25 



each piece of hose with great power, so that when the end of the hose 

 was inserted into a tank the water boiled violently. The operation of 

 this plan of aerating the water was perfect. The belting being adjusted 

 and the hose dropped into the tanks, as soon as the train got under 

 headway the wheels on the counter-shaft revolved briskly, the piston 

 rod of the air-pump worked with great rapidity, and the water in every 

 receptacle in the car fairly boiled with the commotion caused by the 

 fresh air forced through it. Nothing more perfect or more entirely an- 

 swering its purpose could be asked or wished, and it is a convincing 

 confirmation of the efficiencj'' of the apparatus, though it sounds some- 

 what paradoxical to say it, that the Bass and many other fish were, at 

 the end of their journey, in better condition, owing to their unusual 

 supply of oxygen in transit, than when the}' started from New Hamp- 

 shire. At all events, it is true that only one out of seventy-five full- 

 grown spawning Bass was lost during their long confinement of eight 

 daj's and niglits, and that one was killed by the falling of a cake of ice. 



The mechanical working of the machinerj' was perfect, and never 

 once got out of order during the trip, or failed to do its duty. I have 

 no doubt that all full-grown fresh-water fish requiring aerated water, 

 such as Trout. Black Bass, Glass-eyed Perch, land-locked Salmon, Perch, 

 and the like, could be taken to California and brought back with the 

 help of this apparatus, with perfect security, and Without any deterio- 

 ration in the condition of the fish. 



The belting ai'ound the axle passed up nearly perpendicularly through 

 the bottom of the car. The counter-shaft and air pumps were* placed 

 as near the ceiling as possible, so that the whole thing took up very 

 little room, and was very little in the way. 



To resume the chronological order of my narrative: The first two 

 plans of aerating the water having been abandoned, I proceeded at 

 once to make ai-rangements for testing the third plan, just described. 

 The pumps, shaft, belting, and pipes were procured, a hole n~iade through 

 the bottom of the car over one of the axles, each part of the machin- 

 ery put in its place, and permission obtained from the Central Vermont 

 authorities to run the car to North Charlestown, on a trial trip. 



Everything being ready, the trip was made, several friends and per- 

 sons interested in the expedition accompanying us. No sooner was 

 the train in motion than it became obvious that the much sought for 

 object was accomplished. The moment the hose was dropped into a 

 tank of water it became a boiling spring. A load of anxiety was taken 

 from my mind, and 1 returned to Charlestown that night for the first 

 time confident of success. 



Nothing now remained but to complete the furnishing of the car, 

 and to concentrate the various collection of fishes. As long as it was 

 decided to try salt-water fish, I concluded to improve the opportunity 

 by experimenting with several kinds, the same salt-water arrangements 

 in the car answering as well for several varieties as for one. This con- 

 siderably increased the number of varieties to be gathered together. 

 There were Black Bass, Glass eyed Perch, and Ilorn-pouts, from Lake 

 Champlain, now quartered at the Cold Spring Trout Ponds, at Charles- 

 town, New Hatnpshire. There were Lobsters and Oysters, at Boston. 

 Lobsters, Salt-water Eels, Tautog, and Striped Bass, at Woods' Hole, 

 Massachusetts. Shad and Fresh-water Eels, at Castleton, on the Hud- 

 son River. Catfish, at the Raritau River, New Jersey. Kingfish, Weak- 



