FISHES OF THE VERDIGRIS RIVER

IN OKLAHOMA

By

GEORGE HAMS WALLEY

Bachelor of Science

Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma

1956

Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Oklahoma State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May, 1958 Name: George Hames Wallen Date of Degree: May 25, 1958 Institution: Oklahoma State University Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Title of Study: FISHES OF THE VERDIGRIS RIVER IN OKLAHOMA Pages in Study: 57 Candidate for the Degree of Master of Science Major Field: Zoology Scope of Study: The Verdigris River Drainage was surveyed during the summer of 1956 to determine the number of species of fishes pre- sent and the relative abundance of each species. Eighty-eight locations were sampled by using seines, rotenone and gill nets.

Findings and Conclusions: An annotated list was prepared including ecological data, of fishes collected in the Verdigris River Drainage in Oklahoma during the summer of 1956 and spring of 1957. A total of 39,649 fish were taken, including 14 families, 32 genera, 68 species and 4 hytrid combinations.

ADVISER'S APPROVAL FISHES OF THE VERDIGRIS RIVER

IN OKLAHOMA

Thesis Approved:

Thesis Adviser

Dean of the Graduate School TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

I. INTRODUCTION ...... 1

A. Review of previous collections and collection sites . 1 B. Statement of the problem ...... 2 C. Description of the River ...... 2 D. Acknowledgements ...... 4 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS ...... 5

A. Collection ...... 5 B. Preservation ...... 6 C. Identification ...... 6

III. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS ...... 10

A. Annotated list of collecting sites ...... 10 B. Annotated list of species collected ...... 28 C. Hybrid combinations ...... 50 4 IV. DISCUSSION ...... 52

V. BIBILIOGRAPHY ...... 55

iii LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page 1. The Verdigris River in Oklahoma ...... 11

IV INTRODUCTION

The fishes of the Verdigris River have received little attention from ichthyologists. Early explorers failed to preserve fishes from the river, possibly because of transportation difficulties. Some officers of the United States Army, during., the middle of the 19th century, did show an interest. Captains W. A. Whipple and R. B. Marcy, Lieutenant H.. B. Molihausen and Dr. G. G. Shumard were interested in the wildlife of .the. Indian Territory, but their activities did not include the. basin of the Verdigris. In the latter part of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, ichthyologists,

Drs. S. E. Meek, D. S. Jordan, and C. H. Gilbert, collected fishes in some streams of Indian Territory, but they too did not include the

Verdigris River on their itineraries.

The first paper listing species of fishes collected from the

Verdigris River is that of Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b). One col- lecting site in. the Verdigris River proper and one on Hominy Creek, a tributary, yielded a total of 19 species.

In addition to the above paper,. Oklahoma fisheries biologists have mentioned some fishes of the Verdigris River in their population and age and growth studies in Oklahoma lakes. Jenkins (1949), re- ported 16 species of fishes, taken by means of rotenone, from Lake

Claremore. Hall (1951) and Thompson and Hutson (1951) each listed eight species. collected. in Lake PaWhuska. McCoy (1953) studied the

1 2

age and growth of flathead catfish from Lake Pawhuska. There are some mimeographed reports on fishes of the river written by the personnel of the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department.

A survey was undertaken during the summer of 1956 to make a more complete. list and to roughly determine the relative abundance of species from the Oklahoma. portion of the river. A related study of the age and growth of the game fishes of the Verdigris River was made by the

Oklahoma Game. and. Fish Department under the direction of Mt. Robert M.

Jenkins of. the Fisheries Research Laboratory at Norman, Oklahoma. A comparison of the fish fauna present after the Army Engineers complete construe-40/1_0f a dam near Oologah, Oklahoma, with that revealed in the present study, is proposed.

The following data are taken from a report of the U. S. Army

Engineers (Anon. 1931).

The Verdigris River rises in the Flint Hills of east-central

Kansas and flows a total distance of 351 miles, finally emptying into the Arkansas River 63.3 Miles downstream from Tulsa and 0.9 mile up- stream from the mouth of the Grand River. The stream flows generally south through southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma, draining an. area of 8,150 square miles. The drainage basin, which is approxi- mately 46 miles in average width and 175 miles long, forms 5.1 per- cent of the total drainage area of the Arkansas River. The elevation of the Verdigris River is 1,375 feet above mean sea level at its source. and 480 feet above mean sea level at its mouth for an average fall of 2.6 feet per mile throughout its length. The average gradi- ent in Oklahoma is 1.2 feet per mile. 3

The channel of the Verdigris River is usually well defined between high,. stable banks. The stream bed is either rock or shale for most of the distance. In Kansas the course of the river is winding, the height of the banks varying, from 10 to 14 feet and the width of the channel from 150 to 500 feet. In Oklahoma the banks are higher than in Kansas.

In Oklahoma, the course of the stream_is a series of wide bends connect- ed by straight segments with a varying width of channel between 200 and

500 feet.

The Verdigris River is subject to uncontrolled flooding. The range between the maximum high and minimum low-water levels is 46 feet at the state line, 48 feet at the town of Catoosa (about half way through its course in Oklahoma) and 42 feet near the mouth.

In general the width of the Verdigris. River valley in Oklahoma is one and one-half to two miles, however, at a few localities the valley is three to four miles wide. Most of the valley land is used for agricultural purposes, although a thriving oil business supports many people in some areas.

According to a U. S. Geological Survey study (Anon.,1955), the geologic, formation of the area is of sedimentary origin. Blue shale and limestone are the principal outcroppings. The alluvial soil, found in the river and creek bottoms, is a heavy black loam which is resist- ant to erosion.

The quality of the water in the Verdigris River is rated, by the

Quality of Water Branch, Geological Survey (Anon., 1955), as excellent.

The combined sulphate and chloride concentrations are less than 250 ppm and dissolved solids less than 500 ppm. 4

The writer is indebted to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department for financial assistance and equipment. The assistance of Dr. John S. Mecham, Mr. Milton R. Ourd, and Mr. Joe C. Finnell in making the collections is appreciated.

The guidance of Dr. George A. Moore in identification of the fishes and in writing this paper is gratefully acknowledged. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Most of the fishes were collected with a short, bobbinet seine made from nylon netting cut approximately four feet in length by six feet in depth and sewn to brailes four feet long. A covered cotton cord, sewed to the top of the seine, served as a float. A heavy lead line was used at the bottom of the seine. In addition to the smaller seine, 10-, 15-, and 25-foot minnow seines were used where stream con- ditions permitted. Rotenone, in the form of five percent powdered derris root and liquid "Pro-Nox-Fish", was used extensively in collecting fishes. The powder was mixed with water in buckets and spread over the water from which fishes were desired. The "Pro-Noe-Fish" was mixed at tile rate of about one part of poison to 25 parts of water and sprayed upon the collection area with a portable five-gallon sprayer: The liquid rotenone proved more effective and easier to use that the‘powder. The fishes killed by rotenone were picked up with fine-mesh and large-mesh dip_net a. Seven gill'hets of variable sizes of mesh were used to obtain samples of the larger fishes. These were Set with one end tied to the bank. and the other anchored near the middle of the river. For transportation, the survey crew used a carryall truck, furnish- ed by the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department and a 1/4-ton pickup

5 6

truck furnished by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. For water travel,

a 14-foot round-bottom boat, a small aluminum flat-bottom boat and a

five-horsepower motor were provided.

After collection the fishes were initally preserved in 10 percent

formalin.. Fishes over 10 inches long were cut open along the right

_Bide of the body cavity In ardertalacilitate the penetration of

formalin. The fishes were washed in water and preserved in 50 percent

isopropanol. They were then stored in jars in the Oklahoma State

University Museum. of Zoology and later, in large part, transferred to

the University. of Oklahoma Museum of Zoology.

Lengths weights and scales were taken from the larger fishes in

the field.

The fishes were sorted, counted, measured, and the identifications

checked in the laboratory. PREVIOUS COLLECTORS

Published and unpublished records of the fishes of the Verdigris River are few. The following is a list of known previous collectors both from the literature and unpublished records from Oklahoma State University Museum, Oklahoma Game and Fish. Department and Dr. A. P. Blair of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The symbols at the left designate the collections for the purpose of brevity in the annotated list. Parenthetic dates after collector's _names indicate publications.

Hubbs, Carl L. and A. I. Ortenburger (1929b) . Verdigris River, 5 miles west of Claremore, Rogers County, July 15, 1927. Hominy Creek, 8 miles west of Skiatook, Osage County, July 16, 1927. Oklahoma. State University Field Class FC1 Big. Hominy Creek, near Hominy, Osage County, July 8, 1933. FC2 Burch Creek, 2 1/2 miles_north of Wynona, Osage County, April 22, 1934. McCollom4 G. E. and George A. Moore

MM Bird Creek, 7 miles north and 5 miles east. of Wynona, Osage County, April 21-22, 1934.

Moorel George A. and F. M. Baumgartner MB Sand Creek, Osage County, April 13, 1940.

7 8

Jacobs, Karl

Panther Creek, 10 miles northeast of Bartlesville, Osage

County, November 29, 1946.

