Cranbrook Hatchery

CRANBROOK HATCHERY OPERATIONS. – Report of Hatchery Superintendent Encouraging. – Record Egg Collection. – Collection and Distribution Figures For Season 1935 Presented at Annual Meeting.

            At the annual meeting of the Cranbrook District Rod and Gun Club, held Wednesday of last week, the report of E.T. Cooper, hatchery superintendent, was presented, detailing the work of the past season, which is presented below:

            The cut-throat collection was very satisfactory, being within about 100,000 of the previous year in spite of the fact that no collection was made at the reservoir, and only a partial collection at Munro Lake while obtaining samples for ferunculosis investigation.  The collection at both Fish lakes and Mineral Lake showed a substantial increase over the previous year.  Record collection – 246,750, at Fish Lake, May 20^th.

            The number of hybrids entering the trap at Mineral Lake was considerably less than previous years, and the run of Kamloops was confined to a few small males, and only one female about two pounds in weight.

            About two hundred fish were trapped at Smith Lake, hybrids and Kamloops being about equal in numbers.  While a large number of eggs are available from these fish, they are practically useless for fish cultural purposes.  These fish enter the trap in a decidedly over-ripe condition, many of the females still retaining eggs from the previous year while the sperm of the males is of such a nature as to make fertilization practically impossible.  The temperature of the water at this location is no doubt partly responsible for the poor results it being in the neighborhood of 7 degrees fahr. while the fish were running.  If the same conditions prevail here next season it would be useless to continue operations at this location.

            A good collection of Kamloops was again made at Premier Lake and would probably have been much larger had it not been for low water conditions in the creek.  The action of the club in providing a watchman at the creek while the fish were running is to be commended and no doubt was the means of saving many of the parent fish, as indications go to show that so-called sportsmen had on previous occasions made a practice of catching them illegally while in the creek.  It is to be hoped that the club will be in a position to make the same arrangements for patrolling the creek again this coming season.

            Dr. Duff of the University of British Columbia was again in the district during the stripping season continuing the ferunculosis investigations and some two hundred and thirty fish were obtained for him.  During his stay, some two thousand fish were handled under his observation and not a single specimen showed any visible sign of any infection.

            Regarding the water used in the hatchery, something should be done to control the amount of dirt and sediment coming into the troughs during the early stage of incubation.  This condition is responsible for a large percentage of the loss, besides creating a great amount of labor which could be used otherwise to better advantage.

            The time has come when the club should consider some better method of rearing fry.  The present system of using the hatchery troughs for rearing is only good up to a certain point.  I would suggest that during the coming season at least two rearing tanks similar to those used at the Stanley Park hatchery, (plans and specifications of which are to hand), be installed by way of experiment.

            It might also be to your advantage to investigate the possibilities of a fry distribution tank as described by Mr. Bolton of the Game Commission when here last summer.

            The supply of ice stored in the hatchery proved to be a great convenience, but I would suggest that greater care be taken in putting it up, or more allowed for wastage, as it was found that the entire bottom layer was lost.

            The hatchery again hatched and distributed an allotment of kamloops trout for the department of fisheries.  These were distributed in the Fernie, Windermere and Golden districts, all expenses in this connection being paid for by the department.

            The major undertaking of the past season was the stocking of the Skookumchuck River above the falls, with 200,000 cut-throat eggs.  This was made possible through the cooperation of Mr. C.H. Robinson, fisheries inspector, who undertook to make the plantings, and Mr. Ben Rauch, local game warden, who accompanied him.  Thanks are also due to Mr. E. Staples of Premier Lake, and Mr. West of Skookumchuck, who provided pack train and saddle horses.

            The Skookumchuck River planting was the only new water stocked in the Cranbrook district, all other plantings being made in waters already stocked.  In the Windermere and Golden districts three new lakes were stocked with kamloops trout, and one in the Fernie district.

            The cooperation of Mr. Dave Ferguson, local fishery officer, was also greatly appreciated.  Mr. Ferguson rendered valuable service during the stripping season in guarding parent fish retained in traps, particularly at Fish Lake.  He also assisted many times in the distribution of fry.

            I might also say that the services of Earl Whiting, hatchery assistant during the past season, were entirely satisfactory.

            Attached hereto is a complete account of the collection and distribution for the past season.  It will be noted that a record has been kept of eggs from each source of supply, thus showing the loss resulting from each collection.

            All of which is respectfully submitted

                                                                        E. T. COOPER

                                                            Hatchery Superintendent

 

CUT-THROAT TROUT

Collection

 

Mineral Lake                                                                                                153,000

Fish Lake                                                                                        1,175,750

Munro Lake                                                                                        23,500

Smith Lake                                                                                            2,500

                                    TOTAL                                                       1,354,950

 

Distribution

EYED EGGS –

Fish Lake                                                                                             75,000

Garbutt’s Lake                                                                                    21,580

Mineral Lake                                                                                                    7,700

Bartholomew’s Lake                                                                          13,332

Skookumchuck River                                                                      200,000

Bark Shanty Creek                                                                             74,000

Peavine Creek                                                                                    42,250

Sullivan Creek                                                                                    15,000

Cotton Creek                                                                                       14,750

Lavington Creek                                                                                25,000

 

Depart. Of Fisheries –

Dunbar Lake                                                                                       50,000

Paddy Ryan Lakes                                                                             35,000

Elk River                                                                                           205,745

Arrow Lake                                                                                         66,000

Goat River                                                                                         105,000

 

FRY –

Fish (Mud) Lake                                                                                 10,000

St. Mary’s Lake                                                                                   75,000

Munro Lake                                                                                        56,400

Fish Lake                                                                                             21,000

Ward’s Lake                                                                                          7,500

Twin Lake, No. 1                                                                                  5,000

Cooper Lake                                                                                       10,000

Don., Windermere Club                                                                   25,000

Dept. of Fisheries –

Crow’s Nest Lake                                                                               50,000

 

Total Eggs Distributed                                                                   950,357

Total Fry Distributed                                                                     259,900

Total Loss, Eggs                                                                              142,413

Total Loss, Fry                                                                                     2,280

                                                                                                        1,354,950

Loss

Mineral Lake                                                                                                  29,720

Munro Lake                                                                                          1,920

Smith Lake                                                                                            2,225

Fish Lake                                                                                           108,548

Fish Lake (Fry)                                                                                     2,280

                                                                                                            144,693

 

HYBRID

Collection

Mineral Lake                                                                                                  65,500

Smith Lake                                                                                          36,500

                                    TOTAL                                                          102,000

 

Distribution

EGGS –

Bartholomew Lake                                                                              7,663

Garbutt’s Lake                                                                                    16,200

Mineral Lake                                                                                                  20,300

Tie Lake                                                                                               15,000

Smith Lake                                                                                            1,000

Peavine Creek                                                                                      4,800

 

Loss

Mineral Lake                                                                                                  16,532

Smith Lake                                                                                          20,000

 

FRY –

Smith Lake                                                                                              500

                                                                                                            102,000

 

KAMLOOPS TROUT

Collection

Premier Lake                                                                                                175,500

Smith Lake                                                                                        156,000

From Dept. of Fisheries –

            Premier Lake                                                                                    141,000

                                                                                                            472,000

 

Distribution

EYED EGGS-

Cotton Creek                                                                                       15,800

Dept. of Fisheries-

            Edwards Lake                                                                        10,000

            Columbia Lake                                                                       20,000

            White Swan Lake                                                                   10,000