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accomplished to guarantee the most complete success. The commis- 

 sioners have undertaken tho work as a laboi- of love, receiving neither 

 fees nor salary. Those large-liearted, public-spirited and benevolent 

 citizens who give their time and thought to the public welfare and 

 happiness deserve to have their names consecrated in the hearts of 

 the people. The present board of commissioners, in the report before 

 us, enter into the subject of fish culture at length. The immense 

 area in which fish may be propagated, the manner of keeping the 

 rivers stocked, the best quality of fish to be introduced, artificial 

 hatching, the way to preserve the water pure, and various other 

 details are minutely set forth. One point is particularly interesting 

 as illustrating the wisdom of nature. By instinct the fish, in 

 spawming season, leave the ocean or bays and seek the particular 

 stream or rivulet in which they were hatched to deposit their eggs. 

 Whatever be the obstacles, tliey search for a passage, and will 

 die in the attempt to reach their destination or be successful. 

 "Where dams have been constructed, it is suggested that fish 

 ladders be constructed to admit them an easy passage. The ladder 

 or fish-way is a trough some four feet wide and three feet high, open 

 at both ends. This they can ascend at an angle of forty-five degrees 

 if provided with riffles or miners' cradles. If the riffles do nut 

 exceed four feet, the fish can jump through almost any curi-ent. 

 Great stress is laid upon the necessity of legislative action to prevent 

 the wholesale destruction of fish, the obstructions placed in their M^ay, 

 the poisoning of the waters with refuse, sawdust and other material. 

 The Legislature appropriated $5,000 for the use of the commissioners, 

 and a special duty devolves upon it to so legislate that this great inte- 

 rest will be fostered and protected in every respect. With our State 

 waters teeming with fish, we could, in case of our vast herds of cat- 

 tle perishing from thirst in the future, have an abundant supply of 

 the most healthy and nutritious food known to man. — San Fran- 

 cisco News Letter. 



Mink. 



Tlie raising of mink can be made quite remunerative by the sale 

 of their fur, as it is a well-known fact that they are rapid breeders, 

 and to any one having a nice stream of spring water, it would be a 

 pleasant pastime and furnish him with " pretty pets." 



All that is needed is a small plot of ground and stream. 



To prepare tlie yard for occupancy will necessitate but a very small 

 outlay of money, and the subsequent expense of raising is nominal. 