Jacobs, Karl and Earnest Sisney

JS Panther Creek, 10 miles south of Bartlesville, Osage County,

July 7, 1947. Blair, A. P. Bl Bird Creek Bottoms near Owasso, May 1, 1948. Collector Unknown 0.A.M.C. FB-1-48 FB Hominy Lake, Osage County, May 16, 1948. Hall, G. E. (1951) Pawhuska Lake, Osage County,. July 26-28, 1948. Thompson, W. H. and Don Hutson (1951) Pawhuska Lake, 2 1/2 miles southwest of Pawhuska, Osage County, January 1, 1939, through December 31, 1948. Blair, A. P. B2 Verdigris River, a slough near the Highway 66 crossing, Rogers County, November 8, 1948. Jenkins, Robert M. (1949) Claremore City Lake, T21N, R16E, Si, Rogers County, August 22, 1949. Moore, George A., Daniel Welch, James Husky and Buford Tatum NWHT1 Bird Creek, 3 miles east of Strohm-Foraker intersection on Highway 60, T26N, R7E, Osage County, March 24, 1950. MMHT2 Dog Creek (Caney River. Drainage) T28N, R9E, Osage County, March 24, 1950.

MMHT3 Sand Creek, 4 miles east of Foraker, Osage County, March 24,

1950. 9

Moore, George A. and party MPI Vann's Lake, 8 miles north of Muskogee, Wagoner County, April 30, 1950. Hall, G. E. H2 Vann's Lake, 8 miles north of Muskogee., T16N R18E, June 2, 1950. Ellis, R. J. Sand Creek at Osage Hills State Park, May 4, 1952. Moore, George A. and party MP2 Verdigris River, TUN RUE 515, June 26, 1952. McCoy, H. A. (1953) Palahudka Lake, Osage County, May 15, 1953. Jerkins, Robert M. (1955) Palihuska City Lake, Osage County, July 23-August 19, 1954. COLLECTINGSTATIONS

In the following data the words mile and miles have been omitted for the purpose of brevity. For example: 1 N, 4 W, means one mile north and four miles west. The absence of references to aquatic vegetation indicate that none - was observed. Milton Curd, John Mechem, and Joe Finnell assisted in making collections .at stations one through 86; William Heard, Neal Douglas., Robert Sutton, and Alfred Houser dasisted at stations 87 and 88. The accompanying map (Fig. 1) shows the lout- tion of collecting stations.

1 Wolf Creek, 1 N, 4 W of Delaware, T27N, R15E, 321, Nowata County, June 5, 1956. Ulster: clear, in pools 1-3 ft. deep, 3-30 ft. wide. Shore: steep, muddy, and wooded. Bottom: mud and gravel. Current: slight. Method: seine. 2 Wolf Creek, 1/2 N, 3 W of Delaware, T27N, R15E, $27 and 28, Nowata County, June 5, 1956. Water: clear, in pools 1-4 ft. deep, 8-20 ft. wide. Shore: steep muddy and wooded. Bottom: mud, rocks, and gravel. Current: slight. Method: seine. 3 Wolf Creek, 1 N, 3 W of Delaware, T27N, R15E, 327 and 34, Nowata County, June 5, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 2-4 ft. deep, 10-25 ft. wide. Shore: steep, muddy, and wooded. Bottom: mud. Current: none. Method: seine. 4 California Creek, 1 w of Delaware, T26N, R15E, Sl, Nowata County, June 5, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1-3 ft. deep, 10-20 ft. 10 11.

THE

VERDIGRIS

RIVER IN

OKLAHOMA

STATION NUMBERS 1-88.

FIGURE 1 12

wide. Shore: steep and muddy. Bottom: rocks and mud. Current: slight. Method: seine. 5 California Creek, at U. S. Highway 169, 3 N of Nowata, T26N, R16E, 87 and 8, Nowata County, June 5, 1956. Water: clear, pools 1/2-4 ft. deep, 20-30 ft. wide. Shore: steep. Bottom: bedrock, gravel, mud. Current: slight. Method: seine. 6 California Creek, 2 W of Delaware, T27N, R15E, S26 and 35, Nowata County, June 6, 1956. Water: clear, turbid after seining, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Shore: high, wooded banks. Bottom: mud and rocks. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine. 7 California Creek, 1 1/2 14, 2 N of Delaware, T27N, R15E, 823, Nowata County, June 6, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide. Shore: steep and wooded. Bottom: mud and leaves. Current: slight. Method: seine. 8 California Creek, 3 N, 2 W of Delaware, T27N, R15E, S14, Nowata County, June 6 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-6 ft. deep, 0-30 ft. wide. Shore: steep and wooded. Bottom: rocks and mud. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine.

9 CAlifornia Creek, 4 El 2 S of Warm, T28N, R15E, S20 and 29, Nowata

County, June 6x 1956. Water: clear, brown to reddish, surface temperature varied from 749 to 1009 F. within 1/8 mile, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide. Shore: steep with large trees. Bottom.: mud. Current: none. Method: seine.

10 California Creek, 3 1/2 E, 1 S of Wann, T28N, R15E, 5201 Nowata County, June 6, 1956. Water: Slightly turbid, 1-2 ft. deep, 13

0-30 ft. wide. Shore: steep and wooded. Bottom: rock and mud. Vegetation: Ceratonhyllum. Current: none. Method: seine.

11 Hickory Creek, 4 NI 1 Wof Lenapah, T28N, R15E, S12, Nowata County,

JUMB 6, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 8 ft. wide. Shore: high, mud banks. Bottom: mud, trash and leaves. Current: none. Method: seine. 12 Hickory Creek, 4 N of Lenapah at U. S. Highway 169, T28N, R16E, 318, Nowata County, June 6, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Shore: steep, grassy and wooded. Bottom: mud and rocks. Vegetation: Ceratonhyllum and filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine. 12B Same location, July 12, 1956. Method: rotenone. 13 Big Creek, 5 E, 2 N of Childers, T27N, R17E, 513 and 24, Nowata County, June 7, 1956. Water: clear to slightly turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 2-40 ft. wide. Shore: low, wooded, rocky banks. Bottom: gravel and mud. Vegetation: _Planthera and filamentous algae. Current: swift on riffles. Method: seine. Big Creek, 5 E, 2 N of Childers, T27N, R17E, 323 and 26, Nowata

County, June 70 1956. Water: clear, 0-5 ft. deep, 2-40 ft. wide. Shore: low, wooded, mud banks. Bottom: bedrock and gravel. Vegetation: nianthana and filamentous algae. Current: swift =riffles. Method: seine.

14B Same location, June 21, 1956. Water: dried to pools 0-4 ft. deep, 0-30 ft. wide. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 15 Big Creek, 5 E, 1 N of Childers, T27N, R17E, S35, Nowata County, June 7, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 3-45 ft. 14

wide. Shore: low, wooded banks. Bottom: bedrock, and gravel. Vegetation: DiAnthera and filAmentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine. 15B Same location, August 15, 1956. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 16 Salt Creek, 7 E, 4 N of Coody's Bluff, T26N, R16E, Si and 12, Nowata County, June 8, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Shore: flat grassland. Bottom: large rocks and mud. Vegetation: Dianthera and filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine.

17 Salt Creek, 7 El 2 N of Coody's Bluff, T26N, R17E, S12, Nowata County, June 8, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-10 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock, covered with mud. Shore: flat grass- lands. Vegetation: Dirmthera. Current: none. Method: seine. 18 Salt Creek, 6 E, 1 N of Coody's Bluff, T26N, R17E, 324 and 25, Nowata County, June 8, 1956. Water: clear 0-3 ft. deep, 0-30 ft. wide. Bottom: large rocks. Shore: gently sloping grasslands and few trees. Vegetation; Dianthera and some algae. Current: sluggish. Method: seine.

19 Salt Creek, 3 El 2 S of Coody's Bluff, T25N, R17E, 34 and 5, Nowata County, June 8, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 1-20 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and bedrock. Shore: gently sloping, weeds and few trees. Vegetation: Dianthera and some algae. Current: sluggish. Method: seine. 20 Salt Creek, 2 E, 3 S of Coody's Bluff, T25N, R17E, S8, Nowata County, June 8, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-50 ft. wide. Bottom: rock. bore: low banks with hardwood trees. Vegetation: algae. Current: none. Method: seine. 15

20B Same location, July 19, 1956. Method: rotenone.

21 Morman Creek, 2 NI 4 Wof Nowata, T26N, R15E, S15, Nowata County, June 11, 1956. Water: clear, turbid after seining, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: low banks, bedrock, hardwood trees. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

22 Verdigris River at Coody's Bluff, T26N, R16E, 535, Nowata County, June 12, 1956. Water: turbid, 1-10 ft. deep, 100-150 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: high banks (to 50 ft.), willows,

and weeds. Current: moderate. Method: gill nets. 22B Sams location, June 13, 1956. 22C Sams location, June 14, 1956. 22D Sams location, June 15, 1956. 22E Sams location, June 19, 1956. 22F Same location, June 20, 1956. 22G Same location, June 21, 1956. 22H Sams location, June 22, 1956. 23 Verdigris River at Coody's Bluff (below low-water dam), T26N, R16E,

335, Nowata County, June 12, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1-4 ft. deep, 150 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock and gravel. Shores high banks, mud and rocks. Vegetation: willows at edge.

