HATCHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIA SALMON. 435 



The umbilical sac was absorbed in from twenty to thirty days after 

 hatching. The hatching-troughs and nursery-boxes were so crowded 

 that I tried the experiment of removing some of them to the nursery- 

 ponds before the umbilical sac was absorbed. My nursery-ponds are 

 from 10 to 15 feet square, with an average depth of 12 inches of water, 

 each fed by a spring at the head of respective ponds ; the flow of water 

 in each is from 25 to 30 gallons per minute, and about 3° colder than the 

 water from which 1 removed them ; for this, or for some other cause, 

 they all settled to the bottom, and remained in an apparently dormant 

 state for about an hour when they then began to revive, and in less than 

 an hour they were all bright and active. Seeing this result, I immediately 

 placed about four thousand more in the same pond, and about the same 

 number in two more ponds that were in readiness. Very few that have 

 been thus removed have died, whereas those that were left in the 

 hatching- troughs have died in a much greater ratio. A portion of this 

 mortality may be attributed to the fact that the cripples were left in the 

 troughs as they lay near the bottom, and were not taken up in the dip- 

 net used in removing. 



I feed them on boiled grated liver. They are thriving well, and are 

 much larger than the medium- sized ones of the same age referred to in 

 "American Fish-Culture." 



The young fry are now about thirty days old, and the umbilical sac 

 is nearly all absorbed. The fry are from one to one and one-half inches 

 long, and are not so full and plump as the fish of this age are repre- 

 sented to be in the work just referred to. 



The shad fry which I received from you about the 1st of August were 

 placed in the Jordan River, about fifteen miles from the mouth. This 

 river is the outlet of Mato Lake and empties into Salt Lake. I have 

 not heard of any of them being seen since they were put in. I presume 

 they will be like the " bread cast upon the waters to be gathered after 

 many days." 



Any suggestions or recommendations you will please furnish me will 

 be thankfully received. 



Please to make me a passing call at your convenience. 



My respects to Professor Baird for the interest he has taken in fish- 

 culture in Utah. 



Mr. Livingston Stone, 



Charlestoicn, N. H. 



Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, December 2, 1873. 



