FOREST AND STREAM. 



It is the intention of the survey during the coming year 

 to publish some tabulated results of the barometric work 

 in Colorado, showing the system and its accuracy and relia- 

 bility. This may be of use in future work, since the topogra- 

 phy of the whole west mu*t greatly depend on barometric 

 determinations of altitude, ana Colorado has furnished al- 

 most every possible phase of western topography. The 

 longest dimension of the work lying east and west, and the 

 White and Grand rivers running in approximately parallel 

 courses, the district stretched from the White river up 

 over the divide between the Grand and White, and embrac- 

 ed the heads of the lateral drainage of the former riven 



The general topography is a gentle rise from the White 

 river towards the south, and a sudden breaking off when 

 the divide is reached, into rugged and often impassable 

 cliffs, known on the maps as the Koan or Kock mountains. 

 The gentle plateau slope of the White- river side is out by 

 almost numberless and often deep canyons, and in many 

 cases the surface of the country has been eroded away, 

 leaving broken and most picturesque forms, the lower 

 benches generally covered with cedars and pinions, and the 

 upper rich in grass. 



There are four main streams draining into the White 

 river within the limits of our work — a distance of some 

 thing over 100 miies. The easternmost is a large running 

 stream; the second, though tolerably good water may be 

 found in pools in its bed, carries in the summer no running 

 waier for the greater part of its course; the trhird has for 

 most of its length a trickling stream of the bitterest of 

 alkali water, while the fourth and westernmost one is per- 

 fectly diy for,some twenty-five miles from its -mouth, and 

 and then forks, one branch containing pure, sweet water 

 in pools the other a running stream of bitter alkali. All 

 of these streams have more or less good water at their 

 heads. They traveled nearly the whole length of all these 

 water-courses, but found good trails only in two middle 

 ones. Trails, which traverse the whole district in every 

 possible direction, keep mostly on the summits of the 

 ridges and plateaus, and by taking care not to cross the 

 cunyons, the country is very easily traveled through. 



The country is almost entirely destitute of timber, and 

 has but little good water. It is, however, abundantly sup- 

 plied with grass, and, especially in the winter season, 

 must be well stocked with game. It seems well adapted 

 to its present use as an Indian reservation, and is likely to 

 remain for years to come more valuable for them than it 

 could be for a settlement. 



In the far western portion, and outside the limits of the 

 reservation, one large vein of asphaltum and several small 

 veins were found, and also running springs of the same 

 material, all of which, if once reached by railroads, will 

 prove of great commercial value. These deposits have 

 been spoke a of before, but their location has not been ac- 

 curately determined. The principal vein seen by this 

 party is at present about one hundred miles from railroad 

 communication, but less than half that distance from 

 while settlement, and ia likely in the present rapid growth 

 of that country to be within a few years made available. 



According to the report of F. M. Endlich, the geo.ogy 

 of this district is very simple, though interesting. Inas- 

 much as but one divide #f importance occurred within 

 the district, the work was somewhat simplified. This was 

 formed by the Book cliffs, between the drainages of the 

 Grand on the south, and the White on the north. Both 

 these rivers flow a little south of west, into Green river, 

 which they join, in Utah. From the junction of the Grand 

 and Green downward, the river is called th Great Colora- 

 do. Orographical y, tiie region surveyed is comparatively 

 pimple. The hoo!v'ciiiTs,aie tbe summit of a plateau about 

 8,0yo feet above sou level, continuing unbroken over to the 

 Green river. Toward the south these cliffs fall off very 

 steeply, forming deep canyons that contain tributaries of 

 tlie Grand river. On the north side, with the dip of the 

 strata, the slope is more gentle, although, in consequence 

 o r erosion, numerous precipitous cliffs are found. De 

 scending in thai direction, the character of the country 

 changes." Instead of an uubroken slope, we find that the 

 plateau has been cut parallel by the White river drainage, 

 and the long, characteristic mesas of that region testify to 

 the acijn of erosion. Approaching the river, constantly 

 descending wi;h the slight dip of the strata, the bluffs 

 beco i.e i«wer and lower. Though the creek-valleys are 

 wide, and at c-.rtain seasons no doubt well watered, the 

 vegetation is that of aa arid country. Dwarf pines, pinons, 

 and sagebusu abound, to the almost entire exclusion of 

 other trees or grass. Traveling down White river, this 

 ch nacter is again found to change. A new series of bluffs, 

 occasioned by heavy, superincumbent strata, gives rise to 

 the formation of deep canyoas. For forty- five miles 

 the party followed the canyon of the White, that, no 

 doubt, is analogous to thai, of the Green, and probably 

 closely resembles that of the Colorado in its detail features. 

