Author: Pennsylvania State Commissioners of Fisheries

Title: Report of the State Commissioners of Fisheries for
the year...

Place of Publication: Harrisburg

Copyright Date: 1881/1882

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg235.3

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OF THE

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TlIK YEAKS 1881 AXD 1882.

HARRISBURG.

LANE S. HART, STATE I'lUXTEK.

1883.

LiGisLATivE Document,

No. 19.

REPORT

^.

OF THE

NT

Statk Commissioners of Fisheries,

FOR THE YEARS 1S81 AND 18S-2.

Office State Commissioners of Fisheries,

February 23, 188S.

Sir : The State Commissioners of Fisheries have the honor to submit
the foUowinj; report of their operations during the years 1881 and 1882 :

Fish.ways.

You are respectfully referred to our report for 1879 and 1880. which
fully explains wiiat was done in reference to tish-ways in the Columbia dam
under the law of 1879. It will appear that the Commissioners uslmI their
best judirment in the construction of a fish-way in the said dam; but
found, on trial, that there were diHlculties in the way which they could not
con(pU'r without a greater command of means than the law allowed them,
and they are thus prevented from carrying their experiments further in the
Columliia dam, the place where the first fish-way must l)c built, as it is the
first dam occurring above the mouth of the river. The ditliculty with this
fish-way will be easily understood. The d:im is founded on smooth rock,
and th" principle of the fish-way is a simple opening in the work as nearly
like a break as can be, except that the sides are smooth and regular.

Had the opening extended down to the smooth rock there is no doubt
but what the fish-way would have been a success ; but the company owning
the dam were required by law to be consulted in the structure of the fish-
way, and they said they could not atf.»rd to lose so much water as would
pass through an aperture in it, extending down to the bottom of the river,
which would have been forty (40) feet wide and ten (10) feet deep, the dam
being higher at this ])oint, crossing a channel in the bottom of the stream,
1 — Leo. Doc. No. 19.

2

State Commissioners of F/siierifs.

[x\o. 19,

than it averagos anywhere along its fuco. A transverse platform or sub-
dam was therefore inserted, shoaling tlie opening to five (5) feet, and this
circumstance is the chief, probably the only, cause of failure in the object
of the structure.

The platform was built entirely of stone and timber, and the rocky floor
in front of it paved with weighty stone ; but the vast volumes of water,
frequently rising ten or twelve feet above the platform and paving, proved
irresistible, and the paving first and finally the platform was disturbed and
shaken to an extent that produced a roughness in the current, passing
through which most probably baffled and caused the fish to avoid the
aperture. Whilst in tlieir endeavor to ascend it they were caught by the
piratical fishers, who night and da}' kept up a constant depredation upon
the State work.

Wardens were appointed, arrests were made, imprisonment was visited
upon the depredators ; but the number of shad that passed tlirough to the
upper waters, although still exceeding such numbers passing through any
other fish-way in the country or perhaps in the world, was not as great as
had been hoj^ed for.

The hands of the Commissioners were tied ; they were not allowed to
expend more than a certain sum upon the Columbia fish-way, say $15,000,
whilst the bare completion of the work very nearly reached that figure ;
indeed, the ordinary repairs due to the first season's use well-nigh covered
it. Money was appropriated but could not l)e used except upon the success
of tlie Columbia fisli-way, and then not upon the Columbia dam but upon
dams further up the stream.

The Columbia fish-way, then, has simply been protected from the usual
annual freshets. Nor can it be a success until some radical change is
effected in it. The platform, shoaling to five feet, could be made peruuaient
by riveting it to the rocks and otherwise solidifying it, so that it should not
be carried awav or disturbed by hisrh freshets, for confidence is not lost in
this style of fish-way. by any means ; but this cannot be done without mone}',
and there is no money available for the purpose. Experience has shown
that it is a dilficult matter to build a fish-way, and although this i)romises
well, it may agnin fail even wit'.i its apparent faults remedied. There is a
plan, however, that mir:ht possildy answer. :\nd that is to let by contract
the construction of a fish-way. to be paitl for upon its success, ascertained
by trial ; and further, should it prove a failure, the party to place the dain
in the ctnidition in which it was before the work was commenced.

Otherwise, if the amount already appropriated for fish-ways, and unex-
pended, be intrusted to the hands of your Commissioners they still believe
that the fish-way now in the ('olumbia dam couhl be altere<l so as to answer
the purpose. It would be easy to modily the law in such a manner as to
satisfy these conditions.

Our report for 1879 and 1880 treats upon this subject, and to this we
respectfully refer you We shall have to allude to that document fre-

Leq. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

3

4

48

100
100

250

quently in the progress of this report, and perhaps draw upon it largely
in the form of extracts.

At page 3, for instance, we call your attention to the following :

" Statement of the Number of Fisheries in Full Operation Below the

Columbia Dam in the Season of 1880 :

1. From Columbia to Turkey Hill, first five miles

2. From Turkey Hill to Maryland Stats Line, twenty miles, 100

scoop net operations in same distance

8. From State Line to llavre-de-(irace, nineteen miles,

4. From l»ort Deposit to Chesapeake IJay, 250 gill-net boats, em-
ploying 500 nets from 150 to 400 yards long, each, (from five
to ten miles), ...

The catch of shad from Columbia Dam to Turkey Hill, within first

fivemiles, in 1879, numbered, . . 32,000

The catch for the same locality in 1880. reached, 45,000

The above facts were ascertained on the ground by a special and reliable

messenger." *

The seasons of 1881 and 1882 were, perhaps, not as successful fi-^hiug
years as their two predecessors, but the bare figures exhibited here are
enough to convince any one that if fair play is to be conceded to the ripar-
ian inhabitants of the upper Suscpiehanna, very considerable modifications
must be made in the laws in these cases made and provided.

Even if there were no dam at Columbia, the laws should be so framed
as to show fair play to the people of the upper river, as they can never
have justice until protected by law.

As* to fish-wavs. we believe we can say. that of those calculated to admit
shad, ours has been as successful as any one as yet constructed in the I nited
States. That it can be made a perfect success, we are scarcely as yet pre-
pared to sav ; but if we keep on trying it is entirely possible that we may
reach a degree of perfection quite desirable at the present time. Next in
the category come

Kiddles or Flsh-baskcts.
These, as we have before shown, are forbidden in Magna Charta. They
v^•ere put d.>wn with the strong han<l by the people in the time of King
John and we believe have never since been allowed in any part of the Rntisli
Islands. The law in respect to them must be strengtheiK-d ; they must be
declared nuisances, and destroye<l wherever seen.

It is due to the Pennsvlvaniaii riparians of the Sustiuchanna that they
should be abolished in Maryland, for there is no greater enemy of aiia-
dromous fishes than just these^'ile_dcnith^.s._S\Mia^cy oimic^
""^TiHiTs^e^^onUctT^^ies'^tli it its own oom.uentHry. Unless reaH-maMe
close times are provide.! for, ti.o up-slreani ini.abitants are simply .lepr.ved«.f their
tishiuK ri^l.ts. There must be reciprocal concurrent legislation between Maryland
and Pennsylvania.

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

or use for their owners they destroy, so that others cannot use them, and
millions upon millions of small fish are eanjrht in them annually, only to
be shoveled out into the current — putrid and useless for any conceivable
purpose— manure, perhaps, only excepted. It is safe to say that we should
have had in our Susquehanna both California and Buckport Salmon, had
the stream been free from these villainous contrivances. Fishing associa-
tions have recently been springing up all through the country, and labor-
ing to bring back to our streams their wonted supplies of wholesome and
cheiip food. Let these direct their attention to the fishery laws, so that
fair piny may once more be exhibited. Suggestions from these bodies to
our Legislatures, mny bring about changes in the law which will prove more
salutary.

We again respectfully refer you to our report for the years 1879 and 1880,
as great care was given to its compilation and arrangement, and as the edition
pulilished is exhausted, and as there is still a growing demand for it, we
copy some of its articles here for the use of such persons as have not had
an opportunity of perusing it. The paragraph on The Fishing Streams
OF Pennsylvania, we deem entirely worthy of reproduction in this report,
as also several articles following it.

The Fishing Streams of Pennsylvania.

In the ajipendix to this report will be foinul a circular addressed chiefly
to members of the last Legislature on the subjt'ct of the fishing streams of
the State. The circular is given, and the replies are tabulated, showing, or
at least suggesting, what can be done if the propagation movement be
taken up by the people themselves. As far as this'movement has gone, it
has amply repaid the State for the outlay made, the payment being in tlie
form of valuable food fishes, at so much per pound, taking the place of
other food which must necessarily have cost in money in exact proportion
to its value as nourishment for the i)eople.

In the game appendix will also be found the distributions made from the
eastern and western hatching-houses <lnring the past season, and since our
last report. It will be seen that the work goes on faithfully, an<l that our
a:nme and food fishing resources are being added to day by day. These
establishments are described as follows:

Tl»e Western State llntotiin^-llnuse.
Through the liberality of the Legislature, in addition to the eastern
hatchi ry, a second one was established west of the Allegheny mountains in
IsTfi. Alter careful investigaticm of all leading springs west of the mount-
ains, the present site near Corry, Lrie county, was selected as atiording
the best facilities for fish c;ilture. The place consists of nine acres and a
half of land at the terminus of Smith street, leading from Corry, having
thcn-on erected a good and complete dwelling-house, and one of the best
modern hatching establishments, consisting of twelve to fifteen springs,
furnishing abundance of water to run two such houses. These are so con-

**iL->

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Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

nected together by subterranean pipes and surface conduits as to form
any number, almost, of ponds. With these fticilities for fish culture, the
amount of fry that can be turned out, at comparatively small expense, is
surprising. Our establishments compare favorably with the best of those
of any State in the Union.

We proceed to treat of some of the food fishes which have been, and ma,}'
be, introduced into the waters of Pennsylvania :

Sea Salmon. (Sahno JUalar.)

We refer to our former reports for what has been done in relation to
this fish, one of the most valuable of all the food fishes. It will be seen
that we have made strenuous endeavors to introduce them into our waters,
but. as yet, without the success we had hoped for.

Both in the Delaware and in the Susfpiehanna adult fish of the Buckport
(Maine) variety have been caught, evidently produced from fr^' deposited
by us in both of these streams.

Either the numbers deposited must necessarily always be too small to
escape the many vicissitudes they cannot but encounter, or the waters do
not suit them, or they are destroyed by the kiddles and fish-baskets which
impede all planting on the Suscjuehanna.

It is true that the Delaware is not so obstructed ])y these contrivances;
yet on the Delaware larger numbers, due to the plant, have been taken, and
if a constant supply of schools of these fish were planted on the Delaware,
it may be that that stream nny become a new habitat for the Salmo Salar :
but uj) to this time we have not been so successful as could be wished.
As to the Sus(iuehanna, we never sliall succeed with any new anadromous
fish in that stream until the fish-'iaskets shall have been aboljslu'd. and
some reciprocal close time arrangements be entered into by Pennsylvania
with Maryland. This can only be done by concurrent laws, and the atten-
tion of the respective Legislatures should be drawn to the subject.

Calitornia Salmon. (Salmo Quinufif.)

Similar remarks may be applied to this fish as are used in reference to
the Buckport variety. We have deposited at various times consi<lerable
numbers both in tlie Delaware an<l the Susipiehanna ; but as yet wc have
not been rewarded by the success we had hoped for. As for the Susque-
hanna. so much is it ol)structed by fish-ba-^kets that it is (juestiouable
whether any appreciable number of them have ever been able to go down
to the sea. Tlie Xew York Commissioners have not been m>re successfid
than we have been, and they discourage any ftirther importation of this
fish across the continent from the Pacific — at least until they can be better
protected than they have been up to this time.

I^and-lockcd Salmon. (Snlmo Sxlar Schapo.)

Our experience in the introduction of this valuable lisli is of a limited
diaracter. Experiments rather tend to demonstrate that this variety of

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

the salmon family can endure warmer waters than any other, as our list
of distribution will exhibit. We placed several thousand in Harvey's
lake, in Luzerne county, and Mr. H. S. Ilutter reports their adapation
and doing well, his observation, however, being confined to the stream that
feeds the pond, not being able to watch their growth in the main lake, the
expanse of water being so great that the utmost care would have to be ob-
served to discover them, until they shall have become sufliciently numer-
ous to be caught. The plant, however, may safely be considered as certain
to be fruitful. We have in our State a limited though not inconsiderable
number of places suitable to this fish, more particularly found in the north
and north-eastern i)ortion. We mean mountain lakes, such as Harvey's
lake, the lakes near Minnequa, Conneaut, and the numerous lakes of the
kind which are scattered over Wayne county. The fish may also possibly
thrive in the upper branches of our streams. In these secpiestered regions
improvements can be made and individuals and clubs will soon establish
summer resorts, where, with the rod, line, and gun they can while away the
warm summer season. With the large distribution of brook trout going on
in the mountain tril)utaries, these, with the beautiful lakes, will teem with
the finny tribes ; tlie groves and the woods furnish al)undance of game, and
these hitherto forsaken localities will l)e peopled during the summer with
the denizens— rich and poor alike enjoying cheap transportation and recruit-
ing health which hard work of the rest of the year has impaired. The
whole salmon family attract true sportsmen's attention ; voyages of thou-
sands of miles are made in the old country for the purpose of finding them
in aliundance, ready to leap at the fly. The little school we placed in liar-
vey's lake, we Iiope is the beginning of a plentifid supply of this valuable
fish.

We have every reason to believe that the deposit in Harvey's lake will
prove a success, in which case the land-locked salmon will be introduced
into all the lakes capable of supportitig them, and into which the peoi)le
will take the trouble of transplanting them, in the northern part of the
State, which lakes are, as is well known, very numerous.

The Common Kcl. {Anffuifla Acutiroatria.)
Ticss attention has been piid to this slippery customer than, perhaps, to
any other inland lish inhabiting the waters of the State. Vet our i)i<2eon-
holes are filled with letteis of inquiry as to why he is not |)rotected as other
fish. What are his habits 'f Parentage ? Where does he belong? How
propagated, kc. Packard says : " The common eel occurs on both sides of
the Atlantic, on the North American coast, as far south as Cape Ilattt-ras,
and in inland rivers and lakes. The sexes do not diflT.-r externally and inter-
nally, only as regards the form of the re|)roductive glan<ls. The ovaries form
the ribbon-like masses extending from the liver to just beyon«l the vent, and
attached by (me edge to the walls of th«' body, with the free edge hanging
downwards. When in spawn, the ovary is very thick, white, and the eggs
can be seen with the naked eye, being nearly one half millimeter in diame-

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

ter. When ripe they break through the wall of the gland, and drop into
belly-cavity, there being no oviduct, and pass out of the genital oi)ening
situated directly behind the vent. The male glands occupy the same posi-
tion as the ovaries of the female, but are smaller, narrower, and distinctly
tabulated. Out of about six hundred specimens of eels, only four males
have yet been found in this country. These had testes like those described
by Syrske in the Italian eel, (.4. Vulgaris,) while Packard detected the
mother cells, and Mr. Kingsly observed moving, active spermatozoa. It is
probable that the eel descends rivers in October and November, spawning
in the autumn and early winter at the mouth of rivers, and in harbors and
estuaries in shallow water. By the end of spring the young eels are two or
three inches long, and then a?cend rivers and streams. They grow about
an inch a month, and the females do not spawn at least before the second
year, i. e., when about twenty inches long. Mr. Mather estimates that the
ovary of an eel weighing six pounds when in spawn contains upwards of
9,n0O,r0(l eggs."

In addition to the above high authority, we append the article included
in our last report, being unable to present anything later upon this inter-
esting fish.

To the inland fisherman these are questions of interest and significance,
as the eel is, undoubtedly, a great favorite with the people, and deserving
of more than a })assing notice.

Eels are natives both of tresh and salt water, those living in fresh water,
the ArtguiUa Acutirofitris, being found in many parts of the United States,
their snake-like form diminishing their attractiveness as an article of food,
and contributing much to the sport of taking and securing them even after
being '' well in hand," as the anglers have it.

They flourish in bogs, marshes, and in peat bottoms, spawn in the sea,
and ascend the rivers in the spring by millions. The fishermen of tiie in-
land streams catch large nuTnl)ers of them on their annual return to the
salt water, by means of set fish-baskets, called also eel-weirs, so extremely
destructive of other fish, especially young shad. They usually return be-
tween ()etol)er and December, inclusive, but it is thought not until they
have passed several years in the fresh water. For the catch in the fall " run
down " scarcely ever includes small eels, although in the spring millions
are found not thicker, and some much less, than pipe-stems.

Unlike the shad or salmon, which, leave the salt for the fresh water for
the purpose of spawning, they reverse the movement, and seek the sea at
the spawning period.

In Kurope, they are highly esteemed, considered, indeed, a luxury, and
preferred by many to the angler's pride — the trout.

This is especially so in Italy and Germany, where their cultivation is
made a source of considerable revenue and profit. They are not what some
fastidious persons consider thom, simply in;ul scavengers, ugly ami repul-
sive cannibals, but fully meets the wants of the masses as a food fish, pos-

8

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

sessing a solidity of flesh and a delicacy of flavor surpassed by few varie-
ties.

Beincr a bottom fish, the peculiar order and stroni? taste noticed by some
are attributed to that fact, but if any - anti " eeler will take the trouble to
extract the back-bone before cookinnr, he will find that it makes a wonderful
diflference, as the marrow of the spine is, without doubt, the true cause of
these olijectionable savors, and when it is withdrawn, the eel becomes a
delicacy fit for any palate.

They are excellent feeders, takins: fish, flesh, or refuse. They have been
called - hocrs of the ocean," and like their brethren of similar reputation
on the land, are useful to man in proportion to their ill repute. Tlieir hab-
its have not been studied with the care bestowed on those of other fish, but
their importance as an article of food is at last receiving that decree of at-
tention which it justly demands.

Anatomically considered, they are peculiarly well adapted for migratory
purposes, ascendin": dams with little difficulty, and when the watcr^'course
is absolutely obstructed, they will pass over the dry land for quite consid-
erable distances, livinjr out of water remarkably well. " Their ^\\h or
breathinir organs are covered l»y a most delicate" cushion, which acts as a
valve, and forms a reservoir, enabliufr them to take in a portion of water,
and thus keep the jrills moist durina: the peripd in which they are on drv
land, prevcntinir the gills from adherinir togetijer and stifling them." An-
other peculiarity is that an eel has a heart in its tail, a caud.-d heart, which,
when he is dying, but not before, exhibits a pulsation of about ninety-five
beats to the minute, and which can be distinctly seen by the aid of the rai-
croscojie.

The flesli of the eel is salted, smoked, and pickled, and forms rpiite an
article of trade, and must, some time in tlie future, suj^ply a large amount
of cheap food for the masses.

In the Tnited States, there being such a large area of marshv ground,
now worse than useless, along the eastern coast, were this cultivated for
production of eels, it might be made extremely profitable.

The questi<m of his propagation is not a new one, having perplexed t!ie
minds of zoologists from the days of Aristotle (the greatest naturalist of
antiquity) down to the present time. Some held that the female repro.liiced
her species witliout the a'd of the male, wliile others maintained that a cer-
tain deposit of a fatty formation, found in the female along side of the ova-
ries, were the male organs, (instituting tiie eel a hermaphrodite. A few,
however, luive alleged that there are male and female eels, having each
their natural organs of reproduction and fecundation, which view is about
being adopte<l as conclusively settled. Doctor Syrske's laborious re-
searches and investigations, with powerAd microscopes, puldished in the
United States reports, we think satisfactorily show the latter view to be
well taken, and successfully prove the actual existence and presence of the
spermatic organs in a male eel. That the ovaries exist in the female has

€t>

been an accepted fact for centuries, although it took two thousand years to
find it out, and, as stated by Doctor Syrske, " the spermatic organs being
so much more smaller, it was much more diflicult to discover them." The
spermatic organs, two in number, are ribbon-shaped, witli leaflets on their
outer face, witli transverse folds extending on each side of the alimentary
tube. The spermatic organs in the mple are not ribbon-shaped like the
ovaries, but are two longitudinal rows, each with lobules, and found in eels
of certain advanced sizes, these organs being distinguished from the ovaries
by their lobular form, shining, glassy appearance, smoothness, without leaf-
lets, and much greater density of tissue. He also states, as the result of
his latest investigations of the two hundred and fifty-eight eels examined,
that the females and males were about in even proportion.

It will be seen, therefore, that, practically, the vexed question may be
considered as settled, and ordinary fisherman will no longer wonder why
they could never discover any si)awn. There is still, however, some uncer-
tainty as to the locale in which the spawning of the eel takes i)lace. and as
to others of its habits. Mr. It. H. Roosevelt, president of the American
Fish Culturists' Association, excellent authority, takes the ground, after a
series of careful experiments, that eel spawn in fresh water in the spring.
However this may be, we are inclined to believe the carefully pre|)rirLHl mi-
croscopic investigation of Doctor Syrske, alluded to, as settling the ques-
tion as to their org.ins of reproduction. Perhaps, after all, the absolute
truth on these subjects is not yet arrived at, nor need we wondtr, seeing
that mystery having hung about the habits of this extremely interesting
fish, as we have remarked, for more than two thousand years, it would not
be in the least surprising if that mystery were to continue for half a cen-
tury or so longer; though it is to l»e hoped that the keen intpiirers of the
period will not continue to l)e baflled like their predecessors, but will un-
ravel the diflicult (luestion, as other (piesti<ms of the kind are solved, by
the special perspicacity of the present ag» of investigation.

Some of the western States are introducing the eel where he is not to
the manner l)orn, and demanding culture and protection for him, cimsider-
ing him intrinsically valuable as a food fish, and that no system offish cul-
ture can be complete without him.

The most useful method of taking the eel, however, has heretofore been
the fish-basket or eel-weir. There must be some other means applied, for
while that predaceous invention may suit very well for the special purpose,
its utterly destructive eflects on other tribes are such as to require its lian-
ishraent from all civilized waters.

White I'Msh. (Coreffonna Albns.)
In our previous reports we detailed at length the object and result of
our oflicial visit to Lake Erie to look after the fishing interests generally ;
but more particularly in regard to our duty in relation to the propagation
and intr<»duction of this valuable fresh water fish along the skirts of Lake
Erie and inland bay, which claims attention. The visit had the desired

10

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

efTect of producing an additional interest in the protection of all kinds of
fish. Tiie piratical i)ond nets were made things of the past, and new fields
were opened for the angler where depletion hitherto prevailed. The Game
and Fish Association of Erie, by their vigilance, have produced the most
beneficial results, and, if i)er8isted in, will restore what must certainly be a
source of pride and gratification to the inhabitants of that city as wdl as a
fruitful source of revenue. We have only about forty-five miles skirting
the lake, and to give some faint idea of the magnitude of the lake fisheries,
especially in regard to the more valuable migratory white-fish and herring,
to say nothing about the trout, pickerel, bass, catfish, &c. The Ohio com-
missioners' report contains the number of tons caught for the Toledo mar-
ket alone in one year :

Whole number caught 3,000 tons.

^«^t^<^ 30,000 half barrels.

I'^''^^^" 85 tons.

Shipped fresh, 915 tons.

We saw at the wharves of Erie responsible parties handling white-fish,
herring. A:c., by the thousand tons, observing ordinary fishermen brin-rinsf
in in their small boats, as high as three hundred pounds at a time of white-
fish, which, with the railway facilities of our State, brings these delicious
and excellent fish within fifteen hours of the Delaware. The necessary
legislation v.as conceded, and will dou1)tless be further granted, sutlicient
to protect their entire interests, involving, as it does, great commercial value
and im|M)rtance. Notwithstanding its importance, we have not deemed it
advisable to handle or i)ropagate this fish at our hatching-houses on ac-
connt of our limited lake surface; but its importance may in the future
require a contributive share on our part to keep up the supply which is now
so generously awarded by Ohio, Michigan, and other western border lake
States, and this spring we hatched and distributed two millions of fry at
Erie from our western hatching-house at Corry.

Erie, Pa., January 11^ 1882.
Col. Jamks Worrall, Harrisburg^ Pa.:

Dear Sir : I have made an effort to get some statistics in relation to the
catch of white fish at Erie, which would be of use to the Fish Commis-
sioners, but found I could not get exact data, because some of the smaller
dealers do not keep any books. Tlie data which I send you are made up of
the actual catch of the three largest houses in Erie, and estimatiu"- the
catch of the smalh*r houses by taking the number of boats they had, and
giving to each l)oat an average catch. We had caught and brought into Erie
800,000 pounds of white{ish,or 400 tons, which were caught as follows, viz :

Pounds.

March 30,000

-April 42, COO

M«y, . . 60,000

J'lnt^, 10,000

July, 60,000

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. H

Po\ind9.

July. 60,000

August, . .■ 80,000

September, 200,000

October 300,000

November, 28,000

800,000 tt)S.==400 tons.

Number of men employed 125 to 160

Number of sail boats, 28

Number of steam boats, g

Handled 250,000 pounds of Lake Superior and Lake Huron white fish,
trout, and pickerel.

Average price paid to fishermen for fish, $5 00 per 100.

Average price fish sold at, $6 50 per 100.

The above is rather crude, but it is the best I can do this year, but here-
after I shall endeavor to get the dealers to keep a daily record. The catch,
is larger this year than in any previous year; but I do not attribute it to
any increase in the fish, but to the fact that they now fish with steam boats,
and tow the sail boats, and go consequently further out in the lake in deeper
water. One of the steam boats caught in one day six tons. The larcest
catches were made about ten miles S. S. E. of Long Point, which is the
deepest water in Lake Erie.

Trusting the above may be of some use to you, 1 am, sir.

Yours respectfully,

Clark Olds.

The very important extent to which it will be perceived the business of
white fish alone is carried, suggests the idea of establishing a hatching-
house at Erie. Facilities for such an establishment are easily attainable
there, and there can be no doubt but whjit, with the aid of a hatchin<;-house,
the white lish business alone might be quadrupled. Other varieties, at present
attracting but little notice, might soon be added to the hatching establish-
ment, and thus one of the products of the great lakes be garnered for the
benefit of Pennsylvania, althourh her frontage on these waters iscom|>ara-
tively small. We will carefully estimate the cost of a hatching establish-
ment at Erie, and if thought advisable, the enterprise might be embraced
with the fisheries legislation, which may be called for at the present session.

It is questionable whether, in any line of business, there is an enterprise
ofl!ering itself which promises such valuable returns as a hatching-house at
Erie. Its cost would be absolutely insignificant when compare<l with the
great value of its certain returns.

Crass Hass. (Pi^omoxia Annularis.)

We have heretofore alluded to the efi'orts made in introducing this valu-
able pan fish east of the mountains in the Juniata, Susquehanna, and tribu-
taries. The commissi<mcrs succeeded through the kindness of Messrs.
Klippnrt and Fisher, of Ohio, (Professor Klippart since dying — entailing

12

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

a -reat loss not only to the State he so honorably served, but to science
and ichthyology, an intelliirent and enthusiastic advocate.) We obtained
adult Jish at Lickinnr reservoir, Ohio, and planted, since 1877. almost two
thousand two hundred in our inland waters.

Those introduced into the reservoir at the head-waters of the Jmiiata
near Holiidaysburo:, have increased, and quite a number have been caught
by the ancrh-rs, and we have no doubt of their successful introduction efse-
where planted. Professor Kertland, recently deceased, thus complimented
the prrass bass on Lake Erie :

" The irrass bass has not liitherto been deemed worthy of consideration by
fish culturists, yet, from a Ion- and intimate acquaintance with its merits
I hesitate not to pronounce it the fish for the million. It is a native of
our western rivers and lakes, where it usually resorts to deep and slu-^-ish
waters, yet, in several instances, where it has found its way into cold and
rapid streams, and even small sized brooks—by means of ti.e construction
«f canals, or by the hand of man—it has adapted itself to the chanire.and
in two or three years' time stocked to overllowin- the new localities. As
a pan fish f )r the table, it is surpassed by few other fresh water species.
For endurance and rapidity of increase, it is unequaled. Its weight will vary
with ajre, the quality of water, and the feedincr crround, an<l averages from
a half to two iK)unds. The jrrass bass is perfectly adai)ted to stocking
ponds. It will thrive, without care, in very small ponds of sullicient depth.
It will in no wise interfere with the cultivation of anv number of new
species, larire or small, in the same waters. livin,,r harmoniously with all
others, and, while its structure and disposition restraiji it from attncking
any other but small fry, its formidable armature of spinnis rays in the dor-
sal and alxlominal fins will guard it from the attacks of even voracious pike."

Rock Bass or Goffgle Kye. (Avihloplites liupejftris.)
In obtaininir specimens of the grass bass we found associated with it the
rock bass, and planted, perhaps, two hundred adult fish at different points.
It is fully as desirable a i)an fish, but we failed to get our orders tilled on
acco.nit of the lateness (,f the season, &c. Doctor Sterling says of this
variety : " I would advise the introduct.on of rock bass, although they are
particularly predaceous, exceedingly gamey,and very superior for the table.
Its special recommendation is. that it is a fish for tlie Juvenile angler. It
does best where there is not much current, the flavor of those in^shallow
ponds not beinir so good as those of the hike, except in winter time. It is
particularly well adapte.l to artificial i>onds, lieing a voracious feeder and
very hardy." We will add that in our opinion, after a trial with the mass
bass, we found their flesh firmer and more flaky, resembling the black bass.

Coppcr-NoBcd nreaiii,niuc Suiillsh. (Lrjwrnis Incisor.)
This admirable little fish, as well as the grass bass and rock bass, received
special attention, and, in 1878, we procured two cans for distribution fn.m
Licking reservoir, Ohio, at the suggestion of Messrs. Klippart and Fisher,

.,

Leg. Dor.J

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

13

after trial as a pan fish, after fully testing its qualities, and found that it
did not suffer by comparison with either of the others. We have seen a
few caught out of the reservoir near llollidaysburg, and have no doubt, to
a limited extent, they will increase. They certainly rank high for sport to
the angler, and will please the palate of the most fastidious.

The Shad. { Alosa ISapidissima^) '^iorer.

We need not enlarge upon the character and importance of this magnifi-
cent fish. To improve the catch of shad in the Susquehanna, Maryland and
Pennsylvania must cooperate or there will be continued failure. We suc-
ceeded in getting a law passed in Pennsylvania in 18»l, making a ''close
time " from Saturday sunset to sunrise Monday. Let this even be observed
and we shall have comparative success in the Susquehanna above the Mary-
land line ; but unless the people take an interest there can be no success.
Fishermen do not stop to consider what tliey lose by depleting the num-
berof adult fish which are seeking their spawning grounds. A very few shad
are capable of producing millions of fry, and the same number taken, with-
out discrimination, produce a loss in the yearly catch amounting to similar
incalculable numbers. Shad can be increased in the Susquehanna by im-
proved fish-ways in the dams, and by prosecuting those who infringe upon
the close times. The first we have not yet attained ; but that they can be
attained admits of no reasonable doubt. The fish-ways must, however,
fje protected, or be they absolute perfection in structure, they will fail of
their object. Ingenious persons are now turning their attention to the im-
provement of locks find sluices, and these can be modified so as to form
most effi'Ctive fish-ways. IJut careful vigilance and protection are essen-
tially necessary, and those are the duties of the people riparian to the
Susquehanna. Without the i)erformance of these duties there can be no im-
provement : but, in fact, continued deterioration of the inland fisheries.

Black Bass. {Micropterus Halmoides.)
This is one of the most prolific and valuable of our fresh water fish.
Their natural increase is so great, and their growth so rai)id, that it never
has been an object of interest to the fish culturist to attempt their artificial
propagation. When the spawning season draws near, they select, guided
by n.itiiral instinct, with great care, for the purpose of propagation, certain
portions of the river having a |)ebbly or gravel bottom. From these they
carefully remove all sediment, weeds, and sticks. This work completed
leaves a clear, briglit j)lace in the bottom of the river, circular in ft>rni,aud
having a tli:imeter of about two and a half or three feet. When thei)arent
fish are ready to spawn, the female goes upon this prepared btd and de-
posits her spawn in a glutinous band or ribbon, running in various direc-
tions across the bed; she is followed by t!ie male, who impregnates the eggs
by the exjjression of his milt. They stand guard over their younir with
Spartan rKlelity. alternatdy relieving each other, watching all intruders
with a jealous eye. After the little fish are hatched, they still afford them

14

Stats Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

protection and teach them how to forage and obtain food suitable to their
taste and condition. Their fertility is wonderful— a large pair of bass will
deposit from twenty to thirty thousand e :gs. It is thought they are capable
of reproduction at two years old, being at that age about eight or nine
inches long. They begin spawning in April and generally get through the
latter part of June. They frequently obtain the growth of five or six
pounds.

The following description of the fish is given by Thaddeus Norris in his
book, the "American Angler: "

" Head and body, dusky olive above, sometimes with a yellowish tint,
lighter on the sides ; belly, white ; opercles, light green or* greenish yel-
low ; first dorsal fin, nine spines and eighteen soft rays ; pectorals, fifteen ;
ventrals, one spine, five rays; anal, three spines and twelve rays ; caudal',
nineteen ; body, elongated, oval, straight on the belly ; eye, large ; mouthj
very large, lower jaw longer. The vomer has brush-like teeth in front!
teeth on the palatines, and pharyngeal bones; tongue smooth, without
teeth in front." We have met with most wonderful success in their intro-
duction, the Susquehanna, Juniata, and their tributaries literally swarming
with these valuable fish, att'ording fishing, perhaps, to the extent of twelve
to fifteen hundred miles on either side of the streams. We are also intro-
ducing as rapidly as we can into the streams adapted to them, in the west-
ern i)art of the State, to those where they originally prevailed, and others
which never contained them. There seem to be as yet abundant food in
the way of minnows, suckers, mullets, &c., notwithstanding predictions
were that a few years would exhaust and retpiire a fresh supply, as well as
perhaps new varieties. We have lately been informed that the oil pipes
l)assing along our western waters leak and pollute the streams, thus destroy-
ing the newly introcluced tribes. If economy of oil does not suggest a
remedy for this, some other remedy will have to be sought for. The pipes
should surely be laid tight enough so as not to pollute a stream like the
West Branch of the Sus(iuehanna.

Salmon Truut. (Sahno Confinus.)

We have tried salmon trout, as mentioned in our last report, page 20. It
seems that they cannot be made to increase and nmltiply in inconsiderable
waters. Accustomed as they are to tlie almost unfathomed depths of our
great lakes, they seem not to flourish in the lesser accumulations of water.

They have been crossed, however, with the brook trout by some of oiir
superintendents of hatcheries — amongst the rest, by Seth Green, who speaks
as follow^ on the subject :

Valuable Additions to Food Fislics.

To the Editor of the Sun :

Sir: At the New York State fish hatchery we have a pond containing
sixty hybrid trout. The cross is male salmon trout with female brook
trout. They are now three years old, and average one half, pound. The

Leg. Doc.J State Commissioners of Fisheries. 15

largest will weigh three quarters of a pound. They resemble both parents,
but are a little inclined toward salmon trout the most. On November 1
they began spawning for the first time, and continued until November 12.
We succeeded in obtaining nineteen thousand four hundred spawn. A re-
markable fact concerning the spawn is that they are fully two sizes smaller
than brook trout spawn. It might be well to state that salmon trout spawn
are twice as large as brook trout spawn. The eggs are perfect in shape,
and a good percentage are impregnated. The formation of the fish in the
egg can be seen plainly.

They began to spawn just after the salmon trout in our pounds had
stopped, and before the brook trout had fairly commenced.

It is my opinion that they will make a fish well adapted to either lakes
or streams. They are a well-formed and handsome fish, and the prospects
are that they will be a valuable addition to our better class of food fishes.

We also crossed a few hundred hybrid eggs with male brook trout. A
good percentage are impregnated.

All of the fish at the hatchery are looking very fine. We shall take a
large supply of brook trout spawn ; also California mountain trout spawn.
The breeders of this variety are in splendid condition. We shall be able
to furnish all parties in this State, desirous of obtaining them for public
waters, with a good supply.

Seth Green.
Rochester, December S, 1880.

However, he says his experience with salmon trout as originals is " that
they will live only in clear, cold, deep lakes, needing the purest water of
any fish in the country." We hope to be able to furnish fish of a more
promising character, better adapted to our waters, with certainly more
liivorable results ; and in view of these facts have none for distribution at
present. If the hvbrids are a success, we mav introduce some of them in
due time. The New York commissioners have crossed the following va-
rieties :

Female, Male.

Salmon trouf, with Whitefish.

Salmon trout, with . . Urook trout.

Brook trout, with Fresh water herring.

Hrook trout, with California salmon.

Hrook trout, with California mounttnn trout.

Shad, with Striped bass.

Shad, with Herring.

In this connection we introduce another letter from Seth Green, recently
indited, who seems to be indefatigable in his explorations of the niysteries
of piscine propagation :

16 State Commissioners of Fisheries, [No. 19

A Hievr Kxpcrimeut by Scth Green.

r^^-/ A^ 11 J . ^ llociiESTER, January 21, ^1881.

Editor A field and Afloat :

On the 31st day of December, 1880, the idea occurred to me to try the
experiment of impregnating eggs of fish by injecting the milt of the male
into the vent of the female by means of a syringe. January 3, 1881. 1 tried
the exporiment with brook trout, in the following way : I first selected
ripe females and then took the milt from the male into a vessel, and also
drew it directly from the male into a small glass syringe and injected it as
quickly as possible into the female, and then placed her in a tub of water.
I have tried this experiment on fifteen female brook trout, and let the milt
and si>awn remain in them fn^m one minute to forty-eight hours before
taking them. They are now eighteen days old and looking well. The ex-
periment is a new one, and 1 shall look forward to the result with interest.

Setii (iREEN.
Grayling. ( Thymallua Signi/er. )
There was great hopes of this fish at one time ; but it seems they cannot
be artilicinlly propagated, nor are they, like the black bass, a fish that can
take care of itself amongst allcomers.

Transphintatiun of some adults from their native streams to waters of
similar cliaracteristics may j)r()})ably succeed yet; buk we fear that the
tender, delicate (irayling must be left to itself aud to the streams in which
it has been planted by nature. Several pages of Sir Humphrey Davy's
charmiujr angler's book, Salmonia, are given to the (irayling, which fully
indorse our idea of the fish. So many specialties of climate and water
seem to be indispensable to success with them that there wouhl seem to l)e
few streams to l)e found anywhere in which transplnntation of them would
ensure success, although no doubt streams may be found in Tennsylvania
in which they might thrive if carefully watched.

California >Iountain Trout, {.Safmo Iridea.)
McCLouh River Troi t, &e.
Perhaps no newly-diseovered fish has awakened so much ^renuine inter-
est as the California brook trout, not in the sense of never having been
known exactly, but in its adaptability to the fresh water streams of the
eastern States. It promises far better and more lasting results than the
meteoric grayling. The McCloud river, in California, where they are found
in great abundance, possesses a temperature aiialagousto <uir own Suscpie-
hanna, Jiuiiata, and their triliutaries. Its general average is about seventy
degrees ; Idit in some localities rises as high as eighty degrees. Not having
any experience with this tisii, wo must turn again, as we do often with pleas-
ure, and always with profit, to Scth (Jrten's experience with this new-comer.
Last spring we ol»tained about twenty thousand eggs by express from Mc-
Cloud river in all, part received through Professor Spencer ¥. Baird,of the
Unitt-^l States commission and part from private sources, but were unfor-

h.

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

It

tunate in their not being properly packed or impregnated, and lost all but
about one thousand, which are promising well, and bid fair to eclipse our
brook trout in rapidity of growth as well as ease in handling them. Mr.
Green says: " California mountain trout are, also, more vigorous in every
way than the eastern trout ; they are not so handsome, having no carmine
specks, and much duller colors on their sides and bellies ; but they are
hardy, lived well in confinement, and grew rapidly. They take a fly readily
and furnish excellent sport to the fisherman, so strong and gamey that
they break the brook trout anglers' tackle to pieces, while their fiesh, which,
like that of our trout, is sometimes white and sometimes red, is not to be
surpassed as food. So strong are they that they are diflicult to manipu-
late in extracting the spawn from them. They are hard to hold and will
only give down their milt or spawn when they are ready. The person hand-
ling them must wait for his opportunity. The only California trout which
were ever acclimated in the eastern States up to 1878 were hatched and
grown in the New York establishment. They commenced spawning March
14, 1878, three years after they were imported in the Qorg. They yielded
more eggs than the eastern trout in proportion to their size, and the eggs
were slightly larger. They continued sjydwning until May 25, and l»egan
to hatch in forty-five days." The above extract is taken from a recent p"ib-
lication, '' Fish Hatching and Fish Catching," by Green and Roosevelt, and
we would add, in this connection, as a general answer to many inquiries on
artificial fish breeding, that we do not know of a more valuable contribution
on the subject, embracing everything of imi)ortance, described in a masterly
manner, but in the most plain and intelligible style, commending itself as a
valuable and exhaustive contribution to the ichthyological branch of na-
tural history.

Mr. (Jreen further states, substantially, in a recent contribution on the
same subject to the 'Afield and Afl<»at,- that the mountain trout will live
in many streams our brook trout will not live in. They have at the New
York State hatchery 16,000 two-year olds and 34,000 yearlings, the pro-
duct from 500 spawn obtained in 1875. A brook trout, at three years old,
will weigh about one half pound, and a California mountain trout will
weigh one pound. For sporting purposes, superior to the brook trout, much
stronger and full of pluck. They are excellent table fish, fully up to the
brook trout, feeding on the same food, and, from actual test, they are just
the fish for the headwaters of the Hudson, Delaware, and Susquelianna.
The plants he m.ade in the Genesee river, in 1878, justify the belief that
but ci small proportion of them perish. They spawn in March and April,
depending somewhat on the changes of climate ami temperature. He
thinks, when acclimated, they will commence spawning in the fall as our
brook trout do.* A female California mountain trout produces, at five years

r''

♦The different spawiiinj? period in»y cause oonfusiim with otiier varieties; but ac-
climation will, most likely, correct thi^ There is high authority for this prediction.-
See Sir 11. Davy in '> Ha I mania.''

2— Leo. Doj. No. 19.

18

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

old, about 1,500 eggs, and at this age some of them weigh as high as three
and a half pounds. They are difficult to strip without injury, as they are
so strong — being impossible almost for one man to hold them. To over-
come this, we operate with them as with shad and other large fish — have
one man hold the head while another does the stripping. When the spawn-
ing season arrives, the males are ferocious, and join in battles of the most
furious character — sometimes inflicting such injuries as to produce death.
When lacerated and torn in the flesh, if they are subjected to a strong salt
bath daily for some time, it will eflfect a cure. Their spawn is between that
of the brook trout and salmon trout, and hatch in about fifty days. The
young are vigorous from the start, and but little trouble, with proper and
regular feeding, to raise them " &c. We fully expect to meet all demands
as soon as possible, and will endeavor to obtain such a number of stockfish
as will fully demonstrate their utility in Pennsylvania waters.

The California trout is, in its structure, pretty much the counterpart of
our brook trout. It has not the carmine spots which distinguish the lat-
ter, but has the same dorsal markings, a slightly more forked tail, and the
same color and texture of flesh. The general external color is a silvery
green or olive, mottled with irregular spots of a black or darkish color.
Along the lateral line is, as has been already stated, a marking of red of
varying distinctness, according to habit and habitat.

The fish is one of remarkable vigor and hardiness. It will thrive in water
which to salmon and brook trout would be certain death. It will bear rough
handling with comparative impunity, and bruises on its skin which, in other
fish, would be followed by fungus and death, make apparently no harmful
impression. It is an active fish, and though it will thrive in eitlier lake or
river, loves best a swift running stream, and the most thoroughly aired
water. It is a voracious feeder, but its tastes are as delicate as others of
the trout family. It loves best to take its food alive, and cannot resist the
temptation of a struggling grasshopper or miller, no matter how full its maw
may be already*. No fish known is so certain as this to be attracted by the
artillcial fiv. It does not matter much what the form or color mav be, so
that a motion is given to resemble life. In its greed for insect food it takes
no account of seasons, and will rise as readily in January to a red fly when
it is hardly possible for a natural fly to exist, as in July when the surface
of the water swarms with insect life. It grows with nearly double the
rapidity of the brook trout in the same water, and is, of all fish whose
habitat is exclusively in fresh water, the most suital)le for the large streams
of the State of New York, like the upper Hudson, the Genesee, Mohawk,
the East and West Canada creeks, the Moose, Black, and Beaver rivers,
and all other streams which over-much fishing, dams, saw-mills, and other
destructive agencies of human contriving, have spoiled for good trout fish-
ing. Whether it can endure the poison of tanneries has not been yet tested.
If it should be found to stand this last, desperate test, to which all others
of the trout family have succumbed, it will deserve to take rank with the
immortals.

4>

i

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

19

The only unfavorable criticism which has been made on this fish is that
tbey are not good keepers ; that they rapidlv soften after killing and do
not bear transportation well. This may be a disadvantage or an advantage
according to the standpoint from which it is considered. The residents in
the neighborhood of trout streams do not care to have all the stock shipped
to market ; they want some for their own use ; and if California trout will
not bear transportation, there will be all the more to eat at home. No fish
anywhere, or at any time, is as good as when fresh caught. The complaint
of softness, we think, does not apply to all California trout, but to such as
are caught out of season or in very mild waters. The quality of all trout
18 very much aftected by the character of the water in which they live and
by what they feed on. Speckled trout caught within a few weeks of sjmwn-
ing time, and after spawning, till they recover vfgor, will be sl'my and soft
and tend quickly to putrifaction ; and those that live in shallow water with
muddy bottom, and feed on leeches and lizards, are never good keepers
Every one who has done much trout fishing will have observed that fish
caught in a running stream, especially if the stream be one much subject to
the influence of rainfalls, soften much more quickly than those taken in
lakes. Even on a good spring stream the angler will sometimes observe
the ribs of the first trout protruding before the last has been put in his
basket. On the other hand, the whole day's fishing on the lake will be firm
and hard. California trout, in this respect, will not differ materially from
any other trout.

Brook Trout. (Salmo rontinalis.)
At the commencement of our piscatorial labors, in casting around for the
most prolific and valuable varieties of fish for introduction, it was not
deemed advisable or politic to pay special attention to the acknowledged
" pride of the angler.'' This conclusion was arrived at more on account of
their not being considered a very fruitful fish, yielding, as compared to other
varieties, fewer spawn, and more ditiiculty attending their handling and
propagation artificially. We, therefore, confined our attention to more
fertile varieties. We, however, indicated that additional facilities might
afford in the future such appliances as would encourage an effort to restock
our already fast depleting streams of this most valuable table fish and true
sportsmen's friend. As public sentiment became better informed on fish
culture, and the generosity of the people, through the Legislature, afforded
the commission ample means and accommodation, to undertake the cultiva-
tion and dissemination of trout, our labors in this direction have f)een re-
warded with wonderful results. Since it was made known we had them for
public distribution, the orders from all directions have far exceeded the
supply. In order to meet the demand, we have and are increasintr our
facilities every season for increasing the taking of spawn, and expect to
distribute quite three (piarters of a million this season. Our success in
this direction would be greater if we had proper legislation protecting the
newly introduced fry into depicted streams, and we hope for some nt the

30

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

present session, which, if secured, will insure success and a complete re-
stocking of the numerous trout streams of the State. The most flattering
reports are received from all quarters, and we feel certain of the undertak-
ing being a great success. liCgislation simply preventing the catch of trout
smaller than four inches, and having a close time of three years in streams
stocked — permitting fishing the third year — would most certainly restock
all our depleted streams. Our cultivation and distribution of trout have
awakened a deep personal interest and investigation into the subject which
has resulted in suggesting to private individuals the propriety of utilizing
their springs and waters adapted to this variety. Inquiries all over the
State as to the methods of cultivation, construction of ponds, kinds of food,
manner of propagation, <fec., are made, which really require short essays
upon artificial fish culture, and involve much time and labor to answer at
all satisfactorily. We thought, in view of this, to refer such parties to the
most recent and reliable publications in regard to this variety, as well as
all others, and take pleasure in commending Green and Roosevelt on fish
hatching and fish catching; price, $1 50; to be had at George H. Myers',
t6 Chambers street, New York. In view, however, of our report obtaining
somewhat of a general circulation in our own State, so numerousl}^ dotted
with trout streams and springs, we have thought it advisable to briefly gen-
eralize on the culture of this variety. The diagram exhibiting the grounds
of the Corry hatchery attords good illustrations of location, shape, and
arrangement of ponds, runs for spawning, distribution of water, <&c.

Abundance of pure cold spring water is necessary. The water should (un-
less there be a large volume of it) have a fall of four to eight feet, so located
as not to receive surface water. The temperature in summer should not rise
higher than sixty -five degrees. The water should be taken from the fount-
ain head — the quantity needed depending entirely on magnitude of ope-
rations. The diagram affords an illustration of how every gill of water
can be utilized, if necessary, from pond to pon'i,as well as controlling the
fountain head for supply direct to hatchery. The ponds should be pear
shni)ed, with runs from one to the other, covered with pebbles, where the
spawners can go for natural or artificial impregnation, as well as to get rid
of parasites. They should be about six to eiglit inches deep, the ponds
varying from two and a half to five feet in dei)th. Tliere should be wire
screens between the ponds, painted with coal tar and asphaltum mixed, ren-
dering them impervious to water and durable. Tiie screens where the
small fry are kept should be twelve threads to the inch; older fish, five or
six threads to the inch. The temperature of the water should be as uni-
form as possible, running from forty-five to sixty-five degrees. The char-
acter of the troughs will be found in description of hatchery. The water
should be run through filtering cloths from the distributing trough, regu-
lated by faucets. The troughs covered with small gravel, size of peas;
a trough should be six inches deep, fifteen wide, and about ten long, having
strips at intervals, making nest in bottom ; this size would require about a

<>

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

SI

five eighth inch hole to supply with water, with slight head suflTicient to
make rippling over the cross pieces. The gravel should be well washed
and kept clean, filled in about an inch deep, coming within a quarter to
half inch of top of cross piece. When the eggs are placed in the troughs,
a feather will suffice to spread them gently. Several devices are used for
running dead eggs, which should be attended to daily. We use a wire
bent in eye shape, on the end of elastic wood (hickory) cut like the letter
U, about six to eight inches long. Eggs can be examined by placing them
in a small phial of water, placing them between you and the light horizon-
tally, and placing the microscope on them. A small net can be constructed
to remove the fry by fine netting placed over wire, the shape of a I), with
handle attached on the center of curve. The time required to hatch out
eggs depends very much on the temperature of the water. Seth Green
says, "fifty degrees will hatch out in fifty days, and each degree colder
takes five days longer." Our experience is, a temperature of from fortv-
five to forty-seven degrees, taking about seventy-two days to produce the
best fish. The temperature of water can be modified by pooling, if re-
quired. About the twentieth day a young fi«h can be observed in tlie egg.
In due time the trout forces himself, tail foramost, through the shell, (if,
unfortunately, he presents himself head foremost, death is his portion.) ' He
presents a '' wide-awake" appearance, consisting of enormous eves, small
body, and a knap-sack appendage, which is called the umbilical sac, con-
taining his food, which is absorbed in from thirty to forty davs, after which
time he goes it on his own hook. From this time till they attain five or
six months old, many die, and it is, therefore, the most critical period in
their lives. They should be thinned out, and after being fed a month or
two, placed in ponds, thriving better. Their troughs should be cleaned
daily, and food just enough to satisfy, and not deposit to foul the bottom
and decay. The best food is liver, chopped fine as possible, or mashed
through a very fine wire screen, without gristle. It is said half a pint will
feed a hundred thousand when they first begin to feed. The young fish
should be fed six or eight times a day till four mouths old, when twice will
do. When they grow older beef lights can bo used, or pluck, as it is called
by the butchers, which is cheaper than heart or liver. Whenever you see
them play cannibal increase the feed, and it will have a tendency to save
life, though not entirely prevent it. Space will not permit more extended
detail, and reference must be had to the various publications on the sub-
ject, such as indicated, or to Livingston Stone, Fred. Mather, and other
distinguished writers on the subject.

Carp. (Ci/pi'inua Carpio.)
We feel assured that we can do nothing iK'tter in attending to this ex-
tremely valuable addition to the food fislies of this country than to reprint
Mr. Ilessel's exhaustive paper on the subject, which first appeared in the
reports of the United States Commissioner, and was afterwards placed at
large in the always valuable reports of the Commissioners of Massachusetts.

S8

State Commissioneps of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

THE CARP AND ITS CULTURE IN RIVERS AND LAKES,
AND ITS INTRODUCTION IN AMERICA.

By Rudolph Hessel.

[Extracted from the report of the U. S. Commissioner, Part IV., 1875-1876, pp. 865-900.]

A — Introductiox.

The present article is intended to give a bri^f description of the well-
known carp of Europe, its nature, way of living, its ratio of natural and
artificial increase in open waters, rivers, and lakes, the most approved
methods of its culture, and the proper construction of ponds and breeding
establishments. An additional object in view is to draw attention to the
introduction into the United States of this valuable fish as specially
adapted to its needs.

B. — The Races of Carp : their History and Habits.

1. The Species and Varieties.

The carp, Cyprinus carpio^ of the family Cyprinidse, has a toothless
mouth, thick lips, and four barbels on the upper jaw. In place of the usual
teeth of the mouth, there are a number of stout teeth on the pharyngeal
bones, which are arranged in three rows. It has one single dorsal, which
is longer than the anal. Both of these fins have at their origin, on the
anterior edge, a strong ray, which is serrated in a downward direction.
The caudal is of semi-circular shape, and the natatory bladder is divided
into two sections, with connecting air passage. The scales have an entire
edge, and the body is compressed on the sides. The general color of the
back and sides is a dark olive-brown, the abdomen often of a whitish-yellow
or orange tint. The color depends, as with all fishes, partly upon the age
and season, partly upon the water, the soil, and also upon the food of the
fish.

Be it remarked that the carp, which has occasionally been compared to
the buffalo-fish, has no resemblance to it, with the exception of the simi-
larity of their coat of scales; neither does the flesh of the buffalo-fish ever
come up to the excellence of that of the carp.

The carp was, in all pr()])a])ility, originally introduced into Europe from
Central Asia, many centuries ago, and is now common in most of the large
rivers. In some parts of Europe, principally in Bohemia, Austria,
Southern, Central, and Northern Germany, it has Income domesticated.

The carp is alleged to have been imported into England in the year
1604. In Austria, which possesses the most extensive carp-fisheries in
Europe, the culture of the carp can be traced as far back as the year 1227.

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

23

o

The Emperor Charles IV of Germany, by granting sundry privileges,
favored the establishment of ponds in his dominions, and the monks were
especially assiduous in the culture of fish in ponds. As early as the first
half of the fourteenth century, Bohemia had its first large carp-pond, and
the culture of this fish progressed in that country, as also in Poland and
that district which now comprises German Austria ; also in Upper Lusatia,
Saxony, Silesia, and Bavaria. A celebrated establishment for carp-culture,
with large, extensive ponds, was located, as early as the fourteenth century,
near the town of Wittingau, in Bohemia, Austria. The first beginning of
it may be traced back to the year 1.367. At that time the lords of Rosen-
berg called into existence and maintained for centuries, these establish-
ments on a scale so extensive that to this day, they are the admiration of
the visitor, the main parts having survived, while the race of the Rosenbergs
has long been extinct.

The manor of Wittingau suffered greatly from the calamities of the
Thirty Years' War, and with it, in consequence, its fish-culture. The
latter only recovered the effects of it after passing, together with the large
estate of a rich monastery of the same name, in the year 1670, into pos-
session of the Princes of Schwarzenberg, their present owners. The extent
which carp-culture has reached on these princely domains will be seen from
the circumstance, that their artificial ponds comprise an area of no less
than twenty thousand acres. The proceeds amount to about five hundred
thousand ponds of carp per annum. The ponds of the Princes of Schwar-
zenberg are probably the most extensive of the kind on the globe. They
are usually situated in some undulating lowland country, where small val-
leys have been closed in by gigantic dams for the purpose of forming
reservoirs. Similar establishments, though not equally extensive, are
found in the provinces of Silesia and Brandenburg; as, for instance, near
Breslau and Cottbus, in Peitz and Pleitz, which I visited last year. In
Hesse-Cassel, Hanover, Oldenburg, Mecklenburg, and Holstein. there are
also many hundreds of ponds, none of them covering more than a few
acres, but almost every large farm possessing at least one of them.

It will be easily understood that after such an exclusive culture in
ponds, continued through centuries, as also an existence in open water,
where the Cyprinidse were left more to themselves, a number of varieties
or rather genuine species, Gyprinus Carpio, showing striking differences
from the races, were developed ; these races, though derived directly from
the original type, just as with our domestic animals. They are divided
into three chief groups : —

1. Cyprinus Carpio Communis, tlie scale carp; with regular concen-
trically arranged scales, being, in fact, the original species improved.

2. Cyprinus Carpio specularis, the mirror carp ; thus named on account
of the extraordinarily large scales which run along the sides of the body
in three or four rows, the rest of the body being bare.

3. Cyprinus Carpio coriaceus^ sive nudus^ the leather carp; which has

24

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rxo. 19,

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

25

on the back, either onl}' a few scales or none at all, and possesses a thick,
soft skin, which feels velvety to the touch.

The two last-named, are distinguished from the original form by a some-
what shorter and stouter, but more fleshy, body. It is rather difficult to
decide which of these three species, is the most suitable for culture.
There are some districts, where only scale carp are bred, and mirror carp
are not valued, as there is no demand for any but the former in the market ;
as, for instance, in Bohemia, in the above-mentioned domain of Wittingau.
Again, in other districts, as in parts of Bavaria and Saxony, &c., for the
same reason, mirror carp or leather carp only are bred. There is, in fact,
no sufficient reason for making any distinction among these three
varieties ; for, if they are genuine types of tlieir respective species, they
are indeed excellent and desirable fish.

The assertion which has been made at times that the scale carp is better
adapted for transportation, than either the mirror or leather carp, by
reason of its coat of scales, which would protect it more efficiently from
the accidents incidental to transfer, as also against inimical or hurtful
attacks in the jRmds (the mirror carj) having very few, and the leather
carp no scales,) is not correct. In transportation, scales are not only in-
efficient for protection, but they frequently cause the death of the fish,
especially in transporting tlie so-called breeding-lish ; for, if a scale be torn
off in part only, ulceration will ensue, and the fish, of course, will die.
Again, should any scale be lost, the bare spot will very soon begin to
fester or develop a confervaceous growth, and the consequences will be the
same. On the contrary, the leather carp, which, oddly enough, like the
frog, is destitute of covering, will bear a great deal more in usage and in-
jury, whether young or old, than the scale carp. The smooth, slippery
skin of the leather carp suflfers much less from friction during transporta-
tion than the scale carp ; and any slight wound will heal up much more
easily, as the epithelium will cover it immediately, and the formation of a
new skin can i)rogress under its protection. I have often had the oppor-
tunity of seeing such scars upon the skin of the mirror carp, and even
more so on that of the leather carp. They are the effects of an injury from
the sharp edges of the heron's bill, the bite of a pike, or some other hurt,
and I never saw anything of the kind on a scale carp ; for, if one of these
be wounded, it almost invariably dies.

The carp will sometimes cross with some related species of the Cyprin-
idse,— for mstnnce, Carassius vulgaris; and, in consequence, hybrids have
been engendered, which sometimes resemble the genuine carp so much
that it is often very difficult for the student, as well as for the professed
culturist and experienced fisherman, to immediately recognize them. Such
fishes are valueless as food, on account of their bad and very bony flesh.
One of the hybrids mentioned is the Carpio koUarii.— Cyprinus striatus^
which was formerly regarded as a separate species. It is a cross between
the carp and Car assius vulgaris (crucian carp,) a very poor and bony fish,

O

which, in Germany, is sometimes called " poor man's carp." Some varie-
ties exist of this common fish. The latter has even been dignified by a
specific name of its own, Carassius gibelio.

The spawning seasons of the crucian and the true carp coincide, and,
where kept together, hybrid races may readily be formed ; that period in-
cluding the time from the month of May until August.

In order to determine this question, I myself maniged to bring about
such crosses by placing (1) female common carp with male crucian carp,
and (2) female crucian carp with male common carp, in small tanks con-
structed with this end in view; (3) I also put together female Carpio
kollarii with male common carp,— this for the sole purpose of testing the
capability of propagation of the Carpio kollarii, which had been doubted.
In the two former cases I obtained forms analogous to the Carpio kollarii,
sometimes ai)proaching in appearance the true carp, at others the crucian
carp. In the third case, however, having placed ripe Carpio kollarii,
together with Cyprinus Carpio, I obtained a product with difficulty to be
• distinguished from the genuine carp. I took the trouble to feed them for
three years, in order to try their fitness tor the table ; but their flesh was
exceedingly poor and very bony, and could not be compared by any means
to that of the common carp.

