April 6, 1895. 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
271 
fortv dollars for every deer or caribou so hunted, caught, killed, 
or destroyed, and be subject to imprisonment thirty days, and no 
person shall, between the first days ot January and October, in 
any manner, hunt, catch, kill, destroy, or have in possession any 
deer or caribou, or part thereof, taken in close time, under the 
same penalty. Any person may lawfully kill auy dog found hunt- 
ing moose, deer, or caribou, or kept or used for that purpose. 
Any person owning or having in possession any dog for the pur- 
pose oS hunting moose, deer, or caribou, or that is kept or used 
for such hunting, forfeits not less than twenty nor more than one 
hundred dollars for each dog so owned, kept, used, or in posses- 
sion. 
(Approved February 21 J 
Law-Breaking in Massachusetts. 
Boston, March' 2&.— Editor Fores! and Stream, Thinking that 
it might not have come under your notice, I inclose herewith a 
cutting from a morning paper, in regard to the conviction of two 
violators of the Masaschusetts game laws. 
As the town mentioned is my old home the matter is of unusual 
interest to me, and I have often wondered that in the past there 
has been apparently so little attention given to the game interests 
of that portion of the State- 
So far as I can learn there is no other portion of the State in 
which aeer exist in a wild condition, and indeed 1 have been as- 
tonished to see how many people have expressed surprise when 1 
lia^e mentioned the existence of deer in my old home. 
And there are deer there, and there would be a great many more 
if the law was enforced. It is no uncommon occurrence for peo- 
ple driving through the woods to have deer break cover and cross 
the road within a comparatively short distance, and sometimes 
even trot a short distance ahead of the team. I myself have seen 
them thus more than once, and in an afternoon's walk in the late 
autumn have tracked no less than nine on one road within less 
than a mile of the village of Farmersville. 
The country all ;through this region, which is within the town 
of Sandwich, and less than six miles from the village, is especial- 
ly favorable to them, there being many very large ponds, exten- 
sive tracts of oak and pine woods, thick underbrush, with numer- 
ous open grassy hollows interspersed. All this would be very 
favorable for the incrense of the noble game, were it not for the 
persistence with which they are hunted and have been hunted 
ever since the close season began. There is hardly a day through 
the late fall and early winter when there is not a party in the 
woods either from Sandwich, Barnstable, Cotuit, or Falmouth, 
and many deer are killed. 
The country is divided by the numerous wood-roads into 
thickets, and the method of hunting is to surround a thicket, put 
the dogs in on one side, drive through, and if when he breaks 
cover, "peaked-toes" does not fall a victim, the dogs are stopped 
and another thicket tried. Of course, rnauy are run into the 
ponds and fall victims there, though I don't think that it is prac- 
ticed as it is in Maine and New York. The weapon used is a shot- 
gun loaded with buckshot. 
Another thing that I think is even more fatal than the hunters 
in the fall is the freedom with which dogs are allowed to run in 
the woods in the spring of the year. In Sandwich and surround- 
ing villages a great number of dogs are owned, and these running 
free, kill— I have no doubt— a good big percentage of the fawns. 
In fact, old woodchoppers have told me that they have frequently 
found the mangled carcasses of these little spotted beauties. 
Now, it seems to me that if these so called fox-hunters can.be 
Kept out of the woods, and all dogs found running deer shot, in 
fact the law enforced, there will be a time when it will not be 
necessary for Boston sportsmen to go way down in Maine for a 
piece of venison. 
AN ADVOCATE OF FAIR PLAY. 
The clipping reads as follows: 
Sandwich, March '21.— Ever since the earliest settlement of the 
town the woods in the vicinity of that part which was formerly 
known as Hog Pond, and now bears the name of Farmersville, 
has, been regarded as the home of the wild deer. 
The great number of ponds in that section of the town and the 
green fields bordering thereon afforded them food and drink, 
while in the dense woods and thickets they find shelter in stormy 
weather and when pursued by hunters. 
Deer are frequently seen in the town at certain seasons, while 
in the Hog Pond neighborhood they often are found grazing with 
the farmers' cattle. 
Until within a dozen years thore were certain seasons when the 
law permitted the hunting and killing of deer, but at present they 
are not to be killed at auy time. 
Charged with the violation of this law Charles W. H. Meiggs 
and Chester Baker were brought before Justice Swift of the First 
District Court this morning. 
Meiggs is a hunter with a local reputation, and was before Judge 
Swift last week, when he was tried on a similar charge and ac- 
quitted. 
Meiggs was to-day complained of by State Officer Proctor of 
unlawfully hunting deer on Dec. 10 last. 
