Full text of "California fish and game"

California Fish and Game
V. 14 1928
Bound volume

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California Fish and Game.
V. 14 1928
Bound volume

DATE

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California Resources Agency Library

1416 9th Street, Room 117

Sacramento, California 95814

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California Fisii ^M-i&l

CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION.'

Volume 11 SACRAMENTO, JANUARY, 1928 Number 1

CONTENTS.

Page

THE SEA LIOXS OP CAL.IFORNA Paul Bonnot 1

THE SMELTS OF THE SAN PEDRO WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS

Frances N. Clark 16

HOW A NATURAL RESOURCE IS BEING ADMINISTERED W. L. Scofield 21

SALMON INVESTIGATION J. O. Snyder 25

STRIPED BASS STUDIES' 4-— E- C. Scofield 29

CATCH FIGURES AND PISH SUPPLY _^^ --_.^Joe A. Craig 3 7

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF

FOOD FISH FOR REDUCTION PURPOSES B. D. Marx Greene 42

BIOLOGICAL REQUISITES FOR LAKE TROUT Geor(je A. Coleman 45

I'ROGRESS IN HALIBUT INVESTIGATIONS Kuth Miller Thompson 47

EDITORIALS --^__-- 5o

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES 72

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES' 83

LIFE HISTORY NOTES 89

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 93

REPORT ON SARDINE CANNERIES', 1926-27 95

REPORTS —

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 98

Statement of Income and Expenditures — 99

Fisliery Products. July to Seiitember. 1927 102

THE SEA LIONS OF CALIFORNIA.

By Paul Bonnot.
(With eight photographs and two maps by tlie autlior. )

Most of the larger mammals of California have been extensively
studied. As a result of these studies, a few have been reduced to the
point of extermination because it has been shown that they are detri-
mental to man. The majority, however, are protected by law as they
do not conflict with man's commercial pursuits, and in some cases are
rated as beneficial. The sea lions have not been studied to any extent

56393

/7//7

2 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

and very little is known about tliem. Nevertheless, determined efforts
have been made from time to time to exterminate them. Late in 1926,
the fishing industries complained to the Fish and Game Commission
regarding the depredations of the sea lions, and asked that their num-
bers be reduced. The writer was detailed by Mr. N. B. Scofield, head
of the Department of Commercial Fisheries of the Division of Fish and
Game, to make a survey of the marine mammals of the state, to investi-
gate the claims made by the fishermen and to determine the present
status of these animals. This survey will be continued for several years.
This year's work has resulted in a great deal of authentic data and
several interesting conclusions, some of which are dealt with in the
present article.

There are two species of sea lions found on the coast of California:

Fig. 1. An adult bull California sea lion at Plea Island. This animal seemed
unafraid of the photographer. June 13, 1927.

Steller's sea lion {Enmetopias stelleri) and the black or California sea
lion {Zalophus calif ornianus) .

Steller's sea lion is found from Bering Sea to Santa Cruz Island.
The breeding range is from Bering Sea to Santa Rosa Island. They are
found the year round throughout their range, though the bulls, for
the most part, disappear during the winter and spring. The general
opinion seems to be that the bulls migrate to Alaska during this time.
The animals are light gray in color when wet, which turns to light
brown when dry. The bulls are much larger than the cows. A full-
grown bull will weigh between 1500 and 2000 pounds, while the cows
will weigh between 600 and 1000 pounds.

The California sea lion is found from the Farallon Islands south
to central Mexico. The breeding range is from Point Piedras Blancas
to an unknown point in Mexico. In the past, the California sea lion

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 6

was fairlj' abundant and probably maintained rookeries as for north as
the Farallons. They have been recorded as far north as Puget
Sound. At the present time, they are rare north of Point Piedras
Blancas, in San Luis Obispo County. The California sea lion is dark
brown in color when wet, and an ochre yellow or brown when dry.
The bulls weigh from 800 to 1000 pounds, and the cows from 500 to
700 pounds. The skull of the bull has a high keel which gives the
profile of the face a concave outline.

Sea lions are polygamous animals, one bull generally taking care of
from five to twenty cows. They begin to collect on the rookeries during
May. The pups are born from June to the middle of July. They
must be taught to swim and are generally not proficient in the water
for about six weeks. By the end of August or middle of September,
the bulls leave and the rookery is broken up. A few animals may be
found on the regular rookeries at all times.

Some General Habits of Sea Lions. As sea lions pass most of their
lives in the water, they would naturally be expected to be fine swim-
mers. In the water the front flippers are used for swimming, the hind
ones trailing behind. They can swim readily on either the belly, sides
or back. A favorite method of progression seems to be to rotate
slowly on the long axis. I have seen yearlings jump clear of the water,
make a graceful arc and go in head first, like a porpoise. I have
never seen an adult do this. Mr. N. B. Scofield tells me he has seen
adult sea lions, at the mouth of the Klamath River, riding the surf
in the same manner as men using surf boards. The animals repeated
this again and again, and were evidently doing it for amusement.
The adults, when landing on a steep bank, will sometimes shoot up
from a wave as much as five or six feet. In moving on land they
are clumsy, yet they can move with surprising speed. The front
flippers are used as a base, the hind ones drawn under and the animal
springs forward on them, the front flippers being hitched forward at
the same time. They will dive into the water from considerable
heights; and I once saw a Steller bull leap from a rock dovm ten or
twelve feet to a gravel beach, where he landed on his chest and con-
tinued his course to the water, apparently none the worse.

Sea lions can see a moving object very well, but do not seem to
ctSsfly see a stationary object. I have on several occasions stood or
sat in full view, iLsing my glasses and making notes, and no notice was
paid to me by animals thirty or forty feet away. When I started to
move ofi' or rose to my feet, however, nearly every animal in sight
saw me at once.

They do not seem to have a very keen sense of smell. They use
this sense as a means of identifying one another, as do dogs, but give
little indication that it is useful for distant odors.

Their hearing is also rather poor. On several occasions I have walked
up to blind animals, taking no particular pains to remain quiet, and
though they seemed to sense my presence, it did not seem to be through
the sense of hearing.

On the hauling grounds and rookeries, the sea lions practice no sort
of sanitation, as do some animals. The places frequented by them are
rocky and uneven, and therefore catch debris, such as excreta and
dead animals. These are trampled underfoot and left. In consequence.

4: CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

a sea lion rookery is very dirty underfoot and, at close range, very
evident to the olfactory nerve.

Sea lions are both diurnal and nocturnal. It is not easy to observe
their comings and goings at night but, from the continual uproar,
they are as active by night as by day. When on the rookeries at the
breeding season, they seem to spend a great deal of their time sleeping
on the rocks. At other seasons they move up and down the coast a
short distance, swimming in small schools and fishing. On two occa-
sions I watched several fishing at night, their movements being easily
followed by the line of phosphorus in the water, and their loud
"whosh" when they came up to blow.

x\t Ano Nuevo the rookeries seem to be conducted as are the rookeries
of the fur seal. That is, a large bull, by right of might, collects a

Fig. 2. A blind, young bull California sea lion at Point Bennett. Blindness
is occasionally encountered and may be counted a natural check on abun-
dance. June 10, 1927.

varying number of cows, drives off all other bulls and manages his
"harem" himself. He will fight desperately for his small piece of
territory or to retain his cows, maintaining his stand for the whole
breeding season, not even leaving to eat. At all other rookeries I
visited, however, this does not apply. I saw no evidence of the so-called
harems. The bulls, old and young, were mixed up indiscriminately on
the rookeries. There was little or no fighting. I saw only one Cali-
fornia bull who was cut about the chest as though he had been fighting.
The nearest approach to fighting was a more or less continual wrangling
among the cows, which, though noisy, seemed never to go beyond the
|)oint of making a few passes at each other.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND <; A:\F1:. O

In tliis regard, it ini^lit be ^\■eil to mention thai tlie Ano Xuevo
rookery is unique in another way. The animals there are evidently
more used to man and have enjoyed protection for so long that they do
not act toward him as at other jilaces. At all other places it was
necessary to "sneak" up to the animals in order to count and observe
them; but at Ano Nuevo, although most of the cows and some of the
bulls will "unload" upon the appearance of a man, the big herd bulls
will not only stand their ground but will actually chase a man who gets
too close. Generallj", they will not press the matter, but as they look
as big as an ox and weigh close to 2000 pounds, it behooves the investi-
gator to respect their dignity and give them room.

The cows will sometimes form what are known as "rafts." They
lie together in the water in small or large bunches, apparently asleep,
swinging with the action of the water. Here and there in the compact
group a flipper will be elevated. The rafts seem to be formed by cows
nearing the pupping time. Each cow has but one pup a year. The
pup can not swimn for several weeks after birth, but even when first
born, it has a natural instinct for the water. I have seen a young pup
go overboard and get a mauling from the breakers but, upon stranding
on the beach, half-drowned, it not only met my attempts to help with
a defiant squall but plunged back into the next wave. On such
occasions they desperately work their flippers up and down, but until
the use of the flipper is learned and breathing is coordinated, they are
more helpless in the water than the average terrestrial animal. The
bulls pay no attention whatever to the pups, and the cows seem only
interested in their own. I have several times seen a bull, while
stampeding or love-making, step on a pup that happened to be in the
way, and its frantic squalls were lost in the uproar of the occasion.
The cows seem to know their own pups, and when coming ashore will
hunt their own. Another's pup, however, is treated rather roughly.
I have seen a cow pick up a pup in her mouth and throw it at least
10 feet with a vicious side jerk of her head. On two occasions, while
examining and photographing pups, a cow called just outside the
breaker line. Her call sounded exactly like an ordinary domestic cow
calling her calf. The pup, at my feet, evidently recognized the cow,
as it stiffened up and answered the call with' a high-pitched squall.

Sea lions are gregarious animals but I would not call them social.
They ordinarh^ travel about in small groups, and collect, of course,
in large numbers on the rookeries ; but they seem to conduct themselves
toward their fellows on a strict laissez faire basis. When lying about
on shore, there is a continual snarling and growling and if, in moving
about, one animal happens to tread on another there is at once an
uproar. These disturbances seldom amount to anything, but there is
little that is amiable about them.

There seems to be little or no definite communication among sea
lions. Mr. Alvin Seale, of the Steinhart Aquarium, first called my
attention to the fact that they seem to communicate by touching their
noses together. The sea lions at the aquarium do this. I watched
for it on the rookeries and saw it many times. Each animal has, no
doubt, a definite scent, and they either use this habit of touching noses
as a means of identification, as everyone has seen dogs do, or there may
be a more definite exchange of ideas. At Seal Harbor, San Clemente

2 — 56393

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Island, I saw a lialf-drownecl pup, squalling and splashing a hundred
feet from the beach. Several cows swam up to it, touched its nose
and then, evidently finding it not their own, went on their respective
ways and left it. Evidently its own mother was beyond the sound of
its call, as its cries went unheeded until it drowned.

Each species has several distinctive calls but none of them seems to
convey much intelligence to other members of the same herd. After
stampeding into the water when alarmed by a landing party, the
animals swam up and down the rookery, just outside the breakers,
roaring or barking, according to the species. There were generally
several individuals too sleepy or too lazy to leave with the herd, and
these paid no attention whatever to the loud uproar kept up by their
fellows in the water. They only departed, in great haste, when touched.

Fig. 3. Sea lion pups after a little handling become fairly tame. Gull Island.

June 14, 1927.

Once, several of us sneaked up on a sleeping bull, the photographer
focused his camera, and then with a touch of the foot, the bull was
awakened to furious haste.

The call of the Steller sea lions consists of a deep, hoarse roar.
Both sexes have this, the bull's roar being deeper and louder. The
cows "baa" for the pups, and the pups answer with the same sound,
about two octaves higher.

The California sea lions make a "honking" bark, repeated steadily.
They also make a smooth howl that sounds exactlj^ like a hound. The
cows and pups call as do the Stellers.

Both species snarl and growl when angry or frghtened. "When
suddenly awakened from a. sound sleep and finding themseh^es sur-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAMPJ. 7

rounded b.v several men, both species of all ages emit a loud, quavering
"Ah" of surprise and fear.

In captivity, sea lions do very well. They are docile, intelligent
and fairly hardy. They are subject, to some extent, to pulmonaiy dis-
orders. The cows only are used for exhibition purposes and for per-
forming acts. These are, for the most part, California cows, but
occasionally a Steller coav is put on exhibition. The bulls are too large
and pugnacious to be readily handled. California bulls have been
taken but an adult Steller bull has never been captured.

The impression of the rookeries most vividly remembered is the
continual uproar of sound. This is seldom or never absent. While
on the rookery, talking in an ordinary tone of voice is heard with
difficulty. The sound ebbs and* flows like the roar of the surf, with
here and there a sudden breaking through of sharper sound by some
individual that happens to be close at hand or that has been trodden
on by one of its fellows and voices its protest.

History of Sea Lions in California. Before 1860, sea lions were
extremely numerous along the California coast. During the sixties,
they were commercially valuable and their numbers therefore steadily
decreased until the late seventies, when the products gained from them
(oil and hides) were bringing such a low price that it was unprofitable
to hunt them.

Scammon, in 1874, says, "A few years ago great numbers of sea
lions were taken along the coast of upper and lower California, and
thousands of barrels of oil obtained. The number of seals slain
exclusively for their oil would appear fabulous when we realize the
fact that it requires, on an average, throughout the season, the blubber
of three or four sea lions to produce a barrel of oil. Their thick, coarse-
grained skins were not considered Avorth preparing for market, in a
country where manual labor was so highly valued. At the present
time, however, they are valuable for glue stock, and the seal hunter
now realizes more comparative profit from the hides than from the oil. ' '

In 1899, the sea lion question in California became acute. At the
behest of the fishing industries, the Fish and Game Commission called
a meeting in San Francisco to discuss the situation and to decide on a
course of action. The fishing industries were represented and several
scientific men attended. The conclusions arrived at by this conference
were that the sea lions were too numerous, that they were destructive
to the fishing industries and that their numbers should be reduced. As
most of the large rookeries were located on lighthouse reservations, the
Commissioners Avt'ote to the Honorable Lyman Gage, Secretary of the
Treasury, for permission to kill sea lions on the federal lighthouse
reservations. This request was granted on April 27, 1899. The Com-
mission sent two men to the Farallone Islands and two to Ano Nuevo
Island, both lighthouse reservations, but before any killing had been
done the permission was revoked by wire, on May 31st.* On June 9th,
a letter from the Treasury Department gave the information that
the suspension was due to protests from the United States Fish Com-
mission, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture,

* Mr. Walter Welch, Field Agent for the Fish and Game Commission, tells me
that in 1899 he was a deputy for the Commission in Santa Cruz County and that
before the Lighthouse Board canceled the permission to kill sea lions on the reserva-
tion, several thousand were killed at Ano Nuev"0.

8 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

the Xew York Zoological Society and various others. The California
Commission stated its case at greater length, and the United States
Commissioner of Fisheries withdrew his opposition. The other prot-
estants, however, could not be induced to withdraw their opposition
and the Lighthouse Board refused to cancel the suspension.

While this controversy was at its height, in the summer of 1899, Pro-
fessor L. L. Dyche, of the University of Kansas, made examinations of
sea lion stomachs at Monterey and found only squid contained therein,
although at the time salmon and other fish were plentiful in the bay.
Dr. C. H. Merriam, in Science^ May 17, 1901, uses this work of Dyche 's
in an article in support of the contention that the sea lions are not
detrimental" to the fishing industry.

In 1900, the Lighthouse Board still refusing to grant permission to
kill sea lions on the federal reservations, the California Commission
asked for the appointment of a special commission to investigate the
matter thoroughly. This commission was appointed. It consisted of
Cloudsley Rutter, chairman; R. E. Snodgrass, named by the California
Fish and Game Commission, and E. C. Starks from the California
Academy of Sciences. This commission studied the sea lions in Cali-
fornia and its findings were published in the Commissioner's Report
of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries for 1902. They
came to the conclusion that little damage was done to fishing gear
bv the sea lions. In regard to food, thev arrived at the conclusion that
the Steller sea lion is largely a fish consumer and the California sea
lion is largely a squid eater. "It seems apparent, however, that either
species feeds on whatever is most convenient. ' '

Although the California Commission could not kill sea lions on the
federal reservations, they were so confident of the correctness of their
stand that several of their deputies wore ordered to hunt sea lions and
a great many were killed. Their report of 1901-1902 states, "The
action of this Commission in causing a reduction of the sea lion herds,
the killing of which Avas carried on for a few weeks in the spring of
1899, also in 1900, because of the inroads made on the supply of food
fish, particularly salmon, has been the subject of more or less newspaper
criticism. It arose chiefly from the groundless fear that one of the
picturesque features of San Francisco the Seal Rocks, would be
destroyed.* When our methods, scene of operation, and reasons there-
for were made known, the criticism quickly subsided. Though no seals
have been killed for more than two years, it is a fact that not since
that time have they been seen in any numbers in the bays and rivers,
and complaints about damage to nets and taking of fish have been very
infrequent."

Between 1902 and 1909 little was heard of the sea lions. Captain
H. B. Xidever, of San Pedro, has supplied me with the information
that in 1907 and 1908 several men systematically hunted sea lion bulls
at San ^liguel Island and killed practically all the bulls of breeding age.

In 1909 the sea lions had been so reduced that several natural history
societies and interested parties sponsored a bill for their protection,
"forbidding the killing, maiming or capturing of sea lions in the waters

* Ml'. John Rowley, o£ the Lcs Angeles Museum, has in his possession a picture
taken in 1889 which shows a flourishing rookery of Steller sea lions on the Seal
Rocks at San Francisco. This place is and has for a long time been only a hauhng
ground.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

of Santa Barbara channel and on land adjacent thereto, or in fish and
game district nineteen." This was primarily to prevent the extermi-
nation of the California sea lion.

Since 1909 there has been no organized killing, though a small but
steady drain has been acting on the herds. Several individuals add to
their incomes by killing the breeding bulls for the penis and testicles,
known to the trade as ''trimmings." These are sold to the Chinese,
who manufacture a medical preparation supposed to rejuvenate the
aged. A number of California sea lions are taken annually to be
used for exhibition purposes in zoological gardens and circuses. This
species is used almost exclusively, as the Steller is too large and difficult
to handle.

In 1927 the fishing interests of San Pedro and Santa Barbara spon-
sored a bill (Senate Bill No. 547, introduced by Senator Charles W.

Fig. 4. Bull sea lion trimmings hung up to dry on San Miguel Island. When
dried they are sold to the Chinese who manufacture from them a medical
preparation supposed to rejuvenate the aged. June 16, 1927.

Lyon, of Santa Barbara), which would have repealed section 6'ilc of
the Penal Code, the law of 1909. If this had passed, it would have
taken all protection from the sea lions in California. This was subse-
quently withdrawn. Another bill (Assembly Bill No. 820, introduced
by Assemblyman Morgan Kcaton. of Long Beach) would have given
the Fish and Game Commission power to control the seals and sea lions
"where it determined such reduction was necessary." This also was
withdrawn. A third bill relating to sea lions (Assembly Bill No. 199,
introduced by Assemblyman T. R. Finle.y, of Santa Barbara), which
passed both houses and was signed by the Governor May 17, 1927,
affords protection to the California sea lion only, in fish and game

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

districts 19, 20 and 20A. This is approximately the same territory
covered by the old law, but is more definite as to boundaries and
includes Catalina Island, which Avas not in the previous law. This law-
became effective July 29, 1927.

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Fig. 5. Rookeries and hauling grounds of the Steller sea lion, Eumetopias
stelJeri, on the coast of California.

For the last twentj^ years, the information concerning sea lions has
been confined to short notes by scientific men and to complaints of
fishermen. The scientific man, with little authentic data, is cautious

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

when expressing an opinion. The fisherman, however, talks of thou-
sands, and a vast amount of damage. The facts show that the numerical
strength of the sea lion herds has been greatly exaggerated. The fol-

FiG. 6. Rookeries and hauling grounds of the California sea lion, Zalophus
c<ilifornianus, on the coast of California.

lowing maps and table will show more clearly than a written expla-
nation the present status of population of the sea lions :

12 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Rookcru Stcllei- . Cnlifornia

St. George Reef — 1500

Redding Rock 200

Patrick's Point 200

Cape Mendocino -- TOO

Point Arena 300

Point Reyes . 15

Farallon Islands 700 G

Purisima 150

Ano Nuevo 1500

Point Piedras Blancas 212 SO

Lion Rock (San Luis Obispo County) 86 21

Pecho Rock — 135 7

Point Sal 10

Point Dume 11

Point Bennett - 31 42

Offshore Rock 41

Lion Rock 8

Flea Island 275 107

Richardson Rock 199

Wilson Rock 41

Sandy Point 49

Frazer Point 2 03

Gull Island IS 145

Tyler Bay 5

Anacapa Island 34

Santa Barbara Island 125

Catalina Island 15

Castle Rock 29

Seal Harbor 1 235

Totals 6363 941

Point Bennett, Offshore Rock, Lion Rock, Flea Island, Richardson
Rock and Wilson Rock are located about the west end of San Mig-uel
Island. Sandy Point is at the west end of Santa Rosa Island. Frazer
Point and Gull Island are at the west end of Santa Cruz Island. Castle
Rock is at the southwest end of San Clemente Island, and Seal Harbor
lies on the south side of San Clemente.

Present Economic Status. That the sea lions eat fish is, I think,
a statement which few men at present will question. There is no doubt
in my own mind that they do eat fish. They also eat squid and octopii,
Crustacea and ' ' occasionally birds. ' ' * The fact that the sea lions
eat fish does not seem to me to carry a great amount of weight in con-
tending that they should be destroyed. Their fish diet is not confined
to any one species. They eat, indiscriminately, commercially valuable
fish and worthless ones. Having such a catholic taste,- they destroy
quantities of such fish as dogfish and morays, mollusks such as squid
and octopii, and Crustacea such as deep-water crabs which have little
or no commercial value. The dogfish, morays and octopii are pre-
dacious and interfere to a greater or lesser extent with commercial
fishing, having little commercial value themselves.

The sea lions may also be holding in check organisms of which we
know nothing, which, if allowed to develop unchecked, through the

* I am rather skeptical in regard to this bird-eating habit, as I have seen no
indication of it. Some of the sea lion rookeries are on rocks which also support
large bird rookeries. The bird rookeries are close to, and easily accessible to, the
sea lions, but I have seen notliing that would indicate that the sea lions ever raided
them.

CALIFORNIA FiSH AND GAME. 13

extermination of the sea lions, might be far more destructive to fishing
than the sea lions are at present, and a great deal more difficult to
deal with.

The fishing industries are not, at the present time, suffering from
the depredations of the sea lions to such an extent that any extensive
reduction in their numbers is necessary.

Natural Enemies of Sea Lions. Sea lions have a number of natural
checks on their increase acting at all times. The rate of mortality
among the pups is very high. Numbers of them are drowned each year ;
they are crippled or killed outright by being trodden on by the adult
members of the herds; and some starve, as when they become lost,
the cows do not make any prolonged search for them, and another cow
will have nothing to do with them. The greatest enemy of the adults
are the killer whales (Orca). Several men have described to me the

Fig. 7. Part of the Piedras Blancas rookery of sea lions. Both species are

present. June 5, 1927.

panic which runs through a sea lion herd on the appearance of these
savage animals. An orca which was killed at the Pribilof Islands
some years ago contained eight adult fur seals. Their capacity and
ability to capture such fast-swimming animals as eared seals can be
gauged from this. Large sharks no doubt get a few sea lions. In
1925, while I was at Monterey, California, a cow fur seal {Gallorhinus)
was brought to me for identification. It had been found on the beach
north of Monterey, in a dying condition. It was still warm when I saw
it. It had been bitten through the body just anterior to the hind
flippers and the backbone was broken. The bite was undoubtedly
that of a shark.

Sea lions seem to be fairly free from disease. During the survey
three animals were observed which were blind. These were all Cali-
fornia sea lions. A young bull was the first observed at Point Bennett,
San Miguel Island, on June 10th. At Frazer Point, on June 14th, there

3—56393

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

was a full grown bull, and at Gull Island on the same date was another,
both totally blind. These animals were all in good condition, the con-
clusion being that the diseased condition was of recent origin. It was
possible to observe these animals at close range. The disease seems to
be an infection of the conjunctiva, leaving the eye covered with a bluish
white film. Whether the eye itself is affected or whether the animal
recovers before falling prey to some of its enemies I do not know.
Animals with a handicap of this sort do not long survive in the natural
environment. Whether this represents an epidemic or a usual con-
dition will be an interesting future study.

Prof. Gr. F. Ferris, of Stanford University, tells me there are two
species of sucking lice found on both species of sea lions.

Fig. 8. Part of the Flea Island rookery of sea lions showing both species.

June 13, 1927.

Man can also be included among the enemies of the sea lions.
Every year a number (just how many is not now known) are taken
for exhibition and scientific purposes. These are almost always Cali-
fornia sea lions. The Stellers are too large to be conveniently handled
in anything but a large, permanent tank. The trained "seals"
exhibited in circuses are practically always California sea lion cows.
Since the sea lions were first known in California, the bulls have been
killed for the ''trimmings." This effectively eliminates most of the
bulls of breeding age, and has no doubt been a large item in the decrease
of the herds. This year (1927) another factor has been added to the
numerous checks already acting on the sea lions. The professional
hunter has come to California and, by various subterfuges, is endeavor-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

ing to have the liiinting of sea lions legalized.* Some of these hunters
killed sea lions along the coast, during June of this year, without con-
sulting the authorities. They later endeavored to interest the fisher-
men's organizations in raising a fund to pay a bounty, but nothing
was accomplished in this direction.

A large number of sea lions were killed at San Miguel Island in vio-
lation of the law protecting sea lions in district 19. The methods
used by these men would exterminate the sea lions in a few seasons.
Bulls, cows and pups were killed indiscriminately, and only the scalps
and "trimmings" removed. The carcasses were left to rot on the
beaches. As sea lions shot while in the water, in most cases, sink at
once, a great many animals probably went to the bottom without
benefiting the hunters. The beach at Flea Island (San Miguel Island)

Fig. 9. Flea Island after a visit of tlie scalp hunters. Numerous dead ani-
mals litter the beach. The scalps were taken by law violators who turn
them in to those states which pay a bounty on sea lions. June 16, 1927.

supported a mixed rookery of nearly 400 sea lions when I visited it
on June 13th. Two days later I again landed there. In the meantime,
the sea lion hunter had done his work. Every pup on the rookery was
dead, and of the 400 animals which I counted on my first visit, a pitiful
remnant of 30 or 40 was swimming timidly about in the surf. (Com-
pare Figs. 6 and 7.) The beach w^as covered with dead animals and
pools of stagnant blood.

These are not the methods for controlling our native fauna which
will be conducive to the best interests of all concerned. This sort of

* In some other parts of the country, sea lions have been hunted for a number
of years under a bounty system. Sea lions in these places have become so scarce
that the hunters are forced to look for more prolific hunting grounds and are coming
to California.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

thing is comparable to the wasteful and useless slaughter of the bison,
to the ruthless killing of the egrets by the Florida plume-hunters and
to the extermination of the sea otter. A few men realize a quick profit
for a few seasons — and one of our most interesting and least known
mammals will be numbered among the animals of the earth which have
passed, through the ignorance and greed of man.

Fig. 10. A dead bull California sea lion with the trimmings removed. About
700 pounds of meat, hide and oil are wasted every time a large sea lion
is wantonly killed. San Miguel Island, June 16, 1927.

THE SMELTS OF THE SAN PEDRO WHOLESALE FISH

MARKETS.!

By Frances N. Clark.

Although the smelt fishery of California can not be classed as a major
fishery of the state, the total number of pounds landed exceeds that of
the striped bass or the sable fish, and ranks eleventh among fishes sold
exclusively for the fresh fish trade.

Smelts are caught along the entire coast of California and landed in
varying amounts at all ports. The ports of Los Angeles County, how-
ever, exceed any other region in the total amount of smelts landed.
During the past nine years, 29 per cent of the total catch of the state
passed through these ports. Within Los Angeles County, practically all
the smelts are delivered to the wholesale fish markets at San Pedro,
consequently, nearly one-third of the smelt catch of California is
handled at this one port.

^Contribution No. 67 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory of the Division
of Pish and Game, October, 1927.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. . • 17

Unfortunately, the name smelt is applied to fishes of two different
families comprising several genera, and the above statistics give no
information about the catch of any one variety of smelt. Since the
San Pedro fish markets occupy a position of major importance in the
smelt fishery, the following survey was undertaken to determine what
species of smelt pass through these markets, and the relative impor-
tance, throughout the j^ear, of each form.

The families of fishes known popularly as smelts are, the true smelts,
OsmeridcB, and the silver-sides, AtherinidcB. The true smelts are read-
ily separated from the silver-sides by an adipose dorsal fin which does
not occur in the latter family. The Osmeridm are taken only in the
more northern waters of California and do not occur south of Monterey.
The silver-sides, on the other hand, are found along the entire California
coast, and consequently contribute to the northern fishery and, south
of Monterey, comprise the entire smelt catch. In the waters adjacent
to San Pedro, the AtherinidcE are represented by four species, the jack
smelt, Atherinopsis calif orniensis; the panzarotti, Atherinops affinis
Utioralis and Atherinops insularum insularum: and the grunion, Leu-
resthes tenuis. Of these three genera, the jack smelt attain the largest
size and are of the greatest commercial importance; the grunion are
the smallest, and the panzarotti occupy an intermediate position between
the other two.

Some confusion exists in the common names applied to these fish,
especially to that of Atherinops. Leuresthes is always known as grun-
ion and the larger individuals of Atherinopsis are termed jack smelt.
The smaller Atherinopsis and Atherinops are often confused and called
variously, silver smelts, bay smelts, least smelts, and panzarotti. Pan-
zarotti,^ an Italian term, meaning broken belly, is applied by the fisher-
men most frequently to Atherinops. Since it is a distinctive name, and
the one always recognized and most commonly used by the fishermen
and dealers, panzarotto has been adopted in this article to designate
Atherinops. At least two species of Athennops are found in the San
Pedro markets, but they are here grouped under the name panzarotti.

While the species and subspecies within the genus Atherinops are
difficult to determine, the three genera, represented by jack smelt,
grunion and panzarotti, can, with a little practice, be readily separated.
The grunion is easily distinguished by its small size, slender form, and
freely protractile maxillary. The teeth are minute or entirely
absent, and the origin of the first dorsal is posterior to the vent. The
largest jack smelt can be separated by their size, and all jack smelt are
recognizable by their small scales, about 77 in the lateral line, deeper
body, simple teeth, and first dorsal originating anterior to the vent. In
the panzarotti the snout is blunt, the scales large, 52-56 in the lateral
line, the teeth forked, and the origin of the first dorsal posterior to
the vent.

To determine the relative amounts of these three forms of smelt
landed at San Pedro, the survey on which this report is based, was
conducted for a year. From October, 1926, to October, 1927, the

* In literary Italian, pure Tuscan, this word would be panciarotto, plural pancia-
rotti. Since pure Tuscan is not the native tongue of any of the peoples along the
Italian coast, the form pansarotto, plural panzarotti, has been adopted here.
Pansarotto is the form used by the fishermen, and has thus come into current usage.
These philological notes were kindly furnished by Dr. H. H. Vaughan of the University
of California.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

markets were visited three times a week. With the exception of Febru-
ary, March and April, when the survey was carried on by Carl R.
Jackson, the observations were made by the writer. In the winter
months, the visits were made between 7 :30 and 8 :30 a.m., as the largest
percentage of the fish was landed at that time. In the summer, the
fishermen returned to port later in the morning and the observations

Fig. 11. Grunion, Leuresthes tenuis, from the San Pedro wholesale fish markets.

Fig. 12. Panzarotto, Atherinops affinis Uttoralis, from the San Pedro whole-
sale fish markets.

Hi^BHIIil

^^^^^^Hpi^^^^H

^^^^^^ ^|jg|^|l|l||aHH|p

f/^^KUj^^^^/ihif.

nm^^^g

Fig. 13. Jack smelt, Atherinopsis calif orniensis, from the San Pedro whole-
sale fish markets.

were made from 8 :30 to 9 :30. In a few instances, if no smelts were
seen in the morning, a second trip was made to the markets late in the
afternoon, but this gave little added information.

The smelts are delivered to the markets in boxes averaging approxi-
mately 175 pounds each. Every box of smelt found in the markets
during an observation was examined and recorded as containing either

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

jack smelt, panzarotti or grimion. If more than one form was found
in a box, tlie fish were counted out at random until twenty of the pre-
dominating species had been counted. The box was then recorded as
containing the resulting proportion of each species. For example, the
record for March 2, 1927, is as follows :

1 box, all jack smelt.

jack smelt;
jack smelt;

box, proportion 9
box, proportion 20

box, proportion 20 jack smelt ;

panzarotti
panzarotti
panzarotti
panzarotti

20 grunion.
2 grunion.
grunion.
6 grunion.

1 box, proportion 20 jack smelt;

From these field data the monthly and quarterly percentages of each
variety were calculated.^

By multiplying the number of boxes by 175, the average weight per
box, the approximate number of pounds of fish that had passed under
observation was determined. To find what percentage of the total
catch had been examined each month, the number of pounds seen was
divided by the total monthly catch. The results, given in the last
column of Table I, show a variation from 11 per cent to 54 per cent.

TABLE I.

Observed Proportions of Each Species of Smelt in the San Pedro Wholesale Fish Markets and the Percentage of the

Total Catch Represented by the Observed Data.

Date

Percentage

Approximate
number

of
pounds*

Per cent
of

Jack smelt

Panzarotti

Grunion

total
catch

1926—
October

99.9
99.6
98.9

95.9
71.4
94.2
99.4
89.1
97.0
93.3
97.0
94.5

99.2
91.2
95.7
94.9

0.1
0.4
1.1

1.4
8.3

2.7

4,244
13,650
23,625

17,719
5,206
6,912
5,163
5,534

14,306
4,998
6,584

15,444

41,519
29,837
25,003
27,026

November

1927—
January _

2.7
20.3
3.1
0.6
5.1
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2

February. _

March-.

April

May -

5.8
2.8
6.4
2.9
5.3

0.8
2.9
2.9
4.9

June _ _.

July

August - -

September .

October, November, December, 1926

January, February, March, 1927

April May, June, 1927 -

5.9
1.4
0.3

27
27

July, August, September, 1927

♦Calculated on basis of 175 pounds per box.

While more extensive observations might have been desirable in some
instances, the data are considered sufficiently reliable to justify their
use as a basis for determining the amount of each variety of smelt
landed at San Pedro.

Tables I and II and Figure 14 show the results of the year's observa-
tion. With the exception of February and May, over 90 per cent of
the smelts delivered to the San Pedro markets were jack smelt. The

^ The percentage of each form in each box was calculated from the field data.
These percentages, when multiplied by the number of boxes, if more than one box
contained the same percentages, summed, and divided by the total number of boxes
for the day, gave the day's percentages. The percentages for each day were again
multiplied by the number of boxes observed on that day, summed, and divided by the
number of boxes seen in a month. This gave the monthly percentages. In the
same manner, the quarterly percentages were derived from the monthly percentages.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

TABLE II.

Number of Pounds, by Species, of Smelt Landed in Los Angeles County, Based on the Observed Percentage of Each

Species.

Date

Jack smelt

Panzarotti

37,667

32,659

131

47,071

524

35,178

514

20,982

2,439

40,172

1,151

33,158

14,730

959

41,287

1,192 -

24,958

1,712

28,921

865

26,946

1,511

383,729

11,036

Grunion

Total*

1926—
October...
November.
December.

1927—
January...
February..

March

April

May

June

July

.\ugU8t

September.
Totals

990

5,966

1,322

200

843

9,573

37,705
32,790
47,595

36,682
29,387
42,645
33,358
16,532
42,564
26,750
29,816
28,514

404,338

*From statistics gathered by the Di\nsion of Fish and Game of California.

60 -

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 frRliWION

45
40
55

P77I PANZAROTTI
J/4CK SMELT

y^O>!

r^^Mi

HZB

§30

o 25

< "

. '

^^^^^H '^'^'^^^^^H

■''

^20
in

3
O

1- 15

y/M

' "

VMT^^.

OCT

NOV

DEC

^AH

FEB

MAR

/\PR My JUWE JUL/ AU& SEPT

9 X

» 9 Z 7

Fig. 14. Number of pounds, by species, of smelts landed in Los Angeles
County, based on the observed percentage of each species.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 21

lowest percentage of jack smelt occurred in February, when this fish
comprised only 71 per cent of the whole, but since the percentage was
high in January and again in March, it would seem that the drop in
February was due to a chance variation, and not to a seasonal fluctua-
tion in the fishery. Grouping the data by quarters brings the per-
centage of jack smelt above 90 throughout the whole year. This
grouping makes the data comparable with statistics published quarterly
by the Division of Fish and Game.

Panzarotti occurred in small quantities throughout the whole year,
but the data suggest a slight increase in percentage during the summer
months. The grunion catch was most concentrated in the late winter
and spring months, and negligible during the remainder of the year.
It seems probable that no great significance should be attached to the
unusually high percentage of grunion taken in February.

The spawning season for the jack smelt occurs during the winter
months, for the grunion, during the spring, and for the panzarotti,
during the summer. Since the maximum percentage of each species
corresponds roughly with the months of spawning, there may be a
slight correlation between time of spawning and the amount of jack
smelt, grunion or panzarotti taken by the fishermen. However, such
indications are exceedingly slight, and the great preponderance of
jack smelt at all times of the year entirely overshadows any significant
fluctuations in the relative amounts of the three forms. If the year
in which the observations were made is typical, the sm,elt fishery at
San Pedro is composed almost exclusively of jack smelt.

HOW A NATURAL RESOURCE IS BEING ADMINISTERED.*

By W. L. ScoFiELD.

In an offhand way we will agree that research work is a good thing,
even necessary perhaps, but why should any department of the
Division of Fish and Game of California establish a research labora-
tory as an integral part of its organization? Would such a labora-
tory actually be of direct and practical aid to a department, and
could we be justified in calling research necessary to the extent of
providing it a place in a state department on a par with administration
or law enforcement! The Commercial Fisheries Department in its
organization places research on such a parity. It is rather unique in
this respect. Other organizations express interest in research but in
actual practice the scientific work is considered a side issue, and it is
hoped that the results of the investigations may be of use indirectly or
possibly of direct use at some time in the future. A passing interest
in scientific work and a dependence upon research are two very dif-
ferent things. The Commercial Fisheries Department expects its

• Contribution No. 66 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, October,
1927.

22 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

research work to be of direct and immediate practical value in addition
to laying a foundation for the future development of the department.
What is the laboratory doing to justify this confidence in research?

By straining a point we may say that the work of the Commerical
Fisheries Department falls under three heads — Administration,
Research, and Law Enforcement — but such a classification is artificial
because there is no definite dividing line for any one type of work.
Each is so dependent on the others and so interlocked with the other
two that no one activity of the department can be singled out and called
purely administration, research or law enforcement. This appears to
be an exaggeration, but in practice the research workers are dependent
on the patrol department and the law enforcement officers are depend-
ent on the laboratory staff, while the administration of the department
is dependent on, coordinates and directs the patrol and research.
Almost every action of a member of the department involves more than
one of the above functions.

The department as a whole is assigned the duty of applying con-,
servation practice to a state resource, the commercial fishes, aquatic
animals and marine life of California. This means that the state must
receive the benefit to be derived from the wise use of this resource,
the fullest utilization possible. Since fish constitute a resource that is
capable of reproducing itself, full utilization means continuous and
perpetual use rather than a brief period of over-utilization resulting in
a depleted resource. A radical reduction in resource means less use
or even no utilization whatever as in the case of the sturgeon in Cali-
fornia. Halibut and salmon are examples of resources depleted to the
extent that utilization is now only a small fraction of what it should be.

It is impossible to even discuss proper utilization of a resource with-
out some knowledge of its extent. You can 't make even a sensible guess
at how much interest is due you at the bank if you haven 't the remotest
idea of what the principal is. If you are foolish you can make a wild
guess at it for a year or so but sooner or later you are shocked into
realizing that you are overdrawn. In withdrawing interest it is bad to
guess at the principal but it is doubly foolish to keep no record of the
interest drawn. Some resources, including some fisheries resources,
are handled just that way, but fortunately California adopted more
business-like methods and conservation practice is being applied to our
commercial fisheries. It should be obvious in applying a policy of con-
tinuous use to a resource such as fish that what we need most is to
know something of the total supply and of the amount caught each
year. Chiefly we wish to know M^hether the yearly catch is more than it
should be or less than it could be with safety for the future. Other
considerations are secondary. In the case of ocean fish, the answers to
these questions are exceedingly difficult to arrive at, but the difficulty
of solution does not lessen their importance nor is sensible administra-
tion of the resource any less dependent on fundamental knowledge as to
extent of the supply and the rate at which it is being utilized. We
need not crow about recognizing the obvious, but California deserves
great credit for doing something after the obvious needs were recog-
nized. The Commercial Fisheries Department set itself the task of
answering the most important questions first instead of postponing
them in favor of less important but more spectacular work. Proper

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

administration of the resource should not be based on guess work, so
it was decided that knowledge of the resource should be substituted
for assumptions and should serve as the foundation of the department.
Research workers were called upon to aid the department in learning
something of the fundamentals of the fish supply to be administered
and the State Fisheries Laboratory was established. The staff was
asked to make accurate observations as to the resource, check these
observations to be sure they were dependable, make an orderly
arrangement of the observed facts, and as a final step to draw con-
clusions based on facts rather than on assumptions. That procedure
is the essence of the scientific method. It might be called systematized
common sense. When the Ford is missing you go over it and trace the

Fig. 15. California State Fisiieries Laboratory, Terminal Island, California.
October, 1927. Photograph by G. H. Stone.

trouble down to a blackened spark plug rather than oil the timer on
suspicion, and to that extent you apply the scientific method without
wearing your hair long or using a microscope.

The program of the laboratory then is clear cut and definite; to aid
the department in getting the necessary information as to fish supply,
to estimate how heavily the supply of each species may be drawn upon,
to discover any changes occurring in the supply, and to determine at
what point depletion begins to show itself. This is a large program
but it is the proper one. The complete fulfillment of such a program
will require many years of the concentrated effort of the best brains
that can be applied to these questions, but complete fulfillment is not

24 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

immediately necessary. In the meantime every fact learned supplants
a guess. Each year the administration of the resource is increasingly
effective as more facts are available and assumptions are discarded.

Before any such program could be put into effect, it was necessary
to survey the whole field for possible methods that might be applied
and to determine what line of approach promised to lead toward the
goal set. In this field of research the methods and details of procedure
have not been worked out, so that we of necessity are having to deter-
mine the value of methods by trying them out and this adds to the
difficulties and delays. We are suffering all the hardships and experi-
encing all the thrills of discovery that go with pioneering.

One of the first and one of the most important steps taken by the
department in learning about the fish supply was to establish a com-
plete and accurate system of statistical records that would show the
daily catch of each species of fish for each boat for each fishing region
of the state. It is hard to run any large business with no system of
bookkeeping, and these total catch records are of great value in under-
standing what is happening in each fishery, in determining questions
of relative importance, in determining seasons, and in tracing the
effects of legislation. Important as these questions are, they are
secondary when compared to the real object of establishing this system
of catch records, that is, determining changes that may occur from
year to year in the supply of fish. The system was designed so that
we might have the daily catch of each boat. The catch of one boat
for a day may he accepted as a measure of the return in fish for a
definite unit of fishing effort. It is a measure of the availability of fish.
From these records a group of certain boats may be selected and their
daily catches followed through a series of years in order to determine
whether the trend of their success is declining, remaining constant
or possibly showing an increase. Other things than the supply of fish
affect the boat catch so that allowing for and discounting them is not a
simple operation. This analysis of the catches of individual boats is
one of the two chief methods we have selected as promising to give us
knowledge of changes in the supply of fish.

Another method is to sample the commercial catch at regular inter-
vals to determine the normal proportion of age classes appearing in the
catch and to watch for any future change in this proportion. This is
based on the theory that depletion, if it occurs, will show itself in a
drop in the proportion of older fish. "We all know of the irritating
scarcity of big trout in an over-fished stream as compared with a
virgin stream. Such a method involves adequate sampling of the com-
mercial catch and this means many laborious hours examining and
measuring specimens from the catch. Although this is a long and slow
process extending over a series of years, we expect it finally to yield
results that are more complete and give us greater knowledge of the
supply than are possible by a boat catch analysis alone.

The program as outlined so far is given first consideration, but it
is only part of the story. Suppose we find that a certain species is
being depleted, then we should know what we are going to do about it.
Why guess at the remedy ? We need to know how a certain remedy is
going to affect this particular species. The effect of any one protective
law is apt to depend on some peculiarity in the life history of this

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 25

particular fish. At the same time that we are working on questions of
fish supply it is necessary to carry on work aimed at giving us the
necessary knowledge of the life history and behavior of each species
that we are considering. It is by no means possible to tell beforehand
just what piece of information as to life history is going to prove neces-
sary. The more we know of the habits and behavior of a species the
more confidently we may venture to predict how it will be affected by a
protective measure that might be applied.

The research work of the Commercial Fisheries Department is not
a desirable or even necessary side issue. It is the basis upon which the
department is organized, and it is so interwoven with the work of the
department that it would be difficult to clearly define its boundaries
and impossible to segregate the purely investigative work from the
other activities of the department. It is obvious then that such work
must be conducted by the state department rather than depend on
by-product fisheries investigations from some other organization such
as a university or independent marine station. The very nature of the
work involves state legislation and department regulation. In adminis-
tering our fisheries, the department is endeavoring to determine the
point of full utilization for each fishery, and to discover over-utiliza-
tion before it becomes serious depletion of the supply. It would be
easier and cheaper to guess at this, but the department is basing its
work on dependable information rather than surmise. The research
laboratory is assisting the department in determining the facts.

SALMON INVESTIGATION.

By J. O. Snyder, Stanford University.

Believing that measures intended to conserve a fishery can not be
intelligently devised and applied unti] the life history of the species
is well known, an investigation of California salmon was begun some
years ago, and is still in progress.

Along with other work of a statistical nature the Division of Fish
and Game has been keeping a A^ery accurate account of all salmon
taken by the commercial fishermen wherever they have been operating.
An examination of this reveals an alarming decline in the fishery,
and points to the need of ' even more restrictive measures than have as
yet been applied.

Observations of the catch have been made at many places, both along
the coast and in the rivers. These include the close scrutiny of thou-
sands of individuals in an effort to determine sex, age, and certain
phases of ocean and stream history. A microscopic examination of
the scales reveals certain pertinent features of the life history of the
fish, and the results of many of these are now available. Active field
work has resulted in the collection of a vast amount of material such
as scales, young fish, anatomical parts, field notes, photographs, draw-
ings, etc., which are now stored in the Division's laboratory. It is
expected that papers bearing on the investigation of this material will
appear in due time.

Some observations of an interesting and valuable nature have been
made on young fish caught at sea and in the main channels of the
rivers.

26 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

During the seasons of 1927 and 1928 an effort was made to place
metal tags with distinctiA^e marks on fish which were caught at sea.
It was thought that the recapture of the released fish would contribute
something worth while to what we know of ocean migration. Difficulties
encountered were so great as to put a very definite limit on the under-
taking, and the results to date are not very encouraging.

Much work of an experimental nature has been carried on in an
attempt to answer questions or solve problems relating to the life
history of the king salmon. One of these experiments, for example,
was so planned as to make a test of the parent stream theory, and also
to determine as far as possible the extent of ocean migration. It is
hardly necessary to say that the parent stream theory has a direct
bearing on artificial propagation, while the extent of ocean migration
obviously has to do with the problem of regulating the marine fishery.

The parent stream theory involves the presumption that on maturity,
salmon return to the stream from which they previously migrated to
the ocean. Much evidence which favored the theory had accumulated
in the past, but sufficient experimental tests were lacking. The fact
that adult king salmon would return to the stream into which they had
been introduced when young, regardless of where the eggs which
produced them had been taken, was not fully established, nor was it
known whether mature fish on their upstream migration would seek out
and enter the particular tributary in the waters of which they had
been reared.

A description of one or more field experiments, and a summary of
the results may be of interest. The preliminaries of an experiment
were described in California Fish and Game for July, 1920, and the
results were published in the same magazine at later dates. In brief,
the work was performed as follows : A large number of king salmon
eggs, taken in Mill Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River, were
transferred to Fall Creek Hatchery which is located on a branch of
Klamath River. The fry which came from these eggs were placed in
rearing ponds near the hatchery and there held until they were of
sufficient size for marking purposes. The marking of young fish is a
process of fin mutilation, the reliability of which has been amply
demonstrated. In this particular case the adipose and right ventral
fins were removed from 25,000 small fish. When the slight wounds
were completely healed, the fish were allowed to pass into Klamath
River. They entered the main stream at a point north of Mount Shasta,
from where they passed down the river and eventually entered the sea.

Fishes from this planting were later captured in the ocean at points
as far south as Monterey Bay, thus proving beyond doubt that salmon
while at sea range very far from the mouths of their native streams.
It is scarcely necessary to point out with this information in mind,
that any procedure relating to the protection or conservation of
Klamath salmon will involve a regulation of fishing at sea as well as
in the river. It is not known to what extent Klamath salmon migrate
to the northward, but since marked Sacramento salmon have been
observed as far north as Fort Bragg, one m.a.y perhaps be allowed to
infer that Klamath fish also migrate northward in search of food.
None of these fish was taken in any stream other than the Klamath,
where they returned in numbers, a fact indicating that salmon will

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

return upon their nuptial migration to the stream in whicli they passed
their early life, rather than to that of their real parentage. It also
appeared that these pond-reared fish behaved much as did those which
had lived in the stream under natural conditions, that they eventually
reached a similar size at a given age, and that in other respects they
were like fish bred under natural conditions. A counter experiment
performed in the Sacramento River produced similar results, thus
confirming that of the Klamath.

It having been demonstrated that salmon, when mature, enter the
streams from which they at first migrated, the Division attempted
to determine just how far this homing instinct would obtain with
regard to particular tributaries of a river system. Since king salmon

Fig. 16. Diagram showing how various lots of salmon
were marked in experiments on the Klamath River.

in the Klamath mature at from three to six years of age, it will be
appreciated that any experiment having to do with them must extend
over a considerable period of time. Cooperation among observers,
officials, packers, anglers and commercial fishermen enters largely into
the work, and lack of interest on the part of someone may cause partial
or entire failure.

A test of the homing instinct with regard to tributaries of a river
was initiated in the fall of 1923 in the Klamath. The preliminaries of
this experiment were fully described in California Fish and Game
for January, 1924. The returns are not complete at this writing, but
enough observations have been made to establish certain facts.

As in the previously described experiment, the work centered about
Fall Creek Hatchery, which is located about one mile above the junction

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fig. 17. Map showing location of salmon
spawning and marking experiments on
the Klamath River.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 29

of the creek and the main channel of Klamath River. Fish to the
number of 75,000 were marked as shown in the accompanying diagram.
Each 25,000 of these was given a distinctive mark. These were care-
fully kept in three separate groups, each of which w^as eventually
introduced into a separate tributary. One group, that with the right
ventral and adipose removed, was allowed to leave the breeding pond
and pass down Fall Creek. Another lot, minus the adipose and anterior
half of the dorsal, was put into Jenny Creek at a point a few hundred
feet above its mouth. The latter stream enters the main channel
somewhat over two miles below the mouth of Fall Creek, and a long
distance above the racks. The third planting, the fish of which were
distinguished by the absence of both ventrals, was made in Shasta
River about a mile above "the mouth. On the following year an exactly
similar planting was made. The racks near Ilornbrook act as a trap,
which enables one to catch and examine all fish which attempt to pass
that place. Traps in Fall Creek and Jenny Creek made possible the
capture of fish entering those streams.

Numerous adult fish with each of these marks have already been
caught at sea and also in Klamath River, thus demonstrating the
success of the plantings. Fish bearing the Jenny Creek and Fall
Creek marks came to the racks in numbers, while the Shasta River
mark was represented there by but two individuals. Several of the
latter were caught in Shasta River by spearmen. Some of those wdth
the Fall and Jenny Creek marks were allowed to pass beyond the
racks and on up stream, where they were later recaptured. The results
of this experiment, although it is not yet complete, seem to indicate
that none of these fish entered any river other than the Klamath, that
those bearing the Fall Creek mark returned to that stream when given
an opportunity, and that the brief exposures given to fish in the other
tributaries, while causing the return of some of the fish, was not suffi-
cient to operate in all cases.

Along with the examination of king salmon, considerable informa-
tion relating to silver salmon, steelheads and stream trout has come to
hand. Enough material relating to the rainbow trout of the Klamath
has been collected to give us a fair picture of the more salient features
of the life history of this fish.

STRIPED BASS STUDIES.

By E. C. ScoFiELD.

The striped bass is one of the few combined sport and commercial
fishes that we have in California. About 800,000 pounds are caught
annually by the commercial nets and marketed to the people of Cali-
fornia only. There is also a large amount caught by the sportsmen
anglers for which no figures are available. However, the combined com-
mercial and sport catch is certainly well over a million and a quarter
pounds annually. Such a large catch appears startling, in view of the
fact that the striped bass have had only 48 years of existence on our
California coast. They were introduced from the east coast in 1879
and 1881, when two shipments were made, a total shipment of about
450 small bass. Ten years had not elapsed before they were being caught

4 — 56393

30 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

for market purposes. The Division of Fish and Game was swift to
act in obtaining legislation to limit the size and number of striped bass
caught. They wished the new species to be protected sufficiently to
survive the nets and hooks and increase its numbers annually.

Today we are confronted by the same question: How are we going
to keep the striped bass on the increase in face of the hundreds of nets
and thousands of anglers that appear as a barrier across the road to
conservation? The popularity of the species demands that it be saved
from a possible extermination by overfishing. The Division of Fish
and Game, as a state institution maintained to regulate such matters,
has taken steps to prevent such an occurrence to this valuable fish.
The Commercial Fisheries Department, in whose hands lies the destiny
of our commercial fishes, has launched a systematic, scientific study of
the striped bass, knowing that the results obtained will form a basis
for legislation and their future conservation.

i^^^S

f^^^HHS

■If

mRWam

-J

r 1

V , jMjiijBnBW JH

>^-

_ J^^ --^'"'"i"l

„^ *-"■--

'- ^ ^

1^1^

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Fig. 18. Catch of striped bass from Salinas River by party of three men.

Photograph by G. A. Clark, 1921.

One of the most important activities of the department is to measure
the abundance of the commercial fish species by means of data which
have been gathered of the commercial catch. These data, provided by
commercial fish dealers, are required by state law and are detailed
and accurate. They have been gathered now for a period of seven
years. From these data, it is possible to determine the average yearly
catch of any species for a given unit of effort. Such a measurement
has been made of the striped bass, and the result shows that these fish
have been increasing in abundance during the past seven years.

Problem. Next to measuring the abundance of a fish, or any animal
for that matter, the most important information to be obtained for
proper legislation is the knowledge of the life history of the species.
Such a study of the bass will show us how old they are at various
lengths, how fast they grow, how old they are when they begin spawn-
ing, where they migrate, what they eat, and many other facts entering

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

into their life cycle. It is, therefore, the intent of this article to show
how the work of obtaining the life history is carried on.

A life history study will include such studies as the spawning,
development of the egg, hatching, growth, migrations, food, habits and
so forth. We realize that it would be next to impossible to follow a
group of bass throughout their entire life cycle in order to obtain tire
above facts. It is necessary, therefore, that we study only one question
at a time.

Age, The first question is the determination of the age of the striped
bass. - It is imperative that we speak of the bass in ages rather than in
sizes, for it is more accurate. Nature has provided a simple means of

^j'.

Fig. 19. Microscopic photograph of a striped bass scale. The particular bass
from which this scale was taken had just passed its fourth winter ;
therefore, it was in its fifth year. indicates the center of the scale,
1, the first winter annulus or check, 2, the second winter check, etc.
Photograph by E. C. Scofleld. 47 centimeters: June 1, 1927.

obtaining the age of most fishes, and that is by the markings that
form on almost all hardened parts of a fish. On the striped bass, we
have used the scale for age determination. A microscopic image of
a scale shows a great number of rings, somewhat similar to a cross-
section of a tree stump. (See Fig. 19.) For every ring in a tree
stump, a year's growth is represented. A scale, however, will have
from twenty to thirty rings per year, but during the winter months
the bass go through a dormant stage when these rings are formed very
close together. About April or May, normal growth commences again
and the rings are formed much wider apart. Where the crowded rings

32 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

on the scale meet the widened rings, there is a decided mark, or check,
as we call it. Because this check is formed once a year, we call it the
"annual check," and the age of the bass can thus be determined.

We also find this annual check formed on other hardened parts of the
body of a bass. The opercle, or cheek bone, shows the markings very
distinctly when it is boiled and cleaned of its scaly surface. The mark-
ings are not so plain as those on a scale, but one can see them without
the aid of a microscope by simply holding them up to the light.
Another part of the body that is frequently used for age reading is the
otolith, a small cradle-shaped bone that occurs in the inner ear of most
fishes. To obtain best results with these, they must be examined
immediately after they are removed from the fresh fish. After they
are removed, they are ground down on a stone until they are so thin
that a light will penetrate them. A microscopic image of the otolith
at this stage will show the annual checks, as does the cheek bone. Many
investigators prefer this ear bone for age determination, holding that
it is less influenced by natural or artificial disorders that may affect
the scales or other parts of the outer regions. The work of removing
them and grinding them down is very tedious; so in the case of the
present investigation, they have only been removed at random, to be
aged and used as a check on the scale method of age determination.

Rate of Growth. An important obstacle in the study of the life
history of the striped bass has been overcome by the determination of
their age. Next, we are confronted by the problem of solving their
rate of growth. It is important to learn how much a bass grows in each
year of its life. The simplest method of determining this is the
periodical sampling of the bass and the application of the frequency
curve. Although this may seem difficult to understand, it is very
simple when explained. We will assume that the bass spawn in the
spring of each year. The bass that hatch from each of these yearly
spawnings should grow at about the same rate. Some individuals may
grow more slowly and others more rapidly. Now, if two hundred or so
bass are measured, which is a good representative sample of a spawn-
ing that occurred two years ago, we obtain something like the fol-
lowing table:

bass at 7 inches

5 bass at 8 inches

20 bass at 9 inches

45 bass at 10 inches

75 bass at 11 inches

40 bass at 12 inches

10 bass at 13 inches

5 bass at 14 inches

bass at 15 inches

If this table is plotted in a curve with the base measured off in inches
and the height in number of fishes as in figure 20 the result is what
we call a frequency curve.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

Now, if we measured all the bass that have hatched since the spawn-
ing that took place, say four years ago, we would have four groups,
representing bass from one to four years of age. If these data were
plotted in a simple frequency curve, we would see, as a result, four
distinct humps, one for each year or age group, as is seen in Figure 21.
Of course, it is impossible to catch and measure all the bass which have
been spawned, even for one year, but it is possible to obtain a liberal
sample of the fish which is representative of the bass population in
San Francisco Bay. However, it has not proved easy to obtain this
representative sample, for commercial fishermen are not allowed to
use a net with smaller mesh than 5^ inches, and they catch very few
bass under five years of age. It is necessary, therefore, to use a large
seine with small mesh, and to do this an experienced seine fisherman
must be hired. It is also required that a special permit be obtained
to take the bass for scientific purposes.

8o
70

'So

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}

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I J

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f (.

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3 /

1 1

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L.enath of jha^s /n j'nches

Fig. 20. A typical length-frequency curve of the two-year group of striped
bass. The points on the curve represent the number of bass at a certain
length. The first point to the left shows that there are five bass of eight
inches in length, and the second point shows that there are twenty bass
of nine inches in length, etc. The mode, or highest point, indicates
that the majority of the two-year old bass are eleven inches in length.

If the sampling of the bass population, as dascribed in the preceding
paragraph, is done periodically, say every month, we would expect to
gather larger bass each time, as a result of growth. This proves to be
true, for when the material is measured and plotted in frequency
curves, we observe a movement of the various humps to the right,
showing an increase in size as time progresses. This is well illustrated
in Figure 21. In this manner we can obtain a very accurate record
of the growth of striped bass throughout the first few years of their life,
at least.

Another important use of the frequency curve is the checking of the
age reading from scales. The frequency curve shows us that a bass is
from eight to fourteen inches in length at the end of its second year.
The scale reading method, therefore, should show that a two-year old

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

bass is from eight to fourteen inches in length. Any results to the
contrary would expose an error, either in the scale reading or in the
formation of the frequency curve.

•Q

Length tyf bas5 in inches

Fig. 21. Ideal length-frequency curve of four age groups of striped bass, show-
ing their respective advances in growth over a period of four months.
Each peak of the various humps, or age groups, for August and October
shows a decided advance to the right as compared with June. This
illustrates growth, and is the method employed to determine the rate of
growth of striped bass.

A series of lengths which were computed from a group of bass scales
has given us a rough, yet interesting, chart of the average lengths of
bass at various ages. The results are in the following table :

1 year old bass average 4 inches

2 year old bass average 10 inches
3' year old bass average 15 inches

4 year old bass average 18 inches

5 year old bass average 20 inches

6 year old bass average 23 inches

7 year old bass average 28 inches

8 year old bass average 32 inches

9 year old bass average 36 inches

10 year old bass average 39 inches

11 year old bass average 41 inches

12 year old bass average 42 inches

Age of Maturity. The age and rate of growth having been solved,
we next turn to the question of the age at which the striped bass
mature and spawn. This question is one of the primary studies of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 35

this investigation. The results will show the percentage of spawning
bass that are, and those that are not, protected by the present sized
fishing gear or nets. For example, we will say that the bulk of the
commercial catch is made up of bass that are in their fifth and sixth
years. If it is discovered that the majority of the bass spawn for the
first time in their fourth year, then that spawning group is protected
from the nets and should spawn unmolested. Such a condition in any
fishery, should result in the maintenance of the present abundance of
that species. The method being followed is to test the bass ovaries
for their degree of maturity or immaturity prior to and during the
spawning season. A thousand or so specimens from two to ten years
of age are examined in this manner. A hundred or so individuals
representing each age should show the percentage of bass that spawn
for the first time in their respective ages. The difficulty encountered
in this method was the inability to get the desired material. We were
obliged to gather our own material by using a seine, as previously
stated, and our results were unsatisfactory. Because of this difficulty,
we have resorted to the commercial catch entirely for our material,
in spite of its selectiveness. It is believed that we can obtain good
results in this manner, for once the age of maturity of the commercial
group is obtained, it will be comparatively simple to determine the
younger ages of maturity.

Migrations. We have determined the age of the striped bass, as
well as their rate of growth. We are now working on the problem of
age of maturity. Only two important features of this investigation,
then, remain untouched. These are the migrations and the food of
the bass. The migrations are a problem that can be partially solved
through close observation and individual information. However, the
more accurate way would be to carry on an extensive marking experi-
ment within San Francisco Bay. The small striped bass can be
obtained by the thousands in the summer time. If these were caught
and marked by removing one or more fins and then liberated, they
would later be caught by anglers or net fishermen and reported to
deputies of the Division of Fish and Game. If the return of these
marked bass was large enough, we could obtain a fairly good concep-
tion of their migrations, for we could undoubtedly get cooperation
from the net fishermen within the bay, the anglers on the flats and on
the sloughs, and from casters along the beaches from Monterey to
Point Reyes. Information of this sort would tell something of the
migration of the bass in the ocean and within the bay. This plan has
not been included in the present investigation, but will probably be
carried on as a separate work later. Information, however, can always
be readily secured from fishermen as to movements of the bass within
the bay and along the coast. We have learned from them, and from
our own experience, that during the warm summer months, and
perhaps early fall, the bass will school close to the shores, following the
rise and fall of the tide. Their favorite grounds during these months
are the mud flats where the temperature ranges from 60 to 70 degrees
Fahrenheit.

The most exciting incident that we ever witnessed in regard to the
bass schooling on the flats occurred early in July of this year. Our
collecting boat had been scouting the bay for two days, without a sign

36 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

of bass. Weather conditions for their capture had been poor, but on
that afternoon the wind had changed to the northeast, and the northern
shore of San Francisco Bay was very calm. It was fine weather for
the bass to be schooling on the flats, so we headed our boat for Black
Point. The sunset marked our arrival. The surface of the water was
as smooth as glass, for there was not a breath of wind. As our boat
glided through the shining water, we suddenly became aware of a few
jumping bass in the shallow water beyond. In a moment we were
surrounded by splashing bass. The captain of our collecting boat had
witnessed such scenes before; so for our benefit, he took a long boat
hook and hit the water a resounding smack with it. The result was as
if some unseen hand had hurled a ton of rock over the surface of the
water in all directions. Striped bass from one-half to six pounds in
weight splashed and squirmed in the shallow water, in their frantic
efforts to escape danger. The water was a boiling mass of fish. In a
few minutes they had subsided and the surface gradually became
smooth and finally resumed its silvery tint. The captain estimated
that at least twenty tons of striped bass were in that one school.

We see nothing of this sort when the cold weather sets in. The bass
leave the flats and seek the depths of the channels and sloughs. At
times they rise to the surface, but never do they in schools approach
the flats which formerly had been their habitat. In the channels of the
bay the movements of the bass occur at lower depths. Surface nets
are discarded and submerged nets are employed almost entirely. A
net of this sort is a typical gill net, except that it is heavily leaded so
that when placed vertical in the water it will sink below the surface.
Buoys, however, with twelve-foot ropes tied to them and to the top of
the net allow the net to sink only twelve feet below the surface. By
this method a fisherman can use a regular drift gill net at lower depths
where the bass are. Should the law allow, the fishermen would fish the
bottom of the channels, for there they claim the bass can be found in
larger quantities in the winter months.

The sloughs afford a great habitat for wintering bass, especially the
larger ones. Occasionally a big one is landed by a skilful angler but
the bulk of the bass refuse the baited hook at this time of the year.
The bass are there, however, because we have made successful experi-
mental catches during the coldest months, namely December and
January.

The ocean fishermen have also given valuable information in regard
to ocean migration of striped bass. They have told us that during the
winter and early spring months, the fishing is very poor. About the
last of July the bass are caught in large numbers. This run lasts until
early fall, about October, at which time the biting practically ceases.
These facts seemingly indicate a seaward migration immediately after
their spawning, which occurs in the spring months. From October to
March their diet lightens considerably. They appear to seek the deep
water and the rivers that enter the ocean, where they lie practically
dormant save for intervals when they take nourishment. Spring sees
them stirring around for food and, as a result, a few are taken on hook
and line off' the beaches and in the rivers. We must take into considera-
tion, also, that the amount of bass caught by anglers off the beaches
and in the rivers does not necessarily form an accurate basis on which

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 37

to determine their migrations. If linked with accurate methods of
migration study, such material would be valuable ; but if used alone,
it would be valueless as far as accurate scientific research is concerned.

Food. Closely related to the migrations is the food of the bass.
We have found that the migrations or movement of the bass within the
bay and along the coast are largely dependent upon the food they are
seeking. _ During the warm summer months the bass school on the mud
flats. There, also, is the small feed of these revenous eaters. In the
fall, when cold weather sets in, they leave the flats, and with them go
the smaller fishes. We have seen occurrences similar to this in the
ocean. We have watched the Salinas River all through the ebb tide,
without seeing a sign of bass. At the first of the flood tide, however,
they school into the river's mouth, seeking their favorite food — the
Portuguese man-of-war, which drift in with the tide.

Because the food of the bass is so closely related, in many ways, to
their migrations, we have undertaken a detailed study of this question.
By systematically examining stomach contents of bass at random
throughout the year, we have been able to determine their food in the
various localities and seasons. A wide variety of foods has been found
in their stomachs. Crabs and shrimps are their main diet, but we have
found that they eat almost anything they can get into their mouth
lengthwise. Any food that is plentiful, such as crab and shrimp,
appears to be their favorite. Small smelt occur in great numbers in the
summer months and they are ravenously eaten by the bass. We once
extracted a thirteen-inch splittail from a nineteen-inch bass. Excep-
tionally large crabs, smelt and bullheads are not uncommon in their
stomachs. They eat their own young in great quantities. Other varie-
ties of food removed from their stomachs are softshell crabs, clams,
periwinkles, piling worms, herring, gobies, minnows, sticklebacks, sand
fleas and grass. Bass will follow a school of fish for miles if the water
is clear. Where there are sea gulls and pelicans flying over the water,
one is sure to find a school of small fish, and there also will always be
a school of feeding bass.

Final Report. As soon as this work is completed, a final report
will be issued. It will be detailed and accompanied by charts and
tables. The studies of this report on the life history of the striped
bass will consist of age, rate of growth, age of maturity and facts
relating to migrations.

CATCH FIGURES AND FISH SUPPLY.*

By Job A. Craig.

The necessary and fundamental information which a person must
have in order to intelligently manage a business of any sort, is a
knowledge of the amount of capital that the business possesses and the
income derived from the investment. Certainly a competent executive
would not pay out as dividends part of the capital needed to maintain
a business. Nor would the manager of a cattle ranch sell a great
many more cattle than the natural increase of his herds, and so cut
down his breeding stock to a dangerously low level.

* Contribution No. 68 from tiie California State Fisheries Laboratory, November,
1927.

38 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The Department of Commercial Fisheries of the Division of Fish
and Game is in mneh the same position as an executive employed for
the purpose of managing an investment belonging to other people ; the
capital invested being represented by the population of crustaceans,
mollusks and fishes of commercial importance, belonging to the people
of the state, and the dividends derived from that investment being the
catches taken from this population. The department, at a very early
date in its organization, realized the importance of having accurate
information concerning the size of catch of the various species of fish
and the question of whether or not the amount taken was depleting
the supply or breeding stock to such an extent that future profitable
returns were endangered. Therefore, we find it provided by a state
law, enacted in 1919, that ''It shall be the duty of the Fish and Game
Commission to gather data of the commercial fisheries and to prepare
the data so as to show the real abundance of the most important com-
mercial fishes." There are also provisions made for the biological
investigation of depletion, but we shall mention only that portion
of the study of abundance of commercial fishes concerned with the col-
lection and use of statistical data.

It is also legally provided that all fish dealers, canners or other per-
sons buying fish direct from fishermen must fill out a triplicate form,
furnished by the Division of Fish and Game, showing what species and
amounts were bought, date of purchase, name, number and owner of
boat that caught the fish, and price paid for the fish. One copy of
this record is kept by the buyer, one is given to the fisherman selling
the fish and the third copy is sent to the Department of Commercial
Fisheries. In this way that department procures a complete record of
every catch of fish sold in the state.

It is a simple matter to add up these records of individual catches
and secure a total yearly catch for each species. The relative size of
total yearly catch of a species is supposed by many to be a satisfactory
method of judging the abundance of a fish over a period of years. In
fact, it is a very unreliable and usually misleading basis for detecting
depletion.

This is so because there are a great many factors, other than the
abundance of a fish, that determine the size of the total yearly catch.
As an example, a species of fish may be seriously depleted, but be very
much in demand so that the price rises and consequently more men go
into that fishery, with the result that the total catch stays at a high
level or actually increases, because more effort is being expended on
the fishery, while the abundance of the species is rapidly decreasing.
Improvements in gear or fishing methods may also cause an increase in
total catch while depletion is taking place. Of course after depletion
has proceeded to a great extent, the total catch will fall off in spite of
greatly increased fishing effort, but then it is often too late to recoup the
losses and get the fishery back on a paying basis.

Also the total catch may decrease while the abundance of the species
is constant or even increasing. This may be due to a falling off in
demand for a certain fish, or an increased demand for another species,
.causing less effort to be expended in the taking of the species in ques-
tion. A strike of a fishermen's union or storms may also cut down the
number of fishing day,s (Available to the fishermen and cause a decrease

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 39

in their fishing effort and total catch, while the abundance remains
unchanged or increases. A closed season or legislation prohibiting the
use of some particularh^ effective gear may decrease the total catch,
while these protective measures are really causing an increase in
abundance.

Evidently then, the catch data must be carefully analyzed and
changes in fishing effort, gear and available fishing days discounted by
some means before authentic information concerning the relative
abundance of a species of fish can be obtained. A boat catch analysis
is a procedure which, as far as is possible, accomplishes this, and in
brief gives us the return for a constant unit of fishing effort and
gear over a period of years.*

In a general way the method of making a boat catch analysis is as
follows: As has been explained, the Department of Commercial Fish-
eries receives tickets which are complete records of every catch of fish
sold in the state. These tickets are sorted and filed by boat at the State
Fisheries Laboratory. This means that we have a record of each catch
of every commercial fishing boat filed in chronological order. Also,
each boat owner is required by law to register his boat each year, giving
gear used, sort of fish caught during the previous year, number in the
crew and a complete description of the boat.

When it is decided to conduct a boat catch analysis of a certain
fishery, the first step is to go through the tickets and select a number of
boats operating continuously in that fishery- during the j^ears to be
included in the investigation. The registration cards of these boats
are then gone through and checked over to see if there has been any
marked change in gear or personnel which would change the efficiency
of any of the boats. The catches of any boats having changes in gear
or marked changes in crew number should be discarded since they do
not represent the product of a constant unit of gear. A large enough
number of boats should be secured to insure a good sample of the
catches of the fishery being investigated. The catches of the boats
selected are then tabulated bj^ days, that is, each daily landing or
catch is recorded with date upon which it was sold. This is done for
each boat separately. This process of selection of boats and tabulation
of catches gives us a day-to-day record of the output of a constant
unit of gear and fishing personnel employed over the period of time to
be included in the anah^sis.

The records of all of the boats selected can then be combined and the
average daily catch computed for each year, or shorter period of time
if desired. There are several different sorts of averages that can be
used for this purpose, and a careful analysis of the data and fishery
is necessary to decide upon the best form of average to use and how
it should be computed. This then gives us the relative result of a
constant unit of fishing effort and gear used for a constant unit of
time. In other words, the final result is the daily average catch of a
fixed unit of fishing effort and gear computed in yearly periods or
shorter units of time over an interval of several years.

* The first work undertaken in North America on catch returns per unit of gear,
as far as we know, was done by Mr. W. F. Thompson on the halibut of British
Columbia, and published by. the British Columbia Fisheries Department in 1915.
Mr. Thompson also made a boat catch study of the albacore fishery during the time
be was Director of the California State Fisheries Laboratory.

40 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

These results when considered as yearly averages would be indicative
of the yearly fluctuations in abundance, or at least the availability to
the fishermen of the species studied, if no changes in economic, weather
or biological conditions had taken place during the time included in the
boat catch study. However, some change, such as adverse weather for
the best catches, or a great demand for another fish, taken perhaps
with the same gear as the one studied, may have caused the fishermen
to make only small incidental catches of the one in question, and
fluctuations would result in the average boat catch so that it is not an
absolutely accurate measure of the abundance or availability of the fish
to the fishermen. Also the appearance of the offspring of an unusually
successful spawning season in the commercial catch may cause a tempo-
rary increase in abundance, which would not be especially significant
if the study of abundance extended over a long period of time.

Therefore, when the average daily catch per year has been computed,
the problem of a person undertaking a boat catch analysis is by no
means completed. All available data on economic, weather and

Fig. 22. Graph showing the average daily boat catch of shad of twenty
boats fishing in the San Francisco bay district for the years 1920—1925,
inclusive.

biological conditions that may affect the fishery should be carefully
analyzed and applied to the boat catch analysis results, before the final
result is said to be indicative of the state of abundance or availability
of the fish in question. When there is added to this the fact that
different fisheries may require different statistical methods of deriving
the boat catch averages, it can at once be seen that a boat catch analysis
is not a simple problem.

The solid line in figure 22 shows the average daily boat catch of shad
in each year from 1920 to 1925, inclusive, of twenty boats fishing in San
Francisco Bay and its tributaries, and will serve as an example of the
result of a simple boat catch analysis. Briefly, the average daily boat
catch for each year was computed as follows : First, from the boat regis-
tration and ticket files, the names of twenty boats were taken which had
fished for shad continuously during the years in question and had not
changed their personnel or gear. This gave a constant unit of fishing
gear with which to work. The daily catches of each boat were then
tabulated, the record of each boat being kept separately.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 41

As soou as the catches were tabulated, it was evident that some boats
]iad catches which averaged much larger than the catches of others.
This was due to some boats being larger, having larger nets or crews,
or being operated by more skillful fishermen. Then if the catches as
recorded had been combined and averages taken, the boats with the
large catches would have had a much greater influence in determining
the final averages than the boats with small catches. This is not
desirable, since small fluctuations in catches of a boat which habitually
makes small catches should be as indicative of the availability of fish to
the fishermen as greater fluctuations in catches of a boat which regularly
makes larger catches.

In order to give all boats equal weight in determining the final results,
the catches of all of the boats were raised to a level so that their
averages corresponded to the average of the boat having the highest
average catch through the six -year period. This was accomplished by
finding a factor for each boat, by which all catches of each boat were
multiplied and thereby raised to an equal basis with the catches of the
boat having the largest catches.

Since the catches of all of the boats were raised to a common level,
the records of all twenty boats were combined and an average of the
daily catches per boat computed for each year. This was done by
dividing the sum of all catches of all of the boats for one year by the
total number of catches occurring in that year. This procedure was
followed with the data for each of the six years. The result is shown
by the solid line in figure 22. The actual size of each catch for each
boat, after being multiplied by its respective factor, and number of
catches of each boat were used in computing the yearly averages, so
each boat had a weight or influence on the final yearly averages in
direct proportion to the number of catches that it made in each par-
ticular 3^ear. This is as it should be, because a boat making a hundred
catches in a year furnishes twice as reliable a sample as a boat making
only fifty catches in that year.

The final result then is the average catch per day or trip of a con-
stant unit of fishing effort and gear for each of several years.

At this point it may be well to say that this paper does not pretend
to be a complete discussion of the abundance of shad in our state. The
graph shown in figure 22 is presented merely as an illustration of a
boat catch method, and the statements that follow are in the nature of
suggestions to show what can be done with boat catch data. The shad
boat catch analysis was made in the course of an investigation of the
abundance of striped bass, and we do not feel that enough work has
been done on the shad data to warrant definite conclusions being drawn
concerning the subject.

The boat catch curve indicated by the solid line in figure 22 shows
that there was a sharp decrease in average boat catch from 1920 to 1921
and then a steady increase up to the close of 1925. This indicates that
there was an increase in abundance of shad from 1921 to 1926. In
order to verify this curve the economic conditions of the shad fishery
during these years should be investigated. Prices for the different
years and data on market conditions should be gathered and correlated
with the boat catch curve.

42 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Also, since salmon and striped bass are taken by the same boats on
the same days that shad are caught, the condition of these fisheries
should be studied, particularly prices, because a rise in shad prices
and a drop in the prices paid for the other two fish might result in
more fishing in places favorable for taking shad and so raise the size
of the shad catches.

Another interesting phase of the problem is that in 1918 a protective
measure, making a closed season on shad during part of their spawning
season, went into effect. Therefore it may be that the first fish spawned
in that protected spawning season returned in 1922 and helped to
cause the rise in boat catch from 1922 to 1925, inclusive. Of course
work to determine the age at which shad first appear in the commercial
catch should be done to verify that supposition.

A boat catch analysis then is not a simple problem, but when care-
fully done and all of the biological and economic factors that might
affect it are also worked out, it is a procedure that will yield the infor-
mation desired by the Department of Commercial Fisheries and persons
interested in the fisheries, and will furnish a definite measure of the
abundance of the species of fish involved in the investigation.

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE
USE OF FOOD FISH FOR REDUCTION PURPOSES.

(Continued from California Fish and Game^ Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 17.)
By B. D. Marx Greene, Attorney, California Fish and Game Commission.

At the conclusion of the previous article, certain cases were still
pending in court. The owners of the two purse seine boats which had
diverted food fish to the ''Peralta" were contending that we had no
right to condemn their purse seines. In the superior courts, however,
of both Monterey County and Santa Cruz County, judgment was given
in favor of the Fish and Game Commission condemning the nets.
Thereupon, the owners of the two nets immediately filed petitions for
writs of supersedas in the Supreme Court to prevent the court below
from enforcing the judgment of condemnation. The two matters came
on for hearing before the Supreme Court on May 3, 1927, and after
argument, it was stipulated, owing to the perishable character of the
nets, that they should be sold under an order of the court and the
proceeds deposited with the court, pending the final determination of
the right of condemnation. Subsequently, however, the petitioners
consented to a dismissal of the actions and the nets were sold back to
the original owners for the sum of $1,450.

At the conclusion of the first installment of this article, the Alameda
County court still had under consideration the injunction hearings
brought by the Commission against the "Lake Miraflores." In this
matter the temporary restraining order was finally dissolved and the
defendant's demurrer sustained on the ground that the location of the
vessel was beyond the three-mile limit and outside the jurisdiction of
the courts of the State of California. This did not at all upset the
theory of law enunciated by the Supreme Court and the United States
District Court, but was decided upon the question of fact as to whether

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

or not the body of water in which the boat was anchored was a bay
within the meaning of the constitution.

In December, 1926, the Globe Cotton Oil Mills of Los Angeles, which
was in the business of manufacturing edible oil out of sardines, filed a
petition in the Supreme Court for a writ of mandate against the Fish
and Game Commission to compel it to hold a hearing to determine
whether a^permit should be issued to petitioner to use sardines for such
purpose. The Commission had refused to hold such hearing, basing
its refusal upon the language of the decision of Judge Stephens (Cali-
fornia Fish and Game, January, 1927, p. 11), which seemed to deprive
the Commission of all its judicial powers, including that of holding
hearings. The Supreme Court, however, decided in favor of petitioner,
and handed down the following decision :

S. F. No. 12323. In Bank. January 20, 1927. Glole Cotton Oil Mills, Peti-
tioner vs. I. Zellerhach, M. H. Connell and Ralph H. Clock, members of the Fish and
Game Commission of the State of California, Respondents.

Application for writ of mandate prayed to be directed to respondents as members
of the Fish and Game Commission to require them to act upon the application of
petitioner for a permit authorizing it to use in its plant a designated quantity of
fish. Writ granted.

For Petitioner — Warren H. Pillsbury, John L. Dyer.
For Respondents — B. D. Marx Greene.

BY THE COURT.

Upon submission of the cause in open court the chief justice announced the
decision of the court as follows :

The petitioner, owning and operating a fish reduction plant at Terminal Island,
San Pedro Harbor, seeks a writ of mandate to compel the respondent Fish and
Game Commission to set for hearing and to act on the application filed with the
Commission by petitioner for a permit authorizing it to use in its plant the quantity
of fish designated in the application, for the purposes therein specified. The Com-
mission has refused to entertain jurisdiction of the application upon the ground
that it is a nonjudicial body, and that to act as requested by the petitioner would
be to exercise judicial functions. In assuming this position the respondent relies
upon Van Camp Sea Food Co. vs. Pish and Game Commission, 49 Cal. App. Dec. 38,
in which it was held that a commission like the Fish and Game Commission, whicli
is one having a state-wide jurisdiction, as distinguished from a local board, can not
be invested with judicial functions, for the reason that, "except for local purjwses,"
section 1 of article VI of the constitution confines all judicial power to certain
specified courts.

This court is of the view, however, that admitting that the Fish and Game Com-
mission can not be granted any power which constitutionally belongs exclusively
to the judicial department of the state government, the granting of power to hold
hearings and determine facts incidental to the regulation of fish and game, and to
the granting of permits to take and use fish, is valid as an administrative or regula-
tory power, and in no wise transgresses upon the judicial functions of the judicial
department.

Let the writ of mandate issue as prayed for.

This decision of the Supreme Court, while technically a defeat for
the Commission, was in reality one of its greatest victories, because it
restored to the Commission the right to hold hearings and detennine
quasi- judicially matters entrusted to it by the legislature in various
acts.

Relying, therefore, upon this decision, the Commission immediately
told all of the sardine packers in California that it would be necessary
for them to file applications to have their capacities determined. Most

44 CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

of the packers in southern California refused to comply with the_ order
of the Commission, basing their refusal upon the former decision of
Judge Stephens. The Commission thereupon commenced an injunction
suit against the Van Camp Sea Food Co., Inc., alleging that they
were operating their reduction works and using fish therein without
having had the capacity of their canning plant determined. The
matter came on before Judge Stephens upon an order to show cause,
and was argued and submitted to the court upon a general demurrer
filed by the defendant. On November 14th, Judge Stephens handed
down his decision overruling the demurrer of the defendant and sus-
taining fully the position of the Fish and Game Commission. In effect,
this second decision of Judge Stephens in the Van Camp case expressly
overrules his former decision heretofore quoted.

The law therefore is now settled that all canners must apply to the
Fish and Game Commission to have their capacity determined. There
is, however, no method left in the law by which the Fish and Game
Commission is to determine such capacity, for the arbitrary allowance
of 150 tons for each line of one-pound oval can closing machinery has
been declared unconstitutional by the appellate court.

In the meantime, the Fish and Game Commission, in the orders
determining capacity which it has heretofore made during the present
season, has set out that the capacity of each canning plant is the
amount of fish actually taken into such plant and canned. Each packer
is, therefore, allowed to use for reduction purposes 25 per cent of his
actual catch and not 25 per cent of a theoretical capacity of a plant.
Furthermore, the Commission, in order to make the matter doubly
certain, has adopted its General Order No. 6, defining waste of sardines,
and in this order it determines that any use of sardines will be con-
sidered a waste unless a packer obtains out of each ton of sardines
received by him at least fifteen cases of one-pound oval cans of sardines.
Inasmuch as a packer can obtain twenty cases of such one-pound oval
cans of sardines out of each ton of fish received, if the entire amount is
fit for canning, it necessarily follows that this General Order No. 6 of
the Commission allows the packer the leeway or margin of 25 per cent
contemplated by the law.

After the decision on the demurrers in the Van Camp Sea Food case,
the Commission filed injunction proceedings against three other packers
at San Pedro who had ignored the Commission's order to have their
capacity determined and had gone ahead with the operation of their
plants. Temporary restraining orders were issued against these three
packers and they were all kept closed for a period of days. Thereupon,
all of the packers in southern California filed with the Commission their
applications to have their capacities determined and appealed to the
Commission to dismiss the pending litigation, agreeing that they would
abide by the rules and regulations of the Commission and cooperate
with it to the fullest extent. The Commission heeded the pleas of the
packers and ordered the pending cases dismissed — and for the first
time, practically, in the history of the state, there is now complete
accord and amity between the California Fish and Game Commission
and the sardine packers.

CALIFORNIA L'lSU AND GAME. 45

BIOLOGICAL REQUISITES FOR LAKE TROUT.*

By George A. Coleman.

The lakes pf California range from nearly sea level to almost 12,500
feet in altitude. A great variety of conditions are produced as a
result of such changes in elevation. Lakes lying in the lowlands are
rarely if ever frozen while those in the high Sierra are beleagured by
the powers of winter for a great part of the year. Even lakes located
at the same level above the sea vary. They have different depths and
this factor, too, has a bearing upon the food supply of fishes and the
conditions under which they live. Often sportsmen wonder when fish
are planted in a lake why they are not forthcoming by the thousands.
The reason is not so much a mystery as it would seem at first blush,
for either the lake is unsuitable for fishes to breed in or the food in it
is not adequate to support them.

The wind in passing over the surface of a lake sets up a wave action
and produces a circulation that reaches a depth of from 25 to 40 feet.
Hence, a lake with a depth of 25 feet has a circulation entirely to the
bottom. Lakes of this character, where the whole body of water is
influenced by the wind, are classed as shallow. Lakes of this type are
also influenced by fluctuations of daily temperature. However, the
deep lakes, those whose depth exceeds 40 feet, are subject only to
seasonal changes in temperature. When a depth of 170 feet is reached
the temperature varies only one degree Fahrenheit. Below this depth it
is constant even though the surface may be 10 degrees warmer.

In general, the food of fishes is produced in a narrow fringe around
the edge of the lake. The only place where plants and insects flourish
is in the rocky or sandy margins where a strong wave action occurs.
This area rarely extends more than 10 feet from shore so that the
growth within the lake of plant and insect food for fishes is accord-
ingly limited to a small portion of the water area.

Water insects and plants very seldom occur at a depth of greater
than 25 feet. Occasionally they are found in deep water but not
often. Light sensibly affects the growth of life in water as well as the
other factors previously mentioned. At a depth of 250 feet only the
lowest forms of plants have so far been discovered. Below this there
is practically no light and darkness and lifelessness hold sway.

The United States Bureau of Fisheries made some experiments in
keeping fishes at different depths. Pressure, of course, increases with
depth and this represents another controlling factor in the well being
of fishes. For instance, the bureau found that ordinarily fish will not
live below 50 feet. Yet, in the face of this, fish have been caught
in Lake Tahoe at a depth of 150 feet. This all goes to show that there
is much undiscovered country in this field and that there is much we
do not know about the habits of our lake fish.

Reproduction will not occur unless there is a sizeable breeding
ground where the water is two to six feet in depth and conditions are
right for breeding. Some fish require lake margins of a sandy nature,
others prefer rocky situations. There must also be an adequate area

* Address given at Second Annual Convention, California Fish and Game Com-
mission Employees, San Francisco, February 8, 1927.

5—56393

46 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

where the young fish may feed. This must contain submerged and
emerging vegetation and consist of some of the simplest and lowest
forms of plants which will support the insect and microscopic life
that serves as food for young fish. The area must be free from decay.
Where there is decay there is disease. The perfect breeding and rearing
ground is where production and consumption of waste are equal.

Oxygen is as necessary to a fish as it is to living forms out of water.
Carbon dioxide is equally indispensable and must be present in a
certain amount. In fact, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water
is an index of its suitability and governs in no small degree the pos-
sibility of fish existing in this medium. By this, it must not be inferred
that fish can not endure water slightly alkaline. They do best, how-
ever, in water slightly acid and poorest in water perfectly neutral.
Curiously enough, if a fish is put in distilled water, which is perfectly
neutral, it will die.

A hard and fast law of nature is that fish either must eat or be eaten.
All their lives they are busily engaged in blithely devouring one another
in order to preserve and continue their existence. Their appetites on
the whole are very hearty and it takes a prodigious quantity of food
to keep a fish in good health.

Of the plants that afford food, the algae are probably the most
prominent. On the basis of color the fresh water algae fall into a
general group called blue-green algae. These include the yellow-green
and brown algae. These plants are of great economic importance as
they supply oxygen for fish. They depend upon nitrogen in water
for their growth, and certain microscopic forms, the diatoms and
protozoa, in turn depend upon the abundance of the algae. A scarcity
of the latter invaribly results in a scarcity of the former. Nor is this
the end of the chain for the invisible plankton, on which minnows live,
depends on the diatoms and protozoa. Only a few of the crustaceans
are important as fish food, though there are thousands of species and
varieties. The fairy shrimps and the water fleas are the most note-
worthy. Another item in a fish's bill of fare, besides water insects, is
scuds. In the main, scuds are scavengers, living on decaying matter.
Go around Clear Lake, where numbers of dead fish can be seen, and
on examination it will be discovered that every fish is covered with
thousands of scuds.

Tiny trout feel the hunger urge almost before the egg sac is absorbed.
They begin to jump at gnats on the surface of the water and to take
the larvae of small insects as well as to devour the microscopic forms.
Experiments have shown that trout but ten days old will take as many
as twenty-five gnats in a single day. As they grow in size they take
larger insects and their consumption of various sized prey is only
governed by the size of their mouths. From the start they are cannibal-
istic. At first they will eat any other fish smaller than themselves. It
makes no difference whether they be minnows, bass or trout as long as
they can be captured. As they grow older, however, trout become more
selective.

There is a constant trading around between bass and trout. Bass
take great numbers of trout and trout devour bass up to a size that
their mouths will permit. Due to the large size of the mouth of the bass
it can take a trout almost as large as itself. In this respect the trout

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 47

is not SO fortunate and must confine its attentions to bass much
smaller than itself. There is no doubt that if a trout could swallow a
bass as large as itself it would do it. Nature usually makes provision
for this by producing a sufficient number of individuals so as to afford
food for the various species that live off one another.

In conclusion it can readily be seen that no small problem is involved
in planting trout in a lake and supplying them with an environment
insuring their proper growth. At all times natural conditions must be
obtained. If the balance of nature is upset or if conditions are not
right for the plant, it can not possibly be successful.

PROGRESS IN HALIBUT INVESTIGATIONS.*

By Ruth Miller Thompson.

Presenting a most absorbing account of the -alarming depletion in
the North Pacific halibut fishery, and of what is being done to save
the industry, the Pacific Fisherman (July to October, 1927) devotes
four major articles to a description of the scientific work being carried
on for the International Fisheries Commission by Mr. W. F. Thompson
and his associates. The author of this unsigned series speaks of this
investigation as "without doubt the most thoroughgoing and valuable
ever carried out in the field of commercial fisheries. ' ' Again, he refers
to the "inconceivable mass of statistical and biological data" collected
by the Commission's scientific staff, and says, "Though highly scientific
in method, the investigation is along intensely practical lines, and is
marked by close adherence to facts and avoidance of unsupported
theory or speculation." This is high praise indeed, from anyone, and
especially from a publication which is of the "trade organ" rather
than of the "scientific journal" type.

It reflects great credit upon the judgment of both the commissioners
themselves, in their executive capacities, and of those who framed the
scientific program, that their work has been kept strictly relevant to
their aims. It is also significant that in spite of the fact that the
future recommendations of the Commission will very likely affect
adversely various sections of the industry, the Commission 's staff main-
tains the friendliest relations with fishery operators.

That quite the reverse of this situation has been and still is usual in
fishery investigations undertaken in other countries could easily be
demonstrated. There has often been a great gulf of misunderstanding
between the "industry" and "science." This is despite many efforts
on the part of investigative bodies to explain their endeavors to "prac-
tical men." In other days and places many articles have been printed
and many public meetings held, similar to those conducted during
November and December in Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and
Seattle, by the International Fisheries Commission staff. Doubtless
much of the unfortunate antagonism that has existed in some countries
is due to the greater complexity of scientific problems presented by
older fisheries, or to other factors beyond the control of scientists.
However this may be, it is certain that the cooperation between research

• Contribution No. 69 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, November,
1927.

48 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

and industry on the Pacific Coast points to an intelligent comprehension
of each other's problems. If anj^thing can prolong indefinitely the life
of the halibut fisheries, this spirit ought to be able to find the way.

That California has made a large contribution to saving the halibut
is a tribute to the vision of Mr. N. B. Scofield, head of the Department
of Commercial Fisheries of the Division of Fish and Came. He was
first to start scientific fishery investigation in this state and his con-
tinued enthusiasm made possible the employment of Mr. W. F. Thomp-
son and the establishment of the California State Fisheries Laboratory
under the latter 's charge.

While Mr. Thompson was well fitted for his present work by previous
training and temperament, and had gained valuable experience by
conducting a preliminary investigation of the halibut in 1912-1913 for
the government of British Columbia, it was as director of research for
the California State Fisheries Laboratory that he developed his scien-
tific talents. Undoubtedly his work on the sardine and albacore in
California was a fine preparation for his return to the halibut research,
and enabled him to think through its intricate problems with a masterly
clearness.

Mr. W. C. Herrington, also trained at the California State Fisheries
Laboratory, has recently been added to Mr. Thompson's staff.

While the basic facts of the halibut situation have already been
unfolded, the conclusions presented in the Pacific Fisherman articles
are of a tentative character. The commissioners have as yet made no
report to their respective governments, and have reserved their recom-
mendations until after the previously mentioned conferences with men
from the industry. The commissioners, namely Mr. J. P. Babcock of
Victoria, chairman, Mr. Henry 'Malley of Washington, Mr. Miller
Freeman of Seattle, and Mr. W. A. Found of Ottawa, have alwaj-s
taken a very active interest in the work of their scientific staff, and
planned to be present at the public hearings.

Data indicating the actual abundance of fish on the banks which
have been available to the Commission, include what is described as a
"remarkably complete record of the commercial landings for the last
twelve years," and logs kept by fishermen. During the course of the
investigation, the system of record keeping has been still further
improved and extended through the efforts of the scientific staff. The
truly scientific character of the work may be judged from the emphasis
placed on the necessity of adequate and continuous statistical records
to the proper control of the fishery. This emphasis will recall the
similar insistence that accurate and complete statistical records of catch
are essential, which marked Mr. Thompson's work in California.
Undoubtedly his appeal that research was futile without adequate
statistics aroused the agitation which resulted in establishing the now
famous ' ' pink ticket ' ' system in California.

Eesults obtained from a study of catch records and logs have been
checked with painstaking thoroughness by comparison with data from
other sources. Chief among these stand the observations of the Com-
mission's employees aboard chartered vessels. For this work, a large
and powerful halibut schooner, the ' ' Dorothy, ' ' has recently been recon-
ditioned and newly equipped to replace the "Scandia, " which was

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 49

wrecked last February. The winter's studies of maturity, spa-\vning,
eggs and larvte, and races have already begun.

The biological investigations based on all types of data have yielded
harmonious results. That depletion has been very marked, though
uneven, is clear. South and east of Cape Ommaney conditions are
worst. Unmistakable signs of overfishing are : greatly reduced catch
per unit of gear, a marked westward shift of fishing operations, and the
preponderance of small fish in the catch. It is apparent that on the
southern grounds the number of spawning fish is greatly reduced so
that the present fishery is here a heavy drain on the immature popu-
lation.

That the halibut stock of any bank is independent of the stocks on
other banks, and must be protected by its own set of regulations, has
been demonstrated. Studies of migration by means of tagging, of
races by means of measurements of body proportions, and of age in
relation to growth by means of "reading" the number of year rings
on ear stones, give the chief evidences for the independence of fish
stocks. Much remains to be discovered, especially concerning the large
fish, before it will be possible to predict with certainty the effect of
every proposed protective measure on the fish of each locality.

From the point of view of the actual ultimate needs of the fishery as
scientifically determined, the essential part of any adequate regulatory
law is provision for increasing or at least maintaining the number of
spawning fish. Some "baby" halibut nurseries and spawning grounds
in every general fishing area must eventually be closed. Each area
must be handled as a unit in itself with its own conservation measures.
Furthermore, to be effective, protection must continue for a long period
of time, even permanently in some cases. Whatever legislation is
adopted must be regarded as experimental. Therefore, not only must
it be flexible and easily revoked should this be desirable, but its effects
must be carefully followed. The necessity for adequate statistics is
again apparent. If records are poor there will be no test of the value
of regulation.

The study of the halibut is only half completed. To define the
precise extent and degree of restriction needed on each bank will
require considerable further work. Even when this is done, to deter-
mine the true results of regulation will be a task requiring the highest
degree of scientific skill. It is to be hoped that the two governments
will see the great value of the work that has been so ably begun and
will realize that discontinuance would cause irreparable loss not only
to the halibut industry, but to the future of fisheries research and to
the cause of rational conservation.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva-
tion of virild life and published quarterly
by the California Division of Fish and
Game.

Sent free to citizens of the State of
California. Offered in exchange for
ornithological, mammalogical 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 California
Division of Fish and Game. Editors of
newspapers and periodicals are invited to
make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be
sent to H. C. Bryant, Postal Telegraph
BIdg., San Francisco, California.

January 30, 1928.

Consider your need, not your greed.

EUGENE D. BENNETT, NEW
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

On December 1, 1927, Mr. Eugene D.
Bennett of San Francisco became execu-
tive officer and attorney of the Division
of Fish and Game, Department of
Natural Resources. Although born in
Kansas, Mr. Bennett came to California
as a boy, where he learned to fish and
hunt. During the World War he was a
commissioned oflBcer in the Ninety-first
Division and a member of the division
rifle team. His marksmanship was also
demonstrated when he won a place on the

California state rifle team in 1924 and
entered the national competition at Camp
Perry.

