The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-06-05
VALUABLE SALMON DATA
RESULT OF p. c M'REAvY's
CALIFORNIA TRIP.
Origin Of Marked Fish Caught In
sacramento River Not De-
mined.

Deputy Fish Commissioner Y. e. Nc
| Rcavy returned yesterday from Callfor-
| mia. where he has been on a fortnight
trip inspecting the fish In the Sacra
menf1 and the salmon situation gen
orally Mr. AeReayy's special mission
was 10 determine whether or not the fish
caught IN the Sacr LmentO. with adlpOse
fins missing were from Oregon or Wash
ington hatcheries or had been turned
out By the California propagatng
plants
The triD was made on behalf Of both
the Oregon and Warrington fish com
missions. Mr.. NcIeayy visited San
Francisco. Sacramento. Vallejo, Benlcia
and the Black Diamond hatchery. Ia
his Investigations We had the assistance
ami cooperation Of J. +. Babcock. a
member u the California fish commits
sion. and an authority on artificial prop
| agatl0n. In an Interview with an AsiO-
rian reporter last night Mr.. McReavy
said;
My principal object was to ascertain
where the salmon, with adipOse fms re-
| moved. originally came from. The be-
lief was prevalent In Washington and
Oregon that the hatcheries OF these
states had turned our the FISH. and II
this was urue We wanted 10 know why
they were being caught In the Sacra-
me1ty river Instead Of returning 20 the
Columbia. In 1896 the Clackamas
hatchery turned out lot OF salmon.
marked for idsn intailUn by the rsmov-
nj Of the adip3se fin. Two years lat
er. In 1898. Mr.. BabcOck. Of the Call
fornia commission. not knowing the
mark tha; had been made on artlf-
c.aliy orDpiRatsd salmon by the Ore
gon authorities. turned out several hun
drrd thousand Fry from the Black Dia-
mond hatchery with similar marks.
In 1893 three ma;ured salmon were
caught In Suisn bay With the adlpOse
hns missing. Those fish must have
come from the Columbia river. "a il
would have been impossible for the
Battle Greek fry 10 have attained that
size. Since that tins several hundred
marked salmon have been caught In the
Sacramento and Columbia but because
ot tn, similarity in the marking IL is
impossible TO tell where they We're
hatched. Therefore since 1899 the ex-
pertinent has been ~ no value.
Mr Babcock is opposed % the es-
tablishment Of rearing ponds or hatch
cries. From experience and observa-
tions carried out under the direction OF
Professor Schohed. OF Stanford Uni
vcrslty. h. believes that the young sal
mon Immediately seek salt water after
being turned out and THAI they secure
more food and grow more rapidly In
brack!sh water than fresh. II these de-
ductiOns be rue the forcible holding or
young salmon In rearing ponds, says
Mr. Babcock. stunts their growth and,
instead OF turning out young salmon
near the headwliters OF the streams.
thus causing tn IN to battle with the
current and To run gauntlet OF their
numerous fish enemies On the way 10
the sea. II they can be placed near
hrackIsh water. where food Is abundant.
with no current 70 contend with and
few fish TO prey upn them. a greater
number will reach maturity.
There is no doubt but that artii-
cial propagation along the lines laid
down by Mr.. Babcock Is responsible for
the run in the Sacramento being built
up from 1000 cases, packed in 1892. to
5000 eases packed last year. Mr. Bah
cock has extended an invitation to Fish
Commissilnsr Litle. OF Washington.
and Master Warden Van Dusen, Of Ore
gon, TO visit California this fall for a
conference as to the best methods OF
Matching salmon and to Inspect the
hatcherics on Suisin bay and Battle
Creek"
While In California Mr.. McReavy at
tended the commencement exercises al
Stanford University. OF which institu-
ton he is a graduate. Mr.. McReavv
will make a detailed report to the
Washington fish commission on the re-
suit OF his investigations.