CONFERENCES WITH STATE COMMISSIONERS. 773 



" The gold-fish are treated in this way, as are also a kind of fish called 

 koi, which resemble somewhat carp, but are rounder. They are fed on 

 very small worms, dug out of mud at the bottom of stagnant and slow- 

 running ditches. At the end of three weeks or so, the pond is made to 

 communicate by a channel, either with a larger pond of old standing 

 or a river, and the artificial pond Is thus emptied of its stock. This is 

 done in Hizen and Bingo for ornament of gardens. 



" Salmon abound in the rivers on the western coast of Xipon, north of 

 this latitude, as do also black bass. Yesso and its rivers teem with sal- 

 mon, the fishing for which by net on the sea-shore begins about the 1st 

 of September, and ends about the 27th of November. 



" Fishing for salmon by net is at present going on about 85° northeast 



from this port on the Pacific coast. 



" I have the honor, sir, to be your obedient servant, 



"C. O. SHEPAED, 



" ConsuL 

 " Hon. Charles Hale, 



" Assistant /Secretary of State, Washington^ 

 After the reading of this letter, the meeting adjourned. 



