380 U. S. BUREAU OP FISHERIES 



of various species. Because of deforestation this creek at the present 

 time is almost a negligible factor during most of the year as regards 

 suitable spawning areas for the fall-run salmons. It pursues a sinu- 

 ous course for a mile or more from the station to its junction with 

 the Skagit River. In this part of the creek, with its widened bed 

 of loose gravelly bars, the first effects of low water stages are apparent. 

 Thus, it frequently happens that the creek, flowing in a comparatively 

 narrow channel through the station grounds, contains sufficient water 

 of suitable depth to permit the ready ascent of spawning fish, while 

 at some distance below the reservation the water spreads out into 

 tiny rivulets on the imeven gravel formation, and the flow becomes 

 so attenuated by seepage that the creek at its mouth appears 

 quite dry. 



A practical remedy for this condition would be to divert the flow of 

 the creek from its natural tortuous course and carr}^ it in a straight 

 channel from the station grounds to the Skagit River, a distance of 

 approximately 300 yards. If this were done much greater returns 

 might reasonably be expected from fish-cultural operations. 



At the other stations remedial measures are not so readily at hand, 

 and the answer to the demand for a greater amount of fish-cultural 

 work seems to lie in the opening up of new fields. It seems in many 

 cases that the fish, debarred from their wonted spawning areas, have 

 sought other localities not so seriously affected by the changed con- 

 ditions or offering an acceptable substitute for the places originally 

 selected for spa^vning. An investigation of a number of such areas, 

 while the large runs of humpback and chum salmon were spawning 

 in the faU of 1923, disclosed the fact that it would be possible to 

 increase the volume of work 100 per cent through a comparatively 

 small increased expenditure. This undertaking would involve the 

 establishment of egg-collecting or eying stations at some of the 

 many points advantageously located for such work and the incubation 

 of the eggs and the rearing of the fry at hatcheries already in 

 existence. 



EXTENSION OF THE RUN OF SOCKEYE SALMON 



Of passing interest in connection with the work of the Sultan 

 (Wash.) substation was the appearance of three sockeye salmon in 

 the traps on September 23, one of them being a female. While it is 

 known that a few sockeyes (apparently stragglers froni other runs) 

 occasionally appear in the Skyhomish River at spawning time, this 

 would seem to be the only recorded instance of their presence in 

 Elwell Creek. 



EFFECT OF TURBID WATER ON SALMON EGGS 



There are frequent intervals of great turbidity in Grandy Creek, 

 on which the Birdsview (Wash.) substation depends for its egg col- 

 lections and water supply. Being impressed with the large percent- 

 age of infertile eggs handled during such periods, the station super- 

 intendent decided to conduct a series of experiments with the view 

 of obtaining definite data on the subject. It was found that the 



