314 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


Sporting Jlews from Abroad. 
UESTIONS of human longevity are always most in- 
teresting, and public curiosity in regard to this sub- 
ject is rarely stated. If those who make a study of vital 
statistics, carefully catalogue all professions in the interest 
of science and of life assurances, determining that needle 
sharpeners and white-lead manufacturers live the shortest 
periods, while agriculturalists have the longer leases on 
life, we should hardly think that they, the statistical people, 
would readily declare that a horse-breaker’s life offered any 
very fair chances of a long existence. It is then worth 
while to record the extreme duration of life vouchsafed to 
one Daniel Callaghan, familiarly known as ‘Old Dan,” 
now residing at Clonmult, County Cork, Ireland, who first 
drew the breath of life, (if the chronicler is to be believed), 
in the year of our Lord 1763 at Ballyclough. The 
London Field, who mentions the fact, says he entered life 
as a kennel boy to Lord Lisle at fourteen, and then rode 
steeplechases for some time afterwards. One wonders how 
the boy could have even arrived at manhood’s years,as rider 
of an Irish steeplechase, according to the break-n ck 
practices of the Irish turf, eighty-five years ago. But Dan 
stood it ali and was then huntsman for no less than seventy- 
two years, serving under various masters, being a daring 
and reckless rider, until tired of this somewhat tame profes- 
sion, there being not risk enough about it, in his eighty-fifth 
year, he took up horse-breaking as a recreation in his older 
days, keeping at the work until he was ninety-nine. Think 
of a man alive to-day who can tell about the Trish Rebellion 
and the battle of Vinegar Hill, and who has ridden to 
hounds eighty years, and trained horses when he was one 
hundred, and who can to-day, when he is one hundred and 
eleven years old, walk erect, and give information on mat- 
ters that passed a century ago. Broken bones, he must 
have had, and many of them, but he laughed at such slight 
mishaps. Such a brave oldman, and tough withal, should 
not want, and a newer generation should care for him. Will 
any one on this side of the Atlantic lend a helping hand to 
this erand old huntsman, who rode to horse and hound in 
Trelard long years before, perhaps, any one of our readers 
in this new country was born? 
—Gallant Rob Roy! How we have all followed you, Mr. 
Macgregor, and your brave little canoe, as she threaded 
placid rivers or thrashed in the surging seas. We have to 
thank you for having almost created a most delightful and 
health-giving recreation. It behooved a good Anglo-Saxon 
to take the canoe from the Indian, and to teach us all that 
it was not the Chippewa or the Ogibbeway plying the 
paddle on the Saskatchewan or the Winnipeg, or shooting 
the rapids of the Chute & Jacquot or Slave Falls, who could 
alone manage the daintiest of water crafts. And now you 
have been married, and the Royal Canoe Club. of which 
you are the worthy Captain, have in recognition of your 
services presented you with a silver claret jug and goblets, 
executed in Flemish style and parcel, gilt, with the follow- 
ing inscription engraved thereon: ‘‘ Presented to John 
Maegregor, Esq., Captain of the Royal Canoe Club, on the 
occasion of his marriage, by his friends in the Club, as a 
mark of esteem, an@ in recognition of his efforts to improve 
canoes, promote canoeing and unite canoeists, Dec., 1873.” 
Our own American Clubs send you kind greeting, Mr. Mac- 
eregor, and would like to have filled your famous silver jug 
with the rarest claret, and do wish you and yours all health 
and happiness; and may the time come when other Mac- 
eregors will paddle, too, their own canoes and write as 
pleasantly as did their sire. 
—There is one peculiar style of athletic amusement un- 
known in the United States such as has just been largely 
attended in London. With us, hand to hand contests with 
sword and sabre, are almost unknown, We have, too, un- 
fortunately but little knowledge of that queen of all weapons 
the foil; even perhaps in old England the flveret is rather an 
exotic. What we principally refer to are those peculiar 
Enelish feats just accomplished before the London Athletic 
Club with swords, such as Professor Waites’ feat, (we 
thought we had the monopoly of the Professor in the 
United States), of eatting a sheep in twain with a vigorous 
sword cut, and slicing an apple quite as nicely as would a 
Yankee apple pairing machine, only that the forbidden 
fruit in this instance is held gingerly in a friend’s hands, 
the Professur ending by forging through bars of lead with 
his blade as if they were boiled carrots, repeating old 
Richard Ceeur de Leons’ performances. They had, too, at 
this same Assault of Arms, the quarter-staff, when a Mr, 
Rogers and a Mr. Bently cracked each other’s sconces mer- 
rily, and both heroes smiled as showers of blows like Nas- 
myth’s hammers—heavy enough to fell an ox—rattled on 
their devoted heads. 
