288 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



mill and clam there. The dam is 9 feet in height. My last conversation 

 with him was about three years ago. I believe the information per- 

 fectly reliable. 



Salmon River was long ago the spawning ground of salmon, up to tie 

 timffthis dam was built. The spearing of salmon was an important oecu 

 pation of the residents all the way from near the mouth up as far as 

 the High Falls (about 7 miles below the village of Eedfleld), a distance 

 of some 25 or 30 miles by course of the river. This fall is a perpend ic 

 ular drop of some 100 to 120 feet, and under it is a deep pool in the 

 rocks of 200 or more feet in diameter. The stream is more or less rapid, 

 varied with flat current; is crossed by the Roine, Watertowu, and Og- 

 densburg Railroad at Sandy Bank, and probably at Pulaski. 1 think 

 there is also a dam at Sand Bank. The water of the stream (a rather 

 large one), as far as I have traveled it, is of exceeding clearness and' 

 ■transparency. 



Mr. Cross about four^r five years ago first informed me of the annual 

 presence of salmon at his dam, and their efforts to get over it during 

 the month of June; that their efforts were very persistent, and that 

 some of the strongest males would even jump so as to go over it; also 

 that annually many were caught in seines below the dam. I suggested 

 to liiin that he should' build a fish way, but it was found that the laws 

 were so defective in respect to nets and seines that it was not expe- 

 dient. In a later interview he told me it was proposed to cut a spill- 

 way or overflow around the dam, and that powder had been purchased 

 for the blasting of rocks; still later that such a channel had been cut, 

 and he thought a few had gone up it. This was about two years ago. 

 Mr. Cross died soon after, and I have no later information. 



From these facts it seems that this point is the only water in the 

 State of New York where salmon have ever returned after their spawn- 

 ing places have been once broken up. I have supposed that this was 

 on account of the fineness of the water, which in clearness would seem 

 to resemble that of the Restigouche of Nova Scotia, where they 

 abound. It would seem as if by a little public effort this stream could 

 be reestablished as a spawning ground, especially by proper fishways 

 and absolute protection for a year or two until once fairly established. 

 To this end some special legislation would be required, among which 

 would be the protection of "black salmon" at all times, under severe 

 •penalties, as in Canada. This salmon is a great protection to the spawn- 

 ing grounds. 



The waters also of Fish Creek, in Lewis County, heading near those 

 of Salmon River, were formerly the spawning ground of salmon, par- 

 ticularly at what is known as " Shaler's Hole," in the town of Lewis, 

 but were broken up by many high dams on the streams. This stream 

 empties into Lake Ontario through Oneida Lake. ' I hear of no attempts 

 of salmon to ascend this stream, although it is possible. 



IIttca, N. Y., May 22,1885. 



