Docking Horses' Tails. — Mr. Bergh complains that, in re- 
sponse to charges of cruelty advanced by him, ho is too often 
met with ridicule. Now, here is the question of docking such 
ponies as are used in polo : Mr. Bergh insists that to dock a 
pony is cruel. The cruelty in this action we cannot for the 
life of ns see. It may be stupid or useless, and make a pony 
look ugly, but if Mr. Bergh is to get up in arms because peo- 
ple lop off horses’ tails, or cut dogs’ ears or tails, next we 
will hear of the arrest of some of our good mothers for boring 
their daughters’ ears. We are quite as conscious as anybody 
that there must be an advance in morals, uud that, as Lecky 
shows, what is deemed as perfectly right in one century is de 
precated iu the next. Still we are too far off yet from those 
blessed days when men will shudder when they turn a turtle 
on his back, boil a live lobster or poach an egg. A good deal 
of vital energy, we are afraid, is lost by the worthy President 
of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on 
petty , useless topics of this character, such as of docking 
tails, which might be devoted to more crying and monstrous 
evils. 
A Glass Ball Monument. — A novel method of raising a 
battle-mouument fund is that adopted by the Monmouth, N. 
J., people. They have been holding a series of glass ball 
matches, the proceeds of which go toward the erection of a 
monument commemorative of the battle of Monmouth. This 
is a pleasant conversion of the brittle spheres into enduring 
granite and bronze ; perpetuating by such sport the memory 
of men whose weapons knew only serious work. At the tour- 
nament last Decoration Day fourteen towns were patriotically 
represented by their chosen teams. Here is a hint for a na- 
tional tournament for the benefit of that' unfortunate Wash- 
ington Monument. 
Farms in Minnesota.— Forest and Stream is a good 
advertising medium for other kings than fishing tackle and 
sportsmen’s hardware. For instance, the Becker farm in 
Minnesota has recently been sold, through the medium of this 
paper, to Dr. D. R. Sutherland, of Poughkeepsie, for $31,000 
cash, which sum covers a very promising crop of 1,000 acres, 
which ought to yield 25,000 bushels of grain. 
What we want now is to sell the 17-section plot lately ad- 
vertised in our columns. It is a rare chance for parties wish- 
ing to engage in farming on a grand scale. Thirty thousand 
dollars capital is required, to be paid up in two years. Full 
particulars with the managing editor of Forest and Stbeam. 
Over 30,000 emigrants are said to have settled in Minnesota 
witkm six months, and the value of land sold is stated to have 
been nearly $5,000,000 in the month of May. The land we. 
offer is on a line of railroad and can be bought at $2.50 per 
acre. 
FOREST fA ND '> STREAM. 
Clams at a Pkbmium. — Tlio Centennial clam feast at Case’ 8 
Grove, above McComb’s Dam Bridge, came off happily, Tues- 
day, June 11, aud closed iu good order iu spite of damp 
weather. Under the able presidency of Mr. Shepherd F. 
Knapp, the event brought together many citizens of the 
metropolis of all grades and parlies, who, at the convivial 
bourd, merged their differences for the nonce iu a general on- 
slaught upon the succulent bivalve and enlivening content* of 
sundry baskets labelled in French. The proposition made to 
intrust the city’s destinies ere long in the hands of Mr. Knapp 
was received with loud acclamation by all. 
A Life Song.— A New York lady has been receiving some 
newspaper attention because she recently sang continuously for 
three consecutive hours to an audience in Cooper Institute. 
That’s nothing. We have heard of lots of people doomed to 
Sing Sing for a whole lifetime. 
A Florida Investment.— The current number of the 
Florida New Yorker announces that, owing to the failing 
health of its editor and proprietor, Mr. J. B. Oliver, that 
journal is now for sale. Here is an opportunity for capital 
brains and enterprise. 
—William Cullen Bryant, the best known and oldest of the 
American poets, died yesterday, June 12, in the 8-lth year of 
sage. 
GAME PROTECTION. 
MEETINGS 
OF STATE ASSOCIATIONS 
FOR 1878. 
