122 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ieb. iO, 1894. 



market for two cents; and the dealer smilingly defended the 

 apparent extortion on the ground that be could not afford to 

 sell any fish at any time for less than twelve cents, but he 

 said that he paid no attention to a fluctuation of a few cents 

 in the wholesale price. He charged twelve cents whether 

 the fish cost two, four, six ot eight cents. 



On the same day that this interview appeared in the paper 

 (where the gentleman said he paid twelve cents a pound for 

 codfish) I chanced to meet two cod-fishermen. They were 

 not pound netters, nor purse seiners; they knew nothing of 

 this agitation about nets, and I told them nothing about it, 

 but I did ask them what they were getting for codfish. They 

 said that the lowest returns they had had netted them $2 for 

 two boxes of fish, but that early in the season the price had 

 been high; they had received $15 a box for a few shipments. 

 I asked them how many pounds went to the box and they 

 said about three hundred. These were cod gill netters from 

 Long Island. They had received prices for the season vary- 

 ing from one-third of a cent a pound to five cents. It is only 

 fair to say that this extreme low price was obtained for fish 

 sent into the market about Thanksgiving time, when the 

 butchers are doing more business than the fish dealers. But 

 the average price for cod had not been over three or four 



I only want to show that the price of fish at th e best retail 

 markets is not to be taken as evidence, bearing on this ques- 

 tisn in any way whatever. In the poorer quarters of the 

 city the markets and peddler's wagons offer immediate evi- 

 dence of fluctuations in wholesale prices, but I am inclined 

 to think from the statement of the gentleman referred to, 

 and also from the position he occupies in polite society that 

 his fish dealer isn't located in Ludlow street. 



Fishermen in distant parts of the country address us fre- 

 quently on the subject of prices, asking whether it will pay 

 to ship to New York. Sometimes we are able to report that 

 prices are fair, but oftener that they are low, and that fish 

 from distant points would not sell at profitable prices in 

 competition with the local supply. 



From all these things we come to the conclusion that the 

 proof offered to support the assertion that the supply of fish 

 is rapidly decreasing doesn't exist, and that therefore the 

 relative scarcity of fish doesn't exist either, and we keep on 

 making pound nets and purse seines in the tranquil belief 

 that we are contributing to the permanent prosperity of 

 the fishing industry in all its roots and branches by so doing. 



Another word about that codfish. If it could be proved 

 that there had been a great increase in the price of cod, I 

 don't see how it would affect the question at issue, which is, 

 whether pounds and purse seines are responsible for diminu- 

 tion of supply. A few codfish are caught in gill nets, and a 

 few more, I believe, come from off-shore traps in extreme 

 Eastern waters; but the greater bulk of the supply is taken 

 with hooks and lines. The purse seines and pounds along 

 this coast have nothing whatever to do with it. 



Another peculiar thing in connection with this part of the 

 subject is that the Jersey pounds are often charged by the 

 newspaper writers who angle, or the anglers who write for 

 the papers, with catching large numbers of striped bass. 

 They don't. When striped bass run along the coast they are 

 in the surf close up to the beach, and they pass between the 

 beach and the shore end of the pound leaders. The market 

 men say that nearly all of the striped bass received here are 

 taken in shore seines. 



Professor Goode, in his book on American fishes, refers to 

 agitation on the subject of striped bass fishing in this State 

 in 1758. It was thought that seining for them must be re- 

 stricted, as that kind of fish was becoming extinct. That 

 was one hundred and thirty-five years ago and here is the 

 same old fish still about to become extinct. 



This unaccountable variation in the fish supply goes back 

 more than one hundred and thirty-five years, however. It 

 is more than eighteen hundred years since a fisherman of 

 Genesaret, in answer to a request from the Master, said 

 hopelessly: "Master, we have toiled all the night and have 

 taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the 

 net." And when they had this done they inclosed a great 

 multitude of fishes and their net broke. And when their 

 partners had come to help them they filled both the ships so 

 that they began to sink. 



You will say that these are not the days of miracles, yet 

 the story of these two fishermen is told over again, year by 

 year, all along the coast. What has stirred up this crusade 

 against the nets? It is the observation of catches of miracu- 

 lous proportions; pound nets filled solidly with fish, and 

 boats loaded to the point of sinking. But the fishermen can 

 tell how, at other times, the nets are lifted day by day for the 

 merest handful of fish. There are times of over-abundance, 

 and times when it seems a hopeless waste of labor to let 

 down the nets or lift them up. But all literature which deals 

 with fishermen in all times, in all countries; tells this same 

 story. It was so before the pound nets and purse seines ex- 

 isted; it is so now in places where they are not operated, and 

 to the best of our knowledge and belief, it is no more so along 

 the Atlantic coast, where both methods of fishing are carried 

 on. 



