June i6, iqoo.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
47S 
Water Snake and Tfout. 
Boston, Mass., June 4. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
note in your issue of May 26 the item by Mr. J. S. Van 
Cleef, of the water snake and the trout. I can report a 
very similar occurrence. 
In the spring of 1898, while fishing in company with 
Col. S. M. Blair, of Ansonia, Conn., we came to a 
pool perhaps 30 feet across, formed by the junction of the 
Qmpechenee Brook and the Konkapot, in the town of 
Mill River, Mass. 
I fished one side of the pool with a fly, while the 
Colonel took the other with bait. Commotion in the 
center of the pool attracted our attention, and upon look- 
ing closer we saw a large water snake with a trout in 
his mouth. The snake was making a desperate effort to 
drag the trout to where a shelving ledge came down to 
the water, while the trout, by continual rushes, would 
endeavor to keep the snake in deep and swifter water. 
We watched the fight for, I should think, five minutes, 
and finally the snake tired the trout out, and by a half- 
backing and half-sideway motion he drew the trout on 
to the shelving ledge. 
I had by that time cut an alder and killed the water- 
snake. The snake was about feet long, and the trout 
weighed 10 ounces. The teeth of the snake were so im- 
bedded in the throat of the trout that it required several 
hard shakes to release the fish. 
I rather regret that I did not wait to see just what the 
snake would have done with that trout, but it was the 
first time that I ever heard of or saw such a thing, and I 
have an antipathy to snakes. 
Harrv S. Andrews. 
[See also note in the article "In the Adirondacks" on 
another page.] 
Staten Island Fishing^. 
Gifford's, Staten Island, N. Y., June 8. — The weakfisli 
have begun to bite at last. Yesterday forenoon four 
well-known anglers — Messrs. Sibley, Buchanan, Smith 
and Kerr — caught twenty weakfish in three hours' fishing. 
This inaugurates the season here, and the fishing will 
now begin in earnest. Mrs. M. J. Collins. 
Salt-Water Fishermen. 
Thk Protective League of Salt-Water Fishermen will 
meet at Wall's Hotel, 106 West 3i.st street, New York, 
Monday evening, June 18. Col. J. F. Milliken and Hon. 
J. F. Maker will speak. All who are interested in better- 
ing the salt-water fishing about New York are invited to 
come. 
Bamegat Bay. 
Baya^lle^ N. J., June 5. — The weakfish arc beginning to 
bite. A few yellowlegs are coming in. Herb. 
Immt 
Fixtures. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 13.— Chatham, Ont.— Twelfth annual field trials of the In- 
ternational Field Trials Club. W. B. Wells, Hon. Sec'y 
Nov. 18.— Newton, N. C— Eastern Field Trials Club's twenty- 
second annual field trials. S. C. Bradley, Sec'y, Greenfield Hill, 
Conn, ' 
The Man That Loves a Dog. l .... 
He makes pages for the papers. 
Does the man that loves a dog. 
Cutting literary capers 
On the virtues of the dog ; 
He'd split the constitution 
By inciting revolution 
To avenge the persecution 
Of the dog. 
Of science he's a master, 
Is the man that loves a dog, 
And he'll soon out-Pasteur Pasteur 
On diseases of the dog. 
He scorns the best apology 
For Tommy-rotty ology. 
And vows that practicology . 
Is the science of the dog. • 
He declares that Evolution 
Gave a soul unto the dog- 
It's religious prostitution 
To deny one to the dog ! 
If the mood will him inspire on, 
He will quote a page of Byron, 
Or turn the tuneful lyre on. 
In tribute to the dog. 
He's oft an odor of the stable 
Has the man that loves a dog; 
He oft will do you if he's able. 
Will the man that loves a dog ! 
But if a friend you're needing. 
When Dame Fortune is unheeding 
All your prayers and e'en j'our pleading. 
Seek tlie man that loves a dog. 
— Quilp in Our Dogs. 
G)ntinental Field Trial Club. 
Greenfield Hill, Conn., June 7— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I take pleasure in announcing the sixth animal 
meet of the Continental Field Trial Club, to be held on 
the grounds of the Eastern Field Trial Club at Newton. 
N. C. Nov. 30, 1900. on which day the Members' Sweep- 
stake will be started, to be followed by the Derby, A\\- 
Age and Subscription stakes, in order named. 
