later, they were fed lor a few days on curds of milk, and then, in tl 

 second week of March, were turned into Paper Mill Creek and its trib 

 taries Nicasio, Olema, and Hatchery creeks. The fry were strong an,, 

 healthy, and as the streams were near the hatchery, and the fish were in 

 no case over two hours in transportation, they were turned into the 

 streams in the best of condition. 



The young salmon were watched day after day and systematic 

 observations made upon their movements, habits, etc. The work was 

 first begun by the United States Fish Commission, and carried on 

 until the middle of May. After a break here of three weeks, the 

 California State Commission carried it on to completion. 



The thing to be feared in this experiment was that the streams 

 would prove too short and that the young salmon would arrive at salt 

 water before they were ready to conform to the kind of life they would 

 have to lead there. 



The observations carried on in connection with the fate of these 

 young salmon fully demonstrate the success of the experiment and 

 prove that the fry can be as safely planted in these streams as in the 

 Sacramento. They grew more rapidly than the same fry in the Sacra- 

 mento, had fewer enemies, and passed successfully into salt water and 

 thrived there. 



By far the most interesting part of the experiment was the knowledge 

 gained as to the habits, enemies, and growth of the fry after being 

 turned loose. The streams being free from any young salmon but those 

 planted from the hatchery, an excellent opportunity to observe the rate 

 of growth was afforded. Any knowledge in this line is of great 

 economic importance, as it enables us to more intelligently choose the 

 right time and place to plant the fry, and proves that they do not 

 require two or even three years to reach salt water. 



Paper Mill Creek, the largest stream in Marin County, 



DESCRIP- rises in the high land just north of Golden Gate, and runs 



TION OF northwest for about twenty-five miles, where it empties 



STREAMS, into Tomales Bay after passing through a three-mile 

 stretch of tide water. The bay continues a very narrow 

 stretch of water in the same northwesterly direction for thirty miles 

 before the open sea is reached. Paper .Mill Creek is formed by the 

 junction of the San Geronimo and Lagunitas, each of which is quite 

 small, the water cold and swift, running over a rough rocky bottom, and 

 everywhere overhung with trees and bushes. After uniting to form the 

 main stream, the water frequently runs over quiet stretches of gravelly 

 bottom, but for the most part the bed is rough and rocky and there are 

 many cascades and deep rocky pools. The stream for nearly its entire 

 length is well shaded with overhanging trees. The width of the stream 

 in its normal state is about fifty feet, and its depth averages about 