In Memoblam.— It is with regret that we announce the 
death of Jackson Gillbanks, Esq., of Wbitefield House, Cum- 
berland, England, who departed this life May 19, 1878, aged 
fifty years. Mr. Gillbanks was a frequent contributor to the 
columns of this paper. An ardent sportsman in his younger 
days, in later life he devoted a great deal of his time to the 
introduction of game birds and fish into England. It was at 
his suggestion that, some years ogo, we forwarded to the 
Prince of Wales the eggs of our prairie chickens, aud we 
now have among our papers many valuable suggestions made 
by Mr. Gillbanks astothemeaDStobe employed in forwarding 
live game and the eggs of game birds to England. Mr. Gill- 
banks was exceedingly interested in fish culture, and anxious 
to gain all information from American sources. In England 
Mr. Gillbanks was well known for his contributions to the 
London Field. 
Our Yaohting CoLUMNs.-We are in receipt of many 
gratifying encomiums of our yachting department. The pub- 
lic, always quick to comprehend honest efforts in catering to 
its wants and tastes, has given its unqualified approval of the 
professional nature of this department and the liberal space 
accorded it. The yachting columns of the Forest and 
bTREAM fill a long existing void in the sporting literature of 
America, and it is our intention that they shall be brought to 
as high a degree of perfection as the well-directed efforts of 
our editor, who is a practical naval architect, seaman and 
yachtsman, can attain. That the public appreciates this pur- 
pose we are convinced, from the fact that Forest and Stream 
is universally recognized at present by the London Field and 
other English papers as authority, and the accepted medium 
of the sport in America. The one hundred yacht clubs of 
this country ought to have a representative of their interests 
and we will bid high for the position. 
Important to Subscribers. -From Georgia we have re- 
ceived this hint : 
th0l,shl you woulli have m “ de yottr P»P« 
Yes, -we are just about to do something of the kind. Should 
have reduced our rates long ago, but have been hesitating 
In , t T rcly 1 “ >mlnal clwr ® e ’ “7 50 cents per 
annum, or to .end the paper free, pay postage on it, and 
throw in a double-barreled shot-gun. fishing-rod and chromo- 
expressage prepaid-to each new subscriber. If times con 
« Le° b “ de “’ ench ° f our sthscibers may espect to make 
an independent fortune out of this concern. In yiew of such 
reader',.^ cmU ?. gmc T, ; «« need not suggest to the casual 
reader the expediency of immediately sending in his name 
It’s better than buying lottery tickets. g &me ' 
Wnfb 0 an\^Tole P do. t8men ’ 8 A8BOciation - Cincinnati, June 16; Seoty., 
Tennesae 0 8tat 0 Sportamon’s ABsociatiou, Nashville Deo 2 
Seoty , Clark Pritchett, Nashville, Tenn. vino, doc. 2 
Wisconsin State Sportemou'B Association. 
Massachusetts State Sportsmen’e Association, at call of Presidont 
Missouri State Sportsmeu’g Association. 
Minnesota State Association, St. Paul, June 19, 20 and 21. 
R°BrNs as Game Birds.— Mr. Editor : In your issue of 
May 30, m the Game Bag and Gun " column, your Salem 
correspondent speaks of shooting robins arnoug other birds T 
. tbat . if . your correspondent is a sportsman 
he ought to be sufficiently informed to know that it has been 
a crime to shoot robins in this State for some years, aud if lie 
does know this and commits the crime, he ought to he prose- 
cuted. It poorly accords with the spirit of many Massachu- 
setts sportsmen to read the record of the wanton slaughter of 
oue of our best songsters in our sporting journals by one of its 
accredited correspondents. It is a matter of pride with ns 
that we are so far m advance of New York. New Jersey, and 
some other States, that we are not able to exult over a bag of 
slaughtered robinB. F n r 
Springfield, Maes ., June 5,1878. ' ' ° P ‘ 
[We have seen flights of robins so numerous as to break the 
branches of the cedars, where they alighted to eat. the berries 
and if superabundance ever gives license to destroy or di- 
minish, it would apply iu such coses, especially as robins are 
larger and more dolicious than many species of snipe. We do 
not gainsay what our correspondent says ; we would assured- 
ly protect robins from the fowler and gunner, and exclude 
them from the list of game birds; but occasions frequently 
offer in scattered localities, where the killing of them would 
be especially justified, not for sport truly, but for the stew 
and pot-pie. Our point is that a sweeping, inexorable, re- 
strictive rule bears bard upon circumstances which operate to 
make a privilege which the tenderest conscience would prompt 
us to accept. The whole question rests upon the abundance 
or dearth of supply. However, the law of Massachusetts 
being against robin shooting, ought not to be violated.— Ed. j 
• York.— T he sportsmen of Akron, N. Y., have organ- 
ized the Forest and Stream Spor^ Club for the nrotec- 
tion of fish and game, with twenty-seven members and the 
following officers: Dr. L. P. L. Parker, Pres.; Wm L 
Tress?' Vlce ' Pre8 ‘ ; Del1 Mor e an > Sec.* N. B. Wick wire' 
f//e !?(//<•. 
