Sept. 4, 1875. 
345 
I 
! 
WESTERN ITEMS. 
[rROX OUB OWN COBRE9PONDXNTa.] 
Hanxibal, Mo. — Shooting matters are in a quiet state. 
Some wood-duck are being killed by those hunters who 
are willing to face the legions of mosquitoes that attack 
one with the utmost fierceness. A couple of sportsmen 
brought in twenty-five capital fine ducks one day 
this week. "Woodcock shooting has been very limited; 
the very wet weather has made so much good feeding- 
ground that the birds have not been collected enough to 
afford anything like sport — three birds to a man is as 
good as has been made. Grouse shooting has been as 
good as usual out on the prairies, but they were nearly 
all killed off by the 20th of July. The Game law of 
Missouri is no protection, as a rule. The clause allow- 
ing owners to kill at any time on their own land leaves 
a hole open that can’t be stopped until the law is 
changed. "While the excellent Trespass law affords al- 
most complete protection to the farmer who is disposed 
to avail himself of it, and while he can prosecute for 
trespass any person found on his land, as well as for 
killing out of season, he is not restrained in any way 
himself, or from granting the privilege to others. "While 
he ought to be protected in the possession of his prop- 
erty, he ought not to be allowed special privileges in re- 
gard to killing game, as long as it is by the law common 
property. It is true, there are many farmers who will 
not take advantage of the law; but there are some who 
take pride in not allowing any person to shoot over 
their ground, and in killing the game at any time them- 
selves. In some cases, no doubt, they have suffered 
from the lawless depredations of hunters; but there are 
others who pretend to think that the law was framed for 
the sportsman and against the farmer, and just for spite 
take all the advantages the law affords. The question 
of rights and privileges is one that both the sportsman 
and farmer should meet on a common ground, and if 
they will do so, there is little doubt that, between rea- 
sonable men, a fair basis can be agreed upon. Mankind, 
to a certain extent, are dependent on each other, and the 
sportsman ought always to consider that when shooting 
or fishing within an inclosure, he is doing so by the 
courtesy of the owners. The writer was raised on a farm 
through which ran a famous trout stream, whose bor- 
ders were excellent feeding-ground for woodcock, and 
well does he remember the many broken fences he had 
to repair and tangled path to mow over, and therefore 
realizes that this question has two sides, which seems to 
be ignored by some of our city sportsmen, who seem to 
think the farmer has no rights that they are hound to 
respect, and every article published that is written in 
such a strain only widens the breach. May their publi- 
cation be few and far between. Grouse-shooting in some 
parts of Kansas is said to he very good. A recent letter 
from there to the writer says: “ Cool weather, plenty of 
water, and more chickens than you ever saw.” Should 
I go out, will tell Rod axd Gux all about it. Quail 
prospects are reported very good. The cheery whistle 
of Bob "White is heard in every field. Some of the 
brood are late, the early broods in some cases, no doubt, 
being drowned by the heavy rains. Dork. 
Connecticut. 
New Havex, Aug. 29. — There has not been much ex- 
citement this week in the sporting line in the old Nut- 
meg State. The several companies of the First and Sec- 
ond Regiments, State Nttional Guard, are practicing, 
preparatory to the selection of teams to repi'esent them 
at Creedmoor in the Army and Navy Journal Match of 
Sept. 28. Both Teams have secured the Sharps’ mili- 
ta»y rifle for their use, and it is believed that they will 
not disgrace the reputation of the gun on their first ap- 
pearance at Creedmoor. Although the riflemen of this 
State will never arrive near perfection until there is a 
State range established, offering the advantages that 
others have for practice at different ranges, the comple- 
tion and support being too expensive and the practical 
results much less than by united action. 
There has been no official action yet in regard to the 
“ Inter-State Military Match,” hut it is hoped the State 
will he represented by a team selected from all the regi- 
ments. 
And right here I want to make a suggestion, which, 
it seems to me, would increa.se public interest and at- 
tendance at the annual meetings at Creedmoor, namely: 
that the Military, All-Comers and Membership Matches 
should be so assigned in the programme that any one 
interested particularly in any one of these three diver- 
sions can attend and take part in them without staying 
through the entire meeting. As this is somewhat of a 
national affair, and marksmen are expected from all 
parts of the country, it would seem a great convenience 
could one enter and shoot in the Military and All- 
Comers matches and go home, making room, etc. , for 
others in matches they take no interest in. As will be 
seen by a glance at the programme, the 111, or “short- 
range” match, will probably come the first day, and those 
who shoot in that and wish to enter the “ mid range,” 
or “champion match,” must remain all through the 
military shooting to do it. 
