168 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. 27, 1898. 
yard, and making yellow tracks on every board that he 
put his foot on. As the business was not to my liking, I 
resolved to stop it, so I set my wits to work and devised 
a plan that worked like a brass button in a church box. 
I placed a box just far enough from the side of the 
building to* admit a good sized coon, and then put an 
egg about the middle, in full view. Then I dug a place 
in the ground deep enough for the trap and covered it 
with rubbish like the ground around it. 
The next morning I went to get my coon, but he 
wasn't there. The trap was not well fastened, and to 
get even with me for my meanness he stole it, and 
that Avas the last of either of them till next year. Then 
my next door neighbor entered a complaint against some 
animal that got into his coop and stole a chicken. 
I went over and examined the premises and found a 
hole dug under the fence, about the size for a thieving 
coon, so I covered a steel trap carefully as before and 
next , morning that same old coon was waiting for me 
with one of her three legs in the trap. I say three legs 
because the trap took off one of her legs when she 
took off the trap. 
The brute was a female, and the ugliest one I ever 
saw. Now, if there ever was a coon that had reason to 
keep an eye wide open for steel traps, it was the one 
now under discussion. Having lost one leg by love of 
poultry, she ought to have known too much to lose three 
others. Didymus. 
St. Augustine, Aug. 16. 
Proprietors of fishing resorts -will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Forest and Stream. 
Canadian Moose. 
Edmundston, New Brunswick. — This season has been 
the delight of all sportsmen in regard to the number 
and size of trout taken. Every stream and lake seemed 
to be alive with this beautiful fish. Mr. Prescott, of New 
York, with three ladies, passed the month of July on 
lakes adjacent here. He speaks in glowing words of the 
fishing and of the beauties of the place, for recreation 
as well as the abundance of game, for the hunter, later 
on. The trout fishing in the Madawaska River, in 
September, is something beyond the ideas of very many 
men; for but a few miles from here, over a good road, in 
two hours, you reach the fishing (or a few minutes by 
railroad). The trout are all large, from 2 to lolbs. ; 
the latter size has never been taken to my knowledge, 
but I have seen one of 8^1bs., and took myself, with a 
very small fly, one of 6~4hbs. A rod will take from 
three to tkirty (if they are wanted) in a morning and 
erening's fishing. 
In September large game is often seen along the banks 
of the river, as on the eastern side is a forest (without a 
break) of seventy miles in which moose, caribou, deer 
and bears live in almost perfect security. This will be 
a good year for moose, as the strict watch the Avardens 
kept last winter prevented the usual illegal slaughter and 
they are growing numerous, several being seen in the 
very outskirts of the town. Ther© are many places here 
Avhere moose are sure to be seen ; the getting one depends 
on one's shooting. I have located a place for cari- 
bou and deer that is perfection; there is plenty of game, 
it is but an hour's walk from the road, the A\ r oods are 
maple and birch, very open, with cool, pure springs of 
Avater in plenty. Very high land. For a party aa'Iio 
Avould like to put in a month or two I think this would 
be a charming retreat. This is a true tip, and I should 
like to see' ft occupied by a party Avho Avould appre- 
ciate it. There are no moose excepting an odd one in 
this place. The license fee to hunt is $25. Hunting 
commences 1st of October, as this is in the Province of 
Quebec. Hunting in NeAv BrunsAvick begins 1st of Sep- 
tember and this is the best month to call moose. I 
was out last year with a party Avhich left here the 15th 
of September. We saAV moose signs eA r erywhere Ave 
Avent, and moose came to our tent two nights; one small 
pond Ave A'isited was tramped so that there seemed to 
be not a foot of the shalloAv clay bottom but had been 
stepped on, while the paths leading to it Avere like coav 
paths co'ming from the pasture. We got no moose, al- 
though Ave Avere close to them at different times. One 
morning, fifteen minutes from camp, we got three bears 
in four -shots. I Avas extremely sorry for the gentle- 
man who had come so far, and Avas such a fine man, that 
he dra not meet with better luck, as I haA^e known of 
men directly the opposite of this gentleman Avho have 
killed their moose the second day out, when they never 
deserved to get one. I feel confident that the party who 
goes in here this fall can get all the moose the law al- 
lows; but I would advise the earlier in September the 
better. It is two days to the hunting grounds from 
here, but there are moose in the vicinity Avhere camp is 
made the first night, and tracks of them along the road 
the next day. Very few sportsmen come here; the coun- 
try is large and there is no danger of getting too close 
together. Thinking this may strike the eye and inclina- 
tion of some Avho desire to get to a good place, I write 
in alb sincerity and by the rule, do as you Avish to be 
done by. ■ S. J. Raymond. 
