Wilbur F. Parker, - - Editor and Proprietor. 
THE OXLT JOURNAL PCBLISHED IX THE I'XITED STATES 
Devoted Exclnsively to 
SHOOTIXG. FISHIXG. XATCRAL HISTORY. FISH CFLITRE, 
AXD THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME. 
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THE ROD AND THE GUN. 
W est Meriden. Conn. 
^“We earnestly request all onr contributors to adopt the plan in 
regard to the use of scientific names which some of them have 
already adopted, viz: to PRINT all such names legibly in the manu- 
script." as this will prevent error by giving the com^sitor plain copy 
to foUow. Above all things we say, do not venture upon the use 
of scientific names at all unless certain of their accuracy. 
SATURDAY APRIL 17. 1875. 
CONTENTS OF THIS NUUBEH. 
Page. Page 
Spring Birds and Fishes 33 Woodcock 40 
Canvas-Back Duck 34-35 Michigan to the Front 40 
Sportsmen in Italy 36 Challenge to Dropper 41 
An Old Book 36 Wounds from Deers .\ntlers. 41 
Patents 36 National Sportsmen Conven- 
The Rifle 37 tion 41 
Pigeon Matches 37 Coming State Conventions. . . 41 
Recollections of Marajo Queries and .Answers 4g 
Island 38 Rod and Gun 42 
Sportsman's Library Table . . 39 Letters from Sportsmen 43 
Springfield Dog Show 40 
The Index and title-page to Vol. Y are readj-. Tliuae 
subscribers who desire them will please notify us. 
SPRI.AGFIELD DOG, SHOW. 
Springfield. Mass., announces a dog show ; the pro- 
gramme appears elsewhere. From the spirit, zeal and 
intelligence of the Massachusetts sportsmen on all field 
sport topics, there is little reason but that the show 
•will be a good one ; while the high character of the 
committee insures confidence. 
We have at various times and at some length dis- 
cussed the questions involved in dog shows. The most 
effective show is that which carries a field trial. The 
old proverb that “a good horse cannot be of a bad 
color” has a sound, common sense, practical conclu- 
sion. Nevertheless, in estimating the possible worth 
of an animal whose qualities are unknown, we are com- 
pelled to take into consideration the number of purely 
.external incidents, the aggregate of which, if not con- 
clusive, strongly indicates results justified by past ex- 
perience on similar premises. Thus points of form or 
color in a dog or a horse are evidence in favor of the 
particular animal and show the strain from which he is 
derived. The value of breed in all domesticated ani- 
mals is a subject that ought no longer to admit of a 
doubt in the mind of any intelligent owner of animals, 
although we may now and then see that such or such 
an animal of mixed or uncertain breed has been found 
to possess most valuable qualities, that place him on an 
equal footing with some others, the blue blood of whose 
ancestry is unimpeachable. That this exceptional in- 
stance may be, and indeed is, cannot be denied. But 
from the earliest ages the superiority of blood has been 
recognized, and we cannot for an instant accept the 
idea of a chance mongrel being equal in possibilities to 
an animal sprung from a line of famous progenitors. 
Pedigree, however, is not everything. It is an index 
to the qualities desired, but the qualities themselves are 
what we want Breaking, training and practice are 
needed to make the thoroughly good dog. To judge of 
these, we want not only shows but trials; under such 
conditions, too, as most thoroughly develop the ani- 
mal’s powers, and make an effective test in the work 
done, as well as the style of doing it; for whatever may 
be thought by market hunters, who only want to bring 
the bird to bag, we take it for granted that the gentle- 
man sportsmen will look for style as well as work in his 
thoroughbred ranger. 
Our dog shows and field trials may help to a settla- 
meni of the much vexed question of setter or pointer, 
and the special gain to the enthusiastic sportsman of 
shooting over a squad of dogs, e.ich broken to Ids sep- 
arate work and his special game, or of devoting ourselves 
to the cultivation of that breed which does best for a 
general dog of all work. 
This sea.<on will, doubtless, bring us a number of dog 
shows and field trials, which will increase upon us all 
the time. One word of caution we would throw out. 
