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Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont DBS signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd A partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagas ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. rrata o }elure. D 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 2.--A REP( BA: Duriflg of investiga tbe improve Paciflo Ooai accomplisbe (liate direct: of biology a biology in t expert of tb of tbe Uuiti Invest! Redfish lak d'Oreille, I Messrs. M( Evermann, tributary t Sammamis Meek; (8) at Upper ] Oregon, b^ Durin recipients of wbom \ Especial n Brotbers salmoucai Mr. Willij Leonard C Itwai ally good botb lorn and a con Septembt tions of tl the Bulle 2.-A REPORT UPON SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN AND ELSEWHERE ON THE PACIFIC COAST IN 189G. By barton warren EVERMANN and SETH EUGENE MEEK. Duriflg the seasou of 1896 the United States Fish Commission con'luctert a number of investigations in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, having for their general purpose the improvement and extension of the fish-cultural operations of the Commission on the Paciflo Coast. The speclflc object of each inciuiry, the details of the work, and results accomplished are given in the following jjiiges. The work was under the imme- diate direction of Professor Evermann, assisted by Dr. S. E. Meek, associate professor of biology and geology in Arkansas State University; Mr. Ulysses O. Cox, professor of biology in the State Normal School at Mankato, Minn.; Mr. A. IJ. Alexander, fishery expertof the Fish Commission steamer Albatross; Mr. W.F.Hubbard, supei'ntendeut of the United States fish-hatchery at Clackamas, Oregon, and Mr. Alfred C Maddren. Investigations were carried on in ten diflereiit regions, as follows: (1) At the Redflsh lakes in Idaho, by Messrs. Evermann, Meek, and Maddren; (2) at Lake Pend d'Oreille, Idaho, by Messrs, Alexander and Cox; (3) al; Wallowa Lake, Oregon, by Messrs. Meek and Maddren; (4) on tributaries of the Lower Columbia, by Messrs. Evermann, Meek, an( Hubbard, and by Messrs, Alexander and Cox; (5) on streams tributary to Pnget Sound, by Messrs. Alexander and Cox; (0) at Lakes Washington, Sammamish, and Union, by Mr. Alexander; (7) on the Siuslaw Elver, Oregon, by Dr. Meek; (8) on Whoahink, Tsiltcoos, and Tahkeniteh lakes, Oregon, by Dr. Meek; (9) at Upper Klamath Lake, by Messrs. Meek and Alexander; and (10) at Crater Lake, Oregon, by Messrs. Evermann and Cox. During the progress of this work the representatives of the Commission were the recipients of material assistance and many acts of courtesy from various citizens, to all of whom we are glad to acknowledge our indebtedness and to express our thanks. Especial mention should be made of Mr. G. H. Stevenson, Vancouver, Wash.; Seufert Brothers and Mr, I. H. Taffe, salmon can ners at Celilo, Oregon; Mr. Frank Warren, salmou-canner at Portland; Captain Steers, of the steamer Lillian, Fie' nee, Oregon; Mr. William Kyle and Messrs. Elmore & Sanborn, salmon-canners at i-lorence; Mr. Leonard Christiauaon, of Acme, Oregon, and Mr. Scott Morris, of Ada, Oregon. THE REDFISH LAKES, IDAHO. It was found in 1894 that these lakes and their connecting streams attbrded unusu- ally good facilities for the stutly of the spawning habits of the chinook salmon and both forms of the so-called redflsh. The matter was taken up in the following year and a continuous series of observations was carried on at those lakes from July 17 to September 24, A detailed account of those observations, together with full descrip- tions of the physical features of the region, may be found in the published report, in the Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission for 189G, pp. 149-202. 15 16 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The investigations of 1895 resulted in the following conclusions concerning a number of importiint questions regarding these fishes, viz: 1. The Chinook salmon resoiting to the headwaters of Salmon River for spawning purposes reach the spawning-grounds in perfect condition, so far as shown by external a])pearances, no mutilations nor injuries of any kind having been seen. The many sores and mutilations seen upon them later In the season result from injuries incident to spawning, are received on the spawning-beds, and are not due to injuries received en route from the sea. 2. After spawning, the chiuook salmon coming to these waters die in the vicinity of the spawning-beds. 3. The young chinook salmon remain about one year in the streams where they were hatched before beginning their. journey to the sea. 4. The large red fish are identical with the blueback salmon, or sockeye(Oncorhyn- chu8 nerka), and come up from the sea, as do the chinook salmon. They reach the spawning-beds in perfect condition, are mutilated there during the spawning season, and then die, never returning to the sea. 5. The small redflsh sjtawn at the same time and on the same beds with the large redOsh. They arrive upon the spawning-bcds in apparently perfect condition, but soon become mutilated, just as do the large form and the chinook salmon, and then dii- without returning even to the lake. 6. Eggs of the small redfish laid in September in the inlet to Alturas Lake began hatching on the 2l8t of March following. V. The young redfish remain in Alturas Lake at least one year from the time when they were spawned. The investigations of 1895 left unanswered, however, some of the most important and interesting questions concerning the redfish. It was not possible to determine when the large redflsh arrives at the Idaho lakes, nor whether the small form is really anadromous. Both forms were already in Alturas Lake before the nets were set in the outlet, on July 20. The importance of settling these questions, if possible, and the desirability of repeating and verifying the observations of 1895, justified the continuance of the work another season. Alturas Lake was, therefore, again visited in the summer of 1890. Oarai) was established July 1 1 on the outlet of Alturas Lake, at the ford about li miles below Perkins Lake. On account of unusually high water it was impossible to set the gill nets satisfactorily until July 17. On July 22 the camp was moved to the head of Alturas Lake and a gill net was placed across the inlet at its mouth. The net at the ford was taken up August 0 and reset in the outlet between Perkins and Alturas lakes, thus making it more easily reached from the camp. It remaineil in this place until September 25, whea it was taken up and not reset again. Sedfish began to come into the inlet August 3. After that date the net was kept in place only at irregular intervals until August 14, when it was taken up. High wafer.— The spring of 1890 was an unusually late oik n Idaho. The snows of the preceding winter were much deeper than usual and were slow in disappearing in the spring. Rains were also uncommonly frequent, even late in the spring and during the first half of summer, the last of importance occurring August 0. A very hard rain fell on the night of August 3, resulting in a perceptible rise in the streams. On Jnly 11 the streams were much higher than at the same time the year before. Salmon River and Alturas Creek were overflowing their banks in many places; much of the valley rtbo\ about July outlet conh water ran ( only slight) Tempct stances per camp on t kept hangi ill the creel The te the head o lake whert front of oi SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMIUA UIVKR BASIN IN 18%. 17 BFiiing a B valley above Alturas Lake was from a few iiielies to H feet under water. Not until about July 2'2 was it possible to reach the head of the lake with a wayon, and the outlet could not safely be forded earlier tiiaii tliat date. After July 14, however, the water ran down very rapidly, and dining August and September Alturas Creek was only slightly higher than in 1895. TemperaturfH. — Temperature observations were made as regularly as circum- stances permitted. The records for .hily 11 to July 21, inclusive, are those made at the camp on the outlet of Alturas Ijake. The thermometer for air temperatures w s kept hanging in the shade on a tree at the camp; the water temperatures were taken in the creek at the camp in water about a foot deep. TrmperatKres revorikd ut ihv oiillel of AUiintH Lake, Idaho, •liilij 11 to ,'JI, 1S06, Datxi. Ucmr. Air. ■riily 11 ; 12 < \ I 13 i 14 16 10 8 p. III. . 8 II. m.. 12 111... 8 p. ill.. 8 11. III.. 12111... 8 |i. III.. 8 a. Ill . . 12 m... 8 p. 111.. 8 a.m.. 12 III... 8 p. 111.. 8 a. Ill . . 12 m ... 8 p. lu.. V. 02 .59 71 .52 52 00 55 ,58 70 62 03 71 01 liO 74 04 Water. Date. OF. 58 • July 17 56 58 i 55 18 53 55 63 19 53 58 !)4 20 54 57 50 21 ou 59 50 Hour. 8 n. Ill 12 III 8 p. in 8 n. Ill 12m 8 p. Ill 8 n. m 12 Ml 8 p.m 8 a. Ill 12.30 p. Ill H.lfi p. Ill . 8.20 a. Ill . 12111 8 p. m — Air. Water. ' OF. OF. 1 ,55 55 1 73 00 04 69 65 58 74 03 64 60 52 68 72 62 50 81 60 58 i 73 6:i 00 01 50 58 70 63 63 61 The tempeii'tures recorded in this following table are tliose taken at the camp at the head of Alturas Lake. The " inlet'' temperatures were taken a few feet above the lake where the water was about li feet deep; those for the lake were taken just in front of our camp at a depth of about 3 feet, and those of the air were in the shade: Tvmpi'ratareH recorded at the hiad of Alliirax Lake, Idaho, ■laUj ,.'3 to .liiyitut li, ISHH. Date. nonr. Air. Water. Dale. Hour. Air. Water. Inlet. Lake. Inlet. Lake. OF. 69 50 60 60 58 50 ,59 65 58 54 55 57 58 53 57 57 60 55 51.6 55 55 SO July 22 23 21 25 20 27 28 i9 OF. 62 72 00 55 04 48 40 04 OF. 51.5 43 47 49 41 •»■»; OF. ': 55 July 29 " li 60 1 :in OF. 65 54 49 68 65 53 74 59 59 74 59 57 06 53 49 70 42 41.5 57 44 4'. 60 OF. 48 50 43 49 62 44 60 61 44 52 53 44 61 53. ;» 44 49 52 42.5 50 51 42 44 8 p. Ill 53.5 54.5 51 53 ,55 51 54 : 50 > 51 1 50 59 , 50 : 54 58 59 64 1 66 66 66 ; 12 m 12 m 31 Auk. 1 8 p. Ill H a. in 12 ni gam 12 III 50 51 .52 42 69 in 8 a. in 1 I p. HI 8 p. lu 2 8 a. m 12 m H p, 111 53 40 03 53 60 04 BO 48 67 49 62 51 42 47 51 43 47 50 55 61 49 43 p.; m 3 8 p.m 8 a. in 12 m 8 a. m 12 m 8 11. ni 6 12m 12 m 8 p.m 8 a. m 8 p. III... ... 8 a. in . . 12m aDuring the uiglit uf August 3 there were licary tliiuKliM- and ii, 8Uo\r falling ou tho mountains. ItilGUB F. C. U. 1897-2 18 miLLETlN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. In the following diagram are shown the temperature curves obtained by taking' serial temperatures in Alturas, I5ig Ivedfish and Wallowa lakes. Two series were taken in Alturas Lake and one in each of the others. TEMPERATURE IN FAHRENHEIT DEGREES. 0) § 5 ^ (5 % !? ? ^ ? o to in lO CO in in (0 m 00 m 0) o (0 S (0 »n 10 / ^ r"*" -.« .••• •••' re- ccding page. The series indicated by the (irosses shows the bottom temperatures, obtained by starting near shore in 1 fathtmi and going outward into increasing depths. Tlie circles on the continuous line indicate a vertical series tnken near the midtlle of the lake, where the depth was 150 teet. It will be noticed that, after reaching a deptii of .'SO feet, the two series coincide exactly and that the temperature at the bottom in tlie deepest part of tiiis lake is but slightly, if at all, above that of fresh water at its fiieatest density, namely, 39^3. A similar series was taken at Big lledfish Lake August 9, between L'.;50 and 3.30 p. m., the results of which are [datted on the same diagram, an examination of which shows that this lake is, as a whole, considerably colder tiian Alturas Lake. Though the surface temperatures are nearly tlie same, the water in Big liedlish Lake is seen to grow colder nuich more rapidly as the depth increases. This is apparently due to the greater size and depth of l>ig Hedlish Lake, the lower temperature of the inliowing water, and the greater protection atlorded by the higher surrounding mountains. In liiith lakes, however, the temperature decreases rapidly until a depth of about 100 feet is reached, and beyond that depth the decrease is less than '1^ in either case. These temperatures were taken with a Xegretti Zandira deep-sea thermometer tiip])ed by means of a messenger, and the results are believed to be reliable. The bottom temi)eratures which we took at these lakes in 1895 were taken with a Wilder jirotected thermometer, and we are now convinced that the results obtained are wholly unreliable whenever the depth exceeded a few feet. The thermometer can not be drawn up quickly enough to prevent the mercury Irom being warmed by the warmer water above. The few bottom temperatures given in the report of the work done on these Idaho lakes in 1895 are therefore worthless. SUMMAKY OF OBSERVATIONS RE(iARl)INO THK UEOFISII. (lamp was established on the outlet of Alturas Lake July 11, and observations began on that date. The daily inspection of the nets and the periodical examination of Alturas Creek and Salmon Biver were carried on essentially as during the season of 1895. Although gill nets could not be well i)laced until July 17, the opportunities lor examining the stream make it certain that if any redtish had ascended to the lake between July 11 and 17 they would have been seen. Beginning with July 17, gill nets were kept constantly in the outlet of Alturas Lake, set in 8u<^h manner as wholly to obstruct the stream to the ascent of fish. These nets were kept in place until September 25, but not a single redfish, either of the large or small form, was caught in them. No redfish were seen in the outlet or else- where below Alturas Lake during the season. Small redfish ai»peared in the iidet in considerable numbers in August and September, but no large redfish were seen this year at any of the Bedtish Lakes. 20 ll8ll BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES I'lSII COMMISSION. The first rcdlish seen was ciiught in Alturas Lake near the inlet July 16, wliili; l(tr Dolly Vsuden trout in about ;50 feet of water. It was a male, 11 i incli Ion},', and was taken on a liook baited witii salmon spawn. Its sta' water, and journeys \v results fro Alturas La in their stc dcntly dee] supposed. Xo lar and 1 in tl not, of cou In 1895 on Inlet, and Alturas 1 suflicientlj Lake duri August an Are answered, must havt big redflsh than July probabilit; of these w the baited and small stomach. .1. J. Sta tound to crustaceai in five or tl 8ALM0N INVE8TiaATI0N8 IN COLUMHIA RIVEU DASIN IN 18U(i. 21 y Hi, while well lilK'd tlio buck. ij,'aii8 weit ot'Aupiifst, n t'xct'llcnt nales wt'ic seen until lie lake. were taken es and ;52 y kind. ) iiuixiniuin re counted as follows: on August [); 1,0G7 on ber25; lOG soon after Vugust li.!. iinie to tinii le iirst week ;lie miinber eing eaugbt li increased II had died. * if tlio inlet. ;lie outlet a d up OU till! leen carried i lulet July [)teniber 25. t nine days ■». Though if time, ations were in, and con- son showed by fightiug redfish dies concerned, year. The number of redfish entering Alturas Inlet in 189") was about 2,000 in round numbers, and not one ever returned alive to the lake below. The run this year was somewiuit larger. The greatest number «',ounted at any one time was 1,5,*)8, but niany had died or been (iaught by campers i)rior to that time, and many new sciliools came in subso- (|iiently. It is a conservative estimate to say that between 2,500 and .'5,000 fish enteied Alturas Inlet in 1800. W'.ile the observations for the purpose of determining wlieriier any returned to the lake were not as carefully nuide as in 1805, there is no evidence that a single fish ever returned to the lake alive. While the nuitilations ,ire usually (piito severe, in many cases they are not par- ticularly so, and unmutilated fish were sometinu^s found dead or dying. This fact seems to be of great importance because of the light wh'w.h it throws ui)ou the probable cause of the death of spawning salmon. Some naturalists have maintained that tiio dying is attributable to the injuries; others that exhaustion resulting from the long journey from the sea or long abstinei.ee from the use of food is the cau.se; but as a matter of fact, many observer have seen salmon dying in large nund^ers at the end of the sjjawning season in waters only a few nules from the sea, and even in salt water, and the cause could, therefore, not have been exiuiustion resulting from long journeys without food, or mutilations received on such journeys. That the dying results from long abstinence from food is completely di8i)roved by observations at Alturas Lake, where redtish liave been observed to come up out of the lake with food in their stomachs, and have died a few days after spawning. The true cause is evi- dently deeper seated in its nature and more general in its application than has been supposed. N^o lartje redfinh seen in 1896. — In 1894, 14 large redfish were seen in Alturas Inlet and 1 in the inlet to Pettit Lake, and as these waters were visited only on(!e this does not, of course, indicate the total number that may have spawned there in that year. In 1805 only about 8 large redfish were seen, .'5 in the inlet to Pettit Lake, 3 in Alturas Inlet, and 2 in Alturas Lake. During the season of 1896 no large redfish appeared in Alturas Iidet, nor were any seen at Pettit Lake, which, however, was Jiot visited sufficiently often to fully determine the matter. None was observed at Hig Redfish Lake during a trip there August 8 to 10, and parties who visited the lake during August and September report seeing no redfish. Are the Hinall redflxh anadromousf — This question can not yet be positively answered. If they are, they had reached Alturas Lake prior to July 11, just as they must have reached it before July 20, in 1895. But this may very well be so, tor the hig redfish, which is undoubtedly anadronious, had also reached this lake earlier in 1805 than July 20. Observations at Alturas and Wallowa lakes point strongly to the probability of the small redfish being permanently resident in those lakes. The first of these was the catching of a small redfi.sh in Alturas Lake July 10. This fish took the baited hook, and its stomach was fouiul to contain some food, chiefiy insect larvic and small crustaceans. One caught in the gill net August 0 had a trace of food in its stomach. Twelve small redfish were caught with grabhooks in Wallowa Lake by Mr. .1. J. Stanley, about the first of September, and the stomachs of 9 of them were found to contain food consisting almost wholly of entoniostracans and other small crustaceans. In one case the stomam this point down to Soaring Creek. The same lisli, or possibly others, weie seen at vari«)iis times until September II, alter which no more vrere seen. Mr. Sjjringer, who was fishing ami hunting for the Custer uuuket, says that in Bear Valley and Sul|)hur creeks, where salmon have until this year been plentiful, not one was seen. lie saw only I salmon in Salmon River below Koaring Creek. LAKE PEND D'GREILLE, IDAHO. In February, 1889, the United States Fish Commission placed in Lake Pend d'Oreille 1,300,000 fry of the common wliitetish (Vorcf/onnii linpciformiii). Until now n<» investigation had ever been made to determine whether any of these fish survived. Fugitive reports have come to the Commission from time to time of the capture of examples of this species, but specimens submitted for identilication proved to be the common rati ve species (C«re//fm»s (Pii/(VnH.sojt/). If the planted sjtecies succe^ided in establishing itself, the individuals would by this time have attained a size suflicieur to enable them to be taken in gill nets. Mr. A. 15. Alexiiuder and Prof. IJ. O. Cox were instructed to go to Lake Pend d'Oreille and endeavor to determine the result of the whitefish plant made in this lake in 1889, and to make investigations regarding the suitability of the lake, in its physical and biologic features, to the common, wliitetish. The investigations were begun June 25 and it was hojjed they might continue through the season, but, owin^ to urgent work on Pugct Sound, which Messrs. Alexander and Cox were directed to perform, the Pend d'Oreille investigations were discontinued July 10. Excecsiveiy high water prevailed during the time si)eiit upon the lake and the conditions wre not favorable for investigations of this kind. Gill nets were set in diflcrent places in the north end of the lake, but no tests were nuido in the southern |K>rtion. While no SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMHIA HIVKK IIA8IN IN lH!)ti. 23 lily would fore tak«'i] Waliowii li «-onH' up nail tVirnis till* and oil in auy ol' tlie (:«""><• trmanently on "om.'i;,' iy J4, and t condition. ional visits from itifor iSasin and tliaii in till' ttit outlit. mill; iMilow int down tn times until tisliin;; and eeks, wlieii' ly 1 Haluioii Lake I'end Until now ill survived. li tapture ot' d to be the iccage is. The surface of the lake near the inlet at 3 p. m., August 24, was 62° when tiie air was 70". The tempera ture of tlie east iiilet at the same time was 52'^ and the other was 48". Tlie water in a small spring creek was 44°. liedfisl tills lake, A appears tin come up th i about thre< ni>per end. tliclake, b tlie lake an during the large redtii 1883. 1884, 1885, 188(J 1887, 1890 1891 1891 1895 189G In the irrigating of Joseph The large and its on lliver. O 54 inches Accoi in Septeni they spa\\ tlie sinal w hich he calls "gri the lake, was calle( "grayliu} Chin of Wallo the Main lieen seei niii is in Wes Ireiiuentt (III the 81 an India Stcrl and Apr seen in t liiall brook tish life, over a bed feet deej). owa Lake, nile of tlio short (lis brks couK! le western and 60011 river was scattered tell in the tine to the le distance rter is very the stream. 'he Grande iveen those nd muddy. tares were hake. We 5ed, takiii"!; mding was le hike and rature liere idle of the inperature. face of the 10 tomi)era water in a SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 25 Eedjish at Wallowa Lalce. — No large redfish were seen at the time of our visit to this hike, August 19-26. From interviews with persons familiar with the region it appears that the largo redfish usually reach the lake during the last half of July. They come up the river with the first run of chinook salmon, the run into the lake lasting about three weeks. Soon after entering the lake they are seen in large schools at its ui>l)er end. They begin to spawn in September. They are not red when they enter tlie lake, but become so a short time before spawning. They spawn in the inlets of the lake and on the shores of its upper end. They were formerly caught for the market during the month of August, According to Jlr. J. J. Stanley, of Joseph, the run of large redfish in Wallowa Lake in each year since 1882 was as follows; 1883. The run of redfish was very large, 1884. It is estimated that less than 100 redfish entered liir lake. 1885. About 7.5 were caught with u seiiio, tlie nm boiiin . ery Hiiiall. 188(). The run was very large, but not as largf as in 1883. 