330 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



we can have a shot at a hear who is ranging the woods just 

 120 miles from our desk, (so at least a correspondent informs 

 us whose kind note of invitation we are just in receipt of.) 

 As for that, in sixty-nine to seventy-two hours easy going 

 from New Yo'rk we can kill a buffalo, and if we wish to 

 have this pleasant diversion with all its accompaniments, 

 could have, by journeying some seven hours more, a neat 

 scrimmage with our brother Lo, and either raise hair or 

 have our own grizzly locks taken as an ornament for some 

 peripetetic lodge pole. Who knows but that some day, 

 after breakfast, our great-grand-children may not go off to 

 the Papuan islands, shoot a brace of birds of paradise for 

 their sisters, and return in time for dinner, which plumes 

 their fair sisters may want to deck their persons with at a 

 soiree to be held the same evening in Kamtschatka. 



— French sportsmen are in great commotion in regard to 

 a change in the game laws. There is a rumor that hunting 

 permits, or the right to carry a gun, are to be raised from 

 25. to 50 francs; that a considerable tax is to be imposed on 

 powder and shot, and even that all shooting (game bird 

 shooting ?) shall cease for a year, in order that the game 

 may increase. We notice too in the Chasse Illustree a curi- 

 pus instance of the French red tape system. M. M. La- 

 marche and Lavigne, game and provision merchants, of 

 Paris, expected to have shipped to them from New York 

 on the 29th of last month, a consignment of prairie chick- 

 ens and buffalo meat for the delectation of the Parisian 

 gourmands. Now, according to some very arbitrary rul- 

 ings of the commissioner who has the subject of the Pari- 

 sian markets under his charge, these enterprising provision 

 merchants are not to be allowed, according to the august 

 judgment of the commissioner, to sell buffalo meat, as this 

 bureaucrat cannot understand that buffalo is game, but 

 classes its meat with the beef derived from the tamer bo- 

 vine races. The hitch is that in the certain markets where 

 Messrs. Lamarche and Lavigne want to sell their buffalo 

 meat, game only is allowed to be sold. M. Chevalier, the 

 excellent editor of the Chasse Illustree, of course takes up 

 the cudgels for the bison, which he very properly declares 

 to be a game animal. Should the French bureau- 

 crat be on the prairie with an old buffalo bull, head 

 down, eyes flashing fire, and charging at him, he would 

 very possibly not only learn a lesson in natural history, but 

 acquire the fact that the buffalo is decidedly game. 



—The question is being agitated by the liberal party in 

 Holland of removing entirely all the game laws. 



-*•♦■ 



FOOD FISHES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



* 



We are much gratified at the opportunity herewith 

 afforded to aid in the very important and arduous work in 

 which Professor Baird is engaged, and trust that his ap- 

 peal will be warmly responded to. It is the duty of every 

 one and direcily to his own interest, to contribute what he 

 knows of the food fishes in any given section of the coun- 

 try. 



United States Commission, Fish and Fisheries, 

 Washington, Dec. 23, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : — 



Dear Sir:— One of the duties with which I have charged 

 mvself as U. S. Commissiorer of Fish and Fisheries 

 is to prepare and furnish to Congress a report upon tlie 

 food fishes of the United States, to consist of descriptions 

 of the genera and species, together with as copious biogra- 

 phies as may be procurable, the whole to be illustrated by 

 reliable figures of the species. 



Although I devote much time every summer to personal 

 research in this direction, it is imposible for me to 

 cover the ground completely, and I am desirous of securing 

 the assistance of all who, have any facts at their disposal 

 towards accomplishing my object in a satisfactory manner. 



I enclose to you a series of questions in reference to a 

 number of the subjects of special inquiry, and shall be 

 greatly indebted to any of your correspondents for answers to 

 any, in regard to any particular species. In giving these 

 answers it is not necessary to repeat the question itself 

 but merely to refer to its number. 



