42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



MINNESOTA, NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. 



During July and August, 1S92, investigations were carried on in the 

 contiguous parts of these three States by Mr. A. J. Woolman, of South 

 Bend, Ind., assisted during a portion of the time by Prof. U. O. Cox, 

 of the State Xoiinal School, Mankato, Minn. Tlie waters examined 

 were Lake Traverse, Big Stone Lake, and the Minnesota Kiver as far 

 down as Montevideo, Minn.; the Red River of the Xorth as far as the 

 international line, including many of its tributaries; Devils Lake and 

 the James River in North Dakota, the latter being a tributary of the 

 Missouri River. The work was executed in a thorough manner, and 

 was comprehensive in its scope, being directed toward determining the 

 physical characteristics of the ditterent bodies of water visited, as well 

 as their fishes and other aquatic inhabitants, both animals and plants. 

 No extensive ichthyological studies had previously been made in this 

 region, and the rei:>ort of Mr. Woolman upon the results obtained con- 

 tains many observations of scientific and practical interest. 



After discussing the geological history of the region examined, which 

 points to the former existence of a very extensive lake, reaching 

 northward to and including Lake Winnipeg, and drained by a broad 

 waterway leading southward through the trough now occupied by 

 Lake Traverse, Big Stone Lake, and the Minnesota River, Mr. Woolman 

 proceeds to describe and account for the present conditions and rela- 

 tions of the principal water areas which he visited. Red River of the 

 North is not the outlet of Lake Traverse, as is often represented on maps, 

 nor has it been in modern times. Lake Traverse an.d Big Stone Lake, 

 both lying in the valley of " River Warren" of geologists, are only about 

 5 miles apart, being separated by sediment piled a few feet above the 

 surface of the former lake. The similarity of the species of fishes living 

 in the two lake basins indicates that at one time they were connected, 

 and yet the number of comparatively unimportant or minor differences, 

 quite noticeable and constant, and reaching in some cases almost vari- 

 etal significance, shows the landlocked condition of the fauna of Lake 

 Traverse and points to the fact that these two lakes could not have been 

 united in recent years. 



Lake Traverse, lying between Minnesota and the northeastern corner 

 of South Dakota, is about 14 miles long by 1 to li miles wide, and has 

 a maximum depth of about 30 feet, the average being possibly half 

 that or less. The temperature of the water was high, having been 

 77° F. when the lake was visited in July. It must change rapidly 

 with the seasons, and in winter the lake freezes to the bottom over much 

 of its extent. There are only two small inlets, and the volume of M^ater 

 in the lake is gradually diminishing. The lake sui)ports a rich and 

 varied growth of plant life, and teems with crustaceans, mollusks, and 

 insects. Nothwithstanding this fact, howe»ver, it contains few kinds of 

 fiishes, none of which can be regarded as abundant. About the only 

 species utilized as food is the pickerel {Lucins Ii(ciiis), although a few 

 catfish {Ameiurus nebulosus) and strawberry bass [Poniojcis) are taken 



