Notes of a Vanished Industry 117 



sota, after they left the eastern country for the west. 

 A big body was at Grand Rapids in 1858 or 1859, 

 before I joined the band. 



The trappers at Grand Rapids were Dr. Osborn, 

 Cone, Ackerman, the two Paxons, Latimer, and a few 

 others, who did some heavy shipping, catching the birds 

 on the salt marshes. I have no earlier records for 

 Michigan, 



I kept no record of the amounts shipped from dif- 

 ferent points. The old books of the express will show 

 if they have kept them. I wait to see your report, and 

 remain, Yours truly, 



E. Osborn. 



Detroit, Mich., November 2, 1904. 

 W. B. Mershon: 



Dear Sir: — Last evening I looked over some old 

 papers and found a few memoranda that lead to my 

 making some changes in my notes to you in regard to 

 the date of last nestings in our State. I also find my 

 later surmise confirmed by a letter from one of the first 

 traveling pigeon-catchers in the business, Ephraim Os- 

 born, whose uncle, Dr. Osborn of Saratoga, N. Y., was 

 one of the original catchers. You will note by Mr. 

 Osborn's letter that he has been a shipper of mine for 

 a long time. I am well acquainted with him and knew 

 all the men he mentioned (with many others) at the 

 Shelby nesting. There were nearly six hundred names 



