346 bulletin of the united states fish commission. 
At Paragould we did some seining in Eiglit-mile Creek, a western tributary of 
the St. Francis. This creek goes nearly dry in the summer. Like the bayou, it has a 
muddy and sandy bottom. The day before our visit a heavy thunder-shower had so 
swollen the stream as to render seining somewhat difficult and unsuccessful. 
The time at my disposal did not permit me to visit the Cache River which drains 
the western slope of Crowley Ridge. This river is much smaller than the St. 
Francis, but is reported as being of considerable importance from an ichthyological 
standpoint. It is also said to suffer in this respect on account of the large quantity 
of sawdust deposited in it by sawmills. The injury the sawdust does the tish is 
not fully appreciated by either citizens or sawmill men, or it is quite certain it would 
be stopped. 
Northeast Arkansas and adjacent portions of Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee 
are especially inviting to the biologist. A large portion of this region is yet wild and 
thinly settled. Thus the balance of life has not been seriously disturbed by man. On 
account of malaria some naturalists are prevented from visiting this region in the 
summer. Reports as to the unhealthful condition of this region have been consider- 
ably exaggerated. It no doubt contains its full share of malaria, but with moderate 
care no evil results need be feared. The people who live in this region, and who are 
engaged in cutting timber, suffer very little from malaria. 
In making the collections at Greenway I was assisted by Mr. S. E. Mitchell, a 
former student of the Arkansas University. At Paragould I was assisted by the 
Oxley brothers. At Jonesboro I was the guest of a fishing party consisting of 
Professors Sampson and Johnson, Mr. H. 0. Townley, Mr. Freer, and Mr. George 
Peters. Mr. Peters also accompanied me to Marked Tree, and to him I am under 
special obligations. At Paragould I was entertained by Mr. Richard Jackson. 
LIST OF FISHES FROM THE ST. FRANCIS RIVER. 
In order to abbreviate, I have used the names of localities as follows: 
Bayou = Bayou near Greenway, Arkansas. 
Old River - Old River at Buckkorn Landing near Greenway, Arkansas. 
Paragould = Eight-mile Creek near Paragould, Arkansas. 
Big Bay = St. Francis River near Big Bay, Arkansas. 
Marked Tree = Little and St. Francis rivers near Marked Tree, Arkansas. 
At Marked Tree nearly all of the collections were made in the Little River from 
its mouth to about 1 or 2 miles above it. This stream and the St. Francis resemble 
each other very much. The Little River has a little more current and is much the 
smaller. A few hauls were made in the St. Francis, but they resulted in nothing new. 
1. Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). Long-nosed Gar Pike. Very abundant in the Old and St. Francis 
rivers; only a few specimens taken, hut many were seen floating near the surface of the water. 
2. Lepisosteus platystomus Rafinesque. Short-nosed Gar. Less abundant than the preceding. 
Gars over 10 feet long are reported from the St. Francis. No doubt these large specimens are 
the alligator gar. 
3. Amia calva Linnaeus. Grindle. Quite abundant and very well known in northeastern Arkansas; 
used as food to some extent. Bayou, abundant; Old River and Paragould, common. 
4. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Cat; White Cat. A few specimens were taken at 
Marked Tree. A very common and highly esteemed food-fish in the St. Francis River. 
5. Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). Small Bullhead. Not common. Bayou, Old River, and Paragould. 
6. Noturus nocturnus Jordan & Gilbert. Marked Tree; only a few specimens taken. 
7. Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill). Stone Cat. Bayou and shallow stagnant pools along Old River, very 
abundant. A few specimens also taken at Big Bay and Marked Tree. 
