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Show 115 TEMPERATURE OF RIVERS AND CREEKS. This is a subject to which heretofore but little attention has been paid, although it has not only scientific interest, but also practical importance* in connection with fish-life. The temperature of the streams is by no means changing as rapidly as that of the air; bnt the variations remain between respectively small limits- the more so with the larger bodies of water. ( See temperature of the Rio Grande in the table.) The temperature of the water rises and falls but slowly- a fact due to the great capacity of water for heat. Fish- life naturally depends much upon the range of temperature of the water, different species requiring different temperatures. In 1874 I paid special attention to this subject, comparing the relation of temperature with the volume of the stream and the fish- life in it. The results of my observations are given in the annexed table. In this we find the Rio Grande has a remarkable uniformity of temperature, although the observations extended over a period of three months and were made at places a hundred miles distant from each other. The temperature of the springs encountered at different altitudes was also taken, and is as follows: Locality of spring. Wet Mountains Rosita Greenhorn Mountains Son Juan ranee Cafion Canjelon Yalle Grande Jemez Mountains, 1 Jemez Mountains, 2 Jemez Mountains, 3 Jemez Mountains, 4 Jemez Mountains 5 Ojodel Alto, ( Mesa de los Lobos) Willow Springs Spring temperature. 420 pah. 48 52 46.5 55 56.5 63 1 67 ' 82 f 84.5 J 105 49 51.5 Air temperature. 58° Fah. 60 63 60 62 24 and at 66 1 Taken at sunset > and sunrise. 44 61 Altitude. 9,400 9,000 6,000 9,300 6,100 Average altitude of 9,000 feet. 6,900 6,400 From the above table it will be seen that the temperature of all the springs of the Jemez Mountains and Yalle Grande is above the average of that of the springs of such an altitude. |