lS4r 
Ju-HS 10 
Wilbur F. Parker, - - Editor and Proprietor. 
THE OXLY JOCRYAL PUBLISHED IX THE EXITED STATES 
Devoted Esclnsivcly to 
SHOOTIXQ, FISHIXG. XATURAL HISTORY. PISH CULTURE, 
AXD THE PROTECTIOX OF FISH AXD GAME. 
Ttrnu of Sid/seription; Four DoUan a year in advance. 
Ths Rod jlhd the Gctf can be obtained from off Xews Dealers. 
The Postase on this paper Is pre-paid to subscribers in the 
United .States. 
Persons sending money to this office, by means of Money Orders 
should invariably malts the same patable to The Rod asd 
The Gee, at the West Meriden P. O. 
AU communica/ione must be accompanied by the fuB name of the 
writer and addressed to 
THE ROD AXD THE GUX. 
West Meriden. Conn. 
t^"We earnestly request all our contributors to adopt the plan in 
regard to the u^ of scientific names which some of them have 
alraady adopted, viz; to PRIXT all such names lesibly in the manu- 
seript, as ttus will prevent error by mving the compositor plain copy 
to foilow. Above all things we say. do not venture upon the use 
of scientific names at all nnless certain of their accuracy. 
SATIRD.IY JUAE 19. 1875. 
CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBES. 
Page. Page 
London Bog Show ITT Bass Fishing at Kellej's 
The Rifle 1T7-18S and. Lake Erie 15Q 
Ohio Stale Sportsmen's Con- Calling of Pinnated Gronse.. Ix? 
vention ITS Harkaway, Rollo 383 
The Xational Sportsmen's Benefits of International Con- 
A8isociationConvention.lT8-lT9 3S4 
Abstract of Report on No- The ('oDvention« 1 x 4 
menclature f. 1T9 The Editor on ibe Wing 3S5 
Pice<iD Matches 180-181 English Gnn Trials 186 
Deer Stalking in the Adiron- The North Woods of Maine, 186 
dacks 18? Letter^ from Sportsmen... 187 
BE.AEFITSOF I.\TER.\.\T10.\.IL lOMESTS. 
The Irish-American Rifle 3 Iatch, the great Swiss 
Schutzenfest, tlie grand pigeon match open to the world 
held yearly at Monaco. Italy, in which gentlemen of all 
nations take part, together with various other meetings 
for out of door contests in Europe, serve to remind us 
of the benefits that would result from the establishment 
of more frequent international meetings between the 
lovers of Rod and Gun. 
The same spirit which induces keen rivalry between 
individuals, extends also into national affairs, and if un- 
restrained by generous impulses fosters animosities 
which too frequently eventuate in bloody wars, so that 
an3'thmg which tends to promote friendh' feelings and 
reciprocal courtesy’, becomes naturally’ a matter of the 
highest importance in the cconom3’ of the nation.s. It has 
always been an accepted theor3’ iliat true sportsmen are 
the truest gentlemen, for the law’s of field and stream rec- 
ognized everyyyhere b3’ the disciples of iXimrod and 
Izaak 'Walton, demand ever and at all times generosiU’ 
and urbanit3’of action and temper, hence frequent meet- 
ings of sportsmen of all nations, under circumstances 
calculated to call out all the best emotions of each, 
would greatly tend to tone down an3’ existing jealousies, 
and induce betyveen the nations themseh’es kindh* and 
amicable relations. Men whose liy’es are circumscribed 
1)3’ narrow bounds universally exhibit narrow ideas, and 
it is onl3’ b3’ contest yvith other men that their idiosyn- 
crasies are worn ayy’ay and m.ade to give place to liberal 
principles. This is the rule of individuals, and individ- 
uals make up na ions. Our international rifle match at 
Creedmcior, was not more a test of skill at the target, 
than an e.xchange of couftesies betyveen the representa- 
tives of two great nations, and did more to abolish na- 
tional prejudices, and lo cement the lies betyveen the 
neyv and the old country, than anv mere commercial 
e.xchange or reciprocity treat3’ could do in years It 
had its practical effect also, for though the victory fell 
to us, the close contest taught us respect for the prowes.s 
of our opponents, the desire to maintain our hard-won 
supremacy has made our riflemen careful in their prac- 
tice, while the hope of regaining their lost laurels will 
spur the Irish team to greater effort, so that the scores 
of the forthcoming return matnh, will probabl3' show 
an improvement in the use of the rifle, alike creditable 
and practically a defense to both nations. Xothing has 
so greatly conduced to make yy’av less terrible, than the 
perfection and |increased 'efflcienc3’ of the yy’eapons by 
yvbicb life isdaken, and men who can hit a bull's eye at 
one thousand y’ards time and again are too dangerous 
opponent-- to be liglitl3’ encountered. 
