REPORT OF COMJflSSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



LVII 



Diiving the summer and fall of 1891 tlie dwelling-lioiise and stable 

 were completed, as also 32 rearing and 5 other ponds, 



Baird Station, California (George B. Williams, Jr., Superintendent). 



The work at this station is confined to the quitmat salmon. Fishing- 

 was commenced on August 31, 1G1,500 eggs being obtained, and con- 

 tinued to September 10. The total of eggs secured was 3,020,000. The 

 fish were unusually large and productive and the eggs healthy. Some 

 difficulty, however, was experienced with a few of the females first 

 taken, on account of the fluid ejected when being stripped, preventing 

 full impregnation. The eggs in the hatchery matured rapidly, and on 

 September 29 shipments to the State hatchery at Sisson were com- 

 menced. For shipping, preference was given to the packing-chests 

 with canton-flannel trays, over the method of crates and moss. Tlie 

 superintendent of the hatchery reported that each of the seven ship- 

 ments arrived in good condition, and favorable reports -were also 

 received in regard to the 50,000 eggs sent to the Mexican Government 

 at the City of Mexico. This latter shij)ment was made in December 

 and from eggs taken from fish of the late run. 



The second run of fish commenced October 24, on which date about 

 100 fish wore caught in the traps, but they were mostly unripe ones. 

 Hauling of the seine was begun on October 27, but few ripe fish were 

 secured. On October 30 the fish on hand were spawned, and the fish- 

 ing was continued till November 10. The total of eggs secured from 

 this run was 350,000. Of these, 25,500 were hatched at the station, and 

 when sufficiently matured the fry were placed in the McCloud liiver. 



In the latter part of September, after the close of the first run of the 

 quinnat salmon, there were caught in one of the traps two females and 

 one male of thehumpback ^nhnon {Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), which were 

 spawned, the eggs hatched at the station, and in February the fry 

 planted in the McCloud Eiver. 



During the summer run of the salmon, there were taken 1,117 males 

 and 1,345 females, of which latter 651 were ripe; in the fall run, 435 

 males and 28C females, of which latter 62 were ripe. 



The following table presents the spawning operations: 



Aug. 31 

 Sept. 1 

 Sept. 2 

 Sept. 3 

 Sept. 4 

 Sept. 5 

 Sept. 6 

 Sept. 7 

 Sejit. 8 

 Sept. 9 

 Sept. 10 

 Sept. 11 



Sept. 12 

 Sept. 14 

 Sept. 15 

 Sept. 10 

 Sept. 17 

 Sept. 18 

 Sept. 19 

 Oct. 30 

 Nov. 4 

 Nov. 10 



Females 

 spawned. 



Number of 

 eggs. 



144, 000 

 271,000 

 114,000 

 140, 000 

 145, 000 

 179, 000 

 105, 000 

 84, 000 

 140, 000 

 126, 000 



