REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND i'lSHERIES. CXXVII 



food, and is regarded as a food-fish when first seen in the streams. It 

 has the same habits exhibited by the little red-fish of the Idaho lakes; 

 it is observed only in the fall, and then in the small streams where it 

 goes to spawn. The fish is probably resident in the region, though the 

 evidence is not conclusive. 



L(il<e Gcetir (VAlene, Idaho. — This lake has considerable interest to 

 the Commission because of an attempt to establisli therein the common 

 white-fish {Coregonus dupeiformis) of the Great Lakes. In February, 

 1889, the Commission planted 1,030,000 white-fish fry in 8 lots, and had 

 reason to believe that the cold, clear, deep water of the lake would 

 l)rove suitable to that species. On several occasions since the deposits 

 were made, representatives of the Commission have visited the lake and 

 searched for white-fish, but have learned nothing indicating that the 

 fish have survived. Several reports of the capture of the introduced 

 species have from time to time been received, but the evidence has 

 indicated some other fish. In August, 1898, Prof. Evermaun made a 

 short visit to Lake Coeur d'Alene in order to secure additional informa- 

 tion on this subject and to determine the ndvisability of a thorongh 

 investigation regarding the results of the plants and the adaptability 

 of the lake to this species of food-fish. 



The native fishes of this lake, so far as known, are bull trout {Sal- 

 velinns parl-ei), black-spotted trout {Salmo clarMi), western white-fish 

 [Coregonus wilUamsoni), two suckers [CaioHtomns cutostomus and G. 

 macrochbilus), squaw-fish {Ptychocheilus oregonensis), minnow [Leuciscus 

 balteatus), short minnow (Agosia nubila), dace {Rhinichthys duleis), and 

 blob {CoftKS rhotheus). The falls in the Spokane River, about miles 

 below the lake, are effective barriers to the ascent of salmon, none of 

 which have ever been known to reach the lake. 



While several additional reports of the taking of the common white- 

 fish were heard, Professor Evermann's inquiries led him to believe that 

 the planted fish have not survived. The evidence, however, is incon- 

 clusive; and the outcome of the plants may remain a matter of specu- 

 lation until a thorough examination of the lake is made. The methods 

 of fishing now pursued in the lake are not adapted to the capture of 

 the white fish. Gill nets of relatively fine mesh, such as are used for 

 white fish in the Great Lakes, will be required in order to demonstrate 

 the existence of this fish in Lake Coeur d'Alene. The fishery resources 

 of this fine body of water are of sufficient prospective importance to 

 warrant a comprehensive investigation by the Commission while the 

 normal conditions are still undisturbed by commercial fishing. The 

 survey should extend over several months and continue late enough in 

 iall to cover the spawning season of the common white-fish. Supple- 

 mentary to the examination of this lake, attention should be given to 

 tributary streams and several smaller lakes in the vicinity, especially 

 Eerman Lake, in which the yellow perch {Perca JJavescens) is said to be 

 very successfully introduced, and lakes at the headwaters of the St. 

 Joseph and Cuiur d'Alene livers. 