Current: swift over low-water dam. Method: seine. 238 Same location, June 15, 1956. 24 Tributary of Big Creek, at Highway 10, 3 W, 6 N of Centralia, T28N, R18E, S29, Craig County, June 12, 1956. Water: clear, 6 in. to 2 ft. deep, 1-20 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, rocks and gravel. Shore: low banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: slight. Method: rotenone. 16

25 Borrow Ditch near Verdigris River at Highway 60 bridge, T26N, R16E,

S25 1 Nowata County, June 13, 1956. Water: slightly turbid,

0-6 ft. deep, 100 ft. vide, 200 ft. long. Bottom: mud. Shore:

mud and weeds. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: none.

Method: seine.

26 Salt Creek, 5 1/2 E of Coody's Bluff at Highway 60 bridge, T29N,

R17E, S34 and 27, Nowata County, June 13, 1956. Water: clear,

1-4 ft. deep, 10-40 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore:

rocks, mud and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current:

none. Method: seine.

27 Stone's Lake, 3 E, 1 S of Delaware, T26N, R16E, S3 and 4, Nowata

County, June 13, 1956. Water: turbid, 2 ft. deep, 200 ft.

wide. Bottom: mud. Shore: mud and willows. Vegetation:

Dianthera, Snirodela, Potamogeton, and algae. Current: none.

Method: seine.

28 Verdigris River, 1 N of Highway 60 bridge at Coody's Bluff, T26N,

R16E) S25, Nowata County, June 14, 1956. Water: slightly tur-

bid, 1-4 ft. deep, 3-150 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, bedrock and

gravel. Shore: gentle banks to steep bluffs, rock, mud,

willows, hardwoods. Vegetations algae. Current: swift on

riffles. Method: seine.

28B Same location) July 17, 1956. Method: seine and rotenone.

29 Lightning Creek, 5 El 3 S of Coody's Bluff, T25N, R17E, 514, Novato.

County, June 14) 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-2 1/2 ft.

deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and bedrock. Shore: low

banks,willow, elm, hickory. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 17

30 Lightning Creek, 1 El 1 N of Alluwe, T27N, R17E, S19, Nowata County, June 14, 1956. Water: slightly, turbid, 0-1 ft. deep, 0-12 ft. wide. Bottom: mud. Shore: gently sloping banks, willows, hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

31 Opossum Creek, 2 SI 1 W of South Coffeyville, T29N, R15E, S351 Nowata County, June 18, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-25 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, some gravel. Shore: mud, steep banks. Current: none. Method: seine.

32 Snow Creek, 2 SI 3 E of South Coffeyville, T29N, R16E, S28, Nowata County, June 18, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-50 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock and mud. Shore: mud and rock, banks 15 ft. high. Vegetation: Dianthera and filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: seine. 33 Double Creek, 3 S of Nowata, T25N, R16E, S7 and 8, Nowata County, June 19, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-50 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock. Shore: low banks, grass, and hard- woods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 34 Tributary of Double Creek, 2 1/2 S, 1 E of Novato., T25N, R16E, S5 and 9, Nowata County, June 19, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: steep banks with hardwoods. Current: none: Method: rotenone.

35 Tributary of Snow Creek, 1 St 5 1/2 E of South Coffeyville, T26E, R16E, 322 and 25, Nowita County, June 20, 1956. Water: clear, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-30 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks. Shore: low banks, rocks and large weeds. Current: none. Vegetation: filamentous algae and Dianthera. Method: rotenone. 18

36 Big Creek, 12 N of Centralia, T29N, R18E, S21 and 28, Craig County, June 21, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1-1 1/2 ft. deep, 0-10 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and rocks. Shore: high soil banks, hardwoods. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 37 Sweetwater Creek, 5 N of Claremore, T22N, R16E, S18, Rogers County, June 26, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: low banks, covered with weeds and hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

38 Verdigris River at Highway 88 bridge, T22N, R15E, S141 Rogers County, June 26, 1956. Water: turbid, 1-4 ft. deep, 100 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and gravel. Shore: high sloping banks. Current: swift. Method: seine. 38B Same location, July 3, 1956. Water: reduced to small pools and

riffles, 30-40 ft. wide. 38C Same location, July 25, 1956. Method: seine and rotenone.

39 Four Mile Creek, 2 N of Oologah, T23N, R15E, S221 Rogers County, June 26, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-1 1/2 ft. deep, 0-30 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock. Shore: sloping, covered with grass and hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

40 Tributary of Four Mile Creek, 1 NI 1/2 W of Oologah, T23N, R15E, S21, Rogers County, June 27, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock. Shore: low banks, trash, and hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

41 Four Mile Creek, 1 NI 1/4 W of Oologah, T23N, R15E, S211 Rogers County, June 27, 1956. Water: clear, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-40 ft. 19

wide. Bottom: mud and rocks. Shore: gently sloping, banks, hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 42 Spencer Creek, 8 E, 1/2 S of Talala, T24N, R16E, S35 and 36, Rogers County, June 27, 1956. Water: clear, 0-3 1/2 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: steep banks,

weeds and hardwoods. Current: slight. Methods rotenone. 42B Same location, July 2, 1956. 43 Dog Creek, 2 S, 1/4 E of Claremore, T21N, R16E, S21, Rogers County, June 28 1956. Water: turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 10 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: steep sloping banks covered with weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera and Polsgonum. Current: moderate. Method: seine.

44 Tributary of Verdigris River, 2 No 3 W of Inola, T2ON, R16E, 822 and 23, Rogers County, June 28, 1956. Water: slightly turbid,

0-4 ft. deeps 0-40 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: low banks, grass, elm. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 45 Talala Creek, 2 E, 2 N of Talala, T24N, R15E, 813 and 14, Rogers

County, June 29) 1956. Water: turbid, 1/2 to 2 ft. deep, 3-10 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, rock and gravel. Shore: sloping banks, grass, and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: slight. Method: seine. 46 Talala Creek, 1 N, 4 1/2 E of Talala, T24N, R16E, 820, Rogers County, June 29, 1956. Water: turbid, 1/2-3 ft. deep, 2-20 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: high banks, hardwoods. Vege- tation: pianthera. Current: slight. Method: seine. 20

47 Lightning Creek, 4 E, 1 N of Alluwe, T25N, R17E, S22, Nowata County) June 29, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-1 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: low banks, hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 48 Lightning Creek, 4 E, 4 N of Alluwe, T25N, R17E, S14, Nowata County, June 29, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-35 ft. wide. Bottom: mud. Shore: low banks, hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 48B Same location, July 19, 1956. 49 Talala Creek, 2 E, 2 1/2 N of Talala, T24N, R15E, 313, Rogers County, July 2, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-2 1/2 ft. deep, 0-35 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, rocksand gravel. Shore: low banks, weeds, and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 50 Verdigris River, 6 W, 3 S of Claremore, T21N, R15E, S32, Rogers County, July 3, 1956. Water: turbid, 1-3 ft. deep, 20-70 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and gravel. Shore: moderately sloping banks, weeds, and hardwoods. Current: swift on riffles. Method: seine. 51 Bird Creek, 1 W, 1 N of Catoosa, T2ON, R15E, S18, Rogers County, July 3, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, foam on the surface, apparently polluted, 1/2 - 5 ft. deep, 10-30 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: high banks, weeds, rocks and hardwoods. Vegetation: algae and Spirodela. Current: swift. Method: seine. 21

52 Verdigris River 5 E, 2 N of Talala, T24N, R16E, S150 Rogers County, July 4, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1/4 - 3 ft. deep, 40-50 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock, shale, and mud. Shore: low banks,

weeds, and hardwoods. Vegetation: algae on rocks. Current:

swift on riffles. Method: seine. 52B Same location, July 18, 1956. Method: rotenone and seine. 53 Verdigris River, 2 E, 1/4 S of Alluwe, T25N, R16E, 534 and 35, Nowata County, July 9, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1/2 - 3 ft. deep, 50-70 ft. wide. Bottom: rock and mud. Shore: high sloping banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: willows in

water, Dianthera. Current: moderate. Method: seine. 53B Same location, July 16, 1956. 54 Verdigris River, 2 E, 1/4 S of Alluwe, T25N, R16E, 334 and 35, July 10, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1-5 ft. deep, 50-70 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and mud. Shore: high sloping banks,

weeds and hardwoods. Vegetations willows in water, some Dianthera. Current: moderate. Method: gill nets. 54B Same location, July 11, 1956. 54C Same location, July 12, 1956. 54D Same location, July 13, 1956. 54E Same location, July 17, 1956.

54? Same location, July 18, 1956.

54G Same location, July 19, 1956. 54H Same location, July 20, 1956. 541 Same location, July 21, 1956. 55 Cedar Creek, 4 1/2 E.of Lenapah, T27N, R16E, Sl, Nowata County, July 10, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-1 ft. deep, 0-10 ft. 22

wide. Bottom: silt, gravel and rocks. Shore: steep sloping

banks. Vegetation: willow trees. Current: none. Method:

rotenone.

56 Curl Creek, 7 E, 1 N of Ochelata, T25N, R14E, S29 and 30, Washington County, July 23, 1956. Water: turbid 0-3 ft. deep, 0-25 ft. wide. Bottom: mud, rocks, and gravel. Shore: high mud banks,

weeds, and hardwoods. Vegetation: algae. Current: none.