Considering, then, the whole extensive tract of country devoted to fish-
culture in central Europe, where crucian carp are to be found from Italy
to Sweden and Norway, from France to the boundaries of eastern Siberia;
considering the many who cultivate on a small scale, and the owners of
badly-stocked ponds, with their different doubtful productions,— how often
do we find in the markets or ponds, very nice crosses which have been
propagated through from three to ten generations, and which are sold for
carp ! There are many small sheets of water in Germany, France, Austria,
Italy, Holland, and Belgium, and probably also in England, the proprie-
tors of which imagine, in good faith, that they have stocked their ponds
with good, genuine carp, which, in reality, through careless selection or
ignorance, are hybrids which may even have been cultivated for two or
three generations. In some ponds in Switzerland, near the lake of Con-
stance, some crosses of Abramis brama, were found as late as twenty
years ago.

2. The Habits aud Mode of Reproduction.

The carp is partial to stagnant waters, or such as have a not too swift
current, with a loamy, muddy bottom, and deep places covered with vege-
tation. It inhabits now most of the larger and smaller rivers of Europe,
particularly the Elbe, Weser, Rhine, Danube, Po, Rhone, Garonne, Loire,
then the Bavarian and Swiss lakes, the lake of Constance, &c. ; even salt
water seems to agree with it very well, I have taken it in the Black Sea,
where its weight often amounts to from fifteen to twenty pounds. It is
also found in the Caspian Sea in great numbers, and is known there by the
name of Sassan.

26

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

[No. 19,

It is an advantage that the carp is able to live in water where other
fishes could not possibly exist ; for instance, in the pools of bog-meadows
or sloughs. However, it is not by any means to be inferred from this
that the best locality for carp-ponds of a superior kind could be in such
situations. The presence of too much huraic acid is nnfavorable to the
well-being of the carp, as we shall see presently in the chapter upon the es-
tablishing offish-ponds.

The carp lives upon vegetable food as well as upon worms and \arvx of
aquatic insects, which it turns up from the mud with the head. It is very
easily satisfied, and will not refuse the offal of the kitchen, slaughter-
houses, and breweries, or even the excrement of cattle and pigs. I propose
to enter further upon the subject of feeding it when I speak of its culture
in ponds.

In the moderate zone— that is to say, in central Europe— the carp will,
at the beginning of the cold sea-,on, seek deeper water to pass that period
in a kind of sleep. This will sometimes occur as early as the beginning
of November, if the winter should set in early ; and it is to be remarked
that they will retire at an earlier period in ponds than in rivers. They do
so always in groups of from fifty to a hundred and more. They make a
cavity in the muddy ground, called a "kettle;" in this they pass the
time until spring, huddled together in concentric circles, with their heads
together, the posterior part of the body raised and held immovably,
scarcely lifting the gills for the process of breathing, and without taking
a particle of food. They do not take any food from the beginning of
October, and continue to abstain from it in some countries until the end
of March, and in colder districts even somewhat later. It will not an-
swer, however, to depend on this habit when transporting them for propa-
gation in the spring or winter time, more especially young carp one or
two years old. The fish will arrive in a worn and hungry condition, and
must be kept in a tank constructed on purpose for observation, where it
has no chance to bury itself in the mud ; here it will sometimes take a
little food. At such times I generally make use of boiled barley, or rye
flour converted into a kind of tough paste by the addition of hot water,
and with this I mix a little loam and rye-bread ; but I continue the feed-
ing only until I can judge from the looks of the fish that they have re-
covered. This method I followed with the carp which I imported from
Europe for the purpose of breeding in the winter of 1876-77. It is a
most striking fact that the carp, though it does not take any food during
this winter sleep in its natural retreat, does not diminish in weight,
while, in the so-called " winter chambers." it does so to a remarkable de-
gree. These '* winter chambers " are large tanks, a thousand to five thou-
sand square feet in size, or less ; they are sometimes Availed in with ma-
sonry ; sometimes they are constructed of wood. Fishes intended for sale
are kept in them for a few weeks or months during the winter.

The carp does not grow in the winter. Warmth alone seems to exer-

o

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

at

else a favorable influence upon it, and to promote growth. It only grows
in the months of May, June, July, and August, and does not appear to
continue doing so in September. The slight increase in weight which
takes place during the latter month seems to grow out of an accumula-
tion of fat which is being deposited around the entrails. In ponds which
contain plenty of food and healthy water, in an ordinary year, the growth
and increase of weight in the year will be represented in figures as fol-
lows :

Per cent.

of orif^inal

weight.

Per een*'.

of
growth.

May,

10-l/>

33

36

20

6

18

June,

SI

July,

S4

Au^^ust

18

September,

4

Total

110

100

If the weather in the month of May be mild and warm from the begin-
ning, a better growth may be expected, amounting, as in June, to about
thirty per centum. This month (May) is decidedly of great importance
for the growth of the fish during the current year; for, in proportion as
the fish has grown in the short space of one month, it will take more food
in the following ones as the increase of its growth and consequent wants
will demand. Culturists, therefore, consider the month of May as being
the most important of the whole period of the carp's growth. The aV)ove-
given calculations, of course, are limited to ponds in which no artificial
feeding is resorted to, but in which there is sutficient food by reason of the
good quality of the water and soil which produces it.

In small ponds, situated in parks or gardens, which possess favorable
soil and river-water, the increase of weight will be even a little greater, if
feeding is had recourse to, for such small ponds (covering only half an
acre) cannot produce sufllcient food themselves. On the whole, feeding is
a makeshift, as will be seen presently, and which in very large ponds of
more than from twenty to a thousand acres sliould not be made use of.

The above calculations are only admissible for central Europe, from the
Adriatic to the Baltic and the North Sea. In countries further north, as
in Sweden, the growth of the carp is less ; as, on the contrary, in more
southern countries than central Europe — for instance, in Illyria, Dalmatia,
southern Italy, southern Spain, and partly, also, southern France — the re-
sult is more favorable still. There a milder and warmer climate, an early
spring, a very warm summer and autumn, and a late winter, which, in ad-
dition, is mild and short, combine to exercise a favorable influence upon
the thriving condition of the fishes.

In these warm climates the fish becomes livel}- at a much earlier season,

H

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

if it does at all pass the winter in that lethargic state, without taking any
food, than it does in the countries of the northern parts of central Europe.

The pond carp of central f^urope generally leaves its winter retreat
when the rays of the spring sun have warmed the water thoroughly,
while at the same time it begins to seek for food at a somewhat earlier
period in rivers and lakes. At the beginning of the month of March
the eggs have developed themselves considerably in the body of the fish,
and it only needs a few weeks of warm weather to bring about the spawn-
ing season. This commences in the middle of May in such lakes and ponds
of central and northern France, and southern Germany, and Austria, as
have a warm situation and are sheltered from the cold winds. It contin-
ues in some localities throughout June and July, and sometimes, in more
elevated situations, until August; as. for instance, in Franconia and Upper
Bavaria. The spawn of so late a season, however, is scarcely lit for breed-
ing purposes, as the fish cannot grow much more during the short space of
warm weather. It remains very small, and suffers greatly from the ensuing
winter weather, and is easily dwarfed at that time. The spawning of the in-
dividual fish does not take place all at once. Days and weeks may pass
before it will have left the last egg to the care of nature. At times, upon
the setting-in of rainy, cool weather during this period, it will be inter-
rupted, but re-assumed as soon as the temperature grows warmer again.
Culturists altogether dislike cold weather at this time, as not only the eggs,
but the young fry also, suffer much from it. AVet, cold summers are no
more profitable to the eulturist of carp than to the agriculturist. In the
southern part of Europe the spawning season commences at an earlier date
than in Central Europe. In Sicily, in the neighborhood of Palermo, where
there are some private ponds, the carp begins to spawn at the commence-
ment of the month of April. This is sai<l to be the ease also in the French
province of Constantine, Algeria, Africa.

The abundance of eggs in the carp is very great, and it is this circum-
stance which will explain its extraordinary increase in tlie natural waters.
A fish weighing from four to five pounds contains, on an average, four
hundred thousand to five hundred thousand eggs. Other statements figure
still higher. I not only made calculations myself formerly, repeating them
in 1876 on a female mirror carp, which I obtained from the environs of
Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, and which, curiously enough, at the end of Novem-
ber, was entirely ripe, but I also obtained statements from culturists on
whom I could depend. The calculation I made in the following manner :
After freeing the eggs from all the fat and the enclosing membrane, and
after having washed them in alcohol, I counted off exactly a thousand of
them ; these I weighed, and according to the result I deduced the number
of the whole. In the somewhat longer-bodied scale carp I generally found
comparatively more eggs than in a mirror or leather carp, though all were
of equal age and weight.

During the spawning season an appreciable change takes place in the

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male, protuberances like warts appearing on the skin of the head and back,
and disappearing upon the expiration of that period. This is a peculiarity
with most of the cyprinoids. Some time before the spawning season sets in
the falling out of the pharyngeal teeth takes place — these grow anew every
year.

Some days before spawning the fish show an increased vivacity ; they
rise more often from the depths below to the surface. Two or three or
more of the male fish keep near the female ; the latter swims more swiftly'
on a warm summer morning, keeping mostly close to the surface, followed
by the males. This is called " streichen,^'' — running-spawning — and is
more frequent in warm than in windy and rainy weather. The female pre-
fers spots which are overgrown with grasses and other kinds of aquatic
plants, such as Utricularia, Nymphoea, and Alisma. The male fishes
follow close to the very water's edge, as far as the diminished depth will
allow them. They lose all their timidity and precaution, so that the}' may
be taken quite easily. The}' lash the water in a lively way, twisting the
posterior portion of the body energetically, and shooting through the
water near its surface with short, tremulous movements of the fins. They
do so in groups of two or tliree males to one female fish, and forming an
almost compact mass. This is the moment when the female drops the
eggs, which immediately are impregnates bv the milter. As this process
is repeated several times, the female drops prolmbly only from four hun-
dred to five hundred eggs at a time, in order to gain resting time, so that
it will require days and weeks before it has given up the last egg.

The eggs of the carp are adhesive, oot detached, like those of the
Salmonid(e —these latter hing loosely on the ground, while the former
adhere in lumps to the olvject upon which they have fallen. As soon as the
egg has left the body of the fish it swells up a little, the mucus which sur-
rounds it serving as a means to fasten itself upon some aquatic plant, stone,
or brushwood. Those eggs which have no such object to cling to are lost.
I found numerous eggs on the reverse sides of the leaves of the Nymphfpacea
and their stems, the Phellandrium^ and Utricularia ; ])ut the greater
number of them I discovered «m the Festuca Jluitans^ Mhieh, among fish-
ermen, is known generally by the name of " water-grass." Its narrow,
long, strap-shaped, thin leaves spread sotltly over the water s surface, as
also its numerous branches in the water afford to the fish the soujrht-for
opporttinity to deposit its eggs upon its tender leaves. The seeds of this
grass are an excellent food for the carp. This may be regarded as a use-
ful indication to be acted upon in the construction of ponds.

The eggs will develop themselves quickly, if assisted by warm \tenther.
As early as the fifth or sixth day the first traces of dusky spots, tlie eyes,
will be visible, and toward the twelfth, or at the latest the sixteenth, day
the little embryo fish will break through its envelope. This rapid dovelop-
nient takes place only in shallow, thoroughly warmed ponds, or in such as
were expressly constructed for hatching, and called breeding-ponds. If

30

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

these ponds are deep, and consequently their water is colder, the hatching
process may require as many as twenty days. In from three to five days
the young fish has absorbed the yolks, and seeks its food. If the breeding,
pond be productive enough to furnish the necessary food for so many
young fishes, these will grow very rapidly. I shall return to this subject
hereafter.

I remarked above that the carp prefers stagnant or slowly running water
with a muddy bottom, and that it lives upon vegetable as well as animal
food, aquatic plants, seeds, worms, and larvai of water insects— it is, there-
fore, no fish of prey. It does not attack other fishes, and has no teeth in
its mouth, but only in the throat, and is, on account of its harmlessness
an excellent fish for the culturist, as well as for stocking large lakes and
rivers in general.

3. The Growth and Size.
Its growth differs according as the fish inhabits cold or warm water, a
river, lake, or pond, finding plentiful food therein, or being fed. An ad-
ditional factor is tlie quality of the soil, whether muddy or stony. In
cold water, or such as has a stony ground, the carp will not progress 'favor-
ably. For this reason the statements concerning its normal size, attained
to in a certain given time, differ widely. Very naturally it will exercise
an extremely great influence upon the thriving of the fishes, whether the
pond contains a great number or only a few of them ; whether it is over-
stocked, as culturists term it ; or whether there are only a proportionate
number of fishes in it, accordin^to its capability of producing food. Other
considerations remain to be mentioned ; namely, is the pond provided with
supplies from brooks falling into it, or are the fishes to be fed? The lat-
ter course is almost indispensable in the culture of trout. The expenses
incurred in this case diminish the income of the culturist : if not resorted
to, the result will be the same, as the value of the fish will be smaller. This
feeding is needless with the carp, if it be cultivated judiciouslv in suitable
ponds ; and for this reason alone the culture of the carp is preferable to
that of the trout.

In rivers and lakes it grows larger, although the same fish, for the rea-
son, probably, that in larger space, which at thL- same time yields more
sheltered retreats, it escapes from the pursuit of man more easily than in
regular artificial ponds, and finds more plentiful supplies of food. The
question of the species, or, I would rather say, the race, is of great moment,
particularly in respect to carp-culture in ponds.

A favorable result may be expected from the culture of this fish where-
ever the necessary water is to l>e found, be it in the North or South, and
that, too, as well as in ponds in open lakes and rivers.

The normal weight which a carp may attain to in three years, whether
it be scale carp, mirror carp, or leather carp, is an average' of from three
to three and one fourth pounds; that is, a fish which has^ lived two sum-
mers— consequently is eighteen months old— will weigh two and three

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

81

fourths to three and one fourth pounds the year following. The growth
may turn out to be even more favorable in a warm year, or if only a few
fishes have been placed in a pond, as we shall see further on in the chap-
ter treating of pond-culture and the operations of the culturist.

Carps may reach a very advanced age, as specimens are to be found in
Austria over one hundred and forty years old.

The increase in length only continues up to a certain age ; but its cir-
cumference will increase up to its thirty-fifth year.

I have seen some common carp in the southern parts of Europe— in the
lowlands of Hungary, Servia, Croatia, Wallachia, as also in Moldavia and
the Huckowina— which weighed from thirty to forty pounds and more,
measuring nearly three and one half feet in length by two and three fourths
feet in circumference.

Old men, whose credibility and truthfulness could not be doubted, as-
sured me, and gave the most detailed accounts, of the capture of this
species of fish in former years, giants, which weighed from fifty to sixty
pounds, and which they had seen themselves. During the Crimean war
in 1853, a French engineer officer, stationed at Widdin, on the Danube, in
Turkey, killed a carp by a bullet-shot some distance below the city ; this
fish weighed sixty-seven pounds. I had some of its scales in my posses-
sion, of which each had a diameter of two and one-half inches. Their
structure indicated to a certainty that the age of this fish could be no more
than twenty-four years at the most. It is a well-known fact that two large
carps, weighing from forty-two to fifty-five pounds, were taken several
years ago on one of the (Jrand Duke of Oldenburg's domains in Northern
Germany. They had been kept in some particularly favorable water, pro-
ductive of plentiful food, and had been used as breeding-fishes. These two
specimens might, from their size, be calculated to be comparatively very
aged fishes: it was proved that they were only fifteen years old. If we
may credit the chronicles kept centuries ago by old families, and especi-
ally by the monks, who had taken possession of all the best localities along
the banks of the beautiful blue Danube, then still greater giants had been
caught, and that in the waters of the Danube itself A chronicle of the
monastery of Molk, in Austria, refers to a carp weighing seventy-eight
pounds, which had been captured on Ascension Day in 1520. Another
record speaks of a carp which had been taken in the third decennium of
the present century in the lake of Zug, in Switzerland, and which weighed
ninety pounds. These giants are certainly only wonderful exceptions,
and have become celebrated through the scarcity of such occurrences ; but
still these facts are encouraging illustrations that it is possible for such
large specimens to grow up in favorable water. All the countries where
these large fishes have been found, and which are situated between the
Black, the North, and the B.iltic Seas, are pretty nearly such as have a
late spring and a long, cold winter. Near Widdin the Danube has been
frozen repeatedly. There the carp passes from five to seven months in its

32

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

[No. 19,

winter sleep, during which it does not grow. If this fish thrives so well
in the countries which have such a very cold winter (on an average they
have the same winter temperature as boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Pitts-
burgh, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and St. Louis), where the rivers
have not enough food for these fishes by far, their level being regulated
by dams, which are a subject of constant complaint to the fishermen, how
much more would they thrive in the waters of this country with their great
riches of food ! But, if we take into account the rivers of the mild south
and south-west of the United States what success may not be expected
for this fish in those regions?

If the carp finds food in superfluity, it will grow much more rapidly
than the above statement indicates. This gives an increase of from three
to three and one fourth pounds in one year and six months ; but this is
only the normal one, the food consumed being of an average amount. If
the fish obtain food very plentifully, it will grow more rapidly. In this
case, again, it is to be considered that the waters of the milder climates
of this country possess this advantage, scarcely to be judged of or esti-
mated at its pjoper value as yet, that the fish may be able, during three
quarters of the year or even the whole year round, to take food, and will
omit the lethargic winter sleep conditioned by the cold winter. There is
scarcely a comparison to be made so far as the carp are concerned between
the rivers of this country, so richly supplied with food, which it will not
be compelled to seek for it under a constant strife for existence, and those
of the much poorer waters of the Rhine, Elbe, Rhone, &c. In the waters
of its native country, in Central Europe, after its first wakening from the
long winter's sleep, it seeks most diligently after the contents of the
seeds of the Nuphar luteum and Nymphoea alba, the yellow and white
water-lily, the Phellandrium aquaticum, Festucajluitans, &c. The waters
of the United States abound in all theise plants and numerous others, the
seeds of which will serve the fish as food ; for instance, the wild rice
{Zizania aquatica and Z. Jluitans), the well-known Tuscarora rice or
"water-oats" with its great riches of seeds, and many others, which will
yield food profusely. an<l which European waters do not possess, thus
giving a great advantage to the American carp-culturist. And then there
is the culture offish in ponds. There are culturists in CL^ntral Europe
who, wishing to see the fish growing more rapidly, take the trouble to
feed tliem with soaked barley, which they occasionally throw out in differ-
ent places; and, by doing so, they have had a very full success, the fish
growing larger, that is, more quickly, when not thus fed. By introducing
the above-named wild or natural water-i)lants in carp-ponds, they will be
perpetuated ; and the grains which have fallen to the ])ottora of the water
will form an ample article of food for the first spring days, if we do not
prefer to give them the almost worthless offal of the sla.ighter-houses. I
do not advocate the so-called artificial feeding of this fish where the ponds
themselves yield food in ample a])undance, a consummation toward which
the Tuscarora rice will largely contribute.

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

83

Let us once more consider the fact of its extraordinary increase of
weight of about a liundred and ten per centum in the exceedincrly short
space of four months ; for during the cold winter time, when id thickly
covers rivers and lakes, nature banishes it into its temporary tomb which
It choses and digs for itself, to hold its winter sleep in. This fish needs
from fifteen to eighteen months of growth, to gain, according to a low
estimation, the weight of three pounds without being fed. But much more
satisfactory results are frequently arrived at when favorable circumstances
combine, and when it will reach a greater weight. There are some cul-
turists who obtain in the space of time fishes of four pounds' weicrht • of
course they possess warmly situated ponds, which thaw very early iirspring
and perhaps they assist nature in some degree by feeding the fishes I
have done so myself in two successive years, which wei^ exceptionally
warm, when I fed the fishes with the almost worthless malt refuse or
"graius." They increased visibly, and attained to the above mentioned
weight in the same space of time.

This fifteen to eighteen months of the actual time of growth transpires
during a period of three years and six months, as intervening months of
winter sleep are to be included, during which the growth is interrupted

I will not recur to what this fish promises to become in the inilderre-
gious of the south, where neither ice-bound water nor cold temperatures
force upon it the lethargy of the winter sleep; where it will have the loner,
er space of from eight to ten months, or maybe the whole vear, including
the mild winter, for the most vigorous and rapid development,— not as
in Europe, the sparingly allotted four or five months. * •

It is not to be doubted that the carp will arrive at the weight of from
two and three fourths to four pounds in one year in those wann climates
when in colder regions it recpiires two years and six months. I do not
think that 1 am mistaken in this: I am ready to stand bv this assertion
which the future will surely verify. ' '

I believe I have said all that is most desirable for the culturist to know
concerning the carp and its natural history ; and I will now treat briellv
of Its culture in ponds, rivers, and lakes, as also the construction of ponds.

C— The Culture of Carp and Constructton of Ponds.

I. Its Adaptibility to Artiticial Culture.

The conclusion from what has been said will be, that the carp is ex-
cellently qualifie<l for culture in inclosed waters, as artificial ponds, and
also for the stocking of open waters, such as rivers and lakes, for what is
called "free fishing."

It is in the power of the culturist to produce, by means of artificial
impregnations and hatching, as also by the natural increase of this fish
with its abundance of eggs, any amount of fry, as well f,>r fresh water as
most probably also for salt water, as the fact of its occurinjr in the salt
3— Leu. Doc. No. 19.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

34

water of the Black, and very frequently in that of the Adriatic Sea, will

demonstrate. ,

Tliere is no other fish which will, with proper management, be as ad-
vantageous as the carp. Its frugality in regard to its food, its easy adapt-
abilitv to all waters, in rivers, in lakes and ponds, and even salt-water es-
tuaries, its regular, rapid growth, and its value as a food-fish, are its best
re(!Ouiinendationa

2. The Localities best adapted to a Carp-pond.

I will try to describe, in the first place, the manner in which carp culture
in ponds is conducted in Central Europe, and subsequently explain more
fidlv its introduction in open waters.

If intending to establish carp-ponds, it will be necessary to ascertain
the following points before the execution of the plan :

1. Is there a sutficient quantity of water at hand for all purposes, for
the summer as well as winter?

9 Is the ground, soil, and water favorable for culture ?

3 It is important to examine the land minutely, in order to find what
are 'the components of the soil, for not every kind of soil is suitable for

carp-culture.

4 It ou<rht to be decided from the commencement how large the estab-
lishment is intended to l»e, whether only for private use and pleasure, or
whether wholesale production of the fish as an article of trade is contem-

*^'Tr points 1 and 2 have been satisfactorily settled, then the ground
must be examined, particularly whether it is so constituted as not to allow
the collected water to penetrate, and whether the ground is sandy or loamy.
Above all, it must not be neglected to measure the depth of the stratum
which holds the water, and to be fully assured that it is suHiciently imper-
meable to withstand the pressure of the water and to hinder its oozing
throiKdi, so as to prevent the consequent drying-up of the pond.

A rocky, gravely ground is not appropriate for carp (rulture. Sandy
ground, without a considerable mixture of loam, clay, and humus, is of
small use. I speak here of large ponds of c<msideral)le extent. Small
pomls with a sandy bottom may be improved by supplying them with
loam, as it is frequently done in agriculture.

Loam is a mixture of a small per centum of sand and a larger (piantity
of d-iv and is suitable for ponds. If such ground contains some marl,
or, better, some little elements of humus,* it is of the greatest advantage
for lish-culture. These constituents of humus, if dissolved, give the wa-
fr a yellow, muddy color; and this water supports by its ingredients a
i)rofuse number of microscoi)ic beings, which again form the support of a
larger class of creatures, and rei)rcsent therefore the productiveness of food

* By humus, is meant such soil as tlie components of a swamp become aaer many
years of change from its vegetable character.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

35

o

\

of the pond, on which, in its turn, the carp depends for its subsistence.
Too much humus or dissolved peat is injurious. Water which runs through
bog-meadows or oak-woods is not of much use, because it contains too
much humic acid and tannin : these impart a moldy taste to the fish. A
too considerable amouut of gypsiferous earth, carbonate of lime, or sulphate
of lime, is injurious also. Should any mineral springs fall into a pond,
they must be turned oflf. The most favorable water will always be that
which comes from rivers and brooks. Ponds might be constructed which
would fill themselves with rain-water during the winter or at any other
time ; but such water takes a moldy taste easily, which it will communi-
cate to the fishes, as does the water from bogs also.

In Europe experience has shown tiiat water coming from fertile fields and
meadows, carrying with it particles of otfal from villages, is best adapted

for carp-culture.

Spring-water direct from the ground is not favorable, and ought to be
conducted for at least a few hundred yards through wide, shallow ditches
in order to receive more nourishing components from the air as well as the
earth, and above all to be warmed to some extent by the sun and warm air.
A tract of land, such as above described, merit.^ the preference as a site
for a pond, if, in other particulars, the ground is favorable and has not too
great a fall. If this were the case, very high and strong dams would be
required for the collection of water. Such dams cost large sums if con-
structed of good water-proof material.

A low undulating country, with only slight elevations or hills, where
the small valleys are easily closed up by dams for the purpose of forming
reservoirs, is favorable, the constructio:; of these dams involving compar-
atively trilling expense.

.3. The Construction of the Ponds.
Ponds must not be too deep, as the water will be colder and will harbor
fewer insects, larvjv, and worms, which form part of the carp's food : be-
sides, this fish does not grow quickly in cold water. A depth of three
feet in the centre of the pond is sutllcient ; toward the outlet-sluice it may
be from six to eight feet deep, but only for an area of from two himdred
to one thousand scpiare feet. In the depths of this "collector" the lishes
seek their resting-place for the winter, and also in summer, when the water
is too warm near the edge. The outer part of the pond should not be
deeper than one foot for the distance of about seventy or a hundred feet,
so that the water may be warmed more thoroughly by the sun.

Toward the center of the pond, and in accordance with its size, a cav- .
ity of from twenty to fifty feet in length, and two feet deeper than the
rest of the ground, should be dug. This will serve the fishes for a resting-
place in summer and winter. This cavity is sometimes called a ''kettle,"
though the appellation varies in (Mffc'rent localities.

From the entrance of the pond to the other end, where the "collector"
and the outlet-sluice are situated, two or three ditches of two feet in depth

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

36

and four feet in length must be made, which cut the deeper "kettles"
transversely as far as the collector. These ditches are intended to carry
all the lishes into the collector when the pond is being drained. Ihe col-
lector is nothing but a place of from twenty to forty feet in length and
breadth near the outlet-sluice, one foot deeper than the remaining bottom
of the pond. In ponds of superior construction it has generally a wood
flooring, and must be cleaned of the mud every year, so that the fishes
may not become too much soiled by the mud.

ill -.peakin^ of the erection of a breeding establishment for carp, I have
ill view a wat'er-extent of at least thirty-five to seventy acres' area, which
in central P:urope would be considered an establishment of about one third

magnitude.

The inflow of water into the pond should never be allowed to be direct ;
as for instance, a brook falling into it. This often causes the water to
rise 'It an inopportune time, carrying into the pond other fishes, especially
the rapacious pike. The carp also has the disposition to swim toward
the inflowing water, by which means it is drawn away from its proper
feedino -places. The water should bo conducted into the pond sideways
from tlle stream ; and, if it should bP n. small brook only, it mny be turned
ofl- entirely, and carried alongside the pond, from which point the latter
can be easily supplied with water. , ^ . a

The inlet-sluices from the stream must, of cou-«.e, be of a strong and
practical construction, so that a^ overflow is impossible; and they ought
to be provided with gratings to prevent other fishes from intruding.

It is an indispensable condition for the culture in ponds, according to
established rules, that they be so constructed as to allow of being thor-
oughlv .Irained, so that the fishes may be taken out without any dithculty.
The bottom of ponds should be of such a descripti.^n as to permit their
being dried up for agricultural pu-poses if necessary

In Europe ponds of from ten to two thousand acres' extent are frequent-
ly to be found, which, after having been used for fish culture for a time,
are dried up; and sometimes grass, oats, wheat, &c., are planted on the
crround This improves the soil exceedingly for llsh-culture. I mention
this simply in order to show that the soil gains Ly this manipulation, not
onlv for fi^h-cul'.ure, but also for agriculture. If the soil at the bottom of
ponds has been freed from the humic acid by vegetation, after being
plo^ved and exposed to the air thoroughly, fishes will thrive incredibly
well in them. This I intend as a suggestion particularly for farmers who
would wish to establish a small pond of. perhaps, five or six acres' size, to
. show that the soil of their land would not lose, but rather gain, by doing
80 A.rriculture and carp-culture go hand-in-hand in some central Euro-
pean countries, and form a kind of complement to one another. To-day a
piece of ground mav be a field or fertile meadow ; next year it will be
found to be a productive pond, to serve again one or two years later its
first purpose.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

8t

<>

If the size of the principal and supplementary ponds has been decided
on, the height, depth, and width must be measured, and the le^'els of the
ground and dams, if such are needed, should be carefully taken. The
leveling of the bottom is required to assist in the determination of the
depth of the ditches, -kettles," collector, and outlet to be dug in it.

In the erection of the required dam it is most important that it be con-
structed of the very best material, so as to make it secure against the de-
structive influence of the water. It ought to be three times as wide at its
base as it is high, and at the top the width should be the same as the
height. The interior, or water-side, should be less inclmed than the ex-

terior one. , ^ -j. > i.^.i.„„/i

Before the foundation of the dam is laid, the ground where it is to stand
must be dug out to a depth of two, and a width of from four to five, feet
throughout the whole length of it. If the ground does net consis of
loam, it must be filled up with it about one foot deep, and this must be
tamped down hard. A second layer follows, and is disposed of in the
same manner. This is repeated, the clay being moistened every time if
required, and then beaten down solidly. This lower stratum is but the
foundation of the dam, which is formed from the earth dug out of the pond
or its vicinity. This is continued until the dam is completed. Care must
be taken, however, that the construction and tamping-down of this lower
stratum be done in lavers, and that nothing but good clay be used. In
this manner the material of the foundation will become a very tvnncious
mass, which will not allow any water to penetrate. The completion of
this laborious task will be a source of ultimate satisfaction, as many dis-
advantaczes, which might arise after the filling of the pond, will be done
awav with throu-h its agency. The dam should not be made entirely of
clay • for in midsummer, during the great heat, it would dry out too much
on 'that side most exposed to the sun, and consequently it would become
full of fissures, through which the water would escape, and this might
become disastrous for the estalflishment.

On account of the required outlet-sluices, etc., the fact must be kept m
view, that such newlv constructed dams will sink ten per cent after a
lapse of time of littlJ more than a year, with the exception of that por-
tion which has been solidlv made. The dam should be sodded. For the
draining of the pond, at the -fishing-out" season, it should have an outlet
at the lower end, if no other advantageous arrangements can be made tor
the Durpose. The use of wood-work for the channel should be avoided,
its durability not h2\nr suflicient. The m>st desirable construction
would be that the outlet-channel consist either of masonry-work or water-
pipes, which may be made either of clay or iron. This channel or pipe
must be so made that it can be closed tightly or oixMied again readily it
needed and must be provided with two or threefold gratings to prevent
the escape of the fishes upon the opening of the sluice. At the same time
there should be an outlet-channel, several feet in breadth, at the side of the

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

38

pond, to allow the water to run off. This must also be secured by grating,
but should be kept open always, so that, in case of continued rainy weather
or sudden and violent showers of rain or thunder-storms, no overflowing
of the banks or dams may be possible through the unexpected rising of
the water in the pond. Large flsh-ponds of several hundred acres' extent
(some have a surface of twelve hundred, fifteen hundred, or two thousand
acres) have generallv, and according to their size, two or three outlets I
have described, and which pass underneath the dam. The outflow from
these is usually regulated by adjustment of the flood-gates from the top

of the dam.

The so-called "Monche" (monks) are wooden boxes, which stand in the
pond at a distance of a few feet from the dam. They are perforated like
a sieve, or are provided with small adjustable boards, and wooden pipes
run from them through the dam. In Bohemia they are called "carp-
houses." They are, however, rarely used in large establishments at pres-
ent, only such culturists making use of them who have but small breeding-
ponds at their command and carry on culture on a small scale. These
locks suffer too much from the water, air, and sun, as also from the pres-
sure of the ice in winter, so that they require considerable repairs at an
early date after their flrst coming into use ; but they serve their purpose
fully in small ponds, especially in smaller ponds, which are intended for
pleasure or experiment.

There are so many different ^vays of constructing these subterranean
sewers, that I may as well pass them over; they belong more particularly
to the department of hydraulics. It is the province of the culturist to
find for himself that which will be the best and most practical method in
the construction of outlets.

If it be desired to make use of natural ponds, of which there are nura-
l)ers in every State of the Union, it is necessary to ascertain whether they
can be put into the proper condition for regular culture. This can only
be done if the influx of water can be regulated and the entire drainage of
the pond made possible. An intrenchraent will be required with such
ponds in order to make them dry. Trunks of trees should be taken out of
them ; and where they are too deep they should be filled up, or, if this can-
not be done, they should be brought into connection with the above-de-
scribed sewers on the bottom of the pond. If this is not done, too many
fishes will remain eml>edded in the mud when the pond is being drained,
and this lessens the ])rofits to a great extent.

Should any brooks fall into such ponds, as is often the case with large
ones, they must be kept under strict observation on account of possible
overflows which might occur. If it be practicable, the brook had best
be turned off and conducted alongside the pond, when the latter can be
supplied with water if required.

Such brooks, coming from a neighboring hilly territory or from mount-
ains, will frequently- occasion an overflow if either a thunder-shower or

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

39

sudden thawing of snow and ice should set in. In the latter case the
ground might be too hard with the frost to allow the water to run oft

" k'^; overflow should even be inconsiderable, it would still exercise an
injurious influence upon the fishes, as the influx of so much --^^ ' -»"-^
in all probability would contain unfavorable substances, would be apt to
drive them from their winter retreat. _;^u:„

In sum,ner, sudden; violent vain-Bhowers "«»■ --' »" ""^'^.V ^^^"
a few minutes, which will carry <.a the fishes, and cventua ly may dest.oj
:» the ponds.' To secure against this, the construction of --^sl u.s,
such as are contrived in artificial ponds, and a w.de reserve dteU along
side the pond, which is destined to cary ofi' the threatening high water
a™n!n"„ded. A small dam between the pond and brook, rnstead of .
the reserve-ditch, will sometimes answer.

Great c>u,tion is necessary in the selection of the site for a pond or the
natural pond, which is to lie converted into a carp-pond.

Oe flows not onlv injure the ponds and fishes, but may result ma
stiU w^rse disaster,ltl,at of carrying away the fishes into strange wate.s

''lirilL'erU^tin carp culture is, that the water 1« of the same
depth in summer and winter. If the supply of water ,s too pleut f d
g at quantities of n,ud are carrie,! into the pond. -"""W^f ' ^ " » ,
which grows in it and on its banks; this, in eonseciuencc, wdl lOt . nd
poison the water. The carp immedi.rtcly desert such water on account ol
Its offensTvc odor, and retire from their proper feediug-places to depths de-

ficient iu production of food. • .„ „p ti,„ re.

The mud, which is being constantly reproduced, consists of the re
mainders of plants. From these, different gaseous compounds develop
U.eZ Ives in'midsummcr, and the fishes become sickb; .n --."--
In this case especially if they rise to the surface seeking for au.mou

tc mur be s'upplied through the inlofsluice, when they -"' ---J^^-
degrees. A casualty of this description may occur in very large ponds,
thou«'h no overflow mav have taken place.

remicious g.rscs develop themselves from the mud even in winter: but
thc\ rr .ave any bad effects, l.ing injurious only if the water is cov-
er!d in ice. when .be fishes die from suffocation. For this reason large
apertures are cut into the ice for the supply of fresh a.r.

4, StockliiK the P»l>d« «'>«1 C'" "' «"« •"'"es.

To earrv on carp-enlture in a regular and judicious manner, several
,Jds are required, according to the various purposes they arc destined

for.

1. The hatching-pond.

2. The breeding-pond.

3. The culture or regular carp pond.

The hatching-pond serves more particularly for natural nnpregnation

40

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

and hatching, or rather for natural propagation generally, by placing a
number of male and female fishes into the pond. Here the females drop
the eggs, during the spawning season, upon aquatic plants, where they are
impregnated by the male.

In stocking ponds, three females are calculated to two males, some-
times twice tbat number, per acre. The females bear a great number of
eo-o-s, as has been remarked before; but the smaller number only are ini-
preirnated ; neither do all these come to life.

The most liberal estimate will not exceed the number of from eight hun-
dred to one thousand young fishes to one spawner : the aggregate per
acre amounting to from four thousand to five thousand.

It is scarcely possible to say what is the most desirable number of
milters and spawners for stocking ponds, as the views on this subject
differ widely in Europe. I believe, however, the above to be correct, and
it is accepted as such by all extensive establishments.

The a])ove-mentioned result will be much more tavoral>le if the old rule,
now unfortunately almost forgotten, is observed,— to feed the carp which
are in the spawning-pond, shortly before and during the season of spawn-
ing, so as to prevent their searching for food, which generally leads them to
eat their own eggs. After the fish have laid their eggs, they must simply
be removed from the ponds, which prevents their eating the eggs. This
useful rule, formerly much i)racticed in Europe, has unfortunately fallen
into disuse : in fact, it has almost been forgotten, probably because carp
naturally increase very fast.* By removing the spawners, three times as
many younjr fish are kept alive than by leaving them in the spawning-
ponds.' On no account should too great a quantity of young fish be
placed in a pond. The above-mentioned number of four thousand to five
tliousand young fish to the acre requires water which is very rich in nat-
ural food. If there are too many young fish in the spawning-pond, thry
grow very slowly, as the pond cannot produce the necessary quantity of

♦ In Germany This rule is onlv observed by some small pisciculturists; in France,
on some of the former lordly manors,-in the department of the "Seine inferieure" and
inM.e department of the •'Rhone,"-where they likewise had tlie custom to plant
acmatic plants (UltricHlaria, PheUandriam, c.) in loosely plaited baskets, which,
when covered with the impregnated epK, were transferred to other ponds. Duhamel
also i>racticed this in his time. This practice has doubtless led Dr. Lamy of Rouen to
his artificial spawiiiuKr-places made of reeds, liy an order of the Abbot of the Ben-
edictine Convent of Kremsmiinster, in Upper Austria, (founded in 777,) of the year
1.529 the fishersof the convent domain were reminded that spawning-carps must be
of a certain age and size, and must consequently be weighed. After spawning, they
had to be removed from the pond. This convent is still in existence, and is the
wealtliicst convent of tlie Austrian monarchy, owning upwards of one liuiidred and
tiftv large villages, and possessing a large and valuable library and observatory and
scientific collections. lUittheorderof the good old abbot is no longer observed. Simi-
lar orders were, in former centuries, also given by other convents in Austria, as Lam-
bach, in Upper Austria, Wellehrad, in Moravia, and others. The lishermen's guilds,
of Nuremberg and Bamberg had, about the year 1600, similar rules, wliicli were pla-
cirded in their guild-iialls, and which wore strictly observed. At present such rules
are not known in eitlier place.

■A

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VfH

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'•^'i\v

lifik

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

41

food. Such fish are scarce!}' one to two inches long when they are one to
two 3'ears old; only the head <rrows a little, whilst the rest of the body
remain, small. As soon as youns fish feel the want of food for any length
of time, the gristle and bone of the skeleton harden, thus bringing its de-
velopment to a close, not allowing natr.re fair play, and the fish remains
a cripple for the rest of its life, even if it is placed in ponds affordir.g
imlimited supply of food. It is therefore better either to place fewer
young fish in the ponds or to make the ponds larger ; it will be found to pay.
The young fish will grow rapidly; their development will be healthy,
and even during the first year they will reach the length of five to six
inches. Strong and healthy fish can thus be placed in the growing-ponds,
and here, too, they will grow rapidly. If there are too many young fisli
for the water-area, it is better to place them in some lake, brook, or river.
On no account should they be kept in the pond. Beginners in carp-culture
usually consider it quite a sacrifice to let so many young fi&h loose in the
open river or lake : they keep them, and later they will bitterly regret their
parsimony, or rather their imprudence, by having weak or not fully de-
veloped fish.

The hatching-pond should not be as large as the breeding-pond ; its
depth not to exceed one or one and a half feet. The outer portion, or, as
it is termed, the low-water margin, should generally be from two to five
inches in depth, and from tliirty to forty feet in width. I'rovision should
l)e made that Festuca JluitanK grows there plentifully; for the fishes give
the preference to this plant for the depositi«m of eggs, as I before observed.
But the bottom of these hatching-ponds must be of similar construction to
that of the larger ones ; that is, they must b? provided with the al)ove-de-
scribed cavities, or kettles, collectors, and collector-ditches. The "col-
lectors'' must be cleaned from the mud every spring : they need not be as
deep in these ponds as they are in such as are intended for the reception
of larger fishes ; a depth of from four to five inches only being required
for fishes of minor size. The hatching-ponds have outlets and reserve
sluices in the dam, at the lower end or on the sides, to guard against over-
flows. These ponds must be secured against the intrusion of pike, eels, bass,
cat-fish, tritons, water-snakes, turtles and water-lizards, rats and water-fowls,
or any voracious animals, ami, in the South, the alligator. A fine grating
will prevent the entrance of the former : against the latter various traps
are in use, and other means might be devised. It is of the highest import-
ance that new ponds be assiduously kept clear of the animals mentioned,
and of many others not named here.

In small establishments, embracing only a few acres, it will be found ad-
vantajreous, in si)ite of the somewhat greater expense, if the ponds (both
natural and artificial), either all or singly, are surrounded by a very close
board fence, three to four feet high, and going four to six inches into the
ground. Such a fence will afford no protection against aquatic birds,
water-snakes, and muskrats : but it will exclude the snapping-turtle, the

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

42

most dancrerous and voracious enemy of fish, which is more to be feared
than either cranes or otters. This detestable animal has been known to
clean a pond offish, and then, led by its sense of smell, to follow the fish
goin<r even up hill and against the stream. At night it seizes the hsh,
whicll, not suspecting any danger, rest at the bottom, with its sharp fangs,
resembling shears, and kills them. It is a peculiarity of carp to keep at
the bottom during the night, and likewise during cold and gloomy weather ;
and the snapping-turtle would therefore have many an opportunity ot de-
strovin«T them. Large iron fish-hooks, with a piece of meat fastened to
them as bait, will do good service, if distributed in suitable places on the
banks. This should be done from spring to October. The pieces of meat
should be of such a size that even large carps cannot bite them ; they will
then form a most attractive bait for the ugly monsters. These hooks
should be fastened with a strong brass wire, as the snapping-turtle could
easily bite through twine, and should be inspected every day.

In placing spawners in ponds, great caution must be practiced in then-
selection, so that only really healthy fishes may be introduced, and not
such as are affected by fungous growths, the gelatinous polyp, or other
disease. In Europe the polyp, in particular, has fre(iuently destroyed the
productiveness of ponds for many years.

The newly obtained young fry are left in the hatching-ponds during the
winter, after which they are to be transferred to the larger ponds.

The catching of the young fishes must be done with great care, and the
water must be drained off through the grated outlets very slowly, so that
no fishes may remain in the mud ; for, if a new hatching operation is con-
templated in the pond, the newly hatched fishes will be retarded in their
growth on account of the scarcity of food, this being consumed by any re-
maining larger ones. The young fishes must be handled carefully ; for the
sliiihtest injury of the scales may cause disease and death.

The breeding-ponds have the same construction as the hatching-ponds ;
they have dams, reserve-sluices, outlet-channels, collectors, and ditches in
the bottom. The only difference is in being deeper and larger than hatch-
ing-ponds. They have an average depth of one foot and nine inches, and
*he width of their shallow borders is from seventy to eighty feet. The
'•kettles'' have a depth of four and one half feet from the surface : their
borders are from six to eight inches deep. The growth of grass should
also be advanced in these ponds. In small ones of about four or six acres,
the "kettles" mav have a length and width of sixty or seventy feet.

The stocking of the breeding-ponds takes place in spring, immediately
after the emptying-out of the hatching-ponds : it lasts from the latter part

of March until April.

From eight hundred to one thousand breeding-fishes may be calculated
to an American acre, eight hundred being the average. To cover possible
risks, one hundred more may be added, as in the most successful pond
slight losses are to be expected.

■'t

i

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

43

In favorable ponds, where the carp is left to seek its food, it will have
gained a weight of about one and one fourth pounds in the ensuing autumn-
In small ponds, about one acre in size, where feeding is practiced, they

will weigh more.

In the southern countries of Europe, in favorably situated ponds, they
will sometimes reach a weight of two pounds in the same space of time-
This I found to be the case in southern France. However, these favor-
able results are only attributable to the mildness of the climate, and I
doubt not that proportionably better results may be arrived at in the
south of this country.

In ponds of small capacity, in which nourishing food is produced in
small quantities, the results of breeding are not very encouraging.

An advantage will be gained in northern, colder countries, by leaving
the young fishes two summers in the breedi ng- ponds ; that is, they are
transferred to a second, larger one, and only from this they pass into the
culture or real carp ponds. This will answer especially well if the bottom
of the pond is poor, or if feeding has not the desired effect.

This method is followed by many competent culturists in (lennany and
Austria, who, in the possession of extensive lands and excellent numer-
ous ])onds, find it to their advantage, as it enables them to place larger
breeding fishes in the carp-ponds ; and, though this is done a whole year
later, the loss of time is compensated for by the large size of the fishes
produced in the carp-ponds.

In the spring of the third year those fishes which have been one year
in the breeding-pond are transferred to the carp-ponds, the construction
of which I have described before. Fishes having been kept in the breed-
ing pond for one summer only, without being fed, will be found to weigh
at^the expiration of that time from one to one and one fourth i)ounds,
while those which remained there two sumni'.'rs will show a proportionally
greater increase of weight. In southern Hungary and Croatia the fishes
kept in the breeding-ponds but one summer occasionally thrive more
favorably. Differences in the ratio of weight are commonly owing, as I
observed before, to climatic infiuence ; and the greatest and most rapid
increase will be found in localities where there is an early spring and
where the months of September and October are warm, but i)articularly
where the nij|lits are still and mild during spring and autumn.

Breeding-ponds should have a certain number of fishes only placed in
them when tliey are stocked, and that number should never be exceeded
For the cultuvist it is important to bear in mind, that, the younger the
transferable lireeding fishes are, the less expense they will have caused,
and the sooner their money-vabie may be realized; all carps weighing
two and one half pounds and more being for the market.

To stock a culture-pond of one acre, four hundred to five hundred carp
of one pound in weight will be required ; and in the following year, or
rather in the autumn of the same year, when the fishes are taken out for

44

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

the market, they will weijyh in a good pond two and three fourths to
three pounds each, or ahout twelve hundred to two thousand pounds in
the aggregate. In some localities only two hundred carp are taken to
one acre of American square measure ; in other places, more.

Pike* are frequently put into carp-ponds in Europe without reducing
the number of the carp, one pike being added to twenty-five or thirty of
the former. This is an old practice, which has been proved of great use
by experience, assisting through the effects exercised in the improvement
of culture ; that is, the favorable progress of the fishes. The carp is a
very indolent fish, which frequently remains for many hours in the same
place at the most favorable period for feeding ; namely, in summer. Tt is
aware of the pike's voracity, and remains always cautiously at a distance
from it. The introduction of the pike is practiced for two reasons : (1)
That the carp may not constantly remain in the same feeding-place, but,
friglitencd away by the pike, may visit others also ; (2) it is done, and
principally so, to prevent the more mature carp from spawning. Should
the spawning occur, as is the case occasionally, the young fry will be
devoured by the pike, which otherwise would have deprived the large
carps of tlieir food. The pike will also destroy those fishes and their
spawn which had succeeded in getting into the ponds without the knowl-
edge or through the inal)ility of the culturist to prevent it. Great care
is required in the introduction of the pike ; specimens of minor sizes than
that of the carp must be selected. The growth of the pike being much
more ra]>id than that of the carp, (three hundred percent, per annum,) the
former should be younger by one year at least than the latter, so that it
may not jirove dangerous to the carp. If this precaution is taken in the
introduction of the pike, it will be an actual boon to the carp-colonies ; for
it will not only exterminate by degrees all those parasitical fishes which
intrude tliemselves into the ponds, but it will devour frogs, or the smaller
kinds of its own species, as well as water-snakes and tritons.

Should the jiike suffer from want of food, after having cleared the pond
of all these animals, it must be supplied with it. Small spoiled fishes, or
such as have been stunted in their growth, will answer the purpose. If
this is neglected, the hungry pike will attack its companions, the carps ;
and. though it mav not devour them, it will mortally wound them with
its teeth.

I have so far given the principle traits of natural carp culture, and will
speak more explicitly of the artificial impregnation and hatching of the
carp's eggs in my next report. So far as I know, this latter method
has been little, if at all, employed in Europe, although it offers much
greater advantages for the production of vast quantities of spawn. My
own experiments were rewarded by the best results. I intend continuing
them this summer in Baltimore, and hope to communicate the results
herealter.

{

♦Males are selected for this purpose.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

45

I now proceed to give a few rules of general importance for the con-
struction and management of carp-ponds.

The ponds should have as shallow a border as possible. Their depth
should be in accordance with their size,— one foot in the culture or regu-
lar carp ponds where large fishes are kept ; one half foot in breeding, and
one fourth to one half foot in hatching, ponds. The borders should be of
considerable width. It is desirable in any case that a great number of
such shallows be contrived in ponds, as these are the principal feeding-
places of the carp.

Another important condition to be considered is this— that the water
in ponds must be of the same depth all the year round, any variation in
this having an injurious influence upon the fishes.

Ponds of smaller circumference, of from ten to fifteen acres, are, accord-
ing to results obtained, better suited for carp-culture than very large ones,
a hundred to a thousand acres in extent. These are frequently found in
central Europe upon tracts of land belonging to some princely domain.
In the former the fish finds more security, the bottom of the pond being
smoother ; it also suffers less from the waves these, being high and rough
in large ponds, becoming very detrimental to the spawn and breeding-fishes
especially during storms, when they are cast ashore, and become the prey
of water-fowls or perish in some other manner.

The diminution of water by evaporation must be made up for by a fresh
supply; this, however, must not exceed the quantity actually needed for
maintenance of the regular height of water. Small ponds of from one to
fifty acres' area, which serve some commercial or industrial purpose, as
mills, &c., and which are constantly varying the height of their water, can-
not be considered as favorable for regular culture-ponds. Although the
fishes may grow to a pretty good size in them, they must still be regarded
as belonging to the category of waters for '• free fishing," like lakes and
rivers. In these neither the height of water, nor the hatching of the eggs,
nor yet the increase of aquatic animals, can be regulated at will. Still,
leaving these waters to lie waste on this account would be a pity ; for, if
stocked with carp, they will, in spite of all disadvantages, remunerate the
proprietor, and the care which he bestows on them will be a source of much

pleasure.

I beg to make some remarks, in conclusion, relative to the introduction of
the caqj, and its increase in open waters, in which it is solely left to the
care of nature, and to which subject I alluded at the commencement.

We introduce into our waters migrating fishes, sucli as the salmon and
shad, and find it profitable, for the reason that they consume but little food
in the rivers, growing up in the sea and ascending into freshwater as large
fishes. We also maintain in our lakes white-fish, bass, pike, kv. These
are all fond o** animal food and belong in part to the class of fishes of prey.
The carp, on the contrary, lives upon vegetable food, insects, larvjv, and
worms ; but it never attacks other fishes or their spawn. It can be pro-

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

46

duced in masses, and then be transferred into the waters destined for its
reception. This can be done either by artificial impregnation and hatch-
ing, or in the way of natnral increase.

For each of these methods two ways of action are open ; (I) the spawn
can be transferred into open water as soon as it is free from the egg; or
(2) the vouno- tishes may be kept in ponds for a season nntil they haye had
time to -row-that is, for one summer. In the latter case, the rule, that
fishes which are destined for open waters must not be artifically fed, is to
be strictly adhered to. Cari) which have been used to feeding in that man-
ner will not be so apt to find the food for them^^elves which until then had
been supplied to them. Tormented by hunger, they will lose the fear of
their enemies, .ind the coni-equent cautiousness, falling an easy prey to them
before many weeks will have elapsed.

If artiticial feeding is not intended, the ponds for the reception of the
small fishes must be proportionately larger, so that they may find food in
sumcieiit quantities in a natural way. Both methods have their advantages.
If the young fry is transferred into open water five or six days after hatch-
incr there will be no necessitv for the establishing of large ponds. A great
number of eggs must, however, be hatched in this case ; for the small fishes
will be destroyed in vast numbers by their enemies.

The better method of the two is certainly this : To keep the young fishes
in large ponds until the fall, when they will have reached the age of five
or six months. During this time they will have had the opportunity to
learn how to find their food by their own efforts, such ponds producing it
profusely to satisfy all their wants, and thus they will be prepared for their
stay in open waters. To carry through the latter method, a larger extent
of water is required, nature itself having indicated precisely the conditions
under which and the limits in which the natural and unimpaired growth of
the young fishes may be expected.

They do not require as extensive a pond during the first months of their
development and growth as those which have reached a more advanced age.
For this reason it will be more advantageous to choose tlie middle way by
ret'iinincr the young fishes in the ponds for about one or two months, and
thJn toTrive tiiem their liberty, instead of transferring them immediately
alter thriiatching or keepins them for five or six months. I5y acting upon
this suggestion, the incalculable advantage will be gained that the fishes
profit bTil'c rich food of the open waters during the season, and will have
Irrown strong enough to fight more successfully for their existence. For
This purpose establishments for artificial breeding, constructed with a re-
gard to the demands of climate, are essentially needful in these oijen waters,
so that the greatest possible number of eggs may be hatched.

In Europe the sulyect of stocking open waters with carp has been dis-
cussed, because there, in its native country, its excellent adaptation for
this purpose has been recognized.

1 observed above that this fish is found in great numbers in most of the

V

4

Leo. I>oc.] Stat« Commissioners of Fisheries. *"

European rivers, p..rtic«larl,v in the Rhine. Although this river has a
verv !wia current which at times forms rapids, here neither mud nor sn-.t-
Iwe round is to i^ found which would qualify these localities for feeding-
pbces for the rather indolent carp. Still, there are numbers of shaUow
and small creeks, the borders of which are richly ^^^fr^^^^"
and Festuoa Jiuilans, where the fishes find food plentiful and mult.pb.

The river farp is not as fleshy as the pond carp; this is accounted for
bv the «e,t amount of bodily exercise which it is naturally compelled to
tak frlnT places it is more highly appreciated th.an the pond carp
p obably because the river-water does not impart to ''.*e moldy ta^te
which is sometimes found with the carp inhabiting ponds situated in marshy
Toe d-ties and morasses which have not a sutticient supply of fresh water,
T sertion in regard to the preference given to the jiver carp w. 1 be
found to be correct, especially in regard to the rivers Rhine, tlbe Weser
Vis 'la Loire, Rhone Oaronue, and the D.anufce. The latter is celebra ed
in so g as the beautiful, blue Danube ; in reality its water has. during the
ITte? port of the vear. a grayish-white, muddy color, and a very swift
current It has, however, particularly in Austria, Hungary, and the lo«^
lai'ds in general which border upon it, numerous branches which creep along
8hi.-Mshiy, and .also many small creeks with almost stagnant water.

I^great „uml,er of Hshcs of prey inhabit this river; the pike perch, the
raparious hueho. (Saimo hucho.) and, above alU the never-s.at,sflcd wels,
(Zurus ,iam-,,) which, in the lower Danube, reaches a weigh of fi,e
hundred pounds Its habits being similar to those of the carp, it les on
tl^mud .auks or fceding-placcs of this fish, and becomes its most danger-
ous enemv and insatiable destroyer, and still the ..rp increases m he .an-
?,be KrAm the citv of X'lm, where this river begins to be navigable af^

, ;«ea,« from theBlack Forest, a thousand miles downward to its mouth
on ho Black Sea, as also iu this case, the carp is found. To this fact
: ust^i a beei made on a former occasion. The carp tlir vcs best in
Tse parts of the DauulK- where the water is least clear; at the influx of

r™ ilddy waters of its tributaiies. At one time I w»s l.rescn a a raugl
of a seine which took place close to the quay of the city of I esth, in I un-
glrv and was arrange'l bv .Mr. Szihelsky Fcrent.. At that point the river
frco'nstantlv plowed bv steamers, stcam-tugs, canal, and ferry boats and
w^rlve sienicd ti,at there could not be many flshes there ; .v.t three
lundred flue carp, weighing from one to five pounds each, were taken in
„c draught of the nrt, wi.hiu the distance of about one quarter o an
Knglish m^ile. The carp is partial lo this locality because it f-'l^ •">';"
food there in the oHal from kitcheus. slaughter-houses, breweries a.i.l the
«• Lrof both the cities of Ofen and Pesth. In the Kuropean lakes_for
instance, in the lakes of Constance, ZUricli. and (!eueva-the carp comes
sometimes from these into the ports to seek for food. .,,,„„„

Comparing the water of the Danube with that of the Mississippi, fee con-
vincid that I may safely assert that the carp would thrive excellently m

48

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

the latter, although its water appears to be even more muddy and rapid than
that of the Danube ; and I believe this to be true of the Missouri and Ohio
and many others of its tributaries. The Mississippi has near its borders
many spots where the current is slow, and which are partiall3' covered with
vesetation. There are also numerous creeks, where the fishes would find
food plentifully in the alluvial mud on the banks. What has been said of
the Mississippi will be found to be the case with many other, or probably
nearly all, American rivers. They will be found to be adapted for the in-
troduction of the carp, so long as they are not mountain torrents which
have to break their way through rocky and pebbly ground. The increase
of this fish is of great importance from an economical point of view, espe-
cially so in regard to the south-western waters.

Under the present circumstances it is to be hoped that the endeavors
which have been made for this purpose may before long be rewarded by
success, and become a fail accompli, and that the dilliculties which will
have to be overcome ma}' not prevent the achievement of it. The effort
will and must meet with success at last.

5. Taking the Fish trom tlie Ponds.

The emptying-out of ponds demands the greatest caution and attention.
The water must be made to flow off very gradually through the several
outlets, all of which are to be kept open at the same time. It requires fre-
quently from ten to eighteen days to draw off the water. The fishes are
driven carefully and slowly with boats into the principal ditches. They
must not be chased on any account, or they will bury themselves in the
mud. Occasionally many thousands will do so within a few moments, and
will remain there, pressed together closely, and bo perish through suffoca-
tion. This is recorded as having occurred from time to time, when, during
the process of driving them into the ditches, the fishes were startled b}-
some unknown cause, and they all sank into the mud instantaneously.
Through the impossibility of extricating them s])eedily enough, many hun-
dreds and even thousands perished, the owner sustaining heavy losses in
consequence. To guard against such an emergency, preparations should
be made for an immediate supply of water in similar cases, in order to save
the fishes. If the fishing-out progresses in the regular manner, the fishes
will, by degrees, draw ort" from the ditches into the collector. The collect-
ing takes from five to six days in large ponds, containing frcjpiently one
hundred to four hundred tons of fishes. Care should l)e taken that crowd-
ing them together may be avoided. On the evening before the fishing-out,
when the water of the pond has been diminished to the depth of half a
foot, those fishes which have been collected are shut off from the pond by
a large net ; and in the early morning, at the dawn of day, they are caught.
As so large a number of fishes cannot be disposed of at once, they are
transferred to the so-called market-ponds, from which they are sold by
degrees to fish-dealers. These market-ponds are quite small, capable of

Leo. Doc.J

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

49

holding from two thousand to three thousand pounds of fish only, and are
supplied with running water.

Those who never saw the fishing-out of a carp pond can scarcely im-
agine the beautiful sight of so many thousand fine fishes, fat and well-fed,
raising their high, broad backs and tbick, puflfy lips above the water ; their
heads side by side; all being nearly of the same size, weighing from four
to five pounds ; their bodies closely pressing against each other, looking
like an immense herd of sheep imprisoned in one large net upon a circum-
ference of three thousand to four thousand feet. Closer and closer the
circle is drawn around them, until its extent measures only about two
acres, when they are caught by thousands, weighed in lots of one hundred
pounds, an(' then they are placed into the market ponds. The pikes, which
have reached an almost equal weight, are put into pike ponds. It requires
often two or three days to weigh the fishes, ponds of one thousand or two
thousand acres' area containing on an average two hundred tons of carp
and twenty tons of pike, tench and other fish not included.

I assisted once at the fishing-out of one of these ponds, which took place
in the neighborhood of the town of Guben-Pleitz, province of Brandenburg,
Germany. The pond was the property of a competent culturist and valued
friend, Mr. Thomas Berger of Georgenljof, near Cottbus-Peitz. The ponds
in which this gentleman carries on carp-culture exceed the extent of six
thousand Prussian acres. The pond which was fished-out at the time I
speak of was but a small one, not more than two hundred acres in size;
yet, to my surprise, I found that the greater number of the fishes were fine
specimens of about three pounds' weight, though they were but in their
second year, having weighed no more than one and one fourth pounds five
short months before, (the fishing-out took place at the beginning of Octo-
ber,) and they had attained to this great weight in a comparatively very
limited space of time. Several establishments of this kind are located in
that district, and they commonly belong to some large princely domain,
(crown propert}'.) They are, like all large fisheries, admirably managed,
and the results are most satisfactory.

