FOREST AND STREAM. 
(£ultnr L e. 
Shad in the Delaware. — ' The Fish Commissioners of 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, having harmonized their 
views on fish culture, as respects the waters dividing the 
two States, are preparing to engage more actively than 
ever in shad culture on the Delaware ltiver. Hatch- 
ing boxes have been located at Point Pleasant— the same 
ground as last year — and in addition at a point at the 
head of tide water, just below Trenton, and at Dr. 
Howell’s Fishery, a few miles below Philadelphia, one of 
the most extensive fisheries on the Delaware, where all the 
shad desired in proper condition for manipulating, will at 
all times be available. 
— Salmon measuring six and a half inches long have 
just been captured in the Bushkill River, a tributary of 
the Delaware, where they were planted by the Pennsyl- 
vania Fish Commissioners. 
Salmon Cultuiie in Newfoundland. — Our frequent 
correspondent, A. M., informs us that the artificial breed- 
ing of salmon from spawn will be attempted at Heart’s 
Content this season. 
FISH CULTURE IN VIRGINIA. 
Leesbcro, Vn., May 31st, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
1 have been bo closely confined that I have been unublc to make any 
extensive explorations with regard to fish and Ashing. The trout dis- 
tributed from this place are doing well, being about twice ns large as 
when they were first put tn their respective springs. They have shown 
themselves In nil of these localities to be "ut borne;" so we may consider 
most of the spring branches In Loudoun county suitable places for the 
fOhtlnulu. I caught one a few days ago with a pin hook fastened into 
the metal end of a long shoe-string. 1 have reliable information of trout 
being caught In nearly nil the counties next the Ridgo from Loudoun to 
North Carolina— In Loudoun, Rappahannock. Madison, Nelson. Bedford, 
etc. It seems to mo that they flourish In Virginia mostly in limestone 
regions tn freestone springs, as for instance In West Virginia, I have 
friends who have caught them in the valley of Virginia, as well as in the 
country west of the Alleghany Mountains. They all think the trout 
streams comparatively free from lime. The limestone formation about 
Leesburg is comparatively hard, and is not held in solution to a great ex- 
tent. The appointment of Dr Ellzey as Fish Commissioner Is a good 
move on the part of our authorities, as he is a lover of natural history 
and an enthusiastic sportsman. Ro is trying now to make arrangements 
with fishermen or anglers liero to deliver him some black bass at Alex- 
andria for distribution through the State. The bluck boss seem to he 
filling the tributaries of the Potomac, and schools of email buss ten 
inches In length may be seen In Goose Creek any sunny day by the soli- 
tary stndeut. Goose Creek is a beautiful stream flowing iuto the Polo- 
mac and Is clear and rapid In its upper part; hut for the dams with no 
fishways, and the seining, the stream would be full of flue fish, The 
bass are making their way up this stream, and in high water pass over 
the highest dams. Oar experiment here has s nrted many ponds In the 
county, and if wo repeat next season we can dlsposo of the fish to many 
who ore anxious to raise them. In most of the spring branches here I 
find immense numbers of little shrimp -like creatures, squirming about 
mid looking as if they would servo for trout food. They have a kind of 
fringe in each side of ther bodies for legs, with long feelers extending 
from iheir heads, and are continually curling themselves In a circle with 
the pointed tentacles outward. I’ll write another time when I have 
something to write about. T. W 
HABITS AND METHODS OF PROPAGAT- 
ING FISH— SOME CURIOUS FACTS. 
T HE following is an abstract of an essay read before 
tbc Illinois Fish Culturists’ Association, at its re- 
cent meeting in Peoria, by Dr. \V. A. Pralt, the great Elgin 
fish cultunst: 
"To enter into details ol all the varieties of Fall-spawn- 
ing fish would make a volume of itself, and 1 have no time 
to write a volume, or even time to do any justice to the 
subject. I will simply mention a few things which came 
before the fish culturists hut quite recently, and may be 
new to some of you. You no doubt nil understand the 
method of receiving the spawn from the varieties of fish 
and the manner of hatching the eggs. Till very lately, or 
within two years, to hatch 2,000 trout eggs in a box eighteen 
inches square and six inches deep was doing all it was 
thought possible. Now, with the wire trays, set one above 
another, six times that number of fish can he hatched and 
better cared for than by the old method of hatching on the 
gravel. Hybridizing fish is carried on extensively iu cer- 
tain establishments in Europe. Considerable attention is 
also being paid to crosses between closely allied species of 
the mlmondi family, as the Salmo solar , the brook trout 
( Salmo fontinalis,) and the fish thus produced grow with 
greater rapidity, ami the flesh thus produced is of a supe- 
rior quality, is much more tender. It is with fish as it is 
with other auimals with deficient organs of generation ; 
they bear the same relations to other fishes of their kind as 
cattle, hogs, and sheep do. Salmon thus hybridized lose 
the instinct of migration to the ocean, and there is no rea- 
son why the same method may not he applied to other fresh 
water species and to certain sea fish with corresponding re- 
sults, the salmoiuli and most all species of fish which live 
iu the ocean and run up into fresh water to spawn. 
