Fish, Cheir Propagation Interior of a Government Fish Car. The work of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries is carried on at twenty-five stations or hatcheries located at suitable places throughout the country. At Woods Holl and Gloucester, Mass., cod. mackerel, lobster. and other important marine species are propagated, and the fry are deposited on the natural spawning grounds along the coast. At Battle Creek. Baird and Hoopa Valley, in California, at Clackamas in Oregon and Little White Salmon River in Washington, the eggs of the Pacific salmon are collected and hatched, and the fry are planted on the spawning beds in the neighboring streams. The Atlantic and land-locked salmon are cultivated in Maine, at Craig Brook, and Green Lake, to restock the depleted streams and lakes of New England and Northern New York. On the Great Lakes, at Cape Vincent, New York, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, Alperia, Mich., and Duluth, Minn., the work is with white fish and lake trout in order to sustain the great commercial fisheries conducted for these species. Hatcheries in the interior at St. Johnsbury. Vt., Wytheville, Mich., Manchester, Ia., Bozeman, Mont., Neocho, Mo., Quincy, Ill., San Marcos, Texas, and Leadville, Col., are devoted to the important work of maintaining in the inland lakes and streams the supply of brook trout, rainbow trout, black bass, crappie and other fishes. During the Spring on the Potomac, Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, shad are hatched and are distributed in suitable streams along the Atlantic coast. and Protection. For the distribution of fish and eggs the commission has four cars specially equipped with tanks, aircirculating apparatus, and other appliances. In the prosecution of marine work three vessels are used, the steamers Albatross and Fish Hawk and the schooner Grampus. The Albatross is fitted with appliances for deep sea dredging and collecting work, and is used for surveying and exploring ocean bottoms and investigating marine life. The Fish Hawk is in reality a floating hatebery, and is engaged in hatching shad, lobsters and mackerel, in collecting eggs and in distributing fry, besides making topographic surveys of fishing grounds, etc. The commission is constantly studying the condition and habitat of fish, and trying to devise means to keep up the supply which is drawn upon so heavily by the fishermen of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and the great Lakes. To that end hatcheries have been established at various places, as above noted, from which millions of fry are annually distributed which eventually mature into eatable and marketable fish. This As will be seen on another page, practically every State in the Union has laws for the protection of the more valued game fish, and it is their increase to which the efforts of the Game Commission are directed. At the various hatcheries a close study is made of their habits and needs, and the consequence is a great improvement within the past few years in the methods of producing and caring for the fish. Of all the States, however, New York is the first to offer a college course in the scientific culture of fish. step has been taken by the provision of a fund for the teaching of pisciculture in the New York State College of Forestry. The object of this is to teach the students, in practical fashion, the purposes, methods and results of fish culture in this country. This unusual educational experiment has greatly interested scientists, who regard the new plan as of the highest importance and are giving it their enthusiastic support.. While, as a general thing, art does not improve upon nature, the contrary has been shown to be the case in the artificial propagation of fish. When a fish lays its eggs in a natural state, it has been proved that but two per cent of them are fertilized, while in the hatcheries the managers think they are doing badly unless at least 95 per cent of the eggs become fish. In the State hatcheries of New York hundreds of thousands of young fish are artificially raised to the fingerling size, and then set free in the streams of the State. Many waters which were almost barren of fish have been replenished, and, if proper protection is given, there is hope that New York will be again the best fishing State in America. The total capital invested in fishing on the Great Lakes is now nearly $1,000,000, and 10,000 men are engaged in the industry. During the last year the United States Fish Commission distributed to various waters more than 10,000,000 fish and eggs. The diseases of fishes are now being carefully studied by a scientist under the direction of the commission. Already he has found cures for several epidemics