1875 . 
TO SPOUTS>IE.\. 
We remind our readers thac this is the only pofer in 
the country which deals exclusively with eunning, fish- 
ing and the protection of fish and game. We believe 
that in our gunning and fishing, our game preservation, 
our fish culture and our natural history, we have a 
line of subjects that are of permanent interest. We 
honestly believe that our paper should be in the hands 
of every man, not only with a view to our own gain, 
but also to our increased usefulness. It has been sug- 
gested to us that we should do well to reduce our sub- 
scription price. On consideration we have determined 
to take another course. The Rod and the Gun is 
already lower in price than any other paper. It is well 
known to most of our friends that money profit is not 
the chief motive with which this paper is run, although 
as a business undertaking it must pay before it is en- 
titled to be called really useful. In place then of re- 
ducing the price we think we shall do more good by 
making such additions to the paper as will increase its 
value and attractiveness. 
To this end we ask each and everyone of our sub- 
scribers to send us at least one new subscriber. One sin- 
gle name is not much. Every sportsman can afford to 
pay eight cents a week. In this way our circulation 
would be doubled, and a list of twenty thousand names 
would make us a power in the land. 
While in 8t. Louis on his last trip, W. F. Parker 
was in consultation with the managers of the Atlantic 
and Pacific Railroad Company, the result of that con 
forence appears in the following forwarded us for pub- 
lication: 
St. Louis, Mo., March 31. 
Editok Rod and Gun : 
Our train baggage-men are instructed to collect the 
following tariff on dogs and guns : For each dog — 50c 
for the first 100 miles or fraction thereof, and 25. f.ir 
each additional 100 miles or fraction thereof ; for each 
gun— 25c for the first 100 miles or fraction thereof and 
15c for each additional lOO miles. 
E. A. Ford, G. P. A. 
G. H, Heafpord, Ass’t G. P. 
The Mass. Anglers Association have held their an- 
nual meeting. The following gentlemen are elected 
officers for the ensuing year : Pres., Dr. John P. Ord- 
way; V. Presidents, Hon. Thomas Talbot, John F. 
Mills, S. W. Hathaway, Hon. Charles Leii Woodbury, 
C. Warren Gordon ; Treas., Charles Stanwood ; Sec., 
George B Brown; Cor. Sec., Charles E. Pierce; Li- 
brarian, William F. Story ; Executive, James P. Rich- 
ardson, S. M. Johnson, Walter M. Bracket, James 
Walker, Benjamin P. Waie ; Membership, D. T. Cur- 
tis, E. Delano, H. M. Forristall. 
The St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Rail- 
way (see our advertising columns), are selling flrst-cla.ss 
excursion tickets from St. Louis to Denver and return 
for $65. This line with its connections hits the finest 
hunting fields in the west, and for tourists and pleasure 
seekers no better selection can be made. With the 
present low rates between the east and St. Louis, gen- 
tlemen of moderate means can enjoy a trip to the moun- 
tains, living for almost nothing. 
Rhode Island h.as passed a law against snaring, ex- 
cept upon a landholder’s own land and for his own con- 
sumption. The Rhode Island game and fish associa- 
tion held their annual meeting April 1, and elected 
officers for the following year : Pres., Rev. F. U. Hetu- 
perly ; V. Presidents, Dr. P. S. Redfield, Mr.. Aaron 
Pierce, Capt. Hammond, Mr. S. S. Foss, Dr. Day ; 
Sec., W. Grover; Treas., C. F. Page ; Advocate, 
C. E. Clark. 
Dr. JohnP. Oudway, cf Boston, known to all good 
sportsmen as President of the Mass. Anglers’ Associa- 
tion, who was injured by the collision of trains on the 
New York and New England Railroad, Feb. 15, is not 
yet able to leave his room. The bruises upon his leg 
are healed, but his other injuries are of a more serious 
nature, and may impair his strength for life. 
The Pioneer Sporting Club of Delaware held its first 
meeting on the 20th of March, 1875, and elected its offi- 
cers for the ensuing year. 
A PARTY of six gentlemen from Hannibal, 3Io., went 
twenty-two miles down the Missouri, and in four days’ 
shooting bagged 561 ducks and 5 goe.se. Tlmt i.s what 
they call spring shooting in the west. ^ 
/ 
25 
Cincinnati Zoot.ooical Society Report is before ns, 
showing the financial progrtis of the undertaking. 
