FOREST AND STREAM, 
195 
without reference to the reliability of these authorities, what 
do we find? Merely a petUio priruipii! The habits of the 
herring and the mackerel are not known to be the same. In 
many particulars they are diametrically different, for the 
former loves cold water, the latter warm water. 
Various provincial writers are now quoted : Mr. Perley, 
who says that “ naturalists now tell us,” and “ it is now con- 
sidered settled,” that the mackerel is not migratory, but draws 
off into deep water at the apj>$oach of winter ; and Mr. Knight 
and Mr. Forbid — though the reason for these quotations is not 
apparent, since no reference to the winter habits of the fish 
can he found therein. He doeB not refer to the writings of 
Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Johnston, Canadian writers, who advo- 
cate the migration theory. Yarrell and Couch are next 
quoted, but neither of them ventures to give a decided opin- 
ion. Finally, we have a paragraph compiled from five French 
Encyclopaedias, good and bad, no means being afforded of 
distinguishing the opinions of Cuvier from those of Cheuni s 
literary staff. Mr. Whitcher's conclusion is this -. That “it 
is clearly neither necessary nor accurate that mackerel should 
perlorm the migrations ascribed to them by American 
writers. ’ The migrations of the mackerel are neither proved 
nor disproved by special pleadings of this description. 
The spirit of Prof. Hind’s publication is very different, lie 
writes from the standpoint of an investigator, and his book is 
an important contribution to our knowledge of the habits of 
fishes in relation to temperature and currents. 1 feel obliged, 
however, to call attention to a very senous flaw in his chief 
argument against the annual migration of the mackerel. In 
the chapter on the “Relation of the Supposed Migratory 
Movements of AJackerel to Isothermal Line” (Hind, op. cit.. 
Part IF, pp. 15-17), it is claimed that a migration to the 
north in the spring “presupposes the movements of bodies 
of the same great schools of mackerel” which are alleged . to 
pass Massachusetts Bay from the waters of the coast ot Vir- 
ginia and Hew Jersey, not only through from ten to twelve 
degrees of latitude, but it assumes that they are able to cross 
in the early summer, and frequently before spawning, numer- 
ous isothermal lines in descending order. He then refers to 
the article upon the Gulf Stream in “Petermann s AHtther- 
lungcr ” for 1870, in which the marine isothermals for the dif- 
ferent months are shown by means of a chart. A table is 
given showing the isothermals for Ju y. That of de K s - 
would touch the coast at Delaware Bay ; that of 63 clegs. 5 
mins, at Long Island ; that of 59 degs. at Boston ; that of 54 
degs. 5 mins, at Cape Sable, N. S. ; that o 50 degs. a Cape 
Race, and that of 45 degs. 5 nuns, at the Straits of Belle Isle. 
From this he concludes that “ a school of fish moving rap 
idly from Delaware Bay to the Straits of Belle Isle, would 
pass in July from a mean temperature of 68 degs. to a mean 
temperature of 45 degs., a difference of more than 22 degs. 
^This theory would he very satisfactory if it could be ad 
mitted that the isothermals for July indicate the actual tem- 
perature of the sea from day to day. In reality the marine 
isothcrmals are constantly varying, and in this respect are dif- 
fereut from those printed upon a chart, as no one knows bet 
ter than Professor Hind. A glance at the tableB in appendix 
F, and the conclusions deduced from them m regard to the 
menhaden fbaragraph 85) will snow that schools of fish do 
not find it necessary to force their way through walls of sea 
temperatures, but that their movements from south to north 
Sfexactly correlated with the seasonal rise of temperatures. 
As soon as the water at a given point reaches a certain tem- 
nerature which for the mackerel on our own coast appears 
SE-d, u 45 deg*, tbe fish make llie.r appe. and 
with the advance of the season they appear further and further 
^itSontfflS the discussion of this question, not with any 
ture ‘ ( Concluded in our next. ) 
BROOK TROUT IN NEBRASKA. 
North Platte, Nebraska, April 5i 18 1 8. 