Meiggs owns a white dog with black spots, and the evidence 
offered by the government tended to show that Meiggs was hunt- 
ing a deer on Dec. 10 with such a colored dog, while the defendant 
tried to prove that he was hunting a fox with a white dog with 
brown spots. 
The defendant was questioned closely on this point, and some 
of his replies caused such a ripple of laughter that Judge Swift 
instructed the court officer to eject anyone who thereafter gave 
expression to their feelings in such a manner. 
Meiggs testified that he heard a dog in the morning of Dec. 10. 
He concluded the dog was chasing a fox. He followed the dog 
until afternoon but did not see the fox. 
The court thought he was hunting deer, and fined Meiggs $100. 
He appealed, and was held for the April grand jury, giving $300 
bail. 
Chester Baker is a youth of about seventeen summers, and 
Officer Proctor complained that he not only hunted a deer, but 
killed one on Nov. 22 last. Baker lives in Cotuit, nearly five miles 
from the hunting ground in Farmersville, and he admitted that 
on the day in question he was hunting in the woods near Meiggs' 
house, but that he was after foxes. 
Sheriff Harlow, of Cotuit; was a member of the party, but 
steadfastly held that he was hunting foxes in company with 
Baker and W. D. King, of Providence, nephew of millionaire 
King. 
The only witness for the government was James L. Lawrence, 
a neighbor of Meiegs. He testified that on the afternoon of Nov. 
22 he saw Chester Baker chase and shoot a deer, which fell dead 
in its tracks beside the road which leads from FarmersvOle to 
West Barnstable. 
The defendant did not go on the stand, but his counsel claimed 
that while the defendant might have shot at a deer, it was not his 
intent to do so, and asked that his client be acquitted. 
Judge Swift ruled that while the defendant went to the woods 
to hunt foxes he shot and killed a deer, and fined him $100. 
Baker recognized in $300, and he will have an opportunity to ap- 
pear before the district attorney in April next. 
The conviction of Meiggs and Baker is the chief topic of conver- 
sation to-night. It is the first conviction since the law has been 
in operation, although for years the State and local officers have 
used every endeavor to obtain sufficient evidence for one. The 
slaughter of deer, it is claimed by the officers, has been continued 
ever since the law was passed. 
New York Game Legislation. 
Albany, N. Y., April 2. — The amendments to the Donaldson 
omnibus* amendments to the Game Code were offered in the 
Senate to-day, and the bill ordered printed again, and to a 
third reading. The chief of the new amendments make the 
open season for hare and rabbits to end March 1, and the open 
season for pike and pickerel to begin May 10. 
Deer Protection. 
Ardmore, Pa. — Editor Forest and Stream: I chanced to get a 
copy of Forest and Stream recently which contained several 
articles on deer protection— a subject in which 1 take a great 
interest. 
Let me give my idea of deer-hunters, of which there are several 
varieties. Two are very distinct from the others. My ideal hunter 
is found in the mountain region of Pennsylvania; of course he 
exists in other States. He never sets foot in the forest until at 
least the middle of November. He rises long before the break of 
day; he puts a lunch and compass in his pocket, ties the old hound 
securely to his box, shoulders his rifle and goes into the woods. 
He defies the elements. He stays until darkness stops him. He 
is the kind which, when trailing a deer, if he chance to find a dog- 
traclc, he stops right there and investigates it. If the evidence 
proves that the dog is guilty of running deer, the hunter turns 
away from the object of his pursuit, takes up that dog trail and 
follows it until the snow is crimson [with the .life-blood of the 
hound. 
How can we best protect our deer? is a subject of every-day im- 
portance. Of course, opinions vary in respect to it— some recom- 
mend that dogging be stopped; others that the open season be 
shortened still further; and yet others believe that it should be 
illegal to kill deer in the water. Now, these are all common-senso 
ideas, and if formulated into laws and these laws zealously 
guarded and properly enforced, no doubt they would be fruitful 
in good results. 
But. is it not a wrong practice to use buckshot for deer? and this 
because of their .fearful wounding capabilities. For every deer 
secured with buckshot, at least two escape wounded, their fate a 
speculation. The shooter takes chance shots when the deer is too 
far away, or he shoots and only wounds when the deer is near, I 
do not mean that all the wounding and maiming of deer are done 
with buckshot, but I do mean that, in comparison with the rifle, 
the latter wounds but little. The temptation to shoot at a deer 
with a shotgun, when the deer is a little out of range of certainty, 
i s indeed very great. In all my experience as a hunter, I never yet 
have seen the man who could resist the opportunity to shoot. A 
rifle-shot means a clean kill, or a wound so severe that the hunter 
eventually effects a capture, or there is a miss. 
