The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-08-20
Extraordinary Showers.

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On the 18th Of June last the people
OF Harvard, a town Gin Clay county,
Nebraska, were startled by a rain
storm, which was accompanied by d
fall Of fishes, apparently fromthe sky.
These fishes, which we're alive, fell in
large quantities. Many Of them were
picked up by residents OF the place
and preserved in aquaria or in alco-
hol. Mr.. May, fish commissioners OF
the state Of Nebraska, happening to
be in the neighborhood Of Harvard,
secured some Of the fishes. and as he
had business with Prof. Baird III this
city, brought the fish with him to
Washington for the purpose Of having
their identity fixed. A Star reporter
inspected the fish in Or. Tarleton III.
Beans laboratory next the Smith.
sonian. There were half 4 dozer
young fish about an inch and a hal
in length each, preserved in alcohol.
eve often hear of it's raining fishes, I
said DR.. Bean, as the Star reporter
examined the bottle containing the
fishes. "This is a case about which
there is no doubt, and which proves
that the story about showers Of fish
are not mythical. / am glad that We
have had opportunity, not only to
prove the fact that fishes are ralned
down, but to investigate and. explain
what appears to be out OF the natur.
al order Of things. These fish proye
to be q common species of that re:
gion-the fat-head or black-head min
now. How did theycome tolall from
the clouds? The explanation is sim
pie. They had been taken up from a
stream or pond by cycIonic action
and carGed through the air until the
force Of gravity or the rain storm
overcame the lateral motion and
they descended with the rain to the
ground. AS the fish were alive it is
probable that they camel fro stream
near the town. A cyclone, though,
would take a quantity OF water up III
a mass, and the fish might be carried
some distance alive. These minnows
are hardy and q live under most
precarious circumstances. They live
III sluggish streams and have been
found in water having a large percent
age of salt. We had one that cam
from an arfesian well, SO they proba-
bly, adapt themselves to almost any
conditions, ana hence it is not sar-
prising that they have a very wide
rage, or distribution.
"This theory Of cyclonic action"
continued the doctor, explains the
distribution OF some species OF fish
over regions sometimes separated By
natural obstacles, and which cannot
easily be accountedf for otherwise. The
young fish are carried through the air
and deposited in other streams.
This theory is more important
when we consider that many regions
which have no cyclonic action now
may have had it IN earlier periods.
Fish of exactly the same species will
be found in places far distant from
eNh other. The long-nose sucker
common here is found Iii Alaska. The
round whitefish or snadwaiter Of the
New Hamshire lakes is found in the
Yukon riverin Alaska, and also in the
island OF Kadlak, sixtymiles from the
shore. The little fsh known as silver
sides, the brook silyersides, has been
known for years IN the Ohio and
MissassipEi valleys. Lately itghas
been found Ia Noi th Carolina and
Florida, in an entirely different water
system, separated by a mountain
chain from its original habitat. 9th
er instances of q similar character
could be mentioned and need an ex-
PLANTATION, which is afforded by the
nov established fact that fishes
are transported by cyclones. Might
not the cyclone be d valuable auxili.
airy to the fish commissions" contin-
ued DR.. Bean, with a smile, repeating
the question Of the Star reporter.
well. / am afraid it would be like q
bull in a china shop. If We could only
harvest the cyclone, now, it might be
OF some service. 1t is d wonder that
this theory of cyclonic action as an
agent in the distribution ofspecies has
not received more attention. II has
scarcely been mentioned except BY pr.
Stearns."
Dir. Robert r. g. Stearns, IN q pa
per on fossil shells OF the Colorado
desert, in mentioning agencies and
methods Of distribution, spoke Of tor.
nadoes and waterspouts acting as
distributing agents. taking up the wa
ters OF lakes and streams and trans.