'une, 1922 
FOREST AND STREAM 
257 
0 an area frequented by numerous birds. It is just as 
mportant, however, from the standpoint of preserva- 
ion, protection, and increase to know how they are dis- 
ributed, even where birds are few. 
By continuing these counts over a period of years 
ind counting the same areas each year, knowledge can 
)e gained, not only of our total bird population but 
dso of its fluctuations from year to year. The counts, 
noreover, will greatly help in determining what effect 
he present State and Federal laws have on the increase 
)f game and insectivorous birds. The Department hopes 
hat counts will be continued on all land where they 
lave previously been made, and it especially desires to 
)btain also a series of counts indicating the bird life on 
he plains, on the deserts, both with and without irriga- 
ion, and in the Southern and Western States. 
It might be well to select new areas where physical 
:onditions are not likely to change much for a number 
)f years, so that if succeeding annual counts show 
hanges in bird population it will be known that they 
Lre not due to changed environment brought about by 
nan. On the other hand, there is much to be learned 
•egarding the adaptation of birds to changes of environ- 
nent; any area therefore on which reports can be made 
i^ear after year may be chosen, even though conditions 
.re likely to change. Possible inability to repeat a 
ount on the same tract need not, however, deter any- 
>ne from making the count this year. 
The height of the breeding season should be chosen 
or this work. In the latitude of Washington, D. C., at 
atitude 39 degrees. May 30, is about the right date for 
he first count. In the latitude of Boston the work 
hould not begin until a week later; while south of 
[/Vashington a date still earlier than May 30 should be 
elected. In any locality the count should not be made 
iiefore the end of the migration. If the work is done 
[oo early there is danger of counting as nesting some 
iidividual birds that will go farther north to breed. 
1 The Department wants to learn how many pair of 
I'irds actually nest within the selected area. Birds that 
'isit the area only for feeding purposes must not be 
[ounted, no matter how close tbeir nests may be to the 
boundary line. 
i Anyone who is willing to do this work is requested 
io send his name and address to the Biological Survey, 
■Vashington, D. C. Full directions for making a count 
nd report blanks will be sent in time for plans to be 
aade before the actual time for the field work. Since 
he Bureau has no funds with which to pay for this 
vork, it must depend on the services of voluntary ob- 
ervers. 
PACIFIC SALMON IN ONTARIO WATERS 
N entry recently made in the official archives of 
the Canadian Government showed that a few 
weeks ago a spring or quinnat salmon, known 
leretofore only in the waters of the Pacific coast, was 
aught in the Bay of Quinte. It was a male in spawning 
ondition, weighed 3|/2 pounds and was 33 inches long. 
Three years ago, the Canadian Department of Fish- 
eries planted quinnat salmon in Lake Ontario. Several 
nillion fry were set free. They lost themselves in the 
threat lake. Nothing more was known of them. Whether 
hey perished or thrived, remained in the deeps of Lake 
Ontario or, following the migratory bent of their kind, 
ound their way to the Atlantic through the St. Law- 
"ence was an enigma. The scheme was a gigantic gam- 
ble. The Bay of Quinte salmon is the first indication 
Fat the government has won and the waters of eastern 
w-anada have been enriched with a new game fish. 
I 
Sportsmen will welcome this addition to the game 
fish of eastern Canada. The lakes and streams of thi> 
region, in the highlands of Ontario and in Algoncjuin 
Park, are regarded as among the best fishing waters on 
the continent. The fish that rise to the anglers’ lures are 
large- and small-mouth black bass, walLeye pike, pick- 
erel, muskcllunge, trout and other varieties. 
The spring or (]uinnat salmon is considered the best 
of the several varieties of salmon of the Pacific coast. It 
weighs from 18 to 30 pounds and sometimes reaches KXJ 
pounds. There are two kinds of quinnat. one of which 
has white meat and the other red. Outside the color of 
the meat, they are identical. They reach maturity in the 
fourth, fifth and sixth year. Pacific salmon return from 
the sea once in their lives to spawn in the waters in 
which they were hatched. After spawning they die. 
OPENING DATES OF NATIONAL PARKS 
O PENING and closing dates for the tourist season 
in the parks for 1922 are as follows: Crater Lake 
National Park, Oregon, July 1 to September 20: 
General Grant National Park, California, .May 24 to 
October 10; Glacier National Park, Montana, June 15 
to September 15; Grand Canyon National Park, Ari- 
zona, open all year; Hawaii National Park, Hawaiian 
Islands, open all year; Hot Springs National Park, .Ar- 
kansas, open all year; Lafayette National Park, Maine, 
June 1 to November 1 ; Lassen \’olcanic National Park, 
California, June 15 to September 1 ; Alesa \’erde Na- 
tional Park, Colorado, May 15 to November 1 ; Mount 
McKinley National Park, Alaska, no official season 
(summer only); Mount Rainier National Park, Wash- 
ington, June 15 to September 15; Rocky Mountain .Na- 
tional Park, Colorado, June 15 to October 1 ; Sequoia 
National Park, California, May 24 to October 10; Wind 
Cave National Park, South Dakota, June 1 to September 
30; Yellowstone National Park, \Vyoming, June 20 to 
September 15; Yosemite .National Park, California, open 
all year; Zion National Park, Utah, May 15 to Oct. 15. 
On the opening date the park hotels and camps will 
be open and prepared to accommodate visitors. The fir.st 
.scheduled motor trips will be o])erated and until the clos- 
ing date scheduled tri])s will be made daily. Motor tours 
in the national parks arc famed as offering the most fas- 
cinating scenic trips in the United States and arc com- 
parable to any in the world. The railroads have an- 
nounced greatly reduced round trip summer excursion 
rates with liberal stopover privileges, effective June 1st. 
(No war tax.) 4 he costs of all j^ark trijjs are remark- 
ably low. All charges for public utility service in the 
national parks are strictly regulated b\' the National 
Park Service, which has direct superxision over the 
parks and which cares for their thousands of visitni>. 
Secretary Fall, who gained a first-hand knowledge <.f 
a number of the national parks last year in the course 
of his official insjxection trips is particularly enthusiastic 
over the opportunities which the parks" offer to the 
prixate motorist for outdoor lixung, rest and recreation. 
Free camp grounds in each of the parks are provided 
for motorists who bring their oxvn canij) et|uipment. In 
these camp grounds proper sanitary facilities are pro- 
xdded ; garbage is collected and disposed of each day ; 
pure water is jxiped into the areas xvherever nearby 
streams are in any way polluted and firewood is pro’- 
vided in sufficient <iuantities to meet the needs of visitors 
for cooking purpo.scs and for small evening camp fires. 
\Vhile the recreational features of park trips arc un- 
limited, the educational ])ossibilities have not been over- 
looked. In several of the parks free nature guide serx ice 
will be available and in all the parks the ranger force 
will assist the visitor to a better understanding of tlum. 
