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Hunter's Corner

Continued on page 6 fair, Over one ”ousand delegates were in attendance. some 400 were Canadian representatives including 25 from the Maritime Provinces. A delegate from Mexico was also present. It was an eye opener to learn of the pressing and varied problems confronted by our sister . provinces of Canada and the States to the south of us. We are begin- ning to realize that many of our problems interlock and are to be solved only by co-operation by all the provinces and States concern-

you

Each Province and State also have ” ” ' problems and L 4 'es the remedy. if one can be found. than to be worked out by them- -selves. I talked to a biologist from -uPennsylvania. The following is a tgcondensatlon in brief of what he :1 told me: "We should have acted , on our deer problem 15 years ago without waiting for public opinion to fall in line with our suggested remedy to open the season on does as well as bucks. We are too late Xitarting. The deer ate themselves out of house and home and we time lost our position as one of the top deer states. Instead of an annual kill of one hundred and ten thousand we have dropped to a yearly take of forty thousand and iielll never recover it in my life- time."

It was quite natural to inquire wliy this should be the penalty of delayed action. The explanation was quite simple. The deer had become so numerous they had con- sumed 90 per cent of the young growth and saplings on their range and had stripped the taller growth of branches as far up as they could rcach . approximately 5 feet. Now there are thousands of acres of Park-like woodlands . . . bare underfoot, but with a coverage of branches overhead that acts as a sun shade so effectively that young growth has no chance to get started. No food . . . no deer.

To quote his own words: ”This may have been a blessing in dis- guise as an ideal wild turkey range has created. Most and other food that the trees supply is readily picked up on the practically bare ground and the birds may forage in freedom of movement. Turkey's are present in thousands; bands of 40 and 50 are common sights. and the ::ill last season topped one hundred thousand." He went on to explain that it will be years be- fore sivii range will be ready for luinberiiig and pulp and after the lumbermen move out the deer will move in. Given suitable food and range deer multiply swiftly. He tiilti me they were not stingy with their turkey eggs if P. E. i. wish- ed to give them. a.try.

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Nature moves in a mysterious way at times and often an act. of man may have extremely bene- fii-ial results. In other instances. our introduced skunk and i for examples have thrown a siz- able monkey wrench into Nature's original plans for this Province. Both ap i are inclined to get out of hand in rich agricultural areas with disastrous result in hnth the wildlife and farming l'l".EIIIl1. In the western provinces. Manitoba. Saskatchewan, and Al- hprta. myriad flocks of mallards have decided they must have a diet high in proteins and what could he better than wheat. barley and oats. The sad part of it is the farmer has to foot the bill and is squawking louder than the ducks. U. S. wildlife men at the Conf- erence complained. in a joking way of course, that our Canadian ducks have taught their local ducks the some bad habit and the 'Farmer's Lament' is now heard in the States to the south.

0 C O

The crying need of water was stressed by all. particularly the riclegates from the United States. water levels are dropping at I an alarming rate. The suggested rem- edy is storing the water at its source by the construction of dams and reservoirs. Leaving it to the hi-aver is not good enough in this age of change and advancement.

It was very evident at the series of wildlife conferences in Montreal that 'Co-operation'. a word used quite glibly up until four or five years ago but with no thought of doing anything about it. is now in rrality being put into effect. The aimosphere in the sessions just concluded ' volumes for the future welfare of our wildlife and also for us humans lucky enough to be living on this great North American Continent.

Praises Drama

VANCOUVER. (CPl - Adjudi-

ralor Andre Van Gysengham Thiirsday night termed as "a most sensitive piece of work” the Vaga- bond Players' presentation of fFlicht into Egypt." third entry in the British Columbia region- at trials of the Domlnon drama festival, .The adjudicator said the hand- Ilniz of the George Taborl drama was "an example of really care- hll work.” .

Population of Venesuela in 1064 "3 5.004.000. an increase of 12 Per cent from 1000.