6. Mixed Carp-Culture.

We have so far spoken of carp-culture, according to the different age of
these fish, in special ponds, (hatching, breeding, and carp ponds.) termed
" class-culture " in central Europe. We must now speak of another method
pursued in so-called " mixed ponds," in which there are fish of all ages,
from one year to eiofht to ten vears.

Not much can be said regarding this method, as there arc no hatcjiing
and breeding-ponds, but only one pond, which, however, must combine all
the characteristics of the class-ponds. It must, therefore, have shallow
places, overgrown with grass or aquatic plants, (Festuca Huifans and Phel-
landrium,) for the spawners and the young fish, antl also places, eight to
ten feet deep, for the larger fish. If such a pond is to j'ield some profit, it
4 — Leg. Doc. No. 19.

50

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

must also be particularly rich in food. A natural pond may be used, or, if
such a one is not found, it may be artificially constructed. It is indispens-
able, liowever, that such a pond should have the same depth of water all
the 3 ear round ; and it sliould be so arranged that even the last drop of
water can be left off, as occasionally even the smallest fish, measuring only
two to three inches in length, must be taken out. Such '' mixed ponds "
must likewise have " collectors " and "' collector-ditches." It will also be
found very useful to construct a sort of hatching place on some Hat and
sunny place near the bank; i. e., a so-called cut in the bank, measuring
fortv to one hundred feet in length and thirty to fifty feet in breadth, and
having a depth of five inches to one and one half feet. This cut should be
thickly planted with the above-mentioned aquatic plants, and ought, so to
speak, to be the only place in the pond where carp can ascend from the
depth in order to deposit their eggs conveniently and engage in the spawn-
ing process.

As soon as this has taken place, the entrance to this cut is closed with
a net, so the eggs cannot be eaten by the fish. This net may be removed
when the young fish have come out of the eggs ; but it is preferable to leave
it in its place for some days, that the young fish may be able to feed for
some time undisturbedly.

In Europe this method was generally adopted by beginners in carp-cul-
ture, commencing with a '' mixed i)ond," and gradually proceeding to the
small *• hatching-pond," and finally to the •' breeding-pond," as the great
advantage of separate ponds for the different ages of fish over the '• mixed-
pond ■' system soon became evident.

In such a " mixed pond " no pike must be kept for regulating the stock,
as may be done in a class-pond ; for all the small fish would then soon be
devoured. It must be made a strict rule, that, with the exception of the
tench ( Gyprinus tinea,) no other kind of fish, however harmless, is allowed
in the pond. The tench is related to the carp ; but it spawns four to five
weeks later, so there can be no danger of cross-breeds.

(ireat care should be taken that no gold-fish {Gyprinus carina auratus)
or bream (Brama) get in the pond, for these fish would soon mix with the
cari), and tend to degenerate the breed. Such fish should therefore be re-
moved or killed at once. The gold-fish, especially the milter, swims in
spav, ning-schools like the carp, and at the very same season. It thus
spoils the eggs of the carp, as all eggs which it impregnatt'S will produce
spotted fish, having at least a silvery streak, one fourth to one half inch
lon<'- and one eighth inch broad, between the caudal and the dorsal fin.
Such bastards (the cross-breeds of gold-fish and Carassius also resemble
them) do not grow larger than gold-fish, and have as many bones. They
are unfit for table use, and entirely unsuited for ornament, as they are
neither genuine carp nor gold-fish, and are disagreeable objects in the eyes
of tlie scientist or connoisseur. If such fish are not removed immediately
the consequence will be another cross-breed during the next spawning sea-

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

51

son, — for such a hybrid spawns, like the gold-fish, when it is a year old, —
and the breed of carps would degenerate still more. It is best to kill such
worthless cress-breeds at once, as they are apt to give great trouble.

I would embrace this opportunity to impress upon every carp-culturist
who intends to make breeding experiments with any carp procured through
the United States Fish Commission, the importance of having, if possible,
only one of three above-mentioned kinds of carp, unless he can have every
kind in a separate pond. Thus, the common carp ( Gyprinus carpio com-
munis) should never be placed in the same pond with the '' mirror carp "
or the " leather or naked carp " ( Gyprinus carpio alepidotus, coriaceus vel
nudus,) nor should the two last-mentioned varieties ever be in the same
pond. Cross-breeds would invariably be produced, and in such a manner
that one would have neither genuine common carps nor genuine mirror or
leather carps, but a cross-breed of all the three varieties. Not even when
(piite young, and not yet capable of spawning, should these varicities be put
together, because even if they are kept strictly separate during the spawning
process, the young fish would never have the sharply-marked characteristics
of their variety as regards form and color, but would approach nearer to
the " mirror carp " and the '' common carp." The carp has a striking ten-
dency, when living with other varieties, to approach the primitive form of
the common carp, and finally to be merged in it. These beautiful varieties
should therefore be kept strictly separate. Lack of ponds or any other
reason should never induce people to mix them.

If the breeding experiments are to be accompanied by good results, a
pure variety should be selected, and the finest and best milters and spawn-
ers, showing strongly all the characteristics of their variety, should be pro-
cured, and the experiments will be crowned with success.

I must return to the so-called " mixed culture," by mentioning that it
is not to be recommended. In central Europe it is never practiced by
scientific pisciculturists, but only by small operators mostly in so-called
'' peasants' ponds." This method does never yield a certain and truly
profitable result.

?. Feeding the Carp.

In conclusion, I will make some remarks on the feeding of the carp in
close ponds. Ii is not every natural poud which is a good pond, having
the essentials of a good soil at the bottom, and capable of producing sutli-
cient food for the fish. If these conditions are wanting, the fish must
be fed. This is, as a general rule, only necessary in ponds with sandy
l)ottom without any clay. As I have said before, lam not in favor of
feeding fish, as my stand-point is that of the rational culturist. sharing the
opinion with most of the prominent pisciculturists of the Old World, that
the carp should find its own food in the ponds.

If, however, the nature of the bottom demands artificial feeding, or if
suitable food can be had at a remarkably cheap price, the feeding should
be done with great caution. Never feed in one and the same place. Even

52

State CoMJiissiiONERS of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

if the pond be very large, distribute the food in different places near the
banks. If the food is always put in one place, or even if it is distributed
over two places, the carp will stay in the neighborhood of these places,
will become languid, and, instead of scouring the other parts of the pond
in search of food, will remain at the bottom. It will even, if surrounded
by the richest food, grow fat, but never have any firm flesh ; nor will it
ever grow much in length, as the somewhat phlegmatic fish does not get
the exercise wliicli favors its growth.

Never give them much food at one time, but by degrees, in small quan-
tities,—never during the day, but either early in the morning, or in the
evening. During the hot season only feed them late at night, because the
carp, if it has eaten sufficiently in the morning, will remain at the bottom
all day ; while, during the higher temperature of the water, it is necessary
for its health that it should swim round, and get a change of water. It is
therefore useful to place in ponds containing large carps a limited number
of pike, which, however, must be smaller than the carp. The carp fears
the pike, and flies from it. If there are pike in the pond, the carp will get
more exercise, and will seek natural feeding-places, whither on account of
its innate sluggishness, it would never have gone.

Pond carp are accustomed to other food than the river carp. The former
confine themselves to worms, larva% and plants; while those living in
streams lind all sorts of animal and vegetable refuse. These latter can also
stand a greater amount of food, as the current naturally makes them take
more exercise, thus increasing their appetite. It is dirt'erent with the pond
carp ; if you give it too much food, it will not take any more than is neces-
sary to satisfy Its hunger. The remnants will remain at the bottom, and, if
their quantity be considerable, they will s|)oil the water. If these remnants
are chiefly animal refuse, as flesh or blood, fungi will grow on them, and
will then produce, as with salmon and trout, diseases of the skin, the gills,
and in the case of carp, sometimes internal diseases.

The writer once had the following experience: During his absence a
number of large carp were fed on coagulated blood, which had begun to
putrefy. The fish devoured it eagerly, got sick, and most of them died in
a few days from an inflammation of the intestines. Spoilt food should never
be e^iven to fish. 1 f slaughter-house or kitchen refuse can be had , give these,
chopped up small about the size of peas. Never give so much that
remnants remain for any length of time in the water and begin to putrefy.
Let no one be induced, by the circumstance that the carp like to eat the dung
of hogs, sheep, and cows, to feed them on any putrefying matter. There
are instances on record that t'.iereby epidemics, particularly diseases of the
scales, have originated.

The carp likes, above everything else, vegetable matter, such as cabbage,
lettuce, boiled potatoes, corn, turnii)s, i)umi)kins, melons, &c. The refuse
of malt from breweries and distilleries is also very good food for carp ;
pnd, wherever such refuse can be had, it should be given to the fish.

Leg, Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

53

The small pisciculturist, having a pond of perhaps one to two acres
near his house, will often be able to feed his fish on refuse, as he will always
have it fresh from the kitchen and stable.

In conclusion,! earnestly recommend the culture of the caip to all pisci-
culturists. If the value of the carp for table use has once been recognized,
it will become a highly esteemed fish, especially in the neighborhood of
large and populous cities, and its culture will yield a larger and more cer-
tain profit than the expensive trout.

8. Extent ot Carp Culture in Europe.

In Europe many thousand acres of artificial waters are to be found. In
these enormous quantities of carp are bred. Some of these ponds, or rather
lakes, have an extent of about one thousand to two thousand acres. They
are provided with gigantic dams, many of them sixty feet high. By these
the waters are closed in into broad valleys, containing no other fishes than
carps from four to five pounds in weight. If we consider the size of these
lake-like ponds, surrounded by enormous dams which are overgrown with
oak trees one hundred to three hundred years old, series of three and more
of these lakes being not uncommon, then we can form some idea as to the
remuuerativeness of these establishments, particularly in Bohemia.

The standard establishment in regard to the most extensive business
transactions is found in Austria. The Prince of Schwarzenberg, of whom
I have spoken previously, possesses more than two hundred and fifty ponds
of lar<Te size ; the smallest having about ten acres, the largest two thou-

r^ ' *■-

sand acres water extent.

We find many villages where ponds of fifty to two hundred and more
acres are maintained at the expense of the community.

From other sources we allude to the varieties of food attainable for

carp as follows :

''The Great Caladium £.scM/enham."— This plant grows in water twelve
inches deep, has esculent roots filled with farinaceous and amylaceous
deposits, expanding leaves, and large foliage, furnishing shelter.

'* Nymphoa Oiorafa."— Possessing deep fragrant foliage with crooked
stems, affording shelter and lodgment for spawn, as well as seeds full of

nutritious matter.

" Nuphor Adrena.'' — It also a valuable plant suitable for large ponds ;
more viirorous growth than others; aff<»rding food and shelter.

" Melumbeum Luteum:'—Of: the water lily trihe; none more attractive.
"The root contains a large percentage of mucilaginous and farinaceous
matter, and is said to be one of the best known native vegetables for food."
(Case's Botanical Index, page 77.)

''Nasturtium OJficinalis " or cress, is one of the most attractive plants

for carp.

" Tizania Aquatica " or water rice, is a plant yielding large quantity of
seed, which fall when ripe and are eaten by the fish.

54

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

structure of Ponds.

[No. 19,

Many inquiries are made how to construct ponds for carp culture, and
many, doubtless, after trial, will abandon the enterprise for want of success,
when it may be attributed to ignorance in the essential feature of their sur-
roundings. Many persons could and can succeed at keeping carp, when,
perhaps, their grounds are ill-adapted to carp culture. The latter re-
quires a number of ponds — while the former can be accommodated on al-
most every farm in one pond. The culture of carp requires, if properly
done, a pond for the young fry, a pond for the growing carp, and a pond
for the wintering carp. Ponds for fry and growing carp may be sliallow
and of almost any size in extent ; not containing any or much iron or sul-
phur ; from four feet in the center to nothing at the edge ; with clayey rich
bottom, and rich in succulents for nourishment, as heretofore indicated.
The wintering pond should be at least six to nine feet in depth, .and the
deepest at the deepest point for hibernating purposes. The hatching pond
should not be too large, as a small one is easier sheltered from high winds
which cast the spawn ashore. The}- can be protected from overflows and
rain storms, and most important of all, can be easier protected against the
numerous enemies of the fry and spawn, e. g.^ herons, ducks, frogs, crows,
otter, muskrats, and the most dangerous of all. the small diver. Tlie more
exposed to the warm rays of the sun the better. The spawning taking
place in May, continuing at intervals — the older fry making room for the
younger by going into deeper water. Frog spawn sho ild be drawn ashore.
Two or three s})awnors, with an ecpial number of milters, will stock an acre.
The ponds, if the water facilities are available, should connect b}' levels,
constructed with such outlets as to control the depth of water and keep in
such condition as to enable tlie large fish to be selected and separated as
occasion required, it always being advisable to remove the fry from the
hatching-ponds the following spring and not in the fall, as they do not
winter well, espcciall}' if their scales are injured. The pond for cult.ire or
feeding the larger fish in should have a trough througli the center to out-
let, so that when ready for market, which would be the third year, when
thp water is drawn down tliey will descend to the lowest point, and can
then be easily handled and caught by wading and using purse nets.

Wall-Ryed Pike. {Stizostctheum Vitreum.)

Or Susquehanna Salmon.

This fish is sometimes called Lucio-perca, adopted by Cuvier, indicating
its atlinity to both the pike and the perch, sometimes called the pike-perch.
Along the Susquehanna and Juniata it is known by the inappropriate name
of " salmon." This misnomer doubtless was given it on account of the
peculiar color and fiakiness of its meat. This fish is identical with the glass-
eyed or wall-eyed pike of the northern lakes. How it came to our waters is
not known, but it is not thought to be indigenous — transplanted, doubtless,
from the northern lakes. It is known to the lake fisherman as pickerel;

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

55

o

split and salted and known in commerce as pickerel No. 1, and a very im-
portant factor in the lake fisheries. Next to the white fish and herring, it is
most abundant, and the supply more regular than either of the others. It
ranks next to the white fish in delicacy and desirable table qualities. Its
time for spawning is in the spring. While fishing for shad during their
spawning season tliey are irequently taken full of spawn. The fishermen
regarding their own interests so little, although in such a condition as to
yield a thousand fold, rarely return them to the river, but kill and keep
them. This reckless and indiscriminate taking of these fish made them
scarce in the Susquehanna, where forty years ago they were so abundant, up
even to the headwaters of the Juniata. In the fall of the year, then, before
the days of public improvements, they were caught and speared in such
quantities by the people living along these waters that they were packed in
barrels, salted, and in the spring carried to market by the arkraen,and ex-
changed for goods and groceries. Mr. Creveling secured some fourteen
adult fish from the Susquehanna a year ago, and made an unsuccessful etfort
to propagate them artificially. After he had stripped the females with ease,
much to his surprise the males were barren, and no milt could be expressed.
This was an unaccountable occurrence in fish culture. We wrote Mr.
Green about it, and he had never experienced such a condition of things in
the same species of fish, invariably finding milt in the males when tlie fe-
males were ready to spawn. Since then we have not renewed our eft"orts.
They are rapidly increasing, however, attributable to the increased protec-
tion afforded by legislation and enforcement of the laws protecting them
during the spawning season ; the black bass also preying upon shiners, &c.,
that live on the spawn of the Lucio-perca.

We have republished the article of our last report on Susquehanna sal-
mon so called, to which we a<ld, that there is a decidedly marked increase
in this splendid variety since the Susquehanna has recently attracted at-
tention, be the causes what they may— most probably those we have sug-
gested. It is questionable whether any variety of fresh water fish would
prove more valual>le than this, should it become abundant in our great
streams. The increase is noticeable in the Conewago district of the Sus-
quehanna, between Middletown and Columbia, and decidedly marked on
the North branch of the Susquehanna, almost, if not quite, as high up as
the boundary of the State.

The fish does not seem to have been indigneous to this stream, but to
have been transplanted many years ago from the New York lakes. We
have heard the Priestly colony, near Northumberland, credited with its in-
troduction—not the only benefit which that small body of intelligent Eng-
lishmen conferred u,>on the neighborhood in which they settled. They
were exiled from home on account of religious opinions, leaning, we believe,
toward a liberal Unitarianism, and were a sort of pilgrim fathers to the
vicinity. If they are to be justly credited with the introduction of this
valuable variety of fish into the most important of our streams, their exile

56

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

from England need not he regretted on this side of the water. We have
made deposits of adults in the waters of the Lehigh for artificial hatching,
seems to have failed with respect to them, and these last, if they increase
in the Lehigh, will naturally gravitate toward the Delaware, So we may
be able to present the counties with a second grand river full of them. The
value of such a result would really be hard to estimate, and if they suc-
ceeded by transplantation in the Susquehanna, why may they not do so in
the Delaware — a stream offering almost as many miles of fishing coast as
its sister streams of the interior ?

Pollution of streams.

The deposition of deleterious liquids and substances of various natures
in our streams from mining and manufacturing establishments of many
kinds must also be regulated. It will not, of course, be expected that par-
ties pursuing these avocations shall be unduly restricted in the pursuit of
tlieir business, but carelessness in the disposition of such deleterious mat-
ters may well be found to be a nuisance, causing more inconvenience and
loss to the general public than what can be shown to be a gain to those
who follow such avocations. This subject is agitating other neighborhoods
in our own country, and has become a matter for serious consideration in
the old countries.

It was deemed as not unworthy of a paragraph in Queen Victoria's
speech from the throne last year, and is now under discussion in the Par-
liament of (ireat Britain, Not only are fishing waters liable to deterioration
from this cause, but the streams that supply drinking water to large cities
are also injured. The city of New York has had its attention involun-
tarily and forcibly drawn to this subject, finding tlie Croton water-shed so
infiuenced more and more as the years roll on, and it will not be long until
the city of Philadelphia will discover similar cause of complaint.

The subject commands the attention of the public, for the health of
human populations is affected as well as that of the denizens of the deep,
and if the iuterests of our race require an adjustment of the law on this
subject, the finny tribe will benefit incidental!}' from the same cause. It
may well be deemed of primary importance, and something remedial must
be done.

Of course, it is desirable that no law should be passed bearing unevenly
upon any class of citizens, or materially damage our manufacturing iuter-
ests, but the principle has always been recognized that some small sacrifice
must be made by the few for the benefit of tiie many. We i)articularly
refer to the introduction of refuse matter from tanneries, oil refineries, dye-
ing establishments, limekilns, and oil exuding from imperfect pipe lines.
The question will soon command attention in a sanitary point of view, and
we hope that the necessity may not arise which will introduce legislation
to prevent the pollution of the fresh water streams east of the Alleghcnies.

It has been decided judicially in Vermont that it is illegal to throw saw-
dust into the streams.

U

Fio. 12. Cyprtnus carpio—L. From A iistriu; much reduced. From Ileckel

uiid Kuer.

• i K

u

1.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners bp Fisheries.

5T

Directions.

The following directions are substantially those of the New York report,
which are applicable to our circumstances :

In delivering spawn from the hatching-houses the following rules must
be strictly observed :

The joung fry of any fish we hatch can be obtained at either of the hatch-
ing-houses on an order of an}- one of the commissioners. The eastern house
is at Marietta, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, John P. Creveling, super-
intendent; the western hatching-house is at Corry, Erie county, Seth
Weeks, superintendent.

The means at the disposal of the Commissioners are too small to justify
the delivery of all the fish that are hatched at the expense of the State ; but
the commissioners will do all they can. Where parties obtain orders, and
accompany the fish, the State will furnish cans for transporting them, but
which must be immediately returned by express, C. O. D., at the State's
expense.

Persons desiring fish will please state the name of person to receive fish,
location, kind of water, temperature, kind of fish — if any — already in the
stream or lake, and the nearest telegraph and railway stations.

Salmon trout are a deep lake fish, and not suitable for shallow, warm
streams.

Strawberry bass, also called grass bass, just introduced ; none for distri-
bution.

Black bass, during the months of September and October. IJrook trout,
from February 20 to March 20 ; these should be placed in small spring
rivulets which supply the main stream.

No man should go to sleep while transporting fish, and leave them alone
while in the cans, as it will be sure death to the fish.

Water in the cans containing the fish requires constant a?rating with a
plunger, which accompanies the cans, or the water must be renewed, as di-
rected by the superintendent, on delivery, who will give full directions as
to the management of the fish during transportation.

Carp can be obtained in limited numbers on application to Professor
Spencer F. Baird, at Washington, D. C.

Six twelve-gallon cans filled with fish are all that one man can nianage
or take care of. Milk cans are of the kind used for the carriage of all kinds
of fish. A twelve-gallon can will hold six thousand whitofish, or four
thousand salmon trout, or live thousand brook trout, or from ten to twenty
adult fish, as black bas8,«.^c., according to the size.

All communications must be addressed to either of the commissioners or
superintendents. Those from the eastern part of the State to A. Maginnis,
Swift Water, Monroe county, or G. M. Miller, Wilkes-Barre ; from the
middle, to James Diifiy, Marietta, Lancaster county, or John Hummel,
Selinsgrove, Snyder county; and those from the west of the mountains, to
Robert Dalzell, Pittsburgh, or Benjamin L. Hewit, Hollidaysburg, Blair
count v.

f/.

58

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

["No. 19,

The comraunications should describe particularly the waters to be
stocked, giving their names, locations, and size, and stating whether the
ponds or streams have rocky or muddy bottoms, or have eel grass, flags,
or pond lillies. The wall-eyed pike, rock bass, black bass, white fish, and
salmon tiout are suited to clear waters with rocky bottoms. Perch, carp,
and strawberry bass will do better on muddy bottoms, with flags or pond
lillies. State particularly what kind of fish already exist, so that kinds
unsuited to each other may not be mixed.

Deposit all fish as near the head of the stream or lake as possible. Young
fish, if practicable, should be deposited at night, where large fish do not
feed so much, so that they may find hiding places before morning.

Brook trout put into mild, still water are thrown away. Black bass
placed in a pond with mud or grass bottom will not thrive. They must
have rock or gravel, where cray-fish, their favorite food abound. Oswego
bass, in the water first stated, will increase, multiplj', and make glad the
heart of the fisherman.

Salmon trout will not remain in running streams, no matter how pure
the water, and the lordly salmon himself is so particular about the tem-
perature of the water he inhabits, that human investigation has hardly yet
been able to tell just what it should be. We can judge best by leaving him
to cJioose for himself.

Doubtless the failure to establish the California salmon in the waters of
the Atlantic coast comes from this element of temperature. Certain it is
that the trial has been faithfidly made. Of the millions upon millions of
the fry of this fish carefully procured, transported at much ex[)euse from
its native waters, and hatched in nearly every fish cultural establishment
in the Union, practically none survive to tell the tale of their fate. What
becomes of them we do not know. If they live to get to the ocean they
do not return to the parental stream at the annual spawning or any other
time. T!»ey hatch readily and grow rapidly in the early stages; but none
of over two years' growth are often seen anywhere. We have record of
some found in a small stream where they had been planted four years be-
fore; but which, after the second year, had made no progress, luit were
true dwarfs, with big heads, meager bodies, and feeble action. There have
been, also, a few instances where this fish, the result of planted fry, have
been found of the weight of two pounds ; but these have been in waters
from which there was no convenient escape.

Of all fish that have come under the observation of the Commission, none
have done as well, according to the cost, as the black bass — usually styled,
in contradistinction to others of this general family, the '• small-mouthed
bass." This fish does its own hatching and attends to its own nursery
duties. Of vigorous, yet clean appetite, he grows apace, and, where the
location suits him, takes a lease for life, with a contingent interest for his
posterity. A good black bass lake or stream will bear more fishing to the
acre than any other fish water. The Oswego bass and the perch pike are

lU

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

59

also cheaply procured, readily kept, and are profitable for both food and
sport. The merits of the bull head we have suflSciently eulogized in another
place.

If the commissioners had to choose from the whole fish calendar a va-
riety with which the most could be done with the least cost, they would
decide in favor of the bass. They are the manna and the quails of the
wilderness. They came, as it were, as the special gifts of Providence ;
and if there were no other fish in the world we might be content with these.

The following table from the New York Report will convey some idea
of the importance»of the fish trade.

Sales of Fish in Fulton Market*

iMaroh 1, 1878,

to
Marcl) 1, 1879.

March 1, 1879,

to
March 1, 1880.

Increase.

Decrease.

Flounders,

Halibut,

Codtisb,

Pollock

Haddock,

Frosttisli,

Blacktish,

Spaiiisli Mackerai, . . .

WeakHsh,

Kingtish,

Sheei shead,

PorgieH,

Sea Bass,

StrijK'd Bass,

BlueHsli,

Smelts,

Salmon

Herring,

Eels,

Sturgeon,

Black Biiss,

Pickorel,

Yellow Pike,

Siscoes,

Whitefish,

Brook Trout,

Salmon Trout,

("atHsh,

Small fresh water, . . .

(rreen Turtle

liObster,

Salt water tish,

Increase, 1879-80.

Mackerel,

Shad,

Scollops,

1,544
3,327

8,636

2'J2

l,8o7

53

188

275

510

38

82

2,198

446

716

3,843

1,.T<)0

436

942

1,202

70

79

508

173

629

741

6

84

98

506

6

1,625

912

33,529
COUNT,

2,317

661

46

842
790
479
908
790
792
981
163
022
090
474
780
695
642
9S3
541
623
145
414
633
850
131
367
661
943
522
262
562
719
103
655
199

1,795,980

3,549,121

8,719,574

315,879

1,812,820

77,871

199,530

310,970

801,017

38,447

67,325

2,388,863

255,688

678,423

3,570,543

1,589,268

394,220

1,052,891

1,292,917

68,858

85,011

744,566

129,251

624,438

693,085

8,139

9«5,160

52,847

446,411

8,189

1,737,224

670,131

251,147
221,331

82,095
92,971

24,079

10,549

35,807

2J)0,9i)5

357

190,083

28,727

110,746
90,503

5,161
136,435

1,617
11,898

2,086
111,569

960

763
594
451

34,276,666

FISH.

3,827,324

953,439

36,445

646,700

l,509,ij61
291,845

43,970

15,149

191,007

38,219

273,440

42,403

1,775

44,116
6,223

48,857

45,715
60,308

242,068

QAT^a.

10,006

60 State Commissioners op Fisheries. [No. 19,

Sale of Fish iu New York, 1880.

Total sales of Fish (fresh) in the City of New York^ as compiled by
E. O. Blackford for the United States Census Bureau, for the year
1880.

Flounders, .

Cod

Haddock,

Black fish, .

Spanish mackerel

Kingjlish, . .

Por(;ies,

Striped bass,

Smelts, . . .

Shad, . .

Eels, ....

Black bass, .

Halibut, . .

Pollock, . .

Frostfish,

Mackerel,

Weaklish,

Sheepshead,

Sea bass,

Bluefish, . .

Salmon, . .

Herrin^% . .

Sturjjeon,

Pickerel, . .

Yellow ]>ike,

Whitefish, .

Salmon trout,

Mixed small salt-water fish.

Mixed small fresh-water fish.

Terrapin,

Green turtle, .

Lobsters, . . .

Scollops, . . .

Skat(? or ray fish

Bonito, . .

Buffalofish, . .

Garfish, . . .

Crawfish, . .

Mullets, . .

White and yellow perch,

Red snapping, ....

2,000,000

pounds.

9,250,000

11

2,374,300

a

210,000

(I

390,000

4(

42,000

u

2,500,000

a

1,254,000

u

2,100,000

u

1,333,000

counts.

1,500,000

pounds.

92,000

u

3,650,000

ik

700,000

u

100,000

11

5,000,000 counts.

1,300,000

pounds.

72,U00

a

315,000

t(

5,000,0U0

u

432,600

i(

6,310,000

counts.

2,750,000

pounds.

800,000

ti

145,000

ik

725,000

u

115,000

ik

150,000

t(

600,000

u

6,750 counts.

163,000

pounds.

2,000,000

i.

55,000 s

jallons.

7,000

pounds.

75,000

((

25,500

4(

1,000

»(

75,000

counts.

30,000

pounds.

315,000

4.

62,500

((

f>

t2!

H
ft

B

H
ft

>

H
C.

9

K

o
d

GR
ft

V

It

r-&lreei

Plat ot l*n>iK'ity WesUrii Ilutchinn-IIouse.

V

f

/

INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE

n

H
W

y.

■/■

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 61

Suckers, 2,000 pounds.

Siseo, 700,000 "

Brook trout, 13,150 "

Catfish, 70,000

Waterfish, 150,000 "

Waterfish 600,000

We renew our thanks to the officials of the Pennsylvania Central, Read-
ing, Baltimore and Ohio, and other railroads of the State for facilities af-
forded us in the rapid transportation of fish, having alwa^'s received thor-
ough and prompt courtesies at their hands.

<*

Hatching-Houses.

We mentioned both the hatching-houses in detail in our last report, and
have every reason to be pleased with and proud of the Western establish-
ment, of which we here repeat the description :

The Western State IIatching-House.

Through the liberality of the Legislature, in addition to the eastern
hatchery, a second one was established west of the Allegheny mountains in
1876. After careful investigation of all leading springs west of the mount-
ains the present site near Corry, Erie county, was selected as affording
the best facilities for fish culture. The place consists of nine acres and a
half of land at the terminus of Smith street, leading from Corry, having
thereon erected a good and complete dwelling-house, and one of the best
modern hatching establishments, consisting of twelve to fifteen springs
furnishing abundance of water to run two such houses. These are so con-
nected together by subterranean pipes and surface conduits as to form anj'
numV)er, almost, of ponds. The hatching-house is sixty feet long by thirt}'
in width, containing troughs as described in the eastern house, but better
adapted to the purpose on account of the magnificent supply- of water of
the most uniform flow and temperature. With these facilities for fish cul-
ture the amount of fry that can be turned out, at comparativt^ly small ex-
pense, is surprising. Our establishments compare favorably with the best
of those of any State in the Union.

Wc proceed to treat of the different food fishes which have been and may
be introduced into the waters of Pennsylvania, and which cannot prove
but of interest to the people. This description of ours will.be supi)]enu'nted
in the appendix by the fullest treatment of the icthyology of Pennsylvania
it has vet received at the iiands of anv writer. It will be found to surpass
any paper of the kind extant. It is from the pen of Prof. E. D. Coi)e, of
Philadelphia, whose very name is a guarantee of its reliable character, as
will be seen further on.

The Eastern liatching-houae was complete in all its appointments, but
the water supply for, now this is the third year, has very much fallen off
in the winter and impaired its capacity for reproduction.

62

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

The Donegal springs had been for ages so well known in Lancaster
county that the water supply was the last misfortune that could be feared
with respect to them ; but the decrease for this long i)eriod is but too man-
ifest. It is true that for tliree successive seasons the whole region of
south-east Pennsylvania has suftered from fall and winter drouths, but that
misfortune has borne most heavil}'^ on Donegal. Many '• old inhabitants ''
say that they never knew Donegal to suffer so before — at least, not in the
last three score of years ; but here came three winters in succession in
which the depletion seemed almost a regular habit of this spring, and we,
in considering the subject, have come to the conclusion tiiat Donegal is no
longer to be trusted. It is true that we have always had the Western
hatching-house to send our suffering fry to as a relief from the drouth ;
but tills was too much of a labor to incur season after season. So that it
seems plain to us that a new Eastern hatching establishment should be
chosen. That such can be found there is no doubt, and free from the difti-
eulty wliich has occurred in tlie case of Donegal. Yet those who knew
Donegal best might easily have been led into the same diniculty that we
were, for the last three years liave exhibited a different and abnormal reg-
imen at Donegal from what had been known in a very long period.

It is fortunate that we believe we can dispose of Donegal at very near
its original cost, which, in all probability, will purchase the usufructs of
another spring or set of springs more certain in their flow than the Lan-
caster fountains — so that the process will be hardly more costly than the
removal of our establishments from one point to another.

For this purpose, however, we must have an act of the Legislature, and
we trust we shall be more fortunate in our selection than we were at Don-
egal.

In proof of how parties may be deceived in a matter of this kind, we
have but to refer to the springs themselves, at almost any season, wiien
some long-cjntinued and severe draught has not been prevailing, when the
most experienced judge on such matters might very easily be led to believe
that tile Donegal system of springs belonged to that copious and never-
failing category of water sources always to be found in limestone coun-
tries— as much celebrated for their constant regularity of flow as for their
amplitude.

Though deep yet clear, thougli gentle yet not dull,
Strong without rage, without o'erllowing full.

Of our western springs, near Corry, we cannot believe there is even the
most remote danger ; these are one of the perennial heads of the '" Father of
Waters " — the Mississippi itself. A view, interior and exterior of the
western hatching-house is given with this article, as also a plot of the
ground on whicli it stands, and which belongs to the State.

From an examination of our tables of distribution, \'C., of fish and fry
throughout the State, it will be perceived that if a very small proportion
of these distributions became successful we should soon see very important

- A

■

4

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

63

results growing out of them ; that many of them will prove successful we
think need not admit of a doubt. The casual accounts we get of the re-
sults of these distributions are highly gratifying — the increase in the sup-
ply of food fishes, if fully known, would be decidedly important, and the
actual monej' value is in a marked degree encouraging. A carefully con-
sidered code of fishery laws ought to be placed on the statute book, and
then enforced by the different local authorities. This, however, cannot be
done unless sustained by public opinion and indeed by public prosecutions.
People living riparian to our streams should watch them with unremitting
vigilance, and piratical fishing should be suppressed by the strong hand of
the law. It is by such courses, and only by such, that we can rehabilitate
our grand series of water-courses, and make them cornucopias of cheap and
abundant supply of food.

DISTRIBUTIONS.

The following memoranda from tlie superintendents show the distribu-
tions of fish and fry, which have taken place since our last report :

From Elastern Hatchln^-House, I88I.

Land-Locked Salmon.

April 11. R. C. Kembal, Canton, Bradford county, . 2,000
April 18. Albert Lewis, Mauch Chunk, Carbon county, 2,000
April 18. C. W. Keiter, Kutztown, Berks county, . . 2,000

6,000

Kennebec Salmon.

These were presented by the United States Commission, and shipped
from Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland.
April 26. Juniata river, at Spruce Creek, Huntingdon

county, . .... ... 22,000

April 28. Lycoming creek, at Ralston, Lycoming

county, 26,000

April 30. Juniata river, at Spruce creek, Huntingdon

county, 28,000

__jrMoo

Shad.

These were presented l»y the United States Commission, and shipped
from Havre-de-(irace, Maryland.

May 16. Suscpiehanna river, at Sunbury, . . . . 1,000,000
May 26. Juniata river, at MilUintown, .... 1,030,000

May 31. Juniata river, at Newport, 1,500,000

3,500,000

64

Nov.
Nov.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Wall-Eyed Pike, (Adults,) Susquehanna Salmon.

5. Lehigh river, at Easton, Northampton county,
8. Lehigh river, at Allentown, Lehigh county, .

[No. 19,

30

28

58

No method of artificially spawning these fish has yet been discovered,
so they are transplanted after having reached maturitv, as black bass are'
and other varieties that cannot be '- stripped." These Lehigh distributions,'
It is hoped, will naturally gravitate to the Delaware.

Dec. 15.

Dec. 15.

Dec. 16.

Dec. 22.

Dec. 28.

1881.
Jan. 6.

Feb. 19.
March 2.
March 2.
March 25.
March 28.
March 31.
April 1.
April 1.
April 2.
April 2.

April 2.

April 2.

German Carp, Comhencino in December, 1880.

D. & C. Moore, Altoona, Blair county, 20

E. B. Isett, Spruce creek, Huntingdon county, 20
Rees J. Lloyd, Ebensburg, Cambria county^ 20
E. A. Atherton, Glenburn, Lackawanna

^ county, 20

John Williams, Loveville, Centre county, . 30

Ai)ril
April

8.
8.

Ai)ril S.

April 8.

April 8.

April 8.

April 11.

April 15.

Henry S. Cochran, Shamokin, Northumber-
land county, 90

William Johnson, Cherry Run, Union county, 16

J. T. Smiley, Titusville, Crawford county, . 20

John N. Muntz, Butler, Butler county, . . 20

D. M. Stoler, Bedford, Bedford county, . . lo
IL J*eoples, Lancaster, Lancaster county, . 10

E. I). Pearee, Chester, Delaware count v, . 10
a. Thomas, West Whiteland, Chester county, 10
S. II. Ilamm, Brinkertown, Clarion county, 10
Joseph N. McClure, Sharon, Mercer county, 15
J. l\ Clutter, Lindley's Mills, Washington

^•'^""t^' ....".. 15

Samuel Blakeley, New Castle, Lawrence

county, j5

Marshall Kennedy, Pittsburgh, Allegheny

count v, ... IB.

A. M. Rhoads, Carlisle, Cumberland county, 8
S. Buttormore, Connellsville, Westmoreland

county, g

T. J. Higgens, Shenandoah, Schuylkill county, 8

W. B. Erdman, Macungie, lichigh county, . 8
R. S. Robinson, Circleville, Westmoreland

county, Q

C. A. Seidle, Hamburg, Berks county, . . 8

John Hiestand, Lancaster, Lancaster county, 13
Senator Joseph Thomas, Quakertown, Bucks

county, jQ

>

^

a

//

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

65

i

(

Fig. 14. Cara^sius auralus-h. From the Schuylkill river ; one half natural

size.

Fio. 15.

yotemiyouus c/<r.vso?me*.s-Mitch. One halt natural size. From

Storer.

April 15. W. D. Reitzel, Salunga, Lancaster county, . 10

April 18. C. B. Herr, Lancaster, Lancaster county, . 6

April 22. T. B. Klein, Palmyra, Lebanon county, 10
April 22. Robert McCachran, Newville, Cumberland

county, 10

April 22. T. J. Yanclerslice, Bloomsbnrg, Columbia

county, 10

IT. Slioll, Bath, Northampton county, ... 10

Edward Spence, Georiretown, Beaver county, 10

Jacob Bertles, Quakertown, Bucks county, . 30

Albert W. Storm, East Berlin, Adams county, 10

F. Martin, Kittannin*;, Armstrong 30unty, . 10
Alexander Port, Huntingdon, Huntingdon

county, . 10

W. C Brown, Marchland, Indiana county, . 10

Senator G. H. Smith, Philadelphia county, . 10

11. L. White, Roulette, Potter county, . . 10

J. S. Wagner, Reading, Berks county, . . 10

B. L. Hewit, llollidaysburg, Blair county, . 25
W. S. Singerley, Gwynedd, Montgomery

county, . . .... ... 15

J. R. McAfee, Westmoreland county, . . 13
Hon. B. L. Hewit, llollidaysburg, Blair

county, .... 25

G. M. >riller, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county, 90
D. L. Chapen,Xew Columbus, Luzerne county, 10
Abram Nesbit, Kingston, Luzerne county, . 10
T. K. Stubbs, Oxford, Chester county, 30
J. H. Frank, Ligonier, Westmoreland county. 30
J. N. Muiitz, Butler, Butler county, ... 45
John Emery, New Castle, Lawrence county, 30
Joseph N. McClure, Sharon, Mercer county, 50
J.J. Snellenburg, New Brighton, Beaver

county, . . . . 30

Samuel B. Myers, Franklin, Venango county. 30
Senator L. R. Keefer. Cressona. Schuylkill

county. 35

Dec. 20. ^1. D. McKinsley, Mercersburg, Franklin

county, 30

April

22.

April

19.

May

3.

May

6.

May

*•

<).

May

6.

May

6.

May

6.

May

13.

May

13.

May

13.

May

13.

May

13.

J line

10.

Sept.

23.

Nov.

18.

Nov.

18.

Dec.

1.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

15.

1,023

The German carp are also distributed at the adult age. The above dis-
tribution promises well. It is believed that a little care bestowed on tlivir
deposits will ca: se them to increase and multiiily indefinitely.
5 — Leo. Doc. No. 19.

66

March

March

March

April

A pril

April

2.
2.
2.
1.
2.
2.

April 2.

April
April

2.
2.

April 2.

April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April

8.

8.

8.

8.
15.
15.
22.
22.
26.
26.
26.
28.

April 28.

Nov.
Nov.
Nov.

5.
9.
9.

Nov. 12.

Nov.

12.

Nov.

12.

Nov.

14.

Nov.

ly.

Dec.

1.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

2.

Dec.

S.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Black 15 ass, 1881.

.John N. Muntz, Butler, Butler county, . . .
C. Z. (lordon, Brookville, JeflTerson county,
J. T. Smiley, Titusville, Crawford county, .
John Boland, Pottsville, Schuylkill county, .
.lohn Sumey, Chambersburg, Franklin county,
Daniel Mutfman, (ireensburg, Westmoreland

county,

Marshal & Kennedy, Pittsburgh, Allegheny

county,
Joseph A. McClure, Sharon. Mercer county,
J. P. Clutter, Lindley's Mills, Washington

county, • •

W. McCullough, (ireensburg, Westmoreland

county, . .

A. M. Uhoads, Carlisle, Cumberland county,
W. B. Krdman, Macungie, Lehigh county, . .
John Boland, Pottsville, Schuylkill county .
C. A. Sidle, Hamburg, Berks county,
J. M. Jamison, Kichborougli, Bucks county,
E. Schlicher, Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, .
T. B. Klein, Palmyra, Lebanon county, . . .
A. Seiger, Orefield, Lehigh couuty, . . .
Basisler lioyer, Lebanon, Lel)an(m county, .
J. (1. Adams, Lebanon, Lebanon county,
A. S. Light, Lebanon, Lebanon county,
Janus K. Stott, Tiermantown, Philadelphia

county, ...

James Shore, (iermantown, Philadelphia

county,

G. T. (Jross, Allentown, Lehigh county, . .
T. ]}. Klein, Palmyra, Lebanon county.
Senator C. Jl. Smiley, Bloomfield, Perry

county, . . .
Robert McCracken, Newville, Cumberland

county, .
A. M. Uhoads, Carlisle. Cumberland county,
a. A. Fckerd, Allentown, Lehigh county. .
J. A. lleynoMs, Atglen, Chester county,
J. A. Uhay, Fbensburg, Cambria county, . .
T. K. Stubbs, Oxford, Chester county, . .
J. 11. Frank, Ligonier, Westmoreland county,
John (Jay, (ireensburg, Westmoreland county,
J. N. Muntz, Butler, Butler county, ....
F. 11. Kennedy, Pittsburgh, Allegheny county.

[No. 19,

Leg. Doc.J

60
60
40
18
18

18

18
18

18

18
15
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
30
30
80

35

85
80
80

30

30
30
80
30
30
30
30
45
60
15

i

Dec.

5.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

5.

Dec.

14.

Dec.

14.

Dec.

23.

Dec.

23.

Dec.

24.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Joseph N. McClure, Sharon, Mercer county,
J. J. Snellenburg, New Brighton, Beaver

county,

Samuel B. Myers, Franklin, Venango county,
William Lintner, Blairsville, Indiana county.
Senator L. R. Keefer, Cressona, Schuylkill

county,
IL L. Thompson, Pottsville, Schuylkill county,

J. C.Deveny, Smyser's, York county . . . .

G. A. Eckerd, Allentown, Lehigh county, .

Senator F. Grof, Stoystown, Somerset county,

6t

60

45
30
30

30
30
25
.'JO
40

1,308

Black bass have alwavs proved a success, on account of their strong
individualitv and care for their own welfare. Those to whose care they
have been intrusted it is to be hoped will bestow such attention upon them
as to cause their increase throughout the extended region in which they
have been deposited.

Brook Trout, 1881

March 25.
March 29.
March 29.
March 29.
March 29.
March 30.
March 30.
March 30.
March 30.

March 3 1 .
A pril 2.
April 2.
April 5.

April
April
April
April
A pril
April
April
April

5.
8.
8.
8.
8.
8.
8.
11.

April 11

D. W. Seller, Ilarrisburg. Dauphin county,
Bassler Boyer, Lebanon, Lebanon county, .
J. G. Adams, Lebanon, Lebanon county, . .
A. S. Light, Lebanon, Lebanon county, . .

E. R. Schall, Reading, Berks county, . .
(}. W. Harder, Tyrone, Blair county, . .
James Louther, Bell's Mills, Blair county, .
James Bonsall, Mitlliii, Juniata county,
T. Alderson, Shamokin, Northumberland

county

IL B. Taylor, Chester, Delaware county, . .
Johnston Moore, Carlisle.Cumberland county,
John Swiney,Chambersbnrg,Franklin county,
W. McCullough, (ireensburg, Westmoreland

county,

W. II. Aiken, New Castle, Lawrence county,
A. M. Rhoads, Carlisle, Cumberland county,
Isaac Bruner, Muncy, Lycoming county, .
T. J. lliggins. ShenandotjK Schuylkill county,
W. B. Erdman, Macungie, Lehigh county, .
(\ A. Seidel, Hamburg, Berks county,
A. J. (^ligley. North Point, Clinton county,
Clinton Lloyd, Willian.sport, Lycoming

county,

J. C. Green, Williamsport, Lycoming county,

7,500
2,000
2,000
2,000
3,000
2,000
1 ,('00
?,500

2,500
3,000
2,000
3,500

2,000
2,500
1,500
2,000
1,500
2,000
2,000
2,000

2,500
2,000

68

April
April
April
April

April
April

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

11.
11.
11.

15.

15.
15.

April 15.

April
April

April
April

15.
15.

15.
18.

April 18

April

18.

April

10.

April

19.

A pril

19.

April

22.

April

22.

April

22.

April

22.

April

22.

Mav

27.

May

27.

,1 line

3.

June

June

14.

.1 nne

i().

June

23.

June

23

J unc

25

June

2J

Dr. Richards, Lock Haven, Clinton county, .
R. C. Kembal, Canton, Bradford county,
E. G. Snyder, Lancaster, Lancaster county,
L. 1). Taylor, Grandville Centre, Bradford

county,

J. H. Marsh, Leroyville, Bradford county, .

Senator John Parker, Mahanoy City, Schuyl-
kill county, ■ ■ ."

J. M. Pomeroy, Chambersburg, Franklin

county,

Ed. Schiicher, Taraaqua, Schuylkill county,
T. J. Yanderslice, Bloomsburg, Columbia

county,

A. F. Thompson, Lykens, Dauphin county, .

John Yallerchamp, llarrisburg, Dauphin

county,

General John P. Taylor, Reedsville, Mifflin

county,

Lattcmer Small, York, York county, . . •
AUxu't Le-.vis, White Haven, Carbon county,
John Leisenring, Mauch Chunk, Carbon

county, . . ...

D. O. Conor, Girardville, Schuylkill county,
C. (J. Jackson, Berwick, Columbia county, .
Senator L. U. Keefer, Cressona, Schuylkid

county ...

J. II. Reigle, Centreport, Berks county, . •

A. Seitrer, Oreville, Lehigh county, ....

H. SchoU, Bath, Northampton county, . .

W. 11. Kremer, Allentown, Lehigh county. .

McThadden, llarrisburg, Dauphin county, .

A. K. Xebinger, llarrisburg, Dauphin county.

Dr. John Kverhart, West Chester, Chester

county,

T. K. StubV)s, Oxford, Chester county, . .

John Lutz, Bedford, Bedford county.

Dr. II. Muhlenl)erg, Lancaster, Lancaster

county,

E. Dellinger. Gordonville, tiancaster county,
. John Boland, Pottsville, Schuylkill county,
. Charles Shelby, Pottsville, Schuylkill county,

2,000
2,000
2,000

2,000
2,000

3,000

2,000
2,000

3,000
2,000

2,500

2,000
1,500
2,000

3,000
4,000
3,000

2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
1,500
2,000

2,500
2,500
2,500

2,000

500

2,500

2,500

4

121,500

Such numerous distril)utions as the above cannot but cause an increase
in the number of the (pieen of all game fishes. But the custodians must

w,>

INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

69

uL

watch their /laftiVai— prowling pirates are always after the speckled beau-
ties, nor can they be preserved without constant vigilance.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

JOHN P. CIIEVELING.
To the Honorable The State Commissioners of Fisheries, Harrisburg, Pa.

Distribution from the Eastern Hatching House, 1883.

Black Bass.
4. A. J. Cassatt, Berwyn, Chester county.

Jan. -- —

March 14. H. 11. llewit, Phillipsburg, Centre county,

March 22. William L. Marshall, Blairsville, Indiana

county,

March 22. W. S. Ackerman, Greensburg. Westmoreland
county, ... ...

March 31. Rev. J.^ F. Kore, Florance, Westmoreland

county,

April 5. T. M. Arnold, Clarion, Clarion county, . .
April 8. J. U. Yohe. Mifllinville, Columbia county, .
April 13. W. J. McCaa, Churchtown, Lancaster county,
April 13. A.W. Snader,Xew Holland, Lancaster county,
April 13. John Sheldon, Linnie Mills, Delaware county,
April 17. Hon. Edwin Schlicher, Tamaqua, Schuylkill

county, ...

April n. Charles A. Seidel, Hamburg, Berks county,
April 19. Lewis H. Ross, HartsviUe, Bucks county, .
April 22. W.Osterhout, Harford, Suscpiehanna county,
April 25. Thomas Bell, Huntingdon, Huntingdon

county,

April 27. Dr. Kingston Goddard, Philadelphia, Phila-
delphia county,

May 7. Joel Wenger. West End, Lancaster county.
May 3. Hon. A. M. RhoadH, Carlisle, Cumberland

county,

Mav 6. W.J. McCaa, Churchtown, Lancaster county.
May 6. A.W. Snakier, New Hollan<l, Lancaster county.
Dec. fi. Hon. John A. Reynolds, Atglen, Chester

county, . .

Dec. 6. Rev. S. W. Gehrett, Coatesville, Chester

county ■

Dee. 6. Harrison Johnson, Chester, Delaware county,
Dec. 7. Hon. Robert McCachran, Newville, (timber-
land county,

Dec. 7. J. <J. Adams. Lebanon, Lebanon county, . .
Dec. 7. Hon. T. B. Klein, Palmyra. Lebanon county.

120
20

30

20

50
102
30
15
15
50

80

10
30
50

45

45
40

73
36
36

40

80

30

30
30
30

70

Dec.

7.

Dec.

13.

Dec.

13.

Dee.

13.

Dec.

15.

Dec.

15.

Dec.

15.

Dec.

27

Dec.

27

Dec.

27

1883.

Jan.

19

Jan.

31

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

TIel>er S. Thompson, Pottsville, Schuylkill

county,

W. H. llerbertson, Brownsville, Fayette

county, .

F. M. ArnoM, Clarion, Clarion county, . .
F. H. Kennedy, Pittsburcch, Allegheny county,
J. X. McClure, Sharon, Mercer county, . .
J. F. Mansfield, Cannelton. Mercer county, .
Luther Piatt, New lirighton, Mercer county,
Joseph Butlington, Kittanning, Armstrong

county, ...

John \. Muntz. Butler, Butler county, . .
C\ A. Myers, Franklin, Venango county, . .

lion. J. L. Brown, Wilcox. Elk county, . .
Senator L. U. Keefer, Cressona, Schuylkill
county,

[No. 19,

Jan.

Jan. 7.

Jan.

14.

Jan.

18.

Feb.

2.

Feb.

2.

Feb.

4.

Feb.

4.

Feb.

4.

Feb.

4.

March

2.

March

9,

March

14.

March 14.

March

17.

March

24.

March

24.

German Carp.
Hon. J. B. Knittle, Catawissa, Columbia

comity,

Hon. H. J. lleeder, Easton, Northampton

county,

R. I). Campbell, Reedsville, MitUin county, .
Kbenezer Worth, Marshalton, Chester county,
Jacob (iundy, T>ewisburg, Union couna, .
James Stewart, Kldorsville, Washington

county,

L. C. Templin, St. Peter's, Chester county, .
Hiram Peoples, New Providence. Lancaster

county, ....

Daniel Herr.Befton, liancaster county, . . .
C. B. Herr, lU'tton. Lancaster county, . . .
John L. Bolds, Kldersville, Washington

county,

Robert McCachran, Newville, Cumberland

county,

H. H. Hewit, Phillipsburg, Centre county, .
Hon. B. L. Hewit, Hollidaysburg, Blair

county,

Senator E. H. Shearer, Reading. Berks

comity, ...

Samuel Smith, Bedf«)rd, Bedford county, . .
(}. A. Eckert. Allentown, Lehigh county, . .

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

71

30

88
88
44
88
44
88

44
88
44

35

48

85

40
35

30
30

30
25

30
15
15

22

20
20

75

45
22
20

^ I i

1,776

March 31. J. H. Richesler, Indiana, Indiana county, .
April 4. H. B. Taylor, Chester, Delaware county, .
April 5. Hon. Lee Thompson, Templeton, Armstrong

count}',

April 5. Senator^V. J. McKnight, Brookville, Jeffer-
son county,

April 8. Hon. T. J. YandersUce, Bloomsburg, Colum-
bia county,

April 8. Hon. J. B. Knittle, Catawissa, Columbia

count}', ....

April 8. A. J. Acl^erly, Chinchilla, I^ackawanna

county, .

April 13. Dr. (Jrandville Prizer, Lionsville, Chester

county, ... . .

April 17. Hon. Edwin Schlicher, Tamaqua, Schuylkill

county,

April 19. Lewis H. Ross, Hartsville, Bucks county,
April 22. C. A. Hungerford, SpringviUe, Susquehanna

county, • • •

April 22. J. C. M.aul, Quarryville, Lancaster county, .
April 25. J. P. Sharp, New Shellield, Beaver county, .
April 25. Hon. A. J. Colborn, Somerset, Somerset

county,

\pril 25. R. B. McKee, Freeport, Armstrong county,
April 27. Hon. A. W. Snader, Holland, Lancaster

countv,

May 2. Hon. B. L. Hewit, IIollidays])urg, Blair

county,

May 2. J. :^L Work, Brady, Indiana county, . .

May 2. J. E. Long, Brookville, Jefferson county, .

May 2. Hon. F. Martin, Kittanning, Armstrong
countv ...

May 9. William" Watts, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland
countv, ....

May 16. T. M. Harvey, West Urove, Chester county,

Mav 23. John(iav.(Jreensburg,Westuioreland county,

Dec. 6. Hon. John A. Reynolds, Atglen, Chester
countv,

Dec. 6. Rev. S.' W. (Jehrett, Coatesville, Chester
countv, ...

Dee. 7. Hon. W. B Erdman, Macungie, Lehigh
countv.

Dec. 7. Hon. Robert McCachran, Newville, Cumber-
land county, ...

Dec. 7. J. O. Adams, Lebanon, Lebanon county, .

20
22

25

25

20

35

60

40

80
SO

15
15
10

30
12

10

15
13
12

18

14
16
10

20

15

20

20
20

•y2 State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Dec. 13. W. H. Herl)tson,Brownville, Fayette county,
Dec. 13. F. M. Arnold, Clarion, Clarion county, . .
Dee. 13. F. H. Kenneay,Pittsburgh,Alleg:heny county,
Dec. 13. R. J. Laniborn. Glen Hall, Chester county, .
Dec. 13. R. B. Lamborn, (Jlen Hall, Chester county, .
Dec. 15. J. N. McClure, Sharon, Mercer county,
Dec. 15. J. F. Mansfield, Cannelton, Beaver county, .
Dee. 15. Luther Piatt, New Brighton, Beaver county,
Dec. 27. John N. Muntz, Butler, Butler county, . .
Dee. 21. C. A. Myers, Franklin, Venango county, . .
Dec. 21. John Hogl, Greensburg, Westmoreland

county,

Dec. 27. L. L. Daubenspeck, Martinsburg, Butler

county,

Dec. 27. W. W. Levier, Enilenton, Venango county, .
Dec. 27. W. K. Hill, Schenley, Armstrong county, .
Dec. 27. W. Oiler Odell, Vance ville, Washington

county, • •

Dec. 27. W. Hartley, Bedford, Bedford county, . .
Dee. 27. James Sill, New Enterprise, Bedford county,
Dec. 27. J. K. Smith, Minersville, Armstrong county,
Dee. 28. N. M. Marker, Ligonier, Westmoreland

county,

Dec. 28. G. F. Huff,Greensburg,Westmoreland county,

1883.
Jan. 2. George Silvey, Hollidaysburg, Hlair comity,
Jan. 2. F. Jaskiel, Hollidaysburg, Blair county, . .
Jan. 2. Amos G. Bonsall, Milllin, Juniata county, .
Jan. 2. John Shirley, Cove Station, Huntingdon

county,

Jan. 2. Nelson Gaymon, Sunbtiry, Northumberland

county, ...

Jan. 2. A. B. Brumbay, Huntingdon, Huntingdon

county

Jan. 2. S. B. Seidel. Shoemakersville, Berks county,
Jan. 2. L. D. Woodruff, Johnstown, Cam)»ria county,
Jan, 3. T. (J. Kodebaugh, Bowmansville, Chester

county, ....

Jan. 8. Howard N. Woodward, Marshalton, Chester

county

Jan. 8. C. H. White, Doland's Mills. Chester county,
Jan. 3. Samuel Hartman, Arnedtsville, Adams

county, ...

Jan. 3. W. A. Hirnes, Arnedtsville, Adams county,
Jan. 3. John B. (Jemmill, New Park, York county.

[No. 19,

20

15

20

lb

15

20

15

20

20

20

15

15

15
15

20
20

20
20

20
20

20
SO

20

20

20

20
20
20

15

15
15

15
15
15

U

.1

«

tf.

y.

s

INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE

. *

id

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners op Fisheries.

Jan. 8. D. L. Chapin, Shickshinny, Luzerne county,
Jan. 8. Glasgow A. Read, Clearfield, Clearfield

county,

Jan. 8. John M. (Jreer, Butler, Butler county, . . .
Jan. 8. Jobn Bealston, Butler, Butler county, . .
Jan. 8. Senator F. (i roflf, Stoystown , Somerset county,
Jan. 8. George Bauchman, Brookville, Jefferson

county, ...

Jan. 10. Hon. B.^ L. Hewlt, Ilollidaysburg, Blair

county, . •

Jan. 10. Charles Schwardt, HoUidaysburg, Blair county ,
Jan. 16. Thomas A. Hicks, Coalmont, Huntingdon

county, ...

Jan. 16. Rev. H. C. Shindle, Port Royal, Juniata county,
Jan. 16. Jacob S. Pittman, McConnellsburg, Fulton

county, ....

Jan. 16. A. B. Biddle, Pattonville, Bedford county, .
Jan. 19. Hon. T. B. Klein. Palmyra, Lebanon county,
Jan. 26. Hon. Charles A. Seidel, Hamburg, Berks

county, •

Jan. 26. H. 8. Shoffer, Smyser'a, York county. • .
Jan. 26. William J. Weist, York, York county, . . .
Jan. 31. Joseph McDonough, Vanceville, Washington

county, ...

Jan. 31. Pewit C. Gerow, Charleston, Tioga county, .
Jan. 31. Senator L. R. Keefer, Cressona, Schuylkill

county,

73

20

20
15
15

20

20

20
20

20
20

20
30

20

20
80
80

20

20

20

Total,

2,064

Brook Trout.

March 8. T. K. Stubbs, Oxford, Chester county, . .
March 9. Johnson Moor, Carlisle, Cumberland county,
March 9. W. A. Trittle, Waynesboro', Franklin county,
March 13. A. M. Rhoads, Carlisle, Cumberland county,
March 13. 1>. W. Seller. Harrisburg, Dauphin county, .
March 14. John Daily, Altoona, Blair county, .
March 14. Hon. B. L. Hewit, Ilollidaysburg, Blair

county,

March 14. G. W. Harder, Tyrone, Blair county, .
March 16. A. F. Peters. White Haven, Luzerne county,
March 16. H. G. Schantz, /ionville, Lehi«ih county, .
March 16. Senator K. H. Shearer, Reading, Berks

countv,

2,500
2,500
4,000
2,500
2,500
2,000

3,500
2,000
4,000
2,000
2,500
2,500

.J4 State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

March 16. K. D. Liiigley,Readiiicr, Berks county, . . . 2,000

March 16. W. A. Leisenriug, Mauch Chunk, Carbon

,. 3,000

county, u,vvy/

March 17. J. Hutchison, l^ranch Dale, Schuylkill county, 1,500
March n. J.J. Edwards, St. Clair, Schuylkill county, 4,000
March 17. E. F. Stees, Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, 4,000
March 22. J. E. Harder, Clearfield, Clearfield county, . 3,000
March 22. Hon. W. C. Brown, Indiana, Indiana county, 4,000
March 22 W. S. Ackerman, Greensburg, Westmoreland

county, . • • 2,000

March 24. Wm. Hartley, Bedford. Bedford county. . . 2,000
March 24. John Lutz, Bedford, Bedford county, . . 2,000
March 24. E. L. Knupp, Somerset, Somerset county, . 3,000
March 24. W. P. Snyder, Allentown, lichigh county, . 1 ,500
. March 24. (i. W. Eckerd, Allentown, Lehigh county 2,000
March 28. Dr. P. F. Fuliner, Dingman's Ferry, Pike

county, ^'0«0

March 28. E. D. Hutfman. Stroudslmrg, Monroe county, 7,000
March 31. T. W. Mvton, Huntingdon, Huntingdon

4. ' . 4,000
county, ■»,vvw

Marcli 31. John Brown, New Florence, Westmoreland

county, 2,000

March 31. J. F. Core, New Florence, Westmoreland

county 2,000

March 31. Boles McColly, Ligonier, Westmoreland

county 2,500

April 4. J. G. Adams, Lebanon, Lebanon county, . • 2,000
April 4. H. Maltzburg, Beading. Berks comity, . . . 2,000
April 4 M. C. Luckenbach, Bethlehem, Northampton

county, . . ^00«

April 4. H. B. Taylor, Chester, Delaware county, . . 2,000
April 8 J. T. Vanderslice, Bloomsburg, Columbia

county 2,000

April 8. A. F. Thomps«m, Lykens,Daui)hin county, . 2,500
April 8. F. B. Leib, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, . . 2,000
April 11. John Wister, Duncannon, Perry county, . . 3,000
April 11. W. H. Kramer, Allentown, Lehigh county, . 2,000
April 12. H. E. Packert<m, Packerton, Carbon county, 1,50.0
April 12. George Twining, Mauch Chunk, Carbon

county, ^'^^^

April 12. William Spenser, Bockport, Carbon county, 1,500
April 12. /. T. Trout, Girardville, Schuylkill county, 3,000
April 13. John. A. Beynohls, Atglen.' Chester county, 2,000
April 15. T. K. Stubbs, Oxford, Chester county, . - 1,500
April 17. E. Schlicher, Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, . 1,500

a

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners op Fisheries. t6

April 17. C. H. Seidel, Hamburg, Berks county, . . 1,500
April 11. T.B.Klein, Palmyra, Lebanon county, . . • 1,500
\nril 22. C. A. Hungerford, Springville, Susquehanna

county, 2,500

May 12. John Glosser, Berwyn, Chester county, . 1,500 ^^^^^^^

Trout Spawn Shipped to Western Hatching-House.

