fish. It is our opinion that it was a timely act on the part of the 

 former State Commissioners to plant them just when they did, as our 

 native fish were giving out. They are caught from the mouth of the 

 Sacramento River as far up as Tehama, a distance of about two hun- 

 dred miles. They are a fish that need no protection. They are so 

 'prolific that it is a question if they can ever be exterminated. 



Catfish proper are not so plentiful as the bullhead. It is a mistaken 

 idea that all the fish that are called catfish are so in reality. There 

 are two distinct species, however, bearing a near resemblance to each 

 other; the catfish having a peculiar build and a swallow-tail, while 

 the bullhead or pout has a square tail. The pout seems to take to the 

 lakes, while the catfish prefer the river, and are seldom caught in the 

 lakes. They are coming more into favor with our citizens every year. 

 The prejudice that existed at the time of their introduction is fast 

 dying out, and the majority of our people claim that they are a better 

 food fish than the carp. Whether such be the fact is a matter of taste. 



The idea that they would destroy our native fish is a fallacy, as, in 

 the last two years, statistics tend to show that such is not the fact. In 

 this statement the disciples of the famed Izaak Walton, we think, will 

 bear us out. 



There is also in our lakes and rivers a small native catfish, not 

 very plentiful, and too insignificant to call for any extended notice, 

 the fish being seldom over four inches in length. 



WHITEFISH. 



This is what might be termed a land-locked shad. The results 

 accruing from the planting of this kind of fish in our waters are not 

 fully known to the Commissioners. They are a fish that do not take 

 the hook, and, as our laws protect the lakes in which they were 

 deposited from all kinds of nets, we have no reliable data as to 

 whether they are a success or not. There are native whitefish that 

 are caught in Lakes Bigler and Donner, which have been taken for 

 those planted by the former Commissioners, but they are different in 

 form from the eastern, being longer and more slim in build, and not 

 so full in the shoulders. 



The native, or river whitefish, are taken in great numbers, and are 

 called fresh water herring. They are to be found in all the streams 

 in the State; are small in size, from one half to one pound each. They 

 are in great favor with the Chinese. 



There has been no showing of the eastern whitefish so far, although 

 it is five years since they were planted. Up to August thirtieth not 

 one has been taken, so far as the Commissioners have any knowledge. 



SHAD. 



Since the Commissioners first planted shad in our rivers they have 

 done well, so much so that the whole Pacific Coast can now be said 

 to be well stocked. They have been taken from Monterey Bay on the 

 south, to British Columbia on the north. The shad have large breed- 

 ing grounds in the waters of the center of the State; their increase 

 has been marvelously great. We have no accurate means of know- 

 ing the amount of shad that can be taken in a single day. Enough 

 is known, however, at the present time, to assure us that an unlimited 

 supply can be had in the proper season. 



