FOREST AND STREAM. 



their garaeness, and they spawn on the sandy flats of the lakes. As I 

 observed in my former communications, these salmon, as well as trout 

 from Lake Tahoe, are affording excellent sport in Lake Merced, near 

 this city; also young salmon in Lake San Andreas, a few miles beyond 

 Merced. Late in the season most of them are taken with the spoon bait 

 trolling from boats. Some shad have been taken in nets in the Sacra- 

 mento River, where they were placed a year or two since. 



E. J. Hooper. 



FISH CULTURE IN WISCONSIN. 



\ 



Milwaukee. August 11th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:-- 



The Board of Fish Commissioners of Wisconsin met in this city a few 

 days ago, and agreed to suspend for the present the experiment of intro- 

 ducing the several varieties of salmon into our waters — which has en- 

 gaged their attention for the past year or two— and to confine their oper- 

 ations to the introduction irfto the interior lakes of the various species 

 of lake trout, whitefish and herring of the great lakes. These varieties 

 are hardy, and can be easily propagated in lakes having a depth of fifty 

 feet, and a temperature not exceeding 65° Fahrenheit. Nearly all of the 

 . lakes in the State can furnish these requisite conditions, and it is ex- 

 ected that eggs enough can be procured this Autumn to stock them. 

 Mr. H. F. Dousman has undertaken to do the hatching for the lakes in 

 the vicinity of Oconomowoc. Oconomowoc. 

 «». «» . 



RIVER PROTECTION IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



, + 



Halifax, August, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



The new Inspector of River Fisheries for Nova Scotia, P. S. Hamil- 

 ton, is prosecuting his duties with vigor.. He has visited most of the 

 rivers in the province, and has found many in the most deplorable state, 

 obstructed by mill-dams without the appearance of any fish ladder or 

 Dass, and in some instances the waters so polluted by sawdust and mill 

 rubbish as to render it impossible for the fish to pass up. He has had 

 some of the mill owners up before him for the infraction of the laws 

 and fined them, but they have appealed to the Supreme Court. They 

 are wealthy, and have powerful influences at work, and it will be a hard 

 battle to fight with them. I send you a copy of our amended game laws. 



Fitz Ctjlmer. 



N< 



— 4- 



ORNITHOLOGY OF THE TRANSIT-OF- 

 VENUS "CENTENNIAL." 



BY DR. COUES. 



THAT affair which the celebrated planetary divinity- 

 has just satisfactorily concluded with the sun, has 

 led to other results than those in which the'astronomers and 

 mathematicians who officiated at the ceremony are inter- 

 ested. In the occurrence itself, we see nothing very re- 

 markable, as certainly there was nothing to prevent the 

 goddess from being as intimate as she pleased with the 

 solar orb; and we trust she found that mass of incanescent 

 hydrogen and iron as warm as even her ardent tempera- 

 ment could desire. We cannot be expected to be very en- 

 thusiastic over anything ninety-five thousand miles off. 

 Kerguelen Island is about as far as our affections will 

 reach; and while the astronomers are on the "ragged edge" 

 of the parallax, we are in serene content with some of the 

 perquisites which have fallen to our share of the job. 



For it seems that the affections of our excellent friend, 

 Dr. J. H. Kidder of the Navy, like our own, rested upon 

 Kerguelen Island, instead of wandering through planetary 

 space; and thus focussed, resulted in something more tangi- 

 ble than sines and cosines. Dr. Kidder was the judicious 

 selection of the Navy Department to investigate the natural 

 history of Kerguelen Island, one of the observing stations; 

 and the scientific matters intrusted to his charge could 

 hardly have fallen into better hands. His collection of 

 objects of natural history has reached Washington in ex- 

 cellent condition, and is already being worked up. The 

 Doctor himself is now at Wood's Hole, where all good 

 naturalists go, or want to go, about this time every Sum- 

 mer, following the example of one whom it is needless to 

 mention by name. But before he went his specimens and 

 plethoric note books were compared, with such satisfactory 

 result, in one department of natural history „at least, that a 

 memoir on the ornithology of Kerguelen Island is already 

 about issuing from the press. 



Dr. Kidder's collections of bird skins and eggs are a 

 very nearly complete exposition of the avifauna of the 

 island. It is the first anu only considerable series of speci- 

 mens which have reached the United States from this 

 localitv, embracing several species which are among the 

 desiderata of American collections, and consequently valu- 

 able acquisitions to the National Museum. Among the 

 eggs, particularly, are some kinds not before . seep in this 

 country, if not also entirely new to science. But the con- 

 tributions which Dr. Kidder is enabled to make to the life 

 history of these little-known birds, in the elaboration of 

 his carefully prepared notes of personal observation of their 

 habits and manners, is, to our way of thinking, the better 

 half of his operations. We have the best possible means 

 of knowing whereof we speak, on stating that the treatise 

 which Dr. Kidder has prepared will be found of unusual 

 interest to ornithologists. 



