126 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Mabch 18, 1880. 



ardson'a descriptions are taken from a male and female 

 killed at Great Bear Lake May 24, 1826, Bonaparte's 

 from a female killed at Athabasca March 20, 1825. Full 

 information on the early history of the species can be 

 obtained by consulting the authors referred to. 



BEAVEBrCATCHING IN CANADA. 



ONE of your correspondents has rather a queer story 

 about having kept a mink teu hours under water 

 without drowning. That mink must have been specially 

 built for the purpose, or else provided with some patent 

 apparatus for breathing under water, because an ordi- 

 nary mink will drown in about five minutes. I can as- 

 sure you of this from my own observations, as I have 

 drowned them often, when caught in steel traps, in order 

 to keep the skin white and clean. If they are killed 

 with a stick, it leaves a red patch on a pelt, which spoils 

 its appearance. 



I also had occasion to drown a beaver once, in order 

 to settle a point between a Canadian trapper and my self ; 

 he maintained that a beaver could remain under water 

 for an hour without drowning, while I thought that a 

 quarter of an hour would be the utmost. We selected 

 for the experiment a middling sized beaver, with the 

 following results. We secured him by putting his foro 

 paw in a No. 3 Oneida trap (Newhouse's), and shoved 

 him under water. After three minutes he showed signs 

 of distress, and bubbles of air began to escape from his 

 mouth, he struggling at the same time to rise to the sur- 

 face; five minutes, still struggling slightly; ten min- 

 utes, we drew him up quite dead. Possibly the great ex- 

 ertions lie made to escape exhausted him sooner than if 

 he had been free, but I don't think it could have made: a 

 difference of more than a couple of minutes. 



You will probably wonder how we could select a beaver 

 to suit our purpose. Let me explain how they are caught 

 here in the winter under favorable circumstances. First 

 of all the lake must not be too large, as the work is rather 

 tedious. From live to six hundred yards long is consid- 

 ered quite large enough for two men to work over in 

 one day. The tools required are an axe, a shovel and an 

 ice-chisel, the latter being nine or ten inches long, three- 

 quarter inches wide and half an inch thick, with funnel- 

 shaped top to insert a handle six feet long. A rined with 

 this a hole is then made in the side of the lodge near the 

 surface of the ice, which is the Thinnest part. At the first 

 stroke the beavers evacuate the premises and make a 

 rush for their holes, which are situated at intervals all 

 round the lake, but generally where the banks rise ab- 

 ruptly. If the lodge is a large one, there is about fifteen 

 or twenty of these holes. What we call a large lodge here 

 contaius'eight or ten beavers— two old ones, four two 

 years old and four young ; they very rarely exceed that 

 number. The outlets of the lodge being barred with a 

 couple of stakes to prevent them from coming there to 

 breathe, a search is then made for their place of refuge. 

 •This is done with the ice-chise! in the following manner : 

 Standing about three feet from the shore the ice is struck 

 with the point of the chisel ; this is repeated at every step 

 in going round the lake. On neariug a hole the ice emits 

 a hollow sound on account of its being much thinner, 

 owing to the going in and out of the beavers. Its exact 

 location being found, the ice is cut away and the en- 

 trance barred with stakes. This operation is performed 

 till all the holes are stopped. A small sapling four or 

 five feet long, with a slight bend in it, is then cut ; this is 

 inserted through the water and into the under-ground 

 hole ; if the beaver is there its presence is soon detected 

 with the point of the stick. The ice-chisel is brought into 

 use once more ; a couple of strokes are given over the 

 beaver's head on the shore. Thoroughly frightened he 

 turns round to seek shelter elsewhere, but is met at the 

 entrance by the stakes; not daring to go back, he 

 crouches on the bottom near the stakes. The hand is 

 then inserted in the water ; its hind paw felt and taken 

 hold of ; then drawing it half out of the water, a blow 

 with the axe is given on the backbone, and he is thrown 

 on the ice. Two are sometimes found in the same place. 



The above performance is renewed at each hole, till 

 there is no more. ,,.,.,„, 



Some Indians have dogs trained for this kind of hunt ; 

 it saves a great deal of labor, a3 their sense of smell en- 

 ables them to find their holes immediately. 



Godbout, Canada. Nap. A. Combat/. 



PBAXttrE Chickens Drinking. — New Bedford, Neb., 

 Feb. iith.— Editor Forest and Stream .-—Having fre- 

 quently heard it stated that " prairie, chickens" drink 

 nothing but dew, collected from grass and leaves, I have 

 thought the following item might be of interest to some 

 of your many readers. 



