10^ 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 3, 1898. 



Messrs. J. N. Harper, of Siiisun; D. M. Pyle, of Bakersfleld, 

 and TEL. T. Vandevoort, of Pasadena, were appointed as a 

 committee of investigation, to report on ttie advisability of 

 holding the next trials at that place. 



SATURDAY. 



This morning broke with the promise of an ideal California 

 day. The fog cleared away during the night; a warm, light 

 breeze sprang with the sun and the party made an early 

 start for the old sehool house grounds six miles south of 

 town, and t.he move proved a good one. Plenty of birds were 

 found, and tlie crowd not being so gi-eat the birds were prop- 

 erly worked. The scent lay well, and the dogs did the best 

 work of the trials. 



Finals 



Lady Pat^e and Pelham were put down in low cover at 

 9:03. Lady pointed immediately. A single flushed. Lady 

 pointed again a few rods further on and Pelham backed. 

 Moved on. Lady pointed again. Walters shot and winged. 

 On shooting the running bird Lady retrieved indifferently. 

 Then Pelham a single and Lady three times. Then Lady 

 ointed a single and Pelham houoriug; he is usually an in- 

 iffereut backer. The judge then ordered the handlers to 

 move; on to a certain point together. Lodge, iiowever, paid 

 no attention but followed his dog, who soon pointed and the 

 Ibird hushed wild. Moving on again about two yards he drew 

 to a point. When Dodge shot and killed Pelham retrieved 

 handsomely. Lady then thought she had been doing brilliant 

 work long enough and chased a single quail, and was having 

 lots of fun when Walters shot her at about 90yds. She gave 

 a yelp, stopped chasing and got down to work again imme- 

 diately. Pelliam, when brought up with his opponent, did 

 soineveiy brilliant work. He isagrea,t bird hnder, a good 

 ranger, and though stone deaf is very obedient. He next 

 roaded and pointed .staunchly in a clump of willows and was 

 well backed by Lady. Walters claimed the point for Lady 

 but I cannot agree with him. Lady then pointed and Pel- 

 ham backed. Walters shot and killed and Pelham broke 

 shot slightly. Lady then pointed again and Pelham refused 

 to back. Moved on a couple of hundred yards Pelham pointed 

 a couple of singles aud ended the closest, prettiest race of the 

 trials. Pelham won after being down 47m. 



Old Black -Joe il. and Pelham. — Joe, after running an- 

 other 30-minute bye, was put down at 10:20 to run with Pel- 

 ham for second money. Joe was the first to find, pointing 

 staunchly. PeUiam started in by chasing fur. Joe then 

 pointed a couijle of single birds. Moved into the timber, Joe 

 pointed and Pelham ran in front of him and flushed. Moved 

 on to a pea vine patch, Joe pointed again and Pelham backed. 

 Pelham then pointed a single, flushed by Dodge. Pelham 

 then began roading and made a very snappy point, pointing 

 yunning bird; Joe made an indifferent back. The dogs were 

 watered, and when put do^\Ti again Pelham pointed a single, 

 and Joe, when called to back, stole the point. Old Black Joe 

 won the heat and second money, $91.50, after being down 

 40m. 



Clay and Pelham. — Put down after lunch on new ground 

 at 12:44. Birds were found immediately. Pelham pointed a 

 single and then both dogs located a big covey. Clay then 

 pointed some running birds by sight, and Studarus shot and 

 missed, Clay a little unsteady to shot. After roading them 

 across the open, both scored singles. Then Clay pointed un- 

 steadily twice on .singles. After watering, Clay was first 

 down, and pointed 'a single "«i.thin a few yards of the group, 

 before Pelham reached him. Pelham would uot back; but 

 located another bird, which he snapx^ed at as it got up within 

 6in. of his nose. Pelham immediately pointed another within 

 a few rods off the first. Clay backed, but broke back and 

 went to hunting. Pelham moved on a few rods and j)ointed 

 another, proving conclusively to all present that he had the 

 best nose. Clay, working the same ground, could not find 

 Anything. After being down 33m. Pelham was awarded the 

 lieat and third money, f (51. 



Pelham's excellent work proves by ocular demonstration 

 that the noise made by some handlers' in whistling and yell- 

 ing is entirely unnecessary. Pelham was born deaf, and yet 

 is one of the best bird finders run this year, as well as being 

 under absolute control. "WTien Dodge wants him to retrieve 

 he touches his forehead lightly with the tip of his finger. All 

 other orders are given with a motion of the hand. 



The last heat was peculiarly interesting, as it was between 

 a deaf dog and a dog blind in one eye. 