Mr. Bennett has taken an important
part in American Legion work, being past
commander of San Francisco County
Council and was formerly chairman of
the Americanization Committee of the
state department of this organization.

For nearly ten years Mr. Bennett has
practiced law in San Francisco. During
the past two years he has been chief
deputy United States Attorney of north-
ern California.

Even since childhood Mr. Bennett has
fished and hunted and a definite interest
in fish and game matters has long smoul-
dered. In the acceptance of his new
position this interest has been a deter-
mining point. Mr. Bennett believes that
"never before has such responsibility
rested upon the Division of Fish and
Game as at present. It is of the utmost
importance that the Division keep pace
with the present rapid strides of its pro-
gressive development to the end that the
state's great commercial fishing industry
and also its outdoor and recreational
resources of fish and game may be pre-
served and developed to take care of the
state's ever-growing population."

THE RETIRING EXEICUTIVE OFFICER.'

To Mr. B. D. Marx Greene was give^
the important problem of reorganizing
the work of the Fish and Game Commis-
sion, beginning January, 1926. To this
work he brought administrative ability
and boundless energy. In retiring he
leaves the working force of the Commis-
sion acting under various departments
and bureaus manned by competent men
and the whole financed under a budget
system.

Other administrative accomplishments
include the reorganizing of the patrol
force under a chief, two assistant chiefs
and captains, and putting the warden
force in uniform ; the organizing and
bringing to efficiency of a volunteer
warden system ; the establishment and
maintenance of one of the largest game
farms in the United States ; efficient
handling of pollution and screens and
ladders ; enlarged educational, research
and publicity programs ; a system of hold-
ing ponds and tanks for the ageing of
trout ; and the publication of a Service
Bulletin and the holding of an annual
convention for the education and stimu-
lation of employees.

Mr. Greene's more recent interests have
been centered in the development of a new
and better system of fish distribution and
in the use of a short wave radio in keep-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

ing the patrol force in constant touch
with the head office.

In all of the above accomplishments,
Mr. Greene took an active part and his
ability in better organizing the working
force will be long remembered. Mr.
Greene on December 1 assumed the posi-
tion of attorney for the Department of
Commercial Fisheries.

SPECIAL FISH PLANTING TRUCK.

During September a new Graham truck
was especially equipped with ice boxes
and aerating system for use in fish dis-
tribution. On its initial trip it proved
so satisfactory that more emphasis will
be given this mode of planting in the
future. The first trip during the first
eight days of October was in Mono

2. Those in charge can leave the fish
to secure meals without danger of losing
the fish. The reserve compressed air
tank will continue to furnish air to the
fish for thirty minutes, even when the
engine is not running.

3. With fish in good condition, plenty
of time can be given to proper distribu-
tion at the terminal.

The truck has continued to operate
successfully from the Mount Whitney
Hatchery.

A CORRECTION.

Due to the fact that the author of the
article, "The Deer of California," which
appeared in the October number of Cali-
FOBNiA Fish and Game (Vol. 13, No. 4),
did not see figures or legends for figures

Fig. 23. New fish distribution truck. Air tank on side filled by air com-
pressor furnishes aeration to shipping cans. Photograph by H. C. Bryant.

County. The truck traveled over steep
mountain roads and conveyed forty cans
of black-spotted trout to Searles Lake,
Alpine County. The shipment was on
the road for nineteen hours. The dis-
tance covered was 255 miles. In some
of the cans there were no dead fish at all.
Apparently fish will travel any reasonable
distance very satisfactorily under the con-
ditions afforded by this truck. The out-
standing advantages of this method of
transporting fish are :

1. When properly iced, fish can be
transported over a smooth highway as
easily as over a rough road. Joggling
produced by a rough road is necessary
to furnish proper aeration when com-
pressed air is not available.

in the proof stage, several errors appeared
in the article.

Page 237. Transpose legends for fig-
ui-es. That is, for 52 read 53 and for
53 read 52.

Page 238. Lines two and three, "tailed
deer and the white-tailed deer. The
latter, the range of which is not shown
on the distribution map, occurs in winter
and only infre-" should read, "tailed deer
and white-tailed deer. The latter occurs
in winter and only infre-." Thus, the
phrase, "the range of which is not shown
on the distribution map," is to be omitted.
Line four, word "northwestern" should
read "northeastern." Also on page 238,
the last line, "the state. (Range not
shown on distribution map.)" should

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

read, "the state. (See distribution map,
Fig. 57, p. 239.)"

Page 239. In legends to distribution
map (Fig. 57), "Odocoileus c. seaphiotus"
should read "Odocoileus c. seaphiotus."
"5. Burro deer. Odocoileus k. californi-
cus." should read "5. Burro deer. Odocoi-
leus h. eremicus." — E. Raymond Hall.

COMMERCIAL DUCK
LICENSED.

CLUBS

At the 1927 session of the legislature
a commercial gun club license act was
passed in an endeavor to control the many
commercial gun clubs that had been estab-
lished where fees for hunting were

assured that these clubs will cooperate
in the enforcement of the game laws.

Only a few commercial giin clubs are
operating in southern California, the
greater number being located in the
Gustine-Los Banos district of the San
Joaquin Valley and again in the vicinity
of Colusa and Willows in the Sacramento
Valley.

The following regulations have been
issued by the Division of Fish and Game :

GENERAL. ORDER No. 9.

REGULATIONS UNDER WHICH COMMERCIAL
DUCK CLUBS MAT BE OPERATED.

Regulation No. I.
Shooting days limited to three days a

Fig. 24. New fish distribution truck showing aerating apparatus. Photograph

by H. C. Bryant.

charged. The law provides for a license
fee of $25 to citi^iens and $100 to persons
not citizens of the United States. Each
commercial hunting club operator must
pay a $5 license fee if he be a citizen and
a $25 license fee if he be an alien. Up
to December 1, forty-three commercial
duck clubs had been granted permission
to operate and fifty-six operators were
licensed to work on these preserves. The
men who pay their fee and hunt on these
commercial gun club grounds have found
that they are better protected and the
Division of Fish and Game is now

week ; Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Additional operating days, the opening
and closing of the season and all legal
holidays.

Regulation No. II.

A blind must be within shooting dis-
tance of water. Blinds must be a reason-
able distance apart, to depend upon local
conditions.

Regulation No. III.

Each shooter must be given a satisfac-
tory blind. No shooters to be allowed to
hunt at large when blinds are full.

Regulation No. IV.
Operators must cooperate with the Fish

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

and Game Commission in law enforce-
ment.

Regulation No. V.

Where clubs adjoin, no blinds to be
located within 70 yards of adjoining
boundary, except under mutual agreement.

Regulation No. "VI.

The continual shooting of birds out of
range will be regarded as a nuisance and
the club may at its discretion refund the
money paid for shooting privilege and
bar shooter from further hunting.

Regulation No. VII.

Under no consideration is a club to
guarantee limit.

The foregoing order is hereby approved
and ordered filed as "General Order No. 9,
Division of Fish and Game, of the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources of the State
of California."

Dated : This thirtieth day of September,
1927.

I. Zellerbach,
Reginald Fernald^
Geo. B. ClarksoNj
Fish and Game Commission.

Many requests have come from com-
mercial duck club operators and hunters,
who can only seek birds on these club
preserves, that they be permitted to shoot
every day during the week. After a
thorough investigation of all angles in
connection with the problem it was
deemed to the best advantage of the
hunters, the clubs and the ducks that the
regulations as laid down by the Commis-
sion be enforced and that hunting be per-
mitted only three days a week.

PATROL CONFERENCE.

Many important matters were dis-
cussed at a special conference of the
patrol officers, held in San Francisco,
October 10th and 11th. Captain K. P.
All red, acting chief of patrol, discussed
general policies. As a better means of
handling the large field force it was
decided that each deputy will report
directly to his captain and the captain
directly to the chief of patrol. Thus
there will be corrected the general tend-
ency for men to go over the heads of their
captains to the higher officers of patrol.
Under this plan it is expected that the
men will be able to work to the very best
of their ability and accomplish splendid
results.

KMN GOES ON THE AIR.

In order to increase the efficiency of
the patrol service, the Division of Fish
and Game at San Francisco has installed
a 500-watt transmitting set, and with
receiving sets a detail can be in almost
constant touch with the head office. The
station, known as KMN, is capable of
sending messages to the remotest points
in California both day and night. It has

an advantage over telephone systems in
that it affords almost instantaneous serv-
ice and there is no danger of the message
l)cing broken or "tipped off" as has been
frequently the case with telephone calls.
It will prove a valuable feature in regions
where deputies are far from a telephone.
At duck headquarters for northern Cali-
fornia, near Maxwell, a 100-watt trans-
mitter has been set up. Here operators
are constantly on duty and in ready con-
tact with the central office. The ten men
in the field at Maxwell are thus con-
sistently informed in regard to develop-
ments and information received at the
San Francisco office. In turn, the central
office is advised of the needs of the men
patroling the duck fields, when a large
haul is suspected and when relief deputies
are wanted to check nightshooting. So
excellent has been the patrol so far that
no instance of a "drag" is known to have
been made.

Another station has been installed at
San Pedro and at the conclusion of the
duck season it is the intention to remove
the set at Maxwell to Sacramento. This
will enable the three central offices to be
in constant communication.

Another ambition is to equip the patrol
with small portable sets and to instruct
and train the deputies as to their opera-
tion. It is estimated that but three
weeks, at most, will be necessary to teach
a man how to take a message. Every
deputy will have his own code letter.
Messages will be sent from the central
office at agreed periods known only to the
field forces.

There is no doubt that the efficiency
of the patrol will be greatly increased by
means of the use of this modern inven-
tion. It is believed that this is the first
instance in history that a patrol force
has been directed by wireless.

KILL OF DEER, SEASON 1927.

A tabulation of the kill of deer in Cali-
fornia has been made possible by the
enactment of the Deer Hunting License
Tag Act. This law provides that every
person who hunts deer in this state must
first procure license tags in addition to
a regular hunting license. For a fee of
one dollar, the hunter is furnished with
two deer tags in duplicate ; the original
tag to be attached to a deer when killed
and the duplicate mailed to the Division
of Fish and Game.

The purposes of the new law are: (a)
to make possible better enforcement of the
laws for the protection of deer; (b) to
secure accurate information on the num-
ber of deer killed; (c) and to provide
additional revenue for field patrol.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The following report shows the number Game is importing from Czecho-Slovakia

of deer killed during the 1927 open season.
However, only a part of the data secured
from duplicate deer tags is indicated ; a
full report will be published at an early
date.

five hundred pairs of Hungarian par-
tridges. A friend of conservation work
who has been importing birds for his
own use helped iu making the arrange-
ments. On arrival, these birds will be

DEER KILLiBY COUNTIES, SEASON 1927.

County

Points

Total

Alameda.

171

161

183

215

284

389

173

170

242

258

7
27
17
69
42
25

220

Alpine ._ ._

2
4
13
5
1

1
3
2

Amador.

Butte

1
3

228

Calaveras

149

Colusa.

263

Contra Costa

Del Norte

10
138
159

88
155

4
32
33

6
15

El Dorado

12
3
3

1
2

1
1

535

Fresno

592

Glenn

623

Humboldt

821

Imperial _

Inyo . . .

229
86
92
77
58
31

426
21

138
7

161

155
48
17

105

169
82

35
52

11
8

3
3

173

Kern

218

Kings

Lake . _

599

20
279

96
297

32
853

129
45
64
10
24

180
4

262
10
41
41
36
12
95

167
51

1
3

901

Lassen

296

Los Angeles .

425

Madera . _. .

260

Marin ...

367

Mariposa. .

2
5

Mendocino . .

1,475

Merced _ .

Modoc

510

Mono

14
541
242
38
24
121
177
170

Monterey _ _

757

Napa _

442

Nevada

125

Orange .

1
4
8
1

Placer.

2
2

341

Plumas ..

551

Riverside

323

Sacramento

San Benito _

150
32

54
21
38

10
14
33

2
6
3

1
1

217

San Bernardino

San Diego .

169

San Francisco

SanJoaquin__ ._ . ...

13
251

61
424
243

69
171

27
424

22
519

7
103

154

119

240

27
491

16
188

29
3

164

578

192

238

177

San Luis Obispo

394

San Mateo .

Santa Barbara

669

Santa Clara

397

Santa Cruz

Shasta . _

120

4
1

612

Sierra .

101

Siskiyou .. ...

1,665

Solano

Sonoma

7
3

751

Stanislaus

Sutter. ..

Tehama

286

299

341

164

288
339
200
72
74
39
19

2
4
1
1
2

2
4

799

Trinity .

2
1

921

Tulare

744

Tuolumne . .

213

Ventura

274

Yolo.. .

115

Yuba

Totals . ^

9,069

5,687

3,807

686

157

19,507

HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGES
PURCHASED.

In the hope of furnishing still another
desirable game bird for the sportsmen of
California, the Division of Fish and

placed at the Yountville Game Farm to
form the basis of a brood stock.

In British Columbia and the state of
Washington, the Hungarian partridge has
become well established and is fast becom-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

iiig a favorite game bird over a large area.
Thus far, difficulty has been experienced
in attempting to rear these birds under
artificial conditions. However, the state
of Oregon now has a brood stock that
gives hope of better results in the future.

ASSOCIATED SPORTSMEN'S
CONVENTION.

It is gratifying to all conservationists
to find that at last the numerous fish and
game protective associations of the state
are united and pulling together to bring
about better conservation of natural
resources. The Associated Sportsmen of
C.ilifornia held their third annual con-
vention in San Francisco on November
3d and 4th. Representatives of the
affiliated organizations were present and

TROUT DISTRIBUTION FOR 1928
PLANNED.

The present policy of establishing local
hatcheries to care for nearby territory is
proving a success. Time and energy are
saved as well as losses in the shipment
of fingerling trout. Well equipped auto
trucks deliver the fish to the streams in
splendid condition because of a short haul.
The system can be made yet more effec-
tive by making all allotments of trout to
the various streams in the fall in order
that eyed eggs may be sent to the various
hatcheries in proper quantities to care
for each local district. Accordingly this
is being done through a series of meetings
with various captains of patrol. The
needs of various districts are being ascer-
tained and the allotments made. This

Pig. 25. Fish Car No. 01 arrives in Marin County with shipment of trout
designed for Marin County streams. September 18, 1927. Photograph
by "Walter Sellmer.

there was much discussion on numerous
and various subjects. As in past years,
emphasis was placed upon the need for
the destruction of predatory animals and
the suggestion was made that the Divi-
sion of Fish and Game put more lion
hunters in the field charged with the addi-
tional duty of killing other predatory ani-
mals. A report on the reflooding of
Lower Klamath Lake by a representative
of the Bureau of the U. S. Biological
Survey was not heartening. The con-
cluding session of the convention was
devoted to a display of motion pictures
and to addresses by President Zellerbach
of the Division of Fish and Game, B. D.
Afarx Greene, retiring executive officer,
and Eugene D. Bennett, his successor.

having been done it will be an easy matter
to allocate the proper number of eyed
eggs to each hatchery and thus eliminate
the long hauls which cause losses in trout
shipments.

OUTBREAK OF DUCK DISEASE.

During the last days of October ducks
died in large numbers at Buena Vista
Lake, Kern County. It was estimated
that at least two thousand birds lost their
lives. In order of abundance the sick
birds found were as follows : pintail,
shoveller and greenwinged teal. Some
mud hens were also affected. An investi-
gation made by the Bureau of Research
showed the symptoms to be similar to
past outbreaks but when chemical analy-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

sis was made of the water from Bueiia
Vista Lake it was found to be in rela-
tively fresh condition, the concentration
of salts being very low.

In the study of sick ducks at Tule
Lake, Modoc County, last year it was
evident that temperature was a con-
tributing factor in the occurrence of the
disease. The appearance of the disease
at Buena Vista Lake was preceded by
hot weather. In the case of Buena Vista
Lake there was a large percentage of
decaying organic matter. Since labora-
tory experiments have demonstrated that
gases such as those found where the dis-
ease occurs may be fatal to ducks, experi-
ments designed to settle the question
whether gas poisoning is concerned are
being made.

A determination of the exact cause of
this malady which has periodically swept
this and other states is a necessity if
waterfowl are to be conserved. The Divi-
sion of Fish and Game is making a deter-
mined effort to solve this fundamental
conservation question. It is indeed for-
tunate that Dr. K. F. Meyer, director
of the Hooper Foundation for Medical
Research of the University of California,
has been secured to supervise this and
other studies of disease by means of care-
fully planned experiments. It is ex-
pected that the mystery will be solved
as soon as sufficient material is made
available for study.

POT-HUNTING AND SHOOTING
ETHICS.

In a certain place in Madera County
where the land rises on end to meet the
sky, two mountain masses come together
forming a natural trap and affording
but one outlet up a draw. Deer in con-
siderable number frequent the region and
it would be difficult to find in California
a combination of circumstances more
favorable for their slaughter on an in-
credible scale.

The tendency of man to devise means
of killing game by wholesale methods is
as old as the human race. In the day
of the club and stone axe, man was
ambitious to lay traps and to discover
ways of gaining advantages over game
that permitted of their easy and whole-
sale destructiton. Such methods can be
forgiven, considering the poorness of
man's early weapons and the struggle he
had to make to survive against the
savagery of the world.

But a different principle governs the
use of such methods today. The coming
of the high-powered firearm has brought
with it certain ethics in regard to its

right use. It is unsportsmanlike to shoot
quail on the ground. It is taking an
unfair advantage of ducks to shoot them
on the water. It is equally beyond the
pale of decent sportsmanship to "pot"
a deer.

Unfortunately, an instance of deer
"potting" on an extensive scale must be
recorded for the opening day of the deer
season. Some thirty men, employing a
pack outfit of over forty horses, effected
a "drive" on the deer in the region
vaguely alluded to and enacted a day of
slaughter seldom equalled in the present.
The country was systematically combed.
Those bucks attempting to escape up
the draw met a shower of lead. Senti-
ment, not for a moment, swayed the
bloody business and little thought was
bestowed on the fact that others were
being robbed of a sport, on the pursuit
of which many writers have delighted to
linger.

It is known that the law was not
violated in any particular. The limit
rule was observed and females and
"spiked" bucks were not molested or
harmed. The slaughtered were piled on
a truck along with two black bear and
the hunters merrily went their way leav-
ing the country "shot out."

It is known, further, that some one
thousand hunters were admitted to the •
region subsequently by the Forest Service,
and that these, without hardly an excep-
tion, profited little by their long days of
toil in quest of the very few bucks
remaining. During the whole season the
region gave a most pitiful reward to those
who had enjoyed the sport of deer hunt-
oig in it in former years. Assuredly,
such methods of killing game in Cali-
fornia are to be uniformly condemned for
their selfishness, their unfairness to the
game pursued and their woeful want of
sportsmanship.

WHAT IS A "FORKED-HORN"?

Is it legal to kill a deer with a fork
on one side and a spike on the other?
This is assuredly a very reasonable ques-
tion and one which arises so obviously
from a reading of the present law defining
a "forked-horn" that there is good reason
to answer the question here.

The present law reads, "any male deer
with antlers of two branches on both
sides shall be considered a 'forked-horn' "
(Sec. 626e). The ambiguity springs from
the fact that the law does not specify
that a legal deer must have branched
horns or antlers on either side. Hence,
it is very likely that a judge considering
the purpose and intent of the law would
be most apt to recognize that any deer

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

without branched antlers on both sides
•would be an illegal deer.

NEW PLAN FOR DUCK
CONSERVATION.

The failure of the Game Refuge-Public
Shooting Bill at past sessions of congress
has led to the formation of new plans
that immediate results may be obtained.
In the deficiency bill which awaits the
present session . of congress is a clause
that provides, under the Phipps Bill, for
an appropriation of $350,000 to be used
in the building of a dike across the mouth
of the Bear River in Utah, as a means

Commissioner D. L. Madsen of Utah
was appointed a committee of one to
consult with the western states regarding
any such proposals that may be sub-
mitted. By this action it is hoped that
an adequate program may be initiated.

The Division of Fish and Game has
adopted the resolution passed and is
watching for additional opportunities to
be of service in improving the situation.
California has made a fine start by setting
aside one-third of the hunting license fees
to be used exclusively for the purchase
and rental of refuges.

Fig. 26. Taking motion pictures of Hungarian partridges at State Game Farm.
A blind was necessary to secure natural pictures of these wary birds.
July, 1927. Photograph by Sidney Snow.

of holding fresh water on an area of
about 200 square miles. The lake and
marsh thus created probably will prevent
the recurrence of the duck disease which
has killed so many ducks in the past and
will at the same time provide excellent
nesting and feeding grounds.

At the meeting of the Western Associa-
tion of Fish and Game Commissionei's
at Seattle a resolution was passed re-
questing the Secretary of Agriculture to
submit proposals for creating and financ-
ing the necessary wild fowl refuges to
care for the present critical sittuation.

The estimated kill of ducks in Cali-
fornia is set at one million. Those in a
position to know claim that the annual
toll of the duck malady on Bear River
marshes is a million ducks per year.
Enactment of the Phipps Bill (included
in the deficiency bill) will save ducks
to the number of the estimated annual
kill in California. Banded birds give
evidence that 25 per cent of ducks that
traverse Utah find their way to Cali-
fornia during their migration. The rea-
son why Califomians should support this
measure is evident.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

AN ELK REFUGE NEEDED.

The elk, the largest game mammal of
the west, was once very abundant in Cali-
fornia. A census of the total number of
wild elk left in the state would probably
show less than five hundred animals. The
last stand of the smaller valley elk is
being made in Kern County where several
hundred animals range back into the hills
and then forage on the ranges near But-
tonwillow.

Complaints as to the depredations of
these animals have been frequent. For
many years it has been clear that unless
land could be purchased and an elk refuge
established in this vicinity the state will
soon have to add this famous game animal
to its list of exterminated species. Sev-
eral attempts have been made to stir

and December 1st, twenty thousand acres
were disposed of in this region by the
Miller and Lux Co. Marsh land in this
area is selling at $25 an acre and upland,
from $45 to $75 an acre. The refuge
should, of course, contain both lowland and
upland.

Both federal and state officials are
united in the belief that an elk refuge
in the San Joaquin Valley is an impor-
tant and immediate need. The matter
of finance is the only factor which is
preventing the solution of this problem.
Somehow or other adequate means must
be found for taking care of these wild
elk in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Izaak Walton League recently
raised $36,500 by popular subscription,
bought 1760 acres of land and presented

Fig. 27. Truck load of pheasants at Salinas on their way to the fields where
they were planted. Augnst 9, 1927. Photograph by Sidney Snow.

interest among the Order of Elks, but
thus far no move has been made actually
to furnish a satisfactory home for this
final herd of elk. The U. S. Biological
Survey has long advocated a refuge and
recently Mr. E. A. Goldman, in charge of
federal reservations, made a survey of the
situation. He reports that a refuge
should comprise at least four sections
of land. This is hardly possible in Kern
County because most of the marsh
grounds are now under private ownership.
Near Los Banos, Merced County, where
there is considerable marsh land of the
type formerly frequented by the valley
elk, there is still an opportunity to secure
suitable land. However, a purchase must
be made quickly for between August 1st

it to the government to be added to the
winter elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyom-
ing. As a consequence, Yellowstone elk
will find better winter pasturage and
starvation in" hard winters will be
avoided. The critical situation in Wyom-
ing has been improved. Who is going to
improve the situation in California?

VOLUNTEER WARDENS.

The work of game wardens in investi-
gating violations of fish and game laws
is purely and simply detective work. It
is work of criminal investigation, and
as such it requires a fair knowledge of
all the laws and of criminal procedure
in the courts.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Without this knowledge a game warden
is constantly groping in the dark and he
never knows whether his actions will be
approved or condemned when his cases
are brought into court, where they must
inevitably land. This point can not be
too strongly emphasized. No matter how
clever and energetic a warden may be in
other ways, if he is ignorant of the intent
and purpose of the law and criminal pro-
cedure, he will fail in the course of time.
If he works in disregard of the laws, his
activity is certain to get him into trouble.
Therefore, he must be familiar with the
law and the rules of criminal procedure
in the court.

No special set of rules can be laid down
for the reason that no set of rules will

of the state. The duties of sheriffs, con-
stables and police oflBcers usually end
when they have apprehended a violator
of the law, but that of a game warden
has really just commenced after the arrest
has been made. Then begins the trying
stage. The warden now drops his role of
"Policeman of the Woods" and assumes
the role of prosecuting attorney. He has
deprived a person of his liberty ; now let
him prove in a court of law that the said
person has committed a crime — or by
what right did he cause such person's
arrest?

Herein will be shown the warden's fit-
ness or unfitness. Whether the warden
has used good judgment, is honest and
has the requisite knowledge of what con-

FiG. 28. Arranging liberation of pheasants in the Salinas Valley. August 9,

1927. Photograph by Sidney Snow.

apply to all cases. Each case demands
its own particular treatment and atten-
tion. However, it must follow that a
game warden should possess some slight
ability, either natural or acquired, as a
detective. Each and every case demands
the application of common sense rules,
persistent effort, patience and careful
attention in every detail, with the view
always in mind that the enforcement of
the fish and game laws must be clean,
fair and just in all ways, and at all
tinies, in order that the wardens may
command the confidence, respect and sup-
port of the people.

In most instances the work and duties
of game wardens are peculiar as com-
pared with other law enforcement officials

stitutes legal evidence in a court of
law, is now put to test. The warden
may be honest and have acted in good
faith, but, if he is ignorant of his full
duty, in the eyes of the law, or has used
poor judgment, he will be criticized and
condemned. It behooves wardens to go
slow at first and to feel their way, but
there is no reason for an intelligent
warden to hesitate if he is perfectly
familiar with the laws for the protection
of fish and game, and carefully and con-
scientiously performs his duties.

A game warden may feel perfectly cer-
tain within his own mind that a party
is guilty of violating the fish and game
laws, but that should have no bearing
on the matter. The question is : Can the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

warden prove the fact by competent
legal evidence? Mere rumors, conjec-
tures, prejudice and popular opinion
should not interfere with the warden's
judgment. Facts are what he is after
and such facts as are relevant material
and will support the warden's charge
against the person arrested.

The quicker the warden learns his duty
the better will he be able to do his work.
As a rule, the real duty of game wardens
is to educate the people as to the value
and necessity of fish and game laws and
to prevent violations of the laws, as much
as it is to arrest those who violate the
laws.

All volunteer deputies are advised to
keep their own counsel relative to
reported violations of the fish or game
laws and not to openly discuss such
matters.

When a volunteer deputy is confronted
with any subject or matter relative to the
protection of fish or game, the fish and
game laws, or the enfoi-cement of the
laws, that he does not understand thor-
oughly, he should take up such matters
with the commission and be guided by
their advice.

While the Division of Fish and Game
does not expect the volunteer deputies
to be able to make frequent arrests for
violations of the fish and game laws, it
does want to know what each deputy
has accomplished. Therefore, it is neces-
sary and very important that all volun-
teer deputies comply with the instructions
issued to them and render, either to their
captain or to the field assistant, a
monthly report of their activities.
These reports should be made upon
monthly report blanks which will be
supplied.

With activity and efficiency the watch-
words, and cooperation and coordination
between the regular patrol and the volun-
teer deputies the key note all along the
line, let us, one and all, put our shoulder
to the wheel and make the volunteer
deputy forces a body of men meriting
and commanding the confidence, respect
and support of the people in the efforts
made to protect and conserve the state's
supply of fish, game and wild life. —
(Instructions issued to Volunteer War-
dens by Walter R. Welch, Field Assist-
ant.)

EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA

The Fish and Game Commissioners
began educational work in the schools in
1911 and 1912 when Miss Gretchen Libby
traveled the state speaking to groups of
children. The state is still reaping some
of the benefits of Miss Libby's work.

Beginning on August 1, 1914, the work
was reestablished on a more permanent
basis and since that time bulletins for
teachers and lectures at schools have
been part of a well planned educational
program. Few other states have had
so uninterrupted a program as has Cali-
fornia. Now work of this kind is recog-
nized as fundamental by most states.
The state of Pennsylvania launched a
similar program a number of years ago
and a questionnaire recently received
gives an opportunity to summarize the
present status of the educational work
in California. The questions are those
put by the Board of Game Commissioners
of Pennsylvania ; the answers those made
by the director of the Bureau of Educa-
tion of the Division of Fish and Game.

QUESTIONNAIRE.

Issued by the Board of Game Commis-
sioners, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Approximately how much monejy is
available yearly for educational work?
$23,317.

Do you present lectures throughout
the state to sportsmen's organizations,
schooJs, etc., and if so, how long has this
method of education been carried on?

Yes, about sixteen years.

How many lecturers are carried on your
staff?

Heretofore, but one. Beginning this
month (September) two will be detailed
for work in schools. Two part-time
lecturers are employed for summer resort
work.

Are the lectures illustrated with lan-
tern slides and motion pictures?
Yes.

How long have you used motion pic-
tures of wild life with your lectures? How
long since your first motion pictures were
made?

Thirteen years.

Do you photograph your own motion
pictures?

Only a small part of them.

How many lectures illustrated with
slides and motion pictures are presented
in your state in a single year?

About 150 in past years.

Do you have live exhibits of birds and
mammals? Are they located permanently
in a museum or zoo, or are they sent
throughout the state to county fairs, etc?

A few located at the game farm which
are used at exhibits occasionally.

Do you have exhibition cases contain-
ing mounted birds and animals which
you use in lecture work?

Not as yet, but plan to have. We have
study skins of birds and mammals for
loan to teachers.

Do you keep a photographic file of pic-
tures of wild life, or other pictures of
interest representative of your depart-
ment?

Yes, we have both.

Do you have a collection of scientific
skins of birds?
Yes.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Do your publications include an annual
or biennial report or quarterly magazine,
etc?

Both.

Do you publish bulletins or pamphlets
dealing with the life history of the birds
and mammals representative of your
state, and if so may -we have a list of
same?

Yes. A series of Fish, Game, Teachers
and miscellaneous bulletins.

Do you maintain a separate bureau in
your Game Department for purely edu-
cational work? If so, when was this
bureau inaugurated?

Yes. 1914.

How was the work carried on prior
to the inauguration of an educational
bureau?

School lecturer, 1910-1912. Bureau of
Education established in 1914. (See report
of the Bureau of Education in last Bien-
nial Report.)

EXPRESS SHIPMENTS OF DUCKS
INSPECTED.

Before the sale of ducks was stopped
it was diflScult to keep track of the vari-
ous shipments arriving in the large cities.
At present it is proving dangerous for
anyone to ship more than a limit of ducks
by express. (Parcel post shipments are
prohibited by law.) A deputy detailed
to' investigate all shipments of game
arriving in San Francisco has appre-
hended a number of violators who ship
more than a legal limit to their homes.

TAHQUITZ GAME REFUGE.

After many years of endeavor a sizable
area has been set aside in the San Jacinto
Mountains which is known as the Tah-
quitz Game Refuge. Here a large num-
ber of southern mule deer will find satis-
factory protection. This new refuge is
well situated ; on the north and east
it is practically inaccessible to man, with
no roads or trails. On the south and
west only three trails lead into the
refuge. The only person living within
its boundary is the lookout of the United
States Forest Service, located on Tah-
quitz peak. This lookout is cooperating
heartily with the Division of Fish and
Game and is in a position to hear prac-
tically any shots fired within the refuge.
An abundance of water, fine feed and
cover help to make conditions ideal.
Deputy Robert J. Little on a recent visit
to this region reported seeing seventy
deer and many tree squirrels and moun-
tain quail.

OPENING OF DUCK SEASON
ENCOURAGING.

Pessimism has reigned in California for
several years regarding the status of
ducks. Sportsmen have continually com-
plained of few birds. The fall season of
6—56393

1927 opened on October 1 and reports
from the duck country have justified the
hope that the present season will be a
nearly normal one. Early rains furnished
considerable overflow land and ducks
appeared in numbers. A splendid flight
was reported from the Imperial Valley
and limit bags were the rule in the San
.Toaquin Valley.

FISH PLANTING.

Old timers love to tell of conditions a
decade or so ago when it was the usual
thing to catch hundreds of pounds of
trout in a single day. But trails were
few in those days and very difiicult to
travel. Bridges were wanting, all mod-
ern conveniences were absent and a trip
into the high country often involved much
of hardship and danger. Now with new
trails built and old trails improved, so
many resorts furnishing pack outfits at
reasonable rates and means of rapid loco-
motion ever at hand, more fishermen
are present along the mountain streams
than during whole summers in the early
days.

All this increased activity of anglers
augurs an enormous drain on the streams
and means that fish planting must be on
a scale of equal magnitude. Indeed few
anglers realize the enormity of the task
that has devovled on the division to keep
the streams replenished with gamy fish.
Over 19,184,000 fish were planted from
the hatcheries this year. Truly this is an
achievement. Nor should it be forgotten
that literally thousands of black bass,
crappie, perch and catfish were rescued
from overflow waters and pools fast going
dry and placed in live water.

SAGE HEN GIVEN PROTECTION.

Game Refuge 1-Q, located in Lassen
County and created by the state legisla-
ture last year, is a boon to the future of
the sage hen. It accorded them adequate
protection this year and it is reported
that there are now some five thousand
birds at Painter Flat. These are increas-
ing and will stock the adjacent area.

It is reassuring to know, further, that
stockmen are materially aiding in the
good the refuge is accomplishing by keep-
ing their gates locked so that hunters
find the refuge difficult of access and do
not get into the refuge innocently at
night. They are further contributing
to the welfare of the sage hen by warning
hunters of the prohibited area. As an
instance of this, one occurrence is of
worth to note here. The refuge is
approached from the Nevada side by way
of Upper Smoky Creek. Riders from the
Secret Valley Ranch were stationed on

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

the road on the opening day to inform the
Nevada cars that they could not hunt
in the refuge. At least twenty-five cars
with their respective occupants would
have taken toll of the sage hen had it
not been for this splendid cooperation.

A FAMOUS ANIMAL BLIND.
Bull hunting, a spectacular method of
slaughter, is now a thing of the past. One
is no longer able to go out into the back
country and watch a market hunter "walk
his shot." Furthermore, there are few
recorded accounts of the animals and
methods used in this sort of hunting.
As a consequence it seems worth while
herewith to give a photograph of "Old
Tom," most famous of the hunting steers.

license law went into effect, two new
speed boats manned by trained deputies
will protect ducks in two of the great
hunting spots of California.

A Johnson aquaplane, equipped with
a high speed outboard motor capable of
18 miles an hour, has been placed on
Morro Bay, while another boat identical
in construction will be used by the fish
and game patrol on the famed Salton
Sea in Imperial Valley.

Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County
and the Salton Sea, unique inland ocean
in the Imperial Valley, are famous for
ducks. In years past violators of the
game laws have frequented these places
and made great hauls by motor boat due

Fig. 29. "Old Tom" a famous hunting steer of the olden days when "bull
hunting" was legal. This animal weighed 1850 pounds and made an
excellent blind because of its size.

"Old Tom," because of his training, his
size, and build, made a most satisfactory
blind. When he was sold to his owner,
P. A. Blackburn, of San Bernardino, in
1914 he weighed 1850 pounds and stood
5' 8" high. During the days of market
hunting "Old Tom" was utilized in prac-
tically every inland county of the state.
This assistant of the market hunter,
although concerned in extensive slaugh-
ter, deserves none of the blame to be
heaped upon those who take more than
their fair share of the state's game
supply.

TWO SPEED BOATS ADDED
TO PATROL.

Carrying out the program of progres-
sive eflBciency promised when the new

to the fact that the areas were not prop-
erly patrolled. But now that the defi-
ciencies of patrolling these watery areas
are removed by the addition of this
equipment to the Patrol Department's
resources, and with men on duty day
and night, adequate law enforcement is
made sure.

RESOLUTIONS OF WESTERN
ASSOCIATION.

The Western Association of State Game
Commissioners held its seventh annual
meeting at Seattle, Washington, on
September 8 and 9, 1927. Many impor-
tant questions relative to fish and game
conservation in the western states were
discussed. The general attitude of the
meeting toward a number of problems is

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

indicated by the following resolutions
which were passed :

Whereas, this association and conserva-
tion in general has lost a valuable and
esteemed friend in the passing of the late
C. A. Jakeway, who was a charter mem-
ber of the organization ; therefore, be it

Resolved, that we do hereby express to
the family of Mr. Jakeway, our sincere
sympathy, and assure them that his name
and good work will long be remembered
by his associates in conservation ; there-
fore, be it further

Resolved, that this resolution be spread
upon our minutes and a copy sent to the
family of the deceased, and to each mem-
ber of this organization.

II.

Whereas, the water area suitable to
waterfowl has been greatly decreased
through reclamation, drainage, and evapo-
ration ; and

Whereas, there is great need for the
establishment and maintenance of refuges
for the perpetuation of migratory water-
fowl in the United States ; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Western Association
of State Game Commissioners favors en-
actment of legislation for the establish-
ment and maintenance of said migratory
bird refuges.

III.

Wliereas, the long continued mortality
among migratory birds in the Bear River
marshes is seriously affecting the abund-
ance of these birds in Western America ;
and

Whereas, the restoration of these
marshes would effect the saving of many
thousands of migratory birds annually :
and

Whereas, said restoration is both feasi-
ble and practical ; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Western Association
of State Game Commissioners commends
and urges the immediate passage of the
Phipps measure, which has for its purpose
the appropriation of $350,000 to be ex-
pended by the federal government in the
restoration of these marshes.

IV.

Whereas, the reclamation of Lower
Klamath Lake has destroyed a great
habitat of migratory waterfowl ; and

Whereas, the reflooding of Lower Klam-
ath Lake is both desirable and urgent;
therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Western Association
of State Game Commissioners hereby
favors the introduction into congress of
the United States of a bill proposing the
appropriation of dollars, for the pur-
pose of reflooding Lower Klamath Lake.
Be it further

Resolved, that the president of the
association is hereby directed to appoint a
committee of two to prepare or have pre-
pared the draft of a suitable bill and
submit the same to the states comprising
the membership of this organization for
their approval. Be it further
. Resolved, that the committee of two
IS hereby authorized to confer with and
solicit support from all other conserva-
tion organizations in America in carrying
out the purpose of this resolution and to
pledge the support of the Western Asso-
ciation in securing the passage of such
legislation as may be determined upon.

Whereas, the Western Association of
State Game Commissioners has by resolu-
tion favored the creation of migratory
bird refuges ; and.

Whereas, the need of this action is
urgent ; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the president of this asso-
ciation be directed to request the United
States Secretary of Agriculture to prepare
proposals for financing and creating such
refuges and submit the same to a com-
mittee of one, which the president of this
association is hereby directed to appoint.
Be it further

Resolved, that this association favors
plans for financing said projects in the
following respective order :

1. Federal appropriation.

2. Federal appropriation supplemented
by state appropriation.

3. Federal hunting licenses.
Be it further

Resolved, that the respective states
comprising the membership of this asso-
ciation be requested to furnish to the
committee of one an estimate of their
requirements for refuges and the approxi-
mate cost thereof. Be it further

Resolved, that the committee of one is
hereby instructed to confer with the states
comprising the membership of this asso-
ciation for the purpose of determining
upon the projects proposed. Be it further

Resolved, that the committee of one is
hereby authorized to confer with and
solicit support from all other conserva-
tion organizations in America in carrying
out the purpose of this resolution and to
pledge the support of the Western Asso-
ciation in securing the passage of such
legislation.

VI.

Wliereas, the American Fisheries Soci-
ety and the International Association of
Fish, Game and Conservation Commis-
sioners have elected to hold the 1928 con-
vention in the city of Seattle ; therefore,
be it

Resolved, that we believe that the best
interests of conservation would be served
by a joint session of these organizations
and the Western Association of State
Game Commissioners, and we therefore
respectfully tender the full cooperation
of the membership of this organization
to participate in the program and activi-
ties of their convention in such manner as
they may determine, and we pledge our
hearty support in making the joint con-
vention a success. Be it further

Resolved, that we authorize our incom-
ing president to invite the conservation
agencies of our friends across the border
to participate in the deliberations of this
convention in such manner as may best
suit their convenience.

VII.

Whereas, the Honorable Roland H.
Hartley, governor of the state of Wash-
ington, and the Honorable Bertha K.
Landes, mayor of the city of Seattle, have
evidenced their keen interest in conserva-
tion by giving hearty support to the suc-
cess of our convention ; and

Whereas, the very able committee on
arrangements has contributed so largely
to our comfort and convenience ; and

Whereas, the Chamber of Commerce
and the press of the city have accorded
us such excellent publicity and support;
and

Whereas, the management of the Olym-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

pic Hotel has furnished every facility
required for our meeting ; therefore, be it
Resolved, that we extend to these per-
sons our sincere thanks and appreciation.

VIII.

"Wliereas, S. F. Rathbun, our worthy
president, has transacted the business of
this association in a proper and most
efficient manner, and has unselfishly given
unstintedly of his time and effort thereto ;
therefore, be it

Resolved, that we do now extend to
President Rathtam our thanks and appre-
ciation for his efforts during the past year
which have resulted in a better under-
standing of our mutual problems, and
especially do we commend President Rath-
bun for his pi-eparation for this meeting
which has made the seventh annual con-
vention the most successful in the history
of our organization.

GOVERNMENT TO TAKE WATER-
FOWL CENSUS.

There has been much discussion whether
the general complaint relative to the
scarcity of ducks can be supported on the
basis of actual census figures. There are
too many loose statements concerning the
comparative abundance of various game
species. In order to bring together some
real data relative to the abundance of
waterfowl, the United States Biological
Survey is asking the cooperation of sports-
men and bird students throughout the
United States in the taking of a census.
Instructions are given to each observer to
select the best area in his vicinity. This
is to be covered in a single day on the
same day of the month for each month of
the year. It is hoped thereby to obtain
some accurate information on this much
mooted question. From these data it is
hoped to bring to light some of the causes
of local fluctuations and facts relative to
migration.

HABITS OF THE CALIFORNIA
CLAPPER RAIL.

One of the important notable contribu-
tions to the life history and habits of a
game bird are to be found in the Novem-
ber-December number of the Condor, under
the title "The California Clapper Rail, its
Nesting Habits, Enemies and Habitat,"
by Dudley Sargent DeGroot. The author
gathers together much valuable data rela-
tive to the number of eggs, nest location,
nesting material and time of nesting. The
latter part of the paper discusses the
causes for the disappearance of the clap-
per rail. The following are listed : ene-
niies, encroachment of civilization, Nor-
way rat, mussels and predatory animals.
After suggesting the possibility of domes-
ticating and distributing clapper rail to
other marshes, the attention is called to
the recent reclamation project which will

destroy more than four thousand acres of
the best rail marshes located on the San
Francisco bay shore, between Belmont
and San Carlos.

MAINTENANCE OF WILD LIFE ON
RESERVATIONS.

With the settlement of the country, in-
volving the removal of forests, the drain-
age of marshes and water areas for culti-
vation, the building of towns, and the
construction of roads, together with exces-
sive killing by hunters and inroads by
predatory animals, the game and other
useful wild life early disappeared from
many sections. Public opinion is now,
however, becoming aroused to an appre-
ciation of the economic, recreational, and
educational values of the presence in rea-
sonable numbers of many forms of wild
life. This has given a real impetus
to conservation, and experience in wild-
life administration has demonstrated the
practicability not only of saving the rem-
nants of our animals and birds but
through restocking measures to restore
them to territory long depleted. A com-
mendable zeal to conserve game and other
forms of wild life has in a few places even
resulted in a surplus. Game-administra-
tion programs should, therefore, provide
for the maintenance of a suitable number
of breeding individuals and the utilization,
ordinarily through hunting, of any surplus
that may accrue.

The reservations under the jurisdiction
of the Biological Survey include four
fenced areas primarily used for buffalo,
mountain sheep, antelope, and other big
game ; a winter elk refuge in Wyoming ;
the Upper Mississippi River Wild Life
and Fish Refuge ; the Curry Game, Bird
and Fish Refuge, Alaska ; the Alaska
Railroad Muskrat and Beaver Refuge,
Alaska ; and sixty -eight other areas iu
the United States, Porto Rico, Hawaii
and Alaska that are primarily bird
refuges. Some of these widely scattered
bird refuges are notable island colonies,
containing interesting species not found
elsewhere, and the need of extending them
special protection to prevent extermina-
tion is vital. — Ann. Rpt., Chief, Bureau
of Biological Survey, 1927, pp. 14-15.

PHEASANTS AND CATS.

The ringneck pheasants are increasing
as well as can be expected when one
takes into consideration what this won-
derful game bird has to go through even
to exist. I am daily in pheasant country
and have had the opportunity to watch
and to study this bird. The delta land,
where the pheasant thrives best, consists

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

of the best land that California has and
is therefore all under cultivation, with
the exception of a few islands. It is
noticeable that the birds are a little more
plentiful on these uncultivated islands.

Thousands of nests are destroyed an-
nually by mowing machines, rakes, culti-
vators and different implements used to
till the soil and harvest the crops, for a
large percentage of these birds like to
nest in the growing alfalfa, corn and
barley fields, although there are many
levees and sloughs where they do nest.
Then there is the common house cat that
is one of the greatest destroyers of young
pheasants and quail. It is not so strange
when you view the cat situation as it is
that which proves to be such a menace
to these birds. It should be taken seri-
ously. The cat has gradually been
planted on our islands, much as the Com-
mission has planted pheasants and other
game birds.

First there are the farmers and people
living' in tov/rx who haven't, as they say,
the heart to drown small kittens, and
finding them a nuisance, take them in the
car and drop them along the road in
some out of the way place. Furthermore,
there is the delta tenant who moves out
of a camp and leaves the cats to shift for
themselves. I have often seen these cats
along the road in the evening. I had a
house cat at my home that killed two
quail, less than a half a mile. apart: one
was found partially eaten beside her nest
of sixteen eggs, and the other within a
few feet of her nest of twenty-one eggs.
I saw this and know that this one cat
destroyed two coveys of quail inside of
two days. Later I came upon another
cat eating a young pheasant about the
size of a quail. These cats were killed,
and I have declared war on all the cats
that I find in the field, and up to date
have killed quite a few.

The planting of cats in this innocent
way has given this animal such a start
that it will take more than one game farm
to produce enough birds to feed these cats.
Many of the delta farmers are foreigners,
who have made it a practice to hunt and
trap these birds, but they are taking
notice of our good judges who can say
$100 or $500 just as easily as the judge, a
few years back, said $25. — D. E. Roberts.

A COSTLY LESSON.

One Lassen County man who shot a
doe and entertained secret ambitions to
"out smart" the law. completed arrange-
ments with Judge Taylor of Taylorville
early in November to pay his -MOO fine

in monthly installments. Deputy Walter
I. Long of Westwood took the case nearly
two weeks after the act had been com-
mitted. He learned that two fawns had
starved to death as the result of the
slaughter of their mother. The tragedy
persisted in his mind with a strange fasci-
nation and he determined to make the
best of the scanty information that had
come to his ears.

Finally, through two farmers who were
sufficiently incensed over the distress of
the fawns to be willing to tell all they
knew of the matter, he succeeded in gath-
ering in the remaining facts necessary to
his case. At first, the doe slayer denied
the charge, but when faced with the evi-
dence that the deputy had gathered so
carefully, he plead guilty.

There are times and occasions when
severe fines, though they impose a very
serious burden on the offender, are neces-
sary because of the reprehensible natui'e
of the offense. The exposure of the two
fawns to the many perils of the wilder-
ness by the removal of their mother ; even
their lingering death by starvation, might
be viewed with some indifference, if the
doe had been killed by a man whose
family were on the verge of perishing for
want of food. But in this case the killing
was wholly wanton and Judge Taylor
probably was of the opinion that the
offender's lack of sportsmanship and fail-
ure to keep the law could best be cor-
rected by a severe fine. Inasmuch as the
doe slayer could not pay the entire fine,
he was ordered by the court to pay $50
a month over a period of eight months.

THE FOOD OF FISHES.

The source of subsistence of fishes in-
habiting the vast expanses of the sea has
excited man's keenest interest. This
springs partly from a desire to know what
is hidden beneath the waves of the ocean.
While it is possible to see fish sporting
about beneath the surface, rarely is the
secret of their livelihood revealed. To
discover this, scientists have tediously
examined samples of sea water with high-
powered microscopes, strained the water
through fine cloth or filter paper and
availed of all manner of methods to
satisfy their curiosity as to the kinds of
living things which serve as food for
marine fishes.

Dr. W. E. Allen in the California
Monthly (Vol. xxi, No. 2) gives an ac-
count of the study now being made at the
Scripps Institution of Oceanography of
the plankton, a general name applied to
floating animals and plants resident in

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

the sea that fall victims to fish. In de-
scribing the host of creatures composing
the plankton group, Dr. Allen writes :

"Obviously, a term as sweeping as this
includes a wide variety of organisms some
of whicli live suspended in sea water
throughout their existence while others
live as plankton through only a brief
period of their lives. For example, very
young barnacles, mussels, and starfishes
may be found in the plankton inshore, at
times, but they live on, or are even fixed
to, solid objects over a much longer period
after they have reached the adult form.

"Some species of animals and plants are
free-floating or free-swimming through-
out indefinite numbers of successive gen-
erations. They constitute the permanent
plankton. Others, including fish eggs and
very small fish fry, belong to the plankton
for only a few days or weeks. They con-
stitute the temporary plankton, or rather
the temporary components of the plank-
ton. Some organisms, such as jellyfishes,
belong to the plankton only during a
sexual generation, the preceding and fol-
lowing generations being fixed to solid
objects in much the same way as sea
weeds. In general, they constitute only
a small part of the temporary plankton,
although in certain localities they may
swarm in such numbers as to be almost
all of it for a few days.

"Plankton consisting of individuals
large enough to be seen readily with the
unaided eye is called 'macroplankton.'
That which requires the use of a micro-
scope for effective study is called 'micro-
plankton.' That which can be studied
only with very high powers of the micro-
scope is called 'nanoplankton.' The bac-
teria are included in it. Animal plankton
is called 'zooplankton' and plant plankton
is called 'phytoplankton.'

"None of the animal components of the
plankton can manufacture foods from raw
materials of air and water (including
dissolved and suspended salts and gases).
They must feed upon other animals or
upon plants or their products. Some
plankton animals are able to feed on
sea weeds or fragments of sea weed, but
most of them are finally dependent upon
the plants of the plankton.

"Of these plants, diatoms are most
widely distributed and, apparently, most
important by reason of their power to
manufacture living substance from raw
materials, and by reason of their useful-
ness as forage for animals. Diatoms are
microscopic plants which usually give
no evidence of their existence to our
unaided eyes. But there are times when
they swarm by countless billions over
hundreds of square miles of sea and to
some scores of yards beneath its surface.

"In general, it may be said that the
plankton in all seas tends to reach great-
est abundance in the spring of the year.
This is particularly true of plants, al-
though it has not yet been shown to be
a fully dependable rule. Many links in
different food chains have been traced, for
example, the use of diatoms for food by
copepods (tiny shrimp-like animals in the
plankton mentioned above), of diatoms
and copepods by fishes, of smaller fishes
by larger fishes, and so on.

"In southern California it has been
found that great variations in production
of diatoms may occur in successive years
and in different localities. In favorable
localities and under favoring conditions

diatoms may be found in numbers of
several million cells to the liter (about
a quart). Plankton organisms tend to
occur in swarms just as strongly as fishes
tend to occur in schools. The sea some-
times shows reddish, brownish, or yellow-
ish hues for many miles because of the
abundance of certain plankton organisms
which have found living conditions
exceptionally good. Coastal- waters, up-
welling waters, and Arctic seas in the
summer season have been found to show
high productivity as compared with other
waters. There is increasing evidence that
conditions of drainage from land into the
sea may have great influence on the
productivity of neighboring oceanic terri-
tory. For example, at the Scripps Institu-
tion of Oceanography it is considered
probable that reduced and severely con-
trolled drainage in southern California
in the last several years is partly responsi-
ble for the lower production of plankton
and of commercial fishes.

"Not only are components of the plank-
ton most favorable amongst marine organ-
isms for studies of fundamental condi-
tions of origin and maintenance of life
in the seas of today, but they are also
highly important in furnishing clues to
conditions of life in the past. For
example, both living and fossil diatoms
and foraminifera are being extensively
studied for information concerning the
conditions in the sea under which cer-
tain marine deposits were formed. They
are also used by stratigraphic geologists
as an aid in the location of petroleum
deposits. Since it appears that these
minute organisms contain material which
may be the mother sub3tance of petro-
leum, they are also being studied in con-
nection with the investigation of the origin
of possible source beds of petroleum."

COURT DECISION DIVIDES JURISDIC-
TION OVER KAIBAB DEER.

In connection with the plan to reduce
the number of deer on the Kaibab game
preserve in northwestern Arizona, a con-
flict arose between the United States
Forest Service and the state of Arizona
as to the issuing of hunting licenses.
When the Forest Service proposed issuing
special licenses to hunters to kill a cer-
tain number of deer, the state authorities
objected, claiming the deer of the Kaibab
were under state jurisdiction. When the
matter was carried to the United States
District Court of Arizona the court
granted a perpetual injunction against
the state officials from enforcing the
game laws of Arizona against "officers,
agents, servants or employees of the
United States on account of anything
done by them in carrying out the regula-
tions or orders of the Secretary of Agri-
culture relative to reducing the number
of deer in the forest or game preserve."
On the other hand, the decision provided
that "this decree shall not be construed
to permit the licensing of hunters to kill
deer."

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

LION HUNTER BRUCE BREAKS
RECORD.

That State Lion Hunter Jay Bruce has
been especially active the past year is
demonstrated by the thirty-nine lions
killed up to December 1st, and with a
chance of adding several more during the
month of December. His total kill to date
has been 324. Mr. Bruce accounts for
the bettering of his average of thirty
being due to the assistance in camp fur-
nished by a friend. With someone who
could drive the machine and meet Bruce
at some other point, much time has been
saved.

MOSQUITO FISH A SUCCESS.

One of the latest fishes to be success-
fully introduced into California waters is
not a food or game fish, but a small top
minnow known as the mosquito fish,
introduced to help in the conti^ol of
malaria. Heretofore, the cure of malaria
has depended primarily on the skill of a
physician in poisoning the malarial para-
site which works in the blood corpuscles,
with the least damage to the human body.
The salts of quinine secured from a Peru-
vian tree has been most successfully used.
A recent paper entitled, "The Mosquito
Fish (Gambusia) and its Relations to
Malaria," by David Starr Jordan (Smith-
sonian Report, 1926, pages 3G1-368, 4
pis.) points out that attention is now
being given to prevention rather than
cure. Anything which helps to destroy
the carrier of the disease, which has been
proved to be certain mosquitoes, is real
prevention. The small top minnows from
the coast streams of eastern Mexico eat
the eggs of the "wigglers" of disease carry-
ing mosquitoes. Immediate success was
obtained in acclimatizing this fish in
California and worthwhile results are
claimed by those interested. The success
here has caused the introduction of the
same fish in Hawaii, Formosa, Philippine
Islands and more recently in Spain, Italy
and Albania.

SEASHORE ANIMALS OF THE
PACIFIC COAST.*

These days there are increasing num-
bers of people who find recreation along
the seacoast. Not only are the sandy
beaches chosen, but the rocky cliffs and
tide pools are explored. Many there are
also who inspect the wonders of the deep
through glass-bottomed boats. To all

* Johnson, Myrtle Elizabeth, and Snook,
Harry James, 1927. Seashore animals of
the Pacific coast. (The Macmillan Com-
pany, New York), xiv, 659 pp., 11 col. pis.,
700 figs, in text.

such comes the constant question, "What
is that beautiful sea animal, what are its
near relatives and what its habits?"
Though the shell collector has had the
handbook of Josiah Keep, "West Coast
Shells," those interested in other animal
life could find no book to which to turn
to find dependable information. There
has been a real need felt by western nat-
uralists, teachers, leaders of scouts and
visitors at the beaches for a readable,
fully illustrated account of the common
seashore animals of the west coast. This
need has now been filled through the pub-
lication of a sizeable book entitled, "Sea-
shore Animals of the Pacific Coast," by
Myrtle Elizabeth Johnson and Harry
James Snook. The authors discovered
the need and made their plans while doing
graduate work in the Zoology Depart-
ment of the University of California.
Through the years, though busy teaching
in two widely separated parts of the
state, these two authors through summer
studies at various biological stations and
independent work have brought to com-
pletion this sptendid volume. Eleven
colored plates give evidence of the beauti-
ful colors which nature has evolved in
living organisms that find their home
about the reefs, rocky beaches and sandy
patches of shore. Seven hundred addi-
tional illustrations help the reader to
visualize each form of animal life.

Every rocky point that juts into the
surf is a natural museum. Crevices in
the rocks and the mat of seaweed afford
shelter for numerous forms, while the
hard rocks give places of attachment for
those animals that lead a sedentary life.
Nearby the outgoing tide leaves pools in
rocky basins which form traps for
shrimps, fish and other purely aquatic
forms. With this newly published book
in hand, one may segregate the various
forms according to their relationships
and find the correct names for them and
learn of their distribution and interesting
habits. Though great care has been taken
to make the book scientifically accurate,
it is designed for use by all those inter-
ested in sea life whether they have a zoo-
logical vocabulary or not.

Anyone interested in fish and game and
its conservation will find of value the
paragraphs relating to such game species
as the edible crab, the spiny lobster and
the various edible clams. A cursory review
will bring to light such interesting facts
as the following: The red abalone pro-
duces annually from one to two million
eggs. Yet in spite of this the number of
abalones have so decreased in recent years

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

that special legislation has been neces-
sary in the effort to conserve them. The
spiny lobster produces a quarter million
eggs and the young have a curious larval
existence. The flattened condition of the
body has given them the name of phyllo-
some ( leaf body ) . Artificial propagation
has as yet been unsuccessful. One kind
of starfish is so common a food of other
animals that seldom is an individual
found with all of its rays. Thirteen spe-
cies of shore sponges are commonly found
on the California coast. They seldom
resemble the sponge of commerce, which
is only the skeleton of this animal. The
"rubberneck" clam or gaper is a con-
spicuous inhabitant of the mud flats of
Tomales Bay. Though it lives two to
four feet below the surface, long siphons
connect the animal with the water above
in order that it may obtain food and air.
It sometimes shoots jets of water a foot
or more above the surface of the mud
whenever an intruder invades the flats.

The life along the shore constitutes a
natural resource. The more the citizens
of the state know about the individual
inhabitants, the better use can be made
of this resource and better attention can
be given to its preservation. This new
book is a worthy contribution to science
and to conservation. — H. C. Bryant.

STATE BIRD TO BE SELECTED.

The California Audubon Society is
sponsoring a move to secure a poll of the
state as to a choice of a state bird. Chil-
dren in the schools will enjoy making
recommendations as will many bird lovers.
In making choice, some decision must be
made as to whether the requirement is
for a bird Avell known to all or whether
one of the more unusual and distinctive
birds of the state may well be a candidate.
The great California condor, the largest
of land birds in North America, is re-
stricted to this state and might well be
chosen because of its size and its histori-
cal background. The valley quail is, of
course, a contestant for honors and prob-
ably would be the choice of most sports-
men. Although less well known the
wren-tit, a typical bird of the chaparral
and to be heard in every patch of brush
in the foothills, is a distinctive species
found in the southwestern United States
and the only bird in a family. No close
relatives of this bird are known. Like-
wise, the yellow-billed magpie, found only
in the state of California, receives con-
sideration from the standpoint of beauty
and uniqueness. If any reader is inter-
ested in this contest, he should send his

choice to the California Audubon Society,
Los Angeles.

GAME RESTORATION PROGRAM
INAUGURATED.

After hearing so much of such phrases
as game depletion, game decimation and
game disappearance, the term game res-
toration is refreshing. The National
Sportsmen's Magazine has taken up this
slogan and is doing its utmost to stir
interest in putting back into game covers
what is taken out by hunters. Emphasis
is placed on game propagation as one
method of bringing about better hunting
conditions. The day has passed where a
sportsman can consider his responsibility
ended after he has paid the state license
fee. His two-dollar payment certainly
would not replace one deer nor the
twenty-five ducks which he shoots. Hunt-
ing and fishing is worth more to a sports-
man than he is paying for it, but he
must assume responsibility in a restora-
tion progi-am.

REFLOODING OF LOWER KLAMATH
LAKE HELD IMPRACTICABLE.

It has long been the hope of conserva-
tionists that some arrangement might be
made by which a progi'am could be under-
taken for reflooding Lower Klamath Lake,
which was at one time a splendid water-
fowl breeding and feeding ground, lying
partly in southern Oregon and partly in
northern California. By reason of the
use of the water of Klamath River in
recent years for irrigation of agricultural
lands and also for power, water has been
lacking to keep the marshes of Lower
Klamath Lake habitable for waterfowl.

A study was made this year by L. T.
Jessup, an irrigation engineer assigned
by the Bureau of Public Roads to the
Biological Survey of the United States
Department of Agriculture, to determine
the practicability of a reflooding program.
At a conference held in Klamath Falls,
Oregon, on September 27 and 28, by Paul
G. Redington, chief of the Biological Sur-
vey, with representatives of the California
and Oregon game commissions, the report
of the engineer was rendered. The many
obstacles that preclude further considera-
tion of the project were there brought out.

In the first place, the full supply of
water from the Klamath River is needed
for existing and projected irrigation plans
and for power use. In the second place,
legislation of the states of Oregon and
California, which ceded the lands involved
to the federal government for use as a
reclamation project, stipulated that the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

water should be used for irrigation pur-
poses. In the third place, even if water
were available, it is held that the reflood-
ing of Lower Klamath Lake would be
detrimental to agriculture in the imme-
diate region, and the cost of necessary
project works, such as dikes and pumping
plants, and the purchase of privately
owned lands, would run into a very large
figure.

At the conference held in Klamath
Falls it was decided to drop consideration
of the reflooding program in the Lower
Klamath region and to concentrate the
efforts of sportsmen and others interested
throughout the country on the I'estoration
work to be done on the Bear River
marshes, at the northern end of Great
Salt Lake, in Utah. Here it is possible
by diking to establish large areas of fresh
water, which when completed will not
only furnish breeding and feeding grounds
for a very large number of waterfowl but
will operate to decrease the mortality that
has been so serious among the birds for
many years.

The chief of the Biological Survey, in
commenting on this general situation,
stated that the news of the abandonment
of the Lower Klamath Lake project
would be disappointing to many sports-
men and conservationists of the country
Avho had banked on the reestablishment
of an important waterfowl concentration
area there. Continuing, Mr. Redington
said, "I am very sorry to be the harbinger
of this bad news, since I am well aware
of the great interest displayed by thou-
sands of sportsmen and bird lovers in the
project, but the obstacles to reflooding
Lower Klamath Lake appear to be of an
insuperable nature. Copies of the engin-
eer's report on the project are to be given
to many of the organizations that have
been behind this project, and it is my
opinion that after reading the report their
judgment as to the unfeasibility of the
project will coincide with the judgment
of the Oregon and California fish and
game commissions and with that of the
Biological Survey.

"We are daily expecting the report of
our engineer who has been working for
the past few months on a plan to con-
struct additional dikes on the Bear River
marshes in Utah. We know that this
sort of restoration work is entirely pos-
sible since the State Fish and Game
Commissioner of Utah, Mr. Madsen, and
certain duck clubs owning land on the
Bear River marshes have already by dik-
ing established such areas.

"The state of Utah has, by legislation,
consented to the establishment of a fed-
eral project, which, when completed, will
comprehend more than 100 square miles
of fresh-water marshland territory for

wild fowl, and it is our hope that this
project may be consummated in the near
future. Valuable not alone as a breeding
ground but for feeding and resting, it is
as important a concentration area as any
that can be found throughout the United
States, and it is imperative that action
be had to remedy the conditions that for
the past decade or so have caused such
a heavy mortality of the ducks and other
waterfowl in the lines of the great west-
ern migration."

Mr. Redington further stated that the
engineering examinations of the Bear
River marshes in Utah and the Lower
Klamath and Malheur lakes in California
and Oregon would not have been possible
but for the generosity of western sports-
men, who raised a fund of more than
.$6,000, which permitted the Biological
Survey to obtain the services of competent
engineers.

DISTEMPER ON FOX FARMS TO
RECEIVE CAREFUL STUDY.

The University of Minnesota Medical
School is engaging in cooperative studies
with the Federal Bureau of Biological
Survey of the cause and treatment of fo.x
distemper, according to an announcement
of the United States Department of Agri-
culture. Cooperators of the University
are aiding the movement financially, and
assistance by the Biological Survey also
has been made possible by a slight in-
crease in the federal appropriations made
for the purpose by the last congress.

Fur farmers throughout the country
and in Canada are bending every effort
to prevent contagious diseases of their
foxes, and the cooperation of research
workers of the university and the Biologi-
cal Survey will be welcomed by all fur
producers. Studies of outbreaks of
disease have been made by research work-
ers of the two organizations, and as
rapidly as possible the results will be
made available to fox farmers.

Dr. J. E. Shillinger of the Biological
Survey, formerly of the Bureau of Animal
Industry, is in charge of the federal work,
and Dr. Robert G. Green of the Depart-
ment of Bacteriology and Immunology of
the Medical School, represents the Uni-
versity of Minnesota.

So far as the resources of the Biologi-
cal Survey permit, representatives of that
bureau will cooperate with fox farmers
in efforts to maintain the health of their
stock. Outbreaks of disease on fox farms,
if reported to Paul G. Redington, chief.
Bureau of Biological Survey, Washing-
ton, D. C, will receive as careful atten-
tion as the funds for the purpose war-
rant. Material for laboratory study will
be thus obtained, and research work will

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

be conducted to determine, when possible,
the cause of the disease and remedial
measures.

BEAVER FARMING IN CUT-OVER
LANDS PROMISES PROFIT AND
INTERESTING WORK.
In a report on the possibility of raising
beavers profitably, the Biological Survey
of the United States Department of Agri-
culture says that there are many locali-
ties where these fur bearers could be re-
introduced without harm and where,
through storing water in the reservoirs
along mountain streams, they would do
much good by helping prevent floods and
extensive erosion, by increasing the
stream flow in dry weather, and by im-
proving the fishing resources of streams
and lakes. In such places they would
not only enrich forests and parks with a
unique and intensely interesting form of
wild life, but also would add much to
the decreasing supply of valuable fur.

Beavers, the Survey has found, can be
kept readily in a fully controlled if not a
fully domesticated state. Because the ani-
mals are comparatively clumsy and slow
walkers, they rarely go more than twenty
or thirty rods from their home stream. To
confine them to a narrow strip along a
certain stream, therefore, it is only neces-
sary to fence across the stream a short
distance above and below their colony,
running the fences at right angles to the
stream about thirty rods on each side.

The best location for beaver farms is
believed to be in the tier of states along
the Canadian border. A rough guide to
desirable range for beavers is the presence
of the aspen or poplar tree. These trees
are their favorite food and are of little
value commercially. Much of the best
beaver country is in localities where,
after the original timber has been lum-
bered off and the ground burned over,
thickets of aspen and pin cherry have
sprung up as second growth. Such land
is generally considered almost worthless,
but it might support a large beaver popu-
lation and could be successfully handled
either on a large or a small scale. A
small fur farm, where detailed attention
can be given to the animals, is likely to
prove more successful at first, and can be
extended when management practices are
fully mastered.

Anyone interested in the possibilities
of beaver farming may obtain a booklet
giving much additional information by
writing to the United States Department
of Agriculture at Washington, D. C, ask-
ing for Technical Bulletin No. 21-T.

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY SEEKS COOP-
ERATION OF HUNTING CLUBS.

An effort is being made to enlist the
cooperation of wild-fowl hunting clubs
throughout the United States and Canada
in reporting to the Biological Survey of
the United States Department of Agri-
culture their bags of wild ducks and other
migratory game birds taken during the
1927-28 open season. This information
is desired as a basis, in part, for de-
termining whether migratory game birds
generally are increasing or decreasing.
It will be of value in formulating regula-
tions for their protection.

Paul G. Redington, chief of the Biologi-
cal Survey, states that "this cooperation
from the sportsmen and sportsmen's clubs
of this country and Canada will be of
great benefit not only to the birds but to
the sport as well." Clubs and individuals
interested are requested to communicate
with the Biological Survey, Washington,
D. C. ; instructions and forms will be
furnished. The work will be started early
in October.

WATERFOWL SHOOTING PERMITTED
ON PARTS OF UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

Under a recent order of the Secretary
of Agriculture, waterfowl shooting is per-
mitted during the present hunting season
on parts of the Upper Mississippi River
Wild Life and Fish Refuge, in accordance
with the provisions of the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act and the regulations there-
under, with state laws, and with regula-
tions governing the use of the refuge.

The order permits hunting over navi-
gable waters and meandered lakes only.
Thus it has the effect of preventing
shooting on marshlands and ponds, and
on these areas waterfowl will have sanc-
tuary. This reservation was authorized
by congress chiefly to provide a refuge
for wild life, but at the same time to
afford a place that the public might enjoy
for hunting and other recreational pur-
poses, so far as consistent with the main
objects for which the reservation was
made. Hunting on private lands within
the limits of the refuge is not affected
by the order. It relates to waterfowl
shooting only and does not permit the
taking of other wild life on the reserva-
tion.

FORESTS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN
REGULATION OF STREAMFLOW.

That the forest plays an important
part in the regulation of streamflow has
been brought out by scientific investiga-
tion over a great many years and in many
parts of the world, according to Raphael

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Zon, director of the Lake States Forest
Experiment Station of the Forest Serv-
ice, United States Department of Agri-
culture.

The forests are not only an important
factor in regulating streamflow, but also
aid in modifying climate and the chai'-
acter of the soil, tending toward the
improvement of the water storage capac-
ity of any watershed. These conclusions
of Doctor Zon's regarding • the relation-
ship of forests and floods are of particu-
lar interest just now when ways and
means of preventing floods and regulating
flood waters are being given such wide
consideration. In his booklet entitled
"Forests and Water in the Light of
Scientific Investigation," just republished
by the United States Department of Agri-
culture, he points out that although
floods which are produced by exceptional
rainfall can not be prevented by forests,
yet, without the mitigating influence of
the forests, floods are more severe and
destructive.

"A national policy," he says, "which,
though considering the direct value of
forests as a source of timber, fails to take
full account also of their influence upon
erosion, the flow of streams, and climate,
may easily endanger the well-being of
the whole people."

The tendency of the forest is to equalize
the flow throughout the year of all
streams having their origin in tree-
covered mountain regions. This is
explained in an interesting discussion of
the combined effects of the forests upon
air and soil temperature, relative humid-
ity, effective precipitation, evaporation,
wind, physical character of the soil, and
run-off of water, which, in turn, control
streamflow. A comparison of many
streams having forested and nonforested
watersheds supports the conclusions
reached by the study of contributing
factors.

The booklet shows the effect of forest
cover to be most beneficial on steep slopes,
at the higher elevations and on nonporous
soils. The forest breaks the force of
storms, absorbs some of the water, per-
mits still more water to seep down into
the soil where it is gradually released to
feed the springs and larger streams. The
maintenance of a forest cover is shown to
be the cheapest and best way of prevent-
ing erosion by its tendency to bind the
soil in place.

A limited number of free copies of
"Forests and Water" are available upon
application to the Office of Information,

Department of Agriculture, Washington,
D. C.

GAME ANIMALS KILLED IN FOREST
EVEN BY SLOW GROUND FIRES.

Like the exile who brought about his
undoing by yielding to the desire to return
once more to his old home, the instinct
of wild game to drift back to their range
following a forest fire often leads to their
destruction, according to evidence gath-
ered by foresters of the United States
Department of Agriculture.

While a forest fire, unless it is "crown-
ing," or traveling in the tree tops, ordi-
narily does not travel fast enough to
overtake the fleeing game birds and ani-
mals, the homing instinct is said to bring
them back to their haunts frequently
before a fire has subsided.

Commenting on the destruction of wild
life by forest fires, J. W. Humphrey of
the Forest Service, describes some of his
observations during the Lost Johnny
Creek fire in the Flathead National
Forest in Montana last summer. This
fire occurred in a mixed stand of spruce,
fir, larch and white pine.

"The fire while at its height," Mr.
Humphrey says, "did not travel faster
than two miles an hour. This being the
case, it would seem unlikely that deer or
game birds would be overtaken by the
flames. Pine squirrels and other animals,
however, were all destroyed in the path
of the Are. Along the edge of the Are,
where we were trenching, we saw a num-
ber of pine squirrels that apparently had
their feet so badly burned they could
not climb trees.

"I found two whitetail deer on the
creek below the fire fighters' camp that
were burned to a crisp. Two others — one
a large buck and the other a yearling —
died near the Riverside pasture gate.
Another old buck, with the hair over his
hind quarters badly singed, and his feet
so badly burned that he could hardly
walk, was seen by the entire crew a
number of times between Riverside and
Murray Creek. I also saw a fawn in the
vicinity of Spring Meadows that had evi-
dently lost its mother. The feet of this
fawn had been badly burned. However,
it appeared as if it would recover. We
found a great many grouse that had died
from the effects of the fire.

"This fire did not travel fast enough to
overtake either the game or the birds. It
is my opinion that both, after the fire
had quieted down, drifted back to their
old range through the smoldering ashes.
After getting in where the ashes were
extremely hot, and burning their feet, they
had become bewildered, and probably had
run on until so badly burned that, even
though they got out of the fire, they later
died. Both deer and grouse appeared very
reluctant to move away from their home
range and returned before the ground
had had time to cool. Nearly every day
we would see deer wandering through
the burn, especially on the meadows, even
though the forage was practically all
destroyed."

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

STUDY MADE OF MAGPIE IN RELA-
TION TO AGRICULTURE.

The common magpie, a characteristic
bird of the plains and mountains of the
west, exerts an economic influence similar
to that of the crow of the east. A study
of its food habits, the results of which
have just been published by the United
States Department of Agriculture in
Technical Bulletin 24-T, "The Magpie in
Relation to Agriculture," by E. R. Kalm-
bach, biologist of the Biological Survey,
indicates that as an insect eater the mag-
pie surpasses the crow and all other mem-
bers of the Corvine family, which includes
jays, crows and magpies. Destructive
weevils, caterpillars and grasshoppers
characterize its insect food, which forms
nearly 36 per cent of the bird's annual
diet. The magpie also eats a limited
number of small rodents, and as a carrion
feeder it does additional good.

On the other hand, the magpie has some
outstanding faults. It is guUty of the
destruction of poultry and beneficial wild
birds and their eggs and at times becomes
a pest on the cattle ranch by its attacks
on sick, injured or weak live stock.
There are times when these birds become
so bold or gather in such great numbers
that a reduction in their numbers is war-
ranted. Poisoning during the winter has
been found to be an economical, effective
and safe method of accomplishing this.
Extirpation of the bird, however, is not
called for, and before local campaigns
of control are inaugurated careful con-
sideration should be given to their neces-
sity and scope.

Copies of the new bulletin may be had
upon request addressed to the United
States Department of Agriculture, Wash-
ington, D. C.

ANNUAL FUR LAW SUMMARY
ISSUED.

To encourage effective action on the

part of those concerned in maintaining
the supply of fur animals, including
trappers, fur tradesmen, administrative
officials, legislative committees and con-
servation societies, the Biological Survey
issues a summary of the fur laws for
each season. The thirteenth annual sum-
mary, entitled "Fur Laws for the Season
1927-28," and known as Farmers' Bulle-
tin No. 1552-F, has just been published
by the United, States Department of Agri-
culture.

The authors of the bulletin state that
the fur resources of the country are stead-
ily diminishing and that the factors
responsible for this are out-of-season
trapping, overtrapping, a general tend-
ency in many sections to class fur bearers
as vermin to be killed on sight, a great
reduction of fur-producing areas, unwise
drainage of swamps and marshes, and
needless destruction of forests and cover.
The raw-fur catch during 1925-26 was
approximately 20 per cent less than in
the previous year, and the decrease for
1926-27 was even greater. The primary
responsibility for making and enforcing
laws to protectt fur animals rests with
the individual states, and the states are
more and more appreciating this fact, as
well as the fact that if they do not make
and enforce appropriate fur-conservation
laws, the public and private benefits from
the fur resources will diminish to the
vanishing point in the not distant future.

The neAV bulletin gives a complete sum-
mary in synopsis form of all the laws of
the various states relating to fur animals
effective for the present trapping season,
also those of Canada, Newfoundland and
Mexico. Regulations affecting interstate
shipment of pelts are explained, and the
fur legislation enacted during the year
is reviewed, with all important changes
noted. Copies of the bulletin may be
obtained from the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES.

A number of important administra-
tive changes have been made by the new
Board of Commissioners since their
appointment on September 2. They are
as follows :

J. S. Hunter from chief of patrol to
assistant to the executive officer. New
duties will include game census and
technical advice.

Mrs. Pearl Ford from assistant to the
executive officer to secretary to the Board
of Fish and Game Commissioners.

K. P. AUred from captain, San Luis
Obispo district, to acting chief of patrol.

J. D. Dondero from deputy to captain
in charge of the district to include Lake,
Napa and Mendocino counties.

La Rue Chappell from deputy to cap-
tain in charge of portion of southern
California territory.

W. B. Sellmer, captain Marin County,
additional charge of launch patrol.

New badges have been issued to the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

volunteer deputies to replace the mauy
different styles aud patterns. The new
l)adge is a bronze shield aud somewhat
resembles that of the federal game
warden. It assures uniformity aud an
equal dignity throughout the volunteer
forces. The assortment of glittering
oddities that formerly posed as badges
has been called in and those privately
owned will no longer be honored as marks
of authority.

The comments on stream and field and
game conditions made in the reports of
the volunteer deputies are pi'oving of
interest and value to the division. They
indicate not alone the coordinative work
of the volunteer force with the regular
patrol, but also indicate a more favorable
attitude of the public toward the value
of wild life and the need of its proper
protection.

Up to November 1, sixty-seven organi-
zations that have for their object the
conservation of fish and game had recom-
mended and sponsored the appointment of
2G9 volunteer deputies. These appoint-
ments have been made by the division.

Replies have come in from practically
every employee of the division, giving the
data requested on the personnel ques-
tionnaire sent out in July. A vast
amount of useful information can be
found in these papers disclosing ambitions
and capabilities, as well as desires to
become more proficient in each respective
field of endeavor. It is planned to have
these data serve not only as a personnel
record but as a means of adapting those
better fitted to perform other lines of
work, and as a means of making adequate
advancements.

The survey crew posting the bound-
aries of California's thirty-four game
refuges was recently loaned a one-ton
truck used at the Yosemite Hatchery.
This additional equipment will serve to
carry the crew from one refuge to another
and will expedite the work.

Game refuges 1-H, Plumas County,
l-I, Placer County, 1-0, El Dorado
County, 3-F, Contra Costa County, 3-G,
San Mateo and Santa Clara counties,
have been surveyed and posted. The crew
is now chaining and posting refuges 3-A,
Santa Cruz County, and 3-E, Santa Clara
County.

Department of Patrol.

Much of the routine of the patrol office
has been reorganized and adjusted.

Captains in all districts have been placed
in complete authority and are now held
accountable for conditions obtaining
there. Except in cases of unavoidable
emergency, deputies are instructed to act
through their captains.

On October 11, a conference of the
captains of patrol was held in San Fran-
cisco. Both land and water forces con-
vened for the purpose of arriving at a
common imderstanding of certain prob-
lems which were discussed in open meet-
ing. The success of the conference has
merited the suggestion that similar
gatherings be held every three months.

The most clever schemes of men
ofttimes are of no avail. This proved the
case of two dove hunters in the Monterey
district who, on killing over the limit of
doves, thought themselves achieving the
pinnacle of adroitness by concealing 26
doves in their bed-roll. Deputy Richard
Young became suspicious of their charac-
ter, however, and succeeded in taking
them before Judge F. J. Voll of Hollister,
who imposed a fine on each of $75.

Due to the skill of deputies C. J.
Walters and E. S. Hurlbut a catch of 190
trout was discovered in a snowbank near
Lake EUery in Mono County. An arrest
of a near-by camper followed and Judge
A. E. Rule of Mono Lake fined the
"trout hog" $100.

Even the ranks of the game wardens
in California have been invaded by the
fair sex. The division recently appointed
Mrs. Walter B. Sellmer a volunteer
deputy and her first case involved the
arrest of an individual shooting from a
motor driven conveyance.

A record plant of 100 cans of trout
fry was made by Captain J. E. New-
some's division on October 28. Just two
hours and five minutes were alloted to
the men to plant 20 miles of the Merced
River from the terminus of the railroad
at El Portal to the upper end of Yosemite
Valley. Three trucks met the fish car
at El Portal at 11.45 a.m. and returned
the empty cans before the depai-ture of
the train at 1.50 p.m. One truck planted
the stream as far as the power house,
a second, the river above the Pohono
bridge and a third from the Sentinel
bridge up stream. The water was at a
satisfactory temperature, there was little
loss in fish and those planted were in
fine condition.

An enviable record of arrests and con-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

victions dealing with deer cases was
attained by deputies Walter Emerick and
R. E. Bedwell. They secured eleven con-
victions during the opening of the deer
season in district 3. The fines imposed on
the defendants convicted totaled nearly
$1,000. Later in the season, Deputy
Emerick made a case involving the kill-
ing of a fawn, which resulted in a $200
fine.

"This should serve notice on all vio-
lators of the fish and game laws, that
those who come before me will be severely
dealt with in the future. The wild life
of California is one of the state's greatest
assets and I am heartily in sympathy
with the rigid enforcement of the laws
existing for its protection." With this
declaration, Police Judge Daniel O'Brien
of San Francisco sentenced John J. Ryan
to serve thirty days in jail for having
more than 100 wild ducks in his posses-
sion during the closed season when he
was arrested on August 25. It is claimed
that Ryan has been a violator for
twenty years.

Profits on the sale of 102 pounds of
striped bass were trimmed down as a
result of the assessing of a fine against
A. Romeo, fish dealer, by Judge Lyle T.
Jacks, in a San Francisco police court.

The fish had been delivered to a promi-
nent San Francisco hotel and were about
to be served when Deputy Earl Caldwell
seized them. Two employes of the hotel
declared Romeo had been ordered to bring
sea bass, but brought striped bass instead.
The offender admitted in court that he
had been arrested four times for illegal
handling of striped bass. He was
warmly scored for his disregard of the
law and sentenced to pay a fine of $250.

The bass were turned over to the
Shriners Hospital. Here they were
served to the youngsters who were
patients in the hospital.

On January 7, 1925, Deputy Walter
Sellmer seized a truck loaded with 180
dozen crabs at Sausalito as the driver
was about to cross on the ferry to San
Francisco. Suit was brought in the name
of the Commission for illegal transporta-
tion and the crabs were retained on the
ground that they had been brought from
Humboldt County.

The decision of Superior Judge Edward
Butler of Marin County rendered on
October 20, 1927, is worthy of more than
the brief notice space permits here, for
he impressed on the offender that dealers
in products of the sea must comply with
the laws and rules laid down for the

purpose of conserving and protecting the
inhabitants of the deep.

A fine of $1,000 was meted out with
an alternative of one year in jail in the
case of Chester Chambers of Colusa on
November 13, by Judge John M. Golden
of San Francisco. The offender was
apprehended with 100 ducks in his posses-
sion and charged with two infractions
of the law : the possession of ducks dur-
ing the closed season and possession of
more than the limit. The maximum
fine was imposed on each count.

It has been suspected that market
hunters have been killing ducks by the
hundreds and bootlegging them in the
larger cities. Judge Golden is deserv-
ing of the praise of all those who appre-
ciate the value of checking the ravages
of the market hunter. It is only
through the coordination of the courts
with the work of the wardens that illegal
hunting can be pared down.

In commenting on the case, District
Attorney Matthew T. Brady said : "With
hunters and anglers increasing every
year and our fish and gam'e diminishing,
we must do everything in our power to
protect the remaining supply if the com-
ing generations are to have fish in our
streams and game in our fields."

Peter Balestreri, well known San
Francisco fisherman and consistent viola-
tor, was found guilty of illegally having
striped bass in his possession early in
November by Judge Lyle T. Jacks and
sentenced to pay a fine of $250 and spend
five days in the county jail. It was
Balestreri's third offense in one year.

The violator was apprehended by
Deputies C. L. Bundock and Earl Cald-
well on the morning of October 20 after
he had been pursued for many blocks in
the early morning. In attempting to
elude capture the fisherman tossed out
of his speeding machine the two sacks of
striped bass and finally in desperation
abandoned his car, with the motor run-
ning, in the middle of the vacant street.
He was positively identified, however,
by both deputies before the gloom of the
morning concealed him.

Lest the educational campaign directed
against the practice of "piecing out the
bag limit" has failed to remedy condi-
tions, deputies of the Division of Fish and
Game have concentrated their attention
on gun clubs. It will take gun clubs
in California a long time to live down
their reputation of being hoggish in the
matter of exceeding the bag limit. Cer-
tainly if action does not come within the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

organization, the Division of Fish and
Game will see to it that the law is
enforced. Gun clubs have no special
privileges and if they do not enjoy having
deputies .search members as they leave
the club, reform is necessary.

The deputies patrolling the duck haunts
in northern California have established
a camp near Maxwell. A building of
a rice grower has been fitted to serve as
a dormitory and assurance thus made
that deputies exposed to a night of mud
and rain while watching for the flash of
a pot hunter's automatic will have a
warm shelter and a dry bed. Further
consideration for their health and com-
fort has been manifested in the employ-
ing of a cook, who, it is said, serves
excellent meals.

The reports from the Los Banos and
San Joaquin delta districts are very
encouraging and market hunters are well
aware that deputies are in the vicinity.
So far little trouble has been experienced
with violations on the part of free lances.
About the only irritation with the com-
mercial clubs has been the tendency of
the duck clubs to oversell their blinds,
and in nearly all cases of the sale of
ducks, the sale has been made in the
duck fields to hunters who failed to bag
a limit of ducks and desired not to lose
favor among those to whom they had
boasted at home.

It was estimated that there were 3000
duck hunters in Imperial Valley on the
opening day of the duck season. Every
hotel from Westmoreland to Mexicali
was full and hundreds of hunters were
camped along the roadside.

At the first break of day it sounded
like Chinese New Year. After one hour
of shooting the ducks were up in the
air so high they looked like small black-
birds and were all headed for Mexico,
never to return.

Deputy E. D. Ricketts writes : "Depu-
ties W. S. Talbott, R. J. Little and myself
estimated that there were 250 limits of
ducks killed on the opening day. These
included sprig, cinnamon teal, green-wing
teal and Fulvous tree-duck, a Mexican
duck that very seldom goes north of the
Salton Sea. There were very few geese.

"The duck area of the Salton Sea ranges
from 150 feet to 250 feet below sea level
and in this area there are some forty-odd
commercial duck clubs and private clubs
that have most all the land along the
sea from Mullet Island to Mecca, in
Riverside County. The charge to hunt
on the commercial clubs is from one to

five dollars per day. It devolves upon
the hunter to try and get a duck if he can.
When a duck comes along everyone starts
to shoot and if a duck is killed everyone
runs for it, then the fight starts to see
who gets it.

"There are also thousands of shore
birds in the rice fields and along the sea.
Several hundred curlew and a few jack-
snipe were seen in the rice and barley
fields.

"Six cases were made the first two days
of the open season for shooting shore
birds and four duck cases were made
the night before the opening for shooting
ducks in closed season.

"The ducks feed mostly at night in
the Imperial Valley and return to the
Salton Sea at daylight, to rest. The
Salton Sea is quite a large body of water
some 40 miles long and from five to seven-
teen miles wide. There are two rivers
running into the sea, the New River and
the Alamo. Most of the ducks loaf at
the mouth of these streams where fresh
water comes in, as the water in the
Salton Sea is very salty, and these points
ai'e where the most of the motor boat
shooting has been going on.

"The division had no motor boat patrol
on the Salton Sea until this year and all
the deputies could do was to stand on
the shore and look on, but with the patrol
boat. Ibis, which is being launched at
Mecca, the deputies will be able to put a
stop to the motor boat shooting on the
sea."

Over nineteen millions of trout fry
were planted under the supervision of the
deputies this season. The reports are
uniform in their showing that the fish
were planted with entire success. In all
cases of apparent inefiiciency, further
investigations disclosed that the negli-
gence was unavoidable. In a few
instances deputies were ill or called away
unexpectedly to take care of unforeseen
cases that required their immediate atten-
tion. On the whole the loss of fish was
slight.

The planting went forward very rap-
idly during August and September and
then slackened considerably as the hatch-
eries were emptied. By the middle of
October there were but three carloads to
be sent out from the Mount Shasta
Hatchery and nine from the Mount Whit-
ney Hatchery. These late shipments were
to regions in the coast range where there
was little danger of the planting crews
being caught by snow. The last fry
shipped from the Whitney Hatchery were
large, and, though more cans were re-
quired to transport them, their good size

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

and fitness assured better chances of
survival.

A study is being made by supervising
captain O. P. Brownlow involving plans
for the coming year and the mapping out
of a definite program.

The success of the new planting truck
suggests a way out of many diSiculties
so common in the past. If trucks could
be extensively used throughout the state
to convey the fry to the streams, a decided
improvement would result over the pres-
ent system. Captains of districts could
go to the hatchery foreman and learn
when their allotment would be made and
then make plans accordingly so as to
serve better the interests of their respec-
tive districts. This plan would avoid last
minute notices and work under conditions
hastily planned and often very arduous
because of lack of adequate preparation.

If three pack trains of eight mules
each could be placed in the fields with
three men working on each train and each
train working out from bases at concen-
trated points, distribution could be made
in the less accessible areas and in places
not reached by trucks. The pack trains
could also transport fish caught by hook
and line to barren waters in the vicinity.
It is suggested that the first distributing
bases for pack outfits be so located as to
cover eastern Fresno and Madera coun-
ties, Mono County and El Dorado and
Placer counties.

A new location was selected for the
holding pond near Cloverdale on the Rus-
sian River to afford a better test of its
feasibility. The pond selected last year
to try out the benefits' and detriments of
holding ponds in general proved unsatis-
factory. The present location is shaded
and the water diverted from the river
constantly cooled by seepage.

Squaw fish and hardheads are abund-
ant in the Russian River, as well as
black bass. These fishes have a great
preference for trout fry and are very
destructive. It is hoped to hold the trout
placed in the pond near Cloverdale until
they reach a size capable of holding their
own against these natural enemies.

Newsome, and in Tulare County super-
vised by Captain E. W. Smalley.

Captain J. D. Dondero has performed
some very creditable work rescuing
stranded fish in tributary streams of the
Eel River. He estimates that he has
placed some 80,000 fish in good water.

Rescue work involving the saving of
many thousands of bass, crappie, perch
and catfish has also been in progress in
the San Joaquin Valley south of New-
man under the direction of Captain J. E.

Captain Walter Sellmer on November
15 seized 12,090 feet of illegal nets being
used by fishermen in District 2 in the
mud flats between Mare Island and
Sonoma Creek. These nets, nearly two
miles in length, were being used in an
unlawful way to block off an area in
territory closed to fishing.

On November 3, George Baird for-
warded by parcel post an apparently
innocent looking package marked "bulbs
and plants" from Shasta County to a
party in Ross, Marin County. The Hor-
ticultural Commissioner at Ross opened
the package with an eye to discover any
possible introduction of plant diseases.
To his amazement there were five moun-
tain quail. They were turned over to
Captain Sellmer who is now prosecuting
the case for concealed shipment of quail
shot out of season.

Department of Fish Culture.

The 2,350,000 quinnat salmon held in
ponds at the Mount Shasta Hatchery
were liberated into the Sacramento River
around November 15.

Distribution of trout throughout the
state was made by both cars No. 01
and No. 02 until September 14, when car
No. 01 was transferred to the Mount
Whitney Hatchery. The last trip of the
distribution car was made from the
Mount Whitney Hatchery on November
9, over 2,000,000 trout being distributed
from this hatchery for the season. Up
to November 1, a total of 10,636,500 trout
had been distributed from tho M niiit
Shasta Hatchery.

Spawning has been late this year and
but 317,000 Loch Leven, 90,000 eastern
brook and 114,000 brown trout eggs have
been secured. Six hundred ninety thou-
sand quinnat salmon eggs have reached
the Mount Shasta Hatchery from the
Klamathon station. The trout in the
ponds are looking well and it is believed
that a yield equal to that of previous
years will be forthcoming from the pond
fish.

The repair work of the auxiliary
stations of Camp Creek, Bogus Creek,
Beaver Creek, Shackelford Creek and
Hornbrook Creek has been completed.
These stations are now ready for the
operations of the egg collecting crews.

From the Gull Lake egg collecting sta-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

tion 900,000 eastern brook trout eggs
were received at the Mount Whitney
Hatchery on November 19. This station
was forced to close and the crews to
abandon their work due to the cold and
storms. The snow was so deep the crew
had difficulty in making their way out.
The excessive fishing in June and Gull
lakes will soon materially reduce the num-
ber of eggs that can be collected unless
conditions take a turn for the better.

The Domingo Springs and Clear Creek
hatcheries have been closed and repairs

to Blackwood Creek where it will be set
up. The Taylor Creek racks have been
reinforced and the seining quarters
shingled.

Four large retaining tanks have been
constructed at the Yosemite Hatchery.
These are to be used for the purpose of
holding trout fry until they reach a cer-
tain size, which, it is believed, will insure
a greater percentage of survival. They
will also increase the capacity of the
hatchery and enable certain hatcheries to
serve full time. The Department of

Fig. 30. A catch of golden trout from Rock Creek near Lone Pine, California.
Through fi.sh distribution, streams (ionttiining golden trout are now acces-
sible to all. Photograph by Burtort Frasher.

made. The Warner Creek trap is ready
for installation as well as the Butt Creek
trap. If snow does not fall too deep,
it is planned to build more troughs and
tanks to increase the capacity of these
hatcheries.

The superintendent's and employees'
cottages at the Tahoe Hatchery have been
completed and furnished and are now
occupied. Repairs are being made on the
hatchery building. The Ward Creek
trap has been dismantled and transported
7—56393

Architecture is constructing a superin-
tendent's cottage and another for his
assistants.

I'lans have been perfected for the estab-
lishment of an aquarium in a room
adjoining the Yosemite Hatchery. The
aquarium tanks will be in readiness by
the coming tourist season. The hatchery
is .so admirably serving in an educational
way that this additional feature will
materially aid in conveying to those who
visit the hatchery a more delightful
impression of fish cultural work.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The Prairie Creek egg collecting station
is about complete. This station, it is
hoped, will furnish at least half the supply
needed for the Fort Seward Hatchery.
It was established after considerable
investigation. The racks were located so
as to take advantage of the run of both
salmon and steelhead up Lost Man Creek
and Prairie Creek.

Another experimental station will be
located on Mill Creek, one of the main
tributaries of the Smith River in Del
Norte County. A tent hatchery will be
set up and a trap installed, the station
being ready for operation by the begin-
ning of the steelhead run.

Still a third station has been selected
on Mormon Creek four and one-half miles
from Sonora. A tent hatchery will be in
place containing thirty troughs. If the
site proves suitable for hatchery pur-
poses a permanent hatchery will be built
to supply the fish for Tuolumne County,
and, possibly, Calaveras County.

The Kern River station, a fourth
experimental station, will be in readiness
before the end of the year. Living
quarters for the attendants have been
built and the troughs are on their way to
be installed in the tent hatchery.

" Thirty-five years ago an agreement was
entered into between the states of Nevada
and California for joint operations on
Marlette Lake. This practice had to be
discontinued some years due to the short-
age of fish. Happily, there were enough
fish in the lake to justify a division of the
eggs this season. Marlette Lake is
situated at an altitude of 8000 feet and
supplies from a million to a million and
a half eastern brook trout eggs when
weather conditions are favorable. The
early fall of the year just past was un-
fortunate in this regard and the Nevada
Commission is not expecting to harvest
the usual amount of eggs.

The foreman and his assistants are
rushing construction and preparation of
the troughs in order to get the new Bur-
ney Creek Hatchery in shape for the
coming season's work. Eggs will be
shipped from the Mount Shasta Hatchery
as soon as possible and it is planned to
have the hatchery raise enough fry to
plant all of eastern Shasta and Modoc
counties.

Traps will be installed in the spring
in the creeks tributary to Lake Britton.
It will require several years, however, to
establish a good run of trout in the lake.
The presence of large numbers of bass

in Lake Britton will probably prevent
this.

A hatchery on Cold Creek in Mendo-
cino County, is being constructed. This
new hatchery will be located about eight
miles from Ukiah and will replace the old
hatchery at Ukiah which has been able
to supply but one-quarter of the number
of fry needed for the district. The Ukiah
Hatchery, however, will not be abandoned
until it is certain that the Cold Creek
Hatchery will be completed in time to
take advantage of the steelhead run.

An epidemic among chinook salmon
broke out during the month of September.
The biologist of the department, George
A. Coleman, made a technical examina-
tion of conditions prevailing on the
Klamath River at the time when the
epidemic was at its height. These
epidemics, while known to have occurred
in the past, have not been made the object
of any special study. Hence, this investi-
gation was" of particular value and
interest.

Mr. Coleman also made investigations
of the Yosemite Hatchery, Lake Eleanor,
and of Prairie Creek. The latter two in-
vestigations were made for the purpose
of determining the feasibility of estab-
lishing egg taking and egg eyeing stations.

Department of Commercial
Fisheries.

Mr. H. B. Nidever, an employee of the •
Division of Fish and Game since .Tune,
1908, has been put in complete control
of the Commercial Fisheries Patrol of
'x)th northern and southern California.
Centering responsibility should aid greatly
in law enforcement. Mr. Nidever will .
stimulate better enforcement of the law
protecting Pismo clams as wellas enforc-
ing laws relative to fish reduction. It is
expected also that the complaint that the
laws were better enforced in the southern
part of the state than elsewhere will be
obviated.

Three ships of the Scandinavian whal-
ing fleet operated for some time during
the fall in the vicinity of San Clemente
Island. These ships were tied up by the
United States marshal during October on
account of debts owed a local ship chand-
ler and because of noncompliance with
the custom laws.

Captain Peterson, a local fisherman at
San Pedro, has conceived the idea of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

bringing Pismo clams from Turtle Bay,
Mexico, to San Pedro in several ton lots
and planting them on the nearby beach
and selling them to the local markets as
the trade demands. In starting this new
'industry. Captain Peterson has promised
to comply with all laws which apply both
here and in Mexico. Having obtained a
supply at Turtle Bay, the success of the
new venture is awaited with interest.

Mr. L. H. Kelly of the Hawaiian Divi-
sion of Fish and Game has been visiting
California with the purpose of securing
various birds and fish for introduction
into the Islands. Mr. Kelly plans to take
several hundred Pismo clams and aba-
lones to Hawaii and attempt their intro-
duction. There have been several former
attempts of this kind but they have met
with failure because of the difficulty of
shipment. Mr. Kelly has devised some
specially designed crates which he believes
will transport these shellfish satisfactorily.

During the barracuda season a research
assistant of the State Fisheries Labora-
tory centered his attention on field work.
Data as to the size measurements of the
catch and observations of the spawning
were gathered. Some very young fish
were fortunately obtained during Septem-
ber. The question of age determination
through the microscopic examination of
scales is to be undertaken this spring.

This past fall a purse seine boat from
San Pedro demonstrated that purse seines
can catch sardines in steady quantity in
Monterey^ Bay. However, since the lam-
para fishermen were delivering all the
sardines the canneries could handle, both
canners and fishermen wished to cancel
the contract with the purse seiner. This
was finally accomplished by joining the
forces of both canners and fishermen.

The patrol boat Alhacqre has been over-
hauled and repaired and during November
and December worked over the northern
end of the district. Mr. Paul Bounot
continued his work of gathering knowl-
edge as to the extent of damage caused
by sea lions and additional data as to
their life history and habits.

Bureau of Education.

