4 32 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 18, 1893. 



INTERNATIONAL FIELD TRIALS. 



NOV. 7 TO 10. 



The fourth annual field trials held by the International 

 Field Trials Club, were brought to a successful close last 

 Friday morning. The trials were held on the grounds of the 

 Big Point Club near Mitchell's Bay, about 14 miles from 

 Chatham, Ont. 



It is unfortunate that the club could not procure better 

 grounds for their trials. Besides the inconvenience in being 

 so far from town the country is not at all well adapted to 

 the work. The open country is too well cultivated, and the 

 cover is chiefly fallen timber and in this most of the birds 

 were found. At the same time this sort of work was a good 

 test for intelligence and hunting sense, for a dog that tried 

 to keep up a fast gait. Dogwood for instance, in this rough 

 stuff had to jump from one log to another, and while this 

 looked very pretty either the dog misses the birds or flushed, 

 Cleopatra, the winner in the All-Age Stake, proved her ex- 

 cellence in both styles of hunting, for she kept generally to 

 the ground in cover, and went in and out of the nooks and 

 crannies between the logs with a purpose that was rewarded. 

 There were altogether too many fences for vride ranging and 

 naturally the trials— all being o'n foot— had to be conducted 

 at a comparatively slow gait. It partook more of an ordin- 

 ary day's shooting than any trials we have attended, and 

 this we believe is the aim of the club. The weather through- 

 out, excepting the morning of the third day, was beautiful, 

 though the warmth of the sun, was uncomfortable both for 

 man and beast during the midday hours. The ground was 

 dry, which made scent elusive. The judges, Messrs. John 

 Davidson, Monroe, Mich , G. T. G-uttridge, Chatham, Ont., 

 and W. T. Tristem, Detroit, Mich., were very painstaking 

 and conscientious in their work, and probably the tmfavor- 

 able conditions under which the trials were run made them 

 give several dogs another chance that might well have been 

 left out of the second and third series. They seemed to pull 

 well together and gave their conclusions promptly and with 

 satisfaction to all. On Mr. W. B. Wells fell the burden of 

 carrying details and he did his part well. Mr. Wells is a 

 Game Commissioner for Ontario, and also a leading member 

 of the Big Point Club. 



Mitchell's Bay is a famed ducking resort and there is 

 capital snipe shooting. 



The scarcity of quail prolonged the running to twice the 

 length of time that it should have taken. Last February the 

 weather was very severe, and throughout the country the 

 quail crop suffered. In some districts there is scarcely a bird 

 and only on these grounds, where these birds were well taken 

 care of, were any bevies left. It is more than probable that 

 next year the trials will be held on the old grounds, nearer 

 Chatham, as the grounds will be restocked. 



Most of the hunting was on land about two to three miles 

 from the hotel at Mitchell's Bay. The greater part of the 

 sportsmen put up at Raymond's National Hotel, a sort of 

 mixture of country grocery store, beds and a bar. The out- 

 look was not very inviting when we reached the hotel on 

 Tuesdav night after a long day's tramp, but a good meal 

 awaited us, and when we found we should not all have to 

 sleep in one bed we began to take, a more roseate view of 

 matters. The beds were comfortable, at least those that 

 Mr. T. G, Davey's forethought had set apart for the repre- 

 sentatives of the two kennel papers, and Mi-. Raymond, our 

 host, was untiring in his efforts to make all feel at home. 

 His charges were reasonable, and there was no disposition 

 anywhere to take advantage of the opportunity. Mr. Wells, 

 Mr. Baugham and others had to drive some distance from 

 the village to the club house, where they put up. Quite a 

 number of sportsmen followed the dogs during the four 

 days. Among them we noticed Paul F. Bagley, of Detroit, 

 Mich., a son of Governor Bagley; Geo. Armstrong, from the 

 ^me city; Mr. Hayne, Saginaw, Mich.; .John Baird, George 



v^iia,uua,ux, v^uu., i. vj. uttvey, juunuou, uut. ; ii. w. iviitcueii 

 and A. McKill, Glencoe, Ont.; Rev. Mr. Franklin, Wallace- 

 bury, Out., with Mr. Lane, of England; Chas. Allen, Both- 

 well, Ont.; Ed. Warner, Woodstock, Out., and Christopher 

 Robinson, Q. C, one of the counsel in the recent Behring 

 Straits arbitration case, who, with Sir Charles Gwoski, do- 

 nated the cup in the All-Age Stake, a,ud J. B. Stoddard, of 

 ThomasAdlle, N. C. 



