FOKEST AND STREAM. 



23 



Sfflt Jl«%f 



FISH IN THE CHEMUNG. 



Deak Sib- i know you will be kind enough to give us your 

 ppiruonas bo the next best stock to transfer to our stream— that 

 is, the Chemung River. About rive years ago this stream was 

 Stocked with WaCk buss, and the fishing is Simply immense. In 

 a space of twelve miles on the Chemung the fishermen catch 

 with hook and line not less Own three hundred bass daily which 

 many pounds in weight. They run from a half 

 pound to two and a half pounds, They are fished for with 

 Uohsons and oralis, and no other fish in the stream seerns to he 

 caught. 11' we could Stock the stream with some other good 

 fish, tin lellingthe fishermen to change their bait, 



y/ti might be sueeeessfitl in protecting the bass." Our stream 

 is alive with those ftsh, and then- is nothing else fished for. 

 To describe that stream, you may judge, tor yourself what is 

 best to transfer. It is rocky gravel bottom, with numerous 

 rapids, and in all quite a rapid stream, with very few dams, 

 wnich are always accessible in high water. Is there any 

 ies of salmon that would do well? (Several gentlemen who 

 great interest in the protection of those fish wished me 

 to write you and gut your advice, Hoping you will be kind 

 enough lo return answer soon, that wemay decide what to do, 

 We remain respectfully yours, 



Max llaiglu, Henry Jones, Oscar Bendy, James Sergford, 



Jerome 8. Hill, ami many others. 



Mm&ra, JV. )"., Jvfy 17, f.N77. 



TUB KK1T.V. 



Gentlemen— There is no other kind of lish that would be 

 suitable for your river; any other kinds would do more hurt 

 than good, for they would cat the young bass. 



The bass do not need any other protection, except to not 

 take them or allow them to be taken in any other manner 

 than with rod and line, and not take them during spawning 

 season. They spawn in this part of the .State between June 

 15th and July 15th. Protect them during the above time 

 and you will have plenty of bass as long as you proceed in 

 this way. 



If you allow eel weirs and nets to be used you will not have 

 any bass ; and if any parties use eel weirs or nets stop them 

 before they take all the bass— in other words, "lock your 

 stable door before the horse is stolen." I am very much 

 pleased to hear of the great success in stocking your river. 

 Vou are one of the many that I get favorable reports from. 



5fOurs, Sh'J>h (iitEjfiX. 



Hodiester, July 31, 1ST?. 



■a Frsn m Pei.iiam Brook,.— In June, 187:3, 1 placed a few 

 hundred young salmon in the Bronx River, below White 

 Plains, and as many more in Hutchinson's, or Pelnatn Brook, 

 which Hows into Long Island Sound at J'eluam Bridge, West- 

 chester County. 1 deposited the little fellows, in each case, in 

 litt e shallow spring runlets, whence in 1874, with hook and 

 line, I took several, averaging the length of your hand. In 

 lS7o, and since, f could find none, hence I conctude that they 

 all went to sea in the fall of 1S74 and spring of 1876. Will 

 you kindly request any of your readers wno may r live near 

 i'elhani Brook or West JTaxms estuaries to communicate to you 

 any news of tin; return of these tialmo solar in the shape of 

 grilse i They snouid be heard from soon. Manhattan. 

 }'<»-/l, Aug. 7. 



*\ Fish Culture in Virginia. — A correspondent in Rock- 

 bridge Oounty r , Virginia, Avrites : 



" The good results of the work of State Fish Commissions 

 are now being shown. Large numbers of bass are now being 

 taken in the Upper James and in the Jackson River, in the 

 the vicinity of Clifton Forge, \a. The Board of Supervisors of 

 our county have taken steps to carry the law into effect in 

 regard to the placing of fish ladders on all fish streams in the 

 country. T. R. Q. 



Transporting Fey.— As there is a vast difference of 

 opinion in regard to the capacity necessary for the transporta- 

 tion of one million young whitellsh, I having had the experi- 

 ence during the past season of transporting to three different 

 localities the number above mentioned, and that by steamboat 

 on Luke Michigan, which afforded the most favorable 

 circumstances, I found it necessary to use fifteen fifty-quart 

 cans and nine barrels, to enable us to transport them, with the 

 lake water at our command, and that it avouM require at least 

 one-third more room to carry the same amount any great dis- 

 tance by rail. H. W. Webster, 



Sup't Wis. Fishery Oomniission. 

 liochesier, W. F,, July 31. 



