4B2 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 12, 1892. 



a little heavy. Golden Chip, third, is a little weak in jaw 

 and thick in skull, but is excellent in coat, body, legs and 

 feet. Bonnie Bess, reserve, is too long: in body.'pinched in 

 muzzle and light in bone. Blemton Lillian, vhc, is a bit 

 short in head, but otherwise excellent. Fashion, he. is short 

 in head and weak in jaw, otherwise good. In 'puppies, 

 Bandy, the winner in dogs, is excellent in head; one of the 

 best in the show in this respect, but is far too large. Hamp- 

 den Tip, second, is too full over eyes, rather large, and high 

 on the leg. Posy, first, in bitch puppies, is a very nice-headed 

 bitch, but I fancy she will ne% r er be large enough; she is ex- 

 cellent in body, legs, feet and boat. Bonnie Buz/,, second, 

 and Golden Chip, vhc., have been described in the open class. 

 It is hardly fair to lay too much stress on coat in this warm 

 southern climate, and in my notes and comparisons 1 have 

 possibly not paid sufficient notice to texture and quantity of 

 coat. 



Sktes contained one entry, Jerry; he is a very typical 

 specimen barring a smooth coat. 



Dachshunds.— One entry, Waldena, a six months puppy, 

 promises well as regards shape but in color is a tan with 

 freckled white spots on head and loin. 



Tor Teeiuees.— Lady, the only entry, is a very good one 

 of the apple-headed type. 



Pugs.— The pugs averaged very poor. Neal, given second 

 in dogs, has quite a little wrinkle but ears are badlv carried 

 and is otherwise only fair. Queen, second in bitches, is 

 gray in muzxle, ears very badly carried and sadly lacking in 

 character, but the best in size and coat. Topsy, third, is 

 pinched in muzzle, grey in mask and sadly lacking in char- 

 acter. In puppies, Pug, first, is the best of the lot in skull 

 and muzzle but has the worst ears of the entire company; 

 otherwise fair. Belle, second, is pinched in muzzle, black in 

 face and much inferior to the winner. 



In spitz dogs, Toady, the only entry, is too large and 

 coarse. 



The Russian terrier or Russian setter, whichever it is, was 

 an intelligent-looking brute, but I don't pretend to know 

 what they should be like. If his tail were cut I know he 

 would pass for a very good bob-tail sheep dog. 



The specials were some 135 in n amber, including about 

 thirty silver cups, some of which were very ornamental in 

 design and in some cases quite expensive. Space will not 

 permit of your mentioning them in detail, but the number 

 and quality speak well for the working qualities of the 

 members of the club. Pacific. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



TN a personal letter from Mr. W. S. Bell, Pittsburgh, Pa., 

 X he informs me that he has accepted the invitation of the 

 Central Field Trial Club to judge at the club's trials in De- 

 cember next. I think this will be Mr. Bell's first appear- 

 ance intbe capacity of judge, but I think also that the club 

 was most fortunate in engaging him. I had the. pleasure of 

 meeting Mr. Beli at the Southern Field Trial Club's trials, 

 in February last, and his keen discrimination in all the de- 

 tails of the competition, bis fairness and impartiality, and 

 his correct estimate of the dog's relative standing excited 

 my admiration. The phenomenal memory with which he 

 is gifted will be specially useful in judging. Very few men 

 can follow the intricate and voluminous details of a field 

 trial from memory as can Mr. Bell. The work of a dog in 

 each series, the order of winning, the points, flushes, backs, 

 time, place, in short, every item and feature are minutely 

 and accurately remembered. In the spotting system a fairly 

 good memory is essential. I do not think that Mr. Bell will 

 approve of my saying this, for he is retiring in disposition 

 and wholly unassuming. But I think that these things 

 should be known, so I tell them. I have a profound respect 

 for his opinions, which are always founded on good logic. 

 In his letter to me he touches on the matter of retrieving, 

 the pertinent parts of which I take the liberty of quoting. 

