6 
FOREST AND STREAM 
success for the reasons stated in the letter from Mr. Green-, 
viz: few spawners. He then tried his newly invented can 
for hatching fish eggs at sea, both at the Smithsonian, and 
upon the Delaware River with good success. After which 
he was sent with shad to Louisana for the tributaries of 
Lake Ponehartrain where he collected the fishes of that re¬ 
gion for the Smithsonian. In October the Virginia Com¬ 
missioners sent for him to superintend their hatcliiug- 
houses at Blacksburg, and Lexington, where he hatched 
many California salmon for the James and its tributaries? 
Coming north he found that upon recommendation of 
Prof. Baird, the Centennial Agriculture Bureau wished 
him to take charge of their aquariums and exhibition of 
live fish, which was accepted, and he now asked the as¬ 
sistance and co-operation of the lisli culturists and com¬ 
missioners in shape of specimens, of live fish, Crustacea, 
&c., or for specimens of fish food, either alive or in alco¬ 
hol. That he will be in Philadelphia in March, and may 
issue a circular stating what will be required for the exhi¬ 
bition and how to send it; also promising that all donations 
shall receive due credit, not only upon the tanks, but also 
upon the catalogues and published reports. 
It was moved that a committee be appointed to nominate 
officers for the ensuing year, ami the President appointed 
Messrs. Porter, Evarts and Hudson, as such committee. 
The question of the American Fish Culturists’ Asso¬ 
ciation being represented at the Centennial was discussed, 
and it was resolved that application he made for a room in 
the Government building, where discussions anil confer¬ 
ence could be held not only among our own fish culturists’, 
but w ith those from abroad who would most proba¬ 
bly visit us at that time. Messrs. Page, Altdcomson and 
Muir were appointed a committee to curry this resolution 
into effect. Air. Geo. E. Ward was appointed Treasurer 
pro tern and a recess was then taken. 
After recess the committee upon nominations reported 
the following names as those selected for officers- for 
1876 7. President, Hon. R. B. Roosevelt; Vice President, 
Geo. Shepard Page; Treasurer, Eugene 0. Blackford; 
Secretary, Al, E. Edmunds; Executive Committee, H. Q. 
Reider, Easton, Pa.; Fred Mather, Honeoye Falls, N. A’.; 
Alex. Kent, Baltimore, Aid.; W. F. Whitcher, Oitawa, 
Ca.; Seth Green, Rochester, N. T. Prof. Janies W. 
Alilner being called npon, related Ills experiences during 
tile past year, more particularly with regard to operations 
with shad, llis attempts at getting spawn commenced in 
North Carolina, from whence he went to the. Potomac. 
His movements in connection'with the Fish Commissioners 
of Virginia and Alaryland, have already been partially de¬ 
tailed in these columns in connection witli our reports 
from those States.’ He described the immense seines used 
on the Potomac, some of them four-fifths of a mile in 
length, and hauled to the shore by means of a steam 
engine. Sometimes 1,800 shad were taken at a haul, and 
the’net used only once on each tide. No less Ilian 7,000,000 
shad were placed in the Connecticut, above the Iloiyokc 
dam, the object being, if possible, to originate a breed of 
fish whose instincts would take them on their return from 
the sea above this obstruction to the spawning beds above. 
The eggs of the California salmon received this year, came 
through in capital order. Half a million or more were 
placed In the Kankakee, in Alichigan. Tlio eggs of the 
Atlantic saluraon are just about ready for distribution. 
Prof. Alilner also describes the work of the United Stales 
Fish Commission at Woods Hole, last summer, when much 
that was or great importance to the scientific wot id was 
accomplished. He also gave an account of what was 
being done in preparing for the fish display at the Cen¬ 
tennial. 
A resolution was offered fixings price for trout eggs 
and fry, under the sanction of the association, which, how¬ 
ever, was negotiated. 
