pike, pickerel, muskellunge, bass of all varieties, and great northern pike that experts said were larger than had ever before been sent anywhere for exhibition purposes.  There were also rare specimens of trout, including the white trout that are a Minnesota specialty.  The fish, except the trout, were successfully transferred to the State’s tank that evening.  By morning only three were alive, and these died during the day.  The trout were not tanked at all, but were turned over to the United States authorities, who were glad to get them because of their rarity.  The responsibility for this failure rests with the Exposition Company.  The water supplied was not from wells, but was the muddy Missouri River water clarified by the alum process, which is fatal to fish.  It was also entirely too warm, no attempt to keep the promise of refrigeration having been made.  After this disaster the board refused to bring more fish until the company should fulfill its pledge, which it never did.  Minnesota’s experience was shared by Pennsylvania and Missouri, the only other States prepared to make large live fish displays.

The failure of the St. Louis Fair officials to provide proper water caused a difference in the board finances of nearly $2,000.  The board had secured subscriptions from six different towns in the fishing regions of the State toward the payment for the aquaria, the idea being to stock the aquaria with fish from the lakes near the towns that subscribed, and to give them proper individual credit.  When the possibility of keeping the fish alive was realized the board promptly released them from their obligations, but it was too late to save the appropriation made through reliance upon the plans and promises of the exposition.

The game exhibit had a large space adjoining that occupied by the aquarium.  It was at the principal entrance to the building.  The larger part of the space was covered by a realistic scene from the northern woods—­the State game region.  A pine forest was shown with a rocky embankment at the side, while opposite was a birch opening.  Breaking through this opening and represented as scenting danger were three moose—­two bucks and a cow—­that were the finest specimens of the great game animals in the building.  Elsewhere in the scene was a family of three red deer; also very handsome caribou, black bears, wolves, foxes, porcupines, grouse, prairie chicken, owls, etc.  The background of the scene was a distant lake view, and with effective lighting it was conceded to be among the most novel exhibits in the building.  No other scenic reproduction was more complete.  Adjoining this scene was a smaller space filled with moose and deer heads and mounted fish.  The walls were draped with fish nets, and a large map of the State showed the railroads, summer resorts, and lakes.

MISSISSIPPI.