3G FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



MOUNT WHITNEY HATCHERY. 



>\Ioniit AVhitnoy Ilatcliciy has been opci-atctl lo its full capacity 

 during the last l)ieimial period, and we would resi)ect fully reconiuiend 

 that a new hatchery of equal capacity be establislied on the Mount 

 Whitney grounds, or a new station established in 1he ^Mono-Alpine 

 r(>gion. so that a greater number of trout fry coidd l)e produced in 

 this sectiou of the state. There are also several possible sites on other 

 streams in the Owens River Valley, but the Los Angeles aqueduct has 

 taken over the greater portion of these, so it is doubtful if sufficient 

 water could be obtained for the installation of another hatchery in tliis 

 section. The increasing demands for lisli in southern California and 

 the region consisting of Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties, must be sup- 

 l)]ied from a source where eggs can be hatched and the fry distributed 

 within tlie shortest distance for transportation. In all probability, we 

 will be able to recommend to the board within the next year the selec- 

 tion of a site in eitber ]\Iono or Alpine counties w^here a hatchery 

 could be established that would relieve the heavy demand on the ]\Iount 

 Whitney Ilatcheiy, thus allowing the output of this hatchery to be 

 shipped to southern California. 



During the spring of 1923, meetings were held in Independence with 

 the other users of the w^ater from Oak Creek, from which is obtained 

 our supply of water for Mount AVhitney Hatchery, and an amicable 

 adjustment was made of the amount of water to be used at this station 

 for the propagation and rearing of fish, as well as the amount to be 

 used on the lawns and flower beds. Mr. Gordon Zander, of the Divi- 

 sion of Water Rights, kindly assisted in In-inging about this adjust- 

 ment. The amount of water for the use of the hatchery grounds, lawns, 

 and flower beds, was measured and the amount determined that the 

 state should use for this purpose, which was agreeable to the other 

 users of water from Oak Creek. 



COTTONWOOD LAKES STATION. 



This station was last operated in 1920. Owing to the large take of 

 eggs which filled our hatcheries to their capacity during 1921, 1922 and 



1923, the Cottonwood Lakes Station was not operated. In the spring of 



1924, at the request of a number of prominent sportsmen in southern 

 California, we planned to open this station for the collection of golden 

 trout eggs for distribution in barren lakes, and, also, in some of the 

 lakes in w^hich golden trout had been introduced several years ago in 

 the IMono- Alpine region, and in which they are now thriving wonder- 

 fully well. Upon the arrival of our crews at this station at the time 

 the golden trout are usually entering the tributary streams of these 

 lakes to spaAvn, our men found these streams practically dry owing 

 to the extreme drought which has prevailed over the entire coast. The 

 traps were installed in the creek flowing between the upper and lower 

 lakes and 460,000 golden trout eggs Avere collected. These were hatched 

 and will be distributed in the lakes suitable for this species of fish 

 this coming fall. 



RAE LAKES STATION. 



Tlie Rae Lakes egg-collecting station w^as not operated during the 

 spring of 1922 ; but, owing to the shortage of eggs at other stations, was 

 operated again during the spring of 1924 and the 410,000 eggs collected 

 were transferred to the Mount Whitney Hatchery and the resulting 

 fry will be distributed from that station. 



