REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 15 



The California Fish Commission, realizing the futility of main- 

 taining the supply of salmon in the Sacramento and tributaries in 

 the face of such adverse conditions, is contemplating the establish- 

 ment of a hatchery near tide water for the development of eggs 

 collected at interior stations. It is a matter of much importance 

 that the Bureau make provision to do likewise in the near future. 



In view of the importance of the salmon fisheries of the Pacific 

 States and their apparent decline in certain regions, renewed efforts 

 should be made by the Bureau to increase the output of its stations. 

 With the establishment of the new Puget Sound stations, two of 

 which are now nearing completion, the State of Washington will 

 be well provided for. In Oregon and California the best results 

 can be accomplished by extending operations over a wider territory 

 through the establishment of inexpensive field stations at points 

 where eggs can be collected in considerable numbers and shipped 

 to a central station for development. Good results are now being 

 attained in the operation of a number of such stations and it is 

 recommended that the work be extended another year. 



Cultivation of hu-ffalofsh. — Further experiments were conducted 

 during the year at the Homer (Minn.) station and at an auxiliary 

 of the Manchester (Iowa) station in an effort to propagate various 

 species of the warm-water fishes indigenous to the upper Mississippi 

 River by the artificial manipulation of their eggs, but owing to 

 unfavorable water stages in the river very few fish Avere taken 

 Iw the commercial fishermen and diificulty was experienced in secur- 

 ing them in spawning condition. Successful results were, however, 

 attained with the buffalofish. From three females of this species 

 3,500,000 eggs were taken, water-hardened in floating boxes in the 

 river, shipped by express to Manchester on canton-flannel trays in 

 well-iced boxes with moss packing, and hatched in jars somewhat 

 similar to those used for pike-perch eggs. Unlike the eggs of the 

 pike perch, however, they are not adhesive and require no muck, 

 starch, or mechanical motion to prevent bunching. After hardening 

 the eggs measure 14 to the linear inch, showing an increase of about 

 50 per cent in bulk. One distinct characteristic of the fry is their 

 inactivity. They did not pass out of the jars after hatching and 

 some which were transferred to troughs lay dormant on the bottom. 

 The best results were secured with those retained in jars. 



From a commercial standpoint, the buffalofish is regarded as one 

 of the most valuable food species of the Mississippi and Illinois 

 Rivers, and it has apparently decreased in numbers in recent years. 

 Its propagation on an extened scale is therefore advisable. Under 

 normal conditions and with an ordinary catch of fish, the take of 

 eggs in these rivers will probably amount to hundreds of millions, 

 and it is believed the hatch will average 50 per cent. 