Method: seine. 57 Comodore Creek, 3 W of Inola, T19N, R16E, Si and 12, Rogers County, July 24, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 1/2 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel. Shore: low banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 58 Verdigris River, 3 W, 1/2 S of Inola, T19N, R16E, S14, Rogers County, July 24, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1/4 - 4 ft.

deep, 75-150 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks, gravel and mud. Shore: high, steep banks; weeds, and hardwoods. Vegetation: algae on

rocks. Current: moderate. Method: seine.

59 Pea Creek, 2 S of Inola, T19N, R17E, S21, Rogers County, July 24, 1956. Water: turbid, 2 in. to 4 ft. deep, 1-12 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks, mud, and gravel. Shore: low banks, grass, and

hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current: moderate. Method: seine.

60 Verdigris River 4 S, 2 1/2 W of Inola, T19N, R16E, 3361 Rogers County, July 24, 1956. Water: clear, 1/2 - 2 ft. deep, 75-100 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks and gravel. Shore: high banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: swift on riffles. Method: seine. 23

61 Blue Creek, 5 E, 1 N of Oologah, T23N, R16E, S201 Rogers County, July 25, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide.

Bottom: bedrock. Shore: low banks, weeds, and hardwoods.

Vegetation: algae. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

62 Coal Creek, 6 N, 4 E of Coweta, T18N, H16F, S14, Wagoner County,

July 25, 1956. Water: very turbid, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-10 ft.

wide. Bottom: mud 1-2 ft. deep. Shore: steep soil banks,

elms and cottonwoods. Vegetation: some algae. Current:

none. Method: rotenone.

63 Adams Creek, 5 E, 4 1/2 S of Highway Junction 33 and 66, T19N, R15E, S25, Wagoner County, July 26, 1956. Water: clear, 0-2

ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud. Shore: low steep

banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: Dianthera. Current:

none. Method: rotenone.

64 Adams Creek, 3 E, 6 S of Junction Highways 33 and 66, T18N, R15E,

S3, Wagoner County, July 26, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 ft.

deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: mud. Shore: steep, mud banks;

weeds and hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

65 Gar Creek, 5 E of Coweta, T17N, R16E, 312 1 Wagoner County, July 26,

1956. Water: turbid, 0-2 1/2 ft. deep, 0-20 ft. wide. Bottom:

mud and rocks. Shore: high banks, weeds and hardwoods. Vege-

tation: Dianthera and Polygonum. Current: none. Method:

rotenone.

66 Verdigris River, 6 W of Wagoner, T17N, R17E, S16, Wagoner County, July 26, 1956. Water: clear, 1-3 ft. deep, 150 ft. wide. 24

Bottom: bedrock. Shore: low sloping banks. Vegetation:

filamentous algae. Current: moderate. Method: seine.

67 Hulah Reservoir, T29N, R12E, S10, Osage County, July 31, 1956. Water: slightly turbid. Bottom: mud and rocks. Shore: gent-

ly sloping, weeds and grass. Vegetation: some algae.

Current: none. Method: rotenone.

68 Mission Creek, 4 S of Hulah, T28N, R12E, 328, Osage County, July 31, 1956. Water: turbid, 0-3 ft. deep, 0-10 ft. wide. Bottom:

mud. Shore: steep, mud banks. Current: none. Method: seine. 69 East Fork of Caney River, 4 N, 1 1/2 W of Dewey, T27N, R13 E, 36, Washington County, July 31, 1956. Water: turbid, 1-2 ft. deep, 8-15 ft. wide. Bottoms mud. Shore: gently sloping banks; weeds and hardwoods. Current: moderate. Method: seine.

70 Postoak Creek, 2 1/2 N of Dewey at Highway 75 bridge, T27N, R13E, 89, Washington County, July 31, 1956. Water: clear, 1-3 ft.

deep, 1-20 ft. wide. Bottoms rock. Shore: high banks; weeds and hardwoods. Currents slight. Method: seine.

71 Verdigris River, 1 1/2 8 of Coody's Bluff, T25N, R16E, 86, Nowata County, August 2, 1956. Water: clear, 3-8 ft. deep, 100-150 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock, rocks, and gravel. Shore: gently

sloping banks; weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: some algae, willows at edge. Current: moderate. Methods rotenone. 71B Same location, August 9, 1956.

72 Stith Pond, 1 W of Nowata, T26N, R15E, 824, Nowata County, August 6, 1956. Water: turbid, about one acre. Bottom: mud. Shore: mud, a few willows. Current: none. Vegetation: CeratophYllum, submerged plants. Method: rotenone. 25

73 Snedden Pond, 3 1/2 1.4 1/4 N of Centralia, T27N, R18E, 517, Craig County, August 7, 1956. Water: clear. Bottom: rock and mud. Shore: gently sloping; grass and weeds. Vegetation: many aquatic plants. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 74 Verdigris River at Highway 28 Bridge, T26N, R16E, S5, Nowata County, August 10, 1956. Water: clear, 1/2 - 4 ft. deep, 50-100 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and rocks. Shore: high rocky banks, weeds, and hardwoods. Vegetation: algae. Current: slight. Method: rotenone. 75 Verdigris River at Highway 10 bridge, 3 E of Lenapah, T27N, R16E, 33, Nowata County, August 10, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1/2 - 6 ft. deep, 20-75 ft. wide. Bottom: mud and gravel over bedrock. Shore: high banks, covered with weeds and hard- woods. Vegetation: algae. Current: alight. Method: rotenone. 76 Caney River, 7 Sp 2 E of Bartlesville, T25N, R13E, S20, Washington County, August 10, 1956. Water: clear, 1/2 - 3 ft. deep, 10-30 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock. Shore: rock banks, weeds and hard- woods. Vegetation: algae. Current: moderate. Method: rotenone.

77 Caney River, 1 SI 4 E of Ramona, T23N, R14E, 35, Washington County, August 10, 1956. Water: clear, 1 1/2 - 2 ft. deep, 15-25 ft. wide. Bottom: gravel. Shore: steep shale banks; willows. Current: moderate. Method: seine. 78 Caney River, 2 E of Vera, T23N, R14E, S20, Washington County, August 10, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 1/2 - 3 ft. deep, 30-50 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock, shale. Shore: steep shale banks; willows, oaks and weeds. Vegetation: floating algae. Current: slight. Method: seine. 26

79 Hominy Creek, 10 W of Skiatook, T2214, R10E, 3131 Osage County, August 10, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: sandy. Shore: low banks, willows. Current:

none. Method: seine. Approximately the same location as Hubbs and Ortenburger's station 59. 80 Snow Creek, 2 S, 3 E of South Coffeyville, T29N, R16E, S33, Nowata County, August 13, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-50 ft. wide. Bottom: bedrock and mud. Shore: high banks; weeds and hardwoods. Vegetation: aquatic plants present. Current: none. Method: rotenone. 81 Verdigris River, 2 1/2 S of Coody's Bluff, T25N, R16E, S11, Nowata County, August 14, 1956. Water: clear, standing in pools, 0-2 ft. deep, 6-20 ft. wide. Bottom: gravel and rocks. Shore: gravel and rocks. Vegetation: some algae. Current: slight. Method: rotenone. 82 Sand Creek, 1 1/2 S of Bartlesville at Highway 23 bridge, T26N,

R12E, 3221 Osage County, August 16, 1956. Water: slightly tur- bid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-15 ft. wide. Bottom: sand, rocks and trash. Shore: high banks with rocks; elm, and cottonwood roots exposed. Current: none. Method: seine. 83 Sand Creek, 4 SW of Bartlesville, T26N, R12E, S18, Osage County, August 16, 1956. Water: clear, 0-2 ft. deep, 0-10 ft. wide. Bottom: sand and rock. Shore: gently sloping banks; weeds and hardwoods. Current: none. Method: rotenone.

84 Sand Creek, 1 S, 4 E of Bartlesville, T26N, R11E, 314, Osage County,

August 160 1956. Water: clear, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-40 ft. wide. 27

Bottom: sand, a few rocks. Shore: high soil banks; grass and

hardwoods. Vegetation: filamentous algae. Current: none.

Method: seine.

85 Sand Creek, 1 W of Osage Hills State Park, T26N, R10E, S15, Osage

County, August 16, 1956. Water: clear, 0-6 ft. deep, 0-40 ft.

wide. Bottom: sand and rocks. Shore: soil banks and hardwoods.

Current: none. Method: seine.

86 Bird Creek, 1 1/2 NW of Pawhuska, T26N, R19E, 332, Osage County,

August 16, 1956. Water: slightly turbid, 0-4 ft. deep, 0-10

ft. wide. Bottom: mud and leaves, a few rocks. Shore: high

soil banks; weeds and small hardwoods. Current: none. Method:

rotenone.

87 Verdigris River, near Highway bridge S of Okay, T16N, R19E, 3191 Wagoner County, March 2, 1956. Water: clear, 0-2 1/2 ft. deep, 200-300 ft. wide. Bottom: rocks. Shore: high rocky banks,

hardwoods. Vegetation: algae. Current: swift on riffles.

Method: seine.

88 Verdigris River, at confluence with Arkansas River, T15N, R19E, 85,

Muskogee County, March 2, 1957. Water: slightly turbid, 0-3

ft. deep, 200-300 ft. wide. Bottom: sand. Shore: mud banks,

sand, hardwoods. Vegetation: algae. Current: slight.

