372 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Into this I put my gold fish, also a pot of Vdlisneria and Hippuris Vulgaris, 

 on which I noticed most of the spawn. I left the fish in the tuh until 

 nest day, unfortunately too long, as f found they had eaten most of the 

 spawn. After taking them out I partly covered the tub with hoards so 

 as to shield it somewhat from the rays of the sun. In six or eight days I 

 noticed the eggs were hatched. I fed them when about four weeks old; 

 but soon after two died, so I concluded to let them alone, as there was so 

 much vegetable growth of Conferva, T supposed they would find food 

 from that. They remained in the tub until September, when I placed 

 them in a glass tank. After this I fed them every few days on very 

 small particles of raw beef. I scraped the beef very fine, and only put 

 in just what I thought would be eaten; if any was left, I was careful to 

 take it out for fear the water would become impure. 



The fish are little beauties. There is a wonderful difference as to size, 

 some are so much larger and stronger than others. I can't account 

 for it, as all are of the same age, nnd have received the same treatment. 



Among my young fish are several that are without the dorsal fin. * 

 ___ — «» » » ■ — - 



FISH CULTURE ON THE WESTERN 



PLAINS. 



Hillsboro, Ohio, January 3d, 1876. 

 Y Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Why are there no trout in the waters of the North Flatte 

 Biver? If our friend Spencer F. Baird, who now seems 

 to have become Commissioner-in-Chief of the scaly tribes, 

 as he long has been of the birds and beasts of the country, 

 cannot solve the question, I suppose il may be set down as 

 one of the things "a fellah never can find out." 



Here is a great river, the heads and tributaries of which 

 take their rise in the centre of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 interlock with the waters of Wind River, Big Horn, and 

 Powder Rivers on the north, Green River on the west, and 

 the Yampah, or Bear River, and the South Platte on the 

 south, all of which abound in the Balmo fontinalis, and yet 

 is itself troutless. Its greatest tributary— the Sweetwater 

 —actually rises on the Pacific slope, and with New River, 

 Green River, and Lewis' Fork of the Columbia, is fed 

 from the perpetual snows of the Wind River range, and 

 flowing through the South Pass, within three or four miles 

 of Pacific Springs, has a total length of 150 miles- The 

 main North Platte rises in the North Park, in Colorado, 

 and its head mingles with those of Bear River running into 

 . Green River, and those of the South Platte, and formed 

 from numerous mountain springs and streams, takes its way 

 north to meet the Sweetwater near the great canon. From 

 the head of the Sweetwater in the Wind River range, or 

 its own sources in the Colorado Mountains to its junction 

 with the South Platte on the plains, it has a total length of 

 about 500 miles. 



Many of its tributaries, fed by never-failing springs and 

 melting snow, with clear, cold, swift water, would seem 

 specially fitted for trout. Commencing with Lawrence 

 Fork, which runs at the foot of Court House Rock, and 

 going west, there are Horn Creek, Laramie River, and the 

 many streams running into it; Rawhide, Cottonwood, 

 Horse Shoe, Labonte, Lapeile, Deer Creek, Sweetwater, 

 and its western and northerly sources; the head of the 

 Platte in the North Park, and also Pan Creek, Medicine 

 Bow River, and Rock creek, the three latter being large, 

 never-failing streams heading in the Elk and Colorado 

 Mountains, and running through Laramie Plains. These 

 and many others look promising and abound in fish, but 

 there are no trout. 



