350 U- S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Baird (Calif.) Station and Substations 

 [W. K. Hancock, Superintendent] 



The outcome of the year's work in the propagation of chinook salmon in 

 the California field was quite encouraging, the total number of eggs collected 

 being approximately 2,300,000 greater than in 1925 and slightly more than 

 the total in 1924. These results were accomplished despite the fact that 

 conditions were unfavorable, the water in the McCloud River being polluted 

 from the middle of June to the 1st of September with a thick yellow volcanic 

 ash from Mount Shasta. 



Baird (Calif.) station, — Though traps were installed in the upper racks 

 in the McCloud River early in the season, it is believed that a large number 

 of the earlier run salmon passed up the river during the time repairs were 

 being made to the 75-foot section of the upper rack mentioned in last year's 

 report as having been washed away. Owing to the cloudiness of the water it 

 was impossible to determine whether the racks were tight or what was the 

 condition of the hsh in the retaining pools. Seining operations were taken 

 up on September 1 and conducted almost every evening from 7 to 10 o'clock 

 between that date and September 4, by which time all of the early-run fish 

 had disappeared. Brood female salmon were plentiful, but a serious shortage 

 of male fish made it difficult to fertilize all eggs secured. A total of 1,530,000 

 eggs of excellent quality resulted from the season's work, . this number ex- 

 ceeding the annual average of the past 12 years by a few thousand. As only 

 a few of the fall run salmon enter the McCloud River, no effort was made to 

 collect eggs from that run. On account of the prevailing low water stage in 

 the gravity ditch a battery of troughs was set up outside the hatchery and 

 fed from the spring until the eggs commenced to hatch, when they were trans- 

 ferred to the hatchery and water was pumped from the river until February 4. 

 At that time the occurrence of heavy rains and high water made it possible to 

 use the gravity supply. During a high water stage in February virtually 

 all of the lower rack cribs were washed out and the upper crib was damaged 

 considerably. 



Battle Creek (Calif.) substation. — The usual arrangements for the collection 

 of the chinook salmon eggs were taken up about September 1. at which time 

 a crew of men was engaged to erect racks and traps and put the fishing 

 equipment in condition for service. Owing to the low water level very un- 

 satisfactory results were attained in seining in Battle Creek, and fishing 

 operations soon were extended to the Sacramento River. While this involved 

 additional labor in moving the fishing equipment, it was more than justified 

 by the results, the total egg collections being approximately twice as large 

 as last year. 



Mill Creek (Calif.) substation, — During the latter part of August, while the 

 creek was virtually dry, arrangements were made to set up the racks, and on 

 November 3 fishing operations were undertaken. Between November 3 and 

 December 4, 3,270,000 eggs of the finest quality were collected, as compared 

 with last year's total of 2.200,000. Owing to lack of fry-holding space, 120.000 

 of the eyed eggs were transferred to Baird station and 600.000 to Battle Creek 

 with the object of planting the resulting fry in waters near those stations. 

 The remainder were hatched at the point of collection, and the product was 

 liberated in Mill Creek as fingerling fish. 



FISHES OF THE GREAT LAKES 



This group consists of four main stations, four substations, and a 

 large number of collecting auxiliaries situated along the shores of the 

 Great Lakes, the range of operations extending from Rainy Lake, 

 Minn., to the Vermont waters of Lake Champlain. Particular at- 

 tention is paid to the propagation of such commercial fishes as the 

 lake trout, whitefish, cisco, and pike perch, though considerable 

 numbers of eggs of other species are hatched annually at the sta- 

 tions of this class and are distributed to applicants. Unfavorable 

 weather predominated during the lake trout and whitefish spawning 

 seasons in many of the collecting fields, materially reducing the egg 

 collections. 