There nro other varieties of fish that live iu the large 
lakes and run into the tributaries and outlets to spawn. It 
might be ini cresting to all to know that the common eel, 
contrary to most fish, go to the salt water to spawn, their 
spawning season being the Fall, the same as the salmon and 
trout. The eggs of the eel are laid iu the sea, the most 
part, and the young, after a short interval, enter the mouths 
of rivers and streams in early Summer and pass up as far 
as tiu open passage will admit. After reaehiug a suitable 
place of abode it is supposed they remain for at least three 
years, growing to a considerable size. After becoming suf- 
ficiently matured, their instinct, probably that of reproduc- 
tion, carries them seaward agaiu during the Autumn, and 
two or three times has one ot our mills iu Elgin had its 
wuter wheel clogged by so large an amount of eels running 
down into it. As for the further history of the eel, we 
may state that its precise mode of copulation and repro- 
duction was entirely unknown until quite recently, hut 
that at the present time the view is maintained by very 
high authority, principally that of an Italian physiologist, 
that the eel is strictly hermaphrodite— that is to say, that it 
has both the male and female organs. They are said to be 
developed to the proper degree in Winter, and the eggs 
discharged from tlm ovary are fertilized by the seminal 
fluid leaving the body in a condition for further develop- 
ment. Science has hut very lately exploded the mistaken 
idea that the eel is a hermaphrodite, and what was called 
the testicle of the female is found to be but a fleshy sub- 
stance, and the male fish is slimmer and more flat than the 
female. It was only decided within the last year that, with 
but a pail of water once a day, a large amount of the sal- 
mon and trout eggs can he hatched. A hatching house etui 
he arranged right iu one’s cellar, and by the small amount 
of trouble of securing a pail of water from a spring or 
well one can hatch a considerable amount of eggs. I have 
mentioned a few things which I thought might be of in- 
terest to some persons who may not have made fish culture 
a study as I have. 1 want to say that the Fall-spawning 
fish is not found in our waters, and there is but one fish 
yet known that inhabit the waters of this State that spawn- 
in the Fall — that being the eel. I trust another Legisla- 
ture will give us better laws iu this State for the protection 
of fish, nnd that something may he done in the way of re- 
stocking our waters with better food fish.” 
AN ACT TO PREVENT THE DESTRUC- 
TION OF FISH. 
We publish for the benefit of enquirers the following 
law relative to protecting fish in Missouri: — 
Section 1. It shall not be lawful for any person to place 
in any river, creek, pond, lake, slough, bayou or other 
waters of this State, any medicated drug, fish-berry or mo 
culm indicus or other poisonous drug or substance, calcu- 
lated to poison, kill or injure any fish in any such waters; 
nor shall it be lawful for any person to place in any such 
waters any nitro glycerine or other explosive tiling or sub- 
stance, whereby any fish therein may he killed or injured; 
nor shall it be lawful for any person, by means of any such 
poisonous drug, thing or substance, or by means of any ex- 
plosive thing or substance, to take, catch or kill, any fish 
in any of the waters of this State. Any person who shall 
violate any of the provisions of this section shall be deem- 
ed guilty of felony, and on conviction shall he coufiued in 
the penitentiary not exceeding three years. 
Sec. 2. No person shall he allowed to place, erect or 
maintain, or cause to be maintained, across any of the 
waters of this State, or iu front of the mouth of any stream 
emptying into any other stream, any seine, net, trammel 
net, hag weir, fish dam, trap or other similar device or ob- 
struction, which shall prevent the passage of fish up or 
down in any such water or stream; nor shall any person or 
persons be permitted to use any such means or devices for 
the purpose of catching fish in waters solely upon t he pre- 
mises of the persons without the written consent of such 
owner or owners; nor shall any person, during the months 
of July and August, of any year, by means of such device, 
catch or take any fish in any of the waters of this State. 