1887, 1888, and 188!). A'ery few rodflsh were canglit with spears in tlii' river altove the lake. 1890. The run was quite largo ; two parties salted many for the home market. 1891, 1892, and 1893. Very few redfish seen in the lake during these years. 1891. About 2,000 rediisli weie caught at the head of the lake ami saltoil. 1895. Tlie run was again very tuiall. 1890. The run was very small; about one dozen were seen in the lake and one in the inlet. In the spring many small fish, from about G to 8 inches in length, are stranded in irrigating ditches, many others are killed by entering mill-races. By the inhabitants of Joseph these are thought to be the young of the big redfish on their way to the sea. The large redfish are not known from any streams in this region except in the lake and its outlet and inlets. It is said never to run up the West Fork of the Wallowa River. Only one small redfish was observed while at Wallowa Lake, a small example aj; inches long, which was found dead on the lake shore August 24. According to Mr. Stanley, the small redfish are seldom or never seen there except in September, and taeii only in schools at the head of the lake or in the inlets where they spawn, at the jame time and on the same beds with the large redfish. He says the small ones are called "yanks," and that not more than 1 in la is a female; 12 w liieh he caught for us were all males. According to Mr, Stanley, the fish which he calls "grayling" is usually seen only in June, when it is easily caught by trolling in the lake. The small redfish found dead on the beach of Wallowa Lake, August 24, was called a nrayling by Mr, Staiiley, from which it seems probable, that the so-called "grayling" are the more silvery small redfish, Chinook aalmon. — This salmon is known to enter both the West and Main Forks of Wallowa Iliver, the majority ruining into the West Fork, Those which keep in the Main Fork enter Prairie Creek, where they have their si)awning-beds. They have been seen in the outlet 3lose to the lake itself. The early run is in July, The largest run is in September when they are known locally as "dog salmon,"' West Fork was examined for a distaiuie of 4 miles, that portion of the river most trequented by chinooks, but no salmon were seen, Fcmr had been caught, however, on the spawning-beds 3 miles above Lostine a few days before, and one was killed by an Indian below Lostine about the same time, Stcdhead trout. — The steelhead reaches Lostine on the Wallowa Ivivcr ia March and April, They spawn mostly in the West Fork of Wallowa Itiver, very few being seen in the Main Fork. 26 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER. It being the desire of tlie Cominissiouer to establish a station for the hatching of salmon in the Lower Columbia lliver basin, we were directed to visit and examine various streams, particularly in the vicinity of The 1 )alles and Cascades, and select u site suitable for such purposes. The conditions requisite for such fish-cultural operations as were contemplated are essentially as follows: (1) An abundant supply of salmon easily obtainable when ripe, or nearly so; (2) water of proper quality as to jmrity and temperature and in sutticient qiumtity; (3) suitable land upon which to locate the hatchery building, and so situated as to permit the water to be brought to the hatching-troughs by means of gravity; (4) proximity of building materials and good railroad facilities. Upon taking up this inquiry it became at once e\ndeiit that no definite informa- tion existed concerning the location of salmon -spawning beds anywhere in the Lower Columbia Itiver basin and information regarding the spawning time was equally uncertain and unreliable. It was therefore necessary to visit as many streams as possible and determine the facts by personal inspection and by interviews with people living on or near them. Tlie telegraphic instructions dated August 1 directed that a site be definitely selected, and as soon as possible, in order that the station might be operated duriiif; the season of 18!)G. In order to be able to examine as many streams as possible in the brief time at our disposal Messrs. Cox and Alexander were ordered from 1 uget Sound to examine the Lewis River and other streams below Vancouver, whiU' Messrs. Evermann and IIubl)ard made examinations at the Cascades, The Dalles, Hood I'iver, Big White Balmou, and Celilo. These incjuiries were made during tlu' first ten days of August. Later (August 2S to September G) Messrs. Evermann and Meek examined the Des Chutes, John Days, Hood, Big White Salmon, and Little White Salmon rivers, and on September 7 and 8 Messrs. Evermann and Hubbard reexamined Little White Salmon River and examined Tanner and Eagle creeks near Bonneville. Mr. Hubbard also visited Hamilton and Rock creeks across the river from Cascades, and Mr. Alexander made an examination of Toutle River, Wash ington. Only the nuu-e important results of these various inquiries are given here, detailed reports having been made at the tinie to the Commissioner. i'l LEWIS KIVEU. This river forms the boundary between Clarke and Cowlitz counties. Wash., and flows into the Columbia between Vancouver and Kahuna. Two main branches, known as the Nortli Fork and Soutli Fork, unite only a few miles above the mouth of the river Tlie North Fork has its headwaters on the eastern slopes of Mount St. Helens; the Sontii Fork rises in Skamania County, southeast of Mount St. Helens. No salmon were seen in the Nortii Fork at tlie tiino of Mr. Alexander's visit, during the first week in August. It is said tliat the salmon of tiie spring run do not enter the river, but that large numbers of cliinook salmon of the fall run enter it; also a good many silver salmon and steelheads. Tlie ehinooks are said never to run in until after the 10th of August, when the close season begins. When the close season ends (September 10) fishing with gill nets and seines is carried on to some extent in this river. Son<« logging is carried on in this stream during the sprii.g, but it ceases long betbre ' ^. salmon arrive. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 27 atcliing of examine id select m templated able when ire and in ding, and means of e informa- the Lower 18 equally streams as nth people 3 definitely ted diirinj; possible ill ered from uver, while 'ho Dalles, during the rmann and and Little I Hubbard creeks near i the river ver, Wasli fiven here, Vash., and lies, known ftlie river elens; the No salmon g the first 'river, but lany silver the 10th of tember 10) er. Son>«^ belbre ' ..* Considerable spawningbeds are said to be located in the vicinicy of vEtna. The water is pure and cold, and if (diinook salmon really come there in large numbers all other conditions are favorable for fish cultural purposes. The South Fork was exaTuincd as far up as La Center. This stream is about the same size as the North Fork, but the water is not clear. The banks, in the lower portion at least, are composed of red clay or easily disintegrated rock, and the water is thus usually kept more or less muddy. Below La Center there seenis to be no bottom suitable for s])awn'.ng-beds and there are no tributary creeks from which water suitable for hatchery purposes could be obtained. Chinook salmon of the fail run are said to enter tiiis fork, but the locality of their 8i>awning-beds is not known. No salmon were seen by Professor Cox at the time of his visit. TOUTLE RlVEIl. This stream is an eastern tiihutary of the Cowlitz, into which it flows a few miles north of Castle Kock. About 11 miles above its mouth is a fall 15 feet high. From tliis point down there are many riffles suitable for spawning-beds, and where racks could be put in without difliculty. One of the best places is at the mouth of Pat's theek, about 7 or 8 miles above the moutii of the river, where the stream is 35 to 75 feet wide and the bed is of coarse sand and gravel. Suitable water for hatchery purposes could be obtained from the creek. It is claimed that the fall run of salmon enters this river in considerable numbers, including chinook, silver, dog, humpback, and steelhead. Salmon appeared to be scarce at the time the river was examined, as only three were seen by j\lr. Alexander; hut it was stated that they would be more abundant about the Ist of September. They are said to collect in numbers at the foot of the falls asready alluded to, and if this be true, that would ])rovc a good place for collecting the eggs. The falls do not seem to offer an impassable barrier, as salmon are reported from points still farther up the stream. CASCADE LOCKS. On the Washington side of the Columbia Kiver, opposite Cascade Locks and at tlie head of what is known as the "Old Incline'' at the Upper Cascades, ia a place where it was thought fish cultural operations might be carried on successfully. The fish would have to be caught in wheels, several of which are operated in the vicinity, and held until ripe iu a retaining channel or pond. This channel has sufficient water llowing through it, cfin be easily racked at each end, and seems in every way fairly well suited for such a purpose. There is a good site for the buildings and suflicient water is obtainable by gravity from a small (ireek near by. It is claimed that an abundance of salmon can l)e obtained by running the wheids in August and Septem- ber and that they will ' e so nearly ripe that retention in the pond or channel will be necessary for only a short time. An effort was made in August to transport fish caught in these wheels to the retaining |»()iid, but it proved a failure. Whether due to lack of care and skill in making the transfer, or to inherent difficulties, is not certain, but we believe tiiere is no jfood reason why salmon may not be safely transferred fit this place. We question, liowever, whether they would live in the retaining pond until ripe, unless the pond be rather deep and kept dark. 28 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. OBLILO. Mr. A. B, Alexander was directed by the Commissioner to visit Celilo, Oreg., for the purpose of wiitcliing the daily catch of fish taken there in wheels. He arrived there September 17 and remained till September 23. His report is in substance as follows : Only one wheel was in operation September 17. Two others close by were not running, owing to low water. It was expected to pack 4,000 cases, but by September 2.'i less than 1,000 cases had been packed. The fall run of salmon was very light in nearly all i)arts of the river. The accompanying table will show the daily catch for one wheel, with their condition, etc. : Sfj^nllifuil. Chinook (111! ciiiiglit Silver (nil caiiglit in wlieel). Id wlieci). (B i i i « t s 4 ■a V ^ ^ 0. V ? K ■a u Date. •c i >t « 3 ■a ■c g ki "3 'u § i^ 1 •3 c £ a a S2< t-. S a 1 •s 1 ! a 1 ■a 1 .a s 1 s. s r ! a '1 4 U 1 p r. Oi □ a •s ■s H a (<-■ 9 U 1 •ii 1 I i 1896. 1 S«|it. IS 2n5 111 10 124 15 160 75 28 19 10 a 9 6 ' 6 2 1 0 HI 240 i:to 28 110 22 180 60 18 8 5 10 6 8 6 4 2 1 21 487 121 29 366 08 102 205 5» 18 11 ;i5 26 22 ' 9 i:t 8 22 Total. 550 159 59 ;I91 164 ■.m 20(1 20 12 8 8 6 19 11 8 8 6 1,512 521 126 001 . 209 882 6;io 110 57 U4 62 47 55 ai 1 21 24 15 Among the 119 chinooks, 13 were small males, with their milt as fully developed as that of the large fish. The wheels sometimes take these fish in considerable numbers. Tiie Indians i)rize them highly and seldom offer one for sale. Those examined were quite uniform in size, few weighing over 4^ jiounds, the minimum being about 3 pounds. In length they vary from 12^ to 23 inches. Their color is very dark, the spots not being visible a distance of 10 feet. On closer inspection all the mari " a large Chinook are visible. Fishermen usually do not class this lish with the cliiuook, but think it a difl'erent species. The chinooks taken in the fall of 1896 at Celilo were said to be somewhat larger than those for several years past, tiie average weight being 20 i»onnds ; average length, 37 inches; greatest length, 43 inches. The average was about 1 pound larger than the usual fall run, and 1 pound less than the spring fish. The steelhead varied in length from 25 to 42 inches, the average weight of those taken at Celilo being 18 pounds. A few weighed from 35 to 37 iiounds. On first coming from the water the steelhead is very bright colored, the large specimens having a briglit stripe extending along the sides the whole length of the body, vary- ing from a light pink to a deep bronze. The colors are very ])ronouuced when the lisii is first (laught, but grow dim on being exposed to the air. Silver salmon are Croiii 18 to 30 inches long; their average weight is 7 pounds. Early in the fall Seul'ert liros. operated three wheols, but two of them could not be run after the '.'ver had fallen. Mr. Tafle's wlieel was adapted to low water. An island lying between Celilo and Tumwater is exposed when the river is low, the SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 29 Oreg., for e arrived stauce as were noi leptember ligbt ill catch foi- ls i'eloped as ) numbers, lined were ? about li , the spots " a large iiiook, but liat larger e:e length. r than the t of those On first ipeciinens >dy, vary- n the lisli ounds. 'ould not iter. An low, the water on the south side of the river tiowing over a rocky ridge forming falls some 12 or 15 feet high. Many salmon find their way to the foot of the falls and endeavor to ascend them and when the water is about half low many succeed, but when the dis- tance from the lower to the upper current of Avater is from 8 to 10 feet thousands of salmon at times may be seen jumping into the whirlpools at the foot of the falls. Just above the falls are two wheels, the larger on a rocky point projecting into the river. When the river is high, many of the salmon pass by this j)oiiit over that part of the river where the falls are during low water. The wheel here catches fish only when the water is high ; the other wheel, at the head of a channel, takes fish when the water is low. The wheels in operation during the fall months are built in places where the water is deep and the current swift. There being few natural places in the vi(;inity where wheels can be successfully operated, long deep channels have been cut through the volcanic rock and the water led into them. At or near the head of these artificial channels the wheels are built. The water ruslies through the channels with consid- erable force, ottering a strong inducement for salmon to enter. On arriving at the foot of the falls and finding it impossible to go farther salmon naturally enter the channel which leads to the wheel. If the water is very clear, the fish will congregate ill large numbers in pools and eddies near the mouth of tlie channel and at the foot of the falls, remaining there for days without attempting to go up the channel. Sometimes several thousand fish will crowd themselves into the mouth of the narrow channel and remain there for hours at a time. Suddenly, as if by one impulse, they will dart up channel, and are soon caught up by the revolving wheel and landed on the platform in the fish-house. Wheels are built in places near higli-water mark where salmon are known to run ill greatest numbers. The migratory habits of all species of salmon visiting the. Columbia Itiver in the vicinity of The Dalles are said to vary from year to year. This often causes a considerable expenditure of money in wheels frequently followed by negative results. For sevei'al j'ears the main run of salmon may pass certain l>oints in the river, when suddenly a new route will be selected. This ()l females were in an advanced stage of ripeness; also 574 male and 528 female chinooks, and 843 male and 1,048 female silver salmon. The eggs and milt of the salmon caught during October were somewhat further advanced than that of those examined in Septen'ber at Celih). A large part of the ejjgs of the chinook on being taken from the fish Avould immediately separate; this was also true of many of the silver salmon and steelheads. A number of the latter showed no signs of development, but many were well advanced and some about ready to spawn. It would seem that the spawning season of the steelhead extends over a greater period of time than that of other species. A careful examination carried on in other streams would no doubt throw more light on the subject. In the fall, after the close season, a seining " gang" of twelve to fifteen men goes into camp on a long pebbly beach, about a mile below the fishing station at Tumwater. This season two seines were operated t)n the Oregon side of the river and one on the Washington side. At times fish will be found plentiful on one side of the river and few on the other, when suddenly, without apparent cause, they shift to the opposite side. During the fishing season seining is carried on with little or no interruption, hauls being made in (juick succession all through the day. The seines are set from a flat- bottom boat, one end of the seine rope being held on shore by horses while the net is iteing thrown out. As 80(mi as the net is set the seine rope on the lower end is i)icked np by other horses and the hauling-in crmmences. It would be impossible to land the net by hand, so swift is the current, and freqtiently the united sfiength of fimr horses is barely able to land it. At each haul the fish caught are loaded into wagons and taken to the fishing station, where they are weighed, washed, and put into cars. If tliey are to be canned they are thrown into the car in bulk; if shipped east, they are 32 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. packed in boxes and iced. In the early part of tlie fall season the demand for frcsli steellieads is large, and there is more profit in shipping tisli oast than in canning tiuin. Tlie only place noticed near Tumwater where salmon could be held for spawniiii; purposes is near the seining-ground on the Washington side of the river. Here a cnannel has been cut, but owing to tlio small number of fish that entered it the wliccl built near its head and also the channel have for several years been abandoned. ( hi the lower end of the channel is a small indentation where an eddy is formed; a diiiii could be built here and also om across the mouth of the u])per end of tlie chaniitl, with iron screens at eitlier end. Hy covering the top of the channel, either the wlidlu or a part of it, an inclosure would be formed which would hold a large number ol salmon. It seems reasonable to suppose that salmon would live much longer in tin inclosure of this kind than in boxes, as they would be crowded far less and have a better circulation of water. A swift current or comjiaratively still water could be liiid by putting in a gate at the upper end of the (;hannel. Tlie cost would be considerably more tlian keeping salmon alive in cars or boxes, but it is thought that the results would be more satisfactory. KEUFEUT'S TITMWATEU. On the Washington side of the river, opposite Seufert Brothers' cannery, is an excellent seining-ground, where salmon are said to bo caught in large numbers. Within a few rods is a narrow clianiiel of the river suitable in every way for a retain- ing pond. The hatchery building could be placed upon ground quite close to the retaining channel and where a supply of suitable water can be led by gravity. Sci'iinj,' is carried on principally for silver salmon and steellieads; many chinooks are rlso caught, but they are so near the spawning condition that they are not used lor cim- niiig. The probabilities that lisli could be secured here and retained for a short time until ripe are greater than at the Cascades, and the expense would be very slight. JOHN DAY IIIVEK. This river was examined at its mouth September 2. It is there a stream of moderate size, quite shallow, and very muddy. The banks and bottom for some distance above the mouth are of mud or sand. Farther upstream the water is, of course, much clearer. Salmon could doubtless ascend the John Day Kiver, but it is not certain that they do so in any numbers, and none was observed. Interviews with persons living on or familiar with the upper course of the stream failed to elicit any evidence that chinook salmon are now found there. It is said th,at a good many salmon formerly entered this river and spawned in the spring, but these are evidently steelheads and not chinooks. A few years ago a wheel was o])crated in the mouth of the John Day, but it has not been run for two or three years. DES OHUTE.S BIVEK. The Des Chutes liiver has its source on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains and elsewhere in Crook County, Oregon, liows neaily north and joins the Columbia about midway between the mouth of the John Day lliver and The Dalles. It has been generally regarded as the best salmon-spawning stream in the lower Columbia basin, and it was reported that large numbers of salmon can be seen at any time in the fall in this river at Sherar's Bridge, 30 miles from The Dalles or about 10 miles above the mouth of the river. This jilace was therefore visited from August 29 until September 1. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 33 Throupbont flie lower portion of its course this river baa cut a narrow, deep channel in tlie lava beds, Tbo canyon's walls are so abrupt tbat it is impossible to reacb the river in many places. At Sberar's Bridge tbe canyon widens out a little and tlie river here bas a fall of 8 or 10 feet. Uelow the falls tbe river is compressed into ii very narrow gorge, through which the water rushes with much fury. At the bridge the water is said to be 86 feet deep, which is about equal to the river's width at tliiit point. Immediately above the falls tbe river widens out greatly and is very shallow tor some distance. Until within the last six or eight years "salmon" were seen here every spring in considerable numbers. Mr. J. H. Sherar, who has lived at these falls for many years, says " salmon trout" were present throughout tbe year, but were not abundant except ill tlie spring, and tbat they spawned in tiie spring; they had no difliculty in ascending the falls, and his understanding has always been that many of them went far toward the headwaters to spawn. Formerly Mr. Sherar caiight large numbers of these salmon trout, but he has seen but very few for four or five years. Several jjcrsons who live on tbe u])per course of the Des Chutes, report that for- merly a good many "salmon trout" were seen t' <'re in the spring, which was tlieir spawning time, but that few if any have been noticed for several years. It would appear tbat the chinook salmon has never run into tbe Des Chutes in large numbers and tbat few enter it now; tbat tbe rtsli which at one time was rather abundant is the salmon trout or steelbead, (S'a/mo gainlneri. The spawning-beds in this river are too remote from the railroad to be available for fish-cultural operations. IIOOI) RIVEK. This stream is fed chiefly by (be snows and glaciers of Mount Hood and flows into tlie Columbia at Hood River Station. It does not appear to ever have been freiiuented by chinook salmon in large numbers. The people at Hood River Station do not think tliat many salmon enter this river, and persons living several miles up the river say tbat salmon are seen there but rarely. BIG WHITE SALMON RIVER. This river was examined August 6, and again on September 4. It is a stream of considerable size, having its sources on the western and southern slopes of Mount Adams. It flows in a general southerly course and em])ties into tbe Columbia nearly o])posite Ilood River Station. It is, in its lower course at least, a rough, turbulent stream, full of rapids and large bowlders, and flowing between high, and, in some places, precipitous, banks, so that it is difficult to reach the edge of the stream. At the mouth of the river tbe canyon widens out and there is a little level land along the stream. In August all of this was flooded by back water from the Columbia, but in September it was dry. No salmon were seen on our first visit, but on September 4 quite a number were observed jumping in tbe Columbia about tbe mouth of tbe tribu- tary stream. On that date Indians bad established two camps at the mouth of the river for the purpose of taking salmon during the season. They go up the stream from a quarter of a mile to a mile and capture the salmon by meau» of gaff-hooks on the ends of long poles. Only four salmon were taken during an afternoon. While the conditions are not favorable for operating a hatchery on this river, a good many eggs could probjibly be obtained and carried to any station which may be established on tlie lower Columbia. F. C. B. 1897—3 34 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. LITTLE WHITE SALMON EIVEK. This stream enters tlie Columbia about 0 or 8 miles below the month of HigWliitc Salmon River. It was examined September C and 7, and the prospects for successliil salmou-cultural operations appeared so good that a site at the mouth of the river was selected and preparations begun at once for equipping tlie station. Salmon Mere already in the stream in large numbers and spawning had begun. By the time tlie station was ready to begin operations the height of the spawning season had arrivcil, but more than 2,0()0,0()() eggs were taken, and it is believed by Mr. William P. SaiuT hoff, superintendent of the station, that 10,000,000 eggs could have been obtained if operations had begun earlier in the season. The success attending the operation of thisstationis highly gratifying. Up tothe time of writing these lines (October .30, IS'iT) the total number of eggs taken at the Little White Salmuu Station this season is over 12,500,000. TANNEU AND EACiLE CHEEKS. These are two small streams flowing into the Columbia at Bonneville, Oregon. Tin- smaller is Tanner Creek, whose mouth is only a few rods west of the railroad station, It was examined September 7 by Messrs. Evermann and Hubbard, who found about 300 Chinook salmon in the stream within a mile of its mouth. Most of the fish were lying quietly in deep holes, but some were in shallow water and evidently spawninj;. The mouth of Eagle Creek is about half a mile east of Bonneville. This stream is considerably larger than. TannertCreek. Its bed is exceedingly rough and rocky, and only with much difliculty can salmon ascend it. A large bunch of salmon were lyiii;; in the deep hole under the railroad bridge and a few others were seen a short distance farther up the creek. Though these creeks are small, from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 ejjgs could probably be taken there annually and carried to the Little White Salmon Station. Across the river from Bonneville, and only a short distance below Little White Salmon Kiver, are several streams into which salmon are said to run. Among these are Little Wind River, Wind River, Smith Creek, Rock Creek, Hamilton Creek, anil Hardy Creek. Some of these are unsuitable for salmon on account of large quantities of wood which are floated down, and bars sometimes form across the mouths of others, especially Hamilton and Hardy creeks, so that salmon are 'lot able to enter; but usually a good many salmon spawn in these creeks, and doubtless a great many ej;f;s could be collected from- them. Their proximity to the Little White Salmon will make it easy to carry the eggs to that station. PUGET SOUND. In connection with the work of the Joint commission appointed to investigate the fisheries of the contiguous waters of the United States and Canada, certain investigations were made by Messrs. Alexander and Cox concerning the movements of the sockeye or blueback salmon in Puget Sound and its tributary streams. Tlie information obtained has been furnished to the joint commission and has been used in its report. The movements of the sockeye in the north end of the sound were studied, particularly among the San Juan Islands, chiefly to determine whether many of that species run into streams flowing into the sound from the State of W'ashiugtou. SALMON INVR8TIOATION8 IN COLUMBIA RIVER HA8IN IN 1896. 35 The priiicipal rivers exiunitied were tlie Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaiiualinish, and SiiolioniiHh. The time was too Hliort to permit an exliaiistive study of the questions involved, hut enonjjh was done to siiow that most of the rivers liowing into Paget Sound from tlie east are sahnoii streams of considerable importance. This is particu- larly true of the Skiigit. The sockeyo runs into this river in large numbers, and there lire important 8i»a\vning-beds of this species in its headwaters. The State of Wash- ington has recently established, and is now successfully operating, a hatcliery for this species on l?aker Lake, one of the upper tributaries of the Skagit. The height of the run of soekeye salmon in 1896 at the San -Fuan Islands was from August L'O to 28. The run was regarded as unusually large in view of the fact tliat this was an off year. Nothing definite was learned regarding tlie occurrence of tlio sockeye in any streamt; except the Skagit, nor whether it is found in any of the upper tributaries of the Ska^'it except the Baker. The Baker lliver has a lake iu its upper course which (tan bo reaihed by the sockeye. So far as is yet known, this species spawns only in such streams as have lakes at their headwaters, and the spawning-beds are found only in the streams tributary to the lakes or in the lakes themselves. Several streams tributary to the northern part of I'uget Sound contain lakes in their headwaters, and it would prove interesting and valuable work to d«'terinine accurately the distribation of the sockeye in this region. All the other species of west coast salmon are found here in large numbers. The ohinook lirst appear, then the silver salmon and steelhead, and still later the humpback and the dog salmons. The Nook ack is the principal river frequented by these species. The silver, Immpback, and dog salmons are said to ascend both forks of this river. The actual or even relative abundance of the dift'erent kinds of salmon and their distribution in the rivers of western Washington is not well understood, and scarcely anything is known regarding them after they enter the rivers. LAKE WASHINGTON. In February, 1889, the United States Fish Commission planted 375,000 fry of the conuuou whitefish {Coreyonus (inpei/ormin) in Lake Washington at Seattle. In June, iJSOO, Mr, A. B. Alexander visited this lake and began a. series of observations for the purpose of determining the results of this planting of fish. After a few observa- tions he was called away to other work, but returned and again took up the inquiry November 2.'5, continuing it to January 10 following. General description of Lttle Wnahington. — This lake is situated in King County, Washington. Its greatest length, which lies nearly due north and south, is 18J miles, and its greatest width, from Mercer Slough across Mercer Island to the west shore, is about 4.^ miles. The greatest width of open water is about half a mile north of Mercer Island and is 3| miles. The narrowest channel lies between Mercer Island and a point on the east shore about % of a mile north of Mercer Slough. The city of Seattle is situated upon the west shore about equally distant from the north and south ends of the lake. There are numerous bays and indentations, which give the lake a total sjiore-line of about 58 miles. The lake has an elevation of 34 feet above low tide at Seattle. The principal outlet is Black River, at the extreme southern end of the lake. This river is 2J miles long, and unites with White Kiver to form Duwamish liiver, which iiows into Elliott or Duwamish Bay a short distance south of Seattle. About a half mile below the lake Black River receives the Cedar River from the east. 86 BULLKTIN OP THK UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. A fuw yeiu'H ago iv chaitiiol wkh i-iit from Union liuy tlirough Lake Union Ut tlit- Bound. CoiiHiilerablo water Mows through this rliannul and Hniail l>oatH are able in \ni»H through it. At tlic north end Lake Washington receives Htiuak 8h)ugh, whicli is the outlet of Lake Haiuniainish. Tliis slough runs in a tortuous channel through low, lnar^)ly ground, its width varying according to the height of water in the lakes which it con nects. When the water is very high tlie slougli overtiows and shore interfere with the hauling of seines, aiul only limiNid collections can be mwli-. In November and December a large amount of decayed vegetation covers iKirtions of tin- shore, in summer various forms of minute aninuil and plant life inliabit the water. Scinehnuling groundn. — Only in a few ])laces along the shore of the entire lake is the bottom sufliciently free from snags, fallen trees, and other material Ut jiermit tin- successful hauling of nets. On the west side of the lake, about - miles above Unimi Bay, is a long stretch of sandy shore mixed with fine gravel; in .lune, 1896, several attempts were made to haul a seine hero, but on account of the many obstacles no fish were taken. On the east side, at Hunter Point, is a comparatively good grouml, but tule grass grows in considerable (inantities, though by wading out and l>ending it down where the seine is to be landed fairly good results can l)e obtained. Sevi'iiil hauls were made here and a number of fish taken. In fall and winter there is a great scarcity of life here, as several trials demonstrated. From Hunter Point south- ward for about 2^ miles the shore makes down to the lake with a gradual 8loi)e, but owing to the great amount of vegetation that extends in most ))lace8 into the water, it is almost impossible to use a seine. This also nuiy be said of Mercer Slougii and flie shore farther south. On the east side of Mercer Island the bank is usually quite stecj); on its west side the land is more slo]>ing. The water all rountl the island is deep. In the extreme southern portion of the lake, in the vicinity of Kenton and lilack Kivcr, the land is marshy and filled with small sloughs. The bottom is of soft mud. On the north and west sides of Lake Washington, from Webster Point to Sand Point, are scattering sandy patches, but only in a few jjlaces can a seine be haaled, owing to a thick growth of scrubby trees at the water's edge. High banks in most places overhang the shore line. Northward from these points the land is more sloping' and in some jtlaces comparatively level. Rocky and gravel bea^ihes crop out from tin' banks in many jd^iees and in a number of indentations the water makes off shallcNr ■ I SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA KIVEIi HA8IN IN IH'.hl. 37 from the hIioh' ii distance of TtO feet or more. The hottxini here Ih v«'ry muddy and covered with tule. The Hhore on tliJH Hide of the lake jh thiekly strewn witli 1o>,'h, Hhiba, and Hmull Moiitin^' d<-briH. Few rocks are notieeable, and none at any groat (Ustanee from Hhore. The Handy and );ravully beaeheH referred to on tlie went Hide of tiie lake below Hand I'oint arc iiHually narrow; only in one place observed is the beach over lU feet wide; here the width from the water'n edg'^ to the binlf is about 'M) feet. The (!lear f!^round indicaleH a Hinooth bottom, but stumpH of trees and broken limbs ]irevent seine collecting,'. These beaeiies are formed iiy wave, action, the water havinp^ washed away the bane of the blutl's, leaving a deposit of sand and gravel. In many places, particularly on the west side of the lake, bushes and small trees have taken root in the sand and gravel deposit. Only in a few instances does the sand and gravel tbrmation exteinl any great distance below the water's edge; .'JO or 40 feet from tlie shore is soft muddy bottom. As is indicated by the high perpendicular blutl's, the beaches make otV at a sharp angle, deep water being found a Hhort A Z d fi H H h" H Fett. OF. op. 1 Feet. OF. oy. Nov. 23 35 48i 484 300 feet from Bliore, near MudiHoii-Htreel boathotiHe. Dec. 19* 50 491 46 Close to shore east siile of Mercer lalaiid. 24 24 14 10 45 45 44 45 Ill variouH parts of Union : 19 58 47 46 300 feet from shore and Bay, wliich Ih a ]>art of ' Lake Wasliititrton. 19 674 47 46 near last sounding. Halfway acniss channel 25 98 48 48 One- fourth mile east of boat- iioiiRe. between Mercer Island and east shore. 25 156 48 47 One-fourth mile east of last 19 55 47 46 Xear the east side of lake. station. 19 12 46 45 Close to shore. 25 162 48 47 Middle of lake. 20 70 46 46 Half a mile north of last 25 150 48 47 Two-tliirds across lake. sounding. One-eighth mile west from 25 144 48 47 Oneeightli mile from cast 20 87 46 46 side of lake. last sounding. 25 72 48 48 300 feet from Blioro. 20 1154 46 47 Halfway across east end 27 14 41 41 In I'nion Bay ; cold weather, air 28^ and 30". Mercer Island to east side of laki'. 27 98 47 U Off mouth Union Hay. 20 174 464 40 Halfway bc't» ^n Daphne Point and iiort. end Mer- 28 150 47 47 Do. 28 152 47 47 Do. cer Island. Dee. 1 96 47 47 Do. 23 204 464 454 Half a mile east Webster 1 168 47 47 14 mile S.SE. from Srndisoii- Point. street boathouse. 23 219 464 45i Half a mile north last .1 90 47 47 li mile east from Yesler- i sounding. street boathouse. 23 201 464 45J Halt a mile northward last 1 114 47 46 Two-thirilsacross lake from pumiiiui; station to Mer- cer Island. sounding, J mile from shore. 23 66 46 46 Third of mile north and 1 156 47 46 One-half milooff waterworks. chwe to shore. 18 210 4fli 46 One mile SB. from MadistJii- street hoatlioiise. 23 ,^4 464 464 About 500 feet from Sand Point south near shore. 18 204 46 46 One-f(mrth mile SK. frcmi Madison-street Iiiuitliiiuse. L'3 1U5 47 46 About 200 leet from .Sand Point NK. 18 218 46i 46 1} mile SE. from Madison street boathouse. 23 181 464 454 Less than J mile NE. from last sounding 18 204 «* 46 One-third of a mile S\V. ol Daphne Point. 23 168 464 45 Less than 4 mile in saiue direction. 18 150 46 46 One-cightli of a mile S\V. of Daphne Point. 23 180 464 444 About the same distance farther (m. 18 156 46 46 One-third mile oil' Meyden- hauer Bay. Near n>i''dle of Jleyden- 33 • 190 4.14 444 Li'ss than i mile \K. last station. a 1» 114 46 46 23 178 464 454 Last deep sounding on hatier Hav this lino. 19 69 46 46 South Hide of bay. {Other 23 72 46 46 Near opposite shore from iSand Point. soundings taken in bay; ■ same t<'mi)erature,) 23 96 46 46 About 1,5011 feet from shore. 19 jd 174 47 Short distance south of Mevdenhauer Bay. 23 129 46 46 About halfway from last station to Kirkland. 19 40 47 47 One-tliird mile ' farther soutli near shore. a Skid to be thermal springs fa near vicinity, v/liteh may aecount for the change of temperature. Bull. U. S. F. C. "97. (To faco page 38.) Plate 1. SEATTLE. avm-Bajf. Map of Lake Washington, Wash., show- ing soundings, in feet, taken by the U. S. Fish Commission, in November and December, i8g6. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 39 During the winter months short periods of cohl weather sweep over this part of the Northwest, hut not sulliciently severe for ice to form in the main portion of Lake Washington, Occasionally skim ice appears on the margin of the lake in sheltered jylaces covering small areas. Triah with (jUl nets and other apparatus. — On November 23 the first trial with gill nets for whitefish was made in 35 feet of water, .'300 feet from the shore, at a point w liere it is said that an example of this species had been taken. Two nets were set, and remained down 48 hours. They were visited on three different occasions during that time, but no fish were found in them. The reason for setting nets in such sliallow water for whitefish, was in compliance with a request made by the person who claimed to have caught a specimen on tiie above-mentioned grountl in the fall of 1892. It was taken on a hook, which throws considerable doubt as to its being the true whitefish. So far as we have been able to learn no other specimen has since been seen. On November 24 three more gill nets were set about 1| miles from first position oil the south side of rnion Bay. Here also whitefish had been reported. Depth of water, 15 feet; temperature of water at bottom and at surface, 45°; bottom muddy. Tlieae nets remained in the water three days, and were visited each morning. No fish were found in them. On November 26 three nets were set at the head of Union Bay, in 10 i'eet of water, dose to the shore, where fish are said to be plentiful in summer; also two other nets near outlet or portage, about three-quarters of a mile fartlier south. In this place anglers have good fisiiing, and it was thought that if fish were running in any consid- erable numbers the nets would be likely to tnke samples of di'd'erent species. The nets set at the head of the bay were taken up the following morning, nothing being found in them. Those set near the outlet remained down two days, and were visited each morning. The se(rond morning one cut-throat trout and one chub were taken from them. During the time the nets were down a number of cut-throat trout, chub, and suctkers hiid been taken on hook and line. Sounding and collecting with surface tow net had also been carried on whenever the weather permitted. On November 27 three gill nets were set near the bottom, otf the mouth of ITnion Bay, in 18 feet of water, bottom hard sand, where they remained two days. Nothing was found in them when taken up. It is reported that large numbers of fish pass over tills ground, and it was thou'ght that our ettbrts would be rewarded by a few specimens. The result of this trial indicates that at this season fish do not move in great numbers. Tiie same nets were set in 06 feet of water about a quarter of a mile farther off shore, wliere the bottom temjierature was .'5° warmer than at last station. The nets were, as before, set near the bottom, but without result. IJad whitefish or other species heen traveling over this ground a few would have been captured. A small creek tliat flows into the head or western jiart of ITiiiou Bay was next investigated. This creek is said to abound wiih trout in summer and with redfish in early fall. The water in the upper part of the creek flows with considerable velocity over a gravelly bottom. It is from 1 to 5 feet wide in most places, and about 7 or 8 inches deep; there are a few jiools whose depth is nearly 2 feet. The creek is largely fed by seepage from the surrounding hills. At the time of our visit the weather was cold and the ground covered with snow, and in many jdaces ice had formed. The stream empties into a marshy lagoon where it finds its way, through several smaller ones, into Union Bay. 40 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Ecpeated trials with a small collecting seine at the mouth of the creek were mado. but nothing was taken in it. Only one flsli, thought to he a ledfish, was seen, and it escaped under a fallen tree. Unsuccessful hauls were also made from a half to three quarters of a mile upstream. Hook-and-line fishing was also tried, with the same result, salmon eggs being used for bait. At the mouth of the creek a salamander was found, and this was the only form of life seen, except the supposed redfish. On December 11 gill nets were set in a number of places, from a halftotliree quarters of a mile ai)art, in Squak Hloughat the head of Lake Washington, in !) .and Ki feetof water. Tiiey were visited twice in 48 hours, nothing being found in them. The bottom tem])er{iture in the plactes where they were set was 44A°, surface 454°. Duriii;; tlie entire investigation the water in tiie slough was unusually high, and this prob ablj' had a great deal to do with the scarcity of lisli here, for at such times, instead of following the main channel, tish would naturally scatter over a large area, thereby greatly lessening the chances of taking them. Troll fishing was tried, but with unsnt isfactory results. Nearly all of December IcS was spent in scmiuling and taking water temperatures. In the afternoon four nets were set on tlie north side of Meydenbaner Hay; 2 he caught a specimen, but no accurate description was given as to its shape or color, and Prof. (). B. Johnson and State Fish Commissioner James Crawford doubt whether it was the genuine whitefish, and believe that the whitelisli l>lanted in the lake no longer exist. The investigation strengthens this oinniou. Tlie Columbia chub (Mi/lockeUus cauriuus) is a common species in the lakes of this region. r.nd is by many people known as "whitefish."' It is not improbable that all tlie so-called "whitefish" which have been reported from Lake Washington were rciilly this species of minnow. Williamson's whitefish {Voregonus irilliamsovi) doubtless occurs here, but no sjiecimens were seen. Other finhes of Lake Wdshiiif/toti. — Tlie various pj)ecies of fishes collected durinf; these investigations, as well as all other species known to occur in Lake Washinglon, are listed in another part of this report. The principal si)ecies are the cut-tlin . trout, Columbia Hiver chub, squawflsh, Columbia River sucker, a blob, two (.• tliiee other species of (Jyprinidtv^ and the redfish. Salmon are said to enter the hike through Bhuik Kiver early in the fall, but none was seen. T^iey are i)robably tlu' large form of the redfish or sockeye (Oncorhynchus ntrka). 