Forest and Stream, September 30, 1886

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEALERS.

Natural resources -- Conservation - Game

Editor Forest and Stream:

A number of the sportsmen of this State have united in a call for the formation of the "Virginia Field Sporting Association," and our meeting for organization will take place at Richmond, Va., Oct. 21, 1886. This is the time of the meeting of our State fair. We have secured a room on the fair grounds as headquarters for the sportsmen, and will have on hand a number of traps and birds for the amusement of the members. Much interest has been shown so far in our organization, and from present indications a large assemblage of sportsmen will be gathered here. The near approach of the shooting season will make them unusually keen for sport and anxious to provide themselves with sporting appliances. Our people are proverbially keen sportsmen and delighted with all that pertains thereto, especially the new inventions and conveniences, with which they have little opportunity to become familiar because they do not travel about much. It occurs to me that this is a splendid opportunity for some of the enterprising dealers in firearms and sportsmen's outfits to turn an honest penny by sending an attractive line of their goods to the State Fair. The Secretary, Mr. George W. Mayo, Richmond, Va., assures me he will reserve space for all such as wish to exhibit, and I will be glad to give further information to any who wish to inquire.

I feel sure that if the Chamberlin Cartridge Company, for example, would send down one of its machines and let it be operated on the grounds, it would sell enough of its cartridges to amply repay the outlay. So, too, any or all of the flying target companies could easily repay their outlay and make a profit.

Any enterprising dealer in sportsmen's wear, such as coats, leggins and cartridge bags, etc., will find it to his interest to send an attractive line of his goods here, for he will seldom strike a larger assemblage of sportsmen, and even if he does not sell much on the spot will introduce himself and his business. I would not suggest to dealers to send guns, or at any rate, not many; for as a rule men do not buy goods off-hand, and take some time for investigation and inquiry as to a purchase of that magnitude. But I feel certain this will be a first-rate chance for exhibitors of the lighter class of sportsmen's goods to introduce and sell their wares, and I hope they will not overlook it and give us an attractive display. Please give this a free insertion in your paper, and thereby help to make our first meeting attractive.

JOHN S. WISE.

RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 21, 1886.