-Nov. 37. 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



877 



Perhaps some of the readers of Forest and Stream 

 will say I am a little "soft" on the mountain scenery of 

 western North Carolina. 1 cannot help it if they do. 

 I believe that all true worshippers of that good old man, 

 Izaak Walton, are affected by beautiful scenery as badly 

 as I am. Old father Izaak never saw such a lavish dis- 

 play of beautiful nature as we have in our country, and 

 I believe the western end of the Alleghanies and the 

 Blue Ridge beat any other mountains east of the Rockies 

 in North America; the heavy growth of timber, the 

 dense thickets of bushes and vines, many of which are 

 made beautiful in spring and summer by being covered 

 with brilliant flowers, cover the rough sides of the 

 mountains to their summits, thereby hiding their rough- 

 ness from view; so that very few of the peaks present 

 the rough, bold and desolate appearance of the Rocky or 

 the White Mo untains. RUSH. 



THE "GOLDEN TROUT." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In 18S5 a large female trout was sent to the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Mass., from Dan 

 Hole Pond by Fish Commissioner Luther Hayes. Through 

 some inadvertence its arrival was attended with uncer- 

 tainty concerning its history, and it was some time before 

 letters of inquiry led to a correct understanding. The 

 Specimen was the original of the figure 16 of which our 

 friend Dr. Bean speaks on page 313 of the current volume 

 of Forest and Stream, Nov. 6, and which he identifies 

 with the species described by himself as Salvelinus aure- 

 ohis. Not wishing at the time to commit myself to a 

 positive identification without seeing more than a single 

 one, and after being repeatedly assured that no European 

 species had been introduced in the pond whence it came, 

 while waiting for other and smaller ones for comparison, 

 the trout was provisionally placed as a variety in a species 

 known to occur in the region. That it was not perma- 

 nently located will be made evident by turning to page 19 

 of my article on the "Salmon and Trout" in the Nine- 

 teenth Annual Report of the Commissioners on Inland 

 Fisheries of Massachusetts, 1885, where the only reference 

 is the following: "Figure 14 represents a ten-inch male 

 [Salvia fontinalis], figure 15 a female of about eleven 

 inches, and figure 16 a female of twenty-one. The latter 

 [a figure of the Dan Hole specimen] differs in various 

 respects from the others, as in the nearly uniform brownish 

 of the back, shape of caudal, etc. A knowledge of the 

 younger stages from the same locality may lead to the 

 separation of this form. Its shape resembles that of the 

 salmon." 



It was only after the acquisition of additional speci- 

 mens, through the friendly interest of Mr. Walter M. 

 Brackett, and Fish Commissioners E. A. Brackett and 

 E. B. Hodge, that I felt warranted in positively asserting 

 the fish to be the "Alpine trout" of Europe (Salmo alpinus 

 Linn.). Subsequent acquaintance with this trout has 

 given me no reason for change of opinion, or for doubt- 

 ing that, with my specimens before him, the Doctor 

 would agree with me. Figures of S. alpinus in Dr. F. 

 A. Smitt's Swedish monograph on the Salmones repre- 

 sent the Sunapee trout quite as well as if they had been 

 drawn from them. In another article the subject will 

 be dealt with at greater length. S. Carman. 



Cambridge, Mass., Wov. 17. 



[Doctor Bean was unable to identify the golden trout 

 with the introduced saibling for several reasons, although 

 he observed and wrote about the striking resemblance 

 between the two species before publishing the description 

 of Salvelinus aureolus. He had compared a moderate 

 number of the Sunapee trout with saiblings from Germany 

 and Norway and Prof. Smith's beautiful figures had been 

 consulted. Some of the differences recorded by him at 

 the time were as follows: The saibling has 10 gill-raters 

 below the angle of the first gill-arch, a slender stomach 

 and a very narrow band of hyoid teeth; the golden trout 

 has 14 gill-rakers below the angle, a stout stomach, and 

 the hyoid teeth in a broad band. It is a matter of record 

 also that the first saibling eggs sent to New Hampshire 

 by the IT. S. Fish Commission were received and hatched 

 at Plymouth in 1883. Two years later Col. E. B. Hodge 

 sent a golden trout weighing o^lbs. to the National Mu- 

 seum, and wrote that much larger ones were to be had. 

