22 



KEl'OKT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



the ti?<h entirely uikUt control, ^>o that they ean be liaiulled (hiring the breeding season 

 without injury anil loss. By the old method of handling the sx)a\vners a serious loss 

 occurred each season. The tisli in their efforts to spawn become emaciated, and if 

 allowed to remain on gravelly or sanily bottoms, get wounded in their work of nest 

 building and efforts at procreation, and a large number die from diseases produced at 

 this time. But if they are removed from tlie rearing ponds before maturity and placed 

 in the sjiawning ponds, they can tlien be handled by those skilled in the work with 

 oidy a small loss. The loss does not average more than six or eight per cent, if they 

 are carefully handled. 



These spawning ponds are made of smoothly planed planks placed on the sides and 

 bottoms of excavations made for the purpose. They are H4 by l.i feet and from 3 to 3^ 

 feet deep. The bottom is built on a gradual elevation, so as to be easily cleaned. 

 Tliere is a spawning race or raceway that connects with the pond and forms the inlet 

 for the water. This has an obstritction or dam in it, where it joins on to the pond, 

 raised to an elevation of from 4 to 10 inches, depending on the variety and size of the 

 trout. The fish when ready to spawn jump over the dam and enter the raceway, 

 where they are caught u\> and stripped of their eggs. They are then placed in a 



SPAWXIXG PONDS— SISSON HATCHERY, 



smooth-plank-lined pond to recuperate. They are left there until such time when their 

 desire to spawn leaves them and they have begun to feed again. They are then returned 

 to the large rearing ponds. This system of handling spawning fish was improved and 

 made practical by George N. Seagle, .Superintendent of Wytheville Station, Virginia, 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries. We are under obligations to him for the plans and 

 information that he kindly sent us. We have made some changes from his plan in 

 <:onstructing the ])onds, that I believe are improvements over his. But in each section of 

 the country different conditions arise that must be met by those in charge of the work. 

 There can be no universal rule for the whole country. Mr. Seagle has perfected the 

 system to his use and for the conditions as he finds them. 



The salmon eggs from the United States Bureau of Fisheries stations in California 

 were received in good condition, considering the crowded condition of the buildings 

 and the extra work necessary to prepare them for shipment. Superintendent Lambson, 

 in charge of the United States Bureau of Fisheries stations, deserves great credit for the 

 successful manner in which this great run of salmon was handled. Early in the summer 

 of 1903 an unusually large run of salmon were found ascending the Sacramento River 

 on their way to the spawning grounds. Superintendent Lambson accordingly made 



