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Ntw rork 1*609 USA B (716) 482 - 0300 - Phont S (716) 286-5969 ~ Fo* COMMISSIJON OF CONSER V AT < Olf- V?" CANADA "^'<' i^,if^ Fishways in the Inland Waters ^/British Columbia ARTHUR V. WHITE CmsvUing EHgineer Commission of Conservation COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES Dr. C. C. Jokes, Chairman Hon. A. E. Aksenault Mr. J. P. Babcock Hon. O. T. Daniels Hon. G. H. Ferguson Hon. a. B. Hudson Dr. Howard Murray Hon. T. D. Pattullo Dr. J. W. Robertson Hon. E. a. Smith OTTAWA— 1918 CommiMion of Coasenration ConstiluM wider " Tht ConsimuUm Ad," 8-9 Edward VII., Chap. 27, 1009, and amtndint ^«<», 9-10 Edward VII, Chap. 42, 1910, and 3-4 Geort* V, Chap. 12, 1913. Ckairmui: Sn Cliffobd SirroN, K.C.M.G. MCfnbcn; Db. HowAio KlraiAT, Dmlhouiie Univtnity. Halifax, N.S. Db. Cbcil C. Jonbs, Chancellor, Univenity of New BruiMwick, Frederictoa, M>. WnxiAM B. Snowball, Chatham, N.B. Hon. Hbnbi S. Bbland, M.D., M.P., St. loaeph-de-Beauce, Que. Db. Fbamk D. Adams. Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, McGiU Univeraty, Montreal, Que. Mob. Chablks P. Cboquxttb, St. Hyacinthe, Que., Profenor, Seminary of St. Hyacinthe and Member of Faculty, Laval University. Mb. Edwabd GoHaa, St. Laurent, Que. Mb. W. F. Tyb, C.E., Montreal, Que. Db. Jambs W. Robbbtson, CMIG., OtUwa, Ont. Hon. Sbnatob William Cambbon Eowabds, OtUwa, Ont. Mb. Chablbs A. McCool, Pembroke, Ont. SiB Edmund B. Oslbb, M.P., Toronto, Ont. Mb. John F. MacKay, BusincM Manager, The Globe, Toronto, Ont. ^ ^' '^■■"O*'' Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont* Db. Gbobce Bbvcb, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. Db. William J. Rutbbbfobd, Member of Faculty, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask. Db. Henby M. Toby, President, University of Alberto, Edmonton, Alto. Mb. John Pbasb Babcock, Victoria, B.C. Members ex-offido: Hon. T. a. Cbebab, Minister of Agriculture, Ottowa. Hon. Abthub Meighkn, Minister ofthe Interior, Ottawa. Hon. Mabtin Bubbbll, Minister of Mines, Ottawa. Hon. Aubin E. Absenault, Premier, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, P.E.I. Hon. Orlando T. Daniels, Attorney-General, Nova-Scotia. Hon. E. a. Smith, Minister of Lands and Mines, New Brunswick. Hon. Jules Allabo, Minister of Lands and Forests, Quebec. riON. G. H. Febcuson, Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines. Ontaria Hon. Thomas H. Johnson, Attorney-General, Manitoba. Hon. Geokge W. Bbown, Regina, Saskatchewan. Hon. Cbakles Stewabt, Premier, Minister of Railways and Telephoaea. Alberto. Hon. T. D. Pattullo, Minister of Lands, British Columbia. Aasistont to Chairman, Drxity Head: Mb. Jambs White. Fishways in the Inland Waters of Britiah G>lumbia Special Need for Providing Fishways in Connection with Water-power Developments in Order to Conserve the Salmon Industry THE fisheries of British Columbia, being not only one of the chief provincial industries, but also an important source of food supply, are worthy of the best efforts that can be exerted for their conservation. In the carrying out of development works, whether for navigation, irrigation or power, provision requires to be made for the upward migration of the adult salmon for spawning purposes and for the down- ward passage of the young fish to the sea. Besides the salmon, other fish require consideration. The serious consequences to the fishing resources, resulting from obstructions which prevent the free passage of salmon and other fish, have been amply demonstrated. This subject is one so vital in its bearing upon power development and yet one so frequently passed over, that it is desirable to submit the subject to special discussion; in fact, the whole question of the effect of obstructions upon the fishing industry and the efficacy of fishways as a means of overcoming the menace of such obstructions, requires thorough investigation. Practically all of the Pacific Coast streams of British Columbia and their tributaries are annually frequented by vast numbers of Pacific salmon, consequently the salmon fishing industry is one of the most important interests to be safeguarded in the carrying out of works which will materially affect the inland waterways. As indicating the importance of this industry, it may be cited that in the big salmon year of 1909, canned salmon products to the value of $7,750,000 were marketed. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 1914, which includes the 'big year' run of 1913, the marketed product was valued at $10,243,670, while the total value of all fish marketed was $13,891,398, or over 40 per cent of the total value of the fishery products of Canada. The 1913 salmon pack comprised over 1,350,000 cases — the largest output in the history cf the industry. In the twenty years prior to 1915 the canneries of British Columbia produced an aggregate of over sixteen million cases of canned salmon — each case containing 48 pounds of dressed fish — representing a catch COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION of over 200,000,000 lalmon. It w ettimated that about 18,000 penoiw are engaged in this industry and over $8,000,000 it invented in fiahing and canning equipment.