* FOREST AND STREAM 
297 
Curling Convention— Matches fob Next Winter.— 
The Ninth Annual Convention of tho Grand National 
Curling Club was held at Yonkers on Wednesday last, the 
9th inst. The meeting comprised curlers from Canada and 
the West, but was not as well alteuded as on several pre- 
vious occasions. At tho Executive Committee meeting, 
which was held in the Grand Army Hull. President John 
L. Hamilton occupied the chair. The calling of the roll 
discovered the following representation from the several 
clubs : — 
N. Y. Caledonian, John Russell; New York, George 
Giieves; Jersey City, James Love; Burns, Ogdenshurgh, 
W. Winterbottom (proxy); Milwaukee, J. A. Bryden; 
N. Y. St- Andrews, A. Dulryeiple; Albany, Thomas Mc- 
Crcdie; Yonkers, W. B. Edgar; Paterson, Juiues Peacock; 
N. Y. Thistle, William Meikle; Thistle, Detroit, George W. 
Sparks; Caledonian, Brooklyn, James West; N. Y. Burns, 
Win. Ilogg; Four Brothers, Canada, U. Mnlcom; Thistle, 
Brooklyn, W. Ward Watkins; Caledonian, Buffalo, James 
E. Thomson; Ivanhoc, Paterson, H. L, Butler. 
The clubs not represented wore the Chicago; Empire 
City, N. Y. ; Thistle, Chisago; St. Lawrence, Prescott; 
New York Mills; Orchard Lake, Mich.; Burns, Cleveland; 
and Granite, Detroit. 
After the reading of the minutes of last meeting the re- 
ports of committees were called for, and the first presented 
was that of the committee on the International match be- 
tween the United States and Canada. It was given infor- 
mally by Mr. II. L. Butler, of Paterson, and set forth the 
circmnstauces 6omo time ago stated in the pages of 
Forest and Stream, which mude the arrangement of such 
a match impossible last winter. Out, of a required number 
of fifty rinks, only fifteen could be found which could be 
depended upon to go. 
The reports of the Secretary and Treasurer having been 
disposed of, the Chairman called for the resolutions drawn 
up by a special committee regarding the death of Mr. A. 
Cossets, writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, the Secretary of 
the Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland. Mr. Cas- 
sels discharged the duties of Secretaryship for upwards of 
thirty years, and was one of the most keen and enthusiastic 
supporters of curling in the whole of Scotland. 
The New York Mills Club was dropped from the roll, 
and was the first defection from the rauks of the grand 
national. 
The new clubs applying for admission were represented 
as follows ; — 
Troy, Thomas McCredie (proxy); Newark, W. W. Love; 
Manhattan, N. Y., G. T. Addison; Utica, none; St. Law- 
rence, Prescott, Onl., J. Gillies (proxy). Of these the last 
named was merely reinstated. It was really defunct for a 
period of three years, but having been restored to unima 
tion, was somewhat anomalously treated as though it had 
been iu membership all along. 
Mr. A. Dulryinple brought forward a series of by-laws, 
for the regulation of the match for the Bell Champion 
Quoit. A modification of tho existing practice was advo- 
cated some time ago in these columns iu an article upon 
quoits, having especial reference to the size of the quoit 
used iu the champion match. This and other defects are 
now remedied by the ndoptiou of Mr. Dairy mple’s code, 
which is founded upon that of tho-Excclsior Quoitiug Club. 
Its main provisions arc as follows : — 
1st. That the players shall bo paired by oallot, llioeo drawing the sumc 
numbers being opponents. 
2d That the match shall be played on tho natural turf, without clay 
ODds 
3d. That the motts, or pins, shnll ho eighteen yards noart . 
4 til. -That the players, when delivering their quoits, shall stand within 
three feel of the mott. 
Btli That tho leader shall he decided by lot. 
Gib That the player* shnll remain at the end played from until the last 
shot from each end is played 
7th. That the size of quolta shall not exceed eight Inches In diameter 
8th. That in cam of doubt or dispute all measurements shall he made 
with compusees from tho centre of the top of the pin to the nearest visi- 
ble Iron 
fith. That In case of a broken qaolt the moasnromont shall be made 
from the top of the pin to tho nearest visiblo iron of the fragment lying 
Closest to the pin 
lOlli That any disconcerting act done by one player shall entitle his 
antagonist to play his shot over again. 
Uili That two umpires and n referee shall be appointed by tho execu- 
tive column ice of the Qrand National. 
On motion these by-laws were ordered to be iuserted in 
the next nnnual. 
