Dr. A. Schenck; Dr. E. Welti; L. Ruchonnet; Dr. Adolph Deucher; B. Hammer.

Area and Population.-The area of Switzerland is 41,346 square kilometres. The population in 1880 was 2,846,102, comprising 1,394,626 males and 1,451,476 females. The number of inarriages in 1886 was 20,080, against 20,105 in 1885; the number of births, 84,142, against 83,579; the number of deaths, 63,440, against 64,778; excess of births over deaths, 20,702, against 18,801. The population of Geneva in 1886 was 52,819 without, and 72,819 with the suburbs. Zürich and its suburbs had 89,804 inhabitants; Basle had 72,304, and Bern 49,410. Emigration beyond seas amounted in 1886 to 6,342 individuals, against 7,583 in 1885, 9,608 in 1884, and 13,502 in 1882. Of the emigrants 4,863 went to North America.

Finances. The financial account for 1886 makes the total revenue 61,097,496 francs, and the expenditure 58,067,506 francs. The budget for 1888, approved by the National Council on Dec. 9, 1887, estimates the revenue at 56,066,000 francs, and the expenditure at 56,866,000 francs. The assets of the Confederation amounted to 65,966,173 francs, and the debt to 36,670,616 francs on Jan. 1, 1887. A bill to establish a spirit monopoly was passed in 1886 by the National and State Councils, and on the demand of 48,255 citizens was submitted in 1887 to the popular vote, which confirmed the law. The Federal Council in August, 1887, authorized a loan of 10,000,000 francs to carry the measure into effect.

The Army.—The Federal army is composed of the regular troops or Bundesauszug, composed of citizens from twenty to thirty-two years of age; the Landwehr, which comprises all the men from thirty-three to forty-five years old; and the Landsturm, organized under a law that went into force in 1887. The latter category includes retired officers under fifty-five years old, retired non-commissioned officers and soldiers up to the age of fifty, and all other citizens between forty and fifty years of age who are not enrolled in the Landwehr, as well as young men between the ages of seventeen and twenty. The effective strength of the regular army on Jan. 1, 1887, was 120,393 officers and soldiers; that of the Landwehr, 81,435 men. The Landsturm is expected to add 300,000 men to the fighting strength of the republic. A credit of 840,000 francs was granted by the National Council in June, 1887, for the purpose of supplying 12 batteries with new cannon. The Swiss artillery possesses 400 field-pieces and 400 siege-guns.

Commerce.-The special imports of merchandise in 1886 were of the total value of 758,608,000 francs; the special exports 637,633,000 francs.

Railroads. The length of railroad lines in operation in 1885 was 2,784 kilometres, exclusive of 63 kilometres of mountain railroad operated by foreign companies. The cost of construction was 1,048,627,602 francs. The

receipts in 1885 were 73.737,412 francs and the expenses of operation 39,577,625 francs.

The Post-Office.--The number of letters and post-cards forwarded in 1886 was 58,381,144, not including 31,477,056 international letters; the number of journals, 63,215,302.

Telegraphs. The length of telegraph lines in 1886 was 7,025 kilometres; the length of wires, 17,063 kilometres. There were 3,184,470 messages sent over the wires in 1886, of which 1,793,938 were paid internal dispatches, 956,931 were foreign dispatches, 326,993 were forwarded in transit, and 106,608 were official. The receipts were 3,293,264 francs and the expenses 2,799,855 francs.

International Copyright.-The ratifications of the treaty for the creation of an international union for the protection of literary and artistic property, which was signed at Bern on Sept 9, 1886, were exchanged at the same place on Sept. 5, 1887, by the representatives of Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, France, Hayti, Italy, Liberia, Switzerland, and Tunis. Other states may be admitted into the union at any time on giving their adhesion to the treaty. Authors, painters, engravers, composers, and dramatists enjoy in all the countries forming the union the same protection for their works that each country gives to its own citizens, subject to the conditions and formalities which are prescribed in the country where the work is first published. The duration of copyright can not exceed in other countries the limit of time established in the country of origin of the work. Authorized translations are protected as original works, and authors possess for the term of ten years the right of making or authorizing translations of their productions. Articles from newspapers and magazines may be protected by international copyright, with the exception of articles of political discussion and of news of the day and current topics. The publication of extracts from copyrighted works for educational or scientific purposes or in chrestomathics is governed by the laws existing in the several countries, or by special arrangements that may be made between the contracting parties. Plays and musical dramas are protected, whether published or not, and if published, their representation on the stage is interdicted whenever the author prints a warning to that effect on the title-page or in the beginning of the work. Literary adaptations, arrangements of music, and similar appropriations are forbidden unless the alterations are sufficient to confer the character of a new original work. An international office is established at Bern under the name of the Office of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. The expenses will be borne by the governments composing the union, but must not exceed 60,000 francs per annum. The office is placed under the authority of the superior administration of the Swiss Confederation. The functions of the office are prescribed

