CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 143 



coast on the seventeenth day of March, 1873, for the purpose of pro- 

 curing: a stock of the best varieties of eastern fish, and transporting 

 them alive across the continent, with a view to introducing these varie- 

 ties into the public waters of California. 



My plan of operations for the whole undertaking was : First — • 

 To collect the fish at some favorable point at the East, where they could 

 be kept alive until everything was ready for the journey. Second — 

 To fit up a car with the apparatus most suitable for transporting living 

 fish. And third — To take this car when loaded. To California, in the 

 least possible time, and without any transfer of its contents. This 

 plan was successfully carried into practice up to the time of the acci- 

 dent just beyond Omaha. 



The first installment of living fish intended for the California 

 car, arrived at Charlestown, New Hampshire, the point of rendezvous, 

 on the seventh of May. It consisted of eighty-two Black Bass, Grystes 

 facciatus, Glass-eyed perch. L-ucio perca, and Bull heads, Penrelodus, 

 and about three hundred thousand of the Perca flauerscurs and 



the Lucio />< rca. 



These fish were collected at Lake Champlain, and at the Missis- 

 quoi River in Vermont, and were taken a journey of thirty hours by 

 rail, before reaching Charlestown. They nevertheless bore their trip 

 admirably, and arrived at their destination in first rate order. 



The next two weeks were spent in fitting up the car which had 

 arrived at Charlestown, X. If., and making other preparations for the 

 difficult undertaking in prospect. Arrangements had been previously 

 made, at the suggestion of Hon. Spencer F. Baird, U. S. Commissioner 

 Ml' Fisheries, with Mr. Myron Green, at Castleton, on the Hudson, for 

 a supply of young Shad, and fresh water Eds. 



And also, with Capt. Urinal Edwards, of Woods Hole. Mass., for 

 young Lobsters; and other salt fish. The Eastern Trout, Salmon 

 fontanalis, were to be taken from the Cold Spring Trout Ponds, at 

 Charlestown. The large Lobsters were to come from Johnson & Lor- 

 ings' establishment, at Boston, and Mr. Myron Green was dispatched 

 to the Raritan River for Catfish. 



The equipment of the car having been completed, and every- 

 thing being ready, the third day of June, 1873, was set for our depart- 

 ure. At midnight of June 2d, Mr. W. S. Perrin arrived from Boston 

 with a special car having on board the Lobsters, Oysters, small Lob- 

 sters, salt water Eels, Tautogs, and reserves of ocean water. "We 

 began at daylight the next morning, filling the tanks in the car and 

 loading in the fish, and by one o'clock in the afternoon, everything was 

 ready, and at a quarter past two on Tuesday. June 3d, the California 

 Aquarium Car started on its journey. 



The car Mas furnished by the Central Pacific R. R. Co., and 

 was one of their fruit cars, intended for quick trips across the con- 

 tinent. It was twenty-seven feet long and eight feet wide, and was 

 provided with a "Westinghouse airbrake and Miller platform, which 

 enabled us to take it along with passenger trains. 



At one end of the car was a stationary tank, built of two-inch 

 plank, lined with zinc, and occupying the whole width of the car. 

 and eight feet of its length. 



