84 



FOREST AND STREAM 



Perhaps the old camp has sometimes looked a little rough 

 to some of our city sportsmen, but the White House at Wash- 

 ington never looked pleassnter to auy in-going President 

 after a close election. Tom and Peter weighed our venison. 

 The doe wciiihed an even hundred pounds; the meat of the 

 buck one hundred and fifteen. Of this Board, had socked 

 out sixty-two pounds and 1 fifty-three. Thus ended my first 

 '.illlrrtof last fall. 



lhavc reus™ to believe that the "Old Star," as the big 

 buck is now known, still exists, as I saw his track about a 

 week niter this occurrence. No doubt he is now yarded with 

 Eour or live of his trusty followers on the south side of some 

 mountain, probably not feu miles from where I am writing. 

 A pleasant winter to him 1 I wish him no ill-luck, but it 

 makes me sad to think that those royal antlers are doomed to 

 soon be bleaching and mouldering in the forest. If he would 

 only run down to the comer of our camp some dark night 

 and hook them on to the Rate, and then pull back he would 

 get rid of them just as well as he would to rub them off 

 against a rock maple tree. 



1 have scribbled this little experience off for Fobbbt AUD 

 Strbam, as many of the friends that 1 meet every summer at 

 our lakes are readers of that paper. It may recall to their 

 minds some of the pleasant times we have had together with 

 rifie and lly rod. F. O. Babkbk. 



For Forest and Stream and Mod and Chin. 

 A COLONIAL MANOR HOUSE. 



LAST fall I made a flying trip a hundred or two miles from 

 this city to visit a friend in Johnstown, Fulton Co., 

 New York and thence into the woods of course. Perhaps you 

 know Johnstown is a beautiful borough, possessing some- 

 what a romantic origin. It derived its name fromand was 

 founded by Sir Win. .Johnson, in 1760. The same year he 

 erected an. elegant Villa on the site of Castle Cumberland, 

 which is now known as Broad Albin. lie also built, a rustic 

 L04ge near by on the beautiful Sacandoga River. In 1,768 he 

 built "Johnson Hall" (or mansion), which was flanked 

 by two forts built of stone, with subterranean passages con- 

 necting with the Hall, as a protection from hostile Indians. 

 The ! da strong affection for Sir William, 



and bis mansion was a place of annual rendezvous for them. 

 Their great councils were held there. On one occasion, GOO 

 warriors gathered there in council. All the assemblages, 

 however, were by invitation. 



Sir William fitted up and furnished the upper part of his 

 magnificent mansion for a Masonic lodge room, and frequent- 

 ly various field sports were improvised, to which his tenantry 

 and the yeomanry of the surrounding country were invited 

 and welcomed. The " Hall," now 115 years old, shows but 

 very slight marks of time. This beautiful old mansion is now 

 the inheritance of Hon. J. E. Wells, who has emblished it 

 with an observatory and bay windows, finished with antique 

 panel work corresponding" to the other parts of the building. 

 The halls are 15x40 feet, and the stair-rail still shows the 

 marks of the Indians' tomahawks, which were a sign to In- 

 dians who should come there that the Hall was never to be 

 burned. 



The Indians were always loud in their expressions of praise 

 of the ".great man." They said, "Sir William never deceive 

 Indian," and they gave him, unasked, a royal token of their 

 confidence and "affection ; they presented to him as a gift, 

 6,000 acres of the laud lying on the north side of the Mohawk, 

 which gift was confirmed to him by a patent royal, granted 

 from King George. This distinguished gentleman also built 

 the Episcopal Church of the town, which now stands as a 

 monument of his religious faith, in the grounds of which 

 his mortal remains repose, unheeding the progress of events 

 as the centuries march along. 



We noticed likewise another relic of the times of Sir vv'illiam. 

 The court-lib i i -us erected 110 years ago, built 



of brick brought from Holland. But excuse my wandering 

 so far from my simple purpose of telling you about my little 

 adventure in hunting, for we greenhorns love to say our say 

 as well as others. In Johnstown there is a jolly, happy - 

 heaited druggist, and a Dominie just about of the same stripe. 

 But that druggist has a line team of Canadian ponies that 

 brought us to our destination in good time, some 14 miles, 

 into about the worst section of hunting ground we ever saw. 

