Febiutary 17, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



51 



sullieieni 

 Europe, 



i (ratfvc 



C!£ht 8f)« 



the lead 

 consider 

 As thes, 

 school of 



a chars of | doulii 



B 



mpalh; 

 ' " i Sit 



I r/t A 



old, it 



tions difficult to belt 

 America, every little 

 possessed a well charai 

 it seems sale to consid 

 single well-marked 

 variations under the 



an iohlhyologbt, Yon Siebold, 

 irs of one polymorphic genus. 

 lean ichthyologists are with the 

 is in the light of our own oDserva- 

 e that upon tile salmon family in 

 ike, or grojjp of lakes in Europe, 

 ri» d Spcciesof fish. For the present 

 fchp chars of Europe as members of a 

 species which undergoes numerous 

 ' ifiuence. of changes in temperature 



elevation, food and light, and that the saibling of Bi 

 ami Austria is one anil the same with the "Stiibb , :.., ' 

 of Prance and Switzerland, the "ga)nwJfldo"Of Xorthern Italy, 

 the *S'tOrgock." of Wales, the " fresh-water herring" of Ire- 

 land, the "char" of England and Scotland, the "roeding" of 

 Sweden and the "kullmund" of Norway. 



This fish, whether it be regarded as a single species or as a 

 group of closely allied species, is distributed over all of 

 northwestern Europe and possibly also over a portion of 

 Asia : although, since the Asiatic representatives of the genus 

 have not hecn suffciently studied, it is impossible as yet to 

 make this generalization. It is emphatically a cold-water 

 fish, thriving at a temperature little above the freezing point, 

 and in the period of greatest vigor and perfection at the ap- 

 proach of winter, as is indicated by the fact that at this time 

 the spawning period takes place. ]So tish of any kind has 

 ever been found nearer to the North Pole than the char, a 

 species having been discovered by the last English polar ex- 

 pedition sixteen degrees north of the Arctic. Circle, In the 

 south of Europe, its range is limited by the Alps, and in this 

 region its study has brought to light a very curious fact 

 which confirms" still more "strongly "the idea jus! spoken of, 

 that the fish thrive the best in a very cold climate. In the 

 extreme North and in the extreme South this fish reaches 

 its greatest perfection. The Northern race, found every- 

 where in the lakes of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Scot- 

 land, sometimes, it is said, attains the length of four feet. 

 In England and France and in the lower lakes of Switzerland 

 the char is comparatively insignificant, while in the deep cold 

 Alpine lakes of Germany and Switzerland it is often found 

 two feet or more in length and weighing ten or twelve, and 

 even in exceptional cases, twenty-four pounds. A similar 

 phenomenon is exhibited by certain sub-Arctic plants, which 

 thrive in the extreme North and upon the summits of the 

 Alps, become dwarfed or almost extinct in the lowlands 

 between. The highest development of the char, however, 

 seems to he attaiue'd in the largest lakes— like that of Geneva 

 — while in the shallower lakes higher up among the moun- 

 tains the fish are smaller. 



It is interesting, too, to compare the effect, of temperature 

 and, secondarily, of elevation upon the saiblillg and upon 

 our own red-spotted trout. This species has its home be- 

 tween lat. 32-i-deg. andSodeg., in the lakes and streams of 

 the Atlantic water-shed, in "the mountain sources Of a lew 

 rivers flowing into the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and in some of the southern affluents' of Hudson's Bay. In 

 the North, for instance, in the valley of the St. Lawrence, it 

 is common in the lowland streams and estua'ies and even in 

 the adjoining parts of the ocean, and here it attains its 

 greatest development, As we proceed further South, iu 

 accordance with the limitations of temperature, its range be- 

 comes more restricted, and in Southern New England it is 

 only at certaiu seasons of the year— at the approach of whiter 

 — that they find their way into the lowland streams which 

 are in summer too warm to he endurable, and at other times 

 they are found near their sources among the hills. On Long 

 Island, however, they are still found in the meadows and to 

 some extent in the estuaries. Passing to the southward of 

 New York — the natural southern limit of the salmon, the 

 range of the front becomes more and more restricted to the 

 highlands, and although they are found as far South of lat. 

 32deg. iu the Western districts of the Carolinas aud the ex- 

 treme Northern part of Georgia, they there occur only at 

 great elevations among the mountains of the Alleghany 

 chain. South of New York they are effectually laud-locked 

 by the prevailing high temperature of the lowland streams 

 and are never able to gain access to salt or brackish water. 

