FISH-CULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS IN MONTANA AND WYOMING. 
37 
Missoula is situated upon the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the western part of the 
State, a location hardly sufficiently central as regards the region to be supplied. I 
have no information as to what would be the cost of sufficient land in this locality. 
Hon. W. M. Bickford, of Missoula, would furnish any information of this kind that 
might be desired. 
Lolo Creek is a very pretty mountain stream having its rise on the Divide, near 
the Idaho line. It flows eastward for about 40 miles and empties into the Bitter Root 
River about 12 miles southwest of Missoula. We examined this stream through the 
last mile of its course but one. It is here about 35 feet wide, with au average depth 
of 2| feet, and with a rather swift current. It Hows over a gravelly bottom and 
between gravelly banks, which are covered by a heavy growth of alders, willows, and 
cottonwoods. The stream here is often divided up and runs in several channels with 
low-lying islands in between, which are covered with a heavy growth of bushes and 
small timber. There are also many small bayous or marshy places along this lower 
portion of the stream which are filled with a species of Ranunculus ( R . aquatilis 
trichophyllus). Trout, blobs, suckers, and minnows were common. The temperature 
of this stream at noon July 30, was 56°. 
Depew Creek is a small stream, about 8 miles long, which flows into Swan River 
from the right, just below the foot of Swan Lake. Its entire course is on Government 
land and through dense pine forests. It runs between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons per 
minute. The water is clear and pure and lias a temperature of less than 50°. At 
11 a. in., August 3, its temperature at its outlet was 48°. The amount of water is said 
not to vary much. It never becomes contaminated on account of rains, and there is 
no probability of its ever being injured in any way through mining operations. The 
fall is great enough to enable the water to be gotten under control very easily. All 
the natural advantages requisite for the establishment of a hatchery can be found at 
the mouth of this creek. Its nearness to Swan River and the large and interesting 
lakes which that river connects would prove a great advantage in many ways. The 
remoteness of the location from a railroad is a serious objection. 
Horsethief Springs . — These springs are on the ranch of Mr. R. R. Cummins, in 
Gallatin County, Montana, about 4 miles from the west line of the Yellowstone 
National Park, and near its northwest corner. There are two of them coming out on 
the south slope of a small grassy mountain near its base, and soon uniting to form one 
stream, which flows into the North Fork of the Madison River. The accompanying 
diagram (PI. hi) will help to an understanding of these springs : 
Distance between springs (a to 6) feet.. 
Width of west spring at 1 inches.. 
Depth of west spring at 1 inches.. 
Current betwfeen 1 and 2 (35 feet) feet per second.. 
Volume of west spring gallons per minute.. 
Width of main stream at 3 feet . . 
Depth of main stream at 3 inches. . 
Current from 3 to 4 (51 feet) feet per second.. 
Volume of main stream at 4 gallons per minute.. 
Width of stream at 5 feet.. 
Depth of stream at 5 inches. . 
Current between 6 and 7 (50 feet), a trifle over 1 foot per second. 
Volume at 7, about 26,181 gallons per minute. 
135 
40 
4 
3i 
1, 745 
35 
5 
4 
26, 181 
70 
10 
