1850 TO 1865 253 
years; an attempt was made not long since to protect them fora 
few seasons, but our own people were as usual impatient of the tem- 
porary restraint and the law was soon repealed. If they were pro- 
tected they would no doubt increase again very rapidly, for their 
young fry are very abundant; they are called “shiners” by the 
fishermen on account of their silvery appearance, and are caught 
in great numbers for bait, they are taken in small nets, and I have 
seen pails full of them reserved for such uses. Probably thousands, 
and tens of thousands, are destroyed in this way every year. We 
were not aware that these “‘shiners,” our common bait, were the 
young of the bass until Doctor De Kay paid us a visit and he assured 
us of the fact, after a careful examination; probably the people 
generally are not aware that this is the case. The Pickerel is a great 
enemy of the Bass; it was formerly unknown in our lake, but brought 
here from Canaderaga Lake, a smaller sheet of water eight or ten 
miles to the westward. It is singular that two sheets of water so 
near each other, and fed by neighboring streams should have such 
different fish; the waters of Canaderaga are not so limpid as our own, 
nor is the lake as deep as ours. I believe that fish in different parts 
of the same stream vary very much. Of the Bass taken in our lake 
only a portion are sold in the neighborhood; a number are sent to 
the eating houses and hotels of Utica, Schenectady, Albany and even 
New York. They are certainly an excellent fish, remarkably firm, 
and sweet. 
Our salmon trout is also thought superior to that of many other 
lakes; those who are knowing in such matters consider them as a 
very rich and delicate fish. They vary, however, much more than 
the bass. 
Very respectfully, 
Susan FENIMORE COOPER. 
From Dr. J. P. Kirtland to Spencer F. Baird. 
CLEVELAND, Jany. II, 1851. 
Dear SiR:— 
I believe I have already alluded in some previous letter 
to the rapid changes that are taking place with the Mollusca in Ohio. 
Localities that 10 years since abounded with the finest specimens of 
