FOEEST AND STEEAM. 



m 



Tolling- Sharks. -t-A corrrespondent writes regarding 

 shark fishing as follows:— 



« 'Major Sarasota need not go so far as Florida to find 

 Mood used for the purpose of tolling up sharks, as is men- 

 tioned in his last interesting article. The writer has often 

 done the same on the shark grounds of Nantucket and 

 Vineyard sounds, and the practice is general there." 

 I __lt is reported that twenty-four smacks are engaged in 

 flailing iu Florida waters for the Havana market. 



_The accounts of the disastrous failure of the herring 

 fishery on the western coast of Newfoundland are con- 

 firmed by the latest advices. Many of the inhabitants of 

 the western coast of Newfoundland are already in absolute 

 destitution. 



—The following extract from a letter from a friend at 

 Old Mission, Grand Travers county, Michigan, may be of 

 interest: "When I tell you that the water in our bays is 

 so clear that it is not un frequently we are able to distinguish 

 a pin at a depth of thirty feet, and a plate at sixty feet, 

 you will see that there is little chance for duck weed or 

 wild celery. There are very few water-fowl about here, 

 although there may be some on the mainland, but I doubt 

 it. Deer and bear are very common. Venison sells in 

 Travers City at six cents per pound. It is too far north 

 for turkeys, but there are any number of partridges and 

 pio-eons, and our brooks are full of trout. This is getting 

 to be quite a summer resort for those who are lovers of the 

 Forest and Stream." 



Movements op the Fishing Fleet. — The herring fleet 

 have begun to arrive home, four arrivals having been re- 

 ported since our last issue, one from Newfoundland, with 

 salt herring, and three from Grand Menan, with frozen 

 herring. One cargo has been broached to bait the Bank 

 fleets. The number of arrivals from the Banks for the 

 week has been six, and from Georges and LaHave ten, 

 making a total of twenty fishing arrivals for the week end- 

 ing this morning. The receipts have been about 12,000 

 pounds Bank and 120,060 pour.ds Georges and LaHave cod- 

 fish, 68,000 pounds Bank ; and 14,000 pounds Georges 

 aad LaHave halibut, one suit and three fresh herring car- 

 goes. Shore rish are in rather better receipt, and prices 

 have eased off a little since our last issue. There is no 

 change to note in other departments of the fish market. — 

 Gape Ann Advertiser, Dec, 29tfi. 



—The losses of property and lives in the Gloucester 

 Fisheries during the year 1876, while not above the aver- 

 age of the previous year has been 116, including 71 in lost 

 vessels, 21 lost overboard, and 24 lost in dories while at- 

 tending to their trawls. 



The Potomac Fisheries. — The inspector of marine pro- 

 ducts has transmitted his annual report to the Washington 

 Board of Health. It says: The decrease of the shad and 

 herring fishery of the Potomac during the past season has 

 been of a most alarming character. Very few of the large 

 seine fisheries have been continued throughout the season, 

 something unprecedented in these waters. The gill nets 

 and pound nets nave continued as usual, though with very 

 meagre results for their labor and investment. The cause 

 of the decrease is, without doubt, the great amount of 

 fishing done Within a few years the gili nets especially 

 have multiplied many times. It is not relative to this re- 

 port to attempt to show the influence of the different kinds 

 of nets in bringing about this state of affairs. Very little 

 of tbe water coming through the Potomac reaches the 

 Chesapeake without passing through meshes of numerous 

 nets, and it is scarcely possible for fish to ascend the 

 river without capture, especially a9 there is no general 

 interim, most of the nets being in active use at all hours of 

 the day and night. This is the most probable cause of the 

 decrease in the supply of shad and herring. Very many 

 laws have been proposed for the purpose of remedying the 

 evil, by legislative action in general, each line of fishing or 

 different net interest advocating laws which bear upon the 

 opposing interests. The State of Maryland proposed a 

 law during the eariy spring, which, if it could be carried 

 out and enforced, would have largely solved the problem. 

 The report closes by saying: "Some legislation or con- 

 gressional action, looking to a remedy of this great over- 

 fishing of the waters of our river, is urgently demanded, 

 and one thing is certain, unless some action is speedily 

 taken the immense business ol fishing on the Potomac will 

 soon dwindle away to nothing."— Baltimore Gazette. 



^ » i > ■ 



For Forest and Stream. 



TWIN LAKES, CONN. 



