Masoh 9, 1898.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Black Bass of the Thornapple. 



Michigan City, Ind.~If 0. J. L., of Detroit, wants 

 fLstiing in his cruise and makes tliat one of tlie cliief con- 

 siderations, tliere is no better stream, in my opinion, than 

 ttie Thornapple River, in his own State. From the lake 

 of the same name in Barry county to the mouth where it 

 empties into the Grand Eiver tlie cruise will take about a 

 week, for althotigh the distance seems short upon the 

 map, the stream is so crooked and the fishing so good that 

 a week will easily be consumed on tlie trip. It is a rapid 

 sti'eam, that is, there are numerous riflles from a hundred 

 yards to a quarter of a mile in length, and the boat used 

 should draw very little water. There wiU probablj^ be 

 two or tlu-ee "drift" jams encountered also. I have fished 

 this stream a great deal and never saw its equal for black 

 bass. When they are on the riffles, which is in .July and 

 August, but preferably in July, they take the artificial fly 

 as readily and in the same manner as ti-out. I caught 14 

 small-mouth black bass and two rock bass in about one 

 hour last summer, all in wading a single riffle about a 

 quarter of a mile long. There is a very pretty and well 

 managed summer hotel at Cascade Springs, two miles 

 from the mouth of the Thornapple and ten miles from the 

 city of Grand Rapids. 



Here the voj^ager can spend a few days very agreeably 

 at the close of his trip. I would like to take a trip of two 

 or three weeks this season, and would be much obliged if 

 some one could tell me of a stream possessing the charac- 

 teristics of the Thornapple as I have outUned them (I can 

 dispense with drift jams). Such a stream usually flows 

 through a rather pretty country. I want about 150 miles 

 of boating, say 10 miles a day, and rather a small stream. 

 Your correspondent in "Chicago and the West," Mr. 

 Hough, could probably put me on the right track. 



Lexden. 



That First Tarpon. 



The statement that Mr. Hugh O'Neill is entitled to the 

 credit of taking the first fish of the season, which has ap- 

 peared in the FOREST AND Stkeam is not warranter by the 

 facts, as the following item from the Fort Myers Press of 

 Feb. 23 shows: 



"Tarpon record at Fort Myers. We only make record 

 of those caught with rod and reel: Feb. 14, Judge T. A. 

 Gill, 6ft. 4in., 144lbs.; Feb. 15, George A. West, (Jft. 3in., 

 lOlll.s.; Feb. 16. H. O'Neil, 5ft. 9in., imbs.; Feb. 17, J. 

 W. Cole, 5ft. 9in., 981bs.; Feb. 18, -Jas. E. Hendry, Jr., 

 6ft., nSlbs.; Feb. 19, J. E. Mitchelson, 6ft. 2in., lOSlbs. ; 

 Feb. 21, Geo. H. Huhngs, oft. Tin., 941bs.; Feb. 21, T. P. 

 Newton, 4ft. 7in., 451bs. Previously reported 10. This 

 week 8. Total 18." 



As ajipeared in a previous issue of the same paper, Mrs. 

 A. M. McGregor took a tarpon on Feb. 9. Last season I 

 was an eye witness of the capture by the same lady of a 

 fish weighing 160ibs. 



I am informed by letters received from Fort Myers that 

 the tarpon are extraordinarily abundant there the present 

 season. F. S. J. C. 



Origin and Evolution of the Fishes. 



In the Department of Biology of Columbia College in 

 the city of New York a series of lectures are being given 

 with the above title by Dr. Bashford Dean. The course 

 is as follows: 



Thursday, Feb. 16, The General Structure of Fishes; 

 Thursday, Feb. 23, Sharks and Rays— Fossil and Recent; 

 Thursday, March 2, The Teleosts; Thursday, March 9, The 

 Ganoids; Thursday, March 16, ChimEera and the Lung- 

 fishes; the Newbury coUection of Giant Placoderms; 

 Thursday, March 23, The Embryology of Fishes. These 

 will be followed by a coiu-se on the amphioxus and other 

 ancestors of the vertebrates by Arthur Willey, B.Sc. : 

 Thm-sday, March 30, introduction, History, Mode of Life 

 and Distribution; Thursday, April 6, General Structure; 

 Thursday, April 13, Nervous, Vascular and Excretory 

 Systems; Thursday, April 20, Reproduction and Develop- 

 ment; Thursday. April 27, Larval Growth and Metamor- 

 phosis; Relationshij)s of Ampkioxus to other Types. 



