REPORT OF BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 
31 
beginning in 1901 (four years after the hatchery was established) the amount of 
fish caught increased very rapidly, so that for the five years 1903-7, inclusive, the 
annual average of shipments was over 3.000,000 pounds and the average annual 
value over $90,000.00. Much of this increase is attributed, both by sporting and 
commercial fishermen, to the gradually increasing effect of the hatchery output. And 
it is argued that an increase in the capacity of the hatchery will still further 
increase the supply of fish, and thus allow an additional number to be caught each 
year. And it is further desired to have some of the output placed in Mad River, so 
as to increase the supply in that stream, which is a small factor in the commercial 
production of fish, but a considerable one from the sportsman’s standpoint. 
Also, if the capacity of the plant be increased as requested, it would give an 
opportunity to handle more steelhead fry, which is greatly desired by the sportsmen 
fishermen. And on occasion, if the eggs could be procured, it would be very 
desirable to hatch out trout to replenish the smaller fishing streams of Humboldt 
County now pretty badly fished out. 
For these reasons, and because of the comparatively small cost of the proposed 
increase in size of plant, we trust your Commission will give this matter your prompt 
and favorable consideration. 
Respectfully, 
[Signed.] W. P. McIntyre, Chairman, 
For the Committee on Increase of Hatchery. 
In our opinion this request should be met on this showing, which is 
further confirmed by the report of the Eureka Harbor Commission. 
As a salmon hatching and distributing station it has no superior, 
being situated less than 20 miles from salt water, which removes to a 
great extent the dangers to which young fry are exposed in the passage 
through fresh water to their natural home, the sea. On the other hand, 
we do not consider the station so well located for the capture of steel- 
head in spawning condition, as the main runs of the fishes when passing 
the mouth of Price Creek are yet too green to be spawned. This has 
been clearly demonstrated by our experience in former years, when 
our men captured hundreds in Eel River by means of seines; attempts 
were also made to hold fish in live-cars taken 25 miles farther up the 
river, but the results did not justify the expense. 
During the season of 1910 a shipment of steelhead eggs, 200,000 in 
number, taken at the dam of the Snow Mountain Power Company on 
the South Fork of Eel River in Mendocino County about 100 miles 
inland, was made to this station via Ukiah, thence by rail to San Fran¬ 
cisco, carried by steamer to Eureka, and again shipped by rail to 
Alton. These eggs arrived in good condition, all things considered. 
(Note report of Superintendent Fassett.) 
By continuing the egg-collecting station on the Snow Mountain 
Power Company’s dam, which possesses unusual advantages for taking 
a large number of steelhead eggs, we could add greatly to the output 
of the Eel River Hatchery. Another opportunity to contribute is pre¬ 
sented by the fine station on Scott Creek, in Santa Cruz County, which 
is improving yearly. When the railway now building northward from 
Sherwood towards Eureka is completed, it will be comparatively an 
easy matter to ship in 1,000,000 eyed steelhead eggs from the Snow 
Mountain stations, which may also furnish a supply of salmon eggs. 
