966 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
on the 20th of July, the party continued the compaign 
till the 27th of November. During that time it surveyed 
4,300 square miles of new ground, which is an average of 
era of'where about forty square miles a day. This working 
party I lierefore, though probably not much more than one 
geologist strong, accomplished in three days as great an 
area of work as one of my colleagues finds it possible to 
accomplish in a year. Such rapid surveying can, of 
course, be regarded as furnishing merely' a kind of rough 
preliminary sketch of the geology of the territories, to 
serve as the basis for future detailed surveys. It may be 
taken as an example of broad generalized* field work on 
tbe one hand, while the geological survey of Britain 
Blands at the opposite extreme as a model of patient, 
elaborate detail. Obviously, such detail is, at present, 
wholly out of the question in Buch regions as those where 
Dr. Hayden is at work. He must be content to sltett b 
the main outlines ; and tire details in which he is fulfill- 
iug his task may be usually studied, not only by the be¬ 
ginner in field geology, but by practical surveyors, who 
will cheerfully recognize the masterly character of the 
work which their American brother of the. hammer is 
conducting.” 
This last sketch was written before the change of direc¬ 
torship in the American survey, and was delivered by 
Prof. Geikie as a part of a lecture before the University of 
Edinburgh, though now incorporated in his valuable 
work. 
Quite a number of the illustrations in the work are 
taken from those in use by the Geological Survey' of this 
country', and the author seems to take especial pains to 
compliment Dr. Hayden at every place possible. It may 
bi observed in conclusion, that Dr. Hayden is generally 
regarded in the Old World with more consideration than 
in the New. Indeed, itrealiy seems as if his name there 
is regarded as one of the brightest in our scientific firma- 
nent. In almost any other country than the United 
States, one who had served his country so honorably', 
and had tilled his post with such high distinction, would 
not be so ruthlessly pushed out and forgotten as Ur. Hay¬ 
den has been, but would be allowed to retain his place until 
death, as in the case of Sir William Logan, of the Cana¬ 
dian Geological Survey, Wm. Hosea Ballou, 
Do Black Snakes Eat Fish t—United States Com¬ 
mission Fish and Fisheries, Washington, Dee. 23 d, 1879. 
— Editor Forest and Stream:—! would like to ask Mr. Wm. 
Hosea Ballou, the author of the communication on the 
fish eating characteristics of black snakes, in Forestand 
Stream for November 27th, 1879, whether he is sure that 
the species referred to by him is the Coluber or Baseanion 
constrictor, or the black Bnake proper of naturalists. 
Black varieties of many species of colored snakes are 
common in the United Slates, and certain regions are 
known to abound in these more than others. Preemi¬ 
nent in this respect are the marshes along the south shores 
of the great lakes, especially' on Lake Erie, where, for 
instance, we have the black massasanga (Crotalophorus 
kirtlondi), the blade form of C. tergeminus, orprairierat¬ 
tlesnake, the Nerodia niger, a black race of the common 
water snake (N. Sipulori), and (less frequently perhaps,) 
one or two other kinds. Spencer F. Baird. 
Our correspondent, Mr. Wm. A. My'nster, writing from 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, give3 it as his opinion that black 
snakes do eat fish, but lias made no observations which 
directly support this view. He says, however:— 
1 know by experience that laying hens thrive on fish 
for 1 had 2,600 land-lock salmon consumed in that way', 
and I presumed by one old hen, as she is the only one I 
ever caugnt at it. When I discovered her she was wallt- 
ing quite leisurely up stream in one of my hatching 
troughs, pecking away with bare feet in the water, at 
that. In view of this, why should not the black snake 
indulge also. _ 
Beavers in the Isle of Bote.— Our readers will recall 
the experiment noted by us a year ago, of the Marquis of 
Bute, who some years since introduced into the Isle of 
Bute, a colony of beavers. The Isle of Bute, in the Fri th of 
Clyde, Scotland, is a mountainous and rugged land inter¬ 
spersed with undulating hills and pretty lakes. We are 
pleased to clip from the London Field the following news 
of the success of the Marquis’ attempt:— 
The lately-attempted re-introduction of the beaver into 
Scotland by the Marquis of Bute, deserves here a pass¬ 
ing notice. 