Ed " B8T ATouflXcgular monthly meeting of Our 
c ^^rciu'hweVop sed S to stock the streams and small 
Sportsmen b Club wc p i nQ - troul ha9 e ver been seen 
lakes t o ask: First, do you think they will 
here ’ LtfVft of whom can we procure trout spawn, and 
grow here ? If so, ot purcha8e them as near home as 
at what prices Sho u W hk p ^ ^ M lt ay 
p 0»“«V, of some one who wiU answer as we de- 
a“fr You ^Cufer a favor upon * 
letter. RespectfuUy. ^ ^ North pia { te Sportsmen's Club. 
rWe cannot tell whether trout would thrive in Lincoln 
County • but probably they would if you can change th 
natural ’conditions which have hitherto prevented trout fnmi 
thriving in the rivers after they leave the mountains Over- 
fl^s shifting sands, deposits, change of temperature and 
fl ’ n llv the Hiree former, totally prevent the reproduction 
especially enter the plains), while 
trdmtar^ the ^sa^me^ contingencies, the^)" 
appreciable degree as the main river is, you may succeed them 
The experiment is worth trying. The nearest place would be 
in Iowa. Apply to the Fish Commissioners, say, to B. h- 
Shaw, of Anamosa.— E d. Forest and Stream.] 
Gbhbs and Worms in Fish. -Almost every living creature 
has its peculiar parasite, and the fish family are not exempt. 
Indeed almost every variety of fish is liable to be infested 
with some kind of external parasite at certain seasons of the 
vear though it does not follow that such parasite damages 
the health of the fish or its edible qualities. There are also 
internal parasites in fish, which seriously affect their bodily 
health and comfort, and doubtless impair their fitness for 
food. The tenia, or tape worms, are not uncommon, especi- 
ally in the salmonida. Only last week a gentleman of this 
city, known as a naturalist, discovered five tape worms of 
several inches in length in the stomach of some pond-raised 
fish, which camo from Pennsylvania. lie reported the fact to 
us. ’ What wc have said is corroborated by that careful ob- 
server, Seth Green, Esq., as well as all students of science. 
Quito recently a Mr. St. John, of Port Jervis, mentioned hav- 
ing found small grubs, or worms, in the black bass caught in 
the Delaware last season, and applying to Mr. Green for infor- 
mation, elicited the following reply : 
KOCiiBSTBR, N. Y., April 6, 1ST8. 
C.St. John, Jr. 
Dear Sir ; It Is not a very uncommon thing to have small worms or 
grubs In ltsh. I have often seen them. Thoy do not do any hurt If you 
do not see them. They are like skippers In cheese. It Is all cheese, 
If you <lo not see th* skippers. Because they are affected last your it 
is no sign they will be this year. Yours Sbot Ukbbn. 
One of the most noteworthy examples of wormy fish was 
reported in our paper last week (and previously) referring to 
the wormy trout of the Yellowstone. These worms arc iu the 
flesb, just as the trichina) spiraUe infest pork. Wo do not 
know that their presence has been scientifically accounted for 
by Professor Leidy, or any one else. 
Crawfish Culture. — The following note from a recent 
number of Nature is not only very interesting, but also sup- 
plies some information for which we have loug been waiting. 
WiU our California correspondent who asked for information 
on this subject please take notice : 
" The Piscicultural Institution of Sohwcnn has recently 
made some important experiments, with a view to 
ascertain whether the artificial culture of the river craw- 
fish (Astacus flaoitaUs) is possible on a large scale. 
The experiments are entirely successful. In the spring 
of last year some seven hundred crawfish, with ova, were 
placed in two circular ponds, of only six feet in diameter, and 
for each animal a separate hole had been constructed. At the 
end of November the ponds were drained in order to sepa- 
rate the young crawfish from the old ones. It appeared that 
of the latter only three 5r four were crawling about ut the bot- 
tom of the pond, while all the others had occupied their 
respective dwellings. The young were of the size of a bee, 
and extremely lively ; they were taken out of the ponds, and 
already on the following day could be fed artificially with 
carrots and meat. Many a land or garden proprietor could 
thus make crawfish-culture a lucrative pastime at very little 
cost, particularly since the consumption of these crustaceans 
increases largely every year. " 
From Mr. Wilmot.— G. Eh* Page, Esq., Vice-President of 
the American Fishcultural Association, has communicated to 
us the following from a letter just received by him from Bam’l 
Wilmot, Esq., of Newcastle, Ont.: 
“ I have been most successful this year in my Dominion 
operations, having already turned out upward of twenty-five 
millions of whiteflsh fry, mostly in the Detroit River. So, 
