3^2 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
(Oct. 24, 1903. 
up and put htm into the bag. The man who had told us 
about the frogs was waiting for us when we got to the 
place, and we lighted up our lanterns and started. Dick 
was the first to see game. 
"Oh, Cline, look here ; here is a monster of a frog," and 
following the direction he pointed out I saw one that 
looked as big as our skillet. For a moment I envied Dick, 
for I would like to have caught that frog myself. 
"Well," I said, "go on and pick him up." 
"Oh, get out," he said. "Why, that frog wouldn't let 
me get within ten feet of him." 
"All right," I said, "you go on and try him." 
Dick eased on up and felt more encouraged as he found 
himself getting nearer to the green monster. He kept 
inching up until he was within two feet of his prey, aiid 
still the frog had not moved. Dick was staring him in 
the face with his lantern all the time and walking on air. 
He stopped for a moment and measured the distance be- 
tween him and the frog, and he knew now that by lean- 
ing forward he could easily reach the green monster, un- 
less it should jump. His hand slowly approached the 
frog — and still it was rigidly still. Dick made a grab 
and landed squarely on the head of the frog and pressed 
it down into the mud. When he had secured a firm hold 
on it, he held it up high, its long white legs dangling 
in the air. 
Dick was very enthusiastic now, and went to look for 
another. In about two hours we caught fifty-four, and 
then we called the sport off for that night. We were 
tired when we got back to camp, and needed no rocking 
to put us to sleep. 
Our camping trip was over, and we were to leave the 
next day for old Alexandria. We fished faithfully the 
next day up until 12 o'clock in order to have some fish 
to take to our landlady, and we succeeded in catching a 
nice bunch. After dinner we broke camp, packed the 
boat, and at 4 o'clock took oS our hats to the old fort and 
pulled out up the river. Alf Cline. 
* WiNCHBBTER, Oct. 12. 
The Lake Champlain Situation. 
Despite continued threats of violence against life and 
property, the ranks of the residents and properly holders 
about Lake Champlain interested in fighting the pulp 
mill nuisance under the leadership of Mr. Edward Hatch, 
Jr., of the firm of Lord & Taylor, 
are determined to bring the issue to 
a successful end. 
Governor McCullough, of Ver- 
mont,, when seen by a representative 
of Forest and Stream at his office 
in New York city, declared that it 
was his firm intention to do all in 
his power to stop the further pol- 
lution of the waters of the lake by 
the offending mills, and also to put 
an end to illegal seining. 
"For some time," said he,. "I have 
been endeavoring to get the authori- 
ties of the States of Vermont and 
New. York and the Dominion of 
Canada to unite in taking some con- 
certed action looking to ending the 
evil, and I have strong hopes that 
in the near future combined and uni- 
form action by the trio of legislative 
bodies will bring about the desired 
result 
"I have many times had the matter of the offending 
pulp mills brought to my attention. When Prof. Lan- 
dreth, of the New York State Board of Health, hands in 
to Governor Odell his report on the subject and it is 
found that the mill owners are breaking the law against 
the pollution of streams, I think summary action should 
betaken. 
"11 the mill owners show delay in abating the nuisance, 
it will then behoove residents and property holders to ap- 
ply to the Supreme Court for an injunction to close the 
mills. Such strenuous action, I Relieve, would cause 
the mill owners to at once adopt some plan of getting" 
rid of their refuse other than by dumping it into the 
lake as I understand has been done for many years. The 
grievance of the residents and property holders has my 
full sympathy and support. To stop pollution of the 
rivers and lakes and illegal fishing has long been a mat- 
ter in which I have been vitally interested." 
Mr. Hatch when seen yesterday declared that the 
ridiculous statements made last week by those having the 
milling interests at heart would surely act as a boom- 
erang in defeating their very purpose. "It was one of the 
most remarkable instances of pure nerve and gall that I 
ever heard," said he. "Everyone having but the slightest 
intimacy arid knowledge of the matter knows that the 
mills in question have for years been defying the law, 
polluting the waters of the lake, and, besides killing the 
fish, have converted certain rivers and portions of the 
lake into veritable sinkholes of noxious slime and filth. 
