FOREST AND STREAM 



329 



THE CENTENNIAL. 



WE have received from the Bureau of Administra- 

 tion an advance copy of the classification for 

 prizes to be awarded to exhibitors of live stock at the In- 

 ternational Exhibition. This display will be held within 

 the months of September and October, fifteen days being 

 allowed to each division, as follows:— Horses, mules and 

 asses, from September 1st to 15th; horned cattle (of all 

 varieties), from September 20th to October 5th; sheep, 

 gwiee, goats and dogs, from October 10th to 25th. Poultry 

 •will be exhibited from October 28th to November 10th. 



With certain exceptions, such as trotting stock, match- 

 ed teams, fat and draught cattle, pedigrees will be re- 

 quired, in accordance with the printed list issued. 



Breeding Horses— Includes running, trotting, and 

 draught mares and stallions from two to four years old. 



Running and Trotting Horses — Are to be judged by 

 their record up to August loth, 1876, and awards will be made 

 for running horses having made fastest record; trotting 

 stallions having trotted a mile within 2:30; mares and geld- 

 ings having trotted a mile within 2:25. Walking horses 

 will compete in the matched teams. Awards will be made 

 for matched teams, looking to speed, height and weight. 



Breeding Asses. — Jacks and asses from three to six 

 years old and over. 



Neat Clttle. — Awards will by made for the best herd 

 of each respective breed, consisting as follows: — One bull, 

 four cows, none under fifteen months, and bulls and cows 

 of various ages. 



Fat and Draught Cattle. — Fat cattle must be weigh- 

 ed, and in general those will be judged best which have 

 the greatest weight with the least surface and offal. A- 

 wards will be made for: best fatted steer of any age or 

 breed; most powerful yoke of oxen; most rapidly walking 

 yoke of oxen; most thoroughly trained yoke of oxen; most 

 thoroughly trained team of three or more yokes of oxen. 

 \ Breeding Sheep. — Awards will be made to respective 

 breeds for the best pen of five animals of same flock 

 and including one ram, the ewes all having had 'living 

 lambs the past Spring, also rams two years and over; ewes 

 in pens of three, all having had living lambs. 



Fat Sheep. — Awards will be made for pen of three 

 best fatted sheep of each breed; pen of three best fatted 

 sheep of any breed. 



Breeding Swine.— Every competing sow above one 

 year old must have had a litter, or be in pig, and the owner 

 must bring proof of these facts, if required. Awards will 

 be made to respective breeds for: the best pen of one boar 

 and two breeding sows; for pen of sow and litter, also 

 boars and breeding sows of various ages. 



Fat Swine. — 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be awarded 

 for pair of best fatted hogs of each breed; pair of best 

 fatted hogs of any breed. 



Dogs. — Awards will be made to respective breeds for 

 dogs of two years and over; dogs of one year and under 

 two; pups. 



A pweepstake award will be awarded for the best dog of 

 any breed displayed by a foreign exhibitor. A sweepstake 

 award will be awarded for best home-bred dog of any 

 breed. Awards will be made to respective breeds for 

 bitches of two years and over; bitches of one year and un- 

 der two; bitch pups. 



A sweepstake award will be awarded for the best bitch 

 of any breed displayed by a foreign exhibitor. A sweep- 

 stake ward will be awarded for the best home-breed bitch 

 of any breed. 



Poultry.— Poultry can only be exhibited in coops made 

 after specifications furnished by the Bureau of Agricul- 

 ture. Awards will be made to respective breeds for: pairs 

 of one year and over, of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, 

 swans, pigeons, guineas and ornamental birds; for pairs 

 under one year. 



Fish.— Living fishes will be displayed in both fresh and 

 salt water aquaria. Awards will be made for largest dis- 

 play of fish of each species; largest display of fish of all 

 species. 



The following circular is addressed to those who may 

 fell disposed to aid the Bureau in their efforts to have 

 the^isplayof food fishes as comprehensive as possible:— 



Philadelphia, December 10th, 1875. 



Sir: The Bureau of Agriculture, International Exhibition, is charged 

 with the display -of all foods in the various conditions and processes of 

 management of wild, cultivated, and manufactured forms. Under such 

 a comprehensive system is included an exhibition of fish, both alive and 

 preserved in their various commercial conditions. 