Rearing Black Bass. 



We published recently a note of inquiry from Chas. S. 

 Powell, Esq., concerning the propagation of black bass, fol- 

 lowing which we mentioned the names of several persons 

 who have had experience with this fish. Mr. Powell has 

 corresponded with Mr. Page and others and we are permitted 

 to give below Mr. Page's letter. 



It will be observed that the writer is strongly opposed to 

 the use of live minnows for feeding the bass, because it 

 encourages cannibalism, and this habit is one of the most 

 serious obstacles in the way of bass culture. Bass are often 

 reared, however, in ponds which contain minnows of \'arious 

 kinds in abundance, and which have nfi\ er l;)eeu freed from 

 tbese small inhabitants. The waters in Arkansas and Texas, 

 so wonderfully rich in bass, swarm also with shiners, gasper- 

 'gou, mud shad and many other fish upon which black bass 

 naturally feed. 



In the pond in Washington in which the first experiment 

 with bass was tried last year, were hosts of suiall saulish, 

 roach, gudgeons and carp. The feeding of the bass was so 

 active that even the pestiferous sunfish were px-actically ex- 

 terminated. Although some of the small bass were destroyed 

 also, the cost of food was so small as to almost compensate 

 for the loss. The letter is as follows: 



Neosho, Mo.. Feb. l.—Mr. Chas. S. Powell, Bichmond. 

 Ky.: Deak Sra— Your letter of Feb. 3, 1893. is to hand and 

 in reply I would say, very little is kno-svn practically in arti- 

 ' licial fishculture about raising Ijlack bass because very little 

 has been done. It is true that tliere are a good many ponds 

 devoted to bass under the cai'e of amateurs; but professional 

 fishculturists have done very little in this direction. 



In fact, pond culture as an art is in its infancy in America. 

 My small experience of only the past three years in raising 

 bla.ck bass scarcely warranted Foeest akd STREA:\r in refer- 

 ring to me as an authority, for if my eighteen years' exper- 

 ience as a fishculturist has taught me anything, it is that 

 our early experience with any particular fish is sure to be 

 modified in thefuttire. However, what little I know is at 

 your -ervice. 



Your idea is to remove the large fish as soon as the fry are 

 able to take care of thenrselves. May I ask how? I know of 

 btit one way you can do it and not ki'U, or at least materially 

 injure, the young, and that is by hook and line. To do this 

 with a barbless hook ^vill depend upon your skill and the dis- 

 position of your flsh. (1 jet me digress here to say that while 

 the bass is very tenacious of life, he is the most easily killed 

 by a sudden change from warm to cold water.) 



If your spawning pond is properly constructed, the best 

 way uow known is to remove the young bass as soon as they 

 are hatched, before the food sac is ahsDrbed, while the brood 

 is htiddled over the nest. This is an eas> matter, and re- 

 quires only a good skimming net of mosqnito bar in the 

 hands of a skillful workman. A little practice will soon give 

 the "turn of the wrist" which enables one to slip a net under 

 the school, lift them otit, and quickly transfer them into the 

 rearing pond. 



The rearing poirds, of which there should be several, sbottld 

 be built immediately alongside of the spawning pond. They 

 shouldhave in three-fourths of their area not over four inches 

 depth of water, and the greatest depth need not be more 

 than two feet. At least one-third of the .spawning pond 

 should be quite shallow — too shallow to be mviting to the 

 large flsh. In this shallow water the yoting fry which es- 

 cape yotir net and the jaAvs of the big fish will find a safe 

 home. 



If ai'ound the edge of your sijawning pond, in water from 

 one foot to. three feet deep, you place gravel, allowing the 

 balance of the bed of the pond to l)e earth, the bass wall there 

 make nests. Do not place the gravel so far out that you can- 

 not work yotir net over it from the banli, or else you will 

 ha^'e nests of fry which yoti cannot get, but which the big 

 fish will get. 



Your spawjiins' pond and rearing pond shotild have mosses 

 —and mosses in abimdance. In the Hatchiecoon Lake of 

 Arkansas, and in San Marcos Spring of Texas, are more liass 

 than is credible even in fish yarns; both these waters abound 

 in mosses. The mosses serve as hiding-places from fi.sh 

 hawks, kingfisliersand the hot sun of summer; but above all 

 they furnish a home and breeding-place for the insects which 

 provide so large a proijortiou of bass food. 