At the general meeting a large accession was made to the 
number of curlers present, chiefly of members of the Cale- 
donian, New York nnd St. Audrews Clubs of New York, 
and from the local club. 
^ The following are the matches for tho Grand National 
medals to he played next winter : — 
Umpire. 
New York vs. Yonkers St Audrews. 
N, Y. Caledonian vs. Jersey City N Y. Thistle. 
SI. Audrews vs. Ivnnboc N. Y. Caledonian. 
Paterson vs. Ernpiro City Jersey City. 
N, Y. Thistle vs. Thistle, Brooklyn N Y. Burns. 
Mums. N. Y , vs Caledonian, Brooklyn Empire City. 
Newark vs, Manhattan Paterson. 
Albany vs. Troy Own. 
Sums. Ogdensonrgh, vs St. Lawrence, Prescot Own. 
Sllffulo vs. Four Brothers Own. 
Milwaukee vs. Thistle, Chlcigo Chicago 
Granite, Detroit, vs Orchard Lake Thistlo, Detroit. 
Thistle, Detroit, vs. Chicago Own. 
BBlcveland vs. Utica Buffalo. 
The match for the Gordon medal was again made the 
uubject of a lengthy discussion, but tho motion offered was 
ulii mutely laid upon the table. 
■ The letter of resignation of the Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Thom- 
son of Fourth Presbyterian Church, New York, was re- 
ceived. 
Mr. A. Dalrymple moved that as tho Western section had 
played for the Gordou medal last winter, the Eastern sec- 
tion play for it next winter on the pond in Central Park, 
during Hie first half of January, on a day t o lie more exactly 
fixed by the President, the mulch to bo played iu the regu- 
lar way by one rink from each club. Carried. 
I The Convention will meet next year in Jersey City. 
The medal played for two years ago by the Milwaukee 
and Granito, Detroit clubs, was ordered to lie returned to 
the Grand National. The match was never satisfactorily do 
[ cided, nnd the medal is at present in the possession of Mr 
|G. W. Sparks of Detroit. 
| The subject of an international match was again brought 
bp by Mr. R. Malcom of Toronto- lie reminded the Con- 
vention that such a bonspiel was first proposed in 1872, and 
that in 1873 it had been regularly moved and carried in the 
Toronto Convention that it should he played last winter, 
lie was willing to accept the Committee’s report ns pre- 
I seated by Mr. Butler to the Executive Committee, hut he 
Would certainly not be satisfied if another winter went past 
without it being played. The twenty-seven clubs on the 
foil, outside of the Oanadiau members, ought to arrange 
two rinks each on an average, and if they made up their 
minds to do it there should he no dilficulty about it. It was 
worth hearing iu mind that next year was the year of tho 
Centennial, and a grand international mulch might ho used 
as a means of reminding his countrymen on the other side 
of the border, how America had been victorious over her 
forefathers oj England a hundred years ago. A very gen- 
eral disappointment was felt by Canadians because the 
match did not come off last winter. 
On motion the Executive members of each club wore 
appointed a Committee of the Whole to attend to the 
matter. 
The President’s address, one of tho best ever given be- 
fore the Grand Natioual, was then delivered by Mr. Ham- 
ilton, and the election of officers for the eusuing year was 
proceeded with. It resulted as follows:— President, John 
L. Hamilton; 1st Pice-President, James Stewarl of Yonkers; 
2dil Vice-President, G. W. Sparks, of the Thistle Club, 
Detroit; Secretary and Treasurer, David Foulis. 
The meeting closed after the installation of the newly 
elected officers and the transaction of some informal busi- 
ness. A banquet was glveu at the Getty House iu the 
evettiug. 
The Quoitiug Mntcli . — The match for the Bell Champion 
Quoit was postponed on account of the rain until the fol- 
lowing day, when it came off on a piece of grouud to the 
south of Yonkers. Twenty-eight players entered, and the 
play was very fine over almost the whole ground. The im- 
provement upon that exhibited a few years ago, in the same 
match, was very marked. Mr. A. Dalrymple, the winner 
of the medal last year, was disposed of on the second lie. 
The remaining ties were watched with great interest, and 
resulted as follows: 
G. Henderson. 
W Kellock... 
G. Grieves — 
J. Templeton. 
G. Grieves 
J. Templeton. 
THIRD 
TIE. 
21 
J. Stewart 
10 
John Temp 
eton n bye. 
