FOEEST AND STREAM. 



163 



nltnp. 



m 



—Fish culture in Minnesota must be looking up. At 

 the recent fair held at Red Wing, Mr. S. S-. Watkins ex- 

 hibited 300 trout and salmon, raised by himself. The trout 

 were salmo fontinalis, but the salmon were of three varie- 

 ties, California, eastern, and land locked. Mr. W. is of 

 the opinion that all of these fish could be easily and abund- 

 antly propagated in the waters of the State. 

 , ***» 



-^At the Virginia State Fair, which opens at Rich- 

 mond next week, a room has been furnished to the fish 

 commissions, where they can receive and confer with all 

 who choose to meet them, on the best mode of propaga- 

 ting fish, and with regard to further means of protection. 

 - ■ — — «*-**■— — — — — — ■ 



— Prof. Baird, of Washington, has presented the Canada 

 Fisheries Department with 100,000 eggs of the California 

 salmon, from the State hatching house at Sacramento. 

 ■- ' ■♦♦<»• 



BLACK BASS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 

 AND CONNECTICUT. 



» — - 



ON the subject of stocking ponds with this fish, the 

 Mirror and Farmer says : — 



"IF the Fish Commission of New Hampshire had ac- 

 complished nothing beyond the introduction of black bass 

 into the waters of the State, it would have made a most 

 handsome return for the small expense which it has been to 

 the public treasury. Previous to 1868 the bkck bass was 

 a fish almost entirely unknown, even by name, to New 

 Hampshire people, but so completely successful have been 

 the efforts which have been made since that time to intro- 

 duce and acclimate this prince of the perch family in our 

 waters, that to-day the trout and pickerel are hardly bet- 

 ter and no more familiarly known than he. 



More than to any other one, or indeed to all other men, 

 we owe this success to Dr. William W. Fletcher, of Con- 

 cord, a gentleman whose tastes and intelligent study of the 

 nature and history of fishes abundantly qualified him for 

 the position of head and chief executive of the Fish Com- 

 mission, a position which he held and filled with great zeal 

 and without pecuniary reward, from '69 to '74. Through the 

 courtesy of this gentleman we are enabled to give our 

 readers the dates when the several ponds in the State were 

 stocked with bass. From this list of dates those interested 

 can easily see when the different ponds become open to le- 

 gal fishing, the law protecting the fish in each pond for 

 five years from their introduction and during the months 

 of May and June in all ponds and in ail years. 



During the year 1868 Dr. Fletcher stocked the following 

 ponds or lakes: MascomaLake, Westfield; Webster Lake, 

 Franklin; Pennacook Lake, Concord; Massabesic Lake, 

 Manchester; Cocheco Lake, Rollinsford; Sunapee Lake, 

 Wilson's Pond, Keene; and Echo Lake, Franconia. These 

 Waters have all been open to the angler during the past two 

 seasons, and there is scarcely a sporteman in the State who 

 has not taken more or less. Large numbers have been ta- 

 iteti from Sunapee, Massabesic, and Webster Lakes, show- 

 ing that they have multiplied and grown with great ra- 

 pidity. 



In 1870 the following ponds were stocked by Dr. Fletch- 

 er, as agent of the Board of Commissioners, he having 

 been appointed the year previous: Pleasant pond, War- 

 ner, Aug. 25th; pond, Munsonville, Aug. 20th; Blais- 



dell'spond, Sutton, Aug. 25th; Pleasant pond, New Lon- 

 don, Aug. 30th; Highland Lake, East Andover, Aug. 23d; 

 Hat Hole pond, Loudon, Aug. 18th; Rocky Bound pond. 

 Croydon, Sept. 16th. 



In 1871 the Commissioners continued their work by 

 stocking the following; Wakeman Lake, Meredith, Aug. 



29th; pond, Canaan, Sept. 7th; Long pond, Webster, 



Sept. 5th; Clough's pond, Canterburv, Sept. 9th; 



pond, Harrisville, Sept. 13th; Loon pond, Hillsborough, 

 Sept. 15 th. 