The Society is now approaching to success, but the in- 
ception was attended with many difficulties which ob- 
structed Its growth. The projectors found consider- 
able trouble in getting land within a reasonable distance 
of town. The disappointments experienced by those 
who took pains to benefit their fellow-men are slightly 
sketched in the following passage which might be com- 
ical in a story but is wretchedly annoying in fact : “The 
Board have met much difficulty in getting stock taken. 
One class of persons say, when solicited, ‘ You ought to 
have secured your ground free of rent from the city and 
you cannot expect to make money when you have been 
obliged to pay $130,000 for your land. 1 do not care to 
risk anything in what I am sure must prove a financial 
failure.’ Another class refily, ‘ You are a mere money 
making corporation run for profit. If you had at- 
tempted to add an attraction to the city simply for the 
public good, of course I should have felt called upon to 
help you ; but under the circumstances I decline to take 
any stock.’ While many persons are sincere in their 
objections, the Society unfortunately may perish for 
want of support withheld on account of them.” There 
are, however, a few men in every community who hav- 
ing put their hand to the plough will not draw back, 
and of such are the gentlemen who have faith in the 
uses of this society, and now they have begun to make 
it a success by their patient persistency, of course the 
doubters grow in faith and proffer assistance. The col- 
lection of animals is not as yet numerous, but a begin- 
ning is made, and an example set to other cities. 
The Wisconsin Fish Commission have issued their 
report showing an expenditure of $314.75 for which 
they have produced and distributed 61,000 fry. After 
a review of the doings of other States, the commission- 
ers ask for a decent appropriation with which they 
may fit out a Slate hatching house. There are 225 
lakes in Wisconsin with a surface of over 248,000 acres. 
What fish there are in the lakes are becoming rapidly 
exhausted by improper fishing. Racine alone has twenty- 
five miles of gill nets kept at w-ork in all seasons. The 
report refers to the State Association for the preserva- 
tion of game and commends the good service rendered 
by it to the State. 
The London Field Gun trial will come off April 26th 
at Wimbledon. The entiles are confined to gunmakers 
who may enter not more than three guns in each class. 
Guns to be shot from rest. Powder to be furnished by 
manager. Guns to be divided into four classes; 8 guage 
and under, 12 guage and under, 12 guage English boring, 
20 guage any. Scott & Sons have withdrawn from the 
contest. 
Mr. Gorges, a Frenchman, resident in London has 
been exhibiting to Frank Buckland and other gentle- 
men a chemical composition for preserving fish in a 
fresh and edible condition. Mr. Buckland certifies to 
its success and t» the fitness of the fish for table after 
several days. If successful on the large scale there 
would be an immense saving of ice. Besides which, 
fishermen would be able to keep their fish sweet from 
the moment of capture. 
Springfield, Mass., will have a great Bench Show on 
April 28. Send for particulars to Rod and (Iun Clud. 
Mu. Charles Linden in auother column renews his 
very interesting sketches of the great Amazon River. 
“ Argus” warns gentlemen sportsmen against land 
speculation under the guise of shootinj; clubs. 
Ashrurnhah, Mass., is alive to the advantages of 
local fish culture. The Naiikeag pond measuring about 
500 acres water surface has been leased to Mr. Otis 
Whitney, who has put up breeding troughs and estab- 
lished a good preserve. From Commissioner Brackett 
were obtained 450 land locked salmon fry, which were 
transferred in fine order, and are thus far doing well; 
from Seth Green 600 salmon trout were had, taken 
from Lake Ontario, cared for in Mr. Whitney’s private 
hatching troughs, and in due time put into the lake; 
and, lastly. 100 Lake Chamnlain bass were procured of 
Living-.ton Sionc, “fine specimens of this variety of 
fish, weighing from two to five pounds each, the 
females being heavy with spawn.” Of course it is too 
early to present the fruits of this most commendable 
town departure. It isn't too early, however, for other 
towns to follow the Ashburuhaui example. 
The West Medford Shooting Club was perma- 
nently organized on the 26th inst., by the following 
choice of officers — President, Dr. C. E. Sanborn; Vice 
Pres. dent, C. M. Barrett ; Secretary, Wm. S. Sargeant; 
Treasurer, J. E. Ober. The objects of the Club as set 
forth by Art. ii, of its constitution, “shall be to do all 
in its power to promote judicious legislation, and to 
assist in the execution of protective game laws. 
A BASKING shark, the largest of known fishes was 
captured alive in the Isle of Wight, England. He had 
been stranded. The animal was estimated at eight tons 
weight, and he was over 28 feet long. The skin was 
bought for the British Museum and stuffed. 