It is admitted by all who have made a study of fish cultute that food 

 can be much more cheaply produced from the water than from the land, 

 and to familiarize the people with the best food producing species of 

 fish, and the appliances used in their propagation, culture, and capture, 

 will certainly be the pleasure oi all friends of pisciculture. To thor- 

 oughly illustrate the vast extent and importance of fish foods, it is neces- 

 sary that the exhibition of living fish in tanks, be made as comprehen- 

 sive as possible. A very satisfactory dieplay can be n.aie by the 

 expenditure of a sum insignificant as compared with the interests in- 

 volved. 



The regulations of the Commission require all exhibitors to provide at 

 their own cost all show cases necessary to the display of their products, 

 and even in the exhibition of fish these rules will be adhered to. Fisn 

 breeders, however, have not the same incentive to make a display as 

 have breeders of cattle, and can hardly be expected to assume a corre- 

 sponding expense in providing apparatus for an exhibition of six months. 

 If they furnish the fisn in quantity and variety it may be all that can be 

 expected. 



The Bureau has received propositions for the erection of twenty-five 

 tanks of approved construction, ranging from two to twenty feet in 

 length, and from one to six feet in depth, the aggregate affording three 

 thousand cubic feet of water. The estimated cost of these aquaria, the 

 apparatus for erecting and filtering the water, cost of freight in speci- 

 mens, and cost of attendance, amounts to six thousand dollars. The 

 Bureau is promised from responsible parties constant supplies of both, 

 fresh and salt water fish, the list ranging from the smallest minnow as 

 stock food to sharks and porpoises of largest size. 



To make this exhibition a success, will you present this circular and 

 the accompanying form to sueh parties of your acquaintance as would 

 be favorably disposed to contribute to this purpose by the purchase of 

 one or more ten dollar shares of Centennial stock, the money, though 

 going into the general fund, to be understood as contributed to the fiah 

 exhibition. Very tespectfully, Burnet Landreth:, 



John Welsh, Chief of Bureau of Agriculture. 



President Centennial Board of Finance, 



Fishing Tackle at the Cente nnial.— A missappre- 

 hension has been created in the mind's of some of our 

 dealers in fishing tackle, as to the character of the exhibi- 

 tion, that is to be under the charge of Prof. Bnird . It is 

 in no way competitive in]its character. It is intended rather 

 to be illustrative ot the art of angling and seining, and of 

 American progress and proficiency therein, both as to ac- 

 quired knowledge and invented modes and methods of cap- 

 ture. The competitive exhibition, which will include all 

 the appliances for taking fish will be in the Agricultural 

 Hall. The printed form of exhibitor's application for 

 space, with rules to be observed, of which we have a few 

 copies, can be had by addressing Gen. A. T. Goshorn, 

 Director General, or Mr. Burnet Landreth, Chief of Bureau 

 of Agriculture, 904 Walnut street, Philadelphia. 



The governmental display, under the direction of Prof. 

 Baird, will not be competitive, and only include articles of 

 American manufacture, while that in the Agricultural 

 Hall will be open to foreigners. In the governmental dis- 

 play it is not desired to have duplicates of the minor tackle, 

 such as floats, sinkers, spinning bait, &c, or numerous 

 contributions of rods and flies of the same kind. The ob- 

 ject of Prof. Baird, if we understand him right, is, to have 

 a complete collection of such articles as are made in this 

 country. Some, it is supposed, will be presented and a 

 small portion may be purchased. At the close of the exhi- 

 bition this collection will be transferred to Washington to 

 form a museum of all the appliances for taking fish, made 

 in this country, those of the aborigines as well as the 

 white man's. Those who wish to exhibit in the Govern- 

 ment Building should write Prof. Spencer F. Baird at 

 Washington. Exhibitors can send their wares to either or 

 both of the displays mentioned. 



►♦♦- 



[Letter from "Al Fresco."] 

 FLORIDA EXPLORATIONS. 



Jacksonville, Dec. 12th. 



