200 
FOREST AND * STREAM. 
I Marcs 7, 1896. 
sion, and obtained originally by exchange with England 
and Germany; and rainbow trout which came from Cali- 
fornia. Had the sentiments expressed in the Union been 
Erevalent some years ago, Few Hampshire would not 
ave been able now to offer the varied and excellent fash- 
ing to her people and guests which she justly boasts of , 
but I am inclined to think that the case of the Union is a 
sporadic one, and that the people at large believe, as they 
have always done, in the courtesy of exchanging fish eggs 
with other States, even if they do possess the rarest fish 
in the waters of the world. 
Blanks for State Fish. 
People who apply to the Fisheries, Game and Forest 
Commission, of New York, for fish to be planted in the 
public waters of the State (and no fish are furnished by the 
State for private waters) should know that three kinds of 
blanks are provided for those who ask for them. "Trout 
fry" blanks should be filled out for lake trout, brook trout 
and brown trout. "Fish fry" blanks should be filled out 
for fish other than the trout mentioned, such as pike- 
percb, frostfish, bullheads; and a third blank is provided 
for black bass, of which the State furnishes no fry, as 
none are as yet hatched artificially. Each species of fish 
asked for must have a blank of its own, and the black 
bass application should specify whether the small-mouth 
or large-mouth black bass is wanted. The blanks are 
printed in black ink, except at the top of each one is 
printed in big red letters: "Application Blank for Trout 
Fry," Fish Fry or Black Bass, as the case may be. Again 
it says in red letters, "A separate application blank must 
be used for each kind of fish desired. " Once again red let- 
ters inform the applicant that he must give a prompt and 
complete reply to the questions on the blanks, to enable 
the Commission to act intelligently on the application. 
In big black letters the applications recite that "All appli- 
cations must be made prior to the first day of February." 
In spite of these warnings and injunctions one blank may 
be filled out for half a dozen kinds of fish, so it is almost 
impossible to enter it in the application book, or file it to 
know from the outside memoranda, with which the blank 
is provided to be filled, what it contains on the inside. 
Trout are asked for on black bass blanks and vice versa, 
all of which renders it difficult to keep a record of the ap- 
plication in its proper place in the office. Then the 
mixed and other applications continue to come into the 
office of the Commission for weeks or months after the 
fish are all distributed, and consequently the applications 
' must wait until the next year. Feb. 1 is fixed as the time 
when applications must be in, because there is little time 
after that date to classify and arrange them and pass upon 
them before the distribution of fish begins. If applicants 
would give heed to the simple instructions of the applica- 
tion blanks the distribution of fish would be simplified. 
A. N. Cheney. 
Kennebec Fish' and Game Association. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
It is with pleasure that I chronicle briefly the happen- 
ings of the annual meeting and banquet of the Association 
held at Waterville, Me., Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Elmwood 
Hotel. About seventy-five or more gentlemen were pres- 
ent, and after the greetings of the evening had been ex- 
tended to one another, a platter of fine white perch, with 
a noble 4flb. trout as a centerpiece, were duly admired. 
The delegation of hungry sportsmen retired to the banquet 
hall, where an excellent menu was discussed. After cigars 
were lighted Hon. W. T. Haines, of Waterville, secretary 
of the Association and prime mover in the foundation of 
the Association (indeed, be is affectionately alluded to as 
its "papa"), reported the business doings of Association for 
the past year, during which $946 was expended in the in- 
terest of game and fish preservation in this county. The 
sum of $2,738 has been expended in the five years since 
the organization of the Association. From the remarks of 
Mr. Haines it is evident that much has been done by this 
Association in protecting fish and game in Kennebec 
county. 
The officers of the Association remain as last year with 
the exception of the resignation of Dr. W. H. Harris as 
one of the directors in favor of C. M. Harris. The officers 
are as follows: President, W. P. Blake, Oakland; First 
Vice-President, Nathaniel Meader, Waterville; Second 
"Vice-President, P. O. Vickery, Augusta; Third Vice-Presi- 
dent, L. T. Carleton, Winthrop; Secretary and Treasurer, 
W. T. Haines, Waterville; Directors— W. W. Edwards, C. 
A. Cochrane, C. M. Harris, E. C, Farrington, A. D. Hall, 
<G. Dexter Libby, W. P. Giddings. 
Hon. P. O. Vickery spoke in an interesting manner of 
the work of the Association, and in conclusion presented 
the name of the Hon. L. T. Carleton, of Winthrop, to be 
our next fish and game commissioner in placB of E. H. 
