82 
t^OREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. is, 1898. 
properly equipped for the place and for the satisfactory- 
discharge of its duties. 
Amazing as the unpalatable report from Washingtoti 
must be to all men who desire to see the President act 
courageously and wisely in making such appointments, 
it seems to be determined beyond the possibihty of ad- 
verse argument that Senator Elkins shall make this ap- 
pointment and that a totally unfit man will get the place. 
President McKinley knows the law. Senator Elkins un- 
doubtedly knows it. So does the man who has been 
studying six months to become a "person of scientific 
and practical acquaintance with the fish and fisheries of 
the seacoast and inland waters." 
If Senator Elkins's coached candidate shall be ap- 
pointed by President McKinley, will not that appoint- 
ment look like a deliberate surrender of his prerogative 
and his independence to a Senator who is not above con- 
tempt for the law? A President who reads the news- 
papers cannot plead ignorance of the total unfitness of 
Mr. Elkins's candidate. Under the circumstances the 
appointment of this West Virginia man at the behest of 
Mr. Elkins will be about as disgraceful a performance as 
has been reported from W ashington for many years. 
And yet it is insisted that there is n"o chance for any- 
body except Elkins's man. Will Senator Frye stand 
calmly by and allow the law which he procured to be put 
upon the books to be violated by the President? 
Anglers' Tournament. 
To be held at Madison Square Garden, Jan. 13-22. 
RULES GOVERNING THE CONTE.Sr. 
H.u\e 1.— All contests shall be governed by two judges and a 
referee. In case of disagreement the referee shall decide. 
liule 2.— No one shall be. permitted to eiTter any contest, except 
those "open to all," who has ever fished for a living; who has 
ever been a guide or has been engaged in either the manufacture 
or sale of fishing tackle. 
Rule 3.— All persons competing for prizes shall pay an entrance 
fee of $2 for each event, or $5 for three events, and $1 for each 
event in excess of three. No entrance fees will be required in 
the ladies' and press contests. 
Rule 4.— The order in vvhch contestants shall cast shall be de- 
termined by the judges. The contestant must be ready when 
called upou by the judges. 
Rule 5.— The leader and fly in each contest must be mtact at 
the time of record by the judges, and the length and weight of 
roas must be recorded. 
Rule 6.— Arrangements shall be made by the judges to accurately 
determine the point at which the fly or frog falls. 
Rule 7.— Contests shall be called promptly at 3 P. M. and 8 P. M. 
Rule 8.— After the contestant has taken his place on the stand 
his time shall be counted from the moment he says "Ready," and 
the first cast thereafter shall count. The longest cast during the 
five minutes succeeding the word "Ready" shall be taken as his 
record for distance. 
Rule 9. — The rod must be held in one hand, and shall not exceed 
eleven and one-half (11%) feet in length, except when otherwise 
specified. 
Rule 10. — The barb and point must be removed from all hooks 
used. 
Rule 11.— Trout flies on hooks not smaller than No. 12 shall be 
used, uniess otherwise specified. Leaders, which must be of single 
gut, shall not be more than nine (9) feet in length, or less than 
six (6) feet, unless otherwise specified. 
Rule 12.— Time will be allowed, in case of accident, to make 
repairs, at the discretion of the judges. 
Rule 13.— The switch, or Pritchard, style of casting will not be 
allowed, except in the class devoted to that metliod of casting. 
Rule 14.— All difficulties or disputes arising and not provided for 
in tliese rules shall be decided by the judges. 
DESCRIPTION AND ORDER OF CONTESTS. 
Thursday, Jan. 13. Afternoon from 3 o'clock. 
No contest. The tank and platform will be open for practice. 
Evening at S o'clock. 
Class A.— Black bass fly-casting contest. Distance only to count. 
A No. 4 fly to be used, which will be furnished by the committee. 
Open only to those who have never cast more than 75ft. in any 
similar contest. 
Friday, Tan. 14.— Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class B.— Fly-casting contest. Accuracy only. Distance 40ft. 
Open only to those who have never cast more than 75ft. in any 
single-handed fly-casting contest. After the contestant has signified 
his readiness, he shall make five (5) consecutive casts at a buoy. 
The contestant will then commence to cast with his back to the 
buoy and at anv moment, at his option, shall wheel around and 
make a single cast at the buoy. Five of these casts shall be made. 
The distance in feet and inches at which the Hy drops from the 
buoy at each cast shall be noted, and the sum of all these dis- 
tances, added together and divided by ten, shall constitute the 
score. The contestant having the lowest average shall be declared 
the winner. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class C— Light fly rod contest. Distance only. The rod must 
not weigh more than 5oz., with an allowance of ^oz. for solid reel 
seat. Open only to those who have never cast more than 75[t. 
in any similar contest. 