In a solitary pine wood near Eotliesay, in the Isle of 
Bute, a space of ground has been walled in so that the 
beavei's cannot escape, and through this beaver’s park 
runs a mountain stream. Left to themselves, they have 
quite altered the appearance of this stream, for they 
have built no fewer than three dams across it; the lowest 
is the largest and most firmly, constructed, as it would 
seem the beavers were fully aware that it would have 
to bear the greatest pressure of water. In order to 
strengthen this dam, these intelligent animals surported 
the down-stream surface of it with props of strong bough?, 
as artfully secured as though a human engineer had been 
at work. Immediately above this the beavers have con¬ 
structed their hut or home, consisting apparently of 
a large heap of drift wood ; upon examination however 
it appears l.liat the sticks have been placed with regular- 
ity and order, so that the general appearance of the hut 
is’not unlike that of a bird’s nest turned upside down. 
The beavers have cut down a good many trees in their 
park, gnawing a wedge-shaped gap into one side of tbe 
tree uutii it totteva, and then going round to the other 
Bide and gnawing the only portion of wood which pre¬ 
vents it from falling. If the felled log is too heavy for 
transport, they cut it into pieces, which they roll away 
separately. Although there have been one or two 
deaths, it is satisfactory to learn that these beavers have 
bred in the island since their introduction. When we 
1 1 ,st heard of them in December, 1877, there were twelve 
known to be alive. They were reported to be very shy 
retireing into their hut or into the water at the least 
alarm. Besides what vegetable food they pick up, they 
are fed principally with willow boughs, the bark of which 
they strip off with the neatness of a basket-maker. 
This is not the only experiment, however, which lias 
beemnadeof late years in the reintroduction of beavers 
n this country. A similar attempt has been made in 
Suffolk. Some heavers were turned down by Mr. Barnes, 
of Sotherley Park, Wangford, and, on their dams being 
destroyed as an eye-sore, they stayed further down the 
stream which runs through the park. They were there 
two winters, and bred, having three or four young ones. 
Two of those which strayed, were killed at Benacre in the 
spring of 1873, and one’ was captured. They began to 
build a lodge in the West Bush against Benacre Broad, 
did no damage to trees, but destroyed some underwood. 
This third beaver seems to have been also killed. Two of 
the three were sent to London to be stuffed for Lady 
Gooch, and the head-keeper took the sldn of the third. 
It is interesting to find that, but for the interference of 
man, beavers would still thrive in our climate, as we 
learn from geology and history theygformerly did. 
Albino Colaptes Auratus.— Elk Lick, Pa., Dee. 20th 
1879.—A correspondendent in a recent Forest and 
Stream tells of an albino blackbird. The writer once saw 
a.n albino yellow hammer, or flicker, in Western Penn¬ 
sylvania. It was so exceedingly wild from repeated ef¬ 
forts to shoot it that it finally became impossible to ap¬ 
proach it within even long range. An albino blackbird 
seems a commoner thing than this white flicker. Albino 
robins are not extremely rare ; that is, they are plentier 
than other ornithological albinos. 
Howard Miller. 
#4 §ultui c. 
y FISH FUNGUS AND ITS REMEDY. 
T HERE is scarcely any one engaged in fish culture, 
who has not had to combat with this dreaded 
disease, both in the nursery and ponds ; and perhaps there 
is no one cause that is more destructive of fishes of all 
ages than fungus, be it in the artificial reserve or in nat¬ 
ural waters. Tills being the case, we are naturally led to 
inquire into its cause, The writer's first experience with 
this disease was in the fall Of 1878, since which time he 
has been investigating its cause and endeavoring to ascer¬ 
tain a remedy; in both of which he has succeeded. It is 
generally conceded that this disease is caused by a micro- 
fungus known as Saproligniei, This cryptogarnic plant 
is aquatic, and causes the disease by attracting itself to 
the fish as a parasite; but there seem to be some diver¬ 
sity of opinion as to whether the disease is contagious 
and capable of being communicated by the affected fish 
during life and at ter death, and on these questions the 
writer assumes the negative. 
