110 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
LFeb. 6, 1897. 
their beds, and it is recommended that the stream be 
closed to all fishing for a term of years to enable the Com- 
mission to use it for the purpose of a nursery stream for 
young salmon and breeding ground for the adult fish. 
In this connection it is again urped that means be pro- 
vided to open the upper Hudson River to the salmon by 
building fl?hways in the dams and over the falls between 
Troy and Luzerne. 
Eels and Trout Spawn. 
Fish of all kinds are spawn eaters to a greater or less 
extent, but the eel is more destructive of spawn than any 
other fish, as it does not spawn in fresh water, and is 
ready to prey upon both the fall and spring spawning 
fishes. 
At night, when the lake trout are spawning on a shoal 
in mid -lake, the eels are present in vast numbers to eat 
the spawn as fast as it is deposited by the trout. Section 
143 of the game law provides that "eel-pots of a form 
and character such as may be prescribed by the Commis- 
sioners of Fisheries may be used in any waters not inhab- 
ited by trout, lake trout, salmon trout or landlocked 
salmon." We would ask that this Commission have 
power to use or authorize the use of eel-pots in all waters, 
whether inhabited by trout or not, for it is in trout waters 
particularly that eels are proving destructive to young 
fish. 
Black Bass. 
We would again most earnestly recommend the abso- 
lute necpssity for a shorter close season for black bass if 
the fish is to be saved from practical extermination in 
State waters. The applications each year call for millions 
of bass, and the supply is limited to a few thousands. 
Black bass spawn tbrough the month of June, and the 
present open season begins on May 30, Not satisfied with 
catching black bass in June, when they are spawning or 
brooding their young, a comparatively new mode of de- 
struction is being practiced by fishermen. As cold 
weather approaches black bass -congregate on shoals in 
deep water, where they partially hibernate during the 
winter months, and there the fishermen resort and catch 
the fish, stupid from the low temperature, in vast num- 
bers. -We would recommend that the close season begin 
on Oct. 15 and extend to July 1 following. We would 
als> recommend that the law which now applies to the 
waters of the SC. Lawrence River ba made to apply to all 
other waters in the State, namely, that no black bass shall 
be taken under lOin. in length, and that not more than 
twelve black bass shall be taken or possessed by one per- 
son in one day; or twenty-four bass by two persons fishing 
together. 
Black bass cannot be proj^agated like trout and pike- 
perch; and there is no opportunity for getting stock fish 
except from waters which already show the effects of 
over-fishing, and which the Commission is now called 
upon to restock. It is only by protecting the black bass 
during their spawning season and by other restrictions, 
and having the law rigidly enforced, that we can hope to 
preserve this fish from practical extermination. 
The Legislature has already passed a law limiting the 
catch of black bass to be taken by one person in one day, 
and we would recommend that a similar law be passed to 
regulate the number of pounds of trout to be taken in one 
day by one person, so that not to exceed lOlbs. of brjok 
trout nor SOlbs. of lake trout may be taken or possessed 
by one person in one day. 
Section 24-9 should be Repealed. 
Section 249 of the game law should he repealed, as it 
puts a premium upon crime in sister States that have non- 
export game laws, as most of them have, and is a menace 
to the game in our own State, and makes it difficult to 
convict game law violators who kill our game out of sea- 
son. This section permits the sale of game at any season 
of the year, if it can be proved that the game "was 
shipped from a point at least 300 miles distant from the 
State of New York." All that is necessary to traffic in 
game under this section is to violate the laws of other 
States, for the close season of all the States is practically 
the same, and once the game is within our borders it can 
be sold openly for twelve months in the year. Not only 
is the State in the position of a receiver of stolen goods, 
but the law operates against our own game. Courtesy 
and justice to other States, and the difficulty of protect- 
ing our own game with this law in force, demands its re- 
peal, and we earnestly recommend that it be striken from 
the statutes. 
Nets In Lake Ontario. 
Net fishing within the mile limit should be absolutely 
prohibited throughout Lake Ontario. Chaumont Bay 
and the adjoining bays at the head of the St. Lawrence 
River are natural spawning grounds for black bass and 
other fishes, and act as feeders to and nurseries for the 
St. Lawrence River, and we know of nothing that would 
do more to improve the fishing of the St. Lawrence than 
to protect these waters a mile from the mainland and the 
islands at that end of the lake. There is no good reason 
why exceptions should be made of any portion of the 
water within the mile limit. On the other hand, there is 
every reason why these waters should be protected as 
well, if not better, than at any other point on the lake. 
Gams Seasons. 
We also recommend that the open season for deer shall 
not exceed forty-five days, and that hounding and jack- 
ing be prohibited. Although the hounding season was 
shortened one-half last year, there were probably as 
many deer killed as during the year before, and we be- 
lieve the only way to preserve the deer is to prohibit 
hounding entirely, at least for a term of years. 
