,50 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



shores of Baffin's Bay and the Arctic Archipelago, it is 

 very singular that none of these voyagers have spoken of 

 finding their nests or eggs, as they do of the eiders and 

 other birds. 



Capt. Hall's first expedition reached Frobisher's Bay June 

 24, 1861, and a party went ashore for eider ducks eggs with 

 the following result: "In ten minutes four of us gathered 

 six dozen, and at another island, in twenty minutes, six- 

 teen dozen and five." He makes no mention of brant in 

 this vicinity. Again, July 23, he observes: "Duck were 

 to be seen in every direction. * * * They were in 

 such numbers that when above us they almost darkened 

 the air." His second voyage was through Hudson's Bay, to 

 King William's Land, but he does not speak of seeing 

 brant. The third expedition— the unfortunate "Polaris"— 

 reached 82° 29' north latitude, where he pens this sentence: 

 "Seals, 'game, geese, ducks, musk cattle, wolves, fowls, 

 bears, patridges and lemmings are plenty." Our quota- 

 tions from the brave men who have suffered untold hard- 

 ships to discover a "Northwest passage," or "open Polar 

 Sea," are, we submit sufficient to establish the hypothesis 

 that brant go north of 82° to breed, and that they go in 

 large flocks. Any observer of the habits of birds knows very 

 well that while they are in "large flocks," they are in no 

 condition for breeding. Before nidification takes place, 

 they "woo and wed," t. <?., they "pair" and retire, to soli- 

 tary nooks for the seclusion of the little family, and al- 

 though hugely gregarious at other times, during the breed- 

 ing season we believe all the ans&rinoa are strictly mono- 

 gamous. Nor do we suppose all the birds go to one island, 

 or arrive or depart at the same time. It takes from four 

 to six weeks for all of them to pass a given point at Cape 

 Cod or Prince Edward's Island, so that the last of the 

 flight does not reach the Arctic Archipelago till late in 

 June. Then see how brief a period they have to build 

 their nests, incubate and carry their young through the va- 

 rious stages of growth, from the tender days . of infancy, 

 to the self-sustaining period of maturity. It seems almost 

 incredible that all this is accomplished in less than three 

 months! It so happens that some years there are no young 

 brant. The cause of this we presume to be the shortness 

 of the season, i. e., when the Spring is backward and 

 Winter sets in early. When the young ice forms rapidly 

 by the 3d of September the parent birds must abandon 

 their progeny or perish with them. The law of self pre- 

 servation is stronger than the love of offspring, and with 

 sorrowing hearts they bid adieu to the callow brood and 

 wing their way to more genial climes. On the following 

 Spring the epicure will in vain call at the Parker House 

 for the coveted morsel. 



