opinion these fish are more delicately flavored than the celebrated Potomac shad; but I doubt whether they will thrive in the small lakes, owing to the absence of the small crustacea on which they subsist. The closely allied genus Argyrosomus includes seven known species inhabiting the larger lakes, and one, the Argyrosomus sisco, which is found in several of the lesser lakes. The larger species are but little inferior to the true whitefish, with which they are commonly confounded. The nose is pointed, the under jaw long, and they take the hook at certain seasons with activity. They eat small fish as well as insects and crustaceans.

Of the pickerel family, we have three or four closely allied species of the genus Esox, armed with prodigious jaws filled with cruel teeth. They lie motionles eady to dart, swift as an arrow, upon their prey. They are the sharks of the fresh water. The pickerel are so rapacious that they spare not their own species. Sometimes they attempt to swallow a fish nearly as large as themselves, and perish in consequence. Their flesh is moderately good, and as they are game to the backbone, it might be desirable to propagate them to a moderate extent under peculiar circumstances.

The catfish (Silurida) have soft fins, protected by sharp spines, and curious fleshy barbels floating from their lips, without scales, covered only with a slimy coat of mucus. The genus Pimlodus are scavengers among fish, as vultures among birds. They are filthy in habit and food. There is one interesting trait of the catfish - the vigilant and watchful motherly care of the young by the male. He defends them with great spirit, and herds them together when they straggle. Even the mother is driven far off; for he knows full well that she would not scruple to make a full meal off her little black tadpole-like progeny. There are four species known to inhabit this State-one peculiar to the great lakes, and two found in the numerous affluents of the Mississippi. One of these, the great yellow catfish, sometimes weighs over one hundred pounds. When in good condition, stuffed and well baked, they are a fair table fish. The small bull-head is universally distributed.

The sturgeons are large sluggish fish, covered with plates instead of scales. There are at least three species of the genus Acipenser found in the waters of Wisconsin. Being so large and without bones, they afford a sufficiently cheap article of food; unfortunately, however, the quality is decidedly bad. Sturgeons deposit an enormous quantity of eggs; the roe not unfrequently weighs one fourth as much as the entire body, and numbers, it is said, many millions. The principal commercial value of sturgeons is found in the roe and swimming bladder. The much prized caviare is manufactured from the former, and from the latter the best of isinglass is obtained.

The gar-pikes (Lepidosteus) are represented by at least three species of this singular fish. They have long serpentine bodies, with jaws prolonged into a regular bill, which is well provided with teeth. The scales are composed of bone covered on the outside with enamel, like teeth. The alligator gar, confined to the depths of the Mississippi, is a large fish, and the more common species, Lepidosteus bison, attains to a considerable size. The Lepidosteous, now only found in North America, once had representatives all over the globe. Fossils of the same family of which the gar-pike is the type, have been found all over Europe, in the oldest fossiliferous beds, in the strata of the age of coal, in the new red sandstone, in oölitic deposits, and in the chalk and tertiary formations-being one of the many living evidences that North America was the first country above the water. For all practical purposes, we should not regret to have the gar-pikes follow in the footsteps of their aged and illustrious predecessors. They could well be spared.

There is a fish (Lota maculose) which belongs to the cod-fish family, called by the fishermen the "lawyers," for what reason I am not able to say at any rate, the fish is worthless. There are a great number of small fish, interesting only to the naturalist, which I shall omit to mention here.

Fish of the northern countries are the most valuable, for the reason that the water is colder and purer. Wisconsin, situated between forty-two thirty, and forty-seven degrees of latitude, bounded on the east and north by the largest lakes in the world, on the west by the "Great river," traversed by numerous fine and rapid streams, and sprinkled all over with beautiful and picturesque lakes, has physical conditions certainly the most favorable, perhaps of any State, for an abundant and never-failing supply of the best fish. Few persons have any idea of the importance of the fisheries of Lake Michigan. It is difficult to collect adequate data to form a correct knowledge of the capital invested and the amount of fish taken; enough, however, has been ascertained to enable me to state that at Milwaukee alone $100,000 are invested, and not less than two hundred and eighty tons of dressed fish taken annually. At Racine, during the entire season of nine months, there are, on an average, one thousand pounds of whitefish and trout, each, caught and sold daily, amounting to not less than $16,000. It is well known that, since the adoption of the gill-net system, the fishermen are enabled to pursue their calling ten months of the year.

