PROPAttATION OF SALMON ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 
217 
discontinued operations at tlie salmon-breeding station on McCloud Eiver in 1S84, and 
they were not renewed till 1888, when the writer was made field superintendent of the 
Pacific Coast, and instructed by Hon. Marshall McDonald, then United States Com- 
missioner of Fish and Fisheries, to push vigorously the salmon-breeding work on this 
coast. The writer reopened Baird station in the spring of 1888, and leaving Mr. 
George B. Williams, jr., in charge as temporary superintendent, proceeded to Oregon 
to cany out the instructions of the Commissioner to secure for the United States the 
salmon-breeding station on Clackamas River, Oregon. This station, which the writer 
built for the Oregon and Washington Fish Propagating Company (cannery owners on 
the Columbia) in 1877, was still owned by them, but had been leased to the State of 
Oregon. The company at first wanted $10,000 for the station, but after several weeks 
of consulting and negotiating they consented to deed the place to the United States 
for nothing, and the Oregon commissioners gave up their lease on the reimbursement 
to them by the United States of the actual cost of improvements they had just made. 
The transfer was lu’actically made July 1, 1888, on which day the splendid salmon- 
breeding plant on Clackamas Eiver became a station of the United States Fish 
Commission. 
Upon the writer’s recommendation Mr. Williams was confirmed as permanent 
superintendent of Baird station, and held that position from 1888 to July, 1892. 
During this time an average of 3,000,000 salmon eggs was taken annually and various 
improvements made to the station, including the construction of a ‘‘winter-quarters 
building,” which has always been used since for the superintendent’s residence. 
In August, 1892, on the resignation of Mr. Williams, the writer resumed charge 
of Baird station. Hot much was accomifiished that year, but the next year, 1893, 
nearly 8,000,000 eggs were taken. The next year, 1894, owing to very unexpected 
high water in October the number of salmon eggs collected dropped to about 4,500,000, 
but the next year, 1895, the number rose again to nearly 10,000,000, breaking the 
record of this station for every previous year except the extraordinary season of 1878, 
above mentioned. 
Of these last few years, the work having fallen into specified grooves, there is very 
little to relate, one season being very much like another. One thing, however, which 
promises to be very useful to the station in the future, as well as a saving of expense, 
deserves mention, and that is the construction of a ditch for bringing the water 
supply by gravity to the hatching-house during the fall run of salmon. 
It is dangerous to use the current wheel in the fall, and it is expensive to run the 
engine. The ditch does away with both, and as it requires no watching in good 
weather it saves the expense of a night watchman. The ditch takes the water from 
Wiley Creek at a point about l^- miles from the hatching-house, and up to this time 
has worked admirably, which is all the more encouraging because an irrigating ditch 
grows safer and more reliable every year it is used. 
It should be mentioned here that, Avhile at first, from 1872-1883, inclusive, Baird 
station was operated chiefly for other waters of the United States, now it is almost 
wholly operated for the benefit of the Pacific Coast, as the distribution this year, 
1895-96, will show. 
Perhaps this account of Baird station ought not to be concluded without a brief 
reference to a station of the California State Fish Commission, which may possibly 
pass very soon into the charge of the United States. This station is situated on a 
