C REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The work on the whole was disappointiug. Xo raiu fell duriug tlie 

 season and but few salmon entered the creek, as the low water in the 

 Sacramento Eiver permitted spawning in the main stream at points 

 which would not ordinarily be suitable. This is likely to be repeated 

 every dry season. Eeports from 30 miles down the river showed that 

 salmon were spawning in many localities where they had never been 

 seen before, and that the number entering all the creeks was small. 



The methods em])loyed in stripping and fertilizing the eggs were the 

 same as heretofore. The force consisted of ten men, three of whom 

 stripped the females, two the males, one looked out for the pans in 

 which the eggs were taken and added water to the milt; two men were 

 employed steadily in dipping females out of the pen and one the males. 

 As heretofore, the eggs were taken in pans containing about half a pint 

 of water each, instead of by the dry method, as at most of the other 

 stations of the Commission. The milt and eggs were taken at the same 

 time and stirred constantly to insure immediate fertilization. When 

 thoroughly mixed the pan was tilled with fresh water, placed on a shelf, 

 and allowed to remain until seven or eight other pans had been simi- 

 larly treated, after which they were all poured into a trans})ortation 

 can and sent to the hatchery, fresh water being added frequently to 

 wash off the milt. If the eggs were still adhesive on arrival at the 

 hatchery, fresh water was added until they separated, when they were 

 distributed in baskets, 40,000 to each. As soon as the fish spawned 

 they were thrown in a pen and afterwards turned over to people who 

 came from far and near to lay in supplies for the winter. 



At the beginning of the season threats were made that the rack would 

 be blown u.\), hence an armed guard was placed on watch for a few 

 nights, but no trouble was experienced. These threats were made by 

 people living above the station on the creek, who wanted the salmon to 

 ascend. Many carp were caught while hauling the seine and were turned 

 over to the Chin.^se i)opulation, who prefer them to salmon or trout. 



During the season a new stable was built, 26i feet long b}' 11 feet 

 wide and 8^ feet high, with slanting shake roof and sheds 16i feet long 

 and 11 feet wide at both ends for wagons. As considerable trouble was 

 ex])erienced with the water supply, from hogs and cattle, it became 

 necessary to fence the ditch on both sides with barbed wire, the top and 

 second strands being covered with board railings to prevent stock from 

 being injured. 



