Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission

7

-A REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF IOWA, BASED UPON OBSERVATIONS AND COLLECTIONS MADE DURING

1889, 1890,

AND

^1891.

BY SETH EUGENE MEEK.

INTRODUCTION.

InAugust,1881,Dr.

David

S.Jordan,

now

ofPaloAlto, California,accompanied

by

thewriter,

made

a collection of fishes inthe southern partof

Iowa

intheinterest oftheIT.S.Fish

Commission and

theU.S.National

Museum.

This

was

practically thefirst steptaken toward acomprehensive studyof theichthyological features of Iowa.

The work was

not,however,

resumed

until1889,when, under the direction of theU.S.Fish Commissioner, thewriter

began

an exhaustive examinationofallthe streams

and

lakeswithin the bordersoftheState. Thisinvestigation

was

continued untilJuly, 1891,

and

the present paperisbased

upon

thecollections

and

observations

made

duringthatperiodofabout

two and

a half years.

Intheconductof

my

field

work

I

have

been placedunder

many

obligations toMr.

C.J.Ives,presidentofthe Burlington,

Cedar Rapids and

NorthernRailroad,

and

to Mr.Joseph White, superintendentofthe water supply ofthe

same

corporation, for specialfacilitiesinthe

way

oftransportation

and

for otherfavors,

which have

enabled

me

toextend

my

studies

beyond

thelimitof

means

at

my

disposal. Valuableassist- ancehasbeenreceived from Prof.R. E.Call,of

Des

Moines; from Prof.Osborn,of

Ames, and

fromProf. C. C.Nutting,of

Iowa

City,

who have

alsoobtainedfor

me

the privilegeofexaminingthe collections of fishesbelongingtotherespective institutions withwhich theyare connected. I

am

also greatlyindebtedto Mr.B. F.

Shaw,

for- merlyStatefishcommissioner,

and

toDr.

DavidS.

Jordan andProf. Charles H.Gilbert, the latterespecially for theirkind assistance in regardtotheidentificationofrare anddifficultspecies. Prof.Percy B. Burnett,of Lincoln,Nebraska,

and my

students, Mr.

W.

T.Jackson

and

Mr.E. P.Boynton,

have

renderedefficientservices inconnec- tionwith thefieldexpeditions, the firstmentioned having accompanied

me

during

much

ofthe

summer

of 1890.

Iowa

has a comparativelylevelsurfaceoveritsentireextent,being

nowhere

trav- ersed

by

mountain ranges

and

having nopronounced hillsexceptinthe northeastern part. Inthiscorner oftheStatethehills

and

cliffs sometimesattainanelevation of over300feetabove the generallevelofthesurroundingcountry,but being products

217

218 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH

COMMISSION.

of erosionthey never extendfar

back

from theMississippi River.

The

surface rises gradually,however,from the southern

and

easternborders

toward

thenorthern

and

western,theleastelevationabove theseabeing about 450feet,

and

thegreatestabout 1,500feet.

Iowa

isnear thecenter ofthe best agricultural portionofthe country,

and

thesoil,

which

isfrom1 to2feetthickon the uplands,

becomes

very

much

deeper inthedepressions

and

bottomlands. Thissoilconsists of finely

comminuted

material, generallystrewnwith scatteredbowldersor rock fragments.

Most

ofthe State is

undulatingor rollingprairie.

Rone

ofitssurfaceisheavilytimbered,

and

thegreater partofthe timber land

which

does occurisconfined tothe bordersofthestreams.

The

prairie

was

originallycoveredwith a dense

growth

of prairiegrass

and

her- baceousplants,

which

tended to produce astiffsod.

During heavy

rains this sod absorbed thewater,preventingitsdirectflow intotherivers,

and

itreached thelatter chiefly

by

slowlyfilteringthrough thesoil.

The

streams

were

thusrelievedfromover- flow,

and were

keptfrom drying

up

during thesummers. Ihave been informedthat

many

streams,formerlydeep

and

narrow,

and abounding

in pickerel, bass,

and

cat- fishes,

have

since

grown wide and

shallow,while the

volume

ofwaterin

them

varies greatly inthedifferentseasons,

and

theyare

now

inhabited only

by

bullheads, suck- ers,

and

a few minnows.

The

breakingofthe nativesodforagriculturalpurposes has especially affectedthesmallerstreamsin thisrespect,while theconstruction of ditches

and

thepracticeofunderdraining

have had

theireffects

upon

thelarger ones. More- over the constant looseningofthesoil,infarming,tendstoreduceittothat condition in

which

itisreadilytransported

by

the

heavy

rains toproduce

muddy

currents.

To

thiscause,no doubt,is

due

the presentabsenceof troutfrom

many

ofthestreamsof northeastern

Iowa and

their

marked

decreaseinotherpartsoftheState.

The

rain fallin

Iowa

isnot verygreat and,asitoccurschiefly inthe spring,even the larger rivers

become

reducedin

volume

during theremainderoftheyear

much beyond

the apparent capacityof their basins. Thereare, however,in thenorthern

and

eastern partsofthe State

many

large

and

beautiful springs,

some

of

which

arecapable of maintaining considerable streamsofwater during theentire year. Spring Branch, near Manchester,in

which

trout are

common, and McCloud Run,

near

Cedar

Rapids, are fed

by

springs of this character.

A

hatchery

was

^built,afew yearsago, at the spring givingriseto

McCloud Run, and many

trout

were

hatched

and

plantedthere.

Thisstationhasrecentlybeen abandoned, but a fewtroutarestilltobe foundinthe clear,coldwater.

Iowa

issituated

between two

ofthelargest rivers of the continent,being

bounded

on theeast

by

theMississippi,

and

on thewest,exceptatthenorthwesterncorner,

by

theMissouri. It isdrained

by many

smaller rivers

which empty

into these

main

arteries,forming

two

generalsystems,thewatersof

which

flownearlyatrightangles toeachother.

Those

tributary totheMississippi trend, ina general way,southeasterly

;

and

those tributary to the Missouri,southwesterly.

The

northern

boundary

ofthe Stateliesnear thewatershed

between

thetributariesoftheMinnesota River

and

the streams

which

drain Iowa.

Most

oftheriversof this State, therefore,

have

theirorigin withinitsborders,afew,however,risinginsouthern Minnesota; and, except alimited

number whose

sourcesare inthe southern partoftheState,allterminate withinits limits.

The

affluentsoftheMississippidrain alittle

more

thantwo-thirds ofthe area oftheState;

among them

areitslargest

and most

importantrivers.

REPORT UPON THE PISHES OF

IOWA.

219

Tliestreamsofsouthwestern

Iowa have

usuallyvery

muddy

bottoms, whilethose elsewhere,having stronger currents, are generally characterized

by

sandy,gravelly, orrockybottoms.

The

formeraretheleastadaptedto fish life

and

arenotrich in either species or individuals; with thelatterthecontraryistherule.

Therearewithin thelimitsofthe State a fewlakes ofmoderatesize; these are situatedonornear

some

watershed

and

eachisfed

by

only afew smallstreams.

The

most important are Clear,Storm,Spirit,

and

Okobojis Lakes. Clear

Lake

is very shallow

;

Storm and

Spirit

Lakes

are successively

somewhat

deeper,while Okobojis

is

by

farthedeepestof

them

all.

Allofthe

more

importantrivers

have

oneormore,sometimes

many, dams

across them;

and

few,ifany, oftheseare supplied withfishways.

As

arule,the

dams

are not firmly constructed,

and

every spring

many

are

washed

away, neverto berebuilt.

During the springof1890

much

injury

was

donetothe

dams

inthe northeastern part of the State,

where

thesestructures are

more common

thanelsewhere,butin1891the regionabout

Cherokee

suffered

most

in thisrespect.

At many

places

where dams

existthestreams

widen

outabove them, forming shallowlakes.

These

areascontain

much swamp

vegetation,

and seem

to

have become

fairlystockedwithbass, pickerel, andsunfishes.

The same

fishes, I

am

told,

have

increased in

abundance

in such localitiessincethe

dams

werebuilt.

All ofthestreams

examined by

thewriter,exceptperhapsafewinthe southwestern part oftheState,werewellsupplied withthe smallerfishes.

With

respect,however, tothe

abundance

ofthelargerforms,it

was

oftendifficultto reachsatisfactory con- clusions

by

theuseofthe ordinarycollecting seines. In the

bayous

along thelarger streams

young

blackbass, pickerel,

and

various species ofsunfishes were always foundinlargenumbers. Mi. B.F.

Shaw,

atone timefishcommissionerofIowa, did veryeffective

work

duringhisoccupancyofthatofficeinseiningthefishesoutof

many

ofthese bayous,

where

agreatmortality occurs annually,

and

depositing

them

in the lakes

and

rivers.

