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FOREST AND STUEAM. 



S¥t §rtfm 



THE U. S. FISH COMMISSION IN SALEM. 



On Board the U. S. Str. Speedwell,) 

 Mass. Bay, Aug. 10, 1877. | 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



While we are on our way to a locality in which experience 

 has led us to expect rich returns from the dredge the tangles, 

 and the trawl, an opportunity is offered to furnish your rea- 

 ders some account of the doings of the Commission in these 

 waters. First, allow me to introduce the party now in the 

 field, the character of the work contemplated and the outfit to 

 he employed. 



the tarty. 



Prof. S. F. Baird, of Washington, Commissioner, assisted 

 hy his private secretary, Mr. H. B. Rockwell, and by Mr. J. 

 Paul Wilson and Mr. H. E. Gill; Prof. A. E. Verrill, of Yale 

 College, assisted by Mr. E. B. Wilson, of Chicago ; Mr. G, 

 Brown Goode and Mr. Tarleton H. Bean, of the TJ. S. Na- 

 tional Museum ; Lieut. Commander A. G. Kellogg, U. S. N. ; 

 Dr. T. nale Streets, TJ. S. N. ; Mr. A. V- Zane, U. S. N. ; 

 Mr. J. S. Smith, of Baltimore ; Mr. H. C. Chester, of Noank, 

 Conn. The steamer has a force of t went y-f our men, including 

 the non-commissioned officers. 



the outfit. 



The government has detailed for Prof. Baird's use during 

 the summer the Speedwell, a handsome iron steamer of 310 

 tons. This vessel is fitted up in the same manner as the Blue- 

 light, with which your readers have become familiar ; its 

 greater size, however, furnishes increased facilities and ac- 

 commodations for work. She is in charge of Lieut. Com- 

 mander A. G. Kellogg, TJ. S. N-, with Dr. T. Hale Streets, TJ. 

 S. N., as surgeon, Mr. A. V. Zane, TJ. S. N., engineer, and 

 Mr. J. S. Smith, first officer. Prof. Verrell and Mr. Wilson 

 have charge of the invertebrate collections and deep-sea re- 

 search. Mr. Goode and Mr. Bean give their time to the inter- 

 ests of the fishes and the fisheries. Capt. Chester lays us all 

 under obligations by making himself indispensable wherever 

 he is. 



For the capture of sea animals we have dredges, tangles, 

 dip-nets, trawls, seines, towing-nets, pile-scrapers, hooks, lily 

 irons, harpoons, spears, set-lines, trammel nets, gill nets, cast- 

 ing nets and other implements usually employed for such pur- 

 pose. A new piece of apparatus, for which we are indebted to 

 Sweden, and which is copied from the English "bull-dog" 

 described in " Depths of the Sea," is introduced on our coast 

 for the first time. This instrument operates on the principle 

 of the " steel trap." Instead of narrow arms for seizing the 

 prey, it has two scoop-shaped jaws of metal, brought together 

 and firmly held by a powerful spring. The trap is set and 

 then lowered, with the tread-plate pointing downward. As 

 soon as the plate touches the bottom the jaws close with a 

 snap and scoop up whatever may be within reach. It is use- 

 fid in soft mud. The water-bottle, Miller-Casella thermome- 

 ters and Green's thermometers continue in use. The accuracy 

 of the Miller-Casilla is tested by means of standard thermome- 

 ters used in water brought up by the water-bottle. 



For the preservation of living animals while they are under 

 observation, the requisite stock of pails, crockery, glass ware 

 and aquaria is furnished. Alcoholic collections are kept in 

 jars, bottles, vials and copper tanks. In less than a week a 

 barrel of alcohol has been used. Picric, osmic and chromic 

 acids are employed in hardening tissues. Glycerine is resorted 

 to for the protection of soft tissues. 



work proposed. 



The important issues which called the TJ. S. Com- 

 mission of Fish and Fisheries into existence are well 

 understood, and the methods of investigation have been 

 clearly set forth in Forest and Stream and other leading 

 publications, as well as in the commissioner's official reports ; 

 but, as the duties of the present season have some distinctive 

 peculiarities, it will not be amiss to invite attention to them. 

 One of the objects of the Commissioner is to be present at the 

 oint fishery convention to be held in Halifax in the present 

 month. For this purpose, the sea-going Speedwell was de- 

 tailed and appropriately fitted. This will afford a fine oppor- 

 tunity for the study of the habits and migrations of many of 

 our most important food fishes, and for making large additions 

 to our collections. 