When the fish retire to the deep water, they are followed with miles of nets, and the poor fish are entangled on every side. There is a marked falling off in the number and size of whitefish and trout taken, when compared with early years. When fish were only captured with seines, they had abundant chance to escape and multiply so as to keep an even balance in number. Only by artificial propagation and well enforced laws protecting them during the spawning season, can we hope now to restore the balance. In order to give some idea of the valuable labors of the state fish commissioners, I will state briefly that they have purchased for the state a piece of property, situated three miles from Madison, known as the Nine Springs, including farty acres of land, on which they have erected a dwelling-house, barn and hatchery, also constructed several ponds, in which can be seen many valuable fish in the enjoyment of perfect health and vigor. As equipped, it is, undoubtedly, one of the best, if not the best, hatchery in the states. In this permanent establishment the commission design to hatch and distribute to the small lakes and rivers of the interior the most valuable of our indigenous fish, such as bass, pike, trout, etc., etc., as well as many valuable foreign varieties. During the past season, many fish have been distributed from this state hatchery. At the Milwaukee Water Works, the commission have equipped a hatchery on a large scale, using the water as pumped directly from the lake. During the past season there was a prodigious multitude of young trout and whitefish distributed from this point. The success of Superintendent Welcher in hatching whitefish at Milwaukee has been the best yet gained, nearly ninety per cent. of the eggs "laid down" being hatched. Pisciculturists will appreciate this wonderful success, as they well know how difficult it is to manage the spawn of the whitefish.

I append the following statistics of the number of fish hatched and distributed from the Milwaukee hatchery previous to 1878:

Total number of fish hatched, 8,000,000-whitefish, 6,300,000; salmon trout, 1,700,000. They were distributed as follows, in the month of May, 1877: Whitefish planted in Lake Michigan, at Racine, 1,000,000; at Milwaukee, 3,260,000; between Manitowoc and Two Rivers 1,000,000; in Green bay, 1,000,000; in Elkhart lake, 40,000.

Salmon trout were turned out as follows: Lake Michigan, near Milwaukee, 600,000; Brown's lake, Racine county, 40,000; Delavan lake, Walworth county, 40,000; Troy lake, Walworth county, 40,000; Pleasant lake, Walworth county, 40,000; Lansdale lake, Walworth county, 40,000; Ella lake, Milwaukee county, 16,000; Cedar lake, Washington county, 40,000; Elkhart lake, Sheboygan county, 40,000; Clear lake, Rock county, 40,000; Ripley lake,

Jefferson county, 40,000; Mendota lake, Dane county, 100,000; Fox lake, Dodge county, 40,000; Swan and Silver lakes, Columbia county, 40,000; Little Green lake, Green Lake county, 40,000; Big Green lake, Green Lake county, 100,000; Bass lake, St. Croix county, 40,000; Twin lakes, St. Croix county, 40,000; Long lake, Chippewa county, 40,000; Oconomowoc lake, Waukesha county, 100,000; Pine lake, Waukesha county, 40,000; Pewaukee lake, Waukesha county, Ico,000; North lake, Waukesha county, 40,000; Nagawicka lake, Waukesha county, 40,000; Okanche lake, Waukesha county, 40,000.

LARGE ANIMALS.-TIME OF THEIR DISAPPEARANCE.

Fifty years ago, the territory now included in the state of Wisconsin, was nearly in a state of nature, all the large wild animals were then abundant. Now, all has changed. The ax and plow, gun and dog, railway and telegraph, have metamorphosed the face of nature. Most of the large quadrupeds have been either exterminated, or have hid themselves away in the wilderIn a short time, all of these will have disappeared from the state. The date and order in which animals become extinct within the boundaries of the state, is a subject of great interest. There was a time when the antelope, the woodland caribou, the buffalo, and the wild turkey, were abundant, but are now no longer to be found.

ness.

