374 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TROUT PONDS. 
Lake City, Minn., July 16th, 1375 
Editor Forest axd Stream:— 
I desire to call the attention of the many sportsmen who now or may 
hereafter spend the Summers In this locality to the fine opportunities 
afforded right here for valuable natural trout ponds. First, let me say 
that there Is not, perhaps, in all the West a more beautiful or lit place 
for the sportsman than Lake Pepin Valley, especially during the hot 
months. Many sportsmen, with their families, regularly spend their 
Summers here, aud always dud cool nights without any mosquito bites. 
It is a singular fact that we are not troubled with these little tormentor*. 
All these sportsmen get, of course, good trout, fishing In the various 
streams and private ponds; but the word “good" will soon have to be 
dropped unless an effort Is made to increase the supply. 
Let me repeat what 1 have said in former letters, viz: that wc have 
emptying Into the lake on oither side nine trout streams. The most of 
these streams have afforded an immense number of trout, but they have 
been so tremendously fished that their pristine glory lias departed. Yet, 
In all these streams many fish are still found, affording some fine sport 
and an ample number to stock any ponds that may be created. Many 
line localities for natural ponds on these streams ure found within three 
and five miles of Lake City, and for a small sum can be leased or purchased 
A dam that would create a pond sufficient to sustain tens of thousands of 
trorn would cost comparatively but little money, and not one cent to 
feed the fish. As a sample of what can be done ou these streams, I will 
refer to two mill ponds. One of these (Pine Creek Pond) affords from 
one to two thousand pounds of trout a year, and brings an Income to Its 
owner of five or six hundred dollars annually. And all this without ex- 
pending, from first to last, one single cent for the care or Increase of the 
fish Two such ponds are within three und five miles of Lake City. Both 
of these streams are small creeks, but natural, as are all trout brooks 
Trout are allowed to be caught from these ponds at thirty cents per 
pound, aim the amount taken every season seems almost iucredible; still 
there seems to be no decrease in number or size. Now, those wishing 
to spend their Summers here, aud wanting unlimited trout fishing, can 
have it lu the way indicated above; and in three years it could be made 
a source of income that would pay a greater interest on the capital rh«. . 
any other investment known. 
Let me add that I secured last Winter a special law to protect those 
who erect dams, and naturally or artificially propagate trout or other fish 
This law Is very striugent, and affords all the legal protection (hat can 
be desired . In conclusion, allow me to say that circumstances have pre- 
vented me from ever securing a right to one or more of these privileges, 
and I have therefore no “ax to grind," and desire only that some lovers 
of trout angling may be induced to avail themselves of these opportu 
nitles. Any further information I will freely furnish if desired. 
Db. D. E. Estes 
ffistorg. 
OUR HAWKS 
For Fure */ and Strtam. 
AND OWLS. 
«T JOSEPH It. BAITY- 
TROUT AND SALMON NEAR SAN FRAN- 
CISCO. 
Editor Forest axd Stream:— 
Sax Francisco, June 26th, 1875. 
The bait fishing for trout and salmon In Lake Merced still continues to 
be attended with good success. Mr. Kaeding, of the firm of Llddie & 
Kaediug, porting emporium, with one or two companions in his boat, 
has generally taken of a morning lately, from sunrise to about nine 
o'clock A M., from ten to twenty trout and salmon. Other parlies have 
also doDe tolerably well early in the day and late In the evening. I 
lately bad the pleasure of conversing with E. W. Leonard, Esq., one of 
our first enthusiasts and zealous operators in stocking our river* and 
lakes with game fish. He informed me that the first lot of trout put in 
Lake Merced was July 24th, 1365, aud the second lot of “red line trout," 
or California spacies. was April 3d, 18tlG. This has continued every year 
since. Speakiug of late sport in that lake I was informed by Mr. Liddle 
that two fishermen captured thirty-part trout and part salmon— bait 
angling, in four feet of water on a sandy bottom. 