Another feature of this season's work, which comes out 

 prominently and bids fair to become one of the most import- 

 ant, is the determination of the boundaries of old fishing 

 grounds and the discovery and location of new ones. The 

 Commission has already met with remarkable success in the 

 capture of a species of ilat-fish or flounder, heretofore sup- 

 osed to be peculiar to Arctic Europe, and little known even 

 there. It is called, by ichthyologists, Gtyptoeephalus cyno- 

 glossus (Linn.), GilL This species was captured in large 

 numbers, and in many stages, from the young of the year to 

 adults measuring two feet in length. It was taken by the 

 trawl in fifty fathoms of water, just outside of frequented 

 fishing grounds in Massachusetts Bay. This craig flounder 

 or pole, although known to be a favorite food fish on the coast 

 of Greenland, has not yet been put to the test of the table 

 here because of its great rarity ; but its relations to the flat-fish, 



the common flounder and the halibut warrant us in predicting 



that it will prove to be well flavored, especially as its tissues I Rusty Flatfish (Mysopsetia ferruginea) j Flounder (Pomatop- 



are beautifully white and firm. Should this accession to our 

 fauna meet the expectations of its discoverers, and there is 

 every reason to believe that it will, the importance of the 

 addition may readily be appreciated, and all the more, because 

 the capture of the young establishes the presence of the adults 

 as a permanent source of supply. 



The investigation of the condition of our fisheries and the 

 measures necessary to insure their continued usefulness in- 

 volves a systematic and exhaustive study of the food supplies 

 upon which the occurrence of fishes in given localities at cer- 

 tain times depends. The movements of fishes are not caprici- 

 ous and uncertain, but they are governed by fixed laws, by 

 far the most important of which is the law of seli'-prcservation. 

 A fish recognizes the dignity and the importance of eating. 

 He is as absolutely at the mercy of his stomach as some more 

 highly organized vertebrates. He lives to eat, and is to be 

 found where the ruling desire of his life may be gratified. 

 The species that feed upon shrimp and crabs will appear and 

 disappear with the presence or absence of these Crustacea. 

 The occurrence of proper food determines the fact and the 

 time of the arrival of the fish. The shrimp and the crab must 

 eat, too, and they do their share of it. These creatui es, then, 

 in their turn, are present or absent as their food is present or 

 absent, and thus we might pursue the subject of eating to re- 

 mote limits, and find higher forms of animal life depending 

 for subsistence upon lower forms or upon one another, and 

 the lower upon still less highly organized animals or upon 

 vegetables, and vegetables upon the bounty of the soil and 

 the water. We see, therefore, what a complex chain of de- 

 pendencies is to be grappled for, link by link — a chain in vol v- 

 ing.the character of the bottom, the depth, temperature and 

 chemical constitution of the water, the direction and force of 

 currents, and other physical conditions which affect life in 

 the ocean. Parts of this chain have been discovered, and the 

 Commission hopes to gain possession of many missing links 

 during its labors, so that the phenomena of ocean life may be 

 as well understood and as readily applied to practical uses as 

 meteorological phenomena. In other words, the time is near 

 when it will be entirely practicable to predict the finding of 

 valuable food fishes from the occurrencs of fish food in the 

 waters examined, and this, too, long before the fisherman in 

 his laborious empirical method of dropping a line to get a bite 

 has struck the right spot. To illustrate : suppose you cut 

 open the stomachs of a great many cod and almost uniform^ 

 find in them certain crabs and mollusks. Now, if you are on 

 grounds not frequented by fishermen, and, in dredging the 

 bottom, take these crabs and mollusks on which cod feed, 

 what would you infer ? Cod. Well, you might go back to 

 the food of the crab and the mollusk, and, this found, you 

 would expect to find what it supports. In this way, from the 

 occurrence of animal life very remotely connected with fish 

 life, naturalists are enabled to locate and establish the bound- 

 aries of now fishing grounds far in advance of the capture of 

 fishes, thus opening the way to new fields of industiy, whde 

 they determine the limits of those already in operation, 



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS IN SALEM. 



The steamer has been out five times, beginning Aug. 4. 

