ZOOLOGY. 118 
New England are very limited, only two or three having as yet 
been found, but in the central, north-western and southern states 
they are far more numerous, and the Ohio valley seems from pres- 
ent data to be the great centre of distribution of the group. 
The method of preserving fishes is looked upon by persons not 
familiar with collecting as a difficult operation, and has always 
been a “bugbear” in the way of securing specimens of the class, 
I therefore offer the following simple means of preserving any 
small fish. If you intend collecting largely and are provided with 
a small seine or good hand or minnow net, it is best to go well 
prepared with vessels in which to place your captures, and for this 
purpose any strong bottles, jars or cans answer well. Pickle jars 
with good corks, or some of the patent preserve jars or cans are 
excellent, and handy to carry in basket, bag or pocket. Always, 
when you start out, have the collecting jars about one-third or one- 
half full of aleohol or unrectified whiskey (high wines), or if these 
can not be had readily, take common drinking whiskey or almost 
any spirit, as a substitute. When you get the specimens put them 
at once into the spirit before they have a chance to harm their fins 
and scales by thrashing about in the net or on the shore. It is al- 
ways my plan to put the specimens I want to preserve immediately 
into my collecting jars from the net, not allowing them the slight- 
est chance to get injured, and as the alcohol kills them almost in- 
stantly they are not harmed by dying, as is the case when left to 
die on land or in a pail of water as is so often done. By pur- 
suing this course any fishes captured at the same time, and not 
wanted, can be returned to the river. When one wishes to study 
any species alive, the best way is to put two or three specimens 
only in a jar or pail to take home for the purpose, for if more are 
placed in one jar they will almost invariably die before being able 
to reach home with them. 
While collecting you can fill your jars to the brim with speci- 
mens, provided you put them in alive and tip the jars as they are 
filled so that the spirits will come in immediate contact with the 
specimens as they are put in, but after you get home it is best either 
to add more spirit to the jar, or if weak spirits have been used 
pour it all off and fill the jar as full as you can with specimens 
without jamming them and then pour in all the spirits you can; 
tuck in a little soft paper, or rags, to stop the top ones from shifting 
about, and wrapping your bottles in paper or cloth put them in 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. VI. 
