390 



FOEEST AND STEEAM. 



(June 17, 1880. 



(Juneo), The species was considered both on its migra- 

 tion and in its summer home. 



About the Umbagog region in Maine, eggs of the first 

 brood are usually laid about the last of May, though 

 sometimes the young, which are not ordmanly hatched 

 until the first week in June, are to be found at the same 

 time. Most of the members agreed with Mr. Bailey in 

 accrediting this bird with greater vocal powers than 

 usually seem to be recognized. Mr. L, S. Foster called 

 attention to some of the skeletal characteristics of the 

 night heron {Nyetiardea grisea ncevia), as exemplified 

 in a complete skeleton discovered near the shore at 

 Rockaway. This skeleton was found lodged in a bush, and 

 the extensive ossification subtending the compound frac- 

 ture of the humerus— from which death had evidently re- 

 sulted— indicated a lingering death of perhaps a mouth, 

 and the strenuous efforts of nature to right itself. 



A letter of Mr. Franklin Benner, Minneapolis, Minn., 

 under date of April 14th, treated at some length ot 

 ornithological and other matters in that quarter. W ax- 

 wings had been about for two mouths past, and were, of 

 very domestic habits, searching for their food about the 

 city door yards and in the vicinity of dwellings. The 

 majority of those which had been taken were conspicuous 

 for the dullness of their plumage, and often the entire 

 absence of the waxen appendages to the secondaries. 

 ■"Mr. Ghas Earle gave a List of birds which he had Ob- 

 served near Lake Roukonkoma, L. I. The sooty tern 

 was recorded, and also a specimen of the lark finch 

 (Chondestes grarmnaea). new to the island, ami adding 

 another record to the increasing list of its eastern oc- 

 currences. This bird was taken August 20th, 1879. 



A paper by Mr. R. T. Morris, on the entozoa of man, 

 treated of some of the internal parasites of which man 

 forms the involuntary host. Characteristic traits were 

 discussed, results of their presence alluded to. and the 

 main points of the varied cycle of existence of some 

 species traced. 



Mr. W. C. Wyckoff made some remarks on our fiddler 

 crabB, evincing careful observation of their habits— some 

 of which indicated a high degree of intelligence. Pro- 

 tective mimicry in some of the more marked features of 

 their coloration was also shown. 



Mr. E. P. Bicknell read a paper on the floral family 

 Violueew. as represented in our northern suburbs. Nine 

 species and two varities of violets were enumerated, with 

 remarks upon their habits, characteristics and relative 

 abundance. Mr. Bicknell also gave a list of the arrival of 

 the birds this season, with remarks thereon. 



In this it was shown that in general the arrivals liad 

 been early, in some instances unusually so. 



Insect Pests in Virginia.— Blacksburg, Va., May 

 20th.— Editor Forest and Stream :— The timber near 

 this place is suffering serious damage from the attacks of 

 the common May bug (Melontha vulgaris). The multi- 

 tude of them is astonishing, and the roaring noise of 

 their wings resembles a rising wind storm. They feed 

 only at night, and remain securely hidden by day. They 

 prefer the white oak, but attack also other species of oak, 

 chestnut, and even the black walnut. Ash, maple, elm 

 and other trees seem to be exempt. There are many 

 auperb specimens of the white oak scattered over the 

 grounds of the Virginia Agricultural College here, upon 

 which at this moment not a single green leaf is left. 

 Several of the finest of them suffered last year, and were 

 partly killed. It seems impossible that they can again 

 rally. Whole belts of trees in the surrounding forest .are 

 completely denuded of foliage. It appears to me serious 

 mischief is threatened, and 1 have never seen any thing of 

 the sort elsewhere. I cannot discover that any enemy is 

 likely to seriously check these beetles. The crows, of 

 which there are only a few here, feed on them chiefly 

 during the spring months. The crow black birds are not 

 here in sufficient numbers to do material good. The 

 common flicker ( Colaptes uuratus)is an expert in getting 

 them out of the grass, but flickers ate few ; foxes eaL 

 them ; squirrels fatten on them, and doubtless other 

 birds and rodents help more or less, but none or all of 

 these are capable of doing much good. Man appears to 

 be a helpless looker on, who can do nothing, and does not 

 know what to expect. What say those acquainted with 

 bug-ology? M. U. Ellzey. 