Derby entries cjose July I. All stakes will be advertised 
in the Forest and Stream beginning with issue of June 
23. Messrs. Simon C. Bradley, E. H. Osthaus and Chas. 
H. Phelps, Jr., have kindly consented to judge the open 
gtakes, ,A.ll those who have alreadv -vyritten for entry 
blanks, etc., will receive them in good time, as they are 
now being prepared for the mail. The quail crop promises 
to be one of the largest in years, and as not a dozen birds 
were killed on the club grounds last year and but very few 
on the land adjoining it, there will be an abundance of 
birds, giving all dogs a good chance to show how they 
can handle their game. 
I have every reason to expect a good substantial entry 
in all the stakes, which means a good time for all those 
who are fortunate enough to be in attendance. 
Theo. Sturges, Sec'y-Treas. 
Human Nature and Dog Philosophy. 
Daxsville, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: When 
you treat animals kindly and let their untrameled nature 
have full play, it is astonishing the amount of pleasure 
the true lover of nature can derive from the observation 
of their habits. Jenny, my hound, has two pups. They 
commence to run about, and the gambols of mother and 
children are laughter provoking in the extreme. She is a 
good mother, and teaches and corrects them, dog fashion, 
but being full of life herself (she is only two years old), 
her play is sometimes a bit rough, but the little fellows are 
game and defend themselves. One of the pups had found 
a bone and was gnawing it. Jenny, who is blessed with a 
voracious appetite, took it away from him. after much dog 
discussion. She is weaning her pups, but when the little 
fellow saw she was absorbed in gnawing his stolen bone, 
he immediately proceeded to get even with her by taking 
his natural food with much gusto. The sight was full of 
human nature and dog philosophj'. 
Julius the Fox Hunter. 
Points and Flushes. 
V. H. F. Mercer, who was quite conspicuous in canine 
matters in the States some years ago as a fancier of 
Clumber spaniels, died early last week at his home in 
Ottawa, Canada. He wrote quite extensively for the 
sporting press at one time, had acted as a judge of 
suaniels and was the author of "The Spaniel and His 
Training." He was an invalid for many years before his 
death. 
Yachting Fixtures, J 900. 
Secretaries and members of race committees will confer a favor 
by sending notice of errors or omissions in the following list and 
also of changes which may be made in the future. 
JOKE. 
2. Royal St. Lawrence, 5-rater, 22ft. and 17ft. classes, Dorval, Lake 
St. Louis. 
2. Knickerbocker, annual, College Point, Long Island Sound. 
2. Hull-Massachusetts, club, Hull, Boston Harbor. 
•2. Queen City, 22ft. knockabout class, Toronto, Toronto Bay. 
3. Hudson River, spring, open. New York, Hudson River. 
9. Manhasset, annual Port Washington, Long Island Sound. 
9. Royal St. Lawrence, 22ft. cruising, 5-rater, 22ft. and 17ft., Valois, 
Lake St. Louis. . 
9. Canarsie, first championship, Canarsie, Jamaica Bay. 
9. Queen City, 17ft. class, Toronto, Toronto Bay. 
9. Atlantic, special, Sea Gate, New York Bay. 
11. Atlantic, special, Sea Gate, New York Bay. 
12. Atlantic, annual, Sea Gate, New York Bay. 
12. Atlantic, annual. Sea Gate, New York Ba"y. 
14. New York, annual. New York Bay. 
16. Eastern, special, Marblehead, ^Massachusetts Bay. 
16. Beverly, open, Monument Fieach, Buzzards Bay. 
16. Haverhill, first championship. 
16. Norwalk, club, Norwalk, Long Island Sound. 
16. Taunton, club, Taunton. 
16. Savin Hill, Savin Hill, Boston Harbor. 
16. American, race, Xewburyport to Squam. 
16. Winthrop, handicap, Wintlirop, Boston Harbor. 
16. Seawanhaka Corinthian, Center Island cup. Oyster Bay, Long 
Island Sound. 
16-17-lS. Columbia, cruise. 
16-17. New Bedford, annual cruise, Buzzards Bay. 
16. California, Wallace trophy, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay. 
16. Larchmont spring, open, Larchmont, Long Island Sound. 
16. Hull-Massachusetts, club, Hull, Boston Harbor. 
16. Royal St. Lawrence, 22ft. cruising, 5-rater, 22ft. and 17ft. 
classes, Pointe Claire. 
