September 12, 1914 
LAND AND WATER 
England counties, Somerset and Gloucestershire, are hopelessly 
at the bottom of the list. Hobbs, the Surrey crack, had the 
remarkable average of 62'47 and the record of ten three- 
figure innings for his county, but in the general batting 
averages he played second fiddle to J. W. Hearne, of 
Middlesex, while C. P. Mead is a creditable third. But for 
all-round performances the figures of F. E. Woolley and 
Tarrant are the features of the averages. The former made 
considerably over 2000 runs and took 124 wickets for iS-gi 
apiece. Tarrant's total was nearly 2000 with an average 
of something over 45 per innings, while in bowling he had 
138 victims at a cost of 18-84 i^ns each. In many respects 
it was a wonderful season, and but for the war the inquest 
on it would have furnished some most interesting reflections. 
A MEETING of the committee of the Culmstock 
-^*- Otterhounds was held at the Castle Hotel, Taunton, 
on August 22, to consider whether hunting, which had 
temporarily been suspended, should be resumed. Mr. A. 
Venables Kyrke was in the chair. Among those present 
were the Master, Mr. H. Welch-Thornton, Mr. C. W. Nelder, 
and Mr. H. Gillham. After the minutes were read and signed 
the chairman placed before the committee his views on the 
matter, and it was eventually decided that hunting should 
be resumed in such districts as might be considered advis- 
able, provided that it were not against the wishes of the 
riparian owners. It was also decided that at each meet the 
" cap " should be devoted to the Prince of Wales's Relief 
Fund. This was signed by A. Venables Kyrke, chairman. 
The Culmstock Otterhounds will meet at the Carnarvon 
Arms, Dulverton, at nine o'clock on September 14, and at 
East Budleigh at ten o'clock, September 16, to wind up the 
season. 
WHATEVER the hoHday-makers by the side of the sea 
may have to sav about the weather, the angler certainly 
has no cause for complaint, for the dull cloudy days 
and the constant rainfall have kept fish on the move. 
Very few fishermen have visited Blagdon recently, but some 
good baskets were obtained by those who were out, Mr. C. R. 
Batey having seven on the 22nd, three on the 24th, and two 
on the 25th, a splendid brown trout of 5 lb. 4 oz., which 
§;raced his basket on the last day, being a record for the week. 
Some good sport has also been had on the Elan Reservoirs, where 
the trout run rather smaller but make up in gameness what 
they lack in size. On the Tavy. Devonshire, the peal are 
running well, General Eagles having nine. Captain Roe four, 
and Colonel Trotman two, while some nice catches of brown 
trout are reported. Wroxham Broad and the rivers in the 
vicinity are in first-class fettle and some huge catches of 
bream, roach, and rudd have been taken during the last 
week. The fishing is all that could be desired in Ireland, and 
excellent sport has been had recently on the Great Southern 
Hotel lakes at Waterville, Co. Kerry, and from Murphy's Hotel, 
Oughterard. We hear that the " Daddy " is putting in an 
appearance on Lough Corrib, where some splendid trout have 
recently been caught. 
PARTRIDGE shooting in Scotland opened under delightful 
circumstances as regards weather, but very few sportsmen 
were out during the first few days. Even those that did take a 
turn in the meadows remained only to secure a few birds, and 
did not indulge in anything like systematic shooting. Despite 
some discouraging predictions, the birds are said to be very 
numerous, strong and well-developed. In fact, there is good 
reason to believe that they are more plentiful than they have 
been for the last five years. Shooting, which will not be 
general until the beginning of October, must this year be 
conducted with special care and caution. The reason of this 
is that for some time to come it will be impossible to replenish 
the stocks by the introduction of live birds from Hungary 
or Belgium. Grouse are everywhere abundant and in the 
pink of condition, but the moors have not yet been much 
disturbed except by keepers. The largest bag hitherto 
reported was secured in Gaick on the opening day, and con- 
sisted of 115 brace. Stags everywhere make a superb show, 
but stalking is not conducted with anything like the usual 
energy. Seven fine animals were shot in Stray and Braulen 
forests by Lord Stanley and his guests, the best head obtained 
falling to Mr. Oliver. Among those who secured heavy 
stags are Sir Arthur Bignold, of Lochrosque, and party, 
Captain Combe, of Strathconon, and party, and Mr. Wills, 
Killilan, and party. 
THE weather, on the whole, has been favourable to angling 
during the last few days. More wind would certainly 
be welcome, but the waters have been in a fairly satisfactory 
state, and nice baskets have been obtained. Recent catches 
on Ballindalloch stretches^of the Spey included a salmon' of 
loj lb. by Mr. A. Robertson ; a salmon of gj lb. and a grilse 
of 5 lb. by Mr. A. Murdoch ; two salmon weighing each 
II lb. by Mr. A. Shiach ; and a grilse of 5 lb.* by Mr. J. 