1881.

Dec. 2. Shipped, ^^'^^^

Dec. 9. Shipped, ^5,000

Dec. 13. Shipped, ^^'^^^

Dec. 24. Shipped, 4a,000

18S2.
Jan. 5. Shipped, ^60^0

Number of eggs shipped to Corry, 238,000

Noy. 14. Number of eggs shipped to date ^^'^'^^9

1883.
Jan. 1. There are now in the ponds, at the hatching-house, to be kept

as spawners the following number of fish :

Brook trout, four years old, 1,800

Brook trout, three years old, 1,200

Brook trout, two years old, ^^^^^ ^ ^^^

California Trout, two years old, ^^0

Eggs taken, brook trout, 362, COO

1 expect to take from the California trout at least, 25,000
I am, gentlemen,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient seryant,

J. P. CBEVELING,
Superintendent Eastern Hatching- House.
To the Honorable, the State Fishery Commissioners. Harrisburg.

Western Hatching-House.
The Honorable the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of Pennsyl-

vania : .. . ^ *• ^.u^

Gkntlemen: I hayc the honor to submit the following report, for the

years 1881 and 1882 :

Fish on Hand Janiary 1, 1881.

Brook Trout, from three to four years old 250

Brook Trout, two years old, . 2,500

Brook Trout, one year old, ®^®

Brook Trout, last Spring's hatching, ^^^

Brook Trout, Total number on hand, ^j^^^

1^0 Stats Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

Lake Trout, six years old, ^^

Lake Trout, two years old, ^^^^"

Lake Trout, Total number on hand, 1»045

California Salmon, two years old • • - 5^0

California Mountain Trout, last Sprinoj's hatching, . 700

Land Locked Salmon, last Spring's hatching, 250

(Jernian Carp, one and a half years old, 25

Whole number of Fish at Western Hatch House, . . . f^.^lO

Egos on Hand January 1, 1881.

Brook Trout Eggs, 210 000

Lake Trout Eggs, ^"^"""

Total number of Eggs, 220,000

Whole Number of A'arkts Kinds of Eggs Taken and Ueceived After

January 1, for the Season of 1881.
White Fish Egcs, Kindness Prof. S. F. Baird. . . • 100,000
Schoodic Salmon Esgs, Kindness Prof. S. F. Baird, 12,500
Kennebec Salmon Eggs, Kindness Prof. S. F. Baird, 100,000
Brook Trout Eggs, Taken at the Ponds, '^^^^^^

Total Number of Eggs Taken and Received, 507,^0

Distribution of Fish for 1881.
White fish, George K. Wright, Luzerne county, Harvey's

lake ^«'«««

White fish, Seth Weeks, Erie county. Lake Pleasant, . 10,000
White fish, J. P. Creveling and Seth Weeks, Crawford

county, Oil Creek lake, ^^^^^^

Total, ^_95^

Kennebec salmon, Hon. J. M. Shaffer nnd others, waters

of Sinnamahoning river, Cameron county, 70,000

By order of Hon. B. L. Hewit, North Branch Susque-
hanna river, at Towanda, Bradford county, .... 20,000

rr ,„i 90,000

Jotal,

Scoodic salmon, Hon. William N. Ileynolds, Wyoming

county, Tunkhannock waters 8,000

Sportsmen Club, Erie, Erie county, Lake Pleasant,. . 2,000
SDortsmen Club of Erie, for Oil Creek lake, Crawford
county, ^^

Total, _JM22

^j;

Leg. Hoc] State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Salmon trout, Seth Weeks, in Oil Creek lake and Lake Pleasant,
Erie county,

Brook Trout.

March 14. A. J. McLeary, Avonia, Erie county, in

Trout run, • 5,000

March 23. D. H. Walker, Hadley, Mercer county, in

Little Sheuango creek, 4,000

March 17. J. C. Shaw, Wolf Creek, Mercer county.

Wolf creek, 10,000

March 25. Rev. R. Cartwright, Burrell, Westmoreland

county, . 3,000

March 27. George L. Selgel, Erie, Erie county, in Le

Bffiuf creek, . . ... 15,000

April 10. Joseph M. Shaffer, Sinnamahoning, Cameron

county, for tributaries of Sinnamahoning

river,^ ... • ■ • 10,000

April 10. George E. Mapes, Titusville, Crawford

county, in Coldwell creek, 2,500

April 13. John Hestor, Richmond Station, Clarion

county, Beaver creek, 2,000

April 13. Frank Arnold, Clarion Station, Clarion

county, in Little Silo creek, . . 6,000

April 13. E. C. Harmon, Brinkerton, Clarion county,

branches Clarion river, . . 5,000

April 15. John W. Titley, Sherrett, Pa., in waters Red

Bank creek, 10,000

April 30. C. Z. Gordon, Brookville, Jeflferson county,

several small spring brooks, 12,500

April 10. T.J. Smiley, Pleasantville, Crawford county,

Five Mile creek 8,000

May 7. I>. K. Castle, Tryonville, Crawford county,

Prescott creek, 5,000

May 9. E. S. Crossman, Warren and Crawford

counties, Six Mile run, 4,000

May 10. 1). Slagle, Pine Creek Furnace, Armstrong

county, in Pine creek, . ... 2,000

May 25. Sheriff of Armstrong county, Kittanning,

in several small streams, 6,000

May 18. M. C. Gross, Pleasantville, Venango county,

in Clierrv run 10,000

10,000

49,500

69,500

78

April

May

May

May

April

April
April

June

May
J line

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

23. Senator MeKnijiht, Ridgway, Elk county,

branch of Clarion river, 10,000

18. C. A. Myers, Franklin, Venango county,

Sugar creek and Sandy creek, 8,000

E. II. Reedy, Deanville, Armstrong county,

waters of Mahoning river, 10,000

25. Charles Seaton, Uniontown, Fayette county,

IJrown^s run ^i^OO

20. A. W. Hayes, Wattsburg, Erie county,

French creek, 12,500

20. William Aananden, Union city, .... 1,500
13. G. 15. Kiser, Shippenville, Clarion county,

Deer creek, ... • 5, 000

10. J()hn F. Fulton, Hunkers, Westmoreland

county, small streams, . . .... 18,000

10. J. r. deviling, for distribution 25,000

13. J. S. IJrooks, New Castle, Lawrence county.

Slippery Rock creek, 11,000

Report of 1882.

Fish on hand Jiinuary 1, 1882:
Rrook trout, three f.nd four years old, ....

Brook trout, two years old,

Brook trout, one year old, . . . .
Brook trout, last spring's hatching,

2,600
500
300

1,500

Lake trout, seven years old, . .
Lake trout, three years old, . .
Lake trout, two years old, . .
Lake trout, one year old, . . .
Lake trout, last vear's hatching,

• • • t

• • •

40

700

000

1,200

100

[No. 19,

California Salmon, three years old,

California trout, two years old, purchased of New York Com-
mission. . .

California mountain trout, . .

Scoodic salmon, last spring's hatching,

Hybrids, lake and brook trout, crossed,

(ierman carp, two and a half years old,

Whole number of fish on hand January 1, 1882, ......

Whole number of egL'S on hand January 1, 1882:

Brook trout, 215,000

106,000

'V

4,000

2,040

300

1,000

500

300

200

25

9,265

Leo. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. t9

Laketrout, 12,000

Kennebec salmon eggs, 100,000

California salmon eggs, 100,000

Scoodic salmon eggs 10,000

California mountain trout, 6,600

Total number taken and received, . ... 443,600

Received from J. P. C reveling, brook trout, 177,000

Total number on hand after January 1, 1882, ^20,600

Distribution of Fish for 1882.
' California Salmon.

Jan. 3. Jos. M. Shaffer, Cameron county, for West

Branch of Susquehanna,. . . 2t.000

Jan. 6. Order of Hon. B. L. Hewit, planted in same

wf.ters at Driftwood, 50,000

Jan. 24. S. B. Myers, Franklin, Venango county, for

Sugar Lake, ... 10,000

Jan. 26. Dr. C. B. Kibler, (iirard, Erie county, in Elk

Creek Pond, Tributary of Lake Erie, 10,000

Total 95^

Kennebec Salmon.
April 22. Order of B. L. Hewit, in West Branch of Susque-
hanna, at Emporium, Driftwood, and Sinnama-
honing, in four trips, 85^000

Salmon Trout.
April 24. M. F. Coolbaiigh, Strausburgh, Monroe

county, Three Small Lakes, 5,000

June 4. Erie Sportsman's Club, Erie county 5,000

April 18. E. Troxell, Kingston, Luzerne county. . . . 6,000

Total • • _^1M00

California Mountain Trout.
July 10. Seth AVeeks, Wayne, Erie county, _ 2,000

German Carp.
Nov. 20. A. L. Ackerman, Titusville, Crawford county,

adult carp ^

small carp •

80 State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Nov. 20. Jas. Prather, Troy Centre, Crawford county,

small carp, 10

Total No. Carp, _

Scoodic Salmon.
April 18. Jas. Millham, Ilawley, Wayne county, . , . 6,500
April 18. T. M. Nealon, Carbondale, Lackawanna

county, 6,000

Total, _

Brook Trout.

Feb. 23. Dr. Kitler and friends, Girard, Erie county.

Trout run and Elk creek, (3,000 each

creek,) 6,000

Feb. 20. Sportsman's Club of Erie county, North

branch French creek and Black run, . 5,000
Feb. 23. E. B. Hyde, Springburg, Warren county,

Spring creek, 6,000

Feb. 28. J. Hunter, Tidioute, Warren county, Tidi-

oute creek, . . ... 8,000

March 1. J. T. Riley, New Florence, Westmoreland

county, Roaring river, ... 8,000

March 1. J. O. H. Denny, Latrobe, Westmoreland

county, Loyalhanna creek, ." 12,000

March 1. Z. B. Springer, Uniontown, Fayette county,

Dunbar creek, 4,500

March 6. W. Loverock, Titusville, Crawford county.

Five-mile run, . 6,500

March 8. C. Z. (forden, Brookville, Jefferson county,

Sandy Lick creek, 10,000

March 28. J. Franklin Core, Johnstown, Cambria

county. Paint creek, 6,500

March 25. M. C. (Joss, Pleasant valley, Venango

cotinty, Stewart's run, and Pithole creek, 15,000
March 30. William Ileydrick, Carlton, Mercer county,

Deer creek and Sandy run, 10,000

April 10. J. H. Riley, Braddocks.fish planted in West-
moreland county, (Jreenlick creek, . . . 10,000

April 10. J. N. Dickson, Black Lick Station, Indiana

county, Black Lick creek, 8,000

April 10. C. W. Goster, Indiana, Indiana county,

Crooked creek, 5,000

[No. 19,

t

i

23

}

12,500

44,000

52,500

€

S

I

3

1

•^

4

liEQ. Doc]

April 15.

April 15.

April 15.

April 15.

April 24.

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

I). R. Pope, Lansboro', Susiiuehanna county,

Starucca creek 4,500

Hon. James Millliam, Hawley. Wayne county.

Middle creek 10,000

J. M. Nealon, Carbondale, I^acka wanna

county, Lackawanna river, 10,000

J. W. Atkin, (Carbondale, Lackawanna

county, east branch Tnnckhannock creek, 6,500
W. H. Thomas, ManHlicld, Tioj^a county.

Canoe creek 10,000

81

April 27. B. Ellsworth, Warren, Warren county. Little

Broken Straw creek, ... 10,000

May 2. Lalhy & Aj;new, Tionesta, Forest county.

Coon creek 6,500

May 8. G. B. Kiser, Shippenville, Clarion county,

Paint creek ^^t^OO

May 8. C. H. Seaton, Uniontown, Fayette county.

Stone creek, • .. 7,000

May 8. Samuel S. Brown, Connellsville, Fayette

county. Mount's creek, 2,000

May 22. Harry H. Mullen, Kuiporium, Cameron

county, Deep creek 6,000

May 24. William T. Smith, Scranton, Luzerne county,

Bear run, lO^OOO

Mav 21. T. ,]. Vanderslice, Columbia county, Fish

creek, 6,000

Mav 24. W. Osterhaut, HarCord, Susciuehanna (rounty,

Van Winkle's creek, . . ^i^OO

May 24. M. F. Cooll)au^di, Stroudsboroujrli, Monroe

county, Broadhead'H creek, 10,000

June 6. K. Troxel, Kinjrston, Luzerne county, Har-
vey's creek and Huntington creek, . 15,000

June 6. Harrison Wrijrht, Shi<Ushinny, Luzerne

county, VV^)pwallopen creek, 7,000

June 13. Frederick Ahlborn, WilUes-Barre, Luzerne

county. Bowman's creek, ... • • 6,000

June 13. (J. M. Hardin^', WilkeH-liarre, Luzerne

county. Bear ereek • 5,000

June 13. W. M.'stoddart. Wilken-Burre, Luzerne

county, Sprin;f brook. 8,000

June 13. L. T. Smith, Forks Station, l>uzerne .o.inty.

Muddy creek, ^ ^^^^

6 Leu. Doc. No. 19.

74,000

46,500

47,000

«0

Nov

Htaik (•oMMiKnio^r.Ri' •»> FiHiirwifn.

20. .!..••. PnUlnr. Tmy Tontrr. C'rn«ror.l roinitv.
mnall mrp

Totnl Nt>.<'nrp

[No. 19,

10

Sroodic Salmon.
Anril 18. .liiH. Milllmm. Iliiwlov.Wnvm'Connty. . • . 6,500
\ ..51 m T M NomIou, CarLonilalo. Lnokuwntina

rouutv. . '

Totnl, .

lirt>ol- Trout.
Vvh 2) I>r. KitUT Mii.l friiMKlM, (Jiranl, Krie count y.

Tro.it run and Klk creek, (8,000 each

crock,) . '

Feb. 20. Sportsman's (Mul. of Krio county. North

l.ianch French creek and Black run, 5,000

Fel» 23 K. H. llvde, Sprinjjchurji, Warren cunty,

Sprinjr" creek, • ^^^^^

Vvh. 28. .1. Hunter, Tidiouto, Warren county, Tidi-

oute creek. '

M.irch 1 .1 T. Uilov, New Florence, Westmoreland

count V, Koarinjr river, ... »»"""

M-nch 1 .1. O. II. Penny, Latrobe, Westmoreland

county, Loyalhanna creek, ." ___"

March 1. Z. H- Sprinjzcr, Fniontown, FXvt'tto county,

Dunbar creek, • * ^^^^

March C. W. Loverock, Tituavillc. Crawford county.

Five-mile run. ^♦^^^

M^rch 8 ('./. (Jorden. Hrookvillcleflferson county,

■ Sandv Lick creek, • • 10,000

March 28. . I. Franklin Core, .lohnstown, Cambna

county. Taint creek ^'i^^""

Much 25 M. ('. (losH, Pleasant valley, Venanjro

countv, Stewart's run, and Plthole creek, 15,000

March 30. William" Heydrick, Carlton, Mercer county.

Deer creek and Sandy run, 10^0

\pril 10. .1. II. l^'l*\v. Hrad.bKks.fish planted in West-

Ukoreland county, (ircenlick creek. . . . 10,000

Vpril 10. .1. N. Piekson. Black Lick Station, ln<'uana

eounty, Black Lick creek 8»000

\nril 10 (' W. (Jester, Indiana. Indiana county,

Crooketl creek j,vvv

23

12,500

44,000

52,500

' I

liKo. Dor.] State Commissioners of P'isheries.

April 1 5. I>. U. Pope. Lansboro', Susquehanna county,

Starucca creek 4,500

April 15. Hon. .lames Millliam.TIawley.Wayne county.

Middle creek 10,000

April 15. .1. M. Nealon, Carbondale, [iackawanna

county, Lackawanna river, 10,000

April 15. J. W. Atkin, Carbondale, Lackawanna

county, east branch Tunckhannock creek, 6,500
April 24. VV. H. Thomas, Mansfield, Tioga county,

Canoe creek, 10,000

April 27. B. Ellsworth, Warren, Warren county. Little

Broken Straw creek, 10,000

May 2. Lalhy & Agnew, Tionesta, Forest county.

Coon creek 6,500

May 8. G. B. Riser, Shippenville, Clarion county.

Paint creek, 5,000

May 8. C. H. Seaton, Uniontown, Fayette county.

Stone creek, • .7,000

May 8. Samuel S. Brown, Connellsville, Fayette

county. Mount's creek, 2,000

May 22. Harry H. Mullen, Emporium, Cameron

county, Deep creek, 6,000

May 24. William T. Smith, Scranton, Luzerne county,

Bearrun, 10,000

May 21. T. J. Vanderslice, Columbia county, Fish

creek, 6,000

May 24. W. Osterhaut, Harford, Susquehanna county.

Van Winkle's creek, . 3,000

May 24. M. F. Coolbaugh, Stroudsborough, Monroe

county, Broadhead's creek, ... 10,000

June f). E. Troxel, Kingston, Luzerne county, Har-
vey's creek and Huntington creek, . 15,000

June 6. Harrison Wright, Shickshinny, Luzerne

county, Wopwallopen creek, . . 7,000

June 13. Frederick Ahlborn, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne

county. Bowman's creek, ...... 6,000

June 13. 0. M. Harding, Wilkes-Barre. Luzerne

county, Bear creek, . . ... 5,000

June 13. W. M. Stoddart. Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne

county, Spring brook. 8,000

June 13. L. T. Smith, Forks Station, Luzerne county,

Muddy creek, 5,000

6— Leo. Doc. No. 19.

81

:4,ooo

46,500

47,000

82

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

June 20. J. O. Barker, Williamsport, Lycoming

county, West Mill creek branches, . . . 8,000

June 20. John Piatt. Williamsport, Lycoming county,

Seeley's run and Larry's creek, ... 6 000

June 24. A. F. Clapp, Sunbury, Northumberland

county, Shamokin creek, 3 20O

June 10. W. H. H. Pipe, Kittanning, Armstrong

county, Crooked creek, 7 500

June 12. R. Brennen, Wilcox, McKean and Elk coun-
ties. Cooper's creek and Kinzua creek, . 10,000

35,200

17,500

Remarks.

White fish reported were hatched and distributed by request of Hon.
H. B. Wright, he i)fiying the expense of shipping the eggs and young fish.

California Mountain Trout.

We have a fine stock of spawners, and think we can at least put out two
hundreil thousand of these beautiful fish in J 883.

The Railroads

have always carried our cans free, and kindly assisted in taking care of the
fish. The officers should have our thanks.

CoRRY, November 13, 1882.
To the Honorable Commissioner.^ of Fisheries of Pennsylmnia :

Statemk.xt of Fish and Fogs now at the Western llATcinNo-HousE.

Brook trout, 4,000 stock fish.

California trout 1 ,000 stock fish.

California trout, fry, 2 000

Salmon trout, of all ages, \ qqq

Carp, we have stock fish, jj)

These; carp spawned for the first time last June. As we have not drawn
the pond off we cannot give the exact number of fry.

Brook trout eggs, . 140,000

Salmon trout eggs, 30,000

Eggs now in hatch house, 170 000

Your humble servant,

SETH WEEKS.

I «

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
Remarks.

88

Carp have spawned here in June last for the first time. For some reason
this first spawning has not produced many fish. As I have not drawn the
pond off I cannot tell how many fry we have. I let Mr. A. L. Akerman, of
Titusville, have six carp, (three year old.) He has a good pond to propa-
gate them in, and he will care for them, and give at least one half of the
young for free distribution.

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

SETII WEEKS,
Superintendent Western Hatching- House.

CoRRY, January 6, 1883.

Colonel : I am instructed to give you an estimate of the eggs now on

hand. That I can do. We have now, with the eggs sent by Creveling,

and those taken, 445,000. ITow many more Creveling will send, and how

many more we will take liere, we cannot tell yet, but will keep you posted.

Hope to take one hundred tiiousand California trout eggs.

Yours truly,

SETH WEEKS.
To Colonel James Woruall, Harrisburg.

CoRRY, January 19, 1883.

Colonel : Will have 2,000,000 White fish eggs in the house for Erie as
soon as they are hatched and put out. Will report to you.

Yours truly,

SETH WEEKS.
To Colonel James Worrall, Harrixburg.

P. S. — These fish were hatched and successfully planted in the bay at Erie.

Police.

A rigid police system must be adopted if we are to protect our fisheries ;
in fact every citizen feeling an interest should be authorized to arrest and
have punisiicd wlioever he may find violating our fishiuir laws. It has
already been seen what a little care may do in adding to the food sjipply
of the countryside, and the system has only to be carried out ftirtlier to
add materially to the effects.

There is no good reason why our streams shall nf)t be filled with fishes
from the vast varieties which mav be cultivated in Pennsvlvinia, as mav
be seen from Professor Cope's Keport on the Icthyology of the State.
But we would seem, from the appearance of things, to be a long way Irom
a consummation so devoutly to l>e wished.

The action t>f our Wardens does not seem to be secomled. Laws are
passed, officers are craated to enforce them, but they are not seconded by
the officials of the counties. The grand juries even do not seem to con-
sider our fishing interests of any importance.

84

State Commissioners of Fisueries.

[No. 19,

Our oflicers arrest the offenders in flagrante delicto, but their oaths seem
to have no influence on some of our grand juries.

We give below the aflidavit of one of our Wardens who has displayed
some energy in the performance of his duty, but the grand juries of Terry
and Dauphin counties seem to regard his presentations with supreme in-
difference.

Is there no remedy for this? If there be not, there is but little use in
endeavoring to police our streams, or the power and method of prosecu-
tion must be placed in different hands.

Affidavits of Peter Williamson. Fish Warden on the Susquehanna, from
below Columbia to Clark's Ferry and the Juniata:

On the afternoon of Monday, October 30, 1882, I went before the grand
iurv of Perry county, at New Bloomfield, and testified as follows, in the
case of the Common wealih against William A. Grubb :

In the Juniata river, June 22, 1882, near Newport, this man with three
others was fishing with a seine. Taylor (irubb told me his name, also the
names of the other three of the party, all of whom I saw drawing the
net down into a fish dam that was within one hundred and fifty yards of the
Newi3ort dam ; with me was Joseph Bates, a man that I had taken along
from Harrisburg, and Taylor (irubb, one who was fishing with rod and line
from the shore. Joseph Bates and myself got into a boat, and was pushed
across to the fish dam by one of the i)arty who had been fishing with the
seine. When we got to the dam I measured the meshes of the seine, that
they had been using, from knot to knot, diagonally, and found that the
meshes measured scant two inches, when the law of 1881 requires that
they shall " measure from knot to knot, diagonally, not less than four and
one half inches in tlje mesh." I used this rule (showing one in use among
mechanics generally.)

I would have given the same testimony in the three other cases of the
Commonwealth against William (Jrubb, Jr., Commonwealth against Horace
Oruhb,and the Commonwealth against Henry Sorver, had 1 been called upon.

pp:tI':u wilija.mson.

State of Pennsylvania,) ^^,
Dauphin County, )

J*ersonally api»eared before me, the subscriber, a notary public, in and
for said county and State, Peter Williamson, who being duly sworn, ac-
cording to law, saith that the facts set forth in the above written state-
ment are true and correct as he verily believes.

Witness my hand and notarial seal this 8th day of January, 1883.
[L. S.J STEWART P. KFEIJN(i,

Notary Public.
"On the morning of Sunday, August 13, at twenty minutes of one o'clock,
1 caught Henry Reagle fishing."

Officer Weltmer and John Lingle, and James Sellers and (Jeorge Druit,
gave the same testimony before the grand jury as that above stated.

PETER WILLIAMSON.

On

page 86, in note, for " Montoor " read ^* Monroe."

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

85

. )

State of Pennsylvania.)
County of Dauphin, \

Personal!}' appeared before me, the subscriber, a notary pnbiic in and for
said county and State, Peter Williamson, who being dulj^ sworn according
to law, saith that the facts set forth in the above written statement are true
and correct, as he verily believes.

Witness my liand and notarial seal, this 8th day of January, 1883.

STEWART P. KEELING, Notary Public.

Not the slightest notice of these affidavits was taken by either of the
grand juries in either case.

Would it not be well to enact such legislation as would remedy such
evils as the above ?

The treatise of Professor Cope on the Icthyology of Pennsylvania has
been so well received, and is so undeniably useful and appropriate, that
we again add it as an appendix to our report. The question whether any
State in the I'^nion possesses amongst her citizens one who so tiioroughly
understands the zoology of the land in which he live 5, and Professor
Cope's science in that direction seems especially to have embraced icthy-
ology, to which subject the attention of the people has been specially di-
rected.

Pennsylvania may well feel proud of sucli citizens as Professor Cope.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,

JAMES DUFFY, Marietta,
*H. J. \\Y.¥AWA\,Ea»ton,
BENJAMIN L. WVAWT, Hollidnyi-burg,
JOHN IirMMEL, Selinsgrove,
G. M. MILLER, Willres-Barre,
ROBERT DALZELL, Pittsburgh.
To R. E. Pattison, Governor of Pennaylvania, Harrisburg.

♦Since resigned, and Arthur Maginnis, of Montour county, (Swift Water,) takes
his place.

86

State Commissioners of Fisueries.

[No. 19,

EXPENDITURE OF THE APPROPRIATION OF JUNE 11, 1879.

1880.

Fel).

3.

March

15.

March

29.

March

30.

April

3.

April

3.

April

8.

April

9.

April

20.

May

1.

May

12.

May

12.

May

15.

May

22.

May

31.

May

31.

June

16.

Julv

12.

July

19.

July

28.

July

31.

Sept.

14.

Oct.

2.

Oct.

12.

Oct.

22.

Nov.

2

Nov.

3.

Dec.

4.

Dec.

9.

Dec.

10.

Dec.

12.

Dec.

20.

Dec.

22.

Dec.

31.

1881.

Jan.

1.

Jan.

10.

Jan.

22.

Paid

J. P. Creveling, transportation,
J. P. Creveling, transportation,
Reisinger, meat bill, ....
Miller & Co., hardware, . .

Bink, meat bill,

Creveling, salary, ....

Hoover, teaming,
I). Coble, deceased, detective,
Creveling, transportation,
Hottman «fc Co., fry, . .

Worrall. actuary, account '79,
Worrall, actuary, account '79,
Creveling, transportation. . .
Willis, police, ......

Creveling, salary, . .

Creveling, transporting carp,

Bnller, labor,

Bink, meat bill,

Dalzell, commissioner's expenses

Worrall, expenses,

Creveling, transportation,

Creveling, salary,

Ludwick, warden,

Plumb, bass,

Creveling, bass, .

Bell, bass, . . .

IJerrier, boat, . .

Dalzell, expenses, &c.,

Worrall, on account,

Atlee, fees, . .

DcWitt, fees, .

G. M. Miller, commissioner, 9 v

Buller, labor, ...

Hummel, commissioner, 3 vrs.,

Hewit, commissioner, Western dis-
trict, 9 vrs.,

Bink, meat bill,

Creveling, salary,

rs.

$100 00

100 00

9 55

33 03

81 49

450 00

135 92

27 00
100 00
227 50
112 15
300 00
100 00

28 22
150 00

25 00

295 00

57 78

63 68

3 50

25 00

225 00

100 00

5 30

100 00

67 00

16 00

86 49

150 00

75 00

50 00

292 77

90 62

128 00

1,658 84

55 90

200 00

.

Leg. Doc]

Jan.

26. Paid

March 21.

March 25.

March 25.

April

1.

April

1.

April

4.

April

5.

April

5.

April

5.

April

6.

April

6.

April

9.

April

9.

April

12.

April

12.

April

16.

April

30.

May

1.

May

12.

May

14.

May

17.

May

17.

May

28.

June

1.

July

5.

Julv

21.

Julv

22.

July

22.

August 2.

Oct.

4.

Oct.

5.

Oct.

19.

Oct.

20.

Oct.

27.

Nov.

2.

Nov.

9.

Nov.

16.

Nov.

18.

Nov.

23.

Nov.

25.

Nov.

28.

Nov.

29.

Dec.

10.

Dec.

10.

Dec.

15.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Musser & Weiller, lumber, . . $39 41

Creveling, transportation, ... 50 00

Hoffman & Co., trout fry 192 50

A. Bowman, services, 100 00

Ludwick, warden, 9 vrs., . . . 373 87

Ludwick, police, &c., 8 vrs., . . . 333 47

Creveling, transportation, .... 100 00

J. Duffy, personpl expense, . . . 100 00

Hoffman, fry, 70 00

Stibgen, labor, 7 69

Miller & Co., hardware, 7 76

Rudesill, improvements, &c., . . 9 16

Hoover, milk, &c., 75 75

Bink, meat bill, 48 00

Herman, assistant, H. H., . . . . 10 00

Creveling, salary, 325 00

Buller, services, 50 00

Creveling, transportation, .... 50 00

Reeder, commissioner, 4 vrs., . . 857 70

Creveling, transporting carp, &c., 100 00

Nicholas, warden, 58 32

Worrall, account, '80, 300 00

Worrall, account, '81, 126 50

Creveling, transporting shad, . . 200 00

Lynch, warden, 50 00

Bink, meat bill, 67 14

Buller, labor, . 170 00

Worrall, actuary, 77 76

W^orrall, actuary, 34 74

Creveling, salary, 250 00

Bink, meat bill, . . 48 44

Bink, meat bill, 66 00

Lowe, bass, 78 00

Bell, bass, 48 20

Jones, warden, . 100 00

Lowe, bass, 72 00

Hewit, commissioner, 26 vrs., . 2,533 13

Creveling, transportation, .... 100 00

Bell, bass, 57 00

Worrall, actuary 112 50

Nicholas, warden, . 200 00

Buller, labor, ..... . . 68 75

T luma Bros., coal, 33 36

Lowe, salmon, 15 00

J no. Hummel, transportation, . . 125 00

Creveling, salary, 250 00

87

88

1882.

Jan.

7. I

Jan.

31.

March

8.

March 27.

March 31.

March 31.

March 31.

March 31.

April

5.

April

8.

April

14.

April

15.

May

2.

May

3.

May

15.

May

31.

June

13.

June

16.

July

7.

July

8-

July

14.

Jnly

18„

July

21.

Sept.

1.

Sept.

26.

Sept.

30.

Oct.

4.

Oct.

5

Oct.

12

Oct.

16.

Oct.

20

Oct.

31.

Nov.

14-

Nov.

25.

Nov.

28.

Dec.

1-

Dec.

8.

Dec.

9.

Dec.

14.

Dec.

26-

1883.

Jan.

1.

Paid

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Bink, meat bill, $64 30

Wo: rail, actuary, 112 50

C reveling, transportation, .... 100 00

C reveling, transix)rtation, .... 100 00

Longenecker, labor, 36 55

Miller & Co., hardware, 6 47

Grierae, transportation, .... 14 37

Bink, meat bill, 47 68

Hoover, transportation, .... 110 75

Creveling, salary, 400 00

Worrall, actuary, 112 50

Creveling, transportation, .... 100 00

Williamson, warden, 40 00

Musser & Miller, lumber, .... 10 70

Tucker, transportation, 38 12

Creveling, salary, 100 00

Wilhamson, warden, 120 50

Iludesill, improvements, &c., . . 7 80

Williamson, warden, 10 46

Bink, meat bill, 77 79

Worrall. actuary 112 50

Williamson, warden, 25 00

Creveling, salary 100 00

Williamson, warden, 30 00

Buller, labor, 16 00

Creveling, transportation, . . . . 100 00

Bink, meat bill, 94 44

Worrall, actuary, 112 50

Lowe, bass, 72 00

Creveling, salary, 150 00

Lowe, bass, 72 36

Williamson, warden, 8 86

Hewit, western district, 13 vrs., . 1,759 96

Lowe, salmon, 14 00

Williams(m, warden 55 19

Bowman, office expense, ... 6 86

C. Dull, fees, warden cases, . . 75 00

Williamson, warden, 44 81

R. Dal/.oU, commissioner, . 58 19

G. M. .Miller, commissioner, 3 vrs., 193 76

II. J, Heeder, commissioner, Dela-
ware Int., 1 ,060 00

[No. 19,

^V

s.

On page 89, eighth line flrom bottom, for ** therftir" read " ftirther."

Leg. Doc]
Jan.

ISTATE Commissioners of Fisheries.

89

6. Paid B. L, Hewit, commissioner. West-
ern district, 3 vrs., $252 69

Jan. 12. Worrall, actuary, ...... 112 50

Total,

$20,000 00

Department of the Auditor General,

Harrisburg, March IJ,^ 188S.

I do liert'by certify that the State Commissioners of Fisheries have filed
in this Department vouchers, as mentioned in the annexed statement,
covering the appropriation made by section 1, act of June 11, 1879, (Pam-
phlet Laws 1879, pages 154 and 155), and that the said vouchers have been
compared with the annexed statement and found to be correct. And I do
therfur certify that the affidavits verifying the correctness of said vouchers
by James Duffy, Benjamin L. Ilewit, Robert Dalzell and J. P. Creveling, are
also on file in this Department.

Witness my hand and seal of Auditor General's Office, the day and year
first above written.

[l. 8.J THOMAS McCAMANT,

For JOHN A. LEMON,

Auditor General,

90

State Commissioners of Fi&heries.

[No. 19,

LIST OF FISH COMMISSIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES
AND TERRITORIES, AND IN THE BRITISH POSSESSIONS
OF NORTH AMERICA.

Dominion of Canada.
W. F. Whitcher, Commissioner, Ottawa, Ontario.

Province of New Brunswick.
W. H. Venning, Inspector of Fisheries, St. John.

Province of Nova Scotia.
W. H. Rogers, Inspector, Amherst.

Province of Prince Edward Island.
J. H. Duvar, Inspector, AUierton.

Province of British Columbia.
A. C. Anderson, Victoria.

The United States.
Prof. Spencer F. Baird, ,.*■•. Washington, D. C.

Alabama.

C. S. G. Poster, Pratt ville.

D. B. Huntley, Courtland.

Arizona.

John J. (losper, Prescott.

Richard Rule, Tombstone.

Dr. J. H. Taggart, Business Manager, Yuma.

Arkansas.

John E. Keardon, Little Rock.

James II. Hornibrook, Little Rock.

H. H. Rottaken, Little Rock.

California.

S. R. Throckmorton, ... San Francisco.

J. D. Farwell, Niles, Almeda Co.

W. W. Travlor San Francisco.

^

Leg. Doc] Staie Commissioners of Fisheries. 91

Colorado.
Wilson E. Sisty, Idaho Springs.

Connecticut.

Dr. William H. Hudson, Hartford.

Robert G. Pike, Middletown.

George N. Woodruff, Sherman.

Delaware.
Enoch Moore, Jr Wilmington.

Georgia.

J. T. Henderson, Commissioner of Agriculture and ex

officio Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, .... Atlanta.
Dr. H. H. Cary, Superintendent, La Grange.

Illinois.

N. K. Fail-bank, President, Chicago.

S. P. Bartlett, Quincy.

S. P. McDoel, Aurora.

Indiana.
Calvin Fletcher, Spencer, Owen Co.

Iowa.

B. F. Shaw, Anamosa.

A. A. Mosher, Assistant, Spirit Lake.

Kansas.
Hon. D. B. Long, Ellsworth.

Kentucky.

William Grinith, President, Louisville.

Hon. John A. Steele, Versailles.

Dr. William Van Antwerp, . . Mount Sterling.

A. H. (foltlo, Catlettsburg.

Hon. C. J. Walton, Munfordville.

Dr. S. W. Coombs, Bowling (Jreen.

John B. Walker, Madisonville.

P. II. Darby, Princeton.

Hon. J. M. Chambers, Independence, Ken-
ton county.
W. C. Price, . Danville.

92 State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

Maine.

E. M. Stilwell Bangor.

Henry O. Stanley, Dixfield.

Maryland.

Thomas Iliighlett, Kaston.

G. W. Delawder, Oakland.

Massaciu'setts.

E. A. Brackett, Winchester.

Asa French, South Brr.intree.

F. W. Putnam, Cambridge.

Michigan.

Eli R. Miller, Richland.

A. J. Kellogg, Detroit.

Dr. J. C. Parker, Grand Rapids.

Minnesota.

Ist District — Daniel Cameron La Crescent.

2d District — Dr. Wm. M. Sweney Red Wing.

3d District — Dr. Robert Ormsl)y Sweeny St. Paul.

4th District — No appointment until January.
5th District — No appointment until January.

MiSSOLRI.

Dr. J. G. W. Steedman, Chairman, .... 2803 Pine Street, St. Louis.

John Reid Lexington, Lafayette Coimty.

Dr. J. S. Logan, St. Joseph.

Nebraska.

W. L. May, Fremont.

R. R. liivingston, Plattsmouth.

B. E. B. Kennedy, Omaha.

Nevada..
Hon. Hubb G. Parker Carson Citv.

New Hampshire.

George W. Riddle, Manchester.

Luther Hayes Milton.

Albina H. Powers, (Irantham.

4.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
New Jersey.

Major Edward J. Anderson, Trenton.

Theodore Morford, Newton.

New York.

Hon. R. Barnwell Roosevelt, 16 Chambers St., New York.

Edward M. Smith, Rochester.

Richard U. Sherman, New Hartford, Oneida Co.

Eugene (i. Blackford, (Fulton Market, New York City),

809 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn.

North Carolina.
S. a. Worth, Raleigh.

Ohio.

Col. L. A. Harris, President, Cincinnati.

Charles \V. Bond, Treasurer, Toledo.

Halsey C. Post, Secretary, Sandusky.

Pennsylvania.

Hon B. L. Hewit, .

James Duffy, . . ,

John Hummel, . .
Robert Dalzell, .

G. M. Miller,
Arthur Maginnis,

. Hollidaysburg.
. Marietta.
. Selinsgrove.
. Pittsburgh.
. Wilkes-Barre.
. Swift Water.

Rhode Island.

Alfred A. Reed Providence.

Newton Dexter, Providence.

John H. Barden, Rockland.

South Carolina.

A. P. Butler, Commissioner of Agriculture, and ex of-
ficio of Fish and P'isheries, Columbia.

C. J. HiLske, Superintendent, Columbia.

Tennessee.

W. W. McDowell, Afemphis.

H. IL Sneed, Chattanooga.

Edward D. Hicks, Nashville.

Texas.
R. R. Robertson, Austin.

94

State Commissionkps of Fisheries.
Utah.

[No. 19,

Xo appointment since the death of Prof. J. L. Barfoot
in April last.

Vermont.

Hiram A. Cutting, Lunenburg, Essex Co.

Herbert Brainerd, St. Albans.

Virginia.
Col. M. McDonald, Berry ville.

West Virginia.

Henry B. Miller, President Wheeling.

C. S. White, Soeretarv, . . Romnev.

N. M. Ijowry, Hinton.

Wisconsin.

The Governor, ex officio Madison.

Philo Dunning, President, Madison.

C. L. Valentine, Secretary and Treasurer, .... Janesville.

J. V. Jones, .... * Oshkosh.

John F. Antisdel, Milwaukee.

Mark Douglas Melrose.

Christopher Hutchinson, Boetown.

Wyomin(J Territory.

Dr. M. C. Bnrkwt'U. Chairman and S

Otto (iramni. Secretary,

Hon. N. L. Andrews, . .

Hon. K. W. Bennet, . .

Hon. P. J. Downs, . . .

Hon. T. W. C^iiiin, . . .

iipcriiiteiKlcnt

Cheyenne.
Laramie.
Johnson county.
Carbon county.
Uinta county.
Sweetwater county

Legislative Document,

No. 19.

APPENDIX.

[From report of 1879-80.]

THE FISHING STUEAMS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

During the session of the Legislature in 1819 the following circular was
addressed by the Commissioners of Fisheries to members of the Legisla-
ture from the several counties :

" Office State Commissioners of Fisheries,
Harrisburg, Pa., , 1879.

To the Hon , o/ county. Pa.:

Sir : Vou are respectfully requested to fill up the following blanks as far
ad it may conveniently be in your power to do so. It has been suggested
advisable by the commission, with a view to aff.)rd reliable information as
to the character of the streams in the Commonwealth, and the better to
enable them to send fish si)ecially adapted to the waters. Many hundreds
of miles of river coast within the Stale have already been furnislied with
new tribes of e<lible fishes, and there seems no reason why the movement
should not be carried to an extent which would guarantee a still greater
measure of success.

JAMES DUFFY,
HOWARD J. KKKDKH,
BKN. L. Ill: WIT,
State Commiiisioners of Fiaheries."

And the ijueries were answered, as follows :

96

Counties.

Armstrong,

Be^iver,

Bedford, ....
Berks, (No. 1,)

Berks, (No. 2.)
Berks, (No. 3,)

BUlr,

Bucks,

Ckinbrla, .

Carbon, . .

Chester,

State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

FISHING STREAMS

Names of Streams.

Heads of Streams.

Crooked creek, ....
rowanshannock, . . .

Red Bank, ]

Mahoning creek,

Klsktmlnltiis, : 1 ' '. " '

Big Beaver, Formed by Mahoning

and Shenango, at New

Connoquencsslng,
Little Beaver, . . .

Castle.

South-east part of But-
ler county.

South-west part of Law-
rence county.

Raystown Brancli, . .
Yellow creek, . . .
Uunning's do. . . .
Georite's do. . . .
And tril)utarles, .
Bchuyikill river, . . .

Hay creek,

Monocacy,

Sixpenny,

Conestoga,

Allegheny,

Tulpehorken,

Nortliklll

Irish or Tlum creek, .
Siliuylkill river, . . .

Outelauiiee,

Mill creek,

I'lne do

Fnrnace do

Haueony do

Stony run,

Reservoir,

•luniata,

IMney creek,

Clover do

BelPs run,

Tipton run

Foot of Eight stream.

Bald Ksigle creek, .

Arch spring, ....

Beaver dams, .....

Roaring springe, . .

Bot's creek,

I'erkiomen, . .

T<diickon,

Neshauiiuy,

Durham,

Tinicum,

Fitcock

South Fork,

Chest creek,

Clearfield do

Conemaugh,

Aiiout twelve Htretims,
the headwaters of Sus-
((uehanna.

Polio I'oco and brandies,

Mud run,

Hickory run,

Mahoning creek, . . .

And other small streams,

Allegheny mountains,
Diinning's <lo.
Allegheny do.

do. do.

do. do.

Schuylkill river, . .
South-west part Berks CO

Emptying into

Dimensions.

a

I

be

a

o

V

I

Oley township, <io.

South-west part do.
Soutlierii part do.

do. do.

Lebanon county, . . .
Northern part Berks co.,

do. do.

Schuylkill county, . . .

I.ehigh county,

Berks county, ...

do.

do.

do.

do.

Blair county,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Centre county, ....
HIair county, ....

do.

do.

do.

Bedmister township, .
Bucks county, ....

do.

do.

do.

do.

From one to six miles of

Ebenshurg, do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

Monroe county and Car-
bon county, do.
do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

Allegheny river,

do.

do.

do.

do.
Ohio river, . . .

Big Beaver,
Ohio river.

Juniata,

Raystown branch,
do.
do.
do.
Delaware river, . .
Scliuylkill river, .
do.
do.
Susquehanna river,
Hchuylkill river, .

do.
Tulp»'h<uken,
Scliuylkill river, .
Delaware river, . .
Scliuylkili river, .
Onteiaunee, . .

do. . . . .

do. . . . .

do. . . . .

do. . . .

Juniata

Sust|uehanna, . . .

Juiiliita,

do

20 300

50

30

I

c.

10

4
2

GO ICO : 21

1.-. 40 ! 2i

18 Z') 24

U 18 2

3S 2.50

10 ; 12

12 1 20

6 I 8

2 ! 15

8 I 15

Octoraro creek,
Olenn'sruii, .
Miller's run, .
Buck run, . . .

Lancaster countv, .. Susquehanna river, 30
SouthsideChesterValley Octoraro creek, . I 5

do

.lo

do '

do

dt

do. ...
Reservoir, . . .
do. . .

Delaware river,
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Conemaugh, . .
do. . .

do. . .

Kisklminltaa, .
Sueiiuehanna, .

Lehigh river,
do.
do.
do.
do.

-1

10

1(X) 1

8

20 1

3S

2.'i0 \

25

SO

4

4

5

5

6

7

5

3

3

3

3

1

80

aoo

8

20

8

25

7

15

7

12

G

10

6

»

V>
12
12
10

3 > 15

10

16
10
10
18
3 too

31

n

2
1

2

O

M

2i

2

2

4

3

u

2
2
U

u

15

64

2

8
o

2

«>

2
3
2

3
3
2
S
14

Lancaster county,
do.

do.
Brandywine,

124 1 n

8 I 2

10 : 2

15 3

60
20
20
30

V' '

FlO. '2'2. Sahuo udntdnciish.
DeKsiy.

Frt)ni

Fio. 23. Salmo ffmt nmlib—yiiichlU.
From Sidier.

Fio. 24. Ostnerus mordax—^litchWl. From .Storer.

% *

» f

^

ic

I

J

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 9t

OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Polluted or not by
TannerUb, etc.

Warm, .

do.
do.

Cool, . . .
do.
do.
do.

Temperate,
do.
do.

Cool.

Temperate.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Cool,
do.
do.
do.
do.
WHrin,
60='. . .

Cold, 53°.

do.
Cold, 00°.
Cool, 55°.
do, 50°.
do, 511".
do. 4'.t^.
Wiirm. 00°.
Co..l, It .
do.

.-.T - F.
do.
do,
do,
do.

Cold, . . .
Temperate,

do.

do.
Co<d,

60" F.
do.
do.
do..

Sun-tish,bass, pert-li, Are not,
suckers, pike, aud
catflsta, i

Bass, cat-flsh, sal-
mon, suckers, red
horse, and their
varieties.

Generally free, except
the two lower pools
of the lUn Beaver
where tanneries,
KHs works, and
manufactories pol-
lute the water.

Trout, Mack bass. Are not,
suckers, eels, aud :
cat-flsh.

Black bass, cat-flsli,
eels, suckers, sun-
t)sh. trout, pike,
chubs.

Cat-flsh. eels, pike,
suckers, trout, suu-
flsh, chubbs. I

Suckers, pike, trout,
cat-flKli, »un-fl:>h,
chubbs, eels.

The Schuylkill is un-
inhabitable by flsh,
on account of coal

mine drippings.

Are not.

Schuylkll from sul-
phuric add :iu<l
dirt from coal. The
others are not.

Bass, cat-flsh, eels, Ueservolr and R<)ar-

Lake Erie suckers,
rock ba>s. sun-Ilsh,
pike, brook trout,
suckers, Ac,

lug springs from
paper-nilll> ; Tip-
ton run from saw-
mllN:-luiiiata from
tanneries and Ihne
klln>. The others
are nut.

Commcn creek tish. Are not.

Remarks, and Name of Authority.

W'e have no streams amounting to any-
thing for flshlug,— E. I). UKAFF.

Thereare three dams, from ten to eighteen
feet high, near the mouth of Big B-aver,
Before they were built, the flah mentioned
as also white and jack salmon, pike, and
eels, were very abundant. The scurtity
of flsh is attributed to want of fl»h-ways
on tlie dams. The Coiinoi|uenessing ii
very favorable for propagating bass, an
also ttotli of the Beavers, — FIELD anu

RiVKU SrOKTINT. CLUU,

The streams are fed from mountain springs
and generally clear and cool. Will give
more information after further Imiutry.
J. £, NuHLii:.

All streams mentioned are dear, cool wa-
ter, suitatile for propagating tiie flsli men-
tioned. Sixpenny is a spriug water trout
stream,— Jamk8 Liuuktt.

This only Includes the northwestern part
of the county.— J NO, H, Rikokl.

The creeks and runs are spring water,
fresh and co«d,— S. J. SMITH.

Most of the streams of the connty are men-
tioned, but with very brief ilescrlptlon.
Some black bass have been placed in the
Neshaminy.— W, B, \V«ntTiitNOTON,

Black bass, cat-tt>h. To a very small ex- There are numerous dams across these

tent, streams. Would like to be supplieil :it

j Ebensburgassoon as pos>lide wllli lift cell

I hundred to two thousand trout, ami oiio

I huntlred and fifty to two hundred black

bass,— John Feni.on.

trout, perdl. eels,
sun ti^>h, suckers,
chubs.

Black i>a9<>, suckers, | Are not,
trout, white eliub,
cat-flsh.

Black bass, pickerel, Are not,
pike, mullets, cat
flsh, fail-flsh.

The I'oho I'oco and branches are pretty
well stocked with trout, but the main
stream wants attention. It Is a natural
brreding place, but large an<i small go
there In autumn, and the small fry art>
eaten by the large. A slight outlay would
remedy this,— J, tJ. Fkkn.

Jun.v A. Rkvnoi-ds.

7 — Leg. Doc. No. 19.

98

State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

FISHING STBEAMS OF

Counties.

Clarion,

CUnton,

Name of Sreams.

Hemlock,

Cumberland,

Delaware,

Susquehanna,

Kal<i Eiigle,

Kishing Creek,

YounKwoman''8 cr»ek,
Beet'li creek, Cedar
run, Chatham, McEl-
hatan's, etc.
Cono<1ot(uiiiet creek, . .
Yellow Breeches creek,
Big Spring, Leturtsprlng
Silver spring, Cedar run,
Cobh's creek,

Darby

Crum

KIdley

Chester

Iluok

do.
do.
do.
do.
do.

Dimensions.

Meads of Streams.

Clarion county,

In the Allegheny and
Bald Eagle mountains,
do. do.

do. do.

Elk, 1 <!Url«in river,

Spring creek,

Not given, ....

do.

do

do. .....

In Chester county,

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

W. side Allegheny mts

Erie,

Forest,

Fulton,

Indiana,

Lackawanna,

Lebanon,

Lehigh,

LuJteme,

Bear do.

Lllile Toliy, Mill creek.
Elk creek, etc., -I

Bennett's branch, .... I
I Slnneinahoning, . . I
Trout run & \\ est creek, '
Kreiich creek, ....

Conneaut d<

Elk do

Allegheny river, .
I Tlonesta, . . .

i Snlnion creek,

• Hickory, ....

I Minister,

' Ko.ss run,
Beaver, and others.
Sideling Hill creek,

• Auk wick <l<>.
Licken do.

I Patterson run,

I Big Cove, Brush, etc

I <'ou<'inaugli,

I Black Lick, . .

f Two Lick, . .

I Yellow creek, .

Crooked do.

(•arner's creek,
I Leggit's creek,

Koaring brook,

Spring do.

Swatara, . .

Vuiilaimhiila, .

Tulpeinirken, .
Snil/. creek,

Dntelaunee, . .

Spring creek, .

do.
do.
do.
do.
, bide
do.
do.

do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.

In New York State, . .
Crawford ci'unty. Pa.,
Erie county, i'a., . . .

Not given, . .

do.

do. . .

do. . .

do. . .

do. . .

do. . .

Siding Hill, .
Co wen's (iap and Mc
Conuell's Cove, . .

do. do. . . .

<lo. do. . . .

In liKllina <-ounty an<
Canioria county, . . .

do, do. . , .

do. do. . . .

do. <io. . .

Lackawannacounty, .

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

Fairnioiint creek,
Hunting do.
Lake do.

Susquehanna river,
do, do.

do. do.

Susquehanna river,

do. do.

Conodoguinet creek
Yellow Hreechesdo,
D«'laware river,

do. do.

do. do.

do. do. . .

do. do. . .

do. do.

Allegheny river, .
Clarion river, . .

do. do. . .

do. do. . .

do. do. . .

SInneniahoning, .
Susqueiianna river,

do, do.

Allegheny river, .
Lake Krle, . .

do

•X
15
15
18

18
15

Not given

At l.t'lianon,

Not given,

■ lo. .

Blue .Mountain springs,

IJpptr Miil'«)r<l, Ltiiigh

county,

North mountain, . . .

do. do

do. do

I Alleghenyriver, . . 40

do. <lo. 25

do. ilo. . . 20

i do. do. . . I 8

<lo. do. • • ; 0

do. do. . . ' H

. . • • • • •

Juniata A Potomac, . .

do. do. .

do. do.

lio. do. I

Allegheny river,

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

S'..(>quehamia rlv
I Lackawanna rlv
I do. do.

do. do. . . I 'JO

Susi|tiehinna, . . < 15

Swatara. ... 1 15

Scliuylkiil, .

6S0

200
80

20
20

40
CO
90
.10
20
12

7n

200

51)

U«

ao

»

tr.

8

H)

er.

10

10

.Maiden Crerk.
Little Leliigii,

12

4

20

75

.X)

Sus(|uehanna r
do, do.

do. do.

Iver, ,

2
S

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries.

PENWSYLVAHIA- Con^inttcrf.

Temperature iN'amesof Edible Fish Polluted or aot by

*' Tanneries, etc.

Cool,

Temperate,

do.
Cool,
do.

Temperate,

do.

do.

do.
Temperate,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.
Cool, . . .
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Temperate, .

do.

do.

Temperate,
Cleur .& cold,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.
Not given, ,

do.

do.

do.

do.
Kot given, .

do.

do.

do.

do.
(old, . . . .
do.
do.
do.

Temperate, .

do.

do.

do.
Not given, .

do.

r,tUi,
do.
do.

Remarks, and Name of Authortty.

Brook trout,

Bass,

ers.

cat-flsh.
sun-fish,

suck-
eels.

speckled trout, etc.

Cat-flsh, pike, mul-
lets, suckers, bass,
trout.

Cat-flsh, eels, chubs,
rock bass, etc.

Pike and trout.

""^ I ^"Jf^'o^" of the stream are unimproved.

It used to be full of trout, and gome years

ago they were taken flfteea Inches lonjT.-
J. W. Kaiil. *

The practice of running lumber, floating
log.s, etc., no doubt Intert. res ni.iterlallr
with the spawning and propagating of
nsh.— Or. L Eldkki).

Very little, except
with saw-dust.

Not given.

By the refuse of cot-
ton factories an<l
dye-houses.

By drainage from
coal mines and tan-
neries.

No signature for report from Cumberland
county.

There Is tide-water in Hook, Darby Rid-
ley, and Cruui creeks for two or three
miles.

Ridley creek, above tide-water, was nartl-
ally stocked with trout and i)lack baM
last fail. — (signeit) '* Wai-tkk. "

Tile water I ^ nice and good, andls not In-
jured l>y the drainage, as our streams
flow very rapidly. -c. 1{. Kaklv.

Pickerel, iiUck bass,
rock basB.

Muscolongc. sucker!?,
liass, salmon, and
brook trout.

Pike, trout, sun-floh,
white bass.cat-flsb,{
suckers, etc.

Not given.

Tanneries and oil re-
flnerles.

Are not,

Pike.perch.Run-flsih. Are not,
suckers, trout, cat-
flsh.

Trout, horned dace. Are not,
suckers, eels.

Cat-flsh. perch. black Are not,
bass, trout, <'al|-
fornia salmon.

Not given,

•'"• Are not.

Notglven, ..... Are not,
do.
do.

Lakes Pleasant, Leboeuf. .inl Conneaut

are e.xeeilent H,hlug waters. I.ei.oeuf

li»8 some large pike aii<i Su>.,ueliann»

, salmon Lake Pleasant Is deep, clear.

and cold, nearly all spring water. -Al-

KKEDSHOIIT.

The Tionesta and some of its trIlMitarIca
once full of trout and other tine tl,h. arc
now so polluted by tanneries tliat no fish
can live in tliem. Sliic-e tlo oil rerlnerleti
have generally left our region flsh are
Increasing in the Alleglunv.-.N I'

VVllKKLKK.

A. C. Davi.s.

These tish are In limited quantities, owing
lo llie former pra.lie. of .-ejnliig and
Itrush netting in oiirstreams, hiit arc be-
coming more numerous under tin- pro-
tecthMi of existing laws.- .J..iix lllLI..
These streams have st.niv be<l>, and are
I ». 11 adapted t«i trout. Beiiioii lownshin
1 has a large numlier of sinali lakes, fed
almost entirely by spring».-A. I. ACK-

K l{ I. Y .

The(/nittapahllla Is a line stream ofsprlng
wa.er. formerly wtli stocked wlih (isli,
ol late years liave hecoii.e jilnio.-i exter-
minated.-(Two reports, nosi^intiires.)

Outelannee was stoeke I ii|i i.. l.i-nhards-
viile Willi idack l)ass. Th.-Ivc nili«H. at
llle upjier end. were not slo. ked, hiit now
thecreek isfullystoeke<l. -C. II. KosTKU.

Tile creeks are pure water. Sei,.l tlie four
thou.sand Hsli to .Mirain Ne^i.jt. Kings-
ton, l.n/.erne eonmy; he will divide
tliem.— JiiiiN B. S-Mirii.

93

CorsTiES.

■ f

Clarion,

Clinton,

Cumberland,

Delaware,

H

Elk,

Erie,

State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

FISHING STREAMS OF

Name of Sreams.

Heads of Streams.

Hemlock,

Clarion county.

Sii^qtichanna,

Haiti Eagle,

Fishing Creek

YuungwoinHn's creek.

Beech creek, Cedar

run, Chatham, McEI-

hatan's, etc.
Conoilogiiinet creek, . .
Yellow IJreeches creek,
Hig Fiprlng, l^etort spring
isllver spring, Cedar run,
Cobb's creek, ......]

Darby do

Criim do I

KIdley do

Cliester dt.

Hook do

Clarion river, ......

spring creek,

Bear do

Little Toby, Mill creek,

KIk creek, etc., ...
Beiiuetl'H itrHiu-h,
SInneniHhoning,
Trout run .V \\ est creek,
Kreiu'h creek,
Coiineaut do.
Elk do.

In the Allegheny and
Bald Ejigle mountains,
do. do.

do. do.

Not given, ....

do.

do.

do, ....

In ChcRter county,

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

si<ie Allegheny mts

W,

do.
do.
do.
do.
E. bide
do.
<lo.

do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
<lo.

In New York State, . .
Crawford ct'unty. Pa.,
Erie county, I'a., . . .

Forest, Allegheny river, .

Tlonesia, . . .

Si<lnion creek,
I Hickory, ....
I Milliliter,

I{(i.«ri run,

Beaver, and others,

Fulton i Sideling Hill creek,

I Auk wli-k do.

I l.li-keii do.

I'atterson run.
' Big <,'ove. Brush, et
Indiana, . . . . ' »oi.eniaugh,

I Black Lick, . .

Two Lick, . .
I Yellc»w creek, .

Crooked clo.
Lackawanna, . «ariier'» creek,

l.egglt'it creek,

ICoaring brook,

Hpring do.

Lebanon,

Lehigh,

Luieme,

Swatara,
(jiilitabalillla.
Til I pell I irk en,
Siih/, creek,
Oiitclaiinee, .
Spring creek,

Falrnioiint creek,
Hunting do.
Lak« do.

Dimensions.

Emptying Into, i "g

I

a
iJ

9) ' V

c i ^

'i

a

Allegheny river.

12

Susquehanna river,
do. do.

do. do.

Susquehanna river,

do. do.

Conodoguinet creek
Yellow Breeches do.
Delaware river,

do. do.

do. do.

ilo. do. . .

do. do.

do. do.

Allegheny river, .
Clarion river, . .

do. do. . .

do. do. . .

do. <io.

Sinneinalionlng, .
Husquehaniia river,

do. do.

Allegheny river, .
Lake Krle, . .

do

'-•0
30

ao

15
15
18
18
15

650

•.•(to

8U

20
20

40
110
30
:to
ao

12

No( given, '

do.

do

do ,

do, I

do.

do

Siding Hill,

<'ow«Mr!i Hap and Mc-
Coniiell's Cove, . .

do. do

do. do

In liidUna roiinty and
Caiiiorla county, ....

do. do. ....

do. do. . . .

do. <|<i, . .

