CALIFORNIA FISH AXD GAME 151 



which they feel they have just commenced. There will be necessary 

 for the coming season funds to erect hatching-houses at such stations 

 as shall have been discovered as the spawning-grounds of the Shad, 

 now soon to be expected in our waters. The renewal of our effort to 

 bring the fish and lobsters across the continents, so nearly successful 

 last year, is an earnest wish of the commission. Our work at large 

 remains unfinished at the time that we are best qualified to prosecute 

 it. The amount of appropriation necessary to carry the commission 

 over to the next session of the Legislature is not large, and. when we 

 consider the object to be attained, we feel that we may safely ask 

 for a moderate sum without laying a very heavy additional burden 

 upon the people. The money already expended is but a trifle com- 

 pared with the benefits to be derived from a like expenditure in the 

 immediate future. 



When we entered upon the duties of our office the whole subject 

 of fish-breeding had but lately been lined on this coast. The 



ground was new. and the field of operations opened to the commis- 

 sion covered a Large extent of country and marked varieties of climate. 

 We have been compelled to educate ourselves to the work in hand, 

 and to move as cautiously and as economically as possible. We are 

 willing to admit thai we take '_'Teai it • in the continuance of our 



operations; we know that we have learned a greal deal about fish cul- 

 ture thai will lie useful to the state. We believe that we are now on 

 the road to success. We are willing to give our time to it. and per- 

 haps ii is not amiss for us to make this reporl the means of saying 

 that, which may not be generally known, our services are without 

 charge of any kind to the state. We have no individual interests to 

 subserve, and we only ask aid from the State in order that we may 

 serve her, and carry ou1 to completion the objects for which this com- 

 mission was created. 



