34 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 13, 1894. 



and therefore not in a position to combat the statements 

 made by them. Two years aeo, the Lapham Bill having 

 furnished the motive of the inquiry, careful investigations 

 were instituted for the purpose of arriving at such knowl- 

 edge of the life history of the menhaden as would permit us 

 to suggest intelligent regulations respecting the fishery. 

 Very much to my surprise I must confess it was shown by 

 theseinvestigations that t he menhaden spawned in the brack- 

 ish estuaries and creeks along the entire coast line from Vir- 

 ginia to Massachusetts. While we have not obtained direct 

 evidence as to this, since we have not yet succeeded in im- 

 pregnating and hatching the eggs, yet the circumstantial 

 evidence is conclusive and indicates beyond question that 

 what I have stated in regard to their spawning habits is 

 true. It is evident, t heref ore, that if the fisheries are pur- 

 sued in such a manner as to cut off the fish from access to 

 their spawning grounds either by the use of purse seines and 

 pound nets along the coast, and of weirs and gill nets in the 

 'creeks and estuaries, it is certain to result in a diminution of 

 supply which will affect alike the menhaden fisheries them- 

 selves and the abundance and distribution of those economic 

 species along the coast which feed in large part upon .the 

 menhaden. What the specific regulations should be I am 

 mot prepared to say. 



Commissioner McDonald submitted thesubjoined statistics: 



Spanish Mackerel. 



Not artificially propagated, spawns in Chesapeake Bay 

 and to north. The aggregate catch of this fish in 1880, 1887, 

 1888, 18S9, 1890 and 1891 was as follows: 



1880 l,S87,4231bs. 



1887 663,6041 bs. 



T 1888 748,2671bs. 



"i .^1889 l,404,5061bs. 



1890 1,535,7491 bs. 



1891 l,691,987lbs. 



C-HThe maintenance of the catch has been due to a much 

 larger production in the Gulf States, while in the States of 

 the Atlantic coast a serious decline has been experienced. 

 The variations of the output in the Gulf region areas fol- 

 lows: 



1880 20,0001bs. 



1887 325.841 lbs. 



1888 350,7691 bs. 



1889 615,3101bs. 



1890 700,4591 bs. 



1891 751,3601bs. 



The most conspicuous decrease in the catch of this fish has 

 occurred in Virginia. This State had a larger yield of Span- 

 ish mackerel in 1880 than all other States combined, and it is 

 still the leading State. The decline here can evidently be 

 traced to the capture of the fish in large quantities at the 

 mouth of Chesapeake Bay before they have been able to 

 reach their spawning grounds. In 1887 and 1888 the produc- 

 tion dropped to a very low mark, but it has shown signs of 

 increase in recent years. The catch in 1880, 1887, 1888, 1890 

 and 1891 was as follows: 



1S80 l,609,6631bs. 



1887 108,()001bs. 



1888.. 239,9521bs. 



1890 648 7931bs. 



1891 739,910ibs. 



In New Jersey, the changes since 1880 have also been 

 marked at times, the catch declining from 200.0001bs. in the 

 year named to 53,7811bs. in 1891. The average catch per 

 pound net on the New Jersey coast in 1880, 1887, 1891 and 1S92 

 was as follows: 



No. of Average catch, 

 pound nets. per net. 



1880 11 13,6361bs. 



1887 7 2,5001bs. 



1891 12 2,8151 bs. 



1892 23 3,1151bs. 



Shad. 



Bred artificially in large numbers. Introduced on west 

 coast: 



1E80. 1892. 



Begions. Pounds. Value. PoundR. Value 



New England States. . . 2,117,392 $88,730 *1,334,714 $43,787 



Middle Atlantic Statesl2,024,579 526,982 28,232,326 1,339,865 



South Atlantic States. 3,932,563 380,078 9,385.354 482,403 



Pacific States 655,750 26^230 



Total 18,074,534 995,790 39,608,144 1,892 285 



*1889. 



Scup. 



Regions. 1880. 1891. 



New England States 8,643,358 8,571,765 



Middle Atlantic States 1,550,000 400,858 



Total 10,193,358 8,972,623 



Sea Bass. 