* To better appreciate the poMibie effects which the construction of dams, diversion canals and other works may have upon the fishing industry, it in necessary to understand the habits of the salt-water fiah which ascend the fresh-water streams. Investigationt has established the fact that all five varieties of the Pacific Salmon — the Sockeye or Blue Back salmon {OtuorhyHchus nerka) ; Spring, Quinaat, Chinook or Tyee salmon (0. tsehawyUcha) ; Cohoe or Silver salmon (O. kisvtck) ; Humpback (O. gorbusca) ; Dog or Chum (0. ik«vents, would have been expected in 1917. In 1895, the province granted to a mining ■ >mpAti' >■ right to construct a dam at the outlet of the Quesnel lake, bu provision was made for the passage of the salmon through the dam The result w£s that, following the completion of the dam in IH*^ ^e salmon were denied access to the spawning grounds of Que^ ak^^.and without having spawned, perished in countless thousam it', river below. Sufficient gold was not found to warrant a c ?» of mining operations, and hence the gates, which had beeti ^ tor a * The proportion of four and fiv«-year-old fish varies between very limit*. On the Fraser river, which is the only large stream of the Province poHK * a nor of aockeye which mature principally in their fourth year, about 80 per a^,^-: -m am average, are four-year-old fish. This figure is based on investigation eatcait; iwer some year*. On some other rivers the proportion of five-year-old firi! mmt ^tat o( four-year-old fish. Interetting details of these inveitigationa are giMs :i ^^ Anmul lUports rfllu Commi$fiontr af FitkmM, British Columbia. • COMMISSION or CONtlRVATlON part «l two WMOiw, wtra opwid. Thb pravidad MiOdnt walar to parmit the Mlmoa to mch th« haad of tha rivar, tnit, oariac to tlM vtrooff currenta at tha ahikearaya, did not parmit iagfaaa of •aimon to tha lake, and hence for ftva yaara the liah continuad to maaa and die bdow the dam, while the apawning beds of Quaancl lake remained barren of aockeye aalmon. In the ' big year' of 1901, the run to the Qucanel river was very large, but, owii^ to the failure to provkia a Miway, the spawning grounds of the lake remained unseeded that year. The pack of 1905 waa 300,000 caaea less than in 1901, and haa commonly been attributed to failure in the seeding of the beds of the Quesnel in 1901. In 1903, the Frovindal Government constructed a fiahway, and, in 1905, several million aockeye undoubtedly entered Quesnel lake, and the large spawning area apparently was well seeded. The run of sockeye in 1909 was believed to have exceeded that of any former year, and it has been estimated that 4,000,000 adult sockeye salmon entered Quesnel lake through this fishway.* In 1913 and 1914, during the construction of the Canadian Northern railway, a rock slide in the canon above Yale caused a serious blocking of the Fraser river. The riide produced currents and eddies of such character as resulted in the holding back of millions of salmon. This obstruction was more senoua than that at Quesnel lake, as it affected a larger area. Reports from the various spawning grounds showed that the run rearhmg the grounds in 1913 was mudi below that of former big years. At Quesnel lake, where fadlitiea existed for making an accurate estimate, only about 550,000 salmon passed through the fishway, as compared with 4,000,000 in 1909. Tlie assistant to the Commissioner of Fisheries of British Colum- bia, in his report respecting conditions below the obstruction on the Fraser, stated : ' ' The waters of the lagoon at the mouth of the Spuzzum were literally filled with sockeye, and the stream itself was also crowded for the mile and one-half of its length to the falls For a distance of three miles and a half, from the Skuzzy rapids to Hell's- gate below, the surface of all the eddies and the slack waters were covered with sockeye,"!.... • Annual Report of the CommissioH*r rf Fitkorits, British Cotumbta, 1909, pp. 1-13. t See ' Report on the Obatnicted Condition of the Ftaier River at Skuxzy Rapidi, 9'."!1?F/ HeUgate and White Creek,* in Report oj Ike Commistiontr cf Fishemt, Bntiih Columbia, 1913, p. R39; alio pp. R20 et mj, alM Report lor 1914, p. N2a PI8NWAYS IN IRITISH COLUMIIA T Tht dhct of thw otetnictkM durinf 1913-14 wQI nat bt folly •atU •fter the rum of 1917-18. but it appMn aafe to pndkt that the ictults will be found to bt of a very wrious character.