The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-20

the Interesting work OF stripping" be-
gins A female is first dipped from h'
pen. A man holds the iish frmly a
the back of the head with the left han'
while he passes the fingers OF his righ
slowly down the under part OF the body
OF the salmon, The eggs, closely ne
sembling Zante eurrantR In size ant
color pop out into a pan held by al
assistant The female cannot surviv,
the enforced spawning, and is thrown
upon raft TO Be humanely dispatched
by an Indian boy with club, Tho
same process is then quickly gone
through with buck" which has been
held in readiness and the eggs are COW
cred with the fertiliIing milt Two
minutes are allowed for fertiliElng TO
take place. In that time a single fec
undating germ passes into the micro
pyle Of each esq. Then the eggs are
rinsed through several waters. The ap-
plication OF water makes them adhe-
sive. In half an hour, eggs are then
ready TO be taken TO the hatchery. In
the center Of each egg a tiny white
spot, the life-saving germ. may be
plainly seen.
The stripping process is not fatal to
the male. and Il is put back into the
pen to be used again before being liber-
ated. Though the enforced spawning
costs the female its life, the desruc-
ton is no greater than would naturally
occur. for the theory Is held that the
female is exhausted when It has spawn
ed in the stream. and 1t seldom. II ever,
gets back to salt water alive. The dead
female fish are given to the Indians
who have their camp near at hand.
They cure the fish In the sunshine, and
thus obtain their food supply for the
winter.
While the stripping is going on Fore
man Wallich, notebook In hand. re-
cords the number Of ripe" fish and the
number OF eggs taken. The eggs are
measured by dipperfuls, one dipperful
is counted and the total easily approxi-
mated. From 1900 to 5000 eggs are OBJ
tained from one female. Toward the
end of the fall run this number is ma
terially decreased. An average OF 70
fish are stripped in one day.
The Matching Of the eggs is attended
with greatest care. In the big build
ing Foreman wallich. Assistant Fore
man S, s Bass. F. NJ. Chamberlain Of
the scientific department, and Fish
Culurists Leroy Ledgerwood. ]. S.
Bowers and NJ. L. Dunning are busily
engaged. They are assisted by a num-
Der Of Indian women. whose delicacy Of
touch makes them valuable aids. Each
network basket in the troughs OF run
ming water contains about 5000 eggs.
The eggs are gently stirred about each
day. With small litters, like bon-bon
tongs. the dead eggs and those COW
cred with fungus are removed. A SAL
mon egg will hatch in forty days, more
or less. depending upon the tempera-
,ure. I'm very cold weather a much
onger time is required. In ten days
he outline OF the fish may Re perceived
oy holding the egg to the light. and in
ifteen days 1t may be plainly seen.
Most Of the eggs taken at Baird are
shipped, just prior to Matching, to other
stations better equipped for handling
he young fish. and eggs have even
'een successfully shipped to foreign
Some Of the young fish are
'ut back into the McCloud river upon
he theory that a fish usually returns
q its parent stream Ia spawn.
The McCl6ud river is famous among
portsmen as a trout stream. The mag
lifcent rainbow trout abound in its
Several Eastern streams have
zen stocked with rainbow trout hatch
d from eggs taken in the McCloud.
md the matter Of ad ling a trout hatch
ry to the Baird station is now being
During the year 1899 13.OOO.O 900 salmon
ggs ready TO hatch were shipped
rom Paird The station is in the hands
4 scientists who understand their bus
ness and delight in it. and the result Of
heir lahors has been large supply OF
'oung FISH. which. planted in streams
where most needed. has done much TO
,eep the toothsome Chinook salmon up
m the American bill Of fare.