COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA, December 5th, 1887. M. E. O'Brien, Supt. Fish Commission, South Bend, Neb.: DEAR SIR-In reply to yours of 22d, will state that our pike fishing has been unusually fine the past summer and fall, on up to the forming of first ice; since then have not tried them. I am confident that the vast increase in numbers is the result of the various plants made from time to time for five or six years by the State Commission. Mr. A. Anderson, of First National Bank, W. N. Hensley, postmaster, and myself, caught in one day last October, using minnows for bait, one hundred pike or dores, weighing from 1 to 3 lbs. Have made many catches since of from ten to forty, the largest weighing 54 lbs. I caught one afternoon eighty bass, alone. We have taken many weighing four lbs., the heaviest five lbs. The bass do not remain in the rivers if they can find mouths of creeks or small lakes, all of which are literally swarming with them. There is no longer any question as to the ultimate success of fish culture in our state, and I think all who have taken pains to look the streams over where plants have been made will bear me out in the assertion that we will get larger returns from money appropriated for growth and distribution of fish than for same amount invested in any other way. There is one thing I wish to call your attention to, that is, netting fish. I often go north of here to the Elkhorn river, the stream here is narrow and easily spanned by trammel nets, and I found some farmers owning as many as three of these nets, They not only set them in the river, but in the lakes, and where we could get grand pickerel and bass fishing four or five years ago, there is nothing now. What I would suggest is, that our legislature make an appropriation ample to pay an officer to be appointed whose duty it shall be to visit often the numerous small rivers and creeks and lakes of the state, and give the officer power to appoint or hire one man in each precinct along said rivers, creeks, and lakes whose duty it shall be to locate all parties owning or using nets, and arrest same. By following out such a plan for a few years we can effectually break up net fishing, and if not attended to soon it will avail little to try to stock small streams, I had occasion to examine the upper Loup river as well as Cedar river, in Wheeler county, and am of the opinion that there are no better waters for trout, but would recommend that the trout be taken to near the heads of the streams before planting, as they are all stocked with pike, but do not go so high as the trout and black suckers, who are always found together. People here are anxious to see liberal appropriations for fish culture, as they already realize the advantage resulting from the state plants in our waters. Truly yours, M. E. O'Brien, Esq., Supt. Fish Commission: A. J. ARNOLD. FLORENCE, NEBRASKA, Dec. 6th, 1887. DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 3d at hand. In reply will say, I received from you in Nov., 1884, 50 German carp, and put them in my pond the same day that I received them. I saw nothing more of them until some time in June, 1887; to my surprise they were then from 10 to 12 inches long. I saw some of the fish again this fall, and they measured 16 inches. I intend to make another pond next spring, and will then try to give more time to the fish. M. E. O'Brien, Supt. Fish Commission: Yours in haste, I. M. WHITTED MCCOOK, NEBRASKA, Sept. 2d, 1887. DEAR SIR-The California trout that you sent me last spring came safely to hand, and we planted them according to directions the same day they came. So far as we know they are doing well. We have caught some weighing one-half pound. We would now like some carp for a pond, if we can get them. We think our pond is very suitable for carp. Will you please send some as soon as possible? Hon. M. E. O'Brien, South Bend, Nebraska: Yours very truly, A. C. MARSH. BENNETT, NEBRASKA, Dec. 12th, 1887. DEAR SIR-Yours of the 3d at hand, and contents noted. I received 30 German carp from the Commission, which were placed in our pond, and I did not see anything of them until August and September of this year. The old fish are doing well, and we have numerous young fish now, about the size the carp were when you sent them to me. We