Wentworth, whose time soon expires. The following 
resolutions were unanimously adopted: 
"Resolved, That we respectfully and earnestly ask Hon. 
Henry B. Cleaves, Governor of Maine, to appoint Hon. L. 
T. Carleton, of Winthrop, fish and game commissioner, 
to occupy the position of chairman of the board, and to 
personally look after the game department of the com- 
mission. 
"Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolution 
be spread upon the records of this Association, and a cer- 
tified copy of the same be forwarded by the secretary to 
Gov. Cleaves, and be published in every paper in the 
county." 
E. H. Wentworth and H. O. Stanley, State fish and 
game commissioners, spoke respectively on "The Brown 
Trout in Maine Waters" and "Imported Game Birds in 
Maine." They were followed with interesting talks by 
Messrs. Arthur Merrill, C. F. Johnson, O. B. Clason, A. 
M. Spear, L. T. Carleton and G. W. Goulding. It was 
voted to hold the next meeting and banquet in Augusta. 
Everybody had a good time, and the banquet was voted a 
very successful and enjoyable affair. C. M. Harris. 
New Jersey Marsh Sea Fishing. 
Asburt Park.N, J. , Feb. 28 . —Striped bass are movin g and 
beginning to take the hook in the headwaters of our bays 
and estuaries. A correspondent, whom I consider reli- 
able, informs me that about forty have been taken in the 
vicinity of Morgan Station, C. E. R., N. J., within the 
week last past. If this be true it is something remark- 
able. While the bass, as is well known, are more or less 
active as soon as the ice begins breaking up, yet they 
rarely take the hook until somewhat later, usually in 
April, when the bloodworm, which is their favorite food, 
leaving its bed in quest of a mate, presents itself an easy 
prey. However, the first favorable day will find me on 
the grounds and I will report what I find. 
White perch are now plentiful in the bays and may be 
taken freely with the hook, provided the schools can be 
located. This fish is really a game fish and should be 
classed as such. Taken with lightest of tackle he makes 
a splendid resistance, and is a first-class companion for 
the ardent angler during the season when more attractive 
prey is not to be had. Regarding bait, he is not at all 
fastidious, taking readily the earth worm, bloodworm, a 
bit of clam or fish, as well as small minnows. But un- 
doubtedly the best possible bait is the small beach flea, so 
abundant during the summer and autumn, but not pro- 
curable this early in the season. There is still another 
bait he takes with avidity, and when you have caught one 
perch you have two extra baits, namely, the eyes; there 
is nothing a perch will take more quickly than one of his 
fellow's optics, presented on the point of the hook. But 
there is repugnance in the thought, and I mention it 
more as a matter of information than of recommenda- 
tion. Leonard Htjlit. 
Massachusetts Fishing Laws. 
On Friday, Feb. 21, a hearing was given at the State 
House by a committee of the Legislature on the pending 
House Bills Nos. 448 and 449. Bill No. 449 I described in 
Forest and Stream of last week. No. 448 is an act to 
prohibit the taking of brook trout less than 8in. in 
length. In opposition to these two bills there appeared 
before the committee J. Russell Reed, of the Massachu- 
setts Fish and Game Association; Mr. E, J. Brown and 
several prominent Boston anglers. Mr. Brown spoke at 
some length, referring to the measures as special legisla- 
tion, and suggesting that the season be lengthened rather 
than shortened, if a change must be made. Mr. Reed 
argued the matter from a legal standpoint, and Mr. 
Chamberlayne attacked the measures on, the same 
grounds. Other gentlemen present spoke on the matter, 
and the impression was quite general that the opposition 
had thrown so much light on the proposed legislation as 
to raise serious doubt in the minds of the committee be- 
fore reporting the bills for favorable action. Hackle. 
The aged angler, benign in countenance and alert in 
manner, was finishing a long discourse to a group of 
youths, whom he was teaching the mystic methods of the 
angler's art. ' 'You may perhaps use a frog or a helgramite 
when flies are not obtainable, and perhaps there may be 
times when the use of the spoon may be condoned, but, 
gentlemen," he hurriedly continued, " when it comes to 
using worms, I draw the line." 
FIXTURES. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
March 10 to 13.— Chicago.— Mascoutah Kennel Club's bench show 
John L. Lincoln, Sec'y. 
March 17 to 20.— St. Louis Kennel Club's show, St. Louis. W. 
Hutchinson, Sec'y. 
April 20 to 23 — New England Kennel Club's twelfth annual show. 
