FOREST AND STREAM 
155 
SPAWNING OF CALIFORNIA SALMON. 
San Franoiboo, California, March 13, 1878. 
Pbof. Spencer F. Baird, Washington, D. C.: 
Dear Sir — In reading that portion of the Massachusetts re- 
port for 1878 which relates to California salmon, some ques- 
tions are asked and doubts expressed on subjects which are to 
me quite clear. I thought it advisable to answer some of 
these questions to you, if you are not already informed in re- 
lation to them. 
First— The impassable barrier of which the report speaks 
across the McCloud River, is only a temporary affair, and is 
only placed across the river after the great body of spawning 
salmon have gone to the head waters, and is only used during 
the necessary time of taking fish in the pool below for spawn- 
ing purposes. 
Secondly— In relation to Mr. Stone’s theory that all the 
McCloud River salmon die after having spawned. Both the 
Senate and Assembly committees of the Legislature have been 
taking testimony of all the leading fishermen on the Sacramento 
River. Probably more than fifty fishermen have given testi- 
mony, especially on two points: First, “Where does the spring 
run spawn?" and, secondly, " Do you catch any fish on their 
return from the spawning grounds, and what proportions?" 
On the first question they expressed entire ignorance, except 
that in the San Joaquin River in the spring large numbers of 
salmon are ripe or nearly ripe ; they are also ripe at this sea- 
son in the short coast rivers. The concurrent testimony of 
the fishermen was, that in October and November in the 
Sncramento river they caught from five to fifteen per cent, of 
fish that had spawned. Many of these were tnken on the 
“ back of nets,” drifting toward the ocean with their heads 
up the stream. This testimony was given by fishermen who 
had fished at Vallejo in salt water, at Rio Vista and Collins- 
ville in brackish water, and so on up to Sacramento in entire 
fresh water. They all concurred that about ten per cent, of 
the catch in October and November was of fish on the return 
from their spawning grounds ; they do not draw their seines 
for these fish as they will not sell and are considered of no 
value. They say that these fish are black, hooked-moutbed 
and have dog’s teeth. Some are caught on the right side of 
the net, but a majority drift into the net on the upper side. 
They said that they saw them in large numbers at this season 
of the year, and they were usually with head up stream with 
only sufficient motion to their fins to keep them balanced, and 
floating to the sea with the current. I know of my owu 
knowledge that some of the McCloud River salmon remain in 
the river until the next year. On the 5th of July last I was 
fishing on the headwarters of the McCloud River about fifty 
miles above the U. S. Fishery, catching salmon and trout. 
The salmon that season had just arrived and would take the 
hook, but in the pools there were also numerous salmon of the 
previous year— hook-mouth and dog-teeth— which could not 
be tempted to take anything. Sir John Reed, who was fish 
ing in the same pool with me, improvised a long gaff with 
which he caught one of these fish of the previous year. Al- 
though thin, it weighed twenty-two pounds. We saw several 
others but did not attempt to take them. These fish certainly 
must have remained in the water six or eight months without 
food, and for some unaccountable reason failed to return to 
the Ocean It is certainly true that large numbers do die and 
et injured, but from the testimony of the fishermen I am satis- 
ed that large numbers return to the ocean each year. The 
opinion of the fishermen is that they return to the ocean 
after spawning, with the first rains on the headwaters. The coast 
rivers salmon spawn in January and February in the short 
streams that empty into the ocean, and immediately return 
after spawning. Most of our coast rivers have bars at their 
mouths thrown up by the waves, and when these rivers and 
streams are low fresh water passes through these sand bars to 
the ocean. When the floods come in the winter they tear 
open a passage through these bars. The salmon immediately 
enter and work up into all the small branches in the hills 
where it is possible for them to reach, spawn in a few days 
and immediately return down stream into the ocean. It was 
but last Saturday I took seven of these salmon in pools in a 
small stream which ran through a pasture within twenty miles 
of San Francisco. This stream empties into the Bay. Our 
winter rains have been more heavy than usual, and all these 
short coast and bay streams are full of salmon spawning. 
Now, as regards young fish, I have repeatedly taken young 
salmon, one year old, with a fly, at the N. S. fishery in July and 
August. These young fish were always in the centre of the 
river, while trout would be taken in shoaler water near the 
shore. I am, therefore, certain that some of them remain in 
the river for one year after they are hatched. Many grilse are 
taken in the bay here from the wharfs, weighing from three- 
quarters of a pound to five or six pounds. . I have never seen 
any taken in salt water which I thought was younger than two 
or three years. I am certain that Mr. Stone is in error in re- 
porting that California salmon die after having spawned. 
