358 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the forks; thence to the mouth it flows over a series of small rapids. At no point, 
however, are there any natural obstructions to the ascent of salmon. Near the lake a 
dam has been constructed across the stream to raise the lake level. It has a board face, 
sloping- at an angle of about 45°, and is arranged to contract the usual flow of water 
to a width of about 6 feet, which forms a runway. With a full stream it probably 
is not an obstruction to the ascent of salmon. 
About 30 yards above the forks are the remains of an old barricade and a runway 
formerly used in connection with the funnel-shaped baskets or traps employed by the 
natives of this vicinity. At the forks are the remains of an abutment probably used 
formerly in some sort of barricade. 
The larger lake, from which the main stream has its source, is known as Paul 
Lake; it is about 2 miles long and one-fourth mile wide, with the major axis in a 
WSW. and ENE. direction. It is quite deep, one point, it is said, reaching a depth 
of 120 fathoms. It is 75 feet above sea level and on June 1 the water, which 
appeared clear and pure, had a surface temperature of 52° F. Its range in water 
level is about 4 feet. High hills and mountains border the northern and southern 
sides. Along the shore the bottom is of gravel with occasional sections of rock and 
some mud. At the western end the lake receives a feeder in which are spawning- 
beds for a distance of about one-fourth of a mile. A number of salmon fry were 
seen in the lake and there were a few small trout above the dam. 
The small tributary, previously referred to as joining the main stream at the forks, 
is about half a mile long, 6 to 25 feet in width and 2 to 10 inches in depth, and flows 
but a small amount of water. It drains three shallow ponds known as John, William, 
and James lakes, surrounded by low banks, and full of pond lilies which grow from 
a muddy bottom. 
Lake J ohn is one-half mile from the forks and is 300 yards long and 100 yards wide, 
with its major axis in a NNW. and SSE. direction; it is reported to have a depth of 
about 12 feet. The elevation is 25 feet above high-water mark and the temperature 
of the surface water, June 1, was 53° F. 
A shallow streamlet one-half mile in length and with a few unimportant rapids, 
connects Lake John with Lake James. The latter is about four-tenths mile long, by 
175 yards wide, and lies in a general W. by N. and E. by S. direction. It is shallow, 
and has an elevation of 55 feet. Temperature of surface water, June 1, 52° F. 
Lake William is a shallow pond, 250 yards long by 90 yards wide; it has a short 
outlet, 2-4 feet wide by 8 inches deep, flowing through the left bank of the streamlet 
connecting Lake John with Lake James and very near the former. It has an eleva- 
tion of 28 feet, and the temperature of the surface water on June 1 was 52° F. 
The country surrounding the Peter Johnson stream and lake system is well 
wooded and covered with the usual growth of the region. This stream is claimed by 
a native, from whom if derives its name, and furnishes fish to the canneries at Met- 
lakahtla and Loring, although prior to 1896 all of these fish were purchased at 
Metlakahtla. It is remarkable for the small redfish which it carries, and it is said 
there is no deviation, from one year to another, in their average weight, which is 
from 34 to 4 pounds each. The redfish from this stream are frequentty quoted by 
those who propound the parent-stream theory in support of the argument. 
