Forest and Stream 
Copyright, 1906, by Forest and Stream Publishing Co. 



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MOTOR BOATS AND FISH. 
In our issue of March 31 was quoted a State- 
ment by the New Bern, N. C., Journal that the 
use of motor boats was thought to affect the fish 
supply in local waters, the noise of the craft 
alarming the fish and driving them away. A cor- 
respondent writing in our angling columns to- 
day expresses an opinion that the many motor 
boats which have come into use in the Rideau 
Lakes have had a like effect on the black bass, 
and have so disturbed them as to ruin the fish- 
ing. It was said in the early days of steamboat- 
ing that the boats would drive the shad and other 
fish out of the Hudson; but since that prognosti- 
cation both steamboats and shad have multi- 
plied; and the fish everywhere appear to have ac- 
customed themselves to the presence of the boats. 
It would be interesting to learn if other anglers 
have observed conditions and effects like those 
described as existing in the Rideau waters. 
It would be purposeless, perhaps, to reason 
from the actions of the porpoise with respect to 
motor boats, for the porpoise is not classed as 
a fish but rather as an enemy of fish; its popular 
name of sea hog comes from its greedy devour- 
ing of fish, and salt-water fishermen hold it in 
detestation; but here, at least, is one marine 
creature whose attitude toward the motor boat is 
quite different from that ascribed to fish. At sea 
the porpoise has a well known way of making 
for a sail or steam vessel and playing about the 
bows, often accompanying the ship for miles. In 
a like manner in bays and harbors it appears to 
have adopted the motor boat as a new plaything 
to: frolic with, gamboling about it as about a 
ship at sea. 

DOG EATERS. 
THE United States Consul at Mannheim, Ger- 
many, recently made to the Department of Com- 
merce and Labor a report on the effect of the new 
German tariffs on the price of food stuffs. In the 
course of his report he notes certain changes in 
the character of the flesh food consumed by the 
Germans—especially the north Germans. 
The flesh ofthe horse has long been eaten in 
Germany, but the consumption of these animals 
seems to be increasing. While during the fourth 
quarter of 1904 more than 44,000 horses were 
slaughtered, the fourth quarter of 1905 shows 
more than 52,000 slaughtered. In one of the Ger- 
man States twenty-nine steers were slaughtered 
and 136 horses, in another 256 steers and 783 
horses, while in still another 312 steers compare 
with 608 horses. In south Germany the number 
of horses slaughtered is comparatively small. 
With the horse the dog is taking his place as 
an article of food. We are accustomed to read 
of the feeling of disgust experienced by persons 
who are obliged to eat dog for the first time, but 
this, of course, is purely a matter of the imagina- 
tion, and the repulsion is wholly sentimental. 
Those of us who have eaten dog know that it is 
a most excellent and toothsome food. People 
accept the flesh of a bear as food without ex- 
pressions of horror. The raccoon is commonly 
eaten. Why not then his relative the dog? 
We are accustomed to think that only savages 
—notably many tribes of our own Indians—eat 
dog, yet the Germans are coming to use them 
regularly. So much so that according to the offi- 
cial record there were slaughtered for food dur- 
ing the fourth quarter of 1905 no less than 2,400 
dogs, against 1,762 during the same period in 
1904. 
We know of no good reason why dogs should 
not become a regular article of food, and should 
a demand for them ever spring up in this coun- 
try, their breeding might well become profitable. 
At the present day, when among many people 
there seems such an ambition to form clubs and 
associations which have to do with all sorts of 
subjects, we do not know why there might not 
well be formed clubs to be known as the Dog 
Eaters, which should have a quarterly dinner at 
which roast or boiled dog should be the pvéce 
de résistance. 
THE GREATEST NUMBER. 
On the Thames, the great water pleasure re- 
sort of London, it is noted that since the prohi- 
bition of shooting from boats has been in force, 
a great increase has taken place in the number of 
scarce birds which formerly were shot on sight. 
The same holds true on waters in our own coun- 
try where the indiscriminate shooting has been 
abolished. <A. striking illustration of the ready 
confidence of wild birds when given immunity 
and security is afforded in some of the East 
Coast waters of Florida. A stretch of Lake 
Worth at Palm Beach has been set apart as a 
refuge for wild ducks and other water fowl, 
shooting being absolutely forbidden; and _ the 
effect has been to populate the lake with ducks, 
pelicans and other species, which are popularly 
credited with a precise knowledge of the dead- 
line separating the preserved waters from those 
not protected. The birds are a constant source 
of interest and pleasure to resident and visitor 
alike. In less degree are seen the results of a 
similar protective system in the neighborhood 
of St. Augustine, where on bay and rivers and 
marshes the birds once so numerous are coming 
back in stich numbers as to add much to the at- 
tractiveness of the harbor. In every instance of 
this sort, whether it be on the Thames or the 
Matanzas, or in those western places where the 
protection of big game has made the sight of deer 
and antelope and mountain sheep familiar to town 
‘and country dwellers, the rule exemplified is the 
old and simple and sound principle of the great- 
est good to the greatest number. The gunner is 
prone to think that whatever may be shot is pecu- 
liarly and exclusively his own, to be appropriated 
by him without regard to the rights or pleasure 
of the non-shooting public. . 
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1906. 
VOL. LXVI.—No. 20. 
| No. 346 Broadway, New York. 

