Jtjidl HfsitUmie. 
This Journal is the Official Organ of the Fish Cultur- 
ists’ Association. 
ON STOCKING PONDS. 
BY A. S. COLLINS. 
I T is commonly supposed that any pond is good enough 
for black bass. If any one lias a pond or stream which 
is too warm or sluggish for brook trout, he is told by his 
sporting friends to stock it with black bass. As some of 
the varieties which are popularly called black bass will live 
in such places it is necessary in order to make my meaning 
plain, to define the term “black bass.” 
Well then, according to DeKay, a centrarclms fasciatm is 
a black bass* and accorning to Agassiz a black bass is a 
' c/ristes nigricans , and according to Professor Gill either or 
neither are black bass; or rather there are only two kinds 
of black bass, the little mouthed bass and the big mouthed 
bass. While Mr. H. J. Reeder savs that a grystes salmoi- 
des is a centrarclms fasciatus , and that a G. nigricans is 
either. 
Now, Mr. Editor, in such a state of affairs, what is a plain 
and unlearned man to do, unless he calls the fish in ques¬ 
tion simply “black bass?” They will not live in a sluggish 
stream, nor in a pond or lake which gets very warm in 
summer. Any large stream which has a good current, a 
current swift enough to keep the bottom of the channel 
clear, with a rocky bottom, will support black bass, if 
the temperature of the water does not rise very high in 
summer. Any lake which has sufficient change of water 
to keep a clean rocky bottom, and has springs enough in it 
to keep the water moderately cool in summer, is also good. 
But if they are put into a sluggish stream which deposits 
enough sediment to make a muddy bottom, or if they 
are put into a pond or lake which has a similar character, 
they will not live. Or, to put in a saving clause, if they 
should by any means live, it will not be as black bass. 
They will sink into a muddy soapy fish, which will not 
take the fly with a snap, or break from the water when fast, 
!' and will become degenerate specimens of a once proud and 
noble (black) race. The black bass have never artificially 
f propagated. Nor is it practically necessary that the pro- 
1 cess should be discovered, as a few pair will soon stock a 
large area of water. They make a nest in summer and 
cast their spawn, and take care of them while they are 
hatching by fanning them with their fins and keeping them 
clear of sediment and enemies, and giving them the proper 
9 change of water while they are hatching. Their increase 
1 is 100 per cent, more than any other good kind of fish. 
It is the general impression that they care for their young 
! and protect them for a certain time. If any of your read¬ 
ers have observed their habits in this respect, it would in¬ 
terest many of us if they would send you their observa- 
I tions. 
| Caledonia, N. Y. 
i —We clip the following from the Boston Journal of the 
27 th:— 
A meeting of the Commissioners on Inland Fisheries was 
; recently held at the State House, for the purpose of mutual 
‘ consultation in regard to the collection of land-locked 
salmon eggs. Massachusetts was represented by E. A. 
Brackett and Asa French; Maine by E. M. Stilwell and 
Henry O. Stanley; New Hampshire by Dr. W. W. Fletcher; 
Vermont by Dr. M. C. Edmunds and Dr. M. Goldsmith; 
Rhode Island by John G. Barden; Connecticut by Dr. Wm. 
M. Hudson, Robert G. Pike and James A. Bill. Mr. Chas. 
G. Atkins, Superintendent of the Penobscot Salmon Breed¬ 
ing Works at Bucksport, Me., which was established for 
the collection of sea-going salmon eggs, was present by in¬ 
vitation. These works are owned by the States named 
above, together with the United States, which are repre¬ 
sented by Professor Baird, the United States Commissioner. 
Arrangements were made for the prosecution of the work 
during the coming year, and funds were subscribed for that 
purpose It is expected that Prof. Baird will get an appro¬ 
priation from the United States Government to aid in the 
work being carried on at Bucksport. Mr. Hiram L. 
