488 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



safely at home. Baring the rain it was one of the most pleas- 

 ant of tbe many hunting excursions of my life. And finally, 

 brethren, if ibe record of it has interested you and killed one 

 dull hour, wben you could neither hunt nor ride— 

 "Not in vain 

 We more tbe sautial-shoon and scallop-shell." 



Wov. 1, 1877. GuxoN. 

 . •«■ « 



EAST TENNESSEE. 



Editor Foeest and Stream : 



That part of the State of Tennessee included with- 

 in the Counties of Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, 

 Campbell. Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Ham- 

 blen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, James, Jefferson, John- 

 son, Knox, London. Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Mor- 

 gan, Polk, Rhea. Eoane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Sullivan, 

 Union and Washington, is familiarly known as East Ten- 

 nessep, and lies wholly within tbe great valley between the 

 Unnka Chain of Mountains on the east and the Elevated Cum- 

 berland Plateau on the west. In a recent visit through this 

 part of the Slate we found muchof interest both to the sports- 

 man, stock-raiser, and farmer, and in point of fertility of soil 

 and good climate we were constantly reminded of our old 

 home in Southeastern Pennsylvania. A peculiarity common 

 to this great valley is the way in which its surface is longitudi- 

 nally fluted by parallel minor valleys and ridges, in which it 

 differs from all other parts of the State. 



The whole of East Tennessee is abundantly watered with 

 fine springs and swift running creeks and rivers. In no part of 

 the South is there a finer climate throughout the year than in 

 this section- The country varies from 1,000 to 3,000 feet 

 above the level of the ocean, and some of the mountain peaks 

 of the Unaka range reach the elevation of 6,600 feet. The 

 Watanza, French Broad, Little Tennessee and Hiwassee flow 

 down through this great mountain chain, and along their banks 

 are to be found meadow lands of great richness and fertility, 

 from which very superior hay is harvested. Labor is cheap, 

 as is the case generally throughout the south, ranging from 

 $8 to $12 per month. Many of the farms are small, so that 

 the owner is not necessitated to employ much hired help. 

 Stock-raising is a source of much profit in most counties of 

 East Tennessee, and improved breeds of cattle and sheep are 

 being largely introduced since the war. Nearly all kinds of 

 fruit do well, especially apples, peaches and grapes, to which 

 the climate and soil are admirably adapted. Iron, copper and 

 coal abound. Iron of very superior quality is found in John- 

 son and Carter counties, and the great Duck Town copper mines 

 of Polk County in the extreme southeast part of the State have 

 been profitably worked for a number of years. Many farmers 

 and others from the North have settled in East Tennessee 

 since the war, where they can procure land with fair to good 

 improvements, at from .$10 to $35, and in a few instances as 

 high as $75 per acre is asked. Unimproved land includes a 

 great diversity of soil, and prices range from 50 cents to $6 

 per acre. The country roads are quite a drawback, as they 

 are mostly poor and badly kept up, except a few of the lead- 

 ing thoroughfares, which are piked or otherwise macadimized. 

 We have seen along the mountain region, contiguous to the 

 French Broad and Nolichucky, frequently, a small steer 

 hitched in the shafts of a small cart, or seen a man astride an 

 ox riding in company with others on horseback. The farmer 

 lives almost entirely within himself, buying, or, to speak more 

 properly, trading at the country store only for calico, coffee, 

 salt and sugar, in exchange for which he gives chickens, eggs, 

 feathers and dried fruit. In the counties of Johnson and Car- 

 ter bar iron is considered legal tender, being paid out by the 

 many forges to the workmen, and convertible at any of the 

 stores in exchange for shoes, coffee, sugar, and other articles 

 of domestic use. Excellent water power is everywhere abun- 

 dant, and good sites for mills or factories can be easily ob- 

 tained. The East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad 

 runs from Bristol to Chattanooga, about 235 miles in length, 

 with a branch from Rogersville Junction to Rogersville of 

 sixteen miles, and a branch from Morristown to Wolf Creek, 

 seven miles from Warm Springs, N. C, of thirty-nine miles 

 in length. The latter road will soon be connected through to 

 States vUle, N. C, via Ashville. - Shethar-boznai. 



Abstract of the Annual Report of the Fish 

 Commissioners of the State of Virginia 

 for the Year 1877. 



Of the. 150,000 speckled trout eggs purchased last fall one- 

 half were sent to the Blacksburg hatchery and the other half 

 to Lexington. Owing to exposure to the severe cold weather 

 only about 30,000 of the Blacksburg lot survived, and these 

 were distributed in the streams in the Southwest. At Lexing- 

 ton the result was better, 65,000 being successfully planted in 

 the streams on both sides of the Blue Ridge. 



