32 REPORT OF BOARD OP FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 



REPORT OP SUPERINTENDENT Of HATCHERIES. 



Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, 

 for the State of California. 



Gentlemen: I take pleasure in submitting my report of the work 

 done at the Sisson Hatchery and other State hatcheries during the 

 season from December 1, 1911, to November 1, 1912; and also of my 

 work as Superintendent of Fish Culture and Distribution. I have 

 made monthly reports of all this work, which covered in a compre- 

 hensive way everything that was being done under my supervision. 

 I shall, therefore, endeavor to cover in this report only such matters 

 as will be of interest to the public or those especially interested, but 

 perhaps less informed than your honorable Board. 



The work in general is in a most satisfactory and prosperous condi- 

 tion, due in a very great measure to the substantial support and cooper- 

 ation I have received from the Board of Commissioners. I have been 

 in the employ of the Commission for almost thirty years, and this is 

 the first time during that period that I have received the hearty 

 cooperation of the entire Board. I attribute in no small measure the 

 success of the past season to this source, and I am deeply grateful 

 for all the encouragement and material assistance thus given. 



THE SISSON HATCHERY. 



The excellent condition of the buildings and surroundings at the 

 Sisson Hatchery enabled us to escape the usual heavy expense of the 

 past few years of the building of new structures. The fences had a 

 new coat of paint, as did also the exterior of hatchery "A," and all 

 of the troughs in each hatchery were newly painted. A few new 

 flumes have been built, and new gravel bottoms have been put in some 

 of the ponds. A great deal of ugly brush has been removed, thus 

 putting the ponds in a neater looking, as well as more sanitary con- 

 dition. The roofs of all the buildings were repaired and a new motor 

 was installed in the feed house. 



At Bogus, Shovel and Camp creeks, small egg collecting stations 

 under the supervision of this hatchery, the buildings, traps and screens 

 were given a thorough overhauling and at Bogus creek an addition 

 was built to the dwelling occupied by the men during the egg collect- 

 ing season, 



THE DISTRIBUTION CAR. 



The distribution car also came in for its share of improvements. 

 The boiler and air pumps especially were in poor condition and in 

 April the car was sent to the Sacramento car shops of the Southern 

 Pacific Railroad. The aerating system was improved by doubling the 

 number of aerating plugs in each unit, thus insuring an abundance 

 of oxygen in each can. The fish have carried better this season than 

 ever before. Reports received from nearly all of the applicants made 

 mention of the excellent condition of the fry at the time of delivery. 



