THIRTY-FOURTH BIENNIAL REPORT 28 



ditions of the men employed may be reported. The adopted policy 

 of first placing each worthwhile plant in the best possible condition for 

 productivity before making new locations appears to be sound. As 

 long as desirable operating costs for the hatcheries now maintained by 

 the bureau are beyond the budget allotment, it is unwise to add to the 

 number. This should not preclude the study of promising new loca- 

 tions, an extended test of such, or even the acquisition of water rights. 

 In fact experimentation at certain partly explored sites is very desirable. 

 Difficulties relating to the ownership of the water supply at several 

 hatcheries have been a constant source of annoyance. These are being 

 cleared up wherever it is possible. The necessity of making the water 

 supply thoroughly secure before locating a hatchery seems to be at 

 last well understood. The water supply is the most difficult thing with 

 which our hatcheries now have to contend. In many cases its unalter- 

 able character is the determining factor in relation to growth, ageing 

 of fish, control of losses, etc. It alone often determines the time of 

 planting and the size of fish produced. The production of large fish, 

 7 or 8°inches long, as advocated by many sportsmen is absolutely impos- 

 sible in many of our hatcheries, because of adverse water conditions. 



The following hatcheries have been operated during the biennium : 

 Mt. Shasta, Burney Creek, Fall Creek, Prairie Creek, Lake Almanor, 

 Domingo Springs, Fort Seward, Cold Creek, Brookdale, Big Creek, 

 Feather River, Yuba River, Lake Tahoe, Blackwood, Mt. Tallac, Alpine, 

 Fern Creek, Mt. Whitney, Basin Creek, Yosemite, Kings River, Madera, 

 Huntington Lake, Friant Bass Ponds, Kaweah, and Forest Home. These 

 have been supported by some 27 egg taking stations. Some of these are 

 of necessity more or less temporary, while others, especially the 

 Klamathon salmon station, are substantial and perhaps permanent 

 institutions. 



A record of production and planting is presented in the appendix 

 by J. H. Vogt, Assistant Chief. 



Salmon propagation centers at Fall Creek, some support being 

 received from the ]\It. Shasta, Prairie Creek and Big Creek hatcheries. 

 Considerable experimentation with the introduction of silver .salmon in 

 certain inland waters has shown the possibility of using them to assist 

 in the maintenance of trout fishing. An investigation of the life 

 history, distribution, and other matters relating to the silver salmon is 

 greatly needed as a direct aid in the conservation of the species in the 

 State. The value of this salmon as a sport fish is not sufficiently 

 appreciated. 



Extensive construction and improvement have been accomplished 

 through government relief agencies. Notable among these are new 

 hatcheries with their accompaniment of residences, etc., which have 

 been built at Basin Creek, Prairie Creek, and near Elk Grove. Each 

 of these is well planned and presumably adapted to its particular func- 

 tion. The land holdings at Basin Creek and Elk Grove are extensive 

 enough to deserve improvement as small parks. Lesser improvements 

 were completed at Fall Creek, Lake Almanor, Brookdale, Kings River 

 and Forest Home. Purchase of the latter place was completed and an 

 overhaul of buildings, ponds and equipment is in progress. 



The Cooperative Trout Investigation, the U. S. Bureau of Fish- 

 eries, the California Division of Fish and Game and Stanford Uni- 



