THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 65 



WAWONA HATCHERY 



This station was not operated during 1930 as the loss among the fish 

 for the last two seasons was above normal, owing, no doubt, to the con- 

 tamination of the water by the great number of campers on Big Creek 

 from which the hatchery received its supply. Investigations will be 

 made to determine whether another supply of water can be had at a 

 reasonable expense from springs or the South Fork of the Merced 

 River, above the Wawona Hotel property. The prolonged drought also 

 has had its effect upon the water supply of Big Creek as well as many 

 other streams. 



BASS LAKE TANK STATION 



The Bass Lake Tank Station in Madera County was established 

 during the spring of 1930 at the request of the citizens of Madera 

 County. It is located on the North Fork of the San Joaquin River, a 

 tributary of Bass Lake, formerly known as Crane Valley Lake. The 

 tanks are to be used to hold the fish so that an easier and better distri- 

 bution can be made to the waters in the mountainous regions above the 

 lake. The station consists of ten tanks, furnished with a good supply 

 of water, where the fish can be kept in good condition until the planters 

 can carry them to the waters to be stocked and not have to be rushed 

 in the distribution work. This distributing station will greatly assist 

 the fish planters in that section. There are some improvements contem- 

 plated to complete the station during the coming year. 



The forest supervisor of the Sierra National Forest assisted in the 

 selection of the site as well as giving the employees of the bureau infor- 

 mation regarding climatic conditions, seasonal changes, roads, trails, 

 etc. The employees of the forest service and of Madera County con- 

 structed the road from The Falls to the site of the tank station on the 

 North Fork of the San Joaquin River. 



SALTON SEA 



At the requast of the residents of Imperial County, the El Centro 

 Chamber of Commerce, and particularly Assemblyman JMyron Witter 

 of Brawdey, and Robert Hayes, secretary of the El Centro Chamber of 

 Commerce, that some game fish be introduced into Salton sea to improve 

 fishing conditions, the Bureau of Fish Culture recommended as an 

 experiment that striped bass (Roccus lineatus) be introduced, as it 

 was considered possible that this species might propagate and increase 

 by spawning in the tributary streams that enter the south end of the 

 sea. Later on, Mr. George Coleman was sent down to investigate the 

 food supply for this species, as well as to make other biological studies. 

 During the fall of 1929 2400 yearling striped bass were safely planted 

 in the Salton sea off the shore of Calipatria. It is hoped that suitable 

 spawning conditions exist in New River and Alamo River for this fish 

 to propagate. If this species does not thrive, other game and food 

 fishes will be experimented with. 



EXPERIMENTS IN FEEDING TROUT FRY 



An important experiment was conducted by George A. Coleman, 

 biologist of the bureau, to determine what foods might be used which 



5—81166 



