FOREST AND STREAM 
213 
food. There me here I,wo species of white crane, one 
very large, and having a crimson patch on the top of (lie 
head, this bird is very showy, and if only winged, ex¬ 
tremely dangerous to approach. I heard of a man who 
broke the wing of one, the crane charged him at once and 
stock his beak into the barrel of the gun, (which was a 
12 bore) the man immediately hoisted him and kept him 
there until strangled. 
The yellow legged plover is also very plentiful here, 
and one can make a bag in almost any marsh or swamp; in 
the full of the year they ate very fat and a delicious addi¬ 
tion to I lie larder. With respect to our larger game it. con¬ 
sists chiefly of moose, elk, caribou, black and brown bear, 
and beaver, the latter iu my opinion as much a delicacy as 
any of them. Moose, especially in the vicinity of Pembina 
Mountains and the region north of Shoal Lake are very 
numerous, as also in that portion of the country lying be¬ 
tween here and tlie Lake of the Woods. One Indian, 
whom 1 know, having last winter killed sixteen in nine 
days with his single flint gun. Unlike their brethren in 
Nova Scotia and New limns wick, the moose here do not 
“yard,” but travel generally in pairs or at most lour to¬ 
gether. The hunting of them is very difficult and groat 
hardship is endured by the hunter, being compelled to use 
very large snow-shoes, and then sinking to the knees at 
every step. The snow in this country having no crust at 
any time during the winter. Of course I speak of the 
wooded district; on the plains there is never any great 
depth of snow. » G. M. 
Winnipeg, Manitoba ,, Canada, April, 1876. 
ABSTRACT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT 
OF THE CANADIAN COMMISSIONER 
OF FISHERIES. 
W E have before us the voluminous “blue book” which 
comprises the Annual Report of Mr, W. F. 
Whitcher, Dominion Commissioner of Fisheries, for the 
year 1876. From it we And that the total value of fish 
prodnets in 1876 was $10,347,886, exclusive of the fisheries 
of British Columbia, Manitoba and the North-West Terri¬ 
tories. The exports' of fish and oils from these countries 
between 30th June, 1874, and 30th June, 1875, are given in 
the Trade Returns as amounting in value to $134,723. It 
may be estimated that the value of fish entering into do¬ 
mestic use iu Ihese two Provinces is more than double that 
amount, which would increase the total product to about 
$400,000. The product of the fisheries in 1875 was some¬ 
what loss in quantity than it was in 1874. 
This difference is observable more particularly in the 
yield of the fishery for salmon and lobsters. The tables 
subjoined to the report show in detail the various kinds 
and quantities of fish caught in the several Provinces and 
also their values. It is so arranged lis to admit of an easy 
comparison of each detail with similar details in Ihe pub¬ 
lished returns for the previous year, in order lhat the in¬ 
crease and decrease in the quantity and value of the differ¬ 
ent kinds of fish may be readily understood. This detailed 
comparison enables us to understand that while there is 
some difference in the aggregate quantity and value of the 
produce of the fisheries last year, it is reasonably accounted 
for as a mere fluctuation rather than indication cf failure, 
and that it is to a great extent compensated for by sectional 
advantages and a fair average of general success. 
Noth withstanding this exceptional difference the condi¬ 
tion is altogether satisfactory; the fishing population as a 
Whole" have enjoyed reasonable prosperity, and now lhat 
river and estuary nurseries have been established and im¬ 
proved, a yearly increasing yield from the fisheries is anti¬ 
cipated. But the report says:— 
“It will be, however, necessary to guard with excessive 
and improper modes of fishing, which the competition of 
foreign fishermen along our shores is very likely to occasion. 
Already seiious complaints have been received from the 
Bay of Fundy and elsewhere respecting the manner of con¬ 
ducting the herring and oilier fisheries by United States 
citizens admitted to Canadian waters under the treaty of 
“Washington. Unless proper measures shall be adopted to 
restrain all parties from injurious methods of fishing, the 
Canadian fishermen may resort to similarly objectionable 
practices in self-defence 
The trade returns published by the Customs Department 
show that the fish exported through the customs iu the 
fiscal year to 30th June, 1875, exceeded in value the ex¬ 
ports of the preceding year by $88,159. In 1874 the exports 
amounted to $5,293,368, and the imports to'$925,092. In 
1875 the exports were, valued at $5,380,527, and the imports 
to $830,129. The increase of-exports during the six months 
following to 31sl December, 1875, is in greater proportion, 
the whole amounting to $3,602,749; and the imports to 
$301,913. 
