REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



XCV 



troughs until they were ready to take food, when they were liberated 

 and immediately sought deep and swift water. Six months later num- 

 bers were caught with the fly, like trout. In June, 1898, young salmon 

 of two sizes appeared in the river in large numbers, one about 1^ 

 inches long and the other from 3 to 4 inches. The first were supposed 

 to be the result of the last plants and the larger ones of the plaut of 

 1896, though this is only surmise. 



In hauling the seine for salmon many large rainbow troat were taken, 

 one weighing 10 pounds and a number from 5 to 7 pounds. These 

 were all returned to the water. Several Dolly Varden trout were also 

 captured. A number of Yon Behr trout, the result of a plaut of 1,500 

 of this S])ecies in the Upper McCloud Eiver from the Sisson hatchery, 

 were caught with a fly and returned to the water. 



During the spring an orchard, covering about 2^ acres, and consist- 

 ing of apples, pears, peaches, etc., was set out and repairs made to the 

 foreman's cottage and the building occupied as post-ofiice. 



The following table gives the maximum, minimum, and mean tem- 

 peratures of air and water at the station for the fiscal year : 



Battle Creek Station, California (J. P. Babcock in charge) . 



During the summer the ditch used for conducting water from Battle 

 Creek to the hatchery was repaired, the buildings put in order, and a 

 contract made for the erection of a substantial retaining-rack in Battle 

 Creek on the site of the old temporary one operated in the past. This 

 work was much delayed, and, fearing that the first run of fish would 

 pass up the creek before the rack could be completed, a small weir was 

 placed at a riffle half a mile below, the material of the old 1896 rack 

 being used in its construction. This weir proved of great value and 

 remained in place throughout the season, as there were no heavy rains 

 to raise the creek. Trap weirs were also placed at the mouth of Battle 

 Creek to prevent salmon which entered it from returning to the Sacra- 

 mento Eiver. The failure to provide for this in past years tended to 

 reduce the catch of fish very materially. The seining- grounds below 

 the riffle rack were cleared of snags and brush and the live-boxes placed 

 in the deep water below the weir. 



The force engaged was about the same as that employed the year 

 before, consisting principally of residents in the vicinity. Mr. W. H. 

 Shebley had charge of the spawning and seining crews and Mr. E. W. 

 Hunt directed the work in the hatchery. 



Seining commenced October 20 and two crews were kept busy night 