which prevail in batching stations. The efforts of the commission in planting fish in strange waters have been very successful. Rainbow trout are now caught in Texas, Virginia and many other States, where before they were entirely unknown. Salmon are now quite plentiful in the waters of the upper Delaware. The fisheries of the Mississippi River and its tributaries have increased largely in the past few years. The principal products are catfish, German carp and buffalo tish. There is now some $13,000,000 invested in the fisheries of Washington, Oregon and California. More than 20,000 people are employed in them. Half a million Oregon salmon eggs were sent to New Zealand in 1901, and successfully hatched. The United States Fish Commission is now operating 37 hatching stations, in addition to many hatcheries under control of the commissions of the several States. One of the most interesting movements of the Fish Commission steamer Albatross was the the recent trip to the South Sea Islands, during the five months of which ten groups of islands were visited and landings were made at fifty places. While fishing is carried on at all the inhabited islands in each group, yet in no one place is it prosecuted to any great extent, but is a local affair and hardly considered beyond the needs of home consumption. Tahiti seems to be the only island where commercial fishing is carried on, and then only to a limited extent, at Papeete. The average catch is small, not exceeding the amount that would be required to supply a town of 1.500 people. The fishing is conducted with sieve, hook and line. and spear. At many places in the Society and Paumotu groups certain kinds of fish are poisonous in some localities and good in others. No theory is advanced as to the cause of this peculiar state of affairs. At many islands pearl fishing is carried on, diving being performed in depths ranging from 5 to 20 fathoms, the average probably being from 10 to 15 fathoms. There are some 3,500 natives engaged in this industry, which is very profitable. Considerable attention is being paid to the salmon fishing of Alaska, which, it is asserted, will eventually add as much to the wealth of the nation as the Klondike gold mines. These are situated mostly in what is known as the Bristol Bay district, which includes the 'gashik. Egagak, Naknek, Kuichak, Mushagak, and Wood rivers, and their sea approaches. These rivers are all large and flow great volumes of water. The earliest records of salmon fishing in this section tell of the salting of the fish on the Mushagak by the schooner Neptune in 1883, and the erection of cannery buildings in that year for the Arctic Packing Company, which made a trial pack of 400 cases in 1884. Two methods only are employed in taking salmon for commercial purposes in this district, gill nets and traps, and both are well adapted to the local conditions. Traps catch not only the salmon, but other species, all of which are wasted. It is thought that if their use is not regulated they will work great injury to the fisheries in the future. The fishermen are white, mainly Scandinavians, with some Italians, and their wages are very good. This district, when running full, will pack 250,000 fish daily in the thirteen operating canneries. These canneries are practically in full operation about one month, Flag of the United States; Tts 125th Anniversary. The year 1902 is the 125th anniversary of the birth of the American Flag. Its history is an interesting one, known by few, and never before published fully or correctly. In 1265 England adopted as her banner a white ground with a red St. George cross, and this was the first flag to come upon our shores, being brought here in 1497 by John Cabot. The Scandinavians, who were here in 1000, brought no flag with them, and as Columbus did not come to this country the flag he carried was not brought here. The "St. George" flag (Fig. 1). is the flag under which the colonies were formed in 1643. In 1651 it was formally adopted by the Massachusetts colony and ordered placed on the "Bastile" on all proper occasions. It was the flag of this country for 189 years. AUGUSTUS BEDFORD. In 1686 Sir Edmund Andros arrived in Boston to become the Governor of the colony, and brought from the King a flag for New England. This was similar to the first one, the red cross, however, being wider, and in the upper part of the cross was a crown, signifying the King's authority, and in the lower part the letters J. R., standing for "Jacobus Rex." meaning "James the King" (Fig. 2). This was known as the "Andros Flag," and was our official flag for twenty-one years. England and Scotland having united, in 1707 England changed her flag, and our flag changed with it. This one was a red body