3F0REST AND STREAM. 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 



Dkyoted to Field and Aquatic Sports, Practical Natural History, 

 ^HLoirrrRu, the Protection op Gablts, Preservation of Forests, 

 AtD the Inculcation in Men and Women op a healthy interest 

 m Out-door Recreation and Study : 



PUBLISHED BY 



£an$l mi gtnxnt §nMiBhittg §am$$t{$ f 



AT 



VS CHATHAM STBEET, (CITY HALL S QUAES) NEW YORK, 

 [Post Office Box 2832.] 



Termi, Four Dollars a Year, Strictly In Adranoe. 



♦ 

 Twenty-five per cent, off for Clubs of Tbree or more. 



Advertising Rates. 



Inside pages, nonpareil type, 20 cents per line: outside page, 30 cents. 

 Special rates for three, six, and twelve months. Notices in editorial 

 oluinns, 40 cents per line. 



NEW YORK, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1876. 



To Correspondents. 



» 



All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 

 Correspondence, must be addressed to The Forest and Stream Pub- 

 lishing Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 



All communications intended for publication must be accompanied with 

 real name, as a guaranty of good faith. Names will not be published 

 objection be made. No anonymous contributions will be regaraed. 



Articles relating to any topic within the scope of this paper are solicited 



We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 



Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brief 

 notes of their movements and transactions, as it is the aim of this paper 

 to become a medium of useful and reliable information between gentle 

 men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they wil 1 

 find our columns a uusirable medium for advertising announcements. 



The Publishers of Forest and Stream aim to merit and secure the 

 patronage and countenance of that portion of the community whose re- 

 fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 

 is beautiful in Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 

 the legitimate sports of land and water to those base uses which always 

 tend to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 

 ment or business notice of an immoral character will be received on any 

 terms ; and nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that 

 may not be read with propriety in the home circle. 



We cannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mail service, If 

 money remitted to us is lost. 



Advertisements should be sent in by Saturday of each week, if possible. 



83f" Trade supplied by American News Company. 

 CHARLES HALLOCK, 



Editor and Business Manager. 



— Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway, from Prospect Park to the 

 sea, ■which was opened to the public last week, is six miles 

 long, 210 feet wide. Its central .drive is 70 feet wide, its 

 side roads each 25 feet wide, and its two sidewalks 15 feet 

 wide. A space of 30 feet is reserved between the main and 

 side roads for shade trees. The concourse at Coney Island 

 is covered with asphalt pavement, and has a road on it 75 

 feet wide, and a sidewalk 25 feet wide. The promenade 

 can accommodate 8,000 dancers. There are two shelters, 

 75 feet long by 25 feet wide, facing the ocean, and contain- 

 ing seats. The entire cost of the boulevard is neaily $500,- 

 000. The road is level, and thoroughly mecadamized. 



-♦♦♦- 



Beported Exclusively for Forest and Stream, 

 "Astronomy in its Relations to Religion." — The learn, 

 ed Professor Pericord, in his recent lecture to the senior 

 Sophisters on ths Occult Sciences, remarked that all nations, 

 from the most primitive times recognized and believed in 

 a Deity. Indeed, so intimately is the divine essence blend- 

 ed with material things, that physical and spiritual objects, 

 if not absolutely and technically identical, are certainly 

 analagous, reciprocal, and correlative. Celestial objects, 

 lie said, benignly, "have their reflex and counter-part on 

 earth. The good that exists in this world, and the good 

 that men do, is reflected in the firmament. Astromony 

 has contributed in a marvellous degree to demonstrate this. 