The New Haven Grays have now completed their 
200 and 500 yard range, and are improving the oppor- 
tunity it affords for company practice. 
About one hundred people assembled to see a fine 
bald eagle eat a blue-fish sitting upon the vane of the 
College Street Church spire. An enthusiastic youth 
fired a small .22 pistol afhim, and dropping his fish he 
left for parts unknown. The boy got part of the fish 
but no eagle. 
The "Waterbury Club held its monthly meeting Satur- 
day, Aug. 28. They are practicing at 200 and 400 yards. 
There is not much news in the sporting line, it being 
close season until October 1. The cool nights have sent 
down a few flocks of pigeons to the shore, which are re- 
ceived upon the stands, where they are decoyed by 
stool by the anxious but fortunate sportsman, fortunate 
because without stool and stand you hunt in vain, and 
anxious for fear they will prefer some one else’s stand 
and stool; and flocks are few and far between. 
A few Rail have been killed this past week, but their 
season has hardly come. If the cool nights last next 
week the Connecticut at Essex, and the Housatonic at 
Stratford, will offer some fine sport. Last year bags 
were made of over 200. Shore birds are plenty all 
along the coast. 
There is a prospect of plenty of grouse and quail, and 
if our laws can be enforced Connecticut will offer a good 
field for sport, being naturally hilly and well wooded. 
"With good laws, well enforced, we ought to always have 
good shooting at home. R. 
^ - 
The Manchester Dog Show. 
The Manchester Dog Show at the New England and 
New Hampshire State Fair will come off Sept. 18 and 
following days. No pains are spared by the managers, 
and it is to be hoped, for the credit of New England, 
that no remissness will be shown by her sportsmen . The 
rules as adopted are as follows : 
1. Every exhibitor of a dog must state the name and 
age, and the sire and dam, if known. If not, he must 
make the entry as “pedigree unknown,” or “age un- 
known.” If the name has been changed after the dog 
has been publicly exhibited, the old as well as the new 
name must be given. 
2. The statements above required as to each dog will 
be open to public challenge, in writing, at any show, 
by any one except a member of the committee, judge 
ot the show, or any one employed by the show com- 
mittee, provided a deposit of $10 be lodged with such 
written protest. 
3. In all cases where charges of fraud or misrepre- 
sentation are substantiated — or, if not actually proved 
where fair cause for bonafde suspicion has been shown| 
the caution money shall be returned to the objector- 
but if not, the money shall be forfeited and applied as 
may be determined by the committee. If the pedigree 
or other particulars be proved to be fictitious, the dog 
shall be disqualified; any prize won by it shall be with- 
held, and if such misrepresentation, after inquiry, be, 
in the opinion of the committee, wilfully made, the ex- 
hibitor shall be excluded from competing at any future 
show held in connection with this Society, except the 
committee, by a unanimous vote, reinstate him in such 
privileges; but in no case shall they do so until a writ- 
ten apology for such conduct has been tendered. 
4. No member of the committee, or any person em- 
ployed by any bench show, shall be allowed to exhibit 
at such show, or allow dogs, his property, to be exhib- 
ited by any other person, for competition. Such dogs 
may, however, be placed on exhibition only. No ex- 
hibitor will be elegible as a judge in the class in which 
he exhibits for competition. 
5. No distinguishing marks or ornaments will be al- 
lowed, nor will any owner be allowed to lead his or her 
dog into the presence of the judges ; and any one found 
untying or removing his dog from its number during 
the exhibithm, without permission of the Superin- 
tendent, will be expelled from the grounds. 
6. The number of judges for each class shall be three. 
Their duty will be to see each dog off its bench. Their 
decision will be final, except where misrepresentation 
is discovered. They will also be empowered to exclude 
any dog which, from disease or any other cause, is not 
in a fit state for exhibition; and they will have the 
privilege of withholding any prize if the dogs exhibited 
do not possess sufficient merit, or where there is no com- 
petition. 
7. An entrance fee of $1 will be charged for each dog, 
which will include feeding and attention to the dogs 
during the exhibition. 