■ V 



WINTER has spanked down upon our pretty Twins 

 like the hand of a very "stern parient." It is 

 not often that they are frozen fast in a single night, and 

 snowed under at the same time; but, in fact, parts of the 

 shallow lake have been ice-bound for a week past, and the 

 ways in which tile boys are picking out the small pickerel 

 are as various as they are nefarious. Large numbers have 

 been "skated down" and knocked on the head (or rather 

 the ice over their head), and still more < 'snigged " out by hook 

 or crook, and all of too small size (5 to 7 inches) to tempt 

 any but very mean sportsmen. It is surprising that there 

 should be any fish in the lakes at all, when perch, pickerel 

 and bass are fished for by everybody all summer long, and 

 hooked out by the sleigh-load by the winter ice fishers; 

 but, since the sportsmen have been measurably stopped 

 °ff, every kind of fish appear to be on the increase, es- 

 pecially iu the deeper lake, where they are not so easily 

 got at by the pot fishers, and the pickerel are worth at 

 least as much as the bait that is fed to them. 



Now if anybody can invent a bait that will lure the 

 White fish (Otsego bass), there will be a fish worth the eat- 

 1Q g, as proved by the few three-pounders got out before 

 the species were tripped up. Apropos of this beautiful 

 hsh, a specimen about a foot long was picked up on the 

 shore a few days since that had evidently been jabbed by 

 tbe sharp bill of a loon while on the spawning bed, and 

 got away only to die. The fish had a narrow escape from 

 being sardined in oil by the artist, E. Sherman Pease, who 

 iound it, but that night there was a black cat about and 

 aext morning the white fish was not— nor eke the picture. 



J. Ites Pease 



■~-In Texas snow laid several inches deep on the ground 

 for several consecutive days during the month of Decem- 

 ber, 



\ntiatml jgagtimts. 



SKATING. 



There havh not been such facilities afforded for enjoyable 

 skating during the Christmas holiday season for some years 

 past as this year. On Christmas day last, the lakes and the 

 drives at Central Park in this city, and at Prospect Park in 

 Brooklyn, presented pictures of winter out door recreation 

 no other cities in the world can present. Thousands upon 

 thousands went on the ice to skate, until it was almost dif- 

 ficult to glide along without colliding with some one. Ev- 

 erything, too, passed off pleasantly. It was Christmas time, 

 for one thing, when the best side of human nature is gen- 

 erally exhibited, then, too, the day was fine for the aport 

 and the ice was thick and hard, and to cap the climax the 

 moon shone out at night. At the inclosed skating locali- 

 ties, such as the Capitoline Lake and Union Pond at Brook- 

 lyn, and the Windsor pond in this cily a rushing business 

 was done. A: all these places there is such a thick and 

 solid foundation of ice that no snow storm will long obstruct 

 skating, not for over a day at most. Carnivals are on the 

 tapis at the Brooklyn ponds. 



curling. 

 This Scotch national winter sport is being fully engaged 

 in this winter. Last season there was no ice fit for the pur- 

 pose at Central Park, and only a few days curling was at 

 command at Prospect Park. But this year the facilities for 

 the sport are unusually great, and the result is that the sons 

 of Auld Scotia, who are votaries of the game — and what 

 Highland "Cheel" is there who is not— are in their glory. 

 On January third, the grand annual contest, North vs. 

 South, takes place at Central Park, and the chances are that 

 about twenty-five rinks will be occupied on the occasion. 



piquet. 



The game of piquet is one of the most fascinating 

 played with cards, and yet probably the one least known 

 iu this country. We have had the following queries re 

 garding it propounded to us which we confess we are 

 unable to reply to, but publish them in hope that some of 

 our correspondents who are better posted will reply to 

 them : — 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In Bonn's capital collection of Standard Games, the 

 Editor of Piquet says, in his general description, M The 

 number of points in each game is now 100 ; it used to be 

 101 : fifty (50) saves Hie lurch,"— and, in his advice to young- 

 players, ''Saving your lurch, or lurching your adversary, is 

 so material you ought to risk some points to accomplish 

 either of them," but nowhere does he state what may be 

 gained (i. e. what number of points) by "lurching your 

 adversary," or what lost by failing to "save your lurch." 

 Will you oblige more than one of your constant readers 

 here by kindly explaining the present signification of these 

 terms, 



In Deschapelles' exhaustive analyses of the Laws of 

 Whist, the great French master explains the meaning of 

 "the lurch" as applied to that game, but he adds that "the 

 word lurch U a term used in backgammon, Ihe force of 

 which in passing into other games has become somewhat 

 changed." On turning to Bonn's treatise on Backgammon 

 I find no mention whatever of this term. 



