SS4 
t^OREST ANJJ STREAM. 
[April 29, 1899. 
rainbow trout in the Pere Marquette River. He wiJi 
make another trip about thirty days later^ and I thin' 
it may be safely said that he will stop one of those big 
ones before he gets through. Mr. Waddell was Mr. Feet's 
host last June at the time of the Grand Rapids tourna- 
ment,- and he is thoroughly in love with everything per- 
taining to Grand Rapids and the Pere Marquette. 
FisbtDg Wisdom, 
I go to my correspondence box when I want something 
good, and just now I have in hand a letter from a fishing 
friend who is dov\'n at Louisville, Ky., confined to his 
room with gout. He writes to me to relieve his mind, if 
not his feet, and incidentally contributes several odds and 
ends, of fishing wisdom which I take to be just the sort 
of gossip that sportsmen like to pass about among the 
circle. Thus he says : 
"Who originated the cane-vvound hand grasp for fly 
rods? I have always had a grudge for the inventor of 
tliat abomination. Many a man has found his hand badly 
blistered after fly-fishing for a few hours with one of 
these things on the opening day of the season. Yet the 
rod makers go on 5-ear after year and make rods with 
cane-wound butts. 
"A cork-covered hand grasp is the thing for a fly rod. 
It feels good, will not get slippery when wet, and will not 
blister your hands. There are two kinds of cork hand 
grasps made, one being a thin veneer of cork about J^in. 
thick, the other is made of rather thick cylinders of cork 
fitted over the wood. The last named are the best and 
most durable. 
"Next to a cork hand grasp for fly and bait casting 
rods, I have found the cord-wound to be the most de- 
sirable. For winding the hand grasps of rods I have used 
the eighteen-thread cuttyhimk linen line that has been 
soaked in melted paraEfine wax with a little resin added. 
The ingredients named should be melted in a waterbath 
(see your druggist about this). After soaking line and 
allowing same to cool, it should be drawn through coarse 
cotton cloth, held in the hand, until the surplus wax is 
removed from the surface. The line treated in this man- 
ner is waterproof, and will not get loose in consequence 
of contraction and expansion. Have never had one of 
these cord-wound hand grasps blister my hands. This 
kind of hand grasp is not as satisfactory as the cork 
covered. 
"I am at a loss to understand why so many fly and 
bait casting rods are made with doweled ferrules. I have 
never had "one of these rods that would not come apart 
just at the wrong time when casting. Dr. Henshall has 
written quite elaborately about the doweled rods and 
condemns them, 5'et people go on buying rods of this 
kind and learning by experience. 
"I have seen a number of fly-rods with light standing 
guides on them instead of the usual loose rings. Parties 
using rods with the standing guides claim they are' better 
than the other kind. Have never used a fly- rod with 
standing guides. Will some reader of Forest and Stream 
who has had experience with both kinds give an opinion 
as to the comparative merits of the two kinds. 
"When fly-fishing on streams I have found a light rub- 
ber cape a good thing to have in case of a shower. I al- • 
ways carry one with me. It weighs but little and has 
saved me from getting soaking wet quite a number of 
times. I should think it would pay some manufacturer to 
put a good quality cape of this kind on the market. The 
one I now have is of poor quality, and was made for 
bicycle riders. I had to cut it open at the front to adapt 
it to my requirements. 
"When out on a stream for the day I carry a mackin- 
tosh cartridge bag, in which I put my fly-book and mid- 
day lunch, which are always dry, unless I happen to fall 
down, which rarely occurs. A mackintosh bag made 
especially for the needs of fly-fishermen would be a good 
thing. Am told that such bags are to be had in England. 
"There are, so far as the writer knows, two styles of 
minnow-casting in vogue in the United States. One is 
known as the Henshall style, which is a graceful and easy 
way of casting when you have room to swing your rod. 
