I very much wish we could procure some young shad for the Saint Croix; this fish was once very abundant, and perhaps would be again if introduced.  I know you have been very successful in restocking the Connecticut.  Our old people deplore the loss of the shad—­say it was a much better food-fish than the salmon.  I do a great deal of shooting, and am much interested in ornithology, and specimens of our birds that you might want I should be happy to lookout for; do a good deal of coast shooting winters; have been hopefully looking for a Labrador duck for a number of seasons—­fear they have totally disappeared.

I have nice spring-water conducted to my house and think of doing a little fish-hatching in a small way.  The amount of water I can spare is a stream of about half inch diameter; the force will be considerable, as the water rises to top of my house, some 50 feet above where I should set trays.  I write to you to ask what hatching apparatus would be best to get, where to buy, and probable cost.  I am trying to get some sea-trout ova to hatch in it.  I presume all your California ova have been disposed of ere this.

Frank Todd.

* * * * * *

Saint Stephen, March 1, 1880.

Prof Spencer F. Baird, U. S. Commissioner Fish and Fisheries: 

Sir:  In regard to the Saint Croix, would say, that it was once one of the most prolific salmon rivers in New Brunswick, but owing to the erection of impassable dams, fifteen or twenty years ago, this valuable fish had almost entirely disappeared.  At about this time fishways were placed in all the dams, and gradually salmon began to increase, but the first great stimulus was given some ten years ago by the distribution of some hundreds of thousands of young salmon in the headwaters, by the fishery commissioners of Maine.

The Dobsis Club also placed in the Saint Croix some 200,000 or more from their hatchery, a portion being the California salmon.  With these exceptions our river has had no artificial aid, but for the last five years the number of salmon has largely increased, due mainly, no doubt, to the deposits before mentioned.

The fish ways are generally in good condition (although some improvements will be made), and fish have easy access to headwaters, That large numbers go up and spawn is evidenced by the large numbers of smolt seen at the head of tidal water in the spring, many being taken by boys with the rod.  I have reason to expect that our government will hereafter distribute annually in the Saint Croix a goodly number of young salmon which, together with the contributions of the Maine commissioners will soon make this fish again abundant.  Alewives are very abundant and apparently increasing every year.  Shad that were once plenty have entirely disappeared.  I very much wish that the river could be stocked with this valuable fish; possibly you could kindly assist us in this.