The English sportsmen have discovered that rabbits 
are more prolific on poor land than on good land which 
will carry stock or pay for culture. In some parts of 
the country rabbits are extraordinarily cheap, and every 
where they are an important addition to the food of the 
poor. 
Judge Caton, in[a style peculiarly his own, tells a lit- 
tle of what he knows about wounds from antlers. 
Will some other gentlemen follow the matter up, and 
tell us about wounds generally from beasts of chase. 
Livingston was inclined to think that all wounds from 
teeth of carnivora are slightly poisonous. 
NITIOXAL SP0RtUeJV~C 0\TEXTI0X— 
CLEVELA.XD, 0., JUi\E 8, 1875. 
We propose to give a list of delegates from the 
various Slate Associations to the National Convention 
to be held at Cleveland in June next. Tothis end we re- 
quest the Secretary of each State Association to forward 
us names of delegates as, and when, they may be ap- 
pointed. We have occasionally received letters disclos- 
ing mistaken views as to the nature and objects of the 
National organization. We are very sure that all intel- 
ligent sportsmen who take any pains to enquire into the 
subject will not have any hesitation in giving their 
hearty support to both the National and the State Asso- 
ciations, of which the National is composed. To re- 
move any doubts, however, we give the following ex- 
tract from the proceedings of the National at Niagara 
in September last: 
Resolved, That its precedent is, first, the protection of 
game and fish in all the Slates and Territories, by pro- 
curing the passage in each State, and in the Congress of 
the United Slates, of uniform co-operation and consis- 
tent laws, strictly prohibiting their destruction during 
the breeding, nesting and spawning seasons, and rea- 
sonable time preceding and following the same. Pro- 
hibiting the capture and destruction of cedain species 
of game birds in nets and traps during any and all sea- 
sons; prohibiting the catching and destruction of fish, 
ill the now navigable lakes and streams, with nets or by 
means of chemicals; prohibiting the obstructing of the 
free passage of fish by nets acri’SS such streams, and by 
the creation of fish-dams and traps; and to procure the 
passage of such other and further legislation as may be 
necessar)' and proper for the full accomplishment of our 
purpose; second, through subordinate organizations, to 
insure a rigid enforcement of all the game and fish pro- 
tection laws now or hereafter to be enacted; third, to 
secure by and through proper legislation the right of 
property in useful hunting dogs, making them, when 
stolen, the subject of larceny, or when wantonly killed 
or maimed the subjeet of a misdemeanor; fourth, to 
secure, through ami by proper legislation, the passage 
of laws prohibiting at any time find season the killing 
or destruction of all song and non-game birds; to or- 
ganize and consolidate under our State jurisdiction, 
game and fish protective clubs or as.sociations in each 
State and Territory, to act under the jurisdiction of the 
National Association, in securing and enforcing proper 
protective l^islation. 
Resolved, That all naturalists, fish ciilturists, and 
sportsmen generally in those States having no associ 
ations be, and are hereby, earnestly requested without 
delay to organize local clubs therein, to form State As- 
sociations under the jurisdiction of the National Asso- 
ciation, and that <ill State organizations now existing and 
igierating be and are solicited to become members of this As- 
sociation, .so that by unity yf action throughout the laud 
we may accomplish anil perpetuate the great reform 
designed and desired. 
LIST OF DELEGATES. 
Connecticut. — H. .1. Boughton, Waterbury; W. F 
Pa-ker, West 3Ieriden; A. C Hobbs, Bridgeport; Henry 
B. Harrison, New Haven; F. W. Russell, Hartford. 
Illinois. — W. F. Milligan, Chicago; Hon. S. P 
Hopkins, Palatine; Abner Price, Chicago; Dr. W. A 
Pratt, Elgin; Jno. L. Pratt, Sycamore. 
.Mass.\ciiusetts. — John Boyden, Worcester; Luthei- 
.\dams, Boston; Hon. E 11. I'aHlirop, Spiingfield; Geo 
Delano, New Bedfonl; T. L. Siunevaiit, Framingham 
Wisconsin. — H. N. Sherman, Beloit: S. S. "iVood 
ward, Watertown; A. F. Lund, Madison; F. W. Wood 
ward, Eaii Claire; C. W. Hemming, Waiipun. 
Ohio. — Buckeye Club, Warren. — M . 1). Phelps. W. 
D. Birchard, S. 0. idduigs, Geo. North, audF. Freeman. 
