130 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Feb. 13, 1904- 
The Tarpon Record. 
Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fla., Feb. i.—Edifor Forest and 
Stream: In the recent issue of a brochure setting forth 
the attractions of Miami, Fla., to the angling public, there 
appeared a cut of a tarpon caught by Mr. N. M. Georg2, 
of Danbury, Conn., and the weight stated as full 213 
pounds. This picture was used and statement made after 
carefully authenticating the facts, which were fully printed 
in Forest and Stream of July 6, 1901 ; the same issue re- 
producing the log of the schooner Privateer. The catch 
was also recorded in the daily press at the time, and by 
such conservative papers as the New York Herald. Men- 
tion is made of it in "Where, When, and How to Catch 
Fish on the East Coast of Florida, by Mr. Wm. H. Gregg, 
Sr., of St. Louis. 
In spite of this accumulative evidence, the weight of 
Mr. George's fish has been challenged, and the statement 
printed that it was never substantiated by anyone. 
In order to correct any false impression that this pub- 
lication might raise in the minds of some, the affidavit of 
Assemblyman Wemple's (Pr. No. 348, Int. No. 332), adding a 
new section, to be known as Section 27c, and providing that there 
shall be no open season for grouse, woodcock and quail in 
Schenectady county prior to Sept. 30, 1906. 
Senator Bailey's (Pr. No. 246, Int. No. 246), amending Section 
103 so as to provide that ducks, geese and swan shall not be taken 
on Long Island from April 1 to Sept. 30, instead of from Jan. 1, 
nor possessed from April 1 to Sept. 30. 
Senator Townsend's (Pr. No. 281, Int. No. 266), providing that 
trout shall_ not be taken from any waters in counties included in 
whole or in part in the. forest preserve. Private hatcheries are 
excepted. 
-Assemblyman Coutant's (Pr. No. — , Int. No.389), amending 
Section 59a so as to provide that tip-ups and set-lines may be used 
in fishing through the ice in the waters of Ulster county, not 
inhabited by_ trout, but no person shall operate at the same time 
more than I've tip-ups in that county. 
Assemblyman Coutant's (Pr. No. — , Int. No. 390), amending 
Section 27b so as to provide that the close season for grouse, 
woodcock and quajl in Ulster county shall be from Dec. 16 to 
Oct. 15, both inclusive. 
Assemblyman Wolf's (Pr. No. — , Int. No. 383), amending Sec- 
tion 112 so as to provide that fish shall not be taken by any 
device other than angling in Sheepshead Bay, Rockaway Inlet, or 
in any of the waters inside of a line drawn from the westerly end 
of Rockaway Point to the Centennial Tower on Coney Island. 
Assemblyman Monroe (Pr. No. — , Int. 372), repealing Section 
80a, which allows fishing with fyke nets for bullheads, eels, suckers 
ZffeZin. 
MEASUREMENTS OF MR. N. M. GEORGE's TARPON. 
Messrs. Charles A. and B. T, Ball, owners of the Priva- 
teer, who were present when the fish was caught, and 
who weighed and measured same, has been secured. This 
affidavit is published below, together with a photograph 
of the fish, showing just where the measurements were 
taken. 
If this sworn statement is not sufficient to convince this 
one "doubting Thomas," many others can be secured. 
Mr. Chas. F. Weber, of New York, a prominent fisher- 
man, saw this fish u^fon its arrival at Miami, and meas- 
ured it. He reported the circumstance at Punta Rassa, 
giving the dimensions from his measurements as even 
greater than claimed, and was corrected by Mr. George. 
H. W. Merrill. 
Brainard T. Ball and Charles A. Ball, being duly 
sworn, say that on the 8th day of April, 1901, Mr. N. M. 
George, of Danbury, Conn., caught with rod and reel, at 
Bahia Honda, Fla., a tarpon seven feet two inches long, 
forty-six inches girth, weighing 213 pounds, large, on their 
scales; that they weighed and measured said fish in the 
presence of Mr. George and Mr. R. B. Seager, of Jeffer- 
son Highlands, N. H., and said weight and measurements 
were recorded in the Log Book of the schooner Priva- 
teer; that upon their arrival at Key West, on April g, 
their scales were tested at Wm. Currey's Sons and found 
to be a little more than one pound short, making the 
actual weight of said fish to be over 214 pounds. 
Brainard T. Ball, 
Charles A. Ball. 
Subscribed and sworn before me tliis twenty-third day of January, 
A. D., Nineteen hundred and four. 
Medford R. Kellun, 
Notary Public, State of Florida, at large. 
and dogfish in Tompkins county from Oct. 31 to March 31. 