The efforts of the Commission were also directed to the 

 culture of land-locked salmon, of which 10,000 w T ere procured 

 from Professor Baud, and distributed to all the larger 

 mountain streams. 



The cost of trout eggs, and the risk of loss attending their 

 transportation, has led to the preparation of ponds and the 

 gathering of spawners, and Colonel McDonald, to whom this 

 part of the work has been intrusted, is sanguine of success in 

 the undertaking. Dr. M. G. Ellzey has been successful in 

 distributing to the tributaries of the Roanoke and New rivers 

 30,000 trout spawn, these being a part of 75,000 rtceived in a 

 frozen condition at the Blacksburg hatching-house. 



Notwithstanding the unprecedented scarcity of shad in the 

 Rappahannock River, Mr. R. Greenlaw succeeded in hatch- 

 ing and turning loose in that river about 700,000 fry. In this 

 department of its work the Commission has received very 

 material aid from the proprietors of seines and nets, who, alive 

 to their own interests, have never failed to render nil possible 

 assistance. At the Berkeley Hatchery, on the Herring Creek, 

 a mile inland from the James, Messrs. Nicholas and Page 

 succeeded in hatching 200,000 eggs. 



In this department the work of the Commission has been 

 much hampered by the absence of proper facilities, more 

 especially of a steam yacht, suitably * q ui ppedi Buch a8 tne 

 Maryland Commission lias found so useful. With this it is 



confidently believed that 30,000,000 of shad could be hatched 

 annually at Berkeley. 



In the fall of 1876 the States quota of California salmon was 

 turned over to the Maryland Commission, who, in return, de- 

 posited of young salmon, in the winter of 1876-77, in the 

 Shenandoah, 78,400; in Occoquan, 16,000, and in Goose 

 Creek, 32,000. Besides these, a large portion of the whole 

 hatch was placed in the Potomac, a stream common to the 

 •two States. There is no longer any doubt as to the fact that 

 this fish will flourish in Virginian waters, and return by in- 

 stinct to its home. In May last a fish was caught in the 

 James, nine miles above Richmond, which was undoubtedly a 

 California grilse, one of the lot planted in 1874-75, and which 

 had straggled back before its time. Of the large number 

 placed in James River, in the winter of 1875-76, we hear that 

 early in April last several were caught nine to ten inches long, 

 twelve miles above Norfolk. They were said to be moving 

 in solid column, and with great rapidity, oceanward, and only 

 the few that fell out of line were captured in fyke-nets. Re- 

 garding their success, therefore, as certain, this fall 100,000 

 eggs were obtained, which were received at the Lexington 

 Hatchery early in October in first-rate condition, and were 

 hatched out with scarcely a perceptible loss. At this writing 

 the fry are being distributed in the upper waters of the James. 



During the spring and fall several lots of southern chub, or 

 pond bass, have been taken to ponds in the interior. The 

 Commission have placed a number of red-eyes in the James, 

 above Richmond, and made unsuccessful attempts to stock 

 all the rivers in the State. Futile attempts were also made to 

 introduce the herring into the James, and it is believed that 

 the culture of this fish, which is commercially more valuable 

 than the shad, might ultimately render the James the foremost 

 herring stream on the Continent. 



The black bass have multiplied rapidly in the James, and 

 may now be found in greater or less abundance from Rich- 

 mond to Clifton Forges. 



Several pages of this very interesting report are taken up 

 with a discussion of the acclimatization of sea fish in fresh 

 water, a field for wide observation and inquiry, and sugges- 

 tive of the possibility of greatly augmenting the number and 

 richness of the fresh-water food fishes ; and the list of fishes 

 about Norfolk is here cited from the columns of Forest and 

 Stream as a fair sample of what exists all along the coast. 



The difficulty connected with the oyster culture is intelli- 

 gently discussed in the appendix by Mr. Orvis A. Browne, a 

 gentleman thoroughly conversant with the subject, and the 

 Commission reports favoring the sale of oyster grounds to the 

 proprietors of adjacent lands. 



The rest of the report proper is taken up with an entertain- 

 ing essay by the jjerudite commissioner, Mr. A Moseley, on 

 the history and progress of fish culture; some well-time d re- 

 flections upon the water-wealth of Virginia; the obstacles to 

 fish propagation; dams; and, finally, under the plea that "a 

 Commissioner of Fisheries is expected not only to do every- 

 thing with small means, but to know everything relating to 

 fish," the writer gives us a real treat of fish lore, that puts the 

 Virginia report this year at the head of all similar documents, 

 at least so far as literary merits go. Altogether this pamphlet 

 is not an unpleasant contrast to the meagre and wholly statisti- 

 cal papers of the earlier days of fish culture. 



