Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-03-14

ers of Fisheries, Just published, details
the operations, under the supervision
of that body for the past two years, for
the improvement and preservation of
the fisheries of the inland waters. A
larger portion of the document is de-
voted to description of the prepara-
lions made in the early part OF last
year, for an extensive importation or
choice varieties of Eastern fish, to
stock the lakes and rivers ofthis State
by means of an aquarium car. AS will
be remembered, the enterprise failed,
when about one-half the distance had
been accomplished with most encour-
aging prospects, by a deplorable acct
dent on the Union Pacific Railroad, by
which the aquarium car was wrecked
and its choice collections of fresh and
saltwater fish were deposited promis-
cuously in one of the wild steams of
the plains. The effort, however, was
not without beneficial results in the
experience afforded, which will enable
the Commissioners to carry out future
undertakings of the kind with entire
success, barring the occurrence OF accl-
dents.
After the loss of the aquarium car,
Livingstone Stone, of the United States
Fishery Commission, who was in
charge of the enterprise, returned East
and procured 10000 young shad from
the New York State Matching Works,
at CastletOn, on the Hudson, which
were conveyed safely and in good or
der across the continent. Five thous-
and of these were deposited in Great
Salt Lake, and the remaining $4,000
were placed in the Sacramento River,
near the railroad bridge at Tehama,
on the I'd of July last. Previous to
this deposit the Commissioners re-
ceived 10000 young shad from the
East in the Summer of 1871, which
were also placed in the Sacramento
From the ascertained habits OF the
fish, the young find their way to the
sea, and are absent three years, when
they return fully developed to their
early haunts to propagate. A few OF
the pioneers return the second year, to
establish the bearings of the route OF
travel for the main school, as may be
supposed, and several half-grown shad
were taken near the mouth OF the Sac
ramento last season. 1t is therefore
evident that the school of 1871 are alive
and flourishing, and their return up
the Sacramento in body Is looked for
during the coming month OF June.
The Commissioners will endeavor to
protect the fish from capture to facili-
tate their increase as far as possible,
and will establish breeding stations
on the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers. The protection will also be
maintained until after the return OF
the large school of 10000, due in the
Summer of 1875, and II successful the
Commissioners anticipate thereafter
an abundant supply of this choice
species of fish throughout the rivers
Of the State. A rigid legislative en-
actment is asked for to the end in
view.
In the Fall of 1872 the Commission
ers undertook the introduction OF the
favorite white fish, from the great
Northern lakes of the East. After an
examination of different bodies of
water, Clear Lake was selected as az
fording the necessary conditions for
the successful breeding of the species:
The eggs are exceedingly delicate, and
the first consignment proved an. entire
loss. With the second consignment,
q skillful and experienced manager
was more successful, and his labors
resulted in Matching twenty-five thou
sand healthy young white fish, which
were placed In the lake. From this
start it is hoped, in a reasonable time,
to stock all the suitable waters in the
State. The main object OF the Com
mission is to get the most desirable
fish here, and acclimated to California
waters, after which they may be bred
artificially and distributed to any ex-
tent. The white. fish requires clear
field of pure lake water. 1t is taken
only by SEEMING or trapping. .i
During the last year, with the limit
ed means at their command, the Com
missioners have been active in dis
tributing and increasing the supplies
of native fish of the best varieties.
They have conveyed about 1000 Lake
Tahoe trout to the South Yuba river;
trout from the mountain lakes have
been placed in the North Fork of the
American river, and 5000 Tahoe trout
have been placed in Lake MERGED.
They have also purchased 1900 of the
Eastern red speckled trout (SalinO
Fontanalis), which were placed in the
North Fork of the American river,
near the summit; 1000 of the same
and 5000 Tahoe trout have been placed
in the head-waters of Alameda creek,
and 1000 mere Of the Eastern speckled
trout in San Andreas reservoir.
1t is the intention of the Commits
sioners, the present year, to renew the
effort to bring across the continent the
best food fishes of the East, in an
aquarium car, on an enlarged scale,
profiting by the experience of the pre-
vious attempt, which only failed by
unavoidable accident. The loss sus-
tanned by that misfortune was nearly
$4,000, but q portion of the amount
will he restored by a settlement with
the railroad company. The commits
sion asks for further moderate assist
ance from the Legislature to carry out
their schemes so promising of great
public benefit, and, considering the
fact that members devote their own
time and services without cOmpensa-
ton, and that the total expenditure
of the commission, through its four
years of operation, has fallen within
the sum of 81, 600, the institution seems
worthy of full confidence and encour-
agement.-( Bulletin.