FOREST AND STREAM. 



83 



water, as if he meant to store up a few more tints to charm 

 the eye and tempt the skill of us modern Izaaks! What 

 an inimitable flourish of that powerful tail! What co- 

 quetry of motion! We are no longer sleepy. Splash af- 

 ter splash is heard, one after another and sometimes all to- 

 gether, 10, 15 and 20-poundeis cleave the air. Out go three 

 lines on the bosom of the current. Three pairs of hands 

 direct the movements of the rich, golden lure, and in three 

 manly breasts hope is fully kindled. Splash! splash! We 

 are getting cold. Hope smoulders. Strike! It is Mr. Red- 

 ding; bait gone, salmon gone! Strike! It is Mr. Clark; 

 salmon went off alone to enjoy a feast. As history repeats 

 itself, so a fisherman's luck often repeats itself, particu- 

 larly when it is bad, and with this morsel of history 

 let us obey the summons of that horn which offers a 

 dead certainty in exchange for a pleasurable uncertainty; 

 after breakfast we shall go to "a better place" below, 

 where success spends the most of its time. Just now we 

 must do justice to the trophies of more fortunate rods. 

 Yes, we've baited the quinat salmon in his native waters, 

 and now we'll test his genuine flavor before the processes 

 of freezing and transportation have robbed him of his del- 

 icacy. Our thoughtful host subdues our keen appetites 

 just as he did the McCioud river Indians— by kindness. 

 The choicest of salmon served in tempting style, and the 

 almost incomparable trout of the McCioud, with accompa- 

 niment of toothsome bread and butter, fresh vegetables, 

 chocolate and coffee fortify us for the encounters which are 

 certain to come. A few words of direction and we are off 

 courting the luck which our friends bespeak for us. We will 

 not ask you, kind reader, to share the discomforts of 

 standing in the sun while the mercury runs up as high as 

 possible, to find cool spot and to wait for an audience 

 of sportive salmon which are really not looking for food, 

 and play their little game of fast and loose with your bait 

 of salmon eggs only because it is pretty. There is a shady 

 nook within 20 yards of us, from which you can try the 

 game qualities of the trout; indeed you may take the rare 

 "Doliy Varden" trout (salmo Cambellii), and if you have no 

 objection one of us will accompany you. Time flies as if 

 he were jealous of our enjoyment and meant to let down 

 the curtain of night in the middle of the finest act. The 

 dinner hour comes, and we reluctantly reel up, although 

 we guess the good cheer that awaits us. Dinner ended 

 and cigars in ashes, we are again at our post. The fun 

 grows intensely exciting. An exulting shout here, ener- 

 getic words of disappointment there, followed by accents 

 of commiseration so soothing (?) to the ear of the unlucky 

 fisherman, a flourish of landing nets, a ringing caution, 

 "keep him out of the current," words of congratulation 

 after a hard fight of an hour and a half, in which every 

 charge and retreat has its appropriate music on the click- 

 ing reel, and we seek quarters at the close of a memoiable 

 day to reckon up the spoils. We despair of describing 

 the beauties of the "Dolly Varden" which you were for- 

 tunate enough to hook, and which will appear in inimitable 

 style on to-mOrrow's breakfast table; let us simply note in 

 passing that our eastern brook trout (Salmo fontinalis, 

 Mich.) does not compare with it. There is a fine showing 

 of mountain trout {Salmo iridea, Gibbons) whose merits 

 we universally acknowledged at breakfast, and "noblest 

 Roman of them all," we have a magnificent display of 

 California salmon (Salmo quinnat, Rich.)— one of 10 pounds, 

 one of 15, one of 20, and, for a goodly central figure, one 

 that tips the beam at 24 pounds. 