MacGilchrist. On Loch Assopol, Island of Mull, Mr. French 
had six sea trout ; while on Loch Eye, Mr. Wilson, Edinburgh, 
had eighteen trout weighing i^lb. On River Cononish, 
Tyndrum, Mr. R. Stewart landed a salmon of 15 lb. ; on 
River Garry, Mrs. Hands got a salmon of gi lb. ; and on River 
Avon, Tomintoul, Mr. Frank Reid, Edinburgh, had a fine 
salmon of 6 lb. Loch Leven is giving some fine sport, and 
its habitues have every reason to be satisfied with the season. 
Last month the total catch with the rod was g.yab trout, 
weighing 6,7g4| lb. In August last year the catch was 
3,021 trout, weighing 2,532^ lb. We are informed that Mr. 
Gilbert Tweedie. W.S., Annan, honorary secretary of the 
Annan Angling Association, has received a communication 
from the Fishery Board for Scotland, to the effect that Mr. 
W. L. Calderwood, Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, will hold 
a public inquiry at Annan with respect to the petition of the 
District Board craving for an alteration of the rod-fishing 
close time within the district. 
TN the competition for the prize presented to the 
■*■ Routenburn Club, Largs, by the vice-president, Mr. 
MacAndrew, of Knock, the best cards returned against bogey 
were J. A. Malcolm (scratch), four down, and A. H. Orr (2), five 
down. In the Tillicoultry Club Championship competition, 
Thomas S. Millar beat W. M. Bett by one hole, and W. 
Caldwell beat William MacLauchlan by one hole. In the final 
William Caldwell beat Thomas S. Millar by 2 up and i to 
play. The winner in the ladies' competition was Mrs. 
Caldwell (14), 70 (14 holes). Troon Ladies' Club played 
for Captain Dickie's prizes, for second division and club 
medals. The winner of both prizes was Miss Graham (25), 
71. Miss Sinclair (17) made a score of 72 ; Miss W. A. 
Robertson (10), a score of 72 ; Mrs. Collins (i), a score of 
74 ; Miss L. Neilson (20), a score of 76, and Miss G. Wilson 
(14), a score of 76. Under the auspices of Balmore Club 
the ladies' monthly medal was won by Miss Nan Reid (22), 
gi. At a meeting of Glasgow Corporation Sub-Committee 
on Recreation — Baihe Robert Mitchell, convener, in the 
chair — there was taken into consideration the question of 
proceeding with or postponing the golf competitions which 
were fixed to take place on two consecutive Saturdays in 
the course of this month. After some discussion it was 
finally agreed to recommend that, in view of the present 
national crisis, the competitions be postponed sine die. 
TT is officially announced that it has been decided, on 
■*■ account of the war, to abandon the Western Race 
Meeting which was to have taken place at Ayr on September 
16, '17, and 18. A disappointing afternoon's sport was the 
outcome of the £15 'one mile open trotting match promoted 
by Mr.'S. Ferguson at Hawkhill enclosure, Edinburgh. Only 
six horses turned out, and it was found necessary to run off 
the handicap on the best average, Mr. Campbell's Owl 
winning two out of the three finals. The entries were : Mr. 
Campbell's Owl (60) ; Mr. Ovens's Dr. Crippen (200) ; Mr. 
Cranston's Erin's Queen (scratch)'; Mr. Haxton's Miss'T. 
(250) ; Mr. Beattie's Carpets (250), and Mr. Nicol's Mistake, 
Dyart (180). An unsuccessful attempt to break her own 
record was made by Mr. Cranston's Erin's Queen. There 
have been sold in Messrs. Lyon and Turnbull's Rooms, 
Edinburgh, a number of sections of the Traill estates of 
Castlehill and East Murkle, Caithness. They included a 
mansion house, home farm, quarries, harbour and parks. 
In each case the upset price was obtained. Most 'of the 
important athletic fixtures have been abandoned, including 
the Braemar gathering, the Northern meetings '(Inverness), 
and the Argyllshire gathering (Oban). 
To those who are interested in the present struggle now going 
on just across the Channel, and are unable from any reason whatever 
to take part in that struggle, I can commend them to do nothing 
better than go to the Scala Theatre and see the pictures that are there 
given in their natural colours of the whole fighting units now engaged. 
The series is entitled : " The Fighting Forces of Europe," and in 
addition there are some wonderful pictures straight from the fighting 
lines, showing the awful ravages of war, and the penalty inflicted on 
Belgium for not standing out of the Kaiser's way and allowing him 
to pass on. There is also a very fine picture which shows our splendid 
young men of to-day, who are giving up their lives, their home com- 
forts, in fact everything they can, to help to keep the British flag flying. 
The picture in question is Lord Roberts inspecting the recruits who have 
just joined Lord Kitchener's Army, Here, in truth, is a patriotic 
exhibition which no Britisher should miss. He will also have the 
satisfaction of knowing that a part of the money he pays for admission 
is being sent weekly to swell the Prince of Wales's Fund. The number 
of well-known people who have already visited the exhibition are too 
numerous to mention, but here a few may be given : H.R.H. The 
Prince of Wales, Lord Titchfield, Admiral Fisher, Lady Hansell, 
Prince Bariatinsky, Sir Alexander Asancheyv, the Servian and 
Roumanian Ambassadors, and quite large numbers of the staff of the 
War Office. 
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