Adirondack Deer Prospects. 
Ausable Forks, N. Y., Aug. 17. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Few sportsmen are as yet in this section in 
quest of game. Deer abound in farger numbers than 
usual, owing chiefly to the prohibition of hounding. The 
native hunters quite naturally characterize the prohibi- 
tory law as abominable, as it obliges them to dispense 
with- their favorite sport: Still-hunting as yet fails to 
present attractions to those formerly accustomed to 
shooting deer ahead of hounds. 
Yesterday a party from this vicinity startled a deer 
from his haunts, not far distant, and also reports find- 
ing squirrels in plenty. 
Not lotig ago, during a ramble on Haystack Moun- 
tain, I Avas surprised to find a representative of the stick 
insects. Is that insect commonly knoAvn as finding a 
favorable embroilment in this latitude? 
Chenango. 
[Yes.] 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
Where to go. 
One important, useful and considerable part of the Forest and 
Stream's service to the sportsmen's community is the information 
given inquirers for shooting and fishing resorts. We make it our 
business to know where to send the sportsman for large or small 
game, or in quest of his favorite fish, and this knowledge is freely • 
imparted on request. 
On the other hand, Ave are constantly seeking information of this 
character for the benefit of our patrons, and we invite sportsmen, 
hotel proprietors and others to communicate to us whatever may be 
of advantage to the sportsman tourist. 
Some Questions and Answers. 
BY FRED MATHER. 
I sometimes wonder if other men AA'ho write for 
Forest and Stream get as many letters containing in- 
quiries as come in my mail. Not only questions come, 
but information, suggestions and a miscellaneous lot of 
requests, invitations and more things than cart be classi- 
fied. Th ese are all cheerfully replied to, if a reply is 
called for, and some, if they are readers of Forest and 
Stream, are put off Avith a postal card saying: "You 
will be answered before long through 'that iournal." In 
the issue of May 28, 1898, I picked up a lot of these, 
loose threads and called them '"Some Odds and Ends." 
If it seems that a reply might be of general interest, the 
letter is put into the box labeled "Odds and Ends," 
Avhere other things of general interest also find their 
Avay, hence this article; 
Do Muskrats Eat Fish? 
In Forest and Stream of July 30 I said that I had 
always suspected the muskrat of eating fish in the Avin- 
ter, because it is vvell known that it eats animal food in 
the shape of Unios. or fresh-Avater mussels, but most of 
these rodents that I had examined were killed in summer 
Avhen they Avere mainly feeding on vegetation. I asked: 
"Can any one prove that tke muskrat eats fish in Avinter 
when vegetation is scant?" To this question there came 
but one reply, but it was such a full and complete reply 
that I hasten to publish it as a contribution to the life 
history of the muskrat. No doubt thousands fcf men 
have knoAvn for years what Mr. Held writes, but as I 
did not know it. and I haA r e known the musquash as boy 
and man for over half a century, and as a summer bur- 
rower in my trout ponds for at least half that time, it is 
fair to assume that others may not know about the fish- 
eating habits of the muskrat. 
Here is just the kind of letter that I love to receive. 
It is from Mr. William C. Held, Saginaw, Mich., and 
says: 
"You ask if any one can prove that the muskr-at eats 
fish in winter. All our net fishermen can prove that they 
eat fish, as they are the most destructive thing they have 
to deal with during the fall and winter months. They 
chew into the nets and then chew out again, and in 
this way they let out many fish before the holes are 
located and repaired. As soon as the fishermen have 
their nets set in the fall, they commence trapping around 
them and in this way they- catch most of the rats; but 
there are always a few that remain uncaught, which cause 
trouble all Avinter. 
