FOREST AND STREAM. 



267 



i- 



NEW DISCOVERIES RESPECTING 

 EELS. 



M « Efy&ESC AMI Stream 1 : 



I -wish to record through you the results of my experiments 

 •with these curious apodal creatures the Bote, tor. unless 1 am 

 mistaken, all received theories :is to their habits are errors, and 

 out' entire knowledge concerning them n delusion. 



The accepted opinion of their method of reproduction goes 

 on the idea tiuit they deposit their spawn in the suit water 

 during the winter or early spring months-, that the spawn 

 hatches in the months of April and May, and that the young 

 asc.jnd fh,e streams in May to find some suitable mud-endowed 

 pond where they can live, luxuriate, eat ami grow fat. All 

 this is contrary to the habits of every known variety of fish, 

 and was only approved after considerable investigation and 

 on what seemed sufficient evidence, but there was always 

 more or less doubt about it, and it required the confirmation 

 of the actual taking and hatching of the eggs under those, 

 conditions. These eggs, however, were never found in salt 

 water, nor for the matter of that, anywhere else : and I too 

 Have not found them, and consider it possible that eels are 

 viviparous a-Ud produce living young. Certain it is that the 

 oldest fishermen assert that they have never seen eggs in eels 

 anywhere or at any season ; but unfortunately, fishermen, 

 both the oldest aud youngest, are like the rest of the world, 

 and never seem to see anything even when it is perched on 

 the ends of their noses. The man who can see what really 

 exists before him becomes a great man, and great men are 

 He is a Bierstadt, a Selh Green or an Agassiz, and 

 hence if the fishermen have never seen spawn in eels, that is 

 very little evidence that spawn does not exist in them. 



1 um slow in drawing conclusions from any one experi- 

 ment, but my experiments this year have been so conclusive 

 that I cannot refuse to credit the inevitable deduction from 

 them, contrary as it is to all that I have supposed here- 

 tofore to be the truth as to the manner and place of repro- 

 duction of these creatures. This year I built two small 

 preserves below my trout pond on Long Island, leading one 

 into the other, and the upper one connected with the main 

 pond by a wooden trough. In the lower pond I had nothing 

 at first, but afterwards some trout of from one-quarter to 

 one-half a pound in weight. In the upper preserve were 

 placed six hundred California salmon from those hatched by 

 .Mr. Mather in the New York aquarium, aud the trough was 

 arranged with sand and gravel to hatch a few thousand trout 

 eggs, These arrangements were merely temporary, as I had 

 great doubts about their working satisfactorily. Nearly 

 10,000 irout eggs were laid down and hatched beautifully by 

 April 1, the loss being immaterial, The sac was rapidly 

 absorbed until by April 17 the fry were very lively. At that 

 time a few young eels, not larger than a lady's hair pin, passed 

 the screens and were seen in the troughs. They were semi- 

 transparent, evidently just hatched and came from the pond. 

 These grew rapidly when not killed, and some escaped our 

 notice. During my temporary absence I was informed that 

 they were eating the trout fry, and although I returned on April 

 17, most of the. latter had been devoured. In moving the rest 

 I had to dig up the sand, and found it filled up with eels, from 

 |,Wp inches io six inches long, which had buried themselves 

 in it and were hidden away wholly out of sight. There were 

 three screens of fine wire netting in the trough ; one at the 

 head one at the foot, one between the two. Now that the 

 sand was gone the young eels were to be seen in myriads 

 passing from the main pond down the trough and thence into 

 the first preserve. The salmon had grown so large that they 

 would occasionally eat one, and in the lower pond were now 

 the large trout and few or no eels. 



It was impossible that the eels could have come up stream 

 from the salt water bay, as the discharge from the lower pre- 

 serve was through a pipe also grated, and with a two feet fall. 

