74 
Dogs as Draft Animals,— V* 
Uij'Li;* kk(;ari)Ing the use oe dogs as draft animals in 
THE CITY OF ZURICH. 
The use of dogs as draft animals is subject to the per- 
mission of the local police, given at the production of a 
certificate from the district veterinary, stating the quali- 
fications of the t^espective dog for the respective load. 
The license is valid for one year only; its renewal must 
then be supported by a new certificate of qualification. 
Such a paper must contain a detailed description of the . 
animal, the denomination of the wagon type and the 
weight of the load. The driver must be ready at any time 
to produce the license upon request of a policeman. 
In order to be qualified for the purpose the aiumal 
must be at least two years old, have a normal, strong 
frame and be well fed. Dogs big with young or giving 
suck are not qualified. 
The weight of a load shall uot exceed 24olbs. per dog, 
inclusive of the wagon. Where the road is ascending or 
presenting other difficulties, the said maximum load must 
be reduced or the driver must assist the dog in pulliiig. 
Assistance by the driver is presumed or the driver must 
assist the dog in pulling. Assistance by the driver is 
jjresumed for all emergencies. 
The harness must be made so as not to aggravate the 
work of the animal. The use of the '-horse collar" is not 
tolerated: it must be substituted by the so-called "breast- 
plate." The leather straps must be smooth and shall not 
be narrower than 5 centimenters (2in,). Harnesses which 
vary from these prescriptions are confiscated if their 
make defies correction. To hitch the dog in by the 
dog collar is not allowed. 
The wagon must bear the name and address of the 
owner. The driver must be over the age of fourteen 
years. The use of the whip or stick is prohibited. The 
driver may seat himself upon the wagon, if his weight 
does not increase the load beyond the allowed maximum, 
and if it does not endanger public safety. 
Dog teams shall not be left without care on public 
.streets and thoroughfares. In towns the local police will 
indicate special stopping places, and may demand that 
every dog be proA'ided Avith a muzzle. If a prolonged 
stop is intended anywhere, the dog must be unharnessed 
for the time, and in warm weather the team must be 
placed in the shade. Thirsty or exhausted animals must 
be watered. In winter, covers and couch mats must be 
provided. 
Besides imposing an adequate fine for non-observance 
of these prescriptions, the permission for using a dog 
as a draft animal may be altogether withdrawn from an 
obstinate oft'ender. 
The dog does not wear any curb or snaffle in the 
mouth; the guiding strap or line is attached to the 
collar. The wagon employed is generally a diminutive 
copy of the common four-wheeled tray wagon. 
With regard to the animal, I may add that there is, 
among a great variety of dogs seen here, a number of 
big, fine dogs of the size of the Bernardiner, the New- 
foundland, the wolf-hound and the mastiff. It is a pity 
that, as a rule, they are mongrels. The short-haired spec- 
imens seem to be preferred hy drivers. 
Large-sized dogs have ever been used in this part of 
the country to protect isolated farms and yards. The 
abundance of these strong animals, mostly idle during the 
day, and often seen in the streets without their masters, 
may have led to the habit here of employing them as 
draft animals to carry milk and other farm products to 
town. 
The use of the so-called butcher's dog for driving 
cattle to the shambles, is abolished by law, since it is 
termed "cruelty to animals" by the animal protection so- 
cieties of this country. 
LUCERlffE. 
Ernest Williams, Consular Agent, reports as follows: 
Dogs are used for draft in this part of the Horgen 
consular district, principally by the men collecting milk 
from the small farms for the dairies uv lor the cheese 
factories. These dogs do not draw the carts themselves, 
but are used to assist the men, who are themselves be- 
tween the shafts, the dogs being harnessed to the carts 
on the outside of the shafts. 
The dogs used are of no particular breed, the only 
requisites being strength and weight. They are probably 
a cross between the short-haired St. Bernard, the mas- 
tiff and boar hound, the color preferre'd being red or 
orange tawny mixed with white. They are clever and 
docile with their masters, but rather savage in dispo- 
sition. They begin to work at about the age of eight 
months, and at that age ought to be 56 centimeters 
(about 22in.) high at the shoulder. They are strong 
and enduring, and can pull a load of 300 or 40olbs. and 
work for seven or eight hours a day. 
