426 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 5, 1893. 



THE OHIO REPORT. 



THE report of Dr. Henshall, president of the Ohio Fish 

 and Game Commission, says the Newark, O., Advo- 

 cate, is attracting more attention and receiving more com- 

 mendation than any previous report since the. Commission 

 was first organized. Dr. Henshall is one of the most thor- 

 ough scientists in his specialties in the country, and his 

 services have been very valuable as the head of the Commis- 

 sion during the past year. For the first time in the history 

 of the Commission there is a balance in the State Treasury 

 belonging to the funds appropriated for its expenditures. 

 The financial 'statement in the report shows that there is $1,- 

 612.32 remaining of the $2,024.87 general appropriation. This 

 is due to the rigid economy that has been the uniform policy 

 of the present Commission. When the present Board of 

 Commissioners went into office they found a large deficit of 

 the funds. Besides this, the State was involved in numer- 

 ous expensive lawsuits in all the counties bordering on Lake 

 Brie. Suits had been brought against the State for dam- 

 ages, which grew out of the contentions between the former 

 Board and the lake fishermen. In many of these suits 

 judgments had been rendered against the State. All these, 

 together with costs and attorneys' fees, had to be settled and 

 paid, which took a large portion of the funds appropriated 

 for the first year of the present board. Now a balance not 

 only stands to the credit of the State Fish and Came fund, 

 but the present Commissioners have, largely increased the 

 propagation of fish for the lake waters as well as increased 

 the facilities for propagating and distributing fish for the 

 inland waters^of the State. A scientist like Dr. Henshall 

 at the head of the present Board has been of great advan- 

 tage in the matter of fish propagation and distribution. It 

 has been the policy of the present Board to waste none of 

 the State's money in experiments, and in this policy it has 

 been greatly aided by Dr. HenshalFs scientific knowledge 

 and experience. 



In the matter of fish distribution and planting in the in- 

 land waters of the State, the present board was only able to 

 acquire facilities for it and fairly commence the work late 

 last September, 



The following synopsis of Dr. Henshall's report has been 

 made by the Columbus press correspondents: 



In the winter of 1890-91, says the president, the hatchery at 

 Sandusky was run to its full capacity, and notwithstanding 

 the open winter and remarkable changeableness of the tem- 

 perature of the water during that time, there were hatched 

 m March, 1891, 39,000,000 whitefish, which were planted 

 about the Bass Islands and in Sandusky Bay. After the 

 hatching of the whitefish 15,000,000 pike-perch eggs were 

 obtained, nearly all of which were successfully hatched and 

 planted as follows: Muskingum River, 5,000.000; Cottage 

 Grove Lake, Summit County, 5,000,000; Sandusky Bav, 

 4,000,000. 



He suggests that the hatchery should be enlarged and at- 

 tributes the extraordinary large run of whitefish last spring 

 to artificial propagation. The Commission was successful 

 in hatching 5,000,000 young sturgeon from 6.000,000 eggs, 

 surpassing all other efforts in that direction. The president 

 also refers to the completion of the fish car with the special 

 appropriation of $3,500, and since it was put into service last 

 September 200,000 adult fish have been planted in various 

 Ohio streams. All the railroads of Ohio, with two or three 

 exceptions, have hauled the car without charge, thus re- 

 ducing the expense of planting the fish to a very low esti- 

 mate. The financial statement in the report shows that 

 there is $1,612.32 remaining of the $2,024.87 general appropri- 

 ation. 



The State hatchery at Sandusky, in consequence of its 

 superior management, the past year hatched and planted a 

 larger amount of fish than any other State or United States 

 hatchery in the entire country. The object of the State in 

 propagating and planting fish in Lake Erie is to cheapen 

 the supply of food fish for the people, and if the good work 

 of the Sandusky hatchery is carried on to the same extent 

 and with equal results of that of the last year, great benefits 

 to the people in the way of an abundant and cheap supply of 

 food fish are inevitable. 



