SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN COLUMBIA KIVER BASIN IN 1896. 
57 
TSILTCOOS AND WHOAHINK LAKES, OREGON. 
The investigation of these lakes was undertaken in response to a petition signed 
by numerous citizens living in their immediate vicinity and addressed to the United 
States Commission of Fish and Fisheries under date of June 13, 1896. The petitioners 
asked that Tsiltcoos Lake be stocked with black bass and that a plant of brook trout 
be made in Whoahink Lake. To determine the advisability of complying with these 
requests, Dr. Meek was directed to make an examination of these lakes, particularly 
in regard to the following points: 
1. Are these waters suitable as to temperature, quality, and food supply for the 
species requested ? 
2. Would the introduction of these species have any detrimental effect upon the 
food or game fishes native to those waters or to waters into which the introduced 
species might spread? 
3. Would the species which it is proposed to introduce probably thrive so well as 
to afford, after a few years, better fishing than is now furnished by the native species? 
Three visits were made by Dr. Meek to these lakes, the first on October 7 and 8, 
when only Tsiltcoos Lake was seen ; the next October 15 to 19, during which time 
considerable work was done on each of the lakes; the third trip November 28 to 
December 7, when the lakes were examined carefully and extensive collections made. 
The conclusion reached from a study of the conditions obtaining at these lakes is 
that it is not advisable for the Commission to stock them with black bass or brook 
trout. The planting of black bass in Tsiltcoos Lake would prove detrimental to the 
silver-salmon fishery carried on in the outlet of that lake, and the probability that 
the bass would in time spread to the Siuslaw and the Umpqua is too great to warrant 
the risk. As to placing brook trout in Whoahink Lake, it is not believed that that 
species would ever become so well established as to afford better fishing than the 
native species supplies. These lakes are already abundantly supplied with a native 
trout which attains a weight of 2 pounds or more, which possesses excellent game 
qualities, and whose flesh is firm and sweet. If these trout are properly protected, 
there is no reason why Whoahink Lake should not become an important fishing-resort. 
The detailed report upon these lakes follows : 
TSILTCOOS AND OTHER LAKES. 
Between the mouths of the Siuslaw and Umpqua rivers, and almost bordering 
the sand hills along the shore, are three large lakes and a few small ones. The inves- 
tigations were restricted to the large lakes; these lie in a line parallel with the ocean 
beach and comprise at least three-fourths of the distance between the Siusla w and 
Umpqua rivers. They are quite peculiar on account of their great irregularity in 
outline. The amount of shore line as compared with the area of each is very great. 
Whoahink Lake, or Clear Lake, as it is more commonly known, is about 2 miles 
from the Siuslaw Biver at Glenada. This lake is very irregular in outline and deeper 
than the other two. Except a small portion in the southwest corner, it is surrounded 
by hills from 50 to about 200 feet in height. The hills immediately surrounding the 
lake are composed of a soft, irregularly stratified sandstone, and evidently of a much 
newer formation than the higher hills to the southeast. The inlets are only ravines, 
some of which contain many small springs. The points of land projecting into the 