We further recommend that the woodcock and grouse 
season shall not open before Sept. 1 in each year, and that 
it shall close not later than N jv. 30. 
The present law provides the same close season for black 
and gray squirrels, hares and rabbits. We would recom- 
mend that a separate section be provided for squirrels 
and that the season for hunting shall begin Sept. 1 
and close Dec. 1. 
Game Laws in Briet. 
The Qame Laws in Brief, current edition, sold everywhere, baff 
new game and flsb laws for more than thirty of the States. It covera: 
the entire country, is carefully prepared, and gives aU that fhooterf 
■nd anglers reaa)re. Bee advertlaement. 
Maine Ice-Fishing. 
Boston, Jan. 30.— The storm and blizzard of last week 
has put a stop to ice-fishing for the present on all the 
ponds in New England. Such fishing for pickerel, osten- 
sibly, was being carried on to excess in many sections. 
No snow on the grouud, or the ice, made the work of get- 
ting to the ponds and cutting the holes very easy; the ice 
withal not being very thick. The residents about some of 
the ponds and lakes in Maine have taken alarm at the 
excessive fishing, even for pickerel, besides the fact that 
landlocked salmon and trout in many cases fall an easy 
victim to these pickerel catchers. From Lake Auburn 
there is noted considerable complaiht that the fishermen 
take all they can get, whether pickerel, salmon or trout; 
though the salmon and trout are strictly forbidden bylaw. 
For this reason the commissioners have granted a hearing 
in regard to fishing on Lake I'ennessewassee, in Norway. 
Evidence at the hearing showed how great the value of 
the lake was for fishing, but that it had been greatly over 
fished, and that stocking with landlocked salmon and 
trout was likely to prove a failure unless so much ice-fish- 
ing was stopped. The commissioners decided to close the 
lake and its tributaries to all fishing for four years from 
Feb. 11, 1897. It is suggested that some of the Winthrop, 
Monmouth and Readfield ponds should be regulated in 
some way. The ponds m Belgrade are also being badly 
over fished. Special, 
Black Bass for Rhode Island. 
Pkovidekce, R. I., Feb. 1. — Editor Forest and iStream: In 
his annual message to the General Assenibly last week 
Governor Charles Warren Lippitt bad the following to say 
concerning inland fisheries: 
"The season of 1896 has been remarkable for the 
quantity of food sea fish in the waters of the State, The 
abundance of cod and mackerel has been unprecedented. 
From Newport to Burrillville 70,000 young trout have 
been distributed among the inland waters of the State. 
There have been received from the United States Fish 
Commission 2,000 large-mouthed black bass. A preserve 
for both the large and the small-mouthed black bass has 
been secured in the town of Westerly, from which the 
other parts of the State will be supplied in the future." 
David Mowry, one of the oldest men in northern Rhode 
Island, died on Jan. 25 in the ninety-second year of his 
age, having been horn June 5, 1805. During his younger 
days he was one of the most famous fox hunters in that 
section of the country. W. H. M. 
"Angling Talks." 
VVe have a very few copies of George Dawson's "Aneling Talks," a 
series of chapters of entenaitjing chat about men, fishermen, fish, 
fishing and fishing places. Cloth, 50 ceat.s. Forest and Scream Fub- 
lishlug Co. 
F I XT U RES. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
Feb. y?-''5.— New York. Westminster ICennel Club. 
March 3-6. - St. Louis —Sc. Louis Kennel Club 
Marcb 10-13.— ( hicaGo M^ scoutab Kennel Club. 
March ' 4- '7 - Pittsburg — Dnquesne Kennel Club. 
March 17-:0.— Louisville - Kentucky liennel (Jlub. 
March 30-April t.— J-!altimorb.— Baliimore Kennel Assrciation. 
March .SO-April 2. -Kansas city.— Kausus City Kennel Club. 
March 3 -April 3.— San Jose.— Santa Clara County Poultry and 
Kennel Club. 
April 7-10.- Stockton.— Stockton Kennel Club. 
April 14-17.— Los Angeles.- Southern California Kennel Club. 
THE U. S. F. T. C. TRIALS. 
