PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTIOlSr OF FOOD FISHES, 1921. 23 



CLACKAMAS (GREG.) STATION AND SUBSTATIONS. 



[H. C. Mitchell, Superintendent.] 



Under this heading are included the four Federal fish-cultural 

 stations in the State of Oregon, two located on the Washington side 

 of the Columbia River, with one egg-collecting station on the 

 Washougal River, also in the State of Wasliington, and another on 

 the Snake River, near Salmon, Idaho. The aggregate egg collec- 

 tions during the fiscal year 1921 were 42,912,320, and though the 

 chinook salmon predominates in the work all species of the Pacific 

 salmons excepting the sockeye and including the steelhead are repre- 

 sented. The shad is also propagated at Willamette Falls, Oreg., 

 and the output is further augmented by the incubation of eggs of 

 other species obtained by transfer from Viu-ious points, and the 

 distribution of the resulting fish in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho 

 waters. The species thus transferred consist of brook trout, rainbow 

 trout, blackspotted trout, and sockeye salmon. 



In line with the very general belief, which appears to be well sub- 

 stantiated by reliable investigators, that much greater returns may 

 be expected from the planting of larger-sized fingerling fish, particu- 

 larly in the ca.se of the chinook salmon, it has been the policy to 

 develop facilities as rapidly as possible for this purpose. The 

 stations in the Oregon field have an excellent record in this respect. 

 During the fiscal years 1919-20 and 1920-21, an aggregate of approxi- 

 mately 8;},r>00,00() fish from 2 to 3 J inches long have been phmted in 

 suitable waters of the State. These consist largely of the chinook 

 salmon, though, as mentioned before, smaller numbers of brook, rain- 

 bow, and blacksj^otted trouts and steelhead salmon are included. 



In contrast with the conditions that obtained during the previous 

 spawning seas(m of the salmon, when low-water stages at all points 

 handicapped the work, floods prevailed in most of the streams dur- 

 ing the season covered by this report. While it was not j)ossible 

 to state with accuracy to what extent the operations were curtailed 

 by the floods, there is rea.son to believe that with more nearly normal 

 weather conditions the aggregate collection of eggs would have ex- 

 ceeded that of any preceding year and that at some points the eggs 

 available would have ijeen in excess of liatcher}' ca[)acity. 



CLACKAMAS (OBKG.) .STATION. 



Though the racks installed in the Clackamas River in connection 

 with operations at Clackamas station were of unusually substantial 

 con.structi()n and remained intact through two severe freshets they 

 were carried away on October 3, and the egg-collecting season ended 

 on that date. Though a very fair number of chinook and silver 

 salmon had collected between the racks prior to their destruc- 

 tion, conditions in the river were such as to render the laying out 

 and operation of a seine impossible. Consequently, the egg collec- 

 tif)ns were reduced very considerably, totaling only 360,000 of the 

 fhinof)k salmon. Shad culture at Willamette Falls during July re- 

 sultf'(| in the collection of 2.119.0rK) eggs of that species. Transfers 

 of eggs from other points were made as follows: 3.160,000 chinook 

 salmon from Snake River (Idaho) station, 100,000 chinook salmon 



