FOREST AND STREAM, 
745 
i intow. 
THE REDFISH OF THE NORTHWEST. 
A 
Tort Walla Walla, W. T., Sept 27 th. 
T HROUGH the kindness of Mr. J. A. Messenger, who 
has been fishing during the past summer in the 
Wallowa Lake, I am enabled to give you a little more in¬ 
formation about the redfish found in the above locality, 
as well ns in the Payette and Salmon river lakes in north¬ 
eastern Idaho. Mr. Messenger resides in Walla Walla, 
and is well known throughout this country aB an excel¬ 
lent sportsman and close observer, and his statements can 
be fufiv relied on. 
He tells tne that the redfish or redtrout is anadromous ; 
that he has seen them ascending to Wallowa River to 
the lake hi large numbers in the spring, and that the pe¬ 
culiar deep red color for which the fish is noted is only 
assumed during the spawning season. At other times 
tills fish is of a bright silver color, and is probably the 
same fish known under the the name of “ mukletio sal¬ 
mon’’about Puget Sound. When these fish first arrive 
at the lake they look trim and slender, but once there 
they soon become very broad and deep (perch-shaped), 
growing constantly in depth, but not much in length. 
The head of the fish also undergoes a great transforma¬ 
tion, and becomes hook-nosed. The fish Imre no teeth 
when they first come to the lake ; these make their ap¬ 
pearance shortly after their arrival, however, and as 
they also shed their scales about the same time, you find 
an entirely different looking animal from what this fish 
was perhaps a couple of weeks previously. The average 
weight of the male is from five to six pounds, that of the 
female from four to fire pounds. The largest one caught 
this season weighed about ten pounds, hut fish of this 
size are very rare. Although these fish do hot appeal- to 
feed on anything while hi the lake, they nevertheless 
will take a hook now and then if it is baited with their 
own eggs. Presumably they do not bite for the sake of 
the food on the hook, but more out of play. I know that 
salmon trout do the same thing here in the Walla Walla 
River, and, I think, for the purpose of replacing the eggs 
in a safe spot. The mates of the redfish are said to be 
very quarrelsome on the spawning beds, and to fight 
each other constantly. Redfish eggs are about one-third 
Smaller than those of the Chinook Baimon (salmo qiiirmat), 
and of a deep red color. 
The principal spawning grounds of these fish aie about 
the mouths of the small tributaries of the lake and also 
along the shallow, gravelly shores of the lake itself. This 
is about four miles tong, and from a mile to a mile and a 
half wide. In places it is known to be as much as 325 feet 
deep, and there are undoubtedly deeper spots than this 
to be found in it. The fish commence running into the 
lake in the first half of July, and the run "continues 
throughout the month of August. Alter spawning 
during September they leave the lake agaiu, and return 
presumably to salt water. Many die, however, annually 
while in the lake from injuries received tl tiring the run 
up, or from exhaustion, and large numbers are destroyed 
by bears, who are very fond of them, ‘and are said to' be 
very expert in catching them. This summer from 
twenty to twenty-five thousand pounds were cauglitund 
salted, and they command readily from ten to fifteen 
cents per pound in this market. Besides the redfish tlic- 
lake abounds in tine, large mountain and bull trout and a 
species of small whitewash (Goregonus). Mr. Messenger 
caught a bull trout, a splendid, slender-looking fish, 
with elegant pink spots on the sides, weighing nine 
pounds lour ounces, and tells me that mountain trout of 
five aud six pounds weight are plenty. 
Wallowa Lake is easy of access, the climate there 
during the summer is deliglitfid, aud besides the excel¬ 
lent fishing, large ga m e such as elk, Deer is plenty, and 
anyone who may have lost a hear can easily find one 
there, Ch. Ben dirk. 
Remarks. —The value of the information given abovo 
by Capt. Bendire may be inferred when we state that the 
redfish of Idaho and adjacent country have been the 
subject of earnest inquiry and investigation by leading 
naturalists for the past seven years. As usual, Forest 
and Stream is the first medium to shed the light sought 
for. We refer to our columns as a standing record that 
we have ever been foremost in the field of investigation 
and discovery as respects natural history subjects in 
America. The conclusion iB palpably reached, namely, 
that the hues and shapes which fish often assume at 
different seasons of the year are very apt to he mistaken 
by careless observers for characteristics of new or differ¬ 
ent species. In determ in ing species the greatest care is 
necessary to see that all the conditions are uniform when 
the comparisons are made; that the fish compared shall 
be of the same sex and age (and size, inferentially, 
though fishes of the same age differ greatly in size); and 
that the investigation be made at the same seasons of the 
year, and, if possible, from water of the same tempera¬ 
ture and character. 
