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FOREST AND STREAM. 



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ABSTRACT OF THE ELEVENTH AN- 

 NUAL REPORT OF THE FISH COM- 

 MISSIONERS OF THE STATE OF 

 CONNECTICUT. 



THE Fish Commissioners after mentioning the work 

 done by the United States Commissioners and the 

 Convention at Philadelphia last week, allude to the efforts 

 they have made to impress upon the people of the State 

 the value of their ponds and streams, and have made great 

 efforts to collect information regarding them. The result 

 is given in a tabulated list of the ponds showing the aver- 

 age of each, and regarding which a further Report will be 

 made aa soon as the great mass ot information regarding 

 them which they have obtained can be revised and cor- 

 rected. From this list it seems that there are 256 poods 

 in the State, varying in extent from five acres to two thous- 

 and, aud aggregating an area of 31,604 acres, containing a 

 variety and number of fishes, although not a thousandth 

 part of what they might be made to produce. Besides 

 these ponds there are a greater number of ponds of less than 

 five acres in extent. 



The Commissioners dwell at length upon the availability 

 of all these ponds to be converted into food producing 

 pieserves, and also as regards the ownership of the same 

 and the right to fish therein. They say the popular idea 

 has been that fishing was free to all, ana the assertion of 

 any exclusive right on the part of the owner of a pond has 

 been looked upon as a species of feudal arrogance, justify- 

 ing resistance and open defiance. Theseuseof justice and 

 right iuherent in the people, when the matter is made 

 clear to them, is relied upon to make them respect private 

 rights, and it is thought that the fear of depredators will 

 no longer prevent pond owners from stocking their 

 waters. 



The introduction of black bass and land locked salmon 

 has occupied the attention of the Commissioners, and it is 

 Loped that they will be able to procure the European Carp 

 and other varieties of fish. Pursuant to tlie laws passed 

 last year, notices were issued to all parties engaged in fish- 

 ing, and in reply, calls for blanks were received from two 

 hundred persons. To these, blanks were "issued to be 

 filled by ihe parties at. the end of the season with the 

 numbers and kinds of fish caught from day to day. Of the 

 blanks so issued only one hundred and thirty-nine returns 

 were made, of which filly-seven were of pounds, forty- nil e 

 ol Beines, and thirty-three of gill nets. 



ids caught 134059Shad. 



4a Btdnee caught 71.W3 ■■ 



s-i glU nun caught 48,x8s •• 



Tout etiad caught 251,564 



43 pounds caught. . . 13,831,6X8 Whltefieh 



a UragnetS 8,043.055 



Total wbitefish caught Ii,e74,7W 



These pounds and nets also caught 414 bass, 20,370 flat 

 fish, 470 black fish, 7,070 alewives, flounders, porgies, 

 mackerel, sea robins, sturgeon, and various other fish, 

 making a total of 33,330 different fish. 



Notwithstanding that these returns are necessarily incom- 

 plete, they show the value of the business aud the willing- 

 ness of the great body of the fishermeu to comply with 

 the law, particularly on the part Of the pound fialiermen. 

 The Commissioners" htue betu expected tu cases of viola- 

 tions Of tlie close seasons and other infringements of the 

 laws, to lake upon themselves the parts of Grand Jurors or' 

 oilier State Ailornies, functions winch do not come within 

 the scope of their duties, and which il would be impracti 

 cable for them to perform with all their other labors. 

 They suggest that the towns shall appoint their own 

 Wardens lo be approved by them, aud that those intrusted 

 m flub culture snail boldly sustain the wardens in the en- 

 forcing of the laws. 



The State was allotted a quota of 500,000 California 

 salmon eggs, of which it was found when they were raised, 

 October 2d, 1870, that 10,000 had died. .More died during 

 the haichtug, leaving a total lor distribution ot 477, 286 

 healthy fry. These were distributed as follows : in Lhe 

 Farmington liver, 300,000; in the ifousatonic, 100,000; in 

 the iNalchaiig, 50,0110; in lhe Saugaluck, 27,280. 



Many parr and sirwlis have beeu caught in tne Farming- 

 ton and Connecticut duiiug the p. si year. They were m 

 excellent condition as lo prove that up to this point 

 of growth Connecticut waters are just as well adapted to 

 their nature and needs as they were in the days of their 

 abundance. The Commissioners have specimens of these 

 young salmon from six lo eight inches long, beautifully 

 marked, and snowing every indication thai ihey had en- 

 joyed abundance of nutritious lood. These and other facts 

 show that now there is DO reasonable ground of doubt that 

 lhe t ivers have not been rendered unfit lor these fish. So 

 lar, then, Ihe problem has a tavorable solution, aud it only 

 remains to patiently wait lo see if ihese young fish will 

 not in due nine find their way to lhe sea and return again. 