We have spoken of the Arctic Archipelago as the place 

 of nativity of these birds. It is possible that Greenland 

 continues to and beyond the pole. Certain it is that these 

 birds do not go into the middle of the ocean or "open Po- 

 lar Sea" to lay their eggs and rear their young. They are 

 iiot divers, and must feed on shore or in shoal water. It 

 is probable that the region north of Greenland and around 

 the pole is dotted all over with islands. The Austrian 

 "Tegethoff" expedition of 1872, which discovered Francis 

 Joseph's Land, and other islands has proved this theory 

 further east, and we think the brant themselves have, 

 westward. The climate must be so warm as to produce 

 marine vegetables for food, and also to exempt the eggs 

 from the possibility of destruction by frost. There is 

 something inexplicable in the temperature of these unex- 

 plored latitudes. The sun's rays fall more obliquely as we 

 approach the pole, and yet it must be warmer than at 70° 

 of north latitude. It is not possible— nay, probable — 

 that in the wisdom of the Creator, some law exists whereby 

 the sun's rays, on reaching a certain degree of obliquity, 

 renew their heating power, which being intensified as it 

 approaches the pole makes a comparatively warm climate 

 there! We know that a similar law exists in regard to 

 water. Water diminishes in bulk as it cools down to 39 :80<>, 

 at which point it expands down to the freezing point. Let 

 us suppose the law of solar heat to be cooling as the rays 

 incline up to an angle of 45", (or any other) and warming 

 beyond that degree, and we are at once relieved from our 

 brant dilemma. Another feature of the climate disturbs 

 us. Dr. Kane discovered ice in Smith's Sound forty feet 

 thick, and Koldewey, on east coast of Greenland, sixty 

 feet I The old navigator, Scoresby, in 1820, undertook to 

 prove that this ice formed in mid-ocean, but this hypothe- 

 sis is contrary to our observation. The first young ice is 

 formed along the shore line, in shoal water, then pushes 

 itself out into the bay or ocean. We presume in the Arc- 

 tic region the ice forms around the islands, then extends to 

 meet that formed around other islands until it encases every- 

 thing in its crystal folds- Then as Summer approaches it is 

 disengaged from the land or broken up by heavy gales and 

 drifts with the current down through Baffin's Bay, or between 

 Spitsbergen and coast of Greenland, where it melts and 

 disappears. Of course the ice first melts in Spring, where it 

 first froze in Autumn, along the shore line, and is there 

 first disengaged. Were it not so the brant would not be 

 able to get on to their feeding ground so early as the end 

 of June, anfl consequently would not be able to reproduce 

 at all. Then there would seem to be scarcely time for the 

 growth of marine plants for food. It may be fore-ordained 

 by Divine Wisdom that the tender herb may be dispensed 

 with. We have observed, more especially in Spring time, 

 the decoys constantly pecking at the boards and decayed 

 posts of their pen. They seem to hanker after decayed 

 wood, and we have been led to suspect that this article 

 forms no inconsiderable portion of their food in their boreal 

 abode. Why should they ea], up their pen? It is a curious way 

 of obtaining their liberty, and yet we are well assured they 

 devoutly desire this boon. They often try to fly or jump 

 out of then* pens, and when a flock is flying overhead in 

 sight, they instantly and vociferously utter the call note 

 "r-r-ronk! r-r-ronk!" There is plenty of drift wood 

 in the Arctic region which in time must decay. Capt. 

 John Franklin (afterwards Sir John) found, in 1821, at 

 mouth of Banks' River, a fine log of drift wood sufficient 

 to cook a bear. McClure, at Banks' Land, 1851, discov- 

 ered wood to the depth of forty feet. MoClintoek and the 

 other navigators in that quarter, speak of great quantities 

 of driftwood along the Coast of Greenland, ana Parry 

 finds the same thing at Spitzbergen. All the rivers of 

 .Northern Asia, Europe and America, as well as the swift 

 currents of Behring's Straits are constantly discharging their 

 rich freight of drift wood into the Polar Sea, and if the 

 brant do not feed upon it there they act very different 

 from what they do in bondage. Here, then, we may, in 

 our mind's eye, see the different families isolated and scat- 

 tered all over these islands, at the end of August or first of 

 September, gathering and reuniting into large flocks ready 



for the long voyage South. Doubtless many of the young 

 are too feeble to endure the long journey, and either do not 

 set out, or fall by the way. Their return is by nearly the 

 same route they went thither. They make no stop at Cape 

 Cod, unless compelled to do so by stress of weather, and 

 the time of their passage is the latter part of October and 

 whole of November, but at this season they are poor and 

 not prized, either by sportsmen or epicures. They spend 

 the Winter months along shore from Barnegat to Florida, 

 or possibly Gulf of Mexico, where they again recuperate 

 and on their return North in Spring are regarded as among 

 the finest fowl on our coast. "W". If apgood. 



Boston, August 14, 1875. 



X 



*For Forest and Stream. 

 THE OSWEGATCHIE COUNTRY. 



THE east, or main branch, of the Oswegatchie River 

 rises in Crooked Lake — that is, if we are to call the 

 longest branch the main branch. From Crooked lake it 

 runs in a northeasterly direction, some six or eight miles, 

 to where it forms the branch from Deer Pond (Colvin's 

 Lost Lake) country. * It is known above this point as the 

 Robinson River, taking this name from a hunter named 

 Robinson, who had a shanty and hunted near it some 

 twenty-five years ago. In the meantime it receives the 

 waters from Orin Lake, Grassy Gall, Cracker, West, and 

 two or three other small ponds. The stream that it here 

 unites with is formed by the on 'lets of Pari Ion Lake, Gull, 

 Big Deer, Little Deer, Ch">r and Nick Ponds, and the 

 drainage of a big bnNum swamp known as the "Inlet 

 Swamp." Below the junction, some two miles, it tumbles 

 over a ledge of rocks some twenty feet in height. Here, 

 at the foot of these fails, known as the "High Falls," on 

 the inlet are found speckled trout of three to four pounds 

 weight, and now and then one that gets away with your 

 tackle so easy that you are sure "he was the biggest trout 

 you ever saw." Above the falls are plenty of trout weigh- 

 ing from a quarter to a half pound. Half a mile further 

 down you come to "The Plains," a tract of country that 

 has been cleared of timber by wind and fire, some three 

 miles long, and varying in width from a quarter to three- 

 quarters of a mile, and nearly surrounded by hills of from 

 three to five hundred feet high. Near the upper part of 

 these plains a small spring Ivook and very cold spring 

 empty into the river from the east side, making a good 

 "trout hole" when the water is not too high. In the brook 

 are also small trout. For the next two miles the river is 

 broken by several rifts or chains of rocks across it, and 

 from two to ten rods in length. Over some of them it is 

 necessary to lift your boat. All along here, and for some 

 miles further down, the fishing is good, and for a stretch 

 of ten miles the chances for a shot at a deer by day or 

 jack light is very good. On the west side of the river, 

 near the foot of the plains, and distant from one and a 

 half to two miles, are the "Five Ponds," taking their 

 name from their number. These, or a part of them, are 

 good ponds for deer. About this section there is now and 

 then a wolf and panther; just enough to frighten the timid 

 ones, but not enough to pay the hunters who trap for them, 

 they seldom getting more than two or three in a season. 