 BesideB we saw them descending the trough; m black masses 

 they settled down and endeavored to get through the lower 

 screen, never seeking to pass the upper one. By April 26, 

 as they collected at the lower screen, they were being taken out 

 by millions m a small net (made for the purpose) of mos- 

 quito netting. Most of them were so young that the heart 

 could be plainly seen, and its pulsations, which were rapid, 

 noted under a microscope. I could find nothing of the sup- 

 posititious heart in the tail, but my magnifying glass may not 

 have bad sufficient power. In a few clays after their first ap- 

 pearance they would lose their translucent color and became 

 black and opaque with the delicate aeration, or reticulation 

 on their sides, of the perfect eel. Towards the last of April 

 the supply of young diminished, and we almost cleared the 

 trough and upper preserve of them; there never were more 

 than a few in the lower preserve, but by May 19 they were 

 more plenty than ever, and as the lower screen in the trough 

 had been moved, they poured into the upper preserve in myr- 



' Now, none of these eels came from the bay; they were all 

 descending from the pond where I hey must have hatched or 

 been born. To be sure they kept their heads up stream, but, 

 fish of all kiuds in descending it stream invariably do that, as 

 eveiy one who has watched them knows, and for the reason 

 that 'in that way they cm escape danger, and can regulate 

 their rate of descent, Salmon descend rfipids, and shad go 

 down our rivers head up stream, and so docs every kind of 

 Hell when left to its natural course. It is true they would oc- 

 casionally swarm back up the side of the preserve, into which 

 they bad wormed their way with so much persistency, but 



that was probably due to eel-perversity. It was seeing them 

 climb perpendicular flood gates in that way Which had con- 

 vinced me, as no doubt it had convinced others, that eels were 

 ascending, not descending the rivers in the spring. If my 

 present conclusion is right, it accords with the practice of all 

 migratory fish, and brings eels into the ordinary catalogue 

 ♦of breeding in fresh water, and growing in salt. It seems 

 to me impossible that I could be deceived. There were very 

 few eel fry in the main stream into which the preserves emp- 

 tied; scarcely more in the lower preserve, through which 

 alone could they obtain access from below to the upper lire- 

 serve ; in the latter they existed in millions, their numbers 

 increasing immensely about May 1, when the lower screen 

 in the trough was removed: and in the trough they were also 

 found in solid masses of wriggling life. Eel pots were set du- 

 ring this time in the main pond and caught some large eels, 

 but none of these contained spawn, and 1 have no knowledge 

 whether they are viviparous or oviparous, but I am firmly 

 persuaded that the supposition that they produce, their young 

 or deposit their eggs in the salt water is a mistake. 



This ci inclusion has been reached only in the last few 

 months, and even now I read an article of my own in Apple- 

 tan's Journal which was written before I had this knowl- 

 edge, and which contains the old error; but, us I have said, 

 although opinions which are hastily formed are apt to be mis- 

 taken, this appears so firmly established that I submit it to 

 the criticism of your readers. One unaccountable event; took 

 place, which in fairness must be mentioned: all the young 

 eels disappeared out of both of my ponds about May 22, 

 " leaving not a wrack behind," and giving me no idea whither 

 they had gone. They were then mostly too large to have 

 passed either the screen above or below, and as there had been 

 a rain during the night the eccentric scamps may have wriggled 

 directly over the sides and dams of the preserves into the 

 main stream, or they may still be buried in the sawdust at the 

 bottom. They are a wise race. Last year they were in inky 

 lines of countless numbers in the main stream, They had 

 probably sonfi down the fish-way which is placed in the dam 

 at the flume. This year they discovered the new and more 

 feasible passage of my breeding trough and followed it, none. 

 so far as I can ascertain, having recourse to their former method 

 of descent. A few were seen at the outlet of the pipe which 

 supplies the hydraulic ram, but so far. none, comparatively 

 speaking, have beeu seen in the stream below the pond or 

 preserves. The latter have been an effectual eel trap from 

 which I have sent thousands of eels to other parts of the 

 country, and which have proved an effectual exterminator of 

 wdiat I regard as the most fatal enemy of trout in Long 

 Island waters. Yours, very respectfully, 



ROBEKT B. RoOSEVELT. 