I do consider the young salmon or grilse, as well as the Tahoe trout, so 
many of ib« former of which were taken in our bay last Winter aud 
.spring bait fishing, and both now in our lakes San Andrews and Merced 
to be the ntplw, ultra of table fish Their flesh, as you know, is of a 
light pink color, tender, curdy, and in layers, not containing near so 
much oil as the .kUmo talar, nor full grown Salmon, and on this ac- 
count chiefly to most persons, (I may say the best judges and of the most 
epicurean tastes.) they are more palatable than most of our more rich 
northern salmon, particularly when these Columbia and other river sul- 
mon are of large weight. As a game fish, too. of aonrse in furnishing 
amusement to the angler or fly fisher these fish have very few equals, as 
all sportsmen know who have experienced the rapid, und sudden grasp 
wiili wnicb they ceize Ihe hook, ihelr delirious struggle, and the uuick 
and careful work they require to safely land them, with fine tackle 
which all skillful angler* are almost sure to use. 
Besides the great lUb -hatching establishments at the McCloud River 
and 6an Maieo reservoir and creek, hi January last the Fish Commis- 
sioners of the State, (who have earnestly and intelligently performed tbeir 
duties,) erected a Slate hutching house at our State University at Berke- 
ley. near Oakland, across our bay. About the same time they sent East 
for OJ, 000 New Hampshire trout eggs. The succeaa of the enterprise 
scarcely has a parallel. Ninety-six per cent, of the eggs were hatched 
out The young fish have been distributed in San Pablo, Wild Cat, San 
Leandro, and otner creeks ou the same aide of the bay, extending down 
to the tributaries of the siream running through Alameda canon. Some 
15.000 have been sent to other localities in the State. Soon fishermen 
mar angle to their heart's content in many parts of the country which 
had been nearly exhausted of their finny Inhabitants, and catch the big- 
get. sauciest, and garaest of fish. In short, flsh culture is now matin* 
wonderful .tridcs here, and Is being rapidly brought to a sc.ence-a fact 
D ?, , 0D '/u\ , r 1 UltCrMtlOK to ,tj0ee who love 80 ranch the genlle art aud 
all Its delightful associations, but tending to solvo the world's most im- 
portant problem of how to supply the human family with wholesome 
E. J . Hooper. 
The Mahseeb.— This hsh, which takes the Diace in In- 
dia of the salmon and trout of Europe and Auie'rica, some- 
times auairis great size, reaching occasionally the enor- 
mous weight of from eighty to one hundred pounds, while 
forty pounds is by no means unusual. Artificial flies, 
grubs and grasshoppers are all used as bait, and sometimes 
even the ripe fruit of the fig tree is taken. They appear to 
inhabit nearly all tbe rivers of the Indian peninsula, and 
being very gamy afford great sport and a gratifying relief 
to tbe monotony of -pig sticking” and fruitless tiger 
hunting. b 
A MONO our Eastern birds of prey there are some spe- 
cies which are killed on every occasion when a good 
chance occurs, simply because they are lmwks aud owls 
and have long talons and sharp beaks, said to mnkc short 
work of poultry, game, and insectivorous birds. The 
greater number of I lie birds of prey are enemies of the 
farmer and fancier, and war should be made on them 
Wherever they arc found. Of this class of depredators I 
might mention the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk 
(hen hawk,) goshawk, cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk 
(chicken hawk,) pigeon hawk (bullet head,) peregriue fal- 
con, and the great horned owl. 
The red-shouldered and sharp-shinned hawks are the 
most rapacious, aud cause the fanner the most trouble. 
They are both numerous species, and during the breeding 
season they are exceedingly wary and difficult to shoot. 
Their nests are generally built in a wood near farm houses, 
and as soon as their young are large enough lo eat young 
birds they prey continually on the farmers flock, and it is 
then their voraciousness is most felt. On • chicken after 
another mysteriously disappears until finally a commotion 
is seen among the hens, and the rapacious little "sharp 
shin" is seen to come down like a shot, striking a chicken 
ns it passes through the flock, and in a moment more it is 
out of sight in some wood or hedge, where it cleanly picks 
its prey feather by feather until its whole body is bared, 
when it is then carried to its capior’s nest and torn iu smuli 
pieces and devoured by the young hawks. 
