Report upon the fishes of Kentucky. 
277 
8. Cutshin Creelc, August 24; water temperature, 68° F. The collecting station 
was 4 miles east of Hydeu and 3 miles from the point where this creek flows into the 
Middle Fork. Cutshin Creek is probably the largest eastern tributary of the Middle 
Fork, and is 25 or 30 miles long. The stream is rocky and swift, but quite deep in 
places; the bottom is of rock, with low steep banks and with frequent sandbars. 
The ripples are broad and shallow and devoid of vegetation. The stream is well 
stocked with fishes. Black bass ( M . dolomieu ), minnows, and darters are common, the 
bass being especially abundant, and Etheostoma spilotum and E. variation were also 
obtained. Twenty species in all were taken. 
THE NORTH FORK. 
9. North Fork, just south of Hazard, August 25; water temperature, 76° F. 
North Fork is the largest of the three rivers that unite to form the Kentucky. It is 
more open than either the South Fork or the Middle Fork, the valley being wider and 
the bed more sandy. It also contains many long sandbars and stretches of mud bottom. 
The water is clear and has considerable current. Crawfishes were more numerous than 
iu the other streams, and unios were abundant, the most common species being U. 
multiplicatus, U. ligamentinus , and U. anodontoides. Fishes were not so plentiful as 
in the South and Middle Forks, nor were so many species taken. The station was not 
a good one for obtaining darters, as the ripple was full of rocks. Catfishes ( Ictalurus 
pimetatus) and suckers ( Moxostoma duquesnei ) were secured in large quantities by 
means of traps and trot lines. The writer was indebted to Mrs. Elhannen Combs, of 
Hazard, Kentucky, for assistance between Hazard and Pikeville. 
10. Lot Creek , Hazard, August 26; water temperature, 74° F. This creek was 
examined 2 miles west of Hazard and 1 mile from its mouth. Lot Creek is a small 
eastern tributary of the North Fork, about 15 miles long and from 6 to 8 yards wide. 
The banks are low and steep, the bed is of sand and mud, with very little rock ex- 
posed. The stream is composed of a series of ponds, from 2 to 4 feet in depth, con- 
nected by short ripples running over fine gravel. The valley through which it flows 
is of loose soil; it is from a quarter to half a mile wide; willows, elms, and water birch 
overhang the stream. Bass, goggle-eyes, and sunfishes were very abundant; minnows, 
suckers, and darters were plentiful. The total number of species obtained was 21. 
11. Troublesome Creek, Dwarf, August 27 ; water temperature, 76° F. The collect- 
ing station was at the crossing of the Hazard and Hindman road, 12 miles northeast 
of Hazard and 9 miles west of Hindman. Troublesome Creek, the largest eastern 
tributary of the North Fork, rises in the eastern part of Knott County and flows 
northwest for more than 100 miles before joining the North Fork. The stream is 
swift and rocky, with an occasional sandbank. There are numerous deeper places, the 
bottoms of which are covered with large sandstones. The water is clear, cool, and 
devoid of plant life, except a few scattered bunches of water moss ( Fontinalis ). Col- 
lecting was restricted entirely to the ripples on account of the great number of stones 
in the deeper water. Bass, sunfish, and darters were the most common species. 
12. Left Troublesome Creek, at Hindman, August 28; water temperature, 68° F. 
This is a small stream with a sandy bottom, low sloping shores, and shallow water. 
But very few species of fishes were taken, Pimephales notatus, Ericymba buccata, and 
Notropis deliciosus being the most common. The darters were represented by only 
three species, the most abundant being Etheostoma cceruleum. 