 [To be continued.'] 



» . 



ABSTRACT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT 

 OF THE FISH COMMISSIONERS OF 

 THE STATE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE 

 YEAR 1876. 



N November, 1875, the Commissioners received, through 

 the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisher- 

 ies, 320,000 California salmon, paying only the express 

 charges. Half of these were taken to the hatching house 

 at Lexington, and half to that at Blacksburg, and en- 

 trusted to Mr. Fred. Mather, an accomplished expert, aided 

 by Mr. W. F. Page, an eleve of the Blacksburg Institute, 

 whose energy, zeal and intelligence inspire confidence in 

 his future success. The eggs at Lexington hatched well, 

 and yielded 120,000 fish, which were distributed as fol- 

 lows: — 



Tve river, Nelson county • 17,000 



Pedlar river, Amherst county ™.wu 



<J acttson river, Alleghany county *»»«*{ 



Mountain lake, Giles county . . - . . • • • • • • «»«*> 



Tributaries to che James m Botetourt and Rockbridge 75,000 



The distribution of these salmon was confined to the 

 h. ad waters of the James and Roanoke rivers, the expect- 

 ation being that not only on account of their having fewer 

 enemies there, but that with the known instincts of an- 

 adromous fishes they will be more likely to return to the 

 jwplures of mountain torrents. Until the guccess of the 



experiment is ascertained the Commissioners will hatch no 

 more on their own account, but will turn their State's 

 quota over to the Maryland Commissioners to be placed in 

 the tributaries of the Potomac. The limited means at the 

 disposal of the Commissioners will be devoted to the pro- 

 pagation of brook trout, to which their mountain streams 

 are so well adapted. A conclusion in which we heartily 

 concur as a course likely to give the greatest satisfaction 

 to the people, and one that will result in more immediate 

 and tangible profit. 



Upwards of 4,000 eggs of the land-locked salmon were 

 secured from Maine, which, after being hatched at Lex- 

 ington, were distributed in the Tye, New and Roanoke 

 rivers, Mountain lakem Giles county, and in several streams 

 in Rockbridge and Botetourt counties . 



About 400 red-eye perch were taken from a pond in 

 Smythe county — of which hundred were put into New 

 river and 150 into James river at Lynchburgh, and the 

 same number into Tye river at the railroad crossing . The 

 Commissioners were indebted to the kindness of Mr. 

 Buchanan, who permitted his pond to be seined for these 

 fish. 



Black bass (Grystes salmonides) were put into James river 

 at various points five years ago, and have become quite 

 numerous. All the streams, except four or five in Eastern 

 Virginia were stocked with these fish last fall, but there 

 being no law to protect their work the Commissioners will 

 wait until one is passed before continuing. The pond bass, 

 or Southern chub, {Grystes nigricans) was brought to the 

 State from South Carolina about the beginning of the cen- 

 tury. It now abounds in all the mill-ponds in Eastern 

 Virginia in which it has been placed, and is found in large 

 quantities in the quiet coves of the James, Rappahan- 

 nock and other tidal waters. Unlike other fish, it does 

 not appear to go up stream, even to spawn. In ponds it 

 goes to the shallow water near shore for that purpose; 

 and it has never been known higher up a river than it has 

 been placed. Its tendency seems to be downward. Even 

 in spring it has been known to descend a long, narrow race, 

 and go over the mill-wheel, in quest of wider and deeper 

 waters. 



They will in future he placed when young in ponds made 

 for the purpose in May when they can be easily captured, 

 and transported when cool weather comes to where they 

 are to be permanently placed. As the shad and herring 

 are more particularly the fish of the people the matter of 

 propagating them early received the attention of the Com- 

 missioneis. Mr. W. D. Marks was employed to take 

 charge of the hatching operations at Tobago bay on the 

 Rappahannock, where there were four large shore-seines 

 and a shad spawning ground. The season, however, was 

 even more unfavorable than that of the previous year; and 

 notwithstanding all efforts and precautions the designs of 

 the Commissioners were in a great degree frustrated and 

 their hopes dissipated from an utter impossibility of ob 

 taining ripe fish, and they succeeded in hatching and 

 turning into the river only about 800,000 young shad. 

