240 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
March 23, 1895, 
frames were brought to the south construction shop, and placed 
near the lead keel. These frames look as though they were in- 
tended for the miaship section. More of them will be brought 
down from day to day now, and it will only be a matter of a short 
time before the frames will be all ready to set up. More angle 
rons will arrive in a few days, bu t betore these arrive the frames 
cannot be finished. 
There is every evidence that Howard Gould's new 20-rater Ni- 
agara will be shipped soon. The hull was lowered from the posi- 
tion it was hoisted to in the south shop yesterday, and the work- 
men are engaged in boring the holes for the bolts that attach the 
fin plates to the keel. Whether a trial trip will be given the new 
boat before she is sent to her destination could not be definitely 
learned, as Mr. Nat's sickness prevents any possibility of his giv- 
ing her a trial. 
The other 20-rater, on the hull of which the men have been 
working, has had her double planking put on during the week, 
and yesterday she was turned right side up. The work on the in- 
terior of the boat will now be pushed forward, and already some 
of the deck beams have been put in. 
There seems to be a disposition at the Herreshoffs' works to get 
through with the work on all the other boats, so that their atten- 
tion can be given wholly to the Cup defender. 
The spars and sails for the Gould rater have been finished, and 
she could be sent aw.av on short notice. 
The work on the new centerboard for Vigilant has progressed 
rapidly, and it is nearly finished. It is yet undecided whether 
Vigilant will be brought here to be fitted up for the season or not. 
The new Hostetter steam yacht is so far advanced toward com- 
pletion in the north shop that she can be launched at any time. A 
great part of the inside finishing is done, and the machinists are 
at work around the engine. 
The steam yacht Viva, which has been laid up between the piers 
at the shops during the winter, was taken out into the harbor and 
left at her moorings. This gave rise to the rumor that the Hos- 
tetter steamer was to he launched. 
Nat Herreshoff has made rapid strides toward recovery during 
the past week, and sat up for the first time. Naturally enough, 
he has lost flesh during his sickness, and he has had his beard 
trimmed, and this gives him the appearance of being badly emaci- 
ated. That he had a bad attack of sickness is demonstrated by" 
his weak condition. Good weather, now that he is on the road to 
improvement, will hasten his presence at the shops. 
He is consulted in regard to the work to be done by the foremen 
of the departments every day. It was very fortunate that the 
plans were so far advanced when he was taken ill. It is very 
probable that the great designer will be on hand before the boat 
is very far advanced, and those details which can only be looked 
after as the boat advances, will he superintended by him. 
The publication of dimensions of plates and other material for 
the Herreshoffs which have arrived at the depot of late, has 
caused a strict enforcement of the rules and laws in regard to the 
trespassing upon the property of the railroad yards. A strict 
watch is kept over the newspaper men, and all cars containing 
material for the firm are to be locked until the teamster takes it 
away from the cars. 
Saunders has part of the frames of the big catboat for J. P. 
White, of Warwick, set up. The deck frames on the Hollings- 
worth 30-ft. cat-yawl are in and the floor of the cockpit has been 
laid. The whole of the work on this boat is progressing rapidly, 
and she will be launched at contract time, which is May 1. The 
Dean boat has been completed and is finished bright outside. 
John B. Herreshoff is in Washington, D. C, on business connect- 
ed with the torpedo boats. • 
Winter Sailing- in Florida. 
After a trial of all the resorts on the east coast as far south as 
Lake Worth. I have returned to this place (Port Orange) to spend 
the time until spring. Port Orange is on the "Flagler" Railroad, 
about 114 miles south of Jacksonville. There is a good hotel here, 
with very reasonable rates, and besides the proprietor has both 
Bail and row-boats fieeof charge for his guests' use. With the 
exception of one or two days, the weather has been just right for 
mailing all the winter, and 1 have kept two of the sailboats busy 
about all the time. One is a New Haven sharpie, about 23ft. long, 
with a single mutton-leg sail; she is just, the type for these shallow 
waters (Halifax River), draws but a few inches, is stiff and safe 
in a breeze, and easily taken care of. The other is almost a copy 
of the Myra, the "up-to date skipjack" whose plans appeared in 
the Forest and Stream of Nov. 3 last. She is 22ft. over all. no over- 
hang aft, but overhangs forward about 3ft. She was built by one 
of the local boat-builders here last fall, and fitted out with a cat 
mainsail (no jib) and launched after my arrival. While cranky, 
through not having any ballast, she is a very fast boat, especially 
in a light wind. 
