14 



STEAM LAUNCH. 



An Act of the Legislature to authorize the Board of Fish Commissioners 

 to construct a steam launch to aid in carrying out the purpose of said 

 Board, passed in March, 1885. The sum of i|^4,000 was appropriated. In 

 April, 1885, a contract was entered into with John W. Rock, Esq., of Sac- 

 ramento, an experienced boat builder, for the construction of the steamer 

 at the cost of $4,000. The plans and specifications called for a boat forty- 

 six feet long, twelve feet breadth of beam, and six feet depth of hold, with 

 a boiler of the best American iron, six feet long, five feet in diameter, with 

 return flues. The engine a ten by ten cylinder, propeller shaft three and 

 one half inches in diameter, with a forty-six inch propeller. The boat was 

 completed on the twentieth day of August, 1885, and immediately put into 

 patrol service. The necessity for the craft was considered and passed upon 

 by the Legislature, and the State is now the owner. The " Governor Stone- 

 man" is staunch and swift (having made twenty miles in an hour and ten 

 minutes) and has ali-eady clone and will hereafter do most excellent pro- 

 tective and patrol work. 



SHEBLEY HATCHERY. 



This hatchery was established in May, 1883. During that year there were 

 hatched and distributed over 95,000 trout. In the year 1884 about 250,000. 

 In the year 1885 about 150,000. During this year, up to the present time, 

 over 100,000. The output for 1887 should not be less than 300,000. The 

 trout distribution from Chabot for the two years preceding 1883 amounted 

 to only 87,000. The maintenance cost of the hatchery at Chabot (con- 

 demned in 1883) was $250 per month; cost of the Shebley, $100 per month. 



STATE SALMON HATCHERY. 



In March, 1885, the Legislature passed a bill, authorizing the Board of 

 Fish Commissioners to erect and maintain a State Salmon Hatchery, and 

 appropriating therefor the sum of $10,000. Before entering upon the work 

 of construction a majority of the Board personally examined the Little 

 Sacramento River, McCloud, Pit, and Hat Creek, all tributaries of Sacra- 

 mento River. On the twentieth day of April the Board selected a site, 

 and secured ample domain and necessary water, timber, and other privi- 

 leges. The station is upon Hat Creek, about two and one half miles above 

 its junction with Pit River. The site is a most excellent and desirable 

 one, for the following reasons: an assured supply of salmon spawn; abun- 

 dance of pure, cold water; absolute security from freshets; convenient 

 reservoir sites; excellence of seining grounds; abundance of timber; ample 

 grades for water discharge; good public roads, etc. 



The selection was also made from another and most important induce- 

 ment. Pit River is only about one half a mile from the hatchery, and the 

 spawn of both Hat Creek and Pit River (a noted salmon stream) can be 

 readily handled and hatched in it. Work upon the building commenced 

 in May last. Fred. White, Esq., of Sacramento, a skillful mechanic and 

 builder, drafted the plan and superintended the construction. The build- 

 ing is 100 feet long, and 46 feet wide; framed and strongly tied; inclosed 

 with planed rustic; well roofed, painted, and underpined. The inside 

 furnishing consists of four large water tanks, and eight tiers of boxes or 

 flumes, set on proper grade, and made to receive seventy propagating 

 baskets to the tier. Two more tiers can be added, when required. Two 

 storage ponds, convenient to the hatchery, have been constructed — one, 



