Not. I*, 1880,1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



THE FRESH-WATER DRUM. 



ONE of the commoner fishes of the Ohio and Mississippi 

 valleys and the G-reat Lakes is the subject of our 

 present sketch— a species known under many names and 

 held in variable repute. In the Uhio Valley it is cal led 

 the white perch, although not a member of the striped 

 bass family and resembling the white perch only re- 

 motely. Another misapplied name for the fish is that of 

 lake sheepshead, from, a supposed resemblance to the 

 -well-known marine species of Pogcmias. At Buffalo 

 and Barcelona, N. Y., it is called black sheepshead. In 

 lakes of northern Indiana the name crocus is associated 

 with the fresh-water drum, and this is a corruption of 

 croaker, which belongs to a small marine fish of the 

 same family. It is in the Southern States that the name 

 drum is applied to the species, and the same region 

 furnishes the additional terms thunder-pumper, gasper- 

 gou and jewelhead. Gaspergou is current in Arkansas, 

 Louisiana and Texas. The names drum, croaker and 

 tbunder-purnper are based upon the sounds produced by 

 the fish in some unexplained way, some writers suppos- 

 ing them to arise from the grinding together of the large 

 molar-like teeth in the pharynx, while others believe 

 that the large and muscular air bladder is concerned in 

 the operation. The term jewelhead is probably related 

 to the presence of ea,r bones of curious shape and mark- 

 ings, better known to some of us as "lucky stones." 

 According to Mr, Albert Turpe. of Brackettsville, Texas, 

 who hasrecently sent a specimen to the Smithsonian 

 Institution, it is known among the Mexican population 

 in his vicinity as the "gaspagie," which is a variation of 

 gaspergou. 



We have already indicated the range of the fresh- 

 water drum in a general way. It was common in Lake 

 Ghamplain in 1842, according to Thompson ("Natural 

 History of Vermont"). Mr. 

 Turpe "says it is rare in 

 western Texas. He has 

 made extensive observa- 

 tions in the wilds of Texas, 

 New Mexico arjd northern 

 Mexico, and has found the 

 fish only in clear limestone 

 streams emptying into the 

 Rio Grande. The species 

 seldom enters small 

 streams, and it is for the 

 most part a bottom fish. 



The fresh -water drum 

 feeds principally upon 

 crustaceans and mollusks, 

 occasionally varying this 

 fare with fishes of other 

 kinds. Crayfish are es- 

 pecially liked, and such 

 shells as Cyelas and Palu- 

 dina are mentioned by 

 R i o hardson among its 

 stomach contents. Mr. 

 Turpe says tha,t its food 

 includes water plants and 

 it will take a hook baited 

 with a worm or a smalt- 

 minnow. 



The fish reaches a length 

 of 4ft, and a maximum 

 weight of 601bs., although 

 market specimens seldom 

 exceed 2ft. in length and 



smaller examples are preferred. We know nothing about 

 its breeding habits notwithstanding its wide distribution 

 and great abundance. It seems that the common fishes, 

 apparently known to every one, are really little more 

 than a shape and a name to most of those who are mak- 

 ing fish literature, and it is to be regretted. Here is 

 where anglers can fill a void out of their rich and varied 

 experience by simply recording the common occurrences 

 falling within their notice. 



There is a great difference of opinion among authors 

 as to the edible qualifies of the fresh-water drum, and a 

 great deal depends, it seems, on the character of the 

 water in which it lives and the nature of its food. Dr. 

 Jordan has the following concerning it: 



"Although from its size and abundance it becomes an 

 important market fish, it cannot at best be considered one 

 of high quality. Its flesh is tough and coarse in fiber, 

 and often of a disagreeable shark-like odor, particularly 

 in the Great Lakes, where it is never eaten. The flesh of 

 partly grown specimens is better than that of the adult." 