propose in the spring to build another dam below the present pond, which will make at least another acre of pond, and we think we will have enough young carp to stock it with. M. E. O'Brien, Esq., South Bend, Nebraska: Yours truly, CHAS. DIEHK. NELIGH, NEBRASKA, Dec. 18th, 1887. DEAR SIR-Yours of Dec. 3d duly received, and in reply will state that in the spring of 1885 and spring of 1887 I received from Fish Commission 5,000 trout each spring. The first ones I put into west main branch of Verdigris, on Sec. 2, Tp. 28, R. 8, and in spring of 1887 the others were put into east branch of Verdigris. There were some trout lately caught of the first delivery from 4 to 6 inches in length. The last spring's delivery I do not hear anything about, but they were very strong when put into the stream. The Verdigris south branch and Spring branches running into creek, are lovely trout streams, and I would like 5,000 more to put into Spring creek this spring, and if you will write me at Neligh, I will be at depot to receive fish, and be prepared to deposit them in the creek without delay." Respectfully, Mr. M. E. O' Brien, South Bend, Neb.: PLATTSMOUTH NEB., July 15th, 1887. DEAR SIR-I have just constructed a new fish pond eight rods wide and fifteen rods long, five feet deep, fed by a strong spring, and I wish to make application for as many carp as you can let me have this fall to stock with. The young carp I received of you last fall have done magnificent, and made a most remarkable growth. When placed in the pond last October, the 15th, they were quite small, but now they are from eight to ten inches long. We wanted to see how large they were so seined them out, and to our amazement had made a remarkable growth. I think they should be rated the fish for the million. Most respectfu.ly yours, M. E. O'Brien, Supt. Fish Commission: MARTIN PROPST. SUPERIOR, NEB., Dec. 6th, 1887. DEAR SIR-We have received from you 5,000 trout, which seem to be growing and doing quite well; also forty black bass this fall, which we cannot tell you much about as yet. Our carp pond is under absolute control, so far as flood water is concerned, is about eighty feet wide by three-fourths of a mile long, and averages about five feet deep. In this pond we have now (estimated) twenty thousand of the finest carp I ever saw of their age. Our success has been so great that we have made a new pond which will cover over one hundred acres of ground. Our ponds are fed from springs, and are fairly located, and we can furnish thousands of young carp from this time on. We fed principally corn meal. This year's spawning are at least three inches long. Respectfully yours, C. E. ADAMS, Sec'y superior Cattle Co. M. E. O'Brien, Esq., South Bend, Neb.: FAIRMONT, NEB., Nov. 18th, 1887. DEAR SIR-Yours of the 16th at hand. The carp that I received from you are doing finely, I made the first pond in this section of the country that I know of. It is made on the level ground, and consequently it required considerable labor to make it. I had heard so much about the success of carp culture that I determined to have a pond. and I have got one. I do not know as it was made as it should be, but my carp are doing finely, and that is the most important part. When I drained my pond this season and found yearling carp, I said, there is one of those two-year-olds, and thought they had made a fair growth; presently I saw some of the two-year-olds, and they were three times as large. The carp that you sent me this fall came all right. Thanks. Yours truly, L. G. STUART. BENNETT, NEB., Nov. 17th, 1887. Mr. M. E. O'Brien, Supt. Fish Commission: DEAR SIR-I will be very thankful for another supply of carp this fall, as I have a beautiful pond, and would like to have all the fish I can get. The carp that you sent me one year ago are the finest fish that I ever saw. During the month of June we caught one of them with a seine, just to see how they were growing. That one we caught weighed two pounds, and that was probably not the largest one of them. I am very anxious to get more of them, and I am much obliged for those I have already received. Yours truly, JAMES CHRISTOPHER. M. E. O'Brien, Esq., South Bend, Neb.: GLEN ARBOR FISHERY, BOWER, NEB., Dec. 5th, 1887. DEAR SIR-AS per request I give you a brief report of my success with carp. I have