nowever, are the chubs (Lenciscizs)• Of these, none ascend to
<br />the mountains in the Arkansan or the Platte. l;ut, in the Rio Grande, one species,
<br />Leuciscncs pulcleer, exists in aln)udance, while in the Colorado, the Round-Tail (Gila ro•
<br />Gusta) is equally conuuon. ?mother chub-like fish in the Colorado, Plychocheilus lucius,
<br />reaches a great size, the largest of all the Cyprinidw, and in default of better fish, as.
<br />guinea economic importance.
<br />Other minnows ascend the Arkansas and Platte, though only to the foot of the
<br />mountains. Most of these are of species common in the Mississipl)i Valley. The
<br />bulk of the rich fauna of the Mississippi is however exclude() from Colorado, because
<br />the species can not ascend the turbid waters of the lower Arkansas or Platte.
<br />The darters, sunfishes, all(] catfishes can hardly be said to belong to Colorado,
<br />as nearly all the species are phut out by the unfit character of the lower streams.
<br />These were seen by us only about Denver and Pueblo. In a similar way most of the
<br />Texan fishes are excluded from the Rio Grande.
<br />INTRODUCED FISHES.
<br />The Eastern brook trout (Salrclirtus fou!i)tnlix) has been introduced into numerous
<br />streams (Peas Creek, Twin Lakes, Echo Lake in Egeria Park, Ruxtou Creek, To.
<br />michi Creek, etc.). It does well everywhere, and N said to grow more rapidly than the
<br />native trout, but this statement is denied by some partisans of the latter fish.
<br />The rainbow trout of California (Sal)vo iridetrs) has been sparingly introduced,
<br />and is reported to do well. One specimen was obtainer) by us in Twin Lakes.
<br />The land-locked salmon of Maine (Salnio solar sebayo) has been introduced into
<br />Twin Lakes, where specimens, are occasionally taken.
<br />A number of carp-ponds also exist in the State.
<br />As an addition to the above list, I would strongly recommend the introduction of
<br />arger catfishes, especially Lcptops oliraris, lefolurz(.s puwatus, and Ameiurus neL-
<br />s, into the tributaries of the lower Colorado, as the Green River and the San
<br />Food is abundant, and every condition seeing to be favorable for then), while
<br />hole great basin of the Colorado contains, excepting the trout, no fish of even
<br />d-rate character as f
<br />ood for man.
<br />FFge
<br />A.-THE PLATTE BASIN.
<br />The South Platte rises in the elevated plateau known as the South Park. Through
<br />the park it flows in an undulating course over grassy fields, finally breaking through
<br />the mountains to the sage plains above Denver.
<br />the mountains, and the waters of numerous sa wly runs, Idry )iu summer, pour in front the
<br />plains. Its water, both above and below Denver, is largely used for irrigation. Thus
<br />it becomes a shallow, muddy stream, with candy bottom and very low banks. In the
<br />northeastern part of Colorado it meets its fellow, the North Platte, astream of similar
<br />character, rising in the North Park. The Platte, now a broad, very shallow stream,
<br />full of sandbars and quicksands, flows eastward across Nebraska to the Missouri.
<br />The fishes of the Platte, as far up as Denver, are mostly the ordinary species of the
<br />upper )Missouri region. The trout do not descend below the level of the parks, and
<br />are scarce even in the South Park itself, being chiefly confined to the mountain gorges
<br />above it.
<br />{
|