 My own views are well known on the subject— they are op- 

 posed to retrieving at field trials. I think that Mr. Bell's 

 views, however, are the best yet advanced for testing retriev- 

 ing in a field trial. It is readily apparent that it is a waste 

 of time to test poor dogs in retrieving when they have no 

 possible chance to win. His ideas on better training are 

 eminently sound and proper. Many dogs will not train and 

 still retain their dash and industry. For this reason, if tor- 

 no other, thorough training should be insisted on; for the 

 dog which will not take a training and retain his industry 

 is inferior to one which will. Mr. Bell writes as follows: 



"I feel like insisting on better training, and I consider re- 

 trieving as being a part of training, and 1 would not like to 

 see it abolished at trials. I think, however, that the judges 

 might require the last three or four dogs in the stake to re- 

 trieve several times each, not less than three each, and more 

 if at all practicable. It would consume too much time to 

 have all the dogs retrieve often enough to make the results 

 satisfactory. One chance at retrieving is no test. I should 

 dislike to condemn a dog upon one opportunity, and I would 

 not like to place merit upon one. In the preliminary heats 

 or series of heats it is unnecessary to have the dogs retrieve 

 but in the final placing I should like to see retrieving, and 

 especially so if the contest were close as in the Southern 

 Derby (not that I mean that there should be retrieving in 

 the Derby). I do not think retrieving injures the scenting 

 powers, for I have repeatedly seen my dogs, while bringing 

 in a dead bird, point and back, holding the bird all the. 

 while. The subject of retrieving is too vital to be disposed 

 of on the jump. Let the matter take the proper channel 

 after a very thorough test and discussion. It has its advan- 

 tages and disadvantages, and there will be those who advo- 

 cate its usefulness and its inapplication at field trials." 



# 



I agree fully that retrieving does not injure a dog's scent- 

 ing powers, yet there are some who believe it does. It does 

 however, injure in many cases his manner of searching for 

 live birds. It is strange how long a popular fiction will sur- 

 vive. It is not difficult to find sportsmen of the present day 

 who believe that meat will injuie adog'snose, that a double 

 nose has keener powers of scent than a single nose, that dis- 

 temper can be cured by daubing the dog's nose with tar, etc. 



The judges and reporters of field trials inferentially hold 

 most unpleasant relations to each other, socially, officially 

 and otherwise; that is, judging from the tone of some news- 

 paper articles on these subjects which appear from time to 

 time As a matter of fact, they are not antagonistic. It 

 would seem, from the views of many writers, that the re- 

 porter takes an uncanny delight in differing from the judges, 

 and is ever alert to detect some error or quibble on which to 

 hang an objection or argument. Then there is the man who 

 scorns general reasons in explaining the reporters' depravity, 

 and who goes into particulars, for instance: The reporter 

 desires that a certain dog shall win: the reporter has a grudge 

 against some judge or owner; the reporter wants to curry 

 favor with advertisers; the reporter is afraid of somebody- 

 the reporter is not truthful; the reporter don't know, etc. 

 But happily, the eternal fitness of things establishes itself 

 most charmingly. The judges do the best that they can, and 

 are then criticised or commended according to tbe light or 

 knowledge, or both, of the reporters, who saw the whole 

 work or as much of it as possible. Then the critical and 

 wise reader, who did not see any of the work, proves that the 

 judge was correct from the reporter's own report or that he 

 was wrong, or vice versa concerning the reporter, or the 

 learned critics may deem it proper to differ from either. 

 Thus a general equilibrium is established to the most deli- 

 cate nicety, from year to year. 



One great factor in promoting this unsettled state of 



affairs has been the erroneous theory on which reports have 

 been written. Too much was attempted. Every point, 

 flush, back, retrieve, etc., were enumerated with painful 

 and prolix iteration and reiteration, without giving the cir- 

 cumstances pertaining to each incident, and which were im- 

 portant in estimating values. To explain at length wherein 

 one point exceeded another in difficulty, or how a flush was 

 no error or otherwise, or how a dog by his greater quick- 

 ness, accuracy and finish in all details exceeded in merit one 

 which happened to make more points, would be too volum- 

 inous for any newspaper report; yet when giving the reader 

 a pen picture in detail the incidents omitted are quite as 

 important as those presented. To say that a dog made a 

 point conveys only the abstract fact to the reader. To tell 

 all about bow each point was made would be impossible. 

 The theory of reporting has been erroneous. The true man- 

 ner would be to describe how a dog performs, the character 

 of his work, in what features he excels and in what particu- 

 lars his work is faulty, with a general summary of the 

 material work done, and an explanation in regard to 

 opportunities or difficulties presented in doing the work. 

