The History of Our Hatchery in Independence, CA
From quality fish production to absolutely stunning surroundings, Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery is a beloved fixture of the community. Since its inception in the early 1900s, our facility has served as a crucial component of the local culture. Today, we welcome visitors — from the surrounding area and afar — to learn a little more about our hatchery.
Building the HatcheryInspired by the surrounding mountains, our hatchery was built to last. Expert craftsmen — led by Charles Dean of the State Department of Engineering — teamed up with Fish and Game Commissioner M.J. Connell to design a striking, durable building. Construction started in late March of 1916 with the goal of completing the project in the spring of 1917 — just in time to receive the first eggs. With the help of local builders, Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery opened its doors in 1917.
Raising Trout
From day one, our hatchery boasted unmatched quality and quantity. In 1917, the very year we opened, F.A. Shelby — the sitting Superintendent of Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery — summed up much of our early operation: “The Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery is the largest and best equipped fish hatchery in California and is under the jurisdiction of the State Fish and Game Commission. It has a yearly capacity of 2,000,000 fry.”
Rae Lakes
The first trout we hatched were from eggs collected at Rae Lakes. After collection, these eggs were transported from the collecting station to our hatchery via mule train. Though this location was our primary source for years, eggs were no longer collected here after the 1927 spawning season, due to declining production.
Golden Trout Eggs
During the spawning season of 1918, we collected golden trout eggs from Cottonwood Lakes for the first time. As the official state fish of California, Golden Trout is an impressive but rare sight in hatcheries. Our golden trout hatching program was the sole source of this fish throughout the Sierra Nevada.