10 DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA. 
Dry, Cavanaugh, and the Chain lakes.—About 5 miles to the north 
of Six-Mile Bay hes Dry Lake, which maintains connection with the 
Chain Lakes on the northwest and Sweetwater Lake on the east by 
coulées opening into its upper portion. It extends from north to 
south for approximately 6 miles, the northern half attaining a breadth 
of 2 miles, the remainder being 1 mile or less in width. This lake was 
not visited, but it is reported that a man can easily wade throughout 
its northern half, while the southern half averages 7 to 8 feet in depth. 
The lake practically freezes dry in winter. The water is said to be 
slightly brackish, containing a very small percentage of alkali. There 
are no fish. 
Cavanaugh Lake, a small body of water northwest of Sweetwater 
Lake, is exceedingly shallow, contains no fish life, is frozen dry in 
winter, and is considered of but little importance. 
The Chain Lakes, consisting of Lake Irvine, Lac Aux Morts, and 
Twin Lakes, form a series of small-sized, irregular-shaped bodies of 
water in close proximity and connected by coulées. These lakes are 
shallow, with muddy bottoms and surrounded by marshes. The level 
of their water fluctuates under the influence of spring freshets or the 
evaporation of the summer, and in winter they are frozen dry. Their 
depth and the character of their shores render them favorable for 
spawning grounds during the spring and early summer. The water 
is reported to be fresh with but the slightest presence of alkali. 
Wood Lake—This beautiful sheet of water, located in the interior 
of the Sioux Indian Reservation about 8 miles from Fort Totten on 
the south shore of Devils Lake, is of irregular shape with a length of 
1 mile and a breadth one-half as great. In general the shores bear 
rushes that in many localities extend far out into the lake, but there 
are short stretches of sandy beach favorable for seining. The water, 
probably derived from springs, is perfectly fresh and suitable for all 
ordinary uses, and furnishes excellent fishing for yellow perch and 
pickerel, the former occurring in very great abundance. The small 
supply of yellow perch and pickerel obtained for the acclimatization 
experiments conducted at Devils Lake, described in subsequent pages, 
were seined from this lake. Minnows occur, but not abundantly. 
Black bass are reported to have been introduced, but none were cap- 
tured. 
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. 
FLUCTUATIONS OF LEVEL. 
A study of the fluctuations of the level of Devils Lake is essential 
to an understanding of conditions relative to the disappearance of 
food fish in 1889 and possible future efforts at restocking. 
Devils Lake lies in a region where there is but little rainfall and the 
evaporation is greater than the precipitation. This condition is force- 
