Clark: May 20, 1805

May 20th Monday 1805 a fine morning wind from the N E. river falling a
little We Set out at 7 oClock and proceeded on verry well as usial by the
assistance of the Cord passed Some verry Swift water, river narrow and
Crooked, at 11 oClock arrived at the mouth of Shell river on the Lard Side
and formed a Camp for the present. haveing passed a large Creek about 4
miles below on the Ld Side which we call Blowing fly Creek from the emence
quantites of those insects which geather on our meat in Such numbers that
we are oblige to brush them off what we eate.

muscle Shell River falls in on Lard Side 2270 miles up Contains a greater
perportion of water than Rivers of its Size below, I measured it and find
it to be 110 yards wide, the water of a Greenish yellow Colour, and appers
to be navagable for Small Craft, The Minetarras inform us that this river
heads in the 1st of the rockey Mountains & passes through a broken
Countrey. its head at no great distance from the Yellow Stone River The
Countrey about this river as described yesterday we took the Meredian
altitude 59° 50′ 0″ back observation and found the Latd. to be 47° 0′ 24″

The Missouri at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yards wide with a Smoth
Current the Missouri water is not So muddey as below, but retains nearly
its usial Cholour, and the Sands principally Confined to the points I
killed two Deer & an Elk, the hunters killed an Elk & Several deer
mearly for their Skins to make Leagins,Sent men out in every
derection, the Countrey generally verry broken Some leavel plains up the
Shell river The bottoms of the Shell river is well timbered as also a
Small river which falls into that river on the upper Side 5 miles above
its mouth. The hills on the Lard. Contain Scattering Pine & Cedar.