COCHERMOUTH, a parliamentary borough in the w. of Cumberland, at the confluence of the Cocker and Derwent, 25 m. s.w. of Carlisle. It is delightfully situated in an agricultural district, and has a promenade a mile long along the Derwent. The ruins of a castle, founded in the end of the 11th c., stand on a bold height on the left bank of the Cocker, near its junction with the Derwent. The castle was besieged for a month by the royalists in 1648, and afterwards reduced to ruins by the parliamentarians. Near C. is a tumulus, with a Roman camp and ditch 750 ft. in circuit. Many ancient relics have been found near Cockermouth. There are manufactures of linens, woolens, cottons, hats, hosiery, and paper, and in the vicinity, extensive coal-mines. Wordsworth the poet was born here. Pop. '71, 6,936. C. returns one member to parliament.
is said to have originated with the Athenians. In the earlier part of our history; since the conquest, we find little mention of it; but it is evident that it existed in the days of Thomas-A-Becket, and until the time of the commonwealth it flourished, the pit at Whitehall having been erected and patronized by royalty. It was prohibited in 1654; and although there have been other acts passed with the view of put ting it down, it still dxists under prohibition.
The greatest point considered in choosing cocks, is the breed. Formerly, there were established favorites, and very large sums were given for their chicks. Much art is said to be displayed in the training of cocks, and in trimming and preparing the cock for the combat; the fastening on of the spurs is a matter of considerable experience. Young cocks are called stags; two years is the best age. In fighting a match a certain number of cocks to be shown on either side is agreed upon, and the day before the match, the cocks are shown, weighed to the greatest nicety, and matched according to their weights. Their marks are all also carefully set down, to prevent trickery. The cocks within an
ounce of each other in weight arc said to "fell in," and are matched Those which do not fall in, are matched to tightwhat are called "byes." Those which do fall in, come into the main,. The main is fought for a stake upon each battle, and so much for the main, or the winner of the most battles in the main; while the byes have nothing to do with the main, and arc usually fought for smaller sums. Should the numbers he equal, so that the main cannot be decided, it is usual to separate two or more cocks which arc matched to fight, and are of equal or a dead-weight, and to give or take an ounce either way with one of each of the birds which would fall into the byes, so as to make an uneven number.
A middling size is considered the best, and from 3 lbs. 6 oz. to 4 lbs. 8 oz. is the medium. Cocks sometimes fight in silver spurs, but more often in steel. The laws of fighting are very precise and particular.
- To lend to brutes the means of destroying each other, and of rendering their conflicts more deadly than nature ever intended them to be, cannot be considered a spectacle cal culated either to refine or to improve humanity; while the indulging in it as a sport, as it is practiced even in its lightest and least objectionable form, is simply cruelty. But the practices of placing a bird, that has perhaps been crippled in combat, down, with out even his natural weapons, before a young stag armed, in order that the stag may be taught the art of killing, and the Welsh main, where the cocks fight until only one is left alive, are too disgustingly cruel to be thought of without indignation.
is prohibited by 12 and 13 Viet. e. 92. A penalty of £5 may be levied on any person keeping fighting-cocks, letting a cock-pit, or otherwise connecting him self with cock-lighting, for every day that he shall so act.