Regions. 1880. 1891. 



New England States 629,400 *1,557,935 



Middle Atlantic States 1,486,200 2,101,418 



South Atlantic States " 527 000 879,684 



Total 2,642,600 4,539,037 



*1889. 



Sea Mullet. 



Regions. 1880. 1890, 



Middle Atlanti c States 11 0,700 *250,740 



South Atlantic States 4,369,000 5,573,623 



Gulf States 2,407,250 15,185,117 



Total 6,886,950 21,009,480 



*1891. 



Squeteagrue. 



Not bred artificially and spawns in bays and salt water or 

 brackish waters., A comparison, by geographical regions, of 

 the yield of this species in 1880 and at the present time dis- 

 closes the taking of 15,463,5601bs. in the first-named year, and 

 19,178,4471bs. in 1892, as exhibited in the following table. 

 Every section shows an increase, but this is most marked in 

 the New England and Gulf States: 



Regions. 1880. 1892. 



New England States. 532,060 +829,430 



Middle Atlantic States 12,604,500 13,503,907 



South Atlantic States 1,827,000 1,885,677 



Gulf States *500,000 2,959,433 



Total 15,463,560 19,178,447 



* Estimated; no accurate figures available. 

 + Figures for year 1889. 



The individual States in which a noticeable increase in the 

 production of squeteague has occurred are Massachusetts, 

 New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and the Gulf States gener- 

 ally. States exhibiting a diminished output are New York 

 and Delaware. Especially worthy of notice is the reduction 

 of the catch in Delaware, where the yield was 2,6l8,5001bs. in 

 1880, and only 837,5101bs. in 1892. It may be stated, however, 

 that up to 1890 the production was well maintained, and it 

 would i-eem that an effort to increass the catch in 1889 and- 

 1890 resulted in a large falling off during each year since. 



Bluefish. 



Not bred artificially, spawning habits or grounds not 

 known, movements irregular and under influences not well 

 understood. 



The aggregate catch of this fish in 1891 was somewhat less 

 than in 1880. The only region showing a diminished output 



was New England. The increase in the other coast sections 

 was about 3,50O,0001bs. The figures for the separate regions 

 were as follows: 



Regions. 1880. 1891. 



New England States 5,526,341 +1,322,598 



Middle Atlantic States 8,267,217 10,649.613 



South Atlantic States 850,000 1,452.984 



Gulf States *64,250 610,256 



Total 14,707,708 14,035,451 



* Partly estimated. 

 1 Figures for 1889. 



The decrease in New England is confined to Massachusetts. 

 In 1880, the catch reported for this State was 4.273,841 lbs.: in 

 1889 it was only 396,9671bs. The very large production in 1S80 

 indicates the eastward movement of an unusually large body 

 offish in that year, although there was a conspicuous de- 

 cline bet ween 18S7 and 18S9; the catch in 1S87 being 706,8821bs. 

 and in 1888 689,904lbs. 



In reply to a question: 



Col. McDonald— As a matter of fact, the salmon spawn 

 far up the river. 



« Mr. Bp.mwn— As far as the investigation of the Fish Com- 

 mission has gone, is there any analogy between the salmon 

 and the menhaden or any resemblance? 



Col. McDonald— The resemblance is in this, There is a 

 very marked resemblance in this respect; the salmon spawn 

 in the headwaters if they are not prevented from going to 

 the headwaters by the obstructions in the river, and by the 

 intervention of nets, so that they cannot get there, fishing in 

 time will cease. The menhaden spawn in the estuaries, 

 and if you prevent them from going to their spawning 

 grounds, and if you intercept the menhaden on its way to the 

 spawning ground, you will have the same effect in one sense 

 as in the other. Any fish that spawns along the coast, line is 

 subject to the same condition of depletion; I mean the fishes 

 that run into our rivers, like the shad or the salmon, 



Mr. Brown— When did you, in your investigation, find the 

 menhaden heaviest with spawn? 



Col. McDonald— In the spring. 



Mr. Brown— Since when? 



Col. McDonald— In the last two years. 