Kerguelen Island must be a "demnition cold, moist, un- 

 pleasant" place, to judge from the accounts of how. "first 

 it rained and then it blew, and then it snew r , and then it 

 friz." To be less poetical and more precise, it is a land of 

 almost continual precipitation; a delectable piece of ant- 

 arctic property, with volcanic bowels and a glacier for a 

 backbone. Moreover, there are no less than ninety miles 

 of Kerguelen in one direction, and fifty in the other. A 

 part of it is called Desolation Bay— but why this invidious 

 distinction? The chief vegetable productions of the 

 Island seem to be "tea" and "cabbage;" but the tea is 

 not of ffie kind we drink, nor would the aroma of the latter 

 revive grateful reminiscences of a Washington boarding 

 house. There are no indigenous mammals, excepting some 

 marine monsters that make a virtue of Kerguelen necessity. 

 In short, the Kerguelen is a good place to remember an 

 engagement in, and get away from as soon as convenient, 

 especially if, like Dr. Kidder, we carry away with us a 

 splendid lot of specimens in lieu of fond regrets. 



The redeeming feature of Kerguelen is that thither resort 

 vast bands of various birds to breed, and that among these 

 birds are some that ornithology cannot slap very familiarly 

 on the back, and say how are you my dear old friend. In 

 fact, there are some among them with whom we are on 

 formal terms. They were introduced to us, it is true, a cen- 

 tury ago by such men as Sir Joseph Banks, Gmelin, and 

 Latham, but we have somehow lost sight of these chance 

 acquaintances. Such birds are Procellaria desolata and 

 Sterna vittata. Then there is a duck that is extremely rare, 

 and only known to inhabit Kerguelen, with questionable 

 taste;) this is the Querquedula eatorii, dedicated to the natu- 

 ralist of the English party, only since the return of that 

 expedition. There is another curiosity in the way of a 

 petrel. w T hich neither ourselves nor any other American 

 naturalist ever saw before — a dark gray bird, about the size , 

 of the Cape pigeon, with an extremely thin, hooked bill. 

 It was described in 1823 by Kuhl, and subsequently by 

 Schlegel, as Procellaria grisea, but as it is not, apparently, 

 the bird so named by Latham, a new designation seems to 

 be required, and the bird will be known as (Murelata kich; 

 deri [Coues, n. sp.,=~P. grisea,, Kuhl, nee Lath.] The spe- 

 cies will be fully characterized in Dr. Kidder's forthcoming 

 paper. 



There does not appear to be a single land bird on Ker- 

 guelen Island. There is one wader, the carious Ohionis 

 minor, a near relative of the longer known C. alba, first de- 

 scribed as distinct by Dr. Hartlaub, and apparently con- 

 fined to this region. The duck tribe is represented by the 

 single species already mentioned. The wreathed "tern, 

 Sterna vittata, a large black-backed gull, Larus dominicanus, 

 and a skua-gull, Bwpliagus a?itarcticus y represent another 

 family. A single kind of cormorant, Qmeulus caruncu- 

 latus, is found in abundance. Several different species of 

 penguins, familiarly known to the sailors as "johnnies" and 

 "rock-hoppers," abound on the shores. The remaining 

 birds consist of various representatives of the oceanic 

 family ProceUariidm— petrels. Among them are two or 

 three kinds of albatrosses, a "mutton bird." (Puffinus), the 

 singular little diving petrel, {Pelecanoid.es wrinatrix), 

 several members of the genus (Estrela ta, besides (E. kid- 

 deri, and other kinds. 



But as we have no intention of poaching on Dr. Kidder's 

 premises, this incipient treatise on Kerguelen birds must be 

 stopped. Still, it may reasonably be inquired how the eggs 

 that, were collected by Dr. Kidder came to be found, since 

 his visit was in Winter. The simple fact is that all these 

 Kerguelen birds lay their eggs at this season or late in the 

 Fall. This may sound oddf to us who are accustomed to 

 ' associate the singing and mating of birds with the sighs of 

 the zephyrs of Spring, and all that sort of thing. Never- 

 theless it is a way they have at Kerguelen, in consequence 

 of the flatness of this stationary earth, which also obliges 

 the people on the other side to walk like flies on the ceil- 

 ing. Dr. Kidder himself informs us that it comes a little 

 hard at first, but that it is nothing wiien you're used to it. 

 The unsteadiness of gait frequently observed in sailors 

 ashore after a long cruise may be due to the same cause. 



— At the Jardin d' Acclimatation, in Paris, the Seyyid of 

 Zanzibar exhibited surprise at the zebras being so tame as 

 to draw the water carts and make themselves otherwise 

 useful. This is the first place, indeed, at which this has 

 been accomplished . 