The values of the dogs range from 70 to 150 francs 
($13.51 to $28.95), but a good dog can generally be ob- 
tained for 100 francs. 
They do not require any special training. They are 
simply hai-nessed to the cart, and in two or three lessons 
understand what is expected of them. 
The harness consists of a leather breast strap, the sides 
of which are supported in a horizontal position by two 
leather straps passing over the back, and a bellyband 
starting from between the two back straps. The traces, 
which are a continuation of the breast strap, are usually 
made of iron chains fastened to an iron singletree, which' 
is itself hooked on to the cart. The dogs wear a collar 
with a chain which is fastened to the shaft close to one 
of the handles, so as to be more under tlie control of 
the master. Sometimes two dogs are harnessed to the 
cart, one on each side of the shafts, but generally one dog 
is considered sufficient to drag a cart containing two 
cans, each holding about 50 or 60 gallons of milk. 
The cart consists of two rather high wheels, between 
which and at a convenient distance above their naves 
are two long shafts connected to the axletree by springs 
and terminating in front by handles, as in a wheelbarrow. 
From the shafts between the wheels hangs, by chains 
or iron rods, a platform or tray which is only a few 
inches from the ground, and on which stand the two 
milk cans in front and rear of the axletree, and main- 
tained in their position by a leather strap passing round 
them and through staples in the shafts. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
The Yachtsman of Dec. 30 quotes and comments on 
some of our remarks as follows: 
The Forest and Stream appreciates the deputation 
of Mr. Jarvis to the Y. R. A. as merely an informal mis- 
sion to exchange general views, and points out that it 
could be nothing else because no rule in America is set- 
tled as yet. It says: "On the other side the whole mat- 
ter (measurement) is in a very uncertain state; so nmch 
so that there would be nothing to gain here by the adop- 
tion of the existing Y. R. A. rule." 
We cannot just follow this, for our rule would in our 
opinion just fit what the Americans want. The sail fac- 
tor might be omitted from the formula, and in that case 
we think that the hrrlls would tend to become identical 
on both sides of the water, for larger sail spreads are de- 
manded by the weather conditions on the other side of 
the Atlantic. British boats competing in America would 
then be canvased up to suit, and a close sunilarity of 
bull would tend to equal racing. 
At any rate, seeing that America has no good rule 
and wants one, surely it would be well to ToUow the lead 
of the Y. R. A., and if it changes to change with it. Of 
coitrse there would be opposition to this, but what rule 
will ever be free from opposition? There has never been 
a rule that has given universal satisfaction, and there 
will never be one. Would it not be as well then for our 
cousins to. have their struggle over the formidable-look- 
ing British formula as oA'er one of their own? It would 
save such a lot of initial fornuila making, and it would be 
an earnest of their desire for a common rating rule. 
But we regret to say that we believe j'^achting in 
America lacks the very solid foundation of love that 
keeps it going in our waters, and it will require more, 
even, than a new rule, no matter how good it may be, 
to make the sport a national one in the States. We be- 
lieve there is more love of yachting inherent in the 
French than in the Americans. What strikes us as being 
a significant indication of this is the apparent apathy 
with which the proposal to make a new measurement rule 
has been received in America. Such a suggestion here 
woidd flood our columns with formulte and controversies 
lasting many weeks each, the death of one merely herald- 
ing the birth of another. Tiresome as this is very apt to 
become, it at all events shows a spirit of keen interest in 
the subject, which is absolutely lacking in America. One 
of the first symptoms of decadence in yachting would be 
the reception of any proposal for a change of rule with 
indifference. 
