78 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



Verdi, Nevada, was selected, where in 1902 a cheap building was con- 

 structed and fitted up as a hatchery to hold the eggs until such time 

 as they could be shipped to Sisson and Tahoe. The lease for the land 

 used was donated to the board by Mrs. INIargaret Foulkes of Verdi, 

 Nevada. 



The spawn fish were collected from the river by means of traps placed 

 near the fishway on the dam, directly in front of the hatchery building. 



The run of rainbow trout at this point was an agreeable surprise, and 

 was made possible by the action of all the owner.s of dams in the river 

 in Nevada in placing fish-ladders on tlie dams and by the efforts of the 

 peace officers of Nevada, who enforced the closed season. The Truckee 

 River rises in California, its head being in Lake Tahoe. It passes for 

 many miles through the mountains of California and then runs into 

 Nevada, emptying into Pyramid Lake, so that both Nevada and Cali- 

 fornia are intimately concerned in any action that will lead to the 

 betterment of the fishing interests of this river. 



The authority for operations at this point was granted by the county 

 commissioners of Washoe County, Nevada, who appreciated the fact 

 that California and Nevada are jointly interested in improving the 

 fishing conditions of the Truckee River. In addition to granting this 

 authority, the commissioners exercised their power to have the laws 

 enforced in Nevada. Between the last of February and the first of 

 May 538,000 rainbow trout eggs were taken. In addition 500,000 black- 

 spotted trout eggs were taken ; for lack of hatching room, however, all 

 but 218 ])lack-spotted trout were liberated in the river above the traps. 

 The total number of eggs collected at the station the first year was 

 1,038,000, part of which were shipped to the Sisson Hatchery and part 

 to the Tahoe Hatchery, the balance being hatched and liberated in the 

 Truckee River near Verdi, in Nevada. 



So far as trout propagation is concerned, there is no stream so 

 naturally prolific and so responsive to propagation and protection as 

 this mountain stream. The take in the spring of 1904 was most dis- 

 couraging, although the prospects were good. There were large num- 

 bers of good-sized fish to be seen, but the heavy and continuous storms 

 kept the Truckee River at a flood stage for several months. The gates 

 at the outlet of Lake Tahoe, which had been closed during the summer 

 of 1903, had stored the water to a higher level than usual. This was 

 quickly raised by the heavy rain and melting snow until it became 

 necessary, in order to save the property around Lake Tahoe, to open 

 the flood gates to their full extent. The continuous flow of such a 

 large volume carried away dams and swept a great deal of heavy debris 

 down the river, taking out racks and traps and making it impossible 

 to replace them. The failure to make a good collection was due 

 solely to the unusual conditions, the total take being about 75,000 eggs, 

 35,000 of which were eyed and sent to the United States Fisheries sta- 

 tion at Leadville, Colorado. About 30,000 fry were hatched at Verdi 

 and liberated in the waters of the State of Nevada. 



In 1905 the station was discontinued, the Truckee River continuing 

 at such a height that tlie capture of spawning fish was not feasible with 

 the equipment at hand. The funds of the commission would not allow 

 a permanent barrier or trap ; at least, the number of eggs collected did 

 not justify the expense at that time. The hatchery supplies were sent 