 All the primeval forest under the weight, perhaps, of all the 

 years since the Flood, had fatten in every possible direction, 

 and lay rotten, or rotting, making it, together with a thick un- 

 dergrowth of brush, briars and running vines almost impassa- 

 ble for man or dog to get through. It really seemed a "sell." 

 But after a splendid lunch, and bagging one ruffed grouse, 

 we headed toward civilization once more. The next day, 

 however, we turned our course in another direction, and 

 were compensated with a fine day's sport, bagging nine ruffed 

 grouse, six gray squirrels and one woodcock. But for what 

 cause we could not divine, the game was scattered over a 

 large extent of country, only one or two w birds at most were 

 fouud together. 



But the obiect of this note is to say, or what lead to (his 

 writing is, the painful fact as related to us, that no regard, or 

 very little, is paid in that section to the game laws of the 

 State, and at the rate everybody is shooting, in a few years 

 the sportsman's dogand gun will be of no interest norjvaluc. 



JS J ew 7ork, Feb., 1879. On Tub Wino. 



The Salmon of New England.— Cognizant of the pro- 

 longed and intelligent efforts which have been made during 

 the past decade to restore the Salmo salar to his ancient habi- 

 tat in the New England rivers, many persons have anxiously 

 looked and inquired for results. Where this precious food 

 once flouiished, a half century ago, in the plenitude of natu- 

 ral abundance, hardly a representative could be found when 

 the good work began. The Connecticut and the Merrimack, 

 and nearly all the streams of Maine, were wholly depleted. 

 The Penobscot and the Kennebec afforded a few delicious 

 specimens every year ; but such were taken in nets. The 

 Union and the DenniB were the only streams where an 

 angler could capture a salmon with rod and fly subsequent to 

 the year 1860. In 1859 we faithfully whipped the Aroostook 

 River at the Falls where old man Russell had previously cap- 

 tured scores, up to three years before that date ; and we tried 

 the stream above, near the now thriving town of Presqtie Isle ; 

 but nary a fin could we raise, The last of the salmon had de- 



parted, with the last Mohegan. Subsequently the subject 

 of fish culture came to be agitated, and then the States 

 took hold of the matter, and operating through their chosen 

 Fish Commissioners, have since accomplished much. Last 

 year Connecticut River salmon were not a rarity in our mar- 

 kets, and Kennebec salmon were the favorite grade at fancy 

 prices. 



On the 26th of February, last month, there was a joint con- 

 vention of all the New England Commissioners, with the ex- 

 ception of those of Rhode Island, who did notattend, at which 

 the full story of their successful achievements was told, as 

 far as information could Berve. Imperfect fishways, which 

 salmon could not readily ascend, and innumerable gill nets, 

 seemed to be the principal obstacles to desired complete suc- 

 cess. There had also not been full harmonious co-operation 

 between the States common to one river. However, salmon 

 which Massachusetts had put into the headwaters of the Con- 

 necticut River, had come up the river the past year and been 

 caught, so that there is no way of showing what treatment is 

 necessary in the upper waters. The run of salmon in the Mer- 

 rimack last year was regarded as proof that they run up to 

 spawn only every other year. Salmon have been seen below 

 the Holyoke dam, but it is not known whether they passed 

 up. The fishway is suitable for the passage of fish ; the only 

 question is whether they can find the entrance. It was said 

 that salmon never turn down stream to find a passage around 

 an obstruction, but struggle to get up the main channel. 

 The fishway at Lawrence was not a success till the mouth 

 was changed and put at the foot of the dam. It was sug- 

 gested that such a change is necessary at Holyoke. 



The fishway on the Penobscot at Bangor is thirty feet high, 

 and the entrance is imperfect, owing to a high rock. But the 

 fishway works well, and when examinations have been made 

 salmon and alewives have been found in the compartments. 

 After July 15, when the nets of fishermen are removed by 

 law, salmon go up in great numbers. It is hoped to extend 

 the current further down stream that the fish may more easily 

 find the fishway. The bottom of the fishway is made of 

 stones, which arc found to be much more favorable to the fish 

 l i ii the smooth current which runs over planks. The Ban- 

 gor fishway is spiral. It is perfectly easy for the weakest flsh 

 to go up such fishways as that at Lawrence. 



After mature discussion a vote was finally passed to in- 

 struct the Legislatures of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massa- 

 chusetts and Connecticut that it was the opinion of the Com- 

 missioners of said States that the taking of salmon in the 

 waters thereof should be totally prohibited until July 1882, 

 or a period cf four months more than three years. This 

 would be a most judicious interdiction. A similar act was 

 passed in Nova Scotia in 1871 with regard to moose, and the 

 effect thereof was proved by the great increase in the stock. 