Messrs. Cornwall & Smock, the well-known sporting goods 

 dealers, are on deck for the. spring trade with a number of spe- 

 cialties in the line of fisbine: tackle. Their S. B. rods, niauufac 

 lured especially for them after their own pattern by the Malleson 

 Rod and Reel Co.. are confidently recommended to expert Of her. 

 men and all who love a good rod as the best thai skill and expe- 

 rience can turn out. Messrs. Couwall & Smock also call attention 

 to their lancewood combination bait and fly rod, which cannot 

 only be combined into the two rods as occasion may demand for 

 the different styles of fishing, but also into several weights of 

 each.-— Adv. 



tmml 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



May 4 to 7.— Annual Dog Show of the California Kennel Club 

 at San Francisco Cal. Frank ,T. Silvey, Sec'y. 



May 17 to 19— Androscoggin Kennel Club, at Lewiston Me. T. 

 ft. Oartland, Sec'y. 



Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.— Second Anuual Dog Show of tbe Blue Grass 

 Kennel Club, at Lexington, Kv. Roger Williams, Sec'y. 



Sept. 6 to 9.— Second Annual Doic Show of the Hamilton Kennel 

 Club. at. Hamilton, Canada. A. D. Stewart, Sec'y. 



Sept. 13 to 16.— Fourth Anuual Dog Show of the Toronto In- 

 dustrial Exhibition Association, at Toronto, Canada. C. A 

 Stone, Sec'y. 



TRAINING AT FIELD TRIALS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Mr. Waters touched the right chord in his recent article 

 on "Training at Field Trials." Training should be the first 

 feature considered by judges; without which a dog is 

 utterly worthless for any purpose. 



If a dog is started in a field trial the fact itself is sufficient 

 evidence that an attempt has been made to train him, if a 

 candidate for honors in the Derby, and that he is thoroughly 

 trained if entered in the Age stakes. If an imperfectly 

 trained dog is presented for competition, in either stake, 

 there is only one conclusion to be drawn from an exhibition 

 of his faults, i. e., such dog is untrained and therefore 

 ineligible to field trial honors. The question is settled so 

 far as the duty of judges is concerned. Whether he can or 

 cannot be trained is a matter of no consequence to judges. 

 If opportunities have been afforded to exhioit such qualities 

 as result from training, and he fails to reach a standard or 

 degree of training necessary to prove the existence of such 

 qualities by a competitive test which affords contestants 

 equal chances, it only remains for the judges to presume 

 that the dog cannot be trained owing to the absence of 

 qualities necessary to that end. 



Dogs that require several years of training to fit them for 

 work they should perform at the age of maturity, are not 

 calculated for the important station in the canine world 

 that winners commonly occupy. 



The excellence of a field dog depends more upon acquired 

 faculties than upon natural ir.stinct; although certain in- 

 born qualities are indispensable when a high order of field 

 excellence is the object sought. The actual expense of pro- 

 ducing the essential innate qualities and the time required 



by nature to perform its functions, are comparatively noth- 

 ing with the time, expense and skill necessary in rearing, 

 developing and educating the products of nature. As the 

 actual working life of a field dog, under the most favorable 

 conditions, is limited to about seven years, it is highly im- 

 portant that the acquired qualities should be developed and 

 perfected at the earliest possible period in life, in order to 

 derive a benefit from his services commensurate to the ex- 

 pense and time devoted to production. If it requires the 

 first and best half of a dog's life to fit him for usefulness in 

 his old age, there is certainly room for improvement in the 

 qualities upon which depends this state of affairs. The 

 questiou arises whether sluggish development is caused 

 by the absence of instinct or a deficiency in intellect or 

 reasoning powers. I know that I am treading upon danger- 

 ous ground by using the word reason to express a certain 

 faculty possessed by the canine race; nevertheless, my 

 limited knowledge of language presents to my mind no 

 more appropriate word, and I will use it according to my 

 convictions. 



Learned authorities have expended much brain force in 

 attempting to disprove the existence of reason in the lower, 

 order of the animal creation. As scientific expounders of 

 theory, and concocters of languages, they have proved emi- 

 nently successful in the opinion of those who pretend to 

 understand enigmas; and, no doubt, have otherwise con- 

 tributed to every store of knowledge excepting the training 

 and running of dogs at field trials; in which the learned 

 gentlemen seem to have been a little timid— gunshy, perhaps. 