 Their supply of food is, consequently, limited and they are 

 confined to brooklets among the mountains. Although the 

 temperature of this region is usually very favorable, other 

 requisites for high development are lacking and the species 

 is represented throughout the southern part of its range by 

 diminutive individuals. A similar phenomenon is met with 

 in those instances where the European char exists in the 

 high and comparatively shallow mountain lakes of the Swiss 

 Dud Austrian Alps. 



In the southern part of their habitat the American brook- 

 trout finds its evironment. unfavorable to its perfect develop- 

 ment : on the other hand, the European char meets, in the 

 Alpine lakes conditions precisely similar to those of the lakes 

 of Norway and Scotland, and under these favorable condi- 

 tions has survived in a state of great perfection. 



We have in the great lakes of North America fish closely 

 allied to the chars, which, under remarkably favorable cir- 

 cumstances, with plenty of room and an immense supply of 

 rich and easy attainably food, have developed into great size 

 and commercial importance— the lake-trout and the sisco- 

 wet. 



The lake-trout, found in I he smaller lakes of Maine and 

 Eastern Canada are very similar, in many particulars to the. 

 European char. The "American species which bears the 

 closest resemblance to the European char is, as has been 

 stated, the blue-bucked trout or oquassa trout, of Pangeley 

 Lake; the red-spotted trout of the Pacific coast, SalMinux 

 malma, known also as the "Dolly Yarden," being very 

 similar in habits to the brook-trout of the East. 



The resemblances between the saibling and the oquassa are 

 as follows : 



I. They inhabit the deepest waters of their lake home and 

 are never seen except at their spawning season. 



II. They spawn late iu the fall. 



III. At the spawning season they come into shallow 

 water near the shores, or in the mouths of streams and may 

 be taken with the greatest of ease. 



IY. They never willingly inhabit streams of running 

 water. 



These peculiarities the two species have in common, and 

 excepting the habit of autumn spawning they share them 

 with no other members of the family. The saibliug, how- 

 ever, is a much larger and finer Species than the oquassa, and 

 it is hoped that it may be suitable for cultivation in many of 

 the smaller lakes in which pur great tike trout is not likely 

 lo thrive, It is mm (j&j [« p i -a-v csceUent food-fish and is 



more delicate iu flavor lh; 

 ; mos'l of the excellent qualities oi 



The saiblimr, which If 



Go 



is the Europet 

 The follow 1 

 sketch by Dr. 

 much in forn 

 habitat, Tho 

 are always sin 

 Savoy have 

 color — yellqw 

 I irii irb. c iE 



! ,;-•-,.■ I 'I 



the lake trout), shar- 

 te brook trout. 



iluCed into the United States, 



, I J, BSt slate of perfection. 



:onnt of its habits is translated from a 



lack, of Berlin : " The saibling varies 



i tJ I, lor, accardiug to its age, sex and 



•'■ :• "from the^highest. Alpine lakes, 



i those in the lakes of Switzerland and 



(Kdii . larger scales and also a clearer 



ite with red belly. This form was 



distinct and was known as the ' rittcr" 



j tho river-trout, the species which is 



atest height above the sea. In Switzerland, 



according to Isehudi, it is found at a height of 4,400 feet : 



Bavaria, according lo Vo 

 height of 5,0p0feAt, and 

 the height of 



height c 

 Alpiua lakes, 

 It seems eerte 

 Eastern than i 

 The breeding 



feet. Inj 

 ds is the 

 i that it i 

 the West! 

