FOREST AND STREAM 
309 
But as Mr Whitcher desires “specific statements” rather 
than “vague stories” I will give him a few more, and I can 
assure him that if he will hold a Court of Enquiry in Hali¬ 
fax we will furnish them to his heart’s content. 
1 i (dve an extract from a letter from a reliable person in 
Queen’s County:— 
“On the Medway, by far the finest tisli river of this 
county if not of the Province, the fish were last season so 
nearly exterminated that years of fostering care will scarely 
suffice to remedy the evil. The fish are practically excluded 
from most of the streams of this province. Beginning at 
Jordan River we find a high dam with an approval fish lad¬ 
der so prepared, with the further information that fish are 
not caught at all above, and in yearly lessening numbers 
below. On the Liverpool river the obstructions have been 
such as to have brought about a virtual annihilation of the 
fishery, and though I am not prepared to say that an occa¬ 
sional salmon, more active than the rest, ma^ not jump the 
dam, I am quite certain none ever went up the ladder. On 
the Petite Riviere, a beautiful stream once swarming with 
salmon and alewives, hemlock has wrought the same des¬ 
truction at the hands of its stolid owners that pine has else¬ 
where. The La Have, one of the largest and most beautiful 
streams in the province, may be said to be doubly dammed, 
for just aboye the head of navigation are two dams, in the 
upper and most impassable one of which the proprietors, 
with a fine appreciation of the necessity of the case and the 
sense of the community, have constructed a pretentious fisli 
way—though it is notorious that fish cannot possibly get 
above the first, or least obstructive one.” * * * * 
Hear what an old sportsman, and one who knows from 
actual observation whereof lie speaks, says on tlie subject: 
“All the finest rivers in the Province, with a few excep¬ 
tions, are so closed by dams erected by mill owners, (mostly 
foreign companies,) that the fish that formerly ascended 
these rivers, (by thousands,) for the purpose of spawning, 
are now and have been for several years entirely prevented 
from doing so. Fisli ladders have in some instances been 
adopted, but which have proved utterly useless, and indeed 
some of them are mere traps, and are taken advantage of 
as such by the people living in the neighborhood. Those 
livers that are not obstructed by dams are netted in every 
possibly way by day, and the pools illegally swept with 
nets at niglit. The fish are also speared by torch light 
when the water is low enough, and many not taken are so 
cruelly wounded that they only escape to die. As a rule 
the wardens appointed are non-effective, some living too 
far distant from tlieir work, and so are unable to give tlie 
time and proper attention required for tlieir duties.” 
But I shall refrain from giving any further testimony in 
this letter, lest I should exceed the space you may be in¬ 
clined to give me, although the subject is of such great im¬ 
portance as to well merit tlie attention of the press of the 
Province. 
The Deputy Minister in the concluding paragraph of liis 
letter is pleased to be facetious, when lie compares the 
“Society pen” to the “reckless fowler who fires wildly at 
the flight and wounds several birds without touching the 
one at which he should have aimed—feathers the net re¬ 
sult.” 
I trust that the facts contained in this letter are better 
aimed, and will reach tlie mark, and if the result shall lie 
to stimulate enquiry and to obtain redress, I shall be more 
than satisfied, even it it is obtained at tlie expense of ruf¬ 
fling the placidity of the official plumage. 
I am, your obedient servant, 
FlTZ COCHRAN, 
Secretary Game and Inland 
Fishery Protection Society, FT. S. 
Halifax , JSf. &, May 23, 1874. 
great sport and satisfaction, but no pickerel and perch were found m the 
lake. This continued vp to the present season, and I am now informed 
bj r good authorities that there are but few, if any, bass to be taken there. 
Mr. P. Lorillard, the great tobacconist of your city, stocked his lake 
called “Tncceeclo,” (better known as “ Duck Cedar”) also with bass; the 
inhabitants of the water were the same, and the result proves that bass 
are destructive to all kinds of fish, as found in these lakes. I believe bass 
are taken there still, but they have not been there sufficiently long to 
destroy themselves. The prevailing opinion of the anglers in this sec¬ 
tion is that bass, in a period of from ten to fifteen years, if not increased 
by outside supplies of their kind, exterminate themselves. Is this so? 
