24* REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tions in excellent condition, and the young fish were in due time intro- 

 duced into waters covering a wide range of locality. 



The fish commissioners of California, fully alive to the importance of 

 maintaining the fisheries in the Sacramento Eiver, both for the purpose 

 of securing eggs and for the propagation of fishes for food, furnished the 

 means for meeting the additional expense of hatching and introducing 

 many young salmon into the Sacramento River. 



The McCloud River station, 1876. — In 1876 the station was opened and 

 in operation from the 1st of July to the 20th of October. The first eggs 

 were taken on the 22d of August, and the last on the 17th of Septem- 

 ber, showing that the season was somewhat earlier than that of 1875. 

 The number of eggs secured was 7,498,500 ; the greatest number taken in 

 one day being 986,150. Up to the year 1876, the eggs had been shipped 

 to their respective points of destination by express, each transmis- 

 sion being isolated and distinct, the consignee paying the freight 

 charges. After careful consideration Mr. Stone advised that all the 

 eastern shipments of eggs in 1876 should be made in bulk as far as 

 Chicago, and that a special car should be secured and properly fitted up, 

 in which the eggs should be placed and transferred on an express 

 train in the care of i^roper messengers. This expisriment was car- 

 ried out and proved an entire success, eighteen consignees in thirteen 

 States receiving their supplies in even better condition than usual, and 

 at less expense. Some additional shipments were made, in October, of 

 a later run of fish. 



In addition to the many applications from the United States, calls 

 had been received from other portions of the globe, and especially from 

 the governments of Australia and New Zealand, and from parties in the 

 Sandwich Islands, for a supply of impregnated eggs of California sal- 

 mon, believing that this species would thrive as well in those countries 

 as in North America. Desirous of meeting these applications in a 

 friendly spirit, and as an act of international courtesy, the applicants 

 were informed that the eggs would be furnished if the actual expenses 

 consequent upon the packing and transportation were refunded, which 

 offer was gladly accepted, and a consignment of 80,000 eggs each made 

 to the colonies of Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Mary- 

 anna, in New Zealnnd, and to the Sandwich Islands. The experiment 

 was entirely successful, the eggs reaching their destination and being 

 introduced into the waters with but a slight percentage of loss. In the 

 appendix will be found the correspondence with the New Zealand 

 authorities on this subject, and a report of the results. 



As in the previous year, eggs of a later run of salmon were hatched 

 in behalf of the State of California, and 1,500,000 young fish turned 

 into the river. The expense of this was borne by Messrs. Crocker and 

 Stanford, of San Francisco. 