 ason occur 



iebold, in the Green Luke at the 

 Tvrol in the Gaislucher Sen at 

 .!',,-, the PlenderlQ Spa at the 

 Green Luke, us well as in other 

 ; species of fish which occurs, 

 mid at greater heights in the 

 Alps and is also more abundant, 

 the months of October, No- 



vember and Decern I cr, and continues until February; for 

 example, in certain lakes in Steiermark. In Lake Fuesseu 

 it takes place in October aud November, in Lake Messkvich, 

 where thev arc artificially propagated in February and 

 March ; in the lakes at SalV.berg they spawn from November 

 to January and apparently also in February, and iu spite of 

 the extensive fishery during the spawning" time there is no 

 evidence of a decrease iu their numbers. They feed upon 

 small fish and also, when at liberty, upon the small crusta- 

 ceans, Daphnids and Cyclopids. In the Alpine lakes these 

 constitute their only food. In Germany aud in Austria it 

 has i,etn found that the saihling is one of the most expensive 

 fish to propagate artificially On account of its food. The 

 ordinary size of the saibling is from eleven to twelve inches, 

 and its "weight from one-half to one pound. In the highest 

 lakes they are, as has been mentioned, smaller, while when 

 they are moved from such lakes into (hose that are deeper 

 they increase rapidly in size. In the Salt zherg lakes, where 

 they are taken upon certaiu spawning grounds from Novem- 

 ber'to January, it takes about live of t'iiein to make a pound, 

 but. large specimens of three to twelve pounds are taken in 

 August and September. In the lake of Zug, which, according 

 to Iloch, yields more saibling than any other lake in Swilzer- 

 land it lakes five or six, often eight or nine, to make a 

 pound. Li the lake of Geneva they are often taken weigh- 

 ing from twenty to twenty-four pounds. Ilerr Hoch him- 

 self saw one weighing seventeen pounds." 



To this may be added a paragraph from Millet's La ChiMure 

 "dc Vefill," 



"It is very voracious, and like the trout, very swift and 

 active in its" movements. It habitually feeds upon small 

 fishes, upon crustaceans. opOD laollusfcS and. insects, aud in 

 two Or three years, under favorable circumstances, atts' 



the length of fifteen to twenty inches, 

 cute and savory and about Lake Leiim 

 other fish." 



The saibling has been artificially] 

 fish culturists for a period of ten yeai 

 magnificently in captivity. The 1ml 

 du.'-s yearly 39Q.00O Of. 400.000 ;. 

 saibling, and plants them in the ncig 

 tanks at the late International Fisher) 

 were exhibited many superb specimei 

 them over two feet in length, and or 

 the National Museum by Ilerr Y 

 Dentscher Fischerei Yerein. It 

 Pungeley Lake trout, oaughl |)j U 



Its flesh is vfery dcli- 

 i it is preferred to any 



opaga 



hodv hai 



Inch 



Market. 



In selecting n 

 just received, th 

 to find a body of 

 temperature to the 

 sent them to Lak 

 60,000 will be plar 

 a number together 

 of introduction ins 



It is a questi 



Bh 



ted bv German 

 jre and thrives 

 ehery at, Aussie pro- 

 .f arliBcially brooded 

 ■hhoring lakes. In the 

 ,- Exhibition iu Berlin, 

 is of this fish ; some of 

 io of these was sent, to 

 Behr, president of the 

 s large as the famous 



George Shepard Page, 

 sforci'a in the Fulton 



place 



lich to deposit the saihling eggs 

 mcr of Fisheries has endeavored 

 imilar as possible in depth aud 

 tes Likes, and he has, therefore, 

 scngee, Maine. Here the whole 

 he hope that by placing so large 

 of moderate size the experiment 



•st which of the many 



European names of this fish should be adopted iu tho United 



ation be a success. 

 nee the fish acquires 



m fish culturists, who 

 people of the United 



States, should the experiment of ; 



It would seem most, appropriate 11 



its greatest, perfection iu Germany 



be adopted, pimicuarly since the ( 



have so kindly made this gift to 



8tates, will regard as a compliment "the adoption in this 



country of the German name of one of the favorite fishes of 



Germany. 



Si-EiiuSG Buffalo — Yail, Iowa, Jan. 26. —I saw on the 

 street a few days ago a load of buffalo fish, IhibaJticJMys, 

 weighing from thirty-five to fifty pounds each. They were 

 speared through the ice iu the Okebojis, which arc situated 

 in the northwest part of the Slate. It. is a novel sight, to one 

 unaccustomed to it, to see the ice dotted, as far us the eye can 

 reach, with little black houses. These houses are about six 

 feet square, made of rough boards and covered with tar pa- 

 per to exclude all light. These are placed oyer holes cut in 

 the ice, where the fisherman takes his position and awaits Ids 

 game. Some of these fish are speared at a depth of forty 

 feet, as the water in these hikes is so transparent that thev 

 can plainly be seen at that depth. The spears used have aii 

 iron handle (instead of wood} to give the required weight for 

 spearing in that depth of water. Fish Commissioner Shaw 

 has thoroughly stocked these lakes. East and West Okeboji 

 and Spirit Lake, which is only a few rods distant, with such 

 fish as are best suited to these waters. I know of no lovelier 

 resort for the tourist or more attractive to the sportsman than 

 the Okebojis. The. lakes are teeming with fish and water- 

 fowl in their season. 13. B. B. 