—The bieyele has a solid footing in England, though an 
almost forgotten toy with us. The latest match was one 
between John KKeen, the champion bicycle rider, and Polly, 
a pony, for a race of twenty miles. The velocepede beat 
the quadruped, Polly being so badly distanced at the six- 
teenth mile as to give it up. 38 min, 25 sec. was about the 
time of the best mile. 
—The last stag pursued by Her Majesty’s stag hounds 
was caught in the midst of clothes-lines, where a family 
wash was going on. Sound trumpets, yelp dogs, shout 
huntsmen, and clap your hands, ladies and gentlemen, who 
where present at the finale, and may some poet sing of the 
noble stag who came to his death in a laundry, mayhap 
drowned in the dirty suds. 
—If they are horse-eaters in Paris, through choice, not 
necessity, they probably have acquired a taste for strange 
game. We sec in La Chasse Illustrée that they have anew 

kind of bird for sale in the markets, namely, pelicans, 
which were killed at Crau d’Arles, and that two pelicans 
brought 110 francs. Letsome of our Florida friends pre- 
pare instantly a consignment of pelicans to Chevet, the. 
famous Parisian purveyor of good things. Patté de Pelican 
may be good, but like the man who eat crow, we do not 
hanker after it. 
Che Horse and the Caurse. 
eats ag lae 
—The Louisiana Jockey Club held the third day of the 
annual fall meeting on December 18th. | The attendance 
was large and the track in excellent condition. First race 
—Handicap; two-mile dash. Six horses started, and the 
race was won by -Fred. Bonnabel, beating Port Leonard, 
Meta H., Donnybrook, Mary. L., and Vidal, in the same 
order. Time—3:48. Second race—three miles; all ages; 
club purse, $800. Six horses started and the race was won 
by Cape Race, beating Fannie M., Tom Arken, Fred. Bon- 
nabel, Wanderer, and Carrington, in the sameorder. Time 
—5:344. Third race—selling race; all ages; mile heats; 
purse $500. Edwin Adams won in two straight heats with 
great ease. Time—1:474. 
—The Louisiana Jockey Club held the last day of the fall 
meeting on December 20th. The weather was clear and 
cold, the track good, and the attendance fair. First race— 
Hopfin Stakes for two-year olds; one mile; $25 entrance; 
$700 added. ‘Ten horses started, and the race was won by 
Ballankeel, who took the lead at the start, and kept it 
throughout. Bay Run was the favorite. Time—1:464. 
Second race—Consolation Purse; $400; one mile; Falmouth 
took the lead and kept it, winning by two lengths. West- 
ern Star second, and I. O. U. third. Western Star was the 

fayorite. Time—1:444. Third race—four-mile heats ; 
Club Purse, $1,200. Silent Friend won in two straight 
heats. 
ror. 
SHETLAND Pontes.—Mr. J. G. Casey, of Suisine City, 
California, has but recently imported a fine head of thirty- 
one Shetland ponies. He intends to stock a breeding es- 
tablishment in California. These diminutive animals may 
possibly come into practical use. They are docile, cun- 
ning, and willing. In their native home they are employed 
in many useful ways. The experiment we trust will prove 
a success. 
ot 
Tue Perrstan CHAsE.—<A correspondent of the London 
Field writes as follows:—Having lately come across an ex- 
cellent engraving of a Pesrian greyhound bred in England, 
I venture to forward an interesting account which accom- 
panied the engraving, which appeared in one of the old 
sporting magazines, of the manner in which this animal 
is employed and the esteem in which he is held by Persian 
sportsmen. Most of the Persian nobles are exceedingly 
fond of the chase, and keep a number of these animals at 
a considerable expense, and the best and most favored of 
these dogs have collars and housings covered with precious 
stones and embroidery. These greyhounds are employed 
in coursing hares in the plains, and chasing the antelope. 
