228 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



— We notice that Nature is republishing Professor Marsh's 

 Nashville address on the Introduction and Succession of Vete- 

 brate Life in America, which our leaders arc now enjoying. 

 Its importance and value are appreciated abroad as well as at 

 home. 



— Mr. Elb. Nelson, a well known naturalist, has recently 

 proceeded to Norton Sound by way of Alaska. Mr. Nelson, 

 who goes to relieve Mr. Turner, was provided by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and we may look for very interesting results 

 from his exploration. 



— M. Bozolubsky has recently published a very interest- 

 ing and important work on Gold and Gold Mining in Russia. 

 It is stated in this volume that the yearly yield of the mines 

 in Russia and Siberia amount to no less than $15,000,000, and 

 that the whole area occupied by the mines is about 2,100,000 



miles. 



» •«■ . 



Ceeeaxs. — According to recently compiled statistics, Russia 

 is ahead of all the nations of the world in its yield of cereals, 

 leading the United States by 379,950,000 bushels, or nearly 

 one-fourth the entire production of this country. Germany 

 comes next, with less than one-half the amount produced by 

 the United States, and is closely followed by France, whose 

 product exceeds that of Great Britain by half, and Austro- 

 Hungary holds a position nearly midway between the two. 

 » ■». « 



How to Catch Chicken-Hawks.— It is a well known fact 

 that a hawk wilLalways light on some conspicuous place close 

 to the poultry yard, from which to swoop down on his vic- 

 tims. Taking advantage of this, erect a pole with a flat sur- 

 face at the top just large enough to hold a strong steel trap. 

 Fasten this trap by a chain to a staple in the pole, and await 

 results. No bait will be needed, for the hawk will be quite 

 certain to light on the trap and be caught. 



Germination of Pikes.— Seeds of the Sequoia gtgantea, 

 or indeed of any of the Califomian pines, if fresh and sound, 

 can be sown in a cold frame, or in pots or boxes in the house 

 or greenhouse, and slightly covered with a rather light peaty 

 soil. If in a cold frame they will not germinate till spring, 

 but no frost should be allowed to reach them. They should 

 be transplanted as soon as fit to Handle to prevent thei 

 " dampening off." Old seeds, such as you mention, can hav 

 no vitality and consequently will not germinate. The Sequoia 

 is not quite hardy here, and will certainly not be so far 

 North. Sequoia is named for the Cherokee half-breed Indian 

 See-qua-yah, who invented an alphabet for his nation. 



—Recently published statistics issued by the Norwegian 

 authorities gives the following table of domestic animals per 

 1,000 inhabitants among the different nationalities : Horses 

 in the United States, 227; Russia, 225, Denmark, 176; 

 Sweden, 103 ; Austro-Hungary, 98 ; Great Britain and Ire- 

 land, 85 ; Norway, 84; Germany, 82; France, 70. Of horned 

 cattle, in Denmark, 687 ; in Great Britain, 300. Of sheep, in 

 Spain, 1,348; in Great Britain, 969; in Belgium, 142. The 

 number of goats in Greece, 913 ; in Great Britain, 8. Of 

 swine in the United States, 671; in Great Britain, 112; in 

 Greece, 38. 



The Autumn Crocuses and Colchicums. — These are among 

 the most beautiful of the fall flowers seen peeping through the 

 grass in clumps, or in the rockery; they give a touch of spring 

 when the surroundings all remind us of the winter's approach. 

 How charmingly may we adorn some favorite nook in the 

 lawn at this season with the flowers of a blue and gold-tasseled 

 crocus rising up suddenly through the grass. They are all 

 hardy and vigorous and should be much more extensively 



grown. 



» «•■ i 



Layering Shbtjbs, Roses, Etc.— A good method of rapid- 

 ly increasing any variety that is found difficult to propagate is 

 to bend down and layer the whole plant, covering it alike 

 about one to one and a half inches deep. All the buds receive 

 by this method a like impulse to throw out roots, while if 

 only a portion is covered the vigor of the plant is drawn away 

 in another direction. The shallow covering does not prevent 

 growth. 



