


them with silt to an extent that will destroy them. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
363 

Hamburg, in regard to their naturalistic studies and re- 
searches. Emulating the Medici, who were not only the 
greatest of merchant princes, but learned in all thmgs, and 
judicious collectors, the Messrs. Godeffroy, an extensive 
mercantile and shipping house, divide their attention be- 
tween business and natural history. These “merchants 
have for some yeas 
parts of the Pacifie who have collected and prepared for 
them many unique specimens for their well known scien- 
tific institution, the “Museum Godeffroy.” In this museum 
may be found that wonderful collection of birds which fur- 
nished the material for Doctors Finsch’s and Hartlaub’s 
“Birds of Central Polynesia,” published some years ago. 
A work on the Polynesian flshes has just been issued, due 
to the same Godeffroy collection. The work is described 
to be one of the most perfect ichthyological monographs 
ever issued. 
pce 
Osrruary.—Died at Long Lake, Hamilton county, New 
York, on Wednesday, 17th ult., John D.-Sabattis, for many 
years one of the most favorably known of the Adirondack 
guides, A correspon lent, who knew Sabattis better than 
we, although we knew him well, writes:— 
“‘Sabattis had many friends among your subscribers and 
men who may have expected to secure his services as a 
guide in the future. Ile was a young man for whom I had 
great esteem, and with whom [ have loitered many happy 
days among the mountains and on the lakes of the North 
Woods. Among the guides of my acquaintance he was 
the chief, and I cannot express too highly my appreciation 
of his qualities as a sportsman and guide, or the loss to his 
friends. He wasa true sportsman, a conservator of the 
fish and game, and I fear that his influence and example 
will be greatly needed among the men who are: killing off 
the game and fish along the Racquette for the markets.” 
Se ee 
—Future Australian travel will undoubtedly be under- 
taken with camels. The native Australian seems to have 
an instinctive dread of the camel, and supposes him to be 
akangaroo of gigantic size, who is only too ready to make 
a leap of a hundred yards and to devour him. Indifferent 
as the Bushmen are to horses and cattle, they take to their 
heels on seeing a camel. Major Warburton, who has just 
started on an extended exploration into the interior of the 
Australian continent, has abandoned horses and taken with 
him sixteen of the vessels of Sahara. The camel would 
seem peculiarily adapted for travel in Australia, where 
water is scarce, and in many places the only things edible 
for stock are thorns and prickly shrubs. 
_ ffish Culture. 
—The extraordinary mild weather of the winter, we fear, 
will have caused the ova of trout and salmon to hatch pre- 
maturely, and the freshets to sweep off the eggs or cover 
Even 
the minnows and ‘‘wrigglers,” and all small fry generally, 
that.cannot find refuge in laterai harbors and places of 
refuge, will be carried down stream and leave the larders 
of the grown fish empty. So that pisciculturists who, per- 
chance, may not find their anticipations realized this sea- 
son must not predicate their want of success upon the sup- 
position of misapplied theories. In view of the efforts now 
being made by the United States Fish Commission to plant 
and acclimate Pacific salmon and other varieties of food 
and game fish in our Eastern waters, we regard the present 
meteorological conditions of earth, air, and water as ex- 
tremely unfortunate. 
By the way, and not exactly in this connection, observant 


- anglers will notice how ravenously great trout rise to feed, 
It is of no use to 
but try their voracity 
just upon the subsidence of a freshet. 
waste time while the flood is rising, 
just upon the turn. 
ha eh ce 
ANGLERS’ Associa Tion.—The Anglers’ Deaodog held 
a meeting in Boston Thursday evening, January 8th, in 
Codman Hall, at which the President, Dr. John P. Ord- 
way, occupied the chair. 
The committee on the preservation of lobsters asked, and 
were granted, further time for their investigations. 
The committee on spawning beds reported that smelts 
were in the market, and that they were of an inferior and 
sickly quality, and, as supposed, were received from New- 
buryport. The report of the committee also stated that it 
was suspected that the spawning beds had been seriously 
damaged by persons from Weymouth, and that fish had 
been sent here from Canada which were of an impure and 
unhealthy quality. , 
Messrs. Charles Stanwood, 8. W. Hathaway, S. W. Ho- 
vey, and J. H. C. Campbell were appointed a committee to 
look after the interests of the trout fisheries, it having been 
reported that some of our fish markets were offering for 
sale speckled trout which were unfit to eat, and should not 
have been taken. 
After the election of several new members, the meeting 
went into executive session, which would probably result 
to the sorrow of the violators of the provisions of the 
smelt law, which reads:—‘‘Whoever takes any smelts with 
a net of any kind, or in any other manner than by naturally 
or artificially baited hooks and hand lines, shall forfeit for 
each smelt so taken the sum of twenty-five. cents,” excep- 
tion being provided for in the act in case tgcse fish happen 
to be caught in instances when seining for herring, ale- 
wives, &e., is lawfully allowed. 
employed scientific men in various 