The Joint Committee of the Senate and Assembly have 
agreed to report a bill for the close season, from August 1 to 
September 15, and also from Saturday noon until Sunday 
noon of every week throughout the year. We have urged that 
in addition to every Sunday, the close season should be from 
August 1 to October 1. This concession has been made to the 
fishermen, who ask that in consideration of giving them the 
additional two weeks, that the penalties might be increased to 
$25 for each salmon found in possession during the close 
season, and $250 penalty and confiscation of any net found 
in the water during the close season. They also 
promise that they themselves, in their own neighbor- 
hoods will see that this law is faithfully observed. In 
their testimony they admit the benefits derived from the 
artificial hatching of salmon, and urge upon the Legislature to 
increase the appropriation for this purpose, but did not Beem 
willing that the close season should be lODger than one month 
and every Sunday. So this bill, as reported, is a compromise 
as between what we ask and what the fishermen want. 
Shad are becoming quite numerous, and therejire one or 
two every day in the market, which sell for from five to eight 
dollars a piece. They are generally caught in the bay by fisher- 
men fishing for herrings. B. B. Redding. 

White Trout. — Editor Forest and Stream— l have hatched 
trout for six years, and during that time have hatched out 
several “ white trout." Have never had one live to be six 
months old. They always prove weak and in time are found 
8gain«t the outlet screen dead. I find none this year among 
niy 80,000 fry. Yours, Latt Hodges. 
London Trout Ponds, March 30, Farrington , Ct. 
85 Breech-Loading Rifles, brand new. Tlie greatest bargains ever 
offered. Elegant flnlsli. Beit steel rifled barrels. Cannot be bought 
of any other house for less than $80. They cost to manufacture over 
$16. See advertisement, G, W. Turner i Ross, 86 and 23 Central street, 
Boston, Moss,— [Adv, 
l§wtorg< 
THE EUROPEAN STARLING. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Your Texan correspondent, N. A. T., asks you many ques- 
tions about our startling. Will you allow me to give him 
some information on the subject ? 
He first asks, “Is the starling a pugnacious bird to such a 
degree that he will drive other birds from his bailiwick?" 
Certainly he is not a quarrelsome bird. His habits are most 
decidedly social and friendly, and he lives on terms of per- 
fect harmony with almost every other nou-rapacious bird. On 
the broad pasture-lands he feeds with the rooks all the day, 
and at night he roosts in the same firs, laurels or ivy with the 
redwing, the thrush and the blackbird. If he ever finds his 
way to Texas, unless the climate sadly changes his temper, he 
will never drive the mocking-bird or any other songster from 
“his bailiwick." And here let me say that your correspond- 
ent does no small wrong to our British sparrow when he 
writes about his “furious pugnacity." Though a bold and 
brave little bird, our domestic sparrow is not a quarrelsome 
bird. The fights witnessed by your correspondent in the New 
"York parks, when he saw numbers of sparrows “ gathered to- 
gether in knots and balls, falhug to the ground, and fighting 
one another like forty wild cats," were only “ the endless 
contentions of rivals" about that which has been the cause of 
war since time was young, ' l Nam fait ante Helenan telcninui 
belli causa." At all other seasons but that in which the great 
natural instinct siezes him, the sparrow is a jolly, good natured 
bird, but 
■‘When a falter crimson Comes Upon the robin's breast 
When the wanton lapwing geia himself another crest 
When a livelier Ills changes on the burnished dove 
Then the “sparrow’s” fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." 
And his passionate little heart, full of the presence of a tidy, 
plump little hen, sideling aud bridling and flirting her wings 
and tail before him with all the arts of an accomplished co- 
quette, sometimes causes him to forget himself so far as to 
approach her with a certain amount of violence, and, this 
being resented, leads to a scolding match which soon collects 
the lady’s other admirers from the neighboring hedge, and 
then ensues the row as described by your correspondent, in 
which the combatants, gathering into a ball, roll over and 
over, apparently fighting “ like forty wild cats," while in 
reality not one of them is a feather the worse when the battle 
is over. 
