40 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



drought the water stages in all streams were abnormally low, making 

 it difficult for fish to ascend in considerable numbers. There being 

 no run of salmon whatever in the McCloud River, on which the 

 Baird Station is located, the hatchery at that point was stocked with 

 eggs taken at the l^attle Creek and Mill Creek substations, such 

 transfers being necessarily postponed until after late fall rains had 

 supplied sufficient water for the conduct of hatching operations. 

 The first consignment of approximately 1,000,000 eggs from the 

 Battle Creek substation was received on January 6, and shortly after- 

 wards a second consignment of 500,000 from the Mill Creek collec- 

 tions was delivered. During the intense cold prevailing through 

 midwinter the supply ditch could not be kept free of ice, and from 

 January 19 to February 8 pumps had to be operated for maintain- 

 ing a supply of water in the hatchery. Incubation was completed 

 by March 6, and as soon as the fry had reached the proper age thej^ 

 were turned into several temporary ponds, formed by damming 

 small streams in the vicinity of the station, and fed for a time on 

 salted salmon, beef liver, and mush before being liberated in the 

 McCloud River, 



This station is very much in need of an adequate pond system 

 for holding and feeding young salmon until they attain a desirable 

 size before releasing in open waters. The present expedient of util- 

 izing small stream inclosures for the purpose is unsatisfactory for 

 several reasons, but principally because the streams become dry at 

 the approach of summer, necessitating the liberation of the fish at 

 an unsuitable stage of development. Adequate pond space is also 

 greatly needed at the Battle Creek and Mill Creek substations. At 

 the first-named point five earth ponds are available for holding sal- 

 mon to the fingerling No. 2 stage, but at Mill Creek there is no pond 

 system whatever and resort must be had to several shallow excava- 

 tions in order to retain and feed a few hundred thousand fry for a 

 limited period. 



The spawning season at the Battle Creek and Mill Creek substa- 

 tions extended from October 22 to December 4, and a total of 6,363,- 

 000 eggs were taken. The work at both points was much below ex- 

 pectations, excessively low water stages seriously curtailing the 

 results. After making the transfers of eyed eggs referred to above 

 the product of the remaining eggs at these stations, in the form of 

 fingerling fish, was returned to local waters. 



GREAT LAKES FISHES. 



Of no less importance than the work of the salmon hatcheries is 

 that concerned with the fishes of the Great Lakes, and no line of fish 

 culture has a more hearty indorsement of the interests involved. 

 Without exception, as far as has been ascertained, the bureau's work 

 in fish culture throughout the region has the unqualified indorsement 

 of the fishing interest and of the individual fishermen, and in no sec- 

 tion is this spirit of approbation manifested in the form of practical 

 cooperation to a gi'eater extent. A feature of the work that readily 

 commends it to the practical fisherman is that all of the eggs incu- 

 bated at these hatcheries are obtained from fish taken in the market 

 fishery that otherwise become a total loss. During the fiscal year 

 1922 seven stations and substations on the Great Lakes and Lake 