Omrr.VKY. — Hon. E. H. Rosekrans. late Justice of the Su- 

 preme Court, died at his residence in Glen's Falls, on Tues- 

 day morning, May 1. Judge Hosekrans was born iu Water- 

 ford, N. T., October 16, 1808, and graduated with honor 

 from Union College before he was eighteen years of age; 

 studied law with hiB uncle, Judge Samuel G. Huntington, of 

 Troy, and practiced with him two years after he was admit- 

 ted to the bar in October, 1S29, when he was barely twenty- 

 one years old ; settled in Glen's Falls in 1S31 ; was district 

 attorney from 1835-45 ; judge of the county court from 

 1847-51 ; judge of the supreme court, two terms, from 

 1855-71, and was honored with LL. D. by his alma mater in 

 1867. Judge Bosekrans was an ardent sportsman, and one of 

 the most promising clubs in the State, organized for the pro- 

 tection of fish and game, had its origin in his office. Among 

 his friends, and especially in , his family, his superabounding 

 and genial good humor and pleasantry made his presence ever 

 enjoyable, and turned a dull hour into a season of sparkling 

 joy. In the death of Judge Rosekrans the bar of Warren 

 County has lost a valuable member, and the community a 

 much esteemed citizeu. 



A Contemptible Action. — A letter written in confidence 

 is generally supposed to be sacred, but we regret to say that 

 one. at least, among our correspondents is either ignorant of, 

 or else has willfully violated the obligation wdiich is supposed 

 to exist among gentlemen. Some time since, a Mr. Dunham, 

 of Leeds, Mass., wrote to us for information regarding a parly 

 of this city, and in the desire to do him a service, we answer- 

 ed frankly but confidentially. Our surprise can be imagined 

 ■when the party referred to presented the letter which had 

 been forwarded to him by Mr. Dunham, and asked for an ex- 

 planation. While there was nothing in the letter of wdiich 

 we are ashamed, or that we will retract, the breach of trust is 

 bo glaring that we cannot refrain from giving it publicity. 



Notice to Sportsmen.— Having received so mauy communications 

 asking as tor information in regard to our six-section bamboo trout, 

 black tiass, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on Hie 

 subject, Which we shall take pleasure in forwarding to any address 

 We keep on hand all grades, the prices or which range l'rom*Sl5 to J160, 

 We put our stamp only on the best, in order to protect our customers 

 and our reputation, for we are unwilling to sell a poor rod with a false 

 enamel (made by burning and staining, to imitate the genuine article) 

 without letting our customers know Just what they are getting. 



P. O. Box, 1,294.— Ado. Abbey &, iiiBuiE, -13 Maiden Lane. 



A Sad Accident.— The many friends of Hon. Charles W. 

 Hutchinson, of Utica, will be grieved to learn of the accident 

 wdiich has befallen him. While trout-fishing in the Worth 

 Woods, a few days since, he slipped from a log and broke bis 

 leg short below 'the knee, He reached home on Saouday 

 night, and judging from his letter, while undoubtedly suffering 

 great pain, maintains that equanimity ami esprit which is so 

 natural to him. 



OUR WASHINGTON LETTER. 



\ [PEOM OCB SI-EM At, CORRESPONDENT ] 



BIKDS fOTINO IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA— THEIR HABITS, 



TIMES OF ARRIVAL AND- DEPARTURE, ETC.— THE GREAT 



FAM.8 FISHING CI.UI1. 



Washington, D. C, May 18, 1877. 



SPORTING matters in this vicinity have been remarkably 

 dull this spring. Usually we have had very good white 

 perch fishing from the middle of April to the latter part of May, 

 but, frequent rains this season have kept the river very high and 

 muddy. The water now is as yellow as a pumpkin, and will 

 probably remain in that condition a week or two yet, even 

 though we have clear weather. The cold northeast storms 

 which have prevailed so extensively destroyed nil snipe 

 shooting. In the neighborhood of the city, upon suitable low 

 lauds and marshes, these birds are often plentiful in early 

 spring, when the weather is favorable ; but I have not heard 

 of a dozen being killed this year. A careful hunt of their 

 favorite haunts on one or two occasions has resulted in the 

 bagging of two or three birds, where eight or ten have been 

 killed iu an hour or two in previous years. 



SPRING AND AUTUMN VISITANTS. 



The welcome little warblers of every description with their 

 bright and gaudy plumage, which usually make the woods 

 and thickets so lively with their chirping in spring, have been 

 kept away from us this year by the backwardness of the sen- 

 son. I have noticed but few arrivals thus far, though I have 

 watched carefully the places which they usually frequent. Iu 

 a recent letter 1 mentioned all the game birds found in this 

 locality, and a brief mention now of Hie warblers, thrushes, 

 tly catchers, finches, and other small birds which are spring 

 and autumn visitants, while it may not be of much interest to 

 the sportsmen 1 hope may be to Ihe student of natural history. 