Last November, while waiting for geese on one of the 

 numerous sand-bars in the Platte Biver, a Hock of pin- 

 nated grouse came from the prairie and lit near the 

 water ; after looking around for a few minutes they 

 walked in where it was a few inches deep and com- 

 menced drinking. They stayed on the flat about half an 

 hour, taking frequent drinks, and at times were within 

 thirty feet of me. Have frequently seen large Hooks of 

 them drinking just before sunrise, but never before had 

 been able to get nearer than thirty yards. N. W. 



We should be glad to know whether these "prairie 

 chickens" were pinnated or sharp tail grouse. 

 ♦ 



Cat and Battlksnake.— The following blood curdling 

 tale is told by the Amerieu-n, Ga., Republican :— 



About three weeks ago, during the beautiful sunny 

 weather we have bad which induced the trees to bud and 

 bloom, I was walking in my garden one morning, thinking 

 about preparing for an early start for spring vegetables, 

 when 1 saw a large rattlesnake sunning. My first im- 

 pulse was to go to the house, get a gun, and kill it. _ But 

 looking around, I saw a very large house cat cautiously 

 Creeping upon the reptile. Anticipating a light, and 

 equally desirous Of getting rid of the cat, which killed 

 chickens, I concluded to witness his attack upon the 

 snake, The cat crawled upon its stomach, pulling along 

 on its 'feet, whisking its tad from side to Side, and every 

 now and then stretching its neck to view the snake. 

 When about eight or ten feet off the snake suddenly coiled 

 up • sprung its rattle, faced the cat and darted its forked 

 tongue out rapidly. The cat commenced a ran-' -\ c l. 



around the snake, so fast in fact that the eye could hardly 

 keep up with it. At last it got near enough and made a 

 dart at its enemy, but through providential reason went 

 high above the snake .which also struck at the cat. thus 

 breaking its coil. The Bat went too far and by the time it 

 turned to face its foe, the reptile was again coiled and 

 ready for the attack. The same method was adopted and 

 carried on for four or five times, occupying at least half 

 an hour. The cat wished to catch the snake, hut seemed 

 aware that if it missed the neck it would be certain death. 

 At the sixth assault they met and instantly the snake 

 was wrapped in several folds around the body of the eat, 

 which used its sharp claws with deadly T effect. Tile cat 

 had been bitten on the head and neck several times, and 

 both continued to light. The snake was torn nearly to 

 shreads, but did not unloose its coil around its victim. 

 The poison was swift and deadly, but before the cat died 

 it caught the snake's head in its mouth and crushed it, and 

 fighting they died, the snake enwrapping the cat in its 

 coils. The snake measured four feet eight inches, and 

 had thirteen rattles. 



How to Handle Skcnks.— Ferrisburgh, VI.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream:— I do not know what skunks can do 

 when lifted by the tail, and do not care to experiment 

 with the animals for the good of science and natural his- 

 tory : but I remember when I was a youngster a skunk 

 got into our cellar and my big brother having heard of 

 this as a safe way of handling them, tried it successfully 

 on this one. With a pair of tongs he raised him carefully 

 bvtbe tad, carried him out doors, gave the holding of 

 tongs and skunk over to me, proud as a drum major to 

 have so important a duty assigned me, and then blew the 

 unwelcome visitor's brains out with a heavy charge of 

 shot, with no unpleasant results to any but the skunk. 

 As I said before, I do not know what he could have done, 

 but should suppose he would have done his worst, as to 

 be so transported cannot be very soothing to even the 

 tranquil soul of a skunk. Awahsoose. 



Collision Between a Bluebird and a Locomotive, 

 —Stanley, Morris Co., N. J.. March Uh.— Editor Forest 

 and Stream:— To-day, as I was walking along the track 

 of the D. L. & W. K. R., 1 noticed a bluebird perched on 

 the telegraph wire. The afternoon mail train came thun- 

 dering down the track, around the curve. When, it was 

 but a few yards away, the bluebird started to cross the 

 track ; but either through fright or by miscalculation, it 

 struck the boiler of the engine ami fell, stunned, to the 

 ground. I jucked it up ; it slowly revived and flew awayi 



Large flocks of blackbirds, robins and ducks have 

 made their appearance, and I anticipate good sport with 

 the latter during the next six weeks along the Passaic 

 River and in the " Great Swamp." 



Haruv D, B, Page. 



S* k fil ing 



THE MOVEMENTS OF SALMON IN THE SEA. 



