EXAMINATION OF WATERS OF GREAT SALT LAKE. 237 



density, so far as the influx of fresh water is concerued, thau it has in 

 corres])onding relation to either the Bear or the Weber; that is, leaving 

 out of consideration the effects of the wind in directing the flow of the 

 strongly saline water of the lake, there is less liability of a fatal varia- 

 tion due to the influx of fresh water from the river. If, we will say, 

 oysters were put down during the low- water stage of the river, near 

 the outer limit marking the location of the maximum density in wliich 

 they will live, it is not certain that the water during the flood season 

 would become freshened below the minimum deusitj^ in which they 

 thrive. But taking into consideration the fact that the outer limits of 

 the zone of favorable density move landward during the prevalence of 

 north winds, owing to the encroachments of the briny water of the 

 lake, it is evident that in so locating our plant as to i)revent the one 

 catastrophe we Avould invite another. 



As compared with the Bear River the waters at the mouth of the 

 Jordan are clear and the mud of the lake bottom is harder and not so 

 deep. This is doubtless owing in part to the deposit of a larger pro- 

 portion of the suspended matter in the sluggish water of the lagoons 

 and sloughs, where it is not stirred up by the waterfowl, as on the Bear 

 River. In many places the bottom on the alluvial fan is quite hard, 

 and covered with a vegetable felting or carpet composed largely of 

 diatoms. This is especially the case in the shoaler, fresher watej:, to 

 which places, however, the saline waters find frequent access. The 

 zone of mixed water is here broader than at the mouth of the Bear or 

 Weber. 



WEBER RIVER. 



The Weber River rises in the high ridges of the western part of the 

 Uinta Mountains, between the sources of the Bear River oi\ the north 

 and the Provo River on the south. It receives a number of tributaries 

 on both banks, but none of considerable importance except the Ogden 

 River, which joins it at Ogden. 



Below Ogden the Weber runs through low land, and eventually 

 breaks into two branches, one of which flows to the north, the other to 

 the south. The northern branch divides and subdivides, part of it 

 being lost in the swampy flats and part flowing into a shallow bay (not 

 shown on the map), which is connected with the lake north of Mud 

 Island. This bay, which was formed during the recent subsidence of 

 the lake, is about 2 miles long and f mile wide, with an average depth 

 of about 4 inches. The southern branch enters the lake 4 or 5 miles 

 west of Hooper, opposite Fremont Island. The channel remains undi- 

 vided to its mouth, and it carries practically the whole discharge of the 

 river except during the spring floods. In October, 1898, the north 

 channel was almost dry. 



The Weber River is subject to greater and more sudden fluctuations 

 than either the Bear or Jordan, doubtless on account of the absence 

 of natural storage reservoirs, such as are found in the lakes on the other 

 rivers. 



