29 



We liave expended a large portion of the appropriation, and 

 devoted mucli care and attention to stocking our streams with 

 this most valuable fish, as we have every reason to believe 

 that their. naturalization is entirely feasible, and our efforts 

 will be crowned with success. The habits of this fish will 

 cause its successful introduction to be felt by the greatest 

 number of the people of the State, and throughout the entire 

 course of the streams, from the Bay to their mountain sources. 

 On their return in the Spring from the sea, where they attain 

 their growth and excellent flavour, they will be taken at the 

 mouths of the rivers, and throughout the regions of tide water, 

 in nets and seines, and tliose which escape and reach the 

 upper waters, which tliey select for spawning, will remain 

 until Autumn, when they deposit their spawn and return to 

 the sea. During their sojourn in fresh water they will be 

 taken by anglers. In tables following, will be found a state- 

 ment of the number of California Salmon turned loose in the 

 waters of the State, from which it will be seen that in the 

 winter of 1874, we made a very general distribution into the 

 rivers of the State having their sources in the mountain re- 

 gions. The few thousand which were jilaced in the rivers 

 of the Eastern Shore, Avhose sources are in the more level 

 country, were simply an experiment without hopes of success, 

 but from some experiments made during the year with the 

 California Salmon, we arc almost hopeful of success even in 

 these rivers. As the San Joaquin valley is about isothermal 

 with the Savannah, we believe that the Salmon will not suffer 

 for want of cold water in the Potomac, Patuxent, Gunpowder 

 and Susquehanna. We quote from the report of the Com- 

 missioners of Oalifornia for 1874 and 1875, showing the re- 

 sults obtained from their labors, and the importance of this 

 as a food-producing fish. 



''Salmon were more plentiful in the Sacramento river dur- 

 ing the season 1875, than ever before since Americans had 

 knowledge of the country. This is attributed to the close 

 season whicb prohibits the taking of Salmon between the 

 first of August and November first, as also to the quantities 

 of young Salmon turned loose from the hatching establish- 

 ments. It is anticipated that after three years there will be 

 found more profitable fishing than has hitherto been known. 

 An appropriation of from six to ten thousand dollars yearly, 