Fish Culture in Ohio- Gov. Young, of Ohio, in his late 

 message, states that Mr. John H. Klippart, Secretary of the 

 State Commission of Fisheries, informs him that many citi- 

 zens of Ohio have made complaints to the State Commission 

 of Fisheries, to the effect that parties resident of West Vir- 

 ginia and of Kentucky placed seines across the mouths or 

 outlets of Ohio streams near the Ohio side, in the season of 

 the year when migratory fishes are seeking the mouths of 

 streams flowing into the Ohio River, thus preventing migra- 

 tory fishes from ascending and depositing their spawn to re- 

 stock said streams with desirable food fishes. Many thou- 

 sands of fry or young fishes of the salmon and shad families 

 have been deposited in the Muskingum, Scioto and Miami 

 Rivers, by order of the Commissioners, during the past three 

 years. These are well known migratory species, and it is 

 claimed that by the interposition of West Virginians and Ken- 

 tuckians the mature or adult fish are deprived of free access 

 to the Ohio streams, and the work of the Commission is, to a 

 great extent, rendered nugatory so far as benefiting the State 

 of Ohio is concerned, but that the result of their labors inures 

 to the benefit of West Virginia and Kentucky. It is not 

 charged that the residents of these States have by their con- 

 duct violated any law, for it is claimed by them — and the 

 claim has been admitted as valid by the Supreme Court of 

 Ohio in the case of Booth vs. Hubbard, 8 O. S. R., page 243, 

 that the boundary line of the State of Ohio, dividing us from 

 these States, is low water-mark on the Ohio side. The Com- 

 mission of Fisheries are very confident of their ability to stock 

 our streams with the best food-fishes, provided there are no 

 undue interpositions. Brook trout have been very success- 

 fully hatched and introduced into Castalia Springs, near the 

 city of Sandusky. Shad, weighing several pounds, have 

 been taken by lake fishermen in the vicinity of the Bass Isl- 

 ands as well as in the Ohio River ; and salmon were taken in 

 the Miami and Maumee rivers, and in the lake. All these 

 were either deposited or hatched under the direction of the 

 Commission. The Governor commended this subject to the 

 people, and suggested that a resolution should be sent to Con- 

 gress asking to change the eastern and southern boundary of 

 our Stale so that it will be as follows, viz. : Commencing at 

 the middle of the Ohio River, at low water, at the point where 

 the Pennsylvania State boundary line crosses said Ohio River, 

 thence along the middle of the Ohio River, at low water, to 

 that point of the Great Miami River where, it touches or in- 

 tersects the Indiana State line. 



Why Fish in Ponds May Become Blind. — Rochester, 

 Jan. 23.— Editor Forest and Stream : I wish to caution peo- 

 ple owning fish ponds against putting the slats on their screens 

 too far apart, as it is a great cause of blindness to fish. The 



Blats should be put close enough together so that fish cannot 

 get their heads through as far back as their eyes. If they do 

 they damage their eyes, while working to get through, and be- 

 come blind. I first discovered this fact by keeping fish in 

 cars made of slats, and have since noticed it in ponds. In 

 the cars none of the fish had their eyes hurt because they were 

 so large that they could not get their heads through between 

 the slats as far back as their eyes. 

 Yours, Seth Green. 

 — .». . — 



— Mr. Frank Buckland is busy collecting salmon eggs in 

 Scotland, to be sent to New Zealand. 



The Wild or Passenger Pigeon {Coluiriba migratoria). — 

 Though not ranked among the game birds, this most beauti- 

 ful creature affords sport and food for man and boy in various 

 sections of the country. Years since it was very abundant in 

 all the States of New England, and when a boy we killed 

 many of them in the woods of Maine and Massaschusetts, 

 where they swarmed in incredible numbers, and were easily 

 slaughtered by guns or taken in the nets of fowlers. But of 

 late years they have greatly diminished along the Eastern 

 coast, migrating to the more abundant harvests of the West. 

 We have killed them within a few miles of Boston, where 

 they swarmed in the woods and hovered over the fields when 

 the summer grain had been gathered in, or later, when the 

 winter wheat had been newly sown. They seem to know the 

 exact time for the late sowing, and would suddenly make 

 their appearance at the time when the tender blades first 

 emerge from the soil. At such times within a few years we 

 have found them in September in the western part of the 

 State of New York, where they remained for a couple of 

 weeks, and did not leave until the grain had gained some little 

 growth, and was not easily to be pulled up by the feathered 

 thieves. We used to station ourselves within easy shot of a 

 dead tree at the edge of the wheatfield, and kill numbers of 

 them when they would alight on the bare branches, before 

 they would drop down in the wheatfield. In New England 

 they were shot by the concealed gunner, from a stand consist- 

 ing of a long pole, elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees, 

 on an upright much resembling the old-fashioned well-sweep. 

