ai 
$ 
364 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. ) 
the Red River until within a few miles of that stream, where it joins 
the Cheyenne. The stream has cut for itself only a narrow, shallow 
valley, and winds leisurely along through the level country with almost — 
an imperceptible current. At the place examined the stream is about 
20 feet wide and 24 or 3 feet deep. The bed is of mud, with but little. 
sand or gravel, covered in many places with a thick growth of weeds, 
grasses, and rushes. Two species of ditch-weed are common. The. 
banks are almost devoid of vegetation; an occasional willow or box- | 
elder is all that can be found. The stream was thoroughly seined at 
the railroad bridge, but fish life was not abundant. Crawfish, leeches, | 
small crustaceans, water-snails, and clams were all well represented. 
A very large species of Planorbis was particularly abundant. The. 
water was warm, 78°. 
Buffalo River, Hawley, Minn., August 1.—This is a small stream about | 
50 miles long, rising in the White Earth Indian Reservation, Minn. It 
flows southwesterly for about half its length, and then turning toward | 
the northwest joins the Red River of the North at Georgetown. Haw- | 
ley is about 25 miles from the mouth of the stream. At this point the 
stream is 20 feet wide and 2 feet in average depth. The water is clear 
and the current rapid. The bed is of sand and small gravel, and almost. 
devoid of vegetation. The low banks are lined with small timber and > 
underbrush. The stream is well stocked with fish, but is obstructed | 
by several dams which prevent the running of the fish. The stream > 
contained rock bass, pickerel, catfish, minnows, and darters. A great , 
many clams were seen, and in several places the bed of the stream was 
almost covered with these animals. Crawfish wererare. Temperature | 
of the water, 70.5°. 
Goose River, Hillsboro, N. Dak., August 4.—Temperature of the water, 
70°; of the air, 73°. This is one of the small western tributaries of the 
Red River of the North, rising in the elevation between Devil Lake 
and the Red River. The course is southeast to its junction with the | 
Red, 12 miles from where it was examined. This stream has eroded 
avery deep, wide valley and the water flows. at the rate of 4 miles per | 
hour. The stream averages 20 feet in width, but has a flood-plain , 
nearly half a mile wide. The depth varies from 2 to 5 feet, and the 
water is cloudy. Algz, water weeds, and grass grow in the stream at 
the ripples. The banks and flood-plain are covered with trees which 
form a forest of maple, box-elder, and willow. These trees have fallen 
into the river until the channel is pretty well filled with brush and logs, 
The stream has evidently cut through the lake deposit and drift, since 
the banks and bed, in places, are formed of a tough blue clay and at 
intervals fragments of slate have accumulated. | 
The stream was a difficult one in which to make collections, but | 
Catostomus teres, Lucius lucius, Moxostoma macrolepidotum duquesnii, 
and a few other varieties were common. Many of the fishes, especially 
of the genus Notropis, were profusely covered with immature parasitic 