 During ihe past summer evidence was brought lo the Com- 

 missioners that many of these fish were caught that were 

 fealty on their way to the sea; some of Ihem were seen 

 and bandied by one of the Commissioners, and b}' olher 

 persons, and that they were young salmon, no one who 

 saw them had a doubt. On the 24th of June (1870) a fine, 

 healthy salmou, weighing IS* pounds, was taken in a gill- 

 Iiel at Middle iladdaur. On July Olh, a salmon weighing 

 11 pounds, aud in excellent coudiliou, was caught in a 

 pond off Clinton. Vague reports have been received of 

 others being taken, and enough has been shown to make it. 

 curtain that the work of restoring salmon to the rivets of 

 the,:: :,cd so tar, that before long all doubts 



will tie solved. 



An interesting letter is given from Mr. Charles G. Atkins, 

 a i Grand Lake Stream, giving an account of his work in 

 proCUi tug Uie ova of the land-locked salmon lor the joim 

 account of the United Scutes Commission aud lhe Com- 

 o1 various New England States. Last year, at 

 i Commissioners' Report was made, there were 

 150, (WU young land-locked salmon in the W'estport hatch- 

 ing house ready for distribution, and they were distributed 



when the Report was being printed. It was subsequently 

 ascertained that one pond in the list was purposely omitted, 

 as its waters were found unsuitable for the fish. This pond 

 was Mount Tom Lake, in Litchfield. In all other respects 

 the list was correct . The number distributed was 135,000, 

 in thirteen bodies of water. The proportion of eggs of 

 ihese salmon now at Grand Lake Stream, which will fall 

 to the share ol Connecticut, cannot yet be determined. 



With regard to shad, it is well known that the only breed- 

 ing ground on the Connecticut where shad have been 

 hatched with success is a', Holyoke, in Massachusetts. The 

 control of this place is under the Commissioners of Alassa- 

 chusells, who wLh great courtesy have always granted a 

 permit to the Connecticut Commissioners to fish for spawn- 

 ers, and collect ova, at a seasou when the citizens of the 

 State were forbidden by law lo draw a net. For two or 

 three years the United Slates Commissioner has co-oper- 

 ated with Connecticut in this important work, aud the 

 river has afforded stock for other rivers, while enough has 

 been reserved for all ihe purposes of Connecticut. Last 

 year, however, the privilege was secured to the United 

 Suites Commissioner, and the whole work was devolved 

 upon him and his assistants. Success was very limited 

 from the fact that the excessive heal which lasted from 

 about June 20th until July 25lh, raised the temperature of 

 the water to 88 and even 90 Fahrenheit. The drouth at 

 tlie same lime was sueh that the water was very low, and 

 the instinct of the fish doubtless taught them that Ihey 

 could not live and propagate in such warm water. The 

 experiment of Beth Green showed that when ihe tempera 

 ture of the water exceeded 82° Fahrenheit, the eggs all 

 died. Auioug the tew females taken last year, il was no 

 ticed in some cases that the eggs were all spoiled in the 

 mother before extrusion. Il is probable that lhe great ma- 

 jority of the fish spawned further down the river than 

 usual, in the shallows bordering upon deeper and cooler 

 waler. ThiB is not a very com mon occurrence; the old 

 fishermen say that it happens once in a great while, and 

 during such a season, the fishing at Holyoke is a failure. 



^ttwzl jjjistorg. 



, Far Forest and, Stream. 



ANTLERED DOES. 



Cam- in America. — A Vermont conespondent requests 

 us to protest against the introduction of Carp into the 

 waters of this country, and refers to it as a ' "coarse, flabby 

 fish." Were our correspondent well informed respecting 

 all that has been done by those at the head of Scientific 

 Fish Culture and propagation in this countiy aud Ger- 

 many, toward introducing certain species of Carp into 

 American waters; and were he also willing lo take the 

 les'limouy of theso gentlemen as to the toothsome and 

 edible qualities of certain varieties of the Carp, he would 

 ralher jejoice than demur. Some of the family, we are 

 aware, are worthless as food, but others are superior; aud 

 the great point gained by their introduction here is, ttat 

 ihey will thrive in waters where olher kinds of fish will 

 not, thus adding to lhe general food supply. 'I here are 

 localities whose inhabitants would rather have a poor 

 quality of Carp than no fish at all. Some Carp afford 

 good sport to the angler, as well as food for the table. 