a series of three ponds constructed in a crooked ravine. The first pond covers about one-half acre, and the third, one and one-half acres. The ponds are all protected from flood water by a channel which turns the water around the ponds. The ponds are all supplied with flumes and are well screened. I received from you last spring 150 young carp, about one inch long; they are nine inches long now. My old carp spawned this season, which have given me over 2,000 young carp from two to three inches long. I am now fitting up another and still larger pond, which I will soon have completed. What other varieties of fish would you recommend for pond culture, and can you supply me with them? Hon. M. E. O'Brien, South Bend, Neb.: Yours truly, THEO. JOHNSON. PADDOCK, NEB., Dec. 6th, 1887. DEAR SIR-Yours of the 21st of November at hand. The brook trout that I received from you in March, 1886, were put in a small pond, from which they all escaped, except thirty-four, which I transferred to a new pond. These are now quite large enough to eat. The can of 5,000 trout which I received last February (1887) all escaped from my small pond in which I was keeping them, except 580, of which I placed 100 in a large spring brook on my stock farm, and put 480 in a pond which I connected to the pond from which I took the old trout. No fish can now escape from these ponds. To-day I caught and measured one of the trout that I received in February; it was four inches long. I do not know whether you consider this a good growth or not. I have never fed the fish anything since they were put in the pond. There is no butcher shop near here where I can get liver for them, so they must seek their own living, and I must be satisfied with a smaller growth. The fish that escaped from my ponds have stocked the creek below, and some of them have made their way down into Eagle creek. I intend to construct another pond for trout, and one for carp, and expect to make some money out of the business. I have an abundance of pure spring water to supply several large ponds. At what season of the year do the trout spawn? Very respectfully, J. T. PROUTY. Hon. M. E. O'Brien, upt. Fish Commission: GRAFTON, NEB., Dec. 19th, 1887. DEAR SIR-In reply to your letter, will say I received from you on the 27th of September, 1885, twenty German carp, in fine condition, and planted them in my pond the same day. In May, 1886, I caught one of these fish which weighed one and one-half pounds. In October, 1886, I received thirty more young carp from you, which were planted in the same pond with the first ones. My first fish spawned this season, and I have thousands of young carp. I caught six of the carp in June that weighed from three to six pounds. I have two larger carp ponds; the smallest one covers about one acre, and the largest one about six acres. I have never fed my carp anything since I received them, and have not lost one of them that I know of. I must say that I am a firm believer that as soon as our people learn a little more about the habits of carp and the construction of ponds, that carp culture in ponds on our Nebraska farms will be crowned with success. M. E. O'Brien, Esq.: Yours respectfully, A. F. GARBE. KEARNEY, NEB., Dec. 10th, 1887. DEAR SIR-In reply to your letter of inquiry about my fish, will say my fish are doing very well. The young carp that you sent me in December, 1886, are now from six to eight inches long. The sixty that I received from you this fall came through in good condition. My pond is about two rods wide and sixty rods long, and is fed by a solid four-inch stream of water. I intend to make another pond next spring, and I hope you can give me a supply of fish to stock it with. My object is to raise fish for the market. I am glad that I have got a good start in the fish business, and I am thankful to the Fish Commission for it. LIST OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. Yours very truly, PETER KRAMER. The United States-Prof. G. Brown Good, Washington, D. C. Colorado-John Pierce, Denver. Connecticut-Dr. Wm. M. Hudson, Hartford; Robert G. Pike, Middletown; James A. Bill, Georgia-Hon. J. T. Henderson, commissioner of agriculture, Atlanta; Dr. H. H. Carey, superintendent of fisheries, LaGrange. (Under the laws of the state these constitute the Board of Fish