162 
rifles or shot guns, and we took our stations on the upper 
deck. Aswe stood near the wheel-house an old negro, 
who was steering, exclaimed, ‘‘See, dar’s one!” at the 
same time pointing towards a large object. Jis words were 
followed by the sharp crack of half a dozen rifles, and as 
many voices excitedly shouted, ‘‘I have killed him.” But 
the loud laugh from some of the experienced hunters and 
a broad grin on the black face of the pilot, told these ama- 
teurs thatthey had been sold. Their bullets had merely 
set free the gases contained in the carcass of a dead alli- 
gator. 
A short distance beyond this point we saw a flock of 
about twenty wild turkeys on the river bank. They were 
beneath some orange trees and were very tame. As we 
came in sight of them there was a simultaneous discharge 
of fire-arms; but in the excitement of the moment it was 
entirely without effect. The turkeys scattered right and 
left, and were soon lost in the thick underbrush. 

Soon after this the alligators became quite numerous, 
and the deck sf the steamer presented an animated scene, 
resounding with the sharp crack ofrifies. The hideous rep- 
tiles were in all positions; some were sleeping on the banks, 
others half in the water, and some were swimming swiftly 
about with only their ugly snouts and repulsive looking 
eyes visible. 
Sometimes one would roll over in his death agony, after 
receiving a single shot. Then the attention of the whole 
party would be turned to one individual, and he would es- 
cape beneath the water pierced with a dozen balls. 
They would die in all positions; some would turn over 
upon their backs, but oftener they would lie as they had 
been shot. The most fatal place for ‘a ball to strike ap- 
peared to be in the head. Thereport that a rifle bullet will 
glance from the back of an alligator is entirely unfounded. 
I have seen them shot in every part of the body, and have 
yet to meet with a single instance of the kind. The 
ball always penetrates easily if thrown with ordinary force. 
Many of these reptiles are destroyed by the passengers of 
every steamboat which passes up and down the river, yet 
their numbers are scarcely diminished. 
The alligator grows to a large size, some measuring sey- 
enteen feet in length, The large ones are quite dangerous, 
but a closely allied species—the caymen, of South America, 
which is occasionally found in Florida—is particularly no- 
ticable for its fierceness. Ihave met with it but once. 
Three of us were crossing the country which lies between 
Lake Harney and Indian river, on foot, when we came toa 
dense swamp. As we were passing through it we discoy- 
ered a huge reptile, which resembled an allizator, lying in 
a stream just to the right of our path. Ile was apparently 
asleep. We approached cautiously within ten rods of him 
and fired two rifle shots in quick succession.’ The balls 
took effect just before his fore leg, and striking within two 
inches of each other, passed entirely through his body. As 
soon as he felt the wounds he struggled violcntly, twisting 
and writhing, but finally became quiet. We waded in and 
approached him, as he lay ona bed of green aquatic plants 
with his head towards us. It wasresting on the mud, and 
one of the party was about to place his foot upon it, when 
a lively look in the animal’s eyes deterred him. Stooping 
down, he picked up a floating branch and lightly threw it 
in the reptile’s face. The result was somewhat surprising. 
The huge jaws opened instantly, and the formidable tail 
came round sweeping the branch into his mouth, where it 
was crushed and ground to atoms by the rows of sharp 
teeth. ’ 
His eyes flashed fire and he rapidly glided forward. 
Never did magician of Arabian tale conjure up a fiercer 
looking demon by wave of his wand, than had been raised 
to life by amotion of the branch. For a moment we were 
too astonished to move. The huge monster seemed bent on 
revenge, andin another instant would be uponvs. We 
then saw our danger, and quicker than a flash of light, 
thought and action came. The next moment the gigantic 
saurian was made to struggle on his back, with a bullet in 
his brain. It had entered his right eye and had been aimed 
so nicely as not to cut the lids. To make sure of him this 
time we severed his jugular vein. : 
While performing this not very delicate operation, he 
thrust out two singular-looking glands from slits in his 
throat. They were round and resembled a sea-urchin, be- 
ing covered with minute projections. They were about 
the size of a nutmeg, and gave out a strong musky odor. 
