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IN THE SENATE OP THE UNITED STATES, REPORT GW THS COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES J L OH mSMTIONS i THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN nr REQA^RO TO THE SALMON FISHERIES. PRESENTED BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT. Hat 3t, 1894.— Laid on the table and ordered to be printed. WASHINGTON: OOYBBNMENT FBINTINO OPFIOB. 1894. if - r '1' 7 ( ■^>^:m !•)./;< r)-', ■.V'i ,r" f;.a A (>' 'A r A^i f h' ^"■~ w T - M ■C3 1 ' M i 1 < \ ffi 3 c . ! uj : ui > I — ; •- oc ) - < ( ■H < ffi > s J 3 -J : o ^ O THE SALMON FISHERIES OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. By MARSHALL McDONALD, VnUtd Siatn Commistiontr of Fish and Fishtritt. n. S. OoMinssioii 09 Fish and Fishebibs, Woihington, D. 0., May 31, 1894. Hon. Adla.1 E. Stbvenson, Fresident of the Senate: SiB: In oompliance with inatractions conveyed in the provisions of the Sundry Civil Bill, which became a law August 5, 1892, 1 have the honor to submit a report of investigations in the Oolnmbia River Basin. The first of the provisions above referred to authorized the expenditure from the appropriation for inquiry respectiag food-fishes of $2,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, "In examining the Clarke's Fork of the Columbia liiver, with the view to ascertain the obstructions which prevent the ascent of salmon up said river to the Flathead Lake and adjacent waters." The secoud provision directed an investigation and report respecting the advisa- bility of establishing a fish-hatching station at some suitable point in the State of Washington, and appropriated for the same "f 1,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary." It was not known whether the failure of the salmon to enter the Clarke Fork of the Columbia was due to natural obstructions preventing their ascent, or was to be attrib- uted to the extensive fishing operations prosecuted in the Lower Columbia, or possibly to other causes to be disclosed by the proposed investigation. Again, the location of the hatchery proposed for the State of Washington would be necessarily determined by our ability to secure an adequate supply of spawning salmon within convenient distance of the hatchery. It appearing probable that the methods of the large fisheries pursued in the Lower Columbia, if permitted to continue, would effectually intercept the run of salmon to ihe headwaters, and thus defeat the object for which the hatchery is proposed, it was thought proper and expedient to institute a general investigation covering the entire Columbia Biver Basin, and if conditions were disclosed threatening disaster to these valuable and productive fisheries, to bring the matter to the attention of Congress and the States interested in their prosperity. The direction of the field investigation was intrusted to Prof. B. W. Evermann, assistant in the Division of Inquiry Respecting Food-Fishes, whose report is appended to and constitutes an integral part of the report of the Oommisaioner of Fisheries. .i""- INVE8TiaA.T10N8 IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. A very complete statistical investigation into the history, methotla, apparatus, present conditions, product, and annual value of the salmon fisheries of the Columbia has also been made by Mr. VV. A. Wilcox, under the direction of Dr. II. M. Smith, assistant in charge of the Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheiieis, the results of which are embodied and discussed iu the report which is herewith respect)- fuljy submitted. OONDITIONS DBTEBUININO XHB SALMON PRODUOTION OF A BIVBB BASIN. There are fundamental conditions determining the . .alraon production of a river basin and the nature and extent of the fisheries which may be maintained without overtaxing the productive capacity of the river. All the species of salmon which are the object of the fisheries are alike under the constraint of a natural law, which com- pels them to enter the fresh waters for the i>tt."poseof spawi.iiig. Some species ascend to a relatively short distance above tidn water. Others, lil^e the chinook, push their migrations to the remotest sources of the rivers and tributary streams when not pre- vented by natural or artificial obstructions. Where the area of distributioti is con- tracted by the erection of barriers, dams, or other obstructions which the salmon can not surmount, the production of the river is diminished pro tanto, for the reason that the young salmon remain for some mouths iu the waters in which they are hatched — they must here find their food — and consequently the extent of the feeding-grounds open to them will be the measure of nature's ability to repair the waste occiisioued by natural casualties and the fishing operations. If there be no contraction of the breeding area by artificial obstructions, but, on the other hand, the limes, methods, and apparatus of the fisheries are such as to intercept or in a large measure prevent the run of salmon into and up the rivers, then a serious decline in the fisheries is inevitable. It is possible by fish-oultiu-al operations pursued on an adequate scale, by hatching and planting the fry in the head waters of the Columbia and its tributary streams, to realize the full productive capacity of the river, so long as eggs can be obtained in suuicient numbers to furnish a basis for the extensive operations required. This would nut bo possible, however, if the fishing operations in the lower river practically excluded the salmon trom the streams to which it would be necessary to have recourse to obtain a supply of eggs. It is evident, therefore, that fish-cultural operations can not be relied upon exclusively or chiefly to maintain the salmon supply in the Columbia. The regulation of the times, methods, and apparatus of the fisneries should be such as to assure the largest opportunity practicable for reproduction under natural condi- tions. Artificial propagation should be invoked as an aid and not as a substitute for reproduction under natural conditions. THB LIMITS OP MIOBATION OF SALMON. The limits of migration of salmon in the Columbia River basin, as determined by impassable falls in the larger tributaries of the Columbia and their affluents, is shown in the accompanying chart, there being no serious obstructions existing in the main river within the limits of the United States. The area of distribution is approximately 90,000 square miles. This immense tract is drained by innumerable streams of clear cold water, into which the salmon enter for the purpose of spawning and up which they ascend till their progress is stopped INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA HIVER BASIN. 0 by falls or other obstructions which tlipy cannot surmount. Tliese waters furniwh the fec(lin<; grounds of the yuung salmon during their early lite, which is spent in tlit^ fresh waters. Tlieir migration seaward does not begin until they are at least a year old and have attained a length of from 8 to 10 inches. These streams are the nurseries of the great salmon ilsheries of the lower Golumbia. From Oiich goes out every year a colony, more or less numerous, to swell the aggregate of young salmon necessary to repair the waste by natural casualty and by capture. The area of natural distribution has not as yet been very niati;ii."v abridged. Oertaiu streams, such as the Bruneau and the Boise, have been obstru(,N • by dams near their mouths, but the vast exteut of waters still accessible t ; almon and attbrding suitable brceiling ami feeding grounds, indicates that we iiist Ic )k toother causes to explain any ascertained deterioration in the salmon fish( i. « of the Columbia. DEOBEASB OF tON IN THE HEAD WATERS OP THU OOLUMUr 1 fVEB. Theli. 'stigations made by Prof. Bvermann and the parties ciider his directiou establish conclusively the fiict that there has been a very great reduction in the num- ber of salmon fre(iuenting the head waters of the Columbia liiver and its tributaries. This decrease is more aotable in the main river. In the early history of the fishery salmon were found in the head waters in marvelous abandaLce. According to the information obtained by Prof. Evermann : They were abundant in the Columbia Eiver at Kettle Falls as Inte as 1878. Since then there has been a great decrease. They have been scarce since 1882. Since I'i'iK) therw have been scarcely any at Kettle Falls. The Meyers Brothers say that thoy have been almost unable to buy any salmon for their own table from the Indians for three years. Certain Indians with whom we talked at Kettle Falls said salmon were onoe very abundant there, but that very few are seen now. Other persons testified to the same effect. Essentially the same information was obtained ref^ardinj; the decrease of salmon in other parts of the npper tributarieii of the Columbia, viz: at Spoknue, in both the Big and Little Spokane rivers, and in the Snake River and its various tributaries. Dr. O. P. Jenkins, an assistant of Prof. Evermann, makes the following report in reference to the Takima River, Washington : The Yakima Is the main stream of the valley. It receives many tributaries, the main ones being Manistash and Wilson creeks. The river near the city (Ellensburg) is 160 feet wide, by an average of 10 feet deep, and flows with a velocity of 1 foot per second. Temperature at 9:15 a.m., August 24, 1893, 60° F. ; water clear. Those acquainted with the facts state that formerly, up to about 1885, Mlmon of three or four kinds, including the qninnat, ran np the stream to this valley and spawned in the river in great numbers; at present very few make their appearance. There is no reason to doubt — indeed, the fact is beyond question — that the number of salmon now reaching the head waters of streams in the Columbia Biver basin is insignificant in comparison with the number which some years ago annually visited and spawned in these waters. It is farther apparent that this decrease is not to be attributed either to the contraction of the area accessible to them or to changed con- ditions in the waters which would deter the salmon from entering tbo'ja. We must look to the great commercial fisheries prosecuted in the lower river lur an explanation of this decrease, which portends inevitable disaster to these fisheries if the conditions which have brought it about are permitted to contiivue. The relations of the decreased number of salmon in the head waters to the devel- opment of the commercial fisheries is brought out in a very instructive way by an analysis of the following table: INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER HASIN. Summary of the lalmon-canning industry of the Columbia Biter from it» origin to the present tim«. Tear. Groftii weight Niimlierof of HaliiKin cnHCB iitiliiod. 1 pouked. Value. Averai;e value per uaso. Tear. OroKH weight of Hfthiion utiliiuU. Number of cnnen packed. Valne. Average value per case. 1866 1807 1808 18«» 1870 1»71 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 Pound*. 200, 000 1,170.000 1. 820, Olio 6. 600. 1100 9, 7.10, 000 13,0110,0(10 16. 250, OUO 18.2.50.000 22,750,000 24, 375, (KK) 29,250,000 24, 7110, 000 29,900 000 81.200,010 84,450,000 4,000 18, Olio 28, (100 1(H), OOO 150.000 200, 0(10 2.50, 000 25(1. 000 8.5(1, 000 875, 000 4,5(1, OOO 8811, 000 400, 000 480, (100 630,000 »64,000 288, 000 302 000 1, 350. (H)0 1,800,000 2,100,000 2, 325. UOO 2, 250. 000 2, 625. OIK) 2, 2.50, (100 2,475,000 2, 062. 0,10 2,300.000 2, 640, 000 2,050,000 «16.00 16. (N) 14.00 13. 50 12,00 10,50 9,30 9,0(1 7.50 6,00 6.60 6.40 6.00 6.60 6.00 1881 1883 1883 1884 1885 1S86 1887 1888 1889 IH'.KI 1891 1802 1893 Total. Fountli. 35, 750. 000 35, 184. .'lOO 40,011.(100 40, ;100. 11(10 35. 007, OiK) 29,152.(1(10 23, 140, (1(10 24,211,005 20. 085, 495 28. 7HI.:i85 20, 4!iO 0:l5 32, 185,»'I5 24, 050, 000 650, OOO 641.300 029. 400 820, 000 653.800 448, 500 856, 000 372,477 309. 886 4:i5. 774 898, 9.5:1 487, .338 370.000 «2, 475. 000 2, em. 000 3, 147, (HJO 2.915,000 2,50(.>.0OO 2, i:i5, 000 2,124,000 2, 327, OS I 1,800,820 2, 407. 458 2.240.904 2, 079, 009 2, 107, 500 (4.60 4.80 6.00 4.70 4.51 4.76 6.07 6.25 6.81 6.52 6.62 6.60 6.70 638,424,515 10,098,427 69,029,790 6.86 Canning operations on the Columbia Kiver began in 1866, when 4,000 cases were packed and sold at an average of $16 per case. As early as 1872 the total pack rea4;hed 250,000 cases, the price per case having declined to $9. Each succeeding year operations were extended and readied their culmination in 1883 and 1884, when upwards of 600,000 cases were packed each season. From this time on the catch declined, having reached its lowest ]ioiut in 1889, the number of cases packed that season being 309,885, or less than half the number of cases packed in 1883 and 1884. Up to 1888, practically the entire pack consisted of the king or chinook salmon, and the fl.shing season did not extend beyond the first of August. In 1889 the packers began canning bluebacks and steelheads to make up the deficiency in the supply, and extended their operations to the first of September. DETAILED STATISTICS OF THE SALMON INDUSTRY OF THE COLUMBIA EIVEB, 1889-82. The following series of tables shows, in some detail, the extent of the salmon fishery and canning Industry of the Columbia Kiver during the years 1889 to 1892, inclusive, as determined by the inquiries conducted by this Commission. The number of fishermen and shore employes connected with the salmon industry in ea<'h of the years named is indicated in Table A: A^— Table $howing the number of pertont employed >■.. 1,636 694 1,510 802 1,676 861 1,677 704 Total 2,129 2,112 2,228 2,381 Total for riven FtfllicrnieD •••••..••.... 8,141 1,464 3,104 1,030 8,604 1,711 8,741 1.BU4 Total 4,6C5 4,824 6, Sit ft,84S IKYESTIOATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. The number and value of boats and apparatus and the value of shore property and capital employed in the salmon fisheries of the Columbia Hiver in 1880, 18i)0, 1801 and 1892 is given in Table B. B. — Kumbartmd value of boat* and apparattu, and thf valut of thor» property, and ea$h oapital employed in the ealmon induitry of the Colntnbia Biver in 18S9, 1890, 1891, and 189t, Appumtas uid ctpiUL 1RS9. 1800. 1891. 1891. Ko. Valna. Ko. Value. No. Value. Ho. Value. Orefroni 751 21 102 8 7 757 81 85 (91), 850 fi,90t 72,300 1,600 4.800 152.000 120, ail 476 502.966 895,000 778 23 08 (104,400 8.300 78,600 878 80 140 1 19 790 80 60 $120,815 8.- 121 17 Wheels it 8 iNVESTlaATlONB iN THE COLnMBtA RtVEB BASlK. The following tables, 0, D, E, and P, show by apparatus tlie number, weight, and value of each species of Sainton taken in the Columbia River in 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892: C. — Tablt tkoteiny by apparaUu th« number, weight, and value of each tpeoiee of ealmon taken in the Columbia River in 1889. Appanfcoi and speolM. Oregon. Washington, TotaL No. Ponnda. Value. No. Foonds. Value. No. Fonnda. Value. Ponnd netat 88,777 83.372 87,958 3,189,426 166,860 379,646 8108,469 8,342 11,386 40,323 34,li)» 22,460 1,008,076 120.995 224,600 850,853 6,904 8,737 137,100 67, 671 60,418 8,177.600 287,866 804,146 8168,823 14,246 18,128 Blniibaolc. Stcelbead Total... 168,107 3,716,830 128,197 86,982 1,853,670 62,994 246,089 4,009.500 191,191 Trap net*: 710 440 17.750 4,400 887 132 2,276 803 66,876 8,U30 2.844 241 2,985 1,243 74.826 12,430 8,781 m Steelhead Total 1.160 22,160 1,010 8,078 84,906 8,085 4,228 87.055 4,104 Soines: Chinook 24,762 8.600 16,720 618. POO 17,600 167,200 80,840 875 4,81U 63,782 2,444 43,078 1,591,650 12,225 439,780 79,727 611 13,193 88,534 6,944 60.608 2,213,850 29.725 6U6.980 110,887 1,486 18,009 Bluebaok BtMlboad Total QtUnetat Chinook 44,973 803,600 36,631 110,204 2,046,556 93,531 165, 176 2,860,066 180,163 252,044 27,«2;t ]«,472 8,301,326 139,116 164,730 812,663 4,751 6,090 226,053 17,218 16,970 5,759,060 86.090 169,700 281,470 3,044 4,785 478,097 44,841 32,442 12,060,375 225,205 324, 420 684,033 7,795 8,876 Blaobaok ..>...■■... Btoeltaeod Total WhmU: Chinook.... 296,138 8,606,160 822.404 269,241 6,004.840 289,299 565,380 11,610,000 611,703 16, 182 140,090 6,328 4,600 879,660 700,460 63,290 81,600 12,867 23.090 2,043 630 8,876 61,064 1,480 2,540 171,900 230, 322 14,800 16,7IJ0 6 978 8,260 484 603 22.068 191, 164 7,809 7,040 651,460 830,772 78,090 48,280 18,846 82,360 3,527 1,133 Blnolwck Bteelhead BUrar Total 166, 101 1,174,790 88,630 61,060 433.802 17,326 228,061 1,608,582 66,865 Dipneta and «aaawnetai Chinook..;. 8,281 18,810 1,146 6,143 67,288 84,650 11.460 8^994 1,146 1,841 239 640 1,860 8,113 609 8,176 84,000 40,660 6.000 22,226 610 808 77 883 8,661 35,023 1,054 8,317 91,288 125,110 16,540 68,219 1,656 1,449 806 Bluebaok. •..■■■.