Saturday, Jan. 15.. Afternoon at. 3 o'clock. 
Idlass D.— Light fly rod contest. Distance only. The rod must 
not exceed 4oz. in weight, with an allowane of %oz. for solid reel 
seat. Open only to those who have never cast more than 75ft, in 
any similar contest. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class E.— Obstacle fly rod casting. Distance only. Open to all. 
Rods and length of leaders unrestricted. A horizontal bar. under 
which the cast must be made, will be placed in front of the con- 
testant at a distance of 30ft., and 6ft. above the level of the tank. 
•Monday, Jan. 17. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Glass F. — Ladies' fly-casting contest. For distance only. Un- 
restricted. Open to all. No fees will be required in this content. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class G.— Obstacle fly-casting contest. For delicacy and ac- 
curacy. Open to all. There will be placed on the left side of 
the tank a bush overhanging the water 3ft. and above the surface 
ijft., distant from the casting platform 30ft., and on the right side 
of the tank a similar bush, under like conditions, distant from 
the platform 40ft. The contestant will be allowed five casts at 
each bush. The contestant who places the fly most delicately and 
nearest the side of the tank, under either of the bushes, shall take 
first award. 
Tuesday, Jan. 18. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class H. — Fly-casting contest. Distance only. Open only to 
those who have never cast more than 75ft. in any similar contest. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class I.— Switch or Pritchard style contest. Open to all. Rods 
and length of leader unrestricted. An obstacle, 12ft. high, will be 
placed 15ft. back of the contestants. 
Wednesday, Jan. 19. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class J. — The press fly-casting contest. Open only to members of 
the press. Rods and length of leader unrestricted. No entrance 
fees will be required in this contest. 
Evening at 8 O'CltJtkv 
Class K. — Single-handed bait-casting contest. For distance and 
accuracy. Open to all. Five casts shall be made with %oz. rubber 
frog, to be furnished by the committee. Free running reel to be 
used. N,p limit as to rod or line, but the line must not be leaded 
or' weigfited. Fbf accuracy five casts shall be made at a 
l>ui)-y -placed- -GOft. from th« casting point. - T-he -casts ^ta be inadej 
with- tfc^^Zi Tuhh^Jxpg, and ,fc)r each {pgf ^ihit the; frog:falI>; Xroiji, 
thei bu9y, a demerit of one shall be made; the sum total of such 
cre'merits,- drvided' by fivcr- shall-: tfe ' cotjsitieTed'' th;e deflierit' pSf : 
cent.; the demewi per-- eenti- tle'dueted from 100- s}>a3!--be -fhe-ae^ 
curacy per cent. The average distance cast, added to the per- 
centage for accuracy, shall constitute the score. 
Thursday, Jan. 20. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class L.— Black bass fly-casting contest. Open for all. Distance 
only to count. Flies tied on No. 4 hooks furnisned by the com- 
iViittee to be used. Rods and length of leader unrestricted. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class M.— Fly-casting contest. Distance only to count. Rods 
and length of leader unrestricted. Open only to those who have 
never cast over 96ft. in any similar contest. 
Friday, Jan. 21. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class N.— Light rod fly-casting contest. Distance only. The rod 
must not exceed 4oz. in weiglit, with an allowance to be made 
of Vzoz. for solid reel seat. Length of leader unrestricted. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class O. — Fly-casting contest. For accuracy onl}'. Distance 
60ft. Open to all. Rods and length of leader unrestricted. After 
the contestant has signified his readiness he shall make five con- 
secutive casts at the buoy. The distance in feet and inches at 
which the fly drops from the mark at each cast shall be noted, 
and the sum of all these distances added together and divided by 
five shall constitute the score. The contestant having the lowest 
average shall be declared the winner. 
Saturday, Jan. 22. Afternoon at 3 o'clock. 
Class P. — ^Light rod fly-casting contest. For distance only. 
Open to all. Rods must not exceed 5oz. in weight, with an allow- 
ance to be made of %oz. for solid reel seat. Length of leader 
unrestricted. 
Evening at 8 o'clock. 
Class R. — Ex'pert fly-casting contest. Open to all. Distance 
only. Rods and length of leader unrestricted. 
The prizes in each contest will be a handsome gold, silver and 
Vjronze medal, donated by the National Sportsmen's Association of 
New York. 
Tournament Committee. — Wm. C. Harris, Chairman (American 
Angler); Robt. B. Lawrence, Gonzalo Poey, Secretary; Frederick 
Engle, Chas. A. Bryan. 
THE MAN IN THE CLOCK TOWER. 
The High Seas. 
