The most characteristic rooted aquatic of streams in the Flint Hills was Justicia americana L. At station G-7 on Grouse Creek and Station C-8 on Big Caney River (Fig. 3), Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) was found. Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. formed dense floating mats at a number of stations. Other aquatic plants observed in the Caney, Elk, and Grouse systems included Potamogeton gramineus L., Potamogeton nodosus Poir., Potamogeton foliosus Raf., Sagittaria latifolia Willd., Typha latifolia L., and Jussiaea diffusa Forsk.
HISTORY
In 1857, a survey was made of the southern boundary of Kansas. Several diaries (Miller, 1932; Caldwell, 1937; Bieber, 1932) were kept by members of the surveying party, which traveled from east to west. These accounts contain complaints of difficulty in traversing a country of broken ridges and gulleys as the party approached the area now comprising Chautauqua County. One account by Hugh Campbell, astronomical computer for the party (Caldwell, 1937) mentions rocky ridges covered with dense growth of "black jack," while another by Col. Joseph Johnson, Commander (Miller, 1932) speaks of "a good deal of oakes in the heights"—indicating that the upland oak forest of the Chautauqua Hills was in existence at that time. On reaching Big Caney River near Elgin, Campbell wrote of a stream with very high banks and of a valley timbered with oak and black walnut. While the party was encamped on Big Caney River some fishing was done. Campbell (Caldwell, 1937:353) described the fish taken as "Cat, Trout or Bass, Buffalo and Garr." Eugene Bandel (Bieber, 1932:152) wrote, "This forenoon we did not expect to leave camp, and therefore we went fishing. In about two hours we caught more fish than the whole company could eat. There were some forty fish caught, some of them weighing over ten pounds." It was noted that the waters of Big Caney and its tributaries were "very clear." Progressing up Rock Creek, Johnson wrote of entering a high rolling plain covered with fine grass, and crossed occasionally by clear wooded streams (probably Big and Little Beaver Creeks and Grouse Creek). The diary of Hugh Campbell (Caldwell, 1937:354) contains a description of the Arkansas River Valley near the Oklahoma border. "The Arkansas River at this point is about 300 yards wide, its waters are muddy, not quite so much so, as those of the Mississippi or Rio Bravo. Its valley is wooded and about two miles in width, the main bottom here, being on the east side. On the west it is a rolling prairie as far as the eye can see, affording excellent grass." Some seining was done while encamped on the Arkansas River and "buffalo, catfish, sturgeons, and gars" were taken (Bieber, 1932:156).
An editorial in the Winfield Courier of November 16, 1899, vigorously registers concern about a direct effect of settlement on fish populations in rivers of the area:
"The fish in the streams of Cowley County are being slaughtered by the thousands, by the unlawful use of the seine and the deadly hoop net. Fish are sold on the market every day, sometimes a tubful at a time, which never swallowed a hook.
"The fish law says it is unlawful to seine, snare, or trap fish but some of the smaller streams in the county, it is said are so full of hoop and trammel nets that a minnow cannot get up or down stream. These nets not only destroy what fish there are in the streams but they keep other fish from coming in, they are not operated as a rule by farmers to supply their own tables but by fellows who catch the fish to sell with no thought or care for the welfare of others who like to catch and eat fish.
"If there is a fishwarden in Cowley County so far as his utility goes the county would be as well off without him and his inactivity has caused many of those interested to get together for the purpose of seeing that the law is enforced.