August 21, 1875. 
318 
Hughes, T. C. Banks, of Rod and Gun, N. A. 
Demarest, Eugene A. Shorb, F. B. Underliill, W. 
W. Grimmel, W. Gumiershall, A. P. Baldwin, Herman 
Schalk, Theo. Morford, Foreman Taylor, C. H. Ray- 
mond and S. J. Bestor, of Hartford. The Executive 
Committee was empowered by the meeting to fill 
vacancies and make such modifications as in their 
opinion would be most conducive to the success of the 
enterprise, 
command success. 
After a capital supper, enlivened by the charming 
wit of Jlr. Frederick Underhill, and a learned discourse 
from Mr. Bhorh upon the constitutionality of game pre- 
servation, and the advantages of abstemiousness when 
facing the rifle butts and the pigeon traps, the meeting 
adjourned with the request that the proceedings should 
be published in the 2urf, Fi^d and Farm, the Forest 
and Stream, and the Rod and Gun. 
SwiMsiiNG is the subject of a leading editorial in the 
London Sporting Gazette, the writer insisting on the prac- 
tice of swimming as a good athletic exercise, valuable 
to the swimmer and useful as helping to save life. A 
recent occurrence on the Harlem River furnishes text 
for apt discourse. 
Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, is an earnest and 
whole-souled friend to Rod and Gun. He goes into 
sporting camp annually, and lives under canvas with his 
selected companions and attendants. He is one of the 
best shots in Europe. 
— - 
All sportsmen going West for fall shooting, by call- 
ing at our office in New York, will receive such infor- 
mation and assistance as w'e can give with great plea 
sure, and upon arrival at Chicago our western manager 
will advise as to the best routes, etc. 
( The M. K. & T. R. R. offer a first-class refrigerator 
car for game for any party of 25 or upwards who may 
choose to hunt on the line of their road in the Indian 
Territory this fall. There is room enough there for 
number of such parties. 
HOMING PIGEONS. 
We have many times called attention to the increas- 
ing ta.ste for pigeon flying. The “ fancy” has been cul- 
tivated for many years in Europe, and occasionally in 
this countr}'. Some tough stories have been told of the 
long flights made by pigeons. However, these prodigies 
may be, there is no doubt both of the wonderful in- 
stinct and vigor of the birds — and probably the maxi- 
mum distance has not j'et been attained. The sport is 
carried to excess in Belgium and some parts of France, 
and for its encouragement special facilities are offered 
by the railroad authorities who takes pains with the 
birds and are careful that they shall suffer no molesta- 
tion. The London Spectator' gives a lengthy resume of 
the sport, and the writer on the subject of speed and 
distances, says ; 
Pains have been taken to ascertain the rate of a 
pigeon’s flight. The English dragon is a swifter bird 
than the Belgian. But he flies low, and is of small, if any, 
intellect. I do not know whether the question is or can 
be settled. For long di.stances the Belgian fanciers had 
in the year 1865, by induction of many instances, con- 
cluded that a pigeon can fly, on an average, 1,164 metres 
a minute, 1,273 yards ; but if such is the ave-age taken 
for distances extending diagonally over France, it must 
be evident that what a pigeon can do over 200 or 300 
miles only must be considerably greater. Then, again, 
it is almost inconceivable that a pigeon starting from 
San 8aba.stian or Liege, suppose, should be able to 
adhere to the true mathematical line or shortest distance. 
Whether in obedience to the currents of winds or in 
obedience to the landmarks he selects, he must follow, 
not a straight, but a broken line of some sort. Now, 
the computations made by the Belgian societies are, so 
far as we know, invariably on the principle of taking 
the crjw’s flight from corner to corner, and then divid- 
ing the number of miles by the number of hours be- 
tween the lime of the departure and the time of arrival. 
The exact distance betweee Dax and Liege is, I am 
told, 580 miles, as the crow flies, i. e., in the matliemat- 
ical line on a true map. But a pigeon can scarcely 
follow the true mathematical line, and to accomplish 600 
he may be supposed to fly 700, 800, or 1,000 miles in 
broken lines, all tending more or less homeward. The 
pigeon who took the first prize of all Belgium in 1871 
belonged to a small basket-maker at Huy, near Liege. I 
remember holduig the bird in my hand — a small, com- 
pact, black bird, a.s hard as a stone to the touch — I for- 
get whether in his third or fourth year. The bird was 
flown in 1871 at Dax in the Pyrenees at five o’clock in 
the morning, and arrived at Huy the same evening at 
six o’clock. Taking the distance as 600 miles crow 
flight, and dividing the number of hours, thirteen, this 
gives us the rate of forty-six miles an hour for thirteen 
hours. 
FISH mmm. 
Sweden has appropriated $100,000 to the e.xhibition 
of fish from Northern waters at the Centennial. The 
efforts of the United States Fish Commission will be on 
a scale commensurate with the importance of the sub- 
ject. 