Method: seine. ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES

In the following list the scientific name is followed by the

common name, literature references, symbols of collections made by

others, station numbers of this survey and pertinent notes in that order.

When the citation Shelske (1957) appears below the species name,

it indicates that the species was collected in the Kansas portion of

the drainage. Station numbers such as 4-9 are inclusive. The fish

lengths recorded are standard lengths.

LEFISOSTEIDAE

1. Lepisosteus Lacepede

1. Lepisosteus spatula (Lachede). Alligator gar.

Although none of this species was collected, a picture of

a 165—pound alligator gar, taken by Mt. Elbert M. Woodrum on

January 16, 1957, from the Verdigris River, three miles east

and eight miles north of Covets, was given me by Mt. Alfred

Houser, of the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department, who stated

that the species is believed to cause considerable damage to the

gill nets of commercial fishermen on the river. A 160—pound

fish of this species was taken in a gill net near the town of

Okay in 1953, (Anon., 1953).

2. pepisopteus platostomus Rafinesque. Shortnose gar.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), MK, 51, and 52.

Stations 52 and 54.

28 29

Ten specimens were taken in one week by means of a gill

net at station 54. One specimen was seined at station 52.

3. Lapisosteus productus (Cope). Spotted gar. Bl and B2. Stations 54 and 80. One young and one adult were taken. 4. Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). Longnose gar. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Schelske (1957). Stations 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26-28, 38, 52-54, and 80. There were 175 specimens collected ranging from 45 to 273 mm. in length. The larger individuals were taken in the main river, small specimens from the headwaters of some tributaries. CLUPEIDAE 2. Dorosoma Rafinesque

5. Dorosoma cepedianum (LeSueur). Gizzard shad. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), Schelske (1957).

Stations 5, 12-16, 20, 23, 25, 27, 28, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41, 44- 46, 49, 50, 52-54, 56, 58, 61, 63-65, 67, 71, 73, 80, 87 and 88. This very abundant fish (975 individuals collected) could be a valuable forage fish for the future impoundment. Ranging

from 17 to 207 mm. in length, this species is an important link in the food chain. HIODONTIDAE 3. Hiodon LeSueur 6. Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque). Goldeye. Station 54. 30

Four large fish of this species were taken from gill 'nets

in a deep hole in the river. Although the nets were set in the

same hole for 10 days, all four fish were taken from one net on

the seventh day.

CATOSTOMIDAE r

4. Ictiobus Rafinesque

7. Ictiobus cyprinellus (Valenciennes). Bigmouth buffalofish.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) as Megastomatobus cyprinellus,

Jenkins (1949), Schelake (1957), H2. Stations 4, 12-15, 37, 46, 54, 55, 61, 80.

This species was taken readily from gill nets set in the

deeper pools, occasionally with rotenone in the tributaries and

rarely with the small seines. There were 96 individuals collect-

ed ranging from 18 to 115 mm. in length.

8. Ictiobus niper, (Rafinesque). Black buffalofish.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b). Stations 12-15, 38, 50, 52755, 58, 60, 61, 65, 80 and 81.

Found usually with I. morinellus, this species was appar-

ently more abundant. The 168 specimens, taken mainly from the

river proper, ranged in size from 21 mm. in length to 25 pounds.

One large pond yielded many large fish.

9. Ictiobus bubalus (gtfinesque). SmaUmouth buffalofish.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) and Schelske (1957). Stations 15,

22, 37, 43, 54, 67 and 80.

Apparently not as abundant as the black buffalofish, only

- 11 specimens from, 92- ito t10 mm. in length- mere-placed in this 31

taxon. It was found to be difficult to determine differences

which would separate the amallmouth buffalofish from the black.

Many of the fish fell in the range of measurements for both

species. Mr. Bill Heard, graduate student at Oklahoma State

University, plans to study the specimens further and attempt to

find a better method of separation of the species.

5. Carpiodes Rafinesque

10. Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque). River carpsucker.

Schelske (1957). Stations 12, 14, 22, 23, 35, 38, 42, 54, 63, 65 and 88.

The 194 individuals (24-261 mm. in length) collected were

taken mainly from gill nets set in deeper pools in the river.

Small specimens were taken with a seine.

6. Moxostoma Rafinesque

11. Moxostoma duouesnei (LeSueur). Black redhorse.

MWHT2 and MWHT3.

This species was taken in 1950 from the Osage Hills Area.

Some sites in this area were visited during the survey, but no

specimens of M. cluauesnei were taken. The streams visited,

during this survey, showed evidence of pollution possibly caused

by the expanding human population and industry of the area.

Apparently this species has become very rare because of its

lack of tolerance of these conditions.

12. Moxostoma erythrurum (Rafinesque). Golden redhorse.

Schelske (1957) and 14M1. Station 13-15, 22, 24, 32, 35, 36,

38, 42, 48 and 80. 32

Seventy-five individuals were collected, ranging from 22 to 315 mm. in length. Many large suckers were taken in gill nets at station 22. 7. Minytrema Jordan 13. Ninytrema melanops (Rafinesque). Spotted sucker. Thompson and Hutson (1951). Stations 13-15, 20, 24, 35, 48, 80. The spotted sucker was fairly abundant; 225 individuals were collected, ranging from 14 to 214 mm. in length. CYPRINIDAE 8. Cyprinus Linnaeus

14. Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus. Carp. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), Schelske (1957). Stations 12, 14-16, 18, 22, 35, 38, 42, 54, 59, 63 and 80. There were 60 specimens collected, ranging in size from 24 to 170 mm. in length. Although not abundant, carp were taken ocfasionally in all parts of the drainage. 9. Notemigonus Rafinesque 15. Notemigonus crysoleucas (Nitchip). Golden shiner. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Schelske (1957), MWHT1. Stations 3, 6-10, 14-16, 18, 21, 26, 29-31, 33, 36, 37, 39, 41, 44-46, 48, 49 56, 57, 59, 61, 63-65, 72 and 86. The golden shiner, (415 fish, 12 to 117 mm. long), was found usually in the more turbid tributaries of the west side

of the drainage. 33

10. Hybopsis Agassiz 16. Hybopsis storeriana (Kirtland). Silver chub. Station 23 One large specimen, 83 mm. in length, was collected at this station.

17. Hybopsis x—punctata Hubbs and Crowe. Gravel chub.

One specimen of this species was collected by Dr. A. P. Blair, of the University of Tulsa, near the survey station 38. 11. Notropis Rafinesque 18. Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque. Emerald shiner. Station 87. One specimen, 45 mm. in length, was taken at this station. 19. Notropis percobromus (Cope). Plains shiner.

MP2. Stations 23, 38, 52, 60, 66, 71, 87 and 88. There were 45 specimens collected, ranging from 21 to 55 mm. in length. This minnow was taken only from swiftly flowing water in the river proper.

20. Notropis umbratilis (Girard). Redfin shiner.

Schelske (1957), JS, MUBT21 MWHT3, FC1. Stations 3, 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33, 35, 36, 48, 56, 65, 74, 75, 79, 80, 84 and 85. This shiner was represented by 214 individuals, ranging from 16 to 59 mm. in length. Well distributed throughout the

drainage, this species was never abundant at any location. It occurred usually in turbid water. 34

21. Notropis blennius (Girard). River shiner. Stations 87 and 88. Only 38 individuals were collected, ranging from 29 to 56 mm. in length. 22. Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard). Red shiner. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949) Hall (1951), Schelske (1957), MP2. Stations 1-5, 7, 12-16, 18-20, 23-25, 28, 29, 31-33, 35-39, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48-53, 55-61, 63, 64, 66-69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 79-81, 83, 84, 87 and 88. The 9670 individuals collected ranged, in length, from 8 to 75 mm. This was by far the most abundant fish of the drainage, being found at almost every station. Several spawn- ings were indicated by the abundance of smaller fish throughout the summer.

23. Notropis girardi Hubbs and Ortenburger. Arkansas shiner. Station 87.

The Arkansas shiner, common only in major streams in the

Arkansas Basin, may be regarded as a member of the Verdigris

fauna only on the basis of occasional wanderers from the Arkansas River. Only five specimens, 25 to 43 mm. in length were taken. 24. Notropis ortenburgeri Hubbs. Kiamichi shiner. MB.

Along with Moxostoma duouesnei this species seems to be disappearing from the Osage Hills because of the increased industrialization. It has not been taken since .1940. There 35

is the possibility that the Kiamichi shiner may not be a part of

the Verdigris fauna. The specimens collected by Moore and

Baumgartner may have been transported by way of bait bucket to

the river system.

25. Notropis deliciosus (Girard). Sand shiner.

MMHT1. Station 87 and 88.

All the 488 specimens collected, ranging in size from 28

to 50 mm. in length, were taken near the river's mouth. The

sand shiner is usually found in shallow streams with a sandy

bottom. The abundance of the species at stations 87 and 88

reflects the influence of the main river.

There exists, though unpublished, good reason for the in-

validity of the name Notronis deliciosus (Girard), as present-

ly applied to this species. This evidence was presented by

Dr. Royal D. Suttkus at the 1957 annual meeting of the

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists held at

New Orleans, Louisiana. According to Suttkus, the types of

Moniana deliciosa Girard, 1856, do not represent the species

currently called N. deliciosus. However, the name used above

is employed pending publication of Dr. Suttkus' evidence.