WHEN the results of trustworthy observations are 

 interpreted with caution, certain conclusions pre- 

 sent themselves respecting ihe movements of salmon in 

 the Newfoundland and Labrador seas, which may be ac- 

 cepted as a first approximation to correct views. The 

 subject, is important, because it becomes a guide to the 

 movements of other species of fish from which informa- 

 tion of practical value may be gathered, 



As the result of limited personal observations, some in- 

 quiry and a good deal of careful searching into records, I 

 have arrived at the following first general conclusions as 

 to the habits of salmon in the sea, on the coasts of New- 

 foundland and the Atlantic Labrador :— 



1. — Salmon in the sea there, move and feed in separate 

 schools throughout the greater portion of the year, and 

 in different, localities they are taken in nets on the coasts 

 from the early part of May to Christmas. Alternating 

 schools are always probably on the coast. 



a.— The schools are distinct in respect of age and sex, 

 keeping apart in so far thai adult salmon, or salmon ■- 8 ;, . 

 of the fourth year from the hatching of the egg, Bchool 

 and feed together; salmon of the third y^-ur. or grilse. 

 feed auu school together ; salmon of the second ... i- 

 smolts, do likewise. In these particulars they resemble 

 the cod and the herring, which feed and school and have 

 separate winter haunts according to age. 



8.— The adult males do not school and feed with the 

 adult females in the sea, nor do the males of the third 

 year (grilse) school with the females of the third year in 

 the sea. 



4. — All the schools have a definite sea area as their 

 home, which may he represented by the area immedi- 

 ately opposite to the rivers in which they were born, ex- 

 panding seawards, so that the area occupied by did;, rem 

 schools overlap one another. They do not con' ft ir 

 visits to fresh water to any particular river, but visit for 

 short periods rivers adjacent to the ouo in which they 

 were bofn. Adults always endeavor to reach the river in 

 which the; first saw th.: light, l::r spawning purposes 



5.— All schools approach the coast by well-defined fish- 

 paths, and almost always in the same direction, being 

 against prevailing tidal currents. In this they agree with 

 the general movements of the cod and the herring. 

 Should prevailing winds temporarily Change the direc- 

 tion of the tidal currents, the fish accommodate them- 

 selves to the change. Should an unusual abundance of 

 ice be pressed upon the coast in the spring, the fish re- 

 main outside of the ice or endeavor to skirt it. They re- 

 fuse to pass under melting salt-water ice, probably on 

 account of the cold heavy brines descending from the 

 melting ice. They do not appear to shun fixed or floating 

 ice in the winter," which is not melting. The cod and the 

 herring are also influenced by the same conditions 



6.— Approaching the coast intfai I eed raven- 



ously upon caplin, sand-eels and you ug 1 terring, which are 

 also nearing the shores at the same period. School follows 

 school in regular succession, but the old males are teat, 

 the old females second, They are followed at an interval 

 of a fortnight or three, weeks by the male grilse : respect- 

 ing females of the third year there is no evidence avail- 

 able. 



The winter homes of the great body of salmon are on 

 the seaward slopes of the sea-bottom outside of the 1UU- 

 fathoin line of soundings or thereabouts, and generally it 



gh 8 degs. of lat- 

 ity miles beyond . 



ched, 



would seem just r out of the reach of the full 

 There are probably two million harp-seals wintering on 

 the coast of Newfoundland, but although tin 

 marauders frequently bring coil and " turbo!," the < oven- 

 land halibut, and flat-fish generally, to the ice-floes and 

 ice-pans. I have not heard of a single salmon being 

 brought up by seals. Nevertheless, since large salmon 

 are caught in deep water off the Island of Fogc up to 

 Christmas, schools of this fish are on the coast, in deep 

 water, at that period, and they have been taken there in 

 seal nets. In such deep bays 'as Trinity, where there are 

 from 130 to 320 fathoms of "water, salmon are not imfre- 

 quently cast upon the shore during winter storms, but 

 these are probably either Spring spawning fish, M schools 

 swiftly resisting fresh wafer under the ice. 



In order to form a proper conception of the general 

 spring movement of salmon in the sea on a grand scale 

 it is necessary to refer to a. map of Newfoundland and 

 Labrador. The distance from Surged Islands (longitude 

 57 deg. -10 min.) on the south coast of the. island to IJkdm- 

 siksalik (latitude 56 deg.) on the northern Labrador is 

 about 1,31)0 miles. The salmon strike the whole of thiB 

 long extent of coast line between -May 10th and July IGlh, 

 a period of sixty days. The general absence of ice on the 

 Labrador coast diminishes this period to six weeks. 

 This is what, we see, but from it we must not infer that 

 detached or isolated schools arc not constantly coming 

 fromand going to the mouths of rivers at all 1ime : i of the 

 year. The presence or the incoming of food at the spring 

 season of the year brings the great body of salmon shore- 

 ward at that period. 



They stream in from deep water to shallows near tho 

 shore to feed on the forms of life which are hem th 

 or which gather tor a similar purpose, or which ar- I ifta 

 shoreward by the never-ceasing action of tidal currents, 

 for these play a very important part in the distribution 

 and maintenance of marine life on all the coasts of north- 

 ern seas. 