-months, 
| and worthiest disciples of Isaac Walton. 
Tue AMERICAN Fish Cuururists Assocration.—The 
Third Annual Meeting of this Association will be held in 
New York, on Tuesday, February 10th, 1874, at the office 
of Mr. George Shepard Page, No. 10 Warrren street. 
Hon. Spencer F. Baird, U. 8. Commissioner of Fisheries, 
has been invited to read a paper on his recent examination 
into the condition of the Coast Fisheries of New England; 
Charles G. Atkins, Esq., of Bucksport, Maine, special 
commissioner for the associated States, to read a paper on 
the collection of salmon ova and salmon hatching at Bucks- 
port; Rey. Livingston Stone, of Charlestown, N. H., a pa- 
per on his recent experiments in the collection of salmon 
ova in California and the food fishes of the Pacific coast, 
Seth Green, of Rochester, N. Y., Fish Commissioner for 
the State of New York, on his recent experiments in the 
collection of the ova and hatching of the useful fishes; E. 
A. Brackett, Fish Commissioner for the State of Massachu- 
setts, on fishways and to give an account of the fishway re- 
cently erected on the Connecticut river, at Holyoke, Mass. ; 
Chan Laisun, of Springfield, Mass, commissioner on Baines 
tion from the Chinese government to the United States, to 
read a paper on fish culture in China; Rev. William Clift’ 
president of the Association, a paper on the ‘‘transmission of 
qualities in species,” as related to fish. Ton. Horatio Sey- 
mout, Fish Commissioner for the State of New York; R. 
J. Pike, Fish Commissioner for the State of Connecticut; 
J. H, Slack, Fish Commissioner for the State of New 
Jersey, and James Worrall, Fish Commissioner for the 
State of Pennsylvania, have been invited to read 
papers on subjects of their own choosing. The read- 
ing of papers will be followed by a discussion of 
topics relating to Fish Culture. A full attendance of mem- 
bers is desired, and all others interested in the object of the 
meeting are cordially invited to attend. We shall print 
special reports and abstracts of the papers read. 
pee. 
‘CHARLESTOWN, N. H., 
Eprror FoREs? AND STREAM :— 
I beg permission to enclose the accompanying letter to 
you for publication in your journal. 
LIVINGSTON STONE. 
CHARLESTOWN, N. H., Jan. 6th, 1874. 
Hon. Spencer F. Barrp. 
DEAR Srm.—The California saimon in my possession to 
the number of 35,000 were shipped from here by the 7 
P. M. train on Friday, December 26th, 1873, in charge of 
Mr. Myron Green. [am now in reccipt of a letter from Mr. 
Green saying that he arrived at Swanton, Vermont, the 
next morning at eight o’clock with the salmon in first-rate 
order. He then took the fish up the river in a wagon and 
placed them as follows:—The first lot was placed in the 
Missisquoi River,two miles above Swanton, where there was 
a coarse, gravely bottom, with plenty of large boulders, the 
current running about two miles an hour. The second lot 
was placed in the Kelly Brook, which empties into the 
Missisquoi, two and a half miles from Highgate. The 
third lot was deposited in the main river near Highgate. 
The fourth lot was put into Hunkeford Brook, abouta mile 
and a half from its mouth, above a cascade, w hich cuts off 
the ascent of pike and pickerel. This brook enters the Mis- 
sisquoi River near Highgate. 
The young salmon received were very lively and quite at 
home when placed in the water. The temperature of the 
river was about 88° F. Mr. Green writes that a good deal 
of interest was manifested in this movement of the salmon 
by people on “the route, and I judge from his report that the 
expenditure was an entire success. 
Yours, very truly, 
Livingston STONE. 
Jan. 6, 1874. 
a 
OsweEco, January 5th, 1874. 
Eprror Foresr AND STREAM :— 
In your paper of January 1st, “Fern Fly” takes excep- 
tion to the proposed stocking the Oswego River with sal- 
mon by Seth Green, and adds, ‘‘It is a dull, muddy stream, 
as little likea salmon river as a Jersey creek.” Of course, 
“Fern Fly” writes at random, either knowing or caring 
not for the truthfulness of his statement. 
If you will look upon the map of our State you will see 
that the Oswego is the outlet of the waters of Canandaigua, 
Crooked, Cayuga, Seneca, Owasco, Skanneateles, and Oneida 
lakes, nearly all of the purest water, and were, until the 
Oswego was dammed for canal purposes, over forty years 
since, with their tributaries, the resort of shoals of the 
lordly salmon. With the clearing up of the forests about 
these lakes, in the mean time, these waters have become 
clearer, and are now more fit than then for the habitation 
of that fastidious fish, that loves not “‘“dull, muddy 
streams.” It is not for the fish that Ll take up the cudgel, 
as angling with fly or bait for salmon so far run from 
salt water would be out of the question, but I would not 
have the clear, rapid waters of our river doubly damned 
to no purpose by a random shot. ‘ 
The Oswego River falls one hundred and twenty fget in 
its course within twenty-four miles of its mouth, and is 
finely stocked with black bass, and its rapids furnish fine 
fly fishing for that gamesome fish all through the summer 
The black bass of which I write are the black 
bass of the great north lakes—the Grystes nigricans, as 
classified by Agassiz—and are a very different fish from the 
so-called black bass of the St. Johns River, which your 
Florida correspondents write of. 
The bass of the St. Johns River are the Grystes megastoma, 
as described in his book on fish culture and fishing by Dr. 
Theodatus Garlick, of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the truest 
I, too, have 
east my lines in the St. Johns and taken these fish, and 
heard them called trout hy the ratves. They exceed 
double the size of the black lass, the head is much larger 
in proportion, and the mouth is enormous. This fish is 
found in many of the small lakes and pands of the north- 
ern States, and it is no impediment to his thrift that the 
waters are warm and muddy, and his fiavor, of course, is 
marred by his bad habits. 
To return fora moment to the river stocking question. 
“Fern Fly” asks, ‘Would not the Oswegatchie make a 
noble salmon river?” , If ‘Fern Fly” would visit that river 
he would find it, from Governeur to the St. Lawrenee, a 
black, dirty stream, its banks studded with tanneries and 
saw mills, and its waters fully stocked with pickerel and 
yellow pike. ila as 
Sea and River Sishina. 
, ——-+—_— 
FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY 
a ee 
SOUTHERN WATERS. 
Trout, (Black Bass.) 



