15 



cesses of the Chinese, who are said to pursue Largely the artificial hatch- 

 ing oftish. From the following extract from one of the letters received 

 it will be seen that the Chinese have not yet learned how", artificially, to 

 impregnate the spawn, but depend upon catching the eggs for hatching 

 after they have been naturally fecundated. Our corresi^ondent says: 



" Eeferring to your letter of May twenty -fifth, inquiring concerning 

 the manner of breeding fish, we w^ould sa}" that we find the Chinese, at 

 certain periods of the year, spread their cloths across the river at some 

 distance above Canton and catch the eggs which are washed down from 

 the smaller streams and ponds higher up. These eggs have been already 

 impregnated by the male fish at the place in which they are laid, and 

 when thus caught are placed in ponds, whOTe after a short time they 

 hatch and are thus raised. There are no breeding ponds near Canton, 

 and it is said to be impossible to breed fish in ponds on any large scale, 

 as the eggs are devoured by the male fish after impregnatioji unless he 

 be immetliately removed, which is impractical where there are any 

 number. The ponds in which the eggs are placed for hatching must be 

 running water. We would suggest the plan of sending two or three 

 men, acquainted with the process of breeding, to California, w^iere they 

 could experiment on the rivers and lakes, which very much resemble 

 those in the country where it is at present practiced." 



EXTRACTS rROM REPORTS. 



Our field is so extensive and there is so much to be done in the way 

 of investigation preparatory to intelligent legislation on the subject of 

 inland fisheries, that w^e deemed it advisable to employ two assistants — 

 the first. Captain E. Wakcman, to examine and report on the fisheries of 

 the Bay of San Francisco and some of the rivers that discharge their 

 "waters directly into the Pacific Ocean; the other, Mr. Ceorge C. Has- 

 well, to examine and report upon the fisheries of Lake Tahoc and the 

 Truckee Eiver and its tributaries. The following extracts from their 

 reports will be found of great interest. Eeferring to the bay fisheries, 

 Captain AYakeman says: 



"Since the date of my commission I have visited with the yacht 

 ' George Steers,' repeatedly, all the fishing grounds that are frequented 

 by the Italian and Chinese fishermen in the waters of our bay. The 

 only Chinese fishing station that I find is located a short distance to the 

 north of the ' Two Sisters.' Here, on an extensive mud flat, are stakes 

 or poles set firmly in the ground, and occupying an area of several miles 

 in extent, from which poles are kept constantly set the nets, which are 

 taken up at each slackwater of the flood and ebb tide. From twelve 

 (12) to fifteen (15) boats are employed, having (3) three men in each 

 boat. Shrimps are taken here and cured for the Chinese market by 

 being boiled in large vats in salt water, then spread out on the cleanly 

 swept ground and dried in the sun, being raked over frequently during 

 the day. The scales or skin become separated from the meat and looks 

 like fine sawdust. The meat and refuse is then sewn up in the best 

 quality of bags and placed on board the Chinese junk of about thirty 

 tons and sent to San Francisco, from whence it is shipped to China. 

 Scarce any class of fish are taken in these nets but shrimp, and thou- 

 sands of tons must find their way to China annually. Their nets are 

 similar to those used by the Italians, with this difi'erence, viz: the middle 