In 1873 the following were added to the list: Winnepe- 

 saukee .Lake, July 28th and Aug. 8th; Long pond, Moul- 

 tonboro', Aug. 8th; Red Hill pond, Moultonborough, July 

 28th; Gregg's pond, Antrim, Aug. 5tli; Partridge pond, 

 Littletou, Aug. 12th; Stinson's pond, Rumney, Aug. 21st- 

 Baboosic Lake, Amherst, Aug. 28th; Beaver pond Perry' 

 Sept. 18th; Pleasant pond, Deerfield, Sept. 12th; Suncock 

 pond/ Northwood, Sept. 12th. 



We are not advised what, if anything, has been done 

 during the past year by the new Board of Commissioners 

 towards extending the work of their predecessors, but 

 judge it has been very little. This, however, is not of so 

 much matter, as it is now a very easy task for anyone inter- 

 ested in a body of water to obtain a few live bass and throw 

 them loose in it, which is all that is required to stock any 

 pond. The commissioners, as will be seen, have made the 

 transfers from one pond to the other in the Fall it being 

 much more easy to obtain the fish at this than any other 

 season of the year; but those anxious to save a year's time 

 can do so by obtaining a number of fish in April and care- 

 fully transporting them to the waters they wish to stock 

 I he fish begin to spawn about the middle of May. About 

 a month previous to the spawning season they pair, and 

 leave the deep, still water where they have spent the Win- 

 ter and seek out some retired spot in shallow water, about 

 eighteen inches or two feet deep, but near deeper water to 

 which they can fly when alarmed. Here they make their 

 nest^ by scouring from the pebbles on the bottom all the 

 mud and slime. The nest is circular, and about twice the 

 length of the fish in diameter. Here the female lays her 

 eggs, which at once become glued to the pebbles where 

 tliey remain for eight or ten days, when they hatch the 

 iemale all the time remaining on or near the nest to keen 

 off predatory intruders. ■ P 



In two or three days after hatching the young frv rise 

 ana separate, the old ones having to take care of themselves 

 While young the fish feed on insects, worms and larva?* 



wSliTfi? ai & e r tliey ap P ear t0 rel ^ mam] y u P° n other 

 small nsh. They are not very particular as to their diet, 

 ineir mam care being to get plenty of food. They are vo- 

 racious eaters, and when hard pushed by hunger do not 

 l^ P I ' dcv ? ur the smaller and weaker of their own 

 w' an n- m v tl \ ls fact P roba bly exists the reason why they 

 othLTi ^ 16 , d m £ ch more ra P id ^ in some P° nd s than in 

 ed ?« tT« ' w al1 a PP??rance, are equally as well adapt- 

 ed to them. Waters which abound, m chub, minnows, 



suckers, insect larvse and crawfish afford plenty of food 

 for the bass, and in them he multiplies and grows apace, 

 but in waters where these are wanting he is reduced to the 

 necessity of eating his own kindred, and of course his in- 

 crease is very limited. 



A report recently made to the United States Pish Com- 

 mission says that the bass which, a few years after their 

 introduction into the Potomac, literally swarmed in that 

 river are now becoming scarce, because they have nearly 

 cleaned the river of the Cyprinidce family, upon which they 

 formerly subsisted. To the same reason is ascribed the 

 fact that they each year move further down the river, 

 abondoning the feeding grounds which they have exhaust- 

 ed, and seeking for others. 



Except a lack of food there seems to be no limit to the 



production of black bass. Nearly every body of water in 



our State is fitted to their propagation. They thrive in 



j the largest lakes and smallest ponds, and are at home in 



J rivers and large brooks, and at. the same time they are 



| abundantly able to protect themselves from all water ene- 



* mies. They are a match at equal weights for anything 



J that swims, and their gaminess does much to save them 



j from the destruction that lurks in the covered hook. 



