FOREST AND STREAM. 



fe/jr ^nUnt[e. 



FISH culture; : 



ITS OEIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRESS. 



BY ICHTHYOS.— -NUMBER FIVE. 



THE selection of a proper site for a fish farm is a matter 

 ^ of vital importance, in order to attain success in fish 

 breeding. Indeed, if any mistake is made in the selection 

 in which any natural feature is wanting, no possible appli- 

 cation of art can remedy the defect. In locating a farm 

 art may overcome a lack of soil elements, so that the land 

 may be made adapted to the multiform products of hus- 

 bandry through skilled labor. It is well therefore to make 

 a careful and painstaking survey of different sites, and 

 select that only which combines the most numerous and 

 natural facilities for pisciculture. The American people 

 are so easily fired with enthusiasm in the contemplation of 

 any new enterprise that their zeal often gets the better of 

 their discretion, and thousands of dollars are needlessly 

 thrown away, which might have been saved by forecast, 

 discrimination and patient investigation. They often rush 

 into new and untried pursuits with no other results than 

 defeat and loss. 



It is not the plan of the writer to throw undue dis- 

 couragements in the way of those who propose entering 

 upon this new industrial pursuit, but simply to state facts 

 as they have occurred in the experience of others. The 

 assertion so often repeated by injudicious enthusiasts that 

 any farmer who has a spring on any portion of his farm 

 can enter at once upon successful fish culture, at little or 

 no outlay of expense in time or money, must be taken 

 cum grant salis, and pondered over some time before any 

 investment of money or outlay is made, for nine times out 

 of ten the most sanguine will become convinced that ap- 

 pearances are as deceiving in fish culture as in any other 

 enterprise, and frequently more so. There are no doubt 

 in many portions of the country, valuable springs, yet they 

 do not all combine the necessary requisites for a first class 

 fish farm. Probably in this new industry there are des- 

 tined to be more failures than have occurred in any other 

 field of labor in this country, without the observance of 

 more caution than people are willing to exercise . It is 

 well to give this matter careful thought before hazarding 

 much labor or expense. 



The principal points which should be sought for in a 

 model trout farm are: — 



1. An ample and unfailing supply of pure cold water is 

 necessary, indeed indispensable. 



2. Sufficient height of spring above the selected site, to 

 give ample fall for the construction of tanks, ponds and 

 race-ways. 



3. Ample and constant protection from surface water, 

 an absolute control of all overflow, derived from freshets 

 and melting of snow. 



ft 4. Such railroad facilities, if possible, as will insure 

 daily connection with large cities, in order to secure a 

 ready sale of fish. 



For ascertaining the average value of the water, the 

 only proper time is during the hottest and dryest portion 

 of the season, when the flow of the water is at its minimum 

 rate, and the temperature at is maximum. First examine 

 the water as regards its temperature, and if too warm, 

 further investigation or expense is unnecessary. If it is 

 found to be above 65°, the stream is unfit for trout culture, 

 and only fit for breeding bass, pickerel, or perch, which 

 thrive in water at an elevation of 75°; though trout may 

 thrive in water at a temperature still higher than 65° as 

 has been demonstrated by the California Commissioners of 

 Fisheries. It must be borne in mind as the distance in- 

 creases from the spring through the series of ponds, the 

 water is addicted to growing much warmer, that while the 

 source of supply maintains constantly a temperature of 55° 

 to (50°, the lower ponds may reach 70°. But if the fall is 

 considerable, the water throughout may be kept aerated, 

 and the fish will be lively though the temperature is ma- 

 terially increased. The rule is that the colder the water, 

 the lower the temperature the spawn are subjected to during 

 incubation, the more healthy the fry will be if the water- 

 does not become so cold as to form ice, in which case it 

 would be fatal to the vitality of the eggs. Springs which 

 supply the hatching houses of the most successful fish 

 farms maintain a temperature of 45° to 55° It is true the 

 higher the temperature of the water, the sooner incubation 

 is effected; but while this is evident, the increased temper- 

 ature is supposed to favor fungoid growths upon the fishes, 

 which in spite of the utmost vigilance, sometimes appear 

 in the hatching trays or rearing tanks and destroy large 

 numbers of the fry. Nothing is gained by forcing incuba- 

 tion, for tne cold water seems by nature to agree with the 

 small fry when hatched, and conspires to produce a healthy 

 progeny if used in hatching. The salmonidse all require 

 cold and pure water, indeed their native haunts hint plainly 

 to the pisciculturist that if he would succeed he must imi- 

 tate nature rn the selection of his springs and in the con- 

 struction of his ponds. 