Lackawannacounty, . .

do. do. . .

do. do. . .

do. do, . .

Not given .

At Lebanon,

Not given,

do. ......

Blue .Mountain sprlngH,

I |ip« r .Mllt'ord, Lehigh

county,

North mountain, . . .

do, do

do. do, ....

Allegheny river,
do. do.

do.

<io.
do.
do.
ilo.

do.
do,
do.

40
25

ao

8
)i
(i

Juniata k Potomac,

do. do,

do. do.

do, do.

Allei-lieny river, . .

do. do.

do. do.

do, do. . .

do. do,

Su^qllellanlia river,
Lackawanna river,

do. do.

do. ilo. . .

^usqiKli-mna, . .
rSwiit.ira. . . .

Hchuvlklll, ....

Maiden Creek,
Littie Lehigh, .

Miisi|iii'h.inna river,
do. do.

do. do. I

70
50

8
to

»

15
15

12
4

200

lllO
30

10

10
3l)
20

75
oO

Leo. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries.

PENWSTLVANIA-Conftnuerf.

99

Temperature ^ N'amesof Edible Fish. P«Huted or aot by

'. Tanneries, etc.

Remarks, and Name of Authority.

Cool, . . .

Temperate,

do.
CVjol.
do.

Brook tront,

Bass, cat-flsh, suck-
ers, sun-flsfh, eels,
speckled trout,etc.

Very little, except
with 8aw..du8t.

Cit-flsh. pike, mul- ' Not given.
If ts, suckers, bass, , '

trout.

Cat-flsh, eel.s, chubs,
rock bass, etc.

Pike and trout.

By the refuse of cot-
ton factories and
dye-houses.

By drainage from

eoalmlnesand tao-
nerles.

^''ou't""'"'"" '"'■ '■•'P*''^ f"-"-" '^^■•-".berland

'^'.'.T " tlJe- water In Hook, Darby Rid
ley,^a..d Crum creek.s lor two or^Kee

Ridley creek, above tide-water wis narH

ured hv':,"'"'i "?"''"""•""•"'* not In-

^.^wt;;i^S^,^-^^-.-;;:--re..u.

Pickerel, black bass,
rock bass.

Not given.

I

Mu.-icolonge. suckers,
bass, halinon, itnd
broiik trout.

Pike, trout, siin-fl^h

white bass. cat-flsh.
suckers, etc.

Tanneries and oil re-
flnerles.

Are not.

Temperate,

ito.

do.

do.
^'ot given,

do.

Told,
do.
do.

Pike. perch, sun-flMi. Are not,
suckers, trout, cat-
flsh.

Trout horned dace. Are not,
suckers, eels.

rat -flsh.perch.black Are not,
bass, trout. Call-
fornla salni'in.

Not given, .
do.

Notglven,
do.
do.

Are not.

Are not.

Lakes Pleasant, Leboeuf, .ml Conneant
an- excellent fl,hi,ig waters. Lel"oeuJ
h«s some arire niki- »ii.i <.. "\"o«^u»

-.mo... Lakt\/;:ta:rL^^;r;;^-

ll.e lion.sta and some of Its tiibutarles
nee lull .,, trout a...| other tin. .i,|, are
""1"' 'r' n'"' "y,«-"-'- that .I'jfl^Jh

A. C. Davis.

■> tile lormer pi.iciic- or .-..miuir anj
"rush netting in ourstr.am.s, . arc be-
;'-""•« "...re numerous u„. .r ,|," pro-
ectlou o. existing Uws.- .L.ii.v „ ["
These .tr.ains have stouy beds. .• , I hVc
« .11 a.r^pted to trout. Ben.on low, ,|"ip
has a large number of >„,a|| ,..,kea 1. 1
al.M.,st entirely by sprin^s.-.v; I. AOK-

"^ w-i*'er ' r'r''"!'* " •■' """■ ^^"•"•"" •"•spring

0/1 " '^"'^""•'•'y «ell sto.ke.l Will, lUl,

j; f;;r^;:::r;,-:;;r,,;;'-;.;£';
"i;::;l*»i;::r;v-:';:,v;5;;:S

The ereeks are pure w«,er. .s ...' tie fo r

hoi.sand flsh to .V.,ru„, Vesl.i . "ki„;"[

t|.n, Lu/erne county: he wil ^ "j'^i'e

tliem.-Jun.N B. SMITH, oivKje

100

State Commissioners of Fisheries. fXo. 20

_! FISHING STBEAMS OF

COI'NTIES.

Xiiines of Streams.

Heads of Streams.

Diiiieiisions.

Emptying luto.

Lycoming,

Mercer,

Montour, . .
Northampton,

A IRC, •••••«

i'otter, ....

Schuylkill,
Somerset, . . .

W. liranchSusciuehauna
Pine crct-li, ....

I^arry's do

I.<ycoming do. ....

l>oyalt>ucli do ,

Muncy do '

Slieiiango river, .....
l.ittlc Micnan^o, ....

Crooked creek,

Hi(i riiu,

I'yinatuiiing,

Sladc'b run

Sandy creek,

C'hlles<iua({ue creek, . .

«

*:

*A

a

^

1

<B

' 5

JS

' U;

1 1>

2

iJ

e:

In the mountains of by

coming county, do

do. do

do. do

do. do

Crawford county,

Mercer do.

Crawford do.

.Mercer dcj.

Ohio

Mercer county, .
do.

Columbia county.

West Branch of the
Subqueluuua river

do.

do.

do.
Beaver river, . .
Slienaiigo 4I0. . .
Little ^»llenun>!o, .
Slienango river, .

do.
Mill creek, . ...
Sandy lake.

100
•JO
•JO
12
50
10
10

Susquehanna river, 30

■I

Venango,

Waiihlngton,

Monocacy,

Ilockendauqua,

Lehigh river,

Indian creek,

151^' Husliklli,

! Bright BrooK, .

I Blooming Grove creek,

I Vamlermark do.

' And others,

tienesee,

AlU-giieny,

j Kettle creek

I Mnneniilioning

I'lne creek, . . . .

Locn.sl .Mountain hrook,
\\ est Brancli, . .

CastleinaiCs river, . .
Laurel Hill creek, . . .
Wliite-s do. . . .

I IJeder'sruu,

I I'.-iitit creek,

t^uenialiouing,

Mony <-reek,

Alleglieny river, . . . .

Oil creek

Krenclldo

Sugar do

Big Sandy,

I'ilinde creek,

Cherry run,

Mouoiigaliela river, . .

Bine mountain, Lehigh river, . .

do. ,|o. . .

I do. Delaware river, . .

<lo. Lelilgh do. . .

Pike county, Delaware river, . .

<lo. do.

<•<•• do.

•'"• do.

*l". do.

Centre county, Not given,

do. .... do.

do. do. ....

do. ,|o.

<lo. do. . . . . .

Locu.-t niouiitaia, . . . M.ihanoy creek, . .

Buck ridge, .... Sclmylklll river, .

Somerset county, . . . . Youghlogh-y river,

•*"• .... Casllenian'.i do.

do. . .... Potomac <lo.

•'". .... Uavsiown branch,

do. .... Couemaugli river,

do. .... Paint creek, . . .

do. . . t^uemahonliig.

Potter county,. . . . (Miioriver, . .

<rawt"ord d Alleglieiiv river, .

Krle do ;i,,.

Crawford do French creek, . .

.Mercer do AUeghenv river, .

Forest do ,jo.

Venango d ,\^,]

Laurel Ki.lge, Va., . , Ohio,

Westmoreland, Loyallianna A branches, Donegal township.

Wayne,

York,

Delaware river, ...
I.ackawaxen river, . .

Dylierry,

Paupack,

Middle

Ei|ulnuiik,

Sheliawkin, ,

Starrucca,

Cndorus creek, . . . ,

Conewago do

Ki-hlng do

Plum do

Fox do.

Yellow Breeches creek,
.Miidily do.

Bunch do.

New York,

Moosi<' mountain, . .
do. . .

do. . .

do. . .

do. . .

do.

do. . .

Maryland,

Conewago mountaiiit,
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Pigeon hills,

Kiskimiiiitas,

Delaware bay, . .
Delaware river.
Lackawaxen river,

do.
Paupack, . . . .
Delaware river, . .

•lo.
Susquehanna river,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

100
80
60
60

120
16
16
U

16

. 20

mo

20

;«»

20

40 1

20

40

4

S

10

20
2<)
20
20
4
till
7ii
2-")
Ki
11)
lU

:io
:to

40

l.'i
12
14
10
15

111

Itiu

4(1

H

10

;<o

'M

2ii
3UU
IINI
1.0

50

40 j

50

20

20

40

•,Vy

ir>

;io

15

:iii
21

10
.50
40
35
2.5 I
16 I
12 !
■Jii
111

!«

100
MO
40
75
20

;i;i

15

20
50
.VI
40
20
15

:io

:«•

15

30

■5
4
4
3
7
3
3
3

Si

2MI 1,000 : (i

:i
:<

4

3
3
3
3
3

Leg. Doc] State Commissto.ners of Fisheries.

PENNSYLVANIA— ron^inwed.

101

Trmperature Xames of Edible Fish,

Cold,

fool, . . .
Cold.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Temperate, . i
( o(d.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Vervcohl, .

do.

do.
do.
do.
do.
Not given,
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.

Not given,
do.
do.
Cool,
do. . . .
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Temperate.
Cold,
do.
do.

do. . . .
do. . .
Cool, . . .
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Not given,
do.
do.
d<».
do.
do.
do.
Tempi rate.

Cat-tlsh, eels, chubs,
pike, black ba.ss,|
salmon, trout. I

Black bass, pike, and
si)Cckled l)as6.

Polluted or not by
Tanneries, etc.

Some by tanneries
and saw dust.

Remarks, and Name of Authority.

Are not.

Cat-llsh. pike,
siui-ilsh.

eels

Suckers pike, trout. Are not,
cnt-llsli, eels, j

Bl.i'k bass, suckers, '
pike, perch, trout,

eels.

Such pollution and saw-mlil ponds as are
In the streams does not Interfere with
the growth of tl.«h.-FuA\K PoiiTKii

Two reports received; the other iudetlnlte
and unsigned.

TheShenango river .leserves more atten-
tion by your honorable bodv than all the
stremns in the county, as it Is tlie princi-
pal in size, etc.-X. C. Packauu, Fish
« arilen.

^*nerv"^' ''^' * '*"■ Also other smaller streams in the connty
^'■'^- • I Jnhablted by the same varieties of ilsh.-

P. C. Nkwhakkk.
Streams generally of clear spring water.—

MKNKY S<II(H.|..

If tlsh are lurnMie.l to stock the streams
success will foiiovv.— A. W. Lkiu 11 '

The county Is tille.j with beaiitltiil lakes
well stocked witli bla.k bass, pickerel'
perch, ells, cat-il«h, etc-C. A. Smith '

The Blooming Grove
'•reek by tanneries.
Tne others are not.

Brook trout, chubs. Are not,
CI Is, etc.

Trout,

Trniit and cat-fUh,

Black bass, speckled

trout, chubs, eels,

>iin-tlsh, etc.

Yellow liass, suckers,
Wiill-.yed salmon,
pike, sun-llAh, cat-
tish.

No,

Coal dirt,
Are not.

Not given.

Allegheny river and
Oil creek l.v o||
rellnerles; Pllhole
creek by oil wells,
etc. The others are
not.

Coal dirt,

Suckers. sun-nsh, etc. No,

Trout, black bass,
pickerel, <Mt-lish,
pereb. eels, chubs,
suckers, siin-Hsh.

Bass, pike, cat-flsh,
carp, ills, suckers,
cliiibs, etc.

Coal dirt and tanner-
ies. The Shehaw-j
kin Is pure. |

Paper-mills, tanner-
ies, ore washings,
etc.

It Is consl.lered advisable bv competent
Judges to stock the AUeghenv with black
liass. No signature.

PATKlt'K COXRY.
.lOHN F. U'KLSII.

line alniiidaiic)- of trout. Bl:ick bass In-
crease rajddly in these streams. Have
not tried trout. -A. .1. Cai.haikk.
Ih-.vere.|u»-stsforbl:ick bassmoslly. Could
use a lew trout. — K. M. ScHllocK.

Ihink if stocked with trout and bass many
ol tile streams might he restorrd as Ash-
ing-treams.-tiKo. K. .Mai'KS.

We have In ihc Allegheny a verv Hne flsh
called the rock salmon. Very scarce
Never taken with hook and liiie befere
.liine.-SAMl,. B. .MYKit<.

.I<til\ C. MKssKN<;h.i:.

We have no streams In the Interior of the
county In which to prop»g:,t,. HsIi. Thev
dry up. This is partlcularlv so in mv
• iistrict, west part of countv."— Fi.ndlky

I'ATTKItSDN.
The Loyalhanna has a number of tributa-
ries largeeiiougb i-.r inlll streamsofpure
spring water. Inhabited exclusively bv
trout. — N. M. MAisKKit.
Numerous lakes of from Vi to 'Jiio acres In
area are stoi>kei| witli ihe-e ll-li more or
less. !!iome attempts at trout ciilturehave
liotsu.'.-eeded w« II. — N. K.Cv UKKWOOI).

The laki's have only iialiiral ilsh In them—
no pickerel or li.i-^. ijood iiidins think
they would be good t<> propagate salmon
and bike tr..ut.-A. B. <iAM.MKl..

.1. F. U KIST.

a. K. S|IKKWOOI».

(

*

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

103

THE FISHERIES OF PENNSYLVANIA

By Prof. E. D. Cope, of Philadelphia.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Philadelphia, January 2, 1881.
The Honorable Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of Pennsylvania:

(tEntlemkn : I liave the honor to submit a descriptive and systematic ac-
count of the species of fishes known or su})posed to exist in the waters of
Pennsylvania. It is hoped that by its aid it will be possible for many per-
sons to become aci^uainted with this portion of the animal population of
our State, who have not hitherto had the opportunity to do so, and that
every person may be able to ascertain the character and names of the spe-
cies of llshes found in the waters of his vicinity. In preparinj;^ this review,
I have brought to bear an ac [uaintance with the anatomy and characters
derived from a study of large representative collections. Although addi-
tions to the list will yet be made, especially in the western part of the State,
the present report will be found to embrace by far the greater number of
species.

In preparing this work, I have employed the system proposed by myself
in l>7l, which has been largely adopted in works on the subject. For de-
scriptions of the species, I have relied extensively on Professor I). S. Jor-
dan's Vertebrata of Eastern North America, second edition, even in the
case of genera which I was first to characterize. This has been done be-
cause his descriptions are short and poptilar, and also because his knowl-
edge of their nomenclature is su|)erior to my own. I have also derived ma-
terial aid from Doctor I). II. Storer's report on the fishes of Massachusetts.
The figures are, in part, copied from the latter work, and from Klippart's
report to the Ohio Fish Commission for 1875-6, and they are, in part,
original. I have been compelled to rely on these sources of illustration
because the means placed at your disposal were not sutficient to enable me
to furnish original drawings.

I am, very respectfully,

Edward D. Copk.

104

State Commissioners of Fisiieuifs.

[Xo. 19,

4

IXTRODUCTIOX.

In order to understand the descriptions of fishes contained in the follow-
ing paj^es, it will be necessary to give a brief account of the principal parts
of the structure of a fish. This will be restricted to the organs used in
the diagnoses that follow, and will refer more to the osseous system than

to anv other.

1. THE MUCODERMAL SYSTEM.

To this system bi?long the scales and fin-rays. The latter ar.' attached
to the peripheral parts (iuterspinous bones) of the osseous system, and
correspond with them in number in the higher lishes. In the Ghondrostei^
and the t'xtinct order Lyxoitteri,'^ the fin-rays do not corrospond with the
skeletal basis, resemhling, in this respect, the lowest vertebrata, as the
lampreys. The fins are first, the unpaired ones, the dorsal, the caudal, and
the anal : and second, the paired fins, the pectoral and ventral, whicli are
attached to parts of the skeleton homologous with the basal portions of
the fore an<l hind liml)S respectively, of lan<l vertebrates. The rays are of
two kinds, osseous and cartilaginous. The osseous are undivided and gen-
erally acute, and are hence called spines. The cartilagincuis, or soft rays,
are generally split lengthwise once or twice, and are divided into sections
by transverse joints. The numbers of the fin-rays are important as defin-
itions of fish si)ecies.

The scales are either true scales or shields. They are ossifications which
lie between the true skin and the epidermis, and their anterior borders are
generally received into pockets of the former. True scales are either
ganoid, cycloid, or clenoid. The first named are smooth-edged, and are
covered with a layer of a dense substance called ganoine. A few living
and many extinct species possess them. Cycloid and ctenoid scales do not
exhibit ganoine; the former have smooth free edges, while the latter have
rouirh points or bristles on the margin, and corresponding roughness of
the body surface.

'I'here is a row of tubes or pores along the side, from the head to the
base of the caudal fin. Certain nerves terminate in "buttons" within these
tubes, and the structure is supposed to be an organ of sense.

Fiu. 1. Page 32. Gmmaa nigrilnbrw. Cope; a blind Silurid. Op. oper-
culum: Top. preoperculum. lop. inter opi'rcalum, I>. dorsal fin; .\d. ad.
ipose-dorsal fin; C. caudal. A. anal fin: P. pectoral, and V. ventral fins;

T.l. lateral line.

2. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

T!ii> systi'iu includes in fishes, a mouth cavity with its teeth, (esophagus,

•American Naturalist, IS—, p.—-

1

??

c
S

Jk

It

ti

4

l<

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

105

stomach, intestine, liver, and pancreas. The stomach is generally a sim-
ple bag, curved more or less abruptl}- at its intestinal or pyloric extremity.
There are freqnently blind tubes, or coica, extending from it, which may
be short or long, few or many. They are exceedingly numerous in some
of the Snlmonidae. The intestine is very long in herbivorous fishes, and
short in the carnivorous. In Chondr ostein Selachii, and various others, it
contains a more or less complete septum, which is tranversely extended
at any point of section, but winds spirally from one extremity of the bowel
to the other.

3. RESFIRATORT SYSTEM.

This, which originates in all vertebrata, as a diverticulum from the di-
gestive system, is very little developed in fishes. It is in most of them a
simple sac, tiie swim bladder. In S'une fishes it is wanting, while in some
of the lower Hyopomata its walls are more or less divided into coarse colls.
These are very numerous in the Lepidoateidse and the Crosaopterygia.
IJlood is aerated to a limited extent in this organ, but the resi)iratory func-
tion of fishes is, as is well known. perf«)ruied by the hyoid ap|)aratus of the
bony system, and its appendages.

4. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.

The heart of fishes primarily consists of only two chambers, an auricle
and a vintricle. eacrh of which is rejjresented by two divisions in higher
vertebrata. Besides these, fishes have an enlarged space at the point of
entrance into the auricle of the venae cavae, which is called the sinus ven-
osus. There is also a fourth chamber usually present, which forms the
basal part <jf the aorta immediately after leaving the ventricle, which is
called the bulbus arleriosuH. Its walls in the (Jrosaopterygia and Chov-
droalei are muscular, so that it " forms part of the pulsating heart," ((Jun-
ther.) The families of the Actiuopterous orders, Ginglymodi and Haleco-
morphi, present the same characters. In these cases its interior wall sup-
ports a number of valves, which vary very much in number and form. In
the Dipnoi they are contluent lengthwise. In most Actiuopterous lishes
the walls of the bullnis are not muscular, and there are only two valves,
which are placed at its base.

5. OSSEOUS SYSTEM.

The skeleton of fishes presents many peculiarities as compared with that
of other vertebrota, the principal of which are seen in the limbs and in the
hyoid apparatus. A list of the elements is here gvien, and reference may
be had to Fig. 2, for their recognition.

For convenience, the skeleton may be considered in three divisions : The
skull, the vertebral column, and the scapular and pelvic arches. The first
and second consist of segments, and each segment ctuisists of a superior
and inferior arch and a centrum or body. Kacii of these arches consists ot
separate elements and of appendages ; the latter of which may be superior,
lateral, or inferior.

106

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
A. Vertebrae.

[No. 19,

Superior arch— Elements ; neurapophysis; neural spine ; interneural bone ;
basilar interneural.

/n/Wriorarc/i— r)iapophysis;ribs; haemal spine ; interhaemal bone ; bas-
ilar interhaemal bone, (the ribs in the abdominal region ; the haemal spine
and interhaemal bones only in the caudal region.)

B. Skull.

The lirst segment is the posterior part of the skull ; the fourth termi-
nates the muzzle.

First segment; superior arch. Exoeeipital bone; supraoceipital ; body,
basloc'cipltal. Inferior arch ; superior pharyngeals ; superior branchi-
hyals; inferior branchihyals: basal branchihyals ; baslhyals ; a;jp,^Mrfices,
urohyals and ])ranchial processes.

Second segmeyit; superior arch; parietal; pterotic ; periotic bones;
body, pa rasp hen oid; inferior arch; hyomandibular ; stvh)hyal;
ceratoliyul; glossohyals. Appendices, branciiiostigal rays; opercu-
lum; s u b o p e r c u 1 u m ; i n t e ro j) e r c u 1 u m.

Third segment; superior arch; frontals, postfrontals ; body, para-
sphenoid; inferior arch, metapterygoid, preoperculum (juad-
rate ; sy mplectic ; articular, a n g u 1 a r, c o r o n o i d, s p 1 e n i a I . d e n-
t a r y.

Fourth segment ; superior arch. Nasal; ethmoid ; lac h r y m a 1 ; body ;

vomer; inferior arch; prefrontal, maxiUary, premaxillarv ; o;>p«n-

dices; malar, palatine, raesoptery go id, pterygoid, ecto-

pterygoid.

The preceding classification of the bones of the skidl does not take into
account tlieir different origins, whether it be within the cranial cartilages or
the membranes which inclose them. This ditference is indicated bv the
typograpiiy, the names of the membrane bones being s pa c e d. It is true
that cartilage bones were represented in primitive vertebrates by corre-
sponding membrane bones, and that the former are probably derived from
the latter by a process of deepening of the positions of the centers of
ossification.

C. Arches.

The arches have three branches, one superior and two inferior. The

limbs are appendages arising at the point of union of these parts.

1. Scapular arch ; superior branch ; scapula; inferior arches ; anterior ;

posttemporal ; epiclavide ; clavicle; posterior; coracoid, precoracoid',

postcoracoid ; interdavicle ; appendices; propterygiura, mesopterygium,

nietapterygium ; basilar pectorals.

9. Pelvic arch; superior branch; ilium (wanting in fishes); inferior

branch; anterior; pubis, (wanting in most fishes) ; po«<er2or. ischium,

(absent in fishes); appendices; femur tibia and fibula; the last two rep-

I

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

107

resented bv one or two basilar veutrals ; tarsus, represented by basilar
ventrals.

Fijr. 2, Skeleton of a percoid fish. The letters are abbreviations of the
names of the bones above wiven.

NSp, Neural spines ; IN, Interneural bones ; HSp, Rs^raal spines ; IH,
Interba'inal bones ; /?, ribs ; Soc, Suproceipital ; PT, Pterotic; ^'/V, Epi-
claviele; C/, Clavicle ; <S'c, Scapula ; J?P, Pectoral basilars ; C'o, Coracoid ;
the slender bone behind it is postcoracoid ; Op, operculum ; Sop, Suboper-
cnlum; lop, Interoperculum ; Pa, parietal; Hym, hyomandibular ; (?,
quadrate : at the right hand upper corner is situated tlie symplectic ; CHy,
Ceratohyal ; Br, Branchiostegal rays ; BHy, Basihyal ; GHy, Glossohyal ;
C/iZJ/, Urohyal; i^'r, frontal ; So, Suborbital; An, angular; J9, Dentary ;
Pmxj l)remaxillary ; 3Ix, maxillary ; Pa/, palatine ; P/, Pterygoid ; F,
femur.

Fig. o, Oblique vertical view of the skull represented in Fig. 2.

I

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108

State roMMissioNKiiH of Fisiikhikh.

[No. 19,

THE FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Tender the popular term (Islios, a ^^rcat varitty of aniinalH \h inciudid.
"While thi'so are all meiiilKiM of the {.n-ainl «li vision of the vertcbrafa. and
occupy the l(»west pi»sition in it, they do not all helou},' to the same class.
Three classes are recoirnized I»y zooh.^rists anionir the vertebrates usiiallv
called fishes. The first class includes only the sand lances, which are the
lowest of the rertehrata. Their ski'leton is nicfril.ranous ; they have no
brain pro|>er. but oidy an enl!ir<r«*nient of tin- aiitcrir»r part of the spinal
cord; and their heart is only representcil by a pulsatirjj; tube. In the
second class the precediiifr usual characters of verlchrala are present. 1»ut
they ditfer from the true (islus and all the other classes, in the abseiice of
the lower jaw, and of the scapidar and pelvic arches, and as a conseipience
of the limbs. This class includi-s only the lamj. revs. The third class in-
cludes tiic true fishes. The di-finifions of the three classes may be con-
trasted as follows :

A. Notochord extendin^r to the anterior extremity of tin- body ; no skull,
brain, or renal. or;:a ns ; h.-art, a simph* fulw.

1. No auditory or}.(ans; liver saccular; no lower jaw. liml» arches nor
'""''»• . . Lrptorardii.

}^. Xoto<-!ior<l endin*; behind the j»jtuitary fossa; skull, brain, aii.f renal
organs present.

2. Neither mandible nor l.mb ar<-lies ; nas:d sac sinjric. . MarHipohranchi.

3. Mandible and liujb arches present; two nasal sues. PisceH.
Representatives of the second and third cL-hsmh are f .unri in the wat<'rH

of the State of I'ermsylv.ania. TIm- few known species of the Lfplocnrdii
]»elonjr fo two "rcncra. /{rnnrhioffoma iind /Jjnyonirhfhyx. They are foinid
on the shores of all oceans, and dfhou;;h aeratinir their blood by :i l»ran-
chial apparatus, burrow in the sand on the ed;ce nt' the water. Their st rue-
tun' throws jrri.at liM^ht on tin- systematic relations and ori^dn of the ver-
tehrafa. No species has yet been found in fresh waters, ho that the class
cainiot be includol in the fauna «»f Pennsylvania.

NAKSirOHKA.XIir.

The species of this class are few in numl»er at the present p'olo;,d(al
epoch. Tluv ab«iund in fresh waters, as well as in sf>mc parts of tlie f»cean.
Without lower jaw, they do Mot take food in the manner possible to other
vertebrates, but perforate the bodies they devour, by suction. The mouth
is a wide funnel-shaped basin. whos<' interior is Hiirroiinded by <'onical
horny bodies, which perf »rm the function of teeth. While attached to their
prey by this snc-torial mouth, the ti'ith r«%p the flesh. The lampreys are

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State Commission eus ov FisiiERiRg.

100

destructive to fishes, but it is only the lar<,M> species which inflict any seri-
ous loss.

In all the known membors of this class, the nasal chamber opens bv a
single short tubular orifice on the middle line of the top of the lu'a<l.
There are two orders of the Marttipobranchi, as follows :

1. Water conducted to the branchiae throun;!, a distinct tube below the
o^sophajjus Uyperoarti.

2. Water conducted to the branchiae directiv from the (csodIui'mis

llilpfrotreti.
The first of these orders is the only one found in the waters of the State.

H YPERO ARTI.— Lumprci/s.

Our lampreys belong to a single family, the Pftromyzonfiit, w-'wh is re-
presented by two genera. These are distinguished, as follows:

Dorsal fins two, nearly or (piite distinct ; median tooth bicuspid.

Petrnmifzon.
Dorsal fin one, continuous with the caudal ; median tooth tri(Mispid.

Lampetra,
PETROMYZON-/.iwM.

The species of this genus are long and slender, and have the head but
little larger in diameter than the body. The mouth looks oblii|U« ly down-
wards, and has a widely expanded border. This can be contracted i'mm
the sides so as to leave a narrow longitudinal opening. The eves are «m»v.
ered by a thickened cornea, and are not bounded by eyelids or anv inver-
sion of the integument. There are seven bratichial fissiiiu's on eich side.

In their early stages the species of this and the following genus present
various peculiarities, especially in tlie m >uth,and in r.-a-liin.? miturity pass
througli a uK'tamorphosis. Mefore the lii-st ny of tliis cliin;:e was known,
the larvic of Petromyzon were thought to be adult animals of a distinct
genus, which was named Ammom'ft'H. The larvii' in this eurlv stage have
the minute eyes sunk in fossae <ui the iippt-r surface of the head, aud the
branchial openings are connected by a longitudinal slit. There is a dis-
tinct upper lip on each si<le of the inferiorly placed m nith, an<l the inm r
wall of the latter is closely set with fVin;L:es of tll:imcuts. This is signifi-
cant, since the mouth of tlu' inferior typi*. liranrhwHlinna, is frintred in a
somewhat similar manner throughout life. ,\s growth advant-es. the eves
beco]ne lateral and mon> <listinct, and the lateral tips beet une fused with
the posterior bonier of the mouth. The fringes shorten into papillae, and
the branchial orifices become slit-like, and lose their conin'ctin;/ groove.
Finnally the teetli appear on the summit's of the still hIi irter papillae, and
the external urogenital organs assume the j-haructers of the adult lamjirev.

rETHoMYZoN MARINU8. iiinii. (Orcaf St'a Limprey. P. Aiw.rv'anutt

fji'Hueur.)
IJesembles the next, but larger, with a slnu'ter head, which is but little
longer than the "chest," ( = 4pAee oci-iipied by the bnmchiul opcninj^s ;;

rm>

l.mt. !><»''.]

Wtatk ('oMMiwioiHr.ni* ok Fii«iir.RiKK.

107

rrwntr.l bv nno or two ».iii»ilnr vnitrnN ; tnr«n». nprrsont.-.l l.y l.iiHilar

Vi'Utrnlf*.

Kin. a, Sk.-lrtnii of ,1 iHTrni.l AmIi. TIh' h'tt.TH tiiv nh1»r.'vintioiiH of llu-

nnnioM of \\w honrn hI»mvc jiivm.

A\S>, Nniriil H|.inf«: f N, \i\\vrm'urn\ hoiwH- //.S/.. Mirtnal Hpimn ; ///,
Intorl....iimllH.m.H; /;. riJ.H: Nor, Sii|mM-oi|.itnl : PT, IMrrotir ; /;'//. Kpi-
rlnvlrh.; C/, Cl.ivlrU' : .Sc, Srnpnla ; ///MVctoi!,! hasil.ns; r/o, ('orm'.H.l ;
til," sliMulor Uonc IkIiIikI it in iM.Htc«.racoi.| ; r>/), o|M'nnliiin ; .Sop, Sii1.o|mt-
(Milnm; /op, Intcropcrrnlum ; /'a. purirtal : 7/ym. hyoinatulilMilar ; Q,
<pia*lrat.': at tho ri^fht Imml tipptr corner in !»ltmiti-<l tlu' HVinplc.tic ; CHy,
(\M-atoliyal; lir, HranchioHtcjial rnvH ; //7/y, Haf^ihyal ; (7//y. (Jlosnohyal ;
lIHy rVoliyal; /<>, frontal ; Mo, Suborbital ; ^«, anpilar ; 7), lU'ntary ;
Pnu-l prrnrnxillary; Ms, maxillary: Pal, palatine; Pt, Ptery-.,ia ; F,

femur.

Kip S, Oblique vertit-al view of the skull repiesented in Fiji. 2.

*

108

StATK COMMISHIONKHS OF FlHUKRIKH.

[No. 19,

THE FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Tender the populnr term tiHlios. a irrent variety of animals is ineliuU'd.
Whili' these are all ineinlKTs of the jrrand division of the vertebra ta. and
occupy the lowest position in it, they do not all belon.; to the same class.
Three classes are recosrnized by zoolo<;ists amon<; the vertebrates usually
called fishes. The first class includes only the sand lances, which are the
lowest of the vertehrata. Their skeleton is meml»ranous; they have no
lira in proper, but only an enlnrirement of the anterior \)art of the spinal
cord; and their heart is only rei)re9ented by a pulsatin*; tube. In the
second class the precedin.tr usual characters of vertehrata are present, but
they differ from the true fishes and all the other classes, in the absence of
the lower jaw. and of the scapular and pelvic arches, and as a conse.iuence
of the limb?. This class includes cmly the lami>reys. The third class in-
cludes tiie true fishes. The definitions of the three classes nuiy be con-

trastetl as follows :

A. Xotochord extendinji to the anterior extremity of the body ; no skull,

brain, or renal. orira ns ; heart, a simple tube.

1 No auditorv organs; liver saccular; no lower Jaw, limb arches nor
limbs. ... * . Leptucardii.

B. Xotochord endinir behind the pituitary fossa ; skull, brani, ancf renal

orjrans present.

2. Neither mandible nor limb arches ; nasal sac sinojle. . Maraipohranchi.

3. Mandible and limb arches present; two nasal sacs. Pisces.
Representatives of the secimd and tliird classes are n»und in the waters

of the State of Pennsylvania. The few known species of the Leptocardii
belonjr to two jrcnera, Branch iogfoma and Epignnichthys. They are found
on th'e shores of all oceans, and althou«;l> aeratin<r their blood by a bran-
chial apparatus, burrow in the sand on the edire of the water. Their struc-
ture throws great light on the systematic relations and origin of the ver-
tehrata. No species has yet been f«>und in fresh waters, so that the class
cannot be included in the fauna of Pennsylvania.

MARSIPOBRANCIII.

The species of this class are few in number at the present geological
epoch. They abound in fresh waters, as well as in some parts of th«' ocean.
Without lower jaw, they do not take food in the manner possible to other
vertebrates, but perforate the bodies they devour, by suction. The mouth
is a wide funnel-shaped basin, whose interior is surrounded by comical
horny bodies, which perform the function of teeth. While attached to their
prey by this suctorial mouth, the teeth rasp the fiesh. The lampreys are

Le(K Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

109

<r:

destructive to fishes, but it is only the large species which inflict any seri-
ous loss.

In all the known members of this class, the nasal chamber opens by a
single short tubular orifice on the middle line of the top of the head.

There are two orders of the Marsipobranchi, as follows :

1 Water conducted to the branchiae through a distinct tube below the
a>sophagus Hyperoarti.

2. Water conducted to the branchiae directly from the tt'sophagus.

Hyperotreti.

The first of these orders is the only one found in the waters of the State.

HYPEROARTI.— Lampreys.
Our lampreys belong to a single family, the Petromyzontlse, wich is re-
presented by two genera. These are distinguished, as follows :

Dorsal fins two, nearly or (luite distinct; median tooth bicuspid.

Petromyzon.

Dorsal fin one, continuous with the caudal ; median tooth tricusi)id.

Lampetra.
PETROMYZON— i.iw n .

The species of this ircnus are long and slender, and have the head but
little lar-er in diameter than the body. The mouth looks obliipuly down-
wards, and has a widely expanded border. This can be contracted from
the sides so as to leave a narrow longitudinal opening. The eyes are cov-
ered by a thickened cornea, and are not bounded by eyelids or any inver-
sion of the integunient. There are seven branchial fissures on each side.

In their earlv stages the species of this and the following genus present
various p«f'»liJii-ities, especially in the m )Uth, and in r.'ac-hini; miturity pass
throu<j:!i a metamorphosis. iJeforc the history of t!iis ch.in,-e was known,
the larvic of Petromyzon were thought to be adult animals of a distinct
genus, which was named AmmocceteH. The larvjv in this earlv stage have
the minute eves sunk in fossae on the upper surface of the head, aud the
branchial openings are connected by a longitu<linal slit. There is a dis-
tinct upper lip on each side of the inferiorly placed mjuth, and the inner
wall of the latter is closely set with fringes of fil.unents. This is signifi-
cant, since the mouth of the inferior type. B ranch io^toma, is fringed in a
somewhat similar manner throughout life. As growth .advances, the eyes
become lateral and more distinct, and the lateral lips become fused with
the posterior border of the mouth. The fringes shorten into papillae, .and
the branchial orifices iHuome slit-like, and lose their connecting groove.
Finnally the teeth appear on the summits of the still sli >rter papillae, and
the external urogenital organs assunu' tlie characters of the a<lult lamprey.

Petromyzon marisls. T.inn. {Great Sea Limprey. P. Aniericanus

Lesueur.)
Kesembles the next, but larger, with a shorter head, which is but little
longer than the "chest," (=n^ace occupied by the branchial openings;)

I

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

color, olive brown, mottled with black; length, thirty to forty inches.
Marine, ascending rivers; not uncommon in the Delaware and Susque
hanna, and their tributaries. Our largest lamprey.

LAMPETBA— Gray.

{Ichthomyzon and Scolecosoma Oirard.)

Lampetra FLUViATiLis — Linn. {Large Black Lamprey)

Head very large, longer than the *'chest," six and a half times in length ;
depth about thirteen times ; body little compressed ; dorsal fins rather low,
distinctly separated; eyes and mouth very large; a depression between
eyes and snout ; a single bicuspid tooth in front of (esophagus ; raandibu-
lary plate curved, with about eight pointed teeth ; rest of mouth covered
with rather large teeth, disposed in oblique cross-rows, five or more in each
row; lips fringed. Length 12 inches. Lakes and streams Cayuga L., N.
Y., (Wilder) and E. ; properly a marine species. Also in Europe, (1*. nig-
ricans, Les., the American form.) Several other Lampr<;}s have been de-
scribed from our eastern streams aud coast ; but they are very doubtful.

Lampetra nigra, Raf. (Small Black Lamprey.)

Head moderate, longer than ''chest,' eight and a third in total length ;
depth, fourteen; body scarcely compressed, except behind; dorsal fins
rather high, slightly connected ; eyes large ; mcnith rather small : one tooth
with two cusps well apart in front of oesophagus ; mandibulary plate nearly
straight, with about eight sub-ecpial teeth ; a few scattering teeth <m si<le8
of mouth; snout rounded ; dark blue-black, unspotted; silvery below. L.
8 to 1 1 inches. Great lake^, upper Mississippi and Ohio valley, abundant
in many localities; ascending small brooks in the spring.

Lampetra argkntea, Kirtland. {Silvery Lamprey.)

Head (piite small, shorter than ''chest," about ten inches in length ; depth
nearly the same in adult; body stout, compressed ; dorsal fin very high,
with a shallow depression ; eyes distinct in adult, concealed in young ;
mouth small, with inc<mspicuous teeth ; color ashcy silvery, with numerous
small black dots ; larger ones above the gill openings. L. 12. Oreat lakes
and Ohio valley. E. to X. V., Freipient. AmmocacteH concolor Kirt, A.

aepyptera^ Abbott.

PISCES.

The fislies proper, include the sharks, chimeras, etc., as well as the ordi-
nary forms. Traces of their existence during the upper Silurian period of
geological time have been foinid, which is earlier than the date of appear-
ance of air-breathing verlebrala. The first of the latter, the Batrachia,
have not been obtained from beds lower than the carboniferous period. At
the present time the fishes are the most numerous class of the verlebrala^
ten thousand si)ecies being known.

There are at least one hundred and forty species of fishes in the waters

^)

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Ill

of Pennsylvania, of which eighty species are important as food. Thirty-
one species exist in the Deleware and its tributaries, which are either now
used as food, or will be at some future time. About the same number are
fouBd in the Susquehanna, while there are forty-one inhabiting the Alle-
crheny and its branches. When we reflect that each female of these species
spawns several thousands or hundreds of thousands of eggs in a season, we
can readily estimate the great importance this crop might be to us as a
source of cheap animal food, were it cultivated to the extent of the capa-
city of our streams. That capacity in Pennsylvania is very great, for it
depends chiefly on the supply of food for fishes furnished by nature. This
is ultimately derived from a strong vegetation, either directly, or through
the insects which feed upon it, which sustain insectivorous, and indirectly
the carnivorous species. Ultimately, then, a productive soil is as much
the condition of fish production as of any other, and thus oar State pos-
sesses, evidently, extensive advantages in this respect.

Some of these species migrate to salt water in autumn, and remain there
during the winter; others descend the creeks to the rivers, and the rivers
to their deeper waters, and congregate in them during cold weather ; others
remain all winter in their usual haunts, burying themselves in mud, and
undercroing a kind of hibernation ; while some— for example, certain cat-
tishesldo not take even this precaution. With a few exceptions, on the ad-
vent of spring and the breaking up of the ice, they ascend to the upper
and clear watrrs, or to the gravelly bottoms, to deposit their spawn. The
exceptions are the eels and the trout. The former descend the rivers in
autumn, and deposit their eggs in salt water. The latter spawn in tiie upper
waters in late autumn, prior to their riverward— or in the case of the sal-
mon, seaward— migration. ,. . • *.
Fishes are divided into four primary divisions by the peculiant'es ot
structure presented by their skeletons. These are ss follows : *

I. Suspensorium continuous with the cartilaginous cranium, with no
hyomandibular nor rudimental opercular bone ; no maxillary arch ; pelvic
bones present: axial series ot Jore limb shortened, the derivative radii
sessile on the basal pieces; axial series of hinder limb prolonyvd in

lli)i.oi'i;i'iiALi.

male , ,

This sub-class includes the Chimaerae, etc., and is represented by numer-
ous extinct, and but few recent species. The latter are all marine and
none therefore are included in the present book.

II. Suspensorium articulated with the cranium ; no maxillary arch ; no
opercular or pelvic bones ; bones of limbs as in the last. Sei.aciiii.

The sharks, ravs, saw iish, etc., constitute the members of this sub-class,
and none of them enter Pennsylvania waters. Though the living spoeies
are numerous, a still larger number are extinct.

HI. Suspensoriuni rudimental, articulated with cranium, supporting
one or more opercular bones ; cranium with superior membrane bones; no

•see Copo, Proceedings, American PhHosophical Society, May, 1877,

112

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

maxillary arch ; a median pelvic element ; the limbs supported hy seg-
mented unmodified axes. ... • Dipnoi.

Tliore are but few recent species of the Dipnoi^ and they are confined to
the fresh waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

Numerous extinct species are known from Mesozoic and Pahvozoic form-
ations, especially those of the jjenera Ctenodus and Geratodus.

IV. Ilyomandibular and palatoquadrate bones articulated with cranium,
supporting opercular bones ; a maxillary arch ; no pelvic element ; axes
of (he limbs shortened, the derivative radii sessile on the basal pieces. —

HvoroMATA.

This sul)-class includes a great number of existing fishes, and fewer,
though numerous, extinct species. Many of the latter Iiave V)een arranged
under a sui)posed order called Ganoidea, which the author has not adopted
in the form originally proposed. The primary divisions of Hyopomata are
indicated ])y the structure of the fins, of whic'.i tliere are three princii)al
moditications. These divisions form a regular and natural succession from
those which resemble the limbs of the Dipnoi, and hence approacii tliose of
other vertebrates, to the most specialized fins of the most typical lishes.

A. Derivative radii present in both limbs; in the anterior supported by
an axial segment with one or more basal or derivative radii^Jorming a
peduncle; in the hind limbs the derivative radii sessile on axial segment
QYiiy, . , Crossoptkrvuia.

This tribe includes the only fishes originally referred to the - (Janoidea,"
which, it appears to me, should be widely distinguislu-d from the typical
fishes. They date from the Carboniferous period and are mostly extinct.
One family, the Polypteridie, remains, and is represented by a limited
number of species in the fresh waters of Africa.

B. Derivative radii few in fore limb, sessile on scapula ; present in
hind limbj and sessile on axial segment Choni rostei.

This tribe includes the sturgeons, jjaddle-fish, etc., and is confined at the
present period to the fresh waters of the Northern IIemisi)here. There
are numerous extinct species.

C. Derivative radii few in the fore //m/>, sessile on (he scapula ; want-
ing or very few and rudimental on the hind limb^ so that (he dermal radii
rest on the axial element • Actinopteri.

In this tribe we have the representative type of fishes of the present
geological age. Although the extinct species are numerous, they do not
constitute nearly so large a percentage of the whole as is the case with the
Chondrostei, the Crossopterygia, and the other sub-classes.

15

9
S

3
3

>

&i

HYOPOMATA.

CIWNDROSTEl.

The living Chondrostei have a persistent chorda dorsalis, which is sur-
rounded by the imperfectly ossified vertebral bodies. The ventral fins are
situated on the abdomen, and the vertebral column is not especially modi-

*^

t

I

06

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

lis

'/

f>

fied at its posterior extremity to support a caudal fin. The latter is at-
tached aloncr the inferior edi^e of the gradually diminishing column, as in
the sharks, forming the type called homocercal. The radii of the fins do
not agree in number and articulate with their osseous supports, as in higher
fishes. There are two orders in this tribe, as follows :

1. A praecoracoid arch; no symplectic bone; premaxillary forming
mouth border; no suboperculum nor preoperculum ; mesopterygium dis-
tinct; basihyalsand superior ceratohyal not ossified; interclavicles present ;
no interoperculum nor maxillary ; branchihyals cartilaginous.

Selachostomi. the paddle-fish.

2 Similar to the last, but with interopercle, maxillary bones, and osseous
branchihval, • • (?/a,no.s«ami, the sturgeons

The first order embraces the single family of Polyodontidae, the second
only that of Accipenseridse. In both, the osser>us cranium is little devel-
oped. The basal and radial elements of the limbs, with the coraeoids, are

not ossified. „^,,t

SELACHOSTOMI.

POLYODONTIDAE— 'S/>'>om/>i7^
Two «ronera from this family are known, Polyodon Jrom North America,
and Ps^ephurui^, i'vom Eastern Asia. The former has a long, tlat, spoon-
shaped snout, and numerous fulcra extending along tlie superior border of
the caudal fin. The latter has a subyslindric snout, and a few very large
caudal fulcra. Both uenera are adapted for living in muddy Ix.ttoms, using
their long snouts for the purpose of stirring ui) and digging out their food.

POLYDON— I.acep. Spatularid Shair : Planirostra Les.
roLV(U)oN FOLIUM, Lac. Duck-billed cat ; spoon-billed Murgeon.

Snout nearly one third of length; opercular fiap reaching muc-h beyond
pectorals: fins all more or less falcate : color, gray ; I>. 5.i to «0 ; A. 56 ;
length, 5 feet or more. Mississippi and its larger tributaries, abundant ; a
sino-ular lisli bearin<r considerable resemblance to a shark.

The mouth and gill openingsof this fish are very wide.and the gill arches
are set with verv numerous and elongate bristles or gill-rakers directed in-
wards. The fisi. stirs up the mud with its muzzle, and, taking enormous
quantities of the mu<ldv water into its mouth, passes it through the fringe
of rakers, and out throuuh the gill fissures. In this way it takes its lood,
which is caught on the rakers, as the food of the whale is arreste<l by the
bristles of the whalebone. This food has been shown by Prof. Forbes to
consist of minute ciustacea of various species.

Poh/odon folium is common in the .Vilegheny ri.er and other large

tributaries of the Ohio.

GLANIOSTOMI.

ACCIPENSERIDAE-Sturgeons.
The stur-eons are the largest of fresh watiM- fishes, and are f.)und in all
the waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Though of low organization as
8 — Lk«i. Doc. No. 19.

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

lU

comparea with the U pieul fishes, they are of great utility to man forming
auin portaiit article of food. They live preferably on muddy bo toms,
'nd derive their nourishuient from the refuse organic material there found^

Two recent genera only are known, and both of these are found in .North
America and in Pennsylvania. These are :

\o spiracles ; bony bucklers completely inclosing tail ; Scaphirhynchops.

Spiracles present ; bony bucklers always distinct ; Accq^enser.

SCAPHIEHYNCHOPS-GiU. (Scaphirhynchus Heckel, preoccupied.)
Three species of this genus have been found in temperate Asia, and one
in North America.

ScAniiRUYNCiiors PLATYRiiYNCiius-Rafmesque. (Shovel-nosed Sturgeon.)

Fig. 5, p. 40.
Tail wider than deep, extending beyond caudal rays, and ending in a fila-
,„ent; snout nearly the form of a spade; whole bo<ly rough with small
prickles; dorsal shield, 15 or 16; lateral shield, 40 to 46 ; abdomma , 10
o 13 • all the shields rough and strongly cariuated ; the keel end.ng bdund
in a spine which points backward ; size large ; Mississippi valley, iron.
Montana to Tennsylvania ; Rio Grande, of Texas.

ACCIPEN8EK— Li n n .

The species of sturgeons are numerous, and it is not yet certain how

manv iuLbit the waters of the United States. Besides the our named

" ow there are forms with few or no lateral bony shields which are lound

in the great lakes and Mississippi river. They have been thought to be aged

individuals of other species. oo to 9^

A. Marine species ascending rivers ; lateral shields, 22 to 23.

AcciPESSEii STL RIO— Linn.
Fig. 6a, p. 41.
Common Sea Sturgeon. Sharp-nose<l Sturgeon-Snout Pointed half the
Icn-th of head ; dorsal shields, II to 13 ; lateral shields 2 . to 3 ; D. 37
to 44 rays. Atlantic Ocean, south to Africa, and West ludies. (.1. oxy
r/jv/K'/jiis, Mit., the American form.)

The common sturgeon is abundant in the lower parts ot the Delaware
river, and great numbers of them are taken every year and brought to the
market of IMiiladelphia.

ACCIPENSER BREVIROSTRIS — LeSUeUT.

IJlunt-nosed Sturgeon-Snout blunt, one (p.arter length of head; dorsal
shields 8 to 10 ; lateral shields, 22 to 28 ; abdouiinal, 8 to 10 ; 1>. 30 rays ;
skill with minute scattered prickles and stellate ossifications, (.'ape Cod to

* ^Lik^'the A. sfurio, this species is sold in the markets of Philadelphia and

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

115

i/f^

adjacent cities. Numerous fishing boats are engaged in taking them in
strong nets, and the catch is often very large.

A A. Species of fresh water; lateral shields, 83 to 38.

AcciPENSER maculosus — Lcsueuf.
Rock Sturgeon— Bony Sturgeon— Snout pointed, nearly as long as rest
of head ; head 3^ in length of body ; bony shields large, close together,
13 to 16 in front of dorsal, 33 to 38 on sides, 9 or 10 on abdomen, all of
them rough and strongly radiated, with more or less hooked or incurved
tips; skin rough; D. 37 to 4t). Great lakes (?), Ohio river, and south-
ward. Abundant in the Allegheny river.

AcciPENSER RLBICUNDLS — LeSUCUr.

Red sturgeon— Lake sturgeon— Head 4^ in length; eye 10 in head,
nearly midway; dorsal scutes 16, (to base of D.,) relatively small and
rather distant; lateral scutes, 35 ; ventral scutes, 9 ; snout rather blunt,
becoming more so with age, rather shorter than rest of head ; Vmrbels
nearer to end of snout than to eye; scutes relatively smaller, smoother,
and less crowded than in the preceding; blackish, shies paler or reddish ;
length, 2 to 6 feet ; D. 37. (ireat lakes and western rivers.

The naked and semi-naked species above mentioned, are sometimes re-
ferred to this and the preceding species. They have received the names
A. .serotinus, Raf, and A. calvus. They are from the Ohio and the lakes.

AC T INOP TERI.
This tribe corresponds to the Teleoslei of previous authors, together with
a considerable part of the Qanoidei of Agassiz and other*^. A study ol the
skeleton slu»ws that a number of the fishes formerly included under the
latter head, are only primitive types of ordinary fishes, without agreement
in any marked characteristics by which they can be separated from tiiem.
It is true that some of these fishes are exceptional in some of their features,
but they ditfer from each other in many of them, and agree with each other
in very few. I allude especially to the bony gars, the dog fishes, and

numerous extinct genera.

Two great divisions of the bony fishes were perceived by Cuvier, and as
they are^ easily recojinized, I retain them here. They have been calle<l the
Phyxocly^ti and PhyHoslonii. The presence of the ductus pneum.iticus
whuii chnracterizes it, is always associated with the ab<lominal position of
' ventral lins and with cycloid scales; and mostly with the presence of the
praecoracoid arch, the entrance of the maxillary l)one into the border of
the mouth, and the non-sepiration of the i)arietal bones by the supraocci-
pital. Yet none of these characters are precisely associated at the point of
transition in each sub-division, for there are physostomous fishes with
separated parictals and ctenoid scales, (some Cyprinodontida-,) and there
are Phvsodvsti with abdominal ventrals. Nevertheless, two piouiinent

116

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

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in

types stand out in the Aotinopteri, the Physostomi, and the Physoclysti,
which may be considered as tribes.

Basilar segments of ventrals rudimental, position of fins abdominal :
parietal bones usualhj united ; swim bladder connected with the stomach
or oesophagus by a ductus pneumaticus, Physostomi.

No ductus pneumaticus ; parietal bones separated by the supra occipital ;
ventral fins usually thoracic or jugular ; no basilar segments, Physoclysti.

These divisions were called Malacopterygii an.l Acanthopterygii by
Ciivier, the names bein^ based on a general peculiarity of the fins of the
species included. In the former or Physostomi, the rays of the dorstd fin
are generally soft or cartilairinous ; in the latter or Physoclysti the ante-
rior rays of the dorsal, ventral and anal fins are osseous. There are, how-
ever, many exceptions to this rule, so that it is only of general application.
Still less uniform is the other general rule, that the scales of spinous rayed
fishes are serrate or dentate on their fore edges, and those of soft rayed
fishes, snjooth.

The Physostomi as the least specialized group, presents more numerous
points of affinity to the lower divisions already reviewed, and precedes the
Physoclysti. This is also the order of their succession in geological time.

PHYSOSTOMI.

The following key will express the leading features of the orders of this
division.

I. A ])raecoracoid arch.

A. A coronoid bone.

Vertebrae opisthoco'lian, S. Oinglymodi, Wwhimy Gar.

Maxillary not transversely divided ; vertebrae auii)hic(elian.

4. Ilalecomorph i , the dog fish.

A. A. No coronoid lione.

* No symi)lectic bone.

Pterotic simple, anterior vertebrae with ossicula audit us ; supraoccii»ital
and p;irietals coossilied, 5. Nematognathi, the cat fishes.

Pterotic annular, including a cavity closed by a special bone; jmrietals
distinct, vertebrae simple, . ^. Sryphophori, \\n^ Wormyri.

♦* Symplectic present.

Anterior vertebrae coossilied. and with ossictda auditus.

7. Plectospondyli, the suckers, etc.

Anterior vertebrae similar, distinct, without ossicula au<litus.

8. Isospondyli. herring, etc.

II. No praecoracoid arch.

A. Scapular arch suspended to cranium.
H. A symplectic.

Pterotic and anterior vertebrae simple, parietal separated by supraocci-
pital, 9. i/ay>/omi, pike, etc.

*»

Anterior vertebrae modified ; parietals united ; pectoral fins.

10. Glanencheli, Electric eel.

B. B. No symplectic.

Anterior vertebrae simple: a praeoperculum and maxillary ; no pectoral
{i,jg 11. Ichthyocephali, Jiixa eels.

A. A. Scapular arch free behind the cranium.

* A |)reoperculum.

A symplectic ; maxillary well developed ; no pectoral fins.

12. Holostomi, Symbranchi.

No symplectic : maxillary lost or connate : pectoral fins.

13. Enchelycephali, eels proper.

* * Preopcrculum wanting or rudimental.

No symplectic, maxillary, nor pectoral fins ; no pterygoid.

14. Colocephali, Muraenae.

Of the above orders the Haplomi (pike, etc.) approach nearest the Phy-
soclysti of the families Opheocephalidae and Atherinidae,and the Ilolostomi
of tile family Symbranchidae, to the I*hysoclyst family of Mastacembelidae.
The affinities between these families is, in both cases, so close as to render
the distinction of the primary divisions in question hardly worth preserv-

ing.

In traciuiz the affinities of the Physostomi. I have pointed out the rela-
tion between the Chrondrostei and the Nematognathi. and between the
Ilalecomorphi and the Isosi>ondyli. In each of these pairs the first named
is the structural, and probably genetic predecessor of the second. The
series commenced with the cat fishes may be continued into the Mormyri.
ard then to the families of the Plectospondyli, where the series with altered
vertebra' and with ossicula auditus terminates.

The Ciiaracins have, however, ccmsiderable affinity to the Is(.spondyli.
especially in the tyi)e of their branchial bones. From the latter group we
pass to the Haplomi, and thence to tiie Physoclyst groups. The eel-like
groups form a s])ecial line. The (tlanencheli have cranial characters of
the groups with modified vertebnv, with fins of the more typical eels. The
latter show a steady approach in some points to the conditions character-
izing the Chondrostei. The loss of the maxillary, of opercular bones, and
of i)harv«Mieal elements, reminds one of these, but in the loss of the pre-

I « ^

maxillary, and great development of the ethmoi<l. in the Colocephali, we
have features (piite unique. The vertel»ral position of the scapular arch is
the only shark character they possess; while on the other han<l, the Ho-
lostomi are undoubtedly related to the Mastacembelus, a real Physoclyst
with spinous dorsal fin. These relations are as yet entirely inexi)licable

GINGLYMODI.

Pariitals in contact ; pterotic and opisthotic absent ; symplectic i)resent.
Mandible witli coronoid. opercular, angular, articular, and dentary Ixmes.
Basis cranii simple. Third superior pharyngeal bone small, lying on fourth :

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119

118

upper basihval wanting. A pnocoracoid arch. Vertebnv opisthoca'lous.
Pectoral fins with mesopterygiiim and five other basal elements.

One f-miily, the Lepidosteid^. with heterocercal tail, cartilaginous prtt-
coracoid, one axial hyoid, three basal branchihyals, and the maxillary bone
subdivided into segments.

LEPIDOSTEID^— /?o?»i/ Gars.
The bony gars form one of the marked features of the fish tauna of
North Anierica. Although they resemble various extinct fishes of the
more ancient (palaeozoic) formations, they have little real atlinity with
them. Tlie family first appeared in the lower Tertiary formations ( Eocene)
of Europe and North America, and soon became extinct in the former

countrv.

Thv' LepidoHteidse are covered with rhombic ganoid scales; there is one
.lorsal fin situated far back ; and all the fin rays are cartilaginous and ecpial
in number to their supporting bones in the vertical fins. The dentine of
the teeth is thrown into deep folds.

There are two recent genera of the family, and two extinct ones. But
one of the former enters the waters of Pennsylvania. This is Lepidosleus,
in wLich the large teeth of the jaws are in one row.

LEPID0STEU8— /-rt cf^.

Six or eight species of this genus occur in North America, east of the
Rocky Mountains, but two or three of which enter the limits of our State.
They are not valued as food.

Li;pido8TEU8 osseus— Linn. (Oar Pike. Bony Gar. Bill Fi.^h.)

TIend nearlv 3 times in length ; depth nearly 12 ; snout inore tlian twice
the length of "rest of head ; eye nearly 2\ in distance to margin of j.reoper.
cle, more than 2 in interorbital space ; ventrals mid-way between pect<.rals
and anal ; olivaceous, white below ; sides with obscure spots, more evident
posteriorly ; vertical fins with distinct round black spots; D. 7 : A.9 : lat.
line 04 to r»6 ; length 2 to 5 feet. New York to the plains and south, abun-
dant in large bodies of water.

Two well marked varieties of this species, if not distinct species, occur
in the waters of the State. The larger, the LfpidoMrus gemiradiatm,
Agass. (L. crasHUS Cope,) is abundant in the Susiiuehanna, and the lower
waters of the Delaware. It is of robust proportions, has the face and oper-
cula rather short, and the scales on the anterior part of the bo<ly roughened.
The other form is the Lepidoi>teuif huronenHia, llichardson, and is the species
of the lakes, and abc.unds in the Allegheny river also, its head and oper-
cula are of more slender proportions, and the size is less. The scales are
nearly all smooth, and the color of the body is plumbeous above, antl white
below, and without spots.

The LepidoHteuH productua Cope, a species intermediate between these

"^

and the L. platy.tomu^, is found in the western tributaries of the Missis-
sippi, and will probably occur in the Ohio.

Lepidosteus platystomus— iia/*. {Short-nosed Gar.)
Snout sliortened, rather broad, about as long as the rest of the head.
Depth 7 to 8 in length ; head 3.5; eye 10 times in head, three times nearer
opercular margin than end of snout ; ventrals much nearer P. than A. ;
lemnh of head notably shorter than from P. to V.: olivaceous sides and
fins^ spotted with black ; D. 7 ; A. 8 ; lat. 1 , HO to 65. Great Lakes and
streams south and west of New York to Rocky Mountains. In I eiinsyl-
vania only in the Allegheny river.

HALECOMORPHI.
Parietals in contact; pterotic and opisthotic present, and with basis
<.r.mii and anterior vertebrae simple. Mandible with opercular and coro-
noid bones; maxillary bordering the mouth. Third superior pharyngeal
Ivin- on enlarged fourth ; upper basihyal wanting. Vertebrae amphicce-
lian*" Pectoral fins with mesopterygium, and eight other elements.

'one family, the Amiidae, with heterocercal tail, cartilaginous praecora-
coid, one axial and four basal branchihyals.

