‘Canadian Blackbird' targets could be purchased, in quantity, directly from Nelson Long (the manufacturer) in Hamilton, Ontario, at considerable saving. In December the Club ordered 6 barrels, to be delivered to Charlottetown as soon as possible, at a total cost of $14.40--or $2.40 per barrel. Shipping charges by rail to Pictou, N. S., and then by boat to Charlottetown, would amount to less than $2.00 a barrel.

Actual scores for the 1912 winter shooting season were not recorded, but events continued every Saturday afternoon at Inkerman. The Heartz matches started in mid January, and the entrants were shooting this year for the Greener side by side double that Frank Heartz had promised last spring. Along with the Heartz match, another competiton was being held on alternate Saturdays, this one for a gun case that had been donated to the Club by the Dominion Cartridge Company. The Newstead Gun Club had purchased a silver flask, and offered it for competition concurrently with the Heartz matches, except that the criteria for this prize would be limited to those shooters having a score of 75%, or less, of the highest man in each Heartz shoot. This would be the first effort to create categories in the gun club, and would prove successful enough to give the Club the first serious thoughts of establishing a classification system.

On February 2nd, a special luncheon of the Club was held at Blake House on King Street, in honor of Fred Dench, who was leaving shortly for St. John's, Newfoundland, or as it was called at the time, "Ye Ancient Colony." Dench was presented with an appreciative letter, signed by all members and the executive of the club...and a sterling silver flask. Silver flasks were one of the most appreciated gifts, or prizes, of the time--and one of the most useful. Carried continuously in the inside pocket by most gentlemen, it provided portable encouragement to face almost any situation, from a serious business problem to a pair of missed doubles. The Blake House catered

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