Year: 1877

until they are eight or nine weeks
old. At the age of seven OF eight
months, if there are hens about,
the trosble begins and continues,
if they are let alone until one
cock is master of the yard. 1zItvis
between the age Of seven and
twelve months that a game chick
en-, then known as a "stag,'' b
usually fought. After that=time
he is generally kept as a brood
cock. Sometimes, however, cocks
are fought until they are quite
old. 0nly a few days siucea cock
seven years old fought and w6a
in New York his sixth battle; com
ling out of the contest without q
scratch, but, according TO custom.
leaving his antagonist dead in, tiie
pit. - -. - I


When a cock is selected to fsht
a battle, he is taken from the
yard about four weeks before the
date fixed upon for the event, if
an old bird, or two weeks before
if a "stag.'' That much time ID
required to prepare them, the old
bird needing most work to get
him in good condition. The first
thing to be done in either case is
to reduce his fat and soften his
flesh. How that is done is a se-
cret with each trainer, which he


jealOusly guards. Sometimes as
much as ten ounces of superfu-
GUS flesh are taken off in twenty
four hours. Then the bird is fed
literally on dry cracked corn, not
less than two years old, and the
whites of eggs. Seven or ten
days before the fight be is flown
for exercise. The trainer stand
ing before table with a thickly
padded top, tosses the bird up and
lets him fall from a height of


three or four feet, at first say fifty
times day, but toward the last
200 times g day, halfin the morn
ing and half in the afternoon.


This hardens the birds muscles
and improves his mind. 1t is
deemed. a good sign if, during all
this process, the bird keeps up
continuous low, argumentative
sort of chatter, which trainers
call talking" but sometimes good
birds will remain perfectly silent,
enduring everything with bull dog
like stolidity. One day before
the fight the bird is allowed to
rest. On the day of the battle
he gets good breakfast, and, just
before fighting, one or two bits of


a sweet apple to moister his
throat, but no water or other food.


When about to be put in the
ring, bis wing feathers are cut SO
as to leave every quill sharp on
the end, with which a blow may
blind his antagonist; his long tail
feathers are also cut short and
square, the long hackle on his
neck is trimmed as close as posi-
BILE, and his gaffs are carefully ad


iusted. This is the incest part
of the business. A cock may be
injured himself if his gaffs are not
placed exactly right, and, if han
died improperly while they are
being put on, he is-liable to drive
one of the long needle-poiuted
steels into the arm or hand of his
master, an injury which is some-
times attended with very serious
results. About fifty per cent of


The cocks pitted are killed, either
in the fight or by the subsequent
effect of their severe injuries


Seldom, if ever, are any unfair
tricks attempted in cock fighting.
1t is upon record that q Spaniard
came this country some years ago
with very ingenious idea for
winning money at cock fighting.


lie had some very fine fowls, and
for brief time they were wonder
fully successful in their matches,