468 SEVliXIH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAvME COMMISSION. 



3. Smooth bottom of either fine sand, hard earth or very fine gravel. 



4. That the current be positive and of some little velocity throughout the 

 whole section. 



New York streams as a whole do not, except rarely, answer to these conditions. 

 They are usually shallow, rapid flowing in places, and frequently encumbered with 

 boulders. Current meter observations may be at times from loo^o to 200^^ in error. 

 So far as streams in New York State are concerned, therefore, the current meter 

 should not be used except when there is nothing else to use. 



Gaging by floats, rods, etc., may be made when the proper conditions obtain, 

 although usually such methods are only applicable under special and particular 

 conditions. Broadly, we may say that where a good dam exists on a stream the 

 gagings should preferably be first of all made at this point. Or, if there is money 

 available, a special weir may be erected. Failing either of these, the current meter 

 may be used, with due understanding of the limitations indicated in the foregoing. 



The great water center of the Adirondack Mountains has streams issuing from it 

 in all directions. The following is a brief resume of the main water power charac- 

 teristics of the principal streams. 



1. The first important stream is Salmon River, with total catchment area above 

 High Falls of 191 square miles. A reservoir with elevation of water surface of 953 

 feet was projected on this stream, with capacity of 7,500,000,000 cubic feet, in con- 

 nection with, the water supply for the deep waterways.* The stream rises in the 

 southwestern corner of Lewis County and flows first southerly and then westerly 

 into Lake Ontario. The extreme head waters are probably at an elevation of 1,400 

 or 1,500 feet above tide water. 



To the north of Salmon River there are a number of streams, but none of them 

 are very extensive. The chief ones which may be mentioned are the West, North 

 and South branches of .Sandy Creek, and Deer Creek. 



2. The ne.xt important stream, proceeding to the north, is Black River, the 

 catchment area of which above its mouth is 1,930 square miles. This stream rises in 

 the western part of Hamilton County and pursues a southwesterly direction, passing 

 across Herkimer County and into Oneida County. It then turns and runs north- 

 west through Lewis County, after which its course is westerly across Jefferson 

 County to Black River Ba}-, at the eastern e.xtremit}- of Lake Ontario. Lake 

 Ontario has a mean elevation above tide of about 247 feet. The length of the river, 

 measured along its course from its mouth at Black River Bay to the head waters, 

 is 1 12 miles. 



*An account of this reservoir, with its principal characteristics, may be found in the Report On 

 Special Water Supply to the Board of Engineers on Deep Waterways, pp. S73-8S1. 