 Thompson, in the "Natural History of Vermont," 1842, 

 speaks of the fish in Lake Champlain as "lean, tough and 

 bony, and seldom eaten." De Kay (1843) writes: "Un- 

 like the sheepshead of the ocean it is [in Lake Erie] a 

 poor, dry and tasteless fish, and is scarcely ever eaten." 

 De Witt Clinton in 1815 speaks of the Lake Erie fish as a 

 very ill-tasted one. Thompson, however, was informed 

 that the fish taken from the Ohio River are fat, tender 

 and well flavored. Jordan admits that its qualities im- 

 prove to the southward. The writer can testify to the 

 fairly good qualities of small examples from the Ohio. 

 Mr. Robert Ridgway, ornithologist of the National 

 Museum, ha 1 * found it to possess excellent table qualities 

 in Wabash River, Indiana, although other persons in the 

 same locality considered it an inferior fish. Sir John 

 Richardson gives the following account of the species 

 under a name which we have not before introduced. It 

 is believed that the malashegany is merely a deformed 

 specimen of the fresh water drum ; the name is credited 

 to the Cree Indians: 



"The malashegarie inhabits Lake Huron. It is taken 

 in the Georgian Bay, on the north side of that lake, dur- 

 ing the summer months, in gill nets set in deep water, or 

 by hooks baited with worms. It feeds much on crayfish. 

 It is a firm, white, well-tasted fish, but never fat, and re> 

 quires much boiling. It is called sheepshead by the 

 Anglo-Canadians, probably for the reason that the same 

 appellation is bestowed on the Sargns ovls (salt water 

 sheepshead) in the United States, viz., from its having an 

 arohed nose and 'some smutty shades of color on the 

 face.' I can bear testimony to its excellence as an article 

 of food, in which respect it may be compared to the tur- 

 bot of Europe." 



Mr. Turpe considers the fish, in the clear limestone 

 streams tributary to the Rio Grande, as undoubtedly one 

 of the finest flavored of the food fishes, comparing favor- 

 ably with brook trout and black bass. He states that it 



oan usually be fried in its own fat, which has a sweet 

 taste. This is the story of the extreme variations of 

 opinion concerning the qualities of a well-known species 

 and it shows that a fish, like a person, even with the best 

 intentions, can not please every one. 



AUREOLUS. 



SUNAPEE LAKE, N. H., Nov. 3.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: The controversy regarding the aureolus, 

 or golden trout, is settled, or seems to be. Hon. Walter 

 Aiken, of Franklin Falls, N. H., and myself visited Dan 

 Hole Pond last week together. While there we captured 

 fom trout of the kind known as aureolus, and thus the 

 fact that they exist in waters other than Sunapee Lake is 

 established. * Dan Hole Pond is beyond the second divide 

 from the Jake; in other words, counting Sunapee Lake as 

 one, Dan Hole Pond is on the third water-shed from here. 

 Sunapee Lake finds its way to the ocean through the 

 Connecticut River; the next water-shed is drained by the 

 Merrimac, while the waters of Dan Hole Pond eventually 

 form a part of the Saco River. 



Deeming the question at issue of general interest, I in- 

 close herewith, tor publication, a copy of our report to 

 CoL E. B. Hodge, Commissioner, by whose authority and 

 through whose courtesy we were enabled to conduct our 

 investigations. Frederic M. Dey. 



[Copy.] 



REPORT OF INVESTIGATION AT BAN HOLE POND, MADE BY 

 WALTER AIKEN AND FREDERIC M. DEY. 



Dan Hole Pond, Carroll Co., N. H., Oct. 30. — E. B. 

 Hodge, E q., of the Game and Fish Commission of New 

 Hampshire. — Sir: Acting in accordance with the in- 

 structions and directions furnished by you upon our 



mm: 1 ! v s 



THE FRESH -WATER DRUM. 



solicitation, and for the purpose of settling a vexed ques- 

 tion, we are now at Dan Hole Pond. As our work is done, 

 our purpose accomplished, and as we are about to leave 

 for home, we beg to submit the following report: 



We reached this pond after dark, Monday evening, 

 Oct. 27, beneath a cloudy sky and in half a gale of wind, 

 which rendered a visit to the water that night utterly im- 

 practicable. However, we improved the time of enforced 

 idleness by questioning our host about the peculiarities 

 of the pond, its depth, temperature and the fishes it con- 

 tained. He remembered the locality where two of the 

 trout (aureohis), of which we were in search, were 

 speared a year ago by a person acting upon your orders. 