He was

thefirsttosuggest

and

putintopractice thisefficient

method

oftransplanting

and

preserving the nativespecies,but the

work was

notcon- tinuedsubsequently,asitshould

have

been.

Much would

be gained

by

againresort- ing to thiseconomical systemofpropagation,theutilityof

which

hasbeensufficiently demonstratedinIllinois

and

other adjacent States.

There

isat present,however, a growinginterest

among

certain

Iowa

sportsmentoorganizeforthepurposeof pre- venting theillegaltakingof

game

ofallkinds

and

of assistingintheprotection

and

increaseofour nativefood-fishes.

As

aresult of observations,it

was

found that thetemperatureofthecoldest springs intheState

was

about 48°F.

; butinfew streams

was

thewater temperature below 60°F. In nearlyallsuchcasesthe range

was

from 70°to75°F.,butitshould betaken into consideration that these observations

were

chiefly confined to the

warmer

months.

220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES

FISH COMMISSION.

In thefollowing reportthe fishes are discussed

m

accordance with eachriver basin.

The

streams

and

lakes

examined were

as follows

:

A.DrainageoftheMississippiRiver.

I.MississippiRiveratMuscatineand Daven- port.

II.Des MoinesRiver: ₍₁₎Themainriver,at DesMoines,Fort Dodge,andEsterville.

(2)RaccoonRiver, at Perry,DesMoines, andAdel. (3)BeaverCreek. (4)Four- mile Creek. (5)WalnutCreek. (6)Mid- dle River. (7)NorthRiver, atDesMoines.

(8)LizardRiver, atFortDodge.

III.SkunkRiver:(1)The mainriver. (2)Squaw Creek. (3)College Creek, atAmes.

IV.IowaRiver, atGarner, Belmond, Amana, andIowaCity.

V.CedarRiver:(1)The mainriver,atAustin (Minn.),Waverly, Palo, Cedar Rapids, MountVernon, and West Liberty. (2) Turtle River. (3) RoseCreek, at Austin, Minn. (4) WestFork. (5) Hartgraves Creek, atDumont. (6)Shellrock Creek, 6milessouthwestofWaverly. (7)Quar- ter SectionRun, 5 miles southeast of Waverly. (8)DryCreek,4)-mileswestof Palo. (9)PrairieCreek, at Beverly. (10) IndianCreek,nearMarion.

VI. ClearLake.

A.Drainageof Mississippi River

—

Cont’d.

.VII.WapsipiniconRiver: (1)Themainriver, at Independence,Anamosa, and Wheatland.

(2)Buffalo River. (3)MinnowCreek, at Anamosa.

VIII. Maquoketa River: (1) North Branch,at Worthington. (2)South Fork,atMan- chesterand Hopkinton. (3)SpringCreek, at Delhi.

IX.TurkeyRiver:(1)The mainriver,atElk- portand FortAtkinson. ₍₂₎VolgaRiver, atFayette. (3)BearCreek, 6 miles north- eastofEdgewood.

X.YellowRiver: (1)The mainriver,about6 miles northeast of Postville. (2)Hickory Creek,about4milesnortheast of Postville.

XI.Upper IowaRiver, atChesterandDecorah.

B.DrainageoftheMissouriRwer.

I.Missouri River, atSiouxCity.

II.Big Sioux River, atSiouxFalls(S.Dak.) and SiouxCity.

III.SilverLake.

IV.SoldierRiver: EastForkof Soldier River, atCharterOak.

V. BoyerRiver, atArionStation.

DRAINAGE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

*

I.—

THE

MISSISSIPPI

RIVER.

Collectionswere

made

in this river at Muscatine

and

Davenport, the former locality affording

by

far the best results. Thereare

many bayous

atMuscatine,and therivertherehasgenerally asandy

bottom and many

islands.

The

bestfish

market

in

Iowa

isalso located inthatcity.

At Davenport

there arefewer bayous,

and

the

bottom

oftheriveris

more muddy and

rocky.

One day was

spentatDavenport,and threedays,at differenttimes, atMuscatine.

Mad Creek

isa smallstream flowing through Muscatine

and emptying

intotheMississippi.

Few

specimenswere observed except nearits mouth.

The

species

enumerated

inthefollowinglistarefrom the riveratMuscatineunlessotherwise expresslystated.

REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF

IOWA.

221

PISHESOFTHEMISSISSIPPIRIVER.

1.Petromyzonconcolor(Kirtland), Brooklamprey

.

Common;parasiticonbuffalo-fishes.

2.Polyodonspathula(Walbaum). Paddle-fisli;Spoon-hill;Duck-hilledcat. Rare

;takenmorefre- quently in theautumnand fromthebayous.

3.Scaphirhynchusplatyrhynchus(Raflnesque). Shovel-nosed sturgeon. Rare;seldomfoundin the market.

4.AcipenserrubicundusLe Sueur. Lakesturgeon. Notcommon;more abundantin the spring.

5.Lepisosteus osseus(Linnaeus). Commongar-pike;Long-nosedgar; Bill-fish.

Common

atboth Muscatine and Davenport.

6.Lepisosteus platystomusRaflnesque. Short-nosedgar. Coalmen.

7.

Amia

calvaLinnaeus. Dogfish;Bow-fin;Mudfish. Common;but seldom taken fromtheriver.

8.Ictalurusfurcatus(Cuv.andVal.). Fork-tailedcat. Rare;not observedbythe writer.

9.Ictaluruspunctatus(Raflnesque). Channelcat;Whitecat;Silver cat.

Common

atboth Muscatine and Davenport,andmanyseen inthemarketsattheformerplace.

10.Ameiurusnigricans (LeSueur). Mississippicatfish. Rare; specimens weighing50poundsare occasionallycaptured.

11.Ameiurus melas(Raflnesque). Bullhead. AbundantatMuscatine;commonatDavenport.

12.Ameiurusnebulosus (LeSueur). Commoncatfish. Abundant.

13.Leptopsolivaris(Raflnesque). Mudcat;Flatheadcat. Common.

14.Noturusgyrinus(Mitchill). Stonecat. Rare.

15.Ictiobus cyprinella^(Cuv.andVal.). Bed-mouthedbuffalo. Common;usuallytaken fromthe bayous.

16.Ictiobus urus(Agassiz). Big-mouthedbuffalo. Common.

17.Ictiobusbubalus(Raflnesque). Small-mouthedbuffalo. Common.

18.Carpiodesvelifer(Raflnesque). Quillback;Carpsucker. Very abundantatMuscatine;common atDavenport.

19.Cycleptus elongatus (LeSueur). Blackhorse. Notcommon.

20.Catostomusteres (Mitchill). Commonsucker. Abundant.

21.Minytrema melanops(Raflnesque). Stripedsucker. Rare; taken fromthe bayous.

22.

Moxostoma

duquesnei (LeSueur). Commonredhorse. Common.

23.Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz. Silveryminnow.

Common

alongshore and at Davenport;

abundantatmouthof

Mad

Creek.

24.Pimephales notatus(Raflnesque). Blunt-nosedminnow. Common.

25.Cliola vigilax (Bairdand Girard). Silver-fin. Rareatthemouthof

Mad

Creek;commonat Davenport.

26.Notropis deliciosus(Girard). Rare;takenatmouthof

Mad

Creek.

27.NotropisgilbertiJordanand Meek.

Common

atmouthof

Mad

Creek.

28.Notropis whipplei(Girard). Rare.

29.Notropis jejunus(Forbes).

Common

atDavenport.

30.Notropisdilectus (Girard). Emerald minnow.

Common

atmouthof

Mad

Creek;notcommonat Davenport.

31.Hybopsisstorerianus(Kirtland). Spawn-eater.

Common

atmouthof

Mad

Creek;rare atDaven- port.

32.Semotilus atromaculatus(Mitchill). Horneddace. Rare.

33.Notemigonuschrysoleucus(Mitchill). Roach; Goldenshiner; Bream. Rare; takeninbayous andatDavenport.

34.Clupea chrysochlorisRaflnesque. Golden shad; Skipjack.

Common

atMuscatineand Davenport.

35.Dorosoma cepedianum(LeSueur). Gizzard shad;Hickory shad;

Mud

shad. Common,especially inthemuddybayousandatDavenport.

36.Salvelinusfontinalis (Mitchill). Brooktrout. On

May

14, 1889,aspecimenwas taken from

Mad

Creek, atMuscatine,Iowa;itispreservedintheMuscatineAcademyof Sciences;it was no doubta stragglerfromsomeofthe springbrooksfarther north.

37.Lucius vermiculatus (LeSueur). Little pickerel.

Common

ingrassy bayous,

222 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH

COMMISSION.

