[a LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 002 850 104 3 HoUinger Corp pH 8.5 SH 167 .S17 B8 Copy 1 LPPENDix 5.— EXTRACTED FROM THE EEPOKT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES FOR 1803. Pages 387 to 392.] ESTABLISHMENT OF STATIONS FOR THE m BY JOHN J. BRICE, OOM:MLAJsri:)Eii, tjnixed states NA."Vir. WASHINGTON": GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1896. [Appendix 5.— EXTRACTED PEOM THE REPORT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIOKER OE EISH AND FISHERIES FOR 1893. Pages 387 to 392.] ESTABLISHMENT OF STATIONS FOR THK ^^'liunfin BY JOHN J. BRICE, OOMJVLi^LNDER,, XINIXKI) ST-A.TjES NAJSTS", WASHINGTON": GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1896. 4 1 5.-ESTABLISHMENT OF STATIONS FOR THE PROPAGATIOiN OF SALMON ON THE PACIFIC COAST. By J. J. Bkice, Commander, United States Navy. Washington, D. C, November 15, 1892. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith ii rejtort of investiyatious and operations on the Pacific Coast in reference to the establishment of stations for the propagation of sahnon. The sahuou, which formerly inhabited the Pacific Coast waters in countless millions, extending from Alaska to Monterey, are becoming each year more reduced in numbers in the yearly run, and the question resolves itself into one of almost final extinction or prompt and active measures for their i^rotection and propagation. The importance of speedily furnishing a supply equal to the demand by artificial means is emphasized in the value of the fish industry on that coast, amounting to something like $7,000,000 yearly. The seal fisheries are a national question and the most prominent subject before the people, verging on war, yet their actual commercial value is not so great as the fish industry on the Pacific, which is grad- ually slipping away from us through depletion by indifference and improvident destruction. The ruin has continued without interruption until some of the streams, formerly alive with fish, are now nearly exhausted and becoming as destitute of salmon as the Hudson and the other eastern rivers which were, in early times, abundantly stocked with many species of Salmonidce. This destruction took place before artificial propagation was j)racticed, an excuse for that day and time; but it also serves as a warning in the present, with our knowledge of artificial means, to protect and guard the Pacific Coast streams from the same misfortune. To formulate a plan to restore the salmon in their original numbers to the various streams on that coast aud offset the yearly catch by arti- ficial propagation has been my duty. The urgent necessity for speedy action is manifest in the fact that there are many obstacles in the way of the rehabilitation of a river once depleted of its fish, aside from the great increase in the labor and the exi)ense of transporting young fry from remote localities. It was therefore recommended to the United States Fish Commission to estab- lish hatcheries on military or other Government reservations, and 387 388 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. similar desirable localities for the production of tlie different species of salmon, so arranged as to beuetit all the streams on the Pacilic Coast. As an experimental effort and the commencement of the system, a hatchery was established at Fort Gaston, flumboldt County, Cal. This is the central hatchery, and has auxiliary or subhatcheries on the neighboring streams which empty directly into the ocean. These auxiliary luitclieries are used for taking the spawn and depositing the young fry on or near the spawning-grounds, and are kept open only during the s])awning and hatching season, which would be about four months of the year. Besides the auxiliary station at Redwood River, it is proposed to connect with the traston Station two others on the Mad and Eel rivers. There are other streams near by which could be utilized in the same way, all emptying into the sea. In addition to stocking the waters of the Pacific with salmon and other indigenous fish, the central hatchery at Gaston is provided with ponds used for hatching and propagating eastern and foreign tish, such as landlocked salmon, eastern and German trout. Breeding ponds are in use, filled with the two la.st-mentioned fish, from which many will be distributed in the streams and waters throughout the country. Other localities have been examined and suitable places inspec,ted for hatcheries, those on the Colville Reservation near the head of the Columbia River and another at Lake Cceur d'Alene being particularly favorable. Military or Government reservations were selected for several reasons, prominent among them being the assured protection of the young tish. For convenience it is also desirable that the hatch- eries should be located near the heads of the streams in the vicinity of the spawning-grounds, where fish are more likely to be found ripe and ready for stripping of their eggs. While the system^need not be con- fined to Government reservations, such localities are preferable where facilities for the work meet with the requirements. The streams should be stocked from the several varieties found on the Pacific Coast, preferably the indigenous or the kind of salmon which visit the particular stream. Great danger attends the introduction in any stream of fish not belonging to the waters. A stronger and more rapacious strange fish is sure to destroy the weaker native occupants of the stream, and give in return for the destruction probably an inferior and less prolific salmon. The waters in ilumboldt County, Cal., are also free from vagrant and predatory fish; conseipiently the young can be placed in the stream at an early age without molestation except from the trout which inhabit all these waters. The yearling trout is the voracious enemy of the young salmon, and being