26. Notronis volucellus (Cope). Mimic shiner.

Schelske (1957), MP2. Stations 13, 23, 28, 38, 52, 53, 61,

66, 71, 74, 75, 80 and 87.

The 252 individuals collected, ranging from 15 to 38 mm.

in length, were found principally in the Main channels of the

river and larger tributaries. The fish in this collection 36

agree with those described by Bailey (1951). N. volucellus from the Verdigris has a well-developed infraorbital canal

which extends around the lower half of the orbit and ends near

the nostril. N. buchanani has no infraorbital canal.

27. Notropis buchanani Meek. Ghost shiner.

Schelske (1957). Stations 12, 20, 23, 28, 32, 37, 38 48, 50- 53, 56, 58, 60, 71, 75, 79-81 and 87.

There were 6425 individuals collected, varying in size from 16 to 39 mm. in length.

This species was separated from N. volucellus, as indi-

cated above, using the characters described by Bailey (1951). An additional character was also used to distinguish between

the two species. In most of the Verdigris specimens of N. buchanani there was a ring of melanophores around the lower part of the orbit. In the fish from clear water, which were

heavily pigmented, this character was prominent, but less so

in specimens collected from more turbid waters.

12. Phenacobius Cope 28. Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard). Suckermouth minnow.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Schelske (1957). Stations 13-15, 19, 23, 24, 28, 36-38, 42, 46, 50-53, 60, 61, 66, 71, 74, 75, 81 and 87.

Most of the 538 individuals collected were taken from the river proper in the section between Coffeyville and above the

confluence with Bird Creek. This fish seemed to prefer clear, relatively swift water. The size collected ranged from 21 to 89 mm. in length. 37

13. Hybognathus Agassiz

29. Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz. 'Silvery minnow.

MP2. Stations 23, 52 and 87.

The taxonomy of this species has not been completely

established. According to Bailey (1956), Hybognathus nuchalis

and H. pladita are conspecific; H. nuchalis having a larger

eye and larger scales and H. placita having a smaller eye and

smaller scales. The differences between the two fishes may

be caused by temperature and turbidity.

The 32 individuals collected (40-69 mm. in length) from

the Verdigris River were of the 2119111 type.

14. Pimephales Rafinesque

In addition to the long-recognized methods of separating the four species of unaphalm, the caudal spot was Used to separate the fishes of this genus from the Verdigris River.

P. promelas has no caudal spot and can be separated very

easily from the other three specie6 on this basis.

The shape of the caudal spot can be used to separate the

three remaining species. The caudal spot of P. tenellua is a vertical bar at the end of the caudal peduncle. E. notatus has a redtangular caudal spot and in P. vigilax it is tri-

angular. The apex of the triangle in P. vigilax is anterior;

the base being parallel with the base of the caudal fin.

30. Pimephales promelas Rafinesque. Fathead minnow.

FC1. Stations 1, 12, 14, 15, 21, 24, 29, 31, 37-39, 41, 42, 45, 52, 56, 59, 61, 64, and 69. 38

The fish (876 individuals collected) ranged from 10 to 60 mm. in length.

31. Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). Bluntnose minnow.

Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951), Schelske (1957), MWHT31 MWHT1, NM, JS as Hvborhynchus notatus. Stations 4, 5, 7, 10, 12-15, 18-20, 23, 24-26, 28-31, 33, 35-39, 41, 42, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 56, 60, 61, 68, 71, 74 and 80. Abundant (1022 individuals, 13 to 74 mm, in length) through- out the drainage, this species seemed to have little habitat

preference. It should be a valuable forage fish for the future impoundment.

32. Pimephales vigilax (Baird and Girard). Parrot minnow. Schelske (1957). Stations 12, 15, 23, 25, 27, 33, 37, 38, 52, 53, 58, 60, 66, 67, 71, 74, 75, 79, 87 and 88.

This species was found usually along with P. notatus in the Verdigris Drainage. It did seem to prefer, however, clearer

water. This fish (505 individuals, 15-61 mm. in length) had a

wide distribution within the drainage but -was not numerous at any one station.

33. Pimephales tenellus (Girard). Slim minnow. Schelske (1957). Stations 12-15, 20, 23, 28, 32, 33, 35, 38, 42, 50, 52, 53, 66, 67, 71, 74, 75, 80 and 81. There were 311 individuals collected ranging from 15 to 52 mm. in length. 39

15. Campostoma Agassiz

34. Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque). Stoneroller.

Schelske (1957), MWHT1, MWHT3, Stations 2, 4, 13-15, 18-20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 36-38, 42, 48-50, 52, 53, 55, 61, 64, 71,

74 and 81.

This species was very abundant (1442 collected, 18-88 mm.),

It was found throughout the drainage in both turbid and clear

water; the higher concentrations being in clear water near

riffles.

ICTALURIDAE

16. Ictalurus Rafinesque

35. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel catfish.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), as lacustris,

Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), Schelske (1957).

Stations 14, 16, 22, 23, 28, 38, 42, 50, 52, 54, 58, 60, 65-67,

71, 80, 81, 83 and 87.

There were 459 individuals collected ranging from 20 to

145 mm. in length.

36. Ictalurus melAS (Rafinesque). Black bullhead.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) as Ameiurus melas, Jenkins (1949),

Thompson and Hutson (1951), as bullheads, Schelske (1957), W.

Stations 1, 11...15, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 3033, 35, 36, 39-46,

48, 49, 55, 59, 61, 63, 64, 78, 79, 80, 82 and 86.

The 2725 black bullheads collected, ranging from 10 to 173

mm. in length, were found throughout the drainage in pools, but

rarely found in swift water. It was found in a few cases, in

very stagnant or polluted water. 40

37. Ictalurus natalis (LeSueur). Yellow bullhead. Jenkins (1949). Stations 15, 28, 35, 36, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48, 63 and 65. Yellow bullheads seem to prefer clearer water than the

black. They were not abundant in the drainage (28 individuals

collected, 26-180 mm.). 17. Pylodictis Rafinesque 38. Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque). Flathead catfish. Jenkins (1949), McCoy (1953), Jenkins (195), Schelske (1957). Stations 15, 22, 28, 35, 50, 52, 54, 58, 60, 67, 71 and 81. There were 210 individuals collected ranging from 20 to 248 mm. in length. Many young-of-the-year flatheads were collected in the river bed with the small seine and with rotenone later in the summer when the river had dried to pools. The young, distinguished by the splash of white on the upper

part of the caudal fin, seemed to be trapped in the small pools. 18. Noturua Rafinesque 39. Noturus flavus Rafinesque. Stonecat. Schelske (1957). Stations 23, 28, 38, 71 and 80. Thirty individuals were collected ranging from 25 to 115 mm. in length. 19. Schilbeodes Bleeker Taylor (1954) has indicated that this genus should be

merged with Noturus Rafinesque. The name Schilbeodes is here retained because of the absence of a published statement of reasons for the merger. 41

40. Schilbeodes nocturnus (Jordan and Gilbert). Freckled madtom. Schelske (1957). Stations 14, 28, 38, 52, 71 and 81. The 73 individuals collected ranged from 21 to 89 mm. in length. 41. Schilbeodes miurus (Jordan). Brindled madtom. Schelske (1957). Station 13-15. The seven specimens collected ranged in size from 25 to 58 mm. They were taken only from Big Creek, a clear tributary on the eastern side of the drainage. ANGUILLIDAE 20. Anguilla Shaw

42. Anguilla rostrata (LeSueur). American eel. Station 73. One eel was taken with rotenone from a pond in the eastern

drainage. CYPRINODONTIDAE 21. FUndulus LackplIde

43. FunduIus notatus (Rafinesque). Blackband topminnow. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), Schelske (1957).

Stations 9, 10, 12-15, 20, 26, 29, 310 35, 36, 41, 44, 48, 65, 73, 79, 80, 82, 84 and 85. The 227 individuals collected ranged from 14 to 62 mm. in length.

44. Fundulus kanome Garman. Plains killifish. No specimens were taken during the survey, but Dr. A. P.

Blair (personal communication) has taken this species from .a small tributary of Bird Creek near Tulsa. POECILIIDAE 22. Gambusia Poey

45. Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). Gambusia. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b)as G. patruelis, Schelske (1957), NP2. Stations 2-7, 12-16, 18-20, 23, 24, 26-29, 32-39, 41-46, 48-53, 55-66, 6971, 7442 and 84. This species was abundant (2441 specimens, 8-49 mm. in length) throughout the drainage in all habitats. G. affinis

seemed particularly tolerant of adverse conditions and was found, occasionally in the absence of other species, in some heavily

polluted waters. ATHERINIDAE 23. Labidesthes Cope 46. Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). Brook silversides. Jenkins (1949), Schelske (1957), NWHT3. Stations 5, 12-15, 18-20,

23, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 451 4953, 56, 67, 68, 71, 73, 74, 79, 80 And 85. Individuals, numbering 231 and ranging from 8 to 76 mm. in length, were collected. SERRANIDAE 24. Roccus Nit chill 47. Roccus Chrysops (Rafinesque). White bass. Stations 51 and 67. Three specimens were taken during the survey, two from Hulah Reservoir and one from Bird Creek. These were from 54 to 88 mm. in length. 43

