16 



ing grounds, provided the fish could reach their headwaters. The 

 only stream emptying into the San Joaquin not dammed is the 

 Mokelumne. The Tuolumne and Stanislaus are dammed in such a 

 way as to prevent the fish from ascending. 



BIG MEADOWS. 



These meadows lie in Plumas County. They are grand spawning 

 grounds for trout. The north fork of the Feather River runs through 

 the meadows. The river derives its waters from springs, some of 

 which are extensive, causing large streams to flow into the main 

 river, and furnishes, with a large realm of water, one of the finest 

 spawning grounds in the State — one of the best for feeding, spawn- 

 ing, and fish increase. The water is cold at all seasons of the year; 

 the temperature not higher than sixty degrees Fahrenheit. The 

 waters have been diverted from the original watercourse by what is 

 known as the Watt cut, which, at certain times of the year, leaves 

 insufficient water for fish to ascend over the natural falls in the river, 

 causing great complaint from the property holders along the meadows. 

 They have just cause for complaint. 



THE m'cLOUD river. 



The McCloud River takes its water supply from the Shasta Buttes. 

 The river runs nearly north and south, with little variation, through 

 six or seven townships, and ranks among the finest of our mountain 

 streams. The water is always cold, varying in depth from three to 

 fifteen feet. It is also a most excellent trout stream, the rainbow and 

 Dolly Varden trout being caught in its waters in great numbers, and 

 weighing from one half pound to eight and ten pounds each. 



Salmon also ascend the McCloud in great numbers for the purpose 

 of spawning during the season. At this time of the year it is a known 

 fact that they will readily take the hook, a fact not known to exist in 

 any other river in our State. 



The tributary of the Little Sacrainento, called Dog Creek, is well 

 stocked with trout that weigh from one lialf pound to three pounds. 



Mosquito Creek is well stocked. 



Little Mosquito and Portage Creeks are w^ell stocked with Califor- 

 nia brook trout, and of average w^eight with those found in the small 

 streams that empty into the Sacramento, Pit, and McCloud Rivers, 

 making that section of our State one of the best trout fishing locali- 

 ties found in our own State or the United States, as also furnishing 

 the best spawning grounds in the world considering the area. 



The different branches of Pit River are as follows: 



Hat- Creek is well supplied with the rainbow trout, which average 

 from one half pound to four pounds above the falls, and weighing 

 from one half pound to eight pounds below the falls. 



Hatchet Creek also abounds with small brook trout. 



Bennie Creek, above the falls, is also well filled with large brook 

 trout, pulling the scale at one and one half pounds. 



Fall River is also well supplied with the black trout and native 

 whitefish. The latter fish do not resemble the eastern whitefish. In 

 fact all the streams that empty their waters into Pit and McCloud 

 Rivers are all good trout streams and well stocked. 



