FOREST AND STREAM 
97 
JP* If?™*?/- 
To Correspondents.— T hose desiring us to prescribe for their dogs 
will please take note of and describe the following points In each ani- 
mal: 
1. Age. a. Food and medicine given. 3. Appearance of the eye ; 
of the coat ; of the tongue and lips, 4. Any changes In the appearance 
of the body, as bloating, drawing in of the flanks, etc. 6. Breathing, 
the number of respirations per minute, and whether labored or not. 
6. Condition of the bowels and secretions of the kidneys, color, etc. 7 
Appetite; regular, variable, etc. 8. Temperature of the body as lndl 
catcd by tho bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 
and tho foreleg. 0. Give position of kennel and surroundings, outlook, 
contiguity to other bulldlugs, and the uses of tho latter. Also give any 
peculiarities of temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed, 
gm of suffering, etc. 
equal parts of lead water and water poured into tho ear three or 
lour times each day ; and in place of the cap a strip of com- 
mon sticking plaster, heated aud placed on the inside of the 
ear, aud then tied under the throat, which will auswer much 
better, and is not as troublesome." The sticking plaster is 
very good, if it can be kept on. 
FIXTURES FOR 1878— BENCH SHOWS. 
Boston Kennel Club Show, Boston, Mass., March 26, 27, 28 and 
29. Dr. E. J. ForBtor, Secretary. 
Baltimore Kennel Club’s Show, Baltimore, Md., April 23, 24,25 
aud 20. L. 11. Caesard, Secretary. 
The Westminster Kennel Club (New York) Bench Show. Gil- 
more's Garden, May 16,17, 18 and 19. Dr. W. 8eward Webb 
Seoretary. 
Massachusetts Kennel Cldb.— T he absolute work of this 
leading New England Club has now fairly commenced, so 
that everything will be in perfect order for the opening of the 
Bench Show at Boston, which takes place on the 26th of this 
month, to be continued on to the 29th. Entries are being 
made rapidly. From the demand which has been made on us 
for blauk entries, we should suppose that the attendance 
would be very large. It looks as if thi9 bench show would be 
a representative one, as a number of the St. Louis winners 
will again 6trive for victory. Of course the champion list will 
be a large one. The judges are : For setters and pointers, 
John Davidson, Esq. ; spaniels and Chesapeake Bay dogs, 
hounds and non sporting dogs, Dr. L. H. Twaddle, assisted 
by Mr. T. II. Scott, of England. Mr. Charles Lincoln will 
act as superintendent. 
For tiie Boston Bench Show.— Mr. James R. Tilley will 
send to Boston tome of his finest Gordon stock, including 
Whip, Ring, Grace, Gypsie, Count, and a lot of likely pup- 
pies. 
Beagle foh the Boston Benoh Show.— Mr. Geo. Pou- 
nall, of Christiana, Pa., will send to the Boston show one of 
his best beagle bitches. Mr. Pounall's kennel is well known, 
and his breed of beagles— a not common race of dogs in the 
United States — is among the best. 
Tbbmont House, Boston. — During the bench show for ex- 
hibition of dogs, the well-known Tremont House will charge 
a dollar less than usual rates. The Tremont House will be 
the headquarters of the Massachusetts Kennel Club. 
Baltimore Kennel Club. — We shall be very glad to for- 
ward to any one 'desirous of exhibiting their dogs, the rules 
and regulations of the Baltimore Kennel Club, with the list of 
premiums, also blank entries for tbe Bench Show, which is to 
take place on Tuesday, April 23d; Wednesday, 24th ; Thurs- 
day, 25th, and Friday, 26th. The show will be held at the 
Masonic Temple, North Charles street. The officers of the 
association are : Pres., J. Addison Smith ; Sec., L. R. Cos- 
sard ; Treas., Philip Rogers; Executive Committee, Thomas 
A. Symington, A. Jenkins, Jr., M. D. Groverman, R. Stuart 
Latrobe, Charles S. Bancroft, H. S. Zell. Charles Lincoln, 
Superintendent, P. O. Box 767, Baltimore. Special Prizes — 
Up to the time of printing the prizes offered by the club, a 
large number of special prizes have been presented, and a list 
of the same will be printed and circulated as soon ns it is com- 
plete, together with the classification under which they will 
be awarded. 