Leonard of Bangor, who is collecting land-locked salmon 
eggs at Sebec Lake, on a tributary o’f the Penobscot River, 
was also present at the meeting. Connecticut and Mass¬ 
achusetts and the United States Commissioner are at pre¬ 
sent the only parties interested in the eggs of land-locked 
salmon, but a discussion was had relative to admitting dur¬ 
ing the coming season the States of New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island and Vermont. A full expression of views on both 
subjects was had, and satisfactory arrangements made for 
the prosecution of the work at Bucksport and Sebec Lake 
during the coming season. 
—The subjoined is a copy of the law just passed by Wis¬ 
consin appointing fish commissioners: — 
An act to encourage the artificial propagation and the intro¬ 
duction into this State of the better kinds of fish. 
The people of the State of Wisconsin represented in Senate 
and Assembly, do enact as follows:— 
Sec. 1. There is hereby appropriated out of any money 
in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum 
of three hundred and sixty dollars to be expended under 
the direction of three commissioners, to be appointed by 
the Governor, whose duty it shall be to confer with Prof. 
Spencer F. Baird, United States Commissioner of Fish and 
Fisheries, and receive from him all spawns of fish of all 
kinds donated by the General Government to the State of 
Wisconsin. 
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of said commissioners upon 
receiving any such spawns, or fish, by or through the said 
United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, to im¬ 
mediately place such spawn in the care of responsible pis¬ 
ciculturists of the State and by them to be hatched and dis¬ 
tributed in the different waters in and surrounding the 
State. s 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Sec. 8 . This act shall take effect from and after its pas¬ 
sage and publication. 
Approved March, 1874. # 
The commissioners appointed were William Welsh, T. 
C. Dousman, and Alfred Palmer. 
—There have recently been placed in Long Island Pond, 
near Sag Harbor, 50,000 young trout from the head waters 
of Lake Michigan. _ 
—The Central City Park races at Macon, Georgia, took 
place on March 26th and three following days. The second 
day the weather was bad and the track heavy. The first 
race—a one and a quarter mile dash, for all ages—was won 
by Revenge, in 2:22, beating Fireball second and Nashville 
Harry third. The second race was a three-quarter mile 
dash, and was won by Quits, in 1:26f, Belle of Australia 
being second and Pretty-by-Niglit lliird. The third race 
was mile heats, best two in three. It was won in two 
straight heats by Tabitha, Chief Engineer being second, and 
Joe Johnston being distanced in the first heat. Time, 1:54 
and 1:55. The third day the weather was fine and track in 
splendid order. The first race, a mile and a half dash, was 
won by Revenge, beating Tabitha. Time, 2:40. Lime¬ 
stone ran, but carried an overweight, and was badly jockey¬ 
ed. Bets on him were declared off. The second race was 
a mile dash for two-year-olds and was won by Vandalike, 
beating Letitia IT. and the Belle of Australia. Time, 1:50. 
The third race for mile heats, best two in three, was won 
by Ortolan, beating Joe Johnson and Fireball. Time, 1:484 
and 1:494. 
—The death of Count Johannes Maria Renard, a leader 
of the German turf, is a late event to be much regretted. 
Count Renard may have been known to some of our readers 
when attached to the embassy at Washington. The owner 
of a large domSin in Silesia, he devoted a great deal of at¬ 
tention to the raising of horses, importing the finest English 
stock into Germany. Two of his horses, Hoclistapler and 
Amalie von Edelreich, he landed as winners on the English 
turf. In Berlin Baron Renard was celebrated for his hospi¬ 
tality. Besides being an agriculturalist of distinguished 
merit, he occupied an important position in German 
politics. 
Some Hints About Houses. — Over forty years’ experi¬ 
ence in the management of horses has taught me that one 
of the best things to prevent hots and worms in horses is to 
give them, in their feed once a week, for about four or live weeks, in the 
spring of the year, a small handful of wood ashes and a lump of rosin the 
size of a walnut, pulverized. Great, attention should be paid t*o horses’ 
feet. Many fine horses are ruined by neglect of this attention. Never 
let your horses stand in stable litter. You will also find it of great bene^ 
fit to keep in your stable a vessel with chamber lye in it, and in warm 
weather wet well and swab the feet with it. Great care should be taken 
in shoeing horses. First, have all the loose scroof taken out of the bot¬ 
tom of the foot, andauy loose rags on the frog smoothly taken off, but 
nothing more. In buying a horse look particularly well to his feet, and 
never breed from a horse with a contracted hoof .—Exchange. 