5 
FOURTH TIB 
lli 
21 | W. Kullock 
19 
FINAL TIB 
21 
W. II. Doty of Yonkers acted as umpire. 
Mr. 'lempleton, the winner of the medal, now holds it 
for the second time. He was the first to wear tho trophy, 
when, iu 18G8, he carried it off from a field of twenty two 
players. lie is champion of the Excelsior Quoiting Club, 
anu a member of the Caledonia Curling Club of New York. 
Value of Earth Worms. — Mr. Josiah Purke9, the em- 
inent English agricultural engineer, found that earth worms 
were great assistance in land drainage. He says they love 
moist, but not wet soils, and will bore down to water, hut 
not into it. In examining a field which he had deeply 
drained, after long previous shallow drainage, he fouud 
that the worms had greatly increased in number, and that 
their bores descended quite to the level of the pipes. Many 
of the worm holes were large enough to receive the little 
finger, and it was evident that one worm has several bores, 
some of which are used in dry weather, and some as a ref- 
uge from rain. A piece of land in Lincolnshire, over 
which the sea had broken and killed worms, remained ster- 
ile until the worms again inhabited it. 
There was a piece of pasture land near his house in 
which the worms were in such numbers that he thought 
their casts interfered too much with the grass, and lie had 
the field rolled at night iu order to destroy them. The re- 
sult was that the productiveness of the field declined, and 
was not restored until the worms had recruited their num- 
bers, which was aided by collecting and transporting mul- 
titudes of worms from the fields adjoining. Tho great 
depth to which the worms will boro, and from which they 
cast up fine fertile soil to the surface, has been described 
by Mr. C. Darwin, of Kent, who slates that in a few years 
they have elevated the surface of fields by a layer of fine 
molds several inches thick, thus adding to the fertility of 
the soil. 
Potted Shad. — An esteemed friend furnished us with 
the following seasonable recipe. We have tried it, and fiud 
Hie fish put up by it excellent — every way as pieasaut to 
the palate as the northern article of shad sold iu hermeti- 
cally sealed boxes by our grocers: Take four good-sized 
fresh slind, cut each into six pieces and lay these in salt 
water for a few hours; after taking these out of the salt 
water drain them well. Then take eight leaspoonfuls of 
salt, oue of red pepper, one of cloves, half teaspoonful of 
mace, and mix them thoroughly. Sprinkle the fish well 
with these condiments; lay the fish iu a stone jar, and cover 
it with good strong vinegar. Place a cloth cover over the 
jar, lie it down, aud bake contents over a slow tire from 
six to eight hours. When done, set away in a cool place 
for a few days, aud when the jar is opened, you will find 
all hones have disappeared, and a nice relish is bef ore you. 
Warrenton Index. 
£nsivei[S j (£ort[C'Htoii(lcitt$. 
C. W., Mmuosotu Junction, Wis.— Caa send you Wingate's Rifle Man- 
ual; price $1.00. 
Chus. It. Suyilam, editor of "Fur, Fin aud Feather:" Please send proe- 
eent address to this office. 
F. \V. G., Erie, Penu.— Give yoar spaniel puppy three drops Fowler’s 
solntioa ursenio three limes a day, and you will llnd good results. 
MbssbnqBR, Bosion In Forest and Stream June 3d, page £ff§, in 
riflu mutch ul gullory of J. S. Coulin for ’short range championship," 
what was the distance? Ann. Twenty-live yards. 
Sanuiio, St. Louis.— Will yon pleuso Info, m me where I can procure 
some 30 inch circle targets to try a shot gun! Aus. From Puck Jt Sny- 
der, No. 120 Nassau street, Now York. 
D. MoU., Hnrrlsvillo, Mich.— Where cun I got Curtis & Harvey’s No. 
fi gunpowder? Have tried several places and can't get it. Alls. None to 
be had In this city. 
E. C. P., Springfield, Moss.— In tho report of fly costing at Water- 
town show, do you count from foot of the caster or from lip of rod? 
Aus. Measurement of disluuco from but of rod to end of leader, or cast- 
ing line. 
Wood Dock.— I n Answers to Correspondents In a late paper it Is 
stuled that wood ducks cannot ho domesticated. 1 have more than once 
scon them in that condition, nnd mingling ramllinrly with the other 
poultry, on the Des Moines River near Chicago.— S. C. C. 
M. D Morris, Itun, Tioga, Ponn.-G'an you iDform mo in your Answers 
to Correspondents where I can procure Horn oue to flvo thousand small 
trout; also, the best month for stocking a pond? Ans. Thompson Jt 
Tagg. Newhopo, Buck* county. Pen n. Best time for stock lug. lutt>e 
Sprlug season. 
