SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
47 
LAKE UNION, WASHINGTON, 
The following notes on Lake Union have been furnished by Mr. Alexander: 
This body of water lies close to the city of Seattle. Its length, measured iu a 
straight line from north to south, is miles; width, halfway between the north and 
south ends, three-quarters of a mile. Branching out from the head of the lake are 
two arms, one leading to the northeast and the other to the northwest. Measured 
from the foot of the northeast arm the lake has a length of 3| miles. 
Lake Union has a quite uniform depth in the center; tbe greatest depth, 48 feet, 
is found in nearly all parts of the main body a quarter of a mile from the shore. In 
the northeast arm the soundings varied from 24 to 27 feet. Near the shore, except in 
places where there is marsh land, the depth is from 18 to 25 feet. Iu the south end 
of the northeast arm the land is marshy; also off the point extending into the northern 
part of the lake between the two arms. In most other parts grass land extends down 
to the water’s edge with a gradual slope. On the east side the land is quite level and 
covered with willow and other trees. This strip of land extends back from the lake 
for a considerable distance, when it suddenly runs into high bluffs. 
The land surrounding the lake for the most part is high and was at one time 
heavily wooded, but now only small clumps of trees are left standing, most of the once 
great forest having given way to town sites and buildings. Skirting the north shore 
runs the Seattle and Lake Shore Railroad. The shore is thickly settled, except on the 
east and northeast sides. 
The bottom in nearly all parts is mud, in some places intermingled with fine sand. 
From the 2d to the 8th of December gill nets were set in ten different places, 
taking 4 salmon, 1 cut-throat trout, and 2 suckers. In no place were the nets down 
less than 24 hours, and in one place they remained down 72 hours. They were set iu 
places best adapted for this kind of fishing and where black bass had been caught 
in greatest numbers. Trolling for black bass was carried on at different times, but 
nothing was caught. The season was too late for them, but it was thought that the 
gill nets might capture a specimen or two. 
During the summer black bass are frequently taken by trolling, and it is reported 
that they are sometimes taken in nets secretly set for their capture. This method is 
illegal, but is carried on to some extent. Only a few black bass have been caught iu 
Lake Washington, and those planted in this lake in 1890 soon found their way into 
Lake Union, where they are said to be quite plentiful during the summer months. 
Why they should find the water in Lake Union better suited to their wants than 
where they were planted is not easily explained. It can not be due wholly to the 
difference in the condition of the water, for Lake Washington largely supplies Lake 
Union. The theory that presents itself to account for these fish being found in Lake 
Union and not in Lake Washington is that in the former lake snjall surface life is 
much more abundant. The collections made in the two lakes show a considerable 
difference in the amount taken in each trial. 
In winter the temperature of water of this lake is several degrees colder than 
that of Lake Washington, though ice seldom forms, and only when the winter is 
unusually severe does the lake freeze over; it is probable that in summer Lake Union 
is the warmer, it being shallow. 
