48 FISH AXD GAME COMMISSION. 



needed, and an electric lighting plant installed that can be operated 

 with gas engine. All these improvements wonld aggregate between 

 $5,000 and $6,000. This hatcherj'- is very important in keeping the 

 streams of northern Mendocino, Hnmboldt and western Trinity 

 counties stocked with fish and it is earnesth' recommended that the 

 bridge and truck be furnished as soon as possible and all the other 

 improvements made as soon as the funds are available. 



During the past biennial period this station has distributed 498,150 

 salmon, 3,783,620 rainbow, 1,582,700 steelhead, 108,920 large lake, 

 ] 60,000 cut-throat, 200,000 black-spotted trout. 



BROOKDALE HATCHERY. 



All the eggs collected during the last two years from Scott Creek 

 have been held and eyed at Brookdale Hatchery. The number of fish 

 produced from this hatcherj^ average in number approximately the 

 same as in other years. In regards to this station, we make tlie same 

 recommendations as were made in our last biennial report as con- 

 ditions have not improved, but continue to grow worse. Quoting from 

 our last report : ' ' Owing to the increasing demand for water from 

 Alba and Clear Creeks ^Vhich 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 procure more land 

 adjacent to or near the land already owned by the state at Scott 

 Creek Station and construct a modern hatchery with a capacity great 

 enough to supply, trout to the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey and 

 Santa Clara. The land held under lease at Brookdale should be held 

 for the use of holding ponds under the supervision of the foreman of 

 the new Big Creek Hatchery when completed. ' ' 



The total number of frv distributed from Brookdale Hatcherv during 

 the seasons of 1924 and ^1925 was 1,445,000. 



SCOTT CREEK EGG-COLLECTING STATION. 



The number of spawn fish at this station has fallen ott' considerably 

 during the season of the spring of 1926. In 1925, approximately 

 3,000,000 eggs were collected from Scott Creek which is the annual 

 average take of eggs at this station. During the winter of 1925, repairs 

 and improvements were made at this station. The conditions of the 

 stream were favorable for an average take of eggs in the spring of 

 1926, but only 1,300,000 were collected. In the opinion of our fore- 

 man at Brookdale as well as others, the numbers of fish are being 

 greatly depleted by the loss of small fish at the pumping plants located 

 on this creek, Avhicli in our opinion should not have been allowed to 

 be installed as the creek was set aside by an act of the legislature as 

 a fish refuge. Consequently we do not believe anyone had a right 

 to appropriate the water for other purposes. There has been no effort 

 made to prevent fishing in the creek. Poachers have worked on the 

 stream, both in and out of season and the deadly and destructive spear 

 has been used. We are planning to have a watchman employed by the 

 year to patrol the creek and protect the fish at all times and enforce 

 the law against fishing in Scott Creek. It is hoped that by doing this 

 and by stocking the stream heavily and having the pumping plants 

 properly screened, to restore this creek to its former condition. 