SXJMMAKT. 



T. J. Watson's English setter Starlight (Dan Gladstone- 

 Miss Alice), first prize. 



J. E. Watson's black pointer Old Black Joe 11., second 

 prize. 



California Kennels' English setter Pelham (Harold— Sun- 

 lit), thii'd priae. NAMQOOIT. 



CLASSIFICATION OF POINTERS BY WEIGHT. 



Editor Forest and Sti^eam: 



Permit me to apologize, through your columns, to Mr. 

 Munson, of whose statit, quo in pointers 1 am perfectly aware. 

 I confess that it was carelessness on my part not to scrutinize 

 the names over, but from my point of view it seemed almost 

 impossible for any practical breeder or owner of pointers to 

 be guilty of such a rule. 



I do not doubt but that Mr. Munson has full and good 

 reasons for his idea, and do hope that Mr. Waters (to whom 

 my thanlcs are tine for his correction in regard to Mr. Mun- 

 son), will inlliieuce Mr. Munson to give his reasons to the 

 pointer men and also his — Mr. Waters's — own reasons for 

 abolishment. 



It ill becomes us to give our reasons before you have ad- 

 vanced yours, it at least would be a queer precedence, and 

 looks to me about like the waylaying party demanding 

 reasons from those attacked why they should be attacked. 

 No, no, Mr. Waters, you will define your stand yourself, as is 

 proper, and I know you to be the man who will do it, and 

 this is one good reason why I don't t\ ant to accept the propo- 

 sition now to give reasons "why not," but want to hear your 

 and Mr. Munson's defense of why it should be so. 



In the meantime. I assert again that pointer men at large 

 will express themselves plainly with a nol at Chicago; local 

 owners perhaps excepted. If I am wrong you will be soon 

 able to prove it to me; but in the meantime I am vei-y anxious 

 to hear your views, knowing full well they will be worth 

 reading. G. Muss-Akkolt. 



TucKAHOB, N. Y., Jan, 28. 



ST. BERNARD CLUB SPECIALS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The St. Bernard Club will offer during the coming season 

 about forty of its handsome sterling silver medals to be com- 

 peted for at the various shows. At Chicago we have offered 

 six— one for the best St. Bernard dog, one for the best bitch, 

 and one each for the best American-bred dog and bitch, 

 smooth and rough. 



We offer nine at New York, .six at Bo,ston, four at Philadel- 

 phia, two at Detroit, four at Pittsburgh, four at Washington 

 aud four at Baltimore. 



As our specials are offered to dogs belonging to the mem- 

 bers of the club exclusively, and as they have in a number of 

 cases been j-eturned to us simply for lack of comxjetition, we 

 take this opportunity of inviting those interested to join us. 

 The club is doing excellent work and should have the support 

 of every one. The initiation fee is §10, which includes dues 

 or the current year, and after that only $5 per year. Appli- 

 cation forms for membership and further particulars can be 

 had from me. W. H. JOECKEL, Jk., President. 



BliOOMFlKLD, N, J. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



The Permanenfey of Dog- Matters. 



Chicago, Jan. 21. — ^In this country in the past ten years 

 doggy matters have had a most wonderful growth in every 

 desirable particular, such as influential ownership, general 

 disti'ibution over the whole country, public interest, bench 

 and field trial competition, increased monetary value of the 

 beat specimens, large kennels devoted to the interest of the 

 different breeds, c^tc. 



Ten years ago, concerning dogs in this country, there were 

 but a few specimens of some breeds, while of some others 

 there were none. A few breeds then were practically un- 

 known. The ownership, compared with that of the present, 

 was limited and sectional. All this in reference to well-bred 

 dogs of recognized breeds. 



There Avas no dearth of dogs, considering them merely as 

 dogs. Curs innumerable abounded and cross-bred dogswere 

 not scarce. In fact, almost every home had its dog, the ex- 

 ceptional instance being when such dog resembled any other 

 dog or anytliing in the earth beneath. 



Creneral ignorance as to what constituted the qualities or 

 charactei'ist.ics of the most common breeds l)rt>^'ailed. Large 

 prices given for dogs Avere considered then by the average 

 good citizen as being not so much an evidence of the true 

 value of the dogs as they were of the mental weakness of 

 the purchaser, yet the largest iprico paid then would not be 

 above ordinary now. 