■■-. Bteelhead gUver Total 26,488 189,277 8,768 18,166 101.876 1,528 88.644 391, 152 6,284 All apparatnat Chinook 881,768 221,496 78,064 9,843 8,644,133 1,108,476 790,605 67,494 488, 87i 88,899 33,696 1.170 840,669 103, OW 86,200 6,716 8,824,460 48U, 193 862,000 89.0G6 431.883 19,427 36,617 836 723,416 824.633 164,261 16,367 18,168,683 1,698,687 1,842, 606 108,498 888,764 68,828 48,318 3,008 Bluebaok Bteelhead BIlTer Total 881,867 U, 610, 707 630,637 684,621 10,006,647 487,683 1,336,678 11,616,854 898,389 . raVESTIGATIONP IN THK COLUMBIA JtlVEK BASIN. 9 D. — Tabl« ehowinji by apparatut tht number, weight, axd value •/ each tpt, '«* of tatmon taken in tk» Columbia Sirer in 1890. Apparatus ar.d species. Oregon Washington. Total. No. Founds. Volae. No. Pounds. Value. No. Pounds. Volno. Pound nets; Chinook 104, OM 60,403 51,600 2,802,475 252,465 616,000 «78,491 6,048 6,160 71,848 42,097 41,412 1,783, 660 310,486 414,120 >63,610 4,209 4.140 175,445 92.690 03,012 4,386,125 462,050 030,120 «1S2.001 9.257 9,300 Blaebook Ste«Uiead Total 206.192 3,370,040 88,699 154,856 3,408,255 61,850 361,047 5,779,106 180.558 Trap nets; 3,6» 803 2,970 90,725 1,515 29,700 2,721 SO 298 8,629 303 3,979 00,726 1,616 29.790 2,721 30 208 Bluebaok •••.• Steelheod Totol 6,911 122,080 8,049 6,911 122,480 8,040 Seines; 10,750 2,250 9,013 268,760 11,250 90,130 8,0*3 225 901 61,753 14,292 88,701 1,84.1,800 71,480 867,010 41,402 1,425 3. 080 64,603 16,542 46,714 1,812,560 82,710 457, 140 49,465 1,680 4,570 Bluebaok Steelheod Total 22,013 870, 130 9,189 104,743 1,782,270 46,496 126,758 2, 152. 400 65,685 aUlneU; Chinook 869. 196 81,909 29.593 9,229.700 409.845 205. 935 288,730 8,440 3,819 211,875 25,718 18,835 6,366,675 138,500 186, 360 168, 167 2.884 2,467 580,871 107,827 48,228 14,508.375 5.18, 135 482,285 464,897 li, 324 6,286 Total 480,098 9,935,180 300,989 286,028 5,691,615 171,618 736,726 15.626,795 472,607 Wheals: Chinook •••.••. 83,203 529,848 71,239 4,480 2,080,053 2,648,155 712,300 81,612 62.401 79,444 16,474 749 27,972 207,208 13,801 1.600 899,817 1, 0.16, 468 138.010 10,500 20,979 80,431 2,323 210 111,174 736,944 85,040 6,160 2,779,370 3, 084, 020 850,400 42. 112 83,880 109,876 18,706 059 Steelheod SUver Total 688,747 6,472,210 159,068 280,671 1,884,292 53,943 930,318 7,856,502 313,010 Dip nets ond sqoaw net* ; 6,021 82.748 11,000 10,180 126,634 103,740 110,000 71,260 1,9.18 2,4.'>0 1,660 1,068 3,242 7,717 1,402 4,600 56,088 88,685 14,028 81,600 841 679 210 472 7,263 40,466 12,4U2 14,680 181,602 202. 826 124,025 102, 700 3,799 8,029 1,860 1,640 Steelheod Silver Total 58,84« 470,584 7,128 16,861 140,178 2,102 74,810 610,712 9.328 AUoppoTotiur Chinook 672,268 697,046 172,445 14,840 14.808,612 3,485,156 1,724.456 102,872 4.19,848 95,607 18,004 1,817 870,816 207,425 114,930 6,000 0,840,235 1,407,100 1,149,806 42,000 386.620 80,658 18,106 682 042,884 004,471 287,375 20,840 28,646,747 4,082,285 2,873,760 144,872 725,283 138, 166 41.110 2,499 Steelheod surer Total 1.456,6W 19,618,994 885,071 788,971 12,028,640 838, 88« 2,245,570 31,647,634 904.037 10 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. F..— Table ihowing by a^paratut the number, weight, and value of each ipeoiei of ealmon taken in the Columbia Biver in 1891, Apparatus and apecies. Orrgon. Waahlngton. ToUL Ko. Founds. Value. Ko. PouuiU. Yslus. No. PouiiJa. Value. Fmind ncta: Chinook llllli'llBCk 108. 983 2'.', 088 54,080 2,724.575 114.1140 5tO,8UO «108.083 2.208 7,020 94,824 52, 1U4 44.448 3,863.600 260,840 444, 464 (94, .m 6,336 6. 308 201,007 75,152 08,528 6, 000. 175 375,780 985,204 8203,577 7,634 13,337 Total 186, 031 8, 380, 315 118,310 191. 236 3, 070, 004 100,238 377,287 8,451,219 224,548 Trap nota: CliimKik «30 148 786 16,750 740 7,860 830 15 118 712 17,800 7ia 1,842 148 1,287 33,5.10 740 12.870 1,342 15 193 BUichat-k 601 6,010 76 1.584 24,350 763 1,213 22,810 787 2.777 47,160 1,6.10 SeincH: Chinook 16,489 2,252 6, una 837 412,225 11,260 80,920 6,099 16,480 225 919 190 48,598 8,325 27,469 1.214.900 41.625 274.600 36.884 l,2-.'l 5,487 81,085 10,577 32.561 857 1,027,!25 52. 8X5 325. 610 5,089 63,373 1.448 6, 386 190 llhirbaok Silver Total Gillnfita: 24,600 480,404 17.823 84,390 1,531.215 43 672 109, 080 2,011,610 61,303 448.500 25.879 17, 274 285 11,212,600 131, 395 172, 740 1,095 447,031 4, 102 3,541 60 208,833 15,268 20,581 694 5,341,525 70, 340 20.1, 815 4,868 208,593 2,089 8,468 145 857,133 40,047 87,855 970 16,554,025 207, 735 378, 5^5 3,863 8,16, 62J 6.601 7,009 205 lUueback Steflhead Silver Total 491.738 11, 518, 6:io 454,734 245,176 5, 028, 638 214.705 736,914 17, 147, 108 6«9, 529 1 Wheels: 23,646 80, 004 27, 0.t3 4,020 591,163 400,020 270, b;io 34,440 17,735 12,000 8,873 933 0,821 86,675 11,538 2,730 240. 540 183, 375 115,360 10,110 7,216 6,5112 8,460 573 33,206 116, 079 38. .1K9 7,650 831,803 683, 395 385,890 63,650 24,051 17.602 10,135 1.506 Stt>«lhead Silver Total Dipneta anilsqnawneta: Chtnnok 135, 622 2.943 30, 436 7.4.19 10, 370 1, 200, 143 87.343 60,662 568, 3»5 16,751 108, 184 1,854,5':8 84,004 73,591 152, 182 74,690 72, 501 1,119 2,388 1,149 1,089 403 13.887 2.018 4,200 10. 083 60.918 20 104 2U. 820 151 914 802 447 3,348 44,323 9.475 14,030 83,674 213,100 94, 7f)4 102,411 1,270 8,302 1,451 1,638 Itiiiclmck Silver Total 61,208 372, 954 5,745 20,668 120. 986 1,814 71.774 493,0;j9 7,550 All apparatus: 601,100 101.. S07 111.744 16,432 15,029,794 810, 637 1,117,440 115,026 601,987 21,028 19, 431 2,272 362. .589 I'JB, 319 106 .V.1 7,681 », 190, 448 623, 008 1, 065. 503 53,788 84i.,lS0 16. 6(12 19, 080 1,165 963.779 287,826 218. 205 24,116 24,220,242 1,433,0:15 2,182.043 168,813 940, 137 88,590 38. 611 3,437 silver Total 890,873 17.072,798 834,718 803,143 10,932,837 883,967 1,494,016 28,006,633 1,018,676 INVK8TIGATION8 IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. II (alcoti in th» aL ids. Value. ).175 ),780 >,264 1,219 3,550 740 2.870 »203, 577 7,634 13, 337 224,548 1.842 15 193 7,160 I 1,650 7,125 2. RcS 5, 610 5,999 1,619 >4,026 17, 735 «, 5.W 3,853 63,373 1.448 6, 386 190 61,305 «*. sai 6.691 7,009 2U5 17, 108 «», 629 1 31,693 ti3, 3U5 85,890 53,550 54, 628 13, 674 1,100 W. 7;i4 02,411 24,061 I 17. 5U2 10,135 1,506 I 93, 9:J9 20,242 I, o:i5 2. 1143 tl8. 813 06,633 64,004 1,270 8, 302 1,451 1,536 7,659 940, 137 86,690 88. 511 3,437 1,018,676 y. — Table ihowing by apparaitu the number, weight, and value of each tpeciet of aalmon taken in the Columbia Rirer in 189t. Apparatns and speciea. Oregon. Washington. Total No. Founds. Talua. Ko. Pounds. Yalna. Ko. Toil nils. Value. ruundneUi 127, 627 99.002 112,001 3,191,676 498. UIO 1,120,010 »127,627 10,010 16,809 «„852 191,222 76,098 2,246,300 956,110 700,980 880,852 19,122 11,549 217,470 290,824 180, 659 6,537,075 1,454,120 1,89(1,500 *217,479 20, l:)2 28,448 lllueback Total 339,890 4,816,295 151,536 358,072 3,972,390 120,523 697,962 8,788,685 275,059 TraDneta: Chinook 630 210 879 13,250 1.200 8,790 630 24 132 20 600 20 650 240 1,029 13,760 1,200 10,290 650 24 282 Stealhewl 150 1,530 160 Total 1,649 23,240 686 170 2,000 170 1,819 25,240 856 Suinea: Chinook...... 27,707 48, .347 18,544 1,428 689,536 237, 736 185,352 10,000 20,686 7,132 8,707 300 27,682 76,031 34,843 689.550 375, 185 848,430 20,687 11,256 0,909 65,289 123, 378 63, 387 1,428 1,879,085 612,920 633,782 10,000 41,373 18.388 10,676 300 Bluebaok Steelhuad gUver Total 96,026 1,122,622 81,825 137,466 1,413,166 38,912 233.482 2,635,787 70,737 GUlceU: Chinook 355,716 94,141 37,043 8,892,870 470, 705 370,430 365,715 0,714 6,866 223, 197 21, 021 83,428 714 6,716,675 110, 106 834,280 6,000 223,167 3,303 6,090 150 678,912 115, 162 70,471 714 14,608,645 680,810 704,710 5,000 678,882 13,017 10,9.'>6 150 Bluelmck Silver Total 486,899 9,734,005 371,295 278,360 6,165,060 231,710 765,259 16,809,066 603,005 Wheels: 46,964 814,685 95.654 30,265 1, 149, 116 1,572,923 95«, 510 274,786 84,474 47, 187 28,099 8,234 19,706 145,766 46,056 4,872 417,630 728,832 450,660 34,104 12,620 21,865 13,517 1,023 32,669 460, .151 140,710 44,127 1.666,746 8,301,755 1,407,100 308,889 47,008 69,062 42,213 9,257 Bluebaok Steelliead gUver Total 495,458 3,953,863 118,691 212,399 1,631,126 48,934 707,857 6,584,480 107,625 Dip neU and squaw neta : 1.356 69,023 6,780 12,386 33,900 295.100 67, 802 86,703 609 4,427 1,017 \ 301 678 16,880 2,8il0 4,850 14,450 76,900 28,000 33,950 217 1,164 434 610 1,034 74,403 9,670 17,236 48,350 372.000 90, 702 120. 65J 728 6,681 1,451 1,811 Btetlhead gUver Total 79,545 483, 514 7.254 23,698 164,200 2,815 103,213 837,714 0,669 All apparatus ! Cliluook 558,809 615,038 271,561 53,009 18,970,346 8,075,682 2,716,624 371,488 630, Sll 78,4-4 66,blf 0,835 857,934 448, 420 193,365 10,436 9,084,106 2,247,132 1,033,650 73,054 848,472 56,700 87,700 1,683 016.833 1,064,358 464.028 63.505 23,054,450 6,322.814 4,619,174 444, 542 886.013 135,194 04,026 11,518 SUver Total ,... 1,499, 467 20,133,039 684, 187 1,010,166 13,337,941 442,664 2,609,622 83,470,980 1,126,761 The namber and location of the salmon canneries operated on the Columbia JEUver in the years 1S89 to 1892 were as follows: Location. 1888. 1890. 1891. 1892. iKMatlOB. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. Oregon 1 Astorta ••••.■■..•••... 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 Washington 1 llwaoo 1 1 Clifton llaole Dell Chinook Pillar Rook Sallea Brookfleld Celllo Wat«rford Portland* ...• Baraka •.•■••••• •• Xetal llAthlatntift 12 12 12 14 Bay View... KaglsOllir T)t»l 0 1 ) 10 Grand total 31 ii i r 44" * Thla oannerj, on the Willamette River, rscalred lU flab from the Columbia Bivar. . 12 INVE8TIGATION8 IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. The proportion of each species of salmon in the salmon pack of the Golnmbia Kiver from 1889 to 1892 is shown in Table G: O. — Table ahowinc by tptoiet the ealmon pack of the Columbia Siverfrom 1889 to 1899. States and speciea. 1889. 18110. len. 1892. j Cusea. Value. Cases. Value. Coaea. Value. Cuaea. Value. Oregon : Chinook . ......•■> 140, 741 15, U79 11,UJ2 $844,446 90,628 49,899 196,414 63, 351 26,008 »1, 138,787 2U8. 104 106, 432 222.(163 10. a59 15,584 $1,279,092 62, 2W 214, 631 61,106 46, 4»3 4,170 $1,244,600 287,084 181,612 20,880 Steelhead silver Tot4l 168,412 984,973 •76. 373 1,613,323 249.406 1,400,144 315,316 1.734.976 WMhlngtoni 126,956 1,818 13,699 755,736 10,423 68,688 139, 190 8,904 16, 217 807,300 21,966 84,868 130,944 4,623 13,980 759,474 2.'>,426 65,920 129,836 16,441 26,946 761,888 84,925 107,280 Hluehack Silver Total 141, 473 824,847 169,401 894, 133 149, 547 840,820 172,022 944,093 Total for ri vert 266,697 17,797 25,391 1,600,182 101,051 108,587 335, (104 67,345 42,825 1,940,087 290,069 171,300 353, 907 15,482 20 'Mt 2,038,666 84,242 118, 156 344,267 66, 647 72,348 4,176 1,996,388 372,909 288,892 20,N80 Bluebaok ...••■••> Steelbead Silver Total 309,886 1,809,820 436,774 2,407,456 398.963 2,240,964 487,338 2,679,068 In 1893 the pack of chinonk aabnon >inonDted to 290,000 caaea. The extent to which the different species of salmon enter into ibe pack, and the variations in the proportions during the four years covered by the figures, are shown in the following table. It appears that in 1892 the percentage of chinook sal- mon canned was less and that of each of the other species great er than in any of the preceding years. F^etnlage of each tpeoiet of salmon in the lalmon pack of the Columbia River from 1889 to 1899, Species. 1889. 1800. 1891. 1892. 86.06 5.74 8.20 77.01 13.16 0.83 88.71 8.88 7.41 70.64 13.65 14.85 .86 Blueback Silver Total ' ' "■ 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 In discussing the data furnished by the foregoing tables and others which will follow, I will conttue myself to the chinook salmon for the following reasons : 1. It is the most important species considered ecoiiomioally. 2. It is taken equally by ail forms of apparatus. 3. Active fishing operations continue practically during the entire period of its sojourn in the river, and it is therefore the species which would be the first to feel the iniluence of excessive fishing. These considerations do not apply wi^.h equal force to the other species, viz, the steelhead, the blueback, and the silverside, which are taken under similar conditions and at present constitute about one-fourth of the entire pack. The spawning run of the steelhead takes place before fishing operations have began on the river. , INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA BIVUR BASIN. 18 e Columbia S9g. 1892. m. Value. 631 1U6 410 176 $1,244,600 2H7, 984 181,613 20,880 318 1.734,978 63« Ml 946 761,888 84,925 107,280 022 944,093 267 547 348 17« 1,996,388 372,909 288,892 20,880 338 2,679,069 e pack, and figures, are Chinook sal- n any of the 9 to 189M. :a which will }us: jeriod of its St to feel the cies, viz, the br conditions irationa have The spawning ruu of the silveraide takes place after canning oi>erationa are concluded for the season, while the small size of the blneback gives it comparative immunity from capture by the gill nets, which take much the larger part of the king Rivlmon. Referring to Table G we find thut the pack of the chinook or king salmon on the Columbia Kiver in the years 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, and 1893 was as follows: KO. or CMM. 1889 266,697 1890 335,604 1891 3.53,907 1892 344,267 1893 290,000 Or an average of 318,095 casM per aiiunm. In the previous five years, beginning with 1884, the pack of salmon, consisting almost entirely of cliiiiook, was as follows: Nu. of caHes. 1881 620,000 1885 553,800 1886 448,500 1887 356,000 1888 372,477 Or an average of 470,155 cases per annam. It will be seen that in the five years beginning in 1884, the average pack per season was 152,060 cases in excess of the average pack of the flve-year period begin- ning in 1889. During the latter period the amount of netting in use had been greatly increased, the fishing season extended, and the movement of the salmon into and up the river more completely intercepted. Undoubtedly, for the reasons above stated, the proportion of the entire run of salmon caught was larger in the latter than in the former period of five years, which suggests that the decrease of salmon in the latter period compared is probably larger than is indicated by the diflFerence in the average catch. Tiiere is no reason to doubt that this decrease is due to and inherent in the conditions under which the salmon fisheries of the river are now prosecuted, and that it will continue progressively so long as these conditions continue. The lower average of the pack during the five-year period ending with 1893 is due to conditions interfering with and limiting natural reproduction during the period of 1884 to 1888, when access to the head waters was not impeded to the extent it now is by the fishing operations. Tlie influence of the more efi'ective exclusion of the salmon from their breecling-grounds for the last five years ia yet to be disclosed. The seed for the harvest of the present year was sown in 1888 or 1889. What the extent of the harvest will be depends upon the opportnnity that was afibrded in these years for the salmon to reach their spawning-grounds. For the ensuing five years we are powerless to influence conditions. What the I)roduction will be has been already determined, so far as we can influence it eitlier by the regulation of the fisheries or by artificial propagation. There is every reason to apprehend that for the five years to come the average production of 'ling salmon \i ill be lower even than the average for the five years just passed. This is the penalty 14 INVESTIGATIONS IN THB COLUMBIA RIVEB BASIN. that most be paid for the improvidence and total disregard of the conditious necessary to maintain snpply whicli has characterized the operations of the salmon fishermen on the Columbia Kiver. AET:"7I0IAL PEOPAGATION op salmon on the COLUMBIA BIVEB. In 1888 the U. S. Fish Commission, by direction of Congress, established a salmon- hatching station on the Clackamas Biver, Oregon. The work done is given in the following table : Statement Bhowing the number of Quinnat talmon egg» eolUoted and fry di%trihuied from Claokamat Station lince it* organization by the U. S. Fith Commiiiion to the close of thefiical year 1893, Flaoal year— Egga ooUeoted. dlatrfbuted. Pry diatrlbntod. 