The Piscatorial Society of London dine together 
weekly and monthly. They have just voted a supply of 
fish to one of the London hospitals for use of the 
patients. A supply for the sick is sometimes only 
another name for out-of-season work. 
transferred to a second series of tin vessels, about the 
size and shape of ordinary milk cans, in which they will 
remain until theirjarrival at the other side. On reach- 
ing their destination thej’ will be deposited in the River 
Weser, at a considerable distance from its mouth. 
Messrs. Monroe, Green and Harrison Weldon go on 
board the Mosel in charge of the fish. It will be in the 
recollection of our readers that a similar attempt failed, 
but the experience then gained has been utilized in 
new and, it is to be hoped, better arrangements. The 
eggs in the present instance are taken from the nurse- 
ries of the Commissioners on the Connecticut River, and 
are of the most approved breeds. • 
Ohio Fish Commission.— C’leveland and Toledo are 
two on the question of a fish hatching house, for 
which $10,000 has been appropriated by the Legislature. 
Chief Commissioner Cummings favors Toledo and Jlau- 
mee water ; !Mr. Klippart thinks that Kelley’s Island 
would be better. Why not refer the matter to some 
competent outside authority? The appropriation was 
made last March, and is standing unemployed. 
Dr. Sterling, on the subject of the size of fish, start 
ed by one of our “ Letters,” writes us as follows: “I 
saw in 1841 a trout taken at Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, 
that weighed 97 pounds (SaXmo Amethystus). The largest 
Miiskinonge (Esox Nobilior), known in this loeality, I 
speared in the Sandusky River, 1844, weighed 80 pounds, 
and sold for 50c. a 00c. , so abundant were fish at the 
time.” 
South Hadley Falls.— The Falls shad fishery has 
not been very profitable this j’ear. The season com- 
menced late and was a short one, the catch, too, being 
light. The income last year from the fishery was $3000. 
One-half of the Income goes to the eight fishermen, who 
are men of families, and have largely relied upon the 
catch for their support for twenty years; one-third of 
the stockholder’s half is reserved as a sinking fund to 
repair nets, etc. , the remaining two thirds of the stock- 
holder’s half of the income is divided among the ten 
stockholders. This year they have received but $50 
dividend per share, and all they can expect further this 
year is another dividend of about $20. 
The most seasonable fish in market at the present 
time are Spanish mackerel, caught off Long Island’s sea- 
girt shore. They are selling now at thirty-five cents per 
pound, and if the weather proves favorable will be down 
to twenty cents by next week. All kinds of fish are 
scarce, and prices continue high owing to bad weather. 
Blue fish, eight cents; salmon, fifty cents; fresh macker- 
el, twenty-five cents; black fish, fifteen cents; sea bass, 
twenty cents; striped bass, twenty- five cents; halibut, 
twenty cents; pompano, seventy-five cents; cod, ten 
cents. Soft crabs are now in very fine condition and 
choicest specimens can be bought at $1 50 per dozen. 
Green turtles sell for fifteen cents per pound. 
J. B. Rowe & Co., of New Haven, Conn., have a 
pair of immense elk antlers in their elegant show-win- 
dow. They were mounted by Hoggson, the taxidermist, 
and sent to Mr. Henry Warner by ex-3Iayor Millard, of 
Omaha, Nebraska. They have been finished as a 
sporting trophy. Each antler is 3 feet 71 inches in 
length, and thej' spread 3 feet 6 inches, and are im- 
mensely thick. They are decorated with a pair of Scott 
breech-loading shot guns at the base, a split bamboo 
trout rod dying on the second points, a Winchester rifle 
on the fourth, and surmounted by a champion Sharps’ 
Creedmoor rifle on the lips. AVe trust all our friends in 
Omaha will not rush out and send us similar specimens, 
seeing that our oftice would not hold more than two or 
three dozen such. 
Prof. Spencer F. B.\ird, the United States Commis- 
sioner of Fisheries, shipped 500,000 shad eggs to Ger- 
many by the steamer Mosel, of the North Geiman 
line on Saturday, 14th instant. The eggs are 
packed in four small boxes, each containing thir- 
thirteen layers. Each tray is lined with cotton flannel, 
and upon this the eggs are placed. The four boxes are 
stowed in two larger boxes, which are surrounded with 
a layer of ice and .shavings six inches in thickness. lu 
this way the eggs will be protected against the heat until 
the period of hatching arrives. This will occur when 
the steamer is six or seven days out. Previous to the 
hatching, the roe will be taken from the boxes, and 
placed in large tin cans of water, arranged with a funnel 
apparatus at the top for the admission of air. When 
the operation is completed the j'oung spawn will be 
HOG SALE IN LONDON, 
An important sale of dogs, the property of Mr. F. R. 
Hemming, a member of the Kennel Club, came off in 
London, July 24th. It was generally believed that many 
of the dogs were taken on account of American buyers. 
Rock was put up and bought in at 1.50 guineas ; Ginx’s 
Baby brought 40. The names and iirices were as follows : 
setters. 
Gs. 
