46 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



Big Bear's Unique Program 



In a co-operative program that may well point the 

 way to vastl\- improved fishing and better business in 

 California's most popular mountain resort areas, the 

 community of Big Bear Lake formed a park district 

 and taxed itself 145,000 a year in both 1957 and 1958 

 for the sole purpose of purchasing commercially 

 reared trout to supplement those stocked in their lake 

 by the Department of Fish and Game. 



The community reasoned that when the economy 

 of an area is based largely on public recreation it 

 makes sense that the commercial enterprises and prop- 

 erty owners of that area should help provide the rec- 

 reation that supports their business and property 

 values. They stocked Big Bear Lake with more than 

 20 tons of trout in 1957 and some 32 tons of trout 

 in 1958. The venture paid off so well businesswise, 

 that the program will be continued indefinitely. 



TROUT 



During the period covered by this report the depart- 

 ment operated 15 trout and salmon hatcheries and one 



rearing station, and planted a total of 47,784,267 trout 

 and salmon weighing 3,736,780 pounds. Catchable 

 trout, averaging approximately eight inches in length, 

 made up 33 percent of the total number and 89 percent 

 of the total weight. 



The following trout and salmon hatcheries were 

 operated during the biennium: Mt. Shasta, Crystal 

 Lake, Darrah Springs, Cedar Creek, Nimbus, Mocca- 

 sin Creek, Hot Creek, San Joaquin, Fish Springs, Mt. 

 Whitney, Black Rock Rearing Ponds, Sequoia, Moore- 

 house Springs, Kern River, Fillmore and Mojave. 



Two outmoded hatcheries, Tahoe and Yosemite, 

 were closed. Both of these stations were high cost 

 per pound units and could not be brought up to a 

 state of higher efficiency. Waters formerly stocked 

 by these hatcheries are now being planted by airplane 

 with fingerlings produced at modern and larger 

 hatchery units at a lesser cost. 



Wildlife Conservation Board funds made it possible 

 to construct new broodstock ponds and spawning fa- 

 cilities at the Alt. Shasta Hatchery. This installation 

 has an ultimate capacity of 21,000,000 eggs. Those 

 facilities are of the latest design and contribute much 



Big Bear Lake in the Son Bernardino Mountains. 



-Fish and Game Photo 



