A list of the fishes of Montana : with notes on the game fishes

BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, NO 34 7 .

BIOLOGICAI- SERIES No. 11 ^ i> /

INbEXEP 'fV

A List of the Fishes of Montana

With Notes on the Game Fishes
by

James A. Henshall. M. D.

Superintendent of Bozeman Station, U. S. Bureau
of Fisheries.

•EPT. If %^-^^

Author of *'Book of the Black Bass",

"Camping and Cruising in Florida",

"Ye Gods and Little Fishes",

"Bass, Pike, Perch and

Others", Etc., Etc.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

Missoula, Mont., U. S. A.

1906

Entered August 24, 1901. at Missoula, Montana, as second class matter, under
act of Congress, July 16, 1894.

'INOEfENDENT »Utll|HIN« COMPANY, HELENA, IIONT«NA.n

BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, NO 34

BIOLOGICAL SERIES No. 11

A List of the Fishes of Montana

With Notes on the Game Fishes
by

James A. Henshall, M. D.

Superintendent of Bozeman Station, U. S. Bureau
of Fisheries.

Author of "Book of the Black Bass",

"Camping and Cruising in Florida",

"Ye Gods and Little Fishes",

"Bass, Pike, Perch and

Others", Etc., Etc.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

Missoula, Mont., U. S. A.

1906

Entered August 24, 1901, at Missoula, Montana, as second class nnatter, under
act ot Congress, July 16, 1894.

"INDEPENDENT PUBlKHINt COMPANY, HELENA, MONTANA.'

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Prof. O. J. Craig, University of Montana:

Dear Sir: — This paper was presented to the Montana Academy of
Sciences, Arts and Letters, at its second annual meeting held at Ana-
conda, Mont., December 29-31, 1903. The Academy has not developed
sufficient strength to have its transactions printed. Dr. Henshall's paper
contains matter that is worthy of permanent record as a contribution
to the natural history of the state, and will be followed by a more elab-
orate paper with keys and descriptions. I therefore recommend its pub-
lication as a bulletin of the University.

MORTON J. ELROD,
President Montana Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

Fishes of Montana*

By Dr. James A. Henshall, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.
But thirty-six species of fishes have so far been recorded as native
to the waters of Montana, as embraced in the following catalogue. Sev-
eral of the species have been identified from the descriptions of Lewis
and Clark, but most of them were collected by the Government Railroad
Surveys in the Missouri River below the Great Falls, and of late years
a fevr have been collected by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.
Family ACIPENSERIDAE.

1. Scaphirynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque.) Shovel-nose Sturgeon.

Missouri River at Fort Benton.

Family SILURIDAE.

2. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Catfish; White Catfish.

Missouri River at mouth of Beauchamp Creek and at Great Falls;
Milk River; Yellowstone River.

3. Noturus flavus, Rafinesque. Stone Catfish.

Missouri River, near Craig.

Family CATOSTOMIDAE.

4. Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque). Quill-back; Carp Sucker.

Milk River; Poplar River.

5. Pantosteus jordani, Evermann. Jordan's Sucker.

Sweet Grass Hills; Red Rock River; Beaverhead River.

6. Catostomus discobolus, Cope. Big-mouth Sucker.

Red Rock River; Beaverhead River.

7. Castostomus griseus (Girard). Gray Sucker.

Milk River; Yellowstone River; Gardiner River; Poplar River.

8. Catostomus catostomus (Forster). Long-nose Sucker.

Little Blackfoot River; Jocko River; Lolo Creek; Browns Gulch
Creek.

9. Catostomus macrocheilus (Girard). Columbia River Sucker.

Swan Lake; Post Creek; presumably in Flathead Lake.

10. Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede). White Sucker.

Milk River; Poplar River.

11. Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque). Spotted Sucker.

Yellowstone River.

12. Moxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur). Red Horse Sucker; Mullet.

Poplar River.

Family CYPRINDAE.

13. Hybognathus nuchal is, Agassiz. Silvery Minnow.

Poplar River.

14. Hybognathus argyritis, Girard. Little Silvery Minnow.

Milk River.

— 4—

15. Pimephales promelas, Rafinesque. Black-head Minnow.

Milk River; Yellowstone River.

16. Mylocheilus caurinus (Richardson). Columbia River Chub; "White-

fish." Flathead Lake; Bitter Root River.

17. Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Richardson). Squaw-fish.

Flathead Lake; Bitter Root River; Lolo Creek.

18. Leuciscus balteatus (Richardson). Banded Minnow.

Brown's Gulch Creek, at Silver Bow.

19. Notropis atherinoides, Rafinesque. Silverside Minnow.

Poplar River.

20. Rhinichthys cataractae dulcis (Girard). Long-nose Dace.

Beaverhead River; Red Rock River; Poplar River; Little Black-
foot River; Browns Gulch Creek; Bridger Creek.

21. Hybopsis gelldus (Girard). Cold-water Minnow.

Milk River.

22. Hybopsis montanus, Meek. Montana Minnow.

Upper Missouri region.

23. Couesius dissimilis (Girard). Milk River Minnow.

Milk River; Poplar River.

24. Platygobio gracilis (Richardson). Fat-head Chub.

Milk River; Yellowstone River; Missouri River; Judith River;
Poplar River.

Family HIODONTIDAE.

25. Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque). Moon Eye.

Missouri River Falls; Poplar River.

26. Hiodon tergisus, Le Sueur. Toothed Herring.

Missouri River; Judith River.

Family SALMONIDAE.

27. Coregonus williamsoni cismontanus, Jordan. Rocky Mountain

Whitefish. East Montana generally.

28. Salmo clarkii, (Richardson). Red-throat Trout.

Both slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

29. Cristivomer namaycush (Walbaum). Mackinaw Trout; Lake Trout.

Elk Lake, Madison County.

30. Salvelinus parkei (Suckley). Bull Trout; Dolly Varden Trout; Red

spotted Trout.

Rattlesnake Creek, and west Montana generally.
Family THYMALLIDAE.

31. Thymallus montanus, Milner. Grayling.

Tributaries of the Missouri above the Great Falls.
Family GASTEROSTEIDAE.

32. Eucalia Inconstans (Kirtland). Stickleback.

Poplar River.

Family PERCIDAE.

33. Stizostedion canadense boreum (Girard). Northern Pike-perch.

Great Falls of the Missouri; Milk River; Marias River.

Family SCIAENIDAE.

34. Aplodinotus grunniens, (Rafinesque). Fresh-water Drumfish.

Milk River.

Family COTTIDAE.

35. Cottus semiscaber (Cope). Bull-head; Blob,

Streams ©f east and west Montana, generally.
Family GADIDAE.

36. Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). Ling.

Red Rock River; Red Rock Lake; Poplar River; Missouri River.
To this list may be added the following species planted in Montana
waters by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries:

Family SALMON IDAE.
Coregonus clupeiformis (Michill). Lake Superior Whitefish.

Planted in Flathead Lake.
Salmo gairdneri, Richardson. Steelhead Trout; Salmon-trout.

Planted in numerous streams in Montana.
Salmo Irldeus, Gibbons. Rainbow Trout.

Planted in numerous streams in Montana.
Salmo fario, Will. Brown Trout; Von Behr Trout.

Gallatin County, Hoffman's Ranch.
Christivomer namaycush (Walbaum). Mackinaw Trout; Lake Trout.

Flathead Lake.
Salvelinus fontlnalis (Mitchill). Eastern Brook Trout.
Numerous waters in Montana .

Family CENTRARCHIDAE.
Micropterus doiomieu, Lacepede. Small-mouth Black Bass.
Micropterus saimoides (Lacepede). Large-mouth Black Bass.

The two 'species of black bass, principally the large-mouth, have been
planted in some waters of the western portion of the state, on the Pacific
slope, where the water is much warmer than in eastern Montana; and
in the Missouri River near Great Falls, also in a lake just above Great
Falls, formed by the dam of an electric power company. The colder
waters of the eastern part of the state are totally unsuited to black bass;
moreover, they should never be planted in ponds or streams containing
trout.

Family PERCIDAE.
Perca flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow Perch.

The yellow perch has been introduced in the artificial lake mentioned,
near Great Falls, where they have multiplied to such an extent as to
afford good fishing.

In 1889 and 1890 there were planted in the waters of the Yellowstone
National Tark yearling fish of the following species by the U. S. Bureau
of Fisheries:

Date.

Place.

Species.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Aug.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Aug.

Sept.

1889
1890
1889
1889
1890
1890
1889

Gardiner River Brook Trout ..