Mr. Brown— Cannot you be a little more particular than 

 that? I would like to know when you first discovered the 

 menhaden were heaviest with spawn? 



Col. McDonald— The investigation disclosed the fact that 

 menhaden were shore spawners. 



Mr. Brown— Did you not say several years ago that men- 

 haden were off-shore spawners? 



Col. McDonald— I have said so. 



Mr. Brown — Whether it is in the spring or in December 

 there is no fishing going on when the menhaden is heaviest 

 with spawn? 



Col. McDonald— It is a question of temperature entirely 

 where fish spawn, at least that is my judgment, where fish 

 are under the instinct of reproduction and are moving for 

 the purpose of reproduction. You find that the scup strikes 

 on our shores when a certain temperature of water is found. 

 The shad comes into our rivers only when the river gets 

 warmer than the sea, so you may state as a general fact that 

 the movement of our coast, fishes, having reference to spawn- 

 ing, I don't mean after movements which are determined by 

 a pursuit of food, but the spawning movement is influenced 

 by temperature. 



Mr. Brown— Then in your judgment a temporary absence 

 from certain localities on our coast is due almost entirely to 

 temperature? 



[to be continued.] 



Fishculture and Food Fish. 



In his annual message Gov. Flower, of New York, has this 

 to say about fishculture: 



The Legislature of 1893 passed bills providing for two new fish 

 hatcheries, one in Sullivan county and the other id Steuben. I refused 

 to give my assent to these measures unless the establishment of the 

 hatcheries was made conditional upon ihe decision of the Commis- 

 sioners of Fisherips that the places named were properly located for 

 the propagation of fish. This condition was inserted in the measures, 

 and the Commissioners have decided that certain kinds ot fish, chiefly 

 trout, could be successfully propagated in the waters of these 

 localities, and have accordingly made agreements for the building of 

 the hatcheries. It would be unwise, however, in my opinion, for "the 

 State to establish any more hatcheries. We have" enough of these 

 already. Trout is particularly a game fish, and public money should 

 rather be used for the propagation of food fish, such as pike, perch 

 and whitefist), from the bountiful supply of which greater benefit will 

 accrue to the people of the State. As I said in my last annual 

 message, merely to conserve sportsmen's interests would not justify 

 large appropriations for fish cultivation from the public treasury. 

 The measure of opportunity is much wider than is prescribed by any 

 such narrow field. "There are 1.500 square miles of water within the 

 area of our State capable of producing an unlimited supply of fish 

 food, thus cheapening in large degree the cost of living to the people, 

 creating additional employment and adding to the State's wealth 

 Every stream might be made to yield largely to the food supply of the 

 farms through which it runs, and every Jake might give means of 

 livelihood to more men and furnish cheap, palatable food to more 

 families. Liberal stocking of Lake Ontario with whitefish, pike and 

 lake trout, assisted by proper regulations for catches, would build up 

 an important industry iu that vicinity, profitable alike to the fisher- 

 men and to the public." 



In the direction of applying this policy it is worthy of note that of 

 the 80,000,000 young fish raised in the State hatcheries during the last 

 year, the larger proportion was of what might be strictly called food 

 fishes. The total amount of fry hatched and distributed in the waters 

 of the State was fifty per cent, in excess of the hatching and distribu- 

 tion af any previous year. Eighteen million whitefish were planted in 

 Lake Ontario. This lake was formerly famous for its whitefish, but 

 constant fishing had so depleted it that until the present year the 

 catch on the American side was comparatively insignificent. As a re- 

 sult, however, of the persistent stocking of the lake by the Commis- 

 sioners of Fisheries during the last five years, the fishermen report a 

 large increase in the catch during the season recently closed. The 

 Commissioners should be permitted this year to make a still larger 

 plant, and to continue the work until the lake is thoroughly stocked. 



REGISTRATION OF NETS. 



I would suggest the passing of an act providing for the registration 

 of nets and their use throughout the State under proper supervision. 

 The mesh of these nets should be large enough to permit the escape of 

 small fish not yet old enough to breed, and tne net should not be used 

 at aU during the spawning season. Their use should not be permitted 

 in trout streams nor in lakes where there are none but game fishes. 

