24 REPORT OK STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



The expectations of Superintendent Lanibson iit Baird Station were realized, and 

 from August IHth to October 17th, 27,2(KI,(XK) eggs were shipj)ed from Baird station to 

 Sisson hatchery. These were hatched and the fry released on the dates given in the 

 list of shipments annexed to this report. The second or fall run of salmon proved to be 

 larger than the summer run, and 31,432, (»00 eggs were secured at Battle Creek and Mill 

 Creek stations, making a total of .58,<J32,(X)0 eggs for the season — the largest number of 

 salmon eggs ever hatched at one station in one season. 



The fry were released during the fall, winter, and spring, in sucli nuiiil)ers and at 

 such times as would give them the best chances of descending the river without being 

 crowded or in numbers greater than the food supply. The young salmon were allowed 

 to escape from the nurseries and rearing troughs as soon as the yolk sac had entirely 

 disappeared and they were able to swim without stopping on the bottom to rest, or 

 when their swimming powers were fully developed. They passed down the canal to 

 Cold Creek and from there to the Sacramento River. 



This is a most favorable place to release young salmon in large numbers, as there is 

 an abundance of natural food, and the swiftly moving water soon scatters them over a 

 large natural nursery ground. The stream (Cold Creek) and the river fall about 37 feet 

 to the mile, for about 80 miles. This assists the schools of young salmon in passing 

 down the river rapidly. They generally move in schools. The food of young salmon 

 at all times in the streams is insects, both land and aquatic varieties. Examinations 

 made of the fry as the schools were descending the river, always found them well fed 

 and in good condition. The fry descend the river from the hatchery to near Redding 

 at the rate of from 10 to 15 miles a day. Xear Redding the river becomes less rapid and 

 their movements are slower. Thus it will be seen that they are soon scattered over a 

 large amount of natural feeding ground. They are from six weeks to foiir months 

 reaching salt water. 



The winter and spring of 1903-04 were very favorable for the movements of young 

 salmon. The great amount of flood water in our rivers and streams kept them con- 

 stantly on the move, and a smaller per cent than usual of the spring fry remained in 

 the pools at the headwaters of the river di;ring the summer. This means a rapid growth 

 for the majority of the fry. Those that linger in the pools do not thrive, but on the 

 contrary are pigmies and in my opinion produce the majority of the grilse found in the 

 fall ascending the river with the full-grown salmon. The high water in the Sacramento 

 River caused a number of breaks in the levees on the lower river, and probably some of 

 the young salmon were carried into the tule basins and there perished when the water 

 receded. Of this I have no knowledge, but it ai)pears to be a natural conclusion that a 

 certain percentage of them would be carried witli tlie current through the breaks in the 

 levees. 



The output of fish from the Sisson hatchery for the two years beginning September 

 1, 1902, and ending August 31, 1904, is as follows: 



Season 1903. 

 Salmon eggs received from Baird, Battle Creek, and Mill Creek 

 Stations, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, during summer and 

 fall run of 1902, and hatched and distributed from the Sis- 

 son hatchery .' 14,782,540 



Eastern brook-trout fry 415,(Mmi 



Rainbow trout fry .")02,(XM ) 



Cutthroat trout (Salmo lifiislunri) ... 752,(XK1 



Sunfish 1,356 



16,452,896 

 Season 1904- 

 Salmon eggs . 58,432.0( m i 



Rainbow trout fry 5(K),( K H i 



Eastern brook-trout fry 682,0(m:) 



Cutthroat trout {Salmo henshaivi) trout fry 90,(XH) 



Loch Leven trout fry 29,im 



Landlocked salmon fry .. 7,000 



59,740,000 

 .Making a grand total of 76,192,896 