From my eyrie up here 
in the Tower I can look 
awa}' beyond the Narrows 
and out to sea, that bound- 
less sea the poets sing 
about. And now what 
bothers me is to know how 
the United States is going 
to enforce the new law for- 
bidding pelagic sealing. As 
I tmderstand it, seals are 
ferre naturae, wild animals, 
and when they are found on 
the high seas they belong 
to nobody nor an}' power, 
dominion or Government, 
any more than the Mother 
Carey's chickens do when 
they Hit over the ocean. 
And how, in the name 
of maritime and inter- 
national law, is the 
United States Govern- 
ment going to exercise 
jurisdiction over you 
and me when we want 
to take seals on the 
high seas? These are questions. We all believe that 
pelagic sealing ought to be squelched, but why should 
not Great Britain and Russia and Japan do their part? 
If the question shall ever come into the courts (mark 
my words and pitt me down for a prophet), the Supreme 
Court will throAV out any prosecution of pelagic seal 
fishermen, on the ground that the United States has no 
jurisdiction. What is it all to me? Well, one of these 
days, when they think that perhaps they can run the 
Tower without my help, I may want to do a little seal- 
ing on my own account. Meanwhile^ I don't want all 
the sense ruthlessly legislated out of certain fragments of 
poetry which linger in one's memory from schoolboy 
days — that grand apostrophe of Byron'.s — 
Man marks the earth with ruin — his control 
Stops with tlie shore. 
And Barry Cornwall, who, though he never went to 
sea, or at least before he had been to sea, wrote one 
of the very best sea poems in the language, and knew 
more about the freedom of the sea than an anti-high-seas 
fishing Congress appears to, we shall have to revise his 
couplet: 
The sea! the sea! the open sea! 
' The blue, the fresh, the ever free! 
The Buffalo and the Trophy, 
I read an editorial in last week's Forest and Stream 
which, for rasping antithesis, stands by itself alone. Its 
subject was the killing of a buffalo. 
The killing, of the buffalo as it was done in the years 
not long gone as a matter of time, j'-et long gone as a 
matter which is somewhat dimmea in the rapid swirl of 
changing events in the ctuTent of time, is set forth in 
sharp contrast to the killing of a solitary buffalo, bought 
in the market of the world — a narrow market, exclusive 
iti many ways, and yet a market in that there is some- 
thing to be sold for a price on the one hand, and the 
purchaser with the price on the other. The whole order 
of killing for profit or killing for .sport is reversed. In 
respect to either, one goes forth, captures his game and 
then settles for it from the standpoint of bitsiness or of 
sport. But the recent debutant makes his beginning 
where all others end. One may desire to gam posses- 
sion of the buffalo to r reserve it, another may wish to 
kill it to have the personal gratification of killing a 
majestic animal, and still another may wish to 
kill it from the one consideration of the profit to be 
gained, as he would consider any other business ven- 
ture. And be3^ond all the absurdities apparent on the 
face of this extremely absurd and extremely regrettable 
affair, is that it is a consequent to certain antecedents 
distinct in a way, applauded by the world, accepted near 
and far as a true emblem of sport and also its true in- 
centive; that is to say, not the hunting in itself and the 
purposes as hunting was understood a few years since; 
biif the hunting for the' sake of trbjahies. In other wof-dgi 
it ceases to be the sport as it was once under'StoOd'. 
Fersohal gratification nutst -be augmented. ' In addition 
to 'th'fe excitement'of the sjiiorf and "tlie pleasure of ' suc- 
cess, there must be the further claim to the needs of 
vanity in the material and ostenta.tious parade of a 
trophy. The latter demands the adulation of all comers, 
as the sport is a secondary matter when compared to the 
praises of a lifetime, or the profit of a sale, as the case 
may be. The sport was but the interest of the indi- 
vidual and the affair of the moment; the trophy was his 
pride throughout the ages. So in natural order it has 
come to pass that the pleasure of a fnoment should give 
way to the pleasure of a lifetime. Many hunters went 
forth with a willingness to forego the pleasure of the 
moment for the greater one of possessing the "trophy" 
which would bring a lifetime of adulation and envy atid 
glory. 
Now, with the most profound respect for all concerned, 
I maintain that the man who bought his buft'alo and 
had it carted out to a convenient place to kill it in his 
own way and at his own leisure differed not a whit in 
kind from the man who has a professional guide to lead 
him to a moose, or buffalo, or what you please, to kill 
it to a reasonable certainty. The man who bought his 
victim and had the killing elaborated to a matter of fixed 
routine, merely carried ftirther the arrangements of the 
man with the guide and the moose; the former knows 
where the guide is, the latter knows where the moose is — 
the man comes and the moose is killed. There is no 
question of the unlikeness of kind; it is a question only 
of degree. The man who killed his buffalo continued 
the affair where his brother, the moose hunter, left oft'. 
