SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN IDAHO IN 1895. 
153 
visits were still made to Pettit Lake, Alturas Creek, aud Salmon River, tlnis enabling 
us to keep informed as to tlie progress of events in those waters. 
At Big Payette Lake similar methods were employed by Mr. Williams. Gill nets 
were set in the outlet aud iu the iulet, and inspected from time to time as required. 
The detailed operations of these various nets will be given in connection with 
the discussion of each i)articular species of hsh taken in them. 
In the present connection, the following brief summary of the more important 
results of these investigations may be given: 
1. The redlish, both large and small, had reached these lakes prior to July 20, 
when our observations began. While the proof that the large form is anadromous 
may be regarded as conclusive, the evidence that the small one comes up from the 
sea is not comi)lete. It seems probable that both are anadromous, but, so far as the 
Idaho lakes are concerned, the small form has not been proved to be so. 
2. If the redtish, large and small, are anadromous they reach the Eedfish Lakes, 
in some years at least, earlier tlian July 20. 
3. The mutilations, sores, fraying out of fins, etc., are not received en route to the 
spawning-grounds, but are practically all received subsequent to reaching thein. 
4. The redfish all die soon after spawning. 
5. The young redlish remain in the lakes and connecting waters for at least one 
year from the time when the eggs were spawned. 
6. The Chinook salmon arrived on or about July 24, aud were practically without 
mutilations or sores. 
7. All the Chinook salmon which come to these waters die after spawning. 
8. The young chinook salmon appear to remain for one year after the eggs are laid, 
near where they were hatched. 
THE REDFISH LAKES. 
The group of lakes known collectively as the ‘‘Redtish Lakes” is situated iu the 
western part of Blaine and Custer counties, Idaho. They all lie on the west side of 
the Salmon River Valley at the east base of the Sawtooth Mountains. The center of 
the group is, ai)proximately, in latitude 44° north and longitude 115° west. 
The ])rincipal lakes of the group are known as Alturas, Pettit, Yellow’belly, 
Redfish, and Stanley lakes. Besides these there are two or three smaller ones at the 
same altitude, while at the heads of their inlets at greater elevations are a great 
many small lakes. All of these lakes empty their waters into Salmon River aud really 
constitute the headwaters of that strea.ni. Each of the larger lakes lies iu a basin 
scooped out by glacial action. Across the canyon at the lower end of each lake is a 
broad terminal inoraine through whi<di the outlet has cut its way. 
The general direction of the longer axis of each of these lakes is northeast and 
southwest, aud on either side are high ridges extending from the Sawtooth Mountains 
into the edge of the valley. These ridges are the immense lateral moraines of the 
ancient glaciers which formed the canyons iu the mouths of which the lakes now lie. 
The larger, higher morainic ridges have a granite axis or core, but the smaller ones 
are aqiparentlv composed entirely of morainic material. In most cases the ridge on 
the right shore of the lake is lower than the one on the opposite side. 
In the main canyon and the branches which open into it How the inlet streams 
and their many smaller tributaries. These streams have their sources in the Helds 