in a special protocol, and include the collection and publication of information relative to the protection of authors' rights, the consideration of general questions of utility likely to be of interest to the union, and the publication of a periodical. Photographic reproductions of protected works are forbidden, and countries in which photographs are protected extend the same protection to citizens of the other states

TARPON. The largest and most important of the Clupeidae, specifically Megolops thrissoides (Gunther), a salt-water fish occurring in the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and ranging from the coast of South America northward as far as Cape Cod. In the higher latitudes it is comparatively rare, though the specimen in the National Museum at Washington was captured off the coast of New Jersey. It is quite abundant among the West Indies, and has rarely been found as far eastward as the Bermudas. In the summer it frequently ascends the southern rivers in large numbers

of the international union. The same is true of ballet dances. The protection of musical works does not extend to automatic arrangements of airs in mechanical instruments. The treaty went into force three months from the date of the exchange of ratifications. It was concluded for an indefinite period, any of the contracting governments being at liberty to withdraw on twelve months' notice.

it with the rod and line. It has long been known that it would take bait, but its wonderful activity enabled it to break away with such certainty that few sportsinen cared to risk their tackle in the encounter. So recently as 1883, S. C. Clarke, author of "Fishes of the East Florida Coast," wrote somewhat incredulously of the alleged capture of a tarpon with rod and reel in Indian River, Florida, and pronounced it one of the greatest angling feats on record. "No tuan," he says "is strong enough to hold a large tarpon unless he is provided with a drag or buoy, in the shape

in pursuit of small fish, its natural food. The tarpon not infrequently attains a length of 6 feet and a weight of 150 pounds. The whole body is covered with large circular scales, sometimes as much as 23 inches in diameter, and of a beautiful silvery luster, darker on the back. These scales are, to some extent, an article of trade, being sought for as curiosities and used for decorative purposes.

The commonly-accepted name is tarpon, but it was formerly written tarpom and tarpum. It is sometimes called "Jew-fish," especially in Georgia and Florida, and elsewhere "silver-fish" and "silver king." Farther west among the French-speaking people of the gulf coast it is the "grand-écaille " (great scale), and in Texas the "savanilla." It is edible, though not especially prized as an article of food.

Within a few years the tarpon has become famous among sportsmen as a game-fish, owing to its great beauty, strength, and endurance, and the extreme difficulty of capturing

of an empty keg attached to the line, which may retard or even stop the fish after a while." With the aid of such a drag the fish may be harpooned. Such was the usual method of capture until within a few years, and similar methods are still followed for purposes of trade, for the tarpon makes light of any net or snare, leaping over or breaking through, as may best suit his convenience.

It has been demonstrated by skillful sportsmen that the tarpon can be taken with the tackle used for bass, but successful captures are still so rare that they are regarded as evidence of great skill. At Charlotte Harbor, according to "Forest and Stream," 78 tarpon were taken during the winter of 1886-'87. The writer, who signs himself "Al Fresco," recommends a stout two-joint split-bamboo, lancewood, or greenheart rod, from seven to eight feet six inches in length, and a strong reel to carry 600 feet of 15, 18, or 21 thread Cuttyhunk line. For hooks 10-0 O'Shaugh

nessy or 13-0 Limerick, and for snoods heavy cotton or silk or jointed piano-wire. The bait is usually mullet or some common fish. The tarpon season may be said to last all winter in Florida, though it is best toward spring. It is the habit of the fish when struck to make a rapid rush of 50 or 60 yards, and then leap from the water, opening his immense mouth and gills to their widest extent, and shaking himself with such violent contortions that the hook is often torn out, and he swims away, none the worse for his adventure and probably none the wiser. By experienced fishermen the tarpon is regarded as a far more difficult antagonist than the salmon, and he must no doubt take rank as the king of American game-fishes. Very little has as yet been published about the tarpon outside of the bare scientific details, or in the letters of newspaper correspondents, but the time is no doubt at hand when sportsmen will come from across the sea to test their skill against his strength and endurance.

