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 20th.
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
