Biological Survey — Oswego Watershed 



21 



high water temperatures encountered at Ithaca are not possible 

 in the Fish creek country. 



It is evident that Table 1 cannot be used for altitudes much 

 above 1,000 feet in New York, and the following revision is pro- 

 posed for such elevations with the understanding that Hs limita- 

 tions are unknown. 



Table 4. — Showing Pkobable Relation of Maximum Air and Water Tem- 

 peratures in the Upper Fish Creek Region, Lewis County, N. Y. 



Air temperature 



Temperature, Brook trout waters. 



82 I 



72 I 



With reference to the basses, sunfishes, perch, catfish and other 

 warm water kinds, it is important to know whether the water 

 becomes sufficiently warm to permit reproduction and normal 

 growth during the warmer half of the year. Experience during 

 the last two summers warrants the assumption that none of our 

 streams or lakes in central New York become too warm for such 

 species. Nor in fact have Ave found a single stream otherwise 

 suited to these fishes in which the summer water temperatures run 

 too low. It is rather a matter of size, type of bottom and current 

 which restricts distribution. 



Gaseous Content of Water. — -The dissolved oxygen and 

 carbon dioxide was given attention in but three types of waters, 

 namely, large springs and spring runs, polluted streams, and in 

 some of the colder and deeper ponds. Rapid unpolluted streams 

 are quite generally suitable for any species so far as the content 

 of dissolved gases is concerned, because the water is constantly 

 aerated through the agency of rapids and falls which tend to sat- 

 urate with oxygen and to liberate carbon dioxide and hydro- 

 gen sulphide when present. Many springs, however, are deficient 

 in oxygen and at the same time contain carbon dioxide in quantities 

 dangerous to fish. The matter is important, because, of the 

 practice of planting young trout in spring runs very often too close 

 to the place of origin, the spring itself. According to analyses 

 made by Mr. F. E. Wagner, the springs examined showed any- 

 where from a fraction of one part per million of oxygen (Price 

 spring near Auburn) to more than nine parts (Beaver brook spring- 

 near McLean) and carbon dioxide from 31 parts per million (York 

 Street spring, Auburn) down to one part (Beaver brook spring). 



Price spring about two miles north of Auburn may be taken 

 as an example of one forming a short run which is a tempting 

 place in which to plant brook trout, With a flow of 300 gallons 

 per minute more or less, it forms a brook a few hundred 

 yards long eventually uniting with North brook (Price brook or 

 Cold Spring). This latter is transformed from a warm troutless 

 stream into a cold one, which in the past has been locally famous 