In view of this fact, attempts on the part of fish farmers 

 have been made to keep down the temperature by passing 

 the water for hatching purposes through refrigerators filled 

 with ice, but in the main all such experiments, besides be- 

 ing attended with great expense, have resulted in failures, 

 even when practised on small scales. 



Many fish require a high temperature. Shad eggs will 

 not come to maturity in water in the process of hatching 

 below 70°, and it is said that gold fish, (Cyprimis auratus), 

 have been bred even where the thermometer indicated a 

 hundred degrees. But trout, owing to their peculiar 

 nature, require a temperature not higher than 55° if we 

 would expect the spawn to produce healthy and vigorous 



young. 



To be Continued. 



The Virginia Fish Law.— This law, one of the best 

 on the statute books of Virginia, prohibits the catching of 

 fish with seines in the waters of the State for the space of 

 two months, from the 15th of June to the 15th August, 

 and the line for violation is $500 and confiscation of boat 

 and fishing tackle; but to secure conviction some one must 

 first become an informer, and this is enough to prevent 

 almost any honest man from interfereing. Of course it is 

 not to be supposed that the various Commonwealth's at- 

 torneys are to become spies and detectives; consequently 

 the law is of »o effect. 



Tine Potomac River is protected by no such law, and con- 

 stant seine-hauling has destroyed the fish supply of that 

 river, and the fishermen from that section are now coming 

 down the bay, fishing along the shore and violating the law 

 Of Virginia with impunity, and unless they are summarily 

 dealt with, we may soon expect our waters to be like the 

 Potomac, and one of the greatest sources of income of the 

 State broken up. These fishermen come well equipped and 

 armed to the teeth; they catch the fish, pack them in ice, 

 and ship them to Washington city, Georgetown, Baltimore, 

 Philadelphia, and other Northern cities in large quantities, 

 and they are so bold that at times, when their stock of tee 

 runs low, they come up to this city, purchase ice, repack 

 their fish and ship them from here. This nefarious con- 

 duct is not only contrary to law, but it is breaking up an 

 industry that brings millions to this city every year, and 

 our own law-abiding fishermen will not be the only suffer- 

 ers. Sometimes these poachers are arrested, but generally 

 no one saw them lift the seine from the water with the fish 

 in it, and the fact of the seine being in the boat, the fish 

 on board packed, and all the usual preparations for seine- 

 fishing, are not accepted as proof. 



We call upon the proper authorites to see that the law 

 is enforced, and our fishermen should assist them. — {Nor- 

 folk Times. 



If the Protective club, newly formed in Norfolk, will 

 undertake the business of prosecuting offenders it will pre- 

 vent odium attaching to individuals. — [Ed. 



— An article on fishing in the sports department of the 

 Brooklyn Eagle last week made pointed reference to the 

 fact that in order to afford a few ignorant fishermen the 

 means of gaining a few more dollars by taking fish out of 

 season and too young for market use, hundreds of people 

 employed in the various occupations connected with the 

 Summer angling business of the island were practically cut 

 off from their employment. We could wish that a remedy 

 for this state of things might be speedily reached. Angling 

 this season along our island coast has not been encouraging 

 by any means, and once favorite resorts, like South Oyster- 

 Bay and Coney Island Creek, yield no sport of any ac- 

 count . 



— ». 



Confidences of Wild Fowl. — Mr. A. C. Mclntyre, 

 the well-known photographer at Alexandria Bay, St. Law- 

 rence River, who takes such charming views among the 

 Thousand Islands, succeeded this Summer in photograph- 

 ing a ruffed grouse on her nest, placing the instrument 

 within a few feet of her. After her eggs had been laid, 

 workmen proceeded to build a Summer cottage near the 

 spot, but took pains not to disturb her, and in course of 

 time she became so tame that she declined to leave her nest 

 and hatched out a dozen chicks. Stereoscopes of these, 

 which we consider desirable for a naturalist's cabinet, can 

 be had by sending orders to Alexandria Bay. 