E. S. Wan MAKER. 
[Fish culturists know very little of the natural history of 
black bass.] 
-- 
—There seems little doubt in our mind that the ciscos of 
Geneva Lake, in Wisconsin, are the grayling of Michi¬ 
gan. From personal observation we know nothing; we 
judge from the description given us of the fish, and from 
the testimony of an expert angler living near the lake, who 
declares them to be grayling. He says that these fisli, 
although abundant now, first made their appearance only a 
few years ago; that they came in some mysterious manner 
after the outlet had been dammed across,and that the people 
there believe that they could only have been brought there by 
waterspout. If our correspondent will take our very ac¬ 
curate engraving of the grayling, printed in Forest and 
Stream of June 4, and compare it with the “cisco,” he 
will be able to detect any family resemblance. Note the 
second dorsal (adipose) fin, the number of fin-rays in great 
first dorsal, the caudal fin rays, the (vomer) teetli on tongue 
and jaws, if any,, and the spots on fins and sides of body. 
If he will pack a male and female in ice and send by ex¬ 
press at our expense, lie will increase our obligation to him 
and aid us to solve the question. 
Tiie Habitat of the Grayling. —Our valued corres¬ 
pondent, Hon. H. O. Collins, of Ohio, thinks he found the 
grayling, in 1862, in the head waters of the Wind River, 
which interlocks with the sources of the Yellowstone, but 
tlie Indiaus were too hostile at that time to permit a 
thorough investigation. This statement verifies the im¬ 
pressions of another correspondent (an army officer,) 
which we printed a few weeks since, that the grayling was 
found in tlie streams of Montana, which include the head¬ 
waters of the Yellowstone. There seems little doubt that 
the fact is as stated. We have been promised the result of 
thorough investigations to be made in Montana next July, 
when the streams have subsided after the June rise. 
—The Hallowell, Maine, Observer says that 60,000 salmon 
from the hatching house of Mr. Leonard will be turned 
into Sebec Lake the present week. The gentleman has 
sent several thousand to other places. He has at present 
confined in three tanks about 200 salmon taken from the 
lake, which will probably be kept there until tlie maturity 
of their eggs, which is said to occur in November. This 
number will probably furnish all the eggs which can he 
conveniently handled. 
CENTRAL. PARK MENAGERIE, 
woods, beside a quiet, meandering brooklet, whose silver 
waters danced and sparkled over the smooth pebbly bot¬ 
tom, or gathered in little pools ever and anon beneath the 
cool, delightful shade? Perhaps all who love to ramble in 
the woods do not go out in search of ferns. To such as 
would make a delightful fernery in their own garden we 
would say, they should first go out into the woods and study 
the ferns there; it will amply repay them, and the informa¬ 
tion they receive will aid them much in the construction 
of their own fernery. 
The fern, although loving the water, loves not the stag¬ 
nant pool. Water is tlieir true element—cool, bright, 
sparkling water, percolating among the mossy fronds and 
rootlets amid the streamlet’s sides. Here amid the home 
of the ferns you are to learn from observation that although 
they will grow almost anywhere, there arc situations in 
which they delight to live. Ferns love to live, and brighten 
almost any place. You can have them anywhere I had almost 
said, but the darkest and dampest corner of your garden 
suits them best, and here they will grow and enliven places 
that without them would be unsightly. Obtain from the 
brooklet’s side one of these large fern fronds or roots, and 
transplant it to your own half dozen boulder rocks, and 
how gracefully they jut up between the interstices of the 
rocks among the lycopadiums and moneywort. 
The fern so rapidly adapts itself to all situations that we 
are at a loss to comprehend the reason why as a pot plant, 
and for numerous other ornamental uses, they have not 
been universally admired. As ornamental plants, the ferns 
are not surpassed by any others when particularly used. 
What grand effects can be produced by tlie introduction of 
the different species into large rooms with deep windows. 