 It is not probable that the saibling will grow to such size 

 in two years from the egg in any waters. Dr. Bean is 

 desirous of having this subject fully investigated, and 

 will readily acknowledge his mistake if he has redescribed 

 an old trout. He has several statements of trustworthy 

 persons to the effect that the golden trout was caught in 

 Sunapee Lake long before the saibling became a subject 

 of artificial culture, and that it inhabited Dan Hole Pond 

 seventy years ago.] 



THE CONGER EEL. 



MESSRS. Theodore and Thomas Smith, of South Nor- 

 walk, Conn., have been catching a great many 

 conger eels this fall., This eel was formerly unknown at 

 South Norwalk, and there has been considerable specula- 

 tion as to where it came from and what it could be. It 

 has been used to some extent for the table, and while the 

 flesh is very much lighter in color than that of the 

 common eel its flavor is stronger. T>>e congers taken by 

 the Messrs. Smith average less than lib. in weight. They 

 were caught in fyke nets, out among the Norwalk Islands, 

 near shore, in comparatively shoal water. 



The conger eel is described in most books under the 

 name of Conger vulgaris; other names for it are Conger 

 oceanica and Conger conger. Dr. Day says it is known 

 at Aberdeen, Scotland, as the evil eel. In Great Egg 

 Harbor Bay, where it is not uncommon, the fishermen call 

 it the sea eel. The species rarely ascends into fresh 

 water. It is voracious and extremely pugnacious, fre- 

 quently jumping at its captor like a snake, and biting 

 viciously. It grows to a length of six feet, and is said to 

 attain to the weight of lOOlbs. In the Southport Aquar- 

 ium, England, a conger in 5| years increased in weight 

 from 31bs. to 90lbs. Some individuals of extremely large 

 size are caught by cod fishermen off Nornan's Land . Oil 

 our coast the fish is not generally eaten, but the Portu- 

 guese and Spaniards use it in great quantities, and at one 

 time it found a ready sale in Edinburgh, Scotland, al- 

 though in British waters it was generally considered unfit 

 for food. As an aquarium fish the conger is very at- 

 tractive, because of its sleek appearance and pleasing 

 colors. Two examples were brought recently from Chesa- 

 peake Bay and are now hiving in the National Aquarium 

 at Washington. 



A SUPPOSED HYBRID TROUT. 



Editor _ Forest and Stream: 



The inclosed sketch is an exact outline drawing of a 

 brook trout (S. fontinalis) found in the market here in 

 bulk with a number of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), 

 taken with gil!-net on the north shore of Lake Superior 

 on the 1st hist. In general form, color and markings, 

 save the red spots, it had all the appearance of the latter 

 fish; but the square tail, branchiostegals, fin rays and 

 teeth formula were those of the former. It was a male 

 spent fish, 16in. in length by &£in. in girth at the front of 

 the dorsal fin, and weighed just 2lbs. 



I am no believer in natural hybridism, but this fish 

 comes the nearest to it of all I have ever met with, 



I might add that the markings from back to belly were 

 entirely those of the lake trout, lacking, both on the back 

 and tins, the beautiful tortoise tracery of the brook 

 trout. The red spots were double the usual size and on a 

 background of round white, or bluish white, spots. The 

 fish had passed as lake trout and been overlooked as such 

 until I made the discovery. Dr. E. Sterling. 



Cleveland Ohio. 



[The sketch shows seven red spots above and fourteen 

 below the lateral line. The tip of the lower jaw is hooked 

 upward so that it reaches almost to the level of the eye. 

