13 -LIST OF THE FISHES INHABITING. CLEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA. 
By DAVID S. JORDAN AND CHARLES H. GILBERT. 
Clear Lake is a depression in volcanic rocks in Lake County, Cal. It is irregular 
in form, about 30 miles in lengtli l»y 5 to 10 in breadth, and surrounded by mountains 
of eruptive rocks belonging to the Coast Eauge. Its waters are generally very clear, 
with bottom of volcanic gravel and ash. They are derived from mountain streams 
and springs. The outlet of the lake. Cache Creek, flows through a wild ravine, 
Grizzly Cauyon, through the mountains to the southeast, into tlie Sacramento Valley. 
Here the waters sink or are lost in the tales {Jimcus)-, very rarely reaching the 
Sacramento River, except by underground soakage or through tracts of tales without 
distinct channels. 
In a recent visit to Clear Lake, specimens of various species of fishes were 
obtained, and additional specimens and information have been derived from Mr. San- 
ford Parrish, of Lakeport, a gentleman interested in the natural history of the region. 
The fauna is identical with that of the Sacramento River, except that the salmon of 
the Sacramento can not enter Cache Creek. 
1. fjiitosplienus tridentatus (Gairduer). Lamprey. Oocasioually taken, accordiug' to Mr. Parrish; 
not seen hy iis. 
2. Catostomus occidentalis Ayres. Saoker. Common. According to Mr. Parrish, another species 
of Catostomus, known as “ mullet,” exists in the lake, with larger head and stouter body than 
the common sucker. 
3. Lavinia exilicauda Baird & Girard. Hitch; Chy; Silverskies (young). Very common, reaching a 
length of If inches. Young silvery, with a black caudal spot. 
4. Ortliodon microlepidotus (Ayres). Blackfish. The commonest fish in the lake, largely used as 
food. Coloration very dark. Reaches a length of about 15 inches. 
5. Leuciscus crassicauda (Baird & Girard). Chub. Generally common, according to Mr. Parrish ; 
not seen hy us. Takes the hook. 
6. Ptychocheilus oregoiiensis (Richardson). Chappaul or Shappaw. Very common, reaching a 
weight of 15 to 20 pounds. It runs up the streams in the sjn’ing. We saw specimens speared 
hy fishermen in Kelsey Creek. This species takes the hook and is often taken on a trolling 
spoon. The specimens seen were unusually robust in form. Scales in lateral line, 69 in one 
sx^ecimeu, 80 in another. 
7. Ptychocheilu.s harfordi Jordan & Gilbert. Not seen by us. Occasionally taken, according to 
Mr. Parrish. “Much smaller and darker than P. oregonensis, with smaller scales and does 
not take the trolling siioon.” 
8. Pogonichthys macrolepidotus (Ayres). SplUiail; “ Fresh-water Smelt.” ■ Common, the young 
(called r. argyreiosus hy Baird & Girard) especially abundant. 
9. Salmo mykis.s irideus Ayres. California Brook Trout. Common in the lake and in most of its 
tributaries; the ordinary form of trout characteristic of the Coast Range, varying much in 
size and color in accordance with the food sujiiily and the character of the water. Siiecimens 
weighing 12 pounds have been taken in Clear Lake. Mr. Parrish thinks that the young fry 
remain two to three years in the streams before going down to the lake. In Kelsey Creek, a 
tributary flowing in on the west side of the lake, are falls some 20 feet in height. Above 
the.se falls no trout were found until after they had been jdanted there. 
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