368 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 27, 1893. 



A Sandwich Island Fish Hook. 



Takoma, D. C, April 7.— Under the above title I read a 

 very interesting note in Forest and Stream of April 13, 

 '93 (pp. 315, 316), and enjoyed the excellent photographic 

 figures that accompanied it. I have in my private collec- 

 tions a fish hook from the Sandwich Islands, precisely 

 similar to the one in yonr illastration, with the exception 

 that it chances to be nearly one-third larger in size. This 

 relic I obtained as a gift from an ofificer of om- army, to 

 whom in 1887 I had given a sick leave for six. months and 

 a recommendation for a sea voyage. He w-ent that year 

 to the Sandwich Islands, and among the objects he pur- 

 chased there was this fish hook. From him 1 learned that 

 those hooks are stiU commonly in use by the natives on 

 the coast. They bait them with various kinds of baits 

 and employ thera in shark fishing, at which amusement 

 they are very successful. In selecting the shell from 

 which this pattern of hook is manufactured a piece is 

 always chosen for the -'shank" which has upon its an- 

 terior aspect one or two of the raised internal convolutions 

 of the shell. These are well seen in the FOREST and 

 Stream photograph, and the object of the manufacturer 

 is to have a strong undulating surface there to which the 

 fish line can be more firmly and securely strapped. The 

 curved portion in front is also of the same material, but 

 chosen from an entirely different part of the shell. It is 

 simply ground to a point, subconical in form, curved and 

 polished. No attempt is ever made to make a "barb" at 

 its extremity. The hook part is securely laced to the 

 "shank" by means of a cord made of some kind of a 

 vegetable fiber, and a stiff tassel of the same is allowed to 

 project below. It must be evident that a shark once 

 struck with an unbarbed hook of this kind should be 

 pulled quickly inboard or ashore, the line being kept con- 

 stantly taut, or else he could easily free himself again. 



E. W. Shufeldt. 



Bangor Salmon Pool. 



A DISPATCH from Bangor, Me., on Friday, the 21st, says 

 that the first salmon of the season had just been taken 

 from the pool. This is nine days later than last year, 

 when the first salmon was taken on the 12th of April. 

 Since the 21st there has been a storm and a rise of water, 

 which has doubtless hindered the run of sabnon, till the 

 water clears again. Boston salmon fishermen do not 

 seem to have waked up to the fact that salmon are run- 

 ning at Bangor. A year ago there were several anglers 

 in waiting, but this year they do not seem to be going. 

 I met one of them on the street the other day. He re- 

 marked that he did not like the salmon fishing at Bangor. 

 The river is full of boats of aU sorts, with all sorts of fish- 

 ermen in them. But the chap with a birch pole and 100ft. 

 of strong string prevails. After all, tins chap is about as 

 well off as the fellow with the best of rods and rigs. The 

 fishing is all done by letting the fly or bait drift down the 

 rapids. When the fish is hooked the boat is allowed to 

 drift down the rapids after the fish till he is secured. 



Spectal. 



Bass of St. Mary's Reservoir. 



Cincinnati, O., April 14.— Three years ago while fish- 

 ing in the St. Mary's Reservoir, I caught an exceedingly 

 large bass; I fastened a strong string firmly to his lower 

 jaw and tied him out in the water for three days. The 

 third day he was nearly dead so I took him out and Sam 

 Marshall and George S warts weighed him; he tipped the 

 scales at 71bs. Have any of your readers ever caught a 

 larger one in the Reservoir? F. B, Magill. 



First of the Tarpon. 



Fort Myers, Fla., April li.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I caught my first tai-pon to-day after a very hard stmggle 

 of 45 mmutes. It weighed lOOlbs., and was 6ft. lin. long. 

 Mr. Fay, of Chicago, caught his first one to-day, weight 

 1251bs.. and Mr, Little, of Philadelphia, caught his twenty- 

 first. Saw three at Naples on 12th, caught that day by B, 

 Dunn, of Roche.ster, weighing 157, 110 and lOOlbs. respec- 

 tively. Clarence Howland. 



Not Yet. 