It is a pleasant forenoon's trip to sail up the river, here more 
than a mile wide, to Daytona, five miles and back. Daytona is 
called the prettiest town in ;Florida. Mr. John Dimon, a Brook- 
lyn yachtsman, has just had a catboat built here, wide, with a 
clipper stem, not unlike Claphanrs Bouncer boats. Another pleas- 
ant half -day trip is to Mosquito Inlet, six miles, fine view from the 
top of the lighthouse; while for sea bathing we simply sail across 
the river from the hotel, then a quarter of a mile across the Penin- 
sular to the finest ocean beach in the world. Florida cannot be 
beat for yachting in winter, 250 miles of safe, smooth .sailing on 
the east coast. 
One word of ad-sice: Don't bring a boat down here from the 
North. There is no place in the world where a boat or yacht for 
6hoal waters can be built so cheaply as in these river towns. In 
summer, business is very quiet here, and they will build a yacht for 
bare cost of material and living wages. What do you think of a 
38-ft. skipjack complete except sails for 1225? I saw the contract 
signed myself. Whilo the sharpie, or flat bottom, is the best for 
these waters, in my opinion, still the boats built here now are all 
skipjacks, or V-hottoms, as the local sharps term them. I intend 
to have built the coming summer a house-boat of about 40ft.: she 
will be a sharp-bowed scow, cabin 6ft. head-room, large windows, 
wide beds, regular cook-stove in galley, have lee boards and a rig 
like the New York sailing lighters; no trouble to hoist sail and get 
under way. and to draw not over 8 inches; will cruise in her the 
entire east coast far as Palm beach. 
The Mediterranean Races. 
The second meeting of Britannia and Ailsa took place on March 
14 at Cannes, in the race for the Ogden Goelet and James Gordon 
Bennett Cup. Corsair also starting. Under the rule of the Union 
des Yachts Francais. Ailsa allowed Britauuia 1 m. 13 sec. in 30 
miles, and Corsair 19 m. 42 sec The course was the same 10-mile 
trangle, sailed three times. The race was sailed in a light S. W. 
wind and partly in smooth water. Ailsa crossed ahead of Britan- 
nia and led by 2 m. 51 sec. at the end of the first round. With 
more wind and sea, she increased her gain on the second round, 
leading by 6 m. 33 sec. and she finished with a lead of 13 m. 13 
sec, or 12 ni. corrected time. The third race was sailed on March 
17. off Monte Carlo, in a. variable easterly wind and some sea. 
Ailsa started a minute after Britannia, and never passed her, 
finishing 1 m. 35 sec. astern. 
Organization about Boston. 
While the yacht clubs at the west end of the Sound have been at 
work with good results in the direction of harmony of action and 
uniform racing rules, the many clubs about Boston have followed 
the same course, of a conference and subsequent work by special 
committees. 
While the first end in view was the selection of non-conflictiiig 
dates, the matter has gone much further, and a series of regula- 
tions have been established to govern all union open regattas. 
The usual difficulty has been encountered in deciding on one 
measurement rule that would be a< ceptable to all, but a solution 
has been reached which promises to be quite as satisfactory as 
anv for the time, though it must ultimately give place to some- 
thing more modern. The rules, as finally adopted, are as follows: 
"Resolved, That all yachts, excepting knocnabouts, be classified 
by their sailing lengths. 
"That sailing length be a yacht's length three inches above and 
parallel with the load water line, without crew on board, and in 
ordinary sailing trim. 
"That sailing length be the basis for figuring the time allow- 
ance, which shall be figured by Herreshoff s table of allowances, 
for all yachts, except knockabouts. 
"That the classes be divided as follows: 
''First class, yachts 35 feet and under 29 feet, sailing length. 
"Second class, yachts 21 feet and under 25 feet, sailing length. 
"Third class, yachts 18 feet and under 21 feet, sailing length. 
"Fourth class, yachts 25 feet and under 18 feet, sailing length. 
"Fifth class, all yachts under 15 feet, sailing length. 
"Knockabout class, to be sailed under the rules of the Knock- 
about Association. 
"That uniform numbers he used. 
"That one entry of a yacht shall answer for the season. 
"That all entries be made to Mr. A, T. Bliss, 111 Milk street, Bos- 
ton, which must be accomplished with a correct certificate of 
mepsurenient from some recognized club's measurer, which shall 
he accepted, subject to protest. 
