10 DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA. 



Dry^ Cavanaugh.) and the Chain lakes. — About 5 miles to the north 

 of Six-Mile Bay lies Dry Lake, which maintains connection with the 

 Chain Lakes on the northwest and Sweetwater Lake on the east by 

 coulees opening into its upper portion. It extends from north to 

 south for approximately 6 miles, the northern half attaining a breadth 

 of 2 miles, the remainder being 1 mile or less in width. This lake was 

 not visited, but it is reported that a man can easily wade throughout 

 its northern half, while the southern half averages 7 to 8 feet in depth. 

 The lake practically freezes dry in winter. The water is said to be 

 slightly brackish, containing a very small percentage of alkali. There 

 are no fish. 



Cavanaugh Lake, a small body of water northwest of Sweetwater 

 Lake, is exceedingly shallow, contains no fish life, is frozen dry in 

 winter, and is considered of but little importance. 



The Chain Lakes, consisting of Lake Irvine, Lac Aux Morts, and 

 Twin Lakes, form a series of small-sized, irregular-shaped bodies of 

 water in close proximity and connected by coulees. These lakes are 

 shallow, with muddy bottoms and surrounded by marshes. The level 

 of their water fluctuates under the influence of spring freshets or the 

 evaporation of the summer, and in winter they are frozen dry. Their 

 depth and the character of their shores render them favorable for 

 spawning grounds during the spring and early summer. The water 

 is reported to be fresh with but the slightest presence of alkali. 



Wood Lake. — This beautiful sheet of water, located in the interior 

 of the Sioux Indian Reservation about 8 miles from Fort Totten on 

 the south shore of Devils Lake, is of irregular shape with a length of 

 1 mile and a breadth one-half as great. In general the shores bear 

 rushes that in many localities extend far out into the lake, but there 

 are short stretches of sandy beach favorable for seining. The water, 

 probably derived from springs, is perfectly fresh and suitable for all 

 ordinary uses, and furnishes excellent fishing for yellow perch and 

 pickerel, the former occurring in very great abundance. The small 

 supply of yellow perch and pickerel obtained for the acclimatization 

 experiments conducted at Devils Lake, described in subsequent pages, 

 were seined from this lake. Minnows occur, but not abundantly. 

 Black bass are reported to have been introduced, but none were cap- 

 tured. 



PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. 



FLUCTUATIONS OF LEVEL. 



A study of the fluctuations of the level of Devils Lake is essential 

 to an understanding of conditions relative to the disappearance of 

 food fish in 1889 and possible future efforts at restocking. 



Devils Lake lies in a region where there is but little rainfall and the 

 evaporation is greater than the precipitation. This condition is force- 