Oct, Your Reels.— Every owner of a good reel should 

 oil it. We are not sure how long we have known this, but 

 it was recently recalled by Orvis, the reel maker of Manches- 

 ter, Vt., to whom we sent one of his reels for repairs. The 

 reel was a trout reel and had seen hard service onthe sea coast 

 in bluelishing with a trout rod, and having been wet several 

 times in salt, water the click rusted out. Perhaps we hadn't 

 oiled it, but we can advise just as well as if we had used 

 a aallon oil it. We sent, it to Orvis for anew click and he 

 writes: "I think it will go all right now. A drop of oil 

 now and then don't hurt a reel in the least. I think a. reel 

 ought to have as good usage as a wheelbarrow, and you luow 

 tliey Bojpetiioeg oil them," 



That is all right. We see the point and hasten to sound 

 the alarm lo such of our readers as own fine reels and inform 

 them that a reel needs oil, like a wheelbarrow. 



JUSTKIE for Pom-heks.— Some of those brave poachers 

 who guarded Oneida Lake, N. Y., by patrolling it with guns 

 to protect their rights to steal from i'ts waters from any sud- 

 den swoop of a game protector, and who vowed to haj- him 

 at sight, have come to grief. The Oneida Couutv Fishing 

 Club,; through State Game Constable W. P. Dodge," of Pros- 

 pect, is pushing prosecutions for violation of the. game laws. 

 Before the Grand Jury, in session at Otica, Frank Pryne, J. 

 :. T lil tile, C. Morse and C Morse, Jr., all of South Bay, 

 ,.m : indicted for net fishing. Three parties, living at Lake- 

 port, have also been indicted, and more are hinted at. The 

 only tiling to be regretted is that the action of the Grand 

 Jury leaked out, and one of the persons, a town game con- 

 stable at that, skipped to Canada after the manner of Sitting 

 Bull before the howitzers of Captain Ilgcs. Some of the 

 newly-appointed game protectors are making poaching so un- 

 profitable that there is danger,.'!' the business he:'ie; aban- 

 doned by the noble men who steal the fish and game which 

 belongs 10 the whole people, and of their having to abandon 

 their occupation and to go to work, a calamity dreaded by 

 them. 



The Oneida Fishing Club evidently have some of the, right 

 stuff in them, aud in co-operation with Protector Dodge, 

 who still lives despite the threats, are evidently bent on giv- 

 ing honest anglers an equal chance with the thieves to what 

 is the right of every citizen. 



THE ENGLISH NATIONAL FISHERIES EXmBrnON. 



WE have received from Mr. ft. 13. Maraton, Editor of the ion- 

 don Fhhi,r, (,.<■;,':.-. a f-tsl he „-!:: prhles for the bc.-t 

 models, apparatus, plan-, essays, maiml'ii. tmes, etc., prepared by 

 the exhibitors at the National Fisheims Exhibition, to bo held iu 

 Norwich, April, 1881. Mr. Marstou, in a private note, m it . Unit 

 this will he by far the best exhibition of the ldud ever seer, in Groat 

 Prita in : and thinks thai it will pay Americans to look it up, ex- 

 hibit and compete. We referred to t he fact that there «m h, l.u 

 such an exhibition a long time ago, but as it is advertised as a 

 National, and not as an Inter-national one, we supposed that it 

 was not open to Americana. 

 The following is tho prize list : 



1. Plan or model of the best risheiilttiro establishment, £25. 



2. Fish hatching apparatus, fidl size, with appliances and imple- 



ments. X'-V 



3. Model of fish pass, £10. 



-1. Essav on t!a a icHmatii ation and cross breeding of fish, £10. 



5 Essay on pisi ieultnre as a source of national wealth, £20. 



i;. Mod.'! ,,i'.i ,,-!,;■ si.- "e. no. 



V. Model of a fishing orifttt. £10. 



8. Apparatus and gear complete fox a trawler. £10. 



0. Apparatus nod gear complete for a di liter, tin. 



111. Colled ion of nets used iu deep ■■<-:: drift ashing, £20. 



11. An improved trawl net. capable of allotting immature fish and 



.-.■in-,- [-,-, ■-,-,i,i (hi rrfrom, E30. 



12. Crab and lobster pot. £3. 



13. Plan or model of .the best ilsh-eunng establishment, i'2fi. 



II. Election ol inland tishiug tackle, comprising an angler's out- 

 fit, £10. 

 lo. Collection of sea tlshim,' tackle, £10. 



n;. i 'i.ncottoii of aehing implements, fcaoMe, etc.. used in the Nor- 

 folk and Suffolk waters, £10. 