For Forest and Stream and Rod and Run 
FROM SHORE TO SHORE. 
■ t . CARVERS trip from SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK. 
I propose to avail myself of your kind offer of the use of 
“*» t0 '"any friends 
*»>«' Journey across ^ 
menu on band will permit me to keen i, , d eng0g0 ' 
Having li “ T ° a 7- 
Vzx T7 ZtiZKZZ 
breaking SS.5 glji ^“ 0 ’ “ poSTooVwur. Wl’” 
cbeslnr l)tte I Uraa 0M S 1!' ul g t- Z 7 
bilious of rifle shooting in many lilace* K “ 
h; " r,iiai “" d 
hat I am upon the Eastern shore of this continent I look 
hack upon my journey with pleasant recollccli ms of k 
warm friendships made on the way * y 
e*™? Fr, r, isco “y Ml rvflg at Sacramento, 
r a “ t,l, “ ,0U8 V lb. Agricultural p„ rk , both 
an exhibition there. It consisted nrinnfc,. n! > ' V <• ’ 1,111 Kave 
Ition on the Comstock. At Salt Lake City I was ri„v 
ployed in flirting with the Mormon girls-u dangerous* nas' 
time, I was told ; for the intrepid habitue of the nlfttoa who 
never ouails before th.. , „ 0 piamg who 
U V OJIUI in- 
storm, and coosoqu'eniiy ZZ 
ever challenged by G. W. Gove, a man 70 ye ns TJ n 
shoot a match of 100 glass halls, his shot-gun agiust mv 
rifle Advanced in years as Ibis gentleman is, lie lias no 
equal nmch less superior, as a shot, among the younger 
meu of he country. My score was 07 out of the 100 bafif 
making the mutch a tie. UU1I8 < 
From Denver 10 Cheyenne, W. T„ where I arrived in 
midst of a terrific wind storm. I was now "nwroachln! 
the old home,’’ and at Cheyenne I met manv Sd nS fa- 
miliar faces— companions of years gone by. Owing to tlin 
extremely had weather, I gave hut a short exhibition of 
i 81 ’? 19 ' U ' U proce ‘ ide<i ou to Omaha, Nob Passing 
through this section the familiar landmarks carried Die bncf 
in memory to the wild and stirring scenes through which, I 
[We acknowledge with pleasure the honorary membership 
conferred upon the Editor and Business Manager of this 
journal.] 
np« C ?Sv?'* Y 'i> ha8 a r gam r e cIub witb ,he following Offi- 
cers: Isaac Clute, Pres ; LeonLacktnao, Vice-Pres.- Herbert 
Tanner, Treas. ; Orville Winney, Sec. 
Saratoga Game Club -Saratoga Springs, Man 27 -A few 
gentlemen interested in field sports have organized the Saratoga 
fhoT ° 1U ?- for the enforcement of all laws and onlmances tor 
the protection of game, improvement of skill in shooting aud 
fishing, the restock mg of our forests and streams with game, 
and the fostering of public opinion iu all timt relates to the 
better preservation of all varieties of game. The officers arc 
A R MoNtdr P.s.; W. H. Hodman?’ VicJ-pS ; L A . 