Grahamsville. Sullivan County, N. Y., April 20.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: The treating season has hardly 

 opened yet in this section. In consequence of the heavy 

 drifts of snow upon the mountains— in some cases six to 

 seven feet deep — ^the waters of the different streams in this 

 vicinity are too cold and too much swollen for trout to bite 

 freely. I do not expect any good fishing until about 

 May 1. E. A, Crawford. 



Club Rules Desired. 



The members of the Multnomah Rod and Gun Club 

 would be glad to receive copies of the printed constitution 

 and by-laws of the various rod and gun clubs. State 

 sportsmen's clubs and game protective clubs, which can 

 be mailed to Mr. D. L. WilUams, P. O. Box 85, Portland, 

 Oregon. 



Thousands of Catfish. 



There is a curious sight at tlae William Penn, Schuylkill county, 

 Pa., dam, and many people of the town have made special trips to see 

 t. The siu-face is covered with the dead bodies of thousands of cat- 

 fish, many of which are seven inches and more in length. In one of 

 the outlets a gentleman of the town who visited the dam on Sunday 

 counted 500 as fine specimens as any flshennan ever caught on the 

 hook. How so many of them died at one time seems to be a mystery 

 to same, but it is explained that the water, which is not very deep, was 

 frozen to the bottom of the dam during the winter. Arrangements 

 are being made to have the fish remorad..— Shenandoah Herald. 



CommunioaMons for •piiMication relating to husiness 

 should be addressed to tUe Forest and Stream Puh. Go. If 

 addressed to an individual they will te sxihject to delay in 

 that individual's absence. 



F IXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



May .3 to 6.— Pacific Kennel Club, at San Fi-ancisco, Oal. Horace W. 

 Orear, Sec'y. 



May 30 to June 2.— American Pet Dog Club, Lexox Lyceum, New 

 York. Marlon E. Bannister, Sec'y. 



June 13 to 17.— World's Fau-, CJhicago. W. I, Buchanan, Chief Dept 

 of Agriculture. 



Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.— Blue Grass Kennel Club, at Lexington, Ky. iVIr. 

 Roger Wilhams, Sec'y. 

 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. 7.— International Field Trials. W. B. Wells, Sec'y, Chatham, 

 Ont. 



Nov. 15.— American Field Trial Club trials, at Carlisle, Ind. W. J. 

 Beck, Sec'y, Columbus. Ind. 



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

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



fl-U. Is it not foolish to use a cocker when a field spaniel, or, 

 we'll call it a practical type dog, will do the work fully fifty 

 per cent, better. I suppose not until we get spaniel field 

 trials will these various fancy types be thrown over, then we 

 shall see the survival of the fittest. CECIL Cox. 



A New-Subscriber Offer. 



A bmia fide new subscriber sending us $5 will receive for that sum 

 the FoBKST A>'D Stream one year (price S4) and a set of Zimmerman'! 

 famous "Ducking Scenes" (advertised on another page, price $5)— a 

 $9 value for $5. 



This oiler is to neio subscribers only. It does not apply to renewals. 



For $3 a bona fide new subscriber for sis months wUl receive the 

 Forest and Stream during that time and a copy of Dr. Van Fleet's 

 handsoma work Bird Portraits for the Young" (the price of which 

 is &3). 



Omaha and Kansas City 



Are reached most directly from either Chicago or St. Louis by the 

 Burltogton Route. Daily vestibuled trains with Pullman sleepers, 

 chair cars (seats free) and Burlington route dining cars.— Adv. 



The Cocker as a Sporting Dog. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Well, well! So "Solus" is out with a gun. Not ouly is the 

 cocker degenerated, but also the men; so that a poor old fel- 

 low cannot wi-ite his innocent plaint to his favorite paper 

 without some little snip with a Latin tail for a name jump- 

 ing on him in a most disrespectful manner. 



And he is going to keep guessing who this learned Solo- 

 mon is? 