From the definite description given above of the red¬ 
fish, there seems every reason to believe them identical 
with salmon, a variety of which are so common in 
Alaska, as described by our special correspondent there. 
Remedy for Rattlesnake Bite.— In confirmation of 
what has been written by ourselves and Captain Bendire. 
in regard to the Euphorbium glytosperma, as an antidote 
for rattlesnake bites, Mi-. Livingston Stone writes from 
Baird, Shasta Go., Cal., that this plant is very common in 
that locality, even growing as a weed in the door yard, 
and he says i— 
I am informed by Mr. J. G. Lemmon, an eminent bota¬ 
nist of this state who has been visiting me, that he has 
often heard it alluded to in the Colorado region as a 
remedy for rattlesnake bites, and that in 1878, a rattle¬ 
snake’s victim in the Yoesmite^Valley was treated solely 
with this herb by a Spanish woman aud recovered. This 
seems to indicate that the remedy was known to the early 
Spanish setters of this coast. 
Mr. Lemmon further informs me that in 1874. a child 
of J. M. Hutchings of the same valley, ate of it by acci¬ 
dent, and was deathly sick for several days. 
This shows the active character of the poison of the 
plant. Your editoral on the subject was deeply interest¬ 
ing to us here, because the rattlesnakes are so outrage¬ 
ously thick on this river, that it is a question of grave 
practical importance to us all whether a supposed remedy 
for rattlesnake bites is really an antidote. The testimony 
thus far seems to be conclusive that the Euphorbium ghjp- 
tosperma is an antidote for them. 
Another Core for Rattlesnake Bite.— M. G. Collins, of 
Tennessee, claims to have discovered a cure for rattlesnake 
bites. Drs. Eve and Shacklett of Nashville, according to 
the American, made a test of the medicine, Collins let a 
rattlesnake bite him on the wrist, and at once applied to 
the wound, and took inwardly a decoction of mosses from 
oak and hickory trees. He suffered from nausea, and his 
pulse and temperature were excited, hut within an hour 
he had completely recovered. The bite of the same rep¬ 
tile speedily killed a dog .—Louisville Medical News. 
Manual of Concholociy.— Mr. Geo. W. Tryon, Jr., 
of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, an¬ 
nounces the publication of the first volume of his Manual 
of Conohology, being the Cephalopoda. The attention of 
naturalists is invited to this most important work, which 
when completed, will be the most comprehensive as well 
as the most available compendium of eonchology pub¬ 
lished. 
Eels in a New Role.—T he following I clip from the 
Toronto Mail, of the 9th inst-., and, as I think the case a 
rather singular one, would ask you to make a note of it- 
The question arises, what induced those eels to take 
refuge in a turbine wheel? C. A, P, 
“Oct. 8th ,—The turbine water-wheel, at forty-horse 
power, furnishing the motive power, for Patterson & 
Law’s foundry, at New Edinburgh, has been stopped by 
eels during the past two days. One of the eels taken 
out measured three feet eight inches in length, and over 
nin e inches in circumference. The blockade was perfect. 
The eels take lodging in the wheel when it is not in mo¬ 
tion. This is the second time this season that the wheel 
has been stopped from working through the same cause.” 
Guelph, Canada, Oct. 10th, 1879. 
Reply.— Instances, suoh as you relate, are not at all 
uncommon. Eels are fond of fish fry, and will follow 
them into the smallest rivulets. The eels which clog the 
turbine are in pursuit of food. Seth Green says: “ Eels 
are exceedingly destructive in all waters to which they 
have access, and it is impossible to keep them out, as they 
can go up the perpendicular sides of water-gates, aud 
possibly over the sides of the dam when wet with a heavy 
raid. The only plan is to use eel-pots, aud keep down 
their numbers as much as possible.” Eels are gregarious ; 
which accounts for their massing in such numhei-s as to 
clog the mill-wheel. 
