LVIlI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Of tlie take of eggs, 2,852,250 were sent to the Sisson hatchery of 

 the California Fish Commission; 50,000 to the Mexican Government at 

 the City of Mexico; 25,500 were hatched and the fry liberated at the 

 station ; and 448,250, or about 13.25 per cent, were lost in developing. 



Fort Gaston Station, Califounia (Capt. F. H. Edmunds, U. S. A., in charge). 



The conduct of this station and its auxiliary at Redwood has con- 

 tinued under the direction of Capt. Frank H. Edmunds, U. S. Array. 



In July the ponds for young salmon and breeding trout were com- 

 pleted and the extension of the hatchery building so as to contain 40 

 troughs was begun, being completed by October. Arrangements were 

 made in August for the construction of a small hatchery, 14 feet square, 

 with a capacity of 8 troughs, at Redwood, which was completed in 

 October. In November a water-supply tank was built for the Redwood 

 hatchery. 



The first salmon eggs collected at the Redwood hatchery were taken 

 December 3, and their gathering was continued to March 10, the total 

 yield being 300,000, of which 150,000 were transferred to the Fort 

 Gaston Station and 150,000 retained for hatching at Redwood. Of 

 those taken to Fort Gaston 2,000 died during transfer. The remainder 

 began to hatch Febrnary 0, and were all hatched by March 10. The 

 loss in fry was about 400. On May 30 and 31,147,000 young salmon 

 were turned into Supply Creek, a branch of the Trinity River, and dis- 

 tant from the station about a quarter of a mile. The eggs retained at 

 the Redwood hatchery commenced hatching March 12. These eggs 

 were taken February 2, and the period of their incubation was much 

 shorter than heretofore, the usual time being sixty to ninety days. 

 The unusually mild weather prevailing during the winter was undoubt- 

 edly the cause. The hatching was completed by April 30, producing 

 142,500 fry, which were released through a sluice, on May 1, into Minor 

 Creek, a tributary of Redwood Creek. During August 25,000 young 

 salmon reared at the station were turned into Supply Creek. 



The rainbow trout taken during the previous season, and held in the 

 station ponds for breeders, were spawned February 24 to 27, yielding 

 about 9,000 eggs, and a further gathering of 12,000 eggs was made 

 between March 1 and 19, making a total collection of 21,000. Hatching 

 commenced April 10, and was completed May 29, producing 18,45(> fry. 



On January 30, 1892,20,000 eggs of the eastern brook trout i)urchased 

 of Mr. J. Annin, jr., of Caledonia, N. Y., were received at the station. 

 On unpacking, the number of dead eggs was 225, and the subsequent 

 loss was 9,393, The remainder began hatching February 5, and nearly 

 80 per cent were hatched by the close of the month. The loss in fry 

 was a little over 500, mainly occurring during April. 



The 25,000 eggs of the Von Behr trout shipped from the Northville 

 Station January 22 were received February 2 in excellent condition, on 

 unpacking but 10 eggs being found dead. The subsequent loss in eggs 

 was 113. Hatching commenced February 18 and was finished Febru- 



