302 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the native fishes. All of these rivers at the time of our visit were con- 

 siderably above their ordinary stage of water. At the railroad bridge 

 across the Neches at Beaumont the river was about 300 feet wide and 

 30 feet deep, being at least 2 feet higher than usual at that season. 

 The water was very muddy and the banks were covered with soft mud. 

 We were told that the water of this river never becomes clear, but 

 always remains nearly or quite as muddy as it then was. 



There is usually a rise in the river early each spring and another 

 later, which is known as the "June rise." In June, 1884, it was said 

 to have been about 15 feet higher than when seen by us. 



Lake Sabine, into which flow both the Neches and Sabine rivers, is 

 some 28 or 30 miles long and 2 or 3 miles wide, and is always salt or 

 brackish. Such fishes as red drum, sheepshead, and sea trout are 

 caught in large numbers in this lake and about Sabine Pass. 



The principal fishes found in the two rivers near Beaumont are blue 

 cat, yellow cat, bufialo, gaspergou, and gar. 



At Bonners Ferry the Neches River was several feet above low- water 

 mark and had been higher recently. The banks had been overflowed 

 and were still very muddy. The soil of the region consists of yellow 

 clay, with some sand. The river at this place was about 40 feet wide 

 and was flowing with a strong current. The water was red with clay 

 mud carried in suspension. The temperature of the water, at 10 a. m. 

 April 28, was 70°. 



Among the fishes occurring in this portion of the river are the blue 

 cat, said to reach a weight of 85 pounds; goujon, or "Opelousas cat" 

 (Leptops olivaris), reaching a weight of 100 pounds; black and white 

 buffalo, each attaining a weight of 20 to 35 pounds; gaspergou, which 

 grow to 20 pounds; alligator gar, reaching a length of 7 or 8 feet; sun 

 perch; large-mouth black bass (locally called green trout), common in 

 the ponds; hickory shad or "scissor belly" (Dorosoma cepedianum) ; 

 spoonbill cat; and grindle (Amia calva) in the ponds. Carp, which 

 were planted in this river several years ago, are said to be rather 

 common now and are regarded as a good food-fish. 



The Angelina River at Michelli was at the time of our visit 40 to 50 feet 

 wide and 10 to 14 feet deep. It was safd to be 5 or 6 feet higher than 

 usual and was overflowing its banks. The water was very muddy and 

 full of floating debris. The temperature of the water at 3 p. m., April 28, 

 was 72.5°, when the air was 80.5°. Some collecting was done in a small 

 bayou and in some overflow ponds, and the following species obtained: 

 Large-mouth black bass, 1 species of sunfish (Lepomis garmani), calico 

 bass, 3 species of darters {Percina caprodes, Boleosoma camurum, and 

 Etheostoma jessice), pirate perch, skipjack, top minnow (Fundulus nota- 

 tus), Fundulus pallidus, Gambusia affinis, little pickerel, Notropis note- 

 migonoides, Notropis venustus, Cliola vigilax, roach (Abramis crysoleucas), 

 Opsopceodus emilicBj and Hybognathus nuchale. The following additional 

 species are reported by fishermen to occur there : Goujon or " abaloosie," 

 blue cat, white buffalo, black buffalo, "shovel-bill" cat, gaspergou, alii- 