Sharp, Sec. and Treas. L ^ y 
Mon B ^f’ 8 T L r AN f IA -~ The Gam ® ond Fish Protective Associa- 
m n » ^“.organized May 19 with twenty-three 
members and the following officers : John Cox, Pres ■ W A 
S g0 Ar VlCe - 0 Pr i S ‘V Jtt9 ‘ Eldrid S e . Treas., and H. McMiUenj 
Sec,: Messrs. S. E. Young F. B Gilbert, Geo. T. Swank. J. 
W. Waterman and Jehu Roberts, Executive Committee. The 
club have appointed fish wardens, propose to stock Mill Creek 
with trout, and are energetic in their effoits to increase the 
fishing of the vicinity. 
—The Tennessee Sportsmen’s Club has been organized bv 
the sportsmen of Maury County, with the following officers 
Joseph H. Dew, Pres.; Thos. L. Porter, Vice-Pres . Wm. N.' 
Hughes, Treas.; Josh G. Bailey, See. Tweniy members were 
present at the hrst meeting, and an equal number will proba- 
bly be added at an early date. 
For rules governing: matches aud competitions of various 
kinds s«s chs •• American Club List,” price 30 cents. 
had hunted the buffal^i^d the ^ e , and SSn 
tered he Indians. Here, upon the Medicine below I had 
passed many a happy month of freedom from the cores of 
find • i But llU f V , cbauged ! Far and Wide I guzed 0 
find the evidence of buffalo and other game, hut tE had 
passed away, and civilization hod placed* its ^ nm?k unon he 
country through which I once roamed free as air! Buffalo 
and hostile Iudiuns both have retired before the advance of 
be - l . r ™ 7 ouate r which now drags its loads of human 
freight daily across the continent. I expected to leavo h „ 
P1 “«« to pay u Visit toTydd Lome ou !he 
Medicine, and enjoy a few days’ hunting, but the famous 
marksmen in the East, having learned of my coming were 
publishing challenges from day to day, and I was niniLu 
lariy anxious to accommodate them us won as possibk sL f 
ra^sZ myj ° Umey ’ lherebymI ““ g l l* i 8 ^ I oDg an Uci- 
Reaching Omaha, trouble commenced in earnest.’ Hero 
the shooters made their first bold stand, as if determined to 
wrest my laurels from me. Among the bravest of the bravo 
was John W. Petty, of the firm of Collins & Pelty, knowl 
among his most intimate friends in “Spoon Bill ” on ac- 
count of his peculiar attitude while making a shot. He 
stands six feet in height, of firm, manly proportions and is 
possessed of a keen, mobile eye, which rests upon an Sbject 
wiihathat determination which denotes the man of remark- 
k nmJL ei J!.iV Ch h C I8 ' Iiis position while shooting is 
known as well as his reputation as a marksman. When 
once assumed, nothiug in tbe world can attract his alien- 
urn. As the butt of lus piece strikes the shoulder, he rests 
his nose between the hammers of the gun, and his eves shoot 
torlh light of unusual brilliancy. My mutel. here with Petty 
was hot and closely contested, but the genial John suffered 
defeat in the most gentlemnnly manner possible, although he 
made oue of the most remarkable scores on record by break- 
b “ 119 ° ut ,jf a Possible 500. Owing to the cour- 
iJX (f |, U n S ' at lbe F orr ’ and alii0 of ‘he mem- 
bers of the Omaha Sportsman’s Club, my sluy here was 
somewhat prolonged. 
A hunt was organized on the Platte River after geese and 
ducks, for my special benefit, under the leadership of Gil/ 
Collins, of Messrs. Collins & Petty, which offered unusual 
excitement and interest, as every man was armed with u rifle 
and all were to shoot ut flying objects. We went out iu a 
wagon and as wo rode up the hill looking down upon tl.» 
Piutte River, we could see thousands upon thousands of 
geese upon the sand-bar, running out to an island in tho 
river about a mile away. Descending from the wagon we 
started for the river to cross over in a boat. As we were 
descending the hill, a flock of quail flew across in front off 
us In an mstunt every man had his piece to his shoulder 
and the sharp crack of the rifles, the whiz of the bullets ami 
whir of the birds made up a most animated and exciting 
scene, as we were all armed with the Winchester Repeating 
Rifle As a solitary bird was disappearing over the elev^ 
tion, the last shot was fired by Collins, who was trying to 
shoot the top off of that hill. Every gun was emptied, when 
