California Fish and Game V. 1 1915 Bound volume DATE DUE California Fish and Game V. 1 1915 Bound volume a California Resources Agency Library 1416 9th Street, Room 117 Sacramento, California 95814 Library <-op> r ' CALIFORMm 'iftSH^ND GAME ' C0NSERVAT1U.\ Ul W ILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION " CONTENTS, Page A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NON-SALE OF GAME IN CALIFORNIA Harold C. Brijunt 1 SOME NOTES ON THE NON-SALE OF GAME Ernest Schaeffle 2 EFFORTS TO CONSERVE THE GAME AND CONTROL THE VIOLATOR.-. F. M. Newbert 3 OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GAME AND FISH Frank M. Rutherford 4 FISH AND GAME CONSERVATION DEPENDENT ON CONSERVATION OF OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES Geo. C. Pardee 6 ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT THE SEA FISHERIES OF SOUTHERN CALI- FORNIA Chas. Frederick Holder 9 BIRD LIFE AS A COMMUNITY ASSET Joseph Grinnell 20 EDITORIAL 23 A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 26 CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 27 LIFE HISTORY NOTES 28 WILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE 29 REPORTS — Seizures and Searches : 30 Violations of the Fish and Game Laws 31 Lion Bounties ._ 32 Financial Report 34 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NON-SALE OF GAME IN CALIFORNIA. By Harold C. Bryant. The non-sale of game was first brought prominently l)efore the people of California in 1893, in which year the sale of deer was prohibited. The slaughter of quail by market hunters led to the taking of this species from the market in 1901. A few years later the non-sale of ducks and other water fowl began to be advocated by those conversant with game conditions. A crisis was reached when, in 1913, along with many other bills relating to fish and game, there was introduced into the legislature what has since been known as the "Flint-Cary Bill," prohibiting the sale of wild ducks and wild pigeons, in addition to the wild game the sale of which had been previously forbidden. After a hot campaign and much active work on the part of conserva- tionists the bill was passed by both houses and in due time was signed by the governor. The victory was largely due to the active work of the State Fish and Game Commission, and the California Associated Societies for the Conservation of Wild Life, the latter organization consisting of a number of prominent scientific societies of the state having been organized to further this needed conservation measure. At the time this bill was before the legislature there was great opposi- tion from certain special interests directl.y connected with the sale of game. The Northern California Hotel Men's Association lobbied con- 1—13319 2 CAI.IFoKM \ Kl^ll \N|) «;.\.\li:. tinuiill\. and iiiarkct Imiitcrs and j;!""<' tli-alcrs IicIikmI witli cainjiaiirn rxpciiscs. Failing' to jU'cvtMit the pa^isayrc of tlif lull, these same inlei- I'sts i;nt lip a refei-eiiduiii petit ioii. eireulated it almost entirely in San Franciseo and Oakland, and liled it with the recpiisite nnmher of .siof- natures. C'on.secpienlly the non-sale of ^'aiue hill wa.s set aside and will appear oil the Italhtt at the Ltciieivd eleetion. November 'A. 11M4. as l>i'oposit ion No. ]s. Soon after the filing of this i-eferendnm i)etilion it di'\ eloped that Lir'oss fi'ands had heen connnitted in the seenriin: of si'^nalni'es. .Mr. Theodore Kytka, the famons handwritinu- e.\pei-t of San Fi'aneiseo. exannned the petition at the dii'eetion of the San Fran- ciseo yranil jnry ami obtained evidence of thonsands of forgeries. As this article goes to |)riiit the iittoi-ney general of the state, at the direc- tion of the goveiMior. is investigating the alleged fi-auds eommitted in coiniectioii witli the eirenlation of tlie petition. The circnlation of an initiative petition by the "People's Fisli and Game Protective Association," an organization made up almost entirely of market Inuitei's. name dcrders, and persons connected with the North- ern Califoi-nia Hotel .Mi'n's Associaticn. having for its purpose the amending of j^ractically all of the present game laws and the placing on sale of all game, greatly endangered the cause of conservation and complicated th(» prohh^n before the public. Poi't unately. the backi'rs of the initiative petiti(ni succeeded in o])taining niucli less than the 1^2. 0(X) signatures required by law, even after a most strenuous state- wide campaign. Consequently this troublesome proposition will not a|)pear on the ballot. Consi'rvationists throughout the state were not daunted l)\- these attacks on necessary and just laws, and united in a campaign to have the legislature and the governor sustained through the a])proval of the non-sale bill at the November eleetion. A work of publicity and educa- tion has been and is being conducted in every part of the state, and it IS hoped that the public will have by election time a correct idea as to tile causes that menace the game supply. In order to sustain the legislature and the governor and to se^-ure the measure most needed for the conservation of the state's wild life, vote YES on proposition No. 18. A vote of YES will also be a rebuke to the interests and the fraudulent methods responsible for setting aside a wise law and causing the i)eo])le of the state the (^xjxMise and ti-onble (d" a referendum vote. SOME NOTES ON THE NON-SALE OF GAME. By Ernest Schaeffi.e, Executive Secretary, I'ish and (5ame Commission. The wild game belongs to the people in llieir sovereign capacity and as such should be enjoyed by the ix'ojile aiul eai"ed for and jirt^served foi- their beiietit. It must not be consideri'ti as tiie property of a class and no class should be permitted to monopolize it. It is generally agreed that wild game is attractive to a great many persons and that it has such value that the state should care for it wisely, as the state cai-es for land, water, forests, and other assets of a public uatuie. CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 3 Said Theodore Roosevelt, "It is not merely folly, it is wickedness, to permit a small number of our people, perhaps two or three per cent, to destroy the animals and birds in which the other ninety-seven per cent have an equal ownership, and in which posterity of all should have an equal ownership." Obviously, game should be preserved in order that the people may enjoy and use it. This brings us to the matter of best and most profitable use— so far as all the people are concerned. Dr. T. S. Palmer of the U. S. Biological Survey, one of the foremost game authorities in the world, states: "I am satisfied that the time has come when the market should be closed to the trade in game if the state is to conserve its present supply." The state ornithologist of JMassachusetts declares the prohi])ition of sale to be a very effective means of checking the slaughter of game. From 50 to 95 per cent of the state's game has been killed off within one generation. Unless killing is restrained, all desirable varieties will lie practically extinct within twenty-five years. It is a fixed principle that every wild species of mammal, bird or reptile that is pursued for money making purposes eventually is wiped out of existence. Even the whales of the sea are no exception. The value of game as food is now infinitesimal, compared with its value in stimulating outdoor life. A round $15,000,000.00 is spent in California each year on hunting and fishing, which expenditure depends entirely on the presence of some- thing to hunt and fish. So long as the sale of game is permitted, lawbreaking will be common ; the price is a bounty, encouraging the killing of more than the limit and even the killing during closed season, when illicit profits are greatest. The right of any generation to careless indifference or wanton destruc- tion can not be admitted. Each generation is the guardian of the existing resources of the world; it comes into a great inheritance, but onl}' as a trustee ; and there is no recovery or resurrection of an extinct species. EFFORTS TO CONSERVE THE GAME AND CONTROL THE VIOLATOR. By Frank M. Newbert, President State Fish and Game Commission. The total fund collected and disbursed by the State Fish and Game Commission is obtained by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and through fines collected for violations of the fish and game laws. The state has not. since 1909. appropriated one cent from the general fund for use in fish and game matters. Since those who hunt and fish contribute the whole of the funds at the command of the Fish and Game Commission, it is but .just and natural that the efforts of this Commission should ])e directed toward conserving, for the benefit of the people, the grand heritage of wild life that has come to us from our forefathers. To that end we have endeavored to perfect our patrol system until now we have as efficient a force of field deputies as may be found in any state in the union. We have utilized to the fullest extent the capacities of our fish hatch- 4 CALIFORNIA FI8II AND GAME. cries, and plant iii uur streams more trout fry than any otlier state in the union. We have taken the lead in protective measures, such as screens and fishways, until to-day California leads the world in such devices. A liigli standard of specialized knowledge is essential to the proper management and discharge of the manifold duties reposing in this Commission. To that end only the ver}"^ best of men have been employed in the work. Deputies must maintain a high percentage in the excel- ience of their work, fish culturists are the best in the world, and all other employees must hold the same high standard of efficiency. With such an efficient force at command we are enabled, to a degree, to carry out the ironclad rule of this Commission, and that is to accom- plish the greatest good for the greatest number. To conserve the fish and game, to increase the supply, to prohibit wanton destruction, and to restrict fishing and hunting to the taking of what is necessary to the individual, is the aim of this Commission. OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GAME AND FISH. By Hon. Frank M. Rutherford. Early settlers in California found antelope abundant in the Sacra- mento Valley. It was only necessary in those days, in order to "bag" an antelope, for the pioneer to go out on the plain where some of them were in sight, lie down on his back in the tall grass and kick his feet in the air, when the foolishly inquisitive creatures, attracted by the unusual sight, would begin bounding around in a circle about the strangely animated object and, as their curiosity increased, keep getting closer and closer, until coming within range, a shot from the long squirrel rifle would bring one to the ground. It was not many years until the antelope of the Sacramento Valley had entirely disappeared. Yet to-day how we would be delighted if we could just now and then catch a glimpse of one of those beautiful animals bounding over the plain. Every other game bird and animal of our state, sooner or later, was doomed to the same inexoral)lc fate as the antelope had they been left unprotected. While most birds and animals arc not such easy prey to the hunter as the antelope, the increased demand for game, with the better facilities for taking it with improved firearms, trained dogs, and various devices, has so overcome the protecting instincts of the animals and birds that they must have inevitably been destroyed without protection. So often we lock the door after the horse is stolen. Let it not be so with the game birds and wild creatures of California. Though some are already things of the past, yet the supply and variety of most of them are sufficient, with proper protection, to restore their former numbers and perhaps increase the quantity in many instances. The Fish and Game Commission has worked earnestly and faithfully and has accomplished nuich in this respect. Through its vigilance deer CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. O have been increasing rapidly in parts of the state, grouse have been saved from extermination and mountain quail are holding their own. Every citizen and resident of the state should take an interest in the protection and preservation of the game birds and animals. They are the property of all the people, and the state is endeavoring by legis- lative enactments to give all an equal show in pursuing and taking game, under such restrictions only as are proper for the preservation of the game. The efforts of the state and the efforts of the Commission are ineffectual without the co-operation of the people. There is no other subject, perhaps, upon which legislation has been so prolific of dissatisfaction as upon regulating the taking of fish and game, no other subject upon which prejudices apparently arise so easily and about which is made so much adverse criticism — not only criticism, but ba.se insinuations and false accusations. Yet there has not been a law passed in this state, for the last fifteen years at least, regarding fish and game, that has not been passed honestly and conscientiously with the single object in view of doing that which was the best for the fish and game of the state. There has never been a law passed during that time that was intentionally designed to favor any citizens, or class of citizens, of this state. Mistakes may have been made, but they have been mistakes of the head and not of the heart. Such adverse criticisms and accusations are most always the outcroppings of ignorance, preju- dice, and distemper. Well-meaning persons have made mistakes per- haps, but, if they will honestly investigate, they will not be long in discovering their errors. Everyone should cooperate with the wardens in their work of pro- tecting and preserving the fish and game of our state. California, with her highly diversified and wonderfully attractive physical features, her varied and alluring climatic conditions, her flowers, her fruit and vast resources, to which generous nature has added fish, bird, and animal life so varied, so distinctive and so plentiful, that it would not only mar the symmetry of nature's gracious endowment, but brand our people as indifferent, careless, and unprogressive, to neglect that attrac- tive feature of our state. Thoughtful, intelligent, and progressive residents of the state are coming to view the matter of the preservation of fish and game with more consideration each year and to enter into the spirit of it more zealously. It is gratifying to observe this welcome change in public sentiment, and it is sincerely to be hoped that it will not be long until the sentiment of every community of the state is in full accord with the laws for the protection and preservation of the fish and game. No laws can be upheld without public sentiment behind them, particularly when no moral turpitude is involved. Laws for the protection of fish and game must be supported by public sentiment, and wherever the senti- ment for the enforcement of laws is strong there will be few violators of the law. It will not be long until that sentiment prevails throughout the state. 2—13319 b CALIFORXIA PI^II AND GAME. FISH AND GAME CONSERVATION DEPENDENT ON CONSER- VATION OF OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES. By Kx-Governor Geo. C. Pardke. Everybody who has yiven the subject much thought admits that fish and game ouglit to be conserved, not preserved, for tlie public benefit. Practically every state in the union has some sort of fish and game laws, some sort of a fish and game commission. AVe commonly speak of such laws and such commissions as "fish and game preservation'" laws and commissions. That, however, is a mis- nomer. For of what good to the public would preserved fish and game be ? Like all other natural resources, our fish and game should be con- servetl, that is, used, at such times and in such quantities and under such conditions as the public needs require, but without unnecessary waste or destruction. Preserved game and fish, like preserved forests or preserved Avater- powers, are of no practical public good. Preserved fish and game die ; so do preserved trees ; preserved water-powders run to Avaste. Con- served— that is, used and protected — fish and game, forests, water- powers and all other natural resources are, of course, of practical bene- fit to the public. And, therefore, fish and game conservation — not preservation — commissions are of practical benefit to the public. We do not permit anybody to destroy the publicly-owned forests. There is an unenforceable California laM' against the "cold-storaging" of water-powers. It is the duty of the Fish and Game Commission to see to it that our animated natural resources are not destroyed or wasted. .1 Our game, however, can not be conserved, or even preserved, if the cover in which and the food on which it lives be not conserved. Our fish can not be conserved, or even preserved, if the waters in Avhich they live be not kept at least free from pollution. If our wild places be permitted to be fire ravaged and destroyed, if our streams and bays be made the dumping grounds for noxious materials, then there Avill be no use for game and fish conserving laws, no need for a fish and game conservation commission- — there Avill be no fish and game to be conserved. Everybody, therefore, who believes — as almost everybody does — in the conservation of fish and game, must, if he takes a second thought, believe just as thoroughly in the conservation — that is. the use with- out unnecessary waste or destruction or impairment of the necessary use of — our forests and our waters. The fish and game conservationist, therefore, must be a forest and water and waste places conservationist, whether they be publicly or privately owned. For it is just as much an injury to the public, including the hunter and fi.shoriuau, amateur or j)r()fessional, if our forests are destroved. no matter whether they be publicly or privately owned. For upon the continued existence of our forests, whether publicly or privately owned, depends very largely the full running of our streams, without which our fish and game can not be fully conserved. And as forests may be forever used without being destroyed, it follows, of course, that the fish and game conserva- tionists must deprecate the destruction of privately-owned forests and must oppose the further giving away of our publicly-owned forests into private ownership, wliich has always ended in their destruction. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 7 "Water is a natural resource, the most necessary of them all, which belongs to the people and can not be alienated from them. It is only the right to use water that can become private property. Upon the proper epiployment of this right to use, when it becomes private prop- erty, depends not only the fisherman's and hunter's vocation and sport, but also the prosperity and comfort, even the necessities, of all the people. The general public, therefore, as well as the fishermen and hunters, is interested in seeing to it that our water resources are con- served, that is, used, at such times, in such quantities, under such con- ditions as the public necessities require, without any unnecessary waste, without monopolies that will interfere with the public good. How shall the public see to it that its water resources are conserved 1 Shall this important function be given over to the Fish and Game Com- mission, which is a commission with a highly specialized function, viz., that of conserving fish and game? Shall it be made the duty of the already over-burdened Railroad Commission to see to it that the right to use our waters is not improperly or wastef ully acquired or exercised ? Somebody, representing the public, must do it. To whom better than to a water commission, making a specialty of this highly important and very special matter, can the conservation of our waters be intrusted? In other words, the work of the Fish and Game Commission ought to be aided and supplemented by a water conservation commission, in addi- tion to the already existing forestry conservation commission. The work of a water commission is as highly specialized as is that of a fish and game commission, or a forest conservation commission, or a railroad commission. Recognizing that it is impracticable, if not impos- sible, to create one commission with special knowledge in all these diverse and very important matters, other states have created, as California has, a separate commission for each of them. At the last session of our legislature, an act was passed creating a water commission, with power to see to it that the water resources of the state shall be conserved, that is, used at such times and in such quantities and under such conditions as the public necessities for power, irrigation, domestic purposes, etc., may require, but without unneces- sary waste, and without monopoly detrimental to the public. The passage of this law through the legislature was vigorously fought by an organized and expensive lobby, which was financed by an asso- ciation of power and water companies. And no sooner was this water commission law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor than the same interests that opposed its passage organized and financed an expensive referendum campaign against it. For getting signatures to the referendum petition, which was circulated, among other places, in the redlight districts of San Francisco, Oakland and other cities, the hired petition circulators were paid 5 and 10 cents for each of the twenty-odd thousand signatures, forged and unforged, to the referendum petition. As conservationists of the fish and game natural resources of this state, every fisherman and hunter, amateur and professional, is inter- ested in the ratification by the people, at the November election, of this referendum water commission law. For every citizen who is interested in the conservation of our fish and game is, of course, interested equally in the conservation of our waters, on the saving of which the conserva- tion of our fish and game largely depends. 8 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAilE. Farther than that, every fisherman and liunter, amatenr and profes- sional, is interested, along with all other law abiding citizens, in the honest carrying out of our laws. One of these laws, wliieh it has become quite fa.sliionable to violate, because it appears to l^e entirely safe to do so, is the referendum. For it is claimed that wholesale forgeries and perjuries were committed in the matter of the petitions by which the redlight abatement, the blue sky, the non-sale of game, and the water commission laws were suspended on referendum. In fact, regarding the first of these refereudumed laws, the district attorney of San Fran- cisco has been quoted in the daily press as asserting that not only were many, manj'^ forged names attached to the petition by which it was suspended by referendum, and that many perjuries were committed in the veriiieation of those signatures, but also that there Avas in his pos- session sufficient evidence of these crimes against the people to send the forgers and perjurers to the penitentiary. But, up to date, so far as appears to be publicly known, but one of these law breakers has ever been indicted, and the penitentiary seems to have no terrors to his fellow conspirators against the people. Every honest California hunter, every honest California fisherman, and every other honest Californian interested in the conservation of our animated i^atural resources is, of course, interested in seeing crime suppressed and criminals punished. As it appears to be impracticable, if not impossible, to get sent to the penitentiary either those who forge signatures to referendum petitions or those "who instigate and pay for those forgeries and perjuries, there appears to be but one other way in which honest men and women can rebuke such crimes. And that is by voting to ratify laws the referenduming of w'hich is tainted with crime. In this way only, it appears, can honest people do their part toward rendering such crimes against the public and themselves useless and unremunerative and,, therefore, unfashionable. For if neither the actual lawbreakers shall be punished nor the insti- gators and financiers of the crimes shall be rebuked, then, of course, the referenduming of laws by criminal means will liecome a fixed, organized, remunerative, and recognized vocation. And instead of Cali- fornia being a government of the people, by the people, for the people, it will become a government of the people by perjury and forgery for those who are willing to employ organized bureaus of forgers and perjurers. It is not so much a question as to whether the honest citizen agrees with the policy of the refereudumed redlight abatement, blue sky, non- sale of game, or water commission laws, as it is a question of whether the honest men and women of California are willing to be governed by forgery and perjury. Everybody, therefore, who votes against a law that has been refer- eudumed by forgery and perjury, votes to make remunerative and, therefore, fashionable organized bureaus for the government of Cali- fornia by forgery and perjury. And ever.y])ody who votes against a law refereiulunu^d by a crime-tainted iietition, simply because he dis- agrees with the policy of that law, is del)arred from making any objec- tion or outcry if and when a law, with the policy of which he agrees, is refereudumed by forgery and perjury. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. y ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT THE SEA FISHERIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. By Charles Frederick Holder, Throop College of Technology, and President of the Wild Life Protective League of America. The writer has been observing the fisheries of southern California for nearly thirty years. In that time the snppl}^ has dropped off to a menacing extent, due to lack of laws, lack of protection, and over-fishing where fishes should be protected. In 1886 the waters of southern California presented an amazing spectacle in the abundance of fishes, shellfish and crustaceans. One of the common fishes was the tuna, which has practically been driven awa3^ The principal sea game and market fishes are : White sea bass — Cyiioscion nohiUs. Black sea bass — Stereolepis gigas. Yellow fiu tuna — Germo maculata. Leaping tuna — Thunnus thynnus. Albacore. called long-finned ttina — Germo alolunga. Oceanic bonito — Gymnosarda pelamis. California bonito or skipjack — Sarda chileiisis. California barracuda — Sijln/raciia argentea. AVhite fish — (Jaulolaiilus sp. Sheepshead. Swordfish — Xiphias gladius. Swordfish — Tetrapturus mitsukurii. Various rock bass — Paralahrdx sp. Halibut — HippoglossHS hippoglossus. California yellowtail — Seriola dorsalis. California whiting or surf -fish — Menticirrlius iiiuJuhitus. White croaker — Seriphvs politiis. Spotfin croaker — Roncador stearnsi. Little roncador — Genyonemis lineatiis. The mainland shores of southern California are bordered with open beaches, and few of the large fishes approach them except at Redondo and other places where deep water approaches the shore. In the surf, the surf fish is taken, but to secure most of the others, the angler must go out into the Santa Catalina Channel or the Santa Barbara Channel and troll. All the large fishes are found in greatest numbers about two groups of islands: (1) the Santa Barbara Islands in the channel of that name — Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Anacapa; and (2) a group of islands in what the charts call the Santa Catalina Channel, about one hundred and thirty miles off Los Angeles County — Santa Catalina, San Clemente, Santa Barbara Rock, and San Nicholas. These islands lie so that each has a pronounced lee, particularly Santa Cata- lina, where, from seal rocks to the Isthmus, fourteen or so miles, the water is often like a lake, even though the island is thirty miles at sea. San Clemente Island, though forty miles off Orange County, also has a lee, but less than that of Santa Catalina. All the large fishes described above were found in vast numbers by the writer at Santa Catalina Island in 1886, when there was but one boatman at that place, ''Mexican Joe" (Jose Felice Presiado). As years went on it was evident that inroads were being made upon the fisheries. Boats went out with six or eight hand lines, and tons of fish were brought in and towed out to sea and fed to the sharks. To stop this the writer in 1898 organized the Tuna Club. The public supposed 10 CALIFORXIA FISH AM) CiAMK. it was a fishing; or anuliiii^' club to catcli tunas, hut the orioiual institu- tion, which I drafted with ]\Ir. \V. 11. Landers, read: The Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island. Califoi'nia. is heroby formod and com- po.sed of jriMitleuKMi and ladies who liavp by their skill and i)erseveranfo succeeded in takinj; with rod and reel in the waters of this state, and with a line not larger than a 24-thread. one leapinir tuna of not less than ]()0 i)ounds weijrht. The object of this club is the i»rotection of the Kanic lishes of the State of California and to encour;ii;e and foster the catchins of all fishes, and especially tuna, yellowtail. sea bass, black sea bass. etc.. with the liiilitest rod and reel tackle, and to discourage handline fishing, as being unsportsmanlike and against the i)ul)lic interest. In a word, the movement was the first attempt to conserve the sea game fishes of southern California. I secured the co-operation or moral support of Gov. Roosevelt of New York, Gifford Pinchot, Chas. Ilalloek of I0 pounds or over, under club rules and light tackle specifications: and who is regularly elected. Sicordfisli. (laid Button — Awarded to angler taking a swordfish of 200 imunds or over under chib rules and who is regularly elected. Note. — Button open to light tackle competition. TACKLE. Tuna and Swordfisli Class — Rod to be of wood, consisting of a imti and tip, and to be not shorter than 0 feet 0 inches over all. Tip not less than ."> feet in length, and to weigh not more than IG ounces. Line not to e.xceed standard 24-thread. LIGHT TACKLE CLASS. Buttons. r.:'on:;e Silvi',' <'inl(I Yellowtail 20-lb. 80-lb. 40-lb. Albacore 20-11). .3.Vlb. 50-lb. White sea bass 2(l-lb. ;?.".-]l). .^)0-lb. Tuna 20-11). :ri-lb. r>0-lb. TACKLE. Tjhjlit Tackle Class — Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip. and to be not shorter than (! feet over all. Butt to be not over 14 inches in length. Tip not less than r> feet in length, ami to wi'igii not more than (I oiuues. Line not to exceed standard 9-thread. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 11 THREE-SIX CLASS. *An angler using three-six tackle is given a handicap of 25 per cent in his favor as against light tackle. Thus, a yellowtail of 16 pounds caught on three-six tackle earns a bronze button ; one of 24 pounds a silver button ; one of 32 pounds a gold button. The complete table follows : Buttons. Bronze Silver Gold Yellowtail 16-lb. 24-lb. 32-lb. Albacore 16-lb. 28-lb. 40-lb. White sea bass 16-lb. 28-lb. 40-lb. Tuna 16-lb. 28-lb. 40-lb. TACKLE. Three-Six Class — Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than 6 feet over all. Weight of entire rod not to exceed 6 ounces. Butt not to be over 12 inches in length. Line not to exceed standard 6-thread. BUTTONS— RULES. BUTTONS. A bronze, silccr or gold button will be awarded to angler taking a fish of the weight specified above, under club rules and tackle specifications of light tackle or three-six classes, and upon payment of $2.50 entrance fee. This fee entitles holders of bronze buttons to exchange them for silver or gold buttons, when earned, without additional payment. Sivordfish Silver Button — Awarded to angler taking a swordfish under club rules and upon payment of $2.50. Note. — Anglers qualifying for the above buttons do not thereby become members of the Tuna Club. RULES. First — Anglers must bring fish to gaff unaided. Tlie fish must be reeled in. A broken rod, either before or after gaffing, disqualifies the angler. Seeond — An angler must fish with but one rod at a time. Third — All catches must be officially weighed and recorded. The weights officially recorded are final unless protest in writing is made before the fish weighed is removed from the wharf. Fourth — Tackle must be exhibited with the fish at time of weighing. Fifth — Tournament is open to amateurs only. Sixth — Membership in the club is limited to men. NOTES. a. By tip is meant that portion of rod from outer end of rod to point where same is assembled at butt, with tip fully seated. h. An angler is not debarred from the use of lighter tackle than that specified under each class, if tackle conforms to club specifications. c. Catches made on the standard 3-4-5 tackle are given the same recognition as to competition as catches made on three-six tackle. Line — The standard set by this club for the line to be used under its rules, is as follows : The line to be a standard linen line, manufactured solely from the grade of linen yarn known in the trade as "No. 50." *Applies to competition for buttons only. Conditions Governing Award of Club Prizes. First — One prize only will be awarded to an angler. Seeond — ^If an angler should qualify in two or more species of fish, he may take his choice of prizes in those classes. Third — If no fish of gold button, blue button or red button size is taken, a silver prize will be awarded for the largest, and a bronze prize for the second largest fish taken. The result of all this was to materially reduce the catch. In 1886 men landed a tuna with a handline in five minutes. In 1898 T took a tuna of 183 pounds with a 16-ounce rod, 21-line, but it took me four hours. From twenty minutes to half an hour is now expended in landing big game fishes with "light tackle," hence a revolution has taken place. The catch has been reduced, no more fish are wasted, and at Santa Catalina we find a standard of sport that has gone around the world. 12 CALIFORXIA FISH AND GAME. The angling here in 1886 to 1900 was the most remarkable in the world, and I say this advisedly ; but with the coming of power boats the seines, trawls and other nets, the fisheries began to decrease until it was evident that something must be done. The most menacing danger was the alien Avho attached a gill net to the kelp and ran it out into the sea. Fifty such nets have been counted in a mile and a half, and from Seal Rocks to the Isthmus, Santa Catalina Island, practir-ally twenty miles, scores of nets were placed every night for years, while vast purse nets took ten and twenty tons of sardines in the bays at the same time ; thus an army of aliens were not only over-netting the great game and market fishes, but were taking the food of the fishes (sai'dines) in vast numbers. In the meantime fro]u fifty to one hundred angling boatmen established themselves at Avalon, representing with various industries, dependent upon angling, an investment of three quarters of a million dollars. The fine angling attracted people from all over the world, and that these boatmen had specific rights is shown by the following letter from the United States Fish Commission : Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Fisheries, December 20. 1012. Professor Ciias. F. Holder, Pasadena, Cal. Sir : In reply to your letter of December 11th, you are informed that in the opinion of the bureau it is a proper policy to preserve for anslins any waters in which fishing: for sport {rreatly predominates over the commercial fisheries, as the prosiierity of the adjacent communities is more affected b.y the expenditures of sitortsmen than liy the revenue derived from the capture of a comparatively small quantity of fishes for food purposes only. It is also hifihly important to both the anr;linp and commercial fishery interest that the fishes should not be disturbed on their sitai'ninfi r/rounds. Although the bureau has no recent knowledge of the conditions obtaining on Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands, it appears from the statements of Dr. Jordan that these two considerations would be subserved by the proposed measure to establish a fish refuge within territorial waters adjacent to the two islands, and with that understanding the bureau gives the proposition its endorsement. Respectfully, H. M. Smith, Acting Commissioner. But the rights of the taxpayers were disregarded. The bay of Avalon and spawning grounds of the sardines was looted day and night in season and out, and the supply decreased to almost nothing. The loot- ing continued until 1913. Several attempts had been made in previous years to obtain protection from the state. In 1913 I was asked to make a report on the island fisheries. This Avas made the basis of a bill and in that year Mr. E. W. Hedderly. the editor of "Western Field," and Mr. R. D. Duke, of the California Fish and Game Commission, framed a law making Santa Catalina a fish reserve. Years previous to this I had taken various experts over the ground — Dr. Van Dyke, Gifford Pinchot, Dr. David Starr Jordan and others. All agreed that this locality was a spawning ground for all, or nearly all, the great game and market fishes of southern California. The following are some of their letters : December 27. 1912. Game Commission of the State of California, Sacramento. California. Gentlemen : I understand that there is a movement on foot to set aside the waters within three miles of San Clemente and Santa Catalina islands as a fishing refuge and to prevent all seining within it. with the object of furnishing undisturbed spawn- ing grounds, and thus increasing the supply of food fishes. To me this plan seems .idmirable in every respect. For a number of years I have been fishing about these A Record Leapiner Tuna The Tuna is weight, 175 J pounds ; time, 2 liours, one of the ganiest of tlia sea fish. minutes. 3—13319 14 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. islands niul may fairly he said to be familiar Avith the general conditions in their neighborhood. I am confident that this matter is of the greatest importance for the conservation of the sea fishes of California, but what is of vastly more account, Dr. David Starr Jordan, I learn, is of the same opinion. I hope that the efforts of the anglers of southern California to protect the food fishes of their region will be successful, not merely because of the importance of the ]iroposed action for angling for sport, but equally as to its importance to the pro- fessional fishermen in the future, many of whom, as j'ou know, do not look beyond the present. Very sincerely yours, GiFFORD PiNCHOT. University of California, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Berkeley, California, December 27, 1012. Professor Chas. F. Holder,' Pasadena, Cal. My Dear Professor Holder : I am greatly pleased to learn that a movement is on foot to set apart Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands as fish and game preserves. If consummated, this will mean the saving of not onl.v the species of fishes peculiar to those waters and now threatened with extermination, but preservation of the land fauna as well. The latter, as you well know, includes many species of birds and a few of mammals, which are of great interest to the naturalist, because they show differences from corresponding species on the mainland. In other words, the islands have been, and ai"e, speciation centers. It is of the greatest importance, therefore, from the scientific as well as the aesthetic standpoint, that the fishes and other animals of the islands be conserved from any danger of extermination, or even undue disturbance. I hereby assert my hearty approval of the plan to make Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands fish and game refuges. Count on me to support the proposition in every practicable way. Very truly yours, J. Ghinnexl, Director of the Museum. Dear Sir : During my recent visit to Santa Catalina island, I was deeply impressed with the threatened danger to the commercial and valued sport-giving fisheries at the island. I quite agree with the stand taken by Dr. David Starr Jordan and Mr. Gifford Pinchot and others, that this island for three or four miles off-shore is the spawning ground of the valuable food fishes of southern California, and particularly of Los Angeles, and that this region should be protected absolutely from all kinds of nets or lines handled for commercial or market purposes. In a word, the waters should not be disturbed by the market men within this limit. The spawning ground of tuna, white and black sea bass, whitefish, rock bass, sardines, and at least fifty more kinds of fish. Another important feature is the kelp beds about the islands. These are the refuge and spawning beds of many valuable fishes and should remain inviolate. Santa Catalina island should be as undisturbed as your water supply, as it is a great food fish supply of southern California and Los Angeles. Our society has saved the palisades of the Hudson from vandals, and we hold that we can aid you in calling the attention of the whole people to this gross devastation of a source of supply by market fishermen, who are ignorant of the situation and of course look out only for the day. Believe me, very truly yours, George F. Kunz. President of the American Scenic and I'rotective Society. Pelagic fishes like the tuna, albacore and bonitos doubtless spawn on the surface, but I am confident that they spawn in-shore in tlie lee. Tn fact, I have taken spawn from nearly all these fishes within two miles of Santa Catalina. It is stated by some that the albacore does not spawn here, but this is a mistake as the spawn has been taken from albacore off Avalon by intelligent fishermen who will make affidavit to that effect, and Dr. Jordan states that all the fishes spawn here. December 5, 1912. Dr. Chas. F. Holder, Throop CoUeqe of Techtiology, Pasadena. Cal. Dear Sir: I trust that you may be successful in having Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands set aside as game preserves. These two islands and the smooth waters off their shores are the spawning grounds, above all others, of the greatest Record Yellow Tail ; weight, 53 pounds, ?, ounces. The Yellow Tall is not only one of the good game fishes, but is also a fine food fish. 16 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. game fish in the country. The white sea bass, the great jewfish. the spearfish, sword- fish, tuna, bouito, albacore, the Japanese tuna (yellow fin tuna), all spawn on the rocky and other i)laces about these islands, as well as a multitude of smaller fishes valuable to the angler or to the markets. Many of these fish spawn in the kelp which surrounds these islands. The netting carried on in shore disturbs these fishes at spawning time, and it is said that there has been a very marked falling off of these species. As Avalon, on Santa Catalina, is the great center of big game fishing, the disappearance of any of these species makes a great loss to the people who have investments there as well as to the visitors who come there for fishing purposes. It is desired to prohibit the use of seines and all nets for market purposes within three miles of the shores of either of these islands. This allows the professional fisherman the entire Santa Barbara channel, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and the rest comprising the Santa Barbara group. I trust that you and our friends will be successful in getting the statute passed which shall protect these islands and set them apart as spawning grounds for the , great game fishes of southern California. Very truly yours, David Stakr .Jordan. My belief is that owing to its peculiar location, its smooth M^ater, etc., Santa Catalina is a natural spawning ground, hence a natural source of supply to the waters of southern California, and as such should be zealously protected from any disturbance of nets. I asked that the reserve consist of five miles off the shore of the islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente, the latter owned by the govern- ment, and all the authorities agreed with me. The Tuna Club, however, requested that San Clemente be omitted. In 1913 this law passed mak- ing Santa Catalina and three miles off shore a fish reserve, stopping all netting in its waters, but allowing market fishermen the use of the hand lines or rod. This met with opposition from the marketmen, and in the mean time varied fish industries had sprung into being — sardine can- neries, tuna (albacore) canneries, market fishermen for big fish, and others, all of whom had conflicting interests and all of whom objected to Santa Catalina and San Clemente being made a reservation as it was the most convenient place to get the fish and to catch sardines. The law establishing a fish reservation at Santa Catalina became operative in August, 1913, and read as follows : (PENAL CODE.) (>34A. Every person who takes, catches, or kills any fish except with hook and line in the manner commonly known as angling within three miles of shore line of Santa Catalina island, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Every person found guilty of any of the provisions of this section must be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail of the county in which the conviction shall be had, not less than ten days nor more than one hundred and fifly days, or be punished by both such fine and imprisonment; and all fines or for- feitures imposed and collected for any violation of any of the provisions of this section must be paid into the state treasury to the ci'edit of the fish and game preservation fund. Nothing in this section prohibits the United States Fish Commission and the Fish and Game Commission of this State from taking at all times such fish and in such manner as they deem necessary for purposes of propagation or for scientific purposes. The effect of this was magical. I have just returned (July 2, 1914), from an inspection of the kelp beds and waters of Santa Catalina with Mr. R. D. Duke, attorney of the California Fish and Game Commission, and not in twenty-five years have I seen so many fisli there, of all kinds except the tuna. If these fish are allowed to spawn and remain uu- distui'bed. in a few years these waters will be replenished and will CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 17 assume their original productiveness and will constitute such a prolific supply for all southern California that there will be a pronounced reduction in the price of fish in the markets of Los Angeles. It would be difficult to find an intelligent man in America who would not agree with this statement. It is self-evident and important to everyone, yet, owing to the diversities of interests, the canners and the market fishermen of Los Angeles desire to Avipe these laws out, on the ground that they want to take fish as near port as possible. The canners desire to haul for sardines at the island as they need them as bait to catch the albacore in mid-channel. Hence certain ones have attempted to test the law and have been arrested. Mr. Duke seized three seines in the trip referred to. In the summer of 1913 the market men of San Francisco began a campaign to throw open the markets to all game. A society was organ- ized and over 30,000 signers to a referendum petition on the non-sale of game law were obtained. Encouraged by this they circulated in June, 1914, an initiative petition calling for the placing on the market for sale of all game and fish, despite the fact that every intelligent man in Cali- fornia knows that this would produce an army of market hunters and fishermen which, in a few years, would wipe out all the game and fish of the state. Fortunately they failed to obtain the requisite number of signatures and the plan was given up. The San Pedro market men (500 in number) asked this association to annul the Santa Catalina reservation. The present writer on learn- ing that it was proposed to literally throw everything open, took the matter up with the association and succeeded in inducing them to allow the three-mile law to remain undisturbed. Some of the boatmen of Avalon and the canning interests requested a proviso enabling them to take bait at Santa Catalina, bait being presumably sardines. Such a provision was included in the initiative, allowing men to haul seines under the direction of the Fish and Game Commission. If the bill were passed and the letter of the law observed this might not interfere with the large fishes. It is not advisable, however, to interfere continually Avith the spawning sardines, the natural food of the food and game fishes, and it is a question whether, out of two hundred boats which might visit this reservation, some would not break the law under cover of obtaining bait. That they might is shown by the fact that i\Ir. Duke seized three set nets at Santa Catalina in the last week in June, 1914. In spite of this, some boatmen at Avalon desire to net for bait (sardines) and would take the chance. I have no question as to the good faith of the gentlemen at the head of the canning companies. Such is the condition of affairs in southern California so far as the large marine fisheries are concerned. The leaping tuna that has prac- tically been driven away, appeared in limited numbers, after ten months of the "three-mile law," as did many other fishes that have not been seen for fifteen years. The outlook for the valuable interests of the boatmen of Avalon was distinctly encouraging, yet the alien market fishermen of San Pedro would, without the sliglitest hesitation, wipe out a law which every intelligent citizen knows is righteous, productive of good, and absolutely necessary. 18 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME As a citizen and taxpayer of California I have been proud of the economic development of California and have aided it as f could. I believe in developing all the sea products, intelligently, saving for the people everything that can be used; but it is very evident that the people cannot trust the army of alien market fishermen to conserve American interests. They do not understand the meaning of the word. The people must conserve wild life, fish and game, or it will disappear. The alien mai'ket man and some Amei-icans have no intin-est or patience in this. Ignorance and avarice often go hand in hand and the people of California must protect themselves from this combination, or their Record Catch of Swonl l-'isli ;it Santa ("atalina Island, The largest one weighed 202 pouinls. Septemlier 14, most valuable products w'ill go to waste or to the enrichment of the few. It is not the object of this paper to suggest remedies. ])ut to point out that it has taken years to obtain the primitive reforms we have or stop the extinction raids of aliens and it is significant that after ten months' trial these men would revoke one of the best laws for the conservation of the fisheries any state has had. It is not California alone that confronts this problem. The valuable shad fisheries of the east are threatened. The entire season's catch of shad in the Chesapeake Bay in 1914 did not equal that of one day in 1900. The market men were told by the United States Fish Commis- sion, that if they would allow 10 per cent of the migratory fish to go up the rivers, this would insure them a livelihood and a catch the fol- lowing year, but the men were so densely ignorant, their brains so clodded with avarice, that they preferred to take the last shad and face CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 19 ruin, just as the duck shooters for the market preferred to get the last duck, and shoot themselves out of business in their campaign of extinc- tion. What is the remedy? It is evident to any one having any brains, that such persons are a public and private menace. They strike at the state's most valuable asset, its food supply; and they should be stopped by the strong hand of the people, who should in turn stand behind the game laws and see that they are not tampered with by initiative and referendum petitions. The legislature is the only place to make or unmake game laws, as there all classes can go and present their side and fight in the open for what they consider their rights. The Fish and Game Commission needs more funds. At present its only income for the vast scheme of propagation of trout and other fish comes from fines and licenses. It should, at least to my mind, have a large appropriation for this. But the most important feature is protection. It is a waste of time and money to make laws and not have adequate funds for their enforcement. The state should have a fast, sea-going launch at San Pedro to guard the waters of Los Angeles County, and half of the main- tenance should be provided by the county. The Santa Catalina fish reserve with its sixty miles of coast line and its valuable fishes should be policed along its sea board by the citizens of Avalon as well. San Clemente Island, belonging to the government, has no protection and will be looted in the same way unless patroled. None of these islands have light houses. Smugglers have used them for years. A revenue cutter should be stationed at Los Angeles port permanently. Officials in the east are unable to understand the extraordinary growth of this region. It was an impressive moment, when one of the most distinguished men in the east asked of a friend of the writer, if the Gulf of California was navigable. Los Angeles has been neglected. It should have had a garrison and fort ten years ago. The government has overlooked its fisheries. Its abalones and crawfish are almost gone. People attack the fish and game commissions instead of trying to aid them. In fact, the time has come when it is the duty of the people of California to familiarize themselves with their own possessions and take a hand in the business. If they do not the horde of ignorant aliens which will come in through the canal in the next decade, a legion that never heard of "game laws" or "conservation," will sweep California of every living thing, fish, foul and hoof, that by any twist of the imagination can be construed as food. It should be understood that the efforts of the Tuna Club are directed toward penalizing, as far as size of line and weisht of rod is concerned, it own members, and is not designed to restrict the ordinai-y ifisherman. Any one is still at liberty to use any kind of tackle he desires, but such regulations as ai-e used by the Tuna Club are certainly productive of the finer class of sportsmanship and are beneficial as means of preventing large catches. — Editor. 