Jtn/r 6, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



451 



Legislature of Maine for an appropriation of a reasonable 

 sum of money to aid in carrying on the propagation of trout 

 and salmon in Piscataquis county. 



President Shedd of 'Low]]. Mass., in an able and inter- 

 esting address to the society allude 1 in a happy manner to 

 the sur erior attractions of forest, mountaiu, stream and lake 

 in the vicinity of Monsou, which are rapidly hecoming 

 famous in the sporting world and among the lovers of nature. 

 He congratulated the citizens of Monson upon the fact that, a 

 first-class and elegant summer hotel here is now assured, and 

 prophesied that not only its social benefits but also the vast 

 business advantages which onr people would derive from it, 

 would repay them a thousand fold for their untiring and 

 liberal efforts in this direction. 



He urged upon the members the importance of the objects 

 of the society, and hoped that they would never lessen their 

 exertions to re-stock our numerous lakes and ponds, and that 

 their ardor for a rigid enforcement of the fish and game 

 laws of Maine would always increase and never diminish. 

 His forcible denunciation of all poachers, whether they are 

 "visiting sportsmen from the city or pot-hunters from the 

 backwoods,'' were severe, though just. 



The address was- listened to with much interest, and re- 

 ceived many well deserved praises. 



The meeting was a profitable and interesting one. A 

 great deal of interest was manifested, 



E. R. Hayxes, Secretary. 



Monson, Mb., June 13. 1881. 



.WEST VIRGINIA TROUT STREAMS. 



I HAVE just come from a trout and bass fish in the Al- 

 leghanies. It is no use fishing in the Grcenbriar in the 

 summer time for bass. Insect life is so profuse and plenti- 

 ful that the fish have no incentive to take either bait or the 

 fly. As well, indeed, set a rabbit, gum to catch hares in mid- 

 summer as to whip the Greenbriar River for bass at the warm 

 season. In the late spring or early fall, when a frost has ren- 

 dered torpid the multitudinous flies, grubs, caterpillars, 

 id omne genus, then the angler can have royal sport. 



In many of the streams within fifty to "seventy-five miles 

 from here "there is splendid trout fishing. In some future 

 communication 1 will give full particulars, so that the fol- 

 lowers of ye art of angling can tell exactly where to go. I 

 speak by the card when I say that West Virginia stands 

 ahead of any State this side of the Rockies for its abundance 

 of that delicate, toothsome fish known as the speckled or 

 brook trout. 



The great profuseness of its mountain streams, its pure 

 waters, wild, inaccessible country, and general uncomeatable- 

 ness keeps away the pot fisherman, and only the true angler, 

 who can afford to camp out and rough it. can have an op- 

 portunity to whip the mountain streams. Chasseur. 

 White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., June 13. 



SALMON IN MAINE. 



WE are havipg a good run of salmon this year, very 

 largely fish of our own planting. The «* ardens re- 

 port an unusual number gone directly up the river, We 

 fancy that we note a difference ii) the habits of the fish 

 planted by us above the tishways. They seem to be in a cer- 

 tain sense educated, do not Me* around "below the tide water 

 dam, us did and do the old fish hatched before the construc- 

 tion of the water- works dam. They go more directly up the 

 stream, and through the fishways aid sluices. Anglers Ask- 

 ing for white percli have takenseveral on baits, both angle- 

 worm and bits of fish. One has also been taken on an arti- 

 ficial minnow. A fine shad was brought to us that was 

 tempted by an angleworm. 



Mr. Stanley and myself have this spring planted in Maine 

 waters one million and three-quarters salmon, 85,000 land- 

 locked salmon and 5,000 rainbow trout fry. The sea salmon 

 have been planted in the Penobscot, Presumpscot, Andros- 

 coggin and Kennebec rivers. Some forty land-locked salmon 

 of from two to four pounds have thus far been taken this 

 season in the Rangelcy waters. One of four pounds is re- 

 ported as taken at Moosehead. The novelty of our Penob- 

 scot salmon rising to bait has caused a good deal of stir 

 among our anglers, and several lines have been lost and 

 things made lively to innocent fishermen who indulged no 

 higher' ambition than a string of perch or pickerel. 



E. M. Stilweltj. 



Bangor, Me., J une 27. 



