PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MU3EUM. 245 



It is said that in 1856 or '57 there was a similar occurrence ot limited 

 extent over in the bay, and frequently the smacks fishing near shore 

 ;i!uug the coast meet fresh water which kills their fish; but all the fish- 

 ermen here unite in saying that nothing of this kind has ever, to their 

 knowledge, happened out on the reef. As to the extent of this I have 

 no means of knowing; will endeavor to have forwarded with this, how- 

 ever, copies of the Key West papers, which will probably contain a more 

 complete account than I have been able to give. One other fact in con- 

 nection with this: among the dead fish were mullet, which, I believe, 

 run up fresh- or brackish-water streams. Almost all the conchs around 

 here were killed also. Whether or not sponges, coral, &c., have been 

 affected, we have not been able to determine, the weather having been 

 too rough to visit the beds. 



I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. P. JEFFERSON, 

 Lieutenant Fifth United States Artillery. 



To Professor Baird. 



Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, 



November 4, 1878. 

 Professor: I have taken the liberty to forward you, by express from 

 Key West, a box containing two "ribbon fish" preserved in alcohol. 

 One of them was brought over to me by Mr. Moore, lighthouse-keeper 

 at Loggerhead Light. The remaining specimen of "ribbon fish" in the 

 jar (which is perlect) was picked up on a neighboring key this a. m. I 

 am informed that these fish are a rare species, and very seldom seen. 



The destruction of fish in Florida Bay and in this vicinity has been 

 great this season. I obtained some sea-water, but not having the appli- 

 ance (or analyzing it, I have also taken the liberty to enclose it in the 

 same box with the jar of fish. 



Should you discover anything abnormal in the water which will ac- 

 count lor the recent destruction of the fish in this vicinity, I will be 

 under many obligations if you will inform me. 



JOSEPH Y. PORTER, 

 Assistant Surgeon, U. 8. Army, Post Surgeon. 



P. S. — Since writing the above, Mr. Moore brought me some 

 curious specimens of fish;* and a curious eel-like tish with but one eye, 

 evidently an abnormality, has been found, vrhich I have also enclosed 

 in the box. 



* The followinji; is a list of species of fishes forwarded by Dr. Porter. — Editor. 



Auloatoma coloratum, Miill. & Trosch. 

 Dactylopterus volitans, (Linn.) Lac. 

 Ceratacanthus aurantiacus, (Mitch.) Gill. 



Monacanthua pardalis, Riipp. 

 Ble])hariclUhy8 crinitus, (Akerly) Gill. 

 Belone sp. (head). 