It is not my purpose to refer to all of the minor charges 

 that are made against these fishermen, but I will speak of 

 one. I have seen it written that the pound netters along the 

 coast are men of so much wealth and influence that to oppose 

 them successfully in matters of legislation is a very difficult 

 thing. The impression is created that they are a band of 

 grasping monopolists conducting a nefarious business in de- 

 fiance of public opinion and of all principles of right and 

 wrong; and they are so thoroughly orgauized as to make it 

 well nigh hopeless for such obscure citizens of moderate 

 means as signed the call for this meeting, for instance, to 

 contend against them. 



We know something about the pecuniary resources of these 

 men, many of them our customers. Some of them might be 

 called well off. I think these made their money before they 

 went into the fish business. Others, practical, hard working 

 fishermen, have managed, after years of industry and econo- 

 my, to lay by what might be called a snug sum from the 

 profits of fishing. Still others have grown old and gray and 

 bent with incessant toil and exposure, and they are poor 

 men. As for their organization, I know that in New York, 

 and in New Jersey, the only organization they have has 

 been effected since the call for this meeting was issued, and 

 if they are organized at all in the States further south I 

 haven't heard of it. Taken altogether, I hardly think they 

 are such a formidable body of wealthy monopolists that any 

 gentleman who merely owns a few railroads need sail to 

 Kurope for fear of meeting them. 



Pound nets, purse seines, gill nets and sweep seines are the 

 methods used in the important fisheries of the country. To 

 legislate against two of these methods is to disturb a very 

 great part of the whole fishing industry. The bitterest op- 

 ponent of the pounds and purse seines must see that it is 

 only just and fair to move deliberately and slowly. All of 

 the evils alleged against them are disputed by high author- 

 ity. I never have talked with a pound-net man or purse- 

 seine man who did not express a willingness to have all the 

 details of his business investigated. Their chief complaint 

 is that it is not investigated, and that absurd statements re- 

 specting it are continually made by people who wOuld not 

 make them if they were at all informed on the matters they 

 talk and write about. I think we would all like to see an 

 investigation made by a body of men representing all the sea 

 coast States, composed of anglers, fishermen and men whose 

 interests are neither with one side or the other — an impartial 

 investigation whose one object should be to get at all the 

 facts, and not to make merely a collection of opinions. I 

 have been among fishermen a great deal. I know that they 

 are about as divided in their opinions as to the causes of cer- 

 tain effects as„the rest of us are, I have even known fisher- 



men operating one kind of nets to have a poor opinion of 

 fishermen who use another kind of nets, and I have known 

 hook and line fishermen to speak disrespectfully of all kinds 

 of nets. If you stand on shore and ask the shore fishermen 

 what is going on in the off-shore vessel fisheries they 

 will tell you what they think is going on, but if 

 you go out with the boats yourself you will not need 

 to deiend upon what other people think, you will know. If 

 you believe the menhaden steamers destroy great numbers of 

 edible fish, go aboard the steamers and cruise about with 

 them. The captains will give you a good place to sleep and 

 treat you well. Go to the factories and see what the 

 steamers bring in; go to the pound nets and see what they 

 catch, and how their fish are disposed of; go to the markets 

 from day to day and get the prices, and above all things, go 

 into the matter with a correct idea of the size of the whole 

 question. It is said of the nets (and it is said of all kinds of 

 nets at various times) that they "slaughter fish by whole- 

 sale." Well, fish have got to be slaughtered by wholesale to 

 supply the wholesale markets. That ought to be understood. 

 The only thing to find out is whether there is a diminution 

 in the fish supply which cau properly be attributed to the 

 nets, or whether the agitation is not all a mistake. A 

 thorough investigation must take place in the summer and 

 under the same conditions that have existed heretofore. To 

 legislate against the nets in any way previous to such au 

 investigation would be oppression, pure and simple, and 

 without excuse, for there is no need of such haste. Such 

 action too would naturally arouse bitter and desperate 

 opposition, whereas, an inquiry such as I have referred to 

 would receive the cordial support and aid of the fishery 

 owners. 



