The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-13
CLEARING \ RIVER BED.
Introduction of Thousands of Ca.
fish Into "a Colorado stream.

fish Into "a Colorado stream. ,
From the Denver Post. ~
Four thousand channel cathsr-ugl
black ana tough, with big heads. lonit
curling whiskers and sharp, poisono
horns, win soon be placed In the St
Charles river, in Pueblo county, by Chi
Warden Frank Fem CT District No
1t is hoped that these wonderful scavef
gers will be Of great service in cleanin
the bottom Of the stream, which for msa
miles is a continuous bed Of soft, thie..
moss, reddish In color.
At certain seasons the moss emits..f
glutinous substance, and the erystn
waters CT the little river are stained as 1
by the blood Of slain animals. This astor
ishing phenomenon. which has attractcG
the attention of scientific men in all pr
OF the world. while most interesting s.
the udeut. is a source Of intense annoy
ance 10 the farmers whose lands bordf
on its banks. Cat,k, sheep and horses de
cline 20 drink the blcod-lilee water, m
in consequence the stock bre. RS anS
farmers are compelled to drive their nerds
TO other streams during the spring and
fall.
Land which, being rich and well stu
ated. should command the highest prices
is held at nominal values because of The
remarkable moss Letters describing
these unusual conditions have been mall
ed by residents' TO universities al over
the world and specimens of the moss,
dried and In bottles, have been sent 20
the men of science in the hope that soma
ore would suggest relief.
There has been much correspondence on
the subject. and many remedies have
been proposed. A Harvard professor sug-
ges, ed that large quantities CT muriatic
ecid be placed In the water near he
source of the stream a few days pFior 10
the expected exuding Of the rel glu.in
from the moss. The acid In his opiaiep
would consume the fiber of the moss and
end its existence. The acid was tried on
several bushels Of the moss placed IN
tub and found most effective. but tire
plan was not feasible owing TO the great
expense aud the apprehension OF certain
property owners, who contended that the
burning fluid would permanently axtln-
guish every trace of animal and vege.asle
life in the stream TcTpedoes were rsc-
commended by a naval Lieutenant. who. IN
terse military style, wrote that explosives
would quickly detach the long moss ON
the bottom OF the stream aud rid IL for
ever of the vegetable pest.
A prominent Smithsonian Institution
man advised the Importation Of the Ho o.
rious japanese black water spider. which
devastates vegetable growth in the Flow
cry Kingdom. The many-legged insects,
he said, would eat up every bit of moss
in the river within twelve months. The
plan, however. did not commend itself 10
the practical farmers, who realized that
spiders from Japan could rot survive a
winter even in Colorado.
The growth of the strange moss HIS
been extremely rapid. Four years ago
small patches were noticed here ard
there in the stream. and the tiny quanti-
Ties Of reddish fluid from lis soft meshss
were sufficient only 10 attract attention
and excite admiration. But. as IL had
Increased in a marvelcus manner by next
fan. a feeling OF uneasiness cams over
the farmers Before the Icy hand Of VIM
ter again covered the river the moss MAS
recognized as a menace, and meetings
were held TO discuss ways OF destroying
Il. Chief Warden Fem, who travels about,
keeeping himself well informed about the
waters Of his district and their fnny IN,
habitants, became much interested in The
case Fish are his favorites. and 10 fish
he turned for assistance. The numerous
varieties have their peculiar habits ani
value. well known to him. and the catfish
are famous for their ability 10 cl. acse
the waters they inhabit. go 1900 Of the
black, beWhiskered chaps Will be placed
in the ST. Charles river, with the bop.
that they will speedily eat the moss which
Is reddening its waters The young cts
will be transported in large cans OF tin
with perforated tops. and as their hardil
ness is unquestionable it IS thought that
they win easily bear the Journey from
Lamar 70 their new home. ~