The morning call., 1892-09-18
COURsING.
What Is Required to Make Enclosed
Coursing Popular.

CoursiDg Popular.
Inclosed coursing. when properly con-
Quoted and managed, Is better sport than
can be had on the open country, where hares
have many advantages over their pursuers.
The first coursing demesne introduced to
the patrons of the leash of this State was
situated within a few miles of Newark
under the management Of the well-known
coursng enthusiast. John Dugan.
For a few seasons coursing fl6urished,
and, indeed, there were many races run
within the inclosure which could not be
equaed on the great plains Of Merced Ia any
manner pertaining TO the sport.
Gradually, however. the manager lost In
terest IN the enterprise, owing TO a loss of
hares which escaped through partitions in
the fences, never 10 return.
Then again, the heavy rains formed lakes
of water IN the breeding paddock, which
caused the death of several little short
tails that were cut off from shelter
The importation Of game from Merced
County cost considerable money, and event.
ually becoming discouraged with the under
taking. Mr.. Dugan gave up the experiment
as being bad job and the park fell into
other hands.
Time and again enterprtsing sportsmen
have attempted TO resurIect the sport, but,
as previously stated, the conditions and ar
raDgements OF the demesne were OF such
kind as to preclude any possibility of sue
cess from financial point Of view.
The next attempt at inclosed coursing
was made by T. F. CaDayaD, an euterpris-
Ing resident of Ocean View, who saw at
glance that the sport could be made popular
and remunerative 10 the speculator, pro-
vided proier precautions would be taken
against the wholesale destruction of the
little animals in WAYS already mentioned
Canavan leased beautiful piece of ground
near Ocean View with a sward that is at all
seasons as soft as velvet carpet At
tached to this is the breeding paddock, situ-
ated on mound overlooking the demesne
used for racing purposes.
The paddock Is sheltered from the heavy
winds and ocean foGs by clusters of trees
which surround it on all sides. Then again
the hares find protection from the heavy
winter rains by hiding under the large
powders and rocks that ara within the
iDclosure. lG fact better site for a cours-
ing demesne Gould not be selected In this
country
When first established the manager had
made mistake by running off the hares
before they had become acclimated and ac-
quainted with the running ground, and also
the escapes leading from the latter to the
| paddock.
Experience soon taught him how to act,
| and the result OF many experiments has
| proven beyond the remotest expectations
OF all lovers Of the leash that inclosed
coursing, properly conducted, is superior to
| coursing In the open.
There is at present only one serious
! drawback to the sport which may event
ually knock coursing on the head unless
| immediate action be taken to remedy the
| defect
The requirement is a coursing judge-a
man who thoroughly understands the busi-
ness and is honest in his convictions.
Such man is, no doubt, hard to procure :;
but II the manager of the park would allow
monthly salary TO good man, it Is quite
| possible that he could be found among the
lew expert judges whose services cannot
be bad for the pleasure" that Is attached
to the sport of judging.
| A good Judge is, in fact more important
! TO coursing men than good hare; there
| fore it will be TO the interest Of the man
ager Of Newark Park to procure an official
| as soon as possible.
The park, as previously stated, is In good
condition at all times of the year for cours-
| ing; and the hares OF the present day are
thoroughly qualified in every particular to
give the pick of the running kennel as
good II not better race than has ever been
witnessed on the plains of Merced.