DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA. 



A STUDY OF PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. WITH A VIEW 

 TO THE ACCLIMATIZATION OF HSH. 



By Thomas E. B. Pope, 

 Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries. 



Since the sudden disappearance of pickerel from Devils Lake about 

 1889 no species of food or game fish has been found in its waters. 

 This has been the subject of much concern to residents of that locality, 

 and in response to repeated inquiries as to its cause and urgent re- 

 quests that the lake be stocked with fish, the Bureau of Fisheries 

 instituted investigations into the conditions now obtaining in that 

 locality. These investigations, embracing a period of seven weeks, 

 from July 20 to September 10, 1907, form the basis of the following 

 report." 



DESCRIPTION. 



Devils Lake is an irregular sheet of water 30 miles long, lying in 

 Ramsey and Benson counties. Along its entire south shore is an 

 unbroken ridge of prominent and typical morainal hills rising in 

 strong contrast to the level farm land bordering its northern extent. 

 Prior to 1889 the Mauvaise Coulee at its northwestern end maintained 

 connection with Lake Irvine and thence through small creeks with 

 Dry and Sweetwater lakes, directly north of Devils Lake, the whole 

 forming a U-shaped system. At present there is neither inlet nor 

 outlet, Mauvaise Coulee being reduced to a dry creek bed, except 

 during the spring freshets and periods of unusual rainfall. 



By reason of the rapid lowering of its level and the consequent 

 radical changes in configuration during the past twenty-five years, 

 Devils Lake has been broken up into detached portions or large areas 

 narrowly connected. The most important section from an economic 



<* The investigating party consisted of tlie writer, Mr. E. L. Goldsboi'ougli, and 

 Mr. W. F. Hill, all from the Bureau of Fisheries. Residents of the locality 

 rendered valuable assistance and uumberless courtesies throughout the work. 



3 



