392 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
worth the trouble. With the changes in the Jevel of the water occur 
changes in the local abundance of the fiSh. If the trap is unhappily so 
placed as not to intersect the main current of the river at any point, 
when the water falls it will cease to catch fish, and will become entirely 
useless. Much depends, therefore, upon the judgment and experience 
of the trapper. 
In many localities, where the river is small and narrow, the natives, 
instead of making mats and driving stakes, tie huge fascines of willow- 
brush together, and place them side by side until the river is completely 
closed, except at the point where the baskets are set—one up and the 
other down stream. In such a case it is evident that no fish can go up 
or down the stream where it is intersected by the brush without being 
caught in the trap. Some such localities are exceedingly prolific. Ulu- 
kuk, in the valley of the Unalaklik River, is noted throughout Alaska 
for the great abundance of the salmon trout which are thus obtained. 
' We close this article with a memorandum of the catch of the Nulato 
fish-traps, as observed by the writer during several seasons. We pre- 
face it by mentioning that the summer fish-traps are in most respects 
similar to those used in winter, except that the stakes are more firmly 
driven, to make up for the want of the support at the surface afforded 
by the ice in winter; and the baskets are smaller, for greater con- 
venience in emptying and raising them, which is done in boats, usually 
birch canoes. 
November.—The fish-traps are set for winter. A week or two usually 
elapses before the trap takes any fish. The natives say that it is ne- 
cessary for the resin to be washed out of the wood of which the basket 
and funnel are made before the fish will approach the trap. The first fish 
taken are the losh, which usually come in great numbers. December.— 
Suckers and losh predominate. A few white-fish and a straggling salmon 
are occasionally taken. January.—Much the same; but the white-fish 
begin to be more plentiful. #ebrwary.—Losh scarce. The traps are filled 
with the different species of white-fish. March—Much the same; but 
suckers begin to enter the traps. April—Graylings and suckers very 
plenty ; white-fish more scarce; a few losh taken. May.—A few poor 
white-fish and small losh are taken, but the bulk of the catch is composed 
of graylings. Ice carries away the traps. As soon asthe river is clear new 
traps and gill-nets are set. June.—King salmon appear toward the middle 
of the month. July.—Hoikoh, red-fish, dog-fish, and a few white-fish. 
August.—Keezich and straggling salmon of the other species. White- 
fish, especially the Luciotrutta and Muksun, are more abundant. Sep- 
tember.—Salmon trout and white-fish are in their best condition and 
most abundant. October.—Much the same; but toward the 20th of the 
month ice begins to form and puts a stop to fishing until it is firm 
enough to allow of the setting of the winter traps, which does not 
usually occur until early in the following month. 
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINKS, 
ANCIENT AND MODERN. 
The history of agriculture embraces all the implements which man- 
kind have employed in the cultivation of the earth, and the improve- 
ment made in the mechanism of agriculture from time immemorial. 
When men were compelled to till the soil as slaves, sowing a crop they 
