17 



tho boach, but generally fish at night under sail only, pulling round and 

 towing the nets. The same fish, smelts, flounders, sardines, anchovies, 

 and soles, are taken here. ~ . 



"Two boats are frequently employed around Goat Island, two at Oak- 

 land Whai'f, and two at Alameda Wharf. Large quantities are taken 

 all along the Alameda Flats, some ten miles to the southward of Alameda, 

 and on the west coast from Eedwood Slough, all along until we come to 

 Baybien, where there is a favorite resort to repair and dry their nets and 

 take out their boats. From there to Long Bridge boats are generally 

 engaged, and I have in all cases, at each of these points, impressed upon 

 the minds of these men the consequences that will attend any infringe- 

 ment on their part of the laws in reg;ard to the fish interest, and especially 

 of section number six. I have also, in most of these places, made 

 arrangements with those who live near the beach to inform me of the 

 first infringement, by taking the name or number of the boat. 



"I am informed from a reliable source that a most wanton course of 

 destruction is jjracticed by the settlers along the Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin Elvers, which will, if not arrested, be attended with vital con- 

 sequences, amounting to a total destruction in these waters of our salmon 

 fisheries, whicb, to the State, are worth millions of dollars. 



"Perch, flounders, shrimps, and herring spawn in December; smelt,, 

 in August." 



From Caj)tain Wakeman's report on the fisheries of some of the coast 

 rivers we make the following extracts : 



"Lj pursuance with your orders of the sixth instant, I have examined 

 all the streams from Spanishtown to Pescadero, and herein submit my 

 report in regard to their character as trout streams, their obstruction3,^ 

 and consequences arising therefrom: 



'" Pilarcitos Creek — Upon which Spanishtown is located, is a dirty red 

 stream, of about two feet wide and one foot deep, and empties its waters 

 upon the beach, about half a mile below the town. There is a steam 

 flour mill here, but no sawmill, and judging fi'om the thick, muddy water, 

 nothing but catfish can live in it. 



" Gobethey Creek — Two miles below Spanishtown, is a clear water trout 

 stream, about two feet wide and a few inches deep, and empties its waters 

 upon the beach. There are no mills u^ion this stream, and only natural 

 obstructions, such as old decayed trees and their branches. 



" Purissima, or Pure Water Stream — Is two miles below Gobethey Creek, 

 and is a fine clear water trout stream, about four feet wide and a foot 

 deep. Generally at this season (February) it has a volume of about ten 

 feet in width and five feet in depth. It empties its waters upon the beach 

 about half a mile below the Purissima House. Four miles up the stream 

 is the sawmill belonging to Messrs. Boyden and Hatch. This mill has 

 an overshot wheel, the water to run it being taken from the stream 

 three fourths of a mile above and carried in a sixteen-inch flume, at the 

 head of which are four little dams, made by throwing a short log across 

 and tamping it tight with a few bags of sawdust. This throw* all the 

 water into the flume and only half fills it, which shows that this stream 