 It may be asked why reporters have not followed these 

 lines if they knew they were better. Simply because 

 that, while reporters are not tied down to any rules 

 in respect to the manner of gathering their facts, they are 

 usually tied down by the papers employiug them to certain 

 hard and fast forms in making their reports for publica- 

 tion. While field trial matters have improved in every par- 

 ticular, the manner of reporting them has not progressed a 

 particle. A bulky, voluminous affair, of cast-iron form and 

 hardness, devoid of description but full of an ever-recurring 

 jangle of points, flushes, backs, bevies and marked birds, is 

 served to the reader as a good report, and t he larger is this 

 mass of dry rubbish the better satisfied is the reader who 

 does not attend field trials. Then the good man with the 

 poor dog who competes is quite as exacting as if his dog 

 were a good one. He wishes every act of his" pet to be em- 

 balmed in history so that he can read in print what he 

 already knows or should know, and he fondly imagines that 

 all the world reads it too, but tbe world don't. In the 

 early history of field trials in this country, when the theory 

 of competition was founded on points and flushes, the re- 

 ports were in order accordingly, for that represented the 

 state of progress. But field trials have gone through many 

 styles of improvement and evolution, till they have reached 

 the present stage of perfection, yefc field trial reporting has 

 remained where it was at the beginning. 



The reporter is commonly the most "indifferent person on 

 the ground as to which dog wins. He is always pleased to 

 see the judges make a correct decision, for it relieves him of 

 the unpleasant duty of criticism. In most instances the 

 judges are well known to the reporters and all are on 

 friendly terms. Constant attention during the day taking 

 notes, and late hours writing his report, afford ample occu- 

 pation for the reporter without seeking to develop any ir- 

 relevant, issues. Probably the future will bring its improve- 

 ment in field trial reporting as it has done in field trials in 

 the past. That there is abundant material in the way of 

 capable writers who can report a field trial just as it should 

 be, but who do not do so, is strongly iu evidence on their 

 own showing. B. Waters. 



TORONTO KENNEL CLUB SHOW. 



(Special Report ) 



THE Toronto Kennel Club's one day local show, held 

 May 6, closed in a halo of light. The committee never 

 expected such an entry or such large attendance, and the 

 coffers of the treasurer should show a, decided enlargement. 

 The hall was well filled during the day with visitors from 

 the city and other places, and at night was crowded to ex- 

 cess. The total number of entries was 215, consisting of 

 mastiffs 1, St. Bernards 16, great Danes 4, greyhounds IS 

 foxhounds 6, harriers 3, pointers 3, English setters 11, Gor- 

 don setters 3, Irish setters 6, collies 19, bull-terriers 8, poodles 

 6. field spaniels 8, cocker spaniels 26, dachshunds 8, beagles 

 12, fox-terriers 21, Irish terriers 5, Bedlington terriers 9, 

 Skye terriers 3, Yorkshire terriers 4, pugs 6," toy spaniels 6, 

 Italian greyhounds 1, miscellaneous 8. 



The judges were: T. G. Davey, of London, well-known 

 as a breeder of pointers and English setters, who gave the 

 awards to the foxhounds, harriers, pointers, setters, dachs- 

 hunds and beagles; J. F. Kirk, the well-known fancier, 

 who assigned the ribbons to the great Danes, grevhounds, 

 collies, terriers of all classes and spaniels, large and small; 

 and S. F. Glass, of London, who distributed the cards 

 among the St. Bernards and the mastiffs. The bench show 

 committee, on which Secretary ThomDson, Messrs. R. P. 

 Forshaw, J. G. Mitchener and C. A. Stone were most in- 

 dustrious, may congratulate themselves on the show passing 

 off most pleasantly and most successfully from every point 

 of view. 



The quality was very fair indeed for a show of the kind 

 and the classes well filled. In St. Bernard dogs, Elector, a 

 youngster of the correct color with a bad head and hind- 

 quarters, but good in front and heavy in bone, was placed 

 over Geo. Bell's Sir John, who was suffering badly from 

 chorea. Fascination had a bloodless win in the cocker 

 puppy class, but for challenge dogs being debarred from 

 showing he would easily have won iu the open class also. A 

 good bitch turned up in Spot, a red cocker; she has a nice 

 head, good bone and body, good legs and should be heard 

 from in the fall. The best of the English setters was Forest 

 Sire, a lemon and white in bad shape but handled well, 

 good head and bone and a fair mover. Irish and Gordons 

 were poor. The pointer Hector has a good body and stands 

 on good limbs, but his head is clumsy and neck thick. In 

 collies Toronto Wonder, shown in good condition, carried off 

 the #50 trophy. Nancy, first here last fall under Mr. David- 

 son, repeated her win. She is a bit light in bone but was 

 shown very fit. Driver II., a good-looking dog, full of vim, 

 was shown without preparation. Flurry IV,, a nice all- 

 over young bitch, first in puppy class, should be heard from 

 again. The quality in other classes was good. 



