106 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



In the spring of 1904, in a brook in Freeport, where in recent years 

 the smelts had not appeared except occasionally in very small numbers, 

 there was a large run, much like the runs of twenty or twenty-five, 

 years ago; but owing to the lack of protection on their spawning 

 grounds these fish were taken in such numbers that probably few, if 

 any, spawned there. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



During the winter of 1903-4 investigations were conducted at Amer- 

 ican Lake and other small lakes in the vicinity of Tacoma, Wash., by 

 Mr. J. Nelson Wisuer, of the division of fish culture, for the purpose 

 (1) of determining the physical characteristics of the lakes, includ- 

 ing the character, temperature, and depth of the water, character 

 of shores, catchment basin, inlets and outlets, with a study of local 

 meteorological conditions, and (2) of studying the animals and plants 

 inhabiting the different lakes, including a determination of the species 

 and a study of their life histories. Particular attention was given to 

 the fishes and the adaptability of the lakes to the white-fish and other 

 species which have been introduced or whose introduction has been 

 contemplated. The inquiries covered more or less fully the following 

 waters: 



American Lake. — This is the largest lake of the group, being 

 approximately 4 miles long and averaging 1 mile in width, with a 

 minimum width of less than 100 yards at the narrows joining the 

 larger basin to the smaller, which forms the southwest portion of 

 the lake, lying toward Lake Sequallitchew. The outline is irregular, 

 the major axis of the lake lying northeast and southwest. The shore 

 line is a continuous series of indentations, small coves abounding, with 

 some 12 or 15 larger ones. The shores are low and in most places are 

 well wooded, as is also the catchment basin, which probably does not 

 exceed three times the area of the lake itself. 



Murray Creek is the only surface inlet to American Lake, and near 

 its mouth is about 16 feet wide and 6 to 8 inches in average depth. 

 It is only a few miles in length and enters the lake from the southeast. 

 The water comes largely from springs and is clear and pure. There 

 appears to be no surface outlet to the lake, the drainage probably 

 being into Sequallitchew Lake by seepage. 



The average depth of American Lake, based on 42 soundings, is 67 

 feet; the maximum depth, 106 feet. Usually the depth increases 

 abruptly and close to shore. Temperature observations made from 

 March 30 to April 15 show 82.5° as the maximum for the air. The 

 surface of the water varied from 46 to 59°, the morning (6 o'clock) 

 temperature running from 46 to 62°; the bottom temperature was 

 found to be about 48°. 