1888-89 4,500,000 4,314,000 5, 88U. OUO 2, 036, 000 4,444,000 4,800,000 2,768,475 4,002,000 1,332.400 4,100,000 1889-00 1,000,000 700,000 1890 01 1891-92 X892-93 Xotol 21,154,000 1,700,000 17.600,875 KoTK The try were all dopoalted in the Clackamaa River, The 1,700,000 eega irere ftarnisbed to the Oregon Sah commlaafon and the trj produced were deposited in the Olacliainaa River. This work was undertaken on the urgent solicitation of those concerned in the salmon fisheries of the Columbia River, who realized that their fisheries were being exhausted, and it was hoped that some compensation for the deficiency in natural reproduction could be made by artificial stocking and breeding. It is certain that this work has exercised some conservative influence upon the catch. It is doubtful, however, whetlier it has been on a suflBciently extensive scale to compensate for the damage resulting from the interference with natural reproduction by the operation of the fisheries. THB FISHING-OBOtmDS. On the accompanying charts, the locations of the fishing-grounds resorted to by tlie fishermen using difi'erent kinds of appartitus are indicated, and tlie number and position of the fixed appliances operated in 1892 are shown. The fishing-grounds of the Lower Columbia extend from the mouth of the river to Ealama. Tlie apparatus employed consists of gill nets, pound nets, and haul seines. The greater number of pound nets are located in Baker Bay, on the Washington side of the river and on the outside of Sand Island. They are not, however, confined to this region, but are located at every point of vantage on both sides of the river, from the month up to Ealama, a distance of 80 miles. The haul seines are located either on the shores or flats, wherever a desirable locntion can be found. The principal region of gill-net fishing extends from the mouth of the river to Cathlamet Bay, and covers, practically, the entire river outside of the limits of the pound nets. Other important areas of gill-net fishing are in Cordell channel, in the channel and back of the islands opposite Pillar Eouk and Brookfield, and in the long reach of river from Puget Island to Eagle Cliff. Minor fishing operations are INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 15 ) necessary jhermen on SB. d a salmon- riven in the jkamat StatUt* 393. condacted between Kalaina and the CaHcades, both in the river and its tribntaries, such as the Willamette, the Cowbtz, etc. The fishing operations on the Upper Colum- bia, from the Cascades to the mouth of the Deschutes Biver, are conducted almost exclusively witli salmon wheels, which are turned by the force of the current. These, when properly located and operated, constitute most effective engines of capture. A careful examination of the charts giving the uumbur and location of the (liilerent fishing apparatus will show how eflectually the salmon are embarrassed or intercepted in their attempts to reach their apawning-grounds. It is not a matter of wonder that, under existing conditions, there has been a serious deterioration in the value of these fisheries. It is, indeed, a matter of surprise that any salmon have been able to elude the labyrinth of nets which bar their couise to the Upper Columbia. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that the entire volume of this great river is strained through the meshes of the innnmerable nets wuich occupy and obstruct every passageway to the spawning-grounds. It is certain that the continuation of these fisheries under present conditions will eventually result in rendering them unremnnerative. It concerns alike the whole people of the State, as well as those directly interested in the fisheries, tliat such regulations of the times, methods, and apparatus of these fisheries should be established and enforced as are necessa y to maintain supply. erned in the J were being y in natural certain that is doubtful, isate for the operation of isorted to by number and the river to haul seines. Washington ver, confined le river, from a desirable THE FISHINO SEASON. It is a wise policy on the part of the State to encourage the largest catch that can be permitted consistent with maintenance of supply; to impose no unnecessary embar- rassments or restrictions upon the enterprise of the fishermen, yet at the same time to insist upon such protective regulations and restraints as may be found necessary to prevent the serious inipairment of an important industry by the operations of the fishermen. The fishermen themselves, who have such important interests at stake and the security and profit of whose large investments depend upon the maintenance of the salmon supply, should be prompt to proirose and vigilant to enforce such regu- lations as may be necessary to this end. The nature of the protective regulations which can be enforced with the least restraint or embarrassment to tlie salmon fisheries and the canning industries is indicated by reference to the following table, showing by months the number and weight of each species of salmon taken for canning on the Columbia Biver. the river to limits of the anuel, in the and in the perationB are 16 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. TabU fhovinf by monthi the number and weight of mcA ipeciet of $almon ^itiUzed for canning ]>utj>otei on th« Columbia liiver in 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1S9S. Tears and monthi. Chinook salmon. Bluebaok salmon. StPPlheail salmon. Silver salmon. Total. Vumbor of Hull. Gross weiglit. Xunilwr or tlali. Gross weight. Number of flah. (trosa weight. Number of dah. Gross weight. Number of Usb. Gross weight. 18e»— April 89.266 1.10. 117 168,969 301, 2:i4 rounds. 2. 231. 660 3,0(I2.9-J5 4,22:1,975 7, 636, 350 86,676 70.517 K. 453 30,717 Pound: 183.380 382. 585 412, 205 183,586 8,408 14, 709 62,695 76,166 Pounds. 94,080 147, 1190 626, 950 761,600 Pounds. 136,860 247. 343 314,107 414, 137 Pound: 2,608.110 4,4^12,600 8, 203, 190 8,480 595 Mav July Total 1890-April Miv 715,606 17,893,900 232,303 1,161,816 162, 978 1,629,780 1,110,937 20,686,495 32,727 2;i6, 776 252, 764 887, 183 13,941 818, 176 6,919.400 6, 318. 8.10 8,932,676 348, 625 63, 180 niri Ban 11,006 22.983 87,507 139,506 15,636 110,060 220. 8:w 878.070 1,398,900 185,350 1(16. 912 402, 339 637. 566 647,078 81,883 1,244.126 7, 162, 130 8,680.600 11,080,030 614,410 202,580 1,012,900 297.234 1,486,170 150 299 751,495 22,107 ; 110,836 July Augaat Total 1891— April 893.381 i 22,337,626 735,400 3,677,000 276,686 2,766,860 1,908,467 28,781,386 82.413 184,000 223. 964 308. 247 68,870 2,060.325 4, 502 250 6. 599. 100 9, 91)6, 176 1,466,750 17, 437 85,229 83,743 32, 389 8,701 87,186 276. 146 418.715 161.945 18,805 8,178 13,314 62,676 97.900 21, 286 81,780 133,140 626.700 979. OlIU 21'i ilriO 1 105.028 232,633 360.383 628.536 83,667 2, 19:i. 290 4,911,5.15 6,844.575 11,097,120 1,698,115 May July Auguat Total 1892— April 947,384 23,684,600 182,499 nA!L4BK 190,364 :I,003,64O 1,330,237 26,480,638 65,021 1H7, 492 2.19.408 343, 121 84,124 1. 375. 525 4. 687. 300 6, 98:, 450 8,686.526 2, 103, 100 86.449 308,946 330. 558 128,043 10, 110 432. 245 1,M4.7:I0 1,652,790 640.215 95,560 10, 5(13 32.796 141,194 109. 333 52.091 11,293 22,629 105.030 827, 950 1,411,940 1, 983, 330 629,010 112.930 226,290 161,973 820,233 711, 2.50 670.797 168,226 30,782 66,696 1,912,800 6.680,980 9, 052. 180 11,219,070 2,728,660 249,383 464,062 May Juue Julv AugD.st 19,489 130,423 33, 966 237, 702 October Total 809,666 22,738,900 873, 106 4,365,830 470,738 4,707,880 63,488 1 374,185 2,300,856 82,180,986 In 1889 the flsliing season extended from tlie 1st of April to tbe 31st of July. The total catch of chinook salmon amounted to 17,893,900 pounds, 87 J per cent of this amount being taken in May, June, and July, and 12^ per cent during the month of April. In 1890 the fishing extended from April 10 to August 10, inclusive, and yielded a total product of 22,337,525 pounds of chinook salmon. Of this amount, 94J per cent was taken in May, June, and July, and 1^ per cent during April and August. In 1891 the fishing season extended trom April 10 to August 10, inclusive, the total product of chinook salmon being 23,584,600 pounds, 85 per cent of which was taken in May, June, and July, and 15 per cent in April and August. In 1892 the total catch of chinook salmon amounted to 22,738,900 pounds, and the fishing season extended from April 10 to August 10, and during September and October; 85 per cent of the total catch was made in the months of May, June, and July; 15 per cent in April and August; none in September or October. It will be evident from the percentages given above, and by reference to the table, that the most productive fishing operations for the pound-net and fill-net region of the river are during the months of May, June, and July. The number of chinook salmon taken in April and August is relatively small, and under conditions not so profitable, either to the canneries or the fishermen, as those carried on during the months of May, June, and July. The April run of this calmon, if allowed to pass without interruption to the headwaters of the Columbia and its tributaries, would spawn iu those waters, and the present productive capacity of the river would be increased to such an extent as to much more than compensate for the restrictions imposed by the prohibition of the fishery operations during the month of April. IXVESTiaATIONS IN THE COLUMHIA KIVER BASIN. 17 ming purjmitt Total. icr h. Gross weight. 960 m 107 137 PoundM. 2,609.110 4, 4:12. 600 6,21)3,100 8,480,605 037 20,685,406 012 130 565 078 583 1,244.126 7, 1B2. 130 8,680.690 11,080,030 614,410 467 28,781,386 028 633 636 667 3, 19:1. 200 4,911,535 6,644,575 11,007,120 1,608,116 237 073 233 'OO 707 225 782 506 26,450,636 1,012,800 6. 550, 980 0,062.180 11,219,070 2,728,660 240,353 464,063 865 82,18j,096 let of July. per cent of g the month iid yielded a MJ percent list. elusive, the which was Qds, and the tember and Y, June, and to the table, let region of nook aaliuon o profitable, Qths of May, interruption hose waters, jh an extent rohibition of The August run of chiuook salmon consists of gravid HhIi near their spawning time. The Ihish for this reason has undergone deterioration, and if canned constitutes ill! interior product, the sale of which will discredit the reputation which thuCVduinbia Hiver salmon justly hold in public estimation. None of the August run of chinooks probably ascends the Columbia above tlie Dalles. They spawn in the tributary streams of the Lower Columbia and in the main stream between the Dalles and the mouth of the river. RIX'OMMENUATIONS, Having in view the considerations above presented, there can be no doubt of the necessity of restrictive regulations to maintain the salmon fisheries of the Columbia River. The enactment and enforcement of such regulations as may be necessary to this end is the prerogative of the States occujiying the Oolunibia Biver basin. There is no prec-edent for the exercise by the General Government of control over the fisheries of our interior waters, except in so far as the forms of apparatus in use might be regarded as obstructions or impediments to navigation. Whether the power to regulate the fisheries of interstate and bounding territo- rial waters is vested in the General Government or in the States is a subject which has provoked, and will continue to provoke, controversy until the respective rights and powers of individual States and the General Government are duly ascertained and defined by the courts of last resort. Having reference, however, to the interests of the fisheries, there is no doubt that these interests would be best subserved by uniform and concurrent regulations covering the entire region in which any special fishery is prosecuted. In the case of the Columbia, we find that the great market fisheries for the salmon are prosecuted in the lower river, and tlie immediate evident advantage is to those who are engaged in the capture of the salmon or in canning them for the market. On the other hand, the i.urseries for the young salmon, upon the abundance of wl" depend the productiveness and profit of the fisheries in the lower river, are in the remote tributaries and sources of the river in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Regulations and restrictions of the net fisheries, so as to permit a reasonable number of salmon to reach their spawning-ground in the upper rivers, and protection of the salmon in these waters during their spawning season, in September and October, present the conditions to be fulfilled to keep up supply, so far as this can be accom- plished by legal restraints. To ettectively restrain or regulate the net fisheries requires the concurrent action of the States of Washington and Oregon. Effective protection to the salmon on their spawning-grounds can be established only by concurrent action on the part of Wash- ington, Oregon, and Idaho establishing a close season during the months of September and October. Here a serious difidculty arises. On the one hand it will be urged by the net fishermen of Washington and Oregon that any restraint on their operations will be burdensome to them without any corresponding advantage, since the fish they permit to escape their nets will be taken in the head waters to which they go before they have had an opportunity to spawn, and so they will be subject to serious losses and inconvenience without any compensating advantage. On the other hand, the citizens of eastern Washington and Oregon and of remote Idaho will be reluctant to impose any restraints on their own people in reference to the taking of salmon, for the reason that any increase in the fishery arising thereby will inure solely to the benefit of the fishermen between the Dalles and the mouth of the river. S. Mis. 200 2 18 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. The necesflity of concurrent action on the part of the States occupying the Colum- bia Ri^'e^ Basin, and of their cordial cooperation in incasurea neco88ary to maintain the sahnon tlshery of the Columbia River and to improve it, is evident from a con- Hideration of the facts presented. The investigations of the U. H. Fish Commission in the Columbia River Basin made under the instructions of Congress dearly indicate that there is a serious deterioration in the product and value of the salmon tishuries of this river; that this deterioration is to bo attributed in large part, if not entirely, t«> the exclusion of the salmon from their spawning-grounds by the operations of the net fishermen, and that artificial propagation on an adequate scale to compensate for the waste of the fisheries is no longer possible under existing conditions of the fisheries. The initial step in attempting the restoration of the salmon fishery is to restrict and regulate the net fishing. The restriction that may be put in force with the least hardship to the fishermen is the shortening of the season of n<)t fishing. The use of pounds, gill nets, traps, and seines in the lower river, from the Cascades to the mouth, should be limited strictly to the months of May, June, and July. The wheels should not be permitted to take salmtm prior to the middle of May, so as to permit the salmon which have entered the river in April the opportunity to pass up to the head waters. A further closed season for wheels should be established from the 1st of August to the lUth of September, so as to provide for the uninterrupted spawning of the August run of salmon. There does not at present appear sufiicient reason to prohibit the wheel fishing during the balauoe of Septomber and during the month of October. Protection for the salmon which have thus been enabled to reach their spawning-grounds should be aflorded by a close season during the months of September and October, covering the streams in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to which the salmon resort for breeding. Should the policy above outlined be adopted by these States and the requisite measures to carry it into effect be enacted and enforced, it will be possible for the U. S. Fish Commission and the State commissions to greatly enlarge their fish-cultural operations, and to prosecute them under much more satisfactory and economical con- ditions than at the present time. Until the States interested adopt measures to restrain net fishing, so as to permit a portion at least of the salmon entering the river to pass up to their spawning-grounds, it is not deemed wise or expedient to attempt to increase or extend the work of artificial propagation of the salmon. All efforts will be disappointing, unprofitable, and nugatory so long as the fisheries continue under existing conditions, and I would recommend, therefore, that no farther steps be taken at present looking to the establishment of additional salmon-breeding stations in the Columbia River Basin. Marshall McDonald, 17. 8. CommUtioner <(f Msh and JV«A«r(<«. ^ the Oolnm- ' to maintain ; from a con- imuHHsion in arly indicate lion fiHliurieH )t entirely, t<) nt* of the net iisate for the lie tlsheries. is to rcHtrict rith the least the Cascades i July. The Vlay, so as to y to pass up iblished from ninterrupted ear sufficient d during the bled to reach he months of and Idaho to the requisite s for the U.S. fish-uultaral nomical con- measures to ng the river to attempt the fisheries at no father ion-breeding '■ FigKerte$, Pi *te II A imTTiission of FisJ nUJVFDonald.C. CHARTOF :OLUM NGTHE LOC, iSAND SaLA OPERATED 1892. Scale or StAtate '. NOTE Fishinff fVfteels.. luverie-s o \ SMis S.CO 53 2 Salmon Fisheries of the Columbia River. (To face page 18. j /■^- /\- C M [ \ U.S. Commission of Fish and FisTi Marshall M^ Donald, C omi iii s s i < CHARTOFTHE UPPE R COLUMBIA] SHOWINGTHE LOCATION ( PishAA^heelsaistd Salmon O OPERATEID IN ^ 1892. Scale or Sta.tate Miles. w NOTE Pet-rnxuven.t fishing Wlijcel-s . iS'covxr i " " . jScitrriort CciAttverl'ds A I imm m I c K '""' "^""'"^nrrmTrtmrTmfiii" WSi.