— A Boston correspondent says that the blackbirds which 

 are usually accounted mischievous and destroyed by farmers 

 like vermin, have destroyed millions of army worms this 

 month in Massachusetts. They settled upon the crawling 

 masses in clouds. 



— A correspondent suggests that the fowl referred to by 

 "Ancora," of Pennsylvania, under date of August 10th, is an 

 immature specimen of the hooded merganser. 



— The Geographical Congress has awarded medals of the 

 first class to the Statistical Bureau at Washington and 

 Professor F. V. Hay den, the American geologist. 



•+++- 



ROBINS AS DEPREDATORS. 



Editor Eorest and Stream:— 



I think that we ought to have a better law in Massachusetts against 

 the depredations of robins. As the law is now no robins are allowed to 

 be killed at any time. Within the last two weeks the robins have made 

 my cherry trees their home, staying there from morning till night. 

 Scarecrows do not disturb them, as they soon become accustomed to the 

 presence of these. Not only do they eat cherries, but they destroy ap- 

 ples, pears, grapes, strawberries, etc. Now, I think that if a few of 

 these were shot perhaps the others would take warning from the fate of 

 their companions and leave for parts unknown. In New York they are 

 allowed to be shot while engaged in stealing fruit, and I hope Massachu- 

 setts will pass an act whereby it shall be lawful to kill any robins on 

 one's premises in the act of destroying Summer fruits or grapes. 



M. W. D. 

 [The New York law has our approval. Robins are often 

 gregarious, and when they go in large flocks, are often 

 very destructive to trees, both fruit and branches.'— Ed. ] 



BAYSIDE NOMENCLATURE. 



SALEM.IMass., August 14th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



Noticing the remarks of "E. II., " under date of August 2d, induces 

 me to write as follows: To some of those who have been in a "booth" 

 or "blind" with the blocks set for shore birds, these notes of mine will 

 perhaps call forth a smile,-as they think of some similar incident. It's 

 the "white marlins" E. II. saw that make me say this. At times when 

 sport runs slack, one takes notice of the least thing; for instance, a few 

 peeps heave in sight and all is quiet, except a jargon of noises from all 

 kinds of whistles; all heads are ducked, both barrels cocked ready for 

 them summers— no, grass birds— no sir, they're summers or snipe, and 

 along they come. Sometimes they catch fits, and again they are found 

 out without shooting to be only "darned peeps." "Did'nt they look big?" 

 "Yes, yes; I guess its the atmosphere makes them look so— curious!" 

 Then again you take a person who has studied up the ornithology of his 

 locality; he goes down on the "mash" or up the creek to try his luck; 

 he knows what he is likely to see— perhaps godwits, heyl "Oh, you 

 mean black tails," the bayman says. Well, perhaps you call them 

 black tails, but the right name is Hudsonian godwit. What's the result 

 of this confab? Why, the bayman thinks the other is a fool, and sure 

 of it, if he be a youngster. Says ke "reckons he knows what birds 



is," etc. Then again, ducks are ducks— that is about here; whistlers are 

 whistlers, and coots are coots The young man asks why is'nt a whistler 

 a duck? "Well, cause "taint."' "But why not?" "'Cause a whistler's a 

 whistler and a duck is only a black one or a gray one. " "But why are they 

 not all ducks?" " 'Cause I know they aint." Then again, every season 

 some one gets either a new species of fowl or bay bird, "never seen 

 afore," or else it's a "furriner strayed*n," and so it is. If our local run- 

 ners would study up the fauna of their respective localities, they would 

 save their own reputation or add to it, and leani something, too. I 

 might write further, but fear I have now encroached upon your good 

 nature. Suffice it to say that it seems strange a bunch. of birds so funny 

 in appearance should pass anyone within thirty yards and not get sere- 

 naded. Yours, Teal. 

 • «»«»- — 



/ 



THE WININNISH. 



Washington, D. C, August, 1875, 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



A few weeks ago I addressed to a prominent official of the IT. S. Pish 

 Commission the inquiry, Is the wininnish identical with the grayling? 

 His reply was that, as vet, he knew of no one who could satisfactorily 

 answer that question. I notice, however, that in a late number of your 

 journal you effectually dispose of my interrogatory, if not of my doubts, 

 by naming this hitherto unclassified denizen of the Saguenay, who yet is 

 every inch a king, whatever we may call him, an undoubted Salmo qlo- 

 veri. Ergo he is not a grayling. But is the winninnish "unnloubtedly 

 identical with the land-locked salmon of the Schoodic. and Sebec 

 Lakes?" His small mouth, fine teeth, and the nnusual size of the dorsal 

 fin are certainly the distinguishing characteristics of the grayling. The 

 real salmon is found in the same waters of the Saguenay with the whi- 

 innish, and they deposit their spawn in its tributaries; yet the latter fish 

 is never found in the St. Lawrence. Correspondents of Forest ano 

 Stream have identified as a grayling a fish found near Quebec, known 

 by the local name of "spearing." Are not the spearing and the winin- 

 nish the same? Inquiringly, Uphome. 



