88 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Published Weekly by the 
Forest and Stream Publishing Company 
Chas. A. Hazen, President Charles L. Wise, Treasurer 
W. G. Beecroft, Secretary Russell A. Lewis, Gen. Mgr. 
22 Thames Street, New York. 
CORRESPONDENCE:—Forest and Stream is the re¬ 
cognized medium of entertainment, instruction and in¬ 
formation between American sportsmen. The editors 
invite communications on the subjects to which its pages 
are devoted, but, of course, are not responsible for the 
views of correspondents. Anonymous communications 
cannot be regarded. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS: $3 a year; $1.50 for six months; 
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This paper may be obtained of newsdealers throughout 
the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Foreign 
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Entered in New York Post Office as Second class matter. 
AMENDING THE MIGRATORY BIRD ACT. 
When the migratory bird act was made a law, 
its framers did not put it forth as a perfect piece 
of legislation, well knowing that minor amend¬ 
ments would be necessary from time to time. 
A careful study of the act by its friends and en¬ 
emies alike has disclosed here and there sec¬ 
tions which, in a measure, interfere. Particularly 
in the zone destinations, it was found that arbi¬ 
trary distinction worked seeming injustice to 
neighborhoods that were, so far as migration of 
wild birds entered, identical in nature but dif¬ 
ferent in law. After studying carefully this 
problem, the United States Department of Agri¬ 
culture has proposed a number of amendments 
of the law to take effect on or after October 1st 
next if approved by the President. We print 
on another page of Forest and Stream a syn¬ 
opsis of the amendments proposed. They deal 
generally with re-adjustments of closed seasons 
to meet state laws, and, in one or two cases 
suspend temporarily the prohibition against 
shooting on portions of rivers in the middle 
west, between October and January 1st* 
The Secretary of Agriculture has invited pub¬ 
lic hearings on the proposed amendments, and 
individuals and groups, or associations of idi- 
viduals who cannot be represented in person, 
may file petitions or briefs. Inquiries in refer¬ 
ence thereto should be addressed to the Secre¬ 
tary of Agriculture. 
It is to be hoped that friends of the migra¬ 
tory bird act will not lose sight of the impor¬ 
tance of watching the progress of these hear¬ 
ings, and, on the other hand, it is equally de¬ 
sirable that those opposed to the amendments 
or the acts in general should “speak out in meet¬ 
ing,” in order that the justice or weakness of 
their arguments should be made public. 
Speaking impartially, we have no hestiation in 
saying that up to this time the opponents of 
what is really the greatest piece of conservation 
legislation ever put on our statute books have 
not been able to convince thinking people that 
the basis of their contention is not founded on 
selfish interest. 
WHO WILL DEFEND THE CUP. 
There is prevalent, an undertow impression 
that regardless as to which is the fastest yacht, 
only the “America’s Cup Trust” boat will be per¬ 
mitted to meet Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock. 
Undoubtedly this opinion dates back to Thomas 
W. Lawson’s series of misfortunes and disap¬ 
pointments with his yacht Independence in 1901— 
Mr. Lawson claimed his- boat was the fastest sail¬ 
ing yacht afloat, but she couldn’t prove it. In 
the present trials Defiance is known as the tri¬ 
city boat, for the reason that her owners repre¬ 
sent New York, Philadelphia and Boston; 
Vanitie is owned by an individual sportsman 
while Resolute is the representative of a syndi¬ 
cate of members of New York Yacht Club. Thus 
far results have “proved” Resolute the fastest 
boat, with Defiance the exemplification of hard 
luck, practically eliminated. As between Vanitie 
and Resolute, boat for boat, there is not much 
question that for all around quality the former is 
the better boat. Gardner’s creation has beauty, 
strength and stability not found in the Herreshoff 
masterpiece. Winning quality, so far, shown by 
Resolute is due entirely to superior handling by 
that premier amateur helmsman Mr. Adams from 
Boston. This gentleman has proved that an 
educated, quick thinking mind, with a few years 
sailing experience, is far superior, as a racing 
helmsman to the man of the sea, who makes 
sailing an occupation rather than a pastime. Of 
course in this proposition we eliminate the late 
Hank Haff, beyond doubt the greatest racing 
sailor thus far produced. Vanitie, with Mr. 
