186 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Walla Walla Ricer. — This is a river of some importfiuce llowing into the Columbia at the town of 
Wallula, about 30 miles west of Walla Walla. It was examined Aiignst 23, at Walliila, below the 
railroad bridge. It is here a good-sized stream, 3 to 8 feet deep in the channel, and has a velocity of 
about one-half foot per second. Temperature at noon, 70”; air, 80”. The bed of the stream was of 
soft mud, with an abundance of Chara and other vegetation in places, and the water was rather 
muddy. At this place Messrs. Thobimi and Butter obtained the only specimens of Columbia trans- 
montana that were secured by any of us. 
Mill Creek. — This is a small stream, tributary to the Walla Walla River near Walla Walla. It 
was examined August 14 south of Walla AValla one half mile. Width, 12 feet; depth, 10 inches; cur- 
rent, l-}feet. Temperature at 8:30 a. m., 56”; air, 73”. The bottom here is of coarse gravel. We 
could not iearii that salmon are ever taken in this stream. 
Umatilla River. — The Umatilla River was examined August 23 near its mouth, and on August 12 
near Pendleton, Oreg. At Pendleton it had an average width of 25 feet, dei>th ot 14 inches, and a 
velocity of 1 foot. Temperature at 11 a. ni., 70”. The bottom was of coarse gravel covered with algae, 
and the water was clear. Mr, Smith, of the Commercial Stables at Pendleton, says that no salmon come 
as far up the river as Pendleton. He has never known any salmon to occur there. They probably 
occur in the lower part of the stream, but we could get no reliable information iqion the matter. 
Bes Chides River. — This is a southern tributary of the Columbia, into which it flows at a distance 
of 10 or 15 miles above The Dalles. It was visited August 24. The falls of Des Chutes River, located 
near its mouth, are about 30 feet high in low water; in high water a series of rapids. In the Des 
Chutes the difference between high and low water marks varies from 40 to 90 feet, according to the 
width of the river. The highest water is about June 20, the lowest during the coldest part of the 
winter. Salmon usually find the falls no obstruction. Numerons salmon are said to run up the John 
Day River. They are c.aught in large numbers by the Indians, but we find no authentic information 
concerning their spawning. 
Yakima River. — The Yakima is a good-sized stream, rising in numerous lakes near Suoqualmie 
Pass, southeast of Seattle about 50 miles, and flowing southeast about 150 miles to Pasco, where it 
joins the Columbia. At Ellensburg and North Yakima, where this river was visited by Dr. Jenkins, 
it runs through a broad, fertile valley, and its waters are extensively used for irrigation purposes. 
At Ellensburg the stream is about 160 feet wide and 10 feet deep, and flows about 1 foot per second. 
The water is clear and cold; its temperature at 9 a. ni., August 24, was 60”. At North Yakima the 
stream is very clear and flows with a rapid current through an open valley, over gravel and sand, and 
had a temperature of 64”. The Yakima has many imjiortant tributaries, in all of which trout are said 
to abound. 
Wilson Creek near Ellensburg had an average width of about 18 feet, depth of 18 inches, and a 
current of 2 feet per second. 
Manistash Creek empties in on the right bank of the Yakima near Ellensburg. For a few miles 
above its mouth nearly all the water is taken out for irrigation purposes. Six miles from Ellensburg 
it comes through a canon into the valley. At this [loiiit it is a fine stream, abounding in trout. It is 
here 25 feet wide, with a velocity of about 3 feet per second. The water is clear and excellent. 
The temperature at 11 a. m. was 5.5”. Below this ])oint, aljout 2 miles from its mouth, where most of 
the water is taken out for irrigation, the stream was about 6 feet wide, with an average depth ot 6 
inches and a velocity of one-half foot per second. Temperature, 58° at 9:45 a. m. 
The Yakima was visited also at Prosseu, at which point there is a low fall of some 3 or 4 feet, 
with a long gentle ripple above it. The fall would form no obstacle to the ascent of salmon unless at 
time of verj’’ low water. The temperature was 70” at 10 a. ni. At North Yakima the Yakima receives 
one of its principal affluents from the west. This is the Natchess River, which takes its rise among 
the suowfields of Mount Rauier and Cowlitz Pass. This is a clear, cold stream, admirably suited to 
trout. In its lower course such common species as the chisel-mouth (Acroclieiliis alutaceus), Agosia 
mibilu, and Rantosieus jordani were found. Those acquainted with the facts state that formerly, up 
to about 1885, salmon of three or four kinds, including the quinnat, ran up the Yakima River to this 
valley and spawned in the river in great numliers. At present ver3^ few make their apjiearance. 
Cowlitz River. — The Cowlitz River, made famous in Dr. .Jordan’s delightfully interesting “Story 
of a Salmon,” has its sources in the suowfields on the west slopes of Mount Rauier, auel flows through 
the densely wooded country west of the Cascades for more than 100 miles before it joins the Columbia. 
This region is verj' moi.st and is little suited to agriculture, and the stream will never be needed for 
irrigation. The Cowlitz was visited by us at Castle Rock. It is there a vex\v deep, sluggish stream, 
