290 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



toward the interior, while the lower portions of the bayous are invaded 

 by many species of salt-water and brackish-water fishes, such as red 

 drum, sheepshead, mullet, flounder, croaker, needlefish, black drum, 

 speckled sea-trout, porpoise, dogfish, pipefish, and the like. 



That portion of Mulatto Bayou lying above Sea Glen usually remains 

 practically fresh throughout the year. A short distance above Sea 

 Glen such freshwater species as large-mouthed black bass, "goggle- 

 eye," and crappie may be found at any time. At the time of our visit 

 the fresh- water species mentioned above were found in all of the bayous 

 named. The brackish-water species were not common anywhere, and 

 were not found at all at any considerable distance from Lake Borgne. 

 Even in that lake they were very rare. The water in all the bayous 

 was dark in color on account of mud and other impurities brought 

 down by Pearl River. The temperature of the water at the surface was 

 usually a few degrees warmer than that of the air. In Bayou Isle aux 

 Pois, when the air was 64° the surface of the water was 67° to 68°, 

 and at the bottom (10 feet) it was 65°. The surface in Pearl River at 

 11 a. m. was 68°, that of Black Bayou was 70°. On April 17 the surface 

 temperature of Lake Borgne was 69° when the air was 62.5°. 



Considerable collecting was done in the several bayous and speci- 

 mens of most of the fishes to be found there at that season were 

 secured. These were, of course, principally freshwater species. The 

 anglers who resort to this region during the spring depend upon 

 these fresh-water species, or else go farther out, where they can get 

 sheepshead, red drum, and other salt-water species. During summer 

 and fall only the salt-water species can be obtained, except in the 

 upper portions of the bayous. Most of the fresh- water fishes seem to 

 be quite abundant. The crappie (Pomoxis annularis), however, seems 

 far scarcer than it should be under the favorable environment which 

 obtains in the upper portion of Mulatto Bayou and neighboring bayous, 

 and it is recommended that a large plant of that species be made in 

 those waters. 



ATCHAFALAYA RIVER, LOUISIANA. 



The investigations on this river were for the purpose of determining 

 the character and extent of the catfish fishery, the fact and cause or 

 causes of the alleged decrease in the catch during the last three or four 

 years, and to determine what remedial measures, if any, should be 

 recommended. 



As this business centers chiefly at Morgan City, most of our inves- 

 tigations were made at that point. We were able at this place to 

 examine the fish brought in by the fishing tugs and to obtain the statis- 

 tics of the fishery. Mr. Chamberlain spent several days at Melville 

 making similar inquiries. A three days' trip which Professor Ever- 

 mann took on one of the tugboats, while on its regular trip collecting 

 the catches of the individual fishermen, afforded an excellent oppor- 

 tunity to observe the method of the fishery. The Atchafalaya River 



