148 
FORES'! AND STREAM. 
more natural, or niore’effectivc cun be devised, or auytliiug 
com rived ou a grander scale I can only say I should like to 
see it.” 
Transporting Live Fish.— The London Field of late 
date contains diagrams of an apparatus in use by the Ger- 
man Fisheries Association for transporting fish ou long 
Journeys, which consists of a long cask mouuted on wheels, 
the motion of which works an uttruting bellows, sc that 
manual labor is dispensed with. There are iron or wooden 
tappets attached to the spokes by an open fork, and secured 
by a cotter, and when the wheels revolve the tappets strike 
upon and set in motion a swinging lever, and a connecting 
wire attached to the lever works the bellows. Should it 
be desired to work the aerating bellows at a quicker rate, 
without increasing the speed of the vehicle, this can be ac- 
complished by adding to the number of tappets. The bel- 
lows can be worded by hand in caso the apparatus remains 
Stationary for any length of time, and the barrel can bo 
easdy removed from the frame at any time. It is a useful 
contrivance. 
The Blue Light. —Orders bavu been issued at Wash- 
ington to fit out tire United States steamer Blue Light, 
^ hieh lias been laid up at New London, Conn., for 4rc use 
ol Prof, bpencet F. Baird, United States Fish Commission- 
er. Commander L. Beardslee, United States Navy, will 
be assigned to the command of the vessel. He has had 
command of her for two years past. 
Fish Commissioners port Kentucky.— The Kentucky 
Slate Sportsmen's Convention, which meets at Paris on the 
It) h instant, will recommend the appointment of State fish 
commissioners by the legislature. Kentucky is sadly ru 
need of protection for Iter fish and game, such prohibitive 
laws iu H has being practically a dead letter. 
<gislf (gnlturt. 
MARVELS OF SALMON LIFE. 
I T li well known that salmon ascend their native rivers 
at certain seasons of the year to spawn. At the United 
States salmon breeding establishment on the McCloud 
fiiver, In California, It Is an object of the commissioners 
to capture these fish at such times in order to secure the 
spawn for artificial propagation; and in order to facilitate 
this edori a dam and bridge were built last Summer under 
direction of Livingston Stone, Esq., the superintendent, 
across the river to prevent their passage to their usual 
spawning beds above. Mr. Stone has kindly favored us 
with advance sheets from Prof. Baird's forthcoming report 
for 1874, describing the assault of the salmon last August 
upon these obstructions, and their wonderful but ineffec- 
tual t'ffnria to pass them. Much has been said of the mar- 
vellous leaps of the salmon, and the assertions that have 
been marie as to the length or height of these leaps huve 
generally been regarded as ower true tales; but the official 
statements herewith printed establish their verity, and im- 
pel us to wonder at the muscular force which enabled these 
fl-h not only to leap over the dam, but to “strike with vio- 
lence" persons standing upon it. We quote: — 
“About four o’clock in the aflernoon a few dnys after the 
passage of the salmon was obstructed, and before the cor- 
rnls were made. It was announced that the salmon were 
making their first assault upon the dam. The whole camp 
collected on the bridge to witness the attack. It was a 
sickt never to be forgotten. For several rods below the 
bridge the salmon formfid one black writhing mass of life. 
Piled tog. ther. one above another, they charged in solid 
columns against the bridge and dam, which trembled and 
shook continually under their blows. Not dnunted by their 
repeated failure, they led attack after attack upon the 
fence, one column succeeding as another fell back. En- 
couraged by their numbers, and urged on by their irrepres- 
sible instinct. I Itcy entirely disregarded the observers on 
the bridge, and struggled ’ their very best to pass the un- 
wonted obstruction Finding the fence impassable, many 
fell back a little and tried to Jump the bridge. This sev- 
eral succeeded in doing, sometimes violently striking the 
men on the bridge in their leaps, and sometimes actually 
lumping between their feet. For an hour and a half this 
fierce assault continued, when, exhausted by their efforts, 
ami discouraged by many failures, they fell back to the 
deep bole just below the rapids, arrested for the first lime 
in their progress up the river since the McCioud formed its 
channel. Tile Indians who were watching their uioven e i s 
Were wild with excitement over the scene, which, even 
after a residence of centuries on the river, was new to 
them, and they begged for permission to spear the salmon 
This, however, l did uot give, as I felt obrged to save all 
the fish for their spawn. 