In that the Division of Fish and Game
is made responsible for the protection of
song birds, it is only reasonable that
depredations by such birds be investi-
gated and help given the farmer. For

several years complaint has been growing
relative to the destruction of grapes by
birds in the Porterville district of Tulare
County. During the early part of No-
vember, Mr. Donald McLean was detailed
to find out how much damage was being
done and which birds were responsible.
He found that certain owners were hiring
men to patrol the vineyards and shoot
every small bird seen. Keason for such a
procedure was shown in that late ripen-
ing grapes are packed in sawdust, and if
one or two grapes are broken the whole
keg is likely to spoil. Each bunch of
grapes has to be trimmed of the bird-
picked fruit. Some of the birds killed m
vineyards were sent to the San Francisco
office and a study made of the stomach
contents. Some were found to be grape
eaters, others were apparently innocent
species bent upon the destruction of in-
sects rather than the destruction of fruit.
Like studies were made of the damage
done by quail in vineyards in San Benito
County.

Investigations of this sort will do much
to gain the confidence of the public and
at the same time will place bird protection
on a sounder basis.

During November the exhibit, "A
Forest Tragedy," was installed at two
different expositions held in the Civic
Auditorium, San Francisco. Thousands
viewed the exhibit and commented upon
the lesson it teaches. Literature on a
nearby table was furnished those inter-
ested.

The complete collection of birds' skins
and birds' eggs has been rearranged and
catalogued. In addition, a fine set of new
specimens has been added to the collec-
tion of bird skins. Celluloid containers
are being manufactured and it will soon
be possible to make loans of bird skins to
teachers and to various organizations.
Such containers are necessary in order
to prevent deterioration of the specimens.

Special attention is now being given the
lecture program in the rural schools as
well as the city schools. The boy with a
.22 rifle who shoots everything that flics
is a well-known problem in every rural
school. If these school lecturers can help
develop the boys in our country districts
into good sportsmen and conservationists
and can at the same time develop respect
for the game warden of the district, splen-
did fundamental work for conservation
can be accomplished.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Bureau of Hydraulics.

The cooperation of oil companies in
cleaning up their properties and in nip-
ping the pollution problem in the bud, so
to speak, is being secured through an
earnest effort on the part of the bureau.
The bad effects of pollution and its cure
by effective methods is finally being
heeded. There is no doubt that some of
the latest examples of this cooperation
will greatly increase the efficiency of the
piesent program of protection for fisli and
plant life.

sump and the measures taken to prevent
pollution.

A suit against sixty-seven oil operators
in the Huntington Beach field was filed
early in October in the superior court of
Los Angeles County. This suit was in
the form of an injunction sought to pre-
vent the present polluting of the Pacific
Ocean with petroleum now permitted to
flow into lines of drainage by the I'espec-
tive defendants.

The suit comes as the result of an ex-
haustive investigation pursued by the
bureau after an inspection of the field

Fig. 31. McGillavray Dam on Canyon Creek, Trinity County, showing the new
fish ladder recently completed. October, 1927. Photograph by G. O. Laws.

An inspection of the Shell Oil Refinery
at Martinez occasioned praise for the
excellent work done by the company and
in particular by G. H. Van Senden, man-
ager of the refinery, for the fine results
obtained in dredging the sumps, making
a general cleanup and providing against
possible leakage of oil in the future. At"
least $20,000 was spent in carrying out
the cleanup program and in precluding
the possibility of further pollution.

Much satisfaction also resulted from
the way in which the Oil Operators, Inc.,
at Long Beach, are maintaining their

early this summer. The inspection was
extended to the premises of every offend-
ing operator of oil wells in the field and
conditions were summed up to be very
bad. Samples of oil were taken at the
time of the survey and photographs of the
drainage and the polluted area were made
with a view to their use in a court action.
The suit will enjoin the offending com-
panies from operating until such time as
the areas in question are cleaned up and
assurances made that the pollution will
not occur again. The larger oil com-
panies have always shown a willingness

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

to cooperate iu the utleiupL of the liuicuu
to prevent and halt iwUution, but the
smaller independent operators have, so
far, failed to see the light. It is hoped
that the filing of a suit on a wholesale
scale will stop these smaller companies
from operating unless the pollution is
stopped and that the steps taken will
have the same effect that similar action
had on a large number of companies in
the Long Beach field last year.

A last minute report shows that the
majority of the defendants named in this
action are taking steps to clean up the
polluted areas.

The Cain Irrigation Company in Mono
County will install a fish ladder on Grant
Lake and four fish screens on Rush Creek
as the result of a court hearing held at
Bridgeport in September. Efforts to ef-
fect an installation without the necessity
of legal action were of no avail.

A fish ladder on Ralston Dam at
French Meadows, Placer County, was in-
spected and found satisfactory. This
ladder was installed last year in accord-
ance with an agreement.

The Mendocino Lumber Company com-
pleted a fish ladder at Hellgate Dam on
the South Fork of Big River in Mendo-
cino County.

An agreement was reached with the
Marin Sanitary District to install a fish
ladder at a place where a sewer pipe
crossed San Anselmo Creek in Marin
County.

The Clover Valley Lumber Company in
Loyalton, Sierra County, has cleaned its
mill pond of bark, sawdust and other
settled matter deleterious to fish life.

• The State Board of Health after a hear-
ing in Sacramento gave permission to the
Sacramento Development Company to
pass the effluent from a fifty-ton sulphide
pulp mill and a 3300-pound rayon plant
into the Sacramento River at Freeport.
The attitude of the division in the mat-
ter was presented to the board at the time
of the hearing. It is believed that the
permit issued will safeguard plant and
fish life inasmuch as it might be affected
by the effluent.

The owners of the S. S. Edna Christen-
sen, Sudden and Christensen, were
brought into court and fined $300. They

were found guilty of pumping oil in Ijilge
water into the estuary at Oakland.

The Pan American Petroleum Com-
pany has been making experiments to
ascertain the best way to prevent pollu-
tion. They are constructing cooling
towers at the very considerable cost of
$125,000 at their Watson refinery that
will cool and save about 80 per cent of
the water, according to tests made.

The Union Oil Company at Oleum is
engaged in enclosing and filling in an
area along its shore line to mitigate the
unsightliness of the many scattered oil
drums and to prevent oil seepage into the
San Francisco Bay waters. The bulwark
is of planked piling and rock fill and will
cost, together with dredging the old
sumps, some $85,000.

For twenty years the salmon and steel-
head have been barred from Greenwood
Creek, a fine spawning stream that
empties into the Pacific near Elk in Men-
docino County, but this year, due to tiie
cooperation of the Goodyear Redwood
Company wi*:li the Division of Fish and
Game, the stream has been opened.

During this long span of years the
stream had been blocked by a dam main-
tained by the lumber company to operate
a pond for floating logs for milling pur-
poses. After a series of conferences a
fish ladder was devised for one end of
the dam. While these negotiations were
under way many difficulties cropped out
and at one time it was thought that it
would be necessary to tunnel through the
rocky hill at the side of the dam for over
one hundred feet, at an almost prohibitive
cost. A ladder, however, was designed
that solved the problem and the lumber
company went to work on the job as
soon as the plans were completed by the
bureau.

Reports declare that fish are making
use of the ladder and are having no diffi-
culty in going through the jumps. The
ladder is unique and the splendid coopera-
tion of the lumber company with the
Division shows that there are still com-
mercial concerns that want to conserve
fish.

Bureau of Game Farms.

During September 1709 ringneck
pheasants were liberated. By far the
larger number of these went to Santa
Barbara and Imperial counties. The fol-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

lowing month, 895 birds were planted :
at Red Bluff, 100 birds ; Pleasanton, 100 ;
Orland, 125; Bakersfield, 150; Tulare,
150 ; Temecula, 120 ; and Crows Landing,
150. These birds made a wonderful show-
ing. They were full grown and their
color and beauty impressed spectators as
they took to the air from the open coops.

The selection of the new farm in the
southern part of the state has occasioned
much investigation, for many factors enter
therein. Water is one of the prime
requisites governing the choice of loca-
tion. Avoidance of fog is another as well

every day of the year and noted the whole
cycle in the activities of the ringneck are
now in a position to give valuable data.
What is equally reassuring is the in-
creased interest shown in the welfare of
the introduced species in all these areas.

All the plantings of last year have been
carefully checked and it has been found
that the pheasant is doing as well in
California as in Washington, Oregon and
British Columbia. The state has much
territory well adapted to upland game
birds, furnishing cover and suitable food
the year around. The greatest area suit-

FiG. 32. Superintendent Bade of Yountville Game Farm discovers stolen
plieasant nest. July 17, 1927. Photograph by Sidney Snow.

as avoidance of heat from April to July.
Further construction work at the Game
Farm has involved the erection of new
breeding pens. These, due to their
secluded location and quiet, will insure a
higher quality of eggs. Care has been
expended to place the birds as near to
natural conditions as permissible.

All of the areas stocked last year have
now been replanted. Useful and valuable
information has been secured from
farmers and those who have been in close
touch with the progress made by the birds.
Farmers who have been on the ground

able is in the great interior valley of
California. Both the San Joaquin and
Sacramento valleys are large enough to
readily absorb the output of a single
game farm.

With the recent rains the work of
renovating and cleaning up the pens was
commenced. All of the pens along the
main alley way have been plowed and
seeded. The domestic poultry house has
been rearranged and a new cooking house
built to accommodate two forty-five gal-
lon caldrons.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Bureau of Research.

A number of major problems of game
diseases have been carried to the point
where the full time services of a qualified
pathologist are necessary. Hence, a full
time pathologist has been secured. The
bureau will continue to have the coopera-
tion and aid of the Hooper Foundation.

The tabulation and filing of over
19,000 deer tags in addition to license
stubs and compilation of trapping data
and case records has occasioned routine
work for the department of very consider-
able magnitude.

The Director of the Bureau attended
the Seventh Annual Convention of the
Western Association of State Game Com-
missioners held in Seattle on September
8 and 9. The outstanding feature of this
convention was the desire of the repre-
sentatives to bring about a solution of the
migratory waterfowl situation in the
west.

As an aftermath of this meeting in
Seattle, the division was cordially invited
to be represented at a conference held at
Klamath Falls. Here a progress report
was heard on the feasibility of reflooding
Lower Klamath Lake. The report pre-
sented the present obstacles in the way of
establishing a suitable and adequate
refuge for migratory birds and summed
up a survey recently made by government
engineers under the auspices of the
United States Biological Survey.

R. J. Irvine made a series of tests in
the use of thallium as a rodent poison.
The experiments were made possible by
the United States Biological Survey,
whose agents operated recently on the
property of the Moraga Land Company
in Contra Costa County.

Thallium salts will color the flame of

an alcohol lamp green. It was at first
believed that this was a certain and con-
venient means of detecting the presence
of the poison. After many tests, it was
decided that the spectroscope, after all,
was the most reliable and sure meang of
discovering whether the poison was pres-
ent in either animal or bird.

The experiment was made to deter-
mine the effect of the poison on rodents
at a time of year when food is scarce and
to gain some notion of the amount of
poisoned grains likely to be uneaten by
rodents, and left to be picked up by
birds.

The formula for the poison is twenty
ounces of thallium sulphate to 125
pounds of potted barley. The thallium
was mixed with starch and enough
glycerine added to make a paste. This
was placed in a copper drum and rotated
until the barley was well coated with the
poison. The poisoned grains were then
placed in a leather bag, for wherever the
poison comes into contact with the hair,
it is said to cause it to fall out. The
grain was scattered from a horse, the
operator using a metal spoon.

The experiment showed that four men
could poison 1000 acres in three days
at a cost of around $218.

There have been few serious recur-
rences of the duck disease epidemic. A
slight outbreak flared up in the Tule Lake
country, but an investigation proved not
as alarming as at first reported. Another
case of duck sickness was reported in
Contra Costa County but this too was
found to be not extensive. Further
research on dead birds disclosed lead-
poisoning and it is believed that death
was occasioned by this cause rather than
from sickness. Sixteen number six,
chilled shot were fed to a well duck and
eight to another duck. Both ducks died,
revealing pathological conditions similar
to the dead birds from the Contra Costa
locality.

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES.

N. B. ScoFiELD, Editor.

SARDINE SCARCITY AT MONTEREY.

Beginning with the second week in
October, eight weeks have passed during
which practically no sardines have been
caught at Monterey. During September,
the catch was exceptionally heavy and the
ten canneries at that place were running
at capacity. This long absence of sar-
dines is unprecedented and is causing a

■great financial loss to the canners, the
several thousand persons employed in the
industry, and, in turn, to the whole
Monterey community. The question
arises in the minds of sardine canners
and fishermen : Is this scarcity caused by
overfishing, and has the supply been
seriously depleted by present intensive
fishing methods?

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

To detect depletion of our commercial
fisheries is an important part of the work
of the Department of Commercial Fish-
eries, and for seven years now, extensive
data of the sardine catch at Monterey
have been gathered and analyzed by mem-
bers of the State Fisheries Laboratory
staff.

There is no good evidence, as yet, that
the fishing operations at Monterey are
drawing too heavily on the sardine supply
for safety of the future, or that any
fluctuations in abundance are due to other
than natural causes. It must be admit-
ted, however, that a series of records
extending over a period of seven years
is hardly sufficient to show whether or
not the fishing is too heavy, and we should
be very cautious about any undue exploi-
tation of the supply until the investiga-
tions have been carried to the point
where we can be certain of detecting
depletion before it has advanced beyond
the danger point.

While there is no evidence that the
fishing operations at Monterey are caus-
ing any noticeable diminution of the total
sardine population from which the fishery
draws its supply, there is evidence that
the operations temporarily exhaust the
local sardine population to such an extent
that fishing operations cease until fresh
sardine schools are brought into the bay
by storms. The supply of sardines in
Monterey Bay is soon exhausted by the
tremendous daily catch of a thousand
tons. There is a slowing down of the
fishing, and finally it ceases and the indus-
try is idle until a fresh sardine supply
arrives.

Under these conditions, to take more sar-
dines than can be put in cans, and run the
surplus in the reduction plants, lengthens
the time when there is an absence of local
sardines and the canneries and the thou-
sands of employees are idle. There is
good reason to believe that if, during the
time of sardine abundance in Monterey
Bay during the first of the season, no
sardines had been used in the reduc-
tion plants, the canneries could have
continued to operate for a longer time.
In the meantime, there are no sardines
for the Monterey canneries and gloom
hangs over the historic place — and those
who seldom pray are now praying for a
storm or a good stiff north wind to bring
the sardines in.

Another thing has been noticed and
spoken of by the canners, and that is that
the period elapsing between the times of
plentiful sardine supply is becoming
increasingly longer ; and it has been
noticed that not always does a storm or

a favorable north wind bring the expected
supply of sardines into the bay.

In the light of these facts, we should
be careful with the supply when the
getting is easy. — N. B. Scofield.

BOOTLEG BARRACUDA.

Tlie barracuda is one of the most impor-
tant fish in the southern district on ac-
count of its abundance, its good eating
and shipping qualities. The catch of bar-
racuda in the state, taking an average of
fish received for the past seven years,
amounts to 7,000,000 pounds annually,
including about 2,500,000 pounds received
from Mexican waters. Practically all of
the barracuda is taken in southern waters.
However, some years there is a fair catch
in Monterey Bay.

During the flush of the season in May,
.Tuue and July, the Department of Com-
mercial Fisheries is actively engaged in
overseeing the barracuda catch. This is
necessary on account of the weight limit
of three pounds imposed by law and the
restricted methods of taking the fish. The
numerous docks and landing places around
San Pedro, Wilmington and Long Beach
add another serious difficulty to the situ-
ation and it has been necessary to main-
tain a night and day patrol in order to
stop the "bootleg" barracuda business.

The regularly established wholesale
markets have, in most cases, realized that
the game of violating the law in the ag-
gregate does not pay. Accordingly, most
of them have become fairly good conserv-
ators. All the wholesalers of the San
Pedro district recently made what might
be termed a "gentlemen's agreement"' not
to handle any unlawful barracuda. It
was agreed that in any case where one
found the other, or anyone else, handling
small or purse-seined fish, they were
(0 report the violation and assist so far
as possible in prosecuting the offender.

Since the law prohibiting the use of
purse seines and lampara nets for taking
barracuda went into effect in 1925, the
fish have been taken with gill nets and
hook and line. The purse-seiner or lam-
para net fishermen still persist in making
liauls and either transfer their load to a
gill or hook-and-line boat at sea or try
to smuggle it into the harbor and land it
on some waiting truck or wagon at night.

An amendment to the net law which
became effective July 29 again allows
the use of purse seines and lampara nets
for taking barracuda. It is still unlawful
to use these nets during two and one-half
months from May 15 to July 31. It is
hoped this law will overcome the over-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

catch condition wlii(,'li always accompa-
nied spring fishing. The markctman's. as
well as the fishornian's, business will be
relieved of the oversupply, with the re-
sultant low price which was formerly the
case, when both the marketman and
fisherman lost money. — IT. B. Nidevcr.

DRAG-NET FISHING HAS DEPLETED
HALIBUT SUPPLY.

A southern California paper quotes the
skipper of a local fishing fleet to the
effect that the high price of 18 cents per
pound for halibut is chiefly caused by
the depredations on halibut and nets by
seals. This is in line with the tendency
of commercial fishermen to explain the
scarcity of fish by attributing the cause to
anything rather than to overfishing. The
high price of fish is caused by a scarcity
of the fish, and the scarcity of southern
California halibut is due to destructive
methods of fishing in the past and to a
condition of depletion at the present time.
There is considerable doubt as to whether
seals do any appreciable damage to hali-
but, but there is no doubt that the past
destructive fishing of drag boats is the
principal cause of the scarcity. Drag-net
fishing has been prohibited south of
Santa Barbara County for four years,
and it remains to be seen if this great
protection will cause halibut of that
region to increase in numbers.

It should be remembered that not many
years ago, before our fisheries began to be
developed, there were many more seals
than at the present time and the halibut
were also very abundant. The seals and
sea lions have been reduced almost to the
point of extermination, and coincident
with this halibut have become so scarce
that they bring 18 cents a pound. The
cause is clearly one of overfishing. The
explanations of fishermen and fish deal-
ers (and fish canners, for that matter)
for the scarcity of fish, whether it be
salmon, sturgeon, tuna or halibut, are
often weird and fantastic, and anything
but the real reason — overfishing.

SOUTH AFRICA WANTS HERRING.

The Englishmen in South Africa have
decided to improve on nature and estab-
lish the herring, a fish of the northern
hemisphere, in the seas of the Union of
South Africa. One often hears the ex-
pression "you can't improve on nature,"
but the fact is we are improving on
nature all the time. All of the fruits,
vegetables and field crops we grow in
California have been improved by man
from their original forms found in nature.

'IMie shad, striped bass and soft-shelled
clam were not by nature placed in Cali-
fornia, but they have been established
here by man. Captain Lambson, the
modest but efiicient superintendent of our
Mount Shasta Hatchery, many years ago
took king salmon eggs from California to
New Zealand. There they were hatched
and liberated in the streams, and now
salmon are abundant in New Zealand
streams where, apparently, the Lord
never intended them to be. That is one
of the things the genial captain will have
to answer for.

If salmon can be taken from the north-
ern hemisphere and established in the
southern half of the world, why not her-
ring? Herring spawn along the shore,
where their eggs adhere firmly to the
rocks and seaweed. These eggs would
liatch in ordinary water temperature be-
fore they could be gotton to South Africa,
but the hatching can be delayed by keei>-
ing them at a low temperature, just above
freezing. The eggs must have oxygen, for
they breathe as does every other living
organism. The best way to ship the eggs
will be to keep them in an ice chest
where they are kept moist with salt Avater,
and at the same time exposed to the
air. Salmon and trout eggs are shipped
that way, except that they are moistened
with fresh water and the temperature
need not be kept so low, as their period
of incubation is much longer than that of
herring eggs. The problem is entirely
feasible, and South African herring may
some time be as famous as Norway or
Alaska herring, but that will not be
during our lifetime.

It is also proposed to transplant the
halibut from the north Atlantic to the
seas of South Africa. This will be a
more difficult task than transplanting the
herring. The halibut inhabits deep water
in the north Atlantic and the north Pa-
cific. The fish are of such large size that
it will be the young that will have to be
used in the experiment. The young or
developing eggs will be extremely hard to
get, and if they are successfully gotten to
South Africa and they make themselves
at home, it will be a great many years
before they can multiply to such an
extent that they can be found or noticed,
for a halibut does not mature and spawn
until it is past twelve years of age. The
success of the experiment would not be
apparent until after several generations
have been produced. — N. B. Scofield.

LOUISIANA SHRIMP INDUSTRY.
In the year 1921, 34,992,443 pounds of
shrimps were caught in the state waters

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

of Louisiana — an increase of 50 per cent
over the catch determined by the United
States Bureau of Fisheries for the year

1916. The catch of 1921 had a value, to
those engaged in the industry, of about
three million dollars.

The principal cause of this great in-
crease in the shrimp fndustry was the
introduction of the otter shrimp trawl in

1917. In that year four of the trawls
operated, and by 1921 the number had
increased to 983. Beach seines, the only
apparatus formerly used, decreased in
number 50 per cent between 1916 and
1921. The seines could be operated only
along shores, while the trawls could be
operated in both. shallow and deep water.
Thus new fishing grounds were opened
and it was found possible to avoid certain
shallow waters at the times when young
shrimps would be caught. There was a
tendency among some of the fishermen,
however, to catch young shrimps which
were too small to market except they be
dried, and to take them to the drying
platforms. In spite of this abuse, the
trawl is an improvement over the shrimp
seine, from the standpoint of conservation,
and in time, the catching of young
shrimps can be prevented.

The history of the Louisiana shrimp
industry is that of nearly all the larger
fisheries. Great advances are caused by
the introduction of improved and more
efficient fishing apparatus. It appears,
from the report of the Louisiana Depart-
ment of Conservation, that the otter
shrimp trawl is less destructive to young
shrimps and to young fish than the shrimp
seines.

The products of the commercial fish-
eries of Louisiana amount to about one-
third that of the fisheries of California.
The revenue which Louisiana derives
from her fisheries in the way of licenses,
fisheries tax and oyster ground rentals
amounted to $98,185.09 for the year end-
ing December 31, 1923 — a sum greater
than that received by California from her
much more extensive and more valuable
fisheries. — N. B. Scofield.

PISMO CLAM CENSUS.

Members of the staff of the California
State Fisheries Laboratory made the
fifth annual census of Pismo clams at
Pismo Beach on November 8-10, 1927.
The purpose of this census, as in previous
years, was to obtain data for an estimate
of the total number of clams on the
beach. Three trenches, located approxi-
mately a mile apart, were dug across the
intertidal zone and a count made of all

clams found. The results of this year's
census indicated even fewer clams on the
beach than did last year's findings. No
clams of legal size were obtained. The
largest clam was less than four and one-
half inches in diameter and only 15 per
cent of the total exceeded three inches.
The 1927 set of clams was apparently
not as successful as the 1926 set, although
it exceeded some of the poor sets of pre-
vious years. The very serious depletion
of the clams on Pismo Beach was again
demonstrated by this year's census, and
unless the protective measures now in
force are loyally supported by public sen-
timent, Pismo clams, if not entirely elim-
inated from our California beaches, will
soon be practically unobtainable to both
the amateur and the commercial digger. —
Frances N. Clark, California State Fish-
eries Laboratory. November, 1927.

EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL STATIONS.

While motoring through England this
summer I had the good fortune to visit
two places of interest to people in fisheries
work — the Plymouth Marine Biological
Station and the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries in London. The Plymouth
Marine Biological Station was on our
"itinerary" through this town of such
great significance to Americans. We
knew we had arrived on a special holiday,
as evidenced by all the populace being in
costume and grotesquely masked, and the
streets being gaily decorated. After
threading our way through the holiday
traffic, we found our way up to the top of
Citadel Hill. This is a part of the Hoe,
the steep hill that lies between the town
and the sea. The holiday crowd seemed
to consider the Aquarium a place worthy
of their attention, for many were paying
the "tuppence" entrance fee to see the
fish. After asking to see Dr. Allen, we
were courteously presented to the genial
director of the Biological Station. From
his evident pleasure in showing us the
whole institution he was certainly the
true host.

I am afraid my memory of exact details
may be faulty, but I believe there were
individual laboratories for about forty
research workers. A large aquarium
room was equipped with all sorts of clever
mechanical devices for duplicating ocean
conditions. A separate building served
as a class room for the special use of
undergraduate classes that come occa-
sionally from the different universities.
The library, containing about ten thou-
sand volumes, is rich in all the literature
on fish and fisheries, besides having a
good reference section in general biology.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

In the aquarium Dr. Allen took pride
in showing us the many kinds of fish, but
especially the little species in the small
tanks ingeniously lighted from above.
They, with their dainty shapes and colors,
were fully as interesting as the great
undulating eels, darting bass, decorous
cod, and gracefully soaring plaice. But
best of all, our genial host took us out
on the Hoe to "see" Sir Francis Drake's
little fleet of vessels in the inner harbor ;
and the Green, a little distance away,
where the admiral was playing at bowls
when the Armada was first sighted. It
was one of the thrills of a very interest-
ing summer to stand there and look out
across the sparkling bay to see in imagi-
nation the Spanish galleons sailing by,
and Sir Francis himself, pausing in liis
game to gaze at the spectacle, for as we
remember, he is said to have finished )iis
game before putting out in pursuit.

In London I had the opportunity of
visiting the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries. The room in which J waited
to see Dr. E. R. Russell had little in it
to suggest any connection with the sea
except a model of a boat hauling a special
sort of drag net. I was shown up three
flights of very steep and winding stairs
to the oflice of Dr. E. R. Russell, who
received me in the gracefully courteous
English way, and expressed his regret
that the building was rather out of date,
and had no elevator — to be exact it was
three hundred years old — but that if
people had the perseverance to search
liim out in his eyrie they deserved special
consideration.

I must confess I was too poorly in-
formed about the things I might have
asked to talk intelligently. But now
when I see the "Journal du Conseil
Permanent International pour I'Explora-
tion de la Mer," edited by E. R. Russell,
it recalls a very interesting half hour in a
building older than our own nation and
a pleasant aicquaintance with ouie of
England's best known scientists. — Gene-
vieve Corwin, Librarian, California State
Fisheries Laboratory, October, 1927.

ABALONE SAFE FROM
EXTERMINATION.
The laws protecting the abalone from
commercial extermination are ideal, and
it is not likely that the commercial aba-
lone fishermen will exterminate or
seriously deplete the abalone supply. The
red abalone, which is the only one used
commercially, is protected from amateurs
by a seven-inch minimum limit. Red
abalones which have reached this seven-
inch limit have spawned at least three

times. At the request of commerical aba-
lone fishermen, the minimum commerical
size limit was fixed by the legislature at
eight inches, and a red abalone has
spawned at least six times before it
reaches this eight-inch limit. Therefore,
no commercial abalones are taken until
they have spawned at least six times.

The red abalone is abundant in water
deeper than the diver is able to go and
to operate profitably. There is also an
area in shallow water where the diver
can not go on account of moving water
which is outside the low tide line. Aba-
lones in this area are not disturbed by
the diver. The abalones, therefore, are
protected so that they have ample oppor-
tunity to seed the rocks in the neighbor-
hood where they spawn. If the com-
mercial divers take all of the abalones
which are eight inches or larger, they
can not seriously deplete the supply
because the law does not permit them to
take them any smaller than that, and as
has been shown, none of the abalones can
be taken commercially until after they
have spawned six times and there are
many abalones which can not be taken
by divers which spawn more than six
times. The seven-inch abalone produces
more than a million eggs. These eggs
are fertilized in the open water and
become a free swimming organism for
several days before they settle down and
attach themselves to the rocks ; so that
no matter whether the spawning aba-
lones are in deep or shallow water, the
young find their way to all places along
the shore.

There is evidence that the young aba-
lones, during the first two or three years
of their lives, are more numerous in the
deeper water and that these abalones
move inshore later, in search of places
where they may attach themselves to the
rocks. This movement, however, takes
place several years before they are of the
size that may be taken commercially.
Abalones, after they get to be five or six
inches long, seldom permanently leave
their places of attachment.

There has been a great deal of hysteria
on the subject of abalone conservation.
There is absolutely no reason why any
region should object to taking abalones
commercially. Not to take abalones for
commercial purposes is wasting a valuable
food supply without gaining anything. —
N. B. Scofield.

TO SAVE THE FISHERIES OF THE
GREAT LAKES.

For a number of years the yield of the
Great Lakes fisheries has been declining,
and just recently the lake herring fishery

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

has failed entirely. There is but little
doubt that this has been caused by in-
adequate fishing regulations and wasteful
fishing methods, although many of the
fishermen blame the trouble on pollution
of the water from cities and factories
which turn their sewage and factory
waste into the lakes. Besides Canada,
there are eight states bordering on the
lakes, and there has been poor coopera-
tion between them in the way of regula-
tions or investigations.

Realizing that coordinated action was
necessary if the important fisheries of
those waters were to be saved from
destruction, Governor Green of Michigan
called a conference of the interested
fisheries officials. Besides the represen-
tatives of the eight states bordering on
the lakes, there were present representa-
tives of the Department of Marine and
Fisheries of Canada and the Bureau of
Fisheries of the United States. United
States Commissioner of Fisheries Henry
O'Malley was chosen chairman.

The convention approved a list of
regulations which are to become effective
when the states and Canada adopt them.
These regulations would restrict the types
of nets and fishing gear which can be
used, prevent pollution of the waters, save
the spawn of fish, taken by commercial
fishermen, for the fish hatcheries, and
have each state or government concerned
adopt a system of gathering fisheries
statistics similar to that used by Cali-
fornia. To facilitate the adoption of

recommended regulations, it was urged
that all the state fisheries commissions be
given power by their legislatures to make
and enforce fishing regulations.

This getting together of these eight
states, Canada and the U. S. Bureau of
Fisheries for the conservation of the
Great Lakes fisheries is apparently an
attempt to get the coordinated action of
a group of states and another government,
without resorting to the usual expedient
of an international treaty where the
states would lose jurisdiction over their
own fisheries and that jurisdiction would
be assumed by the central government.

Secretary of Commerce Herbert
Hoover, under whose department comes
the care of fisheries, through the Bureau
of Fisheries, is on record as opposing the
tendency of the states to turn over the
regulation of the fisheries, electric power,
etc., to the government. He states that
this tendency is likely to make the central
government top-heavy ; leads to bureau-
cracy and tends to destroy local initia-
tive. He has recommended that where a
group of states have a common interest
in fisheries, they form a coalition, with
the sanction of congress, to handle their
fisheries as a unit. This organization of
the Great Lakes states is a move in this
direction and it strikes us as a good move
and one which may well be epoch-making.
It also pleased us immensely to have this
progressive group hold up our fisheries
statistical program as an example to be
followed.— N. B. Scofield.

LIFE HISTORY NOTES.

NORTHERN HALIBUT IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.

On November 18, 1927, the fishing boat
Angel, owned by K. Kuramoto and operat-
ing from San Pedro, brought into port a
fourteen-pound northern halibut {Hippo-
glossus hippoglossus) , which is pictured
in the accompanying illustration. The
specimen was caught on the southeast
side of Santa Rosa Island in 100 fathoms.

So far as we have been able to find
from the literature, the incident is
remarkable in that it is the first time a
northern halibut has ever been recorded
in these waters. Jordan and Evermann
(1898) give the Faralloiis as the south-
ern limit of this species, and Starks
(California Fish and Game, 1918)
gives Monterey Bay as the southernmost
boundary. According to Mr. Mitchel
Planchard of the Gilbert Van Camp mar-
ket where the fish was delivered, this is
the fourth northern halibut brought into

Van Camp's in the last two yeai-s. — L. A.
Walford, California State Fisheries Lab-
oratory, Terminal, Califoimia.

GRUNION AT LA JOLLA.

The two remarkable photographs here
reproduced were sent to the Division of
Fish and Game by Mr. "Willis E. Zader
of La JoUa. These were taken at La
JoUa in April, 1927, and show grunion
spawning in great numbers on the beach.

Grunion, as far as known, are the
only fish that come out of the water and
lay their eggs on what might be termed
dry land, the sand of the beaches. This
occurs during the favorable tides in the
spring months of each year. On certain
beaches, especially at Long Beach, vast
crowds of people gather when the grunion
are running and take these fish in great
numbers. As a result, the grunion in
waters adjacent to Los Angeles have
become seriously depleted.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Mr. Zader writes that he has been
observing the grunion at La Jolla for
fifteen years, and as yet, can see little
diminution in numbers, but feels that,
unless protective measures are passed,
these fish may be endangered. The
illustrations show a much heavier run
of fish than occurs at the present time
on the beaches of Los Angeles County,
although in past years the runs were
as heavy as in the San Diego region.

A closed season is now in force which
prohibits the taking of grunion during the
months of April, May and June. It is
hoped, as a result, that the grunion runs
on the beaches in the Los Angeles region
will increase and that the runs at La
Jolla will continue in their present magni-
tude. — Frances N. Clark, California

where attempts will be made to develop
a pure white strain.

Mr. Williams of Coalinga reports that
one bird nearly white in color appeared in
a litter of eight birds of normal parent-
age. This bird, now two years of age,
had two litters of his own this year : one
of nine and another of three. The birds
of both litters have white feathers on
breast, wings and backs, but are not as
white as the father bird. The original
parents had a litter of eleven birds that
are all partly white. These birds have
been feeding regularly near the home of
Mr. "Williams, but by the middle of
November moved into the higher hills.^
H. 0. Bryant, Berkeley, California,
November 23, 1927.

Fig. 34. Grunion spawning on the beach at La Jolla, California, April, 1927.
Photograph by Willis E. Zader. Taken at 12.30 a.m.

Fisheries Laboratory, Terminal, Cali-
fornia, October, 1927.

ALBINO QUAIL.

Albinism is likely to be found almost
anywhere in animal life. Sometimes an
albinistic variety can be developed by
selective breeding. A pure white Java
sparrow is imported in numbers ; a faded-
out variety of the shell parakeet is a com-
mon cage bird. Only one attempt so far
as we know has been made to secure a
pure white strain of the valley quail.
Mr. H. R. Noack of Oakland for several
years attempted to breed a pure white
bird but without success.

This past fall a number of albinistic
valley quail have been reported near
Coalinga. Two albinistic forms were
captured and sent to the state game farm

HUMPBACK SALMON TAKEN OFF
SANTA MONICA.

The round haul boat Victor Emanuel
on September 12, 1927, caught an appar-
ently erratically wandering specimen of
humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gor-
buscha) off Santa Monica, California.
The specimen, a male, measures twenty-
four and one-quarter inches long and
weighs five pounds.

This part of California, we believe, is
farther south than the humpback salmon
has ever been recorded, the range as noted
by Jordan and Evermann (1896), by
Meek (1916) and by Messrs. Goode and
Gill (1903), being the Pacific coast and
rivers of North America and Asia from
Oregon northward. Mr. N. B. Scofield
in Califobnia Fish and Game, January,
1916, records several specimens taken

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

from the San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz
County. These fish are occasionally
taken in the Sacramento River where
they are known as "lost salmon." —
L. A. Walford, California State Fisheries
Laboratory, Terminal, California, Sep-
tember 20, 1927.

WHITE-TAILED KITES NEAR
HOLLISTER.

On November 27th, while watching a
number of hawks along the dirt road be-
tween Gilroy and Hollister, I noticed
perched on a fence post only fifty feet or
so away a pearly gray and white hawk
with black shoulders. Of course there is
only one such colored hawk in California,
the white-tailed kite. It sat there for
some time, then sailed lightly away, only

The flight of this bird is very light and
buoyant, but at times quite rapid. When
compared with the similarly-sized prairie
falcon, the flight of the kite is found to
be indirect and cari'ied at many changes
of grade (slope of flight), at varying
levels from the ground, while that of the
falcon is direct, rapid, stiff-winged and
carried at a steady level above the
ground. The falcon is pale clay-brown
above, white beneath with dark streaks
and spots.

The adult male marsh hawk might be
mistaken for the kite, or vice versa, but
one good look at the white rump patch
and bluish-gray tail with six to eight
darker bands of the marsh hawk will
distinguish it from the pure white tail of
the kite.

i^i

J---

•. ■-'.

- ^^'^^

^^Hft^OI

•S '

iai|

► •■■. .^^^^^

^^Sismr-M

■^j '

f^- . r'Z.^t

■V^^

ms^^*^ ,.

|Er^F^

• » -::» ,^.

: ' ''

...

,»

<u"

' -*

.*.

R^^^^

Fig. 35. Grunion spawning on the beach at La Jolla, California, April, 1927.
Photograph by Willis B. Zader. Taken at 1 a.m.

to stop and hover sparrow-hawk-like for a
moment or so. For several minutes more
I watched this bird, when suddenly from
space another bird appeared and the two
wheeled and turned back and forth over
a small corner of one of the large fields.

My neck began to get tired following
their flight, so I glanced across to the
other side of the road and there were two
more of the birds beating over a weed
patch near an old well.

These birds were very busy hunting,
but only once did I see them actually
catch .anything, apparently a frog or a
small t.oad. On a number of occasions
they were seen to drop to the ground
only to resume flight almost instantly
with nothing showing in their claws or
bill.

Their flight is often quite similar, both
beating back and forth over fields and
marshy ground. The kite hovers more
often than the marsh hawk.

The kite is so reduced in numbers that
the birds can not be taken even as scien-
tific specimens by collectors. It is to be
hoped that the species is on its way back
to somewhere near its former numbers. —
D. D. McLean, Berkeley, California.

ACORNS AS A DUCK FOOD.

While skinning three confiscated wood
ducks, Aix spo7isa, from Maxwell, Cali-
fornia, I discovered in the gullets several
acorns of the valley oak, Quercus lohata.
In one of the male birds I found three
acorns in the gullet. The stomach had
been removed. In the secoiid male bird

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

there were five acorns in the gullet. The
stomach had also been removed. The
female bird had two acorns in its gullet.
These acoi^ns average an inch and three-
quarters in length and nearly three-
quarters of an inch in diameter. The
largest was an inch and seven-eighths
long and seven-eighths of an inch
through. Imagine how the bird must
have to stretch its throat and the gigantic
gape it must open in order to swallow the
nuts. — D. D. McLean, Berkeley, Cali-
fornia.

BIRDS AND GRAPES.

During the last two months many com-
plaints have come in from various sources
against several species of birds. These
complaints are all similar in that the
birds are accused of eating grapes.

On the whole most of the birds accused
are those unprotected by the state law,
namely, the linnet or house finch and the
English sparrow. The California or
valley quaU, golden-crowned and gambel
Avhite-crowned sparrows are accused of
damage and also blacklisted by some men.

Several places were visited during Octo-
ber and a careful survey made of each
situation. Two places near Morgan Hill
were visited where linnets were doing
90 per cent of the damage, with Cali-
fornia quail and golden-crowned spar-
rows doing the remainder.

Mr. Reeves, at Paicines, was practi-
cally cleaned out by California quail. He
had trained his vines rather low and con-
sequently the quail, which is a ground
feeder, had nearly annihilated his crop.
He would not shoot them because he felt
he was breaking the law. Just across the
road from his place, on another man's
land, is a large thicket of brush which is
a veritable harbor for quail and brush
rabbits. Mr. Reeves made an offer to the
other gentleman to clear out the thicket
for the wood, but was refused. Conse-
quently he has suffered. In the trip
through the vineyard with him on October
20, the work of linnets, golden-crowned
sparrows and quail was very apparent.
Brush rabbits and cottontail rabbits had
done considerable damage to the young
shoots and also had apparently done
some damage to the grapes themselves.

On November 3 and 4, I was on the
east side of the San Joaquin Valley, near
Porterville, Lindsay and Exeter. The
damage done by linnets and English
sparrows there has been prodigious.

Mr. Baier has a number of plots aggre-

gating several thousand acres in that
vicinity. On one of the smaller places,
comprising about eighty acres, he esti-
mated his loss last year conservatively
at $30,000, while the three largest places
showed an aggregate loss of between
$75,000 and $80,000.

Red Emperor grapes are valued at
about $2,500 per car. When one figures
that before the birds became a pest, Mr.
Baier hired twenty pickers and they
turned out five carloads a day, while last
year and this year he hired sixty pickers
and they scarcely averaged two cars per
day the loss is apparent. Pickers are
paid approximately 40 cents an hour.

A bunch of grapes unpecked by birds
will only take from two to four seconds to
pick and place in the lug box, while the
pecked bunches take on an average of
from fourteen to sixteen seconds, the
slowest recorded sixty-three seconds. Two-
thirds of the pickers' time is easily spent
in clipping pecked grapes from the
bunches and inspecting the bunches in
search for them. The bunches must also
be inspected in the packing house, wasting
another seven or eight seconds.

Mr. Baier spent $5,000 for ammuni-
tion at the beginning of the 1927 season.

Approximately seventy stomachs of
birds were examined for grape pulp,
seeds and juice. The following species
were represented : linnet, gambel white-
crowned sparrow, golden-crowned spar-
row, audubon warbler, willow goldfinch,
chipping sparrow, English sparrow, west-
ern Savannah sparrow, lark sparrow, red-
shafted flicker, valley quail and western
mockingbird. Prom this examination
only two species were found to be a
really serious menace, the linnet and Eng-
lish sparrow. Three others were found
to be consistent eaters of grapes, the
gambel white-crowned sparrow, golden-
crowned sparrow and red-shafted flicker.
But since they are not present in hordes,
their damage is but slight.

The remainder of the list were present
in the vineyards, but were only eating
weed seeds, grass seeds and insects.

From this evidence it can be seen that
here is an important economic problem.
In cooperation with Mr. Baier I am now
trying to find a solution by which the
destruction can be curbed without menac-
ing all the birds present, since most of
the species are a benefit to the vineyard
and only five species mentioned are really
a menace. — D. D. McLean, Berkeley,
California, Nov. 30, 1927.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES.

MAINE OPENS SEASON ON MOOSE.

Although Minnesota has permanently
closed the season on moose and although
the animal is practically extinct over
most of its range, the state of Maine is
trying the experiment of a fall open sea-
son of six days in eight of the counties
of the state. This is the first time in
many years that any moose hunting has
been available to sportsmen of the United
States proper, and it may be that this is
the last moose hunting that will be avail-
able for many years to come, dependent,
of course, on the results of this experi-
ment.

KANSAS AFTER WILDFOWL REFUGE.

The Cheyenne bottoms and depression
of approximately one hundred square
miles and lying in the heart of the state
of Kansas, having been flooded by heavy
rains, has drawn attention to this area
as a possible wildfowl refuge. Reports
are to the effect that this inundated area
has attracted more ducks than had been
known in the vicinity for more than
twenty years. Many sportsmen are say-
ing that even though the cost of the land
would be a million dollars, the Cheyenne
bottoms are worth it. Here is another
interest where the state finds the project
too great to accomplish by itself. Federal
authorities have, therefore, been urged to
consider ways and means of giving the
middle west a fine refuge for waterfowl.

MISSOURI INCREASES WARDEN
FORCE.

Missouri Game and Fish Department
has announced an extended protective
program. The warden force, which had
but twenty-five men, has been nearly
doubled. The state has been divided into
three divisions, each in charge of a field
warden, and each field warden directs
the work of twelve regular wardens. The
whole force is under the direction of a
chief of wardens. Thus has attention
been given to the necessity for thorough
supervision and the patrol of a definite
territory. The announcement states that
though the chief object of the reorgani-
zation is a stricter enforcement of the
game and -fish laws, it is intended that
at least one-half of the time of the
wardens will be directed to educational
work. It is recognized that an awakened
public consciousness is the greatest asset
that the cause of conservation can have.
8 — 56393

NEW MEXICO UNDERTAKES FISHING
WATER SURVEY.

An investigation was recently launched
in New Mexico for the purpose of secur-
ing information on the following points :

(1) The location and magnitude of
each water supporting or possibly capable
of supporting fish.

(2) Their capacity for supporting fish
life.

(3) The kind of fishes best adapted to
them.

(4) Their accessibility to man.

With this information at hand, the
kinds of fish that will best thrive in
various waters can be determined. A
summary of the total mileage of fish sup-
porting streams is 2037, that of lakes,
63,913.

Two pertinent paragraphs in the re-
port are worth quoting :

"To the average man, if a stream fails
to provide good fishing the remedy is to
stock it. If the fishing still remains
poor — stock it more heavily. It is amaz-
ing the number of people who are firm
in the conviction that the only thing that
prevents a water from delivering up to
the eager angler an unlimited number of
fish is an insufficient amount of stocking.
The same man who would recognize an
evidence of stark lunacy in an attempt
to raise a thousand head of steers on a
quarter-section of range, will generally
quite cheerfully dump a thousand finger-
lings into a section of stream having the
same relative amount of food, with a
child-like faith that by some miraculous
process they will somehow be transmuted
into legal size fish by next spring.

"The factors which enter into the
capacity of a water to support fish, and
the determination of the most suitable
species, are many and diverse, and all
must be reckoned with if a reasonably
accurate estimate is to be made. And
when it is realized that many of these
factors are still far from being perfectly
understood, it will be appreciated how
diflicult it is to say with any degree of
certainty 'this number of this species of
fish must be planted in this mile of water
per year to obtain bests results.' How-
ever, the knowledge we have is far better
than pure guesswork, and will go a long
way toward securing a more equitable dis-
tribution of the product of our hatch-
eries."

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

NEW BIRD REFUGE IN FLORIDA.

By recent executive order, the President
has transferred from the War Depart-
ment to the Department of Agriculture as
a refuge for birds a portion of the Fort
Matanzas Military Reservation in the
state of Florida. The area consists of a
group of marsh islands lying in the
Matanzas River about 15 miles south of
St. Augustine, Florida, and serves as a
nesting place for wild fowl, chiefly terns.
Shearwaters nest in the vicinity and pos-
sibly occupy some portions of the reserved
area. The administration of the new
refuge is placed under the Bureau of Bio-
logical Survey.

NEW ZEALAND USES" EDUCATIONAL
METHOD.

As indicative of the strong belief in
educational work as a means of further-
ing conservation, reference can be made
to New Zealand. A recent report states
that several hundred projecting machines
and several million feet of film have been
accumulated. The proper apparatus is
loaned to various schools on the theory
that "one good picture in fifteen minutes
makes a more lasting impression than
several books with several weeks utUized
in learning their contents."

MOUNTAIN SHEEP SUCCESSFULLY
INTRODUCED IN MONTANA.

In 1922 the Bureau of Biological Sur-
vey liberated twelve mountain sheep on
the National Bison Range in Montana.
A reduction of the predatory animals was
then obtained. The sheep have now in-
creased to sixty-nine. Thus has been
demonstrated the fact that it is possible
to successfully introduce this wariest of
game animals in suitable areas. Success
attained here suggests the possibility of
reestablishing the big horn in the higher
mountains of California.

SPECIAL LICENSE NEEDED TO KILL
BEAR IN NEW MEXICO.

New Mexico has changed the status
of the black bear from an unprotected
predatory animal to that of a big game
mammal with special protection afforded
it. The open season is placed from Octo-
ber 10 to October 31 and the bag limit
is one per season. A hunter must have
a big game license costing residents $3
and non-residents $25.25 before he can
kill a bear. Many states need to follow
New Mexico's example.

AUXILIARY GAME REFUGES FOR
MISSOURI.

Missouri following the passing of the
Auxiliary Game Refuge Bill by the
legislature, and following the example of
Pennsylvania, is soliciting the coopera-
tion of its sportsmen in the establish-
ment of auxiliary game refuges in every
district in the state. These auxiliary
refuges differ from regular game refuges
in that the latter are on state-owned
lands and the former are on lands of
others and leased for periods of not
less than ten years. Blanks giving
printed requirements and conditions under
which these refuges may be established
are made available through the State
Department, but no application will be
considered if the private lands covered are
not connected with public hunting
grounds, it being the intent of the state
to have the sites amply large for public
hunting in addition to the refuge proper.
— Missouri Game and Fish News, July,
1927.

Pennsylvania has a system of auxiliary
refuges based on a written agreement
with the owner of the property. In the
fall of 1926 there were sixty-five of them
located in forty-three different counties
totaling about 90,000 acres. These
auxiliary refuges differ from the large
permanent refuges only in size and in
that there is no resident refuge keeper.
They are under the supervision of a dis-
trict game protector.

LOST FISH RECEIPT BOOKS.

During the year 1926 three of our
fish receipt books were lost on a barge
operating at Point Reyes, and when the
barge was again placed in service in
1927 these books were recovered.

These books show that 106,065 pounds
of salmon, 6336 pounds of crabs (264
dozen), 97 pounds of rock cod, 95 pounds
of halibut and 693 pounds of codfish were
received on this barge in 1926, but this
amount of fish does not appear on our
report of the catch for San Francisco
for 1926, as the records were made up
and published before these books were
found.

Dealers should use every precaution to
see that fish receipt books which they
have are turned in, so we may have a
complete record of the catch. Receipt
books are seldom lost, but in this case
a considerable commercial catch of fish
does not appear in our records.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

REPORT ON SARDINE CANNERIES 1926-27.

The first canning operations in Monterey for 1927 started in August,
and all canneries except one ceased operation in March. Canning
operations were started in the San Pedro district in November and
continued into May. In San Diego, packing was carried on through-
out the year, but on a small scale, and less than fifteen thousand cases
of all size cans were packed.

The following table shows the production at Monterey and San
Pedro districts. One plant was operated in northern California out-
side of Monterey and the output is included in the Monterey figures.

CANNERY, FISH FLOUR, MEAL AND OIL PRODUCTION.
Season June 1, 1926, to May 31, 1927.

District

Tons fish
received

Tons fish
used for
canning

Tons fish

used for meal

and flour

Monterey

San Pedro

Totals

Deduct fish used for other purposes

Fish used by canning plants...

79,343
64,216

143,559
3,165

140,394

60,941
52,324

113,265

18,318
11,892

30,210

District

Tons
offal

Cases

1-lb. ovals

packed

Cases other
size cans
packed

Other size

cans

equivalent

to cases

1-lb. ovals

Cases
per ton

Tons
flour

Monterey

20,306
17,441

1,202,516
986,858

39,134
52,561

21,673
63,264

16.1
16.3

184

San Pedro

Totals

37,747

2,189,374
84,937

91,695

84,937

Add other sizes

Equal to cases 1-lb. ovals. _

2,274,311

District

Meal,
tons

Ratio

per ton

meal

Oil,
gallons

Gallons oil
per ton
of offal
and fish

Tons fish
used for

other
purposes

Monterey

6,675
5,962

5.6
4.9

1,562,351
682,796

40.4
23.3

3,165

San Pedro

Totals

12,637

2,245,147

3,165

CALIFORNIA FiSia AiSTD GAME.

TABLE OF CASE PRODUCTION, RATIO OF MEAL AND OIL PRODUCTION.

Name of plant

Location

Kind of
plant

Number of

cases 1-lb.

oval cans

per ton

Ratio per
ton of meal

Gallons of

oil per ton

of offal

and fish

Bayside Fish Flour Company

Monterey _..

Monterey!

Monterey .

Fish flour ..

6.4

5.3

5.9

6.2

6.4

4.8

6.4

4.7

5.5

4.8

7.8

4.8

4.2

4.7

5.5

3.7

4.7

44.8

F. E. Booth Company

Cannery _

Cannery

Caimery

Cannery

Caimery

16.9
15.8
16.9
15.1
16.8
14.7
15

15.3
15
17.2
14.1
18.1
6.4
16.3
14.3
16.4
17.5
17.3
13.8
16.6
16.4

42.4

California Packins Corooration

43.6

Carmel Canning Company

B. B. Gross Canning Company

K. Hovden Company

Monterey

Monterey..

Wilmington

East San Pedro

East San Pedro...

San Pedro

Long Beach

East San Pedro

East San Pedro.. -

East San Pedro

Wilmington

East San Pedro...

40.5
43.6

Monterey Canning Company

San Carlos Canning Company

29.2
40.7

San Xavier Packing Company

Sea Pride Canning Company

35
30

Coast Fishing Company ._

18.1

Franco-Italian Packing Company .

French Sardine Company. _-

30.4
24

General Fisheries.

33.3

Italian Food Products Company

Los Angeles Sea Food Company

Ejttle-Joerissen Canning Company

Southern California Fish Corporation..
Seacoast Packing Company

23.5

23.4

20.6

16.5

Stafford Packing Company. .

28.7

Toyo Fisheries .

Van Camp Sea Fciod Corporation

25 5

' Includes operation of Pittsburg plant.

The percentages shown for various plants are based on sworn reports furnished by each plant, and same method
used for all plants to arrive at above ratios.

The following table shows case pack, meal and oil production for
calendar years 1916 to 1926.

1-Lb. Ovals.

Year

Monterey

and Northern

California

San Pedro
district

San Diego
district

Total

1910

97,100
331,065
593,315
798,566
687,777
287,954
353,188
580,464
631,286
737,743
1,158,133

2,512
43,221
136,632
113,909
213,714
77,048
340,860
488,885
693,133
920,191
861,088

7,133
34,380
17,790
33,594
50,302
1,189
3,595
19,215
12,135
29,846
63.410

106,745

1917

408,666

1918

747,737

1919 .

946,069

1920 .

951,793

1921

366,191

1922

697,643

1923 ..

1,088,564

1924

1,336,554

1925...

1,687,780

1926

2,082,631

Fish Meal, Tons.

Year

Monterey

and Northern

California

San Pedro
district

San Diego
district

Total

1916.

249
875
2,874
3,812
3,969
2,115
2,695
3,806
6,601
7,105
7,307

261
2,606
4,737
5,667
3,328
3,566
5,373
4,216
7,726
13,023
7,066

535

1917 .

3,481

1918

1,123
1,674
1,559
636
959
1,216
1,001
2,808
1,394

8,734

11,153

8,856

6,317

1919

1920 .

1921

1922 _

9 027

1923

9 238

1924

15,328

1925

22 936

1926

15 767

Includes all meal produced.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.
Fish Oil, Gallons.

Year

Monterey

and Northern

California

San Pedro
district

San Diego
district

Total

1916 1

25,563

92,393

261,466

341,173

419,474

226,826

295,858

576,553

1,240,296

1,246,561

1,418,512

500

26,063

1917 .

83,900

67,858

146,298

152,937

93,305

244,310

346,883

1,059,001

1,716,633

651,006

176,293

1918 .--

17,400
26,791
39,174
16,607
6,882
28,452
51,425
187,847
54,410

346,724

1919 -..

514,262

1920 -

611,585

1921...

336,738

1922

547,050

1923 . -

951,888

1924 ..

2,360,722

1925

3,150,041

1928

2,123,928

InchiJes all fish oil produced.

For quick reference and comparison of activities in the Monterey
and San Pedro districts, a chart is given below showing receipts of
sardines, number of cases packed on basis of 1-lb. oval cans, number
of tons of meal and gallons of oil produced.

S/tRD/N£

D/STf?/crs ^^

4C^.

so,

79343 TOA/S

S/T/Sf PfOPO^i^^l^^^fgg^^

642/6 TONS

C/ISE5 P/rc/r£D

B/fS/S OA/£
POUND Ol^/fi.5

^^^

4^0 J».

so.

'/^ /2^^

rf.

/224/ePC/4SCS

/aSO/22C^£S

P/70DUCT/0N

667S ra/vs

/yroA/repsy j^^H^^^I^HH

S/7/V peopo HI^^P^^H

^962 TONS

O/L

PffODucr/0/^

^^^

■*ooyv

30O

^f. /iao

/S6Z3f/a/f^

6827^6 S/TLS

■"^^^™

Fig. 36. Receipts of sardines in various districts of California, season 1927.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

REPORTS.

GAME CASES.
July, August, September, 1927.

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
imposed

Jail

sentences

(days)

Hunting License Act .

104
42
22
51

6
11

2
17
36
11

1
39

3
12
60

I
12
15

$2,375
1,550
1,625
4,075

140

Deer Tag Licenhe Act

100

Deer: closed season or district . . .

290

Deer: does, fawns, spiked bucks, forked horn bucks in District 1^. _.

270

Deer: over limit __. ... .._

Deer: failure to produce horns or hide

400

25
500
1,010
400
100
100
1,625

290

1,295

25
100

25
475
175

Deer: running with dogs, closed season .

Ducks: closed season ._.

Doves: closed season

Doves: over limit . .

Sage hens: over limit

Pheasants: closed season

Quail: closed season

Pigeons: closed season __ ...

Non-game birds _..

Rabbits: cottontail-brush: closed season

140

Squirrels, tree: closed season

Shooting game from automobile

Trespass

Night hunting . .

Game refuges: hunting, possession of firearms

150

Totals

454

516,195

1,170

FISH CASES.
July, August, September, 1927,

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
imposed

Jail

sentences

(days)

Angling License Act.

S660
505

OnminerRial Fishing Tiicense Act

Trniit,: over limit . .

Trout: taken other than with hook and line

960

Striped bass: undersized and over limit

Striped bass: sale of, in closed season

Crabs: undersized ..

Crabs: closed season

20
790
495

riams- iinHpTMzeH and over limit

Ahalmifis- nnrl(>rHi7Prl nnH nvp.r limit

Abalones: drying, illegal ..... . ...

Lobsters : closed season

25
225
330

150

1,000

Barracuda: undersized

Black bass: undersized

Illegal fishing: withing 300 feet of inlet to lake; 250 feet fishway; 150 feet
lower side dam

Illegal possession of fish spear

Nets: illegal possession or use

Pollution .. .. . .

Totals

210

$6,820

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 99

SEIZURES OF FISH AND GAME.

July, August, September, 1927.

Salmon, pounds 7,000

Spot fin croaker, pounds - 620

Barracuda, pounds 5,000

Striped bass, pounds - - - .- 503

Sunfish -- - 26

Black bass - -- - 166

Trout - - 477

Perch - 15

Crabs - 48

Clanis - '55

Abalone --- - -- 1°

Lobsters, pounds --- -- -- - - 50

Quail — - ---- 105

Pheasant - - - 3

Dove ""5

Sage hen .-. 27

Ducks -- 114

Band-tailed pigeons -- -- 7

Nongame birds -- -- --- -- 37

Deer meat, pounds 3,401

Deer hides and horns 5

Illegal nets and traps — 5

STATEMENT OF INCOME.

For the Period July 1, 1927, to September 30, 1927, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year.

License sales: Detail Total

Angling licenses— 1927 $61,978 00

Hunting licenses— 1926-27 -'- 11.014 70

Hunting licenses— 1927-28 43,295 00

Market fishermen's licenses— 1927-28 19,400 00

Wholesale fish packers and shell fish dealers'— 1926-27 '- ' 30 00

Wholesale fish packers and sheU fish dealers'— 1927-28 EEl 920 00

Game breeders' licenses— 1927 -^^~c ^'^ '^^

Fish breeders' licenses— 1927 f?.E 15 00

Trapping licenses— 1927-28 ^ ^ 380 00

Commercial hunting club licenses— 1927-28 3-?* 275 00

Commercial hunting club operators' licenses— 1927-28 75 00

Deer tag lioenses—1927 23,332 00 ^,„„_,, _

Total license sales ._ - ?160,754 70

Other income:

Gametagsales --- ,„ ,jj 50

Court fines.. 12.12132

Fish packers tax - °.4°^ 'J,

Kelp tax — — 6 26

Fish tag sales 1.^68 bl

Interest on bank deposits 642 50

Total other income - 22,631 92

Total income... - $183,386 62

100

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
For the Period July 1, 1927, to September 30, 1927, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year.

Function

Materials

and
supplies

Salaries

and

wages

Service

and
expense

Property

and
equipment

Total

Administration:
Executive and legal-- - -

15 50
391 72

$3,765 00
5,145 00

$259 68
772 85

2,724 38
42 10

1,006 68

1,230 90
837 97

$1 75
447 54

$4,031 93

Clerical and office _.

6,757 11

Rent - ---

2,724 38

Automobiles

62 47

6 95

111 52

Telephone and telegraph

1,006 68

1,230 90

Freight, cartage and express -.

837 97

Printiner ----- - -

5,894 35

Accident and death claims

393 75
34 45

393 75

Commissioners-- - -

34 45

Total administration

16,354 04
$114 52

$8,910 00

$2,691 93

$825 00
597 50

$7,302 76

$344 73

$299 23
624 93

$456 24
$1,248 23

$23 023 04

Education:
Director

$4,399 41

Publicity:
Director -

$1,124 23

State fair - - - - --

$237 28

$18 45

1,478 16

Total publicity.- _- .- . -

$237 28

Sl,422 50

$3,054 99
992 07

$924 16

$301 96

8 80

98 46

97 80

38,984 39

44 65

285 78

1,020 00

781 82

200 82

$18 45

$2,602 39

Conservation and protection:

$3,356 95

Clerical and office -

$39 35

$180 34

1,220 56

Rent —

98 46

Automobiles _- _

323 76

25 50

359 20

2,736 90
379 06

3,158 46

Captains and deputies _-

43,321 07
525 00
450 00

82,710 02

Patrol launches

928 85

735 78

Lion bounties

1,020 00

Fish olantine:

102 17
98 18

1,346 00
575 48

136 49
432 27

2,366 48

Refuee Dostins.

1,306 75

Total conservation and protection _

$948 16

$14 26
7 07

534 97
4 55

181 86

$50,264 61

S2,634 99
5,338 07
1,170 00
1,395 00
8,360 48

$41,824 48

$675 57

1,217 79

132 80

68 45

1,097 12

214 50

3,750 00

57 25

$3,865 06
$12 73

$96,902 31

Conunercial fisheries:

$3 337 55

Deputies -_-

6,562 93

Patrol launches

72 91

1,910 68

Statistical - _

1,468 00

Laboratory.

266 46

9,905 92

Salmon taseins

214 50

Botulism

3,750 00

Automobiles - -

152 59

209 84

Totpl pnTnmwfiial fiRhmp.=

$895 30

$18,898 54

$999 99
1,015 50

$7,213 48

$16 25

6 80

84 00

683 38

4,727 64

$352 10
$10 00

$27,359 42

Fish culture:
Chief and assistant

$1,026 24

Clerical and office - . -

$34 36

1,056 66

Rent -

84 00

Automobiles- -

937 03
21,445 83

4,638 72
4,189 87
1,663 83

6,259 13

Hatcheries

30,708 28

61,071 62

Hatchery additions and betterments -

1,663 83

2,635 00

505 80

3,140 80

Total fish culture

$22,417 22

$3 52

$1,639 55

$35,358 77
$1,305 00
$2,220 00

$6,023 87

$833 99

$571 37
$11,922 50

$182 50

$10,502 42

$74,302 28

Hydraulics:
Chief and assistant

$2,142 51

Game propagation:
Game farm

$71 05

$4,501 97

License commissions

$11,922 50

Research:
Director -

$13 33

$1,644 00

$1,839 83

Total expenditures - -

$32,622 92

$122,715 35

$77,143 84

$16,513 55

$248,995 66

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 101

CORRECTION.

In the January, February and March report of the catch of fish in California, published in the July, 1927, Vol. 13,
No. 3, issue of California Fish and Game, pages 229 and 230, the following corrections should be made:

Alameda-Contra Costa counties should read:

Perch 644

Sabnon 6,559

Shad... 894

Shad— Buck 97,138

Shad— Roe 84,802

Striped bass 110,525

Total fish 317,595

Total 326,840

San Francisco-San Mateo counties should read-

Cultuscod. 76,889

Rockfish 265,399

Sablefish 80,993

Sabnon 572

Total fish 4,5.59,011

Crabs 1,026,888

Total 5,891,022

Footnote No. 4, showing number of dozens of crabs should read 42,787 dozen.

To correct the total catch for the state, the following amounts should be added to the totals for California, pages
231 and 232:

Cultuscod 873

Perch 11

Rockfish 1,721

Sablefish 126

Salmon .. . 643

Shad 69

Shad— Buck . . . 2,310

Shad— Roe 2,107

Striped bass . 2,544

Crabs 14,040

Footnote No. 1, page 232, should read 47,245 dozen.

These corrections were made on account of delayed reports having reached this office after the original report was
made up for publication.

102

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

I-
o.

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3 I

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S I

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o

Monterey.

Santa Cruz.

San Francisco,
San Mateo. .

Alameda,
Contra Costa.

Sacramento,
San Joaquin.

Solano, Yolo.

Marin.

Mendocino,
Sonoma, Lake.

Del Norte,
Humboldt.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

103

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100

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104

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

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Ul

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3 O

a o

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</) £

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s ^

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X E

Total Mexican
brought into
California

Mexican, brought
into California
via San Diego...

Mexican, brought
into California
via San Pedro...

Total.

San Diego,
Imperial -

<
u

Orange.

as ^
oo

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California Fish and Game

••CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDL'CATION."

Volume 14 SACRAMENTO. APRIL, 1928 Number 2

CONTENTS.

Page
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANIMAL DISEASES— AN

ELEMENTARY TALK K. F. Meyer 107

OUR POLICIES _• Eugene D. Bennett 114

POSTING OF GAME REFUGES J. S. Hunter 110

VOLUNTEER DEPUTIES Walter R. Welch 117

A CONTINENT-WIDE WATERFOWL CENSUS Harry G. Oberholser 119

CALIFORNIA TROUT J. Q. Snyder 121

QUAIL SHOOTING IN CALIFORNIA TODAY AND FIFTY YEARS

AGO Walter R. Welch 122

THE RELATION OF PARASITISM TO WILD LIFE CONSERVATION

E. C. O'Roke 128

VARIOUS CONDITIONS REGULATING BIRD POPULATION AND

MIGRATION D. D. McLean 129

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIES DESTRUCTIVE TO

GAME National Game Conference 134

EDITORIALS 138

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES 161

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES 168

LIFE HISTORY NOTES 169

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 176

REPORTS—

Statement of lucome and Expenditures 177

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 178

Statistical Report Annual Kill Fur-Bearing Mammals in California 180

Statistics, Deer Killed in California 181

California Fishery Products, October to December, 1927 188

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANIMAL DISEASES—

AN ELEMENTARY TALK*

By K. P. Meyer, Director George Williams Hooper Foundation for Medical Research,
Universitj' of California Medical School, San Francisco.

My talk has been announced as facts regarding animal diseases.
Before I set forth in simple language some of the facts, let me con-
sider what is meant by disease. Briefly stated disease is a departure
from health or in other words, changes in the normal structure and
function of the organs. The human or animal body can not adjust

* This and the next Ave papers were addresses given before the Third Annual Con-
vention of Employees of the Division of Fish and Game held February 28-March 1,
1928, in San Francisco.

58645

l08 . CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

itself to factors which lead to the departure or to the variations in
environment in which it must live. AVhether these factors are climatic,
electrical or mechanical in nature, or whether the changes are due to
the invasion of certain types of microorganisms, or parasites or chemical
disturbances, makes quite a difference in the picture of the disease.
When the body adjusts itself to the various factors, no disease will
result. For example, if a person is not affected by sudden changes in
temperatures, infections of the lungs like pneumonia may never develop.
If one adapts oneself to the typhoid bacillus, one does not contract
typhoid fever. In the latter instance the adjustment is spoken of as
immunity or resistance against the typhoid germ.

It is very interesting that in the past acute diseases have shortened
the life span of men as well as animals. In the Stone Age the span
was probably not more than 30 years. Preventive-measures, the appli-
cation of hygiene, etc., have increased it to about 56 years. Yet in
certain countries in which infectious diseases are still prevalent the
life span of man is still around 30. In this connection it is worth while
to remember that aside from the prolongation of life — modern science
has given us a much more useful and livable life. Just think for a
moment, a man without teeth, or a man without eyesight in the Stone
Age — meant death — his defects were absolutely fatal to his existence.
Why? He could neither chew the available food nor could he evade
the dangers to which he was exposed. Today, many of us with artifi-
cial teeth and with eyeglasses do not consider these manifestations of
disease as a handicap although the loss of sight is certainly lethal
for game animals.

That animals are subject to disease just as frequently as man, is a
well established fact. In old documents dealing with hunting one
finds various descriptions of destructive diseases of game, but since
man was primarily interested in reducing his own mortality the inter-
est in the maladies of animals has lagged considerably. Only when
animals become domesticated it appeared important to control the
disease to which they were heir. Today a great deal is known regard-
ing the diseases of the domestic and the captive wild mammals and
birds in zoological gardens (see Herbert Fox, Disease in captive wild
mammals and birds; Lippincott 1923) and those animals which may
be the reservoirs or the carriers of certain germs transmissible to
man. I once spent a period of three years in Africa and studied some
of the reservoirs of the sleeping sickness parasites. I became inter-
ested in the sickness of animals, not merely in order to protect man
but in order to solve some of the fundamental aspects of disease
processes. I wanted to know if wild animals died as a result of acute
infectious diseases similar to those seen in man, or if they are subject
to chronic disorder such as degenerations, fibrosis or hardening of the
kidney, the blood vessels, etc. To my amazement I was forced to
realize that chronic degenerative processes exist through the entire
animal kingdom.

Our knowledge regarding the diseases which affect the game animals
— mammals and birds — of this state is still meager and the study is
very much in its infancy. We are organizing a group of investigators
who will serve as a fact-finding institution. Only when we have facts
can we hope to develop preventive and corrective measures. Any-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 109

body who analyzes logically the fincUngs which have beeu made will
immediately appreciate that it is exceedingly difficult to do anything
in a curative way. In fact it is well known that the medical treatment
of a malady, even in man, is limited. We prevent today, we do not
cure. Man recovers from disease without and in spite of the bottles of
drugs or patent medicines which have been consumed or used. Unfor-
tunately the layman continues to adhere to the belief that sickness
must be cured by medicines. The suppression of disease among wild
mammals and birds can rarely be accomplished by drugs. Preventive
and not curative measures must be chosen.

If we analyze a disease what do we have to look for? There are
first, the causes of disease. Second, lesions, or tissue changes which
we may see with the naked eye or the microscope or by chemical means
and third, disturbed functions which produce the so-called symptoms.
For example, an attack of pneumonia instigates certain symptoms
which enable the physician to recognize the nature of the disease. He
records fever, a rapid pulse, difficult and superficial breathing, peculiar
sounds in the chest, general restlessness, etc. The same applies to
animals — their diseases produce disturbed functions and symptoms.
It is always of greatest importance to record carefully any symptoms
which may be noted since they may aid in the recognition of the malady.
In poisoning cases there are definite disturbances. And again in a
lingering disease, the wasting away, the restlessness or the dullness
toward the outside are significant manifestations. Most of you living
out of doors and endowed with a very keen sense of observation can help
us a great deal by recording faithfully the symptoms of the diseased
game. Let me illustrate this point, there has always been a debated
question whether deer may die when they harbor bot fly in their nasal
passages. The question : Do the fly larvae obstruct the air passages
leading to the lungs, and is death due to suffocation, or may some of
the bots be aspirated into the lung tissue producing pneumonia, and
consequently do the animals die from secondary infections asquired
by the aspiration of the bots, was solved by a careful study of the
symptoms and the lesions. One observer noted that the ground sur-
rounding the dead deer was disarranged and had every earmark that
the animal had struggled in an attempt to breathe. The post-mortem
proved the diagnosis suffocation — the upper air passages were com-
pletely blocked by the fly larvge but the lungs were free from lesions.
In another case, similar to the one Mr. Ludlum brought to my labora-
tory, the bot fly had been caught in a branch of one of the air passages
of the lung. It had obstructed a portion of the lung, but since it also
brought bacteria from the nasal passages it caused aseptic pneumonia,
and the deer had died from general blood poisoning. In this case the
animal was ill for several days, but died without a struggle.

If in any way possible, the disturbed functions should be observed.
Naturally, in many cases we can not apply modern methods of exam-
ination. We can not go around and use a thermometer; we can not
thump the chest to see if the animal has pneumonia. But you should
keep in mind that symptoms may furnish excellent leads in a study of
the causes of sickness.

Now comes the next important step in the study of disease — the
anatomical lesions and tissue changes. In order to establish the

110 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

lesions one must perform a post-mortem examination or autopsy. Such
examinations should be made as soon as possible after death. Particu-
larly in wild animals it is always essential that only fresh carcasses
be examined, since the invasion of microorganisms from the intestinal
tract lead rapidly to decomposition of the tissues and to changes in
color, consistencies, etc., of the organs. A decomposed cadaver or
tissues are utterly useless for any serious investigation of any sort.
You can save yourselves the trouble of a post-mortem and the expense
of shipping such tissues to the laboratory. If you can not perform a
complete post-mortem immediately after death, remove at least the
intestines from the body and separate them from the spleen, liver, etc.

A post-mortem examination should be done by somebody who knows
what is normal and who can recognize what is abnormal, preferably
an animal pathologist. In order to perform a perfect post-mortem a
great deal of experience is required, which can be acquired only by
the opening up of every dead animal. One should do that on every
occasion. I do not claim to have a thorough knowledge of the ana-
tomical makeup of every bird or every wild mammal, consequently
I always ask the people who submit animals or organs for a post-mortem
examination, that they give me an opportunity to see a healthy animal
of the same species. Thus I familiarize myself with the shape, sizes,
etc., of the organs and my mind is then prepared to detect abnormalities.

I have many times been amused when performing post-mortems
before inexperienced persons. For example, I opened up the mouth of
a deer and somebody standing around said, "now look here, this ani-
mal has no incisors in the upper jaw." To them a perfectly normal
condition was already a definite lesion. I once saw a group of students
searching a whole morning for the gall-bladder in a deer. Further-
more, there are certain conditions in the lungs of animals — the amount
of fibrous tissue which is between the air sacs — which are of greatest
significance in judging the permanent damages produced by pneu-
monia. These examples probably suffice to emphasize that the game
warden and hunter should examine healthy animals before they attempt
a diagnosis of the lesions in a diseased animal.

Now what should you do when you perform a post-mortem? I will
give you some of the essential steps since in many instances we shall
have to depend upon your work and observations. You are going to
send us the organs of the animals in order that we may determine the
cause of death. Therefore, every observation you make is of greatest
importance. You open up the abdomen ; you note first the arrangement
of the organs; the location of the stomach, the intestines, etc. There
may be various disarrangements in the position to the cavity or in
the organs to themselves. If you can not describe what you see, make
a sketch. In case you have an idea regarding the cavise of the dis-
arrangement write it down in simple language. Then take out the
organs, the spleen first, then the liver, look at it; is the size normal
or is the organ enlarged 1 What is the color ; dark or light brownish,
rich in blood? Is the surface smooth or rough? What is the con-
sistency; hard, soft or friable? Then make an incision and note if
the blood oozes from the vessels, if it contains gas bubbles, is it par-
tially clotted, etc. ? All these things have a definite meaning. Then
you prepare the organs for shipment to the laboratory. Do not send

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. Ill

pieces but send the whole organ. The best thing is to wrap each organ
separately in a clean clolh. Don't wash the tissue in water, more
bacteria which favor decomposition and putrefaction are added. If
5'ou have bichloride tablets soak the cloth in a 1 : 1000 solution. Place
the wrapped organs in a box with sawdust, or excelsior, or straw, or any
absorbent material and ship to the laboratory by express. Small
organs may be packed in glass jars and shipped on ice. During the
summer months ice should be used freely.

In the course of a post-mortem examination one should always follow
a certain procedure in taking out the organs. One should never open
tile intestines before one has removed the other organs of the body. Tlie
best thing is to take out the spleen first ; then the kidneys ; lungs and
heart, possibly hanging together ; liver and then the intestines. Never
forget to examine the bones of the limbs, chest and the muscles, the
skin and the natural openings. Under certain special conditions it
may be advisable to send the head so that the brain, the eyes, etc., can
be examined.

In reporting your findings, you should be strictly objective ; never
let yourself be guided by impressions. The best procedure is merely
to describe what you see. For example, if you note a tumor or sAvelling,
just state that it was the size of an apple located in the center lobe of
the liver or the left lung, that it was hard, uneven and wliitish, rather
gritty when being cut, etc.

The recording of the gross lesions is a very important part of a post-
mortem since it serves as a guide for subsequent investigations.

When we have determined the lesions, we naturally want to know
the causes of the abnormal structure and function.

The causes of disease are numerous.

There are first the group of (1) mechanical forces, factors causing
injuries — for example, shot wounds, fractures, hemorrhage, etc., due
to accidents. The lesions induced by mechanical forces are of greatest
importance in finding the cause of death since not infrequently an
injury sustained many weeks or months before may be followed by
complications due to bacteria, etc. Then M^e have secondly the lesions
due to (2) electrical forces. Injuries due to lightning strokes are the
same in man and animals — sometimes internal, sometimes external.
Birds succumb frequently to the effect of power eui-rents with an
electromotive force of 500-800 volts. Then there are the (3) thermic
changes such as heat and cold, which affect wild animals rarely since
their organism can readily adjust itself. (4) Injurious chemical suh-
stances or poisons are fast becoming very important causes of death
among game animals. This group produces not infrequently few and
indefinite changes and is rarely recognized without finer laboratory
studies. The effects of some poisons are known, but in the group of
plant poisons there still exist manj^ mysteries. To illustrate this state-
ment I will briefly describe a South African disease called lame sick-
ness or lamziekte. In the course of this disease, ostriches, cattle, etc.,
develop a general weakness, a paralysis of the limbs ; they are unable to
get up or to raise their heads. This disease was a mystery until it was
found that the soil on the Lamziekte ranches was poor in phosphorus
and that on account of the deficiency the animals developed a desire
to eat bones and carrion — in fact anything which contained phosphorus

112 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

and lime. They developed into bone-eaters and had a disease known
as osteophagia. Studies were then made on the carrion bones and to
the amazement of the investigators it was found that they contained a
bacterial poison similar to that of botulism found occasionally in home-
canned food. The decomposition of dead animals and the formation
of carrion led to the generation of the poison. As soon as enough
bone meal was placed on the Lamziekte ranches the animals had no
desire to eat carrion and the disease was stopped automatically. It is
not unlikely that similar types of poisonings may occur in game ani-
mals. We do not know the cause of the duck disease in California.
The leg and wing weakness is probably not a true paralysis since birds
transferred to fresh water make not infrequently an uneventful
recovery. Aside from bacterial toxins, plant poisons, venoms and other
organic and inorganic substances may act as chemical causes of diseases.

In a discussion dealing with the causes of disease among domesticated
animals a large part is taken up by the (5) infections caused by plant
parasites, such as bacteria and fungi. The number of diseases due to
bacterial infections of game is very small, this must in all probability
be ascribed to the mode of living. When many animals of certain species
live together the chances for localization and multiplication of disease
producing germs are favored and infectious diseases due to bacteria
may make their appearance in epidemic form. Isolated cases of disease
due to molds — particularly skin or lung infection — are sometimes found
in game animals. The lesions are rarely extensive. Parasitism due to
(6) animal parasites play a very important role as causes of disease.
Insects and worms of various sorts are rarely missed on game animals.
They produce general disturbances, but only massive invasion may lead
to fatal processes. Not infrequently the consequences of parasites are
overestimated. The study of the life cycles of the parasites is very
important. We are always interested to know their portal of entry
into the body — if the skin, the lung or the digestive tract. Are there
any intermediary hosts? Where do game animals contract the para-
sites? Have certain worms a specific ability to localize in certain
tissues and why ? ' All these questions can only be answered by tests
conducted in the laboratory.

Not infrequently the cause or causes of a disease are not readily
apparent. For example, the duck disease of California requires exten-
sive chemical tests before we can prove the so-called alkali poisoning
theory. If we solve this problem in the next five years we will con-
gratulate ourselves.

When we have considered the causes of the various infectious diseases,
we are naturally interested in the behavior of some of the causes on a
large group or congregation of animals. Thus far we have merely
considered the individual. If one person contracts pneumonia, the
health officer is rarely interested, but when hundreds of people exhibit
the same malady, as they did for example in 1918, then we are entitled
to become alarmed since we are confronted with the epidemic form of
influenza.

What is an epidemic disease? It merely means that a large number
of persons or animals in a community or reservation are affected by
the same cause in a short time. What happens when an epidemic
sweeps throu^'h an animal population? Certain interesting things

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 113

have been noted. I can best illustrate the facts by reciting a set of
experiments which we conducted several years ago. "We placed about
150 healthy white mice in a large cage. They were fed a balanced
diet ; they had plenty of ultra-violet rays and the cages were regularly
cleaned. Then we placed in the cage a mouse which was infected
and discharged mouse typhoid bacilli in the feces. We watched the
cycle of events. After an elapse of a week a few mice appeared ill,
the coats were rough and the eyes closed by crusts. Two or three days
later the sick animals died and within the next four weeks a total of
120 of the 150 mice had succumbed to a mouse typhoid epidemic. The
population was nearly wiped out, but what happened to the survivors?
We studied them and found that 16 harbored the mouse typhoid
bacilli in the intestinal canal, spleen and liver. They were so-called
disease carriers and potentially capable of spreading the infection. If
we had taken one of those carriers and put it in a cage with healthy
mice, the carrier would have started an epidemic of the same character.
In another experiment we placed a number of carriers in separate cages
and added every ten days ten healthy mice. They contracted the dis-
ease, some died and some survived, but the mouse typhoid epidemic
could be kept going as long as new mice were added.

In the first experiment 14 mice which survived failed to show mouse
typhoid bacteria in their organs. To all intents and purposes they
were immune. They either had contracted the disease, recovered and
eliminated the causative microbe from their system, or they were heredi-
tarily immune and could never contract the disease. The latter observa-
tion is very interesting since one can experimentally prove that the
mating of resistant mice may give rise to a generation of highly resistant
rodents in which the mortality from mouse typhoid is relatively low.
If the survivors are mated again, the resistance is again slightly
increased and so on. In this manner a mouse population highly
immune to disease can be raised. It is not unlikely that similar factors
may operate in the spread of an epidemic among game animals. Then
again the present resistance to certain bacterial infections may be due
to the transmitted immunity which the great-grandfathers acquired
in the course of an epidemic. For the present we lack, however, the
necessary proof. It is, however, important to keep in mind, that an
epidemic disease with a high mortality always produces carriers and
reservoirs of the disease and no assurance can be given that quite
unexpectedly a flare up may occur when susceptible animals come in
contact with these carriers.

These conditions have been noted in epidemics among human beings
and domesticated animals. Every 25 years epidemic influenza reap-
pears. Certain definite biological laws govern the course and trend
of the epidemic disease. In order to control them we must know the
mode of transmission, etc. Promises are made that a given disease
may be controlled although the cause of the disease is unknown. Expen-
sive procedures are outlined only to be discredited six months later by
the negative results they produced. For example, it is practically
impossible to eradicate Rocky Mountain spotted fever, since the tick
infested areas can not be freed from the insect. The same applies to
ground squirrel plague and to the jackrabbit disease, tularemia.
The only thing we can hope is to keep the infections at a low level and

114 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

thus reduce the chances of contact infection among a scattered rodent
population. Even when every precaution is taken, recurrences do
take place. Why? The answer remains one of the many unsolved
problems.

That brings me to the last point. The examination of diseased ani-
mals is always connected with a certain amount of danger. In this
state we have at least two diseases of wild animals transmissible to
man. The jackrabbit disease — tularemia — and plague in ground
squirrels. When you open up a jackrabbit and you note white spots
on the liver and pus under the skin, bury the carcass and wash your
hands most carefully with antiseptic solutions. In fact, it is a wise
policy to wear rubber gloves when you examine suspected rabbits.

Tularemia is an unpleasant disease. To date there have been 430
cases with 18 deaths in the United States. Relatively few human
cases have been noted in California, but the disease is common in
Nevada, and is known in Utah as "deer fly fever." The causative
microbe was first seen in ground squirrels caught by the United States
Public Health Service in Tulare County. That is the reason why the
germ responsible for the disease is called Bact. tularense and the malady
tularemia. It is noteworthy that everybody who worked with this
microbe in the laboratory became infected; in all, 20 cases of tularemia
have occurred among laboratory workers. In the Lister Institute in
London they desired a culture of the bacterium, which was sent to them
by the Hygienic Laboratory, LTnited States Public Health Service.
They experienced difficulties in growing the microbe in culture and
therefore undertook some experiments on guinea pigs. In a few weeks
three workers of the laboratory had contracted the disease. In the
liglit of these observations the need of some care is obviously indicated.

As far as plague is concerned the following should always be kept in
mind. Ground squirrels with abscesses under the skin, or spots on the
spleen, may be infected with the plague bacillus, which is transmissible
to man. The experiences in Oakland in 1919 leave no doubt that a
very dangerous form of plague infection, namely, the pneumonic or
"black death" type, may result from such sources. In case a person
develops boils after he has skinned rodents, he should always consult
a physician without delay.

In closing, let me assure you of my cooperation. I am at the service
of the state. You furnish the material and the problems. Even a
small specimen well preserved will be of great value leading to the
recognition of the causes responsible for certain diseases among animals.
Ahvays remember we can only conserve animal life Avhen we know
more about disease and the causes of death.

OUR POLICIES

By Eugene D. Bennett, Executive Officer.

I want to talk to you for about twenty minutes, to tell you of some
of the things I have in mind. As to the plans before us, there is noth-
ing revolutionary, nothing strange or unusual. There will be no
upturning nor any grand upheaval. The principal thing I can do as
I see it in my capacity as executive officer is to carry out the work as
it has been organized and outlined, constantly striving to improve

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 115

wherever improvement may be made and to correct mistakes where
they occur.

Many of my friends think tliis position as executive officer is a
sinecure. Now I liave been with this work for three months and feel
that it is one of the biggest jobs I can conceive of today, and as time-
consuming as any position I have had. The only compensation is that
the nature of the work is pleasant. One is building here a good con-
structive future dealing with live things and live issues, and associating
with a splendid group of men and women.

My part is to act as executive and to assist department heads in
accomplishing the program and general plan of action the commis-
sioners have given us. I am impressed with the tremendous responsi-
bility I have upon my shoulders. Furthermore, I realize, being new to
the work, that much of it is technical in its nature. I feel in this sense
I am ill prepared to act as an executive for this great undertaking.
There is compensation, however, in the fact that the men who have
been selected to carry on their part have been at it for a long period of
time and have dedicated their lives to the service.

Public service is a hard task. It is a hard task in any office if done
right. In this task we have to Avork just as hard as in any other
service of the state government. When you enter the state service
and take the oath of office, it means you place yourself in a different
position than you ever had before. You do not possess the right to do
or think just as you would like to do or think on all occasions. A man
in the field has certain duties to perform and has those duties to uphold.
If necessary, he must even take action against his friends. The only
way I see, men, is do your duty, assume the responsibility willingly,
enter the field of your endeavor, entirely divorcing the selfish instinct.
This is the only way of satisfactorily carrying on this work.

I know it is difficult to go out into the field at night and more com-
fortable to stay at home. However, you are a public servant. You
are following a service to your community and state. I hope you will
find me square and honest and I hope at all times you will never find
a grain of prejudice in my make up. I can not make promises, because
I believe it unfair. All I hope to do is do my level best, give the best
of what is in me in every possible way, carry out the fine work as out-
lined, directing the great enterprise we have before us, and adjust the
little difficulties which arise among us, keeping them within the organ-
ization and later solve them in a fair and just manner. Perhaps criti-
cism may be directed to you and a reprimand from headquarters sent
out, but if such happens it will be entirely official. I shall not let any
personal feeling enter on my part or let any influence affect me what-
ever. All I want and ask is that you give your best, honest industry,
in attempting to do your duty as laid out for you to do and I am sure
you will get the great satisfaction that eoiues from conscientious work
well performed.

It is a year-round proposition and you will always find that we
people in San Francisco are thinking of you out in the field; we are
thinking of your problems; we are thinldng of your particular work
w^hich you have before you. Just remember we are here to serve you
and help you carry out your work, and you are not given your com-
mission merely to serve us.

116 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

I trust this convention will be successful and you will go away
having gained something by it. That is the only reason we have you
here today. Feel at all times, whenever we in San Francisco can be
of real help to you, that you can come to us with any just cause of
complaint, your troubles and problems. Do not try to influence any
of us with unfair tactics or procedure, but keep up the esprit de corps
this Commission should have. If you do not do your duty properly,
you can not fit into this fine organization. You should have courage
and individual sense of pride in your work ; if not, enter your resigna-
tion, or, if you stay, enter into the fine spirit of it, the spirit to serve
and the will to do.

POSTING OF GAME REFUGES

By J. S. Hunter, Assistant Executive OfRcer.

In 1902, a constitutional amendment was adopted, giving the legisla-
ture the right to divide the state into fish and game districts and to
adopt appropriate legislation for the proteotion of fish and game within
those districts. It was not until 1913 that this amendment was made
use of by the legislature. At this time the state was divided into game
districts in which there were different laws for the taking of various
species.

In 1915, the district act was amended so as to provide for the creation
of smaller districts. Section 626s of the Penal Code set these districts
aside as game refuges in which all hunting and even the possession of
game was prohibited. The Commission at that time did not have the
funds to properly take care of the refuges through the employment of
resident deputies whose duty it would be to see that the various pro-
visions of section 626s were not violated.

It was not until the adoption of the increased license bill that we
were assured that refuges could be properly patrolled. Last year an
item was included in our budget providing for the posting of refuges.
This meant that a crew of men could be appointed whose duty it would
be to survey the boundaries of the refuges and to post signs warning
the general public that hunting in that particular area was prohibited.

We were unfortunate in the first crew that we selected, but at the
present time the crew is working excellently and has already surveyed
refuges in the Sierras and in the coast from Marin County down
south to Los Angeles County. I will read from the log of the man in
charge of the refuge crew. This will give you an idea of something of
the work that the boys are doing.

"February 10. Went to Solvang. Met Deputy Lyons, who put me
in touch with rangers who all agree that the only practical method or
procedure was to get a pack outfit and that would take about eight
days to make the trip. Lightened up the truck as much as possible
and then drove to the ranger station, seventeen miles above Los Olivos,
seven miles of which is very steep and very rough road. Thirty-five
per cent over grades. All of seven miles in low gear and in some
places were just able to make it. Met packer and Mr. Tunnel and
made arrangements to wait one day for him to get stock and have
them shod.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 117

"February 11. "Went out with ranger to get a general idea of the
country in the forenoon, and in the afternoon arranged for a pack of
food, etc.

"February 12. You will note that the crew is working Sunday as
well as every other day. Rode fifteen miles over steep trails to Man-
zana Creek, the south line of the refuge ; then about five miles in an
easterly direction up the Manzana, posting as we went along. Made
camp at 4 p.m. at point near where the trail leaves Manzana. Saw
seven deer along trail outside of refuge and a few mountain quail.

"February 13. The packer and Gurley and Young started across the
refuge on trail to Hurricane Deck and the lower end of the South Fork
of the Sisquoc River, w^hile I took the canyon of the Manzana on foot
and followed it and posted to the summit of Pine Mountain, six miles.
No trail, rough going and very steep, encountered snow about two miles
from summit, which was really more of a help than hindrance, as it
was hard enough to hold and helped smooth over the rough spots.
From the summit of Pine Mountain down the South Fork of the Sisquoc
I posted about six miles, which took from 1.30 p.m. to 7.20 p.m. No trail
and very steep going from one large boulder to another through about
four miles of snow from eight inches to three feet deep and eight to ten
feet in the drifts. I would not advise anyone to take this trip alone
again owing to the danger element. I took several bad falls in trying to
make time in the snow. Saw six deer, mostly on the snow line. This
hike is from an elevation of about 3000 to 7000 feet. Saw several
mountain lion tracks (Jay Bruce, please note) and one bear track on
the top of the mountain. The boys saw, on their trip across the refuge,
150 deer and seven flocks of quail of from twenty to twenty-five in a
flock, all at about an elevation of 3000 feet. They arrived at camp on
the fork of Sisquoc, about one-half mile above the main river, at about
2.30 p.m."

These field notes will show you the character of information we are
getting from the refuge crew^ They are instructed to keep their eyes
open and give us full and reliable notes regarding the abundance of
game in all of the sections in which they work. They are also securing
information relative to changes that should be made in the boundaries
of the refuges. In other w^ords, we are getting somewhere with our
game refuge system and I would ask that whenever the crew works in
the vicinity where any of you are located, you would help them to the
fullest extent just as deputies Lyons and Emerick already have.

VOLUNTEER DEPUTIES

By Walter R. Welch, Captain of Patrol in charge of Volunteer Deputies.

Among the many duties that are assigned to the Fish and Game
Commissioners is that of strictly enforcing the laws for the protection
and conservation of fish and game that have been enacted by the state
legislature. For that purpose the Commissioners are empowered by
the provisions of section 642 of the Political Code of California to
appoint, with or without pay, such deputies as they may need to dis-
charge their duties in the enforcement of the fish and game laws in a
proper manner.

118 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Realizing that the regular salaried deputy forces of the Commission
are not sufficient in number to properly patrol the game fields and
streams for the strict enforcement of the fish and game laws through-
out the state, the Commissioners have availed themselves of the law,
and have appointed a number of men to act as volunteer deputies of the
Division of Fish and Game.

As a former experience of the Fish and Game Commission with
volunteer deputies in this state, as well as that of similar commissions
in many other states, has proven that unless controlled by rules and
system the majority of men appointed as volunteer deputies are a
liability rather than an asset to the state in fish and game law enforce-
ment, the Fish and Game Commissioners of this state have established
a system for the appointment and supervision of the activities of all
volunteer deputies of the Division of Fish and Game.

Under the system and rules adopted by the Commission for the con-
trol of volunteer deputies, the appointment of each volunteer deputy
must be sponsored by a bona fide fish and game protective association
or club.

The application and recommendation for appointment of each volun-
teer deputy must be endorsed by the captain of patrol of the district
W'here the applicant resides, and be approved by the captain of patrol
in charge of volunteer deputies.

Each volunteer deputy must be bonded to the state in the sum of
$2,500 for the faithful performance of his duties, and is required to
report monthly to the captain of patrol in charge of volunteer deputies,
giving a full account of all of his activities during the month, such as
number of hunting and fishing licenses checked, miles of game fields
and streams patrolled, arrests made, fines imposed, etc.

California is the first state to undertake a system and rules for the
control and supervision of the activities of men appointed as volunteer
deputies for the enforcement of the fish and game laws.

Although the work has been pioneering in nature and at this time
has not been completed, the result has far exceeded the hope of the
Commissioners. At this time there are about 650 volunteer deputies
within the state. About 375 of these deputies are federal forest
rangers, and their appointment as volunteer deputies of the Division
of Fish and Game is sponsored by the U. S. Forest Service. The
appointment of the balance of the volunteer deputies is sponsored by
various fish and game protective associations or clubs throughout the
state.

At this time the volunteer deputies in twenty-one counties of the
state have been organized and instructed in the discharge of their
duties, and are now working under captains in cooperation and coordi-
nation with the regular patrol, wdth very beneficial results in law
enforcement, and fish and game protection, as is evidenced by the fact
that many arrests for fish and game law violations have been made by
volunteer deputies, in which cases fines of from $25 to $250 have been
imposed.

As cooperation is the keynote to the successful operation of any
business, and as the enforcement of the fish and game laws, and the
protection of fish, game and wild life is a business, and a big business,
of interest and value to all of the people of the state, the cooperation of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 119

the people with the regular patrol and the volunteer patrol is very
necessary, and will result benefieially to the efforts being made by the
Fish and Game Commission to restock the depleted game fields and
public waters, and to protect and conserve the supply of fish, game and
wild life.

A CONTINENT-WIDE WATERFOWL CENSUS

By Harry C. Oberholser, Biologist, U. S. Bui-eau of Biological Survey.

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to stand before you today, and to
look into the faces of the wardens of the great State of California,
because you and I are working for the same cause. We are trying to
do what the country would have us do, not only in this state but in all
other states — to preserve what we have left of the out-of-doors, and also
to keep for ourselves and for posterity the great sport and recreation of
hunting. It goes without saying that without any birds to hunt, with-
out any other animals to hunt, there can be no hunting. Hunting and
fishing are a little different from the pursuit of many other things in
life. The real joy of hunting is the pursuit rather than the getting.
You have seen a man sit on a log for a whole day and not catch a thing,
go home and tell his friends what a wonderful time he had fishing.
Much the same may be said with regard to hunting.

A few words might be said regarding what the Biological Survey is
trying to do. The federal government and the state governments
have distinct niches in conservation work. The federal government
does not wish to take any of the glory of the states, rather is attempting
to add to it ; and the work of the federal government, including the
Biological Survey, the Forest Service, and Bureau of Fisheries, is to
help the states to coordinate their different activities with each other
state, and to those things that require work in all the states for their
best accomplishment.

Cooperation is particularly important in connection with the migra-
tory horde of waterfowl that goes from state to state, from country to
country, as a matter of fact from Canada to Mexico, for each one of
our states must know what is going on in other states, and must
cooperate wdth other states in order best to do its own work. It is to
forward this cooperation that the Bureau of Biological Survey is work-
ing. We have felt for some time that there is a great lack of knowledge
regarding waterfowl, particularly concerning their numbers, move-
ments, and distribution.

Your state commission is making an intensive study of the duck sick-
ness, and the Biological Survey is working along the same lines, but
much remains to be accomplished. Another of the most important
problems is what should further be done for the conservation of our
waterfowl. There are several things that we need to find out before
we can attack this problem with any degree of intelligence, or with
any hope of success. We must know where the birds are, in what num-
bers, when they occur, and whether they are increasing or decreasing.
As a matter of fact, we know but little. We have tried a number of
means to obtain such information, but have found them unsatisfactory.

120 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

We have now decided to attempt what has never been attempted before
— a comprehensive continent-wide census of the waterfowl, once a
month. That may seem like a hopeless task, but it is not as hopeless as
it looks, and it promises very important results.

The method of procedure is to gather information regarding areas in
which waterfowl are found, and to get persons who know the ducks
and geese to take the census regularly. Our purpose now considers only
ducks, geese, swans, and mud-hens. Each individual who is willing to
cooperate is asked to select a certain area, as much as he can cover in
one day. He is to make a careful count where numbers are small
enough, or an estimate if the number is too large to count, of each kind
of waterfowl on that area, on a certain designated day each month,
so that there may be no duplications. Waterfowl travel fast, so we
must count them all on the same day. In this way, we shall have a
census, or a stock report you might call it, each month, of the water-
fowl of the North American continent. We have been organizing and
conducting this work since August. Game wardens, game commis-
sions, sportsmen's organizations, individual sportsmen, and others
interested are being asked to help.

We started in August with 500 observers throughout the North
American continent, today we have 2700. With even that number we
can not adequately cover many of the large areas like California. We
need your support and help in your great state. Our purpose is to
enlist your support and interest ; and our hope is that you will become
interested in the waterfowl census, and come to see it as not only
something the federal government is doing, but something that in your
own state is needed to forward the very work in which you are inter-
ested. It is our purpose to make all the information available. Not
only the information gathered in your state, but in all states will be
available for your commission and for you. If the Biological Survey
can help you in any way to increase the waterfowl and preserve the
sport of hunting, that is our desire and we ask your help to that end.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 121

CALIFORNIA TROUT

By .1. O. Snyokr, Stanford University.

Under the authority of the Fish and Game Commission, I have been
for some time engaged in an investigation of the salmon of the state,
and during this time considerable data have accumulated which relate
to other species of fish, particularly the trout. I have examined some
thousands of them, large and small. There are notes of a descriptive
character, scales, anatomical structures and preserved specimens laid
away against the time when they may be used to advantage. Certain
conclusions relating to growth, distribution and relationships, which
will no doubt be of value in propagation and conservation, are fore-
shadowed by these data, and of some of these I wish to speak.

In an oral discussion of this sort I may fail to always distinguish
between fact and fancy, but I shall try to use the words theory, guess
or presume, where they are most needed.

We have at hand a theory of geographic distribution and relation-
ships of the trout of the state which I think is of value, perhaps even
in artificial propagation. We have in the state the finest trout in the
world. Some of them are the most beautiful in color, and they possess
the finest qualities as game fish. They exhibit great variation in ana-
tomical characteristics and they are adapted to extremes of climatic
conditions. We have alpine forms in the region of the high Sierra,
subalpine species adapted to the streams draining the higher slopes of
the mountains, and transition forms near the sea level.