. Salmo Sauar in Land-locked Waters. —The following 

 con r.spondence will interest our Fish Culturists:— 

 ■Editor Forest and Stream: — 



Your correspondent Jas. B. Thompson, of New Hope, 

 Pa., whose article on Salmo Hilar in land-locked waters ap- 

 peared in Febiuary 15ih number of Forest and stream, 

 would confer a great favor upon his brethren interested in 

 fish culture, if he would give through your columns a de- 

 tailed description of lhe construction of his ponds. What 

 is the nature of the bottom; what the volume and charac- 

 ter of the water supply; the disposition or arrangement of 

 his spawning grounds by which it is designed to keep up 

 the supply, and all the information, which, as an exp-it lit- 

 is competent to furnish lo the uninformed in this particu- 

 lar undertaking^ 



With the ice eighleen inches thick on the Susquehanna 

 river at this point at this time, 1 can't quite see into his 

 description of his salmon "breaking lively for the past few 

 days," but perhaps he is able to explain what at present 

 seems beyond mortal ken. Will he do us the favor lo elu- 

 cidate? A w ' ,T 11J " 



tiaiibuiy, Bam., Feb. lO.'/i, 1S77- 



A. F. Cj.app. 



; New Hope, Pa., March 1st, 1877. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



At your request, 1 will endeavor to enlighten your friend, 

 A. F. Clapp, on what seems to him beyond mortal ken. All 

 our fishponds are siiualed at the head of a lime stone spring, 

 flowing 13,682) ihree thousand six hundred and eighty-two 

 gallons per minute, with an even temperature, never be- 

 low 50° Fahrenheit. We have no ice on our ponds, and 

 no surface water. If salmon break, as Ihey did this day, 

 they are not obliged lo go through fifteen inches of ice. 

 The bottom of the salmon pond is shell, with small springs 

 and several well-worn channels of stone aud gravel, and 

 one three hundred feet long, leading from the hike lo the 

 spring, .with a beautiful bottom for spawning, hatching- 

 house and stock ponds. 



As usual, to please the owners, our first salmon eggs were 

 from Samuel Willuiot, which did well; the second lot from 

 him— saved none. Three lots from liucksporr,, one year 

 did well, next year saved a part; last year thirty-five 

 thousand — all died by bursting of tne sack in fifteen days 

 after hatching. 1 used all the means in my power lo save 

 them, and 1 cannot tell whether the decease {tie) was in the 

 egg or not. California eggs have always hatched well, and 

 the fish live. Hatched seventy-five thousand this year; 

 twenty-two thousand yet in balching-house four mouths old, 

 two aud one-quarter inches long; led twice a day. Anyone 

 seeing them eat would dot advise their being turned out to 

 die as soon as the sack is absorbed. It is not much trouble 

 to buy trout or salmon eggs— hatch and dispose of them 

 the first monlh— but a very different thing to keep them 

 alive lor six months. Jas. li. Thompson. 



Canadian Salmon Rivers to Lease.— Anglers will 

 please rete-r to the advertisement in our columns of Cana- 

 dian salmon rivers to lease. 



Grave Conundrum by a Consumptive.— Whi.t is the 

 difference between an Ulster and the consumption? One 

 you wear out, the other wears you out! 



San Francisco, February 12th, 1877. . 

 In a Bcore numbering somewhat over four hundred head 

 of deer, I have been so fortunate as to shoot two of these 

 very rare animals. The first was shot early iu November. 

 Il was of medium size, in fair condition, and had never 

 borne young. Her antlers were of unequal length; the 

 right one being about six inches in length, and the lelt 

 four. They were three-fourths of an inch in diameter at 

 the base, aud tapered lo a fine point, but grew in such a 

 dwarfed and spiral manner, as 10 rise barely two inches 

 above the skull. The second was killed February 8lh, aud 

 was one of the largest ever killed by lhe writer; was in 

 splendid condition, had borne young, and was with young 

 when shot. Her right antlers was .seven inches in length, 

 almost perfectly straight., very smooth and white, one 

 inch iu diameter at the bult, aud with a perfectly line 

 taper to a delicate point. The left was four inches long 

 aud much curved, directly backwards; although this was 

 about six weeks later than the time at which bucks usually 

 shed their antlers, they showed no signs of falling off, but 

 a forcible detachment from the skull, and a caret. .1 exami- 

 nation, satisfied me that they would have been shed in the 

 course of the winter, 



Lest the lateness of season at which Ibis doe was killed 

 should subject me to censure, I wish to stale in justifica- 

 tion, that tuia was in 1853, when the deers were so plenty 

 in many places as to seriously interfere with lhe raising of 

 peas aud beans, ami in many instances even the potatoes 

 were dug ap and devoured by them. Tbe protection of 

 deer in Maine had not then beeu thought of. 1 also know 

 of two does being shot by fellow hunters, each with only 

 one antler, and 1 think my old friend and hunting com- 

 panion, who haB lain elown lhe rifle lo manufacture 

 "probably the best" spit bamboo rod in the country, and 

 wtto, as a deer hunter, had lew equals and no superiors, 

 can add to the list fiom his own experience. Let us hear 

 from you, Hiram! 



