A.va 22, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



89 



and in some waters they are said to be doing very well. 

 They grow more rapidly than the native trout. 



Our Medicine Brook* trip was a great success, but still 

 we did not find the place where the Ellis Junction men 

 had caught their big trout; and that was just what we 

 were after, tor we were told it was in the Medicine. 



I now went up to the " Soo Line." and marie the visit to 

 the Gaylord Club, of which I shall write later, ana on 

 coining' back stopped off again at Middle Inlet. Mr. Van 

 Keuren was all ready for a trip over to the Thnnder 

 River, distance twenty miles, and said he was told that the 

 Thunder was where* the big catch of trout was made. 

 That settled it. We started the next morning at four 

 o'clock, and before sun up were on the horrible corduroy 

 road which crosses Shepherd Creek swamp between the 

 Inlet and Ellis. After we got over this purgatory, the 

 rest of the ride was delightful. We crossed the broad 

 and beautiful Peshtigo River just above Ellis Junction, 

 and followed up the valley of that pleasant stream. The 

 air grew fiesh and pleasant, the road was good and 

 smooth, the country was open and pleasant, and on the 

 whole this trip was the finest one we had. A constant 

 source of delight was the discovery of lake after lake, 

 nestled down in the green hills, and often visible only in 

 a flash of silver through the surrounding forest. Many 

 of these little lakes were very gems of beauty, and appar- 

 ently unknown to the angler. Not even the bark roof 

 of an old camp showed upon their shores, and no boat 

 could be discovered in the reeds. We had not time to 

 fish these waters, but it is almost certain that they hold 

 plenty of bass, as do most of the lakes of that region. 

 Wisconsin is the. wateriest country I ever got into. 



We crossed the main Thunder River, leaving Thunder 

 Lake to the left. Plush's Camp, on Thunder Lake, is a 

 good place for strangers to stop at in this district, and 

 good fishing is within easy reach from there. Thunder 

 River empties into the Peshtigo, and from the road down 

 is a wide, beautiful trout stream, where a rod can be 

 used well and some comfort taken in fishing. If we had 

 gone down this stream we should probably have taken 

 some large trout, but we feared the stream had been 

 fished to death, and so kept on up, stopping for a rest at 

 the camp by the dam, where the North and South 

 branches of the Thunder unite. We heard that Marinette 

 parties had been in there for some time, and had stripped 

 the streams. Thousands of trout had been takeu out, and 

 a party was camped there then, packing trout down on 

 ice. They told us our chance was slim, and advised us 

 to go somewhere else. "Great heavens!" I thought, "is 

 there any place else where some trout hog or other has 

 not been before and cleaned out the fish.V" But we re- 

 solved to try it; so, wisely disregarding all their advice, 

 we pushed on up the South Branch, above the ''Hay- 

 marsh,'' and went into camp, tentles-?, but happy, near 

 the little bridge over the creek above the marsh. This is 

 fully five miles above the big dam, and about twenty-five 

 miles from Ellis Junction. 



In the morning one of our party, Charlie Hiller, drove 

 the team down to the dam. Van Keuren, Charlie Ches- 

 ley and myself resolved to fish down the stream to that 

 point, which we expected to reach in time to drive to 

 Ellis and catch the south-bound evening train at 8 o'clock, 

 which was to take me away from Wisconsin. As I 

 wanted a basket of trout to take home with me I re- 

 solved to quit all conscientiousness and go in for results 

 for once. I discarded my split-bamboo fly -rod, took a 

 stilt' lancewood bass-rod about 8ft. long, tied the. line 

 directly into the snell of the hook and put on a bunch of 

 fins about as big as my fist. I didn't have very much 

 sport, but I should remark that I caught trout. It is no 

 trouble to out-fish the market-fishers if you use their 

 tools. 



