USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 20
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KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE-Gymnocladus Canadensis .- This singularly beautiful tree is only found sparingly, and on rich alluvial lands. I met with it growing near the Peccatonica, in Green county. The wood is fine-grained, and of a rosy hue; is exceedingly durable, and well worth cultivating.
JUNE BERRY-Amelanchier Canadensis .- Is a small tree which adds materially to the beauty of our woods in early spring, at which time it is in full bloom. The wood is of no particular value, and the tree interesting only when covered with its white blossoms.
WHITE PINE-Pinus Stro?us .- This is the largest and most valuable of our indigenous pines. The wood is soft, free from resin, and works easily. It is extensively employed in the mechan- ical arts. It is found in great profusion in the northern parts of the state. This species is readily known by the leaves being in fives. It is highly ornamental, but in common with all pines, will hardly bear transplanting. Only small plants should be moved.
NORWAY OR RED PINE-P. Resinosa, and YELLOW PINE-P. Mitis .- These are two large trees, but little inferior in size to the white pine. The wood contains more resin, and is conse- quently more durable. The leaves of both these species are in twos. Vast quantities of lumber are yearly manufactured from these two varieties and the white pine. The extensive pineries of the state are rapidly diminishing.
SHRUB PINE-P. Banksiana .- Is a small, low tree; only worthy of notice here for the orna- mental shade it produces. It is found in the northern sections of the state.
BALSAM FIR-Abies Balsamea .- This beautiful evergreen is multiplied to a great extent on the shores of Lake Superior, where it grows forty or fifty feet in height. The wood is of but
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TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES.
little value The balsam of fir, or Canadian balsam, is obtained from this tree.
DOUBLE SPRUCE-A. Nigra .- This grows in the same localities with the balsam fir, and assumes the same pyramidal form, but is considerably larger. The wood is light and possesses considerable strength and elasticity, which renders it one of the best materials for yard's and top- masts for shipping. It is extensively cultivated for ornament.
HEMLOCK-A. Canadensis .- The hemlock is the largest of the genus. It is gracefully orna- mental, but the wood is of little value. The bank is extensively employed in tanning.
TAMARACK-Larix Americana .- This beautiful tree grows abundantly in swampy situations throughout the state. It is not quite an evergreen It drops its leaves in winter, but quickly recovers them in early spring. The wood is remarkably durable and valuable for a variety of uses. The tree grows rapidly, and can be successfully cultivated in peaty situations, where other trees would not thrive.
ARBOR VITA-Thuja Occidentalis .- This tree is called the white or flat cedar. It grows abundantly in many parts of the state. The wood is durable, furnishing better fence posts than any other tree, excepting the red cedar. Shingles and staves of a superior quality are obtained from these trees. A beautiful evergreen hedge is made from the young plants, which bear trans- planting better than most evergreens. It will grow on most soils if sufficiently damp.
RED CEDAR - Juniperus Virginiana. - Is a well known tree that furnishes those celebrated fence posts that "last forever." The wood is highly fragrant, of a rich red color, and fine grained ; hence it is valuable for a variety of uses. It should be extensively cultivated.
DWARF JUNIPER-J. Sabina. - This is a low trailing shrub. Is considerably prized for ornament. Especially worthy of cultivation in large grounds.
SASSAFRAS - Sassafras officinale .- Is a small tree of fine appearance, with fragrant leaves bark. Grows in Kenosha county. Should be cultivated.
WILLOWS .- There are many species of willows growing in every part of the state, several of which are worthy of cultivation near streams and ponds.
WHITE WILLOW - Salix alba .- Is a fine tree, often reaching sixty feet in height. The wood is soft, and makes the best charcoal for the manufacture of gun-powder. Grows rapidly.
BLACK WILLOW - S. Nigra .- This is also a fine tree, but not quite so large as the foregoing. It is used for similar purposes.
There are many shrubs and vines indigenous to the state worthy of note. I shall, however, call attention to only a few of the best.