 In this way food fish could be taken where desirable and yet the game 

 fishes be protected. As the Commissioners are now "stocking the 

 waters of the States with many varieties of h'sh that can not readily be 

 taken by hook and line, some provision should be made for their 

 capture, while at the same time protecting game fishes. The law 

 passed two years ago prohibiting the catching of bullheads and 

 suckers by any other means than angling proved a great hardship, 

 and as a resuit nearly every county in the State was last winter ex- 

 empted from its provision. The system of registration and allowing 

 the use of nets under the safeguards proposed, would, in my opinion, 

 be satisfactory both to the anglers and to the farmer to whoai the 

 common varieties of fish prove an agreeable addition to his ordinary 

 bill of fare. A small fee should be charged for registering, and for the 

 permit to use, in order to pay the expense of this work, and the regis- 

 tration would give the Commissioners accurate knowledge of tue 

 locai ion of every net in the State, together with the name of its 

 owner, and would enable them in a great measure to prevent improper 

 use and at the same time allow the heeded facilities for the capture of 

 food fishes. This system has worked very successfully in Canada. 



The Missouri Commission. 



Cincinnati, O.— Governor McKinly has appointed Mr. M. 

 W." Renick, of Middletown, Fish and Game Commissioner, 

 vice John H. Lohr, of Hamilton, resigned. Renick is con- 

 sidered an authority on fish and game, "Willie "Wick. 



Spirit Lake Poachers. 



Although, in the expressive language of Fish Commis 

 sioner Griggs, fifty seven Iowa, applicants are now after his 

 red locks, he still retains his office and many Republicans 

 are working hard to have him continue. The report of Mr. 

 Griggs is now in press and will soon be issued with an ap- 

 pendix containing notes on the habits of many of the fishes 

 of Iowa. 



The. commissioner went on a little crusade against the 

 illegal fishermen during Christmas week in company with a 

 member of the Minnesota commission. J. S. Berry was 

 found on the Minnesota side of Spirit Lake with a lot of fish 

 in his possession, for which he was bound over to the June 

 term of court with fines amounting to$375. Then Mr. Griggs 

 nipped a number of poachers on the Iowa side, and so the 

 chase continued up one side and down the other, until the 

 law breakers gave up in disgust. H. 



lenml 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Jan. 16 to 19.— Saratoga Poultry and Kennel Club, at Saratoga, N. 

 Y. L. W. Clute, Bahston Lake. N. Y., Sec'y. 



Jan. S3 to 26.— New Orleans Fanciers' Club, at New Orleans, La. G, 

 W. Sentell, Jr.. Sec'y. 



Feb. 20 to 23.— Westminster Kennel Club, at New York. James 

 Mortimer, Superintendent. 



Feb. 27 to March 2.— Columbus Fanciers' Club, at Columbus, O. G. 

 F. Moonpy, Sec'y. 



March 7 to 10.— City of Straits Kennel Club, at Detroit, Mich. Guy 

 D. Welton. Sec'y. 



March 13 to 16.— Mascoutah Kennel Club, at Chicago, 111. J. L. 

 Lincoln, Sec'y. 



March 20 to 23.— St. Louis Kennel Club, at St. Louis, Mo. 



April 3 to 6.— New England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. D. E. 

 L'oveland, Sec'y. 



April 18 to 21 —Southern California Kennel Club, at Los Angeles, 

 Cal. C. A. Sumner, Sec'y. 



May 2 to 5.— Pacific Kennel Club, at San Francisco, Cal. H. W. 

 Orear, Sec'y. 



May 15.— Portland Kennel Club, at Portland, Ore. D. L. Williams, 



Sec'y. 



FIELD TBIALS. 



Jan. lo.-Pacific Coast Field Trial Club, at Salinas, Cal. J. M. Kil- 

 garif, Sec'y, San Francisco, Cal. 



Feb. 1.— Blue Ridge Futurity Stakes, at New Albany, Miss. 



Feb. 5.— Southern Field Trial Club's Trials, at New Albany, Miss. T. 