"That yachts protested on measurement must be remeasured in 
correct racing trim by the club's measurer, if so ordered by the 
judges, before they can enter another race. 
"That all yachts shall sail in their proper classes, except in crvso 
of a yacht hav>ng no competitor in her class, she may be allowed 
to enter another class by permission of the judges. 
1 That the crews be limited as follows: First class 7 men, second 
class 6 men, third class 5 men. fourth class 4 men, fifth class 3 
men." 
We trust that this effort toward union a.nd harmony may meet 
with such success this season as to lead to still hotter and more 
permanent rules. There is no place in the whole country so favor- . 
able for the establishment of systematic yacht racing on a large 
scale as the vicinity of Boston. About New York the North aud 
East rivers are permanent and serious obstacles to regular inter- 
club racing; but the clubs on Massachusetts Bay arc very differ- 
ently situated, and with a mutual good feeling and an established 
system of modern rules it should be possible to outdo both the 
Clyde and the Solent in the amount and quality ofraoing in small 
craft. 
YACHT NEWS NOTES. 
The Harvard Y. C. has elected the following officers: Com,, J. 
L. Stackpole, Jr.; Vice-Corn., C. F. Lyman; Rear Com., D. H. Mor- 
ris; Sec. and 1 reas., Brooks Frothingham; Election Committee, 
B. Frothingham. R. M. Johnson and C. A. Pierce; Regatta Com- 
mittee, M. L. Scull, J. K. Lothrop and R. B. Williams: 
The New Haven Y. C. has elected the following officers: Com., 
H. S. Holcomb, schr. Thelma: Vice-Coin., Henry 8. Dickinson, 
sloop Rival; Rear Com., W. S. Hastings, sloop Carrie; Sec, F. W. 
Ouion; Treas., G R. Chamberlain; Meas., George W. Hunn; 
Fleet Surgeon, Dr. W. W. Hawkes: Trustees. C. M. Ford, F. G. 
Beach; Regatta Committee, C. 1'. North, L. A. Elliott, William A. 
Foskill, .1 r. 
Columbia, schr.. J. T. Perkins, has been chartered by J. J. Astor 
for the season. She is now-being thoroughly overhauled at Port 
Jefferson, under the charge of Capt. Jeffrey. 
Two new boats have been shipped from the shops of Arthur 
Dyer, of Deep Haven, M int., to .Boston; one for W. E. C. Enstis, 
owner of the 17-foot Grilse, and one ior Lawrence Brooks Mr. 
Eustis 1 new boat is 46ft. over all, 33ft. 1. w. 1„ and 10ft. 6 in. beam, 
drawing 2ft. 9 in. without board, and 4ft. 6 in. with hoard . She is 
of similar model to Onawa, double-planked and decked, and of 
light build. The center plate is of aluminum bronze. The smaller 
boat, is a 47-footer, to sail against Grilse on Buzzard's Bay. 
The handsome steam yacht Argo, belonging to the Argo Club, 
lies half sunk in one of the slips in the South Chicago shipyard. 
The beautiful cabins are ruined, and must be refurnished at a 
heavy loss. The sinking of the yacht was due to one of the pecul- 
iar fieaks of the lake level on account of changes in the direction 
of the wind. Some three weeks ago, when the ice held the boat 
securely in its grip, a sfong south wind caused the water, ice and 
boat to be lowered about IS inches. A few hours later flic wind 
came strong from the north, and the water rose some three, feel. 
It quickly filled the Argo, which was held down by the. icy grip. 
Since then the ice has risen to the surface. Nothing can be done 
to save the craft until the ice loosens its hold. The yacht has been 
fastened securely to the dock for fear i.he boat would go clear to 
the bottom in a sudden thaw.— Chicago Tribune. 
Since the lines of the little cruiser Windward were first pub- 
lished in the Forest and Stream, eleven years ago, a number of 
yachts have been built from them. The best of these is Nanita, of 
greater sail area, lighter construction and more ballast than the 
original design; and as events proved, the fastest 18ft. keel boat 
about New York. She has been sailed single-handed between 
New York and Cape Cod, has cruised hundreds of miles every, 
summer, and has sailed with success in a number of races, proving 
a most successful all-around boat. 
Mr. George Wilson, SB Sherwood street. London, lifts issued a 
neat little cardboard folder containing tables for computing the 
speed in knots aud for converting knots to miles. 
The New York Athletic Club will build a new club house 
30x50ft. for its yachting depai tmenf. at Travers Island, on the 
Sound. The club will give a regatta dinner this summer. 