ground, with a canton containing the St. George Cross of red on white, crossed by a St. Andrew Cross of white on blue, the latter from the cross of Scotland (Fig. 3). This flag was known as the "King's Union." When the King signed official documents he wrote Jacobus Rex," but, on minor papers, without the seal, he would sign "Jacques." After a while the flag known as "King's Union" was often called "Jacques Union," and from this fact originated the words "Union Jack." At the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, the minute men from the town of Bedford, under Captain Nathan Page, brought a flag which was known as the "Bedford Flag" (Fig. 4). Under this flag was fought the first battle for independence. The original flag used that day is now in the public library in Bedford, Mass. It is a maroon ground, upon which is an extended arm, grasping a sword, from which is suspended JR Fig. 1. St. George Flag. the navy. a band containing the words, "Aut Vince More," meaning "Conquer or Die." In October, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted a flag, white ground, with a pine tree, and over it the words, "An appeal to Heaven" (Fig. 5). This was the first flag officially adopted by Congress, and was specially designed for When General Washington left Philadelphia to go to Cambridge to take command of the army, he was accompanied as far as New York by the Light Horse Guards, of Philadelphia, who carried their flag with them. The body was a yellow ground, in the centre of which was a scroll. Inside of this, on a blue ground, was a bow of yellow ribbon, with thirteen ends. Underneath were the words, "For these we strive." On the left side of the scroll was an Indian with a bow in one hand and a pole in the other, upon which was a liberty cap. On the right of the scroll was an angel blowing a trumpet. Above the scroll was the head of a horse, over which were the letters L. H. In the left hand corner were thirteen stripes, silver and blue (Fig. 6). The original flag used at that time is in the possession of this same regiment in its armory on Market and Twenty-first streets, Philadelphia. At General Washington's suggestion a flag was made at Cambridge consisting of thirteen stripes, red and white, with the English Union Jack, representing the thirteen colonies and recognizing England as our mother country (Fig. 7). This flag Washington raised over his army in Cambridge, January 1, 1776. The next day he hoisted it upon a staff on Prospect Hill in Somerville, Mass., where now stands a monument to commemorate the event. It was in use for six months, but was never officially adopted. On February 8, 1776, Colonel Gadsden presented a flag to Congress asking that it be adopted for the navy in place of the Pine Tree emblem. It had a yellow ground with a rattlesnake in the attitude of striking, and under it the words, "Don't tread on me" (Fig. 8). Congress did not adopt it, but passed a vote of thanks, and ordered it hung upon the walls of the Capitol. At this period there were many different flags in use. When the Declaration of Independence was read, the Cambridge flag, with the King's coat of arms, was destroyed, and later a movement was set on foot to secure a national emblem. Many designs were offered to the committee, but the members could not agree, and finally left it to General Washington. He suggested that as the red and white stripes had been continued in use on many private flags, they be adopted as a body and a blue canton be added, with some different figure than that of the English Union Jack. This was accepted by the committee, and various suggestions were made for the canton. A beaver, indicating industry, was the first, which was rejected as not being significant enough. A sun, moon and cross were also suggested, but these were all rejected, and Washington named a star, which was accepted. Mrs. Betsy Ross, a young widow who was skilled in needlework and had done considerable fancy work for General Washington, had promised him to make the model flag. When he. with Robert Morris. the great financier, and John Ross, her uncle, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. called upon her and Washington drew out the design, she refused to make it, as the pattern had upon it a six-pointed star. Upon being asked her reasons, she said, "That star is a sign of heraldry. As they are to be placed in a circle they will have to be put on always with much care, as they must be perfectly straight to look well, while a fivepointed star looks well any way it is placed. If you look at a star in the sky it always looks as if it had five points." Taking a piece of paper, she folded it, and making one cut of the scissors, handed it to General Washington, who, opening it, said, "Gentlemen, it