 The form is much more elongate than is usual in the 

 brook trout, and the upper parts are shown to be covered 

 with irregular long blotches, which are always noticed 

 upon the hybrid between the brook and lake trout. In 

 our opinion the fish was a cross between these two species, 

 artificially produced, and the probability is that it was 

 obtained by fertilizing eggs of the brook trout with milt 

 of the lake trout. Several of the State Commissions, and 

 some private fishculturists, have been engaged in hybri- 

 dizing the two species mentioned, and, as the cross is a 

 fertile one. the subdivision has been continued a,t will ; so 

 that individuals deriving only one- quarter or even one- 

 eighth of their parentage from one or the other species 

 are recorded. We agree with Dr. Sterling as to the im- 

 probability of natural hybrids among the Salmonidm. It 

 is a pity that the specimen was not preserved in the Doc- 

 tor's cabinet, eo that its probable origin might have been 

 satisfactorily determined. A good figure of the hybrid 

 between the lake and brook trout was published in Foeepst 

 and Stream of May 9, 1889. and another description of 

 this cross appears in. our issue of Jan. 17, 1889. The 

 sketch by Dr. Sterling represents the fish as having a very 

 short head and with the upper jaw reaching to below the 

 middle of the eye. In many respects the fish differs from 

 our notion of the hybrid between lake and brook trout, 

 and we can only hope that additional epecimens may yet 

 come into the hands of Dr. Sterling or some other natur- 

 alist, who will state their characters in detail.] 



DEATH OF SALMON AFTER SPAWNING. 



THE following interesting and important letter of Mr. 

 Thomas Mowat, dated at New Westminster, B. C, 

 Sept. 6, 1890, was addressed to Judge James G. Swan in 

 reply to an inquiry concerning the return of Pacific 

 salmon to sea after spawning. Judge Swan forwarded 

 the letter to Col. Marshall McDonald, IT. S. Commissioner 

 of Fish and Fisheries, to whom we are indebted for the 

 opportunity of reproducing it: 



I have much pleasure in informing you that I have proof 

 without doubt that the OneorJiynchus < or Pacific salmon, do 

 in many cases return to fresh water annuallv, for the pur- 

 pose of reproducing their species. I have proof of this in the 

 case of the quinnat (OneorJiynchus cJimiicha) and suckeye 

 (O. ne-rJia), and I am confident, from observations that I 

 have made, that the coboes (OneorJiynchus Msvtch) do re- 

 turn in larger numbers than those first mentioned. During 

 the seasons of 1884, '85, '86, I made use of the leather or har- 

 nessmaker's punch to mark the quinnat salmon after th^v 

 had been partially stripped of their ea.gs, and were obliged 

 to be returned to the pens. The marking was done by 

 punching one or more holes through the adipose dorsal lih 

 and then passing a piece of colored cloth or twine through 

 the hole, so as to distinguish them from the fish that had 

 not been handled. Sometimes we cut a portion or the whole 

 of this fin off, and these fish were returned to the. water after 

 we had finished stripping them. Two successive years later 

 a few of the fish so marked passed throughout- hands and 

 were recognized, and I learned that some had been taken by 

 the netters. It must be understood that the strings were 

 not left on the fish. The fin was found to be withered some- 

 wjiat with the hole partially growu up. Since the season 

 of 18b'i we have been operating oti the sucke ve, and, as I have 

 alreadv described, some of these were marked in a similar 

 way; but owing to having so many in the pens we had to 

 keep different marks on them, so that the tails of some were 

 bent or doubled up and a V-shaped piece taken out. Two 

 of the fish marked in this manner were taken by netters this 

 season and sent to me. Oae so marked was shown to the 

 editor of the Columbian at my office, hence the report. 



