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AWA (CHANOS CYPRINELLA) AND MULLET. 



In exchange for some salmon and trout eggs, sent to the Hawaiian 

 Islands, we received, in July last, nearly one hundred fish called 

 "awa." These we placed in a small stream at Bridgeport, in Solano 

 County, where they could have free access to brackish and saltwater. 

 They are said to be the most valuable food fish of the Hawaiian 

 Islands, of fine flavor, and thrive in fresh, brackish, and salt water. 

 Where they have access to salt water, they grow to weigh an average 

 of five pounds. We have reason to believe they will find congenial 

 homes, and grow and multiply in the waters of this State. In Decem- 

 ber, we are promised a consignment of the Hawaiian Islands mullet, 

 said to be a superior food fish, which also lives equally well in fresh 

 or salt water. 



TROUT. 



In January, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, we purchased 

 one hundred and thirty-three thousand Eastern trout eggs {salmo 

 fonti7ialis), which, were received in good condition, and hatched at the 

 State hatching house, at Berkeley. We also purchased forty-five 

 thousand eggs of the McCloud River trout {salmo irridea), which were 

 hatched at the same place. The former we caused to be distributed 

 in proper streams in Siskiyou, Contra Costa, Alameda, Placer, 

 Nevada, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Monterey, Los Angeles, San Diego, 

 Yuba, and Santa Clara Counties. The latter in streams in Tulare, 

 Placer, Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Clara, and Monterey Counties. 

 The McCloud River trout is a valuable fish, of fine flavor, and, often 

 reaching four pounds in weight. It grows more rapidly than any 

 other trout with which we are acquainted. No more valuable variety 

 of trout could be distributed. So many of our streams have been 

 depleted of trout by mining, sawdust, and illegal fishing, that more 

 should be done towards restocking them. But the salmon has so 

 much commercial value, and gives employment to so many people, 

 that we have felt it to be necessary to devote the greater part of the 

 appropriation to keeping up the supply of this fish. 



BLACK BASS, EELS, AND LOBSTERS, ETC. 



The black bass placed in Napa and Alameda Creeks have increased ; 

 many have been caught, and by June, eighteen hundred and sev- 

 enty-eight, the young can be planted in other appropriate streams. 

 It is said that a'few eels have been caught, but they have not become 

 numerous. We hear reports of a few lobsters having been taken in 

 the Bay of San Francisco, near Redwood, but none have as yet been 

 brought to us for identification. It is also reported that tautog have 

 been seen in the market of San Francisco. A majority of the varie- 

 ties of fish imported from the Atlantic States have become acclimated, 

 and are increasing in our waters. If any portion of the appropriation 

 can be spared from the hatching of salmon, we will make another 

 attempt at the importation of a car load of lobsters and eels. Suffi- 

 cient experience has now been had to insure success in bringing 

 lobsters alive across the continent. Could they be successfully intro- 

 duced in quantities into the waters of the Pacific Coast they would 

 be a valuable acquisition to our food supply. 

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