BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 335 



were ou the riffles, washing the gravel aud spawning ; and the two runs 

 met here on the 17th,* the one coming up bright and fresh, the other 

 falling back dead, or so nearly exhausted as to be unable to stem the 

 current. On the 25th the fish were dying rapidly, and by the last of 

 the month no salmon were in the river. 



Ou October 6 a new run came on, large but few ; and on the 15th 

 another run arrived. On the 20th a large run appeared, many being 

 in a spawning condition; and at the end of the month salmon were 

 plentiful and spawning freely. Soon after they were dying in great 

 numbers, while new runs were continually arriving. 



On November 20 the largest run of the season (thus far) reached here, 

 and were spawning freely. IS^early all were large fish, some dead and 

 others dying, but the riffles were covered with^ fresh ones, and the bed 

 of the river on the riffles was washed perfectly clean. By the 21th 

 salmon were scarce, and considerable numbers of large dead ones were 

 to be seen along the shore. 



There is no doubt but that the large numbers of salmon which have 

 visited the McGloud this season, and which are so much above the 

 average of past seasons in size, are the salmon which were hatched at 

 the McCloud Station by the U. S. Fish Commission and planted in the 

 McCloud, Little Sacramento, and Pitt Elvers late iu the fall of 1881. 

 About 7,500,000 eggs were taken at this station during the season of 

 1881, and it is safe to say that more than 6,500,000 strong and healthy 

 young salmon were planted iu that year. The young fish were kept 

 and well cared for until able to guard against their natural enemies 5 and 

 the waters which carried them to the ocean were so favorable that nearly 

 all must have reached it iu safety. 



The fish when planted, being strong and large, instead of sinking to 

 the bottom and burning themselves in the gravel, as younger fish will 

 do where numerous enemies are awaiting them, immediately began 

 searching for food. For several days they kept together and took an 

 upward course, searching along near the shore and gradually separa- 

 ting. By the following June many of them' had reached points 10 or 

 15 miles above where they were planted.  Ou August 23, 1882, using 

 a handful of dried salmon eggs to entice them within reach, with a 

 small dip-net 1 captured 48 at one dip, some of which would measure 

 from 4 to 7 inches in length. This was at a point 8 miles above the 

 place of planting. A few days afterwards there was a rise in the river 

 Avhich carried the young salmon out of the McCloud and on their way 

 to the ocean, which they reached in safety, as the rise of water was not 

 enough to overflow the broken levees. 



In ]882 about 4,000,000 young salmon were planted at the McCloud 

 Station ; but owing to some trouble in thehatching-house they were 

 planted somewhat younger than were those of the preceding year, 

 aud the water tliat carried them to the ocean- was not so favorable and 



* See Fish Commission Bulletin fbi 1886, p. 314. 