The United States Field Trial Club's trials began ou 
Monday, Jan. 18. The judges were Dr. George Ubank, of 
Birmingham. Ala., and Mr. J. D. Kino;, of .Jackson, Tenn, 
They worked industriously and zealously to biing out the 
vpinners, but they erred sadly in permitting too loose and 
disorganized a competition. The dogs and handlers were 
often widely separated, thus working on distinct territory, 
which split up the heats, made them much more difficult to 
judge, and encouraged a great deal of fast and undignified 
riding. The handlers were mounted, and in some heats the 
dogs could not beat out the ground properly and keep ahead 
of the horses. There was too much hurry and scramble, fast 
walking, fox trotting, galloping. The finding dogs were 
not protected in their efforts to locale and point, the com- 
peting dogs being freely perinitted to go in at such times and 
hustle for the points, and this generated much scrambling, 
some o'd-time jockeying and had temper on the part of the 
handlers. The judges also erred in taking up the' dogs at 
the end of the time limit as a rule, whether ttjere had been 
anything definite or not in the way of competition. 
During the first three days the need of more grounds was 
apparent. The grounds themselves have deteriorated in 
-value for field trial purposes. When first secured they were 
insignificantly under cultivation, and were practically all 
open. Now they are largely under cotton cultivation, and wire 
fences are so numerous as to be seriously obstructive, since 
they disarrange and interfere with the competition. Also, 
the birds are unevenly distributed, owing to large areas of 
cottonfields being bare and the sedge being burnt off. 
There was a very good attendance of visiting sportsmen, 
among whom were Edward Dexter, Buzzard's Bay, Mass. ; 
Philip M. Essig, Natchez, Miss.; W. 8. Bell, Pittsburg; B. 
Wostriakoff, Moscow, Russia; J. H. Mcllhenny, Avery's 
Island, La. ; H. H. Mayberry, J. ,J. Odom, T. W. O'Byrue, 
H E. Smith, N. Stanky, L. Braades, F. W. Dunham, Bir- 
mingham; B. Forbes, Pensacola; A. C. Waddell, Waverly, 
Miss.; Dr JSf. F Grinstead, Cairo, III.; R. R. Morgan. Peter 
Leth, Thos. Bond, J N. Spale, .Jackson, Tenn. ; H. B. Led- 
better, Farmiugton, Mo. ; Geo. W. Hull, C. A Draper, F. J. 
Trost, Toledo, Ohio; Waller Holliday, Prairie Station, Miss. ; 
Prof. Edmund H. Ot.thaup, Toledo, O. ; L. W. Blankenbaker, 
Louisville, Ky.; C. E. Smith and E E Posey, Mobile; N. 
Wallace, Farmington, Conn.; W. F. McCarley, Jackson, 
Tenn., and others. 
Thff weather was mixed, pleasant and unpleasant, favor- 
able and unfavorable. 
The club held several meetings during the week. It was 
decided to hold trials m North Carolina at a place to be 
eelected by a commiitee, and the winter trials were fixed for 
Jan. 9, 1898, at West Point, Miss. All the stakes are to be 
mixed stakes, excepting the Derby to be run at West Point, 
-which will be a pointer Derby and a setter Derby. The cash 
prizes will be the same as are given this year. The winners 
of first prizes in All- Age stakes are not eligible to run in the 
club's All- Age stakes. The application of the Union Field 
Trials Club was laid upon the table. The secretary was or- 
dered to pay the West Point land-owners of grounds the old 
indebtedness of the Southern Field Trials Club. 
Following is the new Board of Governors: N. T. Harris, 
E. DfXter, P. M. Essig, St. M. M. Mundy, W. S. Bell, J. 
M. Avent, W. B. Stafford. T. T. Ashford, J. N. Seale, P. 
Lorillard, Jr , H. S. Smith, Hobart Ames, Geo; Crocker, 
J. A.. Mcllhenny, H. M, Ledbetter. Several new applicants 
were admitted to membership. 
Officers: Norvin T. Harris, President; Edw. Dexter, First 
Vice President; H. S. Smith, Second Vice-President; W. B. 
Stafford, Secretary-Treasurer. 
A resolution was passed by the board of governors recom- 
mending that the club's trials in 1898 follow the Continental 
trials. This was wiih a purpose to have the club alternate 
their dates hereafter. 
The complications arising from running two stakes in one, 
the All-Age Setter and Amateur stake, as mentioned herein- 
after in the report of that stake, should be a warning to 
clubs to avoid such complications 
The Pointer Derby. 
There were eleven pointers in this stake, run as follows: 
T. W. O'Byrne's 1. and w. dog Redskin (Love's Kent- 
Fritz's Fay), N. B. Nesbitt, handler, with C. S. Shoop's 
1. and w. bitch Aloysia (Rip Rap— Dolly. D.), Geo. Gray, 
handler. 
H. H Mayberry's liv. and w. bitch Alabama Girl (Von 
Arrow— Lady Mill), D. E. Rose, handler, with Del Monte 
Keanels' liv. and w. dog Tony Works (Tick Boy — ^Lulu K,), 
Frank Richards, handler. 
Geo H Smith's liv. and w. bitch D'aua (Count Graphic's 
Pat— Be8^ie Croxietti), W. M. Hindky. handler, with T. 