And all in the Shell. —Bridgepoi't, Oct. 1 5th — 
There is an association of Fat Men who assemble every 
year at Norwalk to eat clams, and we hear fabulous ac¬ 
counts of what they can do in that respect. Shades of 
the mighty fat men grow pale! Behold, I affirm that 
I have this day removed and counted 723 clams eaten by 
a coot, which coot, plump and sleek, fell before deadly 
aim in Black Rock Harbor. Said clams I herewith pre¬ 
sent to the Forest and Stream, to he entered in the col¬ 
lection of your office. Geo. T. Lewis, M,D. 
Kite Mmncl 
THE LEONBERG DOG. 
St, John's, Newfoundland, Oct. 5th. 
I N Forest and Stream for May 8th, 1879,. the following 
extract from Land and Water: “ Such, in all proba¬ 
bility, is the Leonberg dog, about which so much has of 
late been written. I believe he is simply a big mongrel, 
a combination of Newfoundland, mastiff and deer-hound, 
or 6ome such other incongruous mixture.” 
The writer of the foregoing paragraph is altogether 
mistaken regarding the Leonberg breed of dogs ; and as 
we have here three specimens of these fine animals, of 
which I gave a very brief account in the issue of Forest 
and Stream of July 5th, 1877,1 now submit a more ex¬ 
tended description. 
The specimens I refer to were brought here by a friend 
of mine. Herr T. A. Verkruzen, of Frankfort on the 
Main, in 1877. They were then puppies of ten weeks 
old—two females and one male—andwere procured direct 
from Count EsBig, of Leonberg, Wurtemberg. the breeder 
of this new variety ; and were specially selected by him, 
-with the view of introducing the breed into this island, 
for further improvements by crossing, and in order to try 
the effect of our climate. Herr Verkruzen, who at no 
small trouble and expense procured these puppies, hoped 
to benefit the colony by the introduction of this valuable 
species into our island, where the genuine Newfoundland 
dog is almost extinct. Two or three friends united with 
me in taking charge of them. In a year they had grown 
to be magnificent animals, in regard’ to size and symme¬ 
try, and were the wonder and admiration of all lovers of 
dogs. Unfortunately we lost the male soon after, in con- 
sequenceof his swallowing a dose of strychnine wbiehae- 
cidentally came in his way. Count Essig, being informed 
of our loss by Herr Verkruzen, immediately forwarded 
another dog even finer than one whose premature death 
we had to deplore. This misfortune has delayed the I 
propagation of these animals somewhat, as they do not 
come to maturity till three years of age. The names of 
our Leonbergs are Marko, Diana, and Juno. Marko is now 
over a year old, and is a dog of immense size already, 
having a double or split nose, noble presence, most teach¬ 
able and sagacious, and very gentle and fond of children. 
Diana is admitted to be the "handsomest dog ever Seen 
here. She is 27 inches in height at the shoulder, 5 feet in 
length, and weighs 107 pounds. Juno is also a, fine dog, 
showing, in her split nose, a preponderance of the Pyr¬ 
enees wolf dog: very intelligent and an excellent watch 
dog. She has been the first to breed, her first litter being 
now eleven weeks old, and the sire being the largest and 
finest Newfoundland dog in St, John’s. Marko is yet too 
young for breeding purposes. Juno’s progeny are very 
promising, and will, when grown, show the effect of in¬ 
creasing the Newfoundland strain of the Leonberg dog. 
We have now fairly transplanted this valuable animal to 
the soil of Newfoundland, and in a short time the species 
will have multiplied considerably. In this climate they 
thrive admirably. Applications for puppies are already 
very numerous. In Europe a good specimen, duly trained, 
«ften sells for £50 sterling, and some of the finer animals 
have brought £100. The Prince of Wales has one of them 
which he highly prizes, and another is a favorite with the 
Empress of Austria. At tho leading dog shows of tile 
world the Leonberg dog has carried off the highest prizes. 
Their introduction here will ultimately prove to be of 
great benefit, and may yet entirely displace the wretched 
mongrel race we have now, and, as an article of com¬ 
merce, become even more valuable than our present pure¬ 
bred Newfoundland dogs. 
Count Essig in a letter to Herr Verkruzen gives the fol¬ 
lowing account of his dogs : — 
“ I beg to state that the breed I reared since 1846, is a 
result of a successful crossing of the Newfoundland dog 
with the original dogs of the St. Bernard Mount, which 
latter I have since improved by the great Wolf dog from 
the Pyrenees, whence the first Bernardino dogs originated. 
