^32 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



0sl\ §ti1tnr L e. 



This Journal (r the OBlcial Orgnn of the Pish Cnltur- 

 tats' Association. 



FLASHES FROM THE "BLU SLIGHT." 



SEVENTH WEEK. 

 \\ — — 



I WILL begin my letter by giving you tlie final results nf 

 our experiments in accustoming young shad to salt 

 water, and will briefly cennect this -week's work with the 

 condition of affairs at noon on the 32d nit., when I lust 

 wrote. 



All fish taken from batching boxes at five. A. M. on the 

 loth, one hour old. All fish arrived at Noank at half past 

 eleven A. M. on the 15th. First salt, water put in at nine 

 P. M. on the lolh. 



No. 1 became entirely salt at six P. M. on the 17th in 

 forty-five hours; fish began dying at nine, A. M. on the 

 lSlh"; all dead at si\ P. M. on the 18th, having lived fifteen 

 hours in Irish water, forty-five hours in water being gradu- 

 ally sailed, and twenty-four hours in entirely salt water; 

 altogether eighty-five (tours (throe days and thirteen hours) 

 from hutching boxes. 



No. 2 became entirely salt at three P. M. on the 19th 

 (ninety hours); began dying at nine P. M.on the 19th; died 

 rapidly during the 20th*, 21st, and 23d, and at nine A. M. 

 on the 2?d nearly all were dead (a very few lived six hours 

 logger), having rived si? teen hours in fresh water, ninety 

 hours in a mixture more or less salt, and sixty-six hours in 

 entirely salt water; altogether 172 hours (seven days and 

 four hours) from hatching boxes. 



No. 8 became one third salt and two thirds fresh nt three 

 A. M. on Ihe 17th (thirty hours); fish lived well and lively 

 till the 20lh, when they began dying, and continued to die, 

 bill at slower rate than in No. 2, until three P. M. on the 

 23d, when, having been 156 hours in one Ihird salt and two 

 thirds fresh water, about seven eighths had died.. The re- 

 mainder died gradually until six'P. M. on the 25th, when 

 but half a dozen were alive; but they bad outlived by 

 many hours any young shad ever treated in such manner. 

 Their record, is— in fresh water sixteen hours; in water 

 more or less salt thirty hours; one third salt, as a batch, 

 150 hours (eight days and ten hours), and a few survived 

 fifty-one hours longer, reaching to ten days and ten hours 

 from hatching boxes, all but sixteen hours of which they 

 were in water more or less salt. This was our best experi- 

 ment. 



No. 4 became hall salt and half fresh in forty eight 

 hours (nine P. M. on the 17th). The fish, as a batch, did 

 better than in either of the other jars, very few dying until 

 pine A. M. on the 22d. when thev began to settle, and were 

 all dead on the 23d at six A. M., 'their record being— fresh 

 water, sixteen hours; water more or less salt, forty-eight 

 hours; water half salt and half fresh, 139 hours; altogether, 

 eight days and one hour from boxes. 



In the' above four sets of experiments the water was kept 

 ordinarily at from (16° to 68 and 70 , but on the 20th the 

 temperature of the air ran up to 79', and the water in the 

 jars to 77'. This ftCOOSB of heat produced great mortality. 



Jar No. 5— Temperature test, fresh water kept at (54°; 

 the ti-b began dying noticeably on .the 33d, and were all 

 dead at three A. AL on the 23d", having lived seven days 

 arid twenty-one hours from hatching boxes. 



No. 6— Temperature test, kepi at Of ■'; some of the fish 

 ill nine P. M. on the 23d; eight days and fifteen 

 hours from boxes. 



No. 7— Same test as above, with similar results. 



No. 8— After having been kept in fresh water at 04 for 

 six days, and appearing lively, were placed in an ice chest, 

 Mid suddenly reduced to 50," killing all in seven hours. 



Nos. 9 and 10— Natural temperature; fresh water, changed 

 every six hours; had all died at three P. M. on the 23d, 

 having lived eight days and twelve hours from boxes. 



A few fish were taken from jar 9 when weak and nearly 

 used up. They were placed in a jar with a small quantity 

 of road-ide gravel. They began to work around among if, 

 and ivvivcifconsiderably, outliving those left in No. 9 jar 

 . il hours. This seems to point to a conclusion that, 

 in addition to the experiment of very slowly adding the 

 salt wai er, some means must be devised by which, at the 

 same time, food can he supplied to them." Various fresh 

 Waters were tried during this course of experiments on 

 smaller numbers, and il was found that water from cis- 

 terns, ponds, or that had run through old slimy logs, was 

 bad for them, killing them in a day. The jars' being kept 

 shaded, a few fish from each were "tried in small two quart 

 glass jars, placed in the window, ami exposed to the light; 

 in each case this proved injurious, and the fish died soon. 