International coutest.s betyveen America and other 
nations need not be limited to tb; rifle. Our fields and 
waters, and our fast increasing kennels of fine dog.s, all 
afford opportunities for pleasant meetings betyveen the 
lovcr.< of gun and red. Ey’en as it is, our broad prairies 
abundantly stocked yvith choice game are yearly sought 
by large numbers of enthusiastic foreign sportsmen, 
and foieign rods bend responsive to the wild rush of the 
trout in our mountain streams, or the play of the game 
fish in our lakes, while American and English lesees of 
salmon privileges meet each season b3’ the bright yvaters 
of Canada. Wh3’, then, should not the representatives 
of these other nations meet with dog and gun to test 
their skill upon the quail in the stubbles, the ruffed 
grouse in the timber, or the swift-winged wild fowl as 
they journey southward? We have sportsmen, both 
east and west, who would gladly take part m such a 
trial; crack shots and skillful fishermen in whose keep- 
ing we might safely pledge the national reputation, and 
m their names we invite sportsmen of all nations to a 
friendly and manly competition. 
It has been urged b3’ some that such contes's instead 
of awakening pleasant feelings tend rather to promote 
Jealous3’ and anger. The3’ say that the vanquished can 
offer no heartfelt congratulations to the victors, and 
that the meraon- of defeat will rankle long in their 
bosoms. Out upon such narrow-minded reasoners! 
Men of intelligence are above such paltry passions; and 
as international contests become more frequent, and 
fortune scatters her favors on all sides, the equal bal- 
ance yy’ill portion to e:ich their proper and just share. 
Certainly no one can suppose that such feelings have 
sprung from our great rifle match, while the best 
friendl3' messages hay’e been, ever since coming to us 
from the gallant Irish team across the water, making 
our representatives the guests of their nation, and ex- 
tending ever3’ conceiy’:ible hospitality and courtesy that 
the occasion yy ill adn.it of. Tlc cliallcnge for the re- 
turn match was gallantU’ issued and h;iS been as pluck- 
ily accepted; and yvhen the tyvo teams lie down be- 
fore the butts, and tlie two nations watch with eager 
e3’es the result of each shot, yve 11113’ sufeb’ predict that 
yvith yvhichever side the victor, rests, the losers will 
not begriidgetiie winners their triumph. 
THE l0\VE.\Ti0.\S. 
The State Coin’entions of Xew York and Kentucky 
reported in our last, and the Xational Sportsmen's and 
Ohio Convent! lus reported fulb' in this issue, slioyv the 
growing strength of ihe shooting and fishing interest 
in this country’. It speaks yvelt for thc-singleness of |)ur- 
posc and patri-itic regard for the general good that men 
yvould be found to come hundreds of miles at tlieir oyvn 
costas voluntary delegates to the Cleveland meeting for 
no other purjiose th n the public service. Our repoil 
.shows a repre.sen'ation of eighteen Slates, the memliers 
being from the most respectable and intelligent cla.sses 
of society. We had clergymen, editors, law3’ers, 
physicians, bankers, merchants, farmers and men of in- 
dependent foriiiue, yyho were all of one mind as to the 
importance of layvs for game and fish preservation, both 
as a public gain and a personal recreation. 
'1 he harmon3’ and courtes3’ observed at their meet- 
ings are a s’rong testimopy’ to the frieiidb’ S3’mpathies 
whicli bind sportsmen together, :ind make them of one 
mind in ti.eir pursuits and intercourse. It is a les.son 
to other deliberative bodies. Xo clashing of interests; 
no rivalries or antagonisms; a desiie to smooth ayvay 
difficulties and to accoinj lisli tlie main object was the 
characteristic of the Cleveland meeting, yvithout weak- 
ening manb’ independeai e of;opinion and its legitimate 
expression. 
To ourselves the success of the Cleveland Conven- 
tion was supreni' lv siiisfactory. The Rod and Grx 
and its predece.s.-or, tlie .Vmeric.as Sportsman, stood 
justified. Our z-al has been with discretion, and our 
labor has brouglit its h.irvest. The gencrcas recog- 
nition of oureffoits in lielialf of the cause has more 
than repaid us for our exertion.s and anxieties, our jour- 
neying> and yvalchings, i.nd we h-ipe to promote a 3’et 
more streiiuous action, :iud to develop a broader and 
deeper interest on the part of the jiublic in tlie questions 
at issue. Our work y\iil not have been accoinplislied 
until laws for the preservation of game animats shall 
have been passed b3’ every State in the Union, uniform 
in principle and mutual in detail; above all, until those 
laws shall be upheld by out6ide_opinion, which shall 
concede ilyeir pro. er place to the sports of the field as 
means of health :ind recreation, and until the sports- 
man be recognized as a worthy man and good citizen. 
