82 
FOREST AND STREAM 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 
DlVOTBD TO FIELD *VD AQUATIC SPOBTS, PRACTICAL NATURAL HISTORY, 
FISH CULTURE, TUB PROTECTION OFtitVIK, PRESERVATION Of FOKBSTS, 
and tub Inculcation in Men and Woman of a Ubaltuy Intbrbst 
in out-Doob Recreation and Study: 
PUBLISHED BY 
forest and gtreatq publishing (fianigatjg. 
— AT — 
NO. Ill (old No. 103) FULTON STREET, NEW YORK. 
[Post Officb Box ssss.J 
TERMS, FOUR DOLLARS A YEAR, STRICTLY IN ADVANCE. 
Twenty-live per cent. off for Clnba of. Three or more. 
Advertising Rales. 
Inside pages, nonpareil type, 96 cents per line ; outside page, 40 cents. 
Special rates for three, six and twelve months. Notices in editorial 
columns, 50 cents per line. 
Advertisements should be sent In by Saturday of each week, If pos- 
sible. 
All transient advertisements mnst be accompanied with the money 
or they will not be Inserted. 
No advertisement or business notice of an Immoral character will be 
received on any terms. 
*.* Any publisher Inserting onr prospectus as above one time, with 
brief editorial notice calling attention thereto, and sending marked copy 
to os, will receive the Forest and Stream for one year. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1878. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications whatever, Intended for publication, must be ac- 
companied with real name of the writer as a guaranty of good faith 
and be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Company. 
Names will not be published if objection be made. No anonymous con- 
tribution 8 will be regarded. 
We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 
Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brie 
notes of their movements and transactions. 
Nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that may 
not be read with propriety In the home circle. 
We cannot be responsible for dereliction of the mall service If money 
remitted u> os is lost. No person whatever Is authorized to collect 
money for ns unless he can show authentic credentials from one of the 
undersigned. We have no Philadelphia agent. 
tw~ Trade supplied by American News Company. 
CHARLES QALLOCK, Editor. 
T. C. BANKS, 8. H. TURRILL, Chicago, 
Business Manager. Western Manager. 
Mardi Gras. — While regretting our inability to have been 
present at the court of that jolly monarch, who reigned su- 
preme over the Knights of Momus at Galveston, Tex., last 
Tuesday, we trust that this recognition of his summons may 
prove our loyalty as dutiful subjects. May the clemency of 
his kindly old heart preserve us from the vengeance of those 
fearful ministers of wrath whose dragon images embellished 
his royal missive. 
The Forest asd Stream and Rod and Gun Tournament.— 
At the request of numerous clubs, who have not yet been able 
to prepare teams for the tournament, we have been induced 
to open the lists for another ween. The match will open, 
then, on the 18th of March. Mr. Conlin requests that cap- 
ains of teams will meet at his gallery on Tuesday, the 12th, 
o arrange preliminaries for the match. The following clubs 
have entered teams: The N. Y. Rifle Club, the Centennial 
Rifle Club, the Scottish- American Rifle Club, the Seppen- 
feldt Club, and the Zeltler Club. There are five prizes of- 
ered so far. More prizes and entries are expected. 
4 FRED BEVERLY’S” EXPLORATIONS 
IN THE WEST INDIES. 
THE MYSTERIOUS 80UFFBIERB BIRD. 
O CCASIONALLY we receive a few lines of intelligence 
from Mr. Fred A. Ober, as he wanders from island to 
island of the Caribbean Sea, pursuing his solitary labors in 
behalf of science and the Smithsonian Institution, camping 
in caves and huts, sleeping on volcanoes, and spreading his 
blanket among the venomous creeping and crawling things of 
a tropical climate. He lias been gone more than a year al- 
ready, and it is likely that his researches will he much longer 
nd further extended, as he says that the Smithsonian has al- 
otted to him more islands than be at first intended to visit 
He has already explored Antiqua, Martinique, Dominica, St. 
Vincent, Barbadoes, Barbuda, and some others ; will go next 
to Guadaloupc and then to Grenada. Notwithstanding a 
hardy cons itutiou and wiry phisique, he has suffered much 
from local fevers, and was laid up for Bix weeks at one time. 
Rains have interfered with his labors, and sometimes kept 
him housed for days in a miserable hoVel iu the wilderness, 
where nothing could he done except to sit with folded hands 
and wait for the rain to cease. The hardships of a naturalist 
are perhaps as arduous as cau be imngined. To push on in 
spite of obstacles of every description requires pluck of no 
ordinary character. It is not strange that, weakened by sick- 
ness and longing for some familiar face, he should occasion- 
ally become despondent. In a letter dated at St. Vincent, 
Jan. 23, he says in bis quaint way: ‘‘On Dec. 19,1 lay in 
bed two weeks with fever. Lost all my meat— living skele- 
ton. As soon as I was able to walk a kind friend took me 
down the coast to his estate, a lovely valley filled with sugar 
cane, a river flowing through it, with palms, bread fruit, 
etc. Yesterday I took my first long ride, and got soaked 
in a heavy rain coming back. A strong application of towels 
and rum toddies, I hope, prevented a relapse. It seems im- 
possible for me to regain my health, but if I do I must press 
my work.” 