Continued on page 0 t

Back Stretch '

stables and other appointments are modern and excellent. Levi 1iarner's and some of the other large stables winter at Blooms- burg and some of the biggest colt stakes in the cast are raced at Bloonisburg Fair every year. Don will be in charge of ten head which he expects to race at Sar- atoga. N. Y. Here are some of the horses that he will race . . .Janie KEY. a 4-year-old trotter by Bal- kan Hanover. that took a record of 2.13 last season; Bold Dean. a 3-year-old by Dean Hanover 1.- 5i3ln: Pasnor. I 9-year-old by Nor- ris i' nover 2.0253; Venus, a 3- year-old by Hoot Mon 2.00: Per- fect Hanover 3. 2.09. a 4-year-old Dacer by Nibble Hanover l.58Va: Jussernaut 4. 2.0595, a 7-year-old trotter by Bombs Away 2.0434; Hoot's sister. a 2-year-old trotter by H00t.Mon 2..00.and three others. 0

Don's, training and driving abil- ities will receive full scope with the above evcellently bred trotters and pacers. A modest fortune is represented in the prices paid at auction for them or even the stal- lion fees for their sires. Friends here who - have watched his achievements in the past three seasons will feel confident. we are ll-Ire. that Don will do well with this material. We may mention that this stable is noted for the high-class equipment such as harness. sulkies. coolers, ctc., provided for the race horses. and capable grooms to look after them. In a telephone conversion with his parents. Don stated that he liked his new employers very much and that they have done everything they could to make him feel com- fortable and at home in his new surroundings. We are always proud to see Maritime drivers gaining new honors in their chosen calling and we can point with pride to many of them. We have always congratulated them in this column when their ability was recognized and it is a pleasuru in- deed to do the same for Don.

C O O

Saratoga Raceway. Saratoga Springs. N. Y.. where Don plans to race. is one of the most beauti- ful and finest equipped harness tracks in the United States. It was there last September. that J. Henry Dewitt won with his two pac- ers. and in conversation with the writer he spoke of the fine recept- ion he received and the pleasure it was to race there. Prominent among the shareholders is Frank L. Wiswall. Honorary Secretary of the United States Trotting Associ- ation. and one of the largest shareholders is E. Roland Har- riman, whose Arden Hcynestead stable is so well known.

0 O 8

Stanley Dancer. one of the top drivers in America. has a- new method of getting his horses ac- customed to the starting gat. At the New Efypt. N. J. track Dancer has 48. horses prepping for the word. and he uses an improvised gate made of bedsprings and an angle iron mounted on a pick up truck. The result is a contrivance similar to the starting gate and we understand that it. in giving surprisingly good results. A pict- ure of the horses scoring behind it is shown in the Sunday issue of the New York.Tirnes. March lath.

' O C

And here's a letter from Eddie Ryan from Ontario, who was one of our best for farming helpers from 1922 until he went to World War 2 in 1941.. . "No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me. There is a fellow here in Acton who is very anxious to know the breeding of a horse named Mighty Sun. I think your friend Joe O'Brien drove him. I think this fellow knows his horses bet- ter than he knows his geography as when I told him who and where I would write to find out. he said. 'Where is that. in the West Ind- ies?' If you havenlt got this in- formation at hand. Colonel. donlt go to any trouble about it as it is not that important. If you will just put it in the Back Stretch I will get it for him. as Buck Davey sends me The Guardian and that is the first thing I read. 1 was sorry to hear of the death of Johnny Williams. I knew him quite well. Hoping you are in good health and with best regards to yourself and Mr. McLure." . . . Thanks. Eddie. we are awfully glad to hear from you and so will many of your friends here. Mighty Sun l.589t is an 8-year-old - stal- lion by Volomite 2.0384 and his dam is Margaret Castleton l.59Vi. Margarei was given her record by the daughter of the owner of Wai- nut Hall Farm. His total winnings are 168343.30 and he is owned by the S. A. Camp Stable of Shatter. California. and was driven by Joe O'Brien.

I O O-

we mentioned in this column recently the " y exploits of Alvin Brewer of Houlton. Mains. who writes: "I thought it was about time I wrote to thank you for the paper. We had a few of those din- ners at the barn this winter and somehow I ot elected to do the cooking. We . they seemed to en-

joy than and I didn't kill anyone We have quite a few horses here

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and a lot of snow. 1 have six head on the go at present. three of them are by Abner T. Clegg 2.04lh. namely, Mr. McGee 2.07. one of the best race horses anyone could wish to own. and we have a 3- year-old brother to him called Prince Edward, that acts real good right now. These two are owned by E. C. Wellington of Monticello. I have also a 4-year- old by Clegg called Lakeside Mity Linn. whose dam is Linn Mite by Volomite 2.0892. formerly owned in your Province. She got a record of 2.11 at Woodbine Raceway last year and is owned by A. 3. Mc- Gee. Augusta. Another good lJl'u.;- pect is Butternut Jake. a 4-year- old that took a record last year of 2.19. Mr. McGee and Harry Bass are the owner:. . .