I 1ST one of my former letters I referred to an interesting 

 route or trip for adventurous sportsmen and tourists; 

 that of reaching the Gulf Coast via St. Johns River to 

 Melonville; wagon, 33 miles to La-hop-ta li ga, Kissimmee 

 River, Lake Okeechobee, and the Caioosahatchie River to 

 Charlotte Harbor. I fully intended taking the trip this 

 Winter; and proposed erecting a guide post at that much 

 sought after point, the outlet of Lake Okeechobee. But 

 from the best information attainable, I must postpone my 

 trip until the Fall of '76. To prevent, as far as possible, 

 others being disappointed, I shall quote from a letter re- 

 ceived to-day from Capt. McQnaig, of Orlando, who is one 

 of the best guides for Central Florida and the Okeechobee 

 region. I communicated with him in order that I might 

 arrange for the transportation of a Bond's boat and pro- 

 visions to the outlet of Lake O. The Captain is the owner 

 of the "Forest and Stream," the boat used by Fred. Ober 

 in his explorations on the lake. The Captain and others 

 have vainly searched for the outlet, which, as far as I am 

 aware, is unknown. The Captain writes as follows: — 



"I received your letter to-day with Mr. Ingram Fletch- 

 er's enclosed. I am pleased to read such letters, more es- 

 pecially from one who is determined to know the outlet of 

 Okeechobee. I have just returned from a short trip, as I 

 went down as far as the Kissimmee Lake. My object in 

 taking the trip was to ascertain the condition of the Little 

 River from Lake To-hop-ta-li-ga to Lake Cypress. I found 

 it completely closed up with lettuce and grass. I left ray 

 boat there, as it is impossible to get through Little River 

 without considerable work. I guess the balance of the 

 rivers are clear of drifts, except a small one below Lake 

 Kissimmee." 



Having enjoyed some experience working a passage 

 through such obstructions as those referred to in the 

 Captain's letter, and, as he states in another portion of his 

 letter, "that he is not disposed to undertake the job," I 

 shall not reach the outlet this Winter. In this connection, 

 I cannot resist th« temptation of quoting from a private 

 letter received tW days since from a wealthy gentleman 

 of Indianapolis, one who is a lover of nature, one who 

 can enjoy life, "Al Fresco," and one who has thoroughly 

 explored and examined Okeechobee in the Winters of '72 

 and '73, and '73 and '74. He was piloted by Capt. Mc- 

 Quaig, and for days examined every indentation and bayou 

 around the margin of the northern and western portions of 

 the lake; but owing to the collection of large masses of 

 floating lettuce they failed to find the outlet. The gentle- 

 man referred to writes as follows : — 



"In regard to maps, I forgot to say to you that my expe- 

 rience was similar to yours, as to the corrections of those 

 lines'and tracings made by various gentlemen supposed to 

 know a great deal about Florida. 



"You can make the entire circuit of Lake Okeechobee 

 in three days in fine weather. But all these lakes are 

 treacherous! Really the specific gravity of the water 

 seems lighter in these Florida lakes. I have explored 

 three years in the region from Marquette on Lake Superior 

 to Selkirk's settlement in the north, and in the west to 

 Devil's Lake, and yet I never saw a sea get up so quick and 

 so unexpectedly as in the lakes connected together by the 

 Kissimmee River. 



"When you shall have gone the entire length of the Kis- 

 simmee, and circumnavigated that large lake, Okeechobee, 

 you will fully agree with me, that it will be the future 

 line of travel for tourists, who will take a railroad or stage 

 at Melonville or Lake Joseph running to Lake La-hop-ta- 

 li-ga; thence by steamer or rail on those Summer seas, and 

 down that wonderful river (the Caioosahatchie) skirted by 

 such lovely hammocks ! 



"I have decided to do some missionary work down there. 

 It is my intention to see thaLa steamer shall gladden those 

 solitary places." 



Al Fresco. 



ANCIENT MOUNDS OF INTERIOR 

 FLORIDA. 



Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 20th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Some weeks ago a gentleman of this city, who has spent 

 six Winters hunting and fishing in Florida, wrote to me 

 on the subject of my own observations in the State, more 

 especially in reference to the mounds and remains of the 

 interior. His letter and my reply are herewith enclosed: 



I find two serious mistakes in all maps of Florida. The 

 Kissimmee River runs through, notby,Lake Hachinnahaw, 

 which is very near both Lake Cypress and Lake Kissim- 

 mee. Neither does the river enter Lake Okeechobee at 

 the extreme northwestern part; on the contrary, it enters a 

 bay five miles south of the False Bay at the north- 

 west. 



I have two objects in furnishing the accompanying map. 

 The first is to point out the location of the mounds; the 

 second is to call the attention of hunters and travelers to 

 the fact that below the oaks on the Kissimmee River there 

 is no place fit for a camp. At the mouth of the river on 

 the point is one place marked E, that will do for a camp, 

 hut is hard to find. On the south of the bay down to is- 

 land marked "Good Camp," good camping places may be 

 found. Bird, or Observation Island, and an i.land ten 

 miles southeast, also afford camps. All the rest from 

 "Good Camp" to Cypress Point is a mangrove swamp. 