* Suflident hae now been taid to prove the great importance of providii^ tatiafactory ingreaa and egret for the aalmon. At the picaent time the lalmon that eecape capture on the fiahing grounda have, nve for natural obetructions, Midi as are cauaed by falb too steep to be surmounted, an unobstructed passage way from the sea to the remotest sections of the water-sheds of the large streams; there are, moreover, practically no canals diverting from the main channels. It is absolutely essential for the life of the salmon industry in British Columbia that adequate and practically workable provisions be made and maintained for the safeguarding of the salmon — both adult and young — in connection with the granting of any rights or privileges for the damming of streams, for the diversion of water for power, irrigation, or other activities involving the use of the inland watera. It is not possible here, nor is it the intention, to enter upon an extended discussion of the ways and means by which the integrity of inland watera may be preserved for the propagation of fish life. It is, however, necessary to direct special attention to the need of pnmding and maintaining a class of structure which has been alto- gether too much neglected, vis., fishways. An excellent summary, respecting the general prindples that should find exemplification in the construction of fishways, is con- tained in a statement prepared by the architect and engineer of the United States Board of Fisheries: "With tl.e development in late yeare of water-power for commer- cial enterprises on an economic basis, with the construction of canals for cheapening the transportation of freight, with the proposition of irrigating the otherwise waste lands of the country — all of which im- provements call for '.he erection of dams across our rivers — the steady decrease of fish life in the watera above said dams or other obstructions has become more and more apparent, and the question has presented itself how to enable the fish to ascend to the headwatera of rivere, in order to reach their spawning grounds for the propagation of their kind, or to follow their migratory habits in search of food as heretofore. This question is being best met by the construction of suitable fishways. * Information has come to hand indicating the character of the lalmon run of 1917, and the indications appear clearly to justify the apprehension entertained in 1913 rcKiectins the seriou* results cauaed by the rock slide, and which results, it wa« hdd, would later be manifested. t COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION "The underlying principle in the construction of fishways is the retardation of the current velocity of a waterfall do as to enable fish to surmount it. Innumerable devices with that end in view have beea invented and proved more or less successful. Certain physical con- ditions in the location and a proper method of construction are the important factors. "Of the physical conditions, the two principal ones are (1) acces- sibility of the fishway free from disturbance, its outlet being located in a pool at the bottom of the falls where fish would naturally pass ia ascending the river, and (2) an abundant discharge of water through the outlet so as to attract the fish. It is to be noted that fish as a rule do not ascend rivers at low-water stage, but between mean and high water, and preferably during sunshine and warm weather. " In style of construction fishws^ys may be classed in four systems: "I. The inclined plane system, in which a series of baffle or deflecting plates are so arranged in an inclined flume as to cause the water to follow in its descent a long 6inuous route. "11. The pool and fail or step system, in which the water is brought down to a lower level by a series of short falls with intervening pools. "III. The counter current system, in which the descending volume of water is being checked by meeting a current opposing it at certain intervals. "IV. The lock and gate system, in which a higher or lower level is reached through one or more locks operated by gates. "In all four systems of fishways certain general rules governing the construction must be observed. "1. The slope of a fishway built on the inclined plane system should not be steeper than 1 foot vertical to 10 feet horizontal; the pool and fall system, as well as the counter current system, should not have a slope of more than 1 vertical to 4 horizontal, so as to insure a current velocity of not exceeding 10 feet per second in any portion of the fishway. The lock and gate system deals merely with a vertical lift. The width of a fishway somewhat governs the slope, and the wider the fishway the more gradual the slope should be. " 2. The available volume of water and the size of the fish must be considered in the dimensions adopted for the fishway; small fish, like herring, bass, trout, etc., may not require over 6 inches in the clear at the narrowest points or openings in the fishway, while for large fish, like shad, rockfish, salmon, etc., the clearance spaces should not be less than 9 inches in any direction. "3. A fishway for small fish does not need to be more than 2 feet wide by about 1 foot deep, while that for large fish ought to have a least width of 4 feet with a depth correspondingly large. "4. Plenty of light should be admitted in a fishway, both for FISHWAYS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 'I maintaining therein the natural conditions of the water, and in order diat the interior may easily be inspected and any foreign matter removed. "5. A fishway in all its parts should, by the action of the current of water passing through it. be as nearly as possible, self-cleaning of all sand, gravel, mud, and rubbish. " 6. The water supply