New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-22
THEORIES TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE Oh

THEORIES TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE OF
TROUT AND THE EXTINCTION OF PERCH.
TO the Editor Of The Trf6rns
Sir: In The Tribune Of Monday. January 81, It was
positively stated that the INTRODUCTION Of black pass
into sunapee Lake, Merrinac County n. H., has led
to the extinction Of yellow perch, anc thus
operated to cause a phenomenal increase In the
number Of native trout. This statement is inislead
ing, inasmuch as there are five distinct species OF
trout h sunapee Lake, and this noticeable increase
be predicted Of one only w.t., the sayehnus
sunspee, or Aureous Of lean. the question OF whose
origin has long been in dispute, and which In all
probability Is not aboriginal Since the introduction
Of black bass tho largo native brock trout have stead
lily diminished in number. in spite 4 the recent efforts
Of the Fish Commission 10 the line Of artificial prop
agaton and the enforcement OF most stringent laws
for their projection. This however, Is merely posi-
hoo most emphatically not propter hoc-a chrome
logical, not logical sequence. The black bass IN
sunapee Lake have never interfered with the trout
for two first. because smelt food has been
furnished In abundance 10 both: and secondly be-
the Mcroptorus and tho Salveln are not found
y the same waters at tho Same time-the trout keep
Ing In temperature OF from AZ to 40 degrees Ton the
surface In May sixty feet below in July and Augusta
the bass prefeing 65 to 20 degrees IN summer, and
In winter alternating IN deep water. Moreover,
when perch were most abundant twenty-five years
ago) brook trout were equally and were salted
In barrels every fall by the RIPARIAN owners. Tho
causes of decrease I'm the numbers OF this valuable
foolish arc TO be referred to lts greatest enemy,
man; clubs, guns and nets having played promf-
nent part in the Of determination.
AS TO the AureoIus, the trout which has been so
successfully angled for during the past few summers,
IL st attracted the attention Of native fishermen In
1881, and In 1885 was recognized new fish by
Commissioners Hodge and Powers The question
20 its origin can not be opened here. since 1881 this
remarkable fish, the superior Of the brook trout In
beauty of appearance In game and in table qualities
has populated the depths of sunapee Lake, and afforded
sport TO hundreds Of anglers from all parts OF the
United States. 1t Is essentially alse-spawnei, oc
eupying its beds In October and November. The
theory that II represents tho aboriginal ancestral type,
which, from the distant day Of rs arrival In this
feed schools Of voraciouS perch which there rsored
81 hatchingtime in the spring-and that It has thus
for centuries been practically extnct-is Ingenious
but untenable better explanation Is required for
lis sudden appearance, rs enormous multiplication
and Its wonderfully rapid growth 10 q Size varying
ade. JOHN d. QUACKENBoS
Columbia College, Ncw.YOrk, Feb 20. 1859.
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THE LOCATION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
To che Edttor Of The Tribune.
Six; In the paragraph in to-days Tribune referring
to the popoSed public botanic garden In Bronx Park
IL is incidentally observed that the location may
somewhat out OF the way.' Permit me TO say that
the eastern branch Of tho Suburban Elevated Rail
road is surveyed to the very gate of the proposed
garden, and will be built and running before the
garden possibly be completed. This road IS tho
continuation of the seconG-ave. line, and by It the
Journey from the City Hall to the garden will be re-
duced 70 rather less than an hour
Including the inhabitants Of Brooklyn and they Will
be quito as much interested I'm the garden New
Workers, this great artery OF travel Is as CEN
trail as could DO desired Visitors from Now
Jersey, crossing any Of the downtown ferries,
win take the elevated road at the City
Hall station, aud need not descend TO the street
again TIL Bronx Park is reached. think IL may be
truly affirmed that the proposed garden viii be at
least as conveniently accessible as Central Park
when the latter first thrown open to the public
half million Of visitors Is anticipated for the first
year, and venture the assertion that II the plans
Of the Torey Club can DO carried out, Central Park
Itself Is not more priced by New-Yorkers than tle
Bronx Botanic Garden VIII be within FIVE years OF its
establishments f.. e. STERNS,
Chairman Botanic Garden Committee
New-York, Feb II, 1885,