Assemblyman Charles's (Pr. No. — , Int. No. 387), amending 
Section 59a so as to allow the use of tip-ups and set-lines in fish- 
ing through the ice in the waters of Dutchess county. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (Pr. No. — , Int. No. 376), amending 
Section 101 so as to provide that deer shall not be taken at any 
other time than between one-half hour before sunrise and one- 
half hour after sunset, instead of between daylight and sunset, as 
at present. Possession of wild deer or venison between Aug. 31 
and the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in November, 
and between the second Friday after the first Tuesday and the 
20th of November, shall be conclusive evidence of a violation of 
this section unless it appear that the same was lawfully killed 
within the State, or was killed without the State. 
Assemblyman Whitney's (Pr. No. — , Int. No. 433), to add a 
new section, to be known as Section 73a, which provides that nets 
may be used from May 1 to Dec. 1 in the waters and the bays of 
Lake Ontario in the towns of Sandy Creek and Richland, Oswego 
county, except the waters within half a mile, either way, from 
the mouth of the Salmon River, and except within one-half mile, 
either way, from the mouth of the outlet of Big Sandy Pond; Pro- 
vided, That a net shall not be set or used until a license therefor 
has been granted by the State Forest, Fish and Game Commission. 
The license fee will be $1, and a single license may be for five 
nets. 
Albany Legfislation* 
Albany, N. Y., Feb. 8. — The game committees of the Senate and 
Assembly have settled down to work in earnest now, and have 
begun passing upon some of the numerous measures submitted for 
their consideration. 
The Assembly committee has reported favorably the followmg 
bills: 
Assemblyman J. T. Smith's (Pr. No. 381, Int. No. 293), adding a 
new section, to be known as Section 3a, which provides that there 
shall be no open season for deer in Dutchess county before Sept. 
1, 1908. 
Assemblyman Hubbs' (Pr. No. 380, Int. No. 282), amending 
Section 103 so as to provide that ducks, geese and swan shall not 
be taken from April 1 to Sept. 30, instead of from Jan. 1 to Sept. 
30, nor possessed from April 1 to Sept. 30, instead of from March 1. 
Additional bills amending the game law have been introduced 
as follows: (Where no printed number is given the bills have 
not yet been printed) 
Assemblyman Hayden's (Pr. No. 220, Int. No. 213), addmg a 
new section, to be known as Section 12c, which provides that 
black and gray squirrels shall not be taken at any time in Cat- 
taraugus county for the purpose of transporting them out of the 
county. 
Assemblyman Nichols' (Pr. No. 284, Int. No. 284), amendmg 
Section 26 so as to provide that the close season for grouse and 
woodcock in Sullivan and Greene counties shall be from Dec. 1 
to Sept. 30, and in Orange county from Dec. 1 to Oct. 15. 
Assemblyman Robinson's (Pr. No. 228, Int. No. 221), addmg a 
new section, to be known as Section 79b, and providing that fish, 
except lake trout, may be taken through the ice with hook and 
line in Hemlock Lake during February and March. 
Assemblyman Hayden's (Pr. No. 222, Int. No. 215), adding a 
new section, to be known as Section 29b, which provides that 
woodcock, grouse and quail shall not be taken in Cattaraugus 
county at any time for the purpose of transporting the same out 
of the county. 
Assemblyman Hayden's (Pr. No. 221, Int. 214), adding a new 
section, to be known as Section 43b, and providing that trout and 
bass shall not be taken from any of the waters of Cattaraugus 
county at any time for the purpose of transporting the same out 
of the county. 
Assemblyman Bridgeman's (Pr. No. 314, Int. No. 300), amendmg 
Section 20 so as to allow the taking of mergansers or sheldrakes 
or sawbills at any time in Orleans county. 
Assemblyman Bridgeman's (Pr. No. 315, Int. No. 310), amend- 
ing Section 73 so as to permit the use of sturgeon nets of not 
iess than 11-inch mesh in Lake Ontario, except within onerhalf 
mile oi the shores or islands. , 
Assemblyman Pearsall's (Pr. No. 337, Int. No. 321), amending 
Section 59 sa as to allqw the use of tip-ups iB th^ ponds ii; the 
town of SiuHhvyi?, Jefferson ^m^, 
Mmmt 
U. S. Field Trials Club^s Trials. 
The fifteenth annual trials of the United States Field 
Trials Club, held at Grand Junction, Tenn., commenced 
on January 25. The attendance of visitors was not large. 
Eminent among them were Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Ames, 
cf Boston, and Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Duryea, of New York. 