^ 'isTicries. ssiorioi*. N OF THE Canneries \; .0/ ER UES THE DAU£S C ■'.-'?','■*■" : -V ■■'■*">■ * • '* Plate II. K T A T SMis ^.CO 53 2 ■^« ] -^^\ s Plate II o w U. S.Commission MarshaHM^Dori CHART 1.0WER COL SHOWING THE SALMON APPAR ATT ANDCA , Scale of Scale of u N non Fisheries ot the Columbia River. (To face pace 18 1 ■ m Plate II mS\oo \o5- w s.^^ si-^ L :ominissionof Pish and Fisheries rshall Mowever, wo are inclined to recommend the Toutle River aa being the best suited .or hatchery purposes of any stream in Washington. THE UPPER COLUMBIA. Near Kettle Falls, Wash. — The Colville River flows into the Columbia at the town of Ket M Falls, about 2 miles below the Kettle Falls of the Columbia. An abundance of e^ .•« il :ht water can be obtained ♦rom the Colville River, and plenty of suitable land '.'fi ■ j,ro^.''>ly be had for nothing, as ihe people there are much interested in securing :h ■ . 1 ;v!iy. This site is about 2 miles from Meyers Falls, a station on the Spokane . m; ■> ; iru Railroad. The only objection to it is the uncertainty of getting a "vifti- cient r .Lb::* of spawning salmon conveniently near. As . !f ly stated, salmon were abundant in the Columbia at Kettle Falls as late as 1878. Since then there has been a great decrease. They have been scarce since about 18S2; since 1890 there have been scarcely any at Kettle Fa'ls. The Meyers brcther« say they have been almost unable lo bu> any salmon for their own table from the Indians for three years. Certain Indians with whom we talked at Kettle Falls said salmou were once very abundant there, but thai TC'-y few are seen now. Other persons testified to the same effect. Essentially the same information was obtained regarding the decrease of salmou in other parts of the upper tributaries of the Columbia, viz, at Spokane, in both the Big and Little Spokane rivers, and in the s- 1 like River and its various tributaries. ^ ! *h: Little Spokane River, near Spokane, Wash. — This river, as elsewhere stated '>. i^LMS I'uptirt, possesses all the natural conditions necessary for this purpose; and it has the advantage of having excellent shipping facilities in the numerous railroads centering at Spokane. The uncertainty of being able to obtain spawning salmon in sufficient numbers is, however, a fatal objection to this point, unless shipping the eggs &om the Lower Oolumbia might be regai'ded as feasible. u tNVE8TIGATI0NS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVEK BAStN. SNAKE BIVEE IN SOUTHWESTEKN IDAHO. If the station does not necessarily have to be in Wasliinpton, a very good site can be found on Snake Itiver in Idaho near Sabnon Falls, ^filuion seem still to ascend to tliat point ia considerable numbers. For detailed description of this place see portion of this report pertiviuing to "le Snake lliver. *«UMMARY. In summing up the facts b. .t out by these investigations it may be aaid, first, that the absence of salmon from tlie Tend d'Oreille River is not necessarilv due to the presence of falls in that stream, but to other causes, chief among which is the excessive catching of salmon in the Lower Columbia; second, that while it is true tliat the salmon are shut out by falls and dams from a large area, especially in the Upper Snake Kiver basin, and that these limitations are increasing as the streams become useful for irrigation and mining purposes, it is nevertheless certain that the decrease in the salmon has been even greater and that the accessible waters suitable ior spawning purposes are still more than ample to meet present needs; and, third, tliat the desirability of establishing another salmon hatchery at some point in the (.'olumbia basin will depend largely upon the nature of the fishery legislation in the States of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It must be understood, however, tliat our knowledge regarding the present abun- dance of salmon, their relative abundance as compared with former years, and the location and extent of their sp^-wninggrounds, is of the most general kind. While valuable so far as it goes, the information which we now possess upon these important questions is chiefly useful in indicating the nature of the investigations which must be carried on for several seasons before a thorough understanding of the salmon ques- tion can be reached. DETAILED ACCOUNT OP THE VARIOUS WATERS EXAMINED. SNAKE luvaa. This river has been visited by as at the followiug points: President Camp, near the sontheru boandary of the Yellowstone Park; Idaho Falls; Amorioan Falls; Shoshone Falls j Twin Falls; AugBr Falls; Blue Lakes; Upper and Iiower Salmon Falls; at mouth of Boise River; at Caldwull, Payette, und Lewiston. The observatiuus mitde at these various places are here given in order, beginning with the point farthest upstream which was visited. President Camp, — Snake River here flows through a wide meadow, grassy and open on the right side, but covered with a heavy growth of ohapparal on the other. It is hero a buautiful river willi clear, ould water and gravelly bottom. The banks in the immediate vicinity of the camp are low, not exceeding 3 or 4 feet. lu the main stream the onrreut was pretty strong, but there are quiet nooks und coves where there was considerable water ve^otatiou. The temperature of the water at 9 a. ni., August 14, was 62.5°. Fishes were found to be abundant here, the red-horse sucker {Catoitomui ardent), dnoe {Rhiniohtkys oataraeta duloit), chubs (Eieuciseiu hydi-ophlox and Leuoiaoui lineatui), white- flsh {Coregonvt tvil Ham >oni), ont-throiit trout (Salmo mykist), and the blob {Cottui bairdi pvnciulatuii'} being the species thus far known f^om the Snake River at that point.* Idaho Falli, Idilw, Augutt 4 and 5, 1S03. — At this point vho river has oat its channel throngh the immense lava bed of that region. Thj banks of thostreaiii are abrupt or vertical but broken and jagged Walls of lava, reaching in some places as many as 15 to 20 feet or more above the surface of the water. Large, detached masses of Inva are frequent in the stream, and in the banks or bounding walls are many immense potholus, by far the largnst and tinest wo have ever seen. The river is here con- fined to a relatively narrow channel, through which it rushes in a series of foaming rapids. 'I'bera o m o c * See Kveiuuum: £xplo»tiona In Montana and Wyoming, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1881, 33. Salmon Fisheries of the Columbia River (To face page 24 i Plate V. nl INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA MVEB BASIN. 25 are many comparatively qiiiot nooks, however, in the broken, irregular walla, aud the water is very deep, perhaps 20 to 50 feet. While these rapids are quite turbulent, trout and even other specio.H of Qahes have no trouble iu aicending them. Trout (\tirely without anrfaoe water. Towards the west the Malade or Wood liiver la the first stream to find its way into the Snake from the north. The water which thus sinks near the base of the mountains apparently reappears inside the canon of the Snake, coming out lis great springs at the base of the olift's. The best-known of these lie between the Shoshone Falls and Glen's Ferry. They emerge from the foot of the cliffs often as large streams and are used to irrigate the bottom lands which border the river on the north at that point. The witter of these streams i^ beautifully olear and cold; trout abound in them, and the smaller iiiinnowB run np from the Snake into them. Crawfish (Ait&eni gambtUi) also ai-e very abundant. The temperature of the streams averages abont 60°, and they would be admirably adapted for hatchery purposes. The salmon visit this part of the river in sufficient numbers to furnish roe for batching, and this is probably the most available point where suitable water and an abundance of flsh can be found for saoh a station in Idaho. Unnamtd Fall*. — ^The next falls in the course of the stream were not visited by any member of the party, a^ nsthing was heard of them until we had passed that region. They seemed to be unnamed. According to Mr. J. L. Fuller, of Bliss, Idaho, the river has a vertical fall of about 40 feet a short distance above the month of Dry Creek, the latter a small stream coming in from the eoutii, nearly midway between Amerioam and Shoshone Falls. Mr. Fuller worked a mining claim at the month of Dry Creek at one time, and Is therefore well aoqnainted with the falls, which he states to be vertical and impassable to any kind of flsh. Sho*1u>u» »nd Twin I^Mt.-~'thi> great obstacles to the passage of salmon up the Snake are foiiiul in Shoshone and Twin Falls, both of which are vertical and of great height. The erection of fish- 26 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA EIVEE BASIN. ways to permit the paasage of salmon aeems wholly impracticable. Both Shoshone and Twin Falla areformtxl by layers of more compiict and lifrhter oolored lava, which the stream wears away with great difficulty. Shoshone Falls can be reached by a stage ride of 28 miles from the town of Shoshone, on the Hue of the Union Pacitlc. The cafion at this point is high and composed of blacic colnmnar basalt, which rises from the river's edge as vertical cliffs, estimated to be about 800 feet high. The falls are said to be 210 feet high. The middle of the falls is higher upstream than either end, giving it a somewhat hor8eHhoe-Bhapedians encamp yearly on the island immediately below the falls, and spear the lish as they pass ovor the ripples. Well-known spawning-beds are said to be in the river about 2 miles above the fulls, and salmon are knowu to ascend Salmon Creek, a tributary entering 2 or 3 miles higher up. A white man bus been in the habit of catching salmon with a seine ^ach year, and could obtain more than he could find market for. It seems evident, then, that a hatchery located near this point and drawing water from one of the many large spnug-fed streams which enter here would have no diffl- onlty in securing t>h. The Lower Salmon Falls are about 6 miles below the Upper. We are informed that a man can descend this stretch of the stream in a small bout, although there are numerous shallow places and short rapids. The Lower Falls are very similar to the Upper. The river at this point fulls over a lava shelf, for the most part vertically, and with a total descent of about 20 feet. The front of the falls is very wide, probably over a quarter of a mile, and runs obliquely, the northern end being farthest upstream. By far the greater part of the water falls over the southern half of the falls, so little coming over the northern part v to prevent the ascent of fish, except, perhaps, at one point. At the extreme southern end the fulls are much lower. Here, and also near the center, the fish would apparently have no ditflculty in ascending. To sum up what was learned abont the salmon in this part of Snake River, it is certain that they visit Glen's Ferry and the stretch of the stream between INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 37 there and a poiut 2 or 3 mile* above Upper Salmon Falls in large numbers, and spawn mainly in the bed of the stream, some of them entering Salmon Creek, as before said. It is not known to iis how far they ascend towards Anger Falls from the Upper Salmon Falls They appejir late in Angnst, and spawn in the bed of Snake River and the amiiller tributaries from September on to November. Srakt Hiver beloio the vnrinuii falls. — A short distance below Shoshone Falls, as already indicated, the valley of the Snake changes its character. The bluff recedes, leaving the valley several miles wide in places, and becomes, at the same time, less abrupt, and the lava walls are often entirely concealed by slopes of water- worn gravel and soil. The valley varies in width, but preserves this general character as far as the town of Hnntington. It is along tlie upper part of this widened valley that the extensive springs alreat; depth, 1 foot; current, 2 feet. The I'ataha Ih of voiue importance and iit well gu|iplied with thu commiiii lighes of the region. Pgnd d'Oreille Hiver, — There arw two important lakcH whi<'li Hri' dniiued hy this river — Flathead Lake, in Montana, luid Luke Peud d'Oreille, which is in Idalio, near the WuHhington State line. Examination* were made at Flt\tbHa4l Lake* in 1801 by Kvermuiin and Jeukiiia, and in 1892 by Qorham •ud Woobuan, who found the "falls" in I'lathead Kiver near thu ontlet of Flathead Lake to consist ■imply of a series of ra)iidH, which do not interfere in the least with the free movements of (lab. From this point down Flathead Kiver possesHes no falls or obstructions of any kind, und there is none in Clarke Fork until near I^ake I'enil d'Oreille.) Not fur above Lake I'end d'Oreille, iu Clarke Fork proper, and near a station on the Northern Faoitlo called Thompson FuUh, are some small rapids which are no more serious than are those iu Flathead Kiver. This is according to Dr. Gorhani and Mr. Woolman. We did not doem it necessary to revisit these two places, as Or. Uorham's notes and the information which we gained through oonvenatlous with a number nf persons who were familiar with that part of the river convinced us that there are no obstructions of any importance above Lake I'end d'Kreille. We examined this river pretty carefully from the outlet of Lake Peud d'Oreille to near its month, or where it joins the Coiuml>ia just across the British Columbia line. While that portion of the river above Lake Peud d'Oreille is still spoken of as Clarke Fork, the portion below Lake Peud d'Oreille is, in that region, known only as the Peud d'Oreille Kiver. From Sand Point, J.dabo, which is at the outlet of Lake Pend d'Oreille, to the Washington line is about 25 miles. In this portion of the river there is only one fall or rapid, and that is Albauy I'alls, sometimes known as Villard Falls or Seniaiiuoteeu Falls. These falls are about 1| mile^ above the little town of Newport, Idaho. The falls are divided by a small, rocky island, npon which is built one of the piers of the railroad bridge which is used by the Great Northern iu crossing the river at this place. The relative position of the bridge and the falls is shown iu the above diagram. These falls are scarcely more than pretty steep rapids and would not interfere at nil with the •I cent of salmon. The part to the left of the islands (going down stream) is jnst above the bridge. * For information concerning the npper waters of this system seeEvermaun, in Bull. U. 8. Fish Commission for 1891, pp. 1-90. tin 1883 Mr. Livingston Stone, under the direction of the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fish- eries, made an extended exploraticm of Clarke Foi'k and the Colnmbia Kiver with reference to the selection of a suitable site for a salmou-breeding station. In Mr. Stone's interesting report (Report U. S. FishComm. for 1883, 237-255) is given much valuable information regarding the upper portion of Clarke Fork and the Big and Little Spokane rivers. He found, what our own inquiries confirm, that salmon never reach Lake Pend d'Oreille. but thought they were jirobably kept back by the falla at the mouth of the Pend d'Oreille. INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBU RIVER HA8IN. 81 At the time of onr viait (Auguit 9) tbs total descent waa probably 10 fe i . i>nt aa a rapid, not In • ver- tical fall. During low water the deacont would he Homewbat greater. The fall on the right aide la of the aame character and preitouta uo greater ditlicultiea. Juat tielow Alliaii.v Falls the river ix perhaps 1,(XX) feet wide and 20 to 30 fret de«p in the channel. The atream was up, however, at this time, uud would probably fall at least 10 feet before reiichiug low- water marlc, accordiug to the captain of the Itora, a small ateamer which makes irregular trips between Newport and the head of Box Cafiim. On August 9 we took tliia ateauier and went down the river to Box Canon, a distance of about 60 inlle-i, nlthough the ateamer people call it 80 miles. Throughout this distance the Pend d'Oreille is a beautiful, clear stream, with a good atrong current, and varying in width from 500 to 1,000 feet. Ilox Caiion is a narrow gorge al)OUt 1 1 miles long. The walla are quite close together and the river rashes through the narrow pusiago wiMi » very strong current. There is, however, uo fall In the caDon and small boats have on several ocoiiMious been taken through without ii\|nry. There is nothing hete to atop the ascent of salmon. Jlf«(aljii« Fall$. — Those falls are juat below the Metaline mining camp, or 7 miles below the foot ol Box Cation. The river between Box CaHon and Metaline Falls baa a good strong current, but no falln or rapida. The falla are over a ledge of limestone, through which the river ' s cut, and are the largest and moat important of any found in this river. The total fall ia perhapu m much as 30 feet, but it ia in a series of rapids, there being uo vertical drop ut all. The atream is here inclosed between high rooky walls and is very turbalent for some distance. Salmon could probably ascend these falls with- out much dilBculty. 