XXII.—REPORT OF OPERATIONS AT THE UNITED STATES TROUT 
PONDS ON THE M’CLOUD RIVER, CAL., DURING THE 
SEASON OF 1880. | 
By LIvINGsTon STONE. 
BAIRD, SHASTA COUNTY, CAL., 
December 31, 1880. 
Prof. SPENCER F’. BAIRD, 
United States Commissioner. 
Smr: I beg leave to report as follows: My last report closed with 
the 31st of December, 1879, up to which time no trout eggs had been 
taken. Very soon, however, after the new year began, the breeders in 
the ponds commenced to show signs of preparing to deposit their spawn, 
and on the 12th of January, 1880, the first eggs were taken to the num- 
ber of 25,000. The spawning season lasted from January 12 to May 2, the 
eges being taken at intervals between these dates. Even after the 2d 
of May a few straggling spawners were manipulated, the very last eggs 
of the season being taken on the 26th of that month. 
- There being a fine supply of water at the trout ponds and every 
facility for hatching, very little difficulty was encountered in maturing 
the eggs for shipment. 
The method adopted of manipulating the breeders was the same as 
that in common use among trout-raisers, viz., that of pressing the eggs 
from the fish by hand without the aid of any apparatus. The eggs are 
taken directly from the fish into a dry pan, and, after being impregnated 
and washed, are placed in deep wire trays or baskets, like those used 
at the salmon fishery for hatching salmon, 15,000 being placed in each 
tray. The eggs of the California trout are so large that the same bas- 
kets were used for hatching the trout eggs that are used for hatching 
California salmon eggs. 
The actual shipping of the eggs was a much more difficult matter than 
taking and maturing them. To get an idea of the difficulties of this 
part of the work, it should be remembered that the trout ponds are four 
miles from the stage road, and that the only path to the road is a rude 
Indian trail, over a very rough and broken country. The mud in some 
- parts of this trail is in winter knee-deep, and the intervening streams, 
at that season swollen torrents, have to be waded by the horseman or 
footman, as the case may be, who carries the eggs. 
After reaching the stage-road the eggs must be carried to the railroad 
station, 22 miles, over a road that is almost impassable on account 
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