As the speed of the latter is greater than that of the grey- 
hound, the Persians train hawks for the assistance of the 
dogs in this kind of chase. The hawks, when young, are 
fed upon the head of astuffed antelope, and thus taught 
to fly at that part of the animal. When the antelope is dis- 
covered the hawk is cast off, which, fastening its talons in 
the animal’s head impedes its progress, and thus enables 
the greyhounds to overtake it. The chase, however, in 
which the Persians chiefly delight, and for which these 
greyhounds are most highly valued, is that of the ‘‘ghoo- 
khur,” or wild ass. This animal, which generally fre- 
quents the mountainous districts, is extremely shy, and of 
great endurance, and is considered by the Persians as one 
of the swiftest of all quadrupeds. These qualities, and 
the nature of the ground over which itis usually chased, 
render the capture of the wild ass very uncertain, and its 
pursuit extremely hazardous to the sportsman. When the 
Persians go out to hunt the wild ass, relays of greyhounds 
are placed at various distances in the surrounding country, 
in such directions as are likely to be traversed by the 
object of pursuit, so that when one relay is tired there is 
another ready to continue the chase; such, however, is the 
speed and endurance of the ghoo-khur, that it is seldom 
run down by the greyhounds, its death being generally 
achieved by the rifle of some lucky horseman. ‘The Per- 
sians evince great skill and courage in this arduous sport, 
riding up and down precipitous hills, over stony paths, and 
across ravines and mountain streams which might well 
daunt our boldest turf skimming Meltonians. The Per- 
sians and their neighbors, the Arabs, are pretty well known 
to be excellent horsemen, and we are certainly indebted to 
the breed of horses they ride. for certain improvements in 
our own; but I do not think our own breed of greyhounds 
would derive any benefit by an introduction of the Persian 
blood, as, although somewhat symmetrical in form, they 
appear to be too loose in structure for English coursing. 
Several specimens have been imported into this country, 
and one was exhibited at the last Crystal Palace Show, but 
I do not think the breed will be thoroughly established 
here. 
eo or 
Tur Foot or A Horsk.—The human hand has often been 
taken to illustrate Divine wisdom—and very well. But 
have you ever examined your horse’s hoof? It is hardly 
less curious in its way. Its parts are somewhat more com- 
plicated, yet thei désign is simple and obvious. The hoof 
is not, as it appears to the careless eye, a mere lump of in- 
sensible bone, fastened to the leg by a joint. It is made up 
of a series of thin layers, or leaves of horn, about 500 in 
number, and nicely fitted to each other, and forming a lin- 
ing to the foot itself. Then there are as many more layers, 
belonging to what is called the ‘‘coffin bone,” and fitted in- 
to this. These are elastic. Take a quire of paper and insert 
the leaves one by one into those of another quire, and you 
will get some idea of the arrangement of the several layers. 
Now, the weight of tho horse rests on-as many elastic 
springs as there are layers in his four feet—about ; and 
all this is contrived, not only for the convenience of his 
own body but for whatever burdens may be laid on him.— 
Oolman’s Rural World. 

Sea and River Sishing. 
FISH IN SEASON IN DECEMBER. 
——_+—_—_— 
SOUTHERN WATERS, 

Pompano, Trout, (Black Bass.) Sheepshead. 
Snapper. Drum, (two species.) Tailorfish. 
Grouper. Kingfish. Sea Bass. 
Rockfish. Striped Bass, Rockfish. 
ae 
—Rather late in the season, but nevertheless welcome, 
comes to us a score made at weak-fishing in Princess Bay 
last August. The writer is one of those whose business 
will not admit of long vacations or excursions to Canada or 
the West, and he wishes our readers to know what can be 
done in the way of fishing within an hour and a half of New 
York He says:— 
“‘T left my business at 8 o’clock, went to Fulton Market 
and bought a half-dozen shedders, hurried up and caught 
the Staten Island 4 o’clock boat, bought tickets for Hugue- 
not, and arriving there rushed down to the beach and pulled 
a half mile out to the fishing ground, and then tied up to a 
stake. When I looked at my watch, it was about 6 o’clock. 
