122 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



tlie general opinion in this section among non-scientific men that tlie de- 

 struction offish has been due to the saturated condition of the water 

 with dogwood [Cornus Florida). I am informed that the shores of Lake 

 Okheechobee abound in this vegetation, as well as the country around 

 it 5 and as the land was completely overflowed last year — summer — some 

 couple of hundred miles in that vicinity, water 4 and 5 feet deep, it is 

 thought, as it remained some little while before running off, that some 

 of the properties of the Cornus may have been imparted to tlie water, 

 and this in its turn contaminated the Gulf water. However, this is a 

 mere conjecture, and may not be auy nearer the truth than a theory ad- 

 vanced by a " Partington" of this place, viz, that the fatality of the 

 fish was due to a vulgar corruption (volcanic eruption) of the Everglades. 

 The fishermen have suftered terribly in consequence of this calamity, re- 

 turning to port trip after trip with their " wells " full of dead fish. They 

 say that they meet with good success in catching the fish above Pine 

 Island, Cliarlotte Harbor, and are able to keep them alive until return- 

 ing, preparatory to going to the Havana market. They meet with this 

 belt of poisoned water between this port and PuntaEussa, and immedi- 

 ately on entering or attempting to cross it their fish come to the surface, 

 gasp, and die. 



I trust that as soon as the water I sent you shall be analyzed you may 

 be pleased to inform me ; for which favor I shall be deeply grateful. 

 I am, Professor, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



' JOSEPH Y. PORTER, 

 Assistant Surgeon U. 8. A., Post Surgeon. 



Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Washington J- D. C. 



THE FISH MORTALITY IN THE GULF. 



Jacksonville, Fla., December 2G, 1878. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



In reply to your communication soliciting information regarding the 

 mortality among the fish on the coast and ocean near the Keys, I can 

 only say that from personal observation I have none to communicate. 

 Through the public press I have noticed that fish have been dying in 

 immense quantities for some time. 



By some the mortality is attributed to the freshness of the water as 

 a consequence of the heavy rains of the past summer and autumn. But 

 in my opinion this explanation will not sufQce, as the main outlets of the 

 Okheechobee empty into the ocean north of Pavillion Key, and that 

 sheephead, tarpum, channel bass, and mullet visit and live in brackish 

 and even fresh water. By some it has been attributed to volcanic ac- 

 tion, and by others to the breaking forth of a subterranean stream, the 

 waters of which are poisonous. One fact is positively known, and that 

 is that fish in enormous quantities are dying over a large extent of the 