 The one singular result Of this set of experiments is that, 

 young shad have been kept longer in salt water than they 

 ever have before been in fresh, and it is highly probable 

 that starvation killed them eventually. 



old and Vealley have cleaned up their jars 

 and cans, and started back. Mr. G. will, through the tall, 

 continue a set of experiments suggested by the present. 



In the laboratory a scries of interesting experiments have 

 been carried on by Profs. Veirili, Hyatt, and Rice, to as- 

 certain the action of various forms of poison upon the 

 lower forms of animal life. The primary object has been 

 tu discover, if possible, some method of killing an animal 

 while in certain stages of expansion, so Ihal specimens of 

 the animals, as they present themselves, and are drawn, 

 ;*uv be retained. It has been found a very difficult opera- 

 tion. A bit of living coral shows each little orifice crowned 

 -i n. ill daisy-like polype, restlessly waving in the 

 water. 



The ancmonie thrusts forlh from its leather, sack-like 

 body petal-like antenaa, which, of various, colors, produces 

 a similitude to the flower from which it is named. 



Mollusks crawl out— or nearly out — from their shells, 

 and, as in the case of the common periwinkle, develop 

 iiiosi curious organs; in the end of the long proboscis are 

 bidden sharp, strong, file-like teeth, with which lie rasps 

 Lis way through the strongest sheila, and this proboscis is, 

 in a stale of quiet, withdrawn into the body, between the 

 two feelers on which are situated its eyes lue great fool, 

 will) which he drags himself along, is generally withdrawn 

 from sight. Many shells possess curious organs; even ihe 

 c-uninuu clain is a subject of study. 



But lo obtain a lasting view oi ihese appearances pre- 



sents a great difficulty. Only when nudistmbed will they 

 expand and show their beauties. At a touch or jar they 

 contract and hide their peculiarities. Therefore the at- 

 tempt is made to kill them suddenly while expanded. The 



THE PEKIWmKLK.* 



most virulent poisons have been tried. Prof. Rico experi- 

 mented upon the Gasteropoda, casting them inio string al- 

 cohol, prussicacid, wooraia. The first killed them, but they 

 gradually shrank back in their shells as they died. With 

 prussic acid and coniine they died quickly,' but with few 

 cases of any remains of expansion, 1hey acting in fact hut 

 little more effectively than did stale water. " Hydrate of 

 chloral and chloroform seemed to kill them most rapidly, 

 but their contraction was as complete as in alcohol. Picric 

 acid acted quickly, but not enough so as to prevent con- 

 traction. This acid has been found the most effectual of 

 anv substance with which to kill and preserve jelly fish. 

 Treating them with alcohol has been found ineffectual. 

 Osmic acid has been highly commended by some European 

 writers as a material for killing and hardening these deli- 

 cate creatures before immersing them in alcohol for preser- 

 vation, but the experiments made with it here arc not satis- 

 factory, for it badly discolors them. Prof. Verril! has 

 found thai even the 'most delicate ones can be nicely pre- 

 served by first itr.mersing them for half an hour in a strong 

 solution of picric acid, then transferring them to alcohol of 

 about sixty per cent. The same method has been found to 

 be successful with hydroids, auemonies, sponges, and va- 

 rious other soft bodied creatures. The little coral polype, 

 Chough, draws back and disappears loo quickly. For 'kill- 

 ing many kinds cf animals a solution of chloral hydrate 

 lias been found successful, even when they have resisted 

 the action of poisons more virulent to higher forms. In 

 this, most soft bodied animals die quickly, and many kinds, 

 such as the soft nemertean worms, annelids, etc., die in a 

 fully expanded position, displaying all of their organs, Ihe 

 specimens being transferred to alcohol when dead. One 

 creature has beaten the whole corps so far. He seems to be 

 impervious to poison. This is a lar~e, soft larva? of a fly 

 (Erigtalia), found living i»i pools of dirty sea water near high 

 water mark, burying their bodies in the decaying vegetable 

 matter and mud "at the bottom, and stretching their long, 

 slender, tapering tails up to Ihe surface for air, their breath- 

 ing apparatus being at the extreme end of the tail, which 

 can be extended from one to four inches at will. Although 

 apparently quite soft and tender, tbis creature is covered 

 with a coat of mail impenetrable to all poisons. The 

 strongest alcohol was but a bath to them, in which they 

 swam for hours unharmed. Ether seemed to kill them in 

 about an hour, bul on being taken oul and placed in sea 

 water they would come to life again. Strong carbolic acid 

 simply annoyed them, and eleven hours soaking in strong 

 hydrate of chloral but made them less lively. Several 

 specimens were placed in a strong solution of picric acid. 