38.Lucius lucius(Linnaeus). Pike;Northernpickerel. Verycommon,especially in the large grassy bayous.

39.Luciusmasquinongy(Mitchill). Muskellunge. Rare.

40.AnguillachrysypaRafinesque. Eel. Rare;no specimens were observedbythe writer.

41.Labidesthes sicculusCope. Brooksilverside.

Common

atmouthof

Mad

Creek;rare atDaven- port.

42.Pomoxissparoides(Laedp&de). Calico bass;Grass bass;Strawberrybass. Abundant,especially ingrassybayous.

43.PomoxisannularisRafinesque. Crappie; Bachelor.

Common

;found withthe preceding,butin lessnumbers

;notcommonatDavenport.

44.Ambloplitesrupestris (Rafinesque). Bockbass_;Red-eye; Goggle-eye. Very common.

45.Chasnobryttus gulosus(Cuv.andYal.). War-mouth;Bed-eyed bream. Verycommon,especially in thebayous;commonatDavenport.

46.Lepomiscyanellus(Rafinesque). Grreen sunfisli. Very abundant at Muscatine; common at Davenport.

47.Lepomishumilis(Girard). Bed-spottedsunfish.

Common

atDavenport.

48.Lepomispallidus(Mitchill). Bluesunfish. Abundant;commonatDavenport.

49.Lepomismegalotis(Rafinesque). Long-earedsunfish. Common.

50.Lepomisgibbosus(Linnaeus). Commonsunfish. Verycommon.

51.MicropterusdolomieuLacApede. Small-mouthed blackbass. AbundantatMuscatine;notcom-

mon

atDavenport.

52.Micropterus salmoides (LacApede). Large-mouthed black bass. Abundant;smallspecimens foundinbayous ontheIllinoissideof the river atMuscatine; notcommonatDavenport.

53.Etheostomapellucidumclarum(Jordanand Meek). Sanddarter. RareatDavenport.

54.Etheostoma shumardi(Girard).

A

few specimens taken fromtheriver.

55.Etheostoma phoxocephalumNelson. Rare.

56.Pereaflavescens (Mitchill). Yellow perch. Verycommon.

57.Stizostedion vitreum(Mitchill). Wall eyed pike;Jacksalmon. Verycommon.

58.Stizostedioncanadense(C.H.Smith). Sanger;Sandpike. Lesscommonthanthe preceding.

59.RoccuschrysopsRafinesque. Whitebass.

Common

atboth MuscatineandDavenport.

60.MoroneinterruptaGill. Yelloiv bass. Notcommon.

61.Aplodinotus grunniensRafinesque. Fresh-ioaterdrum; White perch.

Common

atMuscatine and Davenport.

62. Lotalotamaculosa(LeSueur). Burbot;Lakelawyer. Notcommon.

II.—

THE DES MOINES RIVER AND

ITS

TRIBUTARIES.

Thisisthelargest riverbasin within theState,occupying alargepartofitscen- tralarea.

The main

river

was

visited at Estherville,Fort

Dodge, and Des

Moines.

At

Esthervilleitis little

more

than a smallcreek,with

sandy

orgravellybottom and

much

vegetation.

At

Fort

Dodge

theriver islarge,butitsphysicalcharacteristics areabout the

same

as at Estherville.

At Des Moines

the

bottom

issandy,withcon- siderable

mud and

but fewrocks.

Lizard Creek, near Fort

Dodge,

isa small stream with veryrocky bottom. Its currentisnotswift

and

it

becomes

nearlydry during the

summer. The Eaccoon

Biverisalargewestern tributaryofthe

Des

Moines.

At

Perryit hasa

sandy

bot-

tom

withlittle

mud and

rocks,whileat

Des Moines

itscharacteristicsareaboutthe same, butit islarger.

Beaver and W

alnut creeks,near

Des

Moines,aresmallstreams, with

muddy and

sandy bottoms,

which become

nearlydry during the

summer. The

otherstreams near

Des Moines

mentionedin thispaper

were

notvisited

by

thewriter.

The

specimens

examined

from

them were

collected

by

Prof.Call,of

Des

Moines, and aremostlyinthe

Des Moines High

School. In thefollowing listall citations of the

Eaccoon

Biverreferonlytothatriverat

Des

Moines.

REPORT UPON THE

FISHES

OF

IOWA.

223

FISHESOFTHEDES MOINES RIVERANDITSTRIBUTARIES.

1.Petromyzonconcolor(Kirtland). Brooklamprey. DesMoines,rare. Infraoralcusps 9 or10.

2.Lepisosteus osseus (Linnmus). Commongar-pike; Long-nosed gar; Bill-fish. RaccoonRiver, Des Moines;Adel.

3.Ictalurus punctatus (Ralinesque). Channeloat; Whitecat; Silver cat. Des Moines (Raccoon River),common;MiddleRiver;Adel; FortDodge, abundant; LizardCreek,common;

Perry,common;DesMoines, rare;NorthRiver,WalnutCreek,BeaverCreek, rare.

4.Ameiurusmelas(Ralinesque). Bullhead. Des Moines (RaccoonRiver), abundantinbayous;

FortDodge, notcommon;WalnutCreek, Estherville, Perry,NorthRiver, Adel,Walnutand Beavercreeks,rare.

5.Noturusexilis Nelson. Stonecat. Perry,rare.

6.Noturusgyrinus(Mitchill). Stonecat. Esthervilleand RaccoonRiver,Fort Dodge, and Des Moines,rare.

7.Carpiodesvelifer(Ralinesque). Qaillback; Carp-sucker. LizardCreek,veryabundant; Des Moines (RaccoonRiver) andPerry, abundant; Des Moinesand Fort Dodge, common;

Beaver andWalnutcreeks,rare;Adel,Middle River andNorthRiver.

8.

Moxostoma

anisurum(LeSueur). LizardCreekand Fort Dodge, not common.

9.

Moxostoma

duquesnei (LeSueur), liedhorse. LizardCreekandPerry,abundant;Des Moines (RaccoonRiver),DesMoines, Estherville,FortDodge,common;BeaverCreek, rare

;Mid-

dle River, Adel.

10.PlacopharynxcarinatusCope. Big-jawedsucker. Perryand RaccoonRiver,common;Adel.

11.Catostomusteres (Mitchill). Commonsucker. DesMoines, RaccoonRiver,Fort Dodge,and Estherville,common; WalnutCreek,BeaverCreek,LizardCreek,andPerry, rare;Middle River, Adel,NorthRiver.

12.CatostomusnigricansLeSueur. Hogsucker; Stone-roller;Hogmullet. Perry,abundant; Fort Dodge,common;BeaverCreek,DesMoines,andRaccoonRiver, rare; Adel,MiddleRiver.

13.Campostoma

anomalum

(Rafinesque). Stone-lugger;Stone-roller. Raccoon River and Lizard Creek,notcommon;BeaverandWalnutcreeks,DesMoines,Fort Dodge,andPerry, rare;

Four-mileCreek, Adel,NorthRiver,MiddleRiver.

14.ChrosomuserythrogasterRafinesque. Red-belliedminnow. WalnutCreek,rare.

15.HybognathusnuchalisAgassiz. Silveryminnow. Raccoon River andPerry,abundant;Beaver Creek,WalnutCreek,DesMoines,and Fort Dodge,common;LizardCreek, Adel.

16.Hybognathusnuchalisplacita (Girard). Silveryminnow. Adel;RaccoonRiver,rare. Mouth muchsmallerthanin previousform;headalsonarrower.

17.Pimephales promelasRafinesque. Fat-head. BeaverCreek,abundant; RaccoonRiver,Walnut Creek,DesMoines,LizardCreek,FortDodge,andPerry, rare;Four-mileCreek,North River, Adel.

18.Pimephalesnotatus(Rafinesque). Blunt-nosedminnow

.

Beaver Creekand Fort Dodge, abun- dant;DesMoines, Estherville,andPerry,common;Raccoon River and LizardCreek, rare

;

WalnutCreek, Adel,MiddleRiver,Four-mileCreek,NorthRiver.

19.Cliolavigilax (BairdandGirard). Silver-fin. WalnutCreekand DesMoines,common;Perry, notcommon;RaccoonRiver,BeaverCreek,andEstherville, rare

;MiddleRiver, Adel.

20.Notropisheterodon(Cope). Estherville,not common.

21.NotropiscayugaMeek. Estherville,common; BeaverCreekand LizardCreek, rare

;Adel.

22.Notropisdeliciosus (Girard). Raccoon River and BeaverCreek,abundant;WalnutCreek and Estherville,common;DesMoines,LizardCreek,and Perryrare;Fort Dodge, notcommon;

MiddleRiver,Adel,Four-mileCreek.

