FOREST AND STREAM. 
B yawning chasm. The next is a '‘rasper," a thick set 
Be watling with nu artificial ditch twelve feet wide filled 
ith water on the other side. Next comes a fence between 
ur and five feet high, made with the points of limbs 
ilhmed and set outward, as soldiers build a c/t-emux defrise; 
iyond that are two heavy obstructions, solid plank fences 
iar four feet high with three feet of solid earth banked 
> against each, and packed with a spade until it is as 
lid and massive as granite. Seven other fences, ditches, 
d water leaps have to be taken before the inventory is 
mplete, and one can in a measure understand what a great 
at it is, going at the lerrificpace they are compelled to do, 
king in succession the different kinds of dangerous jumps 
d cover of two miles and a half of ground. Few horses 
n stand it. A strain of cart horse or milk wagon blood 
the pedigree will probably make him drop his tail and 
U behind on the home stretch; hut as much depends 
ion the rider as on the horse. Better by far a good rider 
.an indifferent horse, than an indifferent rider on a good 
rse. To come out winner of the cup at a steeple chase 
e must have iron nerves, a ready eye, steady hand, and 
i6k judgment, besides being in practice and having good 
By this time several thousand people are on the ground, 
te judges—the two Generals Lee, are on the stand; the 
ne keepers are in their places, watch in hand, and the 
ntestants are harnessing for the race. The costume is 
lite corduroys, top boots, English style, and jacket and 
p in the choice colors of the riders. The standard 
ughts are 155 pounds. The horses are brought around 
d each is surrounded by an eager speculative crowd, 
licit examines his points, and discusses his chances. The 
[era now mount their horses and move to the starting 
int. There are three favorites, backed to win against 
afield. The first is Green, who sports blue and white 
Lot's; he is a splended rider, and is mounted on a hand- 
lie, huge, raking ckesnut gray, with very fine shoulders, 
dan all over like going head, the winner of last yeai’s cup. 
ecn is the old Blaek Horse Cavalry’s “crack,” and they 
clt him agaiust the field. There is Rowe, with his mare 
<wc Deans,” rather small, but light and compactly built, 
th elegant limbs, and as tough as a pine knot—colors, 
elicit grey aud green. Daniels rode a brown gelding, a 
Luitltul creature, with that rich tint of the horse chesnut 
her glossy coat. He was a little active horse with great 
ttmn and endurance. Daniels is an Englishman, as are 
ter.s of the “chasers,” and there is much good natured 
airy between them, and the native-born colors were 
mson and purple. A very good horse, with a gamy 
>k about him, aud noble shoulders with the going name 
“Comet,” was entered by Payne, a feather weight, who 
1 to carry twenty-three pounds dead weight. Payne’s 
ors were purple and orange. There were other riders, 
tit their varied colors of black and white, blue; red and 
,ek; and scarlet and gold, and they made a gallant ap- 
uance as they formed for the race, the colors shbwiug like 
ainliow in the rays of the sun as they moved and mingled 
;ether. All are in lino; a lull is heard in the miugiing 
ces—a moment of intense interest—the signal is given 
the Qag dropping, and the lines break at full speed for 
t run, scattered, Rowe leading about two lengths 
e» while and blue, worn by Slidell, with his habitual 
t hurst, caught up with him and sailed gracefully oyer 
i first blind ditch. Behind trailed black and red, who 
de a clean jump across, Green coming next; his horse 
x, stumbled and went down as though he was shot, 
the rose again and as he recovered his feet, his rider 
uuted him and strove gallantly to recover aud take the 
tl, but it was not to be. The “crack” of the “Black 
rse” came to grief, fortune smiled not on him that day, 
1 the victor of last year’s cup, pounded on behind, with no 
mce to overtake the flyers in front, and he is passed by 
except Worsely, who wearing the black jacket and 
ite cap, let his horse swerve from the track just before 
reached the water jump, aud was thrown violently to 
ground, his foot catching in the stirrup. lie was drag- 
l some ten yards. _ His horse mad with fear, dashed on 
l rid himself of his rider, disappearing over the brow of 
hill. Worsely rose up, swayed hack ward and forward, 
l then fell prone upon the grouud and lay still and quiet, 
y God,” said the judge, “ne must be killed!” “No,” 
i another, “only stunned.” 
