INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 
181 
At tlie time of our visit (August 9) tlio total descent was probal)ly 10 feet, but as a rapid, not in a ver- 
tical fall. During low water the descent would be somewhat greater. The fall on the right side is of 
the same character and presents no greater difficulties. 
Just below Albany Falls the river is perhaps 1,000 feet wide and 20 to 30 feet deep in the channel. 
The stream was up, however, at this time, and would probably fall at least 10 feet before reaching low- 
water mark, according to the captain of the Dora, a small steamer which makes irregular trips between 
Newport and the head of Box Canoii. On August 9 we took this steamer and went down the river 
to Box Canon, a distance of about 60 miles, although the steamerpeople call it 80 miles. Throughout 
this distance the Penil d’Oreille'is a beautiful, clear stream, with a good strong current, and varying 
in width from 500 to 1,000 feet. 
ISox Canon is a narrow gorge about 1-J- miles long. The walls are rpiite close together and the river 
rushes through the narrow passage with a very strong current. There is, however, no fall in the 
canon and small boats ha,ve on several occasions been taken through withour injury. There is nothing 
here to stop the ascent of salmon. 
2fel aline Falls . — These falls are just below the Metaline mining camp, or 7 miles below the foot of 
Box Canon. The river between Box Canon and Metaline Falls has a good strong current, Imt no falls 
or rapids. The falls are over a ledge of limestone, through which the river has cart, and are the largest 
and most important of any found in this river. The total fall is perhaps as much as 30 feet, but it 
is in a series of rapids, there Ireing no vertical drop at all. The stream is here inclosed between high 
rocky walls and is very turbulent for some distance. Salmon could proba.blj^ ascend these falls with- 
out much dil'fioulty. little blasting near the loft (west) wall would make it still easier for fish to 
get up. Just above IMetaline Falls, Sullivan Creek Hows into the Pond d'Oreille from the right bank. 
From Jletalino wo walked down the river about 14 miles farther, on August 10, to the head of 
what is known as the Big Eddy Canon. This canon is about Smiles long and is rpiito narrow, the 
limestone walls being so close together that in one place a fallen tree lies across from one wall to the 
other. The river rushes through this canon with great fury, but there are no falls, and we do not 
believe that the ascent of salmon would be seriously interfered with. If it should be shown that 
salmon can not swim against such a strong current for so great a distance, we see no easy way by 
which it could be made less difficult. There are some relatively quiet uooks or eddies hero and there, 
however, in which salmon would be able to rest and wo therefore do not consider Big Eddy Canon 
a serious obstacle to the ascent of fish. Lime Creek, a small but fine ti'out stream, flows into the river 
at the head of this canon. 
» The river between Metaliue Falls and Big Eddy Canon is quite swift, but contains no falls or 
rapids worth mentioning. The lower end of Big Eddy Canon is but a short distance from the British 
Columbia line, just north of which the Pend d’Oreille turns abruq)tly westward and larns approxi- 
mately parallel with the international boundary until it flows into the Columbia, a distance of about 
27 miles from where it leaves the United States. dVe did not visit this part of the river for two 
reasons: (1) Dr. Gorham’s notes and Mr. Bean’s report upon the obstructions were sufficiently full to 
enable ns to judge of its character; and (2) several persons familiar with it, and with whom we talked, 
all agreed that there are no obstructions Big Eddy Canon which are nearly as serious as Big 
Eddy Canon or Metaline Falls, All agree that Metaliue Falls is the most serious obstruction found 
anywhere in the Pend d’Oreille. 
I'rom Mr. Bean's report and from our conversations with prospectors and others living along the 
Pend d’Oreille, it appears that there is a series of rapids near the mouth of the river and another just 
above the mouth of Salmon River, which eiuirties into the Pend d’Oreille just above the Washington 
lino. These are all said to be rapids rather than falls and probably would not interfere with the 
ascent of salmon in the least. From the foregoing it therefore appears that there are no serious 
obstructions iu Clarke Fork of the Columbia which would prevent salmon from reaching Lake Pend 
d’Oreille and Flathead Lake, or other parts of that river liasin. 
The Pend d’Oreille River is one of the most beautiful and picturesque in America. It is a magnifi- 
cent river, probably averaging over 1,000 feet in width and being very deep throughout most of its 
course. In most jilaces there is a good, strong current, becoming dangerous ra^iids in the narrower 
places. The water is clear and pure and cold — an ideal trout stream. The depth varies greatly, high 
water occurring in July from melting snows. Late in August or September the water is many feet 
lower than in July. High mountain slopes ascend abruptly from the river’s banks throughout most 
of its course, and these are covered with a heavy evergreen forest and a dense growth of underbrush. 