We have already printed three letters from him, which af- 
ford some insight into the nature of his work, and are prom- 
ised another soon. In a personal letter to the editor of this 
paper he mentions incidentally the capture of some specimens 
of an exceedingly rare bird. We quote : 
“ I have explored the crest of the Souffrlere, the crater of the great 
volcano, where I camped nveday* and nights In a cave, hunting for the 
mystical ‘Souffrlere Bird,' a bird always heard ou that mountain top— 
nowhere else. From the stunted trees coverlog and hiding the deep 
gorges that seam the Up of the crater, come strains of most delicious 
melody, yet strangely wild and melancholy. No oae ever saw the bird, 
much less had any «ne captured it. It possessed a fascination lor the 
listener ihat the notes of few birds could command. The blacks, and 
even the whites, say that the tlrst one of a party who hears It will soon 
die. 1 was the Qrst of my party, os I was, as usnal, alone ; but that has 
not exercised a depressing effect upou me during my Illness. I found 
a hollow In a hank which protected me from the trade wind, and there 
I swung my hammock and camped for five days and nights, 3,000 feet 
above sea level, with mist or rain always descending. I captured that 
mysterious bird— flve of him— and carried to town tho first ever seen 
there. My 'Camp in a Cave,’ with all Its attendant discomforts, will 
some day be folly written out. I think I found another bird near there 
— cau'ttell. After that I lived two weeks with the Caribs, collecting 
such words and traditions as I could, with a few pictures. There are 
few birds here. The most beautiful Is the Island parrot, a bird of rare 
neauty, which I have got, hut whose habits I've not sufficiently ob- 
served ; and If I am ever strong enongh to camp again, I shall do so 
among the monmains for that purpose." 
We think we shall be doing our duty as promoters of scien- 
tific explorations in stating that Mr. Ober s operations are 
much retarded from want of money, notwithstanding ad- 
vances made by the Smithsonian Institution and two or three 
sympathetic friends. Should any of our patrons feel suffi- 
ciently interested to contribute something toward a small fund 
we will thankfully acknowledge their donations through our 
columns, and forward the same to him at the first opportunity. 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
AMERICAN FISH CULTURAL ASSO- 
CIATION. 
I T is not without a certain amount of just pride that the 
members of the American Fish Cultural Association re- 
gard their seventh annual meeting, which event took place at 
the rooms of the Fulton Market Fishmongers’ Association, 
of New York, on the 27th and 28th of February. In point of 
number of persons present, for the intrinsic value of the 
papers read by the various sections, and for the interesting 
character of the debates, this meeting may be cited as among 
the leading scientific and practical conventions of the present 
year. 
In changing somewhat the name of the association from Fish 
Culturists to Fish Cultural, an increased scope and tendency is 
plainly shown. From a simple gathering of fish culturists, 
who bad assembled together to discuss what some few years 
ago was an unknown science, the results of which were as un- 
certain as the methods were undefined, at every meeting the 
association gained new strength and knowledge, until to-day 
this organization contains within itself not only the leading 
fiBh culturists, but the most distinguished ictbyologista in the 
United Slates and in Canada. It is certainly flattering to think 
that before the association last week questions in regard to the 
disputes between the United States and the Dominion were 
ably discussed, and it is not saying too much that perhaps 
from among its members may be found those whose informa- 
tion on these vexed subjects may be of raateriul service in ad- 
justing the dispute. 
A most important event, and one which members may con- 
gratulate themselves about, is the fusion of a new commer- 
mercial spirit which has j oined their forces. We allude di- 
rectly to the aid the association will acquire from the leading 
members of the Fulton Market Fishmongers’ Association. 
This new element has just that thorough commercial and 
practical acquaintance with fish which the association requires. 
These new members, who are all more conversant than any 
one else with the supply of fish food, such as is wanted in a 
large metropolis for its own consumption and for distribution, 
are fully cognizant that the aim of the Fish Cultural Associa- 
tion is not only to produce fish by tho most approved methods 
of culture, but to preserve them. Cheap flBh, fish in plenty, 
means more business for them and food for the masses. Such 
wise legislation, then, as the association may advise In tho fu- 
ture, will owe its weight to the combined influences, not alone 
of scientific men, but to those who gain their living by the 
disposal of fish. 
In commenting on the general character of the meeting, one 
is struck by the practical value of the papers read, and how 
udmirably the method of having sections ready to present their 
contributions prevented desultory and worthless talk. It is to 
be regretted, perhaps, that the Fish Commissioners from all 
the States were not present. There is scarcely a good reason 
to be alleged why we should have to note any absences. As 
a medium of interchange of thought, such a convention pre- 
sents advantages to officers connected with State fisheries, 
which would he of incalculable benefit to all. It is, in fact, 
difficult to ask any question in regard to fish culture, of 
practical use, which would not have found ft ready and satis- 
factory answer. 