They are staying at Hickory Valley, Tenn., enjoying life 
in the South during the winter months. There was Mr. 
G. Teasdale Buckell, famous world wide as a sportsman 
and writer on subjects pertaining to sport. Mr. Jesse 
Sherwood, of Chicago, an active participator in early field 
trial days, both as a gracious, forceful writer, and as a 
breeder; Mr. A. C. Nail, an eminent sportsman of Louis- 
ville; Mr. Edmund H. Osthaus, of Toledo, O., though at 
present of New York, where he has a studio; Mr. Nick 
Daniel, of Williamsburg, Ky. ; Mr. C. W. Keyes, of Bos- 
ton; Mr. M. C. Falkner, Oxford, Miss.; Mr. C. D. 
Stuart, of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Mr. C. H. Faust, War- 
ren, Ind. ; and Mr. W. B. Stafford, the club secretary. 
The press representatives were Major J. M. Taylor, of 
Rutherford, N. J. ; Mr. W. Lee Cook, of Glascow, Ky. ; 
and B. Waters, of New York. 
The handlers present were Messrs. C. Askens, D. E. 
Rose, J. M. Avent, C. E. Buckle, E. Shelly, W. D. Gil- 
christ, J. T. Jones. 
The judges were Messrs. Phil. M. Essig, Atlanta, Ga., 
and Mr. L. W. Blankenbaker, Louisville, Ky. Each gen- 
tleman has had a long and thorough experience in mat- 
ters of field work, and field trial competition. However, 
it is regretable that their official decisions in the Derby 
were not well received. They worked industriously, de- 
voting their best effort to their judicial duties, and there 
is no doubt whatever but what they scrupulously and con- 
scientiously decided accorded to their best judgment. 
There was, nevertheless, a general belief that it was 
a sad mistake to ignore Pioneer in the awards. There 
was an almost unanimous belief that he deserved a place. 
An important part of the talent present held the opinion 
that he should have been awarded first on the merits of 
the competition. He beat out his ground well and with 
excellent judgment. He ranged wide or close as his 
handler desired, and he showed commendable judgment 
and accuracy in his locating and pointing. Some flushes 
cn singles were charged to him, but such errors are inci- 
dental to the competition, and in his case were mere 
trifles when considered relatively to his general excellence 
as a worker. I fancied him for fk-st place. 
4b0 wei-f piacfe4 l§ ^oitowi ; fl^st, Xlmh Bm ; 
second. Hickory; third was divided between Baby Ale 
and Shawnee. 
The judges managed the competition rather loosely at 
times. The handlers were mounted, and were often per- 
mitted to ride faster than was consistent with good bird 
work. A number of times they were permitted to 
separate and work on distinct grounds, where, as a mat- 
ter of course, there was no equitable competition. To 
have competition it is necessary that both dogs have like 
opportunities on the same grounds at the same time. 
Otherwise the running ceases to be competitive. It is 
apparent that if one dog runs alone on a certain course 
he should find all the birds therein without difficulty, yet 
if running with another dog he might not find any, for 
the reason that his competitor, being so much quicker 
and better, he would find them first. Again, when the 
heat is split into distinct parts, each judge, in the main, 
sees but the work of one dog, and therefore he has no 
data for comparison. Moreover, all the equity as to like 
opportunities of birds, grounds, ranging, etc., is seriously 
abandoned. This was one of the most serious and per- 
sistent errors of the management. 
Derby— United States Field Trials Club's fifteenth an- 
nual trials for pointers and setters whelped on or after 
January i, 1902. First prize, $300; second, $200; third, 
$ico. Entries closed September i. First forfeit, $10; 
October 15, $10 additional; $10 to start. There were 
twenty-one starters, which were run in the following 
order: 
C. K. Brown's b., w. and t. setter dog Uncle Sam 
(Uncle B.— -Minnie R.), D. E. Rose, handler, with W. F. 
Watkins' b., w. and t. setter bitch Maxim Whitestone 
(Whitestone— Queen), J. T. Jones, handler. 
Mrs. John Cowley's b., w. and t. setter dog Oakley 
Hill's Pride (Oakley Hill— Gleam's Daisy), E. Shelley, 
handler, with Charlotteville Field Trial Kennels' liv. and 
w. pointer Arab (Young Jingo— Toxie), C. E. Buckle, 
handler. 
Avent & Duryea Kennels' b., w. and t. setter dog 
Hickory (Mohawk— Bonnie Lit), J. M. Avent, handler, 
with J. Lemon's b., w. and t. setter bitch Cam's Pink 
(Uncle B.— Cam), D. E. Rose, handler. 
