“The lightning may start a few new ones,” said Earl. “However, no patrols can be made as long as it rains like this, and we will get back before they start in again. The weather man says that we are in for several days of rain.”
“Bring on your fish,” said Bill. “When do we start, Sam?”
“First thing in the morning,” replied Sam. “I will stop at the hotel for you. The salmon have started to run and we can get some salmon eggs for bait. We ought to have a wonderful trip. We will go up by the hatchery. I will see you in the morning. I have to go and round up some tackle.”
“No, thanks, I have all afternoon to do it,” replied Sam as he went out the door of the hotel.
Late that night Bill received a telegram from Bob Finch at Eugene. It read: “Wait for me. I’ll be there in the morning. Bob.”
“It looks as if we will get a late start tomorrow,” said Bill to Earl after he had read the wire. “I wonder what time the morning train gets in?”
“I think that there is a train that leaves Eugene this afternoon,” said Earl. “By taking it, Finch could get here quite early tomorrow.”
As a matter of fact, Bill was awakened the next morning by Bob pounding on the door of his room at the hotel.
“How did you know that we were going fishing?” asked Bill after Bob had entered.
“With Earl Simmons along and the hunting season not opened, what else could you do with a couple of days here?” replied Bob.
“Well, you will never guess who is going to take us out,” said Bill.
“I give up before I start,” said Bob. “Who is it?”
“Sam Crouch. He has a store down here and met us at the aviation field.”
“It looks like a put-up job to me,” said Bob. “You and Earl, one of the most ardent fishermen in the state, start out for Medford and end at Roseburg, where you meet Sam Crouch, another fish enthusiast. I’m glad that I could horn in.”
In a short time they were all in Sam’s automobile headed up the Umpqua River. They drove about fifteen or eighteen miles up the river and stopped at the hatchery. Neither Bill nor Bob had ever seen a hatchery before and immediately began asking questions.
“Tell me something about the hatchery and what it is for?” asked Bill.
“I hardly know where to start,” said Earl.
“Why do they have hatcheries?” asked Bob.