F. B. I’., Montello, Wis.— Ploaao Inform mo what Is the number ami 
street at which the nperUman at New York is published; also the 
Washingtou SporUmtutf Ans. Thu Spor/mian, No. 23 Park row, Now 
\ork; Washington BporUman discontinued. 
Constant Reader, Syracuse, N. Y — Whore can X obtain a pair of 
Ashing shoes with perforated soles, and what la tho cost of such r Ans, 
fishing boots arc not made with perforated soles, but tho top and sides 
of tho foot nro punched. Address Messrs, Ferguson & Stoveus. No. 87 
Nassuu street, Now York. 
W. N. W., Boston -W and 8 both agroo that tho Cnnard Company 
have lost two steamers between this country and England. W hots 8. 
$5 that tho two steamers lost by the Otiuard Compauy were not lost, ono 
on Cnpo Cod and the other near Halifax. Whowius? Ans. The Coltnn- 
bla, of the Cuunrtl Line, wo are Informed, was lost on the rocks In Mait- 
enchusotts Bay about IB-19. Tho Tripoli was lost on the const of Ireland. 
Korsht, ChltteRnango.— Some timo ago I saw In yonr Answers to Cor 
respondents the name of a work on trout and othor fflus, hnt I cannot 
now And it. Would it bo too much to ask if yon would repeat the name, 
or that of some other work, with price of each? Ronalds * Blucker’a 
"Fly Fishers’ Entomology," Thnddeus Norris’ "American Anglers’ 
Book " Tho price of the latter Is $3, &0; the others are English works, 
and we do uot know tho price. 
J. E. 8 , Philadelphia.— A frlon d and I wish a few days bluoflshlng 
the coming week; who can \vb got to furnish boat and man. and 
which Is the best plnce easily accessible from Philadelphia? Atm, Kin- 
sey’s Ashley House is situated within one hundred yards of the cele- 
brated Ashing grounds of Bumegat Inlet, where comfortable accommo- 
dations, fishermen, bouts, Ac., cau be found. Theie are also good hotels, 
boats, ifcc.. at^Barnogat Village ar.d Wnrotown. 
J. II., Boston — 1st. What is the weight of the Scott gun you have for 
sale, and which Is advertised for sale In tills week's Issue? Arts 8J 
pounds. 2d What Is tho lowest cash price It can he bought for? Ans. 
$1S0. 3d. Do you think I conld be nblo to get a pair of stuffed mallard 
and ono fomnlo blucbill duck In Now York, or could you eel them and 
send them to me. and at whut price? Aus. Address Mussrs. Eaton & 
Co., No. 102 Nassau street. New York. 
Mercury, Boston.— Ploaso describe In yonr next Issue, If posslblo 
“blncilsh tackle" as used by Ashcrrncn about Bonufort aud on the coast 
of the Carolina^ I have read somowhero that they use In place of bono 
or bright metal a piece of older with tho lino anti a portion of hook 
drawn through It. Ans. Tho sumo tackle as ours, hut heavier, ns the Ash 
are larger. Tho alder la used simply to take the place of bone or metal 
where the latter are uot procurable. 
H. B., Now York.— Please Inform mo whero, within flvo lionrs’ Jour- 
ney of this city, one would And good trout Ashing fur a couple of days 
during the Qrst week In July next? How to reach such place, -ami where 
toputnp? Ans. Take Erie R. R. to Port Jervis, ami stage to Milford, 
or Erie to Lnckawaxen and wagon to Moses Westbrook’s Ask for John 
Williamson at Lnckawaxen. You can Osh the Sawkl.ll, Bushkill. or Sho- 
hola streams. Take 0 A. M. or 7 P. M train. 
Dauphin, Harrisburg, Ps.— I Incloio herewith a plcco of wood of the 
kind we use lor our best trout and bass rods. It is scarce, Is found In 
the western part of the State, and is remarkable for Its toughness and 
elasticity. Please let me know what It Is— that is, the proper name for 
it. We call it iron wood, Ans. The specimen sent appears to he a 
species of cedar; 1 b close In grain, hut with very short flbro, conse- 
quently wc should think It too brittle for good rods. Could uot classify 
It without further particulars. 