The Leonbergs are the largest race of long-haired dogs 
who unite sagacity with size and beauty. All European 
papers have favorably noticed my dogs, and given illus¬ 
trations and descriptions which prove the utility of tile 
race. For the first honorable mention of them I am in¬ 
debted to nislate Majesty King William of Wurtemberg. 
In 1855 a gentleman of Aix la Chapelle wrote to me : “I 
have received a kind of dog from you which I have been 
wanting for yearn, but could never meet with. -Two 
years ago J travelled to Italy, and crossed purposely over 
the St. Bernard’s Mount, to procure a dog thence, but 
found upon inspection that tile actual renowned race did 
no longer exist there, but were replaced by a commoner 
short-named animal. The same I found to be the case at 
the Convent of Mount Simplon, which I likewise visited. 
Subsequently I obtained a Newfoundland dog from the 
Zoological Gardens at Berlin, which did not answer jny 
expectations either ; but now I am suited, and you may 
rest assured that proper care aud attention wifi be paid 
to the dog.” The Rev. Deliquise, Friar of the St. Bernard 
Hospital, expressed in a letter to me his sorrow' that 
they only possessed one dog suitable for the service, 
and when I made them a present of two dogs, the Friar 
wrote to one afterwards that tho community of St. Ber¬ 
nard’s Mount had desired him to express their heartfelt 
gratitude, since they regarded the present as a great ser¬ 
vice rendered to the hospital. Subsequently a traveller 
was told by the Friar Christopher, after describing a snow 
storm in that place, that a stranger from Wurtemberg, 
(Essig) an experienced breeder of dogs, had ten years ago 
made a present to the hospital of a couple of his dogs. 
Who crossed with their old race, had produced an excellent 
breed of great strength and perseverance : and that the 
English Prince of Wales had got one of tlieir dogs, for 
winch he had made them a present of a piano from the 
factory of Erard, which agreeably shortened their long 
winter evenings. The Director of the Hospital of the 
St. Gothard’s Mount, Mr. Lombarne, wrote in 1868 to a 
friend at Leipsic, that, in place of the Barry race, which 
are no longer existing, they now had the good natured 
and superior dogs of the Baron Essig of Leonberg who 
acquitted themselves of their duties. 
“ At the first dog show in Germany the Hamburg re- 
poi't states that Baron Essig obtained the highest prizes 
for his Leonberg dogs, and carried the day over all oth¬ 
ers, which is the more remarkable as English dogs repre¬ 
senting the value of £1,000 entered into competition. The 
honor was all the greater as there were forty or fifty 
Newfoundland dogs at the exhibition. At all exhibitions 
since, viz., at Islington, London: Alteira, Berlin; Vienna, 
Paris, Baden and Lima, in Peru, my dogs have mostly 
carried off the highest prizes for excellency in form and 
size. The Suabian Mercury (newspaper) Nov. 15th, 1872, 
writes 1 We have mentioned before that the Leonberg 
dogs of Baron Essig are sent all over the world. This 
autumn three went to Kischineil, in Bessarabia, and we 
now learn by news from London that at the International 
Exhibition at Lima, in Peru, two of Essig’s dogs have 
fetched the first prize, consisting of a gold medal and 
money. This large, long-haired race of dogs has, like 
many things, become an article of luxury, and they are 
not only to be found in the country for’ watching pur¬ 
poses, hut especially in the palaces of the great, since 
from kind disposition they are great favorites, especially 
with the ladies. At the great dog show of Paris in 1873 
my dogs obtained the first prizes of two gold medals and 
two silver medals. My dOgs are great favorites of the 
Empress of Austria, who well knows how to value a dog’s 
good qualities, and has lately received the fifth dog from 
me. The Zoological Gardens of Brussels, Dresden, Frank¬ 
fort have had many dogs from me. 
“These dogs are not subject to madness, since hitherto 
no case has occurred, I often have dogs from thirty to 
thirty-six inches in height and above 100 pounds in 
weight, of great value. It may be necessary to state that 
the rearing and teaming of my dogs requiring two aud 
three years for their development, is associated with ex¬ 
pense and trouble, and requires perseverance and a love 
of the object in view. The colors of my dogs are white, 
with black spots, wolf-gray or black, the latter having 
frequently a double or split nose. They differ from other 
kinds, since owing to then- size they require a longer time 
for development, and they likewise”need a more indulgent 
treatment in their youth. Whilst other dogs are full 
grown at one year, this race requires three years to come 
to perfection,” 
I observe by Forest and Stream that the celebrated 