 He saw the man at work the night the trout were pro- 

 cured, knew the spot and was therefore able to provide 

 us with the desired information. During the conversa- 

 tion he confided to us a number of reminiscences regard- 

 ing the trout of the pond, and listening to him we became 

 convinced that our trip would be successful. 



On the following morning (Tuesday, Oct. 28), soon after 

 daylight, we made our first attempt to find the fishes in 

 question. The pond was very rough, there being a heavy 

 northwesterly wind blowing; but we reached the spawn- 

 ing ground, anchored and began casting our spoons. For 

 an hour or more we continued our exertions, our spirits 

 emulating the temperature of the day, which was steadily 

 getting lower. At last, however, when our hands were 

 so cold that it was difficult to distinguish an oar from a 

 fly-rod by the sense of touch, we saw a trout — a small 

 one, to be sure, not over 8in. in length, but a trout. 



Somewhat cheered we went ashore, sought the seclu- 

 sion of the woods and built a fire where we soon warmed 

 ourselves back to confidence and determination, notwith- 

 standing the fact that a steady and pelting rain had set- 

 tled in, apparently "for keeps." 



Again to the boat and to the casting of our spoons, this 

 time, however, minus all encouraging details; and then 

 to dinner. After dining, the aspect of the weather was 

 most discouraging. Rain descended in sheets and the 

 wind blew a veritable gale. On the mountains around 

 us, within rifle shot, snow was falling, putting its winter 

 cloak upon rocks and trees, and we were content to remain 

 indoors and while away the time in smoking. But a stern 

 fact confronted us. The net (which you had provided for 

 our use) must be set. Reference was occasionally made 

 to the threatening duty, followed by a natural shudder of 

 apprehension. 



At three o'clock we went forth in the storm armed with 

 the net alone, and were blown (rowing was a superfluous 

 exertion going that way) to the spawning ground. There 

 we put out the net (A simple statement of fact, but a 

 task as difficult under the circumstances as the seven 

 labors of Hercules combined ; to describe the operation 

 would be to create a "corner" in stationery) by fastening 

 one end to a pole on the shore and anchoring the outward 

 extremity in eighten or twenty feet of water. 



Darkness (of the genuine type) had fallen by the time 



our task was finished, and the necessary outlay of exer- 

 tion consequent upon our return can be better imagined 

 than described. We were obliged to go directly against 

 the wind, the night had become simply black and the 

 exact locality of the place where we were obliged to land, 

 if anywhere, was delightfully vague; so vague, indeed, 

 that we spent nearly an hour searching for it. 



The following morning (Wednesday, Oct. 29) we were 

 up betimes, and, as soon as breakfast was dispatched, on 

 our way to insppct the net. The weather was somewhat 

 better; very cloudy, but minus both wind and rain; the 

 pond was nearly calm. 



At last the net was reached, and a quick inspection was 

 followed by a ringing shout of joy and mutual congratUT 

 lations between the signers hereof. The net contained 

 three fishes. One was a pickerel. The others were trout 

 exactly resembling those seen by us at the hatching house, 

 Sunapee Lake, and Icnoum as the. aureolus, or golden 

 trout. 



Both were "jacks," and weighed (estimated) 31bs. each. 



Our wish was to secure four specimens, so we left the 

 net where it was and again had recourse to our spoons. 

 While we were casting, a third trout of the same kind, 

 with the same gaudy coloring, was seen by us near the 

 net, but could not be captured. 



Snow began to fall and dinner time drew near, We 

 decided to leave the net where it was and troll around the 

 pond on our way back. 