"In the Avinter one can see places on the ice Avhere 
the muskrats have carried fish and eaten them night 
after night. Last spring I saAv a fish-box into which 
a muskrat had gnaAved a hole for the purpose of getting 
at the fish. 
"I have read all your articles that appeared in Forest 
and Stream, and am pleased to say that they have 
proved very instructive, as well as interesting. There is 
one thing I wish you would enlighten me on. I hav-e 
seen your illustrations in Forest and Stream of the 
pike and pickerel, and I think there should be no trouble 
in identifying the pike. We have a fish here which re- 
sembles your description of the pickerel, excepting as 
to size, as the length of our fish never exceeds 12m. It 
has scales on the cheeks, and is more yellow and black 
in color than the pike. It is locally known as pike, 
pickerel, grass pike, shovel-nose and sauger. 
"Is there any other fresh-Avater fish besides the dog- 
fish that guards its young?" 
It will take two headings to answer Mr. Held, but 
here goes. 
* 
Pike and Pickerel. 
There are two small members of the pike family which 
only grow to a length of I2in. I figured one of them 
in Forest and Stream of May 21, the Esox umbrosus, 
called E. vermiculatus. by Le Sueur, on account of the 
Avorm-like markings on its side. Jordan describes it as 
"Olive green; sides with many darker curved streaks, 
usually distinct and more or less reticulate (net-like) ; 
fins mostly plain. Mississippi Valley, etc.; very abundant 
in small streams and bayous." This is probably your 
species. 
The other, Esox americanns, has "dark green sides with 
about twenty distinct curved, dusky bars; fins plain. 
Massachusetts to Florida, in coastwise streams." These 
little pike are common in New York markets, they are 
not angled for, but are a good pan fish. The name 
"sauger" is usually applied to the small pike-perch, so 
called. 
Fishes which Guard their Young. 
Mr. Held asks: "Is there any other fish besides the 
dogfish- which guards its young?" He refers to the 
fresh-water dogfish, Amia calva, called in the West and 
South laAAwer bowfin, John A. Grmdle and Johnny 
Grindle, while in Vermont it is the "mudfish." Of this 
fish Mr. Charles Hallock says in his Sportsman's Gazet- 
teer: "While the parent still remains with the young, if 
the family become suddenly alarmed, the capacious 
mouth of the old fish will open, and in rushes the en- 
tire host of little ones; the ugly maw is at once closed and 
off she rushes to a place of security, when the little 
captives are set at liberty. If others are conversant 
with the above facts, I shall be very glad; if not, shall 
feel chagrined for not making them known long ago." 
Mr. Hallock's book was printed in 1S77, and I do not 
remember to have seen this matter referred to since, ex- 
cept that his remarks are quoted in the Fisheries In- 
dustries (1884), sec. I., p. 659. 
There are many fresh-water fishes which guard their 
young, and it is my belief, based on the capture and 
dissection of many individuals, that it is the male which 
does the guarding. All the catfish tribe guard their 
young until they scatter, swimming below the little black 
school for several days. Black bass, rock bass, stickle- 
backs, and all the sunfishes guard both eggs and young 
until the brood separates in search of food. It is pos- 
sible that the crappies also guard their young, but I 
do not know their habits in this respect. 
There is a beautiful little fish in India, brought here for 
ornamental purposes, called paradise fish. I have bred 
them in small tanks; the male makes a floating nest of 
air bubbles among the weeds, and coaxes the female to 
deposit her eggs therein, but after she has done that 
he will not let her go near the nest, and hunts her to 
the furthest corner, sometimes killing her. He fans the 
eggs, and when the young hatch and wander from the 
nest he will take them in his mouth and return them. 
Some of the sticklebacks make elaborate nests of twigs, 
and the male takes entire charge of the household. 
The Working of Ponds. 
A friend writes: "No doubt you saw the different 
theories about the working of ponds in a late Forest 
and Stream. What do you think of them? Who is 
right?" 