New Hampshire.— 100,000 shad have been placed in the 

 Merrimack River, where the Contooeookville River unites 

 with it. This is the second hundred thousand this season. 



—The shipment, of Avhitefish and trout eggs, elk, deer, 

 .grouse, etc., from the United States to NeAV Zealand is one of 

 the interesting phases of the acclimatizing work as now 

 carried on between different countries. 



—One hundred thousand shad from the South lladley Falls, 

 Mass.. hatching establishment, have recently been placed in 

 the Mississippi River at St. Paul. 



. ,-V-r _ 



— The Green River, at Mumfordville, Ky., has been stocked 

 with 100,000 young white shad. 



— The Fish epidemic has broken oul at Silver Lake, N. Y., 

 and great numbers of lish are dying, 



hihtnil 



HYBRIDS. 



We take pleasure in printing the following discussion of the 

 "hybrids," recently referred loin this journal. Prof. Gill is 

 certainly qualified to speak with authority in this matter, and 

 we presume that his dictum will be accepted as final. Such a 

 hybrid as claimed would be a physiological impossibility : 

 Smithsonian Institute, ) 

 Washington, July 14, 1877. i" 

 Editor Fokkst and Stream : 



Apropos of the alleged hybrid between a cat and a racsoou 

 noticed in your issues of June 21 and July 12, I would inform 

 you that a similar "production" was heralded in "The. Ameri- 

 can Naturalist " for October, 1871, by no less a man than Col. 

 T. W. 1 iiggiuson. As paragraphs respecting wonderful hybrids 

 had been going the rounds of the papers at that period for 

 some time, I considered it a kind of duty to enter a protest 

 against belief in such monstrosities, and took- the occasion of 

 the publication by such a responsible man in a periodical of 

 such established scientific nature as the "Naturalist" to do SO, 

 As a, like reason now exists, 1 send Herewith the article there 

 published, which equally applies to the case in question, which 

 you arc at liberty to republish if yon think proper. It need 

 only lie premised that the animal examined by Col. Higginson 

 was seen a! Taunton, Mass., and was said to have been born 

 in China, Maine : 



