FOREST AND STREAM. 



359 



. . Booted [ueslion whether 



the Datura] habitat of the Eastern salmon extends south of the 



oticut River, although it ia claimed that ETtjndriek ITud- 

 Bdiii (he oavigator, saw tliem Many interesting facts have 

 been published in this panergoihg to verify or disprove the 



lent, to which we might refer; hut at present we are 

 willing to "let by-guues be by-gones," and deal only with 

 modern and contemporary history, from which we learn that 

 on and since the B7th of June, 1877, salmon have been found 

 off the mouth of the Hudson in considerable numbers, aud also 

 as fur up the river a* Hyde Park. On the 27th a huge hah, 

 that weighed 27 pounds, was taken m a gill net off Governor's 

 Island, by Dave Snediker, and exhibited by Middle-ton, Oar- 

 man ; Do., ol Pulton Market. On or about the same day, 

 Mr. Eugene Blackford showed a 17 pound salmon that was 

 taken near Btatcn Island. We are cognizant of two others 

 having been taken at Seabright, near Long Branch When 

 we were informed of these fish, and had personally inspected 

 them to assure ourselves of their identity, we conjectured 

 that they were the produce of the flail planted some years pre- 

 vious in Fishkill Creek, and referred to by us at. that time. 

 Our conclusions seem now to have been verified hy the fact 

 that twO large salmon have since been taken up the Hudson 

 at Hyde Park, as we have stated. Now, these fish evidently 



ii Tor their native spawning stream, but having gone as 

 far above as twenty miles, it is possible that they will continue 

 until the dam at Troy obstructs their further progress. If they 

 do not like the water of Fishkill Creek sufficiently well to put. 

 in there, we shall have to open a pass for them to headwaters 

 iu the Adiromb 



For the present, however, the object of this writing is an- 

 swered by the substantiated fact that Hudson-hatched salmon 

 have growu to mature fish, and are now in the river. 

 ^-». — 



Maryland Fran Culture. — The Maryland Fish Commis- 

 sion, since its establishment in 1874, has been very successful 

 in the propagation of native fish, and the introduction of valu- 

 able varieties. The Druid Hill Park hatching house is de- 

 voted to the culture of California salmon, many millions of 

 which have been placed in the freshwater tributaries of the 

 Chesapeake Bay. Several ponds for breeding European carp 

 and other varieties are also in successful operation The 

 chief attention of the commission has, however, been devoted 

 to the increase of the shad and herring supply, which, owing 

 to the wholesale destruction by seine and other devices, had 

 been threatened with extermination. The hatching houses 

 are located on the head-waters of the Chesapeake and Susque- 

 hanna Plats, Spesutie Island and Carpenter's Point. The 

 central camp is at present located in Carrot Cove, mouth 

 of Northeast Kiver. The machinery is a five-horse power 

 launch boiler and small engine to move a rod and re- 

 volving eccentric w-keels, which work on bars connect- 

 ing with frames on the outside, where sheet-iron buckets 

 are- hung. The buckets have wire gauze or sieve bottoms. 

 The machinery operates to give a gentle rising and falling mo- 

 tion to the buckets, in which fish eggs have been placed, and 

 then half immersed in the water of the river. The play of 

 the machinery is calculated for about sis or eight inches, and 

 the motion is continuous night and day while there is any- 

 thing in the buckets to hatch. The capacity of each bucket, 

 twenty-five of which are now in use, is about: 100,000 eggs. 

 Itapid" transportation between the different stations is effected 

 by a steam yacht, fitted with apparatus of Com. T, B. Fergu- 

 son's invention, and designed for the safe transportation of lish 

 ,eggs, in which the embryo may be kept a day or two without 

 interruption to the processes of nature, but rather facilitating 

 ithem. "The apparatus consists of a tank supplied with 

 water from overboard by a steam pump, which may be kept 

 to operation whether the steamer is going or not. Pipes from 

 ilhe tank connect with five inverted cones, in each of which 

 as many as 200,001) eggs may be placed. The water supply- 

 ing these egg chambers comes in from below, so that the eggs, 

 which are of light specific gravity, are kept dancing midway 

 of the vessel holding them. The cones are hung in gamluiks 

 similar to the rigging of the compass, so that no matter how 

 violent the rolling of the steamer, the contents of the egg 

 chambers are never spilled. The great object to be attained 

 is secured — gentle and continued agitation of the eggs and the 

 water in which they are placed from below. In salt water 

 the pump is stopped, and the tank supply furnishes fresh 

 water circulation." During the past season an estimated ag- 

 gregate Of more than five millions of shad have been hatched. 

 of Which several lots of 100.000 and 300,000 each were 

 turned over to the United States Fish Commission for general 

 distribution. Maryland furnishes, most of the shad fry for 

 the Government Commissioner, in exchange for which are 

 given valuable European and other varieties of food fishes. 