THE EDITOR 0.\ THE WIMl— \0. 6. 
Upon returning to Deny’er we took a few days’ rest at 
tlie “Inter-Ocean,” and then started for Colorado 
Springs, via the Rio Grande railroad, which was the 
first narroyy’ gauge road constructed in this countiy’ and 
a marvel of success has it proven to be. Fortunateb’, 
we were the guests of Ex-G»v. Iliint, the President of 
the road, and Mr. Wm. X. Byers, editor of the JfocA-^ 
Mountain Xeits, who with a few friends had a special 
train consisting of an engine and two cars. We left 
Denver one hour ahead of the regular morning train, 
giving us a very favorable opportunit3’ for seeing the 
road and surrounding country. The road liea along a 
pleasant country up the Platte river and Plum Creek, 
and rapidly ascends the “Divide,” which is a great spur 
of the Rocky Mountains thrown out easterly, and ex- 
tending about eighty miles into the plains, yvith an av- 
erage altitude of about 7,500 feet, covered with ytlloyv 
pine timber and dividing the waters of the Arkansas 
from those of the Platte river. The road crosses the Di- 
vide at an altitude of 7,700 feet, and at this point there 
is a lake which empties its waters both into the Platte 
and Arkansas. 
After leaving the summit we had a fine view of the 
valley stretching away towards the Arkansas river, the 
Cheyenne mountains coming into view, etc., and as 
we descend the steep grade, the engineer with the lever 
in his hand and head out of the cab window, lets the 
little machine run at a livel3' gait without using a pound 
of steam, and we fiy past the castle rocks which stand 
np in bold relief and remind one of the quaint pictures 
of feudal castles of the Old World. 
AVe arrived at Colorado Springs at an early hour, and 
the first thing done was to pay our compliments to Mr. 
Chas. E. Aiken, yvhose papers mau3’ of our readers are 
familiar with. AVe found him at his office, surrounded 
with natural histor3’ specimens embracing nearly if not 
all the birds and animals to be found in Colorado. He 
was busy mounting a huge skin of the mountain lion or 
panther, which was the smallest one of three recently 
killed b3’a bo3’ of only 163’earsof age in one day’s hunt; 
and yy’s should judge ’tyvas not much ol a da3’ for lions 
either, as these were simply one family, a mother and 
her two stalwart cubs. In looking over the collection we 
f-*und many rare and beautilul specimens among which 
yy’ere the horns of the mule deer, rare birds, etc. We 
were obliged to decline Air. Aiken’s y’er3’ cordial invita- 
tion to dine yvith him owing to engagements made yvith 
the party who came from Denver with us. Soon after 
dinner we weie entertained with a view’ of what the 
gentle zephyrs of the Plains can do when excited, and 
had a repetilionof yvhat I sayvandde-scribed in lieuver a 
short lime ago. AVe drew a chair up to Ihe yvindow to 
watch the effects of the furious wind. The doors and 
yviudows yvere rattling around us and the chairs on the 
piazza yvere yvallzing toyy’aid the street; a flour barrel 
yvent rolling b3’ as if it had no time 'o lose, and a team- 
ster's bat yvas flying along in a cloud of dust after the 
barrel. Pike’s Peak, immediately in front of the hotel 
and only ele'fc-n miles distant b3’ an air line, was soon 
ob'seured by the clou.ls driven down the canon b3' the 
wind storm, and again its ptak to’vers appeared above 
the wrack, reminding one of the celebrated fight of the 
gallant Joe Hooker and the boys in blue “above the 
clouds.” The storm spoiled the rest of the day for 
sight seeing, and we fell perfectly satisfied to remain in 
the house until the wind subsided, after which we took 
a stroll about the streets. The town yvas laid out in the 
fall of 1871 . and is situated in the center of El Paso 
County’, near where the Ute Pass opens upon the plains, 
and has an elevation of 5975 feet above the sea level. 
There are irrigating dilct cs on both sides ol the broad 
sireets, and the abundant supply of yvater gives the 
trees and vegetation a healthy appearance. The springs 
from yy hich the town is named are situated at Alanitou, 
al)out five miles distant up the mouutains. The next 
morning we were ready for an early start, and yvith our 
friend Aiken, we yvere soon seated in a good carriage 
and on the road to Alanitnu bpring.s, passing through 
Colorado City, yvhich was the original settlement here 
but has fallen behind and the yvhole impetus of pros- 
perity h’zs gone to Colorado Springs and Alanitou. AVe 
first stopped at the large soda spring, yy hich was quite a 
curiosity, and a drink from the large column of yvater 
was far from unpleasant. Mr, Aiken toy'k out a half 
* 