 The fixed stars, the nebulas, the constellations; are the writ- 

 ten history of human deeds, and the expression of human 

 thoughts. They are recorded on the celestial canopy in 

 characters of undying light. Religion, which is the germ 

 and agency of all the principles and actions of life, has in- 

 vested the moral forces from the beginning. No nation 

 or tribe was ever found without some religion— some 

 species of belief in a Deity. There are no less than 365 

 distinct forms and outward expressions of this religious 

 belief, and yet, strange to say, my friends, only two of 

 these are true and genuine. And this brings me directly to 

 the pith and point of my discourse, and is illustrative 

 thereof. I say there are only two accepted doctrines of 

 religion, and these are the Catholic and the Baptist. They 

 are indicated by their respective constellations, each lo- 

 cated in its celestial hemisphere. The one conrtellation is 

 the 'Southern Cross,' and the other the 'Great Dipper.' " 



This effort to elucidate one of the most abstruse and 

 recondite mysteries of theology, brought much perspiration 

 to the Professor's brow, so that he was oblige to wipe his 

 eye-glasses and dismiss the class. —From Prof mor Pericord '« 

 Spasms of WMom, 



GAME PROTECTION. 



Spearing- Trout in Owasco Lake.— The following is 

 an extract from a letter received from a correspondent at 

 Auburn, in this State, under date of November 12th:— 



"For several years past the laws of this State prohibited 

 the spearing of trout in Owasco lake, in this county 

 (Cryuga). Previous to this prohibition, a few persons re- 

 siding in the vicinity of this lake had been in the habit of 

 spearing them by jack lights when they were depositing 

 their spawn. Since the prohibition, however, this manner 

 of taking them has been nearly stopped, and owing to the 

 natural increase and the stocking of the lake by individu- 

 als, the numbers of the trout have largely increased. Last 

 season we obtained 80,000 young trout from the State Hatch- 

 ing House, and the same were safely deposited in the 

 waters of the lake, making the number so obtained and 

 deposited there within a few years past some 200,000. 

 Last winter, however, the Member of Assembly from the 

 district in this county, in which this lake is situated, in 

 compliance with the demand of a few pot fishermen, ob- 

 tained an amendment to the law, by which it was evidently 

 intended to repeal this prohibition. It, however, did not 

 repeal it so far as the months of October, November and 

 December are concerned. On being remonstrated with by 

 several intelligent men who are in sympathy with the 

 settled policy of the State on this question, he says he "de- 

 sires that the Fishery Commission should be abolished." 



During the past few nights the lake over the spawning 

 beds has been almost covered with boats, each containing 

 a jack light and from one to three persons, who were 

 engaged in the miserable work of spearing the trout in the 

 beds. The consequences can easily be foreseen. The re- 

 production of the fish will be greatly lessened, and all 

 efforts to stock the lake may be abandoned as useless. 



F. D. Wright. 



[If we understand our correspondent right, the law was 

 not so amended as to remove the prohibition against spear- 

 ing during the months of October, November and De- 

 cember, and in fact whether it was or not is of little conse- 

 quence, as there are at least three sections of the game laws 

 which refer directly to this case, with penalties aggregating 

 $100 or more for each fish so taken. First, the general 

 law with regard to trout, which provides a penalty of $25 

 for every trout taken between September 15lh and March 

 15th; next, the section which provides a penalty of $50 

 for the taking of trout at any time with any means except 

 hook and line; and, thirdly, the special enactments with 

 regard to Cayuga county, which are more voluminous and 

 carefully worded than those referring to any other county 

 in the State, By the first section of these enactments a 

 penalty of $50 is provided for any reprobate who shall 

 at any time capture a trout, whether speckled, salmon, 

 or lake, with a spear. The same close season is named as 

 in the general law, and if our correspondent is referring to 

 salmon or lake trout instead of salmo fontinalis, October, 

 November and December. Again, in Section 5, it is espe- 

 cially provided that "no person shall take or attempt to 

 take or kill any of the fish hereinbefore in this act named, 

 in the lakes of or in Cayuga county, with a spear \ under a 

 penalty of $25 for each offence; and the possession by any 

 person in the night time of any spear, jack or light on the lakes 

 or on the shores of the lakes of or in Cayuga count} r , shall be 

 presumptive evidence of such undertaking and attempt, 

 etc., etc." Now, then, we hold that if, as our correspond- 

 ent writes, the spawning beds of the lakes are covered 

 with men with jacks engaged in spearing trout, that it is 

 a disgrace to the citizens of Cayuga county to countenance 

 fcuch proceedings, aud that if with all the law on the sub- 

 ject provided for them, they permit it, they are entitled to 

 no sympathy and deserve to loose their fish. The "news- 

 paper talk" will not stop it. The man who will spear 

 trout while spawning would regard it as little as he would 

 the wind, and should be made to suffer in his pocket. 

