REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 43 



for this purjiose. No small fishes were observed in the lake proper, and 

 the total number of species obtained from the lake and its tributaries 

 was only 7. 



Big Stone Lake is .■».") to 38 miles long- and li to 2 miles wide, with a 

 maximum depth of 35 feet. The average depth is greater than in Lake 

 Traverse, the water is clearer and purer, and it contains but little vege- 

 tation. Invertebrates are also less plentiful, although occurring in 

 sufficient quantities to constitute an ample food supply, and there are 

 many small fishes, such as minnows and darters. In the variety and 

 abundance of its fishes this lake presents a marked contrast with Lake 

 Traverse, 25 species having been secured. Food varieties are common, 

 the most imj)ortant being the pickerel, w^all-eyed pike, black bass, rock 

 bass, and crappies. From the Minnesota River and its tributaries, 

 between Big Stone Lake and Montevideo, a total of 35 species of fishes 

 was obtained, and from the James Eiver, in North Dakota, 20 species. 



The Red River of the North presents many features of special interest. 

 It is the only large stream within the boundaries of the United States 

 which finds an outlet toward the far north, suggesting marked differ- 

 ences in its faunal characteristics as comjjared with other water areas 

 even within the adjacent region, conditions which were not found to 

 exist, however, emphasizing the former connection of this river with the 

 Minnesota and Mississippi. The course of the Red River of the North 

 is northward down a long, gentle slope from a low watershed, which 

 separates its basin from that of the Mississippi on the south, east, ind 

 west. Many of its tributaries take an opposite course, in keeping with 

 the streams of the Mississippi system, trending southward until within 

 the immediate valley or flood plain of the main river, when they bend 

 abruptly. The narrow valley now occupied by this river is the product 

 of erosion, and is cut down from 50 to 75 feet below the surrounding 

 level country. Examinations were made at intervals along the main 

 river and also on twelve of its tributaries, the most important of which 

 were the Otter Tail River, Red Lake River, Sheyenne River, as far up as 

 Valley City, N. Dak., and Pembina River, as far up as Minot, N. Dak. 

 Thirty-eight species of fishes were obtained in this basin. 



IOWA, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WYOMING. 



The sundry civil appropriation bill approved August 5, 1892, pro 

 vided for investigations in these several States for the purpose of 

 determining their requirements from a fish-cultural standpoint and of 

 ascertaining the most suitable locations for the establishment of such 

 hatching stations as the circumstances may warrant. It was found 

 impossible to begin upon this inquiry until early in October, and oper- 

 ations for the season were suspended during the first part of November 

 on account of inclement weather, which prevented tlie carrying on of 

 many of the more essential observations, especially those relating to 

 temperature and other physical conditions of the water. Tlu', investi- 

 gations were resumed in the middle of June, 1893, and were completed 