 Where a protective enactment is absolutely needed, in order to 

 have effect, it should be absolutely prohibitive ; otherwise it 

 will avail nothing. We trust the several legislatures will 

 make the desired law. 



The following miscellaneous business was enacted before 

 the meeting of commissioners adjourned : 



It was voted to continue Mr. Powers in the position of 

 superintendent of the New Hampshire hatching-house, at Ply- 

 mouth, N. H. 



It was regarded feasible to put salmon in the Westfield 

 river, and re-establish its character as a salmon river. 



A New Hampshire commissioner said that his State was 

 perfectly willing to co-operate in re-establishing the salmon 

 fishery in the Connecticut, but a Vermont commissioner stated 

 positively that his State would not do anything till the sal- 

 mon were seen at Bellows Falls. Show them a salmon there 

 and they will theu talk about co-operation. 



Mr. Thomas Ellis, of Rochester, Mass., exhibited a model of 

 a fishway. It was in several compartments in a straight line, 

 but was open to the objections to present fishways, that the 

 mouth is too far below the dam. 



In regard to distributing salmon through other States, from 

 Bucksport, Me., it was decided to hold further communica- 

 tion between the commissioners. It was stated that in South- 

 port, Conn., salmon which were put into Mill River (a very 

 small stream) in 1873 had come back in 1877 grown to a 

 large size. 



It was decided to take no action in regard to land-locked 

 salmon. A general feeling was manifest that the inland fish- 

 ery interest will make but little progress this year, owing to 

 the lack of appropriations by the several legislatures. 



THE LOBSTER FISHERY AND HOW- 

 TO PROTECT IT. 



Read before tub Americ \x Fish Cultubai. Association 



Feb. 20. 



by 6. w. johhsos of bbooxiiyk. 



THIS, like all questions having for their object the best 

 method of economizing and preserving our supply of 

 sea food, has become not only of great interest, but of great 

 importance ; and the discussion of such topics is looked upon 

 with increasing interest from year to year as the necessity for 

 a law in relation to them becomes more apparent. With 

 these facts in view, 1 esteem it a privilege to accept the invi- 

 tation of the secretary of this Association to consider briefly 

 the causes of a very apparent decrease in the size of lobsters 

 offered for sale in our markets. 



The first question seems to be— What relation the supply 

 bears to the demand, and the ability of the former to meet the 

 latter, in the future as well as the present. 



In looking for a reasonable solution of this problem, an in- 

 quiry concerning the means taken to provide the supply now, 

 as compared with those taken in former years, might properly 

 be prefaced by a statement of the fact that not as many lob- 

 sters are consumed now as formerly. A few years ago, fifty 

 or sixty traps per man were considered a good number, while 

 at the present time from ceventy-flve to ninety are used, and 

 even with this addition it requires twice the number of men 

 to catch the same amount of lobsters. These facts seem to 

 show the danger of depletion in our efforts to keep up the 

 supply, even if size and quality are disregarded. 



It may be fairly estimated that from tweniy-eiglit to thirty 

 millions of lobsters are taken annually off the coast of New 

 England, aggregating in weight not far from fifteen thousand 

 tons. These figures may be considered only important here 

 when taken in connection with the ability of the source of 

 supply to furnish this amount without, endangering its perpe- 

 tuity. This calamity, however, I think most likely to ensue 

 unless some proper restrictions are enforced, limiting this 

 continual drain. When we compare the lobsters seen m the 

 market to-day with those of former years, the danger becomes 

 Still more evident; and if this decrease in size goes on, the 

 industry will, in a short time, become of little or no importance. 

 The reply to the oft-repeated question— Why do we not get 

 larger lobsters?— must be, We catch them faster than they 

 can grow ; the smaller the lobsters we retain, the smaller will 

 they become in the future, and as a natural consequence, if wc 

 continue indiscriminate fishing, practical extermination must 

 follow. This ground I am anxious to maintain, and wish to 

 have some remedy applied to obviate the evil, still, however, 

 permitting a partial supply. 