iul look! look! See how they run! The tailing had 
imenced; every horse took the hurdles, and they rose 
• after another like the billows of the sea. Thu pace 
3 fearful and was beginning to tell on the horses, but 
withstanding they were ridden carefully and judiciously 
ihetr riders. Still onward—and then again that fearful 
-er jump and ditch together loomed up to the tired 
scs, some of whom were giving symptoms of distress, 
most noticeable of whom was the brown mare Queen, 
ten by Slidell, the chesnut mare of Rowe's literally fly- 
aliead of her, owing to the madness of her first burst, 
■pie and orange riding ahead a little distauce, and 
teping along third, was Harold with his magnificent 
de, slowly drawing up. The water jump is readied— 
ear leap of twenty feet, if an inch—to clear it. Payne 
aering his brave little bay together, put her to it, and 
i an arrow he was carried high and clear over the crop- 
. A half length behind came Rowe witli Eflle Deans, 
It her greyltound stride; she went over with a rush, and 
nets with his crimson cap was seen to rise in the air 
land as easy as a bird on the opposite side. The favor- 
were having it their own way. Black, red, and white, 
I thrown out, his chesnut grey—Murad—flying the 
;k, the rest making desperate hut unavailing efforts to 
ieve their lost distauce; but it was a vain hope. Keep- 
the lead, Charley Payne held his horse in; not once had 
ouched Bpur, or plied whip, and Comet was going at a 
dy swinging pull, when Howe, riding behind shouted— 
lyne, v uu have dropped your weighing pad?” Glauc- 
behind his saddle he fouud it hut too true, and with a 
vy heart pulled up. 
he struggle was now between Lowe and Daniel, with 
Gray and Green in the advance. The chestnut mare’s 
i was stretched out like a racer’s, and with hoofs seern- 
never to touch the dark earth she skimmed over. Eflle 
ns flew on to Ike sixth hurdle, gathered herself up in 
force and impetus, and then, like the rise and the 
op of the heron, she cleared the hurdle, launched for- 
d with the lunge of a spear darted through air, while 
ind, restless as fate, certain as death, followed Herne 1 
Hunter; Purple and crimson keeping close distance, 
yard aud the seventh hurdle bars the way. Green and 
jr took tlte leap in magnificent style and thundered 
riding like Grimshaw himself; the crintsom cap, a mere 
tk in the landscape, was seen to fly through the air, 
and descending keop on, working up slowly towards the 
chestnut mare that was scouring towards the winning 
post, where the breathless crowd watched their coming. 
Another solid earth and plank fence was reached, and let¬ 
ting their animals out, the mare and the horse, now nearly 
neck to neck, true to their blood and lineage, with heaving 
flanks and convulsive breathing, both with a masterly ef¬ 
fort jumped it at the same moment and sped onward to t he 
goal. The last grand rash was to take place. Not know¬ 
ing, or looking, or heeding what happened behind, the two 
tore over the course, the Gray and Green, and the Purple 
and Crimson sitting even cheek by jowl, while the gallant 
horse and brave little mare thundered forward to the last 
leap. The turning flags were passed, the jump taken, and the 
two struggled desperately for the victory. From the crowds 
on the course a great hoarse roar came louder and louder, 
aud the shouts rang, changing every second—"The hoi su 
wins!” “Purple and Crimson ahead!" “No, Green and 
Gray!” “The horse is up with her!” “The mare beats!” 
"A cracker ou the mare!" “Hurrah! Green wins; Crimson 
Is beat!” 
Was he? 
