LXXXII EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. 



year. The hatchery was put in order at the usual time, and an annex 

 80 feet long by 8 feet wide was built for the purpose of accommodating 

 an additional 2,000,000 salmon eggs for the California commission. 

 When the time came for salmon to arrive, few if any were to be found. 

 Mr. Livingston Stone, who is still in charge of this station, arrived at 

 the station August 1, and on the 7th of August, when it was expected 

 that 500 or 1,000 salmon would be taken, but one specimen, and that a 

 small one, was caught. As the days passed on the numbers continued 

 very small ; and it was not possible to secure during the latter time 

 more than 1,000,000 eggs, and a careful investigation was made of the 

 cause of the scarcity. It was found that from 3,000 to 6,000 Chinamen 

 were at work on the California and Oregon Kailroad, which runs along 

 the Sacramento Eiver, 8 or 10 miles below the hatchery. The blasting 

 operations of the railroad company were on a gigantic scale, it being 

 stated on good authority that two six-horse wagon loads of gunpowder 

 were used at a single blast, and that this blasting was kept up day and 

 night. Mr. Stone considers this blasting to be an ample explanation 

 of the failure of the salmon to ascend the river. But it was also al- 

 leged, with some show of truth, that the Chinamen did a very large 

 business in capturing fish below, while they were at work, by exploding 

 giant powder in the river. As before stated, but 1,000,000 eggs could 

 be obtained. These were handled with great care, but on the 19th of 

 September an accident happened to the wheel, which cut off the sup- 

 ply of water, and 25 per cent of the eggs were lost before the necessary 

 changes could be made. The remainder were turned over to the Califor- 

 nia fish commission on the 6th of October, to be hatched and returned 

 to California waters. 



In addition to the scarcity of salmon in the McCloud, which was at- 

 tributed to the operations on the railroad, it was discovered that there 

 were very few salmon in the Spokane Eiver. This was the cause of 

 considerable consternation to the Indians who annually encamped near 

 Spokane Falls in anticipation of a large run. Up to October 1, they 

 had obtained not more than a few dozen fish, while in 1882, a traveler 

 reported seeing from 40,000 to 50,000 salmon drying at one time under 

 the care of the Indians. 



The catch of salmon at the canneries on the Sacramento Eiver was 

 fully up to that of the previous year. The total for the year ending 

 October 15, 1883, was stated to be 451,957 spring salmon and 160,542 

 fall salmon, weighing 7,349,988 pounds, delivered to the different fishing 

 firms. The wholesale dealers received 115,004 spring salmon and 52,902 

 fall salmon, making a grand total of 780,405 salmon, weighing 9,585,672 

 pounds. 



The average yield of the canneries on the Sacramento for the years 

 1881, 1882, and 1883 was 9,596,984 pounds. The average yield for 1875 

 and 1876, before any fruits of fish-culture could have appeared, was 

 5,205,102 ijounds, a net gain per annum of 4,391,882 pounds. 



