64 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED ^ TATES FISH COMMISSION. 
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS. 
GALVESTON BAY. 
Investigations were made at various places in the vicinity of Galveston for the 
purpose of determining whether the conditions necessary for the culture of fresh- 
water fislifes, salt-water fishes, and oysters could be found combined in one place. 
This, of course, means a location on or near the bay where salt water can be gotten 
under control and where fresh water can also be obtained. With this object in view 
visits were made to Dickinson, Fairwood, Hitchcock, and Highland, all on the main- 
land across the West Bay from Galveston; to Swan Lake and Moses Lake, on the 
mainland northwest of Galveston ; and to South Galveston on the island. 
FRESH WATER. 
The only possibility of obtaining fresh water at any of these places is by means 
of artesian wells. There are not fewer than sixteen artesian wells on the mainland in 
the vicinity of Dickinson, Highland, Hitchcock, and Fairwood. The deepest of these 
is 768 feet, and the most shallow about 80 feet. 
One well at the Ramie experimental farm on the Nicholstone estate, having a 
2-inch strainer, (lows 40 gallons per minute. The temperature of the water is 78°. 
Another well near Dickinson flows about 25 gallons per minute; temperature, 78°. 
At Fairwood is a well 576 feet deep, with a 2-inch strainer, which flow r s not less 
than 52 gallons per minute. The temperature is 78.5°. No analysis of this water has 
been made, but it is palatable and seems approximately pure. There is some car- 
bureted hydrogen and a trace of iron. 
Judge Wheeler’s well, near Hitchcock, is 768 feet deep, has a 2-incli strainer, and 
flows about 48 gallons per minute. The temperature is 78°. 
The Tacquard well, near Hitchcock, is 710 feet deep, has a 2-incli strainer, and 
flows 100 gallons per minute. The temperature is 79°. The height to which the water 
will rise above the surface at this well was found to be about 20 feet. 
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe well at Hitchcock is 726 feet deep. It has a 5-inch 
strainer, 30 feet long, and flows 97,000 gallons per day, or 67 gallons per minute. An 
analysis made April 23, 1890, by W. D. Church, chemist for the Atchison, Topeka and 
Santa Fe Railroad, Topeka, gave the following results : 
Organic matter Trace. 
Silica 350 
Alumina and oxide of iron . 250 
Bicarbonate of calcium 3. 499 
Bicarbonate of magnesium 1. 500 
Bicarbonate of potassium and sodium 17. 221 
Sodium chloride 9.660 
Total solids (grains) per United States gallon. 32.480 
The temperature at outlet of pipe was 79°; density, at 15° C., 1001.91. 
The South Galveston well is 800 feet deep, and has a 3-inch pipe with a 2-inch 
strainer. It flows 37 gallons per minute, and the temperature of the water as it comes 
from the pipe is 79.5°. The density at this temperature was 1002, which, reduced to 
15° C., gives 1004.24. 
