NOTES ON LAKE TAHOE, ITS TROUT AND TROUT-FISHING. 



By chancey juday, 



Wisconsin Geological <"/./ Natural History Survey. 



[NTRODUCTIOX. 



Lake Tahoe is one of the largest as well as one oi' the most picturesque American 

 mountain lakes. From a scientific standpoint, it is also a most interesting 1 body of 

 water, but the study of il has been wry much neglected, and comparatively little is 

 known of its physical and biological aspects. Muir has given some delightful 

 sketches of the beauties of the lake and the surrounding country. Le Conte -prut 

 a short time there in the fall of L873, making some physical investigations, the results 

 of which he published ten years later. In L878 Gill and Jordan described some of 

 the fishes of the lake. In L889 the United States Geological Survey made a survey 

 to determine the possibilities of the basin as a storage reservoir for irrigation pur- 

 poses and has since published topographical maps of the region based on surveys 

 made in 1889. Russell, in his "Lakes of North America," has given a brief but 

 excellent description of Lake Tahoe. In L902 Price issued an admirable little "Guide 

 to the Lake Tahoe Region," in which the more important physical and biological 

 features of the region are pointed oul and briefly described. Early in 1904 Treat 

 described the angling methods employed by the fishermen as well as some of his own 

 experiences on the lake as an angler. Ward has recently publisheda reporl on some 

 investigations which he made in this region during the summer of 1903. Such, in 

 brief, is the accessible literature pertaining to the physical and biological features of 

 Lake Tahoe and vicinity. (See p. 14<! for references in full.) 



During the summer of L904:, this interesting region was visited by the writer in 

 order to make souk' investigations for the United States Bureau of Fisheries. The 

 investigations were limited to Lake Tahoe, with the exception of a day spent in 

 making a cursory examination of some of the small lakes lying to the southward, in 

 the vicinity of Glen Alpine. They covered but a brief period of time, June 17 to 

 duly 6. Their chief object was to obtain as much information as possible concerning 

 the methods employed by the fishermen in catching- the trout, and the amount and 

 value of the catch." 



"I am indebted to Wells Fargo & Co., and Mr. S. D. Brastow, superintendent of their western 

 division; to Mr. Charles A. Vogelsang, chief deputy of the California fish commission; to Mr. E. \V. 

 Hunt, inchargeof the two state hatcheries located on the lake; to Mr. William Boyle and to Prof. 

 \V. W. l'riee; likewise to various residents of the region, fishermen, and others, for information, 

 assistance, and numerous courtesies. 



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