212 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[March 12, 1898. 
which sends women to the prisons with flowers for the 
criminals — all are adding a very bad leavefi to the lump 
and bringing about evil results. 
The second quotation of the "farmers' boys" 'as to 
fishing on Sunday and selling their trout, is also cor- 
rect; and if the man who kept the hotel here when that 
was written, in 1894, were still alive, I could prove 
every word of it. I am glad to say that his successor 
does not follow this practice. 
Now I am neither Pharisee nor Sabbatarian; I be- 
lieve one day in the week has been set apart for ages 
for rest and recreation, and although I never fish myself 
on Sunday, out of deference to general custom, I do not 
see any such great crime in it as a recreation, but what 
I did and do object to is making such fishing a labor for 
gain, and stripping the public waters of their fish on 
Sunday to pocket the proceeds in cash. 
I have a high respect for both the farmers and the 
farmers' boys, among whom T was born and brought up, 
and have always been on the best of terms with them, 
and I did not like being quoted in such a way as to 
give the impression that I was "cussing" them. I well 
remember one, who would have made a good "running 
mate" for that delightful boy of El Comancho's, and 
who had the same knowledge of woodcraft and wild 
things and their habits as that delightful boy whose 
doings I am glad to see chronicled. Nor is Mr. Ray- 
mond Spears' boy a slouch" either. I will bet they are 
both farmers' boys, every inch of them. Von W. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Along the Rock River. 
Chicago, 111., Feb. 19. — Rather a lamentable state of 
affairs is that set forth by a writer from Rockton, III., 
who wishes to be known as Young Sportsman. It 
shows very well the depressing feeling which must come 
to any man who lives in a country once abovmding in 
game, and who witnesses the natural resources of the 
country decrease from year to year through causes ob- 
viously unjust and injiTrions to the majority of the resi- 
dents. I maj' perhaps best present this case by giving 
a portion of the letter as written: 
"I wish to tell you of northern Illinois, at least about 
the first twenty miles that Rock River floAvs in Illinois. 
Here seining, spearing and blowing up fish occur withitt 
a quarter of a mile of the town of Rockton, a small, 
sleepy village of about one thousand souls. Some of the 
richest farmers hereabout own nets full 200ft. long They 
pull these nets generally on Saturday night somewhere 
between Rockton and Latham. They pull the net till 
they have got about 30olbs. of fish, then divide up with 
relatives living within three or four miles of Rock River, 
When they haA^e picked out what fish they want they 
don't throw the siiiall bass, catfish, pickerel, pike and 
perch back, but leave them on the bank of the river 
by the score. While out hunting I have come to piles 
of fish bones that if scraped tip would fill a half a dozen 
bushel baskets. I am not stretching this in the lea^t. 
There are also some pot-hunters here who blow up fish 
up near the mouth of the Pecatonica River, not a quar- 
ter of a mile from Rockton. This part of Rock River 
was once as good fishing grounds as any one could 
wish for. There are many fine camping grounds around 
here, and when fisji were plentiful it was a pleasure to 
go camping for a few days, but now it is as much fun to 
stay at home. Last summer my chum and I camped 
eight days,' and caught about eighty fish — small black 
bass, rock bass and silver bass, so small in fact that we 
only picked out enough of the best to send home a 
meal apiece and have fish once a day for ourselves, 
then threw the I'est back in the river. Grand spot that! 
"What about the game wardens, fish commissioners? 
They are the very worst of the lot. If our State officers 
would pick out a few young fellows like myself, about 
nineteen years old, who know the country for miles 
around and don't care whether we are good fellows 
or not in the eyes of the law breakers, I think we could 
help them all. Yes, maybe more than they would care 
to have us. A few years ago a man after working all 
the week would eat supper, take his pole and a pail of 
minnows, and go down to some of the river bridges 
or up to the dam on Saturday night and catch a good 
mess of fish for Sunday dinner. But alas! no more. 
