REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF KENTUCKY 
261 
TRADEWATER RIVER. 
Tradewater River rises in Christian County, Ky., and flows in a northwesterly 
direction to the Ohio River, which stream it joins in Union County, 60 miles above 
Paducah. It is about 70 miles long, flowing for most of its length just inside of the 
western coal region. Dawson Springs is probably 45 miles from its mouth. The 
stream at this place is from 20 to 30 yards wide; the banks are low and steep, without 
sand or gravel. The bottom is composed almost entirely of mud, but there is an out- 
crop of rock at the mill affording a rocky bottom for a few yards. The river is warm 
and sluggish, and never very clear, apparently not receiving a very large supply of 
spring water, although several springs were noticed at the mill. It is well stocked 
with several varieties of fishes, one of the most abundant being the small-mouthed 
black bass, or “trout”, as it is commonly called in Kentucky. This locality is not 
favorable for collecting, as the stream is full of logs, brush, and roots. The examination 
was made at the mill, one-half mile southeast of Dawson, and at the railroad bridge, 
three-quarters of a mile south of Dawson, July 26 ; water temperature, 82° F. 
FISHES OF THE TRADEWATER RIVER. 
1. Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). Common garfish. Very abundant, as many as four, measuring 
from 2 to 3 feet long, being taken at one haul of the seine. 
2. Lepisosteus platystomus (Rafinesque). Duck-billed gar. Not so common; only one specimen 
was taken. 
3. Carpiods carpio (Rafinesque). Carp sucker. Several specimens were taken. 
4. Catostomus nigricans (Le Sueur). Hog sucker. Not common. Scales, 47. 
5. Erimyzon sucetta oblongus Mitchill. Striped sucker. Only one specimen taken. Lateral line, 47. 
6. Moxostoma duquesnei (Le Sueur). Common sucker, redhorse. Common. 
7. Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque). Dough-belly. Rare. Specimens all small. 
8. Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). Blunt-nosed minnow. Abundant. 
9. Notropis deliciosus (Girard). Not common. Three specimens were taken, the largest measuring 
54 millimeters. A faint spot before dorsal; snout broad, with a dark band passing around it; 
eye, 2f in head; lateral line, 34; 13 scales before dorsal. 
10. Notropis megalops (Rafinesque). Shiner. Rare; five specimens taken. 
11. Notropis umbratilis cyanocephalus Copeland. Quite common. Spot before dorsal indistinct. 
12. Notropis atherinoides (Rafinesque). Silvery minnow. Common. The largest measured as fol- 
lows: Length, 80 millimeters; head, 16; depth, 15; eye, 5j; lateral line, 40. Silvery band 
extending above the lateral line over 2-k rows of scales. 
13. Hybopsis amblops (Rafinesque). Silver chub. Not common. Largest specimen 56 millimeters 
in length. 
14. Zygonectes notatus (Rafinesque). Top minnow. Rare; specimens all small. 
15. Labidesthes sicculus Cope. Brook silverside. One specimen taken. 
16. Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque. Common eel. Common. Several specimens measuring at least. 
2 feet in length were taken. 
17. Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. Crappie. Common. 
18. Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). Long-eared sunfish. Abundant. 
19. Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Blue sunfish. Rare. 
20. Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque. Two specimens taken. Length, 67 and 63 millimeters ; depth, 
28 and 25; head, 24 and 21. Dorsal spines high and rather slender; pectorals reaching third 
anal spine. The bars of bright orange spots were quite conspicuous in life, but fading in 
spirits, so that they are scarcely visible. Seales in lateral line, 41 and 42. 
21. Micropterus dolomieu Lac6pede. Small-moutlied black bass. Probably the most abundant of all 
the spiny-rayed fishes. 
22. Micropterus salmoides (Lacdpede). Large-mouthed black bass. Not so common as H. dolomieu. 
