Mat 1, 1897. J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Limit the Trout Catch. 
Paterson, N. J,, April 33. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Can you inform me where I can find anything relating to 
the Frank Forrester laws, limiting the catch of trout to 
eighteen, that prevailed on Long island about 1848? Some 
time ago I read in some paper that the remedy for prevent- 
ing the depletion of trout streams was to revive the old 
Frank Forrrater laws. I was at once impressed with the 
great scope of this idea, as it would (if enforced) put a stop 
to the slaughter that has prevailed on many trout streams for 
a long time. I have at one time or another spent about a 
year and a half on the Beaverkill, in Sullivan county, and 
know the stream and its history thoroughly. For some time 
past I have never missed an opportunity to advocate my 
liobby of putting a limit on the number of trout caught in 
any twenty-four hours or had in possession at any one time. 
1 have just returned from a run up to .Joe Cammer's, on the 
Beaverkill, and there met several members of the Brooklyn 
Fly Fishers' Club, who have now put a limit of ten on trout 
caught out their preserve. 
We shall want eorde good, strong influence to work up a 
popular feeling among fly-fishermen throughout the State to 
take up the matter to their rein'eseutatives at Albany, and no 
paper can do this so well as Forest and Stkeam. Will you 
not take an interest in the scheme? Something must be done 
to stop the trout hogs. Last year four men from Port Jervis 
caught enough trout for twenty-five or thirty decent fisher- 
men. They ate over sixty (this gives you an idea of their 
siz ) a meal, and carried home four baskets full and two 
large milk pails full. A few years ago two men (?) caught 
, 700 little trout out of the Yoorhia Brook. I could tell you 
many such cases. 
You see, the limit law would cover a multitude of the 
troubles now existing as to size, etc. I think it would be a 
great and glorious thing for Forest kkd Stream to work 
up, and 1 know that all fly-fishermen would rise up and bless 
you if such a law should be passed. The law should carry a 
big penalty to prevent violators, say $100, half of which 
should go the informer. 
The western Catskill streams are the most beautiful trout 
streams in the United States, and are worth fighting for. 
Possibly a law taking in these streams only might be en- 
forced. Bbn.t. Kent. 
Trout in Central New Tork. 
Ithaca, N. Y. — Local trout anglers manifested unusual 
activity at the ushering in of the brook trout season, the 
16th, and notwithstanding the fact that many of the larger 
streams were, by virtue of recent heavy rains, running wild 
and boisterous, some exceedingly fine creels 'of trout were 
taken. The writer saw an especially even lot of twelve that 
were taken from Spring Brooli at a point less than four miles 
south of town. 
An angler who worked out the East Owego Creek, in the 
vicinity of Harford Mills, opening day, scored fifteen 
trout averaging lib. each. Eev. Jno. T. Stone, of Cortland 
and Rev, Arthur Hoyt, of Auburn^ accompanied by L. D. 
Cams, of Cortland, passed the first two days of the season, 
at Slaterville, fishing the West Owego Creek, and took 751b8. 
of trout, 
Messrs. Wilson, Sharp, Miller, Middaugh and Calkins, of 
this city, were on the West Owego the 17th, and although 
the weather conditions were wintry in the extreme, a fine 
catch was reported. 
An exceptionally large number of good scores have reached 
me as a result of the past five day's astream, justifying the 
prediction that plenty of sport awaits the trout angler as the 
season grows apace. 
Fall Creek, reached from McLean, on the line of Lehigh 
Valley R. R. or the East Owego, reached from Harford "or 
Richford, on the same line of railroad, should furnish 
satisfactory angling shortly. The West Owego withm easy 
distance of Ithaca, Owego or Cortland, is one of the most 
alluring trout streams enriching the landscape of Central 
New York, being easy to fish and beautiful to behold. 
Many small but "trouty" streams abound in the country 
through which the West Owego flows on its way to the Sus- 
quehanna. M. Chill, 
When in Fishing Toss. 
Little Rock, Ark. — I am sorry the picture I sent you was 
so dim it would not reproduce, for I had a desire to let the 
world see how so good a man as Brother Howerton can look 
so villainous and piratical. It is a physiognomical mystery. 
1 will illustrate it. The parson had a parishioner, Mrs. 
Green, an old lady of saintly life, one of the salt of the earth, 
whom every one around h.ere calls blessed. He and I had 
been fishing one day, and were coming home about sunset 
with a magnificent string of bass. He said, "My wife is 
away, and 1 will give my fish to Mother Green." So I drove 
him around there. The old lady was sittuag on the porch 
enjoying the summer sunset. We stopped and Howerton 
went in, and the following conversation took place: "Mrs. 
