18 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
this stream that we obtained the types of Leuciscus gilli. Small mollusks (. Limncea 
palustris), insect larvae, and frogs were abundant. 
This little creek flows into Silver Bow Creek near the railroad junction of that 
name. Silver Bow Creek is simply the name applied to the upper portion of Deer 
Lodge River. This comes down from the vicinity of Butte City, and its water has the 
consistency of thick soup, made so by the tailings which it receives from the mills at 
that city. No fish could live in such a mixture, and the fish in Browns Gulch are for 
the time being practically confined to that short stream. 
The other tributaries of the Deer Lodge River are all small, but, with the excep- 
tions already noted, are excellent trout streams. 
Bitter Root River. — This is a fine large stream, reminding me very much of the 
beautiful Tippecanoe River, but it is about twice as large. It rises in the Bitter Root 
Mountains near the line between Idaho and Montana, flows north through the beauti- 
ful Bitter Root Valley, and empties into the Missoula River about 3 miles below the 
town. It. is at least 75 miles long, its waters are clear and moderately cold, and the 
lower part of its course at least is over a bottom of sand and gravel covered toward 
the shores with a heavy growth of Alga' and other water vegetation. This stream is 
apparently quite deep and flows with a steady, moderate current. The banks are 
usually low and well wooded. Several bayous or small ponds were noticed along 
the west bank, and these are invariably filled with Algce, a species of Ranunculus , and 
other aquatic plants. 
Owing to the too great depth of the water we were not able to do any seining in 
the Bitter Root. Quite a number of specimens of Mylocheilus caurinus and Ptycliocliei- 
lus oregonensis were obtained, however, by use of hook and line. These two species 
are evidently abundant in this river. Trout and u salmon trout” are also reported 
common, “ salmon trout” weighing 12 to 14 pounds having been taken at the mouth 
of the river, according to Mr. E. A. Winstanley, of Missoula. 
Lolo Greek. — This stream, also spelled “ Lou-Lou,” has its origin in the Bitter 
Root Mountains, on the Idaho State line, and flowing eastward for about 40 miles 
joins the Bitter Root River about 10 miles above its mouth, or about 12 miles southwest 
of Missoula. Like all other 'streams of this region the Lolo’s waters are pure, clear, 
and cold. A mile or so above its mouth it was found to be about 35 feet wide, 
averaging perhaps 24 feet deep, and flowing with a very rapid current. Temperature 
at noon, July 30, 56°. We examined it throughout the last mile but one of its course. 
Here it flows over gravelly bottom and between gravelly banks which are covered 
with a dense growth of alders, willows, and cottonwoods, with here and there a mossy 
patch or a stretch of meadow land. The stream, in some places along here, is broken 
up into several streams flowing in different channels, but they soon come together 
again. There are also a number of bayous, or more properly small ponds, occupying 
detached portions of former old channels of the stream. These were invariably filled 
with a species of Ranunculus (most probably R. aquatilis trichophyllus). They were 
often very deep, and the extremely muddy bottom rendered seining them a matter of 
no little difficulty. 
The Lolo is one of the very best trout streams in western Montana. During the 
time we seined we obtained numerous fine trout, also a good many blobs and young 
whitefish. In the ponds we found Gatostomus catostomus and Ptychocheilus oregonensis 
very common. 
