S24 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
tOcr. 24, 1903. 
a cup, and the winners of second and third get di- 
plomas. 
The competitive qualities are defined as follows: 
By hunting shall be understood the general ranging 
and starting qualities of a hound. ^ 
Trailing shall be considered the manner in which a 
hound follows a trail before a fox is jumped. 
Speed and driving shall be considered rapidity of 
movement while actually carrying the scent, and there- 
fore the hound doing the greater part of the leading 
and known to be carrying either the ground or body 
sceiit, is the speediest. 
By endurance is meant the capacity of a hound for 
contitruous maximum work during a number of suc- 
cessive days" trial. 
By tonguing is meant the use a hound makes of his 
voice after he is let loose for the day's trials. 
The foxhound having the highest general average 
shall be adjudged the winner of the All-Age Stake, and 
in computing the highest general average, the first 
prize in any class of the All-Age Stake shall count 
SO) tlie second 30 and the third prize 20. 
The Law About Dogs. 
From the Neva York Times. 
By the common law, as well as by the laAv of most, 
if not all, the States, dogs are so far recognized as 
property that an action will lie for their conversion or 
injury, although, in the absence of a statute, they are 
not regarded as a subject of larceny. The very fact 
that thej-^ are without the protection of the criminal 
laws shows that property in dogs is of an imperfect 
or qualified nature, and they stand, as it were, be- 
tween animals fercB naturce, in which, imtil killed or 
subdued, there is no property, as in domestic animals, 
where the right of property is perfect and complete. 
They are not considered as being upon the same 
plane as horses, cattle, sheep and other domestic ani- 
mals, but rather in the category of cats, monkeys, par- 
rots, singing birds and similar animals kept for pleas- 
tire, curiosity, or caprice. They have no intrinsic value, 
by which we understand a value common to all dogs 
as such, and independent of the particular breed or 
individual. 
Unlike other domestic animals, they are useful 
neither as beasts of burden nor draught except to a 
limited extent. They are peculiar in the fact that they 
dififer among themselves more widely than other 
classes of animals, and can hardly be said to have a 
characteristic common to the entire race. 
While the higher breeds rank among the noblest 
representatives of the animal kingdom, and are justly 
esteemed for their intelligence, sagacity, fidelity, watch- 
fulness, affection, and, above all, for their natural com- 
panionship with man, others are affected with such 
serious infirmities of temper as to be little better than 
a public nuisance. All are more or less subject to at- 
tacks of hydrophobic madness. 
A suit is practically impossible by statute to distin- 
guish between the different breeds or between the valu- 
able and the worthless. The legislation which has been 
enacted on the subject, though nominally including the 
whole canine race, is really directed against the latter 
class, and is based upon the theory that the owner of 
a really valuable dog will find sufficient interest in 
him to comply with any reasonable regulation designed 
to distinguish him from the common herd. Acting 
upon the principle that there is but a qualified prop- 
erty in them, and while private interests require that 
the valuable ones shall be protected, public interest de- 
mands that the worthless shall be exterminated; they 
have from time immemorial been considered as hold- 
ing their lives at the will of the Legislature and prop- 
erly falling within the police power of the several 
States. 
Laws for the protection of domestic animals are re- 
garded as having but a limited application to dogs 
and cats, and, regardless of statute, a ferocious dog is 
looked upon as having no right to his life which man 
is bound to respect. In the case of ex parte Cooper, 
3, Texas Appellate Division, 489, it was held that dogs 
were not property within the tax laws of the Con'sti- 
tution, arid that a tax upon dogs was a police regula- 
tion, and a legitimate exercise of the police power. 
The point was made that dogs, being property, should 
under the Constitution, be taxed ad valorem as other 
property was. But it was held that the law was not a 
tax law in its regular sense, but a police regulation. It 
is true that under the Fourteenth Amendment no 
State can deprive a person of his life, libertj^ or prop- 
erty without due process of law, but in determining 
what is due process of law we are bound to consider 
the nature of the property, the necessity for sacrifice, 
and the extent to which it has heretofore been re- 
garded as within the police power. So far as it is 
dangerous to the safety or health of the community, 
however, due process of law may authorize a summary 
destruction. 
