TAIL ROT IN TROUT 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your correspondent, R. T. Jackson, will 
experience the greatest difficulty in prevent¬ 
ing tail rot in trout. The disease is not 
known to me by this popular name, but it 
fairly describes a trouble which—thank 
goodness—is yet uncommon among these 
beautiful game fishes in their native haunts. 
The trouble no doubt is a form of der- 
matomycosis, caused by parsitic fungi such 
as Saprolegnia and Achlya. It is indeed 
a most destructive and disfiguring trouble, 
to which our less hardy fishes, when once 
infected, soon fall a victim, especially if 
kept under “artificial conditions.” 
The trouble is generally introduced with 
fresh stock and great care is necessary be¬ 
fore artificial ponds are stocked. All new 
supplies should be kept for at least four 
weeks in a quarantine tank under careful 
observation and all should be discarded 
which show the least sign of patchy tails 
or fins. Under no circumstances should the 
fish be handled, since the removal of the 
natural slimy covering offers an entrance 
for the fungi. If the young fish have re¬ 
mained sound during quarantine, then they 
may safely be placed in the pond. 
To get rid of the disease once it has be¬ 
come established, in the pond, is well nigh 
impossible. It is always a matter of doubt¬ 
ful success to keep trout in confinement. 
The trout is a roamer, a lover of cold 
water, well aerated and churned, and con¬ 
taining ample dark hiding places such as 
boulders, rocks, etc. A steady supply of 
running water is not sufficient for the well 
being of the trout. Next there is the im¬ 
possibility of providing natural food in 
quantity in artificial ponds. This lack of 
favored accommodation and food soon de¬ 
prives the trout of vigor with the result 
that the ever present parasites soon attack 
the sluggish fish and then there is no hope. 
If trout must be kept under artificial 
conditions—which seems a pity—the pond 
should be drained and allowed to dry out 
for some time—the longer the better. Then 
for a time no trout should be kept in it at 
all. Provide conditions as nearly natural 
as possible, particularly keep the tempera¬ 
ture of the water low and provide for a 
brisk inflow, remove the small water weeds 
and provide ever-changing diet—stock with 
sound trout and trust to better luck. If 
this fails—have a heart! 
H. T. Gussow, Canada. 
MORE ABOUT SALMON 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The following letter from E. L. Bassett, 
Esq., of Bournedale, under date of June 
3, will tell its own story of the latest from 
Long Pond, Plymouth, Mass.: 
“The salmon have started to bite, five 
have been taken within the last three days. 
All but one were caught in about thirty 
feet of water, trolling near the surface, 
that is, with patent spinner and smelt, no 
lead. One was caught in about twelve feet 
of water very near our wharf. The weight 
of these fish are as follows: 414 — 7 — 5 — 8 — 
6 J 4 lbs., all silver colored, and all Chinooks. 
The 7 and 5-lb. fish had large roes, look 
as though the)' were ready to spawn. I 
didn’t get the measurements of these fish. 
Their stomachs contained smelt, I was 
told. The eight-pound salmon I weighed 
and took measurements of and are as fol¬ 
lows : length 27", width at vent around 
fish nj4", in widest part 15”, tail 7 j 4 ” 
wide. This weight is accurate as I have 
had scales tested, and they are accurate. 
The fish had been caught for over an hour 
before weighed, and was eight pounds good 
and strong. It was the most perfect speci¬ 
men of salmon I have ever seen. It was 
very plump, thick through, and the scales 
shone like silver, quite a few fish have been 
hooked, but tore away. They are jumping 
some now, showing they are near the sur¬ 
face.” 
This letter was brought to my notice by 
the Massachusetts Commissioners of Fish¬ 
eries and Game who are doing such excel¬ 
lent work for the Commonwealth. These 
fish were planted as fry in October, 1915. 
John D. Quackenbos. 
[Dr. Quackenbos’s article “Pacific Sal¬ 
mon in Atlantic Waters,” which appeared 
in the July issue of Forest and Stream, has 
been the subject of much favorable com¬ 
ment. The fact that the regulations gov¬ 
erning the taking of trout and salmon in 
Massachusetts waters, which have been 
embodied in one law, are now separated 
would seem to indicate that there are an¬ 
ticipations of salmon fishing in other ponds 
than Long Pond. Editors.] 
PRESERVING SALMON SPAWN 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In the June issue a Mr. Willard Day, of 
Portland, Oregon, wants to know how to 
preserve salmon eggs. I have preserved 
many in this manner: Take the spawn in 
the fall of the year when it is large. Place 
a layer of sugar, then a layer of eggs until 
you have the amount you need. In a short 
time a syrup will form which preserves 
them. A fruit jar is good to put them in. 
Keep them below the line of syrup or they 
will turn dark. When wanted for use 
take out what you need and let the syrup 
drain off. It is a good idea to keep out 
of a strong light as this has a tendency to 
lighten their color. 
J. E. Ladd, California. 
RAISING HELGRAMITES 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Kindly publish information regarding 
the raising of Helgramites. Friends in 
Pomeroy, Wash., wrote me regarding them 
as most profitable. 
Charlotte F. James, Idaho. 
[Will one of the readers of Forest and 
Stream supply this interesting informa¬ 
tion? Editors.] 
R. T. B., Fort Lee, N. J.: 
Our camp is situated near a bluff on 
which grows a great deal of poison ivy. 
Will you tell me some simple remedies for 
this poison? 
Ans.-—Campers must always be on the 
lookout for this plant, the toxic properties 
of which are attributed to a non-volatile 
oil found in all parts of the plant even 
after long drying. Minute amounts of this 
oil are capable of causing extensive in¬ 
flammation. The oil is insoluble in water, 
but may be removed by alcohol or de¬ 
stroyed by a solution of sugar of lead and 
alcohol. As a preventive measure thor¬ 
ough and repeated washing with warm 
water and strongly alkaline soap as soon 
as possible after contact with poison ivy is 
advisable, and it should be borne in mind 
that the poison may be transferred indi¬ 
rectly from clothing, gloves, and imple¬ 
ments, also from towels used by those who 
have been in contact with the plant. 
Since ivy poisoning generally subsides 
within a few days, the treatment of mild 
cases is simple. There is, however, no one 
remedy that will cure all cases. In severe 
cases a physician should be consulted. Spe¬ 
cialists of the U. S. Department of Agri¬ 
culture have found the following methods 
and formulas useful in many cases: At the 
outset, removal of the cause of the irrita¬ 
tion may be accomplished by cleansing the 
inflamed surface repeatedly with alcohol, 
or with a saturated solution of sugar of 
lead in alcohol, using a fresh bit of lint or 
absorbent cotton each time, to avoid 
spreading the irritant. The sugar of lead 
solution can not be used over extensive 
a'eas because of risk of lead poisoning. 
Covering the inflamed parts with lint or 
absorbent cotton kept constantly moist 
with limew-ater or with a saturated solu¬ 
tion of bicarbonate of soda, will afford re¬ 
lief. When this can not be used, a simple 
ointment, such as zinc oxide ointment, is 
recommended. The acute inflammation of 
ivy poisoning is sometimes followed by 1 
eczema and secondary infections of the 
skin, which in mild cases will yield readily 
to treatment with bland antiseptic oint- ; 
ments. A formula highly recommended 
for ivy poisoning and often especially help¬ 
ful at this stage is the following: Carbolic 
acid, 2 grams; resorcin, 2 grams; bismuth 
subgallate, 4 grams; equal parts water and 
limewater to make 250 c.c. 
This solution is a poison and is for ex¬ 
ternal use only. It may be dabbed on the j 
affected parts several times a day. 