Class C Canoes. 
Chicago, Mareh 11.— Ed i'or Fotk! a.nd Slreum: As the owner 
of one of those much-sooffed-at Glass C canoes, which a writer in 
your paper has described as "that mythical type of which we 
have heard so much and seen, so little," 1 have been very much 
interested in your article on the "one design canoe class," lor to 
me it seems to be a confirmation of the correctness of the views of 
many ot* our Western open- water canoe sailors, who have gradu- 
ated from the class which requires a thorough knowledge of gym- 
nastics, instead of any particular attention to the line points uL 
sailing. - , • 1 
My present canoe. 4.6ft. 6 in. x3S in., was built for mo by the St. 
Lawrence River Skiff, C. & 8. L. Co. last year, and 1 ha ve no hesi- 
tation in stating that lot open-water sailing, either with or with- 
out a passenger, she has been everything which the, lovers of the 
sport could wish. She is fast, dry and roomy, and can be easily 
launched and housed by one person of average strength. 
When sailing without a passenger I carry 100 lbs. of shot in a 
stiff breeze, and have a sliding seat the width of the boat, when 
closed. My weight is 140 lbs., and the sail area is 135 so. ft. I have 
usually taken a gentleman as passenger who weighs 175 lbs., at 
such times have carried 50 lbs. of shot to offset our difference in 
weights, whether the wind was strong or light. I can notice very 
little difference in her performance, as far as comfort and ease in 
handling are concerned, whether or nota passenger is carried, but 
I rather prefer company in a sea-way, on account Of the greater 
weight and steadiness given— good-fellowship being considered 
entirely apart. 
Canoes of the size you mention have been tried here, but to ns 
they have seemed to b^ neither one thing nor the other. They are 
not fast, and they cannot always carry two comfortably. 
A Class C, with a passenger, in a fair breeze, will hold its own 
with almost any canoe except a racer, and under any condition 
would probably outsail and outweather a canoe of the 15x33 type.; 
It is the opinion of the writer that the W. C. A. should not 
allow under-building in Class C, which is now permitted. The 
present rule allows too much latitude, and should be oh nged so 
that a length of 17ft. maybe allowed with a beam of 86 in., or a 
length of 16ft.. with 40-in. beam, but any variation bet ween these 
limits of length should necessitate a corresponding difference of 
beam. At present a pulling out and thinning down is allowable, 
which does not seem to be desirable. I may not agree, with the 
Now York canoeists, or they may not agree with me, which is the. 
same thing, but the Class C canoe would be my choice for use in 
New York harbor and vicinity, considered both as a "one design 
class," and from the standpoint of general adaptability and utihi y. 
JOHN W. KEOUH, Chicago O.C. 
ing prize; Class B, all others except novices; Class C, novices 
For definition of " Novice." see Event 11. Class C shall have an 
allowance of 1 minute a mile from Class A. and Class Ban allow- 
ance of 1-2 minute a mile from Class A. The siarting signals for 
Evout 7 vvill be as follows: First signal. 5 minutes before the race, 
preparatory for the fleet to .assemble; second signal, 4 minutes 
later, Class C prepare; third signal, I minute later. Class C start 
and Class B prepare, A. C. A. Hag vvill be hoisted. Fourth signal, 
3 minutes later, Class B start aud Class A prepare. A. O. A. 
flag will be hauled down. Fifth signal. 8 minutes later, Class A 
start. A. C. A. flag-will he hoisted and left up.- . 
For Event 8, the above will apply, except that the difference be- 
tween third and fourth, and fourth and fifth .signals will he 2 1-4 
minutes each. 
Event 9, Limited sailing, 3 miles; time limit, 1 1-2 hours. Sail 
area, limited to 100 square feet, and sliding seat prohibited. 
EVetit 10.. Cruisiug-go-as-you-please. Contestants to start at any 
time during the day (date to be posted) for a point not over 10 
miles from headquarters, carrying a necessary camp outfit, which 
Jhail include at least one tent, one camp bed or cot, one pai 
heavy blankets, change of clothing, cooking utensils, supplies 
etc They shall make camp, prepare substantial supper and 
breakfast, with at least one hot dish, besides liquids, in each. The. 
start for return shall be by signal to be given at 8:30 the following 
morning. Everything used must be properly stowed and carried 
both ways. Sail or paddle, or both, may be used. The committee 
shall disqualify any contestant who shall violate the spirit, of the 
regulations. Prizes will be given to the one who shall finish first 
and to the one who shall exhibit the most practical cruising ontti t , 
everything to be considered, provided he shall have finished the 
race. 
