The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-08-06

among which the fish can spawn.
The of the trip was two
fold. First, the determination of the
kinds Of animals and plants found in
the Missouri and its tributaries, and
the conditions under which they live;
and, second, to ascertain the economic
value of any of these, their present
abundance and means Of increasing
them. .s
These two phases of the work are
not distinct from each other, but are
really one. To most of us the relation
existing between the number of fish in
any body of water and the number and
kind of animals and plants so small as
to be barely visible to the naked eye is
a very remote one; but when we con-
slider that these minute organisms
form the food supply for the smaller
fish and other animals, upon which the
larger fish feed, we begin to realize
the intimate relation existing between
those forms of life which have eco
nomic value and those which are ap-
parently valueless. When we consider
that mosquito larvae are eaten by fish,
we can find some excuse. if only a
small one, for the existence of these
pests. We can also realize the value
Of encouraging fish In the breeding
places of the mosquito.
Huxley, 1 think 1t was, who humor-
ously expressed the delicate balance
existing in nature, when he showed
how the price of beef depended on the
number of spinsters in a community.
Each spinster, he said, must of course
have her cat, and these would need
mice to eat. Hence, the more cats the
fewer mice. Mice eat grain and thus
destroy the food of cattle. The fewer
mice, the more grain, and the more
grain the more cattle, and consequent
ly3 the lower the price of. beef.
However grotesque this scientific
House that Jack built" argument, 1t
nevertheless contains the great truth
Of the intimate dependence of one liv-
ing thing upon another.
Apart from it's historic and scenic
interest, the Missouri valley in North
Dakota is a region of much interest
to the biologist, forming as it does
the meeting of three great life re-
gions, the northern or Canadian" as
it Is known, the southern or Caro-
Imam and the western or plains
region.
THIS is well shown in the birds OF
the valley. the first region being rep
resented, among others, by the will
low thrush, the least fly catcher, AMI
the redstart, the second by the chat
and golden crowned thrush, and the
third by the magpie and clay-colored
sparrow.
The river itself is poor in life, apart
from h many fish which inhabit 1t
This is probably due to its swift cur
rent and the securing action which
it exercises on its bed. On the con.
trary, where a ~"relict" pool, as 1t is
called, is left by the river recedine
from An overfowed area, the organ
isms in the quiet water and abundant
life results. The same is also true tt
a great extent of the creeks which
flow into the river. These are really
for the most part merely "relict'
pools, formed by the spring overflow
filling the channels of the small
stream and the latter being damned
by the deposit Of mud and sand at It'll
mouth.
Apart from the expeditions sent in.
to the field each year by the biologi'
state, some of which have already in.
vestigated the lakes of the Turtl'
mountains. tn Missouri, Sheyenn,
and Red rivers, it is making an in.
tensive study of Devils Lake and tn,
problem of restocking it with fish
This lake which up to twenty-five year,
ago, swarmed with pickerel, now con.
tains no food fish, but the careful ex,
pertinent of the station director DR.
M. "A. Brannon,s and his assistants hay,
shown that several species of fish
(among others the yellow perch anc
steel head trout) will live for som,
months without apparent injury ii
the lake water If introduced into j
with sufficient care.
The station is also co-operatin.
withe the u. s.. Biological Survey ii
a study of the birds and mammals o.
North Dakota, and Is making a co...
lection of it's plants and animals fol
museum purposes. 1t is also prepar.
ing material to be distributed to .ht
schools Of the state for teachins
| purposes.
The work on the Missouri river ant
other streams is necessarily only pre-
lininary as yet, but 1T Is hoped ttar
this may lead to more detailed wort
| in future.