DOGWOODS. - There are several species found in our forests and thickets. All are ornamen- tal when covered with a profusion of white blossoms. I would especially recommend : corus sericea, C. stolonifera, C. paniculata, and C. alternifolia. All these will repay the labor of trans- planting to ornamental grounds.
VIBURNUMS .- These are very beautiful. We have viburnum lentago, V. prunifolium, V. nudum, V. dentatum, V. pubescens, V. acerifolium, V. pauciflorum, and V. opulus. The last is known as the cranberry tree, and is a most beautiful shrub when in bloom, and also when covered with its red, acid fruit. The common snow-ball tree is a cultivated variety of the V. opulus.
WITCH HAZEL - Hamamelis Virginica. - Is an interesting, tall shrub that flowers late in autumn, when the leaves are falling, and matures the fruit the next summer. It deserves more attention than it receives.
BURNING BUSH - Euonymus atropurpureus. - This fine shrub is called the American straw- berry, and is exceedingly beautiful when covered with its load of crimson fruit, which remains during winter.
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SUMACH - Rhus typhina. - Is a tall shrub, Il known, but seldom cultivated. When well grown it is ornamental and well adapted for planting in clumps.
HOP TREE- Ptclea trifoliata. - This is a showy shrub with shining leaves, which should be cultivated. Common in rich, alluvial ground.
BLADDER NUT - Staphylea trifolia. - Is a fine, upright, showy shrub, found sparingly all over the state. Is ornamental, with greenish striped branches and showy leaves.
VINES.
VIRGINIA CREEPER-Ampelopsis quinquefolia .- This is a noble vine, climbing extensively by disc-bearing tendrils, so well known as to require no eulogy. Especially beautiful in its fall colors.
BITTER SWEET - Celastrus scandens. - Is a stout twining vine, which would be an ornament to any grounds. In the fall and early winter it is noticeable for its bright fruit. Common.
YELLOW HONEYSUCKLE - Lonicera flava. - Is a fine native vine, which is found climbing over tall shrubs and trees. Ornamental. There are several other species of honeysuckle; none, how- ever, worthy of special mention.
FROST GRAPE -Vitæ cordifolia. - This tall-growing vine has deliciously sweet blossoms, which perfume the air for a great distance around. For use as a screen, this hardy species will be found highly satisfactory.
FAUNA OF WISCONSIN.
BY P. R. HOY, M.D.
FISH AND FISH CULTURE.
Fish are cold blooded aquatic vertebrates, having fins as organs of progression. They have a two-chambered heart; their bodies are mostly covered with scales, yet a few are entirely naked, like catfish and eels; others again are covered with curious plates, such as the sturgeon. Fish inhabit both salt and fresh water. It is admitted by all authority that fresh-water fish are more universally edible than those inhabiting the ocean. Marine fish are said to be more highly flavored than those inhabiting fresh waters ; an assertion I am by no means prepared to admit. As a rule, fish are better the colder and purer the water in which they are found, and where can you find those conditions more favorable than in the cold depths of our great lakes ? We have tasted, under the most favorable conditions, about every one of the celebrated salt-water fish, and can say that whoever eats a whitefish just taken from the pure, cold water of Lake Michigan will have no reason to be envious of the dwellers by the sea.
Fish are inconceivable prolific ; a single female deposits at one spawn from one thousand to one million eggs, varying according to species.
Fish afford a valuable article of food for man, being highly nutritious and easy of digestion ; they abound in phosphates, hence are valuable as affording nutrition to the osseous and nervous sys- tem, hence they have been termed, not inappropriately, brain food-certainly a very desirable article ·of diet for some people. They are more savory, nutritious and easy of digestion when just taken from the water ; in fact, the sooner they are cooked after being caught the better. No fish should be more than a few hours from its watery element before being placed upon the table. For con- venience, I will group our fish into families as a basis for what I shall offer. Our bony fish,
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FAUNA OF WISCONSIN.
having spine rays and covered with comb-like scales, belong to the perch family -- a valuable family ; all take the hook, are gamey, and spawn in the summer.