I have not yet been alile to feed bass on any vegetable food, 

 but I yet intend to do it. At present we use nothing but raw 

 beef liver, and that fresh and sweet. Talk of a trout being 

 an aristocrat! Trout will eat putrid meat, and I have carried 

 them six months at a stretch on a strictly vegetable diet. 



Nothing would induce me to put a minnow in a bass ]pond 

 except as bait on a hnok. It is too hard to break bass of their 

 natural tendency to cannibalism to foster it by an occasional 

 taste of their old evil habit. If you feed liver let it be every 

 day at a stated hotu- and place. The result will please you. 

 Feed about !>.< per cent, of their weight per day. At first 

 this is more than they will eat. Start with a small quantity 

 and gradually increase. Wm. P. Page, 



Supt. Neosho Station, U. S. Pish Commission. 



he Mmmt 



F IXTU RES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



March 14 to 17.— Washington, D. C. F. S. Webster, Sec^. 



March 21 to 24.— City of the Straits Kennel Chib, at Detroit, Mich, 

 auy D. Welton, Sec'y. 



March 22 to 25.— Ehnii-a, N. Y. C. A. Bo-n-man, See'y. 



March 28 to 31.— nUndio Keunel Club, lii-st show, at Indianapolis, 

 Ind. Chas. K. Farmer, Sec"y. 



April 4 to 7.— New England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. J. W. 

 Newman, Sec"y. 



April 11 to 14.— Continental Kennel Club, at Denver, Col. 



Api-il 19 to 22.— Fifth Annual Dog Show, at Los Angeles Cal. C. A. 

 Sumner, Sec'y. 



May 5 to 6.— Pacific Kennel Club, at San Francisco, Cal. Horace W. 

 Orear, Sec'y. 



June 13 to 17.— World's Fair, Chicago. W. I. Buchanan, Chief Dept. 

 of Agriculture. 

 Sept. 5 to 8.— Hamilton Kennel Club. A. D. Stewart, Sec'y. 

 Sept. 11 to 15.— Toronto, Canada. C. A. Stone. Sec'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov. 20.— Eastern Field Trial Club's Trials, at High Point, N. C. 

 Members' Stake Nov. 16. W. A. Coster, Sec'y. 



Don't forget that Detroit entries close March 7, 

 with Guy D. Welton, 56 Cadillac Square, Detroit, 

 Mich. 



Elmira entries close March 12, with C. A. Bow- 

 man, Elmira, N. Y. 



The Chicago Kennel Club and the A. K. C. 



Chicago, March 1— Editor Forest and Stream: The 

 Chicago Kennel Club was organized in January of this year 

 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois with 

 a paid up capital of .$4,000. Within five weeks of the date of 

 organization it opened the doors of its first dog show, which 

 proved a brilliant success in e^'ery way. At the time of re- 

 ceiving entries it gave notice to intending exhibitors, when 

 asked, that it had applied in due form for admission to the 

 American Kennel Club, and that it knew of no reason why 

 it should not be admitted. Its application for membership, 

 with its check, was received and acknowledged by the Amer- 

 ican Kennel Cltib and the check was used. At the meeting 

 of the American Kennel Club in New York last week the 

 application of the Chicago Kennel Club was arbitrarily re- 

 jected. 



The Chicago Kennel Club has been organized to stay. It 

 has claimed a date for its second aimual show, which will be 

 held here in February, 1894. Its premium list will be liberal, 

 and its prizes and all other expenses will be paid promptly, 

 as they were this year. Its management will be character- 

 ized by the same business methods and courtesy which pre- 

 vailed this year, and it will receive the same liberal patron- 

 age from exhibitors and the public that it received this year. 



The Chicago Kennel Cltib believes in being associated with 

 a proper governing body, and in good faith applied for mem- 

 bership in the only such organization now existing. It 

 believes there should be an organization which is truly 

 national, and that the time is at hand when such an orgaiu- 

 zation should be st'n,rted. The widespread disafiiection now 

 existing among members of the American Kennel Club; its 

 pronounced local tendency and its control; its arbitrary and 

 unwarranted rulings in the matter of membership; these all 

 warrant the formation of a new organization, which shall be 

 national in its fullest sense, and not a New York city club. 

