Fred Hyndman received a letter in late November from C. B. Copp of the Port Elgin, N. B. Gun Club, indicating that they were about to form a Maritime Provinces Trapshooting Association, involving Halifax (who had recently amalgamated with Dartmouth), Pictou, Amherst, Port Elgin, and Saint John...and would the Charlottetown Club be interested in joining? An initial meeting was being lined up for Amherst during the Maritime Fat Stock show the first week in December. A letter was returned by President Hyndman advising he would call a meeting to discuss the matter. His own opinion was that, since the Newstead Gun Club season was in winter and the crossings on the new route between Port Borden, Prince Edward Island and Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, by the newly acquired steamship Earl Grey were, at best, uncertain. He doubted his membership would be willing to pay the required initiation fee...He would, however, wire a reply following the brief meeting, and, on December 4th, sent the following message.

"C. B. COPP, BALE VERTE, N. B. "TTME TOO SHORT UNCERTAIN CROSSING FOR MEMBERS TO ATTEND MEETING. WRITE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH OUR CLUB TWENTY MEMBERS MAY ENTER ASSOCIATION.

(COST .46) F. W. HYNDMAN"

On Tuesday, December 5th, 1911, at the Court House in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the first Maritime Trapshooting Association was formed, and adopted the standard format of the game...the single trap, five- station, layout we know today. Charlottetown was not a part of the initial organization.

The Newstead Gun Club had, in a very short time, become a very elite organization in the city...perhaps the most elite of its day. The class of city 'sports' guarded their autonomy with black beans. They were gentlemen who were very protective of their club, reflected in their careful selection of new members. | They totally enjoyed each other's companionship, but were somewhat hesitant in welcoming visitors, or

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