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FOREST AND STREAM* 



y 



ing, and the fry from -which we shall distribute to such places 

 as may seem most advisable in the spring of 79. 



Bam Webber. 



Fisu Culture in Tennessee.— Geo. F. Akers, State Fish 

 Commissioner of Tennessee, seems an energetic official, but 

 his efforts do not appear to be fully sustained, as will appear 

 from the following plea which we find in the Nashville 

 American: 



" By proper game laws the whole region from Nashville 

 to the Tennessee River might be perpetually filled with game, 

 not only sufficient for the -wants and diversion of the popula- 

 tion, but an overplus for export. There are numbers of 

 streams well suited to the propagation of the best varieties of 

 food fish, passing through this section, tributaries of the Ten- 

 nessee and Cumberland rivers. Just now the waters are too 

 low and clear to afford good angling. Hence, it is only oc- 

 casionally that we are able to strike a " hole " that rewards 

 our efforts. Yet I find game fish more abundant in this stream 

 than aDy 1 have visited for years. The reason for this is it is 

 less Beiued and gigged and trapped than any other Middle 

 Tennessee stream that. I know. This insures a fair chance 

 for the fish to multiply. If our Legislature will gi ve us effect- 

 ive fish laws, and furnish the comparatively small means 

 necessary to stocking the streams that are now almost with- 

 out fish, in a very few years there would be an ample supply. 

 This is an important question, and I hope, by the aid of the 

 press and of public sentimeDt, to obtain from the Legislature 

 recently elected an appropriation and the passage of stringent 

 laws for the protection of fish and game— if not throughout 

 the Slate, then, at least for all such counlies as may desire. 

 As Fish Commissioner, appointed by the Governor, 1 am free 

 to say that without protective laws, and without money to 

 pay for v restocking our streams, I am powerless to do any- 

 thing in his respect for the general public good. 



Geo. F. Akers." 



A Historic Salmon.— Niks, Mich., Nov. 24,— Editor 

 Forest and Streom : A fish (Salmo Uloveri) commonly termed 

 land-locked salmon, was speared in Log Lake, Nov. 19. Log 

 Lake is a small lake of some thirty acres, is fed by springs 

 and is located about two miles from Kalkaska, the county 

 seat of Kalkaska County. On the 19th of May, 1876, there 

 were deposited in this lake 5,000 land-locked salmon fry, the 

 fry having been hatched at the State Hatchery at Pokagon, 

 ma- ing our captured fish some two years and six months old. 

 It is a male and a magnificent specimen of his tribe, weighing 

 8 pounds strong, 2 feet 4 iuches in length. He is sleek in his 

 appearance, has beautiful and peculiar markings and is of 

 aldermanic proportions. It is stated that the salmon in this 

 lake are now spawning. Mr. Eli B. Miller, the president of 

 the Board of Fish Commissioners, nas gone to Kalkaska, and 

 will make as vigorous & push as possible to secure the fer- 

 tilized ova, audit is believed he will succeed. The salmon 

 has created a wonderful enthusiasm hereabouts, it being the 

 first land-lockcr of any size caught in the State. Its marvel- 

 ous growth bepets universal praise as well as wonder Photo- 

 graphs and a piaster paris cast of the fish have been taken. Its 

 corpus will to-day be served up in princely array at the Bur- 

 dick House in Kalamazoo, and of course will constitute Vie 

 item in to-day's menu of that popular hotel. Our fish culture 

 friends far and near are invited to come up and partake of the 

 rare entertainment. The capture of this fish is proof preg- 

 nant and positive of the success of our piscicultural labors, 

 aud presages, quite plainly enough, "some things as well as 

 others." Cavillers and the whole tribe of doubting Thomases 

 are now most respectfully invited to take seats nearer the 

 door. Geo. H. Jerome, 



We congratulate the Michigan Commissioners upon this 

 proof, tangible and positive, of the assured success of their 

 efforts. This salmon is such an evidence of the wisdom of 

 their work. 



*i Sohoodio Salmon in Michigan.— Detroit, Nov. 26.— 

 While at Kalamazoo last Saturday I had the pleasure of see- 

 ing a schoodic salmon that weighed 81bs., 28£in. long. It 

 •was planted in Long Lake, Kalkaska Co., Mich., two years 

 and six months ago. It was speared while making a trench 

 with its under jaw for the female to spawn in. The female 

 was following it and spawning. Larger ones were seen by 

 the gentleman who caught this one, but as we only wished 

 for a specimen no more were taken. It was a beauty. 

