REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LV 
During the year the Albatross was at sea 168 days, the distance 
traversed during that time being 17,124.6 nautical miles. The total 
number of soundings made was 965, and of dredgings and trawlings 
237. This record is much higher than for any previous year. 
INTRODUCTION OF OYSTERS. 
The native oyster of the Pacific coast is inferior in quality, and 
efforts have been made to introduce the eastern species, but as regards 
the establishment of self-sustaining beds it is reported that they have 
been entirely unsuccessful. Large quantities of the Atlantic oyster 
are carried overland and planted in San Francisco Bay, where they grow 
and remain in good condition for the market, but they are said not 
to reproduce to an appreciable extent, owing, it has been supposed, to 
the low temperature of the water during the breeding season. The 
study of the oyster problem on the western coast has been taken up by 
the Fish Commission during the past year, and while it has not the 
means to place a special party in the field for that purpose, the natu- 
ralists of the steamer Albatross have been instructed to make suitable 
observations whenever possible. Several opportunities occurred during 
last winter, and the facts obtained were presented in a report by Prof. 
Charles H. Gilbert, published in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 
1889, pages 95-98. 
According to Prof. Gilbert, the coast of southern California contains 
few harbors or river mouths which might prove suitable for oyster- 
culture. The proximity of the Coast Bange of mountains and the lim- 
ited rainfall conspire to produce small rivers, which are dry during the 
greater part of the year,' and at other times commonly reach the sea by 
filtering through the sands thrown up across their mouths. Two of 
the most promising estuaries, Alamitos Bay and Newport Bay, were 
examined by Prof. Gilbert, and their characteristics are described in 
his report. The only other localities in the southern part of the State 
which might offer favorable conditions are Anaheim Bay and the mouth 
of Los Bolsos Creek, between Alamitos and Newport bays, and False 
Bay, near San Diego. All of these areas are very small, however, and 
observations during the dry season are required before reaching defi- 
nite conclusions. The oyster beds near Guaymas, referred to above, 
are also discussed by Prof. Gilbert, who concludes that the Mexican 
oyster, living naturally under tropical conditions, is un suited to the 
coast of California. It is proposed during the ensuing year to begin 
an investigation of San Francisco Bay with respect to its adaptability 
for oyster-raising. 
TRANSPLANTING OF LOBSTERS. 
Two large shipments of lobsters have been made to the Pacific coast 
within the past thirteen months, the plants being distributed between 
Monterey Bay and the Straits of Fuca, a distance of 11 degrees of latitude, 