Owing to the great destruction of young whitefisli caused 
by summer seining with small meshed nets, the Fisheries 
Act prohibited seines during June and July. This prohi¬ 
bition was represented as bearing harshly on the fishermen 
of certain localities Where seines alone are used and are 
serviceable only during the calm weather. After investi¬ 
gating the matter" and being satisfied that if the meshes of 
the seines are large enough, and the seiners are warned 
against killing or catching the fry the Commissioner sug¬ 
gests an amending regulation to allowing seining in sum¬ 
mer time with nets of at least four iuch.es extension measure 
in the meshes. 
As an interesting item to anglers we note the fact that 
the total sum accruing as rents under leases of angling pri¬ 
vileges is $4,085. The salmon caught by anglers with arti¬ 
ficial flies numbered 2,780. It is impossible to stale the 
whole expenditure in rents, outfit, expenses, etc., which 
they incurred; hut it is probable that the outlay of private 
persons on the thirty-four rivers fished by these angling 
parties was about $37,200. 
No efforts appear to have been lacking on tlie part of Ihe 
Canadian authorities to bring about some common code of 
local regulations, and, Mr. Wbitclier prints a letter to Pro¬ 
fessor Baird on the subject Of co operation, in which be 
pays a bigli compliment, not only to the U. 8. Fish Com¬ 
missioner, but. to tlie different Slate Commissioners and the 
American Fish Culturista Association. 
The Dominion Government has now in actunl operation 
seven public establishments devoted to the artificial repro¬ 
duction of fish. Besides those formerly existing at New¬ 
castle, Gaspe, Restigouche aud Miramiehi, this department 
has built aud completed three other handsome and commo¬ 
dious establishments at Sandwich, on the Detroit River; at 
Tadousac, on the Saguenay River and at Bedford, on the 
Sackville River, near the head of Bedford Basin, and only 
a _fow miles from Halifax, The capacity Of the parent in¬ 
stitution on Wilmot’s Creek in Ontario, has also been en¬ 
larged, so lhat in future the interior can accomodate many 
miflious more of fish spawn, and the rearing ponds will 
harbor millions of young fry. We have before printed 
descriptions of these hatching establishments, and it may 
not be out of place here to turn to the appendix and make 
a brief abstract from the report of Mr. Samuel Wilmot, 
under whose direction tho fish hatching operations were 
conducted. 
Mr. Wilmot, in 1867 and 1808, made the first successful 
attempt at rearing the corrsgonvs albas, or whitefisli, since 
when numerous American fish culturists have prosecuted 
the work with great success. The first lot of eggs were 
laid down at Sandwich the past year, on the lOth of 
November, and by the 16th, when tho spawning season had 
ceased, all the prepared space in the building had been 
stricken with ova. Notwithstanding the muny drawbacks 
arising from the use of steam power, the difficult work of 
erecting up machinery and other newly invented appliances 
in fish-culture, and the extreme difficulty in obtaining 
parent fish, it is probable, according to present appearances, 
iliat ten or twelve millions of youug white fish will be 
ready for distribution, ll is a fact worthy of notice that 
this large number of fish may be regarded as clear gain, as 
Llie ova thus preserved were taken from the fish when 
liuulod on shore by the fishermen to be sold for home con¬ 
sumption or shipped to the Uuiled Stales during the winter 
months. Mr. Wilmot says:— 
"W ould it not then be wise that an effort should he made 
in the manner indicated to replenish Ihe waters of Lake 
Ontario with both whitefisli aud salmon trout, the two 
principal commercial fishes in it? The fisheries at Hamilton, 
Toronto, Cobnurg, Presqu’islc, Conseeon and Bay of 
Quinte, once yielding unlimited supplies of whitefisli, are 
now, comparatively speaking, almost depleted, and unless 
the means referred to be speedly adopted, or a Bystem en¬ 
forced for '.be thorough prevention of the destruction of 
these fish during the spawning season, this natural source 
of wealth iu Lake Ontario must inevitably be lost." 
At Newcastle, Ontario, over a million of vivified salmon 
eggs were deposited in a healthy state, together with 
300,000 salmon trout eggs, and 300,000 whitefish eggs. 
About 70,000 salmon eggs were deposited at Gospe, which 
quantity ought to have been quadrupled but for the escape 
of the stock, of parent salmou pruned up during the sum¬ 
mer time. Tlie Tadousac establishment, which turned out 
80,000 of last winters halcli, has this year about 200,000 
salmou eggs in excellent condition. The number of salmon 
ova laid Sown, at the Restigouche works was 300,000. At 
Mirimachi only 60,000 were procured, the sudden advent of 
wintry weather having prevented tho gathering of any con¬ 
siderable stock of spawn. The Bedford establishment has 
600,000 salmon eggs iu a thriving condition. This is an 
excellent beginning in Nova Scotia. The whole number 
of young fish distributed last spring from tho hatching of 
1874 was 1,700,000. 
