

avery out-spoken but courteous letter from Prof. Baird‘ 
the chief of the Fish Commission, upon this subject, in 
which he lays special stress upon the fact that the Govern- 
ment is seeking the benefit of the masses, and not merely 
providing pleasure grounds for the angler, and that all con- 
siderations are secondary, and must be subordinated to the 
one great object of providing an abundant supply of fish 
food. He says “‘it is indifferent to me whether the fish are 
caught with the fly in the upper waters of streams, or in 
nets at their mouths.” To-day in another article, we intro- 
duce an important letter from Fishery Inspector Venning, 
of Canada, in which he takes precisely the same ground 
as to dams, etc. ‘‘These fools,” (who make complaints,) 
he says, “‘think that the only use of rivers is to hold fish 
for them to catch. * * * Rivers subserve other uses than 
the accommodation of an angling tourist.” 
Now, if we provide food fish for the masses, the angler 
can make his selection, ad libitum, of the most dainty. 
Cater only for the angler, and the masses must go unfed of 
fish, just as tenants in old England must content them- 
selves with potatoes and bacon, while the lord of the manor 
grows unctuous on plethoric bags of fat hares and pheas- 
ants shot under the tenant’s very nose, but which, though 
he may smell, he must not touch! The Fish Commission 
advertise thousands of young salmon to be given away to 
those who will go to the trouble and expense of raising 
them, and yet people will not accept them. We conceive 
that the reluctance comes mainly from this mistaken notion 
that the propagation is intended to provide fly-fishing for 
anglers, and that the object will be defeated by unsuitable 
or obstructed waters. If the salmon cannot be retained in 
streams—if their return to native waters connot be assured 
—why undertake the trouble of raising them? This is a 
very selfish position to take. Ceitaintly one ought to be 
willing to contribute something to the well-being of the 
comniunity, especially when the effort costs him little or 
nothing. Personally, or for the sake of the vltimate ob- 
ject, the Fish Commission care very little whether the 
salmon pass into private hands or not. The chief end in 
view would be accomplished if they would dump the whole 
of them into the upper Hudson, or some tributary of the 
St. Lawrence. What the Commission especially desires, is 
to secure their wide-spread distribution throughout the 
water courses of the country—not only for the sake of the 
distribution, but to ensure the careful watching and protec- 
tion of the salmon. The Government cannot afford, nor 
would it be practicable to appoint an overseer or warden 
for every little tributary o: pond into which it has put ova 
and fish. It desires the people to appreciate what they 
have, and to jealously care for it. It is not because the 
Commissioners cannot find suitable water for their salmon, 
or that they know not what to do with them. If any one 
willread the published official reports which have been 
printed in Forest AND SrreAm, and other journals, they 
will learn that very many streams have already been utilized 
by the Commission. And now the Commission are waiting 
for the co-operation of the public. 
If there is any one branch of knowledge upon which 
otherwise intelligent persons seem to be senseless, it is this 
fish question. If our U. 8. Commissioner does not under. 
stand his business thoroughly, which it seems he does, it 
were better to abolish his office altogether, and forego any 
further attempt at fish culture under Government aid. 
ee a 
THE OHIO GAME LAWS. 
es See 
E refer with pleasure tothe individual exertions 
of Hon. W. O. Collins, of Ohio, to whomis due 
the honor in great part of the present enactments which 
give protection to the game of Ohic. It must be highly 
gratifying for this gentleman to know how amply his la- 
bors have been rewarded, andthat the Acclimatization So- 
ciety of Cincinnatiis but only carrying out the views ex- 
pressed by him some fourteen years ago. 