Tennessee Notes. — A number of parties have been out 

 lately to»Buffalo, Tumbull. Harpeth, Sycamore, White Oak, 

 Flint River, Jones and Crow Creek, camping and fishing for 

 several days at a time; they all report fine sport and a most 

 delightful time generally. To go on such an expedition in 

 this State is simply a royal treat, because it is a hippy com- 

 bination of wild and civilized life. Within a mile or* two of 

 camp, on almost any of the above named streams are well- 

 to-do fanners, where all the luxuries and refinement of 

 gentle life can be enjoyed, after a day's hard work angLing, 

 and when tired of that, return to camp with all its romantic 

 surroundings of worldly dangers and pleasures. Col. Geo. 

 F. Akers is meeting with quite an ovation from his brother 

 Commissioners in "Kentucky and Illinois. While in the 

 former State he was of the party under Col. Griffith which 

 deposited a great number of shad in the Ohio and Upper 

 Cumberland rivers, and while in Chicago was the guest of 

 Dr. Rowe, and was treated to a day's angling in the lake. 

 Fish are reported very abundant in all our streams, and 

 could the laws be enforced would soon be as plentiful as 

 they were before the wholesale slaughter of them began by 

 the' pot-lishers. — J. D. H. 



Fishing at Grand Lake Stream, Maine.— The fishing 

 has been very unequal, but on the whole uncommonly good. 

 One week it "was reported that, fishermen fished in tne lake 

 from the stream to Whitney Cave without getting a rise. 

 Next week in one day three fishermen took eighty-four fish. 

 The young fry (yearlings probably) have been exceedingly 

 abundant about the dam. and the boys of the villaa 

 destroyed great numbers of them. There is no section in 

 the law forbidding the killing of salmon or trout fry, but 

 this omission will probably be remedied at the next session 

 of the Legislature. — C. G. A. 



Salmon at Denntsville, Matne. — Several gentlemen 

 have been enjoying tine sport at Dennysville, taking salmon 

 with the fly. Mr. Benjamin Lincoln, a resident of the place 

 who has taken great interest in the fisheries, says they have 

 not been so plenty for twenty years. The increase is attributed 

 to the planting of 30,000 young several years ago. Alewives 

 have been plenty at Dennysville, and have beeen increasing 

 for several years. — C. G. A. 



THE SKOODOOWOBSKOOK AGAIN. 

 Editor FOrevt and Stream: 



In your issue of yesterday the lines on the "Skoodoowabskook," 

 were read by us -with interest, they seemed familiar, and as vou 

 credit the Sun with their publication, I turned to mv scraps, and 

 here is what I find under the title "Tender Lines." Unfortunately I 

 did not preserve the name of the paper from whence they were 

 clipped, some three years ago. 



r. 



Sweet maiden of Passamaquoddv. 

 Khali we seek for communion of souls. 



Where the deep Mississippi wanders. 

 Or the distant Saskatchewan flows? 



II. 



Ah no : for in Maine, I will And thee, 



A sweetly sequestered nook, 

 Where the fair winding Skoodoowabskooksis, 



Conjoins with the Skoodoowabskook. 



in. 



Let others sing loudly of Saco, 



Of Qnoddy and Tattamasouehe, 

 Of Keunehefcasis and Quaco, 



Of Morigonishe and Uuetouche. 



IV. 

 Of Nashwaak and Maguadivique. 



Of Menuuerimamerlcoolr, 

 There's none like the Skoodoowabskooksis, 



Excepting the Skoodoowabskook. 



This may be the original to which you referred when stating that 



the Sun had published them. You will see the siuiiUiritv'wiiieh 

 made them seem familiar to me when reading them in tb 

 and Stream: they must have come from Sb 



thinkthat a pirate craft hassailedo'er the Skootlbowobskook. and im- 

 posed on the Sun f ' Dick. 

 New Yobs. June 30, 



^isJfcnJfttre. 



BLACK BASS IN THE SCOTCH LOCHS. 



\ NGLERS and fisheulturists may be interested to be in- 

 xl formed of the successful transportation of the coming 

 American game fish (the large-mouthed black bass [Microp- 

 tcrvs solmoides, Lac] Benshall) and the small-mouthed black 

 bass, Mieropteftis dolomieu (Lacepede), from New York to 

 Liverpool. 



During the visit of His Grace the Duke of Sutherland to 

 America last year, he for the first time became aware of the 

 unequalled game characteristics of the fish, and its well- 

 known edible qualities. He requested his friend, S. L. M. 

