50 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
fish into San Francisco Bay. The first lot were small fish, say 2 to 
3 inches long, and were placed in Suisun Bay, near Martinez, by Mr. 
Redding in person. These fish thrived and passed the nets of the 
Chinese and got to sea and returned, one being taken two years later 
weighing 4 pounds. Another lot was brought from the Atlantic coast 
in August of the year that Mr. Redding died, and were put into the 
bay at Arsenal Point, about 3 miles distant from the preceding one. 
The fish have apparently done well, specimens having been taken in 
nets at intervals of a few days all through the past two summers. The 
largest of these weighed 23 pounds. Lately striped bass have been 
taken almost daily in the waters of the bay near this city, and fish 
dealers in the markets claim that within the next four years this vari- 
ety of fish will be as plentiful as shad are now. I am informed that 
striped bass have been taken at places as widely separated as from San 
Diego to the Oregon line. 
1 would suggest sending two tanks of blackfish (tautog, I think), 
which are common to the Long Island Sound and Southern Massachu- 
setts coast. The late Mr. Throckmorton informed me that some of 
this kind of fish were sent probably ten years ago, that they arrived 
alive, and that he put them at once into the waters of San Antonio 
Creek, near Oakland. These fish have never been heard from, and 
I think that as they were weak from the journey overland and were 
placed in muddy water at least 2 miles from any rocky shelter or 
supplies of food, they fell victims to their enemies, such as dogfish, 
sharks, and stingrays, through which they had to pass out into the 
bay. I think it is poor policy to bring adult fish thousands of miles 
and then place them tired and weak where their enemies are alert and 
strong. If any blackfish are sent they should be rested and fed in fish- 
cars for at least a week or ten days until they become strong again 
and are able to take care of themselves. 
The black bass which were brought to California some years since 
have done well. Those of the State fish commission were placed in the 
Crystal Spring Reservoir, which in part supplies water to this city. 
The bass did well, and about four years since some were taken and 
placed in Russian River, Sonoma County, near Guerneville. These 
seem to have done well, and spread both up and down the stream, 
which is fully 100 miles long. Yesterday a bass taken in Russian 
River, near its entrance into the Pacific, was on exhibition in one of 
our markets. It was taken in a net and weighed 5 pounds. If they 
would not destroy the young shad, and salmon, the Sacramento would 
be an admirable stream to place bass in between the junction of 
Feather River and Red Bluff. 
San Francisco, Cal., April 27, 1837. 
