234 



each direction. On the east side of the entrance of the main lake to the channel 

 are many submerged stumps. Along Johnson's Bay much timber stood in water, 

 especially on the east side of Ogden Point and on the east side of the bay just 

 north of the bluffs. In these localities the stumps are very numerous, and among 

 the largest in the lake. There are a few stumps along the marsh just east of Cedar 

 Point. Others are found in the vicinity of Morrison's Island and go to indicate 

 that this island, before the building of the dam, was a part of the mainland. It 

 is so represented in the government survey of 1838. On the west side of Jarrett's 

 Bay submerged stumps are numerous, especially along the southeast corner, where 

 much small timber is still lying in the marsh at the margin of the lake, and at 

 Clark's Point where many large stumps are found in the water. Submerged 

 stumps are also found west of Black Stump Point. The elevation of the lake by 

 the dam, not only increased its area but must have rendered much of the low 

 level land in the vicinity of the lake marshy, which would have been tillable. It 

 is claimed by persons living in the vicinity of the lake that the dam rendered 

 four thousand acres of land untillable. 



The fluctuations in the level of the lake are caused by climatic conditions, 

 and vary with the inflow and outflow, rainfall and evaporation. In Mr. J. P. 

 Dolan's report will be found the record of changes of level as observed during the 

 past few months. Annual fluctuations are estimated to be about two and one-half 

 feet. The level of the lake is usually highest about May ], after the heavy 

 spring rains, and lowest in August, although this year it kept lowering until 

 November 2, owing to the very light rains up to that time. It was then ten and 

 one-half inches lower than on July 6. The lake was lower on November 2, than 

 at any time since 1871, when the marshes around the lake were drier than in 1895. 

 Since November 2, the lake has been rising until, on December 25, it was fifteen 

 and three-quarters inches higher than on November 2. 



In May, 1891, the lake was higher than at any time during the past twenty 

 years. The difference between well-remembered high water marks of that time 

 and the level of November 2, 1895, is four and one-half feet, which is the maxi- 

 mum fluctuation during recent years. Each spring since 1891, has found the 

 level of the lake lower than during the preceding spring. This gradual lowering 

 of the level of the lake has decreased its area and has shown marked changes in 

 the marsh land along the margin of the lake. Four years ago the water in Conk- 

 ling Bay covered an area a half-mile in diameter, now it is reduced to three hun- 

 dred feet in diameter; a small shallow lake just west of Conkling Bay contained 

 water throughout the year, now it is dry and growing good crops; fields lying 

 west of the channel were almost marsh land, the crops being greatly damaged by 



