252 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



those early times were willing to undertake. This 

 would also apply to taking them by land from the 

 Mexican States to California. 



One of two things is certain, either that the effort 

 was never made by those early Spanish settlers to 

 import bees to California, or if it was made, it proved 

 to be a failure; for none were found when the Amer- 

 icans took possession of California, nor in fact for 

 some years afterward. 



THE FIRST STOCK OF BEES IN CALIFORNIA. 



In February, 1853, Mr. C. A. Shelton, formerly of 

 Galveston, Texas, sailed from New York with twelve 

 hives of bees (in which it is said Commodore Stock- 

 ton and G. W. Aspinwall were interested) ; he arrived 

 at San Francisco in March, with but one living col- 

 ony, eleven having died whilst in transit. This was 

 the pioneer hive of bees on the Pacific coast. Mr. 

 Shelton, with his hive of bees, took passage on a little 

 steamer from San Francisco to Alviso ; on the trip 

 she burst her boiler, killing several persons, Mr. 

 Shelton being of the lamented number; but his bees 

 escaped unhurt, and were taken to San Jose, where 

 they did well. 



OTHER SHIPMENTS. 



Some time during the autumn or winter of 1854, 

 Messrs. Buck and Appleton, of San Jose, received 

 the next swarm of bees that arrived in California. 

 In the fall of 1855, my brother and partner in busi- 

 ness, J. S. Harbison, sent east by a friend who was 

 making a visit, for a hive of bees, which he received 