“When the salmon had mnde their unsuccessful assault 
upon ihe dam. they fell back into the hole at the foot, of 
the rapids, which formed the lower fishing ground. Here 
thev were practically in as secure confinement as if they 
had been caught and placed in a pound, for the darn pre- 
vented them from going up the strenm, and their irrepres- 
sible instinct to ascend the river prevented them from going 
down. Every foot of this bole was swept by the seine. 
No better corral or enclosure for confining (lie fish could 
be contrived. Here they bad tlieir natural habitat and sur- 
roundings, the whole volume cf the McCloud River for a 
wutei supply, and nothing whatever to prevent them from 
keeping heulthy and in first rate condition. It was the best 
possible kind of a pound for them. Lust year they lashed 
themselves to pieces trying to escape from the artificial 
fence that surrounded them. This year they kept ns fresh 
and well as could be wished. They accumulated here in 
this hole by thousands. When any were wanted it was 
only necessary to extend Ihe net around them and haul 
them in. On one or two occasions when n haul was made 
»•» less than 15,000 pounds of salmon must have been en- 
closed in the net. They formed a solid mass, reaching sev- 
eral yards irom the shore, and filling the uet two or three 
feel deep. If 1 should say 20,000 pounds I do not think 
it would be exaggerating. For some reason or other my 
method of confining and capturing the salmon has been 
spoken of disparagingly, but if anytkiug more simple, 
NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH 
LEAGUE. 
AND GAME 
'■p'lIE annual meeting of Hie Fish and Game League of 
1 New Hampshire was held at Manchester last week. 
This is a powerful and intelligent body, and its services are 
much needed in the Granite State, where the protective 
laws have hitherto been very lax and inefficient. Its work 
thus far has been thorough and sagacious. Last April a 
year ago a very competent committee was appointed on 
“Restocking the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers,” and 
also a sub-committee to confer with the legislature on the 
subject; special fish commissioners were appointed in all 
the counties of the State except Grafton, Merrimack, and 
Rockingham, who were desired to co-operate with the State 
commissioners iu their labors; a Committee on Bird Laws 
drafted an elaborate bill, stating what birds should be 
protected, and at what seasons, which was presented to the 
legislature and passed with slight modifications. The prin- 
cipal changes made by this law were the termination of the 
close season for woodcock on the 4th of July instead of the 
lffih of August, us formerly; the omission of the Wllron's 
snipe from the list of protected birds; the clause relating to 
die snaring of ruffed grouse, and the ope against the ex- 
posing of poisons for any purpose. Care was taken in the 
preparation of this bill to guard the interests of landhold- 
ers, in order to prevent the hostility to sportsmen which 
sometimes arises from that source. It may be interesting 
to know the kind of opposition which this bill met. and 
which any proposed changes of a similar nature nre liable 
to incur. Some oppose any laws favorable to sportsmen 
because the dogs used in hunting sometimes kill sheep. 
Others object to any protection to that noble game bird, 
the railed grouse, because it consumes the buds of their 
apple trees in Winter, thereby, in their opinion, injuring 
the crop of apples for the ensuing season. A very few 
would prohibit the use of the gun during the latter part of 
Summer and the earlier half of Autumn, "in order that they 
may net a few pigeons in some portions of the State. Still 
others assert that all laws for the protection of game are a 
species of monopoly iu favor of city sportsmen. Others, 
again, among whom were some members of the League, 
did not approve of shooting woodcock in Summer, but, 
wiih sportsmanlike forbearance, made no serious opposi- 
tion to the change of close time for these birds, not wish- 
ing to defeat the passage of the bill, which in other re- 
spects they approved. 
Some effort has been made by the League to appoint 
detectives for the several counties, but there seems an in- 
disposition everywhere to accept this kind of service. 
Nevertheless, illegal shooling and fishing huve perceptibly 
diminished during the past year. Five delegates were ap- 
pointed to the National Sportsmen’s Convention, to be held 
at Cleveland next June. A committee was appointed lo 
act with the State Fish Commissioners to secuie requi- 
site legislation for establishing fishways. The following 
officers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, John 
B. Claike; Secretary, William W. Colburn; Treasurer, 
I'rederick Smyth; Vice Presidents, Marcellus Eldridge, 
Luther C. Critchett, G. V. Pickering, Wm. C. Fox, El- 
bridge F. Perkins, John M. Hill, Win. Jarvis, Burns W. 
Puttee, Nathan R. Perkins. 
Our abstract is made frani a three column report in the 
Manchester Mirror. 
PACKING SALMON EGGS. 