We are rapidly coming, however, to a recog- 
nition of the truth that others beside the man 
with the gun may find something of interest and 
value in the game, even if they do not care to 
hunt it for sport or food; and this portion of the 
community with growing insistence demands con- 
sideration and a respect of its rights. A Gardi- 
ner band of antelope, if permitted to be hunted 
and killed, may afford sport for a few men for a 
brief season or two; but if protected and cared 
for it might on the other hand prove a source of 
interest to the people of a town for seasons with- 
out number. A Palm Beach flock of ducks 
might give most exciting sport to a party of 
northern sportsmen in Florida, and that would 
be the end of it; protected in the refuge of Lake 
Worth, the same birds figure as one of the attrac- 
tions of the place which are enjoyed by thou- 
sands. The game of the wilderness may well 
enough lure the sportsman to its pursuit; but 
when the wild creatures consent to show them- 
selves within the sight of man’s abode, the law of 
the greatest good to the greatest number should 
be their immunity. 

THE WILD PIGEONS. 
Tue note from Mr. John Burroughs, printed 
elsewhere, is as gratifying as it is unexpected. 
Evidence which convinces Mr. Burroughs that a 
large flock of passenger pigeons was seen to pass 
over the village of Prattsville, Greene county, N. 
Y., will have great weight with the public. If 
there is no error about this report and many 
hundreds of birds were seen in this flock, there 
is now remaining an abundant breeding stock of 
wild pigeons, and the time may come when the 
birds will be with us again—never, of course, in 
their old-time abundance, but still in numbers 
sufficient to make them a familiar sight to coun- 
try dwellers. 
That this desirable end may be obtained, the 
birds must have protection—protection by law 
and protection by public sentiment. Men, boys 
and young children should be taught that the wild 
pigeon is a hird to be fostered and protected, and 
never under any circumstances to be shot. 
In many States the pigeon is already protected 
by law—either by name, or by being omitted from 
the list of game birds which may lawfully be 
killed. It is hoped that this feeling in favor of 
the protection of a species, which has now be- 
come a tradition for its numbers, will increase 
and that the time is not far distant when not 
only bird lovers may be gratified by the sight of 
the birds, but gunners may feel pride in reporting 
that they saw pigeons and did not shoot them. 
Game protectors everywhere should be on the 
watch for news of any nesting places of pigeons, 
and if these should be found, especial energy 
should be devoted to protecting them. The wild 
pigeon, producing only a single egg to the nest,, 
is especially exposed to dangers in the breeding 
season, 
