Cope specifically says that Lupton's trout were collected in "the southern part of the state of Chihuahua." Modern maps show the headwaters of the the Rio Balleza, Rio Florido and Rio Sextin to be mostly within Durango state, hence seemingly eliminating this area as a possible collection local. However, in the 1880's, the Chihuahua/Durango border was as much as 40 miles south of its present location, following closely the line of 26 degrees latitude; hence the entire Balleza, Florido, and much of the Sextin headwaters were then entirely within the state of Chihuahua.
If Cope's identification of Lupton's trout as "blackspotted trout" (cutthroat trout) was correct, then most likely the trout came from the Conchos watershed. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are presumed to have had access to the Conchos within the last 20,000 years. The Balleza and Florido sub-basins would seem to make the best argument for Lupton's collection. The Rio Sextin is also a possibility, but it drains into the Rio Nazas, which has been disconnected from the Conchos/Rio Grande for many thousands of years. However, the Nazas watershed does share many other fishes with the Rio Conchos, has a large area of high headwaters that ichthyologically speaking, is unexplored. Can there still be some small and unknown refugium of cutthroat trout tucked into the Conchos basin? Certainly the area has not been well-explored by ichthyologists, with most collections coming from low altitude streams (below 6000 feet) near highway bridges. The Rio Mayo trout, for instance, was unknown to science until l975. The trout of the Rio Baluarte and Rio Acaponeta watersheds eluded science until the years 2000 and 2001. Trout of the Rio Piaxtla were unknown until 2001. These trout are not necessarily rare, but rather their habitats are difficult to access.
Where was Lupton?
In the absence of Lupton's specimens, we can only make an educated guess as to what species of trout he collected. We believe that Professor Cope's identification was probably correct; for he knew trout well and was indeed a "Master Naturalist," a trained observer and expert in the minutiae that separate various species of fish, reptiles, fossils, etc. Thus, we extend to Professor Cope the benefit of the doubt, thereby presuming that he would not mistake specimens of Mexican golden trout (a close relative of rainbow trout) for the "blackspotted trout." See Trout and the Rio Conchos.
Hence, we must also conclude that
Lupton must have traveled a route which placed him in fortuitous waters
for cutthroat trout. Cope's note specifically says
the trout are found in "streams of the Sierra Madre," hence
we presume that Lupton fished in more than one arroyo, possibly catching
both cutthroat and Mexican golden trout along his trail. Lupton's
specimens were probably caught in l884 on his trip from Parral to Copalquin,
or on his return from Copalquin to Parral. We do not know his route
from Parral, but believe it likely that his trout might have been collected on a more southerly route
than the common trail to Guadalupe y Calvo, as there is more trout habitat in these
southern headwaters of the Balleza, Florido, and Rio Sextin. In this circumstance, Lupton may have
taken a trail south of Ojito towards
Guanacevi,
later heading east towards San Julian and ultimately southeast again to
Copalquin. Most of this trail is shown on the
Plano del Estado de
Chihuahua, published in l916, and drawn by E.G. Piper. The map
also shows the common trail to Guadalupe y Calvo, that which Killebrew,
Reed, and Seaman described. The route towards Guanacevi would
appear to be a considerable savings of time, and a reasonable
alternative for mining companies that had to pack in all of their
equipment on mules.
The only other existing account of the local trails that we are familiar with is from the field notes of Edward Goldman who was studying birds, in the area in l898 with Edward William Nelson of the Smithsonian. Goldman and Nelson traveled east from El Tule, a small ranchito southeast of Guadalupe y Calvo, probably on the San Julian/Guanacevi trail. They turned to the northeast and crossed Balleza headwaters, eventually arriving at Cerro Prieto on the Balleza proper. Nelson did see trout near El Tule in the Pacific drainage, but evidently did not see any on the remainder of his trip, though he would have crossed also the tributaries of the rios Turuachi and Verde, known now to have Mexican golden trout in abundance. It is probable that the rainy season and resultant high summer flows had muddied the waters somewhat on these larger streams.
There might be as yet, a great deal more information to be uncovered concerning the mines at Copalquin and Guadalupe y Calvo, and the men (many from Tennessee) who operated them. Robert Looney, Archibald Warren, Josiah Patterson, and many others may as yet have archived a here-to-fore undiscovered journal or other information that might lead us to Lupton's trout, be it in the Conchos, Fuerte, Culiacan, or otherwise. We welcome any and all assistance in our research. Until that time, we will be satisfied that we have interpreted the facts and arrived at reasonable conclusions, to the best of our abilities. Back to page 1 Home