We will endeavor to have the identity of the wiuinnish 

 so completely established ere long, by proper data, as to 

 satisfy the Smithsonian naturalist, or any other man. We 

 will say here, however, that it is no more a thymallus that 

 it is a coregowws. — Ed. 



r oadhnd t Jhrm md %ntim. 



PINEAPPLE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



PINEAPPLES can be grown at a profit much further 

 north than is generally supposed. A pine plant will 

 bear to be frozen solid, even the roots, and if thawed in 

 the dark (gradually) it will preserve its vitality. No other 

 tropical plant will bear congelation, except a few cactuses 

 of the same family. Pineapples are grown pretty exl en- 

 si vely in the British Islands, without much expense. In 

 the south of England a very simple pit is all that is re- 

 quired, while in France they are cultivated in the open air 

 by covering with mats occasionally during the Winter 

 months. North of the equator the fruit ripens during the 

 months of July, August and September. In places subject 

 to sudden changes of temperature, the plant grows very 

 little in the Winter season. The lightest hoar frost will 

 kill a pine if permitted to fall on the leaves; but if the 

 plant is covered and kept in the dark before and after the 

 freeze, the soil may be frozen,- as well as the plant, and 

 still it will sustain no injury. The soil should be very 

 rich, and, if possible, it ought to be clay. Any stimula- 

 ting manures can be applied unsparingly. Peruvian guano 

 is the best, and if properly fertilized the sets from the 

 fruit can be made to bear in two years. The pine produ- 

 ces no seed, but around the base of the ripe imported ap- 

 ples miniature plants are to be found, and on the top (or 

 bloom end) of each apple there is a good plant also. In 

 the plantations suckers are generally used, as they are lar- 

 ger and easier to plant. The suckers grow around the 

 main stalk above the ground, and can be pulled off at any 

 time and transplanted. Either tops, suckers, or sets are 

 planted by simply setting the base in the soil, deep enough 

 to prevent its blowing over, and it is injurious to remove 

 any of the lower leaves. Frequent watering forces the 

 plant. 



The great reason why so many are unsuccessful in grow- 

 ing pines is, that the plant will not thrive if any impurities 

 are permitted to remain in the bud, or in the leaf joints. 

 In sandy soil the plant needs washing after every heavy 

 rain or wind till the plants are high enough to admit a, 

 good mulching of corn husks (shucks) or straw. To wash 

 the pines any vessel can be used that will admit of pouring 

 a solid stream into the heart of each plant from a height 

 sufficient to give force enough to wash out the sand and 

 dust completely. On a plantation of any great extent a 

 barrel on a hand cart with a small hose adjusted to the 

 bottom of the barrel, and a nozzle to direct the stream of 

 water, would be a complete machine. The barrel being 

 about three feet from the ground would give a force to the 

 stream, and no water would be lost. In pouring from the 

 spout of a watering-pot, it would have to be held so far 

 away from the plant that a great deal is wasted. Cleanli- 

 ness is indispensable. When the plants are first set out, if 

 fine, rotten wood can be obtained, and the ground thor- 

 oughly mulched, a great deal of trouble would be avoided; 

 but great care should be taken to use only what is thor- 

 oughly rotted. Anywhere that three feet head of water 

 can be controlled, and freezes are not longer than forty- 

 eight hours' duration, and an abundance of water can be 

 had, there is no trouble in growing pines to any desired 

 extent. It makes no difference how hard it freezes, the 

 pines will not suffer, as the temperature of the water will 

 be high enough to preserve them. Care should be taken, 

 however, to let the water off as soon as the frost ceases, as 

 the plant would suffer if too long submerged. Where 

 water cannot be controlled, dig a pit say two feet deep and 

 four feet wide, and as long as desired; put one foot of good 

 top soil mixed with half stable manure at the bottom. If 

 the soil is not stiff enough, board up the sides and end 

 three feet high, set in one row of plants two feet apart, 

 and in Winter, during the cold weather, cover well with, 

 straw, always being careful to not uncover too soon after a 

 hard freeze. 



Any person who will take the time, anywhere from 

 Charleston to the Rio Grande, can have a pine patch in his 

 garden, and when you eat a pineapple ripened on the plant, 

 you will pronounce it the most delicious of fruit. Im- 

 ported pineapples are gathered green, and give one no con- 

 ception of the delightful fragrance of a ripe pineapple.— 

 J, A. Macdonald, in Florida Agriculturist. 



