38 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Temperatures. Avere taken in the morning of August 24, between 8 and 10 o’clock, 
when the air was about 70°: 
Degree. 
Temperature of water at a, at 8 a. m. 48 
Temperature at b, at 8 a. m 45. 5 
Temperature at o, at 8:15 a. m 46 
Temperature at d, at 8:35 a. m 48 
Temperature at e, at 9 a. m 48 
Degree. 
Temperature three-fourths mile be- 
low e, at 9:40 a.m 49 
Temperature of small stream/ 46. 5 
Temperature of small stream g 44 
Temperature of small stream h 46 
The stream, formed by the uniting of the waters from the two springs, flows south 
about 300 feet, then turns west and flows in that general direction for at least one- 
fourth mile, where it receives the small branch h from the left, and continues about 1 
mile further before joining the Madison. The current within the first 180 feet from 
the springs is very swift, the fall being at least 20 feet. Below that the fall is very 
slight, the current in no part of this portion being much greater than 1 foot per second. 
Just north of the springs and west of them the ground rises rapidly; to the east there 
is also a slight rise, but to the south and southwest is very attractive meadow land with 
just sufficient slope to render the construction of ponds upon it a very easy matter. 
Indeed, the stream itself could be easily converted into ponds simply by damming, thus 
cutting it up into suitable sections, any one of which could be drained into the one 
below. The water is pure, clear, and cold, and certainly Av r ell suited in every way for 
trout. The bed of the stream is gravelly. There is an abundance of Algos, Gliara, and 
other water vegetation in the stream. Small mollusks and insect larvie abound, and 
trout, grayling, and whitefish are exceedingly abundant. In fact, the grayling and 
trout use this stream and the small branches coming into it as a spawning ground, 
vast numbers of these two species and many whitefish being found here during the 
breeding season. This is, of course, conclusive evidence as to the excellent character 
of these waters as breeding grounds for members of the Salmonidce. 
The Avater in these springs never freezes, and Mr. Cummins informs me that it 
does not freeze in the creek at any point within a mile of the springs. 
Mr. Cummins, who oavus the springs and the lands through which the creek flows? 
will donate to the Commission all the ground that may be needed. 
At present, the nearest railroad station to these springs is at Cinnabar, Montana, 
about 70 miles northeast. They are 125 miles south of Bozeman. The Northern 
Pacific Railroad has recently surveyed a line from Gallatin, Montana, to the north line 
of the Yellowstone Park, running within 1.1 miles of the springs. The Union Pacific 
Railroad has two lines surveyed through this region , each of them running very close to 
these springs; one of the lines proposed by the Union Pacific is from Gallatin, the 
other from Beaver Canon. Each runs to the Park line near Mammoth Hot Springs. 
The natural advantages offered by Horsethief Springs are, in my judgment, superior 
to those found at any other place visited by us. The water is excellent in character 
and enormous in quantity. The topography could scarcely be improved. The location 
is central with reference to the region to be stocked — in short, all the natural conditions 
are most favorable. Should the Northern Pacific or the Union Pacific build a branch 
road to the Park over the line surveyed, I do not think a better location for the station 
could be found than at Horsethief Springs. 
Glen Creek Avas examined just above the Golden Gate in the Yellowstone National 
Park. It is there a small stream about 5 feet wide, 6 inches deep, and Avith a current 
of about 18 inches per second. This gives it a flow of about 1,683 gallons per minute. 