Nearly 30,000 salmon fry were deposited iu different 
parts of Salmou River, about forty miles below Gttowa 
City, making 47,000 distributed iu that stream. The guar¬ 
dians report that the upper waters were crowded with 
young salmon in Ihe autumn mouths, and that mauy were 
seen exceeding ten iuches in length. It should be proved 
exclusively next season whether or not these youngsters 
will emigrate to the salt-water and return, aflor the fashion 
of their kind, to the nursery waters in which they are 
reared though not bred. The natural instinct which leads 
salmon back to their native streams may possibly develope 
itself in a secondary manner among those artificially 
hatched and transferred to other waters, thus leading them 
as adults, back to localities where they have passed the 
earlier stages of their existence. 
Great numbers of the Lake Ontario salmon having been 
artificially bred at Newcastle, and after furnishing fry to 
re-stock other streams, have every year escaped into the 
lake, the time has arrived for testiug lo what extent they 
may now he captured as adult fish, fit for food and com¬ 
merce. That they are sufficiently numerous in tlie vicinity 
is plain, for large schools of them are frequently seen by 
the fishermen, and quite a large number are taken iu the 
nets used outside for lake trout. There are difficulties in 
the way of capturing them as early in the season and in the 
same manner as salmon arc caught in the tidal estuaries 
and on the sea coast. The main difficulty is ilieir habit of 
approaching the lake shores, chiefly about spawning time, 
when they are less valuable for market, and at a time when 
the law interferes with their capture. 
In addition to enforcing those sections of the Fisheries 
Act which relate to the obstruction and pollution of streams 
frequented by fish, the statute relating to sawdust and 
mill offals in navigable streams was enforced wherever the 
urgency of abuses dumauded legal interference. 
The restrictions upon fishing in inland lakes have been 
so far relaxed as to admit of fishing under special laws dur¬ 
ing the fall and winter months, thus not only affording 
work for the men employed but furnishing a supply of 
cheap food for the poor and needy. Tho Commissioner 
suggests Hie propriety of extending Ibis license to Lake 
Memphremagog aud others were .strictly preserved. A re¬ 
gulation has been passed prohibiting fishing for codfish 
with seines at a less distance Ilian half a mile from auy 
fishing gi'ouud where boats are anchored and fishermen 
actually engaged in fishiug for cod fish with hook and 
line. 
The complete exhansUon of oyster beds in some parts 
of the Dominion is commented upon by I lie Commissioner 
and he fears that unless dredging is prohibited for at least 
three years it may be too late losave enough to supply seed 
for cultivation. The lobster fishiug is also on the decrease, 
ascribed to over production and wasteful eupLure of 
Bpawners and undersized lobsters. 
The fears expressed two years ago have last year been 
severely confirmed. A falliug off iu llie value of the 
lobster catch amounting to $540,900 in a single year is 
sufficiently alarming to arrest attention, There seems to 
be no other remedy but an absolute proliibitiou during tho 
principal part of I,lie spawning season. 
Tho Commissioner suggests the thinning out of the 
salmon stands fished in Gospe Busin. Iu some districts 
within the Province of Quebec the salmon fishing lias in¬ 
creased in yield since 1808 nearly three hundred per cent, 
the result of reducing the nets used in estunries and rivers, 
and protecting the fish while breeding. This improvement 
is most noticeaido in the Restigouche and Moisic districts. 
Tlie Commissioner speaks in flattering terms of Die 
International Society for protecting fish and game. He 
says:— 
"A strong movement has taken place in the United 
States, supported by men of energy and ability, lo form an 
International Society to protect fisli and game. The ob¬ 
jects of lids Association are most praiseworthy, and Ibe 
practical and vigorous manner in which its members have 
commenced the work cerlifies to tbeir earnestness and 
augurs success." Better local government laws, and tlie 
employment of forest rangers, or the aid or the staff of 
outside officers employed in tlie fisheries service suggested. 
As the report occupies some three hundred pages our 
abstract is necessarily somewhat,meagre, although wo have 
covered the main points. Did our space permit we should 
desire to publish the sub-reports of Mr. Wilmot ou fish 
culture. John Mowat, Fishing Officer of the Restigouche 
Division and others. However enough lias been given to 
show tlie magnitude of the fishing interest of the Dominion, 
and the energetic manner in which they are being cultivated 
and protected. 
