196 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



salmon are only sent to market in June, July, and August, when tliey 

 are in their very best condition. The average, therefore, is of a very fine 

 quality. On the contrary, the Sacramento salmon are in the market 

 every month in the year, whether prime or not, and are the- cheapest and 

 most common when they are the poorest, in consequence of which the 

 average Sacramento salmon of the markets the year round is a very 

 ordinary fish. Now, people generally, unless their attention is specially 

 called to the subject, when forming- their opinion of the comparative 

 merits of the two kinds of salmon, involuntarily compare the average 

 Sacramento salmon with the average Penobscot salmon, and are com- 

 pelled to decide in favor of the latter. I think this is the reason why 

 the Sacramento salmon is held to be an inferior fish. I was myself, 

 before my arrival here, much prejudiced in favor of the Atlantic fish, 

 and the Sacramento salmon, which I ate in August, confirmed my 

 prejudice; but noAV, having eaten and carefully judged of the quality of 

 the winter run or prime salmon of the Sacramento Eiver, I resign my 

 prejudice against these salmon, and state with confidence that I do not 

 consider them in an3' respect inferior in quality to their Atlantic 

 kindred. 



The same remarks appl}' in general to the salted salmon of the Sac- 

 ramento. 



Question 80. How long does it retain its excellence as a fresh fish ? 



Answer. These salmou do not differ from other salmon in respect to 

 the length of time that they will remain fresh and sweet. They can 

 be kept fresh two weeks, and even more, on ice, especially when prime. 



Question 81. To what extent is it eaten 1 



Answer. The Sacramento salmon are universally eaten, and the extent 

 of their consumption is very great.* One line of steamboats brought 

 400,000 pounds of Sacramento salmon into San Francisco in March, 1872. 



Question 82. Is it salted down, and to what extent ? 



Answer. It is estimated that 25,000 salmon were salted down on the 

 Sacramento Eiver last spring, (1872,) and 9,000 last fall. This, however, 

 includes all that were salted, both from the catch above tide-water and 

 below it. 



Question 83. Is it used, and to what extent, as manure, for oil, or for 

 other purposes, and what f 



Answer. It is not used to any extent as manure, for oil, or other pur- 

 poses than for food. 



Question 81. What were the highest and lowest prices of the fish, \)ev 

 pound, during the past season, wholesale and retail, and what the average, 

 and how do these compare with former prices ? 



Answer. The highest price during the last year for Sacramento salmon 

 was 25 cents per pound, wholesale, and 18 cents, retail. The lowest price, 

 wholesale and retail, ran from 5 cents to nothing. The average price 



* See note at bottom of page lt>7. 