23.Notropis topekaGilbert. BeaverCreek, Estherville,and LizardCreek,rare.

24.NotropisgilbertiJordan and Meek. Raccoon River and BeaverCreek, abundant; Walnut Creek,DesMoines,LizardCreek, FortDodge,andPerry,common;MiddleRiver, Adel, Four-mile Creek,NorthRiver.

25.Notropislutrensis(BairdandGirard).

26.Notropis whipplei(Girard). Estherville, LizardCreek,and Fort Dodge, abundant; Raccoon River,BeaverandWalnutcreeks,DesMoines, andPerry, common;MiddleRiver, Adel, NorthRiver,YaderRiver,

224 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES

FISH COMMISSION.

27.Notropismegalops(Rafinesque). Shiner. Beaver andWalnutcreeks,LizardCreek,andPerry, abundant;DesMoines,RaccoonRiver, Estherville,and Fort Dodge,common;Four-mile Creek, Adel,NorthRiver,MiddleRiver.

28.Notropis ardens(Cope).Redjin. Fort Dodge, notcommon;Beaver Creek(scales55),DesMoines, RaccoonRiver,Perry,WalnutCreek, rare; Adel,MiddleRiver,NorthRiver.

29.Notropis dilectus(Girard). Emerald minnow. DesMoines,FortDodge,common;LizardCreek, notcommon;BeaverCreek, Estherville, Perry,WalnutCreek,RaccoonRiver, rare;North River,Adel.

30.Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard). DesMoines,common; RaccoonRiver,Walnutand Beaver creeks, Perry, rare;MiddleRiver,NorthRiver,Four-mileCreek.

31.Rhinichthys atronasus(Mitchill). Black-noseddace. Lizard Creek,FortDodge,Walnutand Beavercreeks,rare.

32.Hybopsis storerianus (Kirtland). Spawn-eater. RaccoonRiver, common; Des Moines and Perry, rare;MiddleRiver,Adel,WalnutCreek.

33.Hybopsiskentuckiensis(Rafinesque). Hornyhead. Estherville,abundant;Walnutand Beaver creeks,RaccoonRiver,DesMoines,and Fort Dodge,common; LizardCreek, notcommon;

Perry, rare; Adel,NorthRiver.

34.Semotilus atromaculatus(Mitchill). Horneddace. RaccoonRiver,common;Beaverand Wal- nutcreeks,DesMoines, Estherville,andPerry, rare; Adel,LizardCreek,NorthRiver.

35.Notemigonuschrysoleucus(Mitchill). Goldenshiner; Bream; Roach. Estherville,common;

Des Moines (RaccoonRiver),Perry,BeaverCreek,rare.

36.Funduluszebrinus Jordan andGilbert. FortDodge,rare.

37.Zygonectesnotatus(Rafinesque). Top-minnow. RaccoonRiver,rare.

38.Lucius vermiculatus (LeSueur). Littlepickerel. BeaverCreek,YaderCreek.

39.Lucius lucius(Linnaeus). Pike;Northernpickerel. FortDodge,common;Perry, rare;Raccoon River, Adel,DesMoines.

40.AnguillachrysypaRafinesque. Commoneel. Raccoon Riverand DesMoines,rare,occasion- allytaken with hook andline;Adel.

41.Labidesthes sicculusCope. Brooksilver side. Adel; FortDodgeand RaccoonRiver,rare.

42.PomoxisannularisRafinesque. Crappie;Bachelor. RaccoonRiver, commoninbayou;Middle River.

43.Ambloplitesrupestris (Rafinesque). Rockbass; Red-eye; Goggle-eye. Fort Dodge, abundant;

Estherville,common;RaccoonRiver,notcommon;Lizard CreekandPerry, rare; Adel.

44.Lepomiscyanellus(Rafinesque). Greens unfish. BeaverCreek,abundant;Perry,abundantin smallbayou; RaccoonRiver, commoninbayou;Des Moines and Fort Dodge, common;

Estherville, rare; NorthRiver,MiddleRiver,WalnutCreek, Adel.

45.Lepomishumilis(Girard). Red-spottedswnfisli. RaccoonRiver, abundantinbayou; Perry, abundant; Fort Dodge,common;MiddleRiver,DesMoines,BeaverCreek,WalnutCreek, NorthRiver, Adel.

46.Lepomispallidus(Mitchill). Bluesunfish. DesMoines,uncommon;RaccoonRiver, rare; Adel.

47.Lepomismegalotis(Rafinesque). Long-earedsunfish. Estherville,common;RaccoonRiver, rare;

BeaverCreek.

48.MicropterusdolomieuLacepbde. Small-mouthedblackbass. Fort Dodge,common;Des Moines and RaccoonRiver,notcommon;LizardCreek, Perry,BeaverCreek,andEstherville, rare;

Adel,MiddleRiver.

49.Micropterus salmoides(Lacdpede). Large-mouthed black bass. RaccoonRiver, commonin bayou;Perry,rare

;BeaverCreek, Adel,DesMoines.

50.Etheostomapellucidumclarum(Jordan and Meek). Sanddarter. RaccoonRiver,Fort Dodge, andPerry, rare;Adel.

51.Etheostoma nigrum(Rafinesque). Johnnydarter. BeaverandWalnutcreeks,RaccoonRiver, DesMoines,and Fort Dodge,common;Perry,notcommon;LizardCreek, rare

;NorthRiver, Adel.

52.Etheostomacaprodes(Rafinesque). Logperch. Estherville,common;FortDodge,rare;Des Moines.

REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF

IOWA.

225

53.Etheostomaaspro (CopeandJordan). Black-aideddarter. Estherville, common;DosMoiues, LizardCreek,FortDodge, andPerry, rare;BeaverCreek,NorthRiver, Adel.

54.EtheostomaphoxocephalumNelson. EsthervilleandPerry,rare.

55.Etheostomazonale(Cope). BeaverCreek, Estherville,and Fort Dodge,common.

56.Etheostomaflabellare Rafinesque. FortDodge, notcommon;BeaverCreek, Estherville,and Perry, rare;RaccoonRiver.

57.Etheostomajessiae(JordanandBrayton). BeaverCreek.

58.Etheostomaiowae Jordan and Meek. FortDodgeandPerry,rare.

59.Perea flavescens(Mitchill). Yellow perch. EsthervilleandPerry,rare.

III.—

THE SKUNK RIVER.

The Skunk

Riverdrains a

narrow

basinbetween the

Iowa and Des

Moinesrivers.

At Ames

itisnot large, has a

sandy

bottom,

and

flows with considerable current.

Collections were

made

intheriver

and

in a smallbayou.

Squaw

Creekissmaller than

Skuuk

River,

and

inthe

summer

thewateris confined toafewholes. InOcto- ber,1889, these holescontained

many

pickerel, bass,suckers,

and

buffalo-fishes.

The

following

September

I collected again inthe

same

holes,butfound very fewfishes

compared

with the previousyear.

FISHES OF THE SKUNK RIVER.

1.Ammocoetesbranchialis(Linnseus).

Mud

lamprey.

A

larvalspecimenfromthis riverispre- served in theIowaAgricultural CollegeMuseum.

2.lotalurus punctatus(Rafinesque). Channelcat; Whitecat;Silver cat. SkunkRiver,common.

3.Ameiurusnebulosus (LeSueur). Commonbullhead; Hornedpout.

Two

specimensintheIowa AgriculturalCollegeMuseumhavethe anal rays23.

4.Ameiurusmelas(Rafinesque). Bullhead. SkunkRiver,abundantinthebayou;SquawCreek, abundant.

5.NoturusexilisNelson. Stonecat. Analrays,16.

A

few specimensarepreserved intheIowa Agricultural CollegeMuseum.

6.Noturusgyrinus(Mitchill). Stonecat. SkunkRiver,rare,anal rays 13 or 14;SquawCreek,rare.

7.Ictiobus cyprinella(Cuv.andVal.). Bed-mouthedbuffalo. SquawCreek;abundantin1889,hut none takenthe following year.

8. Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque). Quillbaek; Carp sucker. Skunk Riverand Squaw Creek, common.

9. Catostomusteres(Mitchill). Commonsucker. Squaw('reek,abundant;SkunkRiver,common.

10.CatostomusnigricansLeSueur. Hogsucker;Stoneroller;Hogmullet. SkunkRiver,common;

SquawCreek,rare.

11.Minytrema melanops(Jordan). Stripedsucker. SquawCreek,rare.

12.

Moxostoma

duquesnei (LeSueur). Commonredhorse;Mullet. SquawCreek,abundant;Skunk River,notcommon.