 Mr. Marks ascribed the cause of failure to the great quan- 

 tity of fixed contrivances for the capture of fish lower 

 down the river, and expressed the conviction that if the 

 law does not intervene, they will be forced in a few years 

 to look to other States and streams for the means of re- 

 plenishing the rivers. James River was examined, and 

 Berkley fixed upon as a hatching station in charge of Mr. 

 Henry B. Nichols, who succeeded in spite of all obstacles 

 in hatching and turning into the river about 400,000 young 

 shad. 



With respect to herring, the best mode for propagating 

 them is said to be by moving them bodily above tidewater, 

 out of the reach of seines, nets and traps. To that end, 

 steps have been taken to move next spring, 5,000 above 

 Bosher's dam, where they may spawn and hatch without 

 molestation. The herring does not spawn, as the shad, in 

 the flowing tide or stream. It deposits its eggs on brush, 

 logs, rocks, etc., where they stick. They are all impreg- 

 nated, and are exposed to fewer casualities than those of 

 the shad. A herring spawns from 100,000 to 150,000 eggs 

 each. Taking the lowest figure, and admitting that only 

 half of the 5,000 are females, there will be 250,000,000 of 

 eggs; which operation, repeated for a series of years, 

 would make Jame3 river the finest herring stream on the 

 continent. 



With regard to the propagation of brook trout (8almo 

 fontinalit) the Commissioners say:— 



"It is desirable, both on the score of cheapness and for 

 supplying means for full instruction in the art of nisei- 

 culture, to raise our own spawners. We have, therefore, 

 had ponds constructed both in Lexington and Blacksburg 

 for them, and we hope by the next season to have an 

 abundance of eggs to occupy both of those hatching es- 

 tablishments during the succeeding winter. For the 

 present we have been compelled to buy, and have obtained 

 150,000 eggs from Troutdale, New Jersey. Of these 100,- 

 000 willbe hatched at Lexington, and 50,000 at Blacksburg." 



Seth Green's statement regarding the mode of stripping 

 is reprinted from Forest and Stream, and the Commis- 

 sioners think that their streams once stocked sportsmen 

 would flock to their banks, where "fly oil" is unknown 

 and mosquito bars are but a tradition. 



Through the kindness of Mr. A. Y. Lee a considerable 

 number of goldfish have been sent to the hatching-house 

 at Lexington, and in another year will be distributed in 

 various streams. They are not considered a good food fish, 

 but being very prolific, they supply food for those that are. 



The two hatching-houses at Blacksburg and Lexington 

 bid fair to realize the results expected of them. The one 

 at Blacksburg, in connection with the State institution, is in 

 charge of Professor Ellzey, who makes fish culture a part 



of his course, and teaches his pupils the practical processes 

 of the art. This, in a few years, will diffuse a knowledge 

 and taste for this new industry throughout the State. The 

 one at Lexington, in connection with the military institute, 

 is in charge of Professor McDonald, and is in active oper- 

 ation. The theory and practice of fish culture is taught 

 there as well, and ponds have been constructed for trout 

 spawners, which will probably yield eggs enough to em- 

 ploy the full capacity of both hatching-houses next year. 

 The question of oyster propagation (a very important one), 

 engages the attention of the Commissioners; also the ter- 

 rapin question. The hybridizing salt and fresh water 

 fishes, and acclimating salt water fishes to fresh water,, 

 opens a wide and useful field; and all these topics will be 

 given full attention. 



The bill making an appropriation for opening a fish- 

 way at the Great Falls of the Potomac failed to become & 

 law at the last session of Cong'-ess. The bill was favorably 

 received in the Senate, but was not, for reasons unknown^ 

 considered by the committee of the House. There is a 

 fair chance for its passage this winter. It is not an arti- 

 ficial ladder, but the mere reopening of an old channel, 

 which will empty its waters into the river at its deepest 

 part below, and thus invite and insure the ascent of the 

 fish. There is little doubt of its success. 



The Commissioners have proposed an act for the con- 

 sidfration of the Legislature which, if passed, will greatly 

 facilitate their operations. With respect to the amount 

 appropriated, the Commissioners are of opinion that while 

 the Commission may continue to do much good with the 

 present appropriation, double the amount would yield 

 quadruple results. They feel the inadequacy of the ap- 

 propriation at the present time. They could this season 

 hatch a million of brook trout eggs at the same cost of at- 

 tendance that is involved in the hatching of less than 

 200,000. 