AMIIDAE— />o.7 Fishes.
In this ffftnilv the swim bladder is somewhat cellular, and the valves of
the bulbus arteriosus are fewer than in the Lepidosleidae, though more
numerous than in most Physodystous genera. There is a spiral valve of
the intestines, and the scales are cycloid. u- u n

But two genera have been found in the United States, one of which, Pap-
pichthuH Cope, is extinct, and occurs in eocene beds. Extinct species ot
tlie recent genus Amia have been obtained from the Tertiary Amyzon
shales of Colorado.

AMlh—I'inn.
Only one recent species of this genus has been properly defined.

Amia calva — Linn.

Bowfin -Dog Fish.— Mud Fish— Depth 4 to 4^ in length ; head nearly 4 :
eve 8 in head; anterior nostrils each with a short barbel; dark olive or
blackish above, nearlv white below: sides with traces of greenish mark-
ings- lower jaw and gular plate with round blackish spots; fins mostly
d-frk • 9 reaehimr a length of IS inches, with a roundish black spot -n the
upper base of caudal, which is surrounded by an orange or yellowish shade :
5 lanrer 2 feet or more in lenirth, without the black caudal spot ; D. 42 to
53 • a". 10 to 13 ; lat. 1, r,5 to 70. E. V. S. ; abundmt in the great lakes.

In Pennsylvania this species abounds in the tributaries of the Ohio river
and in Lake Erie. One specimen is recorded by Jacob Stautfer as taken
in the Susquehanna. It has never otherwise been recorded from the Dela-

120

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

ware nor any Atlantic stream north of the Roanoke. The flesh of this
si)ecies is of bad flavor, and soft consistence, though of course it has nutri-
tious properties.

NEMATOGNATHI.

Parietals and supraoccipital confluent ; four anterior vertebrae coossified.
and with ossicula auditus. Xo niesopterv. ium. Basis cranii and pterotic
bone simple ; nocoronoid Itone. Third superior iiharvnijeal bone wantinjx,
or small and restino: on the fourth ; second directed backward. One or two
pairs basal branchihyals ; two jtairs ]»ranchihyals. Suboperculiim wantinjx,
premaxillary forming mouth-border above. Interaclavicles present.

This great order is represented by the catfishes in Xorth America, and
by numerous species and genera in the fresh waters of all tropical reirions.
Very few species are marine. It embraces at least three families, which are
distinguished as follows :

1. Anterior vertebra.^ moditied ; inferior pharyngeal bones distinct ; fewer
branchiostegal radii.

Operculum present, Hluridse.

Opercidum wanting Aspredinidw.

2. Vertel)ra' unmodifled ; inferior pharyngeal bones united their whole
length ; many branchistegal rays.

Operculum present, . . ... Hypo^h thai mid fe.

In tiie Siluridw we have other modiflcations of importance. Thus in
Plotoms the second superior pharyngeal is wanting. In Loncar/a and its
allies, the pterotic is greatly expanded, so as to unite with the hy(.niandi-
bidarand opercular bones. The Ai<predinidx and H ypoph thai mid w ayq
confined to South America.

SILURID.E— Ca t-fish es.

Members of tiiis family abound in all i)arts of Xorth America, except-
ing the Paciflc slope and great ('olora«b) basin, extending well northwards.
They are all, when large enough, valuable as food flshes.

In the western States they are among the lirst kin<ls in iuiportance.
from the large seize they attain. The species of the Ohio are mostly ditfer-
ent from those of the Kast. and some of them {Amiurus olivarin) attain
150 pounds in weight. The most valued is the " blue <.'x\t:' (IrthivhiruH
crrrulfHcenH,) and it is deserve<lly so. It is sold everywhere, from IMtts-
l)urgh to Xew Orleans and Knoxville, and might be naturalized eastward
to advantage.

The genera found in Pennsvlvania are the followin*':

I. Adipose fln continuous with the caudal fin.

Supraoccipital bone free behind Noturus.

II. Adipose fin free behind.

Supraoccipital bone free; eyes rudimental and conceale<l, . . Gronian.
Supraoccipital bone free posteriorly ; eyes well developed, . . Amiurus.

Ma
p

I
I

;3

I

3

"1

7\

5

19

3

1

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\^

Fkj. 3G. Shzostethmia vauademe—i^mxth. From Klippart, (not Rood.)

INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE

./'U/

ru;.:;.l. SM:o./ft' ,OMr,;...r-S,nith. Kro,nKliiM>art. n-t ^oo.l.)

• 4

«<

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 121

Supraoccipital bone articulating with the second interneural ^-^. ^;;";-
ing a bridgeVro. the skull to the base of the dorsal spine ; ^y^^^

About thirty species of cat-fishes occur in North America, of which thir-
teen enter the waters of Pennsylvania.

NOTUETJS-iJa/.

The 8pecies of this gen,.B are of small «n.l mediun. size and generally
live in small streams, where they take refnjre under roeks and stones rathe,
than in the mud. Their n.ovements are often rapid and they are wd de-
fended bv their small aente spines, which inrtiet painful wounds. There

are ei'^ht species known.

*» Intermaxillary hand of teeth without lateral backward process.

(Schilbeodes, Blecker.) ^

t Pectoral spines more or less serrate on the inner edge ; adipose fin

"""pecToral spines rather small, their internal serrae feeble, less than half
the diameter of the spine ; anal rather long, of more than fourteen rays.

NoTURUS iNSiGNis — Bichdsn.
Marcnned stone cat.-Upper jaw decidedly longest ; pectoral spine
about half length of head, pretty strongly retrorse-serrate externally dor-
sal spine much nearer anal than snout : the distance from snou to dorsal
more than one third the length; anal fin with 16 to 19 rays; body elon-
gate ; head flattened ; dusky, a distinct black margin to dorsal and caudal
fins; size rather large. Pennsylvania to South Carohna, abunUant.-iyT.
lemniscatus, (Val.) Grd. N. marginatu.^. Uaird.
Common in the tributaries of the Susiiuehanna.

tt Pectoral spines groved on the inner edge, not serrated; adipose fin
continuous.

NoTiRUS oYRiNi s — MUchill.
Tadpole stone cat.-A " starved" representative of the last ; slimmer in
overv wav; head shorter and smaller ; body more elongate, and more com-
pressed, almost ribbon-shaped behind; barbels pale; anals 13 South-
eastern New York, and eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I'ound m
the tributaries of the Delaware.

tt Intermaxillary teeth with strong lateral backward processes.

NoTlRlS FLAWS — Raf.
Yellow stone cat—Head much depressed and flattened, little longer than
broad; barbels r.ather short ; head 4 J in length; depth 5n ; distance from
Bnout to dorsal 3; middle of b<.dy cylindrical, somewhat cariuate aln.ve ;
adipose fin notched; spine of pectorals roughish behind, slightly retrorse-
serrate in front. St. Lawrence to Kentucky and Upper Missouri, abund-

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

ant ; the larsfest species, reachin*r a length of a foot. It is abundant in the
tributaries of the Ohio.

AMIURUS— /?o/. QUI. {Amitirus and Pelodichthys— Gill.)

A. Intermaxillary teeth with strong lateral backward processes.

Amiurus OLTVARis — Raf. {Mud Catfish.)

Body very lon<]j and slender, much depressed forwards, closely com-
j)ressed behind ; head very Ions and flat, tapering; downwards and for-
wards, broadly rounded in front ; head 3^ in len^rth, depth 6 in length;
dorsal si)ine somewhat envelo|H'd in thick skin ; pectoral spine very lonof,
flattened, serrated behind ; adipose fin hiffh and lontr ; jaws thin and flat the
lower always the longer; colors much mottled ; anal fin ([uite short, of 15
rays. A sinsular species, n aching a very large size, abounding in the
muddy portions of all the waters of the Mississippi Valley. Not found in
the Atlantic rivers.

B. Intermaxillary band of teeth without lateral backward processes.
♦Caudal \\n rounded or slightly emarginate, usually truncate when

spread open.

f.Anal fin very long, its base one fourth or more the length of the body ;
of 24 to 27 rays.

b. Head broad, mouth wide ; form stout.

Amiurus natalis — Lea.
Fig. 6b, p. 41.

Yellow cat. — Chubby cat. — Body stout and heavy, with large head ;
dorsal spine nearer snoiit than adipose fin. A widely dififased si>ecies run-
ning into many varieties. The following are those that probably occur in
Pennsylvania.

A. N. Livious, Raf. More elongate ; dark colored ; jaws Cfjual. Ohio
river.

A. N. rrpREUs. Raf. Yellowish brown, upper jaw longer; common.
Ohio River.

A. N. coENosus, Richdsn. Greenish or black; upper jaw longer. (Jreat
lakes.

This species is not found in the Atlantic rivers.

f f Anal fin moderate, of 18 — 22 rays.

c. Lower jaw longer than upper.

Amiurus vi ujaris — Thompson.

Long-jawed cat. — Body rather elongate, the dei)th 4\ to 5 in length;
head 3^; barbels long; mouth wide; head hmgerthan broad ; d()rsal nearer
snout than adipose fin; head broad forward* ; .\. 20, dark reddish brown,
varying to blackish. Great lakes and tributaries, generallv abundant. [A
Dekayi. ((Jrd.) (iill.]

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State Commissioners of Fisueries.

123

cc. Jaws about equal in length.

e. Body not much elongate.

f. Head mo<lerately broad ; an even slope from snout to elevated base
of dorsal fin.

Amiurus nebul(»sus — Les.

Fig. t, p. 48.

Bnll-Itead.— Horn-Pout. — Small cat-fish.— Body rather elongate, depth
4 to 4', in lenoth ; head broader than in the next, the front less steep, but
its slope more uniform ; body les-i rapidly narrowed behind ; and fin longer,
its base A\ in body, the r.ays 21 or 22 in number; upper jaw distinctly the
longer; color dark yellowish brown, varying to blackish, sometimes mar-
bled, the young often quite black. Great lakes to Maine to South Carolina,
the common eastern species. (A. afrarius, cafus, hoyi. etc., of authors.)

This species is caught in great numbers in the Delaware and Susque-
hanna rivers, and is a good food fish.

Amiurus melas — Raf.

Black cat.— Body very stout and .leep; the depth 3.V to \\ in length;
head not very broad, rather contracted forwards, the front steeply elevated,
the bo«ly thick across the •' shoulders," rather rapidly narrowed l)ehind ;
anal fin short and deep, of IS or 20 rays, its base nearly five in length, the
color of the rays forming a sharp contrast with that of the membranes ;
upper jaw scarcely longest ; size small: color almost black. Mississippi
valley, abundant. {A. cafulus^ ohesus^ confinis, etc., of authors.)

* * Caudal fin forked, its lower lobe the larger; colors more or less oli-
vaceous or silvery.

o. Head rather broad, anal ravs 25 or 26.

Amiurus nioricans — Les.

Great forked-tail cat. — Cat-fish of the lakes, Mississippi cat. Florida cat,
great blue cat. — Head comparatively small, 4 } in length, its width 5 ; l»ar-
bels long; spines short and stout, serrated ; body rather low and nioder-
atelv stout ; colors dark, mottled with paler ; size verv large. (Jreat lakes,
Mississippi valley, an<l South to Florida, much the largest of our cat-fishes,
reaching a weight of 100 to 200 i)ounds.

a. a. Head narrow, decidedly longer than broad,
t Anal rays, 23 or 24.

Amiurus alkidus — Les.

"White cat, channel cat of the I*otomac. — Head narrowed, very wi<le In
adults, (juite narrow in young, its width 4 to 5 in length of IkmIv ; upper
jaw considerably the longer; dorsal spine nearer adipose fin tiian snout ;
caudal deeply forke<l ; base of anal fin 4.\ in length ; A. 21. Pennsylvania
to South Carolina, abundant. [*4. lynx, (Grd..) Gill.]

124

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

This is the " Schuylkill cat," of Philadelphia, and is consumed in great
numbeiB in the eastern cities between New York and Richmond. It is one
of the best of food fishes, although of too small size to sustain any exten-
sive industry. It has been introduced into the Sacramento river, Califor-
nia, and flourishes there so as to have become an article of food in San
Francisco.

Amiurus lopiiius — Cope. (Big Mouthed Gat.)

Head extremely wide, its width 3j in length, as great as the length of
the hcnd : ui)i)er jaw slightly the longer; caudal shallow forked ; base of
anal fin 6 in length; A. 21 : color silvery as in tiie preceding. Tributaries
of Ches.ipeake Bay, rather common. Very old specimens of A. albidus
resemble A. lophiua, but maybe recognized b}- the characters above noted.
A. lophiu!A has the largest mouth of any North American cat-fish.

This species is seen in the markets of Washington and Baltimore, and is
])robably foiuid in the Sus(piehanna. It is not known from the Delaware,
nor west ol the Alleghenies.

GRONI AS- Co;>fi.
(iROMAS NIGRILABRIS Gope.

Fig. l,p. 32.

Cave cat-fish. — Form, kc. nearly of Amiurus melus ; but the eyes little
developed ; anal short, of about 19 rays. Subterranean streams, tributa-
ries of ("oncstoga river, east Pennsylvania.

This siuiTular blind fish was oriirinallv discovered bv Mr. .lacol) Stauffer,
near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and has been obtained a number of times
subsecpientiy by diff'erent persons.

ICHTHiELURIIS- Rnf.

This genus includes three species of a more slender build and more ac-
tive habits than most of tiie species of Amiurua.

ICIITIKELLRUS PUNCTATUS Raf»

Fig. 8, p. 48.

Common channel cat. blue cat, white cat, &c. Head moderate, about 4
in length ; dorsal region not especially eh'vated ; spines long ; coloration ot
the others, l>luish silvery, young spotted with olive. New York to South
Carolina, west to the Kocky Mountains and Mexico, very abundant. It
has been described under some twenty-three difi'erent specific names. [/.
punctatua. (Kaf.,) .lord.]

A valuable food fish, two feet in length, common in the Ohio and its trib-
utaries, and abscut from streams flowing into the Atlantic.

SCYPHOPHORI.

Parietals narrow, distinct from each other and the supraoccipital. Pte-
rotic large, funnel-shaped, enclosing a chamber which expands externally,

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

125

and is covered by a lid-like bone. No symplectic. Opercular bones pres-
ent. Anterior vertebne unaltered. No mesopterygiuni. Basis cranii
simple. No interclavicles.

This order includes only two families, the Gymnarchidae and the 3Ior-
myridae, both of which are confined to the African continent.

PLECTOSPONDYLI.

Parietals broad, distinct ; pterotic normal ; symplectic i)resent. Opercu-
lar bones all present; no interclavicles. Anterior four vertebrte much
modified, and with ossicula auditus.

This order embraces a larger number of species of fresh water fishes than
any other, and is represented in all the regions of the earth, excepting Aus-
tralia. There are six recent families which have the followini; characters :

1. Brain case produced between orbits ; onl}- two superior pharyngeal
bones; basis cranii simple.

a. Only two basal branchihyals.

Tail diphycercal; maxillary entering mouth border, . Catostomidae.

a. a. Three basal branchihyals.
Tail heterocercal; minith bounded by premaxillary. Cyprinidae: Cohitidae.
Tail protocercal, Sternopygidae.

2. Brain case not produced between orbits ; basis cranii double, with
muscular canal in many ; four to one suj)erior phiryngeal bones.

Three basal branchihyals, . . . Characinidae. Erythrinidae.

Of these families, the Erythrinidae and Characinidae and Sternopy-
gidae are found only in the tropics and southern hemisphere, and the Co-
hitidae b-long exclusively to the Old World. The (Jyprinidae, tin' most
extensive family of fresh water fishes, belongs to the northern hemisphere
and Africa, having nearly the distribution of the raniform anurous liatra-
cAia, and insectivorous Mammalia. The Cat jxtomidae arc cniivvW North
American excepting two species, which are Asiatic.

The fishes of the two families last named, or the carp. chub, and sucker
families are not valued in America, tliough in Kurope they form a very im-
portant part of the food of the inland population. But there is no doubt
of their prospective imiH)rtance here, and on that ground alone they should
share in the protection afforded to our more valued species. They form,
in fact, the bulk of the piscine populatiim of the Tnited States. :in<ll»esides
furnishing food for man and bird, form tlie sustenance of the perch, bass,
jack, pike, aiul other carnivorous fishes. The American carp {Carpiodes
cyprinu»,) a 2.5-pound fish, is eaten along tlie Susipiehanna ; and the Ohio
species (C. dijf'ormia, C. cutit^anserinun. and C. veli/er,) of about the same
size, are also sold in the market. The buflTalo [liubalichthyx J/r^^^•) reaches
50 pounds" weight, and is proportionately imjiortant, though l»y n«» means
a fish of fine fiavor. Tlie Missouri sucker ( 6'//(7»^/>/m.«< nigrican.'i) api)ear8
in the IMttsburgh market, and is second in size, readiing 15 pounds. The
other species are numerous; two come occasionally to Philadelpliia market,

126 State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

and others occur all over the State. Of the whole group, nine species are
valuable food-iishes, but rather on account of quantity than quality. None
suffer more from the want of protection tiian these tishes. They inhabit
the upper waters of all our streams, and are cut off in thousands by every
mill-dam on the manv smaller and larjjer creeks in the countrv. Their
enormous productiveness (some deposit at one time 500,000 eggs) does not
make up for this, in the case of any particular stream from which they nuiy
have been finally driven. The fish-ways, which preserve the shad and ale-
wives, will also protect the Cyprinidae.

C ATOSTOMID AE~«u c/f era.

The suckers are peculiarly North American in their distribution, occur-
ring in all the waters of the continent. One hundred species are distin-
guished, which fall into eleven genera. These are defined as follows :
A. Dorsnl fin elongate, its rays numerous. — Bubalichthyinae.

f Cranium with a median fontanelle, , . Ichthyobus.

■ft ^^ <^'>''iHial fontanelle. liody elongate, . . . Cycleptus.

A A. Dorsal fin short, quadrate, with few rays Catostomidae.

t IMiaryngeal teeth Hat, of small size.
a ri)per li]) not very long; lower lip entire or emarginate.
,i Air bladder bicellular.
;' No cranial foutnnelle.

A lateral line ; mouth inferior ; lips enlarged Pantoateun.

)"•( A cranial fontanelle ;

A lateral line: mouth terminal ; lips thin, ...... Uhaxmistes.

A lateral line ; mouth inferior ; lips thick (JatoatomuH.

No lateral line ; lips not thickened, Erimyzon.

{i{i Air bhulder tricellular.

A cranial fontanelle and lateral line . Myxoatoma.

aa L'ijpcr lip greatly enlargeil ; lower lip divided into two separate
lobes.
Air bladder tricellular ; a fontanelle and lateral line, . Quassilabia.

tf Pharyngeal basal teeth robust, molariform.
Swim-bladder tricellular ; a cranial fontanelle, and lateral line.

Flacopharynx.
ICHTHYOBUS- //a/.

The anterior part of the dorsal fin of these fishes is elevated, sometimes
into an elongate filament. They are of more or less compressed foruj, and
their scales are generally large. They do not occur in Atlantic streams
east of the Delaware.

t Pharyngeal bones fiat, more slender; mouth inferior.

* First rays of dorsal fin much elevated and attenuated, about as long
as the base of the tin.

t Muzzle very abruptly obtuse, ami anterior suborbital bone much
deeper than long.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

127

€%^

Ichthyobus difformis — Cope.

Deformed Carp Sucker — Eye very large and well anterior ; the front
edge of the lower jaw in line with the anterior rim of the orbit, and the
end of the upper lip reaching the line of the anterior rim of the orbit, the
physiognomy being, therefore, peculiar in the great obtuseness of the head ;
insertion of dorsal anterior to middle of the head ; D. 24 ; A. 8 ; V. 9 ; lat.
1. 35. Ohio river.

This species has a peculiar physiognomy. Its very small and inferior
mouth indicates finely divided food from the bottom.

Ichthyobus cutis anseri nus — Cope.

Long-finned carp sucker. — Mouth usual in position, the upper lip in ad-
vance of the nostrils, etc.; dorsal fin beginning mid-way of bodv, more
elevated than in any other species ; snout with small tubercles in spring
males; head 4 in length; depth 2^; D. 20 ; V. 10; A. 8. Ohio valley,
abundant. A.llegheny river.

tf Muzzle conic, projecting.

Ichthyobus velifer — liaf.

Spear Fish — Sail Fish— Quill-back — Skim-back. Muzzle conic, much less
obtuse than in the next ; depth 2Mn length ; head8f; eye 4] in head; color
pale, scarcely silvery, as in all the species ; D. 22 ; lat. 1, 37. Ohio river.

*♦ Anterior rays of dorsal scarcely filamentous, little more than half the
length of the base of the fin,

b. Head comparatively large, 3^ to 4 in length.

Ichthyobus cyprinu^s — Baf.

Silvery carp sucker. — Muzzle prominent, but rather obtuse ; eye small,
anterior, 5 in head's depth, 2^ in length; longest dorsal rays about f^ the
length of the base of the fin ; I). 28 ; ar. 29 ; lat. 1, 40. New York to Ala-
bama, east of the AUeghenies.

This species is abundant in the Susquehanna river, and is a prominent
fish in the markets of the towns alcmg its course. Its fiesh is of good, but
not exceptional. <iuality.

bb. Head smaller,4j to 5 times in length.

Ichthyobus thompsoni— .(4<;os«.

Lake carp sucker. — Short and stout ; dorsal region much arched ; scales
narrowly exjiosed ; longest dorsal ray reaching the 22d : eye small, 5j in
head; head 4] in length: depth 2^; D. 28 ; lat. I, 41. (Jreat lakes.

A good food fish.

2. Month terminal, larger.

IniTHVOBIS BVBAI.US — Raf.

Brown buffalo fish.— Depth 3^ in length; head the same ; eye small r4
in head ; depth of head five sixths its length ; opercle very wide, forming

128

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

nearly half the lenirth of head — convex and fiirroAved ; scales lar<::e ; dull
brownish olive, not silvery ; D. 27 ; A. 10 ; lat. I, 40 ; length, very (of speci-
men,) 27 inches; weight 15 pounds. Mississippi valley. A common spe-
cies of the streams of the Mississippi valley, not found east of the Alle-
ghenies. Extensively used for food.

3. Mouth inferior, small ; pharyngeal bones with triangular section.

IniTiiYonrs urus — Agass.

Black Buffalo, big-mouthed buffalo. Body much less elevated and less
compressed than in B. altus^ the back not at all carinated , axis of body
over the ventrals about at the lateral line, and but an eighth or tenth
further from the dorsal line than the ventral ; greatest depth midway of
body over ventrals and just in advance of dorsal ; depth 3^ in length ; head
strongly transversely convex, almost ridged above, less narrowed down-
wards than in altus ; greatest depth of head 1^ in its length; interor-
bital space 2^7 ; snout scarcely projecting ; no depression at occiput ; an
almost even curve from snout to dorsal: head boumled by curve^t ; there-
fore no triangular, thicker, larger, and less pointed than m alius ; mouth
large, with a larjxe and pa[)piIlose lower lip, mandible longer than eye ;
scales 8—41—7; fin rays I). I., 30; A. I.. 11; dorsal not so high nor
so rapidly depressed as in allust, the longest ray scarcely half the length
of the base of the fin, reaching to the 15th, the 9th ray, half the height of
the first; anal reaching caudal, its middle rays more rounded, not so much
shorter than the first ; pectorals as long as ventrals, both longer than anal
and less than head ; colors very dark ; fins all black. Mississippi and Ohio
rivers. Used as food in large (piantities.

ICHTIIVOBUS ALTUS — Nels.

Small mouthed Buffalo. Body considerably elevated and compressed
above; the dorsal region sub-carinate ; bt-lly thicker: depth 2'^ in length ;
axis of the body above the ventrals, below the laterial line and nearly twice
as far from the back as the belly ; greatest <lepth of body at beginning of
dorsal, which is in advance of ventrals, and a trifle nearer the snout than
the caudal; head wide, roun<led across the top, wider above the eyes than
across the cheeks: interorbital space 2 in head ; head 4 in length of body,
its greatest depth 1^ in its lengtii ; eye-snout 4 in head, mucii larger than
in Ji. niger ; mouth small, notably smaller than in B. niger^awX with thin-
ner lij)s which are granulated and feebly plicate ; man<lible about eip'al to
eye; pharyngeal l>ones very strong, with large teeth, which grow larger
downward; intestinal canal long, longer than bxly; a deci«led occipital
depression; head triangular in outline, viewed from the side; ante-orbital
region strongly elevated and curved ; lenirth of top of hea<l 2'/ in distance
from snout to occiput ; nostril large; scales 8 — tO — 6 in tw«) specimens,
8_36— «J in one, 7—39—5 in the fourth ; fin rays D. I. 28 in two, I. 29 in
rest; A. I. 10; V. 10; dorsal elevated in front and rapidly declined, the

iB

J-

5

s

X

Fio. 41. Pomotis aureus — "Walb, From Klippart.

i

Fi«». 42. hJunedfiiuthus obcsiui—W.xml. From Abbt>tt.

•>

Flo. 43. Pnmftxnf< aunulnrts — liaf. From Klippart.

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

129

€$

}

seventh ray half the length of the third or lonijest ; the latter reaches to
the base of the eighteenth ray, or more than half the base of the fin : anal
reaching caudal, its rays rapidly shortened ; pectorals shorter than anal,
anal than ventrals, all than head. Mississippi valley, abundant.

CYCLEPTU8— /?o/.
Cycleptus elongatus — Lesueur.

Black Horse, Gourd-Seed sucker, Missouri sucker. — Body fusiform, not
greatly compressed ; head and mouth very small ; depth 4 to 5 in length ;
head 6^ ; eye small, well back, 6 to 7 in head ; lobes of dorsal and caudal
much attenuated ; longest dorsal rays a little longer than head ; pectorals
falcate, as long as head ; anal fin small ; scales with the exposed surfaces
broad. S Jet black above ; sides black with a coppery luster ; snout mi-
nutely tuberculated in spring ; j olivaceous ; D. 30 ; A. 7 ; lat. 1 .5(5 ; length
2 to 3 feet; weight 2 to 15 pounds. Mississippi valley, in large streams.
A singular species, quite unlike any other. Occasionally taken in the Alle-
gheny river.

ChTOSTOVJJS- Les.

Hypentelium — Raf. Minytrema — Jordan.

This genus includes the ordinary suckers, and is distributed throughout
Xorth America.

♦Scales large, lateral line imperfect.

Catostomus melanops — Ra^. Spotte<l mullet. Striped sucker.

Each scale with a large, scpiare, blackish si)ot at its base, tliese forming
more or less conspicuous stripes along the sides ; body subterete, becoming
deeper with age Hea<l 4^ in length; deptlj about 4; scales very large;
blackish above; sides coppery, with black strii)es ; 1). I., 12; lat. 1,47;
size large; adult maU^s with the sides of the lunid profusely tuberculate in
spring ; young specimens of this species have no trace of lateral line, as
in Erimyzon : older <mes (fi-S inches) show a deepening of the furrows
along the median scries of scales; adults of 12 to IS inches show a scries
of completely developed tubes, which, however, are wanting on some of
the scales, especially behind; as Erimyzon never shows any traces of
the tul>e8 of the lateral line, (ireat lakes. Ohio valley, and south, abun-
dant; one of our handsomest suckers, strangely overlooked by recent writers.
This and the next, unlike most of our suckers, are very lianly in the a.iua-
rium.

*♦ Scales large, lateral line imperfect.

Catostomis sigricaxs — Les.

Banded Sucker. — Stone Roller. — Hog Sucker. — " Mud Sucker.'' — Depth
4J in length; head 4 ; depth of head f^ its length ; eyes small, very high
up and far back ; lower fins very large ; pectoral nearly as long as head ;

9 — Leg. Doc. No. 19.

130

State CoMMissioNEas of Fisheries,

[No. 19,

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

181

brownish, often beaulifully marbled; D. I., 11; A. 8; lat. 1,52. Lakes
and streams from New York south and west ; abundant : one of the most
characteristic fishes. It frequents clear streams and rapids, and it is not
at all a " mud fish," as some writers seem to suppose. It is most abundant
in the tributaries of the Ohio and Susquehanna, but is rare in those of the
Delaware.

*** Scales small ; lateral line perfect.

a. Lateral line with 60-65 scales.

Catostomus teres — Mitchill. Fig. 9, p. 49.

Common Sucker.— White Sucker.— Depth about eciual to length of head,
4 to 4^ in lenixth ; olivaceous, sides silvery, with bright reflections ; males
with the sides^ roseate in spring ; D. I., 12 ; lat. 1,63. United States, abun-
dant everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains. ( C. commersonii, C. com-
munis^ boatoniemisy sucklii^ etc., of authors.)

Familiar to everyone as " the sucker"' par excellence, and found in all
waters. It is extensively used for food, but is not distinguished for either
good or bad qualities.

aa. Lateral line with about 100 scales.

Catostomus longirostrum — Les.
Red-sided sucker.— Long-nosed sucker.— Slender, depth less than length
of head ; sides with a bright red band, and upper part of head with sn all
tubercles in males in spring ; D. I.. 10 ; lat. 1,110. (ireat lakes, upper Mis-
sissippi, and northward ; abundant ; [(7. hudsonius, Les. ; C. aurora, Ag. ;
C. griseuA and C. lactarius, (ird.; C. fomterianua, (Rich.,) not G./orste-
nanus, Ag. ; which is probably C. tereh^ Milch.] Size large.
Lake Erie.

EBIMYZON, Jordan— Moxostoma, " Raf.," Agass, not Raf.

Erimyzon siccetta — Lac.
Fig. 10, p. 49.

Chub sucker.— No stripes along the rows of scales, body rather short
and dvH'p; head 4 to 4), in length ; depth 2'/ in adult ; eye 5 in head ; scales
crowded, deeper than long; no trace of lateral lin«' ; dusky above, brassy
on sides and below; very variable; young mueh less compressed, with
black bands or bars, and pale lateral and vertebral streaks ; spring n)ales
with six tubercles on head ; D. I, II ; lat. 1,40. New England, south and
west abundant.— [^. oblongus, (Mit.) Jor.J

Found in muddy and slow streams in all parts of the State, especially

the east.

MYX08T0MA-/?cr/.

Ptychostomusy Agass. — Teretulus, Raf.
This genus includes numerous species, which niostly have large scales.
Its great ctnter of abundance is in the souihern rivers, which How into the

' ^

*/

Atlantic, but species occur everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains. It
is not known from waters (lowing into the Pacific.

♦Lips thick, not infolded and v-shaped, plicate ;

o. Dorsal rays 15-18; mouth large.

Myxostoma carpio — Valenc.

White Lake Mullet.— Body deep, strongly compressed, the back some-
what elevated ; head large, broad above ; mouth large with full lips, which
are strongly plicate ; lower lip full, truncate behind ; eye large ; dorsal fin
high and large, more developed than in any other species of this genus,
the first ray about as long as the base of the fin, the rays 15 to 18 in num-
ber; coloration very pale and silvery, the lower fins pale; head 85 to 4^ :
depth 3 J ; D. 17 ; scales 5-43-4. Length 18 to 24 inches.

Habitat, Ohio river and Great lake region. Lake Erie (Jordan.)

aa. Dorsal rays 12-14 ; scales 1.1. 41-5l». ^

My xostom a macrolepidotum — Les.

Red horse.— Common mullet— Head comparatively elongate, 4 to 5 in
length ; mouth large ; size large, reach a length of two feet or more. United
States, east of the great i)lains, everywhere common, except in New Eng-
land and streams east of the Delaware.

Vau, duquesnei — Les.

Common red horse.— White sucker.— Head quite elongate, 4 to 4g in
length ; back little elevated ; body rather elongate, not greatly compressed :
scaTes pretty large, 6-42 to 49-5; back bluish or olive; sides brilliantly
silvery, with bright refiections: dorsal fin dusky above; lower fins bright
red. Ohio river and southward, very abundant, the common " red horse"
in most regions. A common article of food in western Pennsylvania.

Var. macrolepidotl m — Les.

Lake mullet.— Eastern red horse— Head still shorter and deeper, 4^^ to
5 in length ; its upper profile concurrent with the curve of the back, which
is considerably elevated ; t)ie form being thus somewhat elliptical ; sides
compressed ; dorsal rays usually 13; coloration little silvery, the sides re-
flecting brownish and golden; back smoky, some of the scales dusky at
base ; 'scales 6—42 to 50—5. Great lakes and streams eastward, from Ver-
mont to South Carolina. Very abundant in the Sus(iuehanna, less so in
the Delaware. Brought in numbers to Philadelpliia market.

Myxostoma aureolum — Les.

Golden red horse.— Lake mullet.— Head comparatively short, low and
small, 5 to 5^ in length; back elevated and ctmipressed ; depth 3» in length :
mouth rather small, more or less overpassed by the snout ; coloration bright
yellowish brown, etc., not silvery ; lower fins bright red ; dorsal rays 13 :
scales 6—42 to 48—5 ; size large. Great It'kes. Ohio Valley and northward.

132

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
Myxostoma brevicbps — Cope.

[No. 19,

Lon-tail red horse.-Bodv compressed, the back somewhat elevated ;
head short, conic. Hattish, formed as in M. aureolum ; mouth very small,
the lips plicate, the lower full and truncate behind ; dorsal tin short and
hicrh, falcate, the anterior rays being elevated, and the free border deeply
incised, the height of the largest rays being half greater than the base ot
the tin- caudal fin witli the upper lobe much larger than the lower, falcate,
at least in the adult ; colors olivaceous, sides silvery with coppery retlec-
tions; head H ; depth 3.^; D. 12 or 13; scales 6-46-5. Length one foot.
Habitat, Ohio Valley, West Pennsylvania. Known by the unequal lengths
of the lobes of the caudal tin.

** Lower lips infolded, ^-shaped when viewed from below, with a dis-
tinct median crease, in which the two halves of the lip meet, forming an
acute angle ; mouth small.

t Lips plicate, the folds not broken up into papillae.

g. Dorsal rays (developed) 16 (15 to 17.)

Myxostoma vELATUM—C?ope. (White Nose.)

Small-mouthed red-horse.— White nose.— Body stout, deep, compressed,
the back elevated, the depth 3 to 4 in length; head short, heavy, llattish
and broad above, thick through the cheeks, S^to 4»t in length ; eye rather
large, midway in head, 4 to 5 in its length ; muzzle rather prominent, blunt-
ish, overhanging the very small mouth ; fins very large ; dorsal long and
high, its height tive sixths the length of the head ; pectorals nearly reaching
ventrals; color silvery, smoky above; lower fins red; size large, (ireat
lakes to North Carolina and Alabama, rather common. (P. collapmis^and
P. velatm, Cope.) Western Pennsylvania. (Jenerally confounded by
fishermen with the red horse. Common in Lake Erie and tlje Allegheny

river.

PLACOPHAEYNX— Cope.

This genus resembles the last in every respect excepting in the teeth,
some of which approach those of some ' yprinidae.

Placopfiarynx CARINATITS — Cope.

Cope's sucker.- Resembles the red horse, but the lips and pharyngeal
bones quite different ; eye 4Un head; head 4 in length: depth 3^ ; head
strongly ridged above; pharyngeal bones very heavy, the lower 7 to 12
teeth 'on each side very large, scarcely compressed ; truncate, irregularly
placed ; D. I, 14 ; A. I, 7 ; lat. 1.41; head with a median ridge on top ; a
larse, coarse species similar in general characters to Myxostoma, but with
the physiognomy appro.iching somewhnt that of Ichthyubus. It is proba-
bly common in the western streams, although it was not noticed until 1870.
Specimens from the Illinois, Wabash, Detroit, Falls of the Ohio and the
Scioto, are noted by Prof. Jordan.

tf

Leg. Doc ] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 188

CYPEINIDJE— ( Ca rj). )
This family is represented by more numerous species than any other of
those <^f the Northern Hemisphere. Its genera present a great variety of
detailed structure, while adhering very closely to the definitions which
comprise them all. In habits, there are both carnivorous and herbivorous
forms, which differ in the structure of their pharyngeal teeth and alimen-
tary canal. There are also forms which are distinguished by still more
radical peculiarities, which form the definitions of the four sub-families be-
low mentioned.

In an economical point of view the Cyprinidse are not as important in
the United States as in Europe and Asia, on account of their generally in-
ferior size. The only ones in Pennsylvania which grow to a valuable size,
are the two species of Semotilus. A number of the other species are val-
ued as pan fish, and are caught in large numbers by anglers. The European
carp is a large and valuable fish, and is likely to be acclimated in the State
hv the Libors of the United States and Pennsylvania fish commissioners.

The four sub-families are defined as follows :

I. The natatory bladder free from the dorsal peritonaeum, and sur-
rounded by numerous convolutions of the alimentary canal.

Jaws and opercula normal, Mesocysti.

n. Swim bladder enclosed in the dorsal peritonaeum, not surrounded by
the alimentary canal.

u Mandibular rami distinct from each other.

Cranial bones not cavernous, Epicysti.

Cnuiial bones supp )rting lamina-, which enclose superficial chambers.—

Coelophori.

a a Dentary bones of opposite sides united together by their lower edges
throughout their length.

Cranial bones not cavernous, Cuchlobori.

ME80CTSTL
Only one genus of this sub-family is known.

C AMP08T0M A.— A fjass.
Alimentary canal very elongate ; teeth of the extern.al row 4— 4, ob-
liquely truncate and without hook ; anterior dorsal spine short, closely
adherent to the soft rays ; dorsal fin above ventrals; lips acute, with a car-
tilaginous sheath ; The intestinal can 1 six to nine times the total length of
the body, its numerous convolutions passing above and around the air-
bhulder ; an arrangement found in (\impostoma alone among all the verte-
brates.

The species are not numerous, and have a wide range. They are only
found in streams east of the Uocky Mountains.

Campostoma anomalim — Raf.

Stone luirger. Stone roller. — Prownish, with a brassy luster above, the

scales m«>re or less mottled with dark ; a black vertical bar behind opercle ;

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[No. 19,

iris usually oranjje-red ; dorsal and anal each witli u dusky cross- bar about
half way up ; the rest of the fin olivaceous, or in spring males fiery orange ;
males in spring Avith many rounded tubercles on head, and usually the
whole upper surface — in no other genus are these nuptial appendages so
extensively developed — scales deep, rather small and crowded anteriorly ;
intestinal D. 1,7; lat. 1,50 to 55 ; L. 4 to 8; herbivorous. Mississippi
vallev, everywhere abundant ; one of the most curious and interestiiiff of
American fishes. It takes its food on the bottom, and its movements are
rather sluggish, unless it is alarmed, when it <l.irts with great swiftness.
In its spring color it is a conspicuous fish — 0. dubivm, (Kirt.) Cope.

EPICYSTI.

This sub-family embraces the greater number of the genera of the family.
Those found within the limits of Pennsylvania are the following :

I. Alimentary canal elongate ; teeth grinding or sharply truncate. Her-
bivorous.

'/ Dorsal fin long, anal short, each preceded by a spine.
Molar teeth, 1, 3-3, 1 ; mouth with barbels: (introduced.) — Cyprinus.
Teeth compressed, 4-4 ; no barbels; (introduced.) .... Caratixius.
a a Dorsal fin short ; no strong spines in front of it or of the anal ; teeth
compressed.

,5 Rudimentary dorsal spine separated from soft rays by a mi'mbiane.

Lateral line imperfect, Pimephnles.

Lateral line complete, Hyborhymhim.

,^ I'j First dorsal spine adherent.

Y Teeth 4-4.

Lateral line complete, Ilybognathus.

Lateral line incomplete, Chrosomus.

rr Teeth, 5-5.

Lateral line complete ; teeth crenate, Nolemifjonus.

II. Alimentary canal short; teeth hooked, mostly without grinding sur-
face. (Carnivorous.)

« Xo barbel at the angle of the mouth.
;5^ Teeth with grinding surface.

Y Lateral line incomplete.

Teeth, 4-5 or 4-4 ; dorsal fins over ventrals, Ilemitremia.

YY Lateral line comjilete.

Dorsal fin standing over some part of base of ventral fins; teeth 4-4

Ltixilua.
Dorsal fin originating behind ventrals ; teeth 4-4, . . . Lylhrurua.

/?,? Teeth without grinding surface.
}' Teeth 4-4.
Lips tiiick, fieshy, mouth inferior ; dorsal fin beginning anterior to ven-

^^^^^^ Phenacobius.

Lips normal ; dorsal fin beginning above ventrals, Cliola.

if

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I

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135

3Iinnilu8.

Lips normal ; dorsal fin beginning behind ventrals, . . .
rr Teeth 5-4 and 5-6.

Lips normal ; dorsal fin entirely behind ventrals, Oila.

«« A barbel at the angle of the mouth.
Upper jaw projectile (dermal groove the crossing muzzle ) teeth 4-5. —

Semotilus.

Upper jaw projectile; teeth 4-4, . Ceratichthys.

Upper jaw not projectile, (dermal groove not crossing muzzle;) teeth

4_4 Bhinichthys.

CYPEINTJS— Z.in«.
This genus is distributed in Europe and temperate Asia. One species
has been introduced into Pennsylvania.

Cyprinus carpio — Linn. (European Carp.)
Figs. 12, 13a, 136.
Olivacous; D. 111,5; lat. 1.37. European, introduced into some east-
ern rivers.

CABA8SI1TS- yUes.

Another European aud temperate Asiatic genus, of which one species
has become abundant in Pennsylvauia.

Carassius AURATUsu-L. (Gold Ftsh. Silver Fi»h.)

Fig. 14, p. 65.

Orange or blackish, rarely pale; D. I, 19; A. 1,8; lat. 1.26; exceed-
ingly variable in domestication. Asia; common everywhere in aquaria,
and now naturalized in many of our eastern streams. Abimdant in the
Delaware and Schuylkill.

PIMEPH ALES -/?«/.

A genus containing but few species of singular appearance.

PiMEPIIALES PROMELAS — Bof.

Fat head.— Black head.— Head almost globular, black in adult males;
snout in 5 with sevi-ral large tubercles ; body very short and deep ; scales
crowded ; eye snuill ; mouth very small and short ; a large black dorsal
blotch ; maies dusky ; females olivaceous ; D. I, 7 ; lat. 1. 46 ; L. 2i. Ohio
valley to Upper Missouri. " Known at sight, as =t resembles nothing else*'
(Jordan;) common in the tributaries of the Ohio in Pennsylvanis. The
heads of the males are especially swollen and are studded with horny tu-
l)ercle8 symmetrically arranged.

HYBORHTHCHnS- Agasa.

The species of this genus resemble those of the last, and are not numer-
ous. They are mud lovers and live on decomposing vegetable matter.
Their dark colors enable them to escape observation.

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.
Hyborhynchus notatls — Raf.

[No. 19,

Blunt-nosed minnow. — Brownish or bluish, a dusky shade alon^ sides,
sometimes forming a caudal spot on middle of front rays of dorsal ; bead
short; snout in spring males with disproportionate!}' large tubercles, usual-
ly fourteen in all ; no distinct barbel at each angle of the mouth ; scales
in front of dorsal small and crowded ; I). 1, 8 ; A. 1, 7 ; lat. 1, 45 ; L. 3 to
4. Xew York to Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Missouri ; ver^' abundant in
the Ohio valley.

HYBOONATHUS— yl.7«M.

The species of this genus are numerous and are found in all the Missis-
sippi and Atlantic streams, excepting those of New Knglaud.

IIyboonatiius nuciialis — Agaas.

Blunt-jawed minnow. Sul)orl>ital bones broad and short, not long and
narrow as in the next ; head 4ff in length ; eye small, shorter than snout, 4
to 4^ in head ; depth 4^ in length, about equal to length of head ; I). 1, 8 ;
lat. 1, 3S; L. 2^7. Ohio valley and W. This an<l the next may be r»'adily
known from the Luxili, which they strongly resemble externally, by the
peculiarities of the intestines.

In Pennsylvania from tributaries of the Ohio only.

Hyboonatius argyritis — Gird.

Silvery minnow. — Olivaceous green above, sides clear silvery with bright
reflections ; fins unspotted ; eye large, longer than muzzle, 3 to 4 in head ;
depth 4ji in length; scales in front of dorsal quite large; lateral line de-
curved; head large, upper jaw heavy; D. 1, 8; A. 1, 8; lat. 38; L. 5.
New Jersey to South Carolina, and west to the Upper Missouri, abun<lant
in the larger streams ; one of our handsomest dace. Probably occurs in
the Delaware, in Pennsylvania, as it has been taken by Dr. Charles Abbott,
in the Haritan, whicli it ascends with the smelt in the spring.

IIyimminathus rkoius — Oirard — Smelt Minnow.

Head 5 in length ; mouth small ; bright silvery ; D. 1 . 9 ; A. 1 , 9 ; L. 7 ;
lat. 1, 3»<. Maryland and Virginia; a species similar to the preceriing, but
ai)i)areutly much larger ; the two need further comparison. Pr«jl»ably found
in the Sus(piehanna.

CHR080MUS-/?o/.
This genus includes a few small pieces of remarkably brilliant coloration.

CHRf^OMlS ERYTIIROOASTKR — Raf.

Bed-bellied dace. — Brownish olive, with black spots on the back, a
black or brown band from above the eye, straight to the tail; another be-
low, running through eye,decurved along the lateral line; belly and space
between bands l»right silvery, luilliant scarlet red in spring, males, as arc

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

137

the bases of the vertical fins ; a dark vertebral line ; females obscurely
marked ; D. 1, 8 ; A. 1, 9 lat. I, 80 to 90. Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and
Tennessee, abundant in small streams ; one of the most beautiful of our
fishes ; in high coloration the fins are bright xellow, and the body is mi
nutelv tuberculate. There seems to be but one well-defined species. It is
the most desirable of all our minnows for aquarium purposes, being hardy,
graceful and brilliantly colored.

Common in the streams of Western Ponnsvlvania. A varietv or dis-
tinct species (G. eos.) is found in the Susquehanna river, but the genus is
not represented in the Delaware.

NOTOMIGONTJS-Raf.

There are but few species of this genus, and they are distributed through-
out North America. They represent the bream (Abramis) of Europe-Asia
in their form.

NoTEMiooNUS chrysoleucus. — Mitch.

m

Fig. 15, p. 65.

Shiner. — Bream. — Body much compressed ; abdomen trenchant ; head
small, about 4 in length; depths (2^ to 4); lateral line much decurred ;
scales small on the ]>ack. much larger below ; dark steel-blue or green above,
sides silvery or golden, every where with bril.iant reflections, green, yel-
low, and red ; young specimens paler, looking like young Luxili, but the
adults are among the largest in the family and hear a strong resuml)lance
to shad, a circumstance which has mislead many observers, and among them
Rafinesque ; D. 1 , 7 ; A. 1, 14 : lat. 1, 45 to 50. New England to Minnesota
and S.; abundant in bayous, ponds, and weedy streams ; this species is
much more tenacious of life than is any other of our cyprinoids.

This fish is the most abundant cyprinoid of tide-water streams, and the
ditches and ponds which connect with them. It sometimes reaches one
and a half pounds weight, but is of little value as a pan-fish. It affords
much sport to the amateur fisher-boys of the eastern cities.

HEMITBEMIA.— rope.

HeMITREMIA BIFRENATA. — Gope.

Eastern hemitremia. — Head — deptli ; 4 1-5 in length; snout l)lunt;
olive, a burnished jet-black lateral band of a <leeper color than in any other
small minnow; D. 1. 8; A. 17; lat. 1,36. Massachusetts to Maryland,
abundant in the tributaries of the Delaware.

The Hemitremia Iieterodon,a species heretofore found in Michigan, may
be looked for in the north-western part of the State.

1UXILU8— /.'n/.

Ifypsilepin^ fid. — AIl)urnop!<, Gir. — //yhopniH^*^Aga.Hii.,'^ Gope.

This genus embraces a large number of species, many of them of very
small size, and some of them larger. Ma*\v are distinguished by bril-
liant colors, which are especially developed in the waters in spring. The*

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

most prominent of these colors is red ; next is a silver white pi^yment ; in
some there are beautiful shades of blue ; less frequently, pale yellow nnd
black are found. In the younjr of all the species the edg:es of the pharyn-
<jeal teeth are denticulate, and in some of them, e. gr., L. analontanux^ this
condition persists throughout life. Such species are dirticult to distin.^uish
generically, from those of Cyprinella, but the latter possess no grinding
surface.

Species of this genus are found in all the drainage basins of North
America.

A. Scales of the anterior parts of the body w'ith exposed faces not much
elevated.

* Mouih inferior, horizontal; teeth 4-4, (Alburnops, Gir.)

f Scales 38-42 on lateral line.

LuxiLUS niJDSONiis — Clinton.
Spawn eater. — Silvery, often with dark shades; snout much shorter than
eye, bluntly round ; depth 4 in length ; D. [., 8 ; A. I., 8 ; Lit. 1, 37 ; teeth
usually 2, 4-4, 2. Lakes and rivers; abundant eastward. {Hudsoniua
Jlumatilis^ Gir.) Delaware river.

LuxiLrs storerfanus — Kirtl.

" Smelt." — A'ery similar, but paler and with the snout much less de-
curved, less blunt than the preceding species ; I). I.. 7 ; A. I.. 8 ; lat. 1 , 38 ;
teeth usnnlly 1, 4-4, I. Pennsylvania to (Jeorgia. Lake Ya'\q. (H,
phaenna, Cope.)

Abundant in the Susquehanna river, especially in the lower part of its
course. A bright silvery lish, the largest of the genus.

ft Sctdes 31-33 on the lateral line.

LuxiLis PROCNE — Cope.

Scales large ; caudal peduncle ccmtracted and slender ; dorsal region com-
pressed and elevated; muzzle very obtuse; a plumbeous band over black
pigment ; I>. L, 8 ; A. L, 7. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, etc., common ; one
of the small species.

Abundant in the tributaries of the Delaware and Suscpiehanna, avoiding
rapid water. Often seen in aquaria.

** Mouth oblicpie, jaws etpial ; teeth two rowed. Hydrophlox Jordan.

Llxilus ciiALvn.KLS— Cop«.

Pigmy minnow. — Muzzle flat ; head 4 in leniith ; caudal peduncle ab-
rui)tly slender, lateral band very distinct, shining black ; A. 1,8; lat. 1, 36,
Penn., X J. ; one of the smallest of the Cyprinidie; length \\ inches; (re-
sembles llemitremia hifrenata.) The males in the spring are brilliantly
colored, the lower parts being largely orange

Tributaries of the Delaware, especially in dams and ponds.

A A Scales with the expose<l surfaces narrowed, vertical, especially an-
teriorlv.

♦Teeth 2, 4-4, 2; fins with red pigment, no white.

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

139

M'

• LuxiLUS coRNUTi'S — Mitch. Fig. 16, p. 72.

Common shiner. — Ut-d-finned shiner — Rough-head. — Red-lin. Adult
deep steel blue or olivaceous above, with golden vertebral and lateral bands,
•very conspicuous in life; sides silvery, rosy in males in spring; fins plain
olivaceous or somewhat dusky, becoming crimson in spring ; young oliva-
ceous and silver}', not closely resembling the adult ; depth 3 to 5 in length,
greater than length of head in adults ; head large ; mouth moderately ob-
lique, the lower jaw not projecting; lateral line much decurved ; D. 1,8;
A. 1, P ; lat. 1, 40 to 45 ; L. L. 6. U. S. from Main to the Rocky Moun-
tains, everywhere abundant and extremely variable. The adults may be
known at once by the high and narrow exposed surfaces of the scales ; the
young often need close attention. {Plargyrua typicus^ Grd. ; L. chy-
socephalust, Raf. ; L. diplemiua and plargyrus, Kirt. ; Leuciscui^ frontalis,
Ag., a stout variet,\ from the grent lakes.)

The well-known " red-fin " is common in all parts of the State, It is
brilliantly colored in sprinir but becomes pale in the autumn.

** Teeth 1.4-4.1 ; fins with white pigment ; no red.

Lu X I LIS AN ALOSTAN US — Oirard.

Silver fin. Leaden silvery ; fins satin white in the breeding season ; dor-
sal with a conspicuous black spot posteriorily ; head 4 in length, rather
short and deep ; mouth rather small, very oblique, yet the lower jaw re-
ceived within the upper in the closed mouth ; body much compressed ;
depth 3-^ in length ; D. 1 , 8 ; A. I, 8 ; lat. 1, 3fS to 40 ; L. ^. Teeth usually
more or less serrate. Cayuga L., N. Y., (S. H. (wage,) to N. J., Va , and
Ind., abundant. In full breeding dress one of the most exquisite of all our
fishes. /.. /b«^rt<'MrH<?rj«i«, Kirt. not of Raf. Found in' all the rivers and
creeks of the State, but least common in those flowing into the Delaware.

LYTPRURXI8— Jordnn.

The 8p(cies of this genus are few, and are distinguished for brilliancy of

color.

Lythruris tupi-aemius — Cope.

Red-fin. — Bright steel-blue, with polished shades, silvery below ; a large
black spot on the anterior rays of dorsal in front ; fins otherwise unicolor,
plain olivnceous in 6 . brilliant brick-red in spring males; scales with more
or less dark edging; nuptial tubercles minute, vi-ry ntimerous, whitish,
chiefly on the upper surface of the head ; body much compressed ; back
elevated ; head deep, rather obtuse ; depth 3^' in length ; D. I, 9 ; A. 1 , 10 ;
lat. 1, 44; L. 3. Western streams, generally abundant ; an exceedingly
brilliant fish in the breeding season ; known .at all times by the dorsal spot and
compressed body, with large fins and long caudal peduncle. (Not Le.ucUcus
diplemius, Kirt.) Only known from the tributaries of the Ohio in Penn-
sylvania.

PHENACOBIUS. -Cojye.

A genus embracing five or six species from the region east of the plains.

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

They have a general resemblance to the suckers, and doubtless obtain their
food like those fishes, from the bottom. This is, however, entirely distinct
in character, being animal instead of vegetable. The name of the genus
has reference to this deceptive resemblance. #

Phenacobius tbretulus — Cope.

Head — depth, A\ in length; form stouter than in P. uranops^ Cope;
chest scaled ; lips transversely plicate; a dusky lateral band ; D. I. 8, A.
I. 7 ; lat. I. 43.

A pretty species having tlie lips thrown into transverse ridges like those
of the large-scaled suckers. It has been found in the tributaries of the
Kanawha in West Virginia, and will probably occur in west Pennsylvania.

CLIOLA.— Gird.

A genus near the Alburnua of Europe, represented by about seven species,
all of small size. They are always silvery and without l)right colors.

Cliola SCABRICEPS — Cope. Bough -Headed Shiner.

Head broad, prickly in spring ; eye large, 3 in head ; head flattish above ;
mouth little oblique ; greenish, sides leaden silvery ; P. 1.8; A. 1,8; lat.
1, 3S. Ohio valley and probably in Western Pennsylvania.

MINNimS— /?«/. Alburvelhis, Gird.

A genus of small species, some of them the least of the cyprinidae, allied
to Alburnu.t. The species are numerous, and are all silvery, some of them,
displaying red on the head in spring.

MiNNius HUimiFRONs — Cope.

Rosy- faced minnow. — Olive al»ove, with a clear green luster ; sides sil-
very ; a dark vertebral line : forehead, ojiercular region, base of dorsal, etc.,
flushed with red in spring; upper surface of head minutely tuberculate in
males at that season ; head rather pointed, about 3| in length ; di'pth i\;
eye about 4 in head ; I). 1 , 8 ; A. 1 , 10 ; lat. 1 , 38 ; L. 3 or less. Ohio val-
ley, abundant ; an elegant little fish, well distinguished fr<jm N. rvbdlu» by
the smaller size, deeper body and much longer head, as well as by peculiar-
ities of form.

Common in west Pennsylvania.

Minn ILLS in n em us — Raf.

Emerald minnow. Coloration exactly as in M. rvbellua. but the body
very slender and less compressed, more elongated than any other of our
cyprinidae, the depth being only from one sixth to one seventh of the
length; eye 3 i in head; fins as in preceding; 1. 4 to .*>. Lake Michigan
ami Ohio valley, in the larger streams, like the others, going in shoals.
(A.jaculux and A. arf/e^Co\ye.) (This is Kafinesijue's "Emerald minnow,"
the tyi>e of his genus Minnilus. but the name \otropis is still older.)

Fotmd in rapidly tlouing streams and swimuiing in shoals. The clear
green >\itli the lateral gold thread gives this species an elegant appearance.

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141

<^

^)

Minnilus photooenis — Cope.

White-ej'ed shiner. — An extremely variable species, differing from all the
preceding in the less posterior position of the dorsal, and in the rather more
compressed form ; depth 4 ^ to 7 in length ; head 4 to 4i in length ; eye 3.|
in head, large and white. Olive green ; no red pigment ; sides silvery ; male
minutely tuberculate about the head in spring ; dorsal fin beginning much
nearer caudal than end of muzzle ; I). 1, 8 ; A. 1, 10 ; lat. I, 4'.>. Streams
of the Allegheny region from Pennsylvania south. {Photogenis leucopa,
Cope.) Very abundant in all western streams.

6ILA, Bd. Gird. Clinostomus — Gir.

A genus which embraces a large number of species, especially from the
Rocky Mountain region.

Gila elongat.\ — Kirtl.

Red-sided minnow. Dark bluish, mottled with paler scales; sides with
a broad black band, the front half of which is a bright crimson in the
spring; a dark dorsal stripe; mouth very large, the lower jaw narrowed
and projecting farther than in any other of the Dace ; a little knob at the
tip which overlaps the end of the upper jaw; body much elongated, but
little compressed ; depth 6 in length ; head 4 j ; eye moderate, about 3^ in
head ; D. 1, 8 ; lat. 1. 70 to 75; L. 4. Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, etc. ; a
handsome species, brilliantly colored in spring. Western Pennsylvania
only.

Gila funduloides — Girard.

Rosy dace. A light and dark lateral band ; snout pointed ; mandible
shorter than in the preceding, less compressed ; eye larger, 3 in head ; depth
bin length; head 4] ; I). 1,9; A. l,M; lat. 1.48. Streams about Chesa-
peake Ray and South. The most brilliantly-colored fish known in Penn-
sylvania. It is only abundant in the Susquehanna basin, although it occurs
in Delaware streams.

Gila maruarita — Cope.

Pearl minnow. Head equal depth and 4 in body ; scales small, much
crowded forwards ; lateral line hardly complete, the tubes wanting on the
last 3 to 8 scales; head blunt, short and rounded; mouth quite small, ob-
liipie, the ujjper jaw the longer, the lower jaw not compressed ; color light
olive; sides dusky; belly in suuiiniir briglit crimson ; D. I, 8; A. I.; lat
1.58. Teeth 25 — 4, 2 ; a stout-bodied species of small size, confined to the
tributaries of the Suscpiehanna. Colors brilliant.

8EM0TILUS-/?o/.

This genus commences the series of those with beards at the angle of the
mouth. In Semotilus they are very small and sometimes abnormally want-
ing. The species are the largest of our Cyprinidae.

* Dorsal fin well behind the ventrals, with a black spot at the base ; scales
small crowded forward, 45 — 70 in the lateral line.

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State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

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143

Semotilus corporalts — Mitch.

Common chub. — Horned dace. — Body stout ; depth 4^ in length ; head
large, 34 ; dusky above, especially along edges of scales ; sides bluish, a
black lateral band in young; silvery below, sides and 11ns flushed with
crimson in spring; I). 1,8; A. 1,8; lat. 1,55 to 65; L. 10 to 12. New
England (Ilousatonie II Jordan) to the Missouri region and S. ; the most
widely ditfused of our Cijprinidse, excepting NocomiH biguttatus. It may
be known under all circumstances by the large head and the peculiar dorsal
spot. S. atiomaculatus, dorsalis, cephalus, speciosus, etc., etc., of authors.

The most abundant (7?//>rinoid of the Allegheny and Susrpiehanna l)asins,
not rare in the Delaware. It sometimes reaches four lbs. weight, and is a
fair food lish.

** Dt)rsal very slightly behind vcntrals, without black spot at base in
front ; scales large, about 50 in lateral line, not much crowded forwards.

Semotilus bullaris — Raf.
Fig. 17, p. 72.

Fall fish, dace, roach. — Brownish above, with blue rel'.ections ; side sil-
very, rosy in spring; depth 4i in length, head 4; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. I,
46 to 50; largest of our eastern cyprinidjx?, reaching a length of 18 inches.
New England to Virginia, generally abundant in the rapids of the larger
streams. SemotUun rolheua, argenteua and pulrhellus, auct.

This is a beautiful lish, and the most gamey of the family, taking the

hook with the energy of a trout. It abounds in the Delaware basin, is less

common in the Susquehanna, and is absent from the tributaries of the

Mississii»pi.

CERATICHTHY8 -/ifiir</.

This genus corresponds to the I'alaearctic genus Gobio, but the ])hnrvn-
geal teeth are less numerous. There are many species, which are distributed
everN wliere east of the Rocky mountains excepting in New England.

♦Mouth terminal, large ; teeth 4-4, (rarely 1 , 4-4, 1 ;) dorsal liu over
ventrals.

Ceraticiitiivs biouttatus — Kirtl.

