THIRTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 57 



PRAIRIE CREEK 



During the summer and fall of 1927, a survey was made to find a 

 stream on the northwest coast from which cut-throat trout eggs could 

 be obtained. After a close study and from data gathered in former 

 years, we decided to establish a temporary hatchery and traps on Prairie 

 Creek, Humboldt County. Prairie Creek is a tributary of Kedwood 

 Creek, one of the large streams of northern Humboldt County. Racks 

 and traps were installed by an experienced crew, but the heavy rainfall 

 in that section made the work difficult. The men, working in mud and 

 water in the dense redwoods where there is very little if any sunshine 

 during the winter months, and where even in the summer there is a 

 heavy shade nearly all day from the giant redwood trees, caused the 

 ground to be soft and muddy all winter. The tent hatchery was estab- 

 lished under trying conditions, but by the middle of November the 

 racks were in place and the crew was ready to collect cut-throat trout 

 eggs as well as steelhead eggs in the spring. The station is located on 

 Prairie Creek below its junction with Lost Man Creek. Eight eyeing 

 troughs were installed at first and later the number increased to thirty. 

 The water for the eyeing troughs was taken from Lost Man Creek and 

 carried to the troughs through about 2500 feet of twelve-inch flume. 



Two cabins were also built to accommodate the employees. The 

 material was not on the ground soon enough to have the racks finished 

 for the run of Chinook salmon and the high water allowed the cut- 

 throat run to pass over the top of the racks. During the run of the 

 silver salmon, 208,000 eggs were taken and the fry hatched at the sta- 

 tion, excepting 60,000 which were taken to Fort Seward Hatchery to be 

 liberated in Eel River. 



During the steelhead run about 1,400,000 eggs were taken. 762,000 

 were shipped to Fort Seward Hatchery and the balance hatched, reared 

 and are to be distributed from Prairie Creek Station. 



Judging from the first season's showing, we think the establishing of 

 the station was justifiable and the station is a decided asset. There is 

 ample water for hatchery purposes, even if the capacity is increased 

 and the water seems to be good. 



Several log jams and other obstructions in Prairie Creek below the 

 racks made it hard for the fish to ascend the creek. These have been 

 partially removed and all of those which are in the way will be taken 

 out before the salmon run this fall. 



There are four varieties of fish that run in the creek — Chinook 

 salmon, silver salmon, cut-throat trout, and steelhead trout. The Chi- 

 nooks and steelhead are desirable for general distribution and the silver 

 salmon and cut-throat trout are of value for distribution in Humboldt 

 County. 



BROOKDALE HATCHERY 



After being in operation since 1905, we had the first epidemic of any 

 consequence among the fish at this hatchery during the spring of 1927. 

 An epidemic broke out among the fish in the hatchery that would not 

 respond to any treatment that usually gives results. Dr. George A. 

 Coleman made a pathological study and discovered a protozoan parasite 

 affecting the fish that was deadly in its ravages. The source of this 

 parasite was not discovered, but the condition of the fish was such that 

 they were not resistant- to any infectious diso'ase as the water had been 



