THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



western Oregon flora. To the north and east lie great forests of jack 

 and yellow pine and it is relatively an open country when compared with 

 the dense forests and denser underbrush found west of the lake. Sur- 

 rounding Waldo is a forest of hemlock trees. One fork of the Willamette 

 rises at Waldo lake and within a few miles drops over 1500 feet. The 

 high falls in the creek have kept fish from stocking Waldo naturally from 

 the Willamette. 



One-half mile northwest of Waldo is a little lake of about twenty-five 

 acres named Seven-Acres lake. We stocked this with 250 rainbow trout. 

 Another small lake of about the same size lies near Meadows ranger 

 station, and is called Meadows lake on account of its proximity to the 

 station. Another branch of the Willamette heads there. In this lake and 

 a smaller one near by, were planted 250 rainbows each. 



Another shipment of rainbow trout was received at Oakridge, 

 August 23. These fish were carried along the government trail up the 

 North Pork of the Willamette to its source. On the top of the canyon 

 and at the head of the river are ten fine lakes, all of which we stocked. 



Otter lake, which is three miles northwest of Irish mountain and five 

 south of Box Canyon, received 2000 rainbow trout. This lake has an area 

 of about forty acres. It is saucer-shaped and is surrounded by a jack pine 

 forest. Its outlet soon drops over into the Willamette canyon, falling 

 over a thousand feet. 



Three miles west of Irish mountain and one mile east of Otter lake 

 is another body of water called Elgin lake, in which we planted 2000 trout. 

 Elgin lake has an area of eighty acres and is of a lava or crater formation. 

 It is kidney-shaped, its two parts of about equal areas being connected by 

 a narrow strait. A loose rock-strewn rim about one hundred feet in height 

 encircles the lake. Small hemlock, white fir, and jack pine trees grow on 

 the sides of the rim. 



The outlet of Elgin lake flows into Soapy lake which is about one- 

 fourth mile below. Soapy lake takes its name from its slate-colored or 

 soapy appearance. This is due to the color of the rock and sediment on 

 the bottom. It is located only a few hundred feet from the edge of the 

 Willamette canyon. Its outlet drops for over a thousand feet in a series 

 of beautiful waterfalls. These falls can be seen for many miles along the 

 ranger's trail down the river. In this place 500 fish were liberated. 



Two other lakes in the same vicinity, known as Pond Lily lake and 

 Loon lake, were also stocked. We put 800 in the former and 500 in the 

 latter. These lie west of Irish mountain and on the edge of a burned-off 

 area called Taylor's Burn. Two miles north of this place is a small lake 

 called Boulder lake, which we stocked with 200 fish. 



THE SOURCE OF THE NORTH WILLAMETTE. 



In the same district one and one-half miles southwest of Taylor's 

 butte, is an eighty-acre lake named Torrey lake. This is one of the best 

 bodies of water on the upper Willamette. It is the source of the main 

 fork of the North Willamette. In this 1000 rainbow trout were planted, but 



Pag-e eighteen 