In two hours thereafter I had caught with rod and real 
sixty-one weak fish, weighing in the aggregate 1114 lbs. 
Now, how is this for two hours’ fishing only one hour and 
a half from New York? I know you will say: ‘‘ Hurrah 
for Princess Bay! next season.” Rex, 
—Herewith we introduce another gentleman who wishes 
to be heard on the Black Bass Fly Question :— 
Fonp pu Lac, Wisconsin, 1873, 
Epiror Forest AND STREAM:— 
As the Black Bass Fly Question seems thus far to be a re- 
cord of experience in different localities, with good evidence 
on both sides, I take the liberty of contributing from my 
observation further proof in the affirmative, so far as the 
finest fishing grounds in this vicinity have been examined. 
I confess I was not a little surprised at the negative 
articles that first appeared in your journal, as my knowledge 
of Fly Fishing and the Black Bass, were so inseparably 
connected, that I should as soon thought of affirming that 
snipe could not be killed on the wing as to say that Black 
Blass could not be taken with the fly; and I have been on 
the look out for a reasonable solution of this problem from 
some of your many scientific correspondents, as it seems 
hardly possible that the genuine Black Bass in waters so 
nearly alike could be endowed with such decidedly adverse 
characteristics, and I trust the coming season may not pass 
without a closer investigation of this peculiar trait as it now 
stands recorded. 
Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, furnishessome good ground, 
that in the vicinity of Garlic Island furnishing the largest 
and best fish, which are readily taken with the fly, even at 
times when the native bait (craw-fish or minnows), hardly 
provokes anibble, and at no time except perhaps wild rainy 
days, does the fly seem to be neglected for other bait. 
The rapids of the lower Fox River, the outlet of this Lake, 
also furnish some of the finest of sport. Kaukanna rapid 
in particular, nearly a mile in extent, is a wild eddying part 
of the stream, grand in its scenery and rich in ragged shel- 
ving rocks and dark deep pools, that are well filled with 
large, dark colored, rather slim, active fellows that are no 
burlesque oa western civilization; and the Nimrod that can 
preserve his light tackle in order, and retain his fish in some 
of the headlong races he must make down the stream over 
boulders and brambles with one of these fellows on the lead 
for his favorite pool, must lose all thought of self and the 
consequence of a disordered appearance at the close of the 
race. 
This rapid in particular is more successfully fished with 
the fly than all other kinds of bait, and it is not unusual to 
secure a goodly number of nice large fellows with the fly 
when not a single rise can be provoked with live bait: “and 
my experience in this locality has been so decidedly unex- 
ceptional that I only think of providing myself with fly 
hooks and light rod. é 
One peculiarity is perhaps worth noticing, as I have thus 
far been unable to designate any particular fly that seemed 
the better, and have often changed decided colors to test 
their preference and have found no apparent difference. 
In conclusion, I beg to assure you of the hearty approval 
and support I am certain must be extended your journal by 
all lovers of true manhood, as it has given me great satisfac- 
tion to notice the decidedly uncharacteristic style apparent 
as compared with other so called sporting papers; and un- 
less the ‘‘true ring” is a myth with us, there will come up 
to you from the conscientious sportsmen of America a 
hearty, generous support, that will continue so long as the 
present high standard of truth, honor and excellence is 
maintained in the conduct of the ForEsT AND SrreaM.” 
Mix1s. 
Of course we can do nothing less than make our best bow 
to the foregoing hearty endorsement, and still labor to de- 
serve it. If we were not too modest, we should fill our 
paper each week with these encomiums. But then, what 
sport would there be in that? 
Eprror Forest AND STREAM:— 
T have read your interesting article upon the ‘ Michigan 
Grayling” in No. 17 of your interesting paper. I am con- 
fident that this fish or Richardson’s Thymallus Signifier, is 
a habitant of one of the rivers emptying into the St. Law- 
rence at Three Rivers, Canada, about midway between Mon- 
treal and Quebec. It is known there under the local mis- 
nomer of ‘‘Spearing,” which fact has probably served to 
preyent identification. The fish known at that place under 
the above ‘‘alias” is most likely Richardson’s, or another 