4. little bluatiag near the left (west) wall would make it still easier for flsh to get up. Just above Metaline Falls, Sullivan Creek flows into the Pend d'Oreille from the right bank. From Metaline we walked down the river about 14 miles farther, on August 10, to the bead of what is known as the Big Eddy Caiion. This caHon ia about 3 miles long and is quite narrow, the limestone walla being so close together that in one place • fallen tree lies across from one wall to the other. The river rushes through this caiion with great fury, but there are no falls, and we do not believe that the ascent of salmou would be seriously interfered with. If it should be shown that salmon can not swim against such a strong current for so groat a distance, wo see no easy way by which it could be made less difficult. There are some relatively quiet nooks or eddies here and there, however, in which salmon would bo able to rest and we therefore do not consider Big Eddy Canon a serious obstacle to the ascent of flsh. Lime Creek, a small but fine trout stream, flows into the river at the head of this canon. The river between Metaline Falls and Big Eddy Caiion is quite swift, but contains no falls or rapids worth mentioning. The lower end of Big Eddy CaBon is but a short distance from the British Columbia line, just north of which the Pend d'Oreille turns abruptly westward and runs approxi- mately parallel with the international boundary until it flows into the Columbia, a distance of about 27 miles from where it leaves the United States. We did not visit this part of the river for two reasons: (1) Dr. Gorham's notes and Mr. Bean's report upon the obstructions were sufHciently full to enable us to judge of its character; and (2) several persons familiar with it, and with whom we talked, all agreed that there are no obstructions below Big Eddy CaDon which are nearly as serious as Big Eddy Cafiou or Metaline Falls. All agree that Metaline Falls is the moat serious obstruction found anywhere in tlie Pend d'Oreille. From Mr. Bean's report and from our conversations with prospectors and others living along the Fend d'Oreille, it appears that there is u series of rapids near the mouth of the river and another Jnat above the mouth of Salmon River, which empties into the Pend d'Oreille juat abore the Waahlngton lino. These are all said to be rapids rather than falls and probably would not interfere with the ascent of salmon in the least. From the foregoing it therefore appears that there are no serious obstrnctions ia Clarke Fork of the Columbia which would prevent salmon from reaching Lake Pend d'Oreille and Flathead Lake, or other parts of that river basin. The Pend d'Oreille River is one of the most beautiful and plotnresque In America. It is a magnifi- cent river, probably averaging over 1,000 feet in width and being very deep throughout most of its course. In most places there ia a good, strong current, becoming dangerous rapida in the narrower places. The water is clear and pure and cold — an ideal trout stream. The depth varies greatly, high water .■ccurring in July from melting snows. Late in August or September the water is many feet lover thuu iu July. High mountain slopes ascend abruptly from the river'.! banks throughout most of its ooorse, and these are covered with a heavy evergreen forest and » dense growth of underbrush . 82 INVKKnOATIONS IN THE COLUMUIA KIVEK IJAilN. Ill other pliioits, ax at Usk, l.a Claires, and Metaline, the river bottom wider.H out and there are many acres of excellent tanning land. D'lrinj; hij.h water large areas of this level land are covered by water, but when the waters Hubside those tracts becon:d valuable meadow Ir.nds. Trout are abundant in this river; salmon trout are also quite abundant, aL-d both bite readily. We know of no stream whieh otfei* liner oppo'^unities for sport with the rod than the lower Pend d'Oruille. Deer, wild geese, and ducks wereu oen in considerable numbers. I'rom the Big CaQon below Metaline we were compelled to walk back to Newport, a distane e of abriit 75 miles. As thei^e was no triil for the greater part of this distance, except a cattle trail, 'vhi' u w.as usef etjual height throughout their entire width. The upper falls (a) was at least 14 feet vertical near the island and in the middle, but toward the right bunk it seemed to be lower audlosf< vertical. The lower fall (b) is probably 15 feet high in its highest plnces, but at the right shore It, too, is not so high nor so nearly vertical. At c is u seething whirlpool, the wat«'r couilii; around the left side of tbe island, having to make an abrupt turn in order to get out. The upper fall is probably not of great iiiiportanre in this con' - ..ion, for, w' bii salnior have once gotten B',ove tbe iowi:r falls thry piin go around to the right (going npstream) of the island where there are no Herioui" obstruc- tiH, mki innd.rH the name appro- priate. The total descent of the water is uO feet, though the perpeudicnlar il in u) place tivieeds 16 feet, which is, however, more than sufllc'ont to prevent the passage of boats. At the foot .>f the falls the breadth of the river is 2,330 feet, and the rate of the current is 4 miles an hour. ' ' /< breaur d'Alene) tribe, who were the only ones to refuse. He thereupon termed the great falls of the Spokane, wblolt have ever since prevented the fish from asoendlng to their territory.'' Salmon Fisheries of the Columb . ^ 'ci. (To face pagtj 3* I Plate VII. CANON OF SPOKANE, HiVER, THREE MILES BELOW bPOKANE WASHINGTON 1893. Counl its -w borde netw( pines inche Augn watei veget Unioi dant, as is trout at th< theL dam I quite Stone are i uneai nnml hem andS ofth Falls Ings Line civiV thet oft! strea Paso bars and ermi salm and pies fort side saw 20th last not' raib INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER HASIN. 85 TAIllt Spokang Riv«r. — This was visited by Mr. Barton A. Bean in 1892, and by n« Aiignst 18, 1893. Tlie Little Spokane riaes among tlie low hills in a system of small streams and lakes in Stcirens Connty, Wash., only 4 or 5 miles from the Pend d'Oroillo River. Fed, as it ia, by niiuierous sprinfrg, its water is very clear and oold. It flows through a narrow, fertile valley, the low meadows bordering it having a black loamy soil. The immediatu banks are i'lr the most part oovored with a network of brashes. High hills rise on either side of the valley and thoy are sparsely I'overed with pines. Such trees as cottonwooI}uU. U. B. Fish Com. for 1883, 36 INVESTIGATIONS IN IHB COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. Walla Walla River. — This is a river of some iinportauce flowing into tbo (Jolumbin at the town of Wallula, about 30 miles west of Walla Walla. It was exaiaiaed August 23, at Wallula, below the railroad bridge. It is here a good-sized stream, 3 to 8 feet deep in tlie cliauuel, and has a velocity of about one-half foot per second. Temperature at noon, 70° ; air, 80°. The bod of the stream was of soft mad, with an abundance of Chara and other vegetation iu places, and the wat«r was rather muddy. At this place Messrs. Thoburn and Ratter obtained the only spccimona of Columbia trana- montana that were secured by any of us. Mill Creek. — This is a small stream, tributary to the Walla Walla River near Walla Walla. It was examined August 14 south of Walla Walla one half mile. Width, 12 feet; depth, 10 inches; cur- rent, H feet. Temperature at 8:30 a. m., 56°; air, 73°. The bottom here is of coarse gravel. We could not learn that salmon are ever taken iu this stream. Umatilla liiver. — The Umatilla River was examined Angnst 23 near its mouth, and on August 12 near Pendleton, Oreg. At Pendleton it had an average width of 25 feet, depth of 14 inches, aud a velocity of 1 foot. Temperature at 11 a. m., 70°. The bottom was of coarse gravel covered with algie, and the water was clear. Mr. Smith, of the Commercial Stables at Pendleton, says that no saluioa come as far up the river as Pendleton. He has never known any salmon to occur there. They probably occur in the lower part of the stream, but we could get no reliable information upon the matter. Dee Chutes liiver. — This is a aonthern tributary of the Columbia, into which it flows at a distance of 10 or 15 miles above The Dalles. It was visited August 24. The falls of Des Chutes Kiver, located near its mouth, are about 30 feet high iu low water; in high water a series of rapids. Id the Des Chutes the ditterence between high and low water marks varies from 40 to 90 feet, according to the width of the river. The highest water is about .June 20, the lowest during the coldest part of the winter. Salmon usually find the falls no obstruction. Numerous salmon are said to ran up the John Day River. They are caught in large numbers by the Indians, but we find no authentic information concerning their spawning. Takima River. — The Yakima is a good-sized stream, rising in numerous lakes near Snoqualmio Pass, southeast of Seattle about 50 miles, and flowing southeast about 150 miles to Pasco, where it joins the Columbia. At Ellensburg and North Yakiraa, where this river was visited by Dr. Jenkins, it runs through a broad, fertile valley, and its waters are extensively used for irrigation purposes. At EUenpburg the stream is about 160 feet wide and 10 feet deep, and flows about 1 foot per second. The water is clear and cold; its temperature at 9 a. m., August 24, was 60°. At North Yakima the stream is very clear aud flows with a rapid current through an open valley, over gravel and sand, and had a temperature of 64°. The Yakima has many important tributaries, in all of which trout are said to abound. Wilson Creek near Ellensburg had an average width of about 18 feet, depth of 18 inches, and a current of 2 feet per second. Manistash Creek empties iu on the right bank of the Yakima near Ellensburg. For a few miles above its mouth nearly all the water is taken out for irrigation purposes. Six miles from Ellensburg it comos through a canon into the valley. At this point it is a fine stream, abounding in trout. It is here 25 feet wide, with a velocity of about 3 feet per second. The water is clear and excellent. The tempcature at 11 a. m. was 55°. Below this point, about 2 miles from its mouth, where most of thjj water >d taken out for irrigation, tlie stream was about 6 feet wide, with an average depth of 6 inches and a velocity of one-half foot per second. Temperature, 58° at 9:45 a. m. The Yakima was visited also at Prosscn, at which point there is a low fall of some 3 or 4 feet, with a long gentle ripple above it. The fall would form no obstacle to the ascent of salmon unless at time of very low water. The temperature was 70° at 10 a. m. At North Yakima the Yakima receives one of its principal afiSuents from the west. This is the Natchess River, which takes its rise among the gnowflelds of Mount Ranier and Cowlitz Pass. This is a clear, cold stream, admirably snited to trout. In its lower course such common species aa the chisel-mouth {Aorocheiliu alutaceui), Jgoiia Hubila, and Fantosieus jordani were found. Those acquainted with the facts state that formerly, up to about 1885, salmon of three or four kinds, including the quinnat, ran up the Yakima Kiver to this valley and spawned in the river in great numbers. At present very few make their appearance. CotvliU liiver. — The Cowlitz River, made famous in Dr. Jordan's delightfully interesting "Story of a Salmon," has its sources in the snowflelds on the west slopes of Mount Ranier, and flows through the densely wooded country west of the Cascades for more than 100 miles before it Joins the Columbia. This region is very moist and is little suited to agriculture, aud the stream will never be needed for inigation. The Cowlitz was visited by us at Castle Rock. It is there a very deep, slnggish stream, INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 37 extensively nsed for rartiug lumber. It had a tomperuture of about G0°, August 25. Salmon ascend the stream in large numbers to anil above Castle Rock. Tbey nmke tbt'ir appearuuce in the fall about the first of September, and are caught by the ton at Castle Hnck nud at numerous points below. We were Informed that two kinds of salmon are taken, quii uat and the silver salmon. The i|uinnat makes its appearance first, and is, according to reports, obtained iu great numbers. We do not know how jafely one may rely upon the reports of the flshormen, however. Toutle River. — Toutle River is a tine, clear stream entering the Cowlitz fi om the east, about 4 miles above Castle Kock. It was visited by us 2 miles above its mouth, i t that point it was about 100 feet wide, averaging perhaps 1 to IJ feet deep, and was llowing ra]iidly over rounded bowlders and stones of email size. Its current was perhaps 1^ or 2 feet per second. At II a. ni. the temperature was 69^°. The stream flows through a very sparsely inhabited country. A few miners and a larger number of lumbermen live on its upper course. It flows everywhere through a dense eciment from Little Wood River, Shoshone, Idaho, 25 ; Ross Fork near Pooatullo, Idaho, 10; Payette River, Payette, Idaho, 2; Cusur d'Aleno Lake, Cusur d'Aleue, Idaho, 7; Umatilla Biver, Pendleton, Oreg., 4; Columbia River, Umatilla, Greg., 1; Pataha River, Starbunk, Wash., 3; Mill Cieek, Wulla Walla, 81; Creek at Sand Point, Idaho, 38. D. 11 or 12; scales, 90 to 104. This species diflfers from laiipinnis, griieui, and catoitomui (Evermann; Eigenmanu) in its thin and rather narrow lower lip, which is incised for but little over half its dupth. 'I'wo well- separated series of large papillse cross the lip between base of iucisiou and sheath. Catostomus pocatello sp. nov. Moo-gad-ee of the Fort Hall Indians. (PI. ix.) Type locality: Ross Fork of Snake River near Pocatello, Idaho, where 18 spncimi^ns were collected August 4, 1893. Type, No. 45385, U. S. Nat. Mus. Co-types, No. 45386, U. 8. Nat. Mns,, and Nos. 1135 to 1141, Museum Lnlaad Stanford Junior University. Related to Catottomm catottomut (Forster). Description: Head, 4; depth, 5; eye, 4J; snout, 2i; interorbital width, 2J; D. 10; A. 7; ■cales, 19-95-14, abont 50 before the dorsal. Body moderately stout; head heavy; snout not very pointed; eye rather large — larger than in any related species, its diameter 2^ in snont or 2^ in iuterorbital width; eye placed high; middle of pupil alittlo nearer posteriiiredgeo opercle than to tip of snout. Mouth narrow; upper lip rather thick, but not pendent, with three definite I'ows of papillie ; lower lip incised nearly to base, a single scries of small papillie between sheath and b-ose of incision; lobes of lower lip short and rounded; cartilaginous sheath of lips rather strongly developed. Scales small, crowded, and very much reduced in size on anterior part of body; lateral line imperfect. Origin of dorsal fin midway between tip of snout and base of oandal rays; greatest height of dorsal fin H in head, its free edge very slightly concave. Height of anal a little greater than that of dorsal, If in head; pointed, reaching base of caudal fin. Pectoral about equal to anal; ventral 1} in head. Peritoneum silvery, with dark punctulations. Air-bladder large. Color in alcohol, dark olivaceous above, and on sides to below lateral line somewhat mottled with darker; under parts pale. Length, 150 millimeters. An examination of the series of eighteen specimens shows some variation. Head, 3§ to 4 ; : depth, 6 to 5^ ; eye, 4|to 5-4 in young; snout, 2^ to 2^2^ in young. The number of dorsal rays . Is nsually 10, but in one example there are but 9. There is considerable variation in number of scales in the lateral line, the number in eleven examples counted being 90, 93, 93, 95, 96, 9(i, 100, 101, 105, 106, 107, and 108, respectively ; the lateral line is frequently irregular and imper- fectly developed. f^om Catottomut catottomut, which this species resembles, it differs in its larger eye, fuller lower lip, and somewhat larger head. These characters may all prove unreliable, however. From C. griteut and C. latipinnit of the same size it differs in its narrower upper lip and larger •ye, as well as in other minor characters. 40 INVEBTIUATION8 IN THE COLUMBIA KIVER BASIN. TbiH npecieH wa8 I'uiiiiil only in lioitH h'ork Jiitit above tho Kort, Hull Indian Agency. It dneH not Heem to be very comiiion, as a day's collisctiiif; in tliix Atrriirn roHiiltNd in taking only 18 specimens of the specios. It apparently does not attain a length of more than 6 to 8 inrhes. The Indian name Moo-gad-ee moans iiicker, or that whioh tuclu. CatoBtomus maorooheilus Qirard. Catoitomiu macrocheiltu Oirard, Proo, Acad. Nat. Soi. Pbila. 