Horned chub ; jerker. — Bluish olive, sides with bright green and coppery
rellectioiis ; a curved blotch behind the opercle ; tins, pale orange, unspot-
ted; white below, rosy in spring; adult males in the spring with the top
of the head very much swollen, elevated into a sort of crest, sometimes
nearly one third of an incli higher than the level of the neck, covered with
large tubercles ; a stout species, with large scales which are not crowded
anteriorly ; young with a dark caudal spot ; head 4 in length ; depth nearly
the same ; D. 1,8; A. I, 7 ; lat. I, 40 to 45 ; L. 6 to 9. Penn to I tah and
S. ; abundant almost everywhere ; the most widely diffused of all our fresh
water lishes. Breeding males sometimes have a red spot on each side head,
hence the speeiflc name. Not found in the Delaware basin, but common
everywhere west and south of it. A good pan fish.

\^'

Ceratichthys micropodon — Cupe.

Head short, almost exactly as in Luxilus cornutus ; barbel small ; caudal
peduncle slender; teeth 4-4; lat. 1.40. Conestoga K. ; but one specimen
known — perhaps a hybri<l.

** Mouth sub-inferior, rather small, the upper jaw the longer; size not
large; teeth 4-4, or 1, 4-4, 1.

f Dorsal fin in advance of ventrals.

a. Lateral line 36 to 4U ; head short ; lips little developed ; teeth 1,4-4, 1.

Ceratichthys dissimilis — Kirtl.

Spotted shiner. — Pale olivaceous, sides bright silvery, with a bluish lat-
eral band, widened at intervals into spots; fins immaculate; depth 5 in
length ; head 4 ; e^e large, 3^ in head ; D. I, 8 ; A. 1, 7 ; lat. 1, 47 to 50 ; L.
6. Ohio valley and lake region, not uncommon. P^specially numerous in the
creeks of Western Pennsylvania.

BHINICHTHTS.— .4f7as«.

A genus which includes as yet only small species, which are distinguished
by the non-protractillity of the upper jaw. The muzzle is usually promi-
nent.

* Snout projecting considerably beyond the mouth ; bod}' slender, depth
usually 5 to b in length ; barbels evident.

Uhimciithys cataract ae — C. V.

Long-nosed Dace. — Brownish, mottled, not ban<led ; eye half the length
of the long snout ; head Hf in length ; 1). I, 8 ; A. 1, 7 ; lat. 1.63 ; L. 5. New
England to Va. and Wis. [72. nasutus, (Ayres) Ag.J Found only in
rapids and swift water in Eastern Pennsylvania.

** Snout scarcely projecting; body stout, depth 4-5 times in length ;
barbels minute.

Hhinichthys atronasus — 3Iitch.

Fig. 18, p. 73.

Black-nosed dace. — Dusky, belly silvery ; lateral band bright crimson in
spring, becoming orange in sumuier, black at other times ; fins often rosy in
spring; depth 45 in length; head 3^' ; D. 1,8; A. I, 7 ; lat. 1.65. New
England to Ohio valley, in clear brooks; abundant eastward.

A very common tish in Eastern Pennsylvania and an ornament to aquaria.
The rays of the pectorial fin are much thickened in males.

Rhinichthys obtlsus — Jgass.

Brown-nose dace. — Similar; sides with a brown band, edged above and
below with paler; head 4 or more in length ; I). I, 8; A I, 8 ; lat. 1.63 to
70. Western streams. Usually paler than the preceding and more robust
in form ; probably a variety rather than a distinct species. In Pennsyl-
vania in the West only.

'^^

;.xo. 19,

1** State Commissioners of FisriERiEs.

COCHLOBOBI.

But one genus of this sub-family is known.

EXOGLOSSXIM— Raf.
But one species is known. Its peculiarly formed lower jaw is apparently
an adai)tation for scraping molluscs from their hold on rocks. Its stomach
is generally found to contain these animals, the shells being crushed to
pieces.

PLxooLossuM MAxiLLiNOLA. — Lesueur.

Exoglossum.— C!iub._Cut-lips._Xigger chub.— Body stout; depth 4^
in length, head 4 ; eye small, nearly 5 in head ; dorsal behind midway
between snout and caudal; dusky above, a blackish shade alonj? caudal
peduncle ; 1). I, 8 ; A. 1, 8 ; lat. 1, 50 to 55 ; L. 4 to f5. W. \. V. (Susque-
hanna basin) to Virginia; a fish of remarkable appearance, singidarly dis-
tinguished from all our other Cyprinidae by the three-lobed lower jaw.
The limited distribution of this fish is one of its peculiarities. In Penn-
sylvania it is confined to the Susquehanna basin, where it is abundant.

COELOFHOBI.
This sub-ftimily is enti»-ely North American. But one genns is known.

EBICYMB A- Cope.
A genus of a single species. It repeats in the Cvprinidae the peculiar
cranial septary ridges of the genas of fresh water Percidae Acerina, of the
Pahearctic fauna.

Ericymba BuccArA—Cope. Silver-moulhed Dace.
Elongate ; depth nearly 5 in length ; liead 4 ; eye large. 3 in head ; oli-
vaceous above, sides brilliantly silvery, a narrow vertebral line, and a lat-
eral chain of brown dots ; upper jaw rather large, its profile angulated ;
mucous channels in lower jaw very conspicuous; I), ],»<; A. 1, 8- lat. \.
33; L. 5. Ohio valley, Penn., to Ke-itucky and Illinois, abundant. A
beautiful little fish, singularly distinguished from all f)ther species by the
cavernous bones of the head. Not found in Atlantic streams.

ISOSPONDYLI.
Parietals separate : symplectic present ; no intprclavides. Anterior ver-
tebra- simple, unmodified. Pharyngeal bynes separate al>ove and l)elow.
An extensive order presenting many subordinate modifications.

1. Tail sulvprotocercal ; pterotic externallv annular, enclosing a large
cavity ; basis cranii double. . . Notopterid^.

2. lad heterocercal ; pterotic normal; basis eranii double; superior
pharygeals four, distinct ; third largest, directed forwards ; basal branchi-
hyals three, (typical.)

a. Parietals united.

' {

Si/

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 146

( Hyodontidae.

Two tail vertebrae, ■< Albulidae.

( Elopidae.

( Aulopidae.

One tail vertebra, -< Coregonidse.

( Lutodiridae.

-^ ^ ., , , i Oonorhynchidee.

^o^a*!^'^'*^^*'^' \Sauridse.

aa. Parietals separated by supraoccipital.

-_ ^ ., ^ , { Alepocephalidas.

Two tail vertebrae, i Salmonid^.

^ ., , , ( Chirocentridae.

One tad vertebra {ciupeidae.

3. Tail heterocercal ; pterotic normal ; basis cranii simple.

Basal branchihyals and superior pharyngeals, each three : . Osteoglossidse.

mu u u * S Galaxiidae.

The same bones each two, \Heteroiidse.

Of the above families but four are found in the fresh waters of this State.
These are further distinguished as follows :

I. Upper jaw formed of premaxillary bone onh'.

An adipose fin ; scales ctenoid ; Percopsidae.

II. Upper Jaw formed of maxillar}' and premaxillary bones.

An adipose fin ; pseudobranchia* present ; Salmonidas.

No adipose fin ; pseudobranchitw none ; stomach simple : . Hyodontidae.
No adipose fin ; pseudobranchiie present ; stomach with a blind sac ;

Ciupeidae.

PEBC0PSIO£.

But one genns of this family is known. The characters are essentially
those of the Salmonidae^ but the lK)nes of the mouth are those of a cypri-
noid or a percoid.

FERC0PSI8— ^^a«a.

This genus further resembles the perches in having a serrate preopercu-
lum. The jaw teeth are villiform, and there are none on the vomer or
palate. There is but one well-ascertained species, and this has a wide range.

Percopsis guttatus — Agass.

Depth 4i in length ; head 3§ ; silvery, almost puUucid ; upper parts with
rounded dark spots made up of minute dots; I>. 11 ; A. 7 ; L. 10; great
lakes; Ohio R. (Jordan;) Potomac U. (Baird); Delaware 11. (Abbott.) A
rare species in Pennsylvania.

SALMONIDJE— 9a^/ion.

The salmon and trout family embrace a larger number of fresh water
fishes of economic importance than any other. The genera found in Penn-
sylvania are as follows :

I. Dentition strong.

10 — Leg. Doc. No. 19.

j^j State Commissioners of Fisheries. [>'»• 19.

pyloric ca^ca numerous ; aual fin long, with fourteen or -ore ra^j^^^^^^

P,,oric caeca numerous ; anal fin short, with twelve rays or fewer,^ Jaimo-
Pyloric caeca few ; anal tin short,

II. Dentition weak or wanting. Coregonus.

Dorsal fin short; pyloric caeca numerous, Thymallm.

Dorsal fin long; pyloric caeca numerous ... ' '^ ' . ^^^ best

or the -•-vr;^sk'ifpCT;ot^^^^^^^ '--r

species are less abundant. It cannot fa.l *°'i\^"'"',^,^',„„„t countries
crease sufficiently, by that class of our people who m f ose lou^^

'r.rr"our'fls;:r Xhc^Kuason >, its southern ,, u of ..ration,

and it has been extremely rare there for ^ " ^^ ^x;;' -m-nt of cul-
.arc has rarely furnished a JP'o'mcn- and thou, rte e P ^

tivation in our waters ^^f ^^r teed imitcT numbers. Southern

::^:;:i^::c^;rc:s\;iretto o^^
Ta:: :::itrserirma,n™t ^

Hs propagation is already an important branch of industry.

ONCOKHYNCHTJB— .5Mct?cj/.

The species of this genus are confined to the coasts of the racific ocean
/ fi,o ,5 vor^ to breed in immense numbers. Lhc\ luinisii an im

States fish commission.

Oncoruynchusqlinnat— iJic^'fisw.

Fig. 19.
T^nrlv moderately compressed, rather short and deep; caudal fin well
. u'l' Sc^^^^^^^^ Branchiostegal rays

riuva ets a?ove, silvery below; back and sides wiUi -~ ^^^
itck spots, interspersed on the back with large ones. Snout of males

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

14T

spring distorted, the premaxilliaries greatly prolonged, hooking over the
lower jaw, which is turned up and hooked at the tip. The teeth on these
prolongations are much enlarged.

Abundant on the pacific coast, inhabiting waters of higher temperature
than those necessary for the Salmar salar. It should thrive in the Dela-
*^ ware and Susquehanna rivers, where it has been introduced.

SALMO — Linn.
Only two species of this genus are indigenous to Pennsylvania.
* Anadromous salmon with the vomerine teeth few and deciduous ; no
h\-oid teeth.

Salmo salar — L.
Fig. 20, p. 80.
Great sea salmon— Xo red spots ; young (known as Parr or Smolt) with
dusky cross bars ; males in the spawning season with the lower jaw strongly
decurved and hooked ; body covered with black and red patches ; others
silvery, with small black dots; eleven or twelve scales in a transverse series
from behind the adipose fin obliquely forward to the lateral line ; D. 14 ;
A. II ; lat. 1550. Northern Europe and America, S. to Cape Cod.
m The salmon was rarely caught as far south as the Hudson river in former

times. At present it is slowly increasing in the Delaware through trans-
plantation.

** River and lake salmon, with their vomerine teeth largely developed.
No hyoid teeth.

Salmo iridevs— Gibbons, California Trout.
Fig. 21, p. 89.

Form stout, head short, rather blunt ; mouth small, the maxillary bone
scarcely reaching the eye. Fins and tail black, spotted ; a few small black
spots on the back and ribs. Sides and belly rosy, red, or silvery.

Abundant in California and Oregon ; introduced into Pennsylvania by
the State Commission, and planted in the Susquehanna river.

*** Lake trout with vomerine teeth raised on the crest of a bone ; hyoid
teeth present.

Salmo samaycusii — Block.
Fig. 22, p. 96.

Mackinaw Trout— Great Lake Trout.— Stout ; head very large. S\ in
length ; bones of head strong; posterior point of juncture of opercle and
sul>opercle much nearer the upper end of the gill opening than to the lower
anterior angle of the sub-opercle ; teeth strong ; fins large, the caudal
deeply forked ; color greyish, more or less spotted, varying much with cir-
cumstances : D. 13 to 14^; A. 12 ; V. 9 ; lat. 1.220 ; length 2 to 6 feet. All
the great lakes, north to the Arctic Sea ; a fish of firmer ttesh ; (S. ame-
thystus, Mitch.)

148

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

Occurring in Lake Erie, this species belongs to the Pennsylvania fauna.
**** Vomer flat, toothless, no hyoid teeth. River and creek species.

Salmo YOSTifi Aus.—Mitchill.

Fig. 23, p. 96.

Sneckled Trout.-Mouth wide; teeth moderate; body olivaceous, varia-

gated w^bLkish, with red spots; lower flns usually orang^ wi.i black

snots and ed-es ; colors variable; young barred; D. 12, lat 1.200. a

Tetw^wn and beautiful fish, in clear brooks from the French Broad R.

''^1::T::SZ. game Ash of the State, abundant in the mountains
and the eastern counties everywhere, in clear water.

OSMEEUS— J-in««<"« — Smelts.

OSMERKS MOBDAX Mitch,

Fig. 24, p- Si-
Common Smelt._H«ad 4 in length ; eye 4 to 4i in head ; teeth stont,
esSy argo on the tongne ; transparent greenish, a silvery hand along
s do, eales very loose; I). U ; A. 15 ; lat. 1.66. Coast Nova Scot.a to
vtr'i'nia also -'land-locked" in fresh water ponds in Ma.ne. etc. (0.
]::!Z:ns-MUck.) Common in spring in the Delaware and .chuylkdl
rivers. An excellent pan fish.

THYMALLXJ8— Cwu.
A geuus which embraces a few species of the Northern Hemisphere. The
American forms are nearly allied to each other. .

TlIYMALLl S TRICOLOR — Cope.

Fig. 25, p. 97.
Michigan Gravliiig.-I>epth 4§ in length ; head about the same; purplish
J Sy be owf dorsal with rosy markings and rows of green or blue
^ ' ' n 27 A 13 • lat. 2.97. Waters of the north part of the S. penm-
'Tof iicw'in a'b autiful fish. It has been propagated in New York
::;!: 1:; sS/aml some have been introduced in Pennsylvania waters.
An excellent food and game fish, but rather delicate.

C0REG0NU8— /^tnn.
The white fishes form an in.portant article of food in all northern conn-

^'^Lower jaw longest; Ciscoes. ( Jrjyro.omu., Agamz.) Bo.ly *ub-
fusiform ; depth 4 to 5 in length.

CoBKOONts TUIJ.IBEF — Rchdsn.
Tullibce-Bodv short, deep, compressed, shad-like, the dorsal and ven-
traT ".l^es similar; caudal peduncle short and deep; head con.c, com-

^

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 1^9

pressed, much as in C. nigripinnis ; mouth large, the maxillary as long as
the eye, extending past the front of the pupil, its supplemental bone nar-
rowly ovate, with prolonged points ; jaws equal when closed ; eye large as
long as snout, 41 in head; preorbital narrow; supra-orbital elongate, rec-
tangular; scales anteriorly considerably enlarged, their diameter half
laK^er than the diameter of those on the caudal peduncle ; color bluish
abm^e; sides white, punctate with fire dots; each scale with a «;! very area,
these forming a series of distinct longitudinal stripes ; head 4 ; depth 2 ;
D 11 ; A. 11 ; scales 8-74-7. Length, 18 inches.

Habitat, Cxreat lakes and northwards. Lake Erie. ( ^^ojda"-)
The tullibee has the deep, compressed form of the shad, with the pro-
jecting lower jaw of the lake herring. These particulars distmguish it at
once from the other white fishes. (Jordan.)

CoREGONUS artedi — Linn.
Lake Herring._Head 4? in length (4A to 5};) depth 4 (3S to 4j ;) eye
4 in head; maKiUarv 3A to 3J; mandible 2i; scales rather large and oose;
bluish above, silverv on sides and Wow ; D. 12 ; A. 13 ; lat. 1, 6 ; length
12 to 18 inches. Great lakes, etc., very abundant : a shallow w^ter spec.es.
Coregonm albu8, clupei/ormU, luoidus, hartngu». etc., of authors. C om-

mon in Lake Erie .

»• Upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. (Coregonus proper.)

CoREUOSis ALBUS — LesueuT.
Fig. 26, p. 104.
Lake white Bsh.-Depth Si in length ; head small, 5} ; eye 4in head, about
as long as snout; form varying much with age, sex and food; the back
gener Jlv elevated, and the sides compressed ; pale olive al«ve > -<•- -^a
T) 13 • A 13 ■ lat. 1. 15 to 86. Great lakes and bodies of water tributary
to them, north to the Arctic Sea. This s,K.cies is the basis of an extcns.vo
.uLtr; in the region of the great lakes. It is. in the wnter s es --t o
the iK-st fresh-wat^r lable-flsh of North America, but must be eaten fresh
from the water.

COREOONUS QUAPRILATRALIS — Rchdsn.

" Shad waitcr."-]Jody elongate, not elevated, nor much compressed, the
hack rather broa.l, the form rather more terete than in any other s,x.c.es ;
mouth verv small and narrow, inferior, the broad maxillary not reaching
to op,H>site the eye. 5i in head ; head long, the snout compressed and
blun Iv IK>inted, but not strongly decnrved ; mandible originating under
middi; of eve, SJ in head ; adipose fin small ; gill raker short an.l struti.h ;
™Z. scarJel • Celow level of lower edge of eye ; Vr>^orUi.X .nXe. m.
pnpil; head 5 in length; depth 4?; D. 11 ; A. 10; scales 9-80 to 90-8,
color dark bluish above, silvery below. Length about 1 foot.

Habitat, deep cold lakes, New Hampshire, upper Great lake region, and

150

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

northward to Alaska. " I have seen no specimens from Lake Erie, but it
undoubtedly- occurs there." (Jordan.)

HYODONTIDAE.
There is but one genus of this family, which is confined to North America.

HYODON — Lesueur.
♦Belly scarcely carinate; dorsal rays 12. (Hyodon.)

Hyodon tergisus — Les.
Moon eye.— Silver bass.— Toothed herring.— Depth 3^ in length ; head
4f ; snout rounded, shorter than the large eye, which is 3.| in head ; scales
larUst on the flanks ; pale olivaceous above, sides brilliantly silvery ; D. 3,
12 r A. 30; T. 7; lat. 1. 59; length 1 foot. Great lakes and Mississippi
Valley, abundant ; one of our most beautiful fresh-water fishes ; variable it
has been de8cril)ed under many names. Not found in the Susquehanna or
Delaware rivers.

CLUPEIDAE—7/e rrinfif. ^

The family of the herring is not less useful to man than the that of the
Salmonidee, hut unlike it, is principally marine in distribution. Many
si>ecies, however, ascend rivers in spring to deposit their spawn, and at that
time they furnish food for great numbers of people. There is much variety
of type in the Clupeidse, certain forms ranging near the Elopidse, which
in turn are not far removed from the order Halecomorphi {Amia.) A
genus, Diplomystus, allied to Clupea, is found in abundance in the shales
of the lower Eocene period in the Rocky mountain region. The important
family of the Saurodontidae which abounded in North America and Europe
during the cretaceous period is allied to the Clupeidae.

The most valuable food-fishes in the State are members of the Clupeidae.
Two species of little value occur in the Allegheny ; but those of the Atlan-
tic streams are important. The shad, Clupea mpidissima, is well known to
the inhabitants of our eastern cities as the best of table-fishes. It had been
almost exterminated from the Susquehanna, but legislation has restored it.
In the Delaware it is still abundant, but reduced, and further legislation is
needed to protect it. The herring ( Clupea pseudoharengus,) or properly,
ale-wife, is immensely numerous, and is caught in the Delaware and Sus-
quehanna. The fisheries at the mouth of the latter river supply an exten-
sive region.

An anchovy (Engraulis villatus) visits the Delaware river and Bay in
immense numbers every spring, and might furnish quite as large a supply
of food as the European species of the same name.

The genera of Clupeidie which enter Pennsylvania waters are the follow-
ing :

I. Upper jaw not overlapping the lower ; abdomen serrated.

An accessory branchial sac, Brevurtia.

No accessory branchial sac, « Clupea.

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

151

^1 ^

^^

"^^i

II. Mouth transverse, inferior or sub-inferior; abdomen serrated;

Last dorsal ray filamentus ; branchial arches with a double bend,

Doryaoma.

III. Mouth very wide; intermaxillary bone very small, cobssified with
the maxillary, which is very long ;

Muzzle very short, projecting beyond the mouth ; belly not serrate,

Engrauhs.

BEEyURTIA— CtH.
A genus of species from the coasts of North and South America.

Brevurtia menhaden — Mitch.

D 19 d. 19—20. V. 7. Scales irregularly arranged ; their free portion is
very narrow and deep, with the margin ciliated. The height of the body is
rather less than the length of the head, which is one third of the total
(without caudal.) Lower jaw shutting within the upper ; maxillary reach-
ing to the vertical from the hind margin of the orbit. No teeth on the
palate or tongue. Operculum finely striated ; suboperculum large, tapering
above. Gill rakers very fine and exceedingly long ; the horizontal branch
of the outer branchial 'arch consists of two portions joined at^n obtuse
angle. Ventral fins opposite to the anterior third of the dorsal, the origin
of which is somewhat nearer to the caudal than to the end of the snout.
Basal half of the caudal fin covered with small scales. There are from
twelve to thirteen abdominal scutes behind the base of the ventral fins. A
blackish blotch in the scapulary region.

This fish ascends the Delaware for a short time in the spring in large
numbers. As it is well known, it visits the coast of the eastern and middle
States in immence shoals, and is caught for the manufacture of oil, manure,
etc.

CLUPEA. — Linn.
A genus of some sixty species from all seas. Many of them, e. g., the
herring and shad, reproduce in incredible numbers, and furnish food for
many other fishes, and for man.

Clupea sapidissima — Wilson.

Fig. 26 a., p. 105.

Shad.— Head 4^ in length; eye 5 in head ; bluish, sides silvery with a
few large indistinct blackish spots ; scales large ; D. 18 ; A. 21 ; A'. 9 ; lat.
1.68. Newfoundland to Florida, entering rivers; also, lately introduced
hito western streams ; a valuable food fish. Alom praestabilis, De K.)
Ascends the Delaware in great numbers. Was formerly abundant in the
Susquehanna, but was extirpated by the erection of dams. It is likely to
become abundant again through the exertions of the State Fish Commis-
Bion. The most important indigenous food fish of the State.

I

153

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[Xo. 19,

Clupea pseudoharengus — Wils.
Fig. 27.
Alewife ; Gaspereau. — Spring herriug. Head 5 in length ; eye 4 in head ;
bluish, sides iridescent, D. 18 ; A. 18 ; X. 9; New Foiindland to Florida,
entering rivers, sometimes land-locked in ponds ; a common food fish. A
tyrannus, De K. Alosa cyanonoton, Stor, etc. etc.) It ascends the Dela-
ware and Susquehanna and their tributary streams in great numbers in
spring. An important herring fishery is located at the mouth of the latter
river.

Clupea chrysochloris— ^-^a/.
Ohio gold shad, skip jack. Jaws with distinct teeth ; head 4 in length ;
eye 4^ in head ; body elliptical, much compressed; scales large, high, rather
firm ; depth of head 5^ in length of body ; caudal peduncle about twice
width of eye ; brilliant blue, with green and golden reflections, silvery
below; D. 18; A. 18; lat. 1.55 ; 17 scutes behind ventrals. Ohio R. and
lower Mississippi ; a handsome species, of little value as food. Western
Pennsylvania only.

DORYSOMA— iZa/.

Chatoemus — Cu vier.
A genus of several species, mostly from the East India seas.

DORYSOMA CEPEDIANUM — LeS.

Hickory shad. Gizzard shad. Head 4 in length ; depth 2f ; origin of
dorsal behind ventrals, nearer snout than caudal ; uniform bluish gray
often with a dark shoulder blotch ; I). 13 ; A. 32 ; lat. 1.55. Cape Cod to
Hatteras ; chiefly marine, but often land-locked in ponds, where it becomes
2). insociable — Abbott.

EN0BAULI8.— Cuv.

The anchovies are very numerous in species, and inhabit all seas. They
are readily distinguished by the enormous mouth, short muzzle, and ante-
riorily placed eye, with long anal fin.

Engraulis VITTATU8 — Mitchell.
Fig. 28.
Anchovy. — Length three and a half inches. 1). 8 ; P. 17 ; V. 5 ; A. 14 ;
C. 18 ; Head elongated, sharp, wedge-shaped ; broad above posteriori}', at-
tenuated below. Length of -head one fifth the length of the body, and
a third longer than the greatest depth of the body ; its greatest width
above one third its length, its width below a mere line. Eyes large, situ-
ated on the anterior third of the head ; their diameter is equal to two thirds
of the distance between them. Jaws unequal ; the upper much the longer,
and nearly concealing the lower, which shuts into it as into a groove. Jaws
armed with very minute teeth. Gill-covers elongated, yet rounded. Scales
very large and deciduous.

\

'^

*- I •--♦

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 153

Color : Top of head bluish-slate ; back light green, dotted with fuligin-
ous. A greenish blue stripe high up on the side, shadowed out on the
head from the upper orbit of the eye, more defined above the posterior
opercle, and thence extending nearly to the tail. Sides below greenish-sil-
very, with metallic reflections. Gill-covers and abdomen silvery, with
nacreous iridescence.

Ascends the Delaware river in shoals in spring, filling the ditches at some
localities. An elegant fish.

HAFLOMI.

No praecoracoid arch. Parietal bones separated by the supraoccipital
A symplectic ; opercular bones present ; anterior vertebrae unaltered*
Pharyngeal bones distinct, the superior directed forwards, three or four
in number. No interclavicles.

The species of this order are not so numerous as those of the last, but
they include the pike, which are among the most important fresh water
fishes. The families are defined as follows :

1. Basis cranii double ; maxillary entering mouth border, . . . Esocidae.

2. Basis cranii simple ; maxillary bounding mouth, Umbridae.

3. Basis cranii simple ; mouth bounded by premaxillary only ; third upper

pharj'ngeal enlarged.

a. Vent posterior; Cyprinodontidae.

b. Yent between the jaws, Amblyopsidae.

The species of this order are all of fresh or brackish water habitat.

ESOCIDAE— PiAre.

There is but one genus of this family, and it containes but eight or ten
species. The majority of these belong to North America. Six of these
are indigenous to Pennsylvania waters, but one of these is identical with
a species of the old world.

ESOX— /»««.

There is much difference of opinion as to the merits of the pike, and their
fitness to receive State protection. Two species occur in the Delaware?
{Esox reticulatus and E. porosus ;) three in the Susquehanna, (the same
with E. umbrosus.) and three in the Allegheny, (the two last and E. nobi-
lior.) Those of the latter river are scarcely worth considering, as they are
few in number. The E. reticulatus of the east is, however, a large and
abundant fish, which sells well, and is generally esteemed. For ourselves,
we do not join the condemnation visited on the pike by some, and have a
liking for its flesh. If its increase can be restrained, instead of favored, in
waters which produce the best species, it will cease to inflict much injury
by its voracious habits, for it naturally haunts still or grassy waters, where
it devours fishes inferior to itself, as eels, and catfish, and frogs. On the
other hand, we do not think the pike needs any protection, as he has many
natural advantages in the struggle for life ; but he should not be destroyed*
except for the table.

154

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

* Lower half of cheeks as well as opercles scaleless ; branehiostegals
18-19.

Esox NOBiLiOR — Thomson.

Fig. 29.

Miiskallunge— Blue Pike.— Top of head without a longitudinal cavity ;
cheeks as well as opercles half bare ; grayish with round black spots ; a
magnificient fish, reaching a length of 6 feet ; B. 18 ; D. 3, 17 ; A. 3, 15
lat. 1, 155. Great lakes, etc. E. estor of some authors.

This is the largest species of the genus, and the largest game fish of
America. Specimens of sixty pounds, weight have been caught. An indi-
vidual taken in Conneaut Lake, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, measured
seventeen inches in circumference behind the eyes.

* * Lower half of cheeks scaly, of opercle bare ; branchiostegal rays,
15-16.

Esox LUCIUS — Linn.

Fig. 30.

Lake Pike— Grass Pike.— Cheeks entirely scaly : depth 1 in length ;
head 3i-, with a median frontal concavity ; olive gray ; sides with round
yellowish spots as large as peas ; each scale with a shining Y-shaped mark
opening downward; B, 15; D. 20; A. 17; lat. 1, 122. Great lakes and
headwaters of the Mississippi. A fine species, reaching a length of 3 to 4
feet. (E. estor, luaioides, boreus, etc., of authors.) An abundant species
in the Great lakes, and an important article of commerce. It is the same
as the common pike of Europe, as the writer was the first to show. Not
found in Ohio or Atlantic streams.

* * * Cheeks and opercles scaly ; branehiostegals 12 to 15 ; species of
moderate or small size, reticulated or barred with dark green on a lighter
ground — sometimes plain. (Pickerels.)

t Branehiostegals 14 to 15 ; snout prolonged ; front of eye nearly mid-
vf&y in head.

Esox RETicuLATUs — Lesucur.

Fig. 31.

Common eastern pickerel.— Green pike.— Head 3^ in length ; the snout
much prolonged ; front of eye about midway in head ; eye more than three
times in snout; green, sides with net-work of brown streaks ; B. 14 to 16 ;
D. 16 to 18 ; A. 15 to 17 ; lat. 1. 129 to 130. Streams of Atlantic States
abundant, but not found far in the interior ; smaller than the proceeding,
but much larger than the next. The common pike of the markets of the
eastern cities, and pickerel of the interior, a good food-fish, but destructive
to other species.

ft Branehiostegals normally 12 ; front of eye nearer tip of snout than
gill border.

-'>

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
Esox VERMicuLATUs — Les.

155

Little Pickerel. — Western trout pickeral.

End of muzzle to pectoral fin longer than from pectoral to ventral fin ;
same to orbit, equal from orbit to opercular margin ; scales between pec-
torals and ventrals small ; 44 — 50 rows. Olivaceous green above ; white
below ; sides with many reticulations and curved streaks, instead of bars ;
a black streak in front of eye as well as below ; B. 12 ; D. 13 ; A. 14 ; lat.
112. Western streams, abundant in the Ohio valley. (E. umbrosus, Kirt-
land.) Resembles E. reticulatus more than E. americanus. Found also
in the Susquehanna river.

Esox poRosus — Cope.

End of muzzle to pectoral longer than from pectoral to ventral ; same to
orbit less than from orbit to opercular margin ; scales between ventrals and
pectorals small, 44 — 50 rows. Abdominal and most lateral scales perfor-
ated b}' tubes like those of the lateral line. Head four times in length to
end of caudal tin. Anal rays. III. 12; scales, 11. 109—113. 12.

Broad brown bars directed obliquely forwards on the sides, which may
be divided into more numerous black lines.

A small species from Eastern Pennsylvania, found in still water.

Esox CYPHO — Cope.

End of muzzle to pectoral fin longer than from pectoral to ventral ; same
to orbit less than from orbit to opercular margin ; scales between ventrals
and pectorals small, 44 — 50 rows. Anal rays, III. 12 ; scales, 11. 109 — 113.
12. Length of head three and one half times in length to end of caudal fin.
Sides with broad oblique brown cross-bars. Differs from the last species
in its wide and convex back, and in the absence of the tubes from the scales
excepting those of the lateral line.

Western States, probably Western Pennsylvania, a small species.

VMBSIDJE.

A family which includes but one genius and few species.

VMBBA. — Kramer, Afelanura, Agassiz.

A genus of three species, one European {U. krameri), and two Xorth
American.

Umbra limi — Kirtland.

Mud minnow. — Mud dace. — Dog fish. — Depth about 4 in length ; head 3^ ;
head rather large, flattish above ; greenish or dark olive, sides with narrow
pale bars, often secure ; a distinct black bar at base of caudal ; D. 14 ; A.
9 ; V. 6 ; lat. 1.35 ; length 2 to 4 inches. Lake Champlain to Minnesota,
chiefly northward and westward ; most abundant in Wisconsin ; rare in
Ohio valley ; probably found in Northwestern Pennsylvania ; usually as-
sociated with Eucalia inconstans.

156 State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

Umbra pygmaea — De Kay.
Eastern mud minnow.-Dark brown with longitudinal streaks and no
trace of cross bars; body less compressed than in M. limi ; head broader,
less depressed, with larger eye; snout shorter ; profile more gibbous ; D.
13 . A 7 • lat. 1.35. New York to S. C, only in Atlantic streams. \ ery
common near Philadelphia. An interesting and hardy fish in aquaria.

CYPEINODONTIDJE.
A family of wide distribution, of which the majority of the species in-
habit brackish water. A few are marine coast fishes, and others are purely

fresh water.

The genera found in our waters are the following :

I. Teeth pointed, in bands.

* Dorsal fin beginning in advance of anal.

Branchiosteg«ls, 6, ^''tlTZ'

Branchiostegals, 5

** Dorsal fin beginning behind front of anal

Fundulus.

Branchiostegals, 5,

Zygonectes

HYDEABOYEA.— Lrtc.

Hydraroyra majalis — Block Schn.

B. 6; D. 13-16 ; A. 11 ; V. 6 ; L. lat. 35 ; L. trasv. 13. The height of

the body is one fourth of the total length, (without caudal,) the length of

the head two sevenths. Head low, and rather elongate, with the snout

produced, the lower jaw scarcely projecting beyond the upper; mandible

longer than the eye. The width of the interorbital space is contained twice

and three fifths in the length of the head. The diameter of the eye is two

thirds of the length of the snout or the width of the interorbital space and

one fifth of the length of the head. The origin of the dorsal fin is midway

between the extremity of the caudal and the anterior or posterior margm

of the orbit, and corresponds to the sixteenth scale of the lateral line. The

first anal ray corresponds to the second of the dorsal fin. Anal miich

higher than'long. Greenish, with three more or less interrupted irregular

longitudinal bands in the female, and with many broad cross-bands in the

"^The common coastwise species, largest of our Cyprinodontidae, vrohaUy
ascending the Delaware as far as the boundary of the State.

FimDULUS— Z-rtC.

FuNDL'LL's diapiianus — Lcsueur.
Barred Killifish.-Spring Mummichog. Sides silvery olive, with twelve
to fifteen distinct, narrow, blackish, vertical bars ; head rather narrow ; D.
18 • A 13 ; lat. 1 , 42. Coastwise, abundant, but ascending streams to their
source's, hence found in clear springs as far inland as Michigan (Cope,) Wis-
consin (Copeland,) Illinois, Colorado (Yarrow,) Texas (Cope,) etc. [/<.

V

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 167

multifasciatus (Les.) Yal.] This Cyprinodont has the widest range of the
famil}' in North America. Common.

Fundulus heteroclitus — Linn.

A common species of the coast, ascending streams ; D. 11 ; A. 11 ; lat.
1, 35. Delaware river.

Fundulus pisculentus — Mitch.

D. 12-14 ; A. 13 ; lat. 1, 34 ; body more elongate ; coastwise, ascending
streams. Delaware river.

Fundulus nigrofasciatus — Les.
D. 10 ; A. 9 ; lat. 1, 33 ; males with numerous silver}- cross bars ; females
with black ones. With the preceding. Delaware river.

ZYGONECTES— -4 (7a3«.
The species of this genus are, in North America, more especially fresh
water in habitat than those of Fundulus.

Zygonectes notatus — Raf.

Black-sided Killifish. Top minnow. Depth 4^ in length ; head 4 ; head
broad, depressed ; clear pale olive with a few dots above ; a wide purplish-
black band along sides from snout through eye to caudal, its margin usually
serrated; D. 9 ; A. 11; lat. 1.34; length 2^ inches. Mississippi Yalley,
abundant. (Z. pulchcllus and tenellus, Grd. F. aureus Cope. Z. oliva-
ceus, Ag., etc.)

GLANENCHELI.

Parietal bones extensively in contact, distinct ; pterotic normal ; a sym-
plectic. Opercular bones complete ; mouth bounded by premaxilliary
chiefly ; six or seven basilar pectoral rays ; no praecoracoid or interclavi-
cles. Anterior vertebnu united, modified and with ossicula auditus. Supe-
rior pharyngeal bones subcqual, continuous.

This order includes only the family Gymnotidae, the electric eels of
South America. No species is known from Xorth America.

ICHTHYOCBPHALI.

Epiclavicle suspended to posttemporal and to cranium ; mouth bounded
above by premaxillaries, which are in contact on the median line, and in
contact with a distinct maxillary by the posterior margin ; no interneural
spines, pectoral fins, or symplectic bone; two basal branchihyal pairs.
A'ertebrje unaltered. Two pairs basihyals.

This order only includes the family Monopteridee, which are confined to
the East Indies.

HOLOSTOMI.

Epiclavicle suspended to fourth verteba?, posttemporal wanting. Parie-
tals in contact. Mouth bounded by the premaxillaries, which are in con-

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

159

158

tact medially and bounded behind by maxillary. Symplectic present ; ver-

tebra^ unaltered ; no pectoral. Third superior pharyngeal not smaller than

"^ One family, the Symbranchidee from the tropics of both hemispheres.

BNCHBLYCEPHALI.
Parietals in contact ; lower pair of basihyals wanting. Scapular arch
suspended to anterior vertebrie ; no posttemporal ; no symplectic ; max-
illiary bone absent or comate with premaxillary, which forms boi-cler of
mouth. Premaxillaries separated on the median line by the ethmoid, feu-
perior branchihvals and inferior and superior pharyngeals well developed;
the latter of three bones. Of these the fourth is largest and supports the
third, which with the second is directed forwards.

1. Palatopterygoid arch completed: pectoral fins, Congridae,

2. Palatopterygoid arch represented by incomplete) jf^raenesocidae.
pterygoid ; premaxillaries are widely separated ; pec- ^ Anguillidae.

toral fins, . . • « v 4^k

The only family of this order represented in the fresh waters of North

America is that of the Anguillidae.

ANGUILLIDAE— Ec^a.
Body much elongate ; vent posterior ; pectoral fins present ; vertical
fins confluent, stomach coecal. Two or three genera.

ANOUILLA— Thumb,
Anguilla ROSTRATA.
Common eel.— Even distance between dorsal and anal shorter than head.
U S chiefly coastwise, but ascending all rivers and introduced into the
Great lakes.' ( A. bostoniemis, etc., of authors.) But one species is recog-
nizable in the Northern Hemisphere, according to a recent French writer,
M. Dareste, who unites our species with the P:uropean A. vulgaris. An
important food-fish in Pennsylvania. , , , i

Eels require no protection, as they pass round obstructions by land, and
breed in the ocean. Their numbers have not diminished in our waters to
the same extent as other species, and their capture and barreling has long
been an important industry on the Susciuehanna. When our State is more
densely populated, they will be more constantly sought, and will require
protection, as other fishes.

Until recently the breeding habits of the eel were a mystery. A few years
ago M M. Ercolani and Balsamo Crivelli endeavored to s(»lve the question,
but were only partially successful. In 1873 Dr. Syrski added a contribu-
tion to the subject. Later Prof. A. S. Packard " detected the mother cells,
nnd Mr. Kingsley observed moving, active spermatozoa." The knowledge
of the breeding grounds of the eel is contained in the following expression,
taken from page 447 of Packard's Zoology: - It is probable that the eel
descends rivers in October and November, spawning in autumn and early

J

winter at the mouth of rivers, and in harbors and estuaries in shallow
waters." M. W. H. Ballou gives the following account of the food habits
of tlu! eel : " The}' are among the most voracious of carnivorous fishes.
They eat most inland fishes, except the gar-fish and the chub. Investiga-
tion of 600 stomachs by Oswego fishermen showed that the latter bony fish
never had a place on their bill of fare. They are particularly fond of game
fishes, and show the delicate taste of a connoisseur in their selection from
choice trout, bass, pickerel, and shad. They fear not to attack any object
when disposed, and their bite in human flesh shows even a vicious attitude
toward man. On their hunting excursions they overturn huge and small
stones alike, working for hours, if necessary, beneath which they find spe-
cies of shrimp and cray-fish, of which they are exceedingly fond. Of
shrimps they devour vast numbers. Their noses are poked into every im-
af'inable hole, in their search for food, to the terror of innumerable small

fishes."

" Eels are to the water what the fish-hawk is to the air. They are, per-
haps, tlie most powerful and rapid of natatorians. Again, they hide in the
mud beneath some log or overhanging rock, and dart out with tremendous
fury at the unsuspecting prey. They attack the spawn of other fishes
open mouthed, and are even said to suck the eggs from an impaled female.
They fearlessly and rapidly dive head foremost in the mud, disappearing
from view in the twinkling of a star. They are owl-like in their habits,
committing many of their depredations at night."

" No fish is yet reported to utilize a grown eel as food. Pickerel, garfish,
and bass, which are particularly numerous in these lakes, are supposed to
literally devour the young fry. Mr. Sawyer describes the operation of the
pickerel darting through a long column of young eels, open-mouthed, and
devouring vast numbers of them."

COLOCEPALI.

Parietals largely in contact ; opercular bones rudiraental ; the preoper-
ciilum generally wanting. Pterygoids rudimental or wanting ; ethmoid
very wide. Symplectic, maxillary, basal branchihyals, superior and infer-
ior pharyngeal bones, all wanting except the fourth superior pharyngeal.
This is jaw-like, and supported by a strong superior branchihyal ; other
superior branchihyals wanting or cartilaginous. This peculiar ordar em-
braces several families and many species of eels, which are mostly marine

in their habitat.

PHYSOCLYSTI.

The following is an analytic synopsis of the orders of this sub-tribe.
They all have the parietals entirely separated by the supraoccipital, and
lack the praecoracoid ; the symplectic is present, except in Ostracium,
where it is not ossified.

A. Scapular arch not suspended from the cranium.

Superior branchihyals and pharyngeals developed ; inferiors and maxil-
lary distinct, . . .' 1^- Opisthomi.

jgQ State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

AA. Scapular arch suspended from the cranium.

I. Ventral fins abdominal.
Branchial arches well developed, the bones present, except fourth supe-
rior pharyngeal ; third much enlarged ; inferior pharyngeals distinct,

*^ 16. Per ceaoces— Mullet, etc.

Third and fourth superior pharyngeals much enlarged, inferior pharyn-
geals coossified, n. Synentognathi^^oit Gar

Superior branchials and pharyngeals reduced in number; inferiors sepa-
rate; interclav ides present, 18. ^emiftranc/tt-Pipe fishes.

Superior branchihyals and pharyngeals, and basal branchihyals, wanting;

gills tufted, 19- I^op;.o6ranc;ii-Sea horse.

II. Ventral fins thoracic or jugular.

First vertebra united to cranium by suture ; parietals united behind su-

peroccipital ; basal pectoral radial bones elongate,

* 20. Pediculati — Goose fish, etc.

Posterior cephalic region normal, anterior twisted so as to bring both

orbits on one side ; inferior pharyngeals distinct,

2 1 . Heterosomati — Flounders.

Cranium normal ; the premaxillaries usually coSssified with the maxil-

laries behind, and the dentary with the articular; pharyngeal bones dis-

. 22. Plectognathi — File fishes.

'"cranium normal'; bones of the jaws distinct ; inferior pharyngeal bones

,. ^. . . . 23. Percomorphi — Perch,
distinct, "". , . ^ , ,

Cranium normal ; bones of the jaws distinct, third superior pharyngeal
much enlarged, articulating with cranium ; inferior pharyngeals coossified,

24. Pharyngog nathi— MwrgaW, Parrot fish.

These orders will be more fully defined, and the families which are refer-
able to them pointed out.

The atfinities among the Physoclysti are clear. Omitting the order
Opisthomi, we find the four orders with ventral fins to form a true series,
with a svnentognath variation, terminating in the greatly degraded order
of Lophohranchii. The Percesoces give us our nearest connection with
the groups with abdominal ventral fins, and lead at once to the Percomor-
phi From this center radiate many lines of atlinity. One leads from the
Ohaetodontidae, through the Acroneuridae and to the Plectognathi, by
the similarity in the arrangement of the posttemporal and forms of the
pharyngeal apparatus. An important division of the Percomorphi has
the basis cranii simple, and the branchials above, reduced in ""niber
viz • the Scyphobranchi. The Cottidae are the most generalized family of
this group, and lead on the one hand to the Triglidae of the Distegi, with
which they are generally arranged, and, on the other, to the Blenmidae
Some of the latter elongate the basal pectoral bones considerably, and
lead to the Batrachidae on the one side, where the number of these bones
is increased, and on the other to the Pediculati, where the number is dimin-
. i3hed. To these groups the Anacanthini and Hbterosomata are less allied.

•;i

1 ^i

Leg. Doc] State Commissionfrs of Fisueries. 161

The third upper pharyngeal bone has already prevented an increase of
mass and use in the first orders of Physoclysti with the ventral fins.
Among the Percomorphi the same increase makes its appearance by little
beginnings in some Sciaenidae,aud reaches to a great development in other
members of that family. It is quite noteworthy in most of the Carangidae,
a group whose separation from the Scombridae by Giirither is supported
by this part of their organism. Through forms not now specified, ap-
proach to the Pharyngognathi is made. Here the pharyngeals are modi-
fied into a mill-like structure, which is least specialized in the Embiotocidae,
and most so in the Scaridae. In the latter family it is a most effective
apparatus for grinding the shells of the Mollasca and other substances on
which they feed.

FERCES03ES.

Ventrals anteriorily abnominal. Moiith formed by premaxillaries ; post-
temporal furcate anteriorly, not satnrally attached. Three basal branchi-
hyals; all those of superior series generally present. Superior pharyn-
geals with the third very largely dcvloped, but not articulated to the
cranium. Inferior pharyngeals distinct ; basal pectoral rays four, short.
Basis cranii without muscular tube, but with rudimentul upper lloor.

This (.rder is found in the fresh waters of all the continents, but princi-
pally within the tropics. There are also many marine species. Tlie fam-
ilies are the following:

1. Dorsal fin or branched radii ; no second lloor of brain case : a trans-
verse wiiiiT on inside of hyonuindibular ; second superior pharyngeal rod-
like; first present, third simple, Opheocephalidae.

2. Dorsal fin of spinous and soft portion ; no hyomandihular wing; se-
cond superior pharyngeal subconic ; third very large, of two horizontal
laminse, the superior supported by the inferior by a verlicle rod. Superior
branchihyals; second a triangular plate with superior exterior process;
third ami fourth triradial, Mugilidse.

3. Dorsal fin of spinous and soft portions, ventrals more abdominal;
third superior pharyngeal long and wide, simple; secon<l rod-like. Basis
cranii with upper fioor better developed, Atherinidae

ATHERINIDJE.
Two genera are represented in Pennsylvania.

Maxillary arcade narrow, Ather.na.

Maxilliary arcade produced into a beak, Lahidesthes.

LABIDE8THE8 -rop«.
Labidkstiiks 8ICCULUS — Cope.
Silver Skip Jack— River silverside.— Depth 6 in len-th ; head 4^; eye
3^ in head; anal long, nearly one third of length of body ; scales small;
pale olive, translucent, d<>tted with black, the silver lateral b-ind very dis-
tinct; D. IV— 11 ; A. 1, 23; lat. I, 75; length 3 to 4 inches. Western
11— Leg. Doc. Xo. 19.

State Commissioneps of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

162

L^'tuT .rr- duerr'::L.e - rese^Ues t..at of «o™e Cyp.no-
dont8, especially the Central American Belone.ox.

ATHERINA— I"

Atherina beryllin a— Cope.

advance of second dorsal, ^^'J J"«^ ^y!^. //, ^f ..^ntrals opposite of

anal a Utile behh^ last ^^Jjl^V^^^^^^^ caudal. olL large,

first ray of tirst dorsal. Head ^'^^ * ""^y , ^ ^^.^ve forming a

one third head; mouth --^-''^!--ff\:^.'f^^^^^^^

quadrant. Greatest depth (in ^-" .^^^"^ ""^j^^^Vs .er"; rows ; lateral

caudal. Scales large ; ten longitudinal, ^»^^^^; * J "J^.^, ^,,^a \>f each

line represented by a pore on the anterior P-t f 1- Po^te^

scale except on the caudal peduncle where theie is a giooN e^ i

scale, exLe^. adjacent series of 2-4 scales eacn.

separated portion of the line is on iwu J deeply furcate; A.

Radical formula D. V., last well developed ; 1. 1 1 , C. H , letpl>

tributaries of the Susquehanna.

SYNENTOGNATHI.

front, but «;'''7^ ";;;;:;'";„';;;.";„3,,,, „,,o<.tcroee^^ and nospinon.

, '""i r ttra. -1 superior branehihya.s it shows resen.l,lanee
dorsal tm. In us rat. i ,,„„,,,„•„„, as follows :

^-trt^r'^t W"S'^'-. U.e eoronoid -;;•«.,, ,/^-••^-
No z.y,apophyses,nor distiuet corono.d bone of tl,e '--"l^lesocM..

The flrst-named of these families is the only one that enters fresh water,.

■ ■BZUOKlTiAE-'So/t gar.
BELOHE— C»*v.
1 ;«o «f tins irenua found off our Atlantic coast. But

jrti:er:rfrr:a:::::r^^^^^^^^ one t,. .ream, of Pennsylvania.

Belone TRiTNCATA— Le«— Soft Gar.
Finrays:-D.15,IM2,V.6,A. 19,C. 19.

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

163

^

The caudal fin is slightly emarginated. The anal is of the same form as
the dorsal ; it commences just in front of that tin, and is coterminal with
it ; its anterior rays are longer than the corresponding ones of the dorsal
fin. The ventrals are situated upon the posterior half of the body. The
dorsal tin is situated on the posterior fourth of the body. The body is
elongated ; the scales small and arbicular. The lateral line arises at the
inferior angle of the operculum, and, passing gradually up to the inferior
base of the pectorals, assumes thence a straight line, which is continued to
the base of the caudal rays. Its greatest depth is equal to about one fif-
teenth its entire length; the length of the head, from the angle of the jaws
to the posterior portion of the operculum, is equal to one tenth the length
of the body. The jaws are armed with distant, very sharp, conical teeth,
between which are numerous others very minute ; the lower mandible pro-
jects beyond the upi)er and is fleshy at its tip. The head is flattened above
and compressed laterally ; the eyes are longitudinally oval ; the distance
between the eyes is equal to their longer diameter.

Light green above ; beneath silvery, including opercles and lower man-
dible. Just above the base of the pectorals a band of a darker color
arises, and passes in a straight line to the origin of the dorsal tin. Minute
fuliginious spots upon the upper portion of opercles.

Common in the Delaware and Susquehanna in tbeir lower courses.

HEMIBRANCHII.

Mouth bounded above by premaxillary only ; posttemporal not furcate.
Pectoral fins elevated; interclavieles developed. Superior pharyngeals
small, weak; second, tliird, and generally fourth present; branchihyals
riidimental ; the fourth and sometimes others wanting. Inferior pharyn-
geals distinct. Branchial processes, narrow laminiv. Basis cranii simple ;

no tube.

Found in all seas ; a few species of O aster osteidee entering fresh water.
This order connects the ordinary Physoclysti with the Lophobranchi. The
families are as follows :

1. No first dorsal fin; dorsal vertebrre moderately elongate, united by
sutures ; no suboperculum ; second and third superior branchihyals, and
third superior pharyngeal only present, Pegasidse

2. Anterior vertebra' but little enlarged; dorsal spines strong; first,
second, and third superior branchihyals, and second and third superior
pharyngeals present, . . . Oasterosteidae.

3. Four anterior dorsal vertebra' much elongate; (centrum and spine
united by suture in Fistularia.) dorsal spines very weak or none.

Fistulariidee.

4. Four anterior vertebra' much elongate, with strong diapophyses, and
normal articulations. Fourth superior branchihyals and first and fourth
superior pharyngeal only wanting, Centriscidsp.

5. Six anterior vertebra' extremely elongate, with normal articulations

164

State Commissioners of Fisheries. C>^o- ^^

lent.. Fourth supra-Wchi.,. aiKl .U the -P-^-^-^^
wanting,

• f tl„. '^tx'klebaeks occur in Pennsylvania, and they
Only two species of tlie ^t,chieo.i<.

are referrible to as many S-'ene™- ^^^ ^^„„t„,i.
SWes naked; no caudal keel; ventialcm.a ^^^^^^^

Ventral pistes two, lateral, ' fuca/to.

Ventral plate single, median, . . •

iPELTES— D"''"!''
Vpeltes quadbacus— Jl/i(c)i.
.. ',. V 1. A 10- C 13. Body slightly comes; in

front of the first dorsal spine. Length ol t ne j __^^^ ^ .__ ^^.^^^

the length of the body. ^'''^ " ^^^a t- ' - -'• "' "■"'^ '^ " "*"
of the dorsal fin, and ^"""•"^t^'J'^ I ^the height of the rays of this fln.
«pine, which is equal to abou '"" "";,f„';';; fter^inating at the spine of
Commencing at the base of the fi.st 'P'"^- » ' * ^^^^, ,,, ,.,eeived

the dorsal fin, is situated a groove '"»"; -^^f^^f^^ „„„, „. length to
„hen recumbent. The first <^^^^;^^ „t these Ipines fropiently

"-:ri:wri';:::thrr

"^r:;^ :;:;:^r r f ve the^.^. •-- -^g^K^

which is very perceptible, the eolo » <'»^^^ ;;"^\„ ,„,,,„,„, the

the extension of the whiteness of '^;J^^;"; „,„„, ^Mch are indistinct in
eolor is distributed in four or live t,ans^rBe>«.U .__^ .^

the mature fish. The membranous V'r^^^^^''^ „,,„,, ,,„icli causes

'S^::r:r^s::rLamsandd^^^^^^

nir" An in'teresting species for the anuarium.

EVCkLlh— Jordan.
ElTCALIA INCON8TAN8— ivirf.

, , ^ , Ohio stickleback—Ileaa about 3^ in length ; depth
Brook ^ticklebaek^OW s ^ek^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^,^. ^^,,^^ ^,

nearly 4; spines rathei lo^ , ^J";'" / ,i„,.j,t black, llnely punctate; P.

building habits. LOPHOBBANCHII.

Month bounded by the P--^- ^^^ ^^^JZl ^I^^
Milled with the cranium. Basis cranii i

I ^r

Leg. Doc] Staie Commissioners of Fisheries. 165

basis • well-developed interclaviclcs. Anterior vertebra^ modified ; the di-
apopllvles nn.ch expanded. Inferior and superior branchihyals .anting or
unossified. Branchial processes in tufts. „h « f^w sneoies

The sea horses and pipe fishes abound in tropical seas and a ^^w species
are common on our Atlantic coast. None enter the fresh waters of Penn-

sylvania.

PBDICULATI.

Basal radii of pectoral fin elongate, reduced in number; no interclavi-
eles Epiotics united above behind supraoccipital, and the first vertebra,
with the cranium by suture; posttemporal broad, flat simple. Superior
pharyngeals two, similar, spatulate with anterior stem and transverse blade.

Basis cranii simj)le. ... .

This order includes bottom fishes of the ocean ; some of them living at
great .lepths, others float in the masses of sea-weed. The goose-fish ,s the
best known species of our coasts. None enter fresh water.

HETBBOSOMATA.
Oianium posteriorly normal; basis nearly simple; dorsal fin without
spinous radii. Cranium anteriorly with twisted vertex, to »"»- "' '""
orbits on one side, or one sut.vertical and one lateral Superior pharjn-
geals four, the third longest much extended forw-ards inferiors Beparate_

Kmbraces the family of PleuronecHdse, or flouuders, which includes
many marine and a few fresh water species. Xone in Pennsylvania.

PLBCTOGHATHI.
Cranium posteriorlv normal. the posttemporal undivided eoossified »ith
theepiotic. The Clements of the nmndible, and usually the premaxiUary
rndnaxillavv.coossincd. Imcropcrculnm a slender rod. Su,«rior pha-
vngeals limiuar, usually vertical and transverse. A sul>o,»rculum.
• ■Phis Older is a very degenerate type of Physocly^H It includes h^e o
six families of fishes of singular form, which chiefly abound lu tropical
oceans. A very few enter fresh waters, and none those of Pennsylvania.

PERCOMORPHI.

Bones of the mandible distinct; maxillary distinct. C';»°"'"\77''";*;
rical; epiotics normal ; no interclaviclcs; posttemporal not coossifled » th
erini ,11 . Basal pectoral rndii not enlarged ; humeri sns.K.iidcd (genera, y)
fro the scapula arch. Basibianchiliyals three ; inferior phaiyngea s dis-
«n", superior pharyngeals with the third generally largest, ^ub and inter
ooerculum present, plate-like.

This extensive order embraces a great variety of forms, some o. which
mav vet be regarded as forming distinct orders. At present I am not suf-
flci en'lv sure of their exact definition to admit them as such. The spec es
exist in .-,11 waters in all parts of the gloU., but the marine spec.es greatly
outnumber those of fresh water.

jgg State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

I. ANACANTHINI.

Basis cranii simple, no tube: posttemporal bifurcate, 3''- J-^J
hRtween scapula and coracoid. Superior pharyngeals three, horizontal,
third mti;;;^n,er. Dorsal «n-ra,s flexible, jointed, '-'"d- J^^ <•— -
r.adidae and Macruridae. both with prot>.cereal caudal vertebrae.

The"o«aH<n. (Ling) is the only species which inhabits Pennsy.va-

nian waters.

Fig. 32.
II. HAPLODOCI.

Basis cranii simple, flat; posttemporal simple undivWed. Scapular
foramen in center of scapula. Basal segments of pectoral In. h^c,eon-
'T Superior pharvngcals contracted: first and fourth wanttng ; th.rd
f« n-shaped wi h second adherent. Dorsal fin with some spinous rays.
OnTfalX the BairacHidae, which is found chiefly in salt water, and does
not enter the Pennsylvania fauna.

III. SCYPHOBRANCHII.
Basis cranii simple, no tube; posttemporal furcate; superior pharyngeals
shortened; fonrth and flr.t generally wanting ; third large basm-shaped ,
second ^nerally scale-likc or coossifled with third. Scapula w.th med.an
foramen. Doral radii usually soft.

The families are distinguished as follows : . ^

lln Icons rod connecting infraorbital ring with P-''P""''''^^«J»;^;

Ventrals thoracic,

II. No osseous check-rod.

♦Ventrals of vefv few rays are wanting. „, •,

Ventrals jugular; spinous dorsal as long as soft dorsal, . . Blenmid^.
** V^entrals with 5 or more rays.

Ventrals modified into a suctorial organ, Gobie>^ociaee.

Ventrals not suctorial ; first dorsal fin short. Qohiidee

First dorsal soft, ' jj\.^^ i^^.

First dorsal spinous,

17. EPELASMIA.
Basis cranii double, with basal muscular tul>e ; posttemporal often un-
divided. Second, third and fourth superior pharyngeals transverse ver i-
c^l Hmina.. Scapula with median foraman ; basal ,>ectoral bones foui,
hort Dorsal spines strong. Families; ^cro.urirfa., (with ^n.;./.aean-
Ls Acanihuru», &c.,) and Chaetodoniid^ with Ghaetodon, Chelmo Zan.
cZ\ Za.. Heniockus, Taurichthys, Ephippus, and To.otes.) Marine
fishes, mostly from tropical seas.

V. EHEONOPTEEI.
Basis .ranii -louble with tul« ; posttemporal bifurcate ; scapula with me-
dian foramen; superior pharyngeal bones four ; third largest, narrow, d-

yy

Leo. Bocl

State Commissioners of Fisiieries.

167

rected forwards ; basal pectoral bones divided ; two normal, supporting fin ;
one longitude without rays, and one a plate on coracoid, supporting elon-
gate rays. Dorsal spines. One family , the Trichidiontidae, which does not
enter the fresh waters of Pennsylvania.

VL DI8TEGI.

Basis cranii double, with muscular tube. Posttemporal bifurcate ; sca-
pula with median foramen ; basal pectorals thiee or four, short, quadrate
Superior pharyn-eal bones four; third always the largest, longitudinal
more or less elongate, not articulated to cranium. Inferior pharyngeals
separated-. Dorsal fin with strong spines.

This extensive sub-order includes the greater number of the species of
the spinous rayed Physoclystous fishes. There are a number of families,
but only four of them enter the scope of the present work. They are dis-
tinguished as follows : ^ , . j • ,

I. Ventrals T-raycd; anus jugular, vomerine teeth,. . . . Aphododiridee

II. Ventrals 5-rayed;

Anus posterior, no vomerine teeth ; head not cavernous, Lla.somid^

Vomerine teeth ; skull not cavetnous, Percidse

No vomerine teeth; skull cavernous with superficial chambers, Sciaemdee

OADIDAE— TAe Coda.
LOTh—Ciivier.
LoTA lacustris — Walb. Fig. 33.
Lin-, Burbot—Lake Lawyer.-Eel-Pout.-Lake Cusk. Dark olive,
thickly marbled with blackish ; yellowish or dusky beneath ; head broad,
depressed; body sublindrical in front, compressed l»ehind; upper jaw
(uLiallv) longest ; D. 13-76 ; A. 68 ; V. 7 ; length U to 2 feet, (.rea
lakes and streams of New England, north to the Arctic circle abiindnt
rather rare in the Miss, valley. A curious fish, rarely used tor food, al-
thoudi the livers are said to be delicious. [L. maculosa (Les.) Cuv^L.
compressa, (Les ) and L. brosmiana, Storer. L. inomato, DeK etc.] The
common European species (L. vulgaris. Cuv.,) seems to be the same, but
the American name, lacustris, is the older (Jordan.) In Pennsylvania in
Lake Erie. One specimen was taken in the Sus(iuehanna, near Muncy,

Lycoming county.

