Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1883-06-15

picture Of the lake. At the upper end
the ground is level and streatches away
into lovely valley, with its groves
Of trees and open, meadow-like spaces
where grass grows luxuriantly, and
wild flowers in almost Infinite variety
live out their drief day, and through
which runs a creek of clear, sparkling
water, which feeds the lake. At this
end, too, there is beach Of fine, white
sand, which extends cut into the lake
in gradual slope, a few yards to
where the water is Is or20 feet deep,
and SO clear that you can see the peb
bles on the bottom and the fish darting
about as plainly as if they were in a
glass globe. Then the bottom of the
lake descends almost perpendicularly
several hundred feet from which point
the water grows rapidly deeper to-
wards the middle Of the lake. 1t is
said that it has been sounded to the
depth Of 2,700 feet, bnt that story is
not we'll authenticated. 1t has, how
ever, been measured with wire line
900 feet without fnding bottom, and
it has been estimated by surveyors
that it's greatest depth may cores
pond wife the height of the highest
peak in the vicinity, which is about
1900 feet, though no accurate meas
urement has yet been attempted. A
visite to this charming spot, and two
days experience of camp-life there,
are among the most pleasant recollec
l-tions Of summer spent in the Rocky
Mountains. At the time of our visit
there were two rude bateau-like
boats on the lake, which could be
rugged with clumsy sails. But
when we went out IN one we preferred
trusting to arm-power, rather than risk
an upset, which might prove not only
unpleasant but dangerous, tor the wa
ter, besides being very cold, possesses
some popularity which makes it very
difficult to keep afoat in it, or, as a
man who had spent some time at the
lake, aud spoke from experience, ex-.
pressed it, "There's no substance In
the water, and man can't swim cas-
ily.D The water, though so beautiful
to the eye, is unpleasant to the taste,
being very brackish, as it contains Is
per cent. chloride. Within few yards
of it, howe ever, is large spring Of
pure, sweet water, so pleasant and re-
freshing that after drinking OF it one
longs to be thirsty again. 50 as to en-
Joy another draught The lake is full
of fish of different kinds. 1t is often
called Red Fish Lake on account OF
the brilliant red fish that swarms in its
waters. These red fish are one of the
chief attractions of the lake, and prove
a source of unfailing delight to the nu.
merous visitors W no have already found
their way to this delightful place
Tier remarkable beauty charms the
eye, their peculiar habits well repay a
close study and observation, ard serv'
ed hot for breakfast, no dalntler dish
could be desired. They are quite large
weighing from two and half to loul
pounds, their bodies are bright red
and the heads and fins a light brown
They look in the water like scarlet
satin. The male has decided hump
; on his back and turned up nose
: while the female is perfectly straight
, In the spawning season they run uE
j, the creeks that feed the lakes III vas
numbers, to the gravel beds on shallow
water. An hour or two spent in watch
ing them is by no means lost time
They dart hither and thither IN such
: multitude that the water seems a
times All almost solid mass OF color
Sometimes two fish will take a fame,
) to the same spot of gravel, ard thel
2 it is amusing to watch their maneu
. vers to get each other away; often
+ ends in a fierce fight. They must llv'
on anmalcule, for no food is ever fount
in their stomachs, nor are their dlges
tive organs fitted for solid food. The,
t will not take bait of any kind, and ar
!, speared and taken like salmon, tc
+ whom l suppose they must be SOM
1 family relation. Soon after spawning
Y the male and female both die. Whel
5 the young fish are hatched, they soo'
y seek the deeper waters of the lake
a and there disappear, probably going
: to the deepest part, where they remain
lnI I,t ,sat