May 31, 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
689 
was more than a match for many of his larger 
rivals, as the smaller spaniel of that period 
would undoubtedly have been classified as a 
cocker to-day. 
One of the chief characteristics which has 
proven of inestimable value to the breed in the 
field is its almost unlimited powers of endur¬ 
ance. His wonderful capacity for traveling long 
distances over the fields and in and out among 
the hedge rows, has endeared him to all who 
have been fortunate enough to enjoy his com¬ 
pany in a day’s tramp after game. The end of 
the journey usually finds him trotting merrily 
along with an apparent indifference to fatigue 
that makes the huntsman feel as though he were 
starting on his long tramp, rather than return¬ 
ing from a trip over hill and dale. His power 
of scent is as delicate as could well be found in 
any of the sporting breeds, and he is particularly 
careful in retrieving his game, seldom tearing it 
in the least, a trait which is naturally looked 
upon with high favor, and greatly sought after by 
all who are in quest of a good sporting dog. 
A. C. Wilmerding, President of the Cocker 
Spaniel Club of America, relates an incident 
which proves the care with which the dog may 
be taught to retrieve when properly broken. 
During the field trials, which were held some 
years ago, Mr. Wilmerding had entered a black 
cocker spaniel which had been competing nip 
and tuck with some of the other dogs, and a 
difference of opinion as to the winner having 
arisen, the question was finally settled by the 
dog’s retrieving an egg, a stunt which Mr. Wil¬ 
merding had reserved until the last, and which 
he says the animal had performed many times 
before. 
The readiness with which the cocker adapts 
itself to any change of climate is a cause of 
wonder to dog experts the world over, and 
sportsmen who have had occasion to use him 
in all countries, and under every possible con¬ 
dition of climatic change, say that he retains 
all of his old-time dash and vim, no matter 
where he is placed. Like Thomas Paine, the 
famous internationalist, “the world is his coun¬ 
try, mankind is his friend, his religion is to do 
good.’’ If you don’t believe it, listen to this 
thrilling account of an incident which happened 
in India, and which is so remarkable that I 
should hesitate to mention it had it come to me 
through a less reliable source than the writing 
of Captain Williamson in his book of “Oriental 
Field Sport’’: “I was shooting near some under¬ 
wood, rather thinly scattered among reeds, grow¬ 
ing on the edges of a large water course, which 
took its rise near the foot of the large hill at 
Muckon Gunge, when suddenly one of a brace 
of fine cocker spaniels I had with me ran around 
a large bush greatly agitated, and apparently on 
some game which I expected to put up. 
“I followed as fast as I could but Paris, 
which was the dog’s name, was too quick for 
me, and before I could well get around the bush, 
which was about ten yards from the brink of 
the ravine, he had come to a stand, his ears 
pricked, his tail wagging like lightning, and his 
whole frame in a seeming state of ecstasy. I 
expected that he had go: a hare under a bank, 
and as the situation was in favor of a shot, I 
ran toward him with more speed than I should 
have done had I known that instead of a hare 
I should find, as I did. a tiger sitting on his 
rump and staring Paris in the face. They were 
not above two yards asunder.” 
{Continued on page 705.) 
Important Changes in New York State 
Fish and Game Laws. 
The open season on varying hares and cot¬ 
tontail rabbits on Long Island is made from 
Nov. I to Dec. 31, both inclusive. The use of 
ferrets is at all times prohibited, except that the 
commission may by resolution permit ferrets to 
be used in particular counties. A person may 
take six varying hares or cottontail rabbits, either 
all of one kind or partly of each in one day. 
Mink and sable may be taken either in the day 
time or at night and in any manner. Raccoon 
may be taken in the day time or at night in any 
manner except with traps and possessed from 
Oct. I to April 20, both Inclusive, and may be 
taken in any manner from Nov. i to April 20. 
Skunks may be taken in the day time or at night, 
but they shall not be taken from holes or dens 
by digging, smoking or the use of chemicals, 
and they may be possessed from Nov. i to Jan.’ 
31, both inclusive. Muskrat, open season from 
Nov. I to April 20. No open season for quail 
before Oct. i, 1918 (Long Island excepted). 
Six made pheasants and four grouse in any one 
day is the bag limit, and fifty quail, thirty-six 
male pheasants and twenty grouse in the open 
season on Long Island. Lake trout and white- 
fish may be taken in Lakes Erie and Ontario in 
any number from Dec. 31 to Oct. 31, inclusive, 
and may be bought and sold provided a license 
has been obtained. Lake trout not less than 
fifteen inches in length and whitefish not less 
than one and three-quarter pounds in the round 
taken without the State may be imported info 
the State at any time, and may be bought and 
sold. Fishing through the ice using set and trap 
lines, spearing, grappling hooks, naked hooks or 
snatch hooks are prohibited in waters inhabited 
by trout unless an order specifying the waters 
and fixing the season shall first be made by 
the commission. No person, except under au¬ 
thority of the commission, shall take fish from 
the waters of any fish hatchery. The law also 
provides that it shall be the duty of the attorney- 
general on request of any regular game pro¬ 
tector, accompanied with the approval of the 
commission, to appear in and defend as attorney 
any action brought against the protector on ac¬ 
count of any act of his while in the discharge of 
his duties. Brook trout may be taken from 
April 15 to Aug. 31, inclusive. 
Salmon in Trouf Streams. 
While fishing on a brook some distance out 
of Stroudwater, Me., a few days ago, George 
Green hooked a fish which fought too hard 
for a brook trout. After a few moments the 
fish was brought out of the water. It was 
found to be a landlocked salmon, weighing one 
pound. 
Mr. Green was very much surprised to land 
the fish in a trout brook so far removed from 
Sebago Lake. 
It is believed that the salmon may have run 
down the Stroudwater River and finally located 
in one of the pools in the brook which is not 
far removed from the so-called Pig Knoll Hill. 
New Jersey and New York have begun 
legislative war on stray cats. The New Jersey 
Assembly passed the cat license bill, but in 
the Senate it was defeated. 
THE DAILY LESSON. 
