THE SAN JOAQUIN KIVER AND ITS FISHES. 481 



Joaquin, and as the general result of this information, am satisfied they 

 make their annual immigrations to the headwaters for spawning in 

 large quantities. A few years since, they spawned near the Yosemite 

 Valley. A dam built for mining purposes, some four or five years since, 

 prevented them from reaching this spawning-ground. Last year the 

 dam was removed and the hsh have again free access to the headwa- 

 ters of the Merced, but whether they have returned to tbeir former 

 spawning-grounds on this river, which is a branch of the San Joaquin, 

 I have not learned. I will write to Millerton, near the headwaters of 

 the San Joaquin, so as to have information as soon as they reach that 

 point this spring, and I will again communicate with you. 



I thiuk it would be advisable for you to instruct Mr. Stone to send 

 one or more of his assistants to the San Joaquin for the purpose of ob- 

 serving the salmon on their way to the spawning-ground and having 

 some caught and forwarded to you. I think, from all I can learn, that 

 they differ somewhat from the McCloud River salmon, and that they 

 remain for weeks and months in the rivers, in a climate much warmer 

 than Florida or Mississippi. In fact I have no doubt that you will hud 

 in the San Joaquin a salmon which might be successfully introduced 

 into rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. 



I will try and procure for you some of the carp brought by Mr. Poppy 

 from Hamburg, and which he is now successfully raising in Sonoma 

 County, and sending to market here. 



We have done nothing about introducing the Gourami from China. 

 We find it very difficult to make business connection with people in 

 China in relation to these matters. All Americans in business in that 

 country appear to be entirely absorbed in other matters, and have no 

 knowledge or take no interest in fish-culture, or of obtaining new vari- 

 eties of fish. 



I g-ave Mr. Stone a letter of introduction to United States Minister 

 Avery, who formerly resided here. He is a man of culture, and alive 

 to every interest that would benefit the United States or, especially, this 

 State. When Mr. Stone shall have received a reply, I Mill then open a 

 correspondence with Minister Avery a-ud see what we can do in relation 

 to this matter. By-the-bye, Ex-United States Minister F. F. Low in- 

 forms me that there are in the rivers of China a much larger and 

 finer-flavored shad* than that of the Atlantic States. It is largely con- 

 sumed in China, and it is considered a great delicacy. He is convinced 

 that it would be a valuable acquisition. I also learn that there is on 

 the coast of Japan a shrimp, averaging from four to six inches long, 

 and very delicate in flavor, but how we are to get either the shad from 

 China or the shrimp from Japan here, I do not know. 



I will send you by express soon a box containing two of the Idaho 

 red-fish, which you will see are a new variety of lake-trout, or laud- 

 locked salmon, as yet undescribed. 



'Probably the Sain lai (Alosa Rcevesii, Rich.) 

 31 F 



