ZOOLOGY. 4G7 



Dr. Endlicli, on analysis and comparison of the "ijoisoned water" 

 with normal Gulf water, found the constituents to be, respectively, as 

 follows, the injurious being designated as A and the normal as B: 



A B 



Specific gravity 1.024 1.022 



Solid constituents (total), per cent 4. 0780 4. 1095 



Ferric compounds, per cent 0. 1106 ' 0. 0724 



Injurious organic matter ratio =3 ratio =2 



He could not find, "even by spectroscopic analysis, any mineral con- 

 stituents in the water A which could noxiously affect the fish," but he 

 came to the conclusion that "the death of fish was caused by the more 

 or less parasitic algae, which are found in large quantities in water A, 

 but do not occur at all in water B." (P. U. S. N. M., iv, 124.) 



Professor Farlow, the eminent cryptogamist, to whom two bottles of 

 the water were sent, found therein " a mass of amori)hous slime, in 

 which were numerous crystals, apparently of a fatty nature," as well 

 as numerous and partially decomposed remains of small crustaceans and 

 various plant tissues. It was his " opinion that the trouble is not 

 caused by the presence of any vegetable substance, but that the pres- 

 ence of the latter is accidental. The slimy mass probably originated 

 from a mass of eggs which, for some reason or another, were killed near 

 the surface, and the smaller crustaceans in the neighborhood here have 

 been involved in the general mass of slime." {Op. cit., p. 234.) 



Practically the results of the investigations so far have been nega- 

 tive. More data are required, the extent and course of the noxious 

 currents should be ascertained, a rigorous co-ordination of all facts 

 bearing on the question is requisite, and renewed chemical and micro- 

 scopical investigations must be made, as well as careful examination of 

 the dead and dying fishes, as to their gills, &c. The factors that have 

 been assigned as causes of the disturbed waters, and the mortality 

 among the fishes, are scarcely likely to be the efficient ones. It is use- 

 less to speculate at this time what are. It is most desirable in the in- 

 terests of the fisherman, as well as science, that the truth should be 

 known. 



A communication of Mr. S. H. Johnson, the collector of customs at 

 Corpus Christi, Tex., is of interest in this connection, but fails to give 

 any solution to the question at issue. "After very heavy rains and 

 overflowing of rivers, the inner bays on the Texas coast sufl^er a loss of 

 from one-half to three-fourths of their salt-water fish, not including 

 mullet, which live as well in fresh as salt water," and unusual cold 

 weather is also quite fatal to fish in shallow waters. The percentages 

 given are, of course, only of value as crude estimates based on superfi- 

 cial appearances. (Proc. U. S N. M., IV, 205.) 



