376 
Sept. 18, 1875. 
(Late THE A]HERICAX SPaRTS:^LAN'), 
Published by the Rod and the Gun Association. 
WILLIAM HTTMPHRETS Editoe. 
T. C. BA^KS, Brsi>"Ess Maxagsb. 
S. H. TURRILL, Chicago Maxagsb. 
THE ONLY JOURNAL IN THE UNITED STATES 
DBTOTBD BXCLtJSITBLY TO 
SHOOTING. FISHING. NATURAL HISTORY, FISH CULT C RE 
AND THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME. 
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The Roi> axd the Gxtx can be obtained from all News Dealers. 
Persons sending money to this office, by means of Money Orders 
should Inyarlably make the same patablx to The Rod axd Grx. 
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Parties requiring back numbers will please forward the price. 
All communications must be accompamied by the full name of the 
writer, and address to 
THE ROD AXD GUN, 
33 Pabk Row. New Yobk. 
We earnestly request all our contributors to adopt the plan In 
regard to the use of scientlflc names which some of them hare already 
adodpted, Tiz. : to PRINT all such names legibly in the rnjnuscript. 
as this will prevent error by giving the compositor plain copy to fol- 
low. Above all things, we say, do not venture upon the use of scien- 
tific names at all unless certain of tbair accuracy. 
S.\TURDAT, SEPTEMBER 18, 1875. 
CONXE^TTS. 
Paee. 
Page. 
Laflin & Rand Medal 
...369 
Brighton Aqnariam 
275 
Letters from Sportemen. 
...370 
Editorials 
.376 
Breech-loaders 
... m 
Librar\* Table 
.... 378 
Rifle 
...372 
Okeechohee 
789 
Fish and Fiehing 
. . . *j74 
Pigeon Matches 
380 
Mr. S. H. Turkixl, 43 South Clark street, Chicago, 
will be glad to receive calls from all friends going West. 
A GAME COM.MISSIOXER. 
Canada has done the very thing which we have so 
often recommended — appointed a game commissioner. 
The duties of the office are “ to supervise and instruct 
the district commissioners and wardens in the discharge 
of their duties, to assist as far as practicable in the 
prosecution of offenders, and generally to see that the 
provisions of the law for the preservation of useful birds 
and animals are carried out.” A Mr. Fitz Cochrane, a 
lawyer, has been appointed. He is spoken of as a gen- 
tleman enthusiastic in the matter of sport, excellent and 
competent. Canada, with its consolidated government, 
having paramount jurisdiction through all its borders, 
has some advantages for concentrated action which we 
of the United States do not possess. The State sover- 
eignty operates as a barrier to the full uniformity of law 
and practice. ^Nevertheless, as in the case of the fish 
commission, the first point is to get a central officer — a 
man of such standing ability and esteem, that it might 
be said, if his executive power were) small, his person- 
al recommendation would have all the force that could 
attach to high character and^ capacit}’. Our U. S. Fish 
Commission is a department that recommends itself at 
home and abroad, less from any absolute power to do 
or to complete, than from the eminent respectability of 
its chief officer and assistants, which cause its. co-opera- 
tion to be sought and its advice to be adopted. Why 
not have a U. S. Game Commissioner grafted in with 
the Fish Commission? We should then have the whole 
ground covered; we should avoid conflicts in theory, 
and as a central point from which harmonions laws for 
all the separate States might emanate, wej could^ have 
nothing so thoroughly satisfactory. 
Quite a large party from Baltimore, Md., are en- 
camped at Boone, Iowa, on the line of the Chicago and 
Northwestern Railway, for chicken shooting. They 
will also try Western duck shooting before returning. 
FRA^"K THOMPS.N, manufacturer of sportsmen’s sup- 
plies, left on Friday evening for Philadelphia, where he 
joins a party for rail shooting on the Delaware River. 
Messrs. StHPSos, Hall, Millee & Co., 676 Broad- 
way, New York, have on exhibition a superb specimen 
of their art — the Rod a^ud Got Cup, to be ariven at the 
coming Memphis meeting. The artists have done their 
duty and earned our meed of praise. All that remains 
is for the sportsmen to play well their parts, and justify 
our effort toward the general good. 
