438 BULI.ETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The stream below the mill is well suited to such small fishes as darters and minnows, 

 and we found lo or 12 species of these two families. Smallmouth black bass and rock 

 bass are abundant farther down the stream. 



Norvel Spring. — This spring is situated about 7 miles east of Athens, or 2 miles 

 north of Tellico Junction. This, like all other springs of east Tennessee, comes out of 

 limestone rock. The stream, measured 2 rods below the spring, was found to be 52 

 inches wide, 4 inches deep, and to flow 1^5 feet per second, which would give a volume 

 of more than 1,000 gallons per minute. The temperature of the water was 59° F. at 

 9 a. m. when the air was 67° F. 



The opening through which the spring issues from the rock is unusually large, and 

 the sound of running water from some distance back of the opening can be distinctly 

 heard. It was stated that on at least one occasion, during a heavy rain, cornstalks and 

 other surface rubbish came up in the spring; these, presumably, had been carried under- 

 ground through some "sink" connected with the stream somewhere. At such times the 

 water must necessarily become more or less muddy. 



Eastaunaula Creek. — This is a small stream flowing southwest through the town of 

 Athens and joining the Hiawassee near Calhoun. The water is relatively warm and the 

 species of fishes found were chiefly minnows and darters. 



TELLICO PLAINS, TENN., OCTOBER 7 TO 9. 



On Tellico River, about 20 miles east of Athens, the rocks are metamorphic; no lime- 

 stone seen; only slates, schists, granites, and other forms of metamorphic rocks; soil 

 scanty. Timber varied; fewer oak, more pine, chestnut, black walnut, maple, beech, 

 dogwood, ash, hickory, whitewood, sweet gum, and others were seen. Water plants 

 were not abundant and those found were different from any observed before. Between 

 Athens and Tellico mainly limestone with much red soil. 



The Tellico River at Tellico Plains breaks through the last important foothills of 

 the Great Smoky Mountains, turns abruptly northward, and joins the Little Tennessee 

 about 30 miles northeast of Athens. The Tellico is one of the most beautiful and inter- 

 esting of the many fine streams which have their sources in the Great Smokies. At 

 Tellico Plains it is a cold clear stream about 60 feet wide. Its banks, however, are 80 

 to 90 feet apart, so that in high water the stream is considerably wider. The granite 

 axis of the fold flanked by shale is shown here. Just above the "Mansion" house the 

 stream flowing over the upturned edges of this shale, whose dip is upstream, causes a 

 very pretty series of rapids when the water is not too low, otherwise a series of isolated 

 streams and pools i to 4 feet deep. The river here averaged perhaps 2 feet deep and 

 had a very swift current. Lower down in the more level country the current is less rapid 

 and the depth is correspondingly greater. In the more rapid portions of the river the 

 rocks are covered with a species of moss which adheres very closely to them and among 

 which small mollusks and insect larvse were abundant. The principal fishes in this part 

 of the stream were darters, which were found to be quite plentiful. In the deeper and 

 more quiet water the smallmouth black bass, pike {Lucius), wall-eyed pike, and goggle- 

 eye are abundant, affording much sport to local fishermen. 



The upper portion of this river would apparently prove very suitable for trout, 

 unless the rapacious species already mentioned be too numerous. 