Mr. Micawber. 



A. is elder hand at Piquet, he holds all the clubs and a 

 quint major in spades. B. Holds all the hearts and a quint 

 major in diamonds. No point, sequence, or quatorze can 

 be counted. A. counts 13 for the tricks and 40 for the 

 capot— 53. B. counts nothing. Does A. also count for a 

 "pique ?" Again : A. and B. play piquet ; both are at 90. 

 A. is elder hand and can count only a quatorze of aces. B. 

 has a quint major. Which wins the game ? Wm. H. S. 



—British Custom house officials have been supplied with 



photographs of the American potato beetle, and warned 



to keep a sharp lookout on incoming vessels, in order to 



destroy the invader. 



. *-•-»- — 



—Scattering flakes of snow fell in Tampa on the morn- 

 ing of the 1st inst— something never before known. 



<J|tw fltubUmtionn. 



MAGAZINES. 



TJie Popular Science Monthly for January, 1877, contains 

 an unusual number of valuable articles by eminent men. Amoni? the 

 contributors to this number are Prof. Hitchcock, Herbert Spencer, Prof. 

 Huxley, Prof. Draper, and a number of other almost equally well 

 known men of science. In "The Earner Forms of Life" Prof. Hitch- 

 cock discusses quite fully the Eozoon of Dawson, and concludes that 

 there is no doubt of its organic origin, a point which many geologists 

 and paleontologists will be disposed to dispute. The ar^jle, however, 

 is replete with interesting facts, and deserves a careful reading. "Theo- 

 ries of Primitive Marriage" by Herbert Spencer, Is not only interesting 

 but very amusing as well, and gives us not a few glimpses into feminine 

 nature under all sorts of conditions and circumstances. Of Prof. Hux- 

 ley's third lecture it is needless to speak at length. f Some of the re- 

 maining articles are "The Study and Teaching of Biology" by Prof. 

 Martin, of the John Hopkins University; "Science in America" by 

 Prof. John W. Draper; "The Medical Profession in Modern Thought," 

 Prof. Maudsley. Mr, Schumacher contributes a valnable article on the 

 "Aboriginal Settlements of the Pacific Coast," which will be read with 

 pleasure by the archaeologist. The Editor's Table is in Prof. Youman's 

 usual happy style, and his leader on "Philanthropic Fanatisiem against 

 Science" should be read by all. It is a telling argument against the 

 recent absurd legislation in England against vivisection. 



In Scribner's for January we have a continuation of 

 Clarence Cook's papers on "Beds, Tables," etc. , the present being con- 

 fined to the arrangement of the bed room and the china question. Much 

 solid information can be gained from Mr. Cook's articles. The other 

 illustrated papers are "Norway and the Norsemen" by Hyalmer H. Boy- 

 esen, who gives a graphic picture of domestic life in the land of fjords 

 and long winters, and the first of a series entitled "A Winter on the 

 Nile" by Gen. George B. McClellan. The latter promises to be a very 

 interesting description of Nile life, and the General develops no mean 

 powers as a raconteur. We have the second instalment of Dr. Holland's 

 new serial, "Nicholas Minturn," which, barring a certain improbability 

 of both character and incident, promises to be an interesting story. In 

 the illustrated articles we omitted a very funny sketch called "Papa 

 Hooms Tulip" with very comical pictures drawn in silhouette. It re- 

 quires gome twenty-six papers to make up the list of contents in Scrib* 



tier's, and those we have failed to enumerate are fully np to the bigh 

 standard maintained by this unsurpassed magazine. 



St. Nicholas for January con tains the second of Prof. 

 Proctor's simple lessons in Astronomy, one of the most valuable con- 

 tributions to juvenile literature we have ever met with . It is rather a 

 remarkable fact re, the history of civilization and progress when such 

 men as Prof. Proctor, William Cullen Bryant and others, will write for 

 the edification, instruction, or amusement of children, and would infer 

 that the coming generation with such opportunities at command should 

 be one of remarkable culture. Mr. Trowbridge's story, "His Own Mas- 

 ter," is continued, and we can already foresee much tribulation for the 

 hero. Mr. Henry Baldwin contributes a very funny poem in "The Mod- 

 ern and Medneval Ballad of Mary Jane," illustrated witu silhouettes of 

 a most comical description. We cannot enumerate all the good things 

 St. Nicholas contains, but all are capital of their kind and abundantly 

 varied. 



In the Atlantic Mr. Henry James, Jr.'s, very interest- 

 ing story [of Parisian Life "The American" reaches a climax. Mr. 

