FISH-CULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS IN TEXAS. 
71 
the water and are well covered with a good growth of small timber, chiefly post oak, 
with some hickory, gum, and mulberry. The bottom is of sand in most places, the 
north shore being a sandy beach sloping gradually to deep water. This small lake is 
well supplied with valuable food-fishes, and is a favorite fishing-place for the people of 
Palestine. Large-mouthed black bass, crappie, gaspergou, war-mouth, sunfish, channel 
cat, and buffalo are all abundant here. Crawfish, sh rimps, and a large mussel (Anodonta 
corpulent a) were quite common. 
NECHES RIVER. 
This stream rises in the northern part of the State, near Canton, and flows south- 
east to Sabine Bay, into which it empties. It is much the same kind of a river as the 
Trinity, except that it is smaller. We examined the Neelies River in the vicinity 
of the Palestine and Rusk Railroad Bridge, about 14 miles east of Palestine. Recent 
rains had put the river up out of its banks and made it about 300 feet wide and perhaps 
8 feet deep. At low water it is here probably less than 30 feet wide. There was not 
much current and the water was muddy. The temperature of the water was 49.5° 
when that of the air was 63°. The banks are not high, and are of red clay and sand, 
there being some sandstone and clay ironstone in places. The banks are well 
timbered, oaks, pines, gum, and button willows being the most abundant. Collections 
were made in the river and in small ponds and a small branch near by. The fish 
found are essentially the same species as found in the Trinity River. A good many 
fresh water shrimps and several crawfish were taken. 
CORPUS CHRISTI. 
Four days were spent at this place, but, as there seems to be no possibility of 
obtaining fresh water here, we did not examine the bay thoroughly. Corpus Christ! 
Bay, however, and Matagorda Bay above it, are among the best oyster grounds on 
the Texas coast. Near the town is an oyster reef 3 miles long, which is used as a 
wagon road across an arm of the bay. The oysters on this reef are very abundant and 
of good quality. The Givens Oyster Company, organized at Corpus Christi about 
two years ago, is building up a large business. They obtain most of their oysters from 
Matagorda Bay. 
SAN ANTONIO RIVER. 
This river has its origin in a number of very large springs about 3 miles north of 
the city of Ban Antonio, upon the beautiful grounds of Col. Brackenridge. These 
springs come out in several places, close together, from a ledge of Cretaceous lime 
stone. The minimum flow from the entire group of springs has been estimated at 
‘ 22,500 gallons per minute, and the maximum at as great as 180,000 gallons. The 
average flow for the year is probably not less than 90,000 gallons per minute. The 
flow varies a great deal, and is said to be greatest following heavy rains in the Devil 
River region, 200 miles or more in the interior. The temperature of the water in all 
the springs of the group is about the same, being about 75° at noon, December 2. 
The water is very clear and, like all limestone water, appears blue in the deep places. 
The water from all these springs soon unites to form San Antonio River, a swiftly 
flowing stream, 20 to 40 feet wide and 2 to 8 feet deep. 
