THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



and the waters are free from the contamnation of irrigating and 

 mining operations. The only large northern tributary — North 

 Fork — receives several branches from the southern slope of the 

 western spur of the Blue mountains, and, though remote from the 

 railroad and distant from towns, these streams are well worth a 

 visit from those prepared to camp. 



The upper waters of Malheur, rising in the south and east 

 sides of the high mountains which separate Baker, Grant and 

 Harney counties, should be good fishing, too, but are so remote 

 that only the residents of that mountainous region have any 

 knowledge of them. 



Going south from Canyon City by the stage road, one as- 

 cends for many miles the valley of Canyon creek, a noble stream, 

 and once above the mines in the lower course of this stream, it 

 yields glorious fishing. One must camp here. Further on, many 

 miles, one comes to Bear creek, in a high, frosty valley, and at 

 Seneca, Bear creek joins Silvies river, a stream second to none 

 in the great size and abundance of its trout. Within two miles 

 of Burns trout of ten pounds weight have been taken. 



The waters of Silvies river are lost in Malheur lake, a very 

 alkaline remainder of the ancient sea that once covered all Har- 

 ney valley, and of which Harney lake is a near neighbor, the two 

 united by a narrow channel. Into Harney lake from the west 

 flows another large river, similar to the Silvies river, and, like 

 it, a magnificent fishing stream. The fish of these two rivers 

 appear to be steelhead trout, slightly modified by ages of separa- 

 tion from the sea which once entered the valley from the Snake 

 river estuary, though now the ridge of hills rises hundreds of feet 

 between the waters of the Harney basin and those falling into 

 Snake river. 



When the rivers of the basin are in flood, they temper the 

 alkaline waters about their outlets for a considerable distance, and 

 following the instinct of the family the trout go down into the 

 waters of the lake for a salt water cruise, as our steelheads of 

 the Columbia basin go into the ocean. 



Splendid specimens of the trout of the Silvies river may be 

 seen in the collection at the Chamber of Commerce, Portland, and 

 no better proof can be offered of the qualities of these far eastern 



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