13.Moxostoma,sp. SquawCreek,rare. Seales, 41; dorsal rays, 15;baseofdorsal,4£in body;head, 4;depth, 3£; eye, 4&;caudallobesequal

;body very deep; backmucharched. Thesespeci- mens resemble thepreceding,butthehackismuchmore arched andthebodymuchdeeper.

14.

Moxostoma

aureolum(LeSueur). SkunkRiver, rare;head verysmall

15.Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque). Stone-lugger; Stone-roller. Skunk River and Squaw Creek,common.

16. Chrosom serythrogasterRafinesque. Bed-belliedminnow. Smallbrook,nearAmes, Iowa, on theUniversitycampus;sixspecimens.

17.HybognathusnuchalisAgassiz. Silveryminnow. SquawCreek,common:SkunkRiver,rare, F. C. B.1890—15

226 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH

COMMISSION.

18.Pimephalesnotatus(Rafinesque). Blunt-nosedminnow

.

SkunkRiver,notcommon;SquawCreek abundant.

19. PimephalespromelasRafinesque. Fat-liead. SkunkRiver,commoninbayou;SquawCreek, notcommon.

20.Cliola vigilax (BairdandGirard). Silver-fin. SkunkRiver,common.

21 NotropisheterodonCope. SkunkRiver,notcommon;found withthe followingspecies.

22.NotropiscayugaMeek. SkunkRiver,very abundantinasmallbayou;SquawCreek,common.

23.Notropis deliciosus(Girard). SquawCreekandSkunkRiver,rare.

24. Notropisgilbert!Jordanand Meek. SkunkRiverandSquawCreek,common.

25.Notropis whipplei(Girard). SkunkRiverandSquawCreek,common.

26.Notropismegalops(Rafinesque). Shiner. SquawCreekandSkunkRiver,common.

27.Notropis ardens(Cope). SkunkRiver,rare,scales 55;SquawCreek,rare,scales44 to 50; lateral linenot completeinsome specimens;anal rays, 10 to12.

28.Notropis dilectus(Girard). Emerald minnow. SkunkRiver,abundant;SquawCreek,rare.

29.Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). Hornyhead; River chub; Jerker. Skunk River and SquawCreek,common.

30.Semotilus atromaculatus(Mitehill). Horneddace; Creek chub. CollegeCreek,Ames, common.

31.Notemigonuschrysoleucus (Mitehill). Goldenshiner;Bream. Skunk River, commoniuthe bayou;SquawCreek,common.

32.Phenacobiusmirabilis (Girard). SkunkRiver, notcommon;SquawCreek,rare.

33.Zygonectesnotatus(Rafinesque). Top-minnow. SkunkRiverandSquawCreek,rare.

34.Lucius lucius(Linnseus). Pike;Northernpickerel. SeveralspecimensfromtheSkunkRiverare containedin theAmes Museum.

35.Luciusmasquinongy(Mitehill). Muskellunge. SkunkRiver, rare. Ihaveexaminedthehead of a largespecimen which weighed35^pounds. Itwastaken fromSkunkRiver, justbelow themouthofSquawCreek. Fishermenreportthat severalwere capturedatthesameplace afewyears ago.

36. Labidesthes sicculusCope. Brooksilverside. SkunkRiverandSquawCreek,rare.

37.Pomoxissparoides(Lac6phde). Calico bass;Grassbass;Strawberrybass. SkunkRiver, not commbn.

38.Ambloplitesrupestris (Rafinesque). Rock bass;Red-eye;Goggle-eye. Ames, rare. Contained intheIowaAgricultural CollegeMuseum.

39.Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque). Greensunfish. SkunkRiver, abundant; Squaw Creek, common.

40.Lepomishumilis(Girard). Red-spotledsunfish. SkunkRiver,notcommon.

41.Lepomispallidus(Mitehill). Bluesunfish. SquawCreek,rare.

42.Microuterus salmoides(Lac^phde). Large-mouthedblackbass. SkunkRiver,abundant, mostly youngfrom the bayou;SquawCreek,common.

43.MicropterusdolomieuLac6p5de. Small-mouthed blackbass. SquawCreek andSkunkRiver?

notcommon.

44.Etheostoma nigrumRafinesque. Johnnydarter. SquawCreek, common; SkunkRiver, rare.

45.Etheostomaaspro (Cope andJordan). Black-sideddarter. SkunkRiver,rare. Lateralline, 70; cheeks andopercles scaly; breastnaked;head,_4;depth,_6;anal rays,11-9. Squaw Creek, scarce.

46.Etheostomazonale(Cope). SkunkRiver, rare. Scales, 50; dorsal, XI-12;anal rays, 11-7;

cheeks, opercles,andbreastscaly,the latternaked nearisthmus.

47.Etheostomajessiae(Jordan andBrayton). SquawCreek,rare. Scales, 48;cheeksscaled;

breastnaked

;dorsal rays,XIorXII-14.

48.Etheostoma^{coeruleumStorer.} SkunkRiverandSquawCreek,rare.

49.Etheostomaiowae Jordan and Meek. SkunkRiver,commonin thebayou. Sideswith 10or 11 reddishspots,interspersedwith darker bandsofaboutthesamesize. The2d,3d, 4th, and 5th extend onsidesunderpectoralfins. Dorsalwithanarrow, dark margin, abouthalf of thefin

;belowthiswitharedband belowadarkerband

;soft dorsal, caudal,andpectorals irregularlybarred with yellow anddarker; anal nearly plain. Insome(female)specimens the redspotsonthe sideswereabsent, otherwiseallwerealikeincolor. Scales, 56;dorsal rays,YHI-IX,10 or 11;A., 2-7.

REPOET UPON THE FISHES OF

IOWA.

227

IV.—

THE IOWA RIVER.

The Iowa

Eiverrises inthenorth-centralpartoftheState.

The

country nearits source is a slightlyundulatingprairie,

becoming more and more

broken towardits mouth.

The

river

was

visited atGarner,Belmond,

Amana, and Iowa

City.

At

Gar- nerthewater

was

confined toafewholes,ratherdistantfrom oneanother, in

which

grass

was

so

abundant

thatit

was

quiteimpossibletoseine.

We

succeeded,however, intaking a few bullheads(A.melas)

and

the

mud minnow

₍U.limi).

The

greatscarcity ofwater

was due

toaprolonged seasonofdry weather,

and was

an unusualoccur- rence.

The

streamat thispoint

was

notbordered

by

timber.

At Belmond

theriverisfrom 20 to40feetwide.

A dam

at thisplacebacks the waterfor

some

distanceabove.

We

collectedbelow thedam,

where

the

bottom was

gravelly

and

sandy. Thereis

much

vegetationintheriverashort distancebelow the

dam and

a

weak growth

oftimber alongitsbanks.

The

water

was

clear,the current rather slack,

and

theriverunusuallyslow.

When

the mill

was

in operation there was butlittlewater flowing over the

dam.

Pickerel

seemed

quite plentiful inthe grass,but only a few were caughtinournets. Smallfishes

were

abundant,especially justbelow the dam.

The

temperature on July 29

was

73° F.

At Amana

the riveris

much

larger than at

Belmond.

Aquatic vegetationis veryscarce

and

the

bottom

sandy. Thereis not

much

timber along the banks.

A

smallcreek emptiesintotheriver at this point,

and when we

were there the waterin thecreek

was

confined toa fewholes.

From

these holes large pickerel

were

taken,

and

also

many

crappies,P.annularis

and

P. sparoides.

At

the

mouth

of the creek thewater

was

from 4 to7 feet deep,

and

the

bottom muddy. The

examinationat

Amana was made September

11.

The

temperatureisabout the

same

asinthe

Cedar

RiveratWaverly.

At Iowa

City theriver has about the

same

characteristicsas at

Amana.

Itis

somewhat

larger

and

deeper,

and

in

some

placesisbordered

by

ratherlowcliffs. There

is also

more

timber along its borders.

A

small creek with a very

muddy

bottom nearits

mouth

flows into therivernear

Iowa

City. Collections

were made

inthe river

and

inthe creek

by

Prof. C. C.Nutting

and

thewriter inOctober,1889. I

was

informed

by

a fishermanthat in former years the largercatfishes,pickerel, buffalo, and basswere very

common

in theriver,

and

that fishing forthe

markets

inthe spring

was

thenquite lucrative. Theselarger fishes arestilltaken,butin

much

less numbers.

Through

thekindnessof Prof.NuttingI

have

beenable to

examine

thecollection offishesfromthe

Iowa

River in the

museum

ofthe

Iowa

StateUniversity,

and

the additional factsgained thereby

have

beenutilizedinthepreparation ofthefollowing list.

228 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES

FISH COMMISSION.

FISHESOFTHE IOWA RIVER.

1.Ammoccetes branchialis(Linnaeus).

Mud

lamprey.