20 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. BIRD LIFE AS A COMMUNITY ASSET. By Joseph Grinnell, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of Californin. Students of natural history have become fully aware that as the country is settled marked ehanoes take place in its bird life. A few of our species, such as the linnet and mockingbird, have become more immerous than they were in the early days. But very many more have become noticeably scarcer ; some have disappeared altogether. Bird life as a whole has diminished in quantity to an alarming degree. Those who havi; made a scientific study of our bird life have come to the conclusion that it has a distinct value to human interests. This value consists first of all in the well established economic bearing of birds upon agricultural interests; 90 per cent of our birds occupy an important position in maintaining the balance of nature, by which they serve to check abnormal increase in plant-eating insects and excessive multiplication of weeds. Then there is the dollars-and-cents value of game birds— not in their market value, because Ave believe that market hunting will soon be a thing of the past — but because their pursuit, whether by the shotgun exponent or camera hunter, involves large commercial dealings through transportation and equipment. It is believed that a very large value pertains to bird life as an ob.ject of pursuit for whatever purpose, because this pursuit leads to wholesome pleasure and hearty outdoor exercise on the part of manv people who live otherwise sedentary lives. There is, again, that refreshment to the' mind resulting from con- templation of birds as possessors of pleasing form and plume, cheerful manner, and attractive song. This brings an active appreciation on the part of the majority of mankind. In this role, birds at large have an important esthetic value. Another point to be considered is the principle that to allow complete extermination of any living thing is out of harmony with an enlightened consideration of the future. Our successors will not approve of our thoughtlessness in completely destroying the California condor any less than we deplore the wanton destruction of the great auk by our ances- tors. In other words, it is now generally recognized as ethically wrong to .jeopardize the existence of any animal species. Yet one more A'alue of our bird life, and one which I urge as being worthj^ of most serious consideration, namely, the inherent value of birds in educational work with children. We hear nowada.ys of all sorts of systems — the Montessori, for example — which are designed to hasten the development of alertness and precision in exercising the senses. Can any objects be better adapted for just such purpose than birds — with their multifarious colors and color patterns, their variety in form, their quickness and peculiarities in movement, their range of voice. And, of all the systems of early education, this is the primitive one, the one most in accord with the normal development of the child, because of long standing, ancestrally. When we come to weigh together all these valuations — economic, esthetic, educational — is there justification for anyone's claiming that attention to conservation of bird life is of trivial importance? Is this subject not most emphatically worth the consideration of thrift}'', busy people ? CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 21 I must insist that conservation of bird life is of equal import with that of any of our other natural resources. It is dollars-and-ceuts econ- omy, not only to stop waste but to take steps to maintain an optimum of value as regjards tit is asset— in other words, to maintain a large princij')a], upon which an undiminished income can be realized as time goes on. What steps are to be taken to keep our bird population so that it may serve its highest usefulness to mankind? I believe that it is feasible to maintain it, and I am not arguing from a sentimental standpoint, either, but from a utilitarian standpoint. Some of the factors correlated with the settling up of the country, and which are adverse to the persistence of an abundant native bird population are — first, in my opinion, the ravages of the house cat. No matter how well fed your tabby may appear, she is by nature a nocturnal marauder, gifted through keenness of hearing, eyesight, scent, and unquenchable instinct to search out and destroy young and old lurds. I am confident that an enormous annual toll upon bird life in our Downey young of Pintail (Dafila acuta) ; Los Banos, Merced County, May 21, 1914. The Pintail breeds commonly in many places in California. suburban districts is exacted by the house cat. In the countrv. where it is known that many cats have gone wild, they constitute a big factor against the birds. There is abundant proof to support this assertion in the experience of those of us who tramp the hills and bottom lands in quest of facts and laws of wild life interrelationships. The second most important factor over a large part of the country is the invasion by the English sparrow. This interloper appropriates food and shelter rightfully belonging to the native birds, and sooner or later crowds them out. Southern California is now in a critical period, in that the English sparrow has but recently arrived. If we are to prophesy subsequent history from that which has been repeated over and over again in the eastern states as this bird traveled from east to west, we are doomed to be overrun by English sparrows, unless drastic mea.sures against them be taken at once. Now, while they are still few in numbers, is the time to combat this nuisance effectively. A third factor is the reduction in food supply due to the reclamation and cultivation of wild lands. This affects our native species of birds inevitably, but it can be counterbalanced to a considerable extent bv the 22 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. use as ornamental shrubs and garden flowers of such kinds of plants as will produce suitable food for the birds. The fourth factor against the birds is the thoughtless destruction of them, for fun, as by the not infre- quent gunner wlio shoots swallows and swifts because they afford a favorable target; to eat, as by the Italian immigrant, who sees in the smallest bird simply its value as a mouthful of food, to be netted or shot in as great numbers as possible ; and by the uninstructed small boy, who robs bird's nests far and wide merely for the exhilaration of dis- covery and appropriation. Lastly, the exploitation of birds for com- mercial purposes, to be sold in the market as food, or, worse yet, so that their feathers may serve to adorn hats — still exists to a much larger extent than many of our citizens suppose. The lure of the dollar justi- fies any means to obtain it that can be devised on the part of certain unthinking members of society. It may not be that the wings of the terns destroyed along our beaches are used in millinery here. They may be shipped to London and used there as "foreign" birds. But we, in our turn, are catering to bird destruction somewhere else if we buy in our local millinery stores plumes, or wings, or feathers of so-called "foreign" birds. Every one of the above adverse factors is such as can be either eradi- cated entirely or can be mitigated to a very large degree. The cat ques- tion must be solved by the licensing and control of pet eats and the extermination of homeless ones — precisely the same treatment which is now accorded the dog in most of our cities. The English sparrow must be dealt with systematically and rigoroiisly. Call the English sparrow a foreign weed, if you will, the undue spread of which must be continually fought. We maintain an army of caretakers along our streets and in our parks so that the attractive flowers and shrubs are not choked out. Is it not exactly as good sense to maintain one or more properly qualified employees in each city to see to it that by trapping or shooting or poisoning — whichever method proves most effective — the English sparrow population is kept down below the point where it is di.stinctly deleterious to our native birds, even though com- plete extermination of the pest may never prove possible ? The diminu- tion in natural bird food and disappearance of springs can be compen- sated for privately, and publicly as in parks, by providing food and watering places, just exactly as a lawn or a flower bed may be supplied at regular intervals with concentrated fertilizers, and daily sprinkled. To my mind, the attractiveness of our bird life — in other words, the esthetic feature in its value — warrants consideration for the same rea- sons as the flower garden. Care and attention must be bestowed on both. Finally, to lessen or remove the factor of thoughtlessness, or ignor- ance, or commercialism, we have state and federal regulations. These are, at the present time, approaching the ideal. We need, and for the most part now secure, conscientious enforcement of this legislation on the part of our officers of the law. But efforts toward enforcement have often been observed to be futile unless the people at large have been led to see the wisdom in these laws. Hence we must have popular educa- tion as to the features and value of our bird life. One natural channel for such education, by which adults as well as children are to be con- vinced of the facts in the case, is the school, Avhere bird study should be incorporated as an essential element in the grade curriculum. Our bird life is a valuable public asset and deserves sane considera- tion as such. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 23 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME A publication devoted to the conserva- tion of wild life and publislied quarterly by the California State Fish and Game Commission. Sent free to citizens of the State of California. Offered in exchange for or- nithological, mammalogical, and similar perodicals. All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, California. OCTOBER, 1914 OUR PROGRAM. THERE are two ways of enforcing laws — one is to punish violators, and the other is to educate people to a realization of the need and value of the law so that public sentiment demands its observance. The former method was used in the time of Nero and still needs to be used for the laggers of civilization. The relative value of the "rule with an iron hand" and the "rule with reason" has been too often discussed to use space for it here. The thing to be noted is that the California Fish and Game Commission is beginning a campaign of education in an endeavor to so educate public opinion that protective laws may in the future become relatively unimportant. Most of the vio- lators of the game laws, if brought to a real appreciation of the law itself and the need for it, would obey rather than dis- obey the law. A department newly formed might well be called a bureau of education and pub- licity. Dr. Harold C. Bryant, Assistant Curator of Birds in the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, has been placed in charge of the work. Dr. Bryant is well equipped for his new duties, for not only has he had a long university training, but he has spent sev- eral years in research work on the game birds of the state and through extensive traveling is well acquainted with condi- tions throughout California. The function of this bureau will be to find ways and means of protecting foreign and domestic game birds within the state and to dispense information relative to game by means of correspondence, public illustrated lectures, and by the issuance of bulletins dealing with the status of fish and game. A study will also be made of the habitats, habits and breeding seasons of the different game I)irds and mammals of the state so that a basis for sane game laws may be afforded. As one means of educating the public to the need and value of game conserva- tion the Commission is beginning the pub- lication of a quarterly bulletin devoted to the interests of the fish and game itself, to those who pursue it, and to those who simply take an interest in it as a valuable endowment of the state. Every effort will be made to not only make the publi- cation of interest to every one, but to further, in every way possible, the present day movement for the conservation of wild life. The wild game resources of the State of Maine are said to bring an influx of thousands of people into the state each year and to increase the busi- ness of the state to a sum not less than fifteen millions of dollars. California's game resources can he made just as, if not more, valuable to this state. This can only be done, however, by conserving these resources for the use of, not only our- selves, but of those who come after us. This publication will stand for every measure which will help in conserving our game resources. That fundamental law of game conservation, "the preservation of the needed breeding stock," will be one of the ideals toward which we will work. Such measures as may be urged from time to time may seem rather harsh to some, but it must be remembered that it is high time we were becoming alarmed in regard to the status of our game. We will always endeavor to stand for those meas- ures which are absolutely necessary and which we are sure will accomplish the desired end. As one of the best measures of con- serving California's game we believe in state game refuges and will urge the establishment of game refuges throughout the state. We believe, also, that the breeding and propagation of game birds and mammals should be encouraged. At the present time there is a demand by hotel keepers for pheasants and they are glad to pay from $2.00 to $3.00 a piece for them. The market supply is very small at pres- 24 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. ('Ill ill this stato. Eucouragemeiit along these lines would furnish many people with a profitable occupation, and would do much to ease the conditions following the passage of a non-sale law. Although this quarterly will be the medium of publication used by the State Fish and Game Commission and will often directly express their views, yet, they will not be responsible for the per- sonal opinions expressed by signed writers in the periodical. The Commission is anxious to give pub- licity to the work which they are doing. Reports, financial and otherwise, will be appended so that full knowledge as to the source and amount of their revenues and the nature of their expenditures may be known. The material required for several of the departments is dependent very largely on people interested in game conditions in different parts of the state. The success of these departments depends very largely upon the interest which people will take in furnishing material for them. If deer are rapidly decreasing in your county, will you not write up a note and send it to the editor? If you discover the nest of a grouse or other game bird, will you not take careful notes as to position of nest, kind of material, number of eggs, and date on which found, and offer it to us for publication? Heretofore, much valuable information regarding our game has been lost forever simply because no notes were taken and no permanent records made, Remomlier that records of occurrence and nesting depend upon three important items — exact location, date and observer. Keep on the lookout for interesting observations and good photographs for "California Fish and Game."' THE FEDERAL MIGRATORY BIRD LAW. Conservationists have been watching the fate of the federal migratory bird law. Court decisions exactly opposite in charac- ter have been received from different parts of the country. The attitude of the California Fish and Game Commission is expressed in the following telegram recently sent to Mr. H. W. Ilenshaw, Chief of the United States Biological Survey, and his reply : September IS. 1914. H. W. Henshaw, Chief, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. What provision made for enforcement Federal Migratory Bird Regulations in California? Unless different action re- quested by federal authorities this Com- mission will enforce regulations drastically with sixty-five wardens. United States Attorney ready for prosecutions. Wire our expense. (Signed) Fish and Game Commission. Washington. D. C, September 19, 1914. Fish and Game Commission, Mills Building, Sa7i Francisco, Cal. Greatly appreciate cooperation enforce migratory bird regulations vigorously. Appointment new inspectors dependent on examination held last w^eek. (Signed) Henshaw. COMMENDATION. The following are quotations from a letter i-eceived from IMr. Henry Chase, the well known author of books on the conservation of fish and game : Owing to a life interest in the cause of preservation of our fish and fauna, it is a source of great satisfaction to me to learn that the California Game Commis- sion has established an official bureau of information and publicity. Especially is this true at the present time when I am informed that through your initiative and referendum laws there is danger of your wild life being totally exterminated by the enactment of unwise measures. And at this juncture I congratulate both the Commission and the state in placing such a bureau in so capable hands as those of yourself. This is, indeed, encouraging. * * * I recognize that the people of Cali- fornia, as a class, are a well informed commonwealth, but proper knowledge on the sub.iect of game preservation is not possessed by the people as a whole in anv state in the union. Hence, the urgent necessity of such a bureau as yours. In your letter the plans you outline for your bureau form a perfect model according to mv notions and experience. * * * The scientific truths, combined with a practical knowledge of the work- ing or proper laws, are the essential things, undoubtedly. You have many practical game officers in your state who are thoroughly familiar with local con- ditions and whose knowledge in this respect will be of much value to your bureau. I am certain the program you have mapped out is the correct one and is being pursued in other states. Correspondence, press articles, bulletins, pamphlets, and lectures are the ways of reaching your public ; also cloth posters in the forests, fields, and public places are valuable aids. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 25 I wish you an abundance of success and good luck, and am sure you will have it, too. and be surprised at your own accomplishments in due time. In the mean time I will do what I can to keep you in touch with other bureaus. GAME PROTECTION AND PROPAGA- TION IN AMERICA. If courses in game protection and con- servation should be given in our univer- sities, and colleges, and tiiere is no ques- tion but that they should be a part of the curriculum, it would be difficult to find a suitable textbook. The best thing we have yet seen which would be available for such use is a recent book by Henry Chase entitled "Game Protection and Propagation in America" (J. B. Lippin- cott Company, Philadelphia and London, Sept.. 1913. V, 1-238). Mr. Chase, with his long experience as a game warden, is well qualified to write "a handbook of practical information for officials and others interested in the cause of conser- vation of wild life." One of the strongest chapters in the book is the first one, entitled "Educating the Public — a Foreword." In this chap- ter ^Ir. Chase points out that the most pressing need of the hour to forward the great movement of conservation of wild life is education. He states further : "The federal authorities are always happy, and it is their duty, to co-operate with those of the states in their work for better game protection. So it is mani- fest what should be done. Connected with the game department in each state there should be a bureau of education and publicity, presided over by an expert. With these bureaus co-operating with each other and with the national one, a cam- paign of education along correct lines can be conducted which will accomplish more and better results in a few years than has been done altogether in the past. This plan would be no experiment with which to waste state funds either. It has now had the benefit of years of trial ; it has been systematized; it has a well-defined and definite course to pursue ; and has not been found wanting in efficacy. Unques- tionably, nothing can be of more value to the cause of game protection at this time than a systematic campaign of education conducted officially by the game depart- ment in every state in the union, and an extension in the work on that line now being performed by the federal bureau. It is earnestly to be hoped that such a campaign may be started forward." Certainly Mr. Chase has gotten at the root of the matter, for when the value of birds and the need of their protection and preservation is really appreciated, protective laws will be comparatively unimportant. The following chapter headings give a good idea of the scope of the book : Why Protect the Game?; Relations of Birds and Mammals to the Natural Re- sources; Present Meaning of the Term "Game Protection"; Brief Survey of Game Legislation in America ; "Sane, Simple and Scientific Game Laws" ; Fed- eral Protection of Migratory Birds ; Pro- tection of Birds by International Treaties; State Laws and Their Enforce- ment ; Field Work of Game Officers ; The Right of Private Property in Game; Re- stocking Game Covers; Propagation of Game Fish ; Feeding Game During Severe Winters ; Hunting Accidents. An appendix furnishes a typical con- stitution and by-laws for game clubs. To any one seeking knowledge of game protection and propagation in America no better source can be found than this excellent treatise by the well known author of "Powers, Duties and Work of Game Wardens," "Modern Doctrine of Game Protection," and "Private Pre- serves in America." — H. C. B. A PLAN FOR USING THE REVENUE FROM LICENSES. Mr. Henry Chase, writing in "Forest and Stream," August 29, 1914, suggests that the revenue from fish and game licenses should be divided into the follow- ing three funds : 1. A certain sum to be used in more effectual enforcement of proper protective law. 2. A portion for re-stocking the waters with fish and the covers with game. 3. A balance set aside for establishing game refuges. He goes on to say: "A new refuge established annually, in course of time will bring immense tracts of land into the possession and under the control of the state, and be the ultimate savior of both the game and fish if all other expedients should fail. This is the most vital part of the whole program." 26 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. LIVE GAME PRICES. The demand for propagated live same birds and mammals for use in parks and as food for the table is steadily increasing and is aptly shown by the following prices quoted by "The Game Breeder," August, 1914: Deer. .$20.00 and up. Wild turkeys, gobblers, $16.00; hens, $20.00. Ringed-necked pheasants, $5.00 and $G.00 per pair for Mongolian and Prince of Wales cross. Ruffed grouse, $5.00 to $10.00 per pair. Quail, $15.00 to $20.00 per dozen. Mallards, $3.00 to $3.50 per pair. Black ducks, $3.00 to $3.50 per pair. Wood ducks. $10.00 to $15.00 per pair. Grey partridges, Hungarian and Eng- lish. $7.00 to $S.00 per pair. Wild duck and pheasant eggs, $20.00 to $30.00 per hundred. OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE. There are always many people who are hungry for definite knowledge on certain subjects in which they are par- ticularly interested. As a rule there is so much literature on a subject that it is hard to know where to begin. We are glad that there has recently appeared a work which can be considered a sum- mary on the subject of wild life con- servation. We refer to Dr. William T. Hornaday's recent book : "Our Vanish- ing Wild-life," Scribnier's, New York, 1913. The book is really a campaign document and it can be compared, as far as influence is concerned, with Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," at the time when another great forward movement was in progress. A friend of consei-vation has placed this volume in almost every li- brary in the state that did not yet have it so that it is now obtainable even though you do not purchase it for your own private library. — H. C. B. A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. On account of the recent rapid increase in the value and importance of the com- mercial fisheries of California, the Fish and Game Commission have deemed it advisable to create a department to handle the main problems connected with these fisheries. The primary object in view is to conserve and at the same time assist these industries and as far as possible to encourage the devolopnieut of fisheries that have been neglected. Only a few years ago the California sardine which visits our coast in count- less numbers, was little used and almost despised, with no other reasons than it would not ship well in the fresh state and that it was so very plentiful and cheap. Private enterprise without the help or encouragement of either the Fed- eral or State Fish Commissions, has now developed a sardine canning industry in California that is growing with leaps and bounds. Three canneries are now operat- ing with a combined capacity of one hun- dred tons of sardines a day and the capi- tal invested is approximately $10l>.O00. By the end of the present year the num- ber is to be doubled. Another of our neglected resources was the long finned tuna or albacore of Southern California, which, up to three years ago was little used as food. There are now eleven can- neries putting up this fish and there is capital invested to the amount of $300,000 in canneries and an equal amount in boats and fishing gear. The pack for 1913 was 128,000 cases and it is estimated that the 1914 pack will reach 300.000 cases of a wholesale value of over $2,000,000. These are but examples of what can be done with other varieties of fish and molluscs now neglected on our coast. Among the duties of this new depart- ment will be the gathering of statistics and data relative to the take of dif- ferent varieties of fish, the methods of fishing, handling and marketing. Also gathering information about the little used sea foods which may become of commercial importance, the utilization of waste fish and fish offal for fertilizer, fish oil, glue and chicken feed, will be subjects for investigation as will also be the habits, migrations and spawning times of the different varieties of fish, so that in case it becomes necessary, they may be protected by restricting the fish- ing or by establishing closed seasons. It is expected through the activities of this department to gather and place on file accurate information on these dif- ferent subjects, from which it will be possible for the Fish and Game Com- mission more intelligently to foster and encourage these industries ; to propose CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 27 beneficial legislation and on tlie other hand to prevent legislation that may un- justly cripple any of the fisheries and to so regulate the taking of fish that the supply may not be exhausted. California has in its immense stretch of sea coast a source of marine food supply that we are just beginning to appreciate. That this source of food. one of the state's greatest assets, can be developed to an infinitely greater degree than at present, there can be no doubt. To develop and conserve these resources is one of the greatest future tasks of the Fish and Game Commission. This new department will be in charge of N. B. Scofield assisted by H. B. Xi- dever. Lake on north branch of Big Pine Creek (elevation 10,000 feet), Inyo County, California. Recently stocked witli Loch Leven Trout. CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES. HUNGARIAN PHEASANTS IN OHIO. In spite of California's apparent fail- ure to acclimatize the Hungarian part- ridge, some of the eastern states seem to be having remarkable success. The Ohio commission rejjorts that six thou- sand pair have been distributed over the state, a few pairs going into every county. Reports have been obtained which show that about two thirds of the birds put out mated and nested the first year. POLITICAL RING CRIPPLES GAME COMMISSION IN MINNESOTA. The Rines organization, in control of the last legislature in Minnesota so crip- pled the Game Commission that only a favorable decision from the Supreme Court or the volunteer service offered by the wardens can save the wild life of Minnesota from the vandals, poachers and pot-hunters. The politicians were successful in preventing the 30,000 dollars license money being used for warden's pay. 2,075 DEER KILLED IN NEW BRUNS- WICK. The Chief Game Warden of New Brunswick has made his annual reiwrt of 28 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. the numbei- of de^r killrd in that prov- ince in 1913. The fisures are as fol- lows : moose. 1,4U'J ; deer, 2.075 ; caribou, 454 : a total of 4,028. These figures are interesting- in view of the statement in a history of New Brunswick published in 1825 to the effect that the last moose had vanished from the forests of that prov- ince. These figures also show w'hat can be done by proper methods of game pro- tection and the same holds true in regard to forest protection. New Brunswick's revenue from game licenses is moi'e than sufficient to pay its present fire and game protection organization — Fish and Game Conservationist and Warden's .Tournal. Hinsdale, Illinois. THE EUROPEAN WAR AND GAME. According to an editorial in "Forest and Stream," the European war is even having an effect on game laws. In Western Canada certain people are ask- ing for a relaxation of the game laws on the gx'ounds that game is now needed for food. ILLINOIS ADOPTS THE REFUGE IDEA. Illinois is planning to establish game refuges in each of the 102 counties of the state. Four have already been pro- vided. Land is rented for a long period of time and a game warden is i^osted to kill vermin and prevent hunting. — "Rec- reation and Outdoor World," August, 1914. A SHOOTING LICENSE LAW FOR TEXAS. At the next legislature Texas will en- deavor to put through a resident shooting license law. At the third annual con- vention of the Texas Game and Fish Pro- tective Association this move was recom- mended. — "Recreation and Outdoor World," August, 1914. MARYLAND WILL TRY FOR A NO- SALE LAW. A no-sale bill on partridges (quail) "pheasants" (grouse) and woodcock has been introduced in the Maryland legis- lature with some hope of success. — "Rec- reation and Outdoor World," August, 1914. LIFE HISTORY NOTES. DUCKS' NEST IN GRAIN FIELDS. There has been considerable speculation as to the effect of the increased cultiva- tion of land on our breeding ducks. Most people take the view that, as the marshes are reclaimed, there will be fewer and fewer ducks breeding within our state This is doubtless the truth of the matter but something may also be said on the other side. Certain field crops apparently furnish nesting sites for ducks. A letter from Mr. William N. Dirks. Superin- tendent of the State Game Farm, states that a number of ducks' nests were found this last spring while the grain was being cut on the ranch of Mr. Herman Hess, near Alvarado, Alameda County, Cali- fornia. The following nests with their complements of eggs were discovered : May 5— Sprig 11 eggs Mallard 11 eggs Cinnamon teal 11 eggs Cinnamon teal 11 eggs May 9— Mallard 14 eggs Cinnamon teal 11 eggs Cinnamon teal 2 eggs May 12— Cinnamon teal 12 eggs The eggs which were not broken by the mowing machine were taken to the State Game Farm at Hayward, and from them were hatched thirty-four cina- mon teal, one sprig and five mallard. Some of the eggs were in the incubator only two days and none over ten days. RING-NECKED PHEASANTS IN ALA- MEDA COUNTY. On April 22, 1914, a man who was cutting grain on a ranch near Agnew discovered a nest of a wild ring-necked ])heasant, which contained seventeen eggs. Four eggs were broken by the machine. The others were taken to the game farm, where, after remaining in the incubator for two days, all of the thirteen were successfully hatched. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 29 STILTS PROVE TO BE WISE BIRDS. Recent investigations in the vicinitj' of Los Bauos have shown tliat the black- necked stilt, Himantopus mc.ricaniis, are able to protect their eggs from the en- croachments of rising- irrigation water. As a rule these birds build a crude nest of weed stems in a small depression on the ground. However, when the water starts to raise, the birds built up the nest as the water rises and so keep the eggs from harm. Nests have been found built up to a height of seven or eight inches above the ground. In the same vicinity many ducks' nests are destroyed because these birds do not have sense enough to protect themselves as do the stilts. PREDACEOUS ANIMALS DESTROY DUCKS' NESTS. During the past summer investigations of the duck breeding grounds near Los Banos showed that predaceous animals were destroying large numbers of ducks' nests. As many as eight raided nests were discovered in a single afternoon. The lowei'ing of water in this vicinity allows animals to appi'oach the nests and destroy them. The eggs were found broken into and the contents had been sucked out. The cinnamon teal, the com- monest nester in this vicinity, appeared to suffer the most. Raccoons are com- mon mammals in the vicinity and it is probable that they were the depredators, although the raids may have been due to coyotes. WILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. WILD GEESE NOT A MENACE TO RICE CROPS. Fish and Game Commission, San Francisco, Cal. Gentlemen : Replying to your inquiry of March 4th, regarding the alleged dam- age done by wild geese to growing crops, especially to the new Industry of rice farming, in northern California, I will say that these reports — so often in evi- dence about this season — do not come altogether from the farmer or rice grower, but from the market hunters, wlio, when the time comes for the arrival of the geese on tlieir way from the northern nesting grounds, display a sudden interest in the welfare of the farmer and the rice grower. The amount of damage done to young grain by wild geese depends upon the stage of growth. Should the grain be sufficiently strong to resist the geese and they are unable to pull out the kernel, in that event the geese nip off the tops of the young grain only, which aids or pro- motes the growth, and, as the farmer him- self says, makes it stool out heavier. However, should the grain be just showing above the ground, the geese may destroy the grain by pulling out and eating the seed. Most of the grain found in the stomachs of geese is eaten in stubble fields after harvest. Every flock of geese that is seen in growing grain is said to be eating such grain, when, as a matter of fact, an examination of the food so eaten will disclose that the geese are feeding upon a noxious grass, the name of which I do not know, except by the name of "goose grass." It has a seed rich in oil and is very fattening, sheep doing ex- ceedingly well upon this feed. It is this food that gives the strong odor to geese at this time. As to the injury done in the rice fields — T have never seen a goose in a rice field ; have never seen a grain of rice in the stomach of a goose, and I do not think any one else ever has. I invariably ob- serve the contents of the stomachs of all j the birds I kill. I have shot in the vicinity ! of the rice fields in the Gridley and Biggs country ever since rice growing began. I have it on the authority of Mr. E. C. Adams, of Biggs, who is the government rice expert, appointed by the Department of Agriculture, and who lives in the center of the rice fields, that geese j never eat rice in any form. He states that he has never seen a wild goose on a rice field at any time. Before the har- vest the rice that is eaten by the mallard and sprig ducks is that portion broken ! down by the hundreds of thousands of blackbirds which infest these localities. After the harvest the ducks eat the grains that have been threshed out and left be- hind. Ducks and geese can not eat it when growing, because It is unripe and green and very tall. As soon as it ripens the water is drained off. It is then har- vested, bundled and cocked up to be threshed. At this time only, the ducks eat the grain left on the ground. You will remember that I investigated many of these complaints last Augtist and September, In and about Biggs, and could not find the duck guilty at that time, simply because the ducks could not eat a long, green, slender head of unripe ] grain. The ducks were there simply be- cause there was an abundance of water I and a plentiful supply of other food — ; bugs, beetles and water growth of many varieties. I endeavor to run down all the alleged charges of destruction of grain by wild geese whenever possible. On February 13th I received a com- munication from an Inspector under the i United States migratory bird law. to in- vestigate a complaint made by an attorney of Sacramento, who stated that he rep- ' resented clients whose lands were being damaged by the depredations of wild geese. I addressed a letter to the attor- ney, requesting him to give me the names of his clients, together with the names of the localities where this damage was being done, so that I might personally investi- 30 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. gate and report intelligently on the actual damage done. He replied to me, saying that the geese were not now doing any damage whatever. He also failed to give the names or localities where this alleged damage was being done. This is not only my individual opinion, but I am sustained by possibly the great- est practical authority on wild geese today, A. W. Stewart, of Grand Island, who has been a student of their habits for many years in the fields, and, in fact, can almost talk their language. Respectfully, George Neale, Assistant Commissioner. Sacramento, Cal., March 13, 1914. DEER AND APPLE TREES. It may be that deer damage apple trees in some places, but the following note can be taken as negative evidence in this regard. Mr. Davis, of Seven Cedars, southwest Trinity County, always hunts at a distance from home, although many deer are to be found on his own place where he has 800 apple trees. He says that he likes to have the deer on his place and so never kills them near home. REPORTS SEIZURES, FISH AND GAME. July 1, 1914, to August 31, 1914. Fish. Striped bass 385 pounds Trout TSJ pounds Salmon 257 pounds Steelhead 150 pounds Miscellaneous fish 209 pounds Crabs 1.496 Game. Deer meat 190 pounds Deer hides 3 Ducks 2 Quail 10 Doves 4 Rabbits 1 SEARCHES. Illegal fish and game -7 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 31 ta« ■a C o CO (0 3 O) 3 < * 5 3 (0 flS n O n 10 £ o O > FL, Sl 2 ■S ] CD CO O O O C3 o C3 lO O O O o ci o o o • O O CD ' lO O O O ■*! lO CO 1-1 1— i 00 tH 1— I CO lO^CM-^i-ICOi-li-l CM CM CO 00 m'*cM-^l-lOT!c^^l-(l-ll-lc^lT-l CM 00 OS (XI - a o m CO OJ m VI O CO ai rn m O P. cB m VI VI VI VI VI Vl O O o o tm OB a c .2 5 VI (« " m ■;:; O " be (fi o e ^ c o m 03 .-, "* ^ (D bjo O .2 « O G o Vl ■r.^^ a A ._ O ^ '^ -* .— be a ■^ o pi*! oj VI u O CD -— < l-H '^^ S-2 c c o o GC V] 03 C3 0) Oj 01 tc ai « i/j a; o O a o o "3 OJ M ^ .« OJ .d '-' -^ £ ^ m VI a o 03 I— H O be o =3 a C3 C o Vl 'SI o 73 - ^.5 «•;:: bn > 03 o C O =4-1 o a . C3 o +^ to >-> m 03 03 SZ VI +-> to c ^= S «r> 03 Oij f-5 bB •- " o X2 ^ 2- 03 to 03 be o q _3 .;:^ ^ bX) 03 03 VI ' CO ._ 03 CO o O X y, be 03 a be' G CO 03 to a o -as VI .z. ^^ b£l 03 C3 Sh JD 03 fH « to x; bu to 03 C J2 to o 03 O a C3 O 32 CAIilFORNIA FISH AND GAME. LION BOUNTIES. Statement of Lion Bounties Paid by Fisli and Game Commission from October. 1907, to June 30, 1914. 1907 1908 j 1 1 1909 1910 19U 1U12 1913 January 1 to June 1 30. 1914 1 Total 1 3 11 1 3 10 7 1 13 113 5 4 12 2 3 6 07 1 2 1 3 4 1 1 6 71 2 4 3 11 8 1 42 2 3 1 1 11 9 4 4 50 1 9 10 1 1 1 17 3 1 Amador ' Butte ■ 2 8 2 1 23 6 5 41 10 7 2 2 1 4 24 9 1 1 •) i 1 1 24 2 1 9 11 3 O 1 2 1 1 4 30 Calaveras 8 Colusa -- - 13 Del Norte .. . 75 El Dorado — Fresno - - - 2 35 10 Glenn Humboldt Inyo 10 36 418 1 Kern -- 8 14 10 11 1 1 5 3 18 1 11 12 13 2 1 6 11 1 1 7 5 9 2 o 0 16 1 1 56 Lake 2 68 6 Los Angeles Madera - 2 5 7 3 4 44 14 15 20 29 Mendocino 140 Merced Modoc 1 3 4S 2 \apa - 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 5 9 1 7 1 31 1 2 2 2 8 4 2 7 1 4 11 3 4 1 3 2 2 3 1 5 3 Nevada 1 1 1 4 5 2 2 5 5 24 3 4 Placer - - 5 2 2 1 5 3 11 7 23 Plumas 8 Riverside 13 San Benito San Bernardino — San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara . .- _ 22 13 26 42 1 3 5 1 11 1 1 1 58 1 Santa Cruz 1 25 1 31 1 29 28 3 25 4 22 2 22 1 J 13 1 173 Sierra 6 1 35 2 2 45 4 25 1 1 197 Sonoma 13 3 Sutter 1 22 15 5 4 2 27 14 3 1 .1 10 3 1 1 1 3 9 31 86 6 6 1 1 19 34 8 10 C 25 32 11 5 4 10 22 4 2 C o 139 Trinity . -. - . . .. 222 Tulare -- 40 Tuolumne - 29 Ventura ._ 20 3 Totals 37 482 361 333 233 275 260 lis 2.099 1 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 33 LION BOUNTY CLAIMS. Applicants for tho Ijouiity of Iweiity dollars (.$20.00) paid by the Fish and Game Commission on mountain lions killed in the State of California, are hereby notified that no claim will be considered unless the following requirements are complied with : Either the scalp, or skin with scalp attached, of the mountain lion upon which a bounty is claimed must be sent to the office of the Fish and Game Commission, San Francisco, all express or mail charges prepaid. The skin should be either dried, launed. or otherwise cured before shipment, as green skins spoil quickly, becoming very offensive and losing all value. Offensive green scalps or skins, or those sent charges collect tvill not he accepted. All hides and scalps received by (he Fish and Game Commission will be destroyed unless full directions are given for return to claimant, or for other disposition. A tag with name of claimant, together with shipping directions thereon should be attached to hide or scalp. All return shipping charges must be paid by claimant or other person receiving package. A claim must be made for each animal, upon a form provided by the Fish and Game Commission, whereupon must appear the names and addresses of the claimant and three witnesses. This claim must be acknowledged before a notary public or justice of the peace, and must bear the county clerk's certification to the genuineness Mountain Lion treed and shot by K. J. Cuiran of Sawyer's Bar, Siskiyou County, California, and tlie four-point bucli Ivilled bj' tlie Lion. of the justice's signature. If sworn to before a notary public, this will not be required. Atfidavits of witnesses are not required. The claim must be accompanied by an account of the pursuit and killing of the lion, giving in detail the method used, number of deer carcasses left l\v the animal, and such other facts as may be of assistance in determining the damage done to deer and other game. Claim blanks will be sent on application. By order of the Board. FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. Mills Building, San Francisco. 34 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. FINANCIAL REPORT CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. Disbursements July 1, 1913, to June 30, 1914. GE^'ERAL Fish and Game Patrol, Administration, Etc. San Francisco Division Salaries of deputies and employees $37,404 50 Traveling expenses, rentals, office supplies, etc 17,096 84 $54,501 34 Sacramento Division Salaries of deputies and employees $25,834 00 Traveling expenses, rentals, office supplies, etc 13,050 14 38,884 14 Los Angeles Division Salaries of deputies and employees $12,227 00 Traveling expenses, rentals, office supplies, etc 4,953 98 17,180 98 Fresno Division Salaries of deputies and employees $11,746 00 Traveling expenses, rentals, office supplies, etc 6,894 85 18,640 85 Miscellaneous Expenditures Traveling expenses — commissioners 880 02 Prosecutions and allowances 8,486 68 General printing, license lithographing, etc 6.458 28 Sub-total — fish and game patrol, administration $145,032 20 Sub-total fish expenditures— 40 per cent— $58,012,916. Sub-total game expenditures — 60 per cent — $87,019,375. Fishery Expenditures Superintendent of Hatcheries and Assistants Salaries $4,072 50 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 1,009 81 $5,082 31 Sisson Hatchery Salaries $13,476 23 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 7,881 64 21,357 87 Tahoe and Tallac Hatcheries Salaries $2,650 17 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 679 73 3,329 90 Price Creek Hatchery Salaries $1,791 67 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 1,016 53 2,808 20 Ukiah Hatchery and Snow Mountain Salaries $904 25 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 419 90 1,324 15 Wawona Hatchery Salaries $487 50 Traveling expenses, supplies, repairs, etc 247 70 — ■ 735 20 Klamath Spatcning Stations. Salaries $2,094 50 Traveling expenses, supplies, repairs, etc 1.322 76 3,417 26 Brookdalc Hatchcn/ S'llaries 1 $320 00 Traveling expenses, supplies, repairs, etc 77 55 397 55 Sacramento Experimental Station Rental 12 00 Screen and Fishway Surveifs and Supervision Salaries '_ $6,607 33 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 2,632 30 9,239 63 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. - 35 Fish Patrol {Launches, etc.) Salaries $2,649 00 Traveling expenses, supplies, repairs, etc 1.768 91 $4,417 91 Fish Distribution {car and messenger) Salaries $1,751 02 Traveling expenses, supplies, repairs, etc 1,907 87 3,658 89 Fish Transplanting {Pack-train, Messenger, etc.) Traveling expenses, supplies 167 51 Miscellaneous Expenditures Anglers' license commissions 1,148 30 Mai'ket fishing license commissions 532 75 Crawfish inspection 1,100 00 Sub-total fish expenditures $58,729 43 Game Expenditukes Hay ward Game Farm Salaries $2,698 50 Traveling expenses, repairs, supplies, etc 3,978 86 6,677 36 Miscellaneous Expenditures Hunting license commissions and refunds 14,680 70 Mountain lion bounties 4,100 00 Sub-total game expenditures $25,458 06 Fish and Oame Research and Publicity Salaries $600 00 Traveling expenses, supplies, etc 491 04 $1,091 04 Sub-total fish expenditures (40 per cent) $436,416.00 Sub-total game expenditures (60 per cent) 654,624.00 Total expenditures $230,310 82 RECAPITULATION. Total fish expenditures $117,178,762 Total game expenditures 113,132.058 Grand total all expenditures $230,310,820 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, 1914. General Administration Commissioners' traveling and other expenses $50 75 Salaries of administrative assistants 975 00 Traveling expenses of administrative assistants 38 25 Rentals, ofiice and other supplies 381 39 $1,445 39 General Fish and Game Patrol San Francisco Division Salaries of deputies and employees $2..557 50 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 1,467 78 Rentals, office and other supplies 230 63 4,255 91 Sacramento Division Salaries of deputies and employees . — $2,207 00 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 1,625 92 Rentals, office and other supplies 103 63 3,936 55 Los Angeles Division Salaries of deputies and employees $1,190 00 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 460 21 Rentals. ofl5ce and other supplies 144 99 1,795 20 36 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. Fresno Division Salaries of deputies and employees $973 00 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 467 55 Rentals, office and othei- supplies 77 47 $1,518 02 Miscellaneous Expenditures Prosecutions and allowances 300 70 General printing 23 07 Total, general administration and patrol $13,280 84 Probable cost general administration and game patrol ((50 per cent) $7,968,504 Probable cost genernl administration and fish patrol (40 per cent) 5,312.336 $13,280,840 Fishery Expenditures Administration Salaries of superintendent of hatcheries and assistants $427 50 Traveling expenses, superintendent hatcheries and assistants 49 75 Oflice and laboratory supplies, etc 47 59 $524 84 Fishery Research and Puhlicitij Salaries $145 00 Traveling expenses 77 55 Supplies, etc. ■ -,\1Z k)0 Screen and Fishwat/ Sitrvejjs Salaries $500 00 Traveling expenses 218 70 Supplies, etc 13 94 732 64 Fish Transplantina {Pack-train, Messengers, etc.) Salaries 1 $309 00 Traveling expenses 1,292 94 Repairs and supplies 19 55 • — 1,021 49 Fish Distribution (Car and Messengers) Salaries ^ $310 00 Mess allowance and traveling expenses 186 00 Repairs 596 13 Supplies 1^1 ^^ l'>13 81 Fish Patrol (Launches, etc.) Salaries $229 00 Mess allowance and traveling expenses 46 SO Repairs — - Supplies (oil, etc.) 109 .9 3So y9 Sisson Hatcherij Salaries $1,092 75 Traveling expenses Construction and repairs 2() 55 Fish food and ice for meat 606 27 General supplies 225 61 .,^,_ ^^ l,94.j IS Tahoe and Tallac Hatcheries Salaries $415 00 Traveling expenses 6( Oo Construction and repairs 4 -L Supplies 139 01 62.J 88 Vkiah Hatchcrii and i^noir MX1 7S 1.77.1 OS 749 14 201 29 2.147 03 330 07 $17,737 30 Less July. 1914. bills 2 !.:;(13 SI Balance $34,433 49 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. 1914. Salaries, l ravelins exijonses. rentals, supplies, etc. — General administration San Francisco District Sacramento District Los Angieles District Fresno District ^ Hatchery administration ___ Fishery research and publicity Screen and ladder surveys Fish transpjantins Fish distribution car Fish patrol launches Sisson hatchery Tahoe and Tallac hatcheries Price Creek hatchery 7"nrt T'kiah hatchery and Snow Mountain 1 00 Wawoua hatchery Klamath spawning stations Game Farm ^ -^-'j -J'^ Game research and publicity Prosecutions and allowances Hunting- license commissions and refunds Anglers' license commissions and i-efunds Market fishing commissions Crawfish inspection ^lountain lion bounties Printing and lithographing Total expenditures Balances. Septesiber 1. 1914. In State Treasurti — Fish and Game Preservation Fund $2S..101 01 Support and Maintenance Hatcheries Fund 11.701 19 ISl 02 2:ii SO 407 (10 11 21 100 00 so 00 130 02 $20,202 14 111 Bank — Fish and Game Preservation Fund $11,400 00 Support and ^f.-iintennnco Hatcheries Fund 0.770 00 $44,202 84 18,170 00 $02,372 84 Less August bills 20,202 14 Balance ^^--IK* "'T CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 39 PATROL SERVICE. SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION, Carl Westerfeld, Commissioner in Charge. Ernest Schaeffle, Executive Secretary. J. S. Hunter, Assistant Secretary. Head Office, 734 Mills Building, San Francisco. W. H. Armstrong Vallejo Earl P. Barnes Eureka Theo. M. Benson Fortuna Edward Boyle San Francisco J. Li. Bundock Oakland M. S. Clark San Francisco M. L. Cross San Francisco Earl Downing Pleasanton I. L. Koppel San Jose A. M. Fairfield San Francisco H. E. Foster San Francisco R. B. Heacock Seabright J. H. Hill Watsonville A. F. Lea Cloverdale Henry Lencioni Healdsburg B. H. Miller Ukiah W. J. Moore Napa P. H. Oyer Pacific Grove Chas. R. Perkins Fort Bragg Frank Shook Salinas Paul Smith Requa Vernon D. Thomas San Rafael H. B. Nidever Launch "Quinnat," Vallejo J. Christensen Launch "Quinnat," Vallejo SACRAMENTO DIVISION. F. M. Xewbert. Commissioner in Charge. Geo. Neale, Assistant. Forum Building, Sacramento. George Neale Sacramento T. W. Birmingham Red Bluff C. H. Blemer Sacramento Frank F. Cady Susanville S. J. Cai-penter Maxwell Euell Gray Shingle W. .J. Green Sacramento J. W. Harris Greenview G. O. Laws Weaverville I S. J. Mandeville Truckee Geo. J. Merritt Manteca i R. C. O'Connor Grass Valley D. E. Roberts Murphys Chester A. Scroggs Loomis R. L. Sinkey Woodland Richard Squire Lodi Jas. S. White Redding E. D. Ricketts Live Oak Frank S. Parke Sutter Creek Geo. Courtright Straw L. J. Warren Taylorsville L. A. Streuber Gazelle FRESNO DIVISION. Carl Westerfeld, Commissioner in Cliarge. A. D. Ferguson, Assistant. 347 Forsytlie Building, Fresno. A. D. Ferguson Fresno O. P. Brownlow Fresno F. A. Bullard Dunlap S. L. N. Ellis Fresno David H. Hoen Fresno Tipton Mathews Wasco J. E. Newsome Newman E. W. Smalley Hanford Geo. F. Grant Columbia LOS ANGELES DIVISION. M. J. Couuell, Commissioner in Cliargo. II. I. Pritchard, Assistant. Consolidated Realty Building, Los Angeles. H I. Pritchard Los Angeles H. .1. Abels Santa Maria I. A. Bordner Los Angeles J. H. Gyger Elsinore E. H. Ober Big Pine W. K. Robinson El Toro Webb Toms San Diego James A. Vale San Bernardino A. J. Stout Mono Lake California Fish and Game "CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION" CONTENTS. Page INTRODUCED GAME IN NEW ZEALAND J. S. Hunter 41 AN OBJECT LESSON IN GAME CONSERVATION Henry Chase 44 THE WOOD DUCK IN CALIFORNIA .Jofsrph GrinneU und Harold V. Bryant 49 A CALIFORNIA INDIAN HUNTING LEGEND A. L. Krocber 52 THE NEW ANGLER'S LICENSE Ernest Sehaeffle 59 THE CATFISH IN CALIFORNIA C'eorge ^eale G2 EDITORIAL 65 HATCHERY AND FISHERY NOTES G9 CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 74 LIFE HISTORY NOTES 76 AVILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE 78 reports- Violations OF THE Fish and Game Laws SO Seizures and Searches 81 Financial Report : 82 INTRODUCED GAME IN NEW ZEALAND. By J. S. Hunter. Assistant Secretary. California Fish and Game Commission. AVhile we in America have been bus.v during the pa.st few decade.s killing off the game, which by nature we were so abundantly endowed, the farsighted people of New Zealand have been busy introducing into their southern islands game animals and are now enjoying the fruit of their farsightedness. In California, we have driven to practical extermination several species of the elk and antelope, at one time so common that their flesh was of little value. Our deer have also become greatly reduced, but on account of their range being more extended and their inhabiting country densely covered with brush, they have held out far better than the elk and antelope. New Zealand is extremely deficient in native land animals, two species of bats comprising the entire list. In 1862, there were secured by certain citizens of New Zealand a number of red deer from the Briti.sh Isles. Three reached AVellington alive. Several months later these were liberated in the Wairarapa. They had increased to such an extent by 1887 that permits were granted for the killing of a limited number. At llif present time, it is estimated that there are fully 10,000 in that section. From time to time, new 42 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. blood has been introduced, and it is probable that on tliis account they have not suffered from inbreeding, but it can practically be said that the vast herd are the descendants of the original three animals. Another plant of red deer was made in northern Otago in 1870 when seven were liberated. In that section they have increased so that there are now many thousands. Another herd, known as the Nelson herd, was liberated in the early sixties and has likewise increased to a won- derful extent. Red deer can be found in many different sections of the islands and excellent shooting can be obtained in almost any part. It is estimated that there are in excess of 40,000 now in the islands. Fallow deer have also been introduced and are now hunted extensively in many sections. Several other varieties of big game have been intro- duced. The Ceylon deer, white and blacktailed deer, moose, the Cauca- sian mountain goat, the chamois, and our most noble of all deer, the wapati or American elk — all of these species are reported to be increas- ing and will eventually be abundant enough to warrant open seasons. YiQ_ 9. — Rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) . Tons of rainbow trout are now cauglit in New Zealand during each open season. They were introduced into the islands in 1881. New Zealand's efforts in acclimatization have not been confined to game alone. California rainbow trout were introduced in the early eighties. The credit for the first plantings belongs to Mr. Hugh Craig, a former New Zealander, but not a resident of San Francisco. In 1881, while living in San Francisco, INIr. Craig was acting as the corresponding secretary for the Auckland Acclimatization Society. It occurred to him that our native trout should do well in the New Zealand streams. Arrangements were made with Col. A. V. La ]\Iotte, who was then with the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and now with the California Commission, to secure 10,000 eggs. These eggs were divided into two shipments. Of the first shipment, very few hatched, and what few did, died within a few hours. AVhen the second shipment was received, no mistakes were made and all of the eggs liatched. The fry were liberated in the Waitakere, a stream a few miles from Auckland. ]Mr. Craig paid for all the expenses of these shipments out of liis private funds. Two years later, the attention of the Hon. Thos. Russell was called to the shipments of trout and he authorized ]\Ir. Craig to pay not exceeding $1,000 in further shipments. Arrangements w^ere then made for ship- ments of rainbow, Tahoe and Dolly Varden trout and salmon. No CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 43 reports have been received by Mr. Craig of these ; but the native Cali- fornia trout have succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. Trout are now found throughout all of the streams of the northern islands and have been introduced from these streams into the streams of the southern island. In a lake kno^^•n as Roto Rue, a short distance from Auckland, during the open season, an average of more than four tons a day is taken and on certain days when fishing is heavy, as many as fourteen tons have been caught. Many weighing over forty pounds are frequently taken. Dr. David Starr Jordan remarked at one time that so many fish were taken from this lake that the surface of the water was very much lowered. The earliest plant of fish in which Mr. Craig took part was a ship- ment of catfish in 1876. Mr. D. J. Stabler, director of the California Fig. 10. — Marble Mountain in western Siskiyou County; a great game country. Sportsmen Society, suggested that he send to his New Zealand people a shipment of catfish. With the assistance of Mr. R. R. Redington, a very prominent sportsman of the early days, two cans of catfish were taken near Stockton and were shipped to the islands. Only five reached New Zealand alive and were liberated in St. Johns Lake, five miles from Auckland. A later shipment of smaller fish, 250 in number, were planted in the same lake. These shipments created considerable com- ment and unfavorable criticism. One member of the Acclimatization Society cabled, at an expense of $5.60 per word, requesting that no more catfish be sent as they did not want them. Four or five years later, a boy was fishing with a rod and caught a six-pound catfish. He became frightened when he saw the ferocious looking head of the catfish coming out of the water and dropped his rod and ran, but later returned and 4tl: CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. took the fish home and it was eaten. That was the beginning of cat- fishing in the ishmds. Now, in that section, catfish are taken in great iiunil)ers and are greatly enjoyed. While Mr. Craig was acting as secretary, numerous shipments of our native deer, valley and mountain quail, bobwhite quail ^nd other species of game birds were sent to the islands, and now in the sections where liberated, they can be found in large numbers. We are indebted to Mr. Hugh Craig of San Francisco and to Mr. Ben Wilson. General Manager of Department of Tourists and Health Kesorts at Wellington, New Zealand, for the information so kindly furnished. AN OBJECT LESSON IN GAME CONSERVATION.