REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISCIERIES. *23 



and apparatus enlarging each year. So far, it has proved capable of 

 furuisbiug a very large number of eggs of the salmon ; and, indeed, it is 

 possible that as many as 20,000,000 of eggs could be obtained annually, 

 by the expenditure of sufficient funds. The total production, however, 

 is circumscribed by the appropriation for the purpose, and has usually 

 been kept within a limit of from eight to ten millions. 



For a time the station was occupied during the summer only, being 

 abandoned in the winter; to be resumed again the following year. 

 Finding it in danger of being "jumjied", or squatted upon, arrange- 

 ments were made for continued occupation, and the establishment is 

 throughout the year in charge of Mr. Myron Green, an assistant of Mr. 

 Stone in his labors. 



Although the land covered by the fishery was not opened for mar- 

 ke*:, the possibility that this might take place at an early date, suggested 

 the idea of having the fishing station proclaimed a government reserva- 

 tion, and the Commissioner of the General Land Office, advising the 

 Secretary of the Interior that there was no impediment in the way, 

 the President made the reservation by proclamation on the 9th of De- 

 cember, 1875. A claim had, however, been made by Mr. Lezchinsky, of 

 prior rights in the way of having established a salmon fishery in the 

 grounds in 1872, a few mouths before its occupation by Mr. Stone. His 

 claim, which was duly filed, was considered by the Attorney-General 

 and declared to be unfounded, the United States having the right to 

 entir-e control. The correspondence connected with the establishment of 

 this reservation, and with the claims of Mr. Lezchinsky, will be found in 

 the appendix. 



The operations connected with the taking of salmon on the McCloud 

 in 1875 were commenced by Mr. Stone on the 16th of June, and closed 

 on the 20th of October. The first eggs were obtained on the 2d of Sep- 

 tember, and between that time and the 27th, 8,629,000 were secured, 

 making a bulk of over one hundred bushels, and weighing when packed 

 over ten tons. 



A.s usual, a circular was sent to the various State commissioners, ask- 

 ing how many eggs they desired to secure, with the understanding that 

 they were to pay the expense of transportation to their hatching estab- 

 lishments and of planting the young fish in public waters. The officers 

 of sixteen States responded, calling in many cases for more eggs than a 

 fair pro rata would permit, the number supplied to each, however, vary- 

 ing from 10,000 to 500,000. 



One million of these eggs were sent to the hatching establishment of 

 Mr. N. W. Chirk, at Northville, Mich., to be hatched out on account of 

 the United States Fish Commission, for distribution to such States as 

 were not provided with commissioners. Several private establishments 

 were supplied with small lots for experimental purposes, and a small 

 stock was also sent to Xew Zealand and to the fishery department of 

 Canada. The greater part of the eggs reached their respective destina- 



