PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 31 



young steelheads on hand were released in Elwell Creek, and during 

 the succeeding spring 215,000 eggs of that species were collected, the 

 spawning operations extending from April 1 to June 2. 



QUINAULT (WASH.) SUBSTATION. 



The usual summer operations for the rescue of fish from drying 

 streams of the region had to be omitted, owing to pressure of other 

 work. The first sockeye-salmon eggs of the season were taken Oc- 

 tober 25, and a day or two afterwards a heavy rainstorm flooded 

 the trap, tearing out two sections of the rack and liberating most 

 of the impounded salmon. Before water conditions again became 

 normal another storm of even greater severity flooded the Quinault 

 River and surrounding streams a second time, putting an end to col- 

 lections for the season, the last eggs being obtained on December 20. 

 Of the 4,100,000 secured approximately one-third were taken from 

 streams other than Big Creek, which has heretofore been one of the 

 principal sources of egg supply for the Quinault hatchery. Nearly 

 750,000 eggs were taken from fish caught in a small trap in one of 

 the minor creeks near the hatchery, and a much larger percentage 

 than usual was obtained from several of the smaller tributaries of 

 Quinault Lake and Upper Quinault River. Two of these streams 

 that had been racked for several years without any material results 

 were this year filled with brood salmon. A point of interest is the 

 extremely large proportion of small male fish everywhere present 

 in the run. 



In connection with the sockeye operations 2,050,000 silver-salmon 

 eggs were taken, constituting the largest collection of that species 

 since 1918. It is believed the run of silver salmon exceeded the 

 large run of last year, but that most of the fish continued up the 

 main river to their natural spawning grounds. On several occasions 

 during the run of this species efficient Avork was possible with dip 

 nets, and at one time two men were kept busy throughout the night 

 in dipping operations. In an effort to reduce the considerable loss 

 of silver-salmon eggs incident to transportation heretofore expe- 

 rienced a portion of the spawn was delivered to the hatchery in 

 the milt, but without any discernible improvement. 



During the early half of November 60,000 eggs of the chinook 

 salmon were taken, this collection being nearly 100 per cent greater 

 than that of last season. It has been observed that the main portion 

 of the run of this species entering the mouth of the lower Quinault 

 River spawn before reaching the lake, and during the time that sock- 

 eye spawn is being taken very few chinooks are in evidence. 



The eggs and fish of the various species were handled in accordance 

 with the methods that have been successfully employed in previous 

 years. Owing to the clear, cold weather prevailing, the incubation 

 period of all species was considerably prolonged. That of the sock- 

 eye salmon consiuned 140 days, or 30 days in excess of the time re- 

 quired under more normal temperatures, while the hatching of the 

 chinook and silver-salmon eggs was delayed 15 days beyond the usual 

 time. As in former years, the fry were transferred to outside ponds 

 on reaching the swimming stage and were held and fed until the 



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