The Antelope, Antilocarpa Americana, now confined to the Western plains, did, two hundred years ago, inhabit Wisconsin as far east as Michigan. In October, 1679, Father Hennepin, with La Salle and party, in four canoes, coasted along the Western shore of Lake Michigan. In Hennepin's narrative, he says; "The oldest of them" (the Indians) "came to us the next morning with their calumet of peace, and brought some wild goats." This was somewhere north of Milwaukee. "Being in sore distress, we saw upon the coast a great many ravens and eagles' (turkey vultures), " from whence we conjectured there was some prey, and having landed upon that place, we found above the half of a fat wild goat, which the wolves had strangled. This provision was very acceptable to us, and the rudest of our men could not but praise the Divine Providence which took so particular care of us." This must have been somewhere near Racine. "On the 16th" (October, 1679), "we met with abundance of game. A savage we had with us, killed several stags (deer) and wild goats, and our men a great many turkeys, very fat and big." This must have been south of Racine. These goats were undoubtedly antelopes. Schoolcraft mentions antelopes as occupying the Northwest territory.

When the last buffalo crossed the Mississippi is not precisely known. It is certain they lingered in Wisconsin in 1825. It is said there was a buffalo shot on the St. Croix river as late as 1832, so Wisconsin claims the last buffalo. The woodland caribou-Rangifer caribou-were never numerous within the limits of the state. A few were seen not far from La Pointe in 1845. The last wild turkey in the eastern portion of the state, was in 1846. On the Mississippi, one was killed in 1856. I am told by Dr. Walcott, that turkeys were abundant in Wisconsin previous to the hard winter of 1842-3, when snow was yet two feet deep in March, with a stout crust, so that the turkeys could not get to the ground. They became so poor and weak, that they could not fly, and thus became an easy prey to the wolves, foxes, wild cats, minks, etc., which exterminated almost the entire race. The Doctor says he saw but one single individual the next winter. Elk were on Hay river in 1863, and I have little doubt a few yet remain.

Moose are

not numerous, a few yet remain in the northwestern part of the state. I saw moose tracks on the Montreal river, near Lake Superior, in the summer of 1845. A few panthers may still inhabit the wilderness of Wisconsin. Benjamin Bones, of Racine, shot one on the headwaters of

Black river, December, 1863. Badgers are now nearly gone, and in a few years more, the only badgers found within the state, will be two legged ones. Beavers are yet numerous in the small lakes in the northern regions. Wolverines are occasionally met with in the northern forests. Bears, wolves, and deer, will continue to flourish in the northern and central counties, where underbrush, timber, and small lakes abound.

All large animals will soon be driven by civilization out of Wisconsin. The railroad and improved firearms will do the work, and thus we lose the primitive denizens of the forest and prairies.

PECULIARITIES OF THE BIRD FAUNA.

The facts recorded in this paper, were obtained by personal observations within fifteen miles of Racine, Wisconsin, latitude 42° 46′ north, longitude 87° 48′ west. This city is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, at the extreme southern point of the heavy lumbered district, the base of which rests on Lake Superior. Racine extends six miles further into the lake than Milwaukee, and two miles further than Kenosha. At this point the great prairie approaches near the lake from the west. The extreme rise of the mercury in summer, is from 90° to 100° Fahrenheit. The isothermal line comes further north in summer, and retires further south in winter than it does east of the great lakes, which physical condition will sufficiently explain the remarkable peculiarities of its animal life, the overlapping, as it were, of two distinct faunas. More especially is this true of birds, that are enabled to change their locality with the greatest facility. Within the past thirty years, I have collected and observed over three hundred species of birds, nearly half of all birds found in North America. Many species, considered rare in other sections, are found here in the greatest abundance. A striking peculiarity of the ornithological fauna of this section, is that southern birds go farther north in summer, while northern species go farther south in winter than they do east of the lakes. Of summer birds that visit us, I will ennumerate a few of the many that belong to a more southern latitude in the Atlantic States. Nearly all nest with us, or, at least, did some years ago.

Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virdis; mocking bird, Mimus pollyglottus; great Carolina wren, Thriothorus ludovicianus; prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea; summer red bird, Pyrangia astiva; wood ibis, Tantalus loculator.

Among Arctic birds that visit us in winter are:

Snowy owl, Nyctea nivea; great gray owl, Syrnium cinerus; hawk owl, Surnia ulula; Arctic three-toed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus; banded three-toed woodpecker, Picoides hirsutus; magpie, Pica hudsonica; Canada jay, Perisorius canadensis; evening grosbeak, Hesperiphona vespertina; Hudson titmouse, Parus hudsonicus; king eder, Somateria spectabilis; black-throated diver, Colymbus arcticus; glaucus gull, Laurus glaucus.

These examples are sufficient to indicate the rich avi fauna of Wisconsin. It is doubtful if there is another locality where the Canada jay and its associates visit in winter where the mocking bird nests in summer, or where the hawk owl flies silently over the spot occupied during the warmer days by the summer red bird and the yellow-breasted chat. But the ax has already leveled much of the great woods, so that there is now a great falling off in numbers of our old familiar feathered friends. It is now extremely doubtful if such a collection can ever again be made within the boundaries of this state, or indeed, of any other.

BY PROF. EDWARD SEARING, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

From the time of the earliest advent of the families of French traders into the region now known as Wisconsin, to the year 1818, when that region became part of Michigan territory, education was mostly confined to private instruction, or was sought by the children of the wealthier in the distant cities of Quebec, Montreal, and Detroit. The early Jesuit missionaries, and — subsequently to 1816, when it came under the military control of the United States representatives of various other religious denominations, sought to teach the Indian tribes of this section. In 1823, Rev. Eleazar Williams, well known for his subsequent claim to be the Dauphin of France, and who was in the employ of the Episcopal Missionary Society, started a school of white and half-breed children on the west side of Fox river, opposite "Shanty-Town." A Catholic mission school for Indians was organized by an Italian priest near Green Bay, in 1830. A clause of the treaty with the Winnebago Indians, in 1832, bound the United States to maintain a school for their children near Prairie du Chien for a period of twenty-seven years.

THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL CODE.

From 1818 to 1836, Wisconsin formed part of Michigan territory. In the year 1837, Michigan was admitted into the Union as a state, and Wisconsin, embracing what is now Minnesota, Iowa, and a considerable region still further westward, was, by act of congress approved April 20th of the year previous, established as a separate territory. The act provided that the existing laws of the territory of Michigan should be extended over the new territory so far as compatible with the provisions of the act, subject to alteration or repeal by the new government created. Thus with the other statutes, the school code of Michigan became the original code of Wisconsin, and it was soon formally adopted, with almost no change, by the first territorial legislature, which met at Belmont. Although modified in some of its provisions almost every year, this imperfect code continued in force until the adoption of the state constitution in 1848. The first material changes in the code were made by the territorial legislature at its second session, in 1837, by the passage of a bill "to regulate the sale of school lands, and to provide for organizing, regulating, and perfecting common schools." It was provided in this act that as soon as twenty electors should reside in a surveyed township, they should elect a board of three commissioners, holding office three years, to lay off districts, to apply the proceeds of the leases of school lands to the payment of teachers' wages, and to call school meetings. It was also provided that each district should elect a board of three directors, holding office one year, to locate school-houses, hire teachers for at least three months in the year, and levy taxes for the support of schools. It was further provided that a third board of five inspectors should be elected annually in each town to examine and license teachers and inspect the schools. Two years subsequently (1839) the law was revised and the family, instead of the electors, was made the basis of the town organization. Every town with not less than ten families was made a school district and required to provide a competent teacher. More populous towns were divided into two or more districts. The office of town commissioner was abolished, its duties with certain others being transferred to the inspectors. The rate-bill system of taxation, previously in existence, was repealed, and a tax on the whole county for building school-houses and support