I \ The Fistt Epidemic— The epidemic that has destroyed so 

 many fish in New Jersey, has extended to Pennsylvania. It 

 is very singular that its origin and cause cannot be discovered. 

 A correspondent sends us the following interesting informa- 

 tion : 



The fact that an immense number of fish tire dying through 

 unknown causes throughout this section of Pennsylvania, is 

 just now attracting meal attention from our Wallonian disci- 



... The reports of dead Qsl 



the waters of the Susquehanna, l.el 



kill Rivers, have been circulated at 



anO even iu our own native county 

 which have afforded BO much ■nj.ij 

 come infected with the onaceoui 

 finuy tribe was scattered along the 

 creek, in their inanimate 

 Northkill, telling of Similar ttestt 

 longer, I he d' 



{ found ( 



•/h. Dehn 



i.d Sel, 



■ist spr 

 ■rsl.re 



similarly affected, andthough the '. , .lies and in- 



vestigations ■ :!■ i . " i and nature of the strange fatality 

 are made, very little of a satisfactory nature has thus far been 

 developed. Its general outbreak is what proves thai 

 the effect of some despicable means that is SOmetimi 

 to in the capture of fish, & c, by the administering of drugs or 



chemieals. The journalists from different Joe 



reporting fruitless investigations. It was at one time thought 

 l hat the locusts which have made their appearance in myriads 

 ill some districts were perhaps accountable for this unusual 

 •:. i oi affair* Hits iwever, is rather fallacious, for the 

 i ii"' ''seventeen year locusts" have not made 

 Be sections alluded to. A t first only 

 a few dead fish of the chub, sticker and suufish species were 

 discovered along I he shores. This number lias been ... ,i i j n 

 creased lately, and the Delaware River in the vicinity Of Eas- 

 toit is said to DO literally lined with dead fish that arc lieeom. 

 inn- a putrid, decomposed and tainting mass. The theory thai 

 these fish were killed by black bass was also advanced a.i one 

 time, but upon examining some of the bodies (loafing upon the 

 surface, its absurduess was soon made manifest. Mr. Henry 

 Vogel, who has endeavored to elicit new information relative 

 to the mystery, reports that at. Martin's Creek, seven miles 

 uptherfver, there is bnl comparatively little evidence of tin- 

 disease: but below that, point, down to Kiegelsvillc 'nine 

 miles below Eastern}, the destruction of the members of the 

 finny tribe is by no manner of means inconsiderable. In the 

 waters of the Delaware, none but suckers, chubs and sunfish 

 have diet. In the streams of Berks county, however, the dis- 

 ease is less restricted, embracing other species as its victims. 



An examination of the dead fish revealed various portions 

 of the, body covered with blotches of a whitish hue. 

 some of which have turned into sores, which on some had de- 

 stroyed the fins. Since all these propositions and theories 

 h avc proved so fallible, your corresponden t will aol venture 

 an opinion, but would respectfully submit the discussion of 

 this mysterious subject to the more able and advanced pisci- 

 culturists wdio n re bo inseparably connected, with the Fouest 

 and Stream. o. D. S. 



Hamhurij, Pa,, JuntrlG, 1877. 

 . «. ■ 



PHorAGATiON op Ovsthks. — A Fairhaven oysterman about 

 two years ago leased a salt pond at Block Island and began 

 operations raising oysters. He established permanent com- 

 munication between the pondand the sea by means of a flume, 

 and after much care and labor is about to begin gathering his 

 harvest. Over 300 acres of oyster beds are now thriving well 

 ill the pond, and Mr. Thomasexpects soon to begin transplant- 

 ing in suitable waters to fatten the bivalve for market. They 

 promise to be of superior quality. The pond covers over 

 1,000 acres — Gape Ann Advertiser. 



itabl 



i. appeal 

 E disease. 



haul 

 mil. 



s Of the ' 



ne the run 



u, and a 



to hi! 



First, the 

 Irttpehocken 



inrslrom the 



little while 



Mai- 



longer, i.ih: '"ai."^ "»=> "»*>~ — .T '". ....■■•■■ 



Uen creek. Other streams outside of the county are said to bo 



California. — We believe that fish culture will ere long 

 become an important interest in Sonoma County and through- 

 out tho State. Mr. Poppe, of Sonoma, who imported some 

 carp from Germany about three years ago, was the first to give 

 attention to tho matter in our county. One of the first, to fol- 

 low was Levi Davis, of Forestville, who has thus far been 

 very successful. He says : 