18r)6, 175. Type locality : Astoria, Oregon. Specimens obtained from Payette River at Payette, 5; Boise River at Caldwell, 17; Clearwater Creek at Lewiston, 2; Hnncman Creek at Tekoa, 6; Hangman Creek at Spo- kane, 1; Pataha Kiver at Starbnuk, 7; Wtilla Walla Kivnr at VVallnIn, 5; Colville Kiver near ColviUe, 10; Umatilla Kiver at Pendleton, 2; Snake liiver, at Payette, 2; Columbia River at Umatilla, 1; Skooknmohnck River near Centralia, 7; Post Creek, St. Ignatius Mission, Mout., 1; Pend d'Oreille River, Newport, Idaho, 19. This is the common sucker of the Colnmbia and Lower Snake rivers, and large numbers were flreqnently seen feeding in the shallow waters along shore. In 25 specimens the dorsal rays were as follows: Thirteen rays in 1 specimen, 14 in 15, 15 in 8, 16 in 1. Scales 67 to 70. The four specimens reported by Eigenmunu from Idaho Falls are more likely referable to C, ardent; C. maerocheilut probably does not occur in the Upper Snake. Catoatomus ardena Jordan & Gilbert. Catoitomui ardent Jordan &, Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns. 1880, 464. Type locality; Utah Lake, ProTO, Utah. Six specimens from Mink Creek, near Pocatello, are identified with this species. No adults of C. ardent were obtained, and the status of ardent and macrocheilut in the Columbia can not be determined nntil a larger series is available for comparison. In all suckers of this type thus far taken f^om Snake River above the falls, including those from President Camp and trom Heart Lake, the dorsal fin is small, containing but 11, 12, or 13 rays; and tho caudal peduncle is thicker than in specimens o{ macrocheilut of equal size. Monsuroments of our ■pecimens are given in the following table: CoU.No. Head. Depth. Eye. Snoat. Dorsal. Anal. Scales. Lenicth In inches. a 8 20 31 S3 SS 11 11 6 e 21 21 13 13 12 i:i 12 12 7 7 10-67-8 10-67-8 71 70 66 66 10 1 1 8. Aorooheilna alntaoena Agassiz & Pickering. " Chiiel-mouth." Aorocheiliu alataoeut Agassiz & Pickering, Amer. Joar. Soi. and Arts, 18.55, 99. Type localities: Falls of the Willamette and in Walla Walla River. Specimens obtained from Payette River at Payette, 53; Patnha Creek at Starbuck, 1; Umatilla River at Pendleton, 15; Natchess River at North Yakima, 2; Walla Walla River at Wallnla, Wash., 1; Columbia River at Umatilla, 26; Potlatoh Creek, 2 miles above mouth, 19; Snake River at Payette, 17; Boise River at Caldwell, 5. So far as known this species is confined to the Columbia River basin, where it is one of the most abundant and most widely distributed of the minnows. It has not yet been found In Snake River above the falls, nor is it known from the Pend d'Oreille basin. 9. RhinichthyB oataraotaa dulois (Girard). Wetlern Dace; Mot-to-nut-ae of the Fort Hall Indians. Argyreut duloit Girard, Proo. Aoad. Nat. Soi. Phila. 1856, 185. Type locality : Sweetwater River, Nebraska. ^ This widely distributed species is represented in the collection by the following: Month of Colville River, 1 ; Snake River at Idaho Falls, 2 ; Ross Fork near Pocatello, 64 ; Little Wood Biver near Shoshone, 9; Coanr d'Alene Lake, 14; Colnmbia River at Pasco, 3; N^ktchess Elver at North Takima, 11; Post Creek, St. Ignatius Mission, Mont., 6; Clarke Fork at Thompson FaUa, Montana, 2. INVESSTIOATIONS IN THE COI-UMUIA RIVER BASIN. 41 TlilHspncipN has hithorto been reported from the Columbia River biinin from but one pbicc — Snalce Uiver, at President Ciinip;* It seetns, however, to l)e a pretty common fish througlinnt that bnsin. It was obtiiined by Wonlmnn iind Beun in Post Creeic unil at Thomp- son Falls, the only places in the Pnnd d'OreiUe system whera it has yet been fonnd. The Indian nam« refers to the motion of the nose in eating, 10. AgoslB nublla (Girard). ArgyreuB nubHua Qirard, Proo. Aoad, Nat. 8oi. Phila. 1856, 186. Type locality: Fort Stcllacoom, Washini^ton Since the original description of this species no specimens have nntil now been ta1iting the Upper Snake River and the Qreat Basin in Utah, being thus considered ■ynonymous with the numerous nominal species {carringlonii, vulnerata, rhinichthi/oideii, lien- ihnvii, and novemradiata) described by Cope from streams tributary to Qreat Salt Laiie. As this identification boa been based upon a comparison with the imperfectly preserved types of nubila, the present collection is '>f great interest, containing, as it does, material from 16 localities, distributed between *\-<^ Newaakum River in western Washington and the trilxi- taries of the Upper Snake River in southeastern Idaho. A study of this material has shown the desirability of recognizing as a distinct subspecies Agoaia nubila oarringtonii, the form found in the Great Basin and the Upper Snake River. Examination of the annexed tabular statement will show the astonishing amount of variation which this species exhibits. Thus, the crosswise series of scales varies from 47 to 70 in number; the barbel is present or absent; the pharyngeal teeth vary from 1, 4-4, 0 to 2, 4-4, 2; and tiie dorsal fin varies much iu position and somewhat in size. These characters occur in various combinations, and with some of these are often correlated peculiarities of physiognomy and gcueral appearance, all of which may serve to put a certain stamp upon the individuals from a single stream, or even from one locality in a stream. Disregarding such local variations, we find that our material, exclusive of the specimens of .J. nubila carrinntonii, falls more or less clearly into three groups, distributed around certain geographical centers. Whether we are here dealing with subspecies seems doubtful, and can be determined only by more extensive and detailed exploration. The first of these forms, typical nubila, is represoiited in our collection by a large number of specimens from the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers in western Washington, very near the type locality of the species. These are all very dark in coloration, and have a jet-black lateral band which extends along sides of head and encircles the snout. This band is absent in our second and third groups, fonnd east of the Cascades, or it Is at most only faintly indicated. The darker coloration of the coastwise form may be dne to its ..ihabiting a densely forested area, possessing different climatic conditions from those characterizing the dry semidesert of eastern Washington and western Idaho. Both the typical nubila and the lighter interior form which centers about Umatilla are characterized by their coarse scales (averaging 54 along the lateral line) and their peculiar markings. The latter are due to the fact that numerous scattered scales along the ''laok and sides are of a dark slate color, oontraating sharply with the lighter ground. The third group centers in the Spokane region, and is characterized by smaller scales, the less-marked peculiarities of coloration, and the almost uniform abseuce of the maxillary barbel. The inconstancy of this important generic character within the limits of the species has been heretofore noticed only by Cope, who in notes on Apocope vulnerata t calls attention to its occasional absence. In our specimens from other than the Spokane district the barbel is very rarely lacking. The significance of the groups above outlined can be determined satisfactorily only by the study of a much more extensive series than that on which this paper is based. An o\>en waterway exists between them, and it is useless to attempt to indicate their vtclne while so large a part of the Columbia and adjacent basins remain onexplored. 11. Agoaia nablla oaTingtonil (Cope). Mo-tha-pog-gee. Apoeopt oarringtonH Cope, Hayden's Fifth Annaal Report, 1871 (1872), 472. Type locality: Warm Springs, Utah. * Evermann, Boll. U. S. Fish Comm. for 1891 (1892), 42. S Cope, Zool. Wheeler's Survey W. 100th Merid., 847, 1876. 42 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMHIA KIVKK HA8/N. We include uuder this uaiue the Agotia of the Oi'eat Salt Lake baHin (ezclnsive of the Sevier River) and of the Upper Snake River. Our collectioti contains spt'iimena froui Port Ncuf River, Mink Creek, and Rosa Fork near Pooatollo, and from Little Wood River at Shoiihoiie, It differs from nubila in ito finer ' :alc8 (average about 6b) und in the absence of tlie sharply marked black ish scales on the sices. The Fort Hall Indians, to whom we showed specimens of this minnow, called it Mo-ska-pog-gee, a word which they say describes its eating habits. 12. Agosia Umatilla sp. no v. (PL ix.) Type ' "ality: Columbia River at Umatilla, Oregon, where 15 specimens were colleotelar;^ed nor spinelike; anal strongly falcate, the (interior rays much proriuced., about ati long »s head and more than twice the length of the posterior rays; pectoral not quite reaching vontraU, IJ in head; ventraU reaching well beyond fi'ojt of anal, 1^ in head; caudal deeply forkeil; no ventral stays. Barbel minute; upper lip without frenum. Color in alcohol, olivaceous above, covered with obucnre patches of darker; siuco with a distinct plnmbcouii baud following the course of the lateral line and extending forward tlirough the eye and around snout; side with a number of dark blotches, Ksualty imperfectly delined, partly covering the plnmhftcjus band ; a large dark blotch on base of caudal peduncle, and one o\- two smaller ones on base of caudal rays. Length, 65 mm. The range of variation, xa shown by the co-typen, ia wot great. Depth, t} to 5; eye, 3i to 4; scales, 13 or 14, 60 to 70-7 or 8; D. 8 or 9, There nre alight but unimportant color difter- ences. (For variation in meastireraent-s, see table.) This species is somewliat intermediate betv7eea Agosia falcata and A. nubHa cnrringtonii. From the forr...-r it may bo distinguished by its not ibly smaller scales, al>8enc') of \< iitral stays, and smaller eye; from the latter itdifl^rs if. its louder, moieslcndor snout and larger, strongly falcate fins. Ah in A. falcata, the top of head and anterior portion of trunk are often covered with minute unptial tubercles. From Agoxia adobe it differs in the larger -^yo. which is con- tained IJ to 11 times in snout, while in A. atlobe it fa oontaiiind 2 to 2} timns; the 'ii;s are higher and more falcatti, and the scalea balow 1 -teral line arc !:'.T^cr The 3 specimens oblai.^ed from Payette River do not differ materially from thop" found at Umatilla. 13 Agosia 'alcata Eigenmann &■ Eigenniaun. Aijosia falec a Eigenmann &. Eigenmann, AmeriMU Natr.ralist for February, 1893, 153. Typo locality: Boise River, Caldwell, Idaho. This interesting spootes was obtained by na at the following places: Boise Elver at, Caldwell, 97; Payette River at Payett«ndlcu)n. Cohiiubii. R. T.natllla. Katolifflff KlTBr,Kortb YHl.itn.i, JSowBukiim River.Che. hallH. Skookiiinchiiok River, Chehall*. J.. ntUiila earringtcnU, Port Nonf RItm-, Po- catcllu. Bona Fork, I'ccatello.. Mink Creek, Pwutnllo. Port, Neiif Ulver, Po- oatollo. Idahu Fall^ Little tVood River.... Payette!!., Payotta... A. fttlcata. iloUe River, CaUwpll. ViiyetteR., Pavette... Cul'.'iublalc., UmutiUa. J ■ umatiUa^ ColiwnblaU.lmatllla. Payette R., Payette.. 3M I 4 4-4J «M *i 81-1 3{-4 i-4l i BM 4-4i if 81-1 4.4^ 4H1 r rays In aiiaL Idaho Falls 13 B2 6 118 i' 1 17 1 41 9 37 OS 8 « ia' 11 U Riiaa Fork Mink Cri'ok I'ortNeiif Kivcr mVESTIQATIONS IN THE COLUMUIA KIVER BASIN. 45 Nnmerons specimens (83) obtiiiued ii; 1891 In the Sniiko River at President Cnmp and in a Bmnll creek at the head of Jackson Lake, Wyoming, ' liavo 11 or 12 nnal rays, 12 being tlio number in most of tbe examples counted. In 1892, Dr. Eigeumann obtained speuimons at Idaho FiiIIh, 2 of \vhic;h have 12, It have 13, and 4 have 14 anal rays each. Putting these witli tlie 13 col- lected by us, gives nn average of 12J nnal rays for that locality. Tlils species was obtained also by Jordan & Gilbert in 1889 in Heart Lake and Witch Creek, in Yellowstone Park.t The specimens examined by tliem liad 13 anal rays. In speciiuons from Idaho Falls the scales of lateral line range as follows: 52, 53, 53, 53, .55, 55, 57, 57, 58, 61; from PortNenf River, 51, 51, 61, 52, 53, 53, 5.5, 57. Head from 4 to 4* in length, eye 3| to 3Jt in head. The maxillary scarcely reaches front of eye, and is 3 to 3 J times in head. 19. Leuciscus Uneatus (Girard). Tigoma Hneata Girard, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1856, 206. Type locality: Not definitely known, but probably somewhere in the Utah basin. Tigoma atraria Girard, 1. o., 208. Type locality : " A spring in the Utah district, near the desert." Tigoma obesa Girard, Proo. Acad. Nat. 8oi. Phila. 1856, 206. Type locality : Suit Lake Valley. Tigoma sqiiamaia Gill, Proc. Host. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861, 42. Typo locality: Salt Lake Basin. SguaJim cr«oreM» Jordan & Gilbert. Proo. U. S. Nat. Mas. 1880,400. Type locality : Utah Lake; young specimens. Squaliug rhomaleua Jordan & Gilbert, 1. c, 461. Type locality: Utah Lake; large specimens. £tge nurabor of aniil rays (13), and proceeded from that to the highest (20i). In the table which follows we have arranged the localities in order of elevation, beginning with the lowest. TabU ihowing the relalion of altitude to numler of anoX fln rayt in Leuciicue balteatUB, Looalltlu. Ii*ke Washington Uissiona Newaukiim Kivcr , Skookumcburk River TTmatillaa ITmatilla , Wallula Pasco I^ewiston Pemlleton Kaniloups a Potlatch Cri ok at Lewlston Meyers Falls Sicamous a Revels toko a Dart's Mills Griffin Lakea Spokane Kiver, Spokane. .. Hangman Creek, Spokann .. Newport Sand Point i^nake Kiver, Fayette Pavette River, Payel te . . . . CaldwnUa Caldwell Golden a La Grande a , Flathead Lake FostUreek , Silver Bow No. of Approxi- mate alti- Averaee No. o7 speci- mens on which avorngea tude. anal rays. ure based. 1 14 47 1 19 79 204 15 8 204 16 18 300 19 10 300 18 13 326 17 9 875 18 8 760 18 16 1,070 14 29 1,158 20| 3 1,200 17 4 1,200 14 21 1,300 17 58 1,475 14 1 1,B50 13 70 1,900 IS 14 1,B10 14 11 l,BIO IS 11 2,000 IB 8 2,100 15 9S 2,150 18 10 2,130 IS 154 2,872 18 84 2.373 16 es 2,550 16 18 2,78« IS 33 8,100 IS 11 8,100 1(H 6 t,844 14 U a TbekC data are from Dr. Blgenmann's paper. Comparing these with Eigenmann's results, it will be seen that the average nnmber of rays from onr lowest elevation (14 at Lake Washington) is fewer by 2 than the average from his highett elevation (16 at La Or.inde) and that car average for Newaukum River (204 feet elevation) is fewer than any average found by him except at Revelstoke (1,475 feet), whore his average is 11, and at Grifflu Lake (1,900 feet), where it is 15, The average found by us at sea level (Lake Washington) is identical with that found at Silver Bow,* whose elevation is 5,344 feet, the greatcMt elevation from which specimens have been examined. When there Ih absolutely no dift'erenoe between the averages for the lowest and the highest elevations it is not possible for us to see any reason for the generalization, "the higher the altitude tlie fewer the number of rays." If the figures show anything, they show that the number of anal (in lays docs not decrease with increasing altitade. It is also stated that the greatest range of variation is at the lowest altitudes, but further on it is stated that the "greatest variation in this [the Columbia] system was not at the lowest altitude, but at an elevation of 2,372 feet. ' The range here was found by him to be through 9, or from 12 to 20. We And the same range of variation (from 12 to 20) in our specimens from Payette (2,150 feet.) The range found at the point nearest sea level in the Columbia basin (at Umatilla, 300 feet) was only through 6 (15 to 20), and the average for that place is nearly identical with that at Caldwell. The vari- ation found by Eigeumann among his Mission specimens is through 0 (16 to 24), while that of our Lake Washington specimens is through 7 (12 to 18). The averages for these two places, both of whioli are at sea level, are 10 and 14, respectively. We consider Leuciscuf lateralis (Qirard) a simple synonym of L, balteatue. Our material covers well the type localities of both (Columbia River at Fort Vancouver and Fort Stoila- oooni on Pnget Sound) and indicates but one form. We are certainly not prepared to consider lateralis a subspecies of balteatue, occupying the same brook with its parent form, as indicated by Eigcnmauu. *Xr. pilii, probably a good ipeoias. 