It was 2 o'clock instead of 12 when we got clown to the 

 dam, and how we ever got there at all is more than I can 

 tell. The stream runs through a swamp whose like I 

 never saw. The thicket of alders, willows and water- 

 elms was the densest I ever saw, and if one worked out 

 through the tamarack bog to the hills he met such a 

 jungle of cedar fall, broken pines and boggy creeklets 

 that he wishet-I he had stayed out in the middle. That 

 stream is not fished out and never will be. It will pro- 

 tect itself. On over one-third of its length it is impossible 

 to get at the water at all. In the more open places lower 

 down we found the paths of fishermen, plainly beaten, 

 but we went through cmntry never touched by anglers, 

 We only tasted the stream here and there, but we got a 

 splendid lot of trout. 1 had sixty dandies, several which 

 we thought would run a pound and very few small ones. 



We went home, si ill wondering where those big trwut 

 had been caught. A haP' hour before the train started 

 south I met George A. Schlick, a saloonkeeper and livery- 

 man at Ellis Junction. We talked of trout. He took me 

 to his ice house, and there, right befo e my eyes, showed 

 me a basketful of that very same brand of trout, caught 

 that very day ! 



I had worked hard, and had traveled far and wide on 

 my trips for some good trout. My largest would not 

 weigh over a pound and a half. Here were trout that 

 would weigh two pounds, three pounds, three pounds and 

 a half —great magnificent fellows, so long that you had 

 to turn them up at both ends to get them into a market- 

 basket! And they had been taken right in that troutless 

 Peshtigo River, at the mouth of Medicine Brook, with in 

 ten miles of Ellis Junction, and within four miles of 

 where we had beenfi-hing. When I learned that, I could 

 have sat down and cried. I would always rather catch 

 one big trout like that than fifty little younglings. And 

 here they were. 



'•Yes," said Mr. Schlick, "there are trout in the Pesh- 

 tigo, below the big falls. I have often caught them in 

 the rapids between there and the mouth of the Medicine, 

 and there are several other points equally good. We 

 caught these trout on minnows, and we also caught 

 numbers of mighty good bass right out of the same hole. 

 The trout don't always bite, but they're there. They lie 

 in the deep, cold holes at the mouth of the creeks. In 

 working for these big trout this short-pole, jerk-'em-stiff 

 business don't go. You've got to know how r to fish, and 

 you want the right tackle. Come with me and I'll show 

 you some big trout." 



I couldn't come, but I have been mourning over it ever 

 since, and some day I shall go up there again, and get 

 out in the middle of those rocky rapids, chin-deep, and 

 fish for trout the way a fellow ought to fish, with a fly 

 and a fly-rod, and not jerk them out through the brush 

 on bass tackle. 



This ended my trip. My friend the station agent at 

 Ellis Junction could hav&made it very pleasant for me 

 if, on the first morning we met, he had not sent me out 

 of the country and away from his pet fishing hole — 

 which I found out after all, and take pleasure in publish- 

 ing, on his account. His companion, Judge B trie's, the 

 game warden. I did not see at all. I didn't hear any one 

 say much about his ever wardening anything, but every- 

 body says he is an almighty good hand* to take you to the 

 best fishing grounds, and I presume that is so.* I got a 

 lot of experience on my little trip, and learned that with- 

 out a reliable guide you can fool away a lot of time fol- 

 lowing out directions intended to keep you away from 

 the best fishing. 



On our Thunder trip we were not far from the head- 

 waters of the Oconto, where the fishing is good. If it 

 were not, F. P. Taylor and his Chicago party would not 

 be in there now on a second trip. It won't be so good 

 when they come back. They will kill two or three 

 thousand trout. 



The mosquitoes are not bad in Wisconsin this year. 

 Any one going in should be sure to take heavy woolen 

 underwear. The nights are cold. E. Hough. 



Bass Notes.— Pottsville, Pa,, Aug. 10.— I have enjoyed 

 reading Dr. Gill's "Nest Building of the Sunfish." I 

 have now an explanation of the reason why I could not 

 take two small- mouth black bass with the fly or bait. I 

 was very anxious to have them in my net. As near as I 

 could guess they would measure 10 or 12in. They must 

 have been protecting their spawn. It was in just such a 

 place as he describes the sunfish makes its hatchery. 