Bay windows or recesses may be made to rejoice even in 
mid-winter in the presence of the ferns. It is not neces¬ 
sary for the euu to shine on these quiet, retiring beauties 
of tlie shady woods; therefore the most secluded nook, the 
shadiest corner of tlie room, is just the place for a shelf of 
ferns, say six different, hardy kinds, which may be found 
in an afternoon’s ramble by your favorite brooklet. Let 
the carpenter put up a shelf in the window, and construct 
you a box one foot wide and one foot deep. This is your 
window garden for ferns. As the ferns have been taken 
from the woods, give them some of their own soil to live, 
grow and thrive in. To make your little fernery complete, 
cover the box with growing moss from the woods, and you 
can study them and love them as you will at your ease. I 
have seen many rooms made beautiful by a very simple and 
easy arrangement of ferns. Steps, rising one above the 
other, as upon a simple flower stand, upon which ferns in 
pots are placed in long, tight boxes that will hold water, 
“Will give you one of the grandest effects imaginable. 
The hardiest kinds, after having gladdened the summer 
season in the garden, may be removed to the house in the 
winter, and will live and thrive equally well with hut 
little care. For winter use you will need to shade them 
from the dire ct rays of the sun by means of a curtain, let 
down between the plants and the glass. 
In making your garden fernery you can choose any place 
you desire, and the shadier the better. I have often cov¬ 
ered an old and otherwise unsightly wall with the fronds 
of the largest “brake,” as they are called in the country, 
with very pleasing effect. There are some ten different 
kinds of ferns common to our woods, which only ask 
water and earth, and in return for the same give you much 
beauty. First, you can make an ornamental structure of 
rock work, of an uneven surface or wall, into which you 
will place your pots for your plants. Compose this entirely 
of ferns, if you please, or mix them with that kind of 
plant that lives amid the shady wild wood. You are now 
supposed to be able to select your own stock, and to know 
pretty well how to choose the different kinds of flowers, 
and to understand the laws of assimilation. There are no 
set rules to he given for the construction of these beautiful 
little fern spots in the garden. Here we say to you again, 
study Nature; go to the woods if you have forgotten my 
instructions, and see that old rotting stump—that beautiful 
deep green frond of the lycopadium, just beginning to un¬ 
roll its russet leaves. Look on this side and see the beau¬ 
tiful tracery of the Ganis minor, or little dog fern. Is it 
not superior in its delicate net work to any of the most 
costly imported lace work? Certainly, and you can have 
them just as they are here, at your own garden home. 
Place your garden trowel carefully under this little dog 
fern, and lift it into the basket. There, you have it, and 
you have not disturbed any of its rootlets or moved the 
soli. Now take it home with you, and place it in that old 
stump that lies by the corner wall, often filling up its inter¬ 
stices with soil, and here let it grow and thrive as it will if 
you give it a little water each week. Now sow some nas- 
tertiums and sweet mignonettes, and you will rejoice for 
hours in the little your hands have done with the ferns. 
Here your taste may lead you to add, with much effect, 
one, or two roots, in large pots, of the canna, the caladium 
esculentium, and two or three recinus, among which a few 
of the nasturtiums give much beauty and cheerfulness to 
this pretty little pastoral picture. 
We could elaborate from the first simple lesson among 
the ferns, and write not an article, but a book, upon the 
different arrangements and beauties of the fern garden, 
but as our object was merely to guide a thought, to answer 
a question or two asked by our lady friends, we prefer to 
leave with them the further study and practice of making 
a fern garden, having the fullest belief in their ability to 
carry out in full the scope of our initial suggestions. 
Ollxpod Quill 
---»mp-- 
jjf PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. 
W E print the following characteristic letter of Seth 
Green from the Germantown Telegraph as indicating 
by what effort great results are accomplished:— 
Mr. Editor;—I see in your last issue that I recommend 
putting salmon trout in rivers. 
When I have been asked by Commissioners if salmon 
trout will do well in rivers, I say I do not know, but that I 
think tlie experiment worth trying. We never will know 
if we do not try. We all know they are a lake fish. 
I have them three years old that I raised from the egg in 
a small pond. They are fifteen inches long, and are doing 
well. I have put this winter one hundred thousand salmon 
trout or lake trout — they are the same fish—in rivers and 
creeks in this State. We may never see any of them again, 
ft we do not I should say it was a failure—that is all. But 
u we do find they live and thrive, what then? If I had 
made one success to ten failures since I began to experi 
ment in fish culture the art would be many years in advance 
of what it is now. 