 Tours truly, A. J. Kbi.logo, Fish Com. 



■> A Detroit River Fishery —I visited yesterday the fishing 

 establishment of the late George Clark, our very dear aud 

 lamented co-laborer in the State Fish Commission, and 

 think a short description would he interesting to your 

 readers in the interior. It is located on what is called 

 Grassy Island, near the middle channel in the Detoit River 

 at Ecorse, eight miles below Detroit and three-quarters of a 

 mile from the home of the Clarks on the mainland. Grassy 

 Island was " made " laud many years ago by the enterprise 

 and energy of Mr. Clark. Where originally was only shal- 

 low water, grass, and weeds, there is now there quite a vil- 

 lage. Houses, barns, boat and net houses and sheds, cover- 

 ing an area of an acre and more, and large pear and peach 

 treea growing which were planted there by Mr. Clark. A 

 force of 17 men are now employed bv Mrs. Clark, under 

 Mr. Lacy, foreman, divided, working 12 hours each, hauling 

 a seine once in 20 or 30 minutes the entire 34 hours. This 

 is done by horse-power, four horses being kept upon the 

 island, two working constantly upon a windlass at each end 

 of the net. A pound of an acre or more was constructed by 

 dredging to the depth of about 15 feel, and inclosed by 

 piles driven very close together to prevent the escape of the 

 list), with a gale at the place where the not is brought in 12 

 leet wide aud as many doep, and fastened at the bottom by 

 hinges, so that the top of the gate floats at the surface of 

 the water, and as the net is drawn in the fish are discharged 

 from it just over the lop of the gate, without having been 

 handled or removed from their native elemei.t or injured in 

 the slightest degree. They are now ready to be placed upon 

 the market at the pleasure of the owner in such times and 

 qu'intiik-s as is desirable. The provision made for the 

 housing and care of men, beasts, boats and nets, all show 

 that a kind and careful mind was hero employed, to which 

 all who enjoyed the acquaintance of Mr. George Clark will 

 cheerfully testify. Eli JK. Mitxek. 



Detroit, Nov. 9, 1878. 



» «. . 



Salmo Quinxat in Fbanom — Mr. Editor: Concerning the 

 transportation of the eggs of the Quinnai salmon to France, 

 to which you refer in your last issue, the following letter gives 



not only a good account of the condition of the eggs, their 

 subsequent batching and destination, but is also decisive con- 

 cerning the question of credit for which you so gallantly 

 couched a lance in my behalf : 



SOCIBTB D' ACCLLUATATION, Paris, Nov. M, 1878. 

 Mr. Fred. Mather— 



Dear Sir: I take pleasure in Informing yon that we received Hie sal- 

 mon eggs in most Bplendid condition. This excellent result Is eridext- 

 ly doe to your skillful care, for which we feel very mnch obliged. Al- 

 most all these eggs are notr Hatched; the fry are very lively, aud It 

 Beems almost eertain that they will thrive, la good time they will be 

 turned loose la several streams, as the Rhone, the nerault and Tonne 

 by oar Sai-iete with the assistance of the " Ingcnienra des Sctiito et 

 Chaussece." Again praying you, dear sir, to receive the assurance of 

 our thankfulness. I remain very truly yours, 



Haveret Wattel, Secretary. 



I wish to say, however, that part of the credit is due to Mr. 

 Stone, who procured and packed the esrgs in California; for 

 it is certain lhat if the eggs had not been received by me in 

 splendid condition I could not have delivered tlieni so no 

 matter how excellently I put them up or how cold they -were 

 kept. Fbed Mather. 



^istorg* 



ABOUT OUR GROUSE— No. S. 



THE willow grouse bears a considerable resemblance to 

 the red grouse of Scotland, and it is commonly called 

 moor cock by the inhabitants of Newfoundland, many of 

 whom are, of courso, old country people, and thus familiar 

 with the British bird ; partridge is another and less appropri- 

 ate name by which it is frequently known here. This species 

 is the only ptarmigan that is ever hunted for sport, aud this 

 one only, as far as we know, in Newfoundland. The birds 

 are usually found on the open barrens, where grow the plants 

 and berries on which they especially delight to feed, and 

 which give to their flesh in the early fall a peculiar excellence. 

