caiiglit in the Sacramento and San Joaquin, that have been trans- 

 ])orted from the })hice of capture, to the Cities of San Francisco, 

 Sacramento and Stockton, by rail and stea,mboats, as also the num- 

 bers and weight of salmon put up in tins by the different canning 

 establishments. We have been unable to obtain the weight of sal- 

 mon salted, and the numbers and weight of salmon caught near the 

 mouth of Feather River, and by the fishermen near Tehama, and in 

 the upper waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin. Neither can 

 we obtain the numbers and weight of tliose taken to market by fish- 

 ermei] in their own boats, nor those caught and salted, in violation 

 of law, during the close season. Therefore, to the weight of salmon 

 actually taken to market b}' rail and steamboats, and the salmon 

 actually tinned, we have added twenty-five per cent., the total being 

 a close approximation of the actual catch for the season. 



This system has been pursued since we commenced in 1873, to 

 gather the statistics of the catch of salmon in the Sacramento River, 

 'rhe record is as follows: 



For season ending August 1,1875 5,098,781 pounds. 



For season ending August 1, IS7(') 5,31 1,423 j^ounds. 



For season ending August 1,1877 (■>, '493, 563 pounds. 



For season ending August 1, 1878 -6,520,768 pounds. 



Eor season ending August 1,1879 4,432,250 pounds. 



For season ending August 1, 1880 10,837,400 pounds. 



In the season, ending August 1, 1879, the salmon were reported to 

 be as numerous as ever before known, but for three weeks, during 

 the height of the season, in consequence of a disagreement between 

 the fishermen and the proprietors of canning establishments, no 

 salmon were taken, except for daily consumption in the city markets. 

 It will be seen that the catch of 1880 was the largest ever reported, 

 and that the weight of salmon captured has doubled since the State's 

 appropriation enabled us to place annually an average of two million 

 young fish in the head waters of the Sacramento. The fishermen, as 

 well as the proprietors of canning establishments, are beginning to 

 acknowledge that the annual addition of two million young fish to 

 the river, over and above those naturally hatched, does, after two 

 or three years, add to the numbers of mature fish to be found in the 

 river. 



More young fish have been taken by the fishermen, during the 

 past two years, than ever before; and more young fish have appeared 

 on the spawning beds of theMcCloud, during the same period, than 

 have heretofore been observed. 



The increase in the numbers and weight of fish taken, and the 

 immense numbers of young fish that reach the spawning grounds 

 from the ocean, are conclusive evidence that tlie expenditure, by trie 

 State, of money, in the artificial hatching of salmon, is a most profit- 

 able investment for the public benefit. The increase of fish, by 

 artificial propagation, has doubled the annual catch of salmon in the 

 river, correspondingly added to the numbers of men and boats 

 engaged in the industry, and warranted the investment of not less than 

 §oOO,UOO in the erection and equipment of salmon canning establish- 

 ments. 



When the State commenced the work of artificially hatching 

 salmon, and placing the young fish into the head waters of the rivers, 

 there were no canning establishments on the Sacramento River. 

 Now, on the river, and in the cities, there are nine. The State 



