10 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
grounds, more particularly those on the bays and rivers, aud from 
actual observation to mark definitely on the charts the location and 
extent of fishing areas. At the same time the leading characteristics of 
the different localities were noted, including the kinds and quantities 
of various species of fish or other aquatic animals that occur in each 
section in different seasons. The notes on the distant sea fishing 
grounds have been compiled from various sources, most of the infor- 
mation, however, being the result of investigation by the U. S. Fish 
Commission. 
In a large majority of cases no attempt has been made to define the. 
limits and contour of the fishing grounds, except to show the areas 
actually utilized by the fishermen. In the greater number of instances 
the regions off the coast thus marked are smaller in extent than would 
appear from actual surveys, taking a certain depth as a basis of limita- 
tion. In a few cases, notably about the Farallone Islands, the area 
said to be frequented by the fishermen is larger than might be sup- 
posed if one were guided only by the relative depth of water. Those 
familiar with fisheries will readily comprehend how these apparent dis- 
crepancies must appear when the object is simply and only to show 
approximately those regions which are commercially important as fish- 
producing areas. It is confidently believed that all fishing grounds 
of commercial importance have been shown which come within the 
scope of the maps. Care has been taken to designate the extent and 
location of all areas where oysters, clams, and other valuable mollusks 
occur in considerable abundance. 
A specially important feature is the location and designation of fixed 
apparatus, such as pound nets, weirs, traps, fish-wheels, etc., on the 
coast and in the rivers and bays, besides which the seine-reaches have 
been defined, and in many other ways the apparatus chiefly used on 
certain fishing grounds has been shown. 
7. ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION AND ACCLIMATIZATION. * 
No section of the country is probably more dependent on fish-culture 
for the successful continuance of its fisheries than the Pacific slope. 
Experience has fully demonstrated that the supply of salmon is likely 
to be so much reduced through overfishing that the industry depend- 
ing upon their capture must soon be abandoned, unless the skill and 
well directed efforts of man are utilized to maintain the stock upon 
which he draws so heavily and so continuously. Artificial propagation 
of fish has now passed beyond the experimental stage, and there is no 
longer doubt in unprejudiced and well-informed minds as to its possi- 
* While the results of artificial propagation of food-fishes on the west coast and 
the introduction of Atlantic species in the waters thereof are subjects germane to the 
objects of this review, the space allotted precludes extensive discussion here. It is 
intended, however, to fully discuss this work in an article on the results of artificial 
propagation which the Commissioner now has in contemplation. 
