BOOK NOTICES. 



UNWISE ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Eugene McCarthy, the old time cham- 

 pion of the ouananiche, has written another 

 book dealing with that famous fish, as well 

 as with the brook trout. The title of the 

 book is "A Tale of Lake St. John," and 

 the title page says it comprises a bit of 

 history, a quantity of facts and a plentitude 

 of fish stories. This is certainly a compre- 

 hensive and most enticing field, and Mr. 

 McCarthy is so thoroughly at home in the 

 Lake St. John region, and so expert in 

 the handling of both the pen and the rod, 

 that he could not fail to render such a 

 theme deeply interesting. 



The book is beautifully illustrated with 

 half tone reproductions of photographs. 

 The frontispiece shows a pretty girl in the 

 act of casting a fly in the rapids of a Cana- 

 dian river. Her costume is so neat and 

 comfortable, and the surroundings so pic- 

 turesque, that it should inspire thousands 

 of women, whose nerves are racked by 

 family cares and social whirls, to seek the 

 wilderness and do as this woman is doing. 



There is another full page picture of 

 another pretty girl, or possibly the same 

 one, kneeling beside a caribou which she 

 is supposed to have killed. 



There are several fine views of Lake St. 

 John scenery, and of camps, fishing parties, 

 etc., that are exceedingly refreshing in 

 these winter days, when we are confined 

 to the house by the edict of Jack Frost. 



Mr. McCarthy has, however, 'unfor- 

 tunately reproduced 2 pictures here that 

 should not have been admitted to any such 

 work. One is entitled "A 4 Hours' Catch 

 of Ouananiche" and shows 14 fish, which 

 would apparently weigh 2 to 3 pounds 

 each. The other picture is labeled "A 

 Trout Catch for 2," and shows 61 trout that 

 would seem to weigh from one-half pound 

 to 3 pounds each, These illustrate the 

 same kind of extravagant slaughter, and 

 the same disgusting advertising of it, that 

 is so rigorously condemned by all decent 

 anglers. 



In spite of these defects, Mr. McCar- 

 thy's book is well worth the price, and 

 should be in the hands of every lover of 

 the rod and reel. For sale by the author, 

 Eugene McCarthy, Syracuse, N. Y. Price, 

 25 cents. 



DINWTDDIE'S PUERTO RICO. 



Since Puerto Rico came into the pos- 

 session of the United States no fewer than 

 6 books treating of the island have made 

 their appearance. In many respects the 

 best of these is that by William Dinwiddie, 



who, under the direction of Harper & 

 Brothers, spent 2 months on the island. 

 During that time he was constantly in 

 touch with the leading Spanish citizens 

 and native Puertoriquenos, who were im- 

 porters, manufacturers, shopkeepers, estate 

 owners, lawyers and politicians, and he 

 has, by the aid of the varying opinions 

 elicited, embodied in this book a crystal- 

 lization of the most valuable ideas ex- 

 pressed. He treats, in order, the preva- 

 lent diseases and hygienic precautions, the 

 geology, industrial possibilities, including 

 coffee, sugar and tobacco culture, and 

 fruit raising, home life, life among the 

 peasants, the principal cities, schools, rev- 

 enues and taxes, courts, political methods, 

 and, in closing, gives an interesting his- 

 torical sketch. All these subjects are 

 treated intelligently and fully, and the con- 

 clusions may be accepted as reliable. The 

 book is tastefully gotten up and is beauti- 

 fully illustrated with about 50 photographs 

 taken by the author. 



Puerto Rico, its Conditions and Possibili- 

 ties. By William Dinwiddie. 8vo, pp. 

 294. Price, $2.50. Harper & Brothers. 

 New York. 



The report of the New York State Fish, 

 Game and Forest Commission for 1897 has 

 just, appeared. It is a voluminous affair, 

 on good paper, well bound and profusely 

 illustrated. By far the best part of the 

 report is by Colonel William Fox on the 

 maple sugar industry and other forest 

 topics. The State of New York owes a 

 debt of gratitude to Colonel Fox, who has 

 worked long and assiduously for the pres- 

 ervation of the forests of this State. His 

 article on the maple sugar industry is with- 

 out doubt the best in every way that has 

 ever been written on the subject. It is il- 

 lustrated by several handsome half-tones, 

 and should be reprinted separately and dis- 

 tributed throughout the State to those who 

 are unable to secure or not desirous of 

 having the whole report. It would induce 

 many farmers throughout the State of 

 New York to take more interest in their 

 sugar maple groves. 



A revised and enlarged edition of "The 

 Essentials of Elocution," by Alfred Ayres, 

 contains new chapters on thought and ex- 

 pression which add greatly to the value 

 of the book. Mr. Ayres is, of course, rec- 

 ognized as the leading authority of this 

 country on elocution and kindred subjects. 

 The book is for sale by Brentano, New 

 York. 



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