8. Exhibitors must insert in the certificates of entry 
the price at which their dogs will be sold, or “ not for 
sale.” Where a price has been affixed, a sale must take 
place if an offer be made to purchase at the price fixed, 
and a commission of 10 per cent, will be deducted from 
the amount. All sales must be effected through the 
office of the Society. 
9. Dogs can be entered for exhibition without being 
compelled to compete, but it must be stated at the time 
of entry that they are'“ for exhibition only.” 
10. The Society will exercise the utmost diligence for 
the care and safety of the dogs sent for exhibition 
(watchmen being upon the spot day and night) ; but it 
must be distinctly understood by exhibitors and pur- 
chasers of dogs that the Society will not be responsible 
for the entire or partial loss or damage to a dog or dogs, 
whether incurred from accident or any other cause 
whatever, by themselves, their officers or others. 
11. Any whelp winning in the champion puppy class 
shall be eligible in the all-ages champion class 
12. All entries must be made on or before the seventh 
day of September, upon certificates to be issued for that 
purpose, and the entrance fee must be paid at the time 
of entry. All dogs must be at the place of exhibition 
by 10 o’clock. Sept. 8, after which hour too dog will be 
received. 
RIFLE CLUBS. 
The success of the Team in Ireland has naturally ar- 
roused attention to the advantage resulting from a course 
of rifle practice, and we have had many applications 
for a form of constitution. As a general answer we 
give the constitution just adopted at Chicago, which is 
substantially the same as that in use m New York: 
TITLE. . 
This Association shall be called “The Chicago Rifle 
Cluh.” 
OBJECT. 
Its objects shall be the encouragement of rifle prac- 
tice, and the promotion and dissemination of both prac- 
tical and theoretical knowledge of its principles. 
OFFICERS. 
The officers of the Association shall consist of a Pres- 
ident, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, who 
shall be elected annually by ballot by the members pres- 
ent at the annual meeting. 
MANAGEMENT. 
The management of the Club shall he under the di- 
rection of an Executive Committee, consisting of the 
Officers and five members of the Association, elected at 
the same time and in the same manner, who, in addi- 
tion to controlling the affairs of the Club, shall take 
cognizance of all violations of these rules, and fill va- 
cancies in their own body until the next annual meeting. 
Three of said committee shall constitute a quorum. 
2d. The Executive Committee shall be authorized to 
make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with 
the By-Laws, as they may from lime to time consider 
necessary. 
3d. The interpretation of the Rules and Bj- Laws, in 
case of doubt, shall rest with the Executive Committee. 
MEETINGS. 
The annual meeting shall be held on the second Mon- 
day of January in each year. In case it should not take 
place at the time fixed, it shall be held as soon thereafter 
as may be convenient, and all persons then in office shall 
hold over until their successors are elected. 
Special meetings may be called by the President at 
his own option, or on a requisition signed by five mem- 
bers, staling the object of said meeting. Such object 
shall be specified on the notices calling such meeting, 
and no other business shall be transacted. Two days’ 
notice of such special meeting must be given. 
At any meeting, seven members shall constitute a quo- 
rum. 
MEMBERS. 
Any person desiring to become a member of the As- 
sociation, may make application to the Executive Com- 
mittee, whose duty it shall be to satisfy themselves that 
no reasonable objection exists on the score of character 
or otherwise, and then to notify him of his admission 
on payment of an entrance fee of five dollars. The sub- 
sequent annual dues shall be two dollars, and any mem- 
ber suffering his annual dues to remain unpaid beyond 
the period of three months shall be liable to have his 
name stricken from the rolls. 
2. Any person paying twenty-five dollars to the As- 
sociation shall become a life member, with all the privi- 
leges of membership. 
3. Any person presenting to the Association a prize 
to be shot for, of the value of fifty dollars or upwards, 
shall become an honorary member, if the gift be ac- 
cepted. If he has previously been an active member, 
he shall continue to exercise all the privileges of mem- 
bership, if not, his honorary membership shall entitle 
him to all the rights of a member, except that of voting 
and holding office. 
COMOTTTEES. 
The following standing committees, each to consist 
of three members, shall be appointed annually, in the 
month of January, by the President, with the approval 
of the Executive Committee, viz: 
Ist. A Finance Committee. 
2d. A Committee on Ranges, Targets, etc. 
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed at 
any regular meeting, etc. 
[to be contiuced.] 
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