To N. A. T’s second question, “ Is the starling a first-class | 
bug and worm eater ?" there is only one auswer. The starling 
is one of our most useful birds. He feeds almost exclusively 
on the grubs and worms destructive to the grass family. The 
staple products of Ireland— beef and mutton— owe no small 
share of their repute to the humble efforts of the rook and the 
starling. The rich, heavy grass lands of Meath are the star- 
ling’s favorite feeding grounds, and when his swift squadrons 
in dense masses roll along the pastures, clearing out before 
them every root eating grub and worm, it would be impossi- 
ble to calculate the good that is done, not to speak of the evil 
that is resisted by the graziers best and most economical ser- 
vant. For, as the starling destroys nothing that is useful to 
man, he receives nothing in return for his invaluable services 
to the farmer. Wherever a pale and sickly blade Or Stem 
points the starling’s quick eye to where the root eater is at 
work below, down g< es the aveDging beak of the agile bird, 
and grubby troubles the grass no more. No county in Ireland 
has finer grass lands than Meath, and no county more abounds 
with starlings. One winter’s evening, coming home from 
shooting, near Kells in that county, a keeper called the 
writer’s attention to a heavy black cloud Just above some 
timbers about three miles off. “ Thirn’s birds, sir," said he, 
and where he pointed the starling cloud lifted and rolled away 
like a vast column of smoke, and then returning condensed again 
into a huge black mass as its hundreds of thousands hovered 
over their roostiug place before pitching down into the woods 
for the night. About six miles from these woods, at another 
Meath country seat, the starlings made their home by night, 
and as the sun went down came by myriads to roost in the 
laurels along the shore of a sheet of water close under the 
drawing-room windows. The owner of the place, an ardent 
preserver of everything carrying fur or feather, gave the star- 
lings a hearty welcome ; hut so uumerous were the guests who 
accepted his hospitality, that their droppings produced an in- 
tolerable stench, not to be permitted so close to the house. It 
was determined, if possible, to banish the starlings to a distant 
part of the coverts ; but they would not go. In vain the 
evening flight, night after night, was received with a blank 
fusilade. In vain a skilled pyrotechnist from the metropolis, 
opened fire with rocket batteries upon their devoted squadrons. 
Dead and dying, battered and scorched, though their com- 
rades might' lie thick beneath them, tenaciously as the heroic 
Osman clung to his fireswept earthworks of Plevna, the star- 
ling clung to their beloved laurels, until as a last resource the 
laurels themselves were cut close to the ground, and the star- 
lings had to seek a home elsewhere. 
mow, taking this evidence of their numbers in the centre of 
the finest fattening land in Ireland, it is safe to conclude that 
our starliugs would do no injury to the graziers on the Texas 
preserves. 
Your correspondent next asks, “ Is the starling urban or 
suburban in his habits?" He is both. In this country he 
builds bis nest indifferently in town and cqutyry, wherever a 
hollow tree, public buildings or private chimneys afford him 
the accommodation he requires. When the youDg leave the 
nest they remain under the guidance of the old couple, and do 
not travel far, but generally seek the nearest pasture where 
the little family soon finds another like itself, till from fifty to 
a hundred birds pack together, and so they remain till the ap- 
proach of winter compels them toseek asheltered roosting-place 
for the long cold nights. They generally select some secluded 
spot deep in the pine woods, in dense laurel or holly shrub- 
beries, or along the sedgy shores of rivers, lakes or fens. And 
then the smaller flocks unite at their chosen trysling-place, 
and form those vast clouds already described. 
Your correspondent next inquires, “ Does the starling sing 
well ?" The starling is not a songster ; at least he has very 
little pretension to the title. The male bird lias a low, sweet 
whistle, a solitary note, clear and musical, w iich he repeats at 
short intervals, perched, it may be, on tl e topmost spray of an 
old ash tree, happy in the first warm glow of the early 
spring sunshine, pluming his glossy coat and whispering in 
flute-like accents to his listening mate that the season for 
grubs is close at hand. 
In reply to your correspondent's last question it may be said 
that the starling is decidedly a shapely, pretty bird, and need 
take no mean place, even among the beautiful birds of your 
own continent. 
And now, sir, as one of your most distant subscribers, allow 
me to thank you for the pleasure and instruction which your 
admirable paper lias afforded for the last two years to myself 
aud to some other lovers of the Rod and Gun m this island. 
Believe me to ho your faithful servant, R. O'C. 
Dublin, Feb. 8, 1878. 
[We take great pleasure in laying before our readers the 
above highly valuable letter, feeling sure that it will prove of the 
greatest iuterest toall those who are considering the feasibility 
of acclimatizing foreign birds in this country, as well os to 
many others.— Ed. J 
EXTRACTS FROM A NATURALIST’S 
NOTEBOOK. 
BY TEAL. 
Nov. 30, 1809.— I took to-day, on Salem Neck, a specimen 
of the Hutchins gull (Larus h uto/iinsii), young. This speci- 
men I mounted and gave to the Peabody Academy of Science. 
I inquired about it a while ago, but failed to get truck of it. 
Feb. 1, 1870,— To-day I shot two auow buutings (Plectro 
phanes nivalis), and four shore larks ( Eremophiln cornuta). 
These specimens l took on Salem Neck near the “ Willows." 
These birds are bright, cheery little fellows, found commonly 
along the fields and meadows borderiug on tlio sea shore. 