"There is also a real prospect in a 2-year-old by The Abbot out of a mare by Protector. that has been elghts in 22 seconds hooked to sleigh. and the last member of our string is Piper's Dream by Peter Piper. dam, Calumet Em- erald. Bob Ryan is jogging six head. Colonel Dan 2.0652, Lusty's Gaiety Girl 2.1095 and four green horses. and Bob Simonson has four head. They are Tab Direct 2.13. a very good colt last year. two 2-year-olds and Arnold C. Ralph Siackpole has five head. E. C. Wellington has Pruice Edward staked in the 35,000 Joliity Stake which will he raced in Truro. I hope he is good enough so that 1 can get down that way. I would like to know how fast they have been racing that stake other years?" To the best of our know- ledge this is the first 35.000 colt stake ever raced in the Maritimes and it would be difficult therefore to give comparison. but you might get a line on the possibilities of the S-year-olds in the Maritimes by the fact that Bruce's Sister thy Abner T. Ciegg) was the fastest of that age. Maritime bred. in 1954-time 2.13'n's at Charlotte- town. and Bell Banks(3) won in 2.1358 at Moncton, Sept. tl, 1954. We don't want to scare you away, but Jerry's Nightmare as a 3- year-old went in 2.09 at Charlotte- town in 1953. The above are all Maritime bred. However, the stake might be won this year in 2.15 or slower. the above were ex- ceptional perfornlances.

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One of the great pacers of the long ago. Kinney Direct. is living in retirement on a pleasant farm near Liberty. Kansas. Twenty- five years ago he was driven to his record at Lexington. Ky. 5891- 24. 1930. by Robert Parker. Time. 1.59. He raced for several years throughout the United

Was retired in 1935. He is in ex- cellent health. and enjoys wan- dering over. his 20-acre pasture. At night he is fed specially ground food of corn. oats. barley, mol- asses and whole wheat oil meal and this diet has kept him in beautiful condition, looking many years younger than his real age. The days he looks forward to are those when his owner. Mrs. J. B. Reynolds, drives out from her home in Kansas City to visit him. She is the only one who ever gives him -sugar and he knows her and remembers her from visit to visit. and the min- ute his eyes light on her he comes amb over for his treat. He was hr in Saskatchewan and. like other great pacers that dominated the 1930's. was by Merry Direct p. 2.06224. dam, Del Kinney by Lous Kinney.

He was range raised and ran about freely over it until his 4- year-old form when he was train- ed liilhtly. As a 5-year-old he was a sensation. winning 15 of 16 races and 43 beats. At Mil- waukee. iVis.. he took a mark of 2.02Va. in 1936 he cut it to 2.0111. and in 1037 reduced it to 2.00'l4. It was at Lexington. as mention- ed previously. that he beat 2.00. His all time record is 92 beats won with earnings of 325.0003

sums of money over Canadian tracks. It was when he had reach- ed his top form that he was sold to J. B. Reynolds of Kansas. Mr. Reynolds died in 1937 and Kinney Direct was retired from racing and has enjoyed that re- tirement as mentioned above, ever since.

Quebec City Raceway was the scene of some fast miles in 1954. A total of ten pacerif and five trotters stepped miles in 2.07 or better. Twenty-one miles were paced and 9 trotted. H. B. Chief 1.58M. a former world's cham- pion gelding in a race. topped them all by pacing ten miles in 2.07 or better. seven of them bet- tr than 2.00. Maritime pacers S elter 2.0646. owned by Bob Brown. Woodstock. N.B., paced in 2.06. and Bay State Pat own- ed by Andrew Perry. Summer- side. P.E.I.. paced in 2.06!-i. A- mong the trotters that went heats better than 2.07 were Baron Key 2.059i. with three. Vic Song 2. 2.0396 with two. Brewer's Gal- lon 2.00ii with two. Bonnie”:

States and Western Canada and U

Most of his races were for small '

Comet 2.0696 with one, Maine Song 2.05 with one.

