REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Al 
height; the third is about 6 feet high, and the fourth 4 feet high, while 
the ‘lower one, quite near the mouth of Salmon River, has a total 
descent of about 10 feet. In Dr. Gorham’s opinion none of these rapids, 
unless it might be the lower one, would serve to obstruct the ascent of 
salmon even during low water, while at times of high water it is quite 
certain that all difficulties in that respect would disappear. 
Below the mouth of the Salmon River the Pend d’Oreille flows 
through a narrow gorge and forms a succession of rapids, after which 
it widens out and continues less turbulent for some distance; but the 
last 5 miles of its course are confined within another canyon. At its 
mouth it is from 150 to 200 feet wide, and before emptying into the 
Columbia it passes over a fall from 4 to 10 feet high, depending upon 
the stage of water in the Columbia River. Ordinarily salmon would 
have no trouble in passing over this obstruction. 
Kettle Falls, the only important obstruction in the Upper Columbia 
River, located about 9 miles from Colville, Wash., and 40 or more miles 
south of the mouth of the Pend d’Oreille, were not visited by the party, 
but from information obtained from others it is evident that they do 
not constitute a serious impediment to the ascent of salmon, which for- 
merly were said to have passed over them in greater or less numbers, 
although they do not at present. 
No positive information was obtained respecting the occurrence of 
the true salmon (Oncorhynchus chouicha) in the Pend d’Oreille River, 
and it is said that none go farther upstream than the falls at the mouth 
of Salmon River. The evidence secured points to the fact that the 
salmon (so called) of both those rivers is the steelhead (Salmo gairdneri), 
and specimens of this species were observed. There was not, however, 
sufficient opportunity to study this question satisfactorily, and a pro- 
longed series of observations may be necessary to determine the range 
and relative abundance of these two species in the upper waters of the 
Columbia River. Until conclusive evidence is obtained that the true 
salmon is prevented from ascending to the upper part of this river 
system because of the presence of natural barriers and not from other 
causes, it should not be considered advisable or judicious to expend 
money im the removal of any supposed obstructions to their passage. 
_ There are many conditions which require careful study and considera- 
tion before any definite steps are taken in that direction, and it is 
intended next year to begin upon a careful and detailed investigation 
of the subject throughout the entire course of the Columbia River and 
its tributaries. 
Inquiries relative to a site for the establishment of a salmon-hatching 
Station in eastern Washington were confined chiefly to Little Spokane 
River and Colville River. No success was met with, however, as no 
locality was found convenient of access and at the same time affording 
the means for securing an abundance of breeding fish. This subject 
will also be covered by the proposed general survey above referred to. 
