6 



the close season no salmon are sold in thecit}^ markets, the canneries 

 dare not purchase, and the greater number of fishermen cease work. 

 A few, determined to oppose any law, still continue to draw their 

 nets, and salt the catch in by-places among the tule islands. At this 

 season the fish are gravid and unfit for food, and wdienever canned 

 or salted in this condition and sold, they injure the character, in the 

 markets of the world, of all the fish shipped from the river where 

 such fish are attempted to be utilized. On the Columbia River, 

 without any requirement of law, the canners cease w^ork on the 

 first of August, not because there are not fish still to be taken, but 

 because they are over ripe. They have found that the tinning of 

 over ripe fish injures the reputation and lowers the standard of the 

 whole season's work. The standing of the tinned salmon of the 

 Sacramento would have been as high, in foreign markets, as that of 

 the rivers of Oregon had not the greed of a prominent canning firm 

 induced them, at the commencement of their business, to tin over 

 ripe fish. 



We desire to add that the present law for a close season may lessen 

 immediate profits, but it perpetuates the business, leaves fish for 

 those who wall succeed us, compels a high standard for Sacramento 

 salmon, makes this fish almost the cheapest food in the State, and 

 is for the best interest of the public, wdio are taxed to keep up and 

 increase the numbers of fish in the rivers. 



The report of Air. H. D. Dunn, which follows, in addition to the 

 statistical information which it contains, also gives fully the views 

 of the proprietors of the canning establishments, which, as hereto- 

 fore, will be urgently pressed upon the attention of the Legislature. 

 In reply to these requests so plausibly stated, we have to repeat, if 

 salmon are to be continued in our rivers, a large number of the fish 

 must be allowed to reach their spawning grounds, not accidently or 

 by chance, but systematically, and by design. The fishermen will 

 not cease fishing Sundays while there are canners to buy all that 

 may be brought Monday morning. Therefore, as at present, the 

 canneries should cease work during a few weeks of the time after the 

 fish have come in from the ocean, and are on their urgent errand to 

 their spawning beds. 



San Francisco, California, December 21, 1880. 

 To Board of California State Fish Commissioners, San Francisco, California : 



Gentlemen: From inquiries made of parties engaged in the business, I learn that there has 

 been packed at the canneries on the Sacramento River and in this city about 62,000 cases of 

 salmon, of four dozen one-pound tins eacli. All these salmon were taken from the waters of 

 Suisun Bay and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. These salmon averaged about 

 twelve pounds each when taken. 



There were also packed in Smith's River, in this State, during the present year, 7,500 cases 

 salmon of four dozen one-pound tins each, and five hundred barrels salted down. 



There were also packed in Eel River, in this State, about 6,250 cases salmon of four dozen 

 one-pound tins each, and as far as can be estimated, about 1,500 barrels salted down. The 

 salmon in both these rivers are reported to have averaged about ten pounds weight each when 

 taken. 



A new feature this year was the engaging in the business in this city of four fruit canning 

 establishments, viz.: Chas. King, of Wra. & Co., A. Lusk & Co., Emerson, Corville <fc Co., and 

 the Cutting Packing Comjiany. A portion of the fish canned by these firms was purchased at 

 the wharves in thiscity, and the others of fishermen on the Sacramento River. 



During the open season, the run of salmon in the Sacramento River was very large, being 

 in excess of any previous year known. The supply taken by the fishermen at times being in 

 excess of the wants of the canneries, the surplus fish were brought to San FranciseO for sale, 

 many spoiling and being thrown into the bay. 



After the expiration of the close season (September 15th), the run of salmon was extremely 

 t lasted for about ten days only, during which, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of Septem- 



