52 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



specimens for our Sisson Hatchery, where the fish are to he held as 

 breeders with a view of settling the question as to whether or not these 

 fish w y ill retain their brilliant colors in waters other than those in which 

 they were originally found. 



SHRIMPS. 



At the last session of the Legislature the shrimp law was amended 

 in a very important particular. It was made unlawful to export dried 

 shrimps or shrimp shells from this State, and at the same time allow 

 our people to have fresh shrimps throughout the year. A great deal of 

 ignorant if not malicious criticism has been directed against this 

 Commission by reason of the passage of this law. In order that the 

 people of this State may fully understand the matter, we feel that a 

 brief review of the shrimp fishery would be timely. 



Shrimp fishing has been followed industriously for more than forty 

 years in San Pablo and San Francisco bays. The people engaged in 

 this work have invariably been the Chinese. In 1885-1886 there were 

 upward of fifty boats engaged in this work, and until the present law was 

 enacted fully eighty per cent of the catch, which represented, ready for 

 shipment, dried shrimps, shrimp shells, and small fish, were shipped to 

 China. For years, until 1901, there were no restrictions whatever on 

 the capture of shrimps. The business was profitable to the Chinese, 

 hence they were ever anxious to prevent any legislation looking toward 

 the curtailment of their privileges. The Commission's recommendations 

 had been defeated several times until five years ago, when we were suc- 

 cessful in securing a four months close season, which still allowed the 

 shrimp fishermen eight months in which to operate. The four months 

 close season had the effect of reducing the number of boats engaged in 

 the business, which gradually dwindled, until in 1904 there were from 

 28 to 32 boats engaged in the work. In 1905 this number was further 

 reduced by the non-export law to 21. This year (1906) the number of 

 boats that have paid licenses is 17, but of that number three boats have 

 since gone out of business, and we are advised of four more ready to 

 quit, as their owners claim they can not successfully operate under the 

 present law. We believe that not more than ten boats will find shrimp 

 fishing profitable. There will always be a small amount of shrimps dried 

 in each camp. These represent the culls or smaller ones, for which there 

 is no sale in the fresh shrimp market. The Chinese, however, will 

 utilize and find a market for them locally in the rather large Chinese 

 and Japanese population of this State. 



Two years ago we made as strong a a argument as possible against 

 any change from the four months' close season, knowing that the 

 Chinese were determined to have it reduced one or two months. In 