* By Henry Chase, Author of "Game Protection and Propagation in America." The history of the deer of Vermont is, indeed, an interesting and absorbing subject. It is not only of interest locally to the people of that state, and absorbing to those who are striving for the conservation of our wild life, but it is both interesting and absorbing to the people of this nation. Particularly is this latter statement true as to the American sportsmen. It furnishes an object lesson in game conservation to every state in the union, for the bare statement of the true facts and figures cannot be gainsaid as a real demonstration, and what Vermont has accomplished for its deer any other state may do for its local game by intelligent and positive action. Above all it conclusively proves that the game of a state may be preserved and increased by wholesome protective laws which are properly enforced. Before proceeding with our narrative of facts, however, it is impor- tant to recall and constantly bear in mind that Vermont, with a total area of 9,565 square miles, is among the smallest states of the union — only New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware being smaller — and yet in 1900 over 600 deer were killed in each of its counties of Windsor, Washington and Rutland, the county of Windsor alone reporting 870 deer lawfully taken during the open season. The same year the great state of Pennsylvania, with a total area of 45,215 square miles, or about five times as large and with equally good deer territory within its borders, reported to Dr. Palmer of the U. S. Biological Survey, that only about 500 deer had been taken in the entire state. When the hardy New England pioneers from Connecticut and New Hampshire first arrived in Vermont about the middle of the eighteenth century they found the ancient Green IMountains, which form the back- bone of the state, filled with game of every description, and the clear, sparkling waters therein teeming with speckled brook trout and other varieties of food fish. So plentiful, in fact, were the game and fish that they furnished the principal articles of diet on the tables of the early settlers, while the pelts of the numerous fur-bearing animals supplied them with warm clothing with which to withstand the long *ReprinterT from Forest and Stream, by permis.sion. CAIJFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 45 and rigorous winters. Prof. Samuel Williams, in his Natural and Civil History of Vermont, prepared by him in 1807 and which is considered an authority on this subject, says: "The deer is one of our most common animals. * *- * The deer are numerous in Vermont and on account of their flesh and skin are of much value." (Page 102, id.) Fig. 11. — An object lesson in game conservation. "Our forests afford shelter and norishment for the moose, bear, wolf, deer, fox, wildcat, raccoon, porcupine, woodchuck, skunk, marten, hare, rabbit, weasel, ermine, squirrel, mole and mouse. In our rivers, ponds and lakes the beaver, muskrat, mink and otter are found in large num- bers." (Page 98, id.) It seems that the people of this state never made any consistent effort to protect any of this game in the early days, 46 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. except the deer alone. In 1842 Thompson's famous history of Vermont was published, and it is significant to note what the author of that work says regarding the deer of his time. He says : ' ' When the country was new this deer (the Virginia, or whitetail deer) was one of the most common and valuable quadrupeds found in our forests, and upon its flesh were the first settlers of the state, to a very considerable extent, dependent for food. Indeed, so eagerly was it hunted, and still so anxious were the people for its preservation, that a law for its protec- tion from the 10th of December to the 10th of June was one of the earliest acts of our legislature. But notwithstanding all that has been done for their preservation, their numbers have been constantly dimin- ishing within the state, till they have become exceedingly scarce, except in a few of the most unsettled and woody sections." (Part 1, chap. 2, p. 51.) At present we would be inclined to think our ancestors were using poor judgment in not prescribing a close season permanently at that time and thus save the remnant of their deer supply. But they did not do so and the natural consequences, with which we are now so familiar, followed as a matter of course and the deer were practically exterminated. But to go back for a moment. The constant pursuit of these animals in those early days with flintlock rifle, crude trap and fishing rod soon converted these people into a hardy, resourceful race of skilled marks- men and brave people. From the standpoint of the sociologist their chief characteristics were their independence and inherent love of liberty, which they prized above everything except life itself. Their habit of wandering afar in pursuit of their quarry, without let or hin- drance, and unrestrained by local custom or law, naturallj^ tended to develop this spirit of independence and liberty to its utmost. From all we are able to gather at present day, while we know the deer were plentiful in those early times, yet they were never so numerous in the history of the state as they were in 1909. This is significant in itself. Excepting an act passed in 1812 to protect the muskrat of the state, no protective measures were enacted but the one above mentioned by Prof. Thompson, passed in 1797. providing for a six months' close season for deer. In the mean time the people of the state placed in their first constitution, adopted in 1777, a provision to secure and safeguard their rights of free hunting and fishing — the liberty to hunt on all unin- closed land and to fish in all boatable waters. That provision still continues a part of the constitution of Vermont. (See section 40, chap- ter II, Constitution of Vermont.) Now, it seems that the above constitutional rights of the people were deemed by them so sacred and valuable that for many years after the adoption of this provision it was a bold legislator who dared to propose any sort of measure to protect the game. The result was the inhabitants of the state were left unrestrained by law for many years to hunt and fish when, where and howsoever they pleased, and gradually, but surely, the deer were almost wholly exterminated. In some parts of the state a few escaped the hunters and survived, but over far the greater part were completely wiped out. This condition continued for many years. The first collected and revised edition of the statutes of the state was authorized by the legislature of 1837 and is kno^^^l as the ' ' Revised Statutes." It contained one chapter, number 90, on the ''preservation CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 47 of game and the destruction of noxious animals." Section 1 of this chapter made it an offense, punishable by a fine of $10 to kill ' ' any wild buck or doe, fawn or any other kind of deer, between the tenth of January and the first day of the following July." The remainder of the chapter consisted of provisions offering bounties on wolves, panthers, bears and foxes. Until during the late seventies the above included about all the game laws that existed in Vermont. In 1876 the first real step was taken toward rehabilitating the deer. In that year the legisla- ture provided for a close season on deer until September 1, 1880. This act caused an agitation among the sportsmen of the state to con- sider ways and means of reestablishing the deer in their former haunts, and some worthy men in the southern counties immediately took deci- sive action. But what did they do? What was that action! Did they plan a private shooting preserve for their own profit and enjoyment? Not they. No such idea ever entered their minds. They were true sportsmen and good citizens, seeking only to benefit their brethren and promote the best interests of their commonwealth. Hence, their names deserve to go down in the historj^ of sportsmanship as real brothers of the great outdoor guild. They were Dr. ]\Iiddleton Goldsmith, Martin G. Evarts, Wm. Y. W. Ripley, James 0. Dunn, Wallace C. Clement, Percival W. Clement, Waldo P. Clement. Edward H. Ripley, Fred- erick Chaffee, Samuel E. Burnham, Henry W. Cheney, Dr. A. Kilburn, Levi G. Kingsley, Walter C. Landon, Henry A. Saw.yer, Redfield Proctor and Albert F. Davis, all of Rutland ; Mason S. Colburn and Charles F. Orvis of Manchester, and ex-Governor Fairbanks of St. Johnsbury. "Prior to 1878," says ex-Game Commissioner Thomas in one of his biennial reports, ''to see a deer in Vermont was certainly a rarity, and if one was seen it was of so much importance it was published by the press throughout the state." This gives an idea of how scarce the deer were at that time. During the above year these sportsmen raised a fund among themselves with which they procured 17 deer. Ten were purchased from the keeper of the state's prison at Dannemora, New York, and the others secured elsewhere by purchase and gift. In the months of April and May these deer were liberated in the Green Moun- tain forests of Rutland and Bennington counties. Well these sportsmen knew, however, that only half of the problem had been thus solved. Care, watchfulncvss and protective legislation were necessary to afford these deer an opportunity to establish them- selves in their new homes, so the solicitude of the donors never abated until they had obtained a close season which continued for 19 years. During this time public sentiment was aroused in favor of protective measures, a penalty of $100 fine was exacted from any one who killed one of these animals and all of the leading sportsmen of the state made it their individual duty and obligation to see that this law was enforced rigidly. The result, as the figures will show, seems astonishing to the uninitiated. In 1897 an open season was declared for the entire month of October. Only bucks were allowed to be taken, but each hunter was permitted to kill two deer. No serious attempt was made by the game officials to secure statistics for that season, but it was apparent to all that this law did not furnish an adecjuate measure of protection, so at the next session of the legislature in 1898 the open season was changed to the last 10 2— 14.S5.7 48 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, days of October and only one buck was allowed to eaeh hnnter. These provisions continued until 1905, when the legislature of the previous year had changed them to the last week in October containing 6 working days, Sunday excepted, and this open season of 6 days was in force until 1911. In 1908, however, the deer had become so numerous in the state that a persistent demand was made on the lawmakers to permit the killing of does as well as bucks. The demand came principally from the farmers who complained that the deer were destroying their crops, so the measure was approved and allowed for two consecutive years — 1909 and 1910. The legislature of the latter year, however, changed the open season to allow the killing of bucks only from Novem- ber 15 to November 25, both dates inclusive, but this act did not become effective until 1911. During the session .of 1912 the open season was again changed for bucks only from November 10 to December 1, both dates inclusive. Now, let us see what the figures show for this period. The old saying is "that figures don't lie," and in this case they speak volumes. The early figures are undoubtedly too small, but subsequent to 1902 they are conservatively accurate. In 1906 a statute was enacted requiring each hunter who killed a deer during the open season to report the fact to the nearest warden and exhibit to the latter the head of such deer. For the years 1898, 1899. 1900 and 1901, 555 deer were reported killed; for 1902 and 1903, 1,513; 1904 and 1905, 1,322; 1906 and 1907, 2,234; 1908 and 1909, 7.519 ; 1910 and 1911, 6,787 : 1912 and 1913, 3,816 deer. This makes a total for the period when open seasons have been permitted since the sportsmen above named liberated 17 deer in 1878 of 23,746 deer, or in round numbers about 25,000. Unquestionably, this estimate is conservatively low, for it is impossible to keep track of every deer that is lost to a state. Estimating that each deer possesses an average market value of $10, here was an asset to Vermont of one quarter of a million dollars. Not only was the state practically overrun with deer in 1908-09 and 1910, but the overflow drifted extensively into the states of New Hamp- shire on the east. New York on the west, and ^lassachusetts on the south — the latter state being particularly fortunate in this respect, its counties of Berkshire and Franklin being well stocked from Vermont deer. Here, then, is certainly an object lesson to other states, and warning to Vermont itself not to again become careless and indifferent regarding this valuable state asset. And in that respect it is alarming to note the falling off in the figures of the last two years and at the same time extending the open season. The tide is turning and Vermont should not permit such a long open season at this time. The specific lessons we learn from this history with resjiect to game legislation are these : 1. Only full grown bucks should be permitted to be taken in the open season. In order to accomplish this, and at the same time protect human life, the law should provide that only deer with horns a certain specified length may be killed. 2. Not more than one such deer as above should be allowed to each hunter. The time for wholesale slaughter of deer is past, and at present only short open seasons can be permitted if the deer supply is to be CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 49 conserved. In such cases who but a game-hog- or mercenary butcher wants more than one deer? 3. Require by law that each person killing a deer shall report that fact to some designated official or game officer. This is absolutely essen- tial in order that the game department may recommend proper legi.sla- tion affecting deer. 4. ]\Iake the open season comparativel}^ short and base the length of same on the official figures as above obtained. If such figures show a steady increase the season may be lengthened with safety; if a falling off, then it should be shortened. THE WOOD DUCK IN CALIFORNIA. By Joseph Grinxell and Harold C. Bryant. (Contributiou from tho Aluseiiin of Vei'tebrate Zoologj' of tlio University of California. ) It is universally accepted that the wood duck (Aix sponsa) is the handsomest of all the ducks of the United States. Its near relative, the mandarin duck of Asia, is its only near competitor for honors, and as far as brilliancy of coloration is concerned even this species may be given second place. The wood duck's habit of making special display of its bright colors but adds to its ever evident beauty and grace wiicn on the water. In California the wood duck was formerly well distributed through- out the low country west of the Sierras. Now it is a rare local resident of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys and westward to the coast, frequenting the timber-bordered streams and freshwater sloughs, espe- cially in the oak belt. Although permanently resident within the state, the sppcies appears to a slight extent migratory townrd the north in April and to the south in October. It is rare in southern California where as a rule favorable conditions are lacking. The southernmost record is Eamona, San Diego County. So conspicuous and distinctive is this duck that field marks are hardly necessary even for the uninitiated. The crested head crossed by white stripes, the pure white under parts and the bright metallic colors always betray the male. Although lacking the bright coloration of the male, the female displays iiTuch more color than the females of other species and in addition can be recognized by a white eyering which extends back of the eye as a white streak. Wood ducks seldom stray away from the secluded, wooded streams and sloughs which constitute their habitat. "A mossy log in a pond is a favorite resting ])lace for the ducks, but as you walk Ihi-ough the woods in spring a pair will often fly from a branch overhead, uttering their shrill, plaintive cry as they dart through dhe trees." (Bailey, Handbook of Birds of the Western United States; Houghton, ]\Iifflin Co., N. Y., 1902, pp. 55-56.) The wood duck is to ])e ranked among the early nesters. Most ducks nest on the ground, but this species selects hollows in trees which may ])e either living or dead. Often the nest is built above the water, but sometimes at a considerable distance from it. Occasionally the entrance to the nesting cavity is forty oi' fifty feet above the ground. The nest is sometimes placed several feet below the entrance to the hollow. Twigs, 50 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. grass and leaves are used as building materials and the lining is of down. A deserted woodpecker's nest enlarged through decay is ofttimes used. The hollow end of a broken-off branch is said to be frequently selected. Sampson (Condor, 3, 1901, p. 95) found a wood duck's nest located in a deserted home of the rod-shafted flicker, about twenty-five feet above the ground in a white oak tree, at Forest Lake, San Joaquin County, April 29, 1900. The nest contained twenty-one eggs. As a difference in size and coloration was noticeable in the eggs, it is probable that the nest had been occupied by two females. Messrs. R. S. Wheeler and W. B. Sampstm found a set of fifteen eggs of this species in 1896 at a point on the San Joaquin River a short distance above Lathrop, San Joaquin County. The nest was in a hollow tree close to the overflow from the river, and the tree was infested with ants, which, however, did not appear to have in any degree disturbed the ducks. Wheeler has also reported the nesting of a pair of wood ducks in a barn on the Sacramento River, near Isle- ton, Sacramento County. The birds entered the barn through a hole in the boards and built their nest in the hay. The farmer who owned the hay guarded the nest and allowed the eggs to hatch. Mr. Joseph Mailliard tells us of having found in 1872 or 1873 a nest of the wood duck in a hole in a dead tree on the bank of Gallinas Creek, Marin County. One of the parents was frightened from the nesting cavity. Tlie nest contained not less than eight eggs, though no accurate record was kept of the circumstances. This duck returns to the same nesting site year after year. Incuba- tion lasts for a period of four weeks; the female alone attends to this duty, the male usually being found standing guard on a nearby limb. Some observers say that the male deserts the female during this period. The young either tumble out of the nest and are led to water, or, as several observers have asserted, are carried to the water one by one in the bill of the mother. The call of the young is said to be a mellow pee-pee-pee. "The wood duck is conspicuous for the swiftness, ease and elegance of its flight. It can pass through woods, and among the branches of trees, with as much facility as the wild pigeon. While flying it is rarely ever heard to utter any cry." (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, North American Birds; Little, Brown & Company, N. Y., 1884, p. 14.) This species is to be found in pairs or at most in small flocks. The wood duck does not limit itself to the aquatic insects and plants found along the stream near its regular abode, but often forages about the woods in search of other food. Belding (MS) says that on the Feather River it feeds in corn and wheat fields after harvest and also on wdld grapes and acorns. Joseph i\Iailliard saw quite a number feeding on acorns at Paicines, San Benito County, October 13, 1900. The stomach of a female taken near Laytonville, Mendocino County, in November, 1913, contained a large number of acorns. A female taken near Santa Rosa contained sprouting acorns. Acorns would appear, therefore, to form a very general article of diet. Stomachs of the eastern wood duck examined by the United States Biological Survey (McAtee, U. S. Dept. Agric, Bureau Biological Survey, Circ. 81, 1911, p. 1) show that over fifteen per cent of the food is made up of wild ric(> and celery and over six per cent of Dond weeds. A stomacli oxh mined by the writers obtained CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 51 in Sutter County contained twelve back swiiuuiers (Notonecticlaa) and a quantity of sand. At the present time the wood duck exists wild in such small numbers that it should not properly be considered a game bird of the state. Nevertheless, its flesh is declared 'to be delicious; and since it has proven itself readily domesticated there seems no good reason why it cannot be raised in captivity as a commercial proposition and sold on the market. At present there is a brisk demand from breeders and pleasure parks for this, the handsomest of the duck tribe. Early writers report the wood duck as common in California. Town- send (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 10, 1887, p. 194) says that it was observed on the lower Mc Cloud River at various times from October 1 until March 1, often in quite large companies, and was seen in April and May at Red Blutf, where it frequented the sloughs in the timber belts along the Sacramento River. Heermann (Pac. R. R. Rep., 10, 1859, p. 68) gives it as "Abundant, breeding in the hollow trees bordering the streams of California." Mailliard (Condor, 13, 1911, p. 49) says: "As late as twenty-five years ago it was no uncommon thing to see wood ducks scattered in small groups along such a stream as the Paper Mill, or Lagunitas Creek, in Marin County, or anywhere along the Santa Rosa Laguna in Sonoma County, even where quite a number of people lived in the vicinity and where there was a good deal of travel along the streams. Often the ducks were found in small tributaries and diminutive ponds along these waterways." The last one killed in this vicinity was taken on October 23, 1898. Mr. A. Jackson reports that a limit of wood ducks could be obtained along the Napa River fifteen years ago. Altliough he has recently hunted in the same locality, not a single wood duck is now to be seen there. Streartor (Ornitholo- gist and Oologist, 11, 1886, p. 90) records the species as rare near Santa Barbara, but says that birds were occasionally met with beyond the Santa Inez Mountains about ten miles from that city. Practically none are to be found in these old haunts at the present time. An individual is occasionally reported as being seen in the locality above mentioned by Mailliard and in the vicinity of Gridley, Butte County; but further than this and an occasional one reported by a collector or market hunter, the species is now almost unknown. Dr. "W. F. Bade reports that he saw numbers of wood ducks on the Sacramento River on a trip from Tehama to Chico in 1905. When the same trip was taken in 1911 not more than six were seen. The more recent records of its occurrence are as follows: Raniona, San Diego County, November, 1905 (Sharp) ; Redlands, San Bernardino County. October 2, 1909 (Willett) ; Banning, Riverside County, April, 1907 (Willett) ; Stanislaus County, fall of 1910 (Mailliard) ; Oxnard, Ven- tura County, November 6, 1905 (Grinnell) ; Reedley, Fresno County, April, 1910 (Tyler) ; near Laytonville, Mendocino County, November, 1913 (F. C. Clarke). Mr. J. S. Hunter, Assistant, State Fish and Game Commission, has stated to us that whereas this species came to the market in considerable numbers several years ago, not more than two or three have been seen during the past few years. Wood ducks to the number of 440 are recorded as sold in the markets of San Fran- cisco and Los Angeles in the season of 1895-1896. The records of sale in the markets of San Francisco during the season of 1910-1911 show a total of six birds. 52 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, From tliL' foiTj^oiii^' evidence it eaa l)e seen tluil tlu' wuoel tluek. although existing in California in considerable numbers in the early days, is now nearly extinct. A number of the eastern states have found it necessary to give it complete and pennnnent protection in ordei- to save it. California's only hope of saving this species is to do likewise. Although the wood duck is migratory in most states, it remains with us throughout the year and so gives us added responsibility. The federal regulations regarding migratory birds, Avhich went into effect in the fall of 1913, placed a close season of five years on the wood duck. At the end of this i)eriod renewal of total pt'otectioii will doulillcss he necessary. Berkehj,, Julji .V, 1.9 li. A CALIFORNIA INDIAN HUNTING LEGEND. By A. I.. Kkoeber, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, L'niversity of Calirornia. The myths and legends of the American aborigines are in great measure explanations of nature and their own customs. One story will set forth why the sun rises daily in the east and pursues his path across the heavens; another, why the stars twinkle at night, or the raccoon has a ringed tail; while a large class of traditions, related with partic- ular ardor by the old men, are intended to instruct subsefpient genera- tions in the origin of this or that dance, ceremony, or habit of native life. Hunting and fishing play so large a part in the existence of nearly all Indian tribes that one might expect to find innumerable storie:^ explaining the beginning of these occux:)ations. As a matter of fact, tbe reverse is true. The customs were so fundamental to the various tribes that they rather took them for granted as being something nornuil. Literally, thousands of legends could be cited in which the chara.cters are depicted as engaged in hunting for their daily subsistence: but this arrangement seems so obvious to the aboriginal mind, that traditions containing a definite explanation of how human beings learned or came to hunt, are exceedingly rare. The following tale, which is one of the exceptions to this rule, may therefore be of interest, particularly as it hails from one of the few California tribes still preserving something of the ancient ha])its of life. They are the Karok Indians living along the Klanuith River in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties, above and below the mouth of the tributary known as the Salmon River. The tradition is typically Indian in that practically all of the charac- ters mentioned in it are animals. These, however, speak and act very much like human beings. The universal Indian theory of the workl is, that there was a joeriod before the human race was in existence, when the earth was peopled only by spirits and animals. These lived and acted very nnich like human beings: in fact, were often endowed with even greater powers, in that they possessed a miraculous magical ability which enabled them to shape the world to its present condition. Later these spirits withdrew to the sky, or to the world beyond the ocean, and the animal-men eithei' joined them or were transforuu^d, at the time of the birth of the human race, into their present shapes. The end of the present tale refers to this period of transition where man was getting readv to succeed the animal. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 53 Here is the story : Long, long ago the Catowl lived by killing deer. Every morning when he started to hunt he whistled for his two dogs. Immediately they came rushing to him, and at his command ran up into the hills. The Catowl then strolled leisurely down to the river and watched. After awhile he would see a deer come swinuning down with the cur- rent, into which the dogs had driven it farther up-stream. Clambering on a rock where the river was narrow and the current swift, the Catowl waited until the buck was abreast of him and then jumped on his antlers. There he ensconced himself comfortably, sailing down the river in great jubilation until the buck was tired and had reached a convenient landing place. There the Catowl would leap ashore, drag- ging the game after him by its horns, and then cut its throat. From the landing it was but a short way to his house; thus he lived in ease and plenty. Now one morning, having followed this usual pursuit and being engaged in skinning his prey by the river, he noticed that it was an rnirsnally fat animal, and his mind was joyful with anticipations of a particularly juicy meal. Looking up, he saw a gigantic and forbidding figure standing by him. The brush grew up one side of the stranger 's face, and water ran down the other; a tremendous knife was stuck in his belt, and altogether he seemed most terrifying to the little Catowl. When the monster opened his mouth and said, ' ' I will carry your buck up to the house for you, the Catowl, although suspecting nothing good, did not dare to refuse. So he helped the visitor take the deer on his back, and started to show him the way home. The giant, however, had his own ideas of what was right, and when they came to the parting of the trails he merely walked on with his load. He was considerate enough, however, to throw the kidneys to his host. ''Well, well," thought the Catowl to himself, ''that was unfortunate." But having nothing else to do, he went on to his house and made shift with the scrap which the giant had thrown to him. In the morning he determined to try for better luck. Again he whistled for his dogs and waited at the river. Another fine buck came swimming by, and again the Catowl, after his free ride, killed him. With the carcass all ready to be carried home — lo, the same horrible stranger stood before him and insisted on being the burden bearer. The Catowl demurred in his heart, but was too small to refuse, with the result that he again lost the whole of his venison except for the kidneys. , The third morning, C^oyote, Imown as a great wanderer and mischief maker, and withal a boaster, although resourceful in many tricks, dropped in at the Catowl 's home. He said: "I hear that some one has been coming and taking away your deer from you." "Yes, he is doing that regularly," answered the Catowl. "Well, leave it to me," intimated Coyote, "and I will dispose of him." "I very much wish you would," the Catowl told him. "Where are you in the habit of killing and skinning your deer," the Coyote asked him nonchalantly. "Just below here by the river," said the Catowl. "If you will step down there and wait for me, I will bring the deer right to you." So Coyote went down to the landing place, hid in the brush, and waited. Before long a big buck came swimming down the river, battling his hardest, but nearly exhausted. On his antlers he carried the litt> 54 CALIFORNIA P^ISH AND GAME. hunter, who soon jerked hiui up on the bank, cut his throat, and began to skin him. Coyote, the great hero killer, was waiting courageously for the mysterious stranger to appear, biil w hen he saw the nice looking- venison his appetite overcame his aiitieipalctl bravery, and he whispered to his friend: "I am terribly hungry; throw me some of the soft meat from the belly, and I will chew it while I am waiting." The Catowl tossed it to him, and again and again Coyote repeated his request until he had had his fill. At the exact moment when the carcass was ready to be taken away, the stranger appeared. Immediately Coyote's vaunted bravery began to leave him. He had instructed the Catowl to act as if nothing unusual '^'were impending, but slyly to help him ])y pulling back as much as he Fig. 12. — "On his antlei-s lie carried the youns' hunter dared while assisting the giant in loading the carcass on his back. At that moment, while the monster was thus impeded and squatted on the ground, Coyote would advantageously juni}) him. Now, the Catowl obediently followed the stern comnmnd to assist the giant in getting the deer on his back, but at the same time remembered Coyote's directions and dragged the load backwards. "Why are you holding me back? Let go!" growled the big stranger. Here was the advantageous opportunity, and the CatoAvl delayed the giant a moment longer. But Coyote's heart had sunk completely, and he was afraid to stir or even show himself, with the result that the stranger arose and carried away his prey. When he was well out of sight, Coyote came sneaking up to the house after the Catowl. "That is a very powerful fellow, and what is more, he is endowed with jnagical power," he said, "but now that I have sized him up, I will surely kill him tomorrow." In this vainglorious fashion Coyote glossed over his cowardice, but as the event proved, he had seen enough to reall.y nerve him to the task the following day. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 55 In the morning the same procedure took place. Coyote's greedy hunger once more got the best of his warlike resolutions, and while waiting for the giant he gorged his belly with pieces of meat which his friend obligingly gave him. This time, however, when the giant was stooping and the Catowl impeding him from behind. Coyote actually leaped from his hiding place, plunged his knife into his body, and killed him. Then the Catowl saw, what the keen Coyote had observed the day before, that the giant's formidable knife was nothing more than a piece of bark shaped to resemble a weapon. In spite of his size and forbidding appearance, the stranger had been comparatively harmless. Coyote, however, was not satisfied with dispatching him, and deter- mined to rid the world for good and all of him and his kind. So he said to the dead body, which, according to the habits of the people of those days, was likely to return to life again : ''You will not be an evil being any longer. You will no more roam the earth in human shape and make trouble. From this time on, when you live again, you will swim in the water and be a mud puppy." Suiting his action to the words he threw the dead body into the creek, where after awhile Coyote's prediction proved true, and the giant turned into the little ugly but harmless reptile. Still intent on pursuing his reform to the utmost, Coyote said to his friend, ''Now carry your dinner up to the house. I will join you there later, but first I will go to see where our dead friend came from." So he followed the giant's tracks, which he found went up a creek, and after reaching the top of the hill he saw smoke in the distance. He headed for this and came to a large Indian house. Inside, children were playing and laughing. Coyote peeped in and saw several boys, but was even more pleased with the view of great quantities of venison hanging up. "Well, first I will kill the little fellows, and then for a feast," he said to himself. He stepped into the house and tried to finish the boys. He dashed them against the ground, threw them into the fire, but nothing seemed to hurt them. As he was knocking them about or holding them down in the flames, they were still laughing and whispering to each other: "There is no danger of our dying by burning while our hearts are hanging up under the roof." Coyote's sharp ears having heard this remark, at once he said to himself: "Why, of course, that is so." Letting the children lie, he clambered up, threw down their hearts, tossed these into the fire, and as they were consumed the boys rolled over dead. So the world was rid of this brood of evil doers. Now the monster-slayer thought himself entitled to a full reward. He ate all the venison he could and then loaded himself with more to the limit of his carrying capacity. When his pack became too heavy he rested and ate some more of it. Then he thought of an ingenious scheme. "Why should I travel farther when I can enjoy a good sleep? I will take two of the nicest strips of the meat and hang one over each of my ears. Then when I wake up I will not even have to reach over for another meal, but will merely shcike my head, swing one of my oar- rings in front of my face, and snap it up." With tliis ideal of case and satisfaction before him. Coyote made his arrangements. As he sat there in contented anticipation, looking drowsily across the creek, he saw the Bald Eagle sitting watching him on a dead tree. Always delighted to tease and taunt, Coyote called out to him: "Here, old Deep-set Eyes, come over here and eat this," 3—14355 56 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. and he held up a choice piece of venison. Of course he had no iiili'ii- tion of giving away a single scrap of his treasure, and the Eagle, who knew the fellow from long ago, was well aware that he was only being made game of. He was exceedingly angry, hut, like a wise man, said nothing. In fact he never stirred from his perch on the stump, but his mind was working intently. "Go to sleep, go to sleep," he kept muttering quietly towards Coyote, concentrating liis thoughts intently on this event. Between the Eagle's magic wishing and Coy- ote's natural disposition under the circumstances, the trickster soon dozed otf. When he was soimd asleep the Eagle silently flew down and car- ried away his meat. ITe even carefully took off Coyote's earrings. Hav- ing safely stowed away his prize in a tall tree, out of sight and reach of Coyote, he went back to his old perch. There he quietly sat, leisurely eating a fat piece of venison. After a time Coyote awoke, and remembering his beautiful scheme, turned his head sidewise and snapped, but his jaws closed on empty air. ITe swung his head toward the other side and .snapped again, but with no bet- ter result. "Well, Avhat has hap- pened now?" he thought in hit- ter disappointment. Looking up, he saw the Eagle chewing. "That must be my meat," he said to himself, "and, after all, he must have taken it away from me." Somewhat crestfallen but still unabashed, he crossed the creek, and sitting down at the foot of the dead tree, called up to the Eagle: "Please throw me down some; let me have at least one piece." But revenge was as sweet to the Eagle as his venison, and he made no reply except leisurely to finish the piece he wa.s engaged at — while Coyote watched him, tantalized — and then finished by throwing down at the disa]ipointed waiter the empty pack basket in which Coy- ote had carried the load. By this time Coyote was really hungry again, so he thought : "I Fig. 13. — "Please throw me down some; let me have at lea.st one piece." CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 57 will go back and visit the Catowl." He returned to the hitter's house 1)ut it Avas empty. "Where eaii he have gone?" he thought. He looked around and tinally saw him on a tree, also eating. Evidently the little fellow, knowing his companion's gluttony, had thought it best to get all his provisions out of the way. "Throw me some of it, I am hungry, too," Coyote shouted up to him. But the Catowl, ungratefully enough, considering the assistance he had received, pretended not to hear his friend and deigned only to continue his own meal. At last Coyote, exasperated, had resource to his own magical powers. "Have it your own way now," he said, "but from this time on it will be different. You will no longer kill deer or eat venison. All you wall do hereafter will be to catch lizards and mice." And so it was thence- forth, and that is why the Catowl of to-day no longer hunts deer. Now, not long after, there was a powerful spirit living in the ancient village of Amaikyara. This little Indian town, although sadly deterio- rated, is still invested wnth the odor of sanctity among the modern Indians, on account of the many important events believed to have taken place there in the period of long ago. The spirit who at that time had his abode in the sweat-house there, w^as a father to all the animals that are in the world, directing them and planning for them just as if he had himself created them. Now, he had lived in this sweat-house from time immemorial, but he knew that the human race was very nearh^ ready to come into existence. So he thought to him- self: "What shall I do now that human beings have almost grown up? How shall I provide for this event before I go away?" At last he decided that he would make bows and arrows for them to use, and that these would enable them to gain a subsistence. So with his magic power he manufactured bow after bow, a whole row filling one side of the house. Then he called all the hunting people of that time, who are now the hunting animals — the Dog, the Wolf, The Pan- ther, the Wild Cat, the Eagle, the Hawk, the Chicken-hawk, the Owd, and last, and in some ways most insignificant, Coyote. The Bear, it will be noticed, was not included, and is not considered an animal of prey by the Indians. "Come into my sweat-house, all of you," the spirit summoned them. And when they had entered, he said: "Now, as night comes on, go to sleep. As you awake in the morning, each of you can take a bow. The first one to awake will have first choice, and the last one to awake will have to take what is left. Whatever bow you receive will be yours forever to hunt with, and your powers for killing game will be pro- portionate to the quality of weapon you obtain in the morning." Then one after the other stretched himself and dropped off to sleep. But Coyote was cogitating, trying to devise a way of beating all the others. "I believe I will not sleep at all ; then I will surely be the first. Moreover, I will sit up instead of lying down, and will take my station by the door. Then if I should doze off and one of the others precede me, he will awake me as he goes out, and I will be at least second." So he did this, but before long his innate unnianliness and lack of character manifested themselves and he felt himself becoming drowsy. "I must keep awake at all hazards," he thought, so took two small sticks and with them propped up his eyelids, thinking that this would help him. 58 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. So the night wore on, the others all sleeping peacefully, and at last Coyote dropping off, too. So powerfully did sleep overmaster him that he pushed the little sticks clear through his eyelids without feeling them. The spirit, however, was superior to the animals and did not sleep at all. All night he sat watching and thinking: "Who will be the first to wake up and have the greatest power?" At last, just before the first faint streak of dawn, one of the sleepers stirred. It was the Dog, man's best friend, as the sequel shows, who silently arose, picked out the finest of the bows, and stole out of the house. The next to awake was the Panther, who had second choice, and also left the house. Then followed the Wolf, the Wild Cat, the Eagle, the Chicken-hawk, the Hawk, and the Owl. Each of them took the bow which would give him the power for securing his food and went away. At last, when the sun was high up, Coyote awoke from his slumbers. Quickl}^ he snatched the sticks from his eyes and looked around ; it was alreadj^ broad day. Only one bow was left, and that a poor, worthless, little thing. There was nothing for him to do except to take this. So he went off, but on account of the scant powers which his miser- able weapon conferred, he could kill no large game. Whatever he tried he failed at. At last there was nothing left that he could hope to catch except gophers. So he sneaked to a fiat, and with drooping ears, sat on his haunches near their holes, leaping upon them as they stuck out their noses, and now and then succeeded in killing one. Wlien his catch was slim, he snapped up such grasshoppers as he could find. Coyote is still doing that to-day, and such, according to the Indians, is the contemptible ending of a career that, in spite of its resourcefulness, was marred by meanness of spirit. The Dog had a very different career. His bow giving him the best powers, he was content not only with pursuing deer and game, but steadily chased the Wolf, the Panther, and the other animals of prey, trying to take away from them their bows and their powers. Wherever he went, he was on their trail, trying to overtake them, much to their annoyance. At last he came back again to the sacred village of Amaikyara where he had won the prize. But things had changed. The old spirit had withdrawn to the other world across the ocean, people, real human beings, were living there now, and in amazement they watched the Dog come towards them. Singling out the head man, the Dog addressed him : "Let us be companions; I will be your mate. From now on I shall no longer be able to speak; I shall no longer be like you; but I should like to go through the world with you. Take this bow from me, learn to use it, and you and I together will hunt. The Wolf has come to me and told me that he is no longer my friend. There is enmity between us, but friendship between you and me. The Wolf has threatened that whenever he can catch me in the mountains he will kill and devour me, but you and I will help each other like friends." Then the man promptly accepted the gift which meant so much to him, and since that time human beings have shot the arrow and have had dogs to help them in chasing deer. So the relation between these two beings was established. But the Dog had one thing more to say. It was the last time he spoke. He said to the man : CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 59 ''You prize this bow I have given you, and it is worth much to you for food; but there is another thing about it which you do not yet know, though you will learn it to your sorrow. For hunting, this weapon is excellent, but for other things it is not good. There will be times when it will kill me. There will be times when your descendants will be killed by it. One man will l)e killed by another. There will be fighting and war, and human beings will die. As long as the human race exists people will obtain their food with the bow, and also will die from its arrows in battle." Thus this all-important Indian weapon was, according to Indian belief, invented and given, and until the introduction of firearms by the white man, the Dog's prediction of its value and its danger was fulfilled. THE NEW ANGLER'S LICENSE. By Ernest Shaeffle^ Executive Secretary, California Fish and Game Commission. During the years 1911, 1912 and 1913 the Fish and Game Commis- sion of this state produced at the hatcheries and distributed in the public waters of the state, where the public could fish for them at lawful seasons, about 35,000,000 trout. These figures are less impres- sive than the actual condition that has been brought about, which is that, with the constantly increasing population and better and better means of getting about, the state is having good fishing each season — fishing, in fact, that is improving in most regions. While it is impos- sible for any one to determine the degree of improvement over natural conditions brought about through artificial propagation, it seems to be true that the work of the hatcheries and the very general distri- bution of trout that has been made in this state during the last twenty years has placed fish in streams previously barren, and kept up and even increased the stock in other streams more favored by nature. It is, of course, evident that such an extensive programme of hatch- ing and distribution as has been carried on in the state, particularly during the last few years, must have cost a great deal of money. As a matter of fact, such work, with the attendant necessary scientific investigations and police patrol, has cost the state in the neighbor- hood of $60,000 a year, or a total of approximately $180,000 for the three year period just ending. For this great work the state has made no direct appropriations, although prior to 1911 the state appropriated each year amounts ranging from $30,000 downward. Since 1911 it seems to have been the idea that the hatcheries could be kept up and the increasing distribution made out of the proceeds of money paid by hiuiters for the privilege of hunting. In addition to the resources of the hunting license fund, there has been each year about $25,000 derived from the sale of market fishing licenses, and collected as fines imposed on lawbreaking commercial fishermen. These amounts were, of course, entirely inadequate and it has been necessary to borrow around $30,000 a year from the lumting license fund to carry on the fish work needed and demanded by the public. This condition brought about the enactment at the 1913 legislature of a law imposing a tax upon those who fish for plea.sure, wlio may be called either "sportsmen anglers" or siini)ly "anglers," which is the older and perhaps better term. This law was first proposed several years ago, but not until the last legislature could the need for 60 CAIJPOUNIA I IS! I AND GAME. it he sliown so conclusively Jis to liriiig a])out its eiiactnu'iit. The law provides generally that all persous over eighteen years of age must obtain a prescribed license before tisbiii''- for game fishes, that the license must l)e displayed upon demand of any officer authorized to enforce the fish and game laws and, further, that it shall contain an agreement signed by the owner that any game fish in the owner's possession shall he exliil)ited to a deputy fish and game commissioner upon demand. The law also designates the species that shall be known as game fishes. They are the tuna, yellow-tail, jewfish or black sea bass, albaeore, barracuda, bouita. rock bass, California whiting, also known as corluna. and the surf fish, yellowfin croaker, spotfiu croaker, salmon, steelhead and other trout, charr, whitefish, striped bass and black bass. All of the fish not mentioned in this list may be taken by pleasure fishermen without licenses, although it is presumed that the average person will not be content with taking non-game fish, but that he will prefer at least to do some fishing during the year for the more desir- able varieties. The legislature, having due regard for the rights of the rising gen- eration, has specifically provided that no person under eighteen, no matter of what sex or nationality, shall need an angler's license. This fact knocks in the head the statement that the angler's law is intended to restrict fishing and that it is a direct injustice to the boys. The new licenses are handled in the same manner as the hunting licenses, with which procedure every one is now familiar. They may always be obtained at the offices of the county clerks and, in most counties, of deputy county clerks located in each town. In most of the large towns they will be found on sale in gun and hardware stores. They may also be had at the offices of the Fish and Game Com- mission in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fresno, while people in out of the way districts will have every opportunity to obtain them from the deputy commissioners, usually known as "game wardens. ' ' Incidentally, the first issue of the new license is regarded as being the most artistic license of the kind ever issued. It bears on the face a representation of a familiar fishing scene reproduced from a photo- graph, while on the back is given a synopsis of the laws relating to game fishes. This plan of giving an outline of the laws on the license seems to be new in the United States, but has been used in Germany for a great many years. It is not only convenient, but should guarantee that every person fishing will have with him at all times complete information in regard to the fishing laws. Naturally enough, a questi(m has arisen as to what need there is of this new license and as to what use is to be made of the revenues derived from its sale. In the brief outline at the beginning of this article it is shown that the propagation of fish has been paid for in large part since 1011 by the hunters and that without direct appro- priation such a questional)le course would need to be continued in future. It is clearly an injustice to expect the hunters to pay for work the results of which are enjoyed by the fishermen, a great many of whom never hunt. It would also seem that so long as a license scheme is followed in this state, those who fish, as well as those who hunt, should pay for the sport that appeals to them the most. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 61 lu this comieclioii, a few figures eonceniing tlie hunting situa- tion in California may be interesting. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, 160,000 individual hunting licenses (in round numbers) were issued in this state. For the same period, as nearly as can ])e ascertained, the state of New York issued about the same number of hunting licenses, while Illinois sold around 185,000. No other state in the union came within fifteen or twenty thousand of the sale in California, from which it is evident that California is now either the second or third state in the union in its hunting class and this, in spite of the fact that both Illinois and New York, as well as a number of other Eastern and Middle West states have much greater populations. What is even more significant is the fact that in Great Britain with a population of over 45,000,000 there are now only about 68,000 licensed hunters, or less than one half the number in California. Comparison of British and Californian conditions would l)e interesting, but comparison is fruitless as the conditions have no similarity. It is impossible to give an estimate of the number of fishermen in this state, but it is supposed that the number is at least equal to that of the hunters. If this estimate is correct, the state will have in 1914 close to 350,000 people, most of them of adult age, tramping through the woods and along the streams, and each one of them expecting to take home at night a mess of game or fish. Obviously, most of these people would be sorely disappointed if it were impos- sible to add to the natural supply of fish, or to so control the taking of game that no person should have more than his share. With the hatcheries the state now has and with those that can be built during the next few years, out of the proceeds of the sale of the angler's licenses, it will be possible to more than keep pace with the catch of fish, always provided, however, that we do not have too many dry years like 1912 and 1913. A dry year like 1912 destroys more fish than could be taken by twice the number of fishermen that we have in the state, besides affecting the streams themselves so that the proper natural conditions are not regained for several seasons. A very necessary use to which the fishing and hunting license money must be put in this state is the patrol or policing of the streams and of the hunting grounds. AVith so many people, of so many nationalities hunting and fishing it is inevitable that a great number of infractions of the law will occur. While every effort is made to prevent such infractions b}'' the dissemination of informa- tion in regard to the laws themselves and of the necessity that causes them to be placed on the statutes, certain people seem bound to fish during breeding seasons and to so ignore the rights of others as to load themselves up with more than the bag limit allow^ed one person. As there seems to be no other way to deal with these people they are arrested by the game wardens and turned over to the courts, in somewhat lessening numbers, however. As an example, the arrests made in the hicnnial term ending ending June 30, 1912, totaled 2,063, while the arrests for the calendar year 1912 were 1,235, which indicated a considerable increase. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, how- ever, the cases have dropped back to 1,085 which, assuming that the game wardens have been as vigilant as in the past, seems to show 62 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. that the laws are being more closely observed. Jt may also be stated in passing that the California game wardens make more arrests each year than are made in any other state, with the exception of New York, Avhich has over 50 more wardens than California, three times the poj^ulation, with less than one third the area. THE CATFISH IN CALIFORNIA. By George Neale. The introduction of catfish into California can be considered one of the great achievements of the (!alif()i'tiia Fish and (iame Com- mission and of more importance from an economic and commercial 'point of view, perhaps, than the introdnction of the striped bass. The bullhead or horned pout {Amriurus nehulosus) , known here in California as the yellow or mnd cat, and the blue catfish (Ameiurus natalis), were introduced into our waters in the year 1874. One ]'^in. 11. — Common bullhead (Aiiieiurus ncbulosus) . hundred and forty-four were obtained from the Schuylkill Kiver, Pennsylvania, and later others M^ere received from the ]\Iissouri River. All of these were planted in the San Joaquin River near Lathrop, San Joaquin County. The catfish at once became acclimated to our watej's, as have nearly all other introduced fishes. They increased to remarkable numbers. The flood waters of the Sacramento and San Joa(iuin delta have distributed these fish to such a degree that there is no body of water in either the Sacramento or San Joaquin A'^alley, stream, creek, slough, lake, or lagoon that does not contain these fish in some quan- tities. They inhabit waters turbulent or placid, muddy or clear; and a temperature of 75 degrees which proves deadly to other species, except perhaps the carp, is quite congenial to them. The catfish is perhaps the only fish that is immune from the mudd}'^ flavor noticed in fish of other Avarm waters. Left to themselves catfish have become distributed from brackish salt water near the coast to the upper Sacramento, near Red Bluff, and specimens have been taken far above this point. They have been successfully transplanted to every por- tion of the state, from the INIexican line to Oregon. The time and place of spawning depends upon conditions, cli- matic and otherwise, as is the case with all other spawning fishes. The spawning season at low altitude is generally from April 1 to CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 63 July 31. A female of the blue variety, of over two years of age, or about 9^ or 10 inches in length, will spawn about 250 eggs, increasing to about 2,500 for a five-pound female. The time of incuba- tion is short, taking but a fcAv days from the egg to the tadpole-looking embryo. Catfish have a very high or perfect percentage of fertili- zation. The spawning bed is usually selected in still, muddy water where the young can feed on small water larvae, etc. On investi- gation I have found mosquitoes in the embrj^o stage in large quantities in the stomachs of the young fish. Catfish are migratory in the sense that they invariabl}^ travel from their natural abode up stream to spawn at the first rise of the rivers in the spring. These migrations take them to the unreclaimed and over- flowed lands in the Sacramento and San Joaquin region, which at that time become huge natural spawning beds and hatcheries. The catfish can live anywhere, so long as it has sufficient water to cover it and an available food supply. This fish will eat almost anything, from a mutton chop, bone and all, which I once found in one, to a minnow, dead or alive. Catfish are highly predatory, inas- much as they will eat the spawn of any other fish. Fortunately, our other good food and game fishes do not spawn on their pastures. Otherwise they would prove disastrous to the spawn of other fish. The importance of the catfish as a food supply is unquestionable. The quality of its flesh and its fine shipping properties have probably been the means of its near extermination. There is no fish much superior for the table. The only thing that can be charged against the catfish is its appearance. In the year 1900 these fish were no doubt at their maximum num- bers. During 1900 the shipments of dressed catfish from Sacramento alone were enormous. Shipments were even made to the native home of the catfish, Missouri and Mississippi Kiver points. They supplied the markets of Chicago, Salt Lake, Denver, Portland, and other middle and eastern points. In the year 1905 there were shipped by two firms alone from Sac- ramento, 730,771 pounds of dressed catfish, representing about tAvo thirds of their net weight. These statistics were gathered by Mr. Wilcox of the Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C, and the writer. Since that year there has been a steady decline in shipments until now very few, if any, are exported from California. It was a common occurrence ten years ago for a person to catch a hundred fish in a day's angling, whereas today it is a rarety to catch sufficient for a meal, and even then they are too small to clean. The only method of catching these fish is by the fyke or ring net, which is a set net, the small mesh seine, or with hook and line. So we must look to one or more of these methods for correction. The fyke net is the most deadly net in use today, and, fortunately, its use is permitted only in the San Joaquin River and tributaries. This net is set near the bank of the river or slough, and sometimes entirely fills the slough with its width. Its mouth is always open, day and night. It fishes while the owner is asleep. That which enters never escapes. In years of experience I have seen every fish in our river in its maw — salmon, steelhead, striped and black bass, perch, and all other varieties. I have seen it catch everything from a 64 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. eooii ;iii»l mink to ;i lin'tlc. Its use shoiild bo pi'ohi])ited here as it is in iicarly all other states. Until the year 11)09 no restrictions \vere jtlaeeil on the eaptui'e of catfish. They could be caught in any manner, in any quantity, in any net, with any size mesh, and in any and all seasons. With no restrif'tinus aud tlio o'roat demand from all over tlie I'tiited States foi- tliem it is no wonder our waters are depleted. In the year 1909 a law was passed protecting these fish, making it unlaAvful to sell fish of less than eight inches dressed, exclusive of head. Two years later, having taken nearly all of the eight-inch fish, a i)owerful lobby of the fish trust succ(nHh'd in passing a law reducing the sale limit to seven inches, which is the present law. with a close season of two months. Now, as a catfish of seven inches dressed, or eight and a (piarter inches alive, has not yet spawned or reproduced itself, what can be the logical result' Extermination is the only answer. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 65 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME A publication devoted to the conserva- tion of wild life and publislied quarterly by the California State Fish and Game Commission. Sent free to citizens of the State of California. Offered in exchange for orni- thological, mammalogical, and similar pei'iodicals. All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, California. January 30, 1915. "The effectiveness of game protec- tion is governed by the interest of the people and the spirit of those who hunt and fish."— W. L. Finlcy. A GOOD START. WE are glad to be appreciated. Words of commendation and encouragement continue to pour in from many wlio have seen the first number of "California Fish and Game." Mr. Henry Chase has again proved himself our staunch friend by publishing an article in "Forest and Stream" in which he speaks of our quarterly as "a veritable mine of accurate information, data, scientific facts, and interesting reading." This is exactly what we wish "California Fish and Game" to be. We hope that as time goes on we will come nearer aud nearer this ideal. May we again ask the hearty support of every one iu the state who is interested in that great re.source — California's wild life? Help us in our endeavor to really conserve this valuable resource. THE NON-SALE OF GAME. Our friends, who took an active inter- est in the endeavor to pass a non-sale law at the general election on Novem- ber 3, will wish to hear a word regard- ing the defeat of tha measure. The fol- lowing is a summary of the vote obtained from the Secretary of State : .^S counties : No ^(\\MC^ Yes 353,2X5 Majority ■'>-'l<''"l Total vote cast 71-t,731 Southern California went two to one in favor of the measure. In the northern part of the state the following counties only returned a majority in favor of the bill : Humboldt, Santa Clara, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Fresno, Kern and Tulare. Alameda and San Francisco counties polled a very strong vote against the non-sale. All in all, the majority against the measure was sur- prisingly small. Any one of the opposing factors might have been instrumental in bringing about this small majority. California is not the first state to turn down a good law, nor will this he the la.st good measure to be defeated. At this time we have no qualms of conscience, however, for we feel that we took the right side of the question and did our utmost to bring about a favorable vote. The report of Mr. W. P. Taylor, Sec- retary of the California Associated Socie- ties for the Conservation of Wild Life, shows that about $3,700 was wisely spent in a well-conducted campaign to bring about the passage of the non-sale law. It is estimated that this organization brought campaign matter to the atten- tion of. at least one million citizens of the state; that over one hundred lectures were given and about ten thousand per- sonally signed letters were sent out. Similar w-ork to that carried on by the California Associated Societies for the Conservation of Wild Life, was taken over by the Wild Life Protective League of America iu southern California. Just as effective work was doubtless carried on by this organization in the south. When we can point to the w^ork of these two organizations alone, w^e feel as though conservationists have worked hard to uphold the most needed step affecting game here in California. Mr. F. M. Newbert. President of the California Fish and Game Commission, interested himself personally in the campaign and was in- strumental, with the help of his friends, in having published a beautifully illus- trated booklet entitled "Your Fish and Game." Credit is also due many others who gave of their time and money to help make the campaign a success. We attribute the failure of this meas- ure to the following three things: 1. The unfortunate wording of the bill, allowing many votens to vote against 66 California fish and game. the bill when they believed that they were voting against the sale of game. 2. The misapprehension of many who thought that the measure favored gun clubs. 3. The vindictive attitude of several prominent newspapers in the state. The cl(>verest move of our opi)Ouents wa.s to try and shift the responsibility for this bill on the gun club, making it thus appear that the bill would favor the pri- vate gun preserves. Owing to the general feeling toward gun clubs, many voters were deluded enough to tote against the measure. As^a matter of fact, the bill was first drafted and supported by men who were not members of gun clubs and who were not even hunters, but men who were interested in preserving the wild life of the state as a natural resource. We are glad to report that only 14 newspapers, with a combined circulation of 214,442 persons, opposed the non-sale of game ; whereas, 170, with a combined circulation of (517,410, favored the bill. Soon after the election, the "Sacra- mento Bee," published an editorial to the effect that those who backed the non-sale bill, having been defeated by a fair vote of the people, should let the matter drop and cease to make a further attempt to pass similar legislation. We hardly agree that this has been a fair vote of the peo- ple, and we certainly do not believe that game conservationists .should now cease to attempt legislation which will be instru- mental in saving California's wild life. Every one must agree, no matter how he may have voted, that the non-sale campaign just closed was a campaign of education and that it will have a lasting effect on future game legislation. GAME RESOURCES VIVIDLY POR- TRAYED BY MOVING PICTURES. Some reniarkahl(> mo\ing pictures depicting the wild life of the west are now being shown throughout the state. Mr. Edward A. Salisbury, director of the Educational Film Company of Los An- geles, has spent almost two years and many thousands of dollar.s in obtaining moving pictures of birds and animals ).i their own homes. The pictures were taken in the Klamath Lake region of northern California and southern Oregon. In each instance the attempt was made to obtain photographs of animals so as to show their whole life from birth to maturity. Great patience had to be dis- played in procuring the pictures. Blinds were built in Mhich the opei'ators waited hour aftei' hour with muffled camera. In all. about thirty thousand feet of film was taken. Only seven thousand feet of that is being shown. The rest of it is to be used in educational .lud scientific work. The seven reels being shown ai'e as follows : 1. Life history of steelhead trout — Part I. Fish in trap ; artificial spawn- ing of female ; eggs hatching ; trout fry ; distribution. 2. Life history of steelhead trout — Part II. Typical fishing scenes; nesting mallard duck, Virginia rail, Wilson snipe, and mudhen. 3. Treeing and roping wildcats and mountain lions. 4. Farallone cormorants, great blue herons, and white pelicans on their nest- ing grounds. 5. Birds and animals of prey — Nest- ling bald eagles and turkey buzzards : porcupine and skunks. 0. Quail and pheasant hunt, showing typical hunting scenes. 7. Hunting geese for the San Fran- cisco market. Not only are these pictures of interest to the hunter and fisherman, but they viv- idly portray wild life to the nature lover. The last reel, showing hunting geese for the market, shows the type of slaughter which has too long gone on in this state, and brings convincing evidence of the necessity for better conservation. That these pictures are really preach- ing conservation is evident from the fol- lowing quotation taken from an editorial in the Fresno Herald : "Since it now appears that the state has overlooked the importance of Amend- ment No. 18, prohibiting the sale of game with the exception of wild geese, under certain conditions, the appeal of the Salisbury films becomes all the more in- sistent. As his pictures teach, such wild waterfowl, now considered delicacies upon California tables, will become as extinct in this state, if the indiscriminate CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 67 and ruthless killing goes on each year, as the'passenger pigeon, common at one time in all sections of the United States and hunted by the million because of its epicurean flavor when served up baked to a delicious brown. Conservation of l)ird and game life is no less an issue in California to-day than conservation of human energies and resources. The man who says, 'Why not kill "em? Plenty of ducks and quail, aren't there?' is simply stupidly ignorant of the hazard and risk Ihat surround every duck and quail egg. lie knows nothing of the chance against every duckling and young bird ever reach- ing maturity and the great overwhelming odds against its ever reaching the mating or the nesting stage and reproducing its species, as long as men with pump guns dig pits for themselves." LAST PASSENGER PIGEON DIES. The last surviving passenger pigeon died at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden on September 3, ]ni4. This particular bird was a female and was hatched in captivity twenty-two j^ears ago. The specimen ha.s for many years been the only living bird to represent the millions of these birds that formerly exi.sted in the eastern- and middle states. A stand- ing reward of a large sum of money for the pa.st five years has failed to bring forth any clue as to the existence of any living passenger pigeon. The immense numbers of passenger pigeons which at one time existed in the eastern United States was one of the greatest zoological wonders in the world. Alexander Wilson, one of the pioneers of American ornithology, tells of a breed- ing place of these pigeons in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which was several miles in breadth and was said to be more than forty miles in extent. Over one hundred nests were to be found in a single tree, and the ground was strewn with broken limbs of trees, eggs and dead squabs. In speaking of a flight of these birds he says that during one afternoon he estimated that the continuous flock overhead con- tained at least 2,2.30,272.000 pigeons. After there became a market demand for these birds, market hunters destroyed them by the thousands and carloads were shipped to the market in New York and other large cities. "At the great nesting places both Indians and white men felled the trees in such a way that the larger trees in falling broKe down the smaller ones and threw the helpless squabs to the ground. The squabs wei-e gathered, their heads pulled off, their bodies thrown into sacks, and large droves of hogs were turned in to fatten on those which could not be used." From ten to thirty dozen were often caught at one time in a bird net. By 1878 the birds wei-e greatly reduced in numbers and the last great slaughter for the market occurred in Michigan dur- ing this year. It has been estimated that three hundred tons of birds were sent to the market in 1878. Birds were still to be seen on the mai-ket in Chicago as late as 1880, and small flocks were seen in 1895. But later than 1906 we have no record. It is no wonder, therefore, that the death of a single bird should have caused so much interest the world over. The bird itself was presented to the National Museum, where it will be useful in teach- ing a lesson to coming generations. The death of this pigeon typifies the complete extermination of a valuable resource of our country. It should forever teach us that our wild life is ours only in trust and that we owe much to succeeding generations. Our own wild pigeon, the band-tailed pigeon, with much the same habits as the passenger pigeon, received no protection until the Federal Migratory Bird Law was passed. We trust that this needed protection has not come too late to save this valuable species as a member of our fauna. HOW THE MIGRATORY BIRD LAW WORKS. The Assistant Chief of the United States Biological Sun'ey recently reported to us that the Weeks-McLean ^Migratory Bird Law has already proved its •worth, in spite of the vei-y inadequate appropria- tion for its enforcement. In many places in the east and middle we.st more ducks have nested the past year than have been seen in those particular localities for ten or fifteen years. The elimination of spring shooting in many places has pro- duced remarkable results. It is also 68 CALIFORNIA J 'IS 1 1 AM) (JAME. reported that certain birds like the wood duck, which wore absolutely protected for a term of years by the new law, have increased wonderfully even in the short time during which I lie law has been in operation. The enforcenieiit of the Migratory Bird Law has brought about results which are far beyond even the most sanguine hopes of the supporters of the measure. It is needless to say that conservationists every- where are delighted with this demonstra- tion of a law which was said to bo impracticable. MARKET DUCKS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND. Not nearly so niaii\- ducks wei'e received at San Francisco and Oakland on the first day of the season this year as were leceived last year. The following table shows the distribution by species of those received at San Francisco. The larger part of these ducks went to the market. Number of Ducks Received at San Fran- cisco and Oakland, October 15, 1914. San Francisco : Mallard 212 Gadwall (gray) 66 Widgeon 20 Pintail (sprig) 716 Teal 3.5.3 Spoonbill 46 Scaup Duck (bluebill) 1 Redhead 2 Canvasback Total — San Francisco 1,416 Oakland 438 Total 1,854 A total of 438 ducks were received at Oakland, making the total number of ducks received at San Francisco and Oakland. 1.S.~)4. About ')()(> more were received in private bags. As can be seen from the following com- parison, more ducks came to the San Francisco market during November of this year : October November 1913 19.380 20,918 1914- 12,614 28,425 It has been estimated that about 1,000 ducks are taken from the Alvarado marshes each week end. On December (jth at least 1,125 birds were obtained in this district. The latest move of the market hunter in his endeavor to get his ducks to market j is to shij) them to a fictitious address. P.y some arrangement the limit of ducks is delivered to the correct place, no matter what the address is. Even though the former game transfer companies have been put out of business, the Fish and (lame Commission still has i)rol)lems to solve as to the manner in which the viola- tor can be caught. 26,000 MILES OF RUNNING STREAMS IN CALIFORNIA. Ir has been estiinalcd tli.-it if all of the water in the streams and lakes of Cali- fornia were to be confined in a stream sixty feet wide and thirty feet deep, that the stream would reach around the world twenty times. In other words, the stream would be over 500,000 miles long. There are 2li.f!'ll0 miles of running streams in this state in which fish can live. Does it seem reasonable, therefore, to believe that a force of seventy-two deputies is sufficient to jiroperly ])atrol our streams alone, with- out taking into consideration our game covers at all. NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY. The San Francisco "Call" has kindly offered to assist in bringing to the citi- zens of the state reliable information regarding game. During the coming months Dr. H. C. Bryant, in charge of the Bureau of Education and Publicity of the California Fish and Game Com- mission, will supply a series of articles dealing with the game fish, birds, and mammals of California. The first article which describes the distribution, habits and status of the California valley (juail. was iiiinti'd in th(> "Call and I'ost" under date of November 25th. Oth(>r articles will ai)pear from time to time. RECOMMEND CHANGES IN GAME LAWS. The California State Fish, (ianie. and Forest Protective League met recently at Santa ('ruz. I'resideut Charles A. Red- ding of San Rafael presided. The meet- ing was given over to a discussion of needed changes in the fish and game laws. The following were some of the recom- mendations made : That the bag limit for ducks be reduced from 25 to 15 a day. oalifornlv fish and game. 69 Tliiit the shooting season for ducks be reduced to conform with the federal h\w. That the bag limit for quail be reduced from 140 birds a week to 30, and from 20 birds a day to IH. and that the season be reduced from four months to two months. That the deer season be reduced to six weeks. That the open season in the Coast Range extend from August 1st to Septem- ber ir)th. and in the Sierra Nevada Range from September l.lth to Novemlier 1st. That the bag limit for deer be changed from two to one ; that spike bucks or j'ounger fawns be protected, and that the running of deer with dogs be prohibited in close season. That fifty acres of land at Cyprus Point on the Seventeen Mile Drive near JN^on- terey be set aside as a national reserve. "THE GOOD OLD DAYS." As far as abundance of game is con- cerned, we can certainly point to "the good old days" as being better than the present. We recently saw a letter which made the statement that in the season (September l.VMarch 15), 18S2-18S3, two men, shooting for the market six days each week, killed 27,000 ducks. This record shoot took place in the Sacramento Valley. Every one conversant with the conditions at the present time will will- ingly concede that no such shoot as this is possible anywhere in the state at the present time. The writer of the letter, himself one of the hunters, is now a game conservationist and is ver.y much opposed to even the smaller slaughter of game by market hunters at the present time. We wish that we were able to place in front of our readers exact figures as to fonner kills and those possible at the present time. We believe that such fig- ures would be convincing proof of the immediate need for the better protection of our game birds and mammals. THE ALIEN HUNTER. It is a well known fact that the alien hunter violates fish and game laws much more often than any one else. The alien has long been the most important problem which the Fish and Game Commission has faced. The following note regarding a Supreme Court decision on the Pennsyl- vania law prohibiting aliens from possess- ing firearms is therefore of interest. The note appeared in "Current Items of Inter- est." July 22, 1914: "The Pennsylvania law prohibiting aliens from possessing guns, which, since itb passage in 1909, has been sustained by the various state courts, was upheld as a constitutional measure by the United States Supreme Court on January 19, 1914. The law was designed to check the great destruction of birds l>y low-grade immigrants." A CORRECTION. Owing to the short time allowed for the publication of the first number of "California Fish and Game," a number of errors crept in. One of the worst ones is to be found on page 9. in Mr. Holder's article on "Attempts to Protect the Sea Fisheries of Southern Califor- nia," where the statement is made that the group of islands of which Santa Cata- lina Island is one, are "one hundred thirty miles" off Los Angeles County. In justice to Mr. Holder it should be stated that this phrase should belong with the Santa Barbara Islands, as most peo- ple are well aware that Santa Catalina is nowhere near this distance off Los Angeles County. HATCHERY AND FISHERY NOTES. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT OF FISH DISTRIBUTION. SissoN, California, October 27, 1914. Hon. BoAKi) OF Fish and Game Commis- sioners, State of California. Gentlemen : I respectfully submit herewith a brief report of the operations of the Department of Hatcheries. The distrihjition of trout from Sisson hatchery is rapidly nea^'ing completion. The season has been remarkably success- ful. The fry were all in excellent condi- tion, and we have received many compli- ments from applicants who received allot- ments of fish this season. Following is a brief statement showing the number of fish reared and distributed by the differ- 70 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. ent hatcheries and stations operated dur- ing the season of 1914 : Sisson Hatchery. Loch Levon trout 1,67 4,000 Eastern brook trout_ 1,053,000 Rainbow trout 1,057,000 Stcelhead trout 2,250,000 Black spotted trout 1,780.000 Large lake trout 18,000 7,832,000 Quinnat salmon 21,294,000 Silver salmon 95,000 21,389,000 Total 29,221,000 Five liundrcd and twenty-three surveys liave I)een made for screens to be installed in canals and ditches diverting water from tlie streams of the state. Four liun- dred forty-one legal notices have been served on the owners of canals and ditches, and we have received reports that two hundred fifty-six screens have been installed. The number of screens installed and laddci's constructed, above gi\eu. does not Fig. 15.- — Members attending meeting of Pacific Fisheries Society held at Seattle, June 10-12, 1914. Tahoe Hatcheries Black spotted trout__ 2,882.000 Large lake trout 95,000 Price Creek Hatchery. Stcelhead trout 406,000 Quinnat salmon 3,948,000 Ukiah Hatchery Steelhead trout fVaivoyia Hatchery. Black spotted trout— 200,000 Large lake trout 22,000 2,977,000 4,354,000 550,000 222,000 Total trout distributed-.. Total salmon distributed. Total ._ 11,987,000 ._ 25,337,000 ._ 37,325,000 Screen and Ladder Investigation. To date there have been 130 surveys for fish ladders made. Si.xty legal notices have been served and blue prints for ladders furnished the owners of dams. We have received reports that 59 ladders haA'e been installed and dams and falls removed. represent the number actually in, a.s we have been unable to obtain exact reports from every district. I have given only the number that have been actually re- ported as being completed. Respectfully yours, W. II. SlIEnLEY, Superintendent of Hatcheries. THE PACIFIC FISHERIES SOCIETY. On June 10, 1914, a number of promi- nent men interested in fish and fisheries met at the University of Washington, Seattle, to form a new organization — the Pacific Fisheries Society. Mr. Carl Westerfeld, member of the California Fish and Game Commission, was elected president. Mr. Henry O'Malley and Professor Trevor Kincaid, vice-presidents, .Tohn N. Cobb, secretary, and Russel Palmer, treasurer. The following com- pose the executive committee : Dr. B. W. California pish and game. 71 Evei'maun, Diiootor California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Cal. ; C. McLean Fraser, Director Biological Lab- oratory, Nanaimo, British Columbia ; Dr. Charles Frederick Holder, Pasadena, California ; I^.sJie II. Darwin, Washing- ton Fish and Game Commissioner, Seat- lie, ^^'a.sh. : M. J. Kinney, member of Oregon Fish and Game Commission, Portland, Oregon ; Ward T. Bower, Pacific Coast Agent U. S. Bureau of The object of the Pacific Fisheries Society is to bring together each year those pai'ticularly interested in fish and fishing on the Pacific Coast. It is hoped that this organization will become on the Pacific Coast what the American Fish- eries Society is on the Atlantic Coast. The next annual meeting will be held in San Francisco, probably at the same time as the meeting of affiliated scientific societies. Fig. 16. — Dead and dying ducks at Tulare Lake, September 21, 1913. Sick birds remained in a paralytic state for several days before death occurred. Pliotograph by P. C. Clarke. Fisheries, Seattle, Wash., and M. D. Baldwin, Esq., member Montana Fish and Game Commission, Kalispell, Mon- tana. Dr. Hugh M. Smith, United States Commissioner of Fisheries, was present and read an interesting paper on "The Pacific Policy of the Bui*eau of Fisheries." Mr. John N. Cobb, editor of the Pacific Fisherman, contributed a most interest- ing article on "Neglected Pacific Fishery Resources." A number of other impor- tant papers were read. Those present were entertaiiuxl by trips to the nearby hatcheries and by an expedition on Puget Sound on board the U. S. Fisheries steamer "Albatross." On the latter trip the different sorts of scientific apparatus carried by this steamer were exhibited and explained. A PERMANENT RECORD OF FISH PLANTING. There is now being prepared at the Sacramento office of the California Fish and Game Commission an exhaustive record of fish planting in California. A survey has been made of all of the water sheds of the state and maps show where there are waterfalls, rapids, etc., and where fish ladders and screens have been placed. The exact amount of water in each stream and those which go dry in summer are indicated. Accompanying data shows exactly where the different kinds of fish have been planted and the success obtained. Consequently the Com- mission will bo better able to know ex- actly where fish planting will be most successful. Mr. Charles L. Gilmore, Engi- neer of the Commission, is compiling the 72 CALIFORNIA PIS 1 1 AND GAME. work under the supervision of Mr. Frank ^I. Newbert. prosidont of the California Fish and Game ('onimission. TUNA DISAPPEAR. Much disappointment has resulted in southern California cannery circles on account of the sudden halt, about Septem- ber ISth. in the catch of tuna or albacore. At that time the fish, which had previ- ously been runniiii,' in large schools for UKirc than two nioiillis. disa])pcnri'(l, and the Japanese who first tauulit the whites how to catch the tuna in commercial (piantities. — Pacmku' FisirKiniAX. Octo- ber, 1914. FISH LIVE TWO MONTHS IN ICE. 'J'he "I'acitic Fisherman" reports that a Swiss scientist has succeeded in keeping fish alive which were frozen in ice for two months. Success was attributed to the fact that small pieces of ice were l>]aced in the water liofore it was slnwlv I"iG. 17. — Fish Uuldei- over Clough Dam on Los Molinos River, Sliasta Countv, Cali- fornia. Similar fisli ladders have been placed over practically "all the important dams in the state, thus givins fish access to the headwaters of the streams. have not been seen since. Wlictber llicy have gone north or off shore, or escaped to the waters of the coast of Lower Cali- fornia remains a mystery. Several ex- ])erts from tlie United States Bureau of Fisheries have l)een on the ground nearly all summer for the express purpose of solving this problem, and they are said to be as much at sea on the question as the amateurs. In the mean time the packers are hoping that the theory that the fish have gone up the coast and that they will pay the local waters a call on the way back, is true. The season, while it lasted, was excep- tionally good, some two-man boats bring- ing in as high as ten tons in two days. The white men made a better showing this season than the Japanese, which is rather surprising and unusual, as it was fro7.cn, ;(uil lo Ihi' fact that the ice was thawed very slowly. This suggests a means of transporting live fish. Whether such a method would prove practicable is still to be ascertained. SALMON STORED IN ICE. Last year tons of salmon were stored in ice. This was so successful that this year many more tons were thus preserved to await a better price after the season had closed. NEW RULING RELATIVE TO FISHING IN NAVIGABLE WATERS. Waii Dkpartmknt, Wasiiincto.v. October 28, 1914. To ichoiii it nifii/ concern: The attention of those engaged and of all others who propose to engage in fishing CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 73 ill llii' iiavisahlc waters of tlu' UniteJ States, in or tributary to San Francisoo Bay, iu the State of California, is called to the following provisions of section 10 of the I{i\er and Harbor Act of March 3, 1809, as follows : That the creation of any obstruction not affirmatively autliorized by Congress to tlie navigable capacity of any of the Wiiters of the United States is hereby pro- liibited : * * * and it shall not be lawful to excavate or fill, or in any man- ner to alter or modify the course, location, condition, or capacity of any port, road- stead, haven, harbor, canal, lake, harbor of refuge, or inclosure within the limits of any breakwater, or of the channel of any navigable water of the United States unless the work has been recommended by the Chief of Engineers and authorized by the Secretary of War prior to beginning the same. All persons are hereby notified that the use of nets floating- or drifting with the tide or current for the purpose of catching tish in the waters of San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Carquinez Strait. Suisun Bay and the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and all navigable tributaries of the aforesaid waters, is considered an unrea- sonable obstruction to navigation, except- ing as hereinafter specified, and that fish- ing with nets is prohibited in the following fairways which are reserved for naviga- tion : The fairway of the ferry boats between Vallejo Junction and Vallejo ; Benicia and Port Costa ; Benicia and Martinez ; Mal- lard Slough and Chipp's Island. Approaches to wharves and docks and steamboat landings. Steamboat channel from McNear's Point to Beacon No. 1, and dredged channel from Beacon No. 1 to Beacon No. 6, at mouth of Petaluma Creek. Prom Point Pinole to Oleum Wharf between the buoys on the north side of • the dredged channel and the 18-foot con- tour on the south side of the bay. Mare Island Strait. From Oleum Wharf to Port Costa, 1.000 feet out from the face of the docks and wharves. Between Port Costa, Army Point and Sui.sun Point, except east of the Nevada Dock to Steamboat Wharf at Martinez, south of ferry course. Between Suisun Point and New York Slough, from the left bank to the center of the deep water channel. The use of nets in those waters else- where than in the above described fair- w'ays, for the purpose of catching fisli, is considered permissible under cei'tain con- ditions and restrictions, and, until further notice, the Secretary of War will inter- pose no objection to such use, so far as the interests of navigation are concerned, provided the following conditions are ob- served : (a) That all nets, floating or drifting with the tide or current, laid out in the above named waters be laid from the bank towards the channel ; that all nets in the same vicinity when laid out from the same bank shall not cover more than one half the width of the channel ; that nets laid out from both banks must not overlap in any case ; and that where the channel is so narrow that more than one half its width is required for the passage of ves- sels, nets shall be picked up and removed in time to permit the passage of an ap- proaching vessel without hindrance or delay. (6) That the shore end of every net shall have attached to it a float, painted white, and large enough to carry, in an upright position, three feet above the sur- face of the water, a white flag 18 inches by 24 inches by day, and a white light by night, visible all around the horizon. (c) That a fishing boat with one or more men in it shall always be in attend- ance while the net is in use and shall always be at the channel end of the net. (d) That a license shall be obtained for the use of the net as required by the laws of the State of California, and that every person using or operating a gill or floating net in any of the above named navigalile waters of the United States shall cause to be placed upon the corks of each end of such net and upon the cork nearest the center thereof, the number of his state fishing license for the current year, said number to consist of figures not less than one inch in height, and shall also cause to be placed and maintained on each side of the bow of the boat used to operate such net. the same number, said number to consist of figures not less than nine inches high and five inches wide with strokes one and one quarter inches wide and spaced two and one half inches anart and to con- sist of white figures on black ground or black figures on white ground. Failure to mark boats and corks with the license number as above prescribed will be considered a violation of these regulations. (e) That when the net is laid from the right bank, which will be considered the right-hand bank going down stream, to- wards the channel, the fishing boat shall carry a permanent black flag by day and when the net is laid from the left bank the fishing boat shall carry a permanent red flag by day ; the size of such flags shall be 18 inches by 24 inches or larger, and they shall be carried not less than four feet above the gunwale of the boat. This arrangement of colors conforms to that for buoys inarking channels and navi- gators will govern themselves accordingly, namely, red flags to be left on the star- board hand and black flags on the port hand by vessels going up stream. (f) That lights shall be displayed as prescribed by law. (See Act of Congress approved June 7, 1897. entitled "An act to adopt regulations for preventing colli- sions upon certain harbors, rivers and in- land waters of the United States)." When the net is laid from the right bank towards 74 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. the channel tlie fishing boat shall show a red light to vessels coming up stream and a green light to vessels coming down stream. When the net is laid from the left Viank towards the channel the fishing boat shall show a green light to vessels coming up stream and a red light to vessels com- ing down stream. On being approached by or approaching another vessel such lights shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. This arrangement conforms to the rules for the running lights of vessels under the supposition that the fishing boat is heading towards the net and will require a clear way in that direction. Navigators governing them- selves accordingly and following the usual rules for avoiding collisions will avoid the net. (.g) That when fog occurs, signals shall be given from the fishing boats as pre- scribed by law. (See Act of Congress approved June 7, 1897, referred to above. Art. 15. Sees. 2 (ri) and 2 (f). To show its position or location four short blasts of a fish horn shall be given at intervals from llie fisliing boat imtil the approach- ing vessel is in sight, when signals shall al.so be given from the fishing boat by a flag or light indicating on which side the vessel should pass. Henry Breckinridge, Acting Secretary of War. CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GAME COMMISSIONERS. The annual meeting of the National Association of Game Commissioners was held at the National Museum, Washing- ton, D. C, on October 2-3, 1914. Mem- bers from seventeen states and representa- tives from four associations and bureaus were present. Mr. W. L. Finley, of the Oregon Commission, was the only mem- ber present from tlie Pacific Coast. A number of interesting jiapers and ad- dresses were given. At tlie close of tlie meeting the following resolutions were adopted : Whereas, It has been conclusively de- termined that many species of birds are subject to various diseases dtie to the presence of specific germs and animal parasites, and Whereas, Experience has demonstrated that shipments of international, interstate and even of lesser distances have resulted in serious extension of disease, either directly from the birds, or indirectly through Infection of ground or water sup- ply, be it Resolved. That this association urge upon individuals and soortsmen's clubs intelligent consideration of the dangers which may attend every shipment of birds, notably quail and ducks, and partlcidarly do we urge upon the state and federal governments a complete, strict and effec- tive quarantine of all importations of live birds. Resolved. That the governor of each state be and he is hereby requested to appoint ten delegates to each annual con- vention of game commissioners. Such delegates shall take part in the meeting but shall have no vote. Resolved, That the incoming president when elected he and he is hereby directed to raise certain general committees, and special committees, by groups of states, and commit to thorn the problems of Game Conservation for solution and report at the next annual meeting'. Resolved, That we are impressed with the benefit that may come to the cause of game and wild bird protection through the help of the three hundred thousand Boy Scouts of America, and recommend that wherever that may be possible, the Boy Scouts be enlisted in the great work, and we thank them for work already done in this direction. Whereas, Extended experience has proved that fish, moUusks, and other aquatic animals are amenable to artificial propagation, and that the per acre yield of food from the waters and from the land under water can be enormouslv in- creased by methods essentially identical with those so successfully employed in agriculture, and Whereas, The constantly increasing demand for food can be permanently met not merely by discovery and destructive exploitation of new fishing grounds, but that this demand for food can only be met permanently and economically by in- creased production after the methods and practices of agricultural science, and Whereas, The future continuance and necessary extension of our fisheries, will require the development of methods of increasing production, and AVhereas, Production must underlie commerce in fisheries products, be it Resolved, That this association is of the opinion that the work of the Bureau of Fisheries is and properly should be closely allied with problems of production as well as distrib\ition of aquatic food products, and that the activities are and should be more closely allied with the type of activi- ties carried on by the Department of Agriculture ; therefore, be it further Resolved, Tliat tliis association appoint a committee to confer with the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Fisheries with power to represent this society in considering the problem involved. ORGANIZATION OF SPORTSMEN IN PENNSYLVANIA DO FINE WORK. At a recent convention of tlie United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania it was voted to employ a state organizer with a salary of fifteen hundred dollars. He will travel through the state, organizing local camps and furthering the work of the organ- ization. The association publishes a monthly magazine, "The Pennsylvania Sporismnn." Competent lecturers are CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 75 furnished on application and the lectures given are free to all. "The standard working policy of the association is such that it requires a local camp of twenty-five members or less to plant at least two cans of fish a year, give out or distribute at least two bird boxes a year, plant or distribute at least fifty trees, and feed the wild game during the winter at least $2.00 worth of feed. Camps of fifty members are required to do twice the above amount of work, and larger camps accordingly. Each local camp, of course, can do as much more work as they may wish. They must report at the annual convention what work has been done." (Fish and Game Conservationist and Warden's Journal, September, 1914.) THE ECONOMIC PRESERVATION OF BIRDS. Members of the British committee for the economic preservation of birds have issued a statement recommending the fol- lowing six suggestions as a working basis : (1) Absolute protection during breeding season for all breeding wild birds of what- ever kind. (2) Absolute protection for all birds found upon inquiry to be either verging upon extinction, highly localize:!, or of determined benefit in agriculture centers. These birds to be known as "Birds of Class I." (3) Regulations to be enforced by government or local authorities under government for species that have commercial value and are not in danger. These birds to be known as "Birds of Class II." The government of the countries of origin to ta:: the sale of these species and thereby recover the cost of enforcing regulations. (4) The perma- nent maintenance of an international committee of scientific experts to deter- mine year by year which species belong of right to the respective classes. (5) An international agreement to refuse impor- tation to the world's markets, museums and private collections of all species that are found to belong to "Class I." (6) All species in "Class II" to be exported under license. The committee would place at once in "Glass I" the following birds : The family of chatterers, the cattle egret, the resplendent trogon, the lyre bird.s, the rifle bird of Australia, the regent bower bird, the flamingo, the spoonbills, the trogopaus, the Impeyan (monal) pheas- ants, the red bird of paradise of the Waigu Island, the I'rince Rudolf, Lawes', Prince Wilhelm's, Rothchild's, Princess Stephanie's and Meyer's bird of paradise. — Science, August 21, 1914. MORE MOVIES OF THE SALMON INDUSTRY. During the latter part of August, E. J. Dwyer took a series of moving pictures of the salmon industry on the Fraser River for the province of British Columbia. These will be used by the province in advertising British Columbia. — Pacific Fisherman, September, 1914. DISEASE ATTACKS MOUNTAIN SHEEP AND GOATS. The United States Department of Agri- culture has undertaken the investigation of a .eerious disease which is affecting the mountain sheep, or bighorn, and the mountain goat in Idaho. The forest officers think that it is the same disease which caused the mountain sheep to die in great numbers during 1882-83. The nature of the disease is not known, though it results fatally and sheep affected with it seem to have rough and mangy coats and are verj' much emaciated. Three bureaus of the depart- ment are engaged in the study — the Bureau of Biological Survey, the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Forest Seri'- ice. A competent veterinarian has already gone to Idaho to start the work. — - Forest and Stream, November 21, 1914. MOVING PICTURES OF WILD LIFE IN OREGON. Mr. W. L. Finley, in charge of the educational work of the Oregon Fish and Game Commission, has obtained some very fine moving pictures of wild birds and animals. Last summer he spent several weeks in the Klamath Lake region obtaining pictures of birds on their nesting grounds. Mr. Finley has just returned from a trip east where he attended the annual meeting of the National Association of Game Commis- sioners at Washington, I). C, where he showed his pictures. The pictures were shown at se\eral other places in the east and also at the University of California, where many people were turned away on account of the limited capacity of the 76 CALIFORNIA KISH AND GAME. lecture room. It is the intention of the Oregon commission to have these moving pictures shown throughout that state and also to have them exiiibited at the I'anama-i'acitic Exposition. The day when i)(>oi)le flocked to see a stereopticon lecture has passed. ".Movies" are now the only thing which will attract them. We are glad to see many of the state fish and game commissions keeping abreast of the times. THE DIN OF WAR AND THE FEATHERED TRIBE. The following recently appeared in the Oakland " Tribune." We do not know on what authority the article was published but it sounds quite plausible. War and game conservation hardly go well to- gether. "The feathered tribe of Belgium and northern France has been dispersed by the din of war. "In all districts of the Marne it was noticed after the bat(:le that the birds had disappeared. The Argonne forests also have been nearly depopulated of all kinds of game by the continual turmoil in those regions. Driven to detached woods and thickets where their dangers would have been increased in time of peace, they now hud security. "Apart from their enforced e.\ile, birds are not the least fortunate of beings in these times, game shooting being prohil)- ited in France. "The markets furnished evidence that sonu' i)oaching was going on, however, and the minister of war issued a warning that the sale of no other than imported refrigerator game would be tolerated. Early in the war soldiers supplemented tteir rations by taking a hare or a l)heasant here and there, but this was stoppi'd by order. "Scarcity of game in the market is no hardship, for il is a small i)art of the alimentation of Paris. The arrivals amount annually to only ] ,000 tons of native and 450 tons of imported game, while the arrivals of domestic poultry, alone, aggregate 21.000 tons. "Belgium sends aO.OOO larks to Paris each season, while the game importations from other countries are: Austria, 2,500 deer, 80,000 i)artridges, 50.000 hares; Italy. 25.000 (juail ; Australia. lOO.OOO rabbits. 20.000 hares and 50.000 larks; England, 40,000 pheasants and 30.000 partridges. "No doubt considerable game thai diil not get away from the coiitinuallx- IkmIcu war zone has breu destroyed, and the sportsmen who have shooting preserves in these parts of the country are pessit mislic as to the future; they think it will rcHjuire several years to repoi)ulate those regions. On the other hand, the i)i'ohihi- tion of one season's shooting in the terri- tory not affected by hostilities, it is thought, will result in immense benefit to game in general, and that next .year and for many years to come all kinds of game will be more plentiful than ever before,"' LIFE HISTORY NOTES. DUCKS DIE ON TULARE LAKE. The usual- epidemic among ducks was noted again early this season on Tulare Lake. Mr. E. \V. Smalley reports that not nearly so many birds died this year at last. Many of the rei)orts regarding the epidemic were grossly exaggerated. Mr. Alex Wetmore. of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey, spent sev- eral days investigating conditions on the lake. Mr. Wetmore spent several months studying the similar epidemic whieV appears on Salt Lake. Utah, each .year. We ho])!' I hat we may ht> able to give our readers the results of his investigations at a later date. Mr. F. C. Clark carried on some valua- ble (^xjieriments last year at Tuhni' I„ike and has laid an important foiuidation for further work. The epidemic seems to be caused by a poison in the w'ater. But to know this is not enough. We want to know exactly what it is that kills off the ducks on Tulare Lake and whether there are any means b.v which the trouble can be alleviated. Further investigations are planned for the coming .year. — H. C. Bryant. two records of the nesting of the wilson snipe in CALIFORNIA. The Wilson snii)e ((idlliiiiiiio drlirata) is a common bird in our marshes during the winter season. It even occasionally CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 77 remains ualil July, but the birds are not to be seen in the lowlands iu late summer. Many hunters have wondered why they were unable to find nests of this bird. The reason for it is explained by the fol- lowing two records given me by Mr. George Neale. A ne.st containing two young was dis- covered by Mr. Neale early in August, 1912, on the Burton Creek meadow at the north end of Lake Tahoe, Placer County, California. Mr. Charles Flohr. an old-time hunter, told Mr. Neale several years ago that on kets iu 8an Francisco in the "lOer days, yet the year of 1914 finds us with only a few scattered herds in the state. The fol- lowing information regarding a small herd me by Mr. A. I). Ferguson. Between in western Fresno County was furnished thirty and forty years ago the herd num- bered two hundred to three hundred. In 1S9S they had been reduced down to about thirty-two. In 1909, one hundred, and thirty-eight were counted. Mr. J. G. Tyler of Fresno reports that on October 31, 1914, he noted seven prong- horned antelope about fifteen miles east PiQ ij< — A partial view of the laru'sl lif^li snecn in llie state. Tliis screen, installed by the Sacramento Valley West Side Canal Company, in Glenn County, is seventy feet long and fifteen feet deep. September 1, 1899, he discovered a nest containing three .young in the Sierra Valley, Plumas County, California. The Wilson snipe apparently nests very late and consequently its habit of staying well into the summer is accounted for. Those birds which remain so late probably nest around the lakes and ponds in our high mountains, — IT, C, Bryant, PRESENT STATUS OF THE PRONG- HORNED ANTELOPE. Although antelope meat was the com- monest meat to be purchased on the mar- of the mouth of the Little Panoebe, One of the number appeared to be only a little over one-half grown. Twenty-eight were seen in this general vicinity last spring. — II. C, Bryant. QUEER SPECIMENS OF DEER FROM THE WHITNEY REGION, Mr. S. L, N. Ellis of the Fresno Divi- sion reports to us that during August. I'.tll, two very interesting specimens of deer were obtained near Mount Whitney. One appeared to be an hermaphrodite. This deer had very rudimentary and 78 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. strangely formed horus. The other speci- men was a doe with horns. Mr. Ellis says that this is not the first time that a horned doe has been taken in this region. The horns of this particular specimen were very gnarled and rudimentary. The hides and horns of both of these deer are to be seen in the office of the Fish and Game Commission at Fresno. DEER SEASON TOO EARLY. Practically all of the deer killed in Santa Cruz County during the past season were still in the velvet. Evidently the season in this locality opens altogether too early. All of the hunters in this county are insistent in their demands that the law be changed as soon as possible. — J. II. Hill. A PORCUPINE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRAS. A clipping from the Folsom "Tele- graph" states that Harry Hilbert of that place killed a porcupine weighing fifteen pounds on Noverabor 13, 1914. It is soldnm that a iiorcupine wanders down into the lowlands. Tlicir true home is in the higher altitudes. WILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. PENNSYLVANIA PAYS TRIBUTE TO FROGS, TOADS AND SALAMANDERS. Slowly but surely we are finding out that practically every form of life is of some use. For over fifty years we have been studying the food of birds and th? more we study the more we dis::'over that birds are to be considered friends of the farmer rather than foes. Some years ago Professor H. A. Surface, Economic Zo- ologist of Pennslyvania, published a bulle- tin of 208 pages describing the food habits of snakes. The results of further re- searches have led him to publish, recently, a similar bulletin on the "Economic Fea- tures of the Amphibians of Pennsylvania" (Zoological Bulletin, Vol. Ill, May- July. 1913, pp. 67-152). A key to species enables the amateur to determine any species of toad, frog or salamander ; and there are tables under each species described, showing exactly \\hat has been taken from the stomaHis of the amphib- ians collected. Stomachs to the number of 1,456, representing 24 different species, were examined to obtain the data given. "The results of investigations show that the amphibians, as a rule, feed upon a class of food similar to that of a toad. a creature whose food has been investi- gated quite thoroughly. * * * Hg value as a consumer of destructive insect.s and closely related creatures has been established beyond question. * * * In a similar way, the terrestrial amphibians are to be regarded as friends of agricul- ture, and they deserve protection accord- ingly. "In addition to the fact that the amphib- ians as a whole are constructive rather than destructive to man's interest, some species, as those of the frogs, serve as food for man. * * * In many parts or this country procuring and selling frogs has become a paying industry, so much so that several species have been greatly reduced in numbers. In Pennsylvania, as a result, legislation has been enacted which makes it illegal 'to catch, take, or kill any bullfrogs, only from the first day of July to the first day of November.' A further economic feature of the amphib- ians is found in the fact that their young or tadpoles are tsiken extensively as food for fishes, thus contributing indirectly to the nourishment of mankind, and they are also used as bait by fishermen. In fact, their use as bait has threatened the reduction or extermination of tadpoles and frogs to such an extent that a bill was introduced into the last legislature providing that not more than 20 tadpoles could be used as bait in one day. How- ever, the bill failed to become a law." So it can be seen that not only are the despised frog. toad, and salamander proved friends of the agriculturist, but they are of such value that legislation has been enacted in order to prevent their complete extermination. It may also be of interest for our readers to know that in Switzerland the edelweis, a flowering plant, and several species of butterflies CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 79 are now protected by law because their existence was threatened by tourists and collectors. — H. C. Bryant. DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND SHIPPING GAME AND NON-GAME BIRDS OR STOMACHS FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. As a usual thing the collections of pub- lic museums lack good series of game birds and in many cases they contain but few representations of non-game species. Hunters should therefore aim to ship specimens in good condition to such insti- tutions, and particularly so in the case of rare or unknown species, as such speci- mens are of great scientific value. Examination of the stomach contents of either game or non-game birds is neces- sary to determine whether or not the species are valuable to agricultural inter- ests. Such examination is also an aid in determining what materials serve as food and should be provided on preserves if game birds, particularly waterfowl, are to be attracted by means of food plants. Stomachs. — When removed, stomachs or gizzards with gullet or crop, if filled with food, should be tagged with the name of the species, the locality and date of cap- ture and the name of the collector. Any information as to the food materials available to the birds and the relative abundance of different kinds of food should be given. If a number of stomachs of one species are collected, all having the same data as to locality and date of cap- ture, they may be put together with a single tag. The specimens should be put in a can or bottle with a tight-fitting top and a 4 per cent solution of formaldehyde (made by mixing one part of the stock solution of formalin obtainable at drug stores with nine parts of water) or 80 per cent alcohol (pui'o grain or denatured) poured over them so that thej' are well covered. The preservative should remain on for at least four or five days. For shipment the preservative may be drained off and the can or bottle tightly closed, or the stomachs may be wrapped in oiled or paraffined paper and this in turn in- closed in a stout manila wrapping. Specimens. — The throat should be plugged with a rather tight-fitting wad of cotton or waste thrust in the mouth and into the upper throat to prevent any blood from an internal wound emerging and soiling the feathers. Any blood on the surface at the time the specimen is pre- pared for shipment should be scraped off' with a knife, but the specimen should not be wet. Specimens should be inclosed in a stout pasteboard or, preferably, a wooden box. If the specimens are to be in transit during cold weather or for only a short distance (so that they will arrive within twenty-four hours after being shot) . they need not be drawn, but other- wise the entrails should be removed and the body filled with green grass. Full data as to the date and locality of capture and name of collector should accompany specimens. Shipment. — Stomachs or specimens, if marked "perishable" and the contents described on the shipping tag, may be shipped either by parcels post or express. The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California, Berkeley, is in a position to receive and identify any species of game or non-game bird, and in connection with its work on the game birds of the state would be glad to receive stomachs of any of the species in question. Material may be sent to the Museum by parcels post or by Wells Fargo & Com- pany's Express. — T. I. Stoker, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, Cali- fornia. 