1 -•een J stopped on on g distance it was forced along over level ground, we might expect to And that part of the lake where the land- slide was deposited more shallow than elsewhere; but, on the contrary, we lind a depth of water varying from 50 to 70 feet, wliich corresponds witii depths found in other parts of the lake the same distance from the shore. It seems more reasonable t(( sup|)ose that at .some distant period the ground on which this forest grew, subsided. Tliis, in a measure, would account for the trees being left standing in their natural position. Not having seen auy portion of the submerged forest, we arc not able to state from personal observation anything concerning it, only stating wliat has been given by several reliable parties. Ert'orts were made to locate some of the trees, but none of them could be found with the sounding line. Depth of water and character of bottom. — Lake Sammamish is (piile uniform in depth, varying from 70 io 90 odd feet in the middle and from 3ij to "»() feet near the sliore. Tiie deepest sounding was found near the middle of the lake, about halfway across from llattie Hell Springs to the west shore. A line of soundings run across the upper part a short distance below the shingle mill corresponds nearly with the line across the south end of the lake. In no part of the lake examined are there indi- cations of plateaus or shelves making off from the shore. Only in a few phuies was shallow water found, and this extended but a short distance from the shore. In nearly fill parts of the lake along its margin the bottom drops oft" suddenly, the water being deep enough for boats and small steamers to lie alongside and discharge freight or passengers. From 80 to 100 feet from the shore is the average distance where the sand and j,'ravel merge into the hard or soft mud. A number of places, however, were found wliere sand and gravel bottom extends from 125 to 300 feet into the lake; one of these l)hices is on the west side, opposite Hattie Bell Springs, and the other oft' the wharf on which the sawmill at Monohan is built. At the foot of the lake, above the shingle mill, the bottom is very soft and in the center between the east and west sides the mud is said to be several feet deep, and this statement is probably not exaggerated, for in running the line of soundings which ends jnst below the shingle mill the sounding lead, nearly all the way across, sank into the soft bottom a foot or more. Inlets. — Numerous small creeks empty into the lake both on the east and west sides, bnt the discharge of water is not great even during the rainy season, and in summer many of them dry up, they being fed by the drainage from the surrounding hills. The l)rincipal inlets are Issaquah and Planner creeks, which eu'^er the lake on the south end. The main portion of tiie first creek is 2 miles long and the second about 3 miles, each having several branches from i to 2i miles long. The water in Issaquah Creek is said to be very clear during the summer and fall months, or was previous to the coal company using the creek as a dumpinggrou'id for coal screenings, since which time the water has become muddy. There are a number of coal mines in tliis region, and the people complain of the screenings from them being dumped into tiie creeks, tiiereby doing considerable injury to the fishing grounds. Outlet. — Squak Slough, or Sammamish Kiver, is the only outlet to the lake. This at times is not large eiiougii to prevent the waiter in the lake from rising rapidly, and wiien Lake Washington rises at the same time, which is usually the case, and fences tiie water from the slough into Lake Sammamish, both lakes rise rapidly. At the 44 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. time of visiting l^ako Saiiimamish the water liad overflown the channel of the 8lou;;li from a (luaiter to a half mile; ita average width for the part visited is less than 100 feet, in some places not over 50 feet. Its length is about 12 miles; its course, as indi- cated on the niaj), is very crooked, and it is navigable for small craft only. Temperatures. — The water temperatures during our investigation varied but little, and in many parts of the lake there is no difference. In the first line of soundinjis run across the lake the surface and bottom temperatures were the same. The weatlni at the time was rainy, misty, and cold. In the second line a difference of 1° was found In two places, each in a depth of 90 feet. At the surface the thermonnter registered 45° and at the bottom 44'^. In the third line the depths were from 33 to 01' feet, with no vari-ition in temperature. The fourth line, run the same day, shows in .'ight different soundings 45"^ at the surface ami 44*° at the bottom. The fifth line, run across the head of the lake, showed no difference; but in a number of soundings taken on the west side, near where a small brook empties into the lake, the water was 1° warmer at the surface than at the bottom. The depths here were comparatively shallow. The last line of soundings run, which was across the foot of the lake, alsd showed the water to be 1° warmer at the surface than at the bottom. This difference niiiy possibly have been because the weather was warm and pleasant, while most (if the time, when the other soundings were taken, it was rainy and foggy and tlie teinp3rature of the air from 44° to 5(P. On this day, January 6, it registered (JO a greater part of the day. Where the water at the surface was w.^rmer than at the bottom it was found that the warm water extended from 5 to 8 feet below the surface; where the temperature at the bottom was warmer than at the surface the water was constant from 15 to is feet from the bottom. The thermometer was let down at various depths, in most cases at intervals of 10 feet, no variation in temperature being noticed until the above distance from the bottom was reached. In a few places, however, within 10 feet of the bottom the water remained constant. Condition of irater. — In the fall and winter, when the lake is high, the water is con- siderably discolored by vegetable matter and sediment washed from the surrounding hills and brought down by the swollen creeks. This gradually disappears as the rain ceases, after which the water becomes clear. The fish then bite better than at any other time, there being less food in tlie water for them to subsist upon. Lake Sammamish, like Lake Washington, never freezes over. When the weather is unusually severe skim ice sometimes forms near the edge in shallow places, but the deep water does not freeze. Fishing trialn. — From December 31 to January 6 sounding, taking temperatures, collecting with surface tow net, and fishing with gill nets and troll were carried on. The weather most of the time was stormy. Fishing with gill nets was unsuccessful. They were set in various places and in different depths, visited twice each day, and in the evening set in a different place. Inquiries were made of fishermen as to where fish would most likely be found, but nothing was canglit. A trawl was the only stationary apparatus used that captured anything, and this caught only one chub aiid a blob. Fishing with troll line was fairly successful, five cut-throat trout being taN() ii i fonnd tliivt ;emperaturi' oni 15 to IS hs, in iiKist til the above in 10 feet of water is con- surrounding s as the ruin than at iiny the weather ices, but tlie (mperatuies, carried on. insuccesst'ul, ich day, and 1 as to wiit'ie •as the only ue chub a lid )eing talvcn. [ res-alts tiie 3 these trials were made. Fishermen say that in summer, and at other times wlieii tlic weatht'r is ploasant, it is comparatively easy to catch from twenty-live to thirty trout in a day by trolling. Trout would bite only wheu the wind was light and the lake smooth. During the day, whenever there was little wind stirring, they could be seen jumping or brcal ing wat«r iu all parts of the lake, but they did not bite as ravenously as was expected, probably on account of the creeks having biought down e2)th of water, ttimperaturi; and character of bottom of Lake Satnmamish, " Dat e. 1896. 1 Doc ni 1 :ii { 31 1 ■M 1 31 i 31 ' 31 j 31 31 81 1897. 1 Jan 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Depth of water. Feet. (llOJ III 9(t 102 90 84 824 76$ 90 13 (/32 OU 80 87J SO 90 87 80 73 70 69i 51 36 28 C6i 70 851 88 92 914 33 d32.i 83 .^ ObarBoter of bottom. Ilanl sand . Hard iniid . SoftluiKl... do ...do ....do do ...do Hard Hand (Iravi'l mud. Sand Soft nitiil do.. do.. do.. do.. do . . do.. do.. do.. do . . do.. Sand gravel do Softnind do ....do ....do do , ....do ; ...do Hard Ba' .i . . . . Uardaandand < Kravcl Sottniiid and a About 20 feet from bridfte; flrnt line Boundine. Ii Second line iif soiindinKH 250 feet from Hnwniill. c Commencement of third Hue of souudiuRa. IVm- Tem- I per- per- ! ature uture of of ! Hurface. bottom, i [ OF. OF. 45 45 45 45 '45 45 45 45 45 45 46 45 15 4S 45 46 45 *■> 45 46 45 45 45 45 45 46 i 45 45 45 44 45 44 45 46 ' 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 \ 45 45 1 45 45 45 45 1 45 46 ■ 45 45 ! 45 46 45 45 i 45 45 ir< 46 45 444 Date. 1897. Jan. Depth of water. Oliaraotcr of lM)ttom. Tem- per- ature of Tem- per- ature of Ftet. 85 934 03 go 094 88 87 80 76 30 12 19 44 60 69 74 70 814 84 66 50 «5 24 8 27 30 /8 67 624 68 604 70 72 70 674 42 m Soft mud . . . do . . ....do.. ....do.. ... do.. do.. ... do.. ....do.. ... do.. ...do.. ...do I ....do : Hard Hand I Soft mud ' ....do ■II rfaee. bottom °V. 44, 44 I 44 44 do ..do ..do .do ..do do llai'dirravcl.. do do do do do Soft mud do do ... -li do do do , do do Ciiarao gravel . o F. 45 45 46 45 45 45 45 46 46 45 46 45 45 45 45 45 46 46 45 45 45 46 46 46 4(1 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 46 45 46 46 46 46 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 46 45 45 45 45 45 454 46 dCommenrement of fourth line of soundings. e Sniindings elone to a ')rook. /Sixth line of soundings 20 feet from shore. hs snddt'iily ir, Aliimst )ii that tlic th« ocean; )art» of tlic ) siibject is warrant lui y to observe at diftcieiit moat abuii It in a small Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897. (To Uc* pigt 46.) Plate 2. Tt'in- per- atnre of mttiiiii. of. 44J 44 i 44i 44{ 44$ 44$ 4r> 4r. 45 45 46 43 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 43 45 45 45 45 45 43 43i 46 shore. • Adelaide, Lake Saramamish, near Seattle, Wash., showing soundings taken by U. S. Fish Commission, in December, 1896, and January, 1897. St\ line of^4oundu^. SALMON i: Tlie following,' iif TliiH body oi" \Vi straight line from \n south ends, tlireoqu two arms, oim leadii trom the foot of the Lake Union has is found ill nearly a tiie northeast arm tl places where there i of +he northeast arm part of the lake bet\ to the water's edge v covered with willow for a considerable di The land suiroi heavily wooded, but great forest having | runs the Seattle and east and northeast s The bottom in n From the 2d to taking 4 salmon, 1 c less than 24 hours, i places best adapted ill greatest numbers nothing was caught, gill nets might capti During the sum that they are someti illegal, but is carrier Lake Washington, i Lake Union, where Why they should t where they were pi difference in the cot Union. The theory Union and not in I much more abuiidai (litference in the am In winter the t tliat of Lake Wash unusually severe do is tlie warmer, it be SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COH'MIHA RIVER BASIN IN lx!l(!, 17 LAKE UNION, WASHINGTON, The followinj; notes on hake Union liuvc b»'«'n riirnishcd by Mv. AIomiimUt: Tliis body oi' water lies close to the city of ►Seattle. It.s lonjith, iiu'iismtMl in a straiglit line from north to soiitli, is \f, miles; witltli, hallway between tlu" north and south ends, three«iuaiters of u nuie. Uraiiehiiif^ out from tlie head of tiie lake are two arms, one leadiiifj to the northeast and the otii«'r to the nortiiwest. iMeasured t'lom the foot of the nortlieast arm the lake has a leiifjth of .'{| miles. Lake Union has a quite uinlbrm depth in the center; the greatest depth, 18 feet, is found in nearly all i)arts of the main body a quarter of a mile from the shore. In the northeast arm the soundiiiffs varied from '2i to 137 feet. Near the shore, except in places where there is marsh land, the depth is from 18 to L'.T feet. In the south end ,'h and was at one time heavily wooded, but now only small clumps of trees are left standing, most of the once great forest having given way to town sites and buildings. Skirting tlie north shore runs the Seattle and Lake Shore Railroad. The shore is thickly settled, except on the east and northeast sides. The bottom in nearly all parts is mud, in some places intermingled with fine sand. From the 2d to the 8th of December gill nets were set in ten different places, taking -t salmon, 1 cutthroat trout, and - suckers. In no place were the nets down less than 24 hours, and in one place they remained down Tli hours. They were set in places best adapted for this kind of fishing and where black bass had been caught in greatest numbers. Tiolling for black bass was carried on at d liferent times, but nothing was caught. The season was too late for them, but it was thought that the gill nets might capture a specimen or two. During the summer black bass are fre(|uently taken by trolling, and it is reported that they are sometimes taken in nets secretly set for their capture. Thic. method is illegal, but is carried on to some extent. Only a few black bass have been caught in Lake Washington, and those planted in this lake in 1890 soon found their way into Lake Union, where they are said to be quite plentiful during the suunner nujnths. Why they should find the water in Lake Union better suited to their wants than where they were planted is not easily explained. It can not be due wholly to the difference in the condition of the water, for Lake Washington largely supplies Lake Union. The theory that i)resents itself to accoi'ut for tlsese fish being found in Lake I'nion and not in liake Washington is that in the former lako small surface life is much more abundant. The collections made in the two lakes show a considerable iliifereuce in the amount taken in each trial. In winter the temperature of water of this lake is several degrees colder than that of Lake Washington, though ice .seldom forms, and only when the winter is iniusually severe does the lake freeze over; it is probable that in summer Lake Union is the warmer, it being shallow. 48 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Date. Time. 1806. Dec. 2... 2... D.oo n. Ill . ll.UUa. m . 3.20 p. Ill . 3.3U p. Ill . 3.4U p. Ill . 4.U0 p. Ill . Temperature! taken in Lake I'nion. Depth. Temperature. Date. Surface Bottom reel. OF. of. I8»fl. e 42 44 Dec. 2.... 21 42 44 2.... 12 42 42 3.... 48 43 42 3.... 36 43 42 3... 24 43 42 i Time. 4.20p.m,. 4.45 p. m . 10.30 a. Ill . 12. LI p. Ill . l.UOp. m . I Depth. I Feet. 24 27 48 48 9 Temptittture. Surfni'C Bottom. op cF. 43 42 42 43 43 42 43 42 41 42 I SIUSLAW RIVER, OREGON. In 1894 tlie State of Oregon eieoted a building ou tlie Siuslaw River at Mapletoi,. Oregon, with the intention of conducting salnioncultural operations 'it that phuc. Thi.s ' iddiug finally reverted to the original owner of the laud upon which it wiis locateJ. Believing that this station could be successfully and prolitably operated, tlic owner, through Mr. L. E. Bean, of Mapleton, kindly offered its free use to the Unitcil States Fish Commission for that purpose. In response to this offer Dr. Meek and .Mr. Alexander were instructed to visit the station and make such examination as would determine the i robability of its being operated advantageously. Tlie prelimiiiiiiy inquiry, made early in September, showed that it would be necessary to catch tlie lisli at the Ashing ground, several miles below the station, and retain them in boxes until ripe. It was thought that this could be done and that the boxes could be floated on I lie tide up to the station. This could be determined only through experiiiuiiitation. I >i'. Meek was therefore instructed to return to Mapleton and thoroughly test the matter. General description of Siuxl'tn' River. — 'the Siuslaw River is one of the short coastal streams in Oregon who.se basin is confined entirely to the western slope of tlio Coast Range. From its mouth to its source is a distance of about 100 miles. It (ha ins a very broken country, which is quite heavily timbered. From the mouth of Wilih at Creek to near the month of Noitli Fork tlie river flows through a canyon .^ to 3 nnU'.s in width. The hills or mountains) on each side of the cauj'ou arc from 200 to over l,ilil() feet above the river and are very steep. At the mouth of North I'ork is a large area which is covered by w.tter only at high tide. This region, known as the mud fiats, is on the north side of the river and includes most of the distaiu* between Acme am! Florence. At Florence the river turns nearly north and then curves slightly toward the west. The right-hand bank is, for the most part, a low bluff of soft sandstone; the left is bordered by sand hills. The Siuslaw River above the mouth of Wildcat Creek was not visited, but from what we were able to learii that portion is (piite similar in all resjiects to the part immediately below that creek, exceiit that gravel bars become nitich more freciueiil as you ascend the river. From the mouth of Wildcat Creek to the head of tide, a dista iice of about 24 miles, the bottom of the river is sandstone in mti(, over which, in many places, are scattered large, angular, somewliat water- worn, sandstoiui bowlders. Tlic river above head of tide water is from 60 to L'OO feet in width, and during the aumnnr in many places the wafer is less than 3 feet in depth. Tiie canyon is cut through sandstone, which in some places is nearly liorizontal. while in others it is tilted more or less, seldom more than 30'-\ The only portion noticed which showed signs of being metamorphic is a bluff on the right hi>nd ol liio river between Seatou and Mapleton. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 49 ttom. >F 42 4» 42 42 42 ;Mapietiii.. tliat idacf. biicli it \va? )erated, tlic the Uuitcil lek and .Mi. m as would [n-eliniiiiiiry tcU tlie lisli boxes until mtedon Hr; tat ion. IM'. the inatt>ig, efc— The fishermen on the Siuslaw River are with k-w exceptions Americans, Norwegians, and Indians. The fishing on the main river is done for the moso part by the Americans and Norwegians, on the North Fork mostly by Indians. i)nring the past season about throe-fourths of the fishermen were permanent resident.* on the river; the remaining one-fourth were mostly from the Columbia River, and in general they restricte!i)!!g season. The distance from the head of tido to the mouth of the river is ai/ou' 2H iiul'.»s. ComMiei'cial fishing on the Siuslaw is carried on by gill nets, sciwt an'i trolling lines, but mostly by gill nets. The gill nets operated by the fishern.eii » .igaged in drifting arc from 100 to 150 fathoms long; they are used only on the lo ver 8 miles of the river, whtire the current is too swift during flood and ebb tides U, allow them to be set In the ordinary way. There are a great many sunken logs iiul trees infills ))ortion of the river, as well as further up the stream, and the d-^ilts are therelore usually short. All gill nets used on the river from the head of t'.ie water to within 8 miles of its mouth are set in ';he ordinary way. Tliey are all anchored by heavy r<)rl fathoms. That portion of the river in which gill nets are set varl^. ' •< i about 8 to l.'iC fathoms in width. The gil! nets also vaiy in length and, as ii., isherni.m contin«> bis fishing to anyone portion of the river, very little attention isi)aidto the law wliieii prohibits the use of pill nets reaching mo'e ',han one-tliird distance across the river. Nets set in the Siu.- to 80 bouts engaged in fishing on both the Hiushiw River and North Fork, using a total of about 10,000 fathoms of net. The seine was operated by (5 men and I hor e, and was equivalent to 3 or 4 boats. lllir.f.B 52 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The legal fisbiDg season extends from September 1 to November 1. Some of tlip fishermen begin fishing as soon as the law permits, bnt the majority do not commence until the cannery begins operations. Tests made in August and early in Seijtemhcr showed that the chinook salmon did not arrive in considerable numbers until alxnit the 10th of September. They began to enter the river in the early part of August. Very few were caught in the lower part of the river after the middle of October. In the vicinity of Mapleton, however, a good many were taken as late as the last of Otto ber. They nioved uj) the river apparently very slowly, evidently remaining for n p(»nsiderable tirae in the deeper portions of the river. Xt Point Terrace the water is 56 feet deep; near the mouth of Martin Creek tlic '." is from 25 to 30 feet in depth. A large number of chinooks remain in tlitse places (or are thought to, at least) until they become red and distorted. They seem to be very inactive. Gill nets set near these places catch very few. Fishermen sny that as soon as the first fall rains come and the water in the river freshens up a little the fish become very active and are easily caught in large numbers. No special edint is ever made to catch the chinooks from Point Terrace to head of tide after about the loth of October. Many of those taken after this date are so white-meated that they ar> worth not over 5 cents each, and tliey are usually thrown overboard by tlit' fishermen. Some fishermen think that many chinooks spawn on the margins of these deeper holes, but there is no positive evidence of this further than that late in the fishing season a few ripe females are caught near or in these deep boles. October 28 and 29, just after the first important fall rains, about 50 chviiooks w»Me caught near Mapleton, which was the largest catch at this place daring the season. A few of these were ripe and others nearly so. These fish were evidently just leaving the deep hole near the mouth of Murtin Creek about three quarters of a mile below Mapleton. The larger portion of this catch was rejected by the cannery. The fall rains not only increase the amount of water in the river and freshen tlie lower portion of the stream, but they also lower the tehipcluturo of the water. Tliese are doubtless the main factors causing the salmon to leave the d'.sep holes and resume their run upstream. Salmon ordinarily reach their spawning-grounds before they are rii)e, but there is considerable evidence that they sometimes do not enter the river until almost ripe. Mr. Leonard Christianson did considerable surf fishing in November, 18!>5, ami informed us that he caught a few ripe chinooks then. Eggs were forced from them while the fish were dying on the shore. Tliis, however, is probably unusual. The North Fork being a much smaller stream than the main river and comparatively few white men fishing on it, it seemed that it was of very little importance as a fisliin;' stream. Late in October it was learned tlnit many chinooks were spawning all alon.u the stream above tide water. On October 23 and 24 the North Fork was examined for some distance both above and below Minerva. The water was so stained tinit salmon could be seen only in shallow water on the gravel bars. These when frightened by our approach at once disappeared in deep water. A few were much mutilated and in a dying condition; in fact, all seen were more or less mutilated. North Fork, though not a large stream, has from tide water to a distance of about S miles abo\e a number of excellent spawning beds, and all showed much evidence of having been so used this year. 0!i the 26th of October about 17 chinooks were cauglit. all sp( nt fish and all more or less mutilated. As these spawning-beds are only about 8 to Ki I SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 53 ome of tlie commence Septeinhcr lutil ab(Mit of August, Btober. Ill st of Octo iuing for a 1 Creek tlic in iu tlicse They seciii lerinen say ? up a little )ecial eHort ifter about leated that sard by tlie ins of tlicsc late :u tlie i*iooks woie the season. iust leaviii;: mile bt'ldw fresbei) tlie ter. Hifso and resuiiii' but there is almost liiic. , 18!