We then took his dimensions, and found that he was over 
ten feet in length, while his body was larger round than a 
flour barrel. The immense jaws were three feet long, and 
when stretched open, would readily take in the body of a 
man, ‘They were armed with rows of sharp white teeth. 
The tusks of the lower one when it was closed projected 
out through two holes in the upper, which fact proved to 
us that it was not a common alligator, but a true crocodile, 
(Crocodilus acwrus.) This is the second instance on record 
of the capture of this reptile in the United States, 
C. J. Maynarp. 

A rib of a fossil whale has been found in Anne Arundel 
County, Md., imbedded 200 feet below the average level of 
the surrounding country. This ‘curiosity has been secured 
by Dr. John F King of Baltimore, who gives the following 
theory of the ‘“‘why and the wherefore” of it happening 
there: This skeleton was deposited when the continent 
was submerged, at a period when the Alleghany Mountains 
were hidden by the sea, and ages before the Eastern Shore 
of Maryland became dry land ; in fact, when the Atlantic 
and Pacific Oceans mingled their waters and rolled uninter- 
ruptedly across the American Continent. It was deposited 
there long before any quadrupedal animal-or man appeared 
upon the earth—ages before Adam lived.— Tribune, 


THE ANGORA GOATS OF GUADALUPE. 
thn: OEE, 
U. 8. Parent OFFIce, 
Wasnineton, D. C., Oct. 18th, 1873. 
Eprror Forest anp STREAM :— 
I have read and smiled over your pleasant editorial, in 
Forest AND STREAM of October 9th, touching the Guadalupe 
Island (California) enterprise, notwithstanding your humor 
is indulged at the expense of a company in which I am in- 
terested, whose project I haye closely watched from its in- 
cipiency, and about which I may fairly claim to know 
something. But as you are manifestly in error regarding 
the enterprise, and the statements and calculations of its 
managers, which you have ereatly misapprehended in your 
article, thereby unconsciously doing both much injustice, 
I make no apology for this effort to set you right, having 
confidence that your journal willin the end prove as fair 
and just as it is high-toned and excellent. 
Your article says ‘“‘a company propose purchasing Guad- 
alupe,” &c. The fact is, the purchase was consummated 
nearly one year ago. The Guadalupe Island Company was 
incorporated under the laws of California, January 25th, 
1873, and at once commenced active operations by putting 
on improvements and shipping to the island a band of fine 
Augora bucks to be used with the native ewes already there 
in breeding up future generations to a fleece-bearing stan- 
dard. 
You have entirely omitted to mention the important fact 
stated in the prospectus to which you refer, that the num- 
ber of common goats on the island at the time of its pur- 
chase was approximately, twenty thousand. (There were 
some 82,000 slaughtered on the island for their skins and tal- 
low alone during the five years preceding its purchase by 
its present American owners.) One half of this twenty 
thousand being males, are to be slaughtered in order to stop 
the propagation of this non-fleece-breeding race, while the 
remaining ten thousand, being females, are not to be killed 
off, but utilized as breeders by crossing them with pure and 
high-grade Angora bucks. The offspring cf the third cross 
(seven-eighths Angora) is a fleece-bearing animal. So that 
when you speak of the directors ‘‘commencing with one 
hundred bucks,” and counting that in ten years they will 
have in goats and fleece a capital representing the neat 
amount of $2,270,990.40, omiting altogetheras-you do, to 
give the number of breeding ewes, you lead your readers 
entirely estray and justify them in drawing your own too 
hasty conclusion, 2., that the company’s estimates are ex- 
aggerated. The fact is, as I have just shown you, that in- 
stead of the above aggregate being claimed as the result of 
ten years’ breeding with a few hundred ewes, it is the result 
of a careful calculation, based upon twenty-five per cent. 
less than the known ratio of natural increase of the goat in 
California, showing the yield in numbers, fleece and value 
of five thousand ewes and a proportionate number of Angora 
bucks in that length of time. ‘To these five thousand native 
ewes (being only one-half the entire number now on Guada- 
lupe Island) have already been added more than one thous- 
and pure and high-grade Angora ewes. A large number of 
Angora bucks haye also been sent on since the first ship- 
ment last spring. 