In the early 'SOs it was a most diflicult matter to hold a 

 bench shoAV, great or small, outside of New York, Boston, 

 Chicago or St. Louis, Avith any prospect of financial success, 

 or success in attracting the attention of the public to the 

 merits of the dogs. Even the large cities sometimes held 

 shows which resulted in loss. Under such circumstances 

 the premium lists were necessarily small. The local dog, 

 whose chief merit was his master's faith in his dog's un- 

 bounded superiority, Avas in the majority at bench shoAvs. 

 The latter, howevei-, gradually educated the public up to a 

 kuoAvledge oi doggy matters, Avhich reacted in favor of the 

 dog's advancement. By sure stages of evolution from being 

 iiin many times by private individuals as a monetary specu- 

 lation, shows are now permanentl^r established aiid held 

 under tlie auspices of regular organizations composed of the 

 best sportsmen. They are in several places a society fad. 



Field trials, too, in the early '80s were in an embryo state. 

 Their growth was sIoav. Their future seemed most unprom- 

 ising and uncertain fx-om many causes, not the least of Avhich 

 were the impediments of sectional prejudices, factional dis- 

 agreements and crude rules. To these Avere added the scar- 

 city of material, namely, the small number of well bred dogs 

 OAvned liy men who AA^onld compete, from which to draw sup- 

 port for the trials. Por some years it required the united 

 forces of the East and the West to hold one good field trial. 



Nevertheless, at that time every one seemed to think that 

 doggy matters were pretty well established, besides being of 

 large uuignitude. Really, they were merely in their infancy. 

 The importation of a single dog at an ordinary price com- 

 pared to the prices of the present, Avas then a sensatioual 

 event in the sporting world. 



At the present time every breed is firmly established by 

 ownei'ship, monetary value, reputation, usefulness and com- 

 panionship. The home of the dog in the domestic life of the 

 people is only limited by the boundary of civilization. The 

 groAA'th has been rapid, constant and uniform. With the 

 steady growth have come anxious purchasers, and values 

 have therefore constantly increased, not ahvays wisely. 

 With the steady groAvth came a better literature. " Educate'd 

 AA'riters exploded venerable fallacies, corrected the teachings 

 Avhich Avere the outcome of ignorance, refined the crudities 

 and extended the .sphere of knowledge. The works now de- 

 voted to dog diseases, field sports, descriptive matter, the 

 different breeds and "kindred subjects" aauII comfiare favor- 

 ably with the literature of any sport, if it does uot excel it-. 



The press has been largely instrumental in dcA-eloping a 

 healthy and intelligent groAA^h. It furnishes a medium for 

 the Adews of correspondents; it teaches correct knoAvledge 

 and exposes error or imposition. In all that goes to make up 

 healthy instruction and good literature, Forest a vd Stream 

 AAdll be" found well in the lead in the present as in the past. 



Invertebrates. 



While all the different features, which have been briefly 

 enumerated, aud many more which haA'e not been touched 

 upon for want of space, have had a regular and permanent 

 groAvth, Avhicli constantly improves, there is one feature, a 

 disagreeable one it is, too, Avhich remains about the same 

 month after month and year after year; that is, the utter in- 

 efiiciency of club oflicers, generally speaking, to deal with 

 ofl'enders. 



However able a man maybe in his pri\ ate business in deal- 

 ing with undesirable people in the most etfecti\'e manner, as 

 an ofiicer of a club he generally becomes inactiA'e, forceless or 

 evasive. He shirks his ofhciardnties to such an extent as to 

 avoid, even under pressure, going on record either for or 

 against any offender, be his offense or the evidence against 

 him what it may. ^^Tienever there is the slightest opportu- 

 nity to administer a coat of Avhitewash, the AA^hitewash is 

 triumphant. The case, if it iuA'olves a misdemeanor, is rarely 

 pushed on its merits. 



Probably the Avorst case of club coAvardice was that which 

 occurred at Great Bend, Kan. , at the meeting in Avhich D. C. 

 Luse was tried for violating the club's rules, and incidentally 

 violating all principles of fairness by entcj ing a puppyAvhich 

 Avas over age. The guilt of the oli'euder had already been 

 proven before the executive committee, but in the club meet- 

 ing the members Avere timorous and voiceless. Mr. Luse's 

 dog was disqualified, but when it came to a a issue where it 

 was necessary to say yes or no as to the guilt of the man, the 

 members Avere weak, waning and windy. 



Of course, this event is greater in its pitiful Aveakness than 

 any other, but modifications of it in different forms are not 

 uncommon elscAvhere. 



