nify salmon, means also, in ordinary and loose conversation and composition, trout. There are, still, other considerations unfavourable to the abundance of salmon in our river, as you quote from Hudson's journal. They are those which relate to the HERRING, the SHAD, and the STURGEON, the annual visitants of this stream, at Albany and higher. Whatever may be the opinion of speculative men, as to the governing principle of these creatures, whether it be instinct or reason, the fact nevertheless is, that they select very proper places to deposit their spawn, and perpetuate their race. In our river, these three species of fish, had each an appropriate place for the great work of multiplication. The grand rendezvous of the herrings, was the Saratoga lake; into which they entered by its outlet, yet called fish-creek. The obstruction of this passage by dams and artificial impediments, has turned the herrings from their favourite haunt. The inhabitants of the neighbouring region have, thereby, been deprived of their yearly treat of herrings. But, more than this, the herrings thus dispossessed and discouraged, have become more rare in the river, and are deserting it in proportion to the want of accommodation it affords them. It is reported, that the course of the herrings was more especially on the west side of the river. The shad travelled along the eastern shore. Their chief place of resort was the basin at the foot of Fort Edward falls. "No particular path in the river was selected by the sturgeons. They seem to have swam at large, as they do at present. But they assembled for the propagation of their kind at the bottom of the Cahoes, or great falls of the Mohock. The roes or eggs of the sturgeon, are exceedingly numerous, amounting to a large mass of spawn. You recollect that the Russian cavear is made of them. Other fishes are fond of feeding on them; they eat it with remarka ble voracity. It is one of the most alluring baits that anglers can use. The abundance of this exquisite food at the breeding season, is supposed to be a principal inducement for the basse or rockfish, to follow the sturgeons to their place of deposit. The disturbance the sturgeons have experienced in the progress of settlement, has diminished their numbers exceedingly; and the basse has become proportionally rare. Now, with all this information relative to the several sorts of fish, that have frequented the Hudson, since the possession of its banks by European emigrants, there are no regular notices of salmon. Neither a swimming-course, nor a breeding-place has been detected. It is, therefore, a fair presumption, that these fishes never found within its waters sufficient inducement to visit them in great numbers, or at regular times, and that those which have been taken are merely strays and wanderers. I beg you to accept my friendly salutations. Rev. Dr. MILLER. My dear Friend, SAML. L. MITCHILL. (Note B.) Albany, March 3, 1810. The names of the rivers Mohock and Hudson, as they are extant among the Iroquois, have engaged my attention, since the receipt of your late letter, prompting me to make inquiry concerning them. My opportunities have been very favourable. Mr. John Bleecker, the ancient indian interpreter, now in the seventy-ninth year of his age, was well enough to receive a visit from me this morning, and in possession of his full recollection as to what I asked of him. On seeing me, he instantly, and without hesitation, pronounced my name, with a remembrance that he had been acquainted with me at Fort Schuyler, in 1788, when the five nations sold their lands to the state of New-York. I have also seen colonel Louis, the distinguished Indian warrior, who is now in Albany, and have sought information from him. Jacob Dochstetter, the present Oneida interpreter, likewise gave me all the opportunity I wished of conversing with him, while he was attending with his countrymen, a treaty with the commissioners appointed on the part of the state. From these several persons I have obtained the following words, which I immediately committed to writing, and corrected as well as I could, by many repetitions from the mouths of the speakers. Though, I ought to observe, that there are a few sounds which the letters of our alphabet are incapable of expressing. Canneogahakalononitàde-the Mohock river. Skenectadèa-the city of Albany. Ohnowalagantle-the town of Schenectady. Cahohàtatea-the North or Hudson River. Skenectadèa, Cahohàtatèa-the North River, spoken of in relation to Albany or Albany River. Tioghsàhronde the place or places at which streams empty themselves. Tioghsàhronde, Cahohàtatèa-the North River spoken of in relation to the Mohock, the water-vlietkill, the norman's kill, and the other streams which discharge into it. The name for our North River, in the tongue of the Iroquois, strikes my ear very agreeably; ČAHO HATATEA. You may contrast this with the Mohegan name for the same river, given me this day by John Taylor, Esq. a gentleman long conversant in the Indian affairs of New-York; MAHAKANEGHTUC. What their etymologies are, I have not been able to ascertain, except as to Skenectadèa, Albany; which signifies the place the natives of the Iroquois arrived at, by travelling through the pine-trees. Truly and affectionately yours, SAML. L. MITCHILL. Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D. D. &c. The information, that SHATEMUCK was one of the Mahiccan names of the river HUDSON, was received from the Hon. EGBERT BENSON, Esq. TO THE MOST CHRISTIAN KING OF FRANCE, The relation of JOHN DE VERRAZZANO, a Florentine, of the Land by him discouered in the name of his Maiestie. Written in Diepe, the eight of July, (Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. 2. pp. 295-300. Lond. fol. 1600.) I wrote not to your Maiesty, most Christian King, since the time we suffered the Tempest in the North partes, of the successe of the foure shippes, which your Maiestie sent forth to discouer new lands by the Ocean, thinking your Maiestie had bene already duely enformed thereof. Now by these presents I will give your Maiestie to understand, how by the violence of the Windes we were forced with the two shippes, the Norman and the Dolphin, (in such euill case as they were,) to land in Britaine. Where after wee had repayred them in all poynts as was needefull, and armed them very well, we took our course along by the coast of Spaine, which your Maiestie shall understand by the profite that we receiued thereby. Afterwards with the Dolphin alone we determined to make discouerie of new Countries, to prosecute the Nauigation we had already begun, which I purpose at this present to recount unto your Maiestie, to make manifest the whole proceeding of the matter. The 17 of January, the yeere 1524, by the Grace of God, we departed from the dishabited rocke by the isle of Madeira, apperteining to the King of Portugal, with 50 men, with victuals, wea pons, and other ship-munition very well prouided and furnished for eight months; and sailing Westward with a faire Easterly winde, in 25 dayes we ran 500 leagues, and the 20 of Februarie, we were ouertaken with as sharpe and terrible a tempest as euer any saylers suffered, whereof with the diuine helpe and mercifull assistance of Almighty God, and the goodnesse of our shippe, accompanied with the good happe of her fortunate name, we were deliuered, and with a prosperous winde followed our course West and by North. And in other 25 dayes we made aboue 400 leagues more, where we discouered a new land, neuer before seene of any man either ancient or moderne, and at the first sight it seemed somewhat low, but being within a quarter of a league of it, we perceiued by the great fires that we saw by the sea-coast, that it was inhabited; and saw that the lande stretched to the southwards. In seeking some conuenient harborough, wherein to anchor and to have knowledge of the place, we sayled fiftie leagues in vaine, and seeing the lande to runne still to the southwards, we resolved to returne backe againe towards the north, where wee found our selves troubled with the like difficultie. At length, being in despaire to find any porte, wee cast anchor upon the coast and sent our boate to shore, where we saw great store of people which came to the seaside; and see, ing us approch, they fled away, and sometimes would stand still and looke backe, beholding us with great admiration; but, afterwards, being animated and assured with signes that we made them, some of them came hard to the seaside, seeming to reioyce very much at the sight of us, and marvelling greatly at our apparel, shape and whitenesse, shewed us by sundry signes, where we might most commodiously come aland with our boate, offering us also of their victuals to eat. Now I will briefly declare to your maiestie their life and maners, as farre as we could have notice thereof: These people goe altogether naked, except 5 |