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INYO INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENCE, INYO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 17.1915
NO. 27
WORLDS LARGEST FISH HATCHERY TO BE BUILT HERE
OAK CREEK DECIDED ON FOR SITE
Construction Work to Start As Soon As Possible -- Will be Hatching Eggs Next Spring
The welcome news that Inyo County will have a fish hatchery, which, when completed will be the largest in
the world, was received in Independence this week when State Superintendent of Hatcheries W. H. Shebley, E. E. Hunt of the
Tahoe hatchery, and A. R. Widdowson, deputy state architect, visited Independence to start preliminary work. The site chosen
for the hatchery is a 40 - acre tract on Oak Creek near Bells Mill., This site was purchased by the people of Independence
and vicinity and donated to the state.
In selecting this site the natural advantages were what won the hatchery for Oak Creek. Probably the most
important was the water conditions which guarantee to the hatchery all the water that will ever be needed. The site itself
is an ideal one and when completed the hatchery will be one of the show places of the state.
Construction work will start as soon as the plans can be perfected, probably within two months. The hatchery
will be built in such a was that it can be added to as future demands for fish increases. The first units that will be built
will take care of between six and ten million fish. This can be doubled at any time it is found necessary.
The first buildings to be constructed will be the main hatchery 200 feet by 45 feet, superintendents residence
56 x 34, and a garage. The main hatchery building will have a reception hall at one end, together with two offices and lavatories.
At the other end, temporarily, will be the helps quarters and storerooms. Over the reception room will be a tower 100 feet
in height with an observation room at the top. All buildings will be of stone and concrete with red
tile roofs. A settling tank 52 x 12 ten nursery ponds each 10 x 40, and a septic tank to take care of any
offai will also be constructed at once.
The grounds will all be laid out in a most attractive way and beautifully parked. all the roads both to
and through the grounds will be of the finest. Ornamental fish ponds will be used to add to the attractiveness of the site.
The entire county is to be congratulated on the establishment of such an enterprise within its boundaries.
It cannot fail to have a stimulating effect upon every section.
The following article is taken from the Los Angeles Examiner:
" I want no delays: no excuses: no ifs and ands?FFFFFFFFFF92 whatever. We have the money: now go and give
us the best hatchery in the world," were the parting instructions of Fish and Game Commissioner, M.J. Connell as he sent on
their way State Superintendent of Hatcheries W. H. Shebley, E. W. Hunt of the Tahoe Hatchery and Deputy State Architect A.
R. Widdowson. The experts had come down from Sacramento to confer with commissioner preliminary to going to the Owens Valley
to look over the Oak Creek site above Independence, whereon Commissioner Connell has decided to locate the big new Southern
California hatchery, upon which $ 30,000.00 of the fund which he has moved up from hunting and fishing license sales in Southern
California is to be expended immediately.
Mr. Shebley has been thirty - two years in the service of the State in charge of fish-cultural work, and
is known widely as an expert in his line. He is pleased at the new responsibility thrust upon him and stated that the site
chosen is as near ideal as can be conceived: abundant water supply and no legal complications over it: central location and
excellent transportation facilities. One thing which struck him with force was the fact that fish could be laid down in Fresno
from the from the Owens River
plant more expeditiously than from Sisson, whence they now come.
"We have instructions to break all records," said Mr. Shebley. "Mr. Connell is very much interested in
this hatchery, and we will have it operating upon Rae Lake eggs at least; probably upon the spring crop from Bear Lake.
Nothing can stop us but some of those needless delays that arise from the roundabout way in which some things have to be
done We have orders to go right ahead, and I can right now promise the hunters and fishers of Southern California, whose dollar
licenses made this great work possible, that they are going to get a lasting monument for the money that will be standing
when all of are dead. I aimed at equaling the great Wisconsin hatchery, but Commissioner Connell says that is not enough;
we must have the best hatchery above ground. We will try to do it."
george812@earthlink.net
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