D. E. Loveland. Sec'y. 
May 6 to 9.— Pacific Kennel Club's fifth annual show. H. W. Orear, 
Sec'y. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 2.— Morris, Man.— Manitoba Field Trials Club. John Wootton, 
S«c'y. 
Oct. 28.— Greene county, Pa.— The Monongahela Valley Game and 
Fish Protective Association's second annual trials. S. B. Cummings 
Sec'y, Pittsburg. 
CONVICTIONS FOR CROPPING AND 
DOCKING. 
Forest and Stream has pointed out with much insist- 
ence during recent weeks that the mutilation of dogs, as 
practiced by the fanciers of several breeds, was contrary 
to law, aside from the questions of cruelty and unneces- 
sary mutilation. 
While there was a moral certainty that there had been 
convictions for cropping and docking, the records of any 
convictions could not be obtained by us before the present 
time. 
We pointed out, however, the danger to which those 
who practiced cropping and docking were constantly sub- 
ject ; that is, that sooner or later there was sure to be a 
conviction for such mutilations, and then what was 
plainly illegal under the law would be a legal certainty 
in the court records. It was, moreover, pointed out 
that the specialty clubs would gain a great deal of pres- 
tige and good opinion by doing voluntarily what the law 
required, and doing it before mutilations were known to 
be illegal as a matter of court record. 
To give a resume of all the arguments pro and con is 
unnecessary, in view of the fact that they are all of recent 
occurrence. 
In striving to maintain what was lawful, humane and 
necessary, Forest and Stream has nothing to regret. 
The recent action of the A. K. C. on unjustifiable mutila- 
tions of dogs is no defeat of the law of the land, or the 
better sentiments of humanity. It is but a check to a re- 
form which cannot be defeated. That Forest and Stream 
was correct is now a matter of court record. 
On Feb. 28 Harry Cummings, of Brooklyn, was prose- 
cuted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Animals, and convicted of cropping a terrier. He was 
tried before Justice John Walsh in the Adams Street 
Court. So that the matter may be brought more specific- 
ally before the public the complaint is given in full. The 
action was brought in the name of the People of the State 
of New York against Harry Cummings, of 40 Wallabout 
street, Brooklyn. 
The complaint reads as follows : "Nicholas Grace, of 
No. 13 Willoughby street, of the City of Brooklyn, being 
duly sworn, deposes and says, that on or about the 5th day 
of February, 189G, at the City of Brooklyn, in the County 
of Kings, one Harry Cummings did willfully, unlawfully 
and unjustifiably mutilate a certain living creature, to 
wit, a dog, by then and there cutting the said dog's ears 
with a knife, wherein and whereby unjustifiable physical 
pain and suffering were caused to the said living creature 
in violation of the statute in such cases made and pro- 
vided, wherefore the complainant prays that the said 
Harry Cummings may be arrested and dealt with accord- 
ing to law, and more especially according to Title XVI. of 
the Penal Code of the State of New York, and all amend- 
ments thereto." 
This was duly signed, etc., and other legal requirements 
observed. It was duly thereon indorsed that the defend- 
ant was arraigned on Feb. 28, had plead guilty, and was 
fined $25 or 2S days. Fine paid. 
Mr. Joseph Fitzsimmons, the owner of the dog in ques- 
tion, was tried at the same time on complaint of the 
officer of the S. P. C. A., "for willfully and unlaw- 
fully causing and procuring a dog to be unjustifi- 
ably mutilated," the complaint and affidavit otherwise 
being the same as that made against Harry Cum- 
mings. Mr. Fitzsimmons was fined $25. which fine was 
suspended. Thus at one time it was proven that it is un- 
lawful to crop a dog's ears, and unlawful to be accessory 
to the cropping. This is not the only case. 
In the Second District Court, Brooklyn, Sept. 18, 1889, 
Valentine Kager was tried, convicted and fined for cutting 
off the ears of two dogs, and the owner, Philip Wolbruner, 
was also fined for causing Valentine to cut off the dogs' 
ears. 
In the matter of docking, John Grattan, 52 years old, 
of Halsey street and Ralph avenue, was sentenced to six 
months in the penitentiary by Justice Connolly, Gates 
Avenue Court, June 12, 1893, for cutting off a dog's tail 
in the manner called docking. The tail of that dog end 
the scissors used in docking it are in the S. P. C. A. collec- 
tion of the Brooklyn office. 
A representative of Forest and Stream called on Mr. 