This beetle {Laohnosterna quereina), though seldom 

 sufficiently numerous to do very serious injury, as in the 

 present case, certainly deserveB the attention of ento- 

 mologists. In the Middle States the skunk is one of its 

 most persistent enemies, and destroys great numbers of 

 the larvse by digging them out of the ground, We 

 should be glad to hear from entomologists on the subject. 



Arivais Received at Central Park Menbgerte for week 

 EsniNG Junk 5th.— One Brazilian monkey (Cefcuxu.i/jw'm/s.i pre- 

 sented lay Air. B. Warren Barlow. Four brown monkeys (Obits 

 fatiu-.Uus), purchased. Two black bear cutis and Two young foxes, 

 presented by Major-General Daniel E. Sickles, U. S. A. (too 

 erow ICennui amertoa/fWsO presented by Mr. B. Jaeolilea. One 

 red squirrel (Scinnits hudsomicwi, presented by Master JohnS. 

 Ascnujfb. Two scarlet tanagers (Pi/nnngtt rubra. fj ae bobolink 

 (DMchOTiyx loryzirora). One red-breasted (jrosbook (UedytneUB 

 ■udnmciaiuin). One hawtlneh (O)ceothraustcs vulgaris). One toucan 

 BamiJhaslun arul). All purchased. W. A. Conklin, 



Director. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



"ShAwaxoitnk."— Poutjhket.psie, IV. I'., JfOJ/ SMfc.— -Editor Finest 

 and Stream: :— Mr. P.O. Plaisted's " intelligent Indian," in Koiiest 



or appropriu"i'--n _■-.- ■;' ilio name "Shawaiigunk, M U lie 

 niried " governor!" Forty years and more tigone, 1 lead in plain 

 view of the shining sides of "Shawangunk Mountains," and the 

 old citizens, whose memory went back to the tiuieof the burning 

 Of W'awasiugand other Indian atrocities, always pal 

 ingot' "Shawangunk," (pronounced by 1 hem " Sliorignm) as Shin- 

 ing Rooks. Certainly no name could be more appropriate, for the 

 Smooth faces of the bare rocks, in many educes, shone in lhe sun- 

 light like glistening iec, at a distance ol several m If GS, 

 man could make a book of intense interest by writing up lhe facts 

 and legends connected with lhe Shawflngunk Mountains. In- 

 dians, Dutch, French and English, have each by turns possessed 

 t he valley, and were often In deadly oonllict. % J. H. D. 



gislt £ii1tmi[. 



— Address all coiumurdr.niions to "Forest and Stream 

 Publishing Company, New York." 



^ jp t > i ^ 



I From a Staff Correspondent.! 



THE INTERNATIONAL BTSHERY EXHIBITION AT 



BERLIN, 



THE first thing which the visitor to the Exhibition 

 notices is the great number of tilings which are 

 produced in the water besides the tish themselves, and 

 the number of articles used in the fisheries of whose 

 previous existence lie has been entirely ignorant. Tins 

 was well shown by the mingled pleasure and astonish- 

 ment with which an English fisherman viewed the 

 " woolen nippers'' in use among our fishermen for grip- 

 ping the line when hauling in, and suggesting comfort in 

 handling a heavy wet cod line in cold weather. No 

 doubt they will hasten to use so simple a contrivance, 

 and others will wonder, as they did, that they never 

 thought of it before, while some Norwegian fishermen 

 viewed a harpoon-gun with admiration, evidently seeing 

 the iron bolt sink through the blubber and into the vitals 

 of leviathan. 