80 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. REPORTS. VIOLATIONS OF THE FISH AND GAME LAWS. September 1 to November 30, 1914, Offense Number arrests Fines imposed GAME. Hunting without license Deer, close season, killing or possession Deer hides, evidence of sex removed Female deer, killing or possession Excess bag limit deer, killing or possession Doves, close season, killing or possession Ducks, close season, killing or possession Excess bag limit ducks, killing or possession Night shooting Quail, close season, killing or possession Rail, plover, curlew, close season, killing or possession Shore birds, close season, killing or possession Wild pheasants, killing or possession Non-game birds, killing or possession Excess bag limit cottontail, killing or possession Excess bag limit sage-hen, killing or possession Swans in possession Total game violations FISH. Angling without license Fishing for profit without license Using Chinese shrimp or bag nets for catching shrimp, and having dried shrimp in possession Underweight striped bass in possession Undersize black bass in possession Undersize catfish — sale Excess bag limit trout, taking or possession Taking trout other than with hook and line Sacramento perch, taking other than with hook and line... Fishing for salmon with nets, Saturday and Sunday Salmon, close season, taking, possession or sale Using illegal nets, small mesh Pollution of streams Undersized Pismo clams in possession Crabs in possession, close season Black abalones, possession, close season Crawfish, possession, close season Undersized lobsters, possession Total fish violations Grand total, fish and game violations — 84 13 1 10 1 1 14 8 14 20 6 1 2 16 1 5 1 198 6 7 16 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 6 9 5 1 2 71 269 $1,370 GO 305 OO 50 00 500 00 30 00 10 00 205 00 105 00 125 00 575 00 150 00 25 00 50 00 124 00 25 00 125 00 40 00 $3,814 00 $120 00 30 00 60 00 50 00 "15'oo 25 00 20 00 40 00 30 00 150 00 50 00 lOO 00 20 00 50 00 20 00 40 00 $815 00 $4,629 00 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 81 SEIZURES— FISH, GAME, AND ILLEGALLY USED FISHING APPARATUS. September 1, 1914, to November 30, 1914. Fish. Striped bass ^ 272* pounds Salmon 2,895 pounds Black bass 95^ pounds Trout 56 pounds Sturgeon 190 pounds Catfish 50 pounds Sacramento perch 3 pounds Crawfish 431 pounds Crawfish traps 8 Crabs 60 Abalones 275 Pismo clams 98 Dried shrimp and shells 250 pounds Nets and lines 61 Game. Ducks 1,676 Quail 51 Doves 14 Plover 15 Kail 10 Curlew 1 Brant 15 Sagehens 24 Shorebirds 4 Non-game birds 95 Cottontails 113 Deer meat 433 pounds Hides 1 Searches. Illegal fish and game 28 82 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. FINANCIAL REPORT STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1914. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. September October Commissioners' traveling and other expenses $132 85 ?S5 31 Salaries of administrative assistants- 965 00 975 00 Traveling expenses of administrative assistants 79 50 18 70 Rentals, office and other supplies 269 93 594 73 $1,447 28 • $1,673 74 GENERAL FISH AND GAME PATROL. San Francisco Division. Salaries of deputies and employees $2,531 50 $2,839 50 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 964 61 1.062 61 Rentals, office and other supplies— 192 43 202 15 $3,688 54 $4,104 26 Sacramento Division. Salaries of deputies and employees— $2,227 00 $2,553 00 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 1,126 87 1,266 65 Rentals, office and other supplies 112 34 175 69 $3,466 21 '■ $3,995 34 Los Angeles Division. Salaries of deputies and employees $1,160 83 $1,656 50 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 269 20 663 05 Rentals, office and other supplies 130 83 159 42 $1,560 86 $2,478 97 Fresno Division. Salaries of deputies and employees $928 50 $1,176 67 Traveling expenses of deputies and employees 372 97 547 62 Rentals, office and other supplies 48 17 84 73 $1,349 64 $1,809 02 Miscellaneous Expenditures. Prosecutions and allovrances $336 75 $458 33 General printing 39 32 213 15 Total, general administration and patrol $11,888 60 $14,732 81 Probable cost general administration and game patrol (60%) $7,133 16 $8,839 686 Probable cost general administration and fish patrol (40%) 4,755 44 5,893 124 $11,888 60 $14,732 81 FISHERY EXPENDITURES. Administration. Salaries of Superintendent of Hatch- eries and assistants $437 50 $340 00 Traveling expenses. Superintendent of Hatcheries and assistants 213 71 139 62 Office and laboratory supplies, etc 53 94 65 00 ■ $705 15 $544 62 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 83 Fishery Research and Publicity. Salaries $275 00 $295 00 Traveling expenses 104 05 157 34 Supplies, etc. 20 60 12 68 $399 65 $465 02 Screen and Fishioay Surveys. Salaries $377 00 $325 00 Traveling expenses 203 15 132 45 Supplies, etc. 1 83 $580 15 $459 28 Fish Transplanting {Packtrain, messengers, etc.) Salaries $99 00 $284 75 Traveling expenses 147 95 100 63 Repairs and supplies 6 10 10 60 $253 05 $395 98 Fish Distribution (car and messengers) . Salaries $319 33 $318 33 Messenger allowance and traveling expenses 186 00 Repairs 44 67 Supplies 91 28 — $641 28 Fish Patrol (Launches, etc.) Salaries $259 00 Messenger allowance and traveling expenses 63 60 Repairs Supplies (oil, etc.) 74 30 $396 90 Sisson Hatchery. Salaries $1,205 00 Traveling expenses Construction and repairs 95 50 Fish food and ice for meat 439 80 General supplies 142 95 — ■ $1,883 25 Tahoe and Tallac Hatcheries. Salaries $194 00 $10 00 Traveling expenses Construction and repairs 8 11 Supplies 33 69 $235 SO • $10 00 Price Creek Hatchery. Salaries $137 50 Traveling expenses 50 Construction and repairs Supplies 231 32 $369 32 Waicona Hatchery. Traveling expenses $20 35 — $20 35 Miscellaneous Expenditures. Angler's license, commissions and refunds $1,235 60 $726 70 Market fishing license commissions 25 00 85 75 Crawfish inspection 100 00 ■ 100 00 Total fishery expenditures $6,476 18 $7,922 77 181 50 19 45 195 16 $714 44 $225 50 57 30 10 30 96 39 $389 49 $1,338 00 2,63S"24 230 02 55 91 $3,662 17 84 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. GAME EXPENDITURES. Hayward Game Farm. Salaries $206 00 Traveling expenses 7 15 Rent 37 50 Construction and repairs Feed for birds 43 00 General supplies 61 10 $354 75 Game Research and Puilicity. Salaries $162 00 Traveling expenses 49 15 Supplies, etc. 169 05 ■ $380 20 Miscellaneous Expenditures. Hunting license commissions and refunds $3,787 20 Mountain lion bounties 240 00 Total game expenditures $4,762 15 Grand total of all expenditures $23,126 93 Total of fish expenditures $11,231 62 Total of game expenditures 11,895 31 Grand total $23,126 93 $25,795 39 $216 00 9 70 37 50 24 93 50 91 94 $380 57 $962 14 $1,557 10 240 00 $605 00 308 79 48 35 $3,139 81 $25,795 39 $13,815 894 11,979 496 California Fish and Game "^CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION " CONTENTS. Page AN ATTEMrT TO SAVE CALIFORNIA ELK-__B«//o// Wnnm Krvrmunn .S.") CALIFORNIA'S FUR-BEARING MAMMALS lluKihl ('. linjaul !m; WARDENS AND WARDEN WORK T. X. I'ahnvr KKS THE TENNESSEE POSSUM HAS ARRIVED IN (CALIFORNIA Josciili (irinncll 114 THE HALIBUT FISHERY OF THE PACIFIC CO A^T-^Ed ward /'. h'ankin lit; PUBLIC FISHING VS. PRIVATE HUNTING F. M. Ncwhert IV.) editorial 123 hatchery and fishery notes 127 conservation in other states 131 life history notes 132 wild life in relation to agriculture 135 reports- Seizures AND Searches 130 Violations of the Fish and Game Laws 138 Financial Report — 140 AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE CALIFORNIA ELK. By Barton Warren Bvermann^ Director of the Museum, California Academy of Sciences. The complete extermination of any species of animal or plant in any part of its habitat is always a matter of regret. Even if the species be a noxious one, we nevertheless dislike to see it entirely wiped out in any locality in which it was naturally found. If it be a useful species, well known to the laity as well as to naturalists, its extermination is deplored ; and when the species becomes extinct, when not a single indi- vidual is left anywhere upon the face of the earth, it is regarded as most regrettable. The world will never cease to regret the practical extermination of the buffalo. It will never cease to deplore the actual extinction of the great auk and the passenger pigeon. We all now know the fate of those three interasting species ; and when we see other species of interesting animals threatened with extermination, we are naturally filled with alarm. We have learned how thoughtless many people are; how disposed they are to destroy things; how strong the inclination is with many to toss a stone at the frog or turtle resting on a rock or log in the pond; to kill every snake they see. "What a fine morning this is! Let's go out and kill something." That spirit is all too prevalent. 1—15680 86 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. Among the important species of California animals now Ihreateiied witli extinction is the California valley elk (Ccrvus naiiiKxh s) . This elk orit^inally roamed in yreat nnmbers over the great interior valley of California. It was doubtle.ss most abnndant in the San Joaqnin por- tion of the Saeramento-San Joaquin Valley, but its range probably included the entire valley and the adjacent foothills. It was certainly abuiuhmt as late as 1854. The early records contain many references to its abundance. One of the earliest records is to be found in the manuscript report of the Viseaino explorations made in 1602. Speaking of the animals in the vicinity of Monterey the statement is made: "Among the animals there are large, fierce bears, and other animals called elks, from which they make elk leather jackets." Among the iiiest interesting later accounts is that by Mr. Edward Ros(|ui, the only living charter member of the California Academy of Scienc(\s. In his "Memoirs." to which mv attention was called bv ^fr. Fig. 19. — California elk, in corral near Buttonwillovv, ready for shipment. Photo by John Rowley. M. Plall McAllister, I\Ir. Bos(|ui states that, in December, 1850, while walking from Stockton to Marii)osa. lie saw, as he approached the foot- hills, "bands of elk, deer, and antelope in such numbei's that they actually darkened the plains for miles, and looked in the distance like great herds of cattle." On his return from Mariposa to San Francisco in June, 1851, when on Dry (h*eek some seventy miles from .Mai'iposa. e;ist of the present town of Turlock, JMr. Bos(pii states he was one morning "suddenly awakened by the heavy tramp and noise of large animals, and on looking through the fog which prevailed I could see indistinctly, not thirty rods away, giant-like figures of elk ]iassing, so to speak, in pro- cession before me. They were tossing their great antlers about and snuffing excitedly. Suddenly, with one accord and with an impulse that shook the ground like an earthquake, they swept out of sight. It was a procession of phantoms such as one might conceive in a night- CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 87 mare, and left an impression on my youthful mind never to be for- gotten." (Kdvvard Boscjui, "Memoirs," pp. 62 and iiii.) Speaking of ^lorapa Valley (in Conti'a Costa County just back of Oakland) Mr. liosqui says: "The hillsides were eovered witli clover and wild oats, and up to 1850 all the country in and about Moraga Valley had been the native haunts of wild game — deer, antelope, bear and elk. Fragments of bleaching elk horns could be found scattered over the valley, and many entire and perfect specimens of the great antlers, although bleached by the sun, I joicked up and preserved at the time of our residence there," which was in 1858 and after. (Bosqui, "]\Iemoirs," p. 168.) In a very interesting book entitled "Death Valley in '■!!)," by William Lewis INIanly, to which my attention has been called by Mr. John Rowley, I find a number of interesting references to the California valley elk. In the spring of 1850, ]\Ir. Manly traveled from San Jose Fig. 20. — Bucks and does, just after entering the small corral. Photo by John Rowley. into and across the San Joaquin Valley, presumably through Livermore Pass. lie says: "The next place was a small house made of willow poles set in the ground and plastered over with mud. This rejoiced in the name of "IMountain House." This wayside inn looked more like a horsethief 's glory; only one or two men. a quarter of elk hanging on a pole and no accommodations for man or beast. * * * On the summits of the mountains as we passed through we saw, standing like guards, many large buck elk. It was now fifteen miles to the San Joaquin River, and a level plain lay before us. When our road turned into the river bottom we found the water too deep to get through safely so we concluded to go on and try to find some place where we could cross. On our way droves of antelope could be seen frol icing over the broad plains, while in the distance were herds of elk winding their way from the mountains towards the river for water. When far away their horns were the first things visible, and they much resembled the dry tops of dead pine trees, but a nearer view showed them to us as the proud monarchs of the plains" (page 391). After crossing the San Joaciuin just below the mouth of the Merced, thej' proceeded up the 88 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. latter stream, and prol);i1)ly near where Turloek now is, Mr. Manly says: "As we came near groves of willows, big, stately elk would start out and trot off proudly into the open plains to avoid danger. These proud, big-horned monarehs of the plains eould be seen in bunches scattered over the broad meadows, as well as an equal amount of ante- lope. They all seemed to fear us, which was wise on their part, and kept out of ritie sliot. As we were not starving as we were once, I did not follow them out on the open plain, for I thought I eould get meat when we were more in need" (page 392). On the east side of the valley they camped in a low ravine among low hills where game was plentiful. When they awoke in the morning, "Hundreds of big- horned fellows were in sight but none in rifle shot, and there was no chance for us to get any nearer to them" (page 395). Inquiries addressed to a number of early residents of the state have elicited additional information of interest and value. Perhaps the most Fig. 21. — Although the elk were very wild when first caught, within a few days they would take feed out of one's hands and permit their heads to bo rubbed and their ears pulled. Photo by John Rowley. interesting letter received is that from Mr. H. C. Banta of Oakland, who writes: "I arrived in the state in 1854, overland from Missouri, locating on the west bank of the San Joaiiuin River near tlie present Southern Pacific railroad bridge on the Stockton route. For several years I followed market hunting, geese, ducks, elk, etc. In 1854 I found elk plentiful in the foothills west of the San Joaquin, as well as in the tule swamp. Bob Dikeman and Lee Phillips were my hunting com- panions, and we practically finished up all the tule elk in that section between Martinez and San Joaquin City. The elk Avere originally rang- ing over the hills (along the east slope of the open foothills) as far south as Newman, going north as far as Grand Island. They were originally driven from the hills and valley land into the tules by the vaqueros rounding up wild horses and cattle, as well as by hunters. In CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 89 1854 they were nearly all driven to the tiiles, but the finding of horns of six to eight prongs, all over the liills proved liow ])lentifnl they had been. "I found no difference in size between these elk and the Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado elk, and felt sure that the bulls would weigh 700 to 800 pounds. They struck me as weighing about as much as an average steer and their horns were fully as big as any elk I have ever killed or seen in other states. Dikeman shot the last cow and calf about 1863, just west of the Sargent ranch on the North Fork of the San Joaquin near the Mokelumne River. The rest of the animals, so far as I know, ranged in the tules and willows between Buena Vista and Tulare lakes, and only on the south side of Tulare Lake, ranging also west into the foothills. I never heard of any except south of the Sacramento Eiver. and as far south as Buena Vista Lake. "I killed some antelope on the San Joaquin in 1856. running one well-grown fawn down (6 months old), but both horse and fawn died from effects of the run. The antelope were scarce at this time, and finally drifted around Tulare Lake. I never heard of them coming further west than Byron Springs * * * I killed elk at Tulare Lake in 1856 and found them the same as those that ranged up as far as Martinez. Antelope, tule elk and wild horses were plentiful in the Tulare Lake country and in the vicinity of the prasent site of Fresno at this time. * * * We hunted in the tules with a sloop, using a ladder lashed to the mast for a lookout. When elk were sighted we would break cur way through the tules to them, usually finding them on grass land between sloughs. In one instance in Whisky Slough I cleaned up a band of eight single-handed, keeping out of sight. Five were taken with the rifle and I returned to the boat, loaded my shotgun with heavy charge of buckshot and on returning, found the three remaining yearlings still in the vicinit}^ near the carcasses. Following them, I got all three single file, and, as they turned their heads, I got all three at one shot, at an angle, being kicked over by the charge in the bargain. I never heard of another instance of this kind." There is some evidence that seems relial)le that elk once occurred in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Mr. J. W. Miller of Watsonville writes that one of the old settlers of that region, Mr. Frank ]\Iauk, says that when he was a boy his father and oldest brother hunted elk in Santa Cruz County, also in the Salinas Valley. Mr. Boutell, a stage driver in San Benito County, says that elk were plentiful in that county in 1864, their favorite range being section 16, range 11 east. In a letter recently received from Mr. Mauk he says: "In the early fifties my people lived some six or eight miles from Gilroy at the mouth of Bodfish Canon. I remember quite well of my father, my brother George. Captain Adams (afterwards sheriff of Santa Clara County), and a Texan ranger named Bob Poore, coming over the mountain to the Pajaro Valley to hunt elk and returning with wagon loaded. At times the trip extended down to the Salinas plains. In 1882 I took charge of the railroad station at Pajaro (now Watsonville Junction). My watchman was a Frenchman named Joe Pillesier, who came to California in 1843 or 1846. He married a daughter of Salvador Vallejo, a brother of General Vallejo. ]\[r. Pillesier often spoke of the sport he had in killing elk here, saying that on occasions the vaqueroes would 90 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. ride among them and the cattle, single one out, ride him down and ham- string him with a iiuifhote. Shortly l)efore the rjeneral died, he spent an afternoon with me ;ind spoke of the big elk that used to be found here and rather bitterly of the Americans killing them so wastef ully. " Professor John Kockwcll. who arrived at San Franeiseo in June. 1850. has stated to ]\Ir. ]\I. Hall ^McAllister that a few days after his arrival he joined a party of young men who sailed up the bay to found a city to be called "New York of the Pacific." x\fter passing Suisun Bay they entered the mouth of the Sacramento River and landed their supplies an a point of land on the south shore, making their camp in a small arroyo about a quarter of a mile back from the river. About daylight the next morning they were ai'diiscd hy the rush and trampijig Fig. 22. — Bull elk in coiral near Buttonwillow. His antlers will be sawed off, preparatory to shipment. Photo by John Rowley. of a large herd of animals. Crawling out of their tent they saw the plain around them covered with a great herd of elk. The animals were rushing back and forth seemingly unable to make out their intruders. The party opened fire on the elk, bringing down one or two, when the herd rushed off at great speed toward Monte del Diablo. Mr. Payne J. Shafter of Olema. Marin County, has given the follow- ing information to Mr. IMcAllister regarding elk in that county. He says: "Don Juan Garcia (the old keeper of the Country Club) told me that in about 1850 a Spanish priest with a band of Indians went over on Point Reyes and drove a herd of about seventy-five elk on to a peninsula in Limantour Bay. The priest had them nearly all killed for their hides and tallow — bulls, cows, and calves, the last elk of ]\Iarin County." ]Mr. Shafter fnrther says that when he first came to ^larin County, in 18H2, many anth'rs in good condition were gathered on Point Reyes and kept as souvenirs. Also that Frank IMiller. an old hunter and trapper, told him that, in 18r)2. he with another hunter named Bell had seen over a liundred elk swim across Tomales Bav and go north CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 91 toward Mendocino County. This story is corroborated by Jack Briones, a keeper of the Point Reyes Club, who recently told Mr. McAllister that his father had told him the same story. Point Reyes seems to have been a favorite resort for elk. Captain IMacKenzic, who was for niany years captain of the steamer San Rafael, running- to San Quentin Point, and later to Sausalito, informed Mr. IMcAllister that in the early days, probably in 1850, he made a trip in a small sloop to the mouth of Petaluma Creek, and while exploring" the marshes in that vicinity he came upon a great herd of elk. Fig. 2 3. — It was necessary to saw off the antlers of the big bucks to keep them from injuring eacli otlier in tlie pens and cars. Photo by John Rowley. They were in great numbers. Several were killed before the herd made off, rushing headlong over everything like a herd of stampeded horses or cattle. ]\Ir. ]\IcAlli-ter has obtained some valuable data from Jim Paine, the old Suisun Marsh hunter, who, with his partner, Seth Beckwith, in the seventies and eighties, furnished the San Francisco market with the tinest and most toothsome canvasbacks. Paine claims that he killed the last tule elk ever seen on the Suisun marsh. It was, he thinks, in the fall of 1868. He was sculling up the Cordelia Slough after a day's shooting, when, near what is now Teal station, he saw a large cow elk plunge into the slough just ahead. Sculling alongside, he killed the animal with a heavy load of duck shot. JMr. Chas. A. Allen, the veternn naturalist and collector of Nicasio and San Ceronimo, ^larin County, has given us the benefit of his experience. lie has collected in jNFariu County for forty-two years. In his earlier years he found elk antlers very plentiful about Point Reyes from Bolinas north to the mouth of Tomales Bay. The elk 92 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. seemed to inhabit a strip of territory some five or six miles wide. They appeared to liavo limited their range to tlie open lands along the coast. Forty-two years ago all the ranch buildings had ulk horns nailed up on the barn or other buildings. Evidently the elk had entirely disappeared from ^Farin County before 1872, the year of Mr. Allen's arrival there. Whether the INTarin County elk were of the same species as the San Joaquin Valley elk is not certainly known. It may be that the elk of the heavily forested, humid region along the coast from ^larin County northward is a distinct speci&s. The facts can be determined only by comparison of material fi-om the two regions. But whatever may be the fads as regai'ds this juatter, it is clear that t^lk were very a})un- FiG. 24. — The crate used in transferring the elli from the corral to the railroad cattle-pens. Photo by John Rowley. dant in the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent foothills, certainly as late as 1850 to 185-1. From that time they decreased ra{)idly. In the early seventies it is said the herd had been reduced to a few individuals — one report says to a single pair — and they were on the Kern County ranch of Messrs. Miller and Lux. It is said that the imminent extinc- tion of the species came to the attention of Mr. Henry ^Filler of the Miller & Lux Company, and he immediately gave strict orders to all the employees of the company that the elk must not be disturbed under any circumstances, and that everything possible for their protection should be done. That has been the policy of Messrs. INIilh-r and Lux to this day. The animals were protected. The herd increased. In 1914 it was estimated to contain about four hundred animals. The state game law makes the killing of any elk a felony, i)iniishable by iini>risonment for a term not exceeding two years. Although the elk roam at will over the IMiller & Lux ranch, doing — the company estimates — from $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage every year to the alfalfa and Egyptian corn fields and to the fences, they have not been disturbed. That the species was not CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 93 exterminated is due, without doubt, to the intelligent interest taken in its preservation by Mr. Henry Miller. It must be admitted, however, that Messrs. Miller and Lux are willing, in view of the very considerable loss the elk are causing them each year, to have the herd reduced some- what by moving some of the animals to suitable reservations in other parts of the state. With this object in view, on the sixth of last April, Mr. LeRoy Nichel, on behalf of IMiller & Lux, offered to turn over to the Cali- fornia Academy of Sciences all or such portion of the herd of California elk now roaming over their Kern County ranch as they might be able to catch, provided the Academy would undertake to distribute them to various federal, state, and private re ervations in the State of California. Fig. 25. — At Monterey the elk were transferred from the car to large crates, in which they were hauled to the Del Monte Park, where they were liberated October 30. Photo by F. C. Swain. In 1905 a few elk were taken from this herd and placed in the Sequoia National Park, where they have done fairly well. These and the original Kern County herd are the only elk of this species in existence. The development of the oil fields and the expansion of agricultural operations in the Kern County region have brought many dangers to the elk herd in that locality. To aid in saving the species from possible extermination it was proposed to place a few elk in each of the various reservations and parks in the state in the hope that they might thrive there and become the nuclei of new herds. This was the hope of Messrs. Miller and Lux. One of the conditions of their otfer was that the animals should be put only in places affording a favorable environment and where they would prol)ably breed. 2—15080 94 CALIFORNIA FISH AND OAME. Tlio offer of Miller & Lux was accepted by the Academy, and jjlans wci'c made for earryirm' out the undertaking. On April 25 and 2(i. in companN' wilh Mr. M. Ilall McAllister, tlirou^h whom Messrs. Miller and Lux made the offer to the Academy, I visited the Kern County ranch for the purpose of consultation with the super- intondont as to the best time and mctliod for catcliiniif and shipping the animals and regarding all preliminary details. At that time a visit w^as made to the alfalfa fields in which the elk feed and to the sage- lu'ush plains to which they retire during the day or when disturbed, and about 100 of the animals were seen. After giving the matter careful consideration it was decided to undertake the catching and shipping of the elk in October. Early in that month IMessrs. Miller and Lux constructed a corral one fourth of a mile long and one eighth of a mile wide in an alfalfa field into which the elk were observed to come every night to feed. A wing one fourth of a mile long was run out from each corner of the end toward the foot- hills. Woven fence wire was put upon the wings at once, but only the posts for the corral proper were placed at that time. After the elk had come down into the field several nights and gotten used to the posts, heavy woven fence wire was placed on the two sides and the rear end of the corral, and the following night about 150 elk came into the corral ; then the wire was placed on the posts at the entrance and the- animals were trapped. (See figs. 19 and 20.) The wire fence was very strong and at least eight feet high ; never- theless, scone broke through or jumped over it. A good many people came out in automobile-; and otherwise to see the elk, and so frightened them that about 100 broke out the first afternoon. Those that remained became quite tame in a few days. (See fig. 21.) Various, diverse and unexpected difficulties came up every day and it was not possible to predict what success would be attained in the undertaking. The animals might break througli the corral or jump over the fence and escape ; they might escape when being loaded into the cratas for hauling to the railroad cattle pens ; or escape from the cattle pens ; or refuse to eat ; or run amuck and kill or injure themselves ; or die in the cars while in transit to the parks; any one of a score of things might happen to cause failure. However, it is gratifying to know that, in spite of all difficulties and uncertainties, ]\Tessrs. >\lille]' and Lux succeeded in capturing and placing in the cars for shipment a total of fifty-four elk. These were disposed of as follows : 1. To a thousand acre private reservation of Mr. J. M. Danziger, Los Angeles, six elk. This reservation is in the Santa i\I(miea Mountains, near Los Angeles. The environment, it is believed, will prove ver}^ favorable. 2. To a six hundred acre private reservation of Mr. E. L. Doheny, Los Angeles, ten elk. This reservation also is in the Santa ^lonica IMountains, only a short distance from the Danziger ranch, and is under elk-proof fence. 3. To a seven hundred acre park of Mr. S. C. Evans, Riverside, four elk. This park adjcin.s the city limits of Riverside and furnishes ideal conditions. CALIFORNIA FLSII AND GAME. 95 4. Tu tile San J)iej^o City I'arl-c, tweive ell<. The conditions here are not entirely as favorable as one would desire, but it is believed the elk will do well. This park was regarded as a favorable location in which to try the experiment of keeping the elk in relatively small enclosures. 5. To the Modesto City Park, two elk. 6. To the California Redwood Park Association, ten elk. This association is the governing body for the Big Basin reservation, - ..'^T- •- <•» r-^J Fig. 26. — After leaving the crates in Del Monte Park, the elk ran 200 to 300 feet, stopped, went a little farther to a small creek, then crossed to the other side and began feeding. Photo by F. C. Swain. which comprises some 55,000 acres. It is believed the conditions obtain- ing there will prove favorable. • 7. To the Del Monte Park, ten elk. These elk were turned loose in the large reservation of the Pacific Improvement Company near Monterey. (See figs. 25 and 26.) The environment, it is believed, will prove favorable. Eecent reports received from the various parties to whom the elk were sent state that the animals are doing well in all ca=es. The Academy has orders, which it has not yet been able to fill, for about 100 additional head. An effort will be made to fill these orders next year. It should be stated that all matters pertaining to the capture and delivery of the elk on board the cars were in the hands of Messrs. Miller and Lux. (See fig. 24.) The actual shipping of the animals was attended to by ]\Ir. A. L. Bolton, assistant curator of mammals, who 96 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. perfoiiiR'd the rather trying duties with good jiidginent. skill and entire success. Not an animal was lost or injured after beini? placed in the cars and all reached their respective destination apparently in excellent condition. (See tisis. 25 and 26.) ^Fr. John Howley, cnratoi", depart- ment of iiiannnals. and ]\Ir. Herring, taxidermist, were on hand at Buttonwillow during the entire time, and saved for the museum of the California Academy of Sciences all the animals that got killed or fatally injured. On the whole, the exi)ei'iment of distributing the elk to various parts of the state is regardetl as having been a success, and it is believed it will do much toward the conservation of this interesting species of big game. CALIFORNIA'S FUR^BEARING MAMMALS. By Harold C. Bryant, Game Expert, California Fish and Game Commission. The fur-bearing mammals of California have decreased rapidly in the last twenty years and there are. as a result, only a relatively few men who are professional trappers. Once a state which supplied thou- sands of valuable furs each year. California now counts for but little in the fur markets of the world. And yet even now. with but a remnant left, the sale of furs brings into this state each year a sum not less than $250,000. At the present rate of decrease, however, there is little hope that this sum can long continue to pour into our cofit'ers, even though the price of raw furs continues to rise. California possesses practically all of the best fur-bearing species of animals. Look over the list: Gray squirrel, beaver, Pribilof fur seal, mountain lion, lynx, coyote, gray fox, red fox, ring-tailed cat, raccoon, black bear, weasel, river otter, sea otter, badger, skunk, wolverine, fisher, and mink. Already two of the best of the fur-bearers, the sea otter and beaver, have had to be totally protected in order to save them. The grizzly bear is entirely extinct within the state, and the Guadalupe fur seal very nearly so. The beaver of our mountain districts has been entirely exterminated and there are but a few hundred survivors to be found along the Sacramento, Colorado, and San Joaquin rivers. Although once exceedingly numerous along the coast, the sea otter is now nearing extinction. Two or three were killed just before the law protecting them went into effect in 1913, but few have been reported as having been seen since that time. Bidwell. in Rogers' "History of Colusa County," states that when the county was first settled it was not unconnnon to see thirty or forty grizzly bears in one day. There has not been an instance of the killing of a real grizzly in California for the last four years. Apparently "^Monarch" was the last surviving member of the species. He died in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, about three years ago. The slow decrease of the fur trade has been noted by nearly every- body and yet no attention has been paid to the possibility of conserving the fur bearers as a natural resource to be administered like other natural resources of the state. The chances of being able to do this CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 97 Dfrow less with each year, and it is hiuh time that an investigation l)e instituted so that facts and figures can be at hand to support the legislation necessary. A search in the early history of California reveals the fact that this state for many years took a very prominent part in the world's fur trade. Companies were formed and ships outfitted on purpose to develop the fur resources. Trade centered in the skins of the sea otter, an animal which furnishes the finest fur known, fur which at the present time sells for fabulous sums. Tlie average price paid in London in 1910 was $1,703.33. From 1786 to 1790 trade in sea otter skins in California was con- trolled by the Spanish government and was in the hands exclusively of the padres and Indians. In an old manuscript written by the eom- mandante at Santa Barbara to the governor, dated November 9, 1789, the following numbers of sea otter skins were reported shipped : From Purissima, 74 ; Santa Barbara, 79 ; San Buenaventura, 81 ; besides 32 fox skins. This represented shipments from the southern coast regions only. In 1790 the government monopoly teased and the padres were deprived of a market. They welcomed therefore the opportunity to trade aiforded by American ships at the beginning of the nineteenth centur}^ From 1800 to 1812 a number of American ships annually visited the coast, trading cloth, muskets, and other materials for sea otter skins. Sturgis (MS) gives the following figures regarding the number of sliips in the fur trade in the northwest, the number cf sea otter skins and the prii e brought in the Canton nuirket : Year — ■ No. of ships. No. sea otters. Sale price. 1799 7 11,000 $25 1800 6 9,800 22 1801 10 13,000 . 21 1802 8 14,000 20 Even as early as 1785 the capture of sea otters had become of such importance that on October 24, 1785, regulations for the collection of sldns Avere issued by Governor Fages of California. The order was sent to- Ignacio Valle.jo at San Jose commanding that "anyone who goes out to trade with the Indians for otter skins" shall be punished. The price at the time was $1.00 to $7.00 (Bancroft, 1885 a, pp. 439- 440). In 1786 La Perouse, a Frenchman, making a special investigation in ]\Ionterey was told that 20,000 skins could l)e furnished each year, and many more by establishing new posts north of San Francisco. He makes the statement that before this year otter skins were Avorth "no more than two rabbit skins," and that the Spaniards did not suspect their real value. (Bancroft, ]885ff, p. 438.) In 1801, which was perhaps the most flourishing period of the trade, there were sixteen ships on the coast, fifteen of which were American and one English. Upwards of 18,000 sea otter skins were collected for the Cniina market in that vear by the American ve'-:sels alone. (Bancroft, 1884a, p. 373.) In 1802 "more than L5,()00 sea otter skins were collected and carried to Canton." The first battle of San Uiego was precipitated by llie trade in otter skins. Bancroft (1885 a, pp. K)-12) gives the following account of the affair : 98 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. "Several American tradino; craft made tlieir appearance on the Cali- fornia coast this year (1798), creating- not a little excilement in some instances by attempts at snnifjgling, in the success of which the people were often hardly less interested than the Yankee captains. The Lelm Byrd was titled ont at ITambnrg by Captain Richard J. Cleveland of Salem, ^lassachusetts, who had .just made a foi'tnne by a four years' voyage or series of connnercial adventures in the Pacific, during which he had touched the noithcrn coast of America, but not of California, in partnership with William Shaler, and sailed in November, ISOl. Shah'i- was master and Cleveland second in command. The vessel was loaded with a great (|uantity of merchandis:e, which it was hoped to sell ])rofitably on the west coast of America, no matter how. when, or where. * * * They succeeded (1802) not only in selling goods to the amount of $10,()0(), and obtaining what supplies they needed, but also bought 1,600 otter skins just arrived from California at prices which assured the success of the trip. "Sailing from San Bias, January 25, 180:i after careening and 'boot- topping' the vessel at the Tres Marias, our adventurers sailed in Febru- ary for San Diego, where they were given to understand there was a lot of otter skins that might be obtained advantageously. * * * Qn the evening of j\Iarch ITtli, the Lelia Byrd })assed the fort at Point (luijarres without being hailed, and anchoi'cd in San Diego harbor. Next day Commandante Rodriguez with an escort of twelve men came on board to comply with the formalities reciuired by superior instruc- tions. * * * jj^g ^ook a memorandum of the provisions which the visitors pretended to need and promised to supply them the next day. At the same time he indicated the necessity under law of an immediate departure, and returned to shore, leaving Sergeant Joaquin Arce Avith five men as a guard-, and giving the Americans permission to land with- out visiting the presidio. * * * From Arce it was l(»arned that Rodriguez had about a thousand skins, several hundred of which he had confiscated recently from the Alexander, Caj)tain Brown. Shaler made every efPort to buy the skins, but in vain, because, as Cleveland puts it, 'Rodriguez dared not indulge his desire of selling them to us.' A visit was made to the shore, including an inspection of the batter}'- at the point. "On i\Iarch 21st Rodriguez came on board, received his i)ay for supi)lies. and took his leave after wishing the visitors a pleasant voyage. Preparations were completed for departiii'c in gr<»at disappniiit inent, but it was determined to make a final attemi)t to obtain the skins. It was known that the soldiers had small (piantities which they would gladly dispose of if they could do so without detection. Two boats Avere accordingly sent under cover of the night to different parts of the bay shore. One returned with a few otter skins, but the other was seized by the watchful comnuuidante. the mate and two men being- bound and left on the beach under a guard of three men. Next morn- ing Cleveland Avent ashore with four men. each armed with a brace of pistols, rescued the ca])tives and brought them off. Sails Avere set at once and the somewhat hazardous attempt was made of i-niuiing out i)ast the guns of the fort. The hoisting of a fiag and the tiring of a blank cartridge from the battery had no effect, and when a nine-pound ball came across her boAV the Letia still kept on her course, Avitli the Spanish CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 99 soldiers forced to occupy the most exposed and conspicuous positions. As she pa.ssed the fort two broadsides from her six three-pounders were discharged." Neither the fort nor the sliip were seriously injured. The most interesting and regrettable part of the whole story is that the one thousand otter skins, which the commandante would not sell, filially rotted and were thrown into the sea. There are said to have lieen weeks in 1812 in which the Russians csta1)lished at Bodega killed seven or eight hundred otters in the bay of San Francisco alone. The skins at that time were worth at Kiakta or Mainakin on the borders of Persia and China, to which they were sent, from eighty to a hundred dollars each, so that the profits of early Russian adventurers in California were enormous (Hittell, 1885 a, p. 626). The total number of sea otter skins definitely recorded as hav- ing been taken by the Russian company in California is 13,000. This probably does not accurately record the total number taken. In San Diego, between 1840 and 1845. a skin was worth about a price equal to that of four or five bullock hides. Sea otters in those days were com- monly found feeding along the kelp beds and they were shot with rifles from boats. Vallejo (MS. 1, pp. 105-6) says the otter were so abundant in 1812 that they were killed by boatmen with their oars in passing through the seaweed; and the Russians killed 15,000 a year for five years, and 5,000 a year down to 1831. This account is probably grossly exaggerated (Bancroft, 1885 6, p. 430). Another account, written in 1816, states 2,000 a year were caught. By this time decrease was noticeable, for Bancroft (1885 a, p. 420) says: "The Indians still caught now and then an unfortunate, slow- motioned sea otter that came in their way and the padres shipped the small store of skins, or sold them whenever they found a chance. The Russians took a constantly and rapidly decreasing number of otters each year, a number which was greatly exaggerated in the ideas of the Spaniards." Hittell (Bancroft, 1884 a, p. 373) states that the number of sep otter skins taken on the coast annuallv after 1880 was 5.500, worth in San Francisco $440,000, or $80 each. " There was al-^o established an important trade in fur seals. Captain Wm. Smith went to the Farallones in 1808 with a party of Kadiaks, stayed there two years, and caught 130.000 seals, besides many otter. He took them to China on the Alhafross and obtained $2.50 for seal- skins and $30 or $40 for otter. (Bancroft, 1885 ?), pp. 95-96.) Hittell (1885, p. 285) states that the Russians collected as many as 80,000 seal skins at the Farallones in a single season. In 1810-11 the Albafrofifi. one of the vessels engaged in the fur trade, touched at the Santa Barbara Islands, where were found few seals but many sea otters. During the same years, according to the log of the captain's clerk, W. A. Gale, this ship took from the Farallones 73,402 fur seals. In addition they took from the coast 248 beaver. 21 raccoon, 6 wildcat. 153 land otter, 4 badger. 5 fox, 58 mink, 8 gray squirrel, 1 skunk, n muskrat, and 137 mole skins. Sea otter skins to the amount of 689 and 631 otter tails were also taken. The estimated value of this catch at Canton prices was $157,397. J 00 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. From 1812 to 1840 the Russians kept up an establislnuent at the Farallones as well as at Ross. The chief object was to secure fur seals, 1,200 or 1,500 skins being takeu annually for five or six years. After 1818 seals diminished rapidly until only 200 or 300 per year could be caught and the business was no longer profitalile. About 200 sea lions were killed at the same time, the skins and sinews being used in making boats. No fur seals were taken on the Farallones after 1834. (Bancroft, 1885 h, p. 633.) Soon after the year 1825 trappers began making their appearance in tlie great valleys of California. In 1826 "Jedidiah Smith crossed the ]\Iojave Desert to San Gabriel ^Mission and trapped the length of the San Joaquin Valley. Repeating the daring adventure in 1828 he was forced by suspicious authorities to leave the country. * * * Smith's heavy catch of furs revealed to Di'. ^ilcLoughlin the i-ich possil)ilities of the Sacramento and San .loaquin valleys and opened the way for the exploration of the district by the Hudson's Bay Company. In the antinnn of 1828. McLeod was sent south along Smith's trail for that season's hunt. He trapped the mountain streams with excellent success and was returning to Foi't ^^mcouver with pack horses loaded with beaver and land otter skins wiien he was caught in the ascent of Pitt River by an unexpected fall of snow and obliged to cache his furs and hurry on in order to save his men and animals. IMcLeod was severely censured for this misfortune, and the following year the California district was intrusted to IMcKay. He ventured even to the Bay of San Francisco and took 4,000 beaver along its reedy shores, but the fur was inferior in quality to that of the mountain beaver and brought only $2 a pound. The next season Peter Skeene Ogdon was transferred to this field, and under his energetic management the Great Vallej^ was thor- oughly explored and developed. For ten years (1829-1838) a Hudson's Bay Company brigade nuide its aniuial traverse, south in the autumn and north in the .spring, between Fort Vancouver and French Camp — the post on the San Joaquin. The cavalcade was a picturesque one, formed in Indian file and led by the chief trader. Next him rode his Avife, a native woman, astride — as is conunon with the females — upon her pony, quite picturesquely clad. * * * Next the clerk and his wife, nnich in the same manner; and so on to the oiYicers of less impor- tance, and the men; and finally the boys, driving the pack horses, with bales of fur, one hundred and eighty poimds to each animal. Tlu^ trampling of the fast-walking horses, the silvery tinkling of the small bells, rich handsome dre-ses, and fine appearance of the riders, whose num1)er amounted to sixty or seventy, made a really patriarchal array. (White, Ten Years in Oregon.)" "American trappers were not slow to avail themselves of the new hunting grounds revealed by Smith, Pattie, and Walker, and year by year larger parties appeared in the Great Valle.N-. They no longer attcMupted to pack their furs over the mouiitains. but sold them to traders at the coast ports, and the traffic grew to considerable propor- tion, from $15,000 to $20,000 a year. [In 1841, according to Wilkes, the export of l)ea.ver Avas two thousand skins at $2 each ; sea otter, five hundred skins at $30 each; elk and deei". tlii'ce thousand skins at from 50 cents to $1 apiece.] Every trapping party was required to have CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 101 a license, and the fees bronalit in a tidv revenue, highly gratifying to the officials." (Coman, 1912. pp. 208. 210, 211, 214, 216.) John A. Sutter, a German-Swiss trapper, built an adobe fort tliree miles above the junction of the American River with the Sacramento, and organized a considerable fighting force. He had the governor's commission to defend the frontier against gentiles and horse thieves. His first l)usine.ss venture was in the fur trade, for beaver were still abundant up the Fork. However, he soon had an opportunity to buy at a l)argain agricultural implements, seeds, plants, and draft animals from Hodega. nnd was thus enabled to develop his estate and to give n\) trajjping as a livelihood. The Hudson's Bay Company continued operations in the San Joacpiiu and Sacramento valleys until 1841 or later. Headc{uarters were at Yerba Buena (San Francisco). Trapping stations were estalilished at French Camp in San Joaquin County and at French Camp in Yolo County. Writing in 1840, Lanman calls attention to the declining fur trade in the following words: "But the fur trade appears fated to decline upon the eastern as well as the western portion of the Rocky Mountains by the diminution of the animals from which it seeks its profits. This diminution has been obviated in some measure by the Hudson's Bay Compriny, who have preserved these particular tracts undisturbed. But where those precautions are not used the American or British trader advances to the territory and strips it of its wealth, so that in a short time there will ho ])ut little left upon the soil for commercial enterprise." Beaver and otter were reported as becoming scarce on the Sacramento River as early as 1837. By ]885 the fur trade had so declined that Hittell (1885 6. p. 564) states: "The days of fur hunting, which once was a great business in California, are gone, and it can not be long until wild fur-bearing animals will be curiosities in the country." Since that date a steady decrease has been noted and his prediction is almost fulfilled. Having now shown the fur trade as it existed in the past in California, let us now look for a moment at the fur trade of the world today, that we may better appreciate the money value of fur-bearing mammals. The immensity of the fur trade is best shown by the following (juota- tirn taken from a report by J. Walter Jones to the Conunission of Con- servation of Canada (pp. 73-83): "The volume of the fur trade is simply amazing to one who has not studied the question. We have figures of Brass of Berlin, who has been in the business for man.y years and who for thirty-five years has been collecting fur statistics. He estimates the total production of the world as 360,000,000 nuirks. or $100,000,000. I have been assured that America alone spends $100,- 000,000 a year on manufactured furs at retail price^s. The whole world pays, roughly speaking, for manufactured furs at retail y)rices about $350,000,()00'aunuaily. In Australia the value of pelts is about $6,000,- 000, while Africa and South America produce pelts worth about $2,000,000 a year. Warm countries, of course, do not produce furs. For I'ersian lamb — the product of the karakul sheep — America pays wholesale approximately $14,000,000. In America the pelts as sold in our houses — not the prices the trader gets, but the prices after tliey 3—15680 102 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. come to the wholesale liousc — amounted to $24. ()0( ),()()() a year. Asia aud Europe eaeh i)ay about a si mi la i- amoiuit. "In America a greater number of muskrat skins are obtained tlian of any other fur-bearer, except the i-abbit, several million skins going to the market yearly. Of other American animals we might mention the skunk, about one and a half million skins of which are sold yearly ; the opossum, about a million; the mink, about six liiiinlicd thousand; the raccoon, six hundred thousand; otter, about two Jiuiidred tliousaiid; marten, one hundr-ed and twenty thousand; lynx, ninety lliousatid; beaver, eighty thousand, and fisher, ten thousand." It can be estimated from figures given by Ernest Thompson Seton in his "Life Histories of Northern Animals" that the revenue to North America for Ihc last scNcnlx-five A-eai's. fi-otii Ihe sale of the Via. 27. — A trapper's valuable calc-li of furs in the Sierras. This was the catch at one location only. Photograph by Geo. Williamson, Jr. skins of the commoner fur-bearing mammals, has been $222,735,000, and to the United States $113,950,000. This means that there has been an average annual income to North America of about three million dollars and to the United States of $1,500,000. The average annual fur jiro- duction of North America in recent years is estimated at $24,00l),0()0. The sale of skunk skins, alone, brings in an income to tlie trappers of the United States of about $3,000,000 annually. According to a St. Louis fur imporler, approximately twenty-five million fur-l)earing mammals were caught in Noi'th America last season. These pelts had a cash value of about twenty million dollars. The total North American catch of last year (1914) has been approxi- mated as follows: :Muskrats. 15,000,000; opo.ssums, 2,800.000; raccoons, 2,400,000 ; skunks. 