I am already indebted to many gentlemen for service in 

 this connection and I hope through the instrumentality of 

 your widely circulated paper to secure many additional 

 data. Full credit will^of course be given in my report to 

 all to*whom I am under obligations. 



I can supply pamphlet copies of the questions to those 

 who may desire them. Very truly, yours, 



Spencer F. Baird, 



Charles Hallock, Esq., Commmissioner. 



Editor of Forest and Stream, 

 memoranda of inquiry relative to the food fishes of 

 the united states. 



A Name of fish in different localities. 



B Geographical distribution at present time; change of 

 location with season of year in former times; supposed 

 cause of any permanent change. m 



C Abundance; at present time, in different seasons and 

 localities- in former times, in different seasons and locali- 

 ties; supposed cause of variation in abundance; probable 

 change in the future. 



D Size; maximum length and weight; average length 

 and weight; rate of growth; length and weight at one, two 

 three etc., years; difference in sexes in this respect. 



E. Migration and movements; arrival and departure; pe- 

 riod of stay; certainty of arrival; route of movement, corn- 

 in^ and going; number and times of runs or schools in one 

 season and differences, if any, in the runs; differences in 

 arrival' of the sexes and ages; feeding of fish after arrival; 

 summer abode; winter abode; if anadromous, when entering 

 the fresh water aud when leaving; if anadromous, what the 

 movements up and down fresh waters, of adults or of 

 youno- rate of progression of schools in fresh or salt water; 



relation of movements to tides; depth of water preferred 

 by schools or single fish; temperature and general condition 

 of water preferred; favorite localities in any region, whether 

 bottom be sandy, rocky, muddy, grassy, etc. 



F. Relationships; to its own species, whether gregarious, 

 solitary, grouped by age or sex at any season, predaceous, 

 etc. ; to other animals, whether preyed upon by them, feed- 

 ing upon them, etc. ; special enemies, friends or compan- 

 ions. 



G. Food; nature; mode of taking it; time of taking it; 

 quantity consumed. 



H. Reproduction ; interference with spawning, by lines, 

 nets, etc. ; age of male and female, respectively, when ca- 

 pable of reproduction; change in physical .condition, (color, 

 shape, fatness, etc. ;) date of spawning, and its duration as 

 relating to the individual as well as to the species; preferred 

 localities for spawning, as to place, temperature, etc. ; 

 special habits during spawning season; special habits be- 

 fore or after spawning; ratio of mortality in old fish from 

 spawning; number of successive years of capacity for 

 spawning; nesting places; are nesting places prepared? if 

 so, whether of grass, stones, sand, etc., or cleared areas, 

 and whether made by one sex only, or both; if ridges 

 or furrows are formed, how made; the eggs; mode of fe- 

 cundation; where laid; where and how attached, if at all; 

 covered up, and how, or exposed in water; number laid by 

 one fish at one time, and the number during lifetime.; size 

 and color; special enemies; guarding of eggs by either sex; 

 the embryo and young fish; ratio of fish 'hatched to num- 

 ber of eggs laid; proportion of young fish attaining maturity; 

 movement after birth, whether remaining on spawning 

 ground and how long; or whether changing from fresh to 

 salt, or salt to fresh" water, etc., and when; general ap- 

 pearances, and successive changes; rate of growth; special 

 food; enemies and diseases of eggs and }^oung; relation of 

 parent fisb, of either sex, to young; whether protective, 

 predatory, etc. 



1. Diseases. 

 K. Parasites. 



L. Artificial fish-culture. 



M. Protection by law. 



N. Capture; methods; by lines; by nets, floating or mov- 

 able, (seines, gill-nets, etc. ;) fixed, (traps, pounds, weirs, 

 dams, etc. ;) other methods of capture; bait; influence of 

 modes of capture on abundance; season of capture; by 

 lines; by nets; otherwise; time of tide when takeu; statis- 

 tics of capture; by lines; by nets; otherwise; value of fish 

 taken; disposition of fish taken; economical value and 

 uses; for food, (fresh, salted, smoked, dried, etc.;) for oil; 

 for manure; for other purposes; price, in its variations with 

 place, season and year; export and trade, in their variations 

 With place, scuson and year. 



