122 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



tbe general opiuion in tliis section among non-scientific men that the de- 

 struction of lisli lias been due to the saturated condition of the water 

 with dogwood {Cornus Florida). I am informed that the shores of Lake 

 Okheechobee abound in this vegetation, as well as the country around 

 it; and as the land was comjiletely overflowed last year — summer — some 

 couple of hundred miles in that vicinity, water 4 and 5 feet deep, it is 

 thought, as it remained some little while before running off, that some 

 of the properties of the Corn MS may have been imi)arted to the water, 

 and this in its turn contaminated the Gulf water. However, this is a 

 mere conjecture, and may not be any nearer the truth than a theory ad 

 vanced by a " Partington" of this place, viz, that the fiitality of the 

 fish was due to a vulgar corruption (volcanic eruption) of the Everglades. 

 The fishermen have suffered terribly in consequence of this calamity, re- 

 turning to port trip after trip with their " wells " full of dead fish. They 

 say that they meet with good success in catching the fish above Pine 

 Island, Charlotte Harbor, and are able to keep them alive until return- 

 ing, preparatory to going to the Havana market. They meet with this 

 belt of poisoned water between this port and Punta Russa, and immedi- 

 ately on enteriug or attemx)ting to cross it their fish come to the surface, 

 gasp, and die. 



I trust that as soon as the water T sent you shall be analyzed j^ou may 

 be pleased to inform me ; for which favor I shall be deepl.y grateful. 

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



JOSEPH Y. PORTER, 

 Assistant Surgeon U. 8. A., Post Surgeon. 



Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Washington^ D. C. 



THE FISH MORTALITY IN THE GULF. 



Jacksonville, Fla., December 26, 1878. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



In reply to your communication soliciting information regarding the 

 mortality among the fish on the coast and ocean near the Keys, I can 

 only say that from personal observation I have none to communicate. 

 Through the i)ublic press I have noticed that fish have been dying in 

 immense quantities for some time. 



By some the mortality is attributed to the freshness of the water as 

 a consequence of the heavy rains of the i)ast summer and autumn. But 

 in my opinion this explanation will not suffice, as the main outlets of the 

 Okheechobee empty into the ocean north of Pavillion Key, and that 

 sheephead, tarpum, chanjiel bass, and mullet visit and liA^e in brackish 

 and even fresh water. By some it has been attributed to volcanic ac- 

 tion, and by others to the breaking forth of a subterrauean stream, the 

 ■waters of which are poisonous. One fact is positively known, and that 

 is that fish in enormous quantities are dying over a large extent of the 