 Though the number of birds which are resident throughout 

 the year, and those which breed here is considerable, they are 

 few in comparison with those which pass through during their 

 spring and autumn migrations and remain for a longer or 

 shorter time each season. The number of species indeed is 

 not greater, but the individuals of each are very numerous. It 

 is on this account that for a month or so during the spring and 

 autumn the colleclor is amply repaid for his pains, while at 

 other limes omithologizing, except for some particular birds, 

 is hardly worth the time and trouble. The great mass of the 

 birds which pass through the district in Iheir spring migrations 

 do not stop to breed before reachingat least the New Eng.States, 

 and many go still further north, spreading through the Can- 

 adas into British America to the region around Hudson's Bay. 

 In mentioning our spring and autumn visitants, I again quote 

 from the perfect list prepared by Drs. Coues and Prentiss. 

 Of the fly catchers we have four species -trails, least, acadian, 

 and yellow bellied ; the latter is a comnnn summer resident, 

 and the only one that breeds here in any numbers. The least 

 fly catcher, Empidonax minimus, frequents exclusively the 

 margins of small streams, brooks and briar patches. Of the 

 thrush family we hive six spee'es, known as wood thrush, 

 Tardus musteUnus, hermit thrush, Turdus ptllasi, tawny 

 thrush, Turdus futeeicem, olive backed thrush, Turdus swain- 

 soni, and gray cheeked thrush, Turdus alicia, the latter being 

 a variety of the Swainsoui. The robin, Turdus migratorius, 

 also a member of this family, is a permanent resident and a 

 few breed ; the greater part, however, prpceed north in sum- 

 mer and south in winter. They are found in all localities, and 

 many nest in the parks about the capitol and President's house. 

 The hermit thrush arrives earlier than the others, and immedi- 

 ately becomes very abundant. They frequent chiefly open 

 woods, The tawny thrush is the rarest of the species. It re- 

 mains here but a short time and is shy and solitary, frequent- 

 ing high open woods, but keeping near the ground. The 

 olive backed and gray cheeked thrushes do not remain here 

 long, and none breed in this locality. The ruby crowned 

 kinglet, Iie.gulus calendula, is usually very abundant, but none 

 breed here. They frequent orchards, thickets, copses, cedar 

 patches, etc., but are not often found in high woods. They 

 are abundant in fall, and in full song before they leave. The 

 spring migrations always embrace a number of both sexes with 

 the head perfectly plain. There are twenty-two species of 

 Dendram found in North America. Of these, fourteen have 

 been observed here. Not, one is a permanent resident. Three 

 only, />. pinus, Ae.stim, discolor, breed; one, D. coronata, is 

 a winter resident; nine others arc spring and fall visitants. 

 Of these, seven, D. rirens, Canadensis, BlaeMumim, Castanen, 

 Pennsyhanica, Striata, Maculosa, do not differ materially in 

 numbers, habits, or times of arrival and departure. One, D. 

 pirlmarum, differs iu times of arrival and departure, and very 

 remarkably in habits ; one, D. suprrciliosa, is an accidental 

 Visitor; one, 7). Ugrina, h exceedingly rare. Most of these 

 warblers are found in high open woods, except the Dendram 

 palmarum, yellow red poll warbler, which frequents old corn 

 and buckwheat fields, associating with various species of spar- 

 rows, differing in this respect from all others of its genus, and 

 resembling the Oporornis agilis, Connecticut warbler. Trochilu* 

 colubris, ruby throathed humming bird, is the only humming 

 bird found here, but is abundant in the fall. It frequents ex- 

 clusively the gardens in the city, patches of wild flowers, etc., 

 and breeds plentifully in the high woods. Tyrarmus caro- 

 liiumxt\ bee martin, breeds plentifully here, but the greater 

 number go further north. Sivrui uiirieapillus, golden crowned 

 wagtail, is a summer resident, and exceedingly abundaut. 

 They arrive about the middle of April, and for about two 