Little need be said of the merits of this fish for the table. 



Few better pan fish, are known to epicures. He is thick, 



solid and heavy, has little waste and few bones about him, 



is sweet, tender and juicy, and when well, cooked makes a 



dish fit for a king. 



Pew directions can be given as to angling for the bass. 

 Probably, as a rule, live bait is the best, and from eight to 

 twelve feet of water the best depth; but some of the finest 

 specimens which have been coaxed from ponds in this sec- 

 tion have been taken with worm bait i» fifty feet of water. 

 A bass that will weigh three pounds is called full grown, 

 though some have been taken which weighed six pounds 

 each. 



The fish is said by writers to arrive at maturity at three 

 years of age. During the first year they grow about two 

 inches in length; and the same the second, while if well 

 fed, at three years old, they are from eight to twelve in- 

 ches long." 



And now comes a voice from Connecticut, taking quite 

 a different view of the subject. Perhaps Mr. Mather will 

 reply to the accompanying letter, which we find in the 

 Live Stoelc Journal, and let us have his valuable opinion 

 upon the merits of this fish, both from the sporting out- 

 look, and as a means of increasing the fish supply: — 



"It is now about eight years since sufficient interest in 

 inland fishery was taken to create the necessity for the ap- 

 pointment of Fish Commissioners, whose duty it was to 

 carefully guard the fishery interest. For the first year or 

 two the operations of the commission were confined more 

 particularly to the proper protection and increase of Fhad 

 in the Connecticut River, and subsequently to their dissem- 

 ination by means of transporting the small fry obtained by 

 artificially hatching the ova. In a little time attention was 

 directed to the stocking of some of the many lakes, reser- 

 voirs and ponds by which the surface of our State is dot- 

 ted, and black bass (Orystes fasciatus) were the fish first 

 employed. These were highly recommended by the Com- 

 missioners as beingagamey fish, affording ample sport in 

 the catching, a nice pan fish, and withal of exceedingly 

 rapid reproduction. For some three years or more the 

 Commissioners were active in introducing these fish into 

 some sixty or eighty of the inland bodies of water; some 

 had been previously stocked, and many others by private 

 enterprise, so that the ponds were pretty generally sup- 

 plied with this kind of fish. Very many of these ponds 

 previously furnished excellent fishing grounds for the more 

 common kinds of fish, sueh as perch, pickerel, bull heads, 

 etc. ; but in consequence of the high recommendations of 

 bass, the desire for their introduction was very strong, and 

 now it is believed that our waters are well stocked; but with 

 this increase of fish and a few past years' experience comes 

 a very decided reaction, and prejudice against the action 

 in introducing this variety of fish. The complaint for the 

 year past has been, that uot only is it impossible to catch 

 the bass in any very considerable quantities, but that in 

 consequence of their being in the waters it has entirely de- 

 stroyed fishing for all other kinds of fish, and in some in- 

 stances the Commissioners have been severely censured. 

 We are not prepared to judge of the facts any further 

 than our own observation extends, and in that it goes to 

 establish the charge of destruction to general fishing. The 

 Columbia Reservoir, a body of water covering some three 

 hundred acres, was originally stocked with pickerel, which 

 with these more common kinds inhabiting our waters, 

 furnished ' good fishing ground; but as bass were highly 

 spoken of, a few of these were introduced; they multi- 

 plied rapidly, but with their increase all other fish ap- 

 peared to diminish, and now the reservoir is nearly aban- 

 doned as a fishing ground. The same is true of a lake in 

 Coventry; and in fact the same is said to be true of all" 

 those cases where black bass have been introduced. On the 

 other hand, in North Lake, where none exist, good fishing 

 prevails to-day. 



