2 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



extensively cultivated. The bed of the stream in the upper divisions 

 consists of a series of riffles or shoals ha\dng a solid or shingle rock 

 floor and long reaches of sand foundation in the pool areas. Through 

 the presence of 14 locks and dams, maintained by the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, the main stream or the lower two-thirds of the river is in 

 pool stages and has, for the most part, a soft mud bottom. 



The river basin contains five geological formations. The first, 

 located in the southeastern portion, is the Subcarboniferous forma- 

 tion. It is represented by tlie Pine Mountains, which form a long, 

 narrow band or elevation rising above adjacent sandstone areas, and 

 is composed mostly of limestone, a mineral of first importance in the 

 nutrition of the heavy-shelled fresh-water mussels. The next is the 

 Carboniferous, with extensive deposits of an excellent quality of 

 coal. The other formations, composed mainly of limestone, are in 

 order as follows: the Devonian, the Silurian, and the Ordovician. 

 Since the Subcarboniferous comes to the surface toward the north as 

 well as in the mountains, it would appear that the Carboniferous 

 occupies and fills a broad, deep, and extensive valley of limestone — 

 the Pine Mountains on the southeast and the Blue Grass region on 

 the northwest. The waters flowing through this region are rather 

 hard, obtaining their soluble calcium compounds, which are essential 

 to mussel growth, from these extensive deposits of limestone. 



Besides the three principal forks, there are many small side 

 streams and creeks flowing into the river. The largest of these are 

 the Red River and Eagle Creek from the east and the Dix River 

 from the south. 



The water of the Kentucky is more or less turbid at all seasons of 

 the year. During periods of heavy rainfall there is considerable 

 crude oil wastage from the adjacent oil fields spreading over the 

 river's surface. Other than this, however, there is not an undue 

 amount of pollution contaminating the water and detrimental to 



aquatic life. 



SHIPPING FACILITIES. 



The following list gives the larger towns along the main river 

 and along the three large upstream forks that have railroad con- 

 nections : 



MAIN KENTUCKY EIVEB. 



Carrollton Carrollton & Worthville R. K. 



I Louisville & Nashville R. R. 

 Frankfort & Ciuclnnati R. R. 

 Chesapeake & Ohio R. R. 



Tyrone Southern R. R. 



High .Bridge Do. 



Valley View Louisville & Nashv'lle R. R. 



Ford Do. 



Irvine Do. 



Beattyville Do. 



NORTH FORK OF KENTUCKY RIVER. 



, , /Louisville & Nashville R. R. 



jackson \C)hio & Kentucky R. R. 



Frozen Ohio & Kentucky R. R. 



Hazard Louisville & Nashville R. R. 



Louisville & Nashville Railroad parallels the stream from Jackson nearly to 

 its source. 



