Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-08-03
b DO Survey !! 4. !.
Z. OF Devils / LAKE:
STATE BIOLOGICAL STATION HAS
SENT EXPEDITION TO STUDY
LIFE or THAT STREAM.

Lake, an ADJUNCT q, INC University.
has had al expedition in the field this
summer, studying the life of the Mis-
souri, river md its tributaries. with
especial reference to fish. The party
was in charge OF Or. r, r. Young. az
sistant professor OF biology at the
university, assisted by Mr.. w. Lynn
Radke, a university student. They
Travelled in a rOWboat from Mondak.
Mont, on the western boundary OF
North Dakota, to the Cannon Ball riv-
er. some % miles south of Bis llarcs.
The distance covered by the party
was about $40 miles. They left Mon
dak on June Is, and reached the Can.
non Ball July 20, making five weeks
spent on the trip. They carried with
them the necessary camping equip
ment and scientific apparatus, stop
ping at various points along the riv-
err to make collections and scientific
observations. .. 90
Aided by the current, which aver
ages about three miles an hour. and
in places runs much swifter, q speed
of about five miles an hour was made
BY the party when travelling; but ow-
ing to the necessity of occasional
stops for making collections and OBJ
servatiOns, and to unforeseen delays
Of various kinds, the total run for
any one day never exceeded IS miles.
Thus, on the run from Painted Woods
lake, about s miles below Washburn,
to Bismarck, a distance Of about *
miles, an early start was planned in
the hope Of reaching Bismarck early
in the afternoon; but when the boat
was being loaded it was discovered
that her keel had become loosened
and the boat had to be unloaded.
hauled up on shore, and the keel ~
placed, causing a loss of.two houss
at. the start of the days journey. This
delay came very near placing one
member of the party In an unhappy
~predicament, for on his arrival at Bis
marck the office of the Western ~
press company. containing his grip.
was closed, and it was only the cOur
tesy OF the agent in making a special
trip to the Office after hours which
enabled him to secure his grip aud q
change Of clothes for the night.
The observations made on the riv.
er include Temperature determine
tons at both top aud bottom deter.
limitations of turbidity Or amount OF
sediment contained in the water.
soundings, the collection Of samples
Of the river bottom by means OK a
aredgs, and their examination BY
screening with fine ;neshed sleeves TO
discover any specimens of animals in
them, the collection of microscopic
animals and plants from the water by
means of nets made of the finest bolt
ng silk used for screening flour, and
approximate counts of the number OF
animals contained in the
at any point by straining known
quantities Of water Casually about IL
through . net and counting
The number Of animals and plants
hus obtained. Collections Of fish are
made by means of nets and hook and
inc, and the fish taken are examined
Tor the kind of food which they have
eaten and the parasites which infest
them. Among these latter may be
mentioned the lamprey. an eel-like
animal, but standing much lower In
he scale of life than the true fishes,
by means of its sucking mouth,
lttaches itself to fish. and then with
is rasping. horny teeth scrapes away
The scales and sucks the blood Of It's
prey. Fish are frequently found with
scars left by the wounds from ) this
parasite. an attack by many Of which
in the death of the fish.
One of the most interesting fishes
found in the river is the sturgeon.
Of small size, but occasionally
attaining a length of several feet and
! weight Of over 100 pounds. The
interesting, features about this fish
ire the very heavy plate-hke scales
overing the body and the c%artilagin.
JUS. rather than bony. inner skeleton.
other interesting species are the
'hOvel.billed sturgeon, sO-called from
he great fat shovellifle bill project
ng from the head for q foot OF more.
md the gar pike, a long, slender fish
with a sword.like bill armed Will;
numerous strong, sharp teeth. it's
body covered with unusually heavy
1t is a very strong. active
ish, q hard fighter and possessing re-
narkable vitality Specimens taken
y the party were strong and lively
everal hours after removal from the
rater. sG
The Missouri river itself furnishes
but poor breeding grounds Tor 11sn,
49, 80 s-~4--Fs ,s Q th0u