Commissioners.) Illinois-N. K. Fairbanks, president, Chicago; S. P. Bartlett, secretary, Quincy; Maj. Geo. Breuning, Centralia. Indiana-Enos. B. Reed, Indianapolis. Iowa-E. D. Carlton, Spirit Lake. Kansas-S. Fee, Wamego, Pottawatomie county. Kentucky-Wm. Griffith, president, Louisville; P. H. Darby, Princeton; John B. Walker, Madisonville; Hon. C. J. Walton, Munfordville; Hon. John A. Steele, Midway; W. C. Price, Danville; Dr. Van Antwerp, Mt. Sterling; Hon. J. N. Chambers, Independence, Kenton county; A. H. Globe, Catlettsburg; J. H. Mallory, Bowling Green. Maine-E. M. Stillwell, Bangor; Henry O. Stanley, Dixfield; B. W. Counce, Thomason, com missioner of sea and shore fisheries. Maryland-G. W. Delawder, Oakland; Dr. E. W. Humphries, Salisbury. Massachusetts-E. A. Brackett, Winchester; F. W. Putnam, Cambridge; E. H. Lathrop, Springfield. Michigan-Dr. J. C. Parker, Grand Rapids; John H. Bissell, Detroit; Herschell Whitaker, Detroit; A. J. Kellogg, secretary, Detroit. Minnesota-Daniel Cameron, LaCrescent; W. M. Sweeny, M.D., Red Wing; Robert Ormsby Sweeny, president, St. Paul, Missouri-H. C. West, box 699, St Louis; Gen. J. L. Smith, Jefferson City; H. M. Garlisch, St. Joseph. Nebraska-W. L. May, Fremont; R. R. Livingston, Plattsmouth; B. E. B. Kennedy, Omaha, New Hampshire; George W. Riddle, Manchester; E. B. Hodge, Plymouth; John H. Kimball, Marlboro. Nevada-W. M. Carey, Carson City. New Jersey-Richard S. Jenkins, Camden; William Wright, Newark; F. M. Ward, Newton, New York-Hon. R. Barnwell Roosevelt, president, 17 Nassau street, New York; Gen. Richard U. Sherman, secretary, New Hartford, Oneida county; Eugene G. Blackford, Fulton Market, New York; William H. Bowman, Rochester, secretary; H. H. Thompson, P. O. Box 25, New York City; A. S. Joline, Tottenville. Ohio-C. V. Osborn, president, Dayton; H. P. Ingalls, Huntsville; John Hofer, Bellaire; C. S. Parker, Norwalk; A. C. Williams, secretary, Chagrin Falls. Pennsylvania-James V. Long, Pittsburg; W. Powell, Harrisburg; H. C. Ford, Philadelphia; S. B. Stillwell, Scranton; A. G. Dickson, Meadville; H. Dermuth, Lancaster. Rhode Island-John H. Barden, Rockland; Henry T. Root, Providence; Wm. P. Morton, Providence. South Carolina-Hon. A. P. Butler, Columbia, commissioner of agriculture. Tennessee-W. W. McDowell, Memphis; H. H. Sneed, Chattanooga; Edward D. Hicks, Nashville. Vermont-Hiram A. Cutting, Lunenburgh; Herbert Brainerd, St. Albans. Washington Territory-Albert T. Stream, North Cove, Pacific county. West Virginia-Christian S. White, president, Romney; M. A. Manning, secretary, Talcott: F. J. Baxter, treasurer, Braxton Court House. Wisconsin-The governor, ex officio; Philo Dunning, president, Madison; C. L. Valentine, secretary and treasurer, Janesville; J. V. Jones, Oshkosh; A. V. H. Carpenter, Milwaukee; Mark Douglas, Melrose; Calvert Spenseley, Mineral Point. Wyoming Territory-Otto Gramm, Laramie; Dr. W. N. Hemt, Cheyenne; B. F. Northington, Rawlins. Canada-Hon. John Tilton, deputy minister of fisheries, Ottawa, Ont. Province of New Brunswick-W. H. Venning, inspector of fisheries, St. Johns. Province of Nova Scotia-W. H. Rogers, inspector, Amherst; A. C. Bertram, assistant inspector, North Sidney. Province of Prince Edward's Island-J. H. Duvar, inspector, Alberton. Province of Quebec-W. Wakeman, inspector, Lower St. Lawrence and Gulf Division, Gasper Province of British Columbia-Thomas Mowat, acting inspector, New Westminster. toba; Wilmot, supt. of fish culture, Newcastle, Ont. A CATALOGUE OF NEBRASKA BIRDS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE CHECK LIST OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL UNION. W. EDGAR TAYLOR, STATE NORMAL, PERU, NEBRASKA. The only published notes on the birds of Nebraska we have been able to find are Baird's notes in Birds of North America," and "Locust Feeding Birds," by Dr. Samuel Aughey. The first was published when this country was a thinly settled territory, and the notes, which were made previous to 1857, make but little mention of the numbers, migrations, and general habits of the birds. The second publication (published in 1877) was not intended to give much more than the natural food of the aval fauna; some species being mentioned which the author states were not found in the state, while many known to have existed in the state were not named. Knowing