Editors of the Naturalist.— \ find in the number of the "Natu- 

 ralist" for (Oct. 1 871, vol. li, p. (160) which has just come to hand 

 a notice by Col. Higginson, endorsed by Prof. Jenks, of an 

 alleged hybrid between a. raccoon and cat, which is extremely 

 tantalizing. No information as to the structural characteris- 

 tics of the animal is given, and scarcely any as to other points, 

 and yet it is not too much to say that the authentication of 

 such hybridity r would revolutionize physiology, for certainly 

 nothing like it has hitherto been made known. Remarkable 

 as was the alleged hybridity between the ram and doe roe- 

 buck (Capreolus curapeus) recorded by llellenius, it 

 pales into insignificance when compared with hybridity 

 between the cat and raccoon. We have, in the 

 last mentioned animals, not only representatives of 

 distinct genera and families, but of primary groups (Su- 

 perfamihes) of the fissipede carnivores, characterized by 

 differences of as great morphological value, as, for example, 

 those between the horse and rhinoceros: those differences, in 

 the animals in question, are exhibited especially in the osseous, 

 digestive, and generative systems, and it is therefore desirable 

 to know in what manner these systems are modified in the 

 supposed hybrid ; the living animal could readily be examined 

 as to its dentition (the number of the molar teeth and their 

 characteristics), the feet (whether digitigrade or plantigrade 

 and whether tetradactyle or pentadactyle), the head (whether 

 abbreviated and cat-line, reflecting the diminished number of 

 teeth, or whether prolonged into an attenuated muzzle), and 

 especially the character of the snout, whiskers, the claws, the 

 tail and the pelage. The very A'aguo information that has 

 been furnished respecting the form, Avalk, tail and pelage is 

 very insufficient, and convej T s no dear idea as to the animal's 

 peculiarities. No clear idea, either, is obtained by the mere 

 reader from the statement that "the animal Avhen taken up by 

 the tail, turned upon the aggressor Avith a fury far beyond thas 

 of a common cat." Although my experience with cats under 

 such conditions has been limited, I caunot conceive how more 

 fury can be manifested than I have seen exhibited by one cat 

 when subjected to such an interesting experiment. A clue is 

 indeed furnished by the opening paragraph of Col. Higgin- 

 son's remarks, namely, that the animal "struck [him] at first 

 as being the handsomest cat [he] had ever beheld," and after 

 this significant admission, it is more than probable that its 

 characters Avould only require to be contrasted with those of 

 an ordinary cat. It may be added that the AA T ild cat (Lynx 

 rufus) has "pointed and tufted ears " (which the raccoon has 

 not) and hybridity between a domestic eat and lynx Avould 

 not be improbable.* My acquaintance with you, Messrs. Edi- 

 tors, assures me that you must have entertained considerable 

 doubt respecting the reliability of such an account, although 

 you have made no comments, and you Avould confer a boon 

 on science if you would procure a piwtograph — not a draw- 

 ing Avhich might reflect, unintentionally, the imagination 

 of the artist — of the animal in question. Until better 

 evidence than has yet been brought forward is of- 

 fered, naturalists will not only be excused for doubting any 

 such hybridity, but would be inexcusable for not doubting it, 

 and you, gentlemen, will, I doubt not, concur in this senti- 

 ment. 1 scarcely need remind you of the physical difficulty a 

 male raccoon and a female cat would encounter in the prose- 

 cution of their amours, and that therefore if such a monstrous 

 union were possibte, the marriage must be between a cat and 

 female raccoon. But until most cogent evidence is adduced, 

 I must remain sceptical as to the possibility of any fruitful 

 union whatever. 



Of course, no reflection is cast upon the eminent gentlemeu 

 who published the account of the remarkable animal, and Avho 

 have only repeated Avhat they heard ; they, probably not 

 being very familiar with the order of mammals in question, 

 naturally believed in and reflected the opinions of others. 

 My only object in this communication is to elicit more evi- 

 dence Avhile it may readily be obtained, and I may be allowed 

 to express the hope that when the animal — happily for the in- 

 terest of science ! — dies, it may be reserved for a more worthy 

 fate than to leave its skin stuffed for a museum : it should, of 

 course, be submitted to the examination of a critical anato- 

 mist. 



In conclusion, a few words respecting the nature of the 

 evidence required in alleged cases of hybridity may be 

 serviceable. In view of the constant statements respecting 

 hybrids circulated in various publications, affirmations 

 aiid beliefs are not sufficient. Hybrids partake of 

 characters peculiar to each parent, but modified by the sex 

 of each parent. Therefore all the men of China might swear 

 they saw a cat and raccoon in coitu (and in view of the 

 strength of the sexuaf instinct, the allegation might not be 

 wholly incredible), and all the men of Taunton might swear 

 that they believed that the offspring of one of the animals Avas 

 the result of such amours (and in view of the credulity of man 



* it is, of course, not suggested that the animal in question in neces- 

 sarily a hybrid at all, much less between the cat, and lynx ; the charac- 

 ter of the tail alone rendering such origin highly improbable; it la 

 merely inteuueu to indicate within what limits uybrulity might be 

 credible. 



aud thi respecting nature, the reality of 



such belief would be quite credible I) but all such affirmations 

 and beliels would not meet the requisites of the case, 

 the offspring shared characteristics of each parent, and even 

 if it Avert; further sworn that the female had been precluded 

 from intercourse with another animal, it would be no further 

 evidence, for unless the allegation should be confirmed by the 

 characteristics of the animal, we would still have truthful 

 aud infallible nature against at least fallible man.— TheodOee 

 Gill. 



The editor of the JVaturalist prefaced this communication 

 with the following remarks : 



" HviiRios.— Simply remarking that we strongly suspected 

 that the supposed hybrid between the cat and raccoon was 

 nothing more than a cross between an Angola and a common 

 gray cat, a variety that is well known in this vicinity (Salem, 

 Mass.), and in everyway corresponding to the description 

 given, and we thought it beatto let the communication printed 

 in the October number call forth comments on this oft recur- 

 ring question of hybrids; avc accordingly give the following 

 careful summary of the subject with thanks to Dr. (fill for 

 treating if in so concise a manner.— Eds." 



On subsequent inquiry I ascertained, as 1 had suspected, 

 that the animal was nothing but a fine Angola cat, and it was 

 said the offspring of an individual brought from "Africa" by 

 the captain of ,-i trading vessel. 



Of course f cannot admit the possibility of the animal 

 alluded to by C C. S. being a hybrid, or having any inter- 

 mediate characters between the cat and raccoon. 



Tnuo. Utll. 