The red-shouldered hawk manoeuvres much in the same 
way, but preys on large chickens, aud ofteu on liens, which 
are more in proportion to its size. The red-tailed hawk is 
a powerful bird, and I once saw one strike a full-grown 
muskrat, which it tore to pieces and devoured the greater 
part. While the hawk was enjoying its feast I approached 
and shot it under the cover of a cut bank near a stream 
When dissecting the hawk I found its crop to contain the 
large hind foot and quarter of the muskrat, which had been 
swallowed whole. I have laken portions of the bodies of 
young woodchucks and gray rabbits from the craws of 
hawks of this species, aud tt is evident that'they prey largely 
upon mammals as well as fowl. This hawk is seen most 
during its migrations in Spring and Autumn, as the greater 
body of the species go North lo breed. The goshawk 
breeds in high latitudes, and usually makes ils appearance 
in the United Slates in October, and remains during the 
rest of the Fall and Winter. The goshawk is notoriously 
a killer of domestic doves, and I once saw one kill a full- 
grown game cock in my garden at Springfield, Mass. This 
species flies like the accipiters, and is often seen skimming 
low along the ground, darting among a flock of doves, in- 
variably seizing one as it passes. This bird is exceedingly 
courageous, and will boldly attack animals and fowls much 
larger than itself when hungry. During the past Winter I 
saw several of them in Minnesota chasing packs of the 
sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, which had been started 
from the “popples” and white birch trees where they had 
been budding. On one occasion I saw a young goshawk 
strike a ruffed grouse when on the wing, which it carried 
to a fallen log laying across a small stream. I was trailing 
a wounded doe at the time, and was carrying a rifle, but 
being curious to know the species of hawk, I stalked it 
behind the trunk of a large tree, and knocked it from the 
log with a forty-four ball. 
The pigeon hawk is easily recognized by its sharp wings 
and falcon’s flight, and is seldom seen only during the mi- 
grating seasons. I once knew of a pair of these falcous to 
nest in some heavy pine limber near Springfield, Mass,, but 
wub that exception I have never seen them in the United 
Stales— save a few stragglers seen along the coast of Maine 
—in the breeding season. The cooper’s hawk is very com- 
mon in some localities, and preys upon young fowl It is 
recognizable by its low flight (when hunting,) long tail, and 
short wings, and its mode of progress, which is mude by 
flapping the wings and sailing alternately. The peregrine 
fa con is the strongest and one of the largest of American 
falcons, and although it sometimes feeds on carcasses like 
the buzzard, its chief food consists of ducks which it 
generally strikes on the wing. This species of falcon was 
thought to be somewhat rare in the United States by many 
persons, hut it is commonly distributed throughout the 
greater part of the country, und on the plains of Montana 
1 have found it to be common, where it breeds on the cut 
banks near water courses. I have also found it common in 
Colorado breeding in the carious of the South Platte Diver 
also on cliffs on the Upper Arkansas (Arkansaw) and Mis- 
sourr Htvers. I have killed five of this species ou Lon* 
Island within ii few years, and they ace common residents 
on the I 1 ire Islands during the Fall and Winter. They feed 
largest of Hus class of birds is the rough-leggcd hawk . 
Us melanislic variety, the black hawk This species ft 
ft b ™ u °" 90 ™ favontt ! dewl fee watching for unfortu 
nute field mice that may chance to show themselves T , 
ars= hawk arrives in the Middle Slates i„ ()«oher, 
habits Ihe meadows and sail marshes, where It finds n ii" 
enough io sustain it. Next in order comes the marsh hawk 
winch is a numerous species, and their great numbers dt> 
stroy thousands, if not millions, of mice annually ThU 
bid is known by its slow and easy flight along the murtri,. 
of meadows und sides of creeks, and the female may 
recognized by her reddish brown plumage and the lanre 
while patch on the rump, which is very conspicuous when 
the bird is on the wing. The male marsh hawk is verv 
small compared with the female, and when flying it an- 
peats to be of a uniform pale bluish color. This 
ap- 
hawk 
often preys on small birds during the Summer, hut when 
the fields have been reaped and mowed, anil the mice are 
robbed of their friendly cover, the marsh hawk watch for 
the tiny rodents, and catch and devour great numbers of 
them. Inis species nests on the ground in swamps, some- 
times on an old muskrat house, and, like the pigeons, make 
Jlie first young ones assist in hatching the remaining eggs 
I lie male remains in the viciuity of the nest while the fe- 
male hunts. When the female is coming with Iter prey 
die give a her signal cry, the male meets her in midair re- 
icves her of her burden, and feeds il lo the young hawks 
V hi IP f lit* !/» dionmxnoi>.< I. «• _ . l . .. 