2,152,000 ; minks, 630,000 ; civet cats, 500,000. Vari- CALIFORNIA P^ISH AND GAME. 103 ous other kinds, inelnding foxes, wolves, otters, beavers, fishers, wild- eats, lynx, bear, M'hite weasel, martens, wolverines, and mountain lions, amounted to 1,500,000 skins. Hence it must be seen that in its fur-bearing mammals the United States has an extremely valuable asset, and one wliieh, when the income is estimated, ranks ahead of some of the other natural resources. Cali- fornia formerly ranked high as a fur-producing state. (See figs. 27 and 28.) The skins of fur-bearing mammals have, since earliest history, fur- nished men with clothing. In fact, so important were they in the early history of North America that they formed not only a medium of exchange among the Indians, but also among the early settlers. As far as money value is concerned, furs furnish the most valuable of all the products to be derived from wild animals. At the present time, although furs have ceased to be a necessity and have become a luxury, yet the demand for them is steadily increasing. Furs have become scarce not only because less are produced, but also because more are demanded. A number of factors have been instrumental in increasing the demand. Population has greatly increased and the relative number of people in sufficiently good circumstances to be able to purchase furs has also increased. The added interest in fashionable dressing to be seen in our cities and the growing use of the automobile, with its luxurious fittings and need of warm clothing, have also been instrumental in increasing the use of furs. This increased demand for furs has rapidly depleted our .sup{jly. Hunters and trappers have penetrated the most secluded haunts of the fur-bearers and a decrease is to be noted everywhere. Nor has the hunter and trapper been the sole agent in the decrease, for the advance of civilization has cleared away the forests, drained the swamps, and continually de troyed the natural homes of fur-bearing animak. The London sale of furs by C. M. Lampson & Company shows that all of the more valuable furs have decreased in numbers from 20 to 95 per cent. Along with this decrease of the numl)ers of pelts of the more valuable bur-bearers has come an immense increase in the numbers of pelts of the commoner mammals, such as the muskrat, skunk, and lynx. In the offering at the London sales of January, 1914, more pelts of every species except the mink and the civet were offered than were offered in 1913. The increase in the price of pelts during the last twenty years has averaged about 25 per cent for the staple fur-bearers of Canada. There are two important ways in which we can meet this steady decrease among the fur-bearers. First of all, we can encourage the breeding of fur-bearers in captivity; and, second, Ave can pass laws which will protect them in the wild during the summer season when their fur is not prime, or we can entirely close the season, thus reducing the number taken each year. By the use of both methods can we alone hope to supply the present demand for furs. Those who have attempted in recent years to domesticate fur-bearing mammals have found that it is a profitable industry. Already fur farming has progressed beyond the tlieoretical and experimental stage in Canada and the eastern United States. 104 CALIFORNIA FISIT AND GAME. It \v;is not until sneeess was ()l)taiiicorary positions and those outside the service who Avanted to be war- dens, it was necessary for a warden who wished to hold his position not only to take the test, but to stand at the head of the list. Two months later, in February, a second examination was held for the position of district warden, corresponding somewhat to that of county warden in Vermont. The chief duty of the district warden is to supervise the work of the local deputies and his salary is $1,500 a year. There M^ere six positions to be filled, and sixty-six candidates, or CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. Ill eleven applicants for each position. The examination was much the same as that for the deputies, except that it was much more severe. Among the questions asked were questions of policy, regarding the handling of men, how to distribute wardens to secure the best enforce- ment of the law, how to work out certain problems in different parts of the state, etc. These Illinois examinations were the largest of the kind ever held in this country for the purpose of selecting men to serve as wardens. Three weeks ago it was my privilege to attend the warden 's school in Wisconsin, which lasted tliree days. Wisconsin has gone a step farther than some of the states in providing promotion for men who perform their work satisfactorily and pass a suitable examination. The first step is to grade the men. Those who enter the service as protective wardens receive $2.50 a day. or $75 a month ; those who elect to enter the service for what is called "outlying fishing" work, which consists of looking after the commercial fisheries on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, get $3 a day, or $90 a month ; and those who wish to enter transportation work, inspecting the shipment of game or fish, also receive $3 a day, or $90 a month. Last summer the state warden inaugurated a correspondence school for wardens. On the first of each month he sent each of his men five questions which the deputies were requested to look over and answer to the best of their ability. Failure to return the answers counted on the record. The warden then sent out copies of the correct answers and each deputy was asked to compare them with his own. The fifth month the state warden invited the deputies to submit five questions which they would like to ask relative to the game laws. Instead of attempting to answer them, he brought this collection of several hundred questions to the annual convention and had the men discuss them, and in this way thoroughl}^ covered the ground by a general consideration of the more practical questions which arise in the state. Each year the state assembles the deputies and holds a promotion examination, open to those who have been in the service more than six months. Each man with a satisfactory efficiency record, who attains the requisite marks on the examination is entitled to a liberal promo- tion. Every man is anxious to secure a promotion and every member is on hand, ready to do his best. A man's record for the year counts 50 ; the written examination counts 30 ; and the oral interview counts 20 per cent. The efficiency record does not depend upon the number of arrests made but is divided into five parts, of which the number of arrests and convictions is only one, and in some cases a very small part. A good deal of prominence is given to the success of a deputy in building up sentiment in his community in favor of fish and game conservation, for the law of Wisconsin requires the warden to instruct the public as to the protection of fish and game. Another thing that counts is prompt and efficient service, and still another is promptness and care in making out reports. The men that brought in the largest number of arrests were subjected to very careful scrutiny in the oral examination, and it soon developed that this was a very uncertain basis for promotion. Many men, think- ing that the number of arrests was the test that counted, had evidently been looking for all sorts of minor offenses, many of them doubtful 112 CALIFORNIA FIHU AND GAME. eases and none of tln'iu particularly difficult. Others had jiiven all their attention in minor tishinu- eases (aIthou the entire department. liut oidy to th(,se men who have attained a certain grade in their efficiency record during the year. The civil service conditions that have been mentioned are !-i'(|nired by law in six states — New York. Kew Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois, and recently in California and ^fassachusetts. They have been ado]>ted as the policy of the game connnission in Delaware and ai'c likely to be introduced as the policy of the commission in ^lichigan and Kentucky. When Delaware passed a hunting license law and received a fund suffi- cient to i>ay regular salaries to wai'dens. the game connnission insisted that a written examination was first to be held for the position of chief warden. As soon as the chief warden had been appointed he was instructed to confer with the department of agriculture and prepare an exann'nation made up of written, oral and ontdooi- tests suitable for deputies. When the appointment of the dei)uties had been made the commission secured the services of two experienced game i)rotectors from another state to work for a few weeks with the new men so that Delawai'e has had good service from the V(Mw first and has secured some veiw surprising results. So much for the methods of selecting wardens. ^lassachusetts, as already stated, has gone a step farther and has i)rovided that its officers, including wardens, who have served for fifte upper side. In this connection, it must be remembered that this fish swims on its side; in conse(|uence. its back and its l)elly ai'e in the same horizontal plane. This is all due to the distortion of the head, because of which i)oth eyes are situati'd on the same side, the "blind" side being tlie lower. The very young halibut has the appearance normal to other ♦Printed with permission of U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 117 fishes, and swims on its belly; ])nt soon the skull heconios so twisted, as to hi'ini;- the two eyes on the same side — u-nally the i'i,i;ht ; from that time on, the tish assumes the horizontal position. The mouth, armed with stronji' teeth, is small in |)roi)ortion to the si/e of the body as com- pared with most oth(M- fishes, but it is proportionally lar^-e in eomjiarison with other flounders. In point of size, the halibut is one of the largest fishes, ranking Avith the swordfish. the tarpon and the tuna. Specimens weighing four hun- dred pounds, or more, have been taken, but they are not commonly seen; Jordan and Evermann, in "American Food and Game Fishes" (1905, p. 524), mention that "NiLsson records one from the coast of Sweden that weighed 720 pounds." A fish weighing between eighty and one hundred pounds measures nearly five feet in length; its "depth," i. e., the distance from back to belly, is about one third of its length. A fish that has attained a weight of three hundred pounds is about seven feet long, and perhaps three feet deep. It has not yet been learned when spawning occurs, nor is it known under what conditions this takes place. On September 1, 191-1. in a female halibut caught on the Albatross' gear, the eggs were looser, somewhat larger, and seemingly more nearly approaching "ripeneas" than was the case in any fenude halibut previously taken during the investigation. Apparently, the time for spawning was approaching, but the evidence is too slight to form the basis for any theory. Concerning the food of the halibut, little is known, for the reason that eight or nine tenths of those caught are found to have disgorged the stonuich contents. Some evidence, bearing on this cjuestion, was obtained as a small result of the investigation. Strictly carnivorous, the fish has a varied diet, sometimes exhibiting positively cannibalistic tendencies. In the stomach of one halibut was found a starfish ; another contained a small octopus; while from still a third one, a young ray was removed; crustaceans, such as shrimps, are also indulged in at times. But fishes, of various kinds and sizes, seem to constitute the bulk of the halibut's food. A small halibut, partly digested, was found in a larger one; and in each of several halibut were the bony remains of fish which mast have been somewhat of a ' ' mouthful ' ' for the captor. One halibut, in particular, weighing about 180 pounds, contained, all at the same time, a hake {3Ierluccius producfus) . a silver salmon {Ouco- vlnjucJnis kisutcli), and a red rock-fish ( Sehastodcs ruherrimus), the so- called "rock-cod." Each of these fish weighed fully ten pounds, and had been swallowed only a short time before the halibut was caught. Distinctly an inhabitant of the bottom of the sea. the halibut roams leisurely about, but probably does not remain long in one locality. This is inferred from what fishermen report : that, after they have fished one place for perhaps a day, they are obliged to shift to another location five or ten miles away, because the fish have disai)peared from the old ground. Bottom of coarse sand or fine gravel, on which sea-pens and anemones abound, seems to l)e i)referred by the fish, while nniddy or l:arren bottom is either shunned or passed over rapidly. In addition to the character of the bottom and the abundance of food, fcmpcvaiure is a factor infiuencing the wanderings of the halibut ; rarely is the fish foiuid in waters warmer "than 45° Fahrenheit, but is most commonly taken in waters considerablv colder. 118 CALIFORNIA \--\S\l AND GAME. Ranging from Bchring straits southward as far as the latitude of San Francisco, lialibut are. iiowevcr, found iu eonnnorcial quantities only from the latitude of central Oregt)n northward. Hy far the greatast amount of halibut is taken in the waters of southeastern Alaska ; yet not inconsiderable (|uantities occur in the region of Cape Flattery, "Washington, and off Newport. Oregon. Fairly successful fishing is done off Smith river, in the northern part of California. The boats engaged in the halibut fishery vary greatly in size, from small ones having a cargo capacity of 50,000 pounds to large ones capable of holding 200,000 pounds of haliliut. Each boat — unless it is a very small one indeed — carries from two to twelve dories (flat- bottomed rowboats of special design), from which the fishing is done. Among fishermen, the number of dories carried by a boat is iLsed as an indication of her size; thus, "She carries four dories." or "She carries twelve dories." This phrase indicates, al-:o, how many fishermen are employed on a boat, for fach dory is manned by two fishermen. The gear used in fishing for halibut consists of lines, set with hooks, which are allowed to lie on the ocean bottom. These are called the "ground line." Each line is about 225 feet in length; seven or eight of them, fastened end-to-end, constitute a "skate" of gear, which has a total length of nearly 1,600 feet — almost one third of a mile. To the ground line are fastened, or "bent," short lines, called "gangings" or "gangious, " at intervals of about nine feet; each gangion is five or six feet long and has a hook attached to its free end. Hence, there are about twenty-five hooks to a line; and a complete skate, of eight lines, will have two hundred hooks. For bait, fresh salmon is said to be particularly desirable. Since this can not always be readily obtained, the fishermen have various substi- tutes for it. Frozen fresh herring is frequently used; and, as a last resort, salt herring. If a boat's supply of bait becomes exhausted, the men resort to the expedient of cutting up, and baiting the hooks with fish other than halibut which have been taken on the lines. Red rock- fish (Sehasfodes sp.), "black cod" (Anoplopoma fimhria), and "ling cod" {Ophiodon cloiujatus) all serve as this emergency bait, which is technically known as "gurry." Oddly enough, neither halibut flesh nor ray flesh, when it is used for bait, is taken l)y the halil)ut ! AVhen the boat has arrived on the fishing Inniks, soundings are made until favorable bottom is located; a small sample of the bottom is picked up bj^ soft soap or tallow in the lower surface of the sounding lead. MeanMdiile, the gear is baited, and everything made ready for a "set." Frequently a trial set is made, to determine the prospects for a good haul; one skate of gear is usually put down and allowed to lie for a couple of hours. If the re-;ults of this are good, the other dories are lowered; if they are not good, the boat's berth is shifted and reshifted until a favorable fishing j^lace is located. In "setting" a skate of gear for fishing, the pi'ocedure is as follows: To a small keg, which serves as a buoy, is attached one end of a long line, the buoy line, whose length depends on the depth of the Avater; the keg is tlien thrown overboard, and the line is allowed to run out. The other end of the liuoy line is "bent on" to a small anchor, to which one end of the ground line is also bent. Being put overboard, the anchor sinks to the bottom, carrying down with it the ground line. Then, while one man slowly rows the dory in a direction previously CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 119 determined on, the other tlirows out the ^ear, a few feet at a time. When the end of tiie line is reached, the line is hauled taut for a few seconds in order to make it lie straight on the bottom of the ocean. An anchor is bent on and, with a buoy line attached, is lowered to the bot- tom ; a buoy, fastened to this second buoy line, is heaved overboard. This act completes the setting of the gear. For any but trial sets, gen- erally three skates of gear, or, not infrequently, more than that, to a dory, are used. In that event they are usually fastened end-to-end, although occasionally they are set separately. The gear is allowed to remain down — to "soak" is the technical term — for at least two hours ; but a ' ' soak ' ' of three or four hours is advo- cated by many fishermen. The length of time is regulated somewhat by the kind of bait used; fresh herring is not left down much over an hour and a half, because it tears oft' easily; salt herring is given a soak of three, four, or even six, hours, to allow time for the salt to dissolve out of it ; fresh salmon will stand a three-hour soak well. However, no definite rules can be laid down, and each fisherman is guided by circumstances and by his own experience. At the end of the alloted time, one man busies himself with hauling in the line ; the other disen- tangles any snarls, removes fish and bait from the hooks, and coiLs down the line in the dory. This done, the boat is signaled for ; she having come alongside, the fish are taken aboard in a sling, and then the dory is hoisted. All hands immediately turn-to, to dress the fish, which are iced down in the hold. A catch of 500 pounds of halibut to tlie dory is considered "good fishing." When ten or twelve dories are operated, they are spaced from half a mile to a mile apart, and the lines are set parallel to each other. Con- sequently, a considerable area of ground is fished over. It is estimated that, in one "pet," a boat running twelve dories can cover thirty-six square miles of fishing ground. And commonly two sets are made in a day. Several trips are made during the season, which, because of the severe winter storms, lasts only from spring to early fall. Operations are continued, either until the boat contains all the fish she can carry, or until supplies are needed; thereupon the boat returns to port and dis- poses of her catch, which is either distributed to local dealers, or shipped in ice to more distant markets. PUBLIC FISHING vs. PRIVATE HUNTING. By F. M. Newbert. President California Fisli and Game Commission. The state legislature, in 1911, enacted section 4085^ of the Politi- cal Code, which grants to the county boards of supervisors the right to condemn a public highway for the purpose of fishing along the banks of any stream stocked by the state which does not run through cultivated land. Prior to the passage of this act there was much determined opposition offered to the bill by certain people who held that such a law would have the etfect of breaking down the powerful trespass law in force in the state. It was also argued that the bill meant confiscation of property rights and w^as in direct conflict with the constitution. However, the bill was passed and signed by the governor. 120 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. In this net lliere is no confiscation of" in'opcrty Avithout jnst fcimi- neration. The county must i)urchas(' sucii a i-iuli1 of way al'to- due pi'ocoss of condciiinatidn. Pm-llici-. the peo])l(' of this stale have been taxed from 1S71 to 1!)()I) for the iipkeej) of the hatcheries and for the inii)ortatioii and distriliution of valuable food fishes. It is estimated, on reliable authority, that fully 95 per cent of the iish now in our streams are the result of the work of the Fish Commission in the impoi-fation, artificial propagation, and distribution of fish. Since the jieople have had to pay for the hatehinc' and distribution of ])ractically all the fish in the streams, it certainly follows that they should have the sole and exclusive right to partake of them, subject to such rules and regulations as they themselves enact into laws through the medium of th(Mi- representatives. Inasmuch as they have siiiui- fied their intention to pi-otect property from wanton destruction and to give just remuneration to those whose real estate is needed in the further advance of community interests, it also follows that they may call upon any person to allow free access of the ])ublic to the fishing streams they have stocked, and to remunerate him for the loss of the needed part of his estate. This is certainly just and eijuitable when the required strip lies wholly upon wild lands not in any numner devoted to agricultural ]nirsuits. In the peaceful entering upon wiUl lands for the jjurpose of fishing, the disciple of Isaac Walton carries no more dangerous wca})ons than his rod. line and liooks. The danger of nuiinnng or otherwise injuring stock is reduced to a mininuim, arul the loss to the individual through the forfeit of his sole and exclusive right to fish in that stream is nil. On the other hand, Ave have the time-worn and vexing (luestion of private game preserves or hunting grounds. The erroneous itlea pre- vailing among some peo})le regarding these institutions is founded upon a lack of information concerning them. The people at large have not taken the time to correctly inform themselves u])on this sul)ject. It is claimed that private hunting grounds may be done away with and the self-sanu' argument used in the matter of pul)lic fishing is advanced against them. But the positions of the two (pies- tions are not analogous in any jiarticular. Can we exercise the right of eminent domain against the private hunting ground, or can we con- demn it in the interests of the great mass of hunters, and yet be just and e(|iiitable to the owner of the land? We must take into considera- 1i(;n the natural elemi'uls entei'ing into the (piestion. and, in so doing, we would commence with the most prominent bone of contention, the "duck club. The greater portion of duck club grounds furnish the best stock ]iastures in the state. On the duck-shooting grounds of the Sacra- mento and San Joarohil)ition against shooting more than two days in any one week during the open season and none at all during the closed season. A violation of this clause or of the bag-limit law Avill cause a member's expulsion from the club and the forfeit of his membership. The ca])ital he has invested in his member- ship would, in many instances, cause a considerable personal financial flurry. Sfany duck chilis own their own grounds and they, in turn, lease the grazing privileges. Now could we, by any form of law, prohibit these men from owning that property? Could we force them to allow free access to their land to every man with a gun, simply because they themselves hunted there? Is it possible to confiscate that prop- erty simply because it is hunted over about two months in the year and grazed the remainder? Suppose the state a])i)i'opriated $500,000 for the |)urrliase of duek grounds. "When this purchase was consummated Avho would enjoy this expenditure of the taxpayers' money? Answer: The retired capitalist and the marlsct hunter. Stop and think it ovei-. OUT-OF-DOORS. Away from the busy city and the ceaseless clang of the street. And the piles of brick and mortar and the tramp of hurrying feet; Away from the crash and clatter and the worrying, wearying strife, Come, ride with me o'er boundless plains and thrill with the .joy of life, AVhere blue i.s the vault of heaven, and the blaster that man adores Is everywhere in Nature, in His own great Out-of-Doors. The forests sing their welcome; they bid us a moment give. To come and comnnuie with Nature, and learn what it is to 1iv(>, "Where, watchful, the mighty mountains eternal vigil keej). Or where swiftly swirling waters wnll lull oui- unrest to sleep; "Where by the evening campfire, " 'Tis joy to forget old scores." Remembering (udy that we are men in God's great Out-of-Doors. Selected. CALIFORNIA FLSII AND GAME. 123 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME A publication devoted to the conser- vation of wild life and published quar- terly by the California State Fish and Game Commission. Sent free to citizens of the State of California. Offered in exchange for ornithological, mammalogical and simi- lar periodicals. All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, California. April 10, 1915. Everyone owns a share in the natu- ral resources of this state. The pro- tection and conservation of game is, therefore, to the interest of every citizen. "CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCA- TION." There seems to be uo end to the senti- ment favoring our motto : "Conservation throush education." When the federal bird law was being discussed in con- gress, Representative Linthicum of Maiy- land said : "We should begin a campaign of edu- cation, teaching not only tlie pleasure to be had from a closer acquaintance with our bird friends, but also the benefits which farmers derive from their presence. To many it has never occurred that man is the only living ci'eature who takes life for sport or pleasure ; others take life, but wlien the.y do so, it is always for food or in self-defense — never for pleasure alone. Legislation alone will never as- sure that complete protection toward which this measure is a step. Real pro- tection will come through educating our people as to the value of birds, that they may realize the part played by them and other inhabitants of our fields, forests and streams as economic factors in our every- day life. Unless backed by strong public cooperation, legislation will accomplish little." ORGANIZATIONS DEFENDING WILD LIFE. The growth of sentiment in favor of wild life conservation is showing itself in a number of ways. One noticeable tiling has been Ihe growth of a number of societies having for their object the protection of wild life. Besides such older active organizations as the Coopm* Ornithological Club and Audubon Society, there are now four otlier societies more recently formed whose distinct purpose is to stir up interest and actively work for better wild life conservation. A list of these more re<-ent organizations, with the names and addresses of their presidents and secretaries, is given below. California State Fish, Game, and Forest Protective League — J. B. Hauer, president, 210 Pine street, San Francisco; J. Sherman Woolf, secretary, Monterey. California Associated Societies for the Conservation of Wild Life — Dr. William F. Bade, president, 2223 Atherton street, Berkeley ; Dr. W. P. Taylor, secretary, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley. Established 1912, composed of many prominent organizations, such as the Sierra Club, California Academy of Sciences and the State Humane Associa- tion. The Wild Life Protective- League of America. Department of Southern Cali- fornia— Charles F. Holder, president, 475 Bellefcntaine street, Pasadena ; Major F. R. Rurnham, D.S.O., secretary, Fresno. Kstablished 1914. California Wild Life Defenders — Henry C. Hall, president, Corte Madera ; Harry Harper, secretary, Capitola. Established 1914. The last-named organization is the latest to take the field. Its secretary, Harry Hari)er, was formerly secretary of the California State Fish, Game, and Forest Protective League. The motto of this new organization is : "For Our State. For Its Streams and Fore.sts. For Its Song Birds and Flora. For All Its Wild Life— and So, at the Last — For Our State." The California Federation of Women's Clubs, with 30,000 members in the state, has organized a committee for the con- servation of wild life, with Mrs. Harriet Williams jMyers as chairman. This shows that the women of California can be depended upon to support wise con- servation measures. All of the above organizations have taken an active part in supporting cer- tain measures relative to fish and game proposed during the last session of the legislature. 124 CALIFORNIA FISH AND (iA.ME. IS BIRD PROTECTION WHOLLY SENTIMENTAL? MiUi.v i^'uplc serin i(j liclicve that bird protection is wholly sciitiincnttil. Look far enoush into the srbji'ct iuid you will find rhiit it is lai'^cly (•(•(moinic. 'I'lic liockefelltn- Foundation lias just paid $2L>r).i)((0 for sr>,()akland, a large reservoir has been nia"• ) CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 125 BREEDING DEER FOR THEIR HORNS. The tollowin,^ extract from a letter by Frank N. Meyer, Aj;ri(iiltural Explorer, Ofliee of Foreiiiii Seed and I'lant Intro- duetion. IT. S. Department of Agriculture, lo his chief, dated Omsk, Siberia, July 17, I'.tll, which appeared in the Jounuil of Ucrnliti/ for February, litl"). describes a remarkable industry now tliriving in Siberia : In Birel we stopped with a farmer who had bec'ome a wealthy man throush the sale of stag antlers, and saw how the women folks were boiling several maguiti- cent pairs. They were all coated yet with the down, which is an absolute neces- sity to sell them, as the Chinese take only those which are young. This stag-keeping business has its headtpuirters in and around Birel, and by pure accident we had stumbled upon one of the most inter- esting industries in this world. It' seems that about forty years ago somebody in F.irel made an expenmen' of keeping some stags in captivity and by sawing the antlers oil; and bandaging tae wounds, showed that a stag can be de- antlered and survive the process and be operated upon every year. Up to that lime the animals had been hunted untd they were well nigh extinct, and the col- lecting of antlers was a very unsteady sort of business — one never knew whether one would get much or not. Well, the animals multiplied and high-fenced en- closures were established all over the mountains, for these stags need much ground to pasture upon, otherwise they don't remain healthy. And today there are several thousand stags in and around Kirel, and the income derived from the sale of the antlers has made some people very wealthy, for every male animal pro- duces about' 70 roubles"* worth of antlers every year, and some men have as many as 4<)(>" males. The average price ])aid for the antlers is l)etween eight and twelve roubles per pound, according to the market. The antlers are sawed off with a nne saw and weigh, fresh, twice as much as later on. They have to be boiled in salted water and verv great care has to he taken that the felt-like covering doesn t come off: therefore, they are boiled sev- eral times, and each time allowed to dry out again. When sufficiently cooked, they are hung in the wind and allowed to dry thoroughly, and in that state they are bought up by dealers and said to be ex- ported to rhina via Mongolia. ihe Chinese, as you may know, believe thor- oughly in tlie rejuvenating and stimula- tive power of young deer horns, and the stuff, scraped and powdered, forms a valuable ingredient in certain of their medicines. I was also told that a firm in St. Petersburg has taken up this mat- ter and is manufacturing a siiecial medi^- cine from them, under the name ot "Spermine." PHEASANT FARMING. There has recently been published under the direction of Wm. L. Finley, Oregcui Fish and (Jame Commission, a lieautifuUy illustrated bulletin on "Fheas- ant Farming," written by 'Gene M. Simp son. Superint(>iident of the State Game Farm at Corvallis, Oregon. In the intro- duction Mr. Finley states that the bulle- tin, which is a revision of a former one, is designed to furnish reliable informa- tion as to how pheasants may be success- fully propagated. He also pays a tribute to Mr. Simpson, who has been particu- larly successful in rearing pheasants on the state game farm. The first chapter discusses the propa- gation of game birds and defends the rear- ing and sale of such birds. Chapter 2 describes the dilferent varieties of pheas- ants. The chapter devoted to "The Chinese Pheasant in Oregon" furnishes information as to the history of the intro- duction of this bird into Oregon and the success which has been obtained in estab- lishing it. The succeeding chapters dis- cuss the equipment for a pheasant farm, the ideal mother for pheasants, the food of young pheasants, enemies of the game breeder, and advice to the beginner. This bulletin sums up the very informa- tion which the man who is starting a pheasantry desires. As it is the result of long experience, it can be successfully used as a handbook by the pheasant breeder. It is to be hoped that there will soon be enough demand in California for such a publication. As yet the breeding of pheasants in captivity in this state is in its infancy. *A rouble is worth about 51 cents, U. S. currency. A GUIDE BOOK FOR SCIENTIFIC TRAVELERS ON THE PACIFIC COAST. The Pacific Coast Committee of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science is preparing a guide book for the use of visiting members to the San Francisco meeting, August 2 to 7, 11)1."). The book will be about the size of a Baedecker and will be published by I'aul Elder & Company. The exact title will be "A Scientific Traveler's Guide Book to the Pacific Coast," and it will l)ear the sub-title "Nature and Science on 126 CALIFORNIA PISII AND GAME. tlie Pacific Coast." This book will con- tniii chapters upon tlic dlstiuctive fea- tures of the region, includins; geology, palaeontology, geography, distribution of laud animals, fisheries, marine biology, flora and forests, marine botany, eth- nology and archipology, agriculture, influ- ence of early Spanisii settlers, landmarks of history and literature, and the evident effects of an out-of-door life upon the development of the fine arts. These chap- ters will be ci'itical descriptions written by men who are authorities in the several fields. General maps of the region and maps of the vicinities of the larger cities, directions for reaching the principal points of scenic and scientific interest on the Pacific coast, and directories of edu- cational and research institutions will also be included. This book can be \n'o- cured from the general office of the American Association or from leading book stores on the Pacific coast. The price will be Jjil.no. THE PROTECTION OF NON-GAME BIRDS. It seems to be impossible for a single session of the state legislature to go by without a bill being introduced to remove from protection such birds as the meadow- lark, lilackbird, and robin. In back of cvciy such move is to be found a desire on the part of the city sport (we can not say si)ortsman) to have something more to kill. When such a bill was introduced in the last legislature l)y a San Fran- cisco asseml)lyman the following comment appeared in the Fresno licpuJjlu an : The ((uestion of the usefulness or injury "of tliese birds is a scientific one upon which we would rather have the judg- ment of the zoological department of the university than that of any aspiring res- taurant keejier in San Francisco. .Vnd so far as the restaurant end of this world shaking i)roblem is concerned, there is a much better and easier way of meeting it. We do not need blackbirds, meadow- larks, and robins for our bird pies. There are billions of lOnglish sparrows in the state which are doing no good to anybody. The United States government has de- vised methods for the easy capture of the sparrows, by trap|iinu. in large numbers. T.et the restaurants introduce si)arrow pie as a diet if th(\v will. 'I'here are plenty of si)arrows and the i)ie is said to be good. AN OUTBREAK OF QUAIL DISEASE. 'I'he rnitcd States Department of Agri- cultui'e repots that the third known out- break of i|u,'iil disease has been discov- ered by the Bureau of Animal Industry, t^uail (liseas<' is a highly infectious malady to whi< li .ill native quail are apparently subject. The first outbreak occurred in Jt)U7 and a second one occurred in 31)12. The one in 1912 was checked through the suspension of inijiortations of birds from Mexico. Birds imported from Mexico, at Brownsville, Texas, on January 5, 1!)1."), were found infected with the disease. All game commissioners and sportsmen who ma,y have purchased birds for restocking this season are requested to advise the Bureau of Animal Industry if any of the birds are known to have died from disease of any kind. A quarantine has been established at Brownsville and every attempt will be made to prevent the spread of this exceedingly dangerous dis- ease. IS THE HOUSE CAT A DESTROYER OF BIRDS? Mr. E. II. Forbush, State Ornithologist of Pennsyhania, is collecting data on house cats, lie has sent out circulars asking for information as to (he deiireda- tions committed and llie comparative valu<> of this animal as a destroyer of r(ulent [lesls. He plans to issue a bulletin on the subject, giving the results of his in\estigalion. Of recent years the house cat has often be(>ii Innnded as an enemy of liird life. It is certainly true that stray c;its which have no home and who ii\<' in almost a wild state do destroy many birds. Whether all cats will have to be placed in this same category remains 10 be seen. PRICES DROP ON RAW FURS. .\ St. Louis fur importiM' is autiiority for (lie statement that lh(> losses on .Viuevicau raw furs caught last season alone, will aniouut to ten milliiui dullai's. 'i'his is due to the fact that most fur manufacturers are located in (Jennany and France. All price lists sent out since the first of the .year show that only about half of the price paid last year is now being paid for raw furs. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 127 KEEP YOUR FILE OF "CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME." We wish to urge all of our reaclors to carefully guard their file of "('aliforuia Fish and Game." We hope that, as years go by, this periodical will increase in size and importance. We believe that already the material to be found in the first numbers has been of sufficient inter- est so that readers will wish to keep the back numbers for reference. Already the first number of "California Fish and Game"' is at a premium, there being but a very small number of copies left for tilling sets. For several months past "Forest and Stream" has been advertising for a complete set, or for certain old vol- umes for filling sets. A number of im- portant university libraries have been at- tempting to complete their files for several years, but llie early numbers of the maga- zine are not now available. The papers now being published in "California Fish and Game" arc not only of interest to the general reader, but they are of value to the scientist and, as years go on, the early numbers will become more and more valuable. It is impossible for the Com- mission to issue very large editions, hence the necessity of conserving back numbers. If the added incentive of financial return is needed, we need but point to the prices paid for early numbers of similar period- icals. Fig. 31. — New hatchery (B) at Si.sson, completed January 1, 1915. HATCHERY AND FISHERY NOTES. HATCHERY ACTIVITY IN 1915. On .January 1st the new hatchery build- ing at Sisson Station was completed (see fig. 31). The building is 195 feet long by 42 feet wide and has a capacity of 148 hatching troughs (see fig. 32). It will be used for hatching and rearing both salmon and trout. At the present time the building is nearly full of .salmon eggs and embryo fish. We have received at Sisson Station, from the U. S. Bureau of Fislieries sta- tions at Battle Ci'eek, Mill Creek and Klamath River, approximately 29,000,(X)0 salmon eggs, to date. About half of the eggs received have hatched out and the embryo fish are doing nicely. Prior to the arrival of the first of the eggs, all of the buildings were put in excellent shape for the reception of the salmon eggs, and 128 CAIJFORXIA KISII AM) GAME. with the c-oinph'Iioii of tlic new halcliory l)uildiuK evt'r.vthiuu was in n^adincss for tlie season's work. Ail four of tlic salmon liatchery iuiildinfis at tliis station \\ili Ik- crowded to cajtacity lliis season. As soon as tlie eniliryo fisli reacli tlie swininiinji stafje. we will coninience feediui; them, and will hold and feed the fry in the hateheries and nurseries until they have attained such size as will insure tlH>ir l)eiug: W(dl able to protect themselves from their natural enemies, when they will be released in waters suitable for them. The spawning of the Eastern brook and Loch Leven trout' at Sisson Hatchery has been completed. About l.TriT.UOU I.och Leven and 1,1!»S,(J(J0 Eastern brook trout eggs were taken from the fish in the ponds at this station. The eggs are hatching and the embryo fish are in excel- lent condition. During the coming month we will commence si)awniiig the rainbow ti'out in the Sisson llatcliiM'y i)ouds, and the indications are that we will secure a nice take of eggs from these fisli. ''I''lie jireliminary work for opening up III!' rainbow egg ((illectlug stations, auxil- iary to Sisson Hatchery, has been com- menced. As the two stations, Camp Creek and Bogus Creek, on the Klamath River, were put in excellent shape for o])erati(:ns last .season, very little repair work will l)e necessary this season. Both plants have been inspected during the l)ast two weeks and were found to be in excellent ciondition for the season's opera- tions. During the coming month we will send a crew of men lo these stations to put in liie trails and prepare fur tli(> run (.'f spawning fish. During the past year I have thonuighly investigati'd Ihe Pit River country, with the idea of increasing our rainbow trout egg collecting oi)erations. I found that rainbow trout ascend the tributaries of the Bit River in considerable numbers. From my investigations T found that Burney Creek seemed to have ijie largest run of fish, and I, therefore, selected a site suitable for carrying on the work. A lease was secured on the site selected, and I have just completed the final survey for the installation of the racks, tra[), etc. AVithin the next two or three weeks I will have a crew of men on the ground, pre- l)aring the station for Ihe season's opera- tions. I believe thai I lie Bumey Creek Station will prove to be one of the liest egg-collecting stations in the .state. During the spring of l'.tl4 the old Snow -Mountain Station, located at Snow Moun- tain power dam. M«'ndocino County, was operated by this commission, in an en- deavor to ascertain whether it would jiay to operate the plant on a lai'ge scale. The results obtained frcmi the experiment were very gratifying and \\v collected a very good taki' of st<'elhead trout eggs. Accord- ingly, I made ai'rangements during Ihe summer to have the station enlarged ami put in first-class condition. The fish lad- der over the dam was in poor condititm and the traps- were old and nearly useless. During the ])ast fall, I had a crew of men engaged in putting everything in readi- ness for this season's work. The lailder was repaired, traps installed, eyeing troughs and building enlarged and re- paired, and a new water supply system in- stalled. The work was ctnnpleted veloped fry, may l>e carried out (111 the same lines as in the past two yea is. At tlu' Brice Creek Hatchery .•',.ll(l(),(l(K) salmon eggs are now hatching. The fry obt.i iiii'(l from this hatch will be distrib- ule(l ill .Mad Biver ;unl Ihe streams llow- ing into lliinibdldl I'ay, as well as in the CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 129 lower reac'hos of Eol River. Tho upjier reaches of Eel River will be stoc-ked with salmon fry by the Fish Commission's dis- tributing car this season. Owinj; to the large number of salmon that ascended the river duriuii' ilie early fall freshets, the natural i)roi)a,i;:ition will be larger than usual. The storms raised Eel River before* the fishermen had a chance to take many of the salmon from the pools in the lower river, conseiiuently a larger numl)er of mature salmon ascended the river to spawn than usual. The Fish and (iame Commission is planning a hatchery for the district south markers from Portland and Eel Rivei- and the old (juestion arose. Were they salmon or steelhead? The usual characters by which salmon and steelhead are dislinguisbcd are the size of head, shape of tail and number of rays in the anal fin. In the shipments these identification marks had been re- moved. The fish were dressed and the heads, tails, and anal fins removed, very evidently for the purpose of preventing identification. As it was lawful to have salmon, but unlawful to have steelhead in possession, the question was a vital one. A microscopic examination of the scales I I I ijiauyui>^* * Fig. 3-. — Interior of new hatchery (E) at Sisson. This building contains 148 hatching troughs. of the Tehachapi. It is the intention of the board to establish a hatching station in southern California to propagate enough fish to stock the streams in the southern part of the state, if a suitable site can be found. It will be more eco- nomical to hatch and distribut(^ the fry from a hatchery located in the south than to ship the tish from the northern stations. W. 11. Siiebley. IDENTIFYING FISH BY THEIR SCALES. The Fish and (Jamc Commission has been making [)ractical applications of the knowledge gained in the last few years in the study of fish scales. Shipments of fish came to San Franci.sco and other showed conclusively that they were steel- head. and gives the evidence upon which the violator can be prosecuted. The concentric rings of growth on the scales of trout and salmon show winter and summer growth, much as do the rings of growth on a tree. Also, the growth in fresh water can be distinguished from the growth in salt water. Steelhead. after hat( hing fiom the egg. spend from one to three years in the stream Ijefore going to sea, but the great majority of individuals remain two years in fresli water. The salmon, on the other hand, spend one year, or less, in fresh water and then pass out to sea. Scales from the fish in question showed two years" residence in fresh water, which is proof enough they 130 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. are steelhead. But the scales give an additional proof, in the presence of "spawning scars." A steelhead leaves the sea and enters fresh water to spawn, and, during this process, leaves off feeding to n great extent and becomes thin through the absorption of the fat of the body. Kven the edges of the scales imbedded in the scale pockets of the skin are eaten away, so that when the fish begins feed- ing again the scales take on new growth and a scar is left representing the ragged, eaten-away edge of the old scale. This constitutes the "spawning scar." Five per cent, or more, of steelhead show in this manner that they have previously spawned. Not so in the case of the salmon. They never show the "spawning scar," for they all die after spawning and growth is not resumed before death. Some of the fish examined in this instance showed these spawning scars, thus giving the additional proof that they were steelhead. The only salmon with which the steel- liead is likely to ever be confused is the silver salmon, or caho salmon. The silver salmon invariably matures and spawns at three years. In the case of the steel- \wad. spawning individuals will be found ranging from three to six years of age — nil of which is clearly shown by t'.ie scales. X. P>. Scofieiji. ANNUAL FISHERY PRODUCTS OF CALIFORNIA. The fisheries of Califoinia take annually 86,900,000 pounds of fish, for which the fishermen receive $4,000,000. Five thousand men are engaged In fish- ing for profit in this state. Fishing gear, including boats, nets and lines used in the state, is valued at .$1,250,000. TUNA INDUSTRY. The tuna industry has grown until now it is the largest of our commercial fish- eries. During the past season, the can- uers of southern California put up 350,000 cases, which were worth, wholesale, about .$1,000,0(X). The weight of the fish re- ([uired for this numlier of cases was 25,000,000 pounds, or more tiian doulile the total weight of salmon taken iu the state. Besides this, 1.(i(K),(t0ry in Big Bear Valley and to use the output for the replenishing of the trout supply of the streams in San Bernardino County. To turn the operation of the hatchery plant over to the State Fish and Game Commission. To turn the distribution of the fry ma- terial over to the San Bernardino County Supervisors. To promote, protect and further the game and fish supply of the county in every way possible. To in no way interfere with the work of the State Fish and Game Commission, but by direct means, by its influence and membership to increase its usefulness. MARKET FISHERMEN DISSATISFIED WITH FISH LAWS. In southern Califoinia the market fish- ermen are working earnestly to secui'e the repeal of several sections of the fish and game laws during the session of the legis- CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 131 laliire. Tliei'e are two measures espe- , the law i)rohibitiug the use of paran- cially which they wish repealed. One is zella, or trawl nets, In the sixth district, the law creating a fish reservation around The fishermen claim that these provisions Santa Catalina Island, and prohibiting i practically ruin the market fishing along the use of all nets within three miles of the coast of southern California, the shore of the island. And the other is CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES. A NEW DEVICE TO PROTECT BIRDS. Tlie general interest in bird protection has been productive of the invention of a device by Herr J. P. Thijsse of Utrecht to reduce the destruction of birds by light- houses. The device has already been placed on two British lighthouses and is said to be giving excellent results. Light- houses have long been instrumental in destroying great numbers of migrating birds, which have been attracted by the light during stormy weather. In some places thousands of birds kill themselves by flying against the light on each stormy night during the migration season. The new device now being used in Great Britain is reported to be a series of po)-ches on which the storm-driven birds can alight and rest until morning. MORE WILD LIFE REFUGES. The Minnesota (iame and Fish Com- mission is planning to establish a chain of wild life refuges in that state. The plan is not, however, that instituted by Indiana and adopted by Iowa, of permitting land- holders to post their farms as state game preserves, allowing them to shoot "rab- bits" on these "preserves" and supplying them ^\ith expensive exotic game birds for "stocking" purposes. — Recrcdtioii, De- cember, 1914. HOW TO ATTRACT BIRDS IN NORTH- EASTERN UNITED STATES. Farmers' Bulletin, No. 621, of the United State Department of Agriculture describes means of increasing the number of birds about homes in the northeastern United States. Methods of furnishing birds with nesting places, food, and water are described and figured, and methods of protection are also suggested. Empha- sis is placed on the furnishing of food by means of plants and shrubs grown for that purpose. A table of seventy-five dif- ferent native and introduced plants and shrubs are suggested as available for this purpose and the comparative length of the fruiting seasons of each is figui'cd. It is the plan of the United States Bio- logical Survey to publish similar bulletins, which will furnish accurate infonnation along these same lines for other parts of the United States. While on the Pacific coast recently, Mr. McAtee everywhere gathered information so as to make pos- sible such a bulletin dealing with the northwestern United States. California is so well supplied with natural food for birds that there is not the same necessity for furnishing them artificial food plants. Nevertheless, we shall watch with interest these practical attempts to increase the number of birds ill limited localities. BOY SCOUTS BECOME GAME WARDENS. Under the leadership of M. D. Moser, twenty-one boy scouts of Tacoma, Wash- ington, have been given a course of train- ing in game protection. As a reward for their work the Game Commission of Washington has awarded them special badges. These boys are now doing good individual work, especially among the boys of the city, in protecting song birds. Recently these boys took a census of game birds in the vicinity of Tacoma. A great many game birds were found in- side the city limits. Quail were most numerous, but great numbers of pheasants and grouse were also found. AN EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT IN PROTECTING BIRDS. The famous ornithologist, Baron von Berlepsch, has for a number of years been carrying on some interesting experiments in furnishing birds nesting sites and food on his estate at Seebach, in Thuringia. So successful has the Baron been in these experiments that his estate is now used as a bird protection experiment station by the government. 1:52 CAIJFORNIA P^ISIl AND GAME. Ncstiii};- sitt's .-U'c I'liniishi'd tiy two methods. Carefully jjn'parod iicst boxes arc inserted in stone walls and luins up in trees. In addition, suitable shrubbery has l)een jdanted in many places on the estate, and this is carefully pruned to form (h\sirable nesting sites. Recently a hed^e has been ])Iaced in the midst of an extensive urainfield some distance from an\- wooded area, in order to test the \\illin,miess of l)ir(ls to use such an iso- lated spot. I'l'Mct i<-ally all of the nest lio\es become occupied within a few years and the nest- inji sites jirovided by pruninj;' trees and shrubs are almost ;ill utilized. 'IMie "show spot"" on the estate is said to be a thorn hediic aloni;- the ed;;e of a snuill wood, where each bush has been pinmed for nesting' purposes. A recent visitor counted thirty-one nests in examining 300 feet of this hediie. Baron von Ber- leps( h's experiments h;i\e licen proxinj; to the world for several years that ihr bird population on any fiiven area c.-in l)e in- creased l)y furnishing birds additional food and cover. APPLIED ORNITHOLOGY. •Mr. llerl)ert K. .Jol). until recently State Ornithologist of Connecticut, lias been i)laced in charge of a "Depa rl iih'iiI of Applied ( h'uitliology." establisiicd li\ the National .Association of Audiibun Societies. The function of this new de- l)artment will be the furnishing of advice and assistance to the public relative to methods of increasing wild birds and propagating wild fowl and game birds in caiitivity. The department has a fiin. The genei'al rejiort from resid<'nts in this vicinity is to tiie elTect lliat swans have been more num<'rous this year than for several years i)ast. II. E. Fo.ster. CANADA GEESE NUMEROUS IN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. In the \icinity of Rio A'ista. Solano Conuty, there has been a noticeable in- crease this season (1!)14-1.~>") in tin- num- ber of Canada geese {lirnnta caiintlcii-sis) . W'v lia\c not had so- many honkers for man.\- .veais. All geese arri\'ed \'ery late this season. Gray geese were the flrst to arrive, a few flocks being noticed aliout (October 10. No white geese arrived uuiil late in No- x'eiiilier. In fad. it was abcmi ihr liMli of Oecemiier before we had the usual flight of geese. .Vll geese are much harder to d(>coy than in former years. They all seem to fly in one large flock and do not split up into small flocks. S. C. CtiiiHii. RING-NECKED PHEASANT BREEDS NEAR SAN BERNARDINO. On Ai)ril 22, 1!)14. I discovered a nest of the ring-necked i)lieasant ( I'ha.siaii i(s taniiKil Its) near San P>ernardiuo. San Bernardino ('ouuly. The record -was IHiblished in the .Fauna ry-Febrnary "(^on- diu-,"" page ."I'.l. The bird in ([uestion (a female was all that I was ever able to see there) was reported by a farmer friend of mine to have a nest in a swamiiy weed patch on his farm. I at once investigated and was able to approach within a few- feet of the bird as she was silting on the nest. She was covering twelve eggs. I visite(l the ]ilace fr(' the whole aspect of duck conditions in Califor- nia, as it did during the floods of INIarch. 