of a fishway should be ample and the same, or nearly so, at both orainary high iad low water stages, avoiding thereby any regulating gates or other devices calling for the services of an attendant "7. The top and sides of a fishway should be above ordinary high water. "8. The fishway should be built very strong and be well pro- tected against the destructive effects of frediets, drift logs, ice, etc. "9. The intake and outlet should be well submereed and die former protected against floating debris, etc., by a suitable grating. "The location of a fishway must be such that ascending fish will not be alarmed and driven off by disturbance from boats, fishermen, etc. "The material of fishways may be wood, stone, concrete, or iron, depending opon the construction of the dam, its size, the topography and nature of the site, the labour and material at hand, and the funds available."* It is not the intention here to discuss the merits of various fish- ways, but it is desired most emphatically to point out that great difficulty will be experienced in providing and maintaining satisfactory fishways in power dams of considerable height, say above 25 or 30 feet. The United States Bureau of Fisheries is alive to the fact that the fisheries of the country have suffered by reason of inadequate provision being made for the fish to overcome obstructions in streams. With commendable enterprise the Bureau had commenced an exten- sive investigation involving observations and experiments to determine the efficiency of all fishways now in use. The research, owing to present exigencies, has been temporarily suspended. The Bureau appears to have accepted as a basic doctrine, where matters of advantage or disadvantage are being considered in connec- tion with dams and the construction and maintenance of fishways, that any benefit of doubt should properly be given to the fish ; and. * Contult FMmays, by H. Voa Bayer, C.E., s paper preeeiited before the Fourth Interaatioasl FUtwayt Coiwr*M, held at Waahiagton, U.S.A., Sept. 22-26, 1908. COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION il 1 i fardwr, the Buitau maintuiH that if firii of known raigimtory habit are present and, presumably, obstructed to sue* a degree as to make a fiahway desirable, the asserted impracticabUity of fiahway construction is not to be accepted fitwn anyone without strong afiirmative evidence. This Bureau has stated that it has no knowledge of fishways in the United States that successfully pass salmon over dams more than 20 feet in height, and that doubtless there' are few fishways really successful for dams over 12 feet in height, even for the salmon.* The State of Washington, bordering British Columbia on the south, has experienced difficulty in providing suitable fishways. In this State, conditions on many of the salmon streams are similar to those in British Columbia, and power dams have been constructed 100 feet or more in height. It is instructive to note the experience and conclusion of the Department of Fisheries and Game of the State of Washington, as communicated in a letter by the State Fish Com- missioner and Chief Game Warden, Mr. L. H. Darwin. Mr. Darwin comments upon the difficulties of providing satisfactory fishways in very high dams, but entertains hope that the difficulties may yet be solved and fishways satisfactory in operation be devised. It has been found that a fishway is practically useless unless its entrance is where the fish can easily find it, and, in order to bring the entrance to the fishway into the waters at the foot of a high dam, it is usually necessary to curve the fishway. Such a fishway is an ex- pensive matter, concrete construction being, for high dams, the only really satisfactory method, and the best rule laid down does not permit • The United Sutes Bureau of Fisheries has stated that it lacks information respecting the efficient operation of any existing fishway in the United States at dams more than 20 feet in height. It is claimed, however, that fish have, by mrans ot fishways, satisfactorily surmounted dams 40 feet or more in height. The Bureau has kindly furnished a memorandum of some of the instances for which such claim is made. These, as reported by Mr. Cirl D. Shoemaker, game warden of the Stote of Oregon, are as follows: , . ,. t^ u i d- _ "A ladder giving excellent satisfaction is located in the Dee nver. Hood Kiv» county. This ladder has been used entirely by trout, principally of the cutthroat variety. It is about two hundred feet long and rises about fifty feet. "At the Ray Gold dam, on the Rogue river, we have another ladder about forty feet high, which is used also by salmon and steelheads. The fish pass over the ladders in the Rogue river very easily." , . o . « wr As reported by John J. Lenihan, Fish Commissioner of the State of ^yyomlng. "The only one (fishway) that seems to successfully pass fish over a dam is located in Snake river, near Jackson lake. This dam is about fifty feet hi^h. Fidi can be observed passing over it during the months of June and July, same being of the black- *'^A fi^a^. which is stated by Mr. T. Rouault. Jr., Game and