Now, will Fred Mather rise and explain? In the first 

 place, are black bass destructive to all other kinds of fish; 

 or, more correctly, of such as are usually found in our in- 

 land waters? Do they prey upon existing fish, or is their 

 work confined to the destruction of the spawn and young 

 fry? Does the gamey character of the bass cause the dif- 

 ficulty in catching, or is it for want of the knowledge of 

 the manner, or in consequence of a want of the proper 

 baU? When is the most proper time for catching? And if 

 there is no patent on the same, will Mr. Mather please give 

 in detail a description of the habits of the fish, the kind of 

 bait and apparatus necessary, and the most successful 

 manner employed in catching them, in connection with 

 this article, if his time will admit, and I am sure that the 

 fishing community generally will be very grateful for the 

 information. We are not professional sportsmen, but have 

 become interested in the subject somewhat, or would not 

 trouble you with these inquiries. " 



—There has been great controversy in Ohio for some 

 time about the location of the State Fish Hatchery. From 

 the acrimony involved one would be led to suppose that it 

 was a matter of great value in a pecuniary sense to have 

 the hatching house near. Indeed to such an extent has 

 this fight been continued that the Fish Commissioners 

 were afraid to act definitely, and adopted the miserable 

 temporizing policy of erecting six little hatcheries, not to 

 cost the State over $75 each—one at Toledo, two on the 

 Islands around Sandusky, ©n# at Castalla Springs, one at 



Putin-Bay, and one at Cleveland —in order that it maybe 

 found out where the best water for desirable kinds of fish 

 is located! Well, well, this is better than nothing; it will 

 be a beginning, and Ohio will be glad some day, not long 

 in the future, that a beginning was mside.—Qermantown 

 Telegraph. 



, — ___ __^» ^ . . — - 



—The Societe d' Acclamatation of France has awarded 

 gold and silver medals to the American naturalists, Messrs. 

 Green and Jerome, and a bronze one to Mr. Stone, Secre- 

 tary of the American Fish Cuiturists' Association, in recog- 

 nition of their labors to transport transatlantic salmon 

 eggs to France. 



* 



Ornithology as a Recreation. It is easy to see sev- 

 eral reasons which account for the popularity of ornithol- 

 ogy as a rural recreation. In the first place, it can be 

 pursued everywhere. Even the barest common has its 

 birds, and yet there is just such sufficient diversity among 

 the birds which haunt similar localities in different countries 

 to interest the mind and induce philosophical reflection on 

 the causes of this variation. Indeed, the number of prob- 

 lems which the study of birds presents is another reason 

 why it is so generally fascinating. The mere dillettante 

 can amuse himself in solving these, while the professed 

 student finds many which baffle his closest scrutiny. The 

 migrations of swallows, for instance, were until recent 

 years beset by the same haziness which attended Hum in 

 Gilbert White's mind. People, sensible enough on oiher 

 points, gravely affirmed that the approach of Winter drove 

 the Mrundines to their hibernating quarters, hollow trees or 

 the bottoms of rivers. The claims of overlapping species, 

 of partial migration, of the abundance or paucity of allied 

 species in different years, of the curious, changes of color 

 in the plumage of many shore birds without their under- 

 going a molt, together with that special crux of most de- 

 partments of natural history, what constitutes a species? 

 are specimens of the speculations to which ornithology ad- 

 dresses herself. But even more difficult and delicate inqui- 

 ries remain on such points as the presence of instinct and 

 violation of bird life. The disappearance, whether partial 

 or total, of different species from the several provinces of 

 Great Britain, forms another interesting branch of study, 

 and others might be indicated if the extent and variety of 

 questions which imperatively demand an answer from the 

 scientific ornithologist had not been sufficiently demonstra- 

 ted. Perhaps the being brought face to face with nature 

 while prosecuting these and the like inquiries, and freedom 

 from the drudgery involved in the use of the microscope 

 indoors, enter largely into the pleasures of the bird lover. 