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section 
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction he 
fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and 
shall stand committed until the flue and cost of process 
and trial be paid. * 
Sec. 3. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to 
prevent any person from erection and maintaining any 
dam according to law, across any water-course in this State, 
for the purpose of navigation, running mills, or other ma- 
chinery. 
Approved March 26, 1874. 
§e;i and Mit er ffi, ishiqg . 
FISH IN SEASON IN JUNE. 
Trout, Salmo fontinalis. Salmon Tront, Salmo coiyflnls. 
Salmon, Salmo solar. Sliad. A Iona. 
Maskenonge, &ox nobdior. Laud-locked Salmon, Salmo O lover l 
[Under the head of "Game, and fan in Season" we can miy tpeci 
fy in general terms (he several varie'les, because the laws of Stales vary 
so much that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no less 
than publish those entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in 
question. This would require a great amount of our space. In desig- 
nating game we ait guided by the laws of nature, u/>on which all legis- 
lation is founded, and our readers would do well to provide themselves 
with the laws qf them respective States for constant reference. Otherwise, 
our alternate to assist them will only create confusion.] 
Frsn in Market.— Fish of all descriptions continue plen- 
tiful. The most noticeable feature during the week has 
been the inoreasc in the supply of salmon, large quantities 
being received from St. Jouhs, N. B. and selling for 40 
cents per pound. Spanish mackerel are also abundant, 
coming from the Chesapeake Bay, price 30 cents per pound. 
Fresh mackerel arc not so plentiful as heretofore, and the 
price has advanced to 12 cents. A few shad arc still com- 
ing from the Connecticut Ilivcr and selling at 50 ceuts for 
the roe fish and 23 for the male. Sheepshead have arrived 
iu large quantities from Norfolk, selling for 12$ cents; a few 
from New Jersey bring 20 to 23 ceuts. Bluefish averaging 
in weight about four pounds, are coming from New Jersey 
and Loug Island, aud sell for 12 cents per pound. Halibut 
abundant at 12$ to 15 cents; cod, from Nantucket, 8 cents; 
weakflsh in large supply from Long Island, slow of sale nt 
8 cents; striped bass have been received from Rockaway 
beach averaging tweuty-five pounds each, being taken with 
a net in the surf; they sell for 15 to 18 cents. During the 
week soft crabs have been very abundant at from 50 to 75 
cents per dozen. Lobsters plentiful, large numbers being 
caught near Staten Island; selling for 8 cents per pound. 
Frogs logs from Canada, worth 50 cents per pound. Green 
turtles very abundant at 15 to 18 cents, according to size. 
—Anglers have been having fine sport with weakfisli in 
the Great South Bay duriug the past week. One party 
from Babylon were so fortunate on Monday as to laud a 
sheepshead weighing 17$ pound. It is still a little early 
for trolling, but a few bluefish have been taken with the 
squid in the inlet. The indications arc that fishing iu the 
bay this season will be excellent. 
277 
. —Weakflsh are now being taken in considerable quanti- 
ties in the Great South Bay, oil Babylon, Long Island. 
—Salmon made their appearance last week iu the Mira; 
michi River, New Brunswick, Canada. 
—A letter from Lock Haven, Pa., dated May 3lst, men- 
tions that a largo party from Baltimore passed through 
there on a splendid car en route for Kettle Creek, Potter 
county, where they intended to spend a week in fishing. 
1 his region was one of the finest in the country some years 
ago, hut the most accessible localities arc now much fished 
—The advices from the Magnctewau and Muskoka coun- 
try indicate that this fino game regiou will ho filled with 
visitors this season. We know of several parties going 
there,. and others who would go If guides could be pro- 
cured, which is not easy. 
The season for salmon fishing is rapidly approaching, 
nnd the lessees of rivers and those few who are fortunate 
enough to be their friends are preparing for the "June 
rise." Rod fishing in Canadian waters is at its prime about 
the 20th of July. 
Our friend A. J. Wilkinson, of Washington, will fish 
the York River during the first week of July by courtesy 
of Mr. Reynolds, its lessee. 
Mr. Fred Curtis, of Boston, deserves a largo score on his 
river— the Dartmouth— for he very generously volunteered 
last year to let the Canadian fishery oQicers net his salmon 
for hatching purposes whetr the Canadian lessees declined. 
We hope Mr. Curtis will get full credit for this net. 