At a distance of about fifty rods from the net, going 

 east, a female trout of the same kind, weighing (esti- 

 mated) not less than 51bs., was captured by Mr. Aiken. 



We visited the net again just before dark, but it was 

 empty. 



This, the ensuing morning (Thursday, Oct. 30), we 

 reached the net very early. It contained one fish, which 

 was a "jack" trout exactly like those captured the pre- 

 vious morning, only small- 

 er. Weight (estimated), 

 lflbs. 



Our work is done. We 

 have accomplished the 

 purpose for which we came 

 to the pond. We have 

 proved beyond the perad- 

 ^ venture of doubtthat trout 



known as aureohis do exist 

 ^a&ss0BSb m waters other than Lake 



^ Sunapee. It is our mutual 



pleasure to congratulate 

 yon upon this incontro- 

 vertible fact. 

 Our team is at the door. 



Will conclude report later. 



Same Day, 5 P. M. — 

 Frankliu, N. H.-We 

 reached Meredith Village 

 at noon. The trout were 

 packed under our super- 

 vision at the store of Mr. 

 Beede, in Meredith, and 

 were delivered by us to 

 the express company. 



Two — the female and 

 one of the "jacks." —were 

 sent to Dr. T. H. Bean, 

 Smithsonian Instit u t i o n , 

 Washington, D. C; one 

 was forwarded to Prof. J. 

 D. Quackenbos, New York 

 city; the other — the smallest — was sent to you. 



We are prepared to make affidavit to all of the fore- 

 going at any time. Very truly yours L 



Walter Aiken. 

 Frederic M, Dey. 



[Under date of Nov. 7 we learn from Hon. Walter 

 Aiken that the aureolus or golden trout have probably 

 finished spawning. He and Col. Hodge were at Sunapee 

 Nov. 6, which was a warm and perfect day, and saw only 

 a few trout on the Loon Island reefs. Mr. Aiken has in 

 mind one or two other New Hampshire ponds in which 

 he believes the golden trout exist.] 



VERMONT TROUT AND PERCH. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



It is exceedingly gratifying to the pioneers in game and 

 fish protection to note that the seed sown during the past 

 decades has not been unfruitful, but is likely to bring 

 forth in the end abundantly. The action recently taken 

 by the Province of Quebec Fish and Game Protection 

 Society, to stop net-fishing in Missisquoi Bay, is a step in 

 the right direction, and will be a public benefit to the 

 public both 6ides of the "line," Vermont as well as 

 Canada, The Vermont "Fish and Game League" is 

 another movement that should be encouraged and helped 

 onward by every true Vermonter. It was the writer's 

 amendment to the Vermont fish law that several years 

 ago gave her Fish Commissioners $2,000 a year to assist 

 them in carrying on their work, and w T e wish that the 

 amount would be largely increased this year, as the Com- 

 missioners' report proves that they have made good use 

 of the money granted them. While there is much in their 

 work deserving the highest praise, there is one action 

 that deserves the severest censure, that is in recom- 

 mending "yellow perch" as a desirable fish to stock Ver- 

 mont waters. What weakness, to think of polluting the 

 clear waters of the Switzerland of America with the bony, 

 detectable vermin— the spawn-eating yellow perch. A 

 single perch, if given the opportunity, will daily destroy 

 hundreds of young fry of tPe trout and other game fish. 

 Any person who would seriously harbor such thoughts 

 against Vermont waters deserves to be made to fish for 

 pumpkin-seeds in a mud hole with a pin-hook during the 

 remainder of his days. There is too much selfishness 

 among sportsmen and fish and game protectionists, who 

 instead of working for some private purpose, should work 

 for that which will be of the most benefit to the general 

 public. _ We trust that the present law makers of Ver- 

 mont will make it a penal offense for putting perch into 

 waters that they are not already in— for when once such 

 vermin get into a stream or lake they are a curse to those 

 waters for all time— not for a month or a year, but for- 

 ever. Stanstead.- 



Akbok, Ohio, "Nov. i. 