When all are anxious to see the work of the dogs and owing 

 to the nature of the country a clear view for any distance 

 could not be gained without some effort, it is perhaps excus- 

 able that there was not the order maintained that we are 

 wont to see, spectators from the surrounding country often 

 gettmg too close and in front of the Judges and reporters. 

 A, fi® is little more to add excepting that the rules say that 

 the first and second prize winners must run together. This, 

 however, was not done in the All-Age Stake, and this is com- 

 mented on in its proper place. 



The drawing for the Derby took place at the Rankin House 

 on Monday evening, and afterward the annual meeting was 

 held, when the officers for£en8uing year were elected. 



TUESDAY, NOV. 7. 

 The Derby. 



For setters and pointers whelped on or after Jan. 1, 1892 

 Forfeit $2.50 and $2.50 additional for starters; eleven starters- 

 40% of entrance money to first, 20^ to second, 15^ to third and 

 lO^to fourth. The dogs were drawn as follows: 



Thos. Johnson's English setter Sancho (Manitoba Toss— 

 Pitti Sing) with Dr. Totten's pointer Warwick Nellie (Cam- 

 den Dick— Windsor Fauniej. 



n?-^^,^^^^'^ English setter Mars (Cincinnatus— Mars) 

 with T. G. Davey's pointer Ridgevlew Comet (Lad of Kent— 

 Ridgeview Lass). 



Paul F. Bagley'spointer Dick (Duke of Hessen— Abbess of 

 Kent) with Dr Totten's English setter Speculation II. 

 (Toledo Blade— Cambriana). 



W. B. Wells's English setter Luna (Cincinnatus— Daphne) 

 with Forest Kennels' English setter Forest Trip (Druid, Jr — 

 Breeze K.). \ > ■ 



A. D. Welton's Irish setter Fingaln (Finglas— Ruby Glen- 

 more) mth T. Johnson's pointer Paul Francke (Ightfield 

 Upton— Genevieve). 



B. Bangham's English setter Doe a bye. 



First Series. 



Every one was up by daybreak this morning and soon 

 ready for the drive of 12 miles to the Big Point Club grounds 

 The weather was cold and crisp, a heavy hoar frost covering 

 the ground with its white pall. Arrived at the grounds the 

 start was made about three miles from the village of 

 Mitchell's Bay, a noted duck shooting resort. Game was not 

 at all plentiful, and when found was generally hidden in the 

 thick brush of fallen trees or in the fence rows. No time 

 was wasted in starting the first brace with 



bANCHO AND WARWICK NELLIE.— Cast off at 9:27 A M 

 Sancho is a small black setter and was handled by "Sef" 

 Hallam. Nellie is a light-weight pointer of fair body forma- 

 tion, but not by any means a show bitch. She was handled 

 by Jos. Spracklin. She proved herself much the best in no.se, 

 pace and range, and showed a good deal of hunting sense in 

 working out the fence bottoms where birds had been marked. 

