FISHES OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 15 



SHOSHONE LAKE AND TRIBUTARIES. 



This lake has a length of about 6^ miles and a width of one-half to 

 4^ miles, being dumb-bell shaped or constricted in the middle. Its 

 area is about 12 square miles. Its shores are mostly bold, rocky, and 

 densely wooded, the eastern shore being especially abrupt, and the 

 bottom is there made by large lava bowlders. On the other side 

 somewhat difi'erent conditions obtain, there being a considerable 

 growth of aquatic vegetation. The lake is clearer and colder than 

 either Yellowstone Lake or Heart Lake. The principal tributaries 

 are Shoshone Creek at the northwest corner and De Lacy Creek at 

 the northeast corner. Moose Creek from the southward enters the 

 southern side of the eastern expansion of the lake. Shoshone Lake 

 is connected with Lewis Lake at the southward by a stream of still 

 water known as the ''Canal," about 3 miles long. 



Lewis Lake occupies a rounded basin with rather low banks. It is 

 pear-shaped, about 3 miles long by 2 miles broad, very clear and cold, 

 and apparently in every way suited for trout. Its bold shores are 

 heavily wooded and without any large tributary streams. A few 

 hot springs enter it on the western side. 



Below Lewis Lake Lewis River enters a deep and narrow canyon. 

 At the head of this canyon is a cascade of about 80 feet, of which 20 

 feet at the top is perpendicular. Toward the end of the canyon and 

 not far above the junction with the Snake is another cascade some 

 50 feet in height. Owing to the falls in Lewis River no fish were 

 able to ascend to Lewis and Shoshone Lakes, which were therefore 

 uninhabited by any trouts until they were introduced. 



Loch Leven and lake trouts are numerous, and eastern brook trout 

 abound in Shoshone Creek. Mr. Clark wrote that the Shoshone and 

 Lewis Lake region was probably the best fishing in the park: 



These two lakes and tlieir outlet, T-ewis River, are lull of native trout and have 

 been stocked with Mackinaw and Loch Leven trout, wliich are increa.'^ing in number 

 and size moHt sucressfully. These fish -will not rise to the surface and take the fly 

 as do the regular native trout, and it is necessary to go down into the water for them. 

 In the lakes you can catch them by trolling if you can find the i)articular cove where 

 they happen to be running. However, in spite of the uncertainty of the lake trolling, 

 there is one place where you can troll with assurance of success, and that is the canal 

 between Shos^hone and Lewis Lakes. This is a natural bodv of Avater with little or 

 no current and not very wide. In Lewis River just below Leuds Falls, in the deep 

 pools where the eddies are covered Avith foam, you are sure to find good fishing. 



Rainbow trout said to have been planted in De Lacy Creek in 

 1895 have never been observed, but eastern brook trout of small 

 size are numerous. 



FALLS RIVER A.ND BECHLER RIVER. 



Falls River pursues a sinuous course near the boundary in the 

 southwestern corner of the park. It rises by two brancnes, one 

 originating in a marshy area, the other in Beula Lake, near which 

 are Herring Lake and another smaller one, both mere ponds, and 

 flows to the eastward. In the Birch Hills it passes through a short 

 ravine, flowing over two falls. Terraced and Rainbow Falls, the latter 

 being the most westerly. Before joining Becliler River it receives a 

 considerable creek. Mountain Ash by name, which flows down from 

 the south side of Pitchstone Plateau. 