Another thing: Fishermen from Beloit come down from 
Beloit in the spring when it is against the law to fish 
on their dam and completely cover our dam and bridges, 
and if we come there to fish we must either fish from 
boats or in places where the fish don't stay. Why can't 
our respected law-makers look at this? Wisconsin for- 
bids us to shoot in her territory without a license, but 
then down in our State — oh, that's different. About 
prairie chickens, we used to have lots of them, but 
now these same Beloit fellows and also our Fish Com- 
missioner (?) and several others of our respected "sports- 
men" who own dogs commence to hunt about the Fourth 
of July, and by open season the chickens are so few 
and far between that a dozen fellows, each going in an 
opposite direction, wouldn't get a dozen chickens. This 
in a country that five years ago Avas aliA^e with game. 
Rabbits are hunted with a piece of rubber hose, or 
ferret and shot before they are 2oft. away from their 
burrow. Squirrels have almost disappeared from this 
land of ours. 
"Can't you help me to form a club of the younger 
sportsmen that are sportsmen, for the protection of our 
game laAvs? I wiU send you the name of several that 
are good shots, and along with myself long for the 
'shooting of our daddies.' Why don't spprtsmen take 
a hand in politics, put up a sheriff who will help .us. 
out? Isn't it breaking the laws just as much to shoot 
out of season, and shoot, spear and blow up fish as it is 
to steal? Hoping you will try to interest sportsmen in 
this matter, I remain Young Sportsman." 
The above correspondent says that he would like 
this club to be made up of "sportsmen and not of shoot- 
ers." "By sportsmen," he says "I mean fellows 
who love the camp-fire. By shooters I mean felloAvs 
who go out simnly for the shooting. Again I want 
to ask," says he, *'if you consider fellows who OAvn fine 
dogs, the best of guns and all sportsmen's fixtures, and 
who go hunting just to have a big drunk; as sportsmen?" 
The answers to most of these questions would be easy, 
and yet they are questions very pertinent even to-day, 
when the gun and the bottle are no longer considered 
inseparable, and Avhen the name of sportsman has indeed 
to be classified apart from that of the shooter. In brief, 
I will say to the writer of the above that he is happy 
in being young, for I think he will liA^e long enough to 
see a better time along the old Rock River. The new 
ways of sportsmanship and the new ideas of protection 
gain ground yearly. Providence helps them who help 
themselves. Let Young Sportsman go ahead and form 
his club, in which I shotdd be glad to help in any way 
that I can. Then let the club start out after the viola- 
tors of the law, not waiting for some one else to do it 
for them. This week Dr. Bartlett, of the Commission, 
is looking after some men who have been dynamiting 
fish under the ice along the lower part of the Rock 
River. Let us hope he will attend to the men who are 
injuring the old preserves of our young friend along 
the upper part of the same stream. I am sure Dr. Bart- 
lett would be able to temperately point out to this 
writer the Avrong of making sweeping and unfounded 
accusations against the State officers. Get facts, and be 
sure you are right before you go ahead is a good rule 
for any young or old sportsman. If you have the 
facts, no one can shake your position; but get the facts 
first. E. Hough. 
1206 BoYCE Building, Chicago, 111. 
The Cheney Darter. 
In an advance publication of the United States Fish 
Commission Bulletin, giving descriptions of new or little 
known genera and species of fishes from the United 
States; by Barton W. Evermann and William C. Ken- 
dall, are given results of recent investigations of the 
United States Fish Commission in Florida, Louisiana 
and elsewhere, which have resulted in large and im- 
portant collections of fishes from those regions. The 
preliminary study which has been given to these collec- 
tions of fishes from those regions. The preliminary 
study which has been given to these collections has 
shown that they contain a number of species new to sci- 
ence, besides several others which have not hitherto been 
taken in the waters of the United States, or are of rare 
and unusual occurrence within our limits. Among the 
collections of especial interest which have not yet been 
fully studied are those made in the St. Lawrence Basin 
in 1894, in Florida in 1896, and in Louisiana and Mis- 
sissippi in 1897. 