In 1861 Mr. Collins, being on the Select Committee for 
the Protection of Birds and Game for the State of Ohio, 
made an admirable report on this important subject. In 
1857 the initial step for the preservation of the birds and 
game was commenced in Ohio, but the laws were some- 
what imperfect, and it was not until four years later that 
Mr. Collins submitted to the Senate of the State other laws 
which were adopted, and these enactments have been car- 
ried out with but slight modifications ever since that 
period. The benefits have been very great to the State, 
and are now freely recognized. What opposition was 
found in Ohio at that time, arose from persons who were 
ignorant of the subject in ail its bearings, but chiefly from 
jack of information. The game of Ohio differs but little 
from what it was when the report was presented some four- 
teen yearsago. Then Mr. Collins thought that probably 
every bird which existed at its first settlement was still 
found in the State, and that some such as the quail were 
in increased numbers. Of the large birds the wild 
turkey,the pinnated grouse, the ruffed grouse had seriously 
decreased; but we think, from some study of this subject, 
and from information gleaned from our correspondents, 
*that considering the highly cultivated condition of the 
State, the game birds of Ohio arestill in very fair quantity. 
Mr. Collins is undoubtedly not only a thorough sports- 
man, but combines with it naturalistic tastes, both of which 
are absolutely essential when one attempts to legislate on 
this subject of the preservation of game. The naturalistic 
studies of Mr. Collins may be seen by the good judgment 
shown in the exact discrimination in regard to the habits 
of the birds. The words at the conclusion of Mr. Collins’ 
report are so excellent and so much to the point that we re- 
produce them: ‘‘The genuine and honorable sportsman is 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
the friend and ally of the agriculturist. He will be found 
always ready to protect birds which are useful, to destroy 
the rapacious and hurtful, to prevent trespasses, and en- 
force the laws. He pursues his favorite game ata season 
when the harvest is gathered in and the fields can be 
traveled without injury, and he does it in a man- 
ner that no reasonable man can complain of. If he does 
otherwise he is no. true ‘brother of the gun.’ The 
pursuit of game should be regulated, and for this purpose 
the highest skill and knowledge of the habits of birds and 
wild animals should be employed, the most reasonable and 
perfect rules established by statute, and all should unite in 
theirrigid enforcement. Any other system will result in 
disappointment and failure.” 

THE CANADIAN FISHERY LAWS. 
SD eats 
E are gratified to be able to bear testimony from 
personal knowledge and inspection from year to year 
to the very effective operation of the Canadian fishery laws, 
and have taken frequent occasion through the columns of 
this journal to.praise the efficiency of the inspectors, 
Messrs. Whitcher and Venning, and to congratulate our 
neighbors upon the very beneficent and valuable results of 
the protection thus far afforded. Instances of negligence 
on the part of wardens and overseers, and of infringement 
by netters, dippers, spearers, and unconscionable de- 
spisers of close seasons, of course occur, it may be frequent- 
ly; but they arise not so much from lack of police surveil- 
lance, as from the indifference or neglect of those cogni- 
zant of wrong doing to codperate with the authorized offi- 
cials by becoming informants and prosecutors, the very 
persons, it would seem, who are most clamorous about in- 
operative laws and insufficient protection. Inspectors and 
overseers are not omniscient and cannot be omnipresent; con- 
sequently they cannot know of every offence. The rivers of 
the Dominion are numerous and widely distributed, and 
some of them of great length, penetrating into solitudes 
uninhabited. Nothing is easierthan to violate law in these 
remote localities. If those who have complaints to make 
would lay them before any local fishery overseer, accom- 
panied by name, place, and date of offence, instead of ven- 
tilating them through newspapers, officials would be in 
better position to take cognizance of them, with a view to 
the punishment of the offending parties, and protection 
would become more thorough than it is. Until public 
opinion has become more alive to the subject, and every 
man feels and fakes an interest in it, offences must neces- 
sarily occur, and will. 
Not feeling that our dictum would have full weight, we 
applied to Inspector Venning for an authorized statement 
of the effectiveness of the protective laws in Canada, and 
have elicited the subjoined polite reply. Mr. Venning, 
however, declines to respond officially to the complaints 
preferred by some of our correspondents, choosing to sub- 
mit his views in the form of a private letter to us personal- 
ly addressed. He writes under date: 
Sr. Joun’s N. B., Jan. 12. 
Cuas. Hatuock, Esa. 
