Ancient American Utensil. 65 
exist. As a proof of this fact, we find occasionally that their inhab- 
itants leave those dreary regions, and by pursuing the streams, find 
their way to the surface of the earth. In what other way can we 
account for the appearance of fish in ponds, whose waters are clear, 
and whose depth is sufficient.to keep cool through summer, and of 
a regular temperature during winter. Fish find their way into ponds 
in the course of one or two years; where they continue to improve 
in size. 
We witnessed a very remarkable fact of this kind, in the case of 
a fish which visited the surface, a few years ago. ‘The passage which 
enabled him to reach the light of the sun, was connected with a hole 
at the bottom of a ditch, of about three feet in diameter, and two 
feet deep. This canal was made to drain a small valley,’ of rain 
water; during the winter and spring seasons, the water rose quite as 
high as the bottom of the canal; but did. not during summer ap- 
proach nearer the surface than twelve or fifteen feet. ‘This fish was 
about eight inches in length, and perhaps of equal circumference. 
The hole occupied was filled with water, and there was not a suffi- 
cient quantity in the canal to enable him to pass up or down the val- 
ley. He was remarkably shy: many attempts were made to ap- 
proach the spot so near as to enable one to thrust a pole into the 
crevice; into this he would retreat, when alarmed; but all efforts to 
approach him proved unsuccessful. He would sometimes be absent 
for two or three days in succeession. After a stay of about three 
weeks, and not being able to find a large stream, or a fit habitation on 
the earth,—he disappeared. 
i fotice of an Ancient American Utensil ; by Prof. 
-  ‘Watrer R. Jounson. 
Philadelphia, August 9, 1832... 
: oy TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 
Dear Sir—The early state of the arts among the aborigines of 
this country, is a subject of much interest to the American antiquary. 
Under this impression, I take the liberty of forwarding to you the 
following description, and the accompanying sketch, of an article of 
American manufacture, of a date probably anterior to the time of 
any European discoveries on the North American continent—per-. 
Vor. XXII—No. 1. 
even to the age of mounds and mummies. For 
9 7 
