FISHES OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 8) 
The principal tributaries of this portion of the river from the lake 
southward on the left are Cabin, Trappers, Mountain, Cliff, Escarp- 
ment, and Thoroughfare Creeks. On the other side in the same 
direction are Badger, Phlox, and Lynx Creeks. Good fishing is found 
in the river and in the creeks high up where they meander from the 
mountains. 
YELLOWSTONE RIVER BELOW THE LAKE. 
Below the lake to the upper falls there is no great descent, and the 
river flows for about 15 miles with a quiet current. Here its banks 
are bordered with low hills, some of them wooded, others forming 
open pastures. On the right side going northward the principal 
creeks are Cotton Grass and Sour Creeks, which unite to discharge 
their waters into the Yellowstone not far from Alum Creek on the 
opposite side of the river. On the west side of the river is Trout 
Creek, which is a clear stream, with grassy banks and gravelly 
bottom. It has a summer temperature of about 58° F. and is a good 
trout stream. 
Alum Creek is a clear stream about 8 feet wide and 1 or 2 feet 
deep, rising in the Continental Divide pppoe the head of Nez 
Perce Creek and flowing eastward through the grassy fields of Hayden 
Valley. Its bed contains much white alkali from the hot springs 
above, and there is a perceptible alkaline taste to the water, which 
has a temperature of about 60° F. in summer. In its upper course 
it has some hot tributaries. One of these is Violet Creek, with a 
number of hot springs and mudholes. Still another fork is charged 
with alum, but a third branch is said to be one of the best redthroat 
trout streams in the park. 
YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND BRANCHES BELOW THE FALLS. 
About 15 miles below the lake the river plunges into a deep canyon 
over two vertical falls 109 feet and 308 feet in height. This remark- 
able canyon is more than 20 miles long, with nearly perpendicular 
walls 800 to 1,100 feet in height. The current below the falls is 
swift until the river leaves the park. 
_ The most important eastern tributary of the Yellowstone River 
is Lamar River. It is a large stream, sometimes referred to as the 
East Fork of the Yellowstone. It joins the Yellowstone not far 
below Butte Junction. There are many tributary creeks of various 
sizes, particularly on the north and northeast side. The principal 
of these are: Miller, Calfee, Cache, Soda Butte, jomed by Amphi- 
theater and Pebble Creeks; Slough Creek, the largest branch of which 
is Buffalo Creek. On the west side the creeks are smaller than 
most of those of the other side, the principal ones being Cold, Willow, 
and Timothy, near the upper course. Chalcedony Creek is farther 
down, and all but Cold Creek are in rather deep ravines near the 
river. Cascade Creek is a clear brook a few feet wide which enters 
the Yellowstone between the falls. The high, nearly vertical ‘‘Crystal 
Falls” (129 feet) is near the mouth of the stream and, of course, 
prevents the ascent of fishes. Redthroat trout were once planted 
above the falls. 
62806°—21—2. _ 