They are right: There are different causes for this dis- 
turbance of the Avater. One year the mill-pond at Cold 
Spring Harbor, Long Island, bloomed twice, once in 
the middle of July, from Nostoc, which lasted four days, 
when the water cleared and the bass and perch were just 
coming to their appetites, when early in August it 
bloomed again with the fresh-water sponge, as described 
by Mr. Van Cleef. During the last bloom many sunfish 
and some white perch died, and the bass and yelloAV 
perch seemed to abstain from food, certainly from* baits 
offered, until September. There is a theory that the 
pollen from some trees — ash, I believe, is one — cloud the 
water at times and the fish then refuse all baits. I know 
nothing of this. 
Nostoc, or Nostochacex, as the quotation from the 
Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission has it, is a low 
form of vegetation Avhich grows in fresh water and on 
damp ground.- It is jelly-like, and is composed of 
threads which consist of globular cells, between a dozen 
or more of which are larger cells, and these are thrown 
off and float by thousands in the water. On land I 
have seen masses of it in the swamps from 3 to sin. in 
diameter, covered with jelly, and so like the egg-masses 
of Amblystoma, or salamanders, which are often improp- 
erly called "lizards" — the true lizards have scales, and 
do not live in Avater, but love- the sun— that one had. to 
look twice to tell the difference. Nostoc is of a bluish 
or greenish color, and the egg bunches referred to are 
whitish, slightly opaque. There are many species of 
Nostoc, but all have the characters given above. 
The fresh-water sponges, as Mr. Van Cleef says, throAv 
off great quantities of spores and cloud the Avater. These 
sponges also have many species, are very tender and 
difficult to detach from Avood or stone, for preservation 
entire, because they are so tender. Being animal, their 
decay often renders the Avater in the reservoirs of cities 
very foul and fishy." Then people complain of the fish 
in the reservoirs, but live fish do not pollute water. 
Pulling Teeth with Bullet Moulds. 
Prof. F. A. Bates, South Braintree, Mass., writes: 
"I have read 'Men I Have Fished With' and received 
•both pleasure and profit from it. It is all interesting 
and natural from first to last, except that yarn of your 
pullins? the trapper's tooth with a bullet mould, in the 
wilderness. I do not own such a thing as a bullet mould, 
but I took a nutcracker Avhich is jointed just the same 
and tried to see Iioav such a thing could be used on 'a 
pre-molar on the right side of the lower jaw.' Will you 
kindly explain how such a thing could be done?" 
Certainly, Professor. You are an- authority on game 
birds, and know quite a lot about fish, but of the ancestry 
and development of the bullet mould you have but a 
smattering. The modern bullet mould is hinged at the 
end and often has places to run three bullets, all of the 
modern, long kind. I never saw such a mould until in 
the early fifties, and in my trapping days all hunters used 
round balls. The mould Avhich I used was hinged like 
pliers, or pincers, and had a hollow bulb beyond the 
hinge to run a round bullet, and it ran 30 to the pound. 
W'c knew nothing of calibers, but reckoned them by the 
number to the pound, "squirrel rifles" running as small 
as 120. 
No doubt such moulds as Ave used are no longer seen, 
hence your being puzzled to knoAV Iioav it was done. If 
you will read page 245 again, you will see how the old 
Frenchman had filed the mould into something like 
forceps. The old bullet moulds have gone Avith our 
powder horns, hickory ramrods, greased ( patches and 
percussion caps. With a modern hunter's equipment 
Antoine's "toot" Avould have ached until Ave left the 
Avoods the next spring. And that's all I know about 
bullet moulds. 
Care of Goldfish in Globes. 
A lady says: "I am unfortunate with my goldfish. 
I have a globe ioin. in diameter, and I buy a pair of 
fish about 5in. long every little while, but they die. I 
change the Avater every day, and feed them well, but 
they do not live. Can you help me? My husband 
takes Forest and Stream and reads your articles. He 
advised me to write to you, therefore I take the liberty 
of troubling you." 
No trouble at all, madam, an ansAver in Forest and 
Stream on this subject may help others, for your trou- 
ble is quite a common one. Your fish are large for 
the globe. Get a handsome pair, black and gold, about 
2in. in length, and keep them out of the sun. Fish 
breathe oxygen, which they get from the water, which 