Now let the graceful water angel skim the edges of the 

 spray- washed rocks; let the roaring, rushing, noisy, foam- 

 flecked river speed away from its mountain birthplace; 

 let the nuptial dresses of leaping salmon gleam in the 

 twilight and fair luna begin her love's glances at the Sierra 

 Nevadas while we seek our grateful couches and endure 

 the coquetry of slumber until dreams of rods, reels, and 

 landing-net treasures fade into a monotone of oblivion. 

 One day's work is duplicated and surpassed in the next 

 until we have feasted to our heart's content and set aside 

 the elements of a feast for distant friends. The second 

 night is upon us. A familiar rumbling is heard far up 

 the mountain. Farewells are reluctantly spoken and we 

 again give ourselves up to the tender (?) mercies of the 

 Oregon stage, fully satisfied that neither the wonders of 

 Woodward's Gardens, nor the famous habitues of Seal 

 Rocks, nor the glories of the Golden Gate, nor, indeed, 

 the flight of time can make us forget the hospitality of 

 our entertainer, nor the enjoyment of salmon fishing on 

 the McCioud. Now, with these straggling lines, more 

 cumbersome than the six brief lines in which the poet of 

 the Sierras described his familiar haunts, we wish you an 

 intimate acquaintance with the same scenes. T. H. B. 

 JSew York, September 1, 1876. 



California Shad.— Numbers of full-grown shad of 

 those brought by Seth Green and Livingston Stone have 

 been caught during the present season. In a very few 

 years the Pacific coast rivers will be stocked with shad. 

 The shad that have been imported were all placed in the 

 Sacramento river, but contrary to the received theory that 

 they will all return to the river in which they were hatched 

 to deposit their spawn, some have been taken in all the im- 

 portant streams from Wilmington (San Pedro) on the south 

 to the Columbia on the north. This would thus show that 

 after going to the ocean they on their return either strike 

 the coast or wander up and down the coast during a dis- 

 tance of 12° of latitude. 



•*•«• 



We are indebted to Livingston Stone, Esq,, for the fol- 

 lowing statement of salmon hatching at the Government 

 'Reservation on the McCioud river, California: — 



September 2d.— The spawning season of the Sacramento satmon is 

 nine days earlier than usual this year. The daily yield of eggs this sea- 

 son has been as follows: — 



August 2^ 36,0001 August 29 246,750 



A ugust 23 118,000 August 30 337,750 



August^ lS6.750|August 31 419.000 



August 25 153,750 .September 1 657,000 



Auguat2S 213000 



August 27 1* 0,500 Total to date 2,761.500 



August 28 232,500| 



.*»»♦. — - — - 



— A correspondent who signs himself "Dexter," sends 

 the following line from Albany: — 



"In the recent numbers of your paper have appeared a 

 quantity of articles in relation to the effect different water 



has on the same varieties of fish. While at Dexter, Jeffer- 

 son Co., a couple of weeks ago, our party took a trip to 

 Stony Island, situated about twelve miles northwest of 

 Sacketts Harbor. The water here is very clear, the bottom 

 being visible at the depth of thirty feet. A. marked differ- 

 ence existed between the fish taken here and there in the 

 vicinity of the Black river. The former being lighter col- 

 ored and much thicker than the latter. In the sunfish the 

 difference was not quite similar though more striking, those 

 taken at the Island being slimmer than their brethren of 

 the Black river, and so light colored as to be nearly trans- 

 parent. I regret very much not keeping some of the former 

 to see if they would mottle as the latter do after being 

 caught, in this respect resembling the black bass. This was 

 my first experience in this vicinity, and it was owing to the 

 letter of Mr. G. Sweet, that I went. The fishing was not 

 as good as 1 expected, owing partly to the intense heat 

 driving the fish out in the deep water; still I advise my 

 brethren of the rod and reel to go to Dexter for a good 

 ime, and a variety of fishing. 



, •+•+■ — - ' 



THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



V — -* — . 



