A FIKLD HATCHERY OF THE STATE OF OREGON 
Here the eggs are put in troughs of running water, in which they hatch after a greater 
or less period, according to the temperature of the water. The eggs are picked over every 
day and all sterile or objectionable ones are thrown out. It is necessary to screen the troughs 
at this place on account of birds, which enter boldly and steal the eggs. The water ousel is 
the worst of these thieves. Note and photo by Shirley C. Hulse. 
going many privations, repeatedly sub- 
jected to great danger from attacks of 
Indians and outlaws, and devising meth- 
ods which showed the possibiHties of sal- 
mon culture and led to the present extra- 
ordinary development of this art. 
The original Baird hatchery, still in 
active operation, is now supplemented by 
numerous other government stations, 
which may be regarded as lineal descend- 
ants. Two of these are in the Sacra- 
mento Valley, in California; four are in 
the Columbia basin, in Oregon and 
Washington ; four are in the Puget 
Sound region, and two are in Alaska. 
The three Pacific-coast States now main- 
tain more than 30 salmon hatcheries, the 
largest number being in Washington. In 
British Columbia 11 hatcheries are oper- 
ated by the government. 
A feature of the salmon industry which 
is not met with in any other branch of 
the fisheries has been the establishment 
and maintenance by private interests of 
hatcheries on various parts of the coast. 
At present this practice is confined to 
Alaska, where, in 191 1, five hatcheries 
belonging to canning companies pro- 
duced and liberated many millions of 
young red salmon. 
THE VAST EXTENT OF SALMON CULTURE 
The eggs of the salmons are .2 to .25 
inch in diameter, and are the largest 
handled by the fish culturist. They are 
easily obtained by intercepting the fish 
on their way to the spawning grounds by 
means of racks, traps, seines, etc., and 
then, when exactly ripe, by expressing 
by firm pressure on the abdomen. 
The size and activity of the salmons 
make it necessary for two or three men 
to work together in holding the fish and 
relieving them of their eggs and milt, 
and the largest individuals are most 
readily managed by putting them in a 
straight jacket. 
503 
