Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-30
FISH AND GAME.
The GOOD WORK THE FISH COMMISSION
IS DOING.
Four Hatcheries Supplying Young Trout
and Salmon Eastern Brook Trout
Multiplying-S Striped Bass

The State Board Of Fish Commissioners
appears to be very active in the matter of
fish propagation, as well as in prosecuting
violators of the game and fish laws, and in
stocking the State with desirable game
birds. The San Francisco Builetia pub
fishes an interview with Superintendent
Woodbury., of the Commission, concerning
the work in which the latter is engaged,
from which it appears that Assistant Super
intendent E W. Hunt has just been dis
patched to take charge of the hatchery at
Lake Tahoe. There are four hatcheries in
the State at present-one al Lake Tahoe,
with capacity of twenty-four troaghs;
one at Sisson of forty eight troughs, one of
the largest in the United States; small
! one at Shovel creek, used for 'eyeing" The
trout eggs for distribution over other parts
of the State, and large salmon hatchery
on Hat creek, near its mouth, where il
empties into Pit river, in Shasta county.
The hatchery on Shovel creek has been
established for the purpose OF taking what
is called salmon trout up there, but are
really the same species as the McCloud
river trout, some of them weighing five
pounds, and having broad red band from
nose TO tail. They have already taken
about 2OO,O eggs there, and are prepared
to take up l 5o000 if they can. The
hatchery is situated on Shovel creek, Siski-
you county, on the road TO the Klamath
lakes, where the Hot Springs Hotel is
located. The eggs are put into the trough,
where the water is running continuously,
and kept there until they show the eve
spot. Then they Will be shipped in wet
moss to the Sisson salmon hatchery, right
under Mount Shasta, near the headwa;ers
of the Sacramento river. FROM there they
will be distributed into the Sacramento
river and its branches, which river at pres
ent is comparatively poorly stocked with
trout, and also distributed among the
streams emptying into San Francisco bay,
10 crafty the expressed desires of the
disciples of lzsak Walton in San Francisco
and vicinity.
They have also about 100 600 red spotted
Eastern trout from New Hampshire in
the Sisson hatchery; also, part of the
100000 salmon eggs received from the
United States hatchery on the McCloud
rlver, the rest having been distributed in
the branches of the Sacramento river DUR
ing the winter, the work being done on
snow shoes ana hand seds. The spawn
trapping the streams TO catch the trout and
obtain Their eggs. which will be haIcaed
o0t IN the Tahoe hatchery-a fire enc tu;lt
last year. The Eastern trout were dis
tribuied by the original Fish Commission
ecs-B. B Redding, S. R Throckmprton
aud Captain Farrell. These trout were dis.
tclbued for year in all the coast streams,
IN the Santa Cruz country and around S "a
Francisco, but they had never reproGavgd
hpO iyaS - fk~S 49,, -,
were put into Placer creek, Lake Tahur 80 d
in the headwaters of the American r,v,r
and Soda Springs, and the South futk OF
the Guba river have maintained their
characteristics and reproduced themselves
in large numbers. IL is q beautiful trout,
the salmon foatiRdliS. One was caught
weighing three pounds in the little lakes
around Tahoe. These will reproduce them
selves in large numbers and in time tne
Commission will be enabled TO stocs the
entire State
The coast streams dry up so tka. lie
Eastern trout have never reproduced IL I'm
selves in those waters, and il is a use.-ss
expenditure of time and money to put them
in those streams. hatchery, costing q
few hundred dollars, should be located in
the vicinity of San Francisco so rs 10 OBJ
viate the cost of Transporting the young
trout from distant haJcherieS. The cust Of
Shipment from SlsklyCu Or Tahoe is Vely
great, as the live fish require skilled ei-
tendant to accompany them, 10 add ice and
fresh water
Striped bass have made their appearance
in the bay Of San Francisco in large num-
bers lately OGe was for sale in the mar
ket lately weighing thirty. one pounds and
full OF spawn. This is the first wear thew
have come in in sufficient numbers 10
prove that their Introduction was
a success. They were caught illegally by
set lines, traps and small mesh seine..
This is one of the finest edible fishes in
American waters, and every possible means
should be taken 70 foster its increase I'd
growth in cur waters. Il is the gIanC st
sporting fish in the world. some attainirga
weight of sixty to ninety pounds, n:,d
gamy in the highest degree. Steps shoUld
be taken al once 10 enforce the provisi 4s
of the law regarding the taking of stri;'i
bass in the spring Of the year. March 4
Aprllis the spawning timeaf this Fl b. & d
special care should be taken that noNe
should be caught during that time. They
had just received big ish of the sucker
family from Lost river, Or at the SissCn
hatchery, and were now determining its
specific name. 1t was an enormous speci-
men. weighing sixteen pounds. 1t was a
splendid table fish, and the Klamath lakes
were alive with them.
Altogether, Mr.. Woodbury. said, the
prospect seemed good for the speedy stoC K
ing of the rivers and streams Of California
with variety of fishes.