16. Ouiucy, H. O. class. Ouincy, Boston Harbor. 
16. Queen City, 16ft. class, Toronto, Toronto Bay. 
18. Hull-Massachusetts. 
18. Quincv, handicap, Ouincy, Boston Harbor. 
19. New ■^ork. Glen Cove cups, Long Island Sound. 
15. Eastern, special, :Marblehead, ^Massachusetts Bay. 
18. Corinthian, championship, Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay. 
18. East Gloucester, club, Gloucester. 
18. Quannapowitt. 
20. East Gloucester, evening race, Gloucester. 
21. Seaw,"»nhaka Corinthian, all classes, Oyster Bay. 
22. Seawanhaka Corinthian, all classes. Oyster Bay. 
23. Seawanhaka Corinthian, annua!, Long Island Sound. 
23. Nahant, Dory-Straine cup, Nahant, Massachusetts Bay. 
23. Jamaica Bav, open, Canarsie. Jamaica Bay. 
23. Beverly Monument Beach, Buzzards Bay. 
23. Winthrop, Winthrop, Boston Harbor. 
23. Du.xbury, Duxbury, Mass. 
23. Quannapowitt. commodore's cup. 
23. Kingston, club, Kingston, Ont., Lake Ontario. 
23. Seawanhaka Corinthian, annual. Oyster Bay, L. I. Sound. 
23. Royal St. Lawrence, 5-rater, 17ft. and ainghy classes, Dorval, 
Lake St. Louis. ... „ ^ 
^3. Queen City, Dodd cup, 20ft. special class, Toronto, Toronto 
27. East Gloucester, evening race, Gloucester. . , „ 
30. New Rochelle, annual. New Rochelle, Long Island Sound. 
30. Hull-Massachusetts, club, Hull, Boston Harbor. 
30. Queen City, cruising race, Toronto, Lake OtUarip. 
30. Royal St. Lawrence, cruise to Carillon. Lake .St. Loms. 
30. South Boston, handicap. City Point, Boston Harbot. 
.30. Haverhill, Haverhille, Mass. 
.30. Squantum, open. Squantum, Mass. 
30. Manchester, Tucker-Boardman cup, Manchester. 
30. Duxbury, Duxbury, Mass. 
30 Beverly, Monument Beach, Buzzards Bay. 
30 Ouincv, club and H. CX class, Quincy, Boston Harbor. 
30. Winthrop, handicap, Winthrop, Boston Harbor. 
30. Quannapowitt. ^ ■ , ^ -r t r. 
30 Seawanhaka Cor., Center Island cup. Oyster Bay, L. I. Sound. 
SO July 1. California, cnii»e to Paradise Cove. 
The Newport Yacht Racing Association will this year 
give a cup costing $i,ooo for the new 70-footers in a 
series of ten races, to be sailed of¥ Newport in July and, 
.August. The winner of each race will be given two 
points, and the second boat, if four start, will be given 
one point, the cup going to the highest score at the end 
of the series. The first race will be sailed on July 16, and 
the series will continue on each alternate day in the 
month. During the first two we^eks in August the series 
will be discontinued owing to the New York Y. C. 
cruise, but it will be resumed on Aug. 16 and continued on 
alternate days. 
T\T "^^r ^^V^^ concerning the America Cup is that 
Mr. Watson and Mr. Fife will co-operate in the design of 
^ "^\^?^"^"Ser for Sir Thomas Lipton for 1901. There 
IS probably no truth whatever in it. A short time ago Mr 
VV atson accompanied Mr. Fife on a visit of inspection to 
bhamrock, and this is sufficient basis for the story. 
At a meeting of the Royal Cork Y. C, of Queenstown. 
June 7, bir Ihomas Lipton was elected a member He 
has expressed his intention of challenging for the A.mer- 
ica Cup under the auspices of this club. 
• u^^^^T^ of our remarks last week on the vachting news 
in the New York dailies, we learn from one prominent 
paper ^ that Mineola II. "tilts to leeward" in a high wind 
and at times the water smashed against the hatches." 
W hat IS even worse, "at times she heeled her sail to the 
waters. 
T,-T^^, yawl Syborita, designed by G. L. Watson for 
Whitaker White, was launched at Henderson's Yard. 