Although dogs ordinarily retain their hereditary 
wolfish instinct, which occasionally breaks forth in the 
destruction of sheep and other helpless animals, others 
too small to attack these animals, are simply vicious, 
noisy, and pestilent. As their depredations are often 
committed at night, it is usually impossible to identify 
the dog, or to fix the liability upon the owner, who, 
moreover, is likely to be pecuniarily irresponsible. In 
short, the damages are usually such as are beyond the 
reach of judicial process, and legislation of a drastic 
nature is necessary to protect persons and_ property 
from destruction and annoyance. Such legislation is 
clearly within the police power of the State, 
It is purely, within the discretion of the Legislature 
to say how far dogs shall be recognized as property, 
and under what conditions they shall be permitted to 
roam the streets. Louis A. Cuvillier, 
Vifgmfa Field Trials, 
Richmond, Va., Oct. 13. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I am having a good many letters from sportsmen in 
various parts of the country, especially Virginia, asking 
fpr entry blank? for' our forthcoming Virginia field trials 
the week of November 30. Our by-laws require that en- 
tries close not later than twenty days previous to holding 
the trials. I am having the blanks printed now and hope 
to mail them very shortly. The Virginia field trial will 
hold an open free for all stake this year, and we hope 
tc have a nice entry of outside dogs. 
The judges selected Mr, S, H, Humphrey, Indian- 
apolis, Ind., prominently known as the genial and 
hustling secretary of the Independent Field Trial Club. 
We will also have the pleasure of the services of Mr. 
Chas. W. Tway, of Irwin, Ohio, also known to every 
n-;an connected with the field trial business. We have also 
secured the services of Mr. Han-y Colquitt, of Richmond, 
Va. Mr. Colquitt is an old dog man, although not an 
old man himself. He has attended many trials, and 
formerly owned Count Gladstone IV. His interest in 
field trials is unabated, and he now owns some very fine 
setter dogs and continues to breed the pure Llewellyn. 
The Mecklenburg Hotel, where we were so grandly en- 
tertained Inst year, will again be headquarters. Birds are 
very plentiful on our preserves and are being watched 
very carefully. Everything points to a bigger and better 
meet than our most successful one of last year. 
Chas. B. Cooke, Secretary. 
National Foxhunters* Association* 
Lexington, Ky., Oct. 14. — Please announce that the 
directors of the National Foxhunters' Association have 
decided upon New Haven, Ky., as the place to hold the 
next annual meet, commencing Nov. 30 with the Derl)y. 
New Haven is within ten miles of Bardstown, the place 
of the most successful meet the Association ever held. 
Foxes are abundant; in fact, too plentiful. 
Good accommodations and good mounts can be had. 
The trials are open to all, and foxhunters the world 
over are invited and urged to attend. 
Roger D. Williams^ 
Honorary Sec-Treas. 
Points and Fluslies. 
Judge James M. Thompson, Circuit Judge of the 
Fourth Circuit of Louisiana, died at his home in Coving- 
ton, Ky., recently, at the age of 61 years. He was an en- 
thusiastic and accomplished .sportsman, having a national 
fame in canine matters as they concern field trials, he hav- 
ing acted as judge a number of times in the 80' s, notably 
in the trials of the New Orleans Gun Club, Southern 
States Field Trial Club, and Alexandria Rod and Gun 
Club. He served as a lieutenant in the war between 
the States, was a Representative in 1870, a Senator in 
1872, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Conven- 
tion in 1879, In 1892 he Avas elected a member of the 
Court of Appeals. Personally he was of a quiet, gentle 
disposition. He had a multitude of friends who were 
held by their esteem of his sterling worth. 
Mr. E. A. Watson, of Nimrod Hall, Va., was a visitor 
in New Yoi-k last week, tarrying for a brief period before 
his departure for England on the i6th inst. He has had 
had luck with his kennel in the past year, but he pluckily 
purposes to replenish his kennel stock while abroad. . 
For Cruising Yachtsmen. 
With the purpose of stimulating the interest in crnis- 
ing. and the keeping of a detailed log by cruising 
yachtsmen during the season of 1903, the publishers of 
Forest and Stream ofTer prizes for the best stories of 
cruises submitted to be published in Forest and 
Stream. It is believed that these will form not only 
entertaining records of pleasant summer days spent 
afloat along our coasts and waterways, but will furnish 
information of practical value to other yachtsmen mak- 
ing subsequent cruises on the same waters. 
Prizes will be awarded to the three best stories as fol- 
lows; 
First prize, $75.00. 
Second prize, $50.00. 
Third prize, $25.00. 
Contributions are invited under the following condi- 
tions: 
1. The cruise must be made in waters of the United 
States or Canada in the season of 1903. 
2. The cruise must be made in a sailing yacht, power 
to be used only as an auxiliary, if at all. 
3. The story must be prefaced by a description of the 
boat. Cruises should be treated in as interesting and 
readable a way as possible, but should be practical and 
contain all possible information and data that would be 
of value to men going over the same route. A descrip- 
tion of the handling of the ship in all weathers will be 
regarded very favorably in making awards, and it is 
suggested to writers that an accurate account be kept 
of all incidents happening while under way. 