Among the alpine forms is the royal silver trout of Lake Tahoe and
the Tahoe cutthroat (Salmo henshawi). The former is a deep lake
form whose habits are unknown, while the latter is adapted to more
general fluvial and lacustrine conditions. Eelated to the Tahoe cut-
throat is the Columbia River cutthroat {S. clarJci), which reaches the
northern coastal region of the state, entering the streams as a steelhead,
as far south as Redwood Creek and perhaps Eel River.

It was presumed by its describer that the royal silver trout
(*S^. r eg alls) is related to the rainbow trouts which inhabit most of the
larger streams of the state. They, the rainbows, are on the whole
larger scaled forms than the cutthroats. The coastal rainbows are all
geographic variants related to Salmo irideus which inhabits the streams
to points far below Monterey Bay. These fishes migrate from the sea
to the streams as steelheads, for spawning purposes. Their progeny
live for a time in the fresh water as stream trout, after which they
enter the sea, where they rapidly attain large size. We now have facts
enough relating to these trout to speak with perfect assurance as to the
relationships of the steelheads and rainbows, and the steelheads and
cutthroats. The steelheads are stream trout which have gone down to
the sea and profited largely therein, to return again after a period of
one or more years. We have then cutthroat steelheads and rainbow
steelheads. We have steelheads and stream trout, and conservation of
the one depends absolutely upon conservation of the other. We burn
the candle at both ends when we overfish both the steelheads and stream
trout. We are awakening to the fact that we can not both destroy the
steelheads and maintain the rainbows. Trout go to sea at ages varying

122 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

from one to three or possibly more years. They return from the sea
after a year or more of life therein, spawn in the stream, and, if pos-
sible, migrate again to the sea. They spawn several times, returning
to the sea after each nuptial migration. The extent of their life under
the most favorable conditions is not knoAvn, but they live for a consid-
erable number of years. They are occasionally taken at sea by salmon
fishermen. To the southward the rainbow trout is represented by
landlocked forms, the San Gorgonio trout of the San Bernardino region,
and the Nelson trout of the San Pedro JMartir of Lower California.
The latter no doubt reached this far southern point in a past period
when colder conditions prevailed, and trout extended over a larger area.

It appears probable that we have, as intimated before, two series of
rainbow tronts, the coastal forms and another series which we may term
subalpine. The latter are either landlocked or do not enter the sea for
some other reason. Among these are our most brilliantly colored forms,
the golden tronts, the Kern River and Shasta trouts and the Eagle Lake
trout. Under favorable conditions these fishes attain a large size, and
no better trout is known. Their age. rate of growth, and many other
phases of life history are matters for investigation.

I believe that an understanding and a consideration of the natural
geographic distribution of our trout, together with some more definite
knowledge of the life history of the various species will be of great value
in artificial propagation, and the proper distribution of fry in the
streams.

I want to repeat that we have in this state the finest and most beau-
tiful trout in the world — already naturally adapted to the greatest
extremes of climate, river, lake and sea conditions. I want to express
the opinion, in closing, that we have already made a great mistake in
introducing inferior species to cope with our native forms, and any
proposition to introduce others, such as the Atlantic salmon, for
example, is a tacit admission of our inabality to cope with the problem
of conservation of our own superior species.

QUAIL SHOOTING IN CALIFORNIA TODAY AND FIFTY

YEARS AGO

By V^ALTER R. Welch.

Time: December 1, 1927. Place: An old abandoned logging road
along the banks of the Grualala River, Mendocino County, California.
Two San Francisco sportsmen about to return home after a day's quail
shooting. Equipment: An auto, and two 16-gauge automatic shotguns.

''Well, Tom, this is the best quail shoot we have ever had. I have
nine birds and you have eleven. If v»ie had had a good dog to retrieve
all the birds we killed we would have bagged the limit, for I killed at
least a dozen birds I could not find."

Let us turn the pages of time back to September, 1872. Place:
A brush covered pasture near San Gregorio, San Mateo County, Cali-
fornia. Two middle-aged men and a boy out for a day's quail shooting.
Equipment: A saddle horse, three double-barreled muzzle-loading 12-
gauge shotguns, and three well-trained bird dogs.

"Jim, how many birds have you and Walt?"

"We got 72. How many have you, Alex?"

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 123

< < '

I got 47. With what we killed yesterday that makes about 20
dozen— enough for a shipment. Let's quit."

Alex and James Butchart, who have long ago crossed the Great
Divide, were the men mentioned, and the writer was the boy. Well
do I remember that day, my first as a " market hunter. ' '

What a difference in the supply of quail in 1872 from that of 1927.
The ' ' Butchart boys ' ' began the hunting of quail for the San Francisco
markets in Marin County during the Sixties, and about 1870 moved to
San Mateo County, locating at San Gregorio.

The Butcharts were brothers, and were real sportsmen of the old
Scotch school. While they marketed the game they killed, they did
all their shooting on the wing, over well-trained bird dogs. They would
spend more time to retrieve a wounded or dead bird than would be
required to flush and kill a half dozen birds. Both were splendid wing
shots, frequently bagging as many as 60 quail each in a day's shoot.
I have seen Jim Butchart kill 27 quail straight, singles and doubles,
without losing a bird, the birds being flushed from brush cover.

The "Bissell boys," Englishmen, and twin brothers, were also early-
day market hunters for quail in San Mateo County. They did their
hunting on the coast side of the county, and also in the vicinity of
Woodside, west of Redwood City. The Bissell boys were also good
wing shots and did their shooting over dogs.

During the eighties and nineties, Enos Ralston and Thomas Johnson
did a great deal of market hunting for quail on the coast side of San
Mateo County. These men were also splendid wing shots and did their
shooting over dogs.

While those mentioned were the recognized market hunters for quail
in San Mateo County during the early days, there were many others
who shot and trapped quail for market in that section of the state.
Some of those who trapped quail maintained a string, often consisting
of as many as fifty traps.

The figure four set was the trap commonly used for trapping quail,
much of the trapping being done by boys, and the wives of farmers
and ranchers. During the sixties and seventies, and even as late as
the early eighties, traps set for quail could be seen all over San Mateo
County. All that was required to construct a trap capable of catching
quail was a strong, sharp pocket knife with which to cut hazel or other
material about one-inch in diameter by four feet in length, which would
be placed one upon another in pyramid form, the pieces being made
shorter as the trap was built up. When the trap was completed it
would be held together by a "binder" across the top, which was
fastened by a piece of string to the bottom slat of the trap, thus binding
the trap firmly together; the trap being baited with wheat or other
grain or seed that might be obtained.

During the sixties, seventies and eighties, Dr. R. 0. Tripp, who
conducted a general merchandise store at Woodside, San Mateo County,
and who made regular weekly trips by team and train between Wood-
side and San Francisco, handled nearly all of the quail killed by market
hunters in that section of the country. Dr. Tripp paid the hunters
cash for their quail and resold the birds to the retail game dealers in
San Francisco.

2—58645

124 CALIFORNIA FlSiS AND GAME.

The market hunters on the coast side of San Mateo County shipped
their quail by Wells, Fargo & Co. 's Express and stage, to game dealers
in San Francisco.

The Butchart boys, the Bissell boys, Ralston and Johnson, although
referred to and recognized as market hunters, did their hunting more
for the sport of shooting than for the money made from the sale of quail.

These hunters used muzzle-loading, 12-gauge shotguns in shooting
quail, as did also the majority of quail hunters until about 1885. In
1885, Ralston and Johnson, recognizing the advantage of breech-loading
guns over muzzle-loaders, each purchased 14-gauge breech-loading
Parker shotguns and 150 brass shells, bought their ammunition in bulk
and loaded their own shells.

I have been informed by Mr. Ralston that in quail shooting he loaded
his shells with 2-| drams of powder and f of an ounce of shot, and that
during the quail shooting season of 1885 he used 310 pounds of num-
ber 10 shot and 77 pounds of powder, which indicates that he shot
upwards of 6000 times at quail during the open season of 1885. Mr.
Ralston also informs me that his best one-day bag of quail was 10 dozen
and one bird ; that his best double-barrel pot shot was 47 quail, and that
his best single-barrel pot shot was 30 quail, and that Mr. Johnson and
he would average 6 dozen quail per day in good weather.

William Packard, who had the misfortune to lose his left arm in one
early-day sawmill of San Mateo County, was also one of the market
hunters for quail in that county during the seventies and eighties.
Although having the use of but one arm with which to handle his gun
and game, Packard was a successful quail hunter and a splendid wing
shot. His best two-barrel bag was 18 quail and his best day's bag was
72 quail.

While many pot shots of from 11 to 30 quail were made during the
early days of quail shooting in San Mateo County, some of the record
two-barrel pot shots were George Carter, 48 ; Joseph Frisco, 33 ; F.
Moulton, 32; Alphus Davis, 52; John D. Feliz, 43; Mrs. Frank Bill
(wee Beckie Palmer) 24, and 46 by the writer.

As the means of transportation developed, the market hunting and
trapping of quail spread down the peninsular into Monterey and other
southern counties, where, during the late eighties and until about 1901,
in the section of country west of Bradley and King City, and in the
vicinity of Jolon, Pleyto, Poso, San Ardo, Paso Robles and Santa
Margarita, thousands of quail were slaughtered each year by market
hunters. In these sections of the state great numbers of quail were
destroyed by nets used to trap quail at springs and water holes. The
trappers would use a piece of 1-inch mesh net about 15 by 50 feet. The
back part of the net was usually buried in dirt, the ends and sides of
the net were fastened to willow poles, and a stick about 2 feet in length,
to which was fastened about 200 feet of strong string, was used to hold
up and trip the trap. A pan filled with water was placed under the
net and the trap baited with wheat, chaff or other grain or seed.

As water was scarce in the section of country mentioned, quail in
bands consisting of thousands of birds would congregate about the
springs and water holes in the vicinity of which the traps were set.
When a sufficient number of quail had entered the net, the trapper

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

125

who was watching the trap wouhl pull the stick from nmicr the net,
and thus cause the net to drop on the birds.

In this manner at times quail to the number of several hundred
would be caught by one fall of the net or trap. The trapper would
then proceed to kill the birds by using a willow stick with which to hit
the birds on the head as they stuck out through the meshes of the net.
After the birds had been killed and removed from the net, the net would
be reset and baited.

Tlie trapper would then proceed to draw the quail and tie them in
bunches of six birds each. The bunches of birds would be hung up in
a tree at a distance of about 30 yards, and a shot from a shotgun fired
at them, in order to remove evidence that the birds had been trapped.

As a rule the trappers would fill the springs and water holes with
brush and so block it that quail would not be able to secure a drink.

Fig. 37. The California valley quail, the finest of California's upland game birds.
Photograph by H. C. Bryant, Hayward Game Farm.

The net would then be set, baited and so left for a day in order that the
quail would become accustomed to it and enter it ; then the trap would
be sprung — usually twice in one day — which would result in about
cleaning up the flock of quail that frequented that particular locality,
which might consist of several hundred birds. The trapper would
then move to another location. In this way he would be able to trap
and ship several hundred quail twice per week.

As a rule the quail trappers above described w^orked in pairs, and
their outfit usually consisted of a pack horse or mule, a roll of blankets,
coffee pot, frying pan, a short-handled shovel, an ax, a shotgun, a piece
of 1-inch mesh 15 by 50 feet, a quantity of wheat or other grain
for bait, and a large, shallow pan to be filled with water and placed
under the net or trap.

The Lambert boys, also brothers, were early-day market hunters in
Alameda County and the San Joaquin Valley, as was also Jack Ellis.

126 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

During 1891, 1892 and 1893, Jack Ellis did a great deal of market

hunting and quail trapping in the San Joaquin Valley, and states that
each quail trapper in that section would operate a string of about 100
traps. Pack mules and horses were used to transport supplies and to
deliver the birds to shipping points. Mr. Ellis states that sometimes
there would be as many as 20 trappers in the vicinity of "Lone Tree
Canyon," in the San Joaquin Valley, and that the average catch of
quail was about 100 dozen quail per week per man.

The price paid for quail ranged from $0.50 to $1.75 per dozen,
depending upon the condition of the birds. In 1885, I saw many quail
exposed and offered for sale at grocery stores and butcher shops on
Third street, San Francisco, for 50 cents per dozen.

The quail trappers in the San Joaquin Valley, and also in the
Monterey County section of the state, seldom did any wing shooting at
quail. When quail were shot at in these sections, the shooting was
done by ' ' ground sluicing ' ' the birds at springs and water holes, when
from 40 to 60 quail would be killed at one shot.

It was not until 1895 that a decrease in the supply of quail became
noticeable, and it became apparent that something must be done, and
done quickly, to protect quail or the supply would be totally destroyed.
Therefore, the Pish and Game Commission, in order to be supplied
with data to support the passage of needed legislation, detailed a man
to ascertain the number of quail sold in the Los Angeles and San Fran-
cisco markets in 1895-1896. The figures secured show that during
the open quail-shooting season for 1895-1896, 177,366 quail were sold
in the open markets of Los Angeles and San Francisco alone. Of this
great number of birds Monterey County furnished 39,831, San Luis
Obispo, 25,526 ; San Bernardino, 12,663 ; and Los Angeles 11,026.
From various other counties in the state were shipped to and sold in
the two cities, quail ranging in number from 89 to 9800. These figures
do not include quail shipped to and sold in the various other cities and
towns within the state, nor quail killed and consumed by the hunters,
their families and their friends. The 177,366 quail sold for a total of
$15,160.08, or at an average of less than 10 cents apiece.

These figures certainly furnish the present generation and those
who are inclined to lay the cause for the present scarcity of quail at
the door of predatory birds and animals, with food for thought.

It is quite safe to say that during the eighties and nineties not thou-
sands, but millions of quail were shot, trapped and sold in California,
and that had it not been for the enactment of a law in 1901, which fixed
a bag limit and prohibited the sale of quail, the supply of quail in this
state would have been totally exterminated. The law enacted in 1901
fixed the bag limit at 25 per day and prohibited the sale of quail.

Subsequent to the passage of this law the market hunters resorted
to bootleg methods in shipping quail. During the years 1901 to
1909, in order to be able to secure a sufficient number of quail to
warrant shipment in a trunk checked as baggage, hunters to the
number of eight or ten in the Monterey section of the state would
combine in a quail hunt, pool their bag of quail, and in that manner
be able to escape game wardens in the field, and transport large
numbers of quail to the large cities. Quail were shipped to San
Francisco and other large cities in egg cases, butter boxes, rolls of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 127

blankets, green cow hides, suit cases -, in boxed demijohns as wine,
in coal oil cans as honey, in kegs as butter and salt fish, and in trunks
checked or expressed as baggage. Here they sold at from $2.50 to
$6 per dozen. In this way, for a number of years despite the activity
of game wardens, thousands of quail found their way to the markets of
the large cities and were sold in restaurants and hotels, with the result
that by 1925 only a pitiful remnant remained of this state's once
bountiful supply.

I distinctly recall an afternoon's quail shoot I had in San Mateo
County in the fall of 1880, in company with Fred S. Johnson of San
Francisco, whose son, Frederick ^L Johnson, now resides at San Mateo.
On that afternoon Fred and I bagged 98 quail, all killed on the wing,
over dogs, in one gulch and from one bevy of birds we had flushed and
"stuck" in a ravine bordered by a grain field. We shot 12-gauge
muzzle-loading shotguns, loaded with 2| drams of black powder and
f of an ounce of No7 9 shot. I can not recall that on that shoot either
of us lost a wounded or dead bird.

In, those days a majority of hunters used 12-gauge muzzle-loading
shoteuns, the usual charge for quail shooting being as given above, dur-
ing the fall months, with a change to 1 ounce of No. 8 shot during the
winter months. As these hunters universally used dogs in hunting
quail, very few wounded or dead birds were lost.

It is not predatory birds and animals, or inbreeding, that is respon-
sible for the decrease in the supply of quail in California. The scarcity
of quail in this state at this time is due to the usurpation of their food
and cover, and to man, who has thoughtlessly and indiscriminately
killed and destroyed quail at all seasons of the year in violation of law.

There is no game bird that will respond more quickly to protection
than California valley quail, the ''Plumed Knight of the Chaparral."
To restore the millions of acres of quail habitat that still exist in this
state with California's gamesfbird, the valley quail, all that is required
and is necessary in conjunction with the present law, which prohibits
the sale of quail, provides for a daily and weekly bag limit, and pro-
tects quail for eleven months of the year, is to strictly enforce the law,
develop springs and other means to provide the birds with water and
feed, and have set aside numerous small quail sanctuaries and refuges
in all sections of the state.

That small quail sanctuaries or refuges can be made the means of
restocking and maintaining the supply of quail in the shot-out quail
areas of this state, has been thoroughly demonstrated by Messrs.
Edgar A. and John Shaw, of Pescadero, San Mateo County. By main-
taining a quail refuge of about 60 acres of land on their 610-acre
ranch located near Pescadero, the Shaws during the past 27 years have
been able to keep a good supply of quail on their property, and at the
same time enjoy quail shooting each year. It is needless to say that the
Shaws do no shooting on their 60-acre refuge at any time.

In every county inhabited by valley quail there should be a number
of quail sanctuaries or refuges in which shooting of all kinds is
ahsolufely prohihited at all times of the year. From these refuges the
surrounding country for several miles will become stocked with quail
each year, provided that proper water and feed is developed, and the
law enforced.

128 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

If every county fish and game association or club will interest its
members along these lines, and interview farmers and land owners
with the view of having them set aside small parts of their holdings
as quail sanctuaries and refuges, assist in the development of water
and feed for the birds, and actively support the efforts being made
for the strict enforcement of the laws, within three years, and without
the additional expense of importing quail for restocking purposes,
every acre of suitable quail cover and habitat in this state can be
satisfactorily restocked through natural channels from the nucleus of
wild quail already in the fields.

THE RELATION OF PARASITISM TO WILD LIFE
CONSERVATION*

By E. C. O'RoKEj Parasitologist, Bureau of Research.

AVhile food and water, shelter or cover, and protection from enemies
are the factors ordinarily considered in planning for the conservation
of wild life, the important but little understood questions of parasitism
are beginning to command the attention of conservationists as well as
biologists.

A parasite is an animal that lives in or on, and at the expense of
another living animal, which is called the host. The term "animal"
in the sense that the zoologist uses the. word, may mean anything from
a one-celled organism to a whale.

Parasites and parasitic diseases of domestic animals have long taken
heavy toll from flocks and herds. Wild animals and birds are equally
subject to the attacks of parasites, yet parasitism in these forms is
rarely brought to the attention of the public.

Science does not knoAV how parasitism originated. In many cases
we are helpless to remove parasites from an animal when once they
have become established in it. When the life cycle of any parasite is
known, however, its control becomes a problem of preventive medicine,
in some cases simple and practical, in others exceedingly difficult.

The number of protozoan parasites is legion. Round worms, flukes
or trematodes, and tapeworms are also extremely numerous and
important.

When we speak of a rabbit 's having ' ' blisters " or " boils, ' ' we mean
that it harbors in its flesh the encysted larval forms of tapeworms.
These boils develop in a rabbit only after it has taken in with its food
the eggs (embryos) of a tapeworm of the proper species. The source
of these tapeworm eggs is the feces of a dog or other carnivore that
harbored tapeworms in its intestines. The dog in turn got its tape-
worms by eating the flesh of a rabbit that had boils. These various
situations with respect to the tapeworm, we call its life cycle.

One of the serious parasites of the range sheep in parts of the Rocky
Mountain regions is the fringed tapeworm of the bile ducts. This
same form or one that is very much like it may parasitize deer. Its
life cvele is unknown.

* A study of the parasites of game is now beirig undertaken by the Division of
Fish and Game and articles on this subject will appear in later issues of this
publication.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 129

Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are all subject to
being parasitised by a variety of forms of flukes and tapeworms.

One characteristic of the flukes is that nearly all of them live at some
stage of their existence in the body of a snail or other mollusk, where
they undergo part of their development. The fluke parasites of water-
fowl are therefore intimately associated with the kinds of snails that
live in the marshes where they feed.

Of particular interest is the fact that an introduced animal for
instance may bring in parasites that might prove to be fatal to a native
species. Similarly, a native species might transmit its parasites to an
introduced form with fatal results.

Parasites may exist in animals for generation after generation with
seemingly little effect, then suddenly they may flare up in enormous
numbers, and be so virulent as to practically annihilate their hosts.

At times in some of the lakes in the northern lake states, the flesh
of the bullheads is simply plastered with the yellow cysts of parasitic
trematode worms. The combination of factors which brings about
this condition is unknown, but whatever its explanation, the wormy
fish have a serious effect upon commercial fishing activities in the
infested areas.

Within the field of parasitism are many practical problems of
present day biology that challenge the attention of all who Would
practice "Conservation of wild life through education."

VARIOUS CONDITIONS REGULATING BIRD POPULATION

AND MIGRATION

By D. D. McLean.

In certain bird-infested localities, where the responsibility for much
damage to fruit and other crops has been placed against birds, it has
been a leading question among farmers and orchardists as to just what
attracts them to the area besides the food. The question becomes puz-
zling when other localities with the same fruits and crops are unharmed
by them.

Several factors seem to govern the movements and feeding habits of
the various species of birds, both those which are destructive and those
which are likewise known as beneficial.

In order to help distinguish between the various types of country,
both faunally and geographically, the terrain has been divided by
zoologists and botanists into so-called life zones. We find that these
zones include the following : Tropical, Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran,
Transition, Canadian, Hudsonian and Alpine-Arctic. The following
are a few points to be used in determining these zones. The Tropical
is characterized by a warm, moist climate ; heavy plant growth, often
known as jungle. The Lower Sonoran is characterized by deserts,
thorny trees and shrubs, cactus, hot winds and dry atmosphere. Quite
often there is a lack of trees and shrubs of any kind ; the Upper
Sonoran is the foothill zone with many deciduous trees and shrubs.
There is little barren ground in this zone as a rule. The Transition is
that type of country where one finds both deciduous and coniferous
trees present in nearly equal numbers. The northwestern redwood

130 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

belt is generally considered Transition, but there is a close relationship
between it and the Tropical and Canadian life zones. In the Canadian
zone, one will find the heavy stands of timber, mainly of coniferous
varieties, with only a few of the hardier species of deciduous trees
present. The Hudsonian zone includes forests, often dwarfed, barren
ridges, granite domes and peaks, wet meadows and glacial lakes. The
Alpine-Arctic begins at the upper edge of the Hudsonian, or timber
line, and continues on up to the tops of the highest peaks and into the
polar regions.

This classification will be found usable whether one is climbing from
low country up to the mountains or traveling north into the Arctic
regions.

In certain sections of the state we find sheltered areas where the
winds are broken by foothills, groves of trees or other natural barriers.
Flocks or groups of birds will seek these sheltered covers and there
spend the winter. From these protected places the birds scatter out
over the adjacent fields and orchards to feed, returning to rest. Wher-
ever orchards, vineyards and other crops are located in or near these
foothill coves the damage done by birds is often considerable. Those
products which are grown out into the larger valleys are often
unharmed, because there is a lack of necessary cover for protection.

The sheltered Upper Sonoran section of the eastern San Joaquin
Valley, in which is located Visalia, Lindsay, Exeter, Strathmore, Lemon
Cove, Porterville, Terra Bella and Tulare, is overrun in winter with
various birds such as the linnet, golden-crowned and gambel sparrows.
This area is comprised of open land with but little prevailing wind and
many foothill canyons which are sheltered from storms and the temper-
ature is seldom low. There is a quantity of natural food in the form
of turkey mullein, Avater grass and wild portulaca. Formerly, there
was probably an abundance of food out in the open country where the
deciduous fruit section is today. This, however, is now lacking, due to
cultivation ; hence, since the birds by instinct come back to this section
each winter, they have by necessity turned to the next best food, which
has been chosen as the buds of several deciduous fruit trees.

On the western side of the San Joaquin Valley from Coalinga north
there is a belt of country where the winds are strong and water is scarce.
Very few birds are present in this district, although weeds are fairly
plentiful and there are areas of low brush which would make fairly
good cover. It seems that the scarcity of water and the strong winds
tend to keep the birds from spending their winter months there.

Deciduous orchards and vineyards which are in close proximity to
citrus groves are particularly in danger because of the protection
afforded the birds from the elements and enemies by the dense foliage.

Telephone, electric, telegraph and fence wires are attractive perches
that are taken advantage of by many species. These wires should
always be taken into consideration before such drastic measures as
poisoning and shooting are undertaken. Large trees offer excellent
lookout stations for wary species. Such birds usually perch and scan
the nearby territory before dropping down to feed. Clumps and
tangles of willows, berry vines, rosebushes, hedges, arbors, tangled
masses of wire, weed patches and similar situations are all harbors for
many species of brush and ground inhabiting birds.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 131

It will be found, after the breeding season, that many species of
birds begin to congregate into flocks, while others go individually into
suitable places to spend the colder months of fall or winter. Resident
species remain here all winter while certain migrant species stay until
they depart for the south later in the fall.

In migration, various geographical conditions enter into the routing
of flight lanes to and from their northern breeding grounds. Deserts,
mountain ranges, north and south valleys, forested areas, lakes, streams,
headlands, bays, straits, oceans and mountain passes all seem to regu-
late the flight. Of course there are always some exceptions. Some of
these conditions attract some species, while others deflect their flight to
one side or the other. Some birds take one route northward in the
spring and return south in the fall by an entirely different one. In
some instances these routes are a thousand miles or more apart.

Some migrating birds do not seem to be inconvenienced in the least
by natural barriers. This appears to be true of cranes, pelicans, geese,
hawks, swifts and other species with exceptional powers of flight.
Cranes, geese and pelicans soar to great heights, then take the familiar
V-shaped formation and pass over mountains, deserts, lakes and can-
yons, pausing now and then to once more gain altitude by soaring.

When we speak of migration, we do not necessarly mean the bird
flies in a direct north and south route, for that has been proved false.
Ducks have been banded one winter in the central United States and
have presumably gone north for the summer and the following winter
were taken in California. Other species have a migration movement
known as altitudinal; that is, they move up the mountain slopes in
summer and down in winter. The mountain quail is an excellent
example of this type of migration.

During the nesting season most birds pick out their particular niche
and are only found there. There are occasional exceptions to the rule,
but on the whole, for example, if the bird prefers riparian willow
thickets, that will be where one will find the greater majority of that
species.

The Ross snow goose is a good example of a species which winter?
in one small area. Practically all of the Ross snow geese winter in
the interior valleys of California and formerly in Los Angeles County.
The breeding range of the species is unknown but is presumably north
of the mouth of the Mackenzie River in the Arctic regions.

Some birds are very locally distributed, even in the breeding season,
that is, in one locality the species will be numerous, while in nearby
territory of the same general character it will be practically absent.
There is presumably some reason, not always evident to man, but of
importance to the bird that causes it to be either present in numbers
or absent. Still other species have become localized by the inroads of
their enemies, such as man. In this group, the California condor,
yellow-billed magpie and white-tailed kite are good examples. Some,
which were formerly only distributed locally, have now become
generally numerous due to the spread of cultivation and reclamation.
Competition with man's interests become so keen in other instances
that a bird is finally M'iped from the face of the earth, becoming extinct.
Examples of this are the great auk, passenger pigeon, Labrador duck
and Eskimo curlew. Others apparently due to follow the above are:

132 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

trumpeter swan, whooping crane, white-tailed kite, California condor,
heath hen and clapper rail.

If a bird's natural breeding ground is destroyed, it will, as a rule,
disappear from that area. As the destruction continues and finally
becomes complete over its whole breeding range the bird will eventually
disappear as a member of the fauna. So far none of our American
birds have met this fate but the heath hen, prairie chicken, swallow-
tailed kite, clapper rail, whooping crane and trumpeter swan are
doomed.

Water governs the bird population in many cases. This is especially
true in the smaller species found in the more arid sections. They do
not generally fly a great distance in order to secure water, conse-
quently when available water is covered over or piped, they must
seek new fields.

Prevailing winds are shunned by many species that congregate in
sheltered mouths of foothill canyons. A noticeable exception to this is
the horned lark. This bird seems to prefer the cold, bleak, wind-swept
plains, feeding on open ground where even the grass and weeds are
stunted.

It is interesting to note the attitude of various migratory birds toward
storms and clouds. Over certain parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains,
sandhill and little brown cranes pass regularly to and from their
northern breeding grounds. Oftentimes in their spring migration they
have been observed to come up from the San Joaquin Valley and take
a diagonal course across the mountains only to encounter a storm or
cloud bank in their ascent up the western slope. Their first endeavor
is to fly over it by soaring to great heights. This failing, they will try
to fly through it, but seldom do. After much wheeling and calling
they generally coast back down the slope to the valley again. Geese,
however, will usually fly through a storm or over it with little unneces-
sary demonstration. Fog, however, will befuddle a flock of geese as
well as cranes and often break it up entirely, many becoming lost.

I have seen an entire flock of geese return toward the lowlands when
a golden eagle made a swoop into the group. Cranes, however, show
little concern other than the increased volume of calling, over an eagle's
onslaught, even though the bird may have gone through the entire flock
and scattered it temporarily. They soon come together again and
continue on their way. This is an excellent example of the difference
in temperament between two migratory species that follow similar
routes in migration.

Many species of birds abound in forested areas, never wandering
out into the open country, while others may be found present in both
types of country. Even then there is generally a preference. Hawks
usually nest in forested country but do a considerable part of their
hunting in the open.

One can see the way varying natural and unnatural conditions regu-
late the movements and numbers of birds in various sections, not to
mention food as an attraction. At no time can one be certain that a
bird is going to be common one year, in a certain locality, simply
because it was common the year previous. Any one, or a combination
of the many factors, may change their range, while nearby they may
be numerous.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 133

The numbers of ducks and geese are governed on their winter range
by food and water conditions and the amount of shooting done, to a
noticeable extent. Heavy shooting causes the birds to rise and if the
shooting is continued, they will gradually shun the area entirely, often
apparently leaving for distant parts. Even when there is plenty of
food, the birds will take their departure as soon as tbe season opens.

A good example of what a little protection will do was noted in
the fall of 1927 at Los Banos. A few hundred acres of Miller and Lux
holdings were under observation.

No hunting was done except on Sunday morning. The birds, both
ducks and geese, were quick to take advantage of this and congregated
there by the thousands. It seemed like half of the birds in the San
Joaquin Valley were located on that small tract. This shows what
could be done in the line of conserving a breeding stock of the various
species.

The summer visitants do not seem to be affected by varying condi-
tions as much as migrants and winter visitants. Resident birds are
quick to take advantage of any opportunity offered them in obtaining
food, and protection from enemies and severe weather.

High winds are almost sure to cause a movement among birds,
especially the ducks, geese, cranes and shorebirds. Most of their move-
ments are performed at night so we know little of what actually
takes place. We do know that an influx of winter birds can take place
in a few hours.

There are three general migration routes for ducks and geese into
California from their northern breeding grounds. One from the north
along the coast usually off shore, one down the great valleys from
Oregon and one from the Nevada sinks across the Sierra Nevada moun-
tains into the San Joaquin Valley.

Through reclamation, so much of the original ground used by birds
at various seasons has been changed that the formerly common species
are no longer present. Is it any wonder that they change their flight
lanes and are seldom seen again?

It is high time something should be done in an effort to prepare a
winter range for such birds as ducks, geese and shorebirds in California.
One should be in the Sacramento Valley and one in the southern San
Joaquin. This would be preferable in order to take care of the birds
coming in on the two distinct migration routes to the great valleys.
These are the birds that reclamation is ousting from the state. On
such a range, food should be plentiful at all seasons. None except the
trained naturalist or wardens should be allowed on the premises and
absolutely no hunting, farming, building or reclamation. There should
be a generous planting of food plants. There should be open water,
marsh, dry ground, mud holes and sloughs.

We are certainly devoid of such refuges in the state but not due to
the scarcity of suitable space, but to poor foresight on the part of those
who should be most interested in the conservation of our natural
resources.

In writing this article, T have endeavored to show tlie numerous
factors concerned in the distribution and migration of birds. Also
the necessity of careful study, by experienced men, of the life zones,
food conditions, sheltered areas, prevailing winds, . natural barriers,

134 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

flight lanes, temperature, water conditions, storm areas, fog belts,
forests, plains, reclamation, shooting, predatory animals and like con-
ditions before refuges are established or similar projects undertaken.
The same study is necessary in order to properly control the damage
done to agricultural interests by birds. Until such studies are per-
formed it is folly to blindly place a refuge or undertake the control of
injurious birds.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIES DESTRUCTIVE

TO GAME

(Adopted at the Fourteenth National Game Conference.)

The Committee is faced with a problem that for a long period has been
perplexing to sportsmen and, at times, has received the most radical
and unwarranted treatment. In the absence of basic knowledge,
prejudice has had full sway and has led unthinking people to commit
deeds harmful, and when carried to extreme, disastrous to game con-
servation. In taking up this problem, the committee has done so with
an open mind and with the determination to treat each species under
suspicion justly and equitably, as human beings are treated in courts
of justice in accordance with law.

ALL ANIMALS PREDATORY

It is doubtful whether there are many forms of vertebrate life that
will not devour or destroy the eggs of birds if they have the oppor-
tunity. It is only through eternal vigilance on the part of parent
birds, and their ability to place their nests where they are hard to find,
that many young are brought to maturity. If it is true, as we believe
it is, that all animals are more or less predaceous, it then would seem
to be our duty to check one against another and for the good of the
whole to encourage those that do the least harm.

MARSH HAWK EATS FEW QUAIL

In carrying on quail investigations in Georgia, Mr. Stoddard found
that the marsh hawk, in more than a thousand meals, ate four quails
only, but fully a thousand cotton rats, which rodent in turn was found
to have taken 7 per cent of all quail eggs destroyed. To destroy this
hawk indiscriminately, except locally where a few individuals are doing
harm, is one of the most deplorable methods taken in an attempt to
conserve game.

OWE MUCH TO ORNITHOLOGISTS

Since we owe to ornithologists the greater part of our knowledge
relative to the food and breeding habits of birds, facts touching on
their migration and distribution, and the control of diseases and para-
sites affecting them, it is difficult for your Committee to understand why
some game commissions and sportsmen are prejudiced against ornithol-
ogists. If for any reason ornithologists should stop collecting and
studying birds, sportsmen would be one of the greatest losers. What
possible harm can be done in following this research work, when esti-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 135

mates show that ornithologists kill annually not over 20,000 specimens
out of approximately 1000 species and subspecies, while sportsmen in
one-fourth of that time kill 20,000,000 birds included in not more than
]00 species? Some ornitholoji-ists and sportsmen may kill excessively,
but why condemn the whole ?

AS TO THE KINGFISHER

There are some who consider the kingfisher a direct menace to trout
culture. If individuals congregate about trout hatchery ponds and
commit depredations they can be easily controlled. In some states
even where the kingfisher has always been rare, it is almost impossible
for well-equipped fish commissions to keep the streams supplied with
fish to satisfy the ardent fishermen. Since kingfishers are no more
abundant now than they were when the streams teemed with trout, it
would be well for us to be fair with ourselves and to acknowledge this
truth.

While many fishermen are complaining of mergansers as fish eaters,
what should be said of a large black bass, which we recently have
learned fed on young ducklings.

SPARE THE SEA LION

Alleging that the sea lion destroys salmon, commercial fishermen
want to exterminate this marine mammal, when in truth it feeds princi-
pally on squids and fish of little commercial value. Almost criminal
destruction of salmon by commercial canneries must be defended, and
the scarcity of the fish explained by accusing the sea lion, which appar-
ently has no sponsor in court.

The thoughtless or selfish gunner who has no consideration for breed-
ing stock will exterminate a covey of quail and then try to make himself
believe that the mouse-eating hawk sitting in the top of a dead tree in
an adjoining field, is the real culprit.

SONG BIRDS EAT FRUIT AND GRAIN

The food of many of our favorite song birds includes at least 10 per
cent that is of value to man, such as fruit, grain and garden produce,
and many of our game birds are even worse offenders.

In approaching our problem, therefore, it would seem just and
equitable for us to give little thought to those species that do not destroy
more than a potential 10 per cent, except under strictly local conditions.

QUESTION IS REGIONAL ONE

Species must also be considered regionally. For example, the grape
growers of California recognize that the quail is one of the most destruc-
tive species, and some would like to have these birds exterminated in
their vineyards. New Hampshire paid $14,000 to those who have
suffered from grouse depredations in their orchards. The great horned
owl is destructive to game and poultry in the east, but in the far west-
ern states is most beneficial as a destroyer of such pests as jackrabbits,
cottontails and pocket gophers.

136 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

RODENTS VERY DESTRUCTIVE

Economic biologists have learned that rodents often are naturally,
or seasonally, very destructive to game and poultry. The common
wharf rat is one of the best examples of a carnivorous animal. In
localities where the rat's natural enemies have been killed or driven
away, game birds have little chance to save their eggs or young. The
alien house cat, through the mistaken kindness of those who dislike to
kill kittens, has taken possession of many wild areas and in the more
settled localities probably does more damage to wild game and song
birds than all their other natural enemies combined.

SOME HAWKS ALTOGETHER BAD

Although the Cooper and sharp-shinned hawks have a tendency to
keep the fruit and grain-eating birds from becoming too numerous,
when given the opportunity they destroy game birds and poultry, and
consequently must be controlled.

The goshawk, a bird that periodically enters the United States when
food is scarce in Canada, is one of the most notorious species destructive
to game and has little to be said in its favor.

SNOWY OWL NOT CONDEMNED

Late migrations of the snowy owl brought hundreds of individuals
from the north last winter, and, from examination of stomachs, these
birds were found to have fed largely on the house rats. The ducks that
it was supposed to have fed on had been disabled or killed by the oil
menace, which is so destructive to all forms of ocean life and which is
one of the serious problems to be considered by sportsmen if waterfowl
and shellfish are to be preserved.

OTHER HAWKS AND OWLS

Taking the country as a whole, the duck hawk and the prairie falcon
are the only other bird-eating hawks to be considered. They, however,
are nowhere abundant and do not confine themselves strictly to water-
fowl and upland game birds. The food of the larger, slow-flying hawks
and owls, including the red-shouldered, broad-winged, rough-legged,
swainson and red-tailed hawks, and the barred, long-eared, short-eared
and barn owls, consists mainly of rodents and insects, which in their
turn are injurious to agricultural products and game.

VALUE OF FUR BEARERS

In our effort to control we must remember that many of the preda-
tory animals that are valuable fur bearers are rigidly protected by
closed seasons in some states, and that the sale of their skins makes up
a considerable part of the $65,000,000 annually paid for native raw
furs. The bear is a game animal and should be killed out of season
only when destructive to live stock. The same may be said of fur
bearers that support a valuable industry and at times are feeding upon
rodents destructive to game.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 137

GROUND SQUIRRELS AND COTTON RATS

A member of the Committee has been informed by the late Mr.
Samuel Evans, of the Evans (^ame Farm in Illinois, that ground
squirrels destroy more young' pheasants there up to the time they are
a week old than do weasels, minks and all other predaceous species.
As above stated, INIr. Stoddard found that the cotton rat took 15 per
cent of all the quail eggs that were destroyed by natural enemies.

The Chairman of this Committee has seen probably fifty weasels
carrying mice or young squirrels, and in no instance a game bird. The
marten, when at all abundant, keeps under control the red squirrel, a
great destroyer of eggs and young birds.

A LOCAL QUESTION

In recommending control of those animals that are truly game
destroyers, locality must first be considered. In and about game
refuges or fish hatcheries, those that are naturally or by education or
environment destructive to game should be carefully considered and
dealt with as occasion demands. It is felt that the fur trapper can be
trusted to keep the general mass of predatory fur animals under con-
trol, so that game breeders have to cope only with individuals that from
time to time become troublesome.

The matter of control of enemies of game must be looked at from
every angle by game breeders and sportsmen, since other important
agencies enter into the problem.

MAKE HASTE SLOWLY

"We must go slowly in an attempt to kill those animals of service to
agriculture or valuable as fur bearers and never destroy other than
the individual attacking game. In this way we secure the culprit, save
the lives of those valuable to agriculture and as fur bearers, and thus
hold the respect and cooperative spirit of the farmers and those inter-
ested in fur-bearing animals.

IMPRACTICAL TO LIST SPECIES

Conditions and circumstances vary so widely that your Committee
finds it impossible and also undesirable to present a list of species
which should be classed as destructive or to recommend definite meas-
ures of destruction. It firmly believes, however, in two fundamental
principles which should govern our actions in the control of species
which either generally or locally may be destructive :

First — ^We are opposed to bounties.

Second — We believe in local control under proper legal supervision.

(Signed)

A. K. Fisher, Chairman, Alden H. Hadley,

A. G. Mac Vicar, Frank M. Chapman,

John C. Phillips, Frederic C. Walcott,

— American Game, January, 1928.

138

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva-
tion of wild life and published quarterly
by the California State Fish and Game
Commission.

Sent free to citizens of the State of
California. Offered in exchange for
ornithological, mammalogieal 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 California
Fish and Game Commission. Editors of
newspapers and periodicals are invited to
make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be
sent to H. C. Bryant, Postal Telegraph
BIdg., San Francisco, California.

May 14, 1928.

HIGH LIGHTS OF THE CONVENTION

Deputies from all parts of the state
assembled in San Francisco, February
28, 29 and March 1 for the third annual
convention of employees of the Division
of Fish and Game. The purpose of the
convention was to secure better coopera-
tion within the Division and to give the
deputies a better understanding of the
different fields of work and to enable the
men to meet and to exchange ideas.

The convention was formally opened
on the afternoon of Tuesday, February
28 by a welcoming address given by
President I. Zellerbach. He reviewed the
accomplishments of the Division stress-
ing increased license, plenary powers,
holding tanks, new hatcheries, fish dis-
tribution, radio, new moving pictures,
research on disease, and screens and
ladders. This was followed by a few
words from Commissioner George Clark-
son. Mr. Earl Kauffman, representing
the sportsmen of the state, requested in
their behalf, the cooperation of deputy
and sportsman. Mr. B. D. Marx Greene,
former executive officer, then spoke to
the deputies asking them to give to Mr.
Bennett, the new executive, the same
willing help that he received while in
office.

Mr. B. D. Bennett, executive officer,
then gave a very straightforward declara-
tion of the policy of the Division. His
pleasing discussion and his feeling toward
his new position won for him the con-
fidence of all.

Mr. F. H. Vore, director of the bureau
of Public Relations, explained how a dep-
uty could use newspaper publicity to good
advantage.

The convention was very fortunate in
having present Dr. H. C. Oberholser,
chief biologist of the U. S. Bureau of
Biological Survey, who explained the

work of the survey in taking bird cen-
suses, a nation-wide project. Mr. Obei*-
holser's address is being reviewed at
greater length in this issue.

The question of the advisability of the
deputies wearing uniforms was discussed.
It is now the consensus of opinion that
all deputies should wear uniforms, par-
ticularly when appearing in court, and
it will soon be obligatory that they do so.
The color decided upon is a forest green.

Mr. Walter Welch, captain in charge
of volunteer wardens, spoke briefly on
the work of those under his direction and
requested that cooperation be given this
group of men by the deputies.

Mr. Horace M. Albright, superintend-
ent of Yellowstone National Park and
assistant director of the National Park
Service, gave an address, illustrated with
lantern slides and motion pictures on,
"Game Conditions in Yellowstone Na-
tional Park."

A highly entertaining feature scheduled
for late in the afternoon was the exhi-
bition of disarming, given by the San
Francisco police athletic team. This was
preceded by a very interesting talk given
by Captain Duncan Matheson, of the San
Francisco Police Department.

The annual banquet was held the
evening of the 28th at the St. Francis
Hotel. The Division was honored by hav-
ing present Governor C. C. Young. The
Governor voiced his appreciation of the
excellent work being done for conserva-
tion by the Division and sssured all those
present that he was heart and soul for
the program as outlined by the Division.
The rousing talk by the Governor made
the men feel that they were fellow
workers in the business enterprises of the
state.

Mr. A. R. Heron, head of the Depart-
ment of Finance, was also a guest. He
assured the Division employees of the
support of his department in their efforts
to preserve the state's natural resources.
Motion pictures taken by Jay Bruce,
state lion hunter, and other educational
films terminated the evening's entertain-
ment.

The program was opened the following
day, February 29, by a talk on the sub-
ject of trout given by J. O. Snyder of
Stanford University. This address is
also reproduced in this number.

Dr. H. C. Bryant, director of the
Bureau of Education reviewed briefly the
more interesting books, which are avail-
able in the library of the Division.

A clear explanation of the intent and
uses of the radio together with a demon-
stration of the instruments was made
by H. J. Breuer.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

13d

The work of surveying and posting
refuges, made possible by the increased
license fee and deer tag license money,
was explained by J. S. Hunter, assistant
executive ofiicer. Mr. Hunter's address is
found elsewhere in this magazine together
with the very interesting and informative
talk of Dr. K. F. Meyer on "Facts You
Should Know About Animal Diseases."

The captains were then given an op-
portunity to meet and to discuss with
their deputies the work being carried on
in their respective counties.

On the afternoon of the 29th, an
innovation was introduced into the con-
vention in the form of a "short course
of instruction." Thirteen able and com-
petent instructors gave half-hour lec-
tures on interesting, pertinent subjects
of value to the deputy in his work. The
deputy was granted the privilege of
attending the lecture in which he was
most interested. The lecture on "First
Aid" given by Dr. M. J. Seid was re-
quired of all.

The following morning the men
assembled at the Presidio for a pistol
shoot. A perpetual trophy, a silver cup,
presented by President Zellerbach, was
the reward offered. Deputy Taylor Lon-
don, of Requa, one of the newest and
youngest employees, carried off all honors
in this event with a score of 96 out of a
possible 100.

The program for the closing afternoon
began with a talk on "Evidence in Game
eases — Relation to the Court" given by
Eugene D. Bennett.

~" Joseph Dixon, economic mammalogist
of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology,
University of California, spoke on a much
discussed subject, "The Conservation of
Predatory Animals." In this talk, Mr.
Dixon paid a very fine tribute to the
work of Jay Bruce, state lion hunter.

This address was followed by the
answering of questions which had been
placed in a "Question Box." The
majority of the questions were on the
interpretation of the fish and game laws.
After discussion the meeting adjourned
and the convention closed.

The Division of Fish and Game wi.shes
to take this opportunity to thank the
Extension Division of the University of
California for the use of the University
Extension Building, in which all meet-
ing were held ; also to extend its thanks
to Dr. Oberholser, Mr. Albright, Cap-
tain Duncan Matheson, the San Fran-
cisco police athletic team. Dr. M. J. Seid
and Mr. Dixon for their presence and
assistance in making the third annual
convention of this Division a success.
3—58645

The following resolution was adopted :

Whereas, E. W. Hunt has been with the
Fish and Game Commission, under tho
able leadership of our old war horse
W. H. Shebley, in the Fish Culture Depart-
ment, for the past forty years, without
practically losing a day ; and

Whereas, We all fully appreciate the
invaluable services rendered by him for
and on behalf of the Fish and Game
Commission ; and

Whereas, He is now and has been seri-
ously ill and unable to attend to his duties
in the care of the little fishes as field
superintendent ; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That we here in this conven-
tion assembled all extend to him our
profoundest sympathy with the strongest
hope for his speedy recovery ; as well as
an early return to his work among us ; and
be it further

Resolved, That this resolution be spread
upon the minutes of this convention, and
that a copy thereof be sent to E. W. Hunt.

From his associates, deputies and
assistants of the Fish and Game Commis-
sion at their Third Annual Convention at
the University Extension Building, San
Francisco, California, March 1, 1928.

GAME FARM WILL EXPERIMENT
WITH NEW« BIRDS

A state game farm should not only rear
and plant pheasants within the state but
it should determine experimentally what
other game birds are suitable for intro-
duction into those parts of California
where native game has disappeared.
Within the past few months, the State
Game Farm at Yountville has received a
shipment of three different kinds of tina-
mous from South America and a shipment
of bamboo partridges from the Orient.
The tinamou is the most notable upland
game bird of South America and undoubt-
edly it is of high value for food, but
whether the species is attractive as a
mark for the gunner and whether it can
be successfully acclimated in the culti-
vated sections of the state is yet to be
determined. The test now being made is
to discover whether or not these foreign
game birds can be successfully reared in
numbers on a game farm.

REFLOODING OF KLAMATH LAKE
CONSIDERED IMPRACTICABLE

Apparently protests regarding the
drainage of lower Klamath Lake came too
late to be effective. Ten years after the
lake was drained, sufficient interest in a
reflooding program lead to the raising of
a sum of money for a survey of the situa-
tion. After a thorough study by a com-
petent engineer, the difficulties in the way
of reflooding appear insurmountable.
More than 80 per cent of the water of
the Klamath River has been appropriated,
leaving insufficient for the reflooding of
the lake. The Bureau of Biological Sur-
vey has announced the abandonment of
the reflooding project. At the same tim«

140

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

this government bureau states that a fed-
eral refuge will continue to be maintained
at lower Klamath Lake, where there will
always be found some areas of water.

With the abandonment of the Klamath
Lake project, attention has, been centered
on restoration work on the Bear River
marshes, where the state of Utah has
already diked and made into a public
shooting grounds some 30,000 acres of
marshland. There is additional area which
can be suitably reclaimed to furnish a
refuge for ducks. The state of Utah by
legislation consented to the establishment
of a federal project which will cover more
than 100 square miles of fresh water
marshland. A bill now before Congress
is to provide funds for this development.
This area is both valuable as a breeding
ground and as important concentration
area for ducks during their migration.
The project also will help to alleviate
serious inroads due to "duck disease."

GAME WARDENS' DUTIES
MULT iFARlOUS

In times past, the average picture which
came to the mind at the mention of "game
warden" was some political favorite who
spent his time talking in the corner
grocery or in a near-by saloon. Nowadays
a California game warden is a respected
man of the community, always on hand
to run down a violator and equipped with
underground channels of securing suitable
information. But this is not all. He is
expected to be a naturalist and public
speaker and able to handle an educational
campaign. To many, efficiency as a police
officer and as a lawyer and prosecutor
come more easily than the role as scientist
and educator.

The standard has continually been
raised ; unfortunately, not so the salaries.

JOHNSON BILL WOULD PROVIDE
WILDFOWL REFUGES

At the request of sportsmen. Senator
Johnson has introduced into congress.
Senate Bill No. 2718. This bill shows
the genuine effort being put forth to
secure adequate feeding and resting
grounds for waterfowl in California. It
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to
acquire by purchase, gift or lease such
areas of land, or land and water not used
for agricultural purposes, as may be deter-
mined suitable for use as a migratory bird
refuge. A sum of $1,000,000, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is asked to
carry out the provisions of the act.

KLAMATH RIVER SALMON
EPIDEMIC

Great numbers of king salmon died on
the Klamath River during the month of

November, 1927. In every respect, condi-
tions were like those during the epidemic
of 1922. The mature fish were attacked,
particularly the females, whereas the
younger iish appeared to be resistant.
Dr. George A. Coleman, biologist, after
an investigation, called attention to the
following facts :

1. The dead fish were in especially fine
physical condition. However, the gills
were found covered with a heavy coating
of blue-green algae and diatoms. This
apparently prevented free circulation.

2. The water was found heavily charged
with gases. An odor accompanied the
vegetable matter in the water.

3. Analysis showed an unbalanced con-
dition in the water : a total lack of zoo-
plankton and a superabundance of blue-
green algae which indicate a condition of
stagnation and decay of vegetable matter.

4. The presence of deleterious gases in
the water and the superabundance of
algae and diatoms sufficient to produce
asphyxiation is the probable explanation
of the epidemic.

CROWDING AND THE BIRTHRATE

That there is a possibility of basing the
toll taken by the hunter on known facts
regarding birth rate and death rate is
attested by recent findings of biologists.
In a recent number of The Quarterly
Revieio of Biology, Dr. Raymond Peai'l
discusses growth of populations. He
points out that experimental study is
bringing to light broad facts regarding
general biology of population growth.
Organisms of the most diverse kinds
ranging from bacteria and yeast to man
are found to follow in their growth a
particular type of mathematical curve.
The two more interesting laws supported
by investigations are :

1. Death rate slowly increases with
density of population until a certain point
is reached and then increases rapidly.

2. On the other hand, birth rate in-
creases markedly at first with increased
population but later is but slightly
affected.

With these laws before us, light can be
shed on results to be expected when in
planting trout we crowd the population
into narrow limits. Under such circum-
stances, provided a certain density of
population is reached, the death rate
increases enormously.

Another point of view : When we con-
tinually take a certain toll of quaU on an
area, we automatically increase the birth
rate. In other words, nature has so
arranged matters that greater toll of adult
individuals means increased birth rate.
Experiment has shown that such an in-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

141

crease uced nol await scM-nil y(\trs liiuc,
but appears rather quickly.

Admittedly such .1 discussion is rather
technical, but Hie greatest advances in
the future are going to be along lines
which have taken into consideration basic
biologic laws.

THE ANNUAL KILL OF DUCKS

The sportsmen's column in a metropoli-
tan newspaper has recently published the
number of ducks killed by various sports-
men during the open season. It is sug-
gested that 400 birds during the season
is a high average for a member of a gun
club. Since we have yet to have a means
of taking the census of the annual kill of
ducks, every opportunity of securing a
basis for such a computation is utilized.
If we knew what the average kill of the

museum nut only provides proper labels
but furaishes a lecturer whose duty it is
to take groups of school children through
the museum. The more worthwhile ex-
hibits are thus pointed out and properly
described. Yet another departure is to be
found in the field trips which are offered
by certain museums. The San Diego
Museum of Natural History reports that
during 1927 thirty-two trips were taken
to various localities, sixteen being made
on foot, fourteen in chartered buses and
two in chartered boats. The object of
these field excursions was to furnish
opportunity for a first-hand study of
natural history. That this type of edu-
cational work is appreciated is evident
from the splendid attendance — 2810, an
average of nearly 100 per trip. Educa-
tional work of this kind is fast building

Fig. 38. Patients at the receiving pens, "duck hospital," near Buena Vista Lake,
February 11, 1928. Photograph by Roy Ludlum.

gun club man is and the total number of
members in the state, there would be a
means of estimating the numbers of ducks
killed on the grounds. Then if a similar
computation could be made for the kill
of the independent hunter, some basis of
computation would be at hand. As it is
the old guess of 1,000,000 ducks per year
must hold. Meantime, it is worth while
looking forward to the day when a census
similar to that provided by the new deer
law will be available.

MUSEUMS HELP IN NATURE
EDUCATION

Originally museums were static institu-
tions. Exhibits covered with dust awaited
visitors and few labels there were to help
in understanding the displays. A modem

up an appreciation of natural resources
which will mean much in future conserva-
tion work.

BIRD BANDING ON LAKE MERRITT

The U. S. Biological Survey, through
the agency of E. W. Ehmann, A. 1).
Trempe and H. P. Gray, trapped and
banded between 1100 and 1200 ducks on
Lake Merritt, Oakland, California. This
is the largest number ever banded at one
time. Birds banded at Lake Merritt have
been taken later in Alaska in the north,
and San Diego in the south.

SALVAGING DUCKS ON BUENA
VISTA LAKE
After being dry for several years, som?
23,000 acres were overflowed in Buena

142

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Vista Lake during the spring of 1927.
This was the only large body of open
water in the southern part of the San
Joaquin Valley and apparently offered
ideal conditions for waterfowl. Con-
servative estimates indicate that some
80,000 ducks were killed during the open
season. A census taken about a week
after the season closed indicated that, at
that time, approximately 125,000 ducks
were on the lake.

However, although conditions appeared
to be ideal for ducks, "duck sickness"
made its appearance early last fall. The
cause of the disease has not been dis-
covered. Investigations have shown that
it is not the so-called "alkali poisoning."
So far no communicable organism has
been found to be the causative factor.

Through the courtesy of the Western
Water Company, pens and other facilities
were furnished on the property of this
company near the lake. »Sportsmen from
local organizations at Bakersfield and
Taft cooperated with our deputies, and
some 700 ducks that were unable to fly,
including sick and crippled birds, were
collected. Many of the birds so collected
were in a critical condition. When iirst
placed in the pens, some would lie pros-
trate for several hours. Some of these died,
but most of them began to drink and eat
within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
After the birds began to drink and eat,
recovery was usually rapid and it became
necessary to separate the birds and seg-
regate them in pens containing others in
the varying stages of recovery to prevent

Pig. 39. Evidence that treatment was effective. Recovered patients at the
"duck hospital" near Buena Vista Lake, February 11, 1928. Piiotograph by
Roy Ludlum.

The Division of Fish and Game, in coop-
eration with the Hooper Foundation for
Medical Research, is now making prep-
arations for a thorough study of the
disease and it is believed that consider-
able progress will be made during the
coming year.

In the case of Buena Vista Lake, as in
certain other instances, it was found that
a large percentage of sick birds would
recover when removed from the affected
area and placed on different water and
feed. As a considerable number of sick and
crippled ducks were on the lake after the
close of the season, this Division under-
took to establish a "duck hospital" and
salvage as many as possible.

the stronger birds from injuring the
weaker ones. As soon as the birds were
sufficiently recovered, they were banded
and liberated. During the latter part of
February about 500 were released. The
ducks remaining in the pens will be lib-
erated as soon as they recover.

The program at Buena Vista Lake has
already effected the recovery of at least
500 ducks and will add this much to the
numbers that will make the flight to the
northern breeding grounds. In addition,
it has made possible the banding of a
large number of birds, the returns from
which will add materially to our informa-
tion on migrations and lines of flight.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

143

Work at Buena Vista Lake will be con-
tinued. The sportsmen of the state can
be assured that the Division of Fish and
Game will continue its investigations to

A REMARKABLE DISPLAY OF
WILDFOWL

la many ways California is particularly
suited for experiments in breeding vari-

PiG. 40. A Lake Almanor r.ainbow trout, a limit in weight.
Photograph by Pare Meakin, August, 1927.

the end that all possible information
regarding the disease of ducks will be
secured and that the mortality will be
reduced to the ininimum.

ous kinds of birds. Persons who follow
aviculture as a hobby can doubtless fur-
nish a very large list of birds which have
never been successfully bred elsewhere.

144

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Two in Califoruia have recently turned
their attention to worthwhile experi-
mental work along the lines of game
breeding. Mr. F. E. Booth, a well known
business man of San Francisco, has estab-
lished a large game farm near Woodland,
in the Sacramento Valley, and is specializ-

this collection is not the finest to be
found anywhere in the world, it certainly
takes second place ! Among rarities are
the Paradise shelldrake, the Abyssinian
yellow-bill, Baer's pochard and the Magel-
lan and Egyptian goose.

Excellent conditions for breeding having

•fc. ,

^^.J^^■if,.^ ,J

.•!*T

■> »:'^4S.;;:9iSMk>a3Sii^sS..«fe:wa«^Si^ii;;i

Fig. 41. Working- the lily pads for black liass, uslns: a fly rod. Near Modesto.

Photograph by Perc Meakin.

««-t*»^*-:^ J mi'

Fig. 42. Landing a black bass near Modesto. Photograph by Perc Meakin.

ing on various kinds of upland game
birds. Mr. J. V. DeLaveaga, also of San
Francisco, has interested himself in the
propagation of wildfowl, not for profit
but for his own pleasure. On his estate
in San Mateo he now has fifty-eight dif-
ferent varieties of ducks and more than

been furnished, Mr. DeLaveaga can boast
of splendid success. Even some of the
rarities noted above have successfully
reared their young. Although the rearing
of wildfowl is largely a hobby with Mr.
DeLaveaga, yet in reality he is contribut-
ing a great deal to science. His name

twenty different varieties of geese. If appears often in that monumental work,

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

145

"The Natural History of Ducks," by John
Phillips. Should someone with means
undertake the breeding of song birds on
the same scale as that undertaken a num-
ber of years ago by Judge H. W. Ilen-
shaw, three fields of endeavor, rather
than two, might thus be covered.

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A PRIVATE
GAME FARM

About five years ago, Mr. A. P. Hoff-
schneider of Soulsbyville, California,
became interested in the rearing of
pheasants. He secured a breeding stock
and about four years ago began liberating
the surplus in the vicinity of his ranch.

Gambel quail have been found as easy to
rear as the valley quail. Mountain quail,
thus far found very difficult of handling,
have also produced young successfully.

DESERT MOUNTAIN SHEEP

Life on desert ranges is not easy.
Scant food supply makes desert animals
sturdy of limb; lack of suitable hiding
places increases danger from predatory
species and this increased danger must
be cared for by keen eyesight and sense
of smell. While taking motion pictures
of raoimtain sheep in Inyo County, Mr.
E. S. Cheney had under observation eleven
ewes. By October 1, each of these had

Fig. 43. The minine: drederer is a menace to fish. The oicture shows how
completely the Trinity River was blocked by dredging operations in 1926. It is
evident that no migratory fish could successfully pass such an obstruction during
low water. Photogranh by G. O. Laws.

The birds have become established and
there are many reports of successful
nesting. Meantime, he has continued to
rear large numbers of pheasants and dur-
ing the past season liberated 168 more.

On this same game farm some 800 quail
have been reared in the past four years.
Mr. Hoifschneider attributes his success
to the food furnished : weed seeds, eggs
and lettuce. In one instance this past
season, a bantam reared twenty-five out
of thirty quail. Even bobwhite quail have
been successfully reared and at least
twenty-five pairs have been liberated.

lost their lamb, although previous to this
time, several had been followed by their
young. The mountain sheep of desert
ranges have not increased greatly since
total protection was given them. It is
difficult to determine the factors concerned
which prevent increase. In the Rocky
Mountain region many mountain sheep
have died from "lungworm," a common
ailment of domestic sheep. The main
point is that after long years of protec-
tion, mountain sheep are not sufficiently
abundant to warrant an open season.

146

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

JAPANESE SPORTSMEN ORGANIZE
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION

The Japanese, more than immigrants
from other foreign countries, after set-
tling in California, quickly become in-
terested in fish and game resources. _ A
few years ago, a number of law violations
were traced to the Japanese, but in more
recent years most Japanese have care-
fully adhered to the game laws.

At Watsonville recently, the Pajaro
Valley Fish and Game Protective Asso-
ciation was host to the Japanese sports-
men of the Pajaro Valley. This was the
initial step in the formation of a Japanese
fish and game protective association.
More than forty Japanese sportsmen

has been no evidence of a lessened supply
of deer.

Pennsylvania has attempted to put
through a bill which would allow the
killing of does. However, this met with
a great deal of opposition and it failed of
passage. Forced to take action of some
kind to reduce the number of does, the
Pennsylvania Commission proposed to
send expert marksmen into the deer coun-
try and permit them to kUl an unlimited
number of does. As in the case of does
illegally killed, the carcasses were to be
turned over to hospitals. This also met
with opposition on the basis that sports-
men who purchased hunting licenses
should be allowed to kill the does if it

Fig. 44. A California deputy on patrol. JJcputy William Armstrong of Vallejo,
although an old-time law enforcement oflicer, keeps abreast with the times.

attended the meeting. Such an organized
group is in a position to do much in the
line of education and in the protection of
game birds and fish.

THE BUCK LAW
New York has been stirred regarding
the numerous reports that does are so
numerous as to endanger the deer popula-
tion of that state. Other states have
listened to those who claim that there is
danger in killing bucks only. Accurate
information, however, has not yet been
gathered. Until then it seems best to
thoroughly test out the buck law before
advocating a change. Certainly the buck
law has been responsible for less hunting
accidents and here in California there

was intended to have a wholesale
slaughter.

The buck law in California has many
staunch defenders.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A WOMAN
GAME WARDEN

California's only woman game warden,
Mrs. Walter B. Sellmer of Fairfax, Marin
County, has arrested thirteen people
for the violation of the fish and game
laws since she pinned a special deputy
badge on her blouse, November 22.
In each case a fine has been secured and
this attractive protector of the state's wUd
life can point with pride to a goodly sum
for fines ranging from $15 to $50.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

147

It may well be said that the ink had
hardly dried on Mrs. Sellmer's commission
before she ai-rested a San Franciscan at
Stinson Beach for shooting game from a
moving automobile. Only a few days
after this, her activities brought to the
bar of justice another bay city law
breaker with a bag of illegally taken song
birds. Close on the heels of this case
followed another, involving two men who
had caught undersized crabs and netted
undersized striped bass.

Nor has Mrs. Sellmer been negligent in
her attention to less spectacular viola-

FiG. 45. Mrs. Walter B. Sellmer, Cali-
fornia's first woman game warden. Mrs.
Sellmer, as a volunteer warden, has made
a number of important arrests.

tions. Through her untii'ing efforts a
trapper, plying his trade without a license,
and five hunters, hunting without licenses,
have felt the stern arm of the law. Two
of these men were found within the
Tamalpais Game Refuge openly violating
the law of the sanctuary. Another
proved to be a mere youth who is now
serving a six months' probation.

Mrs. Sellmer's most recent case was
made in conjunction with Captain Sell-
mer and resulted in the apprehension of

two deer slayers who so strongly felt the
urge to take life that they shot a doe in
the Marin woods. Fearful of exposure,
the killers cached their illegal game in
a tree and wandered on in the manner of
those recreation bent, awaiting the cover
of darkness. Their capture came about
only after a long vigil and real commend-
able courage and distinguished service on
the part of Mrs. Sellmer.

STILL GAME TO EAT

Judging by the last report of the New
York Conservation Commission, the taste
for game is being at least partially sup-
plied by importation. During 1927, im-
portation asents handled and tagged in
tlie port of New York, 133,900 pieces of
domestic and imported game. Game tags
li> the number of 2.5,200 were sold to
private game preserves of the state.
The game tagsed consisted of deer. elk.
partridge, pheasant, quail, mallards and
ducks, together with certain game species
from South America.

WILD QUESTIONS

(Questions on the wild)

1. What rodent in California rears
the smallest number of young?

2. What California fish is con-
sidered the largest member of the
minnow family?

3. What large game mammal most
successfully withstands open des-
cri renditions?

4. Which of the following are
typical diving ducks: canvasback,
baldpate, pintail, ruddy duck, mal-
lard, lesser scaup, surf scoter, red-
head, shcveiier, cinnamon teal?

5. Where may one find muskrats
in California?

6. Are wood rats good to eat?

7. What kind of aoose has been
found nesting at Lake Tahoe and
other mountain lakes?

8. Where may California's larg-
est kind of deer be found?

9. What is the proper common
name of "black-spotted trout"?

10. Did the buffalo ever range
into California?

BOUNTY PAID ON MUSKRATS TO
SAVE IRRIGATION DITCHES

The Imperial Valley Irrigation District
in Imperial County, which controls and
maintains 2400 miles of highline canals
distributing water used for irrigation
purposes in Imperial Valley, reports that
over $10,000 has been paid in bounties
for muskrats taken during the twelve-

148

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

month period ending March 1, 1928.
Owing to damage to levees and loss of
water resulting from the habits of these
rodents, constant warfare is being waged
by trappers employed by thisi irrigation
district, which offers 25 cents per tail
taken from each muskrat killed.

VIEWPOINT CHANGES ON ROUTE
TAKEN BY DUCKS

In some manner or other most of us
have believed that ducks fly north and
south on their migrations. Ever since
banding was instituted, it has been known
that ducks and geese from central Canada
sometimes winter in the great valleys of
California. Numerous ducks banded on
the Bear River marshes in Utah have
been taken in California. Now comes
additional dependable evidence of this
kind. Technical Bulletin No. 32, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, is devoted to
"Returns from Banded Birds, 1923-1926."

A glance over the returns of various
ducks again shows a criss-cross rather
than a direct north and south flight. At
least six pintail ducks banded in the
middle west in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and
Missouri have been taken in California.
P"'our green-winged teal ducks banded on
Avery Island, Louisiana, in 1922 and
1923 were taken as follows : Alvarado,
Butte Creek. Dos Palos, Yolo County,
all statidus in Califoi-nia. These birds
may well have returned to breeding
grounds in the north and taken a west-
Avard flight the following year. In three
of the four instances, however, they were
taken the following winter in California,
and the exception two years later.

Two shoveller ducks banded at Klamath
Falls, Oregon, were retaken in the Sacra-
mento Valley ; in one instance, three
months later, and in the other, one year
later.

Nineteen mallard ducks banded at
Irvington, California, were retaken at the
same location a year or two later. One
only, of twenty-nine banded, made a long
distance flight. This one was taken over
a year later at Walla Walla, Washington.

A pintail duck banded at Ii-vington.
January 27, 1926, was taken May 9, 1926,
at Rampart, Alaska. Other birds banded
at the same location were taken scatter-
ingly over the southern half of the state.

Several pintail ducks banded on Lake
Merritt, Oakland, were recovered in the
Sacramento Valley the following winter.
One was taken east of the Sierra in
Honey Lake Valley, and one at Ocean
Park, Washington.

SCHOOLS TAKE INTEREST IN
CONSERVATION

A few months ago a leaflet was pre-
pared giving salient facts regarding the

administration of fish and game resources
in California. Given out at the State
Fair, it proved effective in stirring inter-
est in the reader. After a lecture at
Fortuna High School some of these leaf-
lets were left with the principal. An
interesting test was arranged by the
principal covering the facts in the leaflet
and those furnished by the lecturer of the
Division of Fish and Game. Believing
that readers might be interested in both
the leaflet and the list of questions, they
are both appended.

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL.
RESOURCES

Division of Fish and Game

Pointed Paragraphs on Fish and Game
Administration

In the reorganization of the State gov-
ernment, the Fish and Game Commission
now becomes a Division of the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources, which
Department also has jurisdiction over
three other divisions — Forests, Parks,
and Mining. The Division of Fish and
Game is administered by a Fish and
Game Commission of tliree non-salaried
members appointed by the Governor. The
Fish and Game Commission appoints an
executive officer who liandles all of the
activities of the Division of Fish and
Game under the direction of the Com-
mission.

All of the work of the Division in ad-
ministering and protecting wild life re-
sources of the State is supported solely
liy hunting and angling licenses, fines
imposed by the courts for violations of
the fish and game laws, and the licenses
and privilege taxes paid by commerical
fishermen and fish canners.

The Division of Fish and Game now
owns and operates 18 hatcheries and 20
egg-collecting stations. It has under con-
struction at the present time four new
hatcheries. The hatchery at Mt. Shasta
is the largest in the world. It has 56
ponds and .5 hatchery buildings and is
equipped to handle over 20,000,000 trout
and salmon. The egg supply of trout is
taken partially from brood fish reared
and held at the Mt. Shasta Hatchery and
partially from artificial traps set in
streams and lakes in which mature wild
fish are taken and spawned.

The Division of Fish and Game has a
patrol force of 125 regular deputies and
about 400 special deputies, in addition to
the Commercial Fisheries patrol. These
deputies work under the direction of Cap-
tains. The Captains report to Assistant
Patrol Chiefs— one each in the northern
and southern districts of the State. The
Assistant Patrol Chiefs report to a Chief
of Patrol.

The Division has launches and speed
boats for patrol on the waters of the
bays and rivers of the State and is in-
creasing their numbers as funds permit.

This year, for the first time, the Divi-
sion is doing its own planting of young
fish under the direction of a Supervising
Captain. The fish are now consigned
from the hatcheries to the Captains of
Patrol throughout the State who meet
the shipments and see that they are
properly planted. The lakes and streams
to be planted were determined In advance

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

149

by the patrol force, acting In conjunction
with the Department of Fishculture.

By next fish planting season the Divi-
sion hopes that it will be able to elimi-
nate to a very great degree the move-
ment of small fish by fish "cars and plant
directly from adjacent hatcheries by
truck.

Serious effort is being made to survey
both from physical and biological stand-
points all lakes and streams of the State
with a view of determining what waters,
barren at present, will sustain fish life.
If the biological survey shows these
waters to be devoid of food for fish, the
food will be furnished and in a few years
many extra lakes and waters will be
added to our angling area. It is esti-
mated that there are 2000 barren lakes in
California at present.

The Commercial Fisheries Department
of the Division has charge of all affairs
relating to commercial fishing operations
in the state. The magnitude of its work
can be judged from the fact that San
Pedro is now the largest fishing port in
the United States and Monterey the third
largest. This Department has two patrol
boats — one at San Pedro and one in
Monterey Bay. It has a force of deputies
patrolling the coast and cannery inspec-
tors checking canning operations. In
addition, this Department maintains at
San Pedro a laboratory for research
where it is doing constructive work of
tlie most advanced kind to make deter-
minations as to the suppl>' of fish and to
aid in framing legislation to prevent
depletion.

The Division has recently inaugurated
a Bureau of Research which handles all
problems of bird and animal diseases and
.statistics. The statistical operation of
the new deer tag law comes under this
Bureau and for the first time California,
at the close of this present season, will
have available full statistics as to the
total number of deer killed, their clas-
sification and abundance. Scientists are
being added to the Bureau as fast as pos-
sible. We now hope to be able to cope
successfully with any form of disease
which breaks out among our wild life.

The Bureau of Education has been
greatly augmented by added lecturers,
moving pictures and other methods of
disseminating information on our wild
life. It is planned to carry this message
to the schools and to adults under the
maxim that "an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure." In this con-
nection it might be well to emphasize the
thought that the Division of Fish and
Game frowns upon any technical cases
made for violation of the law, but be-
lieves in educating the public so they
will not violate the law. This theory,
first put in practice about a year and a
half ago, has proven that the people of
the State as a whole are certainly back
of the new thought.

The Bureau of Hydraulics handles the
question of the installation of fish ladders
over dams to aid migratory fish in going
up-stream for spawning purposes and the
installation of screens in irrigation
ditches and canals to prevent our game
fish from being stranded. This Bureau
also has charge of pollution matters.
Strenuous efforts are now being made
along all three of these lines for the
Division realizes fully that it is a waste
of money to propagate our fish and plant

them unless proper safeguards are main-
tained to rear them to maturity.

The Division maintains at Yountville,
in Napa County, one of the largest single
game farms in the world, the construc-
tion of which was completed in the sum-
mer of 1926. There are eight acres under
wire, covering 580 pens. There the Divi-
sion raises pheasants, quail and part-
ridges and is experimenting with other
wild game birds. Last year over 3,000
pheasants were distributed throughout
the state and this year approximately
9,000 will be liberated. The first brood
stock of Hungarian partridges has been
reared. The Division has inaugurated a
system of planting game birds unique
in the United States in that the liberat-
ing is done by our own men by the use
of our own trucks, and only on areas set
aside as sanctuaries on which all hunting
is prohibited until such time as the
Legislature shall declare an open season.
Plants are made in numbers of not less
than 100 birds and the areas contain
not less than 10,000 acres. A second
game farm is now proposed for Southern
California and will be built as soon as a
site is selected and in time for next
year's operations. Next year should see
the liberation of approximately 24.000
pheasants.

Following are a few statistics relating
to fish and game in California:

Tn 1926, there were 2.'5fi,fi29 angling
licenses sold.

In 1926. there were 2.'S2,01T hunting
licenses sold.

California has 27 state game refuges
containing about 2,000,000 acres of land.
Another million acres are contained in
National Parks, Monuments and Federal
Bird Reserves. Hunting is prohil^ited
on all game refuges. A crew of engineers
has just commenced to survey and post
all of these refuges.

In the last biennial period. 1924-26.
there were planted in our streams from
our hatcheries 59,000,000 trout and 14,000-
000 salmon.

It is estimated that there are -26,000
miles of fishing streams in California and
10,000 lakes, with an area of over 800,000
acres.

Tlie new hunting license act provides
that one-third of all revenue from hunt-
ing licenses must be spent in the acqui-
sition of land for game refuges and
public shooting grounds. This will give
us a chance to obtain refuges for migra-
tory waterfowl to offset the drastic loss
of loafing grounds caused by reclamation
projects and the drying up of former
flooded areas.

It is estimated that there are at present
150,000 square miles on which hunting
is permitted.

Test Given to Fortuna Union High
School Students

Test on Visual Instruction and Division
of Fish and Game Circular.

If the statement is true place a (-I-)
sign after it. If it is wrong place a ( — )
sign after it.

1. The members of the Fish and Game
Commission are elected by the people of
the state at a regular election. ( )

2. The legislature makes an annual ap-
propriation to support the activities of
the Fish and Game Commission. ( )

3. The Mt. Shasta Hatchery which is
owned and operated by the Division of

150

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fish and Game is the largest hatchery
in the world. ( )

4. Some of the egg supply comes from
fish reared for this purpose by the
hatchery experts at the hatchery. ( )

5. The Division of Fish and Game is
attempting to have a survey made from
physical and biological standpoints to
determine what bodies of water contain
fish food at the present time. ( )

6. A Bureau of Research which handles
all problems of bird and animal diseases
and statistics has its headquarters at
San Pedro where the Department has
established a laboratory for this work.

7. The Division of Fish and Game be-
lieves in educating the public so that
they will not violate the law. ( )

8. The Fish and Game Commission is a
Division of the Department of Natural
Resources. ( )

9. The Bureau of Education also
handles the question of the installation
of fish ladders over dams to aid ^migra-
tory fish in going upstream for spawning
purposes. ( )

10. A second game fann has been built
and is now operating in Southern Cali-
fornia. ( )

Underscore the correct answer.

1. The Fish and Game Commission of
California is composed of 2, 3, 5, 7
memliers.

2. The Division of Fish and Game now
owns and operates 12, 14, 16, IS hatch-
eries.

.•). The Division of Fish and. Game
operates 10, 1.5, 20, 25 egg-collecting
.siations.

4. In 102r> there were more (angling)
(liuntinar) licenses sold in California.

,5. California has 9, IS, 27, 36 state game
refuges.

6. In the last biennial period, 1924-26
there were planted in out streams from
our hatcheries (14 million) (-59 million)
trout and (14 million) (59 million) salmon.

7. The new hunting license act pro-
vides that 4, I, i, I of all revenue from
hunting licenses must be spent in the
acauisition of land for game refuges and
public shooting grounds.

8. Through scientific management by
experts at Napa the production of game
birds is 2, 3. 4. 5 times greater than it
would be if these birds were left to
nature.

9. It has been estimated that there are
(10,000) (26,000) miles of fishing streams
in California and (10,000) (26,000) lakes.

10. The construction of the game farm
in Napa County which is one of the
largest single game farms in the world
and contains eight acres under wire,
covering 580 pens was completed in 1916,
1921, 1926.

DANGERS ATTENDANT UPON INTRO-
DUCTIONS OF FOREIGN BIRDS

Success in the acclimatization of various
game birds is leading to numerous
attempts at supplying a substitute for
native species. The average sportsman
becomes enthusiastic at the mere mention
of bringing in some famous game bird of
Europe or Asia. Seldom does he stop to
listen to the warning issued by biologists
that introductions are always dangerous ;
first, because of resultant competition

with native species ; and second, because
of the danger of introducing disease.
Though in California a policy has been
decided upon, yet it is fair that the oppo-
site point of view be recognized. Even if
committed to introduction of worth-while
species, assembling of all facts bearing on
this mooted question is desirable.

A recent article by P. A. Taverner
which appeared in The Canadian Field
Naturalist, October, 1927, discusses the
first of these dangers as applied to the
competition between the Hungarian par-
tridge and the sharp-tailed grouse. In
several of the provinces of Canada, the
Hungarian partridge has become well
established ; whereas, the sharp-tailed
grouse seems to disappear in these areas.
Mr. Taverner ends his discussion with the
following paragraphs :

"Of course all this discussion is now
purely academic. The Hungarian Par-
tridge is with us, probably to stay, juid
it will spread just as far as ecological
conditions are favorable, whether we like
it or not. If it has introduced dis(>Mse
into native stock, that mischief is done,
and is ineradicable now and even tlio
total extermination of the original host
would do no good now or at any succeed-
ing date. However, the sub.'ect is of great
interest and should be closely watched as
a guide to policies of the future if for no
other reason.

"The disturbing thought is, that no ex-
perience of this sort in the now is of much
lielp in the future. Warnings of evil
become buried in past literature and
unknown to succeeding advisors who have
most v/eight in such matters. In spite of
all the disastrous results of introductions
in the past, the EnsUsh Sparrow and the
two Starlings in this country, the rabbit
in Australia, the Minah in Hawaii and
the dozens of other cases that could be
cited, attempts at acclimatization and
introduction go merrily on by local organ-
izations who know not the dangers and
pitfalls that the past has demonstrated. It
is well that control of such work be con-
siderably strengthened. There are un-
doubtedly forms of life to be found else-
where in the world that would be valuable
acquisitions to this country, but the danger
of their introduction is great and should
not be entered upon without careful con-
sideration as to whether the probable
advantage is worth the risk."

In the same number of The Canadian
Field Naturalist, is an article by L. B.
Potter on "The Partridge Versus the
Sharptail," in which he cites at least four
observers who report conflict between
these two species in which the Hungarian
partridge was always a winner. He
sums up his evidence by saying :

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

151

"As a game bird no doubt the Hun-
garian Partridge is all that its advocates
claim it to be. But there is a large, and
I believe increasing number of farmers,
the writer included, who regard the
prairie chicken with special affection, to
be encouraged to come around the farm
buildings, especially in winter when so
few of our birds are with us."

FUR RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA

With Minnesota one of the leaders in
the fur industry, the University of Min-
nesota has established a research station
to further the project in the state.

The station, established at the univer-
sity by the Bureau of Biological Survey
of the United States, will study the dis-
eases of fur-bearing animals, pi'incipally
those in captivity on fur farms.

Dr. Winford P. Larson, head of the
department of bacteriology, says the
university was chosen as a site for the
station because of the success of inde-
pendent investigation on animal distem-
pers that had been made by scientists in
the medical school.

In establishing the station at the uni-
versity, the federal government has pro-
vided an annual budget of $7,500 for five
>ears. — The Fur Journal, January, 1928.

COYOTE NOT STRICTLY CAR-
NIVOROUS
The examination of the stomach con-
tents of carnivorous animals often dispels
existing conceptions as to their food
habits, as well as proving beyond doubt
that a certain animal does cei'tain things
that popular opinion does not credit him
with doing. The coyote is an outstanding
example of this fact. Classed as carnivor-
ous, and generally presumed by the major-
ity of people who are interested in the
animal to be all that the name carnivore
stands for, it is far from being strictly a
flesh eater. As a matter of fact, during
the proper season in certain localities,
coyotes may abstain from seeking a diet
of flesh and subsist, if not entirely, at
least nearly so, upon grapes, melons, figs,
prunes, dates and manzanita berries. The
fact of the matter is that a coyote may,
and often does, constitute as great an
economic menace to the vineyardist, melon
and prune raiser as he does to the sheep
and poultry man, because of his fondness
for this sort of food. There is abundant
and unquestionable proof that such is the
case, in the form of records of the stom-
ach contents of every coyote that is cap-
tured by the predatory animal control
forces of the federal and State Department
of Agriculture. These records show that
at certain times of the year the animal

in question feeds entirely upon grapes in
one locality, melons in another, figs in
another and prunes in another. In the
Impei'ial and Coachella valleys, for ex-
ample, there are instances where ripe
dates form the chief article of diet, and
frequently somewhat elaborate precau-
tions have to be taken to prevent serious
losses from this source. Manzanita ber-
ries are sometimes the principal article
of food of this animal in localities where
the shrub abounds.

Coyotes have been captured which were
consuming entire grape crops, and the
same holds true with prunes ; entire crops
have been destroyed in some small
orchards. The same also is true with
melons, of which they appear to be very
fond. Figs also appeal strongly to
coyotes, and are eaten with avidity. Oft-
times one or more fig trees are found on
abandoned land holdings in the mountains
or foothills, and in all cases, if there are
coyotes in the locality, evidence will show-
that they have been feeding upon the fruit
as fast as it falls from the trees. A
place of this kind is one of the best loca-
tions for trap settings or poison work.
In addition to feeding upon fresh prunes
and figs, coyotes will at times readily take
the dried pi'oduct, though not in as large
quantities as the fresh. As additional
proof that coyotes were the offenders in
many depredations on vineyards, orchards
and melon patches, when the coyotes were
eliminated losses ceased entirely.

After all, the coyote is not so much
different from a dog in his food habits.
After he has been in touch with man and
his customs for some time, he adapts him-
self readly to the prevailing conditions,
especially relating to food.

To anyone familiar with the coyote,
there is nothing strange or unusual in the
fact that fruits and many other things
which have not been mentioned are
included in his menu. — Charles G. Poole,
in Monthly Bulletin, Department of Agri-
culture, January, 1928.

CALIFORNIA'S KILL OF FUR-
BEARERS

Fur trapping, one of the oldest indus-
tries in the United States, is holding its
own in California. This statement is
substantiated by the statistics just com-
piled by the Division of Fish and Game,
which show that a total of 278,202 skins
netted the commercial trappers licensed
by the Division .*P743,211.52 during the
three-year period that ended February 28,
1927 (see table, p. 180).

The figures compiled by the research
department of the Division are estimates
based on reports of the licensed trappers
and do not include animals trapped by

152

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

miuors imder 18 years of age, who are uot
required to secure a license, or those
taken in predatory animal control.

■Raccoon skins brought the most money,
39,891 of these pelts bringing the trappers
$182,324.45. Skunk finished in second
place, 86,273 skins netting $123,244.96.
Third comes the much maligned coyote,
with 26,183 hides furnishing a revenue of
$118,762.41. Mink ranks fourth, the
11,337 skins being sold by the trappers
for $67,487.10, while 26,677 gray fox
pelts brough $50,608.34.

The most valuable fur trapped was that
of the fisher, the skins of this animal
averaging $34.75 each for the period, and
the 130 that were caught brought the
lucky trappers $4,612.34. Next to the
fisher the red fox brought the largest
price per skin, averaging $18.31, a total
of $1,598.87 for the 86 that were trapped.
The take of muskrat quadrupled and the
value nearly doubled.

After the season on beaver had been
closed for several years, it was opened in
1925 and 4019 skins brought the trappers
$49,698.95. It is interesting to note that
serious inroads were made on the beaver
(luring this period, as the next season's
i-eport shows only 692 were trapped and
the skins brought $9,530.26. The average
price of beaver pelts increased -from $12.36
in 1925 to $12.90 in 1927.

During the three-year period three
wolverines were taken and the skins sold
for $30. None of these animals have been
trapped since 1925, according to the
reports filed with the Division of Fish
and Game.

Twenty-one species are shown in the
reports used in compiling the statistics.
In addition to those mentioned, the follow-
ing are included: 18,535 wildcats, 12,495
civet cats, 22.588 muskrats, 8479 ringtail
cats, 3578 kit fox, 2050 marten, 1695
badgers, 2033 opossums, 912 weasels, 810
bears, 441 river otter, and 130 mountain
lions.

The lion pelts averaged $15.80 each, the
total bringing in $3,418.80.

During the 1924-25 period 2984 licenses
were issued and 77,787 skins brought the
trappers $181,215.13. In the 1925-26
period, the licenses increased to 3530 and
88,185 skins sold for $257,711.42.

Another increase was noted in the
1926-27 period when the licenses in-
creased to 3790 and 112,230 skins were
taken, bringing the trappers $304,284.97.

COUNTY WARDENS HELP ENFORCE
GAME LAWS

Los Angeles County forestry officers,
who were recently appointed special
deputy wardens, were very active recently

along the south coast. They arrested for
the state, nine people for having under-
sized abalones, four for over-the-limit
abalones, two for undersized lobsters, and
one for shooting ducks at sunrise. An
average fine of $25 each was paid. These
cases were mostly tried before Justice of
the Peace Billings at Sherman.

Three Japanese were convicted for
destruction of evidence and fined $500
each at Sherman Court. These men saw
the officers coming and threw the abalones
in the ocean. Upon their promise of good
behavior and evidence submitted to the
court of their past record, the fines were
all suspended except $25. A rather
lengthy article appeared in the Japanese
newspapers relative to this case and it is
hoped some good was accomplished, as
the Japanese for some time have made
every effort to dispose of evidence by
throwing it into the ocean and have made
it very hard for law enforcement officers
to apprehend them. If this practice con-
tinues, the Japanese will enrich the State
Fish and Game coffers to the extent of
many dollars, as these officers are very
familiar with the law and will make it
interesting for anyone who endeavors to
destroy any evidence.

THE LECTURE PROGRAM

An educational program inaugurated to
stir interest in conservation should make
contact with various groups of people.
Although emphasis in the past has been
placed upon work in the public schools,
yet adults have not been overlooked.
Through the months, as a result of
demand, emphasis has been swung from
srvice clubs to lodges and from lodges to
fish and game protective associations.
During the months of December, January
and February, nineteen lectures have
been given before fish and game protective
associations. The demand from this
source shows that, as never before, these
organizations are supporting conservation
work and are lending definite aid to the
conservation program.

MAJOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS
A number of major conservation proj-
ects were stressed at the fourteenth
annual National Game Conference, held
in New York City, December 5 and 6,
1927. These projects are as follows :

1. Federal legislation. Support of the
pending Migratory Bird Conservation bill,
known in the seventieth congress as the
Anthony-Norbeck bill, H. R. 5467 and
S. 1271, and of the McNary- Woodruff
forestry bill was urged. Both these meas-
ures have been pending in several sessions
of Congress, but final action on them has
never been obtained.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

153

2. Bear River marshes. Passage of the
appropriation bill pending in Congress,
providing for reclamation of areas in
Utah, in which heavy losses of waterfowl
have occurred, was urged.

3. Cheyenne bottoms. Permanent main-
tenance of this important waterfowl
resort in Kansas was advocated.

4. International boundary waters. The
Conference declared for the protection of
the international watershed between Min-
nesota and Ontario for perpetual recrea-
tional use and protested its exploitation
for commercial purposes in such a way as
to injure its wilderness value.

5. Cooperation of sportsmen and land-
owners. The Conference declared that
the basis of good will between sportsmen
and landowners must be a recognition of
the farmer's rights and drastic suppres-
sion of the lawless, marauding element
which has become so obnoxious. On the
other hand, the farmer should recognize a
distinct advantage to him in the coopera-
tion of the decent, respectable sportsmen
whose license fees pay for patrol and
protection of both game and insectivorous
birds, and who assist the farmers in
preventing depredations of the lawless.

6. Chesapeake-Albemarle Canal. The
Conference declared in favor of recon-
struction of locks in this canal to prevent
destruction of feeding areas of vast num-
bers of waterfowl by salt water.

7. Coyotes in Alaska. Encouragement
was offered the government of Alaska in
its efforts to control the invasion of the
game fields of that territory by the west-
ern coyote.

8. Pollution of waters. Action by the
federal and state governments to elimi-
nate and prevent everywhere pollution of
lakes and streams, which constitutes a
growing menace to finish life, waterfowl
and public health, was strongly urged.

9. Importation of game birds. More
favorable conditions for importation and
transportation of game birds for stocking
purposes, by removal of import duties and
reduction of transportation rates, was
approved by the Conference.

10. Species destructive to game. A
study of the vermin question has dis-
closed the fact that local conditions must
be intensively studied and that abundance
of game often depends more on keeping
destructive species under control than on
any other one factor.

11. Scientific research. Investigations,
such as the Grouse Inquiry and the Coop-
erative Quail Investigation, were approv-
ed and declared to be the proper basis
for conservation methods.

12. Cooperative Game Breeding and
Fish Culture. This subject was stressed
at the Conference and advocated as a

necessary complement to the work of
the states and the federal government,
in which sportsmen's clubs may help
augment the game and fish supply. — Field
(Did Stream, February, ]028.

WHAT IS A FORKED HORN?

The article under the above caption in
the last number of California Fish and
Game called attention to the ambiguity
of the law in that spike bucks are defined,
and forked horns are defined by using the
tei-m "on both sides." Unfortunately, it
did not make clear that the discussion had
to do with the situation in Modoc and
Lassen counties.

THE WEALTH OF THE SEA

Several years ago there was reviewed
in these columns a book designed to meet
the needs of the fishing industry, entitled,
"Marine Products of Commerce," by
Donald K. Tressler of the Mellon Insti-
tute of Industrial Research (Califoenia
Fish and Game, Vol. 11, pp. 87-S9).
Dr. Tressler has now issued a more jwpu-
lar volume under the title "The Wealth
of the Sea." In this volume the author
has attempted to furnish both infonnation
and entertainment in the hope that the
book will be of interest not only to those
who are primarily interested in marine
products, but also to the general reader
and to students of commercial geography,
biology, geology, chemistry, oceanography
and navigation. Descriptions of technical
processes are simple and brief. The
scientific names and technical terms have
been largely omitted.

The first chapter deals with the area
and depth of the ocean, temperature,
salinity, pressure, movements and life of
the sea. One learns that the extejit of
the sea is 139,000,000 square miles ; that
the average salt content of a gallon of
sea water is about a quarter of a pound,
and that surface fishes down to seventy-
five fathoms are colorless. From 150 to 250
fathoms, they are silvery or gray in color,
and at depths where little light penetrates
they are black or at least dark colored.

The next chapter cleverly shows how
the sea and its products enter into our
daily life. It is surprising to learn how
many household articles have been finished
with fish oils. "When we rise in the
morning we may use a soap made from
fish or whale oil for our bath. The razor
we shave with was tempered in fish oil.
The cold cream or other toilet preparation
used after we shave contains glycerin
which may have been obtained ' from
menhaden or some other fish. We put
on shoes which were finished with menha-
den oil.

154

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

"We go to our door, painted perhaps
with a salmon-oil paint, and get a news-
paper printed with ink made from fish oil
and lampblack. If we eat herring or
mackerel for our breakfast, we obtain
much nutriment from the fat and vita-
mines of the herring or mackerel oil.

"We may ride to work in an automobile
painted with a baking japan containing
fish oil, and sit on imitation leather seats
prepared by the use of menhaden or other
fish oil. Even if the car has real leather
upholstery, fish and fish-liver oil were
used in the final tanning and finishing
processes.

"We enter our oiEce building painted
perhaps with menhadden oil paint, con-
taining driers made from fish oils. The
linoleum on the fioor may have been made
with fish oil. The greases used in the
lubrication of the elevator machinery
probably contain fish oil.

"If it is raining when we come from
work in the evening, we put on a raincoat
which may have been made from cloth
covered with many coats of a fish oil
varnish.

"Our feet may get wet on the way
home. To prevent catching cold we take
a tonic. One of the best we may choose
is cod-liver oil, which contains the fat-
soluble vitamines needed to build up
vitality and resistance to disease.

"Perhaps we shall have candles on our
dinner table; if so, it is likely that they
were made from stearin obtained from
fish or whale oil. Our furniture may be
finished with a menhaden oil varnish.
And the oilcloth which covers the kitchen
table was probably made by painting
cloth with special menhaden oil paints.

"When we prepare for bed we put on
slippers made soft and comfortable by
treatment with fish and fish-liver oils, and
as we switch off the electric light we may
touch an imitation rubber knob of fish oil
composition."

Other chapters deal with the manufac-
ture of salt from sea water, iodine and
other chemicals from seaweed. A chapter
each is devoted to pearls and imitation
pearls and to precious corals ; a discussion
of fishes and their preservation and of
America's fisheries follow; and chapters
on various mollusks, crustaceans, whales,
fur seals and sponges conclude the volume.

Dr. Tressler has furnished a 340-page
illustrated volume which gives a compi'e-
hensive and fascinating story of the
nature, uses and economic importance of
the various products which come from the
sea. The information is authentic and
the story of whale hunts, pearl diving and
deep sea fishing makes the book attractive
to everyone. — H. C. Bryant.

CALIFORNIA HUMMINGBIRDS
A most enlightening and interesting
article bearing on the hummingbirds of
California, which are among the smallest
in size of one of our large American bird
families, is that by Mr. Robert S. Woods,
appearing in a late issue of the Auk
(Vol. XLIV, No. 3). Mr. Wood prefaces
his very full report with the statement
that, although the hummingbirds "include
some 500 species, but nineteen have been
found within the United States, and of
these only one occurs east of Texas and
the Rocky Mountains. Of the nineteen,
two species, both of which are taken in
California, are thought to have been mere
adventitious hybrids, while nine are re-
stricted to within 100 miles of the Mexi-
can border in Arizona, New Mexico and
Texas * * * of the remaining eight,
which may be considered more definitely
a part of our fauna, six species are of
common occurrence over large portions of
California, while the seventh has also
been found within the borders of the
state."

The fact is brought out that, although
green is the prevailing color on the
throats or other luminous parts of the
plumage of the Mexican, Central Ameri-
can and West Indian species, this color
is not found on the throat of any of the
eight hummingbirds whose range is
largely within the United States. The
gorget is red in four of these ; in two it is
reddish or rose pink and in the remaining
two, violet, and note is made of the fact
that in the 140 species listed in Mr. Ridge-
way's "Birds of North and Middle Amer-
ica," the red color appears in only five or
six species, and does not appear in any of
the thirty species living in or near the
Panama Canal Zone. The impression is
thus obtained that northern latitudes are
in some way conducive to the development
of the red areas in the plumage of this
bird family and "this impression is
strengthened when we consider that the
Rufous and the Ruby-throated humming-
birds, which reach the highest latitudes in
summer, and likewise Anna's and Allen's
hummingbirds, which winter farthest
north, all have red gorgets, while the
Rufous hummingbird, the hardiest pioneer
of all, is unique in the reddish color of
its back as well. Despite the predomi-
nance of yellow flowers, pure yellow is
entirely lacking in the plumage of North
American hummingbirds."

The brilliancy and variation of the
coloring in the two California species of
the genus Calypte, Costa and Anna hum-
minabirds, overshadows the scarcity in
numbers of this family in California, com-
pared with the many in South and Central
American countries. The changing hues.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

155

Hll'ected aud reflected by vuryiug coudi-
tions of light ; the brilliant rose-pink
gorget, enhanced by a border of rich gold
of the Anna ; the wide variation in the
coloring of the Costa ; the burnished gold
of the rufous aud the reddish-purple of
the calliope, coupled with the interest
which attaches to this particular bird
from its being the smallest of our birds,
make one who possesses an appreciation
for color, ever sensible to the wonders of
this species.

Several pages are devoted to description
of the flight of the different species; the
elaborate nuptial flight of the Anna, that
of the Allen ; the shuttling of the black-
chinned, which follows the path of a
narrow figure 8 lying on one side ; the
hovering of Anna's "motionless in the air
with body nearly horizontal, suddenly rise
rapidly and vertically, as if by a reversal
of the force of gravity, is to obtain some
idea of the bird's remarkable mystery of
the air."

The occurrence of the species in Cali-
fornia is given and Mr. Wood's particu-
lar observations of the birds in San
Gabriel Valley are cited.

Intimate and full life histoi-y details
are given, with more especial note to the
"family life" of the Costa, which Mr.
Wood simply disposes of by saying that
"he has none," because his experience has
shown that the male Costa has never
shown enough interest in family affairs
to indicate his relationship with any par-
ticular brood, "his mate, however, making
up his deficiencies and finding no difii-
culty in managing the household without
his aid."

INIuch study has been given to the loca-
tion and construction of the nest of these
birds ; their eggs and behavior of the
various individuals while brooding.

The mentality of the hummingbird, a
much mooted question, is discussed at
length, Mr. Wood quoting largely from
Mr. W. W. Hudson in his comparison of
the bird with insects and dragon flies, all
of which Mr. Wood has not found to be
convincing, and, although he, too, has not
been able to detect any indication of the
hummingbird possessing any reasoning
power — "an accomplishment which, after
all, is rarely enough displayed even by the
human race — and that it may be lacking
in some of those finer emotions which
make many of the birds seem so akin to
mankind, nevertheless its actions and
attitude, its alert interest in its surround-
ings, its apparent love of sport and its
ability to recognize those who befriend it,
certainly furnish competent evidence of
an acutely conscious intelligence."

