C. A. S., New Haven, Conn.—Excellent shooting can be obtained at Barnegat, Delaware and Chesapeake bays; for the last place Havre de Grace is the usual starting-point. At Crisfield, Md., near the swamps of the Pocomoke, geese and different kinds of ducks are abundant. The trip, however, if you procured boat, sink-box, etc., at the more popular places, would prove expensive. Good Ground, Long Island, on the Great South Bay, is highly recommended, and, being off the usual line of travel, should afford satisfactory shooting. We should hardly advise you to go farther north at this time of year; and on the Maine coast the birds are fishy to the taste. You could, however, get some sport with the seals—with a rifle, for they are too shy for a shotgun. At this time of year we would suggest Camden as a starting-point, where you can obtain outfit and guides at a reasonable figure, while in the back country you could get some woodcock and partridges. On the whole, our advice would be to try Long Island or Barnegat Bay.
John R. S., Indianapolis.—Although trotting as a sport has not assumed any large dimensions in England, some English stock is still imported to gain fresh blood. Mr. Fairfax, of Virginia, recently purchased the stallion Matchless for 1,000 guineas from Mr. Brough, of Londesborough Wold, Yorkshire. Trotting is, however, making some headway on the other side, and a gentleman is at present laying out a half-mile track at Aintree, near Liverpool, where it is proposed to hold a meeting this year.
H. B. P., Quebec.—(1) The Northwestern Amateur Rowing Association has its headquarters at Detroit, Michigan. It was organized in October, 1868, and is composed of some 47 clubs. (2) The laws in regard to “water” read as follows:
(a) A boat’s own water is its straight course, parallel with those of the other competing boats, from the station assigned to it at the start to the finish.
(b) Each boat shall keep its own water throughout the race, and any boat departing from its own water will do so at its peril.
(c) The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat’s own water and proper course during the race.
1158 Springfield, Mass.—(1) Road-books are issued by Connecticut and Massachusetts. For former, write to Weed Sewing Machine Company, Hartford, Conn.; for latter, to H. W. Hayes, 103 State Street, Boston, Mass. (2) The States that publish road-books can make their own regulations as regards selling them to persons not members of the League. All the information and statistics are furnished by members to the compilers free, and the idea of not selling the book to outsiders is to retain the benefits afforded by the organization for members only. It is thought by some that this will increase the membership. New York State sells the road-book to outsiders for $1.50, and to League members for $1.00.
Whist-Player, Yonkers.—The best thing we have seen in the line of card-tables, are those made by Keeler & Co., Washington Street, Boston. The folding pattern is especially commendable.
Paterfamilias, Springfield, Mass.—You will find that the repeating air-gun made by H. H. Kiffe, 318 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, is the very thing for your boy.
J. E. M., Lynchburg, Va.—Chapped heels arise from exposure to wet and cold, or from imperfect drying of the legs after washing. You will find white lead or zinc ointment beneficial.