BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 131 



lu Cbina fisli are often killed or stupefied by using poisonous prepa- 

 rations made from a species of Folygonv.m, or the seeds of the Croton 

 iiylium, or other vegetable substances. This practice is of very long 

 standing, and is occasionally prohibited by the magistrates. 



American clams in England.* — Some time ago the Marquis of 

 Exeter undertook to acclimatize American mollusks. In the fall of 

 1884, JMr. George Shepard Page, of New York, sent him some quahogs 

 or hard clams {Mercenaria violacea), which died before arriving at Liv- 

 erpool. In February, 1885, another attempt was made, which was a 

 great success. On March 16, 1885, Mr. Henry Wright, secretary to the 

 Marquis of Exeter, wrote to Mr. Page that these quahogs had this time 

 arrived in perfect condition, and that, as soon as they were deposited 

 on the soft sand of the seashore, they dug their way into the sand with 

 an activity which showed they had suffered nothing from the voyage. 

 He now wishes a lot of sand clams or soft-shelled clams {Mya arenaria). 



Codfish in the Pacific. — Mr. James Gr. Swan, writing from Port 

 Townsend, Wash., April 6, 188G, says: ^' I can report that true cod 

 have made their appearance in the harbors of Port Angeles and Port 

 Discovery in considerable numbers during the past two months, and 

 probably they will be in Pert Townsend harbor in May. Three years 

 ago I observed young cod, from 2 to 3 inches long, in a net among her- 

 ring, smelts, and other small fish. The next year cod as large as tom- 

 cod were very plentiful here. Those taken in the summer of 1885 were 

 from 12 to 18 inches longj and this year they are from 20 to 3G inches 

 in length, and over. They are lean, not having attained full growth, 

 but are of very good flavor. I have not observed any spawn in the 

 specimens that I have examined." 



Shipment of marine products from San Francisco to China. — 

 The Sacramento Eecord of April G states that the efforts of the fish com- 

 missioners in placing fry in the public waters are being utilized by the 

 Chinamen, who fish with nets in which they gather enormous quantities 

 of very small fishes for exportation ; and the following figures are given 

 of the amount and value of the products so exported : 



IGO tons of slirimps, at $300 '. $45,000 



200 tons of small salmon and other fry, at $200 40,000 



50 tons of slirimii shells and fish manure, at $40 2,000 



Total value of each shipment 87,000 



3 shipments per month 201,000 



36 shipments per year 3,132,000 



Mussel culture in France. — In connection with the oyster-cult- 

 ural exhibition recently organized in the Palace of Industry at Paris, 

 there has been occasion to speak of the mussel {Mytilus eduUs), which 

 invades the oyster-beds after they have been properly arranged, and 

 proves very injurious to the oysters. The French oyster-culturists wage 

 waron these mussels by means of the starfish, whichis destructive to them. 



f — : : —  . — ^ . . _ ^ 



* Translated from the Moniteur de la Pisciculture, &c., of March 13, 1880. 