The article is amply illustrated with
excellent photographs. — B. W. Kibbe.
4—58645

CANADA LEADS IN BUFFALO
CONSERVATION

The preservation of the American
buffalo has been undertaken naturally by
tlie two govei-nments and peoples most
interested, that is, the United States and
Canada, but the latter from the begin-
ning of the work has been in the lead.
Of the 16,000 buffalo now existing, there
are 12,000 in Canada and some 4000 in
the United States.

In all the history of animal life, there
has been none as extraordinary as that
of the American bison and its near ex-
tinction in a short period of years. It
numbered nearly fifty million head, which
far exceeded that of any known species of
large quadruped. Its range was practi-
cally from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
north to the barren grounds of the Arctic
aud south to the twenty-fifth degree of
north latitude, being nearly to the Tropic
of Cancer.

The animal authority. Dr. Edward W.
Nelson of the United States Biological
Survey, in his book "Wild Animals of
North America" (p. 461), writes:

"When the American continent was
first discovered (1492), their numbers
were from thirty to sixty million. In
1870 there were still about five and one-
half million ; these were practically all
exterminated by 1890, there remaining in
all about 800 buffalo in private hands."

Some have questioned how could any-
one know that the above figures of mil-
lions were anywhere near correct. In the
book "Reminiscences of a Sportsman,"
by J. Parker Whitney (p. 162), he
writes as follows :

"A competent authority has estimated
that between the years of 1868 and 1880,
two and one-half million dollars were
paid out in the three states mentioned
(Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri) for
Buffalo Bones gathered on the prairies at
$8 per ton, and if the estimate of 100
buffalo to one ton of bones has been
correctly calculated, it will be observed
that the bones of over thirty millions of
buffalo would be required to furnish the
amount purchased." If three states fur-
nished thirty million head, then another
twenty million for all remaining territory
is conservative. The estimate of twenty
pounds of bones to each animal, being ten
for the skull and ten for the rest of the
animal, is also reasonable.

The range of the buffalo to the south
being nearly to the tropics, is proved by
a book, "Sport with the Rod and Gun,"
published by The Century Company in
New York, 1883, in which is an article
by General Lew Wallace, author of "Ben
Hur," who took part in a hunt. He
reported a herd of several hundred ani-

156

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

mals aud they bagged seven buffalo in
one morning's hunt. It was in the year
1867 just after the Civil War, and he
was making- a horseback journey across
Mexico from Monterey, the hunt being
near the town of Hornos, State of Coa-
huila, about 500 miles southeast of El
Paso, Texas, the latitude being about
twenty-five degrees north, about ninety
miles from the Tropic of Cancer.

To tell now what Canada has done for
this great animal. In 1907 the Canadian
government bought the Michael Pablo
herd in Montana and moved the 709
buffalo to their new park at Wainwright,
Alberta, by railroad. This took three
years and it was not until 1910 that the
last were transferred.

In sixteen years these 700 head in-
creased to 12,000, of which some liOOO
annually have been disposed of commer-
cially in order to offset the increase.
Wainwright Park can not reasonably
support a larger number than 5000
animals.

During the last three years the Cana-
dian government has moved about 2000
animals some 700 miles to their uew Wood
Buffalo Park, which is on the Slave River,
being a tract of some 100 miles square
which has been occupied by the original
herd of about 1500 of the "Wood buffalo."
The transfer was started in 1925. Move-
ment during June to August amounted to
seven loads aud it took about one week
of rail and steamer on the Peace River to
make the transit. About 2000 were trans-
ferred each year in 1925 and 1926. The
experiment was most successful.

The history of the original herd of
Peace River Wood buffalo is most inter-
esting, as this is the only remaining wild
herd ; except a small remnant in the
Yelhnvstone National Park, Wyoming.
The first authentic report was about forty
years ago by the Canadian explorer,
Warburton Pike, who saw the herd on
his trip after musk-ox in 1890. Various
I'eports are as follows :

Estimate

1890 Warburton Pike 100

1894 Casper Whitney 150

1907 Ernest Seton Thompson—. 625

1920 C. Gordon Hewitt 2,000

1922 FuUerton Waldo 2,500

1924 Royal Geographical Society 2,000

1926 American Bison Society--. 1,500

The above, of course, are only the esti-
mates of casual visitors based on the
reports of the guardians or custodians of
the herd. A few years will probably show
a herd of 10,000 buffalo in Wood Buffalo
Park, on Slave River, Canada, which will
become a valuable basis of supply for
meat, hides and other products.

In the United States the American

Bison Society was organized in 1906 aud
has done splendid work, though on a
smaller scale. The first annual report of
buft'alo was compiled by Dr. W. T. Horn-
aday in 190.3. The totals of all the pure-
bred American bison in the world are as
follows :

1903— 1,753 buffalo in the United States

and Canada.
1921— 9,311 buffalo in the United States

and Canada.
1923—12,521 buffalo in the United States

and Canada.
1927 — 16,417 buffalo in the United States

and Canada.

There are seven of the small eastern
states which have no herds of buft'alo on
exhibition, but othenvise this animal is
well distributed throughout the United
States.— M. Hall McAllister, San Fran-
cisco, California.

THE IRISH ELK

Through the generosity of Mr. 'VMUiam
^I. Fitzhugh, a trustee of the academy,
the Museum of the California Academy
of Sciences, in Golden Gate Park, has
acquired a head of the gigantic extinct
Fallow deer {Cernis giganteus) , com-
monly known as "Irish elk." This pre-
historic animal was one of the largest of
the deer, standing six feet or more in
height at the shoulder, and second in size
only to the moose, among present-day
species. In spread of antlers it even ex-
ceeded the moose, some skulls having been
found with antlers that wei'e twelve feet
across ; six feet is an exceptionally wide
spread for a moose.

The Irish elk lived ages ago in western
Europe, in England and in Ireland. Most
of the specimens in museums were found
in peat bogs in Ireland, where the cai--
casses happened to sink and the skeletons
thus became more or less perfectly pre-
served.

The academy specimen from Ireland is
a fine example of the species in excellent
condition and with antlers that spread
more than eight feet across. It is now
on exhibition on the wall of the Mammal
Hall in the Museum.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLA-
MATION

For several years a special week has
been set apart for public discussion of our
forests and of what must be done to safe-
guard and restore them. Among the
agencies making for progress in this direc-
tion, American Forest Week has proved
its usefulness and I am glad to proclaim
it again and to announce that Canada is

CALIFORNIA FIS?T AND GAME.

157

again cniicui reiitly observing a similar

Tlie ivhabilitation of our t'orosts
(Icmands first of all that the forest fire
evil be suppressed. Many of the forested
States, with the iooi)ei'ation of timber huul
owners, have undertaken oi'Ranized pro-
tection against forest tires ; and in recent
years, under the Clarke-McNary law, the
Federal Covcrnment has siven its support
to the movement. This great cooperative
euterpris(> must be extended and strength-
ened until every forested <-ounty in the
Thiited States is safeguarded against for-
est fires.

But we are still far from the goal of
complete protection. Every year, on the
average. SO.OOO fires .scourge our wood-
lands, steadily undermining their vitality.
For this bad situation, the blame falls
e(inally on us all. Public agencies rarely
pravide ade(iuate protection against fire,
the timber land owner is too often indif-
ferent to his property, the forest woi'ker
is too often neglectful of the future forest,
the average citizen is too often t'areless
with fire in the woods. We must all gain
such respect for the forest that its destruc-
tion through indifference or carelessness
shall be unthinkable.

We can not permanently abuse our
forests with impunity. The soil is the
ultimate source of all our wealth and of
life itself. One-fourth of our Anierican
soil is best suited for forests. Much of
this land is already idle. ^Nlore of it is
being made idle by destructive logging and
fire. Yet we can not safely permit our
forest land to lie fallow and useless any
more than we can permit our farms and
fact(U'ies to lie idle.

To make our vast empii'e of forest land
fully productive of continuous crops of
limber will have momentous consequences
in our national life. It will give agricul-
ture the advantage of a new and valuable
crop. It will afford permanent employ-
ment to millions of men in the forest
industries. It will provide raw materials
for many industries. It will furnish
traffic for our railroads. It will maintain
foreign and domestic commerce. It will
restore ouv forests as conservers of soil
and water, and as givers of health and
pleasure to our people.

We alre:idy have made a beginning in
forest renewal ; but the task is stupendous
and we should permit no satisfaction over
what has been done to blind us to the
magnitude of what remains to be done.

Now. tiierp:fore. I. Cavin Coolidge.
President of the United States of America,
do hereby designate and set aside as
American Forest Week the week begin-
ning April 22 and ending April 2S, in

this year nf t'.fJS. I recominciHJ tn the
(Jox-crnors of llic \-ariiius Slates that they
also designate this week for special observ-
ance by all our people ; and that, where
practicable and not in conflict with law
or custom. Arbor Day be observed during
the course of the same week. I urge that
during that week all citizens and aijpro-
priate organizations — including i)ublic offi-
cials, legislators, business organizations,
educators, editors, <-lergymen, landowners
and others — give thought to the preserva-
tion and wise use of our forests, to the
end that energetic forest ixdicies will be
adopted in all communities.

In witness wiiereoI''. I havt' hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washin.iiton this
twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand nine hun-
dred and twenty-eight, and of the Inde-
pendence of the United States of America
the one hundred and fifty-second.

By the President :

Cai.vin Coolidge.

Frank B. Kellocu.

Secretary of State.

PUBLIC WARNED TO GUARD
AGAINST TULAREMIA

Tularemia, a serious and often fatal
disease, known also as "rabbit fever" or
"deer-fiy fever," has spread so widely that
Paul (i. Redington, Chief of the Biologi-
cal Survey of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, has issued a warning
to all field men of the department to be
on guard against it. The department is
making public this warning for the bene-
fit of sportsmen, lumbermen, catth- ami
sheep tenders, farmers and others of the
general public who may come in contact
with the disease. Mr. Rediugton's warn-
ing has been end(used by the United
States Public Health Service.

"Tularemia," Mr. Redington explains,
"is a plague-like disease of rodents trans-
missible to niiin. Of nOO human cases
reported in the United States, 20 have
terminated in death."

Cases of tularemia have been discovered
in all states except Washington, Wiscon-
sin, New York. Delaware and the New
England States. It has been established
definitely that the disease is caused by an
organism, Bacterium tulurense. In na-
ture the disease affects jack rabbits, snow-
shoe rabbits and cottontail rabbits. This
provides a reservoir for infection of both
wild animals and human beings. No
cases have yet been recognized in com-
mercial rabbitries, and care should be
exercised to avoid the introduction of

158

CALIFORNIA FISH ANt) GAME.

tularemia into such places. Tkere is no
danger of contracting the disease from
eating rabbit meat if it is thoroughly
cooked, even though the animal may have
been infected.

In the vi^estern states the disease is
carried from animal to animal and from
animal to man by the bites of infected
deer flies and ticks. Ticks also act as
carriers in the southern states. Men also
become infected by handling rabbit car-
casses, as in dressing them for the table
or cutting them up to use as food for
animals or bait in fishing or trapping.
In the east, such direct contact is the
common means of infection.

For protection against tularemia the
best knovpn precaution is the use of rub-
ber gloves when handling or dressing
rabbits, or when skinning other animals
that may be infected with the disease.
In the open it is wise to exercise care in
avoiding the bites of deer flies, ticks or
other possible carriers. Wearing rubber
gloves is not an absolute protection, for
skilled laboratory workers who are
scrupulously careful because they are
aware of the dangers, often contract in-
fection. Rubber gloves should be worn
in handling fresh skins. Dried skins are
not likely to carry infection. One attack
of tularemia confers immunity to man,
hence those who have recovered from the
disease should be employed, wherever
possible, in occupations where there is
risk of infection. No protective vaccine
has been developed as yet.

In addition to the wild rabbits most
affected by tularemia, and man who may
contract the disease, scientists have dis-
covered cases of tularemia in California
ground squirrels, Columbia ground squir-
rels, Utah ground squirrels, desert ground
squirrels, pine squirrels, yellow-bellied
chipmunks, pocket gophers, woodchucks,
opossums, cats, porcupines, house mice,
deer mice, meadow mice, wood rats and
coyotes, and susceptibility is being investi-
gated in other animals. All possible
carriers of the disease should be handled
with care.

Mr. Redington also warns of the danger
of liberating wild rabbits trapped in one
locality for the restocking of hunting
areas. When restocking seems desirable,
a quarantine should be maintained and
no rabbits should be liberated for about
ten days, to give the disease time to
develop in the imported rabbits, which it
will do usually in five or six days if they
are infected. Otherwise the diseased rab-
bits are likely to cause a rabbit epizootic,
reduce the game available for hunting,
and create a center of infection from
which human beings may contract the
disease.

In man tularemia is likely to manifest
itself first by pain, tenderness and a swell-
ing of the lymph glands draining the
region where the infection occurs, as
those of the elbow or armpit when infec-
tion has occurred on the finger. These
symptoms are likely to develop within
two to five days after infection. An
inflamed and painful ulcer may soon
appear where the insect bite occurred,
although in some cases this does not
happen. The development of the disease
is likely to be accompanied by sudden
onsets of headache, aching pains, chUls,
prostration, general weakness and fever.

DENMEAD AND GOLDMAN DISCUSS
PROBLEMS OF GAME PRESERVA-
TION

The comparative merits of restocking
hunting areas with imported game and
the protection of game already in the
area, were discussed by Talbott Den-
mead, Deputy Chief United States Game
Warden, at the Fourteenth National
Game Conference held in New York eai'ly
in December, and E. A. Goldman, also of
the Biological Survey of the United States
Department of Agriculture, explained to
the conference members some of the fac-
tors leading to the numerical fluctuations
of game.

Mr. Denmead particularly emphasized
that his remarks should not be taken as
a criticism of state conservation com-
missioners and others who have been
active in importing game for restocking
purposes, but rather to emphasize the
need of keeping account of the results of
importations to decide whether the prac-
tice pays. As a result of his experience,
he was inclined to the opinion that fur-
ther protection of existing game should
be paramount and importation secondary.
He noted that game brought from a dis-
tance is liable to injury in transit, is
more susceptible to disease, or because of
conditions of transit and unfamiliarity
with the country may die or be killed after
liberation. Even if animals stand ship-
ment in good condition, "there still
remains the doubt whether they will
become acclimatized and adapt themselves
to weather and food conditions ; and there
is still further danger that they may be
entirely wiped out by reason of their
unfamiliarity with the country and lack
of knowledge of their enemies known as
vermin."

The warden I'ecounted several unsuc-
cessful importations, and stressed the
additional danger of introduction of fatal
disease by imported birds and animals.
He quoted with approval M. D. Hart's
statement of conditions in Virginia : "We
have the ruffed grouse, the wild turkey

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

159

and the quail— three of the finest game
birds on earth. It will pay us to take
care of them and not import foreign
birds."

Protection instead of importation "may
make the State game officer's account look
like too much ov^erhead if more money is
expended on game wardens and the
destruction of vermin and less on birds
and animals for liberation, but results are
what count in the long run and are what
the hunters are looking for and expect.
Large numbers of animals and birds
imported and released may look good in
annual reports, but the question to be
answered by every State game authority
is, does it pay?"

Instead, Mr. Denmead recommended a
more thorough and intelligent control of
vermin and the establishment of penna-
nent game sanctuaries, with restocking of
depleted covers with imported game only
when and where it can be done success-
fully.

Mr. Golden, in charge of the Division
of Game and Bird Reservations of the
Biological Survey, in discussing fluctua-
tion in the numbers of birds and animals
as one of the most pressing problems of
wild-life administration, said that some
of the factors were easily understood and
could be controlled, but that other factors
that may depend on the weather and those
that are involved in biological relation-
ships are often baffling in their complexity.

He mentioned various studies of num-
bers of game and thought it doubtful that
a stabilized balance under natural condi-
tions was ever attained for a long period.
Records of abundance in furs delivered to
the Hudson's Bay Company for a hundred
years show cycles of abundance and
scarcity.

Whatever other effects there may be on
the numbers of game, the presence of man
has disturbed the former balance, and as
an offset "suitable areas must be set
aside or created for the benefit of game,
in which all breeding stocks are preserved,
if game is to be maintained on anything
like a satisfactory scale, and a surplus
provided for sportsmen."

The speaker gave consideration to
damage done by predatory animals and
vermin, the extent of which is not gener-
ally realized, and also discussed some of
the reasons for the wide fluctuations in
the numbers of such well-known herds as
the Yellowstone elk and the Kaibab deer,
and for the increase of mountain sheep
on the National Bison Range, in Montana.

"Sufficient food and water and adequate
protection from enemies are essential,"
Mr. Goldman remarked, "if game is to
thrive and be maintained on a satisfactory

scale, but freedom from parasites and
diseases, especially those that become
periodically epizootic, and, in waterfowl,
freedom from maladies believed to be due
to mineral poisons, is of vital importance.
Parasitism may account for the compara-
tive rarity of some animals, including
various members of the weasel family
that, especially in the warmer regions,
apparently are able to obtain abundant
food, and, so far as known, have few
natural enemies. Epizootics evidently
provide the final cheek to overabundance
in all wild life, and correspond to epi-
demics in man."

TERN BANDED IN LABRADOR
FOUND DEAD IN FRANCE

Another trans-Atlantic flight — and prob-
ably a "nonstop" one — has come to light.
A communication received by the Biologi-
cal Sui-vey of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture from Prof. Robert
Poncy of Geneva, Switzerland, incloses a
clipping from Le Chasseur Francais to
the effect that M. Robert Pradier, of Port-
Dauphine, La Rochelle, France, found, on
October 1, 1927. on the Greve de Marsilly,
near La Rochelle, "a kind of black-headed
gull, known in the region as 'hirondelle de
mer,' or sea swallow," and carrying on
its right foot an aluminum ring with the
inscription, "Notify Biol. Surv.," and the
number 548656. M. Pradier would be
glad to learn, the account said, the habitat
and name of this bird, as well as the date
on which it was banded.

The Biological Survey, which super-
vises the bird-banding work in the United
States and Canada, finds in its records
that band No. 548656 was that of an
Arctic tern {Sterna paradisaea) banded
when it was between 1 and 5 days old at
the Red Islands, Turnevick, Labrador, on
July 22, 1927. by Oliver L. Austin, of
Tuckahoe, N. Y., who at the time was on
an expedition to Baffin Island in connec-
tion with which he was banding birds on
their northern breeding grounds for the
Biological Survey. The straight distance
from Labrador to the coast of France is
about 4200 miles, a remarkable travel
record for so young a bird.

This is the second transoceanic bird
return in the records of the survey, the
fii-st being that of a common tern (Sterna
hirundo) banded as a nestling on the
coast of Maine in 1913, and recovered
four years later in the delta of the Niger
River, on the west coast of Africa. Sev-
eral other remarkable distances have been
traveled by birds recovered from South
America. The Biological Survey has
about 1000 volunteer cooperators scattered
throughout the United States and Canada

160

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

who are helping in the bird-banding work,
by means of which valuable data are being
collected for the solution of problems
regarding the migratory and other habits
of wild birds.

NEW LEAFLET TELLS HOW TO
RAISE MINKS IN CAPTIVITY

Comparatively few persons are raising
minks in captivity, even though the fur
has sold for high prices during the past
ten years, according to Frank G. Ash-
brook, biologist of the Biological Survey,
in a leaflet on "Mink Raising," just issued
by the United States Department of Agri-
culture. A keen interest has been mani-
fested in mink farming, he says, since the
beginning of the present century, but it
has been spasmodic rather than sustained.
Mink farming i« not altogether in the
experimental stage, however, for minks
have been raised successfully in captivity,
and the quality of fur produced on farms
is in no way inferior to that trapped in
the Avild.

Minks are very prolific, and when fed
and handled properly they breed and pro-
duce young regularly, their litters number-
ing usually six, seven or eight. Young
minks born in captivity are much superior
for breeding stock, and consequently the
prices asked for ranch-raised minks are
often higher than prospective mink farm-
ers care to pay. Those who have made
money in mink raising thus far have sold
the animals chiefly for breeding purposes.
Further experiments will be required
before it can be determined whether rais-
ing these animals in captivity as fur
producers can be made profitable.

The new leaflet No. 8-L describes minks
and their habits and gives information on
selecting a ranch site, making pens and
dens, breeding, mating, feeding, and kill-
ing and pelting. Copies may be had free
upon request addressed to the United
States Department of Agriculture. Wash-
ington. D. C.

BIRD-CENSUS TAKERS WANTED

Bird students are invited this year, as
in the past, to assist the Biological Survey
of the United States Department of Agri-
culture in taking censuses of breeding
birds on tracts convenient to their homes.
Such a census of birds means an exact
and complete enumeration, by species, of
the birds that actually nest within the
boundaries of a selected area. It does not

include birds that merely visit the tract,
birds that nest near but outside the
boundaries, and migrants. It will be
seen that a thorough familiarity with the
birds of the region is needed to take a
successful census. Bird censuses become
particularly valuable when the volunteer
enumerator counts the birds making their
homes in the area for five or more years
in succession. In the latitude of Wash-
ington. D. C, and St. Louis, Mo., the
count should be made about June 1. and
correspondingly earlier or later south or
north of this line.

A suggestion as to the most effective
way to take the census is that a count be
made of the singing birds very early in
the morning, with a recount on one or
more mornings in the course of the uext
few days. Bird-census reports are desired
on many types of land, such as farm
lands, woodlands and forests, near irriga-
tion projects, in marshlands, and on the
shores of rivers, lakes and the sea. and in
special areas such as city parks, ceme-
teries, bird sanctuaries and other spots
having a dense population of birds.

Anyone interested in the taking of a
bird census may write to the Biological
Survey, United States Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D. C for direc-
tions, census blanks, and a return envel-
ope that requires no postage for mailing
the reports.

ANSWERS

(Questions on page 147)

■1
1 •

The porcupine.

Squawfish or "Sacramento

pike." 1

Prong-horned antelope.

Canvasback, ruddy duck, lesser

scaup, surf scoter, redhead. |

Eastern Modoc County and

Eag

le Lake, Lassen County; Im-

perial County; Buena Vista Lake, |

r n County (probably intro-

duced). 1

Yes. In Mexico they are sold

for

food.

Canada goose or "honker."

Modoc County.

Cutthroat trout.

1. Yes. Eastern Modoc and

Lassen counties.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

161

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES

Department of Patrol

The old adage of a man in-otitinj^ by
another's loss was well exhibited in !Sau
Francisco on Saturday, January 21, when
a systematic raid on the ice boxes of clubs
and markets resulted in a collection of
lioO ducks and 50 geese. In order to
enfoi'ce the closed season and prevent the
nonsale of Avild game, it is imperative
that a time limit must be set within
which birds taken in open season must
be consumed. In the case of ducks and
geese, five days are imposed by law as the
limit of grace.

Search of the numerous storehouses of
ducks and geese throughout the city, five
days after the close of the season, dis-
closed many limits, all properly tagged,
some bearing the names of well-known
sportsmen whose good sportsmanship has
never been questioned. As soon, however,
as the respective owners found that they
had forgotten to remove their game from
storage before the deadline, they all, with
one accord, manifested a spirit of charita-
ble sportsmanship when they learned that
the birds were turned over to the San
Francisco Relief Home. At their expense
the patients enjoyed a real feast, for wild
game is seldom on the menu.

The revival of the old sport of trapping
game birds is being met with determined
resistance whenever practiced in the
state. Hulbert Toole, a resident of Santa
Paula, Ventura County, persisted in trap-
ping quail, carefully cared for by inter-
ested residents, until their dwindling
numbers caused suspicion that they were
being trapi>ed. A plan of capture was
de\ised by Deputy Walter Emerick,
assisted by volunteer deputies Walter
Claberg and Lawrence Gardner, which
lead to the arrest of the offender. .Judge
Hawthorne's court at Fillmore imposed
a severe fine of .$150, with the view
of discouraging such operations in the
future.

The efforts of Deputy .J. W. Thornburg
to check the trapping of quail in River-
side County resulted in the discovery of
an extensive system of traps. These were
made of one-inch mesh chicken wire
attached to old iron tires of .a spring
wagon, once a familiar vehicle. The
approaches were covered with dirt and
leaves and corn was used as bait. In
one trap, Deputy Thornburg found twenty-

five birds making a fruitless effort to
escape.

The diligence and vigilance exercised
in minimizing this illegal method of taking
game is worthy of the highest praise.

Two Los Bauos citizens, one a hotel
proprietor, the other a special deputy
sheriff and former employee of Miller and
Lux, were arrested early in January as
a result of the persistent efforts of the
Division to prevent the selling of wild
game. Jiick Twigli and Curry Anderson
were apprehended, following information
that they were selling ducks, and the raid
systematically made on their establish-
ments revealed a large number of birds
in their possession. Previous to this
raid, an investigator of the Division had
l)urchased ducks from both of the
offenders.

,Judge D. E. Hales, of Gustine, imposed
a fine of $100 on each offender. It is
hoped that such sure and swift justice
will deter others from engaging in this
pernicious practice.

The versatility of deputies was again
shown in the recent installation of a
"duck hospital" on Buena Vista Lake.
Captain M. S. Clark, together with dep-
uties L. Arnold, A. R. Ainsworth and
Ray Ellis, in three days caught some 200
ducks suffering from disease. The sick
ducks were then placed in an enclosure,
where good care, abundance of fi*esh
water and a changed diet resulted in the
recovery of about 90 per cent of tho.se
affected.

All of the surviving birds were banded
with Biological Survey markers and lib-
erated. Thus, not only were a large
number of birds saved by reason of the
energy and promptness of the field forces,
but another splendid opportunity was
aft'(U-ded to advance the knowledge of bird
migration.

"The ways of man are wonderful and
sometimes past finding out." This was
admirably illustrated in a letter received
recently by J. S. Hunter. The letter
stated that the writer had violated the
game laws of California over a consider-
able period of time and now wished to
make amends. He was advised of the
minimum fine for hunting without a
license. In paying this "conscience
money'' the reformed violatoi- expressed
the wish that it be donated to a specific
charitable organization, "as they are the

162

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

people that told me how to be saved and
keep saved."

Efforts to preserve Pismo clams from
reaching depletion have met with such
success that the outlook for the future of
this important bivalve fishery is encour-
aging. Not many years ago, commercial
diggers used horses and plows on Pismo
Beach, and great waste attended this
method. Signs of depletion soon became
evident. Even at the time when the
present law stopped the shipment of clams
from Pismo and Morro beaches, 274,317
pounds were exported annually.

Much special attention has been given
to the enforcement of the present law.
Warnings were issued concerning the pro-
cedure that would be followed in case of
violation. As a result of this, a much
better feeling among the local residents
has been brought about. Judges, too,
have manifested a better spirit and shown
greater willingness to cooperate. There
yet remains considerable indifference on
the part of small colonies of clam diggers
on Pismo and Morro beaches, who persist
in digging over the limit.

The apprehension of these violators has
been vigorously carried on by Special
Commercial Fisheries Deputy Ross W.
Markley and Deputy H. E. Black. As
these deputies are known to the clam
diggers, their endeavors are rewarded
only after long hours of watchful waiting
and persistent efforts to outwit the dig-
gers. For instance, Deputy Black
apprehended Pete Lee, whose left foot
had only four toes, by tracking his foot-
prints to a cache where he had buried
several overlimits of clams. Again, after
patient watching with glasses from a
vantage point. Deputy Black witnessed
C. E. McDonald take two limits of clams
and then conceal them in the false bottom
of an automobile. The arrest of another
clam digger at Morro Bay by Deputy
Markley came about only because Markley
was mistaken for a tourist by the look-
out of the colony, "One-eye Ellis."

Efforts to restore the depleted covers
of San Diego County are encouraging.
Some 400 valley quail were trapped at
the Point Loma Homestead by A. W.
Elder of the Game Farm, assisted by
deputies Webb Toms and E. H. Glidden.
The San Diego Zoological Society and the
San Diego Fish and Game Protective
Association aided materially in making
this work successful.

the duck fields with sixty-seven ducks.
After hiring an attorney and using all the
influence that could be brought to bear to
be absolved from his act, and failing to
secure the sympathy of the Division, the
violator plead guilty and was fined $250
by Judge Colthurst of Vallejo.

Snow and ice in the northern regions
of the state have caused many hardships
in law enforcement. Deputy Brice Ham-
mack of Fort Jones, for example, was
under the necessity of making a trip by
way of Oregon to catch G. B. Crabtree,
who had on hand a considerable store of
deer meat.

Deputy Walter I. Long of Westwood
made four deer cases in the vicinity of
Loyalton and Calpine. Later, in coopera-
tion with Deputy Barnes, he arrested two
Indians for the killing of a forked-horn.
The carcass was skilfully hidden and the
Indians made the two wardens pay a
heavy price in the expenditure of physical
energy to effect their capture.

A splendid fine of $150 was secured by
Deputy A. D. Miner of Quincy for deer
meat which was held in possession out of
season. Judge Taylor of Taylorville im-
posed the fine.

Judge Rohrback assessed a fine of $100
for a similar offense. The arrest was
made by Deputy F. H. Post of Salinas.

Deputy V. E. Von Arx, Sebastopol,
caught a man in the act of using a salmon
as a target for pistol practice. This cost
the violator $100.

Deputies C. M. Bouton and C. F. Eng-
land, operating with the launch Quinnat,
caught a violator using small mesh nat,
and secured a fine of $100.

Volunteer Deputy Otto Broeker caught
a member of the Alameda Duck Club in

KMN, the Division's radio, contributed
materially to the arrest of a commercial
duck club operator shortly after the close
of the duck season. Rumors, crystallizing
into reliable reports, reached the ears of
Captain S. J. Carpenter, at Maxwell,
that Vencel Novotny was operating the
Heffelsteine and Gordon Duck Club, near
Williams, in open violation of the game
laws. Such turned out to be the case, for
Novotny was caught with more than the
legal limit of geese in his possession.
Hailed into the court of Judge George B.
Reckers, at Williams, he was fined $50
and his permit and license canceled.

Unfortunately, this fine failed to
heighten the offender's respect for the law.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

163

oflice that Novotny was trying to secure
another license and attempting to have a
Radiograms informed the San Francisco
friend secure a permit. Search of the
records revealed the application and its
issuance was held up. Meanwhile, oper-
ators of the Division, suspicious of
Novotny's character, applied to him for
a "shoot." Their desire to have a duck
hunt out of season met with ready
encouragement and they were told to call
the next day. They did so, and a fee was
accepted. All this time, radio messages
filling the air between Maxwell and the
central office, were quietly, yet quickly
and surely, exposing all of Novotny's
pretty schemes. On January 11, he found
himself again facing Judge Reckers,
charged with operating without a permit.
In addition ot a fine of $200, Judge
Reckers imposed the injunction that
should Novotny violate the law within
the next six months, he would find himself
serving a 200-day jail sentence.

which fish are planted and consideration
must be had for a fair and equal distribu-
tion. The supply of fish forthcoming from
the hatcheries is not sufficiently abundant
to allow overstocking.

Department of Fish Culture

The launch patrol, which is made up of
five men, have to their credit seventy-five
cases covering the period of October 17,
1927, to March 1, 1928, which netted
$2,350 in fines. Six cases are still pend-
ing. Twenty-four nets were seized with
a total footage of 21,952. The longest
net, of 10,000 feet, was taken by deputies
William Armstrong and C. F. England.

The number of trout eggs taken during
the fall spawn totals well over eleven
millions. By species these eggs taken
at egg collecting stations from wild trout
in racks or traps, and at hatcheries
from brood fish are as follows : Eastern
brook, 3,375,500 ; brown trout, 2,434,000 ;
and Loch Leven, 5,558,000. These figures
also include eggs recently purchased in
the east.

Deputies S. H. Lyons and Frank E.
Dunne, Santa Barbara County, on reliable
information furnished early in September
that H. W. Waldbillig had killed a deer
before the season, secured a conviction
and a fine of $100.

On December 8, 1927, volunteer depu-
ties Louis Cardinalli and R. M. Grose
were tempted to try a "special dinner" at
the Commission Cafe in San Francisco
when told by the waiter that the special
feature of the meal comprised "wild sprig
duck." Later, on December 17, the oper-
ators of the cafe found themselves before
Judge J. M. Golden, who imposed a fine
of $200.

The spawning season at the Mount
Shasta Hatchery is over and the spawn-
ing crew, so active in sorting the trout
to size and sex, in cleaning the ponds and
transferring the trout to various pools,
are turning to other duties. Some of the
eggs of the first spawners have been
hatched and so far the loss during the
hatching period has been below normal.
It is believed that this is due to the
excellent condition of the trout at the time
they were spawned.

During December, 1,945,000 Loch
Leven, 595,000 German brown and 304,-
000 eastern brook trout eggs were taken,
while a total of 128,000 eggs were secured
during the month of January. In addi-
tion to these eggs, 750,000 eastern brook
eggs have been secured from Cresco,
Pennsylvania, and 50,000 of the same
variety from Massachusetts. These sev-
eral lots of eggs are being distributed to
the various hatcheries throughout the
state.

The 3,251,000 Quinnat salmon eggs at
the Fall Creek Hatchery are in excellent
condition. Already the first lot of eggs
taken are hatched and the balance are
developing.

Allotment blanks listing numbers of
fish desired and kinds preferred for plant-
ing the net work of streams and lake
bodies of California have been filled out
by captains and unattached deputies and
returned to Captain O. P. Brownlow.
Care has been exercised in most cases in
the composition of these allotments to
avoid exaggerated needs. There are about
fifty counties having streams and lakes in

During the winter the Klamath River
stations were placed in readiness for the
spring run of trout. At some stations
new concrete piers, racks, holding tanks
and traps have been constructed, and at
all stations equipment has been repaired.
The run was late this year, since the
seasonal rainfall and snowfall, with the
exception of San Diego County, was
below normal.

Some 950,000 eastern brook trout eggs
taken at Gull Lake during the fall spawn-

164

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

ing are in the process of -hatching at the
Mount Whitney Hatchery. During Jan-
uary. 100,000 of these eggs were shipped
to the Mount Shasta Hatchery and 200,-
000 to the Burney Creek Hatchery in
Shasta County.

A storm the latter part of November
caused the water in Prairie Creek to
rise to such a height as to wash out the
racks. As a result of this new racks
have been built fourteen feet long and
placed in the main channel and the old
racks placed in the newly created stream
channel ; hence the station is now in
condition to cope with heavy floods.

The first steelhead and cutthroat trout
taken at the Prairie Creek Station proved
to be too green for spawning and the
crew was forced to prepare a place to
hold them. By placing a set of low racks
below those in the new channel a suitable
pond was made which will serve a similar
purpose in the future.

Thirty more troughs have been added
to the original eight at this station.
Several million steelhead trout eggs can
be eyed now and suflicieut number of eggs
hatched to meet local demands if Prairie
Creek enjoys this year the good runs that
have attended it in the past.

The channel from the spring to the
hatchery at Bear Lake has been cleaned
out and the sides of the stream walled up
with rock to prevent the water washing
the banks. This will insure a cleaner
water supply for the hatchery and be a
great aid when the hatchery season is at
its height. The winter has been mild at
Bear Lake, but the permanent traps are
in place in the event a good fall of snow
makes assurance of an increased water
supply.

The Loch Leven trout in holding tanks
at the Yoseraite Hatchery have had a
difficult time clinging to life dunng the
winter on account of the considerable
amount of ice foitned in the tanks. An
investigation by the biologist of the
department showed the water was so cold
that the fish were not eating as they
should and sour stomachs caused them to
develop internal bacterial infection.

Hatchery operations at this hatchery
have started for the season with a ship-
ment of 100,000 Loch Leven and 100,000
eastern brook eggs from the Mount Shasta
Hatchery.

placed in charge. It was necessary to
fence the premises to keep stock from
interfering with the hatchery water sup-
ply and to build ditches and levees to turn
away the surplus water and keep the
ponds uncontaminated. Attention to other
details has rendered the site habitable and
convenient for the season's operations.

In December Loch Leven eggs were
shipped from the ^Nlount Shasta Hatchery
to the number of 300,000. In January,
50,000 more Loch Leven eggs were placed
in the hatchery troughs and 100,000 brown
trout eggs.

The experimental hatchery at Mormon
Creek has been completed and an expe-
rienced fishculturalist, F. A. Hamor,

It is planned to open the Tallac Hatch-
ery earlier than usual this season in order
to receive a larger shipment of rainbow
trout eggs so that the resulting fry can
be removed to the fly-casting club nurs-
eries on the Truckee River.

The Lake Tahoe Hatchery has 200,000
Loch Leven and 380,000 eastern brook
eggs in the process of hatching. Of the
eastern brook eggs 80,000 were supplied
from a take at Marlette Lake, Nevada.

The Department of Architecture is
rushing the work on the new Kaweah
Hatchery building, with the object in
view of having the hatchery in shape to
receive the eggs from spring spawners.
For preparedness sake, in case the new
building is not completed, the old troughs
are being placed under a temporary shed.

It is planned to stock the streams and
lakes in Sequoia National Park and the
surrounding high, Sierra as well as the
streams in the Tule River drainage basin
from this hatchery.

Two hundred thousand eastern brook
eggs were placed in the troughs at the
Kern River Hatchery on January 17.
These eggs were received from the Para-
dise Brook Trout Company at Cresco,
Pennsylvania.

The Loch Leven eggs from the Mount
Shasta Hatchery are hatching slowly, due
to the extreme coldness of the water.

The water in Lake Pillsbury is very
low and a storm of thirty-six hours dura-
tion is necessary to cause the water to
flow over the spillway of the Snow Moun-
tain Water and Power Company. Repairs,
however, have been made at the Snow
Mountain Egg Collecting Station and
everything is in readiness for the steel-
head run. If a rainstorm does not raise
the waters of the lake, little hope is enter-
tained that the power company can be

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

165

iiiduct'd to allow sufficient water to escape
to bring the fish up to the egg-collecting
station.

Bureau of Game Farms

Bureau of Education

The Bureau of Education has received
a legacy of historical value. An exhibi-
tion case from California's first museum
of natiu-al history — Woodward's Gardens,
San Francisco — has been donated by the
Golden (iate Park Museum, together with
a fine series of mounted specimens of
birds and mammals. Some of the speci-
mens were promptly used at the Clover-
dale Citrtis Show where an exhibit was
installed. MAuited specimens, as well as
study skins, are now available for school
use as a result of this donation.

Reports of damage to deciduous fruit
trees as a result of bird-cutting activities
of linnets and other birds have been
investigated and means are being devised
to solve this economic problem. In east-
ern Tulare County the damage is real
and the rancher needs some means of pro-
tecting his crop against depredations by
birds.

The lectiu'c program has increased to
such an extent that the attendance record
for the past few months shows an average
of about 10.(M)0 persons i)er month.

Bureau of Research

Ileports of duck sickness on Buena
Vista Lake led to an investigation.
Chemical analyses were made of the
water, birds were examined for blood and
other parasites and an earnest endeavor
made to locate the ca\ise. Efforts made to
salvage sick ducks were successful, uearly
a thousand birds having been liberated
after recovery.

Numerous miscellaneous autopsies have
been performed, including a study of
three quail apparently i)oisoned in Berke-
ley and two (piail from Catalina Island
which disclosed no reason for their death.

Parasitologist O'Roke has been gather-
ing data on normal conditions in ducks
and quail. A series of blood slides has
been prepared and a number of internal
pai'asitfs isolated. A study of the litera-
ture rel.-iting to animal disease is being
made.

The first pheasant egg was laid on the
morning of February 24. This event was
heralded as a token of spring's arrival.

The winter season has been devoted
largely to preparations for the approach-
ing hatching period at the (Jame Farm.
New breeding pens have been erected, a
few decidedly larger than any heretofore
used. The ground in the pens has been
seeded to suitable cover crops which are
now well up and in flourishing condition.
The work of picking the breeding stock
has been completed, and, by a process of
eliminating the less fit, some 800 Chinese
ring-necked pheasants have been selected.
One hundred and fifty more bantams and
their crosses have been hatched in order
to increase the stock of this class of birds
and to facilitate propagation of greater
numbers of pheasants.

Among the latest additions to the (Jame
Farm ai'e nine wild turkeys — seven hens
and two toms. These noble birds have
been brought from Arizona and are a loan
of Mr. (Jeorge O'Connor. Half of each
year's increase is to remain the property
of the state and it is anticipated that this
arrangement will at least furnish the
basis for operations to stock suitable
covers with this famous American game
bird.

For the purpose of introducing new
blood and virility into the brood stock, an
exchange of twenty-four male ring-necked
pheasants has been effected with another
game farm.

Three male versicolor pheasants have
also been secured for the purpose of
obtaining a cross between this variety of
pheasant and the ringneck. Many game
breeders consider this cross advantageous,
claiming that the new strain produces
birds more alert and swift of wing. It is
expected to secure about 600 eggs from
the three breeding pens in which the three
versicolor males will be placed.

Negotiations have been under way with
the end in view of making a further
exchange of birds wanted by the San
Diego Zoological Society for other game
birds desired for propagation studies at
the Game Farm.

The equipment specially designed to
lirop(>rly handle and ])ropagate the new
lot of Hungarian partridges has been
productive of good results. C<mstruction
work on the pens was rushed during the
winter and results so far indicate that

166

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

this effort was well spent. The pens are
equipped with trap doors operated in such
a manner that the attendant can segregate
a pair of birds that have left the flock and

Already on February 17, a pair showing
every evidence to begin the season's work
was placed in one of the new breeding
pens.

Fig. 46. Tinamous, new birds from South America which will form the basis of
breeding experiments at the Tountville Game Farm. February, 1928.

Fig. 47. Arizona wild turkeys, new arrivals at the Tountville Game Farm.

February, 1928.

mated. This arrangement is necessary
since the Hungarian partridge persists in
selecting its own mate and because it is
impossible to mate the bird artificially.

The 1928 season commenced with the
following birds on hand : 1391 ring-necked
pheasants, 29 silver pheasants, 33 golden
pheasants, 10 Reeves and 2 Lady Amherst

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

167

pheasants ; 3 versicolor pheasants ; 125
Hungarian partridges ; 10 tinamous ; 49
Chinese bamboo quail ; 121 California
valley and 4 mountain quail ; 1 grouse ;
20 mallard ducks ; 12 peafowl ; and 9 wild
turkeys.

Bureau of Public Relations

The Bureau of Public Relations during
the past months has been engaged in the
preparing of timely publicity stories,
establishing of contacts with newspaper
publishers and organizations, and on a
few occasions addressing meetings of
service and other clubs.

The function of this bureau is to pro-
mote better relations for our Division
through the media explained above.
Through a large acquaintanceship with
newspaper publishers, editors and report-
ers, and with the knowledge that our
message is of vital importance, it has
been possible to secure valuable publicity
for the various activities of the division
not only in the smaller papers, but in the
metropolitan areas : San Francisco, Oak-
land, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno,
Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Barbara.

At times it is necessary to develop news
stories which are of only immediate
interest. When this condition arises, the
stories are released through the three
press associations which have headquar-
ters in San Francisco : the Associated
Press, United Press and International
News Service.

The Service Bulletin, personnel organ
of the division, is one of the products of
this bureau. This monthly bulletin is pre-
pared from reports of field men and
bureau heads, and contains valuable
information of importance to those who
receive it.

The success of the work of the depart-
ment depends upon the cooperation of the
various bureaus where information is
sought and the men in the field who can
aid by making full and complete reports
of unusual or sensational incidents that
may occur, either when some violator is
arrested, prosecuted and fined or when an
extraordinary situation arises.

Bureau of Hydraulics

Suits against ten more of the Hunting-
ton Beach operators have been dismissed,
as a survey of their properties showed
determined efforts on their part to check
pollution. These companies have further
made assurance that they will continue
to safeguard against the evil.

Legal action has been started against
six companies operating in the Long
Beach field, where conditions have become
so bad as to warrant this step. Many of
the Long Beach companies are members
of the Oil Operators, Inc., and are, accord-
ingly, in a position to run their waste oil
into a pipe connecting with the sump put
in a year ago. The six companies served
with summons, however, have permitted
the oil to escape into natural drainage,
where, in the course of time, it finds its
way to the beach and ocean.

Allowing waste oil to escape into the
Ventura River was a costly negligence on
the part of two companies operating in
that field, where fines of $200 apiece were
imposed. Noting oil on the river, Deputy
Walter Emerick traced the source of the
pollution to the McKeon Drilling Corpo-
ration and the Bolsa Chica Oil Company.
Judge Henderson of Ventura imposed a
fine of $200 for each offense, but sus-
pended half of the penalty, warning the
latter company that a recurrence of tlie
offense would necessitate paying the full
fine.

The Associated Oil Company, operating
a refinery at Avon, has joined the ranks
of those who have stopped oil pollution,
or are approaching it.

An inspection of the southern California
oil fields reveals that a new oil field is
being opened on the seashore at Rincon.
No evidence of pollution has come to light
so far.

It is a pleasure to know that the Cali-
fornia Petroleum Company has put its
properties in such shape as to minimize
pollution in the Huntington Beach and
Long Beach oil fields. The Standard Oil
Company has completed a waste water
line to the ocean, thus entirely eliminating
pollution from this source.

United States Army engineers have
repaired and altered the fish ladder at
the Daguerre Cut Dam on the Yuba
River, twelve miles northeast of JNIarys-
ville.

A fish screen of parallel bars has been
installed by the Hallwood Irrigation
Company and the Cordura Irrigation
District on this jointly owned ditch which
diverts water from the Yuba River at
Daguerre Cut Dam.

168

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The Meudociuo Lumber Company has
completed the construction of a fish lad-
der on the North Fork of Big River,
Mendocino County. This will open the
upper regions to the spawning salmon and
steelhead.

The Cascade Land Company has com-
pleted a fish ladder on San Anselmo
Creek, Marin County.

The Eastbrook Dam on the Trinity
River, in Trinity County, now no longer
offers obstruction to migrating fish, as
some portions have been removed.

The Union Oil Company at J^an Luis
Obispo has continued the removal of oil
from the creek and beach caused by a
fire in the early part of 1926. All traces
can not be removed and it is expected
that signs of oil will appear for some
time to come. Nevertheless, the work
done will greatly lessen the deleterious
effects on fish and plant life which the
oil would have caused had it remained.

Fish ladders have been constructed,
replaced or repaired on the Gardella Dam,
Trinity County ; Madonna Dam, San Luis
Obispo County, and the Black Dam,
Santa Clara County.

^^^

^> Hfif8B nt 'IZrr-~

^HhUHUH

Pk.

^HiiBil

IHIIHiPN"

^ ^^^^K^^H^^^I

^.^Mi^^

HB'S

w^nB^^

^^^^^M

'i^^

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Fig. 48. Mormon Creek experimental hatchery, near Sonoma, Tuloumne County.
One of the newest hatcheries. Photograph by Fred Leighton, February, 1928.

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES

N. B. ScoFiELD^ Editor.

UNTANGLING THE NAMES OF
FISHES

When is a herring not a herring? The
answer to this one is simple ; when it is
a queenfish. The reason for this flat
joke is that along the southern California
coast a small member of the croaker
family, the queenfish, is caught and much
of the time called (especially by sport
fishermen) a "herring." Since this fish
does not in any way resemble a herring,
which is a member of the same family as
the sardine, this misnaming makes a con-
fusion of terms.

Unfortunately, we have many such
common name tangles among our salt

water fishes in this state. Most of these
have come about by people labeling a fish
with a name that belongs to some other
species with which they are familiar and
imagine it resembles. Also, fishermen and
dealers sometimes like to call local fish
by the names of fish which have excellent
reputations for food qualities elsewhere,
thus making it easier to sell the species
in question on the reputation of another.
Then some of our fish are wrongly labeled
for no good reason at all.

One of the worst of these confusions is
the "bluefish" caught chiefly around
Monterey. This is a species of rock fish
and, probably because it has a blue tint

CALIFORNIA FTSTT AND GAME.

169

in its cnlni'atiuu. is callf<l ■■l)lMefish." The
distressing part of this is that on the
Athintic coast there is a true bluefish. a
fish justly famous for its gastronomic and
sporting qualities. These fish do not
resemble each other any more than do
booby owls and mallards, and the eastern
bluefish certainly would not f(>el flattered
by having its name tacked onto our rock
fish. Just to make matters a little worse,
there is a croaker which is occasionally
taken in southern California, which is
also called "California bluefish."

.Vnother perplexity is the young white
sea bass, which is called "sea trout." It
is not a relative of a trout and, besides,
there is no sense in having a fish start
out a trout and end up a bass. Inciden-
tally, the white sea bass is not a bass, but
a croaker. A member of the Hexagrami-
dae family, common around San Fran-
cisco, is also called "sea trout." The
only resemblance it bears to a trout is
that it has spots — but so has a setter pup.

Besides these cases, we have the south-
ern halibut, which is a flounder : several
so-called soles, all of which are flounders ;
a rock fish called a "salmon grouper" and
several more tangles of names. There-
fore, iti is wise to look with skepticism
upon any individual who catches a fish
out of the Pacific Ocean and says, "I
know what it is. I used to catch the
same fish out of a creek back in
Nebraska." However, by means of the
knowledge of local names that the Depart-
ment of Commercial Fisheries has col-
lected, the catches of the various species
are correctly tabulated and published.
Also, it is hoped that the bulletin which
the laboratory plans to ])ublish within the
next year, showing photographs and
accepted common names of all our com-
mercial fishes, will help to standardize
the correct names. — J. A. Craig. State
Fisheries Laboratory.

FISH CANNERS ORGANIZE

The resignation of B. D. Marx Greene
as attorney for the Commercial Fisheries
Department became effective ]March 1,
1928. Mr. Greene has held this position
since resigning as executive ofiicer. In
addition to resuming his private practice,
Mr. Greene will act as attorney for the
IMonterey Sardine Canners Association
and other canners in southern California.
These concerns have retained him in a
movement which it is hoped will lead to
an organization of the entire industry
upon a more profitable basis. His investi-
gation will have as its objective the work-
ing out of a system which will mean an
export corporation under the Webb Ijaw
and, among other things, a closer coopera-
tion with the Fish and Game Commission
along law enforcement, legislative and
constructive lines.

Mr. I. Zellerbach, president of the Fish
and Game Commission, commented on
Mr. (ireene's resignation as follows :
"Mr. (ireene has served the Commission
faithfully and efficiently for four years.
During two of these years he held three
combined positions — -e x e c u ti v e ofiicer,
attorney for the Commission and attorney
for the Commercial Fisheries. It pleases
me greatly to learn that he has accepted
a retainer to make this extensive survey
for what promises to be a real organiza-
tion of fish canners.

"Had such an organization been formed
years ago in this great industry, many
bitter legal battles would have been
avoided. I understand this will mean a
much closer cooperation with the Fish
and (iame Commission, and this attitude
on the part of the canners is one which
I have urged ever since becoming a mem-
ber of the Fish and Game Commission.
It appears that a new day has dawned
for the packers and the Commission."

LIFE HISTORY NOTES

A PLEA FOR THE WHITE-TAILED
KITE

One of our most beautiful birds that is
nearing extinction in California is the
white-tailed kite, Elanus leiicunis. This
bird is most apt to be met with flying
over swamps or marshy river bottoms,
and can be recognized by its white tail,
black shoulders, and its silvery wings and
light underparts. It is the size of a small
gull and has the habit of slowly flying back
and forth over damp ground, hovering at
times almost stationary with beating
wings just before dropping upon its prey.
Small rodents, such as mice and shrews,
with insects, compose the greater part of

its food. Thus it is of economic value to
the farmer besides adding a touch of won-
derful beauty to the landscape.

To anyone who has seen this bird in
flight, especially when it is going through
these falling and hovering antics, which
it accomplishes with utmost grace, tiiere
is a charm supreme.

The kite's note is a soft whistle with an
occasional low cackle and is heard most
often when one is near its nest. It is
also at this season that the bird gives its
best demonstration of turning, tumbling
and diving through the air, an exhibition
of rare charm and beauty that will never
be forgotten by one who has witnessed it.

170

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

One must not forget that the kite is a
rare bird in California and that it is
protected at all times by our laws ; even
scientific collectors are forbidden to harm
the bird or molest its nest.

Those huntei's who frequent marshes,
swamps or river bottoms should be very
careful not to shoot this small gull-like
hawk. It is not a destroyer of game
birds and harms not your sport in the
least. Leave them alone, as there are
all too few left and they must not go the
way of our passenger pigeons and buffalo.

Let these harmless creatures remain so
that their beauty can add its charm to our
already beautiful California landscape. —
Wright M. Pierce, Claremont, California,
January 6, 1928.

back. It is entirely white below except
for brownish flecking on the throat and
breast. In spring and summer the entire
underparts are solid black, with a white
border over the forehead and down the
sides of the neck. Since we see this bird
mostly in fall and winter, we are not
familiar with the black-bellied plumage.
Some birds are in the process of changing
to summer plumage before they leave this
latitude in the spring.

The spotted sandpiper also changes to
a considerable extent in spring and fall.
If one goes to the Sierra Nevada Moun-
tains in summer they will see this bird in
its breeding plumage with its white belly
and throat, spotted with large, round,
black spots and grayish, black flecked

Fig. 49. White-tailed kite from a mounted specimen.

Society of Natural History.

Courtesy of San Diego

IMISLEADING NAIMES IN VARIOUS
COMMON BIRDS

Quite often there are questions forth-
coming by people in the field with regard
to birds with descriptive names that do
not match their actual plumage colora-
tion, as we see it.

Some of these are as follows :

Red-tailed hawk.

Black-bellied plover.

Spotted sandpiper.

Red-backed sandpiper.

Red phalarope.

The red-tailed hawk does not acquire
its russet tail until it is several years old.
The tail previous to that time is barred
with gray and black.

The black-bellied plover is a bird which
changes its plumage in the fall to a mod-
est dark gray flecked with white on the

back. In the winter this bird is white
beneath and grayish above, with a few
fine brownish lines on the back feathers.

The red-backed sandpiper is another
bird which has entirely different plumages
for summer and winter. In spring and
summer the top of the head and the back
are a bright chestnut brown with black
streaks on the back. The throat and
breast are white, streaked with dusky
and a black patch on the belly. The
rest of the underparts are white. In
the fall and winter, the upper parts are
ashy gray, underparts mostly white with
brownish band across the breast. We
see but very few birds in the spring
and summer plumage.

The red phalarope in spring and sum-
mer has the top of its head black, with
the sides of the head white. The upper-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

171

parts are biiffy brown streaked with black.
Underparts are entirely deep chestnut.
The bill is yellow with a dusky tip ; feet
yellowish. lu winter the forehead is
white, back bluish gray with but few

acquire their adult plumage until after
several years in the immature plumages
and intermediate stages have been gone
through.— D. D. McLean, 711 Postal Tel-
egraph Bldg., San Francisco.

Fig. 50. White-tailed kite in flight. Copyrighted photograph by Wright M. Pierce.

streaks. The underparts are pure white.
The bill is black with yellowish base.
Feet bluish gray.

This will, I hope, help ■- to clear up
some of the identification troubles of
some of the deputies and people working
in the field. Shorebirds are hard enough
to identify without their going through
a complete change of plumage in spring
and fall. ]Many hawks and gulls do not
5—58645

THE PIGEON HAWK'S BILL OF FARE

Although the northern pigeon hawk
{Falco columharius) is never common
in California, it might be well to note
some of its food habits during its stay
with us during the winter months. ]Most
of my experience with this species has
been in the lower edge of the yellow pine
belt (Transition life zone) of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.

172

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

During the winter months, the pigeon
hawk is rather locally distributed.

Of the nine specimens I have taken,
eight have come from the same locality in
Mariposa County. The ninth was taken
between Hollister and Gilroy, in San
Benito County.

Its favorite prey seems to be shorebirds,
robins, pipits and Savannah sparrows,
while that of the sparrow hawk is almost
entirely insects.

A female bird, taken in Mariposa
County, had eaten a junco and a pipit
with the remains of two other pipits in

Fig. 51. White-tailed kite hovering in air. Copyrighted photograph by Wright

M. Pierce.

In flight, this species shows the same
dash and spirit as does the duck hawk,
but is so small that it is not capable of
coping with such large prey. The bird is
only slightly larger than the sparrow
hawk.

The food of this species is a noticeable
contrast to that of the sparrow hawk.

the stomach which were nearly digested.
An immature male from near the same
place had eaten a robin and could
scarcely fly, due to the added weight.
Still another immature bird had parts of
a robin and had a meadowlark in its
stomach. The meadowlark was nearly
digested. An adult male was eating a

CALIFORNIA FISH AXD GAME.

173

robin when shot and another had just
killed a red-shafted flicker. Another
adult male had a California jay in its
possession, while another had eaten a
robin. A young male bird that seemed
droopy had eaten a junco, a pipit and an
unidentified bird, presumably an Audubon
warbler. The one collected near Gilroy
had eaten four Savannah sparrows.

All of their food seems to be plucked to
a considerable extent, but none of the
flesh is discarded unless possibly some of
the entrails. Wings, feet and bills were
found in- the stomachs.

Birds are generally knocked down in a
cloud of feathers, then picked up and
carried away to be eaten in some secluded
spot.— D. D. McLean, 711 Postal Tele-
graph Bldg., San Francisco.

brant. Bninta nigricans. At times several
hundred birds were present.

The brant has not been pi'esent on the
bay for a number of years, due, probably
to the fact, that the increased habitation
and consequent building on Mission Beach
strand, separating the bay from the ocean,
has frightened the bird. It is hoped it
will become accustomed to the improve-
ments and continue to make this bay its
habitat during the winter months, as in
former years.

The brant has been observed also in large
numbers on San Quentin and Magdalena
bays to the southward. — Ad B. Pearson,
San Diego, California.

A NOTE ON THE FOOD OF THE
LONG-BILLED CURLEW

On examining the stomach and gullet

Fig. 52. Large wildcat taken near Verdi, Nevada, by S. M. Wiley, Weight

nearly 60 pounds.

UNUSUALLY LARGE WILD CAT
CAPTURED

In September, 1927, I trapped a very
large wildcat near Verdi, on the Cali-
fornia-Nevada line. It weighed nearly
sixty pounds and the skin stretched on
a board measured five feet. It was the
finest pelt I ever saw. The accompany-
ing photograph gives a good idea of its
large size and perfect spotting. — S. M.
Wiley, Verdi, Nevada.

BLACK SEA BRANT ON MISSION
BAY

In addition to pintail and widgeon
ducks being more abundant this year than
for several years past on Mission Bay,
four miles north of San Diego Bay, we
have seen several flocks of black sea

of a long-billed curlew, sent in for prep-
aration into a study specimen. I discov-
ered seven large sand fleas {Orchestoidea
calif orniana?). Several of them were in
the gullet and the remainder were in the
stomach in varying stages of decomposi-
tion, due to the process of digestion in
the curlew. No other species was found
in the digestive tract.

The bird was taken on ^lorro Beach,
San Luis Obispo Countv. California,
January 20, 1928.— D. D. JNIcLean, 711
Postal Telegraph Bldg., San Francisco.

NOTES ON A CAPTIVE TURKEY
VULTURE

On January 10, 1928, a turkey vulture
{Cathartes aura septentrionalis) was
brought to me. It had been shot thi-ough
the right wing, but the bones were not

174

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

broken, and it seemed to be otherwise
uninjured, except for the loss of the right
foot, an injui-y of long standing, since the
stump of the tarsus was healed and
enlarged on the end from being used in
place of the missing foot. It appeared to
be an immature bird from the absence of
red skin about the head. I put it in the
stable for the night and the next day
made a pen of chicken netting in a corner
of the upper floor of the barn, where it
would get the sun in the afternoon. I
got some beef liver for it, but it paid no
attention to this food, which remained in
the pen and dried up, and was not eaten
at all.

The bird had nothing to eat until

canvas to watch developments. The
vulture stood in the far corner of the
pen for several minutes without moving,
then started preening its feathers and
shaking itself and eyeing the gopher. At
2.56 it came over to the gopher, nibbled at
it, picked it up by a leg and dropped it
several times, then left it and spent sev-
eral minutes trying to get out of the pen.
At 3 it was back in the comer preening
its back and breast feathers. Standing
on the one foot, only using the stump
when moving about, at 3.03, ran a pri-
mary covert through the beak, twice,
turned head on side and looked up at the
roof several times, as if expecting others
of its kind to come to the feast, and at

Fig. 53. Captive one-legged turkey vulture. Photograph by J. A. Calder.

Januai"y 13, when a mouse and a pocket
gopher were given it. and the mouse was
gone about an hour later and the gopher
was eaten the next day. From then until
February 2, the bird ate one pocket
gopher a day. On January 18, I put
band No. 421544 on the bird and turned
it loose, but it could not fly, so I put it
back in the pen. On January 21, Mr.
James A. Calder took some pictures of
it, and it was still unable to fly.

Being anxious to see how a vulture
with only one foot could hold a gopher to
tear it. I put up a blind of canvas about
eight feet from the center of the pen, and
on January 24, at 2.47 p.m., I put a
gopher, that had been dead twenty-four
hours, in the pen, and retired behind the

3.05 yawned. At 3.10 stood with feathers
fluffed out, occasionally preening feathers
of lower back or breast, seemed suspicious
of movements of the canvas caused by the
wind. It stood almost motionless until
3.16 when I left the blind. I was nearby
until 3.43, when I left the bam and did
not return until 5.05 ; by that time the
gopher was gone except for the head and
the stomach.

On January 25, at 2.50 p.m., I put a
gopher in the pen and went into the
blind. The vulture moved to the sunny
side of the pen, stood on its one foot
with the stump drawn up close to its
body, peering around suspiciously, preen-
ing, and once rubbing its head on its
back. At 2.57 it approached the gopher.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

175

picked it up by a leg and dropped it,
several times, and nibbled at it, and then,
trying several times to hold it with the
stump, hopped about until the claw of
the long middle toe of the left foot held
the gopher down, and then tore it open,
starting just back of the ribs, on the side.
The intestines and all the other organs
were' eaten, except the stomach, which
was pulled out and dropped to one side.
Still holding the carcass with the middle
toe, pieces were torn off and swallowed,
bones and all ; then the hind quarters
were torn from the rest of the body, and
both hind legs, the tail and part of the
spine were swallowed in one chunk with
much gulping and straining. A large
piece of skin from the back was discarded,
and. then, trying to hold it down with the
stump, but being unsuccessful and resort-
ing to the middle toe again, the fore part
of the body was torn off and swallowed
in small bits until at 3.10 only the skull
and the skin on top of it remained. Then
the bird turned its attention to the dis-
carded piece of skin and ate most of it ;
then the stomach was torn apart and
eaten, only part of the contents, a mass
of green vegetable matter being discarded.
At 3.19 the vulture retired to the corner
of the pen, the meal finished.

This was a small gopher, and with some
larger ones more skin and some bones
besides the skull were left: in several
cases the front legs were pulled back
through the skin and the bones picked
clean, and in some cases the skull was
skinned out and picked clean, the lower
jaw being torn loose from the skull. With
one extra large gopher several inches of
the spine was left attached to the skull.
Pellets were ejected which were composed
almost entirely of fur, only small frag-
ments of bone were found in some of
them. A can of water was kept in the
pen, but I saw no evidence that the bird
drank any of it.

On January 31, the vulture was out of
the pen and roosting on a timber over the
open barn door, and was put back in the
pen, and on February 2, when I got back
from work, it was gone and has not been
seen since. It shed many white, downy
feathers, and several flight feathers while
in captivity. When our dog came near the
pen, it usually made a loud hissing sound,

if I was not in sight, but was silent when
I was nearby. It did not require its food
to be ripe, as it sometimes ate gophers
before the blood heat was out of them.^ —
John McB. Robertson, Buena Park, Cali-
fornia.

MUSKRATS AND BEAVER IN
IMPERIAL COUNTY

A recent investigation of the activities
of trappers in the southeastern portion of
Imperial County disclosed a considerable
number of operators. In the main, the
catches comprise muskrat, fox, skunk and
coj'ote. Of these the muskrat appears to
be preferred. One trapper told us he had
caught 130 muskrats in nine days along
the banks of the Imperial Valley levee.
As the muskrats were much easier to skin
and handle than any other fur animal,
their popularity with the trappers is obvi-
ous. This trapper stated he could skin
ten "rats" to one coyote.

The majority of the muskrats are
caught in the tules bordering the canals
of the Imperial Valley proper. A number
are also trapped around the potholes near
the Colorado River. These potholes are
formed by the receding waters of the
river and are sometimes miniature lakes,
being a mile in length and one-half mile
in width. The water in these lakelets
offers a decided contrast to the muddy
appeai'ance of the turbulent river and is
quite clear and placid. Willows and
eottonwoods grow in abundance about
their margins and offer attractive food for
colonies of beaver. Most of them exhibit
"beaver sign" by the numbers of trees
felled into the water. Beaver "slides" —
avenues in and out the lakelets — are other
evidence of their presence. As a rule, the
trappers set their traps in these places.

Happily, beaver appear to be on the
increase. This is no doubt due to the
closed season and the resulting protection
afforded. The Arizona season, too, has
been closed for a number of years, but at
the time it was open it was common prac-
tice for Arizona trappers to cross the
river at night and return before morning
with a few California beaver. The state
of Arizona employs two wardens to patrol
the Arizona side of the Colorado and
protect these beaver. — E. H. Glidden, San
Diego, January, 1927.

176

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES

NEW YORK INTRODUCES VARYING
HARES

Like many an eastern state, New York
has been lamenting the disappearance of
rabbits. As a consequence, the Depart-
ment of Conservation recently purchased
700 pairs from Maine. These were all
wild hares trapped in their native haunts.
After holding the shipment so that the
animals might be examined for traces of
disease, they were liberated in suitable
covers, particularly in the Adirondacks in
brush marshes and ravines. There is a
chance to reestablish this game mammal.
Some seven counties were thus stocked.

NEW YORK PLANS SERIES OF
REFUGES

Recently the state of New York pro-
vided for funds to be used in the acquiring
of more agriculture areas for establishing
fish and game refuges. It has been found
that one-half the moneys received from the
sale of licenses would amount to about
$350,000 per year. The Department of
Conservation is now starting out on a
program to furnish a fish and game
refuge in evei*y county of the state that is
suitable for one. The plan includes the
placing of these refuges in such situations
that every hunting ground in the state
will be benefited by the overflow from the
refuges. The first refuge of more than
3800 acres has been purchased. Other
proposals are being considered.

NEW YORK SUCCEEDS IN STOCKING
AREA WITH MALLARDS

Several years ago the New York Game
Farm at Sherburne secured a setting of
mallard eggs. From year to year, the
breeding stock has been increased and at
the same time the surplus have been
liberated. Now for miles surrounding the
game farm, mallard ducks are permanent
residents. For thirty to forty miles both
up and down the river which borders the
game farm may be found mallard ducks
which are the direct descendants of those
propagated on the game farm.

NOVA SCOTIA CREATES SANCTUARY

A splendid stretch of 200 square miles
of virgin territory, including numerous
lakes and streams, has been set aside as
a game sanctuary in Nova Scotia. There
are natural boundaries which are well
defined. The sanctuai-y is particularly
adapted to the conservation of game as
it forms a natural breeding ground
already inhabited by a large number of
game animals. It will be easy to admin-

ister as it is far removed from settle-
ments and from territory ordinarily used
by the hunter and trapper.

YELLOWSTONE ELK THRIVE IN
CANADA

According to an article by Hoyes Lloyd
appearing in the Canadian Field Natural-
ist (September, 1927), the Canadian
National Parks branch has stocked vari-
ous areas in Canada with Yellowstone elk
which were furnished by the United
States Department of Agriculture. In
exchange Canada furnished mountain
goat and sheep. One of the first intro-
ductions was thatl of sixty-three elk,
yearlings and two-year-olds, which were
shipped to Banff on February 20, 1917.
Later in December, 1919, another ship-
ment of 194 was made. The animals
have increased and have spread widely
over the entire park.

A shipment of nearly 100 elk was sent
to Jaspar National Park in British
Columbia on March 13, 1920. This herd
has increased rapidly and a census in 1926
showed about 1200 head in the park.
They are now found in practically every
valley.

Active interest in saving the buffalo
brought worthwhile results and it appears
that the North American elk can be han-
dled as successfully.

Th&re yet remains the successful solu-
tion of California's elk problem. Cut
down to some 400 head of wild animals
at the lower end of the San Joaquin
Valley, there is needed at least two well
fenced areas where these remaining
animals can find a suitable food supply
and where they can be kept for enjoy-
ment of future generations. Depredations
in cultivated fields continue to warn con-
servationists of the need for early action
in this regard.

REARING vs. PURCHASING GAME
Mr. H. J. Burlington, president of the
New Jersey Board of Game and Fish
Commissioners, concerning the wisdom of
operating state-owned game farms as
against purchasing game in the open
market, stated that the cost of rearing
ring-neck pheasants in his state has been
brought down to $2.28 per bird, and they
hope to do considerably better. Last year
they reared 8000 ringnecks and purchased
10,000 birds in the open market. They
also distributed about 40,000 eggs to
interested sportsmen and farmers for
hatching purposes. New Jersey has
found it unwise to release rin.2necks
before they are fourteen weeks old.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

177

REPORTS

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
For the Period October 1, 1927, to December 31, 1927, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year

Function

Materials

and
supplies

Salaries

and
wages

Service

and
expense

Property

and
equipment

Total

Admimstration:
Executive and legal,.

SI 92
169 64

$4,215 00
4,039 75

$458 25
466 00

2,960 81
167 72

1,443 34
765 78
452 86

$8 75
18 15

$4,683 92

Clerical and office .

4 693 54

Rent

2 960 81

Automobiles

94 12

13 80

275 64

Telephone and telegraph

1,443 34

Postage ._ __

765 78

Freight, cartage and express

452 86

Printing

4,155 80

Accident and death claims

280 06
345 11

280 06

Commissioners,

345 11

Total admimstration .

$4,421 48
?97 55

$8,254 75

$3,660 17

$825 00

$7,339 93

$906 34

$244 57
50 00

$40 70
$3,013 35

$20,056 86

Education:
Director and assistants

$7,677 41

Publicity:
Director

$1 069 57

State Fair.,.

50 00

Total publicity

$825 00

$3,580 03
818 67

$294 57

$803 87

1 00

116 46

193 25
37,992 95

165 25

187 32

1,670 00

194 94
154 67

$1,119 57

Conservation and protection:
Chief and assistants ...

$87 00

$4,470 90

Clerical and office.

%n 89

837 56

Rent

116 46

Automobiles . . .

619 77
105 83
400 09

44 40

3,255 52

602 25

857 42

Captains and deputies

49,567 27
520 00
450 00

90,921 57

Patrol launches

1 687 59

Lion hunting

637 32

Lion bounties. _

1,670 00

Fish planting

665 00
495 81

121 91

20 65

981 85

Refuge posting

75 02

746 15

Total conservation and protection

Commercial fisheries:
Chief and assistants . _

$1,218 60

$69 40

11 61

465 47

1 25

339 97

$56,096 78

$2,410 03
7,743 02
1,188 17
1,395 00
7,847 58

$41,479 71

$603 53

2,203 59

773 96

99 44
1,681 77

22 50
3,750 00

62 55

$4,131 73

$127 95

43 09

2 76

150 00

923 15

$102,926 82
$3,210 91

Deputies

10.001 22

Patrol launches.

2,430 36

Statistical

1,645 69

Laboratory

10,792 47

Salmon tagging

22 50

Botulism _.

3,750 00

Automobiles _

217 21

279 76

Total commercial fisheries

$1,104 91

$20,583 80

$1,000 03
941 33

$9,197 25

$19 35

6 30

108 00

270 29

4,165 36

$1,246 95

$32,132 91

Fish culture:
Chief and assistants

$1 019 38

Clerical and office .

$44 24

991 87

Rent

108 00

Automobiles. .

1,253 07
6,436 11

$98 92

6,423 75

16,612 51

1.622 28

Hatcheries . .

29,735 69

46,760 91

Hatcheries, additions and betterments

16,612 51

Special field investigation...

6 85

2,775 00

529 97

3 311 82

Total fish culture

$7,740 27

$11 82
99 79

$34,452 05

$1,305 00
491 67

$5,099 27

$304 20
32 50

$23,135 18

$70 426 77

Hydraulics:
Chief and assistants

$1 621 02

Cooperative research work

623 96

Total hydraulics

$111 61

$1,796 67

$336 70

$6 50
1,199 02

$2 244 98

Game propagation:
Automobiles

$6 50

Game farm — Yountville

$1,397 09

$2,010 00

$997 28

5 603 39

Total game propagation...

$1,397 09

$2 77

$2,010 00
$2,362 50

$1,205 52

$830 40
$13,619 85

$997 28

$5 609 89

Research:
Chief and assistants

$3 195 67

License commissions ..

$13 619 85

Total Division of Fish and Game

$16,094 28

$130,041 72

$80,309 54

$32,565 19

$259 010 73

178 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

STATEMENT OF INCOME

For the Period October 1, 1927, to December 31, 1927, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year

Detail Total

License sales:

Angling, 1927. S39,156 10

Angling, 1928 69 00

Hunting, 1927-1928 99,081 40

Hunting, 1928 16 00

Market fishermen's licenses, 1927-1928 5,820 00

Wholesale fish packers' and shell fish dealers' licenses — 1927-1928 215 00

Game breeders' licenses, 1927 52 50

Fish breeders' licenses, 1927 5 00

Trapping licenses, 1927-1928 3,413 00

Commercial hunting club licenses, 1927-1928 1,185 00

Commercial hunting club operators' licenses, 1927-1928 350 00

Deer tag licenses, 1927 73,302 50

Kelp licenses 10 00

Totallicense sales - ---- 8222,675 50

Other income:

Game tag sales SU 43

Court fines 20,794 08

Fish packers' tax 24,706 85

Kelp tax 1 31

Fish tag sales 1,037 04

Miscellaneous sales _20 00

Interest on bank deposits 738 87

Total other income 47,309 58

Totalincome— — $269,985 08

SEIZURES OF FISH AND GAME

October, November, December, 1927

Salmon, pounds - 128

Barracuda, pounds.. 9,935

Striped bass, pounds 372

Spot-fin croaker - 20

Black bass --- 15

Trout ---- --- 348

White fish - 2

Crappie 39

Perch - 1

Catfish, pounds 90

Crawfish 140

Crabs 301

Clams -- --- l,7ff0

Abalone --- 145

Lobster, pounds — — 522

Quail 295

Pheasant - - 11

Doves - 21

Geese --- - - - 118

Ducks - -- 225

Mudhens 1

Shore Dirds 49

Non-game birds 57

Deer meat, pounds _- 1,418

Deer hides and horns '- 3

Rabbits, cottontail, brush and Sierra hare --- 59

Hides of fur bearing mammals 22

Illegal nets and traps 4

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

179

GAME CASES
October, November, December, 1927

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
imposed

Jail

sentences
(days)

Hunting License Act

Deer Tag License Act

Commercial Gun Club License Act

Deer: closed season or district

Deer: does, fawns, sciked bucks, or forked horn in District 1%

Deer: running with dogs, closed season

Deer: illegal sale of meat

Ducks: closed season

Ducks: over limit

Swan: closed season

Geese: over limit

Shore birds: closed season

Doves: closed season.

Quail: closed season

Quail: over limit

Pheasants: closed season

Non-game birds

Rabbits: cottontail and brush, closed season.

Squirrels, tree: closed season

Shooting game trom automobile, power boat, etc

Game refuges : hunting or possession ot firearms in

Night hunting-

Trespass

Illegal trapping of birds

Illegal shipping oi game

Illegal sale of game..

Fur trapping regulations

Totals

104

12
55
4
1
3
4
11

431

$2,240
250

1,425
675
25
25
150
525
100
200
785
350

1,250
150
450
740
760
50
205
275

1,440
200

75
325
240

112,910

62
'"§6
"150

115

'150

50
90

662

FISH CASES
October, November, December, 1927

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
imposed

Jail

sentences

(days)

Angling License Act . . .

23
9
7
3

23
2
4
2
1
2

19
20

4
1
3

$570

100

905

225

100

135

1,775

1,085

275

625

600

700

Commercial Fishing License Act

Trout: over limit

Trout: closed season .

Striped bass: undersize or over limit . .

Striped bass: sale of, in closed season

Salmon: overlimit . ...

Salmon: closed season or district

Salmon: illegal sale of

Salmon: illegal taking of on spawning beds ....... ..

Black bass: illegal sale of

Crappie: overlimit

180

Barracuda: undersize

Crawfish: undersize

Crabs: undersize and females

Crabs: closed season

Clams: undersize and overlimit

Abalones: undersize and overlimit ...

Lobsters: under or oversize ..... _

Illegal fishing: within 300 feet ofinlet to lake; 250 feetfishway; 150 feet lower
sideofdam

Illegal fishing: more than one rod or line in trout fishing

Nets; illegal possession or use

Illegal possession of fish spear

Illegal night fishing

Illegal shipping of fish ...

Pollution

Totals

231

$7,995

375

180

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

181

DEER KILLED IN 1927, BY COUNTIES

County

Deer
kiUed

Land area,
square miles

Siskiyou

1,665

1,475

921

901

821

799

757

751

744

669

623

612

592

551

535

510

442

425

397

394

367

341

323

296

274

263

260

228

220

218

217

213

173

169

149

125

115

101

6,256

Mendocino. ... .....

3 539

Trinity

3,096

Lake

1,238
3 575

Humboldt ........ ....

Tehama

2,925
3 330

Monterev-.i.. .....

Sonoma . _ . . . .

1,582
4,856
2,740
1,337
3 858

Tulare .

Santa Barbara.. . .. .. ..

Glenn _ .

Shasta.. ....

Fresno

6 950

Plumas

2,593

1,737

3,823

783

El Dorado .... ..

Modoc.- . . . . _

Napa

Los Angeles ...... ..

4 115

Santa Clara

1,328

San Luis Obispo _ .

3 334

Marin ..

529

Placer. _

1,411

Riverside

7,223

Lassen.. .........

4,531

Ventura. . .

1878

Colusa .....

1,140

Madera .

2,112

Butte...

1,698
732

Alameda ....

Kern .. ..

8,003
1392

San Benito

Tuolumne _

2,190

Inyo

9,991
4 221

San Diego .... . .

Calaveras _ .

1027

Nevada .

974

Yolo...

1,014
923

Sierra .......

Mariposa

1463

Stanislaus ...... ...

1450

Santa Cruz. ...

435

San Mateo . .

447

San Bernardino

20 175

Alpine..

776

Merced

1995

Amador . .

601

Orange

795

'Vuba

632

Solano..

822

DelNort*

1,024

3,030

1,448

714

Mono .

SanJoaquin

Contra Costa . .

Kings..

1,159

4,089

608

Imperial .

Sutter

Sacramento

983

San Francisco

Totals

19,507

155 672

182

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

To better compare the 1927 kill of deer in the several counties, the following chart shows the average number killed
per 100 square miles of area:

County

Average

per 100

square miles

of area

Deer
kiUed

Land area,
square miles

Lake - - -

901

367

442

623

751

1,475

535

397

220

921

799

1,665

669

341

263

757

821

551

228

612

217

744

274

149

510

125

394

115

101

260

42o

592

213

296

323

169

218

173

74
3
1
1

1,238

529

Napa

783

Glenn

1,337

1,582

Mendocino

3,539

El Dorado

1,737

1,328

Alameda

732

Trinity

3,096

Tehama - . .

2,925

Siskiyou - -

6,256

2,740

Placer

1,411

Colusa -

1,140

3,330

Humboldt

3,575

Plumas - - -

2,593

Santa Cruz _

435

447

1,698

Shasta .

3,858

1,392

Tulare

4,856

1,878

Calaveras - .

1,027

3,823

Nevada - . .

974

3,334

Yolo ---

1,014

923

2,112

4,115

Fresno - .

5,950

i,190

Amador. . .

601

776

Yuba -.

632

795

Lassen .__

4,531

1,463

Stanislaus . --

1,450

822

Riverside - - -

7,223

4,221

Del Norte - - ---

1,024

1,995

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8,003

9,991

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1,448

3,030

Contra Costa

714

20,175

1,159

608

Imperial .

4,089

983

San Francisco

19,507

155,672

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 183

HUNTERS KILLING TWO DEER.
County of residence of hunter —

Alameda 112

Alpine ...

Amador. 7

Butte.. 50

Calaveras 8

Colusa 45

Contra Costa _ ._ 28

Del Norte 6

El Dorado 29

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Glenn.. _ 34

Humboldt _ 96

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Kern.. 40

Kings 7

Lake 33

Lassen ._ 8

Los Angeles 166

Madera 13

Marin 43

Mariposa 2

Mendocino 89

Merced 9

Modoe 4

Mono..

Monterey..- 72

Napa 34

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Humas _. 13

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San Benito 23

San Bernardino 18

San Diego 21

San Francisco 100

San Joaquin 42

San Luis Obispo 78

San Mateo 15

Santa Barbara 83

Santa Clara 67

Santa Cruz 20

Shasta. 57

Sierra. 4

Siskiyou 142

Solano 25

Sonoma.. 93

Stanislaus 28

Sutter 16

Tehama. 45

Trinity 31

Tulare.... 65

Tuolumne 17

Ventura... _ 28

Yolo 29

Yuba 8

Arizona, State of 1

Nevada, State of 1

Oregon, State of 3

Total 2,223

184

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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California Fish and Game

•• CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION."

Volume 14 SACRAMENTO, JULY, 1928 Number 3

CONTENTS.

Page
PARASITES AND PARASITIC DISEASE IN THE CALIFORNIA

VALLEY QUAIL E. C. O'Rokc 193

SARDINE SEASONS AT MONTEREY AND LOS ANGELES HARBOR

- W. L. Scofield 198

MUSSEL POISONING IN CALIFORNIA K. F. Meyer 201

OYSTERS IN CALIFORNIA N. B. Scofield 203

THE CALIFORNIA BADGER Walter Fry 204

FISH SCREENS IN CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION DITCHES

John Spencer 208

EDITORIALS 211

DIVISION ACTIVITIES 233

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES 249

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 254

REPORTS—

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 257

Statement of Income and Expenditures 258

Fishery Products, Januai-y to March, 1928 260

Map of Pheasant Plantings 264

PARASITES AND PARASITIC DISEASE IN THE CALIFORNIA

VALLEY QUAIL*

By E. C. O'ROKE

From time to time reports are current that valley quail are not now
as numerous in some sections as they have been in comparatively recent
years. Whether these reports are true and to what factors the changing
conditions may be attributed is beyond the scope of this article.

* The above article is a progress report of the investigation of parasites of valley
quail which is being conducted in connection with a survey of diseases of game in
California.

The study of game diseases has been made possible largely through the cooperation
of the University of California. Dr. K. F. Meyer, Director of Hooper Foundation for
Medical Research has accepted an appointment as Consulting Pathologist of this
division, and has undertaken the supervision of our pathological investigations to

60529

194 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The Division of Fish and Game is, however, genuinely interested in
getting at the facts. Accordingly, with the opening of the quail season
in 1927 some preliminary investigations were started in order to dis-
cover whether parasitism might be a factor in reducing the number
of quail.

Working under plans outlined by the Bureau of Research, the writer
was detailed to carry on these investigations. The method used was
to go into the field with scientific equipment, make examinations of
recently killed birds and collect such material as would be useful for
later laboratory studies.

The birds in general seemed to be free from external parasites. No
coccidia or other dangerous protozoan parasites were found in the
visceral organs. Small caecal worms such as are commonly found in
gallinaceous birds were absent. This was also true of the larger round
worms belonging to the family Ascaridae. In only one lot of quail
taken in Stanislaus County were tapeworms present. The infestation
was only nominal. It thus appeared that from the standpoint of para-
sites of the digestive tract, quail taken at this time of year were in a
healthy condition.

Part of the routine examination was to make blood slides in the field.
These were then stained and studied. Two cases of parasitism by
microfilaria in the blood were found in quail taken in Napa County.

Early in the course of the investigations, the discovery of deposits
of pigment in the red blood cells indicated that blood parasites of some
kind were present. This condition was first observed in wild quail
shot near the game farm at Yountville. The natural inference from
this situation was that perhaps birds other than quail at the game farm
would be found to be so parasitized.

In the course of following up this lead, representative numbers of
domestic chickens, pheasants and quail were examined at the game
farm. Blood samples were taken from the wing veins of the birds and
prepared immediately in the field. This led to the positive identifica-
tion of a protozoan parasite of the genus Haemoproteus in the red
blood corpuscles of the valley quail. Studies were then extended
beyond the open season to include several species of native wild birds
as well as quail in localities far removed from the game farm. In all
cases the results were the same ; namely, the parasite was found only in
the valley quail. Only a limited territory has been studied thus far,
parasitized quail having been found in Napa, Contra Costa, Santa
Clara and Stanislaus counties.

While there seems to be little in the literature concerning the serious
effects of parasitism by Haemoproteus in birds, its similarity in appear-
ance and behavior to the organism that causes malaria suggested that
the investigations should be continued to determine whether or not this
parasite is harmful to its host.

which he has devoted much of his time without compensation. The parasitological
studies outlined by Mr. O'Roke are conducted in tlie laboratory of the Zoology
Department of the University of California under the direction of Professor C. A.
Kofoid.

The sportsmen of the state, as well as the Division of Fish and Game are to be
congratulated for the splendid cooperation of the University of California in the
study of game diseases. The knowledge of diseases of birds and mammals is now
meager, especially with reference to the relation of such diseases to the abundance
of game. The survey of game diseases is a progressive step that will produce much
valuable scientific information in the interest of game conservation. — Editor.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

195

Fig. 54. Quail No. 46 in late stage of disease produced by Haemoproteus para-
sites. This bird died six hours after the above photograph was taken. Photo-
graphed June 9, 1928, bj' Joseph Dixon.

Pig. 55. Quail No. 32, slightly parasitized but apparently in good condition.
Photograph June 9, 1928 by Joseph Dixon.

196

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Accordingly, penned birds from the game farm and wild ones trapped
near there were taken to the University of California at Berkeley where
they could be kept under daily observation at the Department of
Zoology.

By means of a blood counting apparatus it has been possible to make
exact counts of the percentage of parasitized blood cells. This has
been found to run from less than one per cent to OA-er seven per cent
in samples of blood taken from the wing veins. The birds that are
most heavily parasitized are found to be anemic compared to normal

Fig. 56. Blood taken from Quail No. 39. 1, normal red blood cells; 2, Haeino-
proteus parasite, male gametocyte in red cell ; 3, Haevioiiroteus parasite,
female gametocyte in red cell. Giemsa stain, preparation and photo-micro-
graph by K. F. Meyer, June 23, 1928.

birds. It is to be noted also that they seem to be weaker and not as
active as normal birds.

Our investigations are as yet too limited to enable us to predict the
probable incidence of infection that prevails among the wild quail
throughout the state. It probably varies with the time of year and
is affected by various modifying factors. Five out of six quail obtained
at the game farm April 3 were infected. Since these birds were caught
in hand nets and since the weaker birds would naturally be less able

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

197

to resist capture, it is possible that the indicated incidence of infection
may be altogether too high.

Of the quail kept in an outdoor pen under healthful conditions at
the university three out of ten have died. Post-mortem examinations
have disclosed no striking lesions other than those occasioned by the
parasites that could have accounted for the death of the birds. These
lesions are an enlarged black spleen, pigmented liver, and a pronounced
anemia. One of the cases, that of a specimen (No. 46) taken in Santa
Clara County, is of especial interest. On June 8, 1928, in the San

Fig. 57. Blood from Quail No. 39. 1, young gametocyte with small amount
of pigment ; 2, mature gamelocytes, pigment granules large and numerous.
Giemsa stain, preparation and photo-micrograph by K. F. Meyer, June 23, 1928.

Felipe Vallej', an adult male was found that could fly but little and
was unable to keep up with the covey. It soon crawled under some
bushes where it was easily captured with the hands. This bird was in
poor condition and its crop was empty. Upon being taken to the
laboratory, it was found to be heavily parasitized. It gradually became
weaker and died the following day. Failure to find evidences of
accident or of disease other than that caused by the parasites leads
us to believe that we have discovered a fatal case of natural infection
with Haemoj^roteus in the valley quail.

2—60529

198 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

In Europe and Africa wliere Haemoproteus colmndae of the domestic
pigeon has been studied, it has been found that the parasite is trans-
mitted by a biting bird-fly belonging to the family Hippohoscidae. This
is the same family to which the sheep tick belongs, but unlike the
sheep tick the bird-flies have functional wings.

The writer has examined the collections of Hippohoscid flies of Pro-
fessor G. F. Ferris of Stanford University who reports that two species
of these flies have been found on the valley quail in California. It is
not unlikely therefore that one or both of these flies will be found to
transmit this quail parasite in California. While many species of
Haemoproteus have been reported from large numbers of species of
birds in the old world and in South America, the finding of the parasite
in the California valley quail is a new record.

The investigations will be continued to determine the incidence of
Haemoproteus parasitism in the quail of California. Much work will
need to be done in order to learn the seasonal and geographic distribu-
tion of the parasite and to determine the seriousness of injuries caused
by it. Experimental and observational work is now under way with
a view to solving the problem of its transmission.

SARDINE SEASONS AT MONTEREY AND LOS ANGELES

HARBOR*

;...,., By W. L. SCOFIELD

"Within the last year the question has arisen as to just what months
constitute the bulk of the sardine canning season at the two chief
fi.shing ports, Monterey and Los Angeles harbor (including San
Pedro, Wilmington and Long Beach). These two ports, separated by
less than five hundred miles, have decidedly different sardine canning
seasons, and the purpose of this article is to show wherein they differ
by giving the relative amounts of sardine landings for each month
of the year for each port.

There is great fluctuation from year to year in the amount of
fish received at each canning center. Of recent years the pack has
been several times greater than the pack in 1921 or 1922, for instance.
The seasons showing the largest amounts of fish received might have
undue weight in a plain average intended to show merely the relative
importance of each month. To avoid this difficulty and to bring the
two ports to an equal basis, we may treat each calendar year as one
hundred per cent and figure each month as a percentage of the year.
This enables us to see the true relative importance of each month as
compared with the other eleven months of the year, and allows us to
contrast months at the two fishing ports.

Since there is such variation from year to year, it gives a more
reliable result if we use a ten-year period. In the accompanying graph
and table the yearly sardine catch at each port was taken as one hun-
dred per cent, and the catch of each month was figured as a percentage
of the annual. The ten-year period, 1918 to 1927, inclusive, was used
and the ten results for each month were averaged. t These catch

* Contribution No. 71 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, May 10, 1928.

t For the benefit of the reader of sensitive mathematical conscience, we should
explain that the doubtful method of averaging percentages is in this case justified
since it expresses exactly the point desired.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME,

199

figures are those compiled by the Commercial Fisheries Department
since 1916, to show the monthly landings of each species of fish in each
district of the state. (For an analysis of the sardine seasons published
in 1926, see Fish Bulletin No. 11, "The California Sardine," especially
pages 24 and 28.)

It will be seen (Fig. 58) that the average season at Monterey is
from June through March of the following calendar year with April
and May the off months. At Los Angeles harbor the average season
is from October through June with July, August and September as the

Aioni-hly ^arcfine Caich
as ^o of Annual
C A^era^e for 10 Year Periool )

JLA

Afon^

dan

/7.3

/2.V

Fsb

23.9

7 .9

/^ar

ZI.Z

2 .7

Apr

a.i

/^ay

6.0

sj un

/.S

/ ,7

U/y

^.Z

Aug

IH.S

^ep

/a.€

Oci-

1 .1

/y.a

A/ov

S.6

J2.S

Dec

/O./

9.2

100.0

/00,0

\\ r J J. J i

Fig. 58. Monthly sardine catches expressed as a percentage of the annual catch
at each port. Percentages averaged for the ten-year period, 1918-1927.

off months. It is also evident that the Los Angeles season is more con-
centrated about February as the peak, w^hile the Monterey season is
distributed between six big months with September as the peak. It is
characteristic of the Monterey season that January is greater than
December.

The May pack of sardines at Los Angeles harbor for 1927 was con-
sidered exceptional, but in past years May was an important month in
tonnage received. In 1917 and 1919, May was the biggest month of
the year, and in 1918 it was second only to April. During the twelve-

200

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

year period, 1916 to 1927, the May catch has averaged considerably
greater than October and not far behind April and November.

It will be seen from the graph and table that an arbitrary seven
months' period at each fishing port would include nine-tenths of the
catch. At Monterey, the seven months of August to February, inclu-
sive, will account for ninety per cent of the annual catch. At Los
Angeles the seven mouths' period, October to April, includes ninety-
two per cent of the yearly total.

As an illustration of the fact that the total annual catch of sardines

— I 1 i — I 1 —

Annual Catch of Sardines
af 3 California Paris

lao

160

W-L.5.

/60

I2.0

«M

«\J

«-

«M

«•

«-

»•

«M

Fig. 59.

Annual sardine catch at Monterey, Los Angeles Harbor and San
Diego for the thirteen-year period, 1915-1927.

fluctuates greatly from year to year, a graph has been prepared showing
the yearly catches by districts (Fig. 59). The relative importance
of the two fishing ports may be readily traced for past years. The
graph as a whole pictures the beginning of the sardine canning industry,
its development during the world war with the post war slump in
1921 and 1922, followed by a remarkably quick recovery. The catch
for each of the last foui- years has greatly exceeded the peak of the
war time catches of 1918 and 1919. The trend of these catch curves
is so obviously affected by economic conditions in the industry that it
is hoped no one will be guilty of assuming that these curves picture the
abundance of sardines in the ocean. Any banker can tell us w^hy the
pack Avas low in 1921. _ ,

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 201

MUSSEL POISONING IN CALIFORNIA*

By K. F. Meter

During- tlie montli of July, 1927, 102 people were seriously poisoned
and 6 died following the consumption of the large mussel Mytilus cali-
fornianus Conrad, -which had been freshly gathered at 14 different
beds on the open shore line of the Pacific coast in the vicinity of San
Francisco (see text, figure 1). Although the origin of the poison is
not definitely established since the investigations are still in progress
it is known that (1) the toxic properties of the mollusks are due to a
poison, probably a quaternary amine, which is heat stabile in acid
solutions and which causes motor nerve paralyses. The concentration
of the poison as determined by laboratory test may vary in different
mussels and different beds (see text figure 1) ; (2) the poison is not
formed by bacteria nor due to copper salts from the rocks nor due to
the little crab, Pinnotheres pisum which lives in the mantle cavity nor
is it induced by parasites such as sponges and starfish. (3) The poison-
ous mussels were neither located in stagnant and polluted basins nor
exposed to the sun for a long period at low tide, but they were subjected
to the ebb and flow of the tides; the poison is therefore not due to
asphyxiation or post-mortem changes. (4) It is probably the result of a
metabolism disease influenced by the food and spawning condition of
the shellfish. (5) Poisonous mussels can not be distinguished from
sound mollusks neither by appearance nor behavior on cooking ; occa-
sionally a pungent odor may be noted; the "liver" is always large and
dark. (6) The shellfish may become poisonous within a few days and
may remain so for several weeks. No assurance can be given that the
mussels may not acquire the poisonous properties overnight. (7) Dur-
ing the Avinter months December-March the poison disappeared only to
reappear late in March ; however, the amount of poison which may be
present early in spring is not sufficiently concentrated to cause symp-
toms on ingestion in an empty stomach. (8) Since it is impossible to
examine all the mussel beds along the California shore line it is impos-
sible to establish by laboratory test the absence of poisonous mussels in
certain beds and during certain months of the year. From the experi-
ences thus far collected it is quite apparent that the use of mussels on
the California coast during the summer months is always connected
with some danger. Near Santa Cruz poisoning cases have occurred in
two successive years. No assurance can be given that this condition may
not repeat itself. People who notice a tingling or numbness around the
lips and prickly feeling in the finger tips and toes 30 minutes or longer
after they have eaten mussels should empty the stomach by an emetic,
purge the intestinal tube by brisk laxatives and call for a physician
immediately. All, even mild cases of mussel poisoning should be
promptlv reported to the State Department of Health (San Francisco,
Park 87*00).

* Contribution from the Oeorge Williams Hooper Foimdation for Medical Research,
University of California Medical School, San Francisco,

202

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

IZC/iSES.
/903i^lMBER COVE.

■4C/JSES{.\^f^lGHT'S BE/JCH

JULV 16*17^ 23
C/JSES

aosccF/imLis

DILLON'S BE/^CH.

WHERE YE/JR IS NOT ST/JTED
1927 IS MEANT

TOM/^LES B/iy

(CHICKENS)

0.lccF/^T/IL30'

'YES

Jun£29'-'Non'7Vy)c'' ■^^"-^•

JULY 17'^ 3 C/J5ES-7DEi^Ti

0.06ccF/^WL 6' -DEC. 12'^ NdN-TOXIC
MflRZ9'-'l9Zd a^cc. FffT/JL

JUNEir-'- 25"^ NQN -TOXIC

F/JR/JLL ON ISL/7ND5^ ^w^ ^^<~^,-

MIDDLE " ' ~

JULVn'^ 5 C^SES] Aa'a^S '- -^
OOSkF/IT/IL 5'-00hcFflTflL 7'

0.05ccF/JT/JL 5' I? C^SES IDE^THj:ROCM\Wy B. -c-

montbrA^ ^
moss be/7ci-

e. CASES

JULyi5'-'/7^ 14 CASES-ZDC^TNS ,^ C/75E5
O.OSccFflWL 3' I c^5E & iDt/ITH

\fe

^
^

JULY 1^'^ SENSES X

o.SccF/rr/iL 10'

JULY 14-^-17 "^ II C/7SES

Qo/ccF/rmi 8'

19/5- A CJSES
1917- 7C/I5ES -2DE/1THI

7C/ISE
0.02ccF/lTEtL 17'

Fig, 60. Sketch map showing outbreaks of mussel poisoning in California

CAIJFORNIA FISH AND GAME.- 203

OYSTERS IN CALIFORNIA

By N. B. SCOFIRLD

The native oj^ster of California is quite small, compared with the
oyster of the eastern United States, and has never been important
commercially. This native species is found on our Pacific coast from
Mexico to Alaska and is fairly abundant in protected waters where
there are rocky reefs suitable for them to attach themselves. In
the Puget Sound region this native oyster is ' 'farmed" along scientific
lines and is the basis of a profitable industry. In California, however,
this oyster has not been "farmed" and only half-hearted efforts have
been made to increase the yield by putting out collectors to which the
young oysters can attach themselves. The demand for oysters has
grown so that this small native oyster, which is used in cocktails and
dressing for meats, is more valuable than it was and it is to be expected
it will receive the attention it deserves and be made the source of a
profitable industry in this state also.

Oysters native to the eastern United States were first introduced
into California in the early seventies, when plants were made in
numerous places in San Francisco Bay. Since that time other plants
have been made in Humboldt, Tomales and San Diego bays and in
Elkhorn Slough. Only in San Francisco and Tomales bays have the
planting operations paid. Seed oysters, or "spat," about one year of
age were brought to the coast by the carload and laid out on prepared
beds. These seed oysters grew with fair rapidity and reached market-
able size in from two to four years, according to the size demanded by
the markets. The United States Commissioner of Fisheries reported,
in his 1900 report, that the value of mature oysters sold at that time
was considerably over $500,000 a year and that the quantity and value
were on the increase. By 1910 the value of the oysters sold was nearly
$1,000,000 a vear. One company, the largest, was doing a yearly busi-
ness of $800,000.