For Distemper. — A correspondent from Mount Carmel, 
111., sends us the following prescription for distemper. As 
there is nothing noxious in the compound, it can do no h*m : 
“ I have used this with good success for a great many years, 
having liaudled dogs of all kinds. I find the receipt invalu- 
able : Mix 3 oz. bitter aloes, 3 oz. saltpeter, 3 oz. pulverized 
sulphur, with lard, so that it will easily run out of a bottle. 
Drench twice a day, morning and evening, with the mixture. 
The above is sufficient for two doses. I have never yet lost 
a dog on which I have used this preparation. J. W. 
Fox Hunting in Tennessee. — A few days ago there was u 
meet of a portion of an old “Fox Chasing Club,’’ which is 
now nearly extinct, although measures are being taken to re 
vive it. There were present with their “ packs," D. D 
McFall, L. M. Matthews, Gen. A. Bowen and Gen. James A 
Fleming, and about forty invited guests. They started Rey- 
nard in a few mimics, and ran him back and forth over a bit 
of country about two miles square. After a run of some 15 
miles, the fox was shot by one of the party, one and a half 
miles ahead of the hounds. Foxes are plentiful here, and good 
fields for chasing. Packs are owned by gentlemen living near, 
and all that is lacking to rival Virginia in fox chasing is the 
organization of two or three club9, which we expect to have 
in due time. y AL 
Columbia , March 2. 
The Value of Dogs in Virginia.— Tlie Lynchburg Vir- 
ginian of the 7tli inst. says: “ Mr. Hunter’s Dog bill passed 
the House. This bill allows owners to value their dogs at 
$100, and to pay to the Commissioner the fax on that amount, 
which is $1 for the first dog, and 50 ccnt9 for all 
others. After the dog is so listed for taxation, he 
becomes as much personal property as a cow or a horse. 
Of course no ony is compelled to pay the tax it is 
purely voluntary. It will have the effect of slopping 
the stealing of valuable dogs, and a stolen dog will be as 
rare as a stolen horse. This tax will place some thou 
sand dollars in the State Treasury." 
— •». -■ ■ - - 
Tiie Montolaiu Beagles. — The beagles which were ordered 
out from England some time ago by the Montclair Riding 
Club, arrived last week iu good condition, by the steamer Hol- 
land, of the National line, after a passage of seventeen days. 
This club began hunting with apaper scent last autumn, aud 
soon grew enthusiastic over cross- country riding, and resolved 
to procure a pack of hounds, and decided upon beagles. Tbe 
pack comprises six dogs aud four bitches— Brilliant, Bluebell, 
Equity and Countess, who have been hunted iu Yorkshire to 
hares, rabbits and a drag; Faithful, Trumpeter, Rambler aud 
Monitor, from a kennel iu Cheshire, where they have hunted 
hares; and Tickler and Rattler, who have been bunted iuKent 
for a drag and for rabbits. 
Dispensing with a Cap for Canker of the Ear.— A cor- 
respondent from Philadelphia seuds us the following plan for 
keeping the dog from troubling his ears, iu canker: “ I 6ce, 
by foolting over your answers to correspondents, that you ol- 
'•-•n have occasion to give a cure for canker in the ear, aud 
you advise the use of a cap placed on the head, to keep tin- 
dog from shaking his head. I will give you my cure, which 
1 think you will find very beneficial. 1 use u solution of 
Foxes and Spiritualism.— The Culpeper (Va.) News is 
troubled about an old fox whose wiles have proved too much 
for the huntsmen of all the coimties round about. The pecu 
liar method of mystification employed by this four-footed 
phantom seems to consist in walking rails and leading dogs 
and hunters round about promiscuously, and then vanishing 
into thin air, leaving everything at a dead loss. We confess 
that we can account for the phenomenon only by accepting 
the theory that this is not a real fox, only a shadowy sem 
blance. We believe it to be the avenging spirit of some Vir- 
ginia Reynard, who, in the flesh, suffered martyrdom by tne 
shot-gun ; and not losing his brush in the time-honored way 
prescribed by the precedents of all fox hunting, has now re 
turned to avenge the indignity offered to his kith and kin. The 
huntsmen, horses and hounds of Culpeper County may follow 
the chase until doomsday, but we venture to predict that they’ll 
never catch that ghost. 