Air. Blackford called the attention of the meeting to the 
necessity of procuring reliable statistics regarding the fish 
supply of the United States. He said:— 
“It. is impossible that we should see clearly what we Are 
driving at unless we start with that which must be the 
foundation on which we must build. Suppose this was a 
live stock associal ion, given to the raising ot horses, or cows. 
The first thing we would do—being practical people— 
would he to get some positive data as td production. Once 
production noted, consumption is readily derived. It 
would be df grestt importance for the association to know 
how many trout were artificially produced and sold in the 
various markets of the country. Stinting from this point, 
I should be even desirous of going further. If the Smith¬ 
sonian Institution, so ably represented by Prof. Baird, is 
laboring to account for the increase or diminishing of cer¬ 
tain classes of sea fish in various years, it can only arrive 
at a just conclusion by being fully informed as 1o the 
catch of fichus on our coast. The hearsay ought to be dis¬ 
carded, and nothing but the positive facts cared for. If 
France, and a portion of England, give yearly Statistics as 
to the harvests of the sea, why should we not furnish the 
same thing to the American public? I should think that, 
as far as regards the trout eulturist, the Fish Commission¬ 
ers of the various States might, without very much trouble, 
furnish what might be a reliable account of the cultivated 
trout sold within tlieir jurisdiction. 
As to the sea fish, such an important subject, having to 
do with (lie food of the people, I do not see why facts in 
regard to them are not obtainable, though to secure them 
the means to be employed would be more difficult. Hav¬ 
ing these ideas in view, 1 shall propose the following pre¬ 
amble and resolution: 
Whereas, The Fish Cultn rists’ Association believe that 
data in regard to the catch of staple fish, such as are sold 
in the markets of the country, would be of great impor¬ 
tance, allowing the posjtive determination of questions of 
vast commercial and scientific importance, be it 
liesolvsd, That the Fish Culturists’Associaiion request 
the Fish Commissioners to urge on the State Governments 
of which they are the representatives, the necessity of the 
State appointing certain officers, whose duty it shall be to 
collect such data, so that reliable information may be ob¬ 
tained in regard to the catch of staple fish inthe various 
States. 
Messrs. Alather, Alilner and Phillip* were appointed a 
committee to report upon the advisability of presenting 
the Society’s diplomas or medals tor inventions in fish 
culture, to report at the next meeting. It was also resolved 
that all fish culturists be requested to report at the next 
meeting on their various ways of propagating fish. 
The next meeting of the Association will probably be 
held at Philadelphia during the Summer, hut the "reg¬ 
ular meeting will be held on the second Wednesday in Feb¬ 
ruary, 1877. 
IMPREGNATION OF FISH WITH GAS- 
TAR, ETC. 
’\ Acjuadxle Pokes, Wexonaii, N. J. 
EDtTOB Forest asd Stream:— 
Noticing t he item from one of yonr Philadelphia correspondents con- 
• cerning the spoiling of fish in the SchoylfeilL by petrolenm, gas-tar, etc., 
reminds me that last fall while moving block bass over the Camden and 
Amboy Railroad, a Philadelphia gentleman came into the car to look at 
tbebass. In course of conversation he informed me that for years he 
.hod been in the habit of fishing tip the Schuylkill, bnt the contamina¬ 
tion of the water by petroleum and factory refuse was ruining the flavor 
of the fish. He expressed himself detigbred at the action of the West 
Jersey Game Protective Society in stocking West Jersey waters with 
variable game and food fish, which would ore long be not only abundant 
bnt healthy. 
Noting also the item from your Terre Haute correspondent as to I he 
finding of an undigested-minnow inthe stomach of a large black boss 
this winter, I will say that I have a spring reservoir, bricked side9 and 
bottom, which I have during the late fall and up to January 1st kept a 
few three-pound black bass in order to study their habits. The day 
before I took them ouL I pnt in with them a pike or pickerel six or seven . 
riches in length. When x took the bass out the next day the pike had 
disappeared. Milton P. Peirce. 
FISHWAYS. 
