REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XCVII 



As soon as the eggs had been fertilized they were hauled in wagons 

 from the fishing-grounds to the hatchery (about two-thirds of a mile), 

 where they were placed in baskets until eyed and ready for shipment. 

 The first consignment was forwarded to Sisson on November 10, and 

 shipments continued from that time until January. Of the total num- 

 ber collected 24,000,000 were turned over to the California Commission, 

 to be hatched on the Sacramento and Eel rivers; 4,000,000 were sent to 

 Baird ; 6,000,000 were sent east on car No. 3 ; 2,000,000 were transferred 

 to Bear Valley Station and 3,000,000 to Clackamas, Greg. 



The remaining 6,000,000 yielded 5,885,500 fry, which were liberated 

 in Battle Creek between December 16 and February 28, on which date 

 the station was closed and placed in charge of a watchman. The total 

 loss of eggs during incubation was 3,395,000. 



In December Mr. Cloudsley Butter was detached from Battle Creek 

 and ordered to Olema, Bear Valley, Cal., to hatch and liberate the 

 2,000,000 eggs transferred to that point. The loss during incubation 

 was small, 1,070,000 fry being hatched, but owing to limited facilities 

 for holding them in the hatchery it was found necessary to liberate tbem 

 a few days after the bursting of the shell, in Olema Creek, Papermill 

 Creek, Hatchery Pond, Hatchery Creek, and a brook near Inverness. 



In depositing the fry, shoals or riffles were selected as the most suit- 

 able places. When the fry were first planted the creeks were very low, 

 which enabled Mr. Butter and his assistant to observe their movements 

 closely. During the first nine days they moved neither up nor down 

 stream, but collected in groups in shallow places. At one spot from 

 4,000 to 5,000 were found in an eddy behind a rock. After the heavy 

 rain of February 1, however, no further traces of them could be seen. 

 On February 26 the station was closed and observations were discon- 

 tinued, owing to lack of funds. The grounds upon which the plants 

 had been made were examined again on April 10 and very few fry were 

 found in the creek, though enough had been planted to give 2 to every 

 square foot of surface from the mouth to the highest point at which 

 deposits were made. 



Fort Gaston Station, California (W. E. Dougherty in charge). 



Owing to lack of rains during the summer and fall, very few salmon 

 and no steelheads reached the traps in the spring; consequently no 

 work was done at Fort Gaston. At Bedwood large numbers of salmon 

 were taken below the rack, but owing to lack of facilities only about half 

 of them were used. During the year 1,410,000 steelhead eggs, 1,283,450 

 eggs of the chinook and nerka salmon, and 41,000 rainbow-trout eggs 

 were collected; 710,000 steelhead eggs were shipped to eastern stations; 

 the balance were hatched, and the fry resulting from the steelheads and 

 the salmon were liberated in Bedwood Creek. The rainbow-trout fry 

 (35,950) were deposited in Mill, Pine, and Fish Tangatang creeks. 



As these stations are practically inaccessible, it being necessary to 

 pack on mules all material carried in and out, and as better results can 

 F. R. 98 VII 