It is not only apparent that as a people, we are behind 

 the world in a general knowledge of plain history, but that 

 this city is behind her neighbors of lesser size and pre- 

 tentions in the interest which the public take in it. It is 

 a great lack in the education of our voting folks, and the 

 question is being repeatedly asked, How can it be sup- 

 plied? In Europe the popular dissemination of a rudi 

 mentary knowledge of nature was secured by the opening 

 of museums, scientific lecture courses, and mainly by great 

 aquariums in inland towns, exhibiting the beginnings of 

 life. These aquariums sprung up rapidly. Fishes and 

 marine life of every sort were carried thousand of miles 

 by skillful hands, and to-day, in England, the Yorkshire 

 man, or the North of Ireland man, can in Manchester or 

 Biighton study the habits and constitution of animals from 

 every sea and almost every river in the world. This is 

 practical instruction, and arouses immediate interest. Our 

 Yorkshire friend might work over the report of Prof 

 Jones, F. R. S., F. L. S., F. Z. S., etc., on the "Amyloid 

 albuminous proportionates of protoplasm" for years, and 

 still remain in darkness and doubt the sanity of the pro 

 poser of the term; but in the aquarium he Is shown a cell, 

 and informed in the plain and understandable English of 

 the guide book the meaning and uses of the many curious 

 forms that originate from a single or a group of cells, and 

 comes out feeling lhat a new world has been opened to 

 him. 



Such is to be the work of the new 7 aquarium at Thirty- 

 fourth street and Broadway, founded by W. C. Coup and 

 Charles Reiche and*Bro., with Prof. H. D. Butler as 

 General Superintendent. It ought to introduce a reform 

 in education. It has been greeted with great satisfaction 

 by both scientists and amateurs, and the projectors of the 

 new institution deserve the support and thanks of the 

 entire community. So much of a necessity does its full 

 operation seem to be that the projectors are encouraged to 

 larger efforts, and hope to ultimately present the best ex- 

 hibition of aquatic life in the world. Their airangements 

 are certainly far-seeing and careful, and that not only an 

 instructive but a very attractive place will result is evi- 

 dent from the plans. At present all is unfinished, and it 

 will be some time yet before the tanks will receive their 

 first occupants. Even then it would not be fair to judge 

 the aquarium by its first week's appearance or success, for 

 it takes time and patience to bring the delicate animals into 

 proper and healthy adjustment with their new surround- 

 ings. The general plan may even now be seen by a visitor 

 at the building. 



The main entrance is at the Broadway corner, and is 

 intended to be highly ornamental. The passage thence 

 into the hall where the tanks are will be through a grotto 

 of rock work, tumbling waters and growing plants. As 

 one enters a prominent object will be a whale tank of iron 

 and glass occupying the center of ihe space. Near it will 

 be seen the basin of cement for the seals, and beyond 

 another large basin for sea-lions and sea-elephants, with a 

 mass of rocks behind rising to a height of 85 feet for them 

 to climb up upon, as they would upon the rocky shores 

 of the islands of their native seas. This naturally attrac- 

 tive object will be made a source of additional pleasure to 

 guests by various devices. The opposite or Broadway 

 end of the building will be taken up by a very large glass 

 and iron tank for fishes, large turtles, etc., and a fountain 

 will take up the remaining space on the ground under 

 the main roof. On the left wall will be found a long line 

 of small tanks, containing all the available forms of 

 tropical marine animals, from the beautiful sea anemones 

 and corals to the huge ray. This department, though not 

 notable for the extreme size of its inhabitants, will un- 

 doubtedly be the most attractive on account of the rarity 

 and wonderful variety of form and color of the speci- 

 mens. 



