Nov. 24, igoo.] 
The Oar Fish. 
The oar fish takes its name from the two vertical fiiis 
which much resemble a. pair of oars. It is of wide dis- 
tribution, having been reported fi'om points so widely 
separated a.s Scandinavia and New Zealand. The Standard 
Natural History describes it under the name of Regalecus 
banksii, by which it is known to naturalists, as follows : 
"In these ventrals are represented by single styliform 
rays, more or less dilated and oar-like at their ex- 
tremities, and distinct ribs are developed. The species 
appear to inhabit rather deep water, and some of them 
grow to a very large size, or at least attain a great 
length. The species of which most specimens have been 
seen or cast ashore along the coasts of the Scandinavian 
Peninsula and Great Britain occasionally reach the 
length of at least 22ft. But little is known of its habits. 
One was observed alive, but in a dying condition, about 
six miles from land, lying on its side. When approached 
by a boat the fish 'righted' itself, and came with a gentle, 
lateral, undulating motion toward them, showing its crest 
and a small portion of the head above water. When 
'it came alongside a man struck it with a hooked stick, and 
it made off with a vigorous and vertical undulating mo- 
tion, and disappeared as quick as lightning under the 
surface.' Twice the fish escaped its pursuers, but a third 
attempt enabled them to capture it, two men putting their 
arms round the fish, and lifting it into the boat. This 
specimen was feet long. The Regalecus hanksii has 
received from the English the name of oar fish, and has 
also been mingled with the traditions of the sea serpent, 
and been described as such. 
"From the engraving the fish has irregular black strokes 
across its body. The two oars are under the body close 
to the head ,and the head is furnished with about twelve 
plumes, representing a cockatoo's comb." 
The Fly-Fisherman and Fanny. 
A Fishing Fancy from tJie Chicago Tribune. 
'*Apt alliteration's artful aid" has been employed, con- 
sciously or tmconsciously, in a most effective manner by 
writers from time immemorial ; and when the alliteration 
is really apt it seems to lend a factitious force to the lan- 
guage. The tendency toward its use woidd seem to be 
rather natural than forced; for the law of association of 
scenes, sounds and sensations generally naturally sug- 
gests alliteration ; and the writer is influenced more than 
he is aware of in his selection of words. 
The average reader, however, is generally impressed 
with the idea that there is something extraordinary in 
the alliterative art; but this is only because he overlooks 
the vast possiblities of so copious a language as ours. 
As an object lesson on this subject the Tribune prints 
a bit of literary trifling written by a Chicago student of 
language. It serves at least to illustrate in a striking 
way the vastness of the English vocabulary, and here 
and there the real aptness of alliteration. 
Frisky Frederick Fernando Foftescue, famous fly- 
fisherman from Frankfort, fully forty-five, finely fixed 
financiall.v, fancied fascinating Fanny Flabella Fitzher- 
bert, fairly fifteen, from faraway Florida — funny fantasy 
for forty-five. Firstly, fastidious Fanny, feeling fancy- 
free, furtively fled for freedom from Fred's frequent fond 
familiarities, for fear Fred falsely flirted for fun — fine 
finesse for fifteen. 
Fortescue, finding Fanny fractious, fretted forlornly for 
fortnights; finally feeling fatigued from foolish fault- 
finding; furthermore finding fishing fine, farmers friendly, 
fishermen few, forsook fretting for fly-fishing. 
Flinging far factitious fluttering feather flies, fabricated 
for fetching foolish fish from foam-flecked floods, flowing 
freely from frigid fountains, Fred fortuitously found 
Fanny Flabella filially fetching for Father Fitzherbert 
fragrant flowers from fertile fields. Forgetting fastidious 
Famiy's fad for fashionable formalities, foolhardy Fred, 
firing fishingrod, flew forward fairly fondling Fanny's 
lair form. 
Frivolous Fanny, fancying Fred Foolishly fresh, flout- 
ingly frowned, frightened Fred from further forwardness; 
furthermore, feigning feminine fury. Fanny fled fleetly 
iorestward from Fortcscue's friendly familiarities. 
Frustrated Fred, feeling foully forsaken, forebore 
further fun, fly-fishing. Fiercely flinging far five fine, 
fat, flapping fish, fraudulently forced from irigid fluid, 
for Friday's fast-day feast, Frederick forthwith frenziedly 
followed Fanny's fetterless flight. 
Fanny, feeling fearfully flurried, flitted far faster, fleeing 
from Fred's flagitious freshness — Fortescue fruitlessly 
following Fanny's fairylike form. Fugacious Fanny fre- 
quently faltered from fatigue; .finally, feeling fagged from 
furiously fleeing for fifty-five furlongs, Fanny's frail, 
fevered figure fell flat, feet foremost. 
