68 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



We recommend that in addition to the valuable work being done by 

 the Bureau of Fish Rescue and Reclamation, ponds be established for 

 the propagation of the spiny rayed fishes as well as for eatfishes so 

 that several millions of these species may be planted each season in the 

 rivers, sloughs, and ponds in the warm water regions of the state ; that 

 is, throughout the great central valleys where these species thrive, so 

 that more of them could be raised beneficially and placed in regions 

 where excessive fishing appears to have reduced their numbers. Before 

 entering on this program, a close study should be made to determine 

 whether this is necessary. There is a question whether these species are 

 in need of pond culture to keep up the supply or not. The large mouth 

 bass, in all probability, should be increased by pond culture for the 

 benefit of places where they are being fished very heavil}'. The small 

 mouth bass was planted extensively throughout the state between thirty 

 and forty years ago. They increased for a number of years, but owing 

 to changed climatic conditions and physical properties of the waters in 

 this state they have gradually disappeared and only scattering rem- 

 nants of these fish are to be found in a few localities, where they were 

 numerous a quarter of a century ago. It is doubtful whether they will 

 ever thrive again in the waters of this state, as conditions are not suit- 

 able for this species. The large mouth species finds a natural habitat 

 throughout the great central valleys of the state and are a valuable 

 asset to the food and game fishes in California. Efforts were made to 

 collect a shipment of the small mouth species last fall and winter from 

 places where they were numerous twenty-five years ago, but after 

 repeated and earnest efforts to collect a sufficient number of the small 

 mouth species only a few were taken. 



During the spring of 1930, Mr. George Neale, director of the Bureau 

 of Reclamation and Rescue, succeeded in getting 1500 small ones of 

 this season's hatch and placed them in ponds near Oroville, where an 

 attempt will be made to procure enough young of this species when 

 they arrive at maturity and become breeders to again stock the lower 

 reaches of some of the principal rivers in the foothill regions. If more 

 are found this season, they will be transplanted where conditions appear 

 favorable, but these places are not very numerous owing to the present 

 conditions of our rivers and streams as well as the ponds and sloughs 

 that are now taken up by the large mouth bass that thrive in these 

 waters. However, the rapid waters of the lower stretches of our rivers 

 might prove favorable for small mouth bass transplantation. 



The statistical report of the fish distribution for the season of 1928 

 and 1929 will be found in the appendix. 



