78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
that large numbers were spawning on the gravel bars and riffles in 
that part of the river. This was thought to have been due to the low 
water for the past several seasons forming good spawning-grounds in 
the main bed of the river. 
In November 2,216,000 eggs were collected and 438,600 in Decem- 
ber, a total of 3,520,100 for the season. 
A heavy storm occurred during the fall and caused considerable 
damage, washing out auxiliary racks, spawning weirs, ete., and car- 
rying away about 12 feet of the bank at the east end of the rack. 
Of the eggs collected, 461,640 were lost in incubation, several minor 
shipments were made to the Stockton High School, and 3,079,660 were 
transferred to the Sisson hatchery of the California commission and 
to Baird station, including 500,000 sent. to New Zealand. 
CLACKAMAS STATION, OREGON (HE. N. CARTER, SUPERINTENDENT). 
It having been decided to move the Clackamas station on account 
of the insufficient supply and poor quality of the water at the old site, 
a point down the Clackamas River, with a good supply of spring 
water, was selected during the month of July and the work of con- 
structing a new station was commenced. <A hatchery 42 feet by 80 
feet, a bunk-house 30 feet by 42 feet, a stable, and other necessary 
buildings were erected, and by the end of September the station was 
in readiness for operating. The necessary roadways, bridges, ete.,were 
provided, and all equipment that was of value was moved from the 
old station, which was then abandoned and left in charge of a watch- 
man at a nominal salary. 
At the beginning of the year an effort was made to tag about 1,600 
quinnat-salmon fingerlings, but the experiment was a failure, and the 
fry were marked by clipping the adipose and the upper portion of the 
caudal fins. This method of marking seemed necessary in order that 
the fish might be distinguished from a lot of 5,000 marked in 1896. 
Preparations were made early in October to receive salmon eggs 
taken on the Clackamas River by G. H. Oldenburg, which were deliv- 
ered at the hatchery at 40 cents per 1,000 eyed. From this source 
1,725,000 were derived. There were also transferred from the Little 
White Salmon 3,327,000, making a total of 5,049,000 salmon eggs 
handled at the station. They arrived in excellent condition and were 
eyed and hatched with a loss of 429,628. The fry were strong and 
healthy and commenced feeding about the latter part of December, 
when they were placed in troughs, 8,000 to each trough. By the end 
of January all of these fry were swimming and taking food, which 
consisted of canned salmon of a cheap variety, such as dog salmon, 
chippings from the gang knives used in canneries, ete. The salmon 
was put up in gallon cans for the Fish Commission, and was donated 
by the following-named firms, the cans having been furnished free of 
charge through the courtesy of Mr. F. P. Kendall, superintendent of 
the Pacific Sheet Metal Works, of Astoria, Oreg.; J. G. Megler & Co., 