The following correspondence has been sent to us for 
publication by Air. Belli Green, with a view to answering 
atone anil the same time numerous questions addressed 
him on the same subject: — 
Ohio State Association fob tttf. ) 
Protection- of Qatwk and Fish y 
Cincinnati, January, 27i-h, J87G. j 
Seth Green, Esq.. 
My Dear dir—A. bill 
thejpreseiu law which 
law pending in thJ Senate of Ohio to.repeal 
i pels millers to erect flslnvays over dams. It 
is expected that there.will be a close vote on it. The object simply is, 
of course, to get out of paying for the chtri.e. 
In tue discussion of ii, die other day, it was said by pome Senators 
that the fish ebute had proved to be an utter failure— that yonr experi¬ 
ence in the East Imd demonstraied that—and lliat fiph would not ascend 
the Chutes to spawn; in a word, Hint it wns pll ueelesa. Wc arc very 
anxious to have jour views upon it, recogniziug as we do, the great 
weight of your authority. 
This bill will be pushed to a vote in a week or po, and, presuming on 
tbc interest you rake in tbe subject, >nc would be obliged if you will in¬ 
form ne at an early liny. Thus A. LtniAji. 
Rochester, January 30th, 1876. 
Tito*. A. Loo am, Efq.: 
My Hear dir —Yonrs is received. I do not believe any man has any 
motj right 1o put an obslrucfion in any public si ream to stop the free 
passage of fish up and down thun he has to pnt a fence across'a public 
road aud stop the free passage of people on ihu highway. As to fish¬ 
ways being a failure in this part of tne country, I would say that there 
have heen but very few built. There is one at bclienectady on a dam in 
the, Mohawk iliver that is a perfect success. Tt is the Bowen patent. 
But suppose the few that have been built h; d proved to be failures, that 
is uo reason wby they could not be made a success. 1 saytheycan.be 
made a success, and if I had not had any harder problems to solve since 
I commenced fish breeding than to get up a Ibtiway that the fit-h wcnld 
have an easy passage over, I would not have so many gray hairs on 
my head as I have to day. Sktu Green. 
VEGETABLE DTET FOR TROUT. 
^ ' January, 1876 . 
Editor Forest axu Stream:— 
I have been much Interested in u little controversy which has lately 
appeared in your paper, aud would like to add my ideas on the subject 
ro the discussion, particularly as the one point on which I doubt the 
good results of entirely vegetable diet Tor trout has not yet been 
touched upon. Undonbtedly trout enn bn starved into taking only vege¬ 
table food, and may, apparently, thrive and grow fat on it, and be in 
good condition to send to market to become food in their lime. Bnt, 
docs a diet which is entirely unnatural to them in thSir normal condi¬ 
tion fit them to strong healthy offspring? Has any fish trader tiled 
taking ova and rearing young tiout from parent fish fed on only vegeta¬ 
ble diet? I should be glad to* have Mr. Hale try it thoroughly and let 
ns know the resnlts. 
We have, at the Cold Spring Trout Ponds, In Charlestown, N. H., 
taken the ova, and from them reared the young fry from trout owned by 
a neighboring fish breeder which were fed almost entirely on curd, 
little or no meat being given (hem, and not more than a half or one- 
third of them V'ere perfect fish, but \vere monstrosities of oue kind or 
oi her; Uonble heads and curved spines preponderating, Avhile very many 
had “blue swelling.” As the ponds and parent fisii of our neighbor 
were in good condition in every way, I could not account for this tend¬ 
ering to deformity by any other cause than the want of proper animal 
food. Therefore, if trout feed on curd alone, which is aqiina! diet, do 
not produce strong healthy progeny, how will it be with the offspring 
of tbosc fed entirely on vegetable matter? And, also, being, as you say, 
cannibals, will they not much more readily devonr each other than when 
having moderate rations of meat served them with other things? Does 
Mr. Hale know that, while his fish appear to bo vegetarians, they are 
not when not observed, quietly, devouring each other by way of desert 
to their vegetarian repast? rioping to hear soon on this question, I re¬ 
main, gentlemen, Frances \\ r . Webber, 
SALMON TROUT FRY GRATIS. 
