8 MORTALITY OF FISHES, WEST COAST OF FLORIDA. 



-iiuply an overflow of swamp water, and do not believe that it is tlie cause of 

 llie mortality. 



The fish were killed many miles out in the Gulf. The captain of the Dutch 

 steamer Thcvtisto, which arrived here October 27, told me that he passed 

 through immense numbers of dead fish 45 miles out. I asked him if he noticed 

 anything abnormal in the appearance of the water, and he said " No." A 

 fishing smack which entered here lost all its fish after entering the bay, 

 and another reported that upon attempting to enter the bay saw its fish 

 beginning to die, and that upon turning about and going into the Gulf they 

 recovered. I can only reconcile the two circumstances in this way: For 

 several days after the fish ceased dying in the Gulf they died in the bay, and it 

 is probalile that the last-mentioned smack met the returning current from 

 the bay to the Gulf, while the first-mentioned got it in full strength from the 

 Gulf in the beginning of the attack, as he was anchored in the tidal channel. 

 * * * 



INVESTIGATION IN THE FIELD. 



Conditions made it impossible to imdertake a field investigation 

 during the early stages of the mortality when it was at its worst, but 

 the writer arrived at Fort Myers, Fla., on the Caloosahatchee River, 

 November 12, and remained in the region for a period of 10 days. 



Since the mortality of the fishes had been ascribed to foul water 

 from the Everglades, the condition of this river was first noted. No 

 abnormal conditions were observed in the river; small fish were 

 abundant; birds were feeding upon them. Schools of mullet and 

 red drum ("redfish"), vast numbers of ducks, and many pelicans 

 were seen on the river below Fort Myers. In no case was a dead 

 water animal found on the river. The water was of a brownish color, 

 due, presumably, to tannin or other pigments from the mangroves 

 and palmettoes, but it is understood that such a condition is not un- 

 favorable to fish. 



On the next day a reconnoissance trip was made on a river steamer 

 from Fort Myers down the Caloosahatchee to Punta Rasa, thence 

 across San Carlos Bay to Sanibel, across the bay again to St. James 

 City, on Pine Island, thence across Pine Island Sound to Wulfert (in- 

 side mouth of Blind Pass), then through a narrow channel to Cap- 

 tiva, returning the same day via Sanibel and Punta Rasa. Between 

 Fort Myers and Punta Rasa (18 miles) the river appeared to be 

 normal in every respect. In San Carlos Bay dead fishes were noted, 

 blanched and soft, apparently having been dead for some time. On 

 the inside beaches of Sanibel, Pine, and Captiva Islands dead fishes 

 in great numbers and of a multitude of species were noted, all in a 

 state of decay. 



On the return trip, near Sanibel Wharf, a specimen of squeteague 

 {Cynoscion nehulosus) was taken in a state of rigor mortis, l)ut with- 

 out apparent abnormality. 



