34 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ness of the original deposit. Remnants are left, however, at different points, sometimes in the higher 
ranges of foothills, or in patches among the metamorphic rocks at considerable elevation on the 
divides between the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson forks. Areas of greater or less extent occur 
600 to 800 feet above the channels of the rivers, showing that the waters must have been so high 
that only the more elevated summits were above the surface. 
McClellan Creek rises among tlie hills on the “Crow Divide,” flows northward 
about 15 miles, and empties into Prickly Pear Creek about 5 miles southeast of Helena. 
We examined this stream for some distance along its course, 12 miles east of Helena, 
near an old Spanish quartz mill or arastra. This creek is said to be usually a clear 
stream, but at the time of our visit the water was somewhat muddied by recent rains 
and by some placer mining going on in this vicinity. The banks and bed of the stream 
are very rocky and the current very swift. The stream is S to 15 feet wide and 
averaged perhaps 2 feet deep. The temperature of the water at 10 a. m., July 20, was 
47.5°; air, 70°. Owing to the extreme swiftness of the current the use of the seine 
was made very difficult. Numerous hauls resulted in the taking of five trout, each 8 to 
10 inches long. Some of these were full of eggs, showing this to be near the spawning 
season. No other life was noticed in the stream. A few frogs and snakes were seen 
along the banks. 
Prickly Pear Creek , into which McClellan Creek flows, is a much larger stream, 
but nearly all of its water is used for irrigation purposes. It flows through the 
beautiful Prickly Pear Valley and empties into the Missouri north of Helena Junc- 
tion. This was at one time an excellent trout stream, and a few trout are still found 
in its upper portion. 
PLACES EXAMINED WITH REFERENCE TO THE LOCATION OF A STATION. 
In general, it may be said that every stream and place visited by us was examined 
with reference to its furnishing the necessary natural conditions of such a fish-cultural 
station as is desired for that region. In another part of this report will be found a 
discussion of the general physical features of western Montana and northwestern 
Wyoming, including a somewhat full description of each particular lake, stream, or 
spring examined ; this will show that there are several places, any one of which can 
furnish perhaps all the required natural conditions. It is proper to state here that it 
was not possible, within the time at our disposal, to visit all parts of Montana and 
Wyoming and examine all the localities that might supply suitable sites for a fish- 
cultural station. Nor was it necessary that every place should be visited, for among 
those that we were able to examine is found an ample number from which to make 
the selection. 
The following is a list of the places where we made special examination with 
reference to the hatchery question: McClellan Creek and Child’s ranch, near Helena; 
Little Blackfoot River, at Elliston; Cottonwood Creek, at Deer Lodge; Rattlesnake 
and Lolo creeks, near Missoula; Swan River, at Swan Lake; Glen Creek and 
Gardiner River, near Mammoth Hot Springs; Reese Creek, near Horr; Horsethief 
Springs, Montana; Botteler Springs, south of Livingston ; and Davies and Wolverton 
springs, near Bozeman. 
McClellan Creek rises in the hills on the Crow Divide, flows northward about 15 
miles, and empties into the Prickly Pear Creek about l.j miles south of East Helena. 
We examined the stream up and down for more than a mile, 12 miles east of Helena, 