 M. Brumby, Sec'y, Marietta, Ga. 



Feb. 12.— United States Field Trials Club's Spring Trials, Grand 

 Junction, Tenn. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



[By a Staff Correspondent.] 



Resolutions. 



In bidding the old year good-bye it is gratifying that it has 

 been so exceptionally full of good fellowship and free from 

 acrimony. 



It is gratifying that so much progress has been made in 

 matters appertaining to the dog. 



It is gratifying to observe that the prevailing idea of the 

 liberty of speech, in relation to sportsmanship, has not been, 

 by and large, seriously abridged 



It is gratifying that the kennel press has had one kinder- 

 garten lesson of what true editorship should be, in the past 

 year. 



It is gratifying that nearly all the old worthy editors are 

 still on deck. 



It is to be deplored that some dogmen have fallen by the 

 wayside, and others have left us. 



It is gratifying to notice that public opinion in the past 

 year has undergone a change'in respect to considering free- 

 dom of speech freedom to abuse. 



It is a good time to make resolutions. 



When your friend borrows a dog to go shooting, do not 

 lend hi in the worthless dog of the kennel. If he says that 

 dog is no good do not wring your hands and exclaim that he 

 has ruined your best dog. 



Do not sell a worthless dog for a first-class price, on the 

 ground that you do not, know anything about him, but that 

 you sent him to a first-class trainer. 



Do not think that vour dog can get a $100 education for 

 $10. 



Do not expect to get a dog intellectually and physically 

 beautiful for $5. It costs more than that to raise a puppy. 



If your dog does not win at a bench show, abuse the judge. 

 That is honored usage. A lot of people theu will think you 

 are an offensive person, while a few wiil think you are mis- 

 used. The former will tell their thoughts to the world, the 

 latter will tell their thoughts to you. Both will estimate 

 you at your true worth. 



Above all, ardently love man's best friend, the dog, at so 

 many dollars per dog. The love of the dog for his own sake 

 is not proper progress. Progress in canine matters is some- 

 time obstructed by love of the dog. That is, a higher price 

 is asked than progress will warrant, sometimes. 



Resolve never to make the same mistake twice. 



Eudeavor to keep the canine world up to the high degree 

 of good fellowship, courtesy and progress of the past year. 



Endeavor to believe less than we hear of each other in 

 some respects and more in some other, otherwise the kennel 

 world is dubious. 



Never forget that the color of a dog, or whether his coat is 

 long or short, is of far more value than any man's character, 

 therefore let the man's character suffer if, in your wisdom, 

 you consider it necessary. 



If, in your writings, you are kind and courteous as becomes 

 gentlemen, one time is excusable, but please see that it does 

 not occur twice. It is an example that others may imitate, 

 therefore it is not to be encouraged. Seriously, 1894 will be 

 a bad year for the writer who is not gentlemanly. 



In 1891 do not write a stoiy about Fido to advertise your 

 kennel. 



In 1894, do not write 400 columns of challenges, at $5 per 

 challenge. The public might, after a while, consider that it 

 is not instructive literature. . 



In 1894, if you become a sportsman after reaching man- 

 hood, try to behave as if you were a born sportsman, The 

 sportsman of yesterday is noisy and nervous. The sportman, 

 ''to the manner born," is civil and deferential to the judges. 

 He is courteous too, to others. It may be hard, but try. 



In 1894, try to make a field trial dog as much like a plug- 

 shooting dog as possible. The latter is used chiefly for kill- 

 ing birds over; the former is used chiefly to sell. In proof of 

 this look up the records, aud observe how many field trial 

 winners of late years have been sold. 



Nevertheless, 'some field trial dogs are good field dogs— 

 nevertheless, not many. 



The American eagle is not a game bird. Any foreign 

 sportsman, who goes gunning for the national screamer, is 

 likely to return home empty handed. Foreign papers please 

 copy. 



In 1894, when you get a stud fee, please not to make a 

 mistake to breed your customer's bitch to the younger and 

 abler dog. 



In 1894, resolve that each of the four days of a dog show 

 will not be oyer twenty- four hours a day in duration. 



In 1894, resolve that each day of a field trial will see you a 

 wiser and better man. 



