The morning call., 1893-09-16
FLOUNDERlNG FRY
Careless Work at SiSSOn
Hatchery.
RICHARDSON TO BE DEPOSED.
He Is Charged With Persistent Dis
regard of the Fish Commits
sionerS' Orders.

j. A. Richard son, who has been in the
employ of The State and National Fish
commissions since 1876. has fallen beneath
the rod of censure and has lost his official
head. Mr.. Richardson is one of the best
known pisciculturists in the Union and
has achieved remarkab success in the
incubation of fish eggs. For several years
he has been in charge of the hatchery at
SissoD. and in general has given satisfac-
tion and produced excellent results in the
trout and salmon products.
The Board of State Fish Commissioners
met yesterday afternoon and Mr. Richard
son was in attendance. The first business
was the reading OF report concerning the
recent shipment of fry to Lake Hemet
The details of the journey showed that
the cans had been decimated, and in ex-
planation of the cause it vas clearly estab-
lished that the fish were so delicate and
diseased that they could not stand even a
short journey, not to mention the jolting
and Jarring consequent upon prOtracted
trip. 1t was shown that the fish in the
SlSson hatchery were suffering from an
organic weakness, due 10 the presence Of
fungOid growths in the tanks of the hatch
cry. 1t was stated. furthermore, that the
fish had remained too long in the hatchery,
and that the sudden change of temperature
and conditions had produced fatal cpl
demic. The hatchery is SAID to be over
crowded and that the spawn and fry can
d lot be hand led In manner that lDSureS
the best results in every respect. In the
recent shipment the death rate reached %
per cent of the total, but Superintendent
Richardson said that this was not high
percentage, considering the long trip and
TOugn roads.
About this time the Commissioners con-
centrated their remarks on the alleged
shortcomings of Mr. Richardson, and he
was asked why he did not keep the pans
and tanks free from foreign substances, so
as TO insure the health OF the young fish.
He answered thattha trOughs were cleaned
and painted every few months. He in
sisted that the fungus grew very rapidly,
and though the hatchery was clean in every
respect on the 1st of August, 1t was now
verv dirty and in a generally unhealthful
condition. Several pertinent questions
concerning the management OF the hatch
cry were then put TO Mr. Richardson, and
finally his answers became evasive and at
last unnteiDgible. In the face of all we
have learned to-day and previously" said
Mr. Murdoch, II move that Mr.. Richard
son be suspended. and that Mr. Shelley
be put In charge of sthe SissOn hatchery.
de has perslStently dlsTegaTded orders
from headquarters. and has caused the
loss OF large lot OF salmon Try by care
lessness in an attempt to discharge them
into Big Spring creek" 1t was clearly es-
tabished that Mr.. Richardson had turned
several thousand young salmon into a
blind ditch leading from the hatchery, and
permitted the valuable school to perish
upon the grass, where they were finally
carried. Mr.. Richardson said that he had
not acted mahciOuslY, but had been COM
PEELED 10 work against his judgment.
knowing that the ditch was not feeder of
any body of water suitable for the plant
ing Of the fry.
Commissioner McNeill of Los Angeles
seconded the motion 10 displace Richard
son, and then President Reddipg took a
hand IN the argument and reviewed il In
its several phases. II was again shown
that Richardson had failed TO acknowledge
letters OF instruction, and that his opinion
of the commission was one of supreme in-
difference for its dictation. Mir. Richard
son declined to 90 into particulars and to
free himself from the stigma of indiffer-
enee and malicOusness, saying that he
knew the commissioners were prejuGiced
and that he was prepared 10 submit to the
inevitable. He claimed that there was an
animus and an intention to get him out,
and he alluded TO Mr.. Murdock as one OF
the leaders in the opposition to his super
10 tendency. 1t was finally agreed TO meet
again and resume the hearing of the
charges against Mr.. Richardson, IN the
meantime giving him a chance to vindi-
cate his previous reputation for efficiency.
1t was agreed to appropriate enough
money 10 clean and enlarge the Sisson
hatchery, so that it can successfully handle
the spawn during the coming salmon
season. Commissioner Babcock has been
Instructed to make Improvements at the
mouth of Shovel Creek similar to those at
the pier in the McCloud River.