394 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



parents. In the course of the year a consignment of rainbow trout 

 eggs was handled at the Salmon station for the Idaho fisheries 

 authorities. 



BAIRD (calif.) station AND SUBSTATIONS 



[W. K. Hancock, Superintendent] 



The results of the fish-cultural work at stations in the California 

 field were again materially curtailed b}" adverse climatic conditions. 

 In contrast to the severe floods, which occur so frequently in the fall 

 months, the fiscal year 1924 is noteworth}^ because of an almost con- 

 tinuous drought, the period of dry weather having been the most pro- 

 tracted experienced in tliis region in many years. Not once during 

 the year did any of the streams on which the bureau's work is con- 

 ducted even approach the high-water stage, and the consequences are 

 evident in the reduced egg collections. The prevailing low water in 

 the lower stretches of the Sacramento River favored the operations 

 of the commercial fishermen, and the comparatively small numbers 

 of chinook salmon escaping the nets were forced to spawn on riffles 

 in the main river rather than on their usual spawning grounds in its 

 tributaries. 



Baird (Calif.) station. — Notwithstanding the unfavorable outlook 

 for eggs, racks were installed in the McCloud River in April to inter- 

 cept the spring run of chinook salmon, the existing low-water stages 

 bemg favorable to such work. Taking aU influencing factors into 

 consideration, including the irrigation dam in the Sacramento River, 

 a gratifying number of salmon reached the racks, and from them 

 1,000,000 eggs of the spring-run chinook salmon were obtained, the 

 collections extending from September 9 to October 13. Because of 

 the drought no water from the gravity source of supply was available 

 for hatching operations at any time during the year, and to obviate 

 the expense of pumping water troughs were set up near the mess 

 house and the supply drawn from the small spring pipe line ordina- 

 rily used for domestic purposes. In this manner the eggs were suc- 

 cessfully held to the close of the incubation period. From that time 

 until the distributions were made, the hatchery was supplied with 

 water by pumping. 



Battle C'reelc (Calif.) substation. — Early in the year the matter of 

 collecting eggs of the spring-run chinook salmon in Battle Creek was 

 again arranged for. As was mentioned in a previous report, the site 

 selected for this work is just below the dam of the Coleman Light & 

 Power Co., about 4 miles above the Battle Creek hatchery. Though 

 the work was undertaken on an experimental basis and conducted 

 under most trying circumstances, 446,000 eggs of good quality were 

 secured and sufficient experience was gained to demonstrate conclu- 

 h ively that under more normal climatic conditions profitable collec- 

 tions^ of eggs can be made at this point. The eggs taken were obtained 

 between September 8 and 28. 



The customary fishing oj^erations in the vicinity of the Battle Creek 

 hatchery were taken up in October, and from October 25 to December 

 4 the total collection of eggs for the season amounted to 1,020,000. 



Mill Creek (Calif.) substation.— As an illustration of the severity of 

 the drought prevailing at this substation, it may be stated that on 