It was the belief of the oyster companies that the water of the Cali-
fornia bays was too cold to permit the eastern oyster to propagate.
Experts from the Bureau of Fisheries, however, found that there was
some natural propagation in favored localities, especially in South San
Francisco Bay. The young oyster larvae would drift to the eastward
with the surface current caused by the prevailing winds, and settle
down and attach themselves to the native oyster shells found on
reefs along the east side of San Francisco Bay. Nothing much has ever
been done in California in the way of putting out "collectors" to which
the young oysters could attach themselves, the oyster companies being
content to spread the spat on beds prepared with old shell, and to protect
these from sting-rays with stake fences. This method worked all right
until a little over ten years ago, when it was found that the young
oysters did not grow as they formerlj^ did, and that they became thin
and watery, and many of them died. It then became the practice to
ship from the eastern coast oysters which were ready for the market.
These Avere then placed on the beds simply to hold them a few weeks
and take them up as the trade demandecl. The oyster business of San
Francisco Bay has dwindled from one of the major fishing industries
of the state to almost nothing.

204 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

No accurate records liave been kept of temperatures, salinities or
amount of food carried by the water on which oysters feed, to enable us
to say just what caused this failure of the oysters. It is believed, how-
ever, that the reclamation of tide lands around the bay, which prevented
the ebb and flow of the tide on the fiats, has diminished the oyster food
in the bay. The heavy drain on the water resources of the bay region
for purposes of irrigation has largely prevented the flow of fresh water
into South San Francisco Bay. It is believed that all of these condi-
tions together have caused the failure of the oysters in South San Fran-
cisco Bay.

Soon after oysters were first planted in San Francisco Bay, it was
found they did not do well in the upper bay for the reason that during
the winter months the upper bay at times becomes entirely fresh water.
In the summer months there are times when the bay is almost pure
sea water. The eastern oyster will not stand these great fluctuations
in salinity.

It is possible that, with the application of scientific methods, oysters
may be propagated and made to pay where the right water conditions
can be obtained. It will be hard, however, to find localities of this sort.
The eastern oyster has also been tried in Puget Sound but it has been
found that there, as in California, the temperature of the water is too
cold to permit spawning. The eggs and larvae of the eastern oyster can
live only within a narrow range of temperature, and the temperature in
the sound is seldom, if ever, suitable. A species of Japanese oj^ster, which
breeds at a lower temperature, we understand, has been successfully
introduced into Puget Sound. Such an oyster might very well be
established in favorable places in this state.

The best accounts of the early oyster industry in California can be
found in the Reports of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1889-
91, 1893 and 1900, which can be obtained at public libraries.

THE CALIFORNIA BADGER*

By Walter Fry

The California badger {TaxkJa iaxus neglecta) is a vanishing spe-
cies. The animals are yielding rapidly before cultivation, settlement and
wanton killing so that in much of the territory formerly occupied, they
are seen no more. Man is practically the only enemy of the badger
and unfortunately kills this useful animal at every opportunity and
almost always without any good reason. Some fifty years ago they were
fairly abundant throughout their range, but the ever-increasing occupa-
tion by man of their territory and his hostile attitude has reduced them
from year to year, and, if continued unchecked, must lead to the exter-
mination of an animal at once picturesque and useful.

Family and Distribution — The badger belongs to the weasel family
and is the third largest of that family in North America ; only being
exceeded in size by the wolverine and the otter. The badger's former
home was in the Great Plains of North America, the Rocky Mountains
and westward to the Pacific coast, from the southern tablelands and
Puebla Mexico on the south, to Peace River in Canada on the north.

* Originally issued as Bulletin No 22, Sequoia National Park Natural History
Series.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 205

The animals have been mucli depleted or exterminated over most of
their eastern range, but in the west they are still holding forth. In
California the animals inhabit sparingly the more favored spots from
sea level to elevations of 10,500 feet. They seem more abundant in the
High Sierra where they live in the more open country and meadowlands.
They have been driven to high altitudes by persecution and remain
there because of the wildness of the country. Generally speaking,
badgers are plains animals and do not favor heavy forest belts.

Description — The badger is an animal of strange form and habits.
It is short and flat bodied, very low in stature with a broad flat-shaped
head wliich joins directly onto the body with no defined neck. The
jaws are strong and pointed and set with heavy teeth. The legs are
short and heavy with unusually large feet armored with long, heavy
claws. The nose is well pointed ; tail short and drooping ; eyes small,
dark, glittering; ears small, rounded, set well down upon the sides of
the head back of and slightly below the level of the eyes. The body
length is about 24 inches, height about 12 inches, weight about 17
pounds. The fur is unique and beautiful, being mixed with black,
white, yellow and gray. The body is a grizzled gray slightly tinged
with yellowish brown with a narrow white stripe extending from the
nose over top of head to shoulders. Sides of head white with black spot
on each cheek. Upper part of the head each side of the white stripes,
nose and feet black.

The animals have a surly, sullen and savage disposition towards
other tlian their own kin. I do not mean from this that the badgers
go about molesting or attacking other animals, for this they never do.
But they do not respond to kind treatment and seldom become good
pets. They always avoid trouble like all the weasel family, but when
once attacked, they fight viciously and effectively. When attacked,
they neither quail nor hesitate, but throw every ounce of energy into
the battle ; while agile as cats, they hang on in bulldog fashion. What
the badger wants is to be let strictly alone so as to obey his natural
impulse in his search for food. Every muscle of the badger shows tre-
mendous strength. This, togetlier witli the dark glittering eyes gives
the animal an expression of both intelligence and power. In my opinion
for fighting qualities, measured by size, the badger is only outclassed
by the wolverine. The dog that inadvertently attacks a badger is sure
to be severely cut and slashed by the animal's sharp teeth before he
can escape. Badgers are shy, sensative and capricious animals.

Habits — Badgers are not prolific breeders. The j^oung range from
one to four in number and it is doubtful if more than a single litter is
produced each year. The little badgers are born in underground
burrows and in beds without nest linings. When first born they are
shaped like adults, but are much lighter and of undefined color. Their
eyes are closed, no teeth are visible, soles of feet are black and toes
have tiny white claws. They grow rapidly and usually make a first
appearance above ground at the age of about three weeks. When less
than half grown the mother weans her young, but continues to catch
food for them until they are almost two-thirds grown; then she leaves
them to shift for themselves.

The breeding season of the badger is irregular owing to varying
altitudes and climatic conditions. For instance, in the San Joaquin

3—60529

206 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

Valley at elevation of 500 feet, young are born in February and March,
while at Twin Lakes in Sequoia National Park at elevation of 10,500
feet, young are born in April and May. These same conditions regulate
to an extent the time and duration of the badgers' hibernating period.

I have been fortunate in several personal experiences with badgers.
One evening, on June 22, 1912, I came upon a mother badger and her
two young in Willow Meadow, Sequoia National Park, elevation 7500
feet, where they lived in seclusion and thrived on small rodents which
the mother caught in the meadow. The young were about the size of
a full grown Fisher ground squirrel and to all appearances about three
weeks old. When first I saw them, they were off a few feet from
their burrow, the mother lying on the ground with her young rolling
over in play in front of her. They did not see me, so I crawled up on
their leeward side behind some willow bushes that shielded me, and was
within about thirty feet of them. In a few moments, the two young
badgers returned to their home underground and the mother strolled
from my sight across the meadow for her evening hunt. I decided that
the entertainment was all over and was moving on, when to my surprise
and gratification, both the baby badgers toddled from the burrow and
resumed their play. I watched their frolic for a few moments, then
ran quickly to the burrow, jumped on it with both feet and sat down
flat over the entrance before the young badgers realized what was
happening.

Never have I seen young wild animals more mystified than were
these baby badgers by my presence. Instead of dashing away in any
direction that was open, as do most young wild animals under similar
circumstances, they first fell flat upon the ground for a few seconds,
then came direct to me, calmly looking at me, wonderingly and inquir-
ingly, but with practically no signs of fear; then straightway, true to
their kind, they began to dig under me in an effort to regain entrance
to their subterranean home.

I took the little fellows in my hands and tossed them out into the
grass a few feet from me, but on each occasion they would manifest
an impracticable obstinacy and quickly return, uttering soft wheezy
grunting sounds and making frantic efforts to reenter their burrow.
They were not strong enough to do me any damage, but they gave a
marvelous display, showing excellent skill with their claws in both
scratching and digging. In every attitude demonstrated, an animal of
persistent thought and determined effort.

Having amused myself with the animals for some little time, the
young badgers were permitted to return to their burrow and I took my
departure. When away a distance of some hundred yards, I saw the
mother badger coming in from her evening hunt with some kind of
rodent in her mouth. She soon passed from my sight into her terres-
trial home to rejoin her much disturbed, but anxiously awaiting, off-
spring.

Badgers have but few social ties aside from those of the mother and
her young during the mating period. I have never yet observed any
instance of the male badgers helping to care for the young or taking
any interest whatsoever in household affairs. However, in a few
instances, I have seen both a male and female living in the same burrow.

Badgers feed on ground rodents of every description and on a great
variety of insects. They are not gifted with either speed or stealth to

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 207

aid them in obtaining food supply and are forced to dig and capture
practically all their prey underground. Their principal diet is gophers,
ground squirrels, rats and mice. They are skillful in locating the
burrows of their quarry and the inhabitants soon fall victim, owing
to their rapid digging. Indeed, they are so destructive to rodents that
prey on vegetation that their services are more beneficial to agriculture
than those of any other of our North American mammals.

Badgers are largely nocturnal in habit and hunt chiefly at night,
but when forced by hunger they will hunt by day. They wander far
and wide in search of food at night, but usually return to their burrows
by sunrise. They move around little, except in search of food. When
it becomes scarce they shift to a new territory where food is more
plentiful. They establish themselves in their new home by digging a
new burrow in which to live and to be sheltered from enemies.

Of all our North American mammals, badgers hold the record for
rapid digging. On September 2, 1912, while at Mitchell Meadow,
Sequoia National Park, elevation 8500 feet, we came suddenly upon a
large badger some 100 yards from his den. We shut off his return to
his burrow and chased him for a few moments on horseback. No sooner
did we stop our chase than the badger dug into the ground and made
the most rapid progress in digging of any animal I have ever seen.
Although the ground was hard and somewhat crusted with sod, the
badger dug himself completely from our sight and plugged the hole
behind him with dirt in less than one and one-half minutes. In excavat-
ing, his whole being was brought into action; he used all four of his
feet as well as his mouth with great skill.

SJiould the Badger Be Protected or Exterminated? — The worst enemy
the badger has is man. I have never found evidence that badgers
have lost their lives through any other enemy except large domestic
dogs. Large birds of prey and carnivorous wild animals seem to leave
the badgers strictly alone. I do not know whether this is due to
the savage fighting qualities of the badger, or whether the flesh of the
badger is distasteful as food, or both ; but believe it is due to the former
cause, for the badger's thick fur and tough skin are hard to penetrate
and when the animals once engage in combat they w411 fight to the death.

To me, the California badger is one of our most interesting and bene-
ficial animals. It should be given protection. At present, the only
shelter the animals have is within our National Parks. Here there is
perhaps sufficient seed stock left to insure perpetuation of the species
within a given area for sometime to come. But when the animals pass
beyond the boundaries of the parks, they soon fall victim to hunters
and trappers. Furthermore, the animals have never been proven
guilty of destructiveness. The worst harm which they have ever been
accused of doing to man is that the burrows they dig, on occasions,
have caused horses to stumble and fall with their riders. But as com-
pensation for this, the badger hunts and kills rodents that are harmful
to crops and other growing vegetation, 365 days each year of his life.

The wanton destruction of this picturesque and beneficial species of
California mammal life is unwarranted and unjustifiable. It should
be stopped. Let us have it said that California is the one safe spot in
this vast republic that may be called the badger's last home. A spot
where the animals are given the right to live out their lives according

208

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

to their destiny in peace ; a right of a harmless and useful animal that
man is in duty bound morally to respect.

No moral law is ever violated with impunity. Man is paying for his
brutality to the badger in the plagues of rodents which God created
the badger especially to prevent. Give the badger a chance and he'll
clean up the ground squirrels, gophers and other rodents which destroy
California's crops.

FISH SCREENS IN CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION DITCHES*

By John Spencer

The work of fish screen installation in the State of California is
carried out under provisions of the Penal Code, which in general state
that when, in the judgment and opinion of the Fish and Game Commis-
sion, a fish screen is required to be installed in a ditch, tailrace, tunnel.

Fig. 61. Diagram of the California rotary fish screen. In front is a parallel
"grizzly" or rack to protect both screen and ditch, constructed on either timber
or steel and placed near head of it. No. 5 indicates draper board on strap
hinges (18), and No. 9 to B shows parts of adjustable spring device to regu-
late the draper.

etc., the Commission may order one in, specifying location, type, size
and in fact, all the details which are necessary for its construction.

The party ordered to install a screen may request a hearing on the
necessity of its installation within ten days from the date of service, and
failing to do so the order is fully effective. If a hearing is requested, the
Commission will then issue its findings after said hearing. If the screen
is not installed as requested by the Commission, the matter may be
carried to the courts. If a screen is installed in accordance with the
requirements of the Commission and maintained, then costs arising
from changes in design by the Commission must be borne by the Com-
mission. All costs are borne by the owner of the water, except any
change of design as above noted. The law was enacted in 1895 and
last amended in 1927.

* Spencer, John. 1928. Fish Screens in California Irrigation Ditches.
Fisherman, April, 1928, p. 16, 2 figs.

Pacific

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

209

Two general types of screen installation are used in California,
namely, the rotary self-propelled type and the stationary parallel bar
type. The rotary type consists of a steel shaft to which there is
attached a circular frame which supports mesh of i by six inches, with
boards or paddles set on the inside wdiich furnish the motive power
for its rotation. This screen is set in a box of supports for the entire
width to be screened and is a little over twdce the height of the water
in diameter. To pass the trash that may come down, or to remove
the moss, it is set up from 4 to 8 inches from the bottom of the ditch
and this space is protected by a board set on hinges, fastened to the
bottom of the ditch and connected by rods to a spring, so that when
the pressure of the trash becomes more than the tension of the spring,
the board or draper will drop down sufficiently to pass this trash and
then come back into place. On the top of this draper, or board, is a
section of canvas or rubber belting which lightly touches the wheel
as it rotates and thus leaves and moss are removed from the rotating
screen.

Fig. 62. Battery of four rotary screens operating in a 20-
foot ditch diverting water from the Arroyo Seco River, Mon-
terey County. Photograph by John Spencer, March 22, 1928.

This general type is used because it is not patented, and while there
may be patented screens that are equal to and perhaps better, yet it
would not be policy to order in a patented screen unless the diverter
of water so desired it.

The stationary parallel bar screens are built in sections and placed
at an angle to the direction of the flow — the greater the angle the better
— and trash is thus carried on up to the upper portion of the bars
and thus more easily removed than if the parallel bars were set at right
angles to the flow of water. Speaking roughly, these stationary parallel
bar screens are a refinement of what is commonly known as a grizzly,
or rack. There are variations of this type of screen in that some are
made to rotate, and some have attached a self -cleaning device, the power
being furnished either by the water itself or by a motor. For these
.bars the spacing is seldom less than | inch, and when placed properly
in the stream offer no appreciable interference with the flow of water.

The stationary type of screen is in general considerably cheaper to
install, in proportion to the area to be screened, than the rotary type,

210

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

and is more commonly used for the larger ditches, while the rotary
screen is considered more suitable for small ditches.

It is felt in California that the matter of screening is one that should
be taken up between the various commissions and the diverters of
water in a way that would consider the interests of both; and when
this is done, it has been found that the rights of the diverter are not
infringed upon nor is he unduly burdened, and the best type of instal-
lation will thus be decided upon.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

211

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva-
tion of wild life and published Quarterly
by the California Division of Fish and

^"S free to citizens of the State of
California Offered in exchange for

JrnuSological. mammalogical and similar

^^The'^articles published in California
FiJh AND Game are not copyrighted and
ma^ be reproduced in other periodicals,
pro^id'^ed du^e credit i-g^^^^the California
division of Fish and Game. Editors oi
newspapers and periodicals are invited to
make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be
se4 to H C. Bryant. Postal Telegraph
Bldg., San Francisco, California.

September 15, 1928

Unstocked or depleted waters mdicate
a wasted resource and are a direct chal-
fenTe to our ability to develop the uses
of our mountains and streams.

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE
For manv years past, it has been diffi
cult to find a basis for optimism regard-
ing the future of game in the United
States. Depletion has been noted every-
where We loolv for instancos where actual
increase has been noted and discover that
these are few and far between. The
average person interested would probably
cite Vermont and her increase in deer
and Pennsylvania with her improved con-
ditions. There should be other states
where improvement is noticeable; cer-
tainly considerable sums of money are
spent annually. There are those with a
vision and able to properly plan restora-
tion pros-rams. Why then are outstand-
ing results so far between? Doubtless,
a partial answer to this question is to be
found in the fact that states have been
floundering around attempting to hnd
suitable methods of solving the many
problems presented. Each state has sud-
denly found itself confronted with deple-
tion and has then begun at too late a
date to remedy conditions. As a conse-
quence, considerable time has been needed.
Now that certain states have demon-
strated what can be done, other states
will model their programs after succes-
fiil states and will help to bring about
the improved conditions sought. After
many years of test, certain general poli-
cies have been determined upon here in
California and a worthwhile program in-
augurated. Given time, results are sure
to appear.

SOUND VALUE
Extravagance in government has, from
the beginning of time, been the popular

cry and complaint of the public who pay
the bills. Certain it is that in many in-
stances such complaints were well
founded and history reveals that many
thrones have tottered and empires have
fallen through the revolution of a long
suffering people, righteously indignant at
their yoke and burden of taxation.

INTodern theory of government and up-
to-date business methods applied thereto
have greatly lessened this evil, and yet
complaints may still be heard and there
is still probably here and there some room
for improvement.

Whatever may be its other failings, no
good reason exists why the Division of
Fish and Game should be found extrava-
gant or wasteful on any occasion. The
conservation, protection and upbuilding
of our resources of fish and game is a
vast business enterprise of the people of
California and must be carried out by
efficient business methods, the corner-
stone of which is economy of operation.
The same principle that governs private
business must govern this Division. It
must be adhered to by the department
head when arranging his budget, organiz-
ing the work of his department, pur-
chasing supplies and selecting its per-
sonnel. It must govern as well each
individual of the field force in the per-
formance of his duty. Each days work
in patrol or otherwise should be rlanned
to save all unnecessary expense and lost
motion. To successfully and most effi-
ciently conserve the state's wild life, we
must conserve the funds with which we
have to work by practicing at all times
true economy, not the "penny wise pound
foolish" variety, but that which will
return to the state sound value for every
dollar expended.— Eugene D. Bennett.

IN MEMORIAM

DAVID E. ROBERTS
My intimate acquaintance, both social
and official with Dr. D. E. Roberts who
passed away April 13, 1928, enable me
to know and analyze "Doc," perhaps more
intimately than any other person. To
know a man's true worth in the standard
in which we should estimate him, one
must enter into business relations aside
from just that of friendship which is
easily made.

Deputy "Doc" Roberts had a host of
friends among the sportsmen of the
Mother Lode, San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento counties, and wherever he was
known and wherever he enforced the laws
relating to the protection of our wild life.

212

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Beside his code of game laws which he
practiced and which it was his duty to
enforce, "Doc" had a code of his own
which was of greater value than all the
statutes relating to game protection.
Game law violators, and there w^ere many
in the days when he became an officer,
respected him because he was the highest
type of a sportsman. "Doc's" code called
for and gave a square deal. He educated
instead of persecuted. He exacted truth-

David E. Roberts

ful promises from violators because he
knew only truth himself. He de-
tested dishonesty because honesty was
a part of his code. Hypocrisy, deceit
and ingratitude were contrary to his code
of ethics.

David E. Roberts was a native of Cala-
veras County. In his early years he
practiced dentistry. He was a member
of the Board of Supervisors of Calaveras
County for some years. His great love
for "the open" called him away from his
profession. He was appointed a State
Deputy of the Fish and Game Commis-
sion October 1, 1911. Even then many
of the old timers were as a law unto
themselves, respecting game laws with a
less degree than any other of the statutes.
"Doc" gave them what any old timer
expected and exacted, a square deal. In
a short time old Calaveras County was
one of, if not the best game law abiding
counties in the state. He was attached
to the Sacramento Division Office under
Commissioner Newbert with Geo. Neale
in charge of the Northern Division. At
the time of his death he was captain in
charge of the Sacramento District. "Doo"

was a type of man and officer that should
be copied by all law enforcement officers.

Geo. Neale,
Former Executive Officer of the

Fish and Game Commission.

life and the
an efficient,

wife and son.

FRANK MACHADO

It is with extreme sadness and regret
that we announce the death of volunteer
deputy. Frank Machado, by accidental
drowning, o n J u n e 10th. Deputy
Machado was in his motor boat on Pinto
Lake, near Watsonville, when, in attempt-
ing to fix his stalled motor he lost his
balance and fell overboard. It was a
very windy day, the lake was rough, and
before those who witnessed the accident
were able to reach and render assistance
to Machado, he was drowned.

Frank Machado wa': a popular young
man, a lover of the wild
great outdoors, and was
hard-working deputy.

He is survived by a
daughter, mother, brother and sister, all
of whom reside at Watsonville.

The funeral, which was largely at-
tended by relatives and friends, was
held at Watsonville June 14. — Walter R.
Welch. .

MORE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED

Trout have been propagated and
planted in streams for more than fifty
years. Some improvements have been
made in fish cultural operations, but
many fundamental facts relative to neces-
sary food, care and disease need to be
made available to fish culturists. There
has been little change in the actual
methods of planting and only recently
have some of the faults of present methods
been exposed, as a result of controlled
experiments.

Canada has been most forehanded in
pointing out certain dangers. Mr. A. P.
Knight has shown that from 73 to 96*
per cent of the fry dumped into the
streams, lose their lives because of ene-
mies ; that native fry are better able Lo
care for themselves than hatchery fry ;
that predatory fish increase as a result of
the additional food fish by fish planting.
Mr. Knight's last report on his experi-
ments was published in Rod and Gun in
Canada (volume 29, pases 783-787, 819-
820). Certainly the evidence presented
should force the conclusion that there is
still much to be learned regarding inter-
relations of organisms in a stream, and
at the same time, is a reminder that there
has been considerable waste in the past

CALIFORNIA FISn AND GAME.

213

because of a lack of this pertinent knoAvl-
edge.

This report also suggests to the reader
that otlu'r coul rolled experiments deter-
mining whether it is a wise procedure to
take fish from a stream less than six
inches in length and whether artificial
food supply could be furnished which
would support greater numbers of fish
would contribute .greatly to future pro-
jects.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTED

At the last session of the legislature the
hunting and angling license law was
amended to provide "that the fish and
game commissioners are hereby author-
ized and directed to expend, for a period
of five years, beginning with January 1,
1928, not less than one-third of all mon-
eys collected annually from the sales of
hunting licenses in the purchase, lease or
rental, and the development, improve-
ment, maintenance and administration of
land, or land and water, or land and
water rights, therefore suitable for game
refuges or public shooting grounds, or
both, within the State of (Jalifornia."
It further provides for the appointment
of a game refuge and public shooting
grounds advisory committee to consist
of seven members. Early in the year,
this advisory committee was appointed
and approved by the governor. It is com-
posed of Jacob Baum, Los Angeles; H.
L. Betten, Alameda ; J. Dale Gentry.
Santa Barbara; Manly Harris, Dr. K. F.
Meyer, Nathan Moran, and Dr. Barton
W. Evermanu of San Francisco.

On April 8 the committee met and
organized, electing Nathan Moran as
chairman. This committee has undertaken
the work before it with enthusiasm and
progress reports may be expected from
time to time. Each seems to realize tlie
great need for something constructive
along the lines of game refuges, particu-
larly of wild fowl refuges, and conse-
quently worthwhile results will be forth-
coming. A report as to the original
breeding grounds of migratory game
birds, their former and present status
together with the means to be taken to
restore former breeding and feeding
grounds was discussed at the second
meeting of the committee.

SENATE PASSES FEDERAL GAME
REFUGE BILL

For seven years there has been re-
ported in these columns the ups and
downs of a proposed law to create federal
game refuges and jiublic shooting grounds,
and at the same time, to establish a
4— G0529

federal license. Each year the bill has
been proposed, there have been stormy
sessions of debate, ending with defeat
for the proponents of the measure

Opponents of the measures of past
years have held out for an elimination of
the federal license, for recognition of
state rights, for direct appropriation, and
for an elimination of the objectionable
feature concerned with the trial before
a T'nited States Commissioner.

The Norbeck Migration Bird Bill of
the present session of congress was intro-
duced in practically the same form as
those of past years. After being debated
at great length, it was amended until it
hardly bears the semblance of former
measures. In this amended form it
passed the senate on April 18, 1928. The
new bill does not contain the objection-
able features. This bill makes actual
sanctuaries of all of the game refuges,
rented or purchased; provides adequate
warden protection, and authorizes appro-
priations not to exceed $1,000,000 a year.
Another interesting feature is the follow-
ing :

"That when any state shall by suitable
legislation make provision adequately to
enforce the provisions of this act and all
regulations promulgated thereunder, the
Secretary of Agriculture may so certify,
and then and thereafter said state may
take over the enforcement of said act
and the regulations made in aid of said
act. The said state may and shall, so
long as it shall enforce the said act and
regulations made in pursuance thereof, be
reimbursed from said funds for the costs
of said enforcements to that extent said
services would have cost had the service
been performed by the federal govern-
ment."

It was impossible to get tliis bill to a
vote before congress adjourned. It will
come u]) again at the next session and in
the meanwhile sportsmen and other con-
servationists can make their wishes
known to their representatives.

PACK TRAIN TO TRANSPORT
GOLDEN TROUT

There has been little distriburion of
golden trout in the southern Sierra dur-
ing the past ten years. Beginning July
1, 1928, five head of stock equipped with
pack cans and three animals to carry
provisions were ])laced in charge of
Deputy F. A. Bullard. Special trips
will be made to waters stocked in 1914,
and from there adult fish will be trans-
ported to barren streams and lakes in
adjacent territory. Later in the summer,
when golden trout finger lings become

214

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

available at the Mount Shasta Hatchery,
these will be carried bj- pack train and
planted in isolated localities.

It is becoming more and more evident
that out of the way places are becoming
populous centers of vacation travel and
that the streams adjacent will soon be
overfished. A wider distribution and the
full utilization of all waters is the one
))reveDtive of present day problems.
With others, we are willing to admit that
unstocked or depleted waters indicate a
wasted resource and are a direct chal-
lenge to our ability to develop the uses
of our mountains and streams.

A FULL PROGRAM FOR SUMMER
RESORTS

An intensive program of education
was planned for summer resorts and
camps this summer. The nature guide
work at Yosemite again was a cooperative
program between the Division of Fish and
(iame and the National Park Service. The
Yosemite School of Field Natural History
opened its doors for the fourth season on
June 25 to give training in conservation
to teachers and nature guides. The
Division of Fish and Game was repre-
sented by two nature guides in California
State Redwood Park who conducted
field trips and gave evening lectures.
This ambitious program of education for
summer vacationists is based on the fact
that people are most susceptible to con-
servation ideas when face to face with
nature. The need for conservation is
more apparent when a person is out-of-
doors than when he is within four walls.

MORE STATE PARKS MEAN MORE
GAME REFUGES

Every reader of this magazine should
be interested in the state park program.
At the last session of the legislature, a
Division of State Parks, under the De-
partment of Natural Resources, Avas cre-
ated, and a bill passed providing for a
referendum at the November election to
provide a six-raillion-dollar bond issue,
which, matched dollar for dollar by out-
side funds, will make possible the pur-
chase of some of the more important
areas needed for a unified park system.
As has been evidenced in the State Red-
wood Park in Santa Cruz County, a
state park can become a worthwhile game
refuge. Visitors have long been pleased
with the tameness of deer and their
abundance. The Mount Tamalpais re-
gion, which is already a game refuge,
will undoubtedly be one of the first areas
added to the state park system. Addi-
tional areas useful as recreation grounds

will be a direct contribution to the game
refuge system. Many states plan their
refuge system on the basis of large areas
for every county and smaller areas for
every township. An additional number
of state parks will furnish some of these
needed smaller refuges.

CONSERVATION LESSONS AS AIDS
TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
The special attention given in the lec-
ture program of the Division's Bureau of
Education to elementary gi-ades in city
schools has supplied the teacher in many
cases with seasonable material for class
room exercises. The conservation lessons
taught with the aid of specimens have,
in a number of instances, been a source of
inspiration for compositions. The follow-
ing from a low fifth grade in an Oakland
school reveals that the pupils absorbed
the lessons and reproduced a surprising
amount of the material presented.

"In Italy and Spain the people had big
nets. With these nets the people caught
all the song birds that were going where
it was warmer. When the birds rested in
the hedges the people put the net right
.nto tne hedges and the birds got caught
and the people ate them.

"Birds are very helpful, they eat the
insects and grass seeds. When the people
catch the birds and eat them the insects
come and eat their crops. This makes
their country poor.

'The people chop down all the timber
and when it rains the water runs down
the hills and washes all the soil until it
comes to clay. Their crops can not grow
because the clay is not fertile.

"When there are forest fires and it
burns all the trees and brush, the animals
will not come again because there is no
;'ood for them. And when it rains the
water wa.shes all the ashes and burnt
:hings down into the little brooks and
the fish die. Another way when there
is a fire, the water in the brook will get
warm from the heat and the flsh die.

"When the salmon goes to spawn it
goes to fresh water. After it spawns it
jtarts to go back to salt water, but be-
fore it reaches its home, it dies.

"All trout belong to the salmon family.
Fish do not have lungs. When you see
them it looks like they are yawning ;
every time they do it, water goes in their
mouths. They breathe the oxygen and
che water goes out through their gills.
'The trout is a silvery flsh and his tail
is different than that of the salmon. The
salmon's tail is skinny ; the trout is wide
The men in the cannery can tell easily,
because when they pick up the salmon it
is easy ; when they pick up the trout it
slips out of their hands.

"The Roosevelt golds are only found
by the high mountain, Mt. Whitney. The
men from the fish hatchery go up there
and get the fish eggs and bring them
back and hatch them. They then put
them into something like a milk can, and
take a lot of burros and put them back.
They stop every few hours by a stream
and put the cans in the streams to keep
the cans cool. When they camp over
night they leave the cans in the water all
night.

CALIFORNIA PISIl AND GAME.

215

"There is a hatchery not far from
Mount Whitney.

"The trout love fresh, bubbling water.
But they can not stand salt water. The
salmon lives in salt water and spawns in
fresh water.

"The trout loves shady brooks.

"In a fish hatchery, they have troughs.
Thoy keep the flsh eggs in troughs. When
tlie eggs hatcli, the little fish come up
to the trough for something to eat. The
men feed tnem for a few months.

"The trout and salmon have black spots.

"The rainbow trout is very pretty. It
has a pink stripe going through the lower
part of its body.

"A pack of Roosevelt trout went up a
stream. The stream had some lava in
it. The water was a different color.
That is why they are this color. They

"She said some countries were poor,

iSuch as Italy and Spain,
For after birds were in their reach

They never flew again.

"S'lc told us that we oughtn't

To cut our forests down ;
They do it to make cities

But what's the use of another town?

"Some people are careless
When they go into the wood.

And forget to put their campflres out,
As we know they should.

"The heat of the forest flres
Kills the fishes in the streams

And burns down all the timber.
Spoiling pretty scenes.

Fig. 64. State lion hunter Jay Bruce with a take of five lions.

are a little green at the top and yellow.
They have black marks in the milddle
like finger prints. The tail has black
spots.

"There is another kind of fish which
is called steelhead. When it spawns it
goes upstream and when it goes back
it does not die like salmon. It goes back
and forth to the ocean.

"Spawning means when a fish goes to
spawn it goes upstream where there
is sand. It flips its tail back and forth,
making a small hole in the sand, in
which it lays its eggs. A fish lays from
300 to 1200 eggs." — Emile Petersen.

"Mrs. Brownlow came to our class
To talk about the song bird.

She told us many, many things
We never heard before.

"Mrs. Brownlow was very nice ;

She told us many things
How to put the campfires out

And about the bird that sings."

— Julia Towar

"When the trout comes up the mountain
stream, it finds a place to spawn. After
he finds a place to spawn he makes a
little hole with his tail, there he lays
his eggs. Sometimes he lays three and
four hundred eggs at a time.

"After he goes back to his home in the
mountain stream, men come and take the
eggs to the fish hatcheries. There the
eggs are put in ice cold water.

"When the fish come out of the egg, the
egg stays on the fish's body, and that is
what he feeds on until the egg is all eaten
off, then he is old enough to eat other
food.

21()

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

"The men who feed the fish chop up
liver very fine. They put it in a clipper
and put in the water and it makes the
water loolv like milk. The fish feed off
this until they are big enough to live in
the mountain stream once more.

"The men talie pack mules or horses
or burros and put the fish in cans, that
look like milk cans, and take them up to
the highest mountain streams where the
water is always rushing and foaming
down the mountains.

"It takes them four or five daj's to go
uii, and about three to come down. They
stop every hour and put the cans in the
water, because the water in the cans gets
warm and the fish do not like it. At night
they leave the cans overnight, they put
a screen on the can so the fish would
not get out, then they let them out the

It requires no stretch of the imagiua-
tion to picture what the game sanctuary
or refuge means to birds or animals. For
a number of years, our National Parks
have been concrete examples of this sys-
tem of protection and natural propaga-
tion.

Many states have adopted this plan and
in nearly every case the results have
more than justified the outlay of time
and money. If the output of our game
farms could be liberated in well protected
game sanctuaries under the supervision
of a competent attendant, it would be
but a few years until the adjoining terri-

PiG. 65. An ideal spot for pheasants. Liberation of 100 birds, Bryden Ranch,

Marysville, California.

P'ace they want to let them out." — Ray-
mond fJreenman.

HOW BIRDS RESPOND TO
PROTECTION
Birds as well as animals seem to know
where they are protected and show their
appreciation by making themselves at
home. The dove shown in this picture is
one of a half dozen that found their way
into the pheasant pens on the State Game
Farm and have taken the liberty of re-
maining and going about their business
in a normal and natural way by nesting
and otherwise conducting themselves as
doves are wont to do.

tory would be well stocked with game
birds and the sportsmen Avould then be
getting real interest on his investment. —
August Bade, Yountville, California.

ANOTHER BLUE JAY HUNT

A news item carries the information
that in a certain county at least one
thousand "of these pirate birds were de-
stroyed as a result of an annual hunt."
The item is dated April 25, 1928, and
goes on to state "scores of hunters took
part in the yearly event and scatter guns
operated all day." To many it will seem
a worthwhile accomplishment to destroy

CALIFORNIA Fli^II AND GAME.

217

,1 thousanrl bine jays ; some will say that
at least an equal nnmher of (juail were
thns saved. AVe wonder how many will
think of the other side of the question.
If scores took part and scatter guns
operated all day during the early nesting
season of qiuiil, we wonder how many
deserted nests of quail remained behind.
With such a picture before us, we can not
help but wonder whether a blue jay
hunt staged in the spring during the nest-
ing season of quail accomplishes as much
as is claimed for it. Those who have
observed how easy a quail will desert
a nest when disturbed will be the ones
who will line up against shoots of this
kind.

WARNING

HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN

Volunteer Deputies of the
Division of Fish and Game
are patroling and strictly
enforcing the Fish and Game
laws in this district.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

Fig. 66. Sample poster issued by
volunteer deputies.

LOOKING BACKWARD

Sometimes a review of the past stirs
one to heightened endeavors, for to use
an old phrase, "the success of the past
is the hope of the future." A glance
backward at the record in game conserva-
tion in this state shows the following :

1852. First closed season (12 coun-
ties), antelope and elk.

18r)4. Closed season on antelope and
elk throughout the state.

18G9. Lake JNIerritt established as game
refuge.

1880. Trapping of (luaii, partridge or
grouse prohibited.

1889. Board of fish commissioners
authorized to import game birds for intro-
duction.

1893. Hunting with gun larger than
ten gauge prohibited.

1895. Possession or sale of game during
closed season prohibited.

1897. Robin removed from list of game
birds.

1901. Night shooting prohibited. First
daily bag limits established.

1905. Sale of doves and all shore birds
prohibited.

1907. System of annual hunting li-
cense inaugurated.

1900. Game refuges established. Use
of animal blinds prohibited.

1918. Sale of game with exception of
ducks and geese prohibited. Afterwards
repealed by referendum.

1915. Wholly closed season on rail,
wood duck, band-tailed pigeon, cranes,
and shore birds.

1919. System of game refuges greatly
extended.

1927. Definite program of game refuges
assured through allocation of license fees.

These are accomplishments of the past.
Accomplishments of the future should in-
clude further extension of the refuge sys-
tem.

DEPUTIES FACE NEW PROBLEM

Imagine the difficulty of a game warden
these days ! Instead of looking after the
violators residing in his own county, he
must watch for the influx outside his
district. A game warden in southern
California, who has patrolled his dis-
trict for sixteen years, states that ninety-
five per cent of those who hunt in his
county come from without the county.
Nor do they travel with a team of horses.
This makes a new situation and a grow-
ing one which will take new methods to
properly control.

WILD FOWL REFUGE FUNCTIONING

The only wild fowl refuge established
in recent years in this state is Richard-
son's Bay, in Marin County. That this
refuge is attractive to birds is proved by
a recent census made by Dr. Harry Ober-
holser of the Bureau of Biological Survey
and Captain Walter Sellmer, on March 2,
1928. On that date, it was estimated
that 3500 ducks were congregated on this
bay.

218

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

STREAMS CLOSED TO ANGLING

Under the law providing for the clos-
ing of trout streams passed by the last
legislature, a number of the heavily fished
streams were closed to all angling when
the trout season opened on May 1. They
were closed by executive order of Gov-
ernor C. C. Young, and Fred G. Stevenot,
Director of Natural Resources.

Two classes of streams and tributaries
were closed : first, those closed arbitrarily
because of the necessity of protecting the
streams for egg-taking purposes by the
Division of Fish and Game ; and second,
streams recommended either by sports-

the streams, additional deputies will be
placed on patrol duty, and the closed
area will be closely guarded.

The notice below is the official closing
order and the original notices signed by
Governor Young and Director Stevenot.

Following the official notice w^ill be
found a list, by counties, of all streams
and other fishing water closed under this
order :

"For the purpose of further protecting
trout with which the Fish and Game Com-
mission has stocked the various waters of
this state, of insuring their larger growth
and better means of propagation as well
as providing an adequate supply of trout
eggs for the various fish hatcheries of

Fig. 67. Settling tank at Kings River Experimental Hatchery.
Photograph by E. G. Grimes, June, 1928.

men's organizations or by petitions filed
with the Fish and Game Division by
interested groups of citizens.

By closing of these heavily fished
streams and lakes it is hoped that fish
in the tributaries will attain larger size
before going into the main rivers, and
that spawning grounds will be protected
and the egg take thereby greatly in-
creased.

Signs were placed at conspicuous places
where camp sites are located, where roads
and trails cross the streams and all points
where they can be easily seen by the
fighermen. In addition to the posting of

this state to the end of improving fishing
conditions generally throughout the state ;

"Now therefore, upon the recommenda-
tion of the Fish and Game Commission
of the State of California and pursuant
to and by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the provisions of Chapter 7 51,
192 7, Statutes of California, it is ordered
that the following waters within the

County of , State of California

be and the same are hereby closed to
trout fishing or the taking, killing or hav-
ing of any trout therein or therefrom
from and after the date hereof and dur-
ing all times and seasons until such time
as new legislation is enacted by the state
legislature or by further or other order
of the Director of Natural Resources.

"It is further ordered that in addition
to the publication of this order as pro-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

219

vided for by Sec. 4 of the aforesaid stat-
ute, a copy hereof be posted at the court-
house of said county at the place where
notices are posted pursuant to the provi-
sions of Sec. 1373 of the California Code
of Civil I'rocedure, or seme other con-
spicuous place."

1. Streams Closed to Fishing to Pro-
tect THE Spawn-Taking Areas.

Humboldt County : Prairie Creek, and
all tributaries, to its junction with Red-
wood Creek.

Inyo County : Middle Cottonwood Lake
and connecting streams.

Lassen County : Snag Lake and tribu-
taries.

Mono County : Reverse Creek from June
Lake to the point where it enters Rush
Creek.

Shasta County : Grassy Lake and
stream connecting with Snag Lake.

Orange County: Holy .lim Creek.

Nevada County : Alder Creek and Sage
Hen Creek.

Los Angeles County : Bear Canyon
Creek and Devil's Canyon Creek.

Lake County : Willow, Rice, Deer,
Trout, Soda and Salmon creeks, tribu-
tary to South Eel River and Rice Fork
to Eel River.

Fresno County : All tributary streams
flowing into Shaver Lake. All tributaries
to Dinkey Creek, including West fork of
Dinkev Creek, Rock, Bear, Laurel. Deer,
Bear Meadow and Ross creeks, and other
unnamed creeks.

El Dorado County : Rainbow Lake,
Grouse, Le Conte, Waca, Pyramid, Gefo,
Toem and Jabu lakes.

Tributaries to Lake Tahoe in El Dorado
County are McKinney Creek, General,
Meeks, Lonely Gulch, Rubicon, Eagle,
Cascade, Taylor creeks. Upper Truckee,

:>.

-*Nt

Fig. 68. Kings River Experimental Hatchery. Photograph by B. G. Grimes,

June, 1928.

2. Streams Closed on Recommendation
OF Sportsmen's Organizations and
Interested Citizens.

Tulare County : Mclntyre, Boulder,
Bear, Coy, Lost Meadow creeks, North
Pork of Middle Fork of Tule River above
Redwood Crossing, Aider Creek, Deer
Creek above its Junction with Tyler Creek.

Sonoma County : Santa Rosa, Mark
West and Salmon creeks.

Siskiyou County : Soda Creek.

Shasta County : Hazel Creek and Shot-
gun Creek.

Plumas County : Thompson, Tollgate,
Black Hawk, Clear and Rock creeks, all
tributary to Spanish Creek. Also, Red
Clover Creek, tributary to Indian Creek.

Placer County : Martis Creek and tribu-
taries to Lake Tahoe, including Griff's
Creek, Slim Jim, Burton, Ward, Black-
wood, Madden and McKinney creeks.

Trout Creek, Cold Creek and all tribu-
taries of the above named creeks.

I'lumas County : Butt Creek.

'I'ulare County : Big Kern Lake, Tobias
and Brush creeks.

Santa Cruz County : All streams after
August 1, each year to May 1 of the year
following.

STATE PAKKS AND GAME
PROPAGATION

Our forefathers, in landing and settling
these United States, found the Indians
to be true sportsmen as they positively
would only kill what game they needed
for food. I am very sorry indeed, our
people, who love the chase and great
outdoors, have not followed the example

220

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

set by the North American Indians, who
■were, and what few remain today are
the most sincere conservationists of this
great continent.

The forests of any state are one of
their most valuable assets. Without for-
ests the human race would suffer a great
loss and Avithout forests our wild life
would be destroyed almost entirely. The
stately trees with the accumulated under-
growth and the mossy floors furnish very
excellent protection and food to a certain
extent for wild life of practically all
species. Therefore it is very essential
that in the establishment of state parks,
the commissions, departments, or under
whosoever's supervision this come s.
should by all meaps establish game ref-
uges thereon. On said areas there posi-
tively should not be any hunting of game
or insectivorous birds at any season of
the year. Of course, vermin should be
controlled rather than eliminated, as it
is very essential in the propagation of
game of any species that vermin should
be controlled in a manner whereby any
species of vermin should not become
plentiful enough to be detrimental to the
game on the area in question.

The establishment of game refuges on
these areas is very essential for the
assurance of the continuation of wild life
on this continent, whereby future genera-
tions will have some of the enjoyment of
their forefathers from the great outdoor
life, and especially the chase. — E. Lee Le
Compte, State Game Warden of Mary-
land.

BOY SCOUTS AND CONSERVATION

Considerable newspaper publicity was
recently given to the successful efforts
of Boy Scouts of Great Falls, Montana,
on behalf of thousands of game and song
birds. A copper mining company nightly
turned flashlights on its smokestacks,
which caused a heavy toll of death among
migratory birds who, blinded by the lights,
collided with the stacks. The Scouts
were 'successful in having the lights
turned off during the flight season.

This was a fine good turn to wild
life, and it is gratifying to realize that
it is only one among thousands of such
good turns that Scout troops are system-
atically practicing. In the Report of
the National Court of Honor, the records
of the three awards of the Honor Badge
of the Wild Life Protection Fund art
published. This fine type of service is
particularly Scout-like and should be
encouraged. Here are other good turns
to wild life reported to the National
Office:

Connellsville, Pa., Troop 6. Fed wild
game.

Springville, N. Y., Troop 24. Conserva-
tion wild life, building bird houses, etc.

Rutland, Vt., Troop 1. Regular bird
feeding.

vVindsor, N. Y., Troop 1. Land posting
campaign for wild life.

Lancaster, Mass., Troop 1. Maintained
Ijird feeding stations.

Oak Park, 111., Troop .32. Troop had a
b'rd observation contest in the spring.

Hamburg-, N. Y., Troop 6. Conducted
bird house contest.

Lowe'l, Mass., Troop 33. Fed birds and
placed bird feeding stations in wood dur-
ing winter.

Woonsncket, R. I., Troop 1. Entire troop
turned out to feed birds in woods last
winter.

Toluca, 111., Troop 1. Taught other boys
o stop killing birds. — Boy Scouts of
America, Report of Chief Executive for
1927.

ASSOCIATION STATES AIMS

Tlie aims of the American Wild Fowl-
-^rs concisely given are as follows :

1. To interest all persons or groups of
persons in the intelligent preservation
ind increase of migratory wild fowl in
order that legitimate sport and a supidy
">f game food may be permanently in-
sured.

2. To assist the Biological Survey in
those of its policies approved by the
Executive Committee of the American
Wild Fowlers, and resist legislative ef-
forts designed to impede or cancel the
functional authority of the Biological
Survey to administer the migratory bird
life of the nation.

3. To cooperate with all state game
departments, state sportsmen's associa-
tions and organized wild fowl interests
in legislation consistent with policies of
the American Wild Fowlers.

4. To demonstrate to the public that
the active efforts and interest of sports-
men in the principal element of insurance
'o the future safety of wild fowl.

5. To study and assist in more intel-
ligently demonstrating conditions looking
toward an increase in wild fowl life and
to remedy conditions adversely affecting
them.

G. To urge upon congress legislation
necessary in behalf of wild life habitats
which can, by national and state super-
vision, be relieved of conditions adversely
affecting their wild fowl, by restoring or
creating drainage areas suitable to at-
tract, harbor and feed an increased sup-
ply of wild fowl. — Nash Buckingham,
Executive Secretary.

DESTRUCTION OF DUCKS' NESTS
BY IRRIGATION WATER

Reports have come in from reliable
sources that there is about seventy-five
per cent loss of ducks and geese on the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

221

marshes of lloiic.v Lake and in IIoiK'y
Lake Valley <lnc (u tiie (loodinK of th(>
lands for irrigation at (he time I he ducks
and geese start setting. This increased
water floods the nests, iircv<'nting the
eggs from hatching.

The count of ducks and geese for May
12 in this district showed 2420 hirds.
The seventy-five per cent loss of half
this numher multiplied by eight will show
a loss of 7203 birds. This is based on
the average of eight eggs to the nest.
This loss is appalling and it is a question
whether or not is occurring all over
northern California where ducks and
geese are nesting in irrigated districts.

Motion pictures were obtained of this
destruction and it is hoped that by show-
ing these pictures at the farm centers
ahmg with a lecture, it will be possible
to induce the farmers to turn on the irri-
gation water early enough .so as to catch
the birds building their nests and make
them move to higher grounds.

This loss must be curbed and in so
doing the cooperation of the farmer is
essential. — C. O. Fisher, Susanville.

PROTECTING ORCHARDS FROM
DEER

Soaking strips of woolen cloth in sheep
dip and hanging these strips by means
of wire in trees has been found a succes-
ful means of keeping deer away from
orchards. One strip of cloth saturated
in sheep dip to each tree is sufficient.
The cloth should be so placed that it does
not come in contact with the bark of the
tree. At the end of six weeks it is neces-
sary to resoak the cloths, but this is a
simple matter.

This method is not only cheaper than
spraying, but more effective. In spray-
ing, evaporation takes place. Conse-
quently, the trees must be sprayed fre-
quently. — J. D. Dondero, Lakeport.

CAUSE OF RUFFED GROUSE EPI-
DEMICS STILL UNKNOWN

Attempts to rear ruffed grouse in cap-
tivity on a practical scale have met with
uniform failure according to a report
made by Dr. A. A. Allen who has con-
ducted the investigation for the American
Game Protective Association in coopera-
tion with three eminent eastern para-
sitologists. Eight different methods, each
given a fair trial, have been disappoint-
ing. Now no hope of success is enter-
tained by the investigators until further
understanding is gained of tlie diseases
or other causes for the disappearance of
grouse periodically from their native
covers.

5—60529

It was believiMl in 1!>24 thai jieriddic
ei)id(Mnics were due to the stomach worm.
l)ispliai-ynx. a parasite? which proved
especially deadly to pen reared birds.
However, cooperative experiments and
investigations showed that this parasite
r-ould not be the sole cause as the organ-
ism was not found out of New York and
.'he New England states.

Over 1500 specimens have so far been
xamined and some twenty different para-
■lites identified. Yet to use the words of
Dr. Allen, "The work has been discourag-
ing. I am frank to admit ; we have
ADrked for a good many years and have
lot gotten very far, except that I think
low we do know about what the normal
■oiidition of the grouse is, and if we
should get into an epidemic year we
night be able to determine the organism.
Whether or not we would be able to do
luything about it is open to conjecture.
We can make no promises ; all we can
;romise is that nothing can be done until
ve know something about it."

A SOLUTION SUGGESTED

The opening of the trout season in Los
Angeles County saw thousands of men
aid women in the far reaches of our
mountain streams. Many limits were
taken. Very few trout were over six or
seven inches. The water in the San
Gabriel and its tributaries, which are the
)nly important streams in Los Angeles
County, is very low at this time of the
year.

I have spent many days along these
streams since the trout season opened
and I do not hesitate to say that it would
be a tine thing to close part of these
streams for at least two years. I have
noted the small fish. Men and women
may be seen in the streams using very
small bait and very small hooks, jerking
out the little two- and three-inch trout.
By closing a part of these streams for a
couple of years, we would again have
some real trout, if we could give our fish
time to grow to a fair size. I feel sure
that the limit could be reduced to fifteen
instead of twenty-five. As a matter of
fact, I have checked several catches since
the opening day and in some instances,
the limit was found and not one fish over
six inches long. It would be more sport
and assuredly more merit to catch fifteen
trout twelve to fourteen inches long than
to catch twenty-five trout, six inches long.
— R. E. .Teffries, Monrovia, California.

WHAT DEER EAT

A recent article by Joseph Dixon has
contributed many valuable facts as a di-
rect result of careful observation of the

222

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

food habits of deer in Yosemite Valley.*
Material was gathered in preparation for
a more extended investigation of the sub-
ject and the study of competition between
deer, cattle and sheep on the grazing
lands of the national forests in California.

The Forest Service estimated 227,145
deer, 414,199 sheep and goats, and
108,455 cattle and horses grazed in the
national forests of California in 1925.
The Forest Service estimates 605,964
deer in the national forests of twenty-
six states, one-third of which are found
in California.

Full knowledge of the grazing require-
ments <if deer as well as domesticated

during June, 1920. This was supple-
mented by the author during the 1927
summer season in the same locality.
Yosemite was selected because the natural
conditions presented there remain un-
changed by domestic stock. Deer there
have become reconciled to human beings,
making the study much easier and closer
observation could be carried on. The
camera could be used as a means of re-
cording the food plants.

The paraphernalia used was a note-
book, pencil, binoculars, watch and cam-
era. Herbarium specimens were taken
from the identical plants upon which the
deer grazed and browsed. Another meth-

FiG. 69. Western mourning dove responding to protection by
nesting in a pen at Yountville Game Farm. Photograph by
Milton Clarke, April 20, 1928.

live stock must be had before the proper
administration of grazing lands can be
carried on economically. California can
profit by the serious situation that has
developed in the Kaibab National Forest
in Arizona, where grazing complications
are already in evidence.

Professor A. W. Sampson of the Divi-
sion of Forestry at the University of Cali-
fornia carried on investigations as to just
what deer eat under natural conditions

* Dixon, Joseph. 1928. What deer eat.
American Forests and Forest Life, vol.
34, no. 411, pp. 143-145, illus.

od was used by the author to express the
food preferences of deer. The number of
deer that browsed upon each species of
plant and the time spent in browsing
was noted. By multiplying the number
of deer selecting any species of plant
by the minutes spent browsing on that
plant, the result is designated as "deer
minutes." Such observations made daily
for a period of two weeks, after being
computed, actually made it possible to
say what deer ate in that locality at
that time of year.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAMF.

223

Many obstacles were encountered in
identifying plants, due to shyness on the
part of some deer, and the difficulty in
determining positively the species of fine
grass being selected from a chnnp of
herbage. The 17-inch F.5.4 Ross tele-
centric lens and a reflecting camera
helped much in identification. Deer feed
principally hi early morning or after
sundown, hence it was necessary to use
an open lens and fast plates to secure
good photographs.

The food varies much with the season.
Many observations will therefore be neces-
sary in several regions before a definite
complete report could be made. Deer
fed on fifty different plants in Yosemite
during the summer. At that season,
browsing on deer brush (Ceanothus inte-
ger riinua) was only noted once. During
winter this is known to be one of the
favorite foods.

Deer were not observed to touch azalea
or larkspur, which is said to be poisonous
to cattle and sheep. Cow parsnip and
other poisonous plants were not even
touched. Green manzanita {Arctosta-
phylos patida) which is generally sup-
posed to be off the deer menu was
eagerly sought by an undernourished
buck. California laurel, a tree in the
same category, was also eaten.

Mr. Dixon believes deer are apt to
browse a little on almost any kind of
plant, and refuses to say that they never
eat this or that plant.

Sixty per cent of plants eaten by deer
are taken by sheep and over fifty per
cent are grazed by cattle. Competition
is, therefore, certain.

Plans are being made to build up a
reference collection of plants eaten by
deer with photographs of the actual feed-
ing i)rocess.

Plants in the order of their importance
as deer food are as follow^s : yard weed
yPolygomim aviculare) ; meadow fescue
{Fcstica elatior) ; Spanish clover {Lotus
americana) ; western chokecherry {Prunus
demissa) ; California black oak {Quercus
kelloggii) ; velvet grass {Holcus lan-
atus) ; curly dock {Rumex crispus) ;
horseweed {Erigcron canadensis) ; green
manzanita {Arctostaphglos patula) ; deer
brush {Ceanothus integerrimus) ; sneeze-
weed {Helenium higelovii) ; California
dogwood {Cornus calif ornica) . Careful
records were made of the number of deer
feeding upon each of these twelve species
of plants, the duration or extent of brows-
ing set down in minutes. Hence, the
'"deer minutes"' were easily computed
showing which plants were most pre-
ferred at that time of year. — D. D.
McLean, Berkeley, California.

A PUEA FOR SHOREBIRDS
All interested in migratory wildfowl
will find satisfaction in reading an inter-
esting bulletin published last fall by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture.* The bulletin gives an account of
the present status in South America of
the snipes, sandpipers, and plovers that
migrate in winter from North America
to points south of the equator. Dr.
Alexander Wetmore, now assistant secre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institution, is
the author. The report covers results of
a series of investigations in Argentine,
Uruguay, Paraguay, Patagonia and
Chile. The pampas and coast of Soutli
America furnish wintering grounds for
no fewer than twenty-four species of
migrant shorebirds, which are either resi-
dent or migratory in the United States.

In the bulletin one may read regard-
ing the finding in their winter haunts of
such birds as the sanderling. greater and
lesser yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper,
lludsonian curlew, and the golden and
pileolated plover. Just as settlement has
brought about unfavorable conditions in
America, so in like manner changing con-
ditions are to be noted in the Argentine
and neighboring countries. In addition it
was found that all kinds of birds are
hunted extensively. Nongame, as well
as game birds, are hunted. Ducks and
tinamous are offered for sale in the mar-
kets of Buenos Aires and are included
on the menus in the principal restau-
rants. Legislation for the protection of
birds in the republics of southern South
America is in somewhat the same stages
as it was in the United States thirty years
ago. A few laws have been recently
passed but the public in general has not
yet been educated to their observance.

The bulletin points out in conclusion
that some of the species of shorebirds
are now practically gone and the outlook
for certain others is gloomy at best. More
laws and better enforced ones in the
countries to the south will aid greatly in
assuring a future supply of valuable
game birds, now so nearly gone that they
are given total protection in the United
States.

GAME LAW ENFORCEMENT
A search of court records nowadays
indicates that the public believes in game
laws and believes in their enforcement.
An editorial in the H^ew ilexico Con-
servationist (March, 1928) vividly calls
attention to the fact that game resources

* Wetmore, Alexander. 1927. Our mi-
grant shorebirds in southern South Amer-
ica. U. S. D. A. Tech. Bull. 26, 24 pp.
6 figs.

224

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

constitute a publicly owned asset just
as state lands, public buildings and high-
ways are :

"Try fencing and plowing up the section
of highway running through your land,
or tearing down the neighborhood school-
house for firewood and see what an out-
raged public sentiment will do to you. Go
into the city zoo and shoot down a deer
and you will not be charged with illegal
deer killing unless the maximum fine for
that offense happens to be higher than the
penalty for any other possible charge
that could be brought.

"The public is beginning to realize that
between killing a deer in the zoo and kill-
ing one illegally in the woods the differ-
ence, if any, is one merely of degree.
Both belong to the public and are for the
enjoyment of the whole people. The pub-
lic has decreed that each of its members
may use the wild life resource in a cer-
tain prescribed manner, which prescrip-
tion is designed to admit of maximum
use and avoid destruction. To deviate
from this manner results in an injury to
the balance of the public, and, luckily
for posterity, the public will no longer
stand for it.

You may give your children an educa-
tion in the schoolhouse ; you may dance
in it or hold a box supper there, but you
may not take the window sash from it
to use in your home. It's against the law.
and it's a good law.

"It is also against the law to take more
than our share of the game, but we are
just now beginning to admit that it, too,
is a good law."

SPORTSMEN VERSUS LANDOWNER

The need of taking steps to In-ing
about a better understanding between
the landowner and the sportsman was
emphasized in a report made during the
annual conference of the American Game
Protective Association held in New York
in December, 1927. The report urges
sportsmen to make an ally of the former,
points out the similarity of their inter-
ests and draws a distinction between the
true sportsman and the "mere shooter"
who is a constant source of annoyance
to the farmer and who persistently trans-
gresses the landowner's rights.

The following excerpts are taken from
the spring issue, 1928. of the Maryland
Conservationist in which the report of
the Committee on Relations of Sports-
men and Landowners appears :

"The true sportsman will be and is
anxious to help the landowner restrain
the irresponsible, to assist in patrolling
his premises and furnishing him protec-
tion. He will join w^ith the owner in
the expense of planting food for game
and hedge rows along the fences, and in
the control of vermin which is destruc-
tive to game and domestic poultry. In
other words the landowner and the sports-
man can legitimately and profitably coop-
erate to the fullest extent, to the end
that both will receive many benefits. The
owner will be relieved from vandalism,
and be protected from marauders. The
game, which is an asset to his property,
will be conserved and increased, insectiv-

orous birds, which are essential to crops,
will be preserved, and the sportsman, in
return, will occasionally have the privi-
lege of enjoying a day in the field.

"All who go afield must recognize the
fact that good sport can not be had for
nothing, and like the automobile or other
desirable means of pleasure and recrea-
tion, it has to be paid for. It is a form
of recreation which can no longer be
obtained free. Recklessness in destroy-
ing wild life without any care for the
future should be universally and most
severely condemned, and all sportsmen
should recognize the fact that effective
methods of maintaining the supply, such
as are employed in agriculture and stock-
raising, must "be applied. The following
is a quotation from a letter from Mr. L.
J. Taber, president. National Grange,
dated November 3 :

'For years we have enjoyed the lavish
bounty of nature without making any re-
turn ; every individual sportsman must
now realize his individual obligation to
re)3!ace what he takes in his sport.

'Therefore, the necessary steps to de-
velop good will between the landowner
and the sportsmen are, first a recogni-
tion of the farmers' rights. Courtesy and
common sense are essential. Local sports-
men's associations should prove their be-
lief in fair play by helping to prosecute
game law violators and trespassers who
injure farm property. Local sportsmen's
associations should have standing com-
mittees to cooperate with the <!range,
the Farm Bureau Federation and other
farmers' organizations for the promotion
of better understanding. Farmers should
be invited to affiliate with all spotsmen's
associations and to ]iarticipate in all
their social events in order that leaders
of thought and sentiment of both may
become better acquainted and thereby be
better able to meet on a basis of mutual
friendship and understanding. State-
wide sportsmen's organizations should
work with state and county farm organi-
zations, so that the farmer will come to
realize that the sportsman is ready to
meet him more than half way in adjust-
ing all difficulties and misunderstand-
ings.' "

A NATURE ALMANAC*

One of the reasons why nature educa-
tion has not been more widely utilized in
the schools is because of a lack of suit-
able outlines and programs. Further-
more, it is seldom possible to find sum-
marized information regarding advances
in nature education. Both types of
information brought up to date are to
be found within the covers of a new
volume entitled. "The Nature Almanac,
a Handbook of Nature Education," edited
by Arthur Newton Pack and E. Laurence
Palmer. This book was written keeping
in mind the general aims of a nature
course and the need for a course which
does not require a special time allotment
on the daily program.

* Pack, Arthur Newton, and Palmer, E.
Laurence. 1927. The nature almanac
and handbook of nature education.
(American Nature Association, Washing-
ton, D. 0.) viii, 312 pp., illus.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

225

All introductory chapter by Mr. Pack,
president of the American Nature Asso-
ciation, points out some of the aims of
nature education. After a nature calen-
dar, which suggests objects worth seeing
at the various times of the year, there
follows short reports on various nature
activities in the United States. It is quite
(>vident that California does not stress
nature education as do many eastern
states. Various societies and character
building organizations report on their
contributions to the subject. Four pages
are devoted to the science museums of
the United States. The subject of nature
guiding and of nature education in sum-
mer camps is also discussed. After a
review of work accomplished in the vari-
ous states, a school nature outline gives
many helpful suggestions to teachers. In
each case references to Nature Magazine
are indicated. Suggestions are grouped
for the first two grades, third and fourth
grades, and fifth and sixth grades, each
with enlarged scope. The book ends with
an up-to-date bibliography grouped under
the headings of : texts, bird study, earth
and weather study, fungi, ferns and other
flowering plants, flowering herbs, insects
and their kin, mammals, reptiles, stars,
trees and forestry. There are but four
illustrations contained in the book all in
the forms of cartoons.

Here, then, is a compendium of in-
formation of just the kind which the
average nature study teacher needs to
have in order to keep abreast of the times,
know what other people are doing, and
have at hand the materials suitable for
use in furthering nature education. — H.
C. Bryant.

GAMEKEEPERS' SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED

A gamekeepers' school for the purpose
of training men who can take charge of
game bird raising and game restoration
work for state commissions, agricultural
colleges, private estates, and sportsmen's
organizations is being established in an
appropriate location of 1400 acres near
Clinton, New Jersey, by the Game Con-
servation Society of New York City. It
is believed that the time has come when
the country needs men who are specially
trained along this line. It is now impos-
sible to fill the demands for gamekeepers
from clubs and private estates and trained
men are often imported from Europe to
take charge of such work. The school
is being established in the east where
there is greater need for game restoration
than in any other part of the country.
It is directed by men who have demon-

strated their ability to build up i)reserves
and put them on a profitable basis.

The school is open to men over eighteen
years of age who desire theoretical and
practical education in the production of
game.

The full course of the school, according
to present plans, is two years. This
period, however, will undoubtedly be con-
siderably modified and eventually become
dependent upon the ground work that
each individual has had before entering
the school.

There is no charge for tuition, books
or practical equipment, but the indi-
vidual is expected to pay his board, lodg-
ing and laundry, which, it is stated, can
be had on the preserve at an expense not
to exceed .$410 a year.

Sixteen states are represented in the
first class which began April 15. A num-
ber are college graduates and have an
excellent foundation on which to build.
An appreciation of the economic value of
game has spread to colleges. Several
states are seriously considering making
it a ijart of their regular agricultural
course.

Quoting from June, 1928, Forest and
Stream : "The course in practical game
breeding covers the quail and its propa-
gation both by hand rearing and semi-
wild rearing ; practical experience in the
handling and breeding of stock, the
preparation of grounds, the control of
natural enemies, food problems and the
adaptation of the successful English Eaus-
ton System to American conditions.

"There will be a similar course de-
voted to the wild turkey, the Hungarian
partridge, the pheasant and the more im-
portant varieties of waterfowl — ducks,
geese, swans, etc.

"The student at this school will re-
ceive careful instruction in natural his-
tory, a comprehensive training and ex-
perience in the practical side of game
breeding — covering the construction of
pens, box traps, nest boxes, and other im-
plements used in the production of game.
In addition, they will be thoroughly
trained in the art of trapping and the
general control of vermin, the handling
and training of dogs and the use of sport-
ing weapons."

NESTING HABITS OF BAND-TAILED
PIGEON*

An interesting account of the personal
observations of the nesting habits of the
band-tailed pigeon is given by Mr. Albert

* Stillman, Albert E. 1928. Nesting of
the Band-tailed Pigeon. American For-
ests and Forest Life, vol. ?,i, no. 413, May,
1928. pp. 267-268, 300, illus.

226

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

B. Stillman in the May, 1928, issue of
American Forests and Forest Life. Ac-
cording to the author, while the pigeon
breeds in small numbers in southern
California, not much has been written on
its nesting habits. Location of the nests
is difficult and observation even more so,
as the birds are careful not to betray
their location. The male does not perch
too near it, and the female does not flush
from it unless danger threatens.

Mr. Stillman's observations were made
while residing several summers in a cabin
on the top of Bushnell Mountain, in the
coast range, near Mesa Grande, Cali-
fornia. The cabin was surrounded with
white oaks in which were many western
gnatcatchers and California woodpeckers,
together with band-tailed pigeons, "that
roosted in the lonely oaks, even homing
high on the mountains."

It is interesting to note Mr. Stillman's
account of his first seeing the female
pigeon early in July with nest building
material fly into a manzanita bush across
the canyon, followed shortly by the male,
and the difliculty that Mr. Stillman had
in locating the nest, together with the
unique experience that eventually led
to its discovery : "We explored the woods
for more than two weeks before it was
discovered by mere chance. We were
collecting pine cones in a tree about
twenty feet high. It happened that my
belt caught on a dead limb, and as I
gave the limb a shake, a band-tailed
pigeon left her nest on the horizontal
branch of a black oak, several feet away,
and alighted in the top of a nearby pine
tree. A moment later we were looking at
our first band-tailed pigeon nest. We
never would have seen it had the bird
kept her place. The nest was no more
than fifteen feet from the ground and
about twenty-five feet from the trail."

The nest is described as being rather
bulky, a mere pile of about one hundred
and fifty oak and squaw-bush twigs,
ranging from a sixteenth to a quarter of
an inch in diameter.

jNIuch time was spent in trying to ob-
tain the birds' confidence, in which Mr.
Stillman was finally successful, enabling
him to approach as close as two feet and
to make some of his notes from a camp
stool within three feet, and eventually,
within one week, the author sat at the
foot of the tree and watched the mother
bird's operations.

"In September the baby pigeon was in
the nest ; its dark skin covered with soft,
cottony yellow down, gave it the appear-
ance of a gosling. As I watched, the
mother bird flew to a pine tree on the

other side of the trail. Then, with a
loud clapping of wings, she darted to a
branch, beside her nest. Frequently I
saw her stretch herself out so as to ob-
tain a better view of the nestling. Pres-
ently she entered the nest and gave the
food to her young."

Not wishing to disturb the pigeons, the
next visit to the nest was made after
four days, shortly after sunup, and the
pigeon was found beside her nest directly
overhead. "The baby bird was strong
and active. An adventuresome little fel-
low he was, wriggling to the nest-edge
to be fed. Later, undisturbed by our
presence, he huddled down among the
small twigs, closed his eyes, and dropped
off to sleep."

"When the baby pigeon was small, the
mother stayed near the nest, often shelter-
ing it with her wings during the midday
heat ; but when it was about ten days old
she remained away from the nest for
hours at a time. The male was observed
about the nest only twice."

When the young bird was two weeks
old the nest was visited by the author
and Mr. Clinton G. Abbott of the
Natural History Museum of San Diego,
who after making friends with the nest-
ling succeeded in photographing same.

"The following day the old pigeon left
the oak tree in the early morning and re-
turned at twilight. Next day she left
at daybreak and returned at sundown.
For more than a week after that she was
not observed at the nest except in the
late afternoon * * *. Early in Octo-
ber the young bird left the nest. With
folded wings it sat on a small branch of
the oak, where it remained until late in
the afternoon. That night it roosted on
the high limb of a nearby pine tree. The
following day it left the neighborhood
and I did not see it again."

A short time later Mr. Stillman dis-
covered another band-tailed pigeon sitting
on her nest about ten feet above the
ground in a live oak tree near a country
road. This nest was remarkably well
constructed of oak twigs and had a thick
lining of pine needles and contained one

Mr. Stillman was imable to make con-
tinuous observations of this nest for more
than one week, but from data gathered
from another source, it is reported that
a severe thunder storm swept across the
mountain and on the day after the storm
the mother bird was seen brooding but
that she left the nest and did not return
to it. It is understood that it is not the
ordinary habit of the bird to brood so
late in the season, and "that the date of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

227

my finding, October twelfth, established
a new late nesting record of forty-eight
days for the band-tailed pigeon in Cali-
fornia." — Bessie AV. Kibbe.

CARP CATCH INCREASED BY
NOVEL METHOD

The German carp has gained a bad
reputation and Is suspected as a de-
stroyer of the spawn of game fishes. For
this reason any method devised which
will greatly deplete the numbers of these
"rough" fish at once wins the approba-
tion of those who would conserve the
more desired species. The Minnesota
Fish Commission permits seining in carp
infested lakes during the winter months
and carefully supervises the operations to
prevent game fish from being removed.
The carp taken are shipped to the larger
eastern cities where they are in con-
siderable demand during Jewish holidays.

In an article in the Fishing Gazette
(vol. 45, no. 5, p. 18), George Roger
Chute tells of the innovation in the meth-
od of seining which resulted in such a
phenomenal catch during the past winter.

"The belief has always been prevalent
that in winter the carp gather in the
deepest parts of the lakes, and can there
be seined. But this year it has beea
leameu that a high percentage of the
fish of the lake actually are to be found
close under the ice, at the very edges
of the water. Whether the fish are
feeding there or are seeking air is a
matter of conjecture, but the seiners
have found that by the old process of
p..t.sin::i uieir nets, a great proportion of
the fish escaped by never being within it.

"Cultivating an ice field may seem a
strange farming operation, but in Minne-
sota it has been found productive of a
bounteous crop of carp. The fisherman
there mounts to the driver's seat of a
big disc harrow, whips up his horses
shod with ice calks, and proceeds around
the perimeter of the water-body to be
seined. The cutting discs of the steel
harrow chisel and grind against the ice,
grooving the surface, gouging out ir-
regularities, and creating withal a rattle
and chop which must be most confounding
and frightful to the fish just beneath.
At all events, we are assured by the
seiners that the stampede of the strayed
fish is as precipitous as their terror
is complete, and that by the time the
howling harrow has made the rounds of
the lake shore once or twice, every
carp capable of locomotion has fled to
the central depths of the pond, there to
huddle with his fellows, seeking gre-
garious protection, and witlessly laying
himself directly in the path of the seine's
deep bunt as the gear is circled about.
"The discovery of this novel method
of fish-driving has resulted in great
gratification to everyone connected with
the business. It has literally netted a
greatly increased catch with a corre-
spondingly enlarged return to the seiner
and to the state ; it has caused a far
more efficient and thorough ridding of
the lakes of undesired species."

WOOD DUCKS INCREASING
Since the wood duck has been accorded
complete protection, it has been slowly
but steadily increasing and a few definite
notes may be of interest. In talking with
Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy at the meet-
of the American Ornithologists' Union he
said that wood ducks Avere the most
abundant ducks in Califfirnia, where ho
had just been on a duck luint. That is, of
course, far away from Ontario, but on
a visit to Point Pelee on December 21,
I was told by a resident who is a con-
scientious conservationist, that, on the
opening day of shooting, these ducks
were the most abundant of all and that
very many of them were killed. Unfor-
tunately the perpetrators escaped in every
instance, and my informant belonged to
(Uie of the few parties that refused to
kill them. On my return home (London,
Ontario) I found awaiting me a memo-
randum regarding a wood duck, and on
December 25th I saw the bird itself,
which had doubtless been wounded dur-
ing the shooting season and had lived
on my own lake until it froze over. It
was flushed by a man on the 22d and
scuttled over the ice towards the open
water, but was brought in by a dog, un-
injured. But it is doubtful that it will
recover and probably will never be able
to fly. These ducks were regularly seen
at my place from August onward. — W. E.
Saunders in The Canadian Field Natural-
ist (vol. 52), February, 1928.

REFUGES MOST IMPORTANT
IN SAVING WILD LIFE

Establishment of sanctuaries for birds
will do more for their welfare than any
other one thing, Paul G. Redington, chief
of the Bureau of Biological Survey,
United States Department of Agriculture,
told the members of the Izaak Walton
League, a national organization of per-
sons interested in hunting and fishing, at
their annual convention in Omaha, April
20. "While restrictions are necessary,"
he said, "I feel that I am safe in saying
that they take second place to a carefully
worked out system of refuges, and I am
glad to say that progress has been made
in this respect within the last year."

"Unanimity of the League and other
sportsmen in favor of the flooding of the
Bear River marshes of Utah has brought
results in the current session of consiress."
Mr. Redington said, and legislation to
make the Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas a
permanent refuge for waterfowl is now
pending. Also before congress is legis-
lation to Imsten completion of the pur-
chase of land within the Upper Missis-

228

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

sippi River Wild Life and Fish Refuge,
wliicli Mr. Redington said, "was conceived
and made possible b.y the influence of the
Izaak Walton League of America."
Another measure for which the League
has worked is the McNary-Sweeney Bill
for a study of relationships between the
forests and wild life. The Budget Bu-
reau approved it as did the senate com-
mittee. "We are all hopeful," he added,
"that the bill may be put on the statute
books at this session of congress."

In pai-ticular Mr. Redington thanked
the league and other sportsmen for the
aid they gave the Biological Survey in
one of the central states where violations
of the INIigratory Bird Treaty Act were
numerous and where attempts had been
made to do away Avith the game warden
and to demolish his power boat. The
League sent letters to all chapters in the
state urging support of the authorities,
and a notable improvement followed.

Mr. Redington's address reviewed many
of the activities of the Bureau of Biologi-
cal Survey for the past year and needs
and plans for the future. "The federal
government alone can not be depended
upon to solve the many problems of wild
life administration." Facts and coopera-
tive effort are needed, to provide a basis
for a long-time program of conservation,
including studies of food habits of migra-
tory birds of which only a few have been
completed, and which will be a guide to
formulation of a refuge program. Other
activities have been surveys of areas
available for refuges ; studies of propa-
gation of game birds ; plans for studies
of the feeding habits of animals along
lines similar to those undertaken in con-
nection with the Jackson Hole elk ; the
organization of the waterfowl census,
which is now under way and enjoying
the cooperation of sportsmen throughout
the country ; and the bird banding work,
in which more than 1200 sportsmen and
bird students are aiding the bureau. In
this connection Mr. Redington mentioned
that ducks banded on the celebrated Chey-
enne Bottoms of Kansas were retaken in
IG states, three provinces of Canada, in
Alaska and in Mexico.

Air. Redington also made a plea for
sympathetic support of the new Alaska
(jame Commission. "Seldom has such
an opportunity been given to those inter-
ested in the perpetuation of our big game
animals to unite their efforts in the estab-
lishment of a well-balanced and effective
game administration progara as can be
done in Alaska,"

IMPORTED WILD BIRDS NOT EASILY
ESTABLISHED HERE

Importations of foreign birds for the
stocking of game coverts, or in the hope
of adding to the variety of bird music
in the woods, or for warfare on insect
pests, have led to strange and unexpected
results. Probably few persons antici-
pated that the English sparrow would
thrive and multiply and spread itself over
the whole continent as it has since the
tirst scattering importations were made
on the Atlantic coast in the early 1850's.
On the other hand, bird lovers, sports-
men, and state game authorities have
spent thousands of dollars in efforts to
acclimatize and establish desirable vari-
eties of game birds. Reckoned by number
a large proportion of the attempts have
failed. Sometimes the birds have simply
disappeared and were never seen again,
leaving the importers wondering whether
they may have migrated or fpllen prey to
disease or animals in the new environ-
ment. At times sportsmen have grown
crops on game preserves with the expec-
tation of allowing the birds to harvest
the crops and enjoy a favorable chance
for colonization. In other instances,
birds have seemed to settle down and
nest and reproduce satisfactorily for a
year or more, only to vanish a few years
later, apparently gaining stamina and re-
productive power for a few years only to
lose it later. The English sparrow in-
creased in numbers and in range for per-
haps 30 to 40 years when it reached a
peak of abundance and was considered a
serious pest. In recent years, these birds
have declined greatly in numbers both in
cities and in rural districts, and nature
seems to be setting a balance in regai'd
to them.

The foregoing is representative of the
general discussion of the subject that Dr.
John C. Phillips offers in a G4-page pam-
phlet, "Wild birds Introduced or Trans-
planted in North America," just pub-
lished by the United States Department
of Agriculture as Technical Bidletin
61-T. Dr. Phillips has cooperated with
the Bureau of Biological Siirvey, and has
collected a great quantity of records and
reports that he summarizes briefly for
each species and variety for which he has
been able to gather facts. He prefaces
his report with the statement that "the
early history of the introduction of for-
eign birds into this country is mostly
clothed in darkness. The records of many
attempts, if such there were, have long
since been buried in back numbers of

CALIFORNIA FIl-^H AND GAME.

229

l()c:il lunvspapei-s. and if any experiment
was successful it was soon forgotten."
For the most part he has depended on
the files of sportsmen's magazines, the
records of the Biological Survey, and
supplementary correspondence with many
bird lovers and biologists in various re-
gions where birds have been liberated.
Since 1900 the records of the Biological
Survey are a complete guide to importa-
tions. Many birds imported as cage birds
have been freed or have escaped and
some have established themselves in fa-
vored localities.

One principal use of this bulletin, the
author believes, will be to record and
bring to the attenti(m of those who at-
tempt to acclimatize birds a record of
the failures with the same or similar
birds, and so prevent waste of money in
ill-considered introductions.

Doctor Phillips devotes several pages
to the various kinds of quail, including
the bobwhite, and tells how these have
been moved about from one section to
another, sometimes successfully but often
unsuccessfully. Massachusetts sportsmen
began comparatively early to import quail,
first from the Ohio Valley, later from
Kan.sas and the Indian Territory, and
still later from INIexico. When Mexican
birds were first imported the prices ran
as low as .$1.50 a dozen. Later the
Ohio Valley and even Oklahoma and
Texas, which were at one time dependable
sources of supply, also found their game
so depleted that they in turn bought to
restock. From 1910 to 1925, the author
reports, more than 233.000 ]Mexican bob-
whites are recorded as having entered the
United States, and the price has steadily
risen to $24 to $36 a dozen.

In the new bulletin the author gives
facts concerning importations and accli-
matization experiments with more than
100 species and varieties of wild birds.
Technical Bulletin <il-T may be obtained
free uptm application to the United
States Department of Agriculture, Wash-
ington, D. C.

UPPER KLAMATH WILD LIFE
REFUGE ESTABLISHED

By recent executive order, President
Conlidge has set aside for use as a refuge
and breeding ground for birds and wild
animals an area in southern Oregon em-
bracing certain unappi'opriated public
lands near the upper end of Upper Klam-
ath Lake. The new reservation will be
known as the Upper Klamath Wild Life
Refuge and will be administered by the

Bureau of Biological Survey of the
United States Department of Agriculture.
All the lands involved have been with-
drawn for reclamation i)ur])oses in con-
nection with the Klamath irrigation pro-
ject in Oregon and California and, as
with other reclamation projects set aside
as wild life refuges, are primarily under
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Recla-
mation of the Department of the Interior.
The reservation of these lands as a bird
refuge therefore is subject to use by the
Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation and
other purposes.

About 5200 acres are included in the
refuge, which extends as a .rather long,
narrow strip between the Crater National
Forest, embracing the high mountain
range bordering this part of the Klamath
River Valley on the west, and Upper
Klamath Lake. The refuge area con-
sists mainly of marshland containing a
dense growth of tules, sedges, and other
aquatic vegetation and affording abundant
cover for the nesting wild fowl of the
region. The marshes and the more open
water areas also included will provide
important feeding and resting grounds for
migratory waterfowl, especially wild
ducks and geese.

The establishment of the refuge will be
of great importance to the waterfowl of
the region, in view of the fact that there
has been such extensive drainage of marsh
areas in that general section in connec-
tion with the reclamation of lands for
agricultural purpo.ses. The reservation
will be of great interest to conserva-
tionists generally as well as to sportsmc
who are familiar with the drainage opera-
tions that have led to the practical elim-
ination of Lower Klamath Lake, embrac-
ng about 80,000 acres and formerly one of
the most important breeding grounds for
resident waterfowl and feeding and rest-
ing grounds for migratory waterfowl in
western North America. The creation
of the refuge at Upper Klamath I^ake
will in a way serve to offset the disap-
pointment that many felt because of the
impracticability of reflooding Lower
Klamath to save it as a wild fowl haven.
The development of wild life refuges
in this general section will provide for the
needs of the birds on an important migra-
tion route near the Pacific coast. The
new refuge will also extend needed protec-
tion to fur-bearing animals. It is unlaw-
ful, within the reservation, wilfully to set
on fire any timber, underbrush, or grass, or
after building a fire to leave it without
totally extinguishing it, or to hunt, trap,

230

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

capture, or wilfully disturb any wild ani-
mal or bird or the eggs of any wild bird,
except under such rules and regulations
as may be prescribed by the Secretary of
Agriculture.

MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT
REGULATIONS AMENDED

Amendments to the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act Regulations, changing the
classification of gallinules, the open
seasons in a number of states, and the
sinkbox regulation, have been adopted by
Secretary of Agriculture Jardine and
approved by the President. Gallinules
are no longer classified under the open
season for wild ducks and geese, being
now included in the open season for rails.
In Illinois the season on waterfowl will
open next fall on September 16 and close
December 31, this being in lieu of the
former period from October 1 to January
15. In Massachusetts the season on rails
and gallinules (except coot) is changed
from the period September 1 to November
30 to the period September 16 to Decem-
ber 15.

In South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, and Mississippi the open season
on mourning doves has been changed from
the period October 16 to January 31 to
two periods covering the month of Sep-
tember and from November 20 to Janu-
ary 31.

The provision prohibiting the use of
sinkboxes in strictly inland waters in the
hunting of migratory waterfowl was not
changed, but the restriction having appli-
cation to the distance between sinkboxes,
and between sinkboxes and shore lines
or islands, has been eliminated. Under
the regulations of last season it was re-
quired that sinkboxes (batteries) used in
the taking of waterfowl in coastal sounds
and bays and other coastal waters be
placed not less than 700 yards from the
shore line of the mainland at ordinary
high tide and not less than 700 yards from
any island at ordinary high tide and not
less than 700 yards from any other sink-
box.

FOREST SERVICE PLANS NOVEL
CAMPAIGN

"What Price Fire," a thrilling motion
picture showing how Dan Crockett, a
miner and packer won an uphill fight
against the red enemy of the forest, will
be the main attraction of a fire prevention
campaign to be put on by the U. S. Forest
Service in northern California this sum-
mer. The picture was taken in the Mt.
Shasta, Klamath River and Marble

Mountain regions of Siskiyou County,
with local settlers as the leading actors,
and contains many beautiful shots of
noted scenic attractions, game animals
and birds, and high mountain country.

The educational fire prevention cam-
paign will start at Redding May 22 and
will cover 115 cities and towns within
and adjacent to the Shasta, Klamath,
Trinity and California National Forests,
and along the Redwood highway from
Crescent City to the San Francisco Bay
region. A show will be given each night,
except Sunday, in different towns and
will be free to- all. In addition to the
three-reel story, "What Price Fire," there
will be a movie entitled "She's Wild"
with bronco-busting, steer roping and ty-
ing, and other exhibitions of cowboy
prowess at a frontier day celebration, and
a brief talk illustrated with beautifully
colored lantern slides, showing the loss
by fire of valuable timber, recreation, and
fish and game resources.

To carry on this campaign in northern
California, the Forest Service has equip-
ped a truck with an electric generator,
motion picture projectors, stereoptican
lantern, screen, and other necessary para-
phernalia for putting on a complete movie
show not only in large towns but even in
out-of-the-way settlements. Asher Ire-
land, an ofiicer with IS years of experi-
ence in the forest service, will direct the
campaign.

BEAR RIVER MARSHES, UTAH,
SAVED FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS

Carrying authorization for an appro-
priation of .$350,000, the Bear River Mi-
gratory Bird Refuge Bill, which has been
pending in congress for the past two
sessions, has been approved by President
Coolidge. This important conservation
legislation authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture to construct at Bear River
Bay and vicinity, Utah, such dikes,
ditches, spillways, buildings, and improve-
ments as may be necessary for establish-
ment of a suitable refuge and feeding and
breeding ground for migratory wild fowl
and to acquire, by purchase, gift, or lease,
water rights and privately owned lands
necessary for the purpose.

The Bear River IMarshes, on Bear
River Bay. comprise the greatest wild-
fowl area of its kind in the Rocky Mount-
tain region and form the gathering place
for millions of wild ducks and geese dur-
ing their north and south migrations.
The new law seeks to improve conditions
at Bear River Bay so as to prevent a
recurrence of the enormous losses of mi-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

2:U

gratory wild fowl tliat have resulted from
the concentrated alkaline waters there.
It is estimated that in the past few years
not less than 7,000,000 ducks alone have
perished, owing to scanty rainfall and
the diversion of water for irrigation pur-
poses from Bear River and other streams
tributary to the marshes in that district,
the .shallow waters in many parts of
these marshes during summer and fall
of each year becoming concentrated solu-
tions of alkali.

The building of dikes and other im-
provements to store waste fresh waters,
now flowing into Salt Lake, for the pur-
pose of reflooding the Bear River Marshes
will eliminate the death areas and afford
a breeding ground for great numbers of
the birds. Instead of a death trap the
area will become a supply point for the
surrounding region, producing vastly in-
creased numbers of wild fowl.

During the summer of 1927, with the
cooperation of the Associated Sportsmen
and the United Duck Hunters of Cali-
fornia, an engineer of the Bureau of
Public Roads made a careful study for
the Bureau of Biological Survey of con-
ditions at Bear River Bay. His report
showed that the project is entirely feas-
ible and indicated that an appropriation
of .$350,000 would cover the cost of the
development of a refuge in the region,
which will include tlie marshes of the
delta proper and provide for impounding
fresh water over the broad marginal flats.
The act stipulates that not more than
$50,000 shall be expended for the pur-
chase of land, and that not less than 60
per cent of the area acquired shall be
maintained as an inviolate sanctuary for
migratory birds.

The Bear River project is primarily
the heart of the wild-fowl conservation
problem of the 11 states west of the
Rocky Mountains, and it has been con-
clusively shown by the bird-banding op-
erations of the Biological Survey con-
ducted in the region that these marshes
form a distributing center supplying mi-
gratory wild fowl to all the surrounding
states. It is predicted that the food value
of the birds that can be saved in a
single season, not to mention recreational
and esthetic values, will be far in excess
of the cost of the proposed improvements.
Sportsmen and conservationists through-
out the country will welcome the measure
as a most far-reaching step in the wild-
life conservation program. The acquisi-
tion of lands for the refuge and its ad-
ministration when established will be by
the Bureau of Biological Surve.v of the
United States Department of Agriculture.

UTAH MAN WILL HEAD BEAR RIVER
BIRD REFUGE PROJECT

David H. Madsen, State Fish and
Game Commissioner of Utah, has been
appointed superintendent of the new mi-
gratory bird refuge authorized to be es-
tablished at Bear River Bay, Utah, under
the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Bill recently approved by President Cool-
idge. Mr. Madsen is president of the
Western Association of Game Commis-
sioners and has been prominently identi-
fied with the conservation of wild life
for a number of years. Fully familiar
with wildfowl conditions in his state, ho
has been one of the strongest advocates
for the reflooding of the Bear River
Marshes and the creation of a refuge
there as a means of preventing the annual
mortality of birds in the region. Mr.
Madsen will take up his new duties on
July 2.

The construction work necessary for
the reflooding of Bear River ^larshes, as
provided by the act, will be performed
under the direction of L. M. Winsor, Bu-
reau of Public Roads engineer stationed
at Logan, Utah. He has been engaged for
a number of years on irrigation projects
in the west and through his long experi-
ence in the Division of Agricultural En-
gineering of the Bureau of Public Roads
of the United States Department of
Agriculture is well fitted for the work.
Mr. Winsor during the summer of 1927
made a careful study for the Bureau of
Biological Survey of conditions at Bear
River Bay.

The second deficiency bill, which be-
came a law during the closing hours of
the 70th Congress, carried an item of
$200,000 for the construction of such
dikes, spillways, buildings, and improve-
ments as may be necessary for the es-
tablishment of a refuge for migratory
wildfowl in this region so well fitted as
feeding and breeding grounds, and to ac-
quire the land and water rights needed for
the purpose. This is part of the $350,000
appropriation authorized in the Bear
River Migratory Bird Refuge Act. Plans
for the preliminary work of the acquisi-
tion of lands and for engineering opera-
tions are being developed by the Bureau
of Biological Survey which will adminis-
ter the refuge when it is established.

The Bear River Marshes, on Bear
River Bay, comprise the greatest wild-
fowl area of the kind in the Rocky
Mountain region and form the gathering
place for millions of wild ducks and
geese during their north and south mi-
grations. The new law seeks to improve
conditions at Bear River Bay so as to

232

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

prevent a recurrence of the enormous
losses of migratory wild fowl, especially
ducks, that have resulted from the con-
centrated alkaline waters there. The
building of dikes and other improvements
to store fresh water now flowing into
Salt Lake, in order to reflood the Bear
River Marshes, will not only eliminate
the death areas, but will also afford a
feeding and breeding ground for great
numbers of the birds. Instead of a death
trap, the area will l)ecome a supply point
for the surrounding states, producing
vastly increased numbers of wild fowl.

FOX DISTEMPER BEING
INVESTIGATED

Frequent requests from fox breeders
for assistance in controlling infectious
diseases in their animals have prompted
the Bureau of Biological Survey of the
United States Department of Agriculture
to investigate conditions on a number of
fox farms. Between the years 1921 and
1926 Dr. Karl B. Hanson and Dr. H. L.
Van Yolkenberg, of the Division of Fur
Resources of the Biological Survey,
visited as many infected premises as pos-
sible, studying conditions for periods
ranging from a day to a week at each.
Special note was made regarding the his-
tory of the various outbreaks, the rate
of mortality, and the class of animals
affected, their symptoms and the organs
involved.

The source of the disease was directly
traceable in the gi'eater proportion of
the outbreaks to animals brought from
other farms or from fox shows. When-
ever a bacteriological lalioratory was near
at hand, advantage would be taken of
the opportunity to send fresh carcasses
there for examination. Lack of facilities
or funds prevented other studies of the
bacteriology or the microscopic injuries
caused in these infections.

It was soon found that a very thorough
and comprehensive investigation would
have to be made of so-called distemper,
or of the various diseases known by that
name. It was deemed important that the
bacteriology and microscopic pathology
of the animals affected first be given par-
ticular attention with a view to deter-
mining the causes of the trouble and
working out more accurate methods of
diagnosis.

Dr. R. G. Green, of the Medical School
of the University of Minnesota, who,
with a group of associates had investi-
gated outbreaks on large farms near
Minneapolis, visited F. G. Ashbrook, of
the Bureau of Biological Survey, in
December, 192G, and discussed the work

done at the University of Minnesota.
Fresh material in abundance had been
available for his use, and each outbreak
was kept under close observation through-
out its entire course.

A program of cooperative research on
diseases of carnivorous animals was en-
tered into between the Biological Survey
and the University of Minnesota on Oc-
tober 1. 1927. The work has been carried
out under the combined direction of Dr.
J. E. Sliillinger of the Bureau of Bio-
logical Survey, and Dr. R. G. Green of
the Universit.v of Minnesota. The coop-
erative undertaking had the benefit of
almost three years' earlier work by Doc-
tor Green and his associates. Dr. Earle
T. Dewey and Dr. Newell R. Ziegler, who
have been associated with Doctor Green
since the time he began his fox-disease
investigation, have continued as part of
the staff of nine workers under the coop-
erative program.

When the university group started its
investigations its activities were directed
to the study of a bacterial infection that
was present on a number of fox ranches
in Minnesota. This disease, known as
fox paratyphoid, disappeared in Minne-
sota and was followed by another, dis-
covered by Doctor Green, and here tenta-
tively called epizootic fox enceph;ilitis,
to which investigations are now being di-
rected. An epizootic, it will be under-
stood, is in animals the same as an epi-
demic in man.

On a number of fox ranches in the
northwest an infection known as fox
paratyphoid occurred during the fall of
1924 and the winter and spring of 1925.
It appeared to be a disease of young
foxes rather than adults. On affected
ranches the young would die in large
numbers, while only an occasional breed-
ing animal would succumb. The mor-
tality in its typical course ran as high as
60 per cent of all the younger animals on
a ranch. Bacterial vaccine tended to
control the disease on these ranches, and
the fox paratyphoid has not been eiu-oun-
tered by the Liniversity of Minnesota
group since the summer of 1925. The very
fact that it has disappeared from view is
strong evidence that the disease studied
was a primary infection, and if so, that
it can be expected to reappear in epizootic
form sometime in the future.

Following their work on the paraty-
phoid infection, the university group be-
gan investigations of a second dsease of
foxes that previously was not described
or Avas known under the name "dis-
temper," and now is tentatively being
called epizootic fox encephalitis. The

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

233

solution of (he various prol)l(>nis. ospeci-
ally the development of a preventive vac-
cine, will undoubtedly rociuire the major
efforts of the group for several years to
come.

This disease was first encountered in
the fall of 1920. It was recognized first
in groups of animals that had been im-
munized with the paratyphoid vaccine.
The evidence that foxes so vaccinated
were resistant to an infection by the
same organism indicated that a new dis-
ease was being dealt with in vaccinated
animals. Accordingly, transmission ex-
pei'iments wei*e carried on with foxes that
liad been so vaccinated.

Ei)izootic fox encephalitis has been
present on numerous ranches throughout
the United States during the past three
.years. Outbreaks developed following fox
shows at I'ortland, Me., and Buffalo.
N. Y., in 192;j, and have been present on
many ranches under observation continu-
ously since that time. It appears to be
a disease of adult foxes as well as pups,
and in outbreaks studied, deaths in adults
have been as numerous as among the
young. P]ven on a carefully supervised
ranch the majority of animals are found
dead even though only a few hours be-
fore they were apparently well. Sick
foxes when found may show convulsions,
extreme weakness, paralysis, or sleepi-
ness. All the various symptoms appear-

ing in ranch aninnils have Iieen ropi-o-
duced in animals artificially infected from
a single sick fox, sliowing that all these
manifestations are part of the same
disease.

The animals dying from experimental
infection appear the same in all w.iys
as do the animals dying on a ranch. On
a ranch the moi-tality from this disease
does not often exceed fifteen per cent,
but a number of epizootics have been
observed where it was as higli as 40 per
cent. Positive diagnosis of this disease
has been difficult, and one of the prob-
lems confronting the investigators is to
find a technicpie making the diagnosis less
difficult.

Considerable experimental work h.-is
been necessary to an understanding of
epizootic fox encephalitis. Close to 400
animals have been used in transmission
experiments, and approximately 1400 sick
animals have been carefully studied.
Thus far it appeai-s that two diseases of
foxes have been encountered, and the group
of investigators is not sure but that a
third may be discoveerd as tlie work goes
on. The development of a vaccine for
epizootic fox encephalitis is the immedi-
ate aim, and it is hoped that a research
undertaken by the University of Minne-
sota and the Bureau of Biological Survey
will have the cooperation and support of
fox ranchers.

DIVISION ACTIVITIES

Appropi'iate and distinctive metal but-
tons and insignia have been secured and
will be supplied the field force. These
will complete the olive drab uniforms
which have been prescribed for the field
force of the Division. In adopting a
uniform for its fish and game patrol
force, California has followed the prece-
dent established by other leading game
conservation states, which have found
that placing the patrol force in uniform
has not only elevated the standing of the
force, but has also tended to increase its
efficiency. Under regulations, the uniform
will be worn at all times except on special
missions and investigations requiring con-
cealed identity.

Negotiations leading up to the ac-
(|uisition of a game farm site for southern
California have been completed and plans
are under way for the construction of
the necessary plant, buildings and equip-
ment, which will permit this farm to be
in operation during the coming season.

The Division will conduct a large ex-

hibit at the I'acific Southwest P]xposition
in Long Beach, July 27 to September 3,
depicting the various phases of wild life
conservation now being carried out.

As a forward step toward conserving
the supply and preventing the waste of
sardines, the Board of Fish and Game
Commissioners has issued its order
establishing August G as the opening
date of the 1928 season when sardines
may be canned. This order was made by
reason of the fact that sardines taken
prior to this date have so little oil con-
tent as to render them unsatisfactory
and uneconomical for canning purposes.
The order establishing a closed period
for the taking of sardines for canning
purposes est.-iblishes a precedent, but has
met with the unanimous approval of the
sardine canners of the state, in a resolu-
tion adopted by their association. The
action taken here, in all probability, will
be followed by legislation establishing
an open and closed season for the taking
of sardines for the whole state.

234

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

The game refuge survey crew under
the leadership of A. H. McClellan re-
cently finished the survey of Refuge 4C,
located on the line between Riverside and
Orange counties. Work on 4C was slow
due to the fact that the refuge is de-
scribed by section and township lines.
Brush was so thick that it was difficult
to locate monuments. Quail were found
to be very abundant in part of the refuge.
Deer were found also, but they are not
as abundant as in some of the other
refuges.

The boundaries of Refuge 4E, the most
southern refuge located on the summit of
Cuyamaca Mountain in eastern San
Diego County were run in May. Post-
ing the boundaries of refuges 4D and
4G was folIoAved by the posting of the
northern line of the two big southern
California refuges, 4A and 4B.

It is probable that the southern line
will not be run until next winter as the
summer months can be used to better
advantage in the northern section where
snow conditions make it impossible to
work during the winter.

The 1928 fish planting season opened
with a plant made the first two days in
April in Captain J. E. Newsome's terri-
tory. The fish in the neAV Mormon Creek
Hatchery near Sonora made such a re-
markable growth that it was necessary
to plant some 100,000 Loch Leven to
make room for incoming spawn.

Car No. 01 has made four trips from
the Mount Shasta Hatchery laden with
fish to be planted in various sections of
the state. Captains of patrol made prepa-
rations for the reception of fingerlings
before the car arrived. Reports show the
fish were planted with a negligible loss.

Supervising Captain Brownlow pre-
pared a letter of instructions again this
yeax% which was sent to the field force.
Emphasis in these instructions was placed
on care and distribution in order to give
the tiny finny favorites every advantage
possible for survival. Attention has also
been paid to trout planting equipment
and improvements which it is anticipated
will produce good results.

Indications are that low water will be
prevalent this year and a warning has
been issued to deputies not to plant
trout in streams which are centain to go
dry. The importance of rescuing
stranded fish has also been stressed.

State lion hunter Jay Bruce has bagged
ten more lions since the first of the year,
bringing his enviable record to a total
now of 338 during his activities as a lion
hunter.

