Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-09-04
A TEN MILLION FRY
If ALL EGGS HATCH
salmon Population OF Rogue
VIII Multiply Nightly
With Good Luck.

Inc C6VelDpmeuJ VI Gbc iienihk ~
dusty of Rogue River is Deing sys-
tematically carried on by the United
States Bureau of Fisheries, with II.
l.. Kelly, fish culturist, in charge of
the work, says recent special to the
Portland Tele1 am Hstoheries are
maintained at Findley Eddy, on
hogue River, IA miles below Grants
Pass, at the falls in the Illinois
River, and on Elk Greek, tributary
of Upper Rogue River.
A large pfivare hatchery is also
maintined az the mouth of Rogue
River by r. b Hume. the Wedder-
burn cannery an.
The capacity of the hatchery on the
Illinois j. TO be greatly increased.
Last year this hatchery handled over
4, 0O0, 600 salmon eggs all Of which
were hatched there aud the younR
salmon turned loose in the river, ex-
cept 300. 600 OF the eggs, which were
shi pped to the Hume hatchery. This
NJ ason Fish Culturist Kelly expects to
secure at least 10. 0OG, 600 salmon eggs.
To have lumber with which to en-
large the hatchery building aud the
racks in the river for catching the
fish and to make additional Matching
troughs, TO- 100 feet of lumber was
brought IN from Woodcok's mill,
near Kerby. AS there is only a
mountain trail to the fall in the
Illinois River, the lumber was RATED
down that stream from below Kerby.
and the job took 10 days of hard work
and frequent risks of drowning for
Mr.. Kelly and his crew of 10 men.
The river Is the lowest il has been for
years, and as the channel passes most
of the way through gorge, with
small falls. rapids and big boulders,
il made the task difficult one.
The racks will be placed across the
river at once and the salmon will be
held until their eggs are ready to be
taken. The eggs are Matched in
troughs kept filled with running
water. and the young salmon ale kept
in the trouRhs for about six weeks,
by which time tEey are fairly well
able to care for themselves, and are
tuned loose in the river. For this
period no feed is required for the lit.
tie fish. Where it is possible to SO.
cure beef liver and the fish remnants
at canneries, it is usual to keep the
yong salmon in the hatchery until
they are four or five moths old and
have a length of six inches. They are
then so large and swift that few gel
caught by the salmon trout. eels,
orawfish and ether enemies.
The salmon Industry now Affords d
revenue of close to 5000, 900 a year.
Last year about $50, 900 worth of fish
was shipped from Grants Pass, anC
M heily uelltNbS lb WOulu De pos
sible within 10 years to have tn,
fish output of Rogue River amoun
to fully $780, 600 any year, could ther,
be ample protection afforded the sal
mon aud proper fishways maintained
at all dams placed in the river. Tn,
proper policing of the river does no
appear to be attainable under tn,
lax enforceent of the state laws, bu
it would be possible if the fishin,
interests were under the control o
the General Government. which en-
forces its regulations with vIgo
not known TO state authorities
Since the organi zation of the Rogu,
River Fishermen's Union, with head
quarters at Grants Pass. MIR. Kell,
has heen able to secure better co
peration from the fishermen and now
little fishing is done illegally. H,
has also su cceeded in getting all tn,
dams provided with fish ladders st
the salmon have little difficulty il
getting up the river.