IxXX EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Auotlier fact of importance connected with the Sacramento fisli is tlie 

 great rapidity of its growth, those of corresponding age being almost 

 twice as heavy as their eastern relatives. According to Mr. Reeder, 

 fish commissioner of Pennsylvania, the Sacramento salmon, which were 

 introduced into the Susquehanna River in February, 1873, were found in 

 good health and condition in the following September, measuring seven 

 or eight inches in length, while the Penobscot salmon, about ten months 

 old, were not half the size. This difference is appreciable in all stages of 

 growth, the eggs and young fish being twice as large as those of the 

 eastern species. 



The Sacramento salmon is said to lack the very delicate flavor of the 

 eastern fish. This, however, is stoutly denied, especially by Mr. Throck- 

 morton, whose letter on the subject will be found on page 373. 



In any event, the difference must be trifling when the fish is procurable 

 fresh ; and if the two species could be tasked side by side, under the same 

 conditions, it is probable that the difference would prove to be of very 

 little moment. 



The supposed disinclination of the Sacramento fish to take the hook 

 has been presented as a great objection to it. This, if well founded, 

 would be of very little consequence, since salmon, for economical pur- 

 l^oses, are more generally taken in nets than with the hooli. But, ac- 

 cording to Seth Green, they can be taken with the fly ; and Mr. Living- 

 ston Stone maintains, as shown in his report, that thej' will bite vora- 

 ciously at the roe of their own species, and can be taken in any number. 

 The young fish in the hatching-ponds rise with the greatest readiness 

 To Mr. Stone's report on this species I refer for further details. 



As already remarked, experiments are contemplated in reference to 

 the multiplication of the land-locked salmon and of the lake-trout. 

 Whether the sea-trout, or white trout of the eastern coast, will be worth 

 any special eifort for its increase, is very doubtful. It is proposed, how- 

 ever, as soon as it can be accomplished, to secure some of the impreg- 

 nated eggs of the Danube salmon, [Sabno Jiucho,) which appears espec- 

 ially fitted to the Mississippi River. The objection to this species, which 

 attains the weight of fifty pounds and multiplies very rapidly, is mainly 

 drawn, from its alleged voracity, and from the fact that it is almost 

 exclusively a river-fish, feeding therein all the year, and, of course, 

 devouring other kinds in keeping up its own growth. At present, how- 

 ever, there are very few fish of any special value as food in the great 

 system of waters of the Mississippi Valley ; the black bass, the salmon- 

 I)erch, or wall-eyed ijike, (Lucioperca,) and, perhaps, one or two species 

 of pickerel, being most important. Of the great variety of suckers, 

 chubs, sun-fish, &c., but little commendatory can be said. The great 

 bulk of these fish, however, and of nearly all the Cyprinidw, are proverbial 

 for their insipidity, and they are generally esteemed worthless as fooil. 

 The effect of introducing the Danube salmon would be simply to sub- 

 stitute for a superfluity of fish of very inferior value, a kind haviug all 