—Dr. W. B. Robertson, one of the Virginia Fish Com- 
missioners, received on the 8th inst. 125,000 young shad 
for the Roanoke River. They were furnished by the 
LniUid States Fish Commissioner, and were immediately 
forwarded to Staunton River Depot, to be pluccd in the 
fiti cam av that point. 
-We had pleasant visit* on Friday last from our valued 
srres pondents, Fred Matin 
the bmlthsoaian Institution. 
correspondents, Fred Mather, Esq, and Prof. Milner, o"f 
largely on sand pipers when on ihe sea coast, as’l haveseeu 
them catch several, aud I have taken pieces of several kinds 
°f f sand pipers from their craws. 
The great horned owl will breed most anywhere in a 
heavy limbered country, although I have found them most 
numerous in the northern portions of the United Stales I 
linfir /if t greale { b ? d y of lhcm k™cd fur north of the 
United States, and migrate south in Winter. Lust Winter 
T C - y con,mon in the pineries of Minnesota, 
and succeeded in trapping and shooting seven iu a few 
weeks At my camp near the Little Elk River they fre- 
?1 D1 [ stole • pheasants," (ruffed grou-e,) from trees and 
from the roof of my shanty, and the grouse were frozen as 
hard as stones yet the owls scraped them lo pieces with 
their powerful beaks and devoured the fragments greedily 
Moonhght nights I have heurd great horned owls^ooting 
from four directions almost at the same time. 1 was greatly 
surprised one bright sunny day to see a great horned owl 
pursuing a ruffed grouse closely on the wing in the manner 
ol an accipiter. This ill-omened bird will \ at neu Jy 
wh , e of a common hare, (Lopua American u«.) and f have 
taken wo of the lower jaws of those rodents from ihe 
?a^ aC t ftt* !‘?ft owl# . T . hc .K r CHt horned owl disgorges 
effort. f J ° ne UnU bair seeuii,J k I y with but little 
thS^Fjo 1 eptttk ! ,f the more harmless birds of prey 
in LSln 1 ni , “ gric l u . ll , uri8t ln “ measure, und feed chiefly 
on small rodents which are injurious to the crops The 
male hunts. When 
she gi 
lieves _ ........ 
while the female disappears in search of other game'' 
r lie sparrow lmwk is also a great slayer of mice, and, 
although he lulls many small birds, I think in the aggre- 
gate the farmer is his debtor. This little falcon is a widely 
distributed species, and 1 have found it everywhere .luring 
my rambles in the States and Territories in the belts of 
cottonwood timber near the water courses on the plains 
aud on the alpine summits of the Sierra Madre and Rocky 
Mountains. It is the prettiest of the falcons, and his ini. 
right little form is readily recognized by the ornithologist 
os lie observes him perched on some fence stake or dead 
Next comes the short eared owl, which I have never 
known to be guilty of killing a lurger animal than a mob- 
ile preys almost entirely upon mice, builds his nest on the 
ground in a northern clime, and, as far as mv personal ob- 
servations extend, he is a good-natured and ’timid fellow 
Sometimes he is very curious, and follows your dog closely 
over the meadows, snapping his hill and circling close 
around, yet he is harmless, and unless you ure in want of a 
specimen of Brachyotm cawinii, don’t shoot him. 
The little acatlian owl is not very well known in the East 
except by naturalists, yet he is worth a dozen cats black 
and tans, and mouse traps around stacks of wheat or a 
granary. This little mouse exterminator is rather common 
in Minnesota, anti several farmers told me they had often 
seen small owls without cars catch mice around their out- 
buildings. Two of this species were taken at my cantn in 
Minnesota during the past Winter, and one of their stoni- 
uchs contained some smnll shrews. This owl has been 
dubbetl the sawwhet owl, ou account of its peculiar 
screech, but as 1 have never heard its notes but two or 
three times, hesitatingly gtven, 1 cannot assert whether he 
is justly named or not. 