TAYLOR, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an American author, born in Lowville, N. Y., July 19, 1819; died in Cleveland, O., Feb. 24, 1887. He was graduated at Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y., of which his father, Stephen W. Taylor, was president, in 1839, and at the age of twentyone he became literary editor of the Chicago "Evening Journal," and subsequently its war correspondent. He also appeared frequently before literary associations and the general public as a lecturer. Among his published writings are" Attractions of Language" (New

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TAYLOR.

York, 1845); "January and June" (Chicago, 1853); "Pictures in Camp and Field " (1871); "The World on Wheels (1873); "Old-Time Pictures and Sheaves of Rhyme" (1874); "Songs of Yesterday" (1877); "Summer Savory, Gleaned from Rural Nooks" (1879); "Between the Gates," pictures of California life (1881); "Dulce Domum, the Burden of Song" (1884); and a complete collected edition of his poems (1887). Shortly before his

death he delivered to his publishers the manuscript of his first novel, entitled "Theophilus Trent." Much of Mr. Taylor's prose is very fine. Although his fancy was exuberant and untrained, it was also picturesque, sympathetic, and earnest. The London "Times" called him the Oliver Goldsmith of America. His letters from the seat of war were among the most vivid and notable that filled the newspapers at that tragic period. His "Battle above the Clouds," a description of the engagement on Lookout mountain in November, 1863, was especially famous. Like his prose, Mr. Taylor's verse is somewhat embarrassed by conceits and cadenced syllables, but he has left a few poems that pass from one anthology to another, and constantly find their way into scrap-books and newspaper corners. Among these are notably "The Isle of the Long Ago," which begins

"Oh! a wonderful stream is the river Time, As it flows through the realm of Tears," Rhymes of the River," of which the opening is

"Oh river, far flowing,

How broad thou art growing,

And the sentinel headlands wait grimly for thee," and "The Old Village Choir." A fine specimen of Mr. Taylor's work, both as to conception and style, is found in a fragment entitled "The Northern Lights":

"To claim the Arctic came the sun, With banners of the burning zone; Unrolled upon their airy spars, They froze beneath the light of stars; And there they float, those streamers old, Those Northern Lights, for ever cold!" Personally, Mr. Taylor was genial and responsive, but he was so sensitive and shrinking that he invented methods to avoid meeting strangers, and to account for his late appearances before and sudden disappearances after his lectures. To the chairman who was to introduce him, he would say: "Do it quickly! I would rather chop a cord of wood than sit here five minutes." In his later years Mr. Taylor traveled extensively in California, Mexico, and the islands of the Pacific. The University of California gave him the degree of LL. D.

TENNESSEE. State Government.-The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, Robert L. Taylor, Democrat; Secretary of State, John Allison; Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner, J. W. Thomas; Comptroller, P. P. Pickard; Attorney-General, B. J. Lea; Superintendent of Public Instruction, T. H. Paine, succeeded by Frank M. Smith; Commissioner of Agriculture, Statistics, and Mines, A. J. McWhirter, succeeded by B. M. Hord; Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, Peter Turney; Associate Justices, W. C. Tolkes, W. C. Caldwell, B. L. Snodgrass, and W. H. Lurton.

Legislative Session.-The session of this year extended from January 3 to March 29. On

January 18 Hon. Washington C. Whitthorne, who was then holding under appointment from the Governor, was elected United States Senator for the term ending March 3. The choice of his successor for the next full term of six years also devolved upon this Legislature, and was the cause of a prolonged contest in the Democratic caucus. Sixty-eight ballots were taken, on the last of which ex-Governor William B. Bate received 78 votes, all but 5 of the votes cast. Before this result had been reached, five joint ballots had been taken in the Legislature without a choice. On the sixth ballot Bate received 81 votes, and Archibald M. Hughes (Republican) 45. Two important results of the session were a new law regulating the assessment and collection of revenue, and a resolution in favor of the prohibitory constitutional amendment as passed by the Legislature of 1885. The revenue act seeks to secure a more equitable valuation of property, more complete assessment, and more efficient collection of taxes. Coupled with it, an act was passed raising the State tax to forty-five cents, and revising the system of special taxes. Specific appropriations were made for the completion of the West Tennessee Insane Hospital ($150,000) and the completion and equipment of a similar hospital in East Tennessee ($50,000). Other acts of the session were as follow:

To enable counties, cities, and towns to subscribe

to the capital stock of any railroad company incorpo

rated under the laws of the State.