My contention has always been that at least four species 

 of our salmon return to the rivers to reproduce, the fourth 

 including those alluded to, is the steelhead, of which none 

 die except by accident. My opinion is that 75 per cent, of 

 the quinnat salmon survive that ascend from 75 to 100 miles 

 inland; those that ascend from 100 to 1,000 miles, or reach 

 the summit of the Rocky Mountains are reduced from vari- 

 ous causes clown to from 5 to 25 per cent. The percentage of 

 the suckeyes that survive is slightly under that of the 

 quinnat, while that of the cohoes is very large, as they do 

 not ascend so far inland and have- a better chance to return. 

 The qualla and humpbacks die in large numbers, as they 

 are more pugnacious, spawn in shallow water and are more 

 liable to disease. 



I quite agree with you as to the views held in reference to 

 the salmon returning; they no doubt descend very rapidly 

 and either in the deep water of the center of the streams or 

 along the shores, where they are less apt to come in contact 

 with nets. I have on several occasions noticed the spent 

 suckeye salmon swimming down this river [Frazer] toward 

 the gulf, and I have been iuformed by the netters that they 

 have taken them; but of course there is not the same chance 

 of capturing them on their return to the ocean. 



Thomas Mowat. 



[The qualla referred to in the above communication we 

 suppose must be the dog salmon (Oncorhynchusketa), and 

 the humpback is the O. gorbuscha. The steelhead salmon , 

 of course, is really not a species of OneorJiyncJms, but be- 

 longs to the genus Salmo, and has very different habits 

 from the species of OneorJiynchus. It spawns in the spring 

 and is found in the rivers spent before the Oncorhyndii 

 are ready to spawn. The question of the return of the 

 Pacific salmon to the sea after spawning is a very im- 

 portant one and worthy of much more extensive investi- 

 gation than it has yet received. We have never quite 

 believed that the quinnat and red salmon (OneorJiyncJms 

 chouiclia and O. nerka) all die after spawning, as stated 



by some very good authorities, and yet this is merely a 

 matter of belief and may not be warranted by the facts 

 in the case. We have seen the mending dog salmon (O. 

 keta,} in fresh water near the sea; we have, also, observed 

 the apparently complete annihilation of the humpbacks 

 after spawning, although not more than a few yards from 

 salt water. What is needed in the case of the quinnat, 

 red salmon and silver salmon is observation of the streams 

 which they ascend for the purpose of spawning continued 

 until the fish descend to the sea. In this way only can 

 the problem be solved.] 



ANGLING NOTES. 



ANOTHER fishing season has come and gone, leaving 

 us a wealth of pleasant memories to recall during 

 the long winter evenings. Rods and reels are put away, 

 and the breechloaders now engage the sportsman's atten- 

 tion. Unfortunately death has sadly thinned the ranks 

 of the anglers the past few months and we have to mourn 

 the loss of several prominent sportsmen and good com- 

 panions. John Lowery will be greatly missed at the 

 South Side Sportsmen's Club, when they gather down at 

 the club house next opening day; and Florida will see Dr. 

 Ferber no more. And poor Endicott, who used to be the 

 life of our party down at Bill Chadwick's, at Squan 

 Beach, every season, has also gene to the "happy hunting- 

 grounds" where all good sportsmen hope to go. Young 

 Fred Poor's death was also a great shock to his friends 

 and fellow members of the Laurentian Club. Always 

 bright and cheerful, his presence was like a ray of sun- 

 shine in camp, and he will be sadly missed next season. 



Mr. Theodore Gordon is one of the most thorough fly- 

 fishermen we have ever had the pleasure to meet. He 

 believes what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, 

 so he pays attention to all the little details that go to 

 making a good angler; and above all, will not use bait 

 under any circumstances. He would as soon shoot a 

 quail on the ground. He thinks that we are all wrong 

 on the subject of artificial flies, and believes we ought to 

 discard various foreign fancy patterns, and copy our own 

 natural insects and" flies as closely as possible. He car- 

 ries out his theory in practice. On the Neversink last 

 season no one brought in better baskets of trout than Mr. 