 Not a square yard of dry ground. Your commissioners 

 while exploring this part of the lake had to lie in their 

 boat two nights. No party should come to the lake with- 

 out a map like this. 



From False Bay, six miles north of the mouth of the river 

 clear around toCypress Point is one almost continuous clear 

 white sandy beach, the finest in the world. 



Tourists may as well abandon the idea of reaching Okee- 

 chobee by any other than the Kissimmee River route, 

 while the river route affords a fine field for observation 

 and sport . A. M. C. 



Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 9th, 1875. 

 A. M. Conlclln, Esq:— 



Mr Deau Sin— The Interesting letters in the Forest and Stream, 

 written from South Florida by "Al Fresco" have brought up afresh tne 

 plea?ant trips we took down the Kissimmee River, and the explorations 

 in and around Lake Okeechobee. The discussions we then had relative 

 to the apparent cuts and artificial canals made along the prairies and 

 Hammocks, and about some of the Indian mounds, are again revived. 

 Will you please give me your theory in regard to these excavations and 

 channels, as well as your views as to the Indian mounds? 



Very truly, Inouam Fletcher. 



Mr. Ingram Fletcher:— 



Dear Sir — Your kind note calls up pleasant recollec- 

 tions of our first meeting under the old live oak at Daugh- 

 ters, on the lower Kissimmee, and the enjoyments inci- 

 dent to our subsequent voyaging on lake and river. Your 

 reference to the Forest and Stream brings vividly to 

 mind my meeting on Lake Okeechobee with the party, 

 headed by Fred. Oder, sent out by that enterprising peri- 

 odical, and it gives a zest to the pleasure, adds, as it were, 

 a finer flavor to the recollection, to know that the gallant 

 Col. Yon Buskirk, that mountain of a man, thought me a 

 native in search of a cow range, instead of an enterprising 

 Bohemian, in search of that variety which is alike the 

 spice of life and the life of a wideawake progressive jour- 

 nal. The mere mention of the mounds and ancient re- 

 mains of the Kissimmee country, brings even more vividly 

 to mind a year of wandering in the "Summer Land," amid 

 such an infinite variety of strange new beauties that the re- 

 collection even now is perfectly bewildering. 



Of the tens of thousands of persons who each Winter go 

 to Florida in search of health and pleasure, few, if any 

 even hear of this delightful interior country, which is as 

 little known to the outside world as Amazonian forests 

 East Indian jungles, or the lakes of equatorial Africa. 

 The southern terminus of the line of travel usually fol- 

 lowed is at Mellonville, on Lake Monroe, and here the 

 tourist stands on the border of the uxexplored region 

 which, when its beauties and many attractions become 

 known will be the most popular resort in America. Thirty- 

 five miles south of Mellonville, in Orange county, commen- 

 ces a chain of lakes, Summer seas, consisting of Little 

 Ta-ho-pe-ka-li-ga, Ta-ho-pe-ka-li-ga, Cypress, Hach-in-a- 

 haw, Kis-sim-mee (mi) and 0-kee-cho-bee, (ki-bi) "The 

 Great Unknown," which together with the connecting 

 river, and its various windings extend more than four hun- 

 dred miles, although the distance in a direct line is but 

 one-third as far. Rolling pine clad hills, dotted with deep 

 clear lakes; the broad savanna, level as a meadow, with the 

 river or lakes on one hand, and the dark background of 

 pines on the other, studded with groves of live oaks, palm 

 and magnolia, like islands in the ocean, marked with 

 clumps, or crossed with lines of tall stately feather- 

 crowned palms, while here and there a line of a purplish 

 tint, delicate as frost work, indicates the position of the 

 huge cypress bordering some water course; lakes reflecting 

 the blue of the cloudless skies above in the limpid depths 

 below; islands like emeralds, a mass of verdure from the 

 top of the tallest palm, down, down, clear to the water's 

 edge, the deep green of rhe foliage relieved by the many 

 colored flowers of the huge climbing vines which twine 

 themselves into a thousand fantastic forms; land-locked 

 bays on the unrufiled bosoms of which float the huge 

 leaves of aquatic plants and the large white flowers of the 

 water lilies, and deep narrow streams, mark the promm- 



