FISHES OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 9 



The principal tributaries of this portion of the river from the lake 

 southward on the left are Cabin, Trappers, Mountain, Chff, Escarp- 

 ment, and Thoroughfare Creeks. On the other side in the same 

 direction are Badger, Phlox, and Lynx Ci'eeks. Good fishing is found 

 in the river and in the creeks liigh up where they meander from the 

 mountains. 



YELLOWSTONE RIVER BELOW THE LAKE. 



Below the lake to the upper falls there is no great descent, and the 

 river flows for about 15 miles with a quiet current. Here its banks 

 are bordered ^^^th low hills, some of them wooded, others forming 

 open pastures. On the right side going northward the principal 

 creeks are Cotton Grass and Sour Creeks, which unite to discharge 

 their waters into the Yellowstone not far from Alum Creek on the 

 opposite side of the river. On the west side of the river is Trout 

 Creek, which is a clear stream, with grassy banks and gravelly 

 bottom. It has a summer temperature of about 58° F. and is a good 

 trout stream. 



Alum Creek is a clear stream about 8 feet wide and 1 or 2 feet 

 deep, rising in the Continental Divide opposite the head of Nez 

 Perce Creek and flowing eastward through the grassy fields of Hayden 

 Valley. Its bed contains much white alkali from the hot springs 

 above, and there is a perceptible alkaline taste to the water, wliicii 

 has a temperature of about 60° F. in summer. In its upper course 

 it has some hot tributaries. One of these is Violet Creek, with a 

 number of hot springs and mudholes. Still another fork is charged 

 with ahnn, but a third brancli is said to be one of the best redtlu'oat 

 trout streams in the park. 



YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND BRANCHES BELOW THE FALLS. 



About 15 miles below the lake tlie river plunges into a deep canyon 

 over two vertical falls 109 feet and 308 feet in height. This remark- 

 able canyon is more than 20 miles long, with nearlv perpendicular 

 walls 800 to 1,100 feet in height. The current below the falls is 

 swift until the river leaves the park. 



The most important eastern tributary of the Yellowstone River 

 is Lamar River. It is a large stream, sometimes referred to as the 

 East Fork of the Yellowstone. It joins the Yellowstone not far 

 below Butte Junction. There are many tributary creeks of various 

 sizes, particularly on the north and northeast side. The principal 

 of these are: Miller, Calfee, Cache, Soda Butte, joined by Amphi- 

 theater and Pebble Creeks; Slough Creek, the largest branch of which 

 is Buffalo Creek. On the west side the creeks are smaller than 

 most of those of the other side, the princmal ones l)eingCold, Willow, 

 and Timothy, near the upper course. Chalcedony Creek is farther 

 down, and all but Cold Creek are in rather deep ravines near the 

 river. Cascade Creek is a clear brook a few feet wide which enters 

 the Yellowstone between the falls. The high, nearly vertical "Crystal 

 Falls" (129 feet) is near the mouth of the stream and, of course, 

 prevents the ascent of fishes. Redthroat trout were once planted 

 above the falls. 



6280«°— 21 2 