 Her style on point is rather slovenly, dropping on her belly 

 lusariably. She caught the second bird she pointed, and 

 then further on pointed the rest of the bevy. Afterward she 

 nailed several singles. Sancho acted very puppyish, and vras 

 guilty of chasing one single that got up ahead of him. Dogs 

 were down 32m. * 



Mars AND Ridgeview.Comet.— Down at 10:06 where others 

 taken up, and sent off in large atubble field. Mars had the 



services of Jos. Spracklin, and Ridgeview Comet was han- 

 dled by Charles AUen. Mars is a good-looking EngUsh 

 setter, hunts intelligently, and whUe not being particularly 

 fast, covered more ground than the pointer, who was evi- 

 dently not himself, having cut a pad on each hind foot, but 

 he did not go lame. Whether this had much effect or not we 

 cannot say. He is said to be a very fast and wide ranger, but 

 here he kept very much to his handler. There was little 

 work done on birds Mars pointed one of the outlying singles 

 of previous bevy; the point was honored by Co'met. Mars 

 afterward pointed false. They were ordered up at 1 1 o'clock. 



Dick and Speculator 11. —Put down at 11:10 in same 

 ground. Dick is a pointer and was handled by J. Huddle- 

 ston, and the English setter Speculator had tiie services of 

 .Jos. Spracklin. Neither dog showed much inclination to get 

 out and hunt, though the setter ran the best. He pointed 

 once, but nothing was found, and a few yards further he just 

 stopped as a bird flushed wild out of fallen tree. They 

 found nothing else, though down tiU 12:30. A reporter put 

 up during the heat a nice bevy of birds that the dogs had 

 passed. Lunch was in order now. The keen morning air 

 and the long drive had sharpened our appetite.s, and it was 

 a pretty hungry crowd that fell to by the roadside. The next 

 brace down was 



Luna and Forest Trip.— They were cast off at 12:52 P. M. 

 Luna is an almost white setter, ma-rked on head and stern; 

 Forest Trip is an English setter, white body and lemon 

 marked head. Jos. Spracklin handled Luna and Mr. Mae- 

 Gregor had charge of Forest Trip. They started in very 

 rough cover, but getting into open Trip got out to his work 

 the best, going in a merry style and hunting intelligently. 

 Here Luna did not do so well, but in cover Trip would 

 scarcely hunt, and the honors fell to Luna, who seemed to 

 be quite at home among the fallen timber. Luna pointed 

 unsteadily once. Trip backed, but unsteady at shot. Luna 

 pointed as bird flushed another time. Considering her better 

 endurance and all-round hunting ability, she had the best of 

 a rather poor race. The sun made us all uncomfortably 

 warm and dryied the leaves and grass. The scent was poor. 

 These two ran 57 minutes. 



Fingaln and Paul Francke.— Down at 2:22. Fingaln, 

 handled by Jos. SprackUn, is an Irish setter, and Paul, 

 handled by Sefton Hallam, is a big white English setter 

 with black marked head. Fingaln was the first to score, 

 nailing birds at edge of a wheat field, Paul would not back, 

 Fingaln steady to shot and kill, but Paul broke a little. 

 Again Fingaln nailed a .single, but moved a little as handler 

 flushed, h ingaln got two more further on, and followed 

 this up by another single. Fingaln showed himself to be a 

 careful ranger, getting out fairly well, always under good 

 control, good nose and lots of sense. He gained many friends 

 for the Irish cause by good work in a rough country. Paul 

 was heedless, would not back and showed little hunting 

 ability. Up at 3:12. 



Doc (a bye),— Down at 3:20 with an outside dog. Handled 

 by Jos. Spracklin. A great deal of varied ground was 

 hunted out in a forty-five minutes' run, but no game was 

 found, though Doc went out to his work well and hunted 

 intelligently. The judges then consulted and called for 



Second Series. 



Wakwick Nellie and Mars.— Down at 4:25. These two 

 ran for fifty-five minutes, but could not scare up a feather, 

 though Mars consoled himself for the lack of game by point- 

 ing a black cat in a tree stump in a very stylish manner, and 

 was steady to a wild flush. Nellie proved the speediest and 

 wider ranger, hunting out the likely ground independently. 

 Though Mars was not so fast he also hunted out the likely 

 places in a busy manner. This finished the day's work, 

 three miies from the hotel, 



WEDNESDAY. 



Another beautiful Indian summer's day. The air keen 

 and frosty in the early morning hours, but genial and almost 

 too warm, especially for the dogs, as the day grew older. 