 They acted in the same way, but would take neither bait 

 nor fly. While fishing with John Messner at Dauphin last 

 year we both caught the same bass. One hook was 

 swallowed, but the bait was Gin. up the leader, the other 

 hook was through the side of the head, but the bait was 

 swallowed and came out loose with the first hook. We 

 were fishing with small live catfish from the same boat. — 

 C. W. P. 



Weakfisb are now caught in great numbers in the 

 West Channel of Great South Bay, Long Island. 



U. S, FISH COMMISSION WORK. 



r PHE Albatross during the winter and spring of 1889 was 

 JL at work along the southern coast of and in the Gulf of 

 California, and since June her work has been extended 

 northward, through Oregon,' Washington and southern 

 Alaska. Capt. Tanner was in command as hitherto with 

 Prof. C. H. Gilbert as chief naturalist, C. H. Townsend 

 assistant naturalist and B. A. Alexander as fishery expert. 



Her work on the northern coast had reference mainly to 

 halibut and cod, though of course her investigations were 

 of a general nature. Where her work has been carried on 

 continuously by soundings it is of vast importance to the 

 Hydrograph'ic office and to the Coast Survey. These sound- 

 ings are made to determine the location of fishing grounds 

 or to discover unknown hanks. 



The special Senate. Committee of Indian Affairs, consist- 

 ing of Senators Dawes, Stockbridge, Manderson and Jones, 

 of Arkansas, accompanied the steamer along the Alaskan 

 coast as far as Sitka, in order to investigate the conditions 

 of the Indians in that.region, making frequent stops. 



Prof. Gilbert being obliged to join his college in Septem- 

 ber, left the ship the first part of August and is now in 

 Washington, where he will work up the results of the 

 cruise in those departments of which he was in charge. Her 

 cruise up to the present time has been exceedingly valuable 

 in its results. Reports upon this work are in course of pre- 

 paration and will be published as soon as possible. 



The Fish Hawk has been prepared to continue her investi- 

 gations into the ravages of the starfishes upon the oyster 

 beds along the southern New England coast and has com- 

 menced work in the vicinity nf South Norwalk. She will, 

 while making scientific investigations concerning the char- 

 acteristics of the beds and the habits of the starfisb>s with 

 reference to determining some method of preventing the 

 injury which they do to the beds, also make practical tests 

 as to protecting the beds and ridding them of the starfishes 

 after they have been attacked. This is one of the most dif- 

 ficult problems connected with the fisheries. The starfishes 

 destroy several hundred thousand dollars' worth of oysters 

 every year in the waters of Rhode Island, Connecticut and 

 New York. South of that region they do no harm to the 

 beds, the reason being that the water south is too fresh, 

 where the beds occur, to enable the starfishes to live upon' 

 them. 



The results of this work are anxiously waited for by the 

 oystermen ot Long Island Sound. The Fish Hawk is in com- 

 mand of Lieut. Rooert Piatt, U.S.N., with Mr. C. F. Hodge, 

 of Clark University, as naturalist. 



The Grampus is engaged upon an investigation of the 

 region between New York and Nantucket through which 

 the mackerel pass in their migrations north aud south. This 

 work is being carried on from near the shore into the inner 

 portion of the Gulf Stream. The object of this investiga- 

 tion is to ascertain if possible the cause influencing the 

 movements of the schools of mackerel from year to year 

 with respect to their abundance and times of their passage: 

 as is well known there is a great variation in their numbers 

 and movements in different years, and some seasons they 

 move northward at a lower level in the water than at others, 

 so that the fishermen are not able to find them. The Gram- 

 pus has already undertaken some work in connection with 

 this subject in the springs of 1887 and 1888. She has now 

 been fitted with the most approved scientific appliances, and 

 it is expected that im portant results will be obtained. Prof. 

 Wm. Libbey, Jr., of Princeton College, is in charge of the 

 investigation, assisted by Professors Magie and Rockwood 

 of the same college. One cruise has already been made, and 

 Prof. Libbey reports many new facts not nitherto known 

 respecting the Gulf Stream. 