As the shout rose he surged ahead; the land Beemed to 
fly like a yellow sheet before them, and at the killing pace 
they rode to the winning post, every fibre strained, every 
nerve was at the utmost tension. One moment and the 
mare neatly closed the gap. A roar like the roar of the 
sea broke from the thronged concourse, as the crowd hung 
breathless on the even race. Thousands of cheers arose, 
and thousands of eyes watched the closing contest, as su¬ 
perb a sight as the country ever saw, while the two run to¬ 
gether with every sinew strained to tension—the horse and 
mare, Crimson and Gray. Louder and wilder the shriek¬ 
ing -uproar rose—“The chestnut heats!” “The brown 
beats!” “Green and Gray’s ahead; Daniel’s caught him!” 
“The mare is winning! the mare is winning!" “Not yet- 
not yet!” “The mare wins!” “No, no; no no!” 
Sent along at a pace that Epsom Flat never eclipsed, 
Sweeping a hundred yards or so towards the judges’ stand’ 
like a flash of flame they ran side by side, their foam flung 
on each other’s withers, their breath hot in each other’s 
nostrils, while the earth flew beneath iheir stride. The 
final effort came. A blind ditch was in front—the last! 
With one superhuman crowning effort the horse swept by 
the mare a full length, jumped the ditch, and galloped up 
the straight “run in”—Purple and Crimson had won the 
silver punch bowl, and the brown horse swept to the 
judges' stand. The air was rent with deafening cheers 
that seemed to reel like drunken shouts from the multi¬ 
tude, and when the rider pulls up with the full sun shining 
on the Crimson and Purple, winner of the plate, there was 
not one who did not know that he had won it by the hard¬ 
est, most dashing ride ever performed in the country. 
England had Won! 
Time of 3* miles, 4£ minutes. 
Worsely aud Green were stunned, hut no hones broken. 
[I have given this extended account of a steeple elmse because it is a 
new pastime, and as the manliest sport In the world, combining all the 
dash and excitement of a fox hunt with the rush and ‘'elan” of the cav¬ 
alry charge, it deserves to ho encouraged. Mr. C. E. F. Payne, Secre¬ 
tary, Warren ton, Va., will cheerfully furnish any information of the 
"Club" to those who desire it. Welter weights aud the Maryland Jock¬ 
ey Club rules govern. ] Chasseur. 
FISHING AND GUNNING IN EASTERN 
MAINE. 
Sullivan, Me.,May 1st, 187(1. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I am now living in a section of country in Maine, east of the Penob¬ 
scot River, where, although known to some sportsmen, no writer, to 
my knowledge, has mer visited. If I am wrong, the lucky wearer of 
my wished-for honors will be kind enough to appear aud correer. me. 
Tlifa place is called Sullivan, and is very prettily situated, with a churn¬ 
ing view opposite the far-famed Mt. Desert Island. The presence of 
tront Is made plainly evident ns you ride into and through this section. • 
Everywhere yon see brooks running swiftly down hill, and emptying 
themselves either into ponds or in the bay below. These streams are 
also filled with deep holes, where, nnder a shade of trees, the trout 
gather and hold convention, arid debate as to whether it is (he more 
profitable to keep their months op stream and go to sleep, or dart for the 
files as they dunce across tlic water. In snch places it is needless to at¬ 
tempt to prove by a long argumentative disquisition to a fisherman that 
trout are there; the only quest ion that remains is “Can they becaughtf" 
But if one thinks a moment does it notsoem improbable that fish will ' 
not bite what is offered them when they have lain almost wholly undis- 
turbeo for years? It is granted that in some years the extreme cold, or 
dearth of food will cause great havoc umong them; but where many 
havo existed a few will romain, and those few will again propagate, and 
the brooks will be as full as before. The ponds also are but little fished, 
the few anglers who do go to them only fishing for their own consump¬ 
tion, and consequently but few are killed. Large stories are told of the 
immense fish caught in Tunk Pond during the winter. These are called 
Togue trout, and some of them are said to weigh 20 pounds. Three were 
caught last winter weighing 50 pounds. They say nothing abodt the fishing 
therein the summer, or after ice has cleared; indeed, upon inquiry, no¬ 
body will say they ever fished there in summer, or over beard of its be¬ 
ing done. My argument is self evident. If some one should fish there 
in the snmmet a large return for their trouble would no doubt be given 
them. Salmon have never been" caught here, f believe, and 1 hurdiy 
think that one can be found nearer than the Penobscot. 
