THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 





lamed and even appears susceptible ol some 

 degree of attachment. It can climb with the 



greatest skill in the manner of a heai — ascend- 

 ing or decending a pole with the utmost free- 

 dom. With much caprice there is no little 

 cunning in the character ol the raccoon, mixed 

 with malice and a fondness tor destruction. 



For Field and Camping Ground. — We call 

 the attention of our readers to Lyman 's Con- 

 centrated Extract of Coffee. We have tasted 

 this delicious coffee and heartily recommend it. 

 Read the advertisement. 



Itorresponbence. 



To the Editor of the Canadian Sportsman and 

 Naturalist : 



Dear Sir, — In your issue of June 1 5th there 

 is an article on the cultivation of wild rice, in 

 which it is implied that the plant will growin 

 lat. 46.50 or south of that. We have in this 

 Province, between 45 and 46, on the St. John 

 River, hundreds of acres of swampy ponds, in 

 which the wild duck oat will grow freely, and 

 in which sportsmen have frequently talked of 

 planting the wild rice, but have dropped the 

 idea for want of information. The article in 

 your interesting little journal has revived the 

 interest in the subject, and we would like to 

 procure information on the following points : — 



1st. Will it grow in dead water ponds as well 

 as in ponds in which there is more or less cur- 

 rent ? 



2nd. How is it to be planted and at what 

 season, and what average summer depth of 

 water is best adapted to its growth ? 



3rd. How and to whom should application be 

 made for seed, and what is the price per bushel ? 



Although we are north of 54 here, our climate 

 on the lower St. John is not nearly so severe as 

 in the Province of Quebec— as a rule — the 

 influence of the fog, &c, from the Bay of Fundy 

 having an effect to produce a warmer tempera- 

 ture. Any information you can furnish either 

 in the columns of the Sportsman or by letter to 

 the undersigned, will be thankfully received by 

 the Sportsmen of this Province. 



I remain, Sir, yours very truly, 

 Chas. W. Beokwith. 



Note. — The swampy ponds referred to byom 

 correspondent, are just the localities where wild 

 rice will grow, and it makes little • I ill* 

 whether it is placed in dead water, or w] 

 there is an easy current The fact that wild 

 oat occurs in ponds in the St John River, ia 

 proof sufficient that the rice plant will . 

 there; and moreover the oat will ultimately 

 SUCCumb, as the rice is more prolific, and the 

 strongest aquatic cereal. We would suggest 

 September as a good season to cast the seed 

 into the water ; but prior to that it should be 

 mixed with marsh mud for two days. In On 

 tario, it grows from a depth of eight feet. Wild 

 rice seed is sometimes advertised in Forest and 

 Stream, but we are not prepared to say what it 

 costs per bushel. It is abundant in Rice Lak.- 

 and Lake Skugog, Ont. Perhaps a subscriber 

 residing near one of these lakes will answer Mr. 

 Beckwith's third question. — Ed. 



To the Editor of the Canadian Sportsman and 

 Naturalist : — 



Dear Sir, — A strong feeling is aroused here 

 in the maritime provinces, against the system 

 pursued by the Dominion Government, in leas- 

 ing out Salmon rivers to single individuals and 

 clubs, thus closing them to the great ma-- 

 sportsmen. This partakes too much of the old 

 feudal times, when a few favored ones were 

 allowed privileges that were forbidden fruits t,> 

 the general public. .In these provinces both 

 parties Liberal and Conservative, are working 

 together to bring an overwhelming pressure to 

 bear on cur representatives in Ottawa to do 

 away with this despotic law. Make those riven 

 open waters, then charge say $1.00 each rod 

 used a day, and the Government would reeeh e 

 a revenue fifty times in amount to that it now 

 derives from this source. Several thousand 

 sportsmen would visit us each year from other 

 Countries, and when we consider that these 

 sportsmen while here would spend from - 

 to $200 each, we can readily see the benefits 

 that this country would receive, and at the 

 same time resident sportsmen who are found 

 among our best citizens, would be able to enjoy 

 the pleasure of Salmon fishing, which is now 

 denied them. Until the New York Club Knight 

 the Restigouche River, near Matepedia ; Camp- 