>5, ami i from tlu'iii al. inpar•• UoxXu. I. Bos No. 2. Bos No. 3. Box No. 4. 12 4 4 2 (8) (8) 8 6 8 ' ! 1 25 i 1 20 1 27 (3) Oct. lt«5 6 to \'l 4 3 i;) to le 17 to2:t 6 « 24 to 27 2 80 58 18 38 12 42 4 12 After the taking of spawn began, October 2(5, the fish were shifted about from one box to another, and, though a few continued to die, no aceurafe record was kept. The mortality was greatest in No. 1 and least in No. 4. The crowded condition of the fish in No. 1 was doubtless a feature which contributed to the loss. After October 20, when spawn faking began, the fish were shifted about from box to box, and it was therefore impossible to keep an accurate record of the number dying p 56 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. in each as originally apportioned. The total number that died after October 27, how ever, was 18, and on November 15 a sudden rise in the river broke open box No. 1 and 30 lish escaped. The total loss, therefore, was 112 dead and 30 escaped. The 70 which were left were spawned. Of this number, 3(5 were females and 34 males; to this number should be added 8 females and 8 nmles taken from tlic gill nets at Mapleton : these 80 (44 females and 42 males) were spawned at different times between October 2(5 and November 1'). The total number of eggs taken is stated by Mr. L. E. Beau Ui have been 217,000. An examination of a great maiiy of the lish which died showed that some liaii received internal injuries which probably caused tlieir death. Others which showed no internal injuries exhibited severe bruises which doubtless hastened their death. Particular pains were taken with the lish in Box No. 4. Care was taken in handling them when they were Hrst placed in the box. The box had been constructed vith unusual care by making it smooth inside and placing the boards close togethci-. '^o as to admit but little light, and it was anchored at Mapleton in a secluded place here the fish were subjected to the minimum amount of disturbance. As a result, u higher percenta»re of success was attained with this box than with the others. With Nos. 1, 2, and 3 i o principal factors which were detrimental were the following: 1. Too many fish were put in each, resulting in too close crowding. 2. The interspaces were too wide, thus letting in too much light and making the fish more restless. 3. The rough surfaces on the inside of these boxes caused injuries to the fish striking against them. 4. Some of the fish were not handled with proper care when jdaced in the boxes. 5. During the interval between the arrival of th^se boxes at Mapleton and the spawning of the fish they were kept in a place where the fish were subjected to some annoyance. If the fish in these three boxes had been treated with the same care and attention as was bestowed upon Bex No. 4, it is quite certain that the measure of success would have been greatly increased. Of the 217,000 eggs taken Mr. Beau reports that ho hatched and successfully liberated 180,000. CondmionH. — These experiments seem to demonstrate that it is entirely practi- cable to retain salmon intended for spawning purposes for a period of at least six weeks iu properly constructed live-boxes, but in order to operate Siuslaw hatchery with the best results, particular attention should be given to the following details: 1. The boxes should be constructed with as much care as possible. They should be made smooth inside. No interspaces should be left in the tup uor in the u))per third or half of the sides and ends, and those elsewhere should not exceed 2 or 3 inches in width. It is also desirable that the boxes be made (5 to 8 feet deep instead of 4J feet. 2. It will prove advantageous to get as large a proportion as itossible of the flsh desired toward the close of the run, as they will be more nearly ripe and will not have to be kept so loug in the boxes. It is also believed that these fish are not so restless in the boxes as are tho.se caught earlier in the run. 3. The fish should be handled carefully when placing them in the boxes, so that they may not receive any serious bruises. 4. Too many fish should not be placed in any one box. In our judgment eac,h flsh should be allowed at least 20 cubic feet of space. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 67 TSILTCOOS AND WHOAHINK LAKES, OREGON. The iiiveatiffatioii of these lakes was undertaken in response to a petition signed by numerous citizens living in their immediate vicinity and addressed to the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries under date of June !.'{, liSOO. The petitioners iisked that Tsiltcoos Lake be stocked with black bass and that a j)lant of brook trout he made in Whoahink Lake. To determine the advisability of complying with these requests, Dr. Meek was directed to make an examination of these lakes, particularly ill regard to tiie following points: 1. Are these waters suitable as to temperature, quality, and food supply for the species requested ? 2. Wonld the introduction of these species have any detrimental ettect ui)on the food or game fishes native to those waters or to waters into which the introduced species might spread? 3. Would the species which it is proposed to introduce probably thrive so well as to afford, after a few years, better lishing than is now furnished by the native specvies! Three visits were made by Dr. Meek to these lakes, the first on October 7 and 8, when only Tsiltcoos Lake was seen ; the next October 15 to 10, during which time considerable work was done on each of the lakes; the third trip November 28 to December 7, when the lakes were examined carefully and extensive collections made. The conclusion reached from a study of the conditions obtaining at these lakes is tli;\t it is not advisable for the Commission to stock them with black bass or brook trout. The planting of black bass in Tsiltcoos Lake would prove detrimental to the silver-salmon fishery carried ou in the outlet of that lake, and the pntbability that ilie bass would in time spread to the Siuslaw and the Umpqua is too great to warrant the risk. As to placing brook trout in Whoahink Lake, it is not believed that that species would ever become so well establis^hed as to afford better fishing than the native species supplies. These lakes are already abundantly supplied with a native trout which attains a weight of 2 pounds or more, which possesses excellent game qualities, aud whose tlesh is firm and sweet. If these trout are properly protected, tliereis no reason why Whoahink Lake should not become au important fishing-resort. The detailed report upon these lakes follows: TSlLT(;OOS ANT) OTHER LAKES. Between the mouths of the Siuslaw and Umpqua rivers, and almost bordering tlie sand hills along the shore, are three large lakes and a few small ones. The inves- tigations were restricted to the large lakes; these lie in a line parallel with the ocean beach and comprise at least three-fourths of the distance between the Siusbi iV and Cmpqua rivers. They are quite peculiar on account of their great irregularity in outline. The amount of shore line as compared with the area of each is very great. Whoahink Lake, or Clear Lake, as it is more commonly known, is about 2 miles trom the Siuslaw Elver at Glenada. This lake is very irregular in outline and deei)er than the other two. Except a small portion in the southwest corner, it is surrounded by hills from 50 to about 200 f-^et in height. The hills immediately surrounding the lake are c(Uiiposed of a soft, irregularly stratified sandstone, and evidently of a nuu'h newer formation than the higher hills to the southeast. The inlets are only ravines, some of which contain many small springs. The points of land projecting into the 58 BULLETIN OP THE UNITKD STATES FISH COMMISSION. lake are beiiiR quite rapidly worn away by roiiKli water, forming blurts. The surfiK <• of the lake at one time wa.s sonu'what lower than at present; this is evident from the fact that on a shoal place on the east side (near the middle of section 14) stumps ii trees are seen some 10 feet below the surface. The former outlet of tli(^ lake was into the outlet of Tsiltcoos Lake. A few years ago this outlet became closed by shiftiiij.', sand, causing the water to rise in tlie lake at least () feet above its present level. \ new outlet, a short distance to the east of the old one, was dug to Tsiltcoos LaKc some four or five years ago. The new outlet was not only intended to lower the siii face of the lake, but to attord a water power for a sunill sawmill. It has never been so used. The material through which the outlet was dug is " 'ine clay, so compact tlnit it erodes very slowly. In the extreme ends of the arms oi' the lake are some t'lles and small areas of other watcr-i)laiit8. The surface of Whoahink Lake is about 15 to 20 feet above that of Tsiltcoos Lake, from which it is less than half a mile distant. The timber on the hills bordering the lake was nearly ail destroyed l>y fire some sixty years ago. It is being replaced by a growth of lir, alder, hemlock, maple, rhododendron, huckleberry, and a vigorous growth of ferns. To the west and bordering the sand hills about half a mile distant from tlie lake are many bull i)ines. The shore was everywhere so snaggy that a seine could imt be used and our collecting a|)paratus consisted only of gill nets and trot lines. This lake is reported as having very few fishes in it, and our experience confirms this view. The water is clear, though much less so than in the mountain lakes of Idaho; tin* depth is usually from 30 to 78 feet. The water is not very cold, as may be seen from the following recorded temperatures: Uate. Hour. Tem. per- atiire uf nir. Temperatiirn uf water. Sur- face. Depth. Bot- turn. 1896. Ort. 18 18 19 19 19 4.30 p.m. OF. 63 op. 62 54 72 30 64 66 or. 61 56 60 61.5 57 S.Ma.m. .58 61.5 Tsiltcoos lake is larger and more irregular than Whoahink Lake. The main body of the lake is about 2 miles in extent from north to south, and 1 to 2 miles from cast to west. It is also supi)lied with several arms, usually about a fourth of a mile wido and from ^ to 1^ miles long and extending in ditt'erent directions. Tsiltcoos Lake is comparatively shallow. In summer its greatest depth is about 17 feet, its averaj;'' deptli being from 10 to 11 feet. During the rainy season tlie water is from 0 to 10 feet deeper. The bottom is a soft, black mud, like tliat of Whoahink and Tahkenitcli lakes. Except at a few intervals the shore is bordered by a rich growth of tides, in the shallow portions around the shore the tules extend into the lake about a fourth of a mile. There is also considerable swamp vegetation in and about the tules. Tlic surrounding country is (juite similar to that around Whoahink. On the east, and at one point on the south, are bluft's of a dark, compact sandstone of much older formation than the bluffs around Whoahink Lake. There are also two timbered islands in this lake, composed of this older sandstone; the larger is about half a mile long and about an eighth of a mile wide. That portion of the country bordering the lake on the soiit h and southwest was not burnt over during the big fire of about sixty years ago. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMUIA KIVKR HASIN IN 1KU6. 59 Tsiltcoos Lake Iisih two inlets, (i to 8 miles loiij,', iMiiple Creek af the iioitlieast iiiid TsilteooH Creek to the southeast eonier of tiie lake, lii siiuiiiier these are little more than small brooks, but during the rainy season they beeome niueh swollen and atVord a spawning-gnmnd for many silver salmon, and possibly a few others, which enter tlie hike. It is said tliat about 0 or 7 years ago many more salmon spawned in Mai)le Creek than at present. The outlet of Tsiltcoos Lake is quite small, especially so in summer and at low tide, (iill nets are put across the outlet at low tide and are so anchored and staked down that it is quite impossible for silver salmon, except the smaller ones, to pass them. October 17 a number of soundings and temperatures were taken in Tsiltcoos Lake. The temperature of the air at W.lii a. m. was 50° ; that of the bottom in various parls of the lake, at depths from 7 to 17 feet, varied from .W,.")'' to ~>0.5^, Tsiltcoos Creek (Ten-mile Creek), the outlet of Tsiltcoos Lake, is nbout 5 miles long, while the distance from the lake to the ocean in a direct line is about 2 miles. At low tiilc in summer there is barely water enough in the outlet to float a small tlat- hottom boat. At high tide the water in the outlet for its entire length is brackish. There is some commercial fishing, though the fishing season is short (this year from October 10 to about November 5). Many silver salmon enter the lake, as is evidenced by the number caught in our small gill nets. Fishermen report that salmon ;re often stranded on the beacii. About 100 silver salmon, (he first catch of the present season, were brought to the cannery on October l.'J. There is no reliable evidence that blue- hack salmon are ever found in this lake or its outlet, and only an occasional chinook js found. On October l(i and 17 the bar at the mouth of this creek at low tide com- pletely closed the outlet. This prevented salmon from entering and none had l»een taken since October 1.'). The fishermen were watching the surf closely to see if many salmon were near sliore. Ordimirily, if the bar is closed and many fishes are seen iu the surf, the fishermen resort to surf fishing until after the bar is opened. Tahkeniti'h, or Five-mile, Lake is very irregular in outline. Its greatest length fiom north to south is about U miles; east to west about the same distance. This lake consists of four large arms whose general directions are with the four cardinal ])oints. The eastern arm is the longest, the western the shortest, while the other two are about equal in length. The width of these arms varies from about one-eighth to three- (luarters of a mile. In the mouth of ''e smallest arm is a small timbered island. Tahkenitch Lake does not lie in the burnt region. The hills surrounding it rise abruptly to a height of usually about KM) feet, and are covered by a dense growth of tall tir trees of al)out 1^ to li feet in diameter. In the extreme end of the arms and in a few other places along the shore are found tales and other water vegetation similar to that in Tsiltcoos Lake. The bottom of the lake is a soft, black mud, like that found iu the two other lakes. The dei)th is very uniform, being from 10 to 22 feet. Five-mile Creek, the outlet of T >hkenitch Lake, has its origin in the distal end of the westerii arm, its ui)per end being shout 1 mile from the ocean. Its total length is about twice this distance. The sand hills extend almost to the lake. The isthmus separating Tahkenitch and Tsiltcoos lakes is rather low and narrow. ISo far as we could learn, the commercial fishing on Five-mile Creek is very similar to 'hat on Ten mile Creek. The catch has amounted, according to 1 Ion. A. W. Reed, of Gardiner, to an average of 5,000 silver salmon for each of the past three years. 60 BULLETIN OF THE UNITt'D STATES FIS'.i COMMIBDIOr UPPKR KLAMATH LAKE, OREGON. In 1880 the ITiiiled States l-'isli Ooiiimissioii planted 400,0(M> whiteflRh fry (Con- genus rhtpei/ormis) in the Houthern end of Tiiper Khuiiath Lake, iieai- Klamath Falls. Ample time h.^vjnj,' elapsed to enable this species to beeome well established, observa tioua were made by Messrs. Meek and Alexander for the purpose of determining tin- result of the plant. Pelican Bay was reached on the evening of October 31, and work was carried on in the upptr part of the lake until November 7, when the camp was moved to the lou «i end of the lake near the outlet, where the investigations were continued until the lltli. During the time spent at ♦his lake the weather was nnnsually stormy, and it was exceedingly difficult to carry on the investigations in a manner at all satisfactory. There wert only two really good days for work during tlie entire time. For the purpose of determining the result of the whitefish plant gill uel s of suitable; mesh were set in various places iu Pelican Ihiy and in the lower end of the lake. Collections of native fishes were also made, and as much time as imssible was given to the study of the fish-food 8upi)ly of the lake, which was fou' ' to be abundant and rich in species of Entomostraca, insect hirvie, and other invert e life. The fisii life of the lake does not consist of many sj but the Midividuals of several of the species are very numerous. These will be discussed fully in the list ol fishes at the end of this report, but it seems proper to call attention in this connection to the suckers and trout. There are five or six species of suckers iu this lake ami each of them attains a large size, which renders them of groat iniportance to tlic Indians on the Klamath Reservation. In the spring of the year, during tlie spawniii;; time of these 'fish, vast numbers are caught in traps and by hook and line by the Indians .»iid cured for future use. TLe trout are also very common and reach a very large size. Trout weighing s to 10 pounds are not at all unusual, examples of 10 to 12 pounds are nrtt rare, ami occasionally one weighs as much as 14 i)ounds. Trout can be taken rea to l,rt(K) fe "t above the lake, 'toward its southern end the lake becomes narrow. Its shores are mostly marshy and bordered by tnlea and willows. It also contains considerable water vegetation, the same as at its north end. There are two ishinds in the lake, Bare Island and Buck Island, each al)out 500 feet high. North of the upper end of Upper Klamath Lak«! is a large area of tule marshes, t» to 10 miles wide and 10 to IL' miles long. Lying in this marsh is a small lake which has sometimes been improperly called the Upper Klamath Lake. It is now regarded as being only a part of Upper Klanmth Lake. It is about 2 miles from the main lake and is about 3 miles wide and 0 mih's long. Through this marsh tlow several small streams, the principal ones being Sevenmile Creek and. Wood IJivev. Williamson Uiver, the principal stream tlowing into Upper Klamath Lake, is of considerable size and much importance in its relations to the fishes of the lake. About 10 miles above its mouth it receives from the east a large tributary known as Sprague Uiver. About half a mile above its mouth it is 125 feet wide and 10 feet deep. It Hows before entering the lake through a low, flat, marshy plain covered with tules and swamp grass. On the banks of the river is a rich growth of willows. The current is very moderate. We rowed about 2 miles or more up the river and noticed in) important change in it. The water in the river was very dark, evidently stained to some extent by vegetation. The small lake just below Klamath Falls is about 'i mile wide and 2 miles long. This lake is surrounded by a rich growth of tules and some willows. The depth about half a mile below Klamath Tails was 15 feet. On November 0 the surface temperature was 42JO; bottom temperature in 15 feet of water, 42Jo. We set one large and two small gill nets in this lake on November 9 and took them up on November 11, obtaining 4 chubs ( fjeuvincm bicohn-) and 2 trout. The outlet of U])per Klamath Lake is Link Kiver, a short stream not over 1| miles long, consisting of a series of rapids and falls. Upper Klamath Lake is a rather shallow body of water. The creek and estuary at Pelican Bay are from 2 to 8 feet deep in the upper part and from 0 to 17 feet in the lower portion. A line of souiHlings was run across the mouth of the estuary and the depth was found to be about 5i feet. Pelican Bay and the north end of the lake are very shallow. A line of soundings was run from the mouth of the estuary of Pelican Creek to the mouth of Williamson River, and 8 feet was the greatest depth found, while the average was not more than OJ feet. The bottom could be easily seen anywhere when the surface of the water was smooth. It seemed to be composed of loose, decaying vegetation, into which the 62 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. sounding lead would usually sink several inches. We were unable to take any sound ings in the middle of the lake between Tare and Buck islands. While this is doubt less the deepest portion, we were informed that the water even here probably does not exceed 30 or 40 feet in depth. 1'he south end of the lake is a little deeper than tiie upper portion. The grente«t .tepth was found near the outlet and was 20 feet. 'J'lic portion 8<^uth of Buck Island will not average more than 12 or 13 feet deep. The temperature observations made at Upper Klamath Lake are given in the tabh' which folli>ws. All tlio water temperatures except those at the surface were taken :;t the botton\ Owing to the shallowness of the lake the temperatu'-e of its Avatei' is everywhere aflFected by that of the air. u, Date. Nov. 2 Honr. StAtioD. Tom- I Tein- p»ir- I Depth \ prr- ntiir«of of water, atareof uir. I water. 9 II . m Near month of I'elican ( 'reek . B.20 a.m North li-ii i.i I't^liiau E.ttuary 9.2U a. Ill IVlican Buv 0.20 a. m the U. S. ('ommissioner of Fish and Fisheries received a lequest to plant trout in Crater Lake, Oregon. This riMpiest was made by citizens (if INfedford, Ashhuid, and Klamath Falls, and by tlie Mazanms, a club of mountain climbers with headquarters at Portland, wliose members take an active and intel- ligent interest in di.scovering and making known the scenic and other natural attractions of the Northwestern States. Hefore complying- with the recpiest, the Commissioner decided to have nnide such investigations as would determine wliether the physical and biologic conditions existing at Crater Lake are such as will permit fish to thrive in it. These investigations were made by Professor Evermann and I'rof. C. O. Cox, of Mankato, Minnesota. Crater Lake is about 100 miles from the nearest railroad station, and is reached l)y a wagon road, which has a number of steej), rough grades. The Mazanuis had selected this lake as the place of their annual meeting for 1800, and the Fi.sh Com- mission party by their invitation made the trip to the lake with them, thus obviating the necessity of employing special conveyances and nniking the trip comparatively inexpensive. The party left Ashland by wagon Augu.st 1.'5 and reached tlie lake on the morning of August 10. Work was carried on at the lake until August -I, when tlie party set out upon tlie return trip to Ashland, which was reached August 20. Crater Lake* lies in the top of Mount Mazama and on the very summit of the Cascade Range, about midway between Mount Shasta and Mount IIocl. Its latitude is 42° 56' N. and its longitude i; 122° 7' W. In many respects it is one of the most interesting natural wonders i;: America. It is approximately circular and averages a little niore-than 5 miles in diMmeter. It is completely encircled by a bold escarpment ranging from .100 to 2,000 feet in height above the surface of *he water. Although the steep slopes of the escarpment are in some jilaces well wooded, they are generally cither clitu' or talus, descending to the lake and plunging into deep water. There are many places where the walls are almost perpendicular, and at only two or three places is it possible to descend to the water's edge. The lake has practically no shores or iienches; only in a few places is there sufficient beach to aftbrd standing room. The Mverage diameter of this great pit at the top is .'