INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 
183 
a decrease in the number from then until late in the summer, some salmon rrere to he seen all along; 
so that there were not tw'o distinct runs, Imt one continuous run from June to November with two 
periods of great numbers — June and August. 
The salmon caught early in the season are regarded as the best. The salmon have no trouble 
getting up Kettle Falls; indeed, they usually swim right tip the current, seldom having to jump out 
of the water. Tlie time when it is hardest for them to get ixp is during a medium stage of water; it 
is easy at high water, as the fall is then wiped out to some extent; it is also easy at low water, as 
there are eddies and pools then in which the tish can rest. 
Salmon formerlj^ spawned in great jiumhers just below Kettle Falls. The spawning beds were 
toward the right side of the river on gravel bottom, usually just above a riffle. A great many spawned 
in the Colville River just below Meyers Falls. 
The Colville flows into the Columbia from the east just below Kettle Falls .a short distance. 
Meyers Falls is in the Colville 2 or 3 miles aliove its mouth. The height of the lower Meyers Falls is 
80 feet, that of the upper al)Out 26 ; the total descent, including rapids, being about 125 feet. The 
width of the falls is about 150 feet. Salmon still enter Colville Rh er and spawn on the gravel beds 
below Meyers Falls, but they are very rare. A fishway could bo placed here which would enable 
salmon to ascend the Colville, which is, so far as the other features are concerned, an excellent stream 
for salmon and trout. 
The temperature of the water at the falls, August 16, was 62*^. 
IVhile we think the evidence shows that salmon are able to ascend the Lower Kettle Falls, the 
evidence that they have ever gone much, if any, farther, is not conclusive. Indeed, one of the earliest 
accounts of these falls which wo have seen, states iiositively that no salmon are taken above these 
falls. In volume iv of the Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition under Captain Wilkes 
we find the following; 
‘ ‘ The Kettle Falls are one of the greatest curiosities in this part of the country. They are formed 
by a tabular bed of quartz that crosses the river, and which, being harder than the rocks, either above 
or below, has of course suffered less by abrasion, and thus formed a basin that renders the name appro- 
priate. The total descent of the water is 50 feet, though the iiorpendicular hill in no place exceeds 15 
feet, which is, however, more than sufficient to prevent the passage of boats. At the foot of the falls 
the breadth of the river is 2, .330 feet, and the rate of the current is 4 miles an hour. This breadth is 
somewhat narrowed by an island, about midway of which is the first fall, which is almost entirely 
unbroken. Thence the river forces its way over a rocky bed until it reaches the main fall, where the 
water is thrown into every variety of shape and form, resembling the boiling of a kettle, from which 
the falls derive their name. 
“There is an Indian village on the banks of the great falls, inhabited by a few families, who are 
called “ Quiarlpi” (Basket People), from the circumstance of their using baskets to catch their fish 
(salmon). The season for the salmon fishery had not yet [in .Tune ?] arrived, so that our gentlemen 
did not see the manner of taking the fish; but as described to them, the fishing apparatus consists of 
a large wicker basket supported by long poles inserted into it and fixed in the rocks. The lower part, 
which is of the basket form, is joined to a broad frame, spreading above, against which the fish, in 
attempting to jump the falls, strike, and are thrown back iuto the basket. This basket, during the 
fishing season, is raised three times in the day ( twenty-four hours), and at each haul, not unfreqnently, 
contains 300 fine fish. A division of these takes place at sunset each day, under the direction of one 
of the chief men of the village, and to each family is allotted the number it may be entitled to ; not 
only the resident Indians, but all -who may be there fishing, or liy accident, are equally included in 
the distribution. 
“ At the lower end of the falls are large masses of quartz rock, ouv/hich the Indians dry their fish. 
Few of the salmon, even if able to pass tire lower fall, ever get by the upper one, being generally 
caught between the two falls ; consequently, above tliis place no salmon are taken, A short dist.auce 
below the Kettle Falls are the Thompson Rapids, which begin at the mouth of Mill River, and extend 
for some distance below that point.’’ 
This visit to Kettle Falls and eastern AVashington was made by Captain AVilkes in 1841." 
Sjjokane lUrer . — The Spokane River has its source in Cceur d’Alene Lake, in Kootenai County, 
Idaho. From the northern end of the lake the river flows approximately due west about 30 miles to 
* Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, during the years 1838, 1839. 1840, 1841, and 
1842 ; by Charles AA’ilkes, U. S. Navy, comnniuder of the expedition. In five A-olumes. A’ol. iv, pp. 
444 and 445. Philadelphia, Lea & Blanchard, 1845. 