 Aldrich contributes a sketch entitled "Prom Ponkapy to Pesth,"in 

 which many Incidents of foreign travel are related in a manner totally 

 different to the old familiar guide book style. Bayard Taylor is also a 

 contributor, and the poetry comprises 'The Herons of Elmwood," by 

 Prof. Henry W. Longfellow; "Birthday Verses," by James Russell 

 Lowell, and some shorter pieces. Mrs. Francis Anna Kemble continues 

 her "Old Woman's Gossip," and there are contributions by George P. 

 Lathrop, E. C. Steadman and others. The writer's names to be found 

 in the Atlantic's table of contents compose a galaxy of celebrities not 

 often met with at one time. 



With its January number the Galaxy enters upon its 

 Twenty-third Volume, and notwithstanding its venerable age, displays 

 an unusual amount or brightness and activity. By this we mean that its 

 articles are of a more lively and cheerful description than is always the 

 case. Mr. Gideon Welles's papers on the political questions which agi- 

 tated the country during the war are continued, and in the present in- 

 stalment we are given a view of the minor workings of Mr Lincoln's 

 administration. All Bohemia will thank Mr. Young for nis article on 

 "Beer," and the Teuton should raise a monument to his memory; for is 

 he not the championand defender of the refreshing lager? Mr. Young 

 claims that beer reverses the influence of alcohol, by which it loses its 

 irritating properties on the mucous membrane of the stomach. Wheth- 

 er he refers to the alcohol contained In the beer, or that previously ab- 

 sorbed by the drinker, is not stated. Mr. William Black's story, "Mad- 

 cap Violet," is concluded, and ends most pathetically. Mr. John Bur- 

 roughs has a paper entitled "Our Rural Divinity," which turns out to 

 be a cow. There are numerous other entertaining sketches, and the 

 poetical contributors are Joaquin Miller, Howard Glyndon and William 

 Winter. 



In LippincotVs wt have, first, an illustrated and very ex- 

 cellent article from Mr. Edward King, entitled "Pictures from Spain." 

 There is no bullfight in it, but types depicted which are not found in 

 every handbook of travel. The other illustrated paper is "Our Flow of 

 Fire," by E. C. Bruce, depicting some of the wonderful volcanos 

 which give vent or acsas chimneys to subterranean fires. Mrs. Ellen 

 W. Olney's serial story, "Love in Idleness" is concluded with the usual 

 marriage bells and orange flowers. We shall also lose with this month 

 the charming "Letters from South Africa" of Lady Barker. No better 

 descriptions of life in the bush or among wild scenes have ever been 

 written. Mr. George Macdonald's story "The Marquis of Lossie" is 

 continued, and the name of the author is a sufficient guarantee of the 

 quality of the work. Sidney Lanier contributes some poetry (not a Cen- 

 tennial ode) and the "monthly gossip" is as interesting as usual. 



Appleton's opens with an illustrated sketch entitled 

 "The Falls or the Northwest," which will be a revelation to many read- 

 ers. Most beautiful are the falls of the picturosqne Willamantic, and 

 the Columbia and its tributaries. "The Heir of Mondolfo" is an inter- 

 esting story by Mrs. Shelly. Junius Henrie Brown discourses of Hen- 

 rich Heine; H. M. Robinson tells about "Lake Travel by Dog Sledge," 

 with some capital portraits (pen) of the half-breed guides of the north- 

 west. George Sand's novelette, "The Tower of Percemont," is contin- 

 ued; Albert Rhodes has a sketch entitled "Between Two Fires;" Mr. 

 George du Toroles tells about Turkestan and its people. Temple Bar is 

 illustrated and described by C. E. Pascoe. Mr. N. Robinson contrib- 

 utes a Bketch, "Dick Nugent's Wager" which, although smacking some- 

 what of Jules Verne, is somewhat novel in conception. Two English 

 officers (totally unlike English officers) wager at their club in London 

 eight days before the close of the Centennial Exhibition, that they will 

 see the closing ceremonies. Arrived at Jersey City in time, they make 

 the acquaintance of a young American girl, who, in revenge for some 

 slighting remark by one of the officers, horrifies him by talking such 

 slang as no American girl ever talked, and winds up by making them 

 both fall in love with her and marrying somebody else. 



HOLIDAYS, 



Tiffany & Co. 



Union Square. 



Have the largest stock of 

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 and other Gems, Stone Cam- 

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 A full line of Moderate priced 

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Mail orders receive prompt and 

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