I have been thus particular in giving detail, that I might 

 make the statement pertinent and full, so that if there is any 

 doubt about the facts, or if any one can give the causes, all 

 may have more light upon the subject. Now that the rail- 

 road runs through this section, and the mountain country 

 generally is becoming fully explored and, to some extent, 

 settled by miners, herdsmen, and others, there is no reason 

 why its natural history in all its branches should not be 

 fuliy understood. These questions in relation to the hab- 

 its and habitat of food and game fishes are becoming es- 

 pecially interesting and practical, since such skill and at- 

 tention lias been directed to their propagation. And now, 

 lest I may be charged with assuming the facts, I will state 

 my means of knowledge. In the year 1802 G3 64 and '65 

 I was in the military service in the Rocky Mountains. My 

 headquarters were at South Pass the first Summer and at 

 Fort Laramie afterwards. During the entire period duty 

 called me frequently to all parts of the country drained by 

 the North Platte, and to the headwaters of the other great 

 rivers I have mentioned. The scattered condition of my 

 command, together with military expeditions, scouting 

 parties, and fort posts, and herding camps, etc., from the 

 forks of the Platte to Utah, gave me special facilities for 

 knowing the country. Whenever opportuity offered, the 

 rod as well as the gun were put to use, not only for sport, 

 but from necessity, and to vary the regulation diet of pork 

 and hard tack. When ordered from St. Louis to the 

 mountain country by Gen. Halleck in March, 1862, antici- 

 pating the narrow fare and tendency to scurvy in that ser- 

 vice I purchased a seine about twenty -five yards long, and 

 commencing at Fort Leavenworth, where we received our 

 ontat for crossing the plains, until we reached South Pass, 

 a distance of about one thousand miles, each company had 

 its use in turn. A detail of eight or ten men would often 

 bring in several bushels from an hour's fishing. After 

 striking the main Platte at Fort Kearney no game fish are 

 found in it or the North Platte and its tributaries, except 

 the glass-eyed pickerel, as it is there called, but elsewhere 

 generally known as the wall-eyed pike, or pike perch. 

 This is found in nearly all the larger streams, averaging 

 from one to six pounds in weight, and is really a very re- 

 spectable fish on the hook or the table. Most others, ex- 

 cept the catfish, are of the sucker mouth varieties. In ad- 

 dition to our own opportunities to ascertain the inhabit- 

 ants of these waters, the testimony of the celebrated Mai 

 Bridger, who was nearly three years with me as guide and 

 interpreter, and of the old trappers and mountaineers gen- 

 erally, could be added and all agree as to the non-existence of 

 trout, as I have stated. It is barely possible some may be 

 found in the extreme headwaters of Pass Creek, or some 

 of the small streams in the North Park, with which I am 

 less familiar, but it is improbable. 



As to the causes of this troutless condition of the waters 



of the North Platte none seem to be satisf actoiy . It is 

 true that many of these streams, where they run through 

 sandy or alkali plains, sink or dry up at certain seasons of 

 the year, or become strongly impregnated with mineral 

 soda; but their sources are usually pure and permanent, 

 and the same objection can be made to the tributaries of 

 the South Platte and Green Rivers. There can be little 

 doubt that trout would live and flourish in most of the 

 heads of these streams, if they were properly stocked, and 

 it would be well xo suggest to our friend Baird, the Fish 

 Commissioner, that he drop a few trout or troutlings, or 

 cause a few eggs to be laid * 'where they would do the most 

 good," along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad. It 

 could be done from the California fish car, and, indeed, 

 there are places where a boy with a bucket could make a 

 transfer of living trout from one stream to another in a 

 few hours. While on duty in the Rocky Mountains I had 

 occasional opportunities to give him slight aid in some 

 branches of natural history, of which I gladly availed 

 myself. We feel a national pride in his success in all the 

 branches to which he has specially devoted himself; but 

 there is probably nothing in which his labors will be found 

 more practical and useful than fish culture, where he is ex- 

 hibiting his usual ability and enthusiasm. It is gratifying 

 to know that he is receiving the aid of the Government, 

 as well as the cordial ami earnest cooperation of the high- 

 est skill and experience in the country. Veteran. 

 «.«♦- . 



California Shad. — A shad sixteen inches long and 

 weighing three pounds was taken at Wilmington, Califor- 

 nia, a fortnight ago; a circumstance that argues well for 

 the success of the Fish Commissioners' efforts to propagate 

 this variety of fish by planting in the Sacramento and 

 other rivers three years ago . 



inml j§i8torg. 



[ This Department is now under the charge of a competent Naturalist, 

 indorsed by the Smithsonian Institution, and will henceforth be made a 

 special feature of this paper. All communicati/ms, notes, queries, re- 

 marks, and seasonal observations will receive careful attention. J 



— Nature records the success of an expedition sent to the 

 Pelew Islands, which are situated in the Northern Pacific, 

 at the western extremity of the Caroline Archipelago. 

 One of the most remarkable facts is the occurrence of a 

 jungle fowl (G alius bankiva) — being the species generally 

 recognized as the original of our domestic fowl — in a wild 

 state. It is possible, however, that this may be an intro- 

 duction. It is singular also to note that the Nicobar pig- 

 eon (Galcenas nicobarica) has spread thus far to the west. 

 Noteworthy again is the entire absence, so far as is hith- 

 erto known, of parrots and finches iu these islands. 



. 4M> ■ 



— Among the common English sparrows in St. Louis, 

 Dr. James C. Merrill has observed many specimens of the 

 European tree sparrow, {Pyrgita montana), which closely 

 resembles the Pyrgita domestica, but is distinguished by its 

 chestnut crown, and the similarity of both sexes and the 

 young. It was noticed in New York several years ago, 

 and may be looked for now ; but it frequents the outskirts 

 of the town and the country, as is its habit at home. 



