PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923. 27 



portant station as regards the value of its work to the great salmon 

 industry of the surrounding region. 



The construction work at this point during the year included the 

 remodeling and rebuilding of the stable, some needed alterations 

 and repairs to fishing and spawn-taking appliances at the retaining 

 inclosure, and repairs to the trap. The trail and telephone line be- 

 tween the station and the railroad at Concrete, Wash., was kept 

 open throughout the year. Because of the expense involved in pack- 

 ing supplies to this station from the railroad line, 18 miles distant, 

 it has been found profitable to do a considerable amount of farming. 

 Several acres of land adjacent to the buildings are under cultivation, 

 and from this land upward of 6 tons of hay and a sufficient amount 

 of vegetables to supply the station mess were produced. A storm 

 channel was excavated for the diversion of flood waters from the 

 creek flowing through the station grounds i^ito a deep ravine, thus 

 relieving the station of a flood menace of long standing. 



There were on hand at the first of the year 5.400,000 sockeye- 

 salmon fingerlings, all of which were distributed in July, 1922. 

 From the operation of the trap at the outlet of the lake 7,080 adult 

 sockeye salmon were taken between July 1 and August 14, and 

 were held in the inclosure with the usual success until ready to 

 spavrn, all of them remaining in splendid condition throughout the 

 period of confinement. Spawn taking was in progress almost daily 

 from October 1 to November 21, and 11,040,000 eggs of excellent 

 quality were obtained from the 3,499 female fish contained in the 

 brood stock. 



During the run of silver salmon — from September 25 to No- 

 vember 18 — adult fish to the number of 2,924 were taken. Low 

 water stages in Baker River were detrimental to the work, as large 

 numbers of fish were unable or unwilling to ascend the shallow 

 stretches of the ri"v^er and deposited their eggs far below the usual 

 spawning places. Between October 31 and December 15 the 1,033 

 females in the lot yielded 3,115,000 eggs. After being eyed, all of 

 these were transferred to the Birdsview station for incubation. 



In contrast to the statement of the superintendent of the Yes 

 Baj^ station with reference to the use of stacked trays for rearing 

 sockej^e-salmon fry, the following is quoted from the annual report 

 of the superintendent of the Baker Lake station : 



The fry were thoroughly cleaned when taken from under the baskets and 

 were then placed on the trays, where they remained without further attention, 

 aside from the regulation of the water, until they were swimming up. This 

 would seem to indicate that if the fry are healthy when placed on the trays 

 there is no need to molest them during the sac-absorption period, provided, of 

 course, that no unfavorable water or other conditions are encountered. 



Besides the 3,025,000 eyed silver-salmon eggs transferred to the 

 Birdsview station, the distribution from Baker Lake included 

 15,175.000 sockeye-salmon fingerlings, with some 700,000 remaining 

 on hand at the end of the year. 



BIRDSVIEW (WASH.) SUBSTATION. 



At the beginning of the chinook-salmon spawning season in 

 September the protracted dry weather had reduced the water stages 

 in Grandy Creek to such an extent that successful fish-cultural work 

 seemed impossible. Late in October, however, the greatly needed 