There are many places and conditions when it is impos- 
sible to cast in this style. I am under the impression 
that this style of casting had been in use in some sections 
of the country for many years before Dr. Henshall re- 
duced to writing a definite description of it._ As the 
doctor was the first to write, a description of this method 
it is now generally known as the Henshall style. The 
other method of minnow casting, which is probably not 
so generally known, is frequently designated as the 
Chicago style, and is what might be called overhead 
casting. The writer thinks this style of casting has the 
advantage over the Henshall, in the fact that it can be 
made under conditions that would prevent one from 
casting in the Henshall style. , , • 
"The writer has never seen any prmted description 
of the Chicago style in the papers and periodicals de- 
voted to angling. A clear description of this method 
would probably be of interest to many readers of the 
Forest and Stream. When two persons are casting 
from the same boat the Chicago style is much to be pre- 
ferred. Probably the greatest objection to this style ot 
casting is that it requires a somewhat shorter and 
stiff er rod than the Henshall method. The writer has 
tried 6j4 7 7 1-3, 7^ and S^Ait. rods for minnow casting 
in both'styles. and has found that for all-around work a 
^kft rod of 80Z. about the most satisfactory. With this 
kngth of rod one can cast in either style with fairly 
satisfactory results, and have sufificient elasticity to tire a 
good sized fish within a reasonable time. In some re- 
spects, the best minnow-casting rod the writer ever owned 
was a two-piece Japanese cane 7ft. 4in. m length. 11ns 
rod was light in weight, somewhat stiff when casting, but 
quite flexible and elastic when a good sized bass was 
hooked. I could make very accurate casts with this rod, 
and while it lasted, used it in preference to much more 
costly ones. I gave it some severe tests in the way of 
holding hard some large bass, but one day on the Kan- 
kakee it came to grief. In striking a small pickerel of 
about 541b. in weight the rod broke off at one of the 
natural ioints, apparently as brittle as a pipe stem of 
day. Rods of this kind are strong when new, but can 
nrf be rebed on after the first season. 
"I prefer the high arched antifriction guides on mm- 
now-casting rods. They do not look so nice in finish as 
the so-called trumpet guides, but th^ do hold the line 
u.o off of the rod so that it does not cut and fray the silk 
v/appings as much as when the other styles of guides 
are used. 
"For minnow-casting in the styles named, a first-class 
quadruple reel is the cheapest in the long run if it is 
properly taken care of. If any one of a mechanical turn 
of mind will take apart a Milam, Meek or Talbot reel 
and notice particularly the construction of the pillars in 
connection with the ends, he will at once see one reason 
why these reels are so much more durable than many 
others on the market. I have often wondered why sortie 
of the large manufacturers have not "caught on" to this 
long ago. I know of a reel that is more than forty years 
old that has seen much service, which is a good reel to- 
day. If you have a fine reel, take good care of it, keep it 
clean and well oiled with best sperm oil. When out on 
a fishing' trip clean and oil your reel at least once a 
week. For minnow-casting for black bass the writer 
prefers a hard braided silk line, half-way in size between 
a G and H. The last named size casts well, but is gen- 
erally too weak to last one season." 
If the writer of the above mention regarding the 
"Chicago style" of bait-casting will refer to files of 
Forest and Stream dating back nine or ten years, he 
will find that I described the system rather fully in my 
department at that time. I think that it was myself also, 
without doubt, who gave this style of bait-casting the 
name of the "Chicago style," this appellation being given 
it in the Forest akd Stream and daily papers at about 
that time. This was before the organization of the 
Chicago Fly-Casting Club, whose work subsequently 
brought the method into greater publicity through tourna- 
ment competitions., E. Hough. 
4S0 Caxto.m Buili^ing, Chicago, 111. 
he Mmntt 
Fixttifes. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
April 26-29.— Baltimore, Md.— Baltimore Kennel Club's third 
Btinual show. . „ , „ „ . w i r^i 
May 3-6.— San Francisco, Cal.— San Francisco Kennel Club s 
I liird annual- show. ^ i . • , t- a 
Sept. 4-7.— Toronto, Can.— Toronto Industrial Exhibition Asso- 
:;iation's eleventh annual show. t-. . , i. o 
Nov. 22-24.— New York.— American Pet Dog Club's show. 