17. Aalgling Associations, the best code, of rules for then- manage- 



ment iu a sportsmanlike manner, a ealmon rod with winch. 



.-iltin --;-,-,, ;'--j ,1-,/.. sruimin mid trout Hies, K, D. Marsiom 

 Esq., Editor of the Fisluwj (Inzrt/p. 



18. Model of a boat suitable for general fishing in the Norfolk and 



Suffolk inland waters : the models to be ;.; full size, and the 

 priconot to exceed t'12 complete with all fittings: each ex- 

 hibitor must guarantee to supply as many boats as may bo 

 ordered of him at the price be may name : £10. 



19. lioat. full si.;e. complete with all lUtniKS, for oirshoro fishing 



iu rough weather, requiring d it mo,e than four hands ; the 

 first consideration being -mhiluy iu a surf, the second, cost; 

 the third: weight ; each exl.ibitoi must guarantee to supply 

 as many boats a* - bi a-dered of him at. the price ho may 



20. Hi-ess'toYa ufe-loatcrow. t'PJ. 



21. Plan for ft trap or sluice for taking eels, so as not to interfere 



22. Mode of finking' for shrimps, sprato and other fishes, such 



mode int. nidi i :' J a substitute tor fixed engines in the estua- 

 ries of rivers, and must satisl'v the lolloping conditions : 

 (1.) Its capacity for catching fish to be equal to (hat of 



the fixed eugine. 

 (2.) Its action not to be prejudicial to the lisherics of tho 

 river, £10. 

 23 EBBay on eyst** breeding, £15. 

 2-J, Essav on the utilisation of localities geiierallv suitable for tho 



- ,':•!-, illiolie.j uv.-tcrs, ilo. 

 23 Essayqn tho utilization of localities in Norfolk and Suffolk 

 suitable for the cultivation of mussels aud other shell fish, 



26. Essay on the artificial propagation of .inadromous lish other 



than the salmon and the restocking the tidal waters of our 

 large rivers urtificiallv with smelts, etc., i'lO. 



27. System of saving of 1 f j at se i in (he transport of lish from tho 



' fishing vessel to the carrier, illustrated bv model, £25. 



28. Flan of impr.oed fishermen's dwelling, £15. 



29. Model of refrigerating lish van, £20. 



30. Ditto, lish van not refrigeral ,,y. suitable for general use by 



road or rail, theed&t not to exceed £75, £30. 



31. System of BiKuaUtiigai night forf-bm- iV. m and vessels, n«. 

 32. ' Process I '■ ir 1 he ul ihaatioh of condemned ash and Hah refuse as 



33 jwoss for mii'-riii^ innocuous to (is.h-liio streama polluted 



-. rerage tad Dueniical or other- works, -i'20. 

 31. Essav on Ibe. salmon disease, its nature, causes and possible 

 remedies, I'lO, It. 33. Mansion, Esq., Editor of the f hiring 



Sastetie. 



35. E-sav on the parasitic arid other diseases of fish other than 



salmon, .in. 

 30. Essav on the principle upon wb 



eries of the country should hi 

 if Conservators shoe 



any legislation on the iish- 

 ,sed". and is it desirable that 

 hi -, ;■ tin management of ., u 

 the fisheries in the country, with power to impose, licenses, 

 £50 lift prize. f25 2d prize. 

 37. Collection of stuffed lish caught in Norfolk and Suffolk, £5. 

 88. Specimens of dried, salted, smoked and tinned fish of all 

 kinds, £10. 



39. Collection of inland a, piatie ilora and fauna, £10. 



40. Collection of edible shell lish, £10. 



11. A light, portable, waterproof package, to contain set of tackle 

 for inland angling, with compartinc-it for luncheon aud suit- 

 able for carrying in the hand, £2. 



42. Essav on the migrations ami spawning of sea lish. especially 



soles, tmbots, plaice and other flat fifth, £20. 



43. Essav. accompanied bv maps showing localities where mussel 



beds can bo established, and how existing •mussel beds can 

 be best cultivated and protected so as to afford an increased 

 supply of mussels as bait for the long-line fisheries, £80. 



41. Fishing 'rod. line and fittings complete, best sidled for general 



use in the Norfolk and suiffoh, inland waters, £2. 

 15. Essav on the causes of the migraboii of salmon from sea lo 

 river, as inlhienced specially by height of wafer, i. -, ., ■ 



and olf cr atmospherii Jitioji i L5 



