INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA KIVER BASIN. 
177 
tliere ami a point 2 or 3 miles above Upper Salmon Falls in large numbers, and spawn mainly in the 
bed of the stream, some of them entering Salmon Creek, as before said. It is not known to ns how 
far they ascend towards Auger Falls from the Upper Salmon Falls. They appear late in August, and 
spawn in the bed of Snake River and the smaller tributaries from September on to November. 
Snake lUv€7- below the various falls. — A short distance below Shoshone Falls, as already indicated, 
the valley of the Snake changes its character. The bluff recedes, leaving the valley several miles 
wide in xilaces, and becomes, at the same time, less abrupt, and the lava walls are often entirely 
concealed by slopes of water- worn gravel and soil. The valley varies in width, but iireserves this 
general character as far as the town of Huntington. It is along the upper part of this widened 
valley that the extensive springs already mentioned are found. The first of these are at Blue Lakes. 
Hero they rise in the bottom of a lake at the base of the basaltic cliffs wdiich forms the canon wall. 
The outlet of this lake, after running a short distance, widens into a second very deep lake, in rvhich 
the water again sinks into the lava. This water, together with a much larger supply, reappears at a 
lower level as a very large spring, from vvhich flows a small river of beautifully clear blue water. 
This fluds its way among the lava bowlders down a rather gentle incline to the Snake. Farther down 
the valley at intervals appear other similar springs. The streams that flow from these are used to 
irrigate the bottom lands, which are naturally covered with sagebrush and other desert vegetation. 
On the ajiplication of water they become very fertile, raising large crops of alfalfa and other hay, of 
garden vegetables, and fruit. If the suiiply of salmon were assured, these springs would offer model 
sites for a hatchery. They are located from 6 to 10 miles above Bliss, Idaho, and are reached by good 
roads. The most extensive of these springs empty into the lower course of the Malade or Wood River, 
which empties into the Snake a short distance from Bliss. 
The long stretch of the Snake River which lies between Huntington and Lewiston was not visited 
by any member of the party. The stream was described to us as flowing for the greater part of this 
stretch through a deep canon in which were numerous rapids. A steamer once passed through this 
canon at high warer, but arrived at Lewiston so battered and broken that none has dared attempt 
the ]iassage since. No falls occur along this stretch of the stream, and there is nothing that can be 
considered an obstruction to salmon. But this part of the country is almost uninhabited and the 
river is difficult of approach. At Lewiston and below, the stream flows again through a comparatively 
open country, the cahon walls being rounded and the slopes covered for the most part by deposits of 
water- worn gravel and soil. Jlr. W. M. Stockton, of Glen’s Ferry, Idaho, who has resided there 
twenty-three years, says that the Snake River is usually highest in June, falls until the winter rains 
set in, and is lowest in October. Salmon caught in large numbers at Glen’s Ferry; speared. The run 
begins in September and lasts six weeks or two mouths. More numerous in former years than now, 
but plenty wore caught last year, 1892. Indians spear tiiem, salt and dry them for winter use. They 
82 jawn on the gravel beds in the river at and near Glen's Ferry in water so shallow that the dorsal 
fins are out of the water. Knows of no obstructions, in the river below Salmon Falls. Has heard that 
Salmon Falls is an obstruction ; does not know so. The sturgeon are caught at all seasons of the jmar ; 
more numerous in summer. Has seen and caught salmon in Payette River and has seen them sjiawniug 
there and in the Snake River on the ripirles. The Boise is highest in June and lowest in October. 
Knows nothing definite about the redfish. Says they are a landlocked salmon. They are caught in 
Payette Ijake and shiyijied to Caldwell and sold as food-fish during Sepiteuiber. 
TEIBDTAKIES OF SNAKE lUVEK. 
Itoss Fork of Snake Fiver. — This is a small stream flowing into the Snake above Pocatello. It was 
examined on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about 12 miles north of Pocatello. The stream there 
was about 15 feet wide, 10 inches deeji, and had a very slow current — not over C inches xier second, but 
somewhat swifter on the riffles. The water was somewhat muddy and the bottom of the stream was 
chiefly of mud, with gravel iir some pilaces. There was an abiindauco of Fkostoo and other algoid vege- 
tation in the water, and the banks were well covered with willows and small cottonwood bushes, but 
no large bushes of any kind. Fishe.s, including trout, were abundant in this stream, and it was here 
that the tyxies of a new sucker ( Caiostomus iwcatello) were obtained. The temiierature of the water at 
1 2 ). m., August 4, was 72.5°, when the air in the shade was 93°. 
Fort Neuf Fiver. — This stream has its rise in southeastern Idaho, on the low divide which now 
separates the Salt Lake Basin from that of the I^2’P®r Snake River, and flows into the Snake a few 
miles west of I’ocatello. At Pocatello this stream averages about 30 feet wide, 6 inches dee 2 >, and 
F. C. B. 189i 12 
