—are the well-known articles constructed of thread, packthread, and small cord, made of every sort and size, for the various purposes of taking fish, fowl, and game of every denomination; from the GUDGEON to the SALMON, from the SPARROW to the WILD DUCK, and from the RABBIT to the RED DEER: all are destined to bow obedience to human ingenuity. Nets are to be obtained from the makers, of almost every possible description, under a variety of names, according to the distinct use for which each is employed. Of these there are the minnow-net, the casting-net, the landing-net, the draw-net, the drag-net, the bat-folding-net, the tunnel-net, the flue-net, the clap-net, the fowling-net, with a long list of inferiors; the insertion of which here is not likely to prove of the least general utility; each being practically known to those of the different SPORTING or poaching classes with whom they are principally in use.
NEWMARKET
—is the name of a small town, about sixty miles from the Metropolis, and ten from Cambridge. In itself it lays claim to little attention, but is rendered of much celebrity by the beautiful country by which it is surrounded, and the periodical RACING MEETINGS there established; constituting a kind of carnival to the SPORTING WORLD, that, to be properly conceived, must be seen; and to be enjoyed, must be understood. During the whole of each meeting it is a complete MART of BUSINESS in the midst of dissipation, forming a scene of profit and loss, pleasure and anxiety, exultation and despondency, beyond the power of the most fertile pen to depict. Nothing, perhaps, can more nearly equal the general confusion, the various passions, and variegated countenances, (as agitated by the pecuniary sensations of each,) than the contortions of disquietude, and gesticulations of mental misery, upon the Exchange, when some sudden political shock produces a dreadful and unexpected fall in the price of stocks.
Newmarket derived the origin of its brilliancy from King James the First, after whom its pleasures lay nearly dormant, till the gay court of Charles the Second renewed its sport with renovated splendour; having laid the foundation of the present regular meetings, and erected a building for the accommodation of the royal retinue, which is still retained in the possession of the Crown, as a princely residence whenever the Sovereign, or any part of the royal family may be disposed to honor the spot with their presence. The meetings consist of seven in every year, and are thus distinguished: the Craven Meeting; the First Spring Meeting; the Second Spring Meeting; the July Meeting; the First October Meeting; the Second October Meeting; and the Houghton Meeting; during the whole of which (the July and Houghton excepted) the sport generally continues for SIX days, beginning on the Monday, and terminating only with the week. The heath, as it is called, is a most extensive tract of land, and beautifully diversified in its prospects; it contains TWENTY different courses, of various lengths, and almost opposite descriptions, adapted to horses of every age and qualification; where, during the exercise hours in the summer season, may be seen from a hundred and fifty to two hundred of the finest and best bred horses in the kingdom, displaying their various powers in every direction. For farther particulars see "Horse Racing," "Jockey Club," and "King's Plate."
In addition to all which it may not prove inapplicable to observe, that a correct and faithful recital of every Racing Transaction at Newmarket, and every other place of SPORT, is published in the form of a newspaper, once a fortnight, during the whole of the season, from April to November, and is transmitted, free of postage, to individuals (who are SUBSCRIBERS) from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. At the end of each year, it is repeated in a handsome volume upon fine paper, with various additions, including the WINNERS of the different PLATES given by his Majesty; the particulars of the sweepstakes, and subscriptions entered into; and a list of STALLIONS of eminence intended to cover the year ensuing. This most respectable and authentic convenience to the sporting part of the world, is published under the title of "The Racing Calendar," at a subscription of only One Guinea per annum, by Messrs. E. and J. Weatherby, No. 7, Oxendon-Street, near the Haymarket. The latter of whom has likewise accommodated the public with a "General Stud Book," containing the pedigree of almost every HORSE, MARE, and GELDING, of note, that has appeared on the TURF for the last fifty years and upwards; together with some account of the foreign HORSES and MARES from whence is derived the present breed of RACERS in Great Britain and Ireland. This is a most elaborate, useful, and entertaining production, well worthy the attention of every enlightened sportsman in the kingdom.
NICKING
—was formerly considered an OPERATION of much MAGNITUDE, and not without its proportion of danger; and then performed only by such as were considered eminent in the PRACTICE, and expert in the ART. It is now, however, a matter of so little consequence, that anatomical knowledge is not thought at all necessary to the execution; it being a well-known fact, that almost every DEALER (or even his principal servant) is an operator from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. The intent of NICKING is to prevent (by a counteracting power) a horse from depressing his TAIL, and flicking it between his hind quarters; giving him all the appearance of perpetual fear, and constitutional dejection. A horse of this description is held in very trifling estimation, and purchasers are not readily to be found till this operation has been gone through, and the good or bad set of the TAIL ascertained, upon the ornamental part of which, both the figure and proportional value of the subject greatly depend.
