24 



REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



All of the animals and birds killed or trapped on the fishery grounds were found to be 

 killing and eating fish, except the skunks. They may do so, but as yet we have found 

 no evidence thereof, although it appeared several times as if they were after the fish in 

 the shallow nurseries. 



During the winter of 1904-05 another small cottage was built on the grounds for the 

 pond-keeper and his family. It was built near the meat house, where the fish food is 

 prepared, and where he can always be on hand to look after the screens, regulate the 

 water, etc. 



We have been busy this summer repairing the ditches and ponds, and painting the 

 buildings, troughs and baskets, to have everything in readiness for the salmon hatch 

 this fall. We have also been busily engaged in distributing the fish from the ponds 

 and hatcheries. The yearlings were distributed in the spring, but owing to their size 

 the work is very expensive and slow. If there were more funds allowed for this work a 

 greater number of yearling fish could be raised and distributed. The fish make such 



POND-KEEPER'S COTTAGE, SISSON HATCHERY. 



a rapid growth in this water that the yearlings, running from \y 2 to 8 inches in length, 

 are t hard to ship, as only a few can be carried in a can. If the Legislature would allow 

 money enough to construct a transportation car, the same as is used in most of the 

 Eastern States and by the United States Fish Commission, a great many more large fish 

 could be handled. 



Since the construction of the new hatcheries and nurseries, where we have a great 

 deal more room for our fry, they have grown proportionately larger. The fry that we 

 began shipping at the first of the season averaged from 1% to 1% inches in length, and 

 those shipped during the latter part of the season averaged from 2 to 2\4 inches in 

 length. In the last two seasons, since we have had more room for rearing them, we 

 have not shipped any fry less than \% inches in length. 



In conclusion, I beg to say that I feel a justifiable pride in the record and work done 



at this station in the last two years, and feel more than grateful to the members of your 



honorable Board, and to the chief deput}', for the valuable assistance and support that 



have been given to me and my assistants in conducting the work of the station. 



Respectfully submitted. 



(Signed) W. H. SHEBLEY, 



Superintendent of Sisson Hatchery. 



