XLVI REPORT or COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



wholly uuprecedented in that region, the total amount for the season 

 being placed at 109.7 inches. During the first days of February the 

 rain continued to fall in torrents, and the McCloud Eiver to rise at the 

 rate of a foot an hour. During the night of February 2 the water rose 

 above the danger-mark, and at half -past two in the morning ©f Febru- 

 ary 3 the buildings of the station were swept awaj-. All the improve- 

 ments which had accumulated since 1872 were thus demolished in a 

 night. The water reached a maximum height of 2G feet 8 inches above 

 its summer level. 



At the instance of Senator Booth, of California, an appropriation of 

 $10,000 for rebuilding the station was made by Congress, March 5, 

 and the work of restoration, beginning in May, was completed in Sep- 

 tember. At the time of the disaster the work was in charge of Mr. 

 Myron Green. Mr. Stone reached the fishery May 19 and superintended 

 the reconstruction, as well as the taking of eggs in the fall, which 

 amounted to 7,500,000. Several millions of these eggs were sent to the 

 commissioners of various States to hatch for local waters, as well as to 

 Canada and Kew South Wales. Particulars of the distribution are 

 found in the tables appended to this report. 



/. Rainbow or California Mountain Trout {Salmo irideus'). 



The McGloud River Station. — This fishery was first operated in July, 

 1879, and like the salmon station has been continuously under the diiec- 

 tion of Mr. L. Stone. It is located near the mouth of Crook's Creek, a 

 tributary of the McCloud Eiver, and about 4 miles distant from Baird 

 Post-office. The station suffered at the time of the flood from a deluge of 

 mud which was precipitated into the ponds, and by which many of the 

 trout were killed. 



The region is subject to land slides. The steep hillsides becoming 

 thoroughly saturated with water, whole acres are washed into the val- 

 ley l>elow. Sometimes the creek is completelj' dammed up thereby and 

 the water is rendered intensely muddy. To shut oft" this water from 

 the trout ponds would be as fatal as to admit it, so that the catastrophe 

 to the trout was unavoidable. Many which were not actually killed 

 were seriously injured by mud getting into the gills and producing in- 

 flammation. The occurrenceof the flood just as the trout were beginning 

 to spawn made the matter still more unfortunate. Only about a thou- 

 sand trout survived. From these, however, 201,000 eggs were obtained, 

 179,900 of which were sent to the commissioners of various States to be 

 hatched. During October and November the losses of trout were made 

 up as far as possible by fishing in the river. A new pond was also con- 

 structed for the purpose of catching the mud which was brought down 

 by water in the rainy season. The year closed with brighter prospects 

 for the future. 



g. Atlantic or Penobscot Salmon {Salmo salar.) 



Penobscot River Station. — This station, as heretofore, was carried on 

 by the United States conjointly with the States of Maine, Massachusetts, 