The yellow perch and at least four species of black or striped bass have a wide range, being found in all the rivers and lakes in the state. There is a large species of fish known as Wall- eyed pike (Leucoperca americana) belonging to this family, which is found sparingly in most of our rivers and lakes. The pike is an active and most rapacious animal, devouring fish of consider- able size. The flesh is firm and of good flavor. It would probably be economical to propagate it to a moderate extent.
The six-spined bass ( Pomoxys hexacanthus, Agas.) is one of the most desirable of the spine- rayed fish found in the State. The flesh is fine flavored, and as the fish is hardy and takes the hook with avidity, it should be protected during the spawning season and artificially propagated. I have examined the stomachs of a large number of these fish and in every instance found small crawfish, furnishing an additional evidence in its favor. Prof. J. P. Kirtland, the veteran ichthy- ologist of Ohio, says that this so-called " grass bass" is the fish for the million.
The white bass ( Roccus chrysops) is a species rather rare even in the larger bodies of water, but ought to be introduced into every small lake in the State, where I am certain they would flourish. It is an excellent fish, possessing many of the good qualities and as few of the bad as any that belong to the family. There is another branch of this family, the sunfish, Pomotis, which numbers at least six species found in Wisconsin. They are beautiful fish, and afford abundant sport for the boys ; none of them, however, are worth domesticating (unless it be in the aquarium) as there are so many better.
The carp family (Cyprinida) are soft finned fish without maxillary teeth. They include by far the greater number of fresh-water fish. Some specimens are not more than one inch, while others are nearly two feet in length. Our chubs, silversides and suckers are the principal men- bers of this family. Dace are good pan-fish, yet their small size is objectionable; they are the children's game fish. The Cyprinide all spawn in the spring, and might be profitably propa- gated as food for the larger and more valuable fish.
There are six or seven species of suckers found in our lakes and rivers. The red horse, found every where, and at least one species of the buffalo, inhabiting the Mississippi and its trib- utaries, are the best of the genus Catastomus. Suckers are bony, and apt to taste suspiciously of mud; they are only to be tolerated in the absence of better. The carp (Cyprenius carpo) has been successfully introduced into the Hudsonriver.
The trout family (Salmonidæ) are soft-finned fish with an extra dorsal adipose fin without rays. They inhabit northern countries, spawning in the latter part of fall and winter. Their flesh is universally esteemed. The trout family embrace by far the most valuable of our fish, including, as it does, trout and whitefish. The famous speckled trout (Salmo fontinalis) is a small and beautiful species which is found in nearly every stream in the northern half of the State. Wherever there is a spring run or lake, the temperature of which does not rise higher than sixty-five or seventy in the summer, there trout can be propagated in abundance. The great salmon trout (Sal. amethystus) of the great lakes is a magnificent fish weighing from ten to sixty pounds. The Siscowit salmo siscowit of Lake Superior is about the same size, but not quite so good a fish, being too fat and oily. They will, no doubt, flourish in the larger of the inland lakes.
The genus Coregonus includes the true whitefish, or lake shad. In this genus, as now restricted, the nose is square and the under jaw short, and when first caught they have the fragrance of fresh cucumbers. There are at least three species found in Lake Michigan. In my
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
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 (Siluride) 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 men- tion here.
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FAUNA OF WISCONSIN.
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 pictu- resque 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 white- fish 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 forty 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, Wal- worth 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,
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
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; Oconomo- woc lake, Waukesha county, 100,000 ; Pine lake, Waukesha county, 40,000; Pewaukee lake, Waukesha county, 100,000 ; 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 wilder- ness. In 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.
The Antelope, Antilocarpa Americana, now confined to the Western plains, did, two hun- dred 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 morn- ing 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 (645. 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 exter- minated 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
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FAUNA OF WISCONSIN.
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.
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