SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
27 
Considerable spawning-beds are said to be located in the vicinity of A5tna. The 
water is pure and cold, and if chinook salmon really come there in large numbers all 
other conditions are favorable for fish cultural purposes. 
The South Fork was examined as far up as La Center. This stream is about the 
same size as the North Fork, but the water is not clear. The bauks, in the lower 
portion at least, are composed of red clay or easily disintegrated rock, and the water 
is thus usually kept more or less muddy. Below La Center there seems to be no 
bottom suitable for spawning-beds and there are no tributary creeks from which water 
suitable for hatchery purposes could be obtained. Chinook salmon of the fall run are 
said to enter this fork, but the locality of their spawning-beds is not known. No 
salmon were seen by Professor Cox at the time of his visit. 
TOUl'LE RIVER. 
This stream is an eastern tributary of the Cowlitz, into which it flows a few miles 
north of Castle Bock. Aboutll miles above its mouth is a fall 15 feet high. From 
this point down there are many riffles suitable for spawning-beds, and where racks 
could be put in without difficulty. One of the best places is at the mouth of Pat’s 
Creek, about 7 or 8 miles above the mouth of the river, where the stream is 35 to 75 
feet wide and the bed is of coarse sand and gravel.. Suitable water for hatchery 
purposes could be obtained from the creek. 
It is claimed that the fall run of salmon enters this river in considerable numbers, 
including chinook, silver, dog, humpback, and steelhead. Salmon appeared to be 
scarce at the time the river was examined, as only three were seeu by Mr. Alexander; 
but it was stated that they would be more abundant about the 1st of September. They 
are said to collect in numbers at the foot of the falls already alluded to, and if this be 
true, that would prove a good place for collecting the eggs. The falls do not seem 
to offer an impassable barrier, as salmon are reported from points still farther up the 
stream. 
CASCADE LOCKS. 
On the Washington side of the Columbia Biver, opposite Cascade Locks and at 
the head of what is known as the “Old Incline” at the Upper Cascades, is a place 
where it was thought fish-cultural operations might be carried on successfully. The 
fish would have to be caught in wheels, several of which are operated in the vicinity, 
and held until ripe in a retaining channel or pond. This channel has sufficient water 
flowing through it, can be easily racked at each end, and seems in every way fairly 
well suited for such a purpose. There is a good site for the buildings and sufficient 
water is obtainable by gravity from a small creek near by. It is claimed that au 
abundance of salmon can be obtained by running the wheels in August and Septem- 
ber and that they will be so nearly ripe that retention in the pond or channel will be 
necessary for only a short time. 
An effort was made in August to transport fish caught in these wheels to the 
retaining pond, but it proved a failure. Whether due to lack of care and skill in 
making the transfer, or to inherent difficulties, is not certain, but we believe there is no 
good reason why salmon may not be safely transferred at this place. We question, 
however, whether they would live in the retaining pond until ripe, unless the pond be 
rather deep and kept dark. 
