54 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



and reservoirs, obtaining from them considerable numbers of brook- 

 trout eggs for distribution in the form of fry and fingerling fish to 

 applicants throughout Colorado and New Mexico and at the same 

 time maintain unimpaired the original sources of supply. In recent 

 years this work has suffered from the frequent labor changes occa- 

 sioned by the low rate of compensation offered, and in certain in- 

 stances the lake owners have refused to permit the continuance of 

 fish-cultural work under the direction of the inexperienced men whom 

 the bureau has been forced to place in charge. The time is at hand 

 when a more definite policy with reference to this field of operations 

 will have to be adopted if the work is not to seriously deteriorate. 



SARATOGA (WTO.) STATION. 

 [O. N. BALDWIN, Superintendent.] 



As has been mentioned in several previous reports, this field re- 

 mains practically undeveloped because of lack of funds. Every year 

 the station employees, at the expenditure of much time and labor, 

 secure limited numbers of eggs at field stations where, wnth proper 

 equipment and means for eying eggs intended for transfer and for 

 the complete incubation of those needed for the maintenance of the 

 local run of fish, the egg collections might be very greatly increased, 

 the loss of eggs incident to their transfer in the green state obviated, 

 operating expenses reduced, and the general efficiency of the work 

 greatly improved. During the spring of 1921, with the primitive 

 means available, the Sage Creek collecting field yielded 1,185,295 

 rainbow-trout eggs, Lost Creek, 982,185, and Canyon Creek — occupied 

 for the first time— 351.850, a total of 2,519,330. The station brood 

 stock also produced 140,000 eyed eggs of this species. 



Brook-trout eggs to the number of 1,132,400 were handled during 

 the year. Of these 134.000 were taken from the station brood stock, 

 448,000 were received from Springvillc (TTtah) station, and the re- 

 mainder were taken at a new and promising field station located at 

 Big Creek Lake, in North Park, Colo. This field is about 100 miles 

 from the Saratoga station, well up on the Continental Divide. In- 

 cubation of the brook-trout eggs was completed a full month earlier 

 than usual, with the result that most of the fry were taking food 

 early in the winter. 



Incideutal to the other fish-cultural work, there are taken each 

 season small numbers of Loch Leven-trout eggs, this species appear- 

 ing to thrive in the streams of the region. With the more complete 

 development of fields contiguous to the station it is probable that 

 very successful work can be accomi)lished with the Loch Leven. 

 Besides the species already mentioned, 200,000 blackspotted-trout 

 eggs were received from Yellowstone Park collections and were in- 

 cubated with a loss of only 6,000. The resulting fry and fingerlings 

 entered into the general distribution. With improved roads and bet- 

 ter transportation facilities there is reason to believe that the black- 

 spotted trout will also eventually bear a conspicuous part in the 

 operations of the Saratoga station. There remained on hand at the 

 close of the year upward of 1,000,000 eggs, fry, and fingerling fish. 