 They enjoyed it for thirty-six hours, then connived to 

 craw) out of the dish and escape. Prussic acid, cyanide of 

 potassium, and other deadly poisons had no effect mi them, 

 and even in a concentrated solution of caustic potash I hey 

 lived for thirty-five minute. 



The periwinkles and other shell fish have to bo caught 

 when partially expanded by a string fastened around the 

 expanded part quickly, and hung up by the string, the 

 weight of their shell and body gradually draws them out. 



The "Bluenght," during the week, made her usual quota 

 of trips. Our cruising ground, though, has been some- 

 what limited by the continued northeasterly winds, which 

 have roughened up the Sound too much for our work. 

 Along the southern shore of Connecticut, and of some of 

 the larger islands, we have, however, found smoother 

 waters, and. two good pulls in the Race brought up bags 

 full of pebbles and gravel from forty fathoms' down, but 

 very poorly filled with animal life. 



'i'he Cygnet, our working yacht, has worked diligently 

 in the adjacent bays, seining for small fish, setting trawls, 

 etc., for larger ones. The trawls, ns usual, brought skates 

 and flounders, but in one day four blue fish had hung them- 

 selves for our inspection — an advance guard, perhaps, for 

 the next day the Race was full of them, and the Hollers 

 were well rewarded. 



Our anticipations as to finding here the young of many 

 species has been realized, and- lo ihe Bell house are ar- 

 ranged jars of many sorts; some, such as the young cod, 

 not. before found in this locality. And besides, we have 

 young bluetish, hake, ale wives, dinners, tautog, skale, 

 flounders, and a curious fish, the lump fish (cycivpterutt turn- 



■""'Pekhviskle" (Sijeotypm canaliculatus), half natural else.— a. The 

 head. ft. The probo.-cu. c. TUe breathing pipe. <•. Trie foot. /. The 

 operculum, or door. fj. The mantle. 



pm), a beautifully marked fish. This one is of a reddish 

 brown, with blue and green tints and silvery streaks, when 

 grown to perhaps two feet in length. They resemble, when 

 floating on the surface, as they usually do, lumps of green- 

 ish ice, their translucent bodies permitting a play of light. 



Profs. Gill and Putnam have about five hundred pickled 

 skates from our work, and about two barrels full from 

 Maine, and are making careful investigations into certain 

 differences to decide questions as to species. 



A fine tarpum, four feet nine inches in length, and weigh- 

 ing fiftv-five pounds, was sent to Prof. Baird by Mr. Black- 

 ford, of Fulton Market, and is in the hands of the taxi- 

 dermist. It was caught somewhere off Long Island. Our 

 trawling and dredging has not been so productive of new 

 results, as usual, for the weather has kept us mostly to 

 ground already thoroughly explored. In fact the vicinity 

 is nearly exhausted, and our summer's work near to a close. 

 Our party is breaking up by degrees, and in another week 

 we will have finished, and 'in another, Noank will be left 

 with but I lie memory of the Commission, and we feel and 

 hope that the remembrance will be mutuallv pleasant. 



P. S— August 30th. P. M.— Worked "Race" faithfully 

 all day; good breeze from S.S.W. ; two lines; two small 

 bluefish and two bonitos. Crossed to and from Fisher's 

 Island a dozen times. Another boat got seven. 



Piseco. 

