ANNOTATED LIST OF FISHES 



109 



forming an excellent habitat for several forms of animal life, particularly for the larval 

 mosquitoes. The soil in this section exceeds the average in fertility and it supports 

 a well-settled rural community. For this reason the pond is overfished. Large 

 numbers of Gambusia are present, however, and it is probable that under less dis- 

 turbed conditions a plentiful stock of the larger species also would be found there. 



HADLEY OK ALLEN LAKE 



Near the Grenada Road, at a distance of about 4 miles northeast of Greenwood, 

 is situated one of the characteristic lakes of the Delta region. It has the appearance 

 of a lagoon, being encircled by a tall cypress growth, which extends into the water 

 to a depth of 4 or 5 feet, and as a dense shade is afforded, small marginal plants are 

 virtually absent. This lake doubtless occupies an old river bed. It is about 1 mile 

 long, 200 feet wide, and of moderate depth, with water, when visited, of medium 

 turbidity. 



Seines can not be used in waters of this type, as the cypress, upon completing 

 its growth and falling into the water, apparently undergoes decay very slowly, 

 causing the floor of the lake to be covered to such an extent that to use even small 

 seines is out of the question. The result is that the fish have acquired an unusual 

 degree of protection. Collecting was accomplished with copper sulphate, which was 

 applied to a shallow pool, which had become separated because of a lower water 

 level, at one end of the lake, and from the sample thus obtained it was quite evident 

 that large fish abound in this lake. 



ROEBUCK LAKE 



Roebuck Lake occupies an old stream bed. It has a length of about 9 miles 

 and an average width of 300 feet, giving it much the appearance of a river. Its 

 maximum depth is about 12 feet, becoming quite shallow toward the ends, however. 

 A scattered cypress growth is present along perhaps two-thirds of the shore line, the 

 remainder being bordered by meadow lands. Fish of marketable size are present 

 in quantities. One set with a 300-foot seine commonly yielded 200 pounds of edible 

 fish. Other forms of life, particularly turtles, also abound. 



Collections were made at two localities in Roebuck Lake, first along the shore 

 at the foot of a meadow near the town of Itta Bena and next near one extremity of 

 the lake, some 23^ miles southeast of Itta Bena. This latter section is surrounded 

 by cypress trees, but the width is such that a considerable unobstructed area is 

 available in the center, where seining is practicable, the water being only waist deep. 

 Several collections in both of these places showed that the fish were much more plenti- 

 ful in the deeper section, where the banks were largely clear of timbers. The buffalo- 

 fish and the gar were the only species found in the timber-bordered section, while a 

 considerable variety was present where more favorable conditions existed. 



PELUCIA CREEK 



The delta region terminates rather abruptly about 6 miles east of Greenwood, 

 where a rapid incline marks the beginning of the uplands. Pelucia Creek, at a point 

 near the Carrollton Road quite close to the foot of this incline, was visited. With 

 an ordinary flow, this stream is 30 feet wide and about knee deep. It is subject to 