Already this agitation is injuring the fishermen to some 

 extent. It is time now that they were making preparations 

 for next season's work, yet they are disturbed by the uncer- 

 tainty as to what will be the result of this organized crusade 

 against them. The whole business remains in an unsettled 

 state. They don't know what to do. As a matter of justice 

 to them, and to the neb manufacturers, and to all other fish- 

 ing interests, this meeting should express in unmistakable 

 terms its intention to recommend no hasty action, but to 

 take all the time for preliminary inquiry which should be 

 accorded to a question of such vast proportions. 



[to be continued.] 



iennel 



F I XT U RES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Feb. 20 to 33.— Westminster Kennel Club, at New York. Jauies 

 Mortimer, Superintendent, 



Feb. 37 to March 2.— Columbus Fanciers' Club, at Columbus, O. G. 

 F. Mooney, Sec'y. Entries close Feb. 30. 



March 7 to 10.— City of Straits Kennel Club, at Detroit, Mich. Guy 

 D. Welton, Sec'y. Entries close Feb. 31. 



March 13 to 16.— Mascoutah Kennel Club, at Chicago, HI. J. L. 

 Lincoln, Sec'y- Entries close Feb. 84. 



March 20 to 23.— St. Louis Kennel Club, at St. Louis, Mo. 

 Dr. G. G. Darby, Sec'y 



April 3 to 6.— New England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. D. E. 

 Loveland, Sec'y. 



April 18 to 21.— Southern California Kennel Club, at Los Angeles, 

 Cal. C. A. Sumner, Sec'y. 

 May 2 to 5.— Pacific Kennel Club, at San Francisco, Cal. H. W. 



May 15.— Portland Kennel Club, at Portland, Ore. D. L. Williams, 

 Sec'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Feb. 12— United States Field Trials Club's Spring Trials, Grand 

 Junction, Tenn. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis. Ind. 



Sept. 5.— Manitoba Field Trials Club, at Morris, Man. R. J. Gallaug- 

 her, Winnipeg, Sec'y. 



BLUE RIDGE FUTURITY STAKE. 



Out of fifty-three nominations in the Futurity Stake of 

 the Blue Ridge Kennels, there were but ten starters, a most 

 unaccountable apathy on the part of owners in respect to it 

 and their own interest, considering the importance of the 

 stake and its monetary value, $1,500, divided into five prizes, 

 namely, $500 to first, $400 to second, $200 to third and $100 to 

 fourth, the remaining $300 being divided equally between 

 the breeders respectively of the winners of first, second and 

 third. I have an opinion that had the stake been advertised 

 better, the results would have been better, for in these days 

 when competitive events are so numerous, and rapid changes 

 occur in short periods of time, the public cannot keep posted 

 nor can its interest be maintained without the aid of the 

 press. 



As a whole, the work of the dogs in the competition was 

 commendably good and some of it excellent; the heat be- 

 tween Bessie Shoupe and Allene rating with the best high 

 class work seen at field trials. 



The stake was run on Feb. 1, at New Albany, Miss. A 

 raw, stiff wind blew from the north in the forenoon, veering 

 later to the west. The sky was heavily overcast in the morn- 

 ing, but soon after the start was made, the clouds gradually 

 broke away, the light fog was dissipated and clear weather 

 prevailed. Birds were not moving much, and required 

 diligent search to find them. They, however, were in 

 sufficient numbers for a good working test of the dogs. 



The judges were Major J. M. Taylor, one of the judges 

 originally appointed, and Mr. N. B. Nesbitt, of Chesterville, 

 Miss., and Mr. B. Waters. 



Col. P. H. O'Bannon and Mr. H. Hulman, of the Blue 

 Ridge Kennels, were present and gave the management of 

 the stake their personal attention. The competition passed 

 off smoothly, and, so far as I know, satisfactorily. It was, 

 however, one stake on record in which there were no "rush- 

 ing," no undignified and useless scrambling, and none of the 

 consequent unpleasant features which sometimes occur. It 

 progressed from start to finish without a hitch. 



There were present Messrs. C. P. Joyce, Greensboro, N. C; 

 F. R. King, Leighton, Ala.; A. M. Young, Manchester, 

 Tenn.; T. Beggs and A. Baker, Terre Haute, Ind.; J. W. 

 Shriver, Wartrace, Term.; P. H. Bryson, Memphis; Dr. M. P. 

 Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Bias and Miss Wray, of New 

 Albany, Miss., and a number of gentlemen whose names I do 

 not know, from the latter town and the surrounding country, 

 forming altogether quite a group of spectators. 



E. P. T. C.'s rules governed. Following is the order of 

 running: 



C. P. Stokes's b. w. & t. bitch Bessie Shoupe (Gath's Hope 

 — Countess Rush), D. Rose, haudler, with Capt. Patrick 

 Henry's lem. & w. bitch May Early (Gath's Hope— Glad- 

 stone's Girl), Geo. Gray, handler. 



