SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
25 
Redfish at Wallowa Lake . — No large redfish were seen at the time of our visit to 
this lake, August 19-26. From interviews with persons familiar with the region it 
appears that the large redfish usually reach the lake during the last half of J uly. They 
come up the river with the first run of chinook salmon, the run into the lake lasting 
about three weeks. Soon after entering the lake they are seen in large schools at its 
upper end. They begin to spawn in September. They are not red when they enter 
the lake, but become so a short time before spawning. They spawn in the inlets of 
the lake and on the shores of its upper end. They were formerly caught for the market 
during the month of August. According to Mr. J. J. Stanley, of Joseph, the run of 
large redfish in Wallowa Lake in each year since 1882 was as follows: 
1883. The run of redfish was very large. 
1884. It is estimated that less than 100 redfish entered the lake. 
1885. About 75 were caught with a seine, the run being very small. 
1886. The run was very large, but not as large as in 1883. 
1887, 1888, and 1889. Very few redfish were caught with spears in the river above the lake. 
1890. The run was quite large ; two parties salted many for the home market. 
1891, 1892, and 1893. Very few redfish seen in the lake during these years. 
1894. About 2,000 redfish were caught at the head of the lake and salted. 
1895. The run was again very small. 
1896. The run was very small; about one dozen were seen in the lake and one in the inlet. 
Iu the spring many small fish, from about 6 to 8 inches in length, are stranded in 
irrigating ditches, many others are killed by entering mill-races. By the inhabitants 
of Joseph these are thought to be the young of the big redfish on their way to the sea. 
The large redfish are not known from any streams in this region except in the lake 
and its outlet and inlets. It is said never to run up the West Fork of the Wallowa 
Biver. Only one small redfish was observed while at Wallowa Lake, a small example 
5^ inches long, which was found dead on the lake shore August 24. 
According to Mr. Stanley, the small redfish are seldom or never seen there except 
in September, and then only in schools at the head of the lake or in the inlets where 
they spawn, at the same time and on the same beds with the large redfish. He says 
the small ones are called “yanks,” and that not more than 1 in 15 is a female; 12 
which he caught for us were all males. According to Mr. Stanley, the fish which he 
calls “grayling” is usually seen only in June, when it is easily caught by trolling in 
the lake. The small redfish found dead on the beach of Wallowa Lake, August 24, 
was called a grayling by Mr. Stanley, from which it seems probable, that the so-called 
“grayling” are the more silvery small redfish. 
Chinook salmon . — This salmon is known to enter both the West and Main Forks 
of Wallowa Biver, the majority running into the West Fork. Those which keep in 
the Main Fork enter Prairie Creek, where they have their spawning-beds. They have 
been seen in the outlet close to the lake itself. The early run is in July. The largest 
run is in September when they are known locally as “dog salmon.” 
West Fork was examined for a distance of 4 miles, that portion of the river most 
frequented by Chinooks, but no salmon were seen. Four had been caught, however, 
on the spawning-beds 3 miles above Lostine a few days before, and one was killed by 
an Indian below Lostine about the same time. 
Steelhead trout . — The steelhead reaches Lostine on the Wallowa Biver in March 
and April. They spawn mostly in the West Fork of Wallowa Biver, very few being 
seen in the Main Fork. 