Another even more remarkable case of confidence came 

 to our knowledge last Spring, with reference to a wood- 

 cock that was found last May by the venerable sculptor, 

 John C. King, of Boston, in the area under one of the 

 windows of his studio, in a thickly settled part of the 

 city, where it was supposed he fell after striking one of the 

 numerous telegraph wires overhead. When picked up he 

 was apparently unhurt and fed well until his death, six 

 days after, eating earth worms which he would take from 

 his flat water vessel after shaking them well to rid them of 

 dirt, and swallow whole. He took his bath daily as regu- 

 larly as a canary bird. Being allowed the run of the room 

 he didn't beat against anything, and rarely flew at all, gen- 

 erally trotting around his corner of the room, not being 

 afraid of people in the least. At daylight one day, he was 

 heard taking his bath, and at breakfast time was dead . 



Pinnated Grouse in England.— Frank Buckl and, Esq., 

 makes the following reference in London Land and Water 

 of July 17th, to the lot of eggs of pinnated grouse recently 

 forwarded to England by the publishers of this journal 

 for Richard Valentine, Esq., President of the Wisconsin 

 Poultry Association. We regret that ill luck continues to 

 attach to these experiments. Mr. Valentine has individ- 

 ually expended already more than $100 in these ventures, 

 and his perseverance deserves better success: — 



Prairie Grouse Eggs.— I have received the following 

 letter:— "I received, three days ago, a consignment of eggs 

 of pinnated grouse (prairie fowl) from Mr. Richard Valen- 

 tine, President of Wisconsin Poultry Association, with re- 

 quest to forward them to Mr. Price, Bala, in care of Mr. 

 Cross, Liverpool, and did so. I have since received an- 

 other small lot of eggs without instructions to their dis- 

 posal, and believe that I can place them in no more appre- 

 ciative hands than yours, and so forward them to you by 

 to day's steamer England for Liverpool, also in care of Mr. 

 Cross, 51 Aldhull street, Liverpool. Mr. Valentine, you 

 will remember, sent the lots over last year, but the result 

 was a failure. He hopes for better success this time." — 

 Charles Hallock, (Forest and Stream,) 17 Chatham 

 street, New York, June 24. A boy arrived somewhere 

 about one or two in the morning with a telegram from Mr. 

 Cross, of Liverpool, to say the above-mentioned eggs were 

 coming, and the next morning they arrived in due course, 

 carefully packed, but the straw, etc., was covered with 

 mildew, and some of the eggs were broken. I took the lot 

 up to Mr. Bartlett, at the Zoological, and we divided those 

 that promised to hatch out. Mr. Bartlett kindly put those 

 I gave him under a hen, the others I sent on to Mr. Over- 

 ton, Windsor Great Park, asking him to place them im- 

 mediately under a sitting hen. I am afraid the result of 

 either lot of eggs will not be very satisfactory, as I found 

 in one of the eggs broken that in this instance the develop- 

 ment of the chick inside had considerably progressed. The 

 carrying of birds' eggs for a long distance is a subject 

 which deserves much more serious attention than, it has 

 hitherto received.— Fbank Buckland. 



HARMLESS RATTLESNAKES. 



♦ 



East Hampton, Conn., August 6th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Strbam:— 



There lives a fellow in this town, two miles from my house, who has 

 caught and has in his possession a large rattlesnake! He handles and 

 fondles the snake with impunity, putting it in his bosom, winding it 

 about his neck, pinching its back until it seems angered or enraged. Al 

 this is common with snake charmers, we know, but for this fellow, with- 

 out any artificial means lohatever, with the snake as lively, poisonous 

 and deadly as when taken from its den, we do not understand. Give 

 us the secret. Yours respectfully, Geo. Bevin. 