The American Coursing Club still, in happy unconscious- 

 ness of its own disgrace, holds to a constitution, by-laws and 

 rules Avhich it cannot or dare not enforce AA^heu an olfense is 

 in question. It is the mere mockery of a club. As individ- 

 uals, they are good men. As an organized body, they are 

 forceless and inoperatiA^e. The Avhole history of the club 

 .shows it. It has been full of petty, personal wrangles. Ruf- 

 fianism on the grounds by outsiders was unpunished. Pro- 

 tests Avere evaded or permitted to lie Avithout action. 



Yet this club published to the AA'orld, through its constitu- 

 tion, by-laAVS and rules, that it AA'as an energetic, fearless 

 body, capable of acting, protecting and governing A\dthtn its 

 powers. It had rules denning off enses and their punishment. 

 When an offense was committed which violated their rules, 

 eA'ery member Avas CA'asiveand non-com mittal, either because 

 he had no moral or physical courage, or because his selfish or 

 sordid preference for his own pei'sonal interests outweighed 

 his pledges as a club member or oliicer. A lot of country 

 schooll'ON's could not be more abashed and timorous in the 

 presence of a dreaded bully than were most of the nerveless 

 gentlemen, c'lub jjiembers, Avho attended the meeting at 

 Great Bend last (jcTolner. There wei-e a few honorable excep- 

 tions. 



Yet these same forceless characters are fearless talkers 

 when action is not possible or Avheu all opposition is absent. 

 Not infrequently they publish bra^ e letters. RemoA'e but 

 the two conditions of official action and the presence of the 

 offender, and there is left the braA^e ranter, the garrulous fel- 

 loAV Avho Avill do prodigies of action when action is unneces- 

 sary or impossible, and nothing when called upon to say yes 

 or no. The cowardice of this club as a club is probably the 

 moBt contemptibly weak in the history of dog matters in this 



country. Yet it is only an exaggeration of a condition which 

 prevails in almost every club in this country. The effort is 

 rarely directed toward settling the issue energetically and 

 justly on its merits. The idea is to fix it up some way; to 

 smooth it over; to aA-oid offending some one; in short, to 

 whitewash. 



Every reporter on a sportsman's journal knows with what 

 co]ifldence the public looks to him to expose and denounce 

 anything which is not right. Vei'y little confidenc'e is placed 

 in the action of club committees. It is time that a public 

 sentiment was created in favor of clubs and club oflicers 

 doing theiryuty fully and ri^ht. 



The slipshod manner in Avhieh officers are elected by many 

 clubs is a prolific source of inaction and incompetency. In 

 many instances the offices are filled Avithout any reference to 

 the performance of the duties Avhich they entail. Men are, 

 in a manner, over-persuaded to accept an office, the club aim- 

 ing thereby to secure the prestige and good reputation which 

 goes AA'ith respected names. The incumbent is assured that 

 there is no Avork to do; they want him because he is a good 

 man and his name alone will be of great value to the inter- 

 ests of the club. Secretaries are often elected in the face of 

 their vigorous and sincere protests. All goes well till posi- 

 ti\ e aud onerous action is necessary. The president then be- 

 cojjjes doi'mant. The Adce-presidents are silent. While they 

 permitted their names to be used under the false pretense to 

 the public that they Avere presidents in fact as Avell as in 

 name, yet when the occasion arises for them to act they are 

 silent. The principle is wrong. There is no cpiestion as to 

 the proijriety of securing officers Avhose names are synony- 

 mous with respectability, integrity and wealth. It should 

 not end there, howeA'er. With all these shoidd be aptness 

 for the office, an interest in its welfare and a willingness to 

 fully assume all its duties and responsibilities. 



Let public opinion demand just and speedy action on the 

 part of the clubs. 



The public looks too much to the press for the action which 

 should be a matter of course Avith the clubs. The press can 

 only expose and denounce; it cannot render material indi- 

 vidual justice. The public has the remedy in its own hands 

 to correct this serious, growing evil. If a club is too cow- 

 ardly, or its memliers too mercenary to put their private 

 doggy interests in jeopardy by f ultilling their club pledges, 

 the p'ublic can correct the evil by refusing to support such a 

 club. 



Fits of Abstraction. 



Chicago, Jan. 28.— Some of the people of Chicago, presum- 

 ably .some of the A'isitors, have made most unpleasant experi- 

 ences in a canine way for some of the Chicago sportsmen. 