C. Hodge, Supt. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 6.— Bicknell, Ind.— Indiana Field Trial Club's trials. S. 
"nov*^ 14 -^Chatham, Ont.— International Field Trial Club's tenth 
innuai trials. W. B. Wells Hon. Sec'y. ^. , , • , r-i 
Nov. 14.— Washington, t. H., O.— Ohio Field Trial Club's 
Uials. C. E. Baughn, Sec'y. „ . . , , . . , 
Dec. 8.— Newton, N. C— Continental Field Trial Club s tnals. 
Thos. Sturges, Sec'y. 
Dog Sense. 
Portsmouth, Va. — Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
been very much interested in Mr. Mather's letters, and 
like him I believe that dogs do reason. I will give in- 
stances often occurring at my country home, in North 
Carolina, noticed by all the family and often commented 
on as showing a remarkable degree of intelligence for a 
dog. 
My father always kept during his lifetirne from twelve to 
eighteen foxhounds, which were his special delight. Dur- 
ing the long winter moonshiny nights they could oe 
heard for miles in full chorus after the wily gray fox, 
urged on by an occasional hallo from their master in such 
musical tones that it never failed to encourage them to 
renewed efforts. Neighbors around would join my 
father and enjoy the chase. It was impossible to fol- 
low the dogs on horseback, as that is not the proper way 
to enjoy a fox hunt. Some of your correspondents seem 
to think one should run his horse close up behind the 
hounds; but this would soon wind a horse. ' A good hun- 
ter on a good horse can manage to course his hounas 
and cut them off by some short route and be within a 
quarter or a half mile of them when they cross a road or 
field. And the music of a pack in full cry is much 
sweeter when wafted to you on the still night air from 
such a distance than when very near. Many and many a 
fox's hide have I stripped and stretched pn a board and 
sold to furriers in my boyhood days; and then cooked 
the fox in meal for the hounds. My brother still keep.s 
up the hunting proclivities of the family at the old home- 
stead and has a nice pack of hounds. 
But I started out to write about reason and instin:;t. 
The hounds showed some reason by never attempting to 
follow my father to church nor anywhere else when he 
was dressed in his Sunday clothes. A bird dog named 
Frank, as good and as fine an English setter as was 
ever wrapped in dog hide, played the principal part. 
During the long summer months the hounds would do 
little else than lounge around in the shade during the 
heat of the day; and almost any evening late Frank could 
be seen going from one sleeping hound to another Uck- 
ing their mouths and getting them on their feet and 
jumping around them in a most friendly manner. Then 
he would go toward the fields, and if they did not readily 
follow, he would return and repeat his dog tactics- and 
he never failed thus to get a good number of them 
off to hunt rabbits. He would hunt as indus- 
triously as the hounds until a rabbit was started, 
and as soon as it was started Frank could be 
seen to run around and get between the hounds and 
the briar patch and watch for the rabbit. He seemed to 
know they would make for the thickest place, and often 
would catch the little rabbit and eat it before the hounds 
could get there. If it was a grown one the hounds would 
be in time to share the feast. This looks much like rea- 
son to me. If it was instinct it is of a high grade article, 
verging on to human intelligence. Frank was a good 
dog loved by all the family and the neighbors. He 
would hunt for anybody, and after the hunt was over 
would return to his master, regardless of distance. Be 
wa=; also a good catch dog for hogs and sheep. The 
family often allude to him in endearing terms. He hved 
to good old age. and finally had to be killed, and is 
gone where good dogs go. 
Another instance of a dog's reasoning. My brother- 
had also a black setter named Jack, that followed himr 
wherever he went over the farm of several thousand acres. 