Gardiner River Brook Trout ..

Gibbon River Rainbow Trout

Number.

Ijoch Leven Trout
Loch Leven Trout
Loch Leven Trout

Firehole River

Lewis Lake

Shoshone Lake . . .

Gardiner River Mountain Trout

1890|Shoshone Lal^e Lake Trout

1890|Shoshone Lake Lake Trout

1890|Lewis Lake Lake Trout

1890ILewis Lake Lake Trout

1890 Shoshone Lake Lake Trout

1890 iNez Perces Creek Von Behr Trout

1899 1 Twin Lakes Native Whitefish

1899 1 Yellowstone River Native Whitefish

1890 1 Yellowstone River Native Whitefish

1890|Yellowstone River Native Whitefish

4,975
7,875

990

995
3,350
3,350

968
18,000
7,262
7,263
4,750
4,750
9,300
2,000

980
5,000
5,000

Excepting the Yellowstone and Gibbon Rivers, and possibly the east
fork of the Gardiner, there were previously no fish whatever in any of
these streams or lakes.

As one result of these plantings there have been taken in the Madison
and Yellowstone rivers or tributaries in Montana the eastern brook trout,
the rainbow trout and the Von Behr or brown trout.

Owing to the great size of the state of Montana, with its climatic
peculiarities and the consequent differences in the temperature and con-
dition of the waters of the east, west and northern portions, it is re-
markable that so few species of native fishes have as yet been discovered.
It is but fair to state, however, that its waters have not been fully ex-
plored, and additions to its fish fauna will no doubt result from more
thorough investigations of its streams and lakes.

It will be noticed that but few food-fishes, good, bad or indifferent,
are included in the foregoing list of native fishes. Those of the Mis-
souri below the falls being the channel catfish, the several suckers, the
northern pike-perch and the fresh-water drumfish. By far the best
game- and food-fishes are those of the mountain streams, as the red-
throat trout, grayling and Rocky Mountain whitefish of the eastern slope
of the Rockies, and the Dolly Varden or bull trout of the west slope.
They are the most important for the angler or for the table, and thrive
in the cold streams of both sides of the Continental Divide. If proper
legislation was enacted to prevent their destruction by irrigating ditches
they would soon become abundant in all suitable waters.

The law prohibiting the sale of trout and grayling is the most im-
portant, and in fact the only one, for fish protection in the statutes of
Montana, and were it repealed the fishes of the mountain streams would
soon be few and far between.

In view of their importance perhaps it may be well to refer more
particularly to the fishes of the salmon family, both native and intro-
duced, in order that their merits may be more fully recognized and better
laws adopted for their preservation.

— 7—

THE RED-THROAT TROUT (Salmo Clarkli).

The red-throat trout, or native trout, is the most widely distributed
of all the native fishes of Montana. It inhabits both slopes of the Rocky
Mountains, and, as might be inferred from this extensive range, it varies
in external appearance more than any of the trout species. There are
a dozen or more well-defined sub-species or geographical varieties, but all
have the characteristic red splashes on the membrane of the throat. By
means of this "trade-mark" it may be readily distinguished from the
rainbow or steelhead trouts, both of which are also black-spotted.

But while the red-throat trout varies considerably in contour, colora-
tion and markings, in different localities, it is identical in structure
wherever found. It is known by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries as the
"black-spotted trout," a most unfortunate designation, inasmuch as the
rainbow and steelhead trouts are also "black-spotted." The name red-
throat trout is distinctive, and is preferable to the rather repulsive name
of "cut-throat" trout by which it is also known. The red-throat trout is
designated in Montana by such names as "trout," "brook trout," "speckled
mountain trout," etc. As the eastern red-spotted "brook trout" is rapidly
being introduced to our waters, the name "brook trout" should be applied
only to that species.

