REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 39 
_ however, to cover the ground during that period as thoroughly as 
was deemed advisable, and arrangements have been made to continue 
the work during the summer of 1893. The principal features of interest 
brought out by Mr. Gorham’s party in respect to the Clarke Fork may 
be noted as follows: 
The upper part of the river was first examined between Flathead 
Lake and Lake Pend d’Oreille, but within that part of its course no 
obstructions were discovered which could, to any extent, impede the 
passage of salmon in case they had free access to Lake Pend d’Oreille. 
The lower Flathead River drains the lake of the same name and, after 
flowing first southerly and then westerly: a distance of about 70 miles, 
unites with the Missoula River to form the Clarke Fork. Just below 
the lake Flathead River is occupied for several miles by a succession 
of rapids, with still water here and there, its width averaging about 
300 feet, and its depth probably from 6 to 10 feet. Even less active 
species than the salmon would have no difficulty in passing this point. 
_ The next place of interest in going downstream is Thompson Falls, 
situated in the Clarke Fork some sixty-odd miles above Lake Pend 
d’Oreille. At this point the stream is very much contracted, and rushes 
through a rocky gorge a distance of several hundred feet. There is 
also here a fall of about 6 or 8 feet, over which a large volume of water 
pours, sufficient, it is supposed, to permit of the movements of salmon 
without difficulty. Immediately below the falls are large eddies and the 
river there appears as an ideal home for both salmon and trout. The 
water is clear and pure, and on September 19 had a temperature of 61° 
to 62° F. The course of the river from Thompson Falls to Lake Pend 
d@Oreille is clear of all obstructions, and the same is also true with 
respect to this lake itself, which has a length of about 20 miles between 
the mouth of the Clarke Fork and the beginning of the Pend d’Oreille 
River, being, in fact, practically only a general widening out of the 
river. 
Below the lake the river is known as the Pend d’Oreille River. From 
Sand Point it flows almost directly west to the Washington line; 
thence northwesterly and northerly until within British America, where 
it makes a sharp turn to the WSW., and empties into the Columbia 
River within sight of the pole marking the international boundary line. 
The length of the river within the territory of the United States is 
Slightly over 100 miles, and in British Columbia about 22 miles. 
Between Lake Pend d’Oreille and the Idaho-Washington boundary 
line it presents only a single, rapid descent called Albany Falls, which 
are located about 14 miles above the town of Newport, Idaho. An 
island divides the river here, and the Great Northern Railroad crosses 
it at the same place, making use of the island as the base of one of 
the bridge piers. ‘The falls are therefore double, being situated on 
each side of the island. They have a rapid but not vertical descent 
of between 8 and 10 feet. They are much broken, and at the time they 
were visited had a good volume of water passing over them; but at 