Roc iiester, N, Y~ 
Editor Forest and Stream;— 
Our State TIatchipg House is boiling over with j’onng salmon trout, 
and all parties wishing them to stock any public waters in New York 
Slate will send tbeir orders as soon as possible. I will send them to nuy 
1< cality In New York State by the parties paying the traveling expenses 
of a'messenger, and giving the name of the' lake, and full dlrCKtions 
where to come with the young fry, and who to call upon for settlement. 
The aboie is all there is to explain. Send your orders as soon as .pas¬ 
sible, and they V.Ill be filled beyond your expecratious Address 
Seth Green, Bochester, N. Y. 
Tue Neyv Bhunsthck Tishebies. — The transpor¬ 
tation of. frozen fresh fii-li from. Northern New Bruns¬ 
wick over the Inter-Colonial Railroad is assuming very 
large proportions. Last week 115,000 barrels were brought 
to St . John alone, chiefly for shipment to the United Stales 
markets. _ _ 
—Canned fisii generally is not a particularly wholesome 
food, and is frequently dangerous. It should never b.e 
eaten uni ess it bas been heated to a boiling temperature 
shortly before, even though it is preferred cold subsequent¬ 
ly; ami it is particularly liable to spoil soon after opening, 
under ihu most favorable circumstances. Brands devoid 
-of these necessary directions for snfe use should be avoid¬ 
ed, and persons who persist in putting such food upon the 
market without precautions, should on placed under legal 
restraint. — Rinitmian. 
mul §iver ^gishitjg. 
FISH IN SEASON IN FEBRUARY. 
SODTnEItK WATERS. 
Pompano, tTrachynotus carohnui. Grouper. Epinephelpus nlgritue, 
Drum (two species.; Family deice- Trout (black bass,) Cehirv/niftlt 
indie, qtrarlu*. 
Kingtish, Jfenticirrvs nebulosus. Striped Bass or Kockflsh, lioccut 
Sea Jiass, dcicenops ocellatus. hneatus, 
Sheepshead, Arch'wirgux probato- Tailurtl-h. Pomatnmus saUatrix. 
cejihalus. Black bass, Micropterue sutmoidss: 
Snapper, Lutjanus cams. Jf nigricans. 
[Under the head of “ Game and Fish in Season” ice can only specify in 
general terms 'he several varieties, because Me laics of Mates vary so much 
that wen we to attempt to particularise we could do no less than publish 
those entire sections that relate it) the kinds of game in. question. This 
would require a great amount of our space. In designating game lee are 
guided by the laws of nature , upon which all legislation is founded, and 
our readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws gf Ihetr re- 
K ive mates for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist 
will only create confusion. 1 
Fish is AIatiket.—F ish continues to he In abundant 
supply, as the open weather interferes hut little with the 
operations of our local fishermen. Our quotations nre: 
•Bass, striped, 25 cents per pound; smelts, from Maine, 15 
cents; blue fish, 15 cents; salmon, frozen, 50 cents; 
mackerel each, 20 cents; shad, from N. C., extras, .$3 
each; Savannah, do., 75 cants; white perch, 18 cents; 
Spanish mackerel, 50 ’ cents ; green turtle, 22 cents; 
terrapin per dozen, $12; frost fish, 8 cents; halibut, 
16 cents, haddock, 8 cents; king fish, from Key West. 20 
cents; codfish, 10cents; black fish, 18 cents; herring, from 
Newfoundland, 8 cents; flounders, large, 15 cents; eels, 
18 cents; lobsters, live, 10 cents; sheepshead, 30 cents; 
scollops per gallon, $1; soft el urns, per 100, 110 cents to 00 
cents; white "fish, 18 cents; pickerel, 15 een[s; sun fish, 12 
cents; perch, yellow, 12 cents; salmon trout, 20 cents; 
ciscoes, 12 cents; hard crabs, per lilt), .ft; soft crabs, pet- 
dozen, 75 cents; pompauo, $1 per pound. 
