Evening star., 1886-07-17

THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY AN OFFICER
OF THE FISH COMMISsIoN-rHE FISH CAR
RIED THROUGH THE AIR BY CYCLONE
PROBLEMS IN NATURE EXPLAINED By CY.
CLONE ACTION.
On the 14th of June last the people of Har-
ward. town in Clay county, Nebraska, were
startled by q rain storm, which was accom-
panied by fall OF fishes, apparently from the
sky. These fishes, which were alive, fell In
large quantities. Many of them were picked up
by residents OF the place and preserved In aqua
ria or In alcohol Mr.. May, fish commissioner
of the state of Nebraska happening to be in the
neighbOrhOod Of Harvard, secured some of the
fishes, and as he had business with Prot Baird
in this city, brought the fish with him TO WASH
ington for the purpose OF having their identity
fixed. A STAR reporter inspected the fish yes
terday in DIR. Tarleton ii. Beams laboratory,
next the Smithsonian. There were halt a dozen
young fish, about an inch and a half In length
each, preserved in alcohol.
ave often hear of its raining fishes" said DR.
Bean, rs The STAR reporter examined the bot
tie containing the fishes, 'this Is a case about
which there is no doubt. and which proves that
the stories about showers OF fish are not myth
Cal. am glad that we have had opportunity,
not only to prove the fact that fishes rained
down, but to investigate and explain what ap-
pears 10 be out of the natural order of things
These iish prove TO be y common species of that
regiOn-the tat head or black head minnOw.
How did they come to fall from the clouds.
taken up from a stream or pond by cyclone ac-
tion and carried through the air until the force
terai Ho,,;nn -, % ava ,has s'Sn Oyereams the
rain TO the ground. AS the fish were alive it is
probable that they came from q stream near
the town. A cyclone, though, would take q
quantity of water up in mass, and the fish
might be carried some distance alive These
minnows are hardy, and can live under most
precarious circumstances. They live in slug
gish streams and have been found in water
having large percentage OF salt. We had one
ably adapt themselves to tOsubterranean streams
In fact they seem to adapt themselves to
almost any conditions, and hence 1t is not sur
prl:ing that they have very wide range, or
This theory OF cyclone action" continued
the doctor, "explains the distribution OF some
species OF nSh over regions sometimes sepa-
rated by natural obstacles, and which cannot
easily be accounted for otherwise. The young
In other streams. This theory is more fmport-
ant when We consider that many regions which
have no cyclone action now may have had il
In earlier periods. Fish OF exactly the same
species will be found in places far distant from
each other. The long-nose sucker common here
shadwaiter of the New Hampshire lakes is
found In the Tukon river in Alaska, and also in
the Island Of Kadiak, sixty miles from the
brook silversides. has been known for years in
the Ohio aud Mississippi valley. Lately IL has
oeen found In North Carolina and Florida Ia
an entirely dinerent water system, separated
6y mountain chain from Its original habitat
Other instances OF q similar character
could be mentioned and need an
explanation. which is afforded by the now es-
tabiished fact that fishes are transported by
cyclones. Might not the cyclone be valuable
Dr; bean, with a smile, repeating the question
OF THk STAR reporter. swell, am afraid IL
could only harness the cyclone, now, II might
be OF some service. 1t Is y wonder that this
theory Of cyclone action q an agent In the dis
tributiOn OF speciesshas not received more atten-
tion. II has scarcely been mentioned, except
by DR.. Stearns"
DIR. Robert E. C. Stearns, in o paper on fossil
shells at the Colorado desert, In mentioning
agencies and methods OF distribution, spoke OF
tornadOes and waterspouts acting ~ distribut-
ing agents. taking up the waters OF lakes and
streams and Transporting them with their con-
tents great many Y pea