FISHES OF THE MAUMEE EIVER BASIN. 
317 
[d) The Maumee Eiver was investigated at the State clam, 4 miles below Deflaiice, 
Ohio, August 19. Here the river has a width of 000 feet; its bottom is of shale (Devo- 
uiau) and free from loose rocks. The rifdes below the dam extend down the river for 
half a mile ; they are well grown over with riverweed, wrackweed, and other water 
plants. There is an abundance of algm. The banks of the channel are from 10 to 15 
feet high. The surrounding country is decidedly rolling. The dam has a width of 
COO feet and is 7 feet high. It is provided with a tishway. Below the dam is good 
fishing with hook and line. Black bass, rock bass, calico bass, and redhorse are the 
commonest of food-hshes taken. This dam was built by the State of Ohio for a feeder 
to the Miami and Erie Canal. The termini of this canal are at Cincinnati and Toledo, 
Ohio. At Defiance the canal enters the Maumee Eiver on the south side and after 
crossing to the north side it follows in the channel of the river down to the State dam. 
Here the canal quits the dam on its north side. This canal is still in use, chiefiy for 
rafting logs from the river to inanufacturing establishments. 
(e) At Grand Eapids, Ohio, the Maumee Eiver was examined August 21 and 22. 
The work was done on the rapids below the Providence dam, which is half a mile 
above the town of Grand Eapids. The bottom of the channel is of a fine grained 
sandstone (Devonian), which is being largely quarried for building iiurposes. The 
surface of the rocks is eroded into long, deeji ruts and numerous pot-holes. Where 
the rocks have been quarried are deep pools of water, which contain large quantities 
of fish. At our investigation the river was low witli no water on the riffles, except 
what little escnped through a leak in the dam. The canal on the north side of the 
rapids and the mill-race on the south side convey a small quantity of water. 
This dam, like the one near Defiance, was built by the State ol, Ohio for a feeder 
to the Miami and Erie Canal. The dam is constructed on either side of an island, 
which is known as Purdy Island. That part of the dam on the south side of the 
island is 660 feet wide, and the iiart of the dam on the north of the island has a 
width of 1,205 feet. The island between the two dams has a width of 350 feet and 
contains 8 acres. The dam has a nearly uniform height of 5 feet and is provided 
with a fishway in good condition. It is said here that the dam backs up the water for 
14 miles. The width ot the river at the wagon bridge below town is 653 feet. This 
is probably the average width of the river at this place. 
(/) The Maumee Eiver at Waterville, Lucas County, Ohio, was fished August 
24. Here the bottom of the channel is of limestone (Upper Silurian), which lies in 
contorted folds and has many irregular outcrops. The small quantity of water in the 
channel was distributed among several irregular streams. At this place is an island 
containing 22 acres, which divides the liver into two nearly equal channels. At the 
wagon bridge, 100 yards below the island, the channel is 850 feet wide. 
Two miles above this place is an island which contains 240 acres, and is known as 
Station Island. On either side of this island the water is “slack,” having a depth of 
about 25 feet, and is said to afford fine pickerel and bass fishing with hook and line. 
The bottom of the river, on account of its hard, clean rock, is remarkably free 
from vegetation. 
Local sportsmen told me that formerly sturgeon were very abundant at this place, 
while now one is seldom taken; also that the large ])ike {Lucius lucius), pickerel, and 
eels are rapidly decreasing in numbers. All of this decrease of fish is claimed by them 
to be due to the net fishing in the backwater in the river during the season when 
these fishes ascend the stream to spawn. 