HINTS FOR THE CEEEDMOOR MEETING. 
Wlien the Team went abroad, it not only included the 
best shots in the ranks of the National Association here, 
but as well comprised several of its officers, notably its 
Secretary. !Major Fulton is an observant, painstaking 
man, and should correct many of the petty abuses which 
have grown up from the small beginnings of the Asso- 
ciation. At Wimbledon, the conduct of an immei'se 
prize meeting proceeds with the regularity of a piece of 
clock-work. There are many details of these arrange- 
ments which can be profitably transplanted to the Amer- 
ican range. The progress made by our riflemen at Creed- 
moor has been in every way satisfactory. The long- 
range men have spoken well across the ocean, while the 
improvement of the National Guardsmen is shown in the 
frequent winning of any-rifle competitions b\ the State 
model rifle. But with all this there are a thousand and 
one little details which care and forethought could so 
arrange as to prevent and obviate the necessity for the 
grumbling which generally marks the fall meeting. 
The programme provides for pool shooting, but leaves 
it in such an undefined state that just cause for com- 
plaiut may fairly be claimed. Each day’s pool ticket 
sold and bull’s-eye tickets made should have an adjust- 
ment in itself ; and not only that, but each distance 
fired over should be kept separate. All this could be 
readily done by appointing a “ pool clerk,” whose duties 
should include this class of shooting alone, in place of 
the present mode of having one clerk attempt at one 
time and from one entry-window the granting of mem 
berships in the Association, post entries in a dozen 
matches, selling of pool and sighting-shot tickets, etc. 
The opening of sweepstakes, or, as they are more 
modemly styled, “ Subscription Matches,” might be 
profitably tried by the Association. At Wimbledon, the 
“Rifle Derby,” the “Rifle Oaks,” and the “Rifle St. 
Leger,” are merely sweepstakes, in which, after deduct- 
ing 25 per cent, of the entrance money for the Associa- 
tion, the remainder is given in three pri^s. During the 
progress of a large prize meeting, there are many odd 
hours between matches that the riflemen might employ 
in trying their skill in this class of match. A man 
might enter again and again, and without much trouble 
to the Association a revenue might be derived. In fact, 
we think they might ultimately supplant the more crude 
pool targets. 
The introduction of carton targets, though somewhat 
different from the iron target, will, we hope, find their 
way to Creedmoor, with the advent of the canvas target 
next year. With them the nicest shades of distinction 
can be made between riflemen, and a rivalry established 
which cannot but result in improved marksmanship. 
Another point on which the experience of several 
3 ears seems to have produced no improvement is in the 
matter of tickets. It may be laid down as a safe rule to 
be followed, that but one distance score should be re- 
corded on a single ticket. The matter of printing is a 
mere bagatelle, and for convenience in the statistical de- 
partment and for the members of the press gang, the 
returns from each distance, returned as soon as made, 
are of considerable importance. For the present year, 
even in cases where three distances are to be shot over, 
the whole scores are jumbled together on one ticket, and 
as the competitions in many cases extend over from one 
day to another, confusion and uncertainty result. 
As soon as a score at one distance is completed, the 
record would be returned to the statistical office, and a 
new ticket used for the third distances. This, too, will 
prevent a possible mode of fraud. Last year several 
tickets were altered to the lower range figure, when the 
totals indicated a close approach to a victory. Were 
the tickets already in the custody of the officer in the 
recording department, this temptation would be re- 
moved. 
