tern, and Sandwich tern, are birds that only occasionally appear within the limits of the State, but they are nevertheless included among its birds. The preparation and mounting of the groups exhibited at New Orleans, the golden eagle and wild turkey, the rattlesnake and mocking birds, the red fox and wild mallard duck, were all done by Mr. John Dancer, a veteran taxidermist, English by birth, who has been doing the work of the Museum for about ten years. The raccoon with the squirrel was mounted by Mr. Josiah Tennent, of Charleston, who was employed at the great establishment of Prof. Ward, at Rochester, N. Y. His future was full of promise, as he exhibited great skill in the mounting of mammals, but he was suddenly removed by death, a few years ago, at the commencement of his career. Most of the mammal skeletons were of foreign animals. They were sent to show the work done at the Museum. Of the fish skeletons sent, the pompino is from the Gulf of Mexico, and the three others are from Charleston Harbor. G. E. MANIGAULT, M. D., Curator of Museum, College of Charleston. Fish and Fisheries of South Carolina. WRITTEN FOR THE EXPOSITION REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. South Carolina is reckoned twentieth in the fish producing States, and the products of her fisheries in 1881, as taken from the United States Census, amounted to $212,482. The greater part of the catch is taken along the coast and within the tide water section of the rivers. The most important of the migratory fishes taken are shad, rockfish, striped bass, alewives or herring, and sturgeon. These fishes enter the rivers from the ocean, as early as December, and continue to run until the 1st of April, when the catch along the coast is small and the fishing for them ceases; the shad and sturgeon, however, are taken along the rivers in the middle section of the State as late as the 1st of June, and the rockfish is found in the fresh water till Fall. The sturgeon fishing in the Spring months has become quite an industry, and large numbers are taken in the waters of Winyaw Bay and South Edisto River. They are valuable more for the roe, which is converted into caviare, and sold at high prices in the European markets, than for the flesh, though the latter is sold to some extent among the colored population of our State, and shipped largely to the New York an Philadelphia markets. The estimated value of the annual catch is $15,675. The shad run in most of the rivers of the State, and before cut off from the Piedmont region by artificial obstructions, were taken in great abundance, in traps, at every shoal along the rivers. The important fisheries now occur in tide waters and the bulk of the take is in Combahee, Edisto, Winyaw Bay, and along Waccamaw River. The fishing is done in a great measure by gill nets. On account of the early run of this fish in South Carolina, quite a number are shipped to the Northern markets and command good prices. The local demand is good, however, and they find ready sale in all the local markets. The annual catch is about 52,000, and brings at first sale, which is the value to the fishermen, $12,432. The principal sea fishing is done about Charleston, Georgetown and Beaufort, though it is carried on to more or less extent all along the coast, but is little more than sufficient to supply the local demand, there being but few shipped beyond the State. Among the fishes principally taken may be mentioned black drum, porgies, croakers, crevalle, flounders, groupers, grunts, sea turtle, menhaden, moon fish, pompano, red drum, sea bass, sheephead, sailor's choice, Spanish mackerel, spots, whiting and black fish. Shrimps are found in great abundance, and the take in fish is nearly as great as that in all other States combined. In 1880 it amounted to 18,000 bushels, valued at $37,000. The oysters of the State are very fine, and are found in more or less abundance all along the coast. Some plants have been made by individuals with good results. The diamond-back terrapin is taken in considerable numbers, and shipped to Northern markets, where they command large prices. Quite a business is carried on in their capture and sale, not only among the natives, but by fishermen from other States, who find the business here remunerative. From tide water to middle Carolina are found numerous lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks, where are found some of the choicest varieties of fresh water fishes-notably among them is the black bass, which has been taken as large as sixteen pounds, blue and copper-head bream, red-breasted perch, goggle eye or speckled perch, jack fish and sun perch. Numerous kinds of catfish and river and pond suckers are found in most of the waters of the State, and the red horse and fat backs are in more or less abundance in the upper portions of the rivers. The former is most highly prized and is considered the best river fish of the up country, though it is found in nearly all parts of the State. The brook trout were formerly abundant in the mountain streams of Pickens and Oconee Counties, but has disappeared as the country has become more thickly settled, and are now found only in small numbers. A limited number of California brook trout has been introduced into these streams by the State Fish Commission. The German carp has also been introduced, and for the past five years have been distributed in all sections of the State. They are now becoming numerous in all the rivers and ponds of the State. The collection of fishes which formed part of the State's exhibit at New Orleans consisted mainly of specimens of fishes mounted in plaster of Paris and put up in alcohol, collected in the State for this especial purpose, and representing nearly all sections, together with a portion of Holbrook's plates of the fishes of South Carolina, and a few photographs of the salt water fishes. The specimens put up in plaster of Paris, prepared by "Davidson's process" of ichthy-taxidermy, were 84 in number. Among the best specimens was a black bass weighing 14 lbs., a leather carp, 12 lbs., a scale carp, 13 lbs., golden bass about 25 lbs., sheephead, and specimens of drum, &c. These specimens were taken fresh, placed in a mould-board and covered on one side with plaster of Paris. The reverse side was then opened and every particle of flesh was removed from the skin and an antiseptic then applied. The skin, so prepared, was then filled with plasterthis allowed to harden, and the whole taken from the mould, the fins expanded in natural position, and the natural colors reproduced artificially, a glass eye supplied, and the specimens mounted on a plate or board, ready for exhibition. The specimens so mounted were very life-like, and made a handsome appearance. This is a new process of preparing specimens, and is probably the best known, as it shows the specimens in a manner nearer approaching nature than any now in use. We are indebted to Dr. Davidson, of Boston, Mass., for the invention. The specimens in alcohol were put up in the usual way, and numbered 86 different kinds of fresh and salt water fishes. The whole exhibit was contained in a handsome glass case, 16 feet long, 10 feet high and six feet deep, with a partition through the centre lengthways, on which were grouped, according to size, the specimens in plaster. Above these, on the partition on either side, were arranged Holbrook's plates, neatly framed in pine frames oiled and varnished. Near the floor of the case and next to the glass were two shelves, on which were placed the glass jars containing the specimens in alcohol. On the floor rested a fine specimen of the South Carolina alligator, neatly mounted and measuring ten feet six inches; also specimens of the diamond-back terrapin in suitable proximity. On the outside of the case were hung photographs of some of the principal sea fishes. A catalogue of the exhibit is published with the official catalogue of the State's exhibit. C. J. HUSKE, Superintendent Fish and Fisheries South Carolina. |