The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-11-28

PLAcERvILLR, Nov. 20, 1871

! PLAcERvlLLE, Nov. 20, 1874.
/ Ed. WoRLD:-Hnving seen son~ notice Of
the Payr:te Lakes and Red Fish thereof in your
paper last Simmer. ! have lin one Of my 10.
dustripus moods) thought that my personal
knowledge Of that country might not be unin.
t=resting to some Of your readers, / will com
mence BY saying that, for beauty. / believe the
North Pay~tte and the Lake country unequalcd
in Idaho Territory, but when have said this
believe have said al that can b~ said 10 its
praise: There are claims being worked in
the range east Of the valley. but it they have
been anything better than wages to their own.
ers ! have failed to learn it, The valley.
though large. well watefed and covered with
regetation. I believe to b unsuitable for agri
cultural purposrs. On account Of the lats spring
aud earl, fall frosts. doubt il there is .
month in the year in which it does not freeze.
some seasons. The soil is partly . vegetable de-
posit. the result ofages Of vegetation and partly
wash deposited By the streams coming from
the mountoins Grasses and weeds in proiusion
cover the whole valley. and at certain seas
ons. when in bloom. present pleasing sight
from their numbers and variety ot coiors
Why it should not be splendid cattle and
stock range cannot see. have heard .
great deal about the 6ies and gnats tormenting
stock. but as have had horses running there
the past three years. / know this Hy talk is all
b"sh. There 10 good Sammer range in the
North Payctfe GALLEY. ~ih bottom land suN.
cieai 10 cut hay to rinser them. for one hundred
fhoasdad head Of cattle
And now for "what know about Red fish -
! beliere them to be- production Of the lakes,
although they are found and caught sescral miles
below th. lake in the river during the high wa
ter in the Spring. They are also found in a
lake in the Loon Greek country. The Indians
also say that they are in lake son,ew here be-
tween WslIa Walla and Levi iston The fi~sh
"i this 6sh IL Ut bright red-color v hen caught
before spawning. but gradually changes, az the
breeding time CONES tn white like tue saltn.,..
While the h~sh 10 still red. l thiuk no fish il
vor. and becomes less pala.able as it loos~. its
color. sioss persons have eaten the fish caught
in the river and streams flowing into the lakes
where they 20 to spawn and pronounce it pe"r
eating. They might rs we'll eat = piece Of an
old buck after running season and say that ven
ison was poor eating
So much for thrir qualities: now for what
| know more about the Red Fish" have
caught them from 6se or six inchcs in length
that would take half dozen to weigh a pound.
to twenty Eve or six inches that would weigh
six or seven pounds each. They have been
caught with bait. with trolling spoon and
with seine. Their color is bright red on
the body and green head not one color los
ing its~lf in the other. but meeting where the
head and body join. and changing as suddenly
aud distinctly as il done with painters brssh
In form they are something between trout
and salmon. the same difference showing be-
tween the male and female 40 10 aeen in the
salmon. They are undoubtedly fish that lives
on other 6sh az their mouths and teeth show.
They have large sound which is am told
the property Of q deep water fish. They
commence leaving the lake about the first Of
August. going W the ndowing streams to their
spawning beds md continue 70 leave the lake
until its wsters are sufficiently chilled By snow
or other cause when they spawn near the
shores where it il grsve!y bottom. Their
structure Or skeleton is tho same 40 the trout
having but Few bones. There has been 4 con.
siderable quantity Of them caught and dried
this season meeting ready saIe at fair prices,
the Chiness preferring them to any fsh 10
market prepared pair Of them Tor your
towoman Mr.. Kimmel (at his request } to be
sent to tho 6sh commissioners of California
f"r examination and classification l hope be
will make public the report Of the commission
ers when received. There 10 sIso found IN the
lakes 6sh much resembling what 10 known
here - white 6sh, but believe it to be kind
Of fresh water herring. Also two or more W
rieties of suckers aod trDut and 6sh Knows
- chsb. Tho suckers and chubs are long
fishes and very poor eating tor me. Game of
sll kind has bern scarce there this season.
There haa been 6oatisg accousts Of the discDv.
cry II Gold in the Goose Creek valley Just
southwest Il The iakes but after prospecting