ACCLIMATIZATION OF FISH IN THE PACIFIC STATES. 
469 
According to Mr. Charles H. Townsend,* naturalist on the Fisli Commission 
steamer Albatross , a large part of the soft shell clam supply comes from San Pablo 
Bay, where Mya arenaria is found to the exclusion of all other mollusks, and where 
“this species is apparently as abundant as if it had always existed in these waters.” 
In 1884 the existence of the soft clam in great abundance in Shoal water Bay, 
Washington, was shown. The history of the presence of the eastern clam in that 
locality was given by Dr. Stearns in the following letter to Professor Baird, published 
in the Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission for 1885: 
I have examined the box of clams which just came to hand from Donald Macleay, esq., president 
of the Board of Trade, Portland, Oreg. Mr. Macleay states that they are the eastern clams, and found 
at Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory, which is correct as to their original (indirectly) and present 
habitat. I was aware of the presence of these clams at the locality given by Mr. Macleay some months 
ago, and it would be wise to put the matter on record. Captain Simpson, a public-spirited citizen of 
San Francisco, of the firm of Simpson Bros., extensively engaged in the lumber trade, employing 
a great many vessels in their business, informed me that he had at one time (or at various times) sent 
up the coast by their captains a quantity of Mya arenaria for planting iu Shoalwater Bay, and it, Mya, had 
multiplied wonderfully, and now (at the time of our conversation, May, 1884) this clam was abundant 
there. The clams planted by the direction of Captain Simpson were obtained by him in San Francisco, 
where Mya now “rules the roost,” its increase in San Francisco Bay and excellent quality having nearly 
superseded the native clams, the latter being now seldom seen on the stalls of the fish markets. 
Mr. Townsend says that the soft clam has been introduced into Puget Sound from 
Shoalwater Bay. It is stated that about six or seven years ago the original plants 
were taken from Shoalwater Bay by the engineer of a coasting steamer and deposited 
near Tacoma. They are reported to have greatly multiplied and to have been taken 
in large quantities for food. 
OTHER ANIMALS SUITABLE FOR INTRODUCTION. 
FISHES. 
The remarkable success which has attended the attempts to acclimatize fishes in 
the Pacific States naturally suggests a continuance of the experiments. While there 
is a great abundance of valuable native food-fishes in the fresh, brackish, and salt 
waters of the Western States, and while the introduction of additional fishes is not 
generally needed, nevertheless it is doubtless true that it is desirable to augment the 
existing food supply of some sections by transporting several valuable eastern fishes 
which would be very welcome to the people of the West. 
There are, in all the Pacific States, but more especially in Oregon and Washington, 
lakes and other waters now barren of food or game fishes, into which the introduction 
of native species or of eastern fishes could be readily accomplished. 
A number of fishes, the introduction of which has already been attempted and has 
either proved a failure or only a partial success, might with propriety be given a further 
trial in waters now destitute of desirable species. Among these are the rock bass, the 
Atlantic salmon, the muskellunge, and the pike perch. 
Care should be exercised in transplanting fishes to avoid the introduction of pre- 
daceous species into waters already containing desirable fish. The putting of black 
bass or pike perch in a trout stream, for instance, should be discouraged, as should 
the liberation of black bass or other sunfishes in salmon streams. 
* Report on observations respecting the oyster resources and oyster fishery of the Pacific Coast 
of the United States. Kept. U. S. Fish Comm., 1889-1891. 