Dear, dear! I'm sure I didn't know I promulgated any 

 learned views. I only meant, dear Mr. Editor, to tell what 

 very good times I had over a real cocker spaniel years ago, 

 and to express my honest regret that, in my honest opinion, 

 the present dogs were not half as good as the old ones, 



Far be it from me to force my opinions on any one; but let 

 not even "Solus" think I write without some knowledge of 

 the present black cockers. I owned a short time a black 

 bitch which was said to be a prood specimen of the present 

 style of dog, and which was also said to be well bred by per- 

 sons who should know, and I know she was in no sense as 

 good or as useful as the old ones. 



Why cannot "Solus," if he will rail and sneer and quote, at 

 least quote properly. Let him re-read and ponder, and he will 

 learn that the words he refers to allude to alooking-forward- 

 some time-to-be-in-the-future-dog-show and dog, and not to 

 the present cocker at all. 



And "Solus" thinks "there are*those who will be glad to 

 point out to him where the modern cocker is in many points 

 superior to the ancient one," does he? They may be glad to 

 do so, but they could never persuade me what T know by 

 actual experience is not so. 



Do I understand that "Solus" will breed for any customer, 

 provided he won't write to Forest and Stream first, a dog 

 to order? Well, this is, to me, an entirely new idea, and per- 

 haps one reason for the degeneracy of the cocker spaniel that 

 I did not know. 



I'll bet a new 61-cent silver dollar that "Solus" has a dog 

 or dogs to sell, and that my poor, innocent little letter in 

 some way doesn't seem to describe the stock on hand. 



Cocker. 



"Which is the Best Spaniel for Work? 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Mr. Fellows, in your issue of Feb. 23, says that a cocker 

 with a big head cannot go and stay, and seems to insinuate 

 the same ideas about a field spaniel. Now I think a nar- 

 row-headed, sniped-nosed, spindle-legged spaniel an utter 

 abomination, and as the spaniel breed is meant for work 

 and nothing else I say it is as bad in one type as in another. 

 There are two good old .savings to this effect: "That the 

 proof of the pudding is in the eating;" and "That an ounce 

 of practice is worth a pound of theory. ' ' The latter I believe, 

 in fact, is often propotmded by Mr. Fellows himself, so let 

 us bear in mind the proof of a dog's shape, broadly speak- 

 ing, is in his work. Now it happens that I came by a 

 spaniel like Mr. Fellows's, in an unexpected way, that I 

 believe as a workman is almost perfect, both in shape and 

 use, and I suppose "Uncle Dick" will allow that a spaniel 

 that is not a workman is useless. I inclose his photo (which 

 hardly shows him to the best advantage) to let our cocker 

 breeder feast his eyes on 401bs. of solid practice and will 

 now proceed to give his measurements: Height 16in., weight 

 401bs., length from nose to root of tail 36in., girth of chest 

 34in. (stick a pin in here), loin •3.5in,, girth of skull lQj4m., 

 muzzle lO^^in., forearm Sin., thigh measured round the 

 stifle 17in., neck 16ylin. Now let us dissect these points and 

 find out their value. A^Tiatis a spaniel's most important 

 feature? A good nose by all odds. What kind of breeds 

 have the best noses? Pointers, setters and hounds. What 

 kind of muzzles have these dogs? Square muzzles. What 

 kind of dog is least noted for its scenting powers? A grey- 

 hound, which has a very pointed muzzle. Then I say a 

 square muzzle for a spaniel, with a -ivell-defined stop. What 

 is his next most important point? Obviously, endurance. 

 Then I say a spaniel should possess tremendous chest room, 

 vide my measurement above. Can you pick out his next 

 attribute? Yes, easily, strength. He should have plenty 

 of bone and substance, to which should be attached large, 

 hard muscles, coupled with a strong loin, so rendering him 

 better able to stand fatigue. 



