FISHES OF THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN. 339 



Crow Creelc rises northeast of Chamberlain, S. Dak., and, flowing 

 west, empties into the Missouri some 1G miles south of the above-named 

 town. The stream ranges from 15 to 20 feet wide, and from G inehes to 

 3 feet deep. The current was moderate and the banks of the stream were 

 covered with trees and shrubs. The quiet water contained some plant 

 life, but much of it was free from this, and the creek bed was covered 

 with gravel and bowlders. From the creek we took three species of 

 suckers, a wall-eyed pike, a mooneye, a few darters, and several species 

 of minnows. The next day after we were there a fisherman caught an 

 18-inch gar in the same creek, which we examined. 



Smith Greek Hows into Crow Creek near where we fished the latter. 

 It is a small stream, with veiy little running water, but a few pools 

 range from 2 to 1 feet deep and from S to 30 feet wide. These pools 

 contain stagnant water, great mats of aquatic vegetation, and the bot- 

 tom is covered with soft mud ranging in depth from 1 to 2 feet. Much 

 marsh gas bubbled up through the water when the mud was disturbed. 

 In some places a few trees and shrubs lined the banks. 



It is worthy of notice that all these streams, as was the case with 

 those at Mitchell and Scotland, are made up of more or less discon- 

 nected pools. 



White River rises in the northwestern county of Nebraska, ilows 

 through southwestern South Dakota, and empties into the Missouri 

 River near Chamberlain, S. Dak. In its entire course this river Hows 

 through a dry, barren, and worthless country, some of it — the Bad 

 Lands — being among the most desolate regions found in the United 

 States. The soil and the water arc of such a nature as will support but 

 few forms of plant life and the condition of the water limits the forms 

 of animal life. The so-called alkali is found in the water, even up to 

 the very head of the river, in small quantities. We examined White 

 River at Crawford and Chadron, Xebr., and at Chamberlain, S. Dak. 

 At Crawford the stream was 15 feet wide, 1 \ feet deep, and discharged 

 9,450 gallons per minute. The water was clear, and in places there 

 was considerable plant life. The banks had at rhis place a few bushes. 

 We iished it here and took at least four species of fishes. xVt Chadron 

 the stream was about the same size as at Crawford, and flowed through 

 a similar country, but the water was more milky in color, which is a 

 characteristic of the water of this region. There was no visible vege- 

 tation in the water here, but the banks supported a few small trees and 

 shrubs. The fishes were -not numerous, and all were white in color, 

 bleached by the action of the alkaline water. Near Chamberlain, at the 

 mouth of the river, the stream was 273 feet wide, averaged 10 inches 

 deep,and discharged 153,500 gallons per minute. The banks supported 

 but little vegetation, consisting of a few bushes; the bottom was grav- 

 elly in places, of quicksand in others, and in still others it was covered 

 with a layer of fine mud. This line mud was so near the same specific 

 gravity as the water that where undisturbed it was held in suspension 