Tory uate Racket), bk w tn, by Llewellin's Dan— Rhoda 
Mr. Marrea 5 
.Tim -(pure Laverack), 1cm \v. IS mo, by Lort's Jock. Mr Rawlins 
Peto, lem \v, 1 yr 7 mo. by Priam— Ella Mr Fnlton 3 
Bob, bk w, 2 yrs H mo, by Slatter's Rob Roy— Bess . Mr Corbett lti>i 
Kay, bk w, by Statter’s Rob Roy — Bes.s Mr Corbett Itl 
Giux’s Baby, lem w, by Llewclliu's Dan— Rhoda Mr Bowers -to 
Tim, red Irish, 2 yrs 10 mo, by Etherington’s Da.sh — Earl Y'ar- 
jnonth’s Cis Mr Conison 15X 
Mab, bk w tk b, by Laverack's Dash — Bess Mr Bosauquet 1“ 
Violet, bk w tn b, by Knowles’ Dan— V'enus Mr Downs IM 
Rhyl, bk w tk d, 14 mo. by Ranger— Pilkington’s Cora 
Mr Pledger 21 
Bess, liv w tk b, by Sir P Graham’s Diamond— Nell 
Mr Biddiilph S 
Pam, red Iiish d, 3 yrs 4 mo, by Llewell n’s Plunkett— Min 
Col Trevelyan 15 
Rock, bk w tk d, 3 yrs 1 mo, by Dash II.— Lill Bought in 150 
SETTER PUPPIES. 
Brace of Setter puppies, B mo, by Hemming's Rock— Mab 
Mr Rawlins 4)^ 
Brace of Setter puppies, 5 mo, by Hemming’s Rock— Blanche 
ilr halter 1 
Brace of Setter puppies, 4 mo, by Hemming's Rock — Rhoda. . 
Mr White 2 
POINTERS. 
Moua IL. by Whitehonse’s Hamlet— Nell Mr Seymour 6)* 
Citadel, 3 yrs 2 mo, by Sir R Garth's Shot — /ntrobus’ Moll. . . 
Mr Bunks 11 
Shot, liv w tk, 8 mo, by Appleby— Citadel Mr Win er 2 
Hector, 8 mo, do do Mr Corner 1 
Prank, lem w, 13 mo, by Appleby- Moua 11 Mr Price 6)4 
Lela, do do Mr Winter 3 
Squire, iem w, by General Prim— Miranda Mr Williams 28 
Sidney, liv w, 3 yrs, bred by Mr G Moore, Appleby Hall, Ather- 
stone Mr Cash 2V 
GREYHOUND. 
Wuisome Lassie 'I., by Barley — Wee La..sie Mr Salter f> 
POINTER PUPPIES. 
Brace of puppies, 9 wks, by Hemming’s Squire— Sidney 
Mr Corner 
SETTER PUPPY. 
Setter puppy, by Rock — Bess Mr Dolling 
RETRIKX’ER. 
3 
Ben Jlawhr, by Major Allison's Victor— Hu'l’s Young Bounce 
.Mr Cash 21) 
CLUMBER SPANIELS. 
Ai iiold, 3 yrs, bred by the Duke of Newca.stle Mr Down 4 <4 
Bounce, bred by the Duke of Newcastle Mr Down 1 
Jet, bk cnrly-coated retriever bitch, 4 yrs 3 too, by Frolick — 
Mr Houghton 7)4 
Pointer dog Col Thomas 5>4 
Pointer dog Col Thomas 4 i 4 
Four puppies, by Rock- Beele Mr Borlese IX 
Hydrophobia. — Mrs. Jane Swisshelm writes to the 
Pittsburgh Commercial recommending the use of fresh 
elecampane root boiled in new milk as an ettlcieut rem- 
edy against the bite of a rabid dog. Who knows ? Next 
to not being bitten, we would prefer ammonia and the 
actual cautery. 
A ouNMAKKR of Limoges has submitted to the mili- 
tary commission of Vincennes a rifle of a very novel 
construction. It is thus described in a Paris journal. 
La Liberte. The new gun presents nothing remarkable 
exteriorly, but the lock is so arranged that the breech is 
opened by cocking the piece, and the charge being in- 
troduced, the breech is closed and the gun fired by 
touching the trigger. The cartridge consists of a hol- 
low leaden cone filled with powder and closed at the 
base by means of a piece of cork. At the moment the 
cartridge is introduced into the breet:h the powder es- 
capes b}' a small hole in the cork, and an imiierceptible 
ball of fulminating powder which forms the priming 
takes its proper position. The triple action of cocking, 
loading and firing is thus effected simultaneously, so 
that a man with very little experience can lire twenty 
rounds a minute. The cartridges are stored in an iron 
tube which is placed parallel with the barrel, and con- 
tains thirty balls, so that the pieca may be fired a.s many 
times almost without any interval, and without remov- 
ing the stock from the shoulder, as there is nothing to 
be done but to cock and pull the trigger. There may be 
occasions when such rapid firing may be of use, but it 
is pretty generally admitted that soldiers with the pre- 
sent arms fire away most of their ammunition uselessly. 
J 