48 INVESTIOATIOISS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 22. Coregonns wlUlamBoni Girard. (Plate ix). Coregonut williamsoni Giraril, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1856, 136. Type locality: Des Chutes River, Oregon. Specimnns obtaii'td from the Payette Kiver at Paj stte, Idaho, 24 ; Clearwater River at Lewiston, Idaho, 7; Columbia River at Umatilla, Oreg., 1; Natchess River at North Yakima, Wash., 8; Newaukiim River at liehalis, VVasbingtoii, 4; Little Spokane River at Dart's Mill, Wash., 6; Flathead Lake, Montana, 2; Post Creek, St. Ignatius Mission, Montana,9; Clarke Fork at Thompson Foils, Mont., 1; Creek at Sand Point, Idaho, 5; Spokane River, Spokane, Wash., 1. Abundant and widely distributed throughout the Columbia and Upper Colorado and Missouri basins. Specimens of this flsh were obtained by Mr. Bean which are of unusual interest In that they show the breeding colors. Mr. Beau's report upon these specimens is given at the end of this paper. 23. OiicorhynchusgorbuBclia(Walbaum). Bumpback Salmon. The humpback salmon was ruuning in great abundance at the date of our visit to Puget Sound (August 26) and was the only species then being handled at the canneries. We were informed that the humpbacks did not run last year, and in corroboration of the fact that this species runs on the ^ id 11 alteraate years only, it is recalled that it did not appear in 1880, when one of us vibi.od this region. As is well known, tho female humpbacks are plump, symmetrical, silvery fishes of attractive appear- ance and good flavor. Aside from the traditional requirements as to color of flesh, the species is well adapted for^anuing purposes. No young of this species were found in the streams. 24. OucorhyncbuB keta (Walbaim). Dot/ Salmon. The young of the dog salmon were abundant in the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers at Chehalis, Wash. They average slightly smaller than young guinnats, and are readily distinguished by their larger eyes. They have 12 or 13 branchiostegal rays, 14 rays in the anal ftn, 130 to 135 scales in lateral linea, and 7 -f 13 gill-rakers. Llko the young quinnats, these were all nearly uniform in size, and were I'vidently young of the preceding year. 25. Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Walbaum). Quinnat Salmon. Only the young of the Columbia Itivor salmon were seen by us during our short investigation of the Columbia and the Snake. It had not yet reached its spawning beds on the Snake at the time of our visit, and the " close season " prevented its capture later in the lower river. Suoh facts as we weie able to ascertain concerning its run and spawning-gruunds are therefore based on interviews with fisbernien and others, a kind of testimony which must, in this case, be scrutinized with more than usual care. On the upper river it was repeatedly found that no distinction was seemingly made between the salmon and the steelhoad, aud of the two species of salmon that almost certainly spawn in the upper course of these streams, no distinctive accounts could be had. A " silver salmon" was, indeed, frequently mentioned, but we were unable to ascer- tain whether the fish thus distinguished was the female quinnat or the Mueback (0. nerka). As already indicated in our notes on the streams, salmon ascend the Snake River to and above the Lower and Upper Salmon Falls, and have important spawuing-beds in the main stream, botti above and below these falls. They are not known above the Auger Falls, and probably do not even reach the foot of the Great Shoshone. Tliey appear first in this portion of the river early in September, or occasionally in the latter part of August, at a time when the streams are so low that falls or dams which would form no barrier earlier in the season now keep tliem out from otherwise favorable spawning-beds. This fish is not much used for food in the upper waters. The remnants of the various Indian tribes make yearly visits to the spawning-beds and occasionally white men have tried to put them on the market, but without success. Great numbers, are, however, annually killed through mere love of destruc- tion. The advent of the salmon brings out from every town men and boys with pitchforks or other weapons, curious to see how many of these lisb they can destroy. It is to be held in mind that these localities in Idaho and in the eastern portions of Oregon and Wasliington are so remote from the canneries that the people have no interest whatever in the preservation of the salmon. We can not, therefore, depend upon public sentiment to enforce protective legislation. We give below such information as we possess coucuruiug the distribution of salmon in the Snake and Upper Columbia rivers. INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 4!) The principal tributaries of that jiortion of Snake River which is nccfvssihle to salnion are the following: .Salmon I'alls liivor or Salmon Creek, Malado River, lirunenu River, Owyhee Elver, Boise River, Payette River, Salmon River, Oraude Ronde River, Clearwater River, and Palouse River. Beyond the fact that the fish enter Salmon Crock and ascend it for a mile or more, we irere able to ascertain nothing concerning the value of thia stream. Malade River is efVectually shnt off by high falls near its mouth. Trout arc said to ascend the stream during high water in the spring, but it becomes inipussablo later. The stream often ^oes dry for a distance of many miles along the lower part of its course, and has also other impassable falls iu its upper course. Brnneau River was formerly an important stream for spawning salmon, which reached its head waters iu October, according to the statement of Mr. J. L. Fuller, of Bliss, Idaho. We »ro informed that a dam recently constructed iu the Lower Bruneau now wholly prevents the ascent of fish. The Owyhee River is still open to salmon, so far as oonld be learned ftom reports. Mr. J. L. Fuller has seen them in the extreme head waters of the Owyhee in Nevoda. Boise River, like the Brnneau, was formerly a salmon stream, but is now partly or entirely closed by a dam near Caldwell, and is unsuitable by placer mining in the upper part of the stream. The Payette, Salmon, and Clearwater rivers are all available spawning-grounds for the animon, and we learned of uo obstructions in these streams. The Qrande Ronde River is ascended as far as La Grande, where a dam obstructs further progress. A high falls at the mouth of the Pulouse River prevents the ascent of salmon. The principal streams and lakes tributary to the Columbia River above the month of the Snake are: Yakima River, Wenatchee River, Chelan Lake, Okanagan River, Spokane River, Little Spokane River, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Colville River, Kettle River, and Feud d'Oroi'^ ~ River and its numerous tributary streams and lakes. Up to 1885 the Yakima River was visited by three or four species of salmon, including the quinnat, in great numbers. Important ipawning-beds were located in the bed of the strram; but In recent years but few salmon have made their appearance in this river. No artiticial obstructions have been interposed, and the ileoline can hardly be due to any change in the character of the stream. We were not able to visit Chelan Lake and Wenatchee and Okanagan rivers, and do not know to what extent salmon frequent these waters. Spokane River, below the falls, was formerly an important salmon stream containing large spawning-beds, but salmon are nirely seen there now. The steelhcad still occurs in considcrab)^ numbers iu the Spokane. The Little Spokane, as alrcAdy stated elsewhere, was visited by salmou in great numbers in 1882 and previous years, but since 3882 the number has been very few. Salmon have never been able to roacli Cosurd'Alene Lake, Spokane Falls apparently having proved an effective barrier to their ascent. Only the few milc3 of Colville River below Meyers Falls can be reached by salmou, and it is certain that this was formerly an important spawning-ground. The portion of Colville River above the falls would prove excellent for salmon, but Meyers Fails form an absolute barrier. Kettle River flows into the Columbia from the west, just above Kettle Falls. It was not visited by us, and we were not able to get any reliable information regarding it. The Pend d'Oreille River and the numerous important streams and lakes tributary to it have been discussed elsewhere in this paper. The occurrence of salmon in Kettle River and the lower part of the Peud d'Oreille is dependent upon their ability to ascend Kettle Falls. That (.alniou formerly reached and ascended the Lower Kettle Foils seems pretty well estab- lislied; but whether they have ever passed the Upper Kettle Falls is not so certain. The Upper Falls, upon exomination, do not appear to be as formidable as the Lower. The fact that so little evidence could be secured regarding the occurrence of salmon in any of these waters renders it highly probalild tliat at no time have they ever ascended in any considerable numbers above the Uppe*: Kettle Falls. S. Mis. 200 i •i 4 50 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA UIVEB BASIN. il While it is tnio that tliu salmou are sliut out by falls and dams from a large area of the Cnliiiiibia and especially the Snake River l)aHins, and while it is also true that the limitations are increasing as streams become useful for irrigation piirposes iind for mining, it is never- theless cortiiin that the decrease in tlie numbers of salmon, due to ill-regulated tishing in the lower Columbia, has so far outstripiied the deircase in area of spawniug-beds that the latter are now more thim ample for all the fish that appear. We do not, therefore, believe that increasing the spawning-grounds through the removal of obstructions would materially benefit the salmon industry. In our judgment, the streams can be repopulatcd only by regu- lating the fishing in the lower Columbia and at the same time increasing the output from the hatcheries. The young of this species wore taken iu aliundance at the mouth of the Natchess River, near North Yakima, Wash., and in the Pataha Eivei at Starbuck, Wash. The largest indi- vidual seen was 88 mm. long, the 8nuille.it 55 mm. ; the average is nliout 70 mm. These are evidently the young of the previous year, and their uniformity in size indiciites clearly that all pass out of the brooks to the sea, or at least to the deeper river channels, during the first and second years. We count in these young specimens 1.S3 to 140 scales in the lateral line, 16 or 17 branchiostegal rays, 7 •^- 12 gill-rnkers, and 15 or 16 rays in the anal fin. 26. Salmo gairdneri Richardson. Steelhead. Tlie steelhciid is an abundant fieh iu the larger streams of the Columbia basin, especially about Spokane and the mouth of tL'e Fend d'Oreille. Sev- eral fine examples of This fish were taken with the sjioon by Mr. U. A. Beau in September, 1892, near Spokane. These were called "saluHm" by the residents, and Mr. Dean is of the opinion that most, if not all, the "salmon" which they take by trolling are really not salmon, but the steelhead. Mr. Bean was also told that the " salmon" about the mouth of the Pend d'Oreille and Salmon rivers are taken by trolling, and it is quite likely that these also aro steelheads, 37. Salmo mykisB (Walbaum). liocky Mountain Trout; "iSa-pcn-f/iie" of Fort Hall Indians. A very large serie, i of trout from the Columbia basin has been examined and from widely separated localities. Specimens were not preserved in every rase, but an examination was made of trout from tlie following places: Snake River at Idaho Falls; Ross Fork and Mink Creek near Poratello; Liftle Wood River at Shoshone; Pataha River at Starbuck; Little ^Bpokone silver at Dart's Mill; LakeCceurd'Alcne; Lake Pend d'dieille at Sand Point; Pend d'Oreil'e Risfer at various places between Newpo"-*. and the mouth of Salmon River; month of Criville River; Newaukum River at Chehalis; ' ■ ^en River at Hot Springs. With every additional collection of black-':,...ed trout it becomes increasingly difficult to recognize any of the distinctions, speci'.ic or subspecific, which have been set up. Tht present collection adds not a little to the Jiffleulty. We are now convinced that the greater number of the "subspecies" of S. viykins have no sufficient foundation. We find our speci- mens from the Upper Snake River (Ross Fork and Mink Creek at Pocatello) to be typical mykiit, having small scales, in 176 to 180 transverse rows, aud a deep red dash on inner side of mandible. The spots are most abundant posteriorly, ind the specimens ore scarcely to be distinguished from th<: so-called Salmo mykiss pleuritiviia of the Colorado River. When taken in the larger river channels the fish is lighter colored, with finer spots and fainter red mark on lower jaw. Between such typical mykies and the form represented in our collection frort such coastwise streams as the Newaukum River at Chehalis, Wash., there seems to be a widn difference. The latter has conspicuously larger scales (in 120 to 130 cross rows) and nn red streak on lower jaw. The sea-run individuals of this latter kind we believe to be the ■tcelhead (<8. gairdneri), and between it and the mykiii we are now unable to draw any sharp line. Thus the Wood River specimens have fine scales (150 to 163 transverse rows) aud usually no red dash under the jaw. Some specimens show traces of the latter, and in such it is usually faint and irregular. From the Umatilla River at Pendleton, the Natchess Elver at North Yakima, and the Pataha River at Starbuck the scales are intermediate in size, ranging from 142 to 163 in number, averaging perhaps 148. In these the lower jaw shows no red. Specimens from the Cuiur d'Alene region have the red dashes usually very distinct, but vary greatly in size of scales. Wardnor examples look much like typical mykiga, with 165 to 170 scales. From Occur d'Alene Lake we find 130 to 106, with the average abont 145, while from the Little Bpokane Biver at Dart's Mill specimens with conspicuous red dash o.:i mandibles have the INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER KA8IN. 51 ■cales avoraRin^ 125 in nniiiber. Trout from the Green River at Hot Springs, Wash,, and from the Newaiiltum River ut Ciiolmlis have also 123 to 130 Hralcs. Wo tliiiilt it not nnlikd.v that the coastwise form xhoiilil be recopiizeil an Salmo mykiss ijairdneri, tlioiigh the qiiuHtiou Ib sadly in need of systi'iiiatic, and tliorousli iiivcsti^ation. The Fort Hall Indians call thetront Sa-pen-ijue, whicli, tlioy say, means good fith, 28. Salvelinus malma (Walbiiiim). Chm-r; "Salmon Trout;" "Bull Troiil." Salmo malma Walbanin, Arti-di Pisciiiin, 66, 1792. Type locality: Kamnhntka. Abundant in the Pend d'Oreille River. At La Clairns we siiw in the possession of an Indian several flue specimens, the largest of which was 26 inolios long, 11 inches in greatest circumference, and weighed 5 pounds and 1 ounce ; the length of the liead was 6 indies. The people along the river know this flsh as the "charr," while in Montana, from Flatlicad Lake to Missoula, it is called " salmon trout" or ''bull trout." One example was obtained by Bean and Woolinan from Lake Pend d'Oreille. One specimen of 3 pounds weight was seen at North Yakima, which liad been caught in ttie Natchess River. iSalreliiiui malma has not yet been found in the Snake River, and it is doubtful if it occurs in that basin above the falls. The only Salvelinut yet known in that basin is from Henry Lake, and was identiflcd by Ur. Bean as S. namaycusk. 29. Columbia transmontana Eigenmann & Eigenmann. Columbia transmontana Eigenmann & Eigenmann, Scieuce, October 21, 1892. Type locality \ Umatilla River, at Umatilla, Oregon. Seventy-three specimens of this very interesting species were obtained in the Walla Walla Klver at Walliila, Wash., August 23, 1893, by Messrs. Tlioburn and Rutter. Tlie largest specimen measnres 3|^^ inches in total length. Diligent search was made lor this lish at the locality where the t,vpe& were obtained, bnt none was found. The specimens taken at Wallula were found in only one place, about 250 feet below tlie railroad bridge, on the edge of a large patch of Chara and in water about 3 feet deep, wlu'ro the bottom was soiuewhat muddy. The temperature of the water here was 70° at 11 :30 n. m., when the air was 80°. Measurements of the larger specimens give the following results: Head, 3^ to 3}; depth, 8J to 3}; eye, 31; snout, 3. D. ii, 9; A. ii, 6; V. 8; P. 10 to 12. Scales 9-43-8. Ground color pale straw-color, profusely covered with fine dark-brown specks which form irregular blotches along the course of the lateral lino and on median line of back, there being 1 at anterior base of dorsal and 3 or 4 on the cuudiil ))eduncle; head with fine dark spots on sides; dorsal, anal, and caudal barred with dark, Dorsal and anal spines strong; the first dorsal spine short, less than lengtli of eye, the second mucli longer, ns lung as from tip of snout to middle of pupil; first anal spiue scarcely as long as first dorsal; secon'^. anal spine about one-third length of head; longest dorsal rays about 11 in head ; those of anal shorter. 