2 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
yet available from which we can draw conclusions as to their interrelationships and 
recent history. Excluding anadromous fishes and the trout, the Klamath is known 
to contain eleven species, of which eight are peculiar to this basin, two ( Catostomus 
snyderi and Rutilus bicolor) have been reported as well from Goose Lake, its neighbor 
on the east, and one species ( Catostomus oregonus) seems to occur also in Eogue River, 
its neighbor on the north. 
The collection here reported on was made at Klamath Falls, Oregon, in the inter 
ests of the United States Fish Commission, June 13-16, 1894, by the writer, assisted 
by Frank Cramer and Keinosuke Otaki. Collecting was carried on near the outlet of 
the Upper Lake, in the river at and below Klamath Falls, and in Lost River below 
Lostine. A few specimens were also secured in Willow Creek, at Ager, California. 
Valuable for comparison have been a few fishes collected in Scott River, Siskiyou 
County, California, by Mr. R. C. McGregor, and in Trinity River, Hoopa Valley, Cali- 
fornia, by Capt. W. E. Dougherty. 
The lower part of Upper Klamath Lake is narrow, and is surrounded by a mar 
giual tule belt, which is overflowed at high water. The bottom consists of mud and 
sand, with scattered lava bowlders. The outlet is a very rapid, turbulent stream, 50 
to 75 feet wide, and falling about 85 feet between the lake and the town of Klamath 
Falls. It swirls around huge lava bowlders and makes imposing rapids. The 
temperature of the water June 13, at 9 a. m., was 56°; temperature of air, 64°. At 
Klamath Falls the river widens out, covering at the time of our visit extensive bottom 
lands, partly in tules, partly meadows. From this portion a slough makes off 
toward Lost River, into which it carries a considerable amount of water during early 
summer. Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Lake are overflow reservoirs from Klamath 
River, and lie lower than that stream. 
At the time of our visit the lake and river contained many dead and dying fish, 
principally Catostomoids. Chasmistes stomias seemed to predominate, then Deltistes 
luxatus, Chasmistes brevirostris, and Catostomus snyderi , in the order given. The 
breeding season for these fish is said to be in March and April, varying from year to 
year with the condition of the streams. We saw no specimens entirely free from 
injury. Many had lost a portion of their fins, some had round holes in their sides, 
said to be caused by lampreys; many had diseased areas covered by a fungous growth, 
and a large number were afflicted by some disease of the skin of the head, which turned 
yellow and flaked off, leaving the skull bare. This disease often attacked and 
destroyed the eyes. We were told that the same fish in Tule Lake were never 
diseased. A few large specimens of Rutilus bicolor were also attacked, but other fish 
seemed not to be affected. 
LIST OF SPECIES. 
1. Entosphenus tridentatus (Gairdner). 
One young specimen of this anadromous species, 26 cm. long, was taken in Klamath. They are 
said to he abundant in the lake, and to attack fishes, which are often seen to leap out of the water to 
free themselves. Several of the mutilated suckers which were examined had round wounds on their 
bodies, which might well have been produced by the lamprey. It is not improbable that this species 
has become resident in Upper Klamath Lake, as happens with other anadromous species elsewhere. 
2. Acipenser medirostris Ayres. 
A young specimen of the green sturgeon is in the museum of Stanford University, collected in 
Trinity River, Hoopa Valley, California, by Capt. W. E. Dougherty. The species was not seen at 
Upper Klamath Lake. 