'SINGULAR DISASTER—MUSKRATS DE¬ 
STROYING FISH WORKS. 
^ Wenonah, Gloucester, Co., M. Y, 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I send herewith a slip from the Woodbury Constitution, 
one of our local papers:— 
“The fish breeding works established by Mr. Peirce, at 
Wenonah, in this county, were completed last December 
and slocked with black bass. Three or four weeks ago 
some muskrats effected a lodgement in the bank by the 
bridge, and Mr. Peirce, aided by a shurp little rat-terrier, 
waged war upon their intrenchmenls, killing some and 
driving the others away as lie'supposed, hut on Sunday 
night, the 23d inst., one made liis presence known pretty 
effectually by going 'through the embankment, or enough, 
of it to let off the waters of the lake, and adding very niti- 
leriajly to the slock of black bass in Mantua Creek. Un¬ 
fortunately, tlie bass were now upon their hatching beds 
and many thousands of valuable embiyo fish arc thus de¬ 
stroyed. The loss to Mr. Peirce is quite severe, not only 
in fisli but in damage by water. Less than a year ago a 
muskrat made a hole through one of his dams holding a 
reservoir stocked with salmon-trout, by which he suffered 
quite usurious loss; and about a year and a half ago a freshet 
swept away a small reservoir containing a stock of broolc- 
trout. He will certaiuly have the sympathy of the friends 
of fish culture, and of tlie community generally." 
I send also some incidents in connection with this mat¬ 
ter. First, I will state that it is some little consolation to 
know that I have a two hundred and fifty dollar muskrat 
skin. Our little English terrier “Joker,” whose exploits in 
eel catching you published some months ago, took tire 
trail of this rat the morning after Ihe disaster and follow¬ 
ing him to his retreat on the bank of the stream, dug 
nearly half a day when the rat slipped into the stream. 
Little Joker plunged in and caught him. getting severely 
bitten. lie rail fully thirty yards with him to find a good 
dry place for the final struggle, which was “short, sharp, 
and decisive.” While he was trailing down the stream in 
the morning, ami a few yards ahead of me, he barked 
sharply, and as I approached pluDged into a water hole 
as I supposed for the rat, but 1 was just in time to save a 
large bass, one of three only saved from my entire stock. 
The one found by the dog is a female, the other two being 
males, lliave them now in a small reservoir, and the fe¬ 
male hovers around the edges with her dorsal fin out of 
water, lam inclined to think searching for a spawning 
bed. 
Among a lot of black bass which I obtained last, Novem¬ 
ber for the West Jersey Game Protective Society, (from 
vicinity of Harper’s Ferry) was one three pound female, 
which acted strangely, aud I kept her as one of my personal 
quota of the lot. In December I saw a foot or more of 
gut line hanging from her gills, and upon examination 
found a large hook far down her throat, hut could not get 
it. Placing her in a fish can of water, I took her to a den¬ 
tist who, with a long, slender pair of forceps extracted the 
hook. On the 1st day of June I placed her with the 
smaller bass in my bass pond, just now drawn off. Early 
in the morning, after the disaster, and while there was yet 
some water left, I discovered thi3 large female malting 
vigorous attempts to get to her spawning bed several feet 
disiaut from, aud about two feet above water. She would 
swim about one-third out of water, then retreat and try 
some other channel pointing In same direction. Before I 
had things fully secured she escaped down the stream. 
Thinking these little incidents Of interest to my co-laborers, 
1 send Ilium for publication, 
Milton P. Prince, Aquadale Ponds. 
—Seventy-five thousand salmon trout were recently put 
into the head of Skaneateles Luke. 
^ Re stocking Connecticut Lakes. —A correspondent 
writing from Lakeville, Conn., with regard to the opera¬ 
tions of the Salisbury Bird and Fish Protective-Society, 
says:— 
"Tills Bpring tho subject of stocking tun- streams aud Jatraa was agita¬ 
ted, and we have made arrangements with Mr. K. I‘. Pease of the Twin 
Lakes trout Turin, (why is one of onrmost active members) to Uatcll 00,- 
OOO Inook trout aud 40.000 hind-locked salmon for us tho coming sea¬ 
son, to be placed in our takes aud streams. Meantime we have succeed¬ 
ed, through the eiloitg of onr Presideut, Mr. Barton, and one of oar 
counsel in securing and placing in Uvo of onr lakes, Wnshining and 
Wononaeopomae,20,000 young lnud-locked salmon, The ttsUwero brought 