Pompano, Sheepshend 
Snapper. Drum, (two species. ) T uilorfish.. 
Grouper. Kingfish. Sea Bass. 
Rockiish. ee Bass, Rockfish. 
apse st 
SIE LAWRENCE SALMON PISELENG: 
= 
JeRSLY CiTy, Jannary Ith 1874. 
Epiror.Foresr AND STREAM:— 
Dzar Str—Enclosed please find the score of the fishing at river God- 
bout during the years 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1871. 
You will notice that the largest ‘catch’? was made by Mr. Allan Gil- 
mour in 1815, July 5th and July 1luth, and I believe that this is che largest 
score ever made in the same number of honrs. flis heaviest day was 
July 10th, when he took 46 salmon weighing 426 pounds. Jie was at the 
pool alittle after 6 o’clock in the morning and left a little after 7 o'clock 
in the evening. He told me he rested about an hour at noon for his 
lunch. This would make about twelve hours of fishing and give an ay- 
erage of a salmon every fifteen minutes. Mr. G. isa splendid fisherman, 
and is one of the few salmon fishermen that I have met that I thought 
could perform the work and endure the physical strain of killing such a 
great number of fish. The Godbout is one of the finest rivers on the 
“north shore,’ and for scenery is just all you could imagine on a mag 
nificent salmon river. 
Wishing that every reader of your paper may enjoy it as much as I do, 
Tam yours respectfully, T. B. Mnies. 
We print a recapitulation of these scores; sorry we hav’nt 
space to print them in detail. We cannot question the ac- 
curacy of this statement, this catching of a salmon every 
fifteen minutes for twelve consecutive hours. Indeed, we 
have seen time averages just as extraordinary vouched for. 
But accepting the fact, we must deferentially acknowledge 
our own experience at fault and ourself willing to take 
against all comers. 
Statement of Fishing on Be aoknen Godbout, 
Seven years. 
1865—June and July, 24 days, four rods. 
odds 
Lower St. Lawrence, for 
Rod 1. Capt. Noble. 49 fish. weight 488 Ibs. 
Rod 2. Mr. Cross. 109) 8 1059 Ibs. 
Rod 3. a. Gilmour. 165 * «© 1567 Tha. 
Rod 4. James Law. hos *¢ 1651 Ibs. 
478 4695 
Average weight of fish over 9} lbs. 
1867—June and July, 33 days, four rods. 
Rod 1. A, Gilmour, Jr. 50 fish. weight 517 Ihs 
Rod 2. A. Gilmour. 165 ‘S 1788 Ibe. 
Rod 3. James Law. 123° “* 10.23 Ibs. 
Rod 4. Rev,Dr. Adamson. &9 “* ‘© 1029 Iba. 
427 4669 
Average weigut of fish 11 lbs. 
In addition to the above were ¢ usht a number of kelt, and about 5C0 
grilse, 
1868--June and July, 18 days, three rods. 

