REPORT OF STATE HOAKl) OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 4H 



From these small plants the increase has been so great that shad are 

 now found not only in the Sacramento, but also in the San Joaquin. 

 American, Feather, and other rivers, as well as in all the large bays. At 

 certain seasons of the year shad affords an important food supply t(v 

 many of the farming population who live along the banks of these 

 streams. 



CATFISH. 



The catfish that were first introduced into this State came from the 

 Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, and the Mississippi River at Omaha ^ 

 in 1874, thus giving us two varieties. Both were planted in the San 

 Joaquin River near Lathrop. The demand for this fine-flavored fisji 

 continues to grow, and there is danger of the demand exceeding the 

 supply. Catfish find considerable sale in the San Francisco markets, 

 but the bulk of them is handled at Sacramento, where the shipments 

 reach two tons in a single day. From that point they are shipped south 

 to Arizona, north to Oregon, and east as far as Kansas. Occasionally 

 complaints are made that the catfish is destructive of other fishes. 

 With that contention we do not agree, the best evidence to the contrary 

 being the increased number of striped bass, black bass, and shad found 

 in the same waters with the catfish. 



SPINY LOBSTERS OR CRAWFISH. 



The crawfishing industry has not yet recovered from the exceedingly 

 long open season that existed on our statute books for so many years, 

 and the present restrictions are not sufficient to allow for any increase 

 in the numbers of this fish. We are therefore inclined to recommend a 

 close season on this fish for a period of two years. If the Legislature 

 considers this restriction too great, we would urge that the close season 

 be extended from August 15th to September 15th, or one month longer. 



The principal crawfish camps are found on Anacapa and Santa Cruz 

 islands, in the Santa • Barbara channel, and on San Nicolas and 

 Clemente islands, off the coast of Los Angeles County. There are 

 approximately forty crawfish camps, each one of which handles from 

 thirty to forty traps. The more intelligent of the fishermen engaged in 

 this work are in favor of a close season for a period of two years. They 

 seem to believe that it is the only way in which the industry will have 

 a chance to be restored, and in our judgment this would be the proper 

 remedy. 



STURGEON. 



In our judgment the time has not arrived for any modification of the 

 law relating to the taking of sturgeon. In other words, we Avould 

 urgently request that the present close season be maintained. This fish 

 is beginning to show an increase in numbers, but, in our opinion. 