>.7 miles and its depth is 4,000 leet. The highest part of the wall surrounding this lake is 8,228 feet above sea level, while I lie surface of the lake is (i,2.S0 feet above the sea. " In our Keiieral (lesrriptiou of tliia Jake we h»ve made free use of the excellent acooiiut given tiy Mr .1. f*. Oilier, of llie I', s. (Jedlonieiil Survey. Mr. I»illir Iihh niiHli- ;i ciirefiil topojfrapliie Hurvey cif the region and iiosseMSes a tborough and intiinule aciiuiiliiiauco with (,'rator Lake. Mira WWBII 64 BUI.,LETIW OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The lioi of the bivain uow occupied by Crater Lake is tlie present summit of wliat was once a tnountain cone. That this is ainiply the friistunj of what wos once a com- plete mouiitiiii' cone is evidenced by the attitude of the sheots of lava and ejiv twl volcanic material whicii form the riin. They all incline away Iron tlie lake, indicat- ing a comujoii .source from ii crater that surmounted a huge volcano high in air altove the place now occui'ied by tin? lake. At that time, of course, neither basin nor luke existed. Mr. Dillor thinks that this great volcanic mountain, recently named Mouiit Mazamo,, must have extended about 5,000 feet higher than the remaiuing fragnicni, thus making iLs heiglit about H,000 fieet, nearly that of Mount Shasta. What beeiiino of the top of Mount Manama is au iuterestirg question. The geologists are convinced that at some period ii its history the molten interior, instead of escaping througii tlie crater in the usual way, found an outlet at a lower level. The top of the niouiilaiu being thu?? Jufl; auieie .shell and -iv ithout adequate 8upi)ort, fell in and became engiilicd in the vast pit wliich the lake now partly tills. The pumice upon the surfa to 2,000 feet. In the eastern portion of the lake is a great level floor, with a nearly uniform dei)th of 2,000 feet for a distance of more than .3 unlcs. In the veeiern part are three or iriore small cones, one reaching within 93 feet of the surface of the water, while anotlior rlse.s 84r» feet above the water. This is Wizanl Island, a peri'cct cinder cone, with symmetrical slopes, and in its top a crater 80 tct'f dee[). This cone is comjiosed chiefly of red lajtilli, and so nev/ and fresii that it is sparsely forested and shown no trace of weathering. About the base of this islaiul cone isj a rough fringe of lavn, which has spread in all dicections t^ far beneatli ilie watt r's level. Tlie sliaUoweal parts of the lake lie west and south of Wizard Jslaiul. The average depth in thiw area probably does not exceed loO feet. Crater Lake hasj m itiier ialet nor vj.^!ble outlet. The catchment area is scarcely greater than the lake itvseif. During the summer season severil streams trickle down ihe walls from the snow banks which lie within, the rim; these streams are all vt ly small, but a few of them c(mtinue throughout the summer, as some of the snow banks lying on the southern walls never entirely disappear. The amount of precipitatioo is believed to be greater than the evaporation, but the level of the lake does not api)eiir to be rising. It is therefore quite probable that thcie ie a subterranean outlet, and tlie large springs in the vicinity of Fort Klanmtli may have their source in Crater Lake. The wafer of Cniter Lake is cold, fairly pure, and ext-eediugly clear. Thou^ii suftidently purfc for ail liffh-cultural i)urplacid blue waters everything is so perfectly mirrored that one can not tell where the real ends aud the mirror begins. Near the west shore rises Wizard Island, symmetrical and beautiful in all its proportions, while around tiie lake is a circle of 20 miles of nearly pierpendicuhu- wall, hundreds of feet high and unrivaled in its scenic elTects. Temperatures. — Considerable time was devoted to the making of temperature observations in different parts of the lake aud at different depths. Tltc following table gives the surfa<'e temperatures recorded: Date. Hour. Stat lull. A\lg. 50 :>o 20 20 21 22 22 i?. i II. Ill From aliorc in Ea);li: (.'ove 9.40 a. ill On«-t*oiirth mile from aliore in Knjfle Cove. . . il ;'i5 ft. in One roilr. I'rom rttinr»i in Kugti^ Cove W 10 11, m Oiie-fouilli iiiilo from Wizard Lslaud 1.40 p. ni Onpfonrtli iiiilo oft I'liiintoni Sliiji i.ii a. in J'roni alioio in Ka^lu Cove (>.U ». ni ilo 1 p. ni Near eeiiter oriakt' 3 p. m About 2^ iiiili'^ riist nf Wixaril l»1ani1 4 ji. ui ilo Temper- ature. = F. 59 57 !)6. b 58 liO 55.0 56 62 01 6! The following iutermedi ite and bottom temperatures were taken, with a Xegretti- Zarabra deei)-sea tlierinoim tri]>ped by means of a propeller, such as is used by the Alhutross ''1 her deep sea temperature work: D»te. ' I I 18W1. I Aiif^. 20 I ' 2(> 22 Hour. Station. Deptb. Feet. 93 Him 11 a. m At bottom 4 niile .^ontli oC Wi/.anl Inland 1.4(1 p. Ill ; At bottom J mill' otV I'bantoio Sliip :i p. Ill About 2^ iiiilt-s oast of \\'i/.ai'd laluntl ' r>;>.'> 4p.m ilo 1,04(1 5 p. lu At liotttim 2} mileH euHt of Wizard Island .-. 1, 023 i i Temper- ature. °V. 43.5 44 3D 41 40 The vertical stries taken on August 22, at a station about 2J miles east from the southeast corner of Wizard Island, proved of very great i;it.erest. The surfaeo tem- jierature was Gl"; at 555 feet it was 'M°; at 1,040 feet 41 . and at 1,023 feet, which was at the bottom, 40°. In all other American lakes, so far as known, the coldest water in summer is always at the bottom. The effectof the sun in heating the water of lakes does not ordinarily reach to any great depth. Observations recently made upon Lake Champlain by Prof. George (", Whipi)le and our own observations made in 1800 upou Vlturas and Wallowa lakes showed tiiat the sun's heat did not much affect the temperature of the water beyond a depth of 100 feet. If there be no error in the above observations, it seems that the waters of Crater Lake are still receiving heat from the rock upou which tiiey rest. The heat of the old volcano has not entirely disai)peared. The coldest water is neither at the surface nor at the bottom, but at some intermediate depth. The results of these observations are so unexpected, and the indicated conditions are so unusual, that the matter should receive further attention. The only possible source of error which has yet suggested F. C. U. 18D7-5 66 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Itr -f Jt '?•. itself is that the propeller may not always have worked properly. It is possible (thouj^li improbable) that in some caaes, when beginning to h.aul up the tlu-rniometer tlie propeller failed to reverse until some moments later, in which iiase the temperature reading would be for some depth other than the one desired. The observations should be carefully repeated before the conclusions suggested are accepted. During the trip of the Mazama party from Ashland to Crater Lake and return ji good many temperature observations were made. All of these possess a certain value and it has been thought proper to record them in this connection. The air temperatures were all in the shade unless otherwise stated. The instrument used was a Wilder protected thermometer. MiscManeout temperatures recorded on the Crater Lake trip, August IS to 26, 1S96. Date. Honr. SUtion. Air. Water. Date. Hour. Station. Air. Water. OF. OF. OF. OF. Aqr.13 9.10 p.m. Hunt's ranch, 4,400 feet elevation. 54 ' Aug. 18 1 5.00 a.m. Creek at Crane Creek camp. 41 U 5.00 a. m. do 41 18 ....do Air at Crane Creok 36 U 9.10 p. m. Camp at Lake of the 61 camp. Wood Kivcr at bridge. WoddH. 18 8.30 a. m. 4.'; 15 5.00 a.m. do 46 18 6.30 p. m. Camp 2i miles from 43 15 12.18 p.m. Creok on way to Mount Pitt. 54 Crater Lake, 6,100 feet. IS 2.110 p.m. Spring on croek on 42.76 19 6.25 a. m. do 49 3fl way to Mount Pitt. 19 1.20 p. m. Camp Mazama, Crater Lake, 7,185 feet. 66 16 4.00 a. III. Cam]} on 8ido of Mount 60 Pitt. 19 3.00 p.m. Siiiall stream on trail 45 16 9.42 a. m. SiimmitofMoiintPitt, 56 down to lake. 16 17 11.30 a.m. 4.40 a. m. il. 760 feet. Summit of Mount Pitt, 9,760 fufct, in HUH. Camp returning from 83 37 19 20 20 20 11.00 p.m. 6.00 a. m. 12.00 m. 10.00 p. m. Camp Mazama 66 64 67.6 62 do do Mount Pitt. 21 6.00 a. m. .... >.o 61 ,' 17 17 12.30 p. in. ....do Largo spring at Poll- can liay. Small spring at Peli- 43 43.6 21 21 2i 8.45 a. m. 2.30 p. ni. 8.00 p. in. do 58 61 68.5 ( do do I'liu l!ay. 21 10.20 p. m. do 66 17 ....do Creek 100 yards liclow 44.75 22 6.00 a. m. do 62 17 ....do spring at Pelican Cn'fld 40(1 Mirds below 45.6 22 22 23 «.00 u. m. 4.0Up. m. 7.35 a. in. do ,lo 60 59 65 '.'.'.'.'.'.'.J .... do spring aJ Peliran 23 9.00 a. m. Camp Ma/.ania, Catlie 66 35.5 17 ....do Bay. Creek at entrance of Pelican Bay. 47 23 23 12.20 p.m. 3.00 p. m. drill Siiring. Camp .\f azBiua do 69.5 70.5 1 17 17 ....do 2.14 p.m. Air in sliade at Peli. can Bay. do 77 80 23 24 24 0.00 p.m. 5.00 a. m. 9.00 p. m. do 69 62 61 i do Hogiie Kivcr camp. 17 8.00 p. ni. Crane Creek camp, 3,000 feet. 52 2.300 feet elevation. Riigiie Kivcr camp Jai'ksoii'H ranch camp, 1.31)0 feet. 1 25 5.50 a. m. 46 1 17 10.20 p. ni. do 44 25 9.00 p.m. 05 17 CIO Cn«k at Crane Creek ii.s 1 camp. ' 26 6.00 a. m. Jackson's ranch camp. 67 Life of Crater Lake.— Crater Lake contains no fishes; lakes without inlets or outlets seldom or never do, for fislies naturally get into one body of water only by swimming to it from some other body of water with which it is connected. Fislii'.s never airpear <1e novo in any lake or stioani ; if tiiey appear there at all it is because they can swim there from some other lake or stream. Breaks in water continuity, or even considerable fulls, are absolute barriers beyond which fishes can not go. So with Crater Lake; it has never had any inlet or visible outlet connecting it with any otiicr body of water in which fLshes are found and through which fishes might reach it. Mammals and birds e.\ceptcd, only .{ species of vertebrates were found within the run of Crater Lake, viz, a snake, a frog, and a salamander. Tlie snake is the small headed striped snakti, Tlui.iinophis hptovephitlnit (Haird iV: Girard). Two specimens were obtained on Wizard Island. It was not seen elsewlieie. :! 5« SAT.MON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVKR BASIN IM 1896. 67 e (though neter tlie iiperature ns should [ return a a certain Tlie air used was Air. Walir. OF. i OF. 41 36 . ir< ij 40 39 86 \ 45 56 54 : 67 5 ' 62 51 58 61 58.5 55 52 60 5» 65 66 •J5.5 «9.5 1 70.5 50 62 61 46 65 57 it Itilets or ter only by •d. Fislics ; is because iitinuity. <>r o. So with li any otliiT sach it. I within tlie i« (Haird ^; nelsewluTi'. One frog, Ka7ia aurora liaird & Giraid, was also obtaine* on Wizard Ishmd. Others were seen about the spring bulow the ciinip. The salama.aler is AmhhiHioma macrotlaotylum Haird. It is by far the most abundant and most interesting vertebrate occurring at Crater Lake, (^ur first sDCcitnons were I'ound on the shore under lled- cloud Clift's, where wo found it to be exceedingly abundant. It was afterwards found in cousiderabio numbers along the shore in Eagle Cove and a few were obtained about Wizard Island. More than a hundred speciniena were collected and many more could have been obtained. The majority of the individuals seen were adults, only -i or 5 still retaiuing the pxtornal gills were seen. These salamanders were found under the rocks just above the edge of the water of the lake. Sometimes as many as a dozen or fifteen were found under a single flat stone. These three species are not uncommon throughout western Oregon and Washington, Invertebrate life was found to be fairly abundant, and a few plants were found. By using fine-meshed surface towing nets considerable collections were made. The following is a list of the species obtained : PLANTS. Algw : Xontoo Lp. ? Colonies common. Melosira tjranulaia . Not common. Pleurosigma Hp. ? Several speeimenH. Surirella ap. f Not common. ANIMALS. Cntstacea : Cyclops alhidiis. Not common. I'jiclopi serriilatiiii. Not common. Vaphnia piiJex puHcaria. Very abundant. Allorclieates denlata. Not common. Insecta : Chifonomns aY}.1 Larvn'. Very common. Ephcmerid larvm. Common. Hmnophilut or caddis lly. Very abundant. ANIMALS— ( 'ontinued. Insecta — Continued. Laccophilim larvic. Not common. Deroni'otes strialellKS. (Common. Dytisciw sp. f Not rare. Vermes : (iordius sp.f One spi-cimun obtained. A species of leccb. Not common. Molliisca : I'hysa sp. t Not common. Batrachia : Amblystoma macrodactyliim . liana aurora, liepiilia : Thamnophii leploeephalun. These crustaceans and insect larva; are lall excellent food for trout, and were found in considerable abundance, particularly in Eagle Cove. The small entomostracan, Daphiiia jvilex pulicarla, was the most abundant species, and large numbers could be seen during favorable afternoons swimming at the surface in Eagle Cove. The three other species of crustaceans seemed far less abundant. Caddis-fly cases were very abundant on the under sides of rocks lying in the edge of the water. A small bhack leech was quite common on the rocks in Eagle Cove and about Wizard Island. The small gastropod {rhysa) was found about Wizard Island in limited numbers, a species of water-beetle {I>ythcii>i) was pretty common, and a .single specimen of Oordius, or hair snake, was found near the shore of the island. There are no water-plants of any size in the lake. On the rocks about Wizard Island the gelatimms masses of colonies of ^'ontoc were common. A number of speci mens of the diatom y Pleurosigma, were obtained in the towing net, and a few specimens of two other algic were secured. Summing uj) the matter, it may be said that while the coiulitions at Crater Lake are not the most favorable to fish-life, there seems to be no reason why trout in limited numbers might not thrive in it. The water is all that could be desired as to purity and temperature, but the depth is so uniformly great that only small areas of bottom suitable for spawMiing beds are found. The entire absence of all other fish-life and the 68 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. very limited vegetation supported by the lake reduce the food supply almost wholly to small free-swimming crustaceans and insect larva-. JJoth are present in consideraldc abundance, but probably not in suflHcient quantities to su[)i)ort a large number of fishes. On the other hand, fishes planted in this lake will have no rapacious fishes with wliidi to contend; the struggle will, therefore, be wholly with tlie physical environment and the food supply. It has, tlierefore, been recommended that a plant of trout be made in Crater Lake, and it is hoped tliat the Ma/amas who visit the lake hereafter may malic observations to determine the result of the experiment. The best species to plant is the black-speckled trout of Lake Tahoe, Salmo mykimi henaliatci. m It: LIST OF FISHES. In the following list of fishes we give only those species of which specimens wore obtained by us during the investigations of 1896. In the nomenclature and seiiueuce of species we follow Jordan «& Evermanu's (Jheck-List,* recently published: 1. Eutosphenus tridentatus (Giiirtlner). Three-toothed f.amprey. A Hpucimeu, 18 iiiuhes lon^, was obtained .Inly 23 in Altiiras Inlet, 1 inilo above the lake, iiiid several Itirvsit were dug out of the sand at th« head of the lake ■Inly 25. Comparing the large Hpuciinrn with one 24 inches long, obtained by Mr. Willianis at liig I'ayetto Lake, some important diHereuccs are noted. In the Payette example the dorsal lins are separated by a spaco equal to one-third the length of the base of the anterior fin, while the Alturas example has tho dorsals scarcely separated. The tins are also much higher in this specimen, the height of tho anterior dorsal being contained 3J times in head, mensureil to first gill-opening, or lij times in the height uf thesueoud. Tho infraor.il lamina has .5 cusps; the sunraoral has 3, the middle one being much Hmaller than the other two; the buccal teeth befor<> the month are uniciisjtid ; on each side of the oral opening are l teeth, the anterior and posterior ones of whicdi are bieuspid, while tlie other two are tricuspid. The arrangement of the teeth does not diH'er materially from tliat in the Payette specimen. The larva- range from li to 8} inches in total length. In all of these the tlorsal tin irt continuous, though deeply incised. An example 10} inches long was found attached to a chub in Upper Klamath Lake, November ID. 2. Aoipenser medlroBtriu Ayres. (treen Sturgeon. Common near the mouth of Siuslaw River; several taken in a seine near Acme in Soptciiihcr. measuring about 18 inches each in total length. At Gardiner, near the mouth of thi> l'in])(|un, a good many large sturgeon, probably .1. transmuiitaniit, were taken in November and December. 3. Pantosteus jordani Evermann. IVeiileni Itlnrk Snckir. During the season's work this sucker wits found only in Wallowa Lake, Oregon. Two siiiiill specimens were obtained i i the upper end of tho lake August 1.'4. 4. CatoBtomuB tBiltcooBensis, new species. Type No. 48479, U. S. Nat. Mus. ; cotypos No. 3«, U. S. F. C. and No. .5703, L. S. .Jr. Univ. Muf,. Type locality: Tsiltcoos Lake, Lane County, Oregon, where numerous specimens we'.e oblaiiii'd December 2, IXiMi, by Dr. Meek. Apparently most closely related to ('. ocrideiitaliH Ayros. Head 4i; depth 5; eye fii in head; snout '?; D. 13; A. 7: scales 1.3-65-8, ;U before the dorsal. Pectoral IJ^ in head; longest dorsal ray I'i ; base of dorsal 1 > ; longest anal ray li ; ventral 1?. liody rather slender, subterete; head small, snout long ami )>ointed; mouth inferior, overhung by the pro- .jocting snout; lips rather thin, one row of large papillie on upper lip, and al)out 2 irregular rows of smaller ones behind or inside of it; lower lip incised nearly to base, 1 or 2 rows of small paiull:' across the isthmus; lobi-s of lower lip moderately long and thin, tin- bases with papilla- merging into plications toward the tips. Eye quite small, the anterior edge of orbit at iiiiildle of ho.id I op of head flat or very slightly convex between tho eyes. Fins small; pectorals short and i nili,l; *A Check-List of the Fishes and Fish-like \'ertebrates of North and Middle America, in hV-jiort U. S. F. C. for 1895 (December 28, 1890), 207-590. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVKR BASIN IN 1896. 69 ventralB short, rcnided, tho iniddl.' rays but littl.- longer than tho others; anal small, somewhat pointed; margin of dorBiil slightly coni^avo; caudal lunate, not d.'eply fork.Ml. Mn.if.Toi.s canals on head not strongly d.-veloped. Scales moderatidy large; lateral line nearly straight, not running upward toward nape. Length of typi^, H inches to base of caudal. The cotypeH agree closely with the typo in all characters of importance. Wo have compared our sp.'cimens of tliis species with specimens of C. ncriihii talis (Fig. 2) from tho .Sacramento River and find important .lifferences. Comparing examples of the same size, we find that C. tsillcoosensia has a smaller head, longer, more pointed snout, smaller eye, larger scales, and much smaller fins; the pectorals in C. occideiitalh are laleate while in this species they are moro rounded, and the ventrals also are less pointed. Anexampleof C.occi(/fH/a/i« it inches long has the head 4J; depthr>; eyor.ij; snout LM ; 1) 12- A 7- scales ia-70-10, 41 before the dorsal. ' ' ' This species is abundant in Tsiltcoos Lake and Siuslaw River. The specimens from Siuslaw River were obtained in brackish water. Fui. l.—Catoitumui liilteoosfrmit Evt'rnmiin &. Mtek, uew xpucieg. Fio. 2 CatOKlomut iiccidmlali.i Ay res. 5. CatostomuB maorooheilus Oirard. Coliimbiii Hirer Siivker; '■ Velloie Sucker." Abundant tliroughout entire Columbia River basin ; obtained this year Inuu Alturas and Wallowa lakes, in both of which it is abundant. It seems not to occur in .Siuslaw River, nor in lakes of that part of Oregon. Five specimens from Lake Union near Seattle, and oii<- from Lake Washington at Seattle. 6. CatostomuB snyderi Gilbert. One obtained from an Indian at the mouth of Williamson River, November .">. This species was caught, along with Chasmialis ropei and l.'hasti istts Hlomias, in the snial.i trap or basket nets which tho Indians were using at that place. Three small specimens, 2| to 4'; inches long, were taken in the seine at the south end of Up])er Klamath Lake November 10, ami two others, 2 and 2i inches long, respectively, in a slough at Pelican Bay November 3. No large examples seen in shallow water. 70 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION, The Klamath Lake Catoitovius has been identified, by all who have hail occasion to mention it, with C. labialim Ayres, upon the Bupposition that the typo of Ayrcs's species came from Klamath Lake. Hut Ayres plainly states* that it came from Stockton, (.'alifornia. As only one Hi)ccics of this nciiii» is found in San .loaciuin kiver, C labiatiis becomes a synonym iif ('. occidi-nlalin, and the Klaninth Lake species is left without a name, a fact first pointed out by Mr. .). O, Snyder, for whom the fish lias licni recently named by Dr. Gilbert. t ' The type specimen upon which Dr. (iilbert based his description is less than 8 inches long. As tlic one which we have from the mouth of Williamson River is much lurjfor (length, lii inches) ami sli.iws some slight dirtereuces, we describe it fully as (bllows: Head 41, ; dei>th I ; eye (U in bead ; snnni l'i ; maxillary S.li ; mandible 2.| ; interorbital 2i; widtli of mouth 3^ in head, more than half length of hiioiiI : greatest width of lower li|) } diameter of eye; 1). ii,ll; A.7; scales i;{-7()-ll. Hody rather sliMidi'r; Inai' long, month moderate, horizontal; lips thick papillose, the upper with about 4 or 5 rows of pnpilln', lower with about 7; lower lip divided nearly to base, leaving only one row ol' papilhe crossing iln' symphysis; premaxillary not much projecting and not forming a ]>roniineDt hump; nuvxillary ratlnr short, not reaching vertical at front of anterior nostril; eye equally distant between snout and postc- I'iur edge of opercle; mucous canals on head forming raised ridges, the pores conspicuous. I'ius uiuil- erate; origin of dorsal a little nearer snout than base of caudal, sixth spine over insertion of vent mis; pectoral 1^ in head, reaching slightly more than two-thirds distance to ventrals; ventrals not i|uite reaching vent, the seventh ray longest, 1? >u head; anal long, pointed, reaching to l)as<- of cuubil. I;, in head. Scales iTowded anteriorly, about 32 transverse rows in front of dorsal, strongly ritlgid, tlx^ margins crenate. 