One of the most instructing of these creatures is the sea 

 anemone. In it we find the highest form of the true zoo 

 phyte. The anemones occur in shapes of gieat variety, 

 and with wonderfully colored and fantastic arms. Although 

 they seem delicate, they are extremely voracious and feed 

 eagerly. They have even been known to capture an eel 

 six and a half inchej long. The graceful arms are not so 

 harmless as one would suppose, f >r if we examine their 

 surfaces when excited we find them covered with cells, 

 which in time of danger or attack throw out millions of 

 minute poisoned darts, piercing the unfortunate object of 

 their fury through and thiough. Then the victim is rolled 

 into the huge stomach, the delicate parts are digested, and 

 the hard parts ejected by a reverse process. One here is a 

 giant among the anemones, measuring over 14 inches 

 across the disk. It has an unusual number of large 

 tubercles with delicate carmine tips and yellowish bases, 

 gathered around the center into a number of large groups 

 or lobes. Another curious form, and a gross parasite at, that, 

 is the Cancrisocia expansa. It is invariably found perched 

 upon the back of a certain crab, which accepts the load 



with extreme good grace, and carries its rider wherever 

 chance leads. Numerous other forms equally curious will 

 find their home here. Among the fishes we find the richly 

 arrayed angel-fish, or Ohmtodon, completely dazzling the 

 eye with its innumerable hues. Prominent in the family 

 we find the beaked angelfish, a native of the Chinese seas. 

 Its mouth is greatly elongated, forming a tube not unlike 

 the chamber of a blow-gun. This it pushes up above the 

 surface of the water, and if an unwary fly or bug iru.-t 

 himself within sight, he is sure to fall a victim to the drop 

 of water that the fish shoots with rarely failing certainty 

 of aim. Equally peculiar in its method of procuring food 

 is the f rogfish. (Eophms fAscatorius). The first dorsal fin 

 is almost wholly wanting, its place being supplied by three 

 long spines. Upon the tip of the first, which is moved by 

 certain muscles and bends forward like a rod, dangles a 

 shining tip of membrane that forms a tempting bait to the 

 smaller fry. The "frog's" manner of procuring food is to 

 conceal its us:ly body in the mud at the bottom and slowly 

 move about the shining bait that hangs just above the 

 terrible mouth. As an unwary fish opens its mouth to 

 seize it, the bait di*apnears and so does the "victim of mis- 

 placed confidence." Of fishes, including many curious 

 forms, there will be over a thousand; every known species 

 is intended to be represented if it is possible to secure them. 



On the west side the rock crevices of the ocean bot- 

 tom will be imitated, and with the marvelous abundance 

 of submarine life around him, the visitor can well think 

 himself down among the mermaids. At the extreme end 

 of this series of tanks will be a large one devoted to trout. 

 On the north side are to be the larger tanks intended for 

 the population of the deep water of the ocean. They 

 will hold the large while shark moving about with 

 its constant companion the suekingfish; the swordfish, 

 the largest of the mackerel family; and the sawfish — all 

 in* cresting forms that few have opportunity to observe in 

 an agreeable manner. Here will be the familiar forms of 

 the market. The tanks containing the cuttle-fishes will 

 attract many, for these are the "Devil-fishes" of Victor 

 Hugo. About Newfoundland they have been killed with 

 limbs twenty feet long, and able to make a desperate re- 

 sistance. It' possible one of these huge creatures will be 

 secured, but whether one so large could be managed is an 

 open question. 



Immediately over the entrance will be fitted up a hand- 

 some reading-room and htbratory. Here the naturalist or 

 person interested can consult the library relating to the 

 collection below, or read the various journals of science and 

 natural history. The work room will be well lighted, and 

 fitted with small aquaria for experiment and study. This 

 will enable zoologists to make use ot duplicates or com- 

 pare the internal structure of the preserved specimen to the 

 corresponding movements in the live subject. It will be an 

 immense advantage to every student of science in New 

 York if it is carried out in the generous way in which its 

 proposed. Everyone may here have a summer and winter 

 school of natural history at his own door. An opportu- 

 nity will also be given for occasional lectures illustrated by 

 the microscope, and for much popular instruction. 