Full forty frowsy females flew forward for Fanny's 
frail figure fallen flat; fifteen fearfully foul fagots, fool- 
ishly filliping Fanny's fair fingers; fifteen fiendishly fre- 
netic frips, fanning Fanny's forehead; five frightfully 
freckled frumps, furnishing frayed falcon's feathers for 
fumigating Fanny's fainting fit forthwith; five furacious 
feminine felons, fraudenly filching Fanny's fine feminine 
frippery. 
Faithfully following Fanny's faltering footsteps, Fred- 
erick Fernando, fuming frightfully from festination, for- 
tunately finding Fanny faintly flushing from fetid feather 
fumes, foiled further fraud. Facetiously flinging forty 
farthings forward for feminine fees, Fred forbade further 
fumigation for freeing Fanny from fainting fits. Forty 
frightfully fat females, fickly forgetting Fanny's forlorn- 
ness, forthwith fiercely fought for filthy farthings. 
Fanny finding flight futile, felicitously forebore further 
feminine finesse, for Fanny Flabella felt flattered. Far 
from finding fault, Fanny forgot Fred's former familiar 
freshness; for Frederick's faithful following firmly fixed 
Fanny's favor forever. 
Fred freely forgave Fannj''s foregoing finicky freak — 
foolishly flying from friendship; for Fanny's frankness 
foreshadoAved folly forever fled. Feebly fluttering from 
fainting, Fanny's fair features flushed flamingly from 
Fred's flagrantly fervent fondlings. Faithful Fred, feeing 
fervidly fond, fatuously figured for future felicity forth- 
with. Fanny firstly feigning fretful frowns, flushed 
furiously, faded taster, faltered, fidgeted, fanned fussily—- 
finally frankly R-xed l^rida,v, February fifth, 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Fanny's fond father, finely fixed for foreknowing funds' 
fluctuations, furthermore finding financial facilities favora- 
ble, furnished for Fanny's festival fabulously fine foulards, 
fleecy flannels, fluffy feathers, P'rcnch frocks, filmy fazzo- 
lets, furthermore fifty fantastical female fixixi'Sj fairly 
flooring Fanny. 
Far from famishing folk, Fred's faithful feudatory fol- 
lowers furnished for feasting frumentaceous food, fish, 
flesh, fowl, fruit, flowers, furthermore five fine fermented 
fluids. Farmers fetched from fertile furrowed fields, 
flour's farinaceous food; fishermen, floating from fathom- 
less fiords, fetched fine fresh flapping flat-fish, further- 
more frog^ for frying; freeborn foresters found finely 
fatted fawns from frondent forest friths; familiar friends 
freely furnished for fricasseeing full-fledged fowls from 
-fecund farmyard flocks: fruiterers fitly furnished for feast 
finishing food, fifteen fanciful foreign-fruit flavored frap- 
pes; famous florists freely flung forth fragrant flowery 
festoons for Fred's fair fiancee; facetious festal factotums 
filled foaming flagons from faucets flowing full-flavored 
frothy fenncnted fluids, famous for fallaciously filling 
foolish fellows fearfully full. 
Forty filigreed flunkies flaunted fluttering flags; fizzing 
fireworks flashed; fifty fulgent flambeaus' flared flicker- 
ingly; five flutists fluted fantasias; fourteen florid fat- 
faced fiddlers fiddled furiously for fandangos; four fan- 
tastical farandoles following, faultless female forms flexu- 
ously flitted fairylike; funny fellows feeling frolicsome, 
footed floors featly. 
Finally, fiddlers feeling fuddled from fermented fluids, 
fairly fell, fracturing fiddlestrings, funnily finishing Fred's 
first family festivity. Felicitating friends, feeling flaccid 
from foregoing frolicsome freaks, fled flinging fond fare- 
wells. Felicity followed forever. Finis. Zero. 
North American Fish, and Game Association. 
Mr. L. Q. JoNCAS, superintendent of Fisheries of the 
Province of Quebec, has written the foUov^'ing letter : 
In conformity with a resolution of the North American Fish and 
Game Association, moved by C. E. E. Ussher, Esq., seconded by 
S. T. Bastcdo, Esq., and tmanimously adopted on the second day 
of February last, which resolution reads as follows: 
"Resolved. That a committee be formed of two representatives 
from each State and Province to report at next annual meeting 
on possibilities of harmonizing the fish and game laws of the 
Provinces and States. The said committee would be formed thus: 
"New York, C. H. AVilson, J. H. Seymour; Maine, H. O. Stanley, 
Charles A. Oak; New Brunswick. lion. Mr. Dunn, D. G. Smith; 
Vermont, J. W. Titcomb, H. W. Bailey, F. G. Butterfield: Massa- 
chusetts, John Fotler, Jr., F. S. Hodges: Ontario, S. T. Bastedo, 
Dr. G. A. MacCullum; Quebec, C. E. E. Ussher, L. Q. Joncas, 
N. E. Cormier. The convener of this committee to be Mr. L. 
Q Joncas." 