Wild Rice and "Wild Celeby.— In complianee with the 

 courteous request concerning the wild rice and wild celery 

 and the culture of each in a late issue of the Forest and 

 Stream, I take pleasure in giving such information upon the 

 subject as I have been enabled to gather. As to the wild cel- 

 ery (Valisneria. america.na) of Lake Koshkonong, Wis., I can 

 give but very little information, knowing that lake only as 

 the greatest resort of the delicious canvas-back in Wisconsin. 

 Upon this subject I have no doubt the genial writer and keen 

 shot, R. Valentine, of Janesville, Wis., is aujait, and could 

 give the desired suggestions for the culture of wild celery, if, 

 indeed, it be practicable. This aquatic weed is— as is well 

 known— the favorite food of the canvas-back and widgeon, but 

 the mallard, teal, wood-duck and most of the others of the com- 

 mon varieties of wild fowl found upon our inland lakes par- 

 take, with the greatest avidity, "of the wild rice {Zimnm pan- 

 nicula effusa), found in more or less abundance along the low 

 streams and lakes of this section of country. 



Last season, desiring to test the expediency of sowing wild 

 rice, I obtained a small quantity of fully ripe seed, gathering 

 it myself to be certain of its condition, and during October 

 had the seed carefully sowed in the stream called Duck Creek, 

 near my present home. Previous to this not a solitary plant 

 of wild rice was known to exist upon the stream, and I await- 

 ed with some anxiety the coming season for developments. 

 Although a portion of the seed thus "cast upon the waters" 

 was taken by the ducks of the vicinity, I had the pleasure of 



witnessing the growth of a goodly piece of wild rice, which 

 came to maturity and demonstrated the feasibility of wild rice 

 culture. So well am I satisfied with the expeiiment that I 

 propose to tow a much, larger amount this season along Duck 

 Creek, and am confident that by care in the selection of the 

 seed, as well as the proper places in which to sow it, a most 

 satisfactory result may be had. 



In selecting wild rice seed great care should be taken to use 

 only sound, ripe and fully matured kernels, such as may be 

 easily shaken or beaten from the stem, as either green or 

 shrunken seed will fail to produce plants. In the case of M. 

 H. C, I consider the failure due to the seed, or, perhaps, to 

 the nature of the soil in which it was sown. 



I know not if the wild rice seed will grow in the waters of 

 all our inland lakes, but incline to the opinion that it will 

 thrive in most shallow waters, wherein the soil is alluvial 

 rather than sandy, though I have known it to exist where the 

 bottom was merely light sand covered by a thin strata of veg- 

 etable mould. This may be exceptional, at least it is unusual 

 in this section. In sowing the seed of wild rice it should be 

 placed in such spots as naturally thrives, i, e., along the low, 

 marshy shores where very little if any current is perceptible, 

 and along all inlets, sloughs or bayous extending inland ; 

 dropping the seed in one foot to three feet of water, where it 

 may soon be covered with the dark alluvial, and thus escape 

 the wild fowl until securely rooted. If sown in October, it 

 should mature and bear seed the following autumn, and will 

 then spread and thrive finely. Very high water — as freshets 

 — will kill and drown out wild rice even more rapidly than will a 

 drought and low water. Should I discover anything of practi- 

 cal value to sportsmen in future experiments in this line I will 

 gL\dly communicate the same, and in the meantime trust that 

 those who have had larger experience may give the readers of 

 Forest and Steeam the benefit of their 'observations. 

 Westfield, Wis., Oct.Vl F. E. Pond. 

 » ■»■ « 



Notice to Sportsmen.— Having received so many connnunicaUon.s 

 asking us for information in regard to our six-section bamboo trout, 

 black bass, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on the 

 subject, which we shall take pleasure in forwarding to any address 

 We keep on hand all grades, the prices of which range from $15 to $150 

 We put our stamp only on the best, in order to protect our customers 

 and our reputation, for we are unwilling to sell a poor rod with a false 

 enamel (made by burning and staining to imitate the genuine article) 

 without letting our customers know just what they are getting. 