 Mulct a few of your spearers to the extent of a hun 

 dred or more dollars, and you will soon put an end to 

 it. Why, it seems the easiest kind of law-breaking to stop. 

 Your evidence is all before you ; the transgression is patent 

 to every one who is not blind, and you have "law" enough 

 for all the cases you can bring. As for appealing to the 

 poachers to consider the interest they have in the fish, you 

 might as well argue with a burglar that it would be money 

 in his pocket to be honest. Even the fact that the fish are 

 unfit for food at this season appears to have no force. 

 The people of Cayuga county should rise in their might 

 and see that the laws which were passed for their benefit 

 and at their request are properly enforced. — Ed.] 



Vrkmont. — The Rutland Herald says that the modified 

 fish and game laws introduced into the Vermont Legisla- 

 ture by the Hon. W. D. Taylor, representative from Sher- 

 burne, meets with general favor from the farmers and 

 others. It has heard, it says, "of several propositions to 

 rent the shooting and fishing rights upon farms in this vi- 

 cinity, at a price nearly sufficient to pay the annual taxes, 

 in case this bill is passed. The value of the production of 

 fish and game that is possible in this State, under proper 

 protection, is simply incredible to any one who has not 

 studied the subject." 



Massachusetts. — A correspondent at New Bedford sends 

 us the following appeal to the sportsmen of Massachu- 

 setts: — 



"Until recently I had supposed we had laws protecting 

 game birds in this State, but am now ^convinced that there 

 is not any protection whatever except during the month of 

 September. They may be killed in any number, or by any 

 means at all other times, as the law now stands. And as 

 far as we sportsmen are interested, it does not amount to 

 anything. Now if we wish to do anything for the coming 

 year, we must be about it, the sooner the better. We 

 ought to throw the old game laws aside altogether, and 

 have new ones, and let them be so amended and construct- 

 ed that tkey suali fee simply concise anejl tight, with, ao 



loop holes to crawl out of. I caused the arrest of a party 

 for snaring and selling partridges that were snared; when 

 brought before the court the Judge decided that there was 

 no law forbiding the snaring them, or killing them in any 

 other way. I have since consulted most eminent lawyers 

 and their decision is that the game laws as they now stand 

 do not amount to anything whatever. Let us so to work 

 right off and have this corrected, i appeal to every one 

 who feels interested. I hope to hear from others in the 

 matter. Most earnestly, J. Eaton, Jr. 



The fishermen's protective association met at Spring- 

 field on the llth inst., to discuss the action 

 of the Connecticut river canal company. Theodore Lyman, 

 of Brookline, chairman of the Massachusetts fish commis- 

 sion, was present, and stated that, as soon as the Massachu- 

 setts board could find out what were the real and substan- 

 tiated grounds of complaint, they would call on the Con- 

 necticut fish commissioners to remove the obstructions, and 

 put an engineer at work on the dam to ascertain what has 

 actually been done. Mr. Lyman spent most of the time in 

 collecting facts and figures heretofore published in regard 

 to obstructions in the river, the increased height of water 

 resulting, and the shortening of the shad-fishing season in 

 Massachusetts as a consequence of filling up the gap in the 

 dam next the eastern shore. It is Commissioner Lyman's 

 intention to call a meeting of all the interested parties in 

 both States, including the canal company, at an early day, 

 and see if an accommodation cannot be agreed upon.— 

 Bepubhcan. 