P. Remarks relative to foreign or domestic allies. 



QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE FOOD FISHES OF THE UNITED 

 STATES. 



A. Name. 

 1 What is the name by which this fish is known in your 

 neighborhood? If possible, make an outline sketch for 

 better identification. 



B. Distribution. 



2. Is it found throughout the year, or only during a cer- 

 tain time; and for what time? 



3 If resident, is it more abundant at certain times of the 

 year; and at what times? 



C. Abundance. 

 g[4. How abundant is it, compared with other fish? 



5. Has the abundance of the fish diminished or increpsed 

 within the last ten years, or is it about the same? 



6. If diminished or increased, what is the supposed 

 cause ? 



7. What is the amount, or extent, of the change in the 

 abundance? 



D. Size. 



8. What is the greatest size to which it attains, (both 

 length and weight,) and what the average? 



9. State the rate of growth, per annum, if known; and 

 the size at one, two, three, or more years. 



10. Do the sexes differ in respect to shape, size, rate of 

 growth, etc. ? 



E. Migration and Movements. 



11. By what route do these fish come in to the shore; and 

 what the subsequent movements? 



12. By what route do they leave the coast? 



13. Where do they spend the Avinter season? 



14. When are the fish first known or seen to come near 

 the shore, and when does the main body arrive; are the first 

 the largest; are there more schools or runs than one coming 

 in, and at what intervals? 



15. When do the fish leave shore, and is this done by de- 

 grees or in a body? 



16. Is the appearance of the fish on the coast regular and 

 certain, or do they ever fail for one or more seasons at a 

 time, and then return in greater or less abundance? If so, 

 to what cause is this assigned? 



17. How do the runs differ from each in number and 

 size? 



18. Which sex comes in first; and how far advanced is 

 the spawn in the female on first arriving? 



19. Will either sex, or both, take the hook on first arriv- 

 ing ; and if so, is there any period of the stay of the fish 

 when they refuse it? 



20. If they refuse the hook at first, how soon do they be- 

 gin to take it after arriving? 



21. Do the schools of fish swim high or low; and is their 

 arrival known otherwise than by their capture ; that is, do 

 they make a ripple on the water, do they attract birds, 

 etc.? 



22. What is the relation of their movements to the ebb 

 and flow of the tide? 



23. Does spawn ever run out of these fish taken with a 

 hook? . 



24. Answer same question in regard to fish taken m nets 

 or pounds; is the spawn ever seen in any quantity floating 

 about inside of nets? 



25. Are these fish anadromous; that is, do they run up 

 from the sea into fresh water for any, and for what pur- 

 pose? 



26. II anadromous, when are they first seen off the coast; 

 when do they enter the mouths of the rivers, and what is 

 the rate of progression up stream? 



kk 27. If anadromous, what the length of their stay in fresh 

 water, and when do they return to the sea? 



28. Do the different sexes or ages vary in this respect? 



29. Do these fish come on to the breeding grounds before 



they are mature; or do you find the one and two year old ' 

 fish with the oldest ? 



30. What are the favorite localities of these fish; say 

 whether in still water or currents; shallow or deep water; 

 on the sand; in grass; about rocks, etc. ? 



31. What depth of water is preferred by these fish? 



32. What the favorite temperature and general character 

 of water? 



F. Relationship. 



33. Do these fish go in schools after they have done 

 spawning; or throughout the year; or are they scattered and , 

 solitary? 



34. Have they any special friends or enemies? 



35. To what extent do they prey on other fish; and on 

 what species? 



36. To what extent do they suffer from the attacks of 

 other fish, or other animals? 



G. Food. 

 87. What is the nature of their food? 



38. Are there any special peculiarities in the manner of 

 feeding of these fish? 