Linen-Eating Moths. —Edward Newman, the English 

 entomologist, has recently been investigating the loss of 

 William Eccles, a linen manufacturer at Larne, Ireland, 

 through the depredations of the larvae of the ruby tiger 

 moth, Arctia rubigiriosa. Mr. Eccles found that his linens, 

 after exposure upon the bleach fields, were filled with holes, 

 generally not much larger than the size of a pin head. He 

 asked the advice of the Editor of The Field, through the 

 columns of which Mr. Newman answers. It appears that 

 this caterpillar, which feeds upon the broad-leaved plan- 

 tain, and has been previously thought inoffensive, would 

 select the linen as suitable material for its cocoon, thus 

 causing the innumerable holes which threatened serious 

 loss to Mr. Eccles. Mr. Newman was unable to offer any 

 remedy, but suggested that possibly, like our own West- 

 ern grasshoppers, the visit in large numbers might never 



recur. 



. <•**•• — 



Short-Tailed Tern in Massachusetts.— The .hand- 

 some short-tailed tern {Hydrochelidon Jimpes) has been con- 

 sidered somewhat rare north of New York. I was fortu- 

 nate enough to secure five specimens at two shots, on the 

 29th of August, 1875, in Ipswich Bay, north of Cape Ann, 

 Mass. I was fishing at the time, nearly a mile from shore, 

 in a small boat, when I observed a flock of about fifteen 

 individuals approaching, engaged in their own fishing. 

 They came within gunshot, and I secured one. The flock 

 were so intent upon scanning the water that they did not 

 appear to notice me until I had fired. They then flew off 

 alarmed, but soon returned to hover over their dead com- 

 panion, which is a trait of the whole family of terns, as 

 tar as my observation extends, and I then succeeded in 

 shooting four more. Only one of the whole number was 

 in full plumage with the black breast. Previous to this I 

 have only known of two individuals being seen in this 

 State; one of which I shot (See C. J. Maynard's Natural- 

 ist's Guide, Part II, p. 157) August 11th, several years 

 ago.— J. Francis LeBaron. 



, «»•«• 



The Trogons,— Mr. John Gould, F. R. S., has comple- 

 ted a second edition of his magnificent work on the tro- 

 gons, illustrated by life-sized colored figures of the forty- 

 six species now known. Like the parrots, the trogons are 

 widely diffused through the tropics of both hemispheres. 

 Though not so strongly marked in general characters as 

 the Psittacidse, the Trogonidae are separated from all known 

 birds by the peculiar conformation of their feet, having 

 the first and second toes permanently turned backwards, 

 which is not the case in any other form of the class "Aves." 

 Like the parrots, too, the trogons are most numerous in the 

 New World, thirty-three out of the forty-six species being 

 peculiar to Central and Southern America, whilst eleven 

 are found in the Indian region, and two only in Africa. 



As regards habits and mode of life, there appears to be 

 much similarity in the trogons of all three continents. 

 They are universally forest-haunting birds, inactive in 

 habits, short in flight and feeding, whether their prey be 

 insect or fruit, mostly upon the wing. Their brilliant col- 

 ors offer the most remarkable compounds of emerald green 

 and various shades of crimson and golden yellow, as will 

 be sufficiently apparent to any one who turns over Mr. 

 Gould's splendidly-colored plates. "We must indeed con- 

 gratulate the author," says Nature for Dec. 28d, u on the 

 energy and success with which, prompted by the pure love 

 of science, he has brought out a second edition of one of 

 the first of his many important ornithological works." 



■ "•*♦- > 



Large Carp. — Berlin, Prussia, has produced a monster 

 carp, weighing 27 pounds, and measuring 2 feet 10 inches 

 in length, and 1 foot 11 inches in circumference. It was 

 sent to Lord Odo Russell, British Ambassador at Berlin, by 

 a fishmonger, who advertised carp for sale up to thirty 

 pounds in weight. Frank Buckland, in Zand and Water, 

 says: "Of course I shall make casts of this splendid fish, 

 and shall then present, in Lord Odo Russell's name, the 

 fish to Prof. Flower, for the Royal College of Surgeons. 

 The carp's bones are very firm and white, and the fellow 

 will make a splendid skeleton. Carp certainly live to a 

 very great age. A correspondent in this paper not long 

 since recorded a carp that was known from positive facts 

 to be ninety years old. I should not be at all surprised if 

 the fish now in my casting-room was not from 100 to 150 

 years old, and I am in great hopes that we shall be able to 

 get some evidence as to age from the appearance of the 

 bones of the skeleton. Carp, when very old, are said to 

 turn white. The origin of this story is that carp are very 

 much subject to a disease of white fungus growing on the 

 scales." 



