40 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



BROOKDALE HATCHERY. 



All of the steelhead eggs collected at tlie Scott Creek Egg-Collecting 

 Station were transferred as nsual to this station dnring the last two 

 years, and from there distributed to the other hatcheries and the 

 nsiial number of fry hatched for Santa Cruz County. Owing to the 

 increasing demand for water from Alba and Clear creeks, which supply 

 the summer residents who have cottages at Brookdale, and the drought 

 which has prevailed in this section, and other causes, we deem it 

 advisable to buy an additional piece of land at Scott Creek station 

 where the state already owns the ground where the egg-collecting sta- 

 tion is located, and construct a new building to hatch the fry for the 

 district comprising Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara and San Mateo 

 counties. An ample supply of water can be obtained from Big Creek 

 to operate a hatchery approximately twice the size of tlie Brookdale 

 Hatcheiy, which is necessary to supply this section of the state. The 

 fry can easily be distributed from this station to the railroad at Daven- 

 port, as well as by truck to the main line at Santa Cruz. The county 

 board of supervisors of Santa Cruz County have rendered every assist- 

 ance possible to make Brookdale Hatchery a success and are cooperating 

 with us to secure a hatchery site on Big Creek for increasing the pro- 

 duction of fry for tliat section of the state ; and we hope by the time 

 this report is published that we will have the site secured and be able 

 to submit plans for tlie construction of a new hatchery on this pro- 

 posed site. The hatchery at Brookdale is rapidly decaying, as the 

 building is quite old and the troughs, tanks, and even the foundation 

 would have to be rebuilt if the station is run longer than another sea- 

 son. We do not deem it advisable to construct a new station on the old 

 site and- recommend the construction of a new hatchery on Big Creek, 

 a tributary of Scott Creek. The land held under lease at Brookdale 

 could be hold and the small ponds used for the rearing of trout fry 

 when the surplus fry from the main station at Scott Creek would cause 

 us to look for more room than the hatchery would furnish. The small 

 ponds might be put to good use by the county in holding their fry 

 until they were ready to make the distribution. 



The total numl)er of fry distril)uted from Brookdale during the 

 seasons of 1922 and 1923 is as follows: In 1922, 859,000; and in 1923, 

 850,000. 



SCOTT CREEK STATION. 



Tliis egg-collecting station has been holding its average up to the 

 present time. The flow of water at this station has been interfered with 

 by the appropriation. of water from this stream l)y a Mr. Widemann, 

 who filed an application with the Water Connnission to divert a portion 

 of the water from this stream for use on lands adjacent to Scott Creek. 

 We protested the matter to the Division of Water Rights and are now 

 awaiting an adjnstment of the water supply which we desire to remain 

 in this stream so lliat the fry will liave ample water in which to main- 

 tain tlicinselves during the summer months before descending to the 

 ocean. 'I'll is is very essential if Scott Creek is to be operated as an 

 egg-collecting station and spawners, oi- adnll (isli, maintained in this 

 strcani. AVe are of the opinion that an amicable adjustment of the 

 amount of water can ])e obtained and that there will not be any serious 

 trou])Ic with the pumping plants established by Mr. Widemann. 