With respect to the interior waters, two parties are now 

 at work under the direction ot President D. S. Jordan, of 

 the Indiana University. One of these parties, which is 

 headed 

 and the 

 E. xMeek, ... 



aud the adjoining regions. These explorations cousistin 

 making thorough examination of the rivers with respect to 

 the fishes living in them, the general characters of the river 

 basins, the temperature of their waters, etc. The principal 

 object is to ascertain the different species occurring in the 

 rivers which have an economic value, and also learn the ad- 

 vantages of streams for the introduction of certain fishes. 

 This work began about the middle of July, and will be con- 

 tinued into September. 



The work at Wood's Holl is in charge ot Dr, H.V.Wilson, 

 formerly of Johns Hopkins University. The doctor's princi- 

 pal work is the study of the embryology of economic species 

 in connection with the work of fishculture, which is carried 



on at this station during a large part of the year. There 

 have been no changes at this station during the summer; at 

 different times from twelve to twenty naturalists, the most 

 of whom are engaged in studies havine: a more or less direct 

 bearing upon the work of the Commission. These natur- 

 alists are men that volunteer, or persons occupying tables 

 at the station by the courtesy of the Fish Commission. 

 Among them are Prof. W. II. Brooks, of Johns Hopkins 

 University; Prof. Edward Linton, of Washington and Jeff- 

 erson College, of Pennsylvania; Mr. E R. Boyer and Mr. 

 C. B. Davenjiort, of Harvard College; Prof. T. H. Herick, 

 of Cleveland, O ; Mr. S. Waoase and Dr. R. P Bigelovv, of 

 Johns Hopkins University; Dr. E. A. Andrews, and Dr. 

 James 1. Peck aud others. 



The Fish Hawk and the Grampus have headquarters at 

 Wood's Holl, and in the intervals of their work are carry- 

 ing on investigations in connection with the laboratory. 

 Among the important economic questions which have been 

 studied here have been the rearing of young lobsters from 

 the egg, and the starfish and oyster question; also the life 

 history and the habits of the economic fishes. 



NEW FISHCULTURAL STATIONS. 



Several new stations for the. Fish Commission are being 

 established, some of which are in a condition now for begin- 

 ning work. These stations are as follows: 



At Leadville, Col., where the Government has set aside a 

 reservation of nearly 1,500 acres for th** use of the hatchery, 

 a hatchery and ponds will be built maiuly for rearing and 

 distributing trout in the extreme Western States and Terri- 

 tories. Col. John Gay, Inspector of Stations for the Com- 

 mission, is in charge of the laying out and construction of 

 this station. 



, A station on the Clackamas River, Oregon, is being estab- 

 lished for the replenishing of Columbia River with salmon, 

 of which the natural supply has been enormously decreased 

 during the past few years. Livingston Stone is in charge of 

 this station. 



At Neosho, in the Ozark region of Missouri, a hatchery 

 for rearing and distributing members of the salmon family 

 (trout) and indigenous fishes of the region is being estab- 

 lished. 



At Duluth, Miun., a station has been established for pro- 

 pagating the wbitefisb. This station was operated last 

 winter for the first. It is in charge of Dr. R. O. Sweeny, 

 formerly State Fish Commissioner 0$ Minnesota. 



There is also a station about to be established at Put-in- 

 Bay, Ohio, on Lake Erie, for the collection of wbitefisb eggs, 

 and also for their hatcning and distribution to a certain 

 extent. Put-in-Bay is the scene of one of the most impor- 

 tant whitefish fisheries of the Great Lakes, and it is expected 

 that by concentrating most of the work of collecting eggs 

 at this place they can be obtained with greater economy, 

 and probably in much larger numbers than ever before. 

 Such of the eggs as cannot be accommodated for hatching 

 here will be sent to other stations for that purpose. 



The Penobscot salmon hatchery, which is situated at East 

 Orland, Maine, eight miles south of Bucksport, in charge of 

 Mr. C. G. Atkins, is being much improved. Congress hav- 

 ing appropriated money for the purchase of land, including 

 the site of the old hatchery, the facilities for the hatching 

 and rearing of salmon at this station will be greatly en- 

 larged. Mr. Atkins has had charge of the Maine stations 

 since they were first organized. 