Glasgow, on May 31. Her dimensions, as reported are 
over all 123ft., Lw.l. 85ft., breadth 23ft. 6in., draft 19ft 
The British racing season opened very quietly with the 
annual races on the East Coast; on the Thames, then to 
Harwich and off the latter port. The leading competitors 
were the old Sarona, now Maid Marian ; the yawl Bryn- 
hila, and the S2-footers Penitent and Senga. 
The cutter Astrild has not yet arrived at New York. 
She was spoken by the steamer Majestic on May 27 in lat. 
44— 3a long. 44—41. Hester, cutter, just purchased bv 
Rear-Com. Robinson, N. Y. Y. C, fitted out very hastily 
at Gourock and sailed for New York on May 26 with Capt 
Fairweather and a crew of nine, all told. She carries her 
racing spars and canvas on board, but is snugly rigged 
for the passage. All the refitting and painting will he 
done on this side. Isolde and Gloria, both bound for 
Halifax, are now on the ocean. 
On June 9 the one-design yachts Quinque and Sw^eet- 
heart started in a private match at the Marine and Field 
Club, but Sweetheart withdrew on the first round. 
The following sales have recently been made through 
F. B. Jones: Polly, yawl, C. W. Chopin to G. E. Kis'^el - 
Cymbra, cutter, by E. L. Waldo and V. C. Browne to 
F. C. Henderson ; Kantaka, raceabout, by G. J. Bradish to 
G. S. Heft. 
The Burning of the Scythian. 
The steel steam yacht Scythian, Capt. Thomas J. Car- 
diff, owned by Mrs. Charles T. Parker, of New York 
bound from New York to Boston, was tow-ed in to the 
latter port on June 6 almost a total wreck, having been on 
fire when twelve miles northeast from Highland Light. 
The tug A. W. Chesterton sighted the burning vessel, 
and, running alongside, put a hose on board and ex- 
tinguished the fire. 
The entire forward part was burned out. 
The yacht sailed from Oyster Bay, L. I., on May 31, and 
left Vineyard Haven on June 3. At 12 :30 o'clock on June 
6, without the slightest warning, a volume of smoke and 
flame burst tiirough the forward skylight, and Capt. 
Cardiff, who was on watch, immediately discovered that 
the whole yacht beneath decks forward of the bridge was 
afire. 
The yacht's course was changed so that the wind would 
not drive the fire to the after part of the vessel. On ac- 
count of the intense heat the crew took to the boats and 
dropped astern, retaining hold of the log line. The vessel 
burned furiously until the Chesterton fell in with her. 
The Scythian was formerly a British fruit steamer. 
She was luxuriously furnished, and almost all of her 
fittings were destroyed. The forward part of the boat, 
which was consumed, contained the saloon, bathrooms! 
four staterooms and store rooms, in which Was a large 
amount of supplies. The greater part of the silver, china 
and linen was also destro3'ed. 
Besides Capt. Cardiff, the crew consisted of a mate, 
chief engineer, steward and five sailors. All of them 
escaped injury with the exception of Capt. Cardiff, whose 
left hand was slightly burned. It is uncertain whether 
the Scythian was insured or not, the former policy having 
expired on June i. 
The Scj^thian is tied no at East Boston pending a settle- 
ment with the owners of the tug regarding salvage. 
Newport Y. C 
kewport — ^narragansett bay. 
Saturday, June 9. 
The race postponed on Decoration Day by the Newport 
Y. C. was sailed on June 9 over a tifteen-mile inside 
course in a very light and variable wind. The times were : 
First Class. 
Elapsed. Corrected. 
Pet, W. A. Clark 2 -fi. 27 2 41 27 
T. A. C, F. A. ComelL-.,,, .......2 44 09 3 43 57 
Manila Withdrew. 
Second Class. 
Vesper, C S. Plumraer.. ...2 41 12 2 41 12 
Wobun, R. Chandler 2 42 32 2 41 59 
IMildrcd Withdrew. 
South Boston Y. C. 
CITY POINT — BOSTON H.^RBOR- ' f 
Saturday, June g. 
The first of the South Boston Y. C. races for sailing 
dinghies came off on June 9 in a fresh northerly wind, the 
times being : 
French ...0 35 48 Merrill 0 47 42 
Stickney ....... . ,' 0 35 5.5 Coupal 0 47 52 
Dolbeare .........0 46 21 
Judges, ex-Com. Arthur Fuller, John T, Hurley and 
W. Walalce Kee. 