 At the foot of this si ill water is some three miles of rapids, 

 on which, about the first of June, is some good fishing. 

 Below this we come to the "Drowned Land," as it is 

 g died, being a large swamp overflowed by the draining of 

 Cranberry Lake. This lake is used as a reservoir from 

 Which to obtain extra water for running saw logs, and for 

 mill purposes in general. The original lake was some 

 seven miles long and three and a half to four miles wide 

 in the widest part, while the overflow of swamp land is 

 probably as much more. When full, the water is raised 

 twelve feet on the lakes, which damages the sporting some- 

 what in the early part of the Summer, but by about the 

 first/} f September the water is nearly down to the old bed, 

 and fishing and hunting are both good. A dozen or more 

 ponds empty into the lake on the south and southeast side, 



Nearly all of these are good for trout or deer, and some of 

 them for both. 



To reach this hunting ground the sportsman has a choice 

 of two routes. First— leave the R. W. &. O. R. R. at 

 Gouveneur, going through Edwards to Fine, twenty-five 

 miles, by stage, three times a week, or by private convey- 

 ances. At Fine you can put up at a good hotel, or go on 

 five miles to Griffin's, where you will find as good fare and 

 accommodations as can be had at a first-class farm house. 

 Here, or at the hotel, you will get good guides with light 

 boats for three dollars a day and board; also team, usually 

 oxenl and sled, to convey boats and baggage to the foot 

 of still water on the outletor inlet, as the river is frequently 

 called above and below the lake. Second— you can leave 

 railroad at Canton and go direct to the foot of Cranberry 

 Lake by team. The distance is about forty miles and is 

 accomplished in a day. You can purchase good light 

 boats weighing thirty to forty pounds at Canton, or hire 

 rather poor ones at the hotel at the lake. You can get 

 there with or without guides. Finally, there is plenty of 

 work connected with a trip to this part of the woods, and 

 the lazy ones had better stay at home. But those who are 

 willing to rough it a little can have a good time. 



Hunter. 

 *+++. . 



Lawns. — Those who are about to make new lawns for 

 another year should now commence the labor of trenching 

 or plowing or subsoil plowing very deep. The lawn should 

 be made and allowed to settle a week or two, or during two 

 or three good rains before sowing the seed and leveling up, 

 and the seed should be sown as early as the season of cool 

 nights and frequent rains comes on. Some writers advise 

 the use of grains, as rye, oats, etc., to be sown with the 

 grass seed; but, as according to the general law, the 

 stronger overpowers and gradually destroys the weaker, 

 we have found the use of any coarse grain injurious rather 

 than beneficial. In the making of lawns we have at times 

 had the handling of some very light sandy soil, and when 

 compelled to do the best we could, without aid from top- 

 dressing, etc., we have used oats in the Fall, for the pur- 

 pose of holding it from blowing, and have made our 

 second sowing of seed after the oats had grown an inch 

 or so.— [Practical Farmer. 



— -*•♦♦- : 



— The Hayden surveying expedition reports most satis- 

 factory progress. They are at work in Utah, west of the 

 Gunnison and Grand rivers. 



J*4 §ultttp. 



— The Mas sachusetts Angler's Association held its first 

 Fallmeeting yesterday, Sept. 1st, at its rooms, 608 Wash- 

 ington street, Boston. 



—The Society D'Acclimatation of France has awarded a 

 gold medal of the firs f , class to Seth Green for his labors 

 in fish culture, and particularly for his efforts in sendino- to 

 France eggs of the salmoiiidse. This is the third honor of 

 the kind which Mr. Green has received from French so- 

 cieties. 