 Gordon, whether they used fly or bait. 



We presume it is a waste of time again to caution our 

 readers about putting away their rods at the end of the 

 season without having them put in order; but if they 

 would only pay attention to this caution they would save 

 both themselves and the rod makers much trouble. Be- 

 sides they would be in better condition next spring. 

 Many neglect this until a day or two before they start on 

 their fishing trip; the result is the workmen do not have 

 time to do the rods justice, the varnish does not get half 

 dry and the whole thing is hurried and unsatisfactory. 

 Also beware of putting rods in closets near furnace flues 

 or up high near the ceiling, where it is always hot and 

 dry, but lay them on the floor of a cool spare room, if pos- 

 sible. 



The striped bass fishing still remains fair at Hell Gate, 

 and quite a number have been taken near Robbin's Reef. 

 The method described in these columns last month, that 

 is the gang and spoon with a sand worm for bait, seems 

 to take the largest fish. A good many have been lost 

 owing to the cheap tackle used by many of the fisher- 

 men, who are not up to handling the big fellows, and 

 think anything will do, but after a striped bass grows to 

 be a five-pound fish he is not to be trifled with in the 

 swift waters of the "Gate," and it requires good tackle to 

 hold him. 



THAT MAMMOTH CARP. 



r PHE capture of the mammoth carp here last Friday 

 JL morning has been the subject of conversation 

 among the brothers of the rod and reel. The following 

 facts, with reference to the capture of the carp, I have ' 

 secured from one of the lads who assisted in taking it. 

 The fish was caught about 10 o'clock in the morning in 

 the shallow waters of the Sandy Hill Brook, quite a dis- 

 tance up the stream from the Reservoir Pond, where the 

 fish has probably been for some years, as it is eight years 

 since some eight or ten German carp were placed in 

 "Higgins Pond," which was made by placing a dam in a 

 suitable location upon this Sandy Hill Brook. This dam 

 was carried away by a flood some four or five years ago, 

 when the carp therein found their way down the brook 

 to the reservoir pond of the paper mill, some three or 

 four miles below, which is quite a deep body of water, 

 but not of very large dimensions. Shortly after the 

 freshet that carried the dam out of the Higgins Pond 

 two or three of the German carp were captured in the 

 paper mill pond— one of l£-lbs. and a third of some 2ilbs. 

 was captured by the mill hands, but they being ignorant 

 of the name, nature and character of the fish were un- 

 able to tell what they were. The capture of this recent 

 fish, however, brought to mind the fact of the taking of 

 the other fish and the fact that the Higgins Pond was 

 stocked with German carp, so that the matter of identi- 

 fication is now an established fact. I am inclined to think 

 from my conversation with the lad who assisted his 

 brother in the capture of the lllbs. carp, that there is I 

 si ill in the reservoir pond one or more of the fish of con- 

 siderable size, and it is simply a matter of time to demon- 

 strate this fact, as the inhabitants of the neighborhood 

 where the fish were captured seem determined to find out 

 if such is the case, as all the small boys, factory hands 

 and fishermen in general are trying their skill to secure 

 another of the monsters if there are more of them to be 

 secured. Woronoc. 

 Westfield, M ass. 



Rainbow Trout in Colorado.— The success of the 

 rainbow trout in Colorado, where it was recently intro- 

 duced, is wonderful . The species thrives even better than 

 in its native waters and is spreading rapidly. As for its 

 size in its new home, General John ""Pierce, ex Fish Com- 

 missioner of the State, has caught specimens in the Platte, 

 near Denver, weighing 5 or 61bs, — J. G. 



A New Name for Blueeish.— Dr. Hugh M. Smith, 

 of Washington, D, G, has in formed us that the bluefish 

 is known in Rhode Island waters as Spanish mackerel, 

 The latter fish is evidently unknown in that region, or 

 the two could not have been confounded* 