 They seem to have inaugurated a systematic crusade of rob- 

 bery in respect to valuable dogs. Mr. E. Thomas, the AveU 

 known gun expert, has recently had two stolen. Mr. Jeffrey, 

 Avho is with the sporting goods firm of A. G. Spalding & 

 Bros., has had a valuable trained setter stolen, and there are 

 rumoT's of other losses of good dogs by theft. Sportsmen 

 will (lo w I'll to keep a sharp lookout for dog thieves. If the 

 ill - ' i li the chances of recovery are very small. Ship- 

 ij 1 L - 1 ! ' i I 1 id ties places stolen dogs beyond any danger of 

 identilicarion aud recovery, and this" is the course commonly 

 pursued by the dog thieves. 



The Division of Pointers by Weight. 



I notice that the action of the managers of the Chicago 

 Kennel Club in regard to pointer classification meets the dis- 

 approA^al f)f oAvners. It does seem hard, after all these years 

 of double money to the pointer classes, which comes with the 

 diA'i.sion by weight, that the pointers should be required to 

 conqiete on even terms Avitliout any ^v eight distinction. 



The only justification advanced is that it is harder to breed 

 a good big dog than it is to breed a good little one. 



Is it sol" iTo the records prove it!' Granting that it is, is 

 it of sufficient importance to dema.nd th;it bench show clubs 

 shall jMit up double money all around the bench show cir- 

 cuit for this one fallacious plea? 



'ilie records will show that the really good big dogs, when 

 it came to the special for best pointer dog in the show, held 

 their own well. 



Unfortunately, the classification by weight protects the 

 bad big dogs as aa'cII as the good ones — dogs Avhich in general 

 competition would deservedly fail to Aviii. By skillful coach- 

 ing in the way of selecting easy shows, a poor big dog can 

 reap all the benefits of the protection intended for the mueh- 

 talked-of good big dog, Avhich needs protection from compe- 

 tition-protection from the very principle which underlies all 

 bench shows. 



Again, the pointer is a working dog. At least, it is com- 

 monly supposed that he is. Is thei-i; such a thing as better 

 heavy-weight work than liglit-vveight Avork? Is the 2.50- 

 pound bookkeeper better than the 100-pound bookkeeper be- 

 cause he is larger? 



If the weight classification is sound why not haA'e other 

 classes — middle-weight, welter-Aveight, light-weight, ban- 

 tam-weight, etc. ? The money would be just so many times 

 multiplied. 



The same reasons for weight clas.sification of pointers hold 

 equally good Avith English setters, Irish setters and Gordon 

 setters. If it is fair for one breed it is fair for the others. 



I am glad to see one club Avhich has had the nerve to ex- 

 plode a fallacy, although, for the reiison that managers are 

 so lacking in self-assertion, I haA^e no idea that it will meet 

 Avith general adoption at present. It Avili in time or else the 

 other breeds will want equal considerat ion in the way of 

 prize money, and there is no method s^o easy aud direct as 

 weight classification. It has the furtlier advantage that 

 some dogs Avill be able to Avtn this week as a light-weight, 

 next week as a heaA-y-weight, 



This has led to the necessity of Aveighing the dog at any 

 time demanded by the person in charge before the judging, 

 and is so governed by A. K. C. ruling. The dog actually 

 may be a heavy-weight in a light-weight class at the time of 

 the judging, but after the weighing the actual fact is not 

 permitted to be officially recognized. It is simply a protec- 

 tion to men aa-Iio starve their dogs to AA^eight and Avho know 

 that one or two meals will make their dogs OA'erweight. 



Fallacies. 



Speaking of fallacies, there is none more absurd than one 

 which preA^ails at field trials and is held by field trial sup- 

 porters, namely, that a dog in competition should haA'e a 

 trial on birds to determine his merits. It is often cited as 

 proof of unfair treatment if contrary to this idea. 



A dog may be so inferior as to be unable to find birds; so 

 palpably inferior that if he found birds and Avorked well on 

 them, he was so inferior to other dogs that he would not have 

 the sli.uhtest chance. 



It is time that some of the old time whims should be supei^ 

 ceded by something which will bear analysis and argument. 



Improvement in Trials. 



The following is from that sterling gentleman and trainer, 

 Capt. C. E. McMurdo, and is a mo.st gratifying communica- 

 tion. The genial Aviiter says: 



"Although it is no doubt the intention and the desire of 

 the managers and judges of field trials that the ciuestion of 

 luck should be entirely eliminated from field trials, this 

 never can be done till the grounds are much better preserved 

 than they are at present. 



"Sometimes good dogs are'spotted out because they fail to 

 find birds, or else got among ones that have been so fre- 

 quently Avorried that they do not give them a fair chance of 

 getting in any good Avork. Weather, too, has an immense 

 deal to do Avith the form in Avhich a dog Avorks. Put a high 

 class dog down with an ordinary one at a time AA'henthe scent 