To punish false pretenses in obtaining the registration of cattle and other animals, and to punish giving false pedigrees.

To prevent the adulteration of candy.

Increasing the pension granted to disabled Confederate soldiers and to disabled Federal soldiers, not pensioned by the Federal Government, from ten to twenty-five dollars a month, and extending the act to those who have lost both arms or both legs in the

service.

To relieve druggists of all taxes that have accrued

against them as liquor-dealers under the revenue laws of 1881-'82, 1833-'84, and 1885-'86.

To create a board of public works for the city of Chattanooga.

Authorizing the funding of coupons that have been detached from State bonds, and not heretofore funded. For the protection of fish between March 15 and June 1.

Making it unlawful for any firm, corporation, or other employer who owns or controls a store for the sale of general merchandise to force or attempt to force employés to trade at such store.

To organize the militia of the State, and to provide

for its government.

Accepting the gift to the State of the Randall-Cole Industrial School, and organizing it as the Tennessee

Industrial School.

Making it unlawful to sell intoxicating liquors within four miles of any school-house outside of an incorporated town.

Giving land-owners a lien on the crops raised on their land by share-croppers, for supplies, implements, and work-stock.

Providing for the observance of " Arbor Day" by the public schools.

Taxing and regulating the business of mutual or assessment insurance.

Authorizing cities of over 32,000 inhabitants to issue bonds for water-works.

To permit the consolidation of non-competing railroad lines.

Prohibiting corporations from influencing the votes or dictating the place for trading of their employés. Incorporating the town of Newburn.

To establish a uniform standard of weights and measures in the State.

Allowing guardians to loan money of their wards on real estate.

Providing for the appointment of a State mine inspector.

Finances. At the beginning of the year the treasury statement showed a considerable deficit; at its close there was a cash balance of $225,752.81. For the last three months of the year the receipts were $448,101.87, and the expenditures $230,602.03. In 1887 the increase in assessed values over 1886 was $14,640,402.

Industrial School. The Tennessee Industrial School for Boys at Nashville, founded by private enterprise and given to the State, was first opened for the reception of pupils at the beginning of the year. Fifty-two boys were admitted during the year, of whom forty-three remained at its close. Of these, thirty-five were white and eight colored. The expense of constructing and furnishing the institution was over $18,000.

Peanuts. The entire commercial supply of peanuts for the country comes from Virginia and Tennessee, with small exports from North Carolina. The Virginia crop for this year is estimated at 1,800,000 bushels, and the Tennessee production at 750,000 bushels. For the past two years there has been a gradual decrease in the Tennessee production, while that of Virginia shows a considerable increase.

coal in the State for the year was 2,000,000 Coal and Iron. The estimated production of tons, and of pig-iron, 250,344 tons.

Election. The prohibitory constitutional amendment, having been adopted by two successive Legislatures, was submitted to the people for ratification in August. Out of a total vote of 252,701, which is nearly equal to the presidential vote of 1884, the friends of prohibition polled 117,504 votes, and its opponents 145,197 against the amendment.

TEXAS. State Government. -The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, Lawrence S. Ross, Democrat; LieutenantGovernor, T. B. Wheeler; Secretary of State, J. W. Baines, succeeded by J. M. Moore; Comptroller, John D. McCall; Treasurer, Frank R. Lubbock; Attorney-General, James S. Hogg; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oscar H. Cooper; Commissioner of the Land Office, R. M. Hall; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Asa H. Willie; Associate Justices, John W. Stayton and R. R. Gaines.

Maxey. As both houses were almost unanimously Democratic, the contest, which continued through thirty joint ballots, was entirely between Democratic leaders. The principal candidates were Senator Maxey, Congressman John H. Reagan, and Judge Ireland. On the last ballot. February 1, Reagan was elected by a vote of 101 to 25 for Maxey and 10 scattering. The legislation of the session includes the following acts:

To create the county of Brewster.

