UNIVER STORAGB ITEM ^.^OCBSSlNli-CNfc U.B.C. LIBRARY THE LIBRARY m n THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA REVISED EDITION OF McGALL'S RULE'S H i- '■••;{' >vSp! OF THE COCK PIT f Price 25 Cents Printed and for Sale by GRIT AND STEEL, Gaffney, S. C. i i U.B.C. Library McGAEy^S^iJLESl S F ^'03 . M 2. !] MATCHlNqi COCKS FOR MAINS /)(^,*j\ In order to ^s^(J>a|i6J^ '"] tihfjr r^"'- - '■' / vate cock hous^Sy -CQciM»- .^ftidkt.J3e- p^ared-''-^-^*^' ** ^-^ in coops in rotation from bottom to top weight, and the weight of each cock, even to a fractional part of an ounce should be plainly marked on each coop just prior to the commencement of the main. Coops should be numbered in rotation in which each cock of each party is placed, and each cock should be shown by the number which is marked on the coop. Correct tested scales weighing within a quarter of an ounce, and all recording weights alike should be used by the judge, and both parties. The judge should always weigh each and every cock at actual weight, even to a fractional part of an ounce. Actual weight is where the beam on the scales balances without touching upper or lower rest. All cocks of equal weight are matched, then those with difference in weight, commencing with the smallest dif- ference first, and afterwards those within two ounces. After all the matches in main are made, each party or a friend of each party shall draw off from this match-list, a copy match-list written in Papre one ink, or - witll . indelible pencil, giving the exact 'weight* ^nd number of each and every pair of cocks that are matched and are to be fought in the main. Then each party shall sign in ink, or with indelible pencil, his name on his own match-list, which shall be exchanged then and there between the parties, viz: A will hand to B his prepared match-list, and B will hand to A his prepared match-list. The judge shall be provided with an exact copy of each of these two match-lists, and all in- terested shall examine and see and agree on the correctness of these three match- lists, and by which the cocks shall be or- dered to the pit for exhibition and for battle. When the judge, and both parties, and friends, are ready to match cocks in main, the scales should be located at a conven- ient place agreed upon by both parties. The judge shall then order both parties fighting the main, to produce their cocks, number one (1) and which shall be shown together, and weighed immediately one after the other, and the weights and de- scriptions of both these cocks will be taken at this time. After finishing with first pair of cocks, the judge will continue to proceed in weighing, and in taking de- scriptions of all cocks to be shown in main in like manner in numbered rota- Pa *re two tion to the end. This gives no possible advantage to either side, as cocks are shown, weighed, and descriptions taken •together in pairs from number one (1) cock, to number twenty-one (21) cock, or whatever number of fowl are to be shown in main. Should the cock-houses be too far apart for the convenience of the parties fighting the main to show and weigh cocks together in pairs, then by the toss of a coin, it shall be agreed which side shall show, weigh, and have descrip- tions of his cocks taken first. The cocker who shows first, has the privilege to se- lect a representative to go to the oppon- ent's cock house, with the opponent's rep- resentative, and remain there with all the cocks that the opponent will have to show in main pointed out to him, and the cocks to remain in his sight until judge and parties have finished with first side's cocks, and have appeared and are in cock house of second opponent to finish their work of weighing, describing and matching cocks. It shall be a matter of agreement after cocks are weighed and matched, whether they shall be fought by description lists alone, or whether they shall both answer description lists, and be re-weighed at pit- side, just prior to being heeled. The heel- ing of cocks shall always be done at thi' pit-side, and Rule 12 invoked before cocks Page three are heeled. A toss of coin will also decide v/hether the main shall commence with bottom or top weight. The fighting shall always start from either bottom or top weights of each match-list, and the cocks shall be fought in rotation as regards up- ward or downward weights, to the end of main. The judge shall order the cocks to the pit, and call out, viz: First battle, A. No. 1: weight, 4.10 — ^B. No. 1; weight, 4.10. Second battle: A. No. 2; weight, 4.O2V2—B. No. 2; weight 4.031^. Third battle: A. No. 3; weight, 4. 