152 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
one form weigh from 3| to 6 pouuds, wliile tliose of the other and more numerous form 
weigh almost invariably one-half pound each. 
The principal problems concerning this fish, the solutions of which were sought 
in our investigations, may be stated as follows: 
1. Do both the large and the small redfish come up from the sea, or are the small 
ones a landlocked form, inhabiting the lakes except during the si>awning season, when 
they rnn np into the inlets"! 
2. If the redfish are anadromous, when do they reach their spawning-gronnds'? 
3. Where and how do the redfish receive the mutilations noticed upon them when 
spawning? 
4. What are their spawning habits, particularly when on the spawning-beds? 
5. Do the fish return to the lake or the sea after spawning, or do they all die? 
6. Where do the young redfish stay? 
7. What is the definite location of the present spawning-beds, and what is their 
condition ? 
The Chinook salmon also have important spawning- grounds in the upper Salmon 
Diver basin and in Payette Diver, and definite information regarding this species was 
also desired. 
1. Where are its spawning-grounds, and what their extent and present condition? 
2. When does it reach its spawning-grounds? 
3. What is the condition of the fish when they first arrive? Are the mutilations, 
frayed-out fins, and sores the result of the long journey from the sea, or are they all 
received while on the spawning-beds? 
4. What are the habits of this fish while spawning? 
5. What becomes of them after they have finished spawning? 
6. How long do the young remain in the vicinity of the spawning-beds? 
In order to study these various problems in the most satisfactory manner, a camp 
was established July 22 on Pettit Lake. This location was thought to be such as would 
enable the difterent members of the party to keep a close watch upon the outlet and 
inlets of Pettit Lake, the outlet and inlet of Alturas Lake, Alturas Creek, and a 
portion of Salmon Diver. Gill-nets were set as follows: One of 7^-inch mesh in 
Salmon Diver just above the mouth of Alturas Creek, and one of same kind in Alturas 
Creek about a mile above its mouth. These were meant for the chinook salmon and 
the large redfish. A 2^ -inch -mesh net was placed in the outlet and one in the main 
inlet of Pettit Lake, and one in the outlet and one in the inlet of Alturas Lake. These 
four were intended for the redfish, particularly the small form. If the salmon and 
redfish had not yet come, the nets below the lakes would tell us of their arrival. The 
nets in the inlets would tell us when the redfish began ascending the inlets from the 
lakes. These various nets would also enable us to determine whether either or both 
species return downstream after spawning. 
It was soon demonstrated that the nets were too remote from each other to permit 
daily visits being made to all. In consideration of this fact and the early solution of 
certain of the problems, the locations of some of the nets were changed. And after 
the fish had appeared at any x)articnlar net, and the time of their arrival was thus 
determined, that net was lifted for a time, to allow the fish to go on to their spawning- 
beds. Visits were made to all the nets at least as often as every other day. 
Oil August 28 we moved caini) from Pettit Lake to the inlet of Alturas Lake, in 
order that the redfish in that stream might be watched continuously. Occasional 