7. Chasmistes Btomias Gilbert. One specimen, 1.') inches long, obtained from an Indian at Klamath Falls, November 11. Head I i ; depth 4^; ey<'T; snout 2;|; maxillary (measured from free end to tip of snout) 34; mandible 2i ; !>. ii, 11; A. i, 7; scales 13-85-10; interorbital width 2^; vertical depth of head at mandibular articuhitidii 2,'i. Head small, body heavy forward, the back strongly and regularly arched from snout to oriiiiii "f dorsal fin, thence declined in a nearly straight line to base of caudal ; ventral surface nearly straight. Premaxillary spines strongly protruding, forming a prominently projecting snout; mouth ratlii'i'siuall, inclined upward at an angle of abotit 40 ', maxillary scarcely reaching vertical from front of aiilciidr nostril; width of mouth Iif in snout or 4.> in hcail; up|)er lip thin, without pnpilbe; lower lip ililn, interrupted at the symphysis, forming narrow lateral lobes the width of which is about 2? times in their length; faint indications of a few pajiilla ; mucous canals forming ridges, the pores con8]>ii'iii»is; gill-rakers long, narrowly triangular at the tip when viewed from behind, densely tuftcil mi tlie anterior edge; fontanelle narrow, its length 2 it in the snout, its width about j its length. I'ius all large; the origin of the dorsal a little nearer tip of snout than base of caudal, the sixth ray over liasc of ventral, its liase 1;^ in head, the free edge nearly straight, the last ray 1? in the first, which is I ' in head; pectorals scarcely falcate, reaching a little more than two-thirds distance to base of veiilials, their length IJin head; ventrals long, reaching vent, the rays gradually increasing in length limn flu' outer to the seventh and eighth, which are longest, the ninth and tenth being but slightly slinrlcr, the length of the longest ray 1} in head or about \ longer than the first; anal long and pointeil, llie fourth ray longest, reaching base of caudal, 1,', in head; each ray of anal flti v.- ith 8 to 12 strung iubercles; caudal lobes about equal, their length H times the middle ray. This specimen agrees with Dr. Gilbert's type,; with which we have compared it. In the type tlic month is rather more oblique, the maxillary is slightly longer, and the anal fin is longer. 8. ChasmiBtes copei, new species. Klamath Indian name " Tncam." Type No. 48224, If. S. N. M. (collectors' No. 871), a specimen 1(5 inches long. Type bicility: Northwest part of Pelican Bay, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon ; collect<»d (in gill net) November ti. IsiMi, by Messrs. S. E. Meek and A. H. Alexander. Head SSj; depth 4; eye (ii; snout 2^; maxillary (measured from free end to tip of sncnil) ;i; mandible 2.^; I), ii, 10; A. i, 7; scabs 13-80-12; interorbital width 2i; vertical depth of head at man- dibular .articulation 2^. Head large, cheek very deep, the depth equal to distance from tip «( snont to nostril; body stout, back scarcely elevated, caudal peduncle rather short and stout; ventral snrlai'c somewhat convex. Premaxillary spines less protruding than in C. atomiaa, not forming a prDuiinent •Proc. Oal. Ac. Nat. Sci., i, 1855, 33. fUull. U. S. F. C. 1897,3. t Described in Bnll, U. 8. F. C. 1897, 5, with flguro. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN TIIK COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 189(i. 71 hump ; nioutli larKf, inclined iii)wur(l at an anKlc of 45' , maxillary nnt nearly reaching vrrtliuil at front of anterior nostril; width of month i; in Hnout, or I in heud; njipcr li]) thin, withont papilhr ; lower li]t thin, entirely « ithout papilhi', interrupted at HymphyHis, forming rather broad lateral l(d)eB; jioreH on head very conspicuouH; jjillrakerH larger than in ('. Hloniian, broadly triangular at tip wlien viewed from behind, deUHely tufted on antiTioredge, eaeh appendage more or less bilid and club shtiped, elo.ielv resembling those of r. lioriat; fcmtanelle narrow, its length I'J in snout, width one-fifth its lengtli. Kins alt small; origin of dorsal a little nearer snout than base of caudal, its sixtli ray over base of veiitrals, free edge straight, base '2k in liead, last ray a little less tlian 2 in first, whieh is '2 in head ; peetorals somewhat fiiliate, reaching slightly more tlian half distance to vontrals, their length 1' in head; veutrals very short, reaching only two-thirds distance to vent, free end m^arly straight; odter ray hmgest, !'• in head ; inner shortest, :il, in head ; anal tin short, bluntly pointed, not reaching base of caudal, third and fourth rays longcHt, IJin head; no tubercles on anal rays; caudal l(d)es ecjual, length about U times the middle ray. .Scales small and crowded anteriorly, al»ont 14 rows downward and backward from front of dorsal to lateral line, 11 vertically upward from base of ventral to lateral line, about H8 oblique series before dorsal; lateral line nearly straight, with about 80 scales. Entire ujiper ])arts of head and body, and sides nearly to level of base of peetorals, dark olivaceouH ; under ))art8 abruptly whitish or yellowish in alcohol: a dark sjxit in upper part of axil; dorsal and caudal dark; pectorals dark .a inner surface ; veutrals and anal plain. Fin. ^.—Channistfii copn l-^veriujiim A- ^leck, new H])f)(:ieM. From ChasmMfs slomias this siiecies is readily distinguished by its larger head, larger, more oblique mouth, less |irominent snout, and very small tins. The ditferences in the li'.is are very great, particularly in the veutrals, as may be s<'en in the accompanying^ illustrations. It ditlers from C. lireriroHtrin, as characterized by l)r, Gilbert, in its much larger, more obli(|ue mouth, the absence of jiapilLe on the lips, and shorter fins. We name this species f(«- the late Prof. Evward Drinker Cope, who wrote the first paper on the lislies of U)(per Klamath I.ako. Six nominal species of suckers have thus far been descrilied from the Klamath Lakes, \ iz: ('has- miitiK iHratiin and ('litinmislts bnrirostiin by Cope in 1X79; CtitdnlomiiH iix by ''osa .'^uiith Eigenui.iun in 1891; Caloslomiis xnyilfyi and Chaiimistiii «tomian by Gilbert, and Hhaamixtes copei by Everniann iV Meek, the last three in the i)re8ent ISulletin. Mr. A. Seiile has ri'cently taken C. luxalim as the type iif his new genus Drltinles, which he bases upon the ])eculiar structure of the gillrakers. Dr. (iilbtut liuds that Calostomus nx is a synonym of lh'U'tsUn liixatiis. As now understood, we therefore know from Upper Klamath Lake oite species of Calonlomus, tme of ItiiHstes, and three of Cliniimixtfa. 0. MylocheilUB caurinuB (liicliardson). Columbia Chiib. Obtained from Little White Saluion Hiver, Lakes Washington and Sauimaniish at Seattle, and I.akePeudd'Oreilleat Mope, Idaho. Abundant early in September in lagoon at mouth of Little White Salmon River, and seen in considerable numbers at steamboat landings between Portland and The Dalles. It does not occur in the l{edtish Lakes in Idaho, nor has it been recorded from Wallowa Lake, nor from any of the streams or lakes south of the mouth of the Columbia, 72 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FleiH COMMISSION. 10. PtyohocbelluB oregonensia (KiclianlHon). S(i,iawjinli ; Ydlowbclly. TluH lai'KO minnow in iibiiiidaiit tliiouKlioiit tiic t'filiiniMa Hi\(irbiwln except the portion iilioxc ShoHhonu Falls. In Montaiiii, and pcrhapH clsewhure, it is ciilleil "K(|uawfiHli"; at Siiwtootli, Idiiim. it I is Icnown only hb " yollowboUy''; at MapUiton, Oroi;on, "clinl)" was tlio only name hoard applied lul it; while at TsiltcooB Lakr it was called ''dace." Specimens obtained from Lakes Altiiras, IVml f d'Oreillo, Ganilin, Washington, 'I'silteoos, Whoahink, ami Tahkunitch,.and Crom Siiislaw River. One was taken r>n a set line in Whoahink Lake, at a deiitli of IH feet, on Peeeniber ,'!, Scale and fin formula: and comparative meanuremeuU of apecimeus of I', oregontnuia from Lake fVtiHhinijldii. I LeiiKth ' 1 ' in Itoail. I)nptb.< Kye. I lurlies. ! 7.2B..I 7.7.1.. 7.00.. 11.75.. S.88.. 5.50..; a. fi? a. 87 5.33 5.00 5.110 C). 00 5.00 5.00 5. to .'>. HO 5.60 5.17 5.00 5.00 Snont. Ui»r- Hal. Anal. Hcalea. ttingth in I indies. 1.80 10 0 76 5.26... 2.00 10 9 HO 5.00... 1.80 10 U 77 4.(1.1... 1.67 10 0 74 4. as... 1.60 10 9 74 4. 38. . . 1.50 10 9 75 3.17... S.78 a. eo a. 83 3.8a 3.67 a. 00 1 . Dopth. Rye. Snout. llor- Hill. Annl. Srill.H 1 5.00 5.00 1.42 1. 9 77 4.80 5.25 1.67 10 9 74 4. 75 5.00 1.67 111 0 76 4.67 4.67 1.50 10 9 74 4.07 6.00 1.50 10 B 77 4.00 4.60 1.40 10 • 7H 11. LeuoisouB bicolor (Girard). Judging; fron\ our eolleetinns, this is the most abundant minnow in Upper Klamath Lake. About | 60 were obtained at the lower end of tlio lake November 10, and over 100 from a small creek at relicati | Bay November .5. At the time of collecting this species was found in the shallow water of the littl creeks and passages among the tiiles. The largest are 9 to 10 inches land, following' iloHoly beneath tin- lateral line; lower part of siileH anil nnder jiarts silvery, dnHted over with line dark upeitkn; a li({ht yellow isli band <'\tondinK backward (icnn ni)per poMttTior l)orc'er of eye nearly halfway to origin of doisal lin; eheek witli a nilvcry or golden ereHcent; top of head duik ; opereleHdnHky itilvery ; Hnont dnsky ; liiiH plain, orsal and eandal Nomewhat dusky. NnmorouH Hpeeiineiis were obtained in the Slnslaw River ninl I cine from TnilteooM Lake. At Mapleton both this niinno\\ and I'tjirhotheiliiH i»e(ioiiciiiiix \\n-. known as "chnl)," while on the I lakes south of Florenee they are valltMl "dace." It ih probably common in these lakes, but a single iBIHtcimen only was (d)tained there. Coni|iarcd with t.eiiriaciin hiillialiiH, which our Hpecimens nioNt closely reHondili>, the latter are seen I to have smaller anal and dorsal tins, a more slender body, suialler and more slender he;;d, aii(l lon^^er, I niortt pointed snout. The extent of variation in pro])ortioiuil ineasurenients und iu the number of anal lin rays appears to be much less than in A. btiHeatiiH. This species also resi^nbles l.eucisciin louperi of fiirard. In the type of L. cooiwri (No. 238, I r. S. N. M.) the lower Jaw is notably shorter and the snout more pointed. In the fnllowiiifr statement will bo found measurements of a number of 8|)ecimens from Siuslaw iKivcr. Mapleton, Orejjon: Tiiliil ll-:i);tll : Inchet. ' 5.75 ■ 6.50 5.50 0.5(1 5. 25 i 5.(K) 4.50 Iliad. Depth. Ey«. SDOut.' °°,'^'iAnal. { SmIm. 4.20 4. III! 4.0(1 j 4.17 4.110 4.011 4.00 4.17 4.1)0 4.17 4.17 4. Ill) 3.80 4.17 i 4.00 4. IK) 4.00 4.00 4.00 ;i. 50 3.50 3. .'■0 ;),6o ' 3.60 U.60 3.75 3.60 3.50 13 11 13 13 12 13 13 11-58-7 12-59-7 10 59-7 12-fl4-« 12-00-7 12-00-7 12-64-6 Total longth Heiul. Ueptli. Kyo. 1 Snout. Uiir- DRl. Anal. Inehtt. 1 4.50 4.00 3. 83 3. 50 3.50 » 12 4.50 4.00 4.00 :i.80 3. 51) U I'i 4.50 4.00 4. 40 3. 41) 3.80 9 12 4. .50 4.00 ;i. SO 3. HO 3. 75 9 13 4.25 4.00 4.0O , 3.00 8.80 9 11 I 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.20 4.00 0 13 Scales. 10-00-7 10-50-7 lO-flI-7 10 -.59 7 10-63-6 10-61-7 The anal lin rays were counled in l(> additional specimens with the follow iu<; results, the average I for the total 2!i specimens bein^; 12) : Total leoKtli. i No. of I nnal j rays. Inehtt. 5.76 5.75 3.00 3.00 2.50 11 13 12 13 13 Tolnl Iciifjlli. Inehei. 2.60 2.25 2.26 2.81 2.75 No. of an 111 rnvti. 13 12 12 13 13 Total '^;;;?' luehft. 2.63 2.63 2.6:t 2.60 2.13 (t4.63 13 13 13 14 13 12 n From the iintlet of Tsiltcoos Lake. 11-58-8; teeth 13. LeuciacuB balteatus (Richardson). Abundant throiiKhout the Columbia Hivor basin except above Shoshone Falls. SpeeimeuBobtained from Alturas, I'end d'Oreille, Gamlin, and Washington lakes. The variation in the number of anal liii riiys of specimens from these loealitit s is shown in the following tal)le. The lenjrtli is measured from j tip of snout to base of caudal iin. The last ray, though usually deeiily divided, is cmiuted as one. There are usually two rudimentary rays at front of iin, which are not counted. (M 1^0 specimens I from (ianiliu Lake, 1 lias LI rays, 7 have 15, 14 have Hi, 4 have 17, and 4 have 18, the average being 16 rnys. of 10 specimens from Lake Washington 5 have 14 rays, H have 1.5, 1 has 10, and 1 has 18, the average being 15 rays. 74 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATKS FI8II COMMISSION. Tablv thuwiiiy vttrialion in the numbtr of rayt in thi< anal fin in iMwiirui hallratui. Gamlic L*ka. Lake WrhIi Ington. t.eD|[th Laiigtb Length LenKth In Anal. In Ankl. In Anal. in Anal. inchu. luoliei. 1.63 16 Inohe*. 1.75 16 Incheii. 2.75 1.88 ID 1 88 14 1.50 16 1.76 18 3.18 1.88 10 1 100 18 1.75 15 2.50 1.88 IT ; 3.18 15 2.00 16 3.13 1.7S 15 ; 1.75 17 2.00 16 3.13 2.00 tu 1.88 16 1.63 18 8. SO 1.88 15 1.88 18 1.88 10 3.60 1.75 16 1.75 15 1.75 13 4.00 1.75 17 1.75 17 1.60 15 3.75 18 1.63 16 1.76 15 a4.75 16 3. 88 li a From Lake Fend d'UniUI*. 14. Rutilua bioolor (Oiraid). NiiiiierouH gpeciiiiuiiH obtaiii«d in a slonfjh at Pelican Bay and otbeni at tlie i^ illi riid of rppil Kliuiiath Lake. Sointt went caught in a gill net, others in u Hniall dip net. such < i« ii"''il by Kluiuiitl Indians; a few were taken on a set line, but the majority were obtained by means i> a aniall mdnc. \i small NloMgliN or lagoons at the south end of Upper Klamath Lake. It seems to be one of tli<- ijuhI abundant species occiirriug in the lake. The largest measure about U inches in total length. 'I'ln dues not appear to be nii'ch variation in tlie number of scales or tin rays, or in proportii>nal ineaNiiri'| ments, as is shown in the folluwing table. The Indiaus use tliis species for Uait when flshin;; tn trout near Klamath Fulls, the average length of those thus used being about I inches. It is caii;!li| in large numbers in dip nets in the edge of the tules. This species is liguiei! on pageK of this Itnllitiri Table thowing variation in IS tpeoimene of lluMui bioolor from Upper Klamath Ltke, Oregon. LnnKth In Inonoa, 9.00 Head. Depth. Eye. Huoiit. Maxil- lary . Dorsal. Anal. Heals*. 3.75 3. 75 7.00 3.50 4.00 49 9.2!> 3.75 3.07 6.00 3.50 3.75 49 6.00 3. 7t, 3.75 5.60 3.75 4.25 i» 4. 50 4.00 4.00 4.60 4.00 4.20 8 47 4.50 3.70 3.75 4.50 4.00 4.25 it 4. 2.'> 4.00 4.00 4.60 4.00 4.25 46 5.2.1 3.50 4.00 5.00 3.50 4.33 « 11.75 3.50 4.00 4.26 .1.67 4.25 40 3.75 3.50 4.00 4.50 4.00 4.00 44 3.5U 3.60 3.76 4.26 4.00 4. M 44 3.60 3.50 4.25 4.20 4.00 4.33 47 3. 50 •3.67 4.25 4.00 4.00 4.25 47 2.50 3. 60 4.33 3.50 4.50 4.25 "i 15. RhinichthyB dulcis (Girard). One specimen from Wallowa Lake. The origin of the dorsal is midway between tip of snout and base of caudal peduncle. 16. Agosia klamathensia, new species Type No. 48225, U. 8. N. M. : cotvpes No. .5704, L. 8. .Jr. Univ. Mus. and No. 4.-»l, U. 8. K, ( Typo locality at month of the small creek which Hows into the arm of Upper Klamath Lake callcc Pelican Hay, where numerous specimens were collected November 3, 18it0, by Dr. Seth E. Meek ami Mr. A. li. Alexander. Length of type 2i inches, measured to last candal vertebra. Close to Agosia niihila. An examination of a large seriesof specimens of Afionia from Ui>per Klamath Lake and a compan- of them with specimens of A. itubila from various localities show the lish from this lake tteil in iiiiiiiy iiliicim, nhout 'M) porrit iWvi'l- i>poaHu of cuiidul. An exiiniination of this IH H))fcinienH whicli wo dcNijjnato an cotyjifs »howM nil the important cliar- |a(t«rH to Im fairly coiiMtant. 'I'li« barl)nl \h in a f«\v (iihch obscnn" or |i(iHsild\ aliNcnt. The nnniber (if HcalcH ill a traimverHe line vanes from (is to ~X, the averafje beinj; I'.i. 'I'lie lateral line is in all caHes llni (>ni|detn, tliou);h in ditVi^rent dofjreea; Honietinirs it is einitiniions for only ll or H seales. after wliieli ItliiTu are Heveral interriiptiouH and uuly 8 to 10 nioru poroM; in otliers thi:re are 20 to lid pores in a IrontiiinoiiH serieH. Flo. R.—Aiiiitiii lliiiiiiilhi ii^it KM'nniiiili A Meok, now HpcriiH, This form is distinguished from .Ujosia niihihi ehielly by tlio smaller size of the scab's. This IdiU'erenco will appear from an examination of the tal>ular statement which follows: Table showing number of scales in Ayosia niibila utiil Jijosia klamalhaixiH. Locality. Ko. of VariBliun AvernKe iipeciiiH'119 in iiioiilM!r iiiinilieruf exniiiiiii'il. Ill' mules, males. .li;o«irt nubiia: L'olvillo Itivir, Mnvpm Falln Lilllii SpoUany Uivor, Dint » Mill.. HaiiKinnu Crook, Lokuii, W'linli Lake I'n'iir d'AU'iic Nowaukiiin lUvor, Clii'lialiH HoIki) Kiver, Caldwell I'litlatcli (Irerk.LrwiKtiiii Pntahn Kiver, .Starbiick Walla Walla Kiver. Wallula Mill Crook. Walla Walla ITiiiutilla Kiver, I'oiiilliton Ciiluiiiliia Ki vor, riiintilln NatclioHH Kiver, North Vakiiiiia .. Slioiikiiiiii'liiii'k Kiver, Clielialiii Agotia k'lauiathemix : I'eliran Hay, ippur Klaiiiatli Lake. lU 9 (M I lu 0 1.1 20 (') 6 4» 52-57 .ii-es 64-70 53-58 66 flO-6« •10 -114 47-.'i.'i Wi «1 48-58 4H-.')7 50-57 68-78 55 fl'2 07 06 .15 50 «2 Ii2 49 55 r,2 5a 58 73 K-10 (avetane, 17. Clupanodon oaeruleuB (Oirard). California Sardine. Very abnndont in SiuHlaw Kiver about the eannery wharf at K'oreneo diirino; the .aiininR season. It seemH to disappetir as Ho. ."i.MVKlO j fry were liberated in the Willamette River at Albany, and 300,000 iu the Columbia at Wallnl.i .Iniic- tion. In 1884, 188.5, and 1886, 2,6.51,n(K) shad fry were placed iu the Colorado River at The Nt edles, | Arizona. No investigation has ever been made for the purpose of det«rmiuing the result of the iii.iiit- iugs uniile in the Colorado River and it is not known whether any of the fry survived. Tlir reHiilts from tho plrats made in California and Oregon, however, are little less than marvelous, as sliowu by I Dr. H. M. .S:nith iu a recent paper.* From tlio Sacramento and Columbia rivers shad have spread to Los Angeles County, California, on tho south, and Wraugcil Islaud, Alaska, on the north. They had spreail from San Francisco to the I Columbia River as early as 1880, and by 1882 had been taken at various places along the Washingtiin j coast. The only passages through which the planted shad could reach the sea are the niontli of thi' Columbia River and the (roldeu (iate. From these points they have spread up and down the raciii' coast a distance of mor«) than 1,300 miles. This is greater than its range in latitude on the Atlantic coast. Not only have they spread to these distant points, but shad have tieen reported from a iiiimbir | of intermediate jdaees, among which are Monterey Hay, Drake Bay, Klamath River, Rogue h'iver, lJm|>i|na River, Siusliiw River, Fraser River, and the north end of Vancouver Island. These facts iu tho distributieeinions obtained from Altnras, I' lud irnieillo, j and Wallowa lakes, Des Chutes River at Sherar's Bridge, and Hig White Salmon River. A spcciincn j 10 inches long, taken in the gill net in Altnras Inlet July 27, has th4< bead .5; depth 44; tye Vi\ snout 3?; maxillary 3J; 1). 12; A. U ; scales 86. Another example, a female, 12^ inches long and with well-developed roe, was taken with the hook at Sherar's Bridge August 30. Head .5; depth A'i; eye 5; snout 3^^; maxillary 'M, ; 1). 13; A. 11 ; scales 88. Li this sjieeimuii the adipose tin is remarkably largo, its base being half length of head, it« height 6i in lieail. This species spawns in October at Hig Fayette Lake, in Idaho, but the cdinlitioii of tbb ovaries of the specimen taken at Sherar's Bridge indicates a much earlier spawning pciiod. * A Review of the Historv and Results of the Attempts to acclimatize Fish and other Water .' niiuain iu tho I'acillc States, in Hull'. U. S. F. C. 1895, 407. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IK 1896. 77 ir Water iiiiual" 0. Oncorhynchus keta (VVu'liauin). hog Salmon. According to Mr. Alexnndei, thin Halinmi usually rnmnien('e.s to run in tlie Koiithcrn part of I'liget joiiiid about the middle of October and continims until the first of December. In IXito and ISiWi they •r (|uile numerous. IJnrinj; fall and winter all the small crt^eks, lagoons, and slougliM near Duwam- (>n('. Cedar rivers are tilled with rlog salmon, and boys find great anuisement killing tht'ui with l)H und stonew. In the rivulets by the roadside, where the wattT is not over 2 or 3 inches deep, dog Llmoii may be seen trying to get farther upstream. At such times they are in poor condition and nu ) is ninde of them. T1k> ro'idition of the dog salmon in .January, 1897, was unusually good. These tish were plump in fpeuranoe and marked with that brightness which they possess when first coming from the ocean. i tliB opinion of some of the dealers many of the .January ( 1897) run were fresh from the ocean. Their \(gs, like those of tlie steclhead, showed various degi-ees of developnu^ut; most of the fish were well Advanced, however. It has been only a few years since it was known that any species other than the ^«lkead was to I>e fonnd in I'uget Snund during winter, but it is now thought that salmon have ays been more or less plentiful in I'uget Sound during the winter months — not a heavy run, but ^oiigh to supply tlie local demand. In former years, there being no sale for salmon after the canneries I'losed, fishing was almost wholly sns))ended until the next season. As soon, however, as the [iperiinent of shijyping fresh baliuon to eastern markets ])roved a success, a new industry was opened, 8(1 lisliermen who had hitherto given no thought to wint«-r tishing now began to investigate the liters of I'uget Hound out of season, and the result is that a winter fishery of considerable importance I been intioduied in Seattle and other places on the sound and is increasing yearly. The .steelhead jitlie most valuable tish for shipment to eastern marketH, as it reaches its destination in better coudi- hn tlian other species. p. Onoorhynchns tschavrytBcha (Walbaum). Chinook mlmon. Very few chinook salmon came to the headwaters of Salmon River in 1896, i)erhaps not over a )tjen, where there were about 1,M) in 189'. The number which came to the Wallowa spawning-beds I also very small. Important spawning-beds were found in Little White Salmon River, and I'on- ^erable numbers were found spawning in I5ig White Salmon River, Eagle Creek, and Tanner Creek. Vouug chinooks were found in Siasiaw River in considerable numbers and a few weie obtaint-d in l»ke Washington, Two specimens, 2^ and 2j inches in length, respectively, from the mouth of Hig fbite Salmon agree perfectly with those gotten in 1895 at Alturas Lake. These two specimens were pidently hatched the preceding winter. Nine specimens from the Siuslaw River, caught with hook and line at Florence, October 14, 1896; ingtli. .5, .5^. 