REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 1 1 9 



Fort Gaston Station, California (Livingston Stone and W. E. Dougherty, 

 Captain U. S, A., in Charge). 



This establishment was the first experiment in occupying a Govern- 

 ment reservation on the west coast. Privileges granted by the Interior 

 Department were continued, and the outlook for further good results is 

 favorable. The water supply is unlimited and of finest quality. The 

 building occupied combines hatchery and quarters for employees. Five 

 ponds are employed in holding brood fish and as nurseries. 



On the abandonment of the reservation for military purposes, July 

 1, 1892, supervision passed from Capt. Frauk H. Edmunds, U. S. A., to 

 Livingston Stone, superintendent of the Baird establishment, McCloud 

 Eiver, Mr. Stone remaiuiug in charge until January, 1893. The Secre- 

 tary of War was requested in December to i)ermit Capt. William E. 

 Dougherty, TJ. S. A., to resume supervision, and the request being 

 granted, operations ior the remaining half year were under his 

 direction. 



Fish brought over from the preceding fiscal year consisted of the fol- 

 lowing: Eainbow trout (brood fish), 300; rainbow trout (fry), 18,450; 

 Yon Behr trout (fry), 24,856; brook trout (fry), 9,854. 



In July 15,000 rainbow-trout fiy were liberated in local streams. On 

 April 30, there were remaining on hand of Von Behr trout 12,000, and 

 of brook trout 7,000. These were liberated in May, with the excep- 

 tion of 500 of the former and 400 of the latter, retained for brood stock. 

 Those liberated were placed in the Supply, Mill, and Tishtang creeks, 

 the number of Von Behr being 10,950, and the brook trout G,193. 



Quinnat salmon. — In August plans were inaugurated for the capture 

 of adult salmon from the tributaries of Trinity Eiver and from Eed- 

 wood Creek, a dam and trap being constructed near the mouth of Mill 

 Creek, a tributary of Trinity Eiver, about 4 miles from the station. 

 Traps were also constructed at Eedwood and in Supply Creek, the lat- 

 ter being near the station. The limited amount of fishing on Eedwood 

 Creek, as a result of the absence of canneries on that stream, rendered 

 it the most profitable source. Another trap in the vicinity, constructed 

 by Indians, also furnished adult fish. 



Salmon in this region ascend the streams for laying eggs twice a 

 year, the first run occurring early m winter find the second late in 

 spring. Eggs taken in the fall run amounted, by December 31, to 

 180,000, producing 117,000 fry for liberation in local waters February 

 23. Captures of adult fish were made to a limited extent in January 

 and February, small numbers of eggs being taken. 



In March and April 375,000 eggs were transferred from the auxiliary 

 hatchery at Eedwood to the station. Other consignments followed, 

 which, together with those from traps on tributaries of Trinity Eiver, 

 furnished 540,000 fry for liberation in local streams in May and June. 



Lieut. Commander J. J. Brice, U. S. N., in a report regarding the 

 establishment of additional stations at Government reservations on 



