94 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 
A mile and a half from the laboratory along the road south is Daphnia 
pond, covering some fifteen or twenty acres. A description of this pond 
is given later. About the same distance farther is Estey’s pond, cover- 
ing a little less space, but fully as interesting. It is eight miles by the 
nearest road to Swan lake. This lake is the expansion of Swan river, and 
lies in the glaciated valley between the Swan and Mission ranges. The 
lake is about 12 miles long, perhaps a half mile to a mile wide. A few 
miles to the northeast is Echo lake. Near it is Rost lake. Along the 
banks of Flathead lake on either side may be found numerous ponds and 
small lakes; others are reported to be in existence, but have not yet been 
studied or examined. The northern part of the state is well dotted with 
lakes which await study. 
The Lewis and Clarke Forest Reserve extends to within a few miles 
of the station, and offers exceptional opportunities to study forest influ- 
ences and subjects relating to forestry. 
A few miles eastward and the Swan range of the Kootenais is reached. 
This range has several peaks nearly 10,000 feet in hight, with dozens of 
alpine lakes, rock ridges, snow slopes, and other collecting places. The 
Mission range is immediately south of the station, ending as a range at 
Swanriver. The range makes the eastern bank of Flathead lake, is well 
timbered, and rises higher toward the southern end, where the peaks reach 
nearly 10,000 feet. 
The preliminary work of the Station naturally falls within the coun- 
try immediately near the laboratory, and in the Mission mountains and 
the Mission valley. This territory lies between Missoula, where the Uni- 
versity is located, and the laboratory. In the fall of 1897 a collecting 
trip of three weeks was taken to the Flathead Reservation. This was 
the first collecting expedition from the University, and resulted in a large 
supply of material in various lines. 
In 1899, during the month of August, the first work of the Station was 
begun. During this month considerable time was spent on the lake, 
making soundings and gathering microscopic forms from the water. 
These are incorporated in a paper presented to the American Microscop-. 
ical Society. 
In 1900 two months were devoted to the work of the Station. The 
month of July was spent in the Mission mountains and in the Mission 
valley gathering material, the month of August being spent at the Station. 
In 1901 a party outfitted at Missoula, and started for the field June 13, 
continuing the work of collecting and studying either in the field or at the 
laboratory until August 21, when the party returned to Missoula. 
The party consisted of Dr. D. T. MacDougal, of the New York Botanic: 
al Garden, making collections in botany; Wilson P. Harris, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., collecting lichens; Maurice Ricker, Burlington, Iowa, High School, 
collecting entomostraca; P. M. Silloway, Fergus County, Mont., High 
School, studying birds, and the writer. 
Collections were made in the Mission mountains. Several peaks were 
ascended, and McDonald and Sinyaleamin lakes, which had been visited 
the previous year, were again visited for comparison of records. Tha 
party moved slowly up the east side of Flathead Lake, making occasional 
excursions into the Mission range. 
