8 



They inhabit the lakes and sloughs, and also the rivers, but, like 

 some other species of fish mentioned, are getting scarce. In our 

 opinion, they need no protection. 



CARP. 



The carp has been introduced into the State by the United States 

 Commissioners. They have proven a great success. They do well 

 in any of our lakes and ponds, natural or artificial, and are one of 

 the most prolific of all of the inland-water fish. The condition of the 

 water, whether clear or otherwise, so long as vegetation exists therein, 

 i< agreeable to the carp. They are truly vegetarian in regard to diet; 

 living and thriving upon vegetable food. It is the opinion of the 

 ( ommissioners that the carp are a fish that will come into general 

 favor with the middle class of our citizens, as they can be raised very 

 cheaply by artificial methods. They are well known in China, where 

 they are raised almost entirely by artificial means. 



The carp will never be a fish sought after by our Waltons, as they 

 are a fish that seldom take the hook. 



Opinions differ in regard to the quality of carp as a food fish; the 

 flesh being of a rather coarse order. They are not so highly flavored 

 as some other kinds of fish. 



The carp are already being taken in the Sacramento River, and in 

 some of the lakes bordering on it — not in any great numbers as yet, 

 but enough have been caught to show that they thrive well in our 

 waters. The Commissioners are well satisfied that, in a few years, 

 there will be any quantity of them, as they increase rapidly. 



STURGEON. 



This is one of our best and cheapest food fishes, and is coining 

 more in favor with all classes of our citizens, and, like most other 

 kinds of food fish, is steadily on the decrease in numbers. This is 

 due almost wholly to the mode of fishing resorted to by the Chinese. 



The catch for the year 1883 fell short fully fifty per cent from the 

 result of the catch the previous two or three years. Unless something 

 is done in the way of legislation, the State will, in a few years, be 

 without this kind of fish, one of the best of cheap food fish that in- 

 habit our waters. 



In the opinion of the Commissioners, a law should be enacted to 

 protect sturgeon less than twenty-four inches in length. The small 

 ones are not marketable fish, but are dried and sent to China by the 

 Chinese fishermen, who are the only ones that follow that line of the 

 business, they having monopolized the sturgeon trade. 



There are two species of this fish that visit our waters; one called 

 the green, and the other the white. They are both good food fish. 

 There is a difference of opinion as to which kind is the best; the 

 majority, however, favor the white. 



t 



CATFISH AND BULLHEADS (OR POUT). 



These fish were introduced into our waters by the late Commis- 

 sioners, and have thrived wonderfully. All of the lakes, ponds, and 

 sloughs of the central portion of the State are well stocked with them. 

 It has been stated by fishermen that they would destroy all the native 



