298 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
HILLSBORO RIVER. 
The Hillsboro River , one of the larger rivers of the western slope of Florida, rises 
in the western part of Polk County, in a low watershed that separates the rivers flow- 
ing into Lake Okeechobee from those which empty into the Gulf. It is about 45 miles 
long and very sluggish, but of sufficient depth to be navigable for small boats to a 
distance of several miles above its mouth. The country which it drains is low except 
about its headwaters, where it is more or less rolling. Only three places were visited 
on this river and its tributaries, as follows : Pemberton Creek, Galliger Drain near 
Seffner, and Mill Creek at Kathleen. 
Pemberton Greek is a small tributary of the Little Hillsboro Eiver, draining sev- 
eral small lakes and flowing for the most part through an open country. Its banks 
are low, the bottom is covered with a few inches of mud, and in some places with a 
heavy growth of algae. Fishes were scarce, the few taken being found among the 
algae and other vegetation growing in the stream. The examination was made at 
Seffner, December 27, 1890 ; water temperature, 56° F. 
Galliger Drain is a large ditch-like stream, which drams several lakes and marshy 
prairies, and empties into Pemberton Creek. Its banks are steep and low, and the 
stream is narrow and deep, looking very much like an artificial waterway. It is filled 
in places with algae, grass, and other vegetation. Fishes were not abundant. The 
Drain was examined at Seffner, December 27, 1890; water temperature, 55° F. 
Mill Greek , a tributary of Hillsboro Eiver, is a small stream, only 12 or 15 feet 
wide, and 2 to 4 feet deep. It was seined one-half mile southeast of Kathleen, at the 
“Old Mill,” December 29, 1890. The stream contained much vegetation and an 
abundance of fishes. The water temperature was 52° F. 
In the following list P denotes Pemberton Creek; G, Galliger Drain; and M, Mill 
Creek : 
FISHES OF HILLSBORO RIVER. 
1. Lepisosteus platystomus Rafmesqtie. Gar-pike. (M.) One large specimen was taken. Color 
dark brown above, decorated with darker spots, from 4 to 10 millimeters in diameter, scat- 
tered irregularly over the body and head ; lighter below, but with the same black spots ; 
opercles 1 with a very heavy silvery pigment showing at intervals. 
2 . Erimyzon sucetta Lac^pfede. (M.) Rare. Black lateral band very distinct ; specimens large. 
3. Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur). (P.) Rare. Color very light for a specimen coming from these 
waters. 
4. Notropis roseus Jordan. Not common. Specimens all young. 
5. Gambusia patruelis (Baird and Girard). (P, G, M.) Abundant. Total length of largest speci- 
mens, 50, 49, 45, 44, 44 millimeters. 
6. Jordanella floridae Goode and Bean. (P.) Very rare. Length, 35; depth, 11 ; lateral line, 27. 
7. Labidesthes sicculus Cope. Brook silverside. (P, G.) Very abundant. 
8. Chsenobryttus gulosus (Cuv. &Val.). War-mouth. (P, G, M.) Not common. Several small 
specimens were taken in Mill Creek. 
9. Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Blue sunfish. (P, G, M.) Common. Several very large specimens 
were obtained ; the specimens from Mill Creek show eight well-defined crossbars, four scales 
in width. 
10 . Lepomis holbrooki (Cuv. & Val.). (M.) Rare. 
11 . Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). Long -eared sunfish . (P, G, M.) Common. 
12 . Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Large-moutlied black bass. (P, G.) Quite common. 