Promoting Growth of Mane.— Midy Morgan gives 
tliis recipe for accelerating the growth of hair on the manes 
and tails of horses. She says: Take corrosive sublimate 
(hyd. bichloride), oxymuriate of murcury, each four grains, 
in one ounce of distilled water. Wash the parts where the 
hair is thin with warm water and soap, then rub with a 
linen cloth, and immediately after rub in some of the above 
liniment. If the hair has been rubbed off by the animal’s 
own endeavors to allay cutaneous irritation, then dress with 
the following ointment: One ounce of fine flour sulphur, 
one ounce of pulverized saltpeter, made into a soft ointment 
with fresh butter of fresh rendered hog’s lard; rub in at 
night and wash out in the morning with warm water and 
soap; repeat three or four times. If the hair is scant from 
natural debility of the capillary organs, then simply use 
cold water applied with a toft sponge; avoid all combing 
or brushing, and clean the mane and tail as Arabs do, with 
a coarse flannel rubber .—Buffalo Live-Stock Journal. 
<^Lnzwtr$ j^o (^omsyondentg. 
We shall endeavor in this department to impart and hope to receive 
such information as may be of service to amateur and professional sports¬ 
men. We will cheerfully answer all reasonable questions that fall within 
the scope of this paper, designating localities for good hunting, fish¬ 
ing, and trapping, and giving advice and instructions as to outfits, ini 
plements, routes, distances, seasons, expenses, remedies, traits, species 
governing rules, etc. All branches of the sportsman's waft will receive 
attention. Anonymous Communications not Noticed. 
Dr. G., Baltimore.—Where can I get artificial eyes for small birds? 
Ans. J. H. Batty, New Utrecht, L. I. 
L. D. O., Philadelphia.—Two competitors will|not be allowed to use 
the same rifle at the coming international match. 
R. T. M., Nassau —We,do not know of any book describing the Grand 
Manan. Perhaps some of our readers will give us the information. 
W. A. Dougherty, Ohio.—Mr. Laverack.s price is £30 for the dog you 
mention. It is necessary that you write as early as possible, as most of 
his setters are already promised. 
E. C.—What would he the expense of such a canoe as you give a de¬ 
scription cf in the last issue of your paper, and where can it be obtained? 
Ans. The desired information may be found in Forest and Stream, 
published March 26, under head of “Canoeing—Number Three.” 
L.W. G.—What hooks would you recommend an amateur fisherman 
to get, telling when and where to go, and what to use? Ans., Where to 
go—Hallock’s “Fishing Tourist,” Scott’s “Fishing in American Waters.” 
What to use—Roosevelt’s “Game Fish of the North,” Frank Forester’s 
“Fish and. Fishing,” and Adams’ “Field and Forest Rambles.” 
Myosotio, Brooklyn.—There is no shooting anywhere in this State 
just now, except English snipe, and' they only remain a few days. West 
Hampton, Riverhead, and the neighborhood of Smithville are excellent 
for duck, quail, and woodcock. Tbe gun you mention is, we believe, a 
good one for the money. 
Ben, Detroit.—Between the .40 and .44»calibres we give preference to 
the .44, for all round work, especially for long ranges. The Remington 
breech-loader we think highly of/ See in No.-7, March 26th, result of 
some trials, .which were very satisfactory. For the price we. know of .no 
more serviceable breech-loading f owling.piece.. 
G. N., Baltimore.—Cleaning rifle is permitted under Wimbledon rules, 
in a match like the International, open to any rifle, although forbidden 
in matches restricted to breech-loaders alcme. If, however, any annoy¬ 
I 
120 
ance as to delay of match should issue, from men wasting too much 
time over cleaning, it might be very properly objected to. 
W. E. Payson.— I expect to spend May or June in Washington Co., 
Maine. What flies and rods had I best take for trouting during those 
months in brook and lake. Would it be worth while to take a light 
fowling piece? Ans. 1. See “Sea and River” column this week’s Forest 
and Stream. 2. No shooting in May and June. You ought to know 
that. 