Rod 1. A. Gilmour. 118 fish. weight 1297 lbs. 
Rod 2. A. Cross. 98) ai 1084 lbs. 
Kod 3. W.M. Ramsay. 60S 4 735 1Ds. 
273 3116 
Average weight of fish 11} lbs. 
1869—June and July, 31 days, four rods. 

Rod 1, A. Gilmour. 139 fish. weizht 1467 los. 
Rod 2. John Gilmour. 164 “© 1806 Ibs. 
Rod 3. John Gilmour, Jr, 125 ‘‘ t¢ 1388 tbs. 
Rod 4. D. L. Tests *€ . 882 Ibs. 
515 5498 
5 addition to the above, about 35 Kelts (an unusual number) were 
caught during the first few days fishing—most of which (and when cir- 
cumstances permitted) were returned to the water. Also, about 250 Sea 
Trout were taken while fishing for Salmon, of an average weight of 2} to 
8 lbs; and 7 Grilse. 
In consequence of frequent and unusual heavy rains, the river, during 
the whole time, continued too high for good fishing, and in consequence 
a number of the best pools were so flooded as to prevent the fish from ly- 
ingtherein, or at least taking the fly as freely as in former seasons. 
1870—June and July, 29 days, four rods. 
Rod 1. Dr. Campbell. 111 fish. weight 1214 Ibs. 
Rod 2. Alex Urquart. Sh 3“ “© 894 Ibs. 
Rod 3. A. Gilmour, 106 ** ** 1140 lbs. 
Rod 4. D. Law. 101 “s = 1100 Tos 
399 4343 
Average about 11 lbs. 
On arriving at the river it was found to be unusually low and in con- 
sequence there was no fishing in the lower poois, which in ordinary sea- 
sons give the best sport at the beginning. During the whole time of fish- 
ing only a few light showers fell, so that the water continued to fall 
steadily, and by the middle of July it had become fower than ever before 
known to those now acquainted with the river. No kelt were caught 
this season. 
1e7i1—June and July, 30 days, five rods. 

Rod 1. A. Gilmour. 102 fish. weight 1165 lbs, 
Rod 2. D. Law. 140 1602 Ibs. 
Rod 3. A. Cross. 54 |" ** 620 Ibs. 
Rod 4. D. Gilmour. iS ** 1338 lbs. 
Rod 5. A. T. Paterson 93) 3 «996 lbs. 
509 5721 
Average weight of fish 11} lbs. 
Water very high all the time of fishing. 
Now, if we investigate carefully, we find thaj these fish 
were taken in two principal pools; that the pools afforded 
ample sweep of rod and play of line; that the fish on the 
year in question, when the largest average was made, (1865,) 
were small and easily handled; and that very few strikes 
got into quick water. This will justify the statement and 
make the feat practicable. We are very nice on these 
points; we don’t theorize, or conjecture, but always give 