Just think of the bare-faced audacity of statements to the 
effect that the mill refuse in question tends to star and 
clarify the lake waters, and not only to beautify, enliven 
and increase the fishes in it, but that they should be paid 
and well paid by the State for so doing. Also that the 
waste refuse that they pour into the lake is a fine 
medicinal tonic for both man and beast. I have some 
of this newly discovered elixir of life in some jars there. 
Will you please examine it?" The jars appeared to hold 
a villainous compound, and the smell was nauseating. 
"Well," commented Mr. Hatch, "that's the crystal, spark- 
ling, and delicious waste water that the mill people are 
pumping into the waters of the lake to the extent of 
several hundred thousands of gallons daily. I suppose 
that the next thing we will hear is that pipe lines are 
about to be built to convey these magical waste waters to 
the_ various resorts in the Adirondacks so that summer 
visitors, excursionists and invalids in search of curative 
waters for all bodily ailments can have ready access to 
them, and all without cost to anyone, and from purely 
philanthropic motives. I'm sure if Ponce de Leon were 
alive now .all he would have to do would be to journey 
to the mill region to discover the long-sought- for 'foun- 
tain of youth.' From what they have said, I suppose 
l^jat they aye supplying |:his pure, scintillating and de- 
lightful waste water to the New York aquarium so that 
the poor fishes there may be benefitted. Such statements 
as these, coming from persons interested in the mills, are 
very amusing, but at the same time so ridiculously untrue 
that no one except an idiot would would give them 
credence. If the contestants on the other side have any 
hope of winning this fight they must adopt saner tactics, 
and stop telling Munchausen-like stories that not only 
have a tendency to amuse but to offend and insult the 
intelligence of the public. 
"Mr. L._ S. Drew, whose world-famous breeding farm 
for Ayrshire cattle is located on Shelburne Bay, tells me 
that the shore line of his. estate is literally covered in 
the springtime with millions of tiny dead fish. They 
are poisoned by the breaking up of the ice in the rivers 
by the spring freshets. This ice, after being impregnated 
with the mill refuse all winter, is carried out into the 
waters of the lake, and the young fish, unable to live in 
the contaminated waters, are killed in myriads. A num- 
ber of fishermen are now engaged in gathering addi- 
tional information on this point, all of which will be ad- 
duced at the proper time. 
"I am advised that the anti-polluters in Burlington are 
now up in arms on the sewage question there and are de- 
termined that an end be put to the further pollution of 
the lake from this_ source. They argue that a disposal 
plant should be built, and doubtless their efforts will be 
rewarded before long." 
Dr. Ricketts, of the firm of Ricketts & Bank, of John 
street, New York, noted as consulting chemists, stated to 
the writer that he had heard much of the pollution of 
the waters of Lake Champlain by pulp mills in that re- 
gion, and that the firm had been consulted on the sub- 
ject. However, no investigation had been begun by them 
as yet. "We have just completed a somewhat similar 
case," said Dr. Ricketts, "for a fishing club on Lake 
Hopatcong who complained that the waters were being 
poisoned and the fish Idlled in the lake by the impurities 
discharged into it by a powder mill. . We found that 
about the only way to convince the jury that the owners 
of the mill were polluting the lake was by a practical 
experiment made in court. Two jars, one containing 
water brought from a distant part of the lake, and the 
other filled with water obtained in the lake nearby the 
mill, were placed on the court room table. Young fish 
that were placed in the latter jar died in a few minutes, 
while those placed in the first mentioned jar continued to 
PALACE OF FORESTRY AND FISH AND GAME, ST. LOUIS. 
live. The verdict was at once given in favor of the com- 
plaining members of the fishing club, and as a result the 
mill owners adopted other means of getting rid of their 
chemical waste. 