G. T. J. O.—Where can I get some qnail eggs; I would lik^to get sev¬ 
eral dozen to hatch under a common hen, and then let them out on Long 
Island, as quail are very scarce in our woods, 2d. Where are there good 
snipe grounds, and how can I get there? Ans. 1. Write to T. M. Rod- 
man, 696 B.ioadvvay. 2. All along the New Jersey and Long Island At¬ 
lantic coast. 
W. I. Faddes,. Minnesota.—Please inform me where in the United 
States caribou shoe packs maybe obtained? Ans. Can’t be gotten in 
the United States. We are arranging with parties in Canada to supply 
us, to enable us to fill the numerous orders we have for the same. We 
have this day ordered a case of beefskin shoe-packs from Montreal for 
a dozen of our subscribers who want them, which we hope to receive in 
the course of a week. Use Indian (smoke) tanned caribou moccasins. 
Carrol. —How great are the practical difficulties and embarrassments 
and general expense (in proportion to fares) of transporting an ordinary 
boat or canoe over the customary routes of sportsmen in their summer 
travels? Ans. There have been instances where, by making arrange¬ 
ments previously, canoes have been received as baggage, and transported 
free of charge. Shipping by express costs about as much as one fare, 
and by freight less than half as much, but the latter method is very slow. 
J. H. P. C., New Haven, Conn.—The Wesson of the calibre and weight 
you mention is a serviceable gun. For general use would prefer the 44 
to the 38. Both gu^ges of gnn would he equal at targets, but the heavier 
projectile better for hunting. In regard to the next gun mentioned by 
von, we know hut little about it, except to hear it most favorably spoken 
of. The Remingtons make rifles costing $32, $34, $36 and $40; accord¬ 
ing to length. Their No. 2 model does not weigh quite 7£ pounds, and 
has open sights and nicely adjusted trigger. 
Excelsior, St. Louis.—Will you be good enough to let me know tbe 
price of the Laverack setters, the pups per pair; also a pair of dogs? 
Would Florida be a good place for a first-class hotel; by Florida, I mean 
some of the towns where sportsmen and visitors chiefly stop or pass 
through,and what would be the best town to start in and if it is a healthy 
country? Ans. Along the Indian and Hillsboro Rivers the country is 
very healthy, and several of our correspondents have spoken of the ne¬ 
cessity for hotels there, affirming that the venture would prove remuner¬ 
ative, as the number of sportsmen there, this winter especially, is very 
large. 
A. II. T.—Will you oblige a reader by answering the following ques¬ 
tions: At what lake or lakes can good black bass and pickerel (or 
either) be found, together with hotel or boarding-house accommodations 
for a gent and his wife, &c. ? 2. What rod would you recommend for 
trolling and still fishing for these fish? Ans. 1. Greenwood Lake, 12 
miles from Turner’s Station on Erie Railroad is a favorite summer re¬ 
sort. Turner’s is 45 miles from New York. Crystal Lake, Dundaff, 
Susquehanna County, is another spot well spoken of. Canaan, Litch¬ 
field County, Conn., is a splendid place for pickerel and pike. 
Sportsman, Erie, Penn.—Snipe cannot lawfully be shot in this State 
between April 20th and September 1st, and this is something of a hard¬ 
ship upon sportsmen in the extreme western counties, and especially on 
the shore of Lake Erie, for, owing to the severity of oar seasons, it is 
often as late as from the 10th to the 16th of April before the snipe make 
their appearance here, arid thus a law framed for the southeastern part 
of the State, and that affords them their full measure of sport after 
snipe, nearly deprives us of all that enjoyment. Is it necessary to pro¬ 
tect a migratory bird like the snipe at all? Ans. We think that protec¬ 
tive laws for migratory birds accomplish little good in the spring, as the 
passage of wild fowl is swift, and they do not stop to feed by the way, as 
they do in the fall. 
