Volume 032-2 - April 1978 (6 pages)

-~ A NOTE ON THE LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT TROUT More than ten thousand years ago, there existed a lake the size of Lake Erie which had its center in the north-western part of the present day State of Nevada. It is called Lake Lahontan. At an early age, this lake was invaded by a primordial] cutthroat trout which probably came from the Columbia River Basin. Between 5000 and 8000 years ago, this lake gradually dried up; present day Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake, Independence Lake and Lake Tahoe are its remnants. As a result of the desiccation of Lake Lahontan, the environment changed drastically; the necessary adaptation to the new environment resulted in the formation of a new trout subspecies, the Lahontan cutthroat trout, “Salmo clarki henshawi”. Except for taxonomic differences with the parent species, ‘‘Salmo clarki,” the Lahontan cutthroat trout has several unique properties. One of these is a much greater tolerance for alkalinity in the water. This property was developed as the salt content of the slowly drying lake continuously increased. Of the Lahontan subspecies, two types exist, the fluvial (river dwelling) and the lacustrian (lake dwelling) types. This differentiation also was caused by the slowly changing environment as the several habitats ceased to be connected. We are concerned here with the lake dwelling type which was once abundant in the above mentioned lakes. These fishes tend to feed in the pelagic (plankton containing) zone or at the surface of the lake and become predators (when fish are available) when they reach the size of about one foot. The Lahontan cutthroat trout is the largest of the Western trouts; the last specimens caught in Pyramid Lake weighed about twenty pounds. However, the Indian fishermen at this lake reported ‘\ previous specimens, weighing three times as much. The Lahontan cutthroat trout was once abundant in the lakes of the former Lahontan Basin. However, in the second half of the last century, extensive commerical fishing in Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake and Lake Tahoe almost eradicated this fish. The trout were sold in the towns and mining camps while the surplus was shipped via Wells Fargo express to San Francisco and other cities. Further damage to the trout population was caused by poaching, damming and diversion of streams and water pollution. However, the greatest damage was done by blocking the spawning tributaries to the lakes. In an effort to restock these lakes with trout again, several other trout species were introduced. These species interbred with the remaining Lahontan trout with the result that these lakes do not contain the original species any more. At present, a pure stock of this fish is found in Independence Lake and in Summit Lake (Nevada) only. It is the intention that the fishes of Independence Lake will supply the stock to repopulate the other lakes so that this important sports fish will become availabie once again. This is the reason why the Lahontan cutthroat trout in Independence Lake are breed. vdP. NEVADA..OR NEVADA CITY? Peter W. van der Pas It is sometimes stated that Nevada City was once called simply “Nevada” and that the suffix “City” was reluctantly added after the State of Nevada was created. For example, in Joseph Henry Jackson’s admirable book ANYBODY’S GOLD (New York, London; D. Appleton-Century Co.; 1941) one reads on p. 404: “Today, Nevadans will carefully explain that the camp (Deer Creek Dry Diggin’s) was by no means named for the State of Nevada; its christening took place ten years before the state was separated from Utah Territory and baptized. The original Nevadans argued the infringement long and loud, too, but the government did nothing about it except to add the word ‘City’ to the original name and the Californians had to be satisfied with that’. And in the beautiful picture book by Jim Morley and Doris Foley GOLD CITIES, GRASS VALLEY AND NEVADA CITY (Berkeley; Howell-North Books; 1965), Doris Foley writes on p. 47: “In 1850, with the population already over 6,v00, a mass meeting was held and « new name picked: Nevada. This prevailed until the creation of the territory of Nevada in 1861 forced the town to distinguish itself by adding the word City. The county took its name from the town, which became the seat of government”, One would hence be led to believe that, until 1861 (or 1864) the township was called “Nevada” and after that time “Nevada City”. However, it appears that before that year, the appellation “Nevada City” was already in use. Before discussing this matter further, first some historical dates. 18 February 1850. California is divided into 27 counties. The territory of present day Nevada County is included in Yuba County, together with present day Sierra and part of present day Placer Counties. March 1850. O.P. Blackman suggests at a town meeting the name “Nevada” for the township, which suggestion is adopted. 9 September 1850. California is admitted as a State to the Union. 25 April 1851. The County of Nevada is formed; it derives its name from the city which becomes its seat of government. 2 March 1861. The Territory of Utah is divided at 39° west of Washington D.C. and the western portion is called Nevada. In 1964 the third constitutional convention (of Nevada) draws up a constitution and on 31 October 1864 President Lir-oln proclaims a new state. We will now examine a number of sources, printed before 1864, in which either the name “Nevada City” or simply “‘Nevada’”’ is found. I. THE CASE FOR “NEVADA CITY.” a) In a recently published book FORTUNES ARE FOR THE FEW, LETTERS OF A FORTY-NINER (San Diego; San Diego Historical Society; 11.