 When found in such situations the sport must, we imagine, 

 resemble pinnated grouse shooting on the prairies ; certain it 

 is that all who have tried it are enthusiastic on the subject, 

 and speak and write as if there were nothing like ptarmigan 

 shooting. Sometimes a late family arc found by the dogs, 

 the young of which are not yet able to fly, aud in such a case 

 it is most touching to see the efforts nmrle by ihe old ones to 

 draw their pursuers away from the brood. If these efforts 

 fail the male will not hesitate to fly at dog or man in the 

 most courageous manner. Few sportsmen, we hope, would 

 have the heart to destroy either parents or young under such 

 circumstances. Both Oannister and Dale, who found this 

 species abundant in Alaska, notice the strong attachment 

 which the female has for her eggs and brood, and slate that 

 the affection of the male for the female is equally strong, for 

 he remains with her during the period of incubation, and even 

 refuses to leave her when in danger. The same explorers 

 mention that these birds in winter form regular paths through 

 the snow among the willows aud along the river banks, and 

 that the Indians by means of snares set in these paths capture 

 great numbers of them. 



The willow grouse commences to lay early in June and it 

 it said that an egg is deposited every day until the full num- 

 ber is reached. The eggs are curiously marked with dots, 

 scratches and blotches of deep reddish purple on a ground of 

 dark cream color, and are usually about ten in number. In 

 September and October the various broods are said to gather 

 together in immense flocks, but when winter has fairly set in 

 they separate again into small packs of from fifteon to thirty 

 individuals. 



The rnaLs of this species are said to assume their red 

 plumage as soon as the rocks and higher ground become bare, 

 and at this season they spend a part of the day perched on 

 large stones or the stumps of trees calling to the females iu 

 loud guttural croaking tones. The females assume their 

 summer dress early in June. It is an interesting fact that the 

 sharp tailed grouse sometimes utters a rough guttural croak 

 which answers admirably to the description above given of 

 the call of the male willow grouse. We have heard it only 

 once, but it seemed so curious a note that it made a strong, 

 impression on our minds. While traveling in Dakota in 

 1874, an old female, with a brood of well grown young, was 

 started on the prairies, and the individuals of the family sep- 

 arated and flew in all directions. It happened that we re- 

 mained ou the spot whence they had flown, for about half an 

 hour, and, during the whole time, we heard this strange call 

 uttered by the old hen which was trying to collect the brood, 

 and soon the young began to reply by a similar note. That 

 there might be no question about the matter wc followed up one 

 of the young and shot it in the act. 



The extraordinary abundance of the willow grouse in the 

 Hudson's Bay Territory and along Mackeusie's River often 

 enables the Indians to live in plenty, even when large game is 

 very scarce. Hearne speaks of seeing flocks of " upward of 

 four hundred," of seeing thousands in one day, etc. An ex- 

 tract, which we quote from the writings of this quaint old 

 author, will give our readers some idea of the great numbers 

 of thesa birds in the Far North, as well as of one of the 

 methods employed by the Indians in their capture. The 

 ptarmigan in winter feed entirely on the buds of the wil- 

 low, whence the name of willow grouse, and Hearne says : 



"Their food in winter, being so dry and hard, makes it 

 necessary for them to swallow a considerable quantity of 

 gravel to promote digestion ; but the great depth of snow 

 renders it very scarce during that season. 



"The Indians, having considered this point, invented the 

 method now in vogue among the English of catching them in 

 nets by means of that simple allurement, a heap of gravel. 



The nets for this purpose are from eight to twelve feet square, 

 anel are stretched on a frame of wood, and are usually set on 

 the ice of rivers, creeks, ponds and lakes, about one hundred 

 yards from the willows, but in some situations not half of that 

 distance. U uder the centre of the net a heap of snow is thrown 

 up to the size of one or two bushels, and, when well packed, 

 is covered with gravel. 



"To set the nets when thus prepared requires no other 

 trouble than lifting up one side of the frame aud supporting it 

 with two small props about four feet long j a line is fastened 

 to these props, and the other end being conveyed to the 

 neighboring willows so that a man can always get at it with- 

 out being seen by the birds under the net. When everything 

 is thus prepared the hunters go to the adjacent willows and 

 woods, and, when they start the game, endeavor to drive it 

 into the net, which at times is no hard task, as they frequent- 

 ly run before them like chickens; and sometimes require no 

 driving, for, as soon as they see the black heap of gravel on 

 the snow, they fly straight toward it. 



" The hunter then goes to the end of the line, and when he 

 sees that there as many about the gravel as the net can cover, 

 or as many as are likely to go under at that time, with a sud- 

 den pull he hauls down the stakes and the net falls on th« 

 snow and incloses the greater portion of the birds that are 

 under it. By this simple contrivance I have known upward 

 of three hundred caught in one morning by three persons, and 

 a much greater number might have been procured had it been 

 thought necessary. 



