12 University of Michigan 



28. Boleosoma nigrum (Rafinesque), Johnny Darter. — Abun- 

 dant at nearly all parts of the river fished; probably the most 

 abundant species of fish in the stream. It seems to prefer sloping 

 clay banks near the shore. In June a number of males in breeding 

 dress were found. These were undersized compared with breeding 

 males taken in other localities. They were about two inches 

 long. No large examples of the species were found in the stream; 

 the many caught measured from one and a quarter to two and a 

 half inches in length. Few of the last length were taken, and the 

 species was markedly dwarfed in the river. 



2g. Poecilichthys caerideiis (Kirtland), Rainbow Darter. — 

 Only three taken, and these in June from the gravel bottom at 

 Station 3. One was a male in high breeding coloration. 



Conclusions 



The Galien River in the Warren Woods and vicinity has a 

 small fish fauna. Twenty-nine species were found in the stream, 

 and twenty-one of them at the Warren Woods. There are prob- 

 ably but few other fish permanently inhabiting the river and its 

 branches here, and there appear to be few food and game fish at 

 least in summer, the common pike being the only one of these of 

 suflficient size and numbers to attract anglers, and good strings 

 of these are said to be obtained occasionally. In June the writer 

 tried some line fishing and saw much of it, but no fish was seen 

 caught in this way. In August a common pike was taken by a hook, 

 on a set line while it was being placed in the water. 



Probably the paucity of good fish in the Galien River with 

 conditions similar to those of the Warren Woods is principally 

 due to the following causes: 



a) Absence of much algae and other aquatic vegetation in 

 the river or waters connected with it resulting in a scarcity of 

 entomostracans or other small animals that furnish food for 

 young fish and a limitation of breeding areas for fish needing 