II J. R., tthuca.— Can yon give mo the faros on tho following rontos: 
1st. From Toronto to Duluth via Colli ngwood Hoc; 2d. From Buffalo to 
Duluth by propeller? Is n sportsman allowed to carry a gun aud ammu- 
nition with him from tho States into Canada without extra •luirgG or 
duty? Arc there excursion rates on either of the above lines abont the 
middle of Jnly? Ans. Faro from Toronto to Duluth tin Collingwood, 
Sault 8te. Marie nnd Thunder Bay Is $24.23, cnrrcucy; from Buffalo to 
Duluth by boat, $27, meals aud statorooni included No difficulty about 
carrying your gun. No excursions that wu are uware of, but you cuu 
ascertain before starling. 
C. D., Now York.— I have bought a small cannon of 10J Inches in 
length, weight 14 pounds wheels aud all, and 12 bore. Pleusc, oblige by 
Informing mo how big a load, and what kind of powder and wads to nee t 
I would like to have it make as much "noise" as posslblo. An* Four 
or Ave drachms, powder measurement, of any kind of gunpowder, with 
two or threo Ely wads, will moke noise enough, but such guns ore gen- 
erally made of luferlor metal, and being so short arc very dangorons to 
handle, oonseqnently wo would suggest the propriety of having your life 
insured before using It. 
Comstock, Cleveland, Ohio —In yonr reply to “Albert" In FonrsT 
and Stream June 10th you suy yon cau send him "Bird* of Norih 
America," with colored plates, price $30 for the three volumes How 
muiiy illustrations doua the work contain, aud nre there colored plates of 
all the birds embraced In the work? Is it n scientific or popular work T 
Ans. Sixty-four colored plates and 593 wood cuts. It is both scientific 
uud popular, tho reputations of Professors Baird and Rldgway and Dr. 
Brewer being a guarantee of the thoroughness nnd ability with which tho 
subject bus been treated. 
E. G. H., Philadelphia — 1. What arc the names of the different pari* 
of on oar- more strictly I should say, what is tho name of that part of 
the oar between the loom aud blade? 8. AJso best oil for guns? I have 
tried several kinds, but tuy gun will get rnsty In Winter. 3. Also, which 
size of Remington gun Is best for general shooting. 30 or 28 Inch, 10 or 
13 bore? 4. And whether Holnblrd’s suits are flt to wear both Summer 
and Winter? Ans. 1. Wo have always heard It culled tlie chunk. 2 
Sewing machine oil, being pure sperm. 3. 12 gaugo 30-luch barrel. 4. 
Good for both Summer and Winter. 
C. D. W., Rockville, Conn.— Which Is the cheapest route to Texas, 
and the fare? Ans Fia Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad; faro 
from St. Louis to Dennison. $28; Dallas, $31.00. Whore shall wo And 
buffalo without danger from tho Indians* Ans. Dou't know; buffalo 
range to south and west of Fort 8111, northward to the Platte River. 
What book or maps would usstst ns? Ans. Address “Brother Sports- 
man, " box 301, Scdnlio. Mo. Can you give us the address of some ono 
iu Texas who will answer a few questions? Ans. Address G. U. Rags- 
dale, Gainesville. 
C. W. A., Jr., New York —Can yon inform mo of some place within 
•200 mile-* of Now York where good trout or black bass flsblng and wood- 
cock shooting cuu be hud daring July? Also the name of some resident 
to whom I cub write In relation to board? I have loaded u number of 
Ely’s green shell cartridges, Ailed with flue rifle powder. Aro such dan- 
gerous and liable to burst a breech loader? Ans. Write to Moses West- 
brook. Blooming Grove. Pike county, I*a. Try ouo of your shells, and 
if the recoil is not too great use them. If yonr gun Is a good one there 
should be no danger of bursting It with ordinary charges, but the result 
will probably uot be ns satisfactory ns though you had used coarser 
powder. 
P. A., Boston.— I have a little bitch that I suppose te a fall blooded 
cocker spaulol. Cau you tell by the following description whut she Is: 
She looks like a very small setter, only her head Is shorter in propoitlon 
and her noso more pointed. Color, while with sides of her head and 
care orange, nnd orange spots on her body. She is well feathered with 
sofi, silky hair, baton her lull and stern it Is iucliued to curl: she hua 
also tufts of hair between her toes. Her nose, lips, nud roof of her 
mouth are black; eyes dark aud very huge uud handsome. Length of 
head, 6i Inches; from uosc to root of tall, £2 Inches; tall, 10 Inches; 
height. 17 Inches? Ans. From your description of tho bitch wo aro In- 
clined to think that she Is n well brod cocker; yet "one cannot aljnosj 
always tell unless you've been there." 
