The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-03-29

II
-. picturesquely located ON the
banks Of the McCloud River
q and surrounded by towering
hills and mountains, is an important
station of the United States Govern
ment of which the people 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 bv the Gov.
ernment. The main hatchery build
ing is n commodious structure well
adapted to the purpose for which it
was constructed. Other buildings in-
clnde stables, engine house. store and
postotlice in addition to the residence
OF Superintendent Stone. which stands
on slightly eminence overlooking the
river. Seymour Bass. foreman of the
hatchery, has Il comfortable residence
nearer the river, while within con
venient distance oi all the buildings is
n well-kcpt boardiug-house. where the
white help and visitors to the station
take their meals.
The popular idea Of II fish hatchery
is very vague. So little is the subject
understood that many intelligent peo-
-. L., 4 a. a. 4.
eggs, like the eggs of II barnyard
fowl. may be Matched under hen or
in au incubator. This article has
been written to afford more accurate
knowledge on an important aud inter.
csting subject, and embraces the re-
suits of general observations hy n
Chronicle reporter OF the work at
Baird in every department
The routine of work Mt Baird is EN-.
brsced 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 10y the use of n l30-foot seine
net with which the pool Is repeatedly
dragged both morning and evening
The first haul with the net is made Mt
5.3O a. m. each day during the fishing
season, and additional hauls are made
at intervals of half an houg So long AS
the fishing continues good.
To the reader it would appear that
fishing in the waters OF the Me
Cloud River at $50 in the morning
would be fraught with much general
discomfort. Such, however. far
from being the case. Before =, ish-
ing commences II 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 tue
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 III the
stern of II boat. Two men silently row
ont 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 n strong pull is brought
to bear on the two ropes leading from
the net to the shore. One eud il at
tached to n hand wiudlass, the other
to n 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 ensnsred
salmon commences to struggle for
freedom. Here and there Il fin cuts
the water, there is wild splashing as
dozen monster salmon spring hall
their lengths out of the water, and
then, as the net draws still closer 10
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.