Repealing the law of March, 1881, granting to veterans certificates of 1,280 acres of land in the State.

Increasing the punishment for carrying concealed

weapons.

Creating six new counties out of Tom Green County, viz., Ector, Winkler, Loving, Upton, Crane, and Ward.

To prohibit and punish dealing in futures. Making it a penal offer.se to prevent or attempt to prevent any person from engaging or continuing in any lawful employment.

Punishing abuse and profanity toward another, and abuse of his relatives in his presence. Making the conversion of property by borrowers or bailees punishable as theft.

Requiring railroad companies to give their employés thirty days' notice of a reduction of wages. To provide a more expeditious method of ascertaining the results of elections.

Prohibiting the taking of fish by use of poisons or explosives.

To create the county of Mills.

To provide for the sale of all lands set apart and surveyed for the benefit of the public schools, the University, and the several asylums, and the lease of such lands and of the public lands of the State, and to prevent the unlawful occupation and inclosure of the same. [A new land law].

Authorizing the formation of corporations to construct, own, and operate deep-water channels and

docks.

To create the counties of Sutton and Schleicher from the county of Crockett.

To create a bureau of agriculture.

To regulate the time and manner of taking and catching fish, oysters, crabs, and shrimp within the bays and tributaries of the State up to tide-water, and

in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

To protect live-stock by offering a bounty for the destruction of wolves, panthers, Mexican lions, tigers, leopards, and wildcats.

Accepting the act of Congress providing for agricultural experiment stations.

Requiring all railroads to furnish reasonable and equal facilities to all express companies.

Requiring foreign corporations to file their articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, and imposing certain conditions on such corporations. To create the counties of Buchel, Foley, and Jeff Davis out of the county of Presidio.

Increasing the penalty for bigamy. Authorizing cities and towns to levy and collect taxes for the construction or purchase of public build

ings, water-works, sewers, streets, and other permanent improvements, and to issue bonds therefor.

Authorizing wills and testaments that have been probated in other States and Territories to be recorded as muniments of title to real property in this

State.

ning of railroad trains by force, threats, or intimidation of any kind. Punishing persons who divulge the secrets of grand juries.

Requiring railroads to furnish a sufficient number of cars for the shipment of freight upon the application of any person therefor.

To create the county of Glascock out of Tom Green County.

Authorizing incorporated cities and towns to hire out their convicts.

Providing a penalty for the attempted consolidation of parallel or competing lines of railroad.

Provision was made for the creation of a commission of appeals, consisting of three persons, to which the Supreme Court might refer cases brought before it. The Governor appointed as members of the commission under this act Walter Acker, W. E. Collard, and Richard Maltby.

For

Three new public institutions were established-a house of correction and reformatory for youthful convicts, to cost $50,000: an asylum for indigent orphans, to cost $7,500; and a deaf, dumb, and blind asylum for colored youth, to cost $50,000. These were in process of construction at the close of the year. the sufferers by the great drouth of 1886 the sum of $100,000 was appropriated, which was distributed among 28,750 persons living in 37 different counties. The school laws were amended so as to create the office of county superintendent of schools, and otherwise to render school management more efficient. A more stringent law for the enforcement of prohibition in places under a prohibitory régime was also adopted.

Finances.-The annual report of the Comptroller for the fiscal year ending August 31 shows that the annual revenue exceeded the expenditures by $325,507.44, leaving a balance of $888,970.44 in the treasury at the close of the period. This balance had increased to $1,210,596 on December 31, and will probably reach $1,500,000 before the meeting of the next Legislature. No change has been made in the bonded debt, which remains at $4,237,730. The school fund and other special funds hold the greater part of this, only $1,245,831 being beyond State and county control.

Education.—According to the school census for the year ending August 31, the total school population was 508,041, an increase of 44,489 over 1886. Of this number 85,484 were in cities and towns having special school districts. There was apportioned out of the school fund during the year $2,326,526.25, or nearly $4.70 for each child of school age. This apportionment being greater than the actual revenues of the school fund during the year, a deficit of $228,000 was found at the end of the period. The State University at the close of the year contained 256 students.

Charities.—There were 155 pupils at the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Austin during the fiscal year, and 131 at its close. The annual expenses were $27,548. The Institution for the Blind at the same place contained over 100