"My success in raisins carp has been good. Last season 

 I raised 4,044 fish from five, which is an increase of nearly 

 4,000 per cent. This season I anticipate double that, number 

 from the same five fish. Last season they commeneed hatch- 

 ing June 10th, and this year May 24th. I attribute your fail- 

 ure to mismanagement. The hatching pond should be as nat- 

 ural as possible, with some brush or grass, or both, in it, for 

 the fish to spawn on or in. They spawn in February or 

 March, and hatch in May or June, and then the brush can lie 

 removed. Your box-ponds will do very well for feeding, but 

 not for hatching. My hatching-pond has some seven or eight 

 square rods in it, and is from riffle down to four feet of water, 

 with a stream of three-quarters of an inch flowing in. If a 

 large quantity of water is let in, the accruing sediment is liable 

 to cover and spoil the eggs. As to feed, it may consist of 

 wheat, barley, corn-meal, bran, blood, or boiled potatoes. This 

 is for fish of considerable size ; for the very young ones, the 

 best food is the curd of sour milk, bread made of middlings, 

 and boiled rice, Carp will cat almost anything that hogs will 

 e&t^—JPetaluma (Gal.) Argus. 



Artificial Ctjltore op Black Bass. — Rochester, June 25, 

 1877. — The question has many times been asked through your 

 paper why black bass wore not hatched artificially "by the 

 Commission. I have not answered it because I do not like to 

 write, and because I thought that some one would make the 

 discovery from actual observation. As it is so simple, I will 

 explain. There are some kinds of fish that cast their spawn, 

 and the parents never look after them again. Nature has pro 

 vided the young of this family of fishes with a yolk sac that 

 furnishes them with food from seven days to forty-five days, 

 at the end of wdiich time they need food and know enough to 

 look for it. The above family of fish do not hatch one fish to 

 every thousand that are cast in the natural way, and should be 

 hatched artificially ; and, if they were not, they would soon 

 runout. But other kinds of fish that make their nests, cast 

 their spawn and take cars of them until they are hatched, and 

 then take care of their yroung two or three weeks after they are 

 hatched. There is no need of hatching them artificially; if 

 you did, they would not live, as they would need a mother's 

 care for some days after they were hatched. They are hatched 

 with scarcely any sack, and* need food. They cluster around 

 the mother, and"she takes them where the food is and teaches 

 them how to get it, until they learn how to get. their own food 

 —just as an old bird teaches her young, after leaving the nest, 

 how to get. their own food — then she leaves them to take care 

 of themselves. It would he just as impossible for a young 

 fish, belonging to the black bass family, to take care of itself 

 just after if was batched, as it would be a for a bird just 

 hatched to take Care of itself. 



Sixteen years ago fourteen black bass were put in the Poto- 

 mac River, and now there arc tons taken from it every year. 

 Within five or six years the Delaware and Susquehanna" Rivers 

 have had a few hundred put into them, and last year I heard 

 of sixty being caught with one rod and line in a single day. 

 In many of our small lakes in this State, where, there Were bid 

 a few mature fish put in, there will be good fishing this season. 



Yours, Seth Gukkn. 



— A salmon was caught in the Merrimac River, at Amos- 



keag Falls. The fish was going up the stream, and, while it 



should not have been taken, its capture proves the fact that 



these fish are really able to pass the Lawrence Sal) P . 



« — .♦. — ~ 



— Mothers make selections for themselves uptown,<but they always 

 go to Baldwin, the clothier, iu New York or Brooklyn for boy's outflta. 

 -[Adv, 



THE ESOCILiyE (or Pike Family.) 



Botlkb University, i.nmakjpolis, lad., Jane ti, ISTT. 

 Editor. Fobest ant> Si wm : 



. ..iini'...r, .inn,:'], ooenra the statement that " Prof. Gill 

 and other carina i students of tin modern school, recognize 

 the filially of Ksoenhe," viz. Steal 



tun. As to Prof. Gilt's opinion, the only reference to the species I have 

 been able to Uad In his writings Has been published In the Ref 

 Agr. for lsc.it (np.411, 118). There lie recognizes distinctly four lifomi- 

 nent species Iu the North, and alludes to the several representative 

 (onus elsewhere. The four northern species are the (1) Jisox lucita, or 

 cstov; (2) Lhe IS. imbilmr ; (3) the K.r,-i;,'„ia!us; ami (.1) the h:. . .,,■■ 

 or dmertomau. Thus, like every careful student ot the modern or ally 



t. Bun 



&. Est) 



most, an 



riters 



LUidhjus, To this species belong the names Jiniomt 

 ■ row correspondent, "Ago 01," 



luTei .'ii'"' bet ween this and the masketonge. 



Sim, Le Sueur. To this belong the names ujl:, 



mis. Baf. This Is the vmiroaus lugulmaus, elc,, of 



5. JSsMl Aiiwri'-aHtis. Laoepide. The ui.jer orluttW fascuitns, nw,. 

 neliinl authors. 



... :,,,,.;. cope, The little Biiltalo PLko or Humpback Pike. 

 oJus and jwrfcSIW Ol authors. 