Efforts to lessen the depredations of
lions in San Luis Obispo County did not
meet with the success expected. Lion
signs were present in Lopez Canyon and
Posso, but the weather was so warm that
the dogs were unable to work well. After
several attempts to induce them to hold
to the trail of the lion, it was decided to
await a more seasonable time when
weather conditions are more favorable.

Little work was accomplished in game
refuge IK, and in the region of the
north fork of the Kings River. High
water and rushing mountain torrents
seriously hampered progress. No lion
signs were noticed on Patterson Moun-
tain.

VOLUNTEER DEPUTIES

The appointment and organization by
the Fish and Game Commissioners of
fishermen, hunters and out-door lovers
who are willing to contribute their ser-
vices as deputies of the Division of Fish
and Game to the restoration of sports
afield and astream with gun and rod in
California, without commercial, political
or personal ties, or hope of reward, is un-
doubtedly the most comprehensive move
and program ever undertaken for the pro-
tection and conservation of wild life
in the United States.

This movement represents a patriotic
and unselfish endeavor to save for our
L-hildren and for future generations that
priceless heritage of nature, the fish, game
and wild life of the state, in order that
they may enjoy the health, recreation
and happiness that only the great out-o'-
doors can give them.

The volunteer deputies of the division
have been drafted from and represent the
highest ranks of citizenship within the
state, many of them being nationally
known, which insures the integrity and
high standing of the organization.

Less than two years have passed since
the Fish and Game Commission of Cali-
fornia established a system for the ap-
pointment and supervision of men willing
to serve without compensation as deputies
of the division for the protection and con-
servation of wild life, and the enforce-
ment of the laws enacted for that purpose.
Yet the services that have been rendered
by these deputies have been exceedingly
satisfactory and have resulted in awaken-
ing thousands of sportsmen and lovers
of the great out-o'-doors to a realization
of the perils that are threatening the sup-
ply of fish and game of the state. They
have further materially aided in bringing
about the necessity of cooperative action
on the part of the sportsmen and the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

235

people in general in the work being car-
ried on for the protection and conserva-
tion of wild life, and the enforcement of
the fish and game laws, as well as the
efforts being made for the restocking of
the game fields and public waters.

The Fish and Game Commission has
appointed a total of 752 volunteer depu-
ties of the Division of Fish and Game.
'Ml of these deputies bein;?' federal forest
rangers and forest fire guardians located
in the various national forest reserva-
tions within the state. These appoint-
ments have been recommended and are
sponsored by the United States Forest
Service.

Four hundred and five of these depu-
ties are men who have been drafted from
the ranks of sportsmen within the state,
their appointment being recommended and
sponsored by bona fide fish and game
protective associations and clubs.

All volunteer deputies of the Division
of Fish and Game, except those who are
employed by the federal government, are
required to be and are bonded to the
state in the sum of $2,500, for the faith-
ful performance of their duties.

The activities of the volunteer deputies
of the Division of Fish and Game, ex-
cept those who are in the employ of the
federal government, are, under the sys-
tem and rules that have been established
by the Fish and Game Commission for
their control, under the direction and
supervision of the captain of patrol in
charge of volunteer deputies, and are re-
quired to report monthly and to render
an account of all of their activities, such
as the number of hunting and fishing li-
censes checked, the number of miles of
fields and streams patroled, the number
of arrests made for violations of the fisl
and game laws, the amount of fines im-
posed, fish and game conditions observed
while afield, etc.

That the cause of fish, game and wild
life protection and conservation within
the state has been benefited through the
activities of the volunteer deputies of the
Division of Fish and Game, is indicated
from a brief and incomplete summary of
the monthly reports rendered by these
deputies, which show that during the past
two years they have checked a total of
19,102 hunting and fishing licenses, that
they have patroled 314,575 miles of fields,
streams, bay shore and coast line, that
they have made 428 arrests and assists
in arrests for violations of the fish and
game laws, for which $12,168 in fines
were imposed.

The action of the men who have, with-
out compensation or hope of reward of
any kind, volunteered their services as

deputies of the division, and entered the
fields for the protection and conserva-
tion of fish, game and wild life and the
strict enforcement of the laws that have
been enacted for that purpose, is cer-
tainly worthy of the highest commenda-
tion, and surely deserves the hearty and
united support and cooperation of all
sportsmen and law-abiding citizens with-
in the state. — Walter R. Welch.

Department of Patrol.

May was a banner month for the
patrol department. Deputies by their
energy and efficiency greatly increased
the number of arrests and fines made.
By waj' of comparison, during the month
of I\Iay, 1927, 103 arrests were made and
$3,555 collected in fines ; while during
the month of May, 1928, 252 arrests and
$8,245 collected in fines imposed for viola-
tions. It is necessary, however, in all
fairness to point out that there is an
increase in the patrol force of about one-
fifth.

It is now further known that con-
servation is fast becoming more popular
witli the people even in the most remote
corners of the state. This is reassuring
and indicates that much prevention of law
violation is being accomplished by the
patrol force through their activities in
enlightening the people in their districts
and impressing them with the need for
the protection of fish and game.

Changes in the personnel of the patrol
force are as follows:

Lewis T. Ward was appointed captain
of the Sacramento district with head-
quarters at Sacramento to succeed Cap-
tain D. E. Roberts, deceased.

Deputy C. L. Bundock, who has been
working in the San Francisco office for
two and one-half years, was transferred
to San Benito County with headquarters
at Hollister.

Deputy C. F. Barnes was transferred
to Quincy to take the post of Deputy
]Miner, who has resigned to go into busi-
ness for himself. Volunteer Deputy E.
L. Mercer was appointed regular deputy
for the Portola station.

Deputy J. F. French was transferred
from Fall River Mills to Redding to
assume charge of the district of Deputy
Frank A. Greene, resigned. Andrew H.
Millett appointed deputy to fill the
vacancy left by Deputy French at Fall
River Mills.

Deputy F. .1. McDermott transferred
from the San Francisco office to Santa
Cruz County with headquarters at Santa

236

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Cruz. Deputy E. D. INIoody, for many
years operating in Santa Cruz County,
transferred to the San Francisco office.

Volunteer Deputy J. C. Schneider
appointed a regular deputy with head-
quarters at King City to succeed Deputy
Frank A. Burke resigned.

Deputy G. L. Hoke appointed deputy
at Requa to fill the position left vacant
by the resignation of Taylor London.

A list of the deputies is appended on
the back cover of each issue of this maga-
zine for the purpose of informing the
general public of the locations of deputies.

and the destruction was the only logical
disposition that could be made of them.
Most of the cork and lead that could be
salvaged was stripped from the netting
before it was placed in a huge pile and
soaked with kerosene prior to burning.
As much publicity to this act was
given as possible. Official movie cameras
clicked during the burning and numer-
ous photographers secured shots from
every angle. It is hoped this wholesale
burning of illegal fishing gear will have
a salutary effect upon fishermen who have
gained the idea that they can violate
tlie law with imjiunity.

Fig. 70. Nine miles of illegal nets confiscated by deputies in warehouse, Vallejo,
California, awaiting destruction. Photograph by Henderson Studio, April
28, 1928.

It is hoped that those interested in the
perpetuation and conservation of fish
and game, who witness law violations or
have knowledge of such on information
or belief, will immediately notify the
deputy in whose district the violation
occurs. Deputies can also be consulted
for information regarding fishing and
hunting conditions.

On April 30, nine miles of illegal fish
nets valued at nearly .$20'.0€'0i, were offi-
cially destroyed by the Division at Val-
lejo. The nets could not be used legally

Ben Cowden of Grass Valley is lan-
guishing in the Nevada County jail as a
result of fishing before the opening of
the trout season. He was apprehended
on Squirrel Creek by deputies A. W.
Sears and A. H. Willard. When brought
into the court of Judge H. B. Dow, at
Nevada City, he was fined $100 or an
alternative of 100 days in jail.

Another offender, J. Ballon, is serving
150 days in jail in default of an assess-
ment of $400 levied by Judge W. E.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

237

Evers^on, of Elk Grove, for tr:ipi)inf!; ;infl
Iiiiving in his posession four Chinese ring-
necked pheasants. Deputies Bert Laws,
William Iloppe and I'aul Bonnot are to
he credited with the making of the arrest.

Captain Jack O'Connell. assisted hy
deputies William Iloppe and Bert Laws,
caught a native of Portugal. J. George,
after he had killed a (,'hinese ring-necked
pheasant- on Tyler Island. The offender
paid a record price for the slaughtered
bird, for he was fined .$.SI)0 hy Judge
Everson.

If pheasants are to he successfully in-
troduced into California they must be

alibis and change of venue failed to save
Samuel Thompson and ('ash Caley of
San Bernardino and Jack Murphy of
Los Angeles from a conviction for posses-
sion of deer meat in Game liefnge 4-A.
Deputy C. J. Malone and Depnty Sheriff
Brown arrested the trio in the game ref-
uge after finding two sacks containing
the hind (pnirters of two deer in Thomp-
son's woodshed. The men had concealed
their weapons in an automobile by cover-
ing them with canvas. As there was
a foot of snow on the ground at the
time, their explanation that the guns
were co\'ere(l to be ])rotected from the
dust, was not acce])ted by the deputies.

Fig. 71. Confiscated illegal nets valued at $20,000 being burned at Vallejo,
April 30, 1928. Photograph by H. C. Bryant.

protected until such time as the state
decides to open the season on them.

Di'pnty R. L. Sinkey of Woodland
arrested R. A. Fanan for killing a
pheasant. A fine of $100 was imposed
by Judge R. W. Ilarri.son of Woodland.

Possession of deer meat out of season
cost II. E. Ford $125 in the court of
Judge Chester Moore of San Jose. This
case was made by Depnty I. L. Kopjiel
assisted by volunteer deputy V. W.
Hensil.

Pleas of not guilty, carefully prepared

When haled into the court of Judge
C. A. Johnson of Rialto. the defense
claimed that two strangers had called the
day before and left the sacks containing
the deer meat. This shallow alibi failed
to impress the court and a fine was im-
posed on each violator of $500 together
with a lOO-day jail sentence. $200' of
each fine was suspended and the .iail
sentences for one year pending good be-
havior of the defendants.

Two residents of Hunrboldt County
paid a price of $5 a pound for eighty
pounds of deer meat that patients in the
county hospital enjoyed. Deputies Wil-

238

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

liam Kaliher and McPherson Lough ar-
rested Harold Pavey of Rio Dell and
F. G. CofEton of Areata at Rainbow
Bridge and brought them before Judge
Frank E. Niskey, at Eureka. The ap-
prehension of these illegal killers came
as the result of information that they
had been operating in the Monument
Country, Humboldt County, where deer
concentrate during the winter months.
Rumors have it that these hunters had
been killing yearlings, taking the back
straps and hams and disposing of their
illegal take on the open market. The
penalty imposed by Judge Xiskey was,
therefore, none too severe.

Acting on reliable rumors that opera-
tors of the Triumph Mine on the South
Fork of the Feather River were serving
deer meet to their employees, deputies
A. J. Stanley and George Thompson suc-
ceeded, on the morning of April 24, in
walking into the boarding house at the
mine and finding a last year's fawn being
prepared for the table.

Robert Osborne pleaded guilty to the
charge of killing the deer and as a con-
sequence served thirty days in the county
jail at Oroville and paid a fine of $150.
Judge H. S. Hills of Oroville, in imposing
the heavy fine and jail sentence, expressed
the hope that his action would discourage
further practices of this sort.

II. R. Flarrison maintaining a mink
farm at Mill Creek Homesite has dis-
covered to his sorrow that the overhead
in operating a fur farm can not be re-
duced by feeding illegal deer meat to fur
bearers. Found with twenty pounds of
deer meat in his possession by deputies
Harry Brittan and A. J. Stanley, Har-
rison was fined by Judge S. R. Dales of
Bos Molinos $500 and sentenced to serve
125 days in jail.

Four San Franciscans were caught by
Deputy F. J. McDermott on June 10, at
Boulder Creek, with several packages of
deer meat in their possession. Taken be-
fore Judge Younger at Santa Cruz, B. O.
Alfred admitted killing the deer and was
fined $250 and given a six months'
suspended jail sentence. The other three
offenders were each fined $100.

Two Sausalito "sooners" are now serv-
ing 150 days in the Marin County jail for
invading the Mt. Tamalpais Game Refuge
and killing a deer with a spotlight at
night. The pair was apprehended by
Captain Walter Sellmer and volunteer
deputy. Mrs. Sellmer almost before the

echo of the rifle shot that brought down
their deer had died away.

Judge H. De La Montanya at San
Rafael, in addition to the jail sentence
of 120 days for Walter S. Stittmatter
and 150 days for George Nolan, imposed
a fine of $200 on each deer slayer.

Mrs. Sellmer, single-handed, arrested
five Japanese at Tomales Bay on charges
of possession of undersized abalones. At
first, the aliens refused to submit to
arrest, but on seeing the earnestness of
the woman warden changed their minds.
They were arraigned before Judge Her-
man Rudolff at Xovato and paid their
fines.

Mrs. Sellmer made eight more abalone
cases during the latter part of June.
Patrolling the north shore of Marin
Count.v, she found Dr. F. B. Jones of
Vallejo with undersized abalone in his
possession. Dr. Jones, who is six feet
four inches tall and weighs more than
200 pounds, demanded that his feminine
accuser, who is but five feet four inches,
cite him for trial in Petaluma. Mrs.
Sellmer promptly informed him that she
was doing the demanding in the case.
A bystander mentioned that Dr. .Jones
was a physician of repute and someone
retorted that he was arrested by the best
looking game warden in the state.

Attempting to curb a bad practice,
Judge Henry King of Castroville, levied
a fine of $50 on S. Gnisa of Chularin, for
the possession of two doe fawns. Ex-
tensive publicity has been issued to pre-
vent the kidnapping of fawns and it is
now the determination of the Division to
arrest those who insist on picking up
fawns that are apparently abandoned by
their mothers. Seldom is it possible for
fawns taken out of the wild to be reared
successfully under domestic conditions.
Deputies Fred Post and Ralph Newsome
apprehended Gnisa.

Deputy L. Arnold arrested three young
men in April for killing a doe. Judge
Fred Snyder, Jr., of Tehachapi, Kern
County, fined them $100 each.

Dpputy C. E. Hclladay of Morgan Hill
apprehended A. Balanesi for killing a
deer and Judge Chester Moore of San
Jose imposed a fine of $250.

A $250 fine for having deer meat in
possession was levied by Judge Louis J.
Morris of Santa Maria, Santa Barbara
County, on C. Schmidt. Arrest made by
Deputy S. H. Lyons.

Possession of deer meat cost C. M.
Wayne $250. The fine was levied by
Judge J. R. Andereon of Maricopa, Kern

CALIFUKNI.V Fl-ll AND GAME.

280

County, and the case was made by
Deputy Ij. R. Ainsworth.

Deputy A. D. Miner of Quincy ar-
rested Harris Self for having deer meat
in his possession after the close of the
season. A fine of $150 was imposed by
Judge Clarence Taylor of Greenville,
riumas County.

Judge E. S. Robertson of Fortuna im-
l)0sed a fine of $100 on R. H. Elliott for
having deer meat in his possession. The
violator was brought before Judge
Robertson by Deputy William Kaliher.

Two hours after "information reached
the San Francisco office that Tony Var-
gos at Half Moon Bay had killed a deer.
Deputy Curtis Bundock, assisted by
volunteer deputy Allan Curry, succeeded
in arresting the violator at Half INIoon
Bay. He was fined $100 by Judge E.
McAuliff at Redwood City.

A fine of $75 was imposed in Judge
William Jones' court in Garberville,
llumlioldt County, on Alvin Pollock,
the Metole River by Deputy
Lough, with deer meat in his
While this fine, although not
is exceptional, convictions
rare in this section of Hum-

caught on
IMcPherson

possession,
so severe,
have been
boldt County.

That it costs
nets for taking
River is now
Belleci and

money to attempt to set

fish in the San Joaquin

well impressed upon Steve

Mike Orlando, Pittsburg

fishermen. Apprehended by deputies
Charles Bouton, Charles England and
L. G. Van Vorhis. the two fishermen
were brought into Judge Matthew Ward's
court at Antioch, Contra Costa County,
and paid a fine of $100 each.

and
both
men.
la re

Possession of small mesh nets cost
A. Ginis of Sherman Island $2"0 as a
result of his arrest by Deputy William
Hoppe. The court of W. E. Everson, at
Elk Grove, levied the fine.

R. J. Bullard. Curiously enough

cases involved the arrest of four

Judge E. C. Archer of Cutler, Tu-

County, imposed a fine of $100 for

one offense and Judge Albert E. Holder-
man, Reedley, Fresno County, $300 on
the other.

Deputy Jack Burke secured a fine of
$300 from Judge E. I. McAuliff's court
in Redwood City when he arrested A.
Printon for having trout in his possession
out of season.

Deputies William Armstrong and
Charles England from a concealed van-
tage point watched Ben Newman of
Santa Rosa and his agents for seventeen
liours before they saw them kill five
geese out of season. Judge L. A. May-
nard of Napa fined Newman $150.

Deputies Ray Ellis and Roy Taylor
found Sam Gould with game fish during
the closed season. Judge Horace N.
Caldwell of Fowler, Fresno County, as-
sessed a fine of $100.

Judge J. D. Blackwell of Newman,
Stanislaus County, extracted $125 from
L. Hewson, brought before him by depu-
ties C. L. Gourley and George Magladry
for using set lines.

snakes,
A few

further

Below normal precipitation has re-
sulted in rapid decrease of stream flow
and brought about good fishing early in
the season. Conversely a dry summer
with its attendant increased fire hazard
and dry stream beds will result in addi-
tional work on the part of the patrol
force in rescuing stranded fish.

Soon after the water stops flowing,
pools wdiere the young trout concentrate
will be found all along stream courses.
Their congestion Avill serve as a magnet
and attract a large number of
birds and predatory creatures,
'arae trout in the pools will aid
in the destruction of the small fry.

In savhig great numbers of young trout
from perishing during such times of
stress, deputies frequently devote much
of their zeal, their energy and their ex-
perience. In not a few cases, many of
these stranded pools are filled with large
boulders; some have willows and brush
making the use of a dragnet well-nigh
impossible. Then, too, the transporta-
tion of the fish to live water involves
much hardship and patience.

Deputy J. D. Dondero of Lakeport
writes as follows :

"I find that it takes three
do rescue work adequately,
locate the pools, then I get
move all brush and stones.

Ijersons to
First, I
in and re-
making as
The next

Two cases involving over the limit of
game fish were made by deputies F. A.

smooth a bottom as possible,
day when the water is running clear,
with the aid of three others, I start' the
net at one end of the pool and work it
very slowly, keeping the leadline on the
bottom. I have gathered as many as
fifty pounds of three-inch trout in one
hauling by this method. These are
poured from the net into the cans, pre-
viously filled with good, clear water, with--
out l)eing touched by the hands of the

9^:

CALIFORNIA FIgH AND GAME.

rescuers. Since the temperature in the
pond has become fairly "warm, I find the
fish much easier to handle in transporta-
tion.

"I prefer to have boys sixteen years
of age than men, as such chaps seem to
enjoy the work, looking upon it as a kind
of adventure. In most cases, it is neces-
sary to work early and late to get the
best results and boys of this age are will-
ing to lose sight of the passage of time.

"Last year on the lower reaches of
Soda Creek, I rescued approximately
80,000 trout."

Deputy E. H. Glidden of San Diego
recently performed some good work in
checking the spread of carp in San Diego
County. Eleven carp from nine to four-
teen inches in length were taken from an
old cistern where they had apparently
prospered. From reliable sources, it is
positively believed that this is the first
instance of the appearance of live cai'p
in the county, although it is claimed by
some that carp inhabit Santa ^Margarita
Lake. It is not known how or when
these carp were introduced. However,
Deputy Glidden took pains to remove all
possibility of these reputed undesirable
fish perpetuating their kind in any of
the other lakes or streams of the county.

Department of Fish Culture

In March, 2,493,000 rainbow trout eggs
were received at the JMount Shasta
Hatchery from the Klamath River Auxil-
iai-y stations. 20,000 eggs were spawned
from the rainbow trout in the brook
ponds at the hatchery. 207,000 eyed eggs
were shipped to other hatcheries for fur-
ther development.

In April, further allotments totalling
980,000 rainbow trout eggs were shipped
to Mount Shasta from the Klamath sta-
tions. Shipments of 1,950,000 eyed eggs
during this month left a balance of 1,593,-
000 eggs.

In May, some 300,000 black-spotted
trcnit eggs were received from the Mount
Whitney Hatchery and an additional
903,000 rainbow trout eggs from Shackel-
ford and Beaver creeks.

Distribution of fingerlings was well in
progress by May. Car No. 01 distributed
710,000 Loch Leven and 350,000 German
brown trout to several localities in the
state for planting by deputies. Approxi-
mately 8,370,000 trout of different vari-
. eties remained to be distributed in June
from the Mount Shasta Hatchery.

Six hundred thousand salmon fry were
liberated from the Fall Creek Hatchery
in March, and an additional 400,000
were turned out when high water flowed
over the top of the pond in which they
were being cultured. The growth of these
salmon fry was so splendid that during
May. 1,250.000 more were liberated.
Another million in fine condition are to
be planted later.

Due to the very cold water, the rainbow
trout egg take at the Fall Creek Station
has not equalled that of average years.
Nevertheless, a sufficient number of eggs
have been procured to stock the streams
in the Fall Creek section.

All egg collecting stations on the Klam-
ath River were closed by the middle of
May. Shackelford proved the banner sta-
tion this season and remained in opera-
tion almost as long as Beaver Creek,
where a large take was also made.

Hornbrook station had a very poor
season and as there was little prospect of
another run of trout the racks and ecpiip-
ment were stored earlier than usual.

Much trouble was experienced in March
at these stations due to the high water.
Camp Creek overflowed the racks, and
driftwood damaged the trap, but not
seriously. Heavy rains caused much
driftwood to come down Bogus Creek,
which clogged the head of the fishway.
Few fish came up the creek during the
bad weather, but began to run in fair
numbers as soon as the water lowered.

The total number of fish of all varieties
in the Mount Whitney Hatchery in May
amounted to 2,755,000.

A crew of men was dispatched the lat-
ter part of May to the Cottonwood Lakes
to procure golden trout eggs. Some 1500
golden trout have so far been trapped
and spawning will commence the first
week of June. This will be the earliest
period golden trout have been found ripe.
The unusual condition of the fish is no
doubt due to the mild and open winter.

The closed season on June Lake has
aided the egg take materially. During the
first twelve days in May, 1,155,000 steel-
head eggs were obtained. Steelhead were
caught in the seine every day, while last
year, after the season opened, only a few
fish repaid the effort expended.

Fern Creek Hatchery was opened on
March 12, and the crew set about to
trap fish. Some 450.000 black-spotted
trout eggs were collected, and before the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

241

end of the following month 1,320,000
hlack-spottcd trout egss had boon for-
warded to the Mount Whitne.v Ilatcher.v.
It was all the crew could do to spawn
and care for the 2,4.11,000 trout eggs th;it
remained on hand during April.

The Rush Creek trap from which most
of the black-spotted eggs were collected
has given very satisfactory results this
season. Even during May the take in
this species amounted to 505,000 eggs.

A new experiment station established
on Walker River will test out the water
this year and determine if conditions will
warrant the location of a permanent
hatchery there for Mono County.

At Fort Seward Hatchery 958,000
steelhead trout and 108.000 rainbow trout
eggs have hatched and are advancing
nicely.

The egg-collecting season came to a
close on Prairie Creek in April. In
March the new tent hatchery neared com-
pletion sutficiently to receive a portion of
the eggs and by May it had some 507,000
steelhead trout fry developing in its new
troughs.

At the Cold Creek Hatchery 1,200,000
steelhead fry are being developed into
fingerlings for distributit)n in Lake, Men-
docino, Napa and Sonoma counties.

Repairs were being rushed in April to
take advantage of another good run of
fish at the Snow Mountain Egg Collecting
Station. Unfortunately, the power com-
pany opened a number of gates in the
Gravelly Valley Dam, bringing the water
level in Lake Pillsbury below the crest of
the dam. This act occasicmed stoppage of
the flow of water and many fish hiden
with spawn coming up to the Snow
Mountain Station were forced to turn
back down the river. Their spawn was
irrecoverably lost. Later, a like manipu-
lation by the power company followed, and
it was decided to abandon the station.
The total take amounted to 2,100,000
eggs.

Over 2,000,000 rainbow. Loch Leven
and eastern brook trout are developing
at Clear Creek, and 585,000 rainbow
trout at Domingo Srings Hatchery.

Every effort was made to obtain more
rainbow eggs in Clear Creek, Domingo
Springs and other adjacent stations. At
Manzanita Lake, a trap was placed in
the creek leading into the lake. Another
was placed in the creek entering Butte
Lake. Work at Clear Creek was inter-

r up ted by wasliouts and inclement
weather during the spring and only
000,000 eggs were collected.

The 1,225,000 eggs at the Yosemite
Hatchery have hatched and all are in
excellent condition with the exception of
the oldest Loch Leven which have been
the most affected by an epidemic of
azalea poisoning. Medical baths and
other remedies checked the epidemic and
prevented any great loss.

Work on the aquarium is nearing com-
pletion. The four ample tanks will serve
a real educational capacity when mature
fish are swimming about in them.

The condition of the Loch Leven trout
in the holding tanks improved materially
as soon as the temperature of the water
became warmer. The fish fed better and
plans are under way for their liberation.

The Wawona Hatchery has been con-
siderably renovated and there are now
on hand 141,300 rainbow trout, 92,500
steelhead trout, and 147,800 black-
spotted trout.

Water conditions in the vicinity of
Bear Lake liave made for difficulties in
spawning this season. Two streams
where traps have been used with success
in the past dried up in April. With
^letcalf and Grout creeks dry only North
Creek was left.

Two-thirds of the eggs taken at the
Bear Lake Station have come from Kidd
Bay. The bay has had less than a foot
of water in it, but fish somehow are
attracted there and form in schools at
the upper end. Large numbers have been
captured with a small piece of seine.

In May, however, the water supply at
Bear Lake failed and it was necessary to
rush to completion the two new experi-
mental stations in southern California to
take care of the rainbow trout eggs taken
from Bear Lake.

The San Gabriel Station, on the north
fork of the San Gabriel River northeast
of Azusa, was completed in time to re-
ceive 500,000 of the Bear Lake rain-
bow trout eggs.

Porsee Creek Station near Seven Oaks
in San Bernardino County was ready to
receive eggs early in June.

Construction of holding tanks to be
located at Coldbrook Camp on the San
(iai)ripl River and Forsee Creek com
meuced in .Tune. It is hoped that these
holding tanks will lessen difficulties and
relieve the unfortunate conditions at Bear
Lake, as well as produce a larger fish
for planting.

242

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

It will be necessary to make early dis-
tribution of the 1,125,000 fry in the
Feather River Hatchery. The water in
Tamarack Creek is falling rapidly.

Loch Leven and eastern brook trout in
the Kern River Hatchery are evidencing
signs of disease. The Loch Leven have
responded to treatment ; the eastern brook
have so far shown little signs of improve-
ment. The cause may be due to the
large amount of water mould and algae
in the water. The biologist of the depart-
ment is making a careful study to deter-
mine whether the water is suitable for
the establishment of a permanent hatch-
ery.

Rainbow trout eggs numbering about
100,000, and a like number of steelhead
eggs have hatched.

The 922,000 fry at Big Creek Hatchery
are reported to be in first class condition.
576,600 steelhead eggs were shipped from
the hatchery in April and 996,000 eggs
collected. In May, 263,000 steelhead eggs
were taken. Some were sent to Sonora.

also 100,000 rainbow trout eggs develop-
ing at this station.

Plans are being made to operate the
Brookdale Hatchery as an experimental
place where pathogenic conditions of both
lish and eggs can be studied. The hatch-
ery is also to serve its former function
in hatching and distributing a supply of
fish for local streams.

Six new tanks, four feet wide, sixteen
feet long and thirty-two inches deep, have
been built at the Mormon Creek Hatchery
to care for the 795,000 fish that are
developing rapidly and range in size from
four inches down to almost the sac stage.
The new tanks are sheltered in a large
shed strongly built and capable of with-
standing the snows of winter.

An investigation shows that the fish
planted last year in the waters of this
vicinity are lively and vigorous. Con-
ditions in the stream at present are
ideal for planting and some of the trout
now being developed will soon be liber-
ated.

The new Kaweali Hatchery is nearing
completion and will be occupied shortly.
Meanwhile, the old tent has been doing
its best to serve the purpose of a hatch-
ery. The steelhead and rainbow eggs are
hatched and the resulting fish have been
feeding since the early part of May.

It has been necessary to build eight
new troughs to hold the 100,000 black-
spotted trout eggs now being developed
in the Kings River Hatchery. There are

The water supply at the Lake Tahoe
Hatchery is becoming serious. The snow
is about gone and the streams are low.
It will be necessary to transfer some of
the 1,390,000 fry now on hand if water
conditions become more alarming.

An early distribution will also be made
from the Mt. Tallac Hatchery to relieve
the congestion caused by low water. The
hatchery has been filled to capacity since
May.

A biological study has been made of the
condition of steelhead eggs collected at
Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County. Exam-
ination of the eggs just previous to hatch-
ing showed abnormal oil globules in the
yolk which brought about changes result-
ing in the death of the embryo and the
entire egg being covered with a heavy
fungus growth.

The condition of the water supply at
the Yosemite Hatchery was also investi-
gated, as well as that at the Kern Hatch-
ery. The water coming into the Kern
Hatchery was found to contain great
quantities of blue-green algae, causing
a heavy growth on the sides of the tank
within twenty-four hours after they had
been thoroughly cleaned. The fry were
found to be suffering from a heavy infes-
tation of the gills by peculiar desmid
(Auhisirodesmus) which is tinier than
the point of the finest cambric needle.
This penetrates the gills causing an irri-
tation followed by bacterial infection
which is very rapid in its growth due to
the weakened condition of the fish, and
soon causes death by suffocation.

Department of Commercial
Fisheries

The patrol boat Alhacore was sent to
Ventura on March 14th to search for
bodies washed out to sea by the St.
Francis dam disaster. The crew found
the waters of that section of the coast
very muddy, and encountered drift-wood,
shrubs and trees, lemons and oranges
floating around within one to three miles
offshore, but found no bodies. The search
was continued until the 22d, when the
Alhacore returned to Terminal Island.

Later in the following month, the Alha-
core left for Eureka where the coast
was patrolled against violators having
salmon in posssession in a closed district.

During July, the boat was used in
assisting Dr. Henry B. Bigelow of Har-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

243

yard University, who is carrying; on in-
vestigations of the currents, temperature
and salinity of the water and the distri-
bution of planlvton in jNIonterey Bay.
The information obtained in this work
v.'ill be of use to the division as it may
lead to an explanation of the abundance
of the sardine.

Deputy Ross W. Markley at Pismo
Beach has been energetic in surpressing
violations of the law respecting I'ismo
clams. A recent arrest of Frank Bisell
for having over the limit of these famous
clams was made on March 21, and Judge
William Mallagh of San Luis Obispo,
gave the offender thirty days in jail.

The month of May was a busy one for
the patrol force at all points. L. G. Van
Vorhis of Pittsburg checked boats for
registration and fishermen for licenses at
Pittsburg during the heiglit of the shad
run.

Ralph Classic and N. M. Matthews
were busy with the salmon fleet and
trawlers on Monterey Bay.

Deputy Markley, at Pismo, had a very
active month with vacationists and pro
fessional clam diggers and abalone hun-
ters along the San Luis Obispo coast.

In the San Pedro district, C. H. Groat,
Tate INIiller and N. C. Kunkel were busy
night and day thwarting attempts of
barracuda bootleggers after the closing
of the purse seine and lampara season.

At San Diego, Captain Coburn Maddox
was kept occupied checking boats for
registration and fishing licenses, as well
as checking allotments of fish coming
into California from Mexico.

The chief field work of the laboratory
has involved the sampling of the com-
mercial catch of sardines at the three fish-
ing centers. The abalone catch is also
being sampled and the barracuda catch
observed. Minor observations are made
on the catch of various species of fresh-
water fishes in the fish markets. Occa-
sionally, members of the staff do seining
to collect material for research purposes.

Mr. Paul Bonnot is continuing his
work on the sea lions. With the use of
the patrol boat Albacore he will make a
survey and census of the sea lions along
the coast from Oregon to Mexico. The
purpose of the census is to keep an
accurate record of the number of sea
lions and to have available complete data
on the rate of increase of the herds.
INIany people advocate indiscriminate
slaughter of the sea lions, but this is

not the policy of the Fish and Game
Cominission. If the herds are increasing
too rapidly and are bec-oming a menace
to the fish in some localities and it be-
comes necessary to reduce the herds, it
should be done in a humane and scientific
manner under the supervision and control
of the Fish and Game Commission.

The following circular was sent to all
dealers in Oregon and California, under
date of May 31, on the subject of "Fish
Tags" :

"The Division of Fish and Game will
discontinue use of the hexagonal-shaped
fish tags for tagging Chinook salmon which
may be held or sold during the closed
season, or shipped in during the closed
season, and steel head which may be
shipped in from Oregon and Washington
at any time. This form of tag will be
used only for tagging domesticated trout
at trout farms situated in California, or
domesticated trout which may be shipped
into California from other states.

"AH dealers who are holding any of
the hexagonal-shaped tags should return
them to the Division of Fish and Game,
San Francisco, on or before July 1st, un-
less they are holding them for use in
tagging domesticated trout to be shipped
into California.

"For use in tagging salmon and steel-
head, a new oval-headed, spear-shaped tag
will be put into use on July 1, and com-
plete instructions for handling same will
be furnished with the tags."

Bureau of Education

An invitation was extended to the
bureau to furnish a series of brodcasting
over the Pacific coast network in connec-
tion with a half-hour program conducted
as the "Philco Campfire." The first two
Thursday nights in May were utilized
by Dr. H. C. Bryant in a discussion of
candidates for the state bird. Subsequent
subjects dealt with the sea otter, cele-
brated fur-bearer of the state, and other
suitable campfire topics.

The first of a series of portable exhibits
has been completed. It shows mountain
sheep in their desert home. The coloring
and installation was done by Mr. E. S.
Cheney. A fine ram stands in the fore-
ground and a small band are seen in the
distance about a waterhole. Still another
sheep animated by an electric motor, is
seen to leap down a steep cliff. This
exhibit was initially displayed in tlie
Ferry Building, San Francisco.

244

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Two new reels of motion pictures are
being assembled. One will show various
activities of the Division of Fish and
Game : law enforcement, fish propaga-
tion, game bird propagation, education ;
the other will be a conservation picture
emphasizing depletion and the real need
for conserving a breeding stock sufiicient
to furnish good sport.

The new feature reels showing fish
propagation and fish distribution are
meeting with popular favor and are in
almost constant use.

Those seeking knowledge on fish and
game and natural history subjects will
find they can make good use of the ex-
cellent library, under the supervision of
j\Irs. Bessie W. Kibbe. a trained natural
history librarian, maintained at San
Francisco, at the headquarters of the
Division.

Altogether some 475 volumes and 6000
pamphlets are now available. Special
attention is given to the official publica-
tions of the fish and game departments
of other states. The laws of all the states
and territories, as well as those of Cana-
dian provinces are on file. These are often
consulted. Books on birds, fish, mam-
mals, crustaceans, oceanography, nature
study, reptiles, insects, zoology and biol-
ogy and five natural history sets make
up the scientific section, while authentic
works on fur farming, game bird farming,
fishing and other fish and game subjects
are included in the extensive reference
list.

Numerous letters requesting informa-
tion are daily received, bearing on fish
ponds, identification of fishes, seasons,
how to grow them and their acclimatiza-
tion and diseases ; identification of birds,
their economic value, their migrations,
songs, houses, eggs and life history ; game
bird farming ; fur farming and alligator
farming ; hunting, deer, mountain lions,
squirrels and trapping of muskrats and
other animals.

Books are loaned only to employees of
the division, but the library is open to the
public and their visits are solicited for
reference work.

Additional investigations of the reputed
damage committed by small birds to rice
and fruit buds has been carried on in the
Oroville section. A study was also made
in the Richvale district in Butte County
on the damage done by tri-colored black-
birds to recently sowed rice.

Several studies on the effects of thallium
poisoning have been made. A serious
condition developed near Stockton where

thallium poisoning was spread and a
number of vertebrate animals destroyed.
The effect of thallium poisoning on quail
on the western slope of Mount Diablo
was also looked into.

The demand for lectures illustrated by
motion pictures has increased to a point
where careful planning is necessary. Sec-
tions of the state are now intensively
covered after a lecture itinerary has been
previously arranged. Care is taken to
give all sections of the state equal atten-
tion. This program further emphasizes
the serious attempt to make fish and game
laws more popular in places where law
enforcement is difficult.

Efforts to introduce a progi'am of na-
ture study and conservation in the public
schools have met with a success almost
beyond expectation. Mrs. O. P. Brown-
low, to whom no small measure of credit
is due for this work, has by her zeal,
aroused a deep interest in the San Fran-
cisco and Oakland public schools in the
stud}' of living things.

Bureau of Research

Stockmen and others have complained
that predatory animal control carried on
by agencies in areas surrounding game
refuges has been hampered because the
predatory species migrate into the refuges
where they are harbored in safety until
the fury of the campaign of extermina-
tion subsides.

Two predatory animal trappers were
employed in Ax)ril to work in game ref-
uges and ascertain the- validity of these
complaints. A thorough examination of
the Mount Diablo Refuge (3-F), was
made, but not sufficient signs of predatory
animals were discovered to justify any
considerable amount of work. Hence, the
trapper was transferred to the Mount
Hamilton Refuge (3-E), where he has,
in cooperation with the other trapper,
made a careful study of conditions. Only
five coyotes, and a like number of wild-
cats, were trapped in April. On the
whole, the survey has shown that great
numbers of predatory animals were not
present in the refuge.

This work is being conducted in coop-
eration with the State Department of
Agriculture and the United States Bio-
logical Survey.

To forestall a recurrence of mussel
poisoning which caused much consterna-
tion last year, considerable research has

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

245

been conducted by Dr. K. F. Meyer of
the Hooper Foundation for Medical Re-
search. Mussels are now being tested
for toxicity and the Bureau is assisting
in procuring samples of mussels for Dr.
Meyer's researches. Dr. INIeyer will issue
statements through the newspapers if the
toxicity reaches a degree where poisoning
would result from the use of mussels.

The parasitologist of the Bureau is
conducting an investigation on (luail dis-
eases and is making a careful study of
blood parasites affecting quail. Possi-
bility of insect transmission of parasites
of game birds is being experimented with
also. No blood parasites originating from
this source have yet been discovered in
any wild bird other than quail.

Some duck sickness is still present at
Buena Vista Lake. Much material has
been collected and prepared for study. An
extensive examination into the possible
sources of the duck sickness to the end
of correcting the Buena Vista Lake situa-
tion has been set on foot.

Most of the ducks treated at the "duck
hospital'' have recovered, been banded
and liberated.

Bureau of Public Relations

Routine work of the bureau during
the past quarterly period included the
preparation of sixty-four stories for pub-
lication in more than 400 newspapers on
the Division publicity list.

In addition to this, a special story has
been prepared weekly for the National
Automobile Club bulletin which reaches
over 800 newspapers. These stories do
not in any way conflict with the regular
news releases.

A trip during the month of April
covered the southern part of the San
Joaquin Valley. Talks were made at
Bakersfield and Hanford and calls made
on organizations and newspaper publish-
ers at the places mentioned as well as at
Visalia, Tulare, Fresno, Madera and
Los Banos.

Numerous good cases made by field
deputies have furnished copy for several
news stories that have been given general
publication, while two general stories sent
out, one on the opening of the trout
season and another on the closing of
streams in different parts of the state,
were published in practically all of the
papers on the list.

A special feature story on the "Plant-
ing of Golden Trout in Barren Waters
of California" has been prepared and is
being made ready for publication.

Records show that interest in fish and
game matters is growing, as more and
more newspapers are not only using the
division publicity releases, but are de-
veloping special stories of their own.

Bureau of Hydraulics

Many fish ladders neglected and need-
ing repairs are now working and fish are
passing up them to spawn. Reports re-
cently made by deputies supplied informa-
tion concerning the ill state of these lad-
ders, and steps were quickly taken by the
bureau to cause their repair.

A few dams no longer serving a useful
function were also reported on and ar-
i-angements are being made to have them
blown out.

The reports show that screens were
inspected and were in condition for use
when water will be diverted this season.

A fish ladder has been completed by the
Donner Lake Company at the outlet of
Donner Lake, Nevada County, in com-
pliance with plans furnished.

Reports show that fish are ascending
San Anselmo Creek, Marin County, and
that some are seen at places where, dur-
ing the past seven or eight years, none
have been noticed. This satisfaction
comes as the result of the installation of
a fish ladder by the Emporium Country
Club and Cascade Estates Company.

On an inspection of the Fort Bragg
vicinity, Mendocino County, it was found
that three recently constructed fish lad-
ders were being used by salmon and
steelhead.

Other inspections made include the fish
screen operated by the Anderson-Cotton-
wood District, Shasta County ; the screen
of the Hallwood Irrigation District, Yuba
County ; and a number located in Tehama
County. The Elk Lumber Company's
fish ladder on the Elk River, Humboldt
County, was examined and that of the
Yuba River near Marysville, Yuba
County, recently damaged by flood. Ar-
rangements were entered into for the con-
struction of fish ladders on the Enos Dam
and the Gibson Dam, Trinity County.

The Union Oil Company has cleaned
San Luis Obispo Creok and removed all
evidences of pollution. An oil tank fire

246

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

caused large amounts of oil to flow into
the creek and the company made a con-
siderable outlay in cleaning up the dam-
age done.

The company is satisfactorily keeping
the beach clean at Avila, San Luis
Obispo County, and employing men from
time to time to scrape up and burn de-
posits of oil swept out to sea and re-
turned to shore by the tides.

The Rincon oil field north of Ventura
has been maintained in a most creditable
manner. Inspection of the operations
there disclosed no cases of pollution.
Drilling crews have been warned by the
operators that permitting oil to escape
is a serious offense, subject to severe
censure and even discharge.

The Signal Hill oil field at Long Beach
was inspected. A material improvement
in the condition of the field has resulted
from certain changes recently made in
what is known as the "frog pond." A
new channel to take care of storm waters
was cut so as to leave the old channel
useful as a pond to receive oil and mud.

The Shell Oil Company has just fin-
ished the installation of a system of
sumps at Bicknell in the Orcutt oil field.
It is anticipated that the system will
handle 2000 barrels of waste oil daily,
returning the water to the natural drain-
age clear and free from oil.

The Rice Ranch Oil Company have
recently installed a system of tanks and
sumps at the scene of their operation near
Orcutt. This has also been done to pre-
vent pollution.

Probably one of the most impressive
manifestations that powerful companies
have given lately of their desire to put an
end to pollution and remedy unfortunate
situations where they have occurred, is
the large sums of money being expended.

The Oil Operators, Inc., operating Sig-
nal Hill, Long Beach, for instance, have
spent over $215,000. Cleaning the oil
from the flood control channel cost them
about $1,500. A sump of about 225,000-
barrel capacity represented another good-
ly outlay and work is now going forward
on the construction of further sumps to
provide amply for future demands ex-
erted on the field.

The Texas Company of California may
be cited as another example. The cor-
poration plans to install an oil separat-
ing system at "Watts, Los Angeles County,
Avhich will cost from $60,000 to $80,000.

The same company will have another
separator in operation in the San Pedro
field, and intends to expend around
$70,000.

The Associated Oil Company has joined
the ranks of those who are taking definite
steps to prevent pollution. They have
fitted the S. S. WhitUcr with a reclaim-
ing device. This has proved so satisfac-
tory that by a recent order all vessels
owned and operated by the Associated
Oil are to be similarly equipped.

Blow lines have been installed by the
Richfield Oil Company as the result of
an inspection of a wharf jointly owned by
the Richfield, General Petroleum and
California Petroleum oil companies at
Parr Terminal, Oakland. Further work
will be carried on by the other two com-
panies.

The gas plant at Vallejo, Napa County,
operated by the Pacific Gas and Elec-
tric Company, has discharged waste
products for many years on the bay flats.
The situation has been further aggravated
by deposits of refuse from oil tanks. An
investigation proved the need of a clean-
up campaign. This is now in progress
and measures have been taken for per-
manent relief.

The Pacific American Petroleum Com-
pany has filled in a sump and corrected
other sources and means of pollution.
The sump in question was located in the
natural drainage and greatly aided in
aggravating the pollution problem of the
Huntington Beach field.

The Orange County Refining Company
at Newport, Orange County, has mopped
up escaped oil resulting from a fire. Some
of this oil reached the bay, and this, too,
has been removed.

Court action against the Pacific Coast
Oil Company and four individuals operat-
ing at Huntington Beach, Los Angeles
County, has been dismissed since un-
favorable conditions complained of have
been rectified.

Under the stress of storms, sumps have
been in the past accustomed to breaking
and letting the oil they contained pollute
the area round about. Peculiarly enough,
sumps located in other than the Hunting-
ton Beach field have not acquired this
habit. The obvious conclusion is that the
operators in the Huntington Oil district
have been availing of storms as an excuse
to empty their sumps.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

247

Persistent patrolling during recent
storms by Deputy E. A. Chan thwarted
this pernicious practice.

A common illustration that pollution
may cause trouble in the future is offered
when oil saturated ground oozes during
^Yarm weather. A rarer instance of this
resulted in May when the Wilshire Oil
Company, at Huntington Beach, liber-
ated quantities of hot water into a ditch.
The hot water coming into contact with
the oil soaked ground soon acquired a film
of oil colors and those found their way
into the natural drainage.

It is still necessary to resort to legal
action.

$450 of the fine, however, but with the in-
junction that the balance automatically
become payable upon proof of any future
pollution.

Pollution of the Ventura River by
allowing waste oil to flow into that
stream cost the General Petroleum Cor-
poration, operating in the Ventura field,
a fine of $200 in the court of Judge Ed-
ward Henderson at Ventura.

This company was hailed into court
less than a year ago and a fine of $500
was suspended. However, in the present
case, the judge insisted that the fine be
paid. Deputy R. E. Bedwell made the
arrest.

Fig. 72. Original breeding pens built in 1926 for Chinese ring-necked pheasants
• transformed into quail section at Yountville Game Farm. Here quail experi-
ments are being carried on. Photograph by Milton Clarke, April 20, 1928.

On March 24, Deputy E. A. Chan filed
a criminal action against P. C. Hofmann,
superintendent of the Pan Pacific Refin-
ery, for discharging oil into Long Beach
harbor. Following the trial of April 26,
Judge Charles D. Wallace fined the vio-
lator $500 or an alternative of 250 days
in jaU. Four hundred and seventy-five
dollars of the fine was suspended for
two years in the event the refinery com-
mitted no further violations.

The superintendent of Featherstone
and I'reston, Inc., was charged on Api-il
23, for liberating an oil filled sump into
the natural drainage. On plea of guilty,
he was fined $500 in the municipal court
at Long Beach with an alternative of 100
days in jail. Judge Wallace suspended

Bureau of Game Farms

The first of June found the Chinese
ring-necked pheasants well advanced in
egg output for the season. Exactly 6776
eggs were on hand in various stages, from
those but recently collected and waiting
to be set, to eggs just about to hatch.
During the month 4203 chicks hatched.

During May a total of 3342 Chinese
ring-necked pheasant eggs were hatched.
Some of these chicks came from 5392 eggs
set in April under domestic hens and in
incubators. The pheasant hens com-
menced to lay in earnest in April and
two weeks afterwards the attendants on

248

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

the farm were playing the "shell" game
with thorough familiarity.

The wild turkeys from Arizona were
the first to reproduce and more than a
hundred eggs were laid by the hens in
March. The first twenty-two eggs set
yielded twenty chicks on the last day of
March. One egg was broken in incuba-
tion, the other proved infertile.

The hens continued laying in April and
May. A total of 186 young turkeys are
now in the rearing pens and 116 eggs are
incubating. Thus, a problem is presented
of finding room as soon as the birds at-
tain the age when they should be ranged.
A field for this purpose is now being ar-
ranged.

The first crested tinamou, a game bird
of South America, hatched on April 26.
The tinamou is a stranger to California
and there was no certainty that the brood
stock on the farm would reproduce. Both
male and female are exactly alike. Hence,
this occurrence was a pleasant surprise.

Before the end of the month following,
five additional olive green eggs were laid.
The eggs were fertile but from some
unknown cause the young all died in the
shell three or four days prior to the
hatching time and only one bird hatched.

The second and smaller variety of tina-
mou laid two eggs during the first week
of May. These are a beet red color
and elicit comment from visitors as they
seem especially prepared Easter eggs.

By the end of jNIay the third variety
of tinamou had reproduced, bringing the
total number of eggs incubating to 13.
The last five hatched are being anxiously
cared for and fed grasshoppers and other
prized insects.

Forty Hungarian partridges were re-
leased in a sanctuary established in
Squaw Valley near Fresno on March 26.
These birds represented the remainder of
the flock and seemed averse to mate while
in the pens. It was deemed best to liber-
ate them while it was yet possible for
them to mate.

During the week of May 13, the first
Hungarian partridge egg was picked up

in one of the breeding pens. The birds
then started to lay in a limited way. Be-
fore the end of the month fifteen eggs had
been laid. These are now being incu-
bated.

Latest reports from Sqiiaw Valley are
that the Hungarian partridges have re-
mained within a mile of the place of
liberation. No loss so far has been dis-
covered and it is expected that the birds
will multiply.

The large white swan presented to the
Game Farm last year after the Sports-
men's Show in San Francisco, decided
that the climate was not to his liking,
possibly because he was all alone, and
left for the northland. The swan was
kept with some geese and mallards at
the Napa State Farm, a half mile from
the Game Farm where the use of an open
pond of water is available.

An added attraction for visitors is a
pair of native grey tree squirrels. The
attendants caught this pair near the farm.
They had been watching the nest and
waiting until the young squirrels were
big enough to be right for pets.

A very fine cage has been constructed
around one of the olive trees and in a
month or so the little animals will be real
pets. They now sit up in regular squirrel
pose, taking a piece of nut between their
paws and eating it with relish.

An incubator room was added in April
to the side of the building where food
for the birds on the farm is prepared. The
three additional electric incubating ma-
chines will give the room an incubating
capacity of 2500 eggs. The room was
built with special regard to coolness and
ventilation.

Faithful to a promise made last winter,
360 Chinese ring-necked pheasant eggs
were shipped to the Territory of Hawaii
during the last week of April.

An even trade of Chinese ring-necked
pheasant eggs for Hungarian partridge
eggs has been arranged with Ralph Baird
of Brooks, Alberta. Canada. Early in
j\Iay 100 ring-necked eggs were shipped.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

249

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES

N. B. ScoFiELDj Editor

RECORD CATCH RECORDED

Owing to the great mass of figures that
must be gathered to compile the annual
catch of fi.sh in California waters, the
report for 1927 has just been completed
and will be published soon, together with
a report of the fish pack for the year, and
a report of the sardine canning industry
for the season of 1927-28.

Not only leading the United States but
establishing a record for California, the
fishermen of this state turned in a banner
catch during the year of 1927, when a
total of 424,367,182 pounds was produced,
having an estimated value of almost
$30,000,000. Sardines, as usual, lead
with a poundage of 342,275,289, .while
sole was second with 10,298,268 pounds.
The smallest item in the report was five
pounds of eels taken in the San Fran-
cisco-San Mateo district.

Other species reported were : salmon
6.511.929 pounds; rockfish 6,369,323
pounds ; skipjack 5,803,649 pounds ; blue-
fin tuna 4,898,386 pounds ; mackerel
4,728,903 pounds; albacore 4,455,372
pounds ; barracuda 4,355,583 pounds ;
buck shad 1,986,295 pounds ; roe shad
1,980,546 pounds; yellowtail 1,435,456
pounds ; halibut 1,387,178 pounds and
herring 1,168,321 pounds.

In the shellfish group, crabs totaled
123,346 dozen ; spiny lobsters 508,123
pounds ; abalones 2,816,530 pounds ;
shrimps 1,697,365 pounds ; cockle clams
5,914 pounds ; mixed clams 59,076 pounds ;
Pismo clams 133,000 pounds ; soft-shell
clams 151,383 pounds and squid 6,014,113
pounds.

Monterey County led the state in fish
production with a total of 185,775,478
pounds ; Los Angeles was second with
169,995,637 pounds ; San Francisco-San
Mateo third with 37,616,402 pounds ; San
Diego-Imperial fourth with 13,362,571
pounds. Other districts rank in the fol-
lowing order ; Alameda-Contra Costa
3,973,963 pounds; Del Norte-Humboldt
3,367,575 pounds; Santa Cruz 2,768,088
pounds ; Mendocino-Sonoma-Lake 2,033,-
440 pounds; Marin 1,727,254 pounds;
Sacramento-S an Joaquin 1,007,631
pounds ; San Luis Obispo- Santa Barbara-
Ventura 1,007,482 pounds ; Solano- Yolo
987,141 pounds; Orange 744,520 pounds.

In addition to the California catch,
records of fishermen and packers showed
that 62,132,490 pounds of fish were
brought in from Mexican and extra-terri-

torial waters off the coast of Mexico dur-
ing the year by California fishermen.
The largest item in this list was 28,003,-
362 pounds of skipjack. Barracuda total-
ing 1,844,156 pounds and white sea bass
totaling 1,466,848 pounds came in from
waters south of the California-Mexico
boundary.

GRUNION AND SMELT

Many fishermen who are interested in
catching surf smelt along northern Cali-
fornia beaches have been confused by the
law which was passed at the last session
of the legislature, protecting the grunion
in southern California during the spawn-
ing season, from April 1 to June 30. Al-
though the fish are similar in appearance,
the grunion is not a smelt, while the
northern California fish is a true smelt.
Smelt are peculiar to the beaches of
northern California, but the grunion is
found only south of Point Conception.
The spawning habits of the two fish are
entirely difL'erent, the smelt spawning out-
side the beach line where gravel is found,
while the female grunion deposits her eggs
several inches below the surface of the
sand and far above the level of the
average tide.

ALBACORE

Two shipments of imported albacore
were recently received at Wilmington.
One consignment of a little more than a
ton arriving on June 2, was sent from
Honolulu, and the second lot, which came
on June 4 from Japan, amounted to
twenty-six tons. Reports show that sev-
eral shipments of this species have been
sent from Japan to the Los Angeles har-
bor during the last year. The albacore in
these two shipments were much larger
than those that are caught off the shores
of California. Forty-seven pounds was the
average weight of the fifty albacore mak-
ing up the consignment from Honolulu.
The largest local albacore that the writer
saw during the regular sampling season
of 1927 were in a catch of twenty-nine
that was delivered at Long Beach ; these
averaged forty-one pounds. The fact that
the Hawaiian albacore were devoid of
heads when weighed and that the local
specimens were not, makes the difference
more pronounced. Another item of inter-
est is that roe was found in a number of
the females in the Hawaiian consignment.
— L. E. Herz.

250

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

WHY CALIFORNIA SARDINES ARE

CAUGHT AT NIGHT RATHER

THAN BY DAY

In California, sardine fishing, the most
important in the state, is carried on at
night for two good reasons.

First, the schools of sardines are more
easily located at night on account of
the phosphorescent light or glow in the
water. This light is caused by micro-
scopic organisms which are to be found in
myriads in the sea water. These organ-
isms when disturbed have the power to
give out light of the same nature as
glow worms or fire-flies. Fish swimming
about in the water at night cause these
organisms to glow, and when the fish
are in compact schools the light thus
caused can be seen for a considerable
distance by the lookout in the fishing
boat, if the night is dark.

Second, most of our sardines are caught
with a lampara net which is specially de-
signed to take advantage of this phenom-
enon of "phosphorescence." When a
school of sardines is located, the net is
laid out around it and the two ends then
hauled into the boat, the circle becoming
narrower until finally the sardines are
confined in the "bunt" or pocket of the
net, when they may be transferred to
the boat with small dip nets. If all of
the meshes of the net were so small that
a sardine could not get through, it would
be difficult to pull because of the resist-
ance of the water. The ends or wings of
the lampara nets have meshes as large
as 20 inches, which the sardines could
easily pass through if it were not for
the fact that the phosphorescent fire
caused by the net passing through the
water frightens the fish away from it
and into the center of the circle, until the
small-meshed center or "bunt" is around
and under them. Such a net can be
operated faster and with fewer men than
a net of similar dimensions with all small
mesh. To be effective, however, the sar-
dine net must be used at night. — N. B.
Scofield.

MACKEREL CANNING

In past years small quantities of mack-
erel have been salted and smoked in Cali-
fornia, and there is a steady demand for
moderate amounts in the fresh fish mar-
kets of the state. There have also been
several trials at canning mackerel, but
there has never been the wholesale utili-
zation of this resource such as we find in
the sardine and tunas. During this last

spring several canneries packed mack-
erel as a small side line. One plant
at San Diego cut the fish into three or
four pieces and packed it in one pound
salmon cans. One or two canneries in
the Los Angeles Harbor region packed
mackerel during the early spring months,
and three canneries at Monterey canned
small amounts of mackerel. Most of this
canned product is in round cans, usually
the one pound tall, but a little has been
packed in six ounce tall cans. — W. L.
Scofield.

FISHING OFF SOUTHERN BEACHES
GROWING IN POPULARITY

From a small beginning in 1921, there
has developed a large industry which
caters to the angler fishing for sport in
ocean waters along the southern Cali-
fornia coast. At the present time, there
are at least fifteen barges resorted to by
anglers who enjoy ocean fishing lying off
Santa Monica, Ocean Park, Del Rey,
Hermosa and Redondo beaches, also Long
Beach and Newport. Seaworthy launches
ply back and forth between the principal
piers furnishing transportation to and
from the barges. Fishing tackle and bait
are furnished from $1.50 to $2 per day
and a conservative estimate of the num-
ber of fishermen is placed at 200 during
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for each
barge. On week ends there are as many
as fifty fishermen.

Aside from the barges, there are twenty
to thirty pleasure fishing boats large
enough to accommodate some sixty-five
persons each. Trolling is largely prac-
ticed by these pleasure fishing parties and
it is believed that at least fifty persons
engage in this pastime during holidays
and about twenty-five at other times. The
variety of fish caught consists mostly of
mackerel, halibut, rock bass, barracuda
and an occasional jewfish or black sea
bass.

The piers also have their full quota
of fishermen. An average of at least 200
each daily, while on Saturday and Sun-
day as many as eight or nine hundred,
are to be seen along the ends and sides,
busily engaged in trying to keep their
lines free from those of their neighbors.
Mackerel and halibut are mostly caught,
but not the amount that is taken offshore.

Besides the deep sea fishermen, a great
many find pleasure in fishing for corbina
in the surf. Santa Monica Canyon, north
of the Nalibu, is one of the favored
beaches for this sport. — R. J. Sadler,
Venice.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

251

LIFE HISTORY NOTES

HUMBOLDT COUNTY ELK
The surviving kinds of Roosevelt elk,
happily, are doing well in the great red-
woods of northwestern Humboldt County.
Indeed, it is very reassuring to know that
these noble animals have not only main-
tained themselves in the southern limits
of their present range, but are reported
to have "made a very apparent increase
in the last few years."

John W. Davison of Orick states
that they now range in small bands as
far south as Little River and as far north
and east in Humboldt County as the

in a narrow strip of land three miles
wide and ten long, lying west of Prairie
Creek. This area, he claims, will sustain
at most but two hundred elk. It is now
overstocked and during winter the elk
are so hard-pressed for food that they
become an annoyance to farmers. In
fact, not a small number have acquired
the habit during the summer time of
coming into hay fields at night and com-
mitting depredations.

SCREECH OWL VS. FLICKER
Four holes were drilled by flickers
through the boards of a redwood tank

.mm

Fig. 73. Young elk in hay field near ranch of John W. Davison, Orick, Hum-
boldt County, California. Photograph by J. W. Davison, summer, 1927.

Klamath River. "Elk sign" is not so
scarce as it was ten years ago and al-
most every herd observed contains young
elk. He estimates that there are between
350 and 500 in the county. An accurate
count is impossible, for the larger herds
remain in the denser forests where the
undergrowth is tremendous and are very
seldom seen. Smaller and more venture-
some bands frequent the open country.
Hence, an observer who only obtained
glimpses of these small herds would be
inclined to underestimate the number of
elk in the country.

Deputy Earl P. Barnes is of the opin-
ion that the greater majority of elk range

house belonging to Mr. E. L. Bickford of
Napa, California, in an effort to make
nesting sites. Boxes were placed back
of these holes and the birds ceased bor-
ing and began nesting. They used the
holes for a number of j'ears.

Two or three years ago a screech owl
was found in one of the boxes with what
was left of one of the flickers ; namely,
his wing feathers. Feathers of other
song birds were also found in the box.
The screech owls were taken as pets and
in due time other flickers took up their
abode in the boxes.

In the spring of 1928 the flickers again
disappeared and on investigation one of

252

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

the holes was found to contain a screech
owl's nest with the young just hatched.
It seems that the flickers and screech
owls both favor this nesting site, but are
unable to get along congenially even when
using separate nest holes. — D. D. Mc-
Lean, Berkeley, California.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE IN THE
IMPERIAL VALLEY

The white-winged dove from Mexico
commenced its flight up the Colorado
River as the nesting time for the species
drew near. Usually the birds start to
nest the latter part of April, while
stragglers and late comers prolong the
nesting period sometimes for several
months. They build their nests of small
twigs in the willows and mesquite trees.
In these they lay two white eggs. Some
large mesquite trees have as many as
twelve or more nests ranging from four
to sixteen feet from the ground.

Their nesting habits somewhat resemble
those of the band-tailed pigeon, in that
they nest in colonies and go in large
bands to feed. Their feed consists of
various kinds of berries, grain and small
seeds. After the nesting season is over,
late in the fall, they return with their
young to their wintering quarters in
Mexico.

The white-winged dove is a little larger
than the mourning dove, and while in
flight shows a white crescent on each wing
and a white border at the end of the tail.
Further, the tail is much shorter than
that of the mourning dove. The former
bird has a very dark bill and reddish feet.

A story was told me by an old Mexican
that there were countless thousands of
these birds in Sonora, Mexico, and that
they call them Sonora pigeon. He said
these birds winter there and start to come
north the latter part of March, flying
north until they reach the Gulf of Califor-
nia and thence to the Colorado River and
on up the river, coming into California
near Yuma, Arizona. The white-winged
dove rarely goes north of Needles, San
Bernardino County, nor does the bird
range very far west of the Colorado
River. Sometimes a few drift into Im-
perial Valley. — E. D. Ricketts, Brawley,
California.

CANADA GEESE NEST ON HONEY
LAKE

I went down into Honey Lake Valley,
Lassen County, on March 22, and after
tramping around in the marsh for three
or four hours found two nests of the Can-
ada goose. One nest had five eggs in it and
the other six. Both birds were setting and
most likely had been for two or three

weeks. We also found a nest that had
not been completed. This shows that the
local birds and the ones that come in
from below do not nest at the same time
here. We raised some mallards and they
are evidently nesting too. The Canada
goose usually nests in the heavy tules
where there is running water near at
hand. The nest is generally about two
feet off the ground and sometimes in very
plain sight. It is not unusual for Canada
geese to nest on top of hay stacks and
several nests have been located at Lake
Almanor on the top of broken-off snags of
large trees sometimes forty feet above
the water. I have often wondered how
the old bird got the young ones to Avater
after they reached the age to leave the
nests thus located.

On the 19th of April, 1927, I found the
nest of a Canada goose in the tule sec-
tion of Honey Lake. The young birds
were hardly dry when I found them. This
was evidently not an early hatching for
there were young goslings about on the
marsh at that time large enough to run
around. — C. O. Fisher, Susanville, Cali-
fornia.

A TICK-INFESTED DEER

The mule deer of the Sierras are prey
to many insect pests, not least among
them being the western dog tick. In fact,
this species could be more appropriately
named deer tick. Whether or not these
pests cause much physical suffering and
actually inflict considerable injury, is at
present an open question.

In January of the present year a young
buck was found dead near the foot of the
Coulterville road. The body was liter-
ally infested with ticks, hundreds of them
along the neck and the insides of the
flanks. There were solid rows of the
gorged females and the body swarmed
with the younger undeveloped individuals.

There was no evidence that this spike
horn had met death by accident, nor
did it appear to have been affected by any
disease. Except for a slight deficiency
in weight, the body appeared to be that
of a reasonably healthy animal — that is,
exclusive of the ticks.

The western dog tick is the commonest
variety on the Pacific coast. Dogs, sheep,
cattle, horses, deer and ground squirrels
are subject to infestation, and man is
frequently enough the unwilling host.
But deer are the greatest sufferers, ticks
abounding, as they do, on ceanothus and
others of their chaparral food plants.
The female ticks are reddish brown with
white markings. Their oval bodies aver-
age around 10-12 millimeters in length
when gorged.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

253

Tliougli the buck looked as though it
might actually have died of ticks, the
theory is hardly tenable, according to
most biologists. Nevertheless, it is true
that unhealthy individuals being unable
to rid themselves of these tenacious ecto-

A STRIPER STRANGLES
On April 8, 1928, near the mouth of
the Tuolumne River on the San Joaquin,
a large dead fish was reported which
turned out to be a giant striped
bass, weighing approximately forty-four

Fig. 74. Striped bass strangled Ijy thirteen-inch carp. Found near mouth of
Tuolumne River, April 8, 1928. Photograph by Perc C. Meakin.

Fig. 75. New bay and river patrol boat Rainhoxo. Photograph by John O'Connell.

parasites, are heavily parasitized and
may thus suffer an accentuation of their
already weakened condition. — George M.
Wright, Yosemite Nature Notes, Vol. 7,
No. 5, p. 38.

pounds, and forty-seven inches in length.
The fish had been dead about three days
when discovered.

This striper had captured a thirteen-
inch carp and had endeavored to swallow

254

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

it. Apparently the carp became lodged
in the throat of the bass. The bass,
being unable to swallow or toss up the
carp, had strangled and was cast upon
the bank by high water. Such occur-
rences as this are of particular interest in
that they give some knowledge of the

capacity of a bass's throat, and throw
light on its voracious habits.

Incidentally, carp are preferred by
striped bass, and fishermen claim that
when carp can be procured they are the
principal food. — P. C. Meakin, Modesto,
California.

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES

FLORIDA ENACTS ADVANCED LAW

Florida has adopted a system of accur-
ately recording the bags of the hunter and
the trapper's take in order to effect a
more advanced type of fish and game ad-
ministration. Good business practice dic-
tates that a record be kept of amounts
used of every kind of commodity in order
to avoid waste and the folly of over-
drawing and thus exhausting the supply.

The following is an extract from an
article entitled, "Florida Requires Game
Reports" in Field and Stream, June,
1928, under the heading of the Bulletin
of the American Game Protective Asso-
ciation.

"An improved state-wide game and fish
law was passed by the last legislature.
One of the provisions of the new law
requires hunters and trappers to report
what they have taken under their licenses
within ten days after the close of the
season under penalty of being denied a
license for the next season.

"This requirement is found in the laws
of very few states, but some others have
a voluntary system of reports. It should
be mandatory in every state in order that
reliable statistics of the kill of game from
year to year might be collected. There
can be no better index of the tendency
toward increase or depletion than is fur-
nished by such reports, and they supply
a sound basis on which to base restric-
tive or other regulations. Minnesota was
the first state to enact a law making such
reports mandatory."

NEW BRUNSWICK GAINS IMPOR-
TANT ADDITION TO REFUGE
SYSTEM

The establishment of the Lapreaii
Game Refuge in the wilds of New Bruns-
wick adds one of the best areas for big
game in the province to the system. The
refuge comprises nearly ninety-five square
miles and brings the total territory set
aside for game refuges to almost five hun-
dred square miles. The new refuge is
the result of a determined policy on the
part of the present administration to
enlarge the sanctuary area of New Bruns-
wick,

RECENT LEGISLATION IN
KENTUCKY

Several new laws were enacted by the
Kentucky legislature at its last session.
These afford additional protection to game
and fish and enlarge on the powers of
the Kentucky Commission to more ade-
quately administer refuges. Increased
funds also will aid in a greater output
from hatcheries.

A few of the new enactments are :

Doves may be shot only from noon
imtil six o'clock each day during open
season.

Bass and crappie may not be sold.

Deer and pheasants may not be killed
until 1932.

NEW YORK PROVIDING
FOOD FOR GAME

Food for game animals and birds will
be an important consideration in the re-
forestation program of the New York De-
velopment Association. A liberal num-
ber of berry-bearing trees and shrubs will
be planted to each acre. Hardwood trees,
such as beech and maple, will also be set
out and care will be taken to afford both
a winter and summer food supply.

The Association contemplates planting
some billion trees during the next fifteen
years on waste lands in the state and its
program provides for the planting of one
hundred million trees each year there-
after until all the idle lands are produc-
tive.

To further encourage the planting of
food producing plants in areas not in-
cluded within the reforestation project,
the Association is distributing suitable
trees and shrubs without cost to sports-
men's associations and interested indi-
viduals.

MISSOURI IMPORTS QUAIL
The state of Missouri just purchased
3000 quail for liberation this past spring.
The birds were released in state-owned
and auxiliary game refuges. In making
a report on this contribution to the game
resources of the state, it is pointed out
that the $2.50 hunting and fishing license
falls short $1.52 of paying for a single
pair of the imported quail.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

255

IDAHO TO INTRODUCE EGGS OF
FRESHWATER SMELT

An interesting experiment is to be car-
ried ont by the Bureau of Fisheries,
Idaho 3tate Fish Commissioner and For-
est Service in shipping the eggs of the
freshwater smelt from eastern Maine for
planting in Idaho waters.

This little fish, ordinarily growing to
about six inches long, is remarkably pro-
lific and runs in large schools in the deep
waters of lakes. In early spring they
ascend inlets to spawn, the spawn being
very minute and sticking to rocks, sticks,
etc. The eggs develop rapidly and hatch
in from two weeks to a month, the minute
young migrating immediately to deep
water.

Owing to the rapid development of the
eggs, it is difficult to ship them success-
fully such long distances. The eggs are
to be surrounded by a layer of ice and
packed in an insulated box to be sent by
express. If this method is not successful,
a small shipment by air mail will be at-
tempted.

The object in introducing the smelt is
to furnish an abundant and suitable for-
age fish for trout and salmon to eat. They
live principally on minute forms of life
which ordinarily occur in abundance in
deep w^ater lakes and turn this into a
readily available trout food. In one in-
stance, a lake in which trout were not
thriving, owing to a lack of large forms
of food, although the minute forms were
abundant, was stocked with the smelt in
the spring and that fall yearling steelhead
trout and landlocked salmon from 6-9
inches long were planted. By the follow-
ing summer, 8-9 months later and over
winter, the trout and salmon reached
two pounds in W'eight. The next summer
steelhead trout were taken weighing 4^
lbs., the food being almost entirely the
little smelt.

The smelt is the natural food of the
landlocked salmon which has never been
successfully established in its absence and
although encouraging results have come
from the introduction of this salmon in
the Redfish Lake section in Idaho, the
planting of the smelt will make favorable
results much more certain. The abund-
ance of trout food which the smelt will
supply should improve conditions for
other trout as well and it is quite prob-
able that the little redfish occurring there
will grow considerably larger in size than
at present.

PATHFINDER BIRD REFUGE REES-
TABLISHED IN WYOMING
By recent executive order, President
Coolidge has reestablished for the protec-

tion of native birds the Pathfinder Bird
Refuge, embracing 22,700 acres on the
North Platte River in central Wyoming.
The area is set aside for the use of the
Department of Agriculture as one of the
numerous refuges administered by the
Bureau of Biological Survey.

All the lands involved have been with-
drawn for reclamation purposes in con-
nection with the North Platte Project,
Wyoming, and are primarily under the
jurisdiction of the Department of the In-
terior. The area includes mainly a
reservoir constructed for the use of the
Reclamation Service in the irrigation of
lands. The establishment of this refuge
furnishes nesting grounds as well as im-
portant feeding and resting places for
the large numbers of migratory waterfowl,
especially ducks, in a region where open
water areas providing a haven for birds
are scarce.

It is unlawful, within the refuge, to
hunt, trap, capture, wilfully disturb, or
kill any wild animal, or bird of any
kind whatever, or take or destroy the eggs
of any wild bird, except under such rules
and regulations as may be prescribed by
the Secretary of Agriculture.

UPPER MISSISSIPPI REFUGE
ENLARGED

A joint resolution recently approved
by President Coolidge authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture to accept from
James B. Munn, of New York City, on
behalf of the United States, a gift of cer-
tain lands in Clayton County, Iowa, to
become a part of the Upper Mississippi
River Wild Life and Fish Refuge. These
lands, embracing a total area of 488 acres
estimated to be worth thirty or forty
thousand dollars, were generously donated
to the government by Mr. Munn through
his interest in the objects of the refuge.

Situated near McGregor, Iowa, the
lands are more or less overgrown with
original timber and are especially attrac-
tive for upland migratory birds. One
parcel includes an excellent lookout point,
known as Pikes Peak, that wall be of
great value in connection with fire pro-
tection, administrative uses, and other
purposes on the refuge. Although ad-
jacent to the lowlands embraced in the
refuge much of the area is not subject
to overflow, as it extends up into the hills
bordering the river bottoms, and the in-
clusion of this high land will have the
desirable result of lending variety to the
refuge and attracting and protecting ad-
ditional species of wild life.

The Upper Mississippi River Wild Life
and Fish Refuge includes lands along

256

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

both sides of the river between Rock
Island, 111., and Wabasha, Minn., and the
acquisition of further lands to be in-
cluded is being carried forward as rapidly
as possible bj' the Bureau of Biological
Survey of the Department of Agricul-
ture.

NEW ANTELOPE PRESERVE FOR
NEVADA

The National Association of Audubon
Societies has acquired the Last Chance
Ranch in northern Nevada, which it will
maintain as an antelope sanctuary.

Some time ago at a national conference
called in Washington to consider means
of saving these beautiful and hard-pressed
animals in the semi-desert regions of the
west, the National Association of Audu-
bon Societies was appointed to take the
lead in securing by congressional action
the establishment of an antelope and sage
hen reservation in southeastern Oregon.
Political interference at the behest of the
nomadic sheep herding interests caused
the project to fail. Since that time the
State of Oregon has declared the killing
of antelope in this region to be illegal,
but as no wardens are available to en-
force the regulation, conditions so far as
the antelope are concerned remain virtu-
ally unchanged. Reports are current
that wandering sheep herders and other
travelers of the deserts continue to wipe
out the small bands of antelope that
still remain. Across the line in Nevada
an exactly analogous situation exists, but
it is here that a real reservation has at
last been created.

While Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson, presi-
dent of the Audibon Association was en-
gaged in field work in the west last sum-
mer he learned from E. R. Sans of Reno
of the peculiar conditions that surround
this Last Chance Ranch in northern Ne-
vada.

This range of 380 acres contains open
water, and water in this desert means
many things, one of which is that from
great distances antelopes come in spring
to drop their fawns on the slopes sur-
rounding the water hole. It is this ranch

the Association has acquired. — Outdoor
Life-Recreation, Vol. 61, No. 4.

NORTH CAROLINA UNDERTAKES A
GAME BAG CENSUS

The Director of the Department of
Conservation and Development of North
Carolina sent out 125,000 return card
blanks during the month of March. Hun-
ters are asked to fill in the blanks with
the number of each species of game taken
and to return the card. The census will
provide the state with the first definite
and comprehensive idea of the value and
extent of game animals and birds taken
during any one open season. With this
as a basis, some estimate can be made
of the game population of the state.

GEORGIA CREATES REFUGES

A decreasing game supply has forced
Georgia to begin the establishment of a
series of game refuges and public shoot-
ing grounds in various parts of the state.
One such forest and game preserve has
been created and others are to follow in
the central and southern part of the state,
and on the coast.

Mexican quail are also being intro-
duced. In 1926, 6000 quail were im-
ported, and in 1927, 5000.

HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGES IN
PENNSYLVANIA

During the past three years, the Game
Commission of Pennsylvania has under-
taken the acclimatization of the Hun-
garian partridge. In 1925, 3962 Hun-
garian partridges Avere imported from
Czecho-Slovakia. They arrived in good
condition and were immediately released.
In 1926, 1643 were similarly imported
and released. It may be that the re-
leasing of these birds in sizable coveys
rather than in small lots has contributed
to the success obtained. In nearly all
of the places where these partridges were
released, there has been evidence of nor-
mal increase. In only one instance did
the birds entirely disappear. In one
county where 216 were released, it is
estimated that there are now 1200 birds.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

257

REPORTS

GAME CASES
January, February, March, 1928

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
imposed

Jail

sentences
(days)

Hunting license Act

Deer Tag License Act

Deer: buv or sell; run with dogs; taking and possession, closed season; failure

to retain horns and hide; over bag limit

Deer: taking and possession, does, fawns, spiked bucks, forked horns in Dist. 1%

Rabbits: cottontail, brush; taking and possession, closed season

Ducks: buv orsjll; taking and possession; closed season; over bag limit

Geese: taking and possession, closed season; over bag limit

Mudhens: taking and possession, closed season

Swans: taking and possession (no open season)

Shorebirds: taking and possession (no open season)

Quail: taking and possession, closed season; over bag limit

Pheasants: taking and possession (no open season)

Non-game birds: taking and possession

Commercial Gun Club License Act

Ftir Trapping Rcgiilations

Shooting wild game from power boat

Game refuges : hunting and possession of firearms

Night hunting.

Bird nets: illegal possession of __

Totals

17
1

$460

3,375

1,310

685
686
175
175
25

30
90
30
60

150

450
500

140

200

310

166

1,885

293

FISH CASES
January, February, March, 1928

Violation

Number
arrests

Fines
im.poscd

Jail

sentences

(daj'sl

Angling License Act

Commercial Fishing License Act

Trout: taking and possession, closed season

Black bass: taking and possession, closed season _.

Sunfish, perch, crappie: taking and possession, closed season '_

Night fishing, illegal

Striped bass: undersized and overlimit

Salmon: illegal taking and possession _.

Catfish: sale of undersized

Barracuda: undersized

Spot-fin croaker: sale of.

Crabs, undersized

Clams: undersized and overlimit

Abalones: taking and possession, closed season; removal of shells from below

-high tide mark; undersized and overlimit

Lobsters : taki ng and possession, closed season ; undersized

Illegal fishing: fish reservation

Nets, traps, lines, spears: illegal possession or use.

Water pollution

Totals

53
9
2

18
5

270

Sl,010

210

370

225

310

450

100

210

275

1,349

1,390

265

1,430

1,300

$9,094

360

60
60
30

30
130

670

258 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

SEIZURES OF FISH AND GAME

January, February, March, 1928

Deer meat, pounds 449

Rabbits, cottontail, brush 27

Ducks 494

Geese 29

Mudhens 5

Swans 1

Shorebirds 5

Divers 1

Quail 16

Pheasants r 4

Non-game birds 27

Trout 77

Black bass 11

Sunfish, perch, crappie 85

S triped bass, pounds 47

Catfish, pounds 712

Barracuda, pounds 4,755

Calico bass 1

Crabs 52

Clams. -. 1,^65

Abalones 527

Abalone meat, pounds 39

Lobsters, pounds 1'°

Nets, fish spears 4

Bird nets 1

STATEMENT OF INCOME

For the Period January 1, 1928, to March 31, 1928, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year

License sales: Detail Total

Angling licenses, 1927 $23,531 00

Angling licenses, 1928 4,601 00

Hunting licenses, 1927-1928 110,649 00

Hunting licenses, 1928 334 00

Market fishermen's licenses, 1927-1928 3,630 00

Market fishermen's licenses, 1928-1929 230 00

Wholesale fish packers' and shell fish dealers' licenses, 1927-1928 45 00

Game breeders' licenses, 1928 460 00

Fish breeders' licneses, 1928... 175 00

Trapping licenses, 1927-1928 1,244 00

Deer tag licenses, 1927 14,125 00

Total license sales 8159,024 00

Other income:

G ame tag sales §7 92

Fish tag sales -- 1,621 93

Court fines 15,237 35

Fish packers' tax 23, 311 54

Kelp tax locnn

Miscellaneous sales 125 00

Interest on bank deposits 405 (

Total other income 40,712 56

Total income $199,736 56

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

259

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
For the Period January 1, 1928, to March 31, 1928, of the Seventy-ninth Fiscal Year

Function

Materials

and
supplies

Salaries

and

wages

Service

and
expense

Property

and
equipment

Total

Administration:
Executive and legal -- .

$4,181 94
4,399 77

$205 58
612 43

2,582 58
120 45
987 60

1,023 40
294 16

$1,022 89
78 88

S5 470 41

Clerical and office

$213 15

5 304 23

Rent

2,582 58
234 75

Automobiles..

114 30

Telephone and telegraph

987 60

Postage _ _ - - .

1,023 40
294 16

Freight, cartage and express

Printing.- ..

3,161 54

3,161 54
166 35

Accident and death claims

166 35
528 39

nnmmissionprs

528 39

Tntal administration

S3,488 99
S222 07

$8,581 71

S3,175 00

$825 00

$3,129 99
695 00

$6,580 94
$563 03
$220 47
$591 56

$1,101 77
$1,201 09

$19 753 41

Education:
Director and assistants

$5,161 19

$1,015 47

$3,725 80
745 91

Publicity:
Director ._

Conservation and protection:
Chief and assistants

$4 25

Clerical and office .

S50 91

Rent

98 46

88 21

39,281 53

212 69

270 57

2,990 00

87 75

518 98

98 46

Automobiles

392 90

71 85

278 93

481 11

Captains and deputies

51,370 02
525 00
750 00

27 10
2,923 32

90,750 50
3,939 94
1,020 57
2 990 00

Patrol launches -._.

Lion hunting ..

Lion bounties. . . _

Fish planting _ ... .

630 00
605 00

717 75

Refuge posting .

706 54

1,830 52

Total conservation and protection

Commercial fisheries:
Chief and assistants

?1,501 13

$75 25
97 48
553 72
244 23
420 59

$57,705 01

$2,743 33
8,976 21
1,220 00
1,415 00
7,533 39

$44,139 75

$009 39

2,733 06

94 17

46 67

1,185 35

3,750 00

79 56

$2,954 67

$106,300 56
S3 427 97

Deputies -

11,806 75
1,916 54
1,705 90
9,520 03
3,750 00
206 20

Patrollaunches _ . . .

48 65

Statistical

Laboratory ..

380 70

Botulism ..

Automobiles .

126 64

Total cnmmereial fisheries

Sl,517 91

$21,887 93

$1,033 33
905 00

$8,498 20

$25 50

12 80

255 00

108 70

3,198 04

$429 35
$10 20

$32,333 39

$1,069 03
975 62

Fish culture:
Chief and assistants ..

Clerical and office

$57 82

Rent

255 00

Automobiles.. ..

810 12
7,052 21

4 20

3,040 94

17,362 09

983 02

Hatcheries . _ _

26,245 88

39,537 07

17,362 09

3,036 49

Hatcheries, additions and betterments

Special field investigation .

2,509 06

527 43

Total fish culture . .

$7,920 15

§6 30
13 21

$30,693 27

$1,375 00
750 00

$4,187 47

$511 31
20 60

$20,417 43
S45 29

$63 218 32

Hydraulics:
Chief and assistants

$1 937 90

Cooperative research work .

783 81

Total hydraulics.

S19 51

?1,112 28
165 29

$2,125 00
$1,958 00

$531 91
$352 63

$45 29
$962 46

$2 721 71

Game propagation:
Game farm, Yountville _.

$4,385 37
165 29

Automobiles..

Total game propagation

n,277 57
S27 91

$1,958 00
$2,217 20

$352 63

$260 89
$10,325 55

$962 46

$4 550 60

Research: _!|;
Chief and assistants ?:

$2,506 06
$10,325 55

Total Division of Fish and Game

115,975 24

$129,168 18

$75,660 84

$27,112 06

$247,916 32

260

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

X
o

Total fish from
south of thelnter-
national Bound-
ary line brought
into California. .

Fish from south of
the International
Boundary line
brought lEto
California via
San Diego

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the International
Boundary line
brought into
California via
San Pedro

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

263

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264

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

Fig. 7 6.

Map showing pheasant plantings in California for 1926 and 1927.
Map by courtesy of Rand McNally.

1927 Plantings — • —

37 Plantings — # —

1926

Plantings-

—A — Letters

Numbers

Num

bers

No. of

Nearest

No. of Nearest

No. of

Nearest

Plant

birds

Locality

Plant

birds Locality

Plant

birds

Locality

169__.

..Dunsmuir

126 Dunsmuir

150 —

-Merced

229__.

..Redding

462 Redding

557 —

-Sanger

174__.

..Napa

100___Red Bluff

130 —

-Coalinga

42__.

..Birds Ldg.

240 Chico

190—

-Hanford

208—.

..Stockton

150 Marysville

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-Hanford

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_ .Modesto

150 Roseville

150—

-Tulare

189 — .

..Salinas

125 Orland

225 —

-Salinas

192__.

-.Soledad

140 Willows

126 —

-Gonzales

300__.

..Fresno

427 Napa Valley

318 —

-Soledad

175—.

..Hanford

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80 —

-Atascadero

250—.

.JBakersfield

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120_.

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252__.

..Solvang

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120-

-Santa Maria

252__.

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184 Point Reyes

80—

-Santa Bar-

495 —

_Colton

126___Lodi

bara

105_-.

..Temecula

150 Crows Ldg.

150 —

-Bakersfield

110—

..El Centre

100 Pleasanton

140 —

-Bakersfleld

80 Centerville

366_-

-Chino

221 Modesto

246—

-Colton

150 Stockton

120 —

-Temecula

72 Oakdale

240—

-El Centre

72 Sonora

240_-

-Ontario

60529 8-28 9500

California Fish and Game

"CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION"

Volume 14 SACRAMENTO, OCTOBER, 1928 Number 4

CONTENTS

Page

THE STRIPED BASS SUPPLY OF CALIFORNIA J. A. Craig 265

GRUNION ON CABRILLO BEACH Frances N. Clark 273

THE TOTUAVA FISHERY OF THE CALIFORNIA GULF

Geo. Roger Chute 275

A NOTE ON THE SQUAWFISH AND ONE OF ITS RELATIVES

_TF. /. Follett 282

THE BONEFISH— OVERLOOKED BY CALIFORNIA SPORTSMEN

W. I. Follett 285

INTESTINAL PARASITES OF WILD DUCKS AND GEESE

E. C. O'Roke 286

FISH RESCUE AND RECLAMATION George Neale 296

EDITORIALS — 299

DIVISION ACTIVITIES 311

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES 316

LIFE HISTORY NOTES 320

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 320

REPORTS—

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 324

Statement of Income — 325

Fishery Products, April to June, 1928 325

Statement of Expenditures 330

THE STRIPED BASS SUPPLY OF CALIFORNIA '

Ey J. A. Craig
(With three graphs.)

The striped bass, Roccus lineatus, first appeared in California in
1879, when 132 of these fish were collected in the Navesink River, New
Jersey, and shipped to this state. About twenty-five of the fish died
and those that survived the transcontinental journey were planted in
the Straits of Carquinez at Martinez. Three years later a plant of
about three hundred fish was made in Suisun Bay at Army Point.

Evidently the new habitat in which these fish found themselves
proved to be extremely suitable to their welfare. This is indicated by
the fact that as early as 1889, or only ten years after the first plant, a

1 Contribution No. 73 from tlie California State Fisheries Laboratory, September
10, 1928.
62149

266

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

commercial catch of 16,296 pounds was reported by the United States
Bureau of Fisheries. In 1892 the yearly catch was given by the same
agency as 56,209 pounds.

A rough idea of the rapidity with which the striped bass multiplied,
during the years immediately following their introduction, can be
obtained from these figures of total catch. The fish constituting the
catch of 1892 were estimated to average * about ten pounds in weight.
Therefore, in 1892 there were about fifty-six hundred fish taken in the
commercial catch. This number of fish represents only part of the
annual increase of the population since the striped bass undoubtedly
have become more abundant since that time. ._::>,:-
; When we consider the fact that the entire population originated
from a group of less than five hundred individuals, planted ten and

Fig. 77. Yearly total commercial catch of striped bass in California. The figures
for 1899, 1904 and 1908 were compiled by the United States Bureau of Fish-
eries. From 1915 to 1927, inclusive, the data were compiled by the Division
of Fish and Game of the Department of Natural Resources of California,

twelve years before, it is evident that the striped bass must have been
placed in extremely suitable surroundings, containing an abundant
food supply, ample spawning beds, favorable temperature and hydro-
graphic conditions and very few natural enemies.

The introduction of striped bass into California probably has been
rivaled only in success by the bringing of the shad into the same waters
and the planting of rainbow and other trout in New Zealand.

As shown in figure 77, the total yearly catch of striped bass reached
the sum of 1,234,320 pounds in 1899. The catch then rose to 1,570,404
in 1904, and 1,776,000 in 1908. The next yearly catch total available
was 1915, which was 1,784,448. In 1916 there was a pronounced drop
in total catch to 941,849 pounds. The catch of 1917 was of about the

= Report of the United States ComrHissloner of Fish and Fisheries, for the year
1893.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 267

same magnitude, and 1918 showed a decided gain, totaling 1,407,841
pounds. From 1919 to 1927, inclusive, the yearly catch fluctuates
without a great deal of variation around a mean of about 725,000
pounds.

From an inspection of figure 77, one might be apt to conclude that
the striped bass have decreased in abundance since 1915, because^ the
total catch falls off to such a great extent. However, total yearly catch
figures are very seldom an accurate criterion of the abundance of a
species of fish.

This is necessarily so, when we consider the fact that the abundance
of a fish is only one of the many factors which determines the magni-
tude of the yearly catch. Increased fishing effort, that is, more men,
boats and gear entering a fishery, may cause the yearly catch to
become greater while the abundance of fish really is growing steadily
less. Economic conditions, such as falling off in demand for a particu-
lar fish, sometimes bring about a drop in price, which leads the fisher-
men to turn to another fishery, with the result that less effort is
expended and the total catch declines, while the abundance of the
species remains unchanged. Poor weather conditions may cause a
light catch while the supply of fish remains constant, or a strike of the
fishermen may halt all fishing operations for a time, with a small yearly
catch resulting. Also restrictive legislation, such as closed seasons,
prohibition of effective gear or closing of productive fishing areas, may
cause a decline of total yearly catch, while the abundance of the
species is constant or even increasing.

The next step then is to see what factors other than the abundance
of striped bass may have influenced the catch figures shown in figure
77. Changes in fishing effort, that is, fluctuations in amount of men
and gear employed in the fishery, are often one of the major causes of
variations in total catch. From data collected by the United States
Bureau of Fsheries, Mr. C. B. Tendick, Pacific Coast representative of
the Bureau of Fisheries, estimates that in 1915 there were approxi-
mately two hundred and sixty-five gasoline engine powered boats and
four hundred and eighteen sail and row boats employed in the striped
bass fishery in California, and in 1926 about two hundred and seventy-
six gasoline boats and only four sail and row boats.

This shows an increase of only about eleven power boats and the
almost complete loss of the fleet of over four hundred sail and row
boats. While these figures are merely estimates there is no doubt but
that there are fewer men and boats employed in the striped bass fishery
now than in 1915. This is certainly one of the contributing causes tc
the decline in total catch since 1915.

Doubtless there are several reasons for the loss in number of men
and sail boats from the striped bass fishery. The majority of the sail
boats were remodeled and fitted with gasoline engines. Then during
1915 and the years immediately following, there was an extensive
development of the fisheries of Monterey, chiefly salmon trolling and
sardine fishing. This induced a large number of the fishermen to leave
the bass, salmon and shad fisheries of San Francisco Bay and its tribu-
taries, which is the only commercial fishing area for striped bass in
the state, and move to Monterey. Also there was a great deal of
restrictive legislation passed concerning striped bass fishing following

268

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

1915, and a number of the fishermen probably abandoned their occu-
pation and turned to more lucrative pursuits.

Unquestionably the chief cause of the drop in total catch from 1915
to 1919 was restrictive legislation. The first legislative measure pro-
tecting striped bass went into effect as early as 1893, when San Fran-
cisco County passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of striped bass
under eight pounds in weight. In 1895 a three-pound size limit was
made state wide by the State Legislature, and it was also made unlaw-
ful to take striped bass commercially between sunrise on Saturday and
sunset of the following Sunday. Since that time at almost every legis-
lative session there has been some added protection given the striped
bass in the form of additional closed seasons, regulation of gear or
withdrawal of fishing areas from commercial fishing.

250 -

ZOO

I'iso

LEGAL FISHING DAYS

H^^^^^^^^H^H^gv 2^ OS

^^^B

100

Fig. 78. Number of days in each year upon which commercial Ashing for striped
bass could be carried on legally in California.

Some idea of the extent to which added closed seasons have lessened
the number of legal fishing days can be gained from figure 78. In 1899,
1904 and 1908, the only closed days were the Saturdays and Sundays,
which left about two hundred and sixty-one days available to the
fishermen. Then more closed seasons were added until in 1927 there
were only one hundred and sixty-four days during the year in which
commercial fishing could be legally done. Therefore, in 1927 the num-
ber of legal fishing days was only 63 per cent of the days available to
the fishermen in 1908.

This would tend to cut down the yearly catch, since a man can not be
expected to catch as many fish in one hundred and sixty-four days as
he formerly did in two hundred and sixty-one days. Also a large part
of the closed days were taken from a portion of the year, May 16 to
July 31, inclusive, M'hen the bass are abundant on the fishing grounds
and fishing conditions are usually good. Therefore, the effect of the

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 269

closed season on the yearly catch would tend to be even more than the
indicated loss of about one-third of the yearly fishing time.

Another series of legislative changes which have had a large influence
on the yearly catches, are the measures prohibiting commercial fishing
in many of the best fishing grounds. In 1911 it was declared unlawful
to fish commercially in Cache Slough, Napa or Mokelumne rivers. In
1915 all commercial fishing was restricted to San Francisco Bay and
the main channels of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. This
made it unlawful for the commercial fishermen to utilize many square
miles of the most productive fishing areas, and probably had more to
do with the drop in yearly catches than any other single piece of
legislation.

Then in later years District 2 was closed to commercial fishing. In
1927 commercial fishing was prohibited in the greater portion of San
Pablo Bav. This legislation removed another choice area from the
commercial fishing grounds.

Besides the two major restrictions, of closed seasons and curtailment
of fishing area, other less important protective measures, such as a
closed season for commercial fishing for bass over ten pounds in weight
between April 1 and May 31, and regulation of gear which may be used,
have been passed by the state legislature, since the year when extremely
high total catches were made.

Since the protective measures passed alone seem to be a sufficient
reason for the lessened yearly catch of the last ten years, the trend of
the total catches, when other factors affecting it are considered, cer-
tainly does not seem to indicate that the striped bass have been
depleted. Instead it appears that the yearly take has been curtailed by
a series of wise protective measures and the withdrawal of part of the
men and boats working in the fishery. To pass legislation which has
the effect of diminishing the yearly take of fish and then become
alarmed because the catch falls off: is no more sensible than for a man
to become worried over his financial condition because he has deposited
his money in a bank and so has not spent as much as usual.

As stated before, yearly total catch figures are at best a poor measure
of the abundance of a species of fish. In order to obtain a definite idea
of the abundance of a certain fish, more detailed and complete data
than yearly total catches are needed. Also, the data must be handled
in such a way that the effects of factors influencing the fishery other
than the abundance of the fish, such as changes in fishing effort, gear,
and number of available fishing days, are nullified as much as is
possible.

Fortunately we have such detailed data in the pink ticket receipts
collected by the Division of Fish and Game. These are the triplicate
copies of the receipts which all fish buyers are required to make out
when buying fish from a fisherman. The original is given to the fisher-
man who caught the fish, and the duplicate copy is kept by the buyer.
The receipt shows the name of the man who caught the fish, species of
fish caught, number of pounds in the catch, price paid for the fish, date
of sale, and the name and custom house number of the boat. In this
way the Division of Fish and Game is able to obtain a detailed record
of every catch of fish sold in the state. In cases where the boats usually

270 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

go out and return on the same day, as in the striped bass fishery, this
amounts to a detailed record of each boat's daily catches.

When these records of daily catches are handled in such a way that
the catch of a constant unit of effort and gear during comparable
periods of time is obtained, the result can be said to indicate the abun-
dance of the species of fish, or at least the availability of the fish to
the fishermen, as accurately as it is possible for any catch data to
accomplish. In the process known as a boat catch analysis we have
such a means of determining the yield of a constant unit of fishing gear
and effort over comparable periods of time.

Figure 79 shows graphically the result of a simple boat catch analysis
of the striped bass fishery of San Francisco Bay and its tributaries.
The first step in obtaining these results was to go through the indi-
vidual boat records and select twenty boats which had fished for striped
bass continuously through all of the years during which the ticket
system has been in operation, 1920 to 1927, inclusive. The boats so
selected have been under the same owner and have used practically the
same sort of gear during this eight-year period. This selection of data
eliminates fluctuations due to increases or decreases in number of men
or boats and changes of gear in the fishery, and provides a constant
unit of gear and personnel with which to work.

The next step is to get the data in such a form that the result will
show the catch of a constant unit of time. It can be easily seen that if
the total catch of these boats for a year or month or week were used,
the results from year to year or month to month would not be com-
parable because some years or months might contain many more days,
when fishing was actually carried on, than others. The average catch
per day during each year is the unit of time shown in the curve in
figure 79. In computing this average, only those days upon which
catches were reported were used, since we have no means of knowing
when fishermen went out and failed to catch fish. However, it is safe
to say that the great majority of times when no catches are reported,
represent days on which the fishermen did not go out, because of
engine trouble, mending nets, vacations, additional closed seasons and
various other causes. The number of times when they fished and
caught absolutely nothing are very few and would average about the
same for each year over a long period of time, so they are of relatively
little importance. ' 3 :

Some boats habitually bring in much larger catches than others,
either because they have larger nets or more men in the crew, are
larger boats or are operated by more skilful fishermen. If the boats
making the larger catches did not make as many catches as usual in
some year, the combined average daily boat catch of that year would
be lowered artificially, while if some of the smaller boats made less
than the usual number of catches, the average would be raised because
the normal amount of small catches would not be present. Also small
fluctuations in small catches should be as indicative of the abundance
of the fish as larger fluctuations in larger catches. Therefore, the
catches of all of the boats were weighted in such a way that all boats
had equal weight in determining the final result.

The method of accomplishing this was as follows : First, the average
catch per day of each boat during the eight-year period, 1920 to 1927,

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

271

inclusive, was computed by adding up the daily catches of each boat
made during that period and dividing the sum of the catches by the
number of catches included in the total. The boat then having the
largest average daily catch during the eight-year period was given a
weight of one. The daily averages of each of the other boats were then
divided into the average of the boat with the largest catch in order to
find out how much greater the average catch of the boat given the
weight of one was than the averages of each of the others. The results
of these divisions were then used as factors by which the catches of all
of the boats could be raised to an equal footing with each other, and
with the boat having the largest catches.

For example : Suppose boat A has the largest average daily catch of
200 pounds. Then boat B has an average daily catch of 100 pounds
during the eight-year period. The factor for boat A is 1, since it has
the highest average catch. For boat B the factor is 200-f-lOO or 2. By
multiplying all of the catches of boat B by 2 they can be raised to an

ito

130-

120

'110

100

— r—

AVERAGE DAILY BOAT CATCM

_, , — — ,

5TR)PEDBA55

' . • ^' o,^_^

•

.--— -

•-

P""

' \

/
/

^"0

•

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• - ©'

— 1 '

fi20

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

Fig. 79. Average daily catch per boat of striped bass in San Francisco Bay and

its tributaries.

equal magnitude with the catches of boat A and fall about the same
mean as those of boat A, and both boats will have an equal weight in
determining the final combined average of all of the boats.

