386 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



7. Lepisosteus osseus (Linmuus). Long-nosed Gar. Kansas River near Fort Riley 



(as L. otarius type, Cope, 1865) ; pools of the Missouri near mouth of Battle 

 Creek, S. Dak. (as L. otarius, Cope, 1879); Osage River and tributaries and 

 Missouri River at St. Joseph (Jordan & Meek, 1885) ; common in all streams 

 of Kansas (Graham, 1885) ; Kansas and Osage rivers (Cragin, 1885a) ; Solomon 

 River at Beloit (Hay, 1887); Spirit Lake (Meek, 1894). It was reported to 

 us as being seen frequently in the Missouri at Niobrara and Chamberlain, 

 and in the White River near the latter place. We examined one large 

 example, 2i feet long, which was taken in Crow Creek, near Chamberlain, 

 while we were there. The distance from the tip of the bill to the eye was 

 6^ inches, or about one-fifth total length. There were no dark spots except 

 on the caudal and one on the dorsal fin. 



8. Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque. Short-nosed Gar. Pools of the Missouri 



River near Battle Creek, S. Dak. (as Lepidosteus productus, Cope, 1879); 

 Kansas River (Graham, 1885); Kansas River at Topeka and Osage River 

 (Cragin, 1885a). Not seen by us. 



9. Amia calva Linmeus. Mudfish; Dogfish. Not seen by us. The only record for 



the upper Missouri is that of Cope in 1865, who reports it from '•' Platte 

 [Kansas] River, Fort Riley." It is also recorded from the branches of Mis- 

 souri River, Osage River, etc. (Graham, 1885). This species doubtless occurs 

 in all the bayous along the lower Missouri. 



10. Ictalurus furcatus (Le Sueur). Chuckle-head Cat. Missouri River, Leaven- 



worth, Kans. (Gilbert, 1885) ; Missouri River, St. Joseph (Jordan & Meek, 

 1885) ; "Large streams" [in Kansas] (Graham, 1885) ; Kansas River and 

 Osage River (Cragin, 1885a). 



11. Ictaluru3 punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Cat ; Blue Cat. Fort Pierre, Nebr. ; 



Milk and Yellowstone rivers; and Nebraska (as Pimelodus olivaceus types, 

 Girard, 1858) ; Fort Riley, Kans. (as Pimelodus hammondii and Pimelodus notatus 

 types, Abbott, 1860) ; Milk River (as Pimelodus olivaceus, Suckley, 1860) ; "Big 

 Sandy River of Kansas" [Platte River] (as Ictalurus simpsonii type, Gill, 

 1862 and 1876) ; Kansas River near Fort Riley (as I. caruleus and I. notatus, 

 Cope, 1865) ; Big Muddy River (Jordan, 1878) ; Missouri River pools near 

 . mouth of Battle Creek, S. Dak. (Cope, 1879); Hundred and Two River at 



Bedford, Iowa, and Mary ville, Mo. ; Missouri River at St. Joseph ; Tabo 

 Creek at Lexington, Mo. ; Grand and Osage rivers at Clinton, Mo. (Jordan & 

 Meek, 1885); "quite common" [in Kansas] (Graham, 1885); Ward Creek, 

 Shawnee County, Kans. (Gilbert, 1885); Kansas River, Silver Lake, Ward 

 Creek, Mill Creek, Manhattan, Blue River, and Osage River (Cragin, 1885a); 

 Blacksmith and Mission creeks, Shawnee County, Kans. (Gilbert, 1886) ; 

 Republican River at Concordia, Saline River at Wakeeney, and Solomon 

 River at Beloit (Hay, 1887); Piney River, Texas County, Mo. (Call, 1887); 

 Osage River at La Cygne, Kans.; Solomon River at Harlan, Kans. (Gilbert, 

 1889); Gasconade River, Mo. (Meek, 1891); Missouri River at St. Joseph 

 and Big Sioux River at Sioux City (Meek, 1892). 



Obtained by us at the following localities: White River at Chamberlain; 

 Choteau Creek at Springfield ; Bazile Creek at Niobrara ; South Loup River 

 and Mud Creek at Ravenna, and Clear Creek at Clermont, Wyo. It was also 

 obtained by Professor Meek in Blue River at Crete, Salt Creek at Lincoln, 

 and at Fremont in the Elkhorn and Platte rivers (Meek, 1894). In most of 

 the streams where we found this fish at all it was rather abundant, but not 

 many specimens were saved. It was especially abundant in White River 

 near Chamberlain and in the channel of South Loup River. Most of the 

 individuals seen were young fish. The largest were a 15-inch specimen at 

 Ravenna and one 16 inches long at Clermont. One of the best and most 

 valuable food-fishes of tbe lower and middle Missouri Basin. 