The ladies are much interested in the American display 

 of furs, prominent among which are the skins of the 

 sea-otter, Enhydra marina, and the fur-seal, CaUirhinus 

 ursinus. The latter is shown in three stages, viz.: the 

 raw dried skin with its long, rough hair entirely con- 

 cealing the fur beneath ; the plucked and dressed skin, 

 showing the tawny fin and the d ved article as worn bv 

 the ladies, and, bv the way, it is but little worn bv 

 German ladies, who dress neatly but not extravagantly, 

 and do not seem to worry the life out of a husband of 

 moderate means for a three hundred dollar sealskin. 

 Not that your correspondent knows of any ladies who 

 have or might do so, still we cannot say what might be 

 done among savage nations where love, of finery is 

 carried to excess. "The seal fisheries of Alaska are illus- 

 trated by a series of water color sketches by Mr. Henry 

 W. Elliott, five in number, respectively entitled,; "The 

 Fur Seal Rookery at Reef Point." showing the herd on 

 the breeding grounds, the old hulls with their cows. 

 each occupying their own positions; •• Gathering the 

 Drive,'' seal drovers selecting the animals from the herd 

 for the day's slaughter on Zolt.oi Sands, one of the 

 twelve hauling grounds of the fur seal on St. Paul's 

 Island, Alaska; "The Drive in Motion," seals being 

 driven up to the Slaughtering field near the settlement, 

 St. Paul's Island ; " The Killing Field." natives slaugh- 

 tering the. seals, the skinned carcasses, etc.; " Fur Seals 

 Approaching the Breeding Grounds," the herd swimming 

 and playing in The water as they near the Island. These 

 pictures give not only an idea of the immense numbers 

 of fur seals which gather at the islands during the breed- 

 ing season (in the first picture named they seem to 

 number- hundreds of thousands, stretching as far ever 

 the rocks as the eye can reach), but also show how the 

 herd is cared for and the proper animals selected for 

 killing and the herd kept up to its proper breeding 

 capacity by the " Alaska Commercial Company " of San 

 Francis'co,"no more being killed than both the herd and 

 the market will bear, although to all appearances, 

 judging from the immense u umbers in Mr. Elliott's ex- 

 cellent pictures, the herd could stand an enormous draft 

 without seriously diminishing its future crop, and one is 

 tempted to conclude that the. market has more to do with 

 the number of pelts taken than any other consideration, 

 and we poor fishermen and scribblers, who long more to 

 see our better halves arrayed in the warm and drossy seal 

 skins than our blessed partners themselves do, wish that 

 we could take a hand in the killing and skinning for halfa 

 day in order that the domestic Christmas tree might bear 

 aiiother fruit which would not only warmly wrap a be- 

 lovedf'orm, but also cause wondering remarks behind the 

 closed blinds over the way as to its possible genuineness 

 and probable cost. 



A series of maps illustrating the range of some of the 

 favorite American fishes and lhe fishing grounds, pre- 

 pared by Prof. G, Brown Goodo. hang in the hallways 



and are so well done as to excite (besl of all commenda- 

 tion) the attention ami favorable comment of the few 

 men who are able to appreciate their value and the 

 thoroughness with which this work is done. The maps 

 are arranged as follows : — 



No. 1. Provisional map showing geographical Q Bl ributinn of 

 fishes of the salmon family in lhe h;--. rn i ted States. 



No. 2. Provisional man showing the geographical distribution 

 of the cod IGadw morrlwa), and lh< loci tona of the flailing 

 grounds and fishing ports., 



No. 3. Provisional map shoeing lhe g, 

 the halibut /' ' ■ e./ari.s), on 11 



and the principal lishiug grounds in 187 



i Scotia, from data furnished by 



No. II. Map showing the distribution of the oyster beds of Mary- 

 land. Prom the cvploi-iiioiis of the Uniicfl states Coast Survey. 