BLACK AND TANS AT PITTSBURGH. 



NEW ROCHE LLE, N, Y., May 9.- Editor Forest and 

 Stream: Your issue of April 38 contained a letter 

 irom Mr. A. W Smith which requires an answer, although 

 I fear the subject is not one of interest to your readers. I 

 have never claimed that my black and tan terrier bitch 

 Broomfield Madge was not wide in front, but I will now 

 state that when in form, as she was at Pittsburgh, she is 

 but slightly so. Her form greatly varies according to her 

 state of flesh and she is very hard to keep down in this par- 

 ticular. Mr. Smith quotes a newspaper criticism about 

 her, but I should in no case argue a question concerning a 

 dog upon such a foundation, for in my experience with the 

 black and tan, a dog that has been on the bench a few times 

 can by such criticisms be found good and bad in every point. 

 Champion Broomfield Sultan, a dog that has been 'praised 

 both in England and in this country for his exceptionally 

 good head and character, was written up in one show report 

 since he came here as having a greyhound head and lacking 

 in expression and character. I do not think Mr. Smith 

 would have quoted this criticism had this dog been under 

 argument. - . . 



At the first show in which Broomfield Madge competed, 

 Toronto, 189ft, her width in front, though greafer than when 

 she is at her best, did not present her beating so good a 

 bitch as Desdemona under the judging of Mr. Mason. Her 

 next competition at New York, 1891, resulted in her being 

 placed over Meersbrook Empress by Mr. Mayhew. At New 

 York this year she was judged within forty-eight hours 



after whelping, and Mr. Raper rightly placed Louie over her 

 and mentioned her width in front. She was in a generally 

 relaxed condition then and she did greatly reduce in width 

 as the tone of her system improved between the time of this 

 show and Pittsburgh, where Mr. Raper considered that she 

 beat Louie with considerable to spare. Had Mr. Smith had 

 more experience as a breeder, he couldbetter understand the 

 change in a bitch that takes place from the time of whelp- 

 ing to a time five or six weeks after leaving her puppies. A 

 bitch during this time does grow narrower in front and im- 

 proves in all other resnects as well. 



The English correspondent in the last issue of the _4 roeri- 

 ean Field states that in England Mr. Paper's decisions are 

 not questioned. Mr. Raper is, no doubt, able to see some- 

 thing in a dog besides front, which is as far as the vision of 

 a novice extends, and too often we hear ot the great merits 

 of a dog, because he has a couple of broomsticks to support 

 him in front, regardless of what the rest of his make up 

 may be. Perhaps Mr. Smith does not know that the type of 

 straight front so desirable in the fox-terrier is not natural 

 or desirable in a black and tan. The conformation of the 

 front legs in the two breeds is quite distinct, and what 

 would be an excellent front in a black and tan would be 

 decidedly faulty in a fox-terrier and would be considered 

 wide. 



While I am on the subject of black arid tans I would like 

 to say a word regarding certain statements that have ap- 

 peared m Turf, Field and Farm. In the letters of Mr. 

 Mason aud a correspondent who signs a norn de plume ref- 

 erence is frequently made to the Meersbrook Maiden mud- 

 dle as though Dr. Foote and a few of his friends were the 

 only ones misled, while certain wiseacres knew the nature 

 of the mistake at once and set the matter right. I know of 

 but one person in this country to-day, and he is not Mr. 

 Mason, who expressed an opinion that in any way helped 

 me m determining 'tother from which; and I am at a loss to 

 understand how Mr. Mason can claim to have, lent any aid 

 m this direction. We read: "It was prettily devised by JSsop; 

 tbe fly sat upon the axletree of the chariot wheel and said, 

 'What a dust do I raise?' So are there some vain persons 

 that, whatsoever goeth alone or moveth upon greater means, 

 if they have never so little hand in it, they think it is they 

 that carry it."— Bacon. H T. Foote. 



FLAPS FROM THE BEAVER'S TAIL. 



rORONTO, Can.— Mr. T. G. Davey, London, has bought 

 the poiuterdog Molton Banner from the Forest Pointer 

 Kennels, subject to a certificate from Dr. Mole, of Hamil- 

 ton. The price, I understand, is -S200. 



The Hamilton Kennel Club purpose having an athletic 

 entertainment on July 18 and Hope thereby to reduce the 

 shortage incurred at their last show. 



Mr. Geo. Bell bought from Mr. G. W. Wambach, of Balti 

 more, for Mr. S. W. Thompson of the Queen's Hotel here 

 the pups Lord Baltimore (champion Kasb— Nun Nicer) and 

 Rustic Katti (Rustic. King— Tra-la-la). They are the parents 

 of Mr. Bell's Tip Top and have several wins to their credit. 