Adams at the wheel, would have been first choice 
at the present time. Captain Dennis, some time 
in charge of Vanitie, is a sterling sailor, and, 
possibly if he had been unhampered in his hand¬ 
ling of Vanitie during his regime, would have 
shown different results, but of course petty jeal¬ 
ousies will crop up, and, unless the skipper is 
backed by -the owner and designer, his efforts are 
nullified to a great extent. Capt. Haff, a chip of 
the old block, inherits much of his great father’s 
ability. 
The proposition then resolves itself into 
supremacy of skipper rather than boat, and 
win which may, the better ail around proposition 
will be accepted gracefully by the New York 
Yacht Club, and America will be represented by 
the best boat, officers and crew to be found on 
the sea. 
THE CASE OF THE FARMER AND THE 
RABBITS . 
Time is up and we must close our columns to 
controversy concerning the fining by conserva¬ 
tion commission of a gentlman from up state, for 
taking rabbits on his farm. The gist of the mat¬ 
ter seems to be that C. E. Brisbin of Schuyler- 
ville, N. Y., was suffering, in crop and disposi¬ 
tion, over the marauding of his orchard by a 
band of pesky vermin, more elegantly termed 
rabbits. Not being able, by shooting, to de¬ 
stroy the entire crop of bunnies our farmer 
friend takes to cleopatraizing said nuisances. Fail¬ 
ing in this method, he took into partnership that 
sneaky, cruel little devil, referred to by the un¬ 
lawful user, as a “polly” but designated in the 
state game law as ferret. Success was as¬ 
sured, the Lepus Sylvaticus had about become ex¬ 
tinct, the young apple trees leaped for joy, when 
over the fence came the game wardens with a 
lien of eighty dollars on the apple crop. The 
farmer appealed on the premise that “he thought 
he had the right to kill crop destroying rabbits 
on his own property.” In closing the friendly 
argument, grown too voluminous for our columns 
and too tedious to our readers, we feel certain 
Brother Brisbin intended no transgression of 
the game law and we also know that ignorance of 
the law does not excuse a man, especially one 
with our friend’s opportunities, and our humble 
opinion is that the fine was just and further, 
that it may be expended in propagating rabbits 
in some section of New York State, far away 
from farms and farmers, but not too remote to 
prevent us from a chance this fall, to legally 
help keep their production within reasonable 
limits. 
BRANDING THE DOG. 
Emporia, Va., July 11, 1914. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
I was much interested in the article and 
editorial in regard to marking dogs for identi¬ 
fication. For some time I have tattooed my 
dogs. My Irish setter has his name tatooed on 
the inner side of his right ear. I think it better 
to tattoo them in some inconspicuous part as 
on the inner side of the thigh or under front 
leg. Any one can mark their own dogs by this 
method and it is perfectly harmless and not 
painful. The ink comes in sticks or rods; India 
or Chinese ink, ad can be had at any art store 
where artist materials are sold. The instrument 
to put the ink in with can easily be made by 
using a small piece of wood and a paper of cam¬ 
bric-needles. I have found tattooing to be 
a very fine method of marking fine chickens. I 
push the feathers back and tattoo a small mark 
on the under side of the wing or leg. If you 
would like any further information in regard 
to this matter let me know and I will be glad 
to supply any information desired. 
E. L. BAILEY, 
Box 118, Emporia, 
Virginia 
THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL. 
By J. C. Hartshorne. 
When ’skeeters bite, 
And flies alight 
On forehead, neck and shoulder, 
’Tis then beware, 
Nor cuss n'or swear— 
For trout are growing bolder. 
The deer come out, 
And look about, 
In fields of verdant clover; 
A rifle crack 
Gives them a whack, 
And sends them back to cover. 
When meat is scarce, 
And wardens sparse, 
And children cry for bread; 
Men give scant heed 
To law, but plead 
’Twas shoot, or join the dead.” 