X Smew Fishing.—L argo numbers of smells, have been 
caught'through the ice upon tlie tide ponds, at Danversport, 
AJass., the past week. Twenty-five to thirty dozen a day 
have been taken by some persons. They are taken with 
hand lines, and run exceedingly large; three were weighed 
and found to ,weigh just a pouud. Smelt fishing from the 
wharves has been very poor lor a number of seasons past. 
This is probably owing to tbedestrudion of a large number 
of fish during the months of Alarch and April, when 
passing up the stream to spawn. One evening last Spring, 
while passing a brook in this place, I saw fully thirty men 
and boys engaged in laking lhem with dip nets, which is 
contrary to file laws of llie Slate. The town of Danvers 
has Fish Commissioners, but they seem to take no interest 
in stopping this wanton destmclion. A. F. G. 
y Howto JIake “Needle Point” Hooks‘WitUoutBeatsds 
—S elect your favorite head. Ascertain that, it is made 
of well-tempered wire. A hook can be tested by tbrusling 
iUnta a piece of wood, and with a pair of pliers judge of 
its strength. Some will draw out straight; others will snap 
in a weak, place, while a good hook, well tempered, will 
hold its own with a fair pull. Hold the hook firmly be¬ 
tween the forefinger and tbumbof llie left, baud; then with 
a small jeweller’s file (the Englislimake is best)sharpen the 
point. A few well-turned strokes from an expert, and you 
have a hook with a clean point, as sharp and as bright as 
a needle—a “needle point” without the annealing pro¬ 
cess. Now, if the beard is an objection, break it off with 
a pair of small pliers, and smooth away any rough point 
with the file. Who first introduced fish-hooks? \Vho gave 
them the beard, and why’? I think it is a subject on which 
even Father Isaac is silent. Was there a beard on the 
hook that Pliny tells of that caught the fish where an ox 
chain’was used fora casting line? Once on laying open 
the head of a trout for microscopical study, on looking al 
the teeth lu the throat, I saw oiily vast rows of beards. 
There they were—teeth all befit backwards and at the 
same augle as the beard. What goes dmvu tbc throat of a 
fish won’t come up—no regurgitating symptoms there. 
The beard of the hook is the model nature gave for a firm 
hold on slimy, slippery things. A hook with a “nefedle 
poiDt" is a good thing; hut a hook with a “needle point” 
and beard a better thing. But if anyone is anxious to 
make the experiment of fishing with a beardless hook, let 
them break the beard off some half-worn fly and try. 
When one sits in a boat .armed with a short rod and short 
line, and snaps the fish in without lire exhausting run for 
shelter, where the object is to fill the pond and not the bus¬ 
hel, of course the beard-is an objection; for all a poor trout 
can do with its larcerated jaws is to sulk in a corner until 
better, or else turn on its sine and die.—S akaii.J. McBiudk. 
Mvmfonl, Monroe Co* ff. Y., Jan. 29 th, 1876. 
Shad in the Delawaiik.—O n Monday week a shad 
weighing 4f pounds was taken in the Delaware off Bombay 
Hook, and was served up at dinner at the Reform Club, of 
Philadelphia, on the following evening. The Germantown 
Telegraph says,-— 
“During the past three months, owing to the mildness of 
the weather, occasional shad have been captured in the 
lower Delaware, in November last, a rpecimen weighing 
four and a half pounds was taken near Reedy Island. 
During every Winter, if the weather is moderate and clear 
for a week or longer in January or February, a few are 
netted near Bombay Hook. They undoubtedly remain 
during Winter in the deep water about 1 hat locality, ami 
when llie temperature rises they commence to ascend the 
river. Not many years ago, after a mild atmosphere of 
several weeks’ duration, followed byseveru freezing weal ti¬ 
er, a school of shad were discovered near this cily, frozen 
up in a small field of ice, from which they were inken and 
sold at high prices, the fish apparently having been caught 
’napping’ by llie frost only a flay or two before," 