P. O. Box 1,294.— [Adv. Abbey & Imbkik, 3S Maiden Lane. 



fea nnd Sliver 



FISH IN SEASON IN OCTOBBER. 



.■Slack Bass, Micropter-, 



M. nigricans. 

 Mascalonge, Esox noUlior. 

 Pike or Pickerel, Esox hteitu. 

 Yellow Perch, Percajlavescens, 

 Sea Bass, Scimnops ocellatus. 

 Striped Bass, Mocmts linneattm. 

 White Perch, Morone amerieana. 



Itnoides: Weakfish, Cyi 



Blueflsh, Ptmutiomm mltatrix. 

 Spanish Mackerel, Cybium macula- 



twm. 

 Cero, Cybium regale. 

 BonitO, Sarda pelamys. 

 Kingfish, Heiiticirrm nebulosits. 



Fish in Market.— Our quotations for the week are as 

 follows: Striped bass, 18 to 20 cents per pound; smelts, 

 20 cents; bluefish, 10 cents; salmon, frozen, 30 cents; 

 mackerel, 10 to 20 cents; white perch, 15 cents; weak 

 fish 12 cents ; Spanish mackerel, 30 cents ; green turtle, 

 15 cents ; terrapin, $12 ; frost fish, 8 cents ; halibut, 15 

 cents ; haddock, 8 cents; king-fish, 25 cents; codfish, 8 

 cents; black-fish, 15 cents; native herrings, 6 cents ; flounders, 

 10 cents ; porgies, 10 cents ; sea bass, 18 cents ; eels, 18 cents ; 

 lobsters, 10 cents; scallops, $1 per gal.; soft clams, 30 to CO 

 cents per 100 ; salmon trout, 15 cents; black bass, 15 cents ; 

 sheepshead, 25 cents ; whitefish, 18 cents ; pickerel, 18 

 cents; yellow perch, 10 cents; hard shell crabs, $3 per 

 100 ; soft crabs, $1.50 per dozen; frogs, 45 cents per pound; 

 turbott, 40 cents ; sun fish, 1ft cents. 



Fish Culture in Fuxton Market.— On Friday, the 12th 

 inst., E. G. Blackford, of Fulton Market, received from Prof. 

 Fred Mather 500 salmon eggs, which he placed in a Ferguson 

 hatching jar and set on his stall, and connected with the croton, 

 so that a constant stream of fresh water passed over the egg^s. 

 On Friday, the 19th inst., five of the eggs broke and released 

 the young fry, and at the present time they are nearly all 

 hatched. Hundreds of people have visited the market, and 

 expressed their pleasure and astonishment at this practical 

 illustration of fish culture. 



Maine— Edes Falls, Oct. 18.— Sebago salmon are running 

 up the Saco and Crooked Rivers in great numbers. When the 

 gate is shut in the river here they can be picked out with the 

 hand. 



— There is no fishing in the lake (Memphremagog) by rea- 

 son of close season, from Oct. 1st to Nov, 15th. 



Massachusetts— New Bedford, Oct. 17.— The flue weather 

 of the past week induced several of our amateur fishermen to 

 make a short visit to the island in the lower part of the Bay, 

 and with very good success. Chas. S. Randall, Esq., being 

 " high hook" with three bass caught inside of two hours, the 

 largest weighing forty-seven (47) pounds. Quite a number of 

 smaller fish were obtained. Concha. 



Movements or the Fishing Fleet.— Only 43 fishing arrivals 

 have been reported at this port the past week, 18 from the 

 Banks, 13 from Georges, 9 from the Bay St. Lawrence, and 

 8 from shore mackereling trips. The receipts have been about 

 725,000 lbs. Bank codfish, 130,000 lbs. Georges codfish, 120,000 

 lbs. Bank halibut, and 1,000 bbls. Bay mackerel.— Cape Ann 

 Advertiser, Oct. 19. 



