"Though the principal attraction for the lieges in the olden regattas was to watch the feats of oarsmanship in the spirited and closely contested races on the days programme, the old timers took other means, some of them very original and most amusing, to interest the concourse assembled on the verdant shores of historic Quidi Vidi. For many years a year-old pig was brought into requisition, and though a humble and certainly useful animal, especially when converted into ham, bacon, or pork, it afforded great sport to the patrons of our Derby. The porker was shaved as closely as Mike Murphy the barber would take the down off the upper lip of a stripling, and goodness knows, in that state would be hard enough to hold.

"But to add to the difficulty of retaining him, he was carefully greased all over the body and legs. At a given signal he was released, and was the prize of any who could capture him. Squealing as only a pig can, he rushed through the crowds who would try to capture; being no respecter of persons, he would bowl over men, women and children. He was often at liberty for hours, running through the masses of people who hemmed him in on all sides, and sometimes would escape into the lake and go on to the other side and make a break for permanent freedom; or else, being worn out from previous exertions, would find a watery grave - a fate never intended for a self-respecting 'boneen' - in the middle of the pond."