14i^— B. No. 3; weight, 5.001/4. Fourth battle: A. No. 4; weight, 5.00% — B. No. 4, weight, 5.01. And so on to the end. Rule 1. — A single judge can be decided upon, or each party can appoint a judge and together agree upon a referee. Rule 2. — The judge shall stop the prog- ress of any fight that shows clearly is be- ing fraudulently conducted, and declare all bets off. Rule 3. — Where there is not an estab- lished pit, then the parties shall agree upon size of pit-ring to be used in fight- ing the main. Rule 4. — The iproper position of the judge directing the fighting, is in the pit- ring alone with the pitters. Rule 5. — Cocks at all times shall be fought in full feather. No head, hackle, Page four or body feathers shall be cut. Only long flowing tail feathers, and wing feathers may be cut. Cocks can be fought with ragged hackles and feathers, not purpose- ly made so. Rule 6. — Cutting off a gaff off a broken leg, or a comb or gills, or a broken wing, or feathers off a broken wing of a cock during battle is forbidden. Rule 7. — When pitters enter the pit with their cocks, and at all pittings, the judge shall command, "Get Ready," — ^then wait as near five seconds as possible and then command, "Pit." Pitters must step back quickly after pitting the cocks, and must stand 6 feet from their cocks during the fighting at all times. A pitter shall not advance or walk around his cocks until a blow has passed. If the cocks in battle, crowd and advance on a pitter's required distance of six feet from the cocks, then the pitter shall promptly step back to re- quired distance of six feet. Cocks must be pitted on their score marks, and at all times directly opposite each other. Rule 8. — It shall be definitely stated that top and bottom weight cockc in mains shall not weigh a fractional part of an ounce above the weights stipulated in the articles of agreement. Rule 9. — In case an even number of cocks are matched for a main, the pair Page five next above (in weight) the ibottom weighty shall be discarded, and not fought unless one battle in the main is a draw, then this discarded pair shall be next pair to fight. Rule 10. — The time between the termi- nation of one battle, and the beginning of another battle in mains, should be about fifteen (15) minutes. Cockers shall not purposely delay the fighting. Rule 11. — If pitter shall forfeit the fight by acting contrary to the rules, after the fight has commenced, then by-bets are also forfeited. Rule 12. — ^Before cocks are heeled for battle, the judge shall order both pitters to step into the pit and hold their cocks in view of the spectators for a few mo- ments; thereby giving every one a chance to see the cocks, and time to place their bets on their choice while cocks are be- ing heeled. Rule 13. — ^^The judge should be extreme- ly careful in rendering a decision on a foul. Unintentional violation of the rules may be overlooked if same has not af- fected th» final result. Rule 14. — All heels that are round from the socket to the point are fair. A broken gaff cannot be replaced during a fight. Rule 15. — Pitters will be allowed to sponge cocks'heads and legs, or moisten P- six I their throats with water or saliva between pittings. Nothing but plain water shall be used, and both pitters shall use water from the same bucket, if any objection is made to separate bottles, cans, or buck- ets. A pitter can be assisted by friends on the outside of pit-ring between pit- tings, in getting water, and handing sponge to pitter, and general useful as- sistance, but pitters shall do their own nursing and fanning of cocks. Outsiders shall not assist in fanning or enter pit unless called upon to assist in catching a cock. Rule 16. — It is not permissible to use anything on the cocks' feathers before or after being brought into the pit. A pitter can clean gaffs, sling blood, take dirt or feathers out of a cock's mouth, or from around his head between pittings. Rule 17. — In hack fighting, if an at- tempt is made to change a cock after a match is made, or an exchange is made,, and not detected until the fight is in progress, or over, the offending party for- feits the fight. Rule 18. — Clucking to cocks, blowing, or any noise made for the purpose of waking a cock up by attracting his at- tention, shall not be allowed. Rule 19. — Cocks weighing within two ounces of each other are matched. Cocks Page seven weighing over 6.06 are shakes and match at catch weights. Blinkers and stags are allowed four ounces by a perfect cock. Blinkers and stags match at equal weights, give and take two ounces. Rule 20. — In pitting cocks on score marks six feet apart, pitters are not re- quired to pit with one hand under the