The buutings are often incorrectly called snow-birds, many 
persons thinking them forerunuers of snow storms. Of 
course, this is a misapplied name, as the true snow-bird ( J . 
hyemalis), is quite different in size, plumage and habits. 
Both the larks aud buuliugs are gregarious, and, though very 
often found together, I think the lurks rather dislike the 
buntings, as I have seen them attack and drive out from among 
them scattering buntings which would alight among them to 
feed. The bindings are also about hero called “ winter geese," 
though I fail to see the resemblance. The name fils full as 
well as many nick-names to natural objects. Judging from 
my own experience, 1 urn convinced that many good birds are 
lost through the mixed up knowledge of local gunuers, their 
lack of interest and the great difference between them. I 
often get laughed at for Iryiug to sot them on the right track. 
They say, “ Humph 1 Reckon they know something ; guess 
they knowed birds afore I was horn, when there was some," 
Still, [ often convince these people and make a point. 
Feb. 17,— A specimen of the wild cat (Tynx rufus), female, 
I was shot at Essex, Mass., by Mr. Luther Clapp. This is un- 
usual to find here, though they have been taken before. 
March 8. — During a stroll to-day I took a robin ( T. migra- 
torius), and a chicadee (P. atricapillus). These last often 
make us visits in the city during winter— oftenest on mild 
days — aud do much by their presence and cheerful notes to 
make us happy. Salem, Mass. 
March 12.— A specimen of the dusky duck ( Anas obscura), 
female. I notice this bird is universally called black duck. 
Salem, Mass. 
March 31 —Three shore larks ( E. cornuUi) aud one song 
sparrow ( Melospua melodia). Mr. Obcr, whom your readers 
know as Fred Beverly, wus with me. lie also shot some 
larks. Salem, Mass. 
April 2 —A specimen of the cedar bird ( AmjutUscedrorum), 
taken 'UwS-bird is also known as cherry bird and wax-wing. 
I have seen them stuff themSUtvtS With wild chfiHiewtad- Sit 
on a tree perfectly regardless of danger while persons threw 
a number of stones at them. Unless hit, or the limb whereon 
they sat was struck hard, they would not tuiuk of moving 
They are most common iu spring and full, though many 
breed. Domesticated they make interesting pets, and will 
eat cake aud ginger bread, us much as they can hold, about 
every half hour. Salem, Muss. 
April it.— Two purple grakles ( (Juiscultis versicolor ) taken. 
I have seen row after row of garden peas, tlio pods hanging 
to the vines, open, and every pea taken out by these birds us 
clean us the best servant could shell them. This I have seen 
on Mr Gregory’s seed farm, in Marblehead. These birds are 
very common with us, mostly in fall, when they, with some 
other bluckbirds, congregate in large flocks before going 
South It also breeds. Salem, Mass. 
April 14 — Bluebird ( Sialia sialis), male, one of our earli- 
est and most welcome visitors from the south, breeding and 
staying unlil November. Contests for bird houses between 
this bird and the swallows (T. btoolor) ore very amusing. 
Sulem, Mass. 
April 23.— Red-winged blackbird ( Agelaus phamicous), male, 
taken at Marblehead, Moss. This bird is very common about 
here though, excepting when near its nest, it is quite shy. 
At North Beverly, near Miles River, they are numerous and 
not near as shy as nt Salem. Why, I cannot say, but this iB 
my experience. 
(To be continued.) 
Mr. Ridqbway’s Ornithology.— By some strange inadvert- 
ence, Mr. Ridgeway’s Ornithological Report, referred to lust 
week, was spoken of as one of the publications of Dr. Hay- 
den’s Survey. The error we hasten to correct. Mr. Ridgewuy’a 
work was done in connection with the Survey of the Fortieth 
Parallel (Clarence King, U. S. Geologist, in charge), and his 
report forms par', of Volume IV. of the publications of that 
Survey. Wo have already referred to the importance and 
value of the work performed by Mr. King aod his Blaff, and 
the present work is in no way behind previous publications iu 
excellence. It deals chiefly with the bird fauna of California 
and the Great Interior Basiu, and contains many new and in- 
teresting observations. - Mr. Ridgeway will accept our best 
thanks for the volume sent us. 
Judge Caton’s Park —Our readers will recall some inter- 
esting notes sent to us by Judge J. I). Caton, of Ottawa, 111., 
concerning bis domesticated wild turkeys. That gcnlleman, 
who is now abroad, lias added to the extensive natural history 
collection in his private park liy sending home a pair of black 
swuns from Australia and two paire of Hawaiian geese. That 
this is a highly satisfactory method of studying natural history 
Judge Caton's work on the “Antelope aud Deer of Amer- 
ica ” abundantly proves. 