Green, here are some fish." "Well, I don't believe I want 
to buy any this waim weather," "Bat you had better take 
them, anyhow." "No, 1 don't want to buy any. I have not 
ice enough in the house to keep them." "But lei me give 
them to you." Thereupon the old lady put on her specta- 
cles, looked at the parson, w'ho all that time had been within 
3ft. of her, scanned him up and down, and finally said: "Is 
this Brother Howerton?" The old lady was neither blind 
nor specially near-sighted, but the parson looked so disrep- 
utable she did not recognize the man who dispensed the 
Gospel every Sunday. J. M. Rose. 
The Lamprey as Bait for Wall-Eyed Pike. 
Baltimore, Md., April 23.— Noting communication of 
aVI. Chill in issue of the 24th instant on the subject of "The 
Destructive Lamprej," 1 will ask if there is any reason why 
tbe lamprey should not be used as a bait in trolling for w^all- 
eyed pike? The fishermen on the Susquehanna use the 
lamprey attached to the ''gang" and spoon in trolling for 
the salmon, so-called, and say it is an additional attraction. 
How is this thus when M. Chill claims it to be a parasite? 
Swjft. 
An Oneida Liake Net Raid. 
ITtica, N. Y., April %L—Ediicrr Forest and Stream: The 
State fish and game protectors have been doing business on 
Oneida Lake recently. Thirty-one large trap-nets were de- 
stroyed there and tons of pike liberated. Last week twenty- 
one more nets were taken, making a total of fifty-two within 
ten days. Some of those captured last were new nets, which 
were set immediately after the protectors were supposed to 
have left the lake, ^sj^ W. E. Wolcott. 
The Schuyler Fishings Club. 
Some of the leading sportsmen of Stillwater, N. Y. , have 
formed a fishing club. The organization is styled the 
Schuyler Fishing Club, of Stillwater, and at the first regular 
meeting, held on the 17th ult., the following officers were 
elected: President, P. S. Miller; Secretary and Treasurer, 
W. J. Barnes. It is the purpose of the club to aid in the 
protection and pi'opagation of the fish and game of this 
locality, and steps have already been taken toward restock- 
ing the most promising trout brooks in the vicinity. 
Lake Champlain Bass Fishing, 
St. Albans, Vt. — The migratory habits of the small- 
mouthed black bass brought thousands of them from the St. 
Lawrence River into the waters of Ijake Champlain, condi- 
tions causing it in 1896, when the water was the highest for 
nineteen years. We had as good bass fishing in the season 
of 1S96 as at any time in the past twenty years, and as you 
are aware, we have had most excellent fishing in the Great 
Back Bay of Lake Champlain. W. J. Samson. 
— "Angling Talks." 
We ha-re a very few copies of George Dawson's "ArtRling Talks," a 
series of chapter.s of entertaiDing chat about men, lishermen, nsh, 
fishing and fishing places. Cloth, 50 cents. Forest and Stream Pub- 
lishing Co. 
he Mmtmt 
FIXTURES. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 1.— Continental Field Trials Club's chicken^trials, Morris, Man. 
Sept. 6. -Manitoba Field Trials Club, Jtorris, Man. 
Nov. 2.— Monongahels Valley Game and Fish Protective AsEOCi- 
ation's trials, Greene county. Pa. 
Nov. 8.-- Union Field Trials Club's trials, Carlisle, Ind. 
Nov. 15.— E. F. T. Club's trials, Newton, N. C. 
Nov. 16.-— Intemalional Fjeld Trials Club's eighth annual trials, 
Chatham, Ont- 
Nov. 22.— U. S. F, T. Club's autumn trials. 
1898. 
Jan. 30.— U. S. F. T. Club's winter trials, West Point, Miss. 
Jan. 17.— Continental F. T. Club's trials, New Albany, Miss. 
COURTESY AT BENCH SHOWS. 
Hartford, Conn. — Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
noted the growth, during some years, of the "courtesy to 
exhibitors" plaint made by some writers in their reports of 
certain shows. To me it seems that such complainings are 
both indelicate and unjust. Usually the complaint is made 
in behalf of the exhibitors, at least ostensibly so, but there 
generally is a ring of personal grievance and disappoint- 
ment over the absent courtesies. From such data as I can 
gather, the "courtesies" omitted are free lunches to the re- 
porters, with such accessories as add luster to the lunch, 
and some special attention paid to the exhibitors as to 
sightseeing. To me it seems as if it all was very absurd. 
If the management treats the exhibitors and press with 
politeness, it is all they have any right to expect. That a 
special committee should be expected, yes, demanded, with 
duties to look after the entertainment of visitors, at a time 
when the full energies and time of the club are strained 
to their utmost, is carrying a selfish feeling too far. 