"Many instances could be cited to show how owners of 
mills and factories have had fortunes thrust upon them 
in being compelled by the authorities to find methods of 
getting rid of their refuse other than by dumping it into 
streams, rivers, lakes, etc. 
"Several years ago the sludge acid discharged from the 
oil refineries situated along the North and East rivers 
and Staten Island Sound became an intolerable nuisance. 
The local boards of health, the courts and the Legislature 
were all appealed to to bring about an abatement of the 
trouble. Tlie refinery owners fought the issue tooth and 
nail. Years went on and the boats and piers were 
covered with sludge and slime that gave out the most 
sickening odors. Finally a popular uprising resulted in 
the enactment of a law compelling absolutely a discon- 
tinuance of the pollution. 
"The refinery owners were given a certain length of 
time to find other means of disposing of the refuse when 
it was discovered that the sludge, etc., was in reality a 
valuable 'by-product,' and now the greatest care is taken 
to recover it, letting none go to waste. 
"I feel sure that if the pulp mill owners on Lake Cham- 
plain are driven to the wall by the courts, they will man- 
age to find some other way of getting rid of their chemi- 
cal waste, and it would not greatly surprise me if in the 
end they greatly profited thereby." 
Palace of Forestfy and Fish and Game« 
The Palace of Forestry and Fish and Game was de- 
signed by Mr. E. L. Masqueray, Chief Designer, Division 
of Works. It is 600 feet by 300 feet in area and covers 
four acres. It will be completed in December at a cost 
of about $175,000. The building is located a short dis- 
tance south of the Administration Building. It has 
three principal entrances on the north, and three on the 
south front. The central nave is 85 feet wide and en- 
tirely clear of posts. The ends are 85 feet in width, with- 
out posts. 
Interesting features of this palace are the great 
aquarium and inclosures which will contain the live fish 
and game exhibits of many States. In the center of the 
building is a marine pool, 40 feet in. diameter and 5 feet 
deep. 
The forest resources as well as the fish and game of 
most of the States and many foreign countries will be ex- 
hibited in this palace. The exhibit space will be suppler 
mented by many acres of outdoor area for displays of 
tree-planting, • forest inanagement, live game and Qt^ier 
features. 
Sawdust and Fish. 
BY A. P. KNIGHT, M.A., M.D., PROFESSOR OF ANIMAL BIOLOGYj 
queen's UNIVERSITY, KINGSTON. 
(The following report on the effects of sawdust on fish relates 
to experiments undertaken by Professor Knight, at the suggestion 
of Professor Prince, Fish Commissioner for the Dominion of 
Canada.) 
The investigation was begun at the suggestion of 
Professor Prince, the fish commissioner for the Do- 
minion of Canada, and has been carried on largely 
through the encouragement which he has given from 
season to season. 
The question, "Is sawdust injurious to fish life?" has 
been before the Canadian public for over forty years. 
The Fishery Act of 1858 for the two Canadas provided 
that fish ways should be erected upon dams that ob- 
structed the passage of anadromous fish to their 
spawning grounds in the shallow headwaters of rivers; 
and it forbade also throwing lime, chemicals, and other 
poisonous material into such rivers. It did not men- 
tion sawdust or mill rubbish, but it provided for the 
making of regulations by the executive, and in the ex- 
ercise of this power we find that on May 16, i860, a 
by-law was passed making it illegal to throw "slabs, 
edgins, and mill rubbish into any river or stream whicb 
may have been leased or reserved by the Crown for 
propagation, or where fish ways have been erected." 
Immediately after confederation the act was further 
amended, and a very important proviso was attached to 
the foregoing clause, viz.: "Provided always that the 
Minister shall have power to exempt from the opera- 
tion of this sub-section, wholly, or from any portion 
of the same, any stream or streams in which he con- 
siders that its enforcement is not requisite for the pub- 
lic interests." 
