AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
141 
CANINE ESTABLISHMENTS. 
The two largest establishments of this kind, not sporting 
ones, are in the hands of two persons, who might be the 
least expected to have them. The first is her Royal High- 
ness the Duchess of York, who has a most numerous nur- 
sery of Dogs of the smaller species, of every age, and nearly 
of every country. Not having the happiness to enjoy any 
other nursery, they occupy many of her best apartments, 
and are carefully accommodated with cushions to rest their 
wearied limbs, when they incline to repose; and it requires 
some dexterity, on entering her Highness’s apartments, to 
steer your way so scientifically, as not to tread on any of 
these sleeping beauties. 
Though some cynical philosophers might call this pur- 
suit a mode of getting through life dog-cheap, yet it affords 
some useful purposes. In the first place, it is at least, an in- 
nocent mode of passing time; and secondly, it has afforded 
many opportunities for the painter, of exercising his talent, 
and having his skill rewarded by the munificence of her 
Royal Highness, who has almost found constant employ- 
ment for the genius of an Animal painter, Mr. Chalon, in 
painting these favourites. 
We are not sure, we might not add another artist to the 
account, we mean the Undertaker, as we understand, many 
of the more favoured animals have been buried in the park 
at Oatlands, with all due ceremony and decorum, realizing 
the Elysium of Yirgil — 
cadem sequitur tellure repostos 
Cura canum. 
The next Lady, who exhibits this remarkable attachment 
to the canine race, is the beautiful and amiable Viscountess 
Castlereagh, who has the same excuse to plead, as her Royal 
Highness of York — not having a nursery of her own, to en- 
gage her attention, or employ her time. Her Academy of 
Dogs, if we may be allowed the expression, is on a far differ- 
ent scale from those of the Duchess of York, hers being as 
diminutive as those of Lady Castlereagh are grand and mag- 
nificent. Whether the diplomatic interests of her Lord, 
may have favoured her wishes, is uncertain; but she pos- 
sesses dogs of different countries, wherever size and beauty 
are to be found. Whoever may have the good fortune to 
meet this accomplished lady, in her walks around her seat 
at North Carey, in Kent, will always find her surrounded 
and defended by a most powerful and magnificent party of 
dogs, looking “most terrible things,” but seeming most 
perfectly obedient to her voice. Amongst her collection, 
we believe, she has Russian, Turkish, and Spanish dogs. 
The following whimsical anecdote is mentioned, as hav- 
ing occurred to her Ladyship, as she was taking one of her 
M m 
accustomed walks, with her canine guard: a man who was 
walking on the road came up, and taking off his hat, said — 
“ I suppose as how. Ma’am, you be a dog-fancier, or may- 
hap you exhibit with these here animals at- different pleaces, 
as may be agreeable; if so be, as it may be suitable, I should 
be glad to join company, having a few dancing dogs of my 
own.” 
Her Ladyship laughed, but with her accustomed grace and 
good-humour, informed the man — “ She was not in that line 
of business.” Scott. 
WHITE FISH OF THE LAKES. 
The White Fish is taken by both whites and Indians with 
a scoop net, which is fastened to a pole about ten feet long. 
It is hardly possible for me to describe the skill with which 
the Indians take these fish. But I will try. Two of them 
go out in a bark canoe, that you could take in your hand 
like a basket, and in the midst of the rapids, or rather just 
below where they pitch and foam most. One sits near the 
stern, and paddles; the other stands in the bow, and with 
the dexterity of a wire-dancer, balances “this egg-shell,” 
that you or I would be certain to turn over in our attempts 
to keep steady. When a fish is seen through the water, 
which is clear as crystal, the place is indicated by the man 
with the net, when, by a dexterous and quick motion of the 
paddle, by the Indian holding it, he shoots the canoe to the 
spot, or within reach of it, when the net is thrown over the 
fish, and it is scooped up, and thrown into the canoe — mean- 
while the eye of the person in the stern is kept steadily 
fixed upon the breakers, and the eddy, and whirl, and fury, 
of the current; and the little frail bark is made to dance 
among them, lightsome as a cork; or is shot away into a 
smoother place, or kept stationary by the motion of that 
single paddle, as circumstances may require it. It is not 
possible to look at these fishermen Indians, and Canada 
French, and even boys and girls, flying about over these 
rapids, and reaching out this pole with a net to it, without a 
sensation of terror. Yet it has scarcely ever happened that 
any of them are lost; and I believe never, unless when 
they have been drunk. 
This fish being, in the universal estimation, the finest 
that swims, and resembles our shad, except its head, which 
is smaller and more pointed. Their weight varies from four 
to ten, and sometimes fourteen pounds. The meat is as 
white as the breast of a partridge; and the bones are less 
numerous and larger than in our shad. I never tasted any 
thing of the fish kind, not even excepting my Oneida trout, 
to equal it. It is said they do not retain this character after 
being salted; in this respect our shad and salmon have the 
preference. 
