348 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The bauks are low and witliout trees, the prairie grass and other 

 vegetation growing to the water's edge. Tlie bed of the stream is of 

 small gravel, mud, and decayed vegetation, from which grow rushes, 

 pondweeds, and bladderworts ( Utricularia). The stream was almost 

 entirely devoid of fish life, owing, no doubt, to its having no direct 

 communication with the lake for several months in the year. 



Two species of fish were taken, Lucius lucius and Notropis megalops, 

 and these were very rare. Crawfish were particularly abundant, and 

 one species of water-snail {Limn(va) was also abundant. Temperature 

 of the water, 78*^; of the air, 75°, cooled by the recent rains. 



The following is a list of fishes taken from Lake Traverse basin. 

 The measurements are given in millimeters unless otherwise stated. 



ANNOTATED LIST OF THE FISHES OF LAKE TRAVERSE BASIN. 



1. Pimephales notatus (Rafmesqiie). Shiver; Creelc iSlnner. Daugherty Creek at 



Browns Valley, rare. Shape aud color much like P.promelas; head black, 

 snout blunt; fins dark, snout and lower jaw turbercled; lateral line with 40 

 scales, not distinct anteriorly. 



2. Notropis megalops (Rafinesque). Common Silrerside ; Brook Shiner. Muslinka 



River at Wheiiton, 5 specimens. Daugherty Creek at Browns Valley, abund- 

 ant. This species was particularly abundant. Specimens very dark — much 

 darker than those from Little Minnesota River. Lateral line black ; body 

 slightly deeper than in those from Little Minnesota River. 



3. Rhinicthys cataractae dulcis (Girard). Daugherty Creek at Browns Valley, 10 



specimens. Not common. Body moderately elevated; shoulders heavy; 

 caudal peduncle compressed, but deep; head medium or small; line from 

 snout to top of shoulders slightly concave ; eyes small ; mouth horizontal and 

 small, maxillary reaching about half the distance from snout to eye. Color 

 dark, almost black above, mottled with black blotches which extend to the 

 lateral line; belly, cheeks, and lower jaws light; dorsal and caudal tins dark; 

 ventral and anal fins light; rays of anal longer than those of any other fin, 

 nearly as long as head; ventrals half as long as anal; dorsal, 7; anal, 7; 

 scales, 03 to 70. 



4. Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). Chnb ; Biver Chuh. Daugherty Creek at 



Browns Valley, common. Color dark; caudal spot conspicuous in all speci- 

 mens. Head 31 in body. 



5. Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill). Horned Dace. Daugherty Creek at 



Browns Valley, abundant. 



6. Lucius lucius (Lmna^us). Pike; Northern Pickerel. Muslinka River at Wheaton, 



12 specimens. Daugherty Creek at Browns Valley, abundant. Traverse 

 Lake, not common. This is about the only food-lish in Traverse Lake. It 

 ascends the creeks in great numbei's in the spring of the year to spawn. 



7. Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). Brook Stickleback. Daugherty Creek at Browns 



Valley, 12 specimens. Color, dark olive with tessellations on sides; males 

 almost black. This species prefers the cold v/ater and sheltered places. 



BIG STONE LAKE. 



The valley occupied by this lake is very similar in cha^'acter to that 

 occui)ied by Lake Traverse. There is a more marked slope of the 

 surface of the country to the south than to the north. The country to 