 Since that time we have made the following collections : 

 Twenty species of bryozoans ; twenty-five sponges, including 

 the rare Pliakellia ventilabrum ; seventeen echinoderms, among 

 them Pteraster militaris and Opldacantha spinulasa, both 

 rare, and some fine specimens of that magnificent and very 

 rare star-fish, mppasteriaphrygiana. Of the Hippasteria one 

 individual was caught, in the tangles, which measured a foot 

 in diameter ; twenty species of hydroids, including Corymor- 

 pJia pendula and Acaulis primarius ; nine species of polyps, 

 the finest being a very large sea-anemone, Urtwiiia digitata ; 

 eleven ascidians, the first on my list being Bolteiviareniformis; 

 one brachiopod, Terebratutina sepientrwnalis ; twenty-two 

 lamellibranchs, the rarities being Yoldia thramformis, Toldia 

 obesa and machcera squama; thirty-seven gasteropods, includ- 

 ing Chiton Emersonii, C. mendieornis and Scaphander punctos- 

 triatus; forty five annelides, of which I name Protula media, 

 Myxicoia Steenstrupii, Tecturclla, fldedda, Eupl.rosyneboreaUs, 

 lihynchobolus albus, and Gryptonota citrina, Stimp.; ten nemer- 

 teans ; five sipunculoids, the rare Chmtoderma ■nitidulum and 

 the fresh spines of the extremely rare EcMurus being the 

 prizes; thirty-two crustaceans, of which two, at least, are rare — 

 Pandalus borealis and Sabinea septemcarinata. All the shrimps 

 were simply huge ! 



The number of species of fishes collected up to the present 

 time is twenty-three, seven of which are shore species and 

 sixteen belong to the deep sea. The fishes taken in shallow 

 water are: 



Tom cod (Fundulus pisculentus) ; Stickle-back (Gasteros- 

 teus biaculeatus) ; Alewife {Pxmwlobus pseudoliarengm); Sil- 

 ver-side (Ghirostoma notatum); Flatfish (PseucLopleuronectes 

 americanus ; Eel (AnguilLi rostrata) ; Pipefish (Syngnathus 

 sp.). 



Tom cod is the Salem name for Fundulus. All of the 

 above are common and abundant. 



Lumpfish (Cycbrpterus lumpus) was taken on floating rock- 

 weed. 



The species taken in from twenty to fifty fathoms of water 

 in Massachusetts Bay are : 



Eighteen-spined sculpin (Coitus oclodecimspinosus) ; Sea- 

 raven (Hemitripterus acadianus); Hake (Phycis .tenuis); 

 Norway Haddock (Sebastes sp.); Angler (Lophius america- 

 nus); Eel pout (Zoarces anguiUmis) ; Whiting (Mer Indus bili- 

 nearis) ; Skate (Rata radiata); (liJdnonema caudacnla): 



setta dentata) ; Craig- flounder or Pole (Gtyptotiephalus cyno- 

 fftdssus ; (Atpidophoroides monopterygius) ; (Tceius micinatus) ; 

 Spiny lumpfish (Eumicotremus spanoms). 



Many of the last named fifteen species are peculiar to Arc- 

 tic regions, and the same is true of the deep water inverte- 

 brates ; indeed the occurrence of northern forms in abundance 

 is a constant source of surprise. Aspidophoroides monoptenj- 

 gius has been taken very rarely in the stomachs of cod and 

 haddock. We trawled more than a dozen specimens at one 

 haul. Mysopsetta feoruginea is very rare in collections. We 

 have secured several specimens. Of the rare Pomatopsetta 

 dentata we have about one hundred. Eumicotremus sjrinoms, 

 so far as I can learn, has been captured twice before— by Prof . 

 Verrill, at Eastport, and by the U. S. Fish Commission at the 

 same place. Icelus uncinatua is new to North America. 

 Our catch is nine individuals. Glyptocephcilus cynoglossus, 

 also new to North America, came up in abundance. 



I cannot forbear alluding to a curiosity which excited the 

 admiration of all on board the Speedwell. It was a mass cf 

 spawn of the angler (Lophius americanus) which must have 

 measured fifty feet in length by two in width. Floating as 

 it did on the surface, with its partially segmented eggs giving 

 it the appearance of a pinkish-brown, gauzy veil, gathered into 

 graceful folds, it was certainly "a thing of beauty" and "a 

 joy forever " to the contemplative fisherman, though little cal- 

 culated to inspire the pound-men who see trouble in futuro. 