Is there anything else? Yes, and very important, too. A 

 spaniel, above all dogs, should have lots of intelligence, 

 which means bird sense; therefore I claim a broad, roomy 

 skull is very requisite; so you see we have got to have a big 

 head (not a swelled head). To this must be coupled a mus- 

 cular, strong neck to support the head and carry the game; 

 and lastly, a good, hard, long jacket fitted to resist the ele- 

 ments and the brush. M^thout desiring to eulogize the dog 

 in the above picture, because he happens to be mine, but 

 first to show that such make and shape as I have advocated 

 means a "business" dog, I will describe his work in the 

 field. I am bound in justice to the dog to say he is the best 

 I have ever seen, and I have shot over a good many; his bird 

 sense and endurance are simply marvellous; in fact, as a 

 stayer he is tireless, and sometimes he shows almost a human 

 intelligence. In my first day this season I used Ben, the 

 subject of my sketch, and three cockers of Mr. Fellows's 

 type, and at the end of the day the cockers were so utterly 

 done up that I was almost obliged to get them carried home, 

 while the field spaniel was (juite ready to begin again. The 

 cockers, I must tell you, did very little work. Ben has in- 

 domitable pluck and courage, facing the thickest covert; a 

 •special feature of his is, that for a spaniel he is a splendid 

 jumper, making nothing of a four-foot jump. This he gets 

 from his perfect back and bulldog-like loin. His nose leaves 

 nothing to be desired, I having seen him wind birds 50yds. 

 away. He is covered with hard-packed muscle, and also has 

 a very willing disposition. Ben's only theoretical defect 

 being a rather short coat, although this dog is built like a 

 prize cart horse, his pace for a short distance is beyond be- 

 lief; he saves piles of rabbits that have only been slightly 

 wounded, and I believe many that have not been touched at 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of March 28 "Cocker" writes a very sensible 

 letter which I wish to indorse, all but the last paragraph. I 

 think he has explained why the old style cocker was better 

 for work than the modern one that is never seen only at a 

 dog show. 



I for one do not believe that "Solus" or any one else can 

 ever point out to "Cocker" or to anyone that ever used a 

 cocker where the modern cocker is in it at all with the work- 

 ing dog. I shoot only over cockers, and I am prepared to 

 prove the modern small field spaniel that wins at our shows 

 as a cocker is of no use afield after the second hour, if he lasts 

 even that length of time. Please do not answer over a nom 

 de plmnc. Let the world know if you have a right to talk 

 about working cockers. J. Otis Fkllows. 



HoRNELLSViLLE, N. Y., AprU 10. 



Judging Great Danes. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The superior quality and rapid increase in the number of 

 great Danes exhibited at shows during this spring over pre- 

 vious years are evidence of the popularity this breed is gain- 

 ing with dog fanciers. A few years ago the race was hardly 

 known here, and at present questions like these: "What do 

 you call that breed? Are they vicious?" are so often heard 

 that the persons addressed become tired of answering, and 

 at shows the reply, "Please buy a catalogue," may be in 

 order. There are,' of course, not many persons in this coun- 

 try who are sufficiently well acquainted with the character- 

 istic points of these dogs to judge them intelligently, and I 

 declare that one of the poorest judges oflBciated at New York 

 and Baltimore. 



At New York, where at the last show the best great Danes 

 did not win, Mr. Muss-Amolt said to me, "I heard that you 

 expressed your dissati-sf action with my decisions," and my 

 reply was, "Certainly I did, and so did all who know the 

 breed. You should not have offered your services as a judge, 

 and I am sure that at New York you were judge for the first 

 time, and that at Baltimore your last judging will be done. 

 My Stella is better than the winning bitch." We then went 

 to Stella's stall, where I asked him, "What fault do you find 

 in her?" He pointed to her cheeks, and I remarked: "Yes, 

 nice head, well developed cheek muscles according to stand- 

 ard of points. What else?" He did not find anything. There- 

 upon we went to the winning bitch, on which I showed him 

 several faults. 



At first I thought that only his being unacquainted with 

 the type and points of the great Dane had been the cause of 

 Mr, Muss-Arnolt's perverse decisions, but I got a different 

 opinion about him when I read in his report on the New 

 York dog show, published in your issue of March 3: "Third, 

 very bad tail curve, got almost too much, and his coat and 

 general appearance has not much of great Dane character, 

 even if his owner thinks, as he says, he and Stella were the 

 only great Danes in tlie show. I agree with him if he says 

 great mongrels." 