 The start was made in the same rough country that we 

 hunted over yesterday. The first brace down was 



Sancho and Fingaln, at 7:50 A. M. in a corn patch. The 

 reason for Sancho's re-entry on the scene is not apparent, 

 as he had done nothing in the previous heat to warrant it. 

 He raced round as usual at a good speed, but with little 

 intelligence or aim. Fingaln got out well and succeeded in 

 finding a small bevy on which he acted nicely. Up at S:18. 

 It looked very much at this stage of the game as if there 

 was some hope for Home Rule after all, as the Irishman had 

 the sympathy of the crowd. 



Forest Trip and Doc— Down at 8:25. Soon after start- 

 ing in rough cover Doc made a/cmx pas in flushiug a single 

 from a fallen tree stump. He redeemed himself later by 

 pointing two birds and then stopped on foot scent. He 

 hunted industriously and with fair intelligence, quartering 

 his ground more thoroughly and at greater speed than 

 Trip, who, however, did somewhat better to-day among the 

 fallen timber. Still he showed no good reason why he 

 should have come into the second series. They ran 39m. 



Luna (a bye) had Speculator II. as a brace mate. They 

 were cast off at 9:10. A great deal of varied country was 

 covered, but they failed to fi^nd. Up at 9:26. 



Third Series. 



Warwick Nellie and Fingaln.— They were put down at 

 9:30 in a large stubble field. While Fingaln got out to his 

 work well and quartered his ground systematically, the 

 pointer had the advantage in wide and fast ranging. Two 

 points were made by Fingaln, one of which scored. Up 9:46 



Doc and Mars.— Down at 9:58 after a two minutes' run 

 and a half-mile walk to different ground. Spracklin handled 

 both dogs. In a corner of cornfield a bevy flushed wild, and 

 on the scattered birds in fallen timber some lively work en- 

 sued, though the dogs were not very steady; the nature of 

 this cover work does not conduce to steadiness. Doc was 

 first to score, getting a small bevy and then a single, but he 

 also flushed once. Birds were scattered among the logs and 

 each dog scored, though both unsteady at flush. Up at 10:i±. 

 In the style of work done and the way he ranged. Mars had 

 slightly the best of it. Judges after a little consultation 

 then announced Warwick Nellie first, Fingaln second, Mars 

 third and Doc fourth. 



All-Aged Stake. 



For pointers and setters. Forfeit $5 and $5 additional 

 for starters. Purse— Pk-st 40% of entrance money and cup 

 presented by Sir Cassimer Gzowski and Chi-istopher Robin- 

 sou, Q. C, cup to be held yearly uutil won thrice by same 

 kennei or owner; .second 3Q%, third 15% of entrance money. 



The dogs were drawn as follows: 



A. P. Hey wood-Lonsdale's Dogwood (Ightfield Dick— Ight- 

 field Beda), 18mos., with W. Hutchins's Monk of Furuess 

 Fan (Monk of Purness— Faydith), 4Xyrs. 



T. G. Davey's pointer Jone (Lord Graphic— Devonshire 



Lill. 



Eddy & Armstrong's English setter Toledo Bee (Toledo 

 Blade— Maggie Bee), 3yrs., with A. P. Heywood-Lonsdale's 

 pointer Musa (Ightfield Dick— Ightfield Clio), 2>:,'yrs. 



W. B. Wells's English setter Luke (Toledo Blade— Cam- 

 briana), 3>^yrs., with T. Johnson's English setter Manitoba 

 P^che (Manitoba Toss— Pitti Sing), Syrs. 



C. Clark's English setter Athol (pedigree unknown), 4yrs., 

 with T. G-. Davey's English setter Brighton Tobe (Locksley 

 — Leddersdale II.), 3yrs. 



Thomas Johnson's English setter Manitoba Patti (Duke , 



of Gloster— Flora), 4yrs., with H. D. Mitchell's Gordon 



setter Ned (pedigree unknown), 4yrs. 



