The History of the Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery

I’m not necessarily a fan of hatcheries, but the hatchery in Mt. Shasta drags along enough interesting history that it’s worth reading about. For example, in the early 1900s, trout were distributed around the state from the Mt. Shasta hatchery via railroad baggage cars, though eventually the state bought their own car that was specially equipped for the job:

Trout distributed throughout the State were transported from Mount Shasta Hatchery in railroad baggage cars, accompanied by an attendant. Aerating the cans of fish in baggage cars was accomplished with a narrow, screened dipper. The dipper was submerged in the can of fish and then the water was poured back from a height of about two feet.

In 1907, the State purchased a baggage car from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and had it converted into Fish Distribution Car Number 01. The fish car consisted of a regular railway baggage car to which had been added an aerating system for delivering air to the cans, ice containers for controlling temperatures, and living quarters for the attendants.

Sadly, one of the reasons I dislike hatcheries is how they pollute wild genetics, and the history piece closes with a vivid illustration of just that effect:

Selective breeding of trout for special characteristics is constantly carried on. Some of the more desirable characteristics for which selection is made are rapid growth, disease resistance, greater beauty, and longer spawning period. In California, selective breeding has been carried on since 1938. Selection has been limited almost entirely to rainbow trout, spring- and fall-spawning strains of which are propagated.

Still, it’s an interesting read, one brought to us courtesy of Alert Underground Reader and Local Guide Steven Bertrand. See you at the concrete troughs, Tom Chandler.

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