REPORT OF THE STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 5 



zens to have the food of which they are so deprived, and in their behalf 

 remedial legislation is again urgently demanded. 



STEAM LAUNCH. 



The steam launch " Governor Stoneman," constructed at a cost of over 

 $4,000, has been found useless for the service for which it was intended. 

 We have, in the interest of economy and an efficient service, laid it up, and 

 used in its stead for patrol purposes a sloop rented and operated for a sum 

 much less than the cost of running the launch. The main objection to the 

 launch is that its approach can be discerned by those engaged in illegal 

 fishing, at such distances as to enable them to escape detection in their 

 criminal acts. We recommend that the " Governor Stoneman '' be dis- 

 posed of, as it is a bill of expense to the Commission. 



SHEBLEY HATCHERY. 



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

 were hatched and distributed over ninety-five thousand trout. The output 

 for 1887 was two million. During this year, up to the present time, fifty 

 thousand. In addition to this trout hatchery. Captain Todman, with the 

 authority of the Commission, established one at Lake Bigler, and hatched 

 and released over five hundred thousand during the year 1887. The Com- 

 mission this year rented the hatchery, and up to the present time have 

 hatched and are distributing over six hundred thousand trout. The Com- 

 mission contemplated the building of a trout hatchery at Donner Lake, 

 but owing to the complications in which we found ourselves, were compelled ^ 

 to forego this intention. We believe that a hatchery should be constructed 

 at that place, and so recommend. 



STATE SALMON HATCHERY. 



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

 Fish Commissioners to erect and maintain a State Salmon Hatcher3% and 

 appropriated therefor the sum of $10,000. The site was selected and the 

 hatchery erected during the term of office of our predecessors. The great 

 expectations indulged in by the previous Commission have not been real- 

 ized. An experience of two years has convinced us that the selection was 

 an unfortunate one. During 1887 but two hundred thousand salmon were 

 hatched. During the previous years, as I have been informed, a less num- 

 ber were hatched. 



The location on Hat Creek is too high up in the river, and the salmon 

 do not reach there until October, after the spawning season is over. More- 

 over, the climate is too severe, and the cost of maintaining the hatchery 

 during the winter season too heavy. The distance of the hatchery from 

 railroad communication — eighty miles — is another substantial objection to 

 the site. We have abandoned its use and removed all the portable appa- 

 ratus to Sisson, where a temporary hatchery has been established at a 

 cost of $1,500. 



The United States Fish Commission will furnish us all the eggs that we 

 can handle. This will enable us to hatch and release about two million 

 salmon during the present year. 



