Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-16
PHENOMENON IN NIAGARA
RIVER.

Niagara river has this season offered
some fine opportunities for the study OF
the maintenance of the equilibrium OF
animal life on both land and water.
Early spring was marked by an unPrece-
dented migration Of minnows from Lake
Erie into the Niagara river. They ar
rived by millions, and formed here and
there almost solid banks of moving flesh.
The shores Of some little creeks like those
of Frenchman's creek, emptying from the
Canada shore into the Niagara, were
actually strewn with countless numbers
of dead minnows, which had been suito-
Gated for want of oxygen in these narrow
channels. The advent of the minnows
attracted in turn, as might naturally be
expected, proportionately sized swarm OF
their destroyers. in shape of the different
species of pike, muscalonge and black
bass. The latter would be seen lying
quietly in solid columns along the bot
toms near the shores, where the water
was sufficiently shallow and transparent
10 permit full view Of them. Fisher
men were perplexed and in despair, since
they would take no bait Of any kind, no
matter how temp;ingly displayed. Their
s;omachs were fairly gOrged with min
nows, which could be captured without
any effort whatever.
Later on, when the main bulk Of min
nows disappeared without being followed
bv their enemies, the tables were turned,
and bass fishing never has been known to
be as fine as il was toward the latter end
Of the summer. Though the riyer Is no
longer stocked with minnOws as It was
in the spring. the present amount prob
ably still exceeds tha, Of any previous
wear. and has attracted later on another
host Of their natural enemies, the winged
toilers Of the sea. Never before has the
surface Of the green Niagara exhibited
such an animated display Of ghstenlng
white focks Of gulls and terms Is IN the
present months. They have assembled
bv thousands. and luxuriate IN immense
abundance on their natural prey. Among
them are some species never before OBJ
served here in any notable quantity, or
even single specimens. We cnumcra'e
the Kjt,iwakc gull, besides three species
Of terms. two OF which are dc,crmina5.e
as the black and common tern, while the
other is dubious on account Of It's imma-
,are plumasc. They are congrcgatcd IN
| la-sc and separate tocks, and though
occasionally lowering high over the uver,
may easily be decoyed 70 come near the
surface BY throwing upon It some white
punches Of cotton or paper. \ good
| br,ech-loader viii then make considerable
havoc among them, as they generally
remain quite a long time near any sPO;
where one OF more OF their shot comrades
hoa, upon the water.
Il Is very easy 70 see why black bass
and the various species of gullS and terms
should be found in such great numbers,
where there Is an unusual abundance Of
,heir natural food; but more minute
knowledge, through close observation AMI
examination. j. needed 10 determine the
reasons Tor the unsurpassed spring migTa-
,ioa Of the minnows. The solution 70;
the problem probably hinges also upon
their peculiar microscopic food, which
may have been affected by changed con
di,ions of the ordinarily prevailing ten
perature Of the water, or other similar
influences Of a physical naturc.-Bfa.a
/ Commercial.