REPORT OF THE PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 83 



A survey of the economically important shellfish of the state, begun 

 several years ago, has been taken up and completed under the direction 

 of Dr. Harold Heath of Leland Stanford Junior University. A full 

 report is in preparation. In connection with this work, Pismo clams 

 were transplanted to several suitable beaches in San Luis Obispo 

 County and an extensive plant of eastern softshell clams made in 

 Morro Bay, which appears to be especially well suited to them. A 

 report of this work was published at the time in California Fish and 

 Game. 



In 1911 and 1912, under the direction of Dr. C. H. Gilbert of Leland 

 Stanford Junior University, the Fi.sh and Game Commission liberated 

 large numbers of marked quinnat salmon fry in the Sacramento River, 

 Scott's Creek and San Lorenzo River. This was the most comprehensive 

 fish marking experiment ever undertaken. ]\Iore than 200,000 marked 

 salmon fry were liberated and it w^as expected that many important 

 facts regarding the life of the salmon would be learned from these 

 experiments. The fish resulting from the first fry liberated were in their 

 fourth year in 1914, at which time they were expected to appear in 

 Monterey Bay and in the streams where they were liberated. In order 

 that we might recover as many as possible of these fish we distributed 

 circulars to all handlers of fish on Monterey Bay and to all handlers of 

 fish from San Francisco Bay and rivers. These circulars contained a 

 diagram of a salmon to illustrate the different marks and full directions 

 as to how to take samples of scales and make a record of each fish. The 

 commission's deputies at Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sacra- 

 mento and on the bay and river patrol boats assisted in the recovering 

 of these fish. The fish dealers were much interested and gave every 

 assistance. We personally visited nearly every one of these people to 

 explain the importance of recovering these fish. We had envelopes 

 printed and distributed which could contain a sample of scales from 

 each and the record of each as to size, sex, kind of mark, etc. The 

 number recovered was disappointing. 



In the year 1915, partly because we were better prepared to carry 

 on the work, the number recovered was considerably larger. By placing 

 a rack across the San Lorenzo River we were able to get a good record 

 of the marked fish entering that stream. A few fish were taken in 

 Monterey Bay in 1916, but not many were expected as they are now in 

 their sixth year. As yet the material and records obtained have not 

 been studied further than to determine that the method employed in 

 ascertaining the age of salmon from the scales is accurate. While the 

 total number of fish recovered was disappointing the material and data 

 collected is very valuable, and when properly studied and reported 



