24 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



quarters of a mile long. The right of way for this ditch was also 

 donated by Mr. Frank R. Love and Messrs. J. & A. Nunes. 



The building erected is 90 by 40 feet, and is fitted with sixty hatching- 

 boxes, a capacity of ten million eggs. The salmon are retained at the 

 station by a rack or weir, placed across the creek, which is 173 feet long, 

 and is sufficiently supported by five bulkheads to withstand a rise of 6 

 feet in the water. 



The building, racks, and equipments cost the State $2,600, less $500 

 donated by the salmon canneries on the Sacramento River. The bills 

 were paid out of the Fish Commission Fund. The work of construction 

 was begun in September, 1895, and the first spawn was taken on the 

 21st of the following month. On November 12th, the full capacity of 

 the hatchery — ten million — was reached. The run of spawn-fish showed 

 no signs of abatement at the time we ceased operations, and the racks 

 were removed from the creek that the balance of the run might pass up 

 to their natural spawning-grounds. Double the amount of spawn could 

 have been taken had the capacity of our hatchery permitted. 



The eggs taken were eyed at Battle Creek and then forwarded to Sis- 

 son to be hatched, the latter place being deemed a more suitable and 

 economical point for distribution. We sent one million eggs to the 

 United States hatchery at Clackamas, Or., and were thereby pleased to 

 repay in part some of the many kindnesses received from the National 

 Commission. 



Summary of Salmon Output from Battle Creek Spawning Station during Year of 1895. 



Point of Shipment. 



Eggs. 



Fry. 



Sisson Hatchery :. 



U. S. Commission station, Clackamas, Oregon. 



Total --- 



9,000,000 

 1,000,000 



10,000,000 



This location is most favorable for the taking of salmon spawn, there 

 being almost no limit to the number of eggs which can be secured there 

 with proper apparatus. In order that every advantage might be taken 

 of the benefits of the station, realizing that large appropriations would 

 be necessary for us to carry on the work, we made a proposition to Capt. 

 John J. Brice, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, to enlarge and 

 operate it. The matter received his prompt attention. One of his staff 

 in Washington was detailed to visit the station and to report upon its 

 advantages. This report so pleased him that he visited the station and 

 made personal investigations. He attended the August meeting of this 

 Board and requested the privilege of erecting temporary buildings that 

 would enable him to handle the surplus after we had filled our hatchery. 

 He stated that he was desirous of purchasing the station, but that before 