T. G. Davey's English setter 'Brighton Clip (Canadian 

 •Jester— Ijassie), 2Xyrs , a bye. 



No time wa.s wasted in commencing the first series in this 

 stake, the draw having taken place the previous evening. 

 The first brace, 



DOG^vooD and Monk of Furness Fan, was called at 10:58. 

 Dogwood is a stylish looking liver and white pointer and 

 was m charge of "Sef" Hallam. Fan is a white and orange 

 Eaglif^h setter and .was handled by Charles Allen. They 

 started in wheat stubble and ranaed out well, especially 

 Dogwood, who goes great guns all the time, but his legs go 

 faster than his head, I should surmise, especially when the 

 cover is rough. Jumping from log to log at speed while 

 very pretty is not calculated to find bii-ds in such cover. 

 Though both made game they failed to find birds that 

 flu.shed as judges came up. Further on Dogwood scored 

 nicely on two birds and was steady to shot. Fan dropped to 

 order. Dogwood had clearly the best of it in pace, nose and 

 wide ranging. Up at 11:32. A break was then made for 

 lunch by the roadside, but no time was wasted and we soon 

 had the next brace, 



-Jone and Joker.— Down at 12:09 in open stubble. The 

 ground was very dry and the sun so warm that the dogs soon 

 became distressed and their noses failed them at critical 

 times. J. Spracklin handled -Jokerand T. G. Davevhad Jone 

 in hand. They got among a lot of scattered birds in rough, 

 fallen timber, and it was hard to tell once or twice whether 

 dogs or handlers were responsible for the birds that flushed 

 out of the brush. Joker was the flrst to stop as a bird flushed, 

 Jone dropping to order. Jone nailed a single nicely. They 

 should have pointed some birds in cornfield that were flushed 

 after they passed. Neither dog did work that entitled them 

 to much consideration, though certainly they ran at a bad 

 time of day. Up at 1:28. 



Cleopatra and Glencoe Lill.— J. Spracklin brought out 

 Cleopatra and Glencoe Lill had the services of T. Anderson. 

 Cleopatra is a small, nicely-formed bitch vnth markings on 

 head. Lill is a large, loosely-made English setter, almost all 

 white. Cleopatra was said to be fast, and she certainly did 

 seem to go like the wind alongside such a slow coach as Lill. 

 She hunted out her ground very much after the style of the 

 celebrated Wun Lung, and is about the same size as he was, 

 makes wide casts, covering the likely spots and always has 

 an eye to the fences. She picked up the only bevy found, 

 Ijill backing nicely. A great deal of mixed ground was 

 himted out. Lill needed continued urging to get out and 

 hunt. Cleopatra soon became a favorite. Up at 2 o'clock. 



Toledo Bee and Musa.— Toledo Bee, a heavily marked 

 rather good looking English setter was handled by Spracklin 

 and "Sef" Hallam had the English pointer, a lightly built 

 white and liver. Cast off at 2:08 in stubble. They ran till 

 2:45 and threshed out a lot of miscellaneous country. Several 



Eoints, on footscent probably, were taken by both dogs. No 

 irds were found throughout the heat, though both dogs 

 hunted intelligently and at a good pace. The pointer was 

 the faster, more stylish on poiut and was going stronger 

 when called up at 3:16, after being down Ih. Sm. A severe 

 test in the dry warm going. 



Luke and Psyche.— Down at 3:17 in fallen timber. W. 

 B. Wells handled his handsome heavily marked English 

 setter Luke; and Psyche, a small black setter, was in charge 

 of "Sef" Hallam. Luke scored a nice stylish point in cover 

 and was steady to shot, but Psyche coming up went on and 

 flushed a single. After hunting out a lot of ground in 

 which Luke showed the most systamatic range, he pointed 

 the largest bevy yet seen in a stylish manner, a picture of 

 which we hope to bs able to publish shortly. Psyche is fast 

 but has a slouching aimless style of going and by no means 

 had the nose or ability of Luke. Up at 4:10. 