". '.l.,p showing rlicohstrtielioiisto the ascent .of Bah in file 

 rivers of Maine, 1B7B. Compiled by C. U. Atkins and E. M. StiJ- 

 weJL 



Also a relief model of the off-shore banks of the Uni- 

 ted .Stales, showing the contours, shaded in colors, to the 

 depth of 2,300 fathoms, prepared for the United States 

 Fish Commission by Mr. C. Binderikuhl, together with 

 some interesting fish cultural charts, which will be men- 

 tioned under the proper head, a collection of charts used 

 by fishermen, exhibited in the collection of the United 

 States Coast Survey and the Hydrographie Office, anil 

 likewise the noire popular "Eldridge. Charts," published 

 by S. Thaxter & Son, Boston. 



The boats, and models of boats sent by America are re- 

 markable for their clean cut and evident ability to sail as 

 farina given time as, possible, and the sea-fmi 

 ties of the famous "dory" are much discussed, the won- 

 der being that it is a good boat to sail in and yet has no 

 keel, something which your correspondent does not un- 



derstand, but which seems plain enough to Capt, Collins, 

 the representative American fisherman of the stair, who 

 of course knows all about it ; and then there is the fact 

 that two or three persons have sailed from America to 

 Europe in them, which not only illustrates the sea- 

 worthiness of the boats, but also most beautifully shows 

 the great care winch Providence exercises over the lives 

 of fools. There are six dories, with complete rigs for the 

 different kinds of fishing. Here they are, as rigged by 

 Capt. Collins : — 



No. 1. Rigged for hand-lining on the Banks, sixteen 

 pound anchor, with twenty fathoms of line: one pair 

 eight foot oars; two hand-lines on reels, with gear at- 

 tached, each twenty-five fathoms long, with leads of 

 three pounds ; bait bucket and board, spare hooks, two 

 squitl lines with jigs, two bird lines with hooks, shark 

 lance, water jugs. etc. Length of boat, twel 

 half feet. 



No. 2. Thirteen feet long ; used in Gloucester for win- 

 ter fishing for cod ; rigged for shore trawling and hand- 

 lining with a tub of trawl line ; ground line. 1,775 feet "f 

 fourteen pound tarred cotton line: 500 No. 15 hooks, 



i ■ ad 'i half fed. apart, on groundline; ganging* two 

 feet long, of cotton line (thirty threads) : trawl buoys, 

 etc.; sail, eleven feet on foot, "nine feet hoist, five feet 

 head. 



No, 3. Fourteen feet long; rigged for mackerel seining : 

 four lines, each two and a half feet long, through holes 

 hi ribbon on starboard side, used to fasten the seme. 



No. 4. Fourteen find a half feet Ions: rigged for had- 

 dock fishing. This style is strongly built, and more 

 adapted for carrying large loads than for speed. They 

 are built wider and deeper than the fifteen foot ''Bank 

 dory,'' and are used almost exclusively for winter fish- 

 ing, catching haddock, and after picking fish from trawls 

 and loading I he dory, the vessel then goes to the dory, 

 consequently speed gives place to carrying! capacity and 

 sea-gwng qualities. Rigged with a tub of trawl line; 

 ground line. 1, Too feet of fourteen pound tarred cotton; 

 obo No. 15 books, three and a half feet apart on ganging! 

 two feet long. 



No. 5. Fifteen feet long: the "Bank dory" used in 

 halibut fishing, and rigged" for the same ; built more for 

 speed and ease of rowing, for in this fishery the vessels 

 anchor, and the dories have to bo loaded and rowed, 

 often for miles. Patent ''hurdy-gurdy'' windlass for 

 trawl, with patent trawl roller, large size, single score, 

 line attached ; mast hole in forward thwart; mast, lil- 

 tecn feet long: sail, fourteen feel, on foot, six feet on 

 head, thirteen feet hoist ; ground hire made of fifteen 

 hues, twenty-five fathoms each, equalling 2.350 feet 

 thirty-two pound tarred cotton line; 150 No, 6.233 

 •'Ivirby' - halibut hooks, fifteen feet apart on ground line, 

 gangings five feet long; two sixteen pound trawl an- 

 chors, buoys, etc, 



No. fi A* style of dory built in America and but little 

 used there, being shipped in large numbers to the French 

 fishermen at St, Pierre. lUiqttelon. This is fifteen and I 

 half feet long, and of the same depth and width as the 

 haddock dory, very strong, the timbers being heavier 

 and (nore numerous than those preferred by the Ameri-. 

 cans. Rigged for cod trawling. 