Dr. Frank Clerk will no doubt pay his annual visit to 
the Grand River, an excellent stream, in Gospe; and there 
ate other gentlemen who are booked for choice localities, 
which we should like to ohtaiu permission to reveal, for 
the satisfaction of their curious friends. At all event 9 , 
when the anglers are fairly at work on their respective 
grounds we shall make mention of their whereabouts lest 
their relatives be anxious. 
For those who want salmon fishing nt a moderate cost 
there is the river Marguerite— a branch of the Saguenay— 
which is advertised in our paper by Messrs. Willis Russell, 
of Quebec, and Abbey & Iinbrie, of 48 Maiden lane, this 
city. Parties can fish this river at $50 a week, aud enjoy 
all the comforts to he expected in camp. There nro good 
buildings and hunks on the river, nnd skilled attendants. 
Other rivers which deserve the attention of anglers are 
the Nouvelle and the Romaiue, the former famous for its 
sea trout in June and July, and the latter for its heavy sal- 
mon. Rod privileges for the latter at $150 for the Henson 
can be had by applying to Capt. J. W. Coventry, Nouvelle, 
Bonaventuve, Proviuce of Quebec, Canada. There are 
good buildings on the river, and no nets. This chance 
ought to be eagerly embraced. There are vastly more ex- 
pensive rivers which will not yield such rich returns. 
—Quite a large number of sportsmen are hooked for the 
wilderness of Northern Michigan, which the Grand Rap- 
ids and Northern Indiuna Railroad has recently opened up. 
For description of this couulry, see Forest and Stream 
April 8th. 
—Messrs. J. B. Crook &Co., the well known rod makers, 
of 50 Fulton street, wish us to inform our angling constit- 
uents that they have a lot of selected and seasoned green- 
heart wood, in the rough, which they will ho pleased to 
dispose of to any wishing to use it for the manufacture of 
fishing rods. Much of the imported stuff is green, and 
when worked up warps, but this can be depended on to 
keep straight. 
New York. — Camp Comfort, the Adirondack «, June 2d, 
1875. — Here I find trolling and fly fishing unequaled— iu 
fact, for the past five years I have not met with equal sue- 
cess. Very few persou9 in the woods, to which I attribute 
in a great measure success iu luck and sport. The Murray 
fever has subsided ; the reaction has commenced ; hardly 
enough here to pay their respects with becoming honor to 
a four-pound river trout. At Martin’s I find registered the 
Smith party from Buffalo, and Messrs. Batehcller & Co. 
from Vermont. At Bartlett's, Hon. W. A. Wheeler anil 
wife, Malone, N. Y.; Dr. J. R. Romeyn and wife, Keese- 
ville, N. Y.; Mr. E. Titus and party, from New York. At 
Paul Smith’s, a party or two; names unknown. The woods 
this year preseut their usual attractions, aud would that 
you were here, and other equal lovers of the rod, reel and 
fly (veterans) to enjoy the unequaled sport, which we love 
aud cherish. As I am wriiing from the Suranac Lake re- 
gion — Raquette River and Tupper’s Lake country — 1 can- 
not add any information from the southwest direction. 
8. S. N. 
—A Utica party, led by Gen. R. U. Sherman, started last 
week for the North Woods, and here's a contrivance the 
Utica Herald says they take with them : 
“They will carry with thorn a putent collapsible boat, 
owned by Chief Operator Howe, of the Western Union 
Telegraph office. This is quite a novelty. It is about four- 
teen feet in length, weighs sixty pounds, and will carry 
three persons, or 1,200 pounds in weight. The model is 
very handsome, aud is provided with a sharp keel. The 
frame is of hickory, and so arranged as to he taken apurt 
nnd folded into a size that can easily he accommodated un- 
der a buggy seat. The covering is of one piece of heavy 
duck, which is perfectly waterproof. The design is novel, 
and Mr. Howe says it is to he arranged so that boats can he 
folded and put away in the staterooms of steamers, and be 
ready for service as quickly as the time required for the 
adjustment of a life preserver. The fishing party will test 
the boat thoroughly before they return.” 
— While fishing in his smack off Montauk, May 11, Capt. 
E. T. Rackctt, of East Marion, caught a codfish weighing 
about thirty pouud9. When the fish was opened the fol- 
lowing curious assortment of articles were fouud iu its 
stomach; One Russia turnip of good size, one potato, oue 
parsnip, one cabbage stump, three of the fish called sea 
robius, some times known as “grunters.” The vegeta- 
bles were all in fair condition, aud had evidently been 
swallowed only a few hours before the fish was caught, 
