440 BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Clinch River. — We examined this river at Walker's ford about 8 miles in a direct line 

 southwest from Tazewell. At that place the river is about 400 feet wide, shallow, and 

 easily waded in most places. The current is swift, and there are many small islands in 

 the river. The rocks are chiefly limestone, but one bed of shale was noticed. The soil 

 is thin, and agriculture is practically confined to the narrow valleys. 



This stream is well supplied with fishes, the species of minnows, darters, and suck- 

 ers being especially numerous. The Clinch River is also remarkable for its rich mollus- 

 cous fauna, the species of gasteropods being especially abundant and interesting. 



Three small creeks enter the Clinch River at or near Walker's ford. Bear Creek 

 joins it from the northeast and Flint Creek from the south, their mouths being almost 

 directly opposite each other. Just above the ford the river has cut its way through 

 Lone Mountain, and just below the ford it has cut in a similar way through Wallen's 

 ridge, below which Straight Creek enters the Clinch from the northeast. 



Ousley Spring. — This spring, about 8 miles from Tazewell, flows approximately 

 500 gallons per minute. It is surrounded by trees. The stream formed by the spring 

 is nearly 2,% feet wide, 2 to 4 inches deep, and has a 2-foot current. The temperature 

 was 55.5° F., the coldest we found in Tennessee. The stream comes out near the base 

 of a limestone ledge on the left side of the road going to Walker's ford, and flows across 

 the road and into a meadow. 



CUMBERLAND GAP, OCTOBER 1 4 TO 1 9. 



Cumberland Gap, about 1 2 miles in a direct line northwest of Tazewell, is an interest- 

 ing locality from a geological point of view. The upper strata on either side of the Gap 

 are of red sandstone, the lower strata east of the Gap of limestone, all in nearly horizontal 

 strata. But in the Gap there is a mass of shale or slate through which a railway tunnel 

 has been driven. We did not work out the relations of these strata, but the slate in 

 the Gap and not east of it at the same level suggests an old anticlinal which has been 

 covered by nearly horizontal strata of limestones and sandstones. In the cave just east 

 of the Gap the strata seem to dip a little toward the west, at least the stream in the cave 

 crowds the west wall which overhangs the stream. The cave exhibits well several 

 kinds of cave action. By mechanical action and by solution the stream is enlarging 

 the cave downward and sidewise. Rocks falling from above furnish material for rock 

 fragments which aid in erosion, while they are dissolved by the water and broken upon 

 each other. In other places the fallen rocks are cemented together by stalagmitic matter 

 from dripping water, and in some cases chambers are being obliterated by the growth 

 of stalactites which serve as pillars to prevent the rocks from falling, and then the room 

 is at length filled by the slowly forming stalagmite. Soil thin. Forests of chestnut and 

 oak, some pine, maple, sassafras, etc. 



King Solomons Cave. — This cave was examined October 14. One enters the cave 

 through a house built over its mouth. The descent of 1 5 to 20 feet into the cave is made 

 by a winding stairway. After going some little distance a small creek about 10 feet wide 

 and 18 inches deep is reached. Several hauls were made with a small seine, but no 

 fish were found. It is doubtful if any are there. The only animal life noted were two 

 salamanders, crickets, flies (probably two species), one spider, a beetle, and a worm. 

 A species of mould was abundant. At the mouth of the cave we caught two specimens 

 of Rhinichthys atronasus which had been put there by the owner of the house. 