 Barlow. Esq., of New "iork, to send him some alive at the 

 earliest opportunity. This request Mr. Barlow communicated 

 to our mutual friend, Eugene G. Blackford, Esq., of Fulton 

 Market, the well-known ichthyologist, and treasurer of the 

 American Fishetdtural Association and the famous Ichthyo- 

 phagous Club. 



No one experienced in the transportation for long distances 

 of living fish offered, until the date of my annual "trip, and I 

 gladly consented to assume the responsibility. My experience 

 of 1867 in transporting alive a pair of brook trout {Salvelimts 

 fcmtinalis) weighing, respectively, the male twelve pounds, 

 and the female eight and a quarter pounds, from the Range 1 

 ley Lakes, in Maine, to my pond at Stanley, N. J., and later 

 (18(59) black bass {M. dolomieu) thirty-one in "number, from the 

 private pond of Walter Brown, Esq., of New burgh, N. Y.. to 

 ijake Maranacook, Winthrop, Kennebec county, Maine — the 

 earliest introduction into that State — enabled me to feel some 

 confidence in my ability to perforin this far greater task. 



Mr. Blackford supplied six bass, weighing from one-half 

 pound to a pound, being all left from the large number, fully 

 fifty, exhibited at his annual trout show. I addressed a letter 

 to rrry friend, Professor Spencer F. Baird. TJ. S. Commissioner 

 of Fish and Fisheries, requesting a donation from the TJ. S. 

 Fish Ponds,' Druid Hill Park^Baltimore, April 11. At noon, 

 loth, three cans, containing twelve small black bass and five 

 large ones were delivered on board steamship Spain. 



Mr. Blackford's were in two cans. The five cans were alike 

 made of strong tin, encased in wood, having handles, and con- 

 tained ten gallons of water. The tops were provided with 

 Eerforated covers. They are of the form now generally used 

 y fisheulturists. 



Through the courtesy of F, W. J. Hurst, Esq., the efficient 

 agent of the National line, instructions were given to grant, 

 every needed facility on shipboard. 



The cans were placed side by side along the partition ad- 

 jacent to the main saloon, and securely fastened. Arrange- 

 ments were made for attendance of" day and night men, 

 whose duties were to aerate the water every horn-. This was 

 effected in the simplest and best way known at present, viz., 

 by clipping out of the cans and pouring back again frorn- a 

 height of two feet. A long-handled quart dipper was used. 

 I prescribed a sufficient number of dips to completely change 

 the water in the cans hourly. This necessitated the "handling 

 by the quart measure of fifty gallons hourly — twelve hundred 

 daily, and twelve thousand gallons, three hundred barrels 

 during the trip, representing over four tons per day, and f ony 

 tons in ten days. 



The actual time occupied in This service, by the assistants 

 was twelve hours daily. In addition to this, I frequently 

 aerated the water, when upon examination I found one or 

 more of the large bass near the top, indicating exhaustion of 

 oxygen. Six times daily I took the temperature. It was 47 

 degs. in each can when leaving New York. So carefully was 

 the temperature regulated, either by the aeration or the ad- 

 dition of ice, that it only varied three degrees from 47degs.— 

 i. s. | from -Udegs. to oOdegs.— never remaining at the higher 

 point for more than an hour. This may be considered a re- 

 markable achievement, in view of the fact that the tempera- 

 ture of the atmosphere was frequently over sixty. 



Other than the occasional coming to the surface of the three 

 largest bass — a pound weight each— and a slightly pe 

 evidence of lessening vitality on the part of all the eleven large 

 ones, no serious difficulty appeared untd April 23. About 

 three A. M., the night assistant noticed that two were evi- 

 dently failing. He redoubled his efforts and one revived; the 

 other grew gradually weaker and at 9 A. M. died in 

 can of fresh water from the steamer's tank. The other, also 

 in this receptacle, recovered somewhat and was returned to 

 its accustomed quarters. 



The following day, as it still remained languid, it was 

 placed in fresh water and taken to the upper deck. Tne ef- 

 fect was very marked. Improvement was evident almost 

 immediately. During the last two days exertions were re- 

 doubled. I" remained" up the entire night. The temperature 

 in each of the cans was kept exactly forty-seven. A quantity 

 of fresh water was added. 



