24 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
inlet empties into tlie lake near its southeast corner; this inlet is only a small brook 
in summer. The lakes and the inlet above the falls are said to contain no lish life. 
Wallowa River, as it leaves the lake, is a very rapid stream and flows over a bed 
of bowlders. The first half mile of its course is through a canyon about 30 feet deep. 
From Joseph to Lostine the river is said to be very rapid. 
The West Fork of Wallowa River rises in the mountains west of Wallowa Lake, 
and, after flowing in a general northerly direction until within about a mile of the 
main fork at Lostine, it bends to the westward and joins the main fork a short dis- 
tance below that town. About 12 or 15 miles below where these two forks come 
together Wallowa River is joined by Minam River, which forms a part of the western 
boundary of Wallowa County. The river here flows nearly due north, and soon 
unites with the Grande Ronde River, a tributary of Snake River. 
About 4 miles from Lostine up the West Fork of Wallowa River, the river was 
narrower and flowed with considerable velocity among the huge bowlders scattered 
over its bed. About 3 miles above Lostine there is a somewhat level stretch in the 
river of about half a mile, which includes some gravel bars. From Lostine to the 
mouth of Minam River the Wallowa is a rapid stream, flowing most of the distance 
over a bed of bowlders. Gravel or sand bars are not common. The water is very 
clear, and at the time of our visit was not over 3 feet deep in this portion of the stream. 
Miuam River is smaller and is said to be very similar to the Wallowa. The Grande 
Ronde River was seen at Lagrande and Elgin and at various places between those 
towns. It appears to be a rather sluggish stream, the water being warm and muddy. 
Soundings and Temperatures . — The following soundings and temperatures were 
taken on Wallowa Lake about half a mile north of the south end of the lake. We 
began on the west side and counted the strokes of the oars as we crossed, taking 
soundings and temperature at intervals, as shown below. The first sounding was 
made 20 oar strokes from the west shore. 
Soundings and temperatures taken in Wallowa Lake, August SO, 1896. 
Strokes 
taken 
between 
sound- 
ings. 
Depth. 
Temper- 
ature at 
bottom. 
Strokes 
taken 
between 
sound- 
ings. 
Depth. 
Temper- 
ature at 
bottom. 
No. 
Feet. 
°F. 
No. 
Feet. 
°F. 
20 
42 
51 
50 
219 
40$ 
100 
216 
40i 
30 
180 
40$ 
100 
236 
40! 
30 
99 
4ll 
100 
234 
40J; 
35 strokes to east shore. 
100 
228 
40£ 
Temperature of water at surface 
The greatest depth, 250 feet, was about a mile from the south end of the lake and 
about a third the distance across from the west shore; the bottom temperature here 
was 40J°. About a quarter of a mile south of this point and near the middle of the 
lake from east to west a depth of 246 feet was found, and the same bottom temperature. 
A series of temperatures taken August 20 is platted on page 18. The surface of the 
lake near the inlet at 3 p. in., August 24, was 62° when the air was 70°. The tempera- 
ture of the east inlet at the same time was 52° and the other was 48°. The water in a 
small spring creek was 44°. 