It is generally conceded that the fungus first attacks 
those fish that have in some way been injured, and 
usually the male. This is because the injury has caused 
a garden Bpot, so to speak, conducive to the growth of 
the fnngus spores. The Fungi is a large family, of very 
voracious habits, some varieties being non-parasitic, 
others growing only on plants ; a.nd others again only on 
animal life. It matters not how numerous may be the 
spores, they reproduce only where they have attached 
themselves to such places as are conducive to them 
growth. In fact, the more limited the habitat of the 
species the greater its fecundity. If this disease is not 
caused by wounds, as above stated, why is it that all fish 
in streams or ponds are not attacked at or about the 
same time, when the whole water and even atmosphere 
are impregnated with the germs of this plant ? Can this 
be explained philosophically in any other way than by 
concluding that the plant can only grow as a parasite, 
when it has found a wound or injury upon which to fas¬ 
ten itself? If it be true then, that only those fish are 
attacked in the first instance that have in some way 
been wounded or have had a scale removed, notwith¬ 
standing the water may bo filled with fungus germs, then 
why should this disease l>e communicated By affected 
fish, either living or dead? The writer lias made some¬ 
what extended observations of fish affected with fungus, 
both of the salmonidse family and of the common fish 
indigenous to this country. He had some eight hundred 
natives in a small body of water formed by damming a 
spring brook, which were kept only for the purpose of 
studying their habits, mode of living, etc. These fish 
were all caught from sloughs in this vicinity, and of 
course were more or less injured by the nets and other 
implements used in their capture, in a very short time 
after their being placed in tbis water it was noticed 
that they began to be affected with fungus. The first 
at tacked were those that had been most severely injured. 
The fungus appeared in small spots and finally spread 
itself over a largo portion of the body, enveloping the 
greater part of the fish, and not infrequently growing 
into the gill organs. Finally some were attacked that 
were only very siightly injured. The fish thus diseased 
were invariably permitted to remain in the water until 
they died, and then were very frequently permitted to 
remain for several days, after which they were removed, 
the fungus partially rubbed off, and the surface of the 
fish examined under a lens. In no case was a fish found 
that had not in some way been injured. Some fish were 
removed from the water while yet alive, the greater por¬ 
tion of the fungus rubbed off, and lunar caustic, applied, 
in which cases they all recovered excepting when the 
fish had been so completely Covered with fungus that it 
died during the operation. After a time all the fish that 
had been in any way injured died, with the exception of 
those cured aB above stated, on which all traces of tbe 
disease disappeared. 
Had this disease been capable of communication except¬ 
ing in cases of wounds and injuries, in the opinion of the 
writer all the fish confined in this place must have been 
attacked by it. 
The writer has something like forty-five thousand 
Salmo quinnat. These have been on various occasions 
attacked by fungus the same as were the natives, in 
which instances it has been wholly confined to a few 
that had in some way become severely injured, and after 
their death all traces of the disease disappeared. 
But by far the most fatal form of fungus that the wri¬ 
ter has encountered has been where the disease was con¬ 
fined to t he gills. My personal observation is, that this 
disease makes its appearance in the fall of the year in 
those salmon that have attained sufficient age to milt 
(as to spawners 1 cannot-say, as I have not had any). My 
fish have had this disease for the last two seasons. On 
the first occasion I found that my fish began dying, but 
151 
I did not know the cause; and in every instance goo- r 
removing the dead fish they were found to contain® ty-\ 
very large amount of milt. In many instances the at a’ 
-ery large amount of milt. In many ___ .. 
would flow from quite a small fish nearly a wine gla’ical 1 
full. This continued for some time, until finally Hone 
cause of death was discovered, and the remedy used thaon- 
will be hereafter referred to. On examining these fishhe 
closely the gills were found to be completely filled vvitBm 
fungus to such a degree as to stop respiration and tbusty 
cause death. On both of the occasions mentioned, byte 
making a close observation of the fish as they swam in: 
the ponds one could discover thousands thus affected.. 
They could be discovered by the operculum presenting a 
swollen appearance. The fish thus affected on both 
occasions proved to be male fish and filled with milt. On 
no occasion was a female found with this disease, and in, 
every instance was the, disease confined to the gills. Now 
why was this, if fungus can he communicated by a dis¬ 
eased fish ? But it may be asked, if the theory advanced 
by this article is true, how came, these male fish to have- 
fungus ? The answer is, that the abdominal cavity being- 
suff used by the milt, it caused the gills to be crowded: 
against the processes on the branchial arch, thus punc¬ 
turing the gills and thereby rendering them susceptible: 
to fungus. In order that fungus may come it is not 
necessarv that wounds should be large or severe, although 
it will undoubtedly first make its appearance where the 
wounds are most severe. This will probably account for- 
thefact til at in rivers and natural streams tbe male sal- 
•e first attacked by fungus, and where the females 
are also attacked it may be caused by slight wounds, 
scarcelv perceptible to the naked eye, or to punctures on. 
the gill caused by the suffusion of the abdomen, as before 
explained. But, it may be asked, why are young fry 
attacked by this disease ? The answer is, that their gills 
are not perfectly formed, and being delicate organs are 
easily irritated and injured by the minute foreign sub¬ 
stances found in all water. 
