FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
161 
21. FISHERIES OF THE SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN RIVERS, 
INCLUDING PARTS OF SUISUN AND SAN PABLO BAYS. 
Geographical characteristics , etc . — The Sacramento and San Joaquin 
are the two most important rivers in California, and the watershed of 
a large portion of the State is tributary to them. The Sacramento 
rises in the Trinity Mountains, a spur of the Sierra Nevada range. Its 
general trend for the first few miles is northerly to the point where it 
is joined by the Pit River, thence it winds its zigzag course in a west- 
southwesterly direction until it reaches the valley east of the Shasta 
range of mountains, when it turns abruptly southward; thence its 
general course is nearly south-southeast until it empties into Suisun 
JSay. The lower part of the river, however, below Sacramento, runs 
southwesterly. Fed by the melting snows on the mountains, its head- 
waters are specially adapted to the salmonidae; they constitute favor- 
ite breeding-grounds for salmon, and have long been justly celebrated 
for an abundance of large trout. The lower part of the river is adapted 
to fishes of other species which do not require such a low temperature 
as the trout and salmon. 
The San Joaquin has its source in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 
Flowing westerly through Fresno County for the first 50 miles of its 
course, it then turns abruptly to the north just where it is joined by 
Fresno Slough, which drains Lake Tulare.* From this point its general 
course is northwesterly through the counties of Fresno, Merced, Stanis- 
laus, and San Joaquin, and it passes between the counties of Sacramento 
and Contra Costa, where it joins the Sacramento River, near the lat- 
ter^ mouth. The Chouchilla and Fresno Rivers, both of which rise in 
the Sierras, are the principal tributaries of the San Joaquin. The lat- 
ter is about 350 miles long, and of considerable size, but muddy. The 
fisheries are unimportant, except near the mouth of the river. In the 
upper part of the river, catfish, perch, and suckers are reported abun- 
dant, while sturgeon, shad, pike, and salmon are the most important 
varieties in the lower reaches of the stream. Comparatively few sal- 
mon enter the San Joaquin, and these rarely go very far up river. It 
is probable that the muddy condition of the water, and possibly the 
temperature, prevent salmon from ascending to the headwaters. 
Fishing centers . — The principal fishing centers are Sacramento, Sutter- 
ville,Clarksburgh, Courtland, WalnutGrove, Rio Vista, Black Diamond, 
Collinsville, Chipp’s Island, Benicia (on Karquines Strait), Martinez, 
Porte Costa, and Vallejo. A considerable -number of salmon fishermen, 
live at Jersey Landing and Antioch, on the San Joaquin, but fish in 
both rivers and the adjacent bay. The Central Pacific Railroad passes 
through the towns located on* the south side of Suisun Bay and the 
mouth of the San Joaquin, and a branch of this road runs from Sacra- 
mento to Benicia and Vallejo. At several of these places are located 
*On some maps Fresno Slough is given as the headwaters of the San Joaquin. 
H. Mis. 274 11. 
