108 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ain streams ; even those of the lower part of the course have the same general char- 
acter, although most of these streams become muddy and yellow after rain. Heavy 
rains and consequent floods in the early part of September prevented the completion 
of our work in the basin of the James Eiver. All our collections were made in streams 
of the hill country. It is known, however, that the fauna of the lowland course of the 
James resembles that of the Black water and of the Tar, described farther on. Col- 
lections were made in the James River basin at the following points : 
1. James River at Lick Run, six miles east of Clifton Forge, at a point near where 
the river breaks through the Alleghany Mountains. Collections made September 8. 
The locality is a good one for collecting, but the heavy rains had so raised the river 
that little work could be done. The same cause prevented any work being done at 
Gala Water, a station below Clifton Forge. This point will probably be found, in 
favorable weather, to be the best point lor making collections in the upper course of 
the James. It should be visited again. Species collected at Lick Run are marked L. 
2. Ellc Creek opposite Natural Bridge station, 4 miles southeast of the Natural 
Bridge. Collections made July 30; temperature about 68°. Elk Creek or “Dry 
Run” flows into James River from the south, its mouth being a short distance below 
a point opposite the railroad station of Natural Bridge. It is one of the most attrac- 
tive streams examined by us ; a very clear, cold trout-brook, running over rocks and 
shingle, and having at intervals deep pools, some of them 4 to 8 feet deep, and 
most of them shaded by alders and other trees. The stream is remarkably well 
stocked with fall-fish, some of them in the larger pools reaching a length of more 
than a foot. Trout, are also very abundant, as is shown by the fact that five were 
caught with the Baird seine. A few specimens {Lepomis gibbosus, Boleosoma nigrum^ 
Notropis amcemis, Micropterus dolomieu) were caught in James River, at the mouth of 
this creek. Species from Elk Creek are marked E in the following list. In our 
work about Natural Bridge, we are under especial obligations to Colonel Parsons, pro 
prietor of the hotel at Natural Bridge. Colonel Parsons accompanied us himself to 
Elk Creek, and freely offered us the use of his team. 
3. Cedar Creek at Natural Bridge. — Cedar Creek is a small brook fed by springs, 
with cold and rather clear water. Across its gorge stands the famous Natural Bridge. 
Below the bridge it flows to the James Eiver through a rocky ravine. Our collec- 
tions were made July 30 in a pool underneath the Natural Bridge. The stream 
being small and swift, contains but few species. By far the most abundant of these 
is Squalitis vandoisulus. 
4. Buffalo Creek at and above Buffalo Mills, about 5 miles south of Lexington, 
Va. Collections made July 28; temperature 74°. Buffalo Creek is a rather clear, 
very swift stream, flowing over a very rocky bottom, and containing many broad 
shallows, deep pools, and some small water-falls. The north side of the stream is 
largely abrupt and rocky, the south side shaded by sycamores and willows. The 
water is warm, but in most respects the stream is well adapted for collecting, 
especially below the dam at Buffalo Mills. Buffalo Creek is a tributary of North 
River, joining the latter near its mouth. Species from this stream are marked B. 
5. North River at Loch Laird Station, about 6 miles northwest of Balcony Falls, 
Va. Collections made July 27 ; temperature 76°. North River is a rather clear, 
swift hdl stream, rising near Lexington, Va., and flowing into the James River above 
