June 21, 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
783 
How to Build a Fish Ladder, or Chute, with Specifications 
As Adopted for Use in Missouri Streams by Jesse A. Tolerton, State 
Game and Fish Commissioner 
CRIB OR BULKHEAD. 
ONSTRUCT of white oak, cypress, pine or 
other durable wood 2 x 12 “joist stuff.” 
Miter and bolt the corners thoroughly in 
order to resist the drift which might float down 
and strike bulkhead. Bolt the sides of bulkhead 
at the bottom at corners with strap irons, full 
length on sides, and nut and washer on under 
side of bottom. The top crib on top of bulk¬ 
head should project or stand out of the water 
at least two feet higher than the main chute. 
Fill the crib and bulkhead with heavy stone 
or concrete, sufficient in weight to anchor the 
chute firmly down to dam. Always recess the 
chute into dam, sufficient to let full current of 
water flow through the fishway at low water 
mark; the top of the chute must always be 
under water. 
If current is too strong to put chute in place, 
a temporary coffer dam of sand bags may be 
constructed in checking the flow of water until 
chute is in place and bulkhead weighted down. 
Sand bags should be removed when chute is 
completed. 
CHUTE OR RUNWAY. 
Construct the chute of two-inch material 
(white oak). Build first the chute from the 
crib, letting 2 x 12 bottom pieces extend through 
under bulkhead. In making joints see to it that 
they come on the arms. Bolt the 2 x 12 arms 
to bottom and top with two one-half inch bolts 
to each arm, letting them run clear through. 
Also use plenty of spikes in securing all parts 
together. The runway of the chute must extend 
to within two feet of the bottom of the river, 
and into the pool below the dam. It may be 
placed at either one side or in the center of 
the dam, but must be placed in the channel of 
the stream and where the greatest depth is al- 
,ways to be found. 
Cover the entire chute with two-inch white 
oak planks, leaving a two-inch space between the 
planks for the purpose of cleaning out the 
pockets. Use plenty of wire nails in the con¬ 
struction. Support the slanting chute from the 
bottom of the stream by knees or horses on 
proper and sufficiently strong supports. The 
length of the chute is determined by the height 
of the dam, the fall being four feet to every 
one foot of height of the dam. In securing the 
chute to the horses or knees, place an iron band 
over the chute and extend down and bolt on to 
the upright supports in order that the two will 
be securely made fast together. 
At the bottom of horses or supports find or 
form a solid bottom, and bolt firmly a cross arm 
from one to the other, extending on either side 
about 2 feet in the clear of the runway, and 
on this arm secure by wiring sufficient weight 
to anchor and hold fast the lower end of chute 
to within two feet of bottom of stream during 
high or low water, so it will not be inclined to 
float. Keep both these lower and upper ends 
of the chutes always clear of debris for the free 
passage of fish. 
In connecting the slanting part of chute to 
the level part which lays in the dam, use strap 
irons bolted to each section securely, place one 
across each joint, on sides, top and bottom. 
Should dam be of such height as to need several 
sections, always put sufficient supports, well se¬ 
cured and bolted and weighted down. 
Estimated amount of material needed to con¬ 
struct a fish chute five feet wide upon dam with 
eight feet fall, the top of dam being six feet 
wide. It will be noted that eight feet is far in 
excess of the height of most dams. 
Feet. 
9—2x12x8 bulkhead and crib sides.144 
5—2XI2XI2 bulkhead bottom & level chute. 120 
10—2x12x16 chute bottom, 32-foot run.320 
5—2x12x16 chute sides, 32-foot run.160 
10—2x10x16 chute top, 32-foot run.268 
5—2XI2XI0 chute pockets or arms.100 
5—6x6x16 knees or horses.240 
I yard rock to weight bulkhead. 
3 strap bolts, 36 inches long, for bulkhead and 
crib. 
12 bolts, I4xi2 inches for bulkhead. 
24 bolts. )4xi6 inches for arms. 
25 pounds spikes. 
24 strap irons for joints in chute. Carpenter 
and dray. 
FIG. 1. 
