388 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



similar desirable localities for the productioii of tlie different species of 

 salmon, so arranged as to beiielit all the streams on the Pacific Coast. 



As an experimental effort and the commencement of the system, a 

 hatchery was established at Fort Gaston, Humboldt County, Cal. 

 This is the central hatchery, and has auxiliary or subhatcheries on 

 the neighboring streams which empty directly into the ocean. These 

 auxiliary hatcheries are used for taking the spawn and depositing the 

 young fry on or near the spawning-grounds, and are kei)t open only 

 during the spawning and hatching season, which would be about four 

 months of the year. Besides the auxiliary station at Kedwood Kiver, 

 it is proposed to connect with the Gaston Station two others on the 

 Mad and Eel rivers. There are other streams near by which could be 

 utilized in the same way, all emptying into the sea. In addition to 

 stocking the waters of the Pacific with salmon and other indigenous 

 fish, the central hatchery at Gaston is provided with ponds used for 

 hatching and propagating eastern and foreign fish, such as landlocked 

 salmon, eastern and German trout. Breeding ponds are in use, filled 

 witli the two last-mentioned fish, from which many will be distributed 

 in the streams and waters throughout the country. 



Other localities have been examined and suitable places inspected 

 for hatcheries, those on the Colville Reservation near the head of the 

 Columbia lliver and another at Lake Canir d'Aleue being particularly 

 favorable. Military or Government reservations were selected for 

 several reasons, prominent among them being the assured protection 

 of the young fish. For convenience it is also desirable that the hatch- 

 eries should be located near the heads of the streams in the vicinity of 

 the spawning-grounds, where fish are more likely to be found ripe and 

 ready for stripping of their eggs. While the system need not be con- 

 fined to Government reservations, sucli localities are preferable where 

 facilities for the work meet with the requirements. 



The streams should be stocked from the several varieties found on the 

 Pacific Coast, preferably the indigenous or the kind of salmon which 

 visit the particular stream. Great danger attends the introduction in 

 any stream of fish not belonging to the waters. A stronger and more 

 rapacious strange fish is sure to destroy the weaker native occupants 

 of the stream, and give in return for the destruction probably an inferior 

 and less prolific salmon. 



The waters in Humboldt County, Cal., are also free from vagrant 

 and predatory fish; consequently the young can be placed in the stream 

 at an early age without molestation except from the trout which inhabit 

 all these waters. The yearling trout is the voracious enemy of the 

 young salmon, and being small himself is capable of jmrsuing the 

 little fish into shoal water, their haven of refuge from danger. The 

 destruction of salmon fry by these active young trout is very great. 

 Therefore it is not policy to stock the same stream with both salmon 

 and trout. Since there is no comparison in their commercial value 



