23 April / 1345
 
Oops!  Hold on a bit about the notion that bees were introduced into
California in the early 1800s.  Lee Watkins published an article on that
notion some years ago.  Next week I will provide the reference.
 
        The earliest documented introduction seems to be 1853.  The swarms of
that one colony sold for $100 gold per swarm -- hardly the price one would
pay if bees had already been in California for 20 years or more.
 
                                        Adrian M. Wenner
                                        Prof. of Nat. History, Emeritus
 
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>
> A couple of weeks ago there were a few messages indicating an 1830's
> introduction to California. I just ran across an article indicating Russian
> honey bee culture in Alaska in 1809, and trade from there to California in 181
>
> The article is in ABJ June '92 p 351, in their "75 years ago" clipping.
>