Among the ncAV species figured and described is a 
darter, from New York waters, which has been named 
in honor of Mr. A. N. Cheney, "in recognition of his 
valuable contributions to our knoAvledge of the food and 
game fishes" of New York. This is the description of 
the fish: 
Coiiog^asfer cheneyi^ neix) species. 
Type, No. 48781, U. S. N. M. Cotypes, No. 48782, U. S. N. M. ; 
No. 527, U. S. F. C; and No. 5774, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus. Length 
of type, 2i4in. Type locality, Racket lliver, Norfolk, New York. 
Collectors, Barton W. Evermann and Barton A. Bean. 
Head 4: depth C; eye 4 in head; snout 4: maxillary 3%; inter- 
orbital width 51/2. D. XI.-12; A. II., 8; scales 7-56-6. Body rather 
stout, heavy forward, compressed behind; head heavy; mouth 
moderate, slightly oblique, lower jaw included, maxillary reaching 
front of pupil; preraaxillaries protractile. Cheeks, opercles, breast, 
and nape entirely naked; scales of body large and strongly 
ctenoid; lateral line complete, straight; median line of belly 
naked anteriorly, with ordinary scales posteriorly. Fins large; 
dorsals separated by a space equal to half diameter of eye; origin 
of spinous dorsal a little nearer origin of soft dorsal than tip of 
snout; its base about equal to length of head; longest dorsal 
spine 21/4 in head, the outline of the fin gently and regularly 
rounded; soft dorsal higher than spinous portion, the second to 
tenth rays alDout equal in length, scarcely 2 in head, the first, 
eleventh, and twelfth rays but slightly shorter than the others; 
anal moderate, its origin under base of third dorsal ray, the spines 
slender, the second a little longer than the first, whose length is 
3% in head; longest anal rays about 2 1-5 in head; caudal lunate, 
the lobes more produced and poitited than usual among darters; 
pectorals long and pointed, the middle rays longest, about 1 1-6 in 
head, reaching tips of ventrals; ventrals well separated, not nearly 
reaching vent, the longest rays in bead. 
Color in alcohol, back dark brownish, covered with irregular 
spots and blotches of darker; side with about eight or nine large dark 
spots lying on the latctal line; belly pale; top of head dark; snout 
black; lower jaw and throat dark; a broad black line downward 
from eye to throat; cheek and opercles rusty; spinous dorsal 
crossed by a median dark line; ventrals blue black; other fins pale, 
but dusted with rusty specks. 
Fifteen examples of this interesting darter were obtained July 
18, 1894, by Messrs. Evermann and Bean in the Racket River 
near Norfolk, St. Lawrence county. New York. It did not 
seem to be very common, as only fitteen examples resulted from 
numerous hauls of the collecting seine. 
Named for Mr. A. Nelson Cheney, State Fishculturist of New 
York, in recognition of his valuable contributions to our knowl- 
edge of the food and game fishes of that State. 
Mttsic of the Woods. 