Cold Spring Trout Ponds, 
Charlestown, N. II., Aprils, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The packing of the California salmon eggs this year has been mnde the 
subject of so ranch criticism that I beg to enclose the following notes on 
the subject for publication:— 
The California salmon eggs were packed for shipment this year on the 
same general plan that was adopted )a-t year. Tke packing boxes 
were made two feet square and one foot deep. At the bottom of the box 
was placed n thick layer of moss, then came one thickness of mosquito 
bar. then a layer of eggs, then mosquito bar again, then other successive 
layers of moss, netting, eggs, and netting, and so on to Ihe middle of the 
box. Here u Arm wooden partition was fustened in, and the packiDg 
renewed above the partition In the same manner as below. The cover 
wus theu screwed ou the top, and unotner box packed. When two boxes 
were ready they were placed in wooden crutes, mnde large enough to al- 
low a space of three Inches on all sides of the boxes. This space was 
filled with buy to protect the eggs against changes of temperature. The 
cover belug put on the crate and the marking done, the eggs were ready 
to ship. 
This plan of packing seems, In spite or mnny severe criticisms that 
have been made upou it, to work remarkably well. Of the eggs sent in 
1873 to Orcnt Salt Lake, distant a thousand miles, only three per cent, 
were lost. Seth Green reports a loss on the 200,000 eggs consigned to 
him In 1873. of only eleven percent. In both Ihe transportation and 
hatching. Mr. James Thompson, of New Hope, Pa., writes as follows 
of the eggs sent him this season: “The 150,000 salmon eggs shipped 
from California, arrived in splendid order." The entire loss on this lot 
In transportation and hatching was only six per cent. These facts seem 
to show that the packing is all right. The trouble with those who found 
fault with it is. that they do uot understand what it is that kills the eggs 
In ihe lots lhatdO not go well. The mischief is not in the packing, but 
In the high temperature to which the eggs are exposed tn transit, i’ will 
agree to lake any of these lots of eggs to New York, and back to Califor- 
nia iu this packing, without serious loss, if I can have entire control of 
the temperature of the crates. Hut what can be expected of eggs that 
arc packed in a hot climate to begin with, are compelled to travel a 
whole day In n temperature often much above 100°, and then for several 
days either where the weather keeps tbeui warm naturally, or where the 
car containing them is artificially heated to an excessive degree, as is the 
case with the express cars, which convey the California salmon eggs 
and when In addition to all this they are delayed by negligent express 
agents several days beyond the regular time? 
1 challenge any one, whatever may be his ingenuity or skill, to pnek 
salmon eggs so that they will make the overland journey safely under 
these circumstances. If the eggs were not destroyed In any other way. 
they would, with these condltl ns. hatch out on the road from the heat’ 
and so perish. It should bo remembered that the following points must 
be combined in any method of packing the salmon eggs that is adopted 
for the overland trip:— 
Flret— They should bo compactly arranged, in order to reduce the ex- 
press charges, which are enormous at best. 
Second— The package ehould be largo and heavy, so that they cannot 
be knocked about the express car 
Third— The eggs and moss should be massed together in considerable 
quaniliics. to retain the moisture In the eggs, and also to be better pro- 
tected from changes of temperature. 
Fourth— The method adopted should be one that facilitates rapidity of 
packing, as the first boxes packed suRer while the others are being 
made ready. 6 
Fifth-General economy la regard to exponse should be studied, as 
with such a large number of eggs, even a email additional expense per 
thousand makes a large bill in tbe aggregate. 
No method that I have been made aware of combines these advanta- 
ges better than the one actually employed this season in packing the 
California eggs. Livingston Stone. 
afttral ^istorg. 
INSECT LIFE— No. 4. 
BY KEURA. 
