THIRTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 61 



KLAMATHON SALMON EGG-COLLECTING STATION 



During the seasons of 1926 and 1927 there were 28,000,000 Chinook 

 salmon eggs collected at this station. 



In October, 1927, the run of salmon that usually reaches the racks in 

 large numbers began to decline and the run of fish did not ascend the 

 river in their usual numbers. This was caused by the low stage of the 

 water and the great amount of algal growths in the water of the Kla- 

 math River. This condition occurs whenever the river is low. The 

 gases thrown off by the algae and the swampy odor of the water have a 

 bad effect on the salmon on the upper reaches during seasons or condi- 

 tions of low water. Consequently, the salmon do not ascend the river 

 as they do when the water is cooler and is less affected by the gases 

 thrown off by the algae in the river. 



Whenever we have the usual amount of rainfall on the upper reaches 

 of the river during the salmon run, or if the river is up to normal flow 

 from the previous winter storms, the salmon will ascend in numbers as 

 usual to the Klamathon Station. 



TAHOE HATCHERY 



During the biennial period this station has been operated to prac- 

 tically its full capacity. 



A pond and aerating system were installed in the fall of 1926 to cause 

 the temperature of the water from the springs to rise to a higher 

 degree, as well as to give it a better aeration. Since the installation of 

 the pond and aerating system, a marked improvement can be noticed 

 in the fish, as they grow more rapidly and are more active in their 

 habits. The Tahoe Hatchery was operated during the winter of 1927 

 and 1928, the first time since fish cultural operations were carried on 

 at Lake Tahoe. Comfortable buildings for the crew were built, and the 

 fall spawning species were hatched. 



From now on eastern brook, Loch Leven and any fall or winter eggs 

 can be shipped to Tahoe Hatchery and be cared for until the following 

 summer before planting. 



The severe and unusual rain storms that prevailed in the Tahoe 

 region during the latter part of March, 1928, damaged and wrecked all 

 the traps at the auxiliary stations where the eggs are collected. The 

 trap in Blackwood Creek was carried away. At Taylor Creek the 

 highest water on record caused a log jam to form above the trap 

 100 feet long and ten feet high. The state highway bridge just below 

 the trap was carried away, and it took a crew of men several days to 

 remove the debris from the trap and bridge. 



At the Upper Truckee River traps, the flood washed a large hole 

 under the racks and the fish escaped. At the height of the flood the 

 water at the Upper Truckee River traps was 1000 feet wide. 

 This storm piled up very little snow. It was a phenomenal rain storm 

 that did a great deal of damage and soon subsided, leaving very little 

 water in the ground to feed the springs. We were compelled to ship 

 eggs from other stations to fill the Tahoe and Tallac hatcheries, as well 

 as to have fish for the Blackwood Creek tanks. 