Fish Warden of New Mexico, to work very successfully, is located at the reservoir owned by the SanU Fe Lipht and Power Company, on the Santo Fe nver. The height ot the dam was Bot given. FISHWAYS IN BHITISH COLUMBIA 11 • faU of more than one foot in ten for the indlned ptone iy«tem or one in four in the pool and fall •y.tem. which latter mint be adopted for high dam.. Another point to be taken into coowkratKm » Ae iXenae amoant of .t«ngth which Ae fid> murt P^^-^ mate a lonsaKent In the natural .tream. they have pooh or eddi« in which they can rest; and even though an attempt is made to reproduce the»e in the fishway-. it U questionable if they are a. sat-factory a. m the natural stream.. In order to provide better facdities for safeguard ng the fiAing inteiCTts than are afforded by fishway. for high dams the S^ent of Fisheries and Game of the State of Washington permits aXncourages owners of high dams to buUd a hatchery at the foot of the dams instead of constructing a fishway. Th« is in accordance with the established policy of the state, to acquire a hatchery on every salmon stream. In Canada, both Federal and Provincial legislation has been enacted to safeguard the inland fisheries and to provide for Ae con- struction of fishways. The chief difficulty, however, as far as fishways are concerned, is that too frequentiv proper fishways are not provided Lid that such as are provided are allowed to fall into <»»"««• Jhe Dominion Fisheries Act* explicitiy ^''^^'^ :^t': ^^^^^^^^ built wherever the Minister of Marine and Fishenes determmes they are necessary.! It says: "1 Every slide, dam or other obstruction across or in any stream where Ae Minister determines it to be necwsary for the pubhc lS; tiiat a fidi-pass should exist, shall be provided by Aeo^«'°' ^"J^er ^th a duSe and efficient 6*^ °^^edTn f g^ slide; dam or other obstruction, which shall be «n?»°*»>?«° '!L*^^ aid ;fiSve condition by said owner or occupier in such pktj a^do such form and capacity as will. >n tiie opmion o^ the Mmister. saus factorily permit tiie free passage of fish tiirough tiie same. R.S.. s. 40. "2. The place, form and capacity of tiie fishway or ^al shsdl be prescribed by any fishery officer by notice m wnUng. R.b., s. «>. 88 2 "3 Every fishway and canal shall be kept open and unobstructed »nrf shall K s^dE with such sufficient quantity of water as tiie Mfnilter co^sS nVce^ry to enable the fish frequenting the waters to Sh such fiswiy or^alis placed to pass tiirough tiie same • The Fisheries Act, 1914. R.S., c. 45. •. 1. . ». i i. p » COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION during such times m are specified by any fishery officer. R.S., s. 46, ss. 3. "4. The Minister may authorize the payment of one-half of the expense incurred by sudi owner or occupier in constructing and maintaining any fishway or canal; and after a fishway or canal which has been duly approved by the Minister has been built at the cost of die owner or occupier of any slide, dam or other obstruction, or after such owner or occupier has paid one-half the cost thereof and such fishway or canal there after proves to be ineffective, the total cost of any change in such fishway or canal or any new fishway or canal re- qu red to enable the fish to pass by such slide, dam or other obstruc- Uon, shall be paid by His Majesty. R.S., s. 46, ss. 4. "5. The Minister, in order to procure the construction of any fidiway or canal, pending proceedings against any owner or occupier for the penalty imposed by this Act, may make and complete the same forthwith, and may authorize any person to enter upon the premises with the necessary workmen, means and materials for such purpose, and may recover from the owner or occupier the whole expense so incurred by action in the name of His Majesty. R.S., s. 46, ss. S. "6. Where unused slides, dams, obstructions, or anything detri- mental to fish exist, and the owner or occupier thereof does not, after notice, given by the Minister, remove the same, or the owner is not resident in Canada, or his exact place of residence is unknown to the Minister, the Minister may, without being liable to damages, or in any way to indemnify the said owner or occupier, cause said slide, dam, obstruction, or thing detrimental to fish life to be removed or destroyed and in cases where notice has been given to the owner or occupier, may recover from said owner or occupier the expense of so removing or destroying the same." The British Columbia Water Act, 1914, Secdon 35, states: " Proper provision shall be made by every licensee to the satisfaction of the Comptroller.... for the erection and maintenance by the licensee of a durable and efficient fishway in the stream or other waterway affected by the works." Suitable fishways require comparatively little water. The periods during which they should be kept full vary somewhat with the habits of the fish. The fishway season does not coincide with the low-water season of the wintei months and hence in this respect conflicts comparatively little with power development. While in this discussion reference has been made specifically to the salmon in