Vends' SmvEBBS.— Mr, F. Buckland, in Land and Water, 

 says: " These slippers are far more, beautiful than anything 

 ever yet turned out in the workshop of a London or Parisian 

 ladies' bootmaker. They are found floating far out at sea in 

 the Mediterranean, on the French coast. Each slipper is 

 about an inch and a half in length, and half an inch in the 

 widest part, They are of a lovely glass-like consistence, and 

 in certain light .resplendent like jelly fish. They are the 

 shape of a handsome shoe ; the edge of the shoe projects in a 

 very ornamental dentated margin, and the toe part is highly 

 ornamental, as if with embroidery insertion. Mr. iff. Latham 

 says : ' It is a kind of jelly lish ; I have had considerable dif- 

 ficulty in finding out its real nature. At. last I ascertained 

 that it is one of the pteropodat, or Aviug-fooled molluscs.' The 

 Rev. J. Wood writes: ' These are so called from the fin-like 

 lobes that project from the sides, and are evidently analogous 

 to the similar organs in some of the sea snails. These appen- 

 dages are used almost like Aviugs, the creature flapping its Avay 

 vigorously through the water, just as a. butterfly urges its 

 devious course through the air. They are found in the 

 hotter seas, swimming boldly in vast multitudes amid the 

 Avidc Avaters, and one species has long been celebrated as fur- 

 nishing the huge Greenland whale with the greater part of its 

 subsistence. The scientific name of it is oymbulia, so called 

 on account of its being so like a boat.' 



' ' These slippers of the Marine Venus are so beautiful in 

 form and structure that I propose, if possible, to have a model 

 of them cut in crystal. In the form of ear rings they would 

 make very pretty ornaments, as showing the ckaicssure of Cin- 

 derella of the Ocean." 



SHARKS. 



In the absence of any work treating on Squakda, or sharks, 

 to instruct me, what I have to say in relation to these sea 

 monsters must be mainly based upon personal experience and 

 observation. The principal varieties met with on our coasts 

 are the blue, mackerel, switch-tail, shovel-nose, hammer-head 

 sharks, the little dog fish or dog shark, and occasionally— no 

 mean member of the family— the white, shark. These dis- 

 tinguishing names are mostly derived from some peculiarity 

 of form or color of the fish. All the species have a rough 

 skin resembling sand paper to the touch, and the top fluke of 

 the tail is longer than the under, which, feature is so wonder- 

 fully marked in the switch-tail that this organ is often as long 

 as the remainder of the fish, and at once stamps him among 

 his species. Their mouths, circular or convex in form, open 

 so far under and behind the end of the nose, that they cannot 

 seize things above them without turning upon their back ; and 

 their jaAvs are armed with numerous rows of sharp lanceolate 

 teeth, except in the cases of the mackerel and dog sharks. 

 The mackerel shark has round teeth, notAvithstanding they 

 often attain to large size, and the mouth of the little dog shark 

 is encircled by a corrugated bony rim Avhich serves them as 

 teeth, and which enables them to prey upon moluscs, which 

 the sharp tooth fellows cannot do. The largest shark- I ever 

 knew taken was of the blue variety, and Avas caught by a Mr. 

 James Northrup. This lish was entangled in a gill net set off 

 the beach for bass. Some time during the night the shark 

 had struck the net, completely wound himself up in it, and 

 came on shore, notwithstanding the two hundred pounds of 

 stone to which the net was anchored, and was found by the 

 OAvner of the net the next morning. This fish Avould weigh 

 about one ton and was nineteen feet ten inches in length. 



The mum of the shark is white, about the size of a walnut, 

 and perfectly round. In the absence of positive knowledge, I 

 should say sharks are viviparous, since 1 have removed ego-s 

 from these fish Avhich contained perfect living fry that could 

 swim away, It is possible, however, that they may hatch 

 soon after removal from the parent fish. I do not remember 

 ever counting the ova of a single shark, but should say the 

 number Avould range from sixteen to two hundred, the num- 

 ber being dependent upon the size of the fish. Sharks swim - 

 ming at the surface of the water are distinguished from 

 other large fish by exhibiting the dorsal fin, and the 

 top fluke of the tail ; Avhilo others rarely show other than the 

 fin. All the shark family are migratory, and leave our coast 

 during winter— the switch tail delays his stay longest in the 

 fall, and the dogfish appears earliest in spring. These fish 

 have a reputation for eating people, which 1 am persuaded 

 they do not deserve. If they were the one-htmdredth part as 

 voracious for human flesh as one would be led to suppose 