Dear S1r:—You know yourself from your knowledge of 
our country how Cifficult ‘‘thorough” protection is; yet I 
will answer your questions in detail. 
Ist. Are the laws sufficiently enforced to amount to thorough 
protection? 
Our rivers and streams are so numerous, so extensive, so 
thickly settled in some parts, and so sparsely in others, that 
of course it is an extremely difficult matter to protect them 
as thoroughly as I could wish tosee them. No doubt many 
illegal acts are committed that never come to light, and 
many that are not as rigorously punished as they deserve, 
but on the whole the old method of wholesale destruction 
has given place to a much improved mode of fishing, and 
the old state of public opinion has been succeeded by one 
much improved in regard to observance of the laws, 
Poaching is now the exception where formerly it was the 
rule. Illegal netting is pretty sure to be followed by pun- 
ishment, and the returns show conclusively that a great 
improvement has been the result of our new law, end its 
mode of enforcement. 
2d. Do not many ¢ams exist without fish-passes requiredbyla? 
No, very few; indeed I may say none, where the law re- 
quires one to be. This subject is one of great importance, 
and requires more examination than your ‘‘complainants”’ 
have ever given it. They see a dam, ask if there isa 
“pass” over it, are told no, and at once conclude that the 
law is not enforced. These fools think that the only use 
of rivers and streams is to hold fish for them to catch, ut- 
terly incapable of understanding that far more important 
interests than those of the angler are involved. I have no 
time to enter fully into the subject, nor is it necessary, as 
you will readily perceive that large and varied interests are 
involved, and that rivers subserve other uses than the ac- 
commodation of an angling tourist. 
3d. Ls not the law a dead letter as regards trout? 
No, not at all, On the contrary, it is very generally ob- 
served, though it is much more difficult of enforcement 
than the law respecting the other fisheries. I have never 
yet had a complaint made that I could act upon. Numer- 
ous vague reports havé been told me, but on tracing them, 
and requesting definite statements, with name of offenders, 
date and place of offence, I have never succeeded in getting 
such a statement as would justify an arrest, or lead toa 
conviction. 
As to the more effective protection of game, both large 
and small, (fur and feather,) I can regret with you the great 
necessity that exists for more stringent enforcement of the 
existing laws, which are sufficient if carried out in their 
spirit and intention. J. W. Whitcher and myself have 
tried so far in vain to have all our local fishery officers made 
game protectors with power of summary action in case of 
offences. Were such a measure adopted, I am sure that 
the best results would follow, but as this matter is not of 
my jurisdiction, I can only regret the wanton destruction 
that is annually made. When next in Ottawa I will try 
again to bring about this arrangement, for unless something 
is done soon not an antler or feather will be left in our 
forests. Yours, in haste, W. H. VEnNING. 
377 
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN MATCH—CHAL- 
LENGE TO OWNERS OF AMERICAN 
BRED POINTERS AND SETTERS. 
——_@—__ z 
A hae has been the interest in the proposed match, 
which is to bring into the field the parent stock of 
English dogs, and their progeny in the United States, and 
to determine their merits, that we have hardly been able to 
reply to the many questions and inquiries put to us. As our 
edition of Dec. 18th, 1873, in which the challenge was pub- 
lished by us, has been exhausted, and requests have been 
made, that we shall republish the same for the benefit more 
particularly of our Western sportsmen, we reproduce the 
challenge in our issue of to-day. We are especially grati« 
fied that our Western friends, who are true sportsnfen, and 
are anxious to improve in every way their strain of dogs, 
have taken up the subject with such zest. We think no 
portion of the country has better representatives of manly ° 
sports than our Western States, and that the whole of their - 
sporting appurtenances show a degree of perfection which 
is not always found in the Eastern States. 
