72 REPORT OP^ COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



and Manchester, Iowa. From the })alance of the eggs collected 

 2,115,560 healthy fry were planted in the McCloud River. The fry 

 from the summer run, 811,900 in number, were planted just as the 

 umbiUcal sac was absorbed, all the trough room being required for 

 the eggs from the fall run. The fry from the fall-run fish were held 

 in the troughs until April and when planted averaged about 2i inches 

 in length. A lot of 100,000 fry from the fall run were reared in an 

 earthen pond, and at the end of the season, when the plants were made, 

 averaged slightly larger than those retained in the hatching-troughs. 



The method of stripping and fertilizing the eggs was the same 

 process used during the past five years, with the exception that after 

 the regular spawning all females were killed and opened to secure the 

 balance of the eggs in them which could not be extruded in the regular 

 way. These eggs were washed in a normal salt solution and then fer- 

 tilized. As a result about 12 per cent more eggs were secured than 

 if the usual methods had been pursued. 



The food for rearing the fr}^ consisted of liver, liver and mush 

 mixed, and canned salmon. Heretofore much difiicult}- has been expe- 

 rienced from feeding the canned salmon, as it dissolved in the water 

 so quickly that the fish could not find particles large enough to eat and 

 the water became so milky as to obscure the fish fi-om view. It also 

 fouled the troughs, covering the sides and bottom with a greas}- scum, 

 and collected on the gills of the young fish. Dui'ing the past season 

 these diflSculties were obviated by sul)mitting the canned salmon to 

 pressure in a press made for the purpose, somewhat similar to a hand 

 cider-press. The moisture was pressed from the salmon until it could 

 be squeezed in the hand like damp earth, and in this condition it held 

 together well in the water and did not foul the troughs much more 

 than liver or liver and mush. For experimental purposes eight 

 troughs of fry of about the same age were set aside, four troughs 

 being fed on nothing but canned salmon and the other four on liver 

 at first and then a mush of liver and shorts. When the fry were 

 planted there was no apparent difference in the size or condition of the 

 two lots, the fr}^ fed on the canned salmon appearing as strong and 

 healthy as any in the hatchery. The first cost of the canned salmon 

 is about the same as that of the liver and mush, but it is alwaA's avail- 

 able when once canned and the labor necessary to secure and prepare 

 the liver and mush is avoided. 



On October 5 the foreman's cottage was reported on fire, and 

 although all the emplo^^ees were at hand ready to do what was possible 

 to extinguish the flames the building Avas entirel}" consumed within 

 half an hour, the foreman losing nearly all of his personal effects. 



During the summer there were many fires on the hills and around 

 the reservation. In September the fires entered the southern part of 

 the reservation, endangering the Avoods back of the superintendent's 

 residence. The spread of the flames was prevented by l)a("k-firiiig. 