the facts as stated, the writer has made a provisional list of the birds of the state, in the hopes of encouraging others to assist in a more careful study of our native birds. In making this list he has not confined his notes to observations made by himself, which observations have been comparatively meager, but by using every reliable source of information, both published and unpublished, has aimed rather to make a temporary list arranged and revised according to the check list of the American Ornithological Union, as corrected by Robert Ridgway in his Manual of North American Birds, published in 1887. In publishing this list we cheerfully acknowledge assistance received from the authorities already named; also to the Normal Science Society, for the use of their records and collection as made by Messrs. C. J. Pierson, George Coleman, and others, and to many of the students of the State Normal living in different portions of the state. Dr. L. E. Hicks kindly allowed us the privilege of examining the collection of birds in the museum of the State University, but owing to circumstances over which we had no control, we have not examined this collection as carefully as we would like. However, we will say that a more careful study of this collection would show as inhabiting the state several species given as probable in our list. The writer has observed the following classification: 1. Constant residents species, some portion of which remain with us through the year. 2. Summer residents, greater or less numbers of which spend the summer in the state and breed. 3. Winter residents, species which spend at least part of the winter with us. 4. Migratory, those birds which pass and repass through the state in spring and autumn. 5. Other species are mentioned as Wandering, Occasional Visitants, or as Stragglers. The species and varieties are numbered consecutively, the numbers in parentheses [or brackets] referring to the check list of the American Ornithological Union, 1868.* Family, Podicipida. Grebes. 1 (3), Colymbus Auritus, Linn. Horned Grebe. Migratory; rare. 2 (4), C. Nigricollis Californicus, Arrive in May and September. Heerm. American Eared Grebe. Migratory; abundant. May breed in western Nebraska. 3 (6), Podilymbus Podiceps, Linn. Pied-billed Grebe. Migratory; rare. Family, Urinatoridæ. Loons. 4 (7), Urinator Imber, Gunn. Loon. Migratory; common. September and October. Arrive the first of April and in 5 (36), Stercorarius Pomarinus, Temm. Pomarine Jaeger. Migratory; very rare. Aughey. Family, Larida. Gulls and Terns. 6 (47), Larus Marinus, Linn. Great Black-backed Gull. One specimen shot on the Missouri, May, 1871. Aughey. 7 (51), a, L. Argentatus Smithsonianus, Coues. American Herring Gull. Common during spring migration. Arrive about the first of May, and sometimes stay till the first of July. 854), L. Delawarensis, Ord. Ring-billed Gull. Migratory; common. Arrive from May till July. 9 (59), L. Franklinii, Sw. and Rich. Franklin's Gull. Migratory; abundant. Arrive in April, May, September, and October. 10 (69), Sterna Forsteri, Nutt. Forster's Tern. Migratory; rare. Arrive about the first of May. 11 (70), S. Hirundo, Linn. Common Tern. Migratory; rare. Arrive about the first of May. 12 (71), S. Paradise, Brunn. Arctic Tern. Only saw a few of these Terns in Dixon county in May, 1866. Aughey. 13 (74.) S. Antillarum, Less. Least Tern. Migratory; abundant. Summer resident; not uncommon. Arrive about the first of May. 14 (77), Hydrochelidon Nigra Surinamensis, Gmel. Black Tern. Migratory; common, Summer resident; rare. Arrive about the first of May and in October. Family, Phalacrocoracidæ. Cormorants. 15 (120), Phalacrocorax Cilophus, Sw. and Rich. Double-breasted Cormorant, P. Perhaps passing through the state in April and November. Family, Pelecanida. Pelicans. 16 (125), Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos, Gmel. American White Pelican. Migratory; abundant. Arrive in April, May, October, and November. Family, Anatida. Ducks, Geese, and Swan. 17 (129), Merganser Americanus, Cass. American Merganser. Migratory; rare. Arrive the last of April or first of May. 18 (130), M. Serrator, Linn. Red-breasted Merganser. Winter resident; rare. 19 (131), Lophodytes Cucullatus, Linn. Hooded Merganser. Winter resident; somewhat common. Resident; rare. |