It maybe summed up thus: At forty yards or under the shot- 
gun is a wonderful killer, but beyoud that range it is merely a 
weapon of awful wounding properties. 
I well know that my statements will be met with the dis- 
approval of the shotgun advocates, and some may think I have 
overdrawn the matter, but if I am not right in ray claims, I would 
like to be shown wherein I am wrong. J. G. D. 
The Best of Boats. 
If there is a stream of water anywhere near you, you are de- 
priving vourself of enjoyment by not owning a boat. The Racine 
Yacht and Boat Works, of Racine, Wis., will send a catalogue of 
all kinds of small crafts to any one who writes for it.— Adv. 
Mills' Catalogue. 
Wm. Mills & Son have issued theii 1895 catalogue of fishing 
tackle, which includes the celebrated Leonard rods. This firm 
has borne an enviable reputation for fairness and reliability both 
a9 manufacturers and dealers in angler's supplies for nearly 
three-quarters of a century. AYhile manufacturers of all grades 
of fishing tackle from the cheapest to ttie best, they state as their 
aim the production of "the highest grade of fishing tackle in the 
world."— Adv. 
he Miennet 
FIXTURES. 
BENCH SHOW8. 
April 9 to 12.— Pittsburgh— Duquesne K. C. W. E. Littel, Sec'y. 
April 16 to 19— Boston.— New England Kennel Club. D. E. Love- 
and, Sec'y. 
April 17 to 20. Los Angeles — Southern Cal. Kennel Club. Dr. 
R. J. Withers, Sec. 
April 25 and 26.— Toronto, Canada.— Toronto. Kennel Club. W. 
P. Fraser, Hon'y. Sec. 
May 8 to 11— San Francisco, Cal.— Pacific Kennel Club. Howard 
Vernon, Sec'y, San Francisco. 
Oct. 8 to 11.— Danbury, . Conn.— Danbury Agricultural Society 
G-. L. Rundle, Sec' v. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 2.— Continental Field Trials Club's chicken trials at 
P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 
Sept. 10— Morris, Man.— Manitoba F. T. C, John Wootton, 
Sec'y, Manitou. 
Nov. 5.— Chatham, Ont— International F. T. Club. W. B.Wells 
Sec'y. 
Nov. 18— Eastern F. T. Club, at Newton, N. C. W. A. Coster, 
Sec'y, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 
Nov. 2S.-Trials A. U. S. F. T. Club at Newton, N.C. W. B 
Stafford, Sec'y, Trenton, Tenn. 
A Chronicle of Bhoda. 
"It is said that no man can break his leg but he finds with 
surprise that every man of his acquaintance boasts either a 
quondam broken leg himself, or of acquaintance with another 
man who does. Similarly, the publication of Mr. Whitehead's 
charming "Tale of a Dog, " must have roused in many readers 
a desire to likewise chant the exploits of their own dogs. In 
our case, the pleasant chronicle seemed strangely paralleled in 
the life of our own little favorite, the brightest of all the forty 
odd that have been our own, and passed away to other owner- 
ships more or less missed and mourned. 
Rhoda was the exceptional dog one now and then knows, 
which wanted, something better than to be the comrade of 
canines, and whose eager little asking soul was always 
demanding more light on the strange things of this world, from 
the moment her beautiful brown eyes opened to it. 
Long promised to ns as an exchange, Rhoda. when she did 
arrive, proved to be "Hobson's choice," for she and a little 
brother constituted the entire litter. Born in the big March 
blizzard of '88, its rigors proved too much for the feebler infant, 
and, in due course, the sole survivor made her long railway 
journey to us, growling most industriously over her enforced 
seclusion, and barking assiduously whenever the baggage man 
passed with jingling checks. As the infant numbered but six 
weeks on her arrival, I expectantly awaited a sprawling, pink- 
faced, wrinkle-nosed puppy, with big feet and a breath that 
smelled of onions, as is the inscrutable way of young puppies. 
Even now I recall the thrill of delighted and amused surprise 
caused by her production from an overcoat pocket— a trim, 
wavy-coated, brown and white spaniel puppy, looking as 
sedate and demure and almost as mature, as she did late in life, 
except that her nose was a funny little pug affair, that time 
was to turn to the typical cocker, spaniel feature of later 
years. Her eyes were brown and round, and wistful. Her 
face wore a sad, pensive look that her impish behavior utterly 
belied. She sat in my hand and l'egarded my immoderate 
laughter with grave surprise. Rhoda did not love me then, 
though I became, after a year's probation, the only really 
desirable companion in all the world. No, her master absorbed 
all her thoughts as the rescuer from unknown perils, and he 
announced that she had followed hiin up the crowded thorough- 
fare from the station without mistake or confusion, though 
bumping her nose several times in endeavoring to jump the curb- 
stones. 
