REPORT UPON THE FISHES OF KENTUCKY. 
265 
quantity of large, loose sandstones scattered over it. The ripples were very rocky 
and the water was very swift. Only a few species of fishes were taken, bass and sun- 
fishes being the most common. A few varieties of minnows were also comparatively 
plentiful. The soil is composed of a yellow clay; the bottom lands, where they are 
uncleared, are covered with willows, birch ( Betula nigra), elms, and cottonwoods (Popu- 
lus monilifera). 
6. Richland Greek , 1J miles west of Barbourville and near the mouth of Smoky 
Fork, August 14; water temperature, 68° F. The creek is small, only about 15 miles 
long, and at this point about 25 feet wide. It is quite rapid, flowing over a rocky 
bottom which is covered with mud in places. The water is from 1 to 4 feet in depth. 
But few species of fishes were taken. 
7. Smoky Fork, a small tributary of Richland Creek, was fished half a mile from 
its mouth. This stream has a sandy bottom, and the deeper water stood in small deep 
pools. The chub ( Hybopsis kentuckiensis ) was the most abundant species obtained. 
8. Cumberland River, Piueville, August 15; water temperature, 65° F. The exam- 
ination was made just below the bridge between the railroad station and the town. 
At this place the river flows over a fine ripple more than a quarter of a mile long. The 
bottom of the ripple is comparatively smooth, composed. of well-worn sandstones, par- 
tially imbedded in gravel and shale, with a few small bars of sand near the shore. 
The imbedded stones were fringed with an alga and Fontinalis. The water was swift 
and of a uniform depth, about 2 feet. This place offered the best facilities for collect- 
ing that were found in the river, but fish were very scarce. Black bass and goggle- 
eye were the most common species, but even these were not plentiful. Haul after haul 
was made without securing a single soft-rayed fish, but a few specimens of Fricymba 
buccata were taken. 
9. Straight Creek, Piueville, August 15; water temperature, 67° F. The collecting 
station was 2 miles above the mouth of the creek. Straight Creek is about 30 miles 
long, flowing just at the foot of, and parallel with, the Pine Mountains, and joins the 
Cumberland River at Pineville. It is neither rapid nor deep, but very broad and 
shallow for a mountain stream. The banks are low, but steep ; the bed of the creek is 
composed principally of sand, with large sandstones lying loose in the stream. The 
deepest water is not more than 5 feet, while in the more shallow places sandbars 
rise to the surface. The stream is a good one for collecting in, and was seined thor- 
oughly for nearly a mile, but with little success. Only a small number of species and 
but few specimens were taken. The only soft-rayed fish obtained in any number was 
Notropis whipplei. 
It is noticeable that fishes were more abundant in the Rockcastle River and its 
tributaries than in the Upper Cumberland and its tributaries. The reason for this is, 
probably, that the Rockcastle joins the Cumberland below the falls. 
In the following list of fishes, Clear Creek is designated by the letters Cl ; Rock- 
castle River, by R ; Richland Creek, by Ri ; Smoky Fork, by S ; Cumberland River 
at Barbourville, by CB; Cumberland River at Pineville, by CP; and Straight Creek, 
by St. Species marked with an asterisk (*) were collected in the Rockcastle River 
just below the railroad bridge, by Dr. Charles H. Gilbert, iu 1884; those marked 
with a dagger (f) were obtained in the same river near Livingston, by Drs. Jordan and 
Gilbert, in 1876. 
