The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-30
The Evening Session.


The evening session was confined to the ad-
dress of President JORDAN, in which he enter
tainingly described the dispersion of fresh
water fishes. 1t followed the several well-known
species from their origin to the conditions under
which they are found. AS an instance, he
traced the ~sunish, peculiar to North America,
from his remote ancestor. the sea bass. The
perch can also trace his lineage to that marine
fish. He took the darters, found at the bottom
OF fresh water streams, as a good example of the
migratory fish. They are perch modified or re-
duced by conditions, yet there are no European
species like them. 1t is food supply and pro-
lection that determines the migration of fishes.
There may appear in streams inhabited
by the darter, nothing to feed on, while
there are stonss to give them protection, yet
o%verturn the stones and underneath will be
found the larvae for food. All fresh-water
fishes are competitors for food, and in all
waters not uninhabitable species are
found. Every species has some
sort Of limit for the Sacramento. Connecticut
and Rio Grande rivers have no fish in common.
nor are the fauna of two distinct water courses
similar. Climatic influences have much TO do
with the migration of fish. The free swimming
trout Is most affected in this way, while the mud
cat is disturbed the least. If the weather is cold
he can seek the bottom of the stream. The
fauna of the Upper Mississippi is more In com
mon with that of Lake Michigan than with that
of the Red river. And to the angler, the fishes
Of the Northern streams are better, while the
naturalist seeks those of the South. He
got at Key West from one drawing of the
net seventy five species and at Cape Cod, with
the same net, he procured but forty-five species.
Many species found in Indiana were once
thought to have been common to the streams of
the State, but investigation has shown that they
are isolated colonies, left, probably, by some great
food, while their home is in Arkansas. On &C
count of their sediments the Missouri. Arkansas
and Ozark do not invite fishes. In the streams
most favorable to the fish the greater number of
species is to be found. Limestone rivers and
streams enjoy this favor. The low tempera-
ture of New England rivers limits their fauna,
while in the. larger river basins the conditions
are greater and The species more numerous. OF
the 600 species in the United States 200 are to
be found in the basin of the Mississippi, while
there are but eighty in White river, eighteen in
the Connecticut and twenty-four in the Rio
Colorado. Throughout the Texas region there
are but seventy five species. No darters,
cat and sunfsh have ever passed the barrier Of
the Rocky mountains. There is a marked diff
ference between the fauna of the Sacramento
and Columbia rivers. There are but few species
in the Alaskan streams. While each species
seeks to extend its range more widely, the
watersheds are barriers to general distribution.
The most formidable of these barriers are the
Rocky mountains, on both sides of which only
two of the same species are to be
AO0hN e"o ANONHJ HO0
white fish. This Sierra Nevada range
is another barrier, but the transplanting of the
Schuylkill cat to the Sacramento shows that the
species thrives well in its new home. The cat JIG
now a popular marketable fish in San Francisco.
1t is especially enjoyed by the C%hinaman. him
self an e~migrant like the catfish. The ALE.
ghenies separate the rich fauna Of the Tennes-
see and Ohio valleys from the few species of
the Eastern rivers. The fresh waters of
Cuba are inhabited by fishes different
from those in the streams and rivers of the
United States. OF all our fish only the Allie
gheny gar can be found in Cuban waters. He
went there as a flibuster from the coast of Flor
ida. There is a difference between the Ohio
valley fauna and that of the lake region, al
though fishes similar to those in the great lakes
are found in the Ohio river.
The address called for a few remarks from
several of the members, after which a vote of
thanks was given the president for his mastery
effort. The academy will continue in session to-
day.