Let us not get into the slough of imputation and recrim- 
ination, which have been a reproach to some of the 
English dog clubs. Let us not permit the tricks of dog 
fanciers that have made some of the dog shows on the 
other side a lidiculous sham. Let us be careful to 
select as judges men who know the work they have 
to do, and above all let us have men whose standing and 
reputation guarantee the fairness of their intentions, 
so that even the loser may feel that it was in aU honor. 
Woodcock. 
That this noble game bird needs protection no one 
will deny. How to accomplish this object is a question 
that has long been agitated by sportsmen and journal- 
ists. We know it is quite a self-denial to support the 
enactment and enforcement of a law making the close 
season extend over a period of time in which in a 
neighboring State it is lawful to shoot these birds, but 
there must be a beginning somewhere, and sportsmen, 
who have the cause of “the Protection of Fish and 
Game” at heart, must, like all other advocates of a 
great principle, sacrifice something in order that the 
cause may be advanced. W e would therefore urge that 
we in New York and in the New England States abol- 
ish summer shooting of woodcock; we are not alone in 
this matter. The lurf. Field and Farm has advocated 
it, and Ltind and VTater remarking on the editorial of 
their contemporary' says: “ In this we agree as these 
birds are likely to become extinct at no very future 
date, if not protected.” That is the point. If not pro- 
tected, they will certainly soon become extinct. As 
evidence of our argument in favor of more thorough 
protection to these noble birds, we would call the atten- 
tion of our readers to the letter of our valuable con- 
tributor Dr. Goldsmith, who is now in Rome, as to the 
scarcity of these birds even in Italy, where they are 
even now seldom to be found. 
A word to the wise should be sufficient, and we trust 
our influence together with the patriotic motive — “the 
Protection of our Fish and Game” as a source of na- 
tional wealth-may induce all true sportsmen to sacrifice 
something and see that the bird is protected during the 
spring and summer months in order that they do not 
become altogether extinct, or so scarce as to demand a 
law prohibiting their shooting at any time for a term of 
years. ^ ^ 
The Waverlt Sportsmen's Club, Iowa, respep^ 
fully invite correspondence from the Sportsmen’s clubs 
of the S ate, in order that the several clubs may com- 
bine to form a State Sportsmen’s Association the better 
to provide for the Game and Fish interests of the Slate, 
and to induce the legislatuie at their next session to 
pass a more effective game law. The motives to this 
resolution are set out in the accompanying letter enclos- 
ing the resolution from their secretary : 
Our law as it now stands is a mere muddle — and 
wors than none — a dead letter on our statute books 
Hundreds of thousands of prairie chickens have been 
ruthlessly slaughtered out of time the last year, but 
such arc the doubtful provisions of the law, that not an 
action lias been .sustained — that I have heard of — for 
the wholesale killine of these beautiful bird^ We feel 
that something should be done for the birds and our- 
selves, for we have a great feeling for each oti er at the 
proper time of year. Thus, and for this purpose, I ask 
through you the clubs of the Slate of Iowa, to corres- 
pond with the undersigned at Waverly, Iowa, in refer- 
ence to this matter. There are several isolated clubs in 
Iowa, but we do not know each other, or where we live 
or what we are doing. I would say to my brother 
sportsmen, in behalf of our club, let us hear from you ; 
we will^ladly answer any greeting we may have from 
you ; let us have that somewhere the coming summer, 
and reason together oh these things. Our State is now 
being supplied^ ilh a great varietv’ of choice kinds of 
fish by O'ur fish commissioners. These must be looked 
after and cared for, or all this pains and expense will 
be useless. Fish-wa 3 's should be protected in the dams 
of the rivers and creeks, and iaj'-hawkini about these 
ways be looked after: A. T. Cole, 
Secy Waterly Sports. Club. 
The Amateur Pigeon Shooting Club was organized 
in San Francisco, on the 28th inst.. the officers elect for 
the season are — President, Mitchell Wright; V. Pres., 
John Masterson; Sec’}'., 1. P. MeSweeney; Treas., T. 
F. MisgilL The first shoot will be held April 19. 
Michigan to the Front. 
