REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXXXV 



down as Chico, about 225 miles from its mouth. Below Chico they 

 became fewer and fewer toward Princeton, about 50 miles farther 

 downstream, below which place they were scarce. In the latter part 

 of May, 12 were taken in brackish water about the mouth of the river, 

 and two weeks' work in June in the lower river and bays yielded only 5, 

 while in the upper river from 20 to 70 were taken at each haul of a short 

 collecting seine. 



After reaching the main river the young salmon prefer to keep in the 

 current, never being found in shallow, quiet water. A large series of 

 specimens has been kept to show the rate of growth and the food, which 

 will be noted in the final report. Young of the year, varying in length 

 from 1 .4 inches to 3.9 inches, have been found. The smallest — those less 

 than 2 inches long — have been observed only in the upper river and 

 small streams, practically none below Tehama. Those above 2 inches 

 were about evenly distributed throughout the river. 



It is thought that by the continuation of these studies for a short time 

 sufficient information may be obtained on which to base a report giving 

 the complete history of the quinnat salmon from the time of hatching 

 until it runs to sea. 



SOUTHERN OREGON LAKES. 



Along the southern border of Oregon is a series of large isolated 

 lakes about whose fauna nothing was known until July and August, 

 1897, when an examination of some of them was made by a party from 

 the Commission, consisting of Prof. B. W. Evermann in charge, Mr. 

 W. P. Hay, and Mr. Charles M. Eowe. The party outfitted at Ashland, 

 Oreg., and traveled by wagon more than 600 miles. The object was to 

 ascertain the physical and biological features of the lakes, and to make 

 collections of the fishes and other animals found therein. 



The waters examined were Goose Lake and New Pine Creek, near 

 Lakeview; the Warner Lakes, near Plush; Abert Lake and Chewan- 

 can Eiver, near Paisley ; Summer Lake and Summer Lake Kiver ; Silver 

 Lake and Silver Lake Creek. These lakes are unconnected with each 

 other, have no outlets, are quite shallow, and are more or less alkaline. 



Goose Lake, the Warner Lakes, and Silver Lake are very slightly 

 brackish and contain fish, while Abert and Summer lakes are strongly 

 alkaline and entirely destitute of fish, although containing several 

 kinds of small crustaceans. In Goose and Warner lakes black-speckled 

 trout of very large size and excellent food qualities were abundant. 



A study of the collections made in this region will throw much light 

 on the characteristics of isolated fish faunas and on the origin of the 

 faunas of these and other similar lakes in Oregon, California, and 

 Nevada. Before a full understanding of all the questions presented is 

 possible, it will be necessary to extend the investigations to lakes 

 Harney and Malheur, located farther to the eastward in Oregon, and 

 also to explore the isolated lakes in the northern part of the adjoining 

 State of Nevada. 