1907, Avlien all the islands in this district were flooded and apparently all the ducks in the world were in this area. In other words, it appears that ducks have de- creased for the reason stated — lack of good feeding grounds. George Neai.e. STRANGE HYBRIDS. As a rule, we think it is out of the ordinary to obtain a cross between birds or mammals divided by the systematist pheasants, but cochin characteristics are sliDwn in the featluu-ing ou the tarsi. (See fig. 33.) H. C. Bryant. SEA OTTERS NEAR POINT SUR. A letter from John W. Astrom, keeper of the Point Sur Light Station, dated February 2. ]Dl."i, gives the following in- formation regarding the number of south- ern sea otters (Lafa.r liitii.'i nereis) found in thac locality: "During my service at this station for the past six years I have seen a good many sea otters. Especially during February and March of each year there seems to be more than at any other time of the year. At the present time, if walking on the beach between Light Station and Big Sur River one can nearly CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 135 always see two or three sea otters playing on the kelp some distance off shore. A year ago in Febrnary, after a heavy blow, 1 counted fourteen sea otters on one patch of kelp. It appears to me that sea otters are increasing at least around Point Sur the last two years." Mr. A. Novella of New Monterey writes as follows : "While on a trip down the coast about three months ago I saw thirty-two sea otters on the way down and twenty-six on the way back. I think there are more sea otters on this coast now than for a number of years." Here we have more evidence as to the value of total protection as a means of bringing back a species which has been greatly reduced in numbers. Reduced nearly to extermination about three years ago, the sea otter is now beginning to show a slight increase. The conservation of no other mammal in the state could bring so large an increased income to our treasury, for the sea otter is the most valuable fur-bearing mammal in the world. Prime skins sold two years ago for over fifteen hundred dollars apiece. Since lltl3 the killing of sea otter has been a high misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1000. The enforce- ment of this law appears to be greatly benefiting the species. H. C. Bryant. AN ANIMAL WHICH LIVES WITHOUT WATER. Two kangaroo rats (Perodipus ingens and Dipodnmyn mcrriami subsp.) cap- tured over a year ago by Mr. II. C. Ohl near Mendota, California, have been kept in captivity in order to study their habits. The most extraordinary feature of these animals is that they are able to live for a long period of time with no water whatso- ever. For over six months they have been kept at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, and have been fed entirely on rolled barley. Not a drop of water has been given them and they have not even been fed on green food. According to Mr. Ohl the smaller animal (Dipodomys) has refused water since its capture in October, 1913. Last summer the larger one occasionally drank water when it was placed in a hole in a block of wood. It dipped its front feet into the water and then drank what water adhered to them. Both animals seem to be in the best of health despite this treatment, which would have soon proved fatal to other animals. With the above facts at hand, it is not difficult to understand why kangaroo rats are so abundant on the desert in localities miles away from water. The kangaroo rat is a small nocturnal animal found most abundantly in desert localities. During the daytime it hides in holes in the ground. At night it hops about searching for weed seeds, which it holds in its front feet while eating, much as a squirrel holds its food. The very large eyes and long hind legs which enable it to jump great distances, make identification of this unique animal very easy. II. C. Bryant. WILD LIFE IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE SEA GULL. Sea gulls have increased enormously on the coasts of Great Britain. As a result there has been considerable discussion as to the real value of sea gulls. The Suf- folk and Essex Fishery Board has been carrying on some interesting investiga- tions regarding the feeding habits of gulls. Stomach examination has been depended upon for accurate information as to the food taken. Data regarding the circum- stances surrounding the taking of the specimen has been recorded in each in- stance. The food of four dift'erent species of gulls and of two terns has been investi- gated. Among the most interesting things which came out in the investigation were the results of experiments to show the rate of digestion of fish. It was found that the larger gulls were able to digest fish at the rate of four ounces per hour and smaller gulls at a somewhat slower rate. "Provided the bird's stomach is empty, when the fish is taken, a black- headed gull is able to digest a five-inch sprat within three hours, so that not a trace of any bones can be detected. As a result of experiments with sprats filled with methylene blue, it is certain that a gull shot in the afternoon, may show no traces of three or four fish taken in the morning." 136 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. Considering the destruction of all fish and of the food for fish, such as Crustacea, crabs, etc., and the destruction of earth- worms, carnivorous beetles, and cereals, by gulls as injurious and that the feeding habits of gulls are beneficial in so far as they destroy echinoderms in the sea and on the land, wircworms, injurious beetles and insects, and on occasions re- move garbage, the investigation shows but fifty-three points in favor of gulls and 454 points against them. All of the gulls examined were taken on the sea coast. If some of them had been taken on the land a different result would have been ob- tained. The board in charge of the work has decided to continue the investigation and to devote particular attention to the land feeding gulls in the district, in ox'der to investigate whether the harm done to fish and fish foods was counterbalanced by the benefits derived by the agricul- turists. DUCKS EAT OYSTERS IN WASHINGTON. The United Stales liioiogical Survey has just completed an investigation into the depredations of ducks in the oyster beds of Washington and Oregon. Mr. W. L. McAtee, of the economic division of the survey, was in charge of this work. He reports that greater scaup ducks (bluebills) and white-winged scoters were actually causing damage by eating oysters on Oyster Bay, Washington. In other places damage was reported as negligible. The amount of damage, how- ever^ so the investigation showed, is to be reckoned as a few thousand dollars annually, rather than hundreds of thou- sands of dollars as reported hy the oyster men. Stomach examination showed that scaups took oysters an inch and a quarter in diameter and scoters some slightly over two inches. The only immediate rem- edy being used is to hire a man to shoot the ducks and frighten them away from the oyster beds. This investigation, like many another one, has shown that the men concerned always exaggerate depredations by birds. Depredations such as these are more likely to decrease rather than increase, for the duck population is waning rapidly. Geese have now become so scarce in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys that practically no complaint is heard of their depredations in grain fields, whereas formerly, when more numerous, men were hired to frighten them from the fields. WHY PROTECT THE SEA GULL? Fishermen continually censure the sea gull for destroying many fish and food which would otherwise be eaten by fish. The commuter, also, as he watches the never ceasing line of gulls follow the ferries back and forth, wonders of what use these soaring hoards can be. Their value as scavengers is certainly evident to everyone, but these birds of the sea have also a value to the agriculturist. We recently received a report from a well known ornithologist, to the effect that near Klmhurst, Alameda County, hundreds of gulls were seen feeding in a recently ploughed field and following the farmer as he ploughed. The particular species so benefiting the agriculturist is usually either the California gull or the ring-billed gull. The former was notice- ably abundant on San Francisco Hay during the month of January, 1915, when the above observation was made. ENGLISH INVESTIGATOR DEFENDS THE ENGLISH SPARROW. That black-listed pest of the farmer and fruit grower, the English sparrow, is now being fotind to perform some service as an insect destroyer during the nesting season. The results of stomach examina- tions of nestling English sparrows show that the food consumption of a huiulrcd nestling birds from fruit growing dis- tricts in England is nearly two thousand insects in a single da.v, and that the birds in suburban districts need about one third of that quantity. Excepting for a few spiders and earthworms the whole of the food was found to consist of injurious insects. It is probably safe to say, also, that during the whole of the nesting period the parent bird feeds upon food similar to that which is fed the nestling. The following conclusions of Mr. Col- linge (Jovirn. Bd. Agri., 21, 1-0) are of interest: "In spite of all that has been written with reference to the depreda- tions of the house sparrow, we do not yet possess that completeness of knowl- edge that justifies us in condemning it as California fish and game. 137 an "avian rat," or bird that should be exterminated. That it is far too plenti- ful no one doubts, but seeing that practi- cally all modern houses provide numerous and safe nesting places for it this is scarcely surprising. "It is extremely difficult to arrive at any satisfactory and convincing conclu- sion as to the precise economic status of this species, but after carefully con- sidering the results obtained from an examination of the stomach contents of 404 adult birds, and of 42 and 287 nest- ling birds, and also from an examination of the faeces, the writer is of the opinion that if this species were considerably reduced in numbers, the good that it would do would probably more than com- pensate for the harm, especially in fruit growing districts. "Any investigation of the economic status of most species of wild birds is in- complete, and to a large extent mislead- ing, that does not deal with the question of the nature of the food fed to the young bird or nestling, for during the nestling period the food of the parent birds con- sists largely of insects, slugs, spiders, and worms, and that of the young almost en- tirely so, and the amount of food con- sumed is greater than at any other season of the year." 138 CAIJFORNIA FISIT AND GAME. REPORTS. VIOLATIONS OF THE FISH AND GAME LAWS. December 1, 1914, to February 28, 1915. Offense Number of Pines arrests j imposed 1 57 $870 CO •29 675 00 1 25 Ofl 2 100 no 5 125 (10 1 21 •2m 00 3 50 00 4 15 00 n 300 CO a 100 00 ■J 25 00 1 1 30 CO 1 25 CO 1 25 OO 3 75 00 1 15 226 80 165 $2,926 80 1 $10 00 5 40 00 5 50 00 4 50 00 1 20 (X) 9 25 00 3 8.5 00 7 75 OO 7 300 OO 1 1 1. 20 00 1 25 00 4 70 00 1 30 00 51 $800 00 Game. Hunting without license Deer, close season, killing or possession Illegal deer hides Female deer, killing or possession Doves, close season, killing or possession Ducks, close season, killing or possession Ducks, excess bag limit, killing or possession. Using live animal blind to shoot ducks Shooting ducks from power boat in motion Night shooting Quail, close season, killing or possession Quail, excess bag limit Quail, sale Quail in possession, trapped without permit Rail, close season, killing or possession Grouse, close season, killing or possession Swan, killing or possession Wild pheasants, killing or possession Non-gam(> birds, killing or possession Total game violations. Angling without license Fishing for prolit without license Dealing in fish and game wholesale without license.- Undcrweight striped bass, possession Dried shrimp and shells in possession Undersized crabs, possession --. Undersized Pismo clams, possession 1 1 legal nets Steelhead trout, taking or possession, close season. Undersized catfish, sale Sacramento perch, sale Yoting of fish in jiossession Taking shell fish in Monterey Fish Reservation Abalones. taking or possession, close season Crawfish, oversize, taking or possession Total fish violations. 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(M lO --f O 1 1 1 'M ■-I c^ CO 1 1 c^ o fM fM ^ C35 1 CJ CO CM Ol «& r ,_j €fr €«• a& 00 ! 1 1 1 r 1 1 1 1 : 1 : 1 1 CO 10 CO GO o t- m -^ ^H «; ic [^ ^r '^ CD 'T ^ CO OS ^f CM o^ cn CO 00 — -.-I O :*-, 'Jl i- 0) li tc "O >5: c 0 0 C3 C c •J. •bI i c o •U cfi O C ' o 00 03 10 to b- f.N T 0 00 1—1 00 cv a: i. o — ~ 5 — K ," J- ~ :/: c-i ^ X c t/j >- o _ c c C 03 X c C C v; c — ct o r: ^, <:' :/: r- ^ CA J: « X c o c -= Mr 5 •/. ~ S ?■ X 0 V; !h ;~] C C, ra X C c c u ■/• - ~ ?■ t •/- .S s '{' X r- C- X ^ ■<- ;:^ =3 :: X r^ O X CALIFORNIA FIHIl AND GAME. 148 CC O C' s ^r r- 1^ 1 o ^ "* in C^l oc GO "X) lO 5d -*i i^ 1 ^ ^ o c 5 CO 1 T-H -* IM IM Sf2 CO ' ^. 00 CO CJ ' "^ •* in cO_ ^ d^ 1—1 -^ CO 1 ■^ ^ 1 '"^ ■•—1 T-H a©- T-? CM O lO 1 1 Ijn r^ O O §8 o <= 1 1 o C<1 OJ ^ 00 03 1 1 CO CO 03 ,_, 02 o> 1 1 -Tf ^f 1— 1 CO O] ■^J ««- e/3- CO CD >f5 O o o 3 01 1^ 3 ' o o 1—1 u in g ■^ C» 05 CM O 03 c: 3 5 1 05 S T-( CO CO CO i-H Oi o o 0 ^ c 3 1 o C3 ■^ CO 1^ CO CO o o ^H T* a ^ t^ 1 o? (^ o OO in CM OO lO lO (M c< 3 o ■] in l/D 1 O) CO CO CM CD a 9- ' T-^ cJ cm" ^"o CM e«- !=e- CM T-H T-l CM (S >o iss: T— * LQ in ss • lO OO 03 QO 00 00 CO T— 1 1 CO ira TP C^ t^ •* o CO 1 CO. IC t^ CO t^ CM ^>\ 1— ( v^ e«- - ; ; ; 1 ' 1 _■_ c ' 1 ' O "*"" a \ \ 1 ^ U 1 1 1 ^ '^ ' ' ' J2 C. 1 1 1 p;, ' ' ' ai C3 1 1 1 "ill .4_> «^ o O 1 1 1 G -^ 1 1 t , O 1 1 1 (K c 1 1 1 C I C 1 ■r. w G 1 f/j 1 'O O 1 S 1 M 1 G r ^ "^ ^ 4.* 1 I' tc •S iG.2 G 1 ^ ?' j:3 1 03 (/i ^. 1 — 1 ^ 4-' Cfi 't ' Gr O 1 •^ 1 m m ''C' ^ c s o Q^ G i 6x) 1 s g .^ .S 1 -s s G < Z. 1 1 Oi 1 1 '^ 1 1 53 1 1 C- £" ] t^ G 1 o 1 C 1 '7. 1 X o 4.) G G 1 t» 4-* ~ x; 1 — G C ►^ 1 1 Qj 1 1 'C 1 -> 1 o 'Si '".'i C i o G G O G 1 o — 1 oi bli ~ -a ^ g .5 St' ^^ i G 1 G 1 1 7 7j '< 1 G 6 2 4." c 2 03 c x: S o -£ 5 "£ .H ^ .2 s i 1 *-• Vi **— . 1 o M ^ C3 — bJO 05 03 ■-C SB .%^^-t^ G ■ G C 1 ;_ <*.. - ^ {^ ~ VI V, G 2 t^ a G 1^ 4— ( 4-« c o K '^ •" a ^ ~' 'G — -fc. •— O .i." r'' *X '" ^ ^^ •^. •^" r^ *-" ^-j c , __^ ~ ti C3 — -^ ? n. "^ t; ^ 4^ r/. ^ ^ ^ - ^ Z. "^ -*— ' 1^ r-" G e — n O .H; -^ iuo ^ ^ — -1 Cw G 5 O ^ ^ r3 G< .— C 4-J ^-t *-i '— ' G -^ ^ 03 t< c C o w — ^ ;_. ^ ;_ '4-J Z^ c c ^ -^ P5 Q CO rH Kgp^ a X r^ X ^ S h. k- CONTENTS. Page MANUEL L. CROSS, GAME WARDEN Ernest Schoeffle 147 THE EQUITY OF THE GAME LAWS Chas. A. Vogelsang 148 THE CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL AND INTRODUCED GAME BIRDS Oeorge Neale 153 THE SISSON FISH HATCHERY Harold C. Bryant 156 TWO KINDS OF CONSERVATIONISTS W. P. Taylor 161 RECENT FISH LEGISLATION N. B. Scoficld 164 RECENT GAME LEGISLATION Harold C. Bryant 173 books and pamphlets relating to california birds 175 editorial 17s hatchery and fishery notes ■ 1s7 conservation in other states 189 life history notes 191 wild life in relation to agriculture 195 reports- Violations OF THE Fish and Game Laws 197 Seizures 197 Lion Bounties 198 Financial Report 199 17G55 !»£.'* IN MEMORIAM MANUEL L. CROSS DEPUTY OF THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION FOR TWENTY YEARS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA, SEPTEMBER 4, 1842 DIED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, MAY 1, 1915 IN HIS SEVENTY-THIRD YEAR California Fish and Game " CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION " MANUEL L. CROSS, GAME WARDEN. Written in appreciation of his sterling- character and splendid service by liis Chief, who learned of him. Manuel L. Cross, for twenty years a warden in the service of the California Fish and Game Commission, died in Sacramento on the first day of ^lay of this year. This testimonial from a fellow worker is a humble effort to place the man and his service to the State before the readers of this publication. It is hoped that his life and work may be the source of inspiration for more earnest effort and more faithful service to the men and women who will continue in the work he regret- fully laid down. Up to the last three years, ''Mannie, " as he was called by his host of intimate friends, enjoyed splendid health and was able to set the pace for any of his younger associates. Latterly, however, he was a constant but patient sufferer from the malady of the heart which finally caused his death. But even during his illness he was a hard and faithful worker, always up at daylight and through the fish markets and along the wharves where the fish come in before the average city man is out of bed. No task was ever too hard for him nor was any day too long. If the job had to be done, Cross was there to see it through and see it through right. The very soul of honor himself, he had no use for untruthful or dis- honest people, with whom his work often threw him, and woe betide the person who broke a promise to him or failed to keep an engagement. Although possessed of the kindest heart in the world, he could so speak his mind to a dilatory associate as to create a very lasting impression. It was always his work to help in the "breaking in" process and many of us have cause to be grateful for the training we gained under the old man. While not a scholarly man in the accepted use of the term. Cross had a fine mind, stored with useful information, which he was able to use. Probably no man in the State had a better "practical" knowledge of fish and the methods of fishermen and fish dealers than he. It is inter- esting, too, that not a man among the hundreds he had arrested during his two decades of service bore a grudge against him or entertained other than the most respectful and friendly attitude toward him. With Cross, an arrest was merely the carrying* out of his obligation, in which he believed religiously, and this spirit was bound to impress itself upon the offender. As an Italian fisherman told me once: "I don't like to be arrested; but I violate the law and Mr. Cross he can do nothing different but bring me in. He don't like to do it, because I tell him I very poor man with big family, but he say, 'Angelo, it is my duty and I can do nothing else.' And so I not get mad at him, for I know him long time and he never do anything wrong to fishermen or tell them anything not true." 148 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. Cross will best be remembered by the anglers of the State for his work in distriliutiiipr and "planting?" fish. There are but few plaees in the State where black ))ass are now to l)e found that were not stocked by him. And when it is noted that tliis fisli is now numerous and thriving in every bit of water suited to its peculiar needs, from northern Siskiyou to southern San Diego and fi-om the coast to tlie Nevada line, the anagnitude of the work of planting becomes apparent. For many years Cross had charge of the Wawona hatchery and directed the distribution that has placed trout in hundreds of miles of streams and thousands of acres of lakes in the previously barren areas Ijing above and beyond the Yosemite Valley. As a hateliery man his work Avas always above criticism. And now we will work along without him. The spirit of manly courage, unswerving loyalty, transparent honesty and unfailing courtesy remains with us, however, to the lasting benefit of the service to which we are devoted. I saw him at his sister's home three days before he passed away. When the knowledge had come to him that his time was up, he was fully prepared to go and only sorry that he couldn't see all the boys and tell tliem of the wonderful experience that had come to him in his last days. "Boy," he said, "I want you to tell all the crowd how it is with me. I used to be afraid to die because I was never sure about things; but now I know that every- thing is all right and I'm glad to go. You be sure and tell all the boys for me, 'Sheff,' and tell them I've l)een praying for every one of them." And so I am giving the message as I promised my old friend as he left on his last "'detail."— i;. ^'. THE EQUITY OF THE GAME LAWS.- By CiiAs. A. Vogelsang. Game laws, like other laws, are made for a definite purpose, and that purpose is a wise one. So much controversy and discussion have arisen over the present game laws of this State, and so many widely divergent views are expressed, that one who is neither a hunter nor a fisherman nuiy be permitted to present what uuiy be called a dis- interested or non-j)artisan view of the question, especially as close contact with friends on both sides has given the writer an opportunity to hear each side of the story, and to study the effect of our present game and fish laws. It is unnecessarj^ to discuss or even dwell upon the legal status of such laws, when before us is the record of thirty-eight states of the Union prohibiting the sale of ^ame. Supreme (,'ourts have pronounced them constitutional, wise, and just laws; our highest legal tribunal, the United States Supreme Court, adding its opinion to the credit side of *This article first appeared in Western Field for August, 1902, under the assumed name of "A. Convert." Mr. Vogelsang was then chief deputy of the California Fish and Game Commission. As it cannot now be charged that lie is personally interested the article now appears under his own nan.e. It is interesting to note tliat the Cali- fornia Fish Commission even as far back as 190"2 took a decided stand against the sale of game by stating that this paper treats "fairly and forcibly a much abused and poorly understood subject," and by recommending over their own signatures the careful perusal of it. — Editor. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 149 such laws, as if to make "assurance doubly sure"; so it leaves only the equity side of the question to be considered. Iii other words, are these laws fair? Are they based upon the great American principle of giving the greatest good to the greatest number ? It is charged that they are tainted with that Avhich is so abhorrent to every American mind, "class legislation"; that is, legislation against the masses and for the benefit of the wealthy, the "favored few." This is the indictment that rolls so glibly from the lips of the favor- hunting politician, and that flows so freely from the pens of many of our newspaper writers. Tt is the stock-in-trade argument of many attorneys when "extenuating circumstances" are scarce and it becomes necessary to give the imagination free rein. Occasionally a Supreme •Judge justifies his dissenting opinion by reasoning from such a view- point. Occasionally there is found one, like the late United States Supreme Justice Field, of sufficient mental vigor and moral courage to see and admit the error of his reasoning. His dissenting opinion written in the famous case of ^'Geer vs. Connecticut" is the Rock, of Ages to which other dissenters pin their faith. These followers are unaware, perhaps, that Justice Field, in a conversation two years later with his friend E. S. Pillsbury, the well-known attorney of San Fran- cisco, stated that he was "convinced that the doctrine laid down by him in the Geer case was not good law, and that he regretted that he had ever written that dissenting opinion." No one who has given the subject a moment's serious consideration can fail to see the need of placing restrictions on the taking of wild game, both as to numbers and as to the length of the season in which they can be taken. The difference arises chiefly as to the degree of restriction, and there are inequalities no doubt. Our legislature is confronted with a serious problem when it undertakes the enactment of game laws. Our State is so large and so diversified, the conditions according to localities so varying as to breeding seasons, that a general law — the only remedy at its hands — can not fit each section to its satis- faction. "When a constitutional amendment is added which wdll permit of dividing the State into game distrcts, then legislation for the different districts can be enacted. At present the legislature has as difficult a task as has the Federal Congress in passing a tariff bill that will suit to its satisfaction every state in the Union. Under present circum- stances it does the best it can. Many of those who criticise the restrictions do it thoughtlessly, not realizing that as civilization pushes out and extends its borders, taking up the wild lands, just so surely are the breeding grounds and habitat of the wild game reduced. The wild liird flies no faster, has no better means of defense, than it had two hundred years ago, but man has increased his efficiency to kill and take a thousandfold ; advancing suc- cessively from the bow and arrow to a muzzle-loading gun, then to the rapid-firing breechloader with smokeless powder and belt full of cart- ridges, until finally there has been evolved the "Game Hog." Should there be any question about the wisdom of, and necessity for, these restrictions? The charge is directly made that our legislators were guilty of fram- ing laws in favor of the wealthy, the "favored few"; in other words, that they were either so base or so ignorant that they passed the 150 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. present game laws. The cry was taken np, and it is beinp: industi-iously and persistently circulated by some of the editors in the larf>:er cities and is copied by some of the interior papers who are "long on space," that an "infamous," a "villainous" law was passed, and this in the face of the fact that our Supreme Court declared the law constitutional and in no sense discriminating. Surely one has a right to wonder and inquire: Why this sharp distinction in terms? Are these laws so unfair? Do they discriminate against the masses? Are the poor deprived of their right, and obstacles placed in their way to prevent their ever tasting game? Is it the poor who clamor so loudly? PTave their wails reached the ears and pierced the hearts of these great philanthropists, or is it possible the philanthropic judge and editor have heard that cry at home, and firmly believing that "charity begins at home." are preparing to receive it? Would it be a fairer, more equitable distribution to allow the few market hunters — most of Avhom are not taxpayers, and often not citizens — to take that wiiich costs them nothing to develop, either in labor or thought; to shoot and ship to the cities where it can be and is purchased only by the well-to-do or wealthy classes? In truth, it is only these two extremes of society, constituting but a small proportion of our population, who are benefited by the sale of game. It is true that the non-sale of game deprives those living in the cities who do not hunt but who would buy game if they had the legal right to procure it in that way. But it does not deprive them of the right that any poor man in the country is glad to exercise to acquire his. The city man has that same right reserved to him, and the fact is that all those who at any time purchase game when in the markets have the means and generally the time to acquire it in the same way as the man in the country. In other words, the people who can afford to live in clubs, fine hotels, or swell boarding houses, are deprived of their easiest Avay to get game — that is, to buy it. Are these people the masses? Are they the sick, the blind, the poor that our philanthropic editors have in mind? Is it in their interest that this pathetic wail is set up ? Have the poor suddenly acquired such influence that they can be heard in these high places; that their cries are heeded when they talk of game laws, but go unheard when they ask for better wages to buy bread and clothes for their families? Selfish interests produce strange arguments. This does not apply to all who write against the present game laws. There are some who honestly believe these laws work an injustice, because they do not understand the subject and follow blindly these clever but fallacious arguments, and because they believe that that which deprives the poor man and favors the rich is wrong. .They do not realize that the non-sale of game deprives no man of work or posi- tion; that the game dealer emi)loys just as many men whether it be poultry or game he handles; that the same is true of restaurants, hotels, or clubs; and that in the country the industrious, intelligent farmer who owns a few acres and follows the legitimate occupation of raising geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens, or squabs for the market, and who is generally a man of family, and always a taxpayer and a citizen, receives a better return for his products than when game is allowed to CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 151 be sold. Besides, when he or his sons so desire, they can take their guns (and they always have thein), and go out and find some game which has not been shot or scared away by the market-hunter, who scours the country for that which costs him nothing in order to send it to the comparatively few of the wealthy in the cities who can afford to buy. They do not realize that the present game laws are to the interest and advantage of such men, and to the disadvantage only of the market- hunter who shoots for the rich. They do not stop to contrast the two types of men^the market-hunter and the poultry-raiser — as citizens; they do not realize that every clerk, every laborer, every business man in the country can have his day afield with some profit and some pleasure ; that every mechanic or man employed in business in the city can take a holiday and go into the country when game is abundant and be repaid for his time and expense. They do not stop to think that where one gun and necessary ammunition are sold to a market- hunter, twenty will be sold to men who enjoy hunting, and who will go hunting if there is promise of a fair return. In short, they do not understand that the bone and sinew of our country, represented by the great middle classes, will have an abundance of that which they do not buy, but which they can take in the way they enjoy the most. It is true that the non-sale of game means that less game will be killed : that it can and will increase and multiply ; and in that respect (incidentally) will the rich sportsman be benefited, and along with him will every poor man be a gainer. Indeed, it is doubtful if the wealthy sportsman will be so much of a gainer, since his well-stocked preserve is safe from the market-hunter, who must ply his vocation over that very land on which the poor man must of necessity depend for his pleasure and his share of game. As a matter of fact, many of the pre- serve sportsmen were against the present laws, because on their lands, over which none but themselves hunt, there was not noticeable the growing scarcity of game, and they objected to the wise provisions that placed a limit on the number they could shoot in a single day — a condi- tion which placed them on the same footing with the man who does not belong to a club or own a preserve. This brings us to the subject of preserves, and it is one that certain editors, who would like to pose as friends of the poor man, work to a finish. It is one of the subjects they revel in when recounting all the "evils" resulting from a number of wealthy men renting a piece of land, putting up buildings, hiring watchmen and caretakers, and in fact paying quite a sum monthly for the privilege of going several times a season for a shoot. Now this is not intended as a defense of pre- serves or baited ponds shot over from blinds-— a practice that is bar- barous! It is rather to invite attention to the fact that game laws have nothing to do with preserves. Will some of the learned judges and great newspaper protectors of the poor point out the connection ? Why tear down the game laws and give still greater advantages and opportunities to the preserve man ? There is yet no legal way devised under our system of government that can prevent a man with sufficient means from purchasing or renting more land if he thinks he requires it, and after acquiring, controlling it, and saying how much or how 152 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. little it shall he open to the pnhlie. It would seem most unwise and even childish, because of real or fancied grievances against tlie preserves, that the only safeguards of the poor man he torn down, simply because some one must be sacrificed. Meanwhih', tlie preserve remains un- touched. To follow out this line of reasoning, we should deny to a person having land that is unproductive — and nearly all shooting preserves are — the right to rent it and receive an income from it. He should open it to all comera; he should be so liberal and bi'oad-minded that he must not object if his premises are invaded, his stock wounded or driven away, and his fences destroyed ; l)ut he should sit calmly by— and wait for the tax collector. If he dared lease it to a man or number of responsi])le men who would take care of it and pay him besides, he would he committing an offense. Why not go a step furtlier and advocate that, in a city supplied with street railways on which every one can ride for five cents, it shall be an offense against the public morals, peace of mind, etc., for any person to ride in any other way? Another of the arguments frequently used is the pointing out of the hardships and suffering imposed upon invalids who "must" have game and are unable to purchase it. If that has any value, then there should be no close season whatever, no restrictive measures, else all tlie invalids would die during the eight months of close season ; otherwise there are but four months in the year when they could exist, and now even that lease of life by our present "infamous," "villainous" game laws has been swept away. Unfortunately, statistics of the mortality are gen- erally omitted. Is it not a fact that the sick of the masses or middle classes would appreciate a young squab, or the young of any other domestic fowl? Can they not be purchased at all seasons of the year, and as cheaply as game (when sold) ? Does not that sale benefit the dealer, and also some other man following a legitimate occupation in the country? Are we not growing more ardent year after year for active, health- giving outdoor life, for the strenuous life in the fields? What greater attraction does the country offer, whether one is camping or at a country tavern, than the promise of a well-filled basket or bag? What resort does not advertise — even when they have it not — its fishing and hunt- ing? Does not that attraction, besides giving new vigor and health to thousands, mean the l^etter circulation and distribution of the city's wealth? Is it not a positive benefit both to the city man and to the brother in the country? The present game laws are accomplishing the purpose for which they were enacted. One has but to travel in the country, anywhere, to see and appreciate the effects. Never in years have the quail and doves' been so numerous. Deer are increasing, and there will be plenty for all. And it belongs to all — the people in the country as well as the people in the city. Under the existing laws the greatest good to the greatest numlier will be accomplished. "With malice toward none and charity toward all" the foregoing is respectfully submitted, and with the hope that a little more serious consideration of all the aspects of the case will show that our present game laws are not only legal but also equitable. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 153' THE CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL AND INTRODUCED GAME BIRDS. By George Neale, Assistant, California Fish and Game Commission. Civilization and population forcing itself westward and into com- munities where game is or was once abundant, make new measures necessary in order to protect the existing game fauna of California. When these measures are not taken, history shows that certain species, those most easily killed or captured and those whose reproduction is less prolific, will be eventually exterminated. The band-tailed pigeon is a good example of a species nearing extinc- tion. This bird was once almost as numerous in California as the passenger pigeon was in the eastern and middle states. Only a remnant of the former numbers now remains. The records of the cloud-obscuring flights of the passenger pigeon seem like a fable, except to those who have seen and know. The few remaining mourning doves, once so numerous in California, furnish another example of the passing of species. The western mourning dove, sometimes called Carolina dove, is nearly as strictly migratory as waterfowl. Especially in northern California is the dove not a resident species. It nests throughout the State but its winter home is the southwestern portion of the United States as far as IMexico. The writer has seen the fall migration through New Mexico and along the line of the Mexican Central Railroad from the Rio C4rande nearly to Mexico City. It is true that some doves remain in the southern valley portion of the State the whole year, as do a few migratory ducks and other birds. Our laws have not given the dove proper protection. "We have per- mitted them to be killed in the nesting season and on the nesting grounds, in what we term the open season. If this killing were per- mitted on the northern breeding grounds of the ducks and other water- fowl, what a protest would be made from California! From my own observation it is a conservative statement to say that the dove and band-tailed pigeon have decreased eighty per cent in northern and central California in the last twenty-five years. The most fiagrant cause of the near extermination of species is to be found in the unthinking or uncaring attitude of the people of the State. An added factor to be considered is the fact that certain species are not prolific in their reproduction, rarely having more than one or two eggs. Hence, in many seasons the whole, or at least part of the total increase of these birds may be destroyed by predatory animals or by human beings. This is true not only of the family Columbidse to which the dove and pigeon belong but of the family Ardeidae (egrets, herons, etc.) which are so much sought for by plume hunters, especially in the mating season. These l)irds are of a confiding nature, easily approached on the nest, and so make an easy prey to the gunner or netter. Consequently, our efforts should be centered in protecting those birds which are under natural disadvantages. But this is not enough : all of our game birds need to be intelligently conserved. The protection now given many species of migratory birds by the United States Department of Agriculture will no doubt have a bene- ficial efl^ect in perpetuating those birds not entirely exterminated. 2— 1TG55 154 CAIJFORXIA FISn AND GAME. The only game bird tliat has proved itself able to survive in the face of all the obstacles presented by encroaching civilization is the Cali- fornia valley qnail (Lophorh/x cnlifornica). This bird is able to care for himself nnder any and all existing conditions if given a s(|uare deal. It adapts itself readily to all conditions, and is the peer of any game bird in the world. Tliis bird is also capable of taking the conceit out of any champion at tlie traps, and makes a dog well-trained on other game look like a tyro. It uses judgment in flight, when flushed, which a military expert would call masterly ; and even Avhen wounded it shows all the qualities of a strategist. Always willing to match its brains against those of the gunner, it, in most instances, meets with success. In egg production the valley quail excels all other game birds, not excepting the pheasant, partridge, grouse or sage hen, scarcely ever laying less than eighteen eggs at one year old, and at three years frequently laying twenty-two or more eggs. Furthermore, it usually succeeds in hatching and raising all or a very large percentage, and frequently hatches a second brood. This is nearly always the case if the first nest is destroyed. Quail eat almost any seed or wild berry. Noxious weed seeds are destroyed in great numbers; hence they are most useful birds to the farmer, orchardist or vineyardist. I believe the quail ranks highest as an insectivorous game bird. The quail is one of the only game birds which is attracted by civiliza- tion, and if not molested this bird will make its home near a farm cottage. The valley quail is king of all he surveys, pugnacious to a high degree, and will hold his own against any other bird encroaching on his domain. He is always true to his mate, is invariably non- polygamous, and always chooses his own mate in captivity or freedom. This bird has survived a four months' open season with a bag limit of twenty per day, or 140 per week. It has been hunted with the best dogs in the world, chased with something like 121,664 automobiles fully armed, and rapid fire automatic and pump guns in the hands of 159,164 hunters. It is surely a marvel that any of these birds still remain. The range of the valley quail in northern California is from sea level to 3,000 feet above, rarely ever being found above this elevation. The valley quail is not migratory, except under adverse food conditions. Onl}^ at times do tliey wander far from their feeding grounds, and they invariably return each season to the place where they were raised. In over thirty years' experience in the field with this bird, from the south line of its range to its northern limits, I have never seen a sick or diseased valley quail. They are strong moulters, and this perhaps insures their being practically immune from disease. Of all the gal- linaceous birds, LopJiorfjj.r calif or nica is the fittest representative of the game bird family. Hence he Avill continue to prove the survival of the fittest. If the time ever arrives in California when all our game is on the verge of extermination, this grand game bird will be one of the last to disappear. Our efforts to avert this rapid extermination of bird life by the intro- duction of new species of game birds into California has not met with success commensurate with the expenditure of monej^ One reason for this may be the pugnacity of native game species. Wherever other CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 155 varieties of game birds not native to California have been introduced on lands where California valley quail live, failure has always followed. This bird will always fight against the usurpation of his territory by other birds. It will attack a cock pheasant as readily as a small bird. Hence there are good reasons why it should be the one dominant game bird. The following instance of pugnacitj^ on the part of the valley quail has come to my notice. Mr. Hollenbeck of Ryer Island, California, who is a great lover of birds and animals, encouraged a large band of quail to remain on his land by prohibiting shooting. He fed the birds every few days, and they became so tame that they even came inside the house when called. In fact they were so tame as to almost be a nuisance. Knowing Mr. Hollenbeck 's fondness for birds, I obtained for him some ring-necked pheasants. The quail, however, have driven away these pheasants, so that they are now to be found only in localities Avhere quail are not found. There may still be another reason why introduced game has not increased. Many people believe that all that is necessary in the intro- duction of a game bird into any locality is just a matter of securing the species to be introduced, giving the birds their liberty and awaiting favorable results. But the fact that a Master Hand has not only distributed game birds and animals, but has adjusted the flora and fauna of the universe to certain life zones most suited to their existence, is often overlooked. We must know the conditions and seek to intro- duce such birds as will thrive under them. No game bird has as yet been introduced into California which has proven to be adapted to the geographical and climatic conditions obtaining here. One of the principal reasons for our failure in the introduction of game birds in the past has been that none but ground-roosting birds have been selected. As a result they have been attacked by predatory animals. These latter are possibly of a larger variety and more numer- ous in California than in any other state. The valley quail has at some time had to adapt itself to these conditions. This bird is now a tree or bush-roosting bird, and this makes it practically immune from the depredations of these numerous animals. On the other hand the Hungarian partridge, bobwhite, pheasant and other quails are ground- roosting birds. Therefore these birds are subject to depredations from the many animals which roam and feed, at night and can not obtain the foothold which they should in California. Let us keep in mind our experiences of the past and see that birds more suited to our conditions are introduced — or better still, that such hardy birds as the California valley quail are sufficiently protected to make stocking with foreign game birds unnecessary. 156 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. THE SISSON FISH HATCHERY. By H. C. Bryant, Game Expert, California Fish and Game Commission. For nearly forty years the State of California has been artificially rearing fish and planting: them in the streams of the State. As a result our streams are well stocked with fisli. Prohably over ninety per cent of the fish in most of the streams of the State at the present time have been reared in State hatcheries. A person who simply reads the biennial reports of the Fish and Game Commission, where he sees state- ments as to the millions of fish planted in the streams of the State, can not realize the tedious and painstaking work needed to make such state- ments possible. Experienced workers are needed to bring the fish from the egg stage to the size when they can be safely planted in the streams. Tlien, too, whereas a small amount of care is needed for 4 1 m^^-'^- ws 1.1.-'" ■ -=.- Fig. 34. The Sisson Fisli Hatchery, March, 1915. rearing a small number of fish, added care needs to be exercised when millions are being reared. A trip to one of the hatcheries can alone bring convincing evidence of the work being accomplished. The State of California owns and operates six hatcheries. The largest and best equipped of these is tlie one located at Sisson, Siskiyou County. Under the charge of Mr. W. H. Shebley, Superintendent of Hatcheries, the Sisson Hatchery has evolved from a small plant with an output of a few thousand fish to what is probably the largest hatchery in the world. ]Mr. Shebley received his first training under his father. ]\Ir. J. Y. Shebley, who originally owned a private hatchery in Nevada County. While still a boy, INIr. W. H. Slieliley, the present superintendent, was hired by the then newly-established Fish Com- mission to plant fish in different parts of the State. In 1885 he suc- ceeded his father in charge of the Shebley Hatchery. Four years later he became superintendent of the Hat Creek Hatchery on the Pit River and since then he has at different times been in charge of nearly every hatchery in the State. The first hatchery building at Sisson was erected in 1888. In 1893, ]Mr. Shebley was placed in charge, but even after CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 15' that time he managed the planting of fish throughout the State and in most cases superintended the work personally. In the early days he did practically all of the work himself, spawning thousands of fish and caring for the eggs and fry both day and night. The present article would make more interesting reading could the author have visited Sisson Hatchery twenty years ago so as to have made a comparison with the hatchery as it exists today. The few follow- ing comparisons have been made possible by reference to old reports. The site chosen for Sisson Hatchery has left nothing to be desired. Situ- ated near one of the tributaries of the upper Sacramento and near what is known as "Big Spring," an abundance of pure cold water has con- stantly been available. Not only has the location proved valuable in this respect, but it has the added charm of being beautifully situated, with Black Butte in the foreground and Mount Shasta, covered with Fig. 35. Artificial spawning of a rainbow trout. The eggs are "stripped" from the fish into a small pan. eternal snow, a little farther away. Originally one small hatching house, a plain wooden structure forty by sixty feet, equipped with forty- four troughs, and about half a dozen ponds, were constructed. At the present time there are five large hatching houses with several auxiliary "batteries," and fifty-two ponds on the grounds. The state ovms seventeen acres. This is well fenced and ha.s a comfortable home for the superintendent, several cottages for employees, barns and other needed buildings. In addition the grounds have been made very attractive by trees, flower gardens, and several small aquaria. Conse- quently, during the summer season as many as two hundred persons visit the hatchery daily. A trip through the grounds gives one a surprisingly increased knowl- edge of the work which this State institution is accomplishing. For instance, let us start in the main hatchery building. After passing 158 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. the offices of the superintendent and his secretary, we are confronted with long lines of troughs throngrh which streams of cold water are constantly flowing. In these troughs can be seen thousands and thou- sands of trout fry, most of them at this time of the year (March) two or three months old. We are told that there are about twenty-five thousand fish to each trough, and the black moving mass convinces us of the truth of this statement. The troughs are all painted white and the water is exceedingly clear, so that the dark-colored fry are very conspicuous. As we leave this building, we walk between a number of large trout ponds containing fine large specimens of several different species. In one pond may be seen Loch Levens, the original stock of which was imported from Scotland. In another pond can be seen eastern brook Fig. 36. Eggs of a rainbow trout being fertilized with milt from a male trout. trout, smaller, but beautifully spotted fish. In still another pond rain- bow trout, that fish par excellence of the California fisherman. Some of them are larger fish than most fishermen have ever seen. These fish are kept from year to year in the ponds and from them many of the eggs used for hatching are procured. In order to prevent screens from clogging with leaves and other debris at the point where the water flows out of the ponds, a peculiar type of screen has been invented. This consists of a cylinder covered with wire netting, continually revolved, the power being supplied by a paddle-wheel attached close by. There has been much discussion as to whether the "pond system" is a more effective means of procuring the eggs needed for hatching than the "trapping method" now almost exclusively used. This latter method consists of trapping the front when they are running up stream to spawn, spawning them at the stations where they are caught, and CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 159 shipping the eggs to the hatchery. This method, although as a rule proving very successful, is always somewhat unreliable, for the number of tish trapped for spawning purposes is variable from year to year. Pond-reared trout can alwaj^s be depended upon. Consequently, Mv. Shebley is endeavoring to expand the pond system in order that a supply of eggs may always be procurable no matter what the run of fish is in the streams. By purchasing a few additional acres, the State could increase the pond s.ystem sufficiently to maintain a sufficient breeding stock, and thus assure a good take of eggs each year. We have noAv reached the spawning house. Here three men are at work spawning rainbow trout. One tank is filled with female fish and the other with males. One man takes out a fish, another man wearing cloth gloves takes hold of it firmly, and a third man "strips" it. (See figs. 35 and 36). "When a small pan of eggs is procured "milt" is obtained from a male fish in the same manner and the eggs are set in a dark place for a few minutes until fertilized. Several thousand eggs are often obtained from a single fish. When fish are found "unripe" they are returned to tanks where they are kept for several days after which they are again tested. The operation of spawning appears to the observer as though it would seriously injure the fish. However, this is not the case, for fish have been successively spawned at Sisson for as many as five years. After the eggs are fertilized they are placed, in a wire basket hung in a trough of running water. After a week or more each tiny fish has become large enough so that it can be seen inside of the egg. At the age of three or four weeks, the fish hatch out. Unlike birds, however, they hatch tail first. Attached to the under surface of each tiny fish is a large bag or sac containing yolk. The young fish feed on the Tnaterial in this yolk sac for two to three weeks. By that time it becomes entirely absorbed and the fish begins to take food for itself During the period when fish are unable to take food, they are rather sluggish and remain very quiet. Later, however, they become very active. Many of the salmon and trout eggs used for hatching are procured at "spawning stations" at the headwaters of the larger rivers. Racks are placed on the smaller creeks up which the fish run to spawn. (See fig. 37), and large numbers of "ripe" fish are entrapped and spawned artificially. During the fall of 1914 the United States Bureau of Fish- eries secured in this manner over 30,000,000 salmon eggs. These were turned over to the California Fish and Game Commission and a very large proportion of the eggs hatched out. Three of the hatchery build- ings at Sisson were needed to take care of the eggs and fry. A visit to the other hatchery buildings discloses millions of salmon eggs and tiny salmon which have just hatched. The eggs of the salmon, in contrast to the dark-colored eggs of the trout, are reddish in color. In order to obtain the approximate number, the eggs are measured into the baskets with a measuring glass the capacity of which is known. In some instances from 30,000 to 35,000 salmon eggs are placed in a single basket. After the eggs have hatched the number of fish in each trough is usually reduced to about 25,000. 160 CALIFOKMIA Flt?ll AND GAME. A large force of men are employed in keeping the troughs clean. All sediment and debris from the water is swept out of the troughs and all dead eggs are removed by means of a pipette. Both eggs and young fish are parasitized by certain bacteria and care must be taken to see that all infected individuals are removed to prevent spread of the infection. In order to feed the millious of fish at the Sisson Hatchery, it is necessary to maintain a kitchen where food is prepared. From six hundred to seven hundred pounds of this prepared food is fed to the fish every day during the rearing season. In order .to make this amount of food it takes about three hundiH'd pounds of meat. This is obtained from slaughter houses in San Francisco. The food is pre- Fig. 37. A fish trap on the Klamath River at Copco, California. Thousands of fine large trout were obtained for spawning here. pared by taking such scraps of meat as beef heads, livers, lights, and the like, grinding them up, mixing them with corn or other meal, and clabbered milk, and cooking this into a sort of mush. The pond fish soon learn to know the man who feeds them, and they will follow him about from one side of a pond to the other. AVlien the food is thrown into the pond, there is a wild dash for it, and the water files in every direction. In addition to this food the pond fish often obtain insects which alight on the water, and not infrequently a trout can be seen "jumping" for such delectable morsels. A similar kind of food is prepared for both the trout and salmon fry. When the fry are old enough to care for themselves, they are placed in "nurseries." small ponds made especially for the small fish. As pond trout and salmon are somewhat eannil)alistic, it is necessary that CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 161 the fish be of about the same general size in each pond. Fry are kept in these nurseries until ready to be shipped to different parts of the State. The State owns its own fish distribution car which carries the fry to the nearest railway terminus. From the railroad station the fish are carried into the higher mountains by means of auto trucks, wagons and pack animals. All trout are very much subject to disease, and it is therefore necessary that they be continually watched to prevent an epidemic. Mr, Shebley has devised several methods of treating the sick fish. Some are given an antiseptic bath, others are cured by having the parasitic crustaceans removed from their mouths and gills. Nor is disease the only thing with which a superintendent of a hatchery has to contend. For instance, a number of years ago, Mr. Shebley found many fish dead in the ponds. Examination showed that the stomach of each fish contained a number of little pebbles. Evidently the food which they had taken forced the fish to attempt to procure grinding material and this had eventually caused their death. In another instance the stomachs of dead fish which were examined were found to contain small masses of cobweb. Investigation showed that the meal used in the food was badly infested with meal worms, and the webs made by these worms had formed little balls in the stomach, and so had ■caused death. Slight carelessness often results in heavy losses. It has only been by careful attention to details and by continued study of the diseases attacking fish that this large hatchery has been made so successful. The California Fish and Game Commission can point with pride to its accomplishments along the line of artificial propagation of fish. Had no work in other directions been done, the Department of Hatch- eries has acconrp]is]ied results which will justify all the expenditure of the Commission in years past. The degree of perfection to which the stocking of our streams has been brought is truly remarkable. We wish that as great success could be obtained in our attempts to restock our game covers, but so far this newer work has largely failed. Con- servationists are searching for the man who can put game propagation ■on the same plane with fish propagation. TWO KINDS OF CONSERVATIONISTS. By W. P. Taylor. Curator of Mammals. California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Only a little study of the conservation situation in America is suffi- •cient to show we have allowed certain parties at interest to take more than their rightful share of the resources of wild nature which as a matter of simple justice belong, not only to all the people now" living, Ijut also to the generations of the future indefinitely. Only a little study suffices to emphasize certain obvious necessities which must be complied with if we are to bring to bear any effective remedy. It is at this point that there is an unconscious separation of .the people into two groups ; the apathetic and the active. 