Without stopping to argue the first point raised by the 
Yachtsman, we are painfully constrained to admit that 
there is an unpalatable amount of truth in its final re- 
marks. The utter apathy of the majority of American 
yachtsmen in matters that concern the vital interests 
of the sport is most discouraging. There is apparently 
an entire absence of that deep and widespread interest 
in the sport which would seek to extend it and to im- 
prove all of its details. While ihe whole country is 
swept at intervals by a wild wave of yachting enthu.siasm 
awakened by some international event, in the long inter- 
vening periods it is impossible to stir up any interest 
whatever in the plain practical matters which are the 
foundation of yacht racing. The movements which come 
up from time to time for the iniprovement of the rules 
are the work of a small number of men; they receive no 
recognition from the great body of yachtsmen, and with 
a certain set they furnish a subject for sneers and de- 
rision. We have been impressed times without number 
with the marked contrast in this respect between Great 
Britain and America. There any proposal for a change 
of the measurement rule, however slight, brings out in- 
stantly a lengthy and often heated correspondence in all 
the yachting journals. Here a similar proposal is passed 
over with utter indifference by the very ones most deeply 
concerned in it — the practical yacht owners — and it is a 
rare thing for one of them to pass an opinion in print. 
If proof of this be needed it may be had in the next two 
weeks in all the journals, both lay and technical, which 
publish yachting news. The report of the race committee 
of the Seawanhaka C. Y. C, which appears in our 
columns this week, has never been equaled as a thesis 
for the practical and profitable discussion of the mea.sure- 
ment question as it stands to-day. The report of the 
same committee for 1896, with its broad and practical 
treatment of the active questions in yachting was a wide 
departure from the usual perfunctory committee report, 
but excellent as it was the present one is a decided im- 
provement. Last year the committee was working large- 
ly in the conventional lines, with due and proper regard 
for the sacred fetish of "vested interests," and looking 
mainly to immediate results in the shape of a general re- 
vival of racing on the part of existing yachts. This year 
it has gone a great way further; it has boldly deposed 
the holy idol from the place it has so long held to the 
detriment of yachting, and has declared that measure- 
ment legislation to be at all effective must deal exclu- 
sively with the future and not with the past; that it must 
consider the possible yachts which will be built under 
a new rule, and not the old yachts which cannot be forced 
to race under any rule, however favorable to them. 
While the committee has stopped short of actual fac- 
tors and formulEe, modestly admitting its inability to 
handle this part of the subject, it has not failed to set 
forth boldly and positively, and in a manner to challenge 
controversy, its opinions as to the general object and 
character of a new and satisfactory measurement rule. 
The propositions set forth in the report are in no way 
limited or local, but they relate to the mea.surement ques- 
tion as it affects every yacht owner and every American 
club. Published in an English paper, they would simply 
deluge it with correspondence, to the probable exclu- 
sion of other matter for some weeks. Does any one 
suppose for a moment that they will bring out more than 
one or two chance letters from American yachtsmen? 
While we have omitted the details of the practical 
trial of the Cox formula in the club last year, as given 
EjTAN. 22, ligg. 
in the report, the result is very frankly set forth by the 
committee, and it should be conclusive as to the possible 
repetition of such an experiment in the future. The 
foi ■mula was the result of considerable labor on the part 
of Mr. Cox and a few others, and was put forward in 
good faith as likely to produce some good results, even 
though it might not take the place of a new and per- 
manent rule. The result unfortunately has justified the 
opinion we held when it was first proposed, that it was 
an absolute waste of time, if for ho other reason, because 
the existing yachts have done with racing. At the same 
time the work of Mr. Cox and the committee has pro- 
duced incidentally a good result in that it has led to the 
abandonment of the attempt to cater to the old boats, 
and to a positive declaration in favor of a different line 
of action: the search for a rule under which new yachts 
of more desirable type will be built. 
So far as the race committee is concerned, in advan- 
cing the matter to the present point it has discharged 
faithfirlly a self-assumed task, and disposed of the bur- 
den very gracefully: but we are sorry for the new spe- 
cial committee appointed to continue the work. 
The American Y. C. has met with very poor success 
in its proposed 25ft. class, as of the many " yachtsmen 
present at the preHminary meetings, only two have 
signed the contract. Mr. B. Frank Wood, of City 
Island, agreed to build the yachts for $1,650 each pro- 
viding at least six were ordered. Messrs. J. R. Max- 
well, Jr., and W. H. McCord were the only ones who 
signed the contract, so the project has been abandoned. 
Seawanhaka Corinthian Y, C 
The twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Seawanhaka 
Corinthian Yacht Club was held at the town club house 
on Jan. 11. Com. Rouse, who has been dangerously ill 
during the fall and early winter, is now absent in Europe, 
and Capt. Williani Trotter occupied the chair. The 
usual reports of officers and committees were read, the 
trustees announcing the election of a number of. new 
members, bringing the membership up to the limit of 
400. In view of the applicants now on the waiting list, 
an amendment to the constitution extending the limit to 
500 was adopted. 