Athol and Brighton Tobe.— Down at 4:15, edge of woods. 

 Spracklin handled Athol and T. G. Davey Tobe. Both are 

 rather plain looking English setters. Athol first to point, 

 but bird got up after handler tried for it. Some birds were 

 flushed that Tobe should have got. Athol then claimed 

 a point, dogs were unsteady and birds flushing continually 

 otit of the old tree stumps. Neither dog behaving very well, 

 handlers being a little too eager. Athol nailed a single 

 nicely and was well backed. Then at finish Tobe stopped 

 on a bird, but Athol not backing, went in ahead and flushed 

 the bird, a bad piece of work, both steady to wing. There 

 was little difference in speed and range, and both seemed 

 off nose. Up at 4:50. 



Manitoba Patti and Ned.— Patti, an English setter, nicely 

 marked, was handled by "Sef" Hallam, and Ned, a Gordon, 

 had the services of Tom Hallam. It was getting dusk now, 

 and though they covered a good deal of ground no game was 

 found. Patti had much the best of it in every way; Ned 

 being something of a potterer, a handy dog for the gun, 

 probably, in this fallen cover, but not a field trial dog. They 

 will go down to-morrow. The finish was about two miles 

 from the hotel. 



THURSDAY. 



On looking out of our bedroom windows this morning it 

 seemed as if we were doomed to a day of inaction. During 

 the night a heavy fog had come in from the bay and the mist 

 was so dense one could scarcely see across the road. Every 

 one had expected that the trials would close to-day, and this 

 would have been the case could we have commenced at the 

 usual hour. There was nothing for it, however, but to wait. 

 Anticipation soon gave place to ennui as we waited for the 

 fog to rise It cleared a little by 9:30 and the dogs were 

 called out. Although we could scarcely see across the fields, 

 the uufini.sbed heat with Manitoba Patti and Ned was con- 

 tinued at '.:);43. They were cast oft' near the hotel on ground 

 not yet hunted over. They did not find, but Patti did much 

 the best ranging. \Jp at 10:02. 



Brighton Clip a bye. This he ran with Ridgeview Comet, 

 Mr, Davey handling him and Chas. Allen having charge of 

 Comet. Clip is a heavily marked English setter with a 

 tan head. Soon after starting it was found that the pointer 

 had something, and Clip was brought to back, which he did 

 stylishly. Allen put up a nice bevy, both steady to wing. 

 Clip pointed footscent and a field further, hunting alone on 

 scattered birds, Clip nailed two nicely. Up 10:27. Clip 

 showed fair range, but not an over keen nose. 



Second Series. 

 The judges then called for 



Dogwood and Jone. Mr. Davey handled Jone the first 

 part of the heat, but feeling indisposed, Allen took his place, 

 Down at 10:47 in wheat stubble. This was a more cultivated 

 part of the country and going was good for the dogs, hut 

 birds were scarce. The sun began to show himself at this 

 time, and the mist was qnickly dispelled by the aid of a 

 north wind, the only semblance of a breeze we have had dur- 

 ing the trials. Both dogs started well and ranged out, but 

 Dogwood was the speedier, and the stubble just suited his 

 style of action. Had he a little more intelligence in hunting 

 out the likely spots and not be so intent on covering so much 

 territory he would be a better dog and get more game prob- 

 ably. Nothing was found. Up 11:20. 



Cleopatra and Toledo Bee.— Jos. .Spracklin had both 

 of them in hand and sent them off at 11:27 in large stubble 

 field. Cleopatra as usual went a fast gait but knew what 

 she was alter and missed few likely places. Bee hunted 

 intelligently too, but cannot cover the i^round nor quarter 

 his ground so systematically as the bitch. Bee pointed two 

 or three times in his peculiar dropping style, but nothing 

 came of it. He was honored by the bi tch. At 11:42 they 

 were called up and it was decided to take lunch by the road- 

 side and then move on to the old grounds. The sandwiches 

 tucked away where they would be most appreciated, no time 



