840 ABUNDANCE OF FISH. 



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fnuries ; now, nigged euperfices of naked rock ; then, beantifal valleys 

 arrayed in all the loveliness of perennial verdure, and profuse in vegetation 

 d extraordinary growth, mtermixed with wild-flowers of unrivalled hues 

 and lavish fragrance, till he finally reaches his destination. 



The Sacramento and its tributaries water tlie greater part of Western 

 California. 



This river is formed by the confluence of two large streams which rise 

 in the Cascade Mountains, properly termed the North and South Forks 

 the former heading near lat. 41° 43' north, long. 114° 51' west, (The Sout' 

 Fork is the stream detining the waggon route from the U. States, via Soutl 

 Pass.) 



The Sacramento, measured by its windings, is about eight himdred and 

 fifty miles in length. It receives many important auxiliaries above the 

 junction of its two forks, which greatly increase the volume and depth of 

 its waters. From its mouth it is said to afibrd a good stage of navigation 

 for crafts of tolerable burtlien, as high up as three huni-ed miles, — tide 

 water setting back for one hundred and fifty miles. 



Three otlier rivers, flowing from tlie soutlieast, have their discharge in 

 the Bay of San Francisco. These streams are severally called the Rio del 

 Plumae, American Fork, and Tulare. 



The former derives its name from the great abundance of water-fowls 

 which congregate upon it at all seasons of the year, so numerous and 

 tame that the natives nut unfrequently kill large quantities of them with 

 ciaba or stones as they fly through the air. 



The del Plumas is said to be navigable, tor boats of a light draught, till 

 within a hundred miles of its head, — its whole length is about two hundred 

 and fifty miles. Tlie American Fork, or the Rio de los Americanos, is a 

 clear and beautiful stream about one hundred and fifty miles long, emptying 

 into the Sacramento Bay below tlie del Plumas, and between it and the 

 Tulare. Owing to frequent rapids, however, its navigation is destroyed. 



The Tulare is said to be fcur hundred miles long, and navigable for one 

 half that distance. It is rei)resanted as watering one of the most interest- 

 ing sections of Western California, and hence is considered next in impor- 

 tance to the Sacramento. This stream aflbrds some of the finest localities 

 for settlements found in the whole country. 



Below the Bay of Sau Francisco several other small streams find their 

 way into the Pacific, but none of them are navigable to any great extent. 

 The principal of tiiese empty as follows ; into the Bay of Monterey, into 

 the Ocean near Point del Esteros, Point Arguello, St. Barbara Channel, 

 San Pedro Bay, and opposite the island of St. Clement. 



Above the Bay of San Francisco, Russian river is discharged into Bodega 

 Bay ; further on, Smith's river empties into Trinidad Bay ; and two other 

 small streams find their discharge near Point St. George, a few miles below 

 the boundary line bct\','eeri Oregon and California. 



Smith's river is the largest stream either above or below the Bay 

 of San Francisco, and is atout two hundred miles in length, though un- 

 aayigable. 



AU these various rivers and their alRuents are stored with innumerable 

 tmppiieB of dehcious fish, the principal of which are salmon and salmon- 

 ^Mt. Tha Ocean too afi&rda an exhaustlest qoantitf of the piKatoriig 