 And yet ornithology demands in the open air minute and 

 extended observation, large powers of discrimination and 

 comparison, and an enthusiasm which never Hags at disap- 

 pointment. The ornithologist might almost be weighed 

 against the comprehensive standard of virtues required of 

 the angler in the seventeenth century. He must be untir- 

 ing and eagle eyed, sanguine yet disinclined to believe on 

 insufficient premises, a clever antagonist, a well taught dis- 

 ciple of the inductive method, skillful at forming a hypothe- 

 sis, but slow to admit its truth without the most rigorous 

 collection of instances and testing of their agreement. 

 Such an admirable Crichton is the scientific ornithologist 

 of the nineteenth century, and among our countrymen 

 such men can be counted on the fingers. — ComhUl Mag- 

 azine, 



MORE ABOUT SNAKES. 



G-ARDEN OF TUB ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, \ 



Philadelphia, Oct. 14, 1875. j 

 Editoii Fo*best and Stream:— 



Your correspondent "Speculator" in "A Few Remarks on Snakes," 

 Vol. IV., page 406, says: "There has from, time to time been consider- 

 able discussion as to whether 6nakes produce young by birth or by eggs. 

 * * * Most species lay eggs; a few give birth to the young, while 

 others are ovavi parous." I will just mention two instaLces to corrobo- 

 rate part of his statement that have come under, my notice, and will 

 probably interest many of your readers. A garter snake {Eutnima eir- 

 ta/is,) captured in the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens on August" 10th 

 last, was placed in one of the glass cases used for snakes, and the earue 

 day produced tifry-six young ovaviparonsly, as several bad not the e<^g» 

 formed skin broken when observed. They were five inches long when 

 born. The next case was of a water moccasin (Toxicophis phscivorus,) 

 received a week or two later at the Gardens, which gave birth to hi ty-one 

 young, each nearly eight inches in length. All out one of the garter 

 snakes ht.ve since died, it being impossible to get them to eat; the moc- 

 casins have fared little better. An idea may be formed from the forego- 

 ing of the amazing fecundity of snakes. W. K. A. 

 ••*-** . 



THE SWALLOW-TAILED HAWK. 



— — » ., , — i 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



. I notice in your issue of October 7th an item in the Natural History 

 column of a queer bird having been shot in Lebanon county, Pa. From 

 the brief description therein given there is no doubt but that the bird is 

 the beautiful swallow-tailed havik (IVauclerus furca/iis— Btnn.). Below 

 is the description from "Birds of North America.'" Wing's and tail ; 

 the latter deepiy forked; head and neck, under wing coverts, teeoiitfary 

 qmlls at their ba-e, and entire under parts, white; back, wings and tail, 

 black, with a metallic lustre; purple on. the back and wine coverts; 

 green and blue on other parts: tarsi and toe e, greenish blue; bill, horn 

 color; total length, female, 23 to 25 inches; wing. 16 to 17} inches; tail, 

 14 inches; male rather smaller. AUhongh this.' bird is most abundant 

 in the Southern States, yet it is sometimes found throughout Pennsyl- 

 vania. It is one of the most beautiful and graceful of all ourbiidsof 

 prey, the long, clean cut wings and long, forked tail giving it, powtv of 

 continued, rapid and very graceful flight. NnmoD. 

 ^ » — __ — r , 



CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 



Department of Ptjbljc Parks, }' 

 New York, Oct. nth, 1875. J 



Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 

 Oct. 16th, 1875:— 



One Capuchin Monkey, Cebus capucinus. Presented by Sflgg Roslle 

 A. Heiser. 



One Woodchuck, Arctomye minasc. Presented by Mr. Theodore Roose- 

 velt, Jr. 



One pair Silky Fowls, Oallus domesticus. Hab. Japan. Presented by 

 Mr. P. A. Chichester. Hatched out from eags sent from -Japan 



One Marsh Hen, Rallus etegam. Captured in Central Park 



Two Yellow Birds, Chiysomitvis trtstis. Captured in Central Park. 



One Rhea, Rhm Americana. 



One Sun Bear, Vrsus mulayanut. W, A. Conkmw, Director, 