The progress made in fish culture (which science, of course, 
must be the basis on which the association stands) has made 
notable progress during the last year. Gradually awakening to 
a sense of its importance, other States are becoming cognizant 
of the advantages of stocking their barren waters. With new 
wants, new inventions, due to ingenious fish culturistB, have 
been presented. Certainly among the first will stand Mr. T. 
B. Ferguson's plun for batching shad by means of a mechani- 
cal power, a full description of which may be found iu our 
lost issue. This invention, due to the energetic Fish Com- 
missioner of Maryland, in the opinion of the U. S. Commis- 
sioner, Professor Baird, marks a new epoch in fish culture. 
It will enable us to utilize the waste eggs of many valuable 
sea fish, such as the mackerel and cod. The eggs of both 
these fi9h, cast loose on the waters, may be obtained in count- 
less millions, and may be hatched by the Ferguson process. 
A most able paper on the statistics of fisheries, furnished by 
Professor G. Brown Goode for the first time, acquainted the 
public with the immeuse value of the fishing products of the 
country, while Professor Milner's paper on shad hatching 
gave some idea of the scope and magnitude of the work. Mr. 
Eugene G. Blackford gave a most practical idea of the staple 
fish furnished to the New York markets, os did F. Mather, 
Esq., on food for fishes raised in aquaria. In another portion 
of this journal will be found a synopsis of the meeting, and 
wc shall reproduce, as soon as possible, some of the mo9t im- 
portant papers. The printed report of the transactions of the 
association, which we understand will shortly be published, 
will be of exceeding value. 
What praise, then, we freely give to the association, is 
mainly due for the common-sense method it employs, and the 
desire it*has evinced to instruct the public, not only in scien- 
tific, but practical fish culture. 
CONFUSION IN THE NAMES OF SOME 
OF THE AMERICAN FISHES OF THE 
HERRING FAMILY. 
T HE representatives of the herring family m09t abundant 
in the waters of Great Britain are three — the shad 
(Alo&a fuitd), the alewife ( Aloaa Bulgaria), and the herring 
( Clupca luircngua). Their names were at an early date appro- 
priated for representatives of the same family on our own 
coast. The name of “ shad ” is, from Maine to Florida, 
yielded, by common consent, to our Aloaa sapidmima, which, 
in many particulars, resembles its namesake, though they 
“ be bigger than the English shaddes and fatter," as an early 
writer declares (‘‘New England’s Prospect," by William 
Wood, London, 1634). 
In the Southern States this fish is sometimes called “ white 
shad,” to distinguish it from the Doroaoma cepedianum, there 
known as the *‘mud shad " or ‘‘gizzard shad.” On the coast 
of New England the mattowocca, or tailor-herring ( Ponwlo - 
bus uudiocria) is sometimes called the “ hickory -shad ” and 
also the “ sca-sbad," under which name it is often confound- 
ed with the true shad, which is known from recent investiga- 
tions to be Irequently taken far out at sea in company with 
mackerel, alewives and menhaden. In the Bermudas, there 
being no large clupeoid fish, the same name has been for cen- 
turies applied to two species which somewhat resemble it ex- 
ternally — Eucinoatomua gula and Eucinoatomua Ltfroyi. 
The “ herring,” or 11 English herring," of New England, 
north of Cepe Cod, is identical with that of Great Britain, 
but at certain points in Southern New England— Buch as New 
Bedford— the name of herring is transferred to Pomolobua 
paeudo-harenyua, and on the Hudson River this usage is gen- 
eral, though this species is occasionally called the alewife. 
South of the Hudson the name of “ herring ” is universally 
used in connection with this species of Pomolobua and the 
allied Pomolobua mediocria, or “ matlowacca," which is known 
as the “ tailor-herring,” or sometimes, as in the St. Johns 
River and about Cape Cod, as the ‘‘hickory-shad." In the 
Great Lnkes the name “herring” is also represented, being 
applied to one of the wliitefish family— the lake herring, 
Argyroaomua clupciformia. To Pomolobua pmido-fuirengua, 
the name of “alewife" is commonly applied in New England 
and even occasionally, as mentioned above, in New York. 
South of New York it is used for tho menhaden ( Drevorlm 
tyrannua) only. The name is corrupted into “old wife" 
and " eel wife " and “ wife.” 
On the Connecticut River the same name appears under the 
guise of “ ell-whop." At Muurice ltiver the Brevorlia is 
called the “old wife cbebog,"chebog being probably of Indian 
origin. Thomas Morton, writing in 1832 of the fishes of Vir- 
ginia, giveB the names “ shadd ’’ and “al 