Another diversion was the "blowing" of a school of hu"-e 

 fin-back whales (Megaptera sp.), which alternated between 

 "soundings" and surface evolutions very near the steamer. 

 The fin-back, like the blackfish (Globicephalus) and the ma- 

 jority of the whales blows columns of spray straight upward. 

 In this case the spray seemed to reach a height of ten or 

 twelve feet. 



On Monday an early start is projected for the grounds 

 where many rarities were secured. We expect then to hear 

 the familiar sound of Capt. Chester's voice in the welcome 

 and inspiring cry of "Up dredge!" and " Up trawl [» perhaps 

 for the last time in Salem waters; but we shall carry aw;iy 

 with us rich collections and pleasing remembrances. A day 

 on board the Speedwell would give you a more vivid idea of 

 the wonders and the beauties of deep sea work than my inef- 

 ficient English can convey. I can, therefore, only wish that 

 all who appreciate the treasures of the sea might exchange 

 the imperfect picture for the faultless original. T. H. B.° 



SPLIT BAMBOO RODS. 



To Our Customers and the Public r In reply to the damaging 

 reports which have been circulated respecting the ijiiality of 

 our split bamboo rods, by "dealers" who are unablcto compete 

 with us at our reduced prices, we have issued a circular which 

 we shall be pleased to mail to any address, proving the falsity 

 of their assertions. 



CONROV, BlSSETT & MAI.LESON, 



—[Adv. Manufacturers, 05 Fulton Street. N. T. 



Inhtml Widow. 



THE GAME FISH OF WISCONSIN. 



1 Val. 



;rs of Vie State. He f.s a 

 ami iur the tabli 



The following is a brief description of ffie game fishes of Wisi-ousiir, 

 being those most Bought alter, ami giving Hie mdst Bport with rod ami 

 reel : 



FAMILY I'EBCULE. 



Perca Flavescens. Cuvier. 



YELLOW PERCH. 



This well-known fish, the especial pet of lsdy anglers, is very common 

 throughout the 8 ate. In some of the lakes it readies two pounds in 

 weight, ami affords considerable sport with light tackle. 



Stizostedivn A ■mtHcana. Cu 

 PIKE PEKCU— WALL-BTED r 



Very common in most of the lakes and riv 

 bold biiiug and hard pulling li.sh, and a liri 

 weight, from three to ten pounds. 



FAMILY LABRACnME. 



AViiYtia Chnjuops. Gill. 



WHITE LAKE BASS. 



Fouud in Lakes Michigan and Winnebago, the lower Pox River, and 

 a few oilier waters in the State. He is a good pan llsli and biles 

 greedily ; will weigh two pounds or more. 



FAMILY ICHTHELnLS. 



31u;-opt,:r,is Salmoichs. Gill. 

 S.MALI.-MOUinED BLACK BASS. 



This, the true black basa, is one of our gamest fishes, if not tlie 

 gamest. I consider him— pound for pound— as hard fighting and brave 

 a fish as swims; and with light and suiiable tackle and fair play, lie 

 will furnish more sport for his inches and more pluck for his ounces 

 than any other nsh with which I am acquainted. He ib very generally 

 distributed throughout the lakes and rivers of Wisconsin, and in nearly 

 all instances inhabiting the same waters with the M. nigricans, or 

 large-mouthed black bass mentioned below. Weight from one to llve- 

 pounde. 



3[icrr,p!crus Nigricans. Cuvier. 



LABC1E MOUTHED SLACK BASS- OSWEGO BASS. 



This variety of black bass; is eucond oiny in gamy qualities to tlie 

 varieiy named ub:ive. He grows somewhat larger and heavier, bin la 

 not nearly .so trimly built an the foimer. He has a ujucIi larger mouth, 

 larger scale*, is thicker through the shoulders, and has a greater depth 

 of body, and shows more white upon the belly than his more thorough- 

 bred congener (M. saliuoidea). The small-mouthed basa has invariably 

 more or less red in the eye, which color is as certainly absent in the 

 eye of the large-mouthed bass. Both vanotes vary greatly in color 

 Adjacent lakes ana neighboring waters will produce lisdt exhibiting al: 

 the various shades of green, fiom black or bottle green lo greenish jet 

 low ; but, as a rule, green is tlie dominant shade of the large-mouthed 

 bass, while the Kiimli-mouthed variety is more scrabre in hue. Weight 

 from one to seven pounds. 



