32 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Beaverhead Elver flows in a general northeasterly direction, and joins the Bighole 
Biver east of Melrose to form the Jefferson Eiver. The Bighole River is much the 
same kind of a stream as the Beaverhead. It is said to be well filled with whitefisli 
and suckers. 
Our route from the Mammoth Hot Springs to Shoshone Lake was essentially the 
same as that followed by Dr. Jordan’s party in October, 1889. The waters of this 
region were fully described by him, and but little need be added in this report con- 
cerning them. A few observations were made, however, that should be recorded. 
The temperature of Glen Creek at 11 a. m., August 25, was 54°. The temperature of 
Indian Greek at 11:30 a. in., August 25, was 52°, while on August 7, when the air was 
70°, the water was 55°. 
The brook trout that were placed in these streams in 1889 are evidently thriving 
well, as we found not only individuals of that plant, but young that could not be over 
a year old. In Canon Greek we found an abundance of blobs, but did not succeed in 
taking any trout, although specimens were collected there by Dr. Jordan. 
A plant of 9,800 Yon Behr trout was made in Nez Perce Greek in 1890. Though 
we were, at the time of our visit, unable to find any fish, we were informed by Lieut. 
Pitcher that fish have been seen there this season; and Mr. Elwood Hofer writes me 
that, on October 9 of this year, he saw trout in Nez Perce Creek near the u Soldiers’ 
Camp.” These are most probably of the plant of 1890, as tins creek was believed to 
be wholly barren of fish until the time of this plant. Mr. Hofer, however, believes 
that the native black-spotted trout is found in Nez Perce Creek, but can not see how 
they got there. 
The Firehole was examined at various places. This stream contained no fish 
above Keppler Cascade until 1889, when a plant of Loch Leven trout was made here 
by the U. S. Pish Commission. Specimens of this trout were seen above the cascade, 
and one was obtained in the river above Old Faithful Geyser. At the mouth of Fire- 
hole Eiver grayling, whitefisli, dace, blobs, and suckers were found in abundance. 
Gibbon River was examined at various points from above Virginia Cascade to its 
mouth , where it joins the Firehole to form the Madison. This stream was stocked 
with rainbow trout in 1889, and we found specimens both above and below Virginia 
Cascade. At the mouth of Gibbon Eiver we found all the species that were found in 
the Firehole near by. These two streams unite about 6 miles below Gibbon Falls, 
and about the same distance below the Lower Geyser Basin. 
Madison River . — On August 23, 24, and 25, I made a trip from Norris Basin down 
the Madison Eiver to Horsethief Springs, beyond the western boundary of the Park. 
The road to this place passes down the Gibbon Eiver, which it crosses near its mouth, 
and then follows the Madison Eiver very closely for several miles, crossing it no less 
than five times before reaching Horsethief Springs. The upper course of the Madison 
Eiver is through a narrow and very picturesque canon which widens out below into a 
broad, grassy valley. The banks and bed of the stream are rocky or of coarse gravel. 
The water is clear and sparkling, but not cold — this latter fact being due, of course, 
to the great amount of hot water which is poured into it from the Upper and Lower 
Geyser Basins. The current is in most places quite swift, and the stream is well 
filled with Char a. Algae, and various other kinds of water vegetation. This is evidently 
an excellent fish stream, at least as far up as the forks — grayling and whitefisli being 
really abundant; dace, blobs, and suckers were all common. 
