BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 11 



fish. wliicU were killed in sailing through strips of this poisoned water. 

 It is said to be of a reddish color, and distinguishable for some distance 

 from the surrounding water. Capt. Samuel Morgan, a patient in the 

 hospital, informs me that in some of the freshwater creeks lisli are 

 caught by placing bags of the bruised bark of the swamp dogwood 

 ( Conms scricea) in still water, and that the fish will revive if allowed 

 to remain in it for a short time only. There would appear to be some 

 connection in this, as the mortality seems to appear after considerable 

 rainfall in the swamps and freshwater outlets, and is not due, as lias 

 been stated, to submarine volcanic action. I have mentioned the fact 

 to Dr. Joseph Y. Porter, U. S. A., and requested him to take advantage 

 of his proposed visit to Tampa, Fla., this week, to collect samx)les 

 of the water, should the vessel pass through any of these reddish-col- 

 ored strips. 

 Key West, Fla., October 28, 1885. 



5.— THE OTORTAL,ITy OF FI>SH IN THE OVIiF OF MEXICO. 



By JOIIJV O. \fHBB. 



The answer to the question "What kills the fish?" is, in my opinion, 

 that they are killed by noxious and poisonous gases which permeate 

 portions of the Gulf and its bays, and which are derived from under- 

 ground streams of water that flow into the sea. 



First, as to the existence of underground streams of water. Every- 

 body at all familiar with Florida is aware of the existence of enormous 

 springs. Crystal liiver, in Hernando County, is an illustration. Good- 

 sized coasters, say of 8 or 10 tons, can, I am informed, sail clear up 

 to tlie spring, which issues from the ground — a river at the start. So 

 with Silver Spring. It is described, for I have not seen it, as an im- 

 mense volume of water rising in a bowl, deep and clear, and forming 

 the Oklawaha, a river at once. So with a lake near Gainesville. My 

 friend, Mr. F. B. Hogan, of Pine Level, in this county, tells me that, 

 when a bov, his father resided near what is now the lake. He raised 

 corn on the very flats which are now the bottom of this lake. There 

 was then a small stream winding along through this flat and finally 

 emptying into a hole in the ground, where it disappeared. In process 

 of time souiebody set up a saw-mill near this hole, propelling his ma- 

 chinery, if I am not mistaken, by x)ower derived from the stream. He 

 allowed the debris of his saw-mill to fall into the hole, which became 

 stopped up. Now there is a lake there 18 miles long, and a large town 

 gets its supply of fish from it. If the hole should again become open 

 the lake would undoubtedly be drained. 



Some years ago one of the Myaka lakes became nearly dry. It was 

 then discovered that near the center of the lake was a deep hole, and 

 it was furthermore discovered that the tide rose and fell in this hole. 