Prof. Erkst E. Held, of Sj^racuse, N. Y., has found 
in the Adirondacks inspiration for a series of musical 
sketches for the piano, entitled "In the Adirondack 
Mountains." They are intended to give in light outline 
the impressions received by summer guests during their 
stay in the mountains, and in the attainment of his pur- 
pose the author has been most happily successful. Of 
the eight numbers, the first is entitled "On the Trail 
to Camp," in which the melody speaks of the rollicking 
spirit and joyful anticipations of a party of young men 
making their way through the woods. Then, in "Around 
the Camp-Fire," one of the party tells a story and is 
answered first by the singing of a quartet and then by 
many quips, followed by hilarious laughter. Then are 
heard the "Forest Voices," Avhere rustling leaves and 
gurgling waters mingle their voices with calls of wood- 
land birds — thrush and whippoorwill — until hushed by 
the silence of night. Then, with the "Moonlight on the 
Lake," comes the old, old story, the score picturing a 
loving couple in a boat on a moonlit mountain lake. The 
change from this is rapid, but not altogether unpleasing, 
to the music of the "Trout Stream," in which one hears 
a mountain brook singing and babbling and gurgling 
and splashing on ^its way. The next number interprets 1 
the music of "A Rainy Day," where the sound of the 
rain swishes through the dripping trees and mingles with 
the sighs and sobs of the imprisoned campers. Then 
the theme changes and Ave have the "Deer Hunt," with 
rollicking music of hoimds and shouts of drivers. The 
final mmiber is a farewell to the woods, in which the 
score interprets the gratitude, regrets, and vows of 
fealty of one Avho reluctantly turns face homeward, and 
to whom the woods are for a twelvemonths to be but a 
memory. The music is fittingly inscribed to Hon. A. 
Judd Northrup, of Syracuse, author of "Camps and 
Tramps," and one whose devotion to the woods and in- 
corporation of their spirit entitled him to the recogni- 
tion of such a deduction. The music is published by 
Theo. Presser, of Philadelphia. It Avill be sure to 
please every woodland camper. While specifically 
named for the Adirondacks, it is universal in the inter- 
pretation of the music of nature. 
A Spanish Defeat. 
Fre^n ike Sew York Smt. 
"You'ke aware that the Canary Islands belong to 
Spain, but you don't know how Avidely diffused the feel- 
ing against this nation is down there. When I Avas there 
in '96 I had a narrow escape from death on that account. 
After I'd been there for some days I decided on an ocean 
bath, but I had no bathing suit, and although that gar- 
ment is tiot regarded as essential or even usual by the 
population, I felt that I Avould be more comfortable 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
with one on. So I had one made out of an American 
flag, both for the sake of patriotism, and on account of 
its buoyancy." 
"What buoyancy — the flag's? I never heard " 
"The American flag always floats, don't it? You al- 
ways hear of it floating. Well, as I'm not a very strong 
swimmer, I figured that if I got tired the flag would 
float and float me Avith it." 
"Will you please furnish a diagram_ with that? The 
flag doesn't float in water; it floats in air." 
"Don't you make the mistake common to inexperience, 
that diplomacy consists in splitting hairs. Kindly per- 
mit me to finish my story. You can take notes as I 
go along, if you Avish, and I'll clear up afterAvard any 
points that may be too abstruse for your intellect. To 
proceed: Adorned with my protecting flag, I swam out 
into the cove. It so happened that there was a shoal 
of Spanish mackerel sporting out beyond me. No 
sooner had they caught sight of my colors than in a 
frenzy of rage the}'^ one and all headed for me, and before 
I could reach shallow Avater I Avas surrounded by the 
luyriads of fish, Avho attacked me ferociously. With 
their sharp teeth they tore strips of skin and flesh from 
me. My blood dyed the water. Escape was impossible^ 
Death seemed iiuminent. Suddenly I was aware of a 
terrific commotion in the water about me. ■•. The mur- 
derous Spanish mackerel ceased to attack me and seemed 
to be defending themselves as best they could against 
an aquatic onslaught. Bleeding from a hltndred wounds. 
I made my way to shore. Judge of my amazement and 
gratitude when I found that I OAved my deliverance to 
the loyalty and courage of a school of starfish and a 
shoal of striped bass. This combination of stars and 
stripes, seeing my peril and observing my colors, rallied 
around the flag, and after a terrific naval battle put the 
fierce Spanish mackerel to flight. Since then I have 
ncA^er looked upon a pickled starfish or seen striped 
bass upon a bill of fare that anger a&d grief have not 
risen in my bosom." 
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earlier as practicable. 
THE CHENEY DARTER. 
