BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 143 



by machineiy into the river bed eight feet apart. The row of piling ex- 

 tended across the river from side to side. Two inch planls were nailed 

 together side by side in threes, fastened by strips. Each set of three 

 planks was then pushed down into the water, held by the current against 

 two posts or piles. The ends were therefore between the piling, and 

 could not be fastened. The idea was to hold back the lake water, pre- 

 vent the surface from getting low in winter, and thus have depth of water 

 sufficient to float logs at the new mill at the north end of the lake. In 

 low water it is difficult to get logs to the tramway. What the result 

 may be is in the future. The farmers at the upper end of the lake want 

 the water to run out faster, so as not to flood the land. If the scheme 

 of holding back the water succeeds in winter it is likely to succeed in 

 spring when the waters are high. In that event the flooding of land 

 above will be worse than ever. It is probable, however, that the dam will 

 be taken out in the spring by ice. 