The Dog Derby— Coomassie the Winner.— The three 
days of coursing on Altcar Flats, near Liverpool, recorded the 
victory of Coomassie. Forty thousand spectators were present 
on the first day of the meeting. The weather was all that 
could have been desired, and on the last day tho excitement 
was intense. The result was finally in favor of Coomassie, 
last year’s winner of the same cup. This is one of the most 
remarkable facts in connection with the contest, for never be- 
fore in its annals has the same greyhound pulled through 
twice in succession. Master McGrath, it is remembered, won 
in 1S68 and in 1870. Peasant Boy is the only instance in 
which a dog ran up twice, and this meritorious performance 
the black accomplished in 1872, when he was second to Bed 
of Stone, and in the next year when he occupied a like posi- 
tion to Muriel; but Coomassie's performance stands unrivaled. 
Coomassie is a light fawn, and weighs no more than 43? 
pounds. She ran in the name of Mr. Stocken, but is the prop- 
erty of Mr. Thomas Loy, who purchased her for $1,000 from 
a gentleman who bought her for $250 from her breeder, Mr. 
Caffley, a Norfolkshire gentleman, who, a few days previous 
to the" meeting, failed to obtain a bid for Queen, the dum of 
Coomassie, at auction. The party connected with Coomassie 
won a tremendous stake, and the public also won largely, 
much to the grief of the layers of odds. The second grey- 
hound was Zazel, the property of Lord Ferrnoy. This was 
his first venture, and to come out second best in a field of 64 
was no small victory. Besides the cup there went as first 
money to the winner, Coomassie, $2,500 ; second money, 
Zazel, $1,000: third and fourth money, Whistling Dick and 
Rival Belle, $250 each. The next four hounds got $150 each ; 
the next eight, $100 each, and the next sixteen, $50 each. The 
Waterloo Purse, for greyhounds defeated iu the first round of 
tiie cup, fell to Adelaide, who was very much fancied for the 
cup itself. 
A Correction. — In a former issue Belle and Trim were 
credited as belonging to Dr. S. Reilly Beecher. This was an 
error ; the dogs were bred by, and are the property of Dr. S. 
Reilly Bucher, of Lebanon. 
«#» 
Names Claimed— Pam, Ont., March 2.—0. Totten claims 
name Princess for his orange and white setter bitch- pup, out 
of Mr. B. Capron’s Blanche by Bute, he by Carlowitz— Rose, 
she by Rufus — Rose. 
.»■ 
Name Claimed.— Sport : Mr. S. Washburn, of Espernncc, 
N. Y , claims the name of Sport for his liver and white pup, 
out of Bess and Captain. 
—Sam : Rev. J. A. Dobson, of Newark, New Jersey, 
March 8, 1878, claims the name of Sam for his five months 
liver and white cocker spaniel dog pup, purchased of Mr. P. 
Mclvoon, aud out of his Fanny by Captain. 
Visits— Neio Bedford, Mass., Feb. 9.— Joseph Bassett's (of 
Foxboro, Mass.,) Bess visited my Gordon setter Tom, -winner 
of first at Boston, Sept., 1877. The pups should be exceed- 
ingly handsome, as both Tom and Bess are perfect specimens. 
6 ■ J. H. J. Doane. 
► *• 
Whelm. New York.—blv. F. C. Mercillolt’s “ Pet " 
whelped on the 5th inst. Eight— six dogs anti two gyps, by 
Morford's Don ; seven died soon after birth ; one dog living. 
xttd ffiver fishing, 
FISH IN SEASON IN MARCH. 
southern waters. 
ass* »aftr«u 
sea C' h. ° r Ro€k0 *"' 
Snapper, Lutjanut caxxu ,, ck P a ? 8 *- tKcroptenu satmoidv: 
nfffricanSi 
JS5T Th„ touting Muon I1 Md , „ b T oh opMlcd 
jear, and prey, coaly on tbe 10th 0[ March, dooa not open thin 
r rsr Isi of Aprti - Th ° 
quantities this week, and are selling at 15 cents. Their small 
size, when compared with other smelts, has prejudiced people 
against them, whereas th« smaller smelt are, in reality the 
finer flavored fish, having the peculiar oucumber flavor Our 
quotations are : 
Striped bass, 18 cents ; large do., 15 ; smelts, 18; green do 
20 : blucflsh, 15 ; frozen salmon, 35 ; green do., Halifax $1.25- 
mackerel, 25; small do., 15; James River shad, 40 to 75 
white perch, 15 ; Spanish mackerel, 35 ; green turtle, 18 • ter’ 
rapin, $18 per doz. ; frost fish, 6 : halibut, 15; haddock fl- 
ood fish, heads off, 8; do., heads on, 0; blackflsh, 15 • New 
foundland herring, 0 ; flounders, 10; do., small, 0- sea bass 
15; cels, 18; lobsters, live, S ; do., boiled, 10; sheepshoads’ 
25; turbot, 25; scallops, $1.50 per gallon; aoft clams, 30 to 
00 per 100; whiteflah, 18; pickerel, 15; yellow perch, 10 
salmon trout, 16; Virginia bluck bass, 18 ; hard crabs $2 0 
per 100. 