The following officers and committees were elected: 
Commodore, Henry Clark Rouse; Vice-Commodore, S. Van 
Bensselaer Cruger; Rear Commodore, Henry A. Van Liew; Sec- 
iretary, Charles J. Stevens; Treasurer, R. C. Wetmore; Measurer, 
John Hyslop; Fleet Surgeon, Valentine Mott, M. D.; Fleet 
Chaplain, George R. Vandewater, D. D. ; Race Committee, Oliver 
E. Cromwell, D. Le Roy Dresser, Walter C. Kerr, Charles A.-Sher- 
man and C. W. Wetmore; Committee on Lectures and Enter- 
tainments, Frank S. Hastings, Herbert L. satterlee and Jacob 
Wendell, Jr.; Committee on Lines and Models, John Hyslop, 
A. Cary Smith and W. P. Stephens; Law Committee, Wilmot T. 
Cox, Alfred Ely and W. Kintzing Post. 
Trustees— E, C. Benedict, D. Le Roy Dresser, Frederic de 
P. Foster, Charles J. Stevent.s, J. Frederic Tams arid C. W. Wet- 
more. 
The most important feature of the evening's business 
was the report of the race committee, a (lengthy docu- 
ment covering the entire work of the committee for the 
past year. Omitting the detailed reports of races, prizes, 
etc., we give as follows those portions of the report 
of the race committee which are of general interest to 
yachtsmen. 
Match for 1898. — By agreement between this club and 
the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, the Declaration of 
Trust governing the challenge cup was so amended as 
to provide that no challenge should be accepted until 
after the expiration of thirty days next succeeding the 
date of the conclusion of any match, and that the chal- 
lenged club should be at full liberty to accept any one 
of the challenges received during this period without 
regard to a priority of the date of its receipt. After the 
expiration of this period, the challenge first received is 
entitled to acceptance as originally provided in the 
Declaration of Trust. 
The match with the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club 
was concluded on Aug. 18, 1897, ^iid the thirty days ex- 
pired on Sept. 17; on Sept. 16 your committe, on behalf 
of the club, duly challenged the Royal St. Lawrence 
Yacht Club for a match to be sailed during the season 
of 1898, with yachts not exceeding 25ft. racing length. 
This chaJlenge was duly ratified at the last meeting of 
the club, and after some delay, resulting from the con- 
sideration of an informal challenge from Mr. J. Arthur 
Brand, of London, Eng., has been accepted by the Royal 
St. Lawrence Yacht Club for the 20ft. class. Negotia- 
tions have been carried on between your committee and 
the sailing committee of the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht 
Club during the last two months, which have resulted 
in the execution of an agreement to govern the match 
for 1898, a copy of which is annexed hereto. This agree- 
ment does not difl'er essentially from that governing the 
last match, the only change of importance being that the 
total weight of crew permitted is limited to 6oolbs., and 
the total number of the crew is limited to four instead 
of three. 
A controversy arose last year aS to the interpretation 
of Article X. of the Declaration of Trust, requiring the 
helmsmen of the representative yachts to be named in 
advance of the races. The Royal St. Lawrence Yacht 
Club insisted that but one helmsman could be named, 
and the point was finally conceded for the match of 1897 
only. Under the agreement governing the coming match, 
the construction of Article X., which has been insisted 
on by your committee, has been accepted, and more than 
one helmsman may therefore be named, and a change of 
helmsmen be permitted at will. It is probable that the 
match will be fixed for about the same date as that of 
last year, namely, about the middle of August, and that 
the trial races will be held early in July. Due announce- 
ment will be made at an early date concerning these 
events. 
Your coinmittee earnestly iitvites the co-operation of 
the club in a determined effort to regain the cup. Mr. 
Clinton H. Crane has volunteered to return from Glas- 
gow, Scotland, where he is now pursuing his professional 
studies, and to devote his services to the undertaking, 
and 'we hope that the financial support necessary will be 
promptly assured. 