Fisheries Commission, Superintendent, etc. etc. Stewart, was, 

 Several visitors from outside parts visited the Toronto 

 Kennel Club's show yesterday (Friday). Mr. Alderman, 

 of course, on hand, and rendered valuable assistance in Mr.' 

 Kirk's ring. I also saw Dr. H. S. Griffin, who has just 

 bought the bull-terrier bitch Edgewood Robin, in whelp to 

 Gully the Great, and Mr. A. Murdock.who told me his Irish 

 terrier bitch Rugby Norah was soon to come over from Eng- 

 land. 



When two towns the size of Hamilton and Toronto can 

 get up local shows of 167 and 210 entries respectively, it 

 looks as if the fall circuit this year would be well attended 

 a nd entries large. 



One of our prominent spaniel men told me yesterday that 

 he was negotiating in England for three or four dogs. We 

 must have them. 



At the executive meeting of the Canadian Kennel Club, 

 held last night, the following members were present- Messrs 

 T. G. Da vey (president), S F. Glass, London; H. Gorman' 

 Sarnia; C. A. Stone, J. S. Williams, J. G. Mitchener and H 

 B. Donovan (secretary), Toronto. Mr. A. D. Stewart, Hamil- 

 ton, was present as a visitor. The secretary read a letter 

 from Mr. Buchanan, of the World's Fair, stating that no 

 limit would be made to the number of entries received of 

 dogs from Canada. The matter of duty on thorough- bred 

 dogs coming into Canada was again brought up, and Mr. 

 Stewart kindly volunteered to use every effort in his power 

 to advance the cause. Notice of motion was given by Mr. 

 Gorman that at the next a.nnual meeting he would move 

 that a breeder's certificate must be furnished with each entry 

 sent in for registration with the C. K. C. Prefixes and af- 

 fixes may in future be registered at a fee of SI. This not to 

 be retroactive. Twenty-four new members were received. 



The following important resolutions were unanimouslv 

 carried: "That the secretary be instructed to correspond 

 with the Government and proper authorities with a view to 

 appropriating a certain sum of money for the purpose of 

 employing a superintendent, to be appointed by the C. K 0. 

 to generally supervise and arrange necessary details in con- 

 nection with the exhibit of Canadian dogs at the World's 

 Columbian Exhibition bench show in 1893. That the execu- 

 tive of the C. K. C, representing all kennel clubs in the 

 Dominion of Canada, unanimously recommend that Alder- 

 man A. D. Stewart, of Hamilton, be appointed for such 

 position." 



"That the executive of the Canadian Kennel Club sustain 

 the action of the Ottawa Kennel Club in re suspension of 

 F, H. F. Mercer and further add the penalty of disqualifica- 

 tion, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the 

 secretary of the American Kennel Club, the secretary of the 

 Ottawa Kennel Club and Mr. F. H. F. Mercer." It was de- 

 cided to offer diplomas at one show each year for best ken- 

 nel, best brace, best dog and best bitch owned and bred in 

 Canada by a member of the C. K. C. All breeds will be 

 covered, and Toronto has the first call. H. B. Donovan 



A SUCCESSFUL SETTER. CROSS.— Ottumwa, Iowa. 

 I have had twenty-five years experience iu the field with 

 dogs, and I now have the best except one that I ever owned 

 He is four years old, of medium size, orange and white. I 

 have had him in tbe field in company w ith a great many 

 dogs during the last three years, none of which compare 

 favorably. His dam is a Gordon, his sire English. He is 

 very fast, a splendid fielder, quarters his ground with re- 

 markable intelligence, and will on chickens work a quarter 

 section while I walk once across; has a splendid nose and 

 will stand firm regardless of tbe distance I am away. In 

 roading on game as at other times, he carries a high head, 

 and I have many times followed him on a single bird as fast 

 as I cared to walk a full quarter mile. I shot 274 chickens 

 over hiin tbe first season, commencing when he was nine 

 months old, and about tbe same the next year. I have 

 worked him four consecutive days without his showing ap- 

 parent fatigue. He does not retrieve, but will find dead 

 birds readily. Rabbits do not bother him. I killed about 

 300 quail last season. One of my best day's shoot was iu 

 company with Wm. Carnes of Ottnmwa. We bagged forty 

 quail and one pheasant; leaving home at 9 o'clock A. M\ 

 and driving seven miles. 



