SALMON-HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT, M'CLOUD RIVER, CAL. 447 



THE TAKING AND RIPENING OF THE EGGS. 



The eggs were taken from the salmon, as before mentioned, close to 

 the spot where the se'ine was hauled in, and where a small brush camp 

 was erected for the purpose. The spawning was usually done in the 

 forenoon, and was performed very rapidly. The fish, when spawned, 

 "were usually given to the Indians, who were always in waiting, like fish- 

 hawks around their prey, to receive them. 



.The Russian or dry method of taking the eggs was adopted exclu- 

 sively this season, and the rate of impregnation obtained was very good. 

 The largest number taken in any one day was 457,000. The first eggs 

 were taken on the 31st of August, and the last on the 29th of Septem- 

 ber. The total number taken was 5,75-2,500. Below will be found the 

 daily record of eggs taken. 



Daily list of salmon-eggs, taken at the United States salmon-breeding estab 

 iishment on the McCloud River, Bedding, (Jal., 1874. 



After three or four million eggs had been placed in the troughs, the 

 work of daily inspection became quite a task. I employed chiefly In- 

 dians to pick out the dead eggs, and they did it extremely well, their del- 

 icate fingers and native dexterity making them quite apt and expert for 

 the work. The shallow trays did very well, although it was a great trouble 

 to lift out the upper ones so constantly, in order to get at the lower ones. 

 This was all obviated when we came to use the deep trays, in praise of 

 which too much cannot be said. With these, it was only necessary, in 

 picking out the white eggs, to raise the tray a little ways out of the water, 

 and then gently immerse it again. The upward pressure of the water 

 would throw the dead eggs to the surface, where they could be picked 

 out without even the touch of a feather. With these trays the hands 

 are never wet, the trays are never changed from their places, the eggs 

 never flow over the top, and the feather becomes unnecessary. In addi- 