Rboda's precocity grew apace. We found that she learned 
the meaning of words without any illustrative object lessons, 
through their repetition and the connection her bright little 
brain made with the acts with which they were associated. We 
had other dogs and took no especial pains with the little new- 
comer, till her brightness forced itself upon us. 
Mr. Whitehead's gifted "Rug" seems to have received a more 
liberal education in the matter of nouns than our dog, for I 
can coimt but some forty that I am certain that she^unfailingly 
understood. These nouns, embodying her chief interests, were 
easily associated with their attendant verbs, and it seemed to 
matter little how involved and lengthy the sentence which 
contained them, so that they were tlrere. For instance, as we 
sat at some distance from the house under the apple trees, one 
of us turned to her and said: "Do you want your supper?" Yes, 
Rhoda evidently did. "Well, then," go down and knock on the 
kitchen door and tell them to give you your supper." Away 
she sped, down to the kitchen door, making her paws fly 
against the screening, and assisting her efforts by a vigorous 
bark. We all laughed and were surprised as well, for this was 
a combination we had never used, though the words in it were 
all familiar. 
Such phrases as, Do you love the lady, the kitty, the man? 
Get up on the bed, the lounge. Go in the "other room. Tell the 
man to give you some water. Do you want to ride in the 
steam cars? the horse cars? Look out of the window and see if 
the man is coming, and dozens of other similar ones were in 
daily use. They seemed to be acquired gradually by her, her 
developing intelligence seeming to make her quicker to grasp 
difficult sentences with each added year. Often we enjoyed 
trying wholly new words in combination with old ones, and 
rarely did she fail to catch the meaning merely by the tone of 
voice. 
As she sat one day in her accustomed attitude by the dining- 
table. with her very ill-bred stare at us as we ate, I said, 
' Rhoda, do you want some meat? Well, nudge the man — 
nudge him." This was an entirely new verb, but Rhoda 
showed her instant comprehension of it by nudging her master 
with such vigor that half the coffee flew from his upraised 
cup. This she always did thereafter in the same way when 
we used the word. It was never necessary to scream at her, or 
raise one's voice above an ordinary conversational tone, as, 
indeed, it seldom is with any dog with normal hearing, which 
is far keener than our own. Indeed, I used to enjoy whisper- 
ing pleasant little secrets into Rhoda's ear, of which she showed 
her enjoyment by grateful kisses, subdued ecstatic whines, or, 
if it'were something especially pleasant, by whirling round and 
round in excited circles. A whisper meant just as [much as a 
shout, and we often tested her by such commands as, "Go, pick 
up that and give it to the lady. Go love the man," etc., all of 
which were scrupulously obeyed. Rhoda, however, never 
enjoyed rehearsing her tricks, unless for the admiration and 
applause of outsiders, or to further her own selfish ends, but 
would make off with all possible speed upon their completion to 
the darkest recesses under the bed or sofa.- Indeed, though she 
played the piano or organ with great fervor and abandon when 
placed on the stool and told to "Pky"— a feat which required 
but two or three lessons— she always did so in a fury ol protest- 
ing growls, her little body stiff with rage. She would play 
since we wished it, her whole attitude plainly said, but she just 
hated it, and when excused she would fleetly vanish to be seen 
no more. That she understood the word "Play" was evident, 
for I once placed the guitar before her, and after repeating the 
command two or three times, the little dog promptly produced 
some chords of doubtful harmony but indisputable noise, from 
the strings. 
It was not our purpose to make her a trick dog, though her 
capibility seemed so limitless, for her distaste was so clearly 
manifest. Her whole coaxing postures and expressions after 
her performances, always said: "Don't humiliate me by mak- 
ing a show of me. Let me be just your little comrade and 
friend, to sit by your side and listen to your remarks." To *be 
"shown off" always seemed to mortify Rhoda, whose dignity 
was her strong point. From a baby nothing so much enraged 
ner as to be picked up and carried about in one's arms. This 
was considered an insult worthy of much resentful growling, 
even were there no witnesses to it, but did a dog chance to be a 
spectator, she would on her release fly at the unwitting 
offender, with the avowed intention of tearing him in piecas. 