If the above were true, a judge awarding prizes to "great 

 mongrels" would act dishonestly and should be kept out of 

 the ring. But it is a mixture of nonsense and falsehood; I 

 never said that she and Stella were the only Great Danes in 

 the show. 



The Kennel Gazette of June last contains in the j udge's — 

 Mr. Mortimer's— report of the Washington show the follow- 

 ing criticism: "Stella, the winning bitch, is 'a' very cleanly 

 made puppy of the right type that will yet be heard from. 

 She also won iu the puppy class from Bismarck II., beating 

 him decisively iu type and quality." It was my intention to 

 exhibit Stella in Washington again, but believing she would 

 be in heat then, I did not enter her. Although I am a mem- 

 ber of the Maryland Kennel Club, I did not exhibit any dogs 

 in Baltimore, because I will not enter my dogs where such a 

 person as Mr, Muss-Arnolt judges. Breeders and fanciers of 

 great Danes noticed with satisfaction that Mr. Muss-Amolt's 

 judging was upset at Washington by Mr. Mortimer, and 

 especially that such an inferior dog as Wenzel was taken 

 down from the pedestal on which Mr. Muss-Arnolt had un- 

 justly placed him. 



The Great Dane Club of America, at their recent meeting 

 in New York, recommended to the kennel clubs several men 

 as judges, at the head of whom Mr. Muss-Arnolt was placed. 

 Most of them have only owned one dog, or a few for a short 

 time, and are generally considered not qualified to act as 

 judges. These men should have sense enough not to render 

 themselves ridiculous and injure the breed they admire, by 

 undertaking a task for which they are unfit. When I read 

 the names of the persons recommended, I thought the club 

 members were joking, and it is to be hoped that kennel clubs 

 will also take it as a joke. To the Great Dane Club of 

 America belong some very clever enthusiastic gentlemen, 

 but it seems not only to me, but others, as if some of them in 

 their zeal, are apt to over-run the goal. 



J. H. H. Maenner. 



Baltimore, Md. 



Eastern Field Trials Club. 



Editor Forest and^ Stream: 



The Eastern Field Trials Club has decided to hold their 

 trials of 1893 at Newton, N. C, about forty miles southwest 

 from Salisbury, N. C. The hotel and livery accommodations 

 are very good, and the country is a fine large open country, 

 full of stubbles and just sufficient woods, hedge.s, etc., to 

 afford plenty of shelter to the birds. It is the banner wheat 

 county in North Carolina, and so plenty of gi'ain is raised 

 here, the natural food of the quail. 



The club has invited Messrs. W. W. Titus, of Waverly 

 Miss.; Simon C. Bradley, of Greenfield Hill, Conn., and J. B. 

 Stoddard, of Thomasville, N, C, to judge the trials of 1893 

 and they have accepted, I trust the public will compliment 

 their acceptance -wdth a large field of entries, as comment on 

 their ability, integrity and experience is unnecessary. 



At a meeting held Feb, 33 it was resolved, "All persons 

 handling a dog or dogs in the public stakes of the Eastern 

 field trials must first obtain a license from the board of gov- 

 ernors, which will be furnished on application without 

 chartce; said license to remain in force during the meeting 

 for which it is issued," 



Washington A. Costee, Sec'y-Treas 



Saratoga Springs, N. T., AprU 21. 



Dogs for Bear. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of April 6 the question is asked what breed 

 or cross-breed of dogs is most likely to prove successful 

 in hunting the bear. Thinking therefore it would interest 

 some of your readers I want to tell you that in my native 

 country (Hungary) one hunts the bears with the dachshund. 

 I had myself the chance five years ago to shoot one bear 

 before these courageous and determined dogs, and saw the 

 Count Andrassy and several other Hungarian sportsmen 

 shoot the bear trailed by the dachshund. 



auHWAH, N. J., April 10. Count R. Palfft 



The mastiff Ingleside Beaufort was bought at ther BostoL 

 show as a companion dog for the authoress Mrs. Margaret 

 Deland. 