The exhibitors place themselves on a strictly business 
footing so far as the bench show concerns themselves. 
They are importunate in demanding cash prizes in the 
classes, and are quite as eager to have valuable specials. 
If they, on the other hand, were invited to give up some- 
thing valuable in the name of courtesy, they would indig- 
nantly refuse. New and more classes are demanded of the 
management after the prize list is published, and when all 
this is secured, then the supplementary "courtesies" are 
looked for. The exhibitor enters on a business basis, and 
exacts the most valuable business considerations obtain- 
able. Then when he and several hundred of him and his 
friends come in a body to the show, they each individual- 
ly seem to expect to be treated as an invited guest. The 
show may lose money; the working committee may be 
overworked; the general routine may be most exacting and 
worrying, yet before all else must come the "courtesy." 
I have noticed that when the committee or club mem- 
bers devote themselves assiduously to the entertainment 
of the reporters, there is seldom any complaint heard of 
neglect of the exhibitors, whence I am inclined to believe 
that neglect of the exhibitors, sifted of all its pretense, is 
merely a matter of neglecting the reporter. At all events, 
it is bad form to demand as a right what could be expected 
only as a matter of voluntary invitation. To be the 
recipient of hospitality at one time establishes no claim 
to make a demand for it the next time. I may add that the 
gentlemen in charge of bench shows are quite competent 
to pass on what is due courtesy and what is not, perhaps 
quite as competent as anyone else. If one management 
chooses to make a pleasure excursion for the exhibitors, 
and treats them as distinguished visitors instead of as ex- 
hibitors, that should not be made the standard- for all 
other managements to live up to. Courteous attention 
and prompt arrangement of all business matters are all 
that any exhibitor has any claim to and all that he has a 
right to expect. To cry out because personal entertain- 
ment has not been extended may be termed a displeasing 
and inappropriate trait In the exhibitor or reporter. 
Gesxjine Nutmeg. 
The Chicken Field Trials. 
The chicken field trials are growing steadily in popular- 
ity, and seem to have a vitality which is indicative of their 
permanency. Hertofore the greater part of the field trial 
support came from non-residents of the chicken country, 
but there are indications that this year the resident sports- 
men will participate and add a greater mateiial assistance 
to the chicken trials than they have given heretofore. 
The sportsmen of Minnesota in particular are manifesting 
an admirable interest, and if they once engage in earnest 
the permanency of the trials is assured. 
With such advantages at their very doors, it is strange 
that the sportsmen of Minnesota have not organized a 
club or clubs of their own for the purpose of holding 
trials, as have their brethren across the line in Manitoba, 
but now that they have bestowed their interest on the 
competition, and the incentive is felt to own better dogs 
and ones better trained, the spirit of emulation will prob- 
ably result in organization for field trial interests. The 
broad prairies afford the best of field trial grounds every 
where. They are easily secured and easily protected from 
the depredations of poachers, much more so than are the 
grounds in the quail country, and the rental expenses are 
far less. Setters and pointers are numerous in city, town 
and country, so that there is abundant competitive mate- 
rial to draw upon, if a proper degree of field trial interest 
can be aroused. The chicken trials are held at a season 
delightful for visiting sportsmen, and for the abundance of 
the highest sport, whether with dog and gun, or rod and 
reel, one has but to turn to the volumes of literature to 
learn of it. 
THE FIDELITY OF THE DOG. 
Washington, D. C. — Editor Forest and Stream: Poets and 
novelists have sung the praises of the dog for his devotion 
and love of his master. The fidelity of the dog was the high- 
est standard of comparison, for nothing exemplified an affec- 
tion so unselfish, a loyalty so unblemished, a watchfulness 
so incessant as it did. For his devotion and self sacrifice the 
dog has always stood high in man's good opinion. History 
is filled with innumerable references to dogs as a companion 
or servant of man in war, in peace, or iij the chase, from 
man's gradual emancipiation from savagery and ignorance 
to his highest development in civihzation. In passing it 
may be said that dogs are not a universal favorite. There 
are men who are enthusiastic in their fondness for dogs, or 
some particular kinds of dogs. This fondness is often in- 
spired by fashion or some peculiar combinations of circum- 
stances in the mutations of life. As to the first, if one leader, 
gentleman or lady, of a fashionable circle adops a fad, 
whether it be riding, yachting, dogs or cats, etc., there is a 
swarm of imitators who immediately set about doing what 
the leader does. Aa to the combinations of circumstances, a 
man may be passionately fond of shooting or hunting, etc, 
at a certain stage of his life", and these circumstances being a 
dominant passion, he loves dogs for contributing to his sport. 