This process of course is repeated with the data of each of the
remaining boats.

When the catches of all of the boats had been weighted so that all
boats have equal importance in determining the final average, the next
step was to compute the average daily catch of all of the boats for each
year. This was done by adding up the weighted daily catches of all
of the boats in one year and dividing the sum so obtained by the
number of catches included in the total. This was repeated with the
data for each year.

The dotted line in figure 79 shows the result of this boat catch analy-
sis. In 1920 the average daily catch per boat was only 93 pounds.
This increased to 142 pounds in 1923 and then it dropped to 101 pounds
in 1924. The year 1925 showed a marked increase to 135 punds, and

272 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

1926 and 1927 were somewhat lower with 129 and 115 pounds, respec-
tively.

The solid line in the same figure indicates the straight line that best
fits the points determined by the dotted line. 31 the slope of the line

2 xy
was computed from the formula M= ~, x being the deviations of the

2t X

years from their midpoint in half years and y being the deviations of
the yearly average daily catches from the mean of the eight values
given for these averages. The trend of the solid line in figure 79 is
more significant in giving a general picture of the abundance of striped
bass than the dotted line showing the exact status of the average daily
boat catch for each year since it summarizes the trend of these separate
points. Also some of the yearly results are influenced by factors other
than the availability of the fish to the fishermen. As an example of
this, during 1924 there was very little rain and a resulting condition
of low, clear water which was not favorable to large catches of striped
bass. Also in 1927 very large catches of shad were made which caused
the fishermen to concentrate on shad fishing and to go to places where
large shad catches could be made, even though the bass catches result-
ing were smaller than usual.

The catch return per constant unit of effort and gear has had an
upward trend during the eight-year period, 1920 to 1927, inclusive.
From this we can safely assume that the abundance of striped bass, or
at least the availablity of the bass to the fishermen has increased during
that time, since the same gear used by the same men for the same
length of time has brought catches whose trend in size is greater as the
years progress.

To briefly summarize the statements made in the previous pages :
The striped bass when introduced in 1879 and 1882 found a habitat
extremely suitable to their welfare and increased rapidly, until in 1899
they were supplying a total annual catch of over 1,200,000 pounds.
This period of large yearly catches continued until 1915, after which,
with the exception of 1918, the catches were much lower. This drop in
total catch upon careful analysis appears to be due to withdrawal of
men and boats from the fishery and restrictive legislation. During the
years from 1920 to 1927, inclusive, the catch per unit of gear and
effort for a constant unit of time has become greater, which strongly
indicates an increased abundance or availability of bass to the fisher-
men.

Certainly there appears no reason to fear that the fishery is being
depleted. Rather it seems that through wise protective measures the
total catch is being held to a level low enough so that the supply of
bass is at least holding its own and probably slightly increasing, which
it might be expected to do, unless too great a strain is placed on it,
until the species becomes numerous enough to fill its new habitat and
completely utilize the food, spawning grounds and environment
available to it.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 273

GRUNTON ON CABEILLO BEACH '

By Frances N. Clark.

Although much has been written - of the habits of the grunion, that
unique fish found spawning on the sandy beaches of Southern Cali-
fornia, this year has added a new item to our knowledge of the adapta-
bility of this unusual fish.

The grunion deposits its eggs in the sand at the upper edge of
the zone reached by the highest tides and appears on the southern
California beaches in two-week intervals from March to August of
each year. The spring tides, which accompany the full and dark of
the moon, are the time tables by which the grunion runs can be pre-
dicted. For about an hour after the turn of the tide on the three or
four nights following the full and dark of the moon, these little fish
are to be found washed up on the beach, the female digging tail first
into the sand and depositing her eggs, which the male fertilizes as he
lies arched around her. Succeeding tides bury the eggs more deeply in
the sand where they lie until dug out two weeks later by the next series
of high tides. At this time the eggs hatch and the tiny fish are washed
back to the sea.

Many have speculated on the question: Do grunion hatched on a
particular beach return to the same beach to spawn when they have
reached maturity? It has been definitely demonstrated that Pacific
salmon ^ spawn not only in the same stream, but in the same tributary
of the stream in which they hatch. Eels * migrate thousands of miles
to deposit their eggs in the same region of the ocean where they began
life as tiny larvae. If two species of fishes have such strong homing
instincts, may this not hold true for other species also? An answer to
the question as to whether or not the grunion are home beach spawners
has been furnished, in part at least, by observations made in the spring
and summer of 1928.

During the spring and summer of 1927, a new beach was constructed
at the base of the breakwater protecting Los Angeles Harbor. This
beach, known as Cabrillo Beach, was filled in by pumping sand from
the channel of the harbor, and laying it down at the foot of the bluff
both on the harbor and ocean sides of the breakwater. The beach on
the harbor side is well protected with almost no surf. On the ocean
side, the surf is heavy and the slope of the sand where the waves break
relatively steep — a condition which would seem scarcely favorable for
spawning grunion, as the water washes back too quickly for the fish
to readily maintain their position preparatory to the spawning process.

Although the beach appeared unsuitable and the possibility that
grunion would so quickly populate a new beach seemed remote, the
writer made observations on the favorable series of tides during the

1 Contribution No. 72 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, August, 1928.

= Thompson, Will F., assisted by J. B. Thompson. The spawning of the grunion.
Calif. Fish and Game Comm. Pish Bull. No. 3. 1919.

Clark, Frances N. The life history of Leuresthes tenuis, an Atherine fish with
tide controlled spawning habits. Calif. Fish and Game Comm. Fish Bull. No. 10.
1925.

Clark, Frances N. The conservation of the grunion. Calif. Fish and Game, Vol.
12, pp. 161-166. 1926.

^ Gilbert, Charles H. Contributions to the life-history of the sockeye salmon.
(No. 5) British Columbia Comm. Fish. Report, 1918, pp. 26-52.

* Schmidt, J. The breeding places of the eel. Phil. Trans. Roy. See. London,
211-B, pp. 179-208. 1922.
2 — 62149

274 • CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

spawning season of 1928. U;ntil the night of June 5, many fruitless
visits had been made to Cabrillo Beach, but on that night grunion were
seen for the first time, and that these tish are not strictly home beach
spawners was thus demonstrated. This first run of grunion was remark-
ably large, the fish appearing by the thousands. The run began about
fifteen minutes after the turn of the tide and lasted about an hour.

Fig. 80. Cabrillo Beach at San Pedro, California. An artificial beach appropriated
by the grunion as a spawning ground. August, 1928.

Fish were observed on the ocean side of the breakwater only and none
were found on the protected inner beach. On the following night, a
second good run was seen although only about half as great as on the
previous night. Two weeks later, on June 20, another run occurred
which was small in size and lasted about a half hour. Since the peak
of the spawning season had been passed, a smaller run was to be
expected at this time. Again, on July 4, a small school of grunion was
found spawning on this new beach.

These four observations, on three successive series of favorable tides,
demonstrate quite conclusively that individuals of this group of fishes
do not necessarily return to spawn on the same beach on which they
were hatched, but can adapt themselves to a new beach at least a
limited distance from well established spawning grounds. For several
years spawning grunion have been seen on Brighton Beach and on Long
Beach, approximately five and ten miles from Cabrillo Beach. But
whether a new beach at a considerable distance from any spawning
grounds would be appropriated immediately by grunion remains in
doubt.

In addition to the interesting ecological aspects of the occupation of
Cabrillo Beach by the grunion during the first spawning season follow-
ing the construction of the beach, and the consequent demonstration
that grunion do not always return to spawn on the beach on which they
were hatched, it is encouraging to learn that these fish are still present
in sufficient numbers in the region of Los Angeles Harbor to furnish
the exceptionally large run witnessed on June 5. The depletion of the
grunion has reached the point where the complete extermination of the
fish has been feared. But with the aid of the closed season, which is
now effective between April 1 and June 30, it is hoped in a few years
time that the spawning runs may be built up to something of their
former magnitude.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 275

THE TOTUAVA FISHERY OF THE CALIFORNIA GULF

Trans-Desert Trucking of Mexican-Caught Fish ^

By Geo. Roger Chute,
(With eight photographs by the author.)

The story of the strange commencement and meteoric rise of the
Totuava - industry constitutes, no doubt, one of the most picturesque
and interesting episodes in the history of fishing. Originating in an
inhospitable and remote region, surrounded by the most discouraging
natural obstacles, the traffic in this splendid food fish has leaped from
inconsequential proportions into sudden gigantic maturity and arro-
gated to itself a position of conspicuous prominence in the fresh fish
trade of southern California. So swift has been this happening that
although thousands already have seen the product and come to appre-
ciate its qualities under the name of "Mexican Bass," "White Sea
Bass," or any other of several inexact designations, few persons have
an understanding, as yet, of the remarkable circumstances surrounding
the marketing of the great Totuava.

State Laboratory Takes Early Interest. In the beginning days of
the business, when it first w^as rumored that men with automobile
trucks were bringing loads of big bass from out of the sweltering
desolation of the Imperial valley deserts, an investigator was sent

■• . "1

- :■•■-•:. ^. ...•, -— r^.,,-..-. :^-,.:. ~~--^^'i^'^^^^

W-*-

•iai.

Fig. si. a bird's-eye view of San Felipe, taken one morning- wlien the beacli was
deserted, tlie canoe fleet being at sea, Ashing. Waiting truclvs at tlie right
edge of the picture. March 11, 1927.

from the State Fisheries Laboratory at Terminal Island, California, to
view the fishery. Floods in the deserts and impassable roads defeated
that original purpose, but successive later attempts resulted in a

1 Contribution No. 74 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, August, 1928.

-The accent written above the word "Totuava" (To-too-ah'-vah) does not occur
in the Spanish spelling, but it is here applied to facilitate correct pronunciation of
a foreign word, new to our language.

276

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

continuous observance being made, and a record of progress has been
kept, year by year.

Mexicans Commenced the Industry. A long time ago the fishing
for Totuava had its beginning at Guaymas, that once great seaport of
the Pacific which lies part way up the mainland shore of the *'Mar
de Cortez, " as the Mexicans seem to prefer to call the Gulf of Cali-

'^'

Fig. 82. Dug-out canoes of the Totuava fishermen. These boats are brought from
Jalisco, and are valued highly, since they last for more than a lifetime.
Very few plank boats are used. March 12, 1927.

fornia. At Guaymas the fishing began, the Totuava being held in high
esteem by the town folk of that time. But it happened that some
Chinese of the place discovered that the sound or swim-bladder of the
fish was of unusual character, and not dissimilar to that of fishes in
the Orient which, when properly dressed and dried, sold for astonishing
prices. So the experiment was tried, and the Chinese in China took
so well to the new product that a regular sound-drying business arose.
Many Mexicans were induced, by the high price offered for sounds or
"buche," to go to sea in dug-out canoes in quest of the fish, and it is
told by residents of the ancient town that eventually so many of the
Totuava were caught that to capture more became exceedingly difficult.

Search for Undepleted Waters. By the time this seeming condition
of depletion is said to have become acute a number of white men had
been attracted to the fishery by the unusual profits it offered, among
these being a half dozen former German seamen — adventurous and
capable men who had originally come into the country to seek for
gold. These sea-bred prospectors found opportunity present for win-
ning their gold from their accustomed ocean, they engaged in the
fishing in serious fashion, and when the local scarcity reduced their
revenue, went sailing away into virgin waters to discover this buche-
yielding fish where it might be plentiful.

Expansion of the Fishery. And thej^ did find it. Far to the north-
ward, on the opposite side of the gulf, and perhaps only fifty miles

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

277

from the mouth of the Rio Colorado, rich fishing grounds were dis-
covered. At the foot of a high rock headland, in the curve of a little
bay, they built shelters of desert brush, found fresh water by making
a well and commenced work. Of course the fish themselves were thrown
away — only the swim-bladders or sounds were saved, these being cleaned
with exact care and dried in the intense heat of the desert sun. Yes,
desert sun, for the little camp lay on the edge of the Baja California
waste lands, broad and hot. It was a hundred miles to running water ;
a hundred miles to the nearest town.

Formation of Fishing- Settlements. But the fishing was rich, and
the venture highly productive. The Germans sailed back to Guaymas
with canoes loaded with bales of "buche," and the spectacle of their
splendid success so emboldened the natives that each year thereafter
increasing numbers of them followed the pioneers across the gulf to
the camp called San Felipe. The first season men only went, but on
the second wives and children were brought, and in this way the town
sprang up, growing from an original five white men to as many
hundreds of Indians and Mexicans.

Waste and Destruction. It is now impossible to calculate what tons
of fish these people caught and wasted. But that the slaughter was
appalling can not be doubted, for great consignments of baled "buche"
were sent to China from Guaymas, all of it originating at San Felipe.
It is true that occasionally a few fish were steaked, and the flesh sun-

FiG. 83. Dressing Totuava on the beach. Only the truck drivers (fish buyers)
wear shoes. During the height of the winter fishing many tons are landed
every afternoon. The fish sold for five cents each four years ago, but now
sometimes are in demand at as much as four cents a pound.

dried for carrying home to the mainland, but this utilization was
insignificant compared with the tons and tons that were cast back
into the sea.

First Sale of Fish Flesh. News of the presence of the fishing camp
to the southward on the gulf finally reached the border town of
Calexico, and there the waste of fish was told. Two American trugk-

278

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

men, haulers of melons, cotton and hay, loaded their machines with
barreled water and gasoline and with an abandon that was both heroic
and pathetic w^ent down over the roadless deserts, floundered through
the mud plains of the Colorado, crossed the salt fiats where there is no
water in ninety miles, climbed the hills, negotiated a passage through
the sand dunes and finally actually arrived at San Felipe. The Mexi-
cans were astounded.

Twenty Pounds for One
Cent. For ten centavos each
(five American cents) as
many hundred-pound Totu-
ava were bought as the trucks
could carry out, and thus, in
the winter "of 1924-25, the fish
truck traffic began. It was a
fearful undertaking— and not
without much real danger —
to reach the seashore camp,
but the fish were abominably
cheap and the Mexicans glad
to sell. The Americans real-
ized large profits.

Further Expansion. San

Felipe is now a purely Mexi-
can town, the German found-
ers having left. These voy-
aged across the gulf, as they
had done before, and settled
a second camp called Santa
Clara. The natives have fol-
lowed them there, also, and
now the town produces more
fish than ever has San Felipe.

Some Startling Statistics.

The records of the United
States Customs at the entry
port of Calexico show that a
sportsman brought the first
Totuava across the border
there in 1923. "75 pounds
sea bass — 2 fish" reads the
meticulous record, and that
ended the business for the
year. But the ensuing winter, when the American truckers broke
"the road, the importations rose to 170,000 pounds. The next season, when
twenty Mexican imitators followed the lead of the American pioneers,
the quantity handled practically quadrupled. Since that time each
annual increment has almost doubled the tonnage of the year before,
and at present the combined product of the camps totals nearly two
million pounds.

An Unconserved Resource. But the waste of fish goes on. Buche-
raaking continues to be the main support of the fishery, for a big

Fig. 84. Severing the spine at the base of
tile head. The fish in this picture were
caught by three men in tliree liours, quar-
ter of a mile from shore. Practically all
of the fish in this picture were males,
and yielded no "buche."

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

279

sound is worth five dollars, whereas the fisli itself brings only two
dollars, even at present enhanced prices. Marketing the flesh of the
fish is but a by-product of the buche business and serves only to
enlarge the revenue of an already lucrative enterprise. So the buche-

p —

Fig. 85. It is the fisherman's obligation, after selling his Totuava, to deliver
them to the truck. The fish are strung on the looms of long ash sweeps, for
convenience in carrying. March 13, 1927.

«»■ J u^«iK»)¥i»p(e4,^ '

-:-^

Fig. 86. Loading the fish trucks at San Felipe. As much as 28,000 pounds of fish
have been hauled out of camp in a single night. It is rarely that any ice can
be brought so far, so the outward drive is a hard one, no stops being made
except for a lunch until the border is reached. March 11, 1927.

making continues, wasting the resource from which it comes. During
summer, when American markets are stocked with home-caught fish,
the Totuava trucks do not run. The canoes then wander away, follow-
ing to Totuava schools in their migration down the gulf. In remote

280

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

rendezvous the canoemen make their camp, buche drying racks are
built and the destructive work goes on, the fish being wantonly
wasted. But in the autumn the flotilla straggles home again, trailing
the traveling schools northward, the arrival being timed to be coin-
cident with the resumption of the truck trade.

Fig. 87. Fish truck caravan on the great ".salitre," the wide salt desert of the
middle road. Here it is 90 miles between supplies of water. High tides from
the gulf occasionally flood this plain, converting it into a sea of bitter mud.
March 10, 1927.

A Dug-Out Canoe Fishery. It is an odd association, this combina-
tion of rude and primitive Mexican fishery with the highly developed,
specialized scheme of transportation which has been invented by the
American haulers to get the fish to market. At the camps one sees the
Indians and Mexicans launching their canoes at early dawn. Two or
three to the dug-out, they paddle away to the grounds to handline over
the side for man-sized fish. At noon they come sailing home on the
inshore breeze, the catch is thrown out and dressed on the sand where
the canoes are beached, and after the buches have been removed and
carefully laid aside for later attention, the carcasses are sold to truck-
men present at the time. Most of the haulers within the bounds of Mexico
are now natives. These load the fish into small machines and commence
a precipitous race for the boundary, driving against time, for the
deserts are hot, the road is long, and there is no ice. Usually they
succeed, but there have been many failures.

Refrig-erated. Transportation. At the border the American haulers
are waiting. With giant trucks, carrying heat-proof refrigerator bodies,
they receive the little loads of a half dozen Mexican vehicles before
finally obtaining the five to six tons needed to cargo one of their own.
The fish are first washed, then packed into the trucks in ice, and when
evening comes the big mobile refrigerators commence the long run for
San Pedro, the market. It is 237 miles from Calexico. From Yuma
it is 317. Miles of hot desert must be traversed and the road leads
from the shores of the Salton Sea — five hundred feet below sea level —
to across the four thousand-foot mountain pass at Banning. But in

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME, 281

ten to fifteen hours the thing is done, for trucks leaving the border
in the evening arrive at the markets at daylight the next morning!

A Record Achievement. Probably no other food fishery has sent
its product to market by so striking a method. It is believed that the
four-hundred-mile Gulf-to-San Pedro route is the longest motorized
fish transit known and it is doubted whether there exists anywhere
an express service so saving of time while crossing broad reaches of
hot sand-lands to deliver a perishable sea food product in such per-
fect condition. Truck transit is notoriously costly and only a valu-
able commodity can afford its use, but the Totuava is a superior food
and a delicacy of increasing esteem and price.

Totuava Catch of the Gulf of California by Seasons, July First of One Year

to July First of the Next*

1923-24 None

1924-25 171,000 pounds

1925-26 664,000 pounds

1926-27 1,039,000 pounds

1927-28 (to April 25) 1,838,000 pounds

* Statistical data from the records of The California State Fisheries Laboratory,
Terminal Island, California.

3—62149

Mazes of rutted roadways cover the muddy
flood plains of the Rio Colorado for many miles.
During the river's freshets, or following winter
rains, these oozy trails can not be crossed for
weeks at a time. Bogging down with heavy loads
is a frequent happening here. March 10, 1927.

282

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

: A NOTE ON THE SQUAWFISH AND ONE OF ITS RELATIVES

• • By W. I. FOLLETT

(With four photographs by the author.)

There has been some discussion in recent numbers of California
Fish and Game regarding the trout-eating propensities of the squaw-
fish or Sacramento pike {Ptychocheilus grandis, Girard) of the Sacra-
mento-San Joaquin sj^stem and certain coastal streams. Those who are
interested in passing judgment on this question from their personal

Fig. 89. A typical growth of the sedge (Carex nudata) which is eaten by Mylo-
pliarodon. Near Virgilia, Plumas County, California, on east branch of north
fork of Feather River. June 17, 1928.

observations should bear in mind the fact that the squawfish is not the
only large Cyprinoid to be found in California trout streams.

Consider for example the East Branch of the North Fork of the
Feather River at a distance of ten or twelve miles east of Belden. This
stretch of the river formerly contained rainbow trout in fair numbers.
That they are now almost entirely gone is attributable to various man-
made causes, but the fact that they were formerly abundant will permit
us to consider this a ' ' trout stream. ' '

In this portion of the river is to be found not only the squawfish
above mentioned, which there attains a length of three feet, but also
an outwardly similar species of a related genus whose food habits are
substantially different. This is Mylopharodon conocephalus (Baird &
Girard), sometimes known as the "hardhead," which in the same
locality reaches a length of upwards of 18 inches — next to Ptychochei-
lus, the largest member of the minnow family (Cyprinidae). It might
be noted in passing that the squawfish here under discussion is not the
largest species of the family. That honor must go to another species of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 283

the same genus — the socalled "white salmou" of the Colorado River
basin (PtychocJieilns lucius, Girard), said by Jordan and Evermann
to reach a length of five feet and a weight of 80 pounds. Our squaw-
fish, however, attains proportions second only to those of this giant of
the Colorado.

As may be observed from the accompanying photographs, PtycJio-
cheilus and MylopJiarodon might easily be confused by the superficial
observer. The number of dorsal and anal rays, as well as the scale
counts, are so nearly alike that individual variation renders this
method of distinguishing the two quite unsatisfactory in the absence
of a series of specimens. In general the coloration of Ptychocheilus
tends more toward silvery upon the sides, where Mylopharodon is of a
dusky hue, and the lower fins of the former take on an orange tinge
during the breeding season, while those of the latter are dark-colored
at all times. But coloration is an exceedingly variable quantity, greatly
aifected by such factors as light and shade, and the degree of clearness
of the water. Again, generally speaking, Ptychocheilus has a large
mouth, Mylopharodon a considerably smaller one. This is perhaps the
most satisfactorj^ means of hasty identification, but here we run afoul
of the fact that the relative size of various parts of the anatomy of
these fishes varies a great deal with the age of the individual. One of
the most satisfactory methods of distinguishing the two is by an exami-
nation of the lower pharyngeal teeth. The pharyngeal bones are situ-

FiG. 90. Squawfish or Sacramento pike (Ptychocheilus grandis) . Length (total)
151 inches. East branch of north fork of Feather River, near Virgilia, Plumas
County, California. June 10, 1928.

ated behind the gills, corresponding in position to a fifth gill-arch.
They may be easily removed while "cleaning" the fish. In Ptycho-
cheilus, the teeth borne on these bones are slender and slightly recurved,
without any trace of a grinding surface. They may be termed rapta-
torial — adapted to seizing upon the prey which the fish has taken into
its mouth. Teeth of this sort are typical of the subfamily Leuciscinae,

284

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

to which Ptychocheilus belongs. Mylopharodon, on the other hand, has
given its name to a distinct subfamily, the Mylopharodontinae, both
words being derived from a shortened form of the Greek Mylopharyn-

FiG. 91. Hardhead {Mylopharodon conocephalus) . Length (total) 15 inches.
Bast branch of north fork of Feather River, near Virgilia, Plumas County,
California. June 16, 1928.

Fig. 92. Lower pharyngeal teeth of Ptychocheilus (left), and Mylopharo-
don (right).

godon, which may be translated ' ' grinder-pharynx-tooth. ' ' How accu-
rately this word describes the fish in question will be appreciated when
one observes the enlarged molar pharyngeal teeth with flat grinding
surfaces.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 285

It has been the writer's observation that Ptychocheilus is an exceed-
ingly voracious fish, a true carnivorous type. It will without hesitation
seize a fish of its own kind which shows the slightest signs of being
disabled, even though its prey be so nearly its own size that it is unable
to swallow the victim. A good-sized piece of fresh fish "skittered"
across the surface of the water, or a small live frog hooked so that it
can swim, will prove an excellent bait for the squawfish.

Mylopharodon, however, is at least partly herbivorous. The writer
has examined stomachs of this species which contained nothing but a
mass of sedge or "tuft grass" (Carex nudata), the leaves of which
frequently trail in the water and are readily accessible from beneath
the surface. Although this fish will also take a grasshopper in lively
fashion, it is not a voracious type like its relative, and will probably
be found to do little harm to trout unless it be by destroying their
spawn.

Whether or not Ptychocheilus actually devours live and uninjured
young trout the writer can not say from his own observations, but
there is no reason at all to doubt that it would seize a crippled trout.
And on the other hand, it is an interesting fact that a piece of squaw-
fish will often prove successful as a bait for rainbow trout at times
when most other lures are of no avail.

THE BONEFISH -OVERLOOKED BY CALIFORNIA

SPORTSMEN

By "W. I. FOLLETT

(With one photograph by the author.)

In volume 4 of California Fish and Game, at pages 59-60, Profes-
sor Starks describes the Bonefish (Alhula vulpes [Linnaeus] ), variously
known as ladyfish, macabi, sanducha, and bananafish.

The name first given is that by which it is known to the majority of
fishermen on the Florida coast, where, in relatively recent years, it has
attracted an extraordinary amount of interest, and is considered one
of the most desirable of game fish — in fact great numbers of anglers
are said to make annual pilgrimages to Florida in quest of this fish
alone.

The high esteem with which sportsmen regard the bonefish is shown
by the fact that Zane Grey, in his book entitled "Tales of Fishes,"
describes it as "the gamest fish that swims," while "Wendell Endicott,
in his "Adventures with Kod and Harpoon Along the Florida Keys,"
considers the taking of a bonefish to be "the champagne of fishing."

It is remarkable, therefore, that it has not attracted more attention
on the Pacific Coast, for it is quite generally known to occur in San
Diego Bay, and the writer has on more than one occasion taken it from
the south side of Terminal Island in Los Angeles harbor, while fishing
for croakers and surf -fish.

In the latter locality the most successful bait for this fish, as for
most others, proved to be the segmented sea-worms (Nereidae), known
to fishermen as "pile worms" because of their being found among the

286

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

mussels and barnacles of wharf piles. In Florida, however, the hermit-
crab is said to be the bait regarded with greatest favor.

As a food-fish, Alhula has the disadvantage of being exceedingly
bony, as indeed, are most of its kindred, but the flesh, like that of the
shad, has an excellent flavor, and one who has the patience and skill
to cope with the bones will find it much to his liking.

Fig. 93. Boneflsh Alhula vulpes (Linnaeus). Family Albulidae. Length (total)
15 inches. Terminal Island, Los Angeles Harbor, California. October 28, 1926.

INTESTINAL PARASITES OF WILD DUCKS AND GEESE*

By B. C. O'RoKE, Parasitologist
(Diseases of fish and game in California. Paper 2.)

While many different kinds of intestinal parasites have been reported
from wild ducks and geese, our knowledge concerning the majority of
them is meager and based upon random observations rather than upon
concerted effort. This is not unusual. It merely represents a stage of
progress comparable to that of our knowledge of the parasites of
domestic poultry until in recent years.

By comparison, we are safe in saying that parasitism in wild birds
just as in domesticated birds deals with matters involving many factors
and relationships.

Foxf in discussing parasitism among wild geese and ducks at the

* This is the second article from the Bureau of Research on parasites of game
birds. The first concerned parasites of the valley quail, and was published in the
July number of this publication. TVe are grateful to the University of California
for continued use of the laboratory facilities of the Zoology Department and to
Professor C. A. Kofoid, chairman of this department, for helpful advice and for
allowing the use of his personal library. Credit is due Mr. O. D. Williams of this
department for finding and identifying the gizzard worms mentioned in this report.

The work on parasites is a part of a survey of game diseases which has been
undertaken by the Division of Fish and Game. The study of game diseases has
been made iDossible largely through the cooperation of the University of California.
Dr. K. F. Meyer, Director of Hooper Foundation for Medical Research, has accepted
an appointment as Consulting Pathologist and is supervising our pathological investi-
gations.

t Pox, Herbert, 1923. Disease in captive wild mammals and birds (J. B. Lippin-
cott Co., Philadelphia, Pa.), 665 pages, 87 figs, in text, pis. included.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 287

Philadelphia Zoological Gardens gives figures showing that of the birds
that died in a given period of time at the gardens, 15 per cent of the
geese and 4 per cent of the ducks were parasitized with various kinds
of flukes and tapeworms.

This situation suggests further analysis. Are wild birds in zoolog-
ical gardens more prone to harbor parasites than they are in their
native wild state?

What kinds of parasites are present in wild ducks and geese ? What
about their relative numbers? What about their host and geographic
distribution? How do they directly or indirectly affect the welfare of
the birds ?

Obviously questions of this kind can not be answered by drawing
conclusions from conditions that prevail in domesticated birds or in
wild birds in captivity, owing to differences in environment and feeding
conditions, and the survej^ method is suggested as being the most logi-
cal procedure to follow.

For many years, serious losses among wild ducks have attracted the
attention of those interested in their preservation. Since the nature
of the malady or maladies has remained obscure, it was thought that a
survey of parasites, in addition to being desirable in itself, might be of
value at least indirectly or as a matter of elimination, in investigations
of duck sickness that are now being carried on by this Division.

Accordingly with the opening of the duck season in 1927 a survey of
parasites was begun. Sufficient progress has now been made that a
report can be issued at this time. As will be seen by the accompanying
map, an attempt has been made to extend the survey to areas where
duck sickness has been reported as well as to places apparently free
from the malady.

METHOD OF INQUIRY

With the helpful cooperation of various gun clubs, employees of the
Division of Fish and Game have been able to be present on shooting
days, and have thus had access to more material than they could have
obtained working independently.

As the birds were brought in and the entrails removed, casual exami-
nation was made immediately for any obvious or unusual conditions
occasioned by parasitism. Samples of all parasites found were then
collected, preserved, and taken to the laboratory for later study.

The following table shows the results of the survey to date. Due
to the unsettled condition of the literature on the Trematode and Ces-
tode worms, no attempt has been made to classify some of the speci-
mens into divisions lower than the genus to which 'the specimen belongs.

Owing to lack of space in the table, the authorities' names are not
included with the genera and species. In accordance with correct
usage, however, the list is included and is as follows :

Ascaridia lineata (Schneider, 1866).

Hymenolepis lanceolata (Bloch, 1782) Weinland, 1858.

Hymenolepis anatina (Krabbe, 1869) Cohn, 1901.

Zygocotyle ceratosa Stunkard.

Genus Diorchis Clerc, 1903.

Genus Amidostomum Raillet and Henry, 1909.

Genus Notocotylus Diesing, 1839.

288

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Fig. 94. Outline map of California showing locations where collections of parasites

of ducks and geese have been made.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 293

While the preceding table shows the numbers of different species of
birds examined and the conditions of parasitism with regard to each,
it does not take into consideration several interesting comparisons
which are apparent when the subject matter contained in the table is
rearranged.

Disregarding kinds of parasites and arranging a table to show the
number of birds of each species that were examined and the percentage
parasitized, the tabulation is as follows :

N'tiniher Number Percent

Species of bird examined i)arasitized parasitized

Mallard 1 .0

Spooubill 4 .0

Widgeon 15 .0

Green-winged teal 23 1 4.3

Canada goose 6 1 16.6

Hutehin's goose 6 2 33.3

Pintail 68 42 62.0

Lesser snow goose 3 2 66.6

Ross snow goose 5 4 80.0

Totals 131 52 39.+

A further analj^sis of this table shows that with the single exception
of the Canada goose, all of the geese are in the group that shows a
high percentage of parasitism. If these figures represent an average
sample of the conditions of parasitism obtaining among our common
waterfowl, it would seem that the pintails and the geese are more sus-
ceptible to parasites than the others are. This condition might have
its explanation in relative immunity or in differences in feeding habits.

As to correlations existing between the conditions of parasitism
found and the localities studied, the collections from Vallejo and
Bakersfield were so small as to be of doubtful value for comparison with
those from other localities. Fortunately, Live Oak, Los Banos and Jack-
snipe afford interesting data for comparing conditions in the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin valleys and in a typical salt-water marsh area.

The figures are as follows :

No. of birds Number Per cent

Locality examined parasitized parasitized

Jacksnipe 26 3 11.5

Live Oak 29 8 27.6

Los Banos 63 26 41.2

It would seem from this table that parasitism is more common in
birds that frequent inland bodies of fresh water than it is in those
that live habitully on the salt marshes. Also it appears that birds are
more heavily parasitized in the San Joaquin Valley than they are in
the Sacramento Valley. The various matters of migrations, feeding
habits, summer conditions, etc., are so complicated that it is indvisable
to draw too many conclusions from one season's work with a limited
number of birds.

Referring back to the original table, it will be noticed that by far
the most common parasite found was the small thread worm Amidosto-
mu-m sp? This form is almost microscopic in size, about the diameter
of ordinary sewing thread, and lives embedded in the inner surface of
the gizzard just at the edges of the grinding pads, They averaged

294 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

from one to five per parasitized bird, and the records show that this
form was found in twenty-three different birds belonging to six dif-
ferent species.

The tapeworm Hymenolepis anatina was next in abundance, being
found eight times, but only in pintail ducks. Four specimens were the
most found in any one bird with the exception of two cases where the
tapeworms were immature, and so small that an accurate count was
not made.

Another tapeworm Hymenolepis lanceolata was found but twice in
two different species of geese. The round worm Ascaridia sp ? was like-
wise found but twice in only one species of bird.

All other records are based upon finding the parasite only once and
in one host only.

From the foregoing tables and discussion it will be seen that intes-
tinal parasites are present in nearly all species of our duclcs and geese
commonly taken during the hunting season. The fact that no parasites
were found in the small numbers of mallards, spoonbills and widgeons
examined does not necessarily mean that these birds are not parasitized.
Another season might show a higher percentage of these birds in the
bag and parasites in proportion to their number. No cases were found
where mature parasitic worms were really abundant. With two or
three exceptions the parasitized birds seemed to be in as good condition
as the unparasitized ones.

The above studies being made in late fall and winter with mature
birds give, of course, no picture of the situation that may prevail
among the young birds in early summer w^here parasitism may be of
considerable importance. In this connection it may be said that the
life cycles of parasites and the susceptibility of various hosts to infec-
tion by such parasites are the factors to be considered. The life cycles
of only a few of the worm parasites of birds are known, and all of
these involve complex factors of food relationships of the birds and
the things upon which they feed.

From the standpoint of intestinal parasites, the survey thus far has
disclosed no apparent relationships existing between duck sickness and
the presence of parasites.

As has been mentioned previously protozoans, particularly amebae
have been found in the digestive tracts of two sick ducks from Buena
Vista Lake that were being kept under observation. This is of interest
and suggests the desirability of making more extensive collections of
these organisms than was done in last season's work. To do this will
involve the use of special equipment in the field for making up the
material on microscope slides and preserving it immediately after the
birds are killed.

Those who observed the collecting of parasites in the field last year
will recall that it is a comparatively simple matter. The following
diagram will give an idea as to the relationships of the parts of the
digestive tract and the places where parasitic worms may be found.

The intestinal tract is removed from the bird and placed in a pan
of water. It is then slit open with small scissors and examined in the
water. Using a pipette or medicine dropper to squirt little jets of
water into the opened intestine serves to free the parasites from the
surrounding material. When a parasite is found, it is washed free.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

295

lifted out by means of a camel's hair brush and placed in the preserving
fluid. Round worms and flukes can be handled with a small pair of
forceps, but tapeworms are usually broken by this method of handling.
The greatest danger of destroying tapeworms as specimens in the
process of collecting them is to break off the scolices (heads) which are
attached to the intestinal wall. It is important that these heads be
intact for they are invaluable for identification.

For collecting the small gizzard worms, a sharp-pointed pair of
forceps should be used.

Four per cent formaldehyde makes a good fixing and preserving
fluid. An important thing to remember is that a generous amount of

g^l ^ ,

''^ O

/ Tapeworm

/ --f- ■,

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I Worms ^^

)

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\ Small Infes+ine

\ Large
\ \ Infea+ine

Coecum /

^*->»..^CQecurti WorriTi —

\ CIOOCQ

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Fig. 95. Diagram of intestinal tract of duck showing places where parasites may

be found.

the preserving liquid should be used. About ten times as much liquid
as the bulk of the specimens is the correct amount to use. Most impor-
tant of all is exact labeling, stating the host bird, the locality, date,
the place in the host where the parasite is found, and the collector's
name.

Interest taken by sportsmen and others in the parasite survey of
game birds will be appreciated by the Division and we will also be glad
to obtain any specimens that may be sent in.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cram, Eloise B.

1927. Bird parasites of the nematode suborders Strongylata, Ascaridata, and
Spirurata. U, S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 140, 435 pp., 444 figs, in text.

296 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fox, Herbert.

1923. Disease in captive wild mammals aud birds (J. B. Lippincott Co., Phila-
delphia, Pa.), 665 pp., 87 figs, in text, pis. included.
Ransom, Brayton Howard.

1909. The taenioid cestodes of North American birds. U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 69,
128 pp.., 42 figs, in text.
Ward, H. B., and Whipple, G. C.

1918. Fresh-water biology (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N. Y.), 1111
pp., 1547 figs, in text.

Fig. 96. Rescuing fish from overflow area. August, 1928.
Photograph by George Neale.

FISH RESCUE AND EECLAMATION

By George Neale
(With three photographs by the author.)

While the Division of Fish and Game has previously been engaged
in fish rescue work principally of black bass, its purpose was, primarily,
to fill requisitions for the stocking of barren waters or for replenishing
those waters which were over fished more than from a conservation
viewpoint. No funds had been available or organization created to
carry on the work.

The work of rescue and distribution was carried on for a number
of years out of Sacramento by the late deputy Manuel Cross and the
writer. The conditions were ideal for natural propagation in both
Yolo and Sacramento counties. There were more black bass, possibly,
in those two counties than in all the state. A total of 507 shipments
of large mouth bass were made during the years 1904 to 1912 to
counties as far south as San Diego and north to Siskiyou. Up to this
date the other spiny-rayed tribe, crappie and sun fishes, were not in
sufficient numbers to justify their removal to other waters for stocking
purposes. Since then these spiny-rayed fishes were introduced into
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys and thrived so remarkably
well, because of the natural propagating conditions existing, that the
angling fraternity has learned the economic and great outdoor value

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

297

of them. Consequently, the demand has grown and increased very
materially. It is not generally known that these spinous fishes can
not be egged or spawn stripped for artificial propagation as are the
salmon family. Nature furnishes these fish wath outdoor hatcheries
and the fish take advantage of flood conditions to make it possible
for the parent fish to select their own spawning areas to reproduce
themselves. But unfortunately, these spawning areas are not con-
trolled by human agencies as are our hatcheries for trout or salmon.
Later these overflow areas become dry through evaporation. Both
young and adult fish consequently become a j)rey to both predatory
birds and animals and thus become total loss.

From my experience in fish rescue work of over twenty years I have
estimated that the loss of spinous fishes, striped bass, black bass, all
of the crappies and sunfishes, including catfish, and all of great eco-
nomic value, exceeds the output of three of our largest artificial propa-
gating plants. Since a license is now required to angle for them and
since none are artificially propagated it is logical that we should take
advantage of what nature offers. This is the purpose of the ' ' Bureau of
Pish Rescue and Reclamation ' ' work by the Division of Fish and Game
of the Department of Natural Resources. I have advocated this work
for many years. Many of the eastern and middle western states are
engaged in this work, also the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, and have been
for many years.

California received her first shipment of spiny-rayed fishes for
stocking our waters upon requisition by our fish cultural department.

Fig. 97. A catch of fish ready to be transported to more favorable conditions.
August, 1928. Photograph by George Neale.

from the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. They have thrived in the great
valleys.

During the month of August, 258,200 of these valuable fishes were
saved to the anglers of the state. These have been transplanted into
living waters. Several shipments have been made to southern Cali-
fornia. The Division's fish car has distributed ten cans of crappie and

5 — 62149

20^ CALlIi^ORNIA t^ISH AND 6AMB.

sunfish t© waters above the Santa Anita dam, Los Angeles County;
twenty-four cans of crappie, sunfish and catfish to Henshaw Lake, San
Diego County ; thirty-four cans bluegill and crappie to Diez Lake, Inyo
County; thirty cans mixed fish to Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino
County, and six cans of catfish to Foss Lake, San Diego County. All
the above were from the overflow of the Cosumnes, Mokelumne and
American river watersheds. The torrid weather during the time the
work was going on made it impossible to hold the smaller fish any
length of time except the catfish, or for any great distance, consequently
the larger fish were shipped and the small fry returned to the nearest
living waters.

Captain E. W. Smalley of Hanford has been very active in fish
rescue work in his district. He reports having saved up to August
31st, 158,200 fishes, 110,200 of which were catfish, 15,000 of which
were planted in Kings River, 4000 in Cross Creek, Tulare County,
and 40,000 in Kaweah River, McKays Point. The other species, black
bass, crappie and sunfish, were returned to the main rivers.

In the saving of the game and food fishes I would eliminate all the
useless nonfood fishes that are of no commercial or food value, of which
there are several. I would also condemn the rapidly growing practice
of the promiscuous use of m^innow seines now used for gathering bait
in fresh waters. This practice is harmful for the reason that the sein-
ing destroys the spawn of the game fishes. It also kills many young
game fishes caught in the seine, many of which are returned to the
water dead or left to perish on the shore. Unfortunately, many species
of the finny tribe have been introduced into waters contrary to existing
law and with no authority. If I am permitted it will be the policy of
this bureau to stock barren waters with the species of fish most adapt-
able to existing conditions.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

299

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva-
tion of wild life and published quarterly
by the California Division of Fish and
Game.

Sent free to citizens of the State of
California. Offered in exchange for
ornithological, mammaloglcal 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 California
Division of Fish and Game. Editors of
newspapers and periodicals are Invited to
make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be
sent to H. C. Bryant, 510 Russ Building,
San Francisco, California.

December 10, 1928

Most of us, as we grow older, grow to
care relatively less for the sport itself
than for the splendid freedom and abound-
ing health of outdoor life In the woods, on
the plains, and among the great mountains.
— Theodore Roosevelt.

HEAD OFFICE MOVED

On the last two days of August, the
head office of the Division of Fish and
Game at San Francisco was moved from
the Postal Telegraph Building to the fifth
floor of the Russ Building, San Fran-
cisco's new skyscraper. The new accom-
modations, which occupy the Bush street
wing, are furnished in dark mahogany.
One enters a lobby with an information
desk opposite. Then follow on the left
of the hallway, the license bureau, de-
partment of patrol, bureau of research,
bureau of public relations, department of
commercial fisheries ; to the right of the
hall is found the library, bureau of educa-
tion, bureau of hydraulics and department
of fish culture. Most of the departments
are in one large room separated by rail-
ings. A suitable telephone system con-
nects all departments. Although missing
the privacy given by separate rooms, the
new accommodations give a businesslike
appearance. A laboratory and a dark
room are additional facilities. Most of the
storage room is in the basement.

The Russ Building is thirty stories
high and although but eighty per cent
occupied at present, accommodates 4000
people, a city in itself. It has been ad-
vertised for some lime as the "business
center of San Francisco."

GAME RESTORATION

Someone has coined a worthwhile
phrase. The term "game restoration"
aptly describes recent attempts to restore
game conditions. In some instances, a

stocking program backed by modern game
farms is bringing back game in the cul-
tivated areas. The phrase is also apt
when describing what Utah has done in
improving conditions for wildfowl. Value-
less land was purchased, dikes were built
and the land flooded with water to a
ilepth of a foot. Proper conditions being
furnished, wildfowl find here a suitable
feeding and breeding ground. This is
game restoration. There should be more
of it!

OBLIGATIONS

Many people seem to have the idea that
having paid their hunting and angling
license fee they can put the burden of
conservation and protection on the state
department. These same persons, al-
though paying little attention to season
and limit laws, curse the Division of Fish
and Game for allowing certain species to
disappear. The state department in
charge often attempts to shoulder the
greater responsibility which comes with
larger numbers of hunters and changing
conditions which limit the food supply of
game. In recent months, there has been
a concerted effort made to stir sportsmen
themselves to responsibility. Their ob-
ligation is not ended with the payment of
dues in a game protective association, or
the payment of a license fee. A real game
restoration program is dependent upon
the concerted effort of the whole body of
sportsmen backed by public sentiment.
A fish and game commission can only
accomplish a share of the work to be
done. Such an organization usually lives
up to its responsibility as best it can, but
some of the burden must be shouldered by
those who hunt and fish.

MORE STATE PARKS NEEDED

Even though California possesses a full
share of national forests and national
parks, yet she is convinced that sufficient
recreation grounds have not yet been set
aside. Much state-owned land, which
should have been saved, has become pri-
vate property and necessity now forcer
the state to buy suitable recreation areas.
Here is a state with a population of
5,000,000 which owns but five state parks.
A state parks program has been formu-
lated and voters of the state are asked
to provide a bond issue of $6,000,000 in
order to insure the recreational feature
for her citizens. This sum is to be
matched by an equal sum in private do-
nations.

Buildings are built and rebuilt and so
are roads, but when natural scenery and
wild life resources are destroyed by con-
version of lands to other uses, they are

300

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

gone forever and impossible to replace.
This is a sound argument for immediate
action. The needs of the future must h'
anticipated.

California is not the only state that
has waked up to recreational needs. The
state of Connecticut is buying and leas-
ing her streams for the use of the public
for fishing and recreation. New York
has authorized bond issues aggregating
$25,000,000 for forests and public parks.
Pennsylvania has expended over $4,000,
000 to buy forest lands, and this fall will
vote upon a $25,000,000 bond issue with
which to purchase 3,500,000 acres. The
voters of Illinois will decide upon a
$20,000,000 bond issue to be redeemed
from the fish and game fund with which

game bird propagation and the effect of
forest fires on fish and game.

An accurate portrayal of the brood
pond system at the Mount Shasta Hatch-
ery was conveyed by a large cement pond
containing brood trout of the German
brown variety lazily swimming about.
Other ponds painted in the canvas back-
grounds with hatchery buildings beyond
and snow mantled Mount Shasta domi-
nating the whole made a satisfying picture
of the state's largest hatchery. Artificial
rock work, mossed and refreshed by ferns,
and the music of falling water, added a
note of beauty to the scene.

Along the side wall of this set was a
hatchery trough with hundreds of tiny
black-spotted trout, while a hatchery bas-

FiG. 98. Truck with rescued fish ready for transportation to live waters. August,

1928. Photograph by George Neale.

to purchase lands and waters for fish and
game refuges and for recreational uses,
The necessity for such progress is evident
and affirmative action is to be expected.
Recreation areas are necessary and now
is the time to act !

DIVISION'S WORK SUBJECT OF
VISUAL STUDY

During the forty-day display of the
Pacific Southwest Exposition, Long
Beach, thousands of visitors learned of
the work of the division in the protection
and production of fish and game resources.
Three harmonized, realistic groups, occu-
pying almost one entire side of the Cali-
fornia Building, with appropriate natural
and artistic settings and panoramic back-
grounds, exhibited fish cultural operations,

ket containing eggs completed the steps
in the fish cultural cycle.

Colored plates and maps with the neces-
sary explanatory legends on the wall
above the hatchery trough gave the spec-
tator a knowledge of the scope of the
division's fish cultural activities.

Visitors attracted by the colorful plum-
age of the golden pheasants, Chinese ring-
necked pheasants, valley quaU and Hun-
garian partridges in the game bird group,
looked into a series of pens projected into
the painted background and enjoyed the
illusion of gazing into a game farm out
of doors. Particular care was given to
reproduce faithfully a section of the pro-
posed southern California game farm near
Chino, San Bernardino County.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

301

In the central group, a striking effect
was achieved by contrasting the "before
and after" effect of tire. The intimate
relation of a living forest and the pursuit
of life by wild creatures was impressed in
a way few could escape. The live animals-
used combined to represent in a com
posite way as many important species of
value and interest to the sportsman as
could be associated together without too
great a variance from actual fact. A
pair of mallard ducks with their brood of
young rafted on the small pond in the
foreground ; a coA'^ey of quail, bobbing in
and out brush and about the trees hunt-
ing for food, and a young black-tailed
deer, oblivious to the attention of exposi
tion throngs, lent a naturalness to the
set and conveyed that intimate charm of
wild life close at hand.

Desolation and charred trees in the
burned forest area expressed unequiv-
ocally the evil that forest fires do. A
deer skeleton took the place of the living
animal in the live forest section. But the
ducks and quail were gone. In their
stead were two black vultures.

In an educational way, the exhibit ac
complished much. Young and old were
able to understand it and learned some-
thing of the work of the division. Many
carried away with them the conviction of
the need for protection and the necessity
for preseiwation of fish and game.

The exhibit was a cooperative affair
with the United States Forest Service and
with the division. As a whole, it revealed
a mastering idea. This achievement in
symmetry and arrangement was due to
the efforts of Paul J. Fair, of the Forest
Service. The paintings used in the back-
ground of the three groups were done by
the noted landscape artist, Frank J.
Mackinzie. Rodney S. Ellsworth had
charge of the exhibit for the division.

IN MEMORIAM

EUGENE WILLIAM HUNT

Death claimed one of the Division's
oldest employees in time of service on
September 18, 1928. Eugene William
Hunt (67) field superintendent of hatch-
eries since 1912, began his services with
the then Fish Commis.sion as secretary to
J. V. Shebley, hatchery superintendent,
on August 7, 1887. He therefore rounded
out forty-one years of service. "Gene"
Hunt was born of a pioneer Sacramento
family sixty-seven years ago. As a young
man, he worked in the tax collector's
and assessor's office in San Francisco. In
1901 he married Eleanor Nelson of a

pioneer Marin County family in San
Francisco. After becoming associated
with hatchery work, he played an im-
portant part in developing the famous
Battle Creek Hatchery for salmon in Te-
hama County. He assisted in building
many of the present hatcheries. Many
will remember him as superintendent of
hatchery operations at Lake Tahoe. As
field superintendent he has helped cor-
relate hatchery work and improve condi-
tions at the various hatcheries.

Eugene W. Hunt.

B. W. Hunt was dependable, loyal to
his duties and to his host of friends. His
genial disposition, his many kind and
charitable acts and his faculty to meet
the public and his untiring devotion to
his duties won him the respect and esteem
of his superiors through over forty years
of public life. He was a true sportsman
and believed in the conservation of wild
life in the fullest sense of conservation.

Eugene Hunt was a Knight Templar
and a Master Mason. The funeral serv-
ice was conducted by the Masonic order
at his request.

Of immediate relatives, he leaves a
brother, W. B. Hunt of Mt. Shasta; a
sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Healy, and a
nephew. Captain Jack Neely of San
Francisco, to mourn his loss. The Hatch-
ery Department especially, the whole
working force, and thousands of friends
will long remember the good works of the
deceased. — W. H. Shebley,

302

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

GEORGE THOMPSON

While on patrol duty, endeavoring to
apprehend violators. Deputy George
Thompson of Gridley, California, was
shot and killed by Charles Hogaboom, an
alleged demented rancher of Pennington,
Sutter County, on September 7, 1928.
George Thompson was one of the most
faithful, industrious men on the force.
He knew ducks and their habits for he
was, as a young man, a market hunter.
Yet experience had shown him the dan-
gers of wholesale destruction and he made
a better warden for his early experiences
in hunting. His knowledge of wildfowl
furnished him with the ability to imitate
their calls. He was considered one of the
most expert men in the state in calling
ducks and geese. He fearlessly enforced
the game laws and won the confidence of
his district.

George Thompson was a native son.
born in Sutter County in 1880. He be-
came a deputy fish and game commis
sioner in 1921 and by diligence established
an enviable record. It was never too
early or too late for him to be in the field.
Many a night was spent in the tules
attempting to catch "ground sluicers."
For many years he engaged in farming
He is survived by a wife and four chil-
dren, two boys and two girls. Though
but small consolation for the loss of hus-
.band and father, they are privileged to
remember that he was killed while doing
his duty. Deepest sympathy goes to the
bereaved ones from his fellow workers. —
H. C. B.

GAME COMMISSIONERS MEET AT
SEATTLE

A joint meeting of the American Fish-
eries Society, the Western Association of
State Game Commissioners and the Inter-
national Association of Game, Fish and
Conservation Commissioners was held at
the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washing-
ton from August 27th to 31st. This was
the 8th annual meeting of the Western
Association of Game Commissioners, the
22d annual meeting of the Internationa]
Association, and the 58th annual meeting
of the American Fisheries Society. The
first two days were devoted to the joint
program of the first two organizations,
while the remaining three days were de-
voted to the program of the Araerican
Fisheries Society.

This was a meeting of conservation offi-
cials, experts and enthusiasts from the
United States and Canada. Many ad-
dresses and papers were given and much
discussion engaged in on aU phases of fish
and game conservation. Each of the

three organizations gets out a printed re-
port of the meetings and all of the
papers and the discussions will be avail-
able for any who are interested. One of
the greatest benefits to be derived from
a meeting of this kind is actually to meet
and to exchange ideas with those who
stand out as leaders in the conservation
movement in North America.

There were in attendance from the Cali-
fornia Division of Fish and Game, Presi-
dent I. Zellerbach who delivered an
address based on his experience as presi-
dent of the California Fish and Game
Commission ; Mr. Eugene D. Bennett,
executive officer, who, when the roll of
the states and provinces was called,
answered with a short talk on the organi-
zation and work of the California Divi-
sion of Fish and Game ; Mr. E. C.
Scofield, who gave a paper on the striped
bass investigations in California ; and
J. S. Hunter, Roy Ludlum and N. B.
Scofield, who helped enliven the discus-
sion and served on various committees.

The next meeting of the Western Asso-
ciation of State Game Commissioners is
to be held in San Francisco at a date to
be decided upon later. President Zeller-
bach received the honor of being elected
the next president. The other two organi-
zations will hold a joint meeting at Min-
neapolis next year during the week
commencing September 9th.

Addresses especially worthy of note
given at the Seattle meeting were : "Bear
River Marsh as a National Project," by
David H. Madsen, Superintendent Bear
River Marsh Migratory Bird Reserve,
Utah ; "Measures for Better Protection of
Wild Life," by Colonel Paul G. Reding-
ton. Chief, U. S. Bureau of Biological
Survey ; "Alaska Salmon — an Achieve-
men in Conservation," by Henry O'Mal-
ley, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries ;
"A Canadian-American Salmon Reclama-
tion Project," by John Pease Babcock,
Chairman, International Fisheries Com-
mission, British Columbia ; "Work of the
International Fisheries Commission," by
Will F. Thompson, Director, Scientific In-
vestigations ; "Development of the Oyster
Industry of the Pacific," by Professor Tre-
vor Kincaid, University of Washington ;
'Effect of Paper Mill Waste on Young
Salmon — Means of Prevention by Dis-
posal," by H. W. Nightingale, Sanitary
Engineer, Washington State Department
of Health ; "Harbor Seals of Northwest
Coast Country," by T. H. SchefEer, Wash-
iagton, U. S. Bureau of Biological Sur-
rey. There was a symposium on fish
propagation which included research on
fish foods, conducted by John W. Titcomb,

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

303

Superintendent of Fish Culture for Con-
necticut. There was a group of papers
on "Problems Relating to Reclamation
and Power Projects." There were other
valuable papers too numerous to mention
here One evening was given over to an
illustrated lecture on "Bird Life," by Dr.
T Gilbert Pearson, President, National
Association of Audubon Societies. The
Thursdav session of the American Fish-
eries Society was held in the open air at
the beautiful grounds of the state s Green
River Hatchery to which those in atten-
dance were taken in motor cars. A picnic
lunch was served on the grounds. Un
Wednesday evening was the International
Wild Life Dinner, in the Venetian Gar-
dens of the Olympic Hotel.

All who are interested in conservation
should secure printed copies of the trans-
actions of the three organizations. Most
of the papers will appear in the Trans-
actions of the American Fisheries Society.
The Transactions have been issued for
a period of 58 years and contain most
valuable contributions on fish culture,
fisheries science and conservation of the
game and commercial fisheries. The re-
port of this organization has grown until
it contains over 300 pages and no better
investment can be made by anyone in-
terested than to take out a membership
in the society which costs $3 and secure
the publications as they are issued.

the respect and support of the man who
really helps raise the game shot by the
hunter. When a new fish and game pro-
tective association is formed, the assem-
bled members are always asked to pass
the following resolution. If sportsmen
^vould indeed follow these injunctions
the problem could be solved.

Whereas, It is generally concluded that
great and irreparable injury and damage
is done to the property of .farmers and
land owners by irresponsible hunters
and fishermen; and ^^ ^ , -^ ^r
Whereas, It is the object and aim ol
this association to create a better under-
standing of the rights of the farmer and
land owner and more appreciation for
the privileges granted the sportsmen by
the farmer and land owner, be it

Resolved, by the membws of ------

Fish and Game Protective
As"sb"c"iation. that they will not hunt,
shoot or fish on any enclosed or culti-
vated lands that are private property
without first having secured permission
so to do from the owner or tenant of tne
lands; and be it further

Resolved, That upon requesting permis-
sion or having been granted such permis-
sion the members of this association will
voluntarily exhibit to th« owner or tenant
of the lands their membership card in
this association together with their hunt-
ing or fishing license.

HUNTER VS. FARMER.

The hunter continues to accuse the far-
mer of selfishness when he is ordered off
the owner's land. The farmer complains
bitterly that the hunter has no respect
for other people's property. The situa-
tion appears to be growing more acute.
One of the Portland papers has carried
a series of articles under the heading, A
Farm Woman Speaks." The articles
point out that in self defense "no hunt-
ing" signs were put up, but did little
good It is also pointed out that often
tame quail which are feeding in the far-
mer's yard are shot by the careless
hunter. The question is even broached
"Why is there no farm representation on
a game commission when the farmer hat
such a personal interest in game?"

One wonders how the average farmer
can be induced to protect and increase
the game on his land if he does not re-
ceive fair treatment from the hunter who
claims a right to take the game which law
says belongs to the commonwealth and
not to the owner of the land. In spite
of pleas continually made to the sports-
men, conditions show but little improve-
ment. However, here in California, there
is an earnest endeavor being made to hold

A CHANGED VIEWPOINT NEEDED

The pioneer hunted game purely as a
meat supply. Later there were days
when markets were stocked with every
sort of game. In order to save wild life
resources, it became necessary to stop the
sale, and add numerous restrictions on
the taking. At present, a changed view-
point is necessary. Everyone must admit
that the greatest usefulness of game is
not to be found in its meat value, but in
its recreational value. Furthermore, it is
coming to be recognized that the mere
presence of wild birds and animals is an
asset. If, with changed conditions, we
place a different valuation on game, there
must be modification of its care. Every
citizen of the state has a right to assume
ownership. Each has a right to have a
hand in game administration. Wild life
resources must be administered in a pro-
gressive manner coincident with chang-
ing conditions. Fifty years ago, game
was considered useful only to those who
killed it for food, today game m some
places has a usefulness to those who
would go out and see it alive in the open.
Proper utilization will come only when
study has revised the importance of each
contributing factor.

CONSERVATION TRAINING CAMP FOR
BOY SCOUTS OPENED IN YOSEMITE

State conservation leaders have for
some time sought effective means of better
utilizing the boy seout organization m
the conservation program. This past

304

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

summer, the Bureau of Education of the
Division of Fish and Game decided upon
a plan involving a summer camp where
an intensive course on conservation meth-
ods would be given to advanced scouts,
especially selected by each council in the
state. Yosemite was chosen as the loca-
tion because of the availability of the
nature guide staff to help in instruction.
A cooperative arrangement was worked
out with the executive committee of Re-
gion XII of the Boy Scouts of America
whereby the Division of Fish and Game
and the Yosemite Nature Guide Service
were to furnish instruction and the Boy
Scouts to furnish camp direction. The
camp opened .on August 5 with twenty-
nine enrolled. The objectives to be at-
tained were outlined and there followed
studies of fish, game and fur-bearing mam-
mals, waterfowl and shorebirds, forestry,
and then conservation methods. Field
trips were taken daily, including the
Yosemite Hatchery, elk paddock,
Yosemite Museum and a day and a half
trip taking in Glacier Point and the
Pohono trail. One evening Governor
C. C. Young appeared and gave the boys
a straight-from-the-shoulder conservation
talk. This experience will long be remem-
bered by the boys. When the camp closed
on August 15 all the boys enthusiastically
maintained that they had never learned
so much before.

DEPUTY KILLED BY VIOLATOR

"Shot and killed while in performance
of duty." Not only do we read this in
connection with police officers, but also in
connection with game wardens. A game
warden deals with malcontents and often
risks his life in performing his duty. The
latest to fall victim to the rage of a man
caught in a violation of the game laws
was George Thompson, a faithful deputy
of the Division of Fish and Game. Thomp-
son, on September 7, started from his
Gridley home early to check up on dove
hunters who were reported as violating
the game laws. Near Pennington,, Sutter
County, Thompson stopped Charles Hoga-
boom and asked him for his license. The
violator leveled his shotgun at Thompson
and shot him three times in the head.
The dead warden was found later in the
morning and the murderer was captured
after a severe battle. Hogaboom, said to
be demented, confessed. This tragedy
adds a fourth regular warden to the list
of those murdered since 1913. In addi-
tion, two regular deputies were injured.
Two special deputies have been killed and
two others injured in similar encounters.

The list of murdered and injured war-
dens is as follows ;

Deputy George J. Rodolph, Merced
County, November, 1914.

Deputy Richard Squires, San Joaquin
County, December, 1916.

Deputy Ray Heacock, San Joaquin
County, December, 1916.

Deputy George Thompson, Sutter
County, September, 1928.

Deputy Frank Cady (injured), Lassen
County, April, 1926.

Deputy Jack O'Connell, (injured), San
Joaquin County, June, 1927.

Special Deputy Bert Blanchard, Contra
Costa County, February, 1913.

Special Deputy Ernest Raynaud, Marin
County, April, 1913.

Special Deputy John Nelligen (in-
jured), Lassen County, April, 1913.

Special Deputy John W. Galloway (in-
jured), Santa Cruz County, March, 1913.

It is a satisfaction to note that most of
the murderers were apprehended and are
serving life sentences.

STATE LION HUNTER SERIOUSLY
INJURED

Jay Bruce, who since January 1, 1919,
has been state lion hunter, met serious
injury on June 27, 1928, resulting in the
loss of the sight of one eye. The acci-
dent occurred while in performance of
duty. While hot on the trail of a moun-
tain lion in Rubicon Canyon, El Dorado
County, Bruce stepped on a crooked stick
which, flying upward, struck him with
great force in the left eye, cutting and
penetrating the eyeball. Although stunned
and suffering from an excruciatingly pain-
ful wound, Bruce made his way to the
place where the lion was treed. Unable
to see well enough to shoot, he encouraged
his son, Jay, Jr., to kill the lion. The boy
failed to place a death shot and the lion
got away but was treed again and shot
by Bruce, whose vision had now suffi-
ciently cleared, 400 yards farther on. The
lion was skinned by young Bruce at the
direction of his father, and the skin
packed out to the machine. Unassisted,
Bruce clambered 2500 feet up the walls
of the canyon to a cabin, where he admin-
istered first aid treatment to himself.

Upon arrival in San Francisco the in-
jured man was given medical attention
at the St. Francis Hospital. Although
Bruce is out and around again, his left
eye records little more than light.

Unless given a helper, Bruce will neces-
sarily have to give up lion hunting. This
means that the successful control of
mountain lions in California will be hard
hit. Only one other man in the state has
even begun to approach Bruce in ability
at getting mountain lions.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

305

NEW BUREAU ESTABLISHED

For many years there has been desul-
tory rescue of catfish, striped bass and
blaclv bass from overflowed areas. "When
trout were found dying in a drained res-
ervoir or drying-up stream, the nearest
deputy usually went to the rescue. The
worli, though important, was sporadic and
did not come within the scope of any par-
ticular department. Feeling the need for
definite attention to the work of saving
and transplanting fish, the Commission
has established a Bureau of Fish Rescue
and Reclamation with headquarters at
Sacramento, and has placed in charge an
experienced man. George Neale, with
twenty-three years of service in fish and
game conservation work in this state, will
head this bureau. What this step will
mean to the conservation of fish is evi-
denced by the August report of the
bureau, which show^s a total of 258,200
fish rescued and distributed to suitable
locations.

THE BUILDING OF DAMS

Oregon is wrestling with the same prob-
lem which confronted California when a
high dam was proposed for the Klamath
River. The McKenzie River is one of
Oregon's best fishing streams. Sports-
men claim that it will become another
Clackamas if the dam is built. The
Clackamas has deteriorated as a fly cast-
ing stream since dams were built. The
power company concerned, of course, is
making wonderful promises of the latest
type of fish ladder. In the real fight now
raging in Oregon, there is to be found at
least one consolation : The fish and game
commission is now considered as an inter-
ested body with some say as to power
developments which may injure fish re-
sources. Their stamp of approval is
asked. Not many years ago, a state con-
servation board was ignored in such mat-
ters. This much is progress toward
proper solution of a vexing problem.

NATIONAL WATERFOWL REFUGE
LAW

The essential principles of such a bill
are : the securing of ample refuge areas at
the earliest possible date ; certain and
adequate revenue for purchasing main-
tenance ; provision for administration
which will insure efficiency free from poli-
tics, favoritism and abuses. The impossi-
bility of reconciling all groups to unani-
mous support of such a bill is evident.
However, it should be possible to work
out a plan of reconciliation, adjustment
and compromise so that there will not be
involved a serious reversal of principle in
case the essential results are attained.

Conservationists and sportsmen should
show a spirit of cooperation so that this
law may be enacted.

A NEW GAME FARM

After a careful survey, a site has finally
been selected for the proposed southern
California game farm. The Los Serranos
Country Club has agreed to donate
twenty-nine acres near Chino, San Ber-
nardino County, and negotiations are well
under way to acquire this property. The
site is well drained. A good water supply
is available. Plans call for 364 pens in a
vermin-proof enclosure. There is hope
that constniction will be of steel rather
than of wood. In addition a large open
rearing field planted to alfalfa will be
provided.

FOLSOM FISHWAY REPAIRED

During the high water season of this
year, parts of the fish ladder at the dam
at Folsom became so filled with boulders
that much criticism was forthcoming
from neighboring county sportsmen.
Deputy G. I. Fleckenstein helped in solv-
ing this vexing problem. Captain Larkin,
working in cooperation with the state and
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, who
jointly own, control and maintain this
dam. undertook to put the same in good
condition. Twenty-three convicts were
placed upon the work for about three to
four wrecks removing the enormous boul-
ders. Photographs submitted at the time
the work was being done show the men
at work and many dead eels floating on
the water at the foot of the dam.

STATE FAIR EXHIBIT, 1928

The permanent panorama exhibit at the
State Fair, at Sacramento, in September,
was remodeled to depict a winter scene in
the Lake Tahoe region. The exhibit was
under the direction of W. H. Shebley. The
lighting effects were beautiful and the
ponds full of trout furnished realism. An
added feature was the exhibit portraying
the activities of the Bureau of Fish Res-
cue and Reclamation. The fishes ex-
hibited in the aquaria were those rescued
from overflow areas. As in past years,
the division's exhibit stirred the admira-
tion of practically every visitor to the
fair grounds.

LUMBER COMPANIES PROTECT MULE
DEER

Despite the fact that deer season in the
mule deer country was scheduled to open
on September 16, hunters were unable to
bunt deer in Shasta, Siskiyou and part of
Modoc counties until October 1. This was

306

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

brought about by the posting against
hunters by the McCIoud Lumber Com-
pany and the Weed Lumber Company,
whose timber holdings cover practically
all of the mule deer country. The motive
in back of this action is understood to be
protection against fire. It has a direct
bearing, however, on the conservation of
mule deer because it materially hampered
the activities of the army of eager hunters
accustomed to invade this territory at the
opening of the season.

MUSKRATS IN KERN COUNTY

Muskrats have been reported in Kern
County, inhabiting the region along some
of the canals. They have proved a men-
ace to the crops in that they cause wash-
outs as a result of their burrowing habits.

The Division of Fish and Game is coop-
erating with the State Department of
Agriculture by issuing no permits allow-
ing the introduction of muskrats for use
in fur farming in the areas west of the
Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre ranges
of mountains. Muskrats are native east
of these ranges.

THE BEAR RIVER PROJECT

The Bear River Refuge Bill was passed
by Congress and received the approval of
the president on April 23. The bill car-
ries an appropriation of $350,000 for use
in establishing waterfowl refuges in the
Bear River marshes of Utah. Not over
$50,000 of the appropriation may be used
for buying land, most of the land needed
being already government land. The bal-
ance of the fund will be used largely for
constructing dikes to raise the level of
the fresh water in the marshes so as to
prevent the loss of birds from alkali
poisoning.

The bill as passed permits the use of
not to exceed 40 per cent of the area in-
cluded in such refuge for public hunting
grounds, the remaining 60 per cent to be
maintained as sanctuary.

Senators Phipps of Colorado and Kin?
of Utah introduced almost identical bills
on this subject. The King bill was
passed by the senate. The Colton bill was
passed by the house with amendments not
contained in the King bill, which were
accepted by the senate and the Colton bill
became the law.

Hon. David H. Madsen, for years the
State Fish and Game Commissioner of
Utah, and one of the outstanding con-
servation officials in America, severed his
official connection with the state of Utah
on July 1, and accepted the position of
superintendent of the new Bear River
Bay Migratory Bird Refuge now being

created by the Biological Survey under
the provisions of the recently signed King
Colton bill.

The construction work necessary for the
refiooding of the Bear River marshes will
be performed under the direction of L. M.
Winsor, Bureau of Public Roads engineer
stationed at Logan, Utah, who has been
engaged for a number of years on irriga-
tion projects in the west and is well
fitted for the work. Mr. Winsor during
the summer of 1927 made the preliminary
surveys at Bear River Bay for the Bio-
logical Survey.

This important project therefore will
go forward under the direction of two
experienced Utah men — -Mr. Madsen, fully
familiar with wildfowl conditions and
with wild life administration, and Mr.
Winsor, familiar with construction of
levees and enjoining details. Mr. Mad-
sen has been one of the strongest advo-
cates for the refiooding of the Bear River
marshes and the creation of a refuge there
as a means of preventing the appalling
annual mortality of birds in that region.
He planned and executed Utah's famous
public shooting grounds of 30,000 acres.

It is expected that the building of dikes
to store fresh water now flowing into Salt
Lake will not only eliminate the death
areas which killed millions of birds in
the past, but will afford a feeding and
breeding ground for great numbers of
waterfowl. Instead of a death trap for
ducks, the area should become a supply
point for western North America. Cali-
fornia is sure to profit by this develop-
ment, for many ducks banded in the Bear
River marshes have been taken in the
great valleys of California, indicating a
direct line of flight.

GAME ADMINISTRATION

The Board of Game Commissioners of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has
issued, as Bulletin No. 10, a statement by
Commissioner Francis H. Coffin outlining
the history and accomplishments in game
administration in Pennsylvania. In the
bulletin the following significant state-
ment is made :

"The average citizen who considers the
work of game administration at all is apt
to think that the most serious thing the
board has to deal with is the illegal
hunter or law violator. The game war-
den, or as we term our field man, the
'game protector,' was formerly considered
as an obnoxious and pestiferous individ-
ual, who went snooping around the woods
making trouble for the hunter who acci-
dentally or thoughtlessly exceeded his bag
limit, or who in some other relatively
harmless way infringed the stringent laws

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

307

of the Commonwealth. This point of view
happily no longer prevails among our
Pennsylvania hunters, who have learned
to know their game protectors as fellow
sportsmen, and as men working at all
times to protect and foster the best inter-
ests of sport for the average citizen. The
truth is that while the police activities of
the game protective force are very im-
portant, this phase of their work is only
a small part of it."

THE RESTORATION OF MARSHES

In urging the necessity for restoration
of marsh areas in California for use of
wild waterfowl J. P. Cuenin writes the
following impressive statement in the San
Francisco Examiner:

"We have reached the stage now where
we must do more than merely talk about
providing breeding, feeding and resting
grounds for our ducks and geese — we

WINTER FEEDING

The Department of Conservation of the
state of Michigan will attempt this com-
ing year to encourage the extensive use
of feeding stations for both nongame and
game birds. The plan is based on the
supposition that the increase of quail and
certain other species in many parts of
Michigan is dependent upon the success-
ful wintering of the birds. Pursuant to
the plan, the Department of Conservation
has asked for information on what foods
are most suitable for winter feeding of
game birds, the type of location most
appropriate, and the precautions which
must be taken to protect the feeding
birds from predatory birds and mammals.

MIGRATION OF TROUT STUDIED

It is well known that some species of
trout are distinctly migratory and that
dams or other obstructions block their

Fig. 99. Pack train with golden trout crossing a summit in Sierra in 1914. For
the first time this transplantation vi^ork was reinaugurated in 1928. Photo-
graph by A. D. Ferguson.

must act at once. Ducks can't breed in
the air, they can't feed on the air and
they can't rest in the air, and we have
passed the stage where we can count on
badly overworked nature to assist the
hunters.

"Some duck shooters seem to have the
idea that without the restoration of
marsh areas the present supply of ducks
can be maintained, but this class of
hunter has evidently given little thought
to the subject. A few figures may en-
lighten them. Nine years ago there were
174,291 hunting licenses issued in Cali-
fornia. At that time there were 697,560
acres of marshland in the concentration
points of the ducks in this state. At the
present time there are more than 253,000
hunters in California, and the marsh area
has been reduced to the insignificant size
of 77,000 acres. Here is an increase of
more than 78,000 hunters and a decrease
in the duck grounds of 620,560 acres."

progress. In other instances it seems
possible that certain kinds of trout are
largely non-migratory and that man-made
barriers do not interfere seriously with
the life habits of trout. However, much
of the information at hand is largely
guesswork, and it is quite necessary that
there be an endeavor to determine the
ability of trout to pass beyond dams and
waterfalls. The Conservation Commis-
sion of Michigan has recently tagged
10,000 trout in order that a determina-
tion may be made as to the percentage of
success attained in passing certain bar-
riers. Work along the same lines should
be instituted in Califoraia in order that
dependable data may be at hand when
defense is made of various power projects.

TO STUDY LIFE HISTORY OF PACIFIC
EEL

Professor Johann Schmidt of the Uni-
versity of Copenhagen has started a two

308

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

years' scientific cruise in the Pacific with
ithe intention of solving the riddle as to
the spawning grounds and migration
routes of the Pacific eels.

Only recently has the puzzling migra-
tion of the Atlantic eel been solved. It
was known that young eels were never
seen to descend a river and that old eels
never went in any other direction.
Young ones came up from the sea, the
old ones went to sea. Finally, what is
supposed to be the eggs and young of eels
were found in the north Atlantic, north-
east and east of the West Indies. Here
the adult eels lay their eggs and then die.
The young eels, which are leaf shaped,
flat, thin and transparent as glass, feed
on the minute water organisms and finally
reach the fresh water streams along the
Atlantic coast. Professor Schmidt now
hopes to find the spawning grounds and
work out the life histoi*y of the eels of
the Pacific Coast.

GIANT TORTOISE BROUGHT TO
SAN DIEGO

Last May ISO giant tortoises secured
on the Galapagos Islands by the New
York Zoological Society were brought to
the United States to attempt breeding
them at a number of different points. A
breeding stock was left at Balboa, Canal
Zone ; in Arizona, in Texas, in Louisiana
and in San Diego, California. All of the
tortoises have been numbered, weighed
and measured so as to furnish informa-
tion as to their rate of growth. Since
these tortoises have furnished mariners
with a food supply through the cen-
turies, it seems reasonable that colonies
be developed in various suitable loca-
tions. On some of the South Sea islands
the British government has successfully
established land tortoises which have
proved a valuable resource. Were they
a faster growing species, they would lend
themselves more readily to domestication.

MEXICAN GAME BIRD PROPAGATED

Mr. W. Leland Smith of Fairoaks,
California, has been experimenting with
the famous Mexican game bird, the cha-
chalaca. During the past season, a pair
of birds owned by Mr. Smith have suc-
cessfully i-eared two clutches, and in late
August were incubating a third.

FRY AND FINGERLINGS

There has been considerable misunder-
standing concerning the size of the vari-
ous kinds of baby fish that should be
called fry and fingerlings. To clarify the
terminology the United States Bureau of
Fisheries has recently called attention to

the generally accepted meaning, which is
as follows :

Fry — Fish up to the time the yolk sac
is absorbed and feeding begins.

Advanced Fry — Fish from the end of
the fry period until they have reached a
length of one inch.

Fingerlings — Fish between the length
of one inch and the yearling state. The
various sizes are designated as follows :
No. 1, a fish one inch in length and up
to two inches ; No. 2, a fish two inches in
length and up to three inches ; No. 3, a
fish three inches in length and up to four
inches, etc.

Yearlings — Fish that are one year old,
but less than two years old from the date
of hatching. Fish over two years old and
less than three years are commonly
termed "two-year-olds." While the term
"three-year-olds" may be employed, fish
of this age are generally called "adults."

TEACHERS' BULLETIN No. 10

Certainly the organization in charge of
the protection of wild life should cham-
pion the cause of any birds, animals or
fish whose value is not properly recog-
nized by the public. Probably no group
of valuable birds suffers more criticism
than the hawks and owls. Because some
have been seen to destroy game, all kinds,
good and bad, are killed on sight.

In a new teachers' bulletin, Mr. Don-
ald McLean makes a plea for the protec-
tion of owls and gives short descriptions
of the different kinds found in the State
of California. This short bulletin will
be placed in the hands of teachers in or-
der that they may properly instruct
students as to the real values pertaining
to owls.

SEA LION BULLETIN PREPARED
One may view the sea lion as many
fishermen view it, as a predatory species,
feeding largely upon food fishes. On the
other hand, one may demand protection
for this sea mammal because of the inter-
est and pleasure given to visitors to the
sea coast and because of its value as a
natural resource. Persons with either
point of view will profit and doubtless
obtain a more correct impression by
perusal of a new bulletin now ready for
press which gives the results of an in-
vestigation into the life history and hab-
its of this mammal.

Mr. Paul Bonnot points out that of the
stomachs examined only two contained
valuable food fishes. There is no doubt
that sea lions do some damage to fishing
industries. On the other hand, they
doubtless have a real part to play in the
balance of life in the sea. These large

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

309

animals might very easily be exterminated
and a real resource lost. The least waste-
ful and most humane method of holding
these animals in check would be the kill-
ing of a certain percentage of the pups.
The killing should be done by trained
men and a census should be made regu-
larly to determine the actual status of
these animals from year to year. The
bulletin will be fully illustrated and will
bring together much valuable information
relative to sea lions on the coast of
California.

A GAME SURVEY

On July 1, Aldo Leopold of Madison,
Wisconsin, for a number of years an out-
standing attache of the staff of the
United States Forest Service, was en-
gaged by the Sporting Arms and Ammu-
nition Manufacturers' Institute to make
the first American game resources sui-vey.
Mr. Leopold has studied game matters
for many years, is well known as a writer
on conservation subjects, and is one of
the best equipped men in America to
make such a survey.

"The purpose of the survey," says the
institute in its announcement, "is to col-
lect the experience and ideas of sports-
men and other conservation agencies as
to the best ways and means for inducing
the sustained production of game crops.
It will constitute a search for dependable
basic facts. By assembling the facts and
making them available to the sportsmen,
the sponsors of the survey hope to stimu-
late the foi-mulation of an effective pro-
gram of game restoration."

DUCK TIME

The leaves on the trees are brown and
sere ;
The grass is withered and dead,
And the sky is blue of the deepest hue

In the narrow chinks o'erhead.
So you pause, perhaps, in the city's
streets,
As you level your gaze on high.
For you hear a call, through the dim
smoke pall
When the ducks go drifting by.

The lure of the wild gets in your blood,

For the tang of the wind is sweet.
And your pulses bum as you long to turn

Where the land and the waters meet ;
Where the winds wail low through the
fringing sedge,

And withering cat-tails dry ;
Where the ripples break on a dead calm
lake.

When the ducks go drifting by.

Then it's back to the wild, when the sun
comes up.
And the twilight dawn fades fast.
When you lie in your blind, for you hope
to find
A shot as the birds drift past.
When the pin-tails quack in the feeding
grounds,
And the blue bills venture nigh,
Then a roar and flash — and the waters
splash
When the ducks go drifting by.

You who are chained to your desks of
wood,
In the heart of the busy hum ;
Turn back a space for a breathing place,

When bracing November comes ;
There's a hunter's camp, and a hunter's
life,
And many a shot to try.

And tales to tell by the fire, as well,
When the ducks go drifting by.

— The Illinois Sportsman.

RESOLUTION DEMANDS STUDY OF
WHALE

At the Tenth Annual Convention of
the United States Fisiieries Association,
held in Buffalo, New York, in the early
part of August, the following resolution
was adopted :

Whereas, At the present time the kill-
ing of whales in all seas of the Avorld
where they may be taken commercially is
proceeding on an unprecedented scale
with the result that important commer-
cial species are threatened with economic
exhaustion if not actual extermination,
and

Whereas, This great natural resource
can only be properly studied and hus-
banded through cooperative arrangements
of the nations concerned, and

Whereas, Certain other species of ma-
rine mammals such as Steller's sea lion of
the North Pacific, the California sea lion
ranging from the Farallon Islands south-
ward to Central Mexico; the Guadalupe
fur seal formerly found along the coasts
of California and Lower California ; the
northern elephant seal of the same re-
gion, and the Pacific walrus of the North
Pacific are in danger of ruthless destruc-
tion and possible extermination, therefore

Be it resolved, That the U. S. Fisheries
Association at its tenth annual convention
recommends that steps be taken urging
the nations to provide for an international
commission to make necessary investiga-
tions as to the condition and number of
these mammals, whether the supply is
being endangered and to make recommen-

310

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

dations to the governments concerned as
to what regulations are necessary to safe-
guard and perpetuate these forms, to pro-
vide for their complete utilization where
the fishery is permitted and to outlaw
their ruthless slaughter and where inade-
quate economic returns result, and

Be it further resolved, That a copy of
this resolution be spread upon the minutes
of this convention and copies sent to the
governments concerned.

WATERFOWL CENSUSES OF BIOLOGI-
CAL SURVEY DEVELOPING VALU-
ABLE CONSERVATION DATA

Efforts to ascertain the fluctuations in
the abundance of migratory waterfowl in
North America, undertaken by the Bureau
of Biological Survey, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, one year ago and
persistently followed up since then, are
meeting with gratifying success. The ac-
complishments already indicate that the
original conception of the project was con-
servative, not over-enthusiastic, and that
information will ultimately be derived
from the censuses that will be of inesti-
mable value in the formulation of a sound
policy for the conservation of the coun-
try's waterfowl resources. The birds
under consideration in this far-reaching
cooperative undertaking include not only
the ducks, geese, and swans, which col-
lectively are termed "waterfowl," but also
the American coot, or "mudhen."

It will, of course, be necessary to have
the second year's observations as a basis
for computations of increase or do'-iiease
of species or of waterfowl as a whole, but
several very interesting facts have already
been brought out by the censuses up to
the present time. Owing to the surprising
response that has been made to the re-
quests for cooperation, the vast store of
information gathered in the first year of
the work has been far in excess of any
reasonable expectation. The data ob-
tained have been filed and indexed for
ready reference.

These results show particularly the
winter concentration areas in the United
States during the past year and the strik-
ing fact is brought out, more clearly rhan
ever before, that the birds chat breed in
Canada and migrate over the United
States withdraw into surprisingly small
areas for the winter. These areas lie

chiefly along the Atlantic Coast from
Long Island southward ; along the Gulf
Coast ; up the lower Mississippi Valley ;
along the Pacific Coast ; with compara-
tively few scattered, relatively small areas
throughout the middle and western United
States. In addition to this, the water-
fowl, chiefly ducks, that winter in Mexico
are gathered into about six important
areas, from which unfortunately very
little information was received during the
past year, and which must needs be cov-
ered adequately in order to supplement
the information now available. Among
the most important of the other facts
brought out by these waterfowl censuses
are the movements of the bulk of the
waterfowl east and west, as well as north
and south, particularly during migration,
the location of the bulk of the birds dur-
ing different months, and monthly fluctua-
tions in these movements.

To show these facts, a series of pre-
liminary maps has been prepared indicat-
ing conditions and locations of the bulk
of waterfowl on each of the waterfowl
census dates in the United States and
southern Canada, from which areas the
most satisfactory information has hitherto
been received. These maps ai'e filed in
the Biological Survey offices, as well as
the other information gathered through
these waterfowl censuses, and will become
more serviceable when all necessary data
can be more carefully analyzed and exam-
ined and any errors eliminated, for in
handling a project of such magnitude it is
of course necessary and desirable to exor-
cise all possible precaution to see that the
deductions from the data considered rep-
resent the true conditions.

One of the most encouraging features of
the past year's organization and conduct
of these waterfowl censuses has been the
almost universal interest and cordial of-
fers to cooperate that have been met with
everywhere. The purposes of these censuses
are apparently appreciated and the method
fully approved by those to whom it has
been explained, and the future success of
the work seems assured. The Biological
Survey hopes to enroll additional ob-
servers as soon as possible, particularly
in Canada and Mexico, to cover all the
important concentration areas, so that the
facts gathered may approximate as nearly
as possible the exact waterfowl conditions
over the North American continent.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

311

DIVISION ACTIVITIES

The Division of Fish and Game was
very well represented at the recent meet
ing of the International Association of
Fish and Game Commissioners at Seattle.
Meeting was held jointly with the West-
ern Association of Fish and Game Com-
missioners and the American Fisheries
Society from August 27 to September 1.
Commissioner Zellerbach was elected
president of the Western Association for
the coming year. The date for the meet-
ing next year has not been selected but the
meeting will be held in San Francisco
some time in the fall. Both Mr. Zeller-
bach and Mr. Bennett took an active part
in the discussions at the meetings, as did
Mr. Scofield of the Commercial Fisheries
Department. David H. Madsen, of Utah,
was elected president of the International
Association. Our California Division of
Fish and Game was represented on the
executive board by J. S. Hunter. The
next meeting of the International Asso-
ciation will be held in Minneapolis, Min-
nesota, the week of September 9, 1929.

In conjunction with the American Fish-
eries Society, W. F. Thompson, formerly
of the California State Fisheries Labor-
atory, gave a paper on the work of the
International Fisheries Commission be-
tween the United States and Canada ap-
pointed for the study of the halibut of
the North Pacific. A paper was also
given by E. C. Scofield on the striped bass
investigations which he has been carrying
on for the Division. Other especially
interesting papers given were: "The De-
velopment of the Oyster Industry of the
Pacific," by Professor Trevor B. Kincaid,
and "The Harbor Seals of Northwest
Coastal Country," by Theodore H.
Scheffer.

Department of Patrol

A total of $9,141 was imposed in fines
as a result of the 240 arrests made during
July. These figures exceed those of any
other month this year.

A few of the more interesting cases
which were made during the summer are
as follows :

One San Francisco citizen started out
on his vacation. He neared Modesto at
dinner time and being hungry, and seeing
a nice flock of quail crossing the road, he
proceeded to kill some. Deputy Magladry
happened to be in this vicinity and took
him into Judge Rice's court, where he was
fined $200.

A man of Dos Palos Avished to treat
one of his San Francisco friends to a
feed of doves and a few nongame birds.
He sent nine doves and three or four
nongame birds by express to his San
Francisco friend. Deputy J. L. Bundock
found the package in the express office ;
seized the birds, and Deputies Blewett
and Gourley of the Los Banos district
were notified. They located the violator
in Dos Palos. He was fined $275 by
Judge Hales.

One of the Japanese citizens near
Salinas wanted some deer meat. He went
out into a canyon and killed a doe, with-
out even procuring a license. Deputy
Fred Post was watching for such people
and arrested the man, took him before
Judge King, of Salinas, who fined him
$500 for killing a doe, and $100 for hunt-
ing without a license.

Deputies Hoke, of the Patrol Depart-
ment, and Bonnot, of the Commercial
Fisheries, arrested a fisherman in the
Klamath River who was operating a set
net. Mr. Davis, a new judge in Requa,
fined him $250.

Two young men of Santa Rosa decided
they wanted some deer meat. They went
into Deputy Harley Grove's territory and
killed a doe. Deputy Groves took them
before Judge Ellis, at Cloverdale, who
fined them $250.

Four Chinese operating seine and fike
nets near Hood in the Hood Canal were
apprehended by Deputy Charles Sibeck.
Judge W. E. Everson at Elk Grove as-
sessed each offender $200.

Possession of deer meat on July 30, was
a costly thing for A. B. Stocking, of Boul-
der Creek. Deputies Forrest McDermott
and Jules Vissiere, of Santa Cruz and
Watsonville, following up a tip that
Stocking had deer meat in his possession,
made an investigation at the mill of the
Santa Cruz Lumber Company. The de-
fendant refused to tell who gave him the
meat, but entered a plea of guilty when
brought into court. Judge Younger gave
him the alternative of paying the fine or
spending 250 days in jail, and after lec-
turing him severly suspended $50 of the
sentence.

In checking the summer monthly re-
ports of the volunteer deputies it was
found they had checked 7632 hunting and
fishing licenses, patroled 100,198 miles of
streams, game fields and coast lines, made
and assisted in making 77 arrests for
violations of the fish and game laws in
which cases fines in the sum of $1,880

312

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

were imposed. The above mentioned re-
ports do not include fines in the sum of
$950 imposed for arrests made by county
fish and game wardens who hold volun-
teer deputy appointments in the southern
part of the state.

Department of Fish Culture

The summer months are busy ones for
the Department of Fish Culture. Special
care must be taken to guard against dis-
ease and losses due to warm water. This
makes it necessary to plant surplus fish
in the hatcheries to allow room for those
to be aged. The preparations must be
made also for the hatcheries to be ready
to receive the eggs taken from the fall
spawning trout.

In the Yosemite National Park Hatch-
ery there are several species of trout in the
aquariums which were collected by Mr.
Townsley, chief ranger for the National
Park sei-vice, who was assisted by Gov-
ernor C C. Young and employees of the
ranger service of Yosemite National Park.
An effort is being made to get rainbow
trout from Lake Eleanor for the aquari-
ums. Trout from the hatchery have been
distributed in streams within the park
and waters outside the park boundary.

of the eggs were shipped to the Caledonia
Hatchery, New York.

An aquarium was set up outside the
Big Creek Hatchery and the fish were
brought down from Prairie Creek for
experimental purposes. Brush was cut
and a clearing made for a new road on
the grounds.

George A. Coleman, biologist for the
fish culture department, has been investi-
gating the bluestoning of lakes and reser-
voirs in San Diego County. Reservoirs
often serve as domestic water supply, rec-
reation and fishing grounds. Therefore,
bluestoning to kill algae must be super-
vised to prevent killing of fish. The main
sources of sport fishing in the county need
safeguarding.

Over 600,000 golden trout eggs were
received at the Mt. Whitney Hatchery
from Cottonwood Lakes. Of these, 55,000
were shipped to Bozeman, Montana and
to the New York Aquarium at the request
of Charles H. Townsend, Director. The
take of golden trout eggs was above nor-
mal this year. The Cottonwood Lakes
were planted three years ago, and half of
the eggs taken were from fish planted at
that time. Twenty-five thousand more

A survey was made of the lakes in the
high Sierra with the end in view that
these lakes might possibly furnish eggs
to be hatched at the Mormon Creek
Hatchery, near Sonora. However, it is
believed that it would be too difficult to
reach these lakes early enough to secure
spawn.

Fish were planted from the Kaweah
Hatchery during the latter part of July.
It was necessary to distribute them early
as the water during mid-summer becomes
full of algae and water moulds which are
injurious to the young fish.

For the second time, to the knowledge
of the Department of Fish Culture, an
epidemic broke out among the fish west
of the Rocky Mountains. The disease,
resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the
fish at the Big Creek Hatchery. The
hatchery was quarantined and specialists
engaged to study the problem.

Department of Commercial
Fisheries

During July, Dr. Henry B. Bigelow car-
ried on intensive oceanographical study
in the waters near Monterey. He was
assisted by E. C. Scofield, of the Com-
mercial Fisheries Department, and al-
lowed the use of the patrol boat Albacore.
It is hoped that from this work a better
knowledge of ocean conditions will enable
us to predict fluctuations in the abund-
ance of sardines at Monterey.

Work is being continued on the salmon
investigations. A man was detailed to
make a preliminary survey of the salmon
spawning grounds. He later spent some
time at Monterey taking scale measure-
ments from salmon landed there.

Investigational work is also being con-
tinued on the striped bass.

Since the Albacore was in use at
Monterey, it was necessary to charter
another boat. Salt, for the purpose of
patrolling the closed district around Cata-
lina Island. Many cases were made of
purse seiners seeking bluefin tuna. They
were compelled to pay several hundred
dollars in fines for fishing and having nets
in their possession in a closed district.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

313

Thornley and Company, San Diego, in-
terested in the kelp industry, is undergo-
ing a reorsanization and expects soon to
ask for a lease on kelp beds. There are
only two other companies interested in
this industry, Philip R. Park, San Pedro
and Pacific Marine Products Co., Chula
Vista.

Two new fish bulletins are completed
and available for distribution. Fish Bul-
letin No. 12 by Dr. Frances N. Clark
points out the significance of the length-

Bureau of Research

A predatory animal trapper was sta-
tioned during June in Game Refuge l-O
in El Dorado County. This assignment
was made upon receipt of information
that there was a large number of coyotes
in this district that were destroying game.

The chemical laboratory which was for-
merly located at the offices of the Di-
vision in the Postal Telegraph Building

Pig. 100. Convicts working on fish ladder at Folsom dam. Dead eels in pool
beyond. Photograph by G. I. Pleckenstein, July 2, 192 8.

weight relationship in sardines. Fish
Bulletin No. 13 by C. B. Andrews deals
with seasonal trends in average size of
sardines at Monterey. Other bulletins
are partially completed and will be ready
for publication sometime next year.

The State Fisheries Laboratory has as-
sisted Mr. H. L. Kelly, who is connected
with the Division of Fish and Game of
the Agriculture and Forestry Department,
of the Territory of Hawaii, in procuring
some clams and abalones for shipment to
Honolulu.

was moved to the Hooper Foundation for
Medical Research, where added facilities
are available.

E. C. O'Roke, the parasitologist em-
ployed by the Bureau of Research, is
continuing his work on the investigation
of blood parasites of quail. His first re-
port appeared in California Fish and
Game, Volume 14, Number 3.

Dr. Henry Van Roekel was employed
to conduct pathological investigations.
He is working at the Hooper Foundation

314

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

under the supervision of Dr. K. F.
Meyer, director of the foundation. Dr.
Van Roekel has undertaken research
problems at the Yountville Game Farm.

During the summer, investigations were
made at Buena Vista Lake regarding the
"duck sickness" which has been previ-
ously reported upon in California Fish
AND Game. The ducks had all migrated
and but few mud hens remained. Sam-
ples of water and soil were taken. The
amount of decaying organic matter found
in the water would indicate that another
outbreak of "duck sickness" can be ex-
pected as soon as the birds begin to arrive
in that section unless there is a very ma-
terial improvement in the situation.

Bureau of Education

The director returned to the office on
August 20. He reported some splendid
accomplishments. The nature guide
service in Yosemite took 2500 more peo-
ple on field trips during the past summer
than in the preceding one. The School of
Field Natural History graduated twenty
students, who will return to their homes
to carry on conservation work. The new
Boy Scout Conservation Training Camp,
which stimulated interest of the boys in
methods of conserving wild life, gave
training to twenty-eight eagle scouts. He
also reported worthwhile experiences in
the various national parks visited while
working with an educational committee
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.

The exhibit showing miniature moun-
tain sheep in a natural setting has been
started on a year's trip over the state,
and will be shown from Lakeport to San
Diego. The trip was made possible by
an arrangement through the California
Development Association whereby each
local Chamber of Commerce takes charge
of the exhibit and places it in a desirable
location.

The first showing was at the San
Francisco T. M. C. A., from which place
the exhibit was sent to the Hotel Oak-
land, at Oakland, for two weeks. Fol-
lowing a schedule carefully worked out
by G. N. Holmes, it was shown at Berke-
ley, San Mateo, Palo Alto and San Jose.
During the ensuing weeks it will be dis-
played at Santa Cruz, Hollister, Salinas,
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los
Angeles (four weeks), Glendale, Pasa-
dena, Long Beach, Santa Ana, San Diego
(two weeks). El Centro, Riverside, San
Bernardino, Bakersfield, Visalia, Hanford,

Fresno (two weeks), Madera, Merced,
Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento (two
weeks), Auburn, Marysville, Oroville,
Chico, Willows, Red Bluff, Redding,
Yreka, Eureka, Ukiah, Lakeport, Santa
Rosa, Napa, Vallejo and Martinez.

A second miniature exhibit depicting
hatchery operations at the Mount Shasta
Hatchery has been completed by E. S.
Cheney. Already it has been on display
at a number of different places. Built
to scale and with motor attachment mov-
ing a truck laden with fish cans, this ex-
hibit represents a faithful and realistic
portrayal of a familiar scene at the
Mount Shasta Hatchery during trout
planting time.

The exhibit is fitted with a moving
scroll which gives a knowledge of the
scope of the division's fish cultural
activities.

A series of four field trips and four
evening lectures were given the members
of the Labor School held at Guerneville,
Sonoma County, from August 24th to
27th. About thirty people from various
labor organizations were present and at-
tended all field trips and lectures en
masse.

The morning field trip on August 24th
was organized to study plants and birds,
primarily, while the evening lecture, il-
lustrated with motion pictures, dealt
principally with nongame birds and their
relation to man's interests.

The field trip on the 25th was devoted
to a study of mammals and birds. The
evening lecture dealt mainly with deer
and mammals and was illustrated with
motion pictures. Another lecture was
given the local Guernewood resort at
the request of E. H. Maize, proprietor.
About ninety people attended.

The morning field trip of the 26th
started out to be a botanical trip, but
geology cropped up on the discovery of
a quartz vein, and a long geological dis-
cussion took place on the spot. So much
interest was shown in geology that a
blackboard lecture was given that evening
before the pictures were shown.

The following morning found the group
working on subjects of interest along the
stream side.

This new work is most valuable in that
it reaches the working class and is car-
ried back by the members of the school
to their various organizations throughout
the major part of the state.

Conservation and the knowledge of
wild life were the keynotes of the work.
J. L. Kerchen of the University of Cali-

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

315

fornia Extension Division, director of the
school, apreciated the cooperation and has
asked for aid for next year.

Bureau of Hydraulics

Numerous inspections of streams were
made to determine whether fish screens
and fish ladders were necessary. Recom-
mendations were made to some companies
that new fish screens and ladders be in-
stalled, and in some cases different loca-
tions were suggested.

discharge water is now free from visible
signs of oil. About $50,000 was spent on
these improvements.

It has been reported that as a result
of the oil cleanup in the waters in the
vicinity of Ventura, fish have been seen
in the Ventura River for the first time in
several years. While no accurate figures
are available, it is believed that over
$200,000 has been spent in this field to
avoid pollution.

Following repeated warnings which ap-

FiG. 101. Site of proposed southern California game farm near Chino.
Photograph by Paul J. Fair, July, 1928.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company
at Vallejo has built earthen dikes to
keep the asphaltum beds and waste prod-
ucts that have accumulated there for ten
years or more from spreading and finding
their way into the channel. In addition,
they have installed pumps so that the
water is recirculated and the opportunity
for pollution is lessened.

The Union Oil Company at Oleum has
placed its collecting sumps in such a
condition that the discharge water pass-
ing out into the bay is now free from oil.

The Standard Oil Company at Rich-
mond has improved its sumps so that the

parently had no effect, three oil com-
panies, the Carson Hill Oil Company,
Marine Corporation and the Bush-Vor-
hiss Company, operating in the Signal
Hill field, were taken into court and en-
joined fr