SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
45 
were made. Fishermen say that in summer, and at other times when the weather is 
pleasant, it is comparatively easy to catch from twenty -five to thirty trout in a day by 
trolling. 
Trout would bite only when the wind was light and the lake smooth. During the 
day, whenever there was little wind stirring, they could be seen jumping or breaking 
water in all parts of the lake, but they did not bite as ravenously as was expected, 
probably on account of the creeks having brought down considerable quantities of 
vegetable and other matter, such as they may feed upon. Fishermen claim that the fish 
never bite well when the lake is high. Several good examples, however, were caught 
in the few trials made. When fish are at all inclined to bite, a trawl will usually 
pick up a variety of species. The trawl set (90-odd hooks) was baited with fresh chub 
and meat, and good results were expected of it, but in this we were disappointed. 
The trout taken by trolling were caught close to the shore, that being the part of 
the lake where the fishermen troll when the water is high. Fish were breaking water 
in the middle of the lake, but none was captured. In summer good fishing is to be 
had in all parts. 
Methods of fishing . — The principal method of taking fish in Lake Sammamish is 
by trolling, though good catches are sometimes made with set line and with rod and 
line. In summer the lake is quite a resort for sportsmen from Seattle. No commercial 
fishing is carried on, all fish caught being locally consumed, except the few taken to 
Seattle by people belonging there. 
Kinds of fish . — The economic species of fish found in Lake Sammamish are the 
same as those of Lake Washington, namely, cut-throat trout, “grayling,” or redfisli, 
and salmon. No examples of the last two species were found, they having disappeared 
shortly after the water in the lake began to rise in November. About that time it is 
said that redfisli were plentiful iu Squak Slough and in the creeks at the head of the 
lake. Salmon run with the ledfish, but only scattering individuals are taken. No 
information could be obtained as to what kind of salmon enter the lake; but the dog 
salmon and an occasional steelhead probably find their way into this body of water. 
During the redfish run the neighboring Indians do considerable fishing on Squak 
Slough, and lay in their supply for winter. Only one person living near the lake 
claims to have caught a whitefish in it, and he was not sure that the specimen was a 
genuine whitefish; others who saw the fish say that it was not, but admit that the 
fish differed from any previously taken in the lake. 
Spawning habits . — People living near Lake Sammamish say that the cut-throat 
trout spawn in the spring and the condition of most of the specimens indicates that 
they are correct in their observations. One taken in Lake Washington contained eggs 
well advanced, but this fish would hardly indicate a difference in the spawning season 
between the two lakes, as fish can easily pass from one lake to the other. The redfish 
probably spawn some time in November, that being the time they run in greatest 
numbers. Only a few specimens were taken, and they were not sufficiently developed 
to form an estimate as to the month in which they spawn, but people who have 
caught and observed the redfish, both in Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington, 
believe that the spawning season is from the latter part of October to the middle of 
November. To gain a better knowledge as to the habits of this species in this region 
some person should be stationed at these lakes early in the fall, before the rainy season 
comes on. 