A Thirty-two- Pound Bass.— Mr. John Rodgers, a retired 

 merchant, residing corner of Eighty-third street and First 

 avenue, in company with a Hell Gate pilot named Taylor, 

 while trolline around the "Nigger Heads," a reef of rocks in 

 Hell Gate, yesterday, struck a striped bass weighing thirty- 

 two pounds four ounces. With a pole, reel and line, the lat- 

 ter only one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, Mr. Kodgers, 

 after fully an horn's work, aided by Mr. Taylor, succeeded in 

 landing him on shore, not, however, without the aid of a gaff 

 hook. This is the largest bass that has been taken in New 

 York's waters for over twenty successive seasons. It is on 

 exhibition at Jerolamon's boathouse, foot of Eighty-ninth 

 street, East River.— Herald, Oct. 24. 



Pennsylvania. — President, Oct. 19. — Bass fishing is ex- 

 cellent. Trolling is now the successful method of capturing 

 them. 



Yimvsik—Leesuurg, Oct. 16.— The fish thought to be a 

 salmon, caught near Harrison's Island, turns out to be of some 

 other family, wasjspiny rayed and had no adipose dorsal. 



T. W. 



Florida— St. Augustine, Oct. 17.— Bass fishing yields large 

 returns. J. O. 



Canada— #afo»0«. Fishing in the Saint Marguerite. — Mr. 

 Robert Hare Powel has kindly furnished us with the follow- 

 ing record of the fishing in this river, of which Messrs. Hare 

 and Russell are lessees : 



Number and Weight of Salmon Caught by Robert Hare Powell, Esq., 

 and Hubert Hare Powell, Jr., of 424 Walnut, street, Philadelphia, in the 

 Kiver Saint Marguerite In 187T.w-Jalj loth, 1S#,141db, b; July llth, 

 1M-, 21;.;, 19, 151bs. a, b; July 12th, 11, b, a, 12, 11, UViba, a ; July lata, 

 10, l'ilbs; July Mt.li, 12. u, u i;:, 14, 131bs; July 15th, IT, l,v,*, 12, nibs, b; 

 Three days did not fish; water too low. Heat excessive. July 19th, lo, 

 lOlbs ; July 20th, Did not flsh ; July 2lst, 1?.. 88, 10, 28Ibs ; July 22d, 9, 11, 

 14X, 10, 20, 22, 201bs, 6, b, a, a, 12, 11, 12, 121DS ; July 23(1, 14, b, VI, 12, 19 

 lbs: July 24th, 12J4, 14, 91bs; Juiy 25th, 11, 12, 14, 91bs ; July 2lir.h, a, a, 

 a. 121bs; July 27th. a, b ; July 2§th., Two days did not. llsh ; water rising. 

 July 30th, 21, 15, a, a, 11, 14, b, 14, 10, 14, 14, 14, 12, lOibs, b, b, b, a, a, a, 

 lost, in branches overhanging the pools. July 31st, 15, 12, 14, 13, 21, 8(1 

 lbs a, a, a ; Aug. 1st, 12, 15, a, 10, 12, 14, lOlba. 



Note.— a signifies loss of lishonly ; b signltles loss of fish and fly. 



Number and Weight of Salmon Caught by Willis Russell, of St. Louis 

 Hotel, Quebec, in the River Saint Marguerite, Monday, July 2d, between 

 5 and 11 a. m., 17, 12^, 18, 13, 19, 23, 15, 13'Jlbs. Number of fish, 9; total 

 weight, 1 isibs ; average weight, lsibs, Besides the above, there were 

 5 salmon lost. 



The summary of the season's fishing is as follows : 



Days. Fish. Weight, Average. 



