144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
not been completed, and was, therefore, not in operation at the time of 
Prof. Meek’s visit.* 
IOWA. 
Prof. S. E. Meek, of Coe College, lowa, began in the summer of 1889 
a careful study of the fishes of Lowa, which was continued, with some 
intermissions, until into June, 1891. During this period he examined 
all the rivers in the State tributary to both the Mississippi and the 
Missouri, and also many of the smaller streams which empty into the 
former, as well as the principal lakes. Large collections of fishes were 
made, and upon them and his field observations Prof. Meek has based 
a very important report,t in which the fishes are classified in accord- 
ance with each river basin. 
Iowa is situated between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. 
Its surface is comparatively level, rising gradually toward the north 
and west. Many streams traverse it, the greater number and the 
larger ones flowing southeasterly into the Mississippi, the remainder 
southwesterly into the Missouri, the affluents of the former draining 
more than two-thirds of the entire area of the State. The vast agri- 
cultural industry for which the State is so conspicuous has apparently 
had much to do with changing the character of many of these streams, 
causing their deterioration and at the same time a decrease in the 
abundance of the better food-fishes. This is said to have been caused 
in large part by the breaking up of the original stiff sod of the prairies, 
which tended to prevent the rapid flowing of the waters after heavy 
rains toward the river channels, but ditching and underdraining have 
also been instrumental in this respect. Rivers which formerly had 
well defined, deep, and narrow channels have widened out and become 
more Shallow, overflowing their banks in the rainy season and losing 
most of their water during the succeeding months. The soil, loosened 
constantly for farming purposes, is also readily transported by the rain 
to fill the streams with sediment, which has caused the rapid disap- 
pearance of the trout. 
The streams of southwestern Lowa have mostly muddy bottoms, and 
comparatively few fishes, but elsewhere the currents are generally 
stronger, the bottom consists chiefly of sand, gravel, and rocks, and 
fishes are relatively abundant both as to species and individuals. There 
are very many dams throughout the State, few, if any, of which are 
provided with fishways, thus greatly interfering with the spawning 
instincts of many species. Thereare a number of large and fine springs 
*Report of explorations made in Missouri and Arkansas during 1889, with an ac- 
count of the fishes observed in each of the river basins examined. By Seth Eugene 
Meek. Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., 1x, for 1889, pp. 113-141, plate xiir. 
tA report upon the fishes of Iowa, based upon observations and collections made 
during the years 1889, 1890, and 1891. By Seth Eugene Meek. Bull. U.S. Fish 
Comm., x, 1890, pp, 217-248. 