~I have the honbr to invite you to a meeting of the above- 
mentioned committee, which will take place in Montreal at the 
Government Hou.se, St. Gabriel street, on Thursday, the 13th day 
of December next, at 10 A. M. I do sitieerely hope that you 
will be able to attend. 
I have the honor to be yours faithfujly, 
L. Q. JoNC.lS, President. 
This notice, sent out to the members of the committee, 
is dated Nov. 15, and so but a month will elapse before 
the date set for the meeting. Mr. Charles H. Wilson, one 
of the members appointed to represent the State of New 
York, would be glad to receive any suggestions from 
sportsmen or others in the State interested in bringing 
about a uniform fish and game law and a reciprocity of 
interests hetween the States and Canada, and present 
any well-founded suggestions to the conunittee for con- 
sideration, to the end that Parliament and Legislature may 
be petitioned to enact a rational and uniform fish and 
game law, acceptable to the people on both sides of the 
line. Mr. Wilson may be addressed at Glens Falls. N. Y.. 
and he will be glad to present to the committee the sug- 
gestions as to changes in the laws which he invites,, it be- 
ing a matter in which he is greatly interested. 
A. N. Cheney. 
Rhode Island Trout Stocking;. 
Charles A.^HoxSie has contracted to furnish the State 
Fish Commissioner.s with 40,000 trout, which will be used 
to stock the streatns and ponds throughout the State. 
' ■ ■ W, H. M, 
413 
100 SDommett's finds. 
Some of the Queer Discoveries Made fay Those Who Ate 
Looking for Game of Fish. 
28 
A party of hunters in Kansas discovered a natural 
cave about one and a half miles north of Wilmot, on the 
line of the Frisco railway. The party were out on a hunt 
for chickens, rabbits and other game. Attention was at- 
tracted to the cave by the do,gs. The aperture to the 
cave was simply a small hole in the surface of the high, 
rolling prairie. The young fellows noticed that the 
aperture would admit thei passage of a man's body and 
decided to explore the bowels of the earth if necessary^ 
They slid down the opening, which was solid rock from 
the slight fringe of grass on top, passed through a nar- 
row niche in the stone below, v/hich came together in a 
kind of wedge shape, then slid further down, alighting 
on firm foundation about thirty feet from the surface of 
the earth. When the boys reached the bottom of the 
shaft they experienced a decided change of climate. They 
had half anticipated a snake or scorpion crevasse, but 
suddenly discovered that no snake or scorpion could live 
in such temperature. They found plenty of room. They 
had entered a cavern containing nature's- finest wonders. 
The temperature was icy. The breath of the young ex- 
plorers froze as it was wafted to icy walls on either side. 
Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and there were most 
beautiful representations of lamps, fishes, etc. Some of 
the explorers claim that they went at least a quarter of a 
mile, and that the cave became larger as they progressed. 
29 
While a British angler was fishing on the river Teviot, 
and under the shadow of Roxburgh Castle, his attention 
was attracted by the roundness of a stone which had 
afforded him footing in making a difficult cast. The 
stone was more than half embedded in the bank, and the 
visible portion almost entirely under water. On being 
dug out of the embankment the stone was found to be 
entirely round, and it bore marks showing that it had 
been chipped into shape. The ball, which is of sandstone, 
measured 42 inches in circumference, and its weight is 
95 pounds. All the circumstances strengthen the sup- 
position that it had been used as a missile for warlike 
purposes. The missile is of exactly the same dimensions 
as some of the stone balls which are deposited at the side 
of Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castl*, and date from 1496. 
30 
Robert Varirk, a gunner, while in a wild tract of land 
near the Gloucester (N. J.) city waterworks, saw a pair 
of rough shoes protruding from a hole in the butt of 
a big oak tree. Varick kicked the shoes and found the 
owner alive. He was a sure-enough wildman. A crowd 
of young men were led to the .spot. They found the 
queer dweller in the tree sleeping. He was aroused by 
Harry O'Neil's stern command: "Hey, there, old man; 
come out so we can see you." The wild man crawled 
slowly from the hollow and was marched to the Glouces- 
ter City fTall, and placed in charge of the police. The 
man was given a hearing on a charge of vagrancy before 
Mayor Boylen. He said his name was Herman Zeller. 
his age forty-five years and his home Philadelphia. The 
hollow in the tree is only about three feet in diameter. 
The man hg.d lived there for a long time. 
31. 
Near Burkesville, K}^, on the Cumberland River, a 
man named Raven was one day fishing off the bank. 
The bank was of clay, six or eight feet above the water, 
and Raven sat with his legs hanging over. He had been 
sitting there for an hour, swinging his heels against the 
bank,_ when his boot struck something which gave out 
a curious sound, and he instinctively looked down. Be- 
tween his feet he saw a stone jar, or at least a; portion 
of one, protruding from the bank. It was at least Iqxxx 
