REPORT OP BOARD OP PISH AXD GAME COMMISSIONERS. 39 



THE SACRAMENTO EXPERIMENTAL STATION. 



During the fall of 11)11 the ('onimi.ssion decided to carr.x- on a series 

 of experiments to determine whethei' the eggs of the quinnat salmon 

 could be successfully hatched and the fry reared near the city of Sac- 

 ramento. It was thought that if water conld be foiiiul in which the 

 eggs could be hatched without causing iiijui-y to the eggs and embryos, 

 that a greater percentage of the fr\- would safely reach the ocean, than 

 would be the case if they were all liberated in the upper reaches of the 

 river near the natural spawning grounds. It was maintained that 

 under the old system of liberating the fry a,s soon as they were able 

 to swim, that a great many of them were devoured by predatory fishes, 

 and others were carried into the overflow basins during years of flood. 



Accordingly, the station at Sacramento was established. Mr. F. A. 

 Shebley conducted the work in addition to his duties as superintendent 

 of the Brookdale Hatchery. The experiments as carried on at Sacra- 

 mento are of vital importance to the salmon industry. After experi- 

 menting with the water from a number of wells, a How of water was 

 found on the Sherburn tract that appeared to give average results in 

 hatching. The fish hatched at this station were all released in the Sac- 

 ramento River. Of these. 50.000 were marked. A close watch will be 

 kept for the return of these fish when they return at maturity, to find 

 out if a greater percentage return as mature salmon than those that are 

 released on the upper reaches of the Sacramento River. 



Nearly all of the fry that were liberated in the Sacramento River 

 were floated in a screen cage by boat into the middle of the stream and 

 there released. Mr. N. B. Scofield, however, took 500 in a floating box 

 down the river, where they were held and fed for several weeks in 

 brackish and salt water. They were not affected by the sudden change 

 from fresh to brackish and then to the saline waters of the straits near 

 the outlet of the bay. Mr. Scofield. who conducted the experiment, 

 will furnish a report of the minor details of this work. 



In order to accurately determine whether better results are obtained 

 by hatching and releasing the fry nearer tidewater than are obtained 

 under the old system, it will be necessary to operate this station for a 

 number of years. A certain number of fry will be marked each year 

 until conclusive results are obtained. 



In the course of the experiments above mentioned and in the search 

 for suitable water for hatching purposes, two wells were bored, and the 

 water from other wells was also analysed and experimented with. The 

 batteries or series of troughs used in these experiments were set up in 

 the open near the wells and the pumping plants were installed tem- 

 porarily. The best results were obtained from the well on the Sherburn 

 tract. Here a battery of 40 troughs was set up on the levee, and the 

 pumping plant installed in a small building of corrugated iron. As the 

 work continues during the coming season it will be necessary that a tent 

 or temporary building be erected over the hatching battery, and I 

 respectfully recommend that these few improvements be made in order 



