SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
29 
water on the south side of the river flowing over a rocky ridge forming falls some 12 
or 15 feet high. Many salmon find their way to the foot of the falls and endeavor to 
ascend them and when the water is about half low many succeed, but when the dis- 
tance from the lower to the upper current of water is from 8 to 10 feet thousands of 
salmon at times may be seen jumping into the whirlpools at the foot of the falls. 
Just above the falls are two wheels, the larger on a rocky point projecting into the river. 
When the river is high, many of the salmon pass by this point over that part of the 
river where the falls are during low water. The wheel here catches fish only when the 
water is high ; the other wheel, at the head of a channel, takes fish when the water is low. 
The wheels in operation during the fall months are built in places where the water 
is deep. and the current swift. There being few natural places iu the vicinity where 
wheels can be successfully operated, long deep channels have been cut through the 
volcanic rock and the water led into them. At or near the head of these artificial 
channels the wheels are built. The water rushes through the channels with consid- 
erable force, offering a strong inducement for salmon to enter. On arriving at the 
foot of the falls and finding it impossible to go farther salmon naturally enter the 
channel which leads to the wheel. If the water is very clear, the fish will congregate 
in large numbers in pools and eddies near the mouth of the channel and at the foot 
of the falls, remaining there for days without attempting to go up the channel. 
Sometimes several thousand fish will crowd themselves into the mouth of the narrow 
channel and remain there for hours at a time. Suddenly, as if by one impulse, they 
will dart up channel, and are soon caught up by the revolving wheel and landed on 
the platform in the fish-house. 
Wheels are built in places near high-water mark where salmon are known to run 
in greatest numbers. The migratory habits of all species of salmon visiting the. 
Columbia Eiver in the vicinity of The Dalles are said to vary from year to year. 
This often causes a considerable expenditure of money in wheels frequently followed 
by negative results. For several years the main run of salmon may pass certain 
points in the river, when suddenly a new route will be selected. This change often 
transfers the best fishing-ground from one side of the river to the other, and wheels 
which have made large catches one season prove a failure the next. Only those with 
long experience in this locality are competent to select good sites for wheels. Several 
wheels on the river, built at a cost of from $3,000 to $5,000, have never taken a fish. 
This method of fishing requires considerable capital. 
On September 18 and 19 a large number of fish, mostly steelheads, were noticed 
to ascend the falls, but, as the river was falling rapidly, in a short time they were 
prevented from taking their natural course and were forced either to enter the channel 
or remain in the pools or eddies at the foot of the falls. At this time the wheel at 
Celilo began to take more fish than it previously had, the daily catch increasing 
during the time Mr. Alexander was there. The catch of chinook and silver salmon 
was small as compared with the number of steelheads. The last- mentioned species 
is always found in greater numbers at this season, the fall run of chinook being 
limited in number. Only a few silver salmon are caught here. 
This season, owing to the unusual scarcity of fish at Oelilo, the cannery there did 
not put up any spring fish, the run being very small. The great bulk of salmon was 
taken in wheels below the Cascades. Arriving at this point, they seemed inclined to 
go no farther up, and the canneries in that locality made large packs. Fish expected 