Canada. — Hon. Mr. Garneau has introduced a bill to 

 amend the game laws of the Province of Quebec, saying 

 the principal object was to consolidate these laws that Lad 

 several times been amended. He did not contemplate to 

 make much alteration to the present law. The gamekeep- 

 ers were not always properly informed of their duties, and 

 it would be more to the advantage of the public if these 

 laws were consolidated. 



—The Toronto Globe says that "with a desire to protect 

 whitefish somewhat during the spawning season, the Fish- 

 eries department some time back caused the fishermen to 

 be notified that the first ten days of November must be ob- 

 served as a 'close season,' and no whitefish captured. In 

 theory this seemed perfectly reasonable and just, and 

 under other circumstances than those that exist along the 

 frontier line must have elicited approbation from all who 

 were not directly engaged in fishing, if not from the fish- 

 ermen themselves. But along the line, and especially oa 

 Detroit river, to stop the business even for a day during 

 November must work hardship to our own people, while 

 at the same time it would utterly fail to accomplish the de- 

 sired end, as in Michigan the fishermen are under no re- 

 straint whatever as to taking whitefish, and if our people 

 were compelled to desist they would have the mortification 

 of seeing their American neighbors reaping a bountiful 

 harvest (catching the whole lot, practically) while their 

 hands were tied. The member for Essex saw the Premier 

 about the matter, submitted the case of his constituents, 

 and Mr. Mackenzie, after listening to Mr. McGregor's ex- 

 planation, saw at a glance the position a cessation of oper- 

 ations on this side would place Canadians in, and at once 

 communicated with Mr. Smith, Minister of Marine. Asa 

 consequence the fishermen were promptly informed that 

 they might go on with their business withont interruption. 



— We have received from Adam Watters, Esq. of Quebec, 

 a box of sea trout in fine condition, weighing about four 

 pounds apiece, and apparently as fresh as when taken from 

 the salt water last August. Those familiar with the habits 

 of sea trout are aware that they can be caught only during 

 about six weeks of summer, commencing -to run, as they 

 do, in some localities, about the middle of June, and in 

 others not until two weeks later. These fish are often 

 caught in great abundance, and have always been a com- 

 modity and staple article of commerce, being salted when 

 caught, and barrelled. Of late years they have been pre- 

 served fresh by the refrigerating process, thereby enhanc- 

 ing their value by retaining their flavor and succulent qual- 

 ities. The provisions of the Dominion Game Laws, which 

 prohibit the sale or having in possession of fresh trout out 

 of season, has operated* so disadvantageously that the Gov- 

 ernment, in the interests of commerce, has been obliged to 

 grant licenses to certain responsible merchants to sell fresh 

 fish out of season. Those sent to us were from the estab- 

 lishment of A. Fraser & Co., so licensed. 



This is a matter which it is evident touches our own fish 

 dealers "with a needle" acutely, and we feel quite confi- 

 dent that it will be desirable to take the whole subject into 

 consideration, and follow the example set by the Canadi- 

 ans. The great advantage the latter have over us rests in 

 the fact that the power of granting privileges is vested in 

 the Government, whereas there seems no way to reach the 

 case in this country except by tedious legislative process. 

 One of these days our State Fish Commissioners may be 

 invested with something more than merely nominal prerog- 

 atives, and if the power of applying the law's provisions is 

 not placed in the hands of the chief executive, it would 

 naturally vest in them. Certainly, conscientious dealers of 

 sufficient responsibility can be found among us who can 

 be trusted with a special license of this sort, and who 

 would not illegally receive fish taken at illegal times, but 

 would rather, as self appointed guardians of the interests 

 which the laws aim to protect, hold and prosecute any per- 

 son offering* unseasonable fish to them for sale. 

 . -*♦*• ■ 



Attention is called to the advertisement elsewhere 



which offers a rare chance for a gentleman sportsman or 

 gentleman fish culturist to purchase beautiful property, 

 with trout pond, within 35 minutes of Najwyork. 



— •+*+■ — — 



—For Cheap Time Keeper see advertij|r me n.t of J. Bnoe 

 <fcCo., New York. 



