FISH-CULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS IN MONTANA AND WYOMING. 
13 
The water is very clear and the current quite rapid throughout the greater part of its 
course between the two lakes. Not far below Swan Lake, and again not far above the 
mouth of the river, there are very picturesque rapids. The bed of the stream is, of 
course, very rocky for most of its length. In the more quiet places there is a little 
water vegetation. The region through which it flows is covered Avith a very heavy 
growth of timber, coming down to the water’s edge. 
Swan Lake is distant from Flathead Lake about 7 miles, though the distance by 
the river is three times as great. This is a very beautiful lake, 16 miles long and 
varying from less than a mile to 3 miles in width. This lake, with its clear and 
sparkling Avaters, surrounded on all sides by dense evergreen forests, and studded here 
and there Avith small, well-wooded islands, rivals in beauty and picturesqueness any 
that the Avriter has ever seen ; and the beauty of the river from the lake to the outlet 
is unexcelled. This lake is said to be a favorite resort for swans, ducks, and geese, 
several pairs of the latter breeding each year upon the small islands. 
Depew Creek . — Just Inflow the foot of Swan Lake the river receives from the right 
a small stream known locally as Depew Creek. This little creek rises in springs and 
runs through very dense pine forests for its ei iti re course, a distance of about 8 
miles It has a flow of less than 2,000 gallons per minute. The water is very clear 
and pure, with a temperature of 4S° at 11 a. m., August 3. The fishes of Swan Lake 
and Savuu Eiver are, so far as known, the common trout, salmon trout, whitefish, 
Columbia chub, squawflsh, blob, and the Columbia Eiver sucker. We obtained speci- 
mens of all of these except the salmon trout. 
Savuu Eiver, between the two lakes, is noted as one of the best trout streams in 
Montana, the greater part of the entire distance being exceedingly Avell suited for trout 
Ashing. 
Rattlesnake Creek is a stream about 20 miles long, rising in the mountains north of 
Missoula and flowing through a rocky but well-Avooded canon to the Missoula Eiver at 
the town of that name. It is said to 'have its source in tAvo small lakes, near a third 
lake Avliich is drained by Clearwater Creek into Big Blackfoot Eiver. The “divide” 
between this third lake and the tAvo others is said to be of such a character that, with 
very little work, a ditch could be cut across which would result in bringing the surplus 
water of the third lake into those drained by the Eattlesnake, thus greatly increasing 
the volume of that stream. This is a very clear, cold stream flowing with a rapid cur- 
rent over a very rough bed of gravel and larger rocks, and containing very little water 
vegetation. The banks are lined with a heavy growth of trees, bushes, and vines, but 
this promises not to remain very much longer. The larger timber is being cut off 
rapidly for wood, which is floated down the stream. At the time of our visit, at least 
3 miles of the stream Avas literally tilled with an immense jam of cord wood which had 
been started down, and still above this we saw a constant line of sticks floating by to 
augment the large amount already in the jam. From the best information we could 
gain, all of this timber is being cut from Government land, and, whether by Govern- 
ment permission or not, it is certainly to be very greatly deplored. 
We examined this stream throughout the last 10 miles of its course, and took 
measurements just above Missoula. Temperature, 51° at 5 p. m., July 2S. Width, 30 
feet; depth, If feet; current, 2.j feet per second. This would give over 56,000 gallons 
per minute. This creek flows its entire course through Government land, except the 