Pennsylvania.— Y ellow catfish are caught in the streams 
emptying into the Delaware. Bircams 
Gigantic Troup at Ralston, I’A.-Sevornl correspond- 
ents, including our worthy and veracious frieud, William Hol- 
berton, who has fished at Ralston for eleven years, take ex 
ceptions to Jack’s statement in our issue of February 28, that, 
he took 23 dozen (!) fine trout in the neighboring waters 
which averaged 2J lbs. each (!), and we do not wonder at it! 
We would not have printed the statement unqualified had it 
come under our special notice, and we will allow Jack the 
saving grace that he intended to 6ay that the trout averaged 2" 
pounds per dozen. If Jack really designed to impose upon us, 
he deserves to have his head held under water in the coldest 
spring-hole of the river until his teeth can no longer chatter. 
The hotel at Ralston, and the scenery round ubout, including 
the old mill or forge, are all very fine ; but the trout— well, we 
have said. 
Tennessee— A ashvillc, March 7.— The weather for the 
past few days Ims been unfavorable to nuglcrs, though the 
market is kept well supplied by the net fishermen. Some of 
the buffalo caught in the Cumberland River are very large 
frequently weighing from thirty to forty pounds. Heelfooi 
Lake is the plucc, however, from which the main supply comes 
This lake was formed by an earthquake which took place* 
near New Madrid, on the Mississippi River, in tho year 1811 
The earth sank to a great depth where the lukc now is and* 
the waters rushed in from the river. Trees are still standing 
all through the lake, which corroborate the fact. The quantity 
of fish in the lake is incredible, and of all kinds that are found 
in the rivers and creeks in this part of the country. There 
seems no doubt but there is a subterranean connection be- 
tween the lake and the Mississippi River. 
Columbia, Tain., March 9.— Some few trout (called bass) 
are being taken, and tbe sport and creels bid fair to be unusu- 
ally fine. Suckers and mullets are caught in abundance 
Some fine bass and pike in market from Reelfoot Lake 
Val 
Florida — Bay Port, March 4.— The abundance of fish 
hero in tbe Wickawacha River is truly surprising. All along 
the river are whut they call alligator holes, great deep places 
They average 50 feet wide by 100 feet long, and from 10 to 
40 feet deep at low tide. Most all the large fish iu these rivers 
retreat to these holes— sheepshead. red suappere, groupere 
mullet, growlers, garfish, redfish, sea trout, black bass and 
small sharks. The other day I caught in half an hour thir- 
teen black bass, which together weighed sixty-three pounds, 
auda half bushel of sea trout, besides a sprinkling of snappers 
and redfish— in fact, I caught more than I could give away, 
and within a week the veritable blucflsh of the New England 
coi^t have become quite abundant here. I struck a school 
the other day and caught eight nice ones. Yesterday I caught 
a new kind of fish : none hero over saw it before. It was 
shaped somewhat liken mackerel, lmd the same kind of fins 
and tail. It was altout three feet long and of beautiful shaded 
blue sides, with sixteen golden spots of about { inch in diame- 
ter on each side. The fish was supp osed to weigh about eigh 
pounds. To-day we lmd him fried, and it was the best fish I 
ever ate in Florida. The fish was very slender, with peaked 
head and a formidable mouth. I had two others bite, but 
they were larger and snapped my line at once. We desire to 
learn tbe name of the fish This morning I saw lots of them 
in the river. Yours truly, G. F. Willis. 
[Our correspondent's fish besrs a close resemblance to the 
skipjack, or lady fish, except as respects, the golden spots on 
side, which are those of a Spanish mackerel. The family 
name of the latter is scomber, while the skipjack, from a par- 
tial resemblance to a pike as well as a mackerel, is included 
among the scomberesocida?. Both are voracious feeders, but 
the Spanish mackerel is capricious. The skipjack are usually 
quite common on tho Gulf coast of Florida, and a nuisance to 
the angler. Wc have never 6een Scomberesox moat lotus, if 
this described fish is such a one.— Ed.] 
Wisconsin — Ashland, March 2. — Herring and trout fishing 
yield poor returns. 