. -+.-H- 



— A writer in Land and Water describes the setting of a 

 swallow's broken leg as follows : The leg was carefully 

 adjusted, flexed, and placed close to the body, and then 

 soaked with gums, the feathers near it being treated in the 

 same manner, and then plastered over with flour. After 

 being kept perfectly still for an hour, it was found that 

 the leg was perfectly set and securely fixed. The bird 

 then flew away with great ease. 



*j^*» ■ 



HABITS OF PACIFIC SALMON. 



San Francisco, Cal., January 3d, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



One of your correspondents remarks, in reference to my giving an 

 opinion in regard to the McCloud River salinon returning to the sea 

 after spawning, that I said decidedly at first that they did not return, 

 and afiervvards that "I didn't know," your correspondent adding that 

 the matter rested here. The fact is that, in my own mind, I have always 

 been convinced that these salmon died after spawning before they re- 

 turned to salt water; but when I first announced the fact in 1872, it was 

 received with such skepticism by Californians, and such resolute opposi- 

 tion, that I thought I might possibly have been mistaken, and concluded 

 to reserve my judgment till I had auother seasons' experience. It was 

 then that I answered, when questioned on the subject, that "I didn't 

 know." The next season I built a dam over the river, impassable to 

 salmon, and this settled the question finally, and proved beyoud a shadow 

 of a doubt, that of all the thousands of Sacramento salmon that 

 spawned in the McCloud, not one in a hundred returned 1o the sea alive. 

 Since then I have been very emphatic in the expression of this opinion; 

 so it is not quite correct, as your correspondent puts it, that the matter 

 rests with my saying "I didn't know." 



I see a good deal in the papers about what the salmon feed on, as if 

 there was some mystery in it. Now, whatever mystery there maybe 

 about other fish, in this particular, there is none whatever as regards the 

 Pacific Coast salmon. While in salt water they eat, and eat ravenously, 

 their food being smelts and other small fish, with some crustaceans. 

 After they enter fresh water they lose their appetite and eat nothing, a 

 good evidence of this being found in the fact furnished by J. W. & 

 Vincent Cook, proprietors of the Oregon Packing Co., on the Columbia 

 River, who stated to me that out of ninety-eight thousand ealmon ex- 

 amined by them in 1874, only three had anything in their stomachs, and 

 these three had the appearance of having just left salt water. 



Livingston Stone. 

 ■ «**•» 



LATE APPEARANCE OF THE MOCK- 

 ING-BIRD. 



Gainesville, Cooke Co., Tex., Jan. 5;h, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



During the early part of November, a "norther" visited us and 

 swept our migratory birds to more congenial climes; or, at any rale, 

 out of sight. After the "norther" the weather became warm again, 

 flowers bloomed, and the grass continued green. Frequently of a 

 morning, before sunrise, when the weather was still and damp, I was 

 sure I could detect the familiar musical notes of the mocking-bird. Ir- 

 an undertone, but could never catch sight of him, until about two 

 wee&s ago, when early one morning I observed a mocking-bird perched 

 upon the ridge of a house across the street: and again on the morning 

 of December 28th, it eat perched for sometime upon the frame of a 

 grape vine in my yard, and within thirty feet of me. I have been living 

 in this county for nine consecutive years, and I am sure I have never 

 seen the mocking-bird so late in the season at any other time; and it is 

 evidently considered migratory here, for when it appears in the spring 

 it is frequently remarked by the farmers that "winter is broken; the 

 mocking-birds have come." Dr. Coues states, in his "Birds of the 

 Northwest," that it is "resident from the Carolinas southward," which 

 would embrace this place, which is about latitude 33° 30' north, longi- 

 tude 97° west from London. The most remarkable feature in the case 

 is, that this bird seems to be alone. It is possible, from the fact of this 

 bird being so rarely seen in the locality in which I know it to be con- 

 cealed, that there are other mocking-birds in this part of the State; 

 but as my business (land surveying) brings me into field and wood, 

 bramble and prairie, more or less every week, it does seem as though I 

 would occasionally start one from its retreat if any more were there. I 

 will state, however, that the winter has been extremely mild. 



G. H. RagsiUle. 

 — ^*-e« ■ 



CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 



Department of Public Parks, \ 

 New York, Dec. 19th, 1875. J 



Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 

 January 15th, 1875:— 



Two pair Angora rabbits, Lepus cuniculus. Presented by Mr. A. M. 

 Halsted. 



One eagle, Halicetus leucocephalus . Presented by Mr. H. H. Brock- 

 way. 



Two pig-tailed macaques, Macacus nemestrinus. 



Two black-faced spider monkeys, Ateles ater. 



Two macaque monkeys, Macacus cynomolgus. 



Three slender-billed cockatoos, Liemetis tenuirvstris. 



W. A. Cohkun, Dareetor,- 