Notwithstanding a vastly aggressive demeanor toward the 
despised race of dogs, she was never guilty of a genuine bite in 
all her six happy years of life. Though she gave herself great 
airs over her superiority, personal injury was out of her scope. 
Though Rhoda was the most exemplary and devoted of 
mothers, when at the tender age of one year she became one, 
she held a very poor opinion of even her own offspring, and 
cast them off with scorn as soon as they were able to shift for 
themselves. One pup, Bess, remained for a year or more, but 
was merely tolerated, and, when she, too, was taken away, her 
parent evinced much unholy satisfaction over the whole of the 
door mat once more, and all the bones. 
When Bess had been gone two weeks they met by chance on 
the street. Rhoda would surely display her pleasure at meet- 
ing her child once more, but no. After a second's surprised 
stare, she flew at her, remarking, "What, you here again? 
thought I had seen the last of you," and pursued her down 
the street with such aggressive notes of war that the populace 
paused to see the dog fight. 
W bile the brood was young and tender, never did one receive 
more faithful care. No stranger, human or canine, was 
suffered to draw near, or to even glance that way, and when 
their mother went bone foraging, she conscientiously brought 
home five or more. When their baby fun and teasing waxed 
too annoying, it was her habit to flee to another room and 
energetically close the door between herself and her trouble- 
some infants. 
Insanely jealous of Bessie, the pup remaining, was she. It 
was her wont, at ten minutes of one (and we never feit sure 
that she did not consult the clock at this juncture), to take her 
seat at the window, and watch for her master, whose dinner 
hour was at one. As I sat there myseif one noon, she seated in 
my lap, Bess also jumped up and Rhoda snapped savagely at 
her. I put her promptly on the floor, petting Bess with much 
extravagance, and telling her to "look for the man." Rhoda 
gazed at us both, lost in thought, her head tipping to one side 
at a more and more alarmiug angle. Suddenly she ran into the 
kitchen and returned with a child's shoe, the beloved toy of 
Bess, which her mother scorned to touch. Now, however, she 
began to toss it up and down and worrying it with much 
enthusiasm. ; 
"What!" said Bess, from her exalted station, "my shoe? that 
will never do," and sprang to the rescue. Whisk! There was a 
twinkling tail, an abandoned shoe, and Rhoda was in^my lap in 
an ecstasy of delight. 
I would hesitate to chronicle isolated instances like this" of 
our dog's strategy, fearing prejudice and fondness might seem 
to magnify an ordinary happening into sagacity, but the daily 
life of our quaint little friend was so full of similar instances 
that her acquaintances regarded her as a phenomenally clever 
dog, and her career was always an ovation, from clerks in the 
large bazaars, where Rhoda delighted to go shopping, to car 
and train conductors, who winked at the size of the always 
attendant brown imp. She much preferred a car seat to her- 
self, and when she saw one vacant, would slip out and seat 
herself there with much satisfaction, gravely regarding the 
flying landscape. 
For some never fathomed reason, the station, Knightsville, 
had a very pleasant sound in Rhoda's ear, though we had never 
paused there, and she invariably ran down the aisle and to the 
• door when it was called out, coaxing ns to follow. Once or 
twice I was obliged to call her in from the platform where she 
had gone to view the admired scenery. One day, cityward 
bound, Rhoda elected to sit behind me. Chatting with an 
acquaintance, I quite forgot her, when, as we were just gliding 
out of a station, a gentleman leanod over me and remarked, 
"Pardon me, but your dog has got off the train." I was glad 
of it. I hoped she would have time to enjoy Knightsville, for 
that was the village we were leaving behind, and heartily 
repent her sin, before I returned at night. Perhaps she was 
frightened even now, and hastening after the train that was 
bearing away her beloved mistress. I hastily looked from the 
rear doors. There, dimly discerned in the distance, was Rhoda, 
strolling down the platform in much apparent enjoyment, her 
back impudently turned to the departing train. No regret, no. 
misgiving, was in that hilarious wag of the tail. At night, I 
stepped off the train at Knightsville, long enough to inquire of 
the station agent concerning my dog. Oh, yes, a little dog had 
got off alone from the morning train. What did he do? Why, 
he sat around in the station a while, and ran around, and then 
he went off across the fields. 
When our train arrived home, Rhod<* was at the station to 
meet me. She wriggled about in the shape of a crescent, and 
she thought it expedient to tuck tier tail neatly between her 
legs, but there was an exultant twinkle in her roguish eyes 
that said she had carried her point at last. 
Rhoda's wilfulness was her worst fault, and almost the only 
one for which she was ever seriously punished. When once she 
