NOTES ON LAKE TAHOE, ITS TROUT AND TROUT-FISHING. 



Bv CHANCEY JUDAY, 



IVisamsin Geological and Natural History Survey. 



INTKOUUCTIUN. 



Lake Tahoe Is one of the largest as well as one of the most picturesque American 

 mountain lakes. From a scientific standpoint, it is also a most interestinu- bodj^ of 

 water, but the study of it has been very much neglected, and comparatively little is 

 known of its physical and biological aspects. Muir has given some delightful 

 sketches of the beauties of the lake and the surrounding country. Le Conte spent 

 a short time there in the fall of 1873, making some ph3'sical investigations, the results 

 of which he published ten years later. In 1878 Gill and Jordan described some of 

 the fishes of the lake. In 1889 the United States Geological Survey made a survey 

 to determine the possibilities of the basin as a storage reservoir for irrigation pur- 

 poses and has since published topographical maps of the region based on surveys 

 made in 1880. Russell, in his "Lakes of North America," has given a brief but 

 excellent description of Lake Tahoe. In 1002 Price issued an admirable little '"Guide 

 to the Lake Tahoe Region," in which the more important physical and biological 

 features of the region are pointed out and l)riefly described. Earlv in 100-1 Treat 

 described the angling methods employed by the fishermen as well as some of his own 

 experiences on the lake as an angler. Ward has recently published a report on some 

 investigations which he made in this region dui-ing the summer of 190?). Such, in 

 brief, is the accessible literature pertaining to the physical and biological features of 

 Lake Tahoe and vicinity. (See p. 146 for references in full.) 



During the summer of lOO-t, this interesting region was visited by the writer in 

 order to make some investigations for the United States Bureau of Fisheries. The 

 investigations were limited to Lake Tahoe, with the exception of a day spent in 

 making a cursory examination of some of the small lakes lying to the southward, in 

 the vicinity of Glen Alpine. They covered but a brief period of time, June 17 to 

 Jul}' 6. Their chief object was to obtain as much information as possible concerning 

 the methods employed by the fishermen in catching the trout, and the amount and 

 value of the catch." 



"I am indebted to Wells Fargo & Co., and Mr. S. D. Brastow, superintendent of their western 

 division; to Mr. Charles A. Vogelsang, chief deputy of the California fish commission; to Mr. E. W. 

 Hunt, in charge of the two state hatcheries located on the lake; to Mr. William Boyle and to Prof. 

 W. W. Price; likewise to various residents of the region, fishermen, and others, for information, 

 assistance, and numerous courtesies. 



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