39. What amount of food do they consume ? 



H. Reproduction. 



40. Is there any marked change in the shape or color of 

 either sex during the breeding season; or any peculiar de- 

 volopement of or on any portion of the body, as the mouth, 

 fins, scales, etc. ? 



41. Are there any special or unusual habits during the 

 spawning season? 



42. Is spawning interfered with by lines or nets, or other- 

 wise ? 



43. At what age does the male begin to breed; and at 

 what age the female? 



44. For how many years can these fish spawn? 



45. Does the act of spawning exert an injurious effect? 



46. Where do these fish spawn, and when? 



47. Can you give any account of the process ; whether 

 males and females go in pairs, or one female and two 

 males; whether the sexes are mixed indiscriminately, etc? 



48. Is the water ever whitened or colored by the milt of 

 the male ? 



49. What temperature of water is most favorable for 

 hatching. 



50. At what depth of water are the eggs laid, if on or 

 near the bottom ? 



51. What is the size and color of the spawn? 



52. What is the estimated number for each fish; and how 

 ascertained? 



53. Answer the question for one season, and for the life- 

 time. 



54. Do the eggs, when spawned, sink to the bottom and 

 become attached to stones, grass, etc., or do they float in 

 the water until hatched? 



55. Do the fish heap up or construct any kind ot nest, 

 whether of sand, gravel, grass, or otherwise; and if so, is 

 the mouth, the snout, or the tail used for the purpose, or 

 what; and if so, how is the material transported; or do 

 they make any excavation in the sand or gravel? 



56. Do they watch over their nest, if made, either singly 

 or in pairs ? 



57. When are the eggs hatched, and in what period of 

 time after being laid? 



58. What percentage of eggs laid is usually hatched? 



59. What percentage of young attains to maturity? 



60. What is the rate of growth? 



61. Do the parents, either or both, watch over the young 

 after they are hatched? 



62. Do they carry them in the mouth, or otherwise? 



63. What enemies interfere with or destroy the spawn or 

 the young fish? Do the parent fish devour them? 



64. Are the young of this fish found in abundance, and 

 in what localities? 



65. On what do they appear to feed? 



I. Artificial Culture. 



66. Have any steps been taken to increase the abundance 

 of this fish by artificial breeding? 



K. Protection. 



67. Are these fish protected by law or otherwise ? > 



L. Diseases. 



68. Has any epidemic or other disease ever been noticed 

 among them, such as to cause their sickness or death in 

 greater or less number? 



69. When have these epidemics taken place, and to what 

 causes have they been assigned? 



M. Parasites. 



70. Are crabs, worms, lampreys, or other living animals 

 found attached to the outside or on the gills of these fish? 



N. Capture. 



71. How is this fish caught; if with a hook, what are the 

 different kinds of bait used, and which are preferred? 



72. If in nets, in what kind? 



73. At what season and for what period is it taken in 

 nets, and when with the line? 



74. What would be the average daily catch of one person 

 with the hook, and what the total for the season? 



75. Answer the same question for one seine or pound of 

 specified length. 



76. Is the time of catching with nets or pounds different 

 from that with lines? 



77. Is it caught more on one time of the tide than on 

 another? 



O. Economical Value and Application. 



78. What disposition is made of the fish caught, whether 

 used on the spot or sent elsewhere, and if so, where? 



79. What is its excellence as food, fresh or salted? 



80. How long does it retain its excellence as a fresh fish? 



81. To what extent is it eaten? 



82. Is it salted, and to what extent? 



83. Is it used, and to what extent, as manue, for oil, or 

 for other purposes, and what? 



84. What were the highest and lowest prices of the fish 

 per lb. during the past season, wholesale and retail, and 

 what the average, and how do these compare with former 

 prices ? 



85. Are these fish exported, and if so, to what extent? 



86. Where is the principal market of these fish? 



87. Name and address of observer. 



88. Date of statement. 



— Two fine horses, bitten by a mad dog in Baltimore 

 county, Maryland, have been seized with hydrophobia, 

 and killed. 