COTTlDM—SculpiM.

Two genera are represented in the waters of the State, as follows :

No teeth on the palate; ventral radii 1.3 Uranidea.

Teeth on the palate; ventral radii 1.4, Potamocottus.

URANIDEA— De kay.
Uranidea gracilis — Heckel.
Miller's thumb.-Little Star-gazer.-A slender, fusiform species : depth
6 to 61 in length. Tips of pectorals reaching fourth ray of second D., and

State Commissioners of FibUERiES.

[No. 19,

168

first of anal ; head 4 in total length ; eye 4 in bead ; grayish, mottled, D.
VIII_16 ; A. 11 or 12. Xew England and New York ; the common east-
ern species found '' quiescent" under stones, after the manner of the darters.
(U. quiescens—DeKay, [U. boleoides (Grd.,) from Vermont, is said to be
slenderer, and with larger fins. U. formosa. ((Jrd.) from stomachs of Lota,
in deep water, L. Ontario, is more elongate, with shorter fins. ' In Penn-
sylvania from the head waters of the Susquehanna or Allegheny rivers.

Uranidea viscosA — Haldeman.
Slippery Miller's thumb.— Pectorals scarcely reaching second dorsals;
head 4V in total length ; eye 5 in head ; body subcylindrical, covered with
a viscid skin ; dusky, mottled ; D. VIII-U ; A. 12 : first dorsal fin with
a Vermillion border. Streams of Penna., Md., Va., etc., frequent, often
found in caves. (C. copei, Abbott.)

Uranidea franklini — Agass.

Olivaceoous, mottled ; both dorsals and anal with a broad dark bar on
the distal half; pectoral and cau.lal broadly blotched with dusky; jaws
equal ; preoperciilar spine stout, short, pretty strongly hooked upwards
and inwards; first dorsal rather high, not much lower than second; pec-
torals short, not reaching anal ; axil prickly, as in l^. richardsoni ; head
3L; depth 5; D. ¥111 — 17; A. II or 12; length 3 inches.

According to Jordan, i)robably occurring in Lake Erie.

Uranidea spilota — Cope.
Cow-faced sculpin— Body moderately elongate, depressed, the head
especially so ; quite abruptly contracted opposite the base of anal, the body
behind the head nearly as deep as wide; body behind the vent rather slen-
der. subterete, giving a tadpole-like form ; Ji'ws about c(iual,the lower nar-
rower, but projecting in front; mouth rather contracted, the maxillary
scarcely reaching to eye ; palatine teeth ; eye 4 ^ in head, half wider than
the interorbital space, about eciual to snout ; eyes close together, entirely
superior; head very broad and fiat, as broad or broader than long, includ-
in:r the perpendicular spines ; its depth half its length ; luofile rising rap-
idly from head to base of dorsal, which runs along a <lecided ridge or
carina; preopercular spine extremely large, more th.in three times as large
as in other of our fresh-water cottoids, and as long as the eye; this spine
is hooked backwards, .and is slightly spiral, giving the fish a decidedly
buflfalo-like or cow-like physiognomy ; three spines hooked downwards
below the large one, the lower concealed ; a strong si)ine directed forward
at base of opercle ; isthmus as wide as from snout to middle of orbit ; head
3. 3. 5; depth b\ ; fin-rays, D. VIII, U ; A. 12; veutrals 1-4 ; pectorals
16 ; brachiostegals 6 ; base of pectorals creseentic, their tips just short of
anal, the rays all simple; ventrals under pectorals reaching two thirds to
vent, their membrane decurrent ; dorsals beginning a trille beyond ven-
trals, rather nearer anal than snout ; depth at first ray of anal less than

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

169

t/

half length of head, the thickness at the same point a little more than one
third ; least depth one fourth of head ; caudal peduncle slenderer tlian in
any other cottoid known from our fresh waters; head smooth; space
above lateral line behind head covered with small, stiff prickles, slightly
hooked backwards, readily visible as little black specks when the skin is
dry ; axillary region not provided with spines ; color pale brown, rather
finely specked and mottled with darker brown ; pectorals mottled ; belly
white : length of smaller specimens 2f inches ; of larger 3§.

Habitat, great lakes, in deep water; Lake Michigan (Nelson, Rice, Jor-
dan) ; Lake Ontario (Jordan) ; near Hudson's bay (Bean) ; also in (irand
river (Cope). Not yet known from Ohio, but probably occurring in Lake

Erie (Jordan).

POTAMOCOTTHS— Gfi/^

Potamocottus meridionalis — Girard.

Cave bull-head.-Goblin.— Blob.— Muffle-jaws— Head U in length;
depth 5; width of head 3V; reaching beyond beginning of soft dorsal, to
oval ; preopercle with a stout erect spine and two smaller ones below ;
mouth wide; palatine teeth unusually strong; lateral line very distinct,
chainlike, sometimes vanishing behind, and sometimes not. Grayish, mot-
tled, three cross blotches on back ; I>. VI to VIH— 16 ; A. 12 or 13 ; V. 1,
4. N. C. to Ala., Tenn., and Ind., abounding in many of the streams issu-
in- from the caves in the limestone region ; the largest species of the genus
reaching a lensth of 6 inches. ( C. meridionalis Grd., P. carolinae, Gill,
P. zopherus, Jor.) Probably in Western Pennsylvania.

Potamocottis wilsoxi — Girard.

Wilson's bullhead.-Rather larger than the last ; spinous dorsal higher;
and the upper rays of the pectoral fins branched. Pennsylvania to In-
diana.

AFHODODmiDJE.

One genus of this family exists, and several extinct ones have been
found in the eocene beds of the Rocky mountains.

APH0D0DIEU8— Lesueur.
The dorsal fin is single and elevated and has but few spines. There is
no ventral s])ine. The bones of the face are serrate, and the scales are
ctenoid. Two species of this genus are known. The position of the vent
in young fishes has been shown by Jordan to be posterior to that which it
has in adults. In the western species it is more posterior.

Aphodothris sayanls — GtU.
Pirate Perch.— Head 3] in length ; depth 33; greenish olive ; a subor-
bital bar, and dark bars at base of caudal rounded ; lower jaw longest ; D.
IV II- 7; lat. 1.48; length .5 inches. N. Y. to La., in sluggish fresh
water near t!ie coast. One of the most interesting of North American
fishes. It does well in aquaria.

j^Q State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

PEECIDJE— PiercA.
After the Cyprinid^, this family embraces the greatest number of spe-
cies of the fresh waters of North America.

Many of the most important food flshes belong to the Aerctise. The
finest iishes among these arc the pike-perch ^StizoMeiium.)

The blackish water lovers, the yellow perch, and white and st. ped bass
are well known. Thev have suffered great diminution of n"-"l'«>-» fo'"
mp P r spring fishing, and fishing through the ice at the mouths of
strcln« in tint^r. Both these practices should be put a stop to, m ac-

'"Tf Wat ir;3«orop<..«, fa.oiaiu.) is only native of our State in the
tribu tari s of the Ohio. The public remembers its recent '"troduet.on mto
the Delaware and attendant discussions. The James river is the most
Northern of i> eastern rivers which contain species of the same group
abe green bass,) but the introduction of both species and l.c present one
,1 fhTpclaware has been fully suecessful. It is a valuable acquisition,
a ,d though carnivorous, will not interfere materially with the spawn and
^o ^wi es (herring of our iisbermen) and sh.ad, if the latter are pro^
tied against improper fishing. It attains the nia.Mmum weight of from
ciMit to twelve pounds, and is a good table-fish.

The • white perch," or " moon perch," of the Allegheny Fonioxys he.a-

canlhu..) is only less valuable than the black and green bass. An oeca-

rnals agMer is taken in the Pelawarcand it occurs in the S«s.,uehanna.

tTsln "tllcnt table.fish,and ought to be protected and cultivated

welgM is from one to five pounds; in form it is flat and round, like the

""Th?smaller sunfishes also have considerable market value. The com-
mon rfes appears, as is known, in large numbers in winter on our stalls
The 'Ted eve" is equallv important in Pittsburgh markets, (^».6Mtte«
ZesrU ) and would, if protected, increase to an almost ncredible extent

7th 7;me way, the mud suufish, ( A. pom„<i., Baird,) "".e- g-- ^^^^
size of the white bass in the sluggisli tidewater streams of the De aware,
shoidd become at some future day a source of food to a eonsidcrabic pop-

dat on In fact, all these fishes could be easily rendered so abundant in a
?ew years as to sell for a cent a piece, instead of five and ten cents per

'^Thte arc three divisions of the Percid^ found in North American

waters Thev are defined as follows : „ , . , •

rnehiostega. rays « ; swim bladder rudimcntal, . . ^"-'-; •-•

Branehiostegal rays ^ ; swim bladder we developed, •P'J""-

Branehiostegal rays 6; swim bladder well developed, . Gentrarchxn^.

KTHEOSTOMA TIS\E.
The species of this division are all of small si.e, some of them of very
sniiiil sire. They are very numerous in the streams of the .Mississippi xal-

4'

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. 171

ley, but none exist west of the Rocky mountains. They are generally of
much beauty, especially in their coloration, in which males exceed the fe-
males. Their habit is to lie on the bottom of the stream, and their move-
ments are sudden and quick, and are produced by powerful movements of
the caudal part of the body. They can only rise to the surface in this
way, owing to the imperfect character of their natatory bladder. In de-
scribing the Nolhonotus camurus, I made the following observations on
these lilhes and their habitat : " All of these species lie on the bottom, fre-
quently beneath stones, with the head only projecting, on the lookout for
prey. Ordinarily they lie motionless, except occasionally inclining their
position and exhibiting their gorgeous colors. The effect of this is height-
ened by the crystal clearness of the waters of the southern mountain
streams, which reflect as well the beauty of a southern sky and the noble
trees and flowering shrubs that border them in the rich wilderness of the
Cumberland range. Few more attractive spots to the naturalist can be
found, and among its natural treasures these peculiar little fishes are
among the most curious. All the fishes of this group can turn the head
from side to side, and they frequently lie in a curved position, or partially
on one side of the body." There are about sixty species known, which,
though they present considerable range of characters, require close exam-
ination for their discrimination. For human consumption these fishes are
worthless. Their food consists chiefly of minute Crustacea and of larvte
of small insects (Forbes.) The genera are 'Ustinguished as follows :

A. Lateral line complete ; body translucent.

Dorsal fins distinct ; one anal spine ; vomerine teeth ; lip subprotractile,

Pleurolepis.

B. Lateral line complete ; body not translucent.

t Second dorsal not larger than spinuous dorsal and little or not larger

than anal.

a Upper jaw not protractile ; vomerine teeth.

,3 Mouth inferior, overlapped by the snout, ventral plates present, (when

not shed.) . Percina.

;?;? Mouth terminal, wider.

Ventral plates normallv present, Alvordius.

Ventral plates absent Hadropterus.

ft Second dorsal fin considerably larger than anal ; no ventral i)late8.
a Upper jaw protractile.

No teeth on the vomer, Diplesium.

Vomerine teeth, BoleoHoma,

aa Upper jaw not protractile.

Anal spines two, . . Nothonotus.

C. Lateral line present, incomplete.

Spinous rays acute, . P(ecilichthy8.

Spinous rays knobbed at apices in males, Etheostoma.

I). Lateral line absent.
Jaws equal, Microperca.

1>12 State Commissioners of Fisheries. [No. 19,

AMMOCRYPTA— Jo?v7.
Four species of this genus are known : A. anprellus, Jordan, from Illi-
nois; A. vitreus, Cope, from N'orth Carolina; A. beani, Jordan, from
Louisiana, and the following :

AMMOCRYPTA TELLUCIDA — Bd.

Sand Darter.— Pepth 6 to 8 in length ; body nearly cylindrical ; head
elonirated, pointed; scales small, finely dotted, far apart, and deeply im-
bedded ; fins small : color i.inkish white, pellucid in life, with a series of
small, squarish, olive (blue) blotches along back, and another along sides,
the spots connected by a gilt line ; D. X-9 ; A. II, 6 ; length 2 to 3 inches.
Ohio Vallev, in sandv streams ; one of the most interesting of our fishes.
Western Pennsylvania only. The muscles of this fish are transparent, as
in the youngest" stages of all tishes. This character renders it nearly in-
visible" when in the water or in the clear silicious sand which it frequents.

YYSiCTSk—ITald.
Percina caprodes — Raf.
Locr Perch, Hog Fish, Rock Fish.— Salmon yellow or greenish, with
about" (ifteen transverse dark bands from back to belly, these usually alter-
natinix with shorter and ftiinter ones reaching about to lateral line ; a black
spot at base of caudal ; bellv with a row of enlarged plates, shed at sea-
sons ; neck above scalv; P. XllI-12; A.II,10. (Jrcat lakes and western
streams, abundant east to Lake Chami,lain ; the largest of the Darters
reaching a length of six or eight inches, (1\ zebra, semitasciata, nebulosa
• and bimaculnta of authors.)

Lake Erie and Allegheny river.

ALVOKDIUS— Oirard.

Alvordius maculatus — Grd.

Black-sidc.l Darter. Blennv Darter.— Head h.ugand pointed, 4 in length;

depth 5 to 5\; belly with a series of caducous plates along the middle

line (shed at "some seasons.) Straw yellow with dark tesselati<uis and

about seven large blotches along the sides, partly confluent, thus forming a

moniliform baud ; D. XIII, to XV_12; A. II, 9. Ohio valley, ( J reat lakes

and eastward ; one of the im.st curious and elegant of all the darters. {A.

anpro, Coin- and Jor.? Alvordius and Hadropteru.^ maculalas, (ird.

{Elheostoma blennioides, Ag.) In Pennsylvania in western streams only.

Alvordius variatis — Kirt.

Shiehled Darter.-IIead shorter; sides with broad, brownish shades;
ventral shields much larger ; D. XII-13 ; A. I, 9 ; lat. 1 53, Penn.

A largi" and handsome species from the wist ; also found by .Jacob
Stauffor in Concstoga creek, in Lancaster county.

i''

'/

Leg. Doc] State Commissioners of Fisheries. ^3

Alvordius macrocepiialus- Cope.
Long-headed Darter.-Head much elongated; 3i in length, the snout
much longer than the eye; cheeks and opercles naked; colorations nearly
that of A. Maculatus; scales quite small; D. XA , 13; A. II, U ; lat. 1, 77.
Headwaters of Ohio river in Pennsylvania.

DIPLE8ITIM— /?«/.
ffyostoma, Agassiz.

DlPLESIl'M BLENNlOIDES — Raf.

Green-sided Darter.-Olive green and tessellated above ; sides with a
series of about seven double transverse bars, each pair forming a \ -shaped
figure ; these are joined above, making a sort of wavy lateral band ; in lite,
these markings are of a clear deep green ; sides sprinkled with orange dots ;
head with olive stripes and the usual dark bars; first dorsal dark orange
brown at base, blue above, becoming pale at tip ; second dorsal and anal
of a rich blue green with some reddish ; caudal greenish ; young specimens
much duller, but The peculiar pattern is unmistakable ; body stout ; head
.hort and thick ; D. XIII to XI II-. 3 ; A. 1 1, 8 ; length 8 inches. Penn.
to Kas. and S. ; one of the handsomest of fishes.

BOLEOSOMA— De Kay.

The species of this genus range further to the east than those of any of

this group.

* Anal spine single, weak.

Boleosoma olmstkpi— S/or«r.

Common Darter.-Fins stouter and higher than in the next ; <leptl) 5i
in len-th ; head 4^ ; olivaceous, fins barred ; back tessellated ; a black streak
forward; and another downward from the eye; cheeks and opercles scaly ;
neck and throat bare; D. IX-H ; A. 1,8; lat 1,50. New Lngland to
Wisconsin abundant eastward. {R. tesaellatum, De K.)

The common species of eastern Pennsylvania. The males are larger than
the females and are marked with black in spring, especially on the head.

Boleosoma MAcvLATi m — Ag.—Johnny Darter.

Paler and more distinctly tessellated ; brownish yellow , upper surfoce
dotted with brown, the spots forming a few dark bars on back : a dark line
from eve to snout ; and sometimes a bar below eye ; smaller and slenderer
than the preceding ; with smaller fins ; eye as large as the narrow pointed
snout ; cheeks, neck, and thn.at naked ; opercles scaly ; D. I-^-l^ ^ A. 1.
10 ; lat. 1.45, E. U. S., abundant, west of the AUeghenies. B. brevipinne,
(Cope.)

** Anal spine wanting.

l!

«

in

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

BoLEOSOMA iEsopus — Cope.
Caudal peduncle contracted; dorsal outline curved ; fins high ; brownish,
with spots on back and sides ; D. VII— 14 ; A. 10 ; lat. 1.47. Susquehanna
river, Penn.

• NOTHONOTUS— ^j7as.s.

Nanostoma — Putnam.

NOTHONOTUS ZONALIS Cope.

Zoned Darter.— Olivaceous, golden below; six dark brown quadrate
spots along the back ; connected by alternating spots with a brown lateral
band from which eight narrow bands encircle the belly ; lower fins yellow
with brown spots; spinous dorsal with a crimson band ; a series of crim-
son spots on base of soft dorsal ; black spot on opercle, occiput, and base
of pectorals ; black bars downward from eye and forward ; D. PI — 12 ; A.
11, 7 ; lat 1.52. Indiana to Tenn. Probably western Pennsylvania.

NoTHONOTUS tessellatus — Jordan.

Head broad and heavy ; mouth large ; cheeks and opercles naked, or
nearly so ; D. X.— A. II, 8. Allegheny river.

Notiionotus camurus — Cope.

Blue-breasted Darter. — Body stout ; head short ; muzzle abruptly de-
curved, the mouth somewhat inferior ; lower jaw included ; males very dark
olive or blackish, with an obscure band of a paler shade ; belly paler ; breast
and throat deep rich blue ; sides profusely sprinkled with crimson dots, like
a brook trout ; these spots sometimes arranged in short longitudinal series
of threes and fours ; series of olivaceous lines along the rows of scales;
first dorsal with black spot at base in front and a crimson one on the mar-
gin between the tirst and second rays ; second dorsal, caudal, and anal
crimson, bordered with yellow, which again is bordered with black or dark
blue on the edge of the fin ; the crimson is deepest next the yellow ; pectoral
and ventral fins with a broad red margin ; females less distinctly marked,
olivaceous, somewhat barred; head 4; depth 4^ ; D. XI. — 13; A 11,8;
scales 7—53—8 ; length 2^ inches. Habitat, Ohio valley, Cumberland
river; Tennessee, White river; Indiana, Mahoning river; Ohio, French
creek ; Pennsylvania, not abundant.

Habits.— This species is one of the most brilliant and delicate of all our
fishes. It is found in clear cold streams, and thus far nowhere in great
abundance.

XOTHONOTUS maoulatus — Kirtl.

Trout Darter.— Body moderately elongated, deep, and compressed, head

4 in length ; depth 4 If ; head long and rather pointed ; mouth pretty large ;

jaws equal; dorsal fin elevated, the longest rays reaching caudal; olive

sides with rather large spots of brilliant carmine ; vertical fins more or less

•>>

■ r

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

175

barred with red and white; D. XII, 13 ; A. 11. 8 ; lat. 1.60. Mahoning
river, Ohio, a rare and handsome species.

POECILICHTHYS— A gasa.
This genus embraces the most brilliantly colored of our fresh water Per-
comorphi. They are the most abundant of the group in western waters.

PoEciLicHTHYS coBRULEUS — Storer.
Blue darter.— Rainbow fish— Blue Johnny.— Olivaceous, tessellated
above, the spots running together in blotches ; back without black length-
wise stripes ; sides with about twelve indigo blue bars running obliquely
downward, most distinct behind, separated by rich orange interspaces;
caudal deep orange, edged with bright blue ; anal orange, with deep bhie
in front and behind; soft dorsal chiefly orange, blue at base and tip;
spinous dorsal crimson at base, then orange, with blue edgings ; ventrals
bluish, often deep indigo blue; cheeks blue; throat and breast orange;
these two shades very constant ; 9 much duller, with but little or no blue
or orano-e ; the vertical fins barred or checked ; colors fade in alcohol ; body
short and stout ; head large ; D. X-12 ; A. 1 1, 7 ; lat. 1. 45 ; length 2 to
3 inches. Mississippi valley, abundant ; the most gaily colored of all the
darters.

ETHEOSTOMA— i^o/.

The characters which distinguish this genus from Pcecilichthys are only
to be found in the male fish.

Etheostoma flabellarf — Raf. — Fan-tailed darter.

Head entirely scaleless ; lateral line short ; lower jaw longest ; olivaceous,
dusky above ; sides with obscure dusky bars ; each scale with a brownish
spot,' these sometimes forming series of longitudinal lines, but never very
distinct ones ; head narrow ; mouth obliipie ; body rather slender ; fins
stronglv barred; D. VIII.— 12; A. 11. 8; length 2^ inches. Great lakes
and streams from N. V. and W., abundant. E. linsleyi, H. U. Storer.
Western Pennsylvania. The knobbed spinous dorsal rays distinguish the
males of this species from every other.

MICEOPEBCA— Pa<nam.
Microperca punctulata— /*M/nam.

Least darter.— Greenish olive; si'^es with irregular dark bars and zigzag
markings ; dusky lines along the row of scales ; a dark shouhicT blotch ; a
black streak forward from eye and a vertical bar l)elow it ; D. VI to VII—
9 to 12 ; A. 11, 5 or 6 ; length 1^ inches. Western States.

PKRCINJE.

The following are the genera of this sul)-family :
I. Anal spines two; dorsal fins more numerous.

176

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

Canine teeth mixed >vitb the bristle-like ones, ^'"'^'terTa.

No canine teeth, . . •

II. xVnal spines three ; dorsal spines less numerous.

No canine teeth,

Lnbrax.

STIZOSTETHnjM— Rof.
The specncs of this genus arc of rather elongate form, and resemble in
their proportions those of Etheostomine group.

The S vilreum or jack, sometimes ealle.l jaek-salmon. or even sal-
mon, for flavor and general character of llesh, and for large s.ze, .s onl>
Leeded in value by the shad, yet it is almost unknown to our markets,
except as an importe 1 article from the lakes. It exists in the l^«s.p,ehanna,
and m,<.ht to be so protected as to be very abundant there. It .s common
il^^the Ille^henv ami tributaries, and is associated ,vith a.nother hne spcces
of smaller si.e,- the S. «»/,».„.«»., Raf. Both of these Hshcs <-!-' ^ » ^
cultivated. The jack reaches, occasionally, forty 1"™;>b, "»'l ''^' ^^
trout, seeks the highest an.l coolest waters that «-.ll float ,t. It pos-
sesse great activity and strength, an.l is a ravenous desf-oyer of pcrc,, and
other species. Were it not so superior in every way to all others. th>s
hi might condemn it; as it is we regard it as one of the best speoe
we possess. In the .^outh, it is eagerly bought, and forms the pr,„c,p.|d
table-fish f.r the various places of resort, springs, etc., where jt •.•"»- "h-
taincd. It is supplied with means of defense m ..s powerful teeth, with
which it will inflict wounds. Yet this large species is al.nost -"'knn.-u „,
manv parts of our State, and, as a source of food, is ccmparatnely ■ns.gmh-
eant' As its mode of life combines those of the brooktrout and bass, there
i; no nason why some enterprising person should not make ,t an object of
enlture on the Delaware or weslwar,l. Proper protectmn wouhl also
have as much effect in in.reasing its nun.bers as in the case ot any other
species we have.

Stizostetiuum yiTii¥xyi— Mitch ill. Fiji. 34.
Wall-eved I'ike.-- Salmon."-" Dory.'-tilass Kye.-Yellow I>ike._
Bodv shmder. becoming compressed w,th age. the back not espec.ally
depresse<l ; dorsal spines high, more than half length of head ; eye 4^ to .-.
n head, iieneral color a heavy olive, finely mottled with brassy ; a large
black spot on last rays of spinous dorsal, the fin otherwise nearly or -,mte
unmarked; I.. XIII_l.2l; X. U, 12; Int. 1,9^.. ^■7;7. '^f ; "i^'
.necies reaches a length of nearly three feet, and a weight of 20 to 0 lbs.
Great lake region and some Atlantic streams, north to the fur ^untr.es ;
an abundant and valued food fish, (Luciuperca amerwana, Cuv.)

VaR. SAI.MONKIM— ifo/. Kig 35.

Ri,,o Pike -•• White Salmon.' -Body shorter, tliicker and Ueeper, with
slenderer caudal peduncle; mouth smaller; eye larger; dorsal spme.

.)

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

Itt

lower, 2^ in head ; coloration bluer ; with silvery instead of brass mot-
tlings'; fin coloration darker; young pale, with traces of vertical bars; D.
XIV— 1, 20 ; A. 11, 13 ; lat. 1, 95. This species or variety is very similar
to the preceding, but it is distinguished at sight by the fisherman, and
seems to rarely attain a length of more than one foot. Lake Erie, Ohio
river and South. Common in the Susquehanna river.

Stiostethium canadense — Smith,
Fig. 36.
Sanger.— Sand Pike.— Gray Pike.— Body little compressed, broad across
the back and rather depressed ; cheeks, top of head, etc., usually thickly
scaled ; colors rather paler and more translucent than in S. vitreum, the
shades' less blended; olive gray, sides pale orange with much black mot-
tling, the black gathered into several definite dark transverse areas ; spin-
ous dorsal with two or three rows of round black spots ; a large black
blotch at base of pectorals ; dorsal XII— 1, 17 ; A. 11, 12 ; lat. 1, 95 ; size
not large; length 12 to 15 inches. Ohio river and Great lake region to
upper Missouri ; a strongly marked species. (L. grisea, De K., L. borea.
Gird.)

PEBCA— Litm.

Perca fluviatilis — Linn.

\. Tar. AMERICANA — Schrank.

Common Yellow Perch.— Olivaceous ; sides yellowish, with broad dark
bars ; head S\ in length ; depth about the same ; D. XIII — 14 ; A. 11, t ;
lat. 1, 63. Fresh waters E. U. S; chiefly northward and eastward. [P.
Jiavelcena (Mit.) Cu\.] Abundant in the Delaware and Susquehanna
rivers.

LABEAX—Cuv.
Morone and Roccus — Mitch. — Oill.
* Body little compressed ; depth less than ^ of length ; teeth on tongue
in more than one patch ; chiefly marine. (Roccus.)

Labrax lineatus — Bl. Schn.

Striped Bass.- Rock Fish.— Silvery or yellowish, with seven or eight
longitudinal bands; D. lX-1, 12; A. Ill, 11; lat. 62. Atlantic coast,
entering rivers. Ascending the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.

** Body much compressed; depth less than one third of length ; teeth
on tongue in more than one patch.

Labrax chrysops— /?a/.
White Bass, Striped Lake Bass. Silvery, with six or more dark stripes,
12 — Leg. Doc. No. 19.

j,g State Commissionees of Fishebies. [So. 19,

sometimes "so interrnpted as to api^ear like ancient church mnsic/' D.
somet mes o P ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ Miss.ss.pp. Galley

a^d nirtl: (Labrax muUUineatu., notatus, albidus and o>culaH^ of

oiithors ^ Rivers of west Pennsylvania. . , , i

"o patch of teeth at base of tongue , scales on cheek ctenoid , dorsal

fins not connected. {3Iorone.)

Labrax americanus — Omel.

White Perch-Whitish, usually faintly striped ; depth 3 in len^h ; D
IX 1 12- A 111, 9; lat. 1.50. Atlantic coast, abundant also in resh
m;ond;,etc., coUwise ; variable. (L. mucronatus, rufus and palHdus
Tf authors.) Common in the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.

CENTIiABCnmAE.
A Dorsal fin much more developed than anal.
* Body elongate ; spines little developed ; operculum ending in two

1^^"'^^- ^ , , ... . Micropterus.

Gill rakers long and stout, ' \ 4.

** Bodv elevated and compressed ; spines robust.
„ Tongucand pterygoid bones with teeth ; gill raUers ^^'^^

Operculum with two points, . . Ghaenohryttus.

Operculum ending in a convex flap ^""*^ ^

aa Tongue and pterygoid bones toothless.

;5 Operculum ending in a convex flap.

' * . ^ ... Lepidopomus.

'^tlo;;er.:r::;ched. or-.ith two posterior apices, caudal fin
.Dorsal fin with middle spines longest. Me.o,onMus.

Anal spines 3 ; dorsals 10 •

vy Dorsal fin with regular outline.

Anal spines 3 or 4 ; dorsals 9 ; , . * ,

A A Dorsal and annal fins about equal in extent,
spinous dorsal longer than soft dorsal, its rays not steeply J—ed,^ .

Spinous dorsal fin shorter than soft part, its rays ^t-l'>-V ?™;;^;^"
length;

MICB0PTEKU8 —Lac.

rnlliurus Raf, Orysles and Euro, Cuvier.

?hi genus embraces only two well-marked species, winch are found
everywhere in eastern North America south and west of the Potomac r,ver.
Thev approach the Labraces in form, but are most like the ex , net genus
S;„rfrou, the eocene of the Rocky Mountains, in the structure of
their fins and other parts.

^

Leg. Doc.]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

119

MiCROPTERDS sALMoiDES, Lac. — Small mouthed black bass.

Small-mouthed ; scales of trunk small (e. g., lat. line^ 72-75 ; between
lateral line, and back, 1 1 rows.) Scales on nape and breast much smaller
than those of sides. Scales of cheek minute (e. g., between orbit and pre-
operculum, about 17 rows in an oblique line and about 9 in a horizontal
one.) Scales of interoperculum pniserial, covering only about half the
width of the bone. Scales of preopercular limb none. Scales on dorsal
developed as a deep sheet (involving last spine) of small scales differenti-
ated from those on the back, and with series advancing high up the mem-
brane behind each ray (except last two or three.) Scales on anal ascend-
ing high behind each ray. Mouth moderate. Supramaxillary ending con-
siderably in front of hinder margin of orbit (about under hinder border of
pupil.) Dorsal rays articulated 13, anal III, 10—11, pectoral, 1-16—1.17.
Dorsal fin little depressed, the ninth spine being only about a half shorter
than the longest (3, 4,5) and a fourth shorter than the tenth. Centrarchus
obscurus Dekay, Grystes fasciatus, Les.

Micropterus pallidus. Fig. 37. Baf. — Large mouthed black bass.

Large mouthed. Scales of trunk moderate (e. g. lat. line^ 65-70 ; between
lateral line and back, 7i or 8 rows.) Scales on nape and breast scarcely
(on nape,) or not much (on breast) smaller than those of sides. Scales of
cheeks moderately small (e. g. between orbit and preoperculura, about 10
rows in an oblique line and about 5-6 in a horizontal one.) Scales of in-
teroperculum uniserial covering the entire width of the bone. Scales of
preopercular limb developed in an imperfect row (e. g. 3-5 in number.)
Scales on dorsal developed as a low (obsolete) shallow sheath, and with
series ascending comparatively little on membrane behind the rays (none
behind last five or six.) Scales one anal none (or very few.) Mouth large.
Supramaxillary extending considerably behind the posterior margin of
orbit. Dorsaf rays articulated, 12 (I.U;) anal III, 10 pectoral, 1.14
(1.14.) Dorsal fin much compressed, the ninth spine being only about a
fourth as long as the longest and half as long as the tenth. Hnro nigri-
cans C. & V. Micropterus floridanus, Les., Great lakes and streams from
L. Champlain S. and W.; common in X. Y. and in most regions west of
the Alleghanies: introduced eastward, \_0. fasciatus^ (Les.) Ag. obscurus
De K. (young) M. achigan (Raf.) Gill, etc. etc.

AMBL0PLITE8— Raf.

Centrarchus^ Cuvier, pt.

AmBLOPLITES RUPESTRlS — Raf.

Fig. 38.

Rock bass, goggle eye, red eye.— Depth about half length ; head more

than one third; eye nearly four in head, very large; cheek? scaly; front

convex ; longest dorsal ray two thirds depth of head at front of orbit ;

brassy olive with golden green and blackish markings ; a dark spot at base

State Commissionebp of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

180

o 1, .,»W which is conspicuous after rteath, giving a striped appcar-
„f each sea ewh.ch « co p ^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^

rtheAUeghen'ies; an abundant species. [C. .«6«s, Les. A ^c^the■^
roX (Kaf.fr] An CKceUent pan-Bsh, and worthy of protect.on and
propagation. tEP,D0P0iro8-JJ<y.

LepomU, lehlhelU and PomolU-Raf. Bryltus Cuv. vaU

This genus embraces the largest numW of species of Centrarck^n., and
is distributed everywhere.

l-/aJre':X'c::;::rdorsal spines low; a biacU spot on second

dorsal.

Lepidopomus cyanellus — Raf.
.. J fi.h n^rk clear olive-jrreen, each scale with a blue

S^J^:^:^^^^, - bod; tiu. ap^arin. ™^^^^^^^^^^^

Lped along the ^:^:^z:z:t^^:^^y -«

X^inltd ";:: rir d^rU dots ; vertical fins .arUed with green
^11 r.A mnrP or less ed<red with pale oranjie ; usually a distinct blacK

ro^s":;;:no;rr:;ts;au,withUY-^^^^^^^^^

Zeo^a cT^-y Abundant in the Ohio water system. A good pau-hsh.

.. Palatine teeth present ; usually no black bloches on last rays of dor-
sal and anal. (Lepidopomus.)

LEPinopoMcs NEPiiELis— Cope. Chain side.

Brlglasteel blue, with m..yb.n^^^^^^^^^^^^

cha.n.hke bars «r.v co , _ _^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ . „^

Itircrb ueTeU sui :''but sides' of head shaded with purplish -. body
XV.te, head somewhat acuU. ...ular spot s..^; .^^

r^^rlkrorrha'dil^t";^^^^^^^^^^^ ha^v . a.uaria. and per-
hrps the most voracious of the suu fishes. Western I'ennsylvan.a.

LspitKiTOMi'S AUBiTis— itnn.— F'B- '9-
Lone cared Pond Fish.-Ue.l.tailed Bream -Sun I'erch.-Pusky olive;

l^L' iL very long, longer than any in other spee.es, except the
NeXlancl- A iarpe handsome s,«cies, known at once by the pecul.ar

^

» t

Leg. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

181

ear flap L. 6 to 10. (I. rubricauda, appendix, etc., of authors.)
Abundant in the Delaware and Susquehanna. A bright yellow variety oc-
curs in the latter river basin.

*** No palatine teeth ; dorsal spines very high ; a more or less distinct
black blotch on last rays of dorsal and anal.

Lepidopomus pallidus — Mich. — Fig. 40.

Blue sunfish.— Copper-nosed Bream.— Olive green ; adult dark ; young
more or less silvery, often uniformly so in spirits ; a more or less distinct
purple luster in life; sides with undulating, sometimes chain-like, trans-
verse bars, most conspicuous in the young ; a black spot on base of dorsal
and anal behind ; no blue stripes on cheeks ; no red on fins ; opercular flap
moderately long and wide in adults, without pale edge, very short in young ;
body deep, compressed, caneral peduncle rather slender ; head 3 in length ;
depth about 2 ; dorsal spines very long ; D. X. 11 ; A. Ill, 10 ; lat. 1, 40
to 45 • L. 3. Great lakes to Delaware R. (Abbott) and S., Abundant. A
large 'and verv variable species, but almost always recognizable by the
characters above emphasized. (Ichthelis incisor, Auct.) Adult speci-
mens are often nearlv obicular and have the belly coppery red.

Abundant in Western Pennsylvania. Not found in the Atlantic streams
north of Carolina.

II. Pharyngeal teeth truncate.

PoMOTis aureus — Walb. — Fig. 41.
(Common sunfish.-Pumpkin seed.-Breara.-Depth more than half
length ; ^reenish olive above, sides orange-spotted ; orange yellow below ;
cheeks oran-e, with blue wavy streaks; ear-flap rounded, broadly edged
with scarlet, below and behind ; lower fins orange, upper orange-spotted ;
spines rather high; D. X, 10; A. HI, 9; lat. 1. 37. Great lakes and
streams chieflv northward and E. of the Alleghenies ; our most familiar
species. (P. maculatus, auritus, and vulgaris of authors.) Abundant in
all parts of Pennsvlvania. In tide-water it attains a large size, and is an
important food fish, appearing in large numbers in the eastern markets.

ENNEACANTHTJ8— Gill.
Enneacanthus OBE8US— /^aird.
Fig. 42.
Depth about half length ; dorsal and anal moderately elevated in 9 : ciark
olive green, with eight strong black cross-bars and purplish spots ; lateral
line usually incomplete ; cheeks with lines and spots ; opercular A^P velvet-
black, bordered with purple ; a dark bar below eye ; D. IX. 10 ; A 111,10;
L. 3. Streams coastwise from Mass. southward ; a handsome little fash.
Rare in south eastern Pennsylvania.

I

tL

r

jg2 State Commissioners op Fisheries. [Xo 19,

Enneacantiius guttatus— iforris.

Blue-spotted sunfish.-Body without definite blackish cross bars, in males

covered with round bright sky-blue spots ; a pearly blue spot on opercle ;

bodv more elongated than in the others ; lateral hue complete ; D. IX 10 ,

A III, 9 ; lat. 1.30. New Jersey to N. C ; abundant. {E. margaroHs-

Gill and Jordan.)

Common in south-eastern Pennsylvania.

P0M0XYB-i2('/.
Dorsal spines normally 7 ; body much elevated ; depth half length. ( Hy-
peristius, Gill.)

PoMOXYS sigromaculatus — Les.

Grass Base.-Calico Bass._I>opth i! in length ; head nearly 3 ; snont

nroiecting, forming an angle with the descending profile ; mouth large,

en obliqne, but smaller than in the next ; tins very large ; anal larger than

dor'sal ; bright olive green and silvery ; sides and 8-^.™"^''™°"';!'; f/.

anal fln nearly as much variegated as the dorsal ; 1). \ III, 15 ; A^^ 1, l» •

Iftt 1 41- L 8. Great lalies to Delaware K., (Abbott,) and h. \N.,a

It^Lme' f^h [1-. hexacanthus, (C. and V.,) Ag 1 A valuable tab e fish^

.* Dorsal spines normally 0 ; body less elevated, depth about one third

length.

PoMoxYS annularis — Rttf. — Fig. 43.

Bachelor, (Ohio river,) Xew Light, (Ky.,) Crappie, (St. Louis.)-Depth
two fifths to one third length, scarcely greater tl,an length of head ; ohva-

ceous, silvery below, sides with irregular '^'-'--"""j'/;,^^';^, f^iT-
parts of the sides and the anal fin usnally plan, ; P. \ 1, (^ • to V' D '^ ■
A VI n ; lat. 1.43 (30 to 4S), L. 10. Mississipp. valley ; a table fish of
fome 'value; abundant and exceclingly variable (P. ^"■""^•^^^^
Intermedius, protacanthus, and brevicanda of authors.) Not found in At-

lantic streams.

SCIAENSAE.
While marine species of this family are abundant on our coasts, very few
are habituallv Ih.viatile, and tl>ese are confmed to the Mississippi waters
M^L of- the Atlantic from Carolina south and west. They be ong to
one genus, which is distinguishe.1 by the coossifieation of t ho inferior pha-
ryngeal bones as in PharyngognatM, as shown by I'rof. Gill.

AMBLODON— J?a/.

Ilaploidonotus — Itaf.

Amblodon oru.sniens — J?a/.

Fig. 44.

Sheep's Head. White Perch, Grunter, Drum.-Depth 3 in '^nP"' ' ''^^

3i ; backelevate.1 forwards.and much compressed ; spines strong ; hrst anal

\\

*^

Leg. Poc]

State Commissioners op Fisheries.

183

spine short; the second very large, attached to a stout bone; grayish
silvery, duskv above ; scales rather large and irregularly placed punctate
with biack; D. IX_I, 30; A. 11, 7 ; lat. 1.54. Great lakes, M-™
vallev, etc., abundant. (Corvina oscula and C. grisea, of authors ) Three
other species of this genus have been described, but their validity is ex-
ceedinglv doubtful. Southward this species is considerably valued as food,
but in the Great lakes its flesh is ill-scented and worthless. Allegheny
river.

VII. LABKYINTHICL

Basis cranii double, with muscular tube. Superior P^^^-^^f ^l^;*^^';;*
the fourth ; third massive, articulated to cranium ; one or other of the «u.
perior branchihyals developed into vertical laminae, often mvoluted. In-
ferior pharyngeals distinct. Dorsal fin spinous. . , . •

Fishes of this division form two families, which belong to tropical Asia.
Their peculi.-.r branchial str.icture enables them to live out of water for
lonff ueriods and to bury themselves in mud during dry seasons. A rep-
reltltiv'fish is the gourami, Osphromenus ol fo., which is an important
article of food.

VIII. PHAEYNGOGNATHI.
Basis cranii double, with tube ; basilar bones of pectoral four, short ;
scapula with median foramen. Cranium normal posteriorly ; posttemporal
bm rcate. Superior branchihyals not complicated ; superior pharj^ngeals
wUh the third greatly developed and attached by movable articu ation o
rranium,the others wanting or rudimental. Inferior pharyngeal solidl,
co«ssified. Families three, the species mostly marme. The burgall and
blackfish or tautog, are well-known representatives.

(

Legislative Document,

No. 19.

'■'4

SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.

•4

&t

MARSIPOBRANCHI.
Hyperoarti.

Petromyzontidap, species,

PISCES.
EYOPOMATA.

CHONDROSTEI.

Selachostomi.

Polyodontidfe •

Glaniostomi.

Accipenseridoe,

ACTINOPTERI.
PHYSOSTOMI.

GiNGLYMODI.

8

Lepidosteidte,

TlALECOMORPni.

Araiidii?,

Nematounathi.

18

Siluridne,

Plectospondyli.

19

Catostomidai, „_

Cypriuidrt?, ...

ISOSPONDYLI.

Percopsidte, .^

Salmonidie, -

Hyodontidjv, ...

Clupeidtt?,

-i_.

186

State Commissioners of Fisheries.
Haplomi.

[No. 19,

Esocidae, . . . ■
Umbridte, .
Cj-prinodontidaj,

6
S
6

Enchelycephali.

^

AnjTuiUidse,

PHYSOCLY STL
Percesoces.

Atberi

Synentognathi.

Belonidae, . .
Gasterosteidte,

Gadidffi, . •
CottidiiB, . . .

S

s

Hbmibranchi.

Percomorphi.

Aphododiridoe,

Percidre,

Scia'nidji?,

Total number of species, of which four have been introduced,

1
6
1
84
1

64

M'%5»

^

Legislative Document,

No. 19.

INDEX TO POPULAR NAMES.

Cave cat fish,
Chain-sided sun tish,

Page. !
. 152 j
. 152
. 182
, .156
. .129

Page.

124
Channel cat, ^*'

Cliannel cat of the Potomac, 123

128

Chrosomus,
Chub,

Chubby cat,
Chub sucker,
Cope's suclter.

Alewife,

Ancliovey,

Bachelor,

Barred killifish,

Banded sucker,

Bean's darter,

Big-mouthed buffalo, J^« Copper-noid'bream,

Big-mouthed cat, ^'^^

Bill ftsh,

Black buffalo,

Black cat,

Black head,

Black horse,

Black lamprey,

Black-nosed dace

Black-sided darter,

Black-sided killifish,

Bl en ny darter,

Blob,

Blue cat,

Blue darter,

Blue johnny, .... ...

Blue-spotted sun ftsh, . .

Blue-spotted sua fish, - — »;—

Blue sun fish, ^°^,

Blunt-jawed minnow, 1*'

Blunt-nosed minnow, . . • •

Blunt-nosed sturgeon,

Bony gar,

Bony sturgeon,

Bowrtn,

Box-mouthed dace,

Bream,

Bream, . - . •
Brook stickleback,

Brown-nosed dace,

Bull-head,

Burbot,

Calico bass,

Cat fish of the lakes, . . ifl

118 I

128

12.S

135
, 129
, 110

143

172
. 157

172
. 169
. 124
. 175
. 175
. 180
182

181
137
164
148

143
123

167

182

. ,, , . 169 Great blue cat, . . .

Cave bull-head, ^_^^^^^^ fork-tailed cat.

124
180

144

122
130
132
181
167
, 182

Cod,

Crappie,

Creek fish,

(5ut lips,

Dace,

Day chub,

Deformed carp sucker, ^*«

Dog ftsh,

Dog ftsh,

Dory,

Drum,

Duck-billed cat, ......

Eastern mud minnow,

Eastern red liorse, • •

Eel

Eel-pout,

minnow^,

European carp,

136 Fall fish,

114 Fan-tailed darter,

118 Flat-liead,

114 Florida cat,

119 Four spined stickleback, . . •

j Gar pike,

GaHperean,

(fiz/jird shad,

Glass eye

Goblin,

144

142

155
119
176
182
113
156
131
158
167
140
135
142
175
135
. 123

118
152
152
176
109
179
131
135

Golden red horse,

<iold ftsh,

Gourd-seed sucker, \^

(Jrass-bass,

Gray pike,

Green pike,

182
177
123
123
154

188

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

I

Page.

Green-sided darter, 173

Grunter, 182

Uetnitremia, 137

Herring, 150

Hickory shad, 152

Hog ttsh, 172

Hog sucker, 129

Horned ciiub, , 142

Horned dace, 142

Horn pout, 123

Jerker, 142

Johnny darter, 173

Lake carp sucker, 127

Lake cask, 167

Lake herring, 149

Tjake lawyer, 167

Jjake mullet, 131

Lake mullet, 131

Lake pike, 154

Lake sturgeon, 115

Lake trout, 147

Lake white fish, 149

Large-niouthed black bass, 179

Least darter, 175

Ling, 167

Little pickerel, 155

Little star gazer, 167

Long perch, 172

Long-eared pond fish, 180

Long-finned carp sucker, 127

Long-headed darter, 172

Ix>ng-)awed cat, 122

Long-nosed daoe, 143

Long-nosed sucker, 130

Mackinaw trout, 147

Margined stone cat, 121

Michigan herring, 149

Michigan grayling, 148

Miller's tliumb, 167

Mississippi cat, 123

Missouri sucker, 129

Moon eye, 150

Moss bass,

Mud cat 123

Mud dace, 155

Mud fish, . . 119

Mud minnow, 155

Mud sucker, 129

Mufile-jaws, 169

Mullet, 131

Muskallunge, 154

New light, 182

Nigger chub, 144

Northern pickerel,

Ohio golden shad, 152

Ohio stickelback, 164

Oswego bass, j

Page.

Pearly daoe 141

Pickerel, 154

Pigmy minnow, 138

Pike .... 153

Pirate perch, 169

Pumpkin seed, 181

Quilback 127

Kainbow fish, 176

Red-bellied dace, 136

Red-eye, 179

Red-fin, 189

Red-fin, 189

Red finned shiner, 139

Red-horse, 181

Red-sided minnow, 141

Red-sided sucker, 130

Red sturgeon, 115

Red-tailed bream, 180

River silverside, 161

Roach, 142

Rock bass 179

Rock fish, 172

Rock fish 177

Rock sturgeon, 115

Rosy dace, 141

Rosy-faced minnow, 140

Rough-head, 189

Rough-headed shiner, 140

Royal minnow,

Sail fish, 127

Salmon, 176

Sand darter, 172

Sand pike, 177

Sanger, 177

Sea lamprey, . . 109

Sea salmon, 147

Sea sturgeon, 114

Sliad, 151

Sharp-nosed sturgeon, 114

Sheepshead, 182

Siiieldod darter, 172

Shiner, 187

Shiner, .... 139

Sliort-nosed gar pike, 119

Shovel-nosed sturgeon, 114

Silver bass, 160

Silver fin, 189

Silver ship-jack, 161

Silvery carp sucker, 127

Silvery lamprey, 110

Silvery minnow, 136

Skim-jack, 127

Skip-jack, 152

Slippery miller's thumb, 168

Slender, 168

Small black lamprey, 110

Small catfish, 123

Leg. Doc ]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

^^P

Page.

Small-mouthed buffalo, 128

Small-mouthed black bass, ..... 179

Small-mouthed red horse, 182

Smelt, 1*8

Smelt, 138

Spawn-eater, 13«*

Spear fish, 127

Speckled trout, 148

Spoon-billed sturgeon, 113

Spotted mullet, 129

Spotted shiner, 143

Spotted suntish, 180

Spring herring 152

Spring mummichog, 156

Spring stickleback, 164

Stone lugger, 133

Stone-roller, 129

Stone-roller, 133

Striped bass, 177

Striped lake bass, 177

Striped sucker, 129

Suckers, 126

Sunfish, 181

Smelt minnow, 136

189

Page.

Sun perch, 1^0

Tadpole stone cat, 121

Tessellated darter, 172

Toothed herring, 150

Top minnow.

157

Trout darter, 174

Wall-eyed pike, 176

Western trout pickerel, 155

White bass, 177

White cat, 123

White cat, 124

White-eyed shiner, 141

White nose, 132

White perch, 182

White perch, 178

White sucker, 130

White sucker, 131

Wilson's bull-head, 169

Yellow cat, 122

Yellow perch, 177

Yellow pike, 176

Yellow stone cat, 121

Zoned darter, 174

r

I

i\

i?r^

♦i

f

Legislative Document,

No. 19.

ODEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

Pajre.

Accipenseridse, 113

Accipenser, Linn., 114

brevirostris, Les., 114 I

maculosus, Lep 115

rubiciindu8, Les,, 115 |

sturio, Linn., . 114 |

Actinopteri, 115 i

Albulidio 145 I

Alepocephalid.t, 145

Alvordius, Girard, 172

macroceplialus, Cope, 173

niaculatus, Girard, 172

pcltatus, Stauft'., 173

Amblodon, Raf., 182 j

grunniens, Raf., 182

Arablopiites, Raf. 179

rupestris, Raf., 179 |

Aniblyopsidae, 153

Aniia, Linn., 119

calva, Linn., 119

Amlidjo 119

Aniiurus. Raf,, Gill, 122

all.idus, Les., 123

lophius. Cope, 124

nioias, Raf., 123

natalis, Les., 122

nebiilosus, 123

nigricans, Les., 123

olivaris, Raf., 122

vulgaris, Thonip., 122

Amniocrypta, 172

pcllueida, 172

Anipldsilidio, KV4

Anacantiiini, 166

Anguilla. Thumb., 158

rostrata, Les., 158

AnguillidtP, 158

Apeltes, Dekay, 164

quadraous, Mitch., 164

Aphododirida?, 169

Aphododirus, Les., 169

BJiyanus, Gill., 169

Athorina, L 162

beryliina, Cope, 162

Atheriiiidie, 161

Page.

Aulopidee, 145

Belone, Cuv., 162

truncata, Les., 162

Belonidte, 162

Blenniidse, 166

Boleosoma, Dekay, 173

a?sopus, Cope, 174

inaculatum, Ag., 173

olnlstedi, Stor., 173

Brevurtia, Gill, 151

menhaden, 151

Bubalichthyinaj, 126

Bubalichthys, Ag., 125

urus, Agass, 128

cyanellus, Nels, 129

Campostoma, Ag., 133

anomalum, Raf., 133

Carassius, Nills., 135

auratus, L., 135

Carpiodes, Raf., .... 125

I cutisanserinus. Cope, 127

cyprinus, Raf., 127

diftbrmis. Cope, 127

I thonipsoni, Ag., 127

velifer, Raf, 127

Catostoniida^ 126

Catostominiv 127

Catostomus, Les., 129

longirostrum, Les , 130

nielanops, Raf., 120

nigricjms, Les., , 129

I teres, Mitch., 130

Centrarchina^ 178

Centrarchus, 1"0

Centriscidte, 163

Ceratichithys 142

Chaenobryttus, 178

Characinidto, 125

Chasudstes, .lord., 126

Chirocentridte, 145

Chondrostfl, 112

Chrosomus, Raf., 136

erythrogaster, Raf., 136

Cliolai Gird., 140

scabriceps, Cope, 140

192

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

P»ge.
. 161

Clupea, T.inn,

cbrysochloris, Raf., 152

Page.

Eucalia, Jordan, 164

inconstans, Kirt., 164

paeudoharengus, Wils., 162 Exoglossum, Raf., 144

sapidissima, Wils., 151 maxillingua, I.es., 144

Clupeidse, 150 Fistulariidae, 163

Cobitida?, 126 Fundulus, Lac, 166

Cochlobori, 144

Coelophori, 144

Colooepali, 169

Congridse, 157

Coregouidae, 145

Coregonus, Linn, 148

166
158

16S
137

diaphanus, Les., 166

heteroclitus, Linn., 157

nigrofasciatus, Les., 167

pisoulentus, Mitoh., 187

Gadidae, 167

Galaxiida? 145

albuf*. Les., .' 149 Gasterosteidse, 164

artedi, Linn, 149 Gila. Bd. and Gird 141

quadrilateralis. Rich 149 elongata, Kirt., 141

tullibee. Rich., 148 funduloides, Gird., 141

Cottidffi, 167 niargarita, Cope, 141

Crossopterygia, 112 Ginglymodi. 117

Cycleptus, Raf., 129 Glanencheli, 167

elongatus, Les., 129 Glaniostomi 113

Cyprinidffi, 133 Gobiesocidae, 166

Cvprinodontidse, 156 Gobiidre, 166

Cyprinus, Linn, 135 Gonorhyncliid» 146

carpio, Linn, 135 Gronias, Cope, 124

Diplesiutn, Raf., 173 nigrilabris, Cope 124

blennioides, Raf., 173 Haleconiorphi, 119

Dipnoi, 112 Haplodoci,

Distegi, 167 Haplomi,

Dorysoma, Raf., 152 Hemibranchi,

cepedianum, Les 152 Hemitremia, Cope,

Elassoniidfe, 167 bifrenata. Cope, 137

Elopidse, 145 Heterosoinata, 166

Encheiycephaii 158 Heterotidw, 146

Engraulis, Cuv., 152 Hoiocephali, HI

vittatus, Mitcli, 152 Holostonii, 167

Enneacanlhus, Gill 181 Hybognathus. Ag., 188

guttatus, Morris 182 argyritis, Gird., 136

obesus, IJaird, 182 I nuchalis, Ag., 136

Epelasinia, 166 ! regius, Gird., 186

Epicysli, 134 Hyborhynchus, Ag., 136

Erlcyinba, Cope, 144 notatus, Raf., 136

bucoata. Cope, 144 Ilydrarygra, Lac 166

Erimyzon, Jordan, 180 | niajaiis, Bloch. Schn., 156

sucetta, I^ 130 Hyodon, Les. J60

ErythinidfP 126 tergisus, Les , 160

Esocid*. Pike, 153 I Hyodontidje 150

Esox, Linn 153 Hyoponiata, 112

cypho. Cope, . .' 155 Hyperoarti 109

lucins, Linn., 154 Ilyperotreti,

nobilior, Thonip., 154 IclUhrelurus, Raf., 124

poroHUS, C^ope 165 j coerulescens, Raf., 124

reliculatus, Les., 164 ; Ichtbyobus, Raf., 126

Terndculatus, Les., 166 I bubalus, Raf., 127

Etheostonia, Raf., 175 Ichtliyocephali, 167

flabellaris, Raf., 176 Isospondyli 144

Etheostoniatina' 170 1 Labidestlies, Cope, 161

Leo. Doc]

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

Page.

sicculus, Cope, , lei

Labyrinthici, i83

Labrax, Cuv., 177

aniericanus, Gmel., 178

chrysops, Raf., 177

lineatus, Bl. Schu., 177

Lanipetra, Gray, no

argentea, Kirtl., HO

tluviatiiis, Linn., 110

nigra, Raf., no

Lepidoponius, Raf., 180

auritus, Linn., 180

cyanellus, Raf., I8O

nephelus, Cope 180

pallidus, Mitch., 181

Lepidosteidjie, 118

Lepidosteus, I^ac, lis

osseus, Linn., ns

platystomus, Raf., 119

Leptocardii, 108

Liponiyzon,

Lophobranchii, 164

Lota, Ciiv., 167

lacustris, Walb., ir,7

Lutodirida?, 145

Luxilus, Rj»f., 137

aniarus, Gird., 138

analostanus, Gird., 139

chalybaeus, Cope, 138

cornutiis, Mitch., 130

hudsonius, Clinton, 138

procne, Cope, 138

Lythrurus, Jordan, 139

dipla>niius. Cope, 139

Masipobranctii, 108

Microperca, Putnam, 175

punctulata Putin., 175

Mesocysti, 133

MesogouistiuM

Mioropterus, Lac, 178

pallidus, Raf., 179

sahnoides, Lac, 179

Minnilus, 140

dinemus, Raf. 140

photogenis. Cope, 141

rubrifrons, Cope 140

MugilidsN 161

Muraenesocida; 168

Mj'xostonia, Raf., 130

aureoluni, Les., 131

breviceps. Cope, 132

oarpio, Val., 131

niacrolopidotuni, Les., 13L

velatuu), Cope, 132

Neniatognathi, 120

biguttatus, Kirtl., 142

13— Leo. Doc. No. 19.

193

Page.

dissiinilis, Kirtl 143

micropogon, Cope, 148

ceratichthys, Bd., 142

Notemigonus, Raf., 137

chrysoleucus, Mitch 187

Nothonotus, Ag., 174

oamnius. Cope, 174

maculatus, Kirtl., 174

tessellatus, Jord., 174

zonalis, Cope, 174

Notopterida?, 144

Noturus, Raf., 121

1 flavus, Raf., 121

I Kvrinus, Mitch., 121

I insignia, Rich., 121

Onoorhynchus, Suckley, 146

quinnat, Richds., • 146

Opheocephalidfe, 155

Opisthonii, J59

Osmerus, Linn., 143

niordax, Mitch, 148

Osteoglosfeida;, 145

Pantosteus, 128

Pediculati, 165

Pegasidas igg

Perca, Linn, 175

fluviatilis, Linn., 177

Percesoct's, 161

Pereida^, 170

Pe^■cina^ 175

Percina, Hald., 172

caprodes, Raf., 172

Peroomorphi, 165

Percopsidee, 145

Peroopsis, Ag., 145

guttatus, Ag., 145

Petroniyzon, Linn, 109

niarinus, Linn., . . io9

PetnunywHitida', 109

Pharyngogiiathi, 183

Phenaeobius, Cope, 139

teretulus. Cope, 140

Pliy»)clysti, 159

Phys«)stomi, ng

Piinephales, Raf., 135

pronielas, Raf., 135

Pisces, 110

Placopharynx, Cope, 130

oarinatus. Cope, 132

Pleetognathi, 165

Plectosix>ndyli, 125

Poecilichthys, Ag., 275

coeruleus, Kirtl., 175

Polyttdou, Lac , 113

folium, Ijac, 113

Polyodontidio, U3

194

State Commissioners of Fisheries.

[No. 19,

Ponioti, Vnv., 181

aureus, Walb 181

Poiuoxys, Raf., 182

annularis, Raf., 182

nigroinaoulatus, Les., 182 j Siluridai', . . .

Potiunocottus, (xill., 169 ! Sternopygidic,

Page. I Page-

Belacliostoini, 113

Semotilus, Raf., 141

bullaris, Raf. 142

corporalis, Mitch., 142

120

125

meridicuialis, Gird.,

wilsoni, (iirtl., 169

Quassilaba, • • • 1^6

Rhegnopteri, 166

Rhiniclithys, Ag., 143

atronabuts, Mitch., 143

cataract a', C. V., 143

169 I Stizostethium, Raf., 176

Ciinadensc, Smith, 177

vitreuii), Mitch., 176

salujoneuin, Raf., 176

Synentognathi, 162

Thyinallus 148

tricolor, (.Vjpe, 148

obtusus, Ag., 143 I Umbra. Kanier, 155

Salmo, Linn, , 147 ; linii, Kirtl., 155

fontinalis, Mitch., 148 pygnuca, Dekay, 156

irideus, (iilil) 147 Umbridif, 155

natuaycush, Bloch., 147 I Uranidea, Dekay, 167

salar, T.., 147 i franklini, Ag., 168

Salnionidit', .... 145 gra<!ilis, lleckel, . '. 167

Sauridii', 145 j spilota. Cope, 168

Scapiiirln-nchops, Gill., 114 | viscf)sa, Halde, 168

platyrhyuciius, Raf., . 114 Uranoscopidic, 166

Scoinbresociihc, 1(53 Xenotis, 179

Sciaenida^ 182 Xystroplites, 179

Scyphobranchii 166 Zygonectes, .\g., 157

Scyphophori, . . 124 notatus. Raf., 157

Selachii, Ill i

END OF YEAR