Next comes the screech or mottled owl. robed in his suit 
of red or mottled gray, as you may chance to find him 
btrange it is, birds of the same sex of this species arc 
found in two distinct plumages in the same nest. Evi- 
dently Dame Nature forgot herself when she put the led 
coat on the little gray screech owl; yet lie wears it with be- 
coming dignity, and freely associates with his more plainly 
dressed fellows. The screech owl is a good mouser vet 
when mice are scarce he sometimes visits the fancier’s’ cot 
and brums five or six of his choicest pigeons. I i„ lV e 
known an owl of this species to kill six of my full-grown 
pigeons m a night and lay five of them side by side in 
regular order. Aside from this one bad habit the mottled 
owl bears a good character, and in the long run he does 
more good than harm. b 
The burred owl is about two-thirds the size of his great 
horned cousin, bubo, and when looked in the face some- 
tiling m his countcnunce seems lo be wanting. Surely he 
an<M ht>\ Z , S ° n erC ® “ 9 relations. Ik- has no horns, 
? he . bl rl S ,t .ye | ll°w eyes of the other owls are suhsti- 
p 1 1 * ft"! black ° nes f,,r hic use ' Thw species may 
be called a timber owl, as they seldom stray far from the 
woods unless they arc-migrating. Their food consist! of 
shrews, mice, and birds, und the larger coleontera While 
returning to camp one evening last. November in Miuue- 
on *! SCrVC t < Y uffed gr !”T 8( 1 noting close to a stump 
“ , e , ™ n L - 1 aPPro'iched the bird within a few yards, 
whui it took wing, and immediately after a barred owi 
swooped down for it from a tree over my bend. Some of 
ft h r , d,m "? llle “Udi ns the hawk owl, snowy 
hST 1 ? hort r‘ red T 1 * 1 ‘*ave never known the 
f la ft n ? d 0wL Y° I m 'y '*y d >‘y until I visited 
Minnesota last 1« all. In conclusion I would say that it is 
2,21, ‘ft th * bar . red owl 011,1 and will do his share of 
ft 1 g > V V; n fo , od 19 scarce: y el '*« docs much good, 
uni bears a better character 1 1, an some of his yellow eyed 
fft tlon8 \ J here are other birds of prey of inter- 
e9tiug habits, yet it would be covering too much ground 
on one subject to speak of them all. 
HABITS OF THE WOOD DUCK — (Aix Sponsa.) 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
It is Wondertut to observe c, r , 8e |y the Mgaolty of certain animals and 
Y l0t ° ,,lytol,,torofil b,,t l° Instruct the devotee of 
naturul-tiatory. Among waterfowl tho wood, or Summer dock, takes 
runk us a bird 1 of^rtlflces and Instinct aurpasred by but few of our North 
die ftT,i b ft tOT i " Nln,lc «- '!•“ ntrong maternal Instinct of 
the wood duck which prompts her to seek an almost Inaccessible nesting 
place, secure from either the schoolboy or predatory animals. Often 
when traveling neur some lake or stream In Spring time a pedestrian 
n ,r‘ rP ft d , l< ’ He " “ wood d,,ck "y HWlf "y overhanging 
ml e J" ‘“m 10 " “ " L ‘ 8t ° f “KK" H,,,, K‘y ensconsed in the hol- 
low trunk from which the parent bird has Just flown. In a few days the 
young duckllugn from the tree are conducted to tho water, and here It l» 
hat the mother duck shows to the fullest all her t unning artifice, lo pro- 
tect her young. “ 
Oidy a short time since I came unexpectedly upon n brood of young 
ducks feeding upon a emu:! dough |„ company with the parent bird 
1 ho duck, after covering the retreat of the Utile ones, seemed tube 
struggling desperately to get away herself, but mimicked to perfection 
the action of a wounded, wlng-brokon bird. The ducklings were lying 
r ,U " ‘Y tW ' k ' forcovor - raid Olliers having their heads 
beneath the leaves to hide themselves. After an apparent utteinpt to 
fly, the mother would fall heavily on the ground, beatlug the grass with 
hor wlDgs and agulu rising feobly, as though thy effort exhausted hot. 