The moose was not tethered; the buft'alo was. There 
you have the technical difference. 
Before I dismiss this subject, I wish, with a due sub- 
mission, to pay my respects directly to that class of 
specialists which has been growing larger as the big 
game grows costlier and scarcer — that class which strives 
for all the prestige of the hunter after the hunted no 
longer exist or are beyond the compass of the indi-- 
vidual to personally capture. In my remarks, once for 
all, I desire to explain that I concede due value to a 
trophy emblematic of individual prowess, something that 
represents hardship, courage, novelty, manly fortitude, 
or one that represents food added to the public supply, 
etc. But this is a digression. 
And these are my reasons: There are only a few 
considerations which render a trophy valuable. I am 
speaking now of a trophy in the proper sense. The first 
is that it may represent a journey into a far country, 
wherein the hunter may have incurred great dano^er 
from fevers, hostile natives, savage beasts, dangerous 
rivers, etc., conditions all of which imply a struggle Avith 
opposing forces. M'oreover, such a journey may have 
cost large sums of money in conducting it and a long 
time in making it. The trophies from a far country thus 
being symbolical of hardship, novelty, danger, etc., on 
the one hand, and contributing to the general fund of 
scientific information on the other, and thus in a wa}^ 
working a public good, would be indeed a genuine 
article. 
Contrast thaf with the trophy hunter of to-day nearer 
home, who does not consider a trophy as a proper inci- 
dent of the hunt, but as being the purpose of it. Let us 
suppose that a hunter, has a desperate struggle with a 
grizzly, or buffalo, or moose, or deer, etc., and that he 
takes home the head or hide to commemorate the event. 
Here again we have a trophy. It is inseparably asso- 
ciated with the deeds of the individual In short, it is 
essentially an emblem of a conquest or a conflict under 
conditions which dignify and distinguish it above the 
commonplace. But how different is this in its essence 
from the cominon state of things. The idea of a real 
trophy is almost lost— to the general public it is quite 
so. The head of a buft'alo is, colloquially, quite as likely 
to be called a trophy as it is a head, the public consider- 
ing them as equivalent terms. Furthermore, we have 
trophies because they represent animals which are rare, 
or because I killed it, or because I wish to have the 
prestige for a few hundred dollars that my more prac- 
tical brother sportsman got only by personal effort. 
Of course this amiable weakness, to be up to date in 
appearance, was the source of the keen demand for heads 
as mural ornaments. And, of course, supplementary to 
this was the keen desire of a class for "trophies'" made 
while you wait. Here we find the people who give the 
trophy hunter his inspiration. Would so many men enter 
the wilderness of Maine, kill a moose, take his hide and 
head as a "trophy," and leave the meat to rot, if the 
head did not have such a commercial value? No, surely 
not. And yet, with the unreasonableness of caste, the 
head-hunter would scorn his more humble brother who 
potted the moose illegally for food, although the latter 
was fulfilling more the true purpose of the public will, as 
much so as a man could who Avas doing an illegal act, 
if it were illegal. 
Let us trace the groAvth of the evil and note hoAv insid- 
iously has been the growth of it. As heads and horns 
Avere trophies when taken under the conditions Avhich 
made them such, Ave may look to them as first giving 
employment to taxidermists. There Avere those Avho 
readily saAV much of ornament in them, if nothing of the 
nature of a trophy. The majestic heads, their rarity, the 
general admiration they excited and the constantly grow- 
ing scarcity of them, impelled many to possess heads for 
mural adornment alone. Thus they have noAv largely lost 
their original significance of trophies and have become 
a matter of purchase and sale Avith fixed market qtiota- 
' tions, as are potatoes or cabbages. One can go to any 
taxidermist of note and purchase any kind of head Avhich 
he pleases, and the transaction Avill have not even a re- 
mote relation to sport, no more than Avould a purchase 
of steak or clams or clothes. And j^et nothing is more 
common than to read that Mr. So-and-so ambushed a 
deer or a moose, with the aid of his guide, and took the 
head home for a "trophy." A trophy of Avhat, pray? 
Let us wave a farcAvell to the genuine trophy and 
Avelcome the advent of the trade trophy, that Avhich is 
not a true trophy, but which we will make into a trophy 
by force of insistence. Let us hail Avith joyous accla- 
mation the trophy which represents the destruction of 
immense quantities of valuable food ea.ch year or each 
day, as it may happen. , . " " . 
Any one who has read the eoluilins Of PoilfiST' AND 
Stream T<novvs that the State OAvns it'Ke gahie Avithin' Its 
botinianes."" a' property it is' a valuable property. ' ft, 
is "a food supply.' The most stringent laws are "neces'safy 
to conserve it. It is a valuable adjunct to the State's 