I made fifty experiments on a shad-fishing-box before I 
achieved a success. That was in the year 1867, and I 
snould have been experimenting until this time if I had not 
made a success. That box will be tlie means of stocking 
all our rivers with shad for all time to come. 
- llochester , April 9, 1874. Seth Green. 
Frogtown, June 17, 1874. 
aditob Forest and Stream:— 
I notice by list of contents of the aquarium ear, that Mr Stone omitted 
le yellow perch from the collection this year, notwithstanding he de¬ 
luded them in Forest and Stream against the charge of your corres¬ 
pondent, Fred. Mather, that they were a nuisance in eastern waters. I 
*an glad to see that, after mature deliberation, lie has discarded this fish, 
those who have introduced pike, pickerel, or porch in waters that they 
icL-not inhabit before, had given more thought to the matter, they would 
Pro ably have thought better of it. It is an easy matter to introduce 
® that are found worthy at any time, but a very different one to re- 
ove them after they have become established; and the time may come 
• V en culturists will regret the promiscuous introduction of predac¬ 
eous fish into all our waters. Just now, to please the sportsmen, it is 
c. ashion to put bass and salmon, trout wherever they will live, while 
J rtefish, that furnish as good food and do not destroy other fish, are 
ejected, because they don’t take a hook. Is it true that fish culture 
eans cheap food for the masses, or is its object only fun for the sports- 
- Suteern, FT. Y., June 16,1874. 
amTOR Forest and Stream 
hi -1 i ^ tU '° years a o°i Hon. II. R. Pierson, o! Rainapo, FT. Y., stocked 
^lake, called “Pahtak,” (be* ter known as Negro Pond) with black bass, 
prohibited fishing for the term of three years. Prior to this pickerel 
yellow bass, or perch, were caught in great numbers. Upon the es- 
- hon of the prescribed period, black bass were numerous and gave 
Department or Public Parks, \ 
New York, June 21, 1874. f 
Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 
June 20,1874. 
One purple Gallinule, Oaliinula martinica. Presented by Capt. Thos. 
Eldridge, steamship City of Austin. 
One Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus. Presented by Miss Mary 
Valentine. 
One Red-shouldered Hawk. Presented by Mr. R. K. Allerton. 
One Agouti, Dasyprocia aguti. Hob. Guiana. Presented by Mr. Ar¬ 
nold Schramm. 
Two Night Herons, Nyciiardea ga:deni. Presented by Mr. Julius 
Kocn. 
One Ostrich, Siurthio camelus. 
One African Civet Cat, Viverra civetta. 
One Elk, cervus canadensis. Bred in the Menagerie. 
W. A, Conklin. 
Woodland, J |awn and (Barden. 
THE FERN GARDEN A SPECIALTY. 
“Fair forms of flowers, and chiefly that tall fern. 
So stately, of the Queen Osmeanda named; 
Plant lovelier in its own retired abode 
On Grasmere’s beach than Naiad by the side 
Of Grecian brook, or lady of the Mere 
Sole sitting by the shore of old romance.” 
O speak of a fern garden as a specialty may seem to 
many a talk upon an unknown subject. “Ferns,” 
say some of my readers, ‘ ‘ wffiat are they ? To wliat de¬ 
partment of garden plants do they belong ? Can we culti¬ 
vate them easily, or are they troublesome, and will they 
require labor, and do they cost much money ? Can I have 
them in my garden, or where shall I place them ? Please 
give a few hints for the use of such persons as may be 
desirous of cultivating these curious plants, and you will 
oblige many lady readers of Forest and Stream.” As 
an answer to our lady friends, and L. S. L., of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, we would say that the fern garden can be quite 
easily constructed, and will doubtless give you ample satis¬ 
faction. You will find care in the selection and chcflce 
of plants more difficult than any other part of your garden. 
Fine, thrifty, beautiful plants of the fern will grow as a 
general thing where many other fine and delicate plants 
would die outright. Not that our ferns are not delicate, 
and possessed of exceeding beauty. The fern requires 
much moisture and shade—this is their natural element. 
t)id you never take an afternoon ramble out in the dense 