small himself is capable of pursuing the little fish into shoal water, their haven of refuge from danger. The destruction of salmon fry by these active young trout is very great. Therefore it is not policy to stock the same stream with both salmon and trout. Since there is no comparison in their commercial value PROPAGATION OF SALMON ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 389 tbere should be no question as to which shoukl receive the attention and protection of the Fish Commission. The Fort Gaston station is on the Trinity Eiver, a tributary to the Khimath. The fish appear here early in the winter months and again in the spring to spawn. When the salmon enters the river and commences his long journey to the spawning-grounds it is truly the ellbrtof his life, resulting in many cases in death from accident or exhaustion. During this time he eats nothing, a \^'ise provision of nature, otherwise the spawn, which is the most attractive food for flsh, would be consumed by the multitudes which throng the streams during the spawning season. The salmon enter tlie river in good condition, well fortified with fat, upon Avhich they maintain their strength, combined with the constant supply of nntriment from the destruction of the oil-bearing tissues which envelop the ovary and the outside membrane covering, the latter holding the eggs and oily essence surrounding them. Disintegration of tlie ovary adjuncts and spermatic parts begins shortly aJter the fish enter the river, in both male and female, but the supply is not so great in the former, because the burden and exertion are less. The conjunction of natural causes in assisting the salmon in all his movements and in the manner of depositing the eggs is as interesting as it is beautiful. In the operation of spawning, from my own observa- tion, the salmon on arriving at the place selected remains quiet until recovered from the effects of the long journey from the sea, and for this purpose they select a pool where there is protection and concealment, under driftwood or an overhanging bank. In pairs, male and female, they build their nests generally in the swift water on the ripple above or below the pool, the male guarding it with great jealousy by fighting away all intruders. The pool serves as a place of concealment during the day; the spawning and nest-making takes place at night or early in the morning, continuing during the daytime if it is overcast and dark. The act of spawning by the female may go on at intervals for a week before all the eggs are deposited. Tlie construction of the nest is commenced by digging an elongated hole, extending up and down the stream, and located in the swift water above or below the pool, the flsh using the nose and fins in making the excavation, throwing out the saiid and gravel in volumes in their effort. The stones and gravel are carried just below the excavation- by tlie current, fi>rming a nest covering a space sometimes more than G feet in diameter, the small ])articles of sand and dirt being carried far down the stream. It seems strange that a collection of stones and pebldes should form a fish nest, and it becomes a matter of speculation as to the manner of secreting the eggs under a mass of stones. Yet nature has made it very simple, and secured its results in a matter-of-fact way. The eggs are deposited in the hole by the female and impregnated by the male. Duriug the fertilization, which takes from half an hour to fifty minutes. 390 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. tbe eggs cling together in a mass and to tlie bottom of the stream; they then commence to separate, and the gentle current sweeping down through the trough like hole carries the eg^^ out of the excavation, as it becomes detached from the mass, and onto the nest of stones below, where it tumbles fiom one stone to another, until it drops into one of the crevi(;es, eventually finding its way to the bottom of the pile or nest, and there lies securely hidden away, well protected from preda- tory fish, until it is finally hatched. It takes from forty to sixty days for the eggs to hatch, the time depending upon the temperature of the water. After hatching the fish remain in the nest about twenty days, until the und)ilical sac is exhausted, having at this time but one instinct — to hide and burrow deeper into the nest. After the substance of the sac is consumed the little fish approaches the surface to snap at passing particles of food, and in so doing is Avashed away from the nest and finally makes its way to the shoal M-ater near the shore, gradually dropping downstream until the fall freshets come and carry it into the larger streams, and eventually into the ocean. Salmon make their nests and spawn differently under different cir- cumstances. If prevented from reaching their spawning-ground, by late freshets or other obstacles, they will spawn in the river or deposit their eggs in the muddy bottom of a pool, if there are no gravel beds available. In both instances most of the eggs are lost. By artificial means as much as 95 per cent of the eggs are hatched; and in depos- iting the young fry it has been the custom at the Fort Gaston station to place them in the streams near the spawning-grounds five or six weeks after hatching. Young salmon fed abundantly in the ponds for four or five months before they are i)ut in the streams acquire different habits, and are inclined to linger in the fresh water the year round, having become too strong to be carried out by the tall and winter fresh- ets against their inclination. The salmon is very much the victim of circumstances, and in his movements is governed more or less by freshets and the temperature of the water. From the latter he is most naturally controlled in seeking more genial surroundings. The early stage of a little salmon's existence is made up of continuous alarms to avoid