REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



29 



streams flowing into Cottonwood Lakes. These operations are carried 

 on under extreme difficulties. The fisli commence "running" as soon 

 as the ice on the hikes conunences to l)reak up in tlie spring, whi<ih is 

 generally during the middle of June. The remoteness of the site of 

 operations from railroads, highways or, indeed, any human hal)itations, 

 the high altitude, and prevalence of snow storms, make the trip into 

 this remote section at this season of the year actually dangerous at 

 times. Nevertheless the work has been continued and. crews have gone 

 into the "lakes" each season and successfully accomplished their mis- 

 sion. Five hundred thousand eggs were taken in tlie spring of 1918, 

 and in 1919, nearly a million eggs were procured. Immediately after 

 each spawning pack trains were started out to take the eggs to the Mount 

 Whitney Hatchery where they were hatched and reared. The Cotton- 

 wood Lakes Station is being opened up again this season and about 

 three cpiarters of a million eggs will be taken, if conditions are 

 favorable. 



Fig. 5. On the way to the Rae Lakes Egg-collectinsf Station, on June 7, 1920. It 

 takes ingenuity and hard work to reach seme of the spawning stations. Photograpli 

 by G. McCloud Jr. 



RAE LAKES STATION. 



The Rae Lakes Station was established during the late spring of 1917 

 and operated that season. At tli(> site of operations the altitude is 10,500 

 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful chain of lakes set in the heart of 

 the high southern Sierra in Fresno County, and is well stocked with 

 rainbow trout. To reach the site in time to trap the fish as they enter 

 the streams to spawn is extremely difficult. Tlie trip into the lakes must 

 be made via Oak Creek pass at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. There 

 are few trails and one must make the trip through the blind mountain 



