PROPAGATION OF SALMON ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 391 



back into place when be is secure inside. The traps are located below 

 the spawning-ground and convenient to tbe batcliery. 



The Fort Gaston station was the experimental attempt in the com- 

 mencement of a systematic plan to stock yearly the streams on the 

 Pacific with salmon, and in view of the satisfactory results given by this 

 station it is recommended that the system be extended by establishing 

 hatcheries with 4 auxiliary stations each in the following localities : One 

 on the Chilcat River, in Alaska, or in its vicinity ; one on Puget Sound ; 

 one on the Colville Eeservatiou, Columbia River, and one on Eel River, 

 California. It is also recommended to increase the Gaston station with 

 3 auxiliary hatcheries, and connect with the McCloud station 4 auxiliary 

 stations. 



The following is an estimate of the cost of establishing and maintain- 

 ing these proposed stations: 



Four central liatclieries, buildings, and apparatus, at $2,000 $8, 000 



Twenty anxiliary liatclieries, at $300 each 6, 000 



Five supeiiutendents, at $1,200 per year each 6, 000 



Six laborers, at $40 per month each for twelve months 2, 880 



Twenty-four laborers,' at $40 per month each for four mouths 3, 840 



Yearly miscellaneous expenses of each central hatchery, including its aux- 

 iliary stations 1, 500 



Total miscellaneous expenses yearly of five stations, not including the Mc- 

 Cloud hatchery 7,500 



With this small outlay of public money each important salmon stream 

 on the Pacific Coast could be stocked with young fish artificially hatched 

 far exceeding in numbers the yearly catch or market demand. 



As the farmer recognizes the necessity of replenishing his stock every 

 year, in like manner the same prudent forethought is "equired in regard 

 to the occupants of the streams, and the expenditures i. this purpose 

 in the ])lan suggested are insignificant when compared to the millions 

 of dollars represented in the result. 



For the further i)rotection of the fish on that coast, it is suggested 

 that one of the rivers, the Klamath, for instance, and its tributaries, be 

 held by the Government as a fish iireserve, prohibiting seining or 

 taking salmon in any way for commercial purposes. A great national 

 nursery would thereby be established, from which Uv ^ only the Pacific 

 Coast would be benefited, but the whole country. The .and extending 

 some distance from the mouth of the Klamath River . ^ I believe, a 

 Government reservation, requiring no special legislation tc close the 

 stream to outside enterprise. 



Authorities give the salmon (genus Oncorhynchus) on the Pacific Coast 

 as representing live species. The king, qninnat, or chiuook salmon has 

 an average weight of 22 j)ounds ; there are 16 rays on the anal fin to 

 distinguish it. The blueback salmon weighs from 5 to 8 poir^ds and 

 has 14 to 10 rays on its anal fin. The silver salmon, weighing from 3 to 

 8 jiounds, has 13 rays on the anal fin to distinguish it. Tlie dog salmon, 

 with an average weight of 12 pounds, has 14 anal rays. In the fall the 



