150 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
coast rivers north of San Francisco. In the vicinity of San Francisco 
the principal part of the shad yield is obtained between February and 
May, but the market fishermen of San Francisco take larger or smailer 
quantities during every month. San Francisco is the only city in the 
United States in the markets of which fresh shad just from the water 
may be found at any time in the year. 
All of the shad taken in California are obtained with gill nets and 
haul seines used in other branches of the fisheries, no special apparatus 
being used and no special attention being given to their capture. 
The following table is of interest as showing the rapid increase of 
shad during the comparatively few years which have elapsed since its 
introduction on the Pacific Coast. The fish have not only increased 
in numbers, but also show a gain in average weight and size which 
has been quite marked. While a few years ago the average weight 
was only 24 or 3 pounds, it is now somewhat over 4 pounds, and large 
numbers of specimens weighing 8 pounds or more are taken. 
1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 
Counties. a= 2 es 
Pounds.| Value. | Pounds.| Value. | Pounds.| Value. | Pounds.| Value. 
Contra Costa ...-.. 96, 722 $3, 869 102,216 $4, 089 108, 111 $4,320 | 139, 364 $4, 181 
Humboldt ..--..--. 300 30 250 25 160 16 100 10 
Sacramento. --...--- 13, 224 793 15, 960 958 17,516 | 1, 051 21, 579 1, 295 
San Francisco -.... 61, 072 2, 443 116, 942 3, 508 230, 460 | 6, 914 242, 749 4, 855 
Santa Cruz....-.... 20, 264 810 24, 880 995 30, 120 1, 205 85, 000 1, 400 
Solanoweosseeee sees 72, 206 2, 888 57, 892 2, 316 58, 739 | 2, 350 87, 702 2, 6381 
ARotaliceee=--- 263, 788 10, 833 318, 140 11, 891 445,006 | 15, 856 526, 494 14, 372 
The striped bass of the Atlantic is justly classed as one of the best 
of the food-fishes of that coast. This fish was unknown on the Pacifie 
up to its introduction a few years since through the agency of the 
United States Fish Commission. During the past four years it has 
steadily and largely increased in abundance and size, apparently 
thriving as well in its new home on the Pacific Coast as on the Atlantic 
seaboard. The principal catch is from about the first of October up 
to the middle of February, but a few are taken in all of the other 
months. Most of the fish are obtained from the salmon gill nets fished 
in San Francisco Bay and its several arms, and near the mouth of the 
Sacramento River. 
The only apparatus used exclusively for striped bass are a few small 
purse seines. The seines are from 40 to 50 fathoms long, 3 fathoms deep, 
and cost $125 each. Each seine is operated by four fishermen and two 
boats. The salmon gill nets, in which many bass are found, are 200 to 
250 fathoms long, 44 fathoms deep, with a 6 to 64 inch mesh, and a 
value of $150 to $225 each. Most of the bass are taken in and near the 
mouth of the San Joaquin River. 
The spawning-grounds of the fish are located in Middle River and 
Old River, both arms of the San Joaquin, and only a few miles above 
its mouth. These rivers have sandy and gravelly beds that are favorite 
