The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-09-12
NATURES LAWS DIVERSIFIED
(BY tlInGLlfG or WATERS or
Lane ARD RIVER


"AfAasFNh " ~ NV $780,
Add new subgenera aud change the for
nation OF varieties For great trans
formation IN the nth class of yerte-
brate animals has resulted from the dig
ging OF the Chicago drainage canal and
the commngllng Of the lakes waters
with those OF the rivers. The digging
OF the channel across the great divide
that once separated Lake Michigan
from the Mississippi Valley has let
the lake Ash Into the Des PLANES, the
Illinois and the Mississippi rivers. The
seeming unnatural comnngllng Of wa
tiers has produced fishes that seem un.
natural thar Is, when compared to our
present standards. New forms, new
varieties. new types have appeared,
differing In color, habits and general
description from any other known 10
the American plsclculturist. Coexist-
ent with the appearance Of the new
kinds OF fishes there Is noted a most
remarkable increase generally In the
number Of the tinny Inhabitants Of the
Des PLANES and Illinois rivers. The
Des PLANES River fairly swarms with
fishes and fishermen are reaplng har-
vest such as their fondest fancy never
pictured In former times. All along
the canal, and the Chicago River, aud
far down the Illinois River the same
conditions are noted to a greater or less
extent Ichthyologlsts have marvelled
ut the seeming phenomena, aud from
all sections OF the country scientists
are coming 10 study the conditions TO
make note OF the new forms aud record
them IN the new history OF American
fishes, which now must undergo a com.
plete revision. True. many dead fishes
have appeared In the rivers, but all
such show marks Of violence and no
evidence OF disease. IL Is evident that
great warfare Is going on among
them over which families and species
shall have the best right to make the
river their future home.
with the increase In the number OF
the river fishes there appears TO be a
corresponding Increase Ia the number
OF Lake Michigan fishes. 40 least, all
the lake fishermen are complaining, and |
the assertion Is freely made that the |
lakes funny tribe are being emptled (
through the canal Into the rivers be
You'd the Chicago divide Formerly /
this divide formed a wall thirty miles
wide between the lake and the river
fishes, and the types inhabitlng the two
waters. generally speaking, were Ell.
tirely separated and distinct But when /
the canal was dug across the divide
and tie Chicago River was turned mp
side down, and instead Of flowing into
the lake was made 70 become an out
let OF the lake aud empty the lakes
waters into the canal and thence into
the Des PLANES and on into the Mis-
slsaIppi River near St Louis, the lakes
fishes have gone with the outtlowing
waters into the rivers there to join the
river fishes ana compete with them in
the struggle for existence. Thousands
OF these fishes. while being hurried on
with the current. have been noted with
the naked eye by boatmen and people
standing on the banks of the river and
canal Sometimes the water seemed to
be fairly nllge with them, and fisher
men. unable 10 resist the temptation,
have deficd the law and, In nets, have
hauled them to the shore In wagon
loads. Lake trout and perch. never
before caught outside Of the lakes, have
been brought 70 shore by thousands all
along the canal and the Chicago aud
Des PLANES rivers. Lake herring cisco
clubs. lake trout, white fish
and numerous other fishes, heretofore
Re garded as exclusive inhabitants Of
the great lakes. now swarm In the wa
Ca beyond the Chicago divide White
bass. plckcrcl aud muscallOnge have
been found IN goodly numbers, ana two
specimens of the Michigan grnyllng,
heretofore found only IN Lake NIichl-
gan aud In the waters Of Michigan
State have been caught
once they have crossed the bear
trap dam at Lockport. there Is no way
for any OF these great swarms OF fish
90 return to Lake Michigan, aud they
must make their home In the rivers
btsbllA 1hu AAAAN ANA SUPP tAittg Will
the old Inhabitants Of these waters. 1t
is probable that the conflict which Will
result IN the survival OF the fttest, viii
cause a wedding out Of many of the
types now Astounding, and some Of the
river fish and some Of the Invaders
from the lake will undoubtedly become
Indications arc however,
that the general result VIII be most
to the lake fisheries. The 10.
fusion Of new blood into the old river
stock already seems to have added new
life TO the waters. and hence, while the
fishes are fighting for supremacy, they
are multiplying enormously, and the
splendid specimens OF all the varieties
this season show that the health and
general physical condition have been
greatly improved. The fish feed upon
each other, and 1t appears that none -
the deaths have resulted from other
causes than violence The season has
afforded unprecedented sport for those
searching for game fish. Old-time