Return of Monroe A. Green.— This gentleman ar- 

 rived home from Europe yesterday. We have already" an- 

 nounced the failure of his attempt to hatch shad eg^s 

 while crossing the Atlantic. His theory of the failure is 

 that the eggs were injured while being conveyed in the 

 cars, and in a wagon over the rough pavement of New 

 York to the steamship. The eggs were packed in ice. He 

 opened them the second day but and worked them two 

 days in succession in his apparatus. Finding them all af- 

 fected, he discontinued his operations and threw them 

 overboard. Mr. Green attributes his failure entirely to the 

 transportation of the spawn in the cars, or from the Grand 

 Central Depot to Hoboken. Constant jarring is fatal to 

 shad eggs. The spawn of the trout family can be trans- 

 ported thirty days by cars without loss. His apparatus 

 for fish hatching worked perfectly on the steamship. It is 

 worked by the aid of an air pump, and is a complete suc- 

 cess. He experimented with it at Holyoke, Mass., and 

 found that the eggs progressed better than in running 

 water. Prof. Baird will probably make another trial early 

 next season before the water gets too warm. Mr. Green 

 used Croton water, but thinks Hudson River water prefer- 

 able. Water that has run through iron pipes is not bene- 

 ficial either to spawn or live fishT Those on the other side 

 interested in the placing of shad in the waters of the 

 Rhine, are anxious to have another trial made. Prof. 

 Baird's report on the subject will be looked for with con- 

 siderable interest. — Rochester E.vpres8, Aug. 21th. 



CARP IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



♦ ■ 



Woodvillb, Miss., August 18th, 18T5. 

 Editor Fokest and Stream:— 



I have here In the State of Mississippi three artificial fish ponds. One 

 I devote to small fry, perch, etc., and in another, deep and cool, I am 

 raising carp. From an experience of several years I am satisfied the 

 carp or fish of that family are most deserving of attention for artificial 

 ponds, at least in the South, as they can be bred and fed with as much 

 facility as poultry, the carp feeding to fatness on corn-meal or. sprits. 

 Now, the American carp is not perfection for the table, and I would like 

 to obtain a variety of the same family that is better. I have seen a state- 

 ment that there was to be an attempt to introduce the European carp 

 into this country as being far superior to the natives. To .do so the fish 

 themselves will have to be brought over, as the carp eggs I have experi- 

 mented with hatch in about twenty-four hours after being deposited, 

 they always being on brush or sticks floating on the pond. If you have 

 any information of parties that propose importing the carp from Europe 

 will you please send me such information? Doctor. 



[Four years ago, five grown carp were brought from 

 Hamburg, Germany, to Santa Rosa, Cal., by Mr. J. A. 

 Pappe, of San Francisco, who has succeeded in propaga- 

 ting a large number of fish from this small stock. They 

 are of very large size, weighing as much as ten 

 pounds. Some hundreds of these have been introduced 

 into waters near San Francisco and into the Sonoma Creek, 

 some thirty miles from that city. They possess a remark- 

 able fecundity, and are excellent table fish. No douht 

 most satisfactory information can be obtained respecting 

 the introduction of this fish, by addressing a letter to our 

 valued correspondent, E. J. Hooper, of San Francisco, 

 to whom we have also applied for the like favor; also to 

 Win. A. Newell, President California Acclimating Society. 

 It is most important that this fish should be introduced 

 here, and we are- glad to see that "Doctor" is paying at- 

 tention to it. — Ed.] 



SEINING TO STOCK OTHER WATERS. 



<► 1 



Watertown, N. Y., August 38th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest akd Stream:— 



The sportsmen at Cape Vincent, on the St. Lawrence, have been much 

 exercised of late, from the fact that pound nets have been extensively 

 used on the best Ashing grounds. I was told by a gentleman yesterday 

 that the leaders of these nets extend from Fox Island to the main shore 

 (a long distance) and that over seven hundred black bass were taken at 

 one haul. Upon further inquiry I learned that the persons emplo ed in 

 taking these flsh were in the service of Seth Green, Fish Commissioner 

 etc., and ot course it is all legitimate; but the question comes up as to 

 whether it is fair, or even good policy, to deplete our fishing grounds in 

 order to benefit those in another locality. * 



Mushroom Caves, — The famous mushroom caves of 

 Paris are, in reality, deserted stone quarries in the suburbs 

 of the city. They are entered by shafts, and consist of a 

 series of dark, low, long corridors. Their floors are 

 covered with long lines of narrow beds, made of a rich 

 compost of earth and horse manure. The paths between 

 the beds are kept scrupulously clean, and the mushrooms 

 are carefully cultivated. One of these caves at Montrogue, 

 just outside the fortifications of Paris, contains seven 

 miles of beds, and yields an average of 800 pounds of 

 mushrooms daily. Near Frepillon, an hour's ride from 

 Paris, there is another class of caves or old quarries, that 

 have a lofty interior, with something of the aspect ot a 

 vast cathedral. In 1867 one of these caves had a run ot 

 twenty-one miles of mushroom beds. During that same 

 year over 3,000 pounds of mushrooms were daily sent to 

 Paris from Prepillon. The crops vary according to certain 

 atmospheric and other conditions, and at intervals the 

 great quarries refuse to yield a profitable crop . They are 

 then thoroughly cleansed, the very soil being scraped 

 out, and are left to lie fallow for a year or two. 



