The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-03-17
The Chehalis Fish Hatchery.

in the Chehalis river six miles above
Montesauo, and the Cosmopolis En-
terprise contains the following account
of the hatchery, and its interesting
work:
In 1898, Fish Comm issioner Little
had erected for the state, upon the To-
cation selected, three buildings-a
neat and commodious residence; d
work shop; and the hatchery, which is
in charge OF J. w. Blackwell, who is
assisted by c. B. Morgan of Hoquiam
| and L. NJ. Rice of Aberdeen. Mr..
Blackwell has had several years { .ex-
perience in hatcheries on the C'Hflm-
bia river, having been in employ of
the United States as well as of this
state. He talks and acts as though
he was perfectly at nome in his posi-
ton.
The hatchery building is 40x100 feet,
and nearly its entire space is devoted
to Matching troughs, which parallel
the 40-foot sides of the building, leav-
ing room for an alley-way at the side
of the building where the water that
has been used escapes from the ends
of the troughs.
The trOughs are raised from the
floor sufficiently to make it convenient
to stoop over and handle eggs and fish.
They are built in sections of three, the
two outside ones being used as the
homes of the Matching eggs and of the
young fish, while in the center one
the baskets containing eggs are placed
while sections of the outside troughs
are being cleaned. Here we might
say said cleaning is done with siphons,
all the dirt being sucked out without
disturbing the young fish; and when
the fish are ready for removal they are
siphoned into pals and carefully
placed in the river-when they make
their way up stream, either to develop
or to be devoured by tout or other
kinds of fish.
For Matching eggs and enabling fish
to live, there must be constant sup
ply of fresh water. For this hatchery,
spring water Is piped from the hills
and used at its normal temperature
TrOughs are on an incline and con-
structed so the current Of water is
maintained, no stagnant water being
allowed.
The eggs are placed in baskets OF
wire netting. The baskets used are
about 9x24 inches and six inches deep,
being slightly larger at the top than
at the bottom. If filled, such basket
would hold something like 10000 eggs
The baskets fit into the troughs so
they can be lifted out easily, and so a
space is left underneath the baskets
When fish emerges from the egg it
drops through the wire netting into
the space below, and has attach he'd te
it the yolk-sack from which it con.
tinues to draw nourishment for some
time. If this yolk-sack be broken, as
might be done by dragging over a
rough piece of board, The fish dies.
Eggs hatch in from IS to 1O5 days
and in from 40 to 80 days thereafter
fish are ready to be turned out, all de-
pending upon the temperature of the
water. Too rapid development of egg
and fish does not result in hardy out.
put. Up to the time fish are ready tt
leave the hatchery they are fed moth
ing. At United States hatcheries the
young fish are kept in proper pond,
for some time longer and fed, to gooo
advantage, but as yet this state is too
poor to follow suit.
! Soon after the eggs have been placed
in the matching baskets, the spina
columns Of the fishes begin to form
This process generally takes in the
neighborhood of fifteen days and dur
ing the period Of formation, the egg.
must not be distured, not even to re-
move the dirt and dead eggs. Before
and after that period the eggs can be
washed. Experts can tell the proper
times and can distinguish alive from
dead eggs.
In Matching thousands of eggs, some
strange formations are seen. In on,
small section of trough there wer
. swimming around some two-headet
fish and pairs of fish connected in al
sorts of shapes. None of these ca,
live. They are kept only for shor
time, as curiosities.
! There are certain seasons when 600
tor Matching can be procured. Til,
female fish Is held under water and tn
spawn Is removed quickly and easil,
!. by a slight rubbing pressure. TIL
: male fish is treated in the simila
$ manner TO iertilize the spawn; an,
after being fertilized the eggs turn t
pink color. Different varieties q
salmon spawn at different times. 4
j Chehalis river, the black salmon com
r in to spawn during August and Ser
: TENDER; the silversides from the mid
die of September to the middle of Der