The small bass caused no anxiety. They always remained 

 at the bottom, seeming to enjoy their novel voyage across the 

 wide Atlantic. 



valuable suggestion of Capt. R. W. Grace, of the 

 Spain, the cans were raised from the floor about an inch, 

 on strips, permitting ventilation. TL- cases were 



constantly wetted, the evaporation causing a lower tempera- 

 ture. Every piece or ice used was carefully washed, and 

 small quantities added at a time. A buiiseye lantern per- 

 mitted examination of the interior of the cans. The ther- 

 mometer used was a novelty. I procured it from M 

 H. Sohieffelin & Co., the day I sailed. It was in a square. 

 wooden case, with openings left to expose the bulb and indi- 

 cator. A convenient handle at the top permitted it to be 

 used with ease, A record of temperatures was made several 



times daily; also of the addition of ice and fresh water, and 

 other notable facts were written down. 



Exc.' <1lii ; interest in the novel experiment was manifested 



engers, officers, crew, and even by the large number 



or persons in the steerage. Constant inquiries Were made as 



to their condition, and deep sympathy was expressed when 



the death occurred. 



At Queeustown, I telegraphed to the Duke of Sutherland 

 their safe arrival, also addressing him a letter requesting him 

 to send by his messenger to Liverpool twenty-two platina 

 tags, inscribed with the weight of each bass and date of de- 

 positing in his waters. I also suggested that a portion be 

 placed in the ponds on bis estate at Trenthaiii, between 

 Liverpool and London, and that the balance be exhibited at 

 Edinburgh Fishery Exhibition which opened the l£tih inst. 



Mr. Blackford also put in my care a box containing four 

 fine Hudson River shad (.4 losa sapidissijmis); two red snap- 

 pers (Lv.cjanus blacl.fordii): and one striped bass [i?0 

 lincatus). Two of the former were for the Prince of Wales. 

 and the balance for t lie Edinburgh Exhibition. I expressed 

 the shad from Liverpool to the Prince of Wales, care of the 

 Duke of Sutherland, London, and the balance to Edinburgh. 

 As they were well packed in ice by Mr. Blackford in New 

 i ork, and were constantly covered iii the center of the great 

 ice room of the Spain, thee, were in fine condition. 



So far as I am informed this is the third lot of black bass 

 to cross the Atlantic. The preceding ones were taken in 1878 

 and L879 by Mr. Silk. Bsacultunst for the Marquis of Exeter, 

 and placed in a lake at Stamford. They were all very small, 

 however, and he lost a large number in transportation. The 

 last lot singularly enough wei e taken over in the Spain. 



To the best of my knowledge this is the first time that fresh 

 water fish as large as these have been transported alive over 

 this vast distance — over three thousand miles. 



I said the black bass was the ''coming game fish of Amer- 

 ica." It has come, and to-day takes the first rank, leading 

 even the royal salmon or the dainty trout. It is still more 

 needed in the United Kingdom, where but two really game 

 fish now exist. It will rapidly increase and speedily gain the 

 same universal favor bestowed on it m America." I predict 

 that it will soon be acclimatized on the Continent, and ere 

 another generation arrives, be as abundant hi Europe as in 

 America. 



En conclusion. I take zee-:'" v.Je.qcu ae ic .: :-;j nvssing my deep 

 sense of obligation to the officers and servants of "the" grand 

 steamship Spain for their unfailing efforts to aid me in this 

 important mission. I would also a kn iwl Ige the efficient 

 and wise counsel of mv friends Messrs. Hemy Draper, C. 

 Frederic Wetmore, F. Pelham Marshall, S. YY Johnson and 

 John Carter, Jr., of New York city; Dr. K- A. C. Dillon, of 

 Rio Janeiro: Rev. J. P. Smith, and C. Gram-re. of Baltimore: 

 Rev. P. D. De Lorn, of London. Ontario: W. J. Penley and 

 Romeo Sebastian, of London. England; John H. Mugford, of 

 Brooklyn, and E. Hicks, Granville, Ohio; W. H. Jayne, New- 

 port, England; Harry Minshall. Stockport. England, and 

 others. Geo. Shefard Page. 



On Boards. S. Spain, St. George's Channel. April 24, 1883 



P. S. — A second bass died before reaching Liverpool. The 

 balance, in charge of Donald McKay, the fluke of Suther- 

 land's jishc'ilturist. were safely transported to Golspie, Suth- 

 erland, and deposited in a loch. En route the fish were 

 entered at the Edinburgh Fishery Exhibition, where they re- 

 ceived much attention. 