'...,.... and nwtneanus are found chiefly, or only, in the 

 *i ' trearas; hates and nobiltor in (he Great Lake Region and Up- 

 per Mississippi Valley ; aod cyplin and millennia chiefly la the Ohio and 

 Lower Mississippi Valley. 



Here is a litlle •• key " in the species : 



A. Braachiostegula, IS on each side (17 to 19); spots on body flu fleet 

 than ground color ; cheeks aud operoles with the lower half bare ; very 

 urge ; HI to WO lbs.— XolHtior. 



A A. Bnmchlostegals. ir. [often 14, very rarely ic); head and suout 

 long; K. operates hah" bare; Cheeks scaly; spotted, the spots paler 

 i ban ground color ; large, M to 40 lbs— Lutiua. 



BB. Cheeks and opercles entirely scaled ; color reticulated with vari- 

 ous shades ot green, h.\: medium; S to IB lbs.— HetjcuUtiu. 



AAA. Brauehiostegais, 12 (often 13, rarely f4) ; head and snout rela- 

 tively short J small ; .'■_. fcoS lbs. 



C. Back nearly Straight.) sides reticulated.— S«lm<msmi. 



CC. Back nearly, straight ; sides with many transverse curved bars.— 

 Amerieqiiwrn. 



cot:. Hack " hmnped ;" sides nearly plain.— cypiw. 



Yours very truly, D. s. JouriAK. 



Comment.— We arc glad to have been the humble means of 

 bringing to the front so valued an authority as Prof. Jordan, 

 Who is now engaged iu classifying the ictithyc fauna of the 

 Smithsonian Institution. The paper which he contributes 

 horcwith is a very fair statement of the representative forms ot 

 the Esox family, each of which the editor of this paper lias 

 admitted anil described at sundry times in the columns of this 

 journal and in books. Prof. Jordan has probably miscon- 

 strued the meaning of the editor iu the article of June 21st, 

 which he refers to, the editor probably erring in his choice, of 

 of technical terms which a better scientific scholar might have 

 avoided. The allusion to Prof. Gill might also be pardoned, 

 as it was not his desire to specially commit that gentleman or 

 any other recognized authority. The position taken in the 

 editor's article was simply to group the three distinct or com- 

 pletely distinguished species of Esocidas in the United Slates, 

 (there may be four, as Prof. Jordan maintains, though the 

 tendency in these days is toward conformity and not multipli- 

 cation of species), viz., (\)E. netbilior, the 100-pound monster, 

 w/teremr found, whose characteristics of structure, form and 

 color are so distinctive that they cannot be mistaken • (2) tho 

 pike, cither of the West or East (differing, to be sure, in some 

 trifling respects according to his range or habitat) that reaches 

 his twenty and even fifty pounds in weight ; and (3) the pick- 

 erel (diminutive for pike) that seldom reaches three pounds 

 in weight. 



With regard to the pickerel, there are certainly many "re- 

 presonlulive forms," but we care not whether, like E. afmis, 

 and K ra.oenelli, the inhabit tho warm waters aud canals of 

 the rice fields of the south, or, like faseiatus, the streams of 

 Long Island ; or whether they swim in fingerling schools in 

 Lake Uhainpla'm, or grow to larger size in the ponds of Penn- 

 sylvania, we maintain that they are still simply pickerel (little 

 pike) ; and when we catch one of these little fellows we know 

 that he is not of that sort that grows to huge proportions. 

 For lack of a better name we designate him E. Jteticulntus, 

 which appelation also refers to the markings on his back and 

 sides, which often, but by no means always, are reticulated. 

 For the more minute work of scientific identification, when a 

 fish is presented for inspection, it is well to have a distinctive! 

 Latin name to give him that will instantly inform the learned 

 whether he comes from Xe w York or from South Caroli na, Iron i 

 Long Island or Pennsylvania ; but when, as in the case in 

 question, we are merely requested to state whether a specimen 

 before us is a dwarfed maskelouge or a pickerel, we. shall be 

 compelled to reply in such simple language that, men w T ho ara 

 scholars can understand. As editor of a paper published COi 

 l lie people, we are obliged always to remember that the ver- 

 nacular of a majority of them is not Latin, and that their in- 

 terest iu Natural History does not estond to the widest distri- 

 bution of species. 



As to the fin system and markings of trout and pickerel, we 

 are bold to say thai they vary so muoh (the fin rays m . lum- 

 ber, ami the niaikings in shape and color) thai we cannot de- 

 pend upon the variations, however striking, to indicate spe- 

 cies. \\ e have ^v\\ two pickerel taken from I be same wate. 



an time which, were marked altogether differently i 

 and in counting (iu rays, we scarcely ever find them to corres- 

 pond numerically, the variation being from one to three. The 

 same observations apply to pike, both of the Eastern and West- 

 ern varieties, 



