8 



time, and time only will bring it about, and no extravagant expend- 

 iture of money will very much hasten the result. 



SHAD. 



Since our last report we have received from the United States Fish 

 Commissioner two hundred and twenty thousand eastern shad, which 

 were, placed in the Sacramento River above Tehama. These fish 

 have doubtless added to the already increasing stock of shad on this 

 coast, and we may now fairly congratulate ourselves upon the estab- 

 lishing of shad as an existing fact. They are now a food fish ready 

 for consumption, and require the protection of the law. 



There seems to have been some misinformation in regard to the 

 proper season of taking them, on the part of some persons who have 

 attempted to make laws for their protection. 



The Commission has taken pains to correspond with Mr. Seth 

 Green and the Commissions on the eastern coast, and find that the 

 "close season " for shad on this coast should be from June fifteenth to 

 March first, thus, making the open season — during which it may be law- 

 ful to take them — from March first to June fifteenth in each year ; and 

 in addition, the taking should be forbidden at all times from Saturday 

 night to Monday morning. 



In presenting this report we must be allowed to state that it is, in 

 some respects, the records of what may be called unfinished business. 

 There is a great deal' of matter before the Commission requiring 

 immediate care and attention. The hatching and distributing season 

 is at hand. We have in course of hatching five hundred thousand 

 whitefish presented by the United States Fish Commissioner. These 

 are to be distributed throughout the northern waters of the State. 



The hatching and distribution of land-locked salmon and the dis- 

 tribution of carp will require much care and attention of the Com- 

 missioners. 



In making up the account of receipts and disbursements, we have 

 made, as usual, the close of the fiscal year the first of January. At 

 that time the amount of cash on hand is chargeable with the out- 

 standing amount of the cost of placing of four millions of salmon in 

 the Sacramento River, the bill for which not having come to hand in 

 time to be paid out of the funds on hand at that date. It will amount 

 to the sum of two thousand dollars. This and the current expenses 

 of the hatching-house, and distributions before us, will probably 

 consume the balance of the funds of the Commission by the time the 

 new appropriation Avill be available. 



We hope that we need not now state that the Commissioners have 

 practiced the closest economy in all the details of the business, but 

 the work covers a great deal of ground and must be well and care- 

 fully conducted, and always by employes of knowledge and experience 

 in the business. A whole hatching of eggs may be lost in a night, 

 and carloads of fish may perish in a single hour of neglect or ignor- 

 ance. The work must be done by those trained to it. 



In closing this report it is proper to give some reason for the delay 

 which has attended its delivery. In the death of our lamented 

 associate, Mr. B. B. Redding, this Commission shares largely in the 

 loss which the State and the cause of science, education, and develop- 

 ment have suffered in the untimely passing away of this truly 

 estimable gentleman. For more than twelve years he gave to the 