R.H.Powell 17 74 'JiW's . 13><j 



W.Russell 1 9 M5 16 



Sam Streit, of N. Y,, and 



E. A Greene, of N. J. ... — 36 4S9 13^ 



Walter M. Bracket!, of Bus- 



ton 5 31 419 14'4 



•E.V.Clark, Esq, of N. Y.. — 7 98 14 



Col. Rhodes, Benmore 2 2 44 vi 



Total : 159 2224X 14 



An Unexpected Application of a Rod. — The Editor of 

 this paper has received the following characteristic letter, ac- 

 companied by the most beautiful bamboo rod which it has 

 ever been our pleasure to handle. We do not know when any 

 sympathetic act of friendship has appealed so directly to our 

 sensibilities. The gift was as unexpected as it was generous, 

 polite and opportune. Its bestowal was evidently prompted 

 by the injunction of the Master, who enjoined upon Peter and 

 the other disciples who were fishermen, when they found a 

 brother "in distress, naked, sick, or in prison," to at once 

 give him their coat, cloak, hat, boots, fishing nets, tackle, etc. 

 It was the evidence of a proper appreciation of the forlorn 

 condition of one who is bereft, stripped, dismantled and put 

 "afoot," as they say in prairie parlance. Besides, the rod is a 

 substitute for an Andrew Clerk rod, which has done constant 

 and faithful service in our hands for more than five years 

 past. The rods manufactured by that house, and by their 

 worthy successors have long enjoyed a deservedly fair and 

 enviable reputation ; aud we have no doubt that this one, so 

 gracefully donated, will also prove its excellence by its works. 

 Our thanks are due to our friends, whom we trust may long 

 continue to prosper in business: 



New York, 4S Maiden Lane & 25 Liberty Bt., Oct. IS, 1877. 



Dram Hallock— Wesaw in the papers that while on your Western 

 trip yon had the misfortune to lose all your lishiug tackle overboard. 

 You must allow U9 to sympathize vylth you in your very serious loss. It Is 

 no joke to lose a whole fishing and hunting outfit. Please permit our 

 sympathy to take a practical shape. This you can do by accepting the 

 accompanying six-section bamboo trout fly rod. It may be "a poor 

 tiling but. it is our own." It is marked "Abbey & Imbrie's Best." This 

 means that it is the best we can make. Of course if you want a real 

 good article— one that will be just the thing to drop overboard— you 

 must go elsewhere ; our rods are intended to fish with. 



Deducting the reel-plate, the rod weighs a trifle over six ouuccb. 

 With one of the same calibre, we have taken several salmon (on oue 

 river in Canada) weighing from twelve to eighteen pounds. We, there- 

 fore, feel confident that even a novice like yonrself may, with proper 

 care, may bungle into the capture of a grayling or a small trout without 

 doing irreparable injury to the rod. 



We received a note from Seth Green, "the father of American 

 fishes," a few day* a™. lie says that he has used oue of our section 

 bamboos for eight years without any expense beyond an annual coat of 

 varnish. As we have not been idle during the past eight years, we 

 are sure that the accompanying rod is worth a dozen of the one sold 

 him in lStiO. We have therefore calculated that the rod should last yoo 

 about a century— II you don't drop it overboard in forty fathoms water. 

 Yours very sine -rely, Abbey * Imuuik. 



— A disinterested friend has informed us that the Orvis 

 fishing rods have gained such repute, chiefly through the ad- 

 vertisements and notices published in Foi:est and Stream, 

 that sales have already been made in all the States save Ar- 

 kansas, and all the Territories save three. These rods are 

 made of ash and lancewood, and are manufactured at Man- 

 chester, Vermont. 



Oysters in Great Britain. — Advices from the United 

 Kingdom say that oysters are scarce, bad and highly expen- 

 sive this season. As they are unusually abundant on this side 

 of the water this season we can supply our Transatlantic 

 cousins with any quantity of bivalves far better than their 

 own waters can ever hope to yield. 



— Fish are never found napping, though "rocked in the 

 cradle of the deep." 



SPLIT BAMBOO RODS. 



To our customers and the public :— In reply to the damag- 

 ing reports which have been circulated respecting the quality 

 of our 6plit bamboo rods, by "dealers" who are unable to com- 

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

 which we shall be pleased to mad to any address, proving the 

 falsity of their assertions. 



CONEOY, BlSSBTT & MaLLESON, 



Manufacturers, 65 Fulton Street N. Y. 