And now, by your courtesy, I wish to put on record the 

 shooting of what 1 believe to be the most remarkable deer 

 ever killed in this country. It was on the llihof No- 

 vember, 1851 (ihe year iu which 1 began my diary, which 

 I have kepi up lo dale). Eight inches of "beautiful snow" 

 had fallen early on the evening of the lQlh. Snatching a 

 hasty breakfast as daylight was last appearing, ami should- 

 ering my rifle (my first one iu its first seasou), 1 started foi 

 au opening made two years before, half a mile south 

 ours, and which Was full of maple aud yellow birch 

 sprouts, on which the deer had been browsing nights for a 

 fortnight. 1 had scarcely entered the field when I Struck 

 a track, half filled iu by the snow which had fallen subse- 

 quently. Following it up, I found that the deer had beeu 

 browsing in the held through the storm, aud had left 

 about the lime il discontiuueu. At nine o'clock the even- 

 ing previous the animals had gone due east, iu Which direc- 

 tion hi) r lii'st a cedar and lamarao swamp, halt a mile- 

 wide; then about the same width of small, thick spruce 

 growth, called iu Maiue "Rabbit salad," and then a noble 

 ridge, three miles in length, running north and so 

 a growth of heavy sugar maple and yellow birch, with an 

 occasional hemlock of immense size, li was noted 

 throughout the region for its lack of underbrush, affording 

 in many places open shots at two hundred yards distance. 

 Towards ibis ridge the game slowly made its Way, with 

 many de'ious windings, clipping the etelicale twigs of Ihe 

 fragrant yellow birch, or uaiutily piciuug a certain kind 

 of tree moss, of which the animal is extravagantly fond, 

 The track had every appearance ot being made by a buck, 

 and this quiet browsing occasioned me*some surprise, »a 

 this was in the height of the "running season," wiie-u they 

 only cat enough to prevent Starvation, and invariably 

 lie down after Drowsing a short lime, being always almost 

 too much exhausted to stand before they will stop lo eat, 

 1, theielore, traveled at a snails pace, expecting every mo 

 ment lo see the animal start up, or at least lo cow to hi 

 soft bed iu the snow, with the first, tracks fifteen feet lrom 

 it. Nothing of the kind however occurred, and 

 reached the fool of the ridge, up the side of which l tie 

 tracks lead, as far as I could see Ihem, diiectiy towards its 

 summit. A minutes' careful scrutiny satisfied me that my 

 game was not in sight, and I had already lifted a loot lo 

 proceed when my eye caught sight of a muvn 



directly ahead; ihe next instant the head, ears and antlers 

 of a noble buck, burst on my delighted vision, as be 



walked over the summit directly towards me. 'Ah)" (I 

 thought) ''this isadoe'a track afier alii" The buck has 



"struck it, and is following it. tlie wrong way! 

 will often do, sometimes lor half a mile or mot 

 finding out their mistake), lie- was Over one hundred 

 aud filty yards off, and all I had to do was to remain mo- 

 tionleSS till he got near enough lo assure a fatal shot. The 

 head and anilers steadily advanced, glancing in and out 

 from behind intervening trees, aud 1 began to wonder why 

 I did not see his body, but il was merely a passing thought 

 till at length the head appeared in a perfectly opi 

 with nothing between me aud it, aud belnud the pure, 

 white back ground of the new-fallen snow. A head, ears 

 and antlers, about three feel above, the ground, and abso- 

 lutely nothing else ! The apparition had about the same 

 effect oil me as that of the fabled Madusa, when displayed 

 by the hero to the tyrant and his court. 1 stood as if 

 turned to stone! At that distance I could have easily seen 

 a squirrel on the snow, mid failing lo di.-Tiugui.-.h the body 

 of a lull-grown buck, one must be blind indeed. Reared 

 in the woods from infancy, with ft reasonably sound mind, 

 in a perfect healthy body, I refused to believe in the 

 reality of what I saw, or ralher I ailed lo see. My outward 

 senses appeared suspended, or perhaps concentrated in the 

 Bingle one of sight, but my thoughts struggled for a solu- 

 tion of tbe mystery, and seized on the only possible one 

 that presented itself. I had sat up the previous night till 

 long after the snow was over, watching the sky for fear it 

 would hail and spoil my sport; had gone to bed with my 

 head filled with lhe thought of lhe morrow's hunt, and 

 lhe whole was but a vivid dream. So strongly was litis 

 impressed on my mind as the true salvation, that. I lelt 

 the same overwhelming desire to awaken Ui 

 sou does when under the influence of a home! 

 nightmare. Then arose on my memory all the de- 

 tails of the morning; of my building the firiBj 

 of my good mother's willingness to get up and cooU 