Bob Cooper's b. w. & t. bitch Sadie Ross (Gath's Hope — 

 Tempest), D. Rose, handler, with J. W. Shriver's b w. & t. 

 dog Monitor, formerly Tea Tray (Gath's Hope— Cleo S.), 

 owner, handler. 



Manchester Kennel Co.'s b. & w. bitch Callie White 

 (Gath's Mark— Georgia Belle), A. P. Gilliam, handler, with 

 C. P. Hartmetz's liv. & w. bitch Columbia (Gath's Mark- 

 Queen Blade), Geo. Gray, handler. 



Greensboro Field Trial Kennels' b. & w. bitch Hope's Queen 

 (Gath's Hope— Queen Noble), F. Bevan, handler, with Man- 

 chester Kennel Co.'s b. & w. bitch Nellie Gladstone (Dan 

 Gladstone— Queen Novice), A. P, Gilliam, handler. 



J. W. Shriver's b. w. & t. dog Livingston (Gath's Mark — 

 Cosette), owner, handler, with C. P. Stokes's b. w. & t. bitch 

 Allene (Gath's Mark— Ruby's Girl), D, Rose, handler. 



The Running. 



Bessie Shoupe and MabtEably started at 8:17 what proved 



to be a very one-sided heat, Bessie far outclassing her com- 

 petitor in every respect. She ranged fast and with judgment 

 in beating out'her ground, at the same time looking well to 

 the gun. She first found and pointed a bevy well, in the 

 open near edge of woods. Mary backed and both were steady 

 to shot. Each made a good point on singles. Sent on. Bes- 

 sie soon found and pointed a bevy in the open sedge. While 

 Gray was whistling Mary in to back, she on the way pointed 

 a bevy well and was steady to shot. It did not have much 

 merit in itself as a find as she was then being brought in to 

 back, but as a piece of work it was well done. They were cast 

 off together then on scattered birds. Bess pointed and Mary 

 stole the point. Bess next made a good point on scattered 

 birds. Her work was sharp and accurate. Mary needed en- 

 couragement betimes to keep her at her work, and she came 

 in frequently to her haudler to get orders; in short she did 

 not remain out at_ her work as she should, and her range in 

 consequence was irregular. Up at 8:48. 



Sadie Ross and Monitor were cast off at 8:54. Sadie was 

 roading a bevy in sedge and it was accidentally flushed. 

 Sadie flushed a bird excusably. She next in woods pointed a 

 bird which flushed wild. Monitor flushed a single in woods. 

 Up at 9:51. Monitor had a limited range and was slow. 

 Sadie was much the wider and faster ranger and showed 

 greater skill on birds, yet she handled a bit hard, it requiring 

 more noise and effort to keep her working to the gun than 

 the other dogs Mr. Rose handled. 



Callie White and Columbia ran 58ra., beginning at 

 9:53. It was a most thorough heat, with plenty of oppor- 

 tunities in it for each, and Columbia came out of it the victor 

 most decisively. Callie was first to point and was promptly 

 backed. There was nothing found, though a snipe had a 

 few moments before flushed a few yards away. Columbia 

 made a bad error in flushing a bevy up wind in "the open, but 

 she redeemed herself shortly afterward by pointing another 

 bevy skilfully, Callie backing; both were steady to shot. The 

 next work on birds was on a bevy. Columbia up wind of it 

 flushed two birds excusably. Callie took a short cast to the 

 left and pointed the bevy across wind. At the same time 

 Columbia, a few yards away was making game on the trail 

 toward the bevy. Next Callie flushed a single down wind. 

 Columbia pointed a single well. Callie pointed a single, but 

 moved on her point, and the bird flushed. Next she made 

 two bad flushes up wind on birds she ought to have pointed 

 or at least drawn on. Columbia pointed a bird and next 

 pointed a bevy well. On the scattered birds in woods 

 Columbia flushed twice and made two good points on singles, 

 while Callie pointed once, to which nothing was found, and 

 made an indecisive point on a single bird. 



Hope's Queen and Nellie Gladstone began at 11:00 and 

 ran lh. 4m. The heat was ordinary and without much inci- 

 dent, though both dogs showed that they would point and 

 back and were trained well. 



The running was suspended while the party went to lunch 

 at the house of Mr. W. G. Bias, where a good lunch and 

 friendly greetings made the incident most happy. A long 

 table, set al fresco, with good hot coffee and plenty of eat- 

 ables, made each one feel that field trials are not all 

 drudgery. 



