The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-03-28
SALMON CULTURE.
PROPAGATION OF THE FISH IN
CALIFORNIA WATERS.
The Taking and Matching of Spawn
at a United States Govern
ment Station-Wonderful
Work at Hatchery.

banks Of the McCloud River
and surrounded by towering
hills and mountains, is an important
station of the United States Govern
ment of which thepeople of California
have but very little knowledge. In
that beautiful and picturesque spot
has been maintained for many years
the pioneer fish hatchery of the State,
to which circumstance is due IN great
measure the almost marvellous plen-
itude OF the quinnat or Pacific salmon
in California waters to-day.
A San Francisco Chronicle reporter
who visited the station was surprised
to note the substantial character Of
the improvements made by the Gov
ernment. The main hatchery build
ing is q commodious structure well
adapted to the purpose for which 1T
was constructed. Other buildings in
clude stables, engine-house, store and
postofice in addition to the residence
of Superintendent Stone, which stands
on slightly eminence overlooking the
river. Seymour Bass, foreman OF the
hatchery, has comfortable residence
nearer the river, while within con-
venient distance of all the buildings is
a well-kept clearinghouse, where the
white help and visitors to the station
take their meals.
The popular idea of a fish hatchery
is very vague. So little is the subject
understood that many intelligent peo-
pie can be found who believe that fish
eggs, like the eggs of barnyard
fowl, may be Matched under hen or
in an incubator. This article has
been written to afford more accurate
knowledge on an important and inter-
esting subject, and embraces the re-
suits of general observations by q
Chronicle reporter OF the work at
Baird in every department.
The routine of work at Baird is en-
braced in three separate detachments
fishing, spawning and Matching. By
fishing is meant the taking Of the ripe
parent salmon from the pool In the
river below the rack. This is accom-
plished by the use of 130-foot seine
net with which the pool is repeatedly
dragged both morning and evening.
The first haul with the net is made at
80 q. m. each day during the fishing
season, and additional hauls are made
at intervals of half an hour 80 long as
the fishing continues good.
To the reader it would appear that
fishing in the waters of the Nc
Cloud River at $50 in the morning
would be fraught with much general
discomfort. Such, however, is far
from being the case. Before the fish
ing commences a great bonfire is built
on the rivers edge. This fire serves
the double purpose of lighting up the
river and of removing in measure
the chill of the early morning.
When the helpers have gathered
and warmed themselves at the
fire the great net is slowly unwound
from the spool where it had been
placed to dry after the fishing of the
night before and and is slowed in the
stern of boat. Two men silently row
out into the stream. One end of the
net is dropped on the hatchery side of
the stream, the other end on the east
side, opposite the hatchery, and then
the signal is given to pull in the net.
Immediately strong pull is brought
to bear on the two ropes leading from
the net to the shore. One end is at
tached to hand windlass, the other
to larger windlass turned by horse
power. Both windlasses are put in
motion at the same time, and gradu-
ally the line of cork floats betokening
the location of the net commences to
move shorewaard. Nearer and nearer
comes the net, and then the ensnared
salmon commences to struggle for
freedom. Here and there fin cuts
the water, there is a wild splashing as
dozen monster salmon spring hulf
their lengths out of the water, and
then, as the net draws still closer to
the shore, the red bodies of the i'm
prisoned fish may be seen flashing be-
meath the clear water on which falls
but family few CLEANS of light from
the fading fire, which, in the excite
ment of the moment, has been almost
forgotten.