T HE very extensive c\&ss—coleoplera, or the beetle 
tribe— to which the cockchafer belongs furnishes 
many other examples of insects exceedingly injurious to 
agriculture, both in the larva and perfect states. Such are 
the different kinds of weevil which attack grain, both 
while growing and when stored away iu the granary — the 
turnip fly, the wire worm, which is the grub of one of the 
little slender beetles allied to the exotic fire flies, and many 
others, an attentive study of whose habits in their various 
stages would probably suggest remedies for the injuries 
inflicted by them. On the other baud, the same class fur- 
nishes examples of insects conferring benefits upon man, 
either by preying upon other insects whose ravages inter- 
fere with his comforts, or with the supplying his necessi- 
ties, or by removing decaying substances which would 
otherwise become offensive to the senses. Of the former 
description are the larva: of the lady birds, which do good 
service by destroying the aphides infesting the hop. Of 
the latter, in a small way, is the sexton, or burying beetle, 
which actually consigns to the bosom of mother earth the 
body of any smull animal it may meet with, not, however, 
with a view of conferring a benefit upou the “lords of cre- 
ation,” but in order that its own progeny may he provided 
with a fitting nidus, and that they may find a sufficient 
store of provision on emerging from the egg. Au exceed- 
ingly pleasing description of the proceeding of this beetle 
and his m,ate, from the pen of an observer, who, we regret, 
now writes no more, appeared some years ago in the “En- 
tomological Magazine," with the signature of “Rusticus, 
of Godaiming," and is quoted by Mr. Newman in his "In- 
troduction to the History of Insects," from which we here 
extract it: — 
“The sexton beetle is about an inchin length. It is of 
black color, and so feet id that the hands smell for hours 
after handling it, and if it crawls on woolen clothes which 
, „ . . . groui 
In Russia, where the poor people are buried but a few 
inches below the suiface of the ground, the sexton beetles 
avail themselves of the bodies for this purpose, and Ihe 
graves are pierced with their holes in every direction; at 
evening hundreds of these beetles maybe seen in the church 
yards, either buzzing over recent graves or emerging from 
ikem. The sexton beetle in this country seldom finds so 
convenient a provision for him, and he is under the neces- 
sity of taking much more trouble. He sometimes avails 
himself of dead dogs and horses, hut these are too great 
rarities to be his constant resort. The usual objects of liis 
search are dead mice, rats, birds, frogs, and moles; of these 
birds and rats are most commonly obtained. In the neigh- 
borhood of towns every kind of garbage that is thrown 
out attracts these beetles as soon ns it begins to smell, and 
it is not uuusual to see them settling in our streets, enticed 
by l ho grateful odor of such substances. The sexton 
beetles hunt in couples— male and female— and where s x or 
eight are found in a large animal they are almost sure to 
be males and females in equal numbers. They hunt by 
scent ouly, the chase being mostly performed when no 
other sense would be very available, viz., in the night. 
When they have found a bird great comfort is expressed by 
the male, who wheels round and round above it like a vul- 
ture over the putrefying carcass of some giant of the for- 
est. The female settles on it at once, without this testi- 
monial of satisfaction. The male ut last settles also, and 
a savory and ample meal is-madu before the great work is 
begun. After the beetles have appeased the calls of hun- 
ger, the bird is abandoned for awhile; they both leave it to 
explore the earth in the neighborhood, and ascertain 
whether there is a place suitable for interment. If in a 
ploughed field, there is no difficulty, but if ou grass, or 
among stones, much labor is required to draw it to a more 
suitable place. The operation of burial is performed al- 
most entirely by the male beetle, the female generally hid- 
ing herself in the body of the bird about to he buried, or 
silling quietly upon it and allowing herself to he buried 
with it. The mule begins by digging a furrow all around 
the bird at the distance of about half au inch, turning ihe 
earth outside; his head is the only tool used in this opera- 
tion; it is held sloping outwards, and is exceedingly pow- 
erful. After the first furrow is completed another is made 
within it, and the earth is thrown into the first furrow; 
then a third furrow is made, and this is completely under 
the bird, so that the beetle, while working at it, is out of 
sight; now the operation can only be traced by the heav- 
ing of the earth, which soon forms a little rampart around 
the bird; as the earth is removed from beneath, and the 
surrounding rampurt increases iu height, the bird sinks. 
After incessant labor for about three hours, the beetle 
emerges, crawls upon the bird, and takes n survey of his 
work. If tlie female is on the bird she is driven away by 
the male, who does not choose to be iutruded upon duriug 
the important business. The male beetle then remains per- 
fectly still for about an hour, and does not stir hand or 
loot. Me then dismounts, dives again into the grave, and 
pulls the bird down by the feathers for half an hour; its 
own weight appears to sink it but little. At last, after two 
or three hours’ more labor, the beetle comes up, ngain gets 
on the bird, and again takes a survey, and then drops down 
as though dead or fallen fast asleep. When sufficiently 
rested he rouses himself, treads the bird firmly into iis 
grave, pulls it by the feathers this way and that way, and, 
having settled it to its mind, begins to shovel in the earth. 
Tins is done iu a very short time by means of his broad 
head. He goes behind the rampart of earth and pushes it 
into the grave with amaziDg strength and dexterity, the 
head being bent directly downwards at first, and theu th? 