The Commissioner, Col. Marshall McDonald, left Wash- 

 ington on the Sth of July for an examination of the western 

 stations and especially the ones which are being constructed 

 and those for which "plans have been drawn up. His trip, 

 therefore, has included the Leadville station^ the stations m 

 California, Oregon, Minnesota and Lake Erie. He has also 

 visited the Yellowstone Park, where it is expected that 

 facilities can be furnished for hatching fishes to be placed 

 in the headwaters of the principal streams of that region. 

 Ou the west coast he also paid attention to questions of 

 general interest, especially at San Francisco and Portland. 

 The Commissioner is expected to return to Washington the 

 latter part of August. He has been accompanied by Mr. 

 George H. H. Moore, in charge of distribution, and by Mr. 

 J. J. O'Connor, chief clerk of the Commission. During the 

 absence of the Commissioner, Professor Richard Rathbun. 

 in charge of the division of scientific inquiry, is acting Com- 

 missioner. 



gp-No Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



Subscriber.— It is hardly probable that Mr. Fife will consent, 

 to the publication of Minerva's lines. 



S. C. P., Caribou, Me.— You cannot buy ribs ready made, but 

 will find full instructions for making them in "Canoe and Boat 

 Budding." 



Awahsoose.— The beetle is the Trox unistriatum; this gouns 1s 

 Usually found on the. ground, under old woolen clotlies,h-des, etc. 

 It is harmless. 



H. IT. B.. Palmer, Mass.— Tbe lines of Rob Roy cannot be bad, 

 but; tne Raritania in "Canoe and Boat Building" is a similar 

 boat and probably as good. 



F'un, New York.— What effect would it have upon a 13 core 

 P»rk< r gun, chokf bore,80'n. barrels, to shorten the harrels Sin. or 

 more ? The gun shoots too close for brush shooting of the thick- 

 est kind. Aus. It would convert it into a cylinder and give 

 wider scatter to the shot. 



W. D., Philadelphia.— What kind or kinds of native birds can 

 be kept in a building about 6ft. square *ud 10ft. high? It is well- 

 built and sheltered from storms, has open wire work m lower 

 -half of south side, out can be closed at night. The sua shines on 

 it all day. There is no artificial heat. Ans. No species of Amer- 

 ican wild birds is adapted to thrive in such quarters; confined 

 there wild birds would drag out a miserable existence. 



F. W. N., Pittsburgh, N. Y.— The Attorney-General of New 

 York, in a letter to tne Secretary Of State, dated June 17, gave 

 these points in a summary of tne new State dog law, now in force: 

 "it increases the tax upon a dog other than a bitch from 50 cents 

 to 81. It exempts all dogs under four months old from any tax. 

 It provides for the registry of every other dog, annually, on or 

 before tne first day of May, by the owner or barborer. * * * 

 Penalties are then provided for the failure to register, number or 

 license such dogs. Provision is then made that any dog not regis- 

 tered or collared, as provided for m the act, may be lawful y 

 killed by any constaob-, etc. The act is not to apply to any dog 

 owned or pnesesseo hy any person or association, etc., engaged in 

 the business of breeding dogs, etc. The amendatorj act, it is pro- 

 vided, sball take effect immediately. It will be seen, therefore, 

 that the only change in the amount of the tax provided tor is in 

 the addition of 50 cents for eacu dog other taan a bitch. By the 

 Revised Statutes, the assessors of towns, etc , are required to fin- 

 ish their as-essment rolls by the Qrst day in August in e<ich year. 

 So much of this act, then, as provides for the assessment of the 

 tax, is capable of enforcement the present year. So much of the 

 act, however, is provides for the registering and collaring of 

 dogs, must be done annually, by the first of May, and so much of 

 the act as provides for the furnishing of lists by the town clerk or 

 village clerk, must be done by the first day of June. It is clear 

 that these provis'ons of the act cannot take effect before trie 

 year 1890. No other construction can be given to these provisions 

 of the act. * * *— Chas. F. Tabor Attorney-General." 



Small Yachts. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price $7. Steam Yachts and 

 Launches. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price $3. Yachts, Boats and 

 Canoes. By C. Stansfield-Hieks. Price $8.59. Steam Machinery. Bn 

 Donaldson. Price $1.50. 



