96 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



During the early part of December the force at the station was 

 occupied in building a boom around the premises, cutting down trees 

 near the buildings and flume, and preparing for high water during 

 the following summer. The boom as completed protects all the shore 

 lines from drift. It was made from sticks of timber 40 to 60 feet in 

 length and 12 to 20 inches in diameter. The amount of drift and 

 lumber that settled on the station grounds the previous winter caused 

 very serious inconvenience and necessitated an immense amount of 

 work before the station could be opened. 



During the fall the superintendent visited all the streams on both 

 sides of the Columbia River, between Viento and Celilo Falls, Oregon, 

 with the view to establishing auxiliary stations for taking and eying 

 eggs. The only places that offer any possibilities are the falls at 

 Celilo, where by running a fish- wheel during the closed season some 

 ripe fish might be captured. On the Big White Salmon the prospects 

 are better, except that logging operations would prevent the con- 

 struction of a rack. 



In December the station was closed and placed in charge of a 

 watchman, and the superintendent was transferred east for duty in 

 connection with the shad work. 



Baker Lake Station, Washington (H. H. Buck, Superintendent). 



In July Mr. J. N. Wisner was instructed to proceed to Baker Lake 

 and receive the station from the Washington Fish Commission, from 

 whom it had been purchased, and turn it over to Mr. W. W. Thayer, 

 who had been appointed superintendent. Mr. Thayer, after visiting 

 the station, resigned and was succeeded by Mr. H. H. Buck, but in 

 the interim Mr. Wisner employed a force of men and commenced 

 clearing the seining-grounds and getting the equipment in readiness 

 for the salmon work. By August 1 the permanent personnel, con- 

 sisting of a superintendent, fish-culturist, and two laborers, had been 

 appointed, and a good working force of temporary assistants taken on. 



All supplies for the use of the station were packed in during August 

 and September, as it is very difficult, if not dangerous, to bring in 

 material late in the fall. 



Early in September arrangements were completed for fishing for 

 blueback or sockeye salmon, which seek the lake in large numbers to 

 spawn in still water along its rocky shores. Gill nets 300 feet long 

 and 20 feet deep were employed for the work here, as it was impos- 

 sible to use seines, as the shores of the lake are covered with heavy 

 timber which must have been killed by a rise of water from 50 to 100 

 years ago. The task of removing this material would be exceed- 

 ingly expensive, and as it seems to afford shelter for the young fish 

 and serves as a breeding- place for their food, it is questionable whether 

 it would be advisable to do so. The nets are handled from boats, two 