connection with the streams of the Pacific drainage basin, it should be borne in mind that other fish of migratory habit require consideration where dams might seriously interfere with their passage. In addition to the salmon, there are trout, sturgeon, shad, FISHWAYS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 13 common eel, smelt, striped bass, euUchon and lampreys, and possibly suckers and large fish of the carp and minnow family, which also, re- quire consideration. The absence of suitable and efficient fishways, properly main- tained, is a very decided loss to the fisheries of any province, and more especially, perhaps, is this true in the case of salmon fisheries. It ma.' be commented that the loss viewed solely from the standpoint of the tourist traffic may be a serious one. Baedeker's Guide says that "every salmon caught by tourists in the Maritime Provinces involves expenditure in the country of from |2S to $35." Respecting the maintenance of an unobstructed passageway for the seaward migration of the young salmon the problem is different. As yet no practical device has been found that will satisfactorily prevent young fish from entering irrigation ditches and canals leading to power plants. Even the clearest streams carry an amount of vegetable matter and debris sufficient to clog any screen having mesh small enough to prevent the passage of young salmon. Fish passing into irrigation canab are, of course, eventually destroyed. In the case of power plants, the problem varies with the character of the development. If a direct fall, in a state of nature, was sufficient, to hold back the salmon, it might not be always necessary, when a dam is constructed, to make provision for the salmon, per se, unless it be desired to open up new spawning grounds. Where the power development is a low head proposition, means for the passage of the young fish downstream may be provided without serious difficulty. The fish may in many instances, without hurt, pass over the spillways if sufficient water is flowing over same, but otherwise special means of passage will be necessary. A more difficult problem is presented in connection with high head developments. If a low intake dam is utilized, and there is, at the proper season of the v^ar, ample water flowing over the spillways, probably the young fi. 'ill pass downstream without hurt: and, with a suitable arrange t for the intake, few, if any, will pass into the power flumes. If, however, the head is concentrated by a high dam, or the intake dam constitutes a storage dam where little water is wasted — all passing through the power turbines — the young fish certainly would not survive a journey through the contracted passages of high head turbines. The amount of risk incurred by the fish in passage over a spillway of a high dam would, of course, depend upon its character. An ameliorating condition lies in the fact that the bulk 14 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION of the young salmon descend the streams at times of high water, when usually there is ample water passing over the spillways. There is need for further investigations of this problem. Water-power development may also conflict with fishing interests by the destruction of spawning grounds through the manipulation of the levels of lakes used as storage reservoirs. When lake levels are raised the margin of the lake, up to the proposed flowage line, should be stripped of tree growth and underbrush to facilitate the formation of new beaches and maintain the healthy condition of the water. Here again, the question of clearing becomes one of weighing advan- tages and disadvantages, but it is doubtful if any of the supposed advantages derivable from power development will offset the des- truction of the source of one of our important supplies of food. Cer- tainly, with intelligent regulation and forceful administration, the streams of the Province should not only continue to produce vast numbers of salmon, but the supply may be greatly increased. In fact, our supplies must be increased. Recording their conclusions, some of the members of the special committee appointed to investigate the fishing industry of the State of Washington report: "We find that civilization, and all of the activities of civilization, have a very serious effect in diminishing the natural propagation of fish. We find that young fish that are hatched in rivers tributary to irrigation ditches, in their journey to the sea are led, to a large extent, into irrigation canals and are thus destroyed. We find also that the sawdust from the mills, both in salt and fresh waters, is destructive of the voung salmon and to the salmon eggs, and that various other agencies of modern civilization tend to the destruction of the young fish before tiiey reach their maturity."* In view of the facts above presented, it is evident that no de- velopment for power or irrigation should be permitted on any of the salmon streams without fully safeguarding the fishing industry. • Annual Reports of the StaU Fish Commissioner, Sute of Waihington, De- partment of Fisheries and Game, 1911-1912, pp. 36.