6, (W, 6i, 7, 7, 7, and 7i inches respectively, .Salmon of this size are very abundant about cannery wharf during the canning season. They are easily caught with hooks baited with limon eggs. Two specimens llj and 11 J inches in length from Seattle, Washington, caught December S, 1896. leso specimens were no doul>t hatched during the winter of 1894-93. One specim<-n, 0 inches long, was en with a seine near the mouth of the Siuslaw River December 9, IH%, It is the same age as the nriniens mentioned above from Florence. One sun»!l, nearly ripe uuile, length 18* inches, from the i«la\v River at Maplet(m, Oregon, was caught on a hook baited with salmon eggs. A few other wiiiious of the same size were caught in the same way while tishing for trout about (Ji'tober 21. We unformed that it is not uncommon to catch thesi; tish with baited hooks. A few of these small male salmon were seen on the spawning-beds in the North Fork, near JTmerva, October 23 and 24. They were nmtilated the same as the larger ones, and on<' was in a dying pailition. On September 9 Mr, A. H. Alexander e.xantined 129 chiuook salmon in the Florence cannery; of « "(i were fenuiles and .53 were males; 25 of the females and 13 of the males were fully developed. > September 11 he examined ,'>46 chinooks; of these 317 were females and 22!) nuiles; 229 females and |iO nialo.t were nearly ripe. There were among this number 25 small fish from 18 to 25 inches in ngtli ; these wore as fully developed as the large ones. I'liring the latter part of Se)>t«mber arul early part of October, Mr, Alexauiler examined numy piniHik salmon at Celilo und obtained much valuable information as to their spawning condition. »oni' lot of 119 fish oxauiined 57 vere males and 62 females; 34 males and 47 fenuiles wore nearly or |iite lipe, and would have spawned by the Xth or lOtli of Oetolter. , 111 the following tables is given a record of the fish examined by Mr. Alexander. 78 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FI8F COMMISSION. Chinook salmon taken in flsh-wheeh by Mr. J. H, Taffe, Celilo, Oregon, S<>ptember la to 2J, ISOG. Date. Malea. Vcmalos. Total. N"n.ber.l™»: Nu^-ber. WeU^«: Sfipt 18. 1806. 19 8 IR 10 5 11 g 0 28 18 53 20 10.. 21 10 ; 6 35 26 8 6 22.. 12 8 57 34 «2 47 t 119 AnioTiK tho IIM Chinook salinon, 13 small ones were fonnd, iill inalcH, and their milt as iiilly developed as that iu larger fish. Sometimes the wheels take these fish in < onsiderahle numbers. Chinook salmon taki-n by Mr. F. A. tfeu/ert, at Celilo, Oregon, September 25 to October 13, 1S0>!, Date. MalcR. FemaleM. 1 Niiiubr r. 82 15 100 5« 58 60 122 63 43 77 Well lie. veloped. Number. Well de- veloped, j Total. 1896. gept 25 87 11 83 47 60 60 tos 56 38 69 64 17 80 70 ! 61 ' 17 76 n.1 , 146 2R 32 27 108 28 126 20 40 44 lUu Oct 2 76 148 (17 51 73 lU 6.') 51 130 5 270 7 13U 10 U4 i;, 8« ! 64 165 683 574 710 j 0S8 1,402 In a total of 683 inalrn and 719 femalea Mr. Alexander found 674 males and 658 females whirli, in his judgment, wore nearly ripe, hi otiier words, >'i per <.'eut of tho males andiM) percent of tlic li iimIis woulil h.'ive spawnid between the first and middle of October. These observationn indicate ili:il Chinook Halumu can be obtained abundantly at Celilo by wheels and that if retained a tew fliiys tl I'y would be ripe enough for stripping. Wbotlier the wheels Nerioiisly injure the (inIi I'an be detemii.ied only utter actual oxpcinent with (ish so caughi. If the wheels do not injure them tliey can p'iili:ili|y be kept until fully ripe in projierly constructed retaining boxes or ponds, as was dcnionstratnl l^y e.\periments at Majiletoii, Oregon. According to Mr. Alexander chinook salmon appear in the lower part of Paget Sound about tlic 1st of May and continue to iiKToase in numbers until .Inly. Scattering ones are taken, hnwiMi. throughout tho year in all jtartsof the sound. 22. OucorbyncbuB kisutch (Walbauin). .Silrer snlmnn. Onr collection contains specimens of this sjiecics as follows: Three ripe males, one It! inches in length, caught December 1 iu Whoabink Lake, the other lw>>, 16 and 17j inches respectively, December 3, in Tsiltcoos Lake. Speciuieiis of lhi« size and very inin h smaller wore freiiuently caught iu the seine at Acme. Not less than 60 of these were oxamineil. Ml were males with sexual organs as highly developed as in the larger ones. One large ripe male from Tsilti'oos Lake, caught in a gill net December 3, \HiH\. Immaculate, Imi I with a bluish tinge, body bright red, mouth much distorted. Locally called " h-!)ti, our (M)llurtion lontains the following: Two specimens, 2J and 3J inolies in length respectively, hatched during the winter of 189.")-!Ki by I Mr. L. E. Bean at Maploton and retained in a small spring I)rool< until .September it, 189(1. One, 3| inehes long, caught in a seine in Siuslaw Kiver below Florence December 8, 189(i. Two 8i>oeimen8, .5J and 58 inches respectively, cangbl witli a seine in Tsiltcoos Lake December 1, W!I6. All three with parr marks present; no red on sides; dorsal, adipose, and caudal tins yellowish; nuidal reddish near tips; pectoral and ventrals yellowish. During the latter part of September and early part of October Mr. Alexander was at Celilo, on the Culumbia River, and made some valuable observations upon the silver salmon, lie examined a tot.il of :',:'f)8 fish of this species, all of wbiih be found well advanced, indicating to bim that they would I ipawn before the middle of October. Silrer talmon examined hy Mr. .llejrandcr at Celilo. Date. T»keii in w'.ieclii bv Mr. Taffe: SBpt.l8,lS9« Sepl.l9,l»)6 Sept. 21, 1896 Sept. 22, 1808 Taken in oeinrs by Mr. Seafert : Svpt.26, 1896 Sept. 27, 1896 Sopt.28, 1896 ., Sept.2«,1896 Oct. 2, 1896 (>ot.5,18g6 Oct, 7,1896 Oct. 10, 1806 Oct. 13, 1806 Silver salmon first appear in the southern end of Puget Sound about the Ist of .Septemlter, and the \mi usually lasts until the tirst or middle of November. A few individuals are taken an late as |I>ccember, after which few artt seen in the sound, but a good many are caught in Duwamish River. |13, Ouoorbynohus nerka (Walbaum). Ill iifba<'k- Salmon; " Hcdjish"; " Sovk-ei/v." The investigations made in Idaho in 1894 and 189,*) resulted in settling some of the disputed l^aestions concerning the ledtisb, but left others still in doubt. The details of the observatiouH niacin lin those years will Ui fouiul in the reports already published. * A summary of the conclusions reached p^arding the life-history of the redfish is given on page l(i of this article. Although no satisfactory evidence was obtained as to the occurrence of the small form anywhere lin the stream below the lakes, this was not considtired proof that; it does not come up from the sea. I^Hi close is its resemblance to the native trout, except at spawning time, that it would probably not |ittract the attention of anyone, even if seen below the lakes. In order to obtain morn di-linite results in the study of this problem, the redtish lakes of Idaho Irere again visited in IMtNi. Camp was establishetl .Inly II, on Alturtks Lake ( 'reek at the crossing of llhu trail a short distance below i'erkins Lake, (iill nets were set in the outlet the same day and were lipptset until September 25. Tbcie nets were examined from day to day during the entire period of •'venty-six days and not a single redtish was caught in them. The \\ ater was so high and the current I swift during the (Irst tt-n days the nets were set that it was impossible to place them so as to wholly [tbstruct the stream. It is therefore possible that flsh may have ikscended the stream and passeil the nets 'A Preliminary iieport upon Sahnon Investigations in Idaho in 1894, by Barton W. Evermann, Bull. IT. 8. I". C. l«9h, l'53-2«4, A Report upon Salmon Investigations in thi> Headwaters of the ('oluinbia K'iver, in the State of llilalio, in I8!t,'>- together with Notes upon th<( Fishes observed in that State in 1894 uud 189.">, by Barton h'. Evermauu, Bull. U. S. F. C. 18U<>, 149-202, plates 67-72. 80 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. diiriug tbut time. This, however, is iiuimibable. Our camp was sitiiaterl upon the bunk of the stream, the water was at al] times very clear, and wo were able to keep close watch for (mh. If imv i(ilii>|, had come up during thoNO ten days it is more tlian probalde they would have been seen by sonic nl ii>. After July 22 tliesn uctu were examined usually about three timrs each week, and tli(iiifi;li oth(»i- li^li(~. such as yellowbellies, Dolly Varden trout, suckers, and whitotish, were caught by them, no leillisli, eitlier large or small, were taken. IJnt small redtisli wore in the lake at least as early as July 1(1. iiml they began entering the inlet August 3. Between August 3 and August 28 the number in the inli t increased rapidly until the latter date, when 1, .")(>!) were counted. The first small redtish seen was caught on a honk in .Mtiiras Lake, Just oft' the inlet, .Inly Iti, liy Mr. Maddren, while fishing for Dolly Varden trout. The hook was baited with salmon spawn. Tlii> fish was a male Hi inches in total length, and the stomach contained a small amount of InstMt liirv;i'. Of the many examples, taken by a gill net in Alturas Inlet on August (i, 1) were examined, only oiic ni'i which showed any trace of food in the stomach. Twelve specimens, caught with grab-hook in Wallowa Lake about the 1st of Septeiiilier by .Mi J. J. Stanley, were all (|iiite fat, and food was found iu the stomachs of all but three. This I'ikmI | consisted chiefly of small crustaceans, a few insect larvie, and some gelatinous alga, prcdiMlily a Sniln Among the fishes from Lake Washington are ."> redtish, 3 of which are 7 to H inches long, the utliiT | 2 about 1 inches each. These were all collected June !."> by Mr. Alexander. Kach eontiiiiis niDrc in less food iu the stomach. Two other uinall redtish were obtained, which bad been taken on the ll.v li\ Mr. K. L. Kellogg while fishing in l^aku Sammamish about May !.'>. Whether this tish is anadromous or not is an exceedingly difficult matter to determine. If it cniin - up from the sea it reaches the lakes much earlier in the summer or 8]>ring than has hitherto been sup posed. The fact that it feeds while in the lakes is now fully established, and it apparently coiitiniK - to feed almost or quite to the time when it runs into the inlets for spawning. The one with loml in { its stomach, taken in Alturas Inlet August 6, had Just reached the inlet on that night. The spciiinrii' from Wallowa Lake were caught in the upper end of the lake near the inlet, whi(di they doiibtl('>H(| would have ascended in a few days. A consideration of small redtish from difVi^ront localities, as to their si/.e, jiroves interesting; and I suggestive. Those from Alturas Lake are larger and much more miiform in si/.e than those riinii other places. Those from Washington, Stuart, and Nicola lakes are somewhat smaller, while tliosc] from Wallowa Lake are niaeh smaller. These differences in si/e are, in some lascs, doubtless due ini differences in age, the s|iecimens having been taken earlii-r at some of the lakes than at others. l>iit| the marked difi'ereneo l)etween the Alturas and Wallowa specimens can not be accounted lor on this basis. It is doubtful if any of the Wallowa individuals would have reached even the niinimiini si/c ot those taken ut Alturas Lake. This fact is iiroiight out in the following table. In the lirst coliiniii ;iri' given lengths in inches, the length being measured to the tip of the caudal fin; in the otii. r coliiiinisi are given the number of tish of each length from the respi^otivo lakes named at the head of the c(diniiii> 7Vi6/e ihowini/ comparatire au;ea of «;>e(!Jm«H« of tlif Htnall rrdfiih from diffirvnl liikex I.elieth ill iiiinitm. AltiirM. \V)i!l(iiva. 3 1 1 } 1 WaHliing- tiiii. Slewiirt. Nicola. lick. T..lal iiiiiiilM'r. 3 1 1 4 2 a 1 7.00 H.0(1 8.2S 8. SO 8.75 ».0(l fl.25 B.50 0 75 10. OO 10. 1'. 10 5U 10. 75 U.IHI li.25 11.50 11.75 12.011 12.35 13.50 1 2 1 t •i 2 ;i « 5 4 5 I 1 5 4 4 6 11 15 ;t« 20 lu ! 10 2 10 6 9 15 H9 30 111 ' 1 :::;;;:; .";.r;; 1 1 11 ' 1. :...;::::.:, 4 i "•; 138 11 17 * 4 3 104 SALMON INVESTiuATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896, 81 if the stream, r iiiiy icmHisI, ly souic (it ii~. I otUor lislii-. II, no vedliKli, .July lt>. anil r ill tlm iuli t Table of comparatire mraaiiremiiiitB of small rtdjinli from Alluraa and fVallowa lakei. iiiber by Mr. 1 w. This I'liiiill 111 lily a .Vim/oi. I oiiji. tlieiithiTl itiiins iiiori' nr II on thi' tly hy ' le. It' it riiincs j lerto liriMi Willi- Mitly (•(iiitiinii'- nil with I'ciiil ill I The siicriuuii- they douhth'wsj intorcHtint! iiml han thoHf Irnnij h-r, whihi thuHi'! louhtli'MS (liir li ^11 at others, inii I lilted lor (111 tlii-j iniiiiiniiiii.si/i' "ij tirst loliiiiiM all! le oth. r i()liiiiiii»| I ut' the I'oluiiins.l WbIIowb Lake. No. Lenotli in Inohea. Sex. Head. Depth. 4.00 Eye. Snout. Maxil- lary. Scalea. 102 o.;i8 Male.... 4.00 6.00 4.20 1.90 130 lu:i H.50 ...ilo... :i. DO 4.00 5.00 ;i. 80 2. OO 13(1 1U4 7.13 ...lo ... 4.(10 4.00 4. 07 4.00 1. H.'i 127 lUS 7.(KI 4.20 4.00 4.50 4.00 2. (Ml 128 1U6 8.75 .. .li. .... 4.00 4.00 4.75 4. (HI 2.00 120 107 H. i:i .. ilo... 4.00 4.00 4.87 4. .50 2.00 127 1(18 8.:i8 ..do .... 4. (HI 3.75 4.83 4. 00 2.00 120 lOII 9.(K) ...do .... 4.(M) 4.00 4.75 4., 50 2.00 12B 110 H.eii ...do ... 4.00 4.00 4.50 4.10 2. (10 128 111 8.2S ...do .... .1.8:1 4.00 4.80 4.00 2.00 122 112 8.ai ...do ... 4.00 4.10 5.00 4.00 2.00 120 113 tt.38 ...do.... 4.40 J. 50 4.25 5.25 2.10 125 155 5.2.1 ...do.... 4.40 4.50 4.33 5.25 3.13 124 Alturaa Lak e. Srnlea. No. Length in inrhee. Sex. Malp... Head. Depth. 4.33 Kye. 4.25 Snout. 4. .50 Maxil. lary. 786 11.50 4.50 2.00 126 788 12.00 ...do .... 3.80 4.00 5.00 3.60 l.RO 807 12. .M ...do ... 3. 73 4.00 .■■..25 3.33 1.75 8o;i 11.50 ...do 3.8(1 4.20 5.00 3.33 1 80 808 12.00 K«iiiial« . 4.13 4..M 4.50 4.00 2.00 811 12.25 Mule... 4.20 4.40 5.0(1 3.07 1.83 8111 12.50 ...do.... 3.80 4.20 5.2, 3.60 1.80 788 12.25 ..do ... 3.75 4.33 5. 25 3.25 1.80 813 11.50 Female . 4.17 5.00 4.00 2.00 Sni'iiiiien No. 155 wan found dead on the shore at head of lake; apeoiniena Noa. 113 and 156 with niidevelo]Msd huxiiiiI orgaus. 24. Salvellnusmalma (Walhmini). Dolly f'arden Trout; Wetlern Chart; Hull Trout. Obtained in Altiiras, I'eud d'Oreille, and Wnllowa lakes, where it is abundant and atl'ords good I Hjiiirt for the angler. At Altiirns Lake during .Inly a groat many wore caught iiboiit the inoiith of the inlet and many large c\ain|)leH were taken in Luke I'end d'Oreille. The charr is a voriiiloiiH tioh and pieyH largely ii|iou other species of fishes. In the stomachs of siime of those examined at Lake Pend d'( treille were numerous specimens of l.eucUviii balUntnt, I'lijchochcUuH ortijonentis, Mijlothciliti raiiriimi, I and Coltiit. All of these exce]>t M. iviiriniin were found in the stomach of one tish. Some specimens from this lake were infest^Ml about the axils by a aiiiall crustacean of the genus l.rrmrojtoda. Measurements of a number of specimens of chiirr are given in the following table: Comparatire meaturementii of charr from the Columbia Iliver Basin. LeiiKtIi ill iiiidiiw. Head. Depth. Eye. Snout. HaxiUary. O12.60 3.80 4.80 6.40 4.00 3.00 a 18. SO ».40 6.00 7.50 3.00 1.60 513. » 3.83 6.00 6.60 3.60 1.8S <8. 60 4.20 5.00 5. 25 4.00 1.86 0 5. 60 4.00 4.75 6.00 4.00 2.00 dll.60 4.00 5. ,50 7.00 3.83 2.00 dl0.60 4.00 6.00 6.00 3.83 2.00 dI0.50 3.83 6.00 e.oo 3.83 3.00 dll.OO 8.75 6.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 a Fnim Altuni* Lake, Idaho. fiFroni Little White Salmon Itiver, \7a8blnt(ton. oFroni Wiillowii Lake, Oregon. tlKroiu Lake I'eud d'UreiUe.Idabo. 1 25. Salmo myklsH olarkll Richardson. American Cut-throat Trout, Numerous specimens obtained. Particularly abundant in Lake Washington, Siuslnw Kivcr, and the I lakes near its mouth, Wallowa and Alturas lakes, Tpper Klamath Lake, and in Des Chutes River. A 1 comparison of many specimens indicates that it will be necessary to recognize more siiecies or varieties of Salmo in the northwestern portion of the I'liited Stattis than have hithefto b'on admitted; I but it seems best to hold the matter open for additional data and cousidcratiou. F. C. U, 18IW-6 82 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 26. Salmo gairdneri Richardson. Sleelkead Trout; "Salmon Trout." Seen in large uiiinberB iit Astoria and The UalleH, Not cotiiiuon in the Siuslaw, and only 2 speci- niens obtained in Upper Klamath Luke. While at The Dallett during the laHt we*-k in St^iituniltei and the first half of October Mr. Alexander exumined 4,179 steelheads, of these, 1,531 won^ iniil)>H anil 2,648 females; 476 males, and 'HX) females were well developed, and would probably have spuwiMiil in four to six weeks. The remaining 2,803, be thinks, would not have spawned until some time in the j spring. Sleelhead talmon taken by Mr. I. H. Taffe, at Celilo, Septembtr 18 to S2, 1896, and examined bif Mr. Alexander. Date. Hale. Female. ToUl. Bow oaught. Number. WeU de- veloped. Number. Well de- veloped. wheel. 1 spear. Sept. 18, 18M Ill 130 121 159 10 28 2S 50 124 110 366 391 16 22 »B 164 335 240 487 650 160 180 192 350 75 60 295 200 Sept. 1», 1896 Sept. 21, !890 Sept. 22, 1890 521 126 991 299 1,512 882 630 Sleelhead salmon taken in 80ifM by Mr. F. A. Seufert, at Celilo, September 25 to October IS, 1896. Date. Sept. 25, 1896 Sijpt. 26. 1896 Sept. 27, 1896 Sept. 28, 1896 Sept. 29. 1896 Oct. .■•., 1896.., Oct. 7, 1896.., Oct. 10, 1896. Got. 13, 1800.. Male. Female. Total. Number. Well de- veloped. Number. Well de- velo|ied. 129* 22 206 103 425 148 28 281 112 429 218 91 328 140 r>46 97 44 14(1 48 2;)7 176 77 234 72 410 49 12 50 14 00 lie 49 181 60 297 46 12 81 21 127 31 15 66 31 07 1,010 350 1,457 601 2,667 Mr. Alexander states that not many steelhead are seen about Seattle until the latter part of Novem- ber or oarly in December, or about two months after they be^in running up the rivers at th«nortIi(n'n| end of the sound. During the early part of .lanuary, 1897, a good many were taken near Seattle. They were considered equal in quality to those taken in other parts of the sound. Their eggs were iiil various stages of development; a few lish were spent, but the majority were well advanced and wuuld| have spawned in a short time. 27. Hypomesus pretiosus (Ciirard). Nineteen specimens from IJiusIaw River at Florence, where it is abundant about the cannery wharf during the canning season. 28. Oasterosteus cataphractus (Pallas). Alaska Stickleback. Found in Siuslaw River at Florence and at mouth of the outlet of Tsiltcoos Lake. Only a fovvj specimens were obtained. 29. Oasterosteus wllUamsoni mlorooephalus (Qirard). California Stickleback. Many specimens from Tsiltcoos Lake, in which it is quite abundant. A few spociinens wer^ obtained in Lake Washington by Mr. Alexander, where it was also obtained in 1893. 30. Bipbostoma griaeolineatum (Ayres). Pipefish. One specimen, lOf inches in length, from the Siuslaw River near Point Terrace. It was caught iil a 7-ineh-mesli salmon gill net. 31. Ammodytos personatus Oirard. Sand Lance. One specimen, 3| iucheH in length, from the Siuslaw River at Florence. Dorsal 60; auitl 26. 32. Cynoatogaster aggregatus Gibbons. Verv abundant in Siuslaw River about the eunnery wburf during the cunning season. SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA BIVKR BASIN IN 189C H3 Mr. Alexander. heoanuery wbaif ,ake. Only ft few w specimens wpid 33. CottUB asper KichartlHoii. Prickly Hullheml. Nine ttiiiall H|)eviiiiisnH iM>lloctcil ill Lnko WuHbiugtun, .luue ir>. Head uearly nr quite naked, liut I entire body except belly nnifunnly covered with hiuuU prickleH. I 34. Cottua guloBua ((iirurd) A Coltiin wliK'h \v<« with Home lieHitation refer to tbis Hpecies is very abundant in fresb iinil I bnickiHb watci'H in SiiiHlavv Kivor and in tbe lakes HOiitli of Florence, and easily caiigbt on a trawl, or I with book and line. Mapletou, Oiokou, Siuslaw River, l.'r>is|iecimen8; Acme, Oregon, Sontb Sloiigb, I ; Whoahiuk Lake, 3; TBiltco()sLake,20; Tabkeuitcb L.nko,!); LakeWaHliinirton, 1; Lake tjaninianiisb, 2. 1 35. Cottua punctulatua (Gill). One specimen, 2.75 incbes long, obtained from tbe stomach of a bull trout, Alturas Luke, July l(i, 1 181)6. Five from Alturas Lake, July 30, 1896. 1 36. Cottua princepa Gilbert. Vottiig prinvep* Gilbert, Bull. U. S. F. C. 185*7, 12, with figure. Eigbttien specimens from relican Bay, Upper Klaniatb Luke. Head 31; depth 5; D. viiorvill |20 or 21; A. 16 to 18; eye 5; snout 4; interorbital width 5}. Veiitrals 1,4; lateral line scarcely Icuinplete; anterior portion of body covered with prickles; posterior part sinootb below. Head rather I long, pointed; maxillaries reaching to front of pupil. Color same as in C. leioi>omug, which it closely Ires'jmliles, but from which it dilTera in the more nuinerons dorsal and anal rnys, the shorter snout, Isoiuewbat broader interorbital, and in having the body covored with prickles. 1 37. Cottua klamatbenaia Gilbert. CotUia klamathenain Gilbert, Bull. U. S. F. C. 18tt7, 10, with Hgure. Head 3i; depth 4i ; eye 3;';; snout 3i; I>. Ml, 19; A. 13 or II; V. i, 4; interorbital width .'>; Iiiiaxillary reaching front of pupil. No teeth on ]>alatiuoH; a single .straight preoperciilar spine, appar leiilly disappearing in older exaniiiles; nostril in distinct tubes; body short, stout; head moderately lliiiiad, wedge-sbapiMl anteriorly; caudal peduncle short, compressed, Its greatest width 2 in eye, least lilcplii 1 in eye; gill membraneM joined to tbe istbinns, widely separated; body smiiotb. Color rather lli^lit; b(Hly with about 10 obscure irregular vertical blotches, but every wdere covered with minuet lliriiwn spots, a V-sba|ied bar at base of caudal; spinous dorsal with a dark blotch on its jmsterior l|ii)itiou; soft dorsal profusely covi^ed with tine black specks; caudal faintly barred with dark and |li);liter. A single small example from tbe lower ond of Upper Klamath Lake. *'lo. B — Vranidftt Irnvii KviTiimiin .V MiM-ii. iii'W Hjierieii. |38. Uraiiidea tenula, new species. Type No. 48229, U. S.N. M. ; cotypes No. 5705, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus., and No. 4at, U.S. F. C. Type locality: Lower end of Upper Klamath Lake, near Klamath Falls, Oregon, November 10, 18!Hi. Collectors Meek and Alexander, length of type, 3 incheH, or 38 inches including caudal. Ajiparently allied to I'raiiidia nutnjitiala. I lead 3i ; depth 7 ; eye 4i ; snout " ; V. i, 3; I), vi-l, 17 ; A. 15. Vomer with teeth ; j.alatines tootli- I. Head long, contracted froi.i e^ „s forward; suoiit rather hmg; body much compressed, very IdeiHlir; greatest width of caudal peduncle 2i in eje; least depth of same slightly greater than eye; Iprioinrcnlur sjdne well developed, broad, rather sharp, jtartly covered by skin, curved upward ; below jtliistwo other spines, tbe anterior one blunt, the other sharp, direct