3—17655 162 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. It is worse than useless to know the faets and necessities of the o'aine conservation situation if Me are not willing to translate inclination and impulse into action. There are two kinds of conservationists; the conservationist of the folded hands and the conservationist of the clenched fist. There is much to be done, and it will not be done by the conserva- tionist of the folded hands ! Will you permit one who has been close to the firing line to offer some suggestions to those who have the welfare of our resources in fish and game at heart? First and foremost, read and promote the circulation of Dr. William T. Homaday's two books "Our Vanishing Wild Life" and "Wild Life Conservation in Theory and Practice.'' Join some society which is active in the fight to save the game, sueh as the Cooper Ornithological Club, Sierra Club. California Audubon Society, State Humane Association, the Wild Life Protective League of America or the California Fish, Game and Forest Protective League. Enlist the interest of the societies and clubs of which you are already a member in the study of nature and in the preservation of our natui-al resources. Organize a local Audubon Society or a Sportsman's Game Protective Association in your home town. If you desire information along any of these lines write to Dr. Harold C. Bryant, Game Expert, California Fish and Game Commission, University of California, Berke- ley, California, and you will receive generous and sympathetic assistance. Certain communities in the mountains of California apparently have no interest whatever in game protection. In other communities in similar situations the conservation tide runs strong. I can not escape the conviction that, in these latter cases, interested and enthusiastic individuals have leavened the whole lump, have transformed their communities from opponents to supporters of preservation of wild life. Put your hand to the plow, and never look back till what you desire has been accomplished. Write articles for your local papers, tell the boys of sling-shot and air-gun age what kinds of birds it is lawful and what kinds it is unlawful to kill. Get in touch with your game warden, express an interest in his work and an appreciation of his services. Assure him of your hearty co-operation in his labors for the protection of wild nature. Storm the citadels of indift'ei'ence, show your friends that whatever preserves the natural attractiveness of our State is good business. Emphasize the dangers of the laissez faire policy. If you are a teacher, commend the protection of w'ild life to your pupils, and lead them to a love for the out-doors. If you are a professional man, contribute articles to your professional journals, and initiate and give vigorous support to movements for a better sentiment in your ow'n community. If you are an editor, upon you, in no small degree, will depend the education of your city along these lines. If you are a n.ember of a woman's club, secure the interest of your organization in the work of saving the game of California. Communi- cate with Mrs. Harriet Williams Myers, 311 Avenue 66, Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 163' CMlii'ornia, I'hainnan for Wild Life Conservation, California Federation of Women's Clubs, and promise your co-operation. If you are a sportsman, join with others and form an organization for game protection. Take "law enforcement" as your slogan. Do what you can to set up and maintain high standards among the men who hunt. If you are a farmer, learn to know your friends among the wild mammals and ])irds, and see to it that the individuals or species you would condemn as liuitfnl to your interest are guaranteed a fair trial at least before exeeuticn. Provide food plants, shrubbery and nest-boxes for benefic'-il birds, and reserve a part of your acres as a sanctuary where game may be safe from molestation. If you are a parent, inculcate in your children the highest possible ideals in the matter of preservation of all our natural resources, and train them up, by precept and example, to avoid individual and social wastefulness. If you are a plain citizen, then yours is the heaviest responsibility and the highest privilege of all ; for you must decide through ballot box and personal influence what shall be done with California's wild game. I believe that all true sons of California, whether native or adopted, are idealists and love justice and square dealing. We have been accustomed since the days of the rugged Forty-niners to good-natured contests of one sort or another, and fair play is a tradition wrought into the fiber of our commonwealth. All considerations of justice, square dealing and fair play lead with inevitable certainty to the conclusion that we hold those natural resources which still remain to use in trust for the generations of the future; and that while we may legitimately take toll of these possessions, we must not impair the seedstock. The Taj Mahal of Agra, India, is said to be the most beautiful build- ing in the world. Its construction occupied ten thousand men for tw^enty-two years. Yet a few vandals could wreck it overnight, so much more rapidly do the forces of destruction work than those of construction. The building of living species, the end results of the consummate art of Nature, has occupied the Creator for a time so long that we can no more than guess at it. Yet we of this generation can permit of the utter destruction of some of these species. It is doubtful whether the Taj Mahal could ever be replaced were it to be destroyed, but it is certain that living species, once destroyed, can never be replaced. Man, the king of creation, even at this the summit of his glory, cannot undo extermination ! It is as sure as death that we will be held responsible for our acts by the generations of the future. We ought to be held responsible. Let us keep the faith ! 164 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. RECENT FISH LEGISLATION. By N. B. SCOFIELD. The Districting Bill. (Senate Bill No. 681. Senator Flint.) A bill has boon passed by the legislature and signed by the Gov- ernor which makes some radical changes in the fish and game districts of the State. At the present time the State is divided into seven fish and game districts which were created so that different parts of the State could have fish and game seasons that would con- form to the different conditions of each. Besides these seven dis- tricts many smaller reservations and refuges have in the past been created, such as Cache Slough, Napa River, Mokelumne River, Cata- lina Island, the two reservations in Monterey Bay and many others. Laws have from time to time been passed regulating the fishing in each of several streams, as in Smith River, Klamath River, Eel River and Sacramento River. A recent court decision has held that as the State has been divided into fish and game districts, as provided by the constitution, for the purpose of making appropriate laws for each respective district, a law to be constitutional must apply to the whole of one of the districts. Under this decision the laws regulat- ing the fishing in a stream or part of a stream, or in any bay or part of the coast waters, or the hunting in any portion of the State other than the whole of one of the seven districts, would be unconstitu- tional. It therefore appeared necessary to redistrict the State and wherever special laws were required to make of that part a separate district. The bill as finally passed, dividing the State into thirty fish and game districts, was drawn to take care of these separate and dif- ferent conditions. There are four main districts. Nos. ]. 2, 3 and 4, which, with the exception of a few game refuges, takes in about all the land of the State and might be called game districts in distinction from fish districts. The districts Nos. 5 to 23 inclusive are fishing districts, which in the main cover the same territory and follow the same lines in conformity with the present laws covering the same. For example, Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are the commercial fishing areas for Smith, Klamath and Eel rivers, respectively. The districts Nos. 24 to 29 are game refuges, some of which are new. The bill has met with some criticism on the ground that it is a complicated arrangement and a fisherman or hunter will never be sure what district he is in, but when one knows what the present laws are and the lioundaries as defined at present he can easily see that the new "districting bill" simplifies rather than complicates. Many special fishing districts have been cut out and the seven main or game districts have been reduced to four. AVhat makes it appear complicated at first sight is that many of the boundaries as they already exist in the present laws are brought together in one bill. It win be found that the laws will be simpler and more easily under- stood and that under the new system of districts many of the present laws have been eliminated. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 165 The four main fish and game districts are exclusive of the remain- ing districts and can easily be understood by consulting the accom- panying map (fig. 38). The districts 5 to 29, to describe them very briefly, are as follows : S I S K / Y O U M O S O C Cei/fif jr ti/tt Cotijrty L' Ou7Linc /f/tr f/MizfG/!M£ 0/srff/crs Fig. 38. Map showing new fish and game districts. Many of the districts along the coast have reference only to laws on fish. Although seemingly making laws more complicated, the new districts will in reality improve fish and game adminis- tration. No. 5. The ocean ^Yaters and the tide lands of Del Norte County north of Point St. George and including the lower part of Smith River. No. 6. The ocean waters and the tide lands of Del Norte and Humboldt counties lying between Point St. George and Mussel Point and including the lower end of Klamath River. No. 7. Consists of the ocean waters and tide lands of Humboldt County lying south of Mussel Point and includes the lower end of Mad and Eel Rivers. No. 8. The waters of north Humboldt Bay. No. 9. The waters of south Humboldt Bay. 166 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. No. 10. The ocean waters and tide lands of Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties as far south as Santa Cruz Point and includes Tomales Bay and excludes Bolinas Bay and all lagoons. No. 11. The waters and tide lands of the Golden Gate and of Riehav(lson Bay. No. 12. The waters and tide lands of San Francisco Bay, except the portions included in districts 11 and 18; the Avaters and tide lands of San Pablo Bay, of Carquinez Straits and Suisun Bay; the waters in the main channel of the Sacramento River, Steamboat and Sutter sloughs as far up as Colusa; the waters of San Jonquiu River, Old and Middle rivers to the south l)oundary of San Joaquin County. No. 12a. The waters in the main channel of Sacramento River from Colusa to Vina. No. 13. The waters and tide lands of south San Francisco Bay. No. 14. 'J'he waters of the lower six miles of Scotts Creek, Santa Cruz County. No. 15. The waters of San Lorenzo River and tributaries and Monterey Bay waters and tide lands lying north of a line from Point Santa Cruz to Soquel Point. No. 16. The waters and tide lands of Monterey Bay lying south of a line (>xtended east from Point Pinos. No. 17. The State waters and tide lands of IMonterey Bay not in 15 and 16 and the State ocean waters and the tide lands to Point Carmel ("Point Lobos") in Monterey County. No. 18. The State ocean waters and the tide lands from Point Carmel to the north boundary of Santa Barbara County. No. 19. The ocean waters of the State and the tide lands from the north boundary of Santa Barbara County to the south boundary of San Diego County and includes all the islands and surrounding State waters and the tide lands, except Catalina. No. 20. Island of Catalina and surrouiuling State waters. No. 21. AVaters and tide lands of San Diego Bay. No. 22. Waters of Salton Sea and Colorado River. « No. 23. Land and waters within Lake Tahoe and Truckee River drainage basin. No. 24. Cleveland National Forest in Orange and Riverside counti(>s. No. 25. National Pinnacles Monument, a park in San Benito County. No. 26. Trinity National Forest, a park in Trinity County. No. 27. State Redwood Park, Santa Cruz County. No. 28. A portion of the Angeles National Forest in San Bernardino County. No. 29. A portion of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County. Bills Relating- to Fish. (Senate Bill No. 155. Senator Kehoe.) The bill amends section 629 of the Penal Code and relates to the screening of irrigation and power ditches to prevent young trout and salmon and other fish from entering them and becoming lost. The CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 167 change in the section provides that the parties concerned be given a hearing, and details the method by which the hearing may be had and the evidence taken. (Senate Bill No. 688. Senator Mott.) This bill changes section 6286 of the Penal Code making the close season for black bass in all districts except 3 and 4 from December 1 to April 30. inclusive ; and in districts 3 and 4 from December 1 to March 1, inclusive. It makes the close season for Sacramento perch, crappie and sunfish in all districts from December 1 to April 30. It prohibits the sale of black bass, Sacramento perch, crappie and sunfish. In other respects the section remains the same as at present. (Senate Bill No. 699. Senator Brown.) The bill deals with trout and amends section 632 of the Penal Code. Section 632^, which deals with steelhead trout, is repealed and the steelhead. rainbows and cut-throat trout are all classed under the word "trout" with the object of doing away with the question of: What is the difference between a rainbow and steelhead ? The trout limits are not changed. The close season for districts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 and 29 will be December 1 to April 30, inclusive. This is a change from the present season in that it will open fifteen days later in Del Norte and Humboldt counties and will open one month later and close one month later in southern California. This is a better season and meets with general approval. The close season for districts 2 and 3 and in the included and minor districts is from November 1 to April 30, inclusive. The present season in the counties covered by district 2 opens fifteen days earlier than this for trout other than steelhead and one month earlier for steelhead. The season for all trout opens one month later than at present in district 3. In district 23 (waters of Tahoe and Truckee basins) the season will open June 1, which is one month later than the present law. It will be unlawful to take trout within 500 feet of the mouth of any stream or in the lower two miles of any stream in this district between November 1 and July 31, inclusive. The same provision for the taking, shipping and selling of twenty black spotted, Tahoe trout irrespective of weight, remains in the law but applies to districts 23 and 1. The bill provides for taking two trout a day with hook and line or spear in district 2 between December 15 and February 14. Under the present law steelhead to the extent of 30 pounds a day may be taken any place in tide water up to January 1, but with hook and line only. The bill provides for marketing the steelhead caught while fishing for salmon in districts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. (Senate Bill No. 705. Senator King.) The bill amends section 634 of the Penal Code and relates to salmon. The present laws are arranged to conform to the new districts and several other changes have" been made, as follows : The open season is extended five days to September 25 for district 12 and the ocean dis- tricts south of Humboldt County. District 12a was made to protect the 168 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. salmon in the upper Sacramento River and a close season is given it from May 15 to December 31. This arrangement protects the salmon of the fail run while on the spawning beds and protects the latter part of the spring run. For several years the salmon hatchery at Baird on the McCloud River, the only hatchery which takes eggs from the spring run, has not been able to take a sufficient number of eggs from the spring run to supply the one hatchery and the run is becoming lighter each year. It is believed this arrangement will restore the ^NlcC'lond River run to something of its former importance. The fishing in this upper portion of Sacramento River (district 12a) is carried on witli seines which are dragged through the holes, taking practically all the salmon in the river, unless the water happens to be too high to operate the nets. This up-river fishing should in time be eliminated. There is no otlier stream in Avliieh salmon netting is allowed for so great a distance. On the Columbia, for instance, the netting is allowed for only half the distance. For districts 12 and 12a and the ocean district below Humboldt County, a minimum mesh of 5^ inches is provided for salmon nets. The close season for district 5 (Smith River) is from December 1 to September 30. This season protects the latter third of the quinnat and silver salmon runs and also gives sufficient protection to the steelhead run. The present close season for the river is entirely wrong, the close season apparently being meant for the open season. There is a 6i inch minimum mesh provision as in the present law. Seines are pro- hibited. The close season for districts 7, 8 and 9 is made from December 8 to October 6, inclusive. District 7 takes in the lower netting area of Mad and Eel rivers. This season with the netting limit placed at the east line of township 3 is a better arrangement for all concerned than they have had on Eel River for many years. The salmon and steelhead are, for the present, anyway, given ample protection and as the seines are eliminated and gill nets can only work at night, the sportsman angler will not be interfered with and should be satisfied. The season for district 6 (Klamath River) is left the same, as it is entirely satisfactory. Daylight fishing from August 1 to Septem- ber 5 is prohibited on the river. This was to stop the bar fishing which was monopolized by a few daring ones to the dissatisfaction of the others, and it was thought this bar fishing kept the fish from entering the river, A close season is provided for salmon in district 15 (San Lorenzo River and a portion of Monterey Bay) from September 1 to April 14.. This protects the salmon while they are running in San Lorenzo River, where it is wished to establish a run of salmon from the "plants" already made, and it allows trolling in the bay part of the district during the summer run. The bill provides for the importation of Dolly Varden trout and any species of salmon, other than (juinnat saliiuni, during tlie close seasons in the State, but they are to be invoiced and tagged and otherwise kept track of. The bill also defines salmon and fixes the steelhead as a trout, so that there should be no trouble in the future, under the law, in showing that the steelhead is not a salmon. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 169 (Senate Bill No. 741. Senator Gerdes.) Adds a new section, No. 628h, to the Penal Code prohibiting the planting in the waters of the State any fish, shell fish, crustaceans or mollnsks (except oysters) taken within or without the State, without getting a permit from the Fish and Game Commission. The object of this law is to prevent irresponsible persons from introducing species into our waters that might do great harm. (Senate Bill No, 755. Senator Flint.) The bill amends section 635 and includes section 3744 of the Penal Code. Deals with the use of explosives for killing fish and adds a few substances to the list of materials that are considered deleterious to fish or plant life. (Senate Bill No. 768. Senator Scott.) This bill amends section 628 and incorporates section 628^' of the Penal Code, and relates to crabs, spiny lobsters, abalones and catfish. It reduces the close season on red abalones from three months to the one month of February, and prohibits the drying of abalones. It for- bids the importation of spiny lobsters taken within ten miles of the California boundary. This provision is designed to protect the lobsters of the Coronado Islands, which it is believed migrate back and forth across the border. It adds fifteen days to each end of the present close season on catfish. The section was also revised to fit the new fish and game districts. (Senate Bill No. 826. Senator Campbell.) This bill amends section 628/ of the Penal Code which relates to clams. The bill provides for a limit of 50 Pismo clams for one calendar day instead of 200 (which is the present law). It also reduces the size limit of Pismo clams from 13 inches in circumference to 12 inches for the minimum size to be taken or had in possession. This bill also places a limit of 1^ inches minimum size on cockles, hard-shell, or little neck clams when measured in the greatest length, exclusive of the curve of shell. There is also a provision in this bill which makes it a misdemeanor to ship or transport any clams or crabs which have been taken in fish and game districts 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. The bill also includes Humboldt County laws relating to razor clams. (Senate Bill No. 836. Senator Beban.) The bill adds section 628?' to the Penal Code and allows the use of Chinese shrimp nets in district 13, which is that part of San Francisco Bay lying south of a line drawn from Hunter's Point to the north end of Bay Farm Island. It provides that all shrimp, fish, or shell fish not suitable for sale as fresh shrimp, shall be returned to the water alive. Section 628 of the Penal Cocle prohibits the drying of shrimps or the possession of dried shrimps in the State. Until four years ago, Chinese shrimp nets were allowed and it was lawful to dry shrimps but unlawful to export them. It was found impossible to enforce the non-export law and the drying of shrimps was carried on on a large scale 4—176.", 170 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. on San Francisco and San Pablo bays. Nine-tenths of the total catch were dried, the shrimp meats extracted, and the youn^ fish and shrimp shells sold for fertilizer. Great cinantities of young fish were very frequently taken with the shrimps and this destruction was especially great in upper San Francisco Bay and San Pa])]o Bay, and was caused in most cases by the boats taking shrimps for diying only. The boats fishing for the fresh shrimp market operated in deeper water so as to take the larger shrimps and in consequence they took fewer small fish. But the boats operating for fresh shrimps in the upper bay, while they did not take so many fish, they did take the young of the more valuable food fish, especially young smelt and striped bass. The boats operating in South San Francisco Bay, although they took shrimps only for drying, did not destroy many fish, and what thoy did take were of unedible varieties. After a thorough investigation, the Chinese nets were abolished four years ago and it was expected some less destructive method of taking shrimps would be devised, but such has not been the case, and our markets have been for the most part without shrimps. In re-districting the State it w^as possible to set aside the south end of San Francisco Bay for the use of these nets, where it has been shown their destruction to young fish is slight and such fi.sh as are taken are mostly of unedible varieties. While it was not possible to stop the export of dried shrimps before, it will be an easy matter to stop the drying under the present law. With shrimp drjdng stopped, the shrimp industry is not likely to be more than one-tenth as large as four years ago. (Senate Bill No. 830. Senator Flint.) This bill changes only the season on golden trout ; the other pro- visions in section 633 of the Penal Code which relate to golden trout remaining the same. It makes the season open on the first day of August instead of the first day of June, thus making the season open two months later; and the season closes on the first of October instead of the first of September, which makes a month longer open season in the fall. (Senate Bill No. 852. Senator Gerdes.) Amends section 630a of the Penal Code so as to require wholesale dealers and handlers of fish to render a monthly statement to the Fish and Game Commission, setting forth the amounts and varieties of fish they have received or caught. Tliis law will greatly facilitate the collection of accurate statistical data upon which to base protective legislation. (Senate Bill No. 972. Senator Flint.) This bill amends section 636i restricting the use of the paranzella or trawl net in the waters of the State of California. It does not abolish the use of these nets, however, but simply keeps them outside of the three-mile limit, thus keeping them away from shallow water, bays and lagoons, where certain fish are known to spawn and the y(ning of different species congregate. In confining these nets to tlie deeper waters the destruction of unmarketable fish is minimized to a great extent. It would not be CALIFORNIA FISH AND GxVME. 171 proper to abolish these nets altogether as they can operate in the deeper water off shore where other nets cannot be used and they take fish that otherwise would be entirely lost to us. They furnish the markets with large quantities of fresh sole, sand-dabs and flounders at a moderately low price and tend to lower the price of the scarcer tish to the consumer. (Senate Bill No. 973. Senator Flint.) The bill amends section 636 of the Penal Code, dealing with nets and lines. The more important changes and additions are : The use of trammel nets in district 17 (Monterey Bay) is stopped. It has been found that these nets are frequently quite destructive to under- sized crabs and that twenty per cent or more of the fish taken in them are rendered unfit for food by the hag fish, an eel-like fish that enters the mouth or gill openings of the fish and eats the contents, leaving only the skin and bones. The trammel nets are allowed in districts 18 and 19 where in the present law they are not allowed within one mile of the shore. A minimum mesh of eight inches is provided. Trammel nets have been allowed in the south because under another bill the paranzella and trawl nets have been eliminated in those waters and the trammel net is the only net to take their place. They are allowed inside the one-mile limit, for that is the only place they can be success- fully operated. All told they are a very much better net for inshore fishing than the paranzella or trawl nets. Under a strict interpreta- tion of the present laws the use of crab nets and lobster traps is illegal. The bill makes their use lawful. The bill provides for the use of "diver" gill nets in modified form. It has been found that for several of the "drifts" on the Sacramento the present law forbidding the use of diver nets is too severe. By allowing these nets to be submerged twelve feet and no more it will give the drifts a show at the salmon and striped bass, but will not permit of the former bad feature, where several nets at all depths passed over a drift taking all the fish before them. Recently some severe Federal regulations have been imposed on nets in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and in the bays below, on account of their interference with traffic. If diver nets can be used the boats can pass over them without their being raised. Beach nets are eliminated in most of the State. Their restricted use is pro- vided for only where it seemed necessary in order not to cripple any of the fisheries. The beach nets are very destructive to young fish in the shallow water where such nets are usually drawn ashore and their use should be stopped wherever it is possible to use other kinds of nets. The fisliermen can continue to use them in district 19 for smelt only and during the months of September to January, inclusive. They will also be used in districts 9, 11 and 13 where they are the only method now employed in taking bait for the rock cod fisheries. Fyke nets without wings will be allowed in district 12 with a 2-J inch minimum mesh. Under the present law fyke nets are not allowed in the Sacra- mento River. A provision is added to the section by which the Fish and Game Commission can recover fish from isolated ponds left by receding flood waters or to allow fishermen to take them where otherwise they would be a total loss. Another paragraph provides for the sale of condemned legal nets. The bill prohibits the use of nets for taking fish, mollusks or crustaceans in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. 172 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. (Senate Bill No. 975. Senator Flint.) The bill amends section 628« of the Penal Code, and that part of section 634 pertaining to striped bass and shad has been added to it, making it exclusively a striped bass and shad section. The open season in the bill is extended to September 25, which is five days later than tlie present law. The season for salmon in another bill has been extended to September 25 to conform with striped bass and shad as the three species are running in the Sacramento and the San Joaquin at about the same time and it has been found by experience that the season for each should conform. A uniform mesh has been established for the three species for the same reason. The mimimum mesh is made 5^ inches, which is as small as it can be used and not take bass under the minimum limit, which is three pounds in weight. During the close season for nets, five striped bass per day may be taken with hook and line and during any day of the year five striped bass under three pounds in weight may be taken but may not be shipped or sold. The minimum sale limit remains at three pounds. During the open season for nets, there is no limit for hook and line except the limit for the ''undersized" bass. The Saturday and Sunday close season remains as before, as does also the non-export clause. (Senate Bill No. 1268. Senator Campbell.) The bill amends section 642, defining the duties of the Fish and Game Commissioners. It makes it their duty to enforce the State laws for the preservation of wild mammals, wild birds, fishes, mol- lusks, crustaceans and all other forms of aquatic animals and plants, instead of just fish and game as at present. To enable the deputies to better enforce the laws it gives them the right of search, except the clothing actually worn by a person. In other respects the section remains the same. (Assembly Bill No. 166. Assemblyman Lyon.) This bill adds a new act to the Penal Code, which prohibits the opera- tion of any kind of a net or seine, except a bait or dip net, within 750 feet from any pier, wiiarf or jetty in fish and game district 19. The intention of this bill is to benefit the anglers who fish from the piers along the southern coast. (Assembly Bill No. 1001. Assemblyman Lyon.) Amends section 628e of the Penal Code. It confines the protection given California whiting, yellow-fin and spot-fin croaker to district 19, the present law being for the State. The bill also provides for the non-sale of these fish in the State. It also provides a four-poiuid minimum sale limit for California halibut, a minimum sale limit of 18 inches for barracuda and a minimum weight limit of six pounds for albicore. These weights and size limits CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 17o have been considered quite essential in the way of conserving these important food fishes and have been recommended by the fish dealers and fishermen of the southern coast. (Assembly Bill No. 1533. Assemblyman Ream.) This bill amends section 637 of the Penal Code which relates to fish ladders. It provides for a sufficient flow of water through the fishway or through or around the dam to allow for the passage of fish or to prevent the destruction of fish below the dam by cutting off the entire flow of water. The bill also provides for a hearing of the owners or parties concerned. RECENT GAME LEGISLATION. By Harold C. Bryant. All hunters and those interested in the conservation of wild life in the State will be interested in the following bills relating to game birds and mammals which were passed by the last legislature and signed by the Governor. All in all, these measures are favorable to game conservation. Only a very few bills consistent with a pro- gram of conservation were crowded out, whereas a large number of bills inconsistent with this program were buried in the committees. Senate Bill No. 1268 amends section 642 of the Political Code. It defines the powers of the Fish and Game Commission and makes it their duty "to see that the laws for the protection and preservation of •wild mammals, wild birds, fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of acpatic animals and plants are strictly enforced." Hereto- fore there has been some doubt as to the legality of the interest taken by the Commission in other than game fish, birds and mammals. This bill also makes it the duty of the Conunission to inspect all places where fish and game is held for sale or storage. One of the most important bills passed was that which prohibits the use of "any animal, or imitation thereof, as a blind" for the purpose of approaching an;^ wild bird, with a view to shooting it or killing it. Although such a law, for several years, has been in force with regard to ducks, yet the killing of geese in this manner has not been prohibited ; and hence many market hunters have been able to escape conviction by claiming that they were "bull hunting" for geese when in reality they were hunting ducks. This bill means the death of "bull hunting" in California. (See fig. 39.) Several bills were passed making the California laws protecting wild-fowl correspond with the new Federal Migratory Bird Law. Hence the open seasons on wild-fowl are now the same as those provided for in the Federal Migratory Bird Law, and all shore birds, with the exception of the Wilson snipe, black-breasted plover, golden plover, and yellowlegs, are protected the year round. 174 CAIJFORNIA FISH AND GAME. The open season on valley and desert quail (October 15 to Decem- ber 31) has been made to more nearly correspond with the open season on ducks in order that there will be no excuse for a man to carry a gun during tlie close season on most game birds. With the increased number of hunters, uniformity in game laws becomes more and more necessary. The open season on cottontail and bush rabbits is the same as that for valley and desert quail. This act provides that rabbits may be killed at any time by the owner or tenant of premises and by those Fig. 39. "Bull hunter" working up a shot. A law will go into effect on August 1 which will prohibit all hunting of this kind. In former years it has been possible for a market hunter with the aid of a steer as a blind to slaughter over two hundred ducks or geese with just two shots from a large bore gun. authorized in writing by the owner or tenant. This, therefore, will give protection to the man who is suffering from the depredations of rabbits. A tendency toward uniformity in seasons is also to be noted in the new law on doves which provides for the same season (September 1 to November 30, inclusive) throughout the State. The summer open season has allowed the killing of doves during the breeding season, for they breed throughout the summer. The new law will, therefore, ])re- vent the destruction of many nestlings heretofore left to starve because of the death of their parents who were killed ' ' according to law. ' ' IMuch improvement on the laws relating to deer is to be seen. The killing of spiked bucks is now prohibited. "Any male deer with straight unbranched horns, or antlers, shall be considered a 'spiked buck.' " The following provision is also made in the same law : "Every person taking or killing any deer must retain in his possession, during the open season, and for ten days after the close of the open season, the skin and portion of the head bearing the horns, and must produce this upon the demand of any officer authorized to enforce the fish and game laws." The open seasons on deer have been placed later in the year, CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 175 thus guarding against the possibility of destroying deer while their horns are still in the velvet. Under the law now in force the season opens much too early. Bag limits on most species have been considerably reduced. Senate Bill No. 971 provides bag limits as follows : Ducks, geese (except honkers and black sea brant), 25 per day, 50 per week ; honkers and black sea brant, 12 per day, 24 per week ; quail, shore birds, 15 per day, 30 per week; doves, 15 per day; mountain quail. 10 per day, 20 per week ; grouse, sage hen, 4 per day, 8 per week ; cottontail, bush rabbits. 15 per day, 30 per week. In the districting bill, provision for a number of new game refuges is made. Certain areas are designated to constitute fish and game districts, and the killing of wild birds or mammals in these districts is prohibited. The only exception to the total prohibition of hunting in these refuges is to be found in district 28 (see fig. 38), where the killing of water-fowl is allowed. This exception was made because the Bear Valley Lake region constitutes the only duck grounds in southern California that are still open to the general public. Provision is made for the killing of predatory species in all of the refuges by securing written permission from the Fish and Game Commission. Attempts to make longer seasons and larger bag limits on many of the game species, and the attempt to place meadowlarks, blackbirds and robins in the list of game birds met with failure. BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RELATING TO CALIFORNIA BIRDS. The following list of books and pamphlets treating of California birds has been prepared as a help to teachers and others attempting to become better acquainted with the birds of this State. If you have no immediate need for the list, recommend it to your friends, and above all preserve it for future reference. — H. C. Bryant. Books. The following books can be obtained at book stores : Bailey, F. M. 1914. Handbook of bii-ds of the western United States (4th ed. revised, Hough- ton, Mifflin Co., Boston and N. Y.), li, l-.j70, 30 pis., 2 diagrams, 601 figs, in text. Price .$3. .50. (The best handbook on western birds; con- tains good keys to the species). FlNLEY, W. L. 1907. American birds (Chas. Scribner's Sons, N. Y.), xvi, 1-2.56, 127 figs, in text. Price $1.50. (General account of habits of many western birds; suitable for general reading). Myers, H. W. 1918. The birds" convention (Out West Magazine, Los Angeles, Cal.), pp. 1-81, 36 figs, in text. Price 75 cents. (Excellent for use as a supplementarv reader by the grammar school teacher.) 1907." Bird notes afield (2d ed.. Paul Elder and Co.. S. F.). ix, 1-226. 10 pis. Price $2..50. ("An introduction to familiar birds in their native haunts" ; keys and descriptions of birds in appendix). Payne, H. T. 1913. Game birds and game fishes of the Pacific Coast (News Pub. Co., Los Angeles), pp. 1-186, many unnumbered plates. Price $1.50. (Written from standpoint of a practical sportsman and angler ; treats of game birds only; not scientifically accurate.) 176 CALIPOHNIA FISH AXD GAME. Torre Y, B. B. 191:3. Field days in Californiii (IToualiton. Mifflin Co.. N. Y. I. 12. 23."., !► pis. Price $1.r)0. (Personal reminiscences; many references to the habits of California birds. Thoroughly accurate, and reliable; good style). Wheelock, I. G. 1904. Birds of California (A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago), xxviii, 1-57S. S7 figs, in text. Price $2..50. (An account of California birds interesting to the amateur but not scientifically dependable.) Pamphlets. The following bulletins and circulars giving details as to food habits of birds, can be obtained free by applying to your congressman at W'ashington. D. C, or at a slight cost from the Superintendent of Documents, AYashington, D. C. Beal. F. E. L. 1904. Some common birds in their relation to agriculture. T'nited States Depart- ment of Agriculture. Farmers Bulletin 54, pp. 1-4S, 22 figs, in text. (Food habits of many California birds.) 5 cents. 1904. The relation of birds to fruit gi'owing in California. U. S. Dept. of Agric.,. Annual Report, 1910, pp. 241-254. r, cents. 1907. Birds of California in relation to the fruit industry. Part I, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biological Survey Bulletin 30, pp. 1-100, 5 pis. 20 cents. 1910. Birds of California in relation to the fruit industry. Part IT, U. S. Dept. Agric, Bur. Biol. Surv. Bull. 34, pp. 1-9G, G colored plates. 40 cents. Beal. F. E. L. and McAtee. W. L. 1912. Food of some well-known birds of forest, farm, and garden. U. S. Dept. Agric, Farmers Bulletin 506, pp. 1-35, IG figs, in text. (Many refer- ences to food of California birds.) 5 cents. Bureau of Biological Survey. 1913. Fifty common birds of farm and orchard. U. S. Dept. Agric, Fanners Bulletin 513, pp. 1-31, 50 colored figs, in text. (Beautifully illustrated in color; partly applicable to western birds.) 15 cents. Educational Leaflets. Published at intervals in Bird Lore by the National Association of Audubon Societies. (Popular accounts of many birds.) Separates obtainable from Secretary Audubon Society, New York City, at 5 cents each. Miscellaneous. LiBBY. G. 1912. Bird study in the public schools. California Fish and Game Commission. Bulletin 2. 1-48. 2 figs, in text. (Helpful to teachers; obtainable from Fish and (5ame Commission, San Francisco. Supply nearly exhausted.) Bryant, H. C. 1912. Birds in relation to a grasshopper outbreak in California. University of California Publications. Zoology 11, pp. 1-20. (Shows value of birds as insect destroyers. Obtainable from the Universitj' of California Press, Berkeley, California.) Price 20 cents. 1914. A determination of the economic status of the western meadowlark. Univ. of Calif. Publ.Zool, 11,pi). 377-510, pis. 21-24, 5 figs, in text. (Detailed account of food of western me.ulowlark'. Olitainnlile from University of California Press, Berkeley, California.) I'rice $L25. Local Lists of Birds. The following faunnl and local check-lists of California birds, published by the Cooper Ornithological Club, may be obtained from W. Lee Chambers, Eagle Rock, California. McGhkgor, R. C. 1901. A list of the land birds of Santa Cruz County, California, Pacific Coast Avifauna, 2, pp. 1-23. Price 25 cents. Grinnell, J. 1912. A systematic list of the birds of California. Pacific Coast Avifauna, 8,. pp. 1-23. (A check-list only.) WlLLETT. G. 1912. Birds of the Pacific slope of southern California. Pacific Coast Avifauna, 7, pp. 1-122. Price $1.50. (An annotated check-list. I CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 177 Tyler, J. G. 1913. Some birds of the Fresno district, California. Pacific Coast Avifauna, 9, pp. 1-114. Price $1.50. (Applicable to greater part of the San Joaquin- Sacramento Valley. Annotated check-list.) The following may be secured from the University of California Press, Berkeley, California : Grinnell. J. 1908. The biota of the San Bernardino Mountains. Univ. of Calif. Publ. Zool.. 5, pp. 1-170, pis. 1-24. (An account of the flora and vertebrate fauna to be found in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. Birds are treated at length.) Price $2.00. 1914a. An account of the mammals and birds of the lower Colorado Valley, with especial reference to the distributional problems presented. Univ. of Calif. Publ. Zool., 12, pp. 51-294, pis. 3-13, 9 figs, in text. Price $2.40. 1914&. A second list of the birds of the Berkeley Campus. Condor, 16, pp. 28-40. (Gives local distribution, status and dates of occurrence; obtainable from Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California.) GrI>XEI.L, J., AND SWARTH, H. S. 1913. An account of the birds and mammals of the San Jacinto area of southern California, with remarks upon the behavior of geographic races on the margins of their habitats. Univ. of Calif. Pub. Zool., 10, pp.' 197-406, pis. 6-10. Price $2.00. Ornithological Periodicals. The Condor. Bimonthly. OflicLal organ of the Cooper Ornithological Club. W. Lee Chambers, Business Manager, Eagle Rock, California. Price $1.50 a year. (Illustrated magazine of western ornithology; the best bird magazine for those interested in California birds.) The Auk. Quarterly. Official organ of the American Ornithologists' Union. Jona- than Dwight, Jr., Secy., 134 W. Seventy-first street. New York City. Price $3.00 a year. (Rather more technical than popular; treats of North American birds.) Bird Lore. Bimonthly. Official organ of the National Association of Audubon Societies. Bird Lore, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Price $1.00 a year. (The best popular bird magazine published in the United States; suit- able for school work; has nature-study department.) N. B. For further bibliographical references to" California birds, previous to 190S, see Grinnell's "A Bibliography of California Ornithology," (Pacific Coast Avi- fauna, 5, pp. 1-lGC), procurable from W. Lee Chambers, Eagle Rock, California. Price $1.50. 178 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAINIE. CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME A publication devoted to the conser- vation of wild life and published quar- terly by the California State Fish and Game Commission. Sent free to citizens of the State of California. Offered in exchange for ornitholosical, raammalogical and similar periodicals. The articles published in California Fish and Game are not copyrighted and may be reproduced in other periodicals provided due credit is given the Cali- fornia Fish and Game Commission. Edi- tors of newspapers and periodicals are invited to make use of pertinent material. All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, California. July 15, 1915. "It is true that the game belongs to the people; but this rightly means the people who are to be born a hundred years hence just as much as the people who are alive today." — Theodore Roosevelt. WHAT THE BUREAU OF EDUCATION, PUBLICITY AND RESEARCH HAS BEEN DOING. EDUCATION. 1. Lectures. — A number of illustrated lectures on the following subjects have been given in different parts of the State : The non-sale of game. The economic value of birds. Common birds of California. The duck breeding grounds of Cali- fornia. The scientific basis of bird protection. Methods of game conservation. The food of common birds. The food habits of the roadrunner in California. In addition a series of lectures was given in a course in Advanced Vertebrate Zoology in the University of California during the past semester, the students in which are prospective teachers, and also a series of lectures on game and game conservation was given to forestry stu- dents in a course on forest protection. 2. Nature Study.— An attempt has been made to stimulate the teaching of nature study in the public schools. 3. Bulletins. — California Fish and Game a quarterly illustrated magazine with the motto "Conservation through education," has been edited and published. 4. Correspondence. — Many inquiries re- garding birds and mammals of the State, garni' laws, etc., have been answered. PUBLICITY. 1. A series of arti?les under the general lieading "Game Ucsources of California," has been published in the San Francisco Call and Post. The articles have been regularly reprinted in about twenty other newspapers in the State. 2. Newspaper items giving publicity to the work of the Fish and Game Com- mission and to game and game consen'a- tion have been issued. 3. Certain editorials and articles in California Fish and Game have given publicity to the work of the Commission. RESEARCH. 1. Considerable data has been collected regarding the life histories and status of game birds and mammals. 2. Photographic evidence of the work of the Commission and the status of game has accumulated. 3. Food habits of the roadrunner. Eighty-three stomachs of roadrunners have been microscopically examined and the contents tabulated. A complete re- port on the food habits of this bird in California is neariug completion. 4. Food of ducks. A large number of stomachs of ducks have been examined and the contents identified. A number of stomachs are still at hand awaiting examination. 5. Data relative to the past and present abundance of fur-bearing mammals in this State has been procured. An investiga- tion of the laws on fur-bearers in force in other states has also been made. 6. The breeding grounds of ducks in Alameda and Merced counties have been investigated and censuses taken. The carrying capacity of a small area of marsh near Los Banos. Merced County, is being worked out by systematically tak- ing censuses of the breeding birds. 7. A comparison of the California Fish and Game Commission with the commis- sions of other states is under way. S. Circular letters are being sent to deputies to ascertain the present status of CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 179 the ring-necked pheasant. A full report will be prepared. NEW LEGISLATION. Your attention is called to articles appearing- in this issue which give a short resume of the new legislation re- garding fish and game. We are glad to report that practically all of the laws relating to fish and game which were passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor are measures which will do much towards conserving the wild life of the State. The new laws go into effect on August 7. A revised book of "Cali- fornia Fish and Game Laws" and game cards will be available before this time. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF GAME IN CALIFORNIA? The optimist is considered a desirable citizen, but too often the knowledge on which an optimist bases his views is in- sufiicient or one-sided. Were the unbiased or scientific attitude more prevalent, there would be less harm done to worthy causes. A case in point : The optimist maintains that game in California is in- creasing. He encourages all of his friends to think the same. Hence very few real- ize the importance of more stringent laws. On the other hand, the man with the scientific attitude attempts to collect all possible information regarding the past and present status of game in the State and finds the following facts : 1. That in spite of more game laws, shorter seasons and smaller bag limits, practically every species has decreased in numbers in the last twenty years. 2. The concentration of game into small areas makes the present numbers appear far greater than they should. The scientist does not, therefore, de- pend upon hearsay evidence. He bases his conclusions upon a comparison of censuses taken by dependable observers and attempts to base his evidence on facts. There is not a person interested in con- servation in California who would not subscribe to the scientific viewpoint which emphasizes the necessity of obtain- ing iacis and basing conclusions on abso- lute evidence. It is extremely necessary that this particular point of view should be applied to all problems connected with the conservation of game. It is to be hoped that future generations will be so trained that they will continually assume this attitude rather than that of many present-day hunters who are attempting to hoodwink people into the belief that game is increasing in order to attain their own selfish ends. The optimist as a member of society is extremely valuable, but may not his conclusions be at times misleading? NEED FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION Few of our readers probably appreci- ate the great need of accurate informa- tion regarding those species of birds in which we are particularly interested. It is the lack of just such information which makes estimates as to the past and pres- ent abundance of certain species impos- sible at the present time. Since increased cultivation is going to make statistical information of still greater importance in the future, every opportunity should be taken to accumulate data regarding our game birds and mammals. Professor Spencer F. Baird, one of the early gov- ernmental biologists, made this statement a number of years ago : "Accurate sta- tistical information is the one essential foundation upon which protective legisla- tion must rest." If this sentence was a true statement of fact a number of years ago when it was written, it is certainly a still more important statement of fact at the present. It is unfortunate that many of the men in the best position to furnish ac- curate information, are men who fail to realize the true value of such informa- tion and who seldom take the trouble to write down what they see. A scientific record of occurrence or of the nesting of some bird is made up of four parts as follows : 1. Name of species or accurate descrip- tion of bird. 2. Date of observation. 3. Exact locality of observation. 4. Name of observer. If you wish to take an active part in game conservation, there is hardly a bet- ter method than to systematically collect accurate information as to abundance, habits, and breeding of our game birds and mammals. Will you not record in a notebook the observations which you be- lieve will be of interest and report them 180 CALIFORNIA FISn AND GAME. to the Bureau of Education. I'ulilicity, aud Research of the California Fish and Game Commission? Here the data will be carefully filed and its accumulation will become increasingly valuable. The Bureau of Biological Survey is at- temptins to obtain a census of the birds of the United States for the pui-pose of ascertaining approximately the number and relative abundance of the different species. This exact information is to be used as a basis for determining the ade- quacy of the present laws for bird pro- tection and whether the several species are increasing or diminishing. The cen- sus will need to be repeated for several years before safe generalizations can be made therefrom. Instructions and re- port blanks are furnished to all those who will volunteer their services in this work. Bird observers in the west and south are particularly requested to co- operate as these facts have not been suf- ficiently covered in past observations. A census of the game birds breeding in your particular vicinity will be of exceedingly great value to the Bureau of the Fish and Game Commission having this work in charge and also to the United States Department of Agriculture. LECTURES ON GAME CONSERVA- TION GIVEN FORESTRY STUDENTS The Bureau of Education. Publicity and Research has been successful in estab- lishing a course of lectures on game con- servation to be given to forestry students in the University of California. The course this past semester was given in connection with the regular course in Fire Protection in charge of Assistant Professor Woodbridge Metcalf. Six lec- tures were given in the course from April 5 to IG, 1915, as follows: 1. California Birds and Mammals, by Dr. H. C. Bryant, Game Expert. Cali- fornia Fish and Game Commission. 2. The Economic Value of Birds, by Dr. H. C. Bryant. 3. Mammals in Their Economic Rela- tions, by Dr. H. C. Bryant. 4. The Food and Game Fishes of Cali- fornia and Their Conservation, by N. B. Scofield, in charge Department of Com- mercial Fisheries. California Fish and Game Commission. 5. Past, Present and Future of Game in California, by Dr. H. C. Bryant. G. Why aud How to Conserve Cali- fornia's Wild Life, by Dr. W. P. Taylor, Curator of Mammals in the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. As all forestry men in California, by virtue of their position, become deputy game wardens, these lectures will be of service in developing interest and in af- fording training to those who will later necessarily "become guardians of Cali- fornia's wild life. It is very important that all forestry students be taught to recognize at sight the different species of game fish and animals, the economic value of each and the means by which they can be conserved. In addition there is an intimate relation between the two great natural resources — forests and wild life. Each is dependent more or less on the other. Every forest conservationist should have complete knowledge as to the value of birds as protectors of forests due to their destruction of insect pests. And every game conservationist should realize that with the increase of the num- ber of forests there is an increase in game. Co-operative work such as this planned between the State Forestry School and the Fish and Game Com- mission will help to properly develop the men to whom the administration of our forests and game will ultimately be intrusted. I'lans are now under way to make this co-operative work permanent. Next year a similar course of lectures will be given in one of the regular courses in forestry. At the present time there are not more than one or two universities in the United States which attempt to give a course of training to those who desire to take up the work of a game warden. A short course of lectures such as that given this past year can not be expected to furnish a man with the information necessary to make him an effective game warden. It is to be hoped that interest along this line will so increase that before many years a regular course of training for game wardens will be obtainable at our State University. Should the ITniversity of Cali- fornia be far-sighted enough to take up this work it would be a pioneer in the field and doubtless would draw a large number of students from other states. The days are past when political pull was alone needed for obtaining a position as CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 181