 •*■«■ 



SALMON BREEDING ON THE PACIFIC 

 COAST, 



w United States Fish Commission, I 



N 1 - McCloud Kivkh, Cut., August 20th, 1874. J 



Editor Forest and Stream.— 



The cnt.crpri-e for procuring salmon spawn with which to stock the 

 Eastern rivers is being curried out, under the charge or Livingston Sioiic, 

 XI. S. Deputy Fish Commissioner, upon the McCloud Kiver, in Northern 

 California. Notwithstanding the disivantage arising from the distance 

 of the camp from settlements, Ihe work is progressing in a very satis- 

 factory maimer. The liver 3 a rapid one, and very cold, being formed 

 from melting snow upon Mount Shasta. A trap has been b.illt. however, 

 120 fett iu length, and extending across the river, by means of which the 

 salmon, ns they are going up stream, are secured In corrals, from Which 

 they are taken as they are used. The arrangements for maturing the 

 eggs are. Ibis year, quite extensive. There are 800 running feet of hatch- 

 ing troughs, one foot wide, and ihe trays of wire netting lor holdiug the 

 eggs cover a surface of two thousand square feet. The troughs are sup- 

 plied wiih constantly running water by a large water wheel, which raises 

 15.000 gallons of water every hour, some males have been caught which 

 ate already ripe, and probably the work of taking eggs will commence 

 the first week in September. The preparatory work, which has occupied 

 ten white men and several Indians for more than a month, is now nearly 

 completed. The camp household consists of ten « hit-.- men. a Chinese 

 cook, and one or two regular Indian servants. Indians fr^m neighboring 

 rancheros work daily. The weather is remarkably cool and enjoyable 

 this year, at this season, and life at the McCloud Kiver Cnmp is thought 

 very pleasant by every one here. As the fish of the rivers in this vicinity 

 have beenvery little studied, specimens are collected for the Smithsonian 

 In-titute. especially of the salmon, trout, and wydardceket in the differ- 

 ent stages of development. The salmon are very abundant ihis year, 

 and there is reason to expect great success in this expedition of the Fsh 

 Commission. M. S. P. 

 + •&■ 



Fisir at the Rochester State Fair. — Mr. Geddes, super- 

 intendent of the fair, is making active preparation for an 

 exhibition of Mr. Seth Green's fish, which will illustrate 

 all the most brilliant results of fish culture. From the 

 Rochester AdttorMw we take the following : "A tent, forty 

 feet in diameter, will be placed in the open spaco opposite 

 the club house, and this will entirely be devoted to ihe 

 interesting display. Six feet from the outer line of the 

 tent there will bo a circular row of aquariums, and ihese 

 will be filled with salmon from one to four years of nge, 

 salmon trout in the same stages of growth, brook trout 

 from one lo ten years old, the latter front the ponds of A. 

 S. Collins, together with the graylings, and finally all the 

 common kinds of fish, besides some thai are exceedingly 

 rare. The game fish, save the grayling, have all been raised 

 from the egg, and will, therefore, show to even the most 

 (initiated observer what has been done by Seth Green and 

 the fish commissioners of the Stale. Besides the aquariums 

 there will be globes containing fish, hanging all about the 

 large tent, -which will thus furnish as beautiful a spectacle 

 as will be found on the grounds during the fair. Mr. Green 

 in this instance is preparing for an exhibition which, for 

 novelty, beauty and interest will be something never before 

 witnessed." 



The fair will commence on the 14th of September, and 

 continue until the 18th. Location on the grounds of the 

 Rochester driving park." 



«■» 



Salmon is tub Affluents, of Lake Huron.— We have 

 the following from Mr. D. II. FilZbugh, of Bay City, Mich- 

 igan, lo his friend, our correspondent, Mr. Thaddeus 

 JN orris: — 



1 had a veritable salmo salar sent to me alive from the An Sable last 

 Wednesday, one of those placed in the stream a year ago. 1 took your 

 '•American Angler" and traced him out line lot line und dot for dot— 

 flui;er marks all correct, and everything that could identity Mm to per- 

 fection. A nice line of red spots along hie lateral line, a forked tail ac- 

 cording to plate, with small scilca. It was exactly sis inches long; a 

 inile longer than your life-size plate. I encased nim iu ice and sawdust 

 and sent him by express to Professor Baird, under whose au-p ces three 

 thousand Try waie put in the river at Grayling lust year. The little fel- 

 low was taken with a fly near the bridge at Grayling. 



—The Scientific Manufacturer of Chicago and Detroit 

 contains a description of an improvement in a fish hatching 

 apparatus, ihe invention of the Hon. N. W. Clark, of Oak- 

 laud county, Michigan. The egg traps are so arranged as 

 to be readily moved from p'ace to place, and can be washed 

 in various currents of water. This invention facilitates 

 labor in every way, and iusures a very large yield of fish. 

 The cost of hatching some 1,500,000 while' fish by this 

 patent only amounted to some $031, and the sane expense 

 Would have brought to maturity two or three limes as many 

 eggs, with an exceedingly small per ceutage of loss. It 

 should be remembered that while fish eggs are among the 

 most difficult ova to batch. 



—The death of Dr. J. H. Slack, of Bloomsburg, N. J., 

 one of ihe Fish Commissioners of that State, is announced 

 We have no particulars, and trust that tho report is un- 

 founded. 



