breaks in the levees between Knight's Landing and Cache Slough, 

 on the Sacramento River, which has allowed the fish egress from the 

 shoal lakes into the tules. Perch are taken in all the lower rivers 

 and streams of the Sacramento and San Joaquin; also in Clear and 

 Tulare Lakes. They do not appear to have decreased in those waters 

 where reclamation has not been so extensive, as in those tule dis- 

 tricts above mentioned, but appear to be as plentiful as formerly. 



It is not the habit of the perch to ascend very high in any of the 

 streams, but they confine themselves to the more sluggish portions of 

 the waters of the State, lakes and ponds, which seem to be their favor- 

 ite haunts. 



CHUB. 



This fish, a great favorite with the Indian and Mongolian races, has 

 been scarce for the past few years, but are now becoming more plen- 

 tiful, the probable cause of increase being the breaking of the levees 

 in the overflowed districts, which gives the fish a chance to return to 

 the river. The outlook for the year 1884 is good for a fine run, from 

 the fact that in the month of March they were numerous in the river, 

 and, as the run lasts generally two or three months, we may expect a 

 large increase from last year; their habits being similar to the perch, 

 the probabilities are that the same causes lead to the same effects. 



PIKE. 



With reference to the pike, we repeat the same statement made in 

 regard to perch and chub. The pike is more plentiful at the present 

 time than most of our strictly inland fish. They ascend the rivers 

 higher than most of the other kinds and are thereby protected, as 

 most of the fishermen do not follow them very far up the river. As 

 they are not taken in quantities except by those who fish with fyke 

 nets, they ascend the river as far as Red Bluff. They are said to be 

 a great enemy to the young salmon. They are a good table fish for 

 baking or boiling. 



The pike run commences with the channel pike in the month of 

 December, and with the bar or school pike in the month of March. 

 They vary in size from one half pound for bar to twenty -four pounds 

 for channel; there is a marked increase for this year. 



These fish are known on the upper waters as whitefish, although 

 they bear no resemblance to the eastern fish of that denomination. 



DACE. 



The dace, a native of our rivers and lakes, were never very plentiful, 

 and are on the decrease. They are similar in shape, but are different 

 in color from the pike, being of a yellowish brown on the back, and 

 a dingy white on the sides and stomach. The dace are nearly extinct; 

 from what cause, the Commissioners are unable to ascertain at present. 



MULLET (OR HARD-HEAD). 



The mullet or hard-head is one of the most common of our inland 

 fish, and is used more by the Chinese than by any other class of peo- 

 ple — their extreme cheapness being the great desideratum. They 

 are taken in large numbers during the Fall and AVinter months. 



