30 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FiSH COMMISSION. 



general character were added to the station. At the trout ponds, 

 fishing was pursued vigorously for the purpose of acquiring breeding 

 trout, and 338,000 trout eggs were taken. 



In 1881 came the tremendous floods, which mark an era in the history 

 of Northern California. Nothing approaching them in volume or de- 

 stractiveness had been known since the arrival of white men in that 

 region. Over 9 solid feet of water fell over the whole face of the 

 country that season. The effect was indescribable. The climax seemed 

 to be reached on the night of the 3d of February, when the McCloud 

 River rose 26 feet above its summer level, and, pouring down a resist- 

 less torrent, carried away almost every vestage of the salmon-breeding 

 station. 



Through the intervention, however, of lion. B. B. Bedding, of the Cal- 

 ifornia Fish Commission, and U. S. Senator Booth, Congress made an 

 appropriation for rebuilding the station as quickly as possible. Men and 

 materials were procured, and the work of reconstruction was begun, 

 and before the season was over a new hatching-house, mess-house, and 

 stable were erected, and a current wheel, 32 feet in diameter, with two 

 large flat-boats for supports, was placed in the river. The McCloud 

 was bridged over as usual, and the station in all other respects was put 

 in complete running order, and 7,500,000 salmon eggs were taken, most 

 of which were hatched for the Sacramento River. No serious damage 

 Mas done to the trout-pond buildings this year by the floods, but many 

 of the parent trout were injured by the mud that was washed into the 

 ponds, and only 201,000 eggs were taken. 



In 1882 the appropriations from Congress came so late that but little 

 was attempted in the direction of taking salmon eggs. Four million, 

 however, were collected and hatched for the Sacramento River. At the 

 trout ponds 337,500 trout eggs were taken, most of which were shipped 

 to the Eastern States. 



In 1883 the Central Pacific Railroad Company laid a track from Red- 

 ding, north, along the line of the Sacramento River to Sacramento 

 Bridge. The blasting operations of the construction corps prevented 

 the parent salmon from ascending the river as usual, so that, although 

 unusual exertions were made to take a creditable number of salmon 

 eggs, it was found impossible to obtain over 1,000,000. At the trout 

 ponds 389,000 trout eggs were taken. 



On account of the unfavorable effect of the railroad blasting on the 

 salmon in 1883, it was decided not to continue active operations at the 

 salmon-breeding station in 1884, which was accordingly kept closed 

 during this season. 



At the trout ponds 315,000 eggs were taken and distributed in 1884. 

 This station is still in active operation, and at the present writing prom- 

 ises to yield a good supply of eggs at the next spawning season. 



Below will be found tables giving the number of salmon eggs and 

 trout eggs taken at the two stations of the United Stares Fish Commis- 