 It was usual to bait with grain the ground beneath it, and the 

 flocks would congregate there for food, first alighting on the 

 pole before they settled to the feast. A raking fire was thus 

 afforded to the gunner, and the result was often very destruc- 

 tive. These birds do not seem to follow the line of coast in 

 their passage, but often pass far into the interior. We have 

 but seldom met them on Long Island, or on the Jersey sea- 

 coast, and then only in small, detached flocks. They were at- 

 tracted to the beaches probably by the poke and bay-berries 

 so abundant there. In some years, however, they collect in 

 considerable numbers on Long Island, especially after strong 

 winds from the North have been blowing from Connecticut, 

 across the Sound. Last year there was scarcely a bird to be • 

 seen on this part of Long Island ; but two years since they were ■ 

 abundant for a few days, and made good sport for the boys. 

 This bird is formed with great strength of wing, and is ca- 

 pable of very prolonged flights. It is said to travel at the rate i 

 of a mile in the minute, and it requires a good shot to stop a I 

 single bird on the wing. They collect in certain districts in 

 immense numbers, where they remain until the mast and 

 other food is exhausted. Their great rapidity of flight seems . 

 to be associated with great acuteness of vision, for while dart- 

 ing over the country with such velocity they still keep up a „ 

 strict survey for their fare, and instantly cease their flight at 

 the prospect of food, flying low till they alight near an ample 

 supply. They gather in the West in their vast roosting-places 

 in uncounted millions, finding there abundant food, such as 

 grain, pulse, whortle-berries, holly-berries, etc.; and the noise 

 of the vast continous flock, extending for miles, is said to 

 resemble the rolling of thunder. The air is absolutely dark- \ 

 ened by the immense flight. These places are chosen in the \ 

 thickest and tallest of forests, unobstructed by underwood. 

 They collect on the trees in such numbers that their accumu- 

 lated weight breaks down the branches, and for years the 

 place is made desolate by the destruction. They are hunted 

 and destroyed by hawks and other birds of prey, but their 

 greatest enemy is man. When their roosting-places are dis- 

 covered the news is wide spread over the country, and mul- 

 titudes, intent on sport or plunder, collect in all sorts of 

 vehicles, with every variety of weapon to destroy them. 

 They are shot down with guns and beaten down with clubs, 

 and gathered up by thousands on the ground, where they 

 have been precipitated and killed by their own swarming 

 numbers. Nothing is seen or talked of or eaten but wild 

 pigeons. They are barrelled up by hundreds ana sent off by 

 rail and boat to remote cities, and Washington and Fulton 

 Markets are glutted with them in the season. MoL. 



Florida Notes.— Our friend, Dr.W. K. Lente, writing from 

 Lake George, Fla. , gives us some pleasant notes of how they pass 

 the winter down there. He complains, too, and not without 

 reason, that in his "Notes on the Wood Ibis," published in 

 Forest and Stream, of Nov. 29, he was badly treated by our 

 compositors, and was made to call some of oiir Southern birds 

 by new and extraordinary names. Never mind, Doctor, we 

 think we can promise that it shall not occur again. But O, why 

 will not contributors print their Latin. Speaking of the Wood 

 Pois, our correspondent says : 



" In answer to your editorial query as to whether I am, 

 sure about the Wood Ibis feeding on aquatic plants, I may' 

 state that I am not perfectly sure, as so long a time has 

 elapsed since I ;eilected the birds and took notes. These 

 notes being North, I cannot rectify my statement at present ; 

 but when the Wood Ibis returns next spring I will examine 

 their stomachs and report. I am very much interested in the 

 report of quail appearing at sea, and I would like to ask you, 

 Mr. Editor, whether it is not very rare for the little Acadian 

 owl (Nyctale cuiadica) to make sea journeys. During No- 

 vember, ? 76, my friend Tom W. left New York in a sailing 

 vessel for Florida, and when a day's sail from Sandy Hook, 

 being out of sight of land, he discovered in the rigging of the 

 schooner this little owl. After a long chase, he, aided by the 

 sailors, captured him. The sailors claimed the bird, but told 

 him that if he died he should have him. The owl died, and 

 Tom has the skin in his possession. I thought it very singu- 

 lar at the time for this rather rare bird to be takenjat sea. 

 Tom W. also saw a few golden-crowned kinglets andjjseveral 

 species of sparrows, which left during the day. 