 As Messrs. Darwin, Bain, et al., who have favored us with 

 data concerning brains, reason, etc., have never experienced 

 the chagrin incidental to the transformation of a "high 

 class" field dog into a "stove-up livery hoss." It is painfully 

 evident they "didn't know it was loaded." 



I believe that dogs, susceptible of training to an extent 

 necessary in field shooting, possess brains of an order next in 

 rank to those of the human race; that they possess reasoning 

 powers and an intellect capable of receiving and retaining 

 ideas that maybe applied at will. I believe also, in fact 

 know (as positively as anything of like nature is known) 

 that, although the dog's intellect lies dormant until oppor- 

 tunities are afforded for its exhibition, it owes its origin to 

 the same source from which is derived the intellect of 

 human beings. 



I believe tbe identical laws established by nature, and 

 which govern the perpetuation and development of the 

 human intellect, are more applicable to bird dogs, their 

 breeding and development, than to any other species of the 

 lower animals, simply from the fact that their usefulness 

 depends almost entirely upon their intelligence and tract- 

 ability, two prime factors in the human organization. 



An ideal field dog possesses many qualities, all of which 

 must be developed and subservient to the will of his master 

 and be employed intuitively according to requirements. 

 He must use reason. He must obey signals, and perform his 

 work as well at a distance as under the immediate control of 

 bis master, which would be an impossibility without the 

 possession of intellect and the powers of reason. Associations 

 which ignore "brains" when testing qualit ies o£ dogs intended 

 for field shooting, and breeders who are guided by decisions 

 rendered by judges who sacrifice "brains" for qualities of 

 less importance are improving the bird dog in their imagina- 

 tion only. 



Authorities have illustrated their profound views relating 

 to the science of breeding, by comparing the horse with the 

 dog. Nothing could be more ridiculous than such a com- 

 parison unless a hog was substituted for the horse. Horses 

 are beasts of burden and their work is performed under ab- 

 solute restraint. They are urged forward by the gad, or 

 fear of it, guided here and there and brought to a standstill 

 by force directly applied. Admitting that in some instances 

 horses have been trained, by considerable tact and labor, to 

 perform a few amusing tricks, it is noticed that the tricks 

 are very simple and are performed under protest; always in 

 an inclosure and under the influence of a tight check rein 

 and a formidable whip. These tricksters, if turned loose as 

 the field dog is, would require a dozen men to catch them; to 

 say nothing of their willingness to perform tricks in a man- 

 ner to be compared with the work of an ordinary field dog. 

 As horses are not commonly used to locate and point birds, 

 it is silly to suppose they are "in it" with "high class" dogs. 



Modern theory of breeding dogs does not appear to har- 

 monize with practical requirements, excepting in isolated 

 cases, when a happy "nick*' is the result, which reduces the 

 "great science" below the present stage of modern hog 

 breeding, in which the breeder, with one object in view, is 

 uniformly successful. Breeders of hoves, for the track . pur- 

 sue but. one object, in which they have been astonishingly 

 successful. 



Hog breeder* produce weight and horse breeders are re- 

 warded by increased speed as the direct result of judicious 

 mating. The average dog breeder employs lots of imaginary 

 science in efforts to improve the dog by breeding, brvt. as re- 

 sults indicate, he is as liable to advance the breed "back- 

 ward" as forward ; He employs the same principles in breed- 

 ing that have proved successful in improving the physical 

 condition of other animals, but fails to attain corresponding 

 results because the "scales" employed in testing the quali- 

 ties of the bird dog are liuctuatiug in effect according to the 

 whims and fancies of those acting as "official weighers." 



Speed and weight, of horses and hogs, can be accurately 

 estimated by time and weight indications; therefore breeders 

 of those animals are governed by positive facts, which 

 enable them to form an opinion of their productions without 

 depending upon the erratic faucies, or discretion of any 

 kind, of individuals, as a guide to success. 



Unlike breeders of other animals, breeders of the dog, in- 

 tended for. field use, have many qualities to consider which 

 enter into their ideal productions, any one of whieh, if 

 absent, detracts from the dog's value to a greater or less 

 extent. Admitting that several of the most important 

 qualities sought are wholly dependent upon the intellect, 

 until a system of running and judging dogs is adopted by 

 field trial clubs, that will test acquired qualities, as well as 

 those supposed to be natural, public competitions will be 

 of no practical value as a guide to breeders. 