As the guest of his Grace the Duke of Sutherland, I spent 

 a delightful week at Dunrobin Castle. 



The two black bass wliich died, a male and female, have. 

 been elegantly mounted by Rowland TYard & Son, and will 

 be on exhibition at the office- of the London International 

 Fishery Exhibition of ISSri, ::4 Hayinarket, where they can be 

 inspected by any persons interested until Sept, 1, 18S». 



One has been accepted by Dr. Gunther for final deposit in 

 the British Museum, the Other will be sent "to the iNational 

 Museum, Washington, c . S. A. Geo. Shepard Page. 



American* Exchange in- Europe, 11!) Strand, Loudon, May 86. 



SALMON .BREEDING ON THE PENOBSCOT. 



THE establishment in Bueksport and Orland is now 

 thoroughly equipped, and no work of consequence has 

 been done this year, except the collection of adult sahnonf or the 

 canning season. About o00 have already been secured. They 



average a little small' 



the heaviest ever known. 

 queutly veiy marked. 1 at 

 covered. This yea 

 salmon taken early in t 

 whereas in ordinal; ; 

 as well as longest. Titer 

 and May fish a much lur_ 

 from eighteen to t 



usual. Last year they averaged 

 These fluctuations in size are ire- 

 no cause for them has been dis- 



a t it another peculiarity. The 



le season were nearly all" small, 



: fast are much the heaviest, 



will be, L«r instance, in the April 



• r proportion of fish that weigh 



r pounds than in Jane, when the 



most of them range from ten to thirteen. It is possible, how- 

 ever, that the peculiarity noted this year may be local to a 

 small district near Bueksport, whence the information was 

 received. 



The .State commissioners have this year hatched their sal- 

 mon for the Penobscot at Enfield, thirty-five miles above 

 Bangor. They were mostly tinned into the Mattawamkeag 

 River 'the largest tributary of the Penobscot) at Danforth 

 and Bancroft. Tie aiou eggs in all sent tc 



and the loss was quite small. C. G. Atkins. 



i fresh 



-> discover 



food Bsh, 



Capt. John- 



A NEW AND VALUABLE FOOD FISH. 



CiAPT. George A. Johnson, of the sehocftier Augusta H. 

 I Jo hns on, of this port, who recently ai 

 halibut trip to the Grand bank, h i - 

 and make known the highly valuable quali 

 of the C reuarlirr niiicrura*. On ids last ( 

 son had some of these fish cooked, and fi tilling them much 

 better than halibut, tttrboi, or any other sea Bah he had ever 

 eaten, he cleaned and iced fifteen or twenty of Them to bring 

 home. These he distributed among his friends who unanim- 

 ously agi-ee that they have never eaten anv finer rish. I 

 chanced to be one of the fortunate few who obtained 

 men, and car _ ., , the good 



■: . . renadier. at least, when fried. I have never 



eaten a sealish wliich I would prefer, and in point of richness 

 and flavor I think it si el to the brook trout. 



There no v. - ass ■■ : tor supposing that the grena- 



dier which, only four years lie >. w a- one of the rarest fishes 

 in scientific collections, may become one of our most highly 

 prized food tlshes. Capt. Johnson int jn Is t i bring h 

 eral hundred from the Lank on his next trip, and these will 

 be distributed to some of sin the country. 



Previous to 181 the ' ■• ■ f —as the 



grenadier is called by the fishermen on account of its rough, 

 sharp-pointed scales— in American waters was scarcely known 

 to any one out tie Grloui bi o caught 



them on their trawls in the deep water (from 100 tooQQ 

 fathoms) along the slopes of the outer tishing banks, but 

 either threw them away, or used them for bait. 

 During the summer of "78, and since i bat time, ma 



art in and presented to the TJ. 8. Fish Com- 

 mission for scientific pa ■ 

 fishermen thought of eating them: 



inadier is not usually found in abundance like the 

 cod, haddock, etc., but more or less can alwftj S be i 

 the halibut grounds resei i 



Capt. Johnson says that where he lay, on the eastern side of 

 Grand Hank, in I'-'-S fathoms of water, lat 42J.S1 If., I a 

 W., he could catch five or six hundred at a single set of the 

 trawl lines. These fish, which average about two to four 

 pounds in weight, keep excellently well in ice, retaining their 



