10 



Of all the migratory fish in our waters, the shad is one of the most 

 prolific. Our tule Lakes are splendid spawning grounds for them. 

 During the year 1883 the law to protect -had was in force; fishermen 

 win' caught them generally returned them to the water, but enough 

 were caughl to assure the Commissioners that they had greatly in- 

 creased in numbers and growth, some being seined that weighed nine 

 and throe quarter pounds. 



It is the opinion of the Commissioners that California is the only 

 State in the Union where shad can be taken and marketed the year 

 round. 



STRIPED BASS. 



Thi- mosl desirable fish is not a native of our waters. A few were 

 planted by the former Commissioners in the Bay of San Francisco at 

 Army Point. In the opinion of the Commissioners they will be a 

 success, as they have been taken in the Bay of San Francisco weigh- 

 ing four pounds, and one taken in the Bay of Monterey in September, 

 1883, weighed nearly seventeen pounds. It will be some time before 

 striped bass will be very plentiful, as the immense area in which they 

 travel will have to be well stocked before any one place would have 

 any considerable number for the fishermen to work upon. In Octo- 

 ber, 1883, one was caught in the Sacramento River weighing sixteen 

 pounds. This and other catches are strong evidence that the striped 

 bass will propagate in our waters. The Commissioners find that by 

 reason of thus stocking our bays the whole Pacific Coast is benefited, 

 as in the case with shad. Bass have been taken as far north as Brit- 

 ish Columbia. 



March third, 1884, a striped bass, weighing four pounds, was for sale 

 in a San Francisco market. March eleventh there was one offered for 

 sale that weighed eighteen and one half pounds. It seems to us that 

 most of the eastern fish assimilate themselves verv readilv to our waters. 



SALT WATEPv FISH. 



ROCK COD, OR GROUPER. 



This fish abounds in great numbers all along the Pacific Coast. 

 The markets of California are well supplied from the Bays of San 

 Francisco, Monterey, Tomales, and from Punta Arenas and the Far- 

 allone Islands; they are caught with hook and line near the rocks 

 and are always in good demand. 



Their habits compare with the blackfish of the New England 

 Coast. There are as many as five different varieties; the red is con- 

 sidered the most numerous of all. In the last ten or fifteen years 

 the markets received the most of their supply of this fish from out- 

 side the Bay of San Francisco. The decrease in the bay is owing 

 to the same conditions as have caused the decrease of the inland or 

 fresh water fish. They are gradually lessening in number by the 

 continual drain upon them, occasioned by the various devices which 

 our cosmopolitan fishermen use in their capture. 



The immense number of small fish of all kinds annually destroyed 

 by the Chinese and other fishermen in the bay, compel the market- 

 men to look further abroad for their daily supply, as not more than 

 one half of that supply is obtained in the vicinity of San Francisco. 