The Audubon Club of Detroit, on the 4th starch is- 
sued the following spirited circular: “In furtherance of 
t' e objects set forth in the accompanying circular, the 
undersigned beg leave to urge that immediate action be 
taken by yourself and other friends of the cause in your 
vicinit}'. in the matter of forming Local Associations, for 
the purposes mentioned. Will you not make this a per- 
sonal matter, to the end that Michigan may speedily 
take a prominent position among the States, in the com- 
pleteness of her organization and the efficiency of her 
work in the cause now so generally agitating the minds 
of all true lovers of the Gun and Rod? It is proposed 
to call a convention of Sportsmen of the State, to meet 
in this city at an early day, for the formation of the pro- 
posed State Association. Will you please acknowledge 
the receipt of this, and, if the movement meets your 
approval, suggest a date for the meeting which will best 
suit the convenience of yourself and friends? It should 
not be 'later, however, than the end of April. We will 
endeavor to accommodate the greatest number in the 
appointment of time.” 
In support of the foregoing they have issued the fol- 
lowing supplementary circular: 
In pursuance of the objects set forth in our prelim- 
inary circular ofMarch 4, 1875, the undersigned respect- 
fully invite a meeting of the sportsmen of the State in 
conventi' H, on the 28th day of April, 1875, at 2 o’clock 
p. M., at the rooms of the Audubon Club, Detroit, Mich., 
for the purpose of forming a State Sportsmen’s Asso. ia- 
tion. It is requested that each local game club through- 
out the State send three delegates ; that clubs be or- 
ganized at once wherever they do not now exist ; and 
that, in case it is found, from any cause, impracticable 
to form a club in any town or village, an individual 
delegate be sent from such locality, to the end that the 
State may be as fully represented as possible. 
Signed by George H. Parker, J. M. B. Sill, A. M. Van 
Duzer, Chas. C. Cadman, Fred’k. Woolfenden, Benj. 
Yernor, D. R. Pierce, Wm. C. Colburn, S. H. Ive.s, J. 
H. Farnsworth, Marcus Stevens, R. P. Toms, John E. 
Long. 
Mr. C. C. Cadman writes us that the answers are 
coming in rafiidly and that Michigan will form a strong 
State Association. 
C. F. Obvis of Manchester, Yt., has sent a Black- 
Bass Rod for our inspection. Orvis is one of the few 
dealers who take a personal and the principal share in 
the work turned out from their shop; he is an enthusi- 
ast and sends away nothing with which he is not h'm- 
self satisfied. This rod is a marvel of lightness and 
strength. We have not seen anything to beat it. Of 
course every expert will want something altered to fit 
his own taste, just as they 'will do with the best gun or 
other implement But bar these kinks of fancy and we 
have just the rod that ought to satisfy every angler. 
Pigeon Shoots are now in order. M'e shall publish 
all scores that reach us, and only request our corres- 
pondents to follow our style of making them up so as to 
save lime and trouble. 
A match is announced between Paine and Bogardus, 
100 single birds, Hurlingham rules. May 15. $1000 
aside, half-forfeit to be put up before May 1. Bogar- 
dus to have $50 for expenses. 

Ogdensburg now has a sportsmen’s club. President, 
Sidney Brown; V. Pres., Delos McCurdy; Sec., A. B. 
Shepard; Treas., Dr. J. H. Brownlow. 
The Jefferson Club, tYatertown, N. Y., have 
paid rewards to Abnei Lawrence the game constable on 
Moose river, for conviction of persons illegally sport 
ing. This is one of the duties every sportsman’s club 
should undertake. It is not enough to make laws, they 
will not set themselves to work. 
The N Y- Assembly has passed a bill permitting 
organized sportsmen’s clubs to shoot pigeons. 
In Tennessee, Solomon Williams has been fined 
heavily for shooting song birds. The prosecution was 
at the instance of the ilaury Co. Sportsman’s Club. 
The Foresters Club. Buffalo, have received a splen- 
did gold hunting watch made for them as a prize to be 
contended for in their next shoot. 
■♦» ♦ 
A New Club. — A sportsmen’s club has been formed 
at Saxton's River, Yermont, for the enforcement of the 
game laws. 
Land and Water calls attention to an article from 
these columns “Insurance on Dogs,” and wonders at 
the absurdity of our laws, which recognize property in 
a horse, but not in a dog. 