you see, your people will get equal benefit from this great 
crop, as I am doubtful whether I have infused into them 
Canadian sentiments sufficiently strong to induce them all to 
come back on the Canadian side of the lake again. We sha 1 
turn out very shortly some seven millions of salmon and sal- 
mon trout fry.” ^ 
Another Salmon in the Delaware.— We are indebted 
to Major E. J. Anderson, Commissioner of Fisheries of the 
Slate of New Jersey, for the interesting communication that 
a fine salmon was caught last week in the Delaware River, 
some two miles above Trenton. Major Anderson writes: 
This settles the question as to whether salmon will live in 
our waters. The fish was three feet six inches in length, and 
weighed twenty-three and a quarter pounds. This salmon 
undoubtedly owes its origin to young fish placed in the Dela- 
ware some four nr five years ago.” It would materially as- 
sist the Commissioners, Messrs. E. J. Anderson, of Trenton, 
N. J., and Theodore Morford, of Sussex Co., in case other 
salmon were caught in the Delaware or its tributaries, if these 
gentlemen should immediately he apprised of the fact. This 
salmon was caught in a shad net by Mr. Jacob Booz, of Tren- 
ton. , ,, 
Fish fob the Susquehanna.— A. T. Clapp, Esq., of Sun- 
bury, informs us that 3,000 salmon tront, and the same num- 
ber of brook trout, were deposited in the streams adjacent to 
Sunbnry. A plant of 8,000 California salmon has also been 
made recently in the upper waters of the west branch of the 
Susquehanna, above Renovo, and 2,000 in Paddy’s Run, a 
tributary near that place. 
» — 
Shad Propagation in Virginia — The United States Fish 
Commission commenced the work of shad P r °P a £ ll ° n ‘“ijf 
Albemarle Sound last week, having distributed nearly a mil- 
lion young shad in the nvera and streams of Virginia, North 
Carolina and Alabama. For a month to come the work will 
continue on equally as large a scale. Tbe apparatus for shad 
hatching is more extensive than the Commission ever used 
before. . i . 
The -Susquehanna Fishwats.— The committee a PP 01 “ ted 
by the Legislature to report on the Columbia dam have re- 
ported that the only possible way to restore the fish to the 
Susquehanna is to remove this dam. 
seven pounds, and that they are an exact counterpart of the 
land-locked salmon in Maine. They take them with a spoon 
bait, therefore they will not have to look for lund-locked sal- 
mou spawn for this State from the East an}' more, lhc 
State Commissioners have just put in the lake a large number 
of land-locked salmon fry. They are taking while fish from 
their spawniug beds in Lake Tahoe that were put in two 
years ago. They arc also taking shad from five to eight 
laches loug here in the Bay of Sun Francisco, supposed to be 
one year old— they take them while seining for lierriug. This 
should not be done. B. B. P. 
The Prussian Fishery Law.*— Although the Prussian 
fishery law lias been In force for four years and a half, its 
clear and distinct regulations arc nevertheless transgressed in 
many places, not only because tho privileged fishermen and 
local authorities themselves are tho transgressors, but chiefly 
because people seciu loth to abandon the old accustomed way 
of fishing, leading to tho final extermination of fish. It is es- 
pecially paragraph 50 of tho law, which imposes a Quo of $35.70 
for fishing dunug the season of protection (Schonzcct), 
which has been transgressed, atul great damage has undoubt- 
edly been inflicted on the fisheries by the neglect of firmly 
upholding tho letter of the law in this mattor. No less dam- 
age has been inflicted by the frivolous destruction of young 
fish. In view of these evils tho committee of the Gerrnau 
Fishery Association has undertaken to do all in their power to 
further a strict observance of tho fishery law, and at its lost 
session, of the 4th inst., it was resolved to promise a reward 
to all those persons who would show special zeal in dotecting 
Buch transgressions, and thus enable tho authorities to punish 
the transgressors. Tho report should he made to the Fishery 
Association and examined by them, and, if necessary, tho re- 
ward might bo certified by tho local authorities. All iufor- 
niation regarding transgressions of the fishery law should lie 
addressed to tho German Fishery Association, Berlin, W. 
Leipziger, Platz 10, and all the necessary steps will he taken 
for punishing the trausgressors. 
Natural § istors . 
— Theo. Morford, Esq., cashier of Sussex National Bank, 
Newton. New Jersey, has just been appointed Fish Commis- 
sioner of the State. His coadjutors are E. J. Anderson and 
B. F. Howell, the latter reappointed. 
Land-Looked Salmon in California - Ban Fraivieco, 
Cal., March 28, 1878.- 1 learned to-day through Ifaj. K W. 
