b REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



and elsewhere, were lost; also all of the correspondence. Reports of the 

 work of the previous Boards, as shown hy their biennial reports since 

 the Commission was first organized, were also destroyed. With respect 

 to the latter, we are pleased to say that we have succeeded, through 

 the courtesy of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries and through corre- 

 spondence with people in this State who had saved such reports, in 

 reestablishing a fairly good file. In addition, Hon. George M. Bowers, 

 Commissioner of Fisheries, and Dr. T. S. Palmer, in charge Game 

 Preservation, U. S. Biological Survey, at Washington, 1). C, have 

 donated to us many valuable publications concerning the work of their 

 respective departments, and also solicited publications from other states 

 in our behalf. We have, therefore, the nucleus of another library. 



Owing to the complete interruption of all transportation lines it was 

 impossible to carry away from the building any of our specimens or 

 heavy books. Previous to leaving the office the Chief Deputy filled the 

 vault with the most valuable books, literature, reports, stationery sup- 

 plies, typewriter, and other essentials, in the hope that they w-ould be 

 safe, but the conflagration and the destruction it wrought are now mat- 

 ters of history. The vaults were not built to withstand such intense 

 heat, and on being opened it was found that the contents had been 

 reduced to ashes. 



The loss of important data and manuscripts that had been carefully 

 collected with a view of incorporating them in our- Nineteenth Biennial 

 Report is severely felt and has involved additional labor and research 

 in order to make an intelligent and comprehensive report. 



Immediately following the fire our office was temporarily established 

 at the private home of the President of the Board, Hon. W. YV. Van 

 Arsdale, from which point we directed the movements of the patrol force 

 and got in communication with the different hatchery stations, and the 

 office was continued there until the transportation problem was in a 

 measure solved. Through the courtesy of John P. Irish, Naval Officer 

 of the Port of San Francisco, we were offered temporary quarters in the 

 United States Customs House, and arrangements were being made to 

 accept, when a second offer came to us through the courtesy o' Arthur 

 M. Briggs, Secretary of the State Board of Trade, in the Ferry Building. 

 As the latter point possessed many advantages in respect to accessibility 

 from all quarters, as well as convenience for the movements of our patrol 

 force, the offer was accepted, and since May 9, 1906, we have been occu- 

 pying our present small but comfortable quarters, and will remain here 

 until larger accommodations can be secured. 



Public interest in our work has largely increased and the volume of 

 correspondence grown accordingly. We now feel that we have developed 

 sufficiently to justify dividing our office work into departments, to 

 successfully accomplish which we will require at least three rooms — 



