Campostoma anomalum was one of the most common fishes taken at many of the stations on small upland tributaries. In downstream collections its relative abundance was less, although it was often concentrated on riffles.
In the Big Caney system as a whole Notropis umbratilis was the most abundant species. Several species were present throughout the system in proportions varying, sometimes greatly, from station to station. Lepomis megalotis and Lepomis humilis were erratic in occurrence, and the numbers of Notropis camurus and Ictalurus melas varied without pattern.
Grouse Creek
The fauna of the main stream of Grouse Creek fluctuated more in number and kinds of fish from station to station than did the fauna of Big Caney River. Again, the deep-bodied suckers showed downstream proclivities. In addition, Notropis buchanani, Pimephales tenellus, Percina copelandi, Percina phoxocephala, Notropis percobromus and Pylodictis olivaris were taken only at the lowermost station (G-1). At stations G-2 and G-3 the creek is sluggish and often turbid, meandering between high mud banks in a flood plain. At these stations Fundulus notatus, Gambusia affinis, Labidesthes sicculus, Ictalurus melas, and Lepomis humilis were the most common fishes. Shiners (Notropis spp.) and Lepomis megalotis were rarely taken. Hall (1953:36) states that Gambusia affinis, Fundulus notatus, and Labidesthes sicculus are usually associated with overflow pools, oxbows, and vegetated backwaters.
Those fishes mentioned in the preceding paragraph remained common in the middle section of the stream. In addition Notropis lutrensis, Notropis umbratilis, and Lepomis megalotis were important members of the fauna.
In the uppermost section shiners (Notropis spp.) were common. In the few upstream stations that were still in good condition with clear flowing water, the fauna resembled that of the upstream stations on Big Caney River. Most upstream stations on Grouse Creek were located on highly intermittent streams that are treated below.
FAUNAS OF INTERMITTENT STREAMS
Because of severe, protracted drought, most of the streams studied had ceased to flow by the close of the survey period. However, the duration of intermittency varied greatly in different streams, as did its effect in terms of the number and sizes of residual pools, water temperatures, pollution, and turbidity. Crab Creek, Beaver Creek, and a small unnamed tributary of Grouse Creek were severely affected by intermittency. Their faunas are discussed below.
In Crab Creek six collections were made from points near the mouth to the uppermost pool in which water was found. Pools near the mouth were as large as thirty feet in width and ninety feet in length, while those that were uppermost were shallow puddles averaging ten feet in length and five feet in width. The uppermost station was situated in bluestem pasture without benefit of shade from trees.