avill be held here on the 3d, 4th, 5th and Rth of March 

 next, and because of our great success last year, we have 

 this time secured the 5th Regiment Armory, which is three 

 times as large as the hall we had last year. The Armorj' is 

 centrally located, well ventilated, and will accommodate 750 

 dogs. The show will be benched and fed by the well-known 

 Spratts Patent, and will be disinfected by "Sanitas." Mr. 

 John Reed, of New York, who CA'ery one recognizes as the 

 man best qualified to look after dogs at a bench show, Avill 

 be here in the capacity of superintendent, which insures to 

 those entering, the best attention for their dogs. The {prize 

 list is more than double that of last year-, and to principal 

 breeds Ave ofi!er $10 and #a, besides a kennel prize for the 

 best four of each breed of $10. 



We have engaged the following judges: Mr, -James Morti- 

 mer for Russian Avolfhounds, pointers, field, cocker. Clum- 

 ber, and Irish water spaniels, collies, fox-terriers, pugs. 

 King Charles, Blenheim, Prince Charles. Ruby and 

 Japanese spaniels, Italian greyhounds, Me.xicah hairless and 

 miscellaneous class. Mr. Harry Lacy, of New Y'ork, for 

 mastiffs, St. Bernards, bloodhounds, Newfoundlands, Great 

 Danes, foxhounds, deerhounds, greyhounds, poodles, Basset 

 hounds, dachshunde, beagles, Irish, Dandle Dinmont, bull,- 

 Skye, Clydesdale, black and tan, Yorkshire and toy terriers. 

 Dr. H. Clay Glover, of New York, takes English, Irish and 

 Gordon setters, Mr. Chas. D, Cugle, Baltimore, bulldogs. 



The Chesapeake classes have not yet been assigned. We 

 hope to be able to announce the judge for this class in next 

 week's papers. 



The following specials have been offered to date: The 

 Pointer Club of America oiiers -^lO for the best pointer dog 

 in open class and $10 for the best pointer bitch in open class, 

 to be competed for only by dogs owned by members of the 

 Pointer Club. 



The St. Bernard Club of America oflt'er: Club medals for 

 the best American-bred smooth-coat dog, smooth-coat bitch, 

 rough -coat dog and rough coat bitch. To be competed for 

 only by menxbers of the St. Bernard Club. 



The Bulldog Club of America ofiier: The Bulldog Club's 

 silver medal for the best bulldog or bitch in the shoAv; also 

 the club's sih'er medal for the best American-bred bulldog 

 or bitch in the show. To be competed for only by dogs owned 

 by members of the Bulldog Club. 



The Collie Club of America offer: Silver club medal for 

 best collie, not over two years old, in the open class, Bronze 

 club medal for the second best collie in open class. Bronze 

 club medal for the best collie in the novice class. To be 

 competed for only by dogs owned by members of the Collie 

 Club. 



The National Beagle Club offer: A suitable piece of sil- 

 ver, value .$15, for the best kennel of four beagles entered 

 and OAvned by one exhibitor. A suitable piece of silver, 

 value SIO, for the best beagle dog in the show. A suitable 

 piece of silver, value -$10, for the best beagle bitch in the 

 show. To be competed for only by dogs owned by members 

 of the National Beagle Club. 



Other specialty clubs have offered special prizes Avhich Ave 

 will announce in next week's papers. 



All railroads centering in Baltimore will carry dogs free 

 in baggage cars when accompanied by owner or care-taker. 

 Adams Express Co. have agreed to return all dogs free on 

 Avhich the full rate has been paid one waj', provided they 

 are returned to the original shipper and are accompanied by 

 a certificate from the secretary stating that the dogs were on 

 exhibition at the Baltimore 13og Show. The XTnited States 

 Express Co. have also agreed to return all dogs free when 

 accompanied by a certificate from the secretary. 



Our premium lists are now ready and can Jje had on 

 application to the secretary's office, ^20 North Charles street, 

 Baltimore, Md. ' W. Stewart Dtffetjderffbib. 



BAnTiiioBE, Md,, Jan. fi. 