Evidently the promoters of this legislation either did 
not feel sure that sawdust was poisonous, or they 
thought it just, in the interests of the lumber industry, 
to exempt from the operations of the act certain large 
rivers in the maritime provinces, Quebec and Ontario. 
Exemptions were continued by the Minister from year 
to year down to 1894, when they ceased by Act of Par- 
liament. Parliament itself, however, extended these 
exemptions down to 1899. 
Most of the Eastern United States have legislated 
against throwing sawdust into streams containing pro- 
tected fish; but so far as I have been able to discover, 
the promoters of the legislation have never been able 
to prove conclusively the poisonous action of sawdust. 
At any rate, the scientists of the United States Fish 
Commission have not been unanimous in their 
opinions regarding the matter. 
On November 29, 1888, there was started in Forest 
AND Stream a very remarkable correspondence, which 
lasted nearly a year. The general topic was the effect, 
of sawdust upon trout. The writers lived in Canada, 
the New England States, and some in the West as far 
as California. ' Both sides of the question were pre- 
sented with great vigor. Most of the correspondents 
were evidently keen sportsmen and close observers of 
nature, and the only regret one feels in reading 
through these letters is that some of the men did not 
test their obsej-vations and conclusions by experiment- 
ing with sawdust. 
In this same year (1889) a very remarkable report 
on this subject was sent to the Hon. C. H. Tupper, the 
Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, by W. H. 
Rogers, late Inspector of Fisheries for Nova Scotia. 
The report did not appear among the State papers, 
and it was consequently published in Halifax under 
the title of "The Suppressed Sawdust Report." N,o 
one can read this pamphlet without being staggered 
with the mass of information which is supplied to 
prove the harmlessness of sawdust, and the marvel is 
that the Minister did not order a thorough investiga- 
tion to be made into the whole subject. 
Of course, diametrically opposite views were ex- 
pressed by other fishery officers, in whose judgment, 
no doubt, the Minister had perfect confidence. For 
example, Mr. S. Wilmot, the Superintendent of the 
Dominion Fish Hatcheries, wrote a very vigorous re- 
port denouncing the deadly effects of sawdust, and his 
opinions were certainly entitled to some weight. But 
there was this marked difference between the reports 
of the. two officers: Mr. Rogers' was bristling with 
facts and observations based evidently upon first hand 
knowledge of the subject, whereas Mr. Wilmot's re- 
port showed no close acquaintance with it. 
Coming to 1899, we find a very important report 
from the Dominion Fish Commissioner, Professor 
Prince, and one from the Deputy Commisioner for the 
Province of Ontario, Mr. Bastedo. Both reports com- 
mand attention from the fact that they take opposite 
sides upon the sawdust question, Professor Prince 
says: "So far as our present knowledge goes, sawdust 
pollution, if it does not affect the upper waters, the 
shallow spawning and hatching grounds, appears to 
do little harm to the adult fish in their passage up 
from the sea." * * * "There is no case on record 
of salmon, or shad, or any other healthy adult fish 
being found choked with sawdust or in any way fatally 
injured by the floating particles." 
Contrast with this Mr. Bastedo's opinion, as pub- 
lished in his report for the same year: "There can be 
nothing more destructive of fish life than the depositing 
of sawdust in the rivers and lakes. It is said to abso- 
lutely kill all vegetation, and it is well known that in 
waters where there is no vegetation fish life is no- 
ticeably absent. Minute Crustacea of various kinds 
feed upon the juice of the plants which are to be found 
at the bottom. These afford food for the smaller fish, 
and again these furnish food for others of larger size." 
]n 1900 at the suggestion of Professor Prince^ I 
undertook some experiments at St. Andrews, N. B., 
for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not saw- 
dust was injurious to fish life. 
The results of these experiments were published in 
the report of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, 
Ottaw?., m 1901, and went to show that brook trout 
were riot injured by living for two weeks in a water 
tank largely, filled with sawdust, so long as a copious 
supply of water was allowed to run into and out of 
tank. These results were abandantly corroborated 