Another manifest absurdity in the decisions of officers 
of past 3 'ears, was the scattering of the members of a 
regimental team over a dozen targets. This destroyed 
the very aim and object of team shooting. SupjKise the 
American team had been so squandered about at DoUy- 
mount, where would have been the discipline and mu- 
tual help which so materially gave the victory to the 
Americans. A team should be permitted to work as a 
unit, giving to each other all help and counsel within 
the rules. In this way the strength of the team is tested, 
and not of the individual members, as by the present 
system. We doubt not that were a proper spirit 
shown, as indicated above, the team totals would stand 
much higher. In the Twelfth Regiment, Co. D, match 
with the California company last June, and in the prac- 
tice preceding the contest, totals were made by the men 
far exceeding anything shown by the team under the 
disjointed mode insisted upon by the Association direc- 
tors. And to make the teams more on a level with in- 
dividual shots, prizes are given as well for the men as 
the team. It was proposed in Ireland that the Wilkes 
Medal should be thrown in as an individual prize to the 
international match, but the idea was vetoed for the 
very reason that it would act as an apple of discord, in- 
ducing the men to sacrifice the grand total for their in- 
dividual advantage; and yet, immediately on their re- 
turn, the very men who were so wise and shrewd across 
the Atlantic, think it perfectly proper, and allow the 
regiment to try the self-destructive policy without a pro- 
test. The offering of individual prizes in team shoot- 
ing is an absurdity on its face. Beyond a possible dis- 
tribution of medals to the winning team, afi the prizes 
should be general, and given to team totals. 
There are many other minor points in which the con- 
duct of the fall prize meetings might be improved. In 
place of having the programme issued a few days before 
the date of meeting, they should have been out for weeks; 
and, if necessary, supplemental programmes of addi- 
tional prizes secured could be afterward issued. But 
we have indicated points sufficient for present conside- 
^tion. The present tickets should be destroyed, and 
new ones provided; teams should be treated as teams, 
and not as heterogeneous conglomerations of differen- 
tiated particles. Pool shooters should have their just 
rights, and not permit the excellent shooting weather of 
one day to be set against the difficult conditions of an- 
other; and lastly, the target should be kept fuUy em- 
ployed during the meeting by the introduction of prop- 
erly conducted subscription sweepstakes at different 
ranges, and for any rifles or for military rifles. 
AN EXPOSITION WANTED. 
The American Institute has opened its doors for the 
usual fall season. The building itself is always an at- 
traction, and as the music is really good, the average 
visitor will hardl}' complain of finding a pleasant even- 
ing promenade in place of an instructive exhibition of 
scientific and mechanical progress. The show, origin- 
ally intended for higher purposes, has run into a mere 
bazaar for advertising goods, in which a needle threader 
or a child’s go-cart is as important as a new cut-off or a 
burglar alarm. We are sorry to see that a California 
wine store is opened, with permission to sample. In 
fact, the whole system of retail sales is alien to the im- 
plied objects of the Institute, although we presume it 
is sanctioned by the constitution and regulations. We 
are surprised at the utter dearth of any objects of inter- 
est to sportsmen. A stuffed animal or two, which we 
take it is the forerunner of a furrier’s •di 8 pla 3 ’, repre- 
sents natural history. New York is the prime mover in 
fish culture and game protection, and we should have 
thought something might have been done in that direc- 
tion. For all the Institute shows, we have not a gun- 
smith or sportsman’s supply dealer in New York. The 
contrast between this and the Chicago Exposition is Very 
striking. Chicago had a capital art display, in which 
the animal painters were strongly represented ; in fact, 
W. H. Beard, famous for his excellence in this branch 
of art, was requested to see that justice was done to art 
in the Exposition, and the collection was consequently 
good, while in the American Institute we have nothing 
but a few photograph advertisements, and not even a 
chromo. In Chicago, Dr. Pratt, the State Commis- 
sioner, shows grayling and trout, land-locked salmon 
and bass, with models of fishways and weirs. Besides 
this, the Chicago Exposition has its Rod and Gun Show. 
But then, Chicago is always alive, while the American 
Institute is the sleepiest corporate body in the whole 
world. 
Capt. Bogardus left this city, via Erie Railway, for 
his home in Hlinois, on Saturday evening. He will 
shoot the novel match of 25 birds each, one yard boun- 
dary, with Greene Smith, as agreed, and if Mr. Paine 
accepts the challenge offered, he will be on hand. 
The Captain has an engagement with some of the most 
noted gentlemen in this country to accompany and give 
them a taste of shooting on the prairie. Capt. Bogar- 
dus says, when he went to England, he made up his 
mind to bring a good dog home with him, but on look- 
ing over several kennels, he did not see anything which 
he thought superior to our native stock for work on the 
prairies. 
George IfirLFORD, of this city, has gone to Maumee 
Bay for duck shooting. 
(! 
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