Modern breeding of field dogs, as practiced on scientific 

 principles, consists of the wonderful skill required in 

 breeding one winner to another. The more prominent the 

 winners the more skill required on the breeder's part and 

 the higher tbe value placed on the products of the union. 

 The value of such products is usually estimated in the pros- 

 pective, and, however high it may at first be placed, time 

 generally reduces the price to a figure within reach of any 

 one in need of a uucleus for a "high class" dog foundry. 

 We've all got 'em, and if the market is short we will gladly 

 unload for a very small consideration. 



This so-called scientific breeding has prevailed to a great 

 extent during the past decade, and, as a rule, the products 

 were afforded every possible advantage in the matter of 

 rearing and training. When time and expense are con- 

 sidered, it is to be regretted that so few instances can be 

 recorded where successful results were obtained. In fact, 

 success has been the exception rather than the rule, 



Of course, we have read laudatory reports of wonderfully 

 developed and promising youngsters, and the great things 

 expected of them, as soon as the breath of life is apparent. 



At the eye-opening and teeth-eutting periods of puppy- 

 hood the press is again deluged with accounts of the won- 

 derful progress of the scions of royalty. With a grand 

 flourish they are sent to the trainer and the world notified; 

 eventually entered in several field trials; finally the gush 

 subsides; the great dogs don't start and their brilliant, 

 though shoit, public career closes, the public is relieved 



from anxiety, because it never had any, and the sun con- 

 tinues to rise in the east. How many paralleled cases to 

 the above are fresh in our memory, the result of "modern 

 theory" in breeding? 



If field trials were conducted in a uniform manner, with 

 an accepted staudard of excellence, comprising all qualities 

 essential in field dogs, to guide judges in the performance of 

 their duty, those engaged in breeding could intelligently 

 select mates for either sex, whose union would result in a 

 vast improvement on the prevailing fad of breeding winners 

 who won because the judges said so. 



I believe in field trials as a medium by which the field dog 

 can be improved in breeding and training, if conducted in 

 such a manner that the several qualities necesary in the field 

 dog are tested by competitions conducted under specific 

 rules. But it is questionable whether the field dog can be 

 improved by any test where a premium encourages the breed- 

 ing of one or two natural qualities to tbe exclusion of others 

 of vastly more importance. If "heels" are of more conse- 

 quence than "brains," let it be so understood by breeders 

 who can be governed accordingly. 



From an inventory of tbe work exhibited at field trials the 

 past season, it appears to the casual observer, that the de- 

 velopment of "heels" has reached high-watermark; "brains" 

 show some improvement in the abstract and other qualities 

 are represented by proxy, judges rendered decisions accord- 

 ing to preference and the reporters rendered decisions (on 

 paper) to the contrary— " the world do move"— the dog ad- 

 vances—Which way ? Who can tell ? A. J. GleAsok. 



Alma, Kane. 



THE BEAGLE STANDARD. 



Editor Forest and Sliream: 



You print in a recent number of Forest and Stream an 

 interesting letter from Mr. F. O. Phoebus advocating the 

 raising of the beagle standard from 15in. to 16in. 



Mr. Phoebus's argument, as I remember it, is this: That 

 choice beagle pups, when they come to maturity, sometimes 

 exceed 15in. in height, but rarely if ever go over Ifiiii. 



Mr. Phoebus is correct when he says beagles seldom ex- 

 ceed 16in. at the shoulder. But why are they no larger:- 1 

 Merely because they are bred from beagles which conform 

 to the present standard. Let us, however, suppose for a 

 moment that the standard has been raised to loin., and we. 

 have succeeded in breeding some typical beagles which just 

 scrape under the new measure— they are perfect and we 

 decide to match them. Let me ask any breeder if a few of 

 these pups will not be as liable to exceed our new standard 

 as our present beagles are to exceed the existing standard f 

 And then, will not the same argument which is now used 

 apply just as forcibly to a further increase in the limit of 

 size!' 1 believe it will, and once started we shall keep on 

 till, after a time, it will be difficult to distinguish a large 

 beaele from a small foxhound, and there will be no distinct 

 dividing line between the two breeds. 