Evontll. Novice sailing, 3 miles; time limit, 1 1-2 hours. Open 
only to members who have not sailed a canoe, prior to September 
1, 1894. 
Event 12. Unclassified sailing, 4 1-2 miles; time limit, 2 hours. 
Event 13. Novice combined paddling and sailing, 1-4 mile 
alternately; total, 1 1-3 miles; time limit, 50 minutes. 
Event It. Paddling open canoes not under 50 lbs. weight, 1-2 
mile straightaway: single blades. 
Event 15. Tandem paddling, 1-2 mile straightaway; decked 
canoes, double blades. 
Event 16. Tandem paddling, 1-2 mile straightaway; open canoes, 
single blades. 
Eve.nt 17. Club fours paddling, 1-2 mile straightaway. 
Event 18. Paddling upset, 1-8 mile, usual conditions. 
Event 19. Sailing upset and maneuvering. At signal throw 
paddle Over astern and recover; second signal, canoe to he heeled 
over until top of mast. touches the water; canoe to be righted and 
cross the finish line under sail. 
Event 20. Hurry scurry, run. swim, paddle. 
Evert 21. Swimming, 200 yards. 
Event 22. War canoe, one mile. 
Note. The committee reserve, the right to amend this progr-nnine 
at, any time, and also to cancel any event in which the entries are 
not, in the opinion of the committee, sufficiently miraerous to 
warrant a race. • r . , 
The Meet offll895. 
I RKGATTA PROmUJIME- 
Event 1. Paddling and sailing combined, 1-2 mile alternately, 
total 3 miles; time limit, 1 1-2 hours. Start to ba made paddling. 
Events. Paddling, 1-2 mile straightaway. 
Event 3. Sailing, 4 1-2 miles; time lirni t, 2 hours. . 
Note. Events 1,2 and 3 are record races under Rule 5 of sailing 
regulations. . 
Event 4. Trophy paddling, 1 mile straightaway. 
Event 5. Trophy sailing, 9 miles; time limit, 3 1-2 hours, bee 
Rule 5. * ., , . „ , 
Event 6. Dolphin sailing trophy, 7 1-2 mites; time limit. 3 hours. 
The canoe winning first place in Event 7 will not be allowed to 
compete in this event. - ' 
Event 7. Unlimited sailing, 3 'classes, 6 miles; time limit, 2 1-2 
hours. Starters in the trophy sailing race to be selected from this 
race according to elapsed time. . . 
Events. Club sailing. 3 classes, 4 1-2 miles; time limit. 2 hours. 
First three members of anv club to count. A club to be repre- 
sented must enter at least three men. All men entered must 
have become members of the club they represent before the first 
day of the 1895 meet. ' * . d .; , _ 
Note. The starters in Events 7 and 8 will he divided into o 
classes as follows, viz,: Glass A, all who have won an A. C. A. Bail- 
Umwtr§ to (!£omspandwts> 
A. S. T., New York.-r-The designs of Cblonia cannot be bad. 
A. T. S.. New York. — Any good brand Of marine varnish will 
improve the surface of a canvas canoe. 
H. C, New York.— Such a canoe as Bat is perfectly capable of 
sailing in the waters you mention; but a wider canoe, of say 36- 
in. beam, would be better for such cruising in strong tidal waters. 
RIVET, Toronto. — The board would fall to a vertical position, 
as far as permitted by the pendant. The strain on the trunk 
should be little greater than with a wooden board, and the trunk 
is apparently strong enough to stand it. 
W. II P., Toronto. — Export opinions differ as to the merits of 
bamboo or good wooden spars. We havo never been able to find 
bamboo of over 2 in. diam. in New York, and even that size is hard 
to find. 
F. W B., New York — A good quality of cabinet-maker's glue is 
used for hollow spars; but the different makers of such spars have 
each their own special cement, which they do not sell. 
C. F. W., Boston. — Arthur H. Clark, 24 State street, New York, 
will give you the required information better than we can. 
H. L,, Portland, Oregon. — A canvas canoe may be repaired by a 
patch of canvas laid inside or out, as convenient, and sewed fast, 
being cemented by white lead and linseed oh paint. 
