PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921. 25 
APPLEGATE (OREG.) SUBSTATION, 
At the other substation in southern Oregon, on Applegate Creek, 
the rainfall was excessive, and while higher water stages are fre- 
uently witnessed in the stream than occurred at any time during 
1 season of 1921 still the amount of water carried during the year 
was unusually large. Placer mining at points on the creek above the 
station has resulted in large deposits of gravel at the fish barrier 
which will necessitate some changes before the next spawning season. 
Egg collections were unusually light, as most of the spawning fish 
escaped over the racks. The results of the season’s egg collections 
were 80,000 chinook salmon, 36,000 silver salmon, and 55,000 steel- 
head salmon. 
WASHOUGAL RIVER (WASH.) SUBSTATION. 
The substation on Washougal River was opened on April 15, and 
359,000 eggs of the steelhead salmon were obtained. High water and 
the lumber work on the river were both sources of trouble and in- 
terfered with the egg-collecting work. From the collections ship- 
ments of eyed eggs were made to the New York Conservation Com- 
mission, to the Clarke County Game Commission at Vancouver, 
Wash., and to the Montana Fish and Game Commisison in exchange 
for blackspotted trout eggs. 
Some unusual features have been observed in connection with the 
work at this point. Last season it was noted that the fish remained 
quietly in the pools below the dam, showing but little inclination 
to ascend the river. Furthermore, the eggs secured were of poor 
quality, only 29 per cent of them producing fry. It is doubted if 
eggs of first quality were obtained from any of the female fish 
handled. The cause of this unsatisfactory condition was not ascer- 
tained, but the theory was advanced that the newly erected dam which 
stops the fish many miles below their wonted spawning grounds was 
responsible. In view of the excellent quality of the steelhead eggs 
taken at other points under very similar conditions, this theory is 
not altogether tenable. During the season of 1921 the quality of the 
eggs obtained was much better, though a considerable number of 
fish were taken in which small undeveloped eggs were distinguishable. 
There was nothing in the appearance of the fish to lead one to 
suppose they would spawn during that season. It is a condition not 
previously observed at any point, and it is more or less perplexing. 
It may be analogous to recorded instances of Atlantic salmon seeking 
their spawning grounds in fresh-water streams a full year in advance 
of the time they were ready to perform the spawning function and 
remaining there until that purpose was accomplished. 
SALMON (IDAHO) SUBSTATION, 
The results of the season’s work on the Snake River were very 
satisfactory. The racks were installed in Lemhi Creek before the 
end of the fiscal year 1920, and a good run of fish appeared early in 
July. Spawning began on August 14, and between that date and 
September 1, 6,000,000 eggs were secured, filling all available space 
in the eyeing station troughs. Immediately after this the racks 
were removed, and the fish remaining in the stream were permitted 
