The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-08-15

The purpose OF this trip was
two-fold. First, the determine
ton 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 increas-
ing them.
These two phrases 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 o.
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 consider that these minute Or
ganisms from 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
apparently valueless. When we
consider that mosquito larvae are
eaten by fish, We can find some
if only small one, for the
existence of these pests. We can
also realize the value Of encourag
ing fish in the breeding places
Of the mosquito.
Apart from it's historic and
scenic interest, the Missouri val
ley in North Dakota is a region
of much interest to the biologist,
forming as it does the meeting
of three great life regions, the
northern or Canadian as it is
known, the southern or "Caro-
linan" and the western or
Plains region.
This is well shown in the birds
of the valley, the first region be-
ing represented, among others, by
the willow thrush, the least fly
catcher, and the redstart, the
second by the chat, and golden
crowned thursh, and the third by
the magp:e and clay-colored spar
row.
The river itself is poor in life,
apart from the many fish which
inhabit it. This is probably due
to it's swift current, and the
securing action which it ex-
ercises on it's bed. On the con-
,trary, where ''relict'' pool, as
it is called, is left by the river
receding from an overflowed area
the organisms in the quiet water
and abundant Life results. The
same is also true to great ex-
tent Of the creeks which flow in
for the most part merely " relict"
to the river. These are really
pools, formed by the spring over
flow filling the channels of the
small stream and the Latter being
damned by the deposit Of mud
and sand at it's mouth.
Apart from the expeditions
sent into the field each year by
the biological station to study
the waters of the state, some Of
which have already Investigated
the lakes Of the Turtle mountains,
the Missouri, Sheyenne and Red
rivers, it is making an intensive
study of Devils Lake and the
problem of restocking it with
fish. This lake which up to twen-
.ty-five years ago swarmed with
pickerel, now contains no food
fish, but the careful experiment
of the station director, DR.. M. A.
Brannon, and, his assistants have
shown that several species of fish
(among others the yellow perch
and steel head trout) will live
for some months without appar-
ent injury in the lake water it
introduced into it with sufficient
care.
The station is also cooperating
with the U. s. Biological Survey
in a study Of the birds and ami
mails of North Dakota, and is
making a collection Of its plants
and animals for museum purposes
It is also preparing material to
be distributed to the schools of
the state for teaching purposes.
The work on the Missouri river
and other streams is necessarily
only preliminary as yet, but it Is
hoped that this may lead to more
detailed work in the future.
GOVERNOR or NEW
YORK ndPEACHED
Governor VIM. SuAzer Of New
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