A

few specimensare containedinthe Museumof theIowaState University.

2.Petromyzonconcolor(Kirtland). Brooklamprey.

A

few specimensinthemuseumof theIowa State University.

3.

Amia

calvaLinnaeus. Dogfish;Bow-fin; Mudfish. Iowa City and Amana, not common.

4.Lepisosteus osseus(Linnaeus). Commongar-pike;Long-nosed gar;Bill-fish. IowaCity; said to hequitecommoninthe spring. Thespecimensexaminedare in themuseumof theIowa StateUniversity.

5.Polyodonspathula (Walbaum). Paddle-fish; Spoon-Mil; Duck-hilledvat. Thespecimens examined areinthemuseumoftheIowaState University. Said tohave beenfrequentlytakenin pre- vious years.

6.Ictaluruspunctatus(Eafinesque). Channelcat; Whitecat;Silvercat. Small specimens were obtainedinconsiderablenumbersatAmanaandIowaCity. Larger specimensare said to bemorerarethanformerly.

7.Ameiurus melas(Eafinesque). Bullhead. Garnerand Belmond, commou.

8.Noturusgyrinus (Mitchill). Stonecat. Belmond and Amana, rare. Allthespecimens taken weresmall.

9. Carpiodesvelifer(Eafinesque). Quillback; Carpsucker. IowaCityandAmana,veryabundant inbayousatthe side of theriver. Thespecimensexhibit considerable variations. Insome thefirstdorsalrays areprolongedtonearthecaudalfin,whilein others these rays scarcely reach themiddleof the dorsalfin. Somearedeeperthanothers,andin alltheprofile is quitetrenchant.

10.Catostomusteres (Mitchill). Commonsucker. Belmond,Amana, andIowaCity,notcommon.

11.Catostomusnigricans (LeSueur). Sogsucker;Stone-roller;Hogmullet. Belmond, abundant justbelow the dam.

12.

Moxostoma

duquesneiLeSueur. Commonredhorse;“Mullet.” BelmondandIowaCity,com- mon; Amana,rare.

13. Minytrema melanops(Eafinesque). Stripedsucker. Onespecimen wasobtainedatAmana.

Thisspeciesseemsrare inIowa,andIhave takenitinonlythreelocalities.

14.

Campostoma anomalum

(Eafinesque). Stone-lugger_; Stone-roller. Iowa City andAmana,rare

;

Belmond,common. Scales,44 to48.

15. ChrosomuserythrogasterEafinesque. Bed-belliedminnow. Belmond, abundant.

16.Hybognathusnuclialis Agassiz. Silveryminnow. Amana,rare.

17.Hybognathusnubila(Forbes). Belmond, abundant.

18.Pimephalesnotatus(Eafinesque). Blunt-nosedminnow. Amana,verycommon; IowaCityand Belmond,rare.

19.Cliola vigilax (BairdandGirard). Silver-fin. IowaCity,rare.

20.Notropis heterodon(Cope). Bare.

21.NotropiscayugaMeek. Belmond,common;thespecimenstakenat this place agreewiththose fromtheCedar BasinandelsewhereintheState.

22.Notropis deliciosus(Girard). IowaCityand Amana,notcommon.

23.NotropistopekaGilbert. Amana,rare.

24.NotropisgilbertiJordan and Meek. IowaCityand Belmond, abundant;Amana,rare.

25.Notropis whipplei(Girard). Amana, verycommon; IowaCity,notcommon.

26.Notropismegalops(Eafinesque). Shiner. BelmondandIowaCity,verycommon;scalesbefore thedorsalfin,small.

27.Notropis ardens (Cope). Bedfin. Belmond,rare. Scales, 43; anal rays, 11; color,darkblue;

darkspot atthebaseoffirstdorsalrayprominent;baseoffirstdorsalraymidwaybetween the nostriland baseofcaudalfin.

U

REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF

IOWA. 2211 28.Notropisdilectus (Girard). Emerald minnow. Amana,veryrare. Baseoffirstdorsalraymid- waybetweeneyeand baseofcaudalfin;thediameterof the eye equals that of the snout,

3-J-inhead;about20 scalesbefore dorsalfin.

29.Notropis atherinoides(Rafinesque). Rosy minnow. IowaCity,common. Thespecimensfrom IowaCityaremuchlargerthanthepreceding;length, 3£ inches. Color,light olivaceous, witha bright, silvery luster

;head, 44 to4fⁱⁿlengthofbody;depth,51-;diameterofeye greaterthanthelength of the snout, 3 in thehead;snout, 3f inhead;anal rays, 10; scales inthe lateralline,40;dorsalfinbehindventrals;base ofits firstraymidwaybetweennos- trilsor front of orbitand baseofcaudalfin. These specimens agreeverywellwith N.

atherinoidesfrom OhioandIndiana,andare alsoverysimilar tothe preceding.

30.Phenacobiusmirabilis (Girard). AmanaandIowaCity,rare.

31.Hybopsisstorerianus(Kirtland). Spawn-eater. AmanaandIowaCity,common.

32.Hybopsiskentuckiensis(Rafinesque). Hornyhead. BelmondandIowaCity,common;scales, 43.

33.Couesiusdissimilis (Girard). Belmond,twospecimens, 2£ inches in length. Bodyelongate, notmuchcompressed;snout pointed;mouthterminal,oblique

;maxillary,reachingnearly tofront of pupil

;diameterofeye equalslengthof snout, 34 inhead;baseoffirstdorsalray midwaybetweenbase ofcaudalfinandnostril

;scales,small before dorsal,about60 inthe lateralline;breast scaly; teeth,_1,5-5,_1,hooked and without grindingsurface. Color,dark olivaceous,adarklateralband bounded belowbythedecurvedlateral line

;a lighterand narrowerband aboveitfrom upperpart of orbit to thecaudalfin;fins alldusky. This speciesseems veryrare inIowa. Itwastakenamongweeds.

34.FunduluszebrinusJordanandGilbert. Belmond,rare.

35. Zygonectes notatus(Rafinesque). Top-minnow. IowaCity,rare.

36.

Umbra

limi (Kirtland). Mud-minnow;Dogfish. Garner.

A

few specimens were taken from one ofthe isolated holes in theIowaRiver.

37.Lucius lucius(Linnaeus). Pike; Northernpickerel. Belmondand Amana, common.

38.Anguillachrysypa(Rafinesque). Commoneel. OnespecimenintheIowaStateUniversity Museum wasobtainedfromtheIowaRiver. Thespeciesisveryrare inIowa.

39.Pomoxissparoides(Lacepede). Calicobass; Crass bass;Strawberrybass. Amana, common;

IowaCity,rare.

40.PomoxisannularisRafinesque. Crappie; Bachelor. Amana;morecommonthanthepreceding species.

41. Chaenobryttus gulosus(Cuv.andVal.). War-mouth;Red-eyed bream. Amana,rare.

42.LepomiscyanellusRafinesque. Greensunfish. Belmond,common; IowaCity,notcommon.

43.LepomispallidusMitchill. Bluesunfish. AmanaandIowaCity,common.

44.Lepomismegalotis(Rafinesque). Long-earedsunfish. Belmond,common.

45.Lepomisholbrooki(Cuv.andVal.). Amana, not common. Opercularflapwitharedspot,but withoutared margin.

46.Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Large-mouthed blackbass. IowaCity,notcommon;most ofthespecimenswere taken fromthe creeknearitsmouth.

47.Etheostoma nigrumRafinesque. Johnnydarter. Belmond, abundant;IowaCity,commonin the creek;Amana,rare.

48.Etheostomaflabellare Rafinesque. BelmondandIowaCity, rare; stripeson bothsidesvery prominent.

49.Etheostomaaspro (Cope andJordan). Black-sideddarter. Belmondand IowaCity,rare.

50.Etheostomaiowse Jordanand Meek. Notcommon.

51.Perea flavescensMitchill. Yelloieperch. Belmond,common.

52.Stizostedionvitreum(Mitchill). Wall-eyed pike;Jacksalmon. IowaStateUniversityMuseum.

230 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES

FISH

COMMISSION.

V.-THE CEDAR RIVER AND

ITS

TRIBUTARIES.

The Cedar

River basin properly forms a partofthe

Iowa

Riverbasin,but

owing

to thefactthatabove the junctionofthe

two

riversthe

Cedar

Riveris

much

thelarger stream,itseems besttotreatthelatterseparately.

The Cedar

isthesecondlargest river inthe State

and

oneofthe

most

picturesque.

Together withits northerntributariesit risesin southern Minnesota. Its general courseissoutheastas far as

Moscow,

about15milesfrom theMississippi River,

where

itturnsalmost at rightangles and, flowing southwest only about 30miles,empties intothe

Iowa

River.