The writer attended a meeting of the Directors of the United States Trotting Association held at the Angebilt Hotel. Orlando. Florida, last week-end and early this week. Other Maritime Dir- ectors present were F. C. Mc- Curdy. Truro. and J. Henry De- Witt of Woodstock. also all the other Directors from the various districts of the United States with the exception of Ben E. Owen of Omaha, Nebraska. and E. A. Duensing of Jefferson City. Missouri. It was the first time in many years that they had not been present and they Were great- ly missed. Among the new Dir- ectors were Joe O'Brien. Shaf- ter, Calif.. one of the three which comprises in addition to Cali- fornia. nine other states. and William R. Haughton of Massape- qua. N.Y.. who represents Dis- trict 9. New York State. which has the largest membership 0 any district. Ohio coming 4 in that respect. It was a pleasure to see Joe and Mrs. O'Brien and find them both looking so well after the strenuous racing sea- son with its many cares and worries. They had arrived by plane and left immediately after the meeting to drive in races at Santa Anita. where the annual spring meeting is on.

Joe and Billy Haughton were on the committee reviewing rules relating to drivers and that com- mittee brought in quite a num- ber of recommendations which passed. One of them is that a driver will have to engage in a certain number of races before he can be given a full license. Prior to that he will have a pro- visional one. There were so many minor changes in the rules that it was decided to issue a new rule book. which is now in pre- paration and will be sent to all members for 1955. All the meet- ings were presided over by the President. L. B. Sheppard, who is a man of vast interests which include the manufacture of shoes and their distribution through hundreds of stores in the United States. the Hanover Shoe Farms, with many of the finest stallions in the world and the greatest band of brood mares. real estate properties and great investments. but he is the most approachable man you could find anywhere and is an ideal president for the U. 8. T. A. .

Another Director is Elbridge T. Gerry of Old Westbury. L.l. He is a nephew of E. Roland Har- riman. Hon. Chairman of the

. S. T. A. and W. Averill Har- riman. Governor of New Ynrk State. We asked him about his uncle E. Roland. who captured our imagination many years ago. one reason being that we had read so much about his father. E. H. Harriman. who became a railroad empire king. founding the Union Pacific. He was also a great horse lover.I being the owner of the pacing champion John R. Gentry 2.0194 and other star pacers of the 1090's. The first meeting we met Mr. E. Ro- land that was in 1938 when the U. S. T. A. was being formed and we looked around the table trying to see if we could recog- nize him. We could not so we asked a friend seated next to us and he motioned to a hand- some man who was very modest- ly dressed and smoking a pipe. He is probably worth a billion. Nephew Elbridge. Gerry was also modestly dressed and smoking a pipe and when we told him about the other episode in 1938 he laughed heartily. In passing we may say that at the matinee races which were held for our entertainment at the Orlando track. Mr. Gerry drove two win- ners and made a masterly job of it. competln against profes- sionals like Bil Haughton and others.

One thing that always im- presses me about these meetings is the very fair viewpoint taken by all the Directors who repre- sent such an enormous extent of territory. The Maritimes are given special leeway where mat- ters come up that could be pre- judical to them. Just an instance

this-where a motion was made by Mr. Emmett Tassi of California. that the presiding judge and two other judges must be members of the U. S. T. A. This would mean a hardship to us in the Maritimes. so we were not included in that regu- lation. An important rule adopt- ed by the Board will limit the size of starting fields on half- mile tracks to eight. and to ten on mile tracks.

Referring again to the harness racing, the afternoon was a beau- tiful one and there was a large crowd of spectators. The fastest heat paced was 2.11iti. Of course there was no free-for-allers in- cluded in the classes but the time was good for the early season

and the class of horses that com-

Savage Harbor

.!Mlss Francis Coffin. nurse- in-training at the Prince Edward island Hospital. is enjoying a pleasant holiday at Savage Har- bour where she is the guest of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. -Wil- fred Coffin.

Mr. John Pigot of Savage Har- bour was a week-end visitor to Georgetown where he was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. B. McConnell. '

Miss Olive Pennick of Summer- side was a week-end visitor to Savage Harbour where he was the guest of her uncle and aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Russel Gunn.

Mrs. Leslie Douglas of Alber- ton accompanied by her two children is enjoying a pleasant holiday at Mt. Stewart. where they are the guests of Mrs. Doug- las' parents. Mr. and Mrs. Mer- ton Jardine.

Miss Edna Atkins. R.N.. of the staff of the Provincial Sanatoriuu. Charlottetown was a recent visi- tor to Mt. Stewart where she was the guest of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. James Atkins.