Where the red-throat trout grows to a larger size than usual, as in
the Yellowstone and other lakes, it is often called "salmon-trout",
and the bull trout of the west slope is also sometimes known by the
same name, but the only "salmon- trout" is the steelhead trout. The red-
throat trout rises to the fly more freely than eastern brook trout, though
in gameness and flavor it is hardly its equal. Its habits are also some-
what different. It usually lies in pools and holes, and does not frequent
the riffles so much as the eastern trout. In size it is somewhat larger
than the eastern trout in streams of the same relative width and depth,
and like all trout species grows bigger in lakes and large streams. I
have taken them on the fly weighing from three to five pounds in Soda
Butte Lake in the Yellowstone Park, and in Yankee Jim Canyon on the
Yellowstone River. It seldom breaks water when hooked, but puts up
a vigorous fight beneath the surface. In Yellowstone Lake it is infested
with the white pelican parasite, rendering it emaciated and lacking in
game qualities; this condition, however, seems to be disappearing some-
what, while those in the river are well-nourished and gamy. Under
favorable conditions it grows rapidly. One taken from a pond near
Toston, supplied from Bozeman Station, weighed three pounds, dressed,
when two years old.

THE STEELHEAD TROUT. (Salmo gairdneri).

The steelhead, or salmon-trout, is the trimmest and most graceful
and the gamest of all the trout species, being more "salmon-like" in shape
and appearance. On the Pacific coast, where it is native, and runs to
salt water, it grows to twenty pounds or more in weight, when it is known
as steelhead salmon, and many are packed under this name. Its spots
are smaller than in the other black-spotted species. It has, usually,
especially the males, a pink flush along the sides, but not so pronounced

— 8—

as in the rainbow trout. Its color is also of a lighter hue, with steely
reflections. Its scales are somewhat larger than those of the red-throat,
hut not so large as in the rainbow.

During the past six years the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries has intro-
duced the steelhead in a number of streams and lakes in Montana, which
seem to be very suitable for this fine fish. They have been caught
during the past year or two as heavy as four pounds, which shows that
they have come to stay. The steelhead rises eagerly to the artificial
fly, and breaks water repeatedly when hooked; it is very trying to light
tackle, and must be handled carefully by the angler. As a food-fish it
excels all other trout, as might be surmised. It should grow to eight
or ten pounds in lakes of considerable area and depth, and where its
food is plentiful.

THE RAINBOW TROUT. (Salmo Irideus).

The rainbow trout has also been introduced to Montana waters during
the past few years by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, and seems to be
well-adapted to ponds of considerable extent, where water plants and
grasses flourish. Such waters seem to be more congenial than the
colder mountain streams; and moreover it has a way of disappearing from
the smaller streams to seek those of greater depth. It will thrive in
warmer water than the other trouts. The rainbow is similar in contour
to the red-throat, though somewhat deeper, and with shorter head, smaller
mouth, and larger scales. Its distinguishing feature is the broad red
band along the lateral line, common to both male and female. It is a
handsome fish, with considerably more gameness than the red-throat,
but is not so vigorous on the rod as the steelhead of the same size.
Owing to its tendency to descend streams it is particularly liable to
enter irrigation ditches, in which event its doom is sealed. As a food-
fish it is superior to the native red-throat trout.

THE BROWN TROUT. (Salmo farlo).

The brown trout is the brook trout of Europe, and was introduced to
the United States from England and Germany, under the auspices of
the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. Those from Germany, (the eggs), were
donated by Von Behr, and his name was unfortuately applied to the fish
as "Von Behr trout," also "German trout." As the fish is universally
known in Great Britain as the "brown trout", that name should be ad-
hered to in this country as well. It is the trout of Izaak Walton, and
the German names are cerainly inapplicable. In Germany it is known
as "bach-forelle", which means "brook trout." It is neither so gamy
nor so good a food-fish as our own trouts, though it grows quite large in
suitable waters, or those of higher temperatux^e than required for our
native trouts.

It has both reddish-brown and black spots, of a larger size than those
of its American cousins. In 1899 a lot of fingerlings were supplied by
the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, to Hon. C. W. Hoffman, who placed them in
a pond on his ranch, a mile from Bozeman. Last summer (1903) two
were taken from the pond weighing six pounds, a remarkable growth in
four years; though this weight was doubtless attained at the expense of

the small trout of other species in the same pond. I saw a mounted

specimen that was taken in a tributary of the Yellowstone near Liv-
ingston that was said to weigh ten pounds when captured, which was
probably correct, as it was thirty inches long.