At a later stage in his life, when he cares not for sport, he 
would kick the dogs out of his path with peevish force— the 
same dogs which he once would have given warm welcome 
to. 
But the devotion of the dog? The dog is fond of com- 
panionship, and he will readily associate with any animal 
which gratifies this need of his nature. He may form a 
friendship for a horse. Dogs which are raised with sheep 
form a friendship for them and find all the needed compan- 
ionship in their society. Dogs form friendships for each 
other; but whether for horse, sheep or man, it is not from 
any sense of unselfish devotion, but it is, on the contrary, a 
selfish need of his nature which craves companionship and a 
slavish dependence on others to supply his food. He 
naturally drops into what best fits his needs, his comfort and 
his existence. He follows his master about; he is solicitous 
to be in his presence; he is attached to the home of his mas- 
ter; all this is from self-interest, for there he has his food, 
shelter and protection. Let him lose his home and master, 
and though the one may be luxurious and the other kind and 
gentle, he will transfer his affections to the most ignorant 
and coarse man who first attempts to be friendly with him, 
and will adapt himself to the new home life and surround- 
ings with no regrtts and no memories. 
But he will fight for his master. He will fight for a dog 
companion. He is a born fighter, but not singly. The dog 
fights in packs. Two or more dogs fighting in company 
will fight bravely and desperately. One alone fights indif- 
ferently compared to the fighting of packs. The moral sup- 
port of company and aid makes the dog brave, and this is 
precisely what the dog feels when in the presence of his 
master whom he loves, but will love some one else the next 
day without a break in the transfer of his affections The 
intense love for a home "is only long-continued habit. The 
wild dog has the same love for his own den. Fidelity is 
merely the dog's own, contentment with his comfortable sur- 
roundings. His protection of his master's home and person 
is only the same protection which the dog bestows on his 
own den in the wilderness and his wild dog companions. 
I think that Rev. Charles Josiah Adams could do much 
good by selling us aright on what is true dog nature, instead 
of accepting common assumption that it is the exemplar of 
fidelity. M. 
Poisoning Extraordinary. 
Gainesville, Va. — Editor Forest and Stream— and Sports- 
men: Since my retirement from the field trials' field, though 
still reading the reports with great interest, I have not had 
published a single article from my hand; for, as to my bird 
dogs, misfortune seems to have come in Isattalion strong. 
In the last few years I've lost by the acts of cold blooded 
and vicious people, in trained, field-trial and bench-winning 
pointers. Lady Spotswood, First Flight Virginia ("F. F. V"."), 
Htineken, Flake of Flockfinder, Jr., Nick of Ion, Sprts- 
wood, Frank, Rod's Rod, Flockfinder III., all poisoned. 
On the evening of the 14th inst., a few minutes after 1 had 
fed her with my own hands, Lady Margaret was shot to 
death in the public road, opposite and within 25yds. of the 
line of our own Margaretta tarm by a brutal negro, 
My loss in her is great. The intensity of my feelings is 
such even now, that I will not attempt to express them I 
consider the loss to the sportsman afield even greater than 
my loss. She laid in state in ray front yard the whole of the 
15th, resting peacefully on the green sod, over which her 
feet had so nimbly trod, so that all could view the remains 
of the very best pointer that ever had died. I have prose- 
cuted him for cruelty for unlawfully killing; I will now 
prosecute him for perjury, and also for felony in stealing the 
body from the public road. She never long backed a talse- 
pointing dog; she has refused when dead to hackstand a 
lying, brutal negro, though less brutal than those who put 
out the tempting, poisoned bait for the others. 
Long years ago, on the evidence of my then living pointer, 
old Staunch, a white man was sent to the penitentiary, and 
now, on the evidence of the dead Lady Margaret, do 1 fully 
expect to send this criminal to the same place. 
I have sued in Civil Court to recover |1,250, placing the 
minimum of $1,000, the price I named when Judge John D. 
King offered me $500 after she had run one puppy race with 
the great setter Lillian Russell. I add §250 because she was 
bred from March 8 to 17 to that great flock-finder, St Blaise, 
the only dog which could nearly approach her speed that 
was ever put down with her, although he was not in it on 
singles and retrieving. 
My fr.ends, regardless whether or not we have antagonized 
each other in the discussion or running of bird dogs — for I 
was fully satisfied when I had proved and assisted to prove 
that a real good pointer is as good as the very best tetter. 
Where heat, birds and burrs abound, he's very much better. 
In this and in trials yet to come of pith and moment, I need 
3 our support and sympathy. Hickobt, 
