STONE ON THE SACRAMENTO SALMON. 195 



Question 73. At what season and for what period is it taken in nets, 

 and when with the line ? 



Answer. The salmon are always caught in the main river with nets, 

 all the year round. They are taken with the hook at the sources of the 

 river, chiefly in July. 



Question 74. What would be the average daily catch, of one person, 

 with the hook, and what the total for the season ! 



Answer. The average daily catch, at the head- waters of the Sacra- 

 mento, near Upper Soda Springs, with the hook and line, is about a 

 dozen salmon, weighing, on the average, 15 pounds apiece. 



Question 75. Answer the same question for one seine or pound, of 

 specified length. 



Answer. Mr. William Hamilton, of the Schwartz fishing-grounds — a 

 fair specimen of the smaller fishing-grounds of the main river — caught 

 15 salmon a day during the regular fishing-season, from March 1 to June 

 1, with a common drift-net. 



Question 76. Is the time of catching with nets or pounds different 

 from that with lines ? 



Answer. Nets are used all the year round. Hook and line are used 

 in fresh water only, in July. 



Question 77. Is it caught more on one time of tide than on another ? 



Answer. I believe the fishermen draw their nets chiefly* at the turn 

 of the tide. 



O. — Economical value and application. 



Question 78. What disposition is made of the fish caught, whether 

 used on the spot or sent elsewhere ; and if so, w here '? 



Answer. All the salmon that are caught in the main river, including 

 the bay, are sold fresh in the San Francisco, Sacramento City, and 

 other home markets, if possible. This includes, probably, about all that 

 are caught in the winter and three-fourths of those caught in the spring. 

 Those that do not find a sale as fresh-salmon, are to some extent salted 

 down, and the rest are thrown back into the river.* 



The Indians on the upper tributaries dry their salmon and store them 

 up for their winter food. It is unnecessary to say what the anglers do 

 with theirs. 



Question 79. What is its excellence as food, fresh or salted ? 



Answer. The Sacramento fresh salmon, when prime, is a fish of great 

 excellence as food. The flesh is firm, juicy, rich, and delicious. After 

 taking pains to form a careful and correct opinion on the subject, I am 

 unable to say that it is in any degree inferior, when in its best condi- 

 tion, to the Atlantic salmon, in its best condition. I think the common 

 opinion is the other way, and I account for it as follows : The Atlantic 



* On the 2(>tli day of August, I saw (WO pounds of spoiled salmon at one fish-market 

 at Sacramento City, wliieli Avere about to be tliroAvn into the river. 