The

currentofthe

Cedar

Riveris swifterthan thatof either the

Des Moines

orthe Iowa. Its

bottom

forthe

most

partissandy,especiallyabove

Moscow,

butthere are occasional stretches of

mud and some

rockypatches.

The Cedar

basinisan undulatingprairie,with considerable timber along both the

main

river

and

itstributaries. Thereare also

many bayous and

small

ponds which

areconnectedwith the river at ti

m

es ofhighwater. In thelarger bayous,

where

thereis

much swamp

vegetation, pickerel

and

variousspecies of sunfishes abound.

The

largest

bayou

isnear

Cedar

Rapids.

On

the

maps

itisusuallydesignatedasCedar Lake,butlocallyitis

known

asthe^“Slough.” Itisaboutthree-fourths ofamilewide

and

2 miles long,

and

isfastfilling

up

atpresent. It isconnected with theriver at alltimesoftheyear,containsan

abundance

ofvegetation,

and abounds

withsunfishes

and

bullheads.

Some

black bass

and

pickerel

and many

mudfish are alsotaken from itswaters.

The Slough

is decidedlythefishing-

ground

for the smallboysofCedar Rapids,

and

I

have

oftenseen

them

ontheir

homeward

tripwithstrings ofbullheads

and

sunfishesaboutaslongastheaverage

boy

himself.

At

Austin,Minnesota, theriverislittle

more

thana large creek.

The bottom

is mostly sandy,but there are occasional stretches ofdeep water with

muddy

bottom.

Aquatic vegetationisscarce

and

confined tosmallpatchesinshallowwater.

At

the timeofourvisitthe

volume

ofwater

had

been

much

reduced

by

dry weather. Its temperatureonJuly25,1890,

was

^71°F. TurtleRiverisatributary ofthe

Cedar and

emptiesintoitnear Austin; itscurrentissluggish

and

its

bottom

mostly

muddy;

it isfed

by

large

marshes and

shallowlakes.

Rose

Creek,anothersmall tributarynear Austin,is fed

by

springs, has a veryrocky bottom

and

a swift current; pickerel

seemed

especially

abundant

init; itstemperatureon July25,1890,

was

69°F.

The Cedar

Riverat

Waverly

is very

much

largerthanatAustin; its

banks

are bordered witharather

heavy growth

oftimber; itsbottom is very sandy,

and

its waterclear; itstemperatureon July 31

was

^74°F.

The

Shellrock Riverisnot

much

smallerthan the

Cedar

aboveitsjunctionwith the latter,

which

it

much

resemblesexcept thatits

banks

are less heavilytimbered. Its temperatureon July 31

was

^74°F. Fishes

were

aboutas

abundant

as inthe

Cedar

River.

Near Waverly

thereare

some

large springs.

We

^{seined in}oneofthespring- brancheson the westside ofthe

Cedar

River,

where

thewater

was

^lessclearthan in other similarbranches. Fishes

were

scarce;itstemperature

was

58°F.

The

west branchofthe

Cedar

Riverisformed

by two

smallcreeksnear

Dumont.

The

average widthofthese creeksislessthan 30feet; theirbottomsaresandy, with

some mud;

timberis scarcealongtheir borders.

One

of

them

is termed the

main

fork,theotheriscalledHartgraves Creek.

Near Dumont

isa smalllake connected

REPORT UPON THE PISHES OP

IOWA.

231 by

asmall channel with Hartgraves Creek.

The bottom

of thislake isvery

muddy and

iscovered withvegetation. Sunfisb.es

and

pickerelwere very

abundant

init.

At

Palo the

bottom

oftheriverissandy,in

some

places rocky. Thereare

many

bayous in thisregion,

and

theriveris bordered with lesstimber than atWaverly.

Dry

creekis a smalltributary ofthe

Cedar

River near Palo,having avery

muddy

bottom.

We

collectedon the farmofMr.Joseph

Owens, who

informed

me

that the creek used to be deep

and narrow and

contained fine pickerel

and

catfishes.

At

presentit iswider

and

shallower.

At

Cedar Rapids theriverisabout 700feetwide.

A dam

at thisplace holds the waterback over adistance ofabout5 miles,therebyincreasingthewidthoftheriver.

Thisenlarged partcontains

many

islands

and much

aquaticvegetation.

Below

the dam,foraboutone-third ofamile,the currentisveryswift

and

the

bottom

veryrocky, butfarther

down

it

becomes

sandy. Thereisconsiderabletimberin thisregion.

PrairieCreekisawesterntributaryofthe Cedar, a small stream borderedinthe lowerpartwithtimber. Its

bottom

isusually

muddy,

withoccasional stretches of sand. Mr. AquillaMiller,

who

has residedonits

banks many

years,informed

me

that the larger fisheswere formerlyquite

abundant

init,butat present onlysmallones can befound.

IndianCreekisaneastern tributary, smallerthanPrairieCreek,with a sandyor rocky bottom,

and

is bordered

by

timber.

A much

greater

number

of fishes

was

foundinIndianCreek thanin Prairie.

At Mount Vernon

thebottomofthe

Cedar

Riverissandy. Cliffs,calledthePali- sades,about60 feet high, occur on the westernside.

A

few small streamsflow into the rivernearthisplace.

At West

Liberty the current

was more

moderate than at the other placesvisited,but thegeneral characteristics ofthe riverwere the same.

Most

ofthecollection

was

obtainedfrombayous near theriver,but a few specimens were taken from a small creek

between West

Liberty

and

theriver.

FISHESOFTHE CEDARRIVERANDITSTRIBUTARIES.

1.Ammocoetesbrancliialis (Linnaeus).

Mud

lamprey. This smalllampreyascends clearbrooksin thespringforthepurposeofspawning,andatthattimeof theyearlargenumbers can he captured. TheywerespawningatCedar RapidsApril20, 1889,and aboutApril10,1891, the season lastingabouttwoweeks. Ihavesecuredmanyspecimens fromsmallbrooks near CedarRapids,huthaveseennone fromotherlocalitiesand

am

notawareof theirbeing taken at other timesthaninthe spring. Specimens seldom exceed61inches in length. Itwould hean easy mattertodestroy large quantities of theselampreysinthe spring,if itwere thoughtexpedient, inviewoftheinjurywhich theyaresupposedtoinflictupon someofthe food-fishes. They undoubtedly do somedestruction,buthow muchit isdifficultto say. I havecomparedthelampreysfrom Cedar Rapids with specimens fromIthaca,

New

York,and regard thespeciesfrom bothlocalitiesas identical.

2.Petromyzonconcolor(Kirtland). Brooklamprey. Ihave never observedthisspeciesinthe spring.

It isrepresented in theCoeCollegeMuseum bya singlespecimen, collected in theCedar Riverseveral yearsagobyProf.F. Starr.

3.Polyodonspathula (Walbaum). Paddle-fish; Spoon-Mil; Duck-billedcat. CedarRapids,rare. The snouts of afewindividuals, collectedintheCedar River duringthe past ten years, are in theCoeCollegeMuseum.

4.Scaphirhynchus platyrhynchus(Rafinesque). Shovel-nosed sturgeon. Anoccasionalspecimenis taken fromtheCedar River withhook andline.

232 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH

COMMISSION.

5.Lepisosteus osseus(Linnaeus). Commongar-pike;Long-nosed gar;Bill-Jisli. CedarRapids,com- mon.

A

few specimens fromthis locality arecontainedinthe CoeCollegeMuseum. The species alsooccurs in theriver.

6.

Amia

calvaLinnaeus. Dogfish;Bow-fin; Mvdfish. Very abundantintheSloughandoccasionally taken fromtheCedarRiver.

7. Ictaluruspunctatus (Rafinesque). Channel cal; White cat;Silver cat. CedarRapids,common

;

Palo,CedarRiver,severalsmallspecimens takenintheseine. Duringthemonthsof .Tuneand Julymanyspecimens ofthisspecies aretaken fromthe Cedar River withhook andline. Thebest baitseemstobefibrinfromblood. Thefavorite fishing-places are just belowthedamorbelowSinclair’spacking-house,the latterapparently being thebest. The waterbelowthepacking-houseisfarlessclearand pure than belowthedam.

8.Ameiurusnatalis(LeSueur). Yellowcat. IndianCreek, scarce. Analrays, 25; baseof anal, 3-ginthe lengthofthebody andlongerthanthelengthof the head.

9.Ameiurusnebulosus (LeSueur). Commonbullhead;Hornedpout. DryCreek, Palo,common;

Dumont, notcommon;anal rays, 20 to 23;IndianCreek andAustin,Turtle River,rare.