G. C. Cooper's liv. and w. pointer bitch Baby Ale 
(Jingo's Coin— Fannie Ale), W. D. Gilchrist handler, 
with F. P. Harter's b., w. and t. setter bitch Cleopatra, 
Shelly, handler. 
J. C. Tignor's b., w. and t. setter bitch Chesterfield 
Sue (Jack— Tignor's Vic), W. D. Gilchrist, handler, with 
E. Raimer's b., w. and t. setter dog Count' Rodfield IV. 
(Rodfield — Count Lady's Gladstone), D. E. Rose, handler. 
Avent & Duryea Kennels' b., w. and t. setter bitch 
Itaska (Prime Minister — Youma), J. M. Avent, handler, 
with Highland Kennels' b., w. and t. setter dog Rod War- 
field (Rodfield — Louise Danstone), C. Askins, handler. 
W. W. Titus' o. and w. setter dog Pioneer (Count 
Whitestone — Bonnie Doone), E. Shelley, handler, with 
John Wootton's b., w. and t. setter bitch Blue Belle (Mo- 
hawk- — Bonnie Lit), J. M. Avent, handler. 
Avent & Duryea Kennels' b., w. and t. setter dog Algon- 
quin (Prime Minister — Clip Windem), J. M. Avent, 
handler, with W. Brett's b., w. and t. setter dog Brett's 
Sport (Sport Count Danstone— Belle Cincinnatus), C. 
Askins, handler. 
J. Lemon's b., w. and t. setter dog Imperial (Uncle 
B. — Cam), D. E. Rose, handler, with Avent & Duryea 
Kennels' b., w. and t. setter dog Shawnee (Tony Boy — 
Cads), J. M. Avent, handler. 
Avent & Duryea Kennels' b., w. and t. setter dog Chip- 
pewa (Tony Boy — Lady Rachel), a bye, J. M. Avent, 
handler. 
Monday^ Jan, 25. 
The weather was raw, with a stiff southwest wind blow- 
ing. A start was made near the Mississippi line, south 
of which the 14,000 acres of the club preserve are 
situate. 
Uncle Sam and Maxim Whitestone were cast off at 
9:22, and were ordered up at 10 o'clock. Sam ranged 
independently, while Maxim was disposed to follow his 
lead at times, and to range close at other times. The 
work on birds was meagre. Sam in open weeds pointed 
a bevy. In woods on the scattered birds the work was 
not sharp and accurate. Maxim pointed as a single 
flushed, and, holding her point, more birds were flushed 
to it. Maxim pointed a single. Sam made a point; 
nothing found. The heat was not noteworthy for any 
special excellence. 
Oakley Hill's Pride and Arab were cast off at 10:08, 
and were ordered up at 10 :4g. Neither displayed sharp 
and accurate work on birds. They ranged irregularly, 
with moderate judgment in beating out their ground. 
Arab pointed two beveys and a single; Oakley pointed a 
single bird. Arab backed poorly. 
Hickory and Cam's Pink started at 10:54, and were 
ordered up at 11:40. Hickory displayed wide and fast 
ranging, and sharp work on birds. Hickory made the 
better performance on birds, though he made a few errors 
on singles. He made a point on one bevy and divided the 
point on another bevy with his competitor, though he 
pointed the bevy a moment sooner. 
Baby Ale and Cleopatra were cast off at 12 -.^,8, and 
were ordered up at i :i8. Baby pointed a bevy; Cleopatra 
called in to back pointed in the middle of the bevy. Baby 
did some work on a bevy which was not quite deter- 
minate. Next Baby pointed a bevy and was well backed. 
The bevy flushed wild. The pointer ranged wide and fast 
with excellent judgment. 
Chesterfield Sue and Count Rodfield IV. were started 
at 1:24. Sue pointed a bevy and Count backed or 
pointed. The birds were foljowed into woods, where 
Count made several good points, and Sue made one. 
Count was sharp and accurate in his bird work. 
Itaska and Rod Warfield started at 2 and were ordered 
up at 2:33. The work of both was rather ragged on 
birds. Itaska pointed some birds prettily. Itaska pointed 
in some plum bushes and about fifty yards up wind the 
birds were flushed by horsemen. Rod ranged moderately. 
Itaska was fast, pointed well, but sometimes inaccurately. 
Pioneer and Blue Belle were started at 2 :38 ; up at 3 :28, 
Both ranged wide and fast. Pioneer cutting out the work. 
Pioneer ranged with excellent judgment, and wide or nar- 
row according to the character of the grounds. Both 
pointed in wo"o'4i pibnWr 4^wn wind flh^h?^ single. 