is perfect, let us have them five-pointed." This flag (Fig. 9) was adopted June 14, 1777. So the flag remained for eighteen years, but in 1794, Kentucky and Vermont having been added to the Union, Senator Bradley, of Vermont, introduced a bill in Congress to change the flag to fifteen stripes and fifteen stars, claiming that these two States should be represented in the flag. The law was passed to take effect on May 1, 1795. This was our flag during the war of 1812, and it was the flag that Francis S. Key saw floating over Fort McHenry when he was inspired to write the "Star Spangled Banner." In 1816 there were nineteen States and all wanted a star and a stripe. In 1817 another State was added, and a committee was appointed to arrange a design for a new flag. Hon. Peter H. Wendover, of New York, was the chairman of the committee. He insisted upon keeping the same design, but not adding any more stripes, as they would be so narrow that the white would not always be visible at a distance and it might be mistaken for an English flag. In fact, his plan was to return to the thirteen stripes, representing the thirteen original colonies, and giving each State a star. Though meeting with great opposition, he won the day, and on April 4, 1818, Congress enacted the following bill, which is the law of to-day: "Section 1.-Be it enacted that from and after the Fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union have twenty stars, white in a blue field. "Section 2.-And be it further enacted that on the admission of every new State into the Union, one star be added to the Union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect on the Fourth of July next succeeding such admission." It has often been said in orations that the red meant valor, the white purity, and the blue loyalty, but Washington gave us a sentiment that is even grander. Gazing upon it, he said: "We take the star from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty." NOTABLE DAYS IN CONNECTION WITH THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. Jan. 2, 1776.-"Cambridge" Flag unfurled over his Jan. 17, 1781.-First victory, battle of Cowpens under Feb. 15, 1778.-First salute to the Stars and Stripes, Feb. 26, 1866.-Raising of the first flag made of March 17, 1776.-"Cambridge" Flag placed on Fort March 21, 1775.-Raising of "The Congress" Flag. April 28, 1862.-Raising the American Flag on the April 29, 1776.-Adoption of the "Pine Tree" Flag by May 1, 1795.-Adoption of and unfurling the "1795" May 1, 1862.-General Butler issues his famous Flag Florida. June 14, 1777.-Adoption of the first Flag of Stars July 4. Independence Day. Adding new Stars to the Flag. July 18, 1775.-The "Putnam" or "Somerville" Flag Aug. 8, 1776.-Declaration of Independence read in Sept. 11, 1777.-First battle under the Stars and Sept. 14, 1818.-"The Star Spangled Banner" composed by Francis Scott Key, while detained on the British vessel, Minden. Sept. 23, 1779.-Lieutenant Stafford's brave act in Oct. 16, 1774.-The "Taunton" Flag unfurled. Nov. 3, 1773.-Raising Flag to call meeting In Nov. 8, 1867.-First Stars and Stripes raised over Dec. 1, 1765.-Fort Johnson and Stamp paper cap- the Florida, the southernmost State of the United States, was first visited by Spaniards under Ponce de Leon, who landed near St. Augustine in 1513. In 1526 Pamfilo de Narvaez obtained a grant from Charles V. of all lands between Cape Florida and Rio Panuco, and in 1528 he landed with a numerous army, but met with such formidable resistance from the Indians that he was compelled to retreat, and at last perished near Panuco, only ten of his followers returning to Spain. Other attempts were made to settle the territory, first by the Spaniards and then by French Protestants, who fled to the new country to escape religious persecution. In 1696 Pensacola was settled by the Spaniards, who retained a foothold in the country until 1763. when the whole province was ceded to England for Cuba. In 1789 Florida was receded to Spain and the greater part of the inhabitants deserted the country, moving to the United States. Capital: TALLAHASSEE. In 1803 it was claimed that the territory had been ceded to France, and this led to a claim on the part of the United States to that part of the country west of the Perdito River. Finally, in 1819, the whole of the province was ceded to the United States, and on March 3, 1845, the territory was admitted into the Union. Florida has an area of 56,680 square miles, and in 1901 had an estimated population of 543,000. Agriculture and exploitation of min dustries of the State, though there ufacturing interests during the past manufactures of Florida are co-rel ural products, lumber and tobacco. The forests of Florida are esti and