"It is common to get thirty to seventy at one haul, and in 

 the winter of 1736 the master of a sloop at Churchill River 

 actually caught two hundred and four at two hauls. 



They are by no means equally plentiful each year, for in 

 some winters I have known them to bo so scarce that it wat 

 impossible to catch them in nets, and all that could be pro- 

 cured with the gun would hardly afford one day's allowance 

 per week to the men during the season. But in the winter of 

 1785 they were so plentiful near Churchill and such numbers 

 were brought to the factory that I gave upward of two thou- 

 sand to the hogs. 



Large numbers of these birds are no doubt devoured by 

 hawks, owls and foxes, but their numbers are so great that the 

 depredations committed by these enemies do not perceptibly 

 reduce their numbers. We are told that when pursued by 

 hawks or the great white owl the ptarmigan will dive into the 

 snow and work their way along beneath its surface with con- 

 siderable speed. Their color at all seasons serves in a great 

 measure to protect them from their enemies, for it is said that 

 it is almost as difficult to see one of them when crouching on 

 the bare ground in summer as it is to discover Uicm in winter 

 when hiding on the snow. 



The white ptarmigan is abundant in Scandinavia, and Loyd 

 in his "Game Birds of Norway and Sweden," gives a very 

 full account of the methods there employed for their capture. 

 The principal ways of taking them seem to be by shooting 

 them from the trees when feeding, stalking with a pea rifle, 

 snaring in the same manner employed to take ruffed grouse 

 here in the East, and calling— the latter method being the 

 same which our turkey hunters make use of iu spring. Great 

 numbers are thus destroyed, and at present we are told that 

 the ptarmigan are scarce in most parts of Norway and Sweden. 



To such of our readers as desire to know more about our 

 grouse we would recommend the admirable work on ' ' North 

 American Birds," by Messrs. Baird, Brow'n and Ridgway, and 

 Dr. Coues' " Birds of the Northwest." The few notes which 

 we have contributed to the recent issues of Forest and 

 Stream contain, besides much that has alreaJy been noted, a 

 few facts that have never yet been published, and which we 

 have accumulated during eight summers of travel and obser- 

 vation in the broad domain which lies between the Missouri 

 River and the Pacific coast. 



A Stbange Bird. — Editor Forest and Stream : 1 left for 

 identification a curious bird, shot on Friday, Nov. 8, on 

 Greenfield Hill, Conn., by Talman B. Bradley, who has shot 

 in that region for many years. Both of us have hunted for 

 thirty or forty years, and neither have seen the bird. I at- 

 tempt now to describe : The shape is like a rail, but much 

 larger , the plumage on the back resembles that of the 

 meadow-lark, while the wings are mottled like a quail ; the 

 breast is white, slightly mottled with black; the bill is about 

 an inch and a half lone, and straight; the legs resemble a 

 quail. I incline to the belief that it is a specimen of the Scio 

 quail, some of which were loosed near Boston. The flight 

 was somewhat like a plover, and the dogs treated it as a game 

 bird. We were hunting for quail at the time on ground 

 where a few days before we had found a bevy. If any of 

 your readers know about this anomaly it will be of interest to 



Yours, T. F. O. 



[Our correspondent's description does not answer at all to 

 that of the migratory quail. We cannot tell with any degree 

 of certainty what his bird was, but incline to the opinion that 

 it was a wader of some kind— perhaps the Upland Plover 

 {Actiturus barira m fas), 



If any of our correspondents who shoot birds or mammals 

 with which they are unacquainted would only take the 

 trouble to preserve their specimens they would receive satis- 

 factory answers to such queries as the above. From the head, 

 wing and leg of a bird it is easy to lell what it is; but the 

 general descriptions which usually accompany these inquiries 

 seldom help much in ek-terniining the affinities of a specimen. 



-Ed.1 



— », — . 



A Partial Albino. — Our correspondent, Mr. Geo. Lyman 

 Appleton, of Savannah, Ga., writes us, saying: 



A friend of mine killed a jackdaw some time since with 

 several white feathers in each wing and in the tail. It is a 

 singular thing for this part of the world. Bid you ever hear 

 of another such case ? He has the bird stuffed. 



We presume that by jackdaw our friend intends to desig- 

 nate either the crow blackbird, or the boat-tailed grakle, and 

 if we are right iu this assumption we can say that it is by no 

 means unusual to find white feathers on these birds. We 

 have occasionally seen specimens in which the white feathsrs 

 preponderated. 



