REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. a ts 
Up to the time of this investigation definite information was lacking 
as to the results which had attended the attempted acclimatization of 
shad and striped bass in the waters of the Pacific States, although it 
had been known for some years that the plants had been suecessful and 
that more or Jess mature fish had been taken at various places on the 
coast. It was found that the shad have become distributed along the 
entire coast north of Monterey Bay, California, and occur ‘in special 
abundance in the Sacramento River. Notwithstanding the fact that 
the fishermen have provided themselves with no apparatus especially 
adapted to the capture of shad, 101,071 pounds were taken in 1888 
and 170,500 pounds in 1889. The quantity caught affords no idea of 
the abundance of the fish, and it is thought that the use of suitable 
apparatus will demonstrate the existence of large bodies of these 
fish in all the coast waters between southern California and Puget 
Sound. The striped bass, although introduced some years before the 
shad, are apparently less abundant and less widely distributed than 
the latter. They are chiefly found in San Francisco Bay, where exam- 
ples weighing as much as 40 pounds have been taken, although the 
average weightis only Sor 10 pounds. In 1888 only about 1,000 pounds 
reached the San Francisco market, but in 1889 Mr. Alexander reported 
that at one period they became so plentiful that the price, which had been 
$1 a pound in 1888, fellto 18 cents. There is every reason to believe that 
in a short time this species will take a prominent place among the comw- 
mercial fishes of the west coast. 
NEW ENGLAND COAST. 
Early in the fiscal year 1890 the entire field force was placed in the 
New England States and a very comprehensive canvass of that region 
was inaugurated. The field inquiries in Maine were made by Messrs. 
H. M. Smith, W. H. Abbott, Ansley Hall, and C. H. Stevenson; in 
New Hampshire by Mr. Stevenson; in Massachusetts by Messrs, W. A. 
Wilcox, W. H. Abbott, E. E. Race, C. H. Stevenson, and Ansley Hall; 
in Rhode Island by Mr. Hall, and in Connecticut by Mr. Stevenson. 
At Boston and Gloucester, respectively, the local agents of the office, 
Mr. F. F. Dimick and Capt. 8. J. Martin, aided in the work, and in the 
vicinity of Gloucester Mr. EK. F. Locke, of the Division of Fish-Culture, 
rendered efficient service at times when his regular duties did not 
require his attention. No investigation of the entire fishing industry 
‘of this region had been undertaken since 1879-80. It was well known 
that marked changes had occurred in the methods, extent, and charac- 
ter of certain fisheries in the various States; and in view of the general 
prominence of the New England fisheries and the important interna- 
tional questions arising in connection therewith, it was deemed advisa- 
ble to have full and accurate data thereon. 
The inquiry placed the office in possession of complete statistical and 
other information concerning the ocean, shore, and river fisheries for 