10.Ameiurusmelas(Rafinesque). Bullhead. CedarRapids,abundantintheSlough; IndianCreek, Dumont,andDryCreek, common; Waverly(ShellrockandClearrivers), PrairieCreek,

andMountVernon, notcommon.

11.Leptopsolivaris(Rafinesque).

Mud

cat] Flat-headcat. Several largespecimensof this species werereportedtakenfromtheCedar Riverw»ithhook andlinein July,1890,the largest weighing about20pounds. Isawonlyafewof these,butallthat Iexamined wereof this species. It isnotunlikelythatsomeofthe largerspecimens recorded

may

have belonged to A.nigricans. Accordingtothe anglers, cat fishingwasbetter in July,1890,thanithad beenatauy time during thepastten years.

12.Noturusflavus (Rafinesque). Stonecat. CedarRapids,rare.

13.Noturusgyrinus(Mitchill). Stonecat. WestLiberty, rare; anal, 15 rays

;caudalfincontinuous withadipose; dorsalspinenotserrated

;head, 3^ inlengthofbody; top ofheadflattish.

Waverly (CedarRiver), rare; anal, 15; head, 3f;depth,_4;pectoral spineentire,2^ in head.

Dumont,DryCreek,and IndianCreek,rare.

14.Carpiodesvelifer(Rafinesque). Quill-back; Carpsucker. Cedar Rapids,very abundantinstill bays alongthe sides of theriver. Mostof thespecimenstakenare small. Different individualsshowconsiderable variation,butIhave hot beenable todetectanyconstant charactersbywhichto separatethem. Prairie Creek,abundant;Dumont,Austin, Indian Creek,andWestLiberty,common; Waverly(Shellrockand Cedarrivers),notcommon.

15.Catostomusteres (Mitchill). Commonsucker. DryCreek at Palo,Prairie Creek,and Cedar Rapids, abundant;Waverly(Shellrock River),Dumont,Austin, IndianCreek,andWest Liberty,common;Cedar Riverat Palo,rare.

16.Catostomusnigricans(LeSueur). Hogsucker; Stone-roller;Hogmullet. DryCreek, at Palo, abundant;Dumont,common;Austin,and Cedar River atWaverly, notcommon;Cedar Rapids, Prairie Creek,IndianCreek,andMountVernon,rare.

17.Erimyzonsucetta(Lacepede). Chubsucker; Sweetsucker. WestLiberty,two specimens were takenfromabayou neartheriver. Scales, 38;dorsal rays, 12;anal, 7;depth,_3|

;head, 4

;

longest specimen,7-)-inches. Thisspeciesseemsrare inIowa,and1have taken nospeci- mensfromotherlocalitiesthanthe above.

18.

Moxostoma

anisurum(Rafinesque). White-nosedsucker. Austin,rare; dorsal,15rays;body deeperthaninIf.duquesnei;depth,3)-

;dorsalregionarchedmore thaninM.duquesnei;

color,moresilvery,and lowerlipthinnerandwith sharper angle. Waverly,Shellrock, rare

;depth,3-J

;dorsal rays,15. ^'

19.

Moxostoma

duquesnei(LeSueur). Commonredhorse; “Mullet.” WestLiberty,common;lower finsred; dorsal rays,14, CedarRapids, Prairie Creek,and Palo (DryCreek),common.

Waverly(Shellrock River),common;dorsal rays, 12 to 13; depth, 4J in thelengthofthe body. Dumont,common;scales,44; dorsal rays, 13;upperlipwithadark margin;color darkerandlesssilverythanin specimenstakenelsewhere. Austin,notcommon;dorsal rays, 12to 14; colorlesssilverythanusual;depthscarcelymore than lengthof head.

191.Minytrema melanopsRafinesque. Stripedsucker. CedarRiver, scarce.

REPORT UPON THE

PISHES

OE

IOWA.

233

20. Campostoma anomalum(Rafinesque). Stone-lugger; Stone-roller. West^Liberty andPrairie creeks,rare. IndianCreek, notcommon;head, 4}inthelength of thebody;dorsal rays, 7 or 8;anal rays, 7 or 8;snout, 3inlength of thehead;firstdorsalraymidwaybetweenbase ofcaudalandtipof snout. Palo(DryCreek),Waverly (Cedar andShellrockrivers),Dumont, common;scales,47 to53. Austin,notcommon.

21. Chrosomus erythrogasterRafinesque. Bed-belliedminnow. This speciesisseldom foundin Iowaexcept in spring brooks,andisnowhere abundant. Itwascommonina smallbrook atMountYernon,andrare at the followinglocalities:Palo,DryCreek,Waverly, takenin a small spring brook, tributary to theCedar River; Austin.

22.HybognathusnuchalisAgassiz. Silveryminnow. PrairieCreek,common; IndianCreek,Dumont andWaverly(Shellrock River),rare.

23.Hybognathusnubila(Forbes). Waverly(ShellrockRiver)andAustin,notcommon.

24.PimephalespromelasRafinesque. Flat-bead. Cedarrapids, very abundant. Nearly allthe specimenswere takenina ditch along theIllinoisCentralRailroad nearCedarRapids, where nofisheshad been foundthe previoussummer. Nootherspecies,moreover,were observedin this ditch,whichisincommunication withtheSloughintimes ofhighwater.

OnlytwospeciesofPimephalesoccur in Iowa. P.promelas prefers sluggish orstagnant poolswithamuddybottom,whilenotatusalwaysinhabits clear water. Thisspecieswasalso obtained at the followinglocalities:IndianCreek,common;Palo,DryCreek,notcommon.

WestLiberty, Prairie Creek,Waverly(Shellrock River),Dumont, andAustin,rare.

25.Pimephalesnotatus (Rafinesque). Blunt-nosed minnoio. IndianCreek,abundant;WestLib- erty,CedarRapids, Prairie Creek, Palo,DryCreek,Waverly (Cedar River andShellrock River),Dumont, andAustin,common;Palo,CedarRiver,rare.

26.Cliolavigilax (BairdandGirard). Bullheadminnow. Paloand CedarRapids,common.

27.NotropisanogenusPorbes. Austin,Minnesota,rare. Thisspeciesverymuch resembles N.

heterodon,fromwhichit differsinhavinga smallerand moreobliquemouth.

28.Notropisheterodon(Cope). WestLiberty; dorsalnearertipofsnoutthan baseof caudal;dark lateralband prominent. Foundnearthe shorewherethereislittlecurrentand an abun- danceofweeds. CedarRapids,notcommon;Dumont,rare;Waverly(Shellrock River).

29.NotropiscayugaMeek. IndianCreek,rare. Head,4 inthelengthofthebody

;depth,4|-

;dorsal (originoffirstray) slightly nearertipofsnout than baseofcaudalfin; 14 or 15 scales in a seriesbefore dorsalfin;laterallinecomplete;scales,35 or 36;anal rays, usually8,seldom9

;

suout blunt;mouthsmall. Color,darkabove;outlineof scaleson upperpart ofbody very distinct;darklateralbandpresent, passingaround snoutonupperjawonly. Waverly (Shellrock River),Austin(Minnesota),Dumont,PrairieCreek,andWestLiberty,rare. This speciesisusuallyfound withNotropis heterodon Cope,andNotropisanogenus Forbes,andis

nowhere abundant. Thesethree species areamongthemostfeebleandinsignificant ofour fresh-waterfishes.

30.Notropis deliciosus(Girard). Indian Creek,CedarRapids,andDumont, common;Waverly (Shellrockand Cedarrivers),notcommon;WestLiberty, PrairieCreek,andPalo,rare.

31.NotropistopekaGilbert. Waverly (CedarRiver)andShellrock(Waverly),rare. Thisspecies resembles Notropisdeliciosus,but hassmallereyesandamore compressed body.

32.NotropisgilbertiJordanand Meek. Palo,abundant;Shellrock River, atWaverly, verycommon

;

Waverly (CedarRiver)and Dumont,common;CedarRapids,notcommon;PrairieCreek, rare;WestLiberty. ThisspeciesisoneofthemostabundantinIowa, andisfoundin clear, runningwater.

33.Notropiswhipplei(Girard). WestLibertyandPrairieCreek,abundant; CedarRapids,com- mon;head, 4;depth, 4 to 44;scales,36 to38.Waverly,CedarRiver,andDumont,common;

Waverly(Shellrock River), rare

;lateralline, 35.

34.Notropismegalops(Rafinesque). Commonshiner. WestLiberty, ShellrockRiveratWaverly, Palo,andDumont, abundant;Waverly(CedarRiver),IndianCreek, Prairie Creek,and Cedar Rapids,common. Thisspeciesis variable. Thescalesbeforethedorsalfin are usually small. Inmostof thespecimensfromMissouriand Arkansasthe scales before the dorsalare large.