Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

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mentioned. viz: Salmon, Eastern salmon,
Truckee trout, land-locked salmon, perch,
club, pike, dacc, mullet (er hardhead),
carp. sturgeon, catfish and bull-heads Tor
pout), whitefish, shad, striped bass rock
cod Tor grouper), cells, black bass and lob
sters.
SALMON.
The average salmon pack. in the last re-
port was estimated TO be about 100000
cases. In the year 1888 about LOO boats
were employed in taking salmon, and the
average catch to the boat was about l, 500
fish, weighing about 81 500, 600 pounds.
The marked decrease in the supply of
salmon for the years 1888 and 1884 was
owing to the following causes: 1. Illicit
fishing during the close season. = Loss
in the tules. 3. Consumption by seals and
sea-lions. 4. Destruction by different
kinds of aquatic birds 5. Dams
and obstruction near the spawning
grounds. g. The using of small mesh nets
from 1877 to 1888. Z. The great increase
of seines at and below the spawning fields.
8. The great increase of nets used in the
bays. o. The increase of canneries and in
creased demand for the supply.
The decrease must continue, until the
causes OF the falling off are removed, and
until the salmon are allowed to pass OBJ
cb4 0Ctiii9 AlOto W lCdjll THEIR spawning
ground. A statement of Commissioner b.
b. Redding is in point. He said 1.-The
perpetuation of the salmon industry is
absolutely dependent upon the fact that
some of the fish must be allowed to pass
the nets and reach their spawning grounds
at the head waters. Ii is only at the sources
of streams, and under the condition there
found, that the eggs will naturally develop
into fish. 1t is only when the fish reach
their spawning grounds, that their eggs
have become sufficiently matured, so that
they may be taken for artificial propaga-
ton. Report of 1880, page 5.
The views of the present Commissioners
are in full accord with those expressed by
Commissioner r. b. Redding. If the fish
are permitted to reach their spawning
| fields, artificial propagation will be insured
and will result in the release of millions OF
young samlets into the tributaries of the
Sacramento river. The State salmon hatch
| ing will do the desired work
CALIFORNIA, OR CHINOOK SALMON.
Large numbers of this and of other
species of salmon are taken and sold i'm
mediateiy after spawning, at unreasonable
| times, and when the fish are unfit for
food This grievous evil should be pro.
! hibited. There has been a decrease in
| quantity during the last three years.
TRUcKEE RIVER TROUT.
Most of the Truckee river trout are
caught by vicious methods in the State Of
Nevada. Very few are taken i'll California
| Efforts to obtains fair supply for Califor.
ma have been unavailing. The reason:
! advanced by the late Fish Commissioner
of the State of Nevada fer the indirect ac
ton of that State in depriving California o
her Just rights to an equal share of the fish
| OF the river, was averred to be. the reftisa
oil the Legislature of California to pass
sawdust bill. The Commissioner Ignored
the fact that the sawdust discharged int
| the river and which floats into the State o
! Nevada, bud not injured, much less killed
the trout; but to the contrary the trou
had fattened, thrived and multiplied |
| was pretense without reason. The pur
pose of the deprivation was to secure fo
his State speople the trout traffic. As it is
the fish are not allowed to ascend the
Truckee above Foulke's dam, near Yer di
Nevada.
| CAKE AND BROOK TROUT.
The present Fish Commissioners of Cali
tornia have deemed it important to kee,
oar lakes and brooks-the favored resort
ofthe State supplied with the best and mos
suitable varieties of trout. During the year
iSs4-S5 several hundred thousand have beer
! distributetl from the Shebley Hatchery
10 the extent of the supply all portions o
the State lave received a reasonable quota
lAND-IocKED SALMON.
| Twenty four thousand of these fishe.
were distributed in the year 1884 by thC
| present Commissioners The number plant.
ed in other years is unknown. Partial
success has been met with, and better re-
suits are hoped for.
The supply of this most desirable fish
has diminished. The causes of diminu-
| ton are Various, and possibly may be
| removed. The drain made by the Chinese
and other vandals has been heavy and con-
| tinuous. The Commissioners, in their last
| report, RECOMMENDED that law should be
passed 10 Protect perch from seinings fol
| the period of two years.
cHuB, PIKE, DAcE, MuLLET.
The supply of club and pike has equaled
the demand. The dace, native fish, is
nearly extinct. The cause has not been ascer.
tanned. The mullet. or hard head, is pro-
I life, and needs no protection.
CARP
Carp were practically planted in the
waters OF California by the United States
Commission. In the matter of accumula-
ton, they have increased and been "a sue
cess. During the years 1884 and 1885 the
Secretar, of the Fish Commission received
but four calls for carp II has become a
cheap fish. / am informed that the de-
mand tor 1t does not exceed the supply.
Many regard it as a valuable edible fish,
While more regard il with disfayor The
late Commissioner, Thockmor,on, informed
the writer that if carp cost in market 81
1t would cost $40 to fit it for the table.
Concnrring, pass to the
STURGEON
As food fisi. the sturgeon is one of the
cheapest and best. As to numbers, the de-
crease Is steadily going on. The depletion
Is owing to the Chinese hogging" method
OF fishing. They secure the small ones. dry
them and ship them to China. Here is
potent reason why the Chinese should
60 Their vocation as fishermen, carried
on in direct violation of law, should cease
The present Commission has been and is
now endeayoring to compel the Chinese to
respect and obey our laws or to leave our
waters. Efforts in this direction will be
continued.
CATFISH.
The planting of these fish BY the old
Commission was regretted by many, and
dPpAoNSu " ihofe- lueN nave tnrlNen
most wonderfully, and need no protection.
la short, they cannot be exterminated
wHTEFIsH.
The results accruing from the planting of
the whitetish in our waters are not fully
known. Several hundred thousand $50 re-
portedl were released in the lakes. 1t is
now over five years since they were re-
leased into our waters, and up to the pres
ent time but few, if any, have been caught.
sHAD.
The shad planted in our rivers have done
well. Their breeding grounds seem to be
in the waters of the center of the State.
Their increase has been marvellous. and an
unlimited supply can be had in the proper
season.
STRIPED BASS.
Some years ago few striped bass were set
free at Army Point, in the bay of San
Francisco. 1t is reported that several of
good size have been captured-one in the
bay OF Monterey, that weighed nearly
seventeen pounds. and another in the Sac
ramento river, which pulled the beam at
sixteen pounds. In March. 1884, one was
offered for sale in q. San Francisco market
which turned the scale at eighteen and
half pounds. The opinion prevails, and
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