-~ A NOTE ON THE LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT TROUT More than ten thousand years ago, there existed a lake the size of Lake Erie which had its center in the north-western part of the present day State of Nevada. It is called Lake Lahontan. At an early age, this lake was invaded by a primordial] cutthroat trout which probably came from the Columbia River Basin. Between 5000 and 8000 years ago, this lake gradually dried up; present day Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake, Independence Lake and Lake Tahoe are its remnants. As a result of the desiccation of Lake Lahontan, the environment changed drastically; the necessary adaptation to the new environment resulted in the formation of a new trout subspecies, the Lahontan cutthroat trout, “Salmo clarki henshawi”. Except for taxonomic differences with the parent species, ‘‘Salmo clarki,” the Lahontan cutthroat trout has several unique properties. One of these is a much greater tolerance for alkalinity in the water. This property was developed as the salt content of the slowly drying lake continuously increased. Of the Lahontan subspecies, two types exist, the fluvial (river dwelling) and the lacustrian (lake dwelling) types. This differentiation also was caused by the slowly changing environment as the several habitats ceased to be connected. We are concerned here with the lake dwelling type which was once abundant in the above mentioned lakes. These fishes tend to feed in the pelagic (plankton containing) zone or at the surface of the lake and become predators (when fish are available) when they reach the size of about one foot. The Lahontan cutthroat trout is the largest of the Western trouts; the last specimens caught in Pyramid Lake weighed about twenty pounds. However, the Indian fishermen at this lake reported ‘\ previous specimens, weighing three times as much. The Lahontan cutthroat trout was once abundant in the lakes of the former Lahontan Basin. However, in the second half of the last century, extensive commerical fishing in Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake and Lake Tahoe almost eradicated this fish. The trout were sold in the towns and mining camps while the surplus was shipped via Wells Fargo express to San Francisco and other cities. Further damage to the trout population was caused by poaching, damming and diversion of streams and water pollution. However, the greatest damage was done by blocking the spawning tributaries to the lakes. In an effort to restock these lakes with trout again, several other trout species were introduced. These species interbred with the remaining Lahontan trout with the result that these lakes do not contain the original species any more. At present, a pure stock of this fish is found in Independence Lake and in Summit Lake (Nevada) only. It is the intention that the fishes of Independence Lake will supply the stock to repopulate the other lakes so that this important sports fish will become availabie once again. This is the reason why the Lahontan cutthroat trout in Independence Lake are breed.

vdP. NEVADA...OR NEVADA CITY? Peter W. van der Pas It is sometimes stated that Nevada City was once called simply “Nevada” and that the suffix “City” was reluctantly added after the State of Nevada was created. For example, in Joseph Henry Jackson’s admirable book ANYBODY’S GOLD (New York, London; D. Appleton-Century Co.; 1941) one reads on p. 404: “Today, Nevadans will carefully explain that the camp (Deer Creek Dry Diggin’s) was by no means named for the State of Nevada; its christening took place ten years before the state was separated from Utah Territory and baptized. The original Nevadans argued the infringement long and loud, too, but the government did nothing about it except to add the word ‘City’ to the original name and the Californians had to be satisfied with that’. And in the beautiful picture book by Jim Morley and Doris Foley GOLD CITIES, GRASS VALLEY AND NEVADA CITY (Berkeley; Howell-North Books; 1965), Doris Foley writes on p. 47: “In 1850, with the population already over 6,v00, a mass meeting was held and « new name picked: Nevada. This prevailed until the creation of the territory of Nevada in 1861 forced the town to distinguish itself by adding the word City. The county took its name from the town, which became the seat of government”, One would hence be led to believe that, until 1861 (or 1864) the township was called “Nevada” and after that time “Nevada City”. However, it appears that before that year, the appellation “Nevada City” was already in use. Before discussing this matter further, first some historical dates. 18 February 1850. California is divided into 27 counties. The territory of present day Nevada County is included in Yuba County, together with present day Sierra and part of present day Placer Counties. March 1850. O.P. Blackman suggests at a town meeting the name “Nevada” for the township, which suggestion is adopted. 9 September 1850. California is admitted as a State to the Union. 25 April 1851. The County of Nevada is formed; it derives its name from the city which becomes its seat of government. 2 March 1861. The Territory of Utah is divided at 39° west of Washington D.C. and the western portion is called Nevada. In 1964 the third constitutional convention (of Nevada) draws up a constitution and on 31 October 1864 President Lir-oln proclaims a new state. We will now examine a number of sources, printed before 1864, in which either the name “Nevada City” or simply “‘Nevada’”’ is found. I. THE CASE FOR “NEVADA CITY.” a) In a recently published book FORTUNES ARE FOR THE FEW, LETTERS OF A FORTY-NINER (San Diego; San Diego Historical Society; 11.