No. 11. — Exploration of Lake Titicaca, hy Alexander Agassiz 

 and S. W. Garman. 



I. Fishes and Reptiles. By S. W. Garman. 



FISHES. 



The fishes of Lake Titicaca present but little variety. Only two 

 genera are represented. A month of search and inquiry discovered 

 but one species of Trichomycterus, a siluroid, and five of Orestias, a 

 cyprinodont. Though found in great numbers and easily taken, on 

 account of their inferior cpiality these fishes form but a small propor- 

 tion of the food of the people living on the shores. The successful 

 introduction of some superior food-fish would be of very great advan- 

 tage to the inhabitants of the valley. A more inviting opportunity 

 for a grand experiment in fish-culture can hardly be imagined than is 

 offered here in this extensive sheet of pure water, with its numerous 

 mountain streams, complete isolation, abundance of vegetation, and 

 vast numbers of animals. The siluroids ai - e more prized by the na- 

 tives and are tolerably common in the markets. They are too oily to 

 be considered good. Specimens that weigh a pound are large. As is 

 usual with the Siluridee, they are carnivorous and most active by night. 

 The cyprinodonts are much more numerous, but have little to recom- 

 mend them for the table except the absence of better. Their small 

 size and numerous strong bones make them very unsatisfactory arti- 

 cles of food. It is their worthlessness, no doubt, that has fastened upon 

 several species the epithet Carache as a common name. Immense 

 schools of these fishes are found in their feeding-places, the great 

 fields of rushes ("totora") and the beds of weeds which cover the 

 bottom in the shallower portions of the lake. When young, they are 

 preyed upon by other fishes and the thousands of birds frequenting 

 their places of resort ; as they grow older their structure and size 

 give them immunity. The many bones and scales brought up in the 

 dredge from the deeper waters along these localities were those of 

 adults. All the species of this genus are small ; we saw none weigh- 

 ing more than eight ounces. 



Angling and spearing are not practised. The fishing is done with 