"BLACKAMORE"— Arlington, R. I.— 1. What make and calibre 
of revolvers were used by W. O. Pettey and S.J. Fort in their 
match? 2. What make and calibre does Mr. Pettey generally 
use? — Ans.; 1. Both contestants shot 44 cal. Smith & Wesson target 
revolvers, Russian model. 2. Mr. Pettey owns and shoots a, number 
of revolvers of different makes and different caliber. He has used 
44 S. & W. revolver, however, most often in match shooting re- 
cently. 
H. S., New York— See list of game protectors for New York on 
another page. 
C. H. F„ Cleveland, O.— Can parties from the States go into 
Canada on a hunting trip, taking an outfit from here, and get 
through the custom house all right, or would we have to get a 
license to hunt up there?— Ans.: The customs require payment of 
duty on hunting and fishing equipments, to be refunded whou the 
goods are brought out from the country. Non-resident license in 
Ontario, $25, in Quebec, S20. See "Game Laws in Brief." 
G. E. 1L, Houston, Tex. — A punt gun is a large single-barrel gun 
attached to the bow of a boat by means of a swivel or rope, and 
used to slaughter ducks. These guns nowadays are breech-load- 
ing. They weigh from 80 to 130 lbs . the average weight being about 
100 lbs. The bore of such a gun is 11^2 inches in diameter. The 
barrel is 8 feet long or thereabouts, and the load is 2 3-4 of powder 
and 20 oz. or mole of shot, size No. 1 or larger. Punt guns as a rule 
are provided with a recoil apparatus in the nature of springs or 
rubber buffers at the point of attachment to the boat. Weapons 
of this character are prohibited by law in most States. 
TODE, Providence, R. I.— At a Boston theatre a couple of 
young women give an exhibition of fancy or trick rifle shooting, 
and if it is "straight goi ds," they are wonders. For instance, 
one of them, hack to target, sighting through a. looking-glass, cuts 
the string that holds a swinging hall, Now, how. is this done? la 
it straight shooting or a nut-up job? My chum and I have done 
considerable fancy shooting, such as sight ing hack through a look- 
ing-glass, cutting cards, holding ;the ride on head, and the rest of 
that kind of nonsense that is never of any practical value, but 
when it comes to cutting a. swinging string, it. beats me. What is 
your opinion of it?— Ans.: The same young women have been 
exhibiting in other cities; their feats appear to be genuine. They 
may, perhaps, be seen at the May sportsmen's exposition in this 
city: 
L. O. C. SaranacLake, N. Y.— 1. I would like to learn through 
your columns how heayva gun Carver's is, that ho uses 5 drachms 
nitro powder in? 2. Also the wadding used during Mr. Armin 
Tenner's recent tests. 3. And if articiai birds break as well when 
the thermometer is about zero as when it, is about 30 or JO above? 
— Ans.: You are in error as to amount of powder used; in his races 
with Elliott, Dr. Carver shot a 7 1-3 lb. gun, and 3 1-2 drachms of 
powder. 2. See Armin Tenner's articles in Forest and St ream of 
Nov. 24, Dec 1 aud Deo. 15. From the composition of some 
artificial birds the colder the weather, the more brittle the targets. 
Unless exoosed to a very hot sun, there does not seem to be much 
differenee.in the breaking qualities of a target. 
SANCHO PANZA, Paterson, N. J.— 1. How many toes has the 
osprey or she-hawk? 2. Goldsmith, in his "Animated Natu'-e," 
says none of the deer kind have a gall bladder- is this true? 3. 
The common dittany on a cold frosty morning in the fall of the 
year, will be found surrounded by a coil of ice sometimes rising six 
inches above the ground. I have never noticed this coil of ice 
around any other plant. Did you or any of your readers ever 
notice it. and can you give a reason for it?— Ans.: 1. Four. 2. A 
gall bladder is absent in the Ceroidae. 3. Wo have never no- 
ticed it. 
.T. '.B., West Park, N. Y— What kind of a water-fowl is; this: 
About as large as a wild goose, rather Bhort nock, a blight yellow 
bill and jet-black all over? 1 saw him two days in succession 
while hunting on the Hudson; he seemed wild and restless, sel- 
dum'alighting.— Ans.: This may have boon a cormorant (Phaloera- 
corax dilophus). but the description is too vague for any cer- 
tainty. . . 
I. G. T., Mt. Pleasant, Pa.— Will some reader of the Forest and 
Stream, who maylknow, inform me through its columns whether 
there is 'any book .'published which treats on the capture of snap- 
ping-turtle?— Ans.: No book on the subject. See Holbrook's N. 
A. Herpetology. _ _ _ .. 