This species, although found in both streams and lakes, becomes much more abundant in lakes. It will probably be able to establish itself in any future impoundment of the Verdigris

system. 25. Morone Nitchill

48. Morone interrupta Gill. Yellow bass. H2. The yellow bass has been reported only at two locations in Oklahoma. One of these localities is a small oxbow lake (Vann's Lake) near the Verdigris. It is not known how the fish reached

this lake, but it is doubtful if it occurs in the drainage at

this time. Vann's Lake was completely dry during the summer of 1954 and 1955. According to Dr. C. D. Riggs (personal communication) the

yellow bass occurs also in oxbows of the Red River in McCurtain County. CENTRARCHEDAE 26. Micropterus Lacepede

49. Micronterus punctulatus (Rafinesque). Spotted bass. Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), Schelske (1957). Stations 13-15, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 50, 52, 71 and 80. Although not abundant in the drainage, the spotted bass

was well distributed throughout the clearer waters. Most of the 51 individuals (23 to 192 mm.) taken during the survey were young-of-the-year. 50. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Largemouth bass. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) as Anlites salmoides, Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951), Thompson and Hutson (1951) as bass, Jenkins (1955), MM, NWHT1, FB. Stations 5-7, 9, 12-16, 18-20,

, 22, 23, 26, 28-30, 32, 33) 35, 37...'39, 41) 44-46, 48.-.50) 53)

56, 61, 63, 64, 67, 71, 730 79, 80, 85 and 86. This game species was abundant throughout the drainage (305 collected, 18-171 mm. in length). Because of the some- what selective sampling techniques no large bass were taken, but young-of-the-year were common at most of the statIons. Jenkins (1957), on the basis of this survey, estimated there were 30 bass per acre. 27. Chaenobryttus Gill 51. Chaenobryttus coronarius (Bartram). Warmouth.

Jenkins (1955). Stations 12-15, 20, 22, 27, 28, 37, 41, 4446, 48, 52, 56, 59, 62, 65, 71-73, 80, 84 and 86. One hundred three individuals were collected ranging from 19 to 145 mm. in length. Although Bailey (1956) reverted to the name Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier), he stated that "final action is still pending". C. coronarius (Bertram) is retained here rather than to antici- pate this possible change. 28. Lepomis Rafinesque 52. LeDomis uanellus Rafinesque. Green sunfish.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) as Apomotus cyanellus, Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951), Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), 45

Schelske (1957), NM, FC1, MWHT3. Stations 1, 2, 4, 6-10, 12-24, 26-42, 44-53, 55-57, 59, 61-65, 67-72, 74, 75 and 77-86. Taken at 73 stations, this fish can certainly be expected to frequent all the waters of the drainage. In all, 1905 individ- uals, ranging from 56 to 122 mm. in length, were collected during the three-month survey.

53. 4DOMiS, microlonhus (GUnther). Redear sunfish. Jenkins (1949), Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955). Stations 72 and 80. The redear has been introduced into the drainage by the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department in their extensive stocking program. Five specimens (56 to 122 mm. in length) were taken during 1956. Four fish were from a small pond near Nowata; one specimen, taken by means of rotenone, was from Snow Creek. 54. Lepomis meaalotis (Rafinesque). Longear sunfish. Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951), Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), Schellske (1957), MWHT3, FC1. Stations 3-5, 7-10, 12-15, 19, 20, 22-24, 26, 28, 31, 33, 35-38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48-53, 56, 58-61, 63-67, 71, 73-75, 78-81, and 83-87. This sunfish was also abundant (617 collected, 20 to 118 mm. in length) in the drainage. Taken from a variety of habitats it was more numerous in the clearer waters.

55. PODOMie humllis (Girard). Orangespotted sunfish. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b) as Allotis humilis, Thompson and Hutson (1951), Schelske (1957), FB, FC1. Stations 1, 3-8, 10,

12-16, 18-200 23, 24, 26-29, 31-33, 35-38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48-53, 56, 58-61, 63-67, 71, 73-75, 78-81, 83-87. 46

This fish occurred in all locations in large numbers

(2158 collected, from 16 to 77 mm. in length). It seemed to

thrive in the somewhat turbid waters of the drainage. An

impressive number of the fish collected possessed a noteworthy

anomaly. The lateral-line system, especially on the head,

often lacked a covering. Some fish had only a small part of

the lateral-line system uncovered, whereas in others it was

almost wholly open. Mr. Milton R. Curd of the Oklahoma State

University Zoology Department plans to study this anomaly fur-

ther in an effort to determine its extent and cause.

56. Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque. Bluegill. Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951), Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), Schelske (1957), NWHT1, FB. Stations 5-7,

12-15, 19, 20, 22, 25-28, 32, 33) 35-37) 38) 41, 42, 44) 48,

50-53) 55) 56) 61-65, 67-69, 71, 72-75, 79, 80 and 83-86. The bluegill was collected throughout the river system.

It was not as abundant as the other sunfishes; 335 fish, 17

to 131 mm. in length were taken.

29. Pomoxis Rafinesque

57. Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. White crappie.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b), Jenkins (1949), Hall (1951),

Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955), Schelske (1957),

FC1. Stations 7, 12-15, 18-20, 23, 25...33) 3739, 42) 44-46)

48) 50) 52-54) 56) 59, 62, 65, 67, 68, 72, 73, 79, 80, and 86.

There were 553 white crappie ranging from 16 to 156 mm.

in length in the collections. 47

58. Pomoxis nigromaculatus LeSueur. Black crappie. Hall (1949), Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955). Stations 18, 20, 26-28, 31, 38, 49, 52, 71 and 79. Black crappie are represented by 22 specimens (25 to 113 mm. in length) from the Verdigris Drainage. PERCIDAE 30. Perca Linnaeus 59. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow perch. Thompson and Hutson (1951), Jenkins (1955). The yellow perch was first introduced into Lake Pawhuska sometime before 1939 (Thompson and Hutson 1951). During their ten-year creel census (1939-1948) of the lake, 190 in- dividuals were taken. Jenkins (1955) captured 38 during the summer of 1954. 31. Percina Haldeman 60. Percina maculate (Girard). Blackside darter. Station 15.

One specimen, 38 mm. in length, was collected.

61. Percina phoxocenhala (Nelson). Slenderhead darter. Schelske (1957), E as Hadropterus phoxocephalus. Stations 15, 20, 23, 28, 38, 50, 52, 53, 58, 60, 67, 71, 75, 80 and 81. This darter was found most frequently in deep swift water of the river channel below riffles and on sandy bottom. One

notable exception to the above statement was its presence in the rocky, wave washed, east shore of Hulah Reservoir at station 67. It was collected in relatively large numbers (732 in- dividuals, 20 to 40 mm. in length). 48

62. Percina copelandi (Jordan). Channel darter. Schelske (1957), E as Hadropterus copelandi. Stations 13-15, 52 and 80. The channel darter was represented by 15 specimens rang- ing from 30 to 40 mm. in length. 63. Percina caprodes (Rafinesque). Logperch.

Jenkins (1949), Schelske (1957). Stations 13-15, 19, 20, 26, 29, 35-38, 48, 50-52, 67, 71, 73, 74, and 80. There were 273 individuals collected ranging from 19 to 94 mm. in length. 32. Etheostoma Rafinesque 64. Etheostoma chlorosomum (Hay). Bluntnose darter. Station 44. The four individuals collected (26 to 39 mm. in length) were taken from a turbid tributary by means of rotenone.

65. Etheostoma whipplei (Girard). Redfin darter. BM, J, MWHT3 as Poecilichthys whipplii. Stations 13-15, 20, 28, 35, 56, 71, 80 and 81. The 90 individuals collected ranged from 19 to 59 mm. in length. 66. Etheostoma spectabile (Agassiz). Orangethroat darter.

Schelske (1957), MWHT31 NWHT2 as Poecilichthys spectabile, and E. Stations 7, 13-15, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32, 35-38, 42, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 61, 71, 74, 80,81 and 86. This was the most abundant darter of the drainage (1637 collected, 13 to 43 ram. in length), occuring at almost all stations. 49

67. Etheostoma gracile (Girard). Slough darter.

Stations 39, 41, 45, 49, 62-65 and 68. There were 33 individuals, ranging from 22 to 41 mm. in

length, in the collections. SCIAENIDAE 33. Aplodinotus Rafinesque 68. Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque. Freshwater drum.

Jenkins (1949)- Stations 22, 38, 52, 54, 67, 71 and 81.

Thirty-one freshwater drum (40-112 mm. in length) were

preserved and studied from the Verdigris drainage. Because of

the selective sampling methods employed, this figure does not

represent an accurate estimate of relative abundance. At two

stations, 67 and 71, a large number of this species was

poisoned. HYBRID COMBINATIONS

1. Lepomis cyanellus Leoomis megalotis.

Station 14, 44 and 83.

Five fish collected, were intermediate in character be-

tween L. cyanellus and L. megalotis in the depth of the body,

the length of the pectoral fins, the length of the maxillary

bone and the number of scales along the lateral line. This

combination Was recognized by HUbbs and Ortenburger (1929b) and

has since been found to be a fairly common hybrid.

2. Leoomis cyanellus X Leoomis humilis.

Stations 13 and 15.

Hubbs and Ortenburger(1929b) recognized this hybrid in

their survey of Oklahoma fishes. The two fish collected during

this survey were largerthan L. humilis, but had the character-

istic large sensory cavities in the head. They resaiabled L.

cyanellus in the stiffness and shape of the opercle, the shape

of the fins and the shape of the head.

