Their average weight may be about three-fourths of a pound. They are found in some ponds and not in others. There is something of singularity in this. Durgin's pond contains them, but they were never known, at least since the town was settled, in Long pond, which is separated from Durgin's only by a short piece of meadow or heath, through which a brook connects them. It was supposed that the reason why they were not found in Long and Swain's ponds, was because they had no sandy shores; but when it was found that Durgin's pond contained them, this reason was exploded; this being the most sunken, and presenting the least hard shore of them all.

PERCH are as universally known, almost, as the element in which they live. They are a fish of the finest flavor, and are found in abundance in all our ponds. They are armed with sharp bones in their fins, on their back and sides. That on the back when erected, resembles a saw.

The HOGBACK, or sun-fish as some call it, is a very attracting thing. It is about as large as the Perch. In the spring he takes his stand near the shore, where the bottom is sandy, and there prepares a bed about as large over as an earthern milk-pan, and nearly as deep. This he does by means of his fins. Over this bed he buoys himself, occasionally turning around, all the while keeping watch like a sentinel, to avoid surprize. If a perch or other small fish approach his nest, he erects the sharp fins on his back, and like the animal from which he takes his name, and in this respect, which he very much resembles, starts towards them; a little sideways and slowly at first, then rushes upon them with great fury, and the intruder is glad to make his escape. He is known here by no other name than the first; is excellent food, and can hardly be distinguished from the Perch when cooked. Their form is like that of the Place, but swims upright.

The SHINER. This is a very beautiful fish, and has its name from its appearance. It is not so large as the Perch, and is not much esteemed for food, being very full of small bones. It is considered the best bait that can be found for pickerel. His mouth is like the roach, and his shape like the Perch, though not quite so thick.

EELS are very plenty, and quite as large as those in the salt water. The best time for taking them is in the night.

POUTS are not so plenty nor so large as formerly; this is the more remarkable as they are not so much fished for. Long and Suncook ponds produced the best. In 1812, they were taken in great plenty in lowering weather, in almost every brook; but at this time they would be sought for in vain at places that then abounded with them. Their color and skin is the same as that of the Eel. Their head is very large, and their mouth wide. They are found in muddy bottom, and the night is the best time for taking them. Their meat is esteemed next the Eel; they considerably resemble the sculpion in shape, but their head is broader and flatter. On each side of their body and close to the head is a formidable weapon, called a horn, and hence the name of Horn-pout. This is attached to and appears no otherwise than a part of the fin. There is another upon the back. What is peculiar about these horns, is the ability of the fish to make them permanent or very pliable. Persons not accustomed to take them are very liable to be wounded by them, whose poisonous effects cause considerable swelling and pain. Although these horns they use as nimbly as another fin in swimming, yet they have the power of fixing them in a perpendicular direction from their body, so permanently that they must be broken before they can be loosened. To the back and side fins of the Perch, are similar horns at

tached, but they are always moveable and much more flexible. This is believed to be the same species of fish as that known in other places by the name of Catfish, but never here.

The TROUT is a very beautiful fish, but very few are to be found in the brooks of Northwood. Flatmeadow brook, which falls into the Suncook at its N. W. part, has the best. A few were formerly found in one of the outlets of Littlebow, and in a brook near the foot of saddleback moun

tain, and perhaps a few others; they are very

small.

Streams. Of these there are very few which can claim attention in these notes; the town being in general elevated, is the source of streams, rather than affording channels for those from other sources. The only one which can claim the name of river, is the outlet of Suncook pond, which no sooner discharges itself than it is within the limits of Epsom. The outlets of Jenness', Swain's, and Long ponds, being the three largest that disembogue their waters within the town, dwindle to nothing in dry seasons. In some seasons no water moistens the bed of their parched channels for many days together. The chief inlet to Swain's pond is now very inconsiderable, but from its singularity in indicating storms, may be noticed. In a drought the water ceases to run for many days, according to the degrees of dryness. But water is sure to ooze from the ground so as to run in its channel before a rain; so that in extreme dry times this brook is narrowly watched by those living near it, who hail its rising with joy, being never disappointed of rain within twenty-four hours after the phenomenon is observed. It is called Bunker's brook, because a hunter of that name was killed upon it. The place where he was killed is about half a mile from the turn

pike, at the point where it crosses the brook, which is a few rods north of the Rev. Josiah Prentice's house. It is storied that this hunter sat his gun by a bush and lay down to drink; when suddenly it fell down, and a twig caused it to go off, which happened to fall in a direction to discharge its contents into his body. "Those who

delight in the marvellous," relate that strange noises are heard at the place where he was killed. It is a dreary place, and the shrill note of the night bird, on such imaginations, is sufficient to perpetuate such a belief. Indeed there are but few of the inhabitants of Northwood, even to this day, who do not believe in the apparitions of departed friends, and that witches are omnipresent. And this with a devotedness "that would do honor to a better cause." Until 1814, the ruins of one of the first saw-mills built in the town, were to be seen about half way between where the brook crosses the turnpike, and Wiggins' meadow. About that time a grist-mill was erected upon the spot, but the water growing less every year, rendered it in two or three years entirely useless.

It is said in the "Gazetteer of New-Hampshire," that the water which falls from the eaves of a certain barn in this town runs into three different rivers. The barn meant was that owned by the late Jonathan Clarke, Esq. But it is believed that in regard to this circumstance, the editor was mistaken; the writer of this, from observations upon the spot, was unable to come to such a decision.

Beasts. Dr. Belknap, in the third volume of his History of New-Hampshire, has said nearly

This work was got into a state of forwardness by Phinehas Merrill, Esq., of Stratham, but he dying about 1814, the work came into the hands of Eliphalet, his brother, of Northwood, who after considerable delay caused it to be published. Some of the errors are probably chargeable to those whom the latter employed to correct it, before going to the press; he not choosing to trust his own grammatical knowledge.

all that need be said on this head. I will remark therefore on but few of them.

The BEAVER disappeared immediately after the town was settled, though some of their monuments still remain. Only one, however, is known to the writer, which is a dam, very firm and perfect across the principal inlet of Suncook pond. Many stories are told of the wonders of this curious animal. One who wrote very early upon the Natural History of this part of the country, has this passage in his description of the Beaver,* which as a curiosity is extracted. After describing the wolf he says, "The next in mine opinion fit to be spoken of is the Beaver ; which is a beast ordained for land and water both, and hath fore [four] feete like a Cunny, [Cony,] her hinder feete like a goose, mouthed like a Cunny, but short eared, like a serat ; fishe in summer and wood in winter, which he conveys to his house, built on the water, wherein he sits with his taile hanging in the water, which else would overheate and rot off. Hee cuts the bodies of trees down with his fore teeth, which are so long as a boares tuskes; with the help of other Beavers (which held by each others tayles, like a teame of horses, the hindmost with the logg on his shoulder stayed by one of his fore feete against his head,) they draw the logg to the habitation appointed ;§

N. Eng. Canaan, 77.

↑ "The Beaver feeds in preference on young wood of the birch, aspen, and poplar trees." Henry, 128.

See Carver's Travels, 462.

§ "It must be observed," says Hearne, Journey, 228," that the Beaver which build in rivers and creeks, always cut their wood above their houses,so that the current, with little trouble, conveys it to the place required." See also Carver, ut supra. But I do not find the story of their forming themselves into teams corroborated, though Carver, 461, says that "when they are about to choose themselves habitations, they assemble in companies sometimes of two or three hundred, and after mature deliberation fix on a place," &c., but whether that author was ever present in one of these conventions, he does not inform us. The story of their removing logs with their tails is believed by many in New-England.