REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 107 



The water of this lake is clear and pure and well suited to ordinary 

 lake fishes. The species observed were chubs, sculpins, black bass 

 (introduced), sticklebacks, suckers, and cutthroat trout. The chubs 

 were spawning; the spawning season of the trout had passed. Bass 

 thrive in this lake and attain a weight of at least 4 pounds. Trout are 

 plentiful and reach a length of 12 to 18 inches. A species of mud 

 turtle, a salamander, and a fresh-water mussel were found to be 

 abundant. 



The Bureau has planted in various lots 637,000 common white-fish 

 {CoregontLS clupeiforinis) in American Lake. None of the fish has 

 been seen since, and it is not known whether any has survived. The 

 physical characters do not indicate that this water is suited to the species. 



Steilacoom Lake. — This lake is next in importance to American 

 Lake, and its general characteristics are similar. Its greatest length 

 is about 1.75 miles, and its greatest width less than one-half mile. 

 Clover Creek and Davidson Creek both flow into it near the southern 

 end on the east side. The former is a considerable stream, and is said 

 to drain Smith, Tule, and Spanaway lakes, which lie to the southeast. 

 The outlet of Steilacoom Lake is through Chambers Creek into Puget 

 Sound just north of Steilacoom. The water is shallow, the maximum 

 depth being but 17 feet, and the average of 17 soundings being only 

 12 feet. 



This lake is of interest chiefly because of the fact that the so-called 

 small red-fish occurs in it. The species is said to be seen only in 

 October, at which time it is gaffed in considerable numbers. Whether 

 it comes up from the sea is not known to the local residents. The 

 other fishes of the lake are chubs (two species), cutthroat trout, large- 

 mouth black bass (introduced), sculpins, and sticklebacks. 



Seqioallitchevj Lake. — Southwest of American Lake and only a few 

 rods from it is Sequallitchew Lake, which is about 1.5 miles long and 

 less than one-fourth mile wide, and has a maximum depth of about 17 

 feet. It has no tributary streams, and its outlet is through Sequallit- 

 chew Creek to Puget Sound. The shallow, muddy bottom and the 

 high temperature of the wp.ter do not indicate that this lake is suited 

 to white-fish. It is, however, a fairly good trout lake, the cutthroat 

 trout being abundant. 



BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. 



Early in the calendar year 1904 arrangements were perfected which 

 provided for a cooperation of Stanford University and the University 

 of California with the Bureau of Fisheries in a physical and biological 

 survey of the waters of the coast of California, and the steamer Alba- 

 tross was assigned to the investigation. General direction of the work 

 was placed in the hands of President David Starr Jordan, of Stanford 