The National Museum exhibits birch bark canoes, 

 wooden canoes, kyaks, umiaks and other Indian boats, 

 perhaps the most 'curious of which is a round skin boat 

 :,. in.' i-Iidutza (tiros Venires! Indians, from Fort Bu- 

 ford, Dakota, collected by Dr. W. Matthews, U S. A, 

 This is a frame of twigs or roots, over which is si I'etchefl 

 a buffalo skin, making a tub-shaped affair about, live feet 

 in diameter and perhaps t«o feet deep. This is curious, 

 because it so closely resembles the "Welsh "coracles," ex- 

 hibited in the English department, the only differenpj 



being that in the latter the frame is of split slats, and 

 the covering is of canvas ; still it is said that these latter 

 are but mutations of the skm bonis formerly used by 

 Welshmen, and it seems very probable. 



A whaleboat. fully rigged, was the cause of a ludicrous 

 mistake. A correspondent Of a London paper wrote that 

 "an American whale-boat was on exhibition, as completely 

 furnished with everything necessary for immediate action 

 as a fire engine is with all its men sealed." It was 

 printed (bus: "An American whaleboa!; equipped as a 

 fire engine, with the men seated and ready for action, is 

 one of the features of the exhibition." It no doubt 

 would be if it were true, but Berlin has not disbanded its 

 lire department vet in order to adopt the plan of har- 

 pooning a burning building and towing it out to sea. 



Holland and Norway are quite strong in boat mudeis, 

 as well as Germany, the North Sea fishing boat 

 a family resemblance to each other and to those of Eng- 

 land, who also shows a few. Judging from the models, 

 it would seem that speed is not considered as important 

 in a fishing vessel on this side of the water as it is on 

 ours, vet certainly it would seem to be as desirable to get 

 in as quickly with a fare here as elsewhere, yet the boats 

 are round bowed and of a model which might be called 

 "tubby." while the American style is sharper, cleaner 

 cut and invariably schooner-rigged. China shows but 

 few boats or models, the most striking one bun: B boM 

 with a figure of a man, lite size, and aboo 

 stuffed cormorants ranged about the side wa.in 

 signal to dive. It is the fashion toslipa ring OV 

 of the bird, in order that.it cannot swallow the fish, at 

 least so the story goes; but it is noticeable that these 

 birds have no Ting on, and no one seems to know if the 

 omission is by accident Or design, the latter seeming 1.0 

 the writer to' be the most probable, for the reason that if 

 it be customary to use the ring it would be too im 

 an objed in illustrating cormorant fishing to be omitted 



. s people so given* to detail. 



*. 



The Rabbit-Mouth Suckk.k. '.. June 



6th— Col. McE wen received a most OOTnplimentarj let- 

 ter from Prof Baird on the subject of the rabbit -mouth 

 sucker. It had been described before by Prof 

 though a specimen had never reached him until 

 sent by the colonel. In a few days I am promised B Bflfl 

 einieti of still another new variety of fish which 

 peared in the Harpeth this year. 



ads 

 i of 



Tiif. New Lobster Law. — The new lobster l 

 as follows : "Chap. 2S2. An Act lor the preser 

 lobsters. Passed May lO'i ' i 1 1 bs be._„ 



ent. The people of lhe State of New York, representflj 

 in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows . Section 1. 

 Whoever shall sell, or off a for sale, or have in p 