THE BROOK TROUT. (Salvelinus fontinalis),

The eastern brook trout has both crimson and yellowish spots, with
dark marblings on the back. At spawning time the males have the
lower part of the body bright scarlet, of a more intense color than the
other species mentioned. The paired fins are bordered with both
black and white lines. It is the most beautiful of all the trouts. Ais a
game- and food-fish it ranks high, but is excelled in game qualities by
both the rainbow and steelhead, which, however, is no disparagement.
It has been introduced of late years from Bozeman Station to many
ponds and streams thoughout the state, where it has uniformly done well.
One was taken on the fiy from the pond of Mr. Hoffman, previously refer-
red to, that weighed three and one-hau pounds at three years of age.
I also know of two being taken from a tributary of the Madison, near
Ennis, where they were planted by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, that
weighed respectively one and one-half and two pounds at one and a half
years of age. Two of the same hatching were taken the same autumn
of like weights in Bridger Creek. The low temperature of the east
Montana waters seems to be eminently suitable for the brook trout.
The DOLLY VARDEN TROUT. (Salvelinus parkel).
The Dolly Varden, or bull trout, sometimes erroneously called "salmon-
trout," is the only red-spotted trout native to western waters. It be-
longs to the same genus as the eastern brook trout, but grows much
larger. It is found in Montana only on the Pacific slope in both lakes
and streams, growing to twelve or fifteen pounds under favorable condi-
tions. In the streams it is a gamer fish than in lakes, though the larger
fish are rather lazy and logy. Compared with its eastern relative it
is hardly so vigorous on the rod, when of similar weight, and not quite so
good for the table.

THE LAKE TROUT. (Cristivomer namaycush .

The lake trout is closely allied to the eastern brook trout, though it
grows very much larger, and is confined to very deep lakes. In the
Great Lakes it often reaches forty pounds in weight, and is stictly a com-
mercial fish, though it is often taken by deep trolling with the minnow.
It never rises to the artificial fly. I have taken it on the trolling spoon
In the Straits of Mackinaw, and in the bay at Marquette on Lake Super-
ior. It is one of the best fresh-water food-fishes. Its spots are large
and of a grayish coloration.

In the books it has never been credited to Montana, though it exists
in Elk Lake at the head of the Jefferson, but nowhere else so far as I am
aware west of of Lake Michigan, which is likewise true of the grayling.
It is credited in the books to Henrys Lake, Idaho, but this is a mistake
which I corrected a year or two ago. Many years ago it was taken at
Elk Lake by Mr. Sawtelle and Mr. Sherwood, of Henrys Lake, and not
knowing what it was they forwarded specimens to the Smithsonian Insti-

— 10

tution, where it was identified as the lake trout. As it was sent from
the postoflBce at Henrys Lake the inference was that it came from that
lake. Henrys Lake is a very shallow body of water, quite weedy, and
not at all adapted to this deep water fish. I have collected it from Elk
Lake, weighing several pounds. Eggs from Lake Superior whitefish
and lake trout have been hatched at the Bozeman Station and several mil-
lions of the resultant fry have been deposited in Falthead Lake, where it
is noped they will find a congenial home.

THE GRAYLING. (Thymallus montanus).

The grayling, the "lady of the streams", is as trim and graceful, and
withal as beautiful as a damsel dressed for her first ball. Her lovely
iridescent colors and tall gaily-decorated dorsal fin, which might be
compared to a gracefully waving plume, must be seen fresh from the
water to be properly appreciated. The grayling is not only a clean
and handsome fish, but is as game as the trout, and in my opinion much
better for me table. It was taken in the Jefferson river a century ago
by Lewis and Clark, and though they gave a fair description of it in the
history of their wonderful expedition, it remained unidentified until it
became my good fortune a few years ago to recognize it as the grayling
from the description of Captain Lewis.

The grayling is supposed by some to be a cross between the red-
throat trout and the whitefish, in other words a hybrid; but I have never
seen a hybrid fish in wild waters. Hybrids can be produced by the
fishculturist between closely allied species, but the progeny is infertile.
The grayling is a distinct species, allied to the salmon family, more dis-
tinct in fact than as between the rainbow and steelhead trouts. It is a
different species from the Michigan or Arctic graylings, though closely
resembling both. It became my good fortune, also, to be the first to
propagate the grayling artificially, under the auspices of the U. S.
Bureau of Fisheries, it having time and again resulted in failure with
the Michigan grayling.