3. Lepomis megalotis XIeoomis macrochirus.

Stations 44 and 83.

This hybrid combination was also recognized by Hubbs and

Ortenburger (1929b). Three fish collected, were intermediate

50 51

between L. megalotis and L. macrochirus on the basis of the

length of the pectoral fins and opercular flap and in the size

of the mouth.

Etheostoma spectabile Etheostoma whipplei. 4. X Linder (1955), E, PIMBT3 as Poecilichtys spectabile P. whipplei.

Station 14.

Two fish collected during the survey, closely resembled the

hybrid between E. spectabile and E. whipplei as described by

Linder (1955) and were considered hybrids on this basis. DISCUSSION

The Verdigris River system offers a wide variety of habitats along the main channel and its many miles of tributaries. The habitats range from clear streams, more typical of the eastern drainage, to the muddy sluggish tributaries found more often on the west. The river itself changes from a large swift stream, in the spring months to a suscession of small disconnected pools in late summer. During the spring period of high flow the turbidity is very high. During the period of low flow, in the summer, the stream takes on a green hue because of the algae present.

Immediately south of the Kansas-Oklahoma state line, the stream is highly polluted with industrial and municipal wastes. Farther down- stream these effects dissipate and the stream is reasonably clear.

Darters were collected in this section between the northern area of pollution and the point of entry of Bird Creek which, like the Caney

River, seemed to bear a large amount of organic wastes. Few darters were collected below their entrance into the stream proper.

Despite these somewhat adverse conditions, the drainage abounds with fishes. Although the fauna is much poorer in number of species than in the clearer eastern Oklahoma streams, great numbers of sunfish, suckers, minnows and catfish were present. In all, 39,649 fishes were sorted and identified during the study. Many additional fishes were discarded after length, weight, and scales were taken.

52 53

The species numbers and composition follows the trend revealed in

other river surveys made in the state. The clearer streams that lie

east of the Verdigris, such as the Neosho, Poteau (Cross and Moore

1952), Illinois (Moore and Paden 1950), and Little (Reeves 1953) Rivers

in Oklahoma, have all yielded a greater variety of species. The more

turbid streams to the west, such as the Chikaskia River (Moore and Buck

1953), have yielded fewer species. This trend was further Shown in the

drainage of the Verdigris. The eastern tributaries were more productive,

species wise, than the western. This could possibly be influenced by the

fact that, in general, more waste products are allowed to enter the

western drainage.

During this study, 68 species, belonging to 32 genera and 14

families, were found to occur in the drainage. However, it is possible

that additional species may occur in the drainage. "Natives" of the

area stated that the sauger, Stizostedion canadense (Smith) and the

Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum), occur at times. Some fishes,

once collected in the drainage, may now be absent. Yellow bass, Morons

interrupts, black redhorse, Moxostoma duauesnei, and the Kiamichi shiner,

Notropis ortenberaeri have not been collected from the drainage for

some time. The higher industrialization of the area may have elimi-

nated some of the habitats or created intolerable conditions for these

fishes.

Schelske (1957) studied the fishes of the Verdigris and Fall Rivers

In two counties of southern Kansas. His study revealed 42 species in the river at four stations during 12 months. Thirty-eight of these

species were collected during the Oklahoma survey. The species which 54

occur both in Kansas and Oklahoma are noted in the annotated list. Five species occur in the Kansas segment of the river, but not in the

Oklahoma portion. These species are: Moxostoma aureolum pisolabrum

Trautman and Martin, MOXOSTOMA carinatum (Cope), Notropie camurus

(Jordan and Meek), Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson), and Etheostoma zonale arcansanum Jordan and Gilbert. These species may occur also in the

Oklahoma drainage.

Three additional species have been collected in the Kansas drain.- age of the Verdigris River system by other collectors. These also, possibly work their way into Oklahoma at one time or another.

Schoonover and Thompson (1954) reported the walleye, Stizostedion

YITREUTN vitreum (MITCHILL), from Fall River Reservoir during a post- impoundment survey. Breukelman (1940) reported Carviodes velifer (Rafinesque) and Notropis cornutus frontalis (Agassiz) from the Verdigris Drainage. The latter specimens are in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. Because of the impoundment-to be located on the river near Oologah, another survey to be made after impoundment to determine the change in species composition of the river is suggested. If stabilised flow can be established below the dam, one could expect considerable change in the fish fauna below the reservoir. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anonymous. 1936. Arkansas River and Tributaries. House Boo. 308, 1st session, (74th Cong.) 3:1343-1450. Anonymous. 1953. Gar Fish Grow Big. Okla. Game and Fish News. 9(4):11. Anonymous. 1955. Arkansas-White-Red River Basins. A report on the conservation and development of the water and land resources. Prepared by Federal and State Agencies under authorization of Sec- tion 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1950. Part 1:viii-F 252 pp. Bailey, Reeve M. 1951. A Check-list of the fishes of Iowa, with Keys for identification. In: Iowa Fish and Fishing, by James R. Harlan and Evertt B. Speaker. State of Iowa. 186-257. Bailey, Reeve M. 1956. A Revised list of the fishes of Iowa, with keys for identification. In: Iowa Fish and Fishing, by James R. Harlan and Evertt B. Speaker. State of Iowa. 327-377.

Blair, W. Frank et al. 1956. Vertebrates of-I- the United States. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc. viii 819 PP. Breukelman, John. 1940. A Collection of Kansas fishes in the State University Museum. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 43:377-384. Cross, Frank Bernard and George A. Moore. 1952. The fishes of the Poteau River, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Amer. Midl. Nat. 47(2): 296-412. Elkin, Ronald E. 1956. The fish population of two cut-off pools in Salt Creek, Osage County, Oklahoma. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sol. 35 (1954): 25-29. gall, G. A. 1951. A preliminary list of the fishes of eleven Oklahoma lakes. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 30(1949):36-40. Hubbs, C. L. and A. I. Ortenburger. 1929a. Further notes on the fishes of Oklahoma with descriptions of new species of CyPrinidae. Pub. Univ. Okla. Biol. Surv. 1(2):17-46. • Hubbs, C. L. and A. I. Ortenburger. 1929b. Fishes collected in Oklahoma and Arkansas in 1927. Pub, Univ. Okla. Biol. Surv. 1(3): 47-112. 56

Hubbs, Carl L. and John D. Black. 1947. Revision of Ceraticthys, a genus of American cyprinid fishes. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool., Univ. Mich. 66:50 pp. Hubbs, Carl L. and Karl F. Lagler. 1947. Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. Bull. Cranbrook Inst. Sc!. 26:186 pp. Jenkins Robert M. 1951. A fish population study of Claremore City Lake. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sc!. 20(1949):84-93. Jenkins, Robert M. 1955. A summaiy of fish population studies con- ducted during 1954 at Ardmore City Lake, Stringtown Sub-prison Lake, Fairfax City Lake, and Pawhuska City Lake. Okla. Fish, Res. Lab. Rep. 48:31 pp. mimeo. Jenkins, Robert M. 1957. The fishery resources of the Verdigris River in Oklahoma. Okla. Fish. Res. Lab. Rep. 59:46 pp. mimeo. Jordan, David S. and Gilbert, C. H. 1886. List of fishes collected in Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Texas in September, 1884, with notes and descriptions. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 9:25 pp. Linder, Allen D. 1955. The fishes of the Blue ,River in Oklahoma with descriptions of two new hybrid combinations. Amer. Midl. Nat. 54(1):173,191. rfláthead McCoy, H. A. 1953. The late of growth of catfish in twenty- one Oklahoma lakes. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sc!. 34(1953):47-52. Meek, Seth E. 1896. A list of fishes and mollusks collected in Arkansas and Indian Territory in 1894. Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm. 15(1895):341-412. Moore G. A. 1952. Fishes of Oklahoma. A list of fighes of Oklahoma. Pub. Okla. Game and Fish Dept. 11 pp. Moore, G. A. and D. H. Buck. 1953. The fisties of the Chikaska River in Oklahoma and Kansas. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sc!. 34(1953):19-27. Moore, G. A. and John M. Paden. 1950. The fishes of the Illinois River in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Amer. Midi. Nat. 44(1):76-95. Ortenburger, A. I. and C. L. Hubbs. 1927. A report on the fishes of Oklahoma, with descriptions of two new genera and species. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sc!., 6(1926):123-141. Reeves, Jones Dickson. 1953. The Fishes of the Little River System in Oklahoma. Master Thesis, Oklahoma State University. 95 pp. 57

Schelske, Clare. 1957. An ecological study of the fishes of the Fall and Verdigris rivers in Wilson and Montgomery counties, Kansas, March 1954 to February 1955. The Emporia State Research Studies. 5(3):31-56. Schoonover, Roy and William H. Thompson. 1954. A postimpoundment stuay of the fisheries resources of Fall River Reservoir, Kansas. Trans. Kan. Acad. Sal. 57(2):172-179. Taylor, W. R. 1954. Records of fishes in the John N. Lowe collection from the tpper Peninsula of Michigan. Misc. Pub?. Mus. Zoo?. Univ. Mich., No. 87:50 pp. Thompson, W. H. and Don Hutson. 1951. A ten-year creel census on Lake Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 80(1950):11-27. Trautman, M. B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State Univ. Press. xv 4-683 pp.