The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-19
HER FISH
INDUSTRY.
BY r. X. Ryan.
. HERE are many who take great
BY r. x. Ryan.

HERE are many VINO take great
delight in fishing. There are
many more who would if they
had an opportunity. The few who
decry fishing have never been beside
mountain brook and plucked from
the whirling ripples or shady pool a
gamey and vigorous trout.
In the early days of this country, and
up to some years ago, the rivers, lakes
and streams teemed with various kinds
of fish. The tremendous increase in
population during the present century,
with it's corresponding demand for the
product of the water for food, together
with the wasteful and destructive
methods of the fishermen for the mar
ket, has practically depleted the waters
of this country.
The value of fish as food product
is known to all. It's want began to be
felt, and the United States Govern
ment, as well as the various State
governments, took in hand the prop
agation of fish for the rehabilitation of
the various waters of the country
Following the artificial propagation of
fish begun in many places was a rigid
enforcement of the laws for the pro-
lection of the fish planted in the var
ious lakes and streams. Results in
other States have been phenomenal.
Our State, through its Fish Commits
sion, has been establishing hatcheries
within our own borders, and is very eff
ficient in its endeavor to renew the act
i've life of our streams. California, in
it's topography is well adapted for fish
life, particularly for the most gamey
and toothsome of all fish, the trout
The many mountain ranges, high and
low, are intersected with numerous
canyons, through which constantly
flow waters from springs and melting
snow, in which cooling waters the trout
is at it's best.
Adjacent to San Francisco, perhaps
the best watered section of the Pacific
Coast is in Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino
and Lake counties. Here there are
over 5000 miles of water length, besides
a number of lakes. over 800 streams
rush into the Eel, Russian and other
rivers. Through the kind and efficient
aid of the California State Fish Com
mission, the San Francisco and North
Pacific Railway. which traverses this
section, has during the past few years
been stocking these waters. 1t soon
realized that the few hundred thousand
fish received from the commission each
year were not sufficient for the capa-
city of the streams, and therefore
established its own hatchery, in order
that yearly it may place millions, in
stead of thousands, in the various
streams. Outside of those who have
| given the subject thought, the COM
munity has not realized the great bene-
| fit the rehabilitation of this immense
area of water will be to the public at
large.
Artificial propagation is more efficient
than natural propagation. Owing to
the destruction by numerous enemies
| Of the eggs deposited in the streams,
| the percentage of development is ex-
ceedingly small. In the case of trout
| il is estimated that but one-half of one
per cent ever come to maturity. With
eggs developed in the hatchery there is
| practically no loss. The young fish
are kept in the hatchery until they are
two or three months old and then
placed in the streams, when they are
strong enough to look out for them
selves. The result is a million eggs
placed in the hatchery means practi-
cally a million fish placed in the
streams, very nearly all of whom live
and thrive.
The hatchery of the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railway is located in
Gibson Canyon, about one mile from
the court house in Ukiah, the county
seat of Mendocino, and 11S miles frbn
San Francisco. This hatchery, with its
weird and romantic surroundings, is q
most interesting and instructive eX-
hibit. During the season, to view the
eggs In the various stages of develop
ment, and see the immense number OF
little trout filling the troughs, is a sur
prise and a pleasure. 1t is seldom thai
hatcheries are located so convenient tC
the general public as the one at Ukiah
as the water required for the Matching
of trout must never exceed so degrees
Fahrenheit, which, during our warn
summer months, can seldom be found
except in the mountain regions, mac.
ell. In order to furnish eggs for the
hatchery, the railroad company ha:
opened a spawning station on Eel river
in Mendocino County, some thirty mile:
north of Ukiah, the purpose being tC
get these eggs from the earliest spawn
ing portion of the State, so that the fry
can be liberated in the streams in The
early spring and have full year:
growth before the advent OF the fisher
men.