The management of such an iustituiion requites large 

 experience; and the choice of Prof. Butler as Superintend- 

 ent is a fortunate one. He has had a life-long experience 

 in the handling of marine animals. The first great dif- 

 ficulty, of course, after the tanks have been madebutficiemly 

 tight is to keep the water pure and wholesome. Theie are 

 two ways of doing this: by aeration, and by ciicuiation. 

 The former, first introduced by Dr. Ball, of Dublin, is 

 used at the Brighton Aquarium, and consists in introducing 

 oxvgen by forcing bubbles of air up thiough the water. 

 When the latter method, which is the most natural one, is 

 carried on the water is forced by a pump to flow into and 

 out of all the tanks in succession until it returns to the 

 reservoir as fresh, and at the same temperature as where 

 it started. This process has been adopted by the New 

 York Aquarium, the machinery, which has just been put 

 in posi'ion, having betu made in Europe ou the most ap- 

 proved plans. The water in this aquarium will ne changed 

 entirely once in about twenty-four hours, aud tbe reservoir 

 will contain twice or three times as much water as the en- 

 tire volume of the tanks, 'ihe gigantic pump is able to 

 force out 7,000 tons per minute. 



Such is New Turk's first aquarium at its beginning, and 

 we look forward to ihe time as not far distant when very 

 near perfection shall have been attained. The educational 

 and elevating effects of such a constant exhibition of 

 Natuie's handicraft cannot but be of the highest benefit to 

 the people of this busy city. F. H. 



^ American Salmon in New Zealand.— Mr. Livingston 

 Stone has kindly favored us with the following letter, 

 which contains information that is altogether encouraging 

 to those who have attempted to introduce the Pacific sal 

 mon into New Zealand. It will be seen that a second ship- 

 ment of the ova is soon to be made: — 



San Fkanciboo, Cal., May 19th, 1876.' 

 Livlngston Stone, E<q: 



Leak Sir— Last \ ear, by the kind assistance of my fiiend Mr. Read- 

 ing,! was (ordinate enough to ob ain from your establishment 50 A sil uoa 

 ova, which \ shippe I to New Zealand, intending them for tae province 

 of Napier. Tbe .-teamer taking them fro u bere touch A only at Auck- 

 land, aud as no ice could be procured there Mr. Ormond, Superintendent 

 of the province of Napier, donated one nox to the Acclimatization So- 

 ciety at Auckland. In a letter received from Mr. Orrnand per steamer 

 Zealander, lie says: '•Will vou be kind enough to convey our acknowl- 

 edgements to the gentlemen who superin tended the packing of the ova 

 received? Nothing could be better than the manner in which it was 

 packed, and the box opened at Auckland was in splendid order, although 

 the supply of ice had run out some days before the big steamer reached 

 that port. Yoi will be glad to hear that the ova left at Auckland suc- 

 ceeded admirably, and that in fact it has started, and started w&U, salmoa 

 in the Auckland rivers. 



Now Auckland climate is warmer than at HAwk^s Bay, and they have 

 not the same facilities for hatching ova; also their rivers are not as suit- 

 able as our's, which are fed by water from snowy ranges. Seeing all 

 this I am quite confident that if we can get. another shipment from the 

 same source as the last we shall succeed thoroughly, as the California 

 mail service, now that the new line is gradually getting into working or- 

 der, gives great f iciliti.es for getting tae ->va to Napier." 



As my friend Mr. Heading is now in Europe, I now write to ask if I 

 can procure from your establishment a duplicate of last year's ship- 

 ment, say 50 M ova. I write this soon because I understand from Mr. K. 

 that permission had to be obtained from Washington, axil it m ghr per- 

 haps save some trouble to make the applica ion in tioi-. As soon a< I 

 know wha' amount it is incessaryto send you, or pay here, I will at 

 once attend to that on receipt of advices from you. 



Yours respectfully, Robt, P. E. Dueev 