H. , Philadelphia.—Is Chincoteague or Cobb’s Island, the best place 
for hay snipe shooting? Ans. Cobb’s Island. At what time in May are 
they most abundant? Ans. We never recommend the* shooting of bay 
snipe until September. Wbat grain of Curtis & Harvey’s powder com¬ 
pares in size with Dupont No. l duck and Orange lightning No, 7? Ans 
About No. 6. 
J. J. M., Hamilton.—Thanks for attention in regard to rifle meeting, 
which you will find in to-day’s issue. We give the size of targets as laid 
down in the reports of our N. R. A. for 1873. We .expect the new re¬ 
port very shortly. 
I. The size of the targets shall be— 
a. Up to 200 yards, 6 feet by two feet. 
b. Over 800 to 600 yards, 6 feet square. 
c. Over 600 to 1,000 yards, 6 feet by 12 feet. 
d. At 400 yards, for volley firing, 6 feet by 12 feet. 
2. In competition for individual firing, the size of the bull’s eyes and 
centres shall be— 
a. Up to 300 yards, bull’s eye, 8-inch square; centre, 2 feet, 
b. Over 300 to 500 yards, bull’s eye, 2 feet square; centre, 4 feet. 
c. Over 600 to 1.000 yards, bull’s eye, 3 feet square; centre, 6 feet. 
d. 400 yards, volley, bull’s eye, 2 feet high and extending across the 
target; centre, foot above and below bull’s eye; outer, remainder of 
target. 
Lieut. E. O, II., San Francisco.—Having read the U. S. Ordnance 
Memoranda No. 15, and having seen the term used, “musket powder,” 
you want to know what known grades of private makers can be com¬ 
pared with it for strength—size of grain, recoil, &c.? Ans. The Ord¬ 
nance officer of the National Armory at Springfield has kindly given us 
the following data as the only record known to the department: 10 
grains musket powder, with a 450 grain bullet, fired from a S? B. & R. 
M., cal. 50, model, 68, gave an initial velocity of 1,299 feet per second; 
70 grains Hazard electric, as above, gave initial velocity of 1,377 feet per 
second. The Lafliu & Rand Powder Company tell us that the FF. car¬ 
tridge powder made by them is musket powder, and so called by the 
Government when used by them. The importance of knowing, exactly 
the differences of strength of powder is vital in shooting at long range, 
as our correspondent well knows. It happens sometimes at Creedmoor 
that a man gets on the target every time at 1,000 yards, while his neigh¬ 
bor cannot. Both are using the same weight of powder, shooting from 
the same guns, hut the difference is in the powder. Sometimes careful 
practice will show the difference in the powder, and good results can be 
had by .careful elevation or depression, as the case may determine, with 
various brands of powder. We will try shortly to give the subject a 
fuller development. 
Several Querists.— Various voluminous documents referring to the 
scrub race between the yachts Ariel and Storm King having been sub¬ 
mitted to us, we append our decision. Space will not permit us to print 
all the papers and letters from the different judges and the gentlemen af¬ 
terward elected to decide between them. But, as we understand the case, 
it was simply this: A scrub race was appointed for a certain day, and 
the use of oars absolutely forbidden, which was the only restrict¬ 
ion imposed upon the competitors. The yachts got under way, Ariel 
soon taking the lead and keeping it throughout the entire race. On the 
way home it fell a flat calm, both vessels drifting towards the stake-boat. 
To avoid a steamboat, it is said, Ariel let go her anchor, getting it, how¬ 
ever, before she had time to swing. Storm King claims race on techni¬ 
cality of Ariel having let go her anchor. Ans, The Ariel wins. The 
only definite restriction in the agreement between the yachts, was 
against the use of oars or sweeps, but we fail to see how letting go an¬ 
chor under foot in a fair-going tide is to accelerate tbe speed of a yacht. 
So much for the special agreement governing the race. Under ordinary 
regulations the Ariel would still win, as the general ruling, of-clubs here 
and in England permits a yacht to anchor during a face, provided she 
gets her anchor again. And under general rules the • Ariel, would have 
another claim to the prize, from the fact of the Stonh King having 
thrown ballast overboard. 