A vast army of fish bearing the colore of Salmo solar 

 advance from the Continental aubni 

 sive battalions toward the coasts tl 

 itude as far as Fern Bay, some twenty in 

 IJkkasiksalik, for there the salmon may be a 

 They do not appear again until Cngava Bay 

 inside of Hudson Straits. . 



SEX OF THE SCHOOLS. 



Newfoundland waters offer no exception to the rule 



that, the hK.I-.-eome first to the coast in the general spring 



law, with rare exceptions, that the nudes of mosl Bci ... 

 be it Of fish, flesh PI' fowl, are the first to gather together 

 with the increasing warmth and light of spring. Darwin 

 pointed out this fact with regard to the salmon many years 

 since.* He also mentioned the great loss of males every 

 year from fighting and tearing one another on th 

 ingbeds. He quotes numbers to show that among sal- 

 mon the males arrive first at the mouths of rivers, the 

 females following after. Thus in 1866 Mr, Bulst took 

 si^tv males out of seventy fish caught in the first runs 

 for obtaining the ova. In ISO? Mr. Buist, at the outset 

 took ten males to one female. Mr. F. Bucktand records 



similar disproportions between males and Eemalesi | 



first runs of trout. Mr. Wilmot goes so far as to speak of 

 •t the indisputable fact of grilse taken in rivers being 



always males." Mr. YV. S, Hudson, of ttu t i,,-i.irui. 



State Fishery Commission, mentions that all the salmon 

 first caught and opened iu the Connecticut Biver proved 

 to be males. 



SIZE OF THE FISH nS THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, 



The following enumeration of the aizeol the mesh of 

 nets used in different districts refers to different periods 

 of time going back several years. It is introduced to 

 show how experience dictated tho mesh best adapted to 

 take the far;.'-, i tjuanlSly ° f fish, regardless of the lonsel- 

 q nonces to the fishery of the future. Acting upon the 

 ascertained fact that the Schools first approaching the 

 shore consisted of the largest fish, subsequently followed 

 with great ret ularil ' schools of a much smaller size, 



:. .... r . ..nit each school. H im 



mised that terallyset at right angles to the 



Shore and ihi Etj - I idlands. They are set singly or in 

 fleets, With a pound or trap at the extremity according to 

 the strength of the tidal currents. 



East Vo<wt—l. Conception and Trinity Bays.— First 

 run May 30th to July 0th ; niesh GJuclins. Second run 

 July 5th" to Aug. 101. li : mesh 5.; to 5 rnt 



2. West part of Notre Dame Bay— First run June 8th to 

 15th ; mesh G inches. Second run ; mesh 4:} inch 



3. Not re Dame Bay I'souhhern part), -first run J one 15th 

 to 20th ; mesh ffj inches. Second run July 1st to 10th ; 

 mesh 4J inches. 



4. Cape St. John to Quirpon— Juno 20th to Aug. 10th ; 

 mesh U to 5 ind 



5. Twilliugate and Fogo Islands.— Very large salmon 

 taken in deep water at the headlands in November and 

 December up to Christmas ; mesh 8 to Gi inches. 



6. Hamilton Inlet (Labrador.), July 1st to Aug. 5th; 

 mesh, 6± to 6 inches. 



;, Northern Labrador (North df Gape Hamson), July 

 15th to Aug. 15th ■. meh.s. 



It will be observed thai there is only one ruu oi salmon 

 specified for .-lea or headland fisheries Mirth o. 

 John, Newfoundland, The grilse- and smaller-sized 

 salmon are taken in the rivers as far as Quirpon, but 

 rarely in the sea, as is the case further to the south. 1'Im 

 relative si-. "■■ - ■ mou taken at the h 



at Ihe mouths of rivers and in rivers, may be .. 

 from the hud. thai between Cm |ie John ami yilirpon 36 to 



!M 3 jj, .,,.,.. i, j mired for a tierce of ytio lbs., but of the 



river salmon it takes from H>u to VM to a unve. Mr. 

 KiU'dilt states thai be has taken salmon in November, 

 and "counted theoea, A salmon of IS lbs. gave Bi(KJ0 

 eggs Of the size of partridge shot. This salmon would 



■ . en in condition to spawn in Aprd. 

 J ,1, ca tu of salmon about islands destitute 

 is worthy of not,.. Btlch islands are ; — 



1. On 'the south coast — the Burgeo Island 

 Islands. 



a. On the east coast— Fago Island, Twilliugate Island, 

 the Horse aud Barbe Islands, 



a. O/t the. Labrador— Crady Bland (latitude 53 deg, 

 43 ruin). 

 - , The movements of grilse and small-sized salmon on the 



