XXIV.-REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION OF SCHOODIC SALMON 



IN 1881-'82. 



By Charles G. Atkins. 



1. — Peepaeations. ^' 



Hatchery No. 3 was the principal scene of activity during August, 

 September, and October, 1881. The location of this hatchery is an ex- 

 ceedingly favorable one, and it is a matter of regret that the facilities 

 existing at this spot were not discovered at the initiation of the estab- ' 

 lishment. The ground was, in its original condition, heavily strewn ' 

 with bowlders, large and small, and beneath them were interstices' 

 through which the water of the spring stole away in such a manner as ' 

 to give the impression that the supply was not only small but incon- ■ 

 stant. It was only after the tangled maze of shrubs was torn away 

 and part of the surface earth removed that the permanent character of. 

 the spring could be observed. Meanwhile three other sites had been ' 

 occupied, and the main part of the work of developing the spawn and 

 hatching the reserve had been for years carried on at great disad- 

 vantage with an inadequate supply of water (spring water at that), no 

 facilities for aeration, and a liability to occasional flooding by rains. I ' 

 make no doubt that all the serious losses which during the early years 

 occasionally befell the stocks of eggs in development and transporta- 

 tion might have been avoided had we then possessed the facilities of 

 hatchery No. 3. Among the minor disadvantages which we might have 

 escaped may be mentioned the labor and risk of carrying the eggs by 

 hand from the fishing grounds over half a mile of rough road, often by 

 night ; the difficulty of guarding well the property so far out of sight 

 and hearing ; and the many weary days spent by Mr. Munson in the ' 

 transfer of the young fish from the house to the stream in the month 

 of June, amid tormenting clouds of mosquitoes and black flies. The 

 new hatchery is at the head of a small cove that indents the west ' 

 shore of Grand Lake within a few rods of its outlet, and not over 20 feet 

 from the water's edge when the lake is full, as is always the case in June. 

 The fish cans are taken in a boat, and easily rowed to the place of liber- 

 ation, with great economy of time and effort. The fishing and spawn- 

 ing ground is not over 300 feet distant and almost in sight. Within 

 stone's-throw, an excellent site for the superintendent's house has 

 been secured, and will be occupied another season, so that the premises 



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