Leonard that they have land-locked salmon in Clear Dute, 
Lake Co., Cal., which weigh from one and a half pounds to 
DEER SHEDDING THEIR HORNS. 
Newport, Ky., March is, 18 T 8 . 
Exiitor Forest and Stream : 
In reference to tho Bbcddlng of deer horns, and tho statement of Mr 
W. U. Cassoll, Superintendent Park Police, Baltimore, I beg Rave to 
venture the following remark*, based on experience which wus gath- 
ered in Enropo (Germany), whore I, from earliest youth, had ample 
opportunity to study tho habits ol door there existing— Cervu* ruftu, 
c. llama and C. caprioln. As to the manner of shedding their horna I 
fully coincide with the optotou of the ooutrlbuior signori •■Pennsylva- 
nia," expressed In tho last number of Forest and stream, ami wlBh 
to add that I myself have shot, and havo seen others shoot, door with 
their old horns at a season wheu other deer commenced again to rub 
off the velvet of the fresh horns. Disease, or partial loss of tho geni- 
tal organs wus. In every Instance, found ss the cause of this Irregularity. 
I have no reason whatever to donbt lhc correctness of Mr. Cassell's ob- 
servations regarding the burying of tho shod horns, iiuvlug witnessed 
tne same operation In smaU Inclosed parks, aud, compared with tho 
habits of door In the unbounded forest, or In large parks, extending 
over an area of 6,000 to over 16,000 acres, os exist In Europe, and where- 
in the deer cannot feel tho imprisonment, this aotlon appears on a dis- 
play of ennui or 111 - temper, which the deer In confinement will show 
toward anything strango or in hla way. 8o will tho deer only In small 
parks— book as well as doe — abrade tho bark from trees with their 
teeth, not for the purpose of eating U, bat to dlspol ennui, often caus- 
ing great damage to the woods. Frequently 1 havo obsorved door in 
parks plavlng with tbotr shed horns, pounding thorn with their fuel, 
even turning up tho ground, but I never witnessed tbo actual burying 
of the horns. This would have been often a matter of lint small exer- 
tion In soft ground and under decayed leaves. 
More circumstances, baaed on observations, prompt mo to contradict 
the assertion that doer bury their bores, viz, : In the deer parka of Eu- 
rope, within a short time after tho shedding of the horns, they ore 
sought for, mostly with good success. A small gratuity is paid to the 
finder for each pound of horn delivered. Hundreds of pounds are thus 
collected, and the cosh realized by thetr sale forms an Item In the keep- 
er's accounts. I myHclf have searched, morning after morning, on 
grounds where the herds nightly used to feed. I have searched the 
path of animals with uncommonly large or Irregularly formed horns 
(especially Cerous eajrriolwi), and 1 found those freshly shed lmruB lying 
openly on the top of the ground, somctlmos nearly together end some- 
times a mile or more distant from each other. I have seen deer drop 
their horns— In most cases only one at the time— either In consequence 
of a jump or a violent motion of the head, sometimes coming accident- 
ally In contact with some obstacle, as a branch of a tree, but I never 
observed that the animal was looking after the horu.br tried to conceal 
It Such is my obsrrvatlon In the open forest and In large porks. The 
reason why not all shed horns can be found, rosy bo easily accounted 
for The separation of tho Horns from the head In consequence of au 
sorption causes pain and Irritation. The animal, therefore, seeks dur 
Ing the day, In that season, the retirement of the most isolat- 
ed places— when la monntaiuons regions, tho summits; when in 
a populated country, the thickets, aud when In the quiet forest, the 
high woods, in the first two places named the hunter will seldom In- 
trude nor have a good chance to find the lost burden, while In he ast 
mentioned place the horn will soon disappear In tho soft ground, under 
moss, decayed grass or leaves. The observing forester can ton you 
how soon a broken down branch of u 'reo will become lnvl *' b ‘®. 
Finally, I can state the correctness of the remark, that the spike buck 
«« - or 
[We regard the above as a most interesting addition to the 
literature of this subject, and admire especially its mild and 
fair tone.— E d.] 
The Boston Hvcx- Editor Eorett and Stream : Since my 
note in reference to the luck on Boston Common, I have 
watched his lordship, and perhaps your readers might wish to 
learn that he dropped his horns on the 28d and 24th of March. 
"•DavFUohsrelgesetz far den Preasslscben Staat," from a Berlin 
dally paper; translated by H. Jacobson. 