Before going further I would here give you a brief descrip- 

 tion of the process by which the lobster discards its old shell 

 and assumes a new one : 



Having grown to fill the old shell, a new one begins to form 

 under it, at first no more than a film, which, gradually thick- 

 ening, becomes in appearance not unlike India-rubber. The 

 line seen running lengthwise of a lobster's back indicates the 

 opening point which, when opened, room is provided for the 

 extraction of the tail, together with the legs and bony struc- 

 ture of the body. Next comes the interesting, but apparently 

 difficult, operation of drawing the large claws through the 

 small joints by which they are connected to the large body 

 or trunk ; but this is accomplished by a beautiful yet simple 

 provision of nature, viz., the decay of a portion of the shell, 

 thereby forming a larger aperture. The place is indicated by 

 an oval spot, seen on the inside of the first joint of the arm. 

 This done, the animal is free from its shell and bony struc- 

 ture ; for, let me state, the bones assisting in the working of 

 joints are also withdrawn from the flesh, leaving him helpless 

 and as if dead, the beating of the hoart being the only visible 

 sign of life. In a few days, however, the new shell is bard 

 enough to permit the seeking of food, which is done with 

 great eagerness. 



But more especially to the result of this process would I call 

 your attention. From actual observation I have found that 

 a lobster measuring lOiin. in length will, after shedding, have 

 increased to 12in.; but if we make the comparison in weight, 

 it may be better understood. For instance, a lobster of toSin. 

 will weigh l^lb., while one of 12m. on an average of 2ilbs., 

 or double its former weight, which will add to" its market 

 value in the same proportion, or 100 per cent. Now if a lob- 

 ster sheds its shell once a year, which is approximatelv true, 

 I think it shows that by establishing a reasonable standard of 

 length (which must not be so high that it would prohibit fish- 

 ing ; neither so low that a sufficient age for reproduction may 

 not have been attained) we may in time get back that which 

 we have so foolishly sacrificed. 



Lobsters of a less length than UHin. liave been found bear- 

 ing eggs, but by careful observation aud inquiry I have 

 found the exceptions to be very rare. Therefore this stand- 

 ard could not be safely fixed under that length, but should, 

 on the contrary, be as much above it as possible ; still, not so 

 high at first as to cause hardship to the fishermen, while from 

 time to time an advancement might be made, as the supply 

 of the required length increased and more nearly met the 

 demand. 



Having pointed out the necessity of such a law, and indi- 

 cated the best modes of its application, it only remains to be 

 shown how it may be made effective. 



I think it is an established fact that protective measures 

 can only be carried out in the open market, where the posses- 

 sion of unlawful fish or game is prima facia evil 

 gudt. Such a law has been in full force'in Massachusetts 

 since 1874, but the possibility of finding a market outside the 

 State has been a barrier to the best results ; and just, so long 

 as there is any place where lobsters may be indiscriminately 

 sold, we cannot justly judge of its efficiency. I am fully 

 aware that in advocating a measure of this kind opposition 

 will arise, which must be met and answered in the most toler- 

 ant Bpirit ; for fancied rights of individuals are not always in 

 accordance with the reasonable demands of the public good. 



The first opponents of the law for the protection of lobsters 

 in Massachusetts were the fishermen, whose testimony at the 

 same time was the best evidence given of the ni . 

 such a law. These, however, after a trial of one year, not 

 only became reconciled to it, but even its strongest advocates, 

 and realize year by year more fully the wisdom of the meas- 

 ure they so bitterly opposed. 



There has been one circumstance noticed which I think 

 quite significant, viz., that the first year the law went into 

 effect one-fourth of the whole number caught were obliged lo 

 be thrown back on account of their insufficient size, which 

 proportion has gradually diminished until at present scarcely 

 more than one in ten is discarded. The State of Maine, 

 which possesses the largest lobster-producing grounds on the 

 coast, has from time to time passed laws for the protection of 

 the lobster fishery, but has had a powerful aud important in- 

 terest in opposition to a limit which no other State has, the 

 size being of less importance for canuing purposes than for 

 other consumption. This year, however, a law has been 

 enacted by which the canners are obliged to confine their 

 operations to four months of the year, while for the remain- 

 ing eight months a limit of 10£in. is required, and, I think, 

 may be looked upon as a great step in advance of any law 

 previously passed. This movement was made by the fisher- 

 men in the form of petitions to the Legislature, ni 

 signed, and from one end of the State to the other. Maine, 

 New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut each have 

 laws practically corresponding to each other, while New 

 York, without a law which might so much assist in protect- 

 ing the other States, only helps on an iHegal>nd wasteful 

 practice. 