 We invite correspondence from clubs interested in this mat- 

 ter or a discussion through the sporting press. 



If any such national organization shall be started the Chi- 

 cago Kennel Club will do its share toward its support; but 

 whether or not such a club shall be formed, or whether or 

 not the Chicago Kennel Club may be hereafter admitted to 

 the American Kennel Club, it will keep its promise to hold 

 its second show in 1894. Its club rooms in the Unity Build- 

 ing, suite 73.5 to 727, will be open to receive visitors from this 

 date on, where they will be welcome and where they may 

 make their headquarters. 



The underhanded methods employed by members of the 

 American Kennel Club in New York, just previous to the 

 opening of the first show of the Chicago Kennel Club, their 

 repeated attempts to prevent judges and exhibitors from at- 

 tending the show, their assertions that prizes would not be 

 paid and that the Chicago Kennel Club would not be ad- 

 mitted to membership, these all show a spirit contrary to the 

 proper appreciation of then- position, and an entire lack of 

 fairness and manhood. 



The Chicago Kennel Club will, in the future, represent the 

 real interests of dog owners in Chicago; it will be a real ken- 

 nel club, existing to promote dog matters, and will be con- 

 ducted on business principles with ample capital behind it. 



It has secured commodious kennel grounds near this city and 

 will own one of the best equipped kennel establishments in the 

 country. The by-laws require the treasurer to make a report 

 "at least" once a year, and the directors are pledged to see 

 this rule enforced. CniCAao KENifEL Club. 



Indianapolis Dog Show. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



From the numerous applications for premium lists of our 

 bench show to be held March 28 to -31, we feel that our efi'orts 

 will be appreciated, and would further state that our premium 

 list will be ready for mailing about March 1, It will repre- 

 sent about $1,800 in premiums besides a liberal amount of 

 specials. The money will be distributed about as follows: 

 *10 first in all challenge classes; -$1.5, flO and .$5 in open mas- 

 tiff, St. Bernards, Great Danes, greyhounds, pointers, English, 

 Irish and Gordon setters, collies and beagles, with .$20 kennel 

 prize for each above breeds. All other classes, flr.st prize, $10. 

 The merchants and business houses of this city have very 

 liberally subscribed to a guarantee fund of over $2,000, and 

 this fund will no doubt reach $3,000 before the list is complete, 

 which is a guarantee that all premiums and expenses will be 

 paid, thus assuring those coming from a distance that they 

 will receive what is due them. The newspapers of this city 

 promise u.s their hearty support, and with our excellent ac- 

 commodations for the dogs and the promise of such a largia 

 entry, we look forward to the usual liberal patronage of our 

 citizens. The hotels have all made special rates for exhibi- 

 tors. We will have at least three and possibly four of the 

 best kno-wm judges and everything will be done to facilitate 

 their work so as to have the marked catalogue ready on the 

 morifing of the second day. We will figure with the various 

 owners of trained troups of dogs to give exhibitions, as the 

 hall has a hue gallery all around, from which the spectators 

 can be comfortably seated during the performance. Reading 

 and .smoking rooms will be provided with writing material 

 for the use of our guests, and we will also arrange suitable 

 place for the vvashing and grooming of dogs. 



Dr. Vail Hummell, so well known in "greyhound circles, 

 will officiate as chairman of bench show committee, Avhich 

 leaves no room for further comment on this subject. While 

 we feel confident that nothing will be lefttmdone to mar the 

 regularity and order of things, we will be glad to receive sug- 

 gestions from our various friends relative to any department 

 of the show. This show will be under A. K, C. rules and 

 wins will count. Chas. K. Parmer, Sec'y- 



Gunshyness in Dogs. 