4. Photographs of the boat and of the country passed 
through, not smaller than 4x5, should, if possible, ac- 
company each story, and they will be considered in 
making the awards. 
5. An outline chart of the trip drawn on white paper 
in black ink (no coloring pigment to be used) should 
also be sent in. 
6. Competitors should avoid the use of slang or in- 
correct nautical expressions in their stories, as it will 
count against them in awarding the prizes. 
7. The story should contain about seven thousand 
words, written on one side of the paper only, and must 
be received at the office of the Forest and Stream Pub- 
lishing Company, 346 Broadway, New York City, on 
or before Nov. 15. 1903. 
New Haven is to haA^e another yacht club, and the 
new organization will be known as the New Haven 
Sailing Association. Among those interested in the 
new club are General Phelps Montgomery, Henry F. 
Parmelee, Myron R. Durham, Edward, J. Savage. Clif- 
ford E: Smith, James B. Smith, and Vice-Cofn. Ennjs 
N.' Searles, of the New Haven Y. C, 
Summary of Lake Michigan i 
Racing, J 903. 
The season of 1903 has undoubtedly been the best of 
any on Lake Michigan, there being more big events given 
and keener racing than ever before. 
One of the greatest drawbacks has been the scarcity of 
good harbors, but this has been made up by the fact that 
better sailors have been developed, through having to 
stay out when a storm came up, instead of having a 
handy harbor to run into, and thus escape having to learn 
by rough experience. 
Another great drawback has been the great diversity of 
Ij-pes of yachts, thus making it absolutely necessary to 
peculiarly divide them, and to give time allowance, 
therefore making races uninteresting as a general proposi- 
tion for the spectator, he usually seeing a yacht finish and 
cheered as a victor, and then read in the paper next 
morning that some yacht he had not even- noticed won 
on time allowance. 
In the general racing, yachts have been classified as 
follows : 
All yachts shall be classified by racing lengths. Yachts 
having 25 per cent, of their over all length in overhang, 
at least one-third of it forward shall class by themselves 
rmd be designated by the letter "A" ; all other yachts shall 
class by themselves and be designated by the letter "B". 
"B" classification shall only apply to yachts built prior 
to 1900. 
Yachis shall classify by measurement as follows ; 
Schooners and Yawls — Class i, over 37ft. R.L. 
.Schooners and Yawls — Class 2, 37ft, R.L. and under. 
Sloops, cutters and cats classify as follows : 
Class lA, Class iB— Over 45ft. R.L. 
little shamrock. 
Class 2A, Class 2B— Over 30ft. R.L. to and including 
45ft. R.L. 
Class 3A, Class 3B — Over 25ft. R.L. to and including : 
30ft. R.L. 
Class 4A, Class 4B — ^25ft. R.L. and under. 
Special Classes — 21ft. knockabout; 21ft. cabin class. 
Schooners race at 85 per cent, and yawls at 93 per cent, 
of their measurement in mixed races. 
The formula 
L.W.L. + V~SA. 
^=R.L. , 
2 
has been used together with the above classifications 1 
Avith extremely gratifying results the past two years, the 
yachts on these Avaters seeming to. be very Avell matched 
tmder them as a general proposition, so that first one 
wins and then another in a majority of the classes, which 
keeps up the interest. This will, however, not be the con- 
dition many years, as all new yachts building are for the 
special classes, and the racing proper is being held by the ■ 
special classes nearly exclusivel}' ; general rules, hoAvever, 
Avill be necessary for many years on account of the many ' 
annual long distance events. 
The greatest amount and highest grade racing of the 
past season has been in the 21ft. cabin class; in fact, this 
class has attracted more attention on the Great Lakes 
than any other. 
Originally the most bitter feeling existed between the 
advocates of the knockabouts and the advocates of the 
cabin class, and the rivalry between the OAvners in the 
two classes Avas most intense; hoAvever, this has passed 
and the cabin class adA'Ocates have Avon out; their type 
of yacht won a popularity heretofore unknoAvn on the 
Great Lakes, and it has done this strictly on its merits, thei 
rules compelling the designing and building ot the besti 
type of yachts for these Avaters of any yet discovered,! 
they being practicularly roomy, strong, able and sea- 
Avorthy, and therefore extremely popular for cruising, andl 
at the same time possessing speed unattained by any other 
class of yachts CA'er seen here, a factor that must not be 
overlooked by the rule builders, as owners of to-day 
do not care to invest in sloAV-going yachts on the theory 
that they will last forever, all seeming to prefer to havei 
one Avith good speed that is strong and safe, than one pos-: 
sessing everlasting life. 
events of the year. 
iune 13. — Columbia Y. C. twelfth annual Michigan City race, 
•ply 4, — Pplupibi^ y. C annual opefj regatta and race for Tho8,( 