This operation, as it was formerly performed, indeed as it is now by common FARRIERS and inexperienced GROOMS, appears one of the most cruel and severe that could possibly originate in the human mind; though in the hands of those well acquainted with the STRUCTURE of the PARTS, having a quick eye, and steady execution, it is a matter so superficial, and attended with so little pain or difficulty, that it does not seem entitled to even serious consideration. In order that the process, and proper use of NICKING, may be the better comprehended by the younger branches of the SPORTING WORLD who have never seen it performed, it becomes directly applicable to observe, that there are in every limb of either the human or brute creation, two sets of muscles, acting in a contrary direction to the other. The office of one is to EXPAND; the other, to CONTRACT: the former are technically termed the EXTENSOR; the latter, the FLEXOR muscles: thus, then, it is, that the extensors possess the power of extending or straightening the limb; the flexors, of relaxing and completely bending it. Of these two sets, the flexors have the greater predominance, and can always overcome the resisting property of their opposites; but when, by an effort of the will, the extensors are brought into forcible action, then overcoming the little resistence that is either made or felt: of this force in the flexor muscles, ample proof may be obtained, by endeavouring to raise the TAIL of an unnicked horse against his will.
The extensor muscles, of course, passing in a longitudinal direction on each side the superior part of the tail, from the spinal bone to the extremity, retains the power of raising the tail at pleasure; the flexors, running in a similar line at the inferior, or lower part, there possess a greater power of counteraction, and render the operation the more necessary, as, by diminishing the power of one, proportional strength is added to the other. Previous to the present expert and easy mode of operation, it was common to see the incisions (or nicks) the breadth of a very large finger, and a small one might be lodged in the cavity. These enormous chasms were made under an expectation of more readily reaching the flexor muscle, which it was the intention to discover and divide; but which, in most cases, had been previously divided, and receded in the first efforts; and sometimes, from the unnecessary destruction of parts, and profuse bleeding, produced alarm, followed by inflammation, frequently danger, and sometimes DEATH. This, however, is, as it ought to be, very much reformed, and not without a substantial reason, when it may be observed, that, upon raising the tail of a horse in its natural state, the two flexor muscles may be clearly seen, and distinctly felt, one on each side the CENTRICAL bone, in common termed the DOCK, laying in a midway direction, between the bone and the edge of the tail where the hair begins. In performing this operation in a superior and masterly manner, the horse having been previously secured, (with hobbles and side-lines,) the tail is to be firmly grasped with the left hand, and turned up with considerable force towards the rump, when a superficial incision is to be made with a crooked pointed knife, directly over the seat of the flexor, which will be instantly perceived of a strong elastic texture, ready for separation by the knife, steadily held for that purpose; the tail being exceedingly firm in hand, by which the separated tendon will have the less power to recede. Immediately after the separation, the lower extremity having lost its elastic support, will be seen to hang full half an inch from the first incision; when a second, a third, and even a fourth, if necessary, is to be made in the same way on each side the tail; it not being a matter at all requisite, that the skin in the middle, passing over the bone, should be divided, or that the wounds on each side should communicate with each other. The incisions being completed, the ends of the separated muscles should be secured with a pair of FORCEPS, or a curved NEEDLE, and when a little drawn out by moderate force, should then be taken off with a pair of scissars, or a knife, as close as they can be conveniently come at. It is a custom with some, to separate the tendon of each incision before they proceed to make another, and this seems to be the most rational and expeditious mode of the two.
In this method of performing the operation, there is a very trifling loss of blood, which is almost immediately suppressed by a pledget of tow, previously prepared, and slightly impregnated with any of the simple styptics, or Friar's Balsam, incorporated with a little Balsam of Peru. Custom has established a rule, which it will most probably be very difficult to affect by any verbal or literary expostulation, which is the affixing an immoderate weight to the tail, to prevent a reunion of the divided tendons, by the continued separation of parts: this, it must be remembered, is the less likely to happen, when one of the divided extremities has considerably receded, and the other is totally taken away. In respect to the precise distances at which the incisions are to be made, that depends upon no fixed rule whatever, but must be regulated by the thick and fleshy formation of the tail, and the height it is required to be carried. The HIGHER it is to be raised, the nearer the first incision is to be made to the BASE, observing to let the NICKS decline gradually the nearer they come to the point of the tail; being particularly careful, that the last is not of equal depth and magnitude with the two nearest the quarters; if so, the subject may be expected to carry it with a curve at the extremity, which will add none to the FIGURE or FASHION of the horse.