XCVIII KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



carried on chiefly in the vicinity of Baldwin Lodge, located on Camp- 

 bell Bayon. The water in this locality consists of two months of Pearl 

 River and a large number of lagoons, bayous, and lakes. At the time 

 of the visit these waters were almost fresh, being slightly brackish only 

 in the portions nearest the Gulf of Mexico. ])nring the dry season, 

 however, it is likely that brackish Avater extends several miles above 

 Baldwin Lodge. The lagoons and lakes are shallow, and the water in 

 summer doubtless becomes quite warm. In April the temperature at 

 the surface was found to vary from 68° to 76°, and at the bottom, in 10 

 feet of water, was 65°. 



The large-mouthed black bass {Micropterus salmoidcs) is the principal 

 fresh- water game lish in this region, though the goggle-eye (Chamo- 

 hryttus (/hIosus) and several other species of sunlishes and cattishes are 

 also abundant. During the dry season various salt-water hshes, such as 

 sheepshead, redfish, drum, etc., appear in large numbers. The fishes 

 which can bo introduced into these waters to the best advantage are 

 the crappie and the calico bass. It is very probable that both of these 

 would thrive very well in the lagoons, lakes, and channels farthest 

 from the Gulf. 



SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS. 



In the latter part of April a few days were spent by Messrs. Evermann 

 and Chamberlain on the Sabine and Neches rivers, in southeastern 

 Texas, for the purpose of determining whether these streams are suit- 

 able for stocking with shad. Inquiries were conducted at Orange, 

 Beaumont, Lufkin, and Logansport. Considerable collections of fishes 

 were obtained at these places, and inquiries were made of various peo])le 

 acquainted with the rivers, but no evidence was obtained indicating 

 that the shad planted here several years ago have ever been seen since. 

 The character of these streams does not indicate that they would prove 

 suitable for shad. The water Avould probably be so muddy during the 

 spawning season as to prove fatal to a large percentage of the eggs 

 and fry. 



LOUISIANA. 



It having been rei)resented to the Commission that the catch of 

 catfish in the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, has been rapidly decreas- 

 ing during the last two or three years, a brief investigation was made 

 during the latter part of April, 1897, to determine the cause of the 

 decrease and the remedy therefor. The inquiries were carried on by 

 Messrs. B. W. Evermann, F. M. Chamberlain, and H. E. Center. 



The catfish industry of the Atchafalaya Kiver centers chiefly at Mor- 

 gan City, and is a very imjiortant one, the three fi^rms doing business 

 there shipping more than a million pounds of drer-sed fish annually. 



During ordinary stages of water the fishing is i>rosecuted chiefly in 

 the regular waterways or channels, and set lines of various lengths are 

 used ; but when the country becomes flooded in spring, the fishing is 

 done in the woods. Instead of trot lines, a single short line is used, 