Field trials of pointers and setters must introduce some 
novel points. We believe that one great reason of the 
superiority of Western dogs is in their breaking, which 
does not arise as much from the pureness of the breed, or 
the wider range of game, but because the Western gentle- 
man takes pains to break the dog he shoots over himself 
and does not leave the animal to the mercy of the hired 
trainer. A good strain of dog has his points brought out a 
thousand times better, and approaches nearer to perfection 
when his instruction is derived from his master, because 
he is accustomed to his owner's person and voice. Our 
own immediate friends of New York must look out for 
their laurels. We are not disposed in any way to depre- 
ciate the known excellence of many of the setters and 
pointers from our own neighborhood, nor would we venture 
to assert that the Western dogs are their superiors as to 
breed or fine looks; but in the field, for working steadily, 
for ranging, for backing, and most especially for retrieving 
in cold weather, the Westera setter has no equal in the 
world. 
We copy the letter from Mr. Price, who writes with the 
sanction of the Rev. J. Cumming Macdona. This letter 
contains the challenge to owners of American bred pointers 
and setters. 

GREAT WESTERN HorTeEt, 
BrrMincHam, Enc., November 29th, 1873. 
Epiror Forrest anD STREAM:— 
We are pleased to hear that our respected cousins on the 
other side of the Atlantic are beginning to take an interest 
in field trials on game for pointers and setters, the newest 
and by many thought the most interesting of all our British 
sports, and in order to give these sportsmen in America 
who have taken up shooting dogs an opportunity of seeing 
the best animals perform that England can produce, Mr. 
Macdona and myself. will be glad to make a friendly match 
against any pointers or setters now in America—not En- 
glish dogs, imported for the purpose; these we can run at 
home—but bona fide American animals. 
If the owners of the American team consent to run in 
England, we will gladly pay expenses, and in this case a 
well known sportsman and master of fox hounds, Sir Wat- 
kin Wynn, of Wynnstay, willlend the requisite ground and 
game. I should propose that a double match, brace 
against brace, should first be run off, then two single 
matches to follow. I would suggest as the English judge 
the name of Viscount Combermere, a well known arbitra- 
tor at field trials, and a renowned sportsman. Also, the 
13th and 14th of August next as the date for running off 
the match, and, if preferred, two brace from each country 
can take part in it. 
Your obedient servant, 
ees 
Belle, the champion pointer of England, isa liver and 
white bitch, pupped June 28th, 1870, by Lord Henry Ben- 
tick’s Ranger out of his dog Grouse, and is the champion 
field trial dog of his day. Winner with Judy (No. 3) of 
the Bangor Stakes for Pointer Braces, and of the County 
Stakes for all aged bitches at Vaynol Feld Trials, 1872; 
and with Grecian Bend (No. 4), of the Acton Reynold 
Stakes for Pointer Braces, and of the County Stakes for 
aged Pointer bitches, at the National Pointers and Setters 
Field Trials held at Combermere, near Shrewsbury, April 
29th, 1878. Also at the Grouse Field Trials, 1873. Second 
with Roman Fall (No. 5) in the Penllyn Stakes for 
Braces, August 13th 1873. She was first in the Rhiwlas 
Stakes for all aged Pointers and Setters, beating Mr. Mac- 
dona’s Ranger, Mr. Llewellen’s Countess and Flax, Mr. 
Slatter’s Rob Roy, and other celebrated performers. Ap- 
pended are the points she made in the Rhiwlas Stakes: 
VALUE OF POINTS WHEN PERFECT. 
R. Luoyp Prics. 










80 20 20 15 | 10 5 100 
POINTS MADE AT THE BALA FIELD TRIAL. 
oo ise] 
Name A Pace o Pointing = Drawing | 4 
of g | andstyle | & | (Style an ® | on Game | & 
Dog. @ of Hunting.| 5° | Steadiness Ae, or Roading.| © 
98 in) | 
Belle. | 274 20 | 20 | 15 | 10 5 974 


We call the attention of the following gentlemen to the 
above challenge: Ool. Trigg, of Glasgow, Kentucky; Mr. 
George Taylor, of Virginia; Dr. Myers, of Savannah; Mr. 
Stephen Whitney, of Morristown, New Jersey; Mr. R. 
Robinson, of Brooklyn; Mr. Eyrich, of Mississippi; Mr. 