The proper game of the beagle is the hare. Dogs conform 

 ing to our present standard run him down and kill him 

 fairly on the ground. A 16in. or ITiu. beagle could do no 

 more. 



,Vlr. Phoebus further argues that because the limit of the 

 small class has been increased from 12 to 13in., that of the 

 large should be increased in proportion. I can not agree 

 with him. When the subject of the field trials first came 

 before the National Beagle Club, owners of small dogs asked 

 a class for their favorites. The field trial committee thought 

 it was not fair to run a dog, only a trifle over 12in. in height, 

 against a 15in. dog. The little fellow would have no chance 

 to win, for he could not keep up with his large opponent. 

 After careful consideration it was thought fair to all to 

 make two classes — one for beagles l3in. and under and one 

 for those 15in. and under. This was done to bring dogs 

 which were nearly tbe same size in the same class. Then, 

 that the bench show classes might correspond with the field 

 trial classes, the change was made on the bench. 



I have great regard for the opinion of my friend Mr. 

 Phoebus, but I can see nothing inconsistent in keeping the 

 standard where it is and at the same time giving the small 

 class an additional inch. In making this change, not one 

 beagle has been made eligible to competition which was 

 ineligible before; the smaller dog has merely been taken from 

 the large class, where he could not win, and put in a class 

 where he has a fair chance with those of his own size. We 

 must have an arbitrary limit of height, and in my opinion 

 t he framers of the present standard did well to place it where 

 it is. lief us keen it there. Increasing the size of our 

 favorite will not increase his desire or ability to kill his 

 game or make him more typical. Let him remain "the 

 merrie little beagle. " Bradi.fa". 



EilHor Forest, mid Stream: 



In regard to a letter from Mr. F. C. Phoebus under date 

 of April 7, to the National Beagle Club, asking them to 

 change the height of beagles from 15 to 16in., I would say 

 from the tone of his letter he desires the change asked for 

 by him to allow some beagles he owns or is interested in, 

 at present over height, to come under the standard. I as a 

 member of the Beagle Club am opposed to any such change 

 in height to accommodate any one owner or class of beagles. 



The standard was framed by a gentleman who has had a 

 great deal more experience than ever Mr. Phoebus has, not- 

 withstanding his eighteen years experience. Dr. L, H, 

 Twaddell, a gentleman known to all beagle owners, the 

 chairman of the committee appointed to draft a standard, 

 with his forty years experience, is with the other two mem- 

 bers, K Elmore and the late Gen. Kowett, fully more com- 

 petent to give us a proper standard and height than an in- 

 dividual. In all due respect to k Mr. Phoebus's ideas I am 

 opposed to any change he proposes as to scale of points or 

 height. If we commence to alter the standard there is no 

 telling when or where it will end. As a member of the club 

 and one who is interested in beagles I am against changes 

 to the standard. W. H. Ashburner. 



Yeauon, Delaware County, I'd. 



NATIONAL BEAGLE CLUB MEETING. 



Editor Forest and, Stream,: 



An executive committee meeting of the National Beagle 

 Club was held at 266 Washington street, Boston, Mass., 

 April 20, 1892, and called to order by the president at 7:45. 

 President Chanman, Vice-President B. S. Turpin, W. S. 

 Clark, O. W. Brooking, W. A. Power and H. V. Jamieson 

 were present. 



The committee on constitution, W. A. Power, chairman, 

 read the report, which was accepted. Committee on incor- 

 poration, W". A. Power, chairman, made his report, and it 

 was voted that the committee have more time. Report of 

 auditing committee, B. S. Turpin, chairman, was read and 

 accepted. 



Communications from members read and filed. 



Mr. Wm. Mainard, Westfield, N. Y , was elected to mem- 

 bership. It was then voted that the constitution be adopted 

 by sections. 



Also voted that the constitution be set up and that a 

 sufficient number be printed and sent to each member, the 

 same to be returned with vote in favor or against its adop- 

 tion. 



Voted that the secretary be instructed to write a final 

 letter to clubs in question asking for official list of winners 

 of N. B. C. specials, that same may be paid; failing to re- 

 ceive such, he to be instructed to communicate With t he A. 

 K. C. for further instructions. 



H. V. Jamieson, .Sec. & B. C. 



