%. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



unbearable, but twenty or twenty-five feet away ice was forming on the floor, and 

 on the north and west sides of the hatching room from one-half to three inches of 

 ice was on the floor continually during a very cold snap. As a matter of expense, 

 I would mention the amount paid for coal during the winter of 1894 and 1895, when 

 over $109 worth of coal was put through the stove, and I will guarantee that with 

 the new hot-water heater the temperature will never get below fifty in any part of the 

 hatching room, and that the expense for coal will not exceed $75 for the whole season. 



In this report Mr. Cheney has referred to the epidemic or mortality among the 

 fish located at this hatchery and in the adjacent stream, and has so fully covered the 

 ground that I think it is unnecessary to again call attention to that matter. I fully 

 concur with Mr. Cheney's idea that perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, as I was 

 familiar with the kinds and quality of the fish contained in the breeding ponds, and 

 I know that a large majority of them had been crossed and recrossed so that it was 

 impossible even for an expert to determine to what variety, or species, they belonged. 

 What fish have been brought to the hatchery since this visitation of Providence, 

 have been pure bred fish, and I trust that the streams of the State will hereafter be 

 stocked with fry from this hatchery that the sportsmen will know what they are when 

 they catch them. After all of the losses among the fish are taken into account (and 

 they have been greatly magnified by many of the newspaper correspondents), I wish 

 to say, that fully ninety per cent, as many fry will be ready for distribution from this 

 hatchery next spring as ever before. 



I am in hopes that some legislation will be enacted during the coming winter, 

 giving the Commissioners power to secure additional water rights, or privileges, at the 

 head of this stream, so that in the future we can guard against the recurrence of last 

 summer's experience. 



During the past season I succeeded in securing from the California Fish Commis- 

 sion a consignment of what is commonly called on the Pacific coast red throat trout 

 eggs (Sa/mo mykisi). Part of these eggs were received in good condition and were 

 hatched, and at the present time we have in our rearing ponds about 2,500 of the fry 

 that are about six months old. The balance of the fry I distributed in three different 

 localities, where they are carefully guarded, so that I feel very confident that nothing 

 can happen that will prevent our being able to secure a number for breeding fish. 



The Clayton Hatchery is located in Jefferson county, about three miles from the 

 village of Clayton. The State does not own this property, only the hatching apparatus 

 used in the hatchery. 



When it comes to numbers of fish turned out, then this hatchery is well towards 

 the top. Operations are only conducted here during a portion of the year, 