The grayling is found only in Alaska, Michigan and Montana. In
Montana it exists only in the tributaries of the Missouri River above the
Falls. Its ideal home is in the upper reaches of the Madison and Jeffer-
son. The upper canyon of the Madison and the basin west of the Yel-
lowstone Park are especially adapted to the grayling. There the water
is swift, but unbroken, the bottom being composed of dark obsidian
sand. In this region grayling of two pounds are not uncommon.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHITEFISH. (Coregonus wllliamsoni

cismontanus).

For some inexplicable reason this nne game-fish is not properly ap-
preciated by many anglers m Montana. This is probably mere preju-
dice, but it seems unaccountable when it is considered that there are
only two other game-fishes in the eastern portion of the state — the red-
throat trout and the grayling. I consider the whitefish equal to the
native trout in gameness, as eager in rising to the artificial fly, as ready
to respond to bait, and as good, if not better, as a tood-fish. Its flesh
is firm and flaky, of a sweet flavor, and never has that muddy or earthy
taste as in trout from weedy waters.

— II-

PADDLE WHEELS FOR DITCHES.
To Prevent Destruction of Fish by Irrigating Ditches.
(From FOREST AND STREAM, March 14, 1903.)
In Forest and Stream of February 14, is an article with the caption
"Montana Oame and Fish Interests," giving extracts from the semi-
annual report of the State Warden, Mr. W. F. Scott. I wish to call
attention to certain portions of said report. He says: "It is a matter
of serious regret that no practical method has been adopted to prevent
the great loss of trout which escape through the irrigating canals and
ditches out on to the land, and perish, during the irrigating season, other
than the common wire mesh screen which clogs up and retards the flow
of water in the spring and autumn when drift matter and leaves are
brought down by the current of the stream."

It is both disheartening and discouraging to the western fishculturist
to know that millions of fish, both large and small, annually perish
through being stranded on the meadows and grain fields as the result
of unscreened ditches. He sees a large percentage of the work of the
United States and State Fish Commissions go for naught from this cause.

The hardship entailed by the use of the common wire me'sh screen
exists more in imagination than in reality, for during the season of irriga-
tion in the summer the streams are clear of leaves and trash. "In the
spring and autumn when drift matter and leaves are brought down by the
the current of the stream," the head gates of the ditches could be closed,
for at those seasons rain or snow usually furnishes all the water needed
for the crops.

But in order to provide a contrivance "which will not injure or work a
hardship on the farmer, and at the same time put an end to this wide-
spread destruction," I have devised an arrangement to be put in at the
intake of ditches that is as effective as a screen, but which is not open to
its objections, as it permits the passage of such matter as would clog
a screen, and at the same time it prevents fish from entering the ditch.
I understand that some such device is successfully used in Colorado, but
I have not oeen able to obtain the particulars of its construction.

My device is very simple, consisting merely of a short flume at the
head of the ditch, with sufficient fall to operate an eight-bladed paddle
wheel, fitting the flume closely. The width and depth of the flume, and
the size of the paddle wheel would be governed by the width and depth
of the ditch. If very wide a double flume and two wheels could
be used. In large ditches two old wagon wheels could be
utilized by affixing paddles to the spokes. The bearings of the shaft
should work in vertical slots, so that any hard sub'stance could pass under
the paddles by raising the wheel. The continual splashing of the paddles
would be effectual in frightening fish or fry and prevent their passage.

— 12 —

But to make assurance doubly sure, a barrel-shaped frame covered with
woven wire of very small mesh, and fitting the flume closely, could be
operated as a revolving screen, by utilizing the paddle wheel as a motor.
The pulleys to each should be placed on the shafts just outside of the
flume, with the belt crossed so as to cause the wheel and screen to revolve
in opposite directions, the revolving screen, of course, being at the en-
trance of the ditch. This forms a self-cleaning screen, all leaves and
trash being carried over, while the smallest fish fry are prevented from
passing it. I thiuK, however, that the paddle wheel alone would answer
the purpose very effectually.

The annexed rough drawings may make the device and it's con-
struction more easily understood. For very shallow ditches the paddles
might be nailed directly to the octagon shaft. Farmers who are skilled
in the use of tools might make a round shaft, with mortises for the arms
of the wheel, but it would be no better or stronger than the simple one
mentioned.

JAMES A. HENSHALL,
Bozeman, Montana.

\S\ot ^erorluo^

Vlume-

>Sha|1;

VaddU

CROSS SECTION OF WHEEL.

1. OCTAGON SHAFT. 3. ARMS.
3. PADDIiES. 4, BSAOES.