PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 39 



tiirbing the fish on the spawning beds, would meet tlie immediate re- 

 quirements in conserving fish in these waters without resorting to 

 artificial propagation. However, conditions on the main branch of 

 the river are different. In that section irrigation ditches are numer- 

 ous, the highway affords ready access to sportsmen, and the river 

 and many of its tributaries are heavily fished. 



During the year a hatchery building 32 by 90 feet, equipped with 

 60 hatching troughs, and a four-room cottage for the accommodation 

 of the person in charge, were constructed on land near Salmon, 

 Idaho. Title to this land is vested in the State of Oregon, and its 

 control for fish-cultural purposes has been delegated to the bureau. 

 The site is admirably suited to such work, an abundance of most 

 excellent spring and creek water being readily available and afford- 

 ing ample opportunities for rearing ponds. 



Egg collections of the early-run chinook salmon were made in 

 Lemhi Creek, a tributary of the Snake River, during the latter part 

 of August and transferred to the Salmon substation to be hatched. 

 Because of the flooded condition of the creek the run of salmon was 

 due before the rack could be installed, and it is felt that large num- 

 bers of fish passed upstream before the construction could be made 

 fish tight. The spawning period extended from August 15 to 

 September 2, and the total egg collections amounted to 440,000. In 

 addition to the salmon eggs taken in Lemhi Creek, 50,000 rainbow- 

 trout eggs were shipped from the Wyoming field and 150,000 eggs 

 of the same species were received for incubation for the State of 

 Idaho and the Salmon Rifle Club, of Salmon, Idaho. The fry re- 

 sulting from all these eggs were on hand at the close of the year. 



Though the Salmon hatchery was operated for the first time dur- 

 ing the longest and coldest winter of which there is any record, the 

 building and the water supply met all requirements and the eggs pro- 

 duced a high percentage of strong healthy fish for return to parent 

 waters. This Idaho field is believed to have great possibilities, 

 and plans are being made with the view of developing it into one of 

 the principal fish-cultural factors in the Columbia River Basin. 

 During the coming season racks will be built on the Lemhi and Pah- 

 simeroi Creeks and a third eying station will be constructed at a 

 suitable point on Sunbeam Dam. 



WASHOUGAL KIVEB (WASH.) SUBSTATION. 



Late in March an employee was detailed to this field to make 

 preliminary arrangements for the collection of steelhead eggs. The 

 fishway was racked, springboards from which to dip the fish were 

 suspended, and the retaining pens in which to hold the partially 

 ripe fish were overhauled and launched. Eggs were taken throughout 

 the month of May, the total aggregating 932,000. After developing 

 them to the eyed stage, sufficient numbers to supply applicants were 

 shipped. The remainder were incubated for local waters. 



BAIRD (CALIF.) STATION AND SUBSTATIONS. 

 [W. K. Hancock, Superiutendent.] 



In this field, which is devoted exclusively to the propagation of 

 the chinook salmon, natural conditions were very unfavorable for 

 fish-cultural work. Owing to an unusually extended period of 