Any one coming during the spring or fall, If not successful in fishing, 
might have very good shooting. Lately the bay has been full of birds, 
the geese predominating, and although they have been very wild, many 
have been shot by the rural isportsmen. Ducks and coots will probably 
stay through May and fi line. They are killed hut little in the Spring, 
for few have confidence enough to launch' their boats; and they are not 
tamo enough to shoot when Hying over. In Ibe fall, however, limy meet 
with a warm reception, and all who are possessed of any land of gun 
take this occasion to loosen the mat which hangs to it. The coots then 
are the birds who receive the largest share of shot, and they are much 
weaker in numbers as they again depart. The ducks are very wild, amt 
decoys are much used in shouting them; and tbo loons are so thick here 
that by mistake you shoot at theta instead or ducks, upon which they 
disappear, aud “all is blank.” Booeth. 
—A cod has been lately caught in England in whose 
stomach was found a tangled mat of horse hair aud siring, 
entwined with ten fish hooks, two of which are large ones. 
It is supposed that the cod had swallowed haddocks or 
whiling caught ou the hooks. Seals often do this, and the 
hook passing into the intestines produces death. Cod are 
“voracious.” So are ling. One was found with a pewter 
flask in its stomach, containing considerable whisky. Pike 
frequently swallow stones. 
—Several sturgeon have been caught in the river at Oswe¬ 
go this spring, one of them weighing sixty pouuds, 
&lur L e. 
IMPREGNATING SALMON OVA. 
Dee Side, Metapedia, N. B., May 23d, 1870. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The instructive series of papers on fish culture, by 
“Philo Ichthyos,” must have been read with very great in¬ 
terest, and lie certainly deserves the thanks of all interested 
in pisciculture. Having keen hut a short time engaged in 
fish breeding, lam able to add but little to the general 
stock, but have adopted a method of impregnating salmon 
ova which I have uot yet seen in any work on the subject. 
From having had uncommon facilities for observing the 
fish spawning in their uutural state, and seeing that the 
contact of the milt with the egg must be of very short 
duration, in fact instantaneous, if at all, and having- had 
from sixty to one hundred fish to spawn at once, and^flnd- 
ing it very troublesome to have to wait for a-halt' hour or 
more in order to obtain, tho dishes for a fresh lot, also be¬ 
lieving it could not benefit the eggs allowing them to re¬ 
main in the strong miity water, absovbiugitand coagulating, 
as they always did, I took last year a tin pail of three gal¬ 
lons, perforated within three iuehes of the bottom; strip¬ 
ping one, two, or tbree females into it (dry, no water), or 
until I had one half or two gallons of eggs. I then stripped 
the males—commonly two—or until I obtained two table- 
spoonfuls of milt, into a four gallon pail without perfora¬ 
tions, immediately adding a half gallon or three quarts of 
water to the milt. Shaking or mixing, and dropping the 
pail witli the eggs into it quickly, the rush of water 
through the perforations causes the eggs to whirl round 
beautifully, mixing them up in good shape. When the 
water ceases to flow, 1 lift the pail and give it One more 
dip, setting it then into flowing water deep enough to cover 
the eggs, and the performance is over. In half an hour 
they will feel like shot under your hand—quite different 
when they left the fish. I found the saving of time a good 
deal, but what was much better, no dead eggs; and out of 
the ova treated this way I did not lose three per cent. I 
believe salmon—unless enclosed, when they will retain 
their ova—take about a week to deposit their eggs; there¬ 
fore, care must be exercised and judgment used, which 
can only he obtained by practical experience, not to injure 
a fish in stripping, particularly if heavy or strong, and not ■ 
to attempt taking more ova at one (into lltan is really ripe, 
Orlhe fish is willing to give. Ripeness is, of all things, 
necessary in the male as well as the female, and unless the 
eggs will flow When the fish is nearly perpendicular, put 
her back for another day. 