The habits of the venomous snakes are by no means 

 clearly defined, or intimately understood by naturalists- 

 or perhaps we should say that their habits so vary in differ- 

 ent seasons and localities, that authorities differ in describ- 

 ing their habits and peculiarities. The rattlesnake is slow 

 in its movements, and seldom attempts to bite unless pro- 

 voked— allowing itself handled without resistance. In the 

 Spring of the year its bite is not usually fatal . Before 

 biting it throws itself into a fighting attitude, and invari- 

 ably gives warning. They appear also to form a sort of 

 attachment for those who have the temerity to cultivate 

 their acquaintance. Your neighbor therefore exercises no 

 special power over them, beyond taking advantage of these 

 peculiarities. In all venormous reptiles, such as the viper- 

 rattlesnake, or cobra de capello, there are two large fangs or 

 teeth that issue from the upper jaw, (aside from the teeth 

 used in taking food) hanging out over the lower jaw, and 

 connecting with the poison sac. If these fangs are ex- 

 tracted, their bite becomes harmless. Possibly the "fel- 

 low" referred to has extracted these fangs, and is thus en- 

 abled to astonish the natives with impunity. We do not 

 by any means regard " foohV " with snakes as a rational 

 pastime to be encouraged. We once had a friend in Florida 

 given to investigating the snake family, who was finally 

 bitten by an insignificant little reptile of the viper species, 

 and though he made light of the wound, it caused his death 

 in a few hours. 



—A burrowing owl, (genus spheotyto, Groger,) was cap- 

 tured last Sunday in this city in an up- town house, where 

 it flew into the scuttle. It is a very fine specimen, and can 

 be seen alive at the establishment of J. R. Wallace, taxi- 

 dermist, 17 North William street. There is only one spe- 

 cies of this bird in this country, but it is found in great 

 abundance west of the Mississippi River. There is no evi- 

 dence that this bird was ever caged. He appears to be 

 merely a wanderer from his native prairie, at least a thou- 

 sand miles due west. He is an active little fellow, and 

 none the worse for his long journey. 



-+♦*- . 



TJiOSE BLACK SQUIRRELS. 



* 



Chicago, 111., August 2d, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— • 



I would like to have the address of that Waukeegan gentleman, so 

 that I can send him a mess of black squirrels this Fall, as I am positive 

 I can. I was talking to one of the sons of the late Archibald Clybourn, 

 whose widow lives near where I do, and he says he has seen black squir- 

 rels on his farm not five miles from the city limits as late as two years 

 ago. Chicago Sportsman. 

 -*«-*- 



CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 



Department op Public Parks, » 

 New York, August 8, 1875. ) 

 Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending Au- 

 gust, 7th, 1875:— 



One Anaconda, Eunectes murinus. Hab. Nicaragua. Presented by 

 Dr Faul T. Ferrer. 



Two Gray Squirrels, Sciurus Carolinensis . Presented by Master Wm. 

 A. Lilliendabl. 

 Two Nonpareils, Cyanospiza ciris. Presented by Mr. James Moran. 

 Five Horned Toads. Presented by Dr. Theophilus Kramer. 

 Seven Sea Lions, Eumetopias slelleri. 



W. A. Conklin, Director. 



• — * — 



For Forest and Stream. 

 THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF 

 MARYLAND. 



i 4 



IT is somewhat surprising in these days of rash specu 

 lations, doubtful railroad enterprises, hank failures 

 &c.. that the attention of capitalists and persons seek- 

 ing safe investments for their money, has not been 

 more attracted by the numerous advantages held out by 

 the fertile agricultural lands of the Southern States. It 

 is true that such investments cannot hold out the un- 

 natural inducements of large semi-annual dividends upon 

 heavily watered stock, but the investor has the satisfaction 

 of knowing that his money cannot be spirited away, and 

 that with proper pare and attention upon his part there 

 can be no shrinkage in its marketable value although the 

 revenue derived from it may not equal that received from 

 his more fashionable investment for a few years only. The 

 eyes of capitalists, however, are slowly and gradually 

 opening to the realization that good land, returning a 

 cash revenue of five and six per cent., with the priceless 

 comforts, luxuries and independence of a country life are, 

 after all, preferable to the constant constitutional wear and 

 tear attendant upon the continual excitement of watching 

 the sudden rise and fall of stocks or government securi- 

 ties. 



With the close of the war, and its consequent revolu- 

 tion in the social, agricultural and financial status of the 

 Southern people, came the vexed problem of, what shall 

 we do with our large tracts of land? In a majority of 

 these instances, owing to unfavorable location, or to a pre- 

 vious lack of works of internal and public i mprovement, 

 this question has remained unsolved to the present day, 

 but will, sooner or later, force itself prominently before 



