18 



MUSSEL FAUNA OF MAUMEE EIVER. 



Station C. Spy Run. — Spy Eun is the name of a small shallow 

 stream which enters the St. Mary's about a half mile above its mouth. 

 The bottom is of fine sand and the water at the time visited was 

 quite clear. There were many small fishes, chiefly the johnny darter 

 (Boleosoma nigrum)^ a few golden shiners {Ahramis crysoleucas) 

 and chubs {Semotilus atromaculatiis) ^ and a number of crawfishes, 

 all free from Protozoa. No living mussels were found, but about a 

 dozen dead shells, all of which, except fragments of one Lampsilis 

 iris, were Anodontoides feriissaciamis suhcylindraceus. 



ST. JOSEPH EIVER AND FEEDER CANAL. 



The St. Joseph River, more commonly known by the shortened 

 local name St. Joe, is a larger and clearer stream than the St. Marys, 

 and since only the very lowest portion of its course enters the city, 

 it is much freer from sewage. 



Station D. St. Joseph River at Robinson Park, 6 miles north of 

 Fort W ayne. — The highest point at which the St. Joseph River was 

 examined was at Robinson Park, a pleasure resort about 6 miles 

 above the city. This point could easily be reached by trolley. Con- 

 siderable change had taken place in the river here within the last few 

 years. At the time the park was established there was a dam in the 

 river which had kept the feeder canal, just above, full of water. This 

 had raised the water of the river and had expanded it somewhat into 

 a quiet, pondlike basin. The breaking of the dam had reduced the 

 water to its normal height and emptied the canal. 



At the time of our visit the river was rather high and turbid from 

 recent rains. We procured a boat and rake at the park and rowed 

 up to the riffles about half a mile above the park, examining the river 

 and shore. 



There was a fair number of shells scattered along here, all of 

 which were large and of excellent luster. The large shells found at 

 the park itself had been dead some time, and may have been killed 

 by the lowering of the water when the dam broke; the Lampsilis 

 luteolus were exceptionally large and fine. Farther up the stream 

 large dead shells were collected on the bank, chiefly Qiiadrida undu- 

 lata. They were freshly dead and had probably been killed for bait. 

 On investigating the river it was found full of snags in some places ; 

 in others the bottom was of hard clay, too compact for mussels to 

 live in. In the beds of gravel where mussels were likely to be found 

 the bottom was full of sharp rocks which in the turbid water were 

 difficult to distinguish from mussels, so that collecting the latter was 

 uncertain. We found very few live shells, but were told that they 

 were easy to obtain when the water was low and clear. 