Allene and Livingston. — At 1:35, began in the open their 

 heat. Livingston made a good point on a bevy in woods. 

 Next, Allene made a most skilful exhibition in drawing on a 

 bevy to a point in open ground, doing the work quickly and 

 accurately with a high nose. It was a very pretty piece of 

 high class work. On the scattered birds, Allene dropped to a 

 point on a single and Livingston refused to back, though it 

 did not score against him as the bitch was not standing. In 

 thick cover, Allene pointed a single nicely, at the same time, 

 Livingston making a similar point. Up at 2:20, Allene was 

 wider, swifter and sharper in her work. 



For further running, the judges selected Columbia, Sadie 

 Ross, Bessie Shoupe, Allene and Callie White, the latter 

 more as a reserve to run with Sadie Ross in the event that 

 she was beaten by Columbia. 



SADIE Ross AND Columbia began 2:32. Sadie pointed a 

 bevy in open sedge and was steady to shot. In woods, work- 

 ing on the scattered birds, both pointed at the same time, 

 but nothing was found. Sadie flushed a single in woods, 

 next she pointed where a bird was flushed and was backed, 

 and next she pointed a single in thick sedge. Columbia 

 made three more' points on singles, the last one lying so close 

 that her handler failed to flush it, the horsemen flushing it 

 after she had moved on. Sadie added to her work three 

 points and a flush. She appeared to be somewhat unreliable 

 in backing, having refused an opportunity, but the class of 

 her work rated her a slight degree higher than Columbia, 

 though the heat was very close. Both showed good ability. 



Allene and Bessie Shoupe were started at 3:19. Both 

 started fast and ranged wide. Bessie pointed a bevy nicely. 

 Some larks flew up about her, and it was thought she was 

 pointing them. Rose ordered her on. She took a few steps 

 and steadied again. The bevy flushed. The bitch was 

 blameless for it. Sent on after the scattered birds, Allene 

 dropped to a point on the birds and Bessie a few yards away 

 backed prettily. Next, they backed each other. Sent on 

 both dogs ranged wide and fast. Bessie showing the better 

 judgment. Bessie about 250yds. away, made game and drew 

 quickly and accurately to a point on a bevy. Rose flushed 

 it. It was an excellent piece of work. Allene in the mean- 

 time was out of sight, and Bess was taken up till Allene was 

 found. She soon came in sight. The heat ended at 3:50 



Callie White and Columbia were started next at 4:02, 

 and ran 16m. It was hardly necessary to run them together 

 again, but it in no wise changed the opinion of the judges. 

 After a short consultation, the judges announced their de- 

 cision as follows: First prize, Bessie Shoupe; second, 

 Allene; third, Sadie Ross; fourth, Columbia. 



The competition of the two latter was very close, and de- 

 cided on a very small margin. As a whole, those interested 

 said the stake was skilfully handled and well judged. 



B. Waters. 



United States Field Trials. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The U. S. field trials will commence at Grand Junction, 

 Tenn. , on Feb. 12. Arrangements have been made with the I. 

 C. R. R. and E. V. & G. R. R. to carry five crates of dogs free 

 in baggage car in charge of one person. It will be necessary 

 for those wanting passes over I. C. R.R. to apply to A. H. Han- 

 son, general passenger agent, Chicago, 111. Orders have been 

 issued to baggagemen over E. T. V. & G. R.R. to carry dogs 

 free to the trials; all that will be necessary is to show 

 something to the baggageman proving that you intend vis- 

 iting the U. S. trials. Grand Junction is located at the 

 crossing of the I. C. and E. T. V. & Ga. railroads. The 

 grounds are well known as being the best field trial grounds 

 in America. There are two good hotels with reasonable 

 rates. Plenty of saddle horses can be had at $1.25 per day, 

 hacks $3. It would be advisable for those who have them 

 to bring their saddles and bridles, as it is impossible to 

 furnish so many good outfits for saddle horses. If any one 

 desires it I can engage rooms, saddle horseB and hacks for 

 them before they reach Grand Junction. From the very 

 fine selection of dogs that are entered and now in reach of 

 the. trials, and with three such competent judges as Dr. N. 

 Rowe, W. W. Titus and Royal Robinson, the public may 

 expect one of the largest and most successful field trials 

 ever held in America. J. M. Avent. 



Hickory Valley, Tenn. 



A meeting of the New England Beagle. Club will be held 

 at Young's Hotel, Boston, Feb. 18, at 2 P. M. Members are 

 1 earnestly requested to attend. 



