40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
periods of low water their descent would become somewhat more abrupt. 
Trout pass freely up the falls, and they would therefore present no 
obstacle to salmon. 
The river is navigable above these falls to Lake Pend d’Oreille, and 
below them as far as Box Canyon, a distance of about 60 miles, being 
generally wide and comparatively quiet, though with a strong current. 
At Box Canyon the river is confined between vertical walls from 30 to 
150 feet high and not more than 70 feet apart in places. Being reduced 
to such a narrow gorge, the stream becomes very deep and, although 
comparatively smooth, is very swift and dangerous for boats, but offers 
no obstacles to the passage of fish. Rowboats pass through the canyon, 
and a small steamer was taken through at one time. This part of the 
river could be greatly improved for navigation by the removal of a few 
obstructions at sight expense. 
About 7 or 8 miles below the canyon and about 35 miles above the 
mouth of the Pend d’Oreille River are the Metaline Falls, the most 
serious of all the obstructions in the entire river. Their total descent 
is somewhere between 25 and 30 feet, more or less broken, and forming 
rather a series of rapids. On one side are perpendicular bluffs, 30 to 
80 feet high, and on the other four large rock masses have fallen into 
the stream from the mountain which rises abruptly on that side. The 
possible effect of this obstruction upon the movements of salmon was 
not determined satisfactorily, although Dr. Gorham inclined to the 
opinion that it would be insurmountable in its present state, and he 
suggested that the conditions could be much improved by blasting out 
the head of the falls and by breaking up the large rock masses which 
cause the second or lower rush of waters. 
Below the Metaline Falls the river is wide and deep. About 10 miles 
below, and 24 miles in a direct line south of the Canadian boundary 
line, is Big Eddy Canyon, between 2 and 6 mies long, which has been 
reported to contain several falls. It is very difficult of inspection, and 
at only a few points, where the walls were somewhat broken, was it 
possible to get close enough to see inside. The walls are from 80 to 300 
feet high, and at one place contract the river to a width of only about 
20 feet. The current attains great velocity, but so far as could be deter- 
mined there are no actual falls in the canyon, and this was also said to 
be the case by Mr. John Everett, a prospector, who has lived thirty- 
three years in this region. 
From here on to the mouth of the Pend d’Oreille there are several 
rapids or slight falls, but none of great importance. These are all in 
British Columbia territory, partly above and partly below the Salmon 
River, which enters the Pend d’Oreille a short distance above the 
international boundary line. Just above the mouth of the Salmon, all 
contained within a distance of afew hundred feet, are five rapids or low 
falls, with a total descent of about 30 feet. The upper one, located at 
a point where the river is confined in a narrow gorge, scarcely 50 feet 
wide, has a height of about 5 feet. The second has about the same 
