REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Lvil 



During the summer and fall of 1891 the dwelling-house and stable 

 were completed, as also 32 rearing and 5 other ponds. 



Batrd Station, California (George B. Williams, Jr., Superintendent). 



The work at this station is confined to the quinnat salmon. Fishing 

 was commenced on August 31, 104,500 eggs being obtained, and con- 

 tinued to September 19. The total of eggs secured was 3,026,000. The 

 fish were unusually large and productive and the eggs healthy. Some 

 difficulty, however, was experienced with a few of the females first 

 taken, on account of the fluid ejected when being stripped, preventing 

 full impregnation. The eggs in the hatchery matured rapidly, and on 

 September 29 shipments to the State hatchery at Sisson were com- 

 menced. For shipping, preference was given to the packing-chests 

 wi-th canton-flannel trays, over the method of crates and moss. The 

 superintendent of the hatchery reported that each of the seven ship- 

 ments arrived in good condition, and favorable reports were also 

 received in regard to the 50,000 eggs sent to the Mexican Grovernment 

 at the City of Mexico. This latter shipment was made in December 

 and from eggs taken from fish of the late run. 



The second run of fish commenced October 24, on Avhich date about 

 100 fish were caught in the traps, but they were mostly unripe ones. 

 Hauling of the seine was begun on October 27, but few ripe fish were 

 secured. On October 30 the fish on hand were spawned, and the fish- 

 ing was continued till November 10. The total of eggs secured from 

 this run was 350,000. Of these, 25,500 were hatched at the station, and 

 when sufficiently matured the fry were placed in the McCloud Eiver. 



In the latter part of September, after the close of the first run of the 

 quinnat salmon, there were caught in one- of the traps two females and 

 one male of thehumpback salmon {Oncorhynchus gorhiischa), which were 

 spawned, the eggs hatched at the station, .and in February the fry 

 planted in the McCloud Eiver. 



During the summer run of the salmon, there were taken 1,117 males 

 and 1,345 females, of which latter 651 were ripe; in the fall run, 435 

 males and 286 females, of which latter 62 were ripe. 



The following table presents the spawning operations: 



Date. 



Females 

 spawned. 



Aug. 31 

 Sept. 1 

 Sept. 2 

 Sept. 3 

 Sept. 4 

 Sept. 5 

 Sept. 6 

 Sept. 7 

 Sept. 8 

 Sept. 9 

 Sept. 10 

 Sept. 11 



Number of 

 esgs. 



164, 500 

 69. 500 

 74, 000 

 97, 000 

 147, 250 

 142,750 

 165,000 

 204, 000 

 222, 000 

 190, 000 

 268, 000 

 184, 000 



Date. 



Sept. 12 

 Sept. 14 

 Sept. 15 

 Sei>t. 16 

 S(.pt. 17 

 Sept. 18 

 Sept. 19 

 Oct. 30 

 Nov. 4 

 Nov. 10 



Females 

 spawned. 



749 



Number of 



144, 000 

 271,000 

 114,000 

 140, 000 



145, 000 

 179, 000 

 105, 000 



84, 000 

 140, 000 

 126, 000 



3, y76, 000 



