THE SALMON FKSHKIIIES OF THE SACRAMENTO IMVKU. 



737 



"The proportion of sturgeon and salmou in the shipments of the various months is estimated 

 by the San Francisco market-men as follows : 



"January, 10 per cent, salmon, 90 per cent, sturgeon. February, 10 per cent, salmon, 90 per 

 cent, sturgeon. March, 50 per cent, salmon, 50 per cent, sturgeon. April, mostly salmon. May, 

 all salmon. June, all salmon. July, all salmon. August, all salmon. September, all salmon. 

 October, 50 per cent, salmon, 50 per cent, sturgeon. November, 50 per cent, salmon, 50 per cent, 

 sturgeon. December, 10 per cent, salmon, 90 per cent, sturgeon. 



" Besides the salmon above mentioned, a large number are taken by sailing vessels and by 

 the opposition line of steamers and other conveyances to San Francisco and the larger towns. 



" The points from which salmon are shipped on the river steamers are Sacramento City, 

 Gourtland, Ernmatown, Rio Vista, Collins ville, Antioch, Beuicia, Martinez. 



" In the spring of 1872 about 25,000 salted salmon came from the Sacramento River to San 

 Francisco, and in the fall of the same year about 9,000. The Rio Vista salmon fishermen recom- 

 mend the prohibition of fishing from June 1 to October 1, or from June 15 to October 15. 



" FYKE-NET FISHING. The fyke nets have a mesh of 1'i inches. There were in the winter of 

 1872-'73 eighty-five fyke nets on the Sacramento at Rio Vista. They are stationary, of course, 

 and are examined every twenty-four hours. All the kinds of fish that are found in the river are 

 caught in these nets. Mr. John D. Ingersoll, a prominent fyke fisherman of Rio Vista, informed 

 me tliat the daily catch for twenty nets is now about 75 pounds offish. 



"They include chubs, lienin.tr. perch, viviparous perch, sturgeons, hardheads, split-tails, Sac- 

 ramento pike, suckers, crabs. Of these the peicli, pike, ami sturgeon are the best food fishes. 



though all of the species named are sold in the market. 

 SEC V 47 