••Ichthyos” is correct when he warns us to beware of 
moving or slinking the eggs in their early stage. I now 
attribute my first, year’B loss partly to fussing, washing 
and cleaning sediment from the eggs. I have since taken 
a portion of a lot by experiment, and ify lifting the tray 
every day to the top of the water and shaking the eggs 
have had every one dead in thirty days, while the untouched 
balance hatched out all right. I never touch or wash an 
egg, no odds how dirty or how much sediment, until after 
lite first month. Gravel only catches the sediment, anti is 
of no use. I believe tlte old fish only use it to protect the 
fish from Iheir natural enemies. 
Will some of your savans give us their ideas of the uso 
of the hook, or prolubemuce, which grows so rapidly on 
the upper jaw of the mate. I have seen it fairly forced 
through tho skin of the upper, and enlarge males three 
inches long. When they first come from" salt water you 
can only judge the sex by lite length of head—“no hill or 
hook” to be seen. That they clou’ll use il. for nest-making 
is cerlain; 1,1m male don’t work at that; lie lays off tv-ilch- 
ing the performance, anti will chase trout, or a smaller 
male. I never saw a fight between males. One always 
seemed to run when tho other charged. Tlte hilt also pre¬ 
vents tlm leelh from touching, and a male nt spawning 
time cannot shut his mouth by an inch or two. It it grew 
downwards, from the upper jaw, ire might use it as a pick, 
aud root gravel like fun. The nest is made by the female 
by the action of the liiU, fins, and body always in rapid 
water, commonly from two to three Icet deep. If tlm 
bottom, or gravel, is of the right sort, it is Surprising how 
quickly the nest is made. Every pair of fish, if not dis¬ 
turbed, finishes on the one nest, and when done (hey will 
cover it by rolling large stones on the top from eight to 
fifteen pounds weight. In this river, whenever they finish 
spawning, they drop down stream, and the fish which 
enter in spring are nil in stilt water by lOtli November. 
Tli61;e is a run of fall fish hern, comiug in just as ice forms, 
and remaining intbe upper waters till winter, coming down 
in June. Those are known as Kelts, and are a nuisance, 
of no use either for sport nr commerce, and f believe feed 
in the winter on young li-y, going to salt water in July, 
coming back in flue condition early in November. 1 Look 
four of them last fall, and Obtained 2,000 eggs from one, 
but would Hot breed from those fish even were it possible 
to procure them. 
f have now in breeding house 350,000 eggs since 15lh 
October, or 200 days; only ten percent, are out; tempera¬ 
ture of -water when laid down, 15 ; 12th November, 33*"; 
midwinter, 88"; at present, 37". It will he no -warmer 
until snow runs out,.which maybe 8th June, as I here is 
still four feet in greenwoods. Some of the little fellows 
have been throwing their covering since 15llt April, but 
few of them survive the water is too Cold. Borne of them 
get iheir heads out and give it up. Perhaps 3,000 havo 
gone by these premature births. As for byssus, I never 
had it here, nor ever- yet saw il, nor do l want to. It, was 
trobably tho cause of lite great mortality in Miramichi 
ast year, when 1,000,000 of eggs died in a few days, just 
as they were coming out. I have a theory that every fish 
ksowiug its own river, which, 1 believe, is admitted, knows 
also its own breeding ground; or, to use a simile, “where 
it was boru aud brought up,” anti when il, returns from sen 
does not go above that place unless frightened or forced. 
I have seen the same fish for three years in succession 
spawning at tlte gatne placo, or within a yard of it. This 
is going a good way to prove it, which l hope to do uoxlj 
winter. Jo art Moiya-U', 