We are indebted to Commissioner W. B. Robertson for 

 an early copy of the Report. 



fw nnd MLivtt 



FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 



SOUTHERN WATERS 



Pompano, Trachynolus carohnus. Grouper, Epineplielpus nlgritus. 

 Dium— two species. Family bciam- Trout (black ba^e) tentroputris at- 



idee. rarivs. 



Kingfleh, Menticlrrus nebulosus . Striped bass or Rockfieh, Boccus 

 Sea Bass, Scicenops ocellatus. iineaius. 



Sb.eepgb.ead, Ai ckobmgus probato- Ttr'lorfish, Pom atomus saltatrix. 



cephalub. ' Black Bass, Micropterus salmoides; 



Snapper, Lutjanus caxxs. M. nigricans. 



Fish in Market. — Our quotations vary but little from 

 those of last week. Southern shad are coming in in fair 

 quantities, and are sold at reasonable prices : We quote; 

 Striped bass 20 to 25 cents per pound; smelts, 20 cents; 

 bluefish, 12£ cents; salmon (frozen), 30 cents; mackerel. 

 25 cents each; shad (southern), 40 cents each; Spanish 

 mackerel, 25 cents per pound; white perch, 15 cents; 

 weakfish, 15 cents ; green turtle, 22 cents; terrapin, $15 

 per dozen; frostfish, 8 cents per pound; halibut, 20 

 cents; haddock, 8 cents; codfish, 10 cents; blackfish, 15 

 cents; eels, 18 cents; lobsters, 10 cents; sheepshead, 20 

 cents; scollops, $2 per gallon; whitefish, 20 cents per 

 pound; pickerel, 18 cents; salmon trout, 20 cents; ciscoes, 

 10 cents; sunfish, 10 cents; yellow perch, 10 cents; hard 

 shell crabs, $4 per 100; soft shell crabs, $1 per dozen; red 

 snapper, 15 cents per pound. 



A Model Fly Book. — Messrs. Holberton & Beemer, of 

 102 Nassau street, have presented us with a Fly Book of 

 their own manufacture, handsomely bound in Russia 

 leather, with the Brainerd clip, holding one full gross of 

 flies. The advantage of the Brainerd clip is that the flies 

 can be carried without bending the gut-lengths or snells on 

 which they are tied, thereby obviating the necessity of 

 soaking in water to straighten them for use. This method 

 also tends to preserve the flies, as well as to keep moths 

 out. There can be little doubt that fly books arranged with 

 this desirable improvement will soon supersede the old 

 style of book. The leaves of Holberton's book are made 

 of fine parchment. There are several pockets in which 

 flies, silk, and odds and ends can be placed, and some 

 places for scissors, pliers, and the like. The price, we be- 

 lieve, is $8.00. With cheaper covers, the cost would be 

 less. 



— In our editorial last week on Angling in England and 

 Ameiica, the name Morris was printed for Norris (Thad 

 Norris, Esq ,) an unfortunate mistake. We don't wish to 

 see a single laurel abstracted from the crown of the veteran 

 angler. 



S. K., Jr., of Boston, says that smelt fishing during the 

 past week has been very fine, chiefly on the Neponset river, 

 just outside of the city. It is fine sport on a warm day. 

 They are taken through the ice the same as pickerel, but in 

 much larger numbers, some lines getting 15 to 20 dozen a 

 tide. 



Walter M. Bbackett's Lecture on Salmon.— The 

 haH of the Massachusetts Anglers' Association at Boston, 

 was filled Wednesday evening, Jan. 10th, by an appreciative 

 audience, attracted there by the announcement that Mr. 

 Walter M. Brackett, the well known artist and sportsman, 

 would deliver a lecture upon the "Salmon." Among those 

 present weie a large number of ladies. Mr. Brackett had, 

 for the purpose of illustrating his lecture, specimens of 

 rods, lines and spears, and exhibited several fine pairtings 

 of the salmon, which were greatly admired. He c<»mj 

 menced his address by saying that from time immemorial 

 the salmon had been consideread the "King of Fishes. 

 His habits, his beauty, color and perfection, all bespeak 