are composed largely of pitch resin are procured, and of live oak, swamps cover the southern portion enormous tracts of cypress, oak eral resources are the principal in- first in importance in the State, were discovered in Florida, had become nearly one-half of the 440,000 tons being exported that being retained within the State for this industry promises to rank hign mated to cover 25,000,000 acres, pine, from which turpentine and used in ship building. Extensive of the State, and here are found and palmetto. fruits Florida ranks second in the taken the first rank during the last crop is oranges, and the other citshaddocks and grape fruit are ture has almost doubled in volume sands of crates are shipped North ripening season. In the raising of sub-tropical United States, California having few years. The principal fruit rous fruits, such as lemons, limes, raised in abundance. Pineapple cul in the past five years, and thou from the east coast during the On May 3, 1901, the city of Jacksonville suffered a fire almost as great in extent as the famous Boston fire of two decades ago. The fire zone extended for nearly two and a half miles in one direction, and half a mile in the other, destroying the greater part of the business and residence sections of the city. As soon as the magnitude of the disaster was known aid was hurried from all parts of the United States, and the work of rebuilding the city was begun almost before the ashes had cooled. Within a year much of the devastated territory had been rebuilt, and a new Jacksonville, better than the old, had sprung from the ruins. France. Capital: France has been under a republican form of government since the overthrow of Napoleon III., on September 4, 1870. The present President of the republic, M. Emile Loubet, was born December 31, 1838, and was elected February 18, 1899. The next election will be held in 1906. THE MINISTRY.-Premier and Minister of the interior; M. Combes, Senator; Minister of Finance, M. Rouvier; Minister of Justice, M. Valle, Senator; Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Delcasse; Minister of War, General Andre, Minister of Marine, M. Pelletan; Minister of Public Instruction, M. Chaumie, Senator; Minister of Public Works, M. Maruejouls: Minister of Colonies, M. Domergue; Minister of Commerce, M. Trouillot, and Minister of Agriculture, M. Mougeot. REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE THE NATION.-Under the Constitution of the Republic of France, adopted in 1875, that country is governed by a President, elected for seven years by the two legislative houses, the Senate and Chamber of Deputics. In these latter the legislative power solely resides. The executive rests jointly in the President, the two Chambers and the Ministry, which act as checks on each other. The responsible head, however, is the Premier, the President of the Ministry, which, with the President's with 100,000 adherents to Enactments make all religions equal under the law, and entitle any religionon, he appoints. a State grant. The Jews, Protestants and Catholics can now claim this. Much rioting and great social disturbance was caused during the present year on account of the forcible closing, under the education laws, of all non-conforming religious schools. Justice.-In criminal causes courts of the first instance are those of the Justices of Peace. Over these are the Courts of Assizes and twen final Court of Cassation. In civil has the addition of a lower civil tri The system is unique in including of experts for commercial cases. Finance. The budget estimate 432,816; expenditure, $719.414.440. ary 1, 1901. to $5.800,691.814. France has 1.760 miles of coast the centre of defence. is surround and batteries. 17 old forts and near Versailles these defences merge in French imports for home use in ports of French origin to $833,240, of France is cultivated fallow or forests. In France colonial affairs are di Colonies, of which latter the most in Africa. Tunis is attached to the Algeria is really considered a part and Indo-China are perhaps the next possessions are to be found on all of affairs in the colonies is marked older colonies-Guiana, Seneca, nique, Guadeloupe and Reunion each French Legislature. The colonies do expenditure on their account being from them the same year amounted larger figure than usual. The a 1900 was $63,341,531; of imports, President Emile Loubet. include Madagascar and Guadeloupe, as yet unestimated.) ty-six Courts of Appeals, with one causes the scheme is similar, but bunal under the Justices of Peace. tribunals of commerce and councils for 1902 included: Revenue, $719.- frontier and 1,575 of land. Paris. During the past year important changes have been made in the foreign relations of France. As an |