It will thus be seen that this enterprise is organized upon 
no narrow or unsafe basis. Commencing on such a broad 
foundation, having a vast range, comprising more than 
166,000 acres of rich grazing grounds, affording ample natu- 
ral food for at least seventy-five thousand goats, and pro- 
ducing the most prolific, hardy, cheaply-raised and. profita- 
ble of all fleece-bearing animals, the projectors and man- 
agers of the Guadalupe Island Company are not willing to 
admit that their enterprise is specious in its character, chim- 
erical, visionary, impracticable, or that their estimates are 
exaggerated. 
Finally, the enterprise is no experiment. You say truly 
“that the Angora Goat can be profitably raised in Califor- 
nia, admits of no doubt.” There isno room for doubt on 
this point, when the manager of El Rancho Guadalupe 
himself, (Mr. Landrum,) has successfully raised them in 
that State for twelve years past. 
Angora breeder on the Pacific Coast, may be presumed to 
know whereof he aflirms in regard to the wonderful prolific- 
ness and healthfulness and profitableness of this animal in 
that latitude anda favoring climate. And of his integrity, 
good judgment, and fair mindedness there can be no doubt. 
I think I have now given you enough facts to show the 
true state of the case with regard to this great paradise in 
the Pacific. I doubt not your article was written upon a 
hasty and insuiticient reading of the Company’s prospectus, 
and that you will cheerfully correct the wrong impression 
you have made. Tam Sir, Yours Respectfully, 
HARRISON GRAY Oris. 
Fr 1 
PROPAGATION OF SALMON. 
a 
lip aly the past season the first attempt to obtain the 
eggs of the sea going Salmo Salar within the limits 
of the United States was made at Orland, on the Penobscot 
river ; and as this was also the first authenticated experi- 
ment for confining salmon for breeding purposes during 
the summer and fall, it deserves some mention. It was 
necessary to buy the salmon from the fishermen near 
Bucksport in the early part of the summer, because later 
in the season they are scattered over the headwaters in the 
wilderness. It was found that in common brook, river or 
pond water, of sufficient depth and flow, the salmon would 
remain in perfect health from June to November. A pond 
specially prepared for them in a clear, cold brook proved 
unsuitable, and every salmon there died. The seventeen 
fish that remained in hand at the beginning of the spawn- 
He being the pioneer 

ing season were confined ina pond built of stakes and nets on 
‘the margin of a large pond. The area enclosed was some 
‘fifteen or twenty square rods, and the depth of water about 
six feet at the deepest point. Confinement in this limited 
space does not seem to have hindered in the least the devel- 
opment of the spawn or milt. Ten out of the seventeen 
proved to be females and nine of them yielded eggs freely. 
The method of fecundation differed from that commonly 
employed, in that the eggs and milt were carefully kept 
from the water till they had come in contact. This method 
is of Russian origin. It was in this case remarkably suc- 
cessful. About ninety-six per cent. of the eggs were 
fecundated. They were taken between the 2d and 10th of 
November, and on December 18th they were packed up to 
the number of seventy thousand five hundred, and distrib- 
uted in nearly equal proportions to the tirree States of Maine, 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. The conditions under 
which the seventeen salmon were kept, preclude the idea 
that they could obtain any considerable amount of food, 
and there is no good reason for thinking that they ate any- 
thing at all after they were brought from the salt water in 
which they were caught. They slowly fell away in flesh, 
and at the spawning season were very gaunt compared with: 
their condition inJune, More noteworthy was their change 
in color and shape. In color they were darker, with 
clusters of red spots on their sides, and a general reddish 
tinge covered the lower part of the body in nearly all 
cases. These colors and markings were dull and indistinct 
in the females but were very bright in most of the males. 
In shape the females had undergone .some change about 
the head, but it was not remarkable. In the males, how- 
ever, the alteration was very marked. The sides were flat 
and broad, the back arched high, the head seemed dispro- 
portionately large, the jaws were long and curved. At the 
extremity of the lower jaw was a large curved process that 
shut into a cavity in the roof of the mouth. There was, 
indeed, as great a difference between the two sexes, as be- 
tween the males and females of our domestic fowls. Yet in 
June there was so little difference that only a practised eye 
could distinguish the male from the female salmon. The 
fishermen who had been handling them all their lives had 
never observed the difference, 
During the process of spawning and after its completion 
both sexes continue to fall away in flesh, and the colors 
begin to fade. At the end of a month the process on the 
lower jaw is found to have decreased in size. Two females 
and one male taken from the water on the 23d November, 
thirteen days after the completion of the spawning, were 
forwarded to the Peabody Academy of Science. To the 
same institution was sent another specimen, a male, that 
was put early in July into a pond of one or two hundred 
acres in Bucksport, and running into a brook in November, 
was taken thence after ten days. This was the finest speci- 
men seen, a strong, stout-built fish, thirty-four inches long 
and weighing eleven and a half pounds. His colors were 
unusually deep, perhaps in consequence of the deep, red- 
dish color of the water, through which nothing could be 
seen at the depth of three feet. CrLGr Ag TS 
bo <p 
EXPERIENCE WITH A YOUNG SETTER. 
ee eg 
JAcKSON, Miss., October 11, 1873. 
Epiror Foresr anp SrREAM:— 
It was on a cloudy ‘afternoon during our late commercial 
panic that, having nothing to do, I took my gun and, ac- 
companied by a pointer dog named Don, belonging toa 
friend of mine, and Dash, a pointer pup four and a half 
months old, started out after partridges, (quails), A 
walk of about halfa mile brought Don—a slow but very 
staunch dog—to a point. An old bird out of the covey for 
the right, and a miss on a young bird for the left barrel, 
and the covey has gone to thick cover. During this I kept 
an eye on the pup as much as possible; he was accustomed 
to the report of my gun, I having taken him out when 
testing my breech loader. As soon as I could notice Dash, 
after the birds got up, I found him coolly sniffing the dead 
bird. A quarter of a mile further on brings Don down on 
a covey near a tall Osage orange hedge. There they go, 
with a whirr as startling as if you’d set a cotton mill going 
in the streets of Jackson! One barrel only at them, for 
they go like bullets! A clean miss for me—Dash quite 
happy, but Don very much excited. The next field brings 
the old dog to a stand with the birds between him and my- 
self. Dash is trudging along at my heels, and as I approach 
the covey near enough the thought strikes me to let Dash _ 
go in and flush the birds, for Don would not flush if you 
kicked him. Whoever hunts over him must do that part 
of the business (the flushing, not the kicking) himself. 
This is not very satisfactory in heavy cover, especially 
when you can’t reach the bird; but on the whole it makes 
a safe dog—one that will ‘‘freeze” toa bird. This en pas- 
sant, : 
When I think myself as close to the birds as prudence 
will allow I stop, and the youngster trots on as unconcern- 
edly as if there was not a bird within miles of him. All 
at once he stops and slightly crouches with his right fore- 
foot raised; it goes down again, and now for arush into 
the covey! No; he raises his left hind foot, which is in- 
stantly put down again and the first position resumed, when 
he settles down to as steady a point as any bird hunter 
wishes to see. A perfect picture—immovable, but quiver- 
ing with excitement. Now, Mr. Editor, I acknowledge to 
a quick pulse and a shorter breath when waiting for a co- 
vey to rise; what then must have passed through the brain 
of the youngster ? Oh, some say, it was the 
finely bred dog. Yes, it was the ins 
puppy pomt, but was it instinct Al 