Editnr Forest and Stream: 



In your last number there was a communication relating 

 to gunshyness. I will give your readers a method which, if 

 followed patiently, will, I think, prove effective, as it has 

 never failed for me. Instead of giving your pup his regular 

 exercise, shut him iip where he can see all you do. In the 

 morning fire two ordinary charges in plain sight of him and 

 open the iuclosure for him to come out. Should he refuse, 

 leave him and close the gate or door. Repeat this daily with- 

 out coaxing him and he will soon come to the gun.' Should 

 he become frightened in the field, leave him and he will soon 

 look you up. Paying too much attention to him will only 

 cause him to think that the shot was fired for his benefit, and 

 if left alone he will soon come to his master, especially t£ it is 

 a kind one. Dogs trained by kindness are the most willing 

 workers, and unless you have a good store of patience don't 

 attempt to train a dog, for you may nun a dog that kindly 

 but firmly handled woidd be first class. The dog whip is a 

 most excellent thing properly used, as is also the check cord, 

 but either, if used to excess, make sulky or cowardly dogs of 

 those which otherwise w^ould be cheerfully obedient, 



H. M. T. 



North Ontario, Cal., Feb. 11. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In response to Mr. N. D. Elting would say that working a 

 cord on a dog had reference merely to its uselessness when 

 breaking him of gun .shyness. A gun shy dog does not pull 

 on a cord, but against it, and is probably trying to pull the 

 collar over his head half the time The cord on a bird dog is 

 not to lead him with, but to hold him or control him. i 

 think a great many dogs learn to "potter round" by not 

 being kept on a chain as much as they should be. Another 

 word—when your dog is cured of gun shyness keep him to 

 heel or on a cord when going to or from your hunting ground, 

 and you will not be apt to havie a "potterer." Horket. 



Charlotte N. C. 



P. S.— The Forest and Stream in its new dress seems try- 

 ing to outdo itself in getting up an ideal sporting paper. 



American Pet Dog Club. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The American Pet Dog Club is now in a A'ery flourishing 

 condition, having a membership of fifty and a nice balance 

 on the right side in the treasury. 



They intend to hold their first show May 30 to June 2 at 

 Lenox Lyceum, New York, and although they have only 

 just started a show subscription list, they have 1300 sub- 

 scribed by each of the following members: Mrs. Wm, R. 

 McKee, Mrs. Horace Stokes and Mr, Wm. J. Peyer. 



Everything points toward splendid success and many new 

 dogs vnli be purchased by the members to exhibit at the 

 show. A splendid special has been promised by Mr. Frank- 

 lane Sewell, the artist, who has just returned from abroad. 

 This special is to be a picture, painted from life, of the most 

 popular dog at the show, the prize to be awarded by the 

 votes of visitors to the show. 



At the annual meeting of the club, held Friday, Feb. 24, at 

 Madison Square Garden, officers were elected as follows: 

 President, Mrs. S. C. Barnum; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Horace 

 Stokes, Mr. Charles Wheat leigh and Mr, A. F. German; 

 Secretary, Miss Marion E. Bannister; Treasurer, Mr. Wm. 

 J. Feyer; Exectitive Committee, President, Secretary and 

 Treasurer, Mr. T. Farrer Rackham, Miss Chapman, Mr. E. 

 H. Morris and Dr. Sherwood; Delegate to the American 

 Kennel Club, Mr. T. Farrer Rackhmn; Trustees, Mrs. 

 Horace Stokes, Mrs. Wm. R. McKee, Mrs. M. E. Randolph, 

 Mrs. A. M. Cunningham and Mr. Chas. Wheatleigh. 



Mr. Rackham was elected superintendent of the coming 

 show. 



A meeting of the executive ^committee was called for 

 Weduasday, March 1, 8 P. M., at 339 Lexington avenue, to 

 arrange show matters. Marion E. Banni.ster, Sec'y. 



Gordons in the West. 



Editor Forest and Stream-: 



It might be of interest to you and the readers of your paper 

 to learn that the much-maligned Gordon setter is coming to 

 the front in the West. The demand for this class of field 

 dogs has been steadily on the increase, and where a year ago 

 there were not o\'er half a dozen well bred dogs of this breed 

 in Chicago and vicinity, they can now he counted by the 

 dozens. As a test against other setter breeds I entered a fine 

 litter of nine Gordons in the late Chicago bench show, and 

 sales for the entire lot w^ere effected before the close o£ the 

 third day, and at good prices too. Could have sold twice the 

 number If I had had them, many who procrastinated being 

 disappointed. I am satisfied that with more attention paid 

 to breeding and handling for field work instead of bench 

 shows we should not be obliged to strain our vision in an at- 

 tempt to find the names of our beautiful Gordons among the 

 list of entries of field trials. Will H. Worth. 



Chicago, Feb. 38, 