Cummings at his home on the day following his confer- 
ence with Justice Walsh, for the purpose of learning in- 
formally his views on cropping. He seemed an honest, 
simple-minded negro. He related the circumstances, and 
gave his opinions with a frankness which was admirable. 
He unreservedly admitted that he did crop the dog's ears. 
He said that he did not know that he was doing wrong, 
and that when on trial he plead guilty to cutting the 
dog's ears because it was true that he cut them. 
"All my life," he said, " I have been honest and truth- 
ful, but it does seem as if truth sometimes doesn't help a 
fellow. The judge fined me $25, and that's all right. I 
am glad he let me off at that. It might have been a lot 
worse. I don't cut off any more dogs' ears. But I think 
they fined the wrong man. I work 16 to 19 hours a day and 
my money is earned hard. There are plenty of men who 
have plenty of money who have their dogs' ears cut off. 
But I would like to have cross-examined that doctor 
(Dr. McLean) that testified against me, but the judge 
wouldn't let me. He is an educated doctor, but he don't 
know everything. Cutting off a dog's tail removes the 
worm and prevents the dog having sickness. But I didn't 
know that to cut off a dog's ears is against the law. I 
am glad I am out of the trouble, and I don't cut off any 
more ears." 
It is unnecessary to dwell upon the far-reaching effect 
of these decisions, and the status of the offenses under 
the law. It now is not too late for the fanciers to deter- 
mine officially to go on record in a manner conformable 
to law. It is a little late, but not too late. The only regret 
that we have in the matter is that our efforts in behalf of 
the observance of the written law and the humane senti- 
ments were not heeded. Had they been heeded, they 
might have saved some humiliation in abolishing mutila- 
tions under stress, or avoiding a stigma if the law is not 
heeded. 
We would presume to thank the men who so steadfastly 
endeavored to abolish unjustifiable mtitilations from the 
dog world, and the multitude who were in sympathy with 
their principles and efforts, were it not supererogatory to 
thank men for sustaining what is lawful and humane and 
right. 
A Card of Thanks. 
Wellesley, Mass., Fdb. 26. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Pray allow me through your columns to thank 
the many gentlemen who so kindly helped me in regard 
to the anti-docking resolution at the A. K. C. meeting. I 
received so many answers that it is impossible for me to 
thank each individually, so beg to take this means of 
doing so. H. H. Hunnewell, Jr.. 
Sec. pro tern. American Fox Terrier Club. 
National Beagle Club of America. 
An executive meeting of the National Beagle Club of 
America was held at the rooms of the American Kennel 
Club, 55 Liberty street, New York city, Feb. 27. Presi- 
dent Hermann F. Schellhass called the meeting to order; 
members present were J. W. Appleton. A. Wright Post, 
Gaorge B. Post, Jr., George Laicii and Gsorge W. Rogers. 
A standing committee on the Futurity Stake was ap- 
pointed, consisting as follows: Geo. W. Rogers, chairman; 
A. Wright Post and J. W. Appleton. 
The club will hold their seventh annual field trials at 
Hempstead, L. I., beginning Oct. 26, 1896, and will con- 
tinue throughout the week. The trials will, as usual, be 
run on the Joshua Barnum Farm, which comprises many 
acres of well-preserved hunting grouhds. The usual 
facilities for the care and handling of the dogs will be 
furnished by the club, and experienced handlers will be 
provided to run the dogs in case the owners do not care 
to handle them themselves, or cannot be there in person 
during the trials. 
It is expected that the Futurity Stake, which is the fir3t 
to be run at any trial, will attract a large number of en- 
tries in this event as well as in the others. Entry blanks 
are now being prepared, and will be sent to the 500 or 
more known beagle lovers throughout the country. The 
entry blanks can be secured from George W. Rogers, 
chairman Futurity Stakes, 250 West Twenty-second street, 
New York City. 
The club's list of members is increasing in numbers very 
fast, and now ranks as one of the largest specialty clubs 
in the country. 
Messrs. B. Waters and A. P. Vredenburg were elected 
honorary members. George W. Rogers, Sec'y. 
West Philadelphia Kennels, Philadelphia, offer, in our 
advertising columns, bull dogs and terriers. Muckross 
Kennels, Springfield, Vt., offer setter. G. B., care Forest 
and Stream, wants to lease the breeding privileges of an 
English setter bitch. J. H. Parrott, Towanda, Pa., 
offers prize-winning bull dog. W. W. Astell, Amelia 
Court House, Va., offers pointers. W. Nelson, Brooklyn, 
N. Y., offers Scotch hunting puppies. 