W, O'Byrne's b. and w. dog Moerleia (Rip Rap— Belle of 
Orfsian) N. B. Nesbitt, handler. 
J. S. Ciane's liv. and w. bitch Firefiy (Rip Rap— Clip- 
away II ), G 0. Gray, handler, with H. S. Smith's liv. and 
w. titch Ripple (Rip Rap— Pearl's Dot), J. H. Johnson, 
handler 
Bar Harbor Kennels' b. and w. dog Young Rip Rap (Rip 
Rap— Pearl's Dot), Geo. Gray, handkr,with T T. Ashlord's 
hv. and w. bitch Elgine (Kent Elgin- Julia Paine), J. M. 
Avent, handler. 
Del Monte Kennels' b. and w. dog Tick's Kid (Tick Boy- 
Lulu K.), a bye, Frand Richards, handler. 
This stake was for pointers whelped on or after Jan. 1, 
1895. First |250, second |150 third $100, Two forfeits of 
|10 each, and $10 additional to start. 
This stake was on the whole a poor one, the winners being, 
vfith one exception, the oniy do^s which made a competition 
worthy of the name. Being so commonplace, extended com- 
ment is unnecessary. 
Young Rip Rap, winner of first, made quite a meritorious 
competition. He displayed a good nose and excellent judg- 
ment, was a successful finder and a good ranger. He was 
given a more severe trial than was any other dog in the 
stake. 
Elgine, second, did not make an even competition, though 
in her second heat she made an excellent exhibition of good 
finding and pointing. She had a fast pace and ranged 
well. 
Ripple, third, ran an excellent race, and, taking her work 
all in all, she was very close to second. She ranged fairly 
wide and fast, and was quite reliable in her bird work. 
The judges placed the dogs quite right, though in reaching 
their decisions thev, in my opinion, erred in taking la Tick's 
Kid instead of Firefly. However, this did not affect the 
result. They also erred in taking into the stake a dog which 
did not belong in it, as is mentioned hereinafter. 
Monday. 
The grounds were heavy consequent to the heavy rains 
of Saturday night and Sunday. Birds were in abundance 
in parts of the grounds; in others scarce. With the excep- 
tion of the competition of four dogs, the work was distinctly 
flat and inferior. 
First Sound. 
Re'jskin aistd Alotsia began at 8:47. They started in a 
frolicsome manner and did not begin real work for some 
minutes. Birds were in abundance throughout the heat, 
and the work was far short of the opportunities. Although 
birds were found in abundance, it was not from any good 
seeking on the part of the dogs. Up at 9 :25. Redskin made 
the better competition. Their range was less than mid- 
dfing. 
Alabama Gikl and Tony Works were started at 9:25. 
Tony ran in greatly improved form over that displayed in 
former trials. Nevertheless the heat was commonplace. 
Their range was medium. Both pointed well and both were 
none too reliable in backing, Up at 10:08, with no chance to 
win. 
Diana and Moehlein, cast off at 10:15, proved to be 
commonplace performers. Diana made several flushes on 
bevies, and Moerlein pointed one. Range close. Up at 
10:58, 
Firefly AND Ripple started at 11:14. Firefly flushed a 
bevy excusably across wind in woods. Ripple pointed a 
bevy in corn. Firefly joining independently in the point. 
Ripple pointed twice on scattered birds and flushed once. 
Up at 13:06. This was the first work of any real merit as a 
competition. Both dogs ranged well at good speed and beat 
out a fair range. Ripple was the better. 
Young Rip R.4.P and Elgine began after lunch at 1 :14. 
Rip had the better of the heat in every way, though Elgine 
showed merit enough to be taken into the second series. 
Rip pointed a bevy, Elgine backed to order, pushed forward 
and seemingly disturbed Rip_; he moved on and fiushed the 
bevy, Elgine close up with him at the time. Rip pointed in 
a plum thicket and was steady to shot; Elgine not near. 
Elgine took a long cast to the left and found nothing. Rip 
took a cast to the right and pointed a bevy nicely. The dogs 
were brought together. Rip made three points in succession 
on the scattered birds. He displayed good nose and judg- 
ment. Elgine pointed a bevy and made a point on the scat- 
tered birds. Up at 3:05. Both were good rangers, Elgine- 
the wider, though not with the best judgment. Rip was the 
better finder and the better on birds. 
Tick's Kid, the bye, was run with a setter, -which was an 
error of judgment, since it was first of all a pointer stake, 
and second, a dog which was not entered in the stake had 
no right to be dragged into it. The stake within itself af- 
forded all the competition that was necessary. The judges 
were at first disposed to run a dog which had already run, 
but it was held by some handlers that such dog might go on 
and run much better than it had done in its first heat, an 