Sometimes my brother would forget to feed Jack after 
finishing his own breakfast and would leave immediately 
on horseback on his daily rounds over the farm. Jack- 
would run to the cook and whine and jump up on her 
until she fed him; and I have often tioticed him while 
eating hurriedly to stop and run to a back door to see 
which way his master would go. A road ran east and 
west by the house to a fiver west oi the house, which ran 
north and south, and followed its banks to a 
canal and down the canal to another road leading di- 
rectly from the house. If my brother took the straight 
road to the bridge Jack would follow without complet- 
ing his breakfast; but if he went the river road Jack 
would complete his breakfast and go down the road to 
the bridge and wait for his master. Now it looks as If 
the dog reasoned thus: "My master has gone to the 
river, and as usual will cross the canal at the bridge, so 
I will take a short cut and meet him instead of taking 
such a long run to overtake him." 
Most any day Jack would lose his master while run- 
ning rabbits, and as my brother would go a zig-zag route 
among the different crops, instead of following up the 
horse's tracks Jack would go to a brick kiln on an ele- 
vation on the farm and see where his master was. Jack 
would only own one master; he would not follow nor 
hunt for any one else. He, too, was a good catch dog. 
By some means he was poisoned and died a premature 
and hard death. 
Such instances as the above were frequent occurrences 
there and were witnessed by many and were not consid- 
ered rarities for well-bred and trained bird dogs. But 
since I've been living in a city and seeing well-bred and 
well-trained dogs, I note that they do not show the self- 
.reliant air and independence, cunning, sagacity and bot- 
tom of the open-air-bred dogs in the country, that are 
taught to mind when puppies and allowed the freedom of 
the fields, so that when they are large enough to stand a 
day's hunt with the gun they are well acquainted with 
the location of the birds, and it only requires a whip- 
ping or two to prevent them flushing when the birds be- 
gin to run. 
Let us have some more of "Ole Virginia," they are 
rich and racy; but tell Mr. Hopkins not to let them be 
rare. Tae.-Heel. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have been interested in contributions to ForJest 
and Stream regarding dog reasoning power, and though 
I do not often take the trouble to write when not com- 
pelled to, m.y gratitude to the old dog, whose friend 
I am, impels me to add a little to the testimony in the 
dog's favor. A down East fox hunter recently sent you 
a letter describing fox hunting as practiced up his way, 
which is the way I have known it done. Fox hunters 
who prefer to ride horses and do without guns would 
change their preferences if living along the headwaters 
of the Delaware River, and they would soon learn that 
it requires more skill to kill foxes there with a dog and 
gun than it does to have them, run down by a pack of 
dogs. I once bought a young hound out of imported 
English stock, and very soon got all I wanted of fast- 
running dogs, and promptly let a man who fancied that 
kind have Blaine, which was the rapid canine's name. 
That dog repeatedly ran down and caught red foxes 
on bare ground in a run of four or five hours. He 
wasted no breath in barking, but put all his energy into 
his legs and would run half a mile in a minute or two, 
only barking a few times on the way. 
The New England fox hunter describes my old dog 
so well that I have by his letter been induced to^ write 
this. Hunter is now twelve years old, and is getting to 
be as gray and deaf as his old master, and our hunting 
is probably about done. He was a slow dog, and would 
work an old track as long as he was left at it, or until 
the fox was started, but he got over a wonderful sight 
of ground when his fox was once in motion. He barked 
all the time, was never tired and never had sore feet, 
though he would generally run every second or third 
day, even though he went hunting alone. He was part 
black, part brindle, with yellow head and legs, and not 
very long ears — not half as fancy looking as hounds 1 
have owned not worth comparing with him. In all his 
life he has never done a mean thing, which I can hardly 
say for his master. 
This dog was raised in Delaware county, and when a 
year old I took him to Wyoming county. There he saw 
a big flock of sheep in a field the first time he ran out 
after the wagon on a Sunday afternoon. The dog ran 
across the field, and the sheep huddled together and acted 
so strange that the pup went up to investigate. The sheep 
ran and the dog ran after and barked. He soon got a 
whipping and . would not come within reach of the 
wagon until he got home. The next week the experi- 
ence was repeated and the dog took in the situation. 
After that he would leave the road and take to the fields 
on the opposite side if there was a flock of sheep in 
sight, nor would he notice sheep if he were hunting and 
passed them in the field or woods. 
In the spring of 1892 I concluded to move to Sullivan 