In conclusion, the writer will say, that he will warrant 
the treatment mentioned in his paper delivered before 
the Central Fish Association, held at Chicago, to cure 
any case of fungus within forty-eight horn s after treat¬ 
ment. The remedy is salicylic acid and soda borax,, 
equal parts; mix these two powders well together, as. 
the former unmixed is not soluble in water; then dis¬ 
solve in a little water, after which add more ; with this, 
medicate yourwater until it is barely brackish. Since 
the dale of that meeting, he has had occasion during the- 
past fall to use the treatment, and the use was attended, 
by the very best results. Tbe only thing that will now 
be added to the treatment Is, that af ter using the same, 
as directed, use salt copiously; thiswillhealall wounds. 
The healing properties of salt is probably the- reason: 
why fish in salt water are not afflicted with fungns. 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. W. A. Mynster. 
We need scarcely call attention to the foregoing plaint 
and intelligent account of the author’s personal observa¬ 
tions, as a model way of discussing such vexed questions, 
as that of fish fungus. It is the report of what a man 
has really seen with his own eyes, heard with his own 
ears or felt with his own hands, that tells in science. We 
should be pleased to have such straightforward, practical 
papers from other fish culturists upon this or other topics,. 
The Use of Tar. — Rochester. Dec. 26th, 1879.—I see 
there is quite a discussion going on through the papers 
as to who first used gas tar on fish-hatching works. I 
used it iu the year 1854 on my screens in my ponds. Then 
I put it on hot. I used it on the outside and on the 
sieving of my shad-hatching boxes, in the year 1868. I 
thinned the tar by using one-third turpi ntine, and put it. 
on with a brush. * I have used it ever since in all my 
hatching works. Seth Green. 
Land-Locked Salmon for New York.— Mr. Eugene- 
G. Blackford, of the State Fish Commission, will have 
during the latter part of this week at Fulton Market, 
this city, 10,000 eggs of the land-locked salmon for distri¬ 
bution in the State of New York. 
gen mid givey 'gishimj. 
FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 
southern 
nnpauo, TracMnotmcarotinus. I 
rum (two species). Family 
ScUmulw. 
ingfish, Menticirrus ne.liulunun. 
;a Bass, Scimnops oceltatvs. 
ic-epshead, Archoeargus pniba- 
tocephatm. 
Ipper, Luljanvs blackfordii. 
Fishing Resorts. -Attention i 
1 Game Baa and ffttw columns. 
WATERS. 
Grouper, Epmcphelpvs rtigritwf. 
Trout (black bass), Cenlrorpris- 
lix atrartm. 
Striped Bass, or Rockflsb, Roc- 
cus tinea l-ue. 
Tailm-flsh, l uinaUmnis saltatrtx. 
Black Bass, Micruptents soimot- 
des; 
: invited to Hie notice at the head 
Fish in Market-Retail Prices.— Bass, 25c.; smelts, large, 
15c.; smelts, green, 15c.; bluefish, too.; salmon, frozen, 30c.; maolc- 
erol, large, 25c.; shtul, Southern, each $1; green turtle, JSc.; ter¬ 
rapin, $20 per dozen; frost fish, 6c.; halibut, 18c.; haddock, 8c.: 
codlish, heads off, 8c.; heads oil. 6c.; blacJifish, large, 121c.; floun¬ 
ders, large, 16 e.; sea bass, 18o.; eels, large, dressed, 18c.; lobsters,, 
live, 10c.; boiled, 12e.; scollops, per gallon, $1.50; soft dams, per 
100, 30c.; large, 60c,: whiteflsh, 18c.; pickerel, 18c.: salmon trout, 
IHo.; black bass, 18c.; hard oralis, per dozen, 86c.; soft crabs, per 
dozen, $1.50; red snappers, ISO. 
Fish are in plentiful supply, especially smelts, cod and rod 
snappers, _ 
i A Large Score.— T. J. Valkenburgh, a well known 
sportsman of Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y. has kept a 
careful score of his work for the last season, and the re¬ 
sult shows that New York anglers need not go out of their 
own State, to find plenty of reward for then- labor. The 
record is as follows:—I have fished in the Oswego river, 
not passing outside of the corporation of Fulton, a.t fly 
fishing alone, four hours per day of twelve hours each, 
from May 20th to Oct. 22, at odd intervals as I have 
found time. Have been out 45 different days, or 180 
hours, or 15 actual days’ work. Have kept correct record 