30. Oasterosteus mlcrooephalus Qirard, Abundaut m the Walla Walla River at Wallula, in Lake Washington, and in Skookumchuck River near Cliehalis, Wash.; not seen elsewhere by ns. Specimers t.akon were found to be extremely variable in the extent to which lateral shields are developed. In a considerable proportion the plates are developed along the entire length of sides of body and the caudal peduncle is sharply keeled. Others have but 4 or 5 plates developed, the caudal peduncle being then without trace of carina. Between these extremes are all possible intermediate conditions, thus establishing a series comjiarable with that recently reported on by Dr. Q. A. Boulenger as occurring in the common European species. 31. Cottus asper (Richardson). A single specimen, 145 mm. long, from the Walla Walla River at Wallula, Wash., aud two small specimens from Lake Washington. The dorsals contain 9 spines and 21 rays, aud are slightly connected at base. Soft dorsal high, the longest ray 21 ' in length of head, the posterior rays reaching base of caudal. Anal fin with 17 rays; pec- torals, 16. Interorbitttl space very wide, equaling diameter of eye, not concave. Prickles coarser and less closolj crowded than In the Sacramento Rivor specimens, distinctly visible without the aid of a lens, and directed upwards and backwards. The lateral line is complete, without abrupt angle under last dorsal rays, and contains 38 pores. Anus separated from first anal ray by a space equaling two-thirds diameter of orbit. Band of palatine teeth weak. Anterior nostril in a short tube. The coarser prickles, more anterior position of vent, and flatter interorbital space probably indicate that C. atper is separable, at least subspeolflcally, from the Sacramento Birer form. Material is not now at hand to settle this point. 52 INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMUIA BIVEB BASIN. 32. UottUB rbotheuB (Rosa Smith). Thin NtronKly-marked species is abundant in the Spokane region, and was taken at the following HtutionH: Little Spukauc Kiver at Uart's Mill near Siiukane, and lit C'huttaruy, Wash. J Columbia Kiver at Colvillo, Wash; C: Sdimijri Fnhertt-s uf \t\v Cuiunium Rivbj, i T u tatu page 6.V] PUATt VIII. __ ^^J^^M^, F,g I. COTTUS PERPLEXUS, ip. nov, iTy|KM skii,,kiiini-ljiii'k liivfi-, ('hiMiiilis. WasliiiiKliM], Fig. 2. COTTUS LEIOPOMUS, sp "'>v. lTy|)C.i I.ittlii W 1 Riv.T. Slmshnnn. lc',ahii If 18 INVKbTlUATlUNH IN THE COLUMBIA RIVKK BAHIN. 53 i DoHcriptioii : Uoad, Z\ ; i1e|itb,4i; uve,4; tDoat,4; iuterorliital width, 6^. D. vii,21; A. ir>; P. 16; V. I, 4. Least depth of caudal peduncle greater than luout, 3| In head; interorbltnl ■pace rather broad, about 1^ in eye. The body in deeper and Diore comprewed than in any other apecioa known to ns, thin being Mpecially noticeable posteriorly; the caudal peduncle is very bhort and deep, and Ih entirely overlapped by the poxterior dorHal rays which extend beyond base of caiidiil tin. Length of caudal peduncle from base of last dorsiil ray about ( depth of same. Depth of boily at origin of anal fln } length of head. Interorbital space slightly concave; occiput flat or tranHvcrsiOy oonves. Mouth obliixue, the maxillary reaching vertical fVom posterior margin of pupil, 2| in bead. Teeth in a very narrow crescentio band on vomer, none on palatines. Upper prooper- ealar spine short and broad, curved or itimply directed upward; below this two stout, blunt ■pines directed downward. Body, in the type specimen, entirely naked; lateral line incom- plete, not reaching end of soft dorsal. Spinous dorsal low, the longest spinea not greater than length of snout; soft flna all high, the 15th dorsal ray equal to suout and eye ; a broad membraiie always connecting the two dnrHiilM, the notch iuconspicnous. Last rays of anal as well as dorsal extend beyond base of caudal; first anal ray under third ray of soft dorsal; ventral spine and rays slender and weak. Anus midway lietweeu base of caudal fin and front of eye Color in alrohid, back and sides with vermiculations of light and dark, the back with 6 or 6 ill-deHned black crossbars, which usually reach the lateral line; the usual black bar at base of caudal, emarginate posteriorly; below the lateral line a number of small, quadrate, dark blotches, arranged in two irregular series; lower parts unmarked except with doe dark puuctu- lations; dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins orossbarrod with dark; aual and ventraU with numerous small dark specks. Length, 91 mm. The co-types show that this species is subject to some variations which should be men- tioned. Head, 3 to 3^; depth, 4^ to 4^. D. vil or viu, 18 to 21; A. 14 to 16; P. 14 to 16. While the body is usually entirely naked, there U occasionally an axillary band of prickles, sonetinies supplemented by a single irregular series of prickles along base of the dorsal tin. T jo notch in the membrane connecting the dorsals is usually inconspicuous. In some exntnples the black crossbars on the back do not roach the lateral line. The small, quadrate, dark blotches l)elow tho lateral line are sometimes arranged in a single series parallel with base of anal, sometimes in two irregular series. The following table gives the fln formula in a number of individuals of this species : Locality. Dorsal spines. Dorsal r»ys. Anal rays. No. of iip«ciint*ns eiamiued. vn. vm. 18 19 20 21 " 15 IS Skooknmohtick River s ( 4 10 % 1 4 2 1 A 8 8 1 ...... 3 1 S 1 2 6 8 3 1 1 1 13 28 6 NAtoheu KivBT ........... From Cottut punotulatui, which it most closely resembles, this species may be distinguished by its deeper body, more elongate anal fln, the broad union between the dorsals, the absence >.>'u.'i of palatine teeth, and the did'erent coloration. 35. Cottns leiopomua sp. nov. (Xrior, smooth; iru/ia, cover, opercle.) (Plate via.) Type locality : Upper Little Wood River, Shoshone, Idaho, whore 2 specimens were col- lected, September, 1893, by Mr. H. H. Kinsey. Type, No. 45389, U. 8. Nat. Mus. Co-type, No. IIISI, Musenm Loland Stanford Junior University. Related to Cottui philonipt. Head, 3J ; depth, 5i ; eye, 4j ; snout, 3^ ; interorbital width, 7i; D. vii-17; A. 12; P. 13; V. 1,4. Least depth of caudal peduncle about equal to length of snout; interorbital space very narrow, much less than diameter of eye; mouth small, maxillary reaching vertical fron. middle of eye, a wide strip visible laterally in the closed mouth. Preopercnlar spines entirely absent, <<■! 1- ,' the preopercnlar margin evenly rounded throughout, without prominence, and without the least trace of a spine. 54 INVEsTIOATIOiVS K-f TUF COLUMBIA RIVKK BASIN. VimxT with .1 rcry narrow liiuirt o' ti-eth; p»l".tinc8 iinlifd; «kiii whoUv naked, InU-nil line "omplctd. Dor^inl (inn imt joiiitMl iirili-st* Btcxtn-iiie lm«p; fiii» iill Imv. tlit^ peed. nils l)iirit e( nrscly Bpoilid or blodhed as in philoiiijit; dornal barn indistiui't; two narrow hlaok lin<» ilownward and liaokword from tlie eye; an evenly oonvex dark bar at base of oandnl dorsalH, pectorals, and cyndal faintly crossbarrod. Len ,'t!i HI mm. The /«t'Cond specimen, which is 71 mm. long, agrees cUtsely in every respect with the tj pe. This species in very closely reJati'd to Co((u» philnnipn, from wriich il ditVcru only in the total ubsenre of iii y preo])t'rcular spine. In both specimens, and on each hiilc, the |)rcopcr- ciilft ' margin is <•! .'irely rounilcd thronf^hont, without any prominence and without thi- least trace of a spine, 't iicems very imnrob.ible thai the two should ajfrce in bi in^ merely abnor- mal in tliis rrapect, and we are forced to conclude that u form exists which "'s peculiar to the Mulad,") K .■cr, a stream othcrwiso remarkable in its ichthyologic features. 36. CottuB phi'oijipii F.iKBnmann. !a!H i:., .TiC v;ns projiosed an a substitute for Colluii miiniliia Pallas, s\ippo8cd to be pre- I'ocupied, and Coitus Jnlcmiilomuii (Lockington;, not of Hicclce'. Th" first mentioned is perfectly available, but was applied to a speuimcn from the island of 'I'aiek, near Tanisk, in the Okhotsk Ben. It is very doubtfvil; therefore, whether C. iniiiuliis should be UBed for any American spccioH in ailvance of conipiirinon with the Siberian form. From the Aleutian laland species (C. microslomuu I.orkinjfton), C. ]ihiloni]>' dirtVrs in numy important res|)ects, and is undoubtedly dis*tiiic.'. Thus the Alaskan form hiis the posterior nostrils in short but ccnspicuouB tubes, the prorliital i rod need into a lobe which conceals all of the maxillary eice|)t tho extreme tip, ar.i tl:e dorunl tin with 8 or 9 spines and \'^ to 20 30ft rays. Cottiit pliilonips is ;>. •" <•.'■'■ headed form, typically with (terfectly smooth skin and nnarmcd palatines. T.ike mi , other species of the genus It occaidonally develops a band of postaxillary jirickles, which are often accompanied in the snine »i)ecimeii8 by a small f teh of eeth on the palatine bones. The head is less strongly armed than usual, the single p.eopercular spine beiiii^ short, the preopercular margin otherwi.se wholly unurnu'd. In this re.spcot C. philonips dilVers from all other western species of Coitus, excoi)t the Alaskan form above "rcatioued, The dorsal varies from vii or viii, 16 to 18 j the anal from 12 to 14. The nostrils are ■without tubes, and i.he prcorbitni little produced, erposiug the greater part of maxillary In closed nioutn. Specimens were obtained in the Port Neuf River near I'oentello, at Snnqnnlniie Falls, and in a spring branch cnii>tying into tlie South Fork of tho Ciour d'Alene River, near Ward- ner, Idaho. We have also seen Hpecinnns t.'iken from Birch Creek, in wesleru Idaho, by Merriam and ISailey. 37. CottUB rcargiuatuB Hean. Six small .,pceimenH from Mill Creek at Walla Walla (the type locality of marffinatiiii) »gTCi! with Bean's description and diirer from all other western .specimens of Coitus which wo have spc.i in having but three sr)ft rays in the ventral (ins. So far as can be ascertained from our very immature specimens, .narfiiunliit strongly resembles pirpicrui, with which it agrees in fin rays, naked skin, the incomplete lateral line, and the absence of palatii'e teeth. C. perpUruH has constantly 4 soft rays in the ventral fins, and other differinces may appear when conipired with adult speeimeiis. In our Rpeeimens of marf/inaluii, the anus varies in jiosition, being sometimes nearer base of caudal fin than snout, sometimes nearer snout. Twenty-two •mall specimens, coll"' ted by Hcaa and Woolimm at Sand Point, Idaiio, are for tho pronent referred to tins npeciuu, though we aie not certain that this idtmtilicatiou is corrects, Tho veutrals 1 jcin to be t, 3, bitt the body is more or les* covered with priukles. I R ... (T.i ■ MM F.a 1 CATOSTOMUS POCATELLO. .,. - . T.M..- l:..s., i-.,r-U ,.r Sn..k,- l!n .r r.KUI.-ll. .,.*?«' /J //J. F.g. .' AGOSIA UMATILLA. s|. riov. (T.VIXM ('■■lillnliiii liiv..|-. I'm II Mill, (Irru-ciM ^ ; f. \tl ^s^^-^tv: Fib 3 COREISDNUS WILLIAMSON! Gira. if Mr iiliit liii.l.. I.iltl.. S|.,.lot quite li iiu-lies; it is • mnAf rtfMl was taken in Little Spokane River uear Clark Springs, October 5, 1892. / otlict examide, a littlelarger (12^inches), was obtained by Mr. A. J. Woolman ij9 t\w little Hpokane, in September, 1892. The tubercles on this specimen are well lf«Mierv«d, those ou the former having disappeared owing to exposure to the air and j^iimiHfig while being drawn. M* W^fo'man's example has the following characters: D. 13; A. 13. Scales 10-80-10. IlKft^, V "fopth, 4. Adipose fln very long, the length of its base being contained 2J tKiMs IB the head's length. Color as in the preceding. So far a» we are aware the breeding whiteflsh, of any species, has not been here- tofore (leHcrit>ed in America. In Fauna des Vertebres de la Suisse, volume v, Hist. Nat. des Poissons, Geneve, 1890, Dr. Victor Fatio presents the following note on the breeding colors of Ooregonua exiguuH of Switzerland: Adult males differ from the femalea by a more Blender body, larger head, stouter niiiz/.le of snout, the greater dovolopniont of the paired flns, espociully the peotoriils, and during the hruoding season by a mnre intenae ooliii':.tion, ulno by the stronger and more numerous opidermia buttons, and some- times by the more strongly arched scales ou the lat<'ral line. It is unfortunate 'I. ^t we failed to secure female fish. The whiteflsh were very abuniens were secured. The richness of reptilian life on the sandy (h)oi of tlie valley <'<)ntrastcd strongly with the reverse condition on the lava pluins immediately bordering the valley and but a few hundred feet above it. 1. CrotaptiytuB wisllzenii Uaird & Uirard. Two full-grown Hpeciincnscollbcted iu thr bottoTb landtt of the SuiiUo River near Bliss, Idaho, August 8. With the ox( ei-tion of Ct.emidophorus Ui,ri», Oiis wax tlin tno^tt ahiiMilaut spucit'S obgurv \d. 2. nta Btansbtiriana Itainl Sc Uirard, A sitiglu badly mutilated specimen from Snake Rirarbott.inis, near Hlis«, takun August 8. The speries was not rare, and was usually obstrvod i u rockN. 3. Sceloporus gracioaus Uaird & Giranl. Kix stiociuKtis from mar I'oi'atiillii, Idaho, Augnei,3; two spociuieuH fioiu near Idaho Falls, Idaho, Augusts; three spnimcus from near U-natilla, Oreg., August 11. 1 Ills s]>('(th among the roavNer 1 .inalt and on the finer i^uiid^ and gravels, 4 Phrynosoma douglaisii (Dell). This pygmy horned toad seemed by no means abundant. The largest Bpociin<'n,(i8 inin, long, was taken at Pocatello, Idaho, August'!. Two other specimens ■were captured: one on the Clearwater Kiver, 7 miles above Lewiston, Augutt 15; the other at North Yukima, Wash,, August 23. IWKSTIOATIONS IN Till: <'OI,l!MlUA UIVKK hASIN. 57 5. PhryiiOBoma platyrhinos liirard. One specinn'ii froiii IIJiHH, Iilaho, AiiKiiHt H; tvro— 4 iiinlr iiimI a foniiilc — from th« lava plainK betwtn'ii SIiohIiduo and thp Snuko Uivrr, Aii);iii*t 7. In tln' jiittiT linulity llic RpBcii'H WHS abundnnt. Tlio two specimen* llnTc itoc-nnd Imvi- lliv nci ic» oi eiilai'ticd giilars almost obsoletfl, it beioK reprt'SciitiMl on each »iif;Io Hpecirae.n \rus eollectcd near liliss, Idaho, An);iirt H. I'liis aeemg not to dill'cr from Owen's valley BpoolmenH, and wo therefore follow Or. Stejno;;er in the nse of the above name. 7. Thamuopbis vagrans (Uatrd & Olrard). Altliongh the six Ki>rt«r snakes bron^lit in liy the expedition show considerable color variation, they nn(|nestionably represent a single speeies. They were collected at the following localities: 1 8peii«?en, 8and I'oinf, Maho, Angnst 7; 2 specimens, Clearwater Kiver near Lewiston, Idaho, August 15; I specimen, I'otlalch I'reek near Jnliaetta, Idaho, Angust 16; lspucimeu,Wbrduer,Idi< ho, August IS; I specimen, Unuit ilia, Oregon, August 23. 8. Thani'iopbla slttalia parietalis (.Say). One specimen of this variety was obtained ou the Little Spokane Uivcr near Spokane, in September, 1892, by Mr. A. .1. Woolman. 9. Crotalus lucifer Haird & (Jirard. A single spjcinien taken on t'le Snake Kiver between I'w in Falls and Shoshone Kalis, Idaho. The rattler in said to be not abundant in that vicinity. 10. Dlemyctylus torosus (Kscb). Two specimeus found in Skookumchuck Hiver near Chehalis. Wash , August 28. 11. Bufo columbieusis Itaird &. Oirard. One young specimen, Umatilla, Oregou, August 23, and one adult, Pocatello, Idaho, Augnst 3. 12. Hyla regllla Baird & Girard. One specimen, Cliehalie, Wash., August 28. 13. Rana aurora Baird & Girard. Four specimens from Skookumchuck River near Chehalis, Wash., Aug.i8t 28. 14. Rai^a pretiosa Baird & (-irard. Seven speoimenH, Sand Point, Idaho, August 7; 1 specimen, Pendleton, Oreg., August 12; li specimens. ( I'Ifax, Wash., August 17; 1 rpecimou, Little Spokane Kiver, Dart's Mil., Washington, Auciist 18; 4 specimens, Cu'ur d'Alene, Idaho, August 21 ; 5 rfpecimen. Post (^reek, Montana, September 18, 1892; 1 specimen, Thompson Falls, Montana, September 19, 1892, 6 spetnmens. Hand Point, Idaho, September L'O, 1892; 7 speci- mens. Little Spokaae River. Spokane, Wash., September, 1892; 3 specimens, Clurk bpring. Spokane, Wash., October 5, 1892. 15. Rana pipiens braobyoepbala (Cope). One specimen of this bandsonu< frog was secured in the Boise Hiver, at Caldwell, Idaho, Augusts. The collection made by Messrs. Ilean and Wool- mau contains three specimens £com Post Creek, Montana (September 18), and one from Sand Point, Idaho (September 20). SjlTon F shefie* of Uie Cmurro-j Rv^r ( Tti »ii# pi^e 58 i Plail X. SPOKANE FALLS. SPOKANE, WA'='HlNGTON PART OF THE UPPEf? FALLS. \± ■ Salmon F.ihmpj ol th^ C'l-uT^h-.n R'vpf (To ficp p5Vf SB ) Pi »TC XI. o s s o z o S.lln Salmon Fuhentt of th# Coiumb-a R'»«' » To f«c« pm^ 58 PLATt XII IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4 ^ 1.0 I.I •» Itt 12.2 J4 125 |,.4 |,.6 ^ 6" ► p^ V) /. ''? >' o / /A Hiotographic Sciences Cbrporation 33 WIST MAIN STRHT WIBSTIR.N.Y. USIO (716)S72-4S03 '■fv* Salmon F r \h Salmon Fithariet of Ihs Columbia River. (To face page 58.) PLATE Xm. MVERS FALLS, COLVILLE RIVER TOTAL DESCENT ABOUT 80 FEET. LOWEF. "SETTLE FALLS COLUMBIA RIVER