72 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



and Manchester, Iowa. From the ))alanec of the eo-gs collected 

 2,115,5()() healthy fry were planted in the McCloud River. The fry 

 from the sunnner lun, 811,900 in nuni))er, were planted just as the 

 umbilical sac was absorbed, all the trough rot)m ])eino- recjuired for 

 (hi» e<4"g's from the fall run. The fr^- from the fall-run lish were held 

 in the troug-hs until April and when planted averaged about 2^ inches 

 ill lenoth. A lot of 100,000 fry from the fall run were reared in an 

 earthen pond, and at the end of the season, when the plants were made, 

 averaged slightly larger than those retained in the hatching-troughs. 



The method of stripping and fertilizing the eggs was the same 

 process used during the past five 3'ears, with the exception that after 

 the regular spawning all females were killed and opened to secure the 

 l)alance of the eggs in them which could not be extruded in the regular 

 way. These eggs were washed in a normal salt solution and then fer- 

 tilized. As a result about 12 per cent more eggs were secured than 

 if the usual methods had been pursued. 



The food for rearing the fr}^ consisted of liver, liver and mush 

 mixed, and canned salmon. Heretofore much difficulty has ])een expe- 

 rienced from feeding the canned salmon, as it dissolved in the water 

 so quicklv that the fish could not find j^articles large enough to eat and 

 the water became so milky as to obscure the fish from view. It also 

 fouled the troughs, covering the sides and bottom with a greasv scum, 

 and collected on the gills of the 3'oung fish. During the past season 

 these difiiculties were obviated by submitting the canned salmon to 

 pressure in a press made for the purpose, somewhat similar to a hand 

 cider-press. The moisture was pressed from the salmon until it could 

 be squeezed in the hand like damp earth, and in this condition it held 

 together well in the water and did not foul the troughs much more 

 than liver or liver and nmsh. For experimental purposes eight 

 troughs of fry of about the same age were set aside, four troughs 

 being fed on nothing but canned salmon and the other four on liver 

 at first and then a mush of liver and shorts. When the fry were 

 planted there was no apparent diflierence in the size or condition of the 

 two lots, the fr}' fed on the canned salmon appearing as strong and 

 health}' as an}' in the hatcher}'. The first cost of the canned salmon 

 is about the same as that of the liver and mush, but it is always avail- 

 able when once canned and the labor necessary to secure and prepare 

 the liver and mush is avoided. 



On October 5 the foreman's cottage was reported on fii-e, and 

 although all the employees were at hand ready to do what was possible 

 to extinguish the flames the building was entirely consumed within 

 half an hour, the foreman losing nearly all of his personal effects. 



During the summer there were many fires on the hills and around 

 the reservation. In September